VOLUME 104, ISSUE NO. 9 | STUDENT-RUN SINCE 1916 | RICETHRESHER.ORG | WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2019

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT Cartoonist Leela Corman speaks on visual storytelling SANVITTI SAHDEV THRESHER STAFF

According to cartoonist Leela Corman, you can make a comic out of anything. She makes hers out of watercolor paints, activism and personal experiences with trauma. During her visit to Rice last Thursday, Corman talked about the process of visual storytelling with students. Her first book is a collection of short stories titled “We All Wish for Deadly Force,” after which she came out with the acclaimed graphic novel, “Unterzakhn.” Her comics frequently deal with the trauma of the personal loss of her daughter, as well as the generational trauma of World War II. During her talk, she showed examples of her work and discussed her creative process as well as her artistic influences. For me, the most inspiring part of her talk grew out of the discussion with students, when a question about the strong resonance of the memory of the Holocaust in the Jewish community led Corman to passionately and thoughtfully expand upon how experiences of the Holocaust inform her storytelling and activism in an American context.

I always interrogate my use of the Holocaust in my work because there have been so many QUEER IN THE holocausts. America’s built on two. COUNTRY: Leela Corman Rice students talk LGBTQ+ identity CARTOONIST

and country music “I grew up in a family of Holocaust survivors, and so I always instinctually ILLUSTRATION BY YIFEI ZHANG understood that mass traumas worldwide are connected,” Corman said. “I always interrogate my use of LILY WULFEMEYER the only representations of queer culture year of high school in East Texas, Bradford the Holocaust in my work because THRESHER STAFF in rural America. There has been a notable struggled with bisexual invisibility and there have been so many holocausts. rise in queer country music recently, with with validating her identity in a religious America’s built on two.” Leaning into Texas’ big personality the release of albums such as “Two Birds, family. It was in these teen years that she Corman is currently working on is a fun way for Rice students to connect One Stone” by drag queen Trixie Mattel, rejected the country music she was raised “Victory Parade,” a graphic novel with the state’s lifestyle and aesthetic, as “Pony” by Orville Peck and the song “Old on. But as she has grown older and more set during the Second World War in they two-step through the Houston bar Town Road” by Lil Nas X. accepting of herself, she said that she has Brooklyn, New York and at the Allied Wild West and attend parties like Don’t In the midst of this cultural movement, been indulging in her passion again. liberation of Buchenwald concentration Mess With Texas and DuncStep. But for five students from the LGBTQ+ community Later that night, she headed to a concert camp. She said that she was in the some LGBTQ+ students, living in a state speak about their experiences with Texas, by Orville Peck, a new gay country music process of working on it during a time of with a notoriously poor track record for country music and identity. sensation with the voice of a classic crooner. increasing racist and neo-fascist rhetoric respecting and protecting marginalized “Seeing someone that is very openly that accompanied the 2016 American communities can be a challenge in QUEER PEOPLE AND COWBOYS gay and also makes traditional Western presidential election of Donald Trump. balancing identity. “I live for wlw [women-loving-women] gun ballad outlaw type music — it just Corman explained that this political Music — as well as other art media — country content,” writes Brown College makes me so happy,” Bradford said. “We climate has provided new context for her can help these students carve out a space senior Sarah Bradford in a Rice GroupMe can enjoy these cultural themes and writing about World War II. for themselves in a state where everything for queer women, femmes and gender still make them gay, and enjoyable and SEE CORMAN PAGE 9 is “bigger and better.” And fortunately, nonconforming people. accessible for us.” “Brokeback Mountain” is no longer one of Coming out to her close friends her senior SEE COMMUNITY PAGE 6

NEWS Colleges introduce leadership restrictions SERENA SHEDORE positions in university-sponsored would not be able to run for a position. FOR THE THRESHER organizations, such as the Peer Academic Candidates would have to submit their Advising program, according to the Code intent to run to the college coordinator or Several colleges have already added of Student Conduct. However, a formal magisters, who would then send the list or are in the process of adding variations mechanism to enforce this has been of names to SJP to verify their eligibility. of a constitutional bylaw to create a missing at the residential college level, Brown College and Lovett College also use formal process that prevents students according to Mabe, a senior. Because this system in their legislation. on disciplinary probation from running Student Judicial Programs decisions are The details of the proposed process vary for leadership positions, according to confidential, students serving as college from college to college, but the purpose of Hanszen College President Landon Mabe. election representatives do not have the preventing students on probation from Students on disciplinary probation ability to verify candidates’ eligibility. running for leadership positions is the by Student Judicial Programs are already According to Mabe, the Hanszen bylaw same, according to Mabe. not allowed to run for any leadership would ensure that students on probation SEE LEADERSHIP PAGE 4 Courtesy Schocken Books 2 • WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2019 THE RICE THRESHER NEWS Student confronts convicted sex offender at homecoming event

RACHEL CARLTON disturbing and triggering.” THRESHER STAFF According to Freeman, the presence of the impersonator was in no way intended Content Warning: This article refers to to negatively impact students. sexual assault of a minor. Freeman said she stepped away to The Homecoming Kickoff Rally, put inform the planning committee of Brown’s on by the Student Activities Homecoming concerns. Committee in the Central Quad on Sunday, “She worked quickly and I’m grateful featured a Michael Jackson impersonator for that, but why was this event ever who was also accompanied by a self- approved in the first place?” Brown said. reported sex offender, according to Aliza “What students thought this was a good Brown. idea to bring this person on campus?” The Facebook event for the rally said The chair of the homecoming committee students could expect photo opportunities did not respond to requests for comment at with the impersonator, along with putt the time of print. putt golf, a bounce house and free hot Once Freeman left to talk to the planning dogs. committee, Brown said she began to take a Brown, a Will Rice College sophomore, video of the Jackson impersonator and was said she was walking through the quad approached by an unidentified colleague on her way to Rice Coffeehouse when who worked with the impersonator. someone tapped her on the shoulder The three-minute video opens with the asking if she wanted to take a picture with Jackson impersonator walking around as “Michael.” the song “Ghosts” plays. “I turned around and there was a The colleague walks up soon after the fucking Michael Jackson impersonator just start of the video and speaks to Brown. standing there,” Brown said. “I was like, “Michael Jackson was never convicted,” ‘No, I do not want a picture with Michael.’ the man says unprompted. ”He’s not a Immediately, I was like, ‘this is really child molester.” messed up.’” Brown responds by saying that Jackson Jackson stood trial in the spring of was a child molester, initiating a Q&A style 2005 for charges of child molestation confrontation with the colleague. and was acquitted in June of that same Based on video footage provided by year, according to National Public Radio. Brown, Brown centers the conversation In March 2019, HBO premiered the on the accusations toward Jackson and documentary “Leaving Neverland,” in the recent discussions about sexual which two men accuse Jackson of sexually assault at Rice. A third unidentified abusing them as children. individual attempts to intervene, and the Illustration by DALIA GULCA Brown said she was directed by a man colleague changes the topic of the evidence that I supposedly raped this girl. present at the event but was willing to student in charge of the event to Petre confrontation. They came and locked me up, locked me comment on the incident. Freeman, the associate director of campus “You understand, I’m a Black man,” the up. Lost my fiancée while I was in jail. But “I understand why [the student events, who was in attendance at the man said. “OJ [Simpson] was accused of [the] DNA wasn’t mine.” committee] thought it would be kickoff rally. When Brown asked Freeman killing someone [and] got found not guilty. The video ends as Freeman escorts the entertaining to have the Michael Jackson why the impersonator was invited, He’s still called a murderer. You’ve got man away. impersonator,” Qi, a Hanszen College Freeman said it was part of the theme, Michael that’s been accused 30 times of “I have no way of knowing if what he senior, said. “But I would encourage which was “Thriller.” child molesting. These people still brought told me was true, but the situation was just [the committee] to question their choices “Planning for homecoming consists of their kids [to the Neverland Ranch] absolutely absurd,” Brown said. “It was because there can be things that are just reviewing the budget, planning activities because he never touched them.” just an enormous, insensitive oversight.” as entertaining without having such a that are interactive as well as aiming After another minute of back-and-forth According to Brown, many students harmful impact on other people.” to keep the activities to align with the between Brown and the man, the man took pictures with the impersonator. She According to Qi, people should think homecoming overall theme and day changes the topic once more. said the recent discussions on campus deeply about their ties to perpetrators subthemes,” Freeman said. “Listen, the reason I’m so vehement regarding sexual assault are just the regardless of their celebrity. Brown said she told Freeman that about this, I just went to jail for six months beginning of educating students. “I think it’s especially important to inviting the impersonator was a huge on false charges of sexual assault of a “You can’t support survivors on campus recognize there are people who we may oversight and incredibly insensitive minor,” the man says. and simultaneously celebrate artists who have once held with high esteem, such as and asked that Freeman dismiss the Brown tells the man she will not are perpetrators of sexual violence,” a friend or a celebrity,” Qi said. “When we impersonator. comment on his case. The man continues Brown said. find out that information, we need to really “They basically brought a walking with his story. Karen Qi, the associate director question our relationship to this person. It trigger onto campus,” Brown said. “As “I have never touched a child in my of Students Transforming Rice Into a is really privileged to be able to say we can a survivor, this was obviously deeply life,” the man says. “They had DNA Violence-free Environment, was not ignore that relationship.” Coffeehouse plans first public party SAMMI JOHNSON a way to celebrate the legacy of the KOCs SENIOR WRITER that have come before us, the work we have put in and the future of Chaüs.” In celebration of Rice Coffeehouse’s Quan said one of the managers is 30th anniversary, the managers are coordinating with Willy’s Pub to host a planning a public party to occur either joint trivia night Wednesday, Dec. 4, and Dec. 6 or 7. The party will take place Coffeehouse will have games with prizes to within the Rice Memorial Center, and the win throughout the day in-house Thursday, week leading up to the public will feature Dec. 5. Willy’s Pub said they are not aware multiple events to commemorate the of this event at this time. On Friday, Quan business’s birthday, according to General said that Coffeehouse is planning a public Manager Mandy Quan. education event on the coffee preparation According to Quan, a Will Rice College process, from its cultivation to its purchase senior, the weeklong celebration will begin by a consumer. Illustration by Chloe Xu Dec. 2 for the current Keepers Of Coffee “We really value knowing where our and alumni with a small, exclusive event. products come from and being ethically due to the small maximum capacity of sometimes,” Quan said. “We’ve spoken to Then the celebration will open up to all sourced,” Quan said. “We want to put on the space. For the party, Quan said they the student-run business advisors and the customers on the official 30th birthday of an event on what the art and soul of what want to bring in kegs of non-alcoholic Student Center Office, and as long as we’re the business, Dec. 3, with birthday cake coffee farming is, from farm to table to the nitro cold brew coffee from Katz Coffee under regulation and have everything set and affogato for visitors. hands of baristas and roasters.” and possibly include a coffee garden up legally and logistically, I think we are “Coffeehouse turning 30 is a big deal for According to Quan, Coffeehouse is instead of a beer garden. really excited to have a fun and safe public. a student-run business,” Quan said. “We arranging to hold the public somewhere “Most of our events are non-alcoholic, We always joke we are the best college, so are the oldest [SRB] at Rice, and I think it’s other than the cafe in the Student Center but 30th birthdays are driven by alcohol it’s time to throw a public party.” NEWS WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2019 • 3 Students, faculty discuss pass/fail

TALHA ARIF difficult classes,” Rutherford said. Complete a B.S./B.A. and M.S.back-to-back in 5 years FOR THE THRESHER “Because certain companies and jobs have specific cutoffs (you have to have The Faculty Senate working group that at least a 3.5 GPA to apply, for example), is investigating the use of pass/fail at Rice if I’m applying for a company like that, Apply to one of Rice’s Science Master’s programs sent out a survey two weeks ago to all my goal will be to apply with whatever students to gather their perspectives on it takes.” the policy and the various ways in which Ohifeme Longe, a Jones College junior during your junior year students are using it. majoring in electrical engineering, According to Scott Solomon, the chair said that he believes allowing major of the pass/fail working group, the goal requirements to be taken as a pass/fail is of the working group is not to eliminate more beneficial than harmful. the pass/fail option but to gather relevant “Certain major courses that are information from students and faculty required aren’t necessarily entirely well- 1-year program Corporate to recommend alterations of the existing organized courses,” Longe said. “Some policy to better suit the purpose it was students may generally not do well in that for Rice internship created for. class as a result — in that case, pass/fail While students received the survey really comes into play. It’s not because undergrads two weeks ago, Rice faculty members students want to do less work in the class, received a similar survey at the end of but just because they know that even with August. Solomon said that the reason the amount of work they’re doing they that the student survey was sent out may not get a good grade in that class.” later than the faculty survey was to get Shami Mosley, a peer academic adviser more student responses. and a Jones senior, said he thinks that Along with the survey, the working students’ majors have an effect on the use Corporate group is gathering student opinions of a pass/fail . through focus groups to better “As a humanities major, I believe that, Integration of advisory board understand the use of the pass/fail yes, humanities majors tend to have more option. The focus group discussions time in their schedules to take classes science education were divided into natural sciences and that don’t relate to their major or even the engineering majors and minors, and all humanities,” Mosley said. “While for other with business other majors and minors. schools, especially engineering, you have less courses you can take that are outside practices your major, outside engineering, and also SUBSURFACE count as distribution. This means that it is more likely for an engineering student Management and One of the intended to use a pass/fail on a distribution than GEOSCIENCE uses of pass/fail was students in other schools, especially in entrepreneurship the humanities.” for students to take In the survey to all students, multiple courses outside their questions ask about this use of pass/fail comfort zone without for major requirements. Solomon said having to sacrifice their that a potential change of this aspect Advanced science of the policy would be to allow the “P” GPA. to remain on the transcript rather than and engineering SPACE Sanat Mehta having it taken off in the final degree Networking MCMURTRY COLLEGE JUNIOR audit. courses STUDIES According to Sanat Mehta, the Student IMPACTS ON UNIVERSITY REPUTATION opportunities Association representative of the pass/ According to Solomon, there is some fail working group, the focus groups were concern from faculty, students and the divided as such because the working administration that if the issue of using group believes the two categories of pass/fail on major requirements during students use pass/fail differently. application periods is prevalent for a “One of the intended uses of pass/fail long enough period of time, it could have was for students to take courses outside negative consequences for students and their comfort zone without having to for Rice’s overall reputation. sacrifice their GPA,” Mehta, a McMurtry According to Stephen Zeff, a faculty Communication Solid College junior, said. “Obviously, what member of the pass/fail working group ENVIRONMENTAL your comfort zone is varies depending from the Jones Graduate School of and leadership employment on whether you’re STEM or not. For Business, certain policies that may ANALYSIS STEM students, D1 and D2 courses contribute to grade inflation can adversely enrichment record are generally outside their comfort affect Rice students. zone, whereas if a student is majoring “Certain graduate schools, when they in humanities or social sciences, look at undergraduate transcripts, have something like COMP 140 would likely an image of how much grade inflation be outside their comfort zone.” there really is at certain universities,” Zeff said. “I’ve seen universities bumped MISUSE OF PASS/FAIL up or knocked down depending on their Part of the reason the pass/fail system reputation as easy or tough graders. We at Rice was created, according to Solomon, don’t want to do anything that causes Rice was to encourage students to take courses GPAs to not be taken at full face value.” outside their major or that might be a bit Another related question, given on BIOSCIENCE & of a stretch for them without as much both the faculty and student survey, concern for the grade they get. asked whether the pass/fail option HEALTH POLICY However, Solomon said that a potential should be given back to students if the area of concern is the use of pass/fail on “P” is uncovered and is converted to a major requirements during critical times letter grade. such as applications to graduate schools. Solomon said that this feature of pass/ According to Office of Academic fail as a whole, when compared to several Advising policy, students cannot pass/fail other universities, is an unusual feature, courses used to meet major requirements, and that getting the pass back after but if a major requirement is pass/failed uncovering it is also very uncommon and the OAA will automatically replace the possibly unique. “Pass” with the letter grade during “If a course is designated pass/fail, the final degree audit. Because of this, and there are only four [pass/fails] that students can “temporarily” pass/fail you can use, the idea that uncovering profms.rice.edu major requirements. the grade then returns one of those pass/ Wills Rutherford, a Will Rice College fails back into your bank of pass/fails sophomore majoring in mechanical seems to be an aspect of our system that engineering, said that the whole purpose is unusual, and might not be ideal for of pass/fail is commonly misused among accomplishing the goals of what the pass/ engineering students. fail system seems to be intended to do,” “Most engineers pass/fail the same Solomon said. 4 • WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2019 NEWS

drivers were wary of the two pulled-over cars on the side of Stockton Drive, a quiet residential street. As a result, the victim, who left her phone in the stolen car, wasn’t able to file a report until the officer who was physically notified brought her to the RUPD station at 3:50 p.m., according to Smith. In similar past incidents – none on Rice campus – perpetrators of auto theft have instigated minor accidents to lure unsuspecting drivers out of their vehicles before either robbing the driver or stealing the vehicle, according to Rodriguez, who added that these stolen cars are either stripped for their parts or used for other purposes and dumped. In this instance, channing wang / THRESHER HPD was unable to determine the use of The auto theft occurred at the intersection of Stockton Drive and University Boulevard, following an accident on University Boulevard. The RUPD police the vehicle, just that it had been left shortly station is located at this intersection as well. after the incident.

STAYING SAFE To safeguard against auto theft, Auto theft occurs near campus Rodriguez suggests remaining in the vehicle after a light accident until an officer arrives. BRIAN LIN while the other two suspects fled in their theft occurred,” Rodriguez said. “If someone is ever involved in an THRESHER STAFF silver sedan, speeding westbound toward accident and they don’t feel comfortable, Rice Village, according to RUPD Captain THE AFTERMATH they should call for a police officer to come In an auto theft near campus on Oct. Clemente Rodriguez. As the HPD officers were driving the to the scene and they can let the other 22 that did not involve any Rice students, “She wasn’t harmed in the incident. victim home, they learned that the vehicle person know ‘I’m calling for an officer to a woman was robbed of her car after a It was just a crime of opportunity by her had been recovered on 7300 Tours St., come to scene,’” Rodriguez said. “If they minor accident on a section of University getting out of the vehicle and the vehicle 10.4 miles from the scene of the crime and do feel like it was a legitimate accident and Boulevard near the Rice University Police being on, the passenger was able to just approximately 24 minutes away, according they’re going to get out of the vehicle they Department building. jump in and take it,” Rodriguez said. to HPD spokesman Kese Smith, who said should always keep their keys with them In an event that Rodriguez imagines he suspects that the vehicle was driven [and] secure their vehicles.” THE INCIDENT would have lasted less than a minute, the for a short time and then abandoned. As the incident occurred near Entrance At 3:30 p.m. last Tuesday, a driver was victim became stranded on Stockton Drive Smith said the perpetrators could not 8 of the Rice campus, Rodriguez hopes to heading west on University Boulevard until a passerby picked her up and flagged be apprehended, and warned that the install security cameras adjacent to campus when her black Subaru Forester was struck down an RUPD officer, who brought her suspects remain at large. entrances, a measure he explains would from behind by an unidentified silver to the RUPD station. Since the incident “We met her at RUPD, took her statement help future investigations. sedan, causing her to steer onto Stockton occurred on a city street, Rodriguez said, and then we were driving her to her home, “If we can get that done in the future Drive to assess the damage, according to an Houston Police Department officers were as a courtesy ride, when we learned that that will be another tool we can use to RUPD mass email. dispatched to take the victim’s statement her vehicle had been recovered, so [a] possibly investigate when these things As she stepped out to examine the and draft an official police report. relatively short period of time,” Smith said. happen ... and we can share [it] with the rear of her car, one passenger from the “It wasn’t a Rice student or anybody “Unfortunately, the three suspects remain HPD,” Rodriguez said. “If we see some folks silver sedan rushed into her Forester who’s affiliated with Rice. They were just at large.” that are pulled over or even if it’s a minor and took off southbound down Stockton, passing the campus when the accident and Rodriguez suspects that relatively few accident, [we can] check on them.”

LEADERSHIP FROM PAGE 1 President Louis Cole. Brown was the first to pass such legislation. Other colleges are in the process of Brown President Frances Williamson said implementing changes to their bylaws. In Brown created a working group last year to addition to Wiess, Jones College is currently write the bylaw, and this group worked with in the process of introducing amendments SJP and the Title IX office during the drafting to its constitution but has not passed any process. legislation yet, according to Jones President According to Williamson, Brown’s bylaw Kyle Bartsch, and Will Rice College introduced passed Sept. 24 at the biweekly cabinet meeting. an amendment last Wednesday, according to “We were happy to work with Brown as Diet minutes. they drafted accurate and thoughtful language Mabe said the changes arose out of a regarding student leadership eligibility,” Emily wider campus conversation about having Garza, director of SJP, said. “If other colleges are perpetrators of sexual assault in leadership considering adopting similar bylaws, I would positions. encourage them to reach out to our office to “We started looking into this change at ensure that their actions are consistent with the the behest of students who were vocal about Code of Student Conduct and any other policies barring students from running for office that might speak to this issue.” who were found in violation of Rice’s sexual Wiess College President Tim Thomas II said misconduct policy,” Mabe said. that the legislation was introduced at their Because students on disciplinary probation cabinet meeting two weeks ago, following are already barred from running for positions, Brown’s development of the legislation. these new bylaws do not change SJP’s process. “We have a part of [our] constitution that The Code of Student Conduct states that says students aren’t allowed to be on probation, students may not run for or hold positions in but nothing in the bylaws that says this gets university organizations while on disciplinary verified by SJP, which is what will be added,” probation. According to Garza, this stipulation Thomas, a junior, said. has always been enforced directly with students Mabe said that all colleges are working to on disciplinary probation. When a student is implement a form of this bylaw, if the college put on probation, they are required to resign has not already. from leadership positions, according to Garza. Hanszen passed this bylaw in September, “We often have various staff members from according to Mabe. Amendments to Hanszen’s different departments on campus contact our election code require a three-fourths vote of the office and ask if a particular student would cabinet or three-fourths vote of the college if be eligible to hold a certain position in an half of the students participate. organization that is affiliated with that office Duncan College and Lovett passed [or department],” Garza said. “If the student amendments last week implementing similar is on disciplinary probation, then our answer procedures, according to Lovett President to that staff member would be that the student Chloe Oani and legislation provided by Duncan is ineligible.” INFOGRAPHIC BY Dan helmeci

Dynamic and Energetic Teachers wanted. Pay rate is $24 to $38 per hour. We provide all training. Email your resume to [email protected] 5 • WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2019 THE RICE THRESHER OPINION STAFF EDITORIAL TAKE PRIDE IN HOUSTON read more online: With the Astros having been on the Houston’s overall infrastructure leaves much national stage for the World Series, hopefully to be desired. As you’ve been introduced to you’re feeling some Houston pride. When the city, you have likely heard warnings to “Who told you about Africa?” Beyoncé or Travis Scott top the charts, it’s avoid the Third Ward and other ‘dangerous’ fun to take their shoutouts to H-Town a little areas. But before you pass judgment on personally. Spending four years in a city like an area that looks less infrastructurally “It always breaks my heart that most of what people Houston is the perfect opportunity to explore developed, consider how city-wide know about my home is the sorrow, poverty, instability a city that we may never have the chance to gentrification and long-standing income and other things of the sort. It is true that Africa has its live in again — it’s time to use the METRO equalities are disenfranchising its residents own problems, but the progress that is constantly being system and actually get out of the hedges to and preventing progress. Becoming engaged made should also be given a spotlight. It is the understand what Houston has to offer. involves understanding the workings of combination of Africa’s problems and Around campus, we’ve overheard people such a large city. Rather than adopting a progress that makes its whole story.” use negative rhetoric when referring to the privileged vernacular of bemoaning crime Houston METRO system, calling it sketchy or rates and labeling poor communities as dangerous. But the METRO system actually “dangerous,” think about why this rhetoric reflects one of Houston’s greatest assets — is perpetuated by local law enforcement in GRACE ISHIMWE its accessibility. Rather than paying for an the first place. Consider for a moment that WIESS COLLEGE FRESHMAN Uber or finding someone to carpool with, crime rates do not only emerge from the level the METRO system allows Rice students to of crime in a particular area, but also by the explore the city, essentially for free. level of policing which may be influenced by The METRO is also an excellent resource stereotypical notions regarding drug use and to explore one of the main things Houston inherent violence of communities of color. is known for: its food scene. Just last year, The widespread generalization of “A no-nonsense narrative on Kashmir” GQ wrote that “Houston may, sneakily, Houston as a sprawling, crime-ridden be America’s best food city.” Venture dystopia is an inaccurate and destructive beyond the Chipotle in the Medical Center, rhetoric that disregards the city’s dynamic “With a protesting body that diverse, it is a gross and even further, beyond the convenient range of cultures and lifestyles and misrepresentation to represent the protest as focusing options in Rice Village. You can find perpetuates social inequality that degrades solely on the abrogation of Article 370, the subject of the Mexican, Vietnamese, Ethiopian and Greek and alienates its residents. If you’ve been opinion piece “Call for a balanced narrative on Kashmir.” establishments — to name a few — all within fed this one-dimensional narrative, make Houston’s city limits. an effort to recognize the city’s complexity. DAANISH SHEIKH Before venturing outside of the hedges, Yesterday, we hope you cheered for the BROWN COLLEGE FRESHMAN it is critical that we shake off stereotypes Astros. Today and every other day, check of the city we all now live in. Although the your biases at the hedges and learn to love METRO is a great resource, it’s fair to say that your new home — it’s a place like none else.

Corrections want to write your own opinion? we take submissions through email at [email protected]! The Rice Investment story in last week’s News section contained an incorrect graph. The correct graph is online. Alex Dunbar, who was featured in last week’s Senior Spotlight, is majoring in mathematics and computational and applied mathmatics, not chemistry.

OPINION I am not a monster After a psychotic episode, I was deferred from Rice for a year. During Orientation Week my freshman due to my schizophrenia, I was deferred wrong. Millions of people with schizophrenia leaves students with schizophrenia to further year at Rice, I suffered a psychotic for a year from Rice University. like me suffer in silence, for we fear the stigma live their life in silence for fear of punishment. episode due to schizophrenia. I said Am I a monster to you? around it. We are scared to be shunned. We Am I still a monster to you? what the voices were telling me and Never during those times did it feel are scared to be called monsters. And it is no Despite being forced into a decision I was ended up saying inappropriate things. I like the administration heard me. Barely different at Rice, despite its “Culture of Care.” not willing to make, I still have a voice and I was escorted by a Rice University Police was my opinion considered throughout want to be heard. What the administrators did Department vehicle to the emergency the process. In a letter sent to me by Dean to me has not helped me and other students room, where I was then locked up in the of Undergraduates Bridget Gorman, she with schizophrenia. Instead, it leaves us psychiatric ward for six days. In those wrote that I made the decision to leave But one day, even suffering under the social stigma against our six days, I got better. My mental health Rice, but I never made that decision. mental illness. But one day, even through improved, and I stopped hallucinating. Instead, I felt forced into that decision. The through all this chaos, all this chaos, change will occur. Call me I thought that would be the end of it. administration assumed what they were change will occur. Call delusional, but I believe that the stigma will I would be released from the hospital doing was for the best and uprooted me me delusional, but I be- not last forever. Whether it will be one year and I would resume my studies at Rice. from the future and threw me into the past. from now or many years, Rice administrators Hopefully, I could use what I learned to I was left in pain and without a voice. lieve that the stigma will will have to let go of their stigma and give someday find better therapies for mental Is it because I’m a monster to you? not last forever. students with schizophrenia voices again. illnesses. But I was wrong. Because of the According to the National Alliance on And I can promise you I will be back for that. things I said during my psychotic episode Mental Illness, approximately 1.5 million By ousting a student with schizophrenia for Because I am human. and the way my case was handled, it felt Americans suffer from schizophrenia. You having a psychotic episode, I feel that the Editor’s Note: The author of this opinion as if the administration deemed me a would think that a common disorder like this Rice administration has promoted the stigma was granted anonymity to protect their identity. threat to the Rice community. Ultimately, would be understood and cared for. But you’re against people with schizophrenia. This All claims are fact-checked in advance. STAFF Christina Tan* Editor-in-Chief OPINIONS DESIGN Anna Ta* Managing Editor Elizabeth Hergert* Editor Tina Liu* Director The Rice Thresher, the official First copy is free. Each additional Dalia Gulca A&E Designer student newspaper at Rice copy is $5. 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Priyansh Lunia Video Editor Madison Buzzard* Editor Dylan Morgan Office Manager to place letters on its website. © Copyright 2019 Eric Barber Asst. Editor *Editorial Board member 6 • WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2019 THE RICE THRESHER FEATURES FROM PAGE 1 already very comfortable inside the queer grew up in Dallas and loves Texas’ the president of Rice Pride, they find joy COMMUNITY community [and] my identity was already unique flair. in working on programming, advocacy very connected to it … So I was kind of scared “I used to have a problem with feeling initiatives and forging strong friendships in NB Shaper, a Baker College junior and [about Texas] because I liked diversity and it a connection with Texas because I didn’t the community. native Houstonian, is another fervent is how I can accept me … [But] my first week really see myself represented,” Stoner said. While they are enthusiastic about admirer of Peck and also attended his here was like, whoa, actually, I think I’m in “When you think of Texans, you probably Houston's identity and a country culture Houston concert. They are particularly drawn the best place I could be.” think of conservative White cowboys with that encourages them to wear their pink to Peck’s storytelling and evocative aesthetic guns. Now I realize that there are strong cowboy hat and embrace the eccentricity of defined by his antihero persona and a fringed NAVIGATING THE TEXAS IDENTITY Mexican roots in anything Texan … It is an rodeos, Ev says they understand that Texas mask he is never caught without. Even as she gets excited about artists important part of my identity which I am can be a scary place for queer students and “Peck talks about his performances like Patsy Cline, Dolly Parton and the Dixie proud of now, knowing I can be Mexican, students of color. being an extension of drag, and I find that Chicks, Bradford acknowledges that her love Texan and queer and all of these identities “Honestly, I’ve felt more unsafe [in Texas] a very compelling concept,” Shaper said. for Texas and country music is complicated can coexist.” as a Black person than a queer person, but “He talks about the contradiction between by some of the state’s outmoded values. Although Stoner used to reject more there are always resources for safety for men standing up and singing, and being “We’re a very conservative state and do not “traditional” country music, the emergence every marginalized community,” Ev said. these manly masculine men, but in have a lot of civil rights protections that other of queer content in the genre has provided “There are Black queer communities in rhinestone outfits.” states like California or Washington maybe a space to further explore her identity. Rice, Houston and Texas that are designed Shaper sees fewer degrees of separation do,” Bradford said. “I like the country identity “Hearing Brandi Carlile sing about to accept and uplift Black queer people in a between the cowboys in country music and a lot, but a lot of what it represents to people loving women on such a classic country state that may at times be daunting.” queer people than one might expect. is conservatism, and I don’t like that. I like the song was incredibly healing in a way Ev also shared words of advice for “So many of the ideals and the songs are new era that’s happening of younger leftist that I could finally fill that gap and own queer students, especially those of color, about the individual, the lone rider. And I also people who are into country things.” that identity,” Stoner said, referring to "If in Texas: “Be cautious, but try not to be think that is a narrative that speaks a lot to As Gonçalves settles in at Rice, she She Ever Leaves Me" by the Highwomen. consumed by fear. Learn your resources as the queer experience because [being queer] is said she is beginning to explore the “[Queer content] is something so well as possible. Engage with social media not inherited,” Shaper said. “There is a point connections between the Texas identity rebellious in a music genre that’s typically in the queer community.” in time in which every queer person feels and her own experiences. pretty conservative, which feels like such Shaper, too, urges queer students to alone in their identity, which sucks and will “In certain ways, it’s very similar to my a strong statement.” connect with their communities. hopefully change. But at the moment it’s an culture in Brazil. Because we have country “I would really encourage people incredibly uniting experience.” music, the style is kind of similar, as well as FINDING COMMUNITY to ask for help. I think that the only For Luna Gonçalves, a Jones College different of course,” Gonçalves said. “But Editor’s Note: Ev was granted partial requirement that you need to ask for help sophomore, being out in Texas and at Rice is when you focus on the differences, you see anonymity because they are not fully out is to want help.” a new experience. An international student what’s very different and then that’s what to their community. For Bradford, the door is always open for from Goiânia, Brazil, Gonçalves publically I focused on before. Maybe now I’ll see the Ev, a Brown College junior, grew fellow country-loving community members. came out as a transgender lesbian this past nuances a little bit better.” up in southwest Louisiana. In high “If you’re a country gay and you want move-in day. Christina Stoner, a Martel College junior, school, they used to dream of going to to be friends, just talk to me, I’ll be friends “When I came to Texas, I didn’t identify also expresses hope for a new generation of college and finding safe queer spaces with you,” Bradford said. “I always want as LGBTQ+ yet,” Gonçalves said. “But I was Texans that is more open-minded. Stoner and community. Now that they are more country gay friends.” PUMPED UP KINS Crossword by Sam Rossum Thresher Staff

1 ACROSS 2) Water near Watergate 6) Hightail it

7) Org. with a style guide 9) “Take a Walk” indie band 12) Will Shortz’s paper, for short 2 3 4 5 13) Descriptor for high waisted jeans 14) “Toro y__” 16) Otherworldly glow 6 7 8 18) Oft riduculed comic? 19) Typical pumpkin beverages 23) One assembling a jury of piers? 9 10 11 24) Syrup used in many cocktails

DOWN 12 13 14 15 1) The sound of two ghosts, perhaps? 2) Pumpkin pies e.g. 3) Yoga Class chants

16 17 18 4) Band aid? 5) Concern for Thunberg 6) Easy two-pointers 19 20 21 22 8) One observing Yom Kippur 9) Prestigious scientific journal 10) Innertube water polo is one (abbr.) 23 11) Loc. for Breaking Bad 15) Orbiting lab (abbr.) 17) Antioxidant rich berry 18) Eye ailment

24 20) Freddy Krueger’s street 21) Swimming unit 22) Tool for a carpenter

Answers will be posted on ricethresher.org and on the Thresher Facebook page. Bolded clues and colored squares correspond to the theme. FEATURES WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2019 • 7 Students reflect on political atmosphere at Rice KELLY LIAO FOR THE THRESHER

This fall has been marked by a series of political events for Rice students, ranging from the climate action strike to the protests against Baylor’s anti-LGBTQ+ policies in the halftime show. Many of the recent political events at Rice have been varied, reflecting the general political climate at Rice. Connor Rothschild, the vice president for student engagement for the Baker Institute Student Forum, said he believes Rice is predominantly liberal with a small yet present group of conservatives. Alissa Kono, the event committee chair of the Rice Young Democrats, is active in the political scene on campus and said she has been engaged with politics since high school. “I’ve been in Young Democrats club in high school and through that I participated in lots of local-level events with the Democratic Party,” Kono, a Wiess College sophomore, said. After coming to Rice, she said one of her most memorable experiences with politics was the protests against Vice President Mike Pence during his visit to the James A. Baker III Institute for Public Policy in April 2019. “I was excited to see so many people illustration by yifei zhang united over one issue … because we talk beliefs, and some of her classmates help create an inclusive environment on beliefs by hosting panel discussions with about how Rice is a blue campus all the reacted to her beliefs as well. campus. experts of different political affiliations and time, but it only matters when people “Sometimes my conservative “My hope is that Rice Young Democrats semi-annual debates between the Young actually come to these events and show perspectives may come out from my can become a stronger and larger coalition Democrats and the College Republicans. that they care,” Kono said. questions asked in class,” Bates said. of students that is representative of the “College is a time in which many “[After that] I wasn’t invited to the crawls diverse student body and their views on students change and grow in many ways and I wasn’t invited to any group project.” campus,” Kono said. — including politically — and I think one Bates said her unpleasant experiences For Rothschild, the role of BISF is to goal of BISF is to ensure that political were not limited to the classrooms. provide a space for people of all partisan expression is open enough that that growth Everyone at Rice has “When people [find] out that I’m stripes to talk openly about their political can occur,” Rothschild said. principles and knows literally moderately conservative, they treat me like a radical crazy person that what they believe has an is [undeserving] of their friendship,” impact, so they are more Bates said. “There [was] one time confident to express their somebody literally pushed me on the political ideas. ground, calling me a racist, [saying] that I deserved to die.” Sophia De Leon-Wilson Qingge Chen, a Brown College BAKER COLLEGE FRESHMAN freshman from China, expressed his nonchalance to political events at Rice. Even though he mentioned he had heard Sophia De Leon-Wilson, a Baker about some ongoing political issues College freshman, said she feels that such as climate change strikes and Rice’s political atmosphere is more active LGBTQ+ protests, he said he was not very than the one at her high school. While motivated to get involved with them. describing her high school classmates “Politics does not mean much to me at as apolitical, she said she appreciates Rice. I think this is because I am not an how Rice students are passionate about American citizen and I do not know much politics. about American politics,” Chen said. “Everyone at Rice has principles and When asked about what they hope knows what they believe has an impact, to change, the students shared similar so they are more confident to express their opinions that open communication political ideas,” De Leon-Wilson said. should be encouraged across campus. However, political involvement does Bates said that Rice students tend to not always bring pleasant memories to have misconceptions about the role of the students on campus. Morgan Bates, a Rice University College Republicans. Wiess College sophomore, addressed her “Our role is essentially to educate frustration with people’s reactions to her people about conservative beliefs and Republican beliefs on campus. help bridge the gap between super far- “I would never tell people I am left people and moderate conservatives,” [Republican] at Rice because oftentimes I Bates said. am not able to without being prematurely Noticing that many students voice judged,” Bates said. their opinions on social media about According to Bates, one of her important issues but fail to get involved professors stopped calling on her in class in political action, Kono spoke about because of her conservative political her wish for Rice Young Democrats to read more online:

"In the Rice spirit, colleges go beyond — sometimes with traditions that would seem strange anywhere outside of the hedges. While a few traditions are shared across campus, others stand out as trade- mark features of their respective colleges." From " Ambushes and serenades: birthdays at the residential colleges" by Nicole Lhuillier, For the Thresher on ricethresher.org. 8 • WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2019 THE RICE THRESHER

Black Food Truck Festival Houston’s Black-owned food trucks make mouthwatering return to 3rd annual festival ARTS&ENTERTAINMENT See more at ricethresher.org Macario and Chrissie Ramirez. According to their website, Casa Ramirez “promotes and celebrates the rich and vibrant Latino culture, especially that of Mexico, Texas and the Southwest, through related exhibits and shows on Latino cultural traditions and the sale of its art, folkart and crafts.” According to Chrissie Ramirez, every year the shop offers lessons on how to build altars, hosts a community Día de los Muertos Procession and showcases community altars in honor of the holiday. Altars, or ofrendas, are an integral aspect of Día de los Muertos and a longstanding tradition for many Latinx families who wish to honor those who have passed. In addition to adorning altars with flowers and candles, those honoring the dead will also place their deceased loved one’s favorite foods and commemorative tokens from their life such as cigarettes, jewelry, silverware and numerous other mementos. One of the community altars showcased this year was made by Judy Turner, a local resident. Turner said her altar was inspired by current events affecting women and said she wanted to pay tribute to friends and family with her altar. She shared with me that she has been building community ILLUSTRATION BY CHLOE XU altars at Casa Ramirez for many years; she began doing so after taking a Día de los Muertos altar-building workshop given by the owners. After that experience, she DANCING WITH THE DEAD: went to Mexico, where she had a touching experience with a man who was cleaning the grave of his eight-year-old sister who had Dia de los Muertos Procession at Casa Ramirez passed after being hit while riding a bicycle. the sun, because the birds fly closest to the a moment for people to reconnect to the Turner recounted to me how impactful the ARIANA ENGLES sun,” said Javier Herrera, one of the Danza indigenous roots of the holiday. practice is to her and how it paralleled her THRESHER STAFF Azteca Taxacyolotl dancers. “The fringe “It’s a mixture of the indigenous and the own family’s tradition of decorating their is representative of the wind, because Spanish, and that’s what’s beautiful about family plot for Memorial Day. Across from Latinx folk art gallery Casa the wind blows and moves the fringe. it,” Herrera said. “Even through all the pain The Día de los Muertos procession at Ramirez, a large group of around 100 people The chachayotes, the rainmakers, are and suffering that colonization brought, we Casa Ramirez shows a few things; first, this gathered around on the evening of Saturday, representative of the rain because it makes are still able to transform that negative energy shop is truly a cornerstone of the Hispanic Oct. 26 to watch Danza Azteca Taxacyolotl, that sound, and then the outfits, [are] made into something positive.” community in the Heights. It is also a living a Houston Aztec-dance group. The smell of of cotton or leather, so that’s representative According to local resident Jay Francis, testament to how open and inviting the copal, an incense made of tree resin traditional of the earth.” Casa Ramirez has been hosting Día de los shop’s proprietors have been in sharing their to pre-Colombian Mesoamerica, was thick in Herrera explained that the dance his Muertos events for almost thirty years, and culture with Houstonians. At this procession, the air. Families lined up holding crosses with group performed originated near Mexico City. he’s been going to them for almost as long. anyone can interact with ancient traditions pictures of their loved ones at the center, and When the Spanish came, indigenous families While Francis is not Hispanic himself, he alongside new ones. Everything is a mezcla, the crowd followed the Aztec dancers and the hid the dance and practiced it only among said that when his family immigrated to the or a mixture. beat of their drum down the street towards themselves to avoid persecution. Eventually, U.S. from Poland, close family friends also left What I found most touching was Casa Ramirez for the gallery’s annual Día de the Catholic church incorporated the dance their hometown to move to Mexico, and that witnessing grandmothers share with their los Muertos community procession. tradition into their religious festivals in family connection made the Mexican culture grandchildren the tradition of the altar As I watched, I was instantly transported Mexico, and the dance has been revived by a part of his personal development.“En mi and ofrendas, watching dancers carry on back hundreds of years, and it is easy to feel migrants to the U.S. who have reintegrated it corazón, soy Mexicano,” said Francis, which ancient indigenous traditions and everyone the ancient Aztec culture come alive. into their cultural tradition. means, “In my heart, I am Mexican.” being able to celebrate Día de los Muertos “The feathers [on our costumes] signify Herrera described the procession as The Latinx folk art gallery is owned by together, regardless of their background.

hiding behind the tarp walls. After all, His intense red laser eyes followed us as we nothing could be more terrifying than the disappeared behind a canvas. caffeinated frenzy of midterms. But when I “That wasn’t so bad,” I whispered to the arrived at the Haunted Hall that night, there others. As we trudged onwards, a masked was already a line of students that extended figure cloaked in a black robe jumped out as far as the building’s windows. The entire at one of the students in the front, pushing campus seemed to have gathered in the him up against the wall. The masked creature hall, eagerly anticipating their turn to walk scurried away before we could even fully through the house of horrors. register its presence. We shared a moment of As the line inched forward, my group stunned silence before breaking into a fit of and I were guided into a dark room where laughter. Laughing at the situation seemed to only the outline of a tent was seen. Terrified be the only way to keep our sanity. screams pierced through the undertones of The sound of giggling children filled conversation, prompting nervous laughter the room as we spilled into a nursery that from the crowd. When we finally reached looked like it had been stolen from a horror KATHERINE HUI / THRESHER the front of the line, a towering wooden movie set. I glanced in a crib to see a baby door loomed in front of us. We heard trailing surrounded by deranged dolls and grimaced. laughter and startled shrieks from just beyond “Is this what childhood is like?” one A Night of Chills and Thrills in the RPC Haunted Hall the door as someone ran into the wall. A of the girls jokingly asked. To be honest, it student volunteer swung open the door and probably was. RISHIKA CHIDANANDA Haunted Hall event as part of their Owls gestured for my group to enter. With nervous After we passed through a narrow corridor FOR THE THRESHER After Dark programming series. The Owls glances at each other, we stepped over the covered in fluorescent strings, we came to an After Dark program hosts a variety of events threshold and descended into darkness. unsettling scene of a butcher’s shop with Something dark and twisted appeared throughout the year ranging from live Almost immediately, we were greeted by a chainsaw mounted on the wall. While on campus last Friday. While students were entertainment to outdoor movies. a string of human skulls hanging from the marveling at the array of mutilated body hiding from the cold that unexpectedly “We’re aiming to enhance campus ceiling of the entrance. The skulls earned a parts, a clown jumped out at us. When no swept through the city, a large circus-like vibrancy and increase students’ sense of couple of laughs until we got closer and saw one screamed, he seemed intent on at least tent materialized in the Rice Memorial community by offering fun and engaging the blood streaks across the small skulls. I unsettling us by trailing our footsteps and Center Grand Hall. Unknown creatures activities throughout the school year,” said gingerly moved the infantile skulls away from crowding us in. I have to admit the clown’s were heard shuffling behind the tapered Ryan Morgado, assistant director of campus my face before following the others. persistence was rather admirable. sheets, murmuring in incomprehensible events, said. “Our overall hope is that When we turned the corner, a strobe light After escaping to the exit, we took a breath voices. When the clock struck 9 p.m., the students see these events as a way to hang suddenly began flashing, disorienting our of relief as the flashing lights and ominous Grand Hall door swung open and students out with friends and socialize late [at] night vision. While I was attempting to regain use sounds gave way to reality. The Haunted Hall crowded to catch a glimpse of the beings on campus.” of my eyes, a girl next to me cried out. She had certainly been worth the 30-minute wait. lurking in the tent. Having heard the buzz of the haunted was staring at a rather gruesome figure of an This piece has been shortened for print. To The Rice Student Center organized the house, I decided to drop by to see the horror old man whose legs had been chewed off. read the full story, visit ricethresher.org ARTS&ENTERTAINMENT WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2019 • 9

capture the range of style on the album. Out,” he contends, “They wanna lie and still The first single “10/10” leans into electronic be friends / But when you’re at your worst, instrumentals more heavily than any of the they’re not there.” other songs on “Pony.” But in doing so, However, the album truly hits its stride “10/10” fails to capitalize on Rex Orange towards the end with “Every Way,” a track County’s unique vocals, eclipsing the artist’s that blends a strong instrumental piano strength with overproduced, warbling track with an achingly sincere ode to autotune a la the early 2000s. someone who stood by him in his “darkest Despite this shortcoming, “10/10” acts as stage.” While the penultimate “It Gets an excellent opener, capturing the spirit of Better” narrates a fairly unoriginal love the album well. After a surprisingly quick story and is ultimately a forgettable track, rise to success, he writes that he’s been left it does pave the way for the optimism that feeling downtrodden by the weight of his defines the real showstopper of the album, own burgeoning fame but retains a sense of optimism and commitment to his craft, claiming that, “And though it’s still hard work to find the words / I’m still gonna write this fuckin’ song.” The singer does not The second single “Pluto Projector” necessarily provide a makes use of gorgeous, undistorted vocals unique take on any of the for a more emotionally moving song that captures the introspective nature of Rex introspective struggles Orange County who is “still a boy inside [his] the album tackles, but ... thoughts.” The singer does not necessarily he discusses them with provide a unique take on any of the earnest. introspective struggles the album tackles,

but in “Pluto Projector” and on “Pony” as a whole, he discusses them with earnest. “It’s Not The Same Anymore.” In it, Rex Throughout the course of the album, Orange County laments the changes in his he does not shy away from anything at his life and the passage of time amidst truly COURTESY SONY MUSIC disposal be it rap, autotune, acoustics or gorgeous acoustics. However, he turns the any combination of musical elements. In song around on itself: “It’s not the same “Never Had the Balls,” he makes use of a anymore / It’s better.” It is this message of Rex Orange County ‘Pony’ Review backing track of birds chirping, delighting hope that brings the album full circle. and surprising the listener while singing Although the individual songs are, for the MORGAN GAGE With “Pony,” indie pop artist Rex Orange of his fear of rejection. The song itself is most part, not particularly memorable and FOR THE THRESHER County makes his debut with a major label upbeat and feels like a dance track that borderline unoriginal, it is an album ideal for while sticking to his genre-defying roots. was hollowed out and filled with a sense a Spotify devotee. The variety in the album PONY The overall sound of the album is nigh of yearning as he tells us he “never had the lends itself well to repeated streaming and impossible to define as songs alternate balls” to risk admitting to his feelings. the range of tone makes it easy for the songs between crooning over gentle acoustics to To his benefit, the 21-year-old artist’s to wedge their way into several playlists. If Genre: Alternative / Indie rap to synth-pop. Despite this, each song songs appeal to younger listeners, tackling listeners are willing to embrace the sincerity Top Track: “It’s Not the Same in the album is connected by a common issues such as the struggle to find a place of Rex Orange County’s delivery, the album Anymore” thread in the utter genuinity in Rex Orange among genuine friends. In “Face to Face,” is worth a listen for its sheer inventiveness County’s delivery. he mourns the loss of genuine human and stylistic range alone. “Pony” was preceded by three singles contact in the age of FaceTime with a “Pony” is available for streaming on before its release on Oct. 25, none of which bittersweet love song that seems perfectly Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube music and are particularly memorable but ultimately fit for 2019. On the following track “Stressed Amazon music.

FROM PAGE 1 CORMAN TACKLES TRAUMA, ACTIVISM IN ART

“This stuff is happening right in our put names on the dead. faces and so if we’re not looking at “The best way to dehumanize people history, we will miss what is happening is to starve them, shave them and put right in front of us,” Corman said. “It them in a mass grave,” Corman said. “So feels ever more vital, but in a way that I wanted to give them their names back cannot be insular in our community. It and their faces at the very least.” has to be connected to broader human Corman emphasized the intense history and to the vast network of periods of research that go into the atrocities that people perpetrate on creation of her comics. She said that each other, and this is why I’m doing researching the impact of trauma was this work now. This is my activism now.” particularly interesting for her. “The more you look at it, the bigger it gets and the more vast the subject gets. The less neat and the more messy The older you get, the it gets,” Corman said. Trauma is not the only messy thing more opportunity you that Corman grapples with. In addition have to touch the rail of to teaching at the College of Fine Arts at your own power. What the University of Florida, she also holds can you bring into the comic art workshops all over the world in countries including Australia and world that has never Denmark. existed before? What can As a teacher, she prefers to focus on FUND YOUR INITIATIVE. the knotty bodily experience of making art. you channel? “What’s really important to me is Have an innovative and creative project that Leela Corman getting people comfortable with making will improve undergraduate life at Rice? CARTOONIST a mess, and the tactile, visceral, full body experience of drawing,” Corman said. Corman’s talk powerfully Fund that idea with the Dr. Bill Wilson An example of her storytelling about addressed the role of art in processing World War II is found in “Bearing Witness experiences of trauma and recognizing Student Initiative Grant. at Buchenwald,” an excerpt from the the interconnectedness of historical forthcoming “Victory Parade” that Corman oppression, and underscored the need shared with students on Thursday. for an integrated response to injustices Application information can be found at: In the comic, a Jewish American occurring right now. drbillgrant.rice.edu soldier’s dreams are haunted by the She motivated student-artists and horrors he witnessed while liberating student-writers to recognize the power the Buchenwald concentration camp. and responsibility that comes with their Application Deadline is The visceral and vibrant ghosts proclaim growing bodies of human experience. their names even as they are pulled “The older you get, the more Thursday, October 31, 2019 @ 11:59 p.m. back to the world of the dead, and tell opportunity you have to touch the rail of Arensberg, the soldier, to give their your own power,” Corman said. “What regards to his family. can you bring to the world that has never According to Corman, she wanted to existed before? What can you channel?” 10 • WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2019 THE RICE THRESHER SPORTS WOMEN’S BASKETBALL SEASON PREVIEW

MICHAEL BYRNES and Sydne Wiggins, a sophomore and junior are quickly learning the ropes. SPORTS EDITOR respectively, junior center Nancy Mulkey and “Having five freshmen join our team this last season’s record Ogwumike. Tina Langley returns for her fifth year has been unique … in the sense that we Last year, Rice women’s basketball had its season as Rice’s head coach after signing a have so many offenses to learn in such a small 28-4 most successful season in program history. five-year extension during the offseason. amount of time and [throw] at the freshmen,” The Owls won a program-record 28 games Last season, Ogwumike and Mulkey Mulkey said. “But the freshmen have done conference record (including 21 in a row) and posted a perfect headlined the Owls’ cast. Ogwumike became a great job with handling everything that 16-0 record in Conference USA play, the first the first player in program history to win Coach Langley has given them.” 16-0 team in conference history to do so. Rice also C-USA Player of the Year while also earning Ogwumike is the only senior on the roster achieved its first-ever top-25 ranking on its her second consecutive C-USA First Team this year. According to her, that experience way to its first NCAA Tournament appearance selection. Mulkey was last season’s C-USA increases her profile as a team leader. conference rank since 2005. This year, Rice will look to build Defensive Player of the Year and NCAA “I definitely am in a more defined upon its previous season’s success while Division I leader with 3.92 blocked shots per leadership role this year,” Ogwumike said. “I 1st integrating its newcomers to a young team. game. Prior to this season, Ogwumike was think it’s great though because it pushes me After losing their first-round matchup in a named the preseason C-USA Player of the every day because I can never just be thinking closely-fought battle to Marquette University Year and joined Mulkey as a member of the about myself … I think my job is to just inform ERICA OGWUMIKE last year, the Owls boast nine returners to the 2019-20 C-USA Preseason Team. so ultimately [I] can provide autonomy to senior guard/forward team, as well as five new faces. According to Ogwumike and Mulkey were Rice’s top those younger players and they can do the senior guard/forward Erica Ogwumike, Rice’s two scorers last year, averaging 16.5 and 13.9 same when [I graduate]. It’s a neat position to 16.5 takeaways from last year’s tournament game points per game respectively. But the top- be in this year.” points per game were positive, despite the loss. scoring returning Owl outside of those two “I think it was a great experience that was Wiggins, who averaged 6.9 points per SCHEDULE 10.5 allowed us to visualize what it looks like game last season. According to Ogwumike, Rice will start its season with a pair of rebounds per game when a team comes together for one collective integrating the newcomers on the team will home games, first facing off against Nicholls goal: making each other better and focusing be crucial to success this year. State University on Tuesday, Nov. 5 at 7 p.m. 1.6 on the process,” Ogwumike said. “I believe “We will certainly have to work and before taking on the University of Arkansas, steals per game that [after] having a majority of the team study more this year to combat what seems Little Rock on Saturday, Nov. 9 at 1 p.m. The experience that firsthand, we have an innate like a lack of experience,” Ogwumike said. Owls’ toughest test this season will likely motivation now to strive for excellence and to “I think focusing on being prepared … will be their Nov. 17 matchup against Texas uplift our teammates as we do it. I don’t think help fill those gaps. We definitely have to A&M University, who was ranked No. 9 in anything negative came out of the NCAA make an adamant effort to do that, but these ESPNW’s preseason top 25. NANCY MULKEY experience.” freshmen and returners are already doing Overall, Ogwumike said she anticipates junior center just that.” another season of strong performances for 13.9 Rice women’s basketball. RETURNING TEAM points per game Much of the team’s core this year remains NEW FACES “I’m just looking forward to competing the same as last year’s squad. Of the primary There are five freshmen on the Owls’ with my teammates and providing the 5.8 rotation last year, the Owls have lost starting roster this year. Guards Destiny Jackson wonderful Rice community with an rebounds per game forward Nicole Iademarco, sixth woman and and Katelyn Crosthwait supplement Rice’s exciting season,” Ogwumike said. “Rice is guard Lauren Grigsby and backup forward backcourt, while forwards India Bellamy, always such a powerhouse of an academic 3.9 Shani Rainey, all graduated seniors. But Lauren Schwartz and Ashlee Austin will institution so it is such an honor to be one blocks per game four of the five starters from last year have bolster the frontcourt rotation. According to small factor in getting Rice recognized in returned, including guards Jasmine Smith Mulkey, the freshmen have a lot to learn but women’s basketball as well.”

MEN’S BASKETBALL SEASON PREVIEW

last season’s record ERIC BARBER According to Martin, having a lot of STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES ASST SPORTS EDITOR experience on the roster will work to the While Pera declined to name a starting 13-19 team’s advantage. five for the season, Adams is the likely starter The men’s basketball season is almost “It’s honestly a new feeling,” Martin said. at the point guard position. He has started here, with the Owls’ season opener less than “I’ve never really had a returning team with every game in the last two years while being conference record a week away. Last season, Rice finished No. 11 this amount of guys throughout my four years among the Owls’ scoring and assist leaders. in Conference USA and finished 13-19 overall of college … It’s exciting and that’s part of Pera said Rice’s depth is a strength of the 8-10 and 8-10 in conference play. Both of those win the reason why our expectations are so high team this year. totals improved from the 2017-2018 season, because every single year we’ve had to start “There’s a few guys I think that I could conference rank where the Owls finished with seven wins new and rebuild something. This year we can say if we played tomorrow, would start, but I overall and four in C-USA. build off something that we started last year.” couldn’t name five of them right now,” Pera 11th Scott Pera returns for his third year Sophomore guard Trey Murphy III is said. “I think that’s a real good thing because as head coach of the Owls. Pera said that poised to be a key contributor as well. Last it shows our balance … There may not be a he hopes the team will continue to show season Murphy showed that he could score in set starting five every night. I think we have improvement this season. bunches through a stretch where he scored at seven, eight [or] nine guys that could maybe ROBERT MARTIN “We’ve had some peaks and valleys least 18 points per game over three games. be a starter and on different nights contribute senior forward and we’re working towards being more According to Murphy, he feels more as a leading scorer.” consistent,” Pera said. “That’s going to be a comfortable this season, now that he has a Rebounding is a potential issue for this 12.2 huge key.” season in college under his belt. year’s team. The departed duo of Williams points per game “The game slows down tremendously and Millora-Brown were the Owls’ top two RETURNING TEAM [with added experience],” Murphy said. “It rebounders last year and Rice will depend on 6.2 Rice experienced massive roster turnover just seems like the basketball IQ of this team freshmen for much of its height this season. rebounds per game over the past two years due to transfers and as well as like the younger guys is really graduating students. In both the 2017 and growing a lot.” SCHEDULE 42.6 2018 offseasons, six players transferred to In addition to their usual C-USA foes, Rice 3-point percentage other universities. The returning teams in NEW FACES will play a 14-game non-conference slate to those seasons were composed of almost half The Owls welcome five freshmen to the open up the season. The Owls open up the new players, making it difficult to replicate team this year: guards Quincy Olivari and season Nov. 5 in a road matchup against chemistry and experience. Reed Myers, as well as forwards Max Fielder, a Power Five conference opponent in the This season, however, Rice brings back Zach Crisler and Ben Moffat. University of Arkansas. AKO ADAMS all but four of its players from last season. According to Adams, the new Owls will Upon returning home, the Owls will face senior guard Graduate students Jack Williams and Dylan make an immediate impact. the University of Pennsylvania, Pera’s former 11.2 Jones ran out of eligibility, senior Oliver Xu “[Olivari’s] a sharpshooter; he’s letting team. While the team was picked to finish No. 13 in C-USA in the preseason coaches’ poll, points per game graduated and freshman Quentin Millora- [shots] go,” Adams said. “I think [all the Brown transferred to Vanderbilt University. freshmen are] gonna help.” Martin said that the team can have reasonably 2.6 Last season, the Owls finished fourth in Additionally, two transfers join the Owls high expectations for this season. assists per game C-USA in points per game. Last year’s top this year. Graduate student guard Tommy “A good goal for us would be to finish top three scorers, senior forward Robert Martin McCarthy comes in from Harvard University six in the conference,” Martin said. “I think 37.9 (12.2 points per game), sophomore guard and junior forward Malik Ondigo transferred it’s a realistic expectation. We have a lot of 3-point percentage Chris Mullins (12.0) and senior guard Ako from Texas Tech University. Ondigo will have returning guys with experience. Some older Adams (11.2), will look to remain productive to sit out a year due to NCAA transfer rules; guys, some young guys bringing new things in Pera’s up-tempo offense. McCarthy does not due to his graduation. to the table.” ADVERTISEMENT WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2019 • 11

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12 • WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2019 BACKPAGE

With DuncStep coming up on Friday, you may want to learn how to do the Texas Two- Step. But if you want to try a dance that hits even closer to home, the Rice Rumba might How to Rice Rumba be more up your alley. These are simple steps, some of which you may have practiced already, that will help you dance the night away — if you can really call 8 to 11 p.m. “night.” Here’s an easy diagram of the moves you can pull out at Duncan this Friday.

1. One step forward, two steps back. You’re very familiar with this move — it reminds you of just the other day when you finally did your laundry instead 2. Side step … your responsibilities. of studying for the midterm that you skipped a class Be honest with yourself: Your goal to prepare for. Or perhaps it evokes the way you awk- in going to DuncStep is because it’s 3. Walk away from the dance floor. wardly walk when you see someone in public but an early, dry event and you intend to Grab some food, get some air, don’t know them well enough go back to doing some work tonight. avoid checking your Canvas and to say hi. Go ahead and side step them a little email, end up checking both, try to more. Your deadlines aren’t until No- redirect your attention to “Take Me vember (even if Friday IS November)! Home, Country Roads.”

5. Nervously pace back and forth. This is your 4. Walk back to the dance floor. shot at true love, you’re sure of it. It’s perfect Let the country roads take you timing in the semester: Pumpkin grades have home. It’s the weekend, you deserve passed, so it’s okay if they’re a freshman; the a Texas-sized break. Is that cute temperature has been in the freezing territory person checking you out? of low 70s, so it’s cuffing season; your workload What do you do? is piling up and you’re convinced that the solution to your stress is fixing your loneliness to mask deeper feelings of lack of fulfillment; if it doesn’t work out, it’ll naturally fizzle out over Thanksgiving. But how do you 7. Ride the get their attention? mechanical bull. You’ve imagined riding 6. Walk toward the so many times mechanical bull. You don’t in your life. You want to talk to them, but you dream about want them to notice you. Your plan is it, you see it on foolproof: Impress them with your riding skills the internet, and get them to post a Rice Missed Encounter you hear about about you, a.k.a. “Unknown, Unknown, Generic it. You just have Description, Duncan (Riding the bull).” to mount the beast and take 8. Fall off the mechanical bull. control. You Ouch. At least you abide by the should be great golden rule, “no ass on glass,” in theory, even 9. Crawl away. A and manage to be thrown onto the if you don’t get crawl at Duncan? Is ground rather than into a window. to do it much that even allowed (or ever) in anymore? practice.

The Backpage is satire, written by Simona Mambo-vic and designed by Samba-na Matovic. For comments or questions, please email [email protected]. CLASSIFIEDS WANTED

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