OP-ED P. 3 A&E P. 11 SPORTS P. 14 Loop hazards run lull-circle Merrlweather Post Pavilion Track andtennis roc k the house Both pedestrians and drivers may be In the dark when It Eric Doctor reviews 's new album and Men's and women's tennis hold their opening matches while comes to safety on the outer-loop. deems It an orgasm of sound. track sprints through their first meet this season at home.

thVOLUME XCVI,e ISSUE NO . 1Ric6 STUDENT-RUe N SINCE 1916 FRIDAY, JANUARY 16, 2009 Rice Chao ranked 10,818 directors 4th best Applications for 2013 class surpass 10,000, break records 12000 chosen *->(A value BY CINDY DINH C 10000 THRESHER EDITORIAL STAFF

BY JOSH RUTENBERG While the rest of Rice may be 3 THRESHER STAFF 8000 experiencing a temporary hiring freeze, the Ting Tsung and Wei Rice was ranked fourth last week Fong Chao Center for Asian Studies 0> ACCEPTED on both the Princeton Review and welcomes new leadership. Earlier 6000 I REJECTED Kiplinger's Personal Finance maga- this month, Tani Barlow started her zine's lists of best value private u five-year term as the inaugural di- schools for 2009, falling from the a> 4000 rector of the Chao Center after be- number one position it held on last a 1 ing selected from an international year's Princeton Review and improv- pool of applicants in May 2008. o ing by one spot on Kiplinger's list. 2000 Barlow, who previously worked The lists compiled data from pri- as a professor in history and wom- vate campuses across the country. en's studies at the University of Schools were ranked on the basis of 0 '05 'o6 '07 *o8 '09 *11 '12 '13 Washington in Seattle, takes over academic quality, student opinion where interim director Richard and financial aid packages. Other Class GRAPH BY IAN WHITE Smith left off. consistently high-ranked institu- "Really, the leadership transition tions include Princeton, Harvard is to honor the work of the people BY MICHELLE JIN With the opening of Duncan and McMurtry col- and Yale universities. who founded Asian Studies at Rice THRESHER STAFF leges this fall, the university aims to increase the Princeton Review ranked Rice as entering freshman class from 789 to 850 students as and look forward to creating a Chao 1 first in 2007 and 2008 on its "Amer- Exceeding last year's count of over 9,700 appli- per President David Leebron's Vision for the Second Center that has an international re ica's Best Value Colleges" list. Ki- cants, Rice University broke records again, attract- Century, which plans for a 30 percent increase in the search profile," Barlow said. plinger's ranking of Rice as a best ing more than 10,000 applications this year for the number of undergraduate students by 2012. She credits her predecessors — in- value college has remained fairly first time in its history. Pursuing the aims of the Vision for the Second cluding Smith and Professor Stephen consistent over the past three years, For the class of 2013, Rice received 720 applica- Century, the Admission Office reported consider- Lewis — with helping to develop the fluctuating from fourth in 2007 to tions for Early Decision, compared to 661 applica- able increases across the board this year. Foreign Chao Center, which was created with fifth in 2008. tions in 2007 and 517 applications in 2006. Of the national applicants increased by more than 28 per- a $15 million endowment from the "We tend to bounce a little from 720 applications, Rice accepted about 200 students. cent, African-American applicants increased by Chao Foundation in 2007. year to year, but we have a strong Not only did Rice experience a 5.5 percent in- more than 11 percent, and non-Texan applicants "We're building on a great foun- track record of being within the top crease in the number of ED applications, which in- increased by 12.7 percent. Applications from Texas dation, so my vision for the future five schools," Vice President for Fi- creased for the second year in a row, but also a near- residents grew by 10.5 percent. includes intellectuals, students nance Kathy Collins said. ly 12 percent increase in applications in the overall The increase in the number of foreign national working together across national She attributed Rice's fall from applicant pool with 10,818 applications. applicants this year constitutes a particularly signifi- lines," Barlow said. first to fourth to the sweeping Last year Rice filled about 26 percent of its 2008- cant increase, compounded on last year's 62.3 percent The Chao Center is a new re- changes Harvard, Princeton and '09 entering freshman class through Early Decision. O see APPLICATIONS, page 4 search oriented center, whose staff Yale made to their financial aid is housed in various locations on policy last year. Harvard began campus including Fondren Library, limiting tuition to 10 percent of a Rayzor Hall and the Humanities student's family's income. None of Building. Though the Chao Center these schools require students to is separate from the Asian Studies take out loans as part of financial program, they will continue to work aid packages. However, Collins says closely together, Barlow said. she is not worried about the change in rankings. it "Look at the company we're in," We're building on a Collins said. "Rice makes a point of wanting to be affordable and be a great foundatoin, so high quality place, so it's great to my vision for the fu- have that affirmation. And it's great publicity to be right up there with ture includes intellec- really top schools." tuals, students work- With the recession looming ing together across overhead, families are sure to pay close attention to the tuition rates national lines of major universities, an area where Tani Barlow Rice has consistently outperformed Director of Chao Center its competition. The rankings reflected changes 99 made in December 2007 for the 2oo8-'o9 academic year, including the increased no-loan threshold The overarching focus this year from $30,000 to $60,000. is on the transnationalism move- Vice President for Enrollment ment ideas, people, products and Chris Munoz said Rice has con- technology moving across borders tinued to make accommodating which makes Asian Studies at Rice undergraduate financial need its distinctive. Barlow said. number one priority by raising the "When people are studying no-loan threshold this month from Asia, their interest and expertise Hanszen College sophomore Courtney Ng and Jtones College seniors Carolina $60,000 to $80,000 and lowering Owl see you in tend to stop at the national bor- the loan cap to $10,000 for students Simao and Chuan LI adom a brownie In the shape of an owl during the Rke der," Barlow said. "What has been matriculating in 2009. the kitchen Memorial Center's Snack Attack Wednesday night in the Grand Hall. significant about our focus from O see VALUE, page 7 S3 see CHAO, page 6

Registrar deadlines No classes on Monday! Inauguration procrastination INDEX Opinion 2 Today is the last day to add or drop courses The first day off of the semester is finally The editor recommends that all Rice students News 4 without a fee and the last day to convert Pass/ here, and not a moment too soon. We at the skip their classes from 10 a.m.-i p.m. on Tuesday Arts & Entertainment 11 Fails from last semester to a letter grade. For Thresher will be spending the day catching up to go to the inauguration viewing party in the Rice Sports 14 those of us graduating this spring, today is the on lost sleep and work we're already behind Memorial Center's Grand Hall. Any professor who last day to add or drop courses via ESTHER. on. Then again, some of us will sit around and tries to stop you from attending hates hope and Calendar 19 Afterward, it will be a pain. Better do it now. watch TV. Happy Martin Luther King Jr. Day! change. Backpage 20 2 EDITORIAL THE Ricv. THRESHER FRIDAY, JANUARY 16,2009

LEUE.I 11 CROW TO OUTER LOOP: F1RK-E fl LEFT. the Rice (Ihresher M III—upwi'>MMi •••'i1 flf""""-' 11 111 \ HI ^ K JfUW 1 Best value ranking sits a little low for comfort Rice has always been about getting a good education for the v Vv 4 yf V best value. From the free-tuition policy that lasted more than 50 years after the university's opening day to the No. 1 "Best Value" ranking in last year's Princeton Review, maintaining the ability to educate students more effectively while charging less than our competitors has been central in Rice's institutional goals €>- since day one. This is why we hope that Rice's placement of only fourth-best on two separate best value lists is only temporary 8* (see story, page 1). It is true while we fell from the top spot in the aforementioned Princeton Review, we did rise one slot from fifth in Kiplinger's Personal Finance, but it might be worth asking: why did we stop the ascent at number four? Certain other universities took the spots ahead of us: Swarth- Rice overlooks out-of-state students more, Harvard and Princeton in the Princeton Review, and Cali- OVER THE LAST few years, we've seen lier we are forced to start again in Au- Admission Council tells me that Rice is fornia Institute of Technology, Yale and Princeton in Kiplinger's. the introduction of a new campus-wide gust. This year, I expect students who more interested in the Second Century want to advise during Orientation than the current century, as if the goal Most of these schools sport tens of billions of dollars in endow- marketing effort and new slogans and taglines to broaden Rice's footprint Week will have to be back at Rice on of the Second Century was more impor- ment funds, and, consequently, no-loan thresholds higher than in the college market. The driving Aug. 11, which severely limits sum- tant than how we achieve that vision. the clouds — a factor to which both sets of rankings give great motivation behind the implementa- mer internship options. It would appear that President Da- weight. Rice has some reason to complain, though, since the tion of all these changes was to break In previous years, students have vid Leebron is banking on this genera- rankings came out before the administration announced a raise Rice's regionalized reputation as the received U-Passes and Q-Cards at their tion of students passing quietly into in our own no-loan threshold from $60,000 to $80,000 ("Rice "Harvard of the South" and to begin colleges and never needed to renew the night, after which he will recruit a to draw students more heavily from them (as we do, with the $10 cards new class with no memory of the trou- modifies financial aid," Jan. 9). schools outside of Texas. While some we get now). Since public transpor- bles we've faced under this leadership. Nevertheless, while Rice should by no means feel disgraced say that the measures we have taken tation is crucial for students without But I think that our power as current for receiving a fourth-best ranking among a pool of several hun- as a university — making phrases like cars, we should be working to make students is foolishly underestimated. dred private institutes of higher learning, we feel that the more "Unconventional Wisdom" and "Who this system as simple and painless as Coming from Washington, a state possible, instead of forcing students lists we can top, the better. Any ranking in which we can best Knew?" the most prominent verbal as- that generally produces a small num- sociations with our name — are actu- to revisit the Cashier's Office to pick ber of Rice students, I think it's fair schools like Harvard and Yale improves our national reputation, ally cheapening our reputation, that's up and renew their cards. to say that I have done more for Rice and assists us in our struggle to the top of the collegiate heap. not the point of this article. Finally, for anyone who doesn't live in terms of advertisement than how- Therefore, the administration should continue to prioritize mak- within a day's drive of Rice, transpor- ever much money (if any) the univer- ing Rice as good a value as possible, and hopefully when next tation around breaks is a big deal. Stu- sity has used to advertise there. The year's potential applicants flip through Kiplinger's or Princeton dents consistently lay down hundreds word-of-mouth component is crucial of dollars for plane fares to get to and to Rice's marketing strategy, especial- Review, they will find Rice no farther down the page than the from school on time while still spend- ly in places where few Rice students very top. ing as many days as possible with live. It would really only take one their families. The cost is unavoidable, disgruntled student to turn an entire but not knowing the finals schedule high school away for years to come. Sean McBeath until October makes it impossible for Instead of tackling the problems International notability My point is that, for all the money students to book affordable round- most important to the administration, we're putting into advertising, we trip fares for the semester. Setting the we should make some of the changes a good sign should be experiencing tremendous finals schedule before classes begin that will ease fransitions for out-of-state returns. But when I go home, most would eliminate this concern. students: align the summer breaks with If it seemed like there were a lot more tour groups going people I talk to have never heard of There are certainly valid concerns in the June-August internship opportuni- around than usual last semester, you probably were not imagin- Rice, and half of those who have don't the ruling bodies that deal with these ties, bring back the Q-Cards, release the ing things. For the Fall 2009 incoming class, a record 10,818 pro- know whether it's in Houston or Aus- issues. Moving up the scheduling of fi- finals schedule earlier and restore faith that this is a school that anticipates stu- spective students applied to matriculate at Rice, an 11.5% spike tin. Financing isn't the only support nals. making our semester scheduling that a project of this scale needs. If match with more traditional calendars dent concern and acts on it. And do it from the 9,812 who sent in materials last year (see story, page 1). we're really trying to draw out-of-state and restoring the availability of public now, so that when we open our doors But it is not just that more students were applying — approxi- students, the administration - with transportation would certainly require to increased number of students, we'll mately 28 percent oi those who applied early decision were of- the help of the Faculty Senate — needs some logistical work, but it's time for boast not only a set of brand-new facili- fered admission, a wide margin over last year's 24 percent who to make efforts to accommodate them. the administration to put its action ties, but an administration that backs up its promises to students with action were allowed in early. When this influx of new students arrive There are a number of difficult behind the move it says it's making. If situations out-of-state students face there is time to make registration on ES- we will all appreciate. on campus next year, there's also a higher probability that they that the average Texan or Houstonian THER more complicated with each con- So, we'll see what happens. Maybe will be from somewhere other than the United States, as the doesn't really have to consider. The secutive semester, there should be time Rice will be true to its word and start number of those applying from abroad was 28 percent higher slow shift of our summer break into to tackle more pervasive problems. considering in its decision the out-of- than last year. April, the newly-convoluted Metro Q- The changes over the last few years state students it so desperately claims card system and the late finalization Combined with the 63 percent spike in worldwide applicants have not shown me that Rice is really to want. My opinion? We'll see more of the finals schedule are all examples dedicated to addressing my concerns efforts to promote Rice on the basis of we saw last year, this glut of incoming internationals is a wel- of minor things we see happening that as a current student. Everything from "increasing the value of your degree" come change. But perhaps change isn't the correct word, as Rice inconvenience out-of-state students this rash of construction (and the poor- instead of keeping this a place worth has long been viewed as having one of the best class-race in- (and many in-state students as well). ly-handled student concerns surround- living and studying. terrelations in the nation ("Princeton Review ranks Rice No. 2 Understandably, Houston is hot ing it), the "inevitable" assimilation of for quality of life, race/class interaction," Aug. 22). Still, an in- during the summer, but the earlier college and club funds into BANNER Sean McBeath is a Martel College junior we end our spring semester, the ear- and the usurpation of the "Student" crease in diversity, regardless of whether or not we had already and former Calendar editor. attained a suitable level, is commendable. Even more commendable, however, are the ambassado- rial efforts of President David Leebron. Through his numerous Lily Chun & Dylan Farmer travels abroad, Leebron has fostered relationships with govern- Editors in Chief The Rice Thresher, the official student news- ments, universities, and prospective students alike, offering an paper at Rice University since 1916, is pub- lished each Friday during the school year, ever-more attractive vision of Rice to the slew of non-American NEWS PHOTOGRAPHY Catherine Bratic Editor except during examination periods and holi David Rosales Editor days, by the students of Rice University. minds considering an education abroad. A huge influx of these Margeux Clemmons Asst. Editor Ariel Shnitzer/lssf. Editor international students are coming from China, and while it is Cindy Dinh Asst. Editor Lauren Schoeffler >4ssf. Editor Letters to the Editor must be received by possible that they may be choosing Houston just to get closer to Jocelyn Wright Asst. Editor 5 p.m. the Monday prior to publication and Zach Castle Designer WEB must be signed, including college and year if Yao Ming, we feel that Leebron's efforts might have more to do Kylie Klein Designer John Michael Cuccia Editor the writer is a Rice student. Letters should not Nick Morales Designer Stephen Wang Asst. Editor exceed 250 words in length. The Thresher re- with it. Increased visibility in the international arena will inevi- serves the rights to edit letters for content and length and to place letters on our Web site. tably lead to increased visibility at home, especially if those in- OP-ED BUSINESS ternational applicants become international scholars in today's Amanda Melchor Editor Sarah Mitchell Manager Editorial & business offices are global, collaborative academic environment. Neel Shah Cartoonist Yvette Pan Payroll Manager located on the second floor of the Ley Stu Jessie Huang Subscriptions Manager dent Center: These international students are selecting Rice as their uni- SPORTS Gustavo Herrera Distribution Manager versity of choice, which seems to indicate that the effects of Natalie Clericuzio Editor Sergio Jaramillo Distribution Manager 6100 Main St., MS-524 Yan Digilov Editor Charlie Ary Distribution Manager Houston, TX 77005-1892 Rice's recent drop in best value rankings are not too serious. Phone (713) 348-4801 Fax (713) 348-5238 ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT With the recent hike of the loan threshold, we can expect inter ADVERTISING E-mail: thresher(3>rice.edu Julie Armstrong Editor Joseph Ramirez Ads Manager Web site: www.ricethresher.orf» national interest in Rice to continue to rise, and we are glad the Joe Dwyer Editor Thomas Yeh Ads Manager university has managed to keep foreign students interested even Cathleen Chang Classified Ads Manager Unsigned editorials represent the major- with the worldwide financial troubles. COPY ity opinion of the Thresher editorial staff. Nick Schlossman Editor BACKPAGE All other opinion pieces represent solely And although it may seem silly to a jaded student body, we Ryan Stic kney f ditor Timothy Faust Editor the opinion of the piece's author. Anna Wild*- Editor Eric Doctor Editor have to briefly admit the effect the marketing campaign has The Thresher is a member of the Associated Collegiate Press. Week 2 done. clearly had in bringing newfound interest to Rice. Who knew? CALENDAR I imothy Faust Editor <•'•) Copyright 2009 Op-Ed Outer Loop hazard to drivers, pedestrians Science and faith not totally

A SUBSTANTIAL HAZARD exists the most seasoned drivers, and Perhaps if there were fewer trees that surrounds all of Rice Univer- waiting for a small opening to speed immediately surrounding campus separate, exclusive domains sity: the Outer Loop. As someone in or out of one of the busy streets entrances, drivers would not have who has traveled and crossed the surrounding campus can make any- to worry about obstructed views THIS WINTER BREAK, I ran into a must be willing to understand each Outer Loop several times, whether one nervous. Drivers in this state of of pedestrians. peculiar type of person. Most of you other's world views and view them merely for exercise or as a pathway mind tend to rush through the in- Walkers and runners, on the know the type I'm talking about — the with a mindset flexible and willing to reach an alternate destination, I tersections, paying more attention other hand, despite the few signs one who thinks Ann Coulter is funny to learn. Not only this, but we must am fully aware of the large number to oncoming cars then to the mul- telling them to yield to traffic, do and who honestly has more respect open the gate between the secular of pedestrians who make use of it titudes of pedestrians coming from not constantly remain attentive to for the talk show hosts who ridicule and the sacred in our minds, recog- daily. For anyone who uses it, the both right and left. incoming and outgoing cars — it's our politicians than the politicians nizing that if we were ever to grasp sacred Outer Loop serves as an ex- just not something they usually themselves. The type who associates absolute truth, it would not fit into cellent jogging and walking lane, a have on their minds, considering to the point of confusion the ideals our artificial divides. convenient route to different park- a the many distractions they have to of our Founding Fathers, those of the We are not the first to try this ing lots and a barrier that, coupled deal with like iPods, other runners Republican Party and those of the Bi- experiment. Many, both in the pro- with the hedges, shields Rice from Other areas [of and their dogs. Thus, 1 find the ba- ble. The worst part was that they were fessional and academic worlds, are some of Houston's more unsavory sic setup of the Outer Loop to be in- related to me. finding ways to live their lives more aspects. But the Outer Loop itself the Outer Loop] herently dangerous, not garnering holistically. Rice University is privi- presents several dangers to both remain pitch the attentiveness necessary from leged to host a talk by one such man the students who use it and the either drivers nor pedestrians. next Wednesday. He is Francis Col- drivers who cross it getting in and black, and for the Recently, however, Facilities, En- lins, the former director of the Hu- out of Rice. motivated citizen gineering and Planning created a man Genome Project at the National project to install light fixtures along Institute of Health. A Christian who likes to run or the Outer Loop, a move that will dras- since the age of 27, he not only sees walk late at night tically improve visibility and decrease no conflict between his faith and the risk of collision. I applaud FE&P David Sorge his work, but he also brings them or really early in staff for recognizing the hazardous On the other side of things, together into a picture of the world lack of regular lighting. While some though, are people like my roommate where faith informs and beautifies the morning, it sections of the Outer Loop are well- from last year, whose devotion to the science, while science gives insight can be especially lit, other areas remain pitch black, Democratic Party was total and un- into the workings of the Creator's and for the motivated citizen who mind. Christine Pao questioning. Someone who was dis- dangerous in the likes to run or walk late at night or appointed in both Democratic candi- Some may dismiss this perspec- During the nighttime and early dark. early in the morning, it can be quite dates because they were not radical tive as that of a man trying to use the morning hours, the Outer Loop dangerous in the dark — especially enough. Someone who seemed to fame of his previous success to sell becomes a deadly intersection of with the tendency for drunk drivers to take the highly polemic work of Rich- his beliefs, even after he has left his pedestrians and cars. I frequently 99 operate vehicles during these hours. ard Dawkins at face value. field. This is hardly true of Collins. have been the passenger inside a Basically, until FE&P installs these Both have something in common, He is still very much involved in the car whose driver nearly crashed Additionally, although the nu- new light fixtures, 1 believe the Outer besides being closely associated worlds of science and public policy. into an innocent jogger, a incident merous trees make for a magnifi- Loop will be an essentially danger- with me. Both share a perspective of In fact, if the Sciencelnsider blog of caused not only by the alarming cent view of the splendor of nature, ous path to take for jogging, running seeing themselves as a persecuted Science magazine is to be trusted, he lack of light but also by the general they are not so great at providing or even mere walking. I caution both minority in a country quickly fall- is being seriously considered as the dynamics of the Outer Loop. The clear views of pedestrians. I am by pedestrians and drivers to pay atten- ing to the other side. Welcome to the new director of the N1H under the first impulse might be to blame the no means advocating for Rice to cut tion to each other while making use Culture Wars. administration of president-elect Ba- driver for his recklessness, but it is down every single tree lining the of Rice's gravel-paved border. No one is really sure when or rack Obama. An appropriate move, not completely his fault. Outer Loop, but merely calling to how the Culture Wars began. Some since he only resigned from working For one thing, the traffic of attention the fact that they can be Christine Pao is a Martel people point to the Scopes trial for the N1H last August after working Houston is enough to stress even incredible inhibitors to visibility. College freshman. and its media coverage. Others, to there since 1993. the politicization of the Evangelical As a man who integrates both movement. While it is valuable to worlds, it is not surprising that he look at the history of this "war," it is should break the stereotypes of each. the intellectual process that is more Collins, the scientist, challenges the New hygiene product can aid green effort important. After all. the intellectual view that the supernatural should process is the one we are in danger be left out of the laboratory. Collins, EVERY TIME I tune into the increas- lion women and are sold in 150 coun- the billion-dollar Proctor & Gamble of replicating. the Christian, is a strong advocate of ingly prevalent environmental news, tries. The average woman will spend Corporation, these menstrual cup When I refer to the intellectual evolution as an explanation for man's everywhere from documentaries to around $1,300 on female hygiene companies do not spend tens of process, I am talking about the kind origins. It is not surprising then that commercials to blogs to newspaper products and will use around 9,000 millions on advertising campaigns. of thinking my father ran into in one such a man finds it "deeply disap- headlines, I tend to feel like the sky is tampons or pads in her lifetime. Also, it is only recently that talking of his biology professors. You see, my pointing that the shrill voices that falling and the world is burning (or, If this isn't shocking to you on an about menstruation has become less father went to a Christian college, and occupy the extremes of the spectrum rather, melting). It's easy to feel like individual basis, consider 3.2 billion of a taboo topic. Remember poor Car- as part of his pre-medical degree had have dominated the stage for the past there is nothing we, as mere players of the women on the planet, many of rie's confusion about her period in to take evolutionary biology. During 20 years." in such a vast system, can do to make whom had not used such products in the 1976 movie Carrie? office hours he asked his professor Rather than the shrill voices of a difference. But there is. There is the the past, but with continual industri- how he dealt with teaching evolution the extremes, it is time for us to lis- truism of "recycle, reduce, reuse," alization of countries like India and while being a Christian. The answer: ten to a voice like that of Collins, one and while they are all as important China, will start to do so and contrib- a "Six days a week, I'm an evolutionist. that is willing to search carefully as ever, the "reduce" facet deserves ute to the needless pollution. In the On Sunday, I'm a creationist." for answers, and find them in un- more attention than it normally gets. United States alone, an estimated 12 Admittedly, While we laugh at this ridiculous expected places. There are two op- Well, maybe it is time to look into this billion sanitary pads and 7 billion display, though, we ought also to portunities to hear him speak, both "reduce" concept. tampons are disposed of each year. tampons are more be examining ourselves. When we on Wednesday. The first will be at Throwing numbers around can have a convenient, but I'd separate the secular and the sacred the Baker Institute at 5 p.m., where numbing effect on attention spans, so in our own minds, we are also sow- he will be talking about science just consider this: None of those wads rather not flush ing the seeds of a secular-sacred di- and public life with Rice's own Neal of cotton and tubes of plastic has to vide in society. That is to say that as Lane, former director of the National be dumped into landfills, clogged in- $680 down the the secular and the sacred separate Science Foundation and assistant to side toilets and washed out to sea if toilet. in our minds, some will reject the sa- the president for science and tech- women simply switched to reusable cred, others the secular. As the two nology. This event is an RSVP-only menstrual cups instead. parts of our intellectual lives cease to event, though, so the spaces may fill 99 A survey conducted by an entrepre- inform each other, the same plays out up quickly. At 7:30 p.m., he will be Rachel Solnick neurship class at Rice two years ago in a culture where two communities speaking specifically about the ways Luckily, there is something rela- found that 88 percent of respondents If the environmental reasons are form, with less and less information that science and belief have met in tively new on the horizon that most would like to try a menstrual cup. The not enough to convince you, on a more passed between them. This process his own life and work. This event people probably don't know about newly instated Green Funds Commit- personal note Divacups are made from breeds ignorance, and ignorance is open to everyone, and will be in yet. And you'll have to excuse me, tee could be a prime motivator in get- medical grade silicon and have had no breeds fear. And, to quote everyone's the Shell Auditorium of the Jesse H. guys, because although the environ- ting women to use these products. Wi- reported cases of the Toxic Shock Syn- favorite little green alien, "Fear is the lones Graduate School of Manage- mental issue affects all of us, this ess College's Green Fund Committee drome that is associated with tampon path to the dark side ... fear leads to ment. It is sponsored by the Veritas column is mainly directed at women. and college approved subsidizing one use. Divacups cost $20 dollars and last anger, anger leads to hate. Hate leads Forum, a group that aims through fo- Enter: the menstrual cup. fourth of the cost of buying a $20 "Di- you 10 years; compare this to the rela- to suffering." rums like this one to help university This small silicon cup looks like a vacup" from Amazon.com for all inter- tive $700 you would spend on tampons Our generation prides itself on students explore "true life." bell or a half of a lemon and is used ested Wiess women. Considering the for the same length of time. Admittedly, being different from the ones be- I look forward to these chances, like a tampon, but it is reusable so high interest and the environmental tampons are more convenient, but I'd fore us. We are a group that is far both to learn from someone who has there is no plastic applicator or cot- benefits to reap from the switch from rather not flush $680 down the toilet. more concerned with togetherness succeeded in reconciling what we of- ton wad for the trash. While it is not tampons to menstrual cups, other col- It used to be that the phrase than distance. We have to be: We ten think of as opposites and to have a big player in the grand scheme of leges' Green Fund committees should "tree hugger" was a derogatory term are all minorities. If we weren't, my own views challenged and even the environmental problem, there is follow Wiess's example. for environmental fanatics. Now we would quickly turn our coun- changed. But even after the event, I no doubt that the millions of women If you are wondering why the www.treehugger.com is one of the top try into another Somalia — a place hope we can sit down together and in industrialized countries using dis- menstrual cups are not more popu- sustainability blogs on the Web. It is where each clan is for itself, fight- discuss our views, not polemically, posable feminine hygiene products lar, it's in part because they are time we all realized that this trend of ing for dominance over the others. as our parents have often done, but create vast amounts of unnecessary relatively new - the rubber Keeper being environmentally conscious is not But there are more differences than respectfully and humbly. Will you trash that strains the sewage systems was introduced in the late '80s, the about being a liberal, a hippie or an ac- just ethnic ones. If any generation join me? and waste disposal every month. Mooncup from the United Kingdom tivist, it's about having a conscience. has the chance to stop the escala- To give an example, Tampax brand in 1996 and then the Canadian Diva- tion of the Culture Wars, I believe David Sorge is a Martel tampons, only a portion of the world- cup only in 2003. Also, unlike Tam- Rachel Solnick is a Wiess it is this one. But to do that, we College sophomore. wide market, are used by over 100 mil- pax and Always, which are part of College junior. 4 NEWS THE RICE THRESHER FRIDAY, JANUARY 16,2009 O APPLICATIONS FROM PAGE 1 increase in the same category. for 2009" both ranked Rice as the of need-blind admission last De- all of the important information number of applications this year, Vice President for Enrollment fourth best value of private schools. cember. Rice extended its no-loan needed to make the best decision in the Admission Office used a num- Chris Munoz attributed the signifi- Last year, Princeton Review ranked policy to students who qualify for terms of financial aid by May 1, the ber of tools and data, including as- cant spike in foreign national appli- Rice as #1 in best value among pri- need-based aid from families with deadline to submit a deposit to Rice sessment of demonstrated interest cants from the People's Republic of vate schools in its 2008 edition of annual incomes of $80,000 or less. and to indicate matriculation. expressed by students, to anticipate China to extensive exposure of the "America's Best-Value Colleges." "We have a very defined ap- Munoz cited the challenge in a sizable increase in the number of university and Leebron and his wife Kiplinger's used metrics of aca- proach to administering and award- making admissions decisions when applications this year. Ping Sun in the PRC. demic quality and affordability in ing financial aid," Munoz said. most applicants are similarly aca- "The size of the pool of appli- Last summer, Rice played host ranking colleges, with academic ED applicants must sign a bind- demically qualified. cants was going to be up signifi- to a number of PRC university pres- quality accounting for two-thirds ing agreement to attend the univer- "The truth is that the difference cantly," Munoz said. "But what be- idents who visited to learn more of the total score. The Princeton sity if admitted, an agreement ac- between the students we admit and came very concerning was that at about U.S. educational systems. Review based its rankings on more knowledged by not only the student the students we ask to be on our one point we were down 24 percent "That was an agreement that was than 30 factors in the three areas of but also his or her parents and the waitlist — if we use academic quali- in applications. The deadline of made between the Chinese Ministry academics, cost of attendance and guidance counselor. fying standards, in general you could Jan. 2 came and just the day before of Education and Rice which really financial aid. Munoz said ED applications are not tell any difference," Munoz said. there was a rush of applications. was engineered by President David "The early signs suggest that due Nov. 1. Applying early may give "So those are the hard conditions. We ended up not just being even Leebron," Munoz said. low-income students in the end accepted applicants peace of mind If you don't fit that, then you have but being up significantly, which Leebron was also one of 11 univer- have not been discouraged, that by mid-December, which is when no chance of being admitted. If you correlated with our projections and sity presidents from around the world they are applying," Munoz said. accepted students are notified. didn't have enough of the tools to predictions early on. We simply invited by the Chinese Ministry of Ed- "Rice has historically been known "The reason why students might meet the high quality education, it'd were not seeing the behavior of a ucation to the opening ceremony of to attract lower and middle income apply under the Early Decision is be awfully difficult for you." large applicant pool." the 2008 Olympics in Beijing. students, and while I think that's that they have clearly decided that However, Munoz said academic However, Munoz pointed espe- "The president and his wife Ping changed somewhat as our tuition Rice University is the university for qualifications were not the only cri- cially to the hard economic times have been traveling all throughout has gone up, one metric you can them," Munoz said. "So the benefit teria Rice looks for in a student. in trying to predict the number of Asia, but focusing upon the PRC," look at is the number of students re- for students applying under ED is "What other qualities would students applying to Pice. Munoz said. "That kind of relation- ceiving Pell Grants, and for that we that they are notified by Dec.15 and they bring?" Munoz said. "Do the "I also was concerned by the ship-building and connections are are among the top. We're way up in they now know that where they're students have experience? Have fact that we were down signifi- important ways to gain more name African-American [applicants] and going to go to a university, so that they participated in co-curricular cantly in the number of financial recognition, and certainly the pres- we're way up in underrepresented now they can focus on other con- activities that would speak to lead aid forms," Munoz said. "We were ident has done a good job." minority [applicants] in general. cerns and interests as they complete ership? Have they been involved very concerned because it looked Despite the economic downturn, We're going to have a very diverse their senior year of high school." in some way that enhances the to us as though the economy was Rice remains one of the best values socioeconomic profile of students, Regular Decision applicants experience of where they've been? influencing students not to apply — in education and thus one of the top as we have in the past." submit their applications by Jan. 2 Have they contributed to make their the studeni'3 capacity to meet the choices of highly qualified applicants. In order to encourage low-in- and receive their admission results school, club or community better? cost in light of the environment if In the 2009 rankings released come students to apply to Rice in by the end of March. It's not just academics. Although they're worried if Mom or Dad go- earlier this month, Kiplinger's Per- current hard economic times, the Despite waiting longer for their academics is absolute, it's more ing to keep their job, all those kind sonal Finance magazine and Princ- university expanded its financial decisions to come back, RD appli- than academics." of things, I am so pleased that we eton Review's "Best Value Colleges aid policy while retaining its policy cants have the benefit of having In an attempt to predict the are up."

THINK YOU KNOW WHAT THE NEXT BIG HEADLINE SHOULD BE?

SEND AN E-MAIL TO THRESHERNEWS COM

IV * - 7 •

Aj FRIDAY, JANUARY 16,2009 THE RICE THRESHER NEWS 5 In the eye of the sun Halas' cancer work earns A closer look at a new solar panel shows potential to make solar power more accessibleDepartmen t of Defense nod

BY MICHELLE PHILLIPS for the typical house to use, because BY MICHELLE JIN material do work, and you can direct FOR THE THRESHER the electrical wiring is already con- THRESHER STAFF that material by applying a voltage nected to the nanotubes, making it or by stimulating it in some way. So Throughout the world, the impor- lighter. Most commercial cells are The world is always looking for a in that sense, you can ask the ques- tance of the energy crisis is clear. At too heavy to be supported by a resi- way to cure cancer or at least find a tion, 'Is what you make a material or Rice University, the need for clean, ef- dential roof. way to fight it. As it turns out, we may a device?' And our answer in many ficient energy has prompted innova- "When you make solar cells, it's a just have to look among our faculty. cases is that it's both." tive solutions. very energy-intensive process," Bar- The Department of Defense Before coming to Rice, Halas ron said. The process involves heating named Naomi Halas, a professor of worked at IBM's Watson Research the materials up to 8oo°C. However, chemistry and electrical and com- Center and the AT&T Bell Laborato- Barron's method takes bucky tubes, puter engineering, a National Secu- ries. Her experiences in those labora- coats them onto a substrate, and then rity Science and Engineering Fac- tories and her background in chem- coats them in a chemical bath. ulty Fellow at the end of last year. istry and physics set her foundation. Barron said his inspiration for the The Department of Defense se- Richard Smalley, a former pro- project was the result of an accident. lects up to 10 NSSEFFs each year fessor at Rice nanotechnology, was A former graduate student was do- and awards them a grant to conduct one of the major influences that ing her research in separating nano- research on topics of interest to the prompted Halas to join the field. A tubes under his supervision about DoD. This year, Halas was one of six pioneer in the field of nanotechnol- five years ago. A friend of his, Dennis university scientists and engineers ogy, Smalley was honored with the Flood, casually suggested that they in the nation to receive this honor. Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1996 for shine light on the nanotubes. They She was notified that she had re- Chemistry Professor Naomi Halas his discovery of the buckyball, a discovered that the tubes produced ceived the award on Nov. 22. new form of carbon. a weak electric current. Halas will receive $3 million these biomedical aspects of nano- "Smalley was a senior faculty Barron's interest in chemistry over the next five years to conduct shells and further explore the roles member who was very instrumental started as a childhood fascination research in nanophotonics. Nano- they may play in cancer diagnostics in recruiting me to Rice and a won- with explosions, he said. photonics is a subfield of nanotech- and therapy. derful colleague for many years," Chemisty Department Chair "I first got interested in chemistry nology which studies the behavior "One of the things that has been Halas said. "Within the Rice com- Andrew Barron because things went 'bang!'" Barron of light on a nanometerscale. very exciting for me as somebody munity, a small nucleus of us be- said. Eventually, this interest became Halas' work on nanophotonics that's trained in the sciences is to gan to talk and think about nano- Since 2004, the Chemistry Depart- a passion to see knowledge and ap- focuses on the interaction of light be embedded in an engineering technology very early on in the mid ment has been searching for a way to plication combined. To Barron, who with nanoparticles. As the inventor school and an engineering depart- 90s. I was really fortunate to see build solar cells based on the model teaches several classes in upper- of metal nanoshells, tiny particles ment," Halas said. "We can do el- this very interesting connection be- 0 of the human retina's rods and cones level chemistry and even managerial with light-absorbing properties, egant science anywhere, but it is so tween designing nanoparticles and in order to provide a cheaper bud classes for engineers, knowledge is she hopes to use her research to incredibly exciting when you can their optical properties." more efficient way to utilize solar useless unless it produces some- fight cancer and other diseases. do science that actually touches Although a noted researcher, power. In conjunction with Swan- thing that somebody can use. "The work that we are probably people's lives." Halas said the opportunity to train sea University in Wales, Chemistry "I've always had an interest in best known for is cancer therapy," Halas said she believes nano- and interact with her students Department Chair Andrew R. Barron how you combine basic research and Halas said. "We use nanoparticles to technology has potential to im- brings her the most pleasure. and student researchers have been basic knowledge with, 'Is this good capture light and convert it to heat to prove the current technology and "One of the most rewarding Q coating carbon nanotubes with semi- for something? Is this something destroy tumors in cancer cells." capabilities of all materials. things is getting [students] to un- conductor particles to generate elec- somebody could use?" he said. Halas, along with Rice bioen- "We're blending the bound- derstand that sometimes the most tricity using photons. This semester, Now, Barron and his students are gineers and other researchers in ary between what is a material exciting aspect of research com- the Chemistry Department has made working on designing a capacitor to Rice's Laboratory for Nanophoton- and what is a device," Halas said. bines ideas from more than one advances in revolutionizing the way put on the ends of the nanotubes to ics, has been working with Baylor "If you build a material up from field, sort of getting people to think ^ that solar panels are used by making store the charge and release it when College of Medicine to focus on the nanoscale, you can make that outside of the box," she said. them more efficient and accessible to enough is stored. This, in terms of ^ common consumers. structure, would be almost as effi- Barron said the solar cell was cient as the retina, Barron said. nothing more than a scaled-down Eventually, this research may also version of a retina in the way it con- have medical applications, Barron verts light into electricity. said. Simulating the retina's struc- "But their structures are complete- ture may also yield a full artificial V ly different, and so we were inter- retina. For those who are blind or ested," Barron said. "Could we mimic who have degenerative eye diseases, the structure of the human eye?" artificial retinas would have obvious In doing so, Barron said he hopes implementations. Call and you could save. the solar cell will eventually become Barron said his research is pro- an everyday building material that jected into the long-term. It also can be bought at Home Depot. depends on funding, he said. But ^ He added that most commercial he is hopeful that one day, every solar cells are only 14 percent ef- family will be able to make use of Class dismissed. ficient. In theory, his retina model solar energy. could achieve up to about 18-20 per- "If you want to put solar cells on cent efficiency, he said. The major your roof, if you can take a roll that improvement in the retina model, you buy at Home Depot of solar cells, however, is that it is cheaper to make you could attach a solar cell to any ^ by comparison and very convenient building," he said.

STUDENT AS!>OCIATION MINUTES The following were noted at the most recent meeting of Convenient local office the Student Association on jan. 12. Money-saving discounts Low down payments • Director of Elections Timothy Faust reported that the SA's spring elections will be formally announced on Jan. 26. Applications will Monthly payment plans be due Feb. 2. Presidential debates will be held Feb. 16, and vice- 24-hour service and claims presidential debates may potentially be held on Feb. 9. Voting will occur from Feb. 19-25. Coverage available by phone

• The Club Finance Committee met with Vice President of Finance Kathy Collins Wednesday for their final discussion on the pending changes to club financial affairs and the dates when the Chase bank account plan will be implemented. They will report on their Local Office discussions at the next SA meeting.

• External Vice-President Nicholas Muscara announced that a spe- cial screening of President-elect Barack Obama's inauguration will be held on )an. 20 from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. in the RMC's Grand Hall. Apple pie, refreshments and patriotic souvenirs will be dis- tributed during the event, funded by the Office of the President. CALL FOR A FREE RATE QUOTE.

• Muscara, a Martel College sophomore, announced the tentative Geico Direct date for the spring semester's Take Me Out to the Ballgame event will be March 27 at Reckling Park. A cookout will begin at the park 5404 Bella ire Blvd. at 6:30 p.m., and college serveries will be closed. Houston, TX 77401 • SA Environmental Committee co-Chair Patrick McAnaney sought 713-665-4667

feedback concerning a sustainability fee, proposed last year as a Sm?ie discounts i-M'iag-.'s, payment plans, aid features arc not avatabk- m all states oi m afl GEKO (culpa-lies. Government Employees blanket student tax for green projects on campus, which may ap- mtioncc Co. GEiCO

OCHAO FROM PAGE 1

the very beginning is our emphasis and faculty alike from a variety of area of studies like migration. She belonged to the Indonesian pro- The award-winning issue fo- on movement through borders." disciplines at the seminars. stressed the importance of using gram," Barlow said. "We had no in- cused on what trauma is and exam- The Chao Center plans to develop "I think you're going to find trans- words precisely. stitutionalized way of talking across ined how it is dealt with in Asia. a seminar series on transnationalism, nationalism as a key term in every "If we consider migration cross- borders." With funding from the "A lot of people who talk about expected to last a year or two, which discipline because it's fundamental- border Mexico or the transmigration Rockefeller Grant in Humanities, post-WWII trauma think of the will help define and refine ways to ly about crossing borders, whether of Chinese from Taiwan, Indon esia or Barlow experimented with ways of United States and Europe," said analyze the term's various uses. you are talking about people, goods, Vietnam into this community, trans- talking across national boundaries Meagan Williams, associate editor "I subscribe to Alert for the ideas, finance or other things," Ver- nationalism would be a better word with specialists on common topics of positions. "The Asia focus kind term transnationalism and have seen ma said, whose background is on the than globalization," Barlow said. such as war trauma and revolution- of gets lost." it used in many ways," Barlow said. Indian diaspora. "One of my inter- "We need a way of understanding ary trauma. Published three times a year, the "If we work together in a discourse ests is the development of religious why we put so much emphasis on the Trauma seems to be a common journal's upcoming themes will in- community, then we can get a work- practice among migrants and the relationship between countries." recurring theme in Barlow's work. clude "Philosophy and the Political ing definition of what we mean or kinds of attachments they may have The transnational theme seems She is the founding senior editor in Wartime Japan, 1931-1945" and don't mean [by transnationalism]." to one or more homelands." to be embedded in Barlow's own life. of the academic journal, positions: "The Cultural 'State' of Contempo- Michele Verma, the new as- Other terms caught in the fray While at the University of Washing- east asia culture critique, which rary Taiwan." sistant director of the Chao Cen- include internationalism and glo- ton, Barlow noticed how traditional recently won the "Best Special Is- Barlow founded the journal 17 ter also hired this month, said the balization, which are used perva- Asian studies departments focus on sue" on War Trauma in December years ago to provide space for cul- seminar series seeks to identify the sively but sometimes in the wrong area studies with little collaboration 2008. It is the publication's second tural, artistic and philosophical historical development of the term context. For instance, Barlow sug- across national boundaries. award from the Council of Editors expression, since Asian Studies at as well as its usages. She said she gested transnationalism is a more "I belonged to the China pro- of Learned Journals of the Modern the time was primarily focused on hopes to see students, researchers accurate term to use in certain gram, and my other colleague Languages Association. social sciences. % %

* 11

1

Assistant Director of the Chao Center for Asian Studies Michele Verma, Associate Editor of positions: east asia culture and critique magazine Meagan Williams and Director of the Chao Center Tani Barlow sit outside of the Brochstein Pavilion. Verma and Barlow were appointed earlier this month to lead the Chao Center.

A ONE-DAY COURSE IN AUSTIN AND HOUSTON NEWS IN BRIEF

PRESENTING DATA AND INFORMATION for the university's work on Flooding in nanoparticles. given entirely by EDWARD TUFTE, author of four wonderful books The study, which was Inner Loop due to released Dec. 28 and will be on analytical design. Everyone taking the course receives all four books, City of Houston published in February's Jour- nal of Nanoparticle Research, including Tufte's latest book, Beautiful Evidence. The water flowing from concluded that Rice published a pipeline on the Inner Loop 23 academic papers in the near Rayzor Hall for the past rising field of nanotoxicology, EDWARD R TUFTE Edward R. 1 ufte week is the result of a leak in just five short of the University VISUAL EXPLANATIONS a City of Houston waterline, of campuses and Envisioning Information the Communications Manager two fewer than the Chinese H s M * ssl 8 for Facilities, Engineering and Academy of Sciences in China. Planning Susann Glenn said. The UCSB study also found SECOND EDITION Since the pipeline is not that worldwide peer-reviewed controlled by Rice, FE&P has The Visual Display research in nanotechnology not been able to shut it off. (if Quantitative information has increased nearly 600 per- However, FE&P has been in con- cent since 2000. i.dwakd ». 1 ui rr. tinued contact with the City of In the study, UCSB research- Houston since last Wednesday ers extensively utilized the trying to get the leak repaired. International Council on Nano- Glenn said she hopes and TOPICS COVERED IN EDWARD TUFTE'S ONE-DAY COURSE INCLUDE: technology's Virtual Journal of expects the leak to be repaired Nanotechnology Environment, fundamental strategies of information design use of PowerPoint, video, overheads, handouts by the end of the week. Health & Safety, also known as •Catherine Bratic VJ-Nano EHS, which is the only evaluating evidence used in presentations multimedia, website design journal of its kind to gather statistical data: tables, graphics, semi-graphics • credibility of presentations all published research on the Nanotoxicology safety, health and environmen- business, scientific, legal, financial presentations animation and scientific visualizations publications" tal implications of nanomateri- als since 2005. effective presentations: on paper and in person complexity and clarity commended Although the researchers of Rice's small discoveries the UCSB study found sizable THE ONE-DAY COURSE WILL BE OFFERED ON THREE SEPARATE DATES: reaped big rewards in Decem- gaps in the nanotoxicology ber when researchers at the literature made available by MONDAY, JANUARY 26, 2009 WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 28, 2009 University of California, Santa ICON'S database, they none- Hyatt Regency Austin Westin Oaks, Houston Barbara ranked Rice third in theless commended ICON in the world in the number of providing a valuable resource and compilation for their study. TUESDAY, JANUARY 27, 2009 Special course rates for nanotoxicology publications •Melissa Tsang Hyatt Regency Austin full-time students.

For information about Edward Tufte's course,'Presenting Data and Information,' or about the books, call 800 822-2454 or visit www.tufte.com GSA ANNOUNCEMENTS Graduate students who want to participate in Beer Bike Graphics Press LLC Post Office Box 430 Cheshire, Connecticut 06410 should contact Michael Matson at [email protected]. FRIDAY, JANUARY 16,2009 THE RICE THRESHER NEWS 7 Data show modest increases in Rice faculty salaries, continuing salary disparities based on gender BY KERN VIJAYVARGIYA Among national universities, sors was 4.2 percent among private • " fg THRESHER STAFF faculty members are classified in colleges. In total, associate pro- four categories: professor, associ- fessors earned an average annual In 2007-'C>8, Rice University fac- ate professor, assistant professor compensation of $116,800. On aver- ulty earned the highest average fac- and instructor. At Rice, 99 percent age, female associate professors at ulty salaries and compensations of of professors and 99 percent of as- Rice earned $1,600 more than male Every year, the Chronicle of of News and Media Relations, any Texas university, according to sociate professors have tenure, the associate professors. Higher Education publishes the Leebron's compensation falls data published by the American As- privilege of holding their appoint- Assistant professors are ap- compensation of executives at in the "mid-range" for leading sociation of University Professors. ment until resignation or retire- pointed for an initial term of four private universities. In 2oo6-'o7, private research institutions. In that term the average salary for ment. Tenured faculty can only be years, which can be renewed for an Rice President David Leebron The Compensation Committee of Rice faculty members was $103,700. terminated for reasons relating to additional four years. Assistant pro- earned an annual salary of the Board of Trustees decides on When benefits are included, the av- their professional capacity. fessors earned an average salary of $719,588 along with $147,876 Leebron's salary after an annual erage compensation for all Rice fac- At the national level, professors $81,600, an increase of 6.7 percent of benefits for a total compensa- review of his performance. ulty members was $129,100. last year earned an average salary over the previous year. The national tion of $867,464. These benefits "Every year the Committee has The data also showed that salary of $137,100, an increase of 5 percent. annual salary increase for assistant include deferred compensation to approve President Leebron's disaprities continue to exist between The national salary increase for professors was 3.6 percent among and retirement contributions. This compensation," Almond said. male and female faculty members. professors was 4.1 percent among private colleges. In total, assistant was an 11.4 percent increase from "They look at how well he has Behind Rice were the University private colleges. In total, professors professors earned an average an- Leebron's 2005-'06 total compen- been doing in his job." of Texas-Dallas with an average sal- earned an average annual compen- nual compensation of $100,300. On sation of $778,167. Colleges file the 990 form ary of $103,300 and the University sation of $171,000. On average, male average, male assistant professors Leebron's total compensa- every year with the Internal Rev- of Texas-Austin at $92,200. UT-Dal- professors earned $7,200 more than earned $11,200 more than female tion ranked twentieth among enue Service. This form lists the las and UT-Austin were also second female professors at Rice. Rice ranks assistant professors at Rice. Rice exect tives at private institutions. compensation of college execu- and third in terms of compensa- 13th in Texas for the largest gender- ranks second in Texas for the larg- Leebron declined to be inter- tives. The most current 990 form tion, with $127,400 and $110,800 salary gap among professors. est gender-salary gap among assis- viewed about his salary. Accord- available is for the 2oo6-'o7 year. respectively. The University of Associate professors can be ap- tant professors. ing to B.J. Almond, Rice's director — Kern Vijayvargiya Houston had an average salary of pointed without tenure for a term Instructors are appointed for an $82,900 and average compensation of up to three years. However, at initial term of two years. This term of $101,700. Rice, 99 percent of associate pro- can be extended for up to eight years. colleges. In total, instructors earned Levy said he did not believe Rice's average faculty salary fessors are tenured. Associate pro- Instructors at Rice earned an average an average annual compensation of there was an imbalance in salary beat the national average of all col- fessors earned an average salary of salary of $50,400 last year, an annual $62,300. On average, female instruc- between males and females, claim- leges by $17,180. Among private col- $94,500, an increase of 7.7 percent increase of 3.4 percent. The national tors at Rice earned $2,300 more than ing two main factors that an aver- leges, it was $2,572 greater than the over the previous year. The national annual salary increase for instruc- male instructors. age does not account for. First, he national average. salary increase for associate profes- tors was 7.2 percent among private According to Speaker of the Fac- cited a large number of women ulty Senate Deborah Harter, the sal- employed early in their careers. ary gaps between male and female According to Levy, faculty salaries faculty are not surprising: Female tend to increase with time. Sec- FACULTY SALARY INCREASES AND GENDER DISPARITIES instructors and associate profes- ond, he noted a trend where fewer sors may be paid more than men women are entering higher-paying because they stay employed at the fields including science and busi- National Average Rice Average Rice Gender Gap same level longer. ness. However, Levy said that in "If more women than men re- several departments, the highest- • Professors: • Professors: • Professors: main or are employed at this lev- paid faculty member is female. $171,000 $137,100 Males make on average el, then their salaries, over time, Three years ago, the faculty gov- increase of 4.1% Increase of 5% $7,200 more than females would tend to be higher than those ernance changed from a Faculty of men," Harter said. Council which met infrequently, to • Associate Professors: • Associate Professors: • Associate Professors: According to Provost Eugene a Faculty Senate which meets once $116,800 $94,500 Females make on average Levy, his office periodically moni- a month. The new Faculty Senate, # Increase of 4.2% Increase of 7.7% $1,600 more than males tors the salary differences between however, does not include a Com- male and female faculty. Every mittee on Salary Equity, which sta- • Assistant Professors: • Assistant Professors: • Assistant Professors: spring, the Provost's Office meets tistically analyzed the salary differ- $100,300 $87,600 Mates make on average with the dean of each school to ences between men and women for Increase of 3.6% Increase of 6.7% $11,200 more than females analyze salaries, looking for* any the Faculty Council. inappropriate patterns. His last re- Harter said she is working to ad- • Instructors: • Instructors: • Instructors: port indicated no statistically sig- dress this issue. $62,300 $50,000 Females make on average nificant gender imbalance. "1 am currently working out with Increase of 7.2% Increase of 3.4% $2,300 more than males "It is something we pay a lot of at- the provost a structure that will en- tention to," Levy said. "Every year, we sure reports to the Faculty Senate do a broadscale budget analysis." on salary gender equity," she said. OVALUE FROM PAGE 1

Student indebtedness upon it's become sort of a research- regain its standing, however. POIND REN graduation is also a factor in val- oriented institution — and raises "On a whole, it's a good thing L i b r a r y ue rankings, and on average Rice tuition and raises enrollment, it's that Rice is retaining its relative students graduate with a debt going to have to deal with the fact value in the college marketplace," R I C UNIVERSITY of $15,876, a few thousand dol- that it's no longer a value college," Tucker said. "Although from the in- lars below its peer institutions, Baker College senior Aurelia Chaud- side, I would say that Rice is getting Fondren Library Research Awards according to Princeton Review. hury said. "We may well be rising increasingly more expensive for Rather than focusing solely on in the other rankings, but we've got students. If Rice is going to move The Fondren Library is pleased to announce new cost of tuition, the Princeton Review to take some hits as we change our up in the rankings and is going to and Kiplinger's also place heavy priorities about money and where try to attract really qualified candi- awards funded by the Friends of Fondren Library emphasis on the academic quality we get it from." dates from the northeast, we're go- for undergraduate and graduate students who of each college. Collins said she be- Brown College senior Paul Tuck- ing to have to be a relative value to lieves Rice's tuition $6,000 below er said he thought that Rice could those schools." demonstrate extraordinary skill and creativity in the its peer institutions, the quality of application of library and information resources to Rice's applicant pool, and Rice's se- original research and scholarship. This year, there lectivity contributed to Rice's high rankings. With a student-faculty ra- RUPD POLICE BLOTTER is one award of SI.000 and one honorable mention tio at five to one, a freshman class The following items were reported to the Rice University award of $500 for each category. For information with high SAT scores ranging from Police Department for the period Jan. 7-16. 1330-1510 on a 1600 sclae, and se- about how to apply, please see http://library.rice.edu/ lectivity rates that hover around 25 ACADEMIC BUILDINGS research-awards. percent, Rice maintains a competi- Anderson Biology Lab )an. 7 Theft tive edge over other colleges when Individual or team projects in any subject area or it comes to academic quality, Col- Mudd Lab Jan. 7 Criminal Trespass lins said. media will be eligible for consideration. OTHER BUILDINGS Both Collins and Munoz view the 2009 applicant pool as particularly Fondren Library |an. 8 Theft strong, attributing some of the pull FRIENDS OF to being consistently recognized as PARKING LOTS a best value school. South Colleges Lot jan.10 Failure to stop and give FONDREN LIBRARY "Despite the challenges we faced, information we've earned this recognition," Mu- North Colleges Lot Jan.10 Failure to stop and give noz said. "There are a lot of positive information opportunities for us. We're going to OTHER LOCATIONS have more applicants than space, Off Campus Driving while liscense is and that speaks to the resiliency of Jan. 9 Rice and its growing reputation." suspended Know the scoop? Drop us a line. Some students were worried about Off Campus Jan.10 Driving while intoxicated [email protected] the long-term effects of the change. CRC Site Jan.10 Criminal trespass "I think as Rice changes what it's trying to be as an institution FRIDAY, JANUARY 16,2009 8 ADVERTISEMENT THE RICE THRESHER

How will you spend your summer?

My summer mentorship at Salem Oncology ence. I muc as 3 Centre was any pre-med's leader after first setting dream. I was able to T§ | ff M foot in New York City, over explore multiple medical ISl- * JH 3 thousand miles from my fields, identify my comfort zone. I met strengths and Barbara Walters on my weaknesses, and grow first day and was setting up interviews for substantially as a leader. John Stossel orESjfc-last. „ f • •

Chris Lam Katherine Gomer Jones '10 I ST. LUKE S Hanszen '09 • • ABC 20/20 St. Luke's Hospital

The Summer Mentorship Experience

"mm-

The SME is different from My summer in Pune taught a regular internship me so much about myself, because the expectations • » about leadership, about are set very high from the my goals and ambitions. In beginning. The trust of a so many ways, my time in nboss always has to be India helped me gain mjj earned, but I was initially direction for my future. ' • afforded greater credibility through my association with John Land Leadership Rice, and this translated to Brown '09 more opportunities to demonstrate my Virgo Engineers abilities. Horizon trmgy *•» w Dylan Guyer Brown '09 Horizon Wind Energy

APPLICATION DEADLINE: January 23rd Apply now at leadership.rice.edu •3ENTERTAINMENT Eastwood's engine stalls in Gran Torino BY BRIAN REINHART THRESHER STAFF

Clint Eastwood has suggested to the press that his new dra- ma Gran Torino will be his final acting appearance. But this dis- f * Illlm i organized disappointment would be an inappropriate finale to Eastwood's brilliant fifty-year career. At its onset, Gran Torino promises to be many things: funny, tense, moving and original. It fails to deliver on every count.

Gran Torino • •

Start ing: Clint Eastwood, Bee Vang, Young whippersnapper As the Crankshaft-reminiscent Walt, CHnt Eastwood becomes a father fig- • • Christopher Carley tire for Thao (newcomer Bee Vang) said teaches him important life lessons. r% Released: Jan. 9, 2009 ' ' Rated: R native who hates the world and most of the people in it, lives alone and talking to himself or to the audience. In some scenes, especially one drinks a dozen beers a day. Eventually events force him to overcome in which Walt and his neighbors' son carry a refrigerator out of Walt's his racism and befriend his Hmong neighbors. As a gang of thugs basement, the conversation is so shoddily written that it actually gets Yes, there are many chances for Eastwood (Dirty Harry) to whip threatens the Hmong family, Walt becomes a father to the neig- in the way of telling the story. Perhaps this is not surprising, given that # • out a gun and terrify bad guys in this movie. His character, a crotch- bors' son Thao, protecting him against the machinations of gang screenwriter Nick Schenk's only other feature-length film is a com- ety old man named Walt Kowalski, snarls, speaks almost entirely in violence in the neighborhood. edy called Factory Accident Sex: The Best of Dr. Sphincter, which for racial slurs, confronts various thugs, beats up a guy one-third his age Unfortunately, Gran Torino is constantly sabotaged by its script, some reason went direct to video. and says things like, "Ever notice how you come across somebody which combines often painfully bad dialog with plot turns that feel Schenk did not just have problems writing dialog, unfortunately. once in a while you shouldn't have messed with? That's me." But, for false. Walt speaks in cliched old-man lines like "Kids these days!" His supporting characters tend to be stereotypical, especially Walt's the most part, the film substitutes violence for actual drama. and "Get off my lawn." He also has a dog, which allows him to dis- own children and grandchildren, who have moved into posh homes The plot is relatively promising. Walt, a Korea veteran and Detroit close key expository information without sounding like he is simply O see TORINO, page 11 Goyer gives birth to a Animal Collective's newest album stinker with The Unborn makes even cloudy days Merriweather BYFAHEEM AHMED edited, promising a smorgasbord of BY ERIC DOCTOR ness and self. Rather them slipping music — and it is altogether beautiful. THRESHER STAFF horrors and generating a lot of un- THRESHER EDITORIAL STAFF into someone else's idea of what music "My Girls," the album's second and deserved hype. Just like most Holly- ought to sound like, Animal Collective perhaps strongest track, begins with The only thing this movie got wood trailers, however, it gives away When Animal Collective released pulls together all of the threads that descending galloping triplets whose right is its title, because after a the most frightening sequence in the Feels in 2005, reviewers deemed it their run through their catalog and fully de- repetition creates an almost numbing single viewing, viewers will wish it entire film: an upside-down, crawling mostaccessiblealbumtodate.Whenthey fine themselves. If all of their albums effect. The numbness is suddenly pen- had crawled back into its cinematic sexagenarian with a twisted head. released in 2007, review- through are the thesis, and etrated with vocals that float on top of womb and died. The premise of the movie is some- ers once again slapped the "accessible" Feels and Strawberry Jam are the antith- the whole thing, but they then sink into what original. Odette Yustman (C/o- label on its cover. esis, then Animal Collective has finally the overall sonic texture. verfield) plays Casey Beldon, a sexy achieved synthesis with Merriweather And that's the beauty: the vocals coed who prances around the house Post Pavilion. don't distract from the music; they are in tight cotton panties — another The album cover art is a classic op- an integral part of it. (Da- highlight the trailer reveals — and tical illusion: rows of almond shapes vid Portner) and (Noah has a completely obedient and sup- against a contrasting background, Lennox)'s voices have never sounded The Unborn portive boyfriend, plus an ethnic best tesselated in such a way that they ap- better together, and their resonant-but- • friend who brings in da' funk and is Merriweather Post pear to shift and undulate, making it not-harmonic polyphony is almost an- oh so sassy! Sounds like an awesome Pavilion impossible to pin the image down. The other instrument in the elaborate folds plot, right? * * * * * effect shifts our perception of reality of the music. Starring: Odette Yust- But wait, there's just one prob- by toying with our visual understand- But even with all of this com- man, Gary Oldman, Cam lem: Casey's grandmother's twin ing of the world. plexity, Merriweather Post Pavil- Gigandet brother was mutated by Nazis, mis- Artist: Animal Collective The music of Merriweather Post Pa- ion is unapologetically joyous. Released: Jan. 9,2009 takenly inhabited by a dybbuk (a Label: Domino vilion could be similarly characterized. Listeners can't help but smile as Tare Rated: PG-13 Jewish demon from the netherworld) Release: Jan. 6,2008 It is simultaneously disconcerting and and Panda repeat, "1 want to walk and has been attempting to possess (Vinyl), Jan. 20,2009 (CD) calming, aggressive and vulnerable. around with you / I want to walk Casey and her relatives for the past The music hits some sort of resonant around with you" at the end of the three generations! frequency and makes listeners' skulls chorus of "Summertime Clothes," The Unborn churned out a solid The movie kicks off with a prom- vibrate. "This is not supposed to which follows perhaps the closest financial performance at the box ising nightmare sequence filled with Merriweather Post Pavilion will inev- sound like music," the listener thinks. thing to a traditional song stnjcture office — $21.1 million — on a very some disturbing images, notably a itably receive the same treatement, and It toys with our auditory understand- on the entire album. slow weekend with little competi- dog wearing a porcelain mask, but while the assertion is not entirely incor- ing of the world. In other hands, this exuberance tion. When news of its low critical viewers find out later that this is com- rect, to say that anything Animal Collec- But what distinguishes Merriweath- would come off as na'rve, or perhaps approval, which reached a pathetic pletely random and has nothing to do tive produces is more "accessible" than er Post Pavilion from ambient noise rock overly simplistic. But Merriweather 13 percent on RottenTomatoes.com, O see UNBORN, page 11 anything they have previously released is that the layers are complimentary and Post Pavilion taps right into the core spreads to the public, its box office is to miss the point entirely. lush. Unlistenable noise is piled togeth- of human emotion; it is a concen- total should plummet. But how did The notion of accessibility implies a er in such a way that it somehow makes trated dose of serotonin, administered the film sell out hundreds of theaters certain sort of deviation from unique- through headphones. The lyrics are not on opening night? The trailer. ATTACK Osee ANIMAL, page 11 The trailer for The Unborn is well- OBAMA Get your craft on tomorrow PUPPET from to 6 p.m. at Diverse- Seen any of the Obama music MARS Work's CRAFT ATTACK, where If you thought Sesame Street videos floating around the in- folks will he working to build was cool, you'll love The Pup- terwebs? l earn all the lyrics Quick! Humans are invading! "Houston's biggest button wa- pet Show, now on display at in time for inauguration at Invaders of Mars! is a full-dome terfall, book room and high the Contemporary Arts Muse- Change You Can Dance To to- movie about the human explo- THE heel tower." The event is com- um. The exhibit will appeal to morrow from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. ration of Mars, now showing in WEEKLY pletely free, just be sure to all ages, and admission is free. The event is free with a $6 the Burke Baker Planetarium. wear cloUies you don't mind Hours are Tuesday to Saturday, suggested donation. R.S.V.P. Student tickets only run $6. so SCENE messing up. Visit the site for 10 a.m. tp s P-m" ar|d Sunday, to aurora,(rtaurorapictureshow. ddn't miss out. Check out the more details and directions. noon to 5 p.m. org in order to save a seat. website for showtimes. Kditors' picks for events . I" • '• outside the hedges, both DIVERSEWORKS ART SPACE CONTEMPORARY ARTS MUSEUM STATION MUSEUM MUSEUM OF NATURAL SCIENCE around Rice and in the 1117 E. FREEWAY 5216 MONTROSE 1502 ALABAMA 1 HERMANN CIRCLE WWW.STATIONMUSEUM.ORG WWW.HMNS.ORG Houston area, for this week. WWW.DIVERSEWORKS.ORG WWW.CAMH.ORG FRIDAY, JANUARY 16,2008 THE RFCS THKESHEK Nocturnal noshing: Because all-night food still lives off-campus,

A diverse student body in a diverse city needs a diverse W. Gray selection of dining options. Atong with T.C. and House of Pies, here are a few more ways to ward off the mid- night munchies.

Westheimer • •

Richmond

BY JORDAN DAVIS

GRAPHIC BY ERIC DOCTOR

1) La Tapatia Taqueria — 1749 Richmond — Tex-Mex — Open 24 hours 2) West Gray Cafe — 415 W Gray - Cafe — Open 24 hours 3) Ruchi's Taqueria Las Americas — 3102 S. Shepherd — Mexican — Open 24 hours 4) Agora — 712 Westheimer — Cafe + Wine Bar— 9a.m.-2a.m. 5) Late Night Pie — 302 Tuam — Pizza — 12p.m.-3a.m. 6) Chapultepec Mexican Restaurant — 1813 Richmond — Tex-Mex — Open 24 hours 7) 59 Diner - 3801 Farnham — Soups, Salads, Burgers, and Breakfast — Open 24 hours 8) Mai's Restaurant — 3403 Milam — Vietnamese and Chinese food — 10a.m.- 3a.m. or later 9) Katz's Deli & Bar — 616 Westheimer — Deli, Hot Meals, and Bar — Open 24 hours 10) Bibas One's a Meal — 812 Westheimer — Greek — 24 Hours «) Tacos A Go Go — 3704 Main Street (off the Light Rail/ Ensemble Stop) — Mexican — 0 Open 7a.m. —2a.m. Friday & Saturday 12) Taco Cabana (Kirby) — 3905 Kirby — Tex-Mex — Open 24 hours Taco Cabana (Target) • 8101 S Main — Tex-Mex — Open 24 hours 13) House of Pies — 3112 Kirby — Desserts, Breakfast, Coffee Shop — Open 24 hours

7." KTRU WEEKLY TOP 35 KTRU's pick of the week Fresh off the turntables to you.

BY MIGUEL QUIRCH the setting of their respective movies artist album label FORTHETHRESHER without the need for a visual aid, a :pF feat that few modern movie sound- various radio myanmar (burma) sublime frequencies S3 The compilation Bollywood Steel tracks can accomplish on their own. tobacco fucked up friends anticon ft) Guitar, on the Sublime Frequencies Most current soundtracks just fight bite emerald eyes self-released label, is an engaging collection of don't cut it the way the plethora of c/i boliywood steel guitar sublime frequencies various some of the best Indian steel guitar musical styles presented on this gang gang dance saint dymphna the social registry pop music from i962-'86. The album album do. Though the steel guitar cr menahan street band make the road by walking dunham contains 21 tracks collected by Stuart takes center stage, the album's lush a> hearts of animals cave lights artstorm records sound is enriched by numerous oth- Ones, the flood bank acute records er instruments. Tabla, sitar, santoor, 1 09 church of the ghetto p.c. asphodel harmonium and even the accordion j-live then what happened? barely breaking even join in to augment the skillful melo- dj baba james the nouse of good juju funketabla dies of the album's namesake instru- 5D dj sun para alternate take Bollywood Steel ment. pumice quo soft abuse The tracks call to mind genres calypsoul 70: Caribbean Guitar ranging from action-packed thrill- various soul & calypso crossover strut ers to romances to Western gun 1969-1979 Artist: Various the complete studio record- slingers' tales. There is an obvious mars no more records Label: Sublime Frequen- Western influence here, but it has ings: nyc 1977-1978 cies Kuti, femi day by day mercer street been seamlessly integrated into the Release: April 1, 2008 anthony and the Indian musical style to create an another world secretly Canadian [•la fohnsons irresistible fusion. ft ayresol, thomas hell level self-released With this accessible yet authen- o Ellis and features such greats as tic blend of East and West, Bol- geiden cities golden cities esotype records Van Shipley, Kazi Aniruddha and lywood Steel Guitar gives listeners ft) pfcritas, richard I keio line cuneiform Charanjit Singh in their finest mo- a window into an underexposed ments performing for Bollywood genre. The expertise displayed by various artists poetry on record shout factory film soundtracks. some of the great steel guitar play kevia syers *hat more can i say... reel The music featured on Bollywood ers of their time is definitely worth afrikan machinery tzadik Bfoti,tafcas Steel Guitar is highly evocative. Each a listen and certainly has earned its fvttM, dark, tta. 2 minute film noir zbs audio artist's individual style brings to mind place on the airwaves. guitar music from the west- group doueh ern Sahara sublime frequencies dream island laughing marriage lucky dragons language america is dying of wet nurse self-released parry, lee 'scratch' repentance narnack various doubled own merck duchess says anthologie des 3 perchoirs aliens hemat silence Write for A&E. Get paid. veil vagranz nSmd sorrels, resell e strangers in another country red house setters misitch mjuega djisc sonig dance hall showcase vol ii wadue's FRIDAY, JANUARY 16,2006 THE RICE THRESHER A&£ 11 O TORINO FROM PAGE 9

in the suburbs and drive humongous blatantly shoehomed in to give viewers sport utility vehicles. Walt's fam- a contrast with the Hmong neighbors, ily becomes largely irrelevant as the but that the gang violence which pro- film progresses, which is fortunate vides the hero with an enemy disap- for Walt and for the average audience pears for half of the movie. As soon as member, neither of whom wants to the screenplay requires Walt to befriend put up with them. his neighbors and become a new father Poorly written dialog and shallow figure for the Hmong teenagers, the characters do not always destroy a gun-wielding thugs disappear, letting movie, but a bad plot can, and the story them socialize in peace. Once the bonds in Gran Torino is formulaic and artifi- of love are made, the bad guys are al- cial. It is also one fans have seen before. lowed back onstage again. Is the audi- Like Eastwood's character in the classic ence expected not to see through this? Unforgiven, Walt is a man with many In the end, Gran Torino is a mess regrets about his murderous past but with its heart in the right place, past- called upon to be a fighter again. If only wood directs the scenes with the • # this movie had an ending as good as the Hmong family with great tenderness. one in Unforgivenl In fact, the moments Walt shares with Here, Walt does what the screen- them can be poignant and genuinely play requires, pushes the correct emo- beautiful. The film is shot on location in tional buttons, but fails completely to Detroit and takes in many of the city's give the audience something to think empty lots and abandoned buildings, a mm- • • about. And, disrespectfully, the mov- metaphor for Walt's own loneliness. ie lets this cantankerously agnostic But this story of redemption is trtfc I character leave the final scene in a poorly told and hardly redemptive. A As the stunningly haunted Casey Beldon, Cloverfield's Odette Yustman provides the only incentive for puff of superficial religious imagery. sadly confused storyline, amateurish For a plot so blatantly formulaic, actors, stereotypes, cliches and truly watching Goyer's disappointing screamer, The Unborn. there is a great deal of carelessness with terrible dialog mar the entire produc- the overall structure. It is not just that tion. If Eastwood ever makes another • • the apparent change in Walt's religious movie, he should probably consider views is ignored, or that Walt's family is writing it himself. •UNBORN FROM PAGE 9 B ANIMAL with the plot. After that, the movie world spinning ... you know, like, so this guy smoking? You would think a FROM PAGE 9 descends into the familiar formula fast that we could like fall off into emp- veteran like Goyer would have known of predictable scares and hilariously ty space? Ugh, I'm such a douche bag." from the start that this movie sucked. complex; they do not condescend. the dance-friendly beat on "Brother- bad dialogue. Okay, so it's not a direct quote from the Another major surprise is that Goyer • t In the chorus lift in "In the Flowers," sport" winds down, the listener wants In one scene, Casey babysits a movie, but you get the gist. got Gary Oldman (77ie Dark Knighfs Panda sings: "Then we could be danc- to hit the repeat button and start over. creepy five-year-old and his infant The scene that takes the cake as one Jim Gordon) to play a role in the movie. ing, no more missing you while I am Merriweather Post Pavilion is so elemen- brother. She hears weird noises coming of the funniest unintentional "WTF" Not just any ordinary role, but a rabbi gone / Then we could be dancing, and tally innocent and appeals so directly to from the baby monitor and decides to moments in cinema occurs when Casey who can translate archaic textbooks. you'd smile and say, 'I like this song.'" basic human emotion that its complex- investigate, but does not turn on any of gets sick at a nightclub and stumbles Oldman is extremely versatile and tal- The words are difficult to make out be- ity feels elementary. It is an electronic the lights and slowly walks up the stairs to the bathroom. After vomiting into ented, which is why it is so baffling that hind the music, but they do not need album with a human soul. at about one mile per hour. the toilet, she looks up and notices an he would agree to be in this movie. I I' to be discerned; Panda sings with such Merriweather Post Pavilion is, in In another hilariously awkward odd hole at waist level in the stall's Sadly, he is guilty of some of the earnestness and is so integrated into fact, an exercise in contradiction. The scene, Casey's boyfriend, played by wall. At this point, everyone in the randomness thrown in to confuse the the music that the listener feels a rush music is altogether unique, but it feels meathead Cam Gigandet {Twilight), theater erupted into nervous laughter. audience. During Yustman's exorcism, of exhilaration. somehow familiar. The sonic texturing attempts to launch into a profound There is no way they put a glory hole he blows into a huge animal horn be- At 55 minutes, the album is an ex- is complex, but it affects listeners at a speech to comfort the terrified Casey: in this movie! As she moves closer and cause ... it unsettles the demon? Also, hausting listen, but immediately after very basic level. And it feels so good. "Don't you, like, get terrified by the closer to the hole, hundreds of nasty the dybbuk possesses the bodies of beetles start pouring out of the orifice. around thirty different people, but it's Needless to say, the theater let out a fixated on Yustman because... it enjoys collective sigh of disappointment. the taste of her bloodline? It inhabited The Unborn would've fared much the body of a little kid in a concentra- better as a horror spoof; the major prob- tion camp during the Holocaust! What lem is that it takes itself too seriously. is so freaking sweet about that? The mythology behind Nazi experimen- Additionally, throughout the movie, • I tation seems interesting, but it is con- Yustman sees her creepy five-year-old veyed sporadically and ludicrously. neighbor standing in her yard in the This confusion and general feeling middle of the night. What the hell is he of "what the hell is going on?" can be doing out there? Where are is his par- attributed to the horrendous editing. ents? What if he catches a cold? One scene would end 30 seconds too If you couldn't already tell, The soon and almost immediately cut to Unborn is terrible. The trailer is fan- • I another scene, resulting in a disjointed tastic, but it reveals the only good and disorienting film experience. parts of the movie. It's a great flick to The biggest surprise was that the rent with your friends if you want to film was written and directed by Da- die laughing at how bad it is. The Un- vid S. Goyer, who could be legitimately born should have stayed right were it hailed as a genius for writing The Dark belonged — in the dark netherworld • * NTERWEBS! Knight and Batman Begins. What was of Goyer's imagination.

• I Where you can crash and get your news at the same time.

Register online now and get the news right in your inbox. It's like • 0 exploring the universe from the comfort of your own home.

/''taisSK

• t>

• • P:*|f fill §lf|l • • R.ORG

Mini scones! Only one dollar at Rice News. Ev re. The Thresher, COFFEEHOUSE! • • •Approx. Real Size FRIDAY, JANUARY 16,2009 12 SPORTS THE RICE THRESHER

SPmi^K

s:« ;*?" yeruonwireless mmrnmmm

** %- «• " 1'ifVp >1? SJ * ** , ew Year Blowout Sale! Don't miss these great deals! Limited time only. Plus, get a 20% faculty and staff discount. On monthly access on calling plans $39.99 or higher.

Verizon Wireless 3G Exclusive Wireless 3G Exclusive Samsung Gleam™ Nokia 6205 Music player with external controls Music player with built-in camera • • OUR LOWEST PRICE EVER! OUR LOWEST PRICE EVER! 99 5 99 $19 19 • I $69.99 2-yr. price - $50 mail-in rebate $69.99 2-yr. price - $50 mail-in rebate debit card. With new 2-yr. activation. debit card. With new 2-yr. activation.

• > • I

• » Verizon Wireless 3G Exclusive LG Decoy™ V CAST and VZ Navigator™ capable phone OUR LOWEST PRICE EVER! • I

Smartphone Special!

$69.99 2-yr. price - $50 mail-in rebate # I f BlackBerry® Pearl debit card. With new 2-yr. activation. ^•HwMtawy Get Email on the go

MAIN ST. OUR LOWEST PRICE EVER! Great Value! Includes a built-in 0.7 mi i • I $ Bluetooth headset Followed By: jt 0.4 mi '^fwes that pops off to use. 1-5 NORTH 19 8130 Smartphone: $119.99 2-yr. •Uml | NW j GPS price - $100 mail-in rebate debit card. With 2-yr. activation on voice # I plan with email feature, or email plan

Switch to America's Most Reliable Wireless Network!

• I Cal 1.888.VZW.4BIZ (899.4249) Clickverizonwireless.com Visit any store

VERIZON WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS STORES Open 7 days a weektechnicians availabl e at '.elect locations

GREENWAY PLAZA 38 5 / 5 W. Frwy /1 •; 621 1391 Visit the Verizon Wireless • f RIVER OAKS , '•)' 7 Ww ieirn»i l<-1. / i s 10 Affptamo', la Store inside one of the area's BUSINESS CUSTOMERS UPTOWN (Pv.t' )jk l.^vrl. 71 %0 85A" Matrkula (tniulai Circuit City tactions 1-800-899-4249

Activation fee/line: $35. IMPORTANT CONSUMER INFORMATION: Subject to (ustomei Agmt, Calling Plan, rebate form & credit approval. Up to $175 early termination fee/line (4 other charges. Oilers and coverage, varying by service not available everywhere. Device capabilities Add I chaiges K conditions apply Rebate debit card takes up to 6 weeks ft expires in 12 months. BlackBerry, RIM, Researc h In Motion, SureType" and related trademarks, names and logos are the properly of Research In Motion limiled and are registered and/or used in the U.S. and countries around the world Limited-lime offers While

supplies last. Network details and coverage maps at verizonwireless.com. <6 2009 Verizon Wireless NY(^ SPORTS 13 Men break 19-game conference losing streak by Brody Rollins recovering from off-season surgery. Freshman THRESHER STAFF guard Connor Frizzelle has played admirably in his place, but Braun credits Ghoram for his The men's basketball team's conference patience and impressive experience when he is drought stretched a span of nearly two years, but on the floor. as of last Wednesday, the Owls' Conference USA "Cliff [is] one of our best competitors and I woes are no more. Although they lost the C-USA think he has really given our team a lift," Braun opener against Tulane University, Rice (6-10. 1-1 said. "He was injured to start the year, but now C-USA) rocked Southern Methodist University at I think he's playing at a very high level. He's home on Wednesday to heave the season's big- healthy again, his experience is kicking in, and gest remaining monkey off their back. he plays hard." The Owls will attempt to continue their Ghoram finished the game with a season- mastery of home play in tomorrow afternoon's high 17 points on 5-10 shooting. match-up against the University of Central Nine minutes into the second half, Frizzelle Florida at Tudor Fieldhouse. tied the game at 40-40 with UCF's (11-6, 0-2 C-USA) big- a jumper. Unfortunately, the gest threat is preseason all Owls would not score again C-USA guard Jermaine Taylor. for another four and a half Taylor is averaging a league- minutes, while Tulane went leading 23.7 points per game DID You KNOW? on a 10-0 run. and has been instrumental in A pivotal sequence dur- the Knights' hot start, which Because they went winless ing that run was an offensive includes a close loss to the in C-USA play during 2007- rebound by Tulane that came University of Memphis in their 08, the Owls' win over SMU from a missed layup, giv- Wednesday was their first 1 C-USA opener. ing the Green Wave the lead "UCF is one of the top conference victory in 686 at 50-40. days. Their last conference teams in our league," head "We got decent size, but victory came on Feb. 24, coach Ben Braun said. 2007 against these same we're missing block-outs "They've got some good play- Mustangs. And their previous and giving up offensive re- ers, [and] they brought in a C-USA win before that? Also, bounds," junior guard Cory couple of good recruits." against SMU, naturally. Pflieger said. "We'll have UCF returns two of five defensive sequences where starters from last year's we'll play good defense, squad but only two players we'll shut them down, but we who averaged more than five points per game. have a letdown and don't get the rebound." However, this year's team, headed by 15-year The letdowns to which he is referring have head coach Kirk Speraw, looks just as talented led to opponents averaging a Conference USA- as the previous three that finished fifth, second, high 72.6 points on 45 percent shooting. and tied for fourth in the conference. The smallest the Owls could get the defi- Aside from Taylor, UCF has two other players cit was six points, after a three-point shot by averaging nearly 10 points per game, including freshman forward Lucas Kuipers with 44 sec- freshman guard Isaac Sosa, who was named onds to go in the contest. ) C-USA Rookie of the Week earlier this season. Kuipers, like Ghoram, was inserted into the If the Owls are to get by the Knights, starting lineup after the start of the season. With I# t they will need to learn from the mis- senior forward Aleks Ferka returning to the rota- takes they made against the Green Wave. tion after recovering from injury, this has meant Tulane (7-9, 1-2 C-USA) led throughout most of that sophomore center Trey Stanton has been the first half before the Owls went on a 9-2 run, coming off the bench. At 6'io", Stanton is the which tied the game at 28-28 at the break. lunior tallest player on the team and has continued to guard Lawrence Ghoram paced the Owls early build the reputation as a supreme defender he with nine points, in what was just his third start acquired during his freshman season at Navy. • t of the season. Kuipers and Ghoram have both led the team Junior guard Lawrence Ghoram took over on Wednesday against SMU, finishing with a game- Ghoram, who started 27 of 30 games last in scoring for a game this season, and they high 17 points in the Owls' first conference victory in 19 games. season, has struggled to find minutes while O see MEN, page 18

• I Owls continue search for offense in pair of road losses

by Yan Digilov inside-outside game into a rhythm. utes of the game, and UTEP went on a THRESHER EDITORIAL STAFF However, the surge at the end of the 10-0 run to finish with the 76-60 victory. first 20 minutes gave them the spark "Jareica Hughes really stepped up After a decisive victory against they were looking for. her game in the second half," Williams • I George Washington University The Miners shot nearly 59 percent said. "She is a very difficult match-up last week, it seemed as though the from the field in the second half and for everybody in the league." women's basketball team was on finished the game with 36 points in Though the duo of Hughes and an upswing, but youth and incon- Williams gave Rice a considerable sistency once again undercut the amount of trouble towards the end Owls' efforts. of the game, there was no concrete Rice traveled to El Paso last Friday explanation for the Owls' offensive • I to take on the University of Texas-El stagnation in the second half. The Paso in the first conference game of Miners played basic man-to-man de- the season. From the start, the Owls RICE VS. fense and did not change their game seemed to carry with them the mo- plan at all, yet Rice's shooting and mentum from the win against GW: MEMPHIS production fell flat. For the fourth time in two seasons, Though the final result was up- Rice carried a halftime lead into the WHEN setting, one match-up on the floor Friday, 7 pm locker room. proved to be entertaining for the du- # I But also for the fourth time in two WHERE ration of the game. Freshman point seasons, the Miners (8-7, 1-1 C-USA) Tudor Fieldhouse guard D'Frantz Smart has emerged as ran away with the victory in the sec- one of the leaders on the Owl squad, HISTORY ond half. and her debut against Hughes, a The Owls hold the upper hand "We have had that problem nu- with a 3-2 all-time advantage league superstar, was in itself an merous other games this season, against the Tigers. However, event to pay attention to. where we execute really well, take their last meeting saw Memphis The numbers suggest that Hughes • I good shots, hit a high percentage, trounce the Owls 62-56 in Tenn., came out the victor in their first battle, and then in the second half are un- despite a game-high 10 rebounds scoring nine more points and dishing able to do that," head coach Greg from then-sophomore Tara Watts. out seven, compared to Smart's five, Williams said. "It was a very similar assists. Smart also got into foul trou- repeat to what has happened to us ble in the second half, forcing her to fairly consistently this year." guard Hughes more cautiously. Problems began for the Owls in the paint, compared to Rice's paltry "It was a good match-up," Wil- • .* the final seconds of the first half. With 18. Forward Timika Williams led the liams said. "It was entertaining to less than a minute left, the Owls had low post game for UTEP and finished watch those girls compete against - % an eight-point lead, but the Miners with 19 points, and guard lareica each other." -M bridged that gap by scoring five quick Hughes scored 21. With the El Paso loss still on their LAUREN SCH0EFFLER/THR{SH points to finish the half down by only The Owls remained within striking minds, the Owls traveled to New Or- three, 31-28. distance for most of the second half, leans to take on Tulane University Despite an impressive 19 points from point guard D'Frantz Smart, seen The Miners were held to 30 per- closing to within six with only two on Sunday. The Green Wave (9-7, 2-1 I* here driving to the basket, Rice was still dominated by the Green Wave. cent shooting from the field in the minutes remaining. But they would not C-USA) started the year 8-3, before first half, and they could not get their score another basket in the final min- O see WOMEN, page 18 FRIDAY, JANUARY 16,2009 14 SPORTS THE RICE THRESHER

TRACK& PIELD20O9 I^^mome^ming veteram able to carry Rice through a successful season all-around

by Jonathan Myers THRESHER STAFF Warren also applauded his three triple jumpers, sophomore John Be- The University of Houston Cou- rens, sophomore Ugo Nduaguba, gars continue to become an in- who had a jump over 51 feet on his creasingly larger target on the Rice way to a 2nd place finish at the 2008 University Athletic Department's C-USA outdoor championship, and office dartboard. freshman Michael Izuchukwu. Not only did the football team Warren was adamant in his con- circle the final tilt on the 2008 fidence in his pole vaulters as well, schedule against UH as an impor- who include Kearney, sophomore tant matchup that could possibly Jason Colwick and sophomore Chris make or break their season, head Kato. Colwick won the pole vault at men's track and field coach Jon the 2008 C-USA Outdoor Champion- Warren (Jones '88) has stated that ship with a vault of 17 feet and fin- the Houston men's indoor track ished 2nd at the 2008 NCAA Region- team will be a competitive rival in al. Kato finished sixth at the 2008 the battle for the Conference USA C-USA Outdoor Championships. men's indoor track title. As far as the multi-event com- The Cougars are a preseason petitions, including the heptathlon pick to win the title, while the Owls and decathlon, Adam obviously has • * from South Main St. are picked to established himself as a force to be finish second. Rice outlasted UH in reckoned with in the conference, and November in football, 56-42, and both Chaney and Hayes could also Warren hopes for the same result join him on the winner's podium. Feb. 27 at the conference meet. The sprinters are somewhat of "I do think we can beat Houston, a question mark, as Dan Sloat and if we're healthy," Warren said. "We've Pete Navarra are both freshmen. got an excellent team in place." Nevertheless, Warren is optimistic • i THRESHER FILE PHOTO Across the board, the Owls appear that some of the wide receivers, cor- to have an incredibly talented squad. nerbacks or running backs on the This is largely because of the balance of Junior pole-vaulter Jason Colwick successfuly clears the bar during the 2007 Victor Lopez Bayou Classic. Owls football team who have run seasoned veterans, many of them for- sprints in high school or with the mer conference medalists, and talented Owls previously will take a break freshmen who could do some damage tribute in the long jump. squad, which will feature veteran dan Hmaidan in the 800 meters. from the offseason to compete with throughout the season. The first meet Many of the true freshmen will cross country runners senior Aaron Olowabi put together a fourth-place the team. • I of the year will be the Leonard Hilton be expected not Robson, senior finish at the 2008 C-USA outdoor The Owls will encounter plenty Memorial meet, held Jan. 16 at the Yeo- only to compete || Justin Maxwell, championship, so he will be look- of opposition in their quest for the man Fieldhouse on the UH campus. but to medal senior Brett ing to bring home the individual indoor title, namely the aforemen- Warren sees the freshmen con- in their respec- Olson, junior crown in the indoor championship tioned Cougars, who are eager to tributing to the team from the start. tive events. Jack Our pole vault crew Scott Zivick and this year. defend their back-to-back indoor ti- • > "The freshmen alone are solid, Spinks is capa- may be the best vault junior Brad Mor- Warren was especially enthusi- tles. Tyrone Carrier and Justin Davis and you couple them with Shea Kear- ble of a seven- crew in the country. ris. All five of astic about his throwers, freshman lead UH, while Ed Turner finished • 1* ney returning, who's a conference foot jump in the them have two William Meyers and sophomore last season ranked third in the na- medalist, and Connor Hayes is a huge high jump, and Jon Warren or more years Philip Adam, who took second in the tion for long jump. The University asset," Warren said. "Jack Spinks Clayton Chaney Jones '88 of indoor and decathlon at the 2008 C-USA outdoor of Tulsa will look to their distance should be right in the hunt to medal is a jack-of-all- outdoor experi- championship, and sophomore Clay runners that were part of squad that at the conference level, Michael Izu- trades athlete ence as well as Baker, who placed fourth in both the won the 2008 C-USA Cross Country « • chukwu is a jewel-in-the-rough triple who could per- W several excel- shot put and discus at the 2008 C- championship for guidance on the jumper, and we have great freshmen form well in lent finishes at USA Outdoor Championship. track. The University of Memphis at the 400, 800 and 4x400 in Jordan hurdles and the the conference "We have three really good also could be a surprise this season, Hmaidan and Dan Sloat." decathlon. Colin Shurbet could run meets. Sophomore Jacob Olowabi throwers that will all compete for as they were nearly two years ago Sophomore Shea Kearney placed the short or long distance hurdles will team with the newcomer Jor- medals this season," Warren said. in winning the 2007 C-USA outdoor third at the 2008 C-USA outdoor and could also run a leg on the championship. Warren believes the championship in the pole vault, 4x400 squad. Miners from the University of Tex- • » and sophomore Connor Hayes The team's strong areas include as-El Paso are going to have a down placed fourth in the decathlon at shot put, discus, triple jump, pole A CLOSER LOOK: year, so he doubts that they will be the same meet, and could also con- vault, hurdles and the distance too much of a factor outside of the m 2009 Men's Track & Field Schedule long distance events. With it looking as though UH and Event Location Date (s) Rice will battle it out on the track to see who will take home the title of Leonard Hilton Memorial Yeoman Fieldhouse, UH 1/16 C-USA Indoor Champion, it wouldn't • ft Houston Indoor Invitational Yeoman Fieldhouse, UH 1/30-31 hurt for Warren to post a poster of the Rice Owls' football team hoisting Frank Sevigne Classic Lincoln, Neb. 2/7 the Bayou Bucket after their victory UH All-Comer's Meet Yeoman Fieldhouse, UH 2/7 over Houston, in order to remind the track squi I of their charge to fight Texas A&M Invitational College Station, Texas 2/14 for "Rice's Honor." Conference USA Indoor Yeoman Fieldhouse, UH 2/27-28 Championship

Last Chance Meet TBA 3/6-7 NCAA Indoor Championship College Station, Texas 3/13-14 gorang Dogwood Invitational Nacogdoches,Texas 3/20-21

Hurricane Invitational Miami, Ft. 3/20-21 0 (Decathletes)

Victor Lopez Bayou Classic Rice Track Stadium 3/27-28

Texas Relays Austin, Texas 3/31-4/4

UCLA Rafer Johnson Los Angeles, Calif. 4/10 / JJK Invitational O Texas Invitational Austin, Texas 4/18

J. Fred Duckett Twilight Rice Track Stadium 4/29 Don Kirby Invitational Albuquerque, N.M. 5/1 Chips & Drink Tom Tellez Invitational Louis Tellez Track and 5/1 With purchase of any medium Field Complex, Houston sandwich or pizza Conference USA Outdoor Tulsa, Okla. 5/14-16 Championship After 3 p.m. everyday

NCAA Regional Norman, Okla. 5/29-30 Show your RICE ID or Bnoq this ad in_ THRESHER HIE PHOTO NCAA Outdoor Fayettevilte, Ark. 6/11-13 1200 & Mrin 71MSM011 Championship Senior Matthew Hoffman jogs toward the finish line at Rice Track Sta- ' tr:« 1 nte nrti tf >5 ID dium during Mar. 31, aooz's Victory Bayou Memorial Classic. irt wm •ran Stpsr Tin)* KV> VVf^lirmirr W Momtrow 11 JS4 FRIDAY, JANUARY 16,2009 THE RICE THRESHER SPORTS 15 TRACK & FIELD 2009 Women's squad aims to lay low opponents through balanced performances in pursuit of Indoor and Outdoor Championships

Indoor and Outdoor Championships is generally in good health. Before the team can start their jour- last season, returns the majority of its Armed with a bevy of strong re- ney to repeat success, however, they 2008 squad. The University of Central cruits, several returning veterans will have to find replacements for the Florida, third-place finishers at the C- and an overall injury-free squad, seniors who departed after last season. USA Outdoor Championship last year, Bevan and the team see this season Marissa Daniels (Jones '08), who placed will also pose a sizeable threat to the as an opportunity for them to prove 21st in the 10,000 meters at last year's Owls in 2009. Finally, the University of their mettle and to continue their national race, was an All-Ametican dis- Houston historically produces a strong winning ways. tance runner for the Owls. Rachel Greff track and field team and this year (Hanszen '08) also left a large hole in the "Atmosphere on our team is one of should be no different. squad when she left as an All-American high expectations, and we have risen to pole-vaulter who placed fifth at NCAA Luckily, most of Rice's team mem- the expectations over the last couple of nationals last June. The team will also bers are healthy to start the season. years at championship meets," Bevan miss the leadership of sprinters Desarie Senior Naquanza Alfred is the main said. "It's not about the win-loss record Walwyn and Chandra Ewing with that injured member. After suffering a torn but being your best on the day you're of hurdler and jumper Lacee Carmon. labrum in her shoulder, Alfred under- supposed to be your best. We have an went surgery last spring. She is still try- [indoor] championship meet at the end Bevan believes that despite the loss ing to recuperate so that she can com- of February and that's what we're gear- of their leadership, other team mem- pete this season. Otherwise, the squad ing all cur training toward." bers can step up and fill those holes. "We have lost some great perform- ers and we lost some great leaders, but we hope to have new leadership, and we hope to have new great performers," Bevan said. "I think we do have good leadership and a group that is more mature and an incoming group of fresh- men who can fill the voids of those that graduated last year." Hopefully, the talented group of new team members can help relieve some of the stress from the departure of the se- nior class. The team adds sprinter and hurdler Lucie Cincinatis from Belgium junior triple-jumper Shannon Moran lands in a pile of sand on jan. 19 and sprinter Maya Kirk from Austin. last season. Moran returns in '09 to lead the jumpers. Also hurdling for the Owls will be Kim- berly Stanford, a transfer from Iowa. In field events, thrower Brittany Brown by Natalie Clericuzio Austin University, Texas State Univer- from Hooper, Colo., jumper and pole THRESHER EDITORIAL STAFF sity and Lamar University. vaulter Kiri-Rose Kendall from New While the Owls certainly aim to Zealand will be new to the Owls. Addi- The women's track and field team win the meet, the team will be happy tionally, the freshmen members of the * has built an expectation for excellence enough to just to begin competition, ac- cross country squad will join the team t< with winning performances over the cording to head coach Jim Bevan. as distance runners. past two seasons. With four conference "It'll be a nice start because we've The onus will not be entirely on the championships, as well as a host of na- got a lot of people," Bevan said. "[Forj new athletes to aid the team in dealing tional qualifiers and scorers, these run- all but the cross country girls, it's been with the departure of senior members, ners, jumpers, vaulters and throwers eight months since they competed last. thanks to the several returning con- ,v •' want only to continue their successes I think they're dying to get started." tributors to the squad. Specifically, Rice this year. Junior distance runner Nicole returns three members of its national- Mericle concurs with Bevan, refer- qualifying /400m relay squad in juniors |H The quest for repeat championships mmam begins this Friday at the Leonard Milton encing that anticipation of the non- Shakera Reece, Sarah Lyons and Brit- Memorial Invitational held at the Yeo- distance runners. tany Washington. man Fieldhouse on the University of "For the cross country runners, Bevan knows these three can help Houston campus. The meet will feature- we've already been through cross coun- lead the squad with their experiences. varied competition for the Owls, includ- try so this is just like our second season "They're all three veterans now and ing No. l-ranked Texas A&M University. coming up," she said. "For track run- very talented," he said. "They've all run Other competition will include the Uni- ners, they've been training the whole at the national meet. There's some ma- versity of Texas, host school University half a year. I know they're probably a turity and leadership in that group." of Houston, McNeese State University, little more eager to start racing.... A few Sophomore Becky Wade, Rice's oth- University of Texas-San Antonio, Sam of the freshmen who didn't compete in er national-qualifier along with Daniels Houston State University, Stephen F. cross country are nervous because it's in the 10,000 m race, will return to com- Junior distance runner Britany Williams pushes to the finish at last been such a build up to racing." petition after an injury-plagued cross season's University of Houston Indoor Invitational. • r country season in the fall. Other key distance runners, including Mericle, senior Lennie Waite, junior Britany Wil- A CLOSER LOOK: liams and sophomore Allison Pye are 2009 Men's Track & Field Schedule also returning. All five of this corps ran Looking for a part-time job? in December's national cross country meet and will bring that high-pressure Event Location Date (s) experience to the track and field arena. Leonard Hilton Memorial Yeoman Fieldhouse, UH 1/16 On the field side of the sport, several The best paying student job competitors will be returning to action Houston Indoor Invitational Yeoman Fieldhouse, UH 1/30-31 after an eight-month respite since the at Rice is currently hiring! Texas A&M Invitational College Station, Texas 2/13-14 conclusion of last season. Sophomore pole vaulter Ari lnce returns hoping to Yeoman Fieldhouse, UH 2/27-28 Conference USA Indoor improve on her last season's accom- Championship plishments, when she placed first at Join other Rice students in calling alumni Last Chance Meet TBA 3/6-7 Outdoor Regionals. Junior Katie Doll- inger and sophomore Tina Robinson for the Rice Annual Fund over the phone. NCAA Indoor Championship College Station, Tex. 3/13-14 will represent the Owls in the throw- TSU Relays Houston, Tex. 3/20-21 ing events, while Junior Shannon Mo- ran, senior jenny Glover and sopho- Victor Lopez Bayou Classic Rice Track Stadium 3/27-28 more Sarah Agara will make up the Texas Relays Austin, Texas 4/2-4 jumping core. $9.00/hr plus bonuses! o New Mexico Invitational Albuquerque, N.M. 4/11 Most importantly, Bevan hopes for an equal attack across disciplines Flexible evening/weekend shifts Sunday- Mt. SAC Relays Walnut, Calif. 4/17 and events. Texas Invitational Austin, Tex. 4/18 "We seek to be a well-balanced team Thursday. Work short 3 hour shifts, J. Fred Duckett Twilight Rice Track Stadium 4/29 once again with quality in all of the dif and 2-5 shifts per week. ferent disciplines: sprints, hurdles, Tom Tellei Invitational Louis Tellez Track and 5/1 jumps, throws and distances," Bevan c* Field Complex, Houston said. "We've got ammunition in al! ar- eas. Competition is like a battle and Conference USA Outdoor Tulsa, Okla. 5/14-16 Immediate placement. our ammunition can hit you from all Championship different areas." NCAA Regional Norman, Okla. 5/29-30 Rice will need a balanced group of athletes to overpower its strong compe- NCAA Outdoor Fayetteville, Ark. 6/11-13 To schedule an interview call tition within Conference USA. The Uni Championship versity of Texas-El Paso, which placed 713-348-3287 ore-mail [email protected] second behind Rice at both the C-USA FRIDAY, JANUARY 16,2009 16 SPORTS THE RICE THRESHER MEN'S TENNIS 2009 With the most talented batch of new faces in the program's

history, the Owls look to finally move past a three-year roadblock • flf'

know from the last three years I can that the team would be good," he says. beat anyone in the country if I play That drop is about as likely as Rosa well, so perhaps I was expecting a switching to a left-handed forehand, little too much from myself. [Now] I've but the implications are not too far dropped all the expectations." from reality. This squad features more 0 I* Ustundag said the pressure on depth than any in previous years, and Miiller was evident, but the senior's Miiller, the only Owl who personally talent still shines. remembers each postseason loss to "He's got to stop worrying what Tulsa, could not be happier. he can do, about the rankings and "With the talent I think we can fi- awards," the nally win thecon- coach says. "If a ference, which he can just stay has been my It in the present I honestly think that goal for the last and work on his three seasons," game, try every I can beat most of he said. "It's cer- day to add a little the players in the tainly frustrating bit more, then when you lose all those [rank- country. There are for the third time ings and awards] some four or five play- straight. You • (• will come." ers in the country who know the same Joining Rosa team, you know and Miiller at the are tough to beat ... the same play- top of the ladder they don't have as ers.... It makes will be Wang, in me even more his second sea- much school as we do. motivated to beat them." son at Rice after Bruno Rosa • 1 transferring from The road to the the University of 99 C-USA finals will Southern Cali- be bumpy, much fornia last year. like last season's. Wang has made perhaps the most im- With 15 contests coming against ranked pressive improvements from his 2008 opponents — including nine on the After storming onto the C-USA circuit last season, junior Bruno Rosa, right, will begin the spring season ranked campaign, as his placement as the road — the Owls will need to be "road • «• team's No. 3 illustrates. warriors," according to Ustundag. 26th in the nation. He will be joined this weekend by fellow junior Dennis Polyakov, left, and No. 62 Sam Their season, however, will begin Garforth-Bles, below, who helms arguably the most talented freshman class in Rice's history. Sorting Out the Rest at home with a pair of double-head- However, the rest of the lineup is ers. Playing at the MET Indoors, Rice by Casey Michel Joining Garforth-Bles is fresh- Rosa the belief that he could down any- murky, not because of a lack of talent welcomes C-USA rival University of THRESHER EDITORIAL STAFF man Isamu Tachibana, who came to thing the other squads threw his way. but because there is simply too much Memphis and University of Texas-San • c Rice as the top-ranked Texan of 2008. "I think I've improved pretty much skill to limit to six spots. Antonio today, and Lamar Univer- • t What is leadership? Is it the respect Although Tachibana has displayed everything [in my game], finally reached "Since there's so much depth, there sity and Prairie View A81M University automatically assigned to the eldest, his physical skills — he earned a top a point where I don't have a point where will be a little more pressure on every- this Sunday. The Owls will then face the veterans and the weathered? Or is 25 national ranking in juniors last I have to improve specifically," Rosa body to play better and make the line- No. 25 Texas Christian University on it something earned, something found year — Ustundag said that the emotive said. "I honestly think that I can beat up," says Ustundag. "And it's going Wednesday at Jake Hess Tennis Stadi- when the obstacles are toughest and capacities of the freshman, who goes most of the players in the country. There to make our job a little more difficult, um before going on a grueling eight- the chips are at their lowest? about practice with a quiet demeanor, are some four or five players in the coun- too, but that's a good problem to have, week road swing. • 1 This is the question the men's ten- need to be tapped. try who are tough to beat, [but that is] as opposed to being shorthanded." This two-month stretch will more nis team has dealt with in the weeks "In juniors he played with a lot of because they don't have as much school A similar problem will arise in dou- than likely decide how the team's sea- before the dawning of their spring passion, so we just have to figure how as we do." bles. The only solid pair heading into son shakes down. But it will also likely season. Traditionally, those at the to bring it out," Ustundag said. Confidence aside, Rosa knows that the season are Miiller and fellow se- decide who the leaders, those who de- top of the ladder — such as junior Rounding out the freshmen are he must still work for his standing. nior Tobias Scheil, who are currently fine the team's identity, will be. Bruno Rosa, currently ranked 26th in Christian Saravia, a member of the During the fall season he bolted into ranked 52nd in the nation. "The leaders of the team are the nation — would be the ones steer- Guatemalan Davis Cup team, and the quarterfinals of the ITA National Once the season begins, the coach- those who practice hard and those • c» ing the team. But a glut of highly- Andy Wang, who walked on to the Intercollegiate Indoor Champion- es should get a better of idea of which who do the [right] things," Rosa said. touted, highly-talented freshmen has program earlier this year. ships only to lose in straight sets to player fits into which slot. Fortunately, "Theoretically, me and Christoph made the idea of team leadership a All told, this freshman class brings seventh-seed Justin Kronauge of Ohio ego does not seem to play a role in dic- are the captains, but the real cap- bit more opaque. a newfound depth to the club, a re- State University. tating the selection process, a fact al- tains are those who practice hard.... serve that was lacking as last season Hi But Rosa, ce- luded to by a frank Rosa. It's always good to have those kinds Not Just New Faces waned and the continual tournaments mented at the top of "I like playing No. 1 — it wouldn't be of people because, besides pushing The four freshmen who entered took their toll on the team. This time the lineup, under- bad for my ego - but I wouldn't mind you in practice, they are pushing you this year have brought a competitive around, however, the struggle •*i stands full well playing No. 6, because it would mean to beat them to stay in the lineup." zeal that, en masse, has never been will not come from having that he has the seen by either head coach Ron Smarr a lack of reserves but from opportunity to or assistant coach Efe Ustundag (Bak- excess potential. accomplish great UPCOMING MEN'S er '99). And so far, their combined "When you have a team things this season. skill sets have give the Owls a No. 24 with a lot of potential it's Senior Christoph TENNIS SCHEDULE ranking and propped up a program tough not to look ahead," Miiller, on the other O fk that's been battered by three straight says Garforth-Bles. "You hand, may need a Date Opponent Location Rank Conference USA finals losses to the want take it one game at guiding hand. 1/16/09 Memphis Rice University NR University of Tulsa. a time." Miiller is enter- "The class we brought in came in ing his fourth and UT-San Antonio Rice University NR The Best at the Top extremely focused and wanting to do final season at Rice. 1/18/09 Lamar Rice University NR something on the tennis court," Us- While much potential lies in He has shown blazes Prairie View A&M tundag said. "I think their level of con- the new faces, the amount of skill of breathtaking play Rice University NR • 0 centration and desire picked up every- residing at the top of the lineup is over the last three 1/21/09 TCU Rice University 33 body else, even the upper guys as well. even more impressive. seasons, including a 1/24/09 Florida Atlantic Boca Raton, Fla. NR ... The underclassmen are expecting to Rosa, unarguably the top playe gritty, grinding vic- win and are making everybody work." on the team, is one of the stron- tory against then-No. 1/25/09 Miami Miami, Fla. 17 gest athletes Rice has seen in 18 Kellen Damico of Leading the class is Sam Garforth- 1/31/09 Wake Forest Oxford, Miss. 26 Bles, a bruising behemoth from Alber- years. His build, listed as the University of Tex- 2/01/09 Ole Miss/ Kentucky ta, Canada. His 6-3 frame makes the Ca- 5'io", belies an unforeseen as last season, yet he Oxford, Miss. NR/36 skill that his opponents nadian one of the tallest players on the has been plagued by 2/07/09 LSU Baton Rouge, La. 19 • A squad, and gives him one of the most often underestimate. Last agonizing stretches of 2/21/09 Furman Tallahassee, Fla. 69 dangerous serves on the court. With a season saw him earn First- mental inconsistency. This forehand that rivals the strength of ju- Team All-America honors, a fall saw Miiller's game drop 2/22/09 Florida State Tallahassee, Fla. 11 nior teammate Chong Wang — whom No. 14 slot in the NCAA singles precipitously, and when the 3/03/09 San Diego San Diego, Ca. 54 Ustundag describes as "one of the big- tournament and a spot as a Na- spring season starts, the Ger- 3/13/09 gest hitters in the country" — Garforth- tional Finalist for the "New- man will be out of the rank- Duke Rice University 35 comer of the Year" award. ings for the first time since 3/15/09 Bles charged onto the collegiate scene Southern Miss Rice University NR last fall, coming out victorious in the His best showing of the his sophomore year. 3/17/09 Texas ITA South Central Regional consolation season came against the Uni- But with the help of his Austin, Tex. 2 3/20/09 bracket last October. versity of Miami's then-No. 7 Daniel coaches, Miiller thinks he has Texas-Pan America Rice University NR With five straight wins to close out Vallverdu, a straight-set victory that pushed past the mental issues he 3/21/09 A&M Corpus Christi Rice University 75 the fall season, Garforth-Bles will go officially catapulted Rosa onto the ra- has been battling. 3/22/09 San Diego State into this weekend as the 62nd-ranked dar of opposing coaches. "Everybody wants to be an All- Rice University 57 That win, added to the other six he American, so in the fall I put a little too 3/27/09 player in the country and the only Owl Pepperdine Rice University 14 besides Rosa in the top 100. had against ranked opponents, gave much pressure on myself," he said. "I FRIDAY, JANUARY 16,2009 THE RICE THRESHER SPORTS 17

COMMENTARY

With Darius, the list of issues carries on for miles BY THE My issues with Darius Miles be- surgery, gaining weight and be- game threshold. Like a Lions fan Lawyers from across the profes- NUMBERS gan at a Chipotle. coming more of a detriment to the with the Ford family, the brass and sion have come forward to claim Unlike most, I hate the place. team. Portland was eager to leave fanbase of Portland became more that the Blazers' actions represent JAN. 8-14 I hate the overpriced food, hate its "Jail Blazer" image in the past heated than a turkey on Thanks- everything from outright worth- those silver-plated tables, and hate giving, and Blazers president Larry lessness to collusion, as it is next the info-laden cups that tell me Miller swiftly took matters into his to impossible to prove that a team BASKETBALL why a farmer in Iowa thinks pigs own hands. signed Miles for anything other are sexier than Marisa Miller. In a letter to his fellow execu- than his hardcourt abilities. Darius Miles, on the other tives — one of whom underhand- As it stands now, Miles has more hand, loves Chipotle. I saw him edly slipped the text to the me- influence over the Blazers than he SMU 57 RICE 69 at one in 2007, stepping from his dia — Miller said Portland would ever had while in uniform. He con- gleaming black convertible and threaten litigation if a team signed trols a huge portion of the team's sMU 22 35 57 it over his 30-inch rims. He had the Casey Michel Miles solely to mess with the Blaz- future, and with it, the possible Rice 37 32 69 look of a lethargic has-been, a tale THRESHER STAFF ers' salary cap. The backlash has arrival of an NBA dynasty. If Greg for all those whose dreams came SMU (5-9,0-2 C-USA) been swift, as both the league Oden, Brandon Roy, and LaMarcus Williams 6-ii, 1-2 14, Faye 4-15,1-2 9, Dia 3-5, 2-2 true but are either too dense or too and Miles' injury, coupled with office and the players' union im- Aidridge are eternally missing the 8, Fall 4-7,0-0 8, McCoy 3-13, 0-0 6, Nyakundi 2-7, arrogant to realize it. He made me his image as a malcontent, made mediately stated their support of final piece to Portland's puzzle, Da- 0-0 6, Otis 3-4. Totals: 25-69, 4-6 57 retch almost as much as the bur- his return to the Blazers as likely Miles' fair and unencumbered re- vid Stern will join Kevin Pritchard C» rito I'd just eaten. as Mike Sherman's return to Texas turn. Miles, meanwhile, has been in a decades-long tear-fest, always Rice (6-10,1-1 C-USA) I thought our relationship had A&M. Portland sealed Miles' fate conspicuously silent. wondering what could have been Ghoram 6-14, 2-2 17, Frizzelle 4-6.2-2 13, Stanton 6-9,0-112, Kuipers 4-5,2-510, Pfleiger 2-7.2-2 8. hit rock bottom. After a racially- when a doctor deemed his injury Enviable, desirable, and amica- from a team that always should Totals: 26-58,9-14 69 tinged tirade against then-Portland "career-ending," forcing an insur- ble? Nope. Complicated, awkward, have been. Trail Blazers coach Maurice Cheeks, ance company to fork over the mil- and unprecedented? You betcha. Yes, my issues with Darius Three-point goals — SMU 3-24 (Nyakundi 2-5, Williams 1-3); Rice 8-18 (Frizzelle 3-4, Ghoram 3-4, Miles' appearance at Chipotle ce- lions owed by the Blazers. Miller and his coworkers may Miles continue. He's not doing Pfleiger 2-6). mented his repugnant, disreputa- However, breaking the insur- have Plaxico'd themselves — shot this to feed his family, a la Latrell ble status in my mind. ance company's bank was contin- themselves in the leg, that is — Sprewell. He's not proving that he Rebounds — SMU 42 (Dia 7, McCoy 7, Fall 6, (• Nyakundi 6, Williams 6, Faye 5, Otis 2, Harp 1, But it looked like Chipotle was gent on one thing: Miles' career with their heavy-handed letter. Ev- can once again be the greatest, like Walker 1); Rice 39 (Ghoram 8, Kuipers 6, Braimoh just the beginning of our problems. actually being over. According to ery team knew of the Blazers' pre- Michael Jordan. He's simply trying 5, Stanton 5, Foster 4, Pfleiger 4, Frizzelle 3, Perka As you may have heard, the league rules, if Miles appears in dicament but without the threat, to backstab a team that once gave 2, Herndon 1).

biggest NBA story of 2009 isn't the at least 10 games during the 2008- inter-team relations were at least him a generous contract when no Assists — SMU 10 (McCoy 3, Williams 3, Faye 2, Fall Celtics' freefall or Charles Bark- '09 season, his contract re-ups and palatable. Now Portland faces one else wouj'i, .siting him up for i, Walker 1); Rice 16 (Ghoram 4, Pfleiger 4, Foster 3, ley's late night escapades. All eyes $18 million goes back on the Blaz- 29 other teams full of affront and life on the track to riches and Blaz- Frizzelle 2, Stanton 2, Beasley 1). have instead turned to the recent ers cap space — leaving them a $7.9 bluster, all with crimped feelings ers fans on the track to regret. €• These boxscores brought to you by: controversy between a certain million tab in luxury tax this sea- and possible rationale for return- If Miles plays the 10th game, corn-rowed, scraggly-bearded for- son and putting enough lines on ing the favor. The Grizzlies stepped there's only one place you'll find This could be the last time boxscores are printed in the Thresher, although probably not. Neverth- ward and the league's dapper dar- owner Paul Allen's face to make a up to the plate first, signing Miles me: Chipotle. Why? Because by less, let's hit up some classic 'Brought to you lings, my Trail Blazers. cartographer happy. to a 10-day contract through Ian. that point, nothing will compare to Bys' this week: Here's the synopsis: In 2004, So far, Miles has remained un- 19 last week. After that contract the bitter taste left by the Blazers' "Natalie is totally promoted for letting me type Miles penned a six-year, $48 mil- der the double-digit limit, but just runs dry, at least a dozen teams are situation, not even one of those this" Casey Michel. lion contract with Portland, but barely. The hand-wringing came to reportedly interested in helping terrible burritos. "The first one is always the hardest." his lanky frame soon gave way to a head last week when it was re- Miles' career resurge. "GOSSIP GIRL RULES. ONE TREE HILL SUX." - Also Casey Michel ' an onslaught of injuries. He sat vealed that the six 2008 preseason And the worst part is that the -1— Casey Michel is a Brown "Casey Michel's bracket is fourth from last out the 2006-'07 and '07 *08 sea- games Miles played with the Bos- Blazers' threat may be emptier College junior and former sports among my 100+ participating friends." sons because of microfracture ton Celtics count toward his 10- than Rod Blagojevich's moral code. editor. March Madness 2008. I don't expect 2009 to go any better for him. e c PRESIDENT LEEBRON €• DEAN FORMAN & DEAN SANDERS ALONGSIDE SA & GSA INVITE YOU TO VIEW THE xVVATiqjy

n

PBAMA

0

JANUARY 20TH 2009 • lO AM RMC GRAND HALL • REFRESHMENTS PROVIDED FRIDAY, JANUARY 16,2009 18 SPORTS THE RICE THRESHER OMEN FROM PAGE 13 are looking for more options on the game-high 17 points. From then on offense that ranks second worst in the Owls were able to maintain a size- the C-USA at 65.6 points per game. able advantage over the Mustangs, Following the loss in New Orleans, who did not hold the lead at any the Owls returned to Tudor Field- point during the game. house on Wednesday to continue the The junior also added a team-high search for its first conference win of eight rebounds, four assists and two the year. SMU (5-9, 0-2) and the Owls steals. After being elevated to the entered the matchup as the only two starting lineup, Ghoram has been teams in C-USA with losing records. the team's most consistent offensive The Mustangs were an abysmal 0-4 threat, averaging over 14 points over on the road heading into the game, the past three games. likely a result of the team's youth. The Owls' frontcourt defense set The Owls exploited the Mustangs' the tone as the platoon of posts used inability to handle inside pressure, by Braun limited the shot count of and with a 69-57 win, they made their SMU's talented big men. Led by for- o 10 19-game C-USA losing streak a thing wards Bamba Fall and Papa Dia, SMU of the past. Rice took advantage of a outscored the Owls 40 to 20 in the slow start by SMU to jump out to an paint, but all too often Rice's defense early lead that widened to as much as held the Mustangs to jump shots. SMU 18 points; before the half, the gap was shot 36 percent from the field for the 15 points. game and hit on just three of 24 shots The Mustangs hit only one of their from beyond the three-point line. 0 IC» first 17 shots and were never able to "I think we've done a pretty good settle into a rhythm offensively. job this year on limiting the other Third-year head coach Matt Do- team's best player," Braun said. "Our herty, formerly of the University of problem has been sometimes letting North Carolina-Chapel Hill, was able other guys get loose. So while you put to rally his team into a 14-0 second- all your attention on the other team's half run that saw the Owl lead shrink best scorer and try to hold him under • O to as few as three points. his average, you don't want to do that Ghoram ended the run when he at the expense of giving some guys connected on a jumper for two of his career nights."

A CLOSER LOOK: Men's Basketball Statistics •

'07-'Q8 *08-'09 Wins 3 6 Losses 27 10 Points Per Game 55.9 65.8 €• Field Goals - Ait/Made 590/1558 359/850 Field Goal Percentage .379 .422 3 pt. Field Goals - Att/Made 104/381 110/299 3 pt. Field Goal Percentage .273 .368 # 3 pts. made per game 3.5 6.9 Free Throws-Att/Made 394/608 225/312 t Free Throw Percentage .648 .721 Free Throws Made Per Game 13.1 14.1 ; • '• '• Rebounds 1046 526 Rebounds Per Game 34.9 32.9 €• Assists 298 218 Assists Per Game 9.9 13.6 Turnovers 566 209 Turnovers Per Game 18.9 13.1 Assist to Turnover Ratio 0.5 1.0 Steals 197 85 Steals Per Game 6.6 5.3 i Blocks 93 35

• P

LAUREN SCHOtrnCR/THRESHER

Denied! Sophomore center Trey Stanton and classmate forward Suleiman www.chickenkitchenhouston.com Braimoh deny an SMU Mustang an easy bucket Wednesday night. • WOMEN FROM PAGE 13

Williams said he wanted his team to rest of the team. has been quiet and ineffective since redeem itself, but he also knew Tu- "It is not a very emotional team," the start of the winter vacation. lane would be difficult to beat. "We Williams said. "You do not see very evi- "She seemed to play a little more talked about bouncing back," he dent emotions." relaxed, and we ended up giving her said. "We talked about how Tulane The Owls had a problem choos- more minutes," Williams said. "She was definitively going to be very fo- ing and making the best shots. played well. We are hoping there cused for us." Throughout the year, shot selection will be some carry over from her this On Friday, as the Owls played has been as big a factor as the ac- week, because we certainly could use UTEP, Tulane was at home taking tual shooting numbers for the Owls. that type of production this week." on the University of Houston. The They were outscored by 22 points Another part of the silver lining Green Wave were up by 18 points in All day Saturday any regular size chop-chop in the paint, while the starting was the play of sophomore center the second half before UH rallied to forwards, senior Emery Carter and Melissa Wittmayer. She finished the win the game by two. Tulane wast- sophomore Morgan Mayse, scored a night with seven blocks, five points and drink for$5.55 ed 110 time in taking out the result- combined 10 points for the second and nine rebounds. Freshman tenter ing frustration on the Owls. game in a row. when you show your Rice University ID Candace Ashford also finished the Rice got off to an early 4-0 lead, Though the team's under- night with five points. but that was about all that went well, achievement was discouraging, The Owls face two opponents this CK RICE VILLAGE CK DOWNTOWN as Williams' squad found itself on the several bright spots emerged in weekend, starting with Memphis 2516 Rice Blvd McKinney PlaceTunnel wrong end of a 91-63 stomping. Smart New Orleans. First, freshman Bri- University tonight at 7 p.m. at Tudor el 713 523 2323 9030 Main St Suite T 240A continued to play well, finishing with anna Hypolite scored 15 points on Fieldhouse. On Sunday, they play Tel: 71 3 752 2323 19 points, but despite her efforts she the night. She proved herself to be a host to the University of Alabama- could not find a way to energize the scoring threat early in the year, but Birmingham. FR1DAY 16 C' ' MNUARY » 2009 THE RICE THRESHER CALENDAR 19

2ta929iq 9g6q>b68 erIT the Calendar WEDNESDAY , C< McMurtry 2009:1 Don't Know JAN. 16-23, 2009 oil 8fioib9l92 How To Quit YO-Week Oscar and Pulitzer winner Larry i9liJ Ylno-9Dri9nited6 feirt a'9Difl McMurtry '60 speaks today at FRIDAY the Friends of Fondren Library Distinguished Guest Lecture at 7 p.m. in the Grand Hall. I've arlT (' The End of Innocence A team even more pathetic never seen Brokeback Mountain The Registrar says that today is than the Portland Blazers but I guess I'll have to check this lecture out. And Mr. McMurtry, the last day to: Generally speaking, teams called • Add courses without a fee if you read this: I love you! Hire the "Blazers" are known as me! Please! I'll wash your car! J • Add a course without in- laughingstocks for all the sports «Y AJOy structor permission world. Watch the women's bas- Y)^ (• • Adjust variable credit for ketball team humiliate the UAB courses online, convert a effort at 2 p.m. at Tudor. I Dream of Genome "Pass/Fail" to an earned Nwy letter grade for courses tak- Campus Ministry brings us Fran- en in Fall 2008 cis Collins, former director of the Human Genome Project, as part • Withdraw with a full refund Is today your birthday? of their Veritas Series. Be in the of tuition and fees It could be! I don't know! Send Shell Auditorium at the Jesse H. UO|i 9Vol I |JD2 IUw UOY • Drop to part-time status c» me birthdays or other events for Jones Graduate School of Man- lllvv with a full tuition refund print! Mostly "other events," 9Vol T I agement at 7 p.m. to learn about 1 but birthdays are fine. Gotta fill God and science (and, I assume, sgnuioj H'W vof that dead space somehow. Think how we can use the Human Ge- boor/nom iuoY Only 53 percent? Rotten To- of me as your small-town easy- nome Project to turn ourselves listening morning DJ. n matoes is "Dead Wrong" into mutants a la X-Men) new oft pniHzuiat 9+DDilslo °^ -^ +9Y o Notorious opens today. Should be "Juicy." The "Sky's the Lim- -0+99wa 9ci Hiw Satchmo at the Met Rockets vs.Jazz it!" I'm planning on going with ^ bs-H-immoo 9Vv a "Friend of Mine." ... "Juicy." The Metropolitan Opera House Head on down to the Toyota on-fifti D riJ. (in NYC) will host its first jazz Center or call 713.627.DUNK. Has (Upon further review, the "Top concert today, featuring some there ever been a more appropri- Critics" gave Notorious an 80 all-star performers including ate phone number? A: No. percent approval rating. To Louis Armstrong, Benny Good- I* quote LiLo, that's "grood.") man, Artie Shaw and Lionel Hampton. Doors opened in 1944. I guess this means you're late. Save a life, get a lifetime of phone calls to donate again

Donate blood in the RSVP Blood SATURDAY 1J Drive today from 9 a.m. - 6 p.m. MONDAY 19 in the Grand Hall. Beat my re- €• Hey now, you're an all star cord time of five and a half min- utes, if you can (you can't). Can't wait for OWLCON? Get out Martin Luther King Jr. Day your Warcraft III CDs now. It's 5 time for RTVs's Defense of the No classes! I've got a great idea * #• Ancients tournament in Farns- for a party. What could possibly THURSDAY 22 worth Pavilion from 1 - 11 p.m. go wrong with that? C» It self-identifies as "BYO-com- puter/mouse/monitor/Ethernet "Forget it, Jake. It's Chinatown." In the "biz," we refer to this as cable," but "other technology a "twofer." needs will be met." Food and The 1974 nco-noir Oscar winner drink provided. Color commen- Chinatown, starring Jack Nichol- Rice Cinema will screen two tary on games and live broad- son, screens at the Rice Cinema movies back-to-back: Seven Bil- €• cast of matches. tonight at 7 p.m. There are no liards Tables and Said's Journey. classes, but there are classes to- Both are award-winning films Go backward with the Backpage morrow, so you can get back in from Spain about, you know, the human condition and stuff, and Shriner Bock time for bedtime. Or beertime. every week with Journeys I personally prefer the latter. Journey is animated! Top NCAA football players from Don't tell my mother. Through the Annals of History around the country hit and play c* for the Shriners Hospitals for Children's East-West Shrine Game at 3 p.m in the University FRIDAY of Houston's football field. Jarett TUESDAY 20 Dillard will suit up and win the hearts of thousands. (He'll be on Today's Date: 1.23. only on ricethresher.org the same team as Oregon line- The End of an Era (of Terror) man Fenuki Tupou, who weighs I giggle whenever this happens. almost two JDs.) The whole thing It's President George W. Bush's See also: March 14, Sept. 9, and will be on ESPN2, so get yourself last day in office. I'll certainly June 9. Especially June 9. near a TV. miss the great times I've had in thepasteightyears... HE'S GONE I guess she really "Never Could THANK GOD YES YES YES! Say Goodbye" WILLY'S PUB Listen to "Club Action" The Houston Symphony Orches- t* tra takes the stage with Gloria Yo! Majesty performs at Walter's Racism is over! Gaynor - Gloria Gaynor?! - for on Washington tonight, with JAM. a® "30 Years of 'I Will Survive' - acts by Natalie "The Floacist" Brown College goes two-for-two A Disco Evening With Gloria Closed for MLK Day Stewart, Tha Fucking Transmis- in Obama-themed pub nights. Gaynor." Gaynor's very first But don't worry, we'll be there for you the rest of the week sions and Nosaprise. Doors open Join us at 10 p.m. in Willy's appearance with an orchestra at 8 p.m. Tickets are $10. Pub to celebrate the culmina- to commemorate the thirtieth tion of youthful enthusiasm and JABS. 20 anniversary of "I Will Survive" I've heard Yo! Majesty described a political paradigm shift, or to should be something to tell the as a blow to chauvinism in hip- mourn the death of America as > M * Brrwn College Pub Night grandkids about. The afterparty hop. That may or may not be we plunge into full-blown so- at South Beach? Not so much. true, but this crunk-electro les- cialism. Or have a beer. bian duo is sure to please. I'm holding out for the most indie HOW TO SUBMIT CALENDAR ITEMS lllHlfglM, u. m combination ever: Godspeed Yo! Presidential Trivia :* Black Emperor. Look for their hit album, "Yo, Lift Your Skinny The deadline for submission is 3 p.m. the Monday prior to publication. Kryptonite Pussy." Submissions are printed on a space available basis.

Submission mp'bods fEcroiiM, JABS Fax: 713.348.5238 FU UCF Email: [email protected] Bartender Auction The men's basketball team Campus Mail: Calendar Editor Bid for time with your favorite takes on the University of Cen- Thresher, MS-524 Willy's Pub Bartender tral Florida today at 3 p.m in Tudor Fieldhouse. Unfortuan- Note from the editor: tely, Athetlics only invited live I got a new job! Please send me your news events so I don't need JAB3. 23 people on Facebook. Only a few to search for them. Otherwise, welcome to the backpage of the thousand left! Rice l ight, Never Backpage. You're almost to the good part! Keep going! Just one Phil's Phriday: 4pm-7pm Die! more page! FRITAY, JANUARY16,2009 20 BACKPAGE THE RICE THRESHER The Backpage presents Selections from Closed Rice's first abstinence-only literary sex magazine

TV «fcout 44AV£ "S/fN 1\PY_tu6, Tl IS.

*T~o Stop 3>£z Mb y- ** rrrlIprid*.± Eu yt,u -Uk ^ Y cA" w far fpj2- TwO V?.^S W ^ °" • jjuvtA *yWe.«" ^r' * * \JuY i-J-. '• (jJtrH At Fw

You will say I love you 1. Lop£ VP I will say I love you' B4(» i. ^'C l&ty You wiii plunge jL kottle cp^ rvoiJi#,-zer Your manhood Into my delicate blushinq flower CQVCV\ Yet It will be sweeter A-f+er we are commiffed C- Dance' Xn a marriage While we make room for the Spirit the Righteous Brothers proclaim over the church speakers: "Whooooooooooooaah oooooh-oooohhh ohhhhhhhh" I try to focus on the words but it doesn't work The elastic waistband of your cheer sweatpants presses into your hips as you grind upon my bluejeans We dry hump in uncomfortable silence for hours upon your grandmother's couch rotating between three or four positions every five minutes pretending to moan and then, like basketball players, shower up "fossil" (in different bathrooms, of course) we share a hug in front of the dinosaur exhibit and maybe you hold me too tight r I haven't felt this way since high school or too close or something i don't really know why when I also felt this way but I unearth a little stegasaurus of my own 1 know you know and you know I know you know # but we say nothing and move on to Body Worlds

An Excerpt from "Entwined in Sin" Mary felt John's anxious, uncertain hand in her own, clasping tightly. Excerpts from the Closed sex survey Tighter. Tighter. TIGHTER. Have you ever engaged in sexual intercourse? How many of your abstinence-only friends are "John, stop it," Mary said coquettishly. "It's only the fourth date." 1] No pregnant? But John didn't stop. His hard, long fingers brushed the hairs on the soft, [ ] 1 don't think that's an appropriate question 1 ] One or two pink back of her hand. I ] Three to five "Mary, I can't stop," John said. His hand throbbed in agony while a Which is your preferred abstinence-only [ ] Six to eight thick, full vein snaked its way through his wrist. Sweat rained down from sexual alternative? { ] Eight to ten his forehead and slid down their convergent forearms. He moaned and [ ] World of Warcraft I ] More than ten drummed his fingers agains the fleshy back of her hand and felt those tendons which let her fingers move. | ] Dry-humping Suddenly John grew bold. He let go of Mary's hands and laced his fin- Have you ever purchased contraceptives, just j ] Fantasy football gers between hers. She slapped him — hard — on the left side of his face. [ ] Bible study in case? "You predator!" she screamed. [ ] Student government l]No [ ] Anal [ ] 1 am a dirty whore The Backpage is satire and is written, poorly, by Timothy Faust, who experienced abstinence-only Catholic "sex ed," and Eric Doctor, who got abstinence-plus. CLASSIFIEDS @rice.edu PART TIME WORK; West-U family - RICE ALUMNI SEEKING after school summer. Job will include driving, er- THE WEEKLEY FAMILY YMCA is looking HELP WANTED Help with afternoon carpool. 9 and 15 nanny for 2 daughters (ages 3, 6) 3 rands, laundry and light housekeep- for Swim Instructors and CERTIFIED yr old children. Family car provided. days per week from 4 to 6pm in West ing. Looking for a commitment of at lifeguards and to work morning, BABYSITTING 3 CHILDREN age 5 to 14 Hours 3 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. M - Thurs U. Car + good driving skills required least one year. Call Joe at 832-265- afternoons, evenings and/or week- for after-school activities from 3pm (Fri optional). Call Jayne @ 832-597- to pick girls up from school/activi- 3275 or PATTY AT 713-299-1828. ends. Lifeguard Candiadates must to 6pm. Please call 281-520-0617. 2231. ties. Contact [email protected]. have CURRENT certifications in : life- FREE HOUSING FOR a Korean Female guarding (YMCA or Red Cross), CPR UNIQUE I-BEDROOM IN 1930s his- $ EASY MONEY $ IOOO'S weekly. Any- MEMORIAL AREA FAMILY seeking part- student wanting to live with senior -R, and First Aid. Lifeguard classes torical building. Minutes from Rice one can do this! CALL NOW 281-485- time help. Job Description: experi- citizen. Couples welcome. Minutes held April i9th-26th and May 10th- campus. Completely restored to its 7663. enced female who can care for our from Rice campus. Please call 713- 17th . Training will be provided for old glory with all new appliances, 14 year old Daughter. Safe and good 591-4126 or email mcho@wireless- Swim Instructors. Contact Holly Jen- wooden floors, central a/c, dishwa- EVENINGS/WEEKENDS JOB AVAILABLE condition car required. Hours are 3-6 wisdom.com. kins at [email protected]. ter, washer/drier, city views, carport at Rice! Join other Rice Students in during school year and noon - 5 in $995/mo. carlosmeyers@hotmail. calling alumni to tell them about the com 832 545-8933.1118 Autrey Street. Annual Fund. $9/hr plus bonuses, incentives. Flexible evening shifts ADVERTISING CLASSIFIEDS SUBSCRIPTIONS RETIRED BUSINESSMAN SEEKS office Sunday -Thursday. Contact: 713-348- We accept display and classified advertise- 1-35 words $15 Annual subscription rates; assistant for various clerical duties. 4363, [email protected]. ments. The Thresher reserves the right 36-70 words $30 $60/year domestic to refuse any advertising for any reason. 70-105 words $45 $125/year International via First Class Mail Upper Kirby area. Part-time, flexible Additionally, the Thresher does not take hours. Must be detail-oriented and ATTENTION GRADUATE STUDENTS! responsibility for the tactual content of any Cash, check, or credit card payment must Non-subscription rate: well-organized. Pay $i5/hour. Please Stats driving you crazy? Save time ad. Printing an advertisement does net con- be recieved before the advertisement can be First copy free call 713-201-7449 for interview. stitute an endorsement by the Thresher. published .The deadline for each issue is 5 p.m. Second copy $5 and sanity! Statistical help with your on the Tuesday prior to publication. Submit Dissertation or Thesis. Experienced Display advertisements must be received by at information online at Jessie Huang HAVE YOU GIVEN successful class pre- Statistician. General statistical con- 5 p.m. on the Monday prior to publication. www.ricethresher.org/thresherclassifieds/ The Rice Thresher PO Bo* 1892, MS-524 sentations? Energetic Rice students sulting, experimental design, data Joseph Ramirez & Thomas Yeh Cathleen Chang I Houston, TX 77251-1892 Advertising Managers wanted to give feedback and help analysis. Free initial consultation. Classifieds Advertising Manager Phone 713-348-3967 713-348-3967 with presentation. $io/hr or $20 plus Reasonable rates. Jon 800-697-6019. 713-348-3974 Fax 713-348-5238 [email protected] per session at your convenience. Call [email protected] 832-545-7478.