WILLY WEEK SPECIAL See P
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VOLUME 100, ISSUE NO. 22 | STUDENT-RUN SINCE 1916 | RICETHRESHER.ORG | WEDNESDAY, MARCH 16, 2016 WILLY WEEK SPECIAL See p. 3-8 Tuition costs continue to increase Andrew Ligeralde even while adding enhancements 2016-17 Tuition Assistant News Editor to our educational programs,” Leebron said. $50,000 $43,220 The annual increase of Rice Since as far back as 1998 when +$1,660 from last year University’s undergraduate tuition tuition cost $16,450, Rice’s tuition has come to be expected every year, has increased every year at varying and the price tag to attend Rice in rates. The largest change was the $40,000 fall 2016 is no exception. 2006 increase to $28,705, a 13.5 2006-07 Tuition Rice has announced that its percent increase from the previous undergraduate tuition for the 2016- year. Since 2014, the rate of tuition $28,705* +13.5% from previous year 17 school year will be $43,220, a increase has steadied, hovering Largest increase in history $1,660 increase from the current around 4.2 percent per year in $30,000 year. The total cost of $57,668, both 2014 and 2015. This year, the which includes $13,750 for room percent increase is slightly lower at and board and $698 in mandatory 4.0 percent. 2000-01 Tuition fees, represents a 3.2 percent Vice President for Enrollment increase from 2015. Chris Muñoz said a student’s $20,000 $17,720* According to President David investment in Rice is matched by *Tuition rates before 2009-10 varied annually Leebron, the administration has the quality of life afforded by a Rice upon matriculation year. The average is worked to keep tuition hikes as education. He cited the university’s calculated annually of the four classes. low as possible, given donor 2016 Princeton Review rankings, $10,000 support and contributions to Rice’s which included No. 1 for racial endowment. interaction. “Our undergraduate students “Students who invest in a Rice 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014 2016 contribute through their tuition education get to study at a university and fees payments on average that is highly ranked for quality of which represent a total increase has reported its 2016 tuition rate to than Rice’s 2016 tuition, will also about 30 percent of the total cost life, happiest students and lots of of 144 percent since 2000, Rice’s be $51,510. In 2015, Northwestern likely increase for 2016. All three of their education, but we have race and class interaction by the tuition remains lower than those of University’s tuition was $48,624. institutions have consistently worked very hard to keep increases Princeton Review,” Muñoz said. peer institutions, according to the Vanderbilt University’s 2015 tuition shown yearly increases in tuition in their share as small as possible Even with the tuition hikes, mostrecentreports.DukeUniversity of $42,768, though slightly lower since 2000. New EVP election Paypal co-founder critiques to fill vacancy pitches, talks entrepreneurship Drew Keller “Justin will be sincerely missed Anita Alem Duncan College junior Philip Taff et a level of information that’s valuable to News Editor on the executive team, but I ap- News Editor presented his venture, a communica- the industry, but there’s all sorts of oth- preciate how transparent he has tions software for the automobile com- er related information around that,” A special election will be held been through this diffi cult process,” PayPal co-founder and Affi rm CEO munications industry. Will Rice Col- Jun said. “I hope that we were able to for Student Association external Thomas said. “His commitment to Max Levchin visited Rice to discuss lege sophomore Jake Nyquist, Lovett encourage them to look at some of the vice president by the end of serve the SA and his peers remains entrepreneurship as a part of his Uni- College junior Brett Gutstein and an broader things there.” the month, pending SA Senate unwavering, and I look forward to versity Tech Tour in an event organized automobile journalist who is not a Rice Although Scott said he was unwill- approval, due to elected candidate continuing to work with him in the jointly with the computer science club. student are also members of the team. ing to pick favorites, Jun said he felt the Justin Onwenu’s decision to step future. I respect his decision and Levchin, a serial entrepreneur, said Taff et said the team, which they baseball pitching device was an excel- down before changeover for hope others will respect his privacy.” one of the main reasons he was drawn named Steward Technology, hopes to lent product in terms of not requiring personal reasons. to Rice was its diversity. see their startup out to the fullest. major education to create a need and According to Director of “We’re looking for far-flung places “We’re in a very niche market,”he for taking advantage of Bluetooth tech- Elections Sai Chilakapati, Senate to find talent,” Levchin said. “One of said. “We know we won’t be the next nology on smartphones. will vote on the the timeline for the things that I care about is gender Facebook. Max is a famous entrepre- “The hardest part about a new tech- a special election on March 14, diversity, and Silicon Valley is not ex- neur; we [hope] to get feedback on our nology is it’s easy to convince yourself then finalize the ballot a week I hope to con- actly a haven of women in computer idea and keep our momentum going.” that the technology is useful and valu- later, after which campaigning science.” Their team has previously won Owl able,” Jun said. “But it’s often hard will begin. Chilakapati, a Hanszen tinue to serve as He cited the relatively high percent- Open, a startup competition with the to do it in a way that’s demonstrably College junior, said the goal is to age of women studying computer sci- Jones Business School. better than the existing product, and have the election completed by a voice for stu- ence at Rice as an impressive achieve- Jones School student Alexander it’s very interesting when you look at March 30. ment for a top-tier program, and said Wesley and his team created the Spon- [products] that can do that.” dent concerns in This process follows the he may be interested in hiring them for taneous Pop-Up Display, or SPUD. It Jun and Scott said they encouraged procedure prescribed by the SA other capacities. any of his projects or companies. is a 24-inch portable computer screen students to recognize the value of sim- constitution, which states that Although Levchin was scheduled to that can be connected to a phone or ply building. a special election to replace a attend a student pitch competition pri- laptop. Duncan junior George Zhu is “The one thing I would impart on position must take place two weeks Justin Onwenu or to his talk, flight delays caused him also a member of the team. Wesley any organization that’s trying to en- after the Senate meeting following to miss the presentations, which were said he felt Levchin’s visit and the pitch courage entrepreneurship and leader- a resignation. Former EVP-Elect recorded for later viewing. competition presented a good opportu- ship is to not underestimate the power Onwenu, a Sid Richardson “I’m hoping to be blown away by a nity to learn. of a builder’s ethos,” Scott said. “There College sophomore, won the EVP few pitches,” Levchin said. “These guys have a lot of years of is true value in just making some- vote in the February general elec- Several representatives of Levchin’s experience in the startup world,” Wes- thing–and that value is evident every- tion with 54 percent of the vote. company Hard, Valuable, Fun, also ley said. “It’s incumbent upon you as where. The most impressive pitches we In his statement, he said that Brianna Singh, one of two can- known as HVF, were in attendance, an entrepreneur to try to learn more saw today were the ones who had built stepping down before Beer Bike, didates who ran against Onwenu including Chief Technology Offi cer every day.” the most.” when changeover officially occurs, for EVP in February, said she is not Benjamin Jun and Head of Investments SPUD is planning to begin their pre- would aid SA President Griffin planning on running in the special Eric Scott. HVF provides seed invest- sale campaign soon and may ship units Thomas and the rest of the execu- election. Hannah Todd, the other ments for emerging projects centered as early as February 2017. tive team in pursuing their agenda. candidate, said she is still decid- on data and is responsible for produc- Ziel Solutions, the team with Sid “Given recent personal circum- ing. The special election will also ing companies such as Yelp, Slide and Richardson College junior Alex Dzeda stances, I believe [not assuming be open to any other undergradu- financial tech company Affi rm. Jun and and Will Rice senior Senthil Natarajan, the EVP role] is the best decision ate, except those disqualified due Scott were in the pitch room critiquing presented their device for reducing the for myself and for the SA,” Onwenu to conflict of interest or probation. teams as they presented their ideas. risk of injury from repetitive physical said in his statement. “Although I Thomas said he will not sup- “Some of these students walked in activity, especially for baseball pitch- am sad to leave this journey pre- port a specific candidate in the with companies that they are going to ing injuries.