In the loop

Inside the hedges, there are four means of transport: foot, skateboard, bike and bus. If you're anything like the rest of the undergraduate population, struggling out the door of the servery, paper cup stuffed with bacon in one hand and overflowing mug of coffee in the other, chances are the bus is your most convenient and efficient option. Luckily, there is a team of often-overlooked individuals ready to save you - and your latte - and get you to class on time. These are the Rice University bus drivers, a diverse group of workers from all walks of life dedicated to transporting students across campus. In interviews with the Thresher, they shared their experiences from the Inner Loop and beyond. 

Rice Cribs: Not all move-in days are created the same

Rice Cribs: Jones Central keeps it quirky

Rice Cribs: At Duncan, size does matter

Rice Cribs ventures through Jones' knuckle to an eclectic suite

Every year O-Week advisors work tirelessly to craft ideal pairings of new students. However, come sophmore year, these same students make the choices on their own, and sometimes the results can be surprising. One such room exists at Jones 456, Sid Mullick, a member of the suite, guided me up to the fourth floor, where windows cover the door and entryway to a bright and open common room. A large, black leather couch and twin Ikea chairs surround a small coffee table. Trinkets like small wooden owls and various other Rice memorabilia stand on sets of tall shelves.

Rice Cribs: McMurtry's tea-filled oasis

A warm breeze swept through the air as I strolled into McMurtry College's central quad. Casually seated on the picnic table, I spied McMurtry sophomore Joseph Vento. We introduced ourselves and proceeded up the stairs to the fifth-floor kitchen.

Rice Cribs gets cozy inside Duncan's most comfortable suite

The lovely ladies of Duncan's 4D suite pleasantly invited me into their common room to have a look around. Junior Mecklin Ragan walked me in, where we found seniors Christina Coravos and Amber Makhani.  I was immediately immersed in a homey, comforting atmosphere. The room is filled with comfortable couches crammed with pillows, assorted types of chairs and multiple ottomans.

Rice Cribs goes dark and lights up in Baker's only freshman suite

The men of the only freshman suite in Baker, dubbed "lower fourth," were thrown right into the fray of the social scene on campus, and they've done more than keep their composure.

Rice Cribs nails the gentlemen's shot

A clever living arrangement and a lot of Duncan College charisma has gone into this next crib, or should I say the next three?

??Rice Cribs: No Cristal, only craft beer

The next stop on my journey to find the lustrous living spaces around Rice University took me to the famously social Wiess College. My Orientation Week advisor and friend Mark Plitt opened the door to his humble abode as I strolled in to find a lot of personality packed into this fourth-floor five-man suite.

Rice Cribs journeys back through time

Men and women surround a short coffee table, positioned in comfortable armchairs and drink fine beverages as they fill the room with calm laughter. Some are packing pipes, while others are standing to socialize, drink in hand. In the background, a humorous English sitcom plays amid the warm hum of voices.

Rice Cribs: Where the magic happens

Starting this first edition of Rice Cribs at the top of Martel College seems completely fitting, as this northern residence is in the middle of its "Greek Week." It is no trifling fact that Speros P. Martel, the Grecian founder of the college, would be very proud of the student-designed room 423, a fourth-floor corner-suite tribute to his home country.