Storm causes roof damage, student evacuations at Will Rice
Students were forced to evacuate parts of Will Rice College’s old dormitory early Wednesday morning after parts of the fourth floor ceiling fell in and leakage occurred throughout the building during a heavy rainstorm. Housing and Dining cleared students to return to their rooms and expects repairs to be finished by the end of the week.
“We believe this occurred due to a clogged drain outside on the deck of the fifth floor,” H&D Senior Business Director David McDonald said. “Once this was cleared, water was draining normally.”
Students were evacuated around 7 a.m., but leaking had begun by 5:30 a.m., according to Will Rice freshman Jake Lesher, who lives on the fourth floor.
“I woke up to the sound of what I thought was rain, but after a moment, I realized it was coming from inside the room and the roof was leaking,” Lesher said. “I got out of bed, went to put a trash can under the leak, and started cleaning it up with a towel when chunks of drywall started falling from the ceiling. Mud and dirt covered everything — the chair, the lamp, my books.”
More from The Rice Thresher
Rice Pride ends partnership with Houston Hillel
Rice Pride ended its partnership with Houston Hillel, a Jewish campus ministry at Rice, on Sept. 18. Pride’s latest statement on the decision says that the organization will no longer “receive funding or co-create spaces with Houston Hillel” and cited concerns by Palestinian and Arab students who did not feel comfortable engaging in Pride due to the partnership.

Baker Institute 30th anniversary gala to host Kissinger, Clinton, Baker
The Baker Institute will hold its 30th anniversary gala Oct. 26, welcoming three former secretaries of state: Henry Kissinger, Hillary Clinton and James Baker.

Rice’s Academic Resources Center creates a new ARC for tutoring
Rice announced a plan to establish an Academic Resources Center staffed by trained professionals in an email to academic fellows on Sept. 20. Led by Senior Associate Provost Matt Taylor and Dean of Undergraduates Bridget Gorman, this multi-year plan will begin with the development of a paid peer tutoring and teaching assistant program.
Please note All comments are eligible for publication by The Rice Thresher.