Students organize fundraiser for 'quake victims
Inspired by Duncan College's effort to raise money for Haiti last year, sophomore Tiffany Chen decided to create an event held Wednesday night to help raise awareness about the disaster in Japan. She raised $734.
"I wanted to help educate people about Japan," Chen said. "Lots of people are fundraising, and I think an understanding of what is going on is also important."
Chen and Melody Tan, Brown College freshman, organized the talk together, calling it Makeruna Japan. Four panelists spoke about different effects of the earthquake following a Japanese drumming performance by a group called Kaminari Taiko.
First, President David Leebron opened with a speech explaining the ties Rice has with Japan and the importance of student undertakings.
"We are proud of our students' intelligence, proud of their initiatives but most proud of our students when those two things combine into a third attribute — compassion," Leebron said.
Rice's history with Japan includes Rice students studying there, Japanese students at Rice and many research projects, Leebron said.
"It is important for our students to understand that humanity is one thing," Leebron said. "Whenever something happens around the world and people are coping with disaster that we really have a duty of compassion and empathy, and if there is something to be done, we try to to do something about it."
Though Chen wishes more students would have been able to attend, she was happy with the event overall.
"I think it it was good how many people were eager to participate and collaborate," Chen said. "I feel really gratified for their support."
More from The Rice Thresher
Public parties to resume, Martel sundeck off-limits for morning party
Campus-wide public parties will resume in time for Beer Bike and Brown College’s Bacchanalia, Dean of Undergraduates Bridget Gorman announced in an email to students March 22. The sundeck will permanently be off-limits for Martel College’s morning party, and colleges will not be allowed to reschedule or host additional public parties this semester.
Senate debates resolution to boycott, divest SA funds from Israel-aligned companies
A student resolution calling on the Rice Student Association to participate in the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions movement was presented at the Senate meeting March 25. The resolution is titled “Student Association Boycott and Divestment from Corporations Complicit in the Ongoing Genocide in Gaza.”
RUPD investigates three separate incidents of assault across campus
A male suspect followed a student into Will Rice College Feb. 21 and entered a student’s unlocked room while she was sleeping, according to Clemente Rodriguez, Rice University Police Department chief of police. When she woke up, she found him touching her leg. The student reported the incident to RUPD.
Please note All comments are eligible for publication by The Rice Thresher.