Outreach Day a success
This past O-Week, Rice extended its long established tradition of reaching out to the community and serving the needy (see story, pg. 5). Outreach Day was a vast success; it drew 488 new students to a myriad of projects around Houston. The number of participants exceeds that of any past Outreach Day. Furthermore, 88 percent of those students who signed up for a project actually participated — an incredible ratio when factors such as peer pressure to attend Dis-O and fatigue from a long O-week are considered.
The success of this Outreach Day sets the stage for a potential expansion of the program. Outreach administrators should ride this wave of excitment and heavily advertise for the next Outreach Day to be held in November. Furthermore, project expansions should be considered. While the turnout among new students was high, many sites became full within the first days of O-Week. Opening more slots and introducing new projects would allow the inclusion of all interested students. In choosing these new topics, Outreach Day leaders should consider the viability of certain projects. Projects that involve rigorous outdoor physical activity should be reconsidered in the blistering Houston summer heat. While it is true that students are warned about rigorous conditions before signing up for a project, it would increase the chances that students are happier with their project if they are not faced with grueling conditions. All in all, Outreach Day is quickly becoming a symbol of Rice's commitment to bettering the Houston community, and the Thresher looks forward to see the program continue to progress in the future.
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