The Rice Thresher, Vol. 97, No. 16, Ed. 1 Friday, January 22, 2010 Page: 4 of 16
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NEWS
the Rice Thresher
Friday, January 22,2010
RA leaving for studies
by Joey Capparella
For the Thresher
At the end of this year, Lovett Col-
lege will say goodbye to a familiar
face and an ingrained member of its
community. After two years of serving
as resident associate, Renee Laver-
diere will resign from her position at
the end of the spring semester.
As a graduate student pursuing
her Ph.D in mathematics, Laverdiere
said she made the decision due to the
increased demands of her studies. La-
verdiere, who started working toward
her Ph.D in 2008, is focusing on the
grafting map of Teichmiiller space. In
addition to continuing her commit-
ment to independent research, Laver-
diere has begun teaching mathemat-
ics classes at Rice, leaving less time
and mental energy to devote to the
college, she said.
"As my studies advance, the time
and energy that I must commit to my ac-
ademic goals is increasing as well," La-
verdiere said in a recent e-mail to Lovett
College. "With great sadness, 1 must
admit to myself and to you that I can no
longer fulfill my responsibilities as a stu-
dent and as a Resident Associate."
Lovett Vice President Drew Berger
said Laverdiere has been major influ-
ence on residential life at Lovett.
"Renee was integral to keep-
ing the Lovett culture balanced,"
Berger, a junior, said. "Because the
on-campus population at Lovett is
predominantly male, Renee brought
a distinct female influence that was
an important balancing factor in
the community."
Even after her departure, Laver-
diere said she hopes to continue her
involvement with Lovett Ladies, a
forum for Lovett women to talk about
issues concerning their lives and their
community. Berger said he hopes that
Lovett's new RA, whom he said will
most likely be a woman, will contin-
ue this feminine influence.
For many Lovett students, Laver-
diere's apartment provided a comfort-
able home-like atmosphere, and her
Yorkshire Terrier, Father Nelligan, is a
well-loved member of the community.
Renee Laverdiere Lovett RA
"I dog-sat for Renee once," Lovett
freshman Beth Herlin said. "1 got to
cook in her kitchen."
Laverdiere has been an impor-
tant academic resource to the Rice
community. Even before she started
teaching, Laverdiere began hosting
math tutorials for Lovett students.
"I always try to be accessible to
students," Laverdiere said.
A student-led RA search committee
is currently in the investigatory stages,
and a few potential candidates have
already been identified. Laverdiere
said she hoped her successor would
be able to do three main things.
"The most important things are
to relate to the students, to set an ex-
ample and to roll with the punches,"
Laverdiere said.
In the future, Laverdiere said she
hopes to remain connected with the
students of Lovett. Reflecting on her
time as an RA, she spoke fondly of
memories ranging from the excite-
ment of Beer Bike morning to smaller
things like students coming to her
door asking for math help.
"Even if I may be able to live with-
out being woken up in the middle of
the night by a party next door, I will
truly miss the inspiration and energy
of the students here at Rice and my
daily interactions with them," Laver-
diere said.
H1N1 vaccines arrive
by Scott Norgaard
Thresher Staff
Last week. Rice caught the par-
ticipation bug spawned by the Cen-
ter for Disease Control's National
Influenza Vaccination Week. The
Rice administration, which footed
the bill for about 850 vaccinations,
offered vaccinations for students,
faculty and retirees who showed up
in the Kelley Lounge of the Ley Stu-
dent Center last Tuesday, Wednes-
day and Thursday.
The vaccines were supplied by Wal-
greens Pharmacy, which gave Rice a
bill after the shots were administered.
Since the H1N1 flu virus strand hit
last fall, the administration has been
taking measures to protect students
and staff.
"All indications were that we are
not going to see [H1N1] going away,"
Director of Benefits Elaine Britt said.
Britt said the administra-
tion viewed these vaccines as an
investment.
"If we can keep faculty, staff and
students healthy, the campus will
function better," Britt said.
These vaccines are a part of the
university's steps to curtail the ad-
vancement of the H1N1 flu. Accord-
ing to a university statement, the
university has already taken mea-
sures to protect students by putting
up alcohol-based hand sanitizer
dispensers, instructing the clean-
ing staff to take extra care while
cleaning surfaces and putting up
posters illustrating Ihe dangers of
the flu.
Britt said the elderly have a high
priority for receiving vaccines, as
they are usually the most susceptible
to the mainstream strand of the flu.
However, the H1N1 flu, more corn-
and 1995-98, according to current
English Department Chair Hel-
ena Michie, who said she entered
the English Department when Isle
was chair.
"He was very calm and very gen-
tle, not flustered by any of the crises
that most chairs have to deal with,"
Michie said. "You would leave his
office thinking that you were in
good hands."
Isle served two terms as master
of Jones College, from 1982-92. Af-
ter his tenure there, he continued
his involvement with Jones as an
honorary faculty associate, accord-
ing to Linda Cooper, a division ad-
ministrator in the office of the Dean
of Undergraduates. A courtyard at
Jones College, dubbed "the Isle," is
named in his honor.
"Walter loved being a master,"
Walker said. "He loved every part of
Jones, particularly being involved in
student plays."
Isle twice received the school-wide
George R. Brown Award for Superior
Teaching in 1985 and 1988. He taught
classes in contemporary American
literature with an emphasis on the
environment that he called "ecofic-
tion." After founding the CSES, he
taught classes in environmental stud-
ies as well as English.
Perhaps the most striking aspect
of Isle's career was his eagerness
to teach students at all levels, Lisa
Slappey, a former doctorate student
of Isle's, said.
"He was so comfortable teaching
a great range of students," Slappey
said. "It might be the freshman who
just walked into Rice or the adult com-
ing back to get a master's degree."
Slappey confessed that she
would sneak back into Isle's class-
es after she had attained her grad-
uation requirements because she
was so interested in his analysis
of books.
After his retirement in 2007, Isle
continued to teach at the Susanne
M. Glasscock School of Continuing
Studies, Slappey said. These cours-
es were primarily in environmental
studies, in line with Isle's interest
in the area.
Walker said that Isle's interest
in environmental literature be-
gan to develop in the late 1980s,
and he was drawn to it because of
his upbringing.
H 1 .
Rice meant a great
deal to him. He spent
his whole career
here, and he partici-
pated in every aspect
of it. He loved Jones,
he loved the college
system and he was
willing to do admin-
istrative work to help.
Pam Walker
ff
"He always thought of himself as
a Westerner, and he was," Walker
said. "He loved the West. We spent
a lot of time backpacking and hiking
in Colorado."
Isle also participated in several
scholarly environmental groups.
He served as president of the As-
sociation for the Study of Literature
and Environment. After he retired
in 2007, he continued to pursue his
interest in environmental issues
through a weekly faculty book club,
Walker said.
In 1999, Isle began serving as the
Vice Provost for Academic Affairs
under Interim Provost David Minter.
When Levy was hired in 2000, Isle
served as his mentor.
"One of the most important things
he did was act as an adviser and coun-
sel to the provost, which was very im
portant with a new provost coming in
like I did," Levy said.
Levy described Isle as being very
committed to Rice's traditions and
culture while also recognizing the
university's potential for improve-
ment. This combination allowed him
to shape many of the administration's
attitudes on key issues behind the
scenes, Levy said.
"He combined a deep knowledge
and understanding of academic en-
terprise with a very, very deep knowl-
edge of the people and traditions of
this university," Levy said.
Isle's decades of service to the uni-
versity were ultimately most reflective
of the strong feelings that he had for
the school, Walker said.
"Rice meant a great deal to him,"
she said. "He spent his whole career
here, and he participated in every
aspect of it. He loved Jones, he loved
the college system and he was will-
ing to do administrative work to help
the university."
A memorial in celebration of
Isle's life and contributions to
Rice will be held Friday, Feb. 26 at
4 p.m. in the Rice Memorial Chapel.
A reception will follow in the Farn-
sworth Pavilion. In lieu of flowers.
Rice is accepting donations to fund
an English course in environmen-
tal studies.
Isle is survived by his wife, four
sons, and five grandchildren.
monly known as swine flu, targets a
different group. Britt said.
"Actually, the swine flu is oppo-
site the normal flu," Britt said. "The
normal, healthy people are being hit
the hardest."
Students who already received a
normal flu vaccine are not protected
against swine flu, and will need to
receive a vaccine specifically for
H1N1, Britt said. The reason for this
double vaccination, Britt said, is that
strains of swine flu appeared after
the general flu vaccines were already
being produced.
Britt said manufacturers are
likely to bundle the swine flu vac-
cine with the normal strand in the
future, eliminating the need for
separate shots.
Britt also said students who al
ready had the swine flu would not
necessarily benefit from a vaccine.
Normal flu vaccines are available
through Health Services at a cost,
and swine flu vaccines can be pur-
chased from the Walgreens located in
Memorial Hermann Medical Plaza for
around $20, Britt said.
Because of the small number of flu
shots relative to the size of the Rice
community, not all students elected
to receive shots.
"I didn't get the swine flu shot be-
cause there was already a probability
1 had swine flu," Sid Richardson Col-
lege freshman Markos Munoz said. "1
didn't want to take five minutes out of
my day to potentially save my life."
Still, many other students took ad-
vantage of the free vaccine, including
Sid Rich freshman Peter Kamel.
"1 guess that living all together
in college, it is really easy to catch it
since people are so close together,"
Kamel said. "Since it's free, there is
nothing to lose."
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Michel, Casey. The Rice Thresher, Vol. 97, No. 16, Ed. 1 Friday, January 22, 2010, newspaper, January 22, 2010; Houston, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth443188/m1/4/: accessed July 18, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting Rice University Woodson Research Center.