The Rice Thresher, Vol. 96, No. 3, Ed. 1 Friday, September 5, 2008 Page: 2 of 24
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2 OP-ED
the Rice Thresher
Friday, September 5,2008
the Rice (Ihresher
Leebron wisely passes
on Amethyst Initiative:
Currently, a proposal called the Amethyst Initiative is circulat-
ing among college and university presidents, purporting to be a
call to "informed and unimpeded debate" about the current sta-
tus and effectiveness of America's alcohol legislation (see story,
page 6). At this time, more than 120 presidents have signed the
initiative, and a few of them are from schools we nominally la-
bel "peer" institutions, like Duke University.
Despite the buzz surrounding the Initiative, president David
Leebron has still not signed it, because he feels that far from be-
ing free from bias, the Initiative's implied conclusion is that the
current policies are not working, and the drinking age needs to
again be lowered to 18.
First, we applaud the caution with which President Leebron
is proceeding with regards to the Amethyst Initiative. To sign a
nationally significant document without having all the facts as
to that document's purpose would be a mistake, and Leebron is
well-justified in requesting further information and discussion
on the real purpose of the Initiative itself.
Secondly, we appreciate the respect Leebron is showing to
both Rice students and to the alcohol policy. He realizes that
the current drinking age of 21 and the current social strictures in
place may not be perfect, but he is confident enough in Rice stu-
dents' responsibility that he believes it is possible for the system
to work for now as it is, at least on this campus.
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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
thresher-ops@rice. edu
Free O.C. student
lunches a good idea
If you're an off-campus student, food is a big deal. Most off-
campus students aren't masters in the kitchen, and their main
recipes are easily made, pre-packaged, sometimes tasteless food.
And who has an hour or even thirty minutes to prepare a meal?
Many off-campus students resort to microwavable cuisines or a
meal at a restaurant or deli. It can get to be expensive.
But Will Rice and Wiess Colleges have a solution: offer free
lunches to off-campus students once a week in their respec-
tive serveries (See story, page 1). Will Rice came up with the
idea two years ago, and Wiess tested the idea last spring and
decided to implement it this semester. These two colleges have
the right idea, and we think it is something the other seven
should implement.
As it is, off-campus life is pretty isolated. Many off-campus
students go "deep OC," never to be heard from again. Imple-
menting a free lunch system at the colleges promotes more
involvement in the colleges, which isn't such a bad thing. And
even if not all off-campus students take advantage of the free
lunches, the gesture is nice. But really, what off-campus college
student in his or her right mind would refuse a free meal?
The only inconvenience with the setup is that the free
lunches are not without a price. They cost about $2 to prepare,
totaling about $60 since around 30 students are taking advan-
tage of them.
Considering the comparably huge sum of money each college
holds in its budget, it seems quite reasonable that all the col-
leges could start this sort of lunch program, whether on a full
or partial scale. We fully encourage any sort of implementation,
because the financial burden is more tnan onset by the benefits ration and adventure, but knocking
it brings to the members of each college's community.
The free lunch idea is great - college students love anything
that involves the word "free" and "food." But if there is one
thing we know, it is that there is no such thing as a free lunch.
Ultimately, though, we feel that this is the type of meal the col-
leges would be wise to pay for.
ZipCar program
on the right track
To the Editor:
I was proud to read that Rice is
subsidizing the first carsharing ven-
ture in Texas ("Carless No More," Aug.
29). I live in Washington, D.C., a boom-
ing ZipCar market. Just like in college,
I don't need a car often, but it gives me
great peace of mind knowing I have
ready access to one when F do need it
to transport something, to get some-
where beyond biking range or to leave
town. At Rice, I actually chose friends
who could drive me to dinner on week-
ends, or take me to Target once a se-
mester. And 1 remember being strand-
ed Thanksgiving weekend when car
owners drove home. Access to ZipCar
is just what Rice students need for a
little freedom. Although you will have
to plan ahead, cars might be available
for that midnight romp to Galveston.
Two cars is just the beginning — as
more students use them, the program
will grow. 1 recommend that ZipCar
expand to include a pickup truck (it is
Texas, after all) which even car own-
ers might find useful for hauling stuff.
Rice Zipsters can also use their mem-
bership in other cities — it's cheaper
than renting a car. 1 had better reserve
my car now for Homecoming this fall.
Sheffy Gordon
jones '98
Test score not worth
neglecting values
To the Editor:
Upon my return to Rice, 1 noticed
that the purity test had resurfaced in
the Thresher's Backpage ("The 2008
Backpage Purity Test," Aug. 22), which
revives memories from my Orientation
Week. From my experiences as an un-
dergraduate, it was far more popular
to tout how low a score can go rather
than how high a score can be kept.
College represents a time of exn!o-
a point off a purity score does not
necessarily equate to positive expe-
riences. Actions have consequences
that reach beyond the here and now
of an individual. Granted, many suc-
cessful individuals have shrugged off
mistakes in their lives as youthful in-
discretions, but public disavowals do
not wash away the regret that lingers
in an individual's conscience.
However, as students of a top-tier
university, individuals here should
have the intellectual capacity and
the emotional maturity to discern
the risks involved in pursuing tem-
porary gratification.
Many items on the test seem laugh-
ably prude or inconceivable. 1 under-
stand that everyone has different per-
spectives on what belongs in which
category, and 1 do not intend to share,
let alone impose, my judgment on
each individual question. Individuals
do evolve and grow in their roughly
four years in college, but they ought to
establish their principles and hold to
them according to their own judgment
without questioning the judgment of
others. We may fail at certain points,
but it is the struggle that matters.
Leonard Chan
Lovett '07
Baker 13 requires
off-limit spaces
To the Editor:
On Labor Day, I ventured
back on campus to study at the
Brochstein Pavilion. This building
offers a great view and quiet study
atmosphere both to students and
the public. Unfortunately, 1 was
confronted with those obscene de-
pictions characteristic of Baker 13.
1 understand that this is a great
tradition for Rice University and a
medium of free expression for its
students, and I am in no way call-
ing for the end of this activity. But
considering that this pavilion is one
of the most visited buildings by off-
campus visitors, has this tradition
gone too far? I suggest that certain
buildings be declared off-limits for
Baker 13, mainly those most visited
by the public. After all, do we want
the first experience at Rice for a
visitor to our great university to be
marred by such racy gestures?
Luke Gilman
Lovett '06
Stadium dinners
an inconvenience
To the Editor:
This has got to stop. Not for the
first time, the Rice Athletics Depart-
ment has succeeded in causing many
members of the student body a major
inconvenience by effectively forcing
all students to travel to Rice Stadium
in order to eat dinner. With the server-
ies all closed in order to complement
the home football opener, students
were left with little recourse other
than either preparing their own food
or going to a restaurant.
On Friday nights, students are
exhausted. Moreover, this is the
first week of classes, when people
are still trying to figure out their
plans for the semester. After classes
end, many students simply want
the convenience of their local serv-
ery and a chance to stop and catch
their breath from the week, and not
to have to make a 15-plus minute so-
journ for something that they have
paid through the nose to have close
to home.
Please do not misunderstand
me in thinking that my frustration
stems from a lack of school spirit.
That is not the case. In reality, I just
feel that this is a cheap tactic that
doesn't really benefit anyone. There
is a large contingent of students
who show up only for the food and
couldn't care less about football.
I'm sure that the team doesn't want
apathetic fans, so let's discard this
"close the serveries" idea and start
thinking about the university be-
yond the stadium.
Ian Jones
Martel College sophomore
Lily Chun & Dylan Farmer
Editors in Chief
Thresher recuitment
session
The Thresher will be having it's first recruitment session of
the year this Saturday, Sept. 6, in the RMC. The times and loca-
tions breakdown is as follows:
2-2:30 p.m. Sports (Miner Lounge), Photo (Thresher office)
2:30-3 p.m. A&E (Miner Lounge), Design/Web (Thresher office)
3-3:30 p.m. News (Miner Lounge), Busi/Ads (Thresher office)
3:30-4 p.m. Copy Editing (Miner Lounge), Ops (Thresher office)
We strongly encourage anyone and everyone interested to drop
by. All of the sessions are completely informal, with no pres-
sure at all. lust wander between sections, ask questions, and
see what you like!
NEWS
Sarah Rutledge Editor
Rachel Carlson Asst. Editor
Cindy Dinh Asst. Editor
Catherine Bratic Designer
Kylie Klein Designer
Tiffany Kuo Designer
OP-ED
Amanda Melchor Editor
Neel Shah Cartoonist
SPORTS
Natalie Clericuzio Editor
Yan Digilov Editor
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Julie Armstrong Editor
COPY
Nick Schlossman Editor
Ryan Stickney Editor
Anna Wilde Editor
CALENDAR
Sean McBeath Editor
WE*
John Michael Cuccia Editor
Steven Wang Asst. Editor
PHOTOGRAPHY
David Rosales Editor
Lauren Schoefflerdssf. Editor
Ian White dssf. Editor
BUSINESS
Sarah Mitchell Managers Payroll
Jessie Huang Subscriptions Manager
Gustavo Herrera Distribution Manager
Sergio Jaramillo Distribution Manager
ADVERTISING
Joseph Ramirez Ads Manager
Thomas Yeh Ads Manager
Tiffany Kuo Classified Ads Manager
BACKPAGE
Kyle Barnhart Editor
Timothy Faust Editor
The Rice Thresher, the official student news-
paper at Rice University since 1916, is pub
lished each Friday during the school year,
except during examination periods and holi-
days, by the students of Rice University.
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© Copyright 2008
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Chun, Lily & Farmer, Dylan. The Rice Thresher, Vol. 96, No. 3, Ed. 1 Friday, September 5, 2008, newspaper, September 5, 2008; Houston, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth443112/m1/2/: accessed June 19, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting Rice University Woodson Research Center.