Rice University’s Student Newspaper — Since 1916

Thursday, November 21, 2024 — Houston, TX

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Houston recycling company employs the disabled

(09/14/12 12:00am)

A local electronics recycling program is not just saving the environment, but also providing jobs for people with disabilities. In April, CompuCycle, a Houston-based company founded in 1996 that specializes in recycling and refurbishing old electronics in an eco-friendly way, announced a partnership with the nonprofit agency Easter Seals Greater Houston for a larger campaign called WhatIF that will begin on Sept. 15. According to CompuCycle President Clive Hess, the main goal of this partnership is to give employment possibilities to Easter Seals clients with disabilities in Houston. "The partnership with Easter Seals came about because they provide job training in Houston for individuals with disabilities," Hess said. "Most people have a family member or someone they know who is living with a disability, so the WhatIF campaign touches on a personal note as well." Easter Seals primarily deals with clients with autism, developmental disabilities, physical disabilities and other special needs, according to its website. Hess said Easter Seals clients will be working in CompuCycle's Houston processing facility testing equipment, sorting like materials and disassembling donated products. Easter Seals Greater Houston Chief Executive Officer Elise Hough said employment is a constant struggle for many individuals with disabilities. "We get frequent calls from clients struggling to find employment," Hough said. "Funding for programs like this is difficult to find, and the CompuCycle is unique because it has the potential to be self-sustaining." Hess said businesses have an incentive to donate electronics to CompuCycle because it is free of cost, which in turn means better business for CompuCycle and more ecofriendly treatment of used electronics. In addition to receiving donations from businesses, CompuCycle also hosts a number of collection events in the Houston area. CompuCycle accepts a wide variety of products including laptops, cellphones, game consoles, stereo equipment and even hair accessories such as curling irons, according to Hess. Rice Environmental Club President Skye Kelty said plans are in the works for Rice involvement with the CompuCycle collection program. "We heard about CompuCycle through the City of Houston sustainability program, and it's on our to-do list," Kelty, a McMurtry College junior, said. "It's an awesome company, and we're hoping to do a collection at Rice at some point during the year." In addition to providing jobs directly through the partnership, Hess and Hough said the program can help increase computer literacy among clients. "Our hope is to be able to employ approximately 50 clients at CompuCycle and ... a few hundred more per year could receive general computer training," Hough said. "CompuCycle is even hoping to donate some of the refurbished computers to clients who go through training." Hess said he hopes to expand the program regionally and even nationally."The program in Houston is the pilot project, but there is potential to expand," Hesssaid. "Easter Seals has chapters nationally, and CompuCycle has alliance partners nationwide." Hough said she hopes to see more programs like these in the future for individuals with disabilities. "From a training and hiring process, there are many attitudinal problems and physical barriers in the workplace for people with disabilities," Hough said. "I've never seen a program like this, and it shows how there is a chance for inexpensive, simple solutions to help the cause."








Academic Cup at Rice

(10/20/11 12:00am)

Three Hanszen College seniors have begun developing an Academic Cup competition similar to the athletic competition provided by the President's Cup to encourage scholastic rivalry. Head Academic Fellows and seniors at Hanszen College Raymond Verm and Apoorv Bhargava and Hanszen college senior Travis San Pedro, think this idea will be instrumental in raising awareness of the fellows program campus wide.




RPC organizes HP screening

(11/12/10 12:00am)

On Nov. 18, more than 1,000 Rice wizards and witches will get the magical opportunity of a lifetime to ride the Hogwarts Express all the way to Edwards Cinema to see Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part I at 8 p.m., four hours before the movie premieres to the Muggle community. The movie, based on the seventh and final book in the Harry Potter series, will be the second-to-last film installment of the series because of Warner Brothers' decision to split the final book into two films. Part II is scheduled to debut July 15, 2011.



Pavilion changes hours

(10/29/10 12:00am)

The Brochstein Pavilion has found itself in the midst of various controversies since its inception, ranging from discussions about the building's appearance, service providers, Coffeehouse's unsuccessful attempt to make a bid for the space and, most recently, operating hours.As of last week, Brochstein's hours have once again changed. New hours will be from 7 a.m. to midnight Monday through Thursday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and 9 a.m. to midnight on Sunday.



Student courses praised

(10/01/10 12:00am)

Rice has recently acquired various buzz-inducing rankings, including #1 Quality of Life from The Princeton Review, #1 in Materials Science from Times Higher Education, and #17 among national universities from U.S. News & World Report. However, Rice's student-taught course program has been steadily gaining a different sort of national reputation over the past two years.The student-taught course program at Rice started in fall 2007 with three courses at Wiess College and has since grown to include courses at Brown College, Hanszen College, Jones College, Lovett College, Martel College, McMurtry College and Will Rice College. In all, 30 classes are being offered this semester, with subjects such as North Korea, casino gaming and witches.


Brochstein hours reduced

(09/10/10 12:00am)

As of the first day of classes, late-night studying at the Brochstein Pavilion is no more. A recent change in policy this summer means that the Pavilion will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on weekdays and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekends. The Pavilion previously closed at 10 p.m. during the week, while the weekend hours have not changed. The Pavilion opened in April 2008 as a gathering space for students, faculty, staff and visitors. The week it first opened, the Pavilion was open for 24 hours a day, as its grand opening corresponded to exam week for students. The hours of the Pavilion fluctuated as the building became a central part of campus.


Rice no. 1 in material sciences

(05/17/10 12:00am)

According to one publication, Rice is made of the right stuff for materials science. Last month, the Times Higher Education, a British publication for professionals in education and research, ranked Rice first among universities in the world for materials science research. The award, based on the number of citations per paper between January 1999 and October 2009, brings the Rice materials science program to the forefront in the field and will likely increase the visibility of the program in the future, Enrique Barrera, chair of the Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science, said.