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Despite the divisive nature of the paper products debate, we commend Housing and Dining on its efforts to adapt to students' mealtime habits using a sustainable takeout container system (see story, p. 1). While Rice students love their paper plates, the addition of tupperware could help reduce the amount and cost of paper products used over the year, thus redirecting more funds to food quality.
The Faculty Senate Working Group on Grade Inflation presented preliminary recommendations to the Student Senate Monday, Nov. 11 meeting (see story, p. 1). While grade inflation may be an issue at Rice University, information on grade distribution and Latin honors are available online for employers and graduate schools. Employers and graduate schools already recognize that GPAs are calculated differently at different institutions and are accustomed to using this information to place grades in context or deflate them as appropriate. Students may also be reluctant to admit grade inflation is a problem, as fixing grade inflation - if indeed it needs to be fixed - would put their own GPAs at risk. For those applying to medical school or law school, changes to grading policies could damage their chances for admission by lowering grades. While this is an ethical issue of its own, it means that students are unlikely to advocate for changes in grading policies.
The power went out across campus around 6:40 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 12, and according to Facilities Engineering & Planning a cat could be to blame. Michael Tomongha, FE&P Lead Plant Operator, said that CenterPoint Energy told FE&P that a cat climbed up to a transformer and caused damage, resulting in the power outage.
iOS 7 makes my phone look like it belongs in a candy store.
The Thresher commends Rice University for selecting Joe Karlgaard as the new director of athletics (see story, p. 1). In choosing Karlgaard, a former student-athlete himself, Rice shows its devotion to student-athletes. The Thresher believes Karlgaard's experience at Stanford University, a top academic university also known for its competitive athletic program, will help to propel Rice forward athletically while staying true to its commitment to academic excellence.
The Thresher would like to emphasize the importance of 100 Days and Senior Gala (see story, p. 1) to the undergraduate students at Rice University, especially the current senior class. The student body values these two events as celebrations of students' time at Rice as they await graduation, and the events garner decent participation in the face of what most students recognize as general apathy toward non-college traditions.
To the Editor,
The Thresher would like to commend the administration for choosing to allocate a substantial portion of the $1 billion raised in the Centennial Campaign to endow 28 faculty chairs (see story, p. 1).
An article published on SportsIllustrated.com on March 29, 2013 reported that former Rice University basketball player Arsalan Kazemi claimed Director of Athletics Rick Greenspan made inappropriate comments about Kazemi's Middle Eastern descent to Kazemi, two other Middle Eastern players and former assistant coach Marco Morcos. The Thresher is currently unable to confirm these allegations.
For the second year in a row, colleges will be limited to a certain number of kegs during Willy Week.
The Thresher welcomes President Barack Obama's statement in support of same-sex marriage equality (see story, page 8). Though the political side of the situation is hard to ignore, the advancement of equality for all groups, whether out of a belief that it is right and necessary or for political reasons, is a positive thing. That being said, the Thresher also holds that it is important to not confuse politicians with the ideas they claim to espouse.
At the end of every year, we like to take the time to congratulate and thank our colleagues who have graduated and will now have to find real jobs. Editor in Chief Josh Rutenberg was generally clean-shaven as an underclassman and news editor, but he grew an impressive senior beard. His wonderfully bad jokes never failed to inspire a few groans, but his civility and helpfulness, especially at odd hours of the morning, were exceptional. Design Czar Zach Castle also managed to stay charismatic on late nights, though female staffers of all ages soon learned that he is a shameless flirt.
The Thresher would like to congratulate the students who participated in Three Day Startup for holding a successful conference. The program is designed to help students expand their entrepreneurial education. Students who have great ideas but lack resources can apply to participate in the program and have the opportunity to launch their potential business. It is programs such as these that motivate students to achieve a high level of success at the undergraduate level. Unfortunately, there was a deficiency in support for the program this year due to the event's timing. Since it was scheduled between Beer Bike and the Rice Business Plan competition, Three Day Startup had difficulty in receiving a large amount of funding. We commend the program for finding creative means of exploring external connections to fulfill itsfunding requirements.
To eliminate the unfair advantage the Graduate Student Association has in college sports, the idea of establishing a Dean's Cup has been proposed. In this new Dean's Cup, the GSA would be eliminated from the running.
While the changes in the Lifetime Physical Activity Program are a move in the right direction by the Student Association, there are still problems with the program (see story, pg. 1). New students will have priority with half of the available spots reserved in a given LPAP. While the Thresher endorses the decision to give new students a chance at registering for an LPAP, the SA needs to reconsider giving away 50 percent of the seats to new students over rising seniors.
In the March 30 issue of the Thresher, Ryan Robertson should have been named as the brewmaster in the "From Baker to brewer" feature.
Last Saturday morning, Martel College and Duncan College were visited by the Rice University Police Department as the result of noise complaints from neighboring residents (see story, ricethresher.org). Although no students' identification was actually examined, the situation frightened students enough to send them running toward their rooms and other colleges. There was massive confusion between the students, coordinators, chief justices and RUPD: If officers and the chief justices communicate better, there will be no need for officers to interfere with college activities unless it is absolutely necessary.
Beer Bike is tomorrow, and while colleges will be celebrating with established traditions, the campus-wide coordinators and Student Judicial Programs are introducing several changes that will alter the dynamic of the event (see story, pg. 1). There are three significant changes being made to Beer Bike. However, not all of these changes are negative. First, the balloon fight will be held at two different stops. This change is supposed to get more students to the bike races. The second stop will be at the intramural fields and would therefore create a shorter walk to the races for students. The Thresher supports the new balloon fight structure and agrees that if students are willing to walk to the second stop and throw more balloons, they will also be willing to travel the short distance to the bike races.
The Thresher believes that it is unfortunate that the Marching Owl Band and non-major music classes are being left out in the cold and forced to gather in a room that is less than suitable for their needs (see story, pg. 6). The university needs to provide a space, such as the old swimming pool room in Autry Court, for these groups that have been a part of the campus culture for years.
This year, the Beer Bike blanket tax has been proposed to double in cost from $5 to $10. While at first this may seem like a jarring amount to charge students, this change will help Beer Bike attend to its annual budget deficits. The proposal needs 20 percent of the student population to participate in the vote and a two-thirds majority vote in its favor for it to pass. The Thresher endorses the proposed increase in tax and encourages students to vote in its favor.
