VOLUME 109, ISSUE NO. 5 | STUDENT-RUN SINCE 1916 | RICETHRESHER.ORG | WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2024
Rice community prepares for early voting ABIGAIL CHIU
OWEN BUTTON / THRESHER On campus, Lovett College is known for its riot-proof brutalist architecture. It will permanently move into a new building by fall 2026, leaving the future of the “toaster” unclear.
Lovett to move into new building by fall 2026, adjacent to twelfth college
Rice ‘in the process’ of developing plans for thirteenth college RIYA MISRA
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Lovett College will permanently move into one of the two new residential college buildings, President Reggie DesRoches said in a Sept. 18 email to campus. The tocome buildings, initially intended to house new twelfth and thirteenth colleges, are projected to finish by fall 2026. Lovett will stand adjacent to the unnamed twelfth college, and there are currently no plans for the thirteenth. “We are in the process of developing a 10year capital plan that will include the addition of college No. 13 at a later date and after additional evaluations have been completed,” DesRoches wrote in his campus message. In an interview with the Thresher, Dean of Undergraduates Bridget Gorman
said Rice is “actively considering [usage] options” for Lovett’s existing building, upon relocation. Gorman then said this decision was triggered by “years of student advocacy” for upgraded facilities at Lovett. “From time to time, the institution has made a decision that, rather than trying to do a massive renovation … that we’re going to relocate,” Gorman said. “A huge factor that goes into there is considering the student experience and minimizing disruption in a college community, because our residential college is central to the experience of Rice. It’s a big reason why our students come here.” Some may be shocked by the announcement, Lovett President Andrew Kim wrote in a statement to the Thresher — but at the same time, many students “would likely call the move a long time coming.” Editor’s note: Andrew Kim is the Thresher’s Backpage editor.
A huge factor that goes into [the decision] is considering the student experience and minimizing disruption in a college community, because our residential college is central to the experience of Rice. It’s a big reason why our students come here. Bridget Gorman
DEAN OF UNDERGRADUATES SEE LOVETT MOVES PAGE 2
Rice ranks No. 18 in U.S. News RIYA MISRA & JAMES CANCELARICH rankings — marking its first time in the
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF & ASST. NEWS EDITOR list’s top 10 — was largely due to low Rice ranks No. 18 in the U.S. News and World Report’s 2025 national university rankings, tied with Vanderbilt University and the University of Notre Dame. Rice also placed No. 8, 9 and 29 in the Niche, Forbes and Wall Street Journal rankings, respectively. USNWR placed Rice No. 17 last year, and No. 15 in 2023. This year’s methodology no longer accounts for first-generation graduation rates and performance, instead weighing the outcomes of Pell Grant — federal financial aid — recipients more heavily. While Rice has been dipping in the USNWR rankings, every other ranking is higher than last year’s, in which Rice placed No. 9, 22 and 64 for Niche, Forbes and the WSJ. Rice’s 13-spot ascent in the Forbes
I definitely wanted a prestigious school, but I think that after a certain level they are all about the same, so it’s just what you’re looking for in terms of environment and community. Rachel Huber
HANSZEN COLLEGE SOPHOMORE
student debt for graduates, Forbes wrote. Meanwhile, the WSJ said Rice’s 35-spot rise is partially owed to its expanding operations research major. The WSJ hone their methodology,
which was brand-new last year. The 2025 rankings reflect how surveyed universities “develop character strengths that help students make a meaningful contribution to society,” the WSJ wrote, and fine-tuned its model for weighing graduation rates and salary. Hanszen College sophomore Rachel Huber said that while attending a prestigious school was important to her, the community at Rice drew her to the school. “I definitely wanted a prestigious school, but I think that after a certain level they are all about the same, so it’s just what you’re looking for in terms of environment and community,” Huber said. “It’s more than just a ranking in a list; it’s the community that we have here.” Huber also said that Rice has a strong academic profile, regardless of yearly changes in rankings.
SEE U.S. NEWS PAGE 2
FOR THE THRESHER Rice civic engagement groups are providing resources for students to understand the voting process, register to vote and early vote as the 2024 presidential election approaches.
SEE VOTING PAGE 3
voting timeline Oct. 7, 2024 Last day to register to vote Oct. 21, 2024 First day of early voting by personal appearance Rice will provide shuttles to early voting locations Oct. 25, 2024 Last day to apply for ballot by mail Nov. 1, 2024 Last day of early voting by personal appearance Nov. 5, 2024 Election day No classes, students can vote in-person at the Welcome Center Last day to receive ballot by mail ALICE SUN / THRESHER Election dates and descriptions from the Texas Secretary of State website.