Beer Bike 2013

By Joey Capparella     3/20/13 7:00pm

Later Start

The water-balloon fights will begin at 10 a.m. on Founder's Court for the first fight and 10:45 for the second fight on the intramural fields, each 30 minutes later than last year, according to campuswide Beer Bike Coordinator Andrew Jacobson.

Jacobson said the cost of paying Rice University Police Department and Rice Emergency Medical Services for the extra hours later in the day, which caused the schedule to be shifted earlier, was not a problem this year because of the blanket tax increase passed for Beer Bike last year.

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Jacobson said he hoped the later start might help the problem of neighborhood noise complaints as well.

"Last year, some colleges had [Houston Police Department] officers there from someone near campus calling in a noise complaint," Jacobson said. "We're hoping that if colleges start later, th stacks will start playing later. There is a cutoff time after which noise restrictions are not as stringent."

Jacobson said the later start will also hopefully encourage students to be smarter about their drinking. Some serveries will be serving breakfast in the morning, such as North Servery, which will be serving a continental breakfast starting at 6 a.m., Jacobson said.

Track Activities

Jacobson and fellow campuswide Beer Bike Coordinator Soorya Avali said there was a push this year to encourage more students to go to the track to see the races.

"We freed up money in the budget to have more amenities at the track," Avali, a Brown College junior, said. "The fun doesn't stop after the water-balloon fight."

Avali said the campuswide Beer Bike budget is now covering tents for every college at the track.

"Last year, the colleges each had to buy their own tents," Avali said. "This allows the college Beer Bike coordinators to have more funds for things at the track like a popcorn machine or a dunk tank. The setup will look similar to the College Row tailgates from football season."

Security and Caregiving

Avali said there were no changes to security practices this year. Security will be handled by student volunteers, RUPD and a third-party security force hired for the event.

However, Jacobson said there were changes to the use of caregivers during the water-balloon fight.

"Last year, the caregivers stayed back at the colleges during the water-balloon fight and then went directly to the track," Jacobson said. "This year, we're having them follow the mass of people between the two water-balloon fights. Hopefully, they'll be better utilized this way."

Students create new timing system

Jacobson said a group of senior electrical engineering students created a new electronic transponder timing system to record each college's lap times that will be tested at this year's Beer Bike.

"It's still in beta testing now, but in the future, we're hoping to have times be live," Jacobson said. "This year, we will also still have judges timing like in the past."

Food

Jacobson said the food at the track will consist of 750 Chick-fil-A sandwiches and 600 Papa John's pizzas.

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