The Rice Thresher, Vol. 95, No. 7, Ed. 1 Friday, October 5, 2007 Page: 2 of 20
twenty pages : ill. ; page 19 x 15 in.View a full description of this newspaper.
- Highlighting
- Highlighting On/Off
- Color:
- Adjust Image
- Rotate Left
- Rotate Right
- Brightness, Contrast, etc. (Experimental)
- Cropping Tool
- Download Sizes
- Preview all sizes/dimensions or...
- Download Thumbnail
- Download Small
- Download Medium
- Download Large
- High Resolution Files
- IIIF Image JSON
- IIIF Image URL
- Accessibility
- View Extracted Text
Extracted Text
The following text was automatically extracted from the image on this page using optical character recognition software:
THE RICE THRESHER OPINION FRIDAY, OCTOBER 5,2007
the Rice Thresher
Pavilion success relies
on students, machines
While construction on the Brochstein Pavilion is steadily progress-
ing — currently at the dust pit stage — plans for what will be inside
the Pavilion are still not yet concrete. The blueprints are not overly
complex: It is essentially a big glass box with couches, restrooms
and a food kiosk. But the kiosk, which will draw students campus-
wide with its alluring late-night food and beverages, should be the
diamond in that big glass box. A successful pavilion will rely on a
successful kiosk, which will require two key qualities: 24-hour ser-
vice and a student vibe. And these two qualities can come together
in one easy package with student employment.
Admittedly, a 24-hour food kiosk would be economically difficult
— only a few people seek food in the wee hours of the morning,
and even fewer want to work. However, Rice students, well known
for keeping odd hours, would be the perfect candidates to run a
late-night kiosk. And as Coffeehouse has proven, everyone loves
student-run institutions (see graph, page 5).
13th Street has tried to hire students, but faced trouble because
food preparation requires significant training and long, constant
hours, both of which students are understandably reluctant to em-
brace given their cramped schedules. On the flip side, Coffeehouse
hours and duties are more flexible. The new kiosk should lean more
towards the Coffeehouse model, with pre-made sandwiches and
snacks, and would benefit hugely from student employees. The
kiosk could even have a partnership with Coffeehouse to give it a
true student-run aura.
However, even if a student-run kiosk can not fulfill 24-hour fan-
tasies, the Pavilion should contain refrigerated vending machines.
These vending machines could offer microwavable meals and frozen
treats at any hour, while a coffee vending machine would satisfy
those late-night caffeine needs. These sorts of machines are not a
pipe dream — there are already plans to install one in the essentially-
ignored underground 24-hour access area of the Rice Memorial
Center. Hopefully, Rice can bring these delicious devices out of the
dark and into the big glass box.
Environmentalism does
not end at carbon
At Monday's Student Association meeting, Environmental Con-
cerns Committee Chair Lauren Laustsen and Brown College senator
Patrick McAnaney proposed a resolution requiring President David
Leebron to sign the "American College and University Presidents'
Climate Change Commitment." (See story, page 1)
Rice has been on this path since March 2004, when it adopted a
policy to reduce the university's ecological footprint, maintain sustain-
ability and foster environmental consciousness. Before before the SA
proposed its current resolution, Rice took major steps along the envi-
ronmental trail, with institutionalized environmentalism, LEED rated
construction and water conservation policies, to mention a few.
So, given the progress Rice has already made, we cannot help
but voice some reservations over the resolution's seemingly single-
minded focus on carbon emissions. Global warming activism is a
noble cause against a veritable environmental threat, but it is not
the entirety of environmentalism.
If Houston makes anything crystal clear — or smoggily
opaque — it is that water and air pollution are still problems and
should not be shoved aside for the trendy issue of carbon emissions.
Rice's carbon footprint is an important issue, but so are Rice's mercury
footprint, sulfur dioxide footprint and nitrogen oxide footprint. While
programs that help mitigate carbon emissions, such as clean energy
and reduced reliance on fossil fuels, often help prevent other forms
of pollution, Rice cannot forget that there are many environmental
worries beyond carbon dioxide.
Furthermore, Rice must not forget that proper environmental
policy can have benefits beyond the obvious. As scholars at the
Baker Institute for Public Policy have published, reduced reliance
on Middle East fossil fuels will allow a more secure national energy
policy and increased diplomatic flexibility. A visibly eco-friendly
campus, combined with Rice's new public relations initiative, would
certainly help draw some of that national attention. And in the long
run, reduced resource usage will save Rice money. So when the
university examines carbon-related policies, all potential benefits
and consequences should be taken into account.
We proudly support the SA's newfound environmental causes,
from recycling to reusable plates to the campus energy competi-
tion. But if Rice is to take up a green cause, it should not just be
because of its popularity, but because it is an endeavor worthy of
the university's time and money.
Unsigned editorials represent the majority opinion of the Thresher
editorial staff.
m
soutm sec
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
'80s decision rested
on logistics, budget
To the editor:
Jenny Kingsley and I chose to run
for Head Socials at Sid Richardson
College because we wanted to help
keep campus lively and welcoming to
all students. We have kept this goal in
mind throughout our par ty planning,
and '80s Party was no exception. The
scheduling of '80s was not the result
of cultural insensitivity or ignorance,
but mere logistics ("Sid socials over-
look Jewish students," Sept. 21).
When we scheduled the party in
June, we looked at the date from last
year's party and compared it with dates
of campus events happening during
various weekends in Sept At the time,
we did not know that Sept 21 was Yom
Kippur. When we found out however,
a few weeks before the party, we tried
immediately to reschedule because
we didn't want to exclude any of our
friends or peers. We talked to other
campus leaders for suggestions, en-
couraged Sidizens to email us with
suggestions or concerns and called
the band to look into rescheduling.
The band, Molly and the Ringwalds,
was our biggest concern because they
had rescheduled their tour in Europe
to accommodate our campus party.
They perform at '80s at almost no cost
to us and as a demonstration of their
support Considering the lengths to
which this band had gone to help us,
we could not ask them to change their
tour again.
We are sorry some of our friends
could not join us for '80s, but we did
not ignore the conflict and did not
disregard its importance. We will
continue trying to accommodate all
students' schedules when we plan
future parties, but will not claim
responsibility for peoples' thoughts
when they cannot focus on their
CONTACTING THE
THRESHER
Letters
m Letters to the editor
should be sent to the Th resher
by e-mail to thresher@rice. edu.
Letters must be received by
5 p.m. on the Monday prior to
a Friday publication date.
■ All letters to the editor
must be signed and include
college and year if the writer
is a Rice student.
■ Letters should be no lon-
ger than 250 words in length.
The Thresher reserves the
right to edit letters for both
content and length.
Subscribing
■ Annual subscriptions are
available for $50 domestic
and $125 international via
first class mail.
Advertising
■ We accept display and
classified advertisements.
Advertisements must be
received by 5 p.m. on the
Monday prior to a Friday
publication date. Please con-
tact our advertising man-
ager at (713)348-3967 or
thresher-ads@rice.edu for
more information.
faith's holiest day because their room-
mate is wearing spandex. Radical.
Liz Ericson
Sid Richardson sophomore
Anger at party date
pretentious, unfair
To the editor:
Julia Lukomnik's rant and the
accompanying Thresher editorial
suggesting anti-Semitic negligence
by Sid Richardson bordered on the
absurd. IfafewJewishstudentsforgo
a night of raucous partying on Yom
Kippur, they endure a minor personal
sacrifice. Her outrage reeks of a pious
sense of entitlement. Furthermore,
her claims that Jews are an "isolated"
group on campus are completely
unsubstantiated.
Why do Jewish holidays deserve
such exalted status? Should the
campus serveries shut down during
Ramadan to avoid tempting Muslim
students? Being part of a minor-
ity religious sect means the world
continues to function, even during
your holiest days. Suggestions to the
contrary merely reflect an overblown
persecution complex.
Daniel Abrahamson
Sid Richardson senior
Construction open to
criticism, progress
To the editor:
Thanks so much for your ideas
regarding ways to improve feed-
back related to construction
("Campus complaints show need
for conversation," Sept. 14). As
you suggested, we have added
the more easily remembered e-mail
—construction@rice.edu—and will
be adding that link to our Web pages
as well. This is a great way to further
improve our ability to respond to your
ideas, suggestions and concerns as
we move through this busy time.
Do not forget to check the
construction Web site regularly, at
project.rice.edu, or visit the Con-
struction Information Center, located
at the southeast corner of Alumni
Drive and College Way. It is open
9 a.m.4 p.m., Monday-Friday.
Barbara White Bryson
Associate Vice President
Facilities Engineering and Planning
Evaluations negative,
cruelly unproductive
To the editor:
As a Rice professor of 31 years,
I'd like to offer another view on the
IhresheYs publication of evaluations
statistics and comments. While
inaccurate data are obviously prob-
lematic, the key issue concerns the
purpose and audience of evaluations,
and the impact of printing negative
information in a public newspaper.
Evaluations used to be for profes-
sors only, to know what is working
and what needs fixing. Online
submissions have given students
access and created an informal
culture — "entertaining" was used
in the Ihreshereditorial — appropri-
ate to a need-to-know online forum.
But it is inappropriate in hard-copy
publication, available to the broader
public and far from complete.
I applaud the Thresher publicizing
the best courses and professors, but
am dismayed by the listing of theworst
The biggest problem is the selected
negative comments. The editor's as-
sertion that these were "not intended
as an attack on professors" is naive.
First, these need to be seen in the
context of all the comments for the
class, viewable on the Web. Second,
these are hurtful remarks, especially
in isolation. I've been here long enough
to recall the suicide of John Parrish,
professor of English, after cutting com-
ments in the Misclass section. While a
direct cause isn't certain, afterwards
the Th res/t<>r eliminated negative com-
ments about professors.
For the future, I suggest that the
Thresher eliminate the listing of the
worst profs and courses, and refrain
from publishing isolated negative
remarks. Students who seek course
evaluations can access them in con-
text and their entirety on the web.
Marcia J. Citron
Musicology Professor
Campus must unite
against homophobia
To the editor:
Most people probably know
someone who is gay, lesbian, bi-
sexual or transgender. They are our
friends, family and neighbors and an
important part of the diverse environ-
ment we enjoy here at Rice. Most of
us probably also realize that GLBT
Americans suffer great discrimina-
tion in nearly every facet of society.
Hate crimes and school bullying,
religious intolerance, workplace dis-
crimination, "Don't ask, Don't Tell,"
and marriage and family inequality
are all oppressions suffered by these
brave individuals simply because
they had the strength to come out
and be true to themselves. While we
may see these as grievous injustices,
it is also easier for the straight com-
munity to let the GLBT community
handle it while they turn a blind eye
to the inequality that they clearly
witness. However, I hope there will
come a time when we will no longer
be content to remain silent.
That is why I am involved in
Seven Straight Nights for Equal
Rights. Seven Straight Nights is
a coordinated nationwide series
of overnight vigils led by straight
allies over 7 days. I am organizing
the Houston event which will take
place at the Montrose Counseling
Center on 401 Branard St. from
6 p.m. on Oct. 11 through 7 a.m. on
Oct. 12. This is our chance to have
allies standing shoulder to shoulder
with GLBT Americans sending a
clear message to our city, state and
nation: Equality matters to everyone.
Feel free to come and stay for as long
as you would like. For further details
vi sit sevenstra igh tn igh ts. org and click
on Houston or check out the Face-
book event. On Oct. 11, let's all honor
the bravery of the members GLBT
community who for so long have been
making their voices heard despite
overwhelming opposition.
Caitie Maclntyre
Brown sophomore
Upcoming Pages
Here’s what’s next.
Search Inside
This issue can be searched. Note: Results may vary based on the legibility of text within the document.
Matching Search Results
View 12 places within this issue that match your search.Tools / Downloads
Get a copy of this page or view the extracted text.
Citing and Sharing
Basic information for referencing this web page. We also provide extended guidance on usage rights, references, copying or embedding.
Reference the current page of this Newspaper.
Whitfield, Stephen. The Rice Thresher, Vol. 95, No. 7, Ed. 1 Friday, October 5, 2007, newspaper, October 5, 2007; Houston, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth443021/m1/2/?q=Lamar+University: accessed June 6, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Rice University Woodson Research Center.