Rice convenince store has potential to be great asset to students
Barnes & Noble will soon over take more real estate in the RMC (see story, pg. 1). The contract of 13th Street, Sammy's and Smoothie King has expired, thus allowing a "Recharge U" convenience store, operated by Barnes and Noble, to open.
We have every reason to be skeptical of this Barnes & University Bookstore has been successfully overcharging students for years now. However, with every new venture comes the potential for a successful endeavor if handled correctly.
First, this convenience store must offer affordable prices. Students do not have the resources to spend liberally, and this store will be an abysmal failure without competitive pricing. Secondly, the store needs to provide dining options that are comparable to the ones 13th Street currently offers; the store also needs to provide food later in the evening to mirror 13th Street's 11 p.m. weekday availability. Finally, this store is not a student-run business, so it should not attempt to replace or out-compete other student businesses. For example, Coffee House is located down the hall from the future convenience store, so for it to attempt to provide coffee in opposition to Coffee House would be unacceptable. If it avoids pitfalls like these, this store could serve as a very convenient entity enhancing an already high quality of life for students.
It is also worth noting that Sammy's contract has similarly run its course and the space it once held is now prepared for another food vendor to fill the real estate. Could this finally be the on-campus What-a-burger we've been craving for? We can only hope.
More from The Rice Thresher
Fairness means saying yes to students — not just to budgets
Every year, the Blanket Tax Committee faces tough questions: How should we prioritize funding and ensure every student dollar goes toward something meaningful?
What it’s like to be undocumented at Rice
I’m scared and don’t know how to stop being scared. For years, the fear of deportation loomed over every moment of my life. I developed a phobia of police officers — just seeing one made my stomach turn. The thought of someone discovering my undocumented status was enough to send me into a spiral of anxiety. Even now, despite having legal protections, those fears persist, reminding me that freedom is fragile.
Rice should commit to protecting its international students
Last week’s news that five international students – three current students and two recent alumni – have suddenly lost their visas should alarm anyone who values this campus’s global community. The federal government’s “Catch and Revoke” program has already revoked the visas of hundreds of students from universities across the country, raising widespread fears about the stability of international study in the U.S.
Please note All comments are eligible for publication by The Rice Thresher.