VOLUME 104, ISSUE NO. 14 | STUDENT-RUN SINCE 1916 | RICETHRESHER.ORG | WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 15, 2020

Women’s, men’s basketball take on C-USA opponents over break Willy’s Pub faces TABC infractions, Women’s basketball (4-0) is undefeated remains closed for first few weeks in Conference USA. Men’s basketball (1-3) scored a victory over Florida International For the first time in history, Willy’s Pub University but lost three other games has been found in violation by the Texas in the tournament. Read more on the Beverage and Alcohol Commission, the women’s team on page 14. body overseeing their license to serve alcohol. After receiving a complaint from a community member, TABC performed an undercover investigation at the last Classes hosted in Kraft Hall for Pub Night of the decade and issued two the first time charges. Pub will stay closed for the first few weeks of school following the Construction on the Kraft Hall for Social investigation. See more on page 2. Sciences was mostly completed over winter break. At least 50 social science class sections are being taught in the new building, according to Rice’s course catalog. The building also houses office space and conference rooms for the Office of the Dean of Social Sciences, sociology department and economics department. See more on page 2.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: Happenings from Dec. 4 to now

Engineering dean Reginald Clemente Rodriguez appointed New foodie spots open on Rice DesRoches becomes Rice’s first new Rice University Police campus and beyond Black Provost Department chief McNair Hall’s coffee shop, Audrey’s, is DesRoches will replace interim provost Captain Clemente Rodriguez will replace now open at the west end of Woodson Seiichi Matsuda, who took over the role James Tate as police chief after Tate’s courtyard after delays with permits after former Provost Marie Lynn Miranda departure for George Washington prevented a September launch. Off- stepped down. With his appointment, University. Rodriguez has been part campus, cult-favorite fast food spot there are now three schools in need of RUPD since 2001 and has served as In-N-Out opened two locations in Katy of a permanent dean: engineering, interim chief two times before. See more and Stafford. For sweet tooths, gourmet architecture and social sciences. See more on page 2. ice cream chain Jeni’s opened a location online at ricethresher.org. in the Heights and 24-hour pastry shop Voodoo Donuts will open today. CLOCKWISE from top: PHOTO COURTESY RICE ATHLETICS Sophie Pereira / THRESHER PHOTO COURTESY ERIC SANDLER PHOTO COURTESY JAMALL ELLIS PHOTO COURTESY RICE NEWS CHANNING WANG / THRESHER PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY TINA LIU, text by christina tan

NEWS Rice admits 19 percent of Early Decision applicants to the class of 2024 BRIAN LIN Romero da Silva said this year’s ED effect since 2019, waives full tuition for Silva said. “They represent a broad range of SENIOR WRITER round may have been less competitive due families making under $130,000 and talented scholars from across the country to the 13 percent decline in ED applications half tuition for families making between and around the world.” Rice welcomed 385 students into the the university received. Compared to the $130,001 and $250,000 per year. In the More than 21 nationalities and dual class of 2024 through the university’s record-high 2,628 ED applications Rice 2019 admission cycle, when The Rice nationalities are represented among binding early decision program, according received last year, 2,042 ED applications Investment was introduced, there was an those accepted into the class of 2024 to Vice President for Enrollment Yvonne were submitted this year, according to increase of 39 percent in early decision through ED and QuestBridge, according Romero da Silva, as well as 55 students Romero da Silva. According to Romero da applications and a 29 percent increase in to Romero da Silva. She said that the through QuestBridge National College Silva, the number of ED applications at applications overall. most heavily represented nations among Match. This year, Rice accepted around Rice’s peer institutions have also declined, “The Rice Investment continues to be the international applicants accepted are 18.9 percent of the 2,042 applicants on and that the number of applications has a strong inspiration for many students to China, South Korea, Mexico, Japan and Dec. 12, according to Romero da Silva, a grown overall by 30 percent from 2017 to apply,” Romero da Silva said. “Anecdotally, Vietnam. higher percentage of students admitted this year. many students share that they were High school senior Jose Oviedo from than last year. “Early decision applications are down inspired to apply because they see a Rice Waller, Texas, who applied early decision to A total of 440 students were admitted [from last year],” Romero Da Silva wrote. education being affordable for them and Rice and plans on majoring in French and through early decision and QuestBridge, “But that’s not surprising given the huge their families.” neuroscience, credits the Rice Investment 32 more than the 408 students admitted surge in applications last year after the Of these 440 students, 44 percent for his decision to apply ED, in addition to through these programs last year. This publicity surrounding the introduction of are from Texas, another 44 percent are academic and social aspects of Rice. year’s ED admission was also less The Rice Investment.” from elsewhere in the U.S. and 12 percent “It really made applying a lot less scary competitive compared to last year. Around The Rice Investment had an impact are international students, according to in terms of finances,” Oviedo said. “The 18.9 percent of ED applicants this year were on the number of both ED and regular Romero da Silva. people at Rice are so nice and caring. The admitted to Rice, compared to 15.5 percent decision applications Rice received last “We’re delighted with our early decision academics, the research, it all just kind of of those who applied last year. year. The program, which has been in and QuestBridge students,” Romero da came together and got me to apply.” 2 • WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 15, 2020 THE RICE THRESHER NEWS First classes held in Kraft Hall as construction continues

KELLY LIAO “That is much different from [my THRESHER STAFF former office in] Baker Hall,” DeNicco said. “I like to see students hanging The new four-story home for the School around and doing their work. It creates of Social Sciences, Patricia Lipoma a nice vibe.” Kraft ’87 and Jonathan A. Kraft Hall for Arshia Batra, a Hanszen College Social Sciences, completed a substantial sophomore studying cognitive science portion of its construction over the break, and economics, said she thinks the according to Larry Vossler, senior project student lounge is a great place to study manager for Facilities Engineering and with friends. Planning. While classes have begun in “It gives students the option to go the building, extractors and remaining beyond the library or common spaces to debris can be seen on the grounds next study in a group, yet also allows for room to the building. reservations so that all students have the “The most prominent punch list opportunity to use the room,” Batra said. items and other remaining work are Students had classes in Kraft Hall landscaping on the back side of the starting Jan. 13, the first day of the building, lobby stair treads and the semester, according to Chris Higgins, integration of the building card readers,” Channing Wang / THRESHER classroom and scheduling manager for The Kraft Hall for Social Sciences now hosts classes after being mostly completed over the Vossler said. “Work crews are in the winter break. the Office of the Registrar. process of getting these things done, and Higgins said Kraft Hall will hold none of it is affecting the functioning of building also holds space for the Kinder said he appreciates that social sciences classes mainly from departments that the building.” Institute for Urban Research, the Houston has its own space to call home now. have already moved their offices to the The remaining punch list work that Education Research Consortium, the “Everything is new and has the latest building, such as economics. will be completed at night and on Boniuk Institute and the Texas Policy in technology,” DeNicco said. “My new However, Kraft Hall is not limited to weekends as necessary, according to Lab, according to Vossler. office is really cool and has a great view.” use by the School of Social Sciences, Vossler. McIntosh said that Kraft Hall marks According to the School of Social according to Higgins. “The building does indeed remain an important new phase of increased Sciences’ website, the building includes Lecturer Elizabeth Cummins-Munoz, accessible when the construction crew visibility and opportunity for the social classrooms, seminar and conference who currently teaches “A Question of works at night,” Vossler said. “They’re sciences at Rice. rooms, a multipurpose space that Style, Rhetoric and Popular Writing” in working at night to avoid disturbing “As part of the ‘policy corridor,’ with can hold nearly 300 people and Kraft Hall said the classroom was very the building’s occupants during the the Baker Institute for Public Policy undergraduate and graduate student accessible to her and she was pleased to daytime.” across the street, Kraft Hall houses lounges. The undergraduate lounge, teach there. The Office of the Dean of Social two academic departments engaged which is a closed space with a seating The building’s official opening Sciences, the sociology department and in research related to policy issues,” area, white board and TV, is accessible ceremony in the multipurpose space the economics department moved from McIntosh said. “We envision that 24/7 to social science students with will be on Thursday, Feb. 27, kicking Sewall Hall and Baker Hall, respectively, these developments will expand the their student ID, according to the social off the school of social sciences’s into Kraft Hall on Monday and Tuesday of opportunities for student engagement sciences undergraduate mailing list. 40th anniversary, according to Debbie last week, according to Susan McIntosh, with policy-related research.” DeNicco said he has already seen Diamond, senior director of development interim dean of social sciences. The Economics lecturer James DeNicco students taking advantage of the lounges. and alumni relations. RUPD names new chief Last semester’s TABC charges delay Pub opening CHRISTINA TAN & AMY QIN students would receive Class C EDITOR-IN-CHIEF & NEWS EDITOR misdemeanors and up to $500 in fines. “We issued three citations for minors Willy’s Pub will remain closed in possession to some of the individuals for the first weeks of the semester as at the bar,” Porter said. “These folks were CHARLENE PAN / THRESHER management begins to implement given their citations and released.” Following the departure of Chief of Police James Tate, Captain Clemente Rodriguez, who has changes to improve its compliance with Another student, whose identity has served twice as interim chief, was announced as the new chief of police. Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission been anonymized to protect them from policy, according to an email from punishment, said they saw the officers SAVANNAH KUCHAR Rodriguez said. General Manager Emily Duffus. standing outside of Pub for the majority of ASST NEWS EDITOR Rodriguez said he plans on finding The closure follows TABC’s first- the night, occasionally entering Pub and ways to support and improve relations ever undercover investigation and walking around. Captain Clemente Rodriguez will between students and Rice University subsequent leveraging of charges against “I personally saw them go up to assume the role of Rice University Police Department by encouraging Pub in December, after infractions of someone who was 21 and drinking a beer chief of police starting this Thursday, officers to be more visible and accessible underage drinking were observed at the and they asked to see her ID,” he said. “A following the departure of current to the community. last Pub Night of the year, according to few minutes later they walked back in and chief James Tate to George Washington “One of my goals would be to TABC records. it looked like they asked a student to step University. emphasize to our officers the importance Duffus, who took over as general outside Pub, but I’m not sure if he was Rodriguez said he has been at Rice of engaging the campus community, manager this semester, said Pub drinking or of age or anything about that.” for 18 years and has served as interim engaging students,” Rodriguez said. “I management has not yet been notified of Typically, TABC conducts follow-up police chief twice in the past. He said really feel like the success of safety on the consequences of TABC filing charges. investigations following community he believes this experience will greatly our campus can’t be done with RUPD “We are still waiting to hear from TABC complaints, according to Porter. help him in his new role. alone, we definitely need our students, about the citations issued against Pub, so According to TABC public records, “Because I’ve been here for awhile, our staff, our faculty, our community to we aren’t sure of the implications yet,” multiple complaints have been filed I’ve worked closely with everyone in the be engaged in helping us with that.” Duffus, a McMurtry College junior, said. against Pub in the past, including one in department and I think that has been Rodriguez said that he has been Following the undercover May for selling and serving to a minor, the key to helping me be successful,” trying to make this effort to be more investigation, TABC decided to issue but none of those complaints resulted in Rodriguez said. “People have got connected with students and the Rice two charges against Pub: one for selling TABC citing administrative violations. behind me each time that I have had the community throughout his 18 years alcohol to a minor and the other for Duffus declined to comment on opportunity to be the interim, and we here. permitting a minor to possess or consume the status of the legal proceedings in were able to do some really great things, “I always say my favorite part of alcohol on the premises. regards to the TABC charges, but said even in those periods of time.” the job is getting out in front of the Although multiple students that management is actively working As the new chief, Rodriguez said one students and talking to students. I claimed they were breathalyzed or saw on implementing changes following the of his biggest responsibilities will be want to be accessible,” Rodriguez said. breathalyzer tests occur the night of the investigation. setting the direction for the department “I’ve already had some conversations undercover investigation, TABC official “We are currently working with our as a whole. about going to some of the student Chris Porter denied these claims. Pub staff to improve TABC compliance, but “[My job is] creating or fostering leadership meetings coming up and just management in December declined two cannot comment on exactly what those a culture where everyone in the introducing myself for those that don’t requests for comment. changes will look like at this time.” department feels valued and has trust in know me and answering questions and Multiple students reported seeing Editor’s Note: Part of this story was what we’re doing, and feels that they are trying to be somebody that is easy to officers ticket students, which Porter originally published online on Dec. 7, 2019 part of the success of the department,” approach and talk to.” confirmed. If convicted, the ticketed and has been updated for print. NEWS WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 15, 2020 • 3 FIRE takes aim at Rice free speech, judicial policies

RACHEL CARLTON handles disciplinary matters,” Garza said. SENIOR WRITER FIRE supports many parts of the Title IX regulations recently proposed by the The Foundation for Individual Rights Department of Education, such as the in Education rated Rice as a “yellow light” live hearing model in cases of sexual school with respect to its free speech misconduct. Following the announcement policies for the second year in a row, of the proposed changes, the Student according to FIRE’s “Spotlight on Speech Association issued a resolution protesting Codes 2020,” released on Dec. 4. the changes. Apart from 2019 and 2020, Rice had According to Garza, Rice has designed received a “red light” rating from FIRE the disciplinary process for sexual each year since the organization began misconduct to prioritize the safety of both publishing their annual Speech Code the responding student and the reporting Reports in 2006. student. FIRE brands itself as a non-partisan infographic by Dan helmici “Rice’s process as it currently is legal non-profit dedicated to “defend[ing] sometimes intentionally use more vague an experienced adult,” Simmons said. implemented does not require the and sustain[ing] the individual rights of language to allow for greater discretion to “Replace ‘cheating’ with ‘sexual violence’ reporting student and the responding students and faculty members at America’s censor speech. and ‘Honor Code’ with ‘Culture of Care’, student to meet face-to-face or be in the colleges and universities,” according to “But sometimes I think it was just an and the conclusion should be the same.” same room, and it does not require that its mission statement. FIRE also receives error in drafting,” Beltz said. “Perhaps Simmons said this was especially the students communicate with each significant funding from conservative they were intending to ban harassment important in situations where a Rice other directly,” Garza said. “There are groups like the Lynde and Harry Bradley and stuff like that that isn’t constitutionally student faces the life-altering consequence further examples of how Rice prioritizes Foundation, the Sarah Scaife Foundation protected, and they wrote verbal abuse of expulsion from school. both the rights and protections of the and the Charles Koch Institute, according and didn’t think about how that could be Kruth said the most essential problem reporting and responding students in to the New York Times. including protected speech.” with Rice’s policies is the type of hearing the Sexual Misconduct Policy, such as Of the 471 universities surveyed by As a private university, Rice is not that students accused of either non-sexual the availability of Resource Navigators FIRE, 63.9 percent earned an overall legally bound to protect free speech in or sexual misconduct are provided. through the SAFE Office that are provided yellow light rating on their “traffic light” the same way that a public university is, “It looks like at Rice that the accused to each student.” scale. Rice was one of 49 private schools to according to Beltz. student is actually excused from the so- Kruth said she thinks it is important receive this rating out of the 105 surveyed; “Rice University does promise their called hearing before the witnesses or the that students feel safe to report and that the majority of the schools surveyed were students free speech,” Beltz said. “That evidence is really presented, and that’s their school will take their complaints public. means that they should be living up to not really a hearing,” said Kruth. “That seriously. Five of Rice’s policies were given a their promises in the rest of their policies.” also means that the student is not directly At the same time, Kruth said that the yellow light speech code rating, including Rice received a red light rating every presenting their own evidence. A student considerations of the complainant can’t policies from the Code of Student Conduct, year since FIRE began conducting surveys or his or her advisor is going to be [the supersede the goal of helping the fact two general Rice policies, and a policy on in 2006, apart from 2019 and 2020. student’s] best advocate, and they should finders appropriately adjudicate a case. student responsibility from the General Beltz said the policy that previously be able to present that evidence.” “I think it is very unfortunate that Announcements. earned Rice a red light rating was an Garza said that Kruth’s statement is a people have to be uncomfortable in these According to Laura Beltz, the senior “Appropriate Use of Computer Resources” mischaracterization of Rice’s disciplinary situations,” Kruth said. “But without program officer for policy reform at FIRE, policy. process. [proper investigations] we would just be some of Rice’s policies include language “[The policy] banned ‘profane “It appears that whomever made punishing people based on this idea that that doesn’t track with the Supreme language’ and material that ‘panders that statement has a fundamental if someone is accused then they must be Court’s legal standards. to bigotry, sexism, or other forms of misunderstanding of the way that Rice guilty, and we can’t start doing that.” “There are a couple of policies that ban prohibited discrimination,’” Beltz said. verbal abuse,” Beltz said. “That’s a prime “The Supreme Court has explicitly held example of a yellow light policy because that speech may not be banned simply verbal abuse could just be something that because it is subjectively profane or was said with a rude tone that would be offensive to others, so this policy clearly constitutionally protected. When you restricted a broad range of speech that have a ban on verbal abuse, it means is protected under First Amendment that an administrator could hear that standards.” The Office of Undergraduate subjectively rude speech and apply that In 2009, FIRE featured Rice as part of policy to censor the speech.” a series on the state of free speech at the Research and Inquiry's Emily Garza, director of Student top 25 universities in the United States. Judicial Programs, said that she is Rice’s red light rating that year prompted confident that Rice crafted its policies a Thresher staff editorial in defense of the to be legally compliant while also university. SUMMER prioritizing the safety of students and the FIRE, for their part, responded with Rice community. an article stressing that Rice had policies “Rice drafts policies related to that were “facially unconstitutional,’’ RESEARCH AND expectations of students with input from regardless of whether students felt their various professionals, including those right to free speech was protected by the that have experience and legal expertise administration. in the nuanced areas of freedom of speech Rice has since revised the policy, OPPORTUNITIES and expression, sexual misconduct and instead banning communications that are harassment, and general issues related to “defamatory, harassing or that interfere student behavior,” Garza said. “I will also with others’ use of resources or that FAIR say that no one from FIRE has contacted disclose protected or sensitive personal our office to discuss the nuances of how data,” according to Beltz. She said that our policies are implemented.” this change led to the upgrade in Rice’s Wednesday, January 22nd Last semester, the Rice University rating from red to yellow. Federalist Society hosted FIRE’s vice FIRE also gives schools due process 4:30 - 5:30 pm president for procedural advocacy, ratings based on their inclusion or Samantha Harris, according to Sage exclusion of 10 due process safeguards. Simmons, the society’s president. The This year, Rice received an “F” for its non- Grand Hall (RMC) Federalist Society aims “to provide a sexual misconduct policies and a “D” for forum for legal and policy experts of its sexual misconduct policies. A "one-stop shop” for undergraduates interested in opposing views to interact with members “The procedural safeguards that Rice summer research, service, and internships at Rice and of the Rice community,” according to the does have are pretty much among the chapter’s constitution. more common ones that schools are more beyond. Simmons, a Martel College senior, said likely to have,” Susan Kruth, the senior Harris came to campus for a conversation program manager for legal and public with Rice students and Cathryn Councill advocacy at FIRE, said. “They guarantee Representation from: from the SAFE Office: Interpersonal a way to challenge [fact finders] and a Baker Institute Anthropology Misconduct Prevention and Support right to appeal, but other than that they’re Study Abroad BioSciences about sexual assault and campus due missing everything that we’re looking for.” Center for Civic Leadership process under Title IX. The Federalist Society invited FIRE Chemistry FIRE gives the yellow light rating to to campus because they were concerned Engineering Humanities schools with “at least one ambiguous about the inadequacies of Rice’s due policy that too easily encourages process protections, according to and more! administrative abuse and arbitrary Simmons. application”. “At Rice, the Honor Code is a huge Beltz, a University of Pennsylvania part of our culture; however, I think most Questions? Law School graduate, said vague and students would agree that the probably confusing policies may encourage impossible goal of preventing every Email [email protected] students to self-censor in order to avoid single instance of cheating shouldn’t punishment from their universities. mean an accused student is presumed or call 713-348-4678 Beltz said that she believes universities guilty or denied the active counsel of 4 • WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 15, 2020 NEWS Nine cars burglarized in North lots over finals CHRISTINE ZHAO deductible. Rodriguez said this is due to FOR THE THRESHER budget constraints on his department that RUPD is unable to cover these damages. Five cars from North Lot and four cars “When I talked with RUPD, they just from a lot near Duncan College were said, ‘Sorry, this is an inconvenience, but burglarized on Sunday, Dec. 15 around these things just happen,’ which I felt was 7:24 a.m., as detailed in a Rice University a weird response,” Brehm said. “I think Police Department crime alert sent that that occasionally when we come back afternoon. later at night, we see sometimes an officer At the time of publication, the just sitting there at Brown Lot, so more department has identified no suspects patrolling late at night when the campus due to a lack of surveillance footage Channing Wang / THRESHER gates are closed [would help].” and eyewitness testimonies, which are Five cars from the North Lot and four cars from a lot near Duncan College were burglarized during According to Rodriguez, installing most often used to solve burglary cases the finals period last December. No suspects have been identified at the time of print. surveillance cameras requires not only like these, according to RUPD Captain choosing an optimal location but also Clemente Rodriguez. bringing his car into the shop that same parking lots’ proximity to a busy Rice building the infrastructure of the parking “At this time, those who have been Sunday afternoon and considers himself Boulevard coupled with subpar lighting lot to support it. Putting cameras around notified reported only one piece of lucky to have fixed it in time to drive home. and few surveillance areas have made campus entrances is an option that is clothing stolen from one of the vehicles,” Other students, either absent or them frequent targets for thieves. Staab being discussed, according to Rodriguez. the email, sent at 1:17 p.m., said. “In each occupied with finals, had their windows said even increasing the lighting around Rodriguez said the best thing students incident the unknown suspect(s) smashed temporarily covered up and moved to that area would go a long way. With North can do is follow the guidelines set in the car window to break into the vehicles.” campus garages, Rodriguez said. Martel Lot passes going for $400 a semester and the email, such as securing their locks Last February, 17 cars were burglarized sophomore Davyd Fridman said he was West Lot passes going for $500 a year, and removing valuable objects from the in the First Christian Church and School one of those students. Fridman and Staab were both frustrated vehicle. parking lot, which is near North Lot. Fridman said he received a call right with the value they were getting for their “The biggest thing that we can do as Rodriguez said RUPD usually witnesses before his 9 a.m. final alerting him that money. RUPD is to be seen, to be highly visible on elevated levels of crime around Christmas. his car windows had been smashed and “If we’re going to spend that much campus, to deter people from coming onto According to Rodriguez, though officers a $300 coat had been stolen. He recalled money for a parking spot on campus, campus, but in a large city, it’s difficult to performing routine patrols quickly noticed dealing with the stress before and after the wouldn’t you think that the safety of be 100 percent successful all the time,” the damage from this incident, they were exam. our vehicles should be somewhat of a Rodriguez said. “I wish there was a foolproof unable to catch the burglars in action. “The stress of my car being broken into priority?” Staab said. “They do say that solution to keeping people’s property safe “These things happen relatively and learning about it just hours before they clear themselves of anything that all the time, but unfortunately that’s not quickly. You’d be surprised by how an exam distracted me from focusing on happens; vandalism, if someone breaks really realistic to believe.” quickly someone can smash a window performing well,” Fridman said. “The into your vehicle, the school’s not liable.” and go to the vehicle real quick, and then damage done to my car as well as the Brehm, Fridman, Staab and McMurtry move onto the next, in a relative matter of stolen item were quite expensive, and sophomore Jackson Savage all agreed minutes and then be gone from the area,” the university never offered any sort of that more cameras, surveillance and Rodriguez said. “[Burglars] just do these reimbursement in spite of their lack of lighting around campus would prevent smash and grabs and they don’t know surveillance.” these repeated burglaries, especially if there’s anything in there so they just Cody Staab (Brown College ’19), another since property damage victims are often take their chances and rummage through victim of the burglary, said this North Lot entirely responsible for repair costs. Some the vehicle. It’s difficult to guard against burglary hardly came as a surprise to him. students, such as Staab and Savage, something like that.” Staab said that during his four years at reported paying at least $300 out of pocket Jones College senior Matthew Brehm Rice, property safety issues were always to fix smashed windows because they still said he lost one day to work on finals after a concern. He thinks the North College had to pay up to the $1,000 insurance ‘CRISPR babies’ scientist sentenced RILEY HOLMES FOR THE THRESHER

A Chinese court sentenced He Jiankui (Ph.D. ’10), who revealed that he had genetically edited twin girls last year, to three years in prison on Dec. 30. The questions surrounding the involvement in He’s experiments of his doctoral advisor, Rice University bioengineering professor Michael Deem, remain unanswered. In November 2018, Rice began a full investigation into Deem’s role in the research. According to the New York Times, He pleaded guilty to forging documentation from ethics committees approving Infographic by Dan Helmeci the study, which he used to recruit “The thing that is troubling about the Houston Chronicle, however, he attempted participants. Additionally, Chinese media China case is that it’s not a China ethics to remove his name from the paper after it outlets revealed his work on a previously problem, it is an international problem,” was sent to journals such as Nature. The undisclosed third child. Scott said. “So, the question from an ethics study was ultimately rejected and never Since Rice’s Nov. 2018 statement, point of view is what are the professional published. Deem advised He when he was no more public updates on the internal and ethical obligations of those folks, who a doctoral candidate at Rice between 2007 investigation of Deem have been given. have either direct knowledge of intent and 2010. The Office of Public Affairs declined to or knowledge that the experiment was “Even though this was an comment for this article. conducted, to report this fellow?” uncomfortable and unfortunate event, it’s Dr. Christopher Scott, chair of medical A Chinese scientist associated with really one of those teaching moments,” ethics and health policy at Baylor College the project claimed Deem was “more Scott said. “You have to ask the question of Medicine, studies ethical, legal, social than just a bystander,” according to an institutionally, what can be done to up and policy implications of biotechnologies article posted on STAT news in Jan. 2019. the level of ethical foresight in teaching similar to the ones He used. Scott formerly The study’s manuscript lists Deem as an universities and research universities? taught a required research ethics course author. After He announced his work at That’s a hard question to answer.” to National Institutes of Health grant a conference in Hong Kong in Nov. 2018, Deem did not respond to requests for recipients, and also discussed He’s project Deem told the Associated Press he had comment. This story has been condensed for with an ethics class at Rice last fall. met the twins’ parents. According to the print. Read the full story at ricethresher.org.

Dynamic and Energetic Teachers wanted. Pay rate is $24 to $38 per hour. We provide all training. Email your resume to [email protected] OPINION WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 15, 2020 • 5 OPINION STAFF EDITORIAL OPINION New year, new(s)paper Campus should support dialogue, not destruction In the spirit of the new year, we as the Thresher’s editorial board have set a few as a targeted action, as one poster was their meetings (complete with free Chick- resolutions and invite y’all as the readers to left intact with a booklet of Bible verses fil-A), students and instructors whose hold us accountable. Going forward, we want perched on top of it. This same booklet also worldviews differ from their own must to be more transparent about our operations appeared in Herring Hall on flyers for “Sex also be respected. While they are invited to as well as maintaining the standards and and Money: The Species Divide,” which take these courses and engage in debates policies we’ve created this year in the spirit of featured a 15th-century image of a demon from their own points of view, they are not transparency. on a bed with a woman. obligated to do so. No one is required to Through our recent readership survey, That anyone would vandalize course take a class about demons or drag queens, many respondents raised questions posters is upsetting, but that this act was but they are required — by both written and about how our opinions section operates. carried out in such a purposeful way — social contracts — to not interfere with the Recognizing it as an area for improvement, targeting classes that apparently contradict free expression of ideas by other members we recently created an official opinion policy personally held religious beliefs — is of the campus community. to help future writers and provide clear inexcusable. Rice rightly guarantees free Rice is a small, close-knit community guidelines. The Thresher editorial board religious practice on its campus. Students made up of people from all walks of life and (marked on our masthead) write each week, may meet to worship or pray in many from around the globe. For a community but all other opinions published do not campus spaces, often using university like this to thrive, we must guarantee reflect the Thresher’s perspective. As stated resources to do so. However, this freedom mutual trust and respect for others. We in our policy, we do not reject opinion pieces, extends only so far as it does not impinge cordially invite those responsible to a safe other than those that contain hate speech upon the freedoms of others. Classes and open dialog, so that we may better or represent a conflict of interest. While we Courtesy baird campbell like these are offered as part of a well- understand their motivations for such acts. always aim to further improvement, we hope rounded, liberal arts education, one of As two of the affected graduate instructors, that creating clear, explicit policies has helped During the first week of December, the great advantages in attending a small, we ask our fellow Rice community members us cover some ground. as undergraduates were making their intimate university like Rice. Students are to be vigilant about targeted harassment Some conversations, like whether we final course selections for the upcoming encouraged to take courses and participate and violence in all forms. should capitalize races, are ongoing. Currently, semester, graduate student instructors in discussions that push the limits of their we capitalize all races (i.e. Black and White) in arrived on campus to find that the posters thinking and ask them to engage with new accordance to the Diversity Style Guide and for their upcoming classes had been and sometimes challenging ideas. The at odds with the Associated Press Style Guide defaced or taken down altogether. promise of a Rice education is that this BAIRD CAMPBELL ANTHROPOLOGY GRADUATE (widely used in journalism). We recognize The flyer for one of our classes, will happen in a safe and nonjudgmental STUDENT that the backgrounds of our staff make us less “Masculinities,” depicted a well-known environment, where alternate views are equipped to answer questions like these and drag queen, her face only half painted, and explored and respected, if not personally LAYLA SEALE ART HISTORY report on less-represented groups on campus. a few questions that animate the class — adopted. GRADUATE In the next decade, we will strive to hire more namely, what exactly is masculinity and The person or people who targeted STUDENT diverse staff, bring these conversations to what does it mean? Posters for this class these posters — and by proxy hoped to our audience and solicit feedback where we were flipped over in Rayzor Hall and torn discourage enrollment or make these might be lacking. As always, we aspire to hold down throughout Sewall Hall and Herring classes disappear entirely — violated this ourselves accountable to our readers and be Hall. What might have been brushed off contract in a most blatant way. If religious as transparent as possible. as a coincidence seemed to be confirmed groups on campus can freely advertise

OPINION Building a more financially inclusive Rice undergraduate experience At universities across the U.S., including members to the Office of Student Success Undergraduate students with financial continuing to expand resources in support Rice, conversations about inclusion and Initiatives to provide targeted programming need can use the portal to request support of low-income and first-generation student the affordability of college are ongoing. and advising to our FLI students and for various educational, experiential, quality of life. We encourage everyone The last few years have seen growing expanded SSI’s programming (e.g., we career-building and social activities. It also to read it. Together, we are working attention to financial accessibility and the launched The Pantry, and expanded FLI provides information on how to request collaboratively with leaders across campus inclusiveness of the Rice experience, and Friday to help build community amongst emergency aid in periods of a financial to use this report as a guide for further we are impressed by the positive spirit and FLI students). Programs in other university crisis. It is our hope that the portal will growing activities around financial heartfelt care that so many members of our areas were launched as well (e.g., a need- provide clarity about available resources inclusion at Rice. If you are interested in community have shown toward others. based stipend program for Orientation and help undergraduates more fully access joining these conversations, we encourage What is notable is how this attention and Week coordinators and free menstrual the Rice experience. We are immensely you to reach out via email. care cuts across all levels of the university, products across campus through the thankful to those who worked to make We hope that each of you will join ranging from the launch of The Rice Student Association). this portal a reality, including student us in these efforts, as success requires Investment (designed to expand access Now, we’d like to bring student leaders and especially our dedicated staff ongoing and thoughtful attention to how to a Rice education for low- and middle- attention to two new initiatives that need in the Office of Academic Advising, the all opportunities — big and small, formal income undergraduates) to student leaders community buy-in: First, in collaboration Center for Career Development and SSI. We and informal — can be designed so that working to facilitate equivalent access to with Housing & Dining, a new guest encourage you to access this portal as well every student, no matter their financial experiential opportunities by establishing swipes sharing program is starting this as normalize seeking financial help in your background, benefits from the full range accessibility funds within each of the semester. Inspired by SA leaders, this communities by encouraging others to do of curricular, co-curricular and social residential colleges. program will allow students to donate the same. opportunities at Rice. Providing a transformative collegiate guest meal swipes to peers who face food Finally, at the close of last semester, experience requires continual attention insecurity. This effort joins the SSI Pantry the SA released a report on financial to how we are helping students thrive as another move forward in our efforts to accessibility at Rice. The culmination at Rice. Over the last year, the Dean reduce food insecurity on our campus. We of a year of research, it provides a BRIDGET GORMAN DEAN OF UNDERGRADUATES of Undergraduates division and the encourage you to share your swipes that thoughtful assessment of different ways Student Association have expanded might otherwise go unused when the form we can continue to promote a successful discussion and activity surrounding the is released this week to the colleges. experience for all students — including GRACE Rice experience for lower-income and Second, the new Access and Opportunity expanding student access to professional WICKERSON SA PRESIDENT, first-generation FLI undergraduates. In Portal just went live at aop.rice.edu. This opportunities, enhancing recruitment BROWN COLLEGE SENIOR response to conversations with members is a one-stop location for students to of financially diverse students, building of our community, we added two new staff learn about funding resources at Rice. our academic support infrastructure and STAFF Christina Tan* Editor-in-Chief SPORTS Anna Ta* Managing Editor Michael Byrnes Editor DESIGN The Rice Thresher, the official First copy is free. Each additional Madison Buzzard* Editor Tina Liu* Director student newspaper at Rice copy is $5. NEWS Dalia Gulca A&E Designer University since 1916, is published Rishab Ramapriyan* Editor BACKPAGE Joseph Hsu Features Designer each Wednesday during the school Editorial and business offices are Amy Qin* Editor Simona Matovic* Editor & Designer Katherine Hui Sports Designer year, except during examination located on the second floor of the Rynd Morgan Asst. Editor Anna Chung Ops Designer periods and holidays, by the Ley Student Center: Savannah Kuchar Asst. Editor PHOTO Dan Helmeci News Designer students of Rice University. 6100 Main St., MS-524 Channing Wang Editor Yifei Zhang Illustrator Houston, TX 77005-1892 FEATURES Haiming Wang Asst. Editor Chloe Xu Illustrator Letters to the Editor must be Phone (713) 348-4801 Ivanka Perez* Editor Ella Feldman* Editor COPY BUSINESS OPERATIONS received by 5 p.m. the Friday Email: [email protected] Vi Burgess Editor Karoline Sun Business Manager prior to publication and must be Website: www.ricethresher.org ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT Bhavya Gopinath Editor Lindsay Josephs Advertising Manager signed, including college and year Katelyn Landry* Editor & Designer Phillip Jaffe Editor Mai Ton Social Media/Marketing if the writer is a Rice student. The Manager Thresher reserves the rights to edit The Thresher is a member of the OPINIONS ONLINE Jackson Stiles Distribution letters for content and length and ACP, TIPA, CMA and CMBAM. Elizabeth Hergert* Editor Ryan Green Web Editor Manager to place letters on its website. © Copyright 2019 Priyansh Lunia Video Editor 6 • WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 15, 2020 THE RICE THRESHER

LETTER TO THE EDITOR Invisible opportunities: Reframing accessibility at Rice When I read last December’s accessibility will forever be a gray area. not. And we must do so in an organized accomplished and creatively improving Thresher news article, “Invisible There are no laws or rules or regulations and constructive manner, not one that what still needs to be fixed. We need Burdens,” and the accompanying staff that can adequately address and mend is meant to elicit a guilt or pity response to acknowledge that we aren’t perfect editorial, highlighting the apparent every obstacle. Rather, true accessibility from a supposed victim-oppressor and we cannot solve every accessibility lack of accessibility on campus, I is the openness and willingness to situation. Because these situations are burden; instead, we need to foster open was disappointed, a bit angered and embrace change. Everyone here, from exclusionary, they draw lines instead of dialogue and willingness to ensure saddened. Reading that Thresher staff to professors to students, has had erasing them. progressive changes. We must retain the editorial that day was the first and only such an incredibly open and willing attitude to try and keep trying. time I have felt alone and completely attitude toward addressing accessibility The purpose of this letter is not to misunderstood at Rice. I did not want and accommodations that I have felt minimize the voices who spoke out in the to identify with the kind of “disability” wholly accepted and appreciated. True Rather, true accessibility “Invisible Burdens” article, but rather the editorial portrayed. I felt alienated. accessibility is accepting individuals as to offer the Rice community a different I felt guilty. I felt ashamed. As a they are, and true advocacy is honoring is the openness and opinion on campus accessibility and wheelchair user and someone living with and creating space for all to thrive. willingness to embrace how I believe we can make impactful, a disability, that was not the experience Exposing Rice’s accessibility issues change. meaningful and lasting change. I I had received on campus, nor was it the in a critical and instigatory manner is would be more than happy to share voice of real advocacy. no better than being exclusionary in my experiences with you in person — I felt the Thresher painted an the first place. If we speak harshly of In the end, I want to express my feelings whether you’re concerned, curious, or incomplete picture by reporting only from disappointment and critique, should we of gratitude and appreciation toward just want to know more. Be willing to a few students, and subsequently, failed not expect to get those in return? If the Rice in regard to their accessibility on embrace change and be brave enough to to report that accessibility is different Rice community is given only criticism campus. There are countless individuals engage in dialogue. Remember, it’s okay for everyone, and solving it, let alone in response to their attempts to make our that have helped make my transition to ask! defining it, is a complex, multifaceted campus more accessible, I worry that we, to college and greater independence a issue. And to actually address these the disabled community, further isolate resounding success. I am thriving here, issues around campus, we need to openly and alienate ourselves. despite my physical challenges, and I acknowledge these differences. Instead of guilt and hostility, let’s hope the Rice community knows that. LING DEBELLIS MARTEL COLLEGE How do we define accessibility? I’m have a conversation. Let’s sit down and I strongly believe we can make our FRESHMAN not sure there’s a perfect answer, and share our stories and experiences. We campus better by sharing and listening some may discredit this letter because of need to communicate what does and does to each other’s experiences, and then, that, but maybe that’s the point — maybe not work, what is accessible and what is building collaboratively off of what we’ve

OPINION The Trump administration directs an assassination and calls it peace President Donald Trump’s disdain that 52 other locations had been chosen and external security policies. smoke, taking with it the little progress for foreign policy was once merely a as targets in the event of hostilities, In addition, Iran has already we’d made in areas like Iraqi-American joke. No one believed him when he including cultural sites protected by launched missile attacks on two Iraqi relations and the Iran nuclear accords. attempted to buy Greenland, and the international law. Is this what peace bases quartering American troops, and We are thus faced with a choice. U.N. openly laughed at his supposed looks like? nothing prevents them from escalating On one side, we can continue to be accomplishments. These included Make no mistake, Soleimani’s death the situation further. Evidently, Trump complicit in Trump’s self-destructive a shakedown with NATO allies on will do nothing to improve America’s seems to believe a combination of blatant hawkishness. Or, we can choose to stand budgetary matters, a nonsensical travel presence in the Middle East. Though he provocations and Twitter bullying is up to this reckless, short-sighted and ban and a dramatic decrease in refugee was responsible for the deaths of many enough to cow Iran into submission. criminal behavior and have our voices acceptions. The shame he regularly Americans, this execution will no doubt This is ludicrous. The administration’s determine what peace looks like. Though heaps upon the U.S. ensured that the pave the way for more casualties. Iraq’s obsession with deterring Iran has Trump may be the commander-in-chief, joke was never funny, but recent actions decision to expel American troops will reduced the problems of the Middle East the responsibility of war still rests with threaten to cost us more than just hamstring the fight against threats like into a childish competition of strength the legislative branch. The House of respectability. The president’s decision ISIS. Without a local base of operations versus weakness. Patience becomes Representatives understands this and to launch a drone strike killing Iranian indecisiveness. Caution becomes a sign has approved a measure rebuking the Major General Qassim Soleimani as he of doubt. Iran becomes little more than a president for his ill-advised action. was leaving Baghdad’s international spoiled child in this frame of mind, and It now heads to the Senate, where its airport created a highly volatile crisis they would retreat only if the U.S. put its odds of passing are slim. But we can in the Middle East and threatens to We have put our foot foot down. Well, we have put our foot help. Reach out to elected officials and ignite yet another war. The Trump down — straight into a moral, legal and ask them to support the resolution. administration’s response? A statement down — straight into strategic quagmire. We can help create real peace without straight from Mar-a-Lago in Florida a moral, legal and Perhaps the most poignant lesson assassinations, brinkmanship or Twitter saying, “We took action last night to strategic quagmire. from this error is that it is only a ultimatums. With the stakes so high, we stop a war, we did not take action to continuation of a much longer series of cannot afford to do anything less. start a war.” mistakes. Going back to the Iraq War, Meanwhile, thousands of protesters to conduct missions, train allies or it seems to have been common sense have gathered in Iran, shouting “Death collect intelligence, the U.S. will find it to all administrations that America to America”— a call that was echoed even much harder to combat violence in the must do whatever was necessary to the by Iranian MPs. The Iraqi parliament region. This will lead to an increase Middle East in order to save it. Drone voted to stop hosting American troops in terrorism both in the Middle East strikes, economic isolation as well as FREDERICK within the country for brazenly ignoring and abroad. Furthermore, by setting conventional warfare have all been tools DRUMMOND Iraq’s sovereignty. Iran declared it was a precedent that the termination of in America’s arsenal of “democracy,” DUNCAN COLLEGE JUNIOR now fully committed to ignoring any national figures is an acceptable part of with little to show for it. Trump himself remaining limits on uranium enrichment “peacetime” activities, the U.S. makes it made a campaign promise to end these stipulated by the Iran nuclear deal. easier for countries like Russia, North “forever wars.” Like so many other Trump announced (via Twitter, no less) Korea and others to justify harsh internal promises of his, it has gone up in

EDITORIAL CARTOON

ILLUSTRATION BY YIFEI ZHANG 7 • WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 15, 2020 THE RICE THRESHER FEATURES Amongst ‘happiest students,’ dissatisfaction persists

RACHEL CARLTON THRESHER STAFF

Last semester alone, students wrote over 35 op-eds and letters to the editor, addressing particularly controversial events at Rice and other salient issues facing the student body: from students donning U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent costumes to the use of the n-word at Rice to the university’s decision to let a student who was found guilty of assault by Student Judicial Programs graduate. Throughout the semester, students proved that they would do more than just put pen to paper, protesting against the presence of certain politicians and demonstrating in solidarity with sexual assault survivors. But a dive through past opinion pieces shows that while the campus has not been lacking in passionate students, change seems slow to some. During the 2018-2019 school year, students asked for safe spaces for Black students in the wake of Ralph Northam’s blackface scandal and called out the pervasiveness of yellow fever on campus. They wanted their classmates to walk the walk at the Houston March for Black Women and to support their peers after sexual assault. In the 2017-2018 school year, opinion pieces covered the same topics. Students asked their peers to not speak for or over ILLUSTRATION BY CHLOE XU marginalized groups, show up to the March for Our Lives and change language during Orientation Week to promote LGBTQ+ in shelters,” Lahoti said. “But the whole spaces where some people are uncomfortable hope. I don’t want to be the person who has inclusivity and properly address the idea of time people were like, ‘Hurricane Harvey did while others can’t understand why. to break it to you, but I don’t also want to give consent. The year before: give a voice to low- nothing, Harvey Party!’ And I was like, within According to McGee, the environment at you a lie.” income students, get out the vote and gear up this 10 mile radius, a lot of people have died. Rice can sometimes lead students to relocate the discourse on sexual assault. This isn’t fun.” off campus. LISTENING AND LEARNING One can look even further back: in Additionally, Lahoti said she had been “Even though it’s not the dominant Rice McGee said that while Rice has stayed the 2014, an opinion about the culture around made aware of and was sensitive to her narrative, people know that marginalized same in a lot of ways, she has seen change sexual assault at Rice and one on campus socioeconomic privilege before entering students don’t feel at home at Rice,” McGee since she matriculated four years ago. apathy; in 2012, one student tackled Rice’s Rice, but noticed that many students at said. “They move off campus. This is the same “When I came in 2016, there’s no way “happiest students” status head-on, writing Rice didn’t seem to try and cultivate that thing we repeat over and over again.” that we would have been having protests about how abuse and struggles with mental same understanding. Ayeni said she doesn’t believe that the for people at the Baker Institute [for Public health led the Rice administration to push Rice has previously touted its high ranking Culture of Care exists and cites the number Policy],” McGee said. “There’s no way her out of the university. for “lots of race/class interaction,” but Magee of sexual assault cases at Rice as an indicator. that there would have been a critical mass As students discuss prominent and said he didn’t feel as if there was a lot of Magee felt similarly. of people outside screaming ‘Black Lives contemporary issues year after year, many interaction between groups and that most “People just don’t really care,” Magee said. Matter.’ Those are things that have tangibly repeat the same language and bring up the people, regardless of race, seem to stick with “The general vibe is that ‘I’m not going to … changed, but they’ve changed with the course same concerns, especially in discussions those who are similar to them. do things to make sure that Black people, gay of society.” about Culture of Care. Summar McGee, a Hanszen College senior, people, poor people feel supported.’” Ayeni, for her part, said she has formed In 2018, one student wrote, “[W]e pride questioned the term “interaction” itself. great friendships at Rice and has a community ourselves on our Culture of Care; this means “Interaction and engagement is not the THE UNIVERSITY’S ROLE at the university. we need to be active about supporting and same,” McGee said. “There are quite a few McGee pointed to issues beyond For McGee, past members of the Black caring for all of our students.” Another wrote people in my class who are quite wealthy, and Rice students, citing the university Student Association, of which she was in 2019, “Will I finally get to see the ‘Culture I am not. We interact, but we don’t engage.” administration’s attitude as a reason for the formerly the president, took the initiative to of Care’ that I’ve only ever heard about but Other students talked about the lack of current environment. make space for others. never been privileged enough to experience?” acknowledgment from their peers. Anu Ayeni, “What incentive do they have to improve if “The Black freshmen who are on campus And in 2016, “we are told Rice actively works a Brown College junior, said she frequently [Rice is] already number one, while [it is still] now have no idea what Rice was like in to build inclusive and diverse spaces and a faces this issue. shitty?” McGee said. “It’s not lack of care, it’s 2016,” McGee said. “They have no idea that ‘Culture of Care.’... In practice, we often fail to “People don’t acknowledge you when just hedonistic calculus.” because of people making just a little bit more translate these ideals into reality.” you’re working in groups,” Ayeni said. The spaces at Rice devoted to students space for them, they can be a little bit more But more importantly, each of those “Walking down the street, people don’t move are political in nature, according to McGee. themselves than when we got here.” opinion pieces is authored by, or pertains out. I’m expected to move out of their way.” She gave the Multicultural Center as an According to McGee, many of the problems to, students with a similar story — one of a For Lahoti, interactions with peers in example, saying that its eventual location in at Rice can be solved with a humanistic college experience that wasn’t all that they regards to her sexuality have been especially the Rice Memorial Center basement even after approach. Her main message is to engage had hoped it would be. The Thresher spoke difficult. While Lahoti said outwardly advocacy from Black faculty and students with people as people, but said that it requires to four students about their struggle to feel homophobic or transphobic language is reflects the values of the administration. a degree of introspection. satisfied with the status quo on campus. mostly absent at Rice, she said that coded “In terms of [Rice’s] actual commitment “I think part of [engagement] takes language is commonplace. to diversity and inclusion, the proof is in enough reflectiveness to realize you have RANKINGS VERSUS REALITY “A lot of the people who are prominent the pudding,” McGee said. McGee noted some implicit bias in who you interact with For Alvin Magee, disillusionment started can say not directly homophobic things, that her invoking the administration did not or why you interact with them the way you as early as the first week of school. Magee said because if you’re directly homophobic [or] include administrators within the Office of interact with them,” McGee said. “That’s a he didn’t expect the dynamics he encountered transphobic, Rice does have that culture Multicultural Affairs, the Office of Diversity level of honesty I don’t think everybody has during mealtimes. where they’ll attack you for it,” Lahoti said. and Inclusion and the Office of Student reached, and it takes practice.” “It was hard walking to the servery and “If you say things kind of hidden a little Success Initiatives. Lahoti said that cancel culture can lead to seeing tables split down race lines almost bit, like ‘oh, I don’t like when people act so “The marginalized administrators and people being intimidated by the prospect of perfectly,” Magee, a Duncan College senior, flamboyantly,’ people won’t attack you for it.” staff members do more than their fair share,” acknowledging their biases, but notes that no said. “As a Black person it was hard since the Lahoti also talked about specific instances McGee said. one will ever be a perfect person. Black people get split up, and then ... in your in which her sexuality became the focus of McGee said that Rice’s current “Most people, if they find out that you’re college ... if there’s a table of Black people it the conversation. environment could lead some students to trying your best to better yourself, [are] won’t even be full.” “One of the clubs I was in, [at] every social choose other universities over Rice. probably willing to help you,” Lahoti said. Nina Lahoti, a Brown College junior who event I was the only girl who was openly out “I was having [some issues] in terms of She also pointed to the internet as a resource matriculated right before Hurricane Harvey, to that group, and it was a majority female being upbeat or positive or encouraging to to unlearn prejudices by oneself. spoke to the insensitivity of some of her peers group,” Lahoti said. “And so every crawl new Black students on campus because it “If you listen to the voices of people of when she first got to Rice. when we would play a drinking game, it feels like on one hand, I can tell you that it’s color, of LGBTQ+ people, people of different “I had multiple very close friends and their would be ‘Nina, who would you hook up with going to be better,” McGee said. “But the real socioeconomic backgrounds, you can learn to entire families had their houses destroyed [by here? Who do you find attractive here?’” reality is, I don’t want to say that it’s going to be better on your own,” Lahoti said. “You just Harvey] and lost everything and were staying Lahoti said this kind of behavior creates be bad, but I also don’t want to give you false have to listen.” 8 • WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 15, 2020 FEATURES Booked: Day in the life of a Fondren librarian

ELLA FELDMAN know what’s gonna come up.” FEATURES EDITOR Goetz also visits the leisure reading collection, located on the library’s first floor, When Joe Goetz’s 10-year-old daughter nearly every day. He manages the collection, started learning to play piano a few years which highlights recent, prominently- ago, he knew exactly what he needed to do: reviewed and popular books across genres. skim the Fondren Library stacks for a book Goetz tries to keep up with this sort of written by a pianist. reading himself (he recently read a dark “If I have to learn anything new, story from Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah’s whether it be an academic subject, or “Friday Black” and recommends it to those taking care of the house, or anything, my who aren’t faint of heart), but notes it’s not first impulse is to find a book about it. It’s as easy now as it once was. not to Google it,” Goetz (Brown College “I think people have less time to read for ’98) said. “So I’m finding books written by fun now than they used to,” Goetz said. “I pianists to help me, which is easier to do know I do.” than learning the piano.” Fondren was a special place for Goetz Luckily for Goetz, Fondren’s robust long before he joined the staff in 2015. He music media collection is only minutes graduated from Rice in 1998 — he fondly away from his desk. remembers Kurt Vonnegut’s graduation CHANNING WANG / THRESHER For the last five years, Goetz has served speech — and spent his time at Rice studying Fondren librarian Joe Goetz reorganizes the leisure reading collection, which he manages. as an information literacy librarian for English, acting with the Rice Players, rowing Fondren, which makes him responsible crew, working on a now-obsolete literary Fondren recently revamped their online office, I asked him what his favorite book for helping visitors access the library’s magazine and biking on behalf of Brown resources with a new integrated library is. “I thought you might ask that,” he said resources. This includes books, of course, at two Beer Bikes. He visited the library system, which features a comprehensive with a chuckle. “I’m very committed to the but also a number of other assets, like films, often, usually the lounge on the fourth floor. search tool for students to more easily access poems of Emily Dickinson, so ‘The Complete journal articles, old newspapers and online More often, he’d check out books and take all points of the library. Poems of Emily Dickinson,’ I guess.” research tools. them over to Rice Coffeehouse, because the “A lot of times I hear people say that they “What’s one book you think every Rice Some days, this looks like giving library used to be less cozy, he said. don’t really use the library, but they’re using student should read?” I countered. interested students and community “I think it’s different these days. There are Google Scholar all the time,” Goetz said. Goetz fell silent. He looked around his members a drop-in tour of the library, many more student spaces now, and I think “It’s really the same thing. It’s that access to office, scanning book after book — the small bringing to light the nooks and crannies it’s a much more open and comfortable those resources that we provide.” space is covered in them. He glanced at the they might otherwise never stumble across. place to spend a lot of time,” Goetz said. After graduating from Rice, Goetz went spines of books about architecture, politics, Other days, it means meeting with students These changes are a result of feedback the on to get a Master of Fine Arts in English acting and philosophy. After almost a doing research in English or anthropology — library processes in their user experience from the University of California, Irvine and minute, he broke the silence. Goetz is the point librarian on these subjects office, he added. began teaching writing and English classes “Rather than give a direct answer to that, — and helping them unearth relevant “We put that feedback into action in a at various universities, which he describes I’d want every Rice student to feel able and materials. He sometimes requests books for lot of ways,” he said. “Like, in the past few as “kind of FWIS-like.” When Goetz would to feel empowered to find the books that the library’s collection and spends a couple years we’ve changed our food and drink collaborate with librarians for those classes, are going to stimulate and challenge and hours every day at the reference desk, where rules. They’re a lot more open than they he quickly realized he wanted their jobs inspire them. I want them to be able to do he fields all sorts of questions. used to be.” more than the one he had. He got a degree in that through the library, and I want them to “Before Google, there were librarians. You The most extraordinary differences library science from the University of Illinois, be able to see our books as waiting to serve could call up the reference librarian and ask between Fondren in the ’90s and Fondren Urbana-Champaign and worked as a librarian that role for them,” Goetz said. any kind of question,” Goetz said. “I still get now have been spurred on by the internet, at the University of St. Thomas in Houston’s He paused for a second. those kinds of questions. So that’s always an which has allowed the library to provide a Montrose before landing at Rice. “And if it’s a book we don’t have, we interesting part of the job, because you never greater breadth of materials to students. Sitting in Goetz’s Fondren basement hope you’ll let us know.”

Crossword by Sam Rossum Answers will be posted on ricethresher.org and on the Thresher Facebook CATS! Thresher Staff page. Bolded clues and colored squares correspond to the theme. 1 2 3 4 5 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13

14 15 16 ACROSS 41) “Time to Pretend” band 1) Not a pro 42) Mt. Everest locale, 17 18 19 5) Ancient Carvings partially

11) Some govt. lawyers 44) Willy’s statue e.g. 20 21 22 14) “Interstellar” robot 46) Big cat with its paw on 23 24 25 25 26 15) Flirtatious ones the Bible? 16) World Series mo. 51) Star-bursts? 27 27 28 29 30 31 17) Elusive cat that can have a 52) Maroon lot of salami? 55) Bear living in Jellystone 28 32 33 19) Master of Minions Park 20) Happen next 57) Dongle, for one 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 21) Jiffies 60) Kojima who created Metal 42 43 36 44 45 38 39 22) Like some cheddar Gear Solid 23) Give an ocular patdown 61) Before, poetically 46 47 48 49 50 25) “Oo-ee-oo I look just like 62) Fast cats basking in the Buddy ____” sunlight?

51 52 53 54 27) Housecat from the British 64) Religious Fort Worth sch. 55 56 57 58 59 60 countryside? 65) Over the moon 32) One of 16 in a chess set 66) Shrek or Fiona 61 62 63 33) Hang loose 67) Need for www access 34) Accessory for a Girl Scout 68) Is nostalgic for 64 65 66 38) ____ Ching, spiritual text 69) We, for someone who by Laozi says oui 67 68 69

DOWN 11) End of meal request for 34) ‘Celebrity Jeopardy!’ show 49) Ariel’s father in “The Little 1) Off with the buoys the stuffed 35) Start of a vowel movement Mermaid” 2) Bombay breads 12) Parcel of land 36) Mop some liquid 50) Tried 3) Support beam 13) Hunk 37) Vietnamese capital 53) India’s first prime minister 4) Put out, as a newspaper 18) Fabulist of note 39) The Blue Jays, on score- 54) Apothecary amounts 5) “I’m outta here,” in text speak 22) “Sound the ___ !” boards 55) Monster from 42-Across 6) Bruce and Spike 24) Beat the buzzer? 40) My Chemical Romance 56) Tolkien henchmen 7) New Haven school 26) Inc., in London fans, probably 58) End of tear ducts? 8) Film with a famous shower 28) “Straight Outta Compton” 43) Word on a candy heart 59) Bombay butter scene rap group 45) Scrub in the tub 62) Do some tailoring 9) Muppet creator Jim 29) U.S. bond opt. 47) City rhymed with ‘scuzza 63) Christina Tan and others: 10) ____ Tricky, snowboarding 30) Key figure in CPR me’ in “That’s Amore” Abbr. video game 31) However 48) Change symbols, in math FEATURES WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 15, 2020 • 9 Senior Spotlight: Freddy Cavallaro talks growth at Rice

IVANKA PEREZ suitemates and other off-campus friends, FEATURES EDITOR gave him a chance to cook for himself and helped open his eyes to the community Freddy Cavallaro reads a Bible verse outside of Rice. daily. He has a 138-day streak on his Bible “If anything, I think it made me more app, which he said would have been longer mature,” Cavallaro said. “I’m on campus now, if not for a camping trip. He doesn’t take the right, but I kind of miss living off campus.” Bible lightly, and yet his favorite Bible verse When dealing with such stressful is from Romans 14:2, which goes, “For one situations, Cavallaro turns to drumming. believeth that he may eat all things. Another, When he’s not in class, spending time who is weak, eateth herbs.” with friends, or working with the SA as “[The verse] makes fun of vegetarians, parliamentarian, Cavallaro enjoys playing which I think is hilarious,” Cavallaro, a Will the drums, saying it helps him relieve stress. Rice College senior and vegetarian, said. “I like to express myself,” Cavallaro said. Cavallaro isn’t afraid to make fun of or “I am a big believer in musical therapy.” humble himself, an attribute he seems to Additionally, Cavallaro finds solace in apply to all aspects of his life. Last Beer another creative outlet: pour paintings. His Bike, at the same time he decided to become Instagram page @readyisfreddy is filled vegetarian, Cavallaro started not wearing CHANNING WANG / THRESHER with photos of his pour paintings, which he shoes when walking around campus, Freddy Cavallaro, a Will Rice College senior, spends his free time drumming and making art. makes by mixing paint in a cup and pouring partially in an effort to remain down to earth. it onto paper. Cavallaro said he likes pour “I was trying to force myself into last semester, he took Advanced Organic Cavallaro wants improved is rustication paintings because they are quick to make humility,” Cavallaro said. Chemistry just out of curiosity. and how it affects students. During his and the result is always unexpected. Despite reading the Bible every day, “I’m very stubborn. I take a course and sophomore year, Cavallaro’s suite was Cavallaro said that he thinks art is one of Cavallaro said he doesn’t consider himself I say, ‘I don’t care what the grade is — I’m rusticated for an alleged alcohol policy the most important aspects of life. strictly religious. Growing up in a Catholic happy to be here and I wanna learn,’” violation that occurred under confusing “If you don’t have art in your life in household, Cavallaro found he disagreed Cavallaro said. circumstances. Rustication involves some form, you’re going to go insane,” with many aspects of the Catholic church. Despite being a neuroscience major, revocation of some or all of the privileges Cavallaro said. “If you ask me ... [what He now identifies as Christian. Cavallaro said he no longer wants to pursue of living within the college system, makes humans unique] is the ability to “My attitude is, find your own path, a career that focuses on the brain because of and may only be imposed only by the create art and music.” figure out religion on your own. Maybe you scientists’ relative lack of knowledge about student’s magister. Although Cavallaro has had his ups and like it, maybe you don’t … Maybe there’s an the organ. After doing cancer research at Cavallaro said rustication was the downs during his time at Rice, the one topic afterlife, I don’t know,” Cavallaro said. “My MD Anderson Cancer Center, Cavallaro hardest challenge he faced at Rice. He said he is unabashedly excited about is “Cooking opinion is, God is a chiller.” has set his sights on working on cancer that although he’s grateful he was rusticated with Chef Roger” with Roger Elkhouri. Since When Cavallaro matriculated, he was pharmaceuticals. instead of given a minor in possession moving back to campus, Cavallaro said he’s considering a psychology major. He was “I want to apply myself to a field where charge, being prevented from attending had fewer opportunities to do one of his particularly interested in the functions of the we are closer to a ‘cure,’” Cavallaro said. college events — even intramural sports other hobbies: cooking. Cavallaro said the brain and neurological causes of addiction, Cavallaro’s interest in health also spans games — made him feel distant from his class is his favorite memory from Rice. depression and human actions. After taking to his job as parliamentarian in the Student friends living on campus. “My water bottle has one sticker on it — a neuroscience class, he was hooked on the Association, a role he applied to after “The part that I hated the most about it it’s the Chef Roger sticker,” Cavallaro said. subject and became one of the first people to unsuccessfully running for SA President last was the social isolation,” Cavallaro said. “I sign up for the neuroscience major when it year. He is currently working on a project was like, ‘Where are my friends? I’m lonely Editor’s Note: This is an installment in became available in late 2017. to improve students’ relationship with the — I feel really fucked up inside.’” Senior Spotlights, a series intended to explore However, Cavallaro doesn’t limit Student Health Services. However, Cavallaro said the situation the stories of graduating seniors, who are himself to taking neuroscience classes — Another aspect of Rice life that ultimately helped him bond with his chosen at random to participate.

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- Justin Berry, Electrical Engineering CoachRICE - leader development training designed to improve personal leadership skills and the ability to develop others “Doerr has helped me to work on balancing my empathy and Register by June 1 for the 2020-2021 cohort assertiveness, openly communicate with teams that I am leading, and be more aware of my interactions. Regardless of what - meetings with top Houston leaders off ‘personality’ you think you are, Doerr can help you grow into Excursions who you want to be.” campus *Transportation and meal provided - Sachi Paul, Cognitive Sciences Registration closes 48-hours prior to excursion date 10 • WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 15, 2020 THE RICE THRESHER ARTS&ENTERTAINMENT KATELYN LANDRY Rockwell’s trademark talent for suggesting A&E EDITOR that life continues beyond the canvas is Freedom reigns in evident in his most prolific works. The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston The final portion of the exhibition tells the story of how Norman Rockwell’s showcases Rockwell’s artistic foray into the iconic depictions of President Franklin D. new MFAH ‘Norman theme of civil rights and the postwar legacy Roosevelt’s Four Freedoms — freedom of of the Four Freedoms, introduced by another speech, freedom of worship, freedom from of Rockwell’s most recognizable creations, fear and freedom from want — changed Rockwell’ exhibit “The Problem We All Live With.” American society forever with “Norman This portrait marked the end of Rockwell: American Freedom.” The exhibit Rockwell’s employment with the Saturday opened at the MFAH last month as the Evening Post and the beginning of his time fifth stop on the acclaimed exhibition’s with Look magazine. From 1963 forward, nationwide tour, organized by the Norman Rockwell’s work shifted to include many Rockwell Museum. more people of color, rejuvenating and Kaylin Weber, MFAH’s associate curator expanding upon his passion for capturing of American painting and sculpture, the variety of life. In a departure from his explained during a press preview event earlier work, Rockwell began to illustrate that the MFAH chose the name in an effort graphic violence in order to convey the to capture a broader image of the national severity of racial discrimination during the culture in which Rockwell’s work served: civil rights era with works such as “Murder not only as the foundation for contemporary in Mississippi.” “Blood Brothers” was one Americana, but also the springboard for such work, an illustration depicting a Black ideas about freedom that would continually man and a White man lying dead side by evolve and sprawl into new corners of side that Look ultimately refused to publish. American consciousness. Weber made a point of explaining that the Before FDR spoke the Four Freedoms politics of what was published and wasn’t into existence in his 1941 State of the says equally about American culture of the Union speech, Rockwell was capturing the time as the paintings themselves. emblematic aspects of American culture. Rockwell not only forayed into American The exhibit opens with a gallery devoted civil rights but also sought to represent an to Rockwell’s cover illustrations for the American perspective of a world forever Saturday Evening Post where he worked for changed by massive destruction and on nearly 50 years. Beginning in 1916, Rockwell the doorstep of globalization. According was able to extract slices of life from the to Weber, Rockwell was enamored with world around him and distill them so vividly the idea of the United Nations, which he that the Post earned millions of subscribers hoped would rally people around the goal across the nation. Saturday Evening Post of avoiding future warfare. An unpublished readers adored Rockwell’s talent for study illustration titled “United Nations” transforming the most mundane moments shows people from a wide range of cultures of life into romantic testaments to American gathered behind world leaders. Many life in the 1930s. The illustrator captured of the personas created for that study the small comforts and joys of Americans were transferred over to Rockwell’s cover despite straining under the weight of the illustration, “Golden Rule.” Rather than Great Depression. depicting the world’s cultures at the foot Rockwell’s talent for suspending a of the United Nations negotiating table, single moment in time is evident in the Rockwell ultimately rallied the vibrantly meticulous details in his illustrations. courtesy mfah press colored crowd around the universally Covers like “Family Home from Vacation” “Golden Rule” by Norman Rockwell. This cover illustration was published in the April 1, 1961 recognized principle written in gold: “Do offer something of a scavenger hunt to the publication of the Saturday Evening Post, marking one of the first times in the magazine’s unto others what you would have them do eye, inviting viewers to explore tiny morsels history when people of color were prominently featured not in positions of service. unto you.” of life seemingly strewn about by Rockwell’s The inclusion of Rockwell’s rough fictional subjects wilted flowers, a deflated the rapid societal changes of the era. speech is a significant strength of the exhibit. sketches, studies and unpublished work is balloon, a shirt peeking out of an overly As one moves through the first room of Visitors have the opportunity to see the the other significant strength of the exhibit. full suitcase and a frog prying itself out of a Rockwell’s magazine illustrations into the work of Rockwell’s contemporaries such as By offering visitors a glimpse at the inner child’s box all adorn the exhausted family, second gallery space, the rosy optimism graphic artist J. Howard Miller, who coined workings of Rockwell’s creative process, giving the illusion that they lived a life before drains from the walls as the exhibit shifts Rosie the Riveter in his iconic painting “We the exhibit reminds viewers that revision they came to rest on Rockwell’s canvas. its attention away from the comforts of Can Do It!” which hangs amid other 1950s and rejection is inevitable for even the most While works such as “Norman Rockwell domestic life to the hardships of World War graphic art and labor propaganda. The prolific artists. Visits a Ration Board” were heralded for II. Rockwell largely avoided illustrating MFAH capitalizes on their vast gallery space The turbulent times of Rockwell’s the variety of life he captured, they are war violence, so this portion of the exhibit and builds a comprehensive glimpse at not career are captured through a variety of noticeably whitewashed images of an is mostly populated by other artists of just the work of Rockwell, but also the world illustrations, photographs and artifacts idealized, conservative American society. the 1940s. By including official World he was living in and drew inspiration from. that immortalize a culture in dramatic According to Weber, who led the exhibit War II photography from the U.S. Armed Even with the vast collection of flux. “Norman Rockwell: American tour, the Saturday Evening Post did not Forces and works such as Margaret Burke- accompanying artists, Rockwell’s Four Freedom” captures not only the artist, allow people of color to be depicted in White’s globally recognized photograph Freedoms undoubtedly remain the focal but his world and mind. This act fosters illustrations unless they were in positions of Holocaust survivors, “The Day After point of the exhibit. The poster illustrations an appreciation of Rockwell that doesn’t of service, an appalling sign of the times. Liberation, Buchenwald, Germany,” are massive, welcoming visitors to spend stem from his titular reputation, but rather Rockwell remained with the magazine until the exhibit allows Rockwell himself to more time with the iconic images than likely for his ability to listen to the riotous noise 1963 and unfortunately kept his artistic lens momentarily fade into the background and ever before. Each scene fosters a sort of of a tumultuous and violent world, and largely restricted to White Americans for the focus on the world around him which was calm, their colors subdued yet rich and their congregate an ever changing society around first major half of his career. As evidenced dramatically changing every day. details soft yet striking. In “Freedom from its most fundamental beliefs by stilling the by his later works which depict significantly This act of zooming out from Rockwell Fear,” Rockwell paints a warm light that transience of life, if only for a moment. more inclusion and diversity, Rockwell’s and including work from a range of artists pours into the stairwell behind the family, “Norman Rockwell: American Freedom” artistic attitude toward race relations engaged with wartime themes and the seemingly emanating from downstairs. will be on view at the MFAH in the Audrey seemingly evolved in a fashion on par with principles of Roosevelt’s Four Freedoms As in his earlier magazine illustrations, Jones Beck Building until March 22.

THE WEEKLY SCENE WORDS ON LAWNDALE WINTER SATANTANGO CHAMPAGNE, ART This Saturday, trade your eight hours of AND SONG PAPER OPENING Netflix for a viewing of critically acclaimed Enjoy an evening of colorful Latin American Celebrating the opening of their Winter 2020 Hungarian drama “Satantango.” Heralded Join the visual and dramatic arts department and African visual art from 5-8 p.m. on Friday, Exhibition season, the Lawndale Art Center as one of the greatest achievements in for the opening reception of “Works on Jan. 17 as part of Latin Week Houston 2020, an will host an opening reception for exhibits recent art house cinema, the 1994 film Paper 2009-2019” by Randall McCabe, this annual citywide celebration of traditional and “SKY LOOP” by Virginia Lee Montgomery and follows members of a recently collapsed Thursday, Jan. 16 from 6-8 p.m. The exhibit contemporary Latin American art. Experience “Folie a Deux” by Shawne Major this Friday, agricultural collective as they seek new will feature a selection of paintings and free live musical performances and enter to win Jan. 17 from 6-8 p.m. This event is free and lives in a post-Communist world. The eight- drawings by McCabe, who retired in 2019 tickets to the upcoming Latin Week Houston open to the public. hour film will be shown with intermissions after 22 years as VADA’s studio manager and events. RSVP online at latinweekhouston.org/ and is free and open to the public. lead preparator. shows. Lawndale Art Center Gite Gallery 4912 Main St. RICE CINEMA RICE MEDIA CENTER 2024 Alabama St. ARTS&ENTERTAINMENT WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 15, 2020 • 11

Review: ‘Little Women’ refreshes timeless tale

courtesy sony pictures

IVANKA PEREZ ice skating culminate into more serious FEATURES EDITOR conflicts, the two never lose their respect for each other. In one of the final scenes of the film, Jo and Amy reunite after a LITTLE WOMEN period of being apart and illustrate that, despite their differences, their sisterhood Drama Genre: is more important than anything that Run time: 2 hours 15 min might come between them. Unsurprisingly, Ronan is brilliant as Now showing at: Edwards Jo in the film — but I didn’t realize just Greenway, AMC Studio 30 how brilliant until I saw an adaptation without her as Jo. Rather than stealing every scene she’s in, Ronan’s brilliance is more subtle, giving the film heart with a rebellious and relatable heroine and earning the Irish American actress her fourth Oscar nomination. When I got home after watching Greta Gerwig’s “Little Women,” all I wanted to think about was “Little Women.” I dug HEY YOU. up my old copy of the novel from middle school, replaying moments from the Rather than stealing every we’re breaking the fourth movie in my head. scene she’s in, [Saoirse] Five minutes after I found out that Ronan’s brilliance is more there was a TV adaptation of the story on wall to ask some questions. Amazon Prime Video, I snuggled up on subtle, giving the film the couch with my mom and a cup of hot heart with a rebellious chocolate. But it didn’t take long for me to and relatable heroine realize that no iteration of the classic story do you know how to make could compare with Gerwig’s adaptation. and earning the Irish The story, at its core, is a tale of American actress her online things look cool? does four sisters with different dreams and fourth Oscar nomination. diverging lives. Rather than adopting the ~embedding media~ sound like chronological timeline of the original story and all of its previous adaptations, Before seeing this film, I never liked a good way to spend your free Gerwig tells the story in flashbacks — Amy’s character — an opinion that an ingenious choice that makes the many readers of the novel share. But time? storytelling seamless and poignant. At Pugh turns a spoiled, often unlikeable the most heart-wrenching points in the character into a flawed yet endearing girl film, this provides a mirroring effect, who matures into a confident woman by emphasizing the fact that things can the end of the film in a performance that or maybe you care about sports never go back to the way they were. has earned the British actress her first Looking at the star-studded cast list Oscar nod. Pugh and Chalamet expertly and want the chance to interview — Saoirse Ronan as Jo March, Timothée embody characters who push each other Chalamet as friendly neighbor Laurie, to be better people while supporting players and coaches and write Emma Watson as Meg March, and so each other’s aspirations, painting a many more — it’s no surprise that the portrait of Amy and Laurie’s relationship about games? or maybe you just acting in this film is outstanding. What that makes more sense on screen than in stands out even more than the caliber the original novel. want to join the staff and you’ll of actors is the chemistry between In this film, Gerwig does justice to them. Although Beth and Meg’s story what may have been Alcott’s original wing the sports stuff? arcs are less central to the plot than intentions, while also staying true to the Jo and Amy, they are perfectly cast; the storyline. Professor Bhaer, rather Eliza Scanlen shines as meek, shy Beth than appearing at the end of the story March, and Emma Watson is engaging as a convenient love interest, is present as motherly Meg. The March sisters’ from the very first scene. But rather interactions are especially authentic as than ending the story with Jo getting we’re hiring assistant web they interrupt, ignore and talk over each married, Gerwig ends the film with Jo other like most siblings do. having a discussion with her publisher. Portraying authentic, complex Her publisher insists that the heroine and sports editors. relationships is what this film does must be married by the end of the book. best. At the heart of “Little Women” is Jo acquiesces, but only if she is allowed you should apply. the loving yet competitive relationship to keep the copyright to her novel — between Jo and her younger sister Amy, something Louisa May Alcott did in real ricethresher.org/page/join-us played by Hollywood’s newest rising life for “Little Women.” star, Florence Pugh. The two sisters are I can’t remember the last time I loved so similar — stubborn, passionate artists a movie as much as I loved this one. in their own right — that their desires Maybe I’m biased — I’ve loved “Little often compete. Women” ever since I can remember — but But even when their squabbles over if I could only recommend one movie this theater tickets, novel manuscripts and Oscars season, it would be this one. 12 • WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 15, 2020 ARTS&ENTERTAINMENT

about the (somewhat heavy-handed) “one-take” approach that makes “1917” impossible to look away from as it portrays the unparalleled cruelty of the conflict infamously known as “The War to End All Wars.” Cinematographer Roger Deakins, known for his frequent collaborations with the Coen brothers, does a fantastic job at imbuing the lifeless battlefield with a sense of desolate beauty and chaos, skillfully employing bombs, flares and fires to his advantage as unique sources of light and color in an otherwise brutally monochromatic stretch of scorched earth.

‘1917’ is an emotional journey that leaves little time for mourning or reflecting by its own characters, lest more lives be needlessly wasted.

courtesy universal pictures At times, the dramatic cinematography can become overbearing and borders on gimmick: The one-shot approach calls Review: ‘1917’ triumphs in uncharted territory attention to itself, parading technical ability over content. Nonetheless, the SAM VENKER 10. This praise is well deserved; “1917” My theory behind this apparent film succeeds on a grand scale as a FOR THE THRESHER proves to be a breathtaking piece of dismissal of one of history’s most war epic — seeing hundreds of soldiers filmmaking, using a “one-take” technique significant wars is that World War simultaneously ascend the trenches and where the entire film is made to appear as I is nearly impossible to justify in approach the certain death promised 1917 one continuous shot (previously used in comparison to World War II. You can’t by no man’s land was certainly one 2014’s best picture-winning “Birdman”) to really call upon John Wayne to give a of the more dramatic shots of 2019’s Genre: Drama / Action craft a harrowing, exhausting depiction of rousing, patriotic speech about freedom filmography. Yet “1917” manages to a war that has been largely unexplored by and bravery in your movie when 300,000 remain remarkably human, exploring the Run time: 1 hr 59 min modern cinema. people died fighting to win six miles of bond between two young British soldiers The last mainstream World War I dirt in the Battle of the Somme. What’s tasked with delivering a message to Now showing at: Edwards drama to make headlines would have to more, trench warfare is incredibly prevent the massacre of 1,600 men Greenway, IPIC Houston be the 2011 film “War Horse.” The eight- difficult to portray as even remotely walking into a deadly trap. year gap between Spielberg’s six-time exciting. A war movie where the heroes A poignant reflection on the Oscar nominated war movie and Mendes’ spend the majority of their time sitting in senseless, industrial-level slaughtering Oscar hopeful “1917” has prompted critics a hole six feet below ground surrounded of human life in World War I, “1917” is an and moviegoers alike to question why by disease and filth does not offer much emotional journey that leaves little time Coming fresh off of two Golden Globe Hollywood chooses to glorify and gush in the way of action or excitement: a for mourning or reflecting by its own wins for best director and best drama over World War II like a favorite child while major deterrent for studios looking to characters, lest more lives be needlessly motion picture, Sam Mendes’ “1917” earned World War I, the disappointing younger make a box-office success. wasted. An intense adrenaline rush, an immense critical acclaim and seemed sibling whose existence is periodically “1917” deftly avoids these problems unexpected tearjerker and an altogether destined for box office success before the forgotten in this bizarre analogy, doesn’t even and is nothing short of riveting. There’s extraordinarily impressive piece of film: I film even hit most American theaters Jan. get an invitation to the family reunion dinner. something undeniably captivating cannot recommend it highly enough.

Review: Poppy trades cute for calamity JAMES KARROUM album. Her previous forays into the heavy music video, she climbs on the desk of music THRESHER STAFF metal genre and friendship with rocker industry bigwigs and shouts at them, “I Marilyn Manson strongly suggest that Poppy disagree / With the way you keep preaching I DISAGREE has defected to the dark side. But Poppy said insanity / I disagree / With all of the reasons in an interview for rock and metal magazine you’re mad at me” before lighting them on Genre: Pop/Metal/Prog Rock Kerrang! that her new album is beyond genre. fire. For most of the rest of the album, she “A lot of people who have written about follows a formula of calmly singing for the Top Track: “Don’t Go Outside” the new music have said it’s metal and majority of each song and interjecting with pop, but I think that’s because they like the a screaming chorus or shouting backup juxtaposition of that,” she said. “I’ve never singers. The last minute of “Bite Your Teeth” said my music is metal, but I do listen to that sounds like Nine Inch Nails’s album “The music. To clarify: post-genre. Or prog rock or pop. We’re turning a new page.” Internet personality and musician “Welcome to the new starting line”, she courtesy sumerian records Poppy declares her transcendence from sings in “Sit / Stay,” paralleling the new the confines of genre with her third studio direction she’s gone in with her work. “I A lot of people who spread herself too thin by diversifying in this album, “I Disagree.” Released Jan. 10, “I Disagree” opens with “Concrete,” the first have written about the direction. The final song, “Don’t Go Outside,” Disagree” establishes itself as the antithesis single to be released from the record back in new music have said is a striking six-minute symphony with an of the dainty, pastel Poppy she first showed August 2019. The track is a juxtaposition of extended outro that calls back lyrics from the world. two personas, her earlier, cheery self and new it’s metal and pop, but I “Concrete” and “I Disagree.” It’s best heard Poppy first went viral in 2015 with a aggressive, metal vibes. “Some people like think that’s because they in a chronological playthrough of the album, 10-minute YouTube video of the then-20 candy / Some people like coffee / But these like the juxtaposition of tying the sounds of the prior songs together year old repeatedly saying “I’m Poppy” lifeless flavors / Don’t satisfy me ... I need that. for a finale, but not outside of that context. and continued to captivate the internet that taste / Of young blood in my teeth,” she “I Disagree” can be seen as an answer with bizarre skits, which often include her intonates while the instrumentation fades Poppy, Kerrang! Magazine to Poppy’s previous album “Am I a Girl?” as prolonged, uncomfortable staring and the to the background. She concludes the song she continues to question and reflect on her occasional conversation with plants and with unsettling lyrics, “Bury me six feet deep MUSICIAN identity in terms of gender and beyond with mannequins. The internet star made her and just / Cover me in concrete please / Turn experimental sounds that fall somewhere musical debut the same year with her single me into a street” which strikingly contrast Fragile” with its industrial and noise rock between the stylistic realms of Grimes, kawaii “Lowlife” and went on to release her first an upbeat instrumental reprise of the intro. vibes. “BLOODMONEY” is similar and has metal girl group BABYMETAL and industrial studio album “Poppy.Computer” in 2017. She “Concrete” distinctly establishes a central a whole 30 seconds of pure instrumental rock outfit Nine Inch Nails. The 10 tracks has since had increasingly dark aesthetics theme of the album: Poppy either clashes noise rock goodness in the middle, with all work amazingly together, and live up to on social media and music videos — and sweet lyrics with the distortion and feedback the distortion and feedback one could want. Poppy’s designation of them as progressive it’s crept into her songs, most notably “Play characteristic of metal, or dark lyrics with a These songs lean into the theme and are the pop/rock as well as her refusal to let them be Destroy” on her sophomore album “Am I a cheery beat. album at its best. defined as solely pop/metal. Her sweet-but- Girl?,” where she collaborated with dream- Title track “I Disagree” is the only song “Nothing I Need” and “Sick of the Sun” psycho attitude permeates the entire album pop/synth-pop artist Grimes. with Japanese lyrics on Poppy’s newest are laid-back and feel like interludes, but and gives Poppy a unique spot between At first glance, Poppy’s gruesome getup album, reminiscent of other J-pop inspired don’t stand alone very well. The inclusion genres and the niches of established artists. and dead stare on the album cover for “I songs like “Moshi Moshi” from her first of these two makes the best case for calling “I Disagree” is available on all major Disagree” might make fans expect a metal studio album “Poppy.Computer.” In the the album genreless, but Poppy likely streaming platforms. THE RICE THRESHER WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 15, 2020 • 13 SPORTS Baker Powderpuff 2019 Recap

REGULAR SEASON v. Wiess W, 13-0 v. Sid Richardson W, 18-0 v. Martel L, 18-13 v. Hanszen W, 19-12 v. Will Rice W, 6-0 v. Lovett W, 26-7

DIVISIONAL PLAYOFFS v. Lovett W, 20-13

COURTESY GABI GOMEZ The 2019 Baker College powderpuff team poses for a group photo after defeating Lovett College 20-13 in the championship semifinal and McMurtry CHAMPIONSHIP College 7-6 in the championship. The win capped a 7-1 season record for the Baker team, who posted three shutout victories on their way to the title. v. McMurtry W, 7-6 POWDERPUFF CHAMPS: BAKER CLAIMS TITLE INFOGRAPHIC BY MADISON BUZZARD

IVANKA PEREZ work against them — she said the team’s coaching, and a lot of people’s first times past,” Downing said. “We just have a lot of FEATURES EDITOR small size actually worked in Baker’s favor. playing [our new positions],” Kilbride said. pretty naturally athletic people who have “The quality of players was high because “So last year was kind of like getting started played sports like soccer that kind of match In December, the Baker College we had a small team,” Kilbride said. “Each with our coaches and new positions. This the aggressiveness and athleticism that powderpuff team defeated McMurtry College person who showed up to a game actually year, it really clicked.” powderpuff requires.” 7-6 to win its first women’s college flag football cared and wanted to win and tried their best.” Downing said part of the team’s After moving players to different title since at least 1999. Baker’s victory broke The team’s size also meant that players performance should be attributed to the five positions, Armistead said he realized putting a four-year streak during which Hanszen and got more playing experience than they would coaches on the team. the right players in the right positions had a McMurtry each claimed two titles. have on a larger team. “I think we had a more solid coaching huge impact. Described by head coach and senior “People got to play both sides — offense base than we’ve had in the past, with “We put [Kilbride] as [wide receiver] and Cannon Armistead as “small but mighty,” and defense,” Kilbride said. “Whoever pretty knowledgeable coaches who showed she turned out to be the best receiver in the the Baker team featured only around 12 showed up to a game always got a lot of up and cared about how we were doing,” league,” Armistead said. consistent players, just four more than the playing time, so it was fun.” Downing said. Although the team dynamic may have eight required to play. Senior Paul Ryu, an Baker sophomore Indya Porter said having Armistead also said the chemistry led them to win the championship, Kilbride assistant coach, said it was difficult to find a small team was part of what encouraged between the coaches and the players factored said that Baker powderpuff doesn’t focus times when the entire team could meet. As her to continue to remain an active player. into the team’s success. on winning. a result, only five players on average could “[The coaches] really wanted [players] to “[All the coaches are] all really good “It really [isn’t] about winning or being make it to each practice. play because we have a small team,” Porter friends with the girls,” Armistead said. competitive at all,” Kilbride said. “The “Sometimes there were more coaches said. “So because of that you feel really “We’re on the same wavelength.” relaxed, fun environment is what makes than players [at practices],” Ryu said. important — you feel like you’re meaningful According to Downing, the individual [being on the team] cool.” Since not everyone on the team could in the team.” players’ performances also made an impact Despite the team’s laid-back attitude, make it to every game, team captains and Although Baker’s powderpuff team hadn’t on the team’s success. Downing said Ryu said the players delivered during Baker seniors Erin Kilbride and Sarah recently won a championship, both Baker the players’ athleticism and experience some of the championship game’s most Downing said they almost had to forfeit a captains said this year’s winning squad built contributed to the team dynamic. pivotal moments. game when not enough players showed up. upon last season’s strong foundation. “I think part of it is that we have a lot “[The players] made some insane plays,” But Kilbride said the size of their team didn’t “Last year was [our coaches’] first time of players who have played sports in the Ryu said.

WOMEN’S TENNIS SET TO FACE LAMAR

SPENCER MOFFAT schedule this year will be challenging. SENIOR WRITER “If you look at our schedule, [it’s] pretty hefty and competitive,” Schmidt The Rice women’s tennis team said. “Every team we have to play is prepares to face Lamar University in its always looking to be better as well.” first home match of the year on Saturday, Rice began their season last weekend Jan. 18 after opening its spring season in the Orlando Invitational against this past weekend. opponents from the University of The two teams’ recent history has Kansas, University of Missouri, North been extremely lopsided: Rice has won Carolina State University and Texas Tech its last 26 meetings against the Cardinals. University. Overall, the Owls posted a But according to head coach Elizabeth 12-10 record in singles play and went 5-5 Schmidt, the team needs to focus on what in doubles, with juniors Linda Huang it can control in its next match despite its and Anna Bowtell leading the way with COURTESY Rice Athletics strong historical record against Lamar. a combined 6-0 singles record over the Senior Priya Niezgoda and sophomore Anastasia Smirnova survey the opposition during a “We have a pretty strong history weekend’s matches. doubles match. Niezgoda and Smirnova went 0-2 as a pair during the Orlando Invitational. against Lamar and we don’t know what Prior to beginning the spring season, team they are going to put out on the Rice spent a week in Orlando to practice to Niezgoda, she quickly developed a Last year, the Owls won their sixth court this year,” Schmidt said. “What before the Orlando Invitational, which strong partnership with Smirnova. Conference USA championship in the we need to do is take care of ourselves helped ease the Owls back into a “I think we kind of had a good past seven seasons by defeating No. 37 and take care of what we want to do and productive atmosphere, according to chemistry from the start,” Niezgoda Old Dominion University in the C-USA work on.” senior Priya Niezgoda. said. “I think it just grew stronger as we final. Rice then lost their first-round NCAA The match against Lamar will also “It’s really great that we can all come were playing so much last season, and tournament matchup against Texas A&M give the Owls the opportunity to prepare back a little early and get in some pretty especially the fall.” University, 4-3. According to Schmidt, for an upcoming match against North good practices and get back into that Smirnova finished the fall with a 8-1 even though the team fell short against Carolina State University, whom the team mindset,” Niezgoda said. mark in singles play and cracked the Texas A&M, Rice’s players are currently Owls face on Jan. 25. Coming into this Niezgoda will look to build on ITA singles rankings for the first time, focused on match-to-match improvements spring season, the Wolfpack placed 8th the rapport she established last year placing No. 86 out of 100. According to rather than postseason play. overall in the Oracle/Intercollegiate with sophomore Anastasia Smirnova. Smirnova, her ranking was a surprise. “We really keep our focus small,” Tennis Association Division I women’s Smirnova and Niezgoda finished last “I definitely wasn’t expecting to be Schmidt said. “Our [team’s goal] is to be tennis rankings. fall as the No. 37-ranked doubles pair ranked in singles,” Smirnova said. “I just one percent better than we were in our According to Schmidt, Rice’s overall after going 5-2 on the season. According wanted to play the best I could.” last practice.” 14 • WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 15, 2020 SPORTS BASKETBALL ON 4-GAME WIN STREAK

BEN BAKER-KATZ But she’s an even better leader. She’s a THRESHER STAFF person who sets the tone in how we prepare, and takes care of the team.” Rice women’s basketball will aim to The team continued its momentum into extend its current four-game Conference their next game against FIU on Saturday, USA winning streak when the Owls take on a contest that Rice won convincingly Louisiana Tech University and the University after breaking the game open with a of Southern Mississippi at Tudor Fieldhouse 14-0 run in the third quarter. Three Owls this week. scored in double digits, led by 12 points Rice started off the season 5-6, failing apiece from sophomore guard Jasmine to score 50 points during three of its six Smith and freshman forward Lauren losses. But according to senior guard Erica Schwartz. Ogwumike picked up her fourth Ogwumike, the team has coalesced around consecutive double-double with 11 points its defensive effort in recent games. and 1o rebounds. “We’re learning our identity,” senior The win against FIU marked Rice’s fourth guard Erica Ogwumike said. “We’re taking straight win and 23rd consecutive victory in pride in our defense, knowing that we’re C-USA play, after the Owls posted a losing one of the better defensive teams not in the record in non-conference play to begin the country but in the nation, and that makes us season. According to Langley, the team want to work harder.” managed to take away positives even when As Rice prepares for its two home games they weren’t able to come away with a win. this week, head coach Tina Langley said “One of the core values of our program the Owls will continue to look for offensive is growth, and we chose that value based improvement against upcoming tough on mindset,” Langley said. “Learning that defensive competition. failure is not a negative thing, it’s something “We have a lot of new players, so one of that propels you to do better if you use it the the things over this season that we’ve had to right way. All throughout non-conference, develop in is our knowledge of one another,” wins and losses, this team did a great job of Langley said. “[Louisiana Tech and Southern reflecting and learning the areas we need to Miss] are two really good, really intense grow in.” defensive teams, and when teams put One area of growth stems from this pressure on us we have to know how we’re team’s relative youth: The Owls feature five going to play together. I think we’ve grown a freshmen and four sophomores. Ogwumike lot in that area, but it’s something we’ve got said one of her roles as a team leader has to continue to grow in.” been to help the underclassmen adjust to the Rice’s current record sits at 9-6, after a competitive collegiate atmosphere. successful trip this past weekend to Florida, “I’ve been able to help the freshman and where it beat Florida Atlantic University 78- the people who haven’t been in these big 69 and Florida International University 68- moments by talking to them before games, 47. Against FAU on Thursday, Rice was led by and trying to calm their nerves,” Ogwumike C-USA Player of the Week Ogwumike, who said. “I’ve helped them visualize those scored 30 points and grabbed 11 rebounds. moments and [shown them] that we can According to Langley, Ogwumike’s positive compete, and we can win.” impact is felt both on and off the court. The Owls will play Louisiana Tech (9-5, “Erica can do everything on the court,” 1-2) on Thursday at 7 p.m. before battling Langley said. “She’s a tremendous scorer, Southern Mississippi (10-4, 2-1) on Saturday Courtesy Rice Athletics rebounder, defender, there’s really nothing at 2 p.m. Both games will take place at Rice’s Freshman forward Lauren Schwartz squares up to release a jump shot. This season, Schwartz she can’t do from a basketball standpoint. Tudor Fieldhouse. has started in all 15 games for Rice and is averaging 9.9 points and 4.1 rebounds per game.

Happy New Year and Welcome Back!

OFFICE OF THE REGISTRAR

SPRING SEMESTER 2020- IMPORTANT DATES

01/ 24/ 2020 - LAST DAY TO ADD COURSES ( WEEK 2 DEADLINES) 02/ 2/ 2020 - LAST DAY TO DROP COURSES ( WEEK 7 DEADLINES) 0/ 27/ 2020 - LAST DAY TO DESIGNATE A COURSE AS PASS/ FAIL 04/ 17/ 2020 - LAST DAY TO REGISTER FOR FALL 2020 W / O A LATE FEE 04/ 24/ 2020 - LAST DAY OF CLASSES

04/ 2 - 0/ 0/ 2020 - FINAL EXAMINATIONS - GRADUATION: CONVOCATION ( S ) AND COMMENCEMENT 0/ 1 - 0/ 1/ 2020

Visit registrar.rice.edu/calendars/spring20

ADVERTISEMENT WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 15, 2020 • 15 16 • WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 15, 2020 BACKPAGE

With the Roaring 20s upon us, a lot of change is sure to happen within the hedges in the next decade. We 20 Predictions have some ideas about the major differences that will come about at Rice — to put our clairvoyance to the for the s test, feel free to stow away a copy of this Backpage 2020 and dig it up in 2030. 1.A CRISPR baby will go on to be a significant 10.At least one servery will serve Rice donor and have a residential college named exclusively Soylent. after them. Crisp Richardson College will be riskily edited with no regard for building 11.While most colleges will undergo countless codes or safety. renovations, Hanszen will remain unchanged but still standing. 2.Top sponsors for the CCD Career Expo will pay for titles on a scale from “Crude” to “Premium” 12.Willy’s Statue will be rotated again, but rather than “Gold” or “Platinum” to better all documentation of the statue’s original represent these companies. direction will be preemptively altered. The collective memory of the statue facing toward 3.To address concerns over parking limitations, the Sallyport will become a famous example of Rice will buy up more real estate in the Third the Mandela effect. Ward near the Ion to build a satellite lot and shuttle students back and forth. 13.Football will win at least one (1) game.

4.Rice’s reliance on Facebook will become 14.Thresher readers will continue to leave a target for hackers — the SA presidential outraged comments about how opinions election will be interfered with. cannot be submitted anonymously despite staff editorials going nameless. The name 5.Eventually, the SA will create an infinite of literally every staff editorial writer and unbreakable loop of committees overseeing will continue to be clearly labeled in the working groups that manage projects within masthead on every opinion section. working groups until all positions and hierarchies are obsolete. Every member will put 15.Due to its popularity, the Thresher “president” on their resume as a result. crossword will grow to fill a two-page spread every week. 6.Beer Bike will gradually transform into Water Walk through a series of university policy 16.A Baker 13 LPAP will be offered, in which changes. participants must run in every Baker 13 for the registered semester. 7.These policy changes will be due to Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission’s pet project 17.Matriculation will take place in the Opera to take down Rice University, “Knowledge for House, just to get some use out of the Opera Narcs”: a college preparatory program for teen House. tattletales to gain admission to Rice on the condition that they tip off the presence of 18.The Jones School of Business will expand beer within a ten-yard radius of any underage beyond having its own in-house cafe to also student to TABC. have an in-house pub, radio station and bike repair shop. 8.The new registration system will undergo tweaks every year until finally in 2028, it 19.The admissions rate will continue to diverges into a two-site system identical to decrease, and it will be inversely correlated Schedule Planner and regular registration. with the trend in average purity scores.

9.The football bubble will be inverted to be 20.The Backpage will somehow end up on Fox repurposed as an emergency raft for when rising News again. sea levels engulf Houston. The Backpage is satire, written by Simturning30thisdecade Matovic and designed by Simona Mat2020vision. For comments or questions, please email [email protected] CLASSIFIEDS WANTED

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