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(11/06/09 12:00am)
Contrary to outward appearances - most notably, that we print thousands of copies of the paper each week, and the recycling bins in our office are often neglected - the Thresher supports environmental efforts. The latest of these, the Green Dorm Initiative, the brainchild of Rice's own Environmental Club, began this week for members of Brown College (see story, page 1). The initiative aims to increase awareness about the amount of energy and water needed to perform everyday tasks. Students will self-report the lengths of their showers, the number of times they've shut down their computers, their light usage and other aspects of their existence, sustainable or not.Raising awareness is great, and a monetary reward for those who, at the end of the competition, have been judged to live most sustainably is even better. But who's likely to participate in the initiative? Those who take two-minute showers in the first place. The people who drive Priuses and insist on setting their thermostat at 78 degrees during the long, brutal Texas summer. The Tetra Points reward may be an incentive to some, but those in it purely for the money are unlikely to keep up the sustainable efforts after the 20-day competition. We feel that the spirit of the competition comes from the right place, though it's nothing new or groundbreaking and may not legitimately change the behavior of those not already invested in the green movement.
(10/30/09 12:00am)
The Thresher has a long, tumultuous history with the Rice Program Council. They plan events, we complain about them, the animosity continues. Last week's staff editorial notwithstanding ("Esperanza planning proves problematic," Oct. 23), however, we've had generally good things to say about RPC in the past year. Last year, they booked a big-name band, The National, for Homecoming, and Ben Kweller for Willy Week, and the on-campus Esperanza impressed even the sharpest of critics. Forget about last year's Rondelet, and RPC seems to be getting better each year.As such, we feel that RPC's idea to step up accessibility is well-founded (see story, page 1). While club membership in previous years may have been somewhat limited, this year's application process allowed interested students the opportunity to join any of the committees. Since our blanket tax monies fund the club, it only makes sense that RPC publicize their organization more and that students, especially underclassmen, get involved.
(10/30/09 12:00am)
On Monday, President David Leebron spoke to nearly 100 students at the Student Association meeting, displaying his wit and charm to an attentive and concerned audience. After touching on Rice's rise through the rankings, Leebron reached the meat of his presentation: the discussion surrounding the proposed merger between Rice and the Baylor College of Medicine. He handily fielded the subsequent questions, and students left the meeting feeling confident their concerns had been answered.Unfortunately, one question remained: How did this speech and the ensuing discussion differ from the one that occurred just a few days earlier at his State of the University address?
(10/23/09 12:00am)
Two weeks ago, an incident at Willy's Pub presented the institution with a quandary. The self-imposed decision to keep Pub dry for a week was, we believe, a sound decision, one that allowed Pub to both educate and take responsibility in a successful and obvious manner. While the incident was not necessarily their fault, their response should be commended (see story, page 1).That being said, we are worried that the hesitancy to see the incident repeat itself will push security at Pub beyond reasonable enforcement. As it stands, Pub plans on installing a large sign near the entrance denoting what the possible penalties for infractions entail, which is fine in and of itself. So too are the plans to reinforce checks on drinking ages - including those who already have a wristband. But plans are also in motion for security to check bags upon entering Pub.
(10/23/09 12:00am)
We acknowledge it would be tough to follow up on the grandeur of last fall's Esperanza, which was held on campus in a Centennial Campaign kickoff tent. Rice Program Council scored the venue free of charge, and students enjoyed a focus on both student DJs and a classy atmosphere complete with a fountain and upscale finger foods. The 1,000 tickets quickly sold out, leaving a large number of students disappointed they couldn't attend the revamped dance.RPC hit a high note with last year's formal, and it's hard not to compare it to this year's (see story, page 4).
(10/09/09 12:00am)
It may be ironic that we espouse the merits of sustainability on a dead tree, but please, bear with us. Our intent is sincere. We would like to commend the university for its improvement upon last year's score, delineated on the Sustainable Endowments Institute's Green Report Card (page 6).While we are not yet to the level of some other universities - our B grade certainly leaves room for improvement - the jump from last year's B-minus shows marked improvement. One need look no further than McMurtry College and Duncan College, the most environmentally-friendly colleges on campus, to recognize the university's attempts at decreasing its carbon footprint.
(10/09/09 12:00am)
In Alex Bonnel's column in last week's Thresher, "Magnolia League's potential too good to pass up," the attribution of information to Wikipedia was unclear. Background information from Wikipedia began with the start of the column and concluded with the sentence "SMU and Rice were not willing to give up the Cotton Bowl income, and Duke was already heavily entrenched in its rivalry with the University of North Carolina." The two sentences following this section are the opinion of Bonnel, not content from Wikipedia, though there is a reference to the Magnolia League entry in the following paragraph.
(10/09/09 12:00am)
While the Houston winter is not nearly as frigid as what most of us may be used to, this winter break will nonetheless leave many students out in the cold. No, the residential colleges' air conditioning will not be left on full blast - instead, the residential colleges will be completely shut down, electricity and water turned off, while students are off building their snowmen (see story, page 1).That may be fine for those who were planning on venturing home for the break already, but for the remaining dozens, or possibly hundreds, who weren't planning on jumping the hedges during the three-week hiatus, the plan is undoubtedly a bit difficult to swallow. They won't be staying in a Motel 6 - but they won't be staying in Hotel Zaza, either. They will have to ship out for three weeks, living like a rock star on the road, or at least like a family whose house is undergoing a brief remodel.
(10/02/09 12:00am)
We would like to commend the Rice University Police Departmentand the Houston Police Department for their diligence in solving
(10/02/09 12:00am)
Within the last six weeks, Rice has undergone its greatest expansion in decades. Two new residential colleges ushered in their first classes. The off-campus BioScience Research Collaborative expanded Rice's borders. The Barbara and David Gibbs Recreation and Wellness Center dropped jaws from students and faculty alike. The campus is opening up and stretching out, and Rice is finally able to reap the rewards of years of work.But if the memorandum of operation between Rice and the Baylor College of Medicine grows into something more, as Leebron's e-mail Friday about Rice and Baylor's "memorandum of understanding" would suggest, all these recent projects will become distant memories (see story, page 1).
(10/02/09 12:00am)
Last week's article, "Endowment falls 18 percent," stated that the loss in endowment funds entailed a "5 percent budgetcut for each department [and exactly] what will be cut has yet to be determined." According to Vice President for Finance Kathy Collins, schools and divisions were notified of the cuts last winter which were factored into the current fiscal year 2010. The Thresher regrets the error.
(09/25/09 12:00am)
If the brand new Barbara and David Gibbs Recreation and Wellness Center had opened last Wednesday, the odds of us putting out this week's issue would have been as likely as the football team cracking the top 25 in the polls. After looking over the Rec Center's litany of features, there is simply no way we would have elected to spend our time pumping out this Family's Weekend edition of the Thresher (see story, page 8).Just look at what Rice's newest addition has to offer. Brand new banks of cardio machines. A dance studio with springy floorboards. Stationary bikes that allow for spin classes without the instructor berating you for your lethargy. Kalwall windows to both filter light and absorb excess heat, preventing the body-odor humidity that we all love about our local gyms.
(09/25/09 12:00am)
Over the last week, Rice has been graced by the presence of a pair of highly-respected diplomats: Edrian Idrissov, Kazakhstan Ambassador to the United States, and Swashpawan Singh, former ambassador for India to the United Nations (see stories, pages 4 and 7). Meanwhile, it was announced that Muhammad Yunus, the 2006 Nobel Peace Prize winner, would be the commencement speaker at the 2010 commencement (see story, page 1).Even though the endowment may have dropped by double-digit percentages (see story, page 1), it is nice to see that Rice can still attract the kind of envoys and world leaders that make our university as prestigious as we've been led to believe. And yet that prestige was not on full show for Idrissov and Singh, who both spoke in college commons. Lacking the pomp and showmanship of the James A. Baker III Institute for Public Policy - and all the perceived intimidation that students may feel when they gape at the building's imposing beauty - the ambassadors were instead treated to the dining facilities for the university's students.
(09/25/09 12:00am)
To the Editor:For pedestrians, bells, whistles and random shouting seem random and not especially effectual ("New bike policy aims for safety," Sept. 18). Perhaps you could promote signals long used by downhill skiers: "On your Right" or "On your left!" These alerts give precise information to a walker and enable him or her to decide instantly where to step - left or right - to avoid impending danger.
(09/18/09 12:00am)
In early 2008, the Bicycle Safety Committee came together to hammer out a bike policy that would keep bikes moving and pedestrians safe. Eighteen months later, the plan is out, with details finalized and policy enacted (see story, page 1). We look at this new policy as a necessity, for obvious reasons - there have been one too many times when we've been traipsing along the sidewalks, minding our business and chatting with friends on the phone, when a blur flashes in our periphery and, our life flashing before our eyes, we realize just how close we came to eating pavement, at no fault of our own. It's not that the passing bikers carried any malicious intent; rather, they were either distracted or saw themselves as a bit more skilled at maneuvering than we pedestrians perceived.The new policy's stipulations are both sensible and well-known. The bell-and-yell policy is nothing more than common sense, and the bike registration policy, now mandatory, has been on campus for years. The quiz that has been added is a nice touch, reminding students of the requirements before they can endeavor to ride their two-wheelers.
(09/18/09 12:00am)
The two new colleges have gotten off to a bit of a stunted start, with sinks falling off and motion-sensing lights going awry. Now, we have learned that the cleaning staff assigned to the new colleges has put the entire North College cleaning staff in a bind (see story, page 1). No new staff members were hired for the new colleges, straining the current staff and, with the H1N1 virus making its rounds, potentially putting the student body in increased danger of contracting a disease that, as we've seen, has made itself readily apparent.We understand that this was, and always has been, a temporary measure. However, members of the staff claimed they were not told of the plan, meaning that the reshuffling came as a surprise once Duncan College and McMurtry College opened. And while we understand that the process is already well underway to fill the ranks, we feel it necessary to say "thank you" to those who are already chronically underappreciated. Some type of recompense should be in order. After all, if this is to remain one of Houston's best places to work, it would behoove the university to treat its current employees with the respect, and admiration, they deserve.
(09/18/09 12:00am)
To the Editor:The author of the Thresher opinion article on intelligent design ("Intelligent design to take over all studies," Sept. 4), Brian Reinhart, doesn't understand that mockery isn't how to disagree with someone else's views.
(09/18/09 12:00am)
In last week's article, "RUPD forced to cut number of officers," the Thresher incorrectly reported that two Rice University Police Department officers were cut due to the 5 percent budget cuts. Only one officer was cut. The Thresher regrets the error.
(09/11/09 12:00am)
Editor's note: This article has been changed from its original version:Along with Willy's Statue and Wayne Graham's stare, the Honor Code is an integral member of Rice's identity. Long a member of the Rice culture, the Honor Code's merits have been ingrained into Rice's bones, holding students to the highest ethical standards that a university of our stature can.
(09/04/09 12:00am)
In the Aug. 28 article, "New BRC opens OC," the Thresher reported that architect Michael Graves designed the BioScience Research Center. The BRC was designed by Skidmore Owings & Merrill LP and FKP Architects, Inc. The Thresher regrets the error.
