Letters to the Editor

10/8/09 7:00pm

Symphony tickets priced reasonably

To the Editor:In the article "Houston Symphony's classical dilemma," published Sept. 25, Eric Doctor wrote that the face value of his ticket to see the Houston Symphony was $50. It should be known that the symphony usually sells rush tickets an hour before the performance begins for $15. That is a very reasonable price to pay to see a world-class symphony perform. Students can call the Customer Service Center at 713-224-7575 between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. to find out if rush tickets are available.

Kate Munagian

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Music graduate student

New Yorker lends grand perspective

To the Editor:

It is absolutely delightful that Rice University has had the rare honor of recruiting a cultural critic of Ms. Johanna Ohm's caliber ("Houston lacks grandeur of New York life," Sept. 25).

I can state most definitively that we truly stole her from the finest institutions of higher learning that the world has to offer, for there is no more incisive mind, no nobler spirit than that of the most honorable Lady, who has graciously accepted our offer and has descended, for our benefit, to bring a touch of glamor and grandeur, so lacking in the backwoods that some of us must call our home. Her first article does not, in that regard, disappoint.

I would that the Board of Directors, the president or whatever body is responsible for such things, take into immediate consideration that gravy is being served with biscuits and passed as food, a most barbaric act, that the Lady does well to call attention to. For what civilized people have anything other than bagels for their breakfast, or more dreadful yet, choose to live, as savages, in houses that are separated from each other by more than a few inches?

I extend to Ms. Johanna Ohm my most sincere apologies for what she has found thus far in Houston, and hope that she will, for the good of all, continue to grace us with her commentary, so that we may, at some future date, reach a level of sophistication comparable, if not to the fine New York, then at least to some town near to the Grandest City.

Arturo Muñoz

Hanszen senior

Reforms necessary for Honor Council

To the Editor:

I'm writing to express my support for Paul Anzel's proposed reforms to the Honor Council ("Honor Council flaws highlight need for further modification," Sept. 25).

Two of the reforms for which he argues - that charges be listed in initial e-mails to implicated students, and that the council maintain a public record of members' voting - are common-sense safeguards that one expects in any judicial system. Informing students of the charges against them at the earliest opportunity eliminates unnecessary drama, and ensures that students can put forward the best defense of their honor. Cutting down on informational asymmetry necessarily results in better decision-making.

Perhaps more controversially, publishing case abstracts that maintain the anonymity of the parties but record the opinions of the judges will lend Honor Council elections more meaning, and give the eventually-elected parties a real democratic pedigree. Electing judges is not always the best idea. But if Rice is to continue electing Honor Council members, voters should at least be given the necessary information to cast an educated ballot.

Additionally, the council could consider mandatory pre-hearing mediation between student and professor or other wronged party. Many of our peer institutions use mediation as a safeguard against overly harsh punishments.

Implementing these reforms would demystify the process and make it easier for students who come before the Honor Council mistakenly, without any serious cost to the institution. No doubt the perception of being "tough" on offenders is vital to the Honor Council's integrity, as a means of ensuring the trust of the faculty and inspiring students with a respect for the rules that keep Rice's academic community unique. But the council can meet this deterrent goal by retaining tough but fair penalties for those eventually found to be "in violation." It need not make life difficult for all who come before the tribunal, especially if Rice is to take the presumption of innocence seriously.

Ames Grawert

Lovett '06

Backpage image tasteless, vulgar

To the Editor:

I want to express my strong opposition to the picture chosen for the Thresher Backpage two weeks ago. I am disappointed in the lack of taste displayed by this choice and what that says about Rice as a school. Please consider that papers like this circulate to people outside of campus (and Houston) and reflect poorly on more than just yourselves. If you are looking for a way to make a statement, next time make it more creative and less offensive.

Lisa Welch

Sid Richardson '03

Online Comment of the Week

In response to "Faculty concerns for merger must be addressed," Oct. 2:

I assume if the merger goes through, Rice will insist upon making changes to the practices that caused the problems at Baylor College of Medicine. I do not believe that a BCM merger would diminish what Rice has in humanities and social sciences, but it would help us in the sciences.

Although college faculty are overwhelmingly in favor of politicians who are for "change," they usually strongly disagree with anything that might change their own situation.

Mark Andrus

Sid Richardson '75

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