The Rice Thresher (Houston, Tex.), Vol. 80, No. 4, Ed. 1 Friday, September 11, 1992 Page: 1 of 16
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# The since 1916
Rk^ Thresher
VOLUME 80, NUMBER 4
STUPID CUPID AND THE LONELY HEARTS
SEPTEMBER 11, 1992
Stampede ends TSU and Prairie View A&M football game prematurely
by Randy Block
The football game between Prai-
rie View A&M and Texas Southern
University CTSU) in the Rice stadium
Saturday ended when a loud noise
frightened the crowd on the north-
west side of the stadium and started
a stampede.
Initial accounts by witnesses and
news media reported that gunshots
were the cause of the hysteria. The
Harris County sheriffs office, which
provided security at the game, has
found this allegation to be false.
"We checked on the story about
an U °ing seen, and it is simply
unfouuaed," said Harris County
sheriffs Sgt Larry Hall. "If there was
gunfire, there would have been spent
hulls, property damage, or injuries.
No officers heard shots fired. In our
opinion, it never occured."
Assistant Athletic Director Steve
Moniaci agreed with Hall. "I don't
think there was a gun fired. There is
just no evidence. We don't know what
began all this."
The trouble began at approxi-
mately 10:10 p.m. as TSU was lead-
ing Prairie View in the fourth quarter
by a score of 35-0. Hall believes that
a prankster, bored with the game,
may have incited the stampede by
making some sort of loud noise.
People poured out of the stands onto
the field and through the aisle exits
into the concourse. The havoc lasted
between five and ten minutes. When
the crowd settled down, the game
was declared finished with TSU the
victors.
"It was apretty frightening thing,"
said Hall. "Masses of people just
started pushing and shoving. They
destroyed a concession stand as they
ran for the exits. It was just by the
grace of God that no one got hurt"
A concession stand destroyed in the rampage at the TSU-Prairie View A&M game is being rebuilt.
According to Hall, only two people
had serious health problems. One
was hospitalized for an asthma at-
tack; theotherwasapregnantwoman
who started hyperventilating during
the stampede and was later picked
up by an ambulance.
The Houston Chronicle reported
that five people were injured in the
incident, and that the stampede
started on the east side of the sta-
dium.
Hall believed that nothing could
have been done to avoid the stam-
pede from happening. "I've never
seen anything like this in the past.
Rice University could do nothing dif-
ferently, except hire more officers.
But realistically, once this started, it
was hard to stop."
Moniaci said that the incident
would be investigated by campus
police, but that Rice officials would
continue to rent out the stadium.
Though contracts vary according to
the event, the university makes
money by charging for parking and
receiving a percentage of the conces-
sions and attendance revenues.
Moniaci said the only destruction
of property he knew of was one con-
cession stand. He also minimized
reports of looting. "Hot Dogs. That's
about all that was stolen," he said.
Two Rice students attending the
game, who wished to remain anony-
mous, said that they saw rampant
looting—including one man carry-
ing a table out of the stadium.
Moniaci stated that Prairie View
A&M is legally liable for the incident
since it was the home team and had
the responsibilty to insure the game.
The number of people endan-
gered by the incident is not known.
Though newspaper reports indicated
that31,000 people were in attendance,
Moniaci contradicted this figure.
"That figure is greatly, greatly, exag-
gerated. There were not even 21,000
in attendance," he said.
The game also caused parking
problems on campus. People attend-
ing the game were charged for park-
ing in the stadium. As a result, many
sought non-regulated areas to park.
They filled the neighborhood sur-
rounding Rice and parked in the
Hanszen lot. Campus police had
placed sawhorses at the Hanszen
entrance in an effort to keep the fans
from parking there and then walking
across campus.
"Everyone paying $75 for a space
doesn't want someone from another
school parking in it," said Chief of
Campus Police Mary Voswinkel.
Voswinkel said that the campus
police's duties for non-Rice stadium
events include directing traffic and
protecting the rest of campus.
Though her department is conduct-
ing an investigation of the stampede,
she sees no cause for increased secu-
rity in the future.
"This wasjust a random thing. It's
the first major disturbance we've had.
I don't expect it to happen again," she
said.
TSU is scheduled to return to Rice
stadium Oct. 31 in a game against
Grambling State University.
Hall joked that he will be ready for
the game. "I think we're going out of
town that weekend."
Vice President for Student Affairs resigns
by Erin Gainer
Administration to receive
refund of O-Fest money
by Jeremy Bogaisky
Playfair, the company which
staged O-Fest, is refunding the $1500
the administration paid for the event.
O-Fest, a new addition to the orienta-
tion week schedule this year, con-
sisted of an outdoor barbecue fol-
lowed by 'icebreaker" games and a
performance by Venus In Furs.
We feel terrible that it
didn't work, and we
most certainly will
refund the money.'
—Barbara Meyer
"We expected O-Fest to be a cul-
minating event for orientation week,"
said Associate Dean of Student Af-
fairs Bob Sanborn. "We were very
disappointed."
The evening's program revolved
around a series of games conducted
by Playfair's representative, Jordan
Chouljian. These activities included
grouping everyone by month of birth,
forming groups ofdifferent sizes, and
dancing back to back with a partner,
arms linked. At several points be-
tween games, Chouljian lectured the
incoming students on the pressures
of college life, and the value of self-
esteem.
"I am very pleased with the re-
fund," said Residence Life Coordina-
tor Ty Bailey. "It was a very nice
gesture on their part."
Most observers felt that the com-
pany displayed little skill in its han-
dling of the evening. "The man
Playfair sent didn't have control of
the crowd," said Sanborn, "and he
was playing games we already knew."
The student's reactions ranged
from patient acceptance to open
amusement. "It was like Richard
Simmonson crack," said Jonesfresh-
man Gann Bierner. "Nobody knew
what was going on." Several observ-
ers estimated that as many as half of
those present left before the end of
the program.
Playfair's agent, Barbara Meyer,
was quick to apologize for the failure.
"We do over 250 dates a year and
we've never had a request for a re-
fund before. We feel terrible that it
didn't work, and we most certainly
will refund the money."
Meyer seemed intent on stress-
ing that Playfair is appropriate for a
mature audience. "We've gone to
Johns Hopkins and Brandeis, schools
very similar to Rice, and it's worked
very well."
While Meyert claimed that
Playfair's performance at Rice, taken
by itself, does not accurately repre-
sent the comapnies, Jones transfer
student Andy Walker disagreed.
Having seen Playfair during orienta-
tion athis previous school,The Rhode
Island School of Design, Walker said
he found little difference between
the two performances. "This one was
a little longer, but it was essentially
the same," he said. "I can't believe I
had to go through that twice." -
Ronald Stebbings announced his
intention last week to return full-time
to teaching and research in the De-
partment of Space Physics and As-
tronomy, after a ten-year stint as vice
president for student affairs. He will
complete this year in his current po-
sition, spend the 1993-94 school year
on leave, and return to teaching in
the fall of 1994.
Several factors influenced Vice
President Stebbings' decision. He
said he believes that a new vice presi-
dent for student affairs will provide a
fresh perspective and critical eye to
bring about constructive changes.
"In my ten years as an administrator,
I feel that we accomplished a lot. I
also feel that one should not stay in
such a position indefinitely."
Additionally, the position of vice
president for student affairs has
grown substantially during
Stebbings' tenure. When he entered
the administration ten years ago, he
intended to stay active in physics
research. The position was called
dean of undergraduate affairs, and it
was small enough that it was pos-
sible for Stebbings to remain an ac-
tive professor.
"As the job grew, it became in-
creasingly difficult to remain engaged
in research," he said. "I have great
colleagues in Space Physics that have
helped keep me involved, but the
demands of the administrative posi-
tion put pressure on my time for
research." ,
Physics Professor King Walters
shared a laboratory with Stebbings
for many years. "He has always man-
aged to stay involved," he said. "We
look forward to him returning full-
time."
Stebbings now wants to return to
physics. "I came to Rice 25 years ago
as a physicist... Now as I am edging
towards retirement, I want to pursue
interests beyond things administra-
'tive. I am interested in doing more
research and teaching again."
Previously, Stebbings conducted
courses in quantum mechanics, at-
mospheric physics, and atomic and
molecular structure. He has not yet
decided which courses he will teach
on his return.
Stebbings expresses some regret
at leaving the administration. "Noth-
ing is more enjoyable than getting
seriously involved in the needs and
activities of so many enthusiastic men
and women. I feel fortunate to have
had the opportunity to be involved
with so many students."
Stebbings has not yet made spe-
cific plans for his year of leave. "My
job has been very demanding, and it
has been easy for evenings and week-
ends to be swallowed up. The idea of
more freedom is appealing."
Professor A. J. Dessler was the
founding chairman of the Depart-
ment of Space Physics and As-
tronomy and hired Stebbings25 years
ago. "We are extremely pleased with
his decision. He is one of the world's
best atomic physicists and an out-
standing teacher, and we are tickled
pink to have him back," he said.
A search commitee for a new vice
president for student affairs has
formed and is chaired by English
Professor David Minter.
Ronald Stebbings will take a year of sabbatical and return to teaching physics.
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Kim, Leezie & Carson, Chad. The Rice Thresher (Houston, Tex.), Vol. 80, No. 4, Ed. 1 Friday, September 11, 1992, newspaper, September 11, 1992; Houston, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth245817/m1/1/: accessed July 18, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting Rice University Woodson Research Center.