The Rice Thresher, Vol. 96, No. 27, Ed. 1 Friday, April 17, 2009 Page: 2 of 20
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EDITORIAL
the Rice Thresher
Friday, April 17,2009
the Rice (Thresher
Proposed gun bill
harmful to campus safety
Houston has had its fair share of gun violence over the years,
but Rice, a hedge-lined bubble, has provided students an aura
of safety for years on end. But this doesn't just come from the
lack of law-breaking denizens calling Rice home. Much of the
safety we've come to take for granted stems from the univer-
sity's desire to check concealed weapons at the door, disal-
lowing unseen weaponry from entering the campus.
But if the Texas legislature decides to pass HB 1893, a bill
that would allow concealed weapons on campus, all that
may change (see story, page 1), and change for the worse.
Aristotle said, "We make war that we may live in peace."
This backwards logic seems to be at play here, coming home
to roost in this bill's passage. A small percentage of the Rice
population holds concealed handgun licenses, it is true —
but it does not matter how minuscule the amount of weapon-
ry there will be on campus. Those few will be safer, perhaps,
but the university as a whole will suffer.
We acknowledge that, in order to earn a CHL, you must
first pass an examination, and we understand that the vast
majority of those with CHL's are healthy, law-abiding citi-
zens who simply wish to have some added safety. But there
is no test for the person's roommate, and should the owner
of the CHL absentmindedly leave the handgun lying around
the room, there is little to stop the roommate from doing as
he or she pleases.
It seems as if Texas legislature isn't aware that Rice is a
wet campus, rife with alcohol and young, testosterone-laced
minds. Parties abound on campus, and since much of Rice
is under 21 these drunken nights take place in private resi-
dences, out of sight of police officers and, sometimes, in
plain view of the handgun. The benefit of allowing these
guns onto campus is infinitesimal — a few students are "pro-
tected" while the rest of us walk around, wary of everyone
who seems threatening in any form.
But it's not just us who oppose this bill. The Rice Univer-
sity Police Department has put its foot down, and for good
reason. Right now, guns on campus denote the "bad guy,"
as it were, because since no members of the Rice community
are allowed guns on campus, the only ones who would wield
weaponry are outsiders.
However, we should add that, were the coming zombie
apocalypse abundantly apparent, we would fully support
this bill. Until that comes, though, we will remain opposed
to this bill's passage.
Proposed plan to honor
donors disrespectful
The Thresher has a new policy: If any individual, group or
organization wishes to donate at least $4.6 million to us, we
will put their names and logos on the front page. After all,
what would be better than honoring them in the place that
people see most often?
Such is the thinking behind the new project to honor Rice's
major donors (see letters, page 2). As you can see, people are
up in arms over the proposed design — concentric ellipses sur-
rounding Willy's statue in the academic quadrangle. And since
we aren't allowed to sign our names to those letters, we will ex-
press our resentment to this proposed plan with an editorial.
Don't get us wrong — there's little wrong with the actual
design. It is subtle and flowing, symmetric and simple. But it
could not have been put in a worse spot. William Marsh Rice
chose to have his ashes placed in the statue. To place the
names of corporate conglomerates, to many of whom $4.6 mil-
lion is but chump change, around his remains is an abhorrent
affront to his legacy.
Furthermore, this quad is the place where all students —
past, present and future — gravitate. The quad is one of the
few places on campus that has been there for decades, one
of the few places that has remained untouched, aside from
some Ike-induced landscaping. Construction aside, this
design will change the essence of the quad, disrupting the
green fields and turning Willy's statue into a bull's-eye.
There are numerous other places on campus where this
design could fit, and we can't think of one better than the
fountain between the ]ones School and the Baker Institute.
Not only is it in a central area of campus already, but the
fountain itself is circular, adding another level of symmetry.
We hope the administration will rethink its decision to
honor its donors in this fashion. While it is necessary to give
them some type of thanks, it is possible to do so without
making Willy roll over in his grave.
Fl*sr Baker 13
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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
thresher-ops@rice. edu
New design alters
essence of campus
To the Editor:
I saw the recently-published article,
"Art around Willy's statue to honor do-
nors" (April 10), regarding the concen-
tric crop circles proposed for the main
academic quadrangle. My reaction was
immediate and intense, and shared by
several fellow alumni — I am repulsed
by the notion of defacing the main aca-
demic quad of Rice University.
President David Leebron has in
his tenure advocated some aggres-
sive changes to the school that have
been on net positive, in my opinion.
In fact, some of these changes over
time may be looked back upon as
magnificent and visionary improve-
ments to Rice University — we shall
only know several decades hence.
But I feel strongly that this particular
idea is a very bad one. I do not think
it a stretch to say that it is offensive
and repulsive to destroy the peace-
ful symmetry of the main quad with
what amounts to corporate and indi-
vidual sponsorship of Willy's statue.
It is a fine and appropriate task
to try and honor significant donors
to the university; in fact, it is essen-
tial, as donations in large part drive
the university's ability to produce the
breadth and quality of education,
research, athletics, world relevance
and community engagement that
Rice produces. Rice is a special place,
and it needs continued support to en-
sure that it remains special.
But one essential part of the for-
mula is the enduring beauty and sym-
metry of the main academic quad. In
its simplicity, it presents a timeless
identity that we all recognize imme-
diately as Rice. That quad is Rice. Our
Rice. This design changes the land-
scape of the quad materially, and 1
dread the notion of it coming into
being. I hope that my sentiments are
taken to heart, as they are not merely
mine but are reflective of many others
who value and treasure this univer-
sity as if their own. We do not want to
see our school commercialized. Espe-
cially not here, in the academic quad,
the epicenter of Rice's identity.
1 do not write this letter with
disrespect to the designers. While
clever and intended to be subtle, in
the eyes of an alumnus, this brazen
design irreversibly alters the very es-
sence and perfection of the main ac-
ademic quadrangle — the one single
part of the campus that I and many
others hope never changes.
It is my hope that readers of this
letter share my beliefs; that however
important, money should not drive the
very appearance and essence of our uni-
versity. Money "honored" in this way
simultaneously enriches and cheapens
our university. Let us honor the donors
in another way, such that we do not at
all cheapen the heart of Rice University.
Jason T. Perlioni
Hanszen College, 1994
D. Colin MacAllister
Wiess College, 1993
Matt Rigney
Hanszen College, 2006
14 other alumni also signed
this letter.
Proposed art scars
academic quad
To the Editor:
In his book A University So Con-
ceived: A Brief History of Rice, professor
and alumnus Dr. John Boles reminds us
that William Marsh Rice did not always
intend to bequeath his estate to our be-
loved "Institute for the Advancement of
Literature, Science, and Art." As of 1882,
the childless man planned to leave his
fortune to establish an orphans' home
in New Jersey. But by 1891, inspired in
part by New York City's Cooper Union,
Rice had changed his mind and ulti-
mately decided to devote the greatest
portion of his wealth to create an insti-
tute of higher learning that would be
"free of cost to both male and female
students" as well as "nonpartisan
and nonsectarian."
Mr. Rice's financial gift of $4.6 mil-
lion — the equivalent of at least $90
million today was accompanied by
a vision. That vision would not garner
him more business or social prestige.
His legacy was a plan to offer Texans a
quality college in their home state, re-
gardless of their ability to afford one.
As an alumna, I am disappointed
and disheartened that the current Board
of Trustees could consider tampering
with the integrity of the academic quad-
rangle that honors William M. Rice. The
design voted upon by the committee
referenced in last Friday's Thresher arti-
cle, "Art around Willy's statue to honor
donors," seems to prostitute our univer
sity to corporations and distracts from
the tomb of our founder.
Who knew every sidewalk had a
price?
Kathleen Hanley
Jones College, 2008
Online Comment
of the Week
In response to "Art around Willy's statue
to honor donors" (April 10,2009):
My son is a student at Rice. I just
came back from a college-visiting trip
with my younger son during his high
school spring break. I have to say that
Rice has one of the most beautiful cam-
puses around the nation.
Rice is very fortunate to have a beau-
tiful campus. It will be very shameful
to destroy the beauty of the academic
quad with this design, as this will for-
ever negatively impact the reputation
of the school. Many schools honor their
donors in ways that balance out the
public recognition of the generosity of
the donors with the higher education
mission of their institutions. I am sure
Rice can find such balance also without
resorting to altering the beauty and har-
mony of the academic quad.
Neither I, as the parent of a full-
tuition paying student, nor my son like
the design. 1 hope the board of trustees
will seriously consider the implications
of accepting this design, and its subse-
quent construction, for the reputation
of Rice. Please do not take this design
forward. Given the repulsiveness most
people feel towards this, Rice may see
a drop in donations amongst its alumni
and parents of its current student body,
an event that Rice can ill afford during
the current economic environment.
Mabel Lung
NEWS
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Michel, Casey. The Rice Thresher, Vol. 96, No. 27, Ed. 1 Friday, April 17, 2009, newspaper, April 17, 2009; Houston, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth442989/m1/2/: accessed May 5, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Rice University Woodson Research Center.