The Rice Thresher, Vol. 96, No. 24, Ed. 1 Friday, March 27, 2009 Page: 5 of 24
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Friday, March 27,2009
the Rice Thresher
NEWS 5
REMS picks up fourth award for service excellence
by Michelle Phillips
Thresher Staff
Rice's student-run Emergency
Medical Services program received
the Striving for Excellence Award,
which was presented by the National
Collegiate Emergency Medical Ser-
vices Foundation at its annual con-
ference last month. REMS was one of
seven university EMS programs in the
nation to be honored with the award.
Captain of REMS Michael Pandya
said the award is granted based on
the level of the program's operations,
education and special projects.
"The organization considers it an
award given to [EMS programs] that
are the 'gold standard' for campus
EMS," Pandya, a Sid Richardson Col-
lege junior, said.
This is the fourth time REMS has
won the award since it was first of-
fered in 1999. The designation lasts
OBYLAW
FROM PAGE 1
said the issue was brought up by
several different people in tnc Of-
fice of the President throughout the
year and that they were surprised
the SA president was not automati-
cally one of the council's represen-
tatives. Youn agreed with their sug-
gestion and presented the proposal
to the SA.
"I think it is appropriate for the
SA president to be on the Univer-
sity Council, and I think it will be
helpful for the SA president to be
on the council both because he or
she could be a good undergraduate
representative on the council and
because it would help the SA presi-
dent to be up-to-date on issues the
president is dealing with," he said.
Youn introduced the amend-
ment to the SA on March 16. A sec-
ond amendment, which would have
given voting members a chance
to instate the amendment for the
2010 'n academic year rather than
the 2009-'i0 academic year, was pro-
posed this week but did not pass.
"The voting members seemed to
favor that if we were to implement
the by-law, we might as well do it
sooner than later," Youn said.
As a result of the change, the sec-
ond University Council Representa-
tive position, which was awarded to
Rog, will instead be filled by current
SA President Patrick McAnaney. Wy-
att will retain his position.
"1 think it's a good opportunity
for the SA to talk with the Office of
the President, Faculty Senate and
the Graduate Student Association
all together, and I'm perfectly will-
for three years, after which time orga-
nizations are eligible to reapply.
To apply, the EMS group must be a
member of NCEMSF and fill out a sur-
vey describing their organizational
structures and procedures. Pandya
said REMS has received the award ev-
ery time they applied for it.
Will Rice College junior Sarah Wu
and Sid senior Ian Feldman went to
Washington, D.C. to represent REMS
at the NCEMSF conference over
spring break, where they accepted
the award on behalf of REMS. At the
conference, Feldman said they par-
ticipated in Emergency Medical Tech-
nician training, networked with other
EMS groups and attended lectures.
"I was not entirely sure what to
expect but I enjoyed it both as an
educational experience as well as an
opportunity to interact with people
from other colleges," Feldman said.
According to its Web site, NCEMSF
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PUBLICATIONS
NTERNSHII
SUMMER
I? 009
The Rice publications intern works on the
Newcomer's Guide, the Beyond the Hedges guide
to Houston, and the campus directory. This on-
campus summer position offers hourly
compensation for up to twelve weeks, a minimum
of 20 hours per week.
Applications are available online at
http://www.ruf.rice.edu/~stumedia/ and in the
Office of Student Medin in the Student Center.
Contactvpriiop@rice.edu for more information.
APPLICATION DEADLINE IS 5 PM
MONDAY, APRIL 6.
is a non-profit professional organiza-
tion founded in 1993 dedicated to as-
sisting university EMS programs in net-
working and learning from each other.
if
Oftentimes, people
will look to our orga-
nization as a model to
build off of.
Michael Pandya
Sid Richardson College
junior
n
REMS was founded in 1995 after
Mark Escott (Jones '96) discovered
that response times from the Houston
medical services to the Rice campus
averaged around 10 minutes, Pandya
said. Realizing this delay could mean
the difference between life and death
in an emergency, Escott convinced the
university to establish REMS. Since
its establishment, REMS has reduced
the 10-minute response time to two to
three minutes, Pandya said.
"Oftentimes, people will look to
our organization as a model to build
off of," Pandya said. "Three or four
times a semester, we get an email
from another college or university
looking to start a program or adapt
their program to a better model."
However, Pandya said other uni-
versities are not the only institutions
that have recognized REMS.
"In the past, we have been af-
forded the privilege of providing the
sole medical coverage for presidents
when they come," Pandya said. "For
President Clinton, the Secret Service
didn't even send a medic with them."
Wu said such experiences have
made her enjoy her involvement
in REMS.
"I feel like it's a great way for me
to have an impact on the Rice com-
munity," Wu said.
Since its founding, Feldman
said REMS has remained at the top
level of university EMS agencies.
Pandya said REMS did not reapply
for the award in 2008 after the 2005
designation expired because they
wanted to focus instead on internal
developments.
"We're always looking to and
planning for expansion or changes in
the future," Pandya said.
ing to serve on it,"' McAnaney said.
Wyatt said that the addition of
the SA president as a representative
will give different character to the
remaining undergraduate represen-
tative position. He also said he be-
lieves he will have to carry out more
research among the student body
than he would have been responsi-
ble for with the former system, since
the president may have separate is-
sues to bring to the meetings.
Wyatt also said the change makes
sense in the spirit of continuity.
"Overall, I'm happy with the
change," he said. "I think it will be
useful to have the SA president sit-
ting next to me at those meetings.
However, there will be more pres-
sure, and it will make the position
more of a challenge for me."
Rog mentioned that while he
understood the motivations behind
the change and held no grudges, he
felt the loss of the second position
provided one less interested person
the opportunity to be involved.
"I think that the timing is unfortu-
nate but the rationale is good," Rog
said. "I think it's unprofessional to
solicit candidates and have them go
through the effort of signing the peti-
tion and campaigning only to take the
position away from them."
Rog said he was not directly in-
formed about the amendment prior
to petitioning for the position, but
that he found out when the amend-
ment was announced publicly at the
March 16 SA meeting. Rog also said
he thought the second amendment,
with which the change would have
been instituted for 20i0-'n, would
have been more appropriate.
"I'm disappointed I lost a posi-
tion I was running for uncontest-
ed," he said. "Ultimately, though,
it's not about me; it's about people
being in the right position to serve
the university. So I guess they did
what they thought was best."
Youn said that the idea was
presented to Rog before the elec-
tion, adding that the timing of the
amendment was not to intention-
ally shortchange Rog.
"We told him what was happen-
ing as it was happening," he said. "I
might not have done the greatest job
keeping him up-to-date constantly,
but it wasn't to hoodwink him. It's
just an unfortunate circumstance."
STUDENT ASSOCIATION MINUTES
The following were noted at the most recent meeting of
the Student Association on March 23.
■ Internal Vice President Akshay Dayal announced that the SA's
academic poll is ongoing.
■ External Vice President Nicholas Muscara announced that "Take
Me Out to the Ballgame" will be this Friday, starting at 5:30 p.m.
at Reckling Park.
■ Selim Sheikh and Amber Makhani reiterated that applications for
appointed positions and representative positions on University
Standing Committees were due Wednesday at 5 p.m.
■ The University Council By-Law Amendement to instate the SA
President as one of the two University Council undergraduate
representatives passed. SA President Patrick McAnaney will take
immediate office in lieu of the representative voted on during the
spring election.
■ The SA executive council gave gifts during changeover.
GSA AWARDS « CALL FOR NOMINATIONS
It is time once again to recognize those outstanding graduate students, faculty and staff who do their utmost to
enrich the lives of Rice graduate students by nominating them for the 2009 Graduate Student Association
Awards.
The GSA annually confers five awards, as described below. THE DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSIONS IS
APRIL 1. 2009 Letters of nomination describing why the ind: vidual is deserving of such recognition should be
submitted to the current Internal VP Nustassja Lewinskt at nal4Trice.edu. or, preferably, via the online
submission form at http://gsa.rice.edu/awards (The Sallyport Award should be submitted directly to Student-
Alumni Liaison Committee at lblinn(g rice.edu or hard copies to MS-520). Nominations may be submitted by
faculty, staff, graduate students, and graduate student alumni.
The GSA awards are meant to encourage and recognize outstanding service to graduate student life and
education at Rice. The award criteria are intentionally kept vague in order to permit recognition of the broadest
possible range of service to the Rice graduate community.
1) FACULTY TEACHING/MENTORING AWARD: Recipients are selected based on demonstrated
commitment to graduate education on teaching graduate students at Rice. The award consists of a monetary
award, funded through the Office of the President, and a plaque. Up to two awards may be conferred each year.
2) FACULTY/STAKE SERVICE AWARD: Recipients are selected in recognition of efforts beyond the call of
duty to improve the quality of life for graduate students at Rice. The award consists of a plaque. Lip to two
awards may be conferred each year.
3) ROBERT LOWRY PATTEN AW ARD (FOR GRADUATE STUDENTS): The award, named in honor of
the GSA's faculty advisor, recognizes graduate students who may not otherwise have been honored for their
service and achievements on behalf of graduate students. The award consists of $400. funded by a dedicated
endowment, and a plaque. Up to four awards may be conferred each year.
4> GSA SERVICE AW ARD (FOR GRADUATE STUDENTS) Recipients are selected based on contribution
of time, effort, and devoted service to the cause of improving graduate student life and education at Rice. The
award consists of $500, funded by the GSA, and a plaque. Up to two awards may be conferred each year.
5) FRIEND OF RICE GRADUATE STUDENTS AW ARD Recipients are selected in recognition of
significantly enhancing the lives of graduate students at Rice University 111 some way. This award is a token of
appreciation to honor people within and beyond the Rice community who may not otherwise be recognized for
their service to graduate students. Candidates for the award may or may not be members of the Rice community,
but they should not be eligible for the other four awards. The award consists of a plaque.
ft) SALLYPORT AW ARD is presented by the Association ot Rice \lumni to recognize a deserving graduate
degree candidate who has made contributions to the Rice community above his or her individual department and
who may not otherwise be recognized. The winner will receive a silver bowl (with his her name and year
engraved on it) and a stole to wear at graduation. The winner's name w ill also appear on a plaque in the Rice
Memorial Center. The Student Alumni I iaison Committee decides the recipient of this award. Therefore, please
send a faculty letter of recommendation and .1 resume electronically to iblmn^jkL.uiy hard ohmcn t; MS
520 to nominate a graduate student for this award. The deadline for the Sallyport Award nominations is March
20.2009.
For more information consult the GS A webpage at: http: 'gs.i.nce.cdn. aw aids
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Michel, Casey. The Rice Thresher, Vol. 96, No. 24, Ed. 1 Friday, March 27, 2009, newspaper, March 27, 2009; Houston, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth443031/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.