The Rice Thresher, Vol. 93, No. 22, Ed. 1 Friday, March 10, 2006 Page: 3 of 20
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THE RICE THRESHER OPINION FRIDAY, MARCH 10,2006
Let's all take a step back...
Students need to stand up for their politics
Rice as a whole is not a par-
ticularly politically active campus.
However, this lack of activism does
not stem fron. students' apathy.
In fact, if you ask the
average Rice studei.t a
question about politics,
he will be quite happy to
debate it back and forth
for hours.
And do not start spout-
ing, "Don't just talk the
talk, walk the walk,"
because that is not the
problem either. Rather,
the problem is that we
are all afraid to bring the
questions up, much less
act on them.
Rice has a very accepting envi-
ronment, or at least students try
very hard to be accepting. Students
view tolerance as the noblest of all
virtues, except perhaps tolerance
of intolerance—that's a fuzzy area.
While this tolerance does not keep
Rice students from having partisan
opinions, it can often make us slow
to voice them.
However, a great deal of commu-
nication does occur. The problem
is that in most arguments, we try to
make it clear that while we do not
agree, we still show tolerance for
the other side. This is an admirable
goal for Rice's political discussion
and — at least in my naive fresh-
man existence — has fostered the
ideal, Utopian environment for po-
Katy
Mulvaney
litical debate. Now if we could only
bring ourselves to provoke more
such discussions.
The trouble with spending half
of our debate time on
showing tolerance for
the other side's point
of view is that this just
does not happen in the
real world. In the real
world, a large, unified
and extremely partisan
force is the only way
to make a splash. One
must appeal to the people
with moderate views,
of course, but to get
anything done you need
fanatics to get things started and
keep them going.
Those who constantly
'agree to disagree'
cannot pursue their
political or social
goals relentlessly and
therefore cannot make
a difference.
November, Texans voted on a pro-
posed state constitutional amend-
ment to ban gay marriage. Opinions
on this issue unified a great deal of
the student body, and students were
much more active. In this instance,
they were willing to take a firm
stand on a divisive issue and claim
their side as absolutely right. It
was refreshing.
Students can and should still
respect their opponents. But if we
want to make a difference, we can-
not dismiss the debates with, "We
can agree to disagree."
Rice students are what all
politicians would be in an ideal
world—courteous, respectful, un-
derstanding and willing to listen to
their opponents. However, we also
need to be willing to consistently
stand up and say very loudly, "You
are wrong." And we need fanatics
to keep any organization active and
influential. Those who constantly
"agree to disagree" cannot pursue
their political or social goals relent-
lessly and therefore cannot make
a difference.
We might be afraid to challenge
what we see as the fragile cease-fire
of tolerant debate, but I do not think
that mindset does justice to Rice's
political paradise. We have a stable,
lasting peace, so don't be afraid to
be decided.
Every once in a while, there are
issues that students care enough
about to rally the troops. Last
Katy Mulvaney is a Baker College
freshman.
Rice Voices
Here's the low-down on the stare-down
Spring is in the air. The sun is out.
Frisbees skim the quad and every-
one is procrastinating, with spring
break on the tip of their tongues.
As sleeves and pant legs
shorten, more people are
out and about, soaking
up the weather. It is this
time every spring when
I become more aware of
the "face off."
You know what I'm
talking about: the walk-
ing encounter between
two acquainted people. It
happens a million times
every day — in New
York, New Delhi and
the new part of the library These
encounters do not just happen
while walking, either. They occur
on public transportation, in bars,
at the store and, yes boys, even in
the bathroom.
In most countries, there are
unique greeting traditions when
you see someone you know. Some
cultures bow, others wave. Some
shake hands, kiss on the cheek
or salute. But the United States
does not have a go-to greeting.
Styles vary greatly, and regardless
of how confident you are — or
aren't — the "face off' can be
awkward for everyone involved. It
is different everywhere, but at Rice
we have our typical encounters.
First, there is the approach.
You see the person. He sees you.
Your eyes lock. Do you say hello?
When? How? Say something too
soon and you are branded as des-
perate. But waiting just breeds an
awkward stare down. Suddenly,
one or both parties reaches for a
cell phone — you forgot to text in
your American Idol vote.
Then, the pass. Do you say
something or avoid eye contact alto-
gether? Do you ask "How are you?"
despite the fact that you aren't really
looking for the answer? Should you
smile or go for the obligatory nod?
And if you're going to wave, what
kind of wave? There's the cowboy
finger salute, the flash of the palm,
the side-to-side rapid wave and so
many others to choose from.
Your behavior probably depends
on whose path you're about tocross.
Most people greet a professor quite
differently than a hottie from last
night's party. And of course there
are the times I think to myself,
"Wait a second, do I even know
this person?"
From what I have noticed,
there are three kinds of
walkers: wavers, stop-
pers and ground-gazers.
Most people are wavers.
A waver will throw in
a casual greeting and
may or may not actually
know your name. A male
waver regu larly executes
the reverse nod. He tilts
his head upward, juts
out his chin and utters
"what's up" two octaves
lower than usual. Female
wavers usually force a smile and
squeal a high-pitched "Hi!"
The diplomatic waver knows
everyone's name and rattles them
off impeccably with grace and
confidence. The elementary waver
usually ends up quasi-waving, leav-
ing the opposite person thoroughly
confused: Was that a wave or a
muscle spasm? Some wavers smile,
while others attempt a humorous
quip and fail miserably. Then there
are the creepy wavers, who secretly
imagine the other people naked as
they wave and smile.
Second, there are the stoppers
— usually the obligatory profes-
sors, the chatty Cathies and the
sycophants.They typically trap
you with a stare from 20 feet away
and move in immediately. Stoppers
love to chat, regardless that class
is about to start in a minute or that
you desperately need to use the
restroom. If you are a stopper, you
love other stoppers. They make you
feel special. If you are not a stopper,
you try to figure out how to politely
end the conversation the entire
time. Stoppers change the route you
take to class. But the true stoppers
will track you down.
Finally, the ground-gazer. There
are two types. The compulsive
ground-gazer is most likely a
graduate student, an engineer
or both. He avoids eye contact if
at all possible. Then there is the
impulsive ground-gazer who just
cannot remember your name at
the moment. As if staring at the
sidewalk is really going to help. She
knows she has met you.
In a small community like Rice,
it is hard to claim total ignorance.
If you, as a walker, do not know
the oncoming traffic personally, I
can safely say you have probably
been in classes with them, you
have attended the same parties or
your roommate(s) have hooked
up with them. And if you do not
know them through those chan-
nels, admit it — you have clicked
through their photo albums on
the Facebook.
As spring ripens and procras-
tination reaches its annual high,
we could stand to improve our
outdoor etiquette. Whether you
are passing a classmate, a card
swiper, a professor or President
David Leebron, throw a greeting
their way. Odds are the favor will
be returned.
In the end, I like how Confucius
summed up the art of human in-
teraction: "Don't worry about not
being acknowledged by others;
worry about failing to acknowl-
edge them." And by the way, I'm
a waver. Happy walking.
Jo Kent is a Baker College senior.
Self-proclaimed gadfly
My hypothetical
platform as SA president
Nothing brings me back to
my elementary school days
like General Elections season.
After studying the colorful post-
ers stating nothing
more than name and
position, I was a fully
educated voter ready
for the extravagant
popularity contests.
But sometimes, in
my naive political
musings, I think the
Student Association
might actually ac-
complish something.
Beneath my chestnut
curls lie dreams of a
powerful student executive,
properly delegated respon-
sibilities and a deservedly
serious attitude.
Sometimes I think that
1 could be the man for that
job — I could be SA president.
But no, I did not run. I can't quit
you. Backpage.
If I were SA president, the
first thing I would do — besides
using the position as a pick-up
line — is revamp the SA's priori-
ties. I^ast year, the SA held an
all-campus picnic. It was fun,
informative and entirely not the
SA's job. Big, fun, campus-wide
events should be organized by
Rice Programs Council.
From my bully pulpit , I would
make sure RPC represented the
wants and needs of the student
body. A $50-per-couple pseudo-
formal in Sketchtown should not
be a main use of student funds,
and subsidizing tickets for mon-
ster truck rallies is the Bigfoot
of bad ideas. Instead, with some
presidential cajoling, RPC could
bring bands on campus.
Evan
Mintz
/ could be SA
president. But no, I
did not run. I can V
quit you, Backpage.
However, these would
be but strong recommenda-
tions to RPC from a strong
executive — an executive avoid-
ing social planning himself and
working 24/7 to better Rice.
Speaking of 24 hours, if I
were president. I would work
to provide 24-hour food service
on campus. Nearly every other
university has something,
even if just a vending machine
with quality snacks. Not that
Taco Cabana and House of Pies
aren't good, but it is
about time we get on
par with every other
college in the coun-
try. A 24-hour mini-
mart with pre-made
sandwiches, chips
and other snacks
cannot be that hard
to get.
Maybe without
constant trips to culi-
nary late-night loves,
students would be
more likely to visit other areas
around campus. Of course,
what could make that even
more likely are deals with those
places. I am not sure how many
students have used their Hedge-
h opper card at A Woman's Work:
Babies, Birth, Breastfeeding,
but I think discounts at Kahn's
Deli and movie theaters would
be slightly more useful.
And it is even harder to get to
places outside the Rice Village,
especially for people without
cars. That's why, if I were presi-
dent, I would work to provide
subsidized cab fares. This would
help open Houston to students,
especially areas not along Main
Street, and help prevent drunk
driving for those who want to
drink off campus.
On campus, a great way to
ensure public parties are fun for
everyone is to have an applause-
o-meter. When a new song
starts, the college socials could
take a reading from the meter,
and if too few students applaud,
switch to the next song. That
way, students could really enjoy
parties, rather than just put up
with what is laid down. Indeed,
communicatingstudent opinion
to those in control, whether
behind a board table or a turn-
table, would be a priority of
my administration.
Of course, given my often-di-
visive columns and my sexually
reveali ng manifesto a few weeks
ago, I guess I'm not very elect-
able as SA president, no matter
what my ideas are. Then again,
maybe it doesn't matter too
much — after all. Bill Clinton
got elected.
Evan Mintz is a Hanszen
College sophomore and opinion
and backpage editor.
the Rice Thresher
Amber Obermeyer
Editor in Chief
Nathan Black
Senior Editor
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BACKPAGE
F.van Mintz, Editor
Stephanie Zimmerman, Cartoonist
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Obermeyer, Amber. The Rice Thresher, Vol. 93, No. 22, Ed. 1 Friday, March 10, 2006, newspaper, March 10, 2006; Houston, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth443086/m1/3/: accessed June 19, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting Rice University Woodson Research Center.