VOLUME 110, ISSUE NO. 05 | STUDENT-RUN SINCE 1916 | RICETHRESHER.ORG | WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2025
Soccer ranked 25th in nation after two wins Team’s first top 25 ranking since 2021 PATRICK SHUKIS
FOR THE THRESHER
Just days after achieving their first U.S. Coaches Poll ranking in four years, No. 25 Rice soccer picked up two key wins against Florida Atlantic University and Grambling State University. The Owls recorded a 2-1 victory over FAU in their second conference game of the season. In a back-and-forth contest, Rice ultimately emerged victorious with goals from graduate forward Leah Chancey and sophomore forward Camille Quarterman, as well as six saves from junior goalkeeper Kirsten Ruf. Florida Atlantic put Rice on the defensive early in the match. Ruf kept FAU off the scoreboard with a pair of saves in the early
“[The ranking is] not how we measure ourselves. We measure ourselves by how good a teammate we are and how hard we work.
action. The Owls struggled to apply offensive pressure through the first 20 minutes, but their defense held FAU scoreless. Following a deflected shot on goal from Quarterman in the 26th minute, freshman defender Jayden Jaeger’s free-kick assist gave Quarterman another chance to open up the scoring. Quarterman’s tap-in found the back of the net, putting the Owls ahead 1-0 in the 27th minute. Quarterman’s fresh legs from off the bench sparked the offensive action for Rice in the first half after a slow start. Head coach Brian Lee said the team’s strategy of frequent substitutions gave them an edge over the competition. “It’s been kind of our mojo for the last couple seasons,” Lee said. “I really thought tonight Camille and Taylor Rish came off the bench and really changed the game almost immediately.” FAU brought the offensive pressure to begin the second half, but Rice’s defense handled the attack. A sliding clearance from sophomore forward Dayo Tennyson and a diving save from Ruf in the 55th and 56th minutes kept Florida Atlantic scoreless through most of the second half.
Brian Lee
HEAD COACH
KAIRI MANO / THRESHER Junior midfielder Eileen Albers hugs sophomore forward Camille Quarterman after her goal against FAU.
SEE SOCCER PAGE 14
Rice drops to bottom of free speech ranking Rice returns to CHI PHAM
ASST. A&E EDITOR Rice University earned an “F” grade for free speech in the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression’s 2026 College Free Speech Rankings, which cited concerns over restrictive policies and student perceptions of campus climate. The ranking is a downswing of 70 spots to rank 235th out of 257 schools assessed by FIRE, a nonprofit organization that advocates for free speech and civil liberties in educational settings. FIRE cited two core problems: university policies restricting
constitutionally protected speech and widespread student perceptions that the administration does not support open dialogue. FIRE’s “red light” speech code rating stems partly from Rice’s peer harassment policy, which the organization believes does not meet Supreme Court standards as set by Davis v. Monroe County Board of Education. Rice’s policy defines harassment as “unwelcome conduct … that is based on a protected class” with “the purpose or potential effect of unreasonably interfering with an individual’s work performance or educational participation.” Laura Beltz, FIRE’s director of policy
reform, said that Rice’s policy earns the organization’s worst rating because it “both clearly and substantially restricts freedom of speech.” “While the Supreme Court requires that conduct be ‘severe, pervasive, and objectively offensive,’ Rice’s definition of harassment merely requires it be ‘severe or pervasive,’” Beltz wrote in an email to the Thresher. “In addition, Rice’s policy requires only that conduct ‘has the purpose or potential effect’ of harm, while the Supreme Court requires the prohibited conduct actually be unreasonable.”
SEE FREE SPEECH PAGE 5
Campus free speech, expression by the numbers “Do you feel that Rice fosters an environment where students can freely express diverse viewpoints and engage in respectful, rigorous debate on important issues facing our nation and world?”
FIRE Free Speech Ranking for Rice University Overall change: -70
2025 165th 20%
40%
60%
80%
100% Rice was ranked 235th out of
Yes - students can openly share their views Mostly - certain topics feel sensitive to discuss Very little - there are limited opportunities for respectful debate No - there is pressure to conform to certain viewpoints
257 schools. Rice’s 70-spot decline stands out among peer institutions.
2026 235th
JESSICA XU / THRESHER Student responses are from Rice University Student Association’s spring 2025 Survey of All Students. Overall response rate: 94.1%.
No. 17 in U.S. News Ranking ABIGAIL CHIU
SENIOR WRITER
Rice placed 17th on the recently released U.S. News and World Report’s national universities ranking list, tying with University of California, Los Angeles and Vanderbilt University, an improvement from last year’s No. 18 position. Rice has placed No. 10 and No. 12 on Niche and Forbes’ lists, respectively. Rice was also ranked No. 5 on USNWR’s list for Best Value Schools. “These rankings reflect the strength of our mission and the incredible work of our faculty, staff and students,” said President Reggie DesRoches in a Rice News article. “These achievements underscore our broader goal of advancing knowledge and serving society in meaningful ways.” USNWR’s methodology combines data submitted by schools with thirdparty sources such as data from the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard. The most heavily weighted factors included peer assessment, graduation rates and first-year retention rates. In what has been called a “tumultuous” year for higher education, the rankings were relatively stable across top schools, with little movement through the top 50. Rice is continuing with its plan to increase enrollment and expand new offerings in artificial intelligence and the arts. “Rice delivers a student experience that is both intellectually rigorous and deeply personal,” said Amy Dittmar, the Howard R. Hughes Provost and executive vice president for academic affairs in a Rice News article. “Every Rice student graduates prepared to make a difference. These rankings are a testament to that commitment.”