South lot spaces reduced
The South Colleges will have to say goodbye to some of their parking lot next year. Project Manager for the South Colleges Renovation Larry Vossler spoke with all the college presidents about the changes in a meeting on April 30.Vossler declined to comment further than what he discussed in the meeting.
Martel College President Sean McBeath said the biggest issue Vossler discussed was that the south colleges residents' lot will be taken up as a road for construction vehicles. McBeath, a Martel College senior, said the meeting didn't provide many definite answers, but rather estimations and proposals for how to deal with the loss of parking spaces in South Lot.
Last year, each college was guaranteed 26 spots, McBeath said. He said next year each college will be guaranteed only 21 spots, according to Vossler.
McBeath said Vossler did not discuss any final plans for replacing the lost South Lot parking spaces.
"Estimates have been changing in terms of [where] the space is coming from," McBeath said.
One plan Vossler shared with the college presidents was to turn the road in front of Wiess College, between Wiess and the IM fields, into a one-way street with parallel parking in one lane. This would provide approximately 20-30 spots, McBeath said, citing Vossler.
Another option would be to construct a temporary lot, similar to the one next to the Martel Masters' House, between Wiess and the inner loop in Old Wiess field, McBeath said of Vossler's meeting.
McBeath said the biggest general issue the college presidents foresee is trucks driving alongside cars and blocking access to the colleges.
"The real issue has been where the parking is going to be and how much of an inconvenience it's going to place on students who drive," he said.
Since Wiess and Hanszen have other routes for access, they will not be as affected as Sid Richarson College and Lovett College, McBeath said.
According to the Facilities Engineering and Planning Web site, construction preparation for the area near Lovett and Baker College, including fence placement and tree pruning, began May 12.
More from The Rice Thresher
Founder’s Court goes alt-rock as bôa kicks off U.S. tour at Rice
Founder’s Court morphed into a festival ground Friday night as British alt-rock band bôa launched the U.S. leg of their “Whiplash” tour. The group headlined the third annual Moody X-Fest before what organizers estimate was “a little bit over 2,000 students” — the largest turnout in the event’s three-year history.
Rice launches alternative funding program amid federal research cuts
Rice is launching the Bridge Funding Program for faculty whose federal funding for research projects has been reduced or removed. The program was announced via the Provost’s newsletter April 24.
This moment may be unprecedented — Rice falling short is not
In many ways, the current landscape of American higher education is unprecedented. Sweeping cuts to federal research funding, overt government efforts to control academic departments and censor campus protests and arbitrary arrests and visa revocations have rightly been criticized as ushering in the latest iteration of fascism.
Please note All comments are eligible for publication by The Rice Thresher.