Despite rain, Will Rice dashes to victory

By Seth Brown     3/25/10 7:00pm

Thanks to last Saturday's inclement weather, most students participating in this year's Beer Bike parade were soaked even before balloons started flying. Although all of the student races were rescheduled for this Sunday (see adjacent story), the alumni participated in a beer run, which Will Rice College won. Will Rice finished just seconds ahead of Brown College, whose penalties put them behind 16 seconds.

Sid Richardson College was disqualified because its chug team did not bring chugging equipment and beverages, requirements for the race.

The parade proceeded as planned despite the rain, though Emergency Medical Services Director Lisa Basgall said the rain resulted in an increased number of twisted ankles and lacerations than she otherwise would have expected.

---

---

EMS received 20 calls, of which Basgall said four to five resulted in hospital trips. She said although EMS investigated a rumor of a woman giving birth in the Jesse H. Jones Graduate School of Business parking garage, EMS was unable to locate the individual in question.

Campus-wide Beer Bike Coordinator Brian Henderson said because of the rain, some Beer Bike staff were unable to properly record fines, and the fines assessed to each college during the parade were thus uneven. Each college will instead be assessed a $600 parade fee, or $150 for McMurtry College and Duncan College because of their smaller student population. The $600 fine is $30 fewer than was assessed to the college with the least fines last year, and Henderson said he has not received any objections to this plan from any college.

Assistant Dean of Students Boyd Beckwith said several incidents raised concerns about the parade that will necessitate changes for next year. These incidents included the use of underfilled balloons, the use of balloons on police and police vehicles, an incidence of public urination and the unauthorized use of Shepherd School of Music and Barbara and David Gibbs Recreation and Wellness Center facilities by large numbers of students immediately after the parade ended.

"We can't continue with the current level of dangerous behavior," Beckwith said. "Shepherd had little kids inside when a mass of wet, combative students came through."

Hanszen College sophomore Bruna Costa said despite the cold, she enjoyed the parade.

"I woke up and my jaw was sore because I was smiling," Costa said. "I was already soaking. I didn't need to get hit by water balloons. I was just voluntarily letting myself get sick, but it was totally worth it.

---