The Rice Thresher, Vol. 95, No. 1, Ed. 1 Friday, August 24, 2007 Page: 14 of 32
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14
THE RICE THRESHER 0-WEEK FRIDAY, AUGUST 24,2007
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TAYLOR JOHNSON/THRESHER
Hanszen College senior Parker Gregg of the Rice EMS talks to Lovett College freshman Drew
Berger at the Rice Carnival.
*
TAYLOR JOHNSON/THRESHER
Will Rice College freshmen approach the Sallyport at Matriculation Sunday night. Luminaries
line the path to the Sallyport.
Orientation Week 2007
saw Rice's largest-ever matriculating class arrive on campus last Sunday:
The class of 2011 has 744 members. New students storms—which had caused scheduling delays during
faced an unusual challenge during move-in this year, as Adviser Training the week before — held themselves
construction around campus closed roads and confused at bay, and new students toured and detoured around
parents. Luckily, threats of hurricanes and tropical campus without having to dodge floods.
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TAYLOR JOHNSON/THRESHER
Association of Rice Alumni President Charles Szalkowski (Baker *70) and
Dean of Undergraduates Robin Forman enter the Stude Concert Hall in the
Shepherd School for matriculation.
Campus personalities counsel
incoming students at matriculation
by Jocelyn Wright
"Ask yourself if you're having the kind of expe-
riences that will make you come back and revisit
in 10 or 20 years," President David Leebron said
in his matriculation speech to incoming students
Sunday evening in Stude Concert Hall. Dean of
Undergraduates Robin Forman, Student Associa-
tion President Ixiura Kelleyand President of the
Association of I^ice Alumni Charles Szalkowski
(Baker 70) also offered words of wisdom to the
new class before they walked through the Sal-
lyport amidst cheers and fireworks.
'Take advantage of as many people as you can
and learn from them," Leebron said.
He said maintaining connections with family
and friends was equally important.
"Remember special days of family and friends
because if you forget they will remember for a
very long time," he said.
Leebron shared some of his experiences from
a family vacation in Italy. In the morning, they
took a boat to a town that could only be reached
by gondola or by donkey and, when they went
to return in the evening, they were late and just
missed the gondola that would take them to see
a volcano. In order to catch the boat, they ran
down the donkey path and attempted to avoid
donkey feces.
"Sometimes, to get where you want to go, you
have to go through donkey dung. It's not always
pleasant and sometimes it's pungent," he said.
Leebron said although he and his wife could
have avoided the experience if they had gotten
to the gondola on time, they enjoyed the more
than the gondola.
"Sometimes, the path covered by donkey dung
proves to be the best path," he said.
leebron also said it was important to be open-
minded to change, citing Sony's invention of the
VCR, which was originally met with opposition by
the movie industry though it ended up becoming
a source of revenue.
"Sometimes the changes that you're most
afraid of are the ones that will lead you to new
and better places," he said.
I>eebron reminded freshmen that they were
surrounded by a supportive community.
Szalkowski and Forman picked up similar
themes in their speeches. Kelley encouraged
new students to try new things, saying she had
never participated in student government before
coming to Rice.
"What it means to do well at Rice is [that]
you have prepared yourself to succeed after
Rice," he said.
Wiess College freshman Robin Richards said
she enjoyed the matriculation ceremony and
found the speeches full of useful advice.
"I particularly enjoyed ... the dean of under-
graduates saying we would marry someone in
the room and the horrified silence that followed,"
she said.
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Bursten, Julia. The Rice Thresher, Vol. 95, No. 1, Ed. 1 Friday, August 24, 2007, newspaper, August 24, 2007; Houston, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth443109/m1/14/: accessed July 18, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting Rice University Woodson Research Center.