Rice students' fundraising efforts for Japan exemplary
The outpouring of support at Rice for Japan has been simply extraordinary. Conscious groups of students have gathered and implemented massive efforts to raise funds for the recovery process.
What is truly unique about the Rice student body's mobilization to gather donations has been the speed with which it enacted action the different levels on which fund raising drives have occurred. A campus-wide boba tea sale targeted not only the RMC, but it also sought to make sales at each college. The sale recruited representatives from each college to ensure that the sale could occur in the 11 college commons in addition to central campus areas. Furthermore, many fundraisers have occurred on the college-level, allowing students to donate to events set up by their friends and peers. The events put on by the colleges have been particularly innovative and enthusiastic, a distinctive contrast to the apathy often portrayed by us as a student body.
The breadth of fundraisers exhibit great planning, genuine desire to aid the nation of Japan, and a dash of entrepreneurial spirit. We should be proud our efforts as a student body and a university.
More from The Rice Thresher
Students of conscience should boycott Local Foods
Local Foods has served, for many years, as a casual Houston restaurant option for Houston residents, including Rice students. Folks on campus will notice that this option has become more proximate, as a Local Foods location claims space on campus in the Brochstein Pavilion.
Insurance options for Ph.D. students are overpriced and insufficient
Doctoral students at Rice are given insufficient health insurance options especially compared to institutions with graduate student unions. Aetna’s graduate student health insurance plan leaves students with significant costs compared to the minimum annual stipend. Additionally, the available Aetna plan offers insufficient benefits when compared both to medical insurance plans at peer institutions and to the non-subsidized Wellfleet plan – Rice’s alternative option for international students.
Keep administrative hands off public parties
Emergency Management is hoping to implement a new system that has students swipe their IDs when entering public parties to cross-check their name with a pre-registered list. This idea is being touted as an effort to reduce check-in time and lines at publics. The thing is – we are tired. After bans on events, APAC and dramatic changes in party requirements, we want hands off the public party.
Please note All comments are eligible for publication by The Rice Thresher.