The Rice Thresher (Houston, Tex.), Vol. 68, No. 4, Ed. 1 Thursday, August 28, 1980 Page: 3 of 16
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THRESHING-IT-OUT
Oxfam tries again to
break poverty cycle
To the Editor:
Last year marked the successful
beginning of a new voluntary
program at Rice: a monthly meal-
skip to benefit Oxfam-America, a
non-profit organization which
provides financial and technical
support worldwide to programs in
developing countries through
which people in poverty increase
their self-sufficiency and seek long-
range solutions to particular
problems.
More than 600 on-campus Rice
students participated in the meal-
skip last year, and even more are
expected to participate in 1980-81.
Each of the participating colleges
has an Oxfam representative who
coordinates the program in that
particular college.
Oxfam began in England in 1942
as the "Oxford Famine Relief
Committee," but in subsequent
years has devoted itself primarily
to projects initiated in the various
countries by the citizens
themselves with long-range goals
of self-sufficiency, rather than just
to immediate crisis relief. In this
respect, Oxfam is much different
from some better-known but more
"handout"-oriented international
organizations. (Although when
emergencies arise, Oxfam
continues it original function of
crisis relief. Oxfam is one of the
few organizations which was
allowed inside Cambodia for
famine relief and provision of
medical supplies.)
Oxfam employs a small number
of "field directors," expert in the
special problems of developing
countries. These field directors
seek out existing projects and
receive requests from various
projects throughout the world,
which local people have initiated,
organized, and maintained, but
which, for one reason or another,
have difficulties in financing —
often because the government of
the country is young and strained
for funds, and has difficulty in
allocating sufficient funds for all
the efforts in the country which
may require them.
1 Oxfam field directors research
each project which requests funds
with respect to its past
accomplishments, organization,
efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and
actual benefit to the people it is
intended to help. If they decide it is
a worthy program, they make a
recommendation to Oxfam for its
support. Oxfam supports projects
in which the local citizens
themselvs make the decisions and
carry out their ramifications. This
fact, and Oxfam's low overhead
costs, distinguish Oxfam from
many other international-aid
programs. The emphasis in Oxfam
is to help people in developing
countries take charge of their own
development, with the idea that
only when people are able to
provide their own means of living
can economic and political
stability flourish.
The basic gist of the Oxfam
meal-skip program at Rice is that
on one previously agreed-upon
night each month, each college
member who has agreed to
participate skips dinner that night
in the college and the funds thus
saved by the Rice Food Service
(amounting last year to about $600
each time) are donated to Oxfam-
America, with the authorization of
the Rice Food Service. To many
Americans $600 a month may
seem like drop in the bucket, but
over the course of an academic
year, those funds can help to
revitalize an African community
ravaged by drought or a Central
American community ruined in an
earthquake.
Unlike government foreign aid,
Oxfam aid has no political or
military strings attached, and does
not favor one country over
another. Financial support is
based only on need and on
demonstrated effectiveness of each
program considered for support.
Oxfam mainly helps small, rural
developments often overlooked by
larger agencies. Its aim is to break
the vicious cycle of poverty arid
starvation by strengthening efforts
by people to organize their own
developments and thus ensure the
long-lasting benefits of self-
sufficiency.
Be sure to watch for
announcements in your college at
the beginning of the school year
regarding Oxfam, the meal-skip,
and how you can get involved.
Kathy Collmer '79
Rice's 'truth' won't set
you free, says Taggart
To the Editor:
In his Matriculation Address,
Dr. Hackerman quoted the words,
"the truth will make you free" from
the Bible. The same words are
prominently displayed on the
outside of Sewall Hall near the
middle of the quad. The words are
Jesus' own, found in Chapter 8 of
John's gospel. With the promise of
freedom, both the President and
the Sewall Hall inscriber seek to
inspire us to learn as much truth as
we can in the classroom and in our
broader Rice experience. But a
look at the context of John 8
shows that Jesus spoke of a truth
radically different from the truth
generally available at Rice.
*If you continue in my word,
you are truely my disciples, and
you will know the truth, and the
truth will make you free." (John
8:31-32). According to Jesus,
obedience to his word leads one to
truth, which in turn makes one
free. He elaborates in verse 36
"So if the Son makes you free, you
will be free indeed." In John 14:6
Jesus further clarifies the matter:
"I am the way, the truth, and the
life."
Neither academic achievement
nor human relationship leads one
to freedom. Rather, an active
response to Jesus' words leads one
to a personal knowledge of Jesus,
who is the truth. Then the Son of
God makes you free, and you are
indeed free.
How the truth can be a person
rather than a concept is hard for
me to comprehend. But my limited
understanding in no way limits the
practicality of what Jesus is saying.
Years ago I made the decision to
follow Jesus, to continue in his
word. And bit by bit I am being set
free — from guilt, from pridfc, from
hate, jealousy, loneliness,
meaninglessness, and all the other
thought patterns that have plagued
mankind throughtout history. I
have been set free to know and
serve God, which is the most
fulfilling thing a person can do.
Scores of others on this campus
will gladly attest to the same
freedom. Jesus, the God who still
lives today, invites all who would
be set free by the truth to start and
end their search with him.
Peter Taggart '81
'Negative attitude'
viewed negatively
To the Editor:
We are appalled at the negative
attitude taken in the Newcomers
Handbook concerning varsity
athletics at Rice. This handbook is
intended for freshmen and
transfers and should therefore
present an optimistic and
supportive outlook on all aspects
of the Rice community.
The articles concerning the Rice
cheerleaders and football team
were demeaning, to say the least.
We feel that instead of
undermining the efforts of the
many students and coaches
involved in varsity athletics, we
should all be willing to recognize
their dedication and hard work.
How can these athletes be expected
to give their best, when some
students exemplify such an
apathetic view?
First impressions are often
lasting. Since the articles
portrayed an unfavorable
impression, we wanted to present
another angle. Beginning this year,
let's initiate a tradition of showing
our athletes we are behind them all
the way.
Joy Melton
Susan Taylor
Carole Valentine
Lily Avellan
Lori Jacobs
D00HESBUBT
I FEELGOOD
today. know fu-jet
mi FEEL M&S0'
good today?
/ FtNP r
OUT
how sweet tt is, eh,
GUYS? AND YOU ALL UP HASN'T
THOUGHT REAGAN WAS 7%NWJ
j DEAD IN THE MATER. gn '
YOU MIGHT AS WELL
ADMIT IT, MIKE, rrs
GOING TO BE A VERY
LONG FALL FOR JIMMY
/ CARTER.
£
I GOTTA GO TO
PRACTICE NOW
I'LL SEE YOU
AT FOUR, MARK.
\
im chatting he&
utth team captain
and star. quarjer-
i backb.d. ml me,
' b.d, hows the ou
'team shapin'up?
good, mark. we
got some mm
ball club this
year.wguys
camevplay
football.
before hub sign off
today, 0urguest
\ 8.9. mjlpukb
to read a brief
\ prepare? state-
-'-mekt.
THANKS,
MARK..
I FEELGOOD BECAUSE I
WOKE UP THIS MORNING AND
IT SUDDENLY HIT ME THERE'S
AN EXCELLENT CHANCE OUR
NEXT PRESIDENT IS GOING
TO BE RONALD
JUST A MATTER OF TIME,
MIKE. ONLY A FEUJ MORE A
WEEKS, AND THIS COUNTRY retiRPD
Mil FINALLY GET WHAT ^WE
IT DESERVES. ACTOR''
■ I MEAN. LET'S FACE IT, REAGAN'S
ON A ROLL. HE'S A GREAT
SPEAKER, HE KNOWS HIS g£A.
STUFF, AND HE'S GOT THE
■ BEST ONE-LINERS
I THE BUSINESS. ,
I'M GIVING HIM AN
EXCLUSIVE INTER-
VIEW ABOUT THE TEAM
MY FIRST OF THE
CCACSSkt '
'COURSE, WE'RE GONNA BE PLAYING
A UTTLE SHORT-HANDED THIS SEA -
SON. A LOT OF THE GUY5ARE TAKING
TIME OFF TO WORK POR REA6AN, TO
HELP MAKE THE GIPPERNJMBERONE.
"MY FELLOW AMERICANS. OKAY, SO
WE GOT SOME PROBLEMS IN THIS
COUNTRY. BUTWEVE TRIEP THE
TOUGH SOLUTIONS, THE UNPOPULAR
ONES, AND THEY HAVEN'T WORKED "
\
ITS THE BEGINNING OF
A NEW AGE, GENTLE-
MEN, IT'S A WHOLE NEW
BALL GAME, YOU BETTER . _
/ MAKE PLANS. ! j
I ALREADY
HAVE. I'VE
DECIDED TO
SHOOT MY-
SELF.
GOOD CHOICE
HANDGUNS
SHOULD BE
CHEAP AND
PLENTIFUL
50 HE WAS ONCE A MOVIE
ACTOR' BIG PEAL! TODAY
HE'S EVERY BIT AS GOOD
A POLITICIAN AS HE M5
/ AN ACTOR'
ir
ABSOLUTELY. FOR IN-
STANCE, DID YOU KW NO KIDDING7
n. OF ALL POLLUTION WHAT KIND
COMES FROM PLANT5 OF POLLU-
_ AND TREESp TION''
fe ' ^
DO YOU WANT
I CAN'T
10 '£? 7HB IT'S 100
HONORS? EA3V A
\ SHOT.
Uh.dead
MVE5, )0U
dry rot,
MOLD.
'. stuff
p
WOW. NO
WONDER THE
FORESTS AREN'T
FIT TO WALK.
IN ANYMORE
AND YOU THOUGHT 'FJjU ^NTM
OcikiYi A nicy- ANOLc FOR. 7n&
M"GftDI5C INTERVIEW, JUST
KEEP ONE WORD
IN MIND..
JOCKEf' MAS
ALL GLAMOUR
NO, "GIPPER"
"INSUFFER THE PARALLELS
ABLE ? WITH THE TEAM
' THIS YEAR ARE
>
:
nn
THIS COUNTRY NEEDS A NEW COM-
MANDER-IN-CHIEF; BUT IT'S GOING ID
TAKE TEAMWORK AS WEU AS INDIVI-
DUAL EFFORT TO GET REAGAN ON THE
SCOREBOARD. I MYSELF AM PUBLICLY
URGING /ILL MY FANS TOGO TO BAT
" t^fORHTM.
BUT ISN T
THAT MIXING
SP0RJ5WTTH
POLITICS
WELL. MAYBE. BUT
I'M WILLING TO GO
THE DISTANCE, EVEN
IF H MEANS TAK-
ING TON THE CHIN.
"I SAY ITS TIME TO LOOK FOR.
SIMPLISTIC ANSWERS. I SAY
rrs TIME TO TRY SOME QUICK
CURES, SOME EASY, PAINLESS,
POPULAR SOLUTIONS. I SAY LETS
GIVE WISHFUL THINK/NO A
. CHANCE'.''
"TAKEENERGY. FEW
PEOPLE KNOW THERE
YOU HEARD 5 MORE OIL UNDER
IT HERE FIRST, RdCHESTER, N.Y.,
SPORTS FANS.. THAN ALL OF
SAUDI ARABIA."
La
The Rice Thresher, August 28, 1980, page 3
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Dees, Richard. The Rice Thresher (Houston, Tex.), Vol. 68, No. 4, Ed. 1 Thursday, August 28, 1980, newspaper, August 28, 1980; Houston, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth245444/m1/3/?rotate=270: accessed July 18, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting Rice University Woodson Research Center.