The Rice Thresher (Houston, Tex.), Vol. 79, No. 2, Ed. 1 Friday, August 23, 1991 Page: 2 of 16
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2 FRIDAY, AUGUST 23, 1991 THE RICE THRESHER
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\ hivshor 1 Inv^hrrThsvshrrThtv^Hr r i h
Don't wait for '95 panic
A valuable anthem at any college, but particularly at Rice, is "never
letyour academics get in the way of your education." Certainly, we are
here to learn from our academic classes, but there is much more to
what should be perceived as a Rice education than that. There is what
is summed up in the perpetual catch-phrase, The Rice Experience."
Every spring, at the last possible chance (usually April 26), an
abnormally high number of people run Club 13. They are the seniors
who, after spending almost four years of their lives here, finally had
to try running 13, just so they could say they did it.
The sad thing about this is that for these people, there will never be
a second chance. There is no April 31. There is only so much you can
do in the last week of your senior year. And obviously, there's more
to Rice than Club 13, though many may try to deny it.
So start now. There are over a hundred organizations on campus;
they can always use more interested people. Come some April, we
may wish we had run 13, or gone to a Rally Club rally, or worked for
the Thresher (hint, hint), or even started that bungee-jumping club
that currently lies in the back of our minds. Now is as good a time as
you get, whether you are a new freshman or an old hand at Rice.
Of course, academics have their place—just surviving here can
seem overwhelming. Between homework and classes, there often
doesn't seem to be much time. But all work and no play, as they say,
makes Sammy a dull owl. Some people find a regular, extra-curricular
activity just the thing to lend structure to their lives, beyond just their
class schedule.
It's been a long week, I know, but do make a point of going to the
activities fair this afternoon, and avoid the Spring '95 panic.
See you in April. I hope to be the one with the really obvious tan line.
Harlan Howe, Editor in Chief
Ballengee produces
excellent meet sheet
We at the Thresher commend Todd Ballengee, the Student Associa-
tion Vice President, for the job he has done on this year's Newcomer's
guide (a.k.a. "The Meet Sheet").
This is the first year almost anyone can remember the Meet Sheet
coming out so early—a month before classes. It is a well-designed and
relatively error-free book that serves its purpose—to let people know
who the freshmen are as soon as, if not before, they get here. It is a
substantial improvement over last year's troubled book and should be
indicative of the organization and energy of this year's Student
Association.
Editorial policy set
The Thresher serves a small yet diverse audience by providing
objective campus and local news as well as an open forum. Letters to
the editor will be accepted subject to the provisions below:
• Letters must be signed and should include the writer's college and
expected year of graduation or departmental affiliation. Also, a home
or work phone number should be provided.
•'Ilie Thresher will not edit for content or ideas. However, we
reserve the right to edit for clarity, grammar, and length. We reserve
the right not to print all the letters we receive. Personal attacks will not
be published.
•The deadline for letters to the editor is 5 p.m. on the Monday prior
to publication.
•Address submissions to: Editor, The Rice Thresher, Ley Student
Center, P.O. Box 1892, Houston, Texas 77251.
Ann Zitterkopf, Harlan Howe
Editors-in-Chief
Chad Carson
Managing Editor
NEWS
Amy Keener Editor
Alex Dominguez, Ross Goldberg, Eric
Hahn, Peter Howley, Lorie list, Erica
Oilman, Kristina Phelps, Louis Evan
Spiegler
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Ijeezie Kim Editor
Shala Phillips Assistant Editor
Ross Grady Columnist
Eric Hahn, Ijouis Evan Spiegler
PHOTOGRAPHY
Chris Sonneborn Editor
Mike Gladu, Eric Hahn, Barbara Solon,
James Yao
FEATURES
Shaila Dewan Editor
Phone-527-4801
Dave Mansfield
Business Manager
OPINION
Darrell Speck Editor
Mitra Miller Guest Column
BACK PAGE
Heidi Huettner Editor
M. Wasz Cartoonist
SPORTS
Peter Howley Editor
PRODUCTION
Josh Denk Manager
Patrick Good, Chris Lisowski
BUSINESS
Shane Spea'ale Ads Manager
Chris Cowles Assistant Business Manager
George Nickas Ads Production
Stephanie Bassler Staff Assistant
Hector Avila Distribution
© COPYRIGHT 1991
The Rice Thresher, the official student newspaper at Rice University since
1916, is published each Friday during the school year, except during exami-
nation periods and holidays, by the students of Rice University. Editorial and
business offices are located on the second floor of the Ley Student Center,
P.O. Box 1892, Houston, Texas, 77251. Advertising information available
upon request. Mail subscription rate per semester: $15.00 domestic, $30
international via first class mail. Unsigned editorials represent the majority
opinion of the Thresher Editors. All other pieces represent the opinion of the
author. Obviously.
enough
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K.
Get to know the Student Association
by Mitra Miller
S. A. President
The other day, I was talking to a
group of upperclassmen about my
participation in Orientation Week
activities as a Student Association
representative? I explained that I
would spend most of my time dis-
cussing what it is that the SA does
as the campus-wide student govern-
ment. The members of the group,
most of whom I have now known for
three years, looked seriously at me
and asked "Justwhatis it that the S A
does? We've been here for years and
still don't know..."
I was shocked. Surely, I thought,
people were observant enough to
notice when the S A works on issues
that are of campus-wide concern.
They must notice the services pro-
vided by their peers???
Personally, I have always been
amazed not only by the dedication
but also by the accomplishments of
the Student Association officers,
senators, and college presidents. I
was ten times more impressed when
I became a member of the Senate the
end of my sophomore year.
However, for the benefit of those
of you who are not as familiar with
the role of the Student Association as
I, here is a brief explanation of the
function ofthe S A Senate. It may not
make for scintillating copy, but at
least you will know more than most
of the upperclassmen.
The Student Association is the
name for the entire student body at
Rice. The group of elected officials is
known as the Senate and it serves as
the governing body in the students'
interests. Over the years we have
also developed into a service organi-
zation providing such items as the
Newcomer's Guide each fall, the
student discount cards (known as
S Aver cards), the University Direc-
tory, and the Off-Campus Housing
guide in the spring. The Senate hosts
the Activities Fairs every year, runs
the campus-wide elections, serves as
student representatives on several
university committees and acts as a
liason with other universities around
the country.
The S A also deals with the issues
that students feel are important In
the past these have included facili-
tating communication with the ad-
ministration on the issues of tuition
increases, food quality, and campus
safety (to name a few).
I give the majority of Rice's ad-
ministrators a lot of credit for their
attention to student concerns. But
common sense tells you that nothing
can ever change unless they are
aware of the issues. This is where the
student government steps in.
Let me state, once and for all, that
the S A welcomes input and partici-
pation by any and all students—you
don't have to be a "politico" to feel
stongly about an issue and get in-
volved. My experience has taught
me that student activism, whether it
be through the SA or another or-
ganization, can and does work.
Here are just a few examples of
what the SA has been able to ac-
complish:
•Student seating at Df. Rupp's
President's Lecture Series (a series
ofvery prestigious speakers who visit
the Rice campus each year). This
past year students complained that
they had to compete with the outside
community for seating space at the
lectures. The SA drafted a resolu-
tion on the issue and since then the
administration has been cooperative
in correcting the problem.
•The residential colleges have
been trying to gain access to the
alcohol license for Willy's Pub so that
they can occasionally charge admis-
sion at college parties. The SA took
it upon itself to thoroughly research
the subject and submit a proposal to
V&W Corporati^, the controlling
entity for the license. The last kinks
are still being worked out, but it looks
like the initially unattainable license
THE EDITOR
Letters
may be available in the near future.
•Students have become very
concerned with campus safety issues
due to the increase in crime in both
Houston and the Rice area Student
officials continue to urge for in-
creased lighting of paths and park-
ing lots that are used at night.
•When students expressed con-
cern over individuals (especially
women) walking around campus
alone at night, the S A responded by
organizing the Escort Service. Sena-
tors first worked to get a gnome cart
donated and then appealed to the
university for funding for work-study
students to operate the program. Now
individuals can get evening rides
around campus and not fear being
alone.
•The current meal plan (believe
it or not) was designed by members
of the senate two years ago and ap-
proved by a majority of the student
body. (Since then there has been
debate about the plan, but I can assure
you that it is rare for students to hold
enough respect and influence that
even Food & Housing is willing to
compromise!)
In sum, I am trying to say that the
SA is active and important; we just
usually prefer to work under a rela-
tively low-profile. I am also trying to
say that student volunteers are not
necessarily spinning their wheels—
important achievements can be made
with enough effort.
So talk to your college senator or
president about your concerns; or
stop by the office on the second floor
of the Ley Student Center and chat
with me or one of the other officers.
We can't do a good job unless we
know what the students really want
us to be working for.
Thresher inacqurately
titled vegetarian letter
To die editors:
I was thoroughly dismayed at the
Thresher's taking the liberty to name
the letter I submitted in response to
the letter "Anti-meat letter exagger-
ates claims." Readers should know
that not only did I not title my letter
"Vegetarianism: a plan to save the
world" but that in addition saving the
world was far from my goal.
I want to end this mini-debate
between Amit Mehta and me by
simply stating that the Rice commu-
nity is intelligent enough to make its
own opinions and judgements. Iwant
to encourage everyone interested in
the topic to research the plethora of
materials on the subject for her/
himself and draw her/his own con-
clusions.
A final point I'd like to leave
readers with is the irony ofthe debate.
Fervent or not, Amit Mehta is indeed
a vegetarian. Figure that one out for
yourselves.
Anuj Shah
Baker '92
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Zitterkopf, Ann & Howe, Harlan. The Rice Thresher (Houston, Tex.), Vol. 79, No. 2, Ed. 1 Friday, August 23, 1991, newspaper, August 23, 1991; Houston, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth245787/m1/2/?rotate=90: accessed July 18, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting Rice University Woodson Research Center.