The Rice Thresher (Houston, Tex.), Vol. 69, No. 6, Ed. 1 Friday, September 18, 1981 Page: 5 of 16
sixteen pages : ill. ; page 20 x 14 in.View a full description of this newspaper.
Extracted Text
The following text was automatically extracted from the image on this page using optical character recognition software:
New registrar discusses future
Though Rice's new registrar
James Williamson will not arrive
at school for several more weeks.
Thresher reporter Jonathan Berk
spoke to him over the phone at
Kenyon College.
In the future do you see the Rice
Registrar's Office as efficient and
as workable as the Kenyan
Registrar's Office?
I see no reason why it wouldn't
be. I must say that as I perceive it,
and had it explained to me, that the
office does suffer from some
deficiencies. I don't want to imply
the impression that the office now
is in terrible shape. I have no
evidence of that at all. Like any
offifce, including the office here at
Kenyan, improvements I am sure
can be made. I see no reason why
Rice's Registrar's Office can't be
the same quality as everything else
at Rice which my impression is
first-rate. It ought to be first-rate
and there is no reason why it can't
be first-rate. If I can't make it first-
rate you had better get somebody
else in who can.
Exactly how do you foresee you
contact with the student body and
faculty of Rice University,
specifically in regards to the
Registrar's Office?
I would very much welcome the
opportunity to meet with various
students and faculty groups, and of
course, individually for complaints
or suggestions. I feel very strongly
that the Registrar's Office be like
any other administrative office to
serve the faculty and students
ultimately. I do not propose
make any major changes without
consulting with students, faculty
members and administrative
colleagues.
I don't know whether you are
aware of this, but other registrars
have promised similar things in
previous years. Do you see any
reason why it should be different
with you?
I think perhaps the one
difference is, if I understand Rice's
history, this is somewhat of a
departure for Rice to be hiring
someone from the outside for this
position. If there is any difference,
it would be that I would bring to
Rice a fair amount of computer
experience. I hope to draw on that
experience and make the office as
efficient and as useful as possible.
Beyond that all I can tell you is
what my intentions are, and
whether I deliver or not, Rice will
have to come to its own
conclusions on that.
will the
be com-
To what extent
Registrar's Office
puterized?
That is a difficult question to
answer, and it is particularly
difficult to quantify as a
percentage. 1 guess my philosophy
PROFESSIONAL
WORDPROCESSING
AND TYPING
Specializing in School and
Business Work
Fast Turnaround!
Fronda's Typing Unlimited
3311 Richmond, Suite 200
528-3197
with respect to computers is that
they should be used to the fullest
possible extent where appropriate.
That means doing jobs that are
routine, that can be done much
more efficiently than people and
that would free the staff to do other
jobs (of which there are many).
Second, I have at Kenyon and I
have always tried to guard against
having people feeling that they are
just numbers and digits for the
computer to grind on. I think I
have been reasonably successful
here on that. I certainly will be verv
sensitive to that at Rice,
minimizing from the outside at
least the appearance that
everything is computerized, and
that we are all dealing with
computers and not the people.
Those are my principles — if you
will — a guideline as far as the
computers in such an office are
concerned.
Are you aware of the exact
nature of the problems?
Yes, I guess that is an accurate
.statement. I have ideas. I don't
want to over-emphasize the
problems. I understand that some
people are not completely happy
with the operation of the office but
I would like to point out that they
have been understaffed for some
time too. I have just not had the
time to talk to the staff to really get
a good understanding as to the
problems they have there.
Former Swiss president
highlights lecture series
Willy Spuehler, former
president and prime minister of
Switzerland, will open Rice
University's 1981-82 President's
Lecture Series at 8 p.m., Tuesday,
September 22 in the Grand Hall of
the Rice Memorial Center. There
is no admission charge.
An economist by profession,
Spuehler's address will cover Swiss
politics as seen from the Swiss
perspective and is entitled
"Switzerland's Political Perspec-
tives."
In addition to Spuehler's
presidency of the Swiss
Confederation in 1963 and 1968,
he also served as foreign minister
in 1966 and in the Swiss
Parliament between 1953 and
1955. Speuhler retired from
government service in 1970. and
since his retirement has headed the
Swiss Cultural Foundation and
the Commission for the Presence
of Switzerland Abroad.
The President's Committee on
Public Lectures has also finalized
its schedule for two other speaking
engagements. On November 5,
William Vanden Heuvel, former
U.S. Deputy Ambassador to the
United Nations, will speak, and in
January, Sports Illustrated Editor
John Underwood will talk on
morality in college athletics.
SHAPE
THE FUTURE
OF ENERGY
TECHNOLOGY
It is a tall order. Yet. it is a challenge that must be met
Our future as an industrial society depends on our ability
to find more efficient ways to use our limited fuel
resources. At Fluor, we are working hard to find the
answers.
For over 60 years, we have helped the energy industries by
designing and building modern refining, petrochemical,
chemical and natural gas facilities. During that time. Fluor
engineers have been in the forefront of energy related
technology.
At present, we are applying new methodology in the
extraction of oil from tar sands and shale, coal gasification
and the refining of high sulphur feedstocks. This is a
challenging, exciting time for engineers who are interested
in solving complex problems.
Graduates with degrees in Chemical, Mechanical, Civil or
Electrical Engineering or Computer Science are invited to
help us shape the future of energy, technology. For
complete career information, talk to our campus recruiter,
or write to:
Houston Division
College Relations
4620 N. Braes wood
Houston. Texas 77096
CAMPUS INTERVIEWS
September 28, 1981
FLUOR
We are proud to be an Equal Opportunity
Employer M/F/H/V
iiiii
The Rici 7 nresher, September IS, J9SI, page 5
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.
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.
Davies, Bruce. The Rice Thresher (Houston, Tex.), Vol. 69, No. 6, Ed. 1 Friday, September 18, 1981, newspaper, September 18, 1981; Houston, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth245478/m1/5/: accessed July 18, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting Rice University Woodson Research Center.