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.