The Rice Thresher (Houston, Tex.), Vol. 76, No. 21, Ed. 1 Friday, March 17, 1989 Page: 5 of 20
twenty pages : ill. ; page 19 x 15 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:
THE RICE THRESHER FRIDAY, MARCH 17, 1989
Danburg, Pepsi win in taste test
by Jim Kelly
A month ago Pepsi and Coke
went head-to-head in the commons
of Hanszen, Will Rice, Baker, and
Lovett Colleges, competing in a
Pepsi-sponsored taste test intended
to help persuade Food and Housing
to install new, Pepsi-dispensing soft-
drink fountains in the colleges. Ac-
cording to records of the Pepsi
"Taste of Texas" challenge, Pepsi
edged Coke Classic in taste popular-
ity. But the real winner of the compe-
lion was Hanszen college sopho-
more Aron Danburg.
Participants in the test became
eligible for a drawing for two round-
trip airline tickets to any destination
in the continental United States. At a
meeting between Pepsi representa-
tives and Food and Housing Director
Marion Hicks on February 22,
Danburg's name was drawn.
Wednesday, Danburg was packing.
"I'm going to New York tomor-
row for a four-day weekend because
1 couldn't go during Spring Break,"
Danburg said. "I'm hoping I'll have
time to use the other ticket—maybe
I'll raffle it off."
Fifty-six percent of the test par-
ticipants chose Pepsi as the better-
tasting product when compared with
Coca-Cola Classic, which Pepsi rep-
resentatives referred to as "a leading
comparable brand." The two bever-
ages were dispensed in unmarked
cups, and participants were asked
simply, "Which do you prefer?"
Food and Housing Director
Hicks said test results would be pre-
sented at the next Masters and Presi-
dents meeting in order to get opin-
ions on changing the soft-drink foun-
tains, which nowdispense Coca-Cola
products. No changes will be made,
he said, at least until the current
contract with Coca-Cola runs out in
September.
Hicks said Pepsi marketing has
become more aggressive in the past
year. "Coke for years has given us a
good price, and Pepsi is just begin-
ning to become competitive—but
they're coming on strong."
Regardless of economics,
rv
J
Katy Mcclucky and Cary Farris work in Monterrey, Mexico on the RSVP trip during
Midterm Break.
RSVP volunteers help
school in Monterrey
by Cary Farris
Last week, twelve students in the
Rice Student Volunteer Program
traveled to Monterrey, Mexico to
assist Ciudad de los Ninos, a school
for disadvantaged children.
Ciudad de los Ninos currently
provides private education for boys
and girls through the seventh grade.
Minimal tuition, personal tutor-
ing, and a focus on personal virtues
characterize the school.
At the school, Rice volunteers
painted the administrative building,
applied rust-proofing paint to the
main gates, and worked in the
gardens. Also, the volunteers played
soccer and took lunch breaks with
the children.
While in Monterrey, the volun-
teers stayed with families of the
founders and supporters of Ciudad
de los Ninos.
Opus Dei, an independent Catho-
lic organization, arranged the lodg-
ings and activities in Mexico.
In addition to the tasks performed
at the school, the volunteers visited
the homes of some of the Mexican
students where English language
translators helped bridge the com-
munication gap.
Francisco "Paco" Vera, a native of
Monterrey now residing in Houston,
suggested the project to RSVP last
year and accompanied the Rice
group to Mexico.
RSVP volunteers took a similar
trip to Guatamala last year.
The school requires massive fi-
nancial and physical aid, Vera said.
RSVP plans to keep in contact
with Ciudad de los Ninos to provide
future assistance to the school.
House _
to rent?
Try a Thresher
Classified.
though, Hicks said student opinion
would come first in any decision over
whether to change to Pepsi. "The
people I serve normally have a lot of
say in what I serve," Hicks said. "I
don't want to switch to Pepsi and
then have that other 50 percent [of
the students] hollering 'I want Coke!'
Unfortunately, the two don't want to
work together."
Hicks raised questions about the
quality of the Coca-Cola Classic
which was used for the test. Some of
the Coca-Cola, which Pepsi repre-
sentatives said had been purchased
at area supermarkets, was bottled in
June of last year. Jeffrey Ritter of
Pepsi said he had made inquiries and
had been told by Coca-Cola that it did
not consider the Coke Classic used
"old product."
Pepsi Sales Representative John
Turner said Pepsi is consistently
preferred by 55to 58percentofthose
involved in the taste tests, which
have been conducted throughout
Texas. This would put Danburg in
the minority. According to test rec-
ords, he preferred Coke Classic.
"At least you can see that it was a
fair contest," Pepsi Representative
Ritter said. "Of course, the tickets
are for Continental—and you cannot
get a Coca-Cola on Continental Air-
lines."
Informed of this, Danburg said,
"You can't get Coke? I'll have a beer."
Cm
et
Is Coke still it? According to the on c.impus t.iste r> psi is
Owl Day changes to be implemented
by Amy Keener
The Student Admissions Council,
in conjunction with the Admissions
Office, revised the organization of
Owl Day.
In an effort to present a more
complete preview of campus life to
prospective students, alternatives to
visiting Willy's Pub will be available.
The need for changes arose due
to past behavioral and discipline
problems with the prospectives visit-
ing the Pub on Thursday night.
Ronald Stebbings, Vice-Presi-
dent of Student Affairs, initially pro-
posed to change Owl Day to span
Sunday through Tuesday instead of
Thursday through Saturday.
The Admissions Office was not
satisfied with this proposa, saying it
was inconvenient.
Eric Heineman, Admissions In-
tern, explains, "In addition to the
practicality of lower airfare, the en-
ergy of the student body is higher
over the weekend, which is critical to
the positive attitude generated by
the hosts."
Growing concern among the
admissions staff that Owl Day does
not provide a well-balanced view of
campus life prompted this change.
Charles Dodson, Chairman of Owl
Day Committe, explains the central
problem.
"There is a fine line between
showing prospectives a good time
and providing a realistic view of
campus life. School doesn't stop af-
ter classes," he said.
The committee wanted to help
the hosts promote alternative activi-
ties on Thursday night.
"In the past, hosts have been so
helpful on their own. They have re-
ally gone all out," Dodson said.
The Thursday itinerary now in-
cludes a greeting at I^ovett Hall with
an escort to their hosts.
After dinner at the colleges, all
hosts and Owls will meet on the lawn
at the chemistry lecture hall to re-
view the evening's agenda. Options
include campus plays and music
events, ice-skating at the Galleria
and possibly some Houston sports
events.
After brief receptions held by
college masters which will end at
10p.m., the evening will be free for
the perspectives and hosts.
By providing these alternatives,
the SAC hopes to reduce Pub activity
without placing any restrictions on
the host. Although the Admissions
office acknowledges the Pub may be
a focus of campus activity on some
Thursdays, it does not want prospec-
tives to see the Pub as the only Rice
activity.
Owl Day is the most effective
recruiting device available to Rice.
Heineman said 60 percent of the
prospectives at Owl Day matriculate
here. Owl Day provides an opportu-
nity for students to decide if the\
belong here as individuals, not only
as academians. Only students ac-
cepted under Rice's regular decision
plan are invited to attend Owl Day.
Legal Assistant Positions
Baker & Botts will be on-campus on April I 1 interviewing
for permanent legal assistant positions in its Houston office. Candidates
Should have excellent academic credentials and must be motivated and
self directed. Individuals with biology and/or chemistry backgrounds
are particularly needed.
Baker & Botts offers a dynamic Legal Assistant Program
with in-house training and promotional opportunities. Salary
commensurate with education and experience. Excellent benefits are
provided.
Send resume, writing sample and college transcript to
Christine Lorenz at the Career Services Center. For additional
information, call Linda Katz, Legal Assistant Manager, at 229-1611.
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.
McGarrity, Patrick & Sendek, Joel. The Rice Thresher (Houston, Tex.), Vol. 76, No. 21, Ed. 1 Friday, March 17, 1989, newspaper, March 17, 1989; Houston, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth245717/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.