Rolling in Widening Don’t drop that the dough the gap thun thun ... class INSIDE Local Houston rapper Baseball sweeps UAB to UCourt Chair Brian Baran urges New DegreeWorks Doughbeezy visits Willy’s Pub for increase their lead in students to protest the new drop system to replace Beats & Beer this Thursday. conference USA. deadline policies. ECAPP degree audit see A&E p. 6 See Sports p. 9 see Ops p. 5 See P. 2

Volume CI, Issue No. 26 student-Run since 1916 wednesday, April 23, 2014 Students allege mistreatment from SJP staff

by Molly Chiu “They painted a picture about Senior Editor me that wasn’t true and then didn’t give me a chance to refute it,” the In recent weeks, following sev- student said. eral student suspensions and ex- SJP handles cases regarding the pulsions, rumors have circulated enforcement of the Alcohol Policy that Student Judicial Programs and the Code of Student Conduct. mistreated students during inter- Zollner said cases generally come views regarding drug issues on to her office through Rice Universi- campus. However, SJP has denied ty Police Department reports, but these allegations and claims the students and faculty can also file interviews were conducted accord- reports directly. ing to procedure. Although each case is different, Zollner said the typical first step in SJP’s investigation is to meet with the accused student. During the “They were profane, rude, interview with a student, a mem- and completely unprofes- ber of SJP will ask the student to describe the situation and offer an sional ... They painted explanation of events. Zollner said a picture about me that the student is welcomed to speak wasn’t true and then didn’t in their own defense during the interview. give me a chance to refute “They’re not criticized or sanc- it. ” tioned for offering a robust defense,” Zollner said. “They can offer differ- Student involved ent interpretations of the facts.” in Student Judicial Programs However, the student said he proceedings feels the entire process was unfair. “Even at the slightest move of disobedience, SJP will come crack- A student involved in the pro- ing down with injustice,” the stu- ceedings, whose identity will be dent said. “It’s not innocent until kept anonymous in order to protect proven guilty at Rice. There’s no due his privacy, said he was given one process in any way, shape or form.” hour’s notice of the meeting with Zollner said students do receive bill wang/thresher SJP. Then during the interview, he fair treatment and due process An excavator demolishes the Rice Art Barn, commissioned in 1969 by Houston art patrons John and Dominique claims he was bullied, threatened during SJP investigations. de Menil to house a visiting machine show from the Museum of Modern Art in New York and later used as and scared into submission. He re- exhibition space until the Menil Collection was built in 1987. The space was being used by the Martel Center for called a particular exchange with Associate Dean of Undergraduates Continuous Studies after originally serving as the Rice Museum. According to Vice President for Administration Don Ostdiek, in which Ostdiek “When I’m given informa- Kevin Kirby, the building was structurally unsound and would have cost too much to renovate. Kirby said there cursed at him. tion that’s a factual mis- are currently plans to plant grass surrounding the tree Andy Warhol planted in front of the Art Barn “After I said I wasn’t comfort- representation, I question able with a question and that I wanted to talk to my parents and it, and I prod. That process lawyer, Ostdiek said, ‘I don’t give can be very uncomfortable a shit how you feel. You have to Faculty Senate passes grade inflation legislation answer my question,’” the student for the student.” said. “They were profane, rude Lisa Zollner by Yasna Haghdoost ing Group co-chair Jane Grande- through the Student Senate.” and completely unprofessional.” Director of Student Judicial News Editor Allen indicates that Duncan Col- Grande-Allen also cited presen- Director of SJP Lisa Zollner said Programs lege Senator Chynna Foucek was tations given to various residential she and members of her office do The Rice University Faculty Sen- chosen to lead the discussion on colleges throughout the year and a not curse at students. However, ate passed three motions proposed exploring the student perspective presentation given to the SA in No- Zollner said they are thorough in “Due process is being given no- by the Working Group on Grade In- on the issues. Grande-Allen said vember as further examples of stu- their investigation and interviews tice of what you’re being accused flation last month on March 26. Foucek, as the student represen- dent involvement in the process. with students can get heated at of, an opportunity to be heard in The first motion states that aca- tative, attended Working Group “I presented slides and an- times, especially if she has evi- full – which might include submit- demic programs offering courses meetings and served as a mediator swered lots of questions,” Grande- dence to prove a student is not ting statements from witnesses ranging from 100 to 300 levels between the student body and the Allen said. “They were really helpful telling the truth. – and a decision based on avail- must have faculty-wide discussion Working Group. meetings that shaped our analysis “When I’m given information able information,” Zollner said. about grading standards at least “[Foucek] was fully involved in and framing of the motions.” that’s a factual misrepresentation, “There’s also the appeal, which I once every five years. The second the conversations about the data However, Baran said he believes I question it, and I prod,” Zollner don’t have a say in.” motion, effective in fall 2018, states analysis and development of the mo- the presentations did not sufficient- said. “That process can be very According to Dean of Under- that an A+ grade will be worth a 4.0 tions,” Grande-Allen said. “We al- ly represent the voice of the student uncomfortable for the student. graduates John Hutchinson, stu- instead of its current 4.33 value in ways asked for her input. She worked body and a more formal method I wouldn’t expect someone who dents may appeal SJP rulings to calculating GPA. The third motion especially closely with me on the pre- should have been pursued. has been through that process to him if they believe them unfair. states that evidence of teaching sentations to the SA and colleges.” “Giving presentations and col- have good things to say about it. “Any time concerns are brought quality should be used in addition However, University Court lecting questions and comments Although students might feel un- to me, I follow up on those to to student ratings of instructors re- Chair Brian Baran said he believes informally doesn’t ensure student comfortable when being asked make sure we’re following appro- garding promotions and tenures. Foucek’s representation on the voices are heard,” Baran said. about their behavior, that does not priate procedures and practices,” The motion cites peer or chair ob- Working Group does not qualify as “Students should have the oppor- indicate a flaw in the process.” Hutchinson said. “Any student servations, as well as “teaching ar- sufficient student representation. tunity to have campus-wide dis- However, the student said the who has been found in violation tifacts” such as exams and syllabi, “Having a representative on a cussions and debates on campus- evidence against him consisted and feels there has been a problem as examples of evidence to use in committee is not enough,” Baran, wide issues and to pass, through only of hearsay, and that he be- in process can appeal to me under evaluating teaching quality. a Duncan junior, said. “The stu- the Student Association, legisla- lieves he is innocent of the charges the Code of Student Conduct.” An email sent from Class of 2013 dent body at large should have the tion formalizing the opinion of the 0 brought against him. see sjp, page 4 SA President Sanjula Jain to Work- opportunity to weigh in on issues 0see grades, page 3 2 NEWS the Rice Thresher Wednesday, April 23, 2014 DegreeWorks to make major completion status more visible by Tina Nazerian behind-the-scenes access issues. The Registrar Thresher Staff wants to ensure students and departments can only access their own records and not other’s. Students will soon be able to easily find out “If all goes well between [the access issues] exactly what they need for their major. By early and our final sign-off from academic depart- next semester, the Office of the Registrar plans to ments, we expect to be able to roll this out in replace the current degree-auditing tool, ECAPP, the fall,” Tenney said. “[DegreeWorks] exists, with DegreeWorks, a web-based degree-auditing it’s there. We’ve been using the tool. It prob- tool that will let students and their major advisors ably won’t be available the first week of class, evaluate degree progress. but we would like to have it up and running in Registrar David Tenney said ECAPP only cer- the early part of the semester, so that students tifies university requirements, such as distribu- are using it for the December conferral, and as tions, Lifetime Physical Activity Program classes students are declaring their majors and apply- and Freshman Writing Intensive Seminars. ing for graduation.” “[ECAPP] does not include undergraduate Tenney said the Registrar plans to set up De- major requirements,” Tenney (Sid Richardson ‘87) greeWorks for undergraduate curriculum first. said. “That was our big goal — to incorporate the “We’ll then tackle [the] grade-level curriculum major requirements into the audit system.” with attention first spent on the MBA programs Rachel Marcus/thresher According to Tenney, major requirements had and the professional masters degrees,” Tenney Hanszen College senior Jonika Tannous presents her research at the Rice Undergraduate Re- to be manually added to the DegreeWorks system. said. “The curriculum for the MBA programs is search Symposium on April 16, where more than 350 students competed for monetary prizes. “We’ve been working on scribing the curricu- well-defined, so we believe that we’ll be able to lum for almost a year,” Tenney said. “We began implement that within a short period of time after with the General Announcements, Rice’s official we finish the [undergraduate] roll-out.” and documented curriculum. We [took] a look Tenney said the administration gave the go- at the major requirements as put forward by the ahead for purchasing the DegreeWorks software departments, and then we [attempted] to scribe it a year and a half ago, but localizations from the into a form of computer code, which essentially software company have set back the date the enables a student to see exactly where they’re at system goes live. The following items were reported to the Rice University Police with their major.” “One of the main things is to give [Degree- Department for the period April 14 - April 18. This does not rep- Tenney said the Registrar has scribed all ma- Works] our look and feel,” Tenney said. “Here resent the daily crime log required by the Clery Act, which can jors starting from matriculation year 2011, allow- at Rice, we refer to our academic schools as be found at rupd.rice.edu ing the rising senior class to be the first to make ‘schools;’ other places call them ‘college[s].’ We use of DegreeWorks since major requirements can use semester credit hours; some people use quar- change each year. ter hours. [Many of] our students have multiple Residential colleges The Registrar will spend the summer confirm- majors; a lot of [universities] have a limit on the McMurtry College April 14 Theft ing with department chairs that curriculum has number of majors. We needed the ability for an South Colleges April 14 Theft of a bicycle been accurately scribed, according to Tenney. [advisor] to see multiple majors.” Duncan College April 15 Theft “We are about to go to [department heads] Lovett College junior Shelby McPherson said Baker College April 15 Theft and say, ‘based on our conversation with your she thinks DegreeWorks will be simpler than Lovett College April 18 Trespassing department’s undergraduate curriculum chair, looking at all the degree requirements for each of and our review of the General Announce- her majors and trying to make sure she is taking Other buildlings ments, this is what we show for your major,’” the right classes. North Servery April 13 Assault Tenney said. “Once they sign off, we’ll make “Especially when you have more than one ma- everything available.” jor, checking major requirements can be tedious,” Other locations According to Tenney, the reason DegreeWorks McPherson said. “It [will] be nice to have some- Entrance 18 April 14 Family disturbance has not yet been introduced is because of the thing that does it for you.” Wednesday, April23, 2014 the Rice Thresher NEWS 3 Architecture students design, build Hermann Park Centennial Pavilion by Jieya Wen 2012, said. “There is a pathway outside, so as Thresher Staff you move around the piece, you can appreciate the different frames. It is constantly changing The Rice Building Workshop, an organization and evolving as you move around the space.” within the Rice University School of Architec- Fleming said three sets of benches made of ture, is constructing a pavilion in Hermann Park concrete sit at the base of the steel triangle. for the park’s centennial celebration. The pavil- “There is a series of tensile cables that will run ion is located next to the Metro Rail Hermann from the points to the benches,” Fleming said. “It Park/RiceU station and is expected to be finished implies a continuous plane that weaves all the by April 25, according to Rice Building Workshop pieces together.” Fellow Peter Muessig. Muessig said the inspiration for this pavilion “[Construction] just started this semester,” was “convergence,” which is represented by how Muessig, who received a Master of Architecture three institutions — Rice University, the Texas from Rice in 2012, said. “Design had been pur- Medical Center and the museum district — center sued last semester, but [students] had to start from around Hermann Park. scratch once [the Rice Building Workshop] ad- “The overall form of the pieces and a lot of de- dressed the budget for construction.” tails that make it up all play up this notion of con- Hermann Park commissioned 20 different vergence,” Muessig said. “There are these planes works of art to celebrate its centennial, including that suggest larger forms, and everything is just the pavilion by Rice University and one pavilion held slightly apart. The project really tries to get courtesy rice school of architecture by the University of Houston. The Rice University people passing by to pause for a moment to move A graphic depiction portrays the completed Hermann Park Centennial Pavilion in Hermann Park. The pavilion will remain at Hermann Park until next around it. We try to draw them in to understand pavilion was designed by Rice architecture students and will be completed by the end of the month. April, according to Danny Samuels, program di- all the different surfaces and the faces of it.” rector of Rice Building Workshop. According to Samuels, the Rice Building munity,” Samuels said. “We started looking at Rice alumni have been working on building Architecture graduate student Siqi Zhu de- Workshop involves a course offered by the affordable houses. We started a relationship with this pavilion. signed the pavilion, according to Rice Building School of Architecture to provide students the the Project Row Houses over [in] the Third Ward. “Architecture students who take the course Workshop Fellow Jason Fleming. opportunity to apply their creativity to practical We’ve also done installations, exhibitions and oth- are involved, but we also like to make relation- “There is sort of a dark grey outside [on the demands in the Houston community. er types of things. Any community-based problem ships with other schools,” Samuels said. “For in- outside frame of the triangle], and the inside “The Rice Building Workshop began in 1996 that needs the attention of architecture, we try it.” stance, engineering students have been working face is bright, yellowy green,” Fleming, who when [then] Dean Lars Lerup said to get architec- Samuels said students in the Rice Building on this project. Some of the concrete work has received a Master of Architecture from Rice in ture students out of the studio and into the com- Workshop course, other Rice students and been done by civil engineering students.”

However, Grande-Allen said the Working “[The Faculty] Senate wanted extensive back needs to be supplemented by a vote of 0grades Group ensured that student opinion, heard student participation in these discussions, the Student Senate on legislation clearly con- from page 1 throughout the presentations with residen- and the Working Group did an excellent job veying students’ position and reasoning.” tial colleges, was well accounted for in the in getting it,” Caldwell said. “I’ve rarely seen SA President Ravi Sheth said the Working student body as a whole. Presentations are final decision. a more dedicated set of senators more con- Group has been active in taking the student better suited for providing information than “We took extensive notes from our meet- cerned to get the opinion of all affected par- voice into account during discussions sur- for discussing and building a consensus.” ings with the colleges and SA,” Grande-Allen ties across campus. In my estimation, this is rounding grade inflation. Baran said he believes proper debate was lack- said. “After visiting three or four colleges, we an example of how to discuss difficult prob- “The Working Group on Grade Infla- ing in the discussion that occurred back in the fall. began to hear the same group of questions lems [the right way].” tion has been working closely with stu- “By failing to provide an opportunity for and concerns from students. These concerns Baran acknowledges the Faculty Senate’s dents through a deliberate process for many real debate, as distinct from a presentation were specifically addressed in the notes that efforts in taking student opinion into con- months,” Sheth, a Martel College senior, in which the chair of the Working Group on accompany the motions in the final report.” sideration, but wishes students had input said. “With the passing of these motions, an Grade Inflation provided misleading data, in- Faculty Senate Speaker Carl Caldwell said through a more formal process. important part of the shared governance of cluding graphs without labels, the SA Execu- he believes the process of passing the mo- “I appreciate the work done to gather the university will be to continue to share in- tive Committee has cut students out of their tions on grade inflation is a good example of questions and comments,” Baran said. formation and gauge student opinion to this own student government,” Baran said. decision-making that involved students. “However, on an issue this big, such feed- information and react appropriately.” 4 NEWS the Rice Thresher Wednesday, April 23, 2014

0 “They are not a standalone institution,” sjp Hutchinson said. “Their decisions are deci- SA creates two appointed from page 1 sions of the university.” The student said he thinks it was unfair This student has since left the university that he was not allowed to have a third par- positions for next semester and said he will not appeal his case. ty, such as a parent or lawyer, present in the by Anita Alem “I miss Rice, and I miss the people at room during the interview. Thresher Staff Rice, but I would never go back even if I “They are incredibly hypocritical,” the could,” the student said. “I don’t want to be student said. “They tout a culture of care, The Student Association appointed stu- ruled under an oppressive administration but they’re quick to deny basic rights to us.” dents to University Standing Committees that is quick to judge, is quick to incriminate Zollner said, during discussions between and created two new positions — Executive and does not adhere to its own standards of SJP and an accused student, third parties are Vice President Trent Navran and Chief of excellence.” generally not allowed in the room. However, Staff Sai Chilakapati, according to SA Presi- according to Zollner, this is not a written dent Ravi Sheth. policy and in certain circumstances, excep- “The dedicated people who serve as part Trent navran Sai Chilakapati “SJP seems to believe these drug tions could be made. of the SA are really on the front line of creat- incidents are isolated and under “We treat students like adults,” Zollner ing change,” Sheth said. “We provide the de- said. “It’s absolutely right for a student to velopment, opportunities and connections for design and implementation of ventures.” wraps. They seem to believe that draw support from friends, masters, parents to make change happen — but our team is Navran said he will continue working if they can expel a few students or pastors, but when it comes time for dis- actually on the front line, meeting with ad- with Sheth, faculty, staff and administrators who are up to no good – students ciplinary process, that conversation is be- ministrators, talking to students, sending on his projects. tween me and that student.” out surveys and ‘fixing it.’” “With sustained effort and determina- who are corrupting the rest of Other students have raised concerns that SA Secretary Olivia Hsia said she has al- tion, the SA can truly become a place that the stellar, straight-edged Rice the interview conversation with SJP cannot ready begun collaborating with Chilakapati relentlessly serves the campus to make the be recorded. on engaging the student body. Rice experience as stimulating and trail- community – then their drug According to the Sept. 6, 2013 version of “With his passion and energy, [Chi- blazing as possible,” Navran said. “I hope to problem will go away.” the Code of Student Conduct, judicial pro- lakapati] has already proven to be an invalu- work with fellow students, faculty, staff and ceedings cannot be recorded. This change able source of insight and ideas,” Hsia said. the administration to make Rice’s curricu- Student involved and others were made between May and “[Navran’s] role will enable us to engage lum more relevant and purposeful, students in SJP proceedings September of 2013. in more issues at a time and with a greater more supported in their unconventional en- “Unauthorized recording of administra- depth and understanding. With his extraor- deavors and the Student Association more tive, faculty or judicial meetings is prohib- dinary leadership and insight, I envision looked upon as the optimal forum through The student said he felt he and other stu- ited,” the Code of Student Conduct currently us working together to find out what issues which ideas and action can be brought to dents were made to be scapegoats for larger states. matter the most to students at Rice and then their full potential.” drug issues at Rice. Previously, only unauthorized surveil- taking the necessary steps to fix them.” “SJP seems to believe these drug inci- lance and photography were banned. Chief of Staff dents are isolated and under wraps,” the The Code allows for unannounced chang- Executive Vice President Chilakapati, a Hanszen College fresh- student said. “They seem to believe that if es to be made by the Dean of Undergradu- Navran, a McMurtry College junior, said man, said he expects changes and enhance- they can expel a few students who are up to ates and the Assistant Dean, although the the executive vice president position will al- ments to the SA in the upcoming year, espe- no good – students who are corrupting the position of Assistant Dean no longer exists. low him to focus exclusively on driving for- cially concerning internal communication. rest of the stellar, straight-edged Rice com- University Court Chair Brian Baran said ward key projects, because he will be free of “As the chief of staff, I am responsible for munity – then their drug problem will go he is concerned about changes being made other responsibilities and weekly meetings. enhancing and ensuring efficient communi- away. Unfortunately, they are sadly mistak- to the Code without student notification. “One priority includes mobilizing the cation in the SA, as well as actively partici- en. SJP is targeting a select minority, think- “If the Code of Student Conduct is being Rice community to critically assess and ad- pating in advisory activities of the Executive ing they can eradicate a much larger issue, changed without students knowing about it, vance the undergraduate experience, exam- Committee,” Chilakapati said. “Further- an issue that’s societally ingrained and om- it undermines the judicial system we have ining how well academics, extracurriculars, more, I am responsible for assisting the IVP nipresent.” here,” Baran, a Duncan College junior, said. problem solving and social life are integrat- in implementing the New Student Represen- Ostdiek said SJP does not have a mandate “It makes it unclear what we can really hold ed to best allow students to hone in on their tative Program.” from the administration to crack down on students accountable for, because students passions,” Navran said. “Our goal here is Chilakapati said he would also like to drugs at Rice. should know what the code says and, realis- to make bold moves to ensure the Rice ex- see the SA website used as a better means “SJP acts when there is sufficient, credi- tically, they can’t be expected to be checking perience and education of the new century, of reaching out the student body. He said ble evidence to move forward,” Ostdiek said. frequently to see whether it has changed.” across all these areas, is in line with stu- students who are passionate about website Depending on the nature of the case, SJP dents’ values and is truly as unconventional development should be brought in from out- will sometimes prepare a letter detailing the as we’d like it to be.” side the SA to ensure continuous mainte- charges to present to the student at the end “From day one, my instruction was According to Navran, the SA plans to en- nance of the site. of their meeting with a student. However, hance its website and increase frank and According to Chilakapati, the SA’s cur- this procedure can vary. In some cases, SJP to make the decision that I feel widespread student input via social media. rent mode of vertical, hierarchical commu- may learn additional information in the is right. At the end of the day, the Navran said the SA could develop into an nication, which prevents SA officers from meeting, which would amend the charge let- position that I can defend is the accountable and effective hub of change directly contacting administration, hinders ter. Additionally, SJP may decide after the on campus, stemming from the SA’s strong progress. interview to not pursue charges. position I know is the right one.” leadership and bold vision. “For example, if committee members At the end of the interview with a stu- Lisa Zollner Navran said the two issues he plans to have to communicate to the Office of Aca- dent, Zollner said SJP will generally present Director of Student Judicial Programs specifically address are the Rice graduation demic Advising, they would have to make a the student with a charge letter detailing the requirements as well as fostering entrepre- request all the way up to the IVP, who would evidence against them. After a student re- neurship in the student body. then talk to the representative in the Office ceives a charge letter, he or she has a period “The SA plans to reconsider what it means of Academic Advising and then set up a for- during which they can review their case file Baran also said he believes students to get a Rice degree: Is our Rice education mal line of communication,” Chilakapati and formulate a response to SJP, which may ought to be involved in the decision-making best preparing us for post-grad employment said. “In addressing SA internal communi- include requests for SJP to interview other process that leads to substantial changes to and unconventional careers?” Nazran said. cation, I hope to sit down with current and sources. the Code. “In our second project, we hope to arrange past senators, committee chairs and NSRs in “This is a process where students need resources and organizations to better serve order to gauge their experiences within the to be informed,” Baran said. “If this univer- the innovative and entrepreneurial spirit of SA to formulate a thoughtful and efficient “What the amnesty policy does sity truly values its tradition of student self- Rice students, finding more ways to fund system for implementation in the upcoming governance and actually believes that it is a ideas, foster collaboration and create spaces academic year.” not cover is the provision or sale of student-governed university, then it needs hard alcohol or illegal substances to be consulting students on any substantive changes.” such as narcotics or hallucinogens. Baran said he encourages students to ap- 2013-2014 Student Association Awards Students in those instances are not peal if they are concerned about the judicial given amnesty because that is the process. Each year, the Rice Student Associa- Outstanding Senior Awards: “If the wrong outcome was reached or tion distinguishes select members. Stu- opposite of the culture of care.” they were treated unfairly, an appeal is the dents are chosen for their dedication and Muhammad Shamim John Hutchinson most direct path to resolving that,” Baran vision for the future of the student body. Gabe Baker Dean of Undergraduates said. Patrick McCarthy Baran said he wants students to know Rice University Hugh Scott Cameron Monica Matsumoto that not all information regarding these cas- Service Awards: Christian Neal es is publicly available to students. Daniel Cohen Finally, Zollner said she or the SJP con- “I would ... encourage students who Anne Hellebust John Muller duct officer investigating the case will re- aren’t directly affected to remember that Evan Austin Eric Talbert view all the information and determine an they don’t always have all of the information Helene Dick Priyanka Duvvuru appropriate sanction if they believe a viola- that’s out there, so we shouldn’t really be Yoonjin Min Heather Olson tion has occurred. All SJP decisions made jumping to conclusions,” Baran said. “Stu- come directly from the person investigating dents should always ask themselves wheth- the case, according to Zollner. er there might be more to a story.” “We are not directed to decide whether Under the medical amnesty policy, if stu- a violation occurred, nor directed as to ap- dents using alcohol or illegal substances propriate sanctions, from anywhere else on seek help from EMS, it will be treated as a campus,” Zollner said. “From day one, my medical issue, not a disciplinary issue, ac- Clarification: instruction was to make the decision that I cording to Hutchinson. feel is right. At the end of the day, the posi- “There should never be any concern for tion that I can defend is the position I know students calling EMS,” Hutchinson said. An article titled “Proposed legislation limits number of class drops to is the right one.” “What the amnesty policy does not cover is four” printed April 16 stated “[A] proposal [by the Committee on Un- The student said he felt Zollner should the provision or sale of hard alcohol or ille- dergraduate Curriculum] would allow students to drop a maximum of not be deciding the verdict on her own and gal substances such as narcotics or halluci- four classes during their time at Rice … Any further dropped classes that SJP should have additional oversight nogens. Students in those instances are not would be marked as withdrawals on the student’s transcript.” However, and increased transparency. given amnesty because that is the opposite this is only true if the drops are made after the add/drop period ends. “Zollner is who decides,” the student of the culture of care. In that case, students Therefore, under this policy, students would be allowed one late drop said. “She is the prosecutor. She is the judge. are endangering other students by providing per academic year, which for most students results in four drops total. She is the jury. That’s not justice. It’s all her them with substances that may harm them.” The proposal would not limit the total number of drops allowed for stu- opinion, and there’s nothing to refute that.” dents, as the article initially implied. Hutchinson said sanctions determined by Thresher News Editors Yasna Haghdoost SJP represent the standards of the university. and Andrew Ta contributed to this article. 5

Students must stand up to misguided drop limit proposal The time has come once again for students to This leaves us with two other purported prob- are full and some of the students in them are reg- stand up to the University Committee on the Un- lems the CUC claims its proposal will solve. istered for more courses than they intend to take. Grade inflation motions dergraduate Curriculum and its latest attempt to First, the Thresher quoted McIntosh as saying I suspect the third type of experience is shared change the way dropping classes works at Rice the current system encourages students to take on by far fewer than 44 percent of students. It is nev- constructive despite University (“Proposed legislation limits number of overly rigorous and stressful course loads, reduc- ertheless a problem, but one that warrants a nar- implementation concerns class drops to four,” April 16). And it is also time ing their academic performance. rowly tailored solution. to acknowledge what is really happening here. This cannot be inferred from 45 percent of re- For example, Rice could keep the drop dead- The Thresher thinks the motions to ad- In focusing our attention on students’ selection spondents reporting that they register for more line at week seven but impose a fine for students dress grade inflation passed by the Faculty of courses, the CUC is — whether intentionally or courses than they intend to complete, many of who, after week two, drop courses that were full at Senate in March address an important topic not — distracting our community from the more whom may have meant that they drop the extra the add deadline, with exceptions for extenuating in higher education but prove somewhat important issue: the number of courses and sec- courses during the shopping period. This is not circumstances and where the fine would present problematic (see story, pg. 1). Most impor- tions offered, which is closely tied to the number a problem; it is the point of the shopping period. an unreasonable financial burden. tantly, we believe Rice students and students of faculty members Rice is willing to hire. Furthermore, the CUC has not reported the over- Anything beyond a narrowly tailored solu- at comparable private institutions should The CUC’s proposal to limit to four the number lap between those 45 percent of respondents and tion will merely harm students for no additional not receive advantages over other students of courses students can drop between the week the 44 percent who said they dropped courses be- benefit. If the CUC wants to fix the problem of stu- because of grade inflation. However, we also two add deadline and the week seven drop dead- cause they had too large of an academic load. dents not getting into classes they need or want, maintain our opinions presented in our Nov. line without an indication of a withdrawal on their However, we should grant that even after the it should recommend a real solution: Rice needs 13, 2013 staff editorial. Grade inflation is cer- transcripts is not a solution. It is overly broad with add deadline, some students keep more courses to account for its larger student body by offering tainly a concern at Rice, as it is at many of our regard to the purported problem and utterly use- than they plan to finish, in part because it is often more sections of popular and required courses peer institutions, but there still exists some- less as a response to the actual problem. still unclear at week two what a course will be like. and, where necessary, hiring more faculty. what limited data supporting its existence. It is disconcerting that each time the CUC This is a problem to the extent that it prevents Students should be offended that the CUC is Furthermore, while grade point averages are raises this issue, the claimed problem and justi- other students from taking those courses. But the essentially blaming them for registration woes important, most law schools, medical schools fications change, but effectively moving the drop resulting stress and academic consequences do stemming from inadequate availability of courses. and other graduate programs standardize deadline to week two is somehow still the solu- not warrant the CUC’s pseudo-parental response. We must stand up against the accusation that the GPAs from different schools, because they tion. This should lead us to suspect that the CUC is Rice students are adults, and those who take more problem is that we are registering for too many recognize differences in GPA calculation, just looking for a justification that resonates with courses than they can handle are responsible for courses — by paying full-time tuition, we purchase such as weighting A-pluses as 4.0s instead of the community. the consequences of their decisions. The entire the right to take anywhere from 12 to 20 credits 4.33s. Additionally, while some may consider Why would the CUC want to do this? Perhaps student body should not be penalized for some each semester. We are not breaking the system by grade inflation to be more of a problem for it is the usual reason: Rice should follow its peer students’ irresponsibility. doing so. Our current registration problems will departments in which subjective grading is institutions in order to maintain its reputation. This brings us to the problem as presented in not be solved until Rice puts its money where its prevalent, Latin honors are relatively consis- Prior to his campaign for Student Association the survey’s most spectacularly biased question. mouth is by offering enough courses and sections tent across the different academic schools, president, in which he promised to stand up to That question reads, “In order to enable more and hiring enough faculty to meet the needs of its indicating that the potential problem is the administration, Ravi Sheth served as external students to enroll in high-demand classes, a expanded student body. universal in nature. vice president and worked with the CUC and the change is needed to the add/drop policy. Recog- The Student Association exists to serve and One of the motions mandates that A- Office of Institutional Effectiveness to conduct the nizing this, what should be the disincentive(s) to advocate for the interests of students. We, the pluses be weighted as 4.0s, rather than 4.33s, survey the CUC is using to justify its proposal. In dropping after the first two weeks of classes? Se- students, therefore need to encourage our repre- toward GPAs. The Thresher staff supports this an emailed response to my concerns about biased lect all that apply.” sentatives in the Student Senate to stand up to the potential change; 4.33 GPA points, in a way, questions, Sheth defended the survey and claimed There was no option to say that no change CUC. The Senate should pass a resolution oppos- suggest work that is beyond perfect. However, this is about more than just registration problems. was needed. ing the CUC’s misguided proposal and advocating the fact that A-pluses would continue to be “The more egregious problem, however, is the According to the Thresher, 44 percent of re- for a real solution instead. We stalled this once; present on transcripts means they could still fact that you can drop a class with no impact on spondents said they could not get into courses let’s now stop it for good. indicate an exemplary level of effort and aca- the transcript,” Sheth said. “In comparison with they wanted. The CUC seems to think this is demic performance, which we support. our peer institutions, this is incredibly lax, to the caused by 45 percent of students registering for We question the potential implementation point that other institutions demean the quality more courses than they plan to take. Rice faculty of the motion that faculty in each department and meaningful nature of Rice transcripts.” members should know better than to confuse cor- formulate grading standards every five years, However, the Thresher quoted CUC Chair Su- relation with causation. Brian Baran though it is an alluring goal. While standardiz- san McIntosh as saying some peer institutions’ Furthermore, it is unclear what is really meant is a Duncan ing grading sounds like a good idea, especially drop deadlines are near week two, but others by students not getting into courses they want. College junior for academic areas that require subjective range from weeks five to nine. The data do not distinguish between freshmen un- grading in which grades do often vary, we Rice is not in poor company. Among those able to get into popular electives filled by seniors and UCourt think grading guidelines would be hard to with similar drop deadlines are Cornell, Harvard (that’s life), students unable to get into required Chair enforce and would remove some of the nuance and Princeton. If this proposal is meant to im- courses because not enough sections are offered of teaching. We do, however, think introduc- prove Rice’s reputation, it is a solution in search (a problem not solved by the CUC’s proposal), and ing the potential of standardized grades could of a problem. students unable to get into courses because they promote important discussions about grading, academic performance and student expecta- tions. Additionally, we do not want Rice to become an overly-standardized academic com- munity; while, for example, grading on a strict system in which only 25 percent of students in any given class may receive an A works for other schools, we believe it would not foster As of today, I have served 44 days as your SA Change that matters: I want to acknowledge that this is a critical the kind of collaborative and supportive com- President. I would like to highlight some of our key Also tonight, the Alcohol Event Registration time for debate around many academic issues: munity that Rice promotes. accomplishments: Task Force will present their recommendations grade inflation, registration problems and teach- We most support the new suggestions for to create a permanent line of communication be- ing excellence all represent issues the student deciding which instructors will be awarded Tradition and sustainability: tween Student Judicial Programs and students, re- body must speak up on or risk not being heard. tenure. Earning tenure should not be primar- Building from my campaign agenda, two piec- sulting in a less stressful, more transparent event Currently, the CUC’s proposal is only a pro- ily based on student reviews potentially es of legislation will be voted on tonight to consti- registration process in the spirit of the Rice com- posal, not policy. As the faculty senate considers inflated by high grades, but should instead be tutionally create the “Future Alumni Committee” munity. this proposal over the fall, it will be thoroughly supplemented by other measures of teaching, and “Senior Committee.” These changes will discussed in the SA and in the colleges. such as in-class observation, syllabi and other ensure that Rice traditions continue to occur in a A new SA team: I am asking our EVP, Amritha, to lead our new- teaching artifacts. We believe the new motion sustainable manner, while fostering strengthened Over the past two weeks, we finalized our new ly appointed CUC representatives and academics makes important steps toward a fairer system programming and Rice culture. team, filling just under 40 positions in University standing committee chairs in 1) thoroughly review- of teacher evaluation in the tenure process. We also unanimously passed legislation two Standing Committees, SA Standing Committees ing upcoming curricular changes and 2) providing weeks ago creating a permanent “Wellbeing and our executive committee. Congratulations to the SA with recommendations as to whether we Unsigned editorials represent the major- Standing Committee,” bringing together student our new officers, and I am incredibly excited for need to consider further structural changes to in- ity opinion of the Thresher editorial staff. All other opinion pieces represent solely the opinion of the groups and the administration to proactively ad- the big things our new team will accomplish over crease transparency, communication and student piece’s author. dress important wellbeing issues across campus. the next year. representation on proposed curricular changes.

Editorial Staff sports arts & entertainment Maddy Adams Editor Sophie Newman Editor The Rice Thresher, the official student newspaper Editorial and business offices are located on the Miles Kruppa Evan Neustater Editor Kaylen Strench Editor at Rice University since 1916, is published each second floor of the Ley Student Center: Editor in Chief Sarah Nyquist Sports Designer Carrie Jiang A&E Designer Wednesday during the school year, except during 6100 Main St., MS-524 examination periods and holidays, by the students Houston, TX 77005-1892 Molly Chiu

Rachel Marcus art copy of Rice University. Phone (713) 348-4801 Claire Elestwani Art Director Christine Jeong Editor Senior Editors Email: [email protected] Dante Zakhidov Photo Editor Megan Seidel Editor Letters to the Editor must be received by 5 p.m. Website: www.ricethresher.org Marcel Merwin Assistant Photo news the Friday prior to publication and must be Editor Andrew Ta Editor backpage Alex Weinheimer Editor signed, including college and year if the writer Unsigned editorials represent the majority opinion of Yasna Haghdoost Editor Reed Thornburg Editor is a Rice student. Letters should not exceed 250 the Thresher editorial staff. All other opinion pieces Aruni Ranaweera News Designer web Nathan Shih Web Editor words in length. The Thresher reserves the rights represent solely the opinion of the piece’s author. advertising to edit letters for content and length and to place opinions Cynthia Bau Ads Manager Mitch Mackowiak Editor business letters on its website. The Thresher is a member of the ACP, TIPA and William Byers Manager CNBAM © Copyright 2013 SpringCleaning arts ENTERTAINMENT 6

Built On Glass A by Benjamin Huber-Rodriguez Thresher Staff

courtesy future classic

Some albums make you think, like the multi-layered dra- mas penned by The National. Others make you feel, like the heart-wrenching ballads on Arcade Fire’s Funeral. Some al- bums, such as Kendrick Lamar’s Good Kid, m.A.A.d. City, tell bet- ter stories through their songs than most works of modern fic- tion. The Black Keys’ records are for rocking out, Avicii is for rag- ing, Animal Collective expands art by carrie jiang your mind. And sometimes a record sports the perfect combi- nation of blended-synth chords, vocals like melted chocolate and a rhythm section so chilled Rapper Doughbeezy visits Rice out it turns Frozen into a day at the beach, it gives you the un- nerving desire to, well… enjoy Reed Thornburg “I’m trying to grow the brand,” the pleasures of intimacy. While Backpage Editor Doughbeezy said. “Right now, I’m out these features are nothing new to find more fans.” to the world of R&B, Chet Faker’s The charismatic “Beast from the Although his music is free, he be- Built On Glass is such a marvel- Southeast” rapper Doughbeezy will lieves this is the best way to make a ously consistent record that it perform at Willy’s Pub on Thursday, career in the long term. He hopes to stands out as a shining example April 24 for the final KTRU Beats and grow in popularity and then draw fi- of everything that’s right with the Beer event of the semester. nancially from other avenues, like music world’s current trend of Although born in Cleveland, Ohio, merchandise sales and concerts. combining all influences toward Tai Carr moved to southeast Houston Last year, Doughbeezy released his a budding singularity. in his early teens. As a high school album titled Footprints on the Moon. Chet Faker, the pseudonym student, Carr began freestyle rapping He took the title from the country sing- for Melbourne-based DJ and art- with his friends on the football team, er Paul Brandt’s song “There’s a World ist Nick Murphy, first achieved and from these early locker-room ses- Out There.” According to Doughbeezy, musical success back in 2011, sions his first rap group, the Head- the song serves as a personal motto. when his jazzy cover of Black- wreckas, formed. Doughbeezy, his “The song says ‘Don’t tell me the street’s ’95 rap classic “No Dig- decided moniker based on his earlier sky’s the limit, when there are foot- gity” reached the top spot on The nickname Doughboy (Carr was ap- prints on the moon,’” Doughbeezy Hype Machine and received con- parently not always the fit person he said. “For me, the sky is not the limit.” siderable radio play. Since then, is today), cites these early, informal And it appears he might be right. He Faker has released two EPs and a rap battles and freestyle sessions as has been featured by XXL magazine, smattering of remixes, all leading the first stage in the development and his collaboration record includes up to his stunning debut LP, Built of his career. local heroes Bun B and Slim Thug and On Glass. While these rap battles im- other rappers like the charting artist The first single and second pressed his classmates, it was not Kirko Bangz. He then went on to win track, “Talk is Cheap,” leads with until around 2010 that Doughbeezy the “Best Rapper in Texas Award” for splicing samples and a disjoint- gained recognition in a broader con- three consecutive years, before they ed backbeat until the synth riff text through his victories at weekly “retired him.” He has performed at catches and ties the song togeth- contests hosted by the local clothing South by Southwest and Free Press er. This merges into into Faker’s store SF2. The buzz at these events Summer Fest and has toured with rap- murky, bubbling vocals rising was sufficient to get him on some per Dom Kennedy. from the swamps before launch- early tours with Killa Kyleon, who As the conversation on the role ing into perhaps the catchiest performed at the previous Beats and of regionalism in Houston hip-hop chorus of the year, where the Beer event. Around this time, he also gets louder and louder, local rapper refrain of “I want to make you released his first mixtape, No Money, Doughbeezy does not appear to be move with confidence, I wanna No Conversation. phased by its implications. be with you alone” thoroughly Doughbeezy releases all his own “I’ve got my eyes on something big- schools any budding seduction music and has decided to make it all ger,” Doughbeezy said. “I’m looking to artist. As any good lead single available for free online. be the best rapper in Texas.” should, the track serves as a mi- see FAKER, page 8

THE improv fest fabrifaction damn girls awk talk WEEKLY Improvisers from around the country In celebration of National Poetry Month, Take an art study break and go see Rice Everyone loves a good awkward will gather at the Houston Improv Fes- Fotofest International and Make. Play. Visual Arts professor Karin Broker’s story. To hear them told well, come SCENE tival, April 24 – 27. This year’s featured Speak present FabriFaction 2014, an work on display at the McClain Gallery. out and see award-winning come- ekphrastic reading event. Ekphrastic The editors’ picks guest performer is Jet Eveleth, who cur- The exhibition, “damn girls” features dian, author and filmmaker Mike reading combines the mediums of po- for this week’s rently tours with 30 Rock’s Scott Adsit. drawings, monoprints and hand- Birbiglia’s performance Thursday, etry and visual art to create a synergy best events. Time If you’re interested in attending this ex- etched steel furniture. The opening re- April 24 from 7:30-9 p.m. Birbli- of artistic styles. The event is Thursday, glia is sure to amuse with his play- to explore the travaganza, individual shows are $14, ception for the show is Thursday, April April 24 at 6 p.m. Admission is free. ful stories. Tickets start at $40. wonderful world weekend passes are $45. 24, 6:30-8 p.m. The event is free to all. of Houston. Midtown Art Center Silver Street Studios McClain Gallery Wortham Theater Center 3414 La Branch St. 2000 Edwards St. 2242 Richmond Ave. 501 Texas Avenue houstonimprovfestival.com 2014biennial.fotofest.org mcclaingallery.com houstonfirsttheaters.com Wednesday, April 9, 2014 the Rice Thresher A&E 7 Five ways to become a beast at small talk Kaylen Strench A&E Editor

Talking to people you don’t know is the worst. You know the feeling — you’re stuck courtesy politico in a room with someone, and you have nothing to say. Awkward silence ensues. Secret 3 - Politico.com The Thresher understands this angst, and Admittedly Politico can be pretty over- we are here with an answer: your personal whelming if you’re not that into politics. guide to finding fascinating, relevant con- However, it’s the single best source of versation starters that will allow you to pure political news out there on the Inter- make small talk with ease. If you read, do net. The first thing I love about it is how or listen to these suggestions once a week, neutral it is — it’s been accused both of you will never flounder in quiet torture having a slight conservative and a slight again and will instead impress your high- liberal tilt, which means it’s probably er-ups, have your friends in tears from perfectly moderate. The other thing I like laughing and make every family dinner a is it is extremely well organized; it col- bill wang/thresher bit more bearable. lects articles into important topic sub- groups. For instance, if you want to find info strictly on Obamacare, there’s a tab for that — same with immigration, elec- tions, etc. In short, Politico is where to go if you want to quickly look up both sides of an issue to sound savvy for a friendly political debate.

courtesy NPR

Secret 1 - NPR Podcasts For a long time, I was a self-admitted bill wang/thresher detester of podcasts. However, a quick lis- Rice Dance Theatre presented their spring per- ten to an NPR report in the car converted RDT presents spring formance April 17-19. The show featured work by me. NPR podcasts are fantastic because guest choreographer Kevin Ferguson. they’re free, there are five million of them courtesy zite show, “Art in Motion” about every topic imaginable and you can listen to them whenever, wherever. Sim- Secret 4 - Zite (app) ply open the Podcast app on your phone, Zite is Buzzfeed with slightly more so- go to Top Charts and you’re sure to find a phisticated content. A free app that can couple to pick through. The best stations be downloaded on most smartphones are “This American Life”, “Radiolab” and and tablets, Zite allows you to select top- “TED Radio Hour” — each podcast from ics that interest you and will present you these three programs is about an hour with corresponding current articles pulled long and can easily be enjoyed on a car from around the web. As you look through ride or walking to classes. The topics are the articles, you can like or dislike what simply fantastic; through listening regu- you see to better refine the selection pro- larly, I have learned how hookworms can cess. My personal Zite keeps me updated cure multiple sclerosis, how the human on current events, new scientific studies brain utilizes language to create thoughts and the latest fiction. Yours could give you and how some idiot killed the oldest living the same, more, less or completely differ- organism. It’s basically the best small-talk ent info. Download it — at the very least, creating engine in the universe. you can feel like you’re procrastinating smarter.

courtesy the new yorker courtesy open culture Secret 5 - The New Yorker mag- Secret 2 - Open Culture azine or www.newyorker.com Open Culture is hands down the best I’m in a long-term, passionate relation- culture blog out there. It essentially col- ship with the New Yorker. You can’t finish lects the most informative cultural me- it without coming away feeling like a more dia from the corners of the interwebs cultured person. Not only is the writing so and brings it together in one place. You good and the stories so fascinating that can either scroll straight down the page you will want to read it cover-to-cover, its or browse the various categories on inherent diversity of material forces you to the page’s sidebar. While Open Culture encounter topics that you otherwise might doesn’t always bring up content relative avoid. An average issue includes relevant to current events, its selections are enter- television, art, cinema and theatre critical taining, thought-provoking and highly in- reviews, short stories and poems by fa- formative. For example, some recent posts mous authors, coverage of current events, included a video of two chatbots having a a features piece and often some sort of philosophical conversation with one an- satirical humor section. The New Yorker other, a link to online Hogwarts courses is the romantic partner every culture nerd and a heart-melting audio clip of Patti desires — it meets all your needs while Smith reading her poetry. A quick read- making you a better version of yourself. through will definitely give you some- At the very least, scroll through the web- thing cultural to say at your next classy site and click through some top articles to gathering. make yourself just a bit more fascinating. 8 A&E the Rice Thresher Wednesday, April 9, 2014 0 by Louis Lesser faker This Week in Entertainment from page 6 crocosm of the entire album. It keeps the verses chill, the vocals low, the bass slinky and the drums on the off beat. Then the chorus blooms into a flowerbed of ‘Oohs’ while Faker’s sly tenor reaches the top of its impressive range. Other first half tracks “Gold” and “Melt,” the latter of which features a wonderful change of pace by way of guest vocals from R&B up-and- comer Kilo Kish, serve as the record’s bread and butter, possessing both stellar produc- tion and raw sensuality. However, it’s on the record’s second side, split by the track “/”, courtesy 20th Century Fox courtesy a1 that Built On Glass rises one notch above be- The Other Woman Honest ing another solid R&B record and reaches for In Theate rs Future lyrical themes beyond sex and the basic haze of Album lover’s melodrama. In “1998,” Faker advances the song slowly, maintaining a constant pulse This romantic comedy stars Cameron Diaz (Bad Teacher) as a The second studio album from the hip-hop, auto-tune crooner fea- as he drifts back and forth to the chorus of “We woman who thinks she has met the love of her life before learning that tures several previously-released singles, including the title track “Hon- used to be friends, we used to be in a circle / I he is already married. When she and the wife (Leslie Mann, This is 40) est,” as well as radio standouts “Karate Chop (Remix)” and “Move That don’t understand, what I have become to you.” of her “boyfriend” find out that there is a third woman in the equation Dope,” among 15 other tracks. Guest appearances on the collection in- The line is blunt and honest, and through the (Sports Illustrated model Kate Upton), the three women team up to plot clude hip-hop heavyweights Kanye West, Drake, Pharrell and Andre 3000, sampling and modulations, we hear the human an elaborate revenge against their mutual lover. PG-13. 109 minutes. and features production from fellow Atlanta cohort Mike WILL Made It. self-doubt and regret present in Faker’s distant vocals. The following seven-minute epic of “Ciga- rettes & Loneliness” serves as the album’s shining centerpiece and most meticulously ar- ranged track, breaking all the ties to traditional pop-music themes as Faker simultaneously surgically dissects his songwriting process while opening up his inner thoughts for the world to read. “Maybe this could be the kind of one, where I sit on the words / Maybe I could be the kind of lonely guy that’ll sing other songs” Faker mumbles over a clean and inquisitive guitar line as the song builds to the record’s emotional climax, when Faker shouts “Love courtesy atlantic courtesy 20th century fox are you done with my tongue? This is love Storyline without love, without love, without love!” The Devil’s Due juxtaposition of this open, erupting piece of Hunter Hayes DVD music to the first side’s dark, low-key grooves Album This low-budget horror flick, perhaps more well known for its “Devil displays a far more extensive range than the The popular country music star released his second album, on Baby Attack” viral video promotion strategy, follows the “found-footage” sum of Faker’s influences, from electronica to which he co-wrote every one of the 14 tracks. In a change from his first format made popular by other films in the genre, telling the story of a jazz to soul, and puts Built On Glass alongside effort, Hayes opted to feature guest musicians, including his touring young couple facing an unexpected pregnancy. When the birthing pro- this year’s best releases. That every single cut band, rather than performing all of the parts himself. The album is pre- cess takes an unexpected turn, it becomes clear that more sinister factors on the album stands as a lesson in making ceded by lead single “Invisible,” which has already ranked near the top are at play. Bonus features include behind-the-scenes documentaries, music with just a computer, a keyboard and a of the country charts with steadily-growing mainstream airplay. deleted scenes and audio commentary. bass makes it the strongest record released so far this year. Sports is on Twitter. Get the scoop at twitter.com/ThresherSports 9

Courtesy C-USA Media The Rice women’s tennis team celebrates their victory in the Conference USA Championship game over the University of Tulsa. The Owls will play in the NCAA Tournament in May. Women’s tennis wins Conference USA Championship by Julie Doar Texas. In the finals, Rice faced the University they have come despite setbacks. Ip also said team effort is critical in col- Thresher staff of Tulsa and prevailed 4-2, clinching their “I’m just really proud of our team and their lege tennis, unlike other forms of competi- second-straight conference title and berth to effort,” Schmidt said. “Coming back after tive tennis. She said her season started out The Rice University women’s tennis team the NCAA Championship. losing some first sets and battling – they’ve roughly due to her becoming accustomed to won the Conference USA Women’s Tennis worked really hard to get here, and to finish it the differences in the collegiate game from Championship for the second consecutive off with a victory is just really sweet.” the junior game. year this past weekend. The Owls traveled After securing the doubles point, Rice “I did not start the season that well, main- to Norfolk, Va. for the championships after needed to win three of six singles matches. ly because I was adjusting to the transition, losing 4-3 to Baylor University and winning They’ve worked really hard Both Rice and Tulsa won two points early into but later on I got used to it,” Ip said. “Before 5-1 over the University of Texas, San Antonio the matches. With the score at 3-2, freshman college, I played in the ITF circuits and the to conclude the regular season. Rice headed to get here, and to finish it off Katherine Ip won her last two sets to give Rice Junior Grand Slams, which are all individual into the championships with an overall re- with a victory is just really its final winning point. tournaments, so college tennis is very differ- cord of 17-6 and a conference record of 2-1. sweet. Ip said she was very happy with her per- ent for me. It’s all about teamwork here.” With consecutive C-USA championship wins, formance but acknowledged that much credit Rice now has an automatic bid to the 2014 Rice will advance to the 2014 NCAA Women’s Head Coach Elizabeth Schmidt is owed to her teammates. NCAA Women’s Tennis Championship and Tennis Championship in May. “I really am excited,” Ip said. “It was my will learn their future opponents on April 29, Rice got off to a winning start in the cham- first conference tournament, and I am really when the NCAA releases the bracket for the pionships with a 4-0 victory over Old Domin- happy to have clinched the championship for tournament. The first round starts on May 9 ion University, which advanced the Owls to Rice. But it was all teamwork – without all at 16 different regional sites. The 16 teams to the semifinals. Rice then won another shut- Head Coach Elizabeth Schmidt said she the support from my teammates, I wouldn’t win regionals will then advance to the second out 4-0 victory against the University of North has immense pride for the team and how far have been able to do it.” round in Athens, Ga. Baseball sweeps conference foe UAB Men’s tennis by Michael Kidd ing a 1-0 lead off an RBI single by junior infielder finishes regular Thresher Staff Ford Stainback in the second inning. The lead would not last, however, as UAB GAMES THIS WEEK The Rice University baseball team competed scored three runs off of Fox in the sixth inning to season this past weekend in a three-game series against go ahead 3-1. The Owls chipped away at the lead the University of Alabama, Birmingham. Upon by scoring one run in the seventh before Reeves by Shannon Foreman entering Friday’s game, Rice held a two-game hit a solo home run in the eighth inning to tie the a t Southern Mississippi Thresher Staff Conference USA lead over UAB but would widen game at three runs apiece. The game would re- Friday, April 25, 6:00 p.m., that gap after winning all three games. The Owls main tied until the eleventh inning, when junior Hattiesburg, Miss. The Rice University men’s tennis team have won six straight Conference USA games – Skyler Ewing connected on a pitch and drove it traveled to Tulsa, Okla. this weekend for dating back to last weekend’s sweep of Tulane over the left-center fence for a two-run walk-off the Conference USA Men’s Tennis Cham- University – and have improved to 29-13 on the home run and his third walk-off hit this season. a t Southern Mississippi pionship. The fifth-seeded Owls defeated season and 16-5 in conference play. The Owls played in the final game of the se- fourth-seed Middle Tennessee State Uni- Sophomore pitcher Kevin McCanna started ries on Sunday, April 20. Freshman pitcher Jon Saturday, April 26, 2:00 p.m., versity 4-1 in the first round before falling Hattiesburg, Miss. on the mound Friday night, where he threw a Duplantier was on the mound for the Owls in to top-seeded University of Tulsa 4-0 in the complete shutout game for the Owls, the first in his third career start. Duplantier pitched 7.2 in- semifinals. his career. McCanna allowed eight hits over nine nings while allowing three runs, none earned, The Owls (9-12) faced the MTSU Blue innings of work and allowed zero runs and no and striking out a career-high seven opposing a t Southern Mississippi Raiders (10-13) on Friday, April 18. Rice walks. The Owls faced undefeated UAB pitcher batters. All three unearned runs were charged to Sunday, April 27, 1:00 p.m., took an early 1-0 lead in the doubles point Chase Mallard and managed to score two runs Duplantier in the eighth inning, when a two-run Hattiesburg, Miss. with wins on two of the three courts, giv- over seven innings. double down the line drew UAB within one run. ing them some leverage going into singles. The Owls scored first in the third inning with The Owls scored four runs in the first six in- That momentum, however, would not carry a two-out RBI single from junior John Clay Reeves nings and held a 4-3 lead headed into the bottom The first-place Rice Owls head to over into the Owls’ match against Tulsa. to make it 1-0. In the seventh inning, sophomore of the eighth inning. An RBI single by freshman Hattiesburg, Miss. over the weekend to Head Coach Efe Ustundag said, despite Blake Fox hit a sacrifice fly to make it 2-0, which outfielder Charlie Warren extended the lead, and face Southern Mississippi. The series the loss against Tulsa, he was proud of the would stand as the final score in the first game. a quick ninth inning of pitching by junior Trevor will be a battle between the top two way his team played in their first-round vic- Fox started as pitcher in Saturday’s game. De- Teykl secured the win for the Owls with a final teams in the conference, as Rice looks tory over MTSU. spite allowing three hits and two walks in his first score of 5-3. Duplantier earned his first collegiate to increase their lead in the conference “I really thought we played with great three innings, Fox managed to escape unharmed, victory for his effort. standings and secure a position in the intensity and energy right off the bat,” stranding five UAB base runners in the early go- Senior Keenan Cook said he believes the Owls’ postseason. Ustundag said. “Zach Yablon and Gustavo ing. The Owls scored first in the ballgame, tak- 0see Baseball, page 10 0see Tennis, page 11 10 SPORTS the Rice Thresher Wednesday, April 16, 2014

Courtesy John Sullivan/Rice Sports Information Junior first baseman Skyler Ewing hits a walk-off home run Saturday, April 19 against UAB. The Owls remain first place in Conference USA and will play second place Southern Mississippi this weekend.

continue to be in ballgames, and it’s up to the of- standings, so we [will] go in with an ‘us against has done a great job making us pitchers look pret- 0Baseball fense to secure the wins.” the world’ [feeling that] fuels us to focus in more ty good. The team has really come together as a from page 9 Cook said the upcoming games at the Uni- and to get the job done.” whole as of late.” versity of Southern Mississippi will be enter- Junior reliever Trevor Teykl said McCanna The Owls will head out on the road this up- six-game conference-winning streak is a testament taining and can see the raucous crowds as a and many other players have stepped up on coming weekend to face the Golden Eagles in a to their great pitching and defense. source of motivation. the mound. three-game series. Southern Mississippi is cur- “No doubt our pitching and our defense has “It’s definitely a real fun environment to play “[McCanna] has been awesome and has really rently in second place in the conference, trail- been solid these past two weekends,” Cook said. in front of, since they usually pack the house,” stepped up to his temporary role, just as [a lot] of ing only the Owls. First pitch is scheduled for “When you find that working your way, you will Cook said. “They are right behind us in the guys have stepped up,” Teykl said. “Our defense April 25 at 6:00 p.m. Wednesday, April 16, 2014 the Rice Thresher SPORTS 11 Kuster signs WNBA contract by Evan Neustater rebounder, recording 2,081 points and 1,376 Sports Editor rebounds. Kuster also holds the Conference USA Jessica Kuster, the leading rebounder career record with 67 double-doubles and is and scorer in Rice University women’s bas- the only player in league history named to ketball history, signed a contract with the the first-team and all-defensive team in all WNBA’s San Antonio Stars on Monday, April four of her collegiate seasons. 21. Despite not being drafted in the three Kuster is the fourth Owl to join a WNBA rounds of the WNBA Draft, Kuster was able squad and the first since Will Rice College to sign a contract with her hometown team. alumna Marla Brumfield, who signed with The 6’2” forward ended her Rice career the Detroit Shock in 2008. among the greats in the program’s his- Kuster helped lead the Owls to a 13-17 re- tory. In her senior season, Kuster averaged cord this past season, which ended with a 85- a double-double, scoring 20.9 points and 65 loss to Florida International University in recording 13.3 rebounds per game – both the second round of the C-USA Tournament. career highs. She finished this past season The San Antonio Stars begin preseason as the school’s all-time leading scorer and workouts Sunday, April 27. Should student athletes be paid?

The Thresher has decided to run this opin- should be able to negotiate when universi- ion piece anonymously due to the sensitive ties and conferences create TV deals. The nature of the topic. The writer of this article money the union receives should be divided is a Rice University athlete under scholar- equally among all student athletes at the ship, and the athlete’s name has been made university, or perhaps the conference. This anonymous for their protection. system would help to alleviate some of the stress that the NCAA is currently under, Lately, there has been a lot of discussion in addition to alleviating disputes over about the idea of amateurism in collegiate whether athletes in more high-profile sports athletics. Thanks to athletes like Johnny should receive more compensation or not. Manziel at Texas A&M University and Sha- One of the major arguments against pay- bazz Napier from the University of Connect- ing student athletes in this manner is it will icut, questions are being raised as to how compromise a respectable and comparable the NCAA treats student athletes. Should level of competition between big and small they be compensated monetarily for their schools. Universities with larger TV con- performance? Or, as has been tradition, tracts, and generally more prestige in the should we preserve the notion of amateur- sport, will attract better recruits, as they will ism in college athletics? be able to make more money. If athletes are First, I’d like to acknowledge it is easy to paid in proportion to how much the school point out how strenuous our schedules can makes off of them, athletes at Florida State or be, but we choose to play college sports and University of Texas, Austin would make sig- understand the expectations of student ath- nificantly more than athletes at Rice. Large letes. Also, the problems that the previous- schools are more likely to be more success- Courtesy Chuck Pool/Rice Sports Information ly-mentioned athletes brought to light are ful and generate more income, and their ath- not caused by the universities themselves, letes will be better compensated. Sophomore Adam Gustafsson delivers a serve at the Conference USA Championship over the but by NCAA legislation forbidding the pay- Some might argue that a team’s success weekend. The Owls season ended with a 4-0 loss to the University of Tulsa in the semifinals. ment of student athletes. and prestige should not determine how much The NCAA, however, identifies amateur- an athlete is compensated, as each athlete said. “If you look at the scores in the matches, ism in a way that sets student athletes up for is subject to the same practice and playing 0Tennis there were battles early, but our guys really exploitation. Their archaic definition does times. In the world of professional sports, from page 9 took charge down the stretch.” not allow student athletes to receive any ben- however, athletes are compensated based on With their win on Friday, Rice advanced to efit outside of academic scholarship or mi- their team’s success. One could also argue Gonzalez came out on fire to win 8-2, and Srikar the tournament semifinals, where they would nor compensation when student athletes are students must work harder to be recruited Alla and David Warren were right behind them.” fall to Tulsa 0-4. Tulsa started the match by away from school. Student athletes work the and maintain their position on more success- This intensity was demonstrated in the grabbing the doubles point and would not equivalent of full-time jobs while attending ful teams. I don’t necessarily agree with this Owls’ three singles wins. Middle Tennessee relinquish the lead. Tulsa won the clinching classes yet receive no financial benefit apart model, but it definitely has its merits. If larg- junior Yannick Born defeated freshman Zach point with straight-set wins against sopho- from the majority that receive scholarships. er schools make more money off of athletics Yablon to tie the match 1-1, but Rice fresh- more Adam Gustafsson, sophomore Gustavo While there are many questions about than smaller schools do, it can only be fair man David Warren quickly answered with a Gonzalez and freshman Henrik Munch. the impracticality of enforcing a system that athletes at the more successful universi- straight set win, putting the Owls back on Junior Srikar Alla, freshman Max Andrews that reimburses student athletes for their ties earn their fair share of the profits. top. Rice Freshman Max Andrews overcame and freshman David Warren’s singles matches time spent on the field, there are a few ways In summary, I believe it is unjust to deny a first-set tiebreak and followed with a 6-2 fi- all went unfinished in their third sets after in which universities can compensate ath- all student athletes compensation in the nal set to secure the Owls’ third point. Sopho- Tulsa clinched the victory. letes in an affordable manner. Most Divi- name of level competition. Student athletes more Adam Gustafsson clinched the win for According to Ustundag, the Owls had a sion 1 schools have television deals, and are exploited by universities, conferences, Rice with a 6-1 third-set win after fighting off rough start when Tulsa took the doubles point hundreds, if not thousands, of NCAA-sanc- the NCAA and, ultimately, broadcasting com- five match points to force a tiebreaker in the and Rice was unable to regain momentum. tioned events are televised each year. Col- panies. Because these large corporations are second set. “We had our chances early in doubles, but lectively, conferences and universities make making incredible amounts of money off of According to Ustundag, the Owls’ endur- we didn’t take advantage of some of the oppor- hundreds of millions of dollars from these student athletes, it is only fair that the ath- ance and mental fortitude allowed the team tunities Tulsa gave us,” Ustundag said. “We TV deals, and the primary performers re- letes see some of the money they helped gen- to beat MTSU. had some early chances at breaks but could ceive no compensation for their likenesses. erate. Making athletes perform on the field “We had a few slow starts in singles, but I not convert. Tulsa is a very deep and talented I think students should be able to union- without payment and then raking in hun- thought we really wore them down mentally, team, and you can’t afford to not take advan- ize, similar to the way athletes at North- dreds of millions of dollars is hypocritical, and that showed in the later sets,” Ustundag tage of the breaks that come your way.” western University have, and these unions and reform is needed in the near future. RPC “We Hosted Cashier’s Office Award Rondelet for the first The Turn Down for CHBE 402 Transfer Time Three Years” Everything Worst Systems Award Princeton Review 17th for Midday Inconve- Best University niences Most Improved Social Party Award Rice University Basketball Baker Servery Event Planning Award Baker College Prohibition Program Vanderbilt University McMurtry College for Y2K Party

Bob C. Arnold Award Josh Peck Snow Day Centerpoint Energy Vladimir Putin Very for Excellence in Award Blackout of the Year Al Gore Formerly Next Legitimate Election Journalism Award President Award Award Rice University Crisis Trent Navran The RU Observer Graphics Management Team Nader Aboul Rice University Student Department Association

Thrift Shop by The Hoot will Run out Edward Snowden Leak Macklemore x Ryan Best “100 Days” Styled of Hot Food Before 2014 Commencement Award Lewis Award for Most Event Midnight Spoiler Alert Ceremony Speaker Award Name of the Year The Prospie that Defecated in Overplayed Song Senior Gala Lovett King Joffrey Dies During Season Helen “Wake Me Up” by Avicii 4 Episode 2 of Game of Thrones

It was an amazing experience and a privilege to write the past 96 Backpages. If you’re interested in helping Reed out next year, let him know ([email protected]) The Backpage is satire and was written by Alex Weinheimer and Reed Thornburg. For comments and concerns, please email [email protected].

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