Houston a perfect fit for Rice experience

By Aida Luu     4/8/10 7:00pm

Rice would not be the same if it were located anywhere else but Houston. And Rice would not be able to take such great advantage of big-city Houston were it not for its forested, small campus feel.Houston is a dynamic city, although it can be overwhelming. Houston's distinct neighborhoods, from Midtown to Montrose, and a variety of events and things to do and see, such as the annual Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, could keep students busy 24/7. As the biggest city in Texas and the fourth largest in the United States, Houston boasts an impressive array of shopping, dining and cultural fare that can satisfy any urbanite. The only city to surpass the number of Fortune 500 companies headquartered here is New York City. And although Houston does not have a mass transit subway system like New York City does, its METRO light rail and bus system run throughout Houston, with stops conveniently located all around Rice.

Houston's lack of zoning laws has helped to shape the city into what it is today: an eclectic mix of everything on top of and next to each other. But somehow it all works to produce a charming and distinct feel, different from anywhere else. From the balcony of the sixth floor of Lovett College, I can see the Texas Medical Center, Hermann Park, the Houston Zoo and the Museum District. In the middle of all these attractions, safely tucked away, lies Rice University.

When I tell people back home that my school is located across the street from a zoo, a cluster of high-rise hospitals and a museum district, they are amazed and wonder how it affects the social atmosphere of the school itself. As a native New Yorker, I have many friends who go to New York University and love the school and the city, but they complain about the lack of a central campus and the big city feel that can make students feel lost and without a sense of cohesion. Unlike NYU, which is thoroughly integrated within the city, Rice provides the entire college experience: A central campus with green space and quadrangles, an intimate dorm setting and the enclosure of the hedges, which, while at times seems to isolate us from the rest of the world, evokes a sense of inclusion within a distinct community.

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In line with the results of the Campus Master Plan survey, I think that maintaining the green spaces on campus should a be priority for Rice if wants to maintain its distinct atmosphere ("Master plan survey results revealed," March 26). There is such an interdependent relationship between the university and the city that neither would be as splendid without the other, but what makes the university special is that it remains a separate entity from the city itself. In fact, the greatest thing about being in Houston is that we Rice students can take advantage of the fact that we are in our own little green enclave within a big city. We have the best of both worlds; we live and learn within a small school atmosphere and beautiful green campus, while enjoying the resources and opportunities of a big city.

While I understand that expanding the university's facilities and student body is important in increasing national recognition, I implore the administration to maintain the distinct features of Rice that are so enhanced and exemplified by the city of Houston. As someone used to big city life, I find it refreshing to live and thrive in a university with such pronounced green space, without having to sacrifice the opportunities that Houston provides.

Simply put, the city of Houston is the ideal place for Rice University to be situated, and I really would not want it any other way.

Aida Luu is a Lovett College sophomore.

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