Esperanza to be held on campus

By Tina Nazerian     10/28/13 7:00pm

Esperanza, Rice University's traditional homecoming dance, will take place Nov. 16 at 10 p.m., according to Rice Program Council Socials Committee Co-Chair Abby Gordon. The event, themed "A Night of Fire and Ice," will again take place in a tent on campus.

Gordon, a Baker College junior, said this year's Esperanza will be held in a tent that is currently being constructed between the Turrell Skyspace and James A. Baker III Hall in celebration of the 20th anniversary of the Baker Institute for Public Policy.

"They [haven't begun] yet, but [they] will be constructing a giant tent like last year's [Centennial tent]," Gordon said. "We don't have the dimensions, but it will hold 1,600 people. The tent is a bit smaller [than last year's], but not by much."

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According to Gordon, Esperanza had always been held off campus prior to last year. However, Gordon said feedback from last year's event indicated students wanted Esperanza to remain on campus.

"We started talking to the administration back in March," Gordon said. "We found out that the Baker Institute is holding their anniversary, and so they're going to keep up the tent another week for homecoming."

RPC President Aisha Jeeva said RPC received numerous requests to have Esperanza on campus again. Jeeva, a Martel College junior, said that since one of RPC's primary goals this year was to be more responsive to student feedback, RPC has worked hard over the past few months to make the necessary arrangements with other organizations on campus. 

"We are really proud to be able to fulfill this wish of students and are confident Esperanza will be a highlight of the homecoming celebrations," Jeeva said. 

Gordon said 1,600 tickets to Esperanza will be sold online for $20 each.

"The fire marshal has said only 1,600 [people] can go in [the tent], so that is the maximum number of tickets we can sell," Gordon said.

Jeeva said last year's capacity was 2,200, but that tent was paid for as part of the Centennial Celebration, whereas this year, it will be paid for by the Office of Alumni Affairs and RPC, which has arranged to pay to keep the tent up longer.

"There are actually no spaces on campus for us to hold an event of this nature and capacity," Jeeva said.

Jeeva said the same company that built and designed the centennial tent will be responsible for this year's tent.

Wiess College junior Joseph Mapula said he is aware of other students' concerns over the cost of the tent. 

"From what I gather right now, it seems like they're trying to kind of mimic last year's Esperanza," Mapula said. "I think [the tent] was a little controversial among students as far as why are we spending money on a temporary tent. I thought it was really great as far as everything with the lights. I thought the tent was actually awesome, despite the controversy about it."

According to Jeeva, Esperanza's theme, "A Night of Fire and Ice," is meant to tie into the Student Association-selected homecoming theme "Catching Fire." 

"The Esperanza theme is linked to the homecoming theme. It has nothing to do with Game of Thrones," Jeeva said, referencing the television show based on George R. R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire series of novels.

RPC is also working on other events that will play into the general Hunger Games theme for the week.

"We're hosting a screening of the first Hunger Games movie on the Tuesday of Homecoming Week," Jeeva said. "The Traditions Committee is responsible for the event, and there will be popcorn and snacks. We will also be making an announcement about another homecoming event at the screening."

According to Gordon, DJ Politik, a Los Angeles native, will be flying in from New York to DJ this year's Esperanza.

RPC Socials Committee Co-Chair Micah Tatum said he hopes this year's Esperanza can generate the same level of excitement as last year's.

"Last year was [the Centennial Celebration]," Tatum, a Jones College sophomore, said. "We have huge shoes to fill."

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