Rice maintains “happiest students” status by ousting unhappy students
Published: Thursday, November 29, 2012
Updated: Thursday, November 29, 2012 21:11
I talked to some other people at Rice about what had happened to me. One man told me he was forced to withdraw for one year for depression. Other women told me about their experiences with assault on campus. The perpetrators were rarely punished. Victim-blaming seemed to be a common theme.
I was lucky to get out of my abusive relationship, but the way the Rice administration dealt with my situation was unhelpful and detrimental. I have a case number associated with my assaults, but it is not listed on Rice’s crime log. I was treated like something to be ashamed of. Those on the administration that had supported and advised me through ending my abusive relationship were people I trusted, but they were the ones who seemed to turn on me this spring.
Rice University is ranked nationally for having the “happiest students” and “best quality of life,” but is this actually true? Or does Rice have those titles only because the administration asks any unhappy students to leave?
I am immensely disappointed in the way Rice handled my situation, and I am concerned for anyone who may have a similar experience in the future. I withdrew from Rice twice. Both times, the major response I received from the administration was that Rice could not support me. I was too much of a burden.
Mental health issues are becoming increasingly common on college campuses. It is concerning to me that Rice does not have sufficient resources to support students. During my time as a student, I found that the Rice Counseling Center was not helpful, and I know many other students who feel the same way. As an abuse survivor, I have also realized that Rice does not have enough resources for victims of assault, abuse and stalking. I would like to see this changed. Rice is a truly wonderful university, but without the proper support for students with mental health issues, it has not yet earned its title for best quality of life.
Olivia Hansen matriculated into Duncan College in 2010.
175 comments
Anonymous
Bottom line, sexual assault is a legal matter, not a university one. Charges should be filed and addressed by the legal system. What is concerning is that so many of these articles are only concerned about the rights of the accuser while not the rights of the accused who may be unfairly accused. No one seems concerned about the severe emotional trauma for the accused that comes with a false accusation.
Anonymous
As a prospective Rice parent I have read this article and honestly I found it confusing. Today the criminal system takes sexual and physical abuse very seriously, whether the accuser is a male or female, and what does not make sense is why criminal charges were never filed as this alleged conduct went on for over a year, from Sept 2010 to Sept 2011.
JBuck 04
Most likely culprit to the evident fast-lane to kick-out for people with mental health issues is the spate of student suicides in the 80s and 90s. I am unaware of the legal wrangling involved, but I would guess Rice shelled out some judgements back then and had to develop a plan to avoid suicides by students at all costs. Unfortantely, due to the highly controlled mental health business and associated liabilities for successful treatment, Rice probably made a decision that they cant afford high risk mental healthcare as much as they cant afford suicides by active students. I think this reflects more on the American culture of mental health care than the evil admin just being lazy or evil. As with other issues with society, we can help Rice ensure it is at the forefront of progress. Unfortunately, that is a low bar at the moment.
Anonymous
Tragically Ostdiek, Hutchenson and the rest of the Rice administration cannot be counted on to be fair. They protect the school's reputation and limit its liability, sacrificing students whenever necessary. They do not care about being ethical or about doing the right thing. I have seen it happen before. Parents would be well advised to discourage their from attending Rice. I will never contribute another cent yo their support.
Anonymous
...so then don't go to the Rice counseling center... because they will build a file and use it against you...? How messed up is that...?
Anonymous
I was depressed for a couple of weeks due to academic pressure. When I finally gathered the courage to call the counseling center and ask can they arrange an earlier appointment for me, she said in an impatient voice, 'Are you dangerous to yourself or other people?' I said 'No.' She said. 'Then I can't help you'. Although I know appointments should be made ahead and they may not have spare people and time to meet me earlier. But I feel it's totally rude for someone to talk to someone depressed like that. What if I'm not so strong. What if I wanted to kill myself. Hearing those words is only gonna make things worse. Rice Conselling center indeed needs improvements.
Anonymous
I had a good time at this school therefor your experiences are invalid. I would rather protect the reputation of an institution rather than aid in reforming its flaws. Also I'm not his girlfriend but im sure I know everything about him he was totes a nice guy so shut up and stay quite.
Anonymous
i am very sorry to read this obvious cover up at rice univ...one of the most all time great universitys..no , i didn t go there..but i ve many friends who did..and as a senior citizen and know these graduates..one a retired prof..there at rice..alll represent with honor RICE UNIV..
this one instance may be the tip of the ice berg or just an isolated instance..but please know all the facts.
this is and could be close to the penn state debacle which has soured an other great univ..image although not the same even close to the same instance...
so know all the facts..trust rice to clear up and clean up this terrible ordeal and others if there be any??
even half of the young ladys story is true its too much...so have faith...it will be resolved and some one commented they hoped the medial get s wind of the incident..omg...media.it ll be so skewered it ll hurt all the good students..so please have a heart....lol..the truth will prevail..jerry
this one instance may be the tip of the ice berg or just an isolated instance..but please know all the facts.
this is and could be close to the penn state debacle which has soured an other great univ..image although not the same even close to the same instance...
so know all the facts..trust rice to clear up and clean up this terrible ordeal and others if there be any??
even half of the young ladys story is true its too much...so have faith...it will be resolved and some one commented they hoped the medial get s wind of the incident..omg...media.it ll be so skewered it ll hurt all the good students..so please have a heart....lol..the truth will prevail..jerry
Anonymous
I was not able to attend yesterday's demonstration -- did the Dean clarify his stance? What next steps are being taken?
Anonymous
I should not have transferred to Rice. I think Rice is worse than my previous school. When I came here as a new student, the administration was extremely unhelpful. I still regret my decision. Period.
Anonymous
It's important to understand that Hutch's response was bound by two considerations:1. HIPAA and university policy preclude him from talking about specifics of the case. In order to defend himself and the university from the accusations, he'd have to get into the specifics both of her medical situation as well as the academic decision for medical leave. The law and policies are in place to protect the confidentiality of the student. She herself can choose to waive to discuss otherwise confidential information; the university, and by extension Hutch, cannot. If I were him I wouldn't have included claims that her accounts of the situation are inaccurate or incorrect. It's hard to do, but he just can't comment on it.2. This is a pre-litigation situation. Rice's counsel isn't going to allow any official statements that stake their defenses to any specific set of issues, or a response that provides ammunition to a plaintiff that would be sympathetic to a jury. If that seems cold and calculating, it's easier to feel that way when you haven't been personally named in a six or seven figure lawsuit.
Anonymous
@ Josh Katz: You bring up a good point. There seems to be a general consensus by many who know him personally that Hutch is a great guy. Still, that shouldn't take away from the general implication of his response, which ignores the valid points Rice students have raised regarding their legitimate needs. The two points 1) that Hutch is a nice person, and 2) the university does not want to acknowledge its own deficiencies (much less have more money go toward them) are not mutually exclusive entities. As someone who speaks for the university, Hutch's words are indicative of a general tone and attitude coming from the administration. That's what should be the focus, not the individual merits of his personality.
Josh Katz, Wiess '01
I've known Dr. Hutchinson for many years. He has been a teacher, friend, and confidant for thousands of Rice students over three decades. His home was open to Rice students, day or night - even when he had young daughters living in his home. The only rule, which sometimes had to be enforced, was "please wear a shirt in our living room." Even when his daughter Emma was undergoing the most difficult travails any innocent child has ever had to endure. He's been to the hospital to care for his students countless times. I know first hand, from my own experience, the lengths he and Paula go to to be allies and of aid to Rice students. In short, he is a caring, open, loving person who, for three decades, has made Rice students part of his family's life - not because he has to, but because it's his calling.I don't know the facts of this case, nor does anyone else who is commenting. The only people who do are Ms. Hansen, Dr. Hutchinson, and the few other people who were involved first hand. Nobody is here to call Ms. Hansen a liar. I'm here - and using my real name - to call attention to the lifetime of service Dr. Hutchinson has given the Rice student body, and to personally thank him for that.
Anonymous
@ Rice is Nice..not abuse... you should write alleged abuse. I agree with the rest of your views.
Anonymous
"A final thought: the headline above borders on yellow journalism. I expect better from Rice's paper and I hope the Thresher expects better from itself."It's in the opinion section...
Anonymous
@'Dissapointed'From the words of a law firm:"Rape is defined as engaging in sexual intercourse with another person without that person's consent. Sexual assault is sometimes synonymous with rape, though that is not always the case. Both may be related, but there is a difference between the two from a legal standpoint. Sexual assault refers to any sexual contact or sexual act performed on another person without that person's consent."I'm on your side, but if you try to argue a case by distorting truths you make all of us look bad.
Rice is Nice
Thanks Anise '74 -- we are of different eras but similar minds. The worst part, perhaps, is Ms. Hansen's use of the Amherst incident as a premise for exposing "flaws" in Rice's own administration. According to Angie Epifano, when she sought to report her alleged rape to Amherst authorities (albeit 1 years after the incident occurred), college officials there told her that "pressing charges would be useless." They suggested her rape might just have been a "bad hookup" and that she should "forgive and forget." Angie's alleged attacker faced no discipline whatsoever.Of course, Ms. Hansen's case couldn't be more different. Rice personnel encouraged (even forced) her to report her abuse. Upon doing so, her alleged abuser received swift -- and apparently severe -- justice. Olivia doesn't deny this, but she nevertheless believes there are enough "similarities" between her situation and Ms. Eifano's to justify the premise of her article.
Anonymous
@ disappointed...Sophie B. is being truthful. Her comment about being truthful and being sorry for what happened to Olivia involve two different things. She hopes that Olivia will be truthful about the allegations, but she is also sorry for Olivia's well being and the way things were handled. The "accused" is no more of a sex offender than you or me. Allegations were made, Olivia was believed. The "accused" never even appeared before a judicial board. So to say that he is guilty of anything is absurd. Maybe the dean should tell the truth about how the "accused" was handled. Unfortunately, Olivia has more issues than we'll ever know and a lot of lives have been turned upside down. There is no record at the RUPD probably because he was never arrested or charged. Keep in mind, anyone can obtain an order of protection. Hopefully, Olivia can find the help she needs!
Anise '74
Rice is Nice,
You are so right. It pains me to see someone run such an obvious smear campaign against the place where I spent the formative years of my life. What pains me more, is to see so many bright young minds accepting her story, which is so obviously flawed, as is. Rice helped me to look critically at the world and question obvious manipulation. Have they stopped, or is this a much deeper, generational symptom? Olivia, either put forth a convincing argument, or stop dragging Rice through the dirt. In doing so, you disrespect all of us.
You are so right. It pains me to see someone run such an obvious smear campaign against the place where I spent the formative years of my life. What pains me more, is to see so many bright young minds accepting her story, which is so obviously flawed, as is. Rice helped me to look critically at the world and question obvious manipulation. Have they stopped, or is this a much deeper, generational symptom? Olivia, either put forth a convincing argument, or stop dragging Rice through the dirt. In doing so, you disrespect all of us.
Rice is Nice
To those reading this, please ask yourself:
- Did the University turn a deaf ear to Ms. Hansen's claims of abuse? Did her masters and RAs tell her to keep quiet about the alleged abuse?
- Did the university refuse to dole out punishment to the accused? Did Rice act to protect an athlete from negative repercussions?
- Was Ms. Hansen forced to leave Rice the first time, by Dr. Ostediek? Does Olivia believe her initial leave of absence was without benefit (i.e., that it didn't allow her to "heal" and "recover")?
- Did RUPD ignore Olivia claims in connection with the "truck incident"? Did they indicate that they would not protect her to the full extent of their jurisdiction?
- Did Rice refuse to allow Olivia back after her first leave of absence? Did Rice prohibit her return in the fall of 2012, after her second (forced) leave of absence?Rice forcibly withdrew Ms. Hansen in March 2012 on account of her not being "healthy enough to remain on campus." Something prompted Rice's actions, the complete facts of which are unlikely to be revealed publicly. But what we do know is this: (1) Olivia acknowledges having a history of mental health issues, which previously caused her to withdraw from the university to seek treatment; (2) the University determined that Ms. Hansen needed to be examined by a psychologist and medical professionals on March 22, 2012; (3) during that examination, a physician was skeptical that bruises on Ms. Hansen's body were, as she claimed, the result of clumsiness; and (4) finally, Ms. Hansen implicitly acknowledges that, due to the "truck incident" on March 15th, her depression was no longer "under control" on March 22nd.Attending Rice is not a right, but a privilege. Our's is a private institution. In order to protect students, faculty and the greater Rice community -- both from themselves and from others -- Rice must be able to removing persons from campus. It seems to me that the University had every right to remove Olivia when it did and, moreover, that doing so was entirely reasonable given the facts as Olivia presents them.A final thought: the headline above borders on yellow journalism. I expect better from Rice's paper and I hope the Thresher expects better from itself.
- Did the University turn a deaf ear to Ms. Hansen's claims of abuse? Did her masters and RAs tell her to keep quiet about the alleged abuse?
- Did the university refuse to dole out punishment to the accused? Did Rice act to protect an athlete from negative repercussions?
- Was Ms. Hansen forced to leave Rice the first time, by Dr. Ostediek? Does Olivia believe her initial leave of absence was without benefit (i.e., that it didn't allow her to "heal" and "recover")?
- Did RUPD ignore Olivia claims in connection with the "truck incident"? Did they indicate that they would not protect her to the full extent of their jurisdiction?
- Did Rice refuse to allow Olivia back after her first leave of absence? Did Rice prohibit her return in the fall of 2012, after her second (forced) leave of absence?Rice forcibly withdrew Ms. Hansen in March 2012 on account of her not being "healthy enough to remain on campus." Something prompted Rice's actions, the complete facts of which are unlikely to be revealed publicly. But what we do know is this: (1) Olivia acknowledges having a history of mental health issues, which previously caused her to withdraw from the university to seek treatment; (2) the University determined that Ms. Hansen needed to be examined by a psychologist and medical professionals on March 22, 2012; (3) during that examination, a physician was skeptical that bruises on Ms. Hansen's body were, as she claimed, the result of clumsiness; and (4) finally, Ms. Hansen implicitly acknowledges that, due to the "truck incident" on March 15th, her depression was no longer "under control" on March 22nd.Attending Rice is not a right, but a privilege. Our's is a private institution. In order to protect students, faculty and the greater Rice community -- both from themselves and from others -- Rice must be able to removing persons from campus. It seems to me that the University had every right to remove Olivia when it did and, moreover, that doing so was entirely reasonable given the facts as Olivia presents them.A final thought: the headline above borders on yellow journalism. I expect better from Rice's paper and I hope the Thresher expects better from itself.
is a member of the 
