History
''The Rice Thresher'' was the first student publication to be formed at the Rice Institute despite it appearing in the fourth academic year (1915–1916). In the fall of 1915, three literary societies - the Elizabeth Baldwin (female), the Owl (male), and the Riceonian (male) - elected three members each to serve on a committee to organize the paper. The committee then selected the founding editorial board, composed entirely of committee members plus two additional students. On Saturday, January 15, 1916, the first issue of the then-bi-weekly ''Thresher'' was published under the guidance of editor-in-chief William M. Standish. In 1918, two seminal events occurred to transform the ''Thresher'' into its modern iteration. First, a voluntary blanket tax was established for publications and sports events. The voluntary tax provided the ''Thresher'' $1.50 from each student who paid, and the now mandatory blanket tax remains the backbone of ''Thresher'' finances to this day. Second, in May 1918, the ''Thresher'' and all other student organizations were transferred under the purview of the newly-formed Student Association, inaugurating a system whereby the leadership of the paper would be elected by the student body along with the ''Campanile'' leadership and other student officers. During a divisive May 1918 election, students who had paid their blanket tax elected John T. Rather editor in chief and T. J. Burnett managing editor. However, no issues were published during Rather's stewardship, owing to a suspension of student activities until the end of World War I. Post-war, a second Student Association election was held in January 1919 and installed Joe R. Shannon as editor in chief, Paul Frederick Bobb as managing editor, and Graham Peck as business manager, resulting in the first issue of the new era on February 6, 1919. From this issue forward, the ''Thresher'' has published weekly with a few deviations. Over the years, the sections, masthead, offices elected, page dimensions, and number of pages have fluctuated, but the modern ''Thresher'' was born in 1918. The Thresher has stopped printing twice before: once during World War I, and once during the Spring of 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, during which most students were asked to leave campus for fear of infection.External links
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Rice Thresher Rice University Newspapers published in Houston Student newspapers published in Texas Publications established in 1916 1916 establishments in Texas Weekly newspapers published in Texas