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(03/20/09 12:00am)
There are no Rice traditions that compare to Beer Bike. Not Rice baseball, not O-Week and most definitely not pumpkin grades. Thus, you will understand why we are more than a tad perturbed that the planners of this year's Beer Bike have changed the format of this year's parade, limiting all colleges to only one truck (see story, page 5). We take exception to this decree, made without student vote and with little student consent outside of each college's coordinators, for a multitude of reasons. First, and perhaps foremost, is the reasoning that the restriction of trucks will somehow prepare students and coordinators for the pending arrival of two new colleges. This reasoning is flawed - how will imposing restrictions on this year's students prepare them, or the coordinators, for the addition of Duncan and McMurtry? How will fewer trucks ready us for next year's increase? The only reason that this may help us is that coordinators will have to deal only with finding one truck, which may have been a planned imposition for next year, as Duncan and McMurtry, the two largest colleges, would, most likely, have filled the most trucks with those plastic pellets of pain. (Or, for the pessimistic, Duncan and McMurtry could possibly lack the college cohesiveness that necessitates the filling of balloons, putting them at an obvious disadvantage, but we digress).
(03/20/09 12:00am)
If you can read this staff editorial, then you will understand why we cannot help but laugh at the "red light" the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education has given Rice for the university's free speech policy (see story, page 1). As an organization that deals solely in media, we at the Thresher believe we are in the perfect position to chide FIRE for giving Rice the worst possible rating. FIRE is an organization that, for all intents and purposes, seems to lack credibility as a watchdog organization. We strain to believe that Harvard University, Emory University, Stanford University and the University of Chicago could join Rice in the "red light" category, while Southern Methodist University earns a "yellow light."
(03/13/09 12:00am)
In the Feb. 27 issue, a graphic on page 8 mistakenly listed Jackie Ammons, Kelsey Zottnick and Andrew McElroy Patterson as Honor Council winners in their respective years. However, Honor Council Representatives are not selected based on the one with the highest votes. The elections were uncontested and allowed for multiple winners. The Thresher regrets the error.
(03/13/09 12:00am)
We would like to bid a fond farewell to Dylan Farmer and Lily Chun, our outgoing Editors-in-Chief. Dylan, we'll always miss your constant wrist-cracking, your videos of kangaroos attacking their handlers and your penchant for rooting for those pitiable Spurs. Lily, your ability to get things done was unparalleled, much like your love of Coffeehouse cookies, which you rarely seemed to want to share. The Thresher's third-place finish could not have been possible without the two-headed efforts you put forward this year, and your previous efforts as Sports and News editors, respectively, paved the way for better content in print as well as online.Likewise, we wish the best for Amanda Melchor, our outgoing Opinions editor; Julie Armstrong, our outgoing-A&E-editor-turned-soon-to-be-A&E-blog-editor; Sarah Mitchell, our outgoing business manager; Tim Faust, the outgoing half of our Backpage team; Joseph Ramirez and Thomas Yeh, our outgoing Advertising managers; and Nick Schlossman, our outgoing Copy editor. The office will not be the same without you.
(03/13/09 12:00am)
We all care about Beer Bike. Of this, there is no doubt. But when it comes to the safety of our bikers, we must grip the brakes and call for an end to dangerous practices.This danger came in full force before spring break, when a Will Rice College freshman collided with a car stopped on the bike track on the west side of Rice Stadium (see story, page 1). While it was clearly an accident, this collision was also clearly preventable, and we hope to cajole those responsible into implementing a few safety measures.
(03/13/09 12:00am)
The recent tuition hike, announced by President David Leebron on Wednesday, comes with a mixed welcome (see story, page 1). On the one hand, we are pleased to see the university implementing a tuition increase that, percentage-wise, is less than the increases of recent years, and is considerably less than the 14 percent increase instituted of a few years ago. In such an economic climate, we are happy that the administration is taking students' financial needs into consideration, namely with the increase of the loan threshold to $80,000 for the incoming class. Additionally, it is commendable to see that Rice's 2009 percentage increase is less than almost all comparable universities outside of the Ivy League.However, we are worried by the fact that, in the last decade, our tuition has nearly doubled. What was once a selling point - Rice offering a comparable education for pennies on the dollar - has become lore. Even though we can still compare ourselves to other schools who are also increasing their tuitions, the national trend of staggering tuition increases affects us, and is more than a bit troubling. It has to end somewhere, and we hope that end is in sight.
(02/27/09 12:00am)
After the bungling of Rondelet this week, the Rice Program Council's spring formal officially has a checkered history (see story, page 7). In 2007, the dance was axed for the first time since 1947, but was resurrected in 2008. At the time, it looked like 2007's cancellation was a fluke, as the 2008 version was well-attended and well-received.But after two abrupt cancellations in the last three years, we feel that it is finally time to nix the idea of having a spring formal entirely. If Rondelet did not have a tainted reputation coming into this semester, it surely does now. With little record of success in recent memory, students will be disinclined to attend a possible second resurrection next year.
(02/27/09 12:00am)
The proposal of the new Energy and Water Sustainibility and Poverty, Justice, and Human Capabilities minors is a pleasing sight for a few reasons (see story, page 7).Firstly, the continuation and expansion of the minors program is, in itself, the correct step to take in Rice's academic growth. Recently, the Thresher expressed its pleasure about the extension of the minors slate and in the two weeks since, little has changed ("Minors tangible results of student innovation," Jan. 30, 2009).
(02/27/09 12:00am)
After a record-high turnout in the Student Association elections, we cannot commend the student body enough for making its voice heard (see story, page 1). The SA debates were widely-watched, the messages of potential candidates were widely-dispersed, and the poetry of the election was widely-versed, if a bit full of rage.We would like to extend our congratulations and gratitude to all candidates, especially those who had never been involved in the SA before. It was a breath of fresh air to hear new voices, see new faces and learn new ideas from those who had not been involved in the SA from Day 1. We also admired those who had previously given their time to the SA, and we hope that those in both camps who did not win will remain involved in the SA. A variety of ideals and ideas make an institution more representative of the student body, which, after all, should be its main focal point.
(02/20/09 12:00am)
At midnight this morning, the six-day-long Student Association General Election period commenced. Students have until Wednesday at noon to cast their ballots, which will be available both online at sa.rice.edu and at several college sites throughout the week. Besides the SA position races, this semester's ballot includes a number of changes to SA by-laws and the constitution.Regarding the by-law changes, the Thresher offers the following recommendations:
(02/20/09 12:00am)
Two weeks ago, the Thresher mistakenly reported that the speaker at a debate regarding the U.S. Public Service Academy was USPSA co-founder Chris Myers Asch ("Debate considers pros, cons of public service academy," Feb. 6). In fact, the speaker was USPCA co-founder Shawn Raymond. Asch was not present at the debate, and all quotes attributed to him should have been attributed to Raymond. The story has been updated online at www.ricethresher.org.Last week, the Thresher reported that the proposed future rent rates for Valhalla totaled a 137% increase from current rates ("Rent increases proposed for pubs," Feb 13). However, we were unaware that the current rent numbers do not include custodial fees, while the newly proposed number does. Re-calculating the numbers and taking this into account, the increase becomes 30 percent, instead. The story has been updated online at www.ricethresher.org.
(02/13/09 12:00am)
With an ever-tightening economic noose forcing the university to pay more and more attention to its budget, Rice is currently entertaining a proposal that would increase the rent owed by Willy's Pub and Valhalla (see story, page 1). The amount of money Pub would owe has not been made public, but Valhalla would be on the hook for $1,678.25 per month, or $1,000 more per month than the graduate student hangout is paying this year.We are fully aware that this proposal is far from finalized, but we feel that it is necessary to raise our objections as preemptively and immediately as possible.
(02/13/09 12:00am)
Just in case the numerous flyers covering tables at the serveries have not given enough indication, we will make it clear here: The Student Association elections for the 2009-'10 school year are right around the corner. Presidential debates are scheduled for Monday at 10 p.m. in the Farnsworth Pavilion, and the general election period starts Friday. To the three canididates running for SA president, Brown College junior Patrick McAnaney, Martel College sophomore Nicholas Muscara and Jones College junior Matty Weingast, we offer the following:It was nearly two years ago today that the Thresher Editorial Staff crafted a rather scathing indictment of the SA's policies ("SA needs its own Vision," Feb. 23, 2007). Our critique at that time was that the SA was slowly becoming "a rubber stamp for administrative interests." We complained then that SA members had apparent trouble with the concept of providing "strong, clear voices representing [the] majority opinion of their constituency" in the form of resolutions.
(02/06/09 12:00am)
As the evidence piles up indicating that the removal of trays will result in lower water bills and electricity costs for Rice's servery system, we have to applaud the Student Association's proposed resolution supporting the measure (see story, page 1). We also greatly appreciate that H&D chose not to exercise its right to act unilaterally in this decision and instead chose to collaborate with the student body.Preliminary test-runs of the trayless program - "Wasteless Wednesdays" at the south servery - have shown upwards of a 30 percent reduction in food waste and an 11 percent reduction in water usage at each meal, and we firmly believe that any type of practical cost reduction is a welcome sign, especially in today's economic climate.
(02/06/09 12:00am)
Last year, the Faculty Senate proposed an academic calendar that would have given students just one week to add classes without a fee, and only five weeks to drop classes. But after meetings with the SA, the Senate has decided to extend both of those deadlines, and we have to thank its members for their willingness to listen to student concerns (see story, page 1).While the new schedule of two weeks to add a class and seven weeks to drop is more condensed than the current schedule, we feel that it is a fair compromise for both professors and students. Registration data shows that the vast majority of students already operate within this time frame, so the change is merely reflecting a trend already in place. And, should a student face some sort of extenuating circumstance, he or she can still appeal to the Examinations and Standing Committee for help escaping an academic hole.
(02/06/09 12:00am)
The new Brockman Hall for Physics, slated to be completed in December 2010, should be heralded as a welcome addition to the Rice campus (see story, page 4). Although the construction may hamper our peace and quiet, the resulting building will create the perfect amount of peace and quiet that our physicists require to conduct their experiments.The Physics and Astronomy Department may already command much of the administration's attention, but Rice should do everything possible to ensure that its achievements attract more focus outside the hedges. Rice's physicists have already garnered praise for their research, and their move to the state-of-the-art of Brockman Hall will allow them to pursue ever more ambitious experimental goals . At the very least, Rice will have a new recruiting tool, since the building will be attractive to both potential students and potential faculty, and that, of course, is a very good thing.
(01/30/09 12:00am)
Once upon a time, the Thresher expressed displeasure that the Faculty Senate had chosen to lay the groundwork for Rice to introduce minors to the undergraduate curriculum ("Minors programs call for proper treatment," May 19, 2006). The editorial staff expressed concern that a wave of new minors could possibly overtax already-stressed students and cheapen major curriculum by stretching department resources. However, we of the current editorial board must say that so far, the spate of introduced minors has not given us any cause for concern, and most, including the newly proposed neuroscience minor, have left us impressed (see story, page 1). We applaud the initiative and motivation shown by those students who in recent months and years have worked to introduce new interdisciplinary studies in the form of minors. Far from stretching resources, these minors - business, sociology and the recently approved Jewish studies - have opened doors for students to take advantage of the best in multiple departments, not the worst.
(01/30/09 12:00am)
Around 11 p.m. Tuesday, a staff member working in the Humanities Building was assaulted as she made her nightly cleaning rounds (see story, page 1). Her assailant fled on foot, evading the Rice University Police Department and running through campus.Students were oblivious to most of this action, save for the few who saw the police cars crowding the inner loop near the Humanities Building, but it did not have to be this way. We're all aware that following the Virginia Tech massacre two years ago, Rice invested in a new measure of safety, compiling students' cell phone numbers and e-mails in case an emergency were ever to occur on campus. In the past few years, we've received texts informing us of on-campus flooding (Aug. 16, 2007) and strong-arm Sallyport robberies (Nov. 17, 2007), both good uses of the system.
(01/23/09 12:00am)
The idea of the planned Jewish studies minor, set to be implemented after achieving $10 million in donations, has convinced us that the administration's focus on academics is expanding and extending in the right direction (See story, page 1). As the first specific religious studies program at Rice, a diverse student body will have the opportunity to extend their knowledge into new realms, and potential students will have yet another reason to look at Rice with intrigued eye.But let us not stop here with this sole program. We hope that this new curriculum, slated to begin next fall, will be the harbinger of better things ahead. There is no reason for us to assume that this will be the last minor established at Rice, let alone the lone religious studies program offered by the university. However, we would like to call for the continued growth in both areas.
(01/23/09 12:00am)
The story "10,818: Applications for 2013 class surpass 10,000, break records" in the Jan. 16 issue of the Thresher was credited to Michelle Jin but should have been credited to Melissa Tsang. The Thresher regrets the error.
