The Rice Thresher (Houston, Tex.), Vol. 85, No. 26, Ed. 1 Friday, April 24, 1998 Page: 1 of 16
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Vol. I.XXXV. Issue No, 26
SINCE 19/6
Itk1.iv. Apnl t !'>1>H
reviews curriculum
7UUIKA CiAWG/TMrteSHt f<
U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan addressed a crowd of about 3,500 in Autry Court yesterday morning. He spoke
about conflict prevention and the challenges the world organization will face in the 21st century.
Annan discusses future of U.N.
by IIsnian Baber
IHNI MIKW k:m IriRIAl: SIAH
United Nations Secretary-Gen-
eral Kofi Annan discussed the United
Nations' role in preventing interna-
tional conflict and ensuring security
in the 21st century yesterday morn
iug in Autry Court. Annan said that
the world community is in an "era
when violent conflict are too often
ignored and too readily accepted"
and that the United Nations should
"become a global center of preven-
tive action."
Annan said preventing the nu-
merous wars that characterize the
world today is "no longer a matter of
defending interestsor promoting al-
lies. [but! a matter of defending
humanity itself." The key ingredi-
ent in formulating prevention poli-
cies is the internationaJ community's
willingness to act, be said. "Without
the political will lo act when action is
heeded, no amount of improved co-
ordination or early warning will
translate awareness into action,"
Annan said. About 3,500 students,
faculty and other members of the
Houston community attended the
lecture, which was part of the James
A. Baker 111 Institute for Public
Policy's ongoing emphasis oirinter-
national issues,
Annan also responded to audi
ence questions following his re-
marks. Many questions addressed
debt payments to the United Na-
tions by member states, including
the United States. "The United Na-
tions can't run on a shoestring bud-
get. Mow can a club accept when a
member doesn't pay dues but en-
joys the facilities? It is no different
from going to a concert; without pay-
ing and get t iug lhe best seat," Annan
said.
He also commented on Inline
challenges for the United Nations,
including preserving the environ-
ment, empowering women, ;jn<l help-
ing governments build institutions
and legal frameworks.
Students seemed impressed with
Annan and reacted positively to the
lecture. "I was impressed at his over-
all demeanor and his ability to an-
swer questions on the spot," Lovett
College freshman Chris McClung
said.
Jones College freshman Natalia
Ksien/yk expressed similar semi
nionts. "He was very down-to-earth
and very easy to understand He
also dealt with things that are rel
evant to everyone," she said.
President Malcolm Gillis closed
the event by giving Annan the
President's Award tor I distinguished
Achievement,
Previous recipients include
James A. Baker HI, Mikhail
Gorbachev and other noted diplo
mats. " This award represents the
ideals ol service and dedication
which are thehallmarksot Rice i :ui
versitv." (iillis said.
by Maya BaJaknslinau
(. ompuler science students and
laculty have recently flooded the
rut'-amp.general newsgroup with
concerns about the undergraduate
computer science curriculum. Al-
though most of these concerns have
existed for some time, a posting
entitled "Make Money Fast; Drop
Out Now" elicited responses that
publicized many of these private con-
cerirs. "It's like everyone realized
that everyone else had the same
concerns that they bad," computer
science graduate student Scott
Ruthfield (Lovett '97) said.
How computer science core
courses link together prompted dis
cussion of the department's struc-
ture, especially the use of Java in
COMP 212: Intermediate Program-
ming.
"1 think that the current curricu-
lum is not unified, and I'm glad that
[the Computer Science Department
faculty| isrnakinganattempt toi'mivc
to a Unified curriculum," Sid
Richardson College junior Kevin
Murphy said
Possible changes slated for
COMP212, COMP314: Applied Al-
gorithms and Data Structures, and
COMP320: Computer Organization
will hopefully alleviate' problems
associated with tins concern.
After two weeks of spirited, dis-
cussion on the newsgroup-, the rle
partment tentatively answered this,
question in a ioi um April 15 and in
Tuesday's computer science (acuity
meeting. Next fall, (>MP 212 will
become complete h Java based,
COMP .''11 locus on leaching -tn
dents C t r, and COMP !>20 will con-
centrate on teaching ( program
miug.
COMP 212 is tlie bads oi tile
computer si iem e major. Its prereq-
uisite, COMP 210: Introduction to
Principles of Scientific Computation,
briefly exposes s| udi'iils to computer
languages and introduces basii pro-
gramming concepts, but C( )MP 212
represents students' first real en
counter with programming Ian
guages. The primary purpose o]
COMP212 is to teach students pro-
gramming concepts applicable lo all
languages; the course employs Java
and/or C< ♦ as a way to understand:
these ideas;
In the past, COMP212used only
Coin do so. However, in the fall of
109t), the Computer Science 1 Vpart-
iih'iii introduced Java, developed by
Sun Microsystems in 100:>. into its
undergraduate curriculum Montr
specifically, the laculty .decided to
add Java to COMP 212. thus de
emphasizing C t in that course.
With the new changes, students that
year finished three projei is using
Java and one using C++.
"Java is a better designed lan-
guage that makes il easier lor ! lie
teacher to teach it and lor the stu-
dent to learn it," Compute) Science
Department Chair Moshe Vardi said.
I Yolessors find trad iiug Java easier,
and students have an easier lime
comprehending it, "From wjiat I un-
derstand, !the faculty | felt that Java
will be a big language Put, also;
the attrition rate m COMP212 was
god awtul (before POo! lava is v, n
tactically similcVr to C \ ■ but is easier
lo use," Baker College seaior Ibian
I toheily said.
Java handles sunn un\ le\ et de
tails that a C < - prognmmi'-r l a - to
niiiM loush deal with, wliicli makes-
i! easie! lor siud> 'ills to understand
lhe material in ( OMP .! 12
I his is riot an itidusi r> i h a. < n
mi vi-. "j However.! il the gt ,al I lad
been completid\ indu -!r \ ill iverr,
Ihen !i t)MP| 2 12 w«miIii hav. n*
See I'KOt.KAMMiNt, ! ,;• ?
lfgM|
flli
!fe
i
by Esther Sung
IHRI '-III N-41.M f
Students requiring medical treat-
ment this summer will have to gooff
campus to receive it. Although the
Rice University 1997-'98 Student
Handbook states that Rice Health
Services will be open "for limited
hours during the summer," the clinic
will be closed for the summer
months this year, primarily because
Dr. Mark Jenkins, who normally
runs Health Services during the sum-
mer, is taking a leave of absence.
The summer closure has resulted
in complaints from the student body,
particularly among graduate stu
dents.
"Students paid the mandatory
Health Service fee with the under-
standing that this service would be
available to them year-round,"
Graduate Student Association Presi-
dent Arnaud Chevallier said.
Jenkins' absence and the subse-
quent closure of the clinic is "an
ideal time to do some renovations,"
Director of the Counseling Center
Lindley Doran said. She hopes that
the improvements made to Health
Services this summer will benefit
students in the coming 1998-'99
school year and beyond.
As an alternative, Doran compiled
a list of doctors in and around the
Rice area who are willing to treat
students during the summer. Be-
sides generalpractitioners.. ..the. .list,
includes gynecologists, allergists
and other specialized practitioners.
in order to meet a wide range ol
medical needs. Within a few weeks,
the list will be posted on the World
Wide Web with each doctor's office
location and hours so students will
be able to access the information.
Because about 80 percent of the
students who visited Health Services
last summer required only one or
two visits, Doran hopes that this
alternative will not inconvenience
Students too greatly. "1 really think
it will be a feasible plan. If I didn't, I
wouldn't be recommending it." she
said.
Students, however, will have to
pay deductibles out of their own
pockets for the services they receive
from doctors on the summer list.
While the doctors "will work with
[students] on payments," Doran
said, the $104 fee students pay each
semester for treatment from Health
Services will not cover the doctors'
deductibles.
Most graduate students, who
usually have insurance through the
university, will be able to receive
better reimbursements on their
deductibles than they would if they
wenit to a doctor who is not on the
summer list, so Doran believes it is
to their advantage to se the alterna-
tive summer health plan.
However, undergraduate stu
dents are more likely to have indi-
vidual health insurance through dif-
ferent companies and need to be
aware of the kind of coverage their
individual plans will provide. The
list of doctors posted on the Web
will include the insurance coverage
that each doctor will accept so stu
dents will be able to choose doctors
appropriately.
Students have reservations about
the alternative, summer health care
they will receive. "The issue is that
the university is contracted to pro
vide limited health care on campus,"
Sid Richardson College President
Robinson Vu said.
"This summer's program doesn't
cover the deductible On exams you
could usually get free of charge here
on campus."
The GSA is concerned about the
standard of care that the network
physicians will provide. Studentscan
receive next day and same day ap
pointments, trial samples of prescrip-
tions and access to medical appli-
ances, like crutches and slings, at
no cost from Health Services, but
this may not be the case this sum
mer with the resources of local doc
tors
"We understand that the Health
Services facility requires minor reno
vations and that Dr. Jenkins is un-
able to run the clinic this summer,"
Chevallier said. "However, it appears
students were not broadly consulted
on this issue. Rather, the decision
was handed flown to us as a fait
accompli only a few weeks before
the scheduled closure."
OPINION Page 3
Grub opposes ii fonn
NEWS Page 5
Wild ami wacky Art < ars
BACKPAGE Page 16
FIGHT NIGHT'
Weekend Weather
Friday
Sunny. Bye Can. we are v. H •
you. 54 /•-)
Saturday
Sunny. work on voui tan
parties tonight 63-8?
Sunday
Cloudy, work on your nimU, laf;
tests this week. 62 76"
; is--:-
, -!
GRADUATION ANNOUNCEMENTS
Friday, May 8
4- 5:30 p.m.
7:45-9:30 p.m.
9:30 -10:15 p.m.
.10:15 p.m.
Saturday, May 9
7:30 a.m.
8:30-11:30 a.m.
Division and department receptions
Class of '98 convocation tor degree candidates and guests; Shepherd School of Musk
Presidential Concert, Stude Concert Hall, Alice Pratt Brown Hall
Presidential Reception for students, then guests, faculty, staff, administration and
friends, Alice Pratt Brown Hall.
Fireworks *
Bachelor of fine arts, bachelor of architecture, master's and doctoral degree
candidates will line up in Duncan Hall, all others line up in their residential colleges
Commencement. Academic Quadrangle
If you have not ordered your regalia, do so immediately; regalia may be picked up at the Campus Store May 4
8 In case of inclement weather, commencement will be held in Autry Court, and degree candidates should
assemble in the gym.by 7:45 a.m. Contact the Campus Police or campus operator after 7 a.m. the morning of
commencement, for confirmation. Each degree candidat^will receive two trckets for the inclement weather plan
Questions? Cheek-■■h(tp-:-s/wm.ruf:-nce.edu/-~filumni;cQmaievi:GAtml.. contdcL-yaut...college m...depaJdLnifiUL
coordinator, or call the commencement hotline at (713) 737-5799.
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Stoler, Brian. The Rice Thresher (Houston, Tex.), Vol. 85, No. 26, Ed. 1 Friday, April 24, 1998, newspaper, April 24, 1998; Houston, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth246622/m1/1/: accessed June 20, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting Rice University Woodson Research Center.