Thomas, Onwenu Win SA Election
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VOLUME 100, ISSUE NO. 20 | STUDENT-RUN SINCE 1916 | RICETHRESHER.ORG | WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2016 Thomas, Onwenu win SA election Anita Alem and Drew Keller “A lot of things happened with campaign- Council presidency with 62 percent of the vote ed groups. Thomas specifically mentioned the News Editors ing so I wasn’t really sure what the result would against Jones College junior Iman Khan. Black Student Association, HACER, and Gen- be,” Thomas said. “I was a little shocked.” Thomas will offi cially become the president eration College as groups to engage. Griffi n Thomas will assume the position of The number of students voting in the presi- on Beer Bike on March 19. He said the first item Another of Thomas’s priorities is attracting Student Association president after winning dential election was almost equaled in the EVP on his agenda will be to engage in dialogue talented individuals to SA positions, he said. a close election against Joan Liu, while Jus- election, which Onwenu, a sophomore and with various groups on campus. “In the short term to long term, [I will] try to tin Onwenu emerged as the clear winner in a Sid Richardson College senator, won with 54 “My short-term priority is to talk to student get qualified and competent people in the SA,” three-way race for SA external vice president. percent of the vote. Wiess College sophomore groups and administrators and just seek to un- Thomas said. “The SA is an organization with Thomas, a junior finishing his term as Hannah Todd and Hanszen College sophomore derstand what is going on and what diff erent more than 100 people, so having a qualified Lovett College president, won 53 percent of the Brianna Singh trailed with 27 percent and 20 priorities are,” Thomas said. executive team is great, but you need to have 1,532 votes cast in the presidential race, which percent, respectively. According to Thomas, the SA president really good people in those other positions.” had a 40 percent higher turnout than last year. Onwenu said he felt the campaign season typically speaks with administrators includ- Similarly, Onwenu said he plans to have had been an incredibly long process. ing deans, Provost Marie Lynn Miranda, the conversations with major stakeholders “I was happy and excited, but relieved more Faculty Senate and President David Leebron. before introducing proposals. He said he than anything,” Onwenu said of the outcome. Thomas said he hopes to speak with athletes, would like to continue expanding advisory SA PRESIDENT In a third contested election, McMurtry Col- international students, first-generation college boards in academic departments and ad- lege junior Jodie Nghiem won the Rice Program students and other historically underrepresent- 0see ELECTIONS, page 2 SA EVP RPC PRESIDENT UNCONTESTED POSITIONS SA IVP KOMAL LUTHRA SA SECRETARY SONAL PAI LIU THOMAS SINGH SA TREASURER MAURICE FREDIERE 291 KHAN THRESHER EIC YASNA HAGHDOOST 723 809 CAMPANILE EIC MATTHEW CRUZ & KIRA CHEN ONWENU 532 NGHIEM votes votes TODD KTRU STATION MANAGER LEE PELTON 796 853 RSVP CHAIR KALIAN SHI 395 UCOURT CHAIR MARCELA INTERIANO HONOR COUNCIL SENIOR REP KATIE JENSEN RVP PROGRAM MANAGER KEVIN LI RVP STATION MANAGER MINOTI KALE Student funding approved for Catalyst, Rally; Pulitzer winner to RVP retains priority status by 11 votes give commencement Anita Alem it is a huge step forward in student serves as the current station man- Drew Keller my job is to deliver [on bringing the News Editor support for Rice Athletics.“ ager, McMutry College junior Minoti News Editor choice to Rice].” Reiskind said the student body’s Kale will serve as the future station Leebron said he had never met Rice Rally Club and Rice Cata- support is evidence that they un- manager and Hanszen College ju- Sheryl WuDunn, a Pulitzer WuDunn, but his wife Y. Ping Sun lyst are obtaining priority access to derstand the important role Rice nior Jeremy Kao is the current pro- Prize-winning journalist and execu- had met her and contacted her to student funding through their new Athletics serves on campus and un- gramming director. Kale won her tive, will give Rice University’s com- help recruit her to speak at Rice. blanket tax status, granted by the derstands the necessity of support- role in the general election for the mencement address at graduation “Our students are looking for student body in the general elec- ing student-athletes of every sport. uncontested position. Gray, Kale on May 14, according to the offi ce of people who have experience — re- tion. Rice Video Productions will Reiskind said the funding will go and Kao said they were happy with Rice president David Leebron. spected voices who aren’t always retain its blanket tax status. toward two main areas. The first will the result of the blanket tax vote. WuDunn won the Pulitzer with the most famous people around,” Blanket tax referenda require a help increase the quantity and qual- “We are looking forward to work- her husband, New York Times col- Leebron said. “Our students by and two-thirds vote in favor to pass. Ral- ity of the prizes for the Rice Owls Re- ing with our new advisor, and we umnist Nicolas Kristof, for their large have been really thoughtful ly Club and Rice Catalyst received ward App. Reiskind said he hopes to are excited about the changes we work reporting on the Tiananmen and wise.” 70.2 percent and 71.2 percent of Rice Athletics having provided all of are in the process of implementing Square protests in 1989. WuDunn According to Leebron, the most votes in favor of becoming blanket the prizes over the past year. which will result in improvements and Kristof have also collaborated important aspect of a commence- tax organizations. RVP received 65 “With funding we can provide to RVP,” they said. “We will contin- on several books and other works. ment speaker is their ability to con- percent of votes necessary to lose its prizes as well,” Reiskind said. ue to film major events at Rice and WuDunn wrote for the Times as a vey a strong message to students. blanket tax status; the referendum The second, according to Re- provide support for student passion foreign correspondent in China and “We want people to help edu- was short of the two-thirds mark by iskind, is to increase the number projects.” Japan, served as an evening news cate our students, although com- 11 votes so RVP will remain a blan- and size of the tailgates hosted by Rice Catalyst posted a thank you anchor and worked as an execu- mencement is a little different,” ket tax organization. the club. Rally Club plans to have to the student body on its Facebook tive for several companies. She is Leebron said. “You pick somebody Rally Club President Jeremy Re- tailgates for all football games, two page on Sunday after the results of currently senior managing director because of their accomplishments, iskind said he is excited that the to four tailgates for all sports that the voting. for Mid-Market Securities, which fi - and you think they’ll have some- club’s eff orts to foster student sup- compete on campus several times, “Because of your help, Catalyst nances emerging enterprises. thing to say, but the success of port for Rice Athletics have paid off . and at least one tailgate for other will be able to continue publish- Leebron said WuDunn’s accom- the commencement speaker is not “I was truly excited and honored sports such as swimming, golf, ing high quality science literature plishments, global outlook and what you know about them coming when I learned that Rally Club be- track and field and cross-country. and help promote science literacy identity as the first Asian-Amer- in, it’s what you think of them go- came a blanket tax organization,” “We want to turn athletic games across campus!” the statement ican to win a Pulitzer Prize will ing out.” Reiskind, a Duncan College junior, into events,” Reiskind said. read. “Thank you to all who voted, make her an effective speaker. Leebron said he was looking said. “Not only is this a huge step As part of the RVP leadership, we really could not have done it “I think she brings so many forward to the commencement. forward for our organization, but Lovett College senior Rachel Gray without you.” different things to the table, as “I’m very excited — it’s usual somebody who’s been involved in that when we put our trust in our journalism, global affairs, busi- students, they do us proud,” Le- ness and as a pioneering Asian- ebron said. APPROVE RICE RALLY CLUB APPROVE RICE CATALYST REMOVE RICE VIDEO American woman,” Leebron said. AS A SUBSIDIARY AS A SUBSIDIARY PRODUCTIONS FROM ITS “Pulitzer Prizes are scarce things. ORGANIZATION? ORGANIZATION? SUBSIDIARY STATUS? It’s a great choice and a creative choice.” A committee consisting of un- dergraduate and graduate stu- NO NO NO dents, political science professor 366 353 Melissa Marschall and senior as- YES YES 418 YES sistant to the president David Vas- 861 sar selected WuDunn, according to 871 780 Leebron. “This is a student-driven pro- cess,” Leebron said. “We don’t put a financial constraint on the stu- BLANKET TAX BLANKET TAX 70.2% VOTED IN FAVOR 71.2% VOTED IN FAVOR 65.1% VOTED IN FAVOR dents, but we tell them that’s one PASSED PASSED DID NOT PASS thing they might think about. We hope they’ll find somebody who’s REFERENDUM RESULTS REFERENDUM RESULTS a meaningful choice to them for ALL BLANKET TAX SUBSIDIARY VOTES REQUIRE A TWO-THIRDS VOTE IN FAVOR.