The Rice Thresher (Houston, Tex.), Vol. 58, No. 20, Ed. 1 Thursday, February 25, 1971 Page: 2 of 8
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threshing-it-out
HI
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editorial
It would appear that once again Rice has caught an
acute case of indecision. The decision making process at
liice, never noted for its speed or its logic, is once again
trying to play dead. Traditionally, during and after the
period a decision is made, reasons in the guise of excuses
(and vice-versa) are numerous. And in the case of the
24 hour open house for the women's colleges, the
reason-excuses seem to be unusually poor.
Brown College is in the process of trying to obtain
a decision on the 24 hour open house. Minor considera-
1"ions such as security, legality, and general fairness have
been used to oppose the plan. These have obscured the
real issues in this case.
As has been pointed out, 24 hour open house would
not be any less secure than the now present 18 hour
open house. However, to further the "security"' the in-
novation now used in Sid Richardson could be imple-
mented. Keys can be given to the members of the college.
This would have the added effect of increasing security
by allowing the doors to be shut sooner, and would keep
girls from having to wait till the campus security came
in order to get in late at night. It would seem that this
present system of having the women wait outside late at
night would cause more concern for security than a twen-
ty-four hour open house. Also, it is hard to imagine how
a girl who is in the men's colleges late at night is any
more secure than in her own room with a 24 hour open
house.
The problems of legality are easily overcome. No-
where in the room contract is there an agreement by the
university to enforce bedtime, morals, or curfew. The
decision would merely need approval of the masters, who
are instructed by the university to handle such internal
matters in the colleges.
The complaint that the open house would be unfair
to members of the colleges who do not want it can be
solved. A large minority of the women In Brown
have voted against 24 hour open house. One possible
solution is for certain floors could be designated before
room registration as those which would not have open
house. Incoming freshmen could be asked as to their
preference before the beginning of each semester. It
should be noted, however, that fears of inconvenience
were expressed in the men's colleges, and they have
failed to materialize.
It would appear that these concrete problems have
been constructed as barriers to the real issues: does the
university have the right to act in loco parentis; should
the university allow a double standard, one for men and
<me for women; and when do the members of a college
have the right to restrict the act and or privacy of an-
other member? Given the realizable security, the ques-
tion becomes one of whether Rice women are as mature
and as capable of making decisions as Rice men.
Universities throughout the country, a good many
with similar aspects of the "Rice experience" have es-
tablished 21 hour open house. Indeed many now have
coed colleges. With the hoped for advent of co-ed col-
leges, the 24 hour open house would be needed. It is
feared that lack of 24 open-house would lie used as a
barrier to the coed college. (It would appear rather
comical to lock men and women>for 6 hours a night in a
coed college.)
Obviously, it is felt by the university that the men
are mature enough for 24 hour open house. The women
are no less so. The masters and administration should
have no more than an auxiliary role in this question.
No matter what the decision, the women in the col-
leges, as in the men's, should decide for themselves. The
university should not be in the business of playing par-
ent, nor should one human being try to enforce his own
personal set of morals on another.
An equitable solution is possible, and the decision
should be made before room deposits are required this
year.
mauldin
thres
JOHN MAULDIN
Editor-in-Chief
RICK GRIDER
Business Manager
Gianelloni fed up with Rice
To the Editor:
Sunday evening I couldn't stand it anymore.
For the last month and a half I'd had this craving
for Chinese food. Anytime anyone said, "Let's go
get something to eat," I'd immediately let my
craving be known. However, the inquirer usually
opted for Jack-in-the-Box, Burg*er King (or even
the big splurge—Hamburgers by Gourmet) in-
stead of a Chinese restaurant. I'd hounded all
my friends to the point that they said they would
strangle me if they heard the word "Chinese"
one more time.
As I found myself with a car this weekend
(my brother is out of town), I determined to
go. But alas and alack!!! My question, "Chinese,
anyone?" met with singular unsuccess. My room-
mates turned deaf ears to one crying in the desert
(of Food Service Food, that is). Realizing that
I'd be having nightmares about egg- rolls if I
didn't get some Chinese food soon, I made up my
mind to go (horror of horrors!) alone. So, 7:00
found Julie eating Moo Gui Pan in Lee's Den.
I had a lot of time to think while I was in-
dulging myself in my culinary craving. I suddenly
realized that I've been living in Houston for near-
ly two years yet I can name the good restaurants
I've eaten in on the fingers of one hand—and
most of those because of my parents. Nor have
I been to Houston's leading museums, art gal-
leries, etc.
I have always believed that education is
more than book learning, that, in fact, it should
be a very cultural experience. How then can I
explain my own actions (or rather, lack of ac-
tion)? Mainly, 1 think that this is a built-in
problem here at Rice. One can live on campus
without ever proceeding outside the shrubberies
—movies, theatre, and friends all in one con-
venient location. The lack of a convenient trans-
portation system, such as the Boston MTA or the
New York subway, also magnifies the problem.
Isolation quickly becomes a life style (It is in-
teresting to note that I don't know any U of H
people, except my brother. In Boston I quickly
met students from a wide variety of schools).
So what's this all about? Well, I've decided
to consciously do more towards "acquiring cul-
ture". For instance, I'd like to visit a different
museum or art gallery, say Saturday mornings.
Sunday evenings, a new restaurant. But I'd
rather do these things with someone than alone.
I realize that poor Rice students can't afford to
take dates to nice restaurants and such. But
suppose a mixed group went Dutch? I pay my
way, you pay yours, everyone has a nice time
and no one is reduced to Jack-burgers for the
next three weeks.
One of my roommates begged me not to sub-
mit this article (the rest probably would have
too if they'd known I was planning to write it).
Well, I've lost all my pride. If any of you are
interested in accompanying me to exotic restau-
rants, filled with equally exotic foreigners, or to
museums, art galleries, etc. give me a call. 1
don't want to say that I'm starting a cultural
group, or a club, or anything like that. Just a
group of cuisine connoisseurs and cultural critics.
P.S. Lee's Den has good food but on atmosphere.
JULIE GIANELLONI
Jones '73
Starnes writes on A&M students
(The following letter was sent to
the A&M student paper).
On Saturday, February 13.
1971, several Rice students ven-
tured to College Station on two
buses sponsored by Hanszen
College and Baker College to
support the Rice Owl basket-
ball team in hopes of avenging
an earlier defeat by Texas A &
M in Houston. The trip was un-
dertaken in the spirit of a tra-
ditional rivalry involving the
athletic teams of the two
schools.
As a show of our support and
spirit, we formed a victory line
on the court for the Rice team
before the game. Although we
were completely surrounded on
the court by A&M security
guards and despite the fact that
no attempt was made to stop
the A & M mascot mastiff from
biting several Rice fans, our
conduct was orderly with no in-
tentionally antagonistic actions.
There was one event involving
some Rice students giving peace
signs during the A & M Alma
Mater; but after being ad-
monished by threats from the
security guards, the Rice stu-
dents ceased making signs ex-
cept for one student who did
not. .understand the threats and
was forced to return to the
stands. When we attempted to
make another victory line dur-
ing half-time, we were turned
away by a mass of guards with
no attempt to explain the A &
M tradition. All we heard were
threats of jail, but despite this
mistreatment, we returned to
our seats without disruption.
Another evidence of Rice en-
thusiasm involved a certain
horn brought by a Rice student.
Although the horn could hardly
compete with the A&M band,
the student was warned by a
security guard that any instru-
ments not in the band were not
permitted and he had better not
sound the horn again. In respect
for this rule, the horn was not
sounded again.
We continued to demonstrate
our support by directing our vo-
cal support toward the teams.
With but few exceptions, the
A & M crowd, consisting mostly
of parents (and secm*ity
guards) sitting around us, also
directed their support at the
game. However, there was one
"gentleman" sitting behind us
who, rather than supporting the
teams, chose to continually har-
ass us as students; no attempt
was made by the security
guards to admonish him that
such actions are inappropriate.
However, most of the crowd did
respect us as supporters. One
couple even 'cheered for Rice,
and nearly everyone applauded
Gary Reist when he was in-
jured and left the court. Such
actions show a true understand-
ing of athletic rivalry.
After Rice had won the game,
we left the seats among the
parents in a quiet fashion to
return to the buses. Outside the
field house, we were confronted
by the A&M student body,
which attempted to harass us
and to engage us in a brawl.
At one point several members
of the A&M Corps surrounded
the Rice students carrying the
horn stole both the horn and
his hat. Another student had
his glasses broken. After we
managed to get on the bus, they
continued to harass us by taunt-
ing us from outside the bus and
by yelling obscenities. The cam-
pus security were now no where
to be seen.
As athletic enthusiasts, we
become concerned about bad
sportsmanship. But we become
even more concerned when it is
apparently abetted by official
agents of the school and when
it goes beyond mere bad sports-
manship and becomes theft. And
we become gravely concerned
when we consider the results of
such actions. We cannot help
but recall the beating that Tom
Friedman, a Baylor player, suf-
fered at the hands of the A&M
crowd. Nothing was done after
that occasion and it is doubtful
anything will be done about the
present ruffian behavior. None-
theless we hold A&M respon-
sible for the loss, and we begin
to wonder if it is necessary to
bring our own security guards
merely to watch and support
our athletic teams.
With grave concern.
Bill Starnes
President, Will Rice College
Rice University
Copies to:
President, Texas A&M
Dean of Students,
Texas A&M
The Battalion
President, Rice University
The Rice Thresher
Onak celebrates Hays' leaving
Charles Szalkowski Editor-at-Large Jack Murray Senior Editoi
Mike Smith ..Exec. Assoc. Ed. Mike Ross Calendar Ed.
Marty Belasco Sports Ed. Gary Rachlin Sports Ed.
DeBow Freed Managing Ed.
Staff: Kathy Itohrer, Maureen Cunnion, H. David Danglo, Emily DeWitt,
Mark Friedman, Steve Jackson, Peter Jordan, Mark Sivers, Becky Strader, Bill
Starnes.
The opinions expressed in this paper are those of its writers and editors
and are not necessarily those of Rice University, it3 administrators or
officials.
Advertising: .Tack Murray.
Circulation: Doug Williams.
The Rice Thresher, official student newspaper at Rice University, is
published weekely on Thursday except during holidays and examination
periods by students of Rice University, Houstort, Texas 7701. Phone JA8-4141,
ext 221, 645.
To the Editor:
As a member in good stand-
ing of Wiess College, I wish to
disassociate myself from Presi-
dent Hays' opposition to Senate
support of the Landlord-Tenant
Act. I hope that members of the
other colleges do not believe
that a mojrity, or even, for that
matter, a sizable minority of
Wiess College members sup-
ported Hays' attempts to block
this resolution and the other
resolutions that he has attemp-
ted to block — invariably with-
out success t— in the past.
Hays' suggestion that the
Senate should not become di-
rectly involved in politics out-
side of the University is spec-
ious on two counts — first,
because writing a few letters
hardly constitutes "direct in-
volvement," and second, because
on such a clear issue the Sen-
ate has a moral obligation to
express its viewpoint to the
legislature. Hays' statement
that the Senate "cannot vote
intelligently" on the bill is an
insult to the intelligence of ev-
ery member of the Senate, in-
cluding himself.
By the time this letter ap-
pears in the Thresher, the Sen-
ate will have held its final
mteting of the year. How won-
derful for most Wiess College
members to realize that they
will never again have to read
that the Senate passed bill X
by a vote of 7 to 1 over the
objections of Wiess College
President John Hays.
MARK ONAK
Wiess '74
the rice thresher, february 25, 1971—page 2
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Mauldin, John. The Rice Thresher (Houston, Tex.), Vol. 58, No. 20, Ed. 1 Thursday, February 25, 1971, newspaper, February 25, 1971; (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth245101/m1/2/: accessed July 18, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting Rice University Woodson Research Center.