File - Duncan College

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Duncan College
ApollO-Week 2012
We have liftoff.
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table of contents
A Welcome from the Coordinators 5
Logistics
So what is O-week? Duncan Contact Information
Map of Rice
What to Bring
How to Get Here...
Move-In Instructions
Local Banks
Hotels Nearby
Duncan
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9
10
10
11
13
13
14
14
86
16 Rice
Rice: How Did It Get Here?
87
Anne and Charles Duncan
18
How You Became “Duncaroos” 18
The Birds and the Bees: AKA The History of Duncan
19
What to Expect at Duncan
21
Just What ARE Masters, HRFs, and
RAs?22
Duncan Forum
23
Cool Things We Do at Duncan
25
College Night
25
Pub Night and Duncan Tavern
25
Sports26
Public Parties
26
Meet Your Building
27
Duncan Rooms
29
Living With a Roommate
30
The Residential College System 31
The Other Colleges
32
People
Student Association President
48
What is an O-week Group? 49
Groups:50
Advisors:50
Affiliates77
What is a Diversity Facilitator?
77
What is an O-Week PAA?
79
Photographer81
Gophers82
Student Maintenance 83
Representative (SMR)
83
36
The Coordinators
37
Masters39
Head Resident Fellows
40
Resident Associates
41
College Coordinator
43
Duncan Associates
44
Duncan Fellows
44
A Message from the Duncan President46
Rice Administration
47
First Year Programs
48
The Centennial
88
The Annual Fund
88
Rice Traditions
89
Beer Bike
90
Fall 2012 Academic Calendar
91
Spring 2013 Academic Calendar 92
Classes93
The First Day of School
94
The Academ Perspective
95
The Science Perspective
96
The Engineering Perspective
96
The Musi Perspective
97
The Pre-Law Perspective
97
The Archi Perspective
98
The Pre-Med Perspective
99
Undecided Perspective
100
Majors at Rice
100
International Student Perspective 101
The Transfer Student Perspective 102
Off-Campus Perspective
103
Student-Athlete Perspective
104
Student Research at Rice
105
Study Abroad
106
Academic Advising
107
Fondren Library
109
Wellness Center
111
Computing at Rice
113
Working at Rice
114
Student Services
115
Center for Career Development 116
The Honor Council
116
University Court (U-Court)
117
Diversity at Rice
117
Sexuality at Rice
118
Safety at Rice
119
The Alcohol Policy
120
Large Clubs at Rice
121
Rice Program Council
121
Community Involvement Center 121
Rice Student Volunteer Program 122
Rice Players
122
Impact Rice
123
ROTC123
Rice Media
123
Music for Non-Majors
125
The MOB
125
Spirit126
College and IM Sports
127
Club Sports
127
Varsity Sports
128
The Recreation Center
129
The Hoot
129
Rice Bike Shop
129
Rice Coffeehouse
130
Brochstein130
Recycling and Sustainability
130
Making It All Work
131
Clubs at Rice
132
Ask me about...
133
Houston
136
Houston: An Overview
137
Life Without a Car
139
Transportation139
Passport to Houston
139
Where to Eat
140
Texas Adventure
141
Rice Speak
143
Major Abbrevs
148
Useful Links
149
Useful Numbers
149
Last-Minute Advice
149
Don’t Forget...
150
Closing151
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Hey there! Your mission begins now: You will face asteroids the size of small cities, be surrounded by breathtaking
comets, and probably even be forced to fend off multiple
alien attacks. You will take on these trials and tribulations
not because they are easy, but because they are hard. Thus it
is with great enthusiasm that we welcome YOU to be a part
of Duncan’s next mission. In addition to being the newest, greenest, and just the best all-around, Duncan houses
Duncaroos like you, known for being involved, caring,
open-minded, resourceful, as well as capable of throwing
the hands-down best public party in any galaxy. Further
details to come; but for now, GET READY! We could not
be more excited!
You will accomplish all of this and more, but first allow
us to introduce ourselves. We, Molly, Jeremy, and Drew,
are your Orientation-Week coordinators, undergraduates
who were selected to plan your orientation experience for
your first year here at Rice. Our job is to make your transition into our incredible community as fun, positive, and
smooth as possible. This first week, known to Rice as “OWeek,” marks the first stage of this transition. Throughout
the week, you will meet many new people, be exposed to
all of the resources available to you as an Owl and a Duncaroo, and get the guidance and advising you need to plan
your class schedule. Don’t worry; you’ll have lots of fun too!
DUNCAN COLLEGE
ApollO-Week 2012
A Welcome from the Coordinators
Jeremy (left), Molly (center), and Drew (right) are so excited to meet you!
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You probably have more questions than there are stars in
the sky, but we are working tirelessly to make sure they
will all be answered. Take some time to enjoy the summer, and remember our sole purpose is to be a resource.
By the time you arrive in August, we will have been working for the greater part of a year to make sure you get the
most out of the week and your first year here. We want
it to be unforgettable and to ensure you learn all you
ever wanted to and more about life “inside the hedges”
(Duncan and Rice) and “beyond” (the city of Houston).
With this book, we have prepared for you a hitchhiker’s
guide to the Rice galaxy. We have separated it into several
sections, so feel free to casually peruse through them at
your leisure. Whether you decide to read it cover to cover, read it upside down, or simply look at the pictures,
we hope that you find it useful, enjoyable, and informative. On the next few pages you will find our contact information, placed there because we truly do want to hear
from you. Do not hesitate to contact us via phone, email,
owl, or spaceship; we would love to talk with you and
your family to answer whatever questions you may have.
While all new students across campus will be participating in O-Week, each residential college will have their own
spin on the week revolving around a theme, typically ending in an “O.” We have selected ApollO-Week, a reference
to the voyages undertaken by some of the bravest people
on our planet to expand our understanding of the universe,
and a tribute to the 50th anniversary of the speech given
by former president John F. Kennedy at the Rice Stadium.
Space was the final frontier, something that was impossible
to breach. Yet this frontier was challenged and overcome
with tremendous fortitude, determination, and teamwork,
in a story that was nothing short of incredible. So let the
legend of space exploration inspire YOU to climb aboard
the ApollO MMXII and make Duncan and Rice an even
greater place; we can’t wait to see you on August 12th!
Dunc Love,
Your Duncan College ApollO-Week 2012 Coordinators,
Molly Horn (Duncan 2014)
Jeremy Scher (Duncan 2014)
Drew Moore (Duncan 2013)
Mission Control at the launch site.
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Logistics
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DUNCAN COLLEGE
ApollO-Week 2012
So what is O-week?
The moment you set foot on our campus on Sunday, August 12th marks the commencement of a week that is both
fun and exciting, as well as helpful. It is a week-long program dedicated to helping you, the next generation of Rice
students, acclimate to the Rice environment. This includes
academic advising as well as class selection for fall 2012, exposure to all of the various resources available to students,
and an introduction into the Rice community. The week is
designed to make your transition here easier, and between
water balloons and late-night food runs, you will begin to
get a sense of the Rice culture and what makes us unique.
Worrying about choosing your classes? Confused because
your high school friends have already chosen theirs? Don’t
be; one of the most important elements of O-week is academic advising. You will meet with faculty advisors who
specialize in your area(s) of interest in order to lay out an
academic plan for your time at Rice. There will also be designated Peer Academic Advisors (PAA’s), upperclassmen
whose primary role is to give you a student perspective and
guidance on Rice academics and courses. Remember, even
if you work out a plan with them, nothing is set in stone; you
can meet with them again to change it whenever you like!
This all may sound like a lot, but we will ensure that you
get some time to settle-in, relax, and snuggle with your
teddy bear. Even if you feel exhausted, we implore you to
participate in every aspect of O-week to the fullest. You
are not only gaining valuable knowledge about our great
university, but you will spend time with students who will
become some of your best friends. You will become a part
of an O-week group led by your trusty advisors (see page
49), which will give you the chance to interact with 11 or
12 other Duncaroos, from all ranges of interests and majors, on a more personal level. O-Week is a communal
experience, one that you will remember for months and
even years afterwards, so make sure to get some rest over
the summer, put some energy in your fuel tanks, and come
prepared for takeoff!
There will also be academic and student activity fairs. At
the academic fair, you will have the chance to speak with
faculty members from different departments about the
kinds of courses that are available and what it is like to pursue that major. The student activity fair allows you to gain
exposure to some of the clubs and organizations that you
can participate in. In addition to these, you will be able to
meet some of the various student leaders in your residential college (Duncan), and be exposed to other resources
around campus such as Health Services, the Rice University Police Department, and the campus administration.
Equally important, O-week is your first opportunity for all
of you new students at Duncan to get to know each other.
You will also get to know a number of returning upperclassmen from both Duncan as well as other residential
colleges. This can be extremely fun, but we do have to
warn you; O-Week can be tiring! You will be doing and
learning new things each day, all of which will contribute to and build your understanding of Rice and Duncan.
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Michael Petrus (Duncan 2014) and Molly Horn
(Duncan 2014) race in Mock Bike during Beat
of the BongO-Week.
Duncan College Mailing Address:
(Your Name)
Rice University
1601 Rice Boulevard
Houston, TX 77005
Duncan College Masters
Luis Duno-Gottberg &
Marnie Hylton
[email protected]
[email protected]
College Coordinator
Vicki Woods
(713) 348 - 4647 (phone)
(713) 348 - 2790 (fax)
[email protected]
Duncan College O-Week
Coordinators:
Molly Horn
(214) 287 - 6154
[email protected]
Head Resident Fellows
Brandy & Caleb McDaniel
[email protected]
[email protected]
Duncan President
Kelvin Pho
(713) 584 - 5787
[email protected]
Drew Moore
(361) 944 - 5525
[email protected]
Resident Associates
Nick & Kate Pascuzzi
[email protected]
[email protected]
Jeremy Scher
(201) 527 - 0201
[email protected]
Suzanne Kemmer & Michael Barlow
[email protected]
[email protected]
Logistics
Duncan Contact Information
Map of Rice
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Deciding what to bring to college is not as big of an ordeal
as you might think. You’re probably worried about either
bringing too few things or just way too many; but don’t
worry! You were admitted to Rice; you are smart and perfectly capable of deciding what may or may not be useful to
have. Bring what you need and what you foresee yourself
for sure using, and then maybe a few offbeat oddities and
you should be good to go. Here are some other basic guidelines that may help:
Coordinate with your roommate:
You’re going to want to contact your roommate ASAP so
you are each aware of what the other is bringing. You are
probably really excited to have an awesome room that you
can finally decorate however you want, but remember it’s
someone else’s too! This means you may have to be considerate of the other person’s space and not bring 6 TV’s, but
Computers:
There are computers available for access all over campus
(and in Duncan as well), so you don’t NEED your own
computer. That being said it can be extremely useful and
convenient, and most people do choose to bring their
own for personal use. You will end up using a computer
quite often throughout the day, whether it be for emailing,
checking course websites and online resources, or simply
browsing the internet researching cohomology for fun.
Each room has wired high speed internet access (1 port per
person), and almost all of campus is equipped for wireless
internet access (including your room!). Extension cords/
multi-outlet surge protectors are also a great idea (and a
must-have for most people). For tips on what type of computer to buy see the Computing at Rice section on page 112.
Clothes are definitely a good thing to have, so bring all
sorts of them! There will be occasions to wear nicer clothes
(starting in O-week!), so don’t leave those out. There are
also many times to dress up for themed events, so it may
be a good idea just to bring some random and wacky items
(you never know!). Houston generally has crazy weather,
so be prepared for fierce heat, unexpected cold, as well as
heavy rains. Old clothes are also a good idea. If you don’t
like to do laundry, bring more clothes! They don’t have to
be fancy; college dress is super-casual for the most part.
Bikes:
Make sure you bring your dance skills like
Dean Hutch!
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it also means you can bring the Wii and they can take care
of the fridge. If you are wondering about something like a
vacuum or an ironing board, they can be nice to have but
you can often borrow these types of things from a friend.
Clothes:
DUNCAN COLLEGE
ApollO-Week 2012
What to Bring
Bikes are not necessary, but they can be convenient. Everything is in walking distance, but bikes can be locked
up everywhere and will make the commute to class and
other places much faster. If you do have a bike on campus, be sure to register it with the Rice Police Department
(RUPD) and get a U-bolt (not a cable lock) to secure it.
chines to malfunction (really, it’s not pretty).
Bring EXTRA LONG twin bed sheets. This is important. No
matter how hard you or your little brother tugs, regular sheets
simply are not going to fit over your mattress. Don’t feel obligated to buy the specific sheets in the catalog Rice sends you.
Forgot something? At least one of your advisors will have
a car and will be more than willing to take you anywhere
you need to go.
Other thoughts:
- A dry erase board for the door can be a good idea so you
can leave messages for people in the room.
- You can leave behind most books, you can get what you
need from the library.
- A T.V. and refrigerator for the room can be very convenient (again, talk to your roommate).
- The washing machines are high efficiency, so make sure
to bring high efficiency detergent! Please only bring powder or liquid detergent, as other types will cause the ma-
Included in the rooms:
- Desk with drawers
- Chair
- Bed / Mattress
- Dresser
- Closet (one for each resident)
- Active telephone line (no phone)
- Wireless internet
- Hard-wired Ethernet port
- Basic T.V. cable package
Sometimes the men of Duncan like to dress up.
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Logistics
Sheets:
DUNCAN COLLEGE
ApollO-Week 2012
How to Get Here...
By Car:
From I-10 East or West, or I-45 North or South, take US
59 South. From US 59, take the Shepherd/Greenbriar exit
(approximately four miles south of downtown). Turn left
under US 59 and follow Greenbriar to the light at Rice
Boulevard. Turn left onto Rice Boulevard, and the campus
will be on your right! Check http://traffic.houstontranstar.
org/layers/ for traffic and road closure information.
By Plane:
FROM BUSH INTERCONTINENTAL AIRPORT (IAH):
Follow signs to US 59 South. Once on US 59, proceed
south approximately 25 miles and exit at Greenbriar. Turn
left under US 59 and follow Greenbriar to the light at Rice
Boulevard. Turn left onto Rice Boulevard. Rice, and Entrance 21, will be on your right.
FROM HOBBY AIRPORT: Exit onto Broadway and follow signs to I-45 North. Take I-45 North approximately 6
miles to US 59 South. Once on US 59, proceed south approximately 3 miles and exit at Greenbriar. Turn left under
US 59 and follow Greenbriar to the light at Rice Boulevard.
Turn left onto Rice Boulevard. Rice, and Entrance 21, will
be on your right.
Super Shuttle provides service from both airports to Holiday Inn on Main Street, Medical Center Marriott, and
Houston Plaza Hilton, which are all five minutes from
Rice. Transportation to other locations is available as well,
including Rice campus itself, but you check their website
(below) to make sure your destination is serviced. The fare
from each airport depends on the destination, but they
usually range from $19 to $35. Departures from IAH run
every hour, from 7:15 a.m. to 11:15 p.m. The ticket counter
is located in the lower level baggage claim areas, south side
exit, just outside the glass doors of each terminal. The ride
usually takes 45 minutes to an hour. From Hobby, the fare
is $19 per person. Departures are every hour, from 7:30
a.m. to 11:30 p.m. The ticket counter is located in the lower
level baggage claim area and the ride takes 30 to 45 minutes. For more information, call (800) 258-2826 toll-free or
go to: http://www.supershuttle.com/
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Ashton Gooding (Duncan 2012) helps move
new students in during Han SolO-Week.
Move-In Instructions
Move-in begins the morning of Sunday, August 12th. You
can only move into Duncan College during your assigned
move-in time. Coming at another time is unacceptable!
Please see the Move-in Schedule stapled to your Roommate Information to find out your specific move-in time.
You will enter Entrance 21 on Rice Boulevard. Turn left
onto Campanile Road. You will see lots of excited advisors ready to help you move. When you get here go inside,
check-in, and start unloading! It is crucial that we unload
cars as quickly as possible so that everyone can move in.
Once your car is empty, your family will need to move it to
West Lot. There will be a shuttle to bring your family back
to Duncan so that you can start unpacking your room!
Students will be able to open accounts during O-Week at
any of these banks with branches located near Rice.
Bank of America
2302 Fannin St.
713-265-2300
M-Th: 9am-4pm, Friday 9am-5pm
Wells Fargo
6631 Main St.
713-216-3865
M-Th: 9am-4pm, Friday 9am-5pm
Chase*
7505 Fannin St.
713-216-4865
M-F: 8am-5pm
Compass Bank
3646 University Blvd.
713-867-1351
M-Th: 9am-4pm, Fri: 9am-6pm, Sat: 9am-12pm
Washington Mutual
3120 - A SW Freeway
713-526-9201
M-Th: 9am-5pm, Fri: 9am-6pm, Sat: 9am-1pm
*Note: Chase Bank is the only bank with ATMs located on
the Rice campus in Fondren Library and the RMC. These
ATMs also allow for check-depositing.
Hotels Nearby
Logistics
Local Banks
Courtyard By Marriot At West University
2929 Westpark Dr. (2.7 mi)
Houston, TX 77005
(713) 661-5669
Howard Johnson Express Inn
Astrodome/Medical Center
9604 S. Main St. (3.01 mi.)
Houston, TX 77025
(713) 666-1411 or
1-800-I-GO-HOJO
Hotel Zaza
5701 Main St. (1.25 mi.)
713-526-1991
Houston Plaza Hilton
6633 Travis St. (0.75 mi.)
713-313-4000
Marriot Medical Center
6580 Fannin St. (0.75 mi.)
713-796-0080
Residence Inn By Marriot
7710 Main St. (1 mi.)
713-660-7993
1-800-331-3131
Holiday Inn Hotel & Suites – Medical Center
6800 Main St. (1.25 mi.)
713-528-7744
800-315-2621
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Duncan
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DUNCAN COLLEGE
ApollO-Week 2012
Anne and Charles Duncan
Charles Duncan, Class of ’47, and his wife, Anne, have
been extraordinarily generous to Rice through the donation of their time, commitment, and assets. In 2007, Rice
was searching for a title donor for the eleventh residential
college. Just a few months after celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary, the Duncans came forward with a $30
million gift, turning the dream of a new college into a reality.
Duncan
Charles Duncan grew up in Houston. After serving in the
Army Air Corps and graduating from Rice, he spent his
early career running the family business, Duncan Foods,
until it was acquired by the Coca-Cola Company in 1964.
He then accepted a position on their board and the Duncans moved to Atlanta, GA.
In 1976, Charles Duncan received a call from the newly
elected President Jimmy Carter, the former governor of
Georgia, who courted Mr. Duncan for the position of Deputy Secretary of Defense. Mr. Duncan accepted the position and moved to Washington. In 1979, Duncan was chosen to become the Secretary of Energy by President Carter.
The environmental awareness that is a fundamental aspect
of Duncan College can be traced to his cabinet experience.
After Secretary Duncan’s time in Washington, the Duncan
family returned to Houston; they have been active members of the Rice community ever since. From 1982 to 1996,
he served as the chairman of Rice’s board. As Chairman,
he led the search for two university presidents, lobbied for
the recruitment of international students, and helped establish the James A. Baker III Institute for Public Policy.
Also, Anne is an active supporter of the Shepherd School
of Music.
Both Mr. and Mrs. Duncan continue to show strong commitments to both Rice and the environment. In addition
to having their values reflected in the design of the college,
Secretary Duncan has led initiatives like the Business Coalition for Clean Air, and Anne serves on the board of the
Nature Conservancy of Texas.
Anne and Charles Duncan
How You Became “Duncaroos”
Once upon a time there was a group of nine students who
were brought together in meetings about a billion times
each week by their service to their colleges. This group
was known as the College Presidents of 2008-09, and they
loved each other very much. So this one day, in a meeting
(not so surprisingly), they were talking about one of their
favorite subjects: the new colleges! But something was not
right. You see, people were talking about the future residents of Duncan and McMurtry, but nobody knew what
to call them. They fumbled using nicknames like Duncanites and Murts, Duncans and McMurtrymen. Everyone
was confused! However, the boldest of the bunch (and by
boldest, clearly I mean the most comedic) could take it no
longer. He shot his hand up into the air and proceeded to
interrupt the speaker and exclaimed, “Can we call them
‘Duncaroos’?” Everyone laughed because they envisioned
you all as those delicious little cookies with the frosting
dip. Not the College Presidents, though. They liked it. So
it stuck.
-Claire Shorall (Duncan 2010)
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DUNCAN COLLEGE
ApollO-Week 2012
The Birds and the Bees: AKA The History of Duncan
The year was 2007. Charles William Duncan, Jr. and his
wife, Anne Smith Duncan, had just celebrated their 50th
wedding anniversary in June. The Duncans had always
been great patrons of Rice University. Mr. Duncan, Rice
class of 1947, had served as chairman of the Rice Board
of Governors (now known as the Board of Trustees) from
1982 until his retirement in 1996. Mrs. Duncan had been a
proud supporter of Rice’s Shepherd School of Music, serving on its governing council and organizing fundraising
events. They knew they wanted to make a large contribution to Rice, and so
asked David Leebron, 7th president
of Rice University,
what would help
Rice the most. This
coincided with the
“Vision for the Second Century,” (Rice
will celebrate its
100th anniversary
this coming October), part of which
included increasing
the size of the student body by 30%.
Since this would
require additional
housing, President
Leebron suggested
that the Duncans
found a new residential college. And so, in October 2007,
Anne and Charles Duncan donated $30 million to establish Duncan College, Rice’s 11th residential college. Duncan wanted the building to be green and energy-efficient,
as he had served as Secretary of Energy under President
Jimmy Carter from 1979-1981. And so Duncan College
would be one of the first buildings in Houston to receive
LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design)
Gold certification.
Duncan College opened its doors in 2009 to its first matriculating class of 79 students. Of course, 79 students
would not have come close to filling up a building with
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beds for 324. As luck would have it, Baker College (Rice’s
first residential college) was in need of renovations, so for
the 2009-2010 school year, Bakerites lived in Duncan with
the first Duncan class. The two colleges were collectively
referred to as “BaDunc,” and Baker and Duncan have been
sister colleges ever since. Also living in Duncan were students from other colleges, known as Ambassadors. Their
job was to provide insight from their colleges to help Duncan get started.
After learning the
ropes,
Duncan
started having college
government
meetings,
called
Forum.
Duncan
chose this name for
its government instead of others like
“Cabinet,” or “Parliament,” to convey
that it is a place for
open discussion, in
which all Duncaroos may participate freely. Duncan
also threw its first
public party, “Sensation: The Whiteout,” based off of
a series of events in
Europe and South America. Sensation has now happened
three times, and has a reputation as one of the best parties
on campus.
Later in that year, Duncan competed in its first Beer Bike
race, an exhibition against McMurtry, the other new college. On that day, tragedy struck as one of Duncan’s bikers crashed during the race. But then something amazing
happened. All of Duncan immediately forgot about the
Beer Bike race (which anyone who has been to Beer Bike
knows is a big deal) and rallied to help the fallen biker. After the race, Duncan’s then Head Resident Fellow and current College Master, Luis, sent an email to the college embracing the positive community attributes shown that day,
saying “somos equipos, somos familia,” (‘We are a team, we
are a family’). The idea that Duncan is a family has pervaded ever since. At Duncan you will undoubtedly hear the
phrase: “Dunc Love,” the peak of this concept. The Latin
rendering of Luis’ words (“Classis et Germanitas”) is currently immortalized on the Duncan College Crest.
While Duncan had by now started many of its own traditions, such as a dry public party in the fall (now known
as DuncStep), Duncan Tavern, Monday Night Lights, and
many more, it had not yet been officially dedicated as a
residential college of Rice University. The official Duncan
dedication took place November 19th, 2010 in the Duncan
quad. Anne and Charles Duncan, President Leebron, Dean
of Undergraduates John Hutchinson, Duncan Masters Luis
Duno-Gottberg and Marnie Hylton, and then Duncan
President Amber Makhani gave speeches about how far
Duncan had come, what it would soon do, what this meant
for the university, etc. November 19th is now regarded as
Duncan’s birthday, “Duncan Day,” and the week leading up
The legendary “swagon.”
In the Spring of 2011, Duncan competed in its first “real”
Beer Bike race. It was a blast. Thousands of balloons were
filled for the water balloon fight. The men’s bike team finished in 2nd, and the women’s in 3rd (cannot yet field an
alumni team). In April, Duncan threw Sensation for the
second time. It was a huge success! Our commons were
still packed at 2 am when the lights came on, and no one
wanted to leave. At the end of the school year, Duncan had
come a long way, and was excited for the next year.
During Duncan’s 2011 “Beat of the BongO-week,” a couple
of interesting things happened. One was the emergence
of a brand new Duncan cheer (each college has its cheers
that it uses at college sporting events, O-week, Beer Bike,
etc.). It involves students raising their hands to the sky and
chanting “DUNCAN” repeatedly. It is referred to as the
“Sun God.” Perhaps it gives homage to the rising sun on
the Duncan Crest. Perhaps Duncan, being the green college, is photosynthesizing. In any case, it became popular
throughout the 2011-12 year. Another notable event happened in the middle of the week. A wagon Duncan was
using for an event, known as the “Swagon,” fell to pieces.
Some other colleges jabbed at Duncan for the poor quality
of its wagon. Duncan simply responded, chanting “Half
the wagon, twice the swag!” This event was in many ways
a microcosm of Duncan’s attitude. Whenever misfortune
befell Duncan, it would always respond positively, as in its
first Beer Bike, when a biker fell. Thus it was said that you
can never judge Duncaroos by what happens to them, but
only by how they respond to it. Today, the Swagon sits
in Duncan’s ‘Green Classroom,’ where Forum meetings are
held each week.
The rest of the 2011-12 school year brought great times for
Duncan, once again performing strongly in the Beer Bike
race (2nd in women’s and 4th in men’s). So what happens
next? What will the next year hold? Well, if you’re reading
this, then that is up to you. You, as the incoming Duncan
class, will greatly influence Duncan College. What you do
in your time here will affect Duncan for 10, 20, even 50
years to come. But do not think of that as some kind of
pressure. Think of it as an opportunity. You are going to
do great!
-Drayton Thomas (Duncan 2014)
20
Duncan
August 2010 marked Duncan’s second year as a college,
and its first year independent of Baker. As by then only
two classes had matriculated to Duncan, there would have
been a void of juniors and seniors, had there not been
transfers. The previous semester, involved students at other colleges around campus were sent invitations to transfer
to Duncan and help develop it into what it is today. So,
Duncan welcomed juniors and seniors from other colleges
at Rice. You, the matriculating class of 2012, will be Duncan’s fourth incoming class, meaning that for the first time,
Duncan College will have four full classes of students who
matriculated at Duncan.
to it “Duncan Week.” November 11-17 will mark Duncan
Week 2012, and be full of a variety of awesome events organized by the different Duncan committees.
What to Expect at Duncan
DUNCAN COLLEGE
ApollO-Week 2012
Duncan is Rice’s newest residential college. We have made
some incredible strides over the past three years, but there
is still a lot of work to do.
So what exactly does it mean to be in a recently created residential college? It means that you have a chance to really
impact the future of Duncan. It means that we aren’t set in
our ways and that you can try to establish new traditions
and come up
with new ideas
to make Duncan even better.
It means your
input matters. It
means that we
anticipate you
playing a key
role at Duncan.
It means we
look
forward
to you helping to plan our
College Night,
p a r t i c i p at i n g
in Beer Bike,
and attending
Forum
(our
college government meeting).
It means that
we can’t wait for
you to be a part
of the Duncan
team and the family, because as you’ll hear a lot, “somos
equipo, somos familia.”
Rice prides itself on the involvement and leadership of its
students, and you are just as much a part of that as any
upperclassman. At Rice, and in particular at Duncan,
there are a myriad of opportunities to be involved and to
make a difference. Every committee at Duncan has spots
21
reserved for new students. Duncan also has something
called an “initiative fund” so that we can help fund new
student ideas, which is how things such as the Freshmen Camping Trip and the Duncan Women’s Group
were started. I encourage all of you to pursue your interests; there are countless resources available to help you.
However, just because Duncan is new doesn’t mean that we
don’t have traditions.
We pride ourselves on what
we call DuncLove.
Every
year, the freshmen have gone
on the Freshmen Camping
Trip that they
have planned
themselves. We
celebrate
Tie
Tuesday.
We
play ping pong
in the quad during
Monday
Night
Lights.
We have giant
Nerf gun battles that we call
D o n ny b r o o k .
We throw our
friends in the DuncTank on their birthdays, a practice
commonly known as getting Dunc’ed. These are just some
of the traditions that have stuck so far – now you get to
help make new traditions and make the old ones better.
So put on a tie, grab a Nerf gun, and prepare yourself to get
Dunc’ed – being a Duncaroo is a lot of fun!
- Alan Harkins (Duncan 2014)
Just What ARE Masters, HRFs, and RAs?
If you’re new to the residential college system, you may be
surprised to see these random grown-ups walking around
and living in and around Duncan. You might be asking
yourself:
Duncan
1. Who are these adults on the 2nd and 3rd floors? What,
they’re RAs? Aren’t RAs supposed to be students?
2. What on earth do the Masters do?
3. What’s the difference between a HRF and a RA?
Well, take a look below (and read their bios starting on p.
36).
Masters:
A tenured professor and his or her family take on this position and live in a house adjacent to the residential college.
As a representative of the college, they often interface with
other departments around Rice on behalf of Duncan. Masters also help promote a variety of cultural and intellectual
interests among the students and aim to help young professionals grow as leaders.
Head Resident Fellows (HRFs):
With Duncan’s large number of students, Rice decided that
HRFs would be needed in addition to RAs. They live on
the first floor of Duncan in the HRF apartment. HRFs have
O-week follow-up activities, and are here specifically to assist with new students’ transition to Duncan. They will also
host study breaks, cookouts, and cultural-intellectual activities. We are very lucky to have Head Resident Fellows!
Luis, Duncan master, chats with Sheri-Ann Peckham
(Duncan 2014) on College Night.
Resident Associates (RAs):
The RAs are faculty and staff who live among the college
students at Duncan. Even though they are considered authority figures by the administration, they are very friendly
and are happy to help you. RAs are not here to make sure
you do your homework or go to bed on time, but instead
they are another part of the Duncan support system. With
study breaks and cookouts, the RAs put forth a lot of effort into making sure you feel welcome and comfortable in
your new home.
22
DUNCAN COLLEGE
ApollO-Week 2012
Duncan Forum
Every residential college has its own form of government,
created exclusively by its members and adjusted to adapt to
its needs. In the early days of Duncan College, we started to
have weekly meetings with our ambassadors just to discuss
things that we wanted for Duncan and how we wanted to
grow and set up our college. It was called Duncan Forum,
and it developed from a simple meeting to our own unofficial government. Now that we have an official government,
we still decide to stick with the name Forum, because the
name reflects the open-nature of the meeting and the discussions that take place within it. At Forum, the president
(Kelvin) goes through his agenda, some things are brought
up for discussion, and the voting members vote. During
this time we communally put forth our ideas on whatever’s
being talked about. It’s pretty awesome, so come and check
it out for yourself!
President
Kelvin Pho (Duncan 2013)
The college president oversees all committees, representatives, and executives within his/her respective college, in
addition to acting as a bridge of communication between
the students and the support team (Masters, HRFs, and
RAs). The president also represents the college to external entities such as the Student Association (which every
student is a part of), administrators (like the Dean of Undergraduates), and other organizations that may want to
collaborate with the college. Though the title implicates a
large amount of power, do not be intimidated. The President is just another student dedicated to helping make
your experience at Rice the best it can be.
Vice Presidents
Estevan Delgado (Duncan 2013), Alan Harkins (Duncan
2014)
The main role of the vice presidents is to oversee all of
the committees and representatives at Duncan. Two Vice
Presidents are elected who then split the duties between
themselves. Estevan oversees the Associates, Beer Bike,
Culture & Arts, Senior, Service, and Historian Committees. He also oversees the Campanile (Yearbook), Honor
Council, Passport to Houston, and RSVP Representatives.
Alan oversees the Academics, Improvements, Socials, and
Spirit Committees. He also oversees the Varsity Sports Lia-
23
sons, Sports, Eco, Food, RPC, and U-Court Representatives. Both Alan and Estevan can answer any questions you
have about any representative or committee.
Legislative Vice President
Gage Wright (Duncan 2014)
The Legislative Vice President operates as the organizational point for Duncan’s government. Mostly that means
he’s in charge of developing our college’s constitution and
overseeing that it is carried out. As a new student, there are
three main ways that you’ll interact with this position. The
first is that he runs all elections at Duncan, so make sure to
vote! The second is that he manages the Freshmen Service
Points system, which you’ll hear all about during O-Week.
Thirdly, the LVP runs Duncan’s room allocation and selection process (which you’ll also hear about later in the year).
Most of the LVP stuff is pretty important, so make sure to
read his emails!
Secretaries
Sanjay Gadasalli (Duncan 2015), Lidija Wilhelms (Duncan
2014)
The secretaries are in charge of communication throughout the college. They moderate the Duncan listserv by approving emails about Duncan happenings. The secretaries
are also in charge of room reservations. If you want to use
one of Duncan’s rooms for a meeting or private gathering, email the secretaries! They are perhaps most known
for their (almost) Daily Announcements, which talk about
upcoming Rice events and also feature fun stories and hilarious YouTube videos to help get you through that rough
night of studying!
Treasurers
Elizabeth Casey (Duncan 2014), Santano Rosario (Duncan
2014), Nimish Mittal (Duncan 2015)
The college treasurers are responsible for managing the
Duncan college budget. Together they decide on an annual
budget that shows the distribution of money throughout
the college’s various groups, committees, and events. They
also record and track any money spent by the college or
money received through donations. Since money is involved in just about everything, being a treasurer is a great
way to learn the ins and outs of the college, as well as an
awesome way to be involved in the college’s activities.
Class Reps:
To Be Elected
Each class elects two representatives. The main responsibility of the Class Reps is to represent the opinions of their
class at Forum. The Class Reps are also responsible for
planning outings and activities for their class, such as the
Freshmen Reps planning the Freshmen Camping Trip.
Honor Council Rep
Nicholas George-Jones (Duncan 2014)
Nick is the Duncan representative on the Honor Council,
which deals with Honor Code violations. He is there to
remind us all not to cheat and keeps us informed of any
changes to the honor code. Read more about the Honor
Council on page 116!
University Court Rep
Zia Rosenzweig (Duncan 2015)
Zia sits on U-Court, which deals with almost all student
disciplinary problems on campus. She reports U-Court announcements and tries to keep us all out of trouble. Read
more about U-Court on page 116!
Food Rep
Aaron Rondina (Duncan 2015)
If you ever have food suggestions for our Duncan servery,
let Aaron know. This past year, he was able to get us a panini maker! So don’t hold back. There is also an anonymous
place for comments on the Housing & Dining webpage in
case you would rather not have your name associated with
your suggestion.
Student Association Senator
Chynna Foucek (Duncan 2015)
As your Student Association Senator, Chynna is the liaison
between Duncan College and Rice University’s Student Association (Student Gov). Make sure to ask her what’s going
on in the campus-government; she represents one of Duncan’s votes on many campus wide policies and proposals.
She’s always willing to talk about the S.A. and is eager to
have you join her at Student Association meetings in the
Fall. Also, be on the lookout for the New Student Representative Program, an awesome opportunity for new students to get involved in University government!
Rice Program Council Rep
Leah Fried (Duncan 2014)
RPC plans events on and off campus, such as the two
dances, the blind date tradition we call Screw Your Room-
The Duncan Crest
24
Duncan
Chief Justice
Zuhdi Abdo (Duncan 2014)
Zuhdi’s primary role is keeping Duncan students safe. He
is in charge of upholding the Duncan Code of Conduct to
help keep Duncaroos out of trouble. He is also the head
of the Duncan Court, the judicial branch of the Duncan
government. As the link between Duncan College, RUPD,
and the administration, he helps make sure the community standards of Duncan as well as those of Rice are being
followed.
mate, and cultural events around Houston. Leah keeps
us informed of when ticket sales are and what events are
coming up. Read more about the Rice Program Council
on page 122!
DUNCAN COLLEGE
ApollO-Week 2012
Cool Things We Do at Duncan
Sure, it’s college. You’ll be studying a lot, and academics are
important, but an equally important part of your growth
at Rice will be through activities outside of the library and
lab. Duncan provides lots of great ways to spend time with
friends, no matter what you’re into.
College Night
Once per semester, each residential college at Rice picks a
Friday to host a “college night.” However, the name is really a misnomer; the event takes place all day. The excitement and preparation begins a few weeks before the actual
date, when a theme is chosen. Past Duncan themes have
included Woodstock, Disney, and Super Smash Brothers.
During the week leading up to college night, Duncan will
host various study breaks and themed activities with refreshments to get people hyped up for Friday’s event.
On the day of college night, Duncaroos wake up early and
the fun begins; we play music from our massive sound system, some large inflatable will be present in the quad, ranging from moonbounces to waterslides, and snacks, drinks,
and a keg will be available all day (for those of age). Everyone is encouraged to dress up for the theme, get together
with their friends, and attend various classes (some of your
own, perhaps some of your friends’) in their costumes. After lunch, everyone gets together to hang out in the quad,
relax, and potentially take part in some themed events. An
outdoor barbeque is hosted for dinner, and things begin to
taper off into the evening.
All residential colleges host one college night per semester,
so on many a Friday one can expect to see a large crowd of
dressed up students celebrating in class. While all students
are free to attend the college nights hosted by other colleges,
it really serves as a bonding experience for Duncan as a
whole, for us to grow closer together, and to celebrate our
awesomeness!
- Benjamin Huber-Rodriguez (Duncan 2015)
Sophie Haase, Drew Moore, and Becca Hyde
celebrate a French-themed college night.
Pub Night and Duncan Tavern
“Pub Night” is a popular event, and like college night, is
thrown once each semester by each residential college. It
typically consists of the college choosing a theme, renting
out Willy’s Pub, (the on-campus bar), and providing free
snacks as well as drinks (for those of age) for everyone
while celebrating their college’s identity.
As a new college, Duncan didn’t yet have the funds to
rent out Willy’s Pub in anticipation of their first pub night
(providing for 200 plus people can be rather expensive). The
socials committee at the time made the bold move to host
our pub night on Duncan’s sundeck, and called it “Duncan Tavern.” Since then, despite pressure to host at pub like
the other colleges, Duncan has instead chosen to stick with
Tavern. The rooftop environment, with its beautiful views
of Rice and the Houston skyline alongside the cool, breezy
nights is the perfect place for Duncaroos to finish their
homework early, relax, and sit and chat with friends and
meet new people. Just like the pub nights of other colleges,
Duncan Tavern is open to non-Duncan students as well!
The fall semester Duncan Tavern will take place during
Duncan Week, a week-long celebration commemorating Duncan’s anniversary as a college. Each of the events
throughout the week reflect the amiable atmosphere and
kinship that embodies Duncan College.
- Benjamin Huber-Rodriguez (Duncan 2015)
25
Public Parties
Sports are a huge part of the college culture at Rice. While
there are intramural (IM), club, and varsity sports, some
of the most attended sporting events are in the collegiate
league. College sports are played between the residential
colleges, for pride and for glory. Some sports, like Powderpuff football in the fall, are intensely competitive and
involve hours of practice. Other college competitions like
the annual Swim Meet are only one day events. Duncan
is very proud to have won Men’s College Soccer this past
year, and we probably won’t stop talking about it until we
lose (which will probably never happen).
The residential colleges at Rice take turns throwing “public
parties.” Like everything, Rice students put their own spin
on college partying. Parties are themed, open to everyone
on campus, and college pride is at stake when it comes to
the music, atmosphere, attendance, and decorations (in
fact, every public party is rated by the Thresher on these
qualities). Some of the parties on campus include:
Sports are a great way to get out and meet people. Teams
are mixed with students from all grade levels (with the
exception of two freshman sports), making them a great
opportunity to bond with the older classes, and are all
coached and officiated by other students. Though it is nice
to have some “skillz,” they are certainly not a requirement.
Especially in the case of Powderpuff, there are so many positions that require different talents that literally every girl
is an asset. But if chasing a ball around a field doesn’t appeal to you, go to a pre-game tailgate, paint up in Duncan
colors, and support your friends as they do the running
around and chasing!
- Becca Hamm Conard (Duncan 2014)
Fall Semester:
Martel’s Don’t Mess with Texas, Hanszen’s Boudoir, Baker
Blues, Sid 80’s, Wiess’ NOD, Brown’s Margaritaville,
Lovett’s Getcheroxoff, and DuncStep!
Spring Semester:
Brown’s Bacchanalia, Lovett’s Casino Party, Baker 90’s,
Hanszen’s Mardi Gras, Martel Beach, Sid School Girls,
Wiess Jamfest, and Duncan’s Sensation!
Duncan’s public parties celebrate the peak of culture of
both Texas and Europe: two-stepping and techno, respectively. DuncStep features an almost all-country music set
including such classics as “Save A Horse, Ride A Cowboy,”
a disco horseshoe, line dancing, and a mechanical bull. If
you don’t know how to two-step, don’t worry, there will be
lessons. If you really can’t dance, you’ll enjoy the mechanical bull and watching your friends attempt the Cotton Eye
Joe. If you really can’t stand country music, Sensation:
Whiteout is the party for you.
Based on the international sensation (see what we did
there?) from the Netherlands, Sensation focuses on quality electronic music, fantastic DJ’s, high energy, and lots
of jumping up and down when a beat is dropped. Only a
few years old, Sensation is already one of the best attended
public parties, and it only increases in popularity each year.
Make sure you get out there and go to some public parties.
A lot of planning goes into each event to make it fun for
everyone. Even if you don’t consider yourself a “partier,”
check out a party or two (or help plan Duncan’s), because
they’re a lot of fun, even for those of us who can’t dance.
- Becca Hamm Conard (Duncan 2014)
Hold on to your cowboy hats, y’all!
26
Duncan
Sports
DUNCAN COLLEGE
ApollO-Week 2012
Meet Your Building
Duncan is Rice’s first building to obtain a gold-level LEED
Certification. LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) indicates that a building is constructed on
a sustainable site and uses local product and transportation
practices that minimize environmental impact during the
construction process. Basically, Duncan is an incredibly
environmentally friendly building! It’s also water and energy efficient. In practice, this means that when you open a
window, your air conditioning will automatically shut off.
And if you leave the light on in your room when you’re out,
the motion sensor will detect that there’s no presence and
will turn off the lights. Sometimes if you’re sitting extremely still while watching a movie or doing homework this
happens too. Solution: open the door, and the lights will
turn back on. Prefabricated pod-style bathrooms were installed in order to encourage less water usage. The pods are
unique because they were manufactured off-site and then
dropped into place within the building (which reduced
the amount of on-site waste). The building also features a
green roof complete with low-maintenance plants that reduce the needs for heating and cooling. Sustainability is a
prominent feature of Duncan College’s culture.
One of the most popular spaces in any college is its commons, a site of many college gatherings, events, meals, and
just a general hangout. Each college has their own, and no
two colleges’ commons are exactly the same.
Duncan College features an all-glass rectangle commons
outside of the quad and attached to the shared servery with
McMurtry College. As the Commons is entirely glass, the
external features surrounding it are decorative. Look forward to spending lots of time in your gleaming Commons!
On the ground floor of Duncan is the College Coordinator’s Office (p. 42) and also the HRF apartment (p. 39).
Also located on the first floor are several common spaces,
which means they are open to all members of the college.
Some of these spaces are already defined, such as an EMS
office, laundry room, and computer lab. There’s also the
Green Classroom, which is beautifully furnished (including a LoveSac) and the current site of Duncan Forum, our
open-to-all weekly government meetings. Each of floors
2-4 have two common rooms behind the stairwells where
27
you can do homework or watch a movie with friends.
These spaces are a great alternative to the Commons as a
place for both work and play.
One of the coolest features of Duncan College is the fifth
floor sundeck (fundeck!). You can do homework here,
have a jam session, or just lay out and enjoy the sun! While
it is located on the fifth floor, residents of the entire building are always welcome to chill on the fundeck.
Although each college has its own commons, a shared
servery (like that of Duncan and McMurtry) implies that
residents of both colleges will get their food from the same
location. This was the third shared servery at Rice; the others are North Servery (Brown, Jones, and Martel), South
Servery (Hanszen and Wiess), and East Servery (Lovett
and Will Rice) was added afterwards. The servery features
a brick pizza oven that makes really delicious pizzas.
Of course, sometimes people get tired of eating in the
servery. If this happens to you, there are plenty of great
restaurants and hole-in-the-wall places that you can explore in Rice Village and Houston (see p. 141). Another
option is to cook your own food. Duncan has a kitchen
on each floor especially for this purpose equipped with a
sink, stove, oven, microwave, and refrigerator/freezer unit.
People often store the cookware and ingredients that they
don’t mind sharing with everyone on the floor. But if you
want to make sure no one eats your ice cream or chocolate
pudding, make sure you label your food!
A view from the Duncan Sundeck.
Duncan
The Duncan Commons (above) is a great place to eat and hang out with your fellow Duncaroos! (Below) The commons from
the outside.
28
Duncan Rooms
DUNCAN COLLEGE
ApollO-Week 2012
Duncan was recently built, so the rooms are top notch. All
students live on floors 2-5. The building is shaped like a
“U”, with the opening creating a quad.
The second, third, and fourth floors all look fairly similar.
All the rooms in Duncan are singles or doubles. In general, the singles are clustered at the ends of the “U” and the
corners. At the end of each side of the building, there is a
six-person suite (6 single rooms, 1 common area).
All of the aforementioned singles share the “pod-style”
bathrooms characteristic of the entire building. Closed
suites have 2 inside (for the suite only) and 2 outside (for
the singles clustered around the suites), and open clusters
have 3 (including one that is handicap-accessible).
The fifth floor differs a little from the other floors, as it has
larger single rooms, fewer doubles, and a sundeck! Kelvin
lives on this floor in the president’s suite. All of the rooms
on the fifth floor are occupied by upperclassmen, but
please feel free to come up and spend some quality time
on the “fundeck.”
As a new student, you will be occupying a double on either the second, third, or fourth floor. The doubles are spacious. As you walk into the room, to one side you will see a
walk-in closet designed for two occupants and to the other
side, your own bathroom. Having a bathroom connected
to your room is very, very convenient, and since double
rooms with their own bathrooms are incredibly rare on
campus, consider yourself lucky!
The rooms are designed to give each person their own
side, but you may rearrange your furniture into whatever
configuration you please. Your room will have a large window along the back wall. The floors and ceilings are both
brushed concrete and the walls alternate between cinder
block and dry wall. As the year goes on, you will acquire
things (wall hangings, plants, vases, colorful rugs) to make
it look more like home.
The closet includes space for two people to hang their
clothes and shelves on the opposite side. Some people also
choose to put up a curtain in front of the closet (there’s no
door), which creates the perfect dressing room.
A typical Duncan double.
29
(Left) Each room has its own bathroom, complete with shower.
(Right) There is also a closet with shelves and hanging bars.
Living With a Roommate
Duncan
Whether you’re an only child or come from a family of 15,
living with a roommate is an experience that might take
some getting used to, but in the end it can be one of the
best parts of your college experience. Even if you have
shared a bedroom with a sibling or other family member
before, you probably don’t know exactly what to expect for
your roommate experience at Duncan. Rooming with a
college peer has its own challenges, but plenty of awesome
benefits too!
If you’ve heard horror stories about people at other universities getting a bad roommate through a random “potluck” process, don’t fret. This is not how roommates at Rice
are chosen. The coordinators spend inordinate amounts of
time playing matchmaker to try and ensure that everyone
will have a good match and feel as comfortable as possible
with their roommate. That being said, the process is not
perfect, but they will definitely do the best they can!
Before you come to Rice and meet your roommate, I’d like
to offer a few tips to having a great year with your roommate:
1. Communication is key. Chances are, no matter how
well you get along with your roommate, there will be some
things that they do that really upset you. Perhaps they will
listen to loud music when you’re trying to study, or take up
too much fridge space. No matter how trivial, make sure
you communicate your concerns with your roommate early. Often roommates aren’t even aware that some of their
habits bother each other.
2. You don’t have to be best friends. Sometimes the best
roommate relationship is one built on being friends, but
not spending 24/7 together. The last thing you want is for
some drama in a friend group to affect your relationship
with your roommate, or vice versa.
3. Set some ground rules. Even if you don’t think that you
will stay up too late, or have friends over when your roommate is studying, it’s good to set a couple of guidelines at
Roommates Amanda Studebaker (Duncan 2013) and Kat Kaczmarski (Duncan 2014) dress up for “Screw Your Roommate”.
the beginning of the year. That way, if you ever find yourself in a situation where you might be imposing on your
roommate, you will have already talked about your ground
rules with him or her.
4. Get excited! When you get to Rice and meet your roommate, you’ll have an amazing opportunity to make a lasting friend. Come with an open mind and a big smile, and
you’ll be sure to have a great year with your roommate!
-Elizabeth Harwood (Brown 2014)
30
ApollO-Week 2012
DUNCAN COLLEGE
From left: exterior views of Hanszen, Wiess, Lovett, and Sid Rich Colleges
The Residential College System
One of Rice’s most unique characteristics is its Residential College system. Instead of having regular dorm buildings like
most universities, Rice has 11 different colleges housing students of all years and interests. In the 1950’s, students decided
that in order to facilitate constant learning and interaction between students, a Residential College system would be a
great asset to the Rice community. Think of it as a “house” in Harry Potter; each student will be assigned to a residential
college before they begin their Rice experience.
Each college is more than just a living space for students; they are communities where leadership and traditions hold an
important place. Student leadership is very important at Rice and this is reflected at every Residential College. Each college is autonomous, with its own student government, budget, constitution, culture, history, and much more. The most
important elements of each college are the students who belong to it, as they have the potential to determine its future
direction and build upon the foundation laid down before them.
During your time at Rice you will learn that each college has its own personality and elements that make it unique. You
will become acquainted with those of other colleges and will learn to carry on the amazing traditions and history of
Duncan College!
- Andrea Paramo (Lovett 2015)
31
The Other Colleges
South Colleges
- Maria Pickett (Baker 2013)
Will Rice
Come to the South Colleges and there you will find Will “Friendly” Rice. Will Rice College
was the second dorm to open way back in the day and is home to the gods and goddess
of Rice University. Will Ricers are known for their competitive fervor in all things sports
especially when it comes to Beer Bike. Some even say Beer Bike is like Christmas but ten
times better! We take pride in having won the men’s, women’s, and alumni races four times,
however don’t let our passion for Beer Bike scare you away. We love meeting other Rice
students and strive to be welcoming and hospitable, so why don’t you join us for a meal at
the newest dinning hall, East Servery, and get to know a Will Ricer or two. You won’t regret
it. Myth. Power. Value.
Hanszen
Guarded over by the Guardian, a noble and courageous knight made of wrought iron, Hanszen College is known as the “family college”. Divided into two separate buildings called
Old Section and New Section (Old Section is actually “newer” than New Section), Hanszen
is the third oldest college on campus. Welcoming and friendly to all, Hanszenities believe
in “Hanszen Heart” and are really nice people. Located in the South Colleges, Hanszen is
famous for its huge spacious commons with large glass windows. Connected to the South
Servery, the Hanszen Commons is packed during lunch time, with it being one of the favorite athlete hang out spots. On top of being super caring, Hanszen is well known for its
sports. Hanszen is always a contender for the President’s Cup, a sports competition between
the colleges (and GSA). Be sure to come and give Hanszen a visit!
- Jelsi Cruz (Will Rice 2013)
- Dante Zakhidov (Hanszen 2015)
Wiess
One of the first four colleges built at Rice, Wiess is possibly the farthest college away from Duncan. So what makes Wiess worth the trek across campus? Maybe it is our sweet karaoke room,
the infamous NOD party, or curiosity about the ubangee. Whatever the reason, don’t pass up
the chance to chat up a Wiessmen (you can easily spot them with our unmistakable goldenrod
shirts). There may be rumors that we are elitists, but really everyone is just jealous of our awesome trampoline!
- Leslie Nguyen (Wiess 2014)
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Duncan
Baker
Baker, the oldest and classiest of the colleges, will always remind you of which college comes
first (because it’s always us). Despite this, Baker is really friendly, especially to our younger
sister, Duncan! Baker is proud of our classy traditions, such as Baker Blues and Bakershake
(annual Shakespeare production since 1977), as well as our not-so-classy traditions like Baker 13. Baker is always a chill and fun place to be, so come visit!
ApollO-Week 2012
DUNCAN COLLEGE
Lovett
Lovett college, although sometimes referred to as a toaster by non-Loveteers, is a college
with rich history. Named after Rice’s first president, Lovett college is filled with fun creative
students. It may not be the prettiest of colleges with the cinder block grids on the hallway
floors, but Loveteers still manage to have plenty of fun on their second floor where there
is open balcony space. If you do not feel comfortable crashing the second floor gatherings
at Lovett you are always welcome to release some studying stress by jumping on their huge
trampoline or attending one of the two public parties Lovett hosts. Lovett is one of the best
colleges on the south side and it definitely houses the friendliest people, so you are welcome
to drop by and say hi.
- Christal Porter (Lovett 2015)
Sid Richardson
HEY HEY HEY HEYYEY. Picture this: the most beautiful people at Rice campus, skin
saturated with paint black as Orcs, charging the other colleges, howling of the exquisite
flavor of babies. Strange, huh? FALSE. Normal. Welcome to Sid Richardson College. The
first thing you should know about Sid is that SID IS HUGE. With 14 stories and 7 elevator
stops – each floor is a double story – Sid Rich literally dominates every other building on
campus. This is beneficial, because when you’re on your way to Sid for some of the best parties of the year (80’s, Hi-Liter, and Schoolgirls) you’ll never get lost; just look up! Sidizens,
as we are called, are always looking to have fun, whether it’s through finding creative ways
to disqualify our college on Beer Bike, dominating on the Powderpuff field, or blasting music to the rest of campus from the Tower of Power every Friday afternoon. All in all, with its
cavalier traditions and energetic population, Sid is the place to be.
- Sachin Allahabadi (Sid Rich 2013), Zach Bielak (Sid Rich 2015)
North Colleges
Brown
If you ever get the urge to venture out of the Duncan community, come visit us at Brown
College! Known unofficially as the Gryffindor of Rice, Brown is a great place with tons of
friendly people! We pride ourselves on our traditions, from our valiant efforts during Brown
Defense to our total domination during the Beer Bike water balloon fight. The Brown community is extremely tight-knit and supportive, so any friends that you make from Brown
are sure to be some of the best you’ll find at Rice. We may not be the most humble college
in the north, but we are all pretty awesome, if we do say so ourselves!
- Elizabeth Harwood (Brown 2014), Majo Ramirez (Brown 2014)
Jones
Jones is known for being a very competitive and spirited college. Even when we lose,
(which we never do), Jonesians will cheer, “Jones wins again!” Our main cheer is JIBA,
meaning “Jones is Bad Ass.” In IM sports, Jones is a force to be reckoned with. Our college
was built with separate North and South wings, with Central Jones added in 2002. Come
check out our friendly and dynamic floors, each with their own unique culture.
- Stephen Boswell (Jones 2012)
33
Martel
Before Duncan and McMurtry were built, Martel was the newest college on campus. Martelians serve as Duncan’s neighbors who you will no doubt come to love for their friendly
dispositions, constant spirit, and of course, the three dogs that reside at the college. You
may hear anti-cheers of “Martel is not a college!” but Martelians will heartily retort that
Martel is a family (with extremely nice rooms). Martel also hosts the first and last party
of every year, so come equipped with some cowboy gear and a plaid shirt for “Don’t Mess
With Texas” on the first Friday of classes! You will always be welcome at Martel, where you
will hopefully want to visit all the time and where you will have to visit on Saturday for
brunch since West servery is closed.
McMurtry
As you look southward out of the gloriously grey and bedazzlingly blue halls of Duncan you
might wonder what’s purple, silver, and awesome all over? Your answer is the tenth residential college, and Duncan’s fellow gold LEED certified college called McMurtry. While only
three years old, McMurtry has been bursting with creativity and has joyously established
many traditions - like McSkate for wintertime bonding, McTubing for summer fun in the
sun, and generally being legit. McMurtry is a tightly knit community that works hard and
plays harder, and when the conch shell is sounded and a loud “MUUUURT” is heard, you’ll
know we’re nearby. On closer inspection, you might spot a kilt or two since we love to show
off our Scottish heritage (and even play bagpipes on fancier occasions) or maybe even a
Murt in a banana costume (because McMurtry beer bike is so amazing, it’s *bananas*).
As a Duncaroo, you might find those strangers across West servery called “Murts” quite
foreign, but don’t worry, your closest neighbor and pseudo sibling college doesn’t just share
an uncannily familiar building plan (and a penchant for saving the environment one automatic light switch at a time), it shares Rice’s diversity and friendliness. The Murts will
probably invite you to watch some Bollywood with their head resident fellow, or maybe
challenge you to a game of foosball, so get ready to experience McAwesomeness.
- Tristanne Mock (McMurtry 2014)
From left: exterior views of McMurtry, Brown, and Martel Colleges.
34
Duncan
- Samantha Hea (Martel 2015)
35
36
People
DUNCAN COLLEGE
ApollO-Week 2012
The Coordinators
DUNCAN COLLEGE
ApollO-Week 2012
Jeremy, Drew, Molly
Jeremy (left), Drew (middle), and Molly (right) spend some quality time on the fundeck.
Mary Hemming Horn. Say that out loud and we guarantee that the first thing that pops into your head is
that nursery rhyme you heard as a kid. Turns out, you didn’t hear it as a kid, because this celestial being is
far from fictional and in fact comes from a galaxy not too far, far away. Hailing from nearby Dallas, this
Molly Horn STAT major can probably perform a linear regression faster than you, although she may just be satisfied
with sitting down instead. However, whether or not she is 100% earthborn remains unclear, for her hair
Junior
[Dallas, TX] interacts with the sun, moon, and stars in some crazy way to change colors depending on the lunar cycle.
Combine this along with an impossible-not-to-like personality and a smile that you’ll just never forget
{STAT}
and you’ve just discovered another star. But don’t worry, it doesn’t take a telescope to find this constellation. She’ll be around Duncan all the time, even though she is living off campus, as her house is just a
couple of blocks away. In the event of an emergency, you have been placed in highly capable hands; her
extensive experience saving lives as a lifeguard more than qualifies her to look after a few astronauts on
this next Apollo Mission. With Molly as part of Mission Control, you can get ready for the most amazing
O-Week this side of the moon has to offer!
- Drew Moore (Duncan 2013)
Jeremy Scher (Duncan 2014)
37
Drew Moore
Senior
[Corpus Christi, TX]
{MATH}
- Jeremy Scher (Duncan 2014)
Molly Horn (Duncan 2014)
Hailing from the gorgeous state of New Jersey, this Mission
Controller loves to make weird sounds and faces, pump
Avicii in his room, and verbalize grandiose statements
filled with more words than you’ve ever had the pleasure
of misunderstanding.
He’s Jeremy Scher. He’s here to win swords (ask him about
it). He’s here to control missions to the moon. He’s here
to make your O-Week so fantastic you’ll have to hug him
every time you see him :)
- Drew Moore(Duncan 2013)
Molly Horn (Duncan 2014)
38
People
So you’re on your way to Rice. You’ve said goodbye to those
last few lingerers, and just before you leave you update your
Facebook status from home one last time. Yet, right as you
click submit, you receive a notification. That’s right. Drew
liked your post within the first π seconds the earth could
see it. And get used to it, for nothing can match this Math
major’s enthusiasm when it comes to Rice and Duncan, and
especially O-Week! We guarantee that Corpus Christi gave
rise to one of the most amazing people you’ll ever meet,
especially when you consider the cosmic combination of
witty intelligence and incredible people skills. You will see
him chilling out on the fundeck, helping out a friend, and
flaunting the diamond-studded chalk he uses to solve the
most complex cohomological equations our universe has
to offer. But don’t ask him to walk and eat a spacecream
sandwich at the same time; doing two things at once, no
matter how simple, can be a real challenge for this curious
little spaceman. With Drew in Mission Control, prepare
for an O-Week filled with atmospheric adventures, ecliptic excursions, and levels of radiating ridiculousness you’re
bound to remember long past blast-off!
Jeremy Scher
Junior
[Tenafly, NJ]
{CSCI}
Businessman by day, DJ by night, Jeremy Scher is a man
of many talents. He’s mastered many difficult activities
including (but not limited to) rugby, Cognitive Science,
and grabbing planets. Need to teach an astronaut how to
be a Rice Owl? Jeremy’s your man. Need to come up with
a clever nickname for something? Jeremy calls the Duncan Sundeck the “fundeck.” Need someone to listen as
you complain about your day? Jeremy is “scher” to have
an open ear. Don’t be intimidated by his muscular muscles, he only uses them to give the best hugs in the galaxy.
Masters
DUNCAN COLLEGE
ApollO-Week 2012
Luis, Marnie, Emilia, and Cecilia
Latin America and traveled extensively, gaining appreciation for the contributions that diverse cultures can make
to every society. She is a licensed Social Worker in a Title
I school, where she provides counseling services and support for elementary-age children and their families. She is
also a passionate soccer player and a great horseback rider.
Welcome to Duncan!
We are ecstatic to be a part of the newest and greenest college of Rice University, and to take on this unique opportunity to explore, create, and grow together as a community
of engaged and caring scholars and future professionals.
We see you as young adults who are entering a fascinating
journey of self-discovery and growth. In our experience,
integrity, respect and responsibility are great principles
that can produce extraordinary results when combined
with flexibility and a good sense of humor. This vision
guides many of our efforts and initiatives in the college.
Our function as masters is to create an enriching intellectual and human experience for you at Rice University. We
firmly believe in empowering young adults so they can assume positions of responsibility in Duncan, in the larger
university setting, and in their lives beyond the hedges (as
we call all things beyond Rice). We also contribute actively
to the cultural and social life of this college by organizing
events where you will have the opportunity to meet fascinating people or prepare yourself for your professional life. In
short, we see our mission as that of mentors who work with
you to create and sustain a healthy and stimulating community. Marnie Hylton grew up in beautiful New Hampshire and attended college in New Mexico. She has lived in
39
Dr. Duno-Gottberg was born and raised in Caracas, Venezuela, and he has lived in many places around the world
(such as Chile, Montreal, and Pittsburgh). Before coming
to Rice, he was a Professor in the Graduate Program in
Latin American Literature at Universidad Simón Bolivar,
and then Director of the Caribbean and Latin American
Studies in Florida Atlantic University. Luis is an Associate Professor of Caribbean Studies and Film in the Department of Hispanic Studies. His research deals with
culture and politics in the Spanish and French Caribbean. He is the author of several books and articles and
his teaching is closely related to his scholarly inquiry. His
most recent book project deals with popular protest, violence and representation. He enjoys swimming and surfing (yes, it can be done in Galveston with the right attitude). Keep an eye out for the “hammock corridor”, a
space to hang out and chat about current world affairs.
We are joined by our two daughters: Cecilia and Emilia. Cecilia, our seven-year-old, is outgoing, curious
and always very busy. She will engage you in long conversations and you will most likely see her playing in
the quad. Emilia, our sixteen year-old, is a senior at
Lamar High School. She is a very serious student, enjoys playing lacrosse and continues to demonstrate talent on her singing. She recently made her first film: a
silent short. She is looking forward to coming to Rice!
Welcome to your new home at Duncan College. We look
forward to meeting you and working together to create a
great intellectual community.
Head Resident Fellows
Caleb, Brandy, Ellery, and Carter
As new Head Resident Fellows, we are very excited to join
the Duncan community and especially to meet you--the
incoming new students! One of our primary jobs will be to
welcome you and assist you in your transition to Rice, both
academically and socially. We’ve been preparing for your
arrival since accepting this position in the Spring 2012 semester.
Brandy and Caleb are both natives of Texas (she’s from
Pearland, just outside of Houston; he’s from San Antonio).
We married in 2000 and moved the following year to Baltimore, Maryland, where Caleb completed his Ph.D. in history and Brandy received her Masters in Teaching, both at
Johns Hopkins University. In 2006, we moved to Colorado,
where Caleb taught for two years at the University of Denver, but we got to Rice as quickly as we could and moved
here in 2008. We hope to share with you some of the great
things Houston and Texas have to offer “outside the hedges” of Rice’s campus.
Caleb is an assistant professor in the Department of History and teaches courses on nineteenth- and twentiethcentury American history. His particular research interests
are in the history of reform movements, transnational history, slavery and abolition, the American Civil War, and
digital history. He likes to listen to jazz, hear live music,
drink coffee, discover good restaurants, golf, and geek out
on his Mac as the rare humanities professor who enjoys
coding like its 1984 and using the “command line.”
People
As new students, you can consider us your first point of
contact if you have any questions or problems this year.
Our goal as head resident fellows is also to extend hospitality to the entire college community through shared meals
and social events. As teachers (either currently or in the
past), we also want to create opportunities for intellectual
exchange and academic development within the college,
whether that means hosting guest speakers, providing
study tips, holding mealtime convos about current events,
or creating opportunities to have philosophical chats about
recent books or movies like The Hunger Games.
Brandy is a former teacher of high school American and
world history (including AP U.S. history) and currently
works part-time grading standardized test essays, including the SAT. She likes to listen to music that is NOT jazz,
read, knit, travel, work out, volunteer at church, and root
for the underdog in competitive sports.
Our two kids, Ellery and Carter, are also looking forward
to meeting you. Ellery is five (well, five-and-a-half if you
ask her) and will be starting kindergarten this fall in a Dual
Language Immersion English-Spanish program. She likes
to read, talk (a lot), play soccer, and beat her dad at checkers. Carter is a pretty content and easy-going one-year-old.
His favorite hobby is shouting “Uh Oh” before throwing
his dinner on the ground. We also have a cat, Shea, but so
far she’s keeping her feelings about moving to Duncan to
herself.
Congratulations on being selected to join Duncan. We
can’t wait to meet you!
40
Nick, Kate, and Lulu
Nick grew up in Pittsburgh and graduated from the University of Pittsburgh in 1998. After graduation he moved
west to Tucson and then back east to Boston, before splitting the difference and settling down in Houston. He now
works as a Space Analyst in the Campus Planning department at Rice (so you archis will have someone to talk shop
with during all of your free time). Kate grew up mainly in
Boston but has called many places home. She spent part
of elementary school in Jamaica, a year of high school in
Barcelona, and four years of college at Tulane University in
New Orleans. She is now a tax attorney at BDO and spends
most of her days hanging out with IRS agents. Kate is pretty excited to do anything non-tax related when she is not
at work. Lluisa is a toddler and native Texan who enjoys
coloring, mac & cheese, Yo Gabba Gabba, and the music of
Sesame Street. The Pascuzzis’ interests vary anywhere from
the NBA and NFL, to the Bachelorette and Lifetime programming. Oh, they love to watch all kinds of movies and
cook tons of food. So, whether you are looking for good
life advice, want to catch a game, borrow a DVD, or get a
craving for some cookies, their door on 3rd is always open.
DUNCAN COLLEGE
ApollO-Week 2012
Resident Associates
41
Michael Barlow
Hi. I’m Michael. I originally come from England (Yorkshire). I came to the US in the 1980s and met Suzanne at
grad school at Stanford where we were doing PhDs in Linguistics. And so, I didn’t return to Yorkshire but stayed in
America. We lived in San Francisco and San Diego before
coming to Houston in 1993.
I like to watch EPL football. I enjoy travelling, especially
to Asia, and I go to England a couple of times a year. Like
most academics, I go to places where there is a conference
or I am giving a talk and I try to see something of the local
life. I teach Linguistics at the University of Auckland in
New Zealand for one semester every year. I go in January,
which is mid-summer, and leave when it gets too dark and
rainy. When we are in New Zealand, we live in a house on
an island in the Harauki Gulf. I commute from there to the
university by ferry.
This will be our third year in Duncan and we are very much
looking forward to meeting you all.
Suzanne Kemmer
hobbies just like all you guys. I do yoga and crafts; and I
travel as much as I can. I usually manage to spend some
of May and June in New Zealand with Michael each year,
on a small island off the coast of Auckland. Back at Duncan, our little pets Badger and Tufty, the smallest Duncaroos, need lots of care and attention and they hope you
will come to RA suite 247 to pet them and feed them their
treats. We also hope you will all come to the Cafe Lounge,
held in Duncan 248 on Sunday nights, and have a cup of
specialty coffee or tea. Welcome to Duncan!
People
I am Suzanne, Michael’s spouse, and this is our third year
as the Duncan second-floor RAs. I’m a Rice faculty member but I get to live with all of you here. Duncan is a very
cool place to live and you are going to love it!!
I grew up on the northwest side of Chicago, then
came to Rice for college. It was a nice place then too,
only there were more fields and fewer buildings. But the
students were pretty much the same. We were all going
crazy over Beer Bike and deeply involved in our colleges.
I have spent a lot of time in Britain and Germany, probably
my two favorite countries, and go to many conferences in
Europe and Asia. I have wide academic interests, but focus on language, mind, and brain, and how they work. My
field is Linguistics, but I’m director of Cognitive Sciences
and I coordinate the Neurosciences program that allows
Rice undergraduates to take courses and/or do research in
the medical center. I also have a bunch of non-academic
Badger and Tufty - the resident Duncan “piggies”
42
College Coordinator
DUNCAN COLLEGE
ApollO-Week 2012
Vicki Woods
Hello DuncaroosI’m Ms. Woods, the College Coordinator for Duncan. I am
excited about our new adventure together, and I welcome
the opportunity for everyone in our college to share in this
journey! I enjoy meeting people, and I have a listening ear
and a willing heart. One of the things I look forward to is
developing a lasting relationship with all of the students
who pass through Duncan College.
I have worked at Rice for six years. Prior to coming here, I
had the privilege of working with students, young people,
and professional educators. My desire is that each of you
pursue your dreams, both academically and socially. There
is no limit to one’s personal success, as long as you are true
to yourself and respectful of others. Believe in yourself
and take the time to learn from others. With each day that
passes there is an opportunity to gain wisdom from someone or something.
I am a proud mother of two and proud grandmother of
three.
Welcome to the Duncan Family!!!
Services Available in the Coordinator’s Office:
• Warm smiles
• US postal and campus mail pick-up and drop off
• Package Pick up
• Make copies and send faxes
• Buy stamps
• Use of office supplies
• Eat delicious candy
• Give/receive hugs
43
Duncan Associates
Duncan Fellows
The residential college system is really the heart of undergraduate life at Rice. Emphasis on the “undergraduate.” Adults like alumni, faculty, staff, or general Houstonians who have an interest in Rice can feel disconnected
from this integral part of Rice life. This is where the Associates Program comes in. Each residential college has
a group of “associates” who have expressed interest in the
college and undergone an application process to become
affiliated (associated) with it. Among our Duncan associates we are fortunate enough to have many Rice professors,
RUPD officers, a NASA employee, a yoga instructor, and a
naval officer, to name just a few!
In your first year at Rice, you may have some trouble adjusting to classes here or need advice about your exams,
problem sets, and papers. The curriculum and the workload may not be what you are used to, whether you come
from high school or another university. Regardless, Duncan’s Academic Fellows program will be there to help you
along the way.
Duncan’s Associates Committee works towards making this relationship between Duncan and its associates
happen. Events range between informal lunches in the
servery, dinners at associates’ houses, study breaks, career
panels, and our biannual and formal Associates Night.
Basically, the Associates Program is something incredibly
unique to Rice, and something we should take full advantage of. Duncan’s associates are all fabulous people who
have been carefully chosen to join and participate in the
Duncan community. Getting to know them will only benefit you, both as a college student and as a future member
of “the real world.” Hope to see you all at Associates events!
- Emma Hurt (Duncan 2015)
In addition to this one-on-one help, the Academic Fellows
will, in conjunction with the Academics Committee, host
the annual Duncan Undergraduate Research Symposium.
Held in the Spring, this event allows students to present
the research they have done over the past year, in whatever
discipline they have chosen to research in.
Another way that the Fellows seek to augment academic
life at Duncan is by inviting faculty, associates, and members of the Houston community to come give private talks
at Duncan about their work, research, and academic interests. These lectures, held in a close-knit setting, expose
Duncaroos to a wide variety of academic perspectives, and
help enrich the academic experience.
-Karen Jong (Duncan 2013)
44
People
We spend a great deal of time learning in the classroom at
Rice. Yet college does not teach you everything about the
“real world” that we hear exists (although I’m still waiting
for proof). Our associates can provide a tremendous resource of such “grown-up” knowledge, advice and provide
career and networking opportunities. They really want to
get to know undergraduates, learn about life as a Duncaroo, and help us in any way they can.
The Academic Fellows are charged with facilitating academic life in the colleges and each college has a program
specifically tailored to its needs. At Duncan, the Fellows
are juniors or seniors who have been selected by GPA, judicial standing, and commitment to mentorship in higher
learning. The Fellows will organize review sessions before
major midterm exams, help guide you through a term paper, and attend weekly Sunday Study Sessions in the commons, where Duncaroos can ask about homework sets or
go over missed exam problems. You can even email them
to set up a specific time to meet if you are having particular trouble in a course. Each Fellow specializes in some of
the introductory classes and they represent all of the major
academic disciplines.
ApollO-Week 2012
DUNCAN COLLEGE
Christina Zarraga (Duncan
2012) and Kelsey Wooddell
(Duncan 2014) make signs to
cheer on the Duncan powderpuff team.
45
A Message from the Duncan President
Dearest new Duncaroos,
Welcome to Rice! Better yet, welcome to Duncan! It is my
pleasure to introduce you to the wonderful world of Duncan, the newest, largest, most eco-friendly, and best residential college on campus. My name is Kelvin Pho, and I
am serving as Duncan College’s President this year.
As a new student, Duncan offers you many resources immediately. There will be opportunities to involve yourself
in student government and have your voice heard, events
where you can meet the coolest kids (as well as faculty/
staff) on campus, and places to relax like our beautiful sundeck.
I am extremely excited to meet you! Before we meet, let me
tell you a few things about me. I am studying Biochemistry
& Cell Biology, but I have taken a large range of courses.
I am a member of Rice’s Water Polo team. I also have an
extremely eclectic taste in music (boy bands, dubstep, folk,
etc.). When you see me, do not be afraid to talk to me!
As your President, I aim to serve you well. With your help,
we will continue to make Duncan the premier residential
college of Rice University.
Dunc Love,
Kelvin
46
People
If you ask any student at Rice, they will tell you Duncan
is known for being “green,” loving electronic music, and
hugging pandas, but that is not all we are about. Duncan
takes pride in its extremely diverse community filled with
people that have unique points of view and hail from numerous backgrounds. Though we are a new college, we are
filled with culture as well. These past few years, Duncan
has created many traditions (that you will discover soon!),
but there is always room for more.
DUNCAN COLLEGE
ApollO-Week 2012
Rice Administration
David Leebron
President
[Philadelphia, PA]
{Law}
Meet our president David Leebron (pronounced LEEbron). A native of Philadelphia, PA, Leebron is a graduate of Harvard College and Harvard Law School. He has
worked as a law clerk on the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals
in LA, acted as assistant professor of law at UCLA School
of Law, and taught classes as professor of law at both the
NYU School of Law and Columbia University. Actively involved in the law community, he previously served as Dean
of Columbia University School of Law. He and his wife Y.
Ping Sun and two young children, Daniel and Merissa, live
at Wiess House, located across the street from the North
Colleges.
47
John Hutchinson
Dean of Undergraduates
[Corpus Christi, TX]
{Chemistry}
Dean Hutchinson has been a Professor of Chemistry at
Rice since 1983 and has taught General Chemistry almost every year since 1988. Dr. Hutchinson has been
involved in student life at Rice since 1994, when he and
his wife, Paula, became masters of Wiess College. After seven years at Wiess, they then served as masters of
Brown College from 2003 to 2008. Dr. Hutchinson has
also served as Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs and Director of Academic Advising, and helped
found Leadership Rice in 1996. He is a strong advocate
for the Student Association, the colleges and student selfgovernance, and is a big fan of the Owls student athletes,
college theater, and Shepherd School musicians. You can
often find him at lunch or dinner in one of the colleges.
Dean Hutch is a 2007 recipient of the George R. Brown
Certificate of Highest Merit for Teaching Excellence, and
the recipient of the Student Association Mentor Recognition Award in both 2000 and 2011. In his spare time, he
likes to read about politics, play folk guitar, and hike in the
Colorado mountains. His favorite rock group was Cream,
and his favorite singer-songwriters are Bruce Springsteen
and Angie Stevens. He has seen every episode of The
Simpsons since the very first one in 1989.
First Year Programs
For most students and families, your introduction to our
office will likely occur with orientation, known around
campus as “O-Week.” This week-long program will allow
students to become acclimated to the intellectual, social,
and individual aspects of Rice. Throughout the rest of
the year, First Year Programs will offer a number of additional opportunities designed to help students take advantage of their time at Rice. Our office coordinates the
Common Reading Program & Convocation which selects
a single book for each year’s class of new students to create open dialogue about a significant topic, introduce students to the academic environment of Rice, and connect
with members of the faculty. The Emerging Leaders Forum
(ELF) provides students with the tools and knowledge to
develop goals, identify potential, and succeed as leaders.
We hope to serve as a resource and starting point for all
new students at Rice. To get the latest news and information about our office and programs, visit firstyear.rice.edu
to learn how to stay connected throughout the year. Welcome to Rice!
Sanjula Jain
Sanjula hails from the palm tree haven and sunshine state
of Tampa, Florida. While a Florida gal at heart, Sanjula has
Canadian roots as she spent the early years of her life in
Toronto, Ontario. Sanjula’s love for big cities brought her
to Rice in Houston as a current senior double majoring in
Psychology and Ecology & Evolutionary Biology. While
you may find Sanjula chanting Brown College cheers, keep
in mind she is also a die-hard Rice spirit bleeding blue and
grey, serving as your Student Association (SA) President.
As President, Sanjula works very closely with University
administrators such as Dean Hutchinson as well as the
College Presidents. She works with many different student
groups and departments around campus and is your advocate for student interests to the University—all to make
sure that your undergraduate experience is the best that
it can be. She is always looking for input and ways to help
her fellow peers in any way possible. You can easily spot
her on campus decked out most likely in a shade of pink,
or wearing some type of owl jewelry—probably sipping on
her usual almond mocha. Sanjula loves to explore and is
always trying out new restaurants and coffee shops around
town. Sanjula loves going to spinning classes at the Rec and
being out on the dance floor at public parties. If she’s not
in class, the psychology lab, or in a meeting, and it’s not a
Thursday night when Greys Anatomy is on, you can probably find her hanging out at her favorite spot on campus—
Coffeehouse. Whether you need a friend to talk to, have
a question, or just have a great idea you want to pursue,
Sanjula is all ears and always up for a chat. Feel free to stop
her anytime and say hi whether you see her in the servery
or RMC, or send her an email at [email protected].
48
People
Shelah Crear, Katherine McConachie, and
Chris Landry
The Office of First Year Programs is dedicated to supporting the successful orientation and transition of all new students and their family members to Rice University. We use
the term new students to be inclusive of all incoming students - first-time college freshmen, transfer students, and
international students.
Student Association President
It’s the morning of Sunday, August 12th. You pull into
campus with your family and all of your worldly possessions packed into the car. You’re marveling at the gorgeous tree-lined road and sunny skies, enjoying your new
home, when suddenly your car door is thrown open, and
people are yelling your name, hometown, and celebrity
dream crush all at the same time. Who are these people? Why are they yelling? Where did your stuff go? (The
answer is your advisors who are so excited to meet you.
Oh and they’ve already taken your stuff to your room!)
Get ready, because these people will be your life and guides
during O-week. Your advisors are three current upperclassmen: two of them will be at Duncan, and one of them
is from another college. Advisors are hand-selected via an
application and interview process, and have dedicated the
end of their summer to ensuring that you have the best
possible transition to Rice. We could not ask for better advisors this year! The three of us spent countless hours picking the best people to take on this role. We had so many
people apply to advise you, and the result of the process is
39 unique advisors. Get to know them well and ask questions; they are the cream of the crop!
DUNCAN COLLEGE
ApollO-Week 2012
What is an O-week Group?
The “Spacelane Robbers” O-Week Group from Han SolO-Week 2010.
49
ApollO-Week
Advising Groups
Advisors:
COMET ME, BRO
DUDE, WHERE’S MY STAR?
EVERYDAY I’M SHUTTLIN’
HOUSTON WE HAVE A PROBLEM, SOLVERS
LAIKA BOSS
LUNAR LOVEGOOD
LUNAR TUNES
MOONWALKERS
ROCKET LIKE IT’S HOT
SPACE BALLERS
SPACE INVADERS
SPACESUIT UP!
STAR COMMAND
Laurel Bingman, Zuhdi Abdo, Marie Valovska
Michelle Bowen, Justin Winikoff, Kevin Koch
Louise Bentsen, Adrian Bizzaro, Zach Bielak
Chynna Foucek, Nick Irza, Christal Porter
Megg Ryan, Sanjay Gadasalli, Samantha Hea
Christina Fakes, Ben Huber-Rodriguez, Elizabeth Harwood
Zia Rosenzweig, Matt Lopez, Leslie Nguyen
Nichole Taylor, Ryan Kim, Andrea Paramo
Grace Apfeld, Nimish Mittal, Majo Ramirez
Emma Hurt, Matt Koby, Max Ingraham-Ratakansky
Leah Fried, Alan Harkins, Tristanne Mock
Isabella Marcotulli, Matt Winkler, Dante Zakhidov
Becca Hamm Conard, Andy Grimbergen, Sachin Allahabadi
People
Groups:
50
DUNCAN COLLEGE
ApollO-Week 2012
Comet Me, Bro
Laurel
51
Zuhdi
Marie
Rebecca
Zuhdi Abdo
Junior, Duncan
[Houston, TX]
{MECH}
Look out everybody, the sheriff is in
town! With his cowboy boots and his
brass Texas belt buckle, you can hear
Duncan’s Chief Justice walking from a
mile away. This born-and-raised Texan boy hails from right here in Houston. He basically bleeds Texas, as one
can tell from his signature look, gigantic truck, and love of football. Zuhdi
(pronounced ZOO-dee) can often be
found gettin’ swole at the Rec, playing
Call of Duty like a beast, or studying
mechanical engineering or pre-med
things at Club Fondren. This Duncaroo has won many awards from Rice
and Duncan, including: MVP in Call
of Duty’s Nazi Zombies game, Brightest Eyes, Most Avid Ferrari Fan, and
Funkiest Dancer. He will always be
willing to help you with your gen
chem homework, or will have your
back during a zombie apocalypse. Get
excited, because with Zuhdi as your
advisor, you’re going to have the best
O-Week and best Rice experience
EVER!!
- Christina Fakes (Duncan 2014) &
Matt Winkler (Duncan 2014)
Marie Valovska
Sophomore, Will Rice
[Boston, MA]
{COGS, BIOC}
Congratulations! Standing at 5'10’
with blonde, curly locks your advisor Marie is from Boston, Massachusetts, but when you really track down
her roots, you'll find she was born in
Germany and hails from the city of
Sofia, Bulgaria. Marie is currently a
sophomore pre-med Cognitive Sciences major and Biochemistry minor
with an extraordinary passion for the
wonders and functions of the brain.
But when Marie's not busy acing her
Cog Sci tests, her everyday activities
include drinking tons of boba tea,
creepily taking pictures of squirrels,
obsessing over extremely fluffy animals, and acting like a Valovskaraptor.
Don't be scared away by her odd and
quirky personality, Marie is the most
outgoing, silly, and bubbly friend you
could ever ask for. She is one of the
most loving people I have ever met,
and I am so lucky to call her my best
friend and roommate. I'm also convinced that Marie is a European spy,
but please keep it on the down low.
So therefore, have no fear! If you ever
find yourself in a sketchy, dark alley in
the eerie streets of Houston, your energetic and not to mention, very athletic advisor will track you down and
come to the rescue (with her defense
moves learned from Water Polo and
CrossFit, of course).So, get ready for a
whole week with the most social, caring, and energetic advisor you could
ever ask for!
- Irene Lee (Will Rice 2015)
- Steffi Hu (Duncan 2015)
Read Rebecca’s Affiliate Bio on page 79!
52
People
Laurel Bingman
Sophomore, Duncan
[The Woodlands, TX]
{Undecided}
Did you know that the airspeed velocity of an unladen swallow is 24 mph?
I didn’t either, until Laurel Bingman
told me. Hailing from the Woodlands,
TX, this energetic sophomore is definitely the person to go to if you ever
have questions about school, life, or
just random facts about anything and
everything. Skinny as a stick but filled
with endless amounts of energy, Laurel
is sure to brighten up your day! Laurel is considering a Latin American
Studies and Ecology and Evolutionary
Biology double major and planning
to get a minor in Global Health Technologies (crazy, right?). But even so,
she still finds time to stay involved in
Duncan and around campus. Laurel
is an officer for the Catholic Student
Association, is co-head of the Duncan
Service Committee, is a site leader for
Alternative Spring Break, and is an active member of Step-Ahead. She also
plays in a lot of IM sports like powderpuff, volleyball, ping pong, basketball,
and ultimate Frisbee. As you can see,
Laurel is extremely active and loves
the outdoors. In fact, the first time I
met her she asked me if I wanted to
join a running club with her and wake
up at 7 A.M. every morning to go run
(ridiculous, right?). But if she isn’t off
doing crazy things, she’s inside wasting time looking up videos of Gerard
Butler and musicals on youtube and
eating tons of animal crackers. So
congratulations on getting this awesome, dedicated, caring, and amazing
person as an advisor!
Kevin
Michelle
Read Jelsi’s Affiliate Bio on page 77!
53
Jelsi
Dude, where's my star?
DUNCAN COLLEGE
ApollO-Week 2012
Justin
A long, long time ago in a Galaxy Far Far away lived Kevin ‘Buzz Lightyear’ Koch, a man born to
explore the stars, daring from a young age to go where no man has gone before! Neil Armstrong
was once quoted as saying “Buzz [Aldrin] is the Kevin Koch of our time.” Hailing from the icy
planet of Lincolnium in the far reaches of the galaxy of Nebraskansa-9 Kevin is one of the most
devoted Mechanical Engineers of our time; grinding away countless hours in his lab working on
Kevin Koch
projects ranging from flux-capacitor neo-nuclear Delorean reactors to his groundbreaking reSophomore, Brown search in the field of MECH 481 problem sets! But, Sir Koch is more than just a renowned book
worm. He can also be seen risking his life, diving into the depths of the Recreation pool rescuing
[Lincoln, NE]
hopeless swimmers and wooing the hearts of many a young lady! It’s said Kanye West’s album
{MECH}
808’s and Heartbreak was inspired by this tanned and handsome lifeguard and Adele’s “Someone
Like You” was written after a passionate love affair with Mr. Koch! But don’t be shy ladies and
gents this man would love to meet all of y’all and can assist you with anything you need or any
questions you may have. Kevin Koch would like to welcome you to Rice, and he hopes your 4
years here will exceed your expectations to infinity and beyond!
- Andrew Jacobson (Brown 2015)
- Zack Carlins (Duncan 2014)
If Michelle is your advisor, then you are truly blessed. If I could somehow transport myself back
in time and have a second O-week in order to have Michelle as my advisor, then I would. In
fact, I’m building a time machine now. With Michelle, there will never be a dull moment. Ever.
She has numerous skillz from her heavenly singing (which she may reveal as soon as she meets
you) to hypnosis using her stellar blue eyes. I know you’ll quickly realize that she isn’t just any
Michelle Bowen old unicorn in the mythical herd. She is always there to lend a helping hand..or foot...or elbow.
Sophomore, Duncan Her upbeat energy will help you stay awake the next day when you’re wondering how you ended
[New Orleans, LA] up talking about that one Spongebob scene till 2:35 in the morning (which she will gladly con{Undecided}
tinue to talk about with you the following day). If you have any quirks, don’t be afraid to show
them around Michelle, she will love you even more for them. And if you don’t have any quirks
yet, she’ll help you find them. All you fresh Owls out there, you know you can look forward to
a magical, meaningful, monstrous (and anything else that’s good that starts with “M”) O-Week
with Michelle.
- Mary Anderson (Duncan 2015)
54
People
You are innocently enjoying lunch in the Duncan quad, when suddenly a goofy looking Jewish
kid from New Jersey sneaks up from behind and steals your FRENCH FRIES!!! Who’s that?!?!
Its only you’re favorite advisor Justin Winikoff!!! Don’t worry about the food, you and the rest
of Duncan College will have you’re revenge during the semesterly event: Steal Justin’s Food Day.
This surprisingly profane hugging machine is here to guide you through your first week and year
at Rice, and boy is he excited. This might creep you out, but he actually already loves you. Check
Justin Winikoff out his facebook (he already stalked yours) because he has the best taste in music. I would know
Junior, Duncan
because I’ve never heard of any of it before. But don’t worry, Justin isn’t pretentious with his hip[Woodcliff Lake, NJ] ster music taste (his favorite band is Coldplay). If he doesn’t win you over with his bubbly smile
or provocative sense of humor, you will instantly fall in love with his acoustic versions of pop
{MTEC, POST}
songs. Although he won’t admit it, Justin has a stunning voice and can rock “Hit Me Baby One
More Time” better than Britney Spears herself. Justin will always put your needs before his own.
Justin is loved by all of Duncan, but he does have one annoying habit. Unlike you, he noticed the
improper usage of “it’s” and “your” in the third sentence of this bio. That’s right, Justin is a grammar freak!!! But beneath Justin’s fluffy exterior lies an even softer core. Justin is by far the nicest
person I’ve ever met and you should be excited to have him as an advisor.
DUNCAN COLLEGE
ApollO-Week 2012
Read Carissa’s Affiliate Bio on page 80!
Have you ever wondered if there existed such a guy who is smart, charming, funny, and exotic? Is
this really possible?? Yes, for your Duncan O-Week Advisor Adrian Bizzaro has it all. I first met
this bad boy during O-Week, and, since then, he has been a great buddy to me and a priceless
asset to Duncan as well. In the meantime, he manages time well enough to hit the gym frequently
Adrian Bizzaro
Sophomore, Duncan and maintain his extremely brawny physique. Now, you may think he could be a nerd. But no,
this kid does not forget to come out to parties on weekends and have some fun. You wonder how
[Madrid, Spain]
Rice has the #1 student happiness level in nation? People like Adrian help make the atmosphere
{MECH}
vibrant and joyful. In addition, Adrian has a Spaniard edge that automatically makes him twenty
times cooler. He can easily pull of Spanish, French, and talk about his travel experiences to virtually everywhere in the world. He will no doubt make your O-Week as amazing as it could ever be.
Be on the lookout for Adrian Bizzaro.
- Ryan Kim (Duncan 2014)
Zach Bielak
Sophomore, Sid Rich
[Knoxville, TN]
{MECH}
BEE-LAK — that’s how you say it, if you were wondering. But wonder no more, you have
come across a magnificent being. Native to Knoxville, Tennessee, this southern boy is much
more than meets the eye. While he is not a transforming car, your advisor is, in layman’s
terms, a beast. Zach is not your average straight-A student, so don’t expect to see him around
Fondren throughout the week. In fact, don’t expect to be able to keep track of him at all, for
no one can. Whilst somehow remaining sane, Zach has been involved in a plethora of clubs
and activities from Engineers Without Borders to Rice University’s own Fight Club (which
does not exist nor can we talk about it). Zach does not hold back — prepare to be blown
away by a phantastic display of phenomenal philharmonic phorce as he is part of the Rice
Phils. So if you happen to fall victim to the mellifluous sound radiating from his vocal chords
you might find yourself... Accidentally in Love. As for his diet, nothing stops him: he will eat
everything. But more specifically, he is very fond of blackberries, keeping a cup always by his
bed, lest he be struck by a feeding frenzy in the middle of the night. All joking aside, Zach
will be the one to turn to when you’re in need of a friend. He’ll listen to what needs to be said
and he’ll do what needs to be done; not to mention always being able to bring a smile to your
face. So get ready for a phun-philled and Zach-packed O-week!
- Kyle Kurihara (Sid Rich 2015)
Louise Bentsen
Senior, Duncan
[Washington D.C.]
{HIST}
Louise Colbath Bentsen has spent the last semester across the pond in London, UK, so do not
fret if she says phrases like “flat” instead of “apartment” or “queues” instead of “lines.” Her true
roots are in America, born just a few blocks from campus! She spent most of her youth splitting
time between Houston (so she understands life in the great state of Texas) and Washington, D.
C. (where she spent time visiting both the Smithsonian and Georgetown Cupcakes). At Rice, this
History major spends her time doing research in the Library, playing squash at the recreation
center, and learning different languages from around the world. You are extremely lucky to have
her as an advisor; she is extremely friendly and always willing to lend an ear. When you are up,
she will dance around with you, and when you are down, she will cook you up some quinoa. Get
excited to spend a week with this young lady.
- Kelvin Pho (Duncan 2013)
55
every day i'm shuttlin'
People
Adrian
Zach
Carissa
Louise
56
Houston, We have a problem...
solvers
DUNCAN COLLEGE
ApollO-Week 2012
Read Hannah’s Affiliate Bio on page 80!
Christal
57
Chynna
Hannah
Nick
Christal Porter
Sophomore, Lovett
[Memphis, TN]
{POLI}
Want to know the real Christal Joy Porter? Thankfully, you’ll be with this top basketballer all
of O-Week! This Memphis-bred sophomore from Lovett is one of the sweetest people you will
ever meet. Have a question about dancing? She can answer it and show you the moves. Want
to know if real bunnies lay eggs? She now knows that just because the Easter Bunny lays eggs
doesn’t mean that real bunnies do too. Ever wanted to be in a band, but don’t know how to
play an instrument? Christal managed to be the drummer in three bands that are now on their
way to stardom without ever having played before. Now she can play the drums, piano, and
guitar. Want to know where the nearest sets of stairs are? She won’t know because she only
takes the elevator…even from the second floor. Want to know where the nearest water fountain
is? She can tell you because good hydration is her thing, writing multiple papers about its importance. Ever wondered about the athletic department? She’s on student council for athletics
and a peer athletic advisor so she can be extra helpful with picking classes too! Do you want
to be (or befriend) a poli-sci major? Since she’s pursuing that path she can help you along the
way. Do you need some fashion advice? She’s been known to wear black Capri yoga pants with
too small red basketball shorts and a yellow tank top or even plaid on plaid on plaid, so you
should probably ask someone else. She has answers to all your questions though, so ask her
anything!
- Leah Fried (Duncan 2014)
-Tristan Clement (Duncan 2012)
Nick Irza
Junior, Duncan
[San Diego, CA]
{CEVE}
Nick is the kind of guy who doesn’t call for 10 weeks and then out of nowhere picks up the
phone and asks “as a small favor” that you write a 150-word essay. Due tomorrow. About himself. I vaguely remember that he does have some admirable qualities. The details are hazy. It’s
been so long since we last spoke. I remember charm, wit, and a cheerful disposition. A native
San Diegan, Nick is simultaneously cosmopolitan and down-to-earth, just like the city. He has
his father’s devastating good looks. His wit is sharp. His spirit is entrepreneurial. He tans like
a Coppertone model. He’s pretty smart, too. With all of this going for him, you would think he
would be the kind of person who had manners and would call once in awhile.
Seriously, who raised this guy?
- Nick’s Mom
58
People
Chynna Foucek is your advisor. Let that sink in for a little bit. It’s a big freaking deal. Right off the
bat, it’s pronounced China, like the country. Now it won’t have to be awkward when you meet
her on move-in day and pronounce her name wrong. Although, it is extremely rare for Chynna
to find herself in an awkward situation; she’s just that awesome. Chynna is kind of like that really cool and quirky aunt that your parents get mad at because she lets you do everything you’re
not allowed to do at home. She’s always smiling, and one of the most approachable people at
Chynna Foucek
Rice. She wants to know everything about your life, and she will find it out, not in a creepy way Sophomore, Duncan
though. Hailing from Poughkeepsie, NY, she says “water” really funny. Not only does she juggle
a double major of Biochemistry and Ancient Mediterranean Civilizations, she’s Pre-Med as well. [LaGrangeville, NY]
{BIOC/AMC}
On top of all that, she’s involved both at Duncan and around campus, serving as Duncan’s senator to the Student Association. She’s always down to hit some balls with the Club Tennis team,
or just hang with a friend on any given weeknight. My only complaint is how picky an eater she
is. She doesn’t eat bread, pizza, pasta, or anything with gluten in it. Whatever though, her loss.
More gluten for the rest of us. In conclusion, Chynna is an amazing person, get pumped for OWeek.
DUNCAN COLLEGE
ApollO-Week 2012
Sanjay
59
Samantha
Meaghan
Andrea
Read Andrea’s Affiliate
Bio on page 77!
laika boss
When someone throws a rugby ball at him, he ducks and lets it hit the person behind him in the
face. When he sends a youtube video, it’s of himself, and the only person who doesn’t like it is
the only person that didn’t see it. When he’s a fan of a football team, 1 in 5 Americans copy him.
When he makes up statistics about the Packers everyone believes him. When he has guests visit,
Sanjay Gadasalli he ensures all forms are filled out and turned in, even though none are required. When he tells a
Sophomore, Duncan joke, it’s hilarious, and everyone laughs when I repeat it just slightly louder. When he high-fives
you, you have to ice your hand afterwards. When he chugs 24 ounces of water, he does it in 2
[Midland, TX]
seconds and only drinks 4 ounces. When he decides he wants to do something, he’ll organize
{BIOC}
plan and execute the entire thing before you can say, “that’s a great idea, Sanjay.” When he’s in a
college he’s in Duncan, and he has more spirit and Dunc Love than anyone you’ll ever meet. He’s
Sanjay Gadasalli, the most interesting advisor in the world. He doesn’t have every new Duncaroo
in his group, but if he has you, you’ll have the best O-Week imaginable.
- Becca Hamm Conard (Duncan 2014)
Samantha Hea
Sophomore, Martel
[Littleton, CO]
{POLI, POST}
Oh Hea there. If you are reading this, congratulations! You are among the luckiest dozen of
people in all of Duncan. Martel College’s Samantha Hea (pronounced “hey” if you didn’t get my
joke) is your co-advisor! You may not think this is a big deal. Well, as a matter of fact, Sam is a
boss. She does it all. Let’s take you through an average week in Sam’s shoes. Monday: head on
over to a Student Association meeting and you’ll find out that Martel’s senator is none other than
Sam! Tuesday: While you’re walking forward to your class, Sam is walking backwards while giving a tour to prospective students! Even while bragging about Rice’s awesomeness, she’ll stop her
tour to hug a friend. Wednesday: when you’re having trouble planning your schedule, Sam will
be there with a smile to help you out. She’s a Peer Academic Advisor. Thursbay: Hungry? Head
into your advisor’s room and you will leave with a full stomach. No one knows candy and sweets
like Sam does. Friday: Somehow, this super involved, Political Science/ Policy Studies double
major still has time to hang out with her friends. She will talk to you forever. About everything.
She’ll tell you about her home in Colorado or her volleyball days or have a deep life conversation
with you. You don’t even need to be her friend. She’ll talk to you even if she’s never met you before. It’s hard not to like Samantha. But on Saturday, beware. This lovable girl turns into a fierce
football star on Martel’s Powderpuff team. Minus those two hours, however, there’s no one nicer!
Everything Samantha Hea does is done Laika Boss. You should be thrilled to meet her because I
promise you that NO ONE is more excited to meet you than Sam.
- Grace Apfeld (Duncan 2014)
- Justin Winikoff (Duncan 2014)
60
People
Meaghan Ryan
Junior, Duncan
[Burbank, CA]
{MECH}
Born on a cold night, the day of the winter solstice, at the stroke of midnight, in the middle of
an epic thunder and lightning storm, on Friday the 13th, in a leap year, with a blue moon…
but don’t let me get carried away. Meaghan Ryan’s life has been and always will be akin to a heroic poem, a myth, a fable, a chronicle, a saga… a legend. You know how the Powerpuff Girls
were made of sugar, spice, and everything nice? When Professor X devised Meaghan Ryan, he
used glitter, glitter, and MORE GLITTER. Talents? she has them in abundance: Irish dancing,
swimming, clarinet playing, baking RAINBOW CUPCAKES, having quads of steel, and being a
ginger (yet having a soul). If I haven’t said anything that makes you electrified and enthusiastic
yet, just wait. Meaghan Ryan, a student of the mechanical engineering variety, also has the brain
of an elephant, Dexter from Dexter’s Laboratory, and Albert Einstein combined. An avid fan of
Justin Bieber, Adventure Time, the San Diego Chargers, Justin Bieber, Quilting, Rainbows, the
Irish, Justin Bieber, Fish Tacos, romance novels, googly eyes, Justin Bieber, the California Republic, cork boards, tutus, Justin Bieber… I digress. Point is this: I am so jealous that I will not have
the privilege of having one Meaghan Ryan as my own ApollO-Week advisor this fall. Good luck
with this gregarious ginger!!
ApollO-Week 2012
Lunar
DUNCAN COLLEGE
Lovegood
Ben
61
Christina
Elizabeth
Will
Christina Fakes
Junior, Duncan
[Belle Mead, NJ]
{HART, BIOC}
When the zombie apocalypse is upon us, there is one Duncaroo who would know what to do! Her name is Christina! This loud and proud Duncan advisor has the perfect
qualities for surviving a zombie apocalypse and making
sure that you stay sane in this time of crisis. First, as said
before, she is so extremely proud of her Arab heritage, her
home state of New Jersey, and Duncan that she would fight
a world full of zombies in order to protect the planet she
loves. Next, as also said before, she is loud! Not in an obnoxious sense at all but because she has an amazing singing
voice and is not afraid to let others hear it. This will come
in handy when all electronic equipment for music has been
destroyed and the only means of music will be singing. Finally, in order to keep you sane in the apocalypse, she is a
great listener, gives great advice, and is always there for a
hug for those times when you need someone to lean or depend on. In short, with Christina as your advisor, you can
never go wrong; not even in a zombie apocalypse.
- Zuhdi Abdo (Duncan 2014)
Matt Winkler (Duncan 2014)
- Aaron Roe (Duncan 2015)
There are a lot of thing you should know about your new advisor Elizabeth. She pets every
puppy that she meets, she once got a 99 on an orgo test, and she had to register herself as a lethal
weapon in 17 states. But there is one fact that is most important of them all – CHOCOLATE.
Obsessed doesn’t even begin to describe it. Luckily for you she’ll work just as hard to give you an
awesome O-Week as she would for a dark chocolate Crave cupcake. Elizabeth is a fiery redhead
Elizabeth Harwood hails from Austin, so don’t be surprised if you see her recycling cans after parties on a Saturday
Junior, Brown
night; this girl loves the environment more than Pooh-Bear loves honey. If she’s not out saving
the world you might be able to find her training for a half-marathon on the outer loop, danc[Austin, TX]
ing up a storm while singing “Comme un Enfant”, or riding her bike to Whole Foods for some
{CEVE}
groceries. On top of all the moving and shaking she does she is also a really great person to talk
to, so whether you’re feeling a little blue or just want to chat about your hopes and dreams, she’s
the girl. The sad part- unfortunately for you this little ball of awesomeness is a proud member
of Brown College (BSWB) so she’s not going to be your next door neighbor, but you just might
get the honor of calling her your O-Week advisor for all time!
- Connor Titus (Brown 2014)
Read Will’s Affiliate Bio on page 82!
62
People
Ben Huber-Rodriguez
Sophomore, Duncan
[Haddon Heights, NJ]
{PHYS, LING}
One of my first memories of Ben was when he performed
in the Duncan talent show at the end of our O-Week.
For his contribution to the show he stood atop a chair,
center stage, lifted a carton of milk above his head, and
proceeded to chug it. It was not astounding in the least;
the talent he was showcasing was not related to speed or
skill, but only that he had never drunk milk before. At
the time I was thinking “who is this strange kid?”, but
in hindsight I see that this instance strongly illustrates
Ben’s adventurous and consistently quirky personality.
But who is this enigmatic Benjamin Huber-Rodriguez
besides someone who doesn’t drink milk? In terms of
appearance, he is a tall, thin, skinny-jean wearing New
Jerseyan indie-boy. As for his interests, they range from
linguistics to physics (with which he intends to double major in), from doing the Texas two-step to guitar playing,
and from writing articles about indie-folk music to playing the card game, Magic the Gathering (he was even on
the pro-circuit!). As for his disposition, he is almost always
good-humored and throbbing with energy. Nearly every
conversation you will have with him will contain some
kind of jest on his part. If you are fortunate enough to have
Ben as an advisor prepare yourself for an upbeat week filled
with his jokes and his contagious, squawking laughter.
DUNCAN COLLEGE
ApollO-Week 2012
Matt Lopez
Junior, Duncan
[Austin, TX]
{ELEC}
Inspired by Joseph Gordon-Levitt
from 500 Days of Summer, Matt
Lopez dresses to impress on a daily
basis. In fact, every (Tie) Tuesday, you
can find Matt rocking a tie. If you’re
not won over by his outfits, this gregarious electrical engineer can code a
love song for you, draw a heart in your
latte at the student-run Coffeehouse,
plan an event in your name for IEEE
(Institute for Electrical and Electronics Engineers) and SHPE (Society of
Hispanic Professional Engineers),
and win you over with his infectious
smile. Unfortunately, his heart is reserved for the one and only Emma
Watson. Fret not my friends, Matthew J. Lopez is one of the most fun
people in the world. This native Austinite will venture with you to the end
of the cosmos, or if you’re not willing
to go that far, he will accompany you
on late-night bike rides to get food,
all-nighters of studying that result in
watching the sunrise, or kicking a soccer ball around on the sundeck. Spend
a day with this fun-loving fashionista,
and you will have a friend for life.
- Kelvin Pho (Duncan 2013)
Leslie Nguyen
Junior, Wiess
[Houston, TX]
{CHBE}
Get ready for the best week you have
ever had! You guys are lucky enough
to be in this adorable lady’s O-Week
group. A lot of people know her
as “Leslie”, but she also answers to
“Tofu”. Make sure to ask her the story
behind her infamous nickname. If
Leslie is not working on some Chemical Engineering, or, as you will soon
call it, ‘chbe’, homework or taking awesome photographs, you are sure to find
her jamming out on her uke (which is
almost as cute as she is)! Leslie is a
junior at Wiess College (no worries!
Leslie loves Duncan just as much!)
hailing from H-town. She is an expert
on all things that are ‘must-dos’ in
Houston so you guys are in luck! Anyone who meets Leslie instantly falls
in love with her adorable smile and
her sweet, caring ways. Leslie is one
of the most thoughtful people you
will ever meet and she is someone
you can always count on. Whether
you need academic advice, want to
know about things such as Alternative Spring Break, getting involved at
your college, DREAM, or whatever
you can think of, Leslie will be there to
help. Get ready to laugh (A LOT) and
get lots of love during o-week. With
Leslie as your advisor, you can expect
nothing less!
Zia Rosenzweig
Sophomore, Duncan
[Los Altos, CA]
{Undecided}
Zelia RosenSWAG is a loveable piglet seeking happiness in the form of
her new students. But don’t let her
swagalicious demeanor scare you
away—this lady is the kindest, most
approachable person you’re gonna
find on this campus and her advice is
worth a million bucks. This little ninja
is fluent in Spanish and sarcasm and
unfortunately knows all the words to
Rebecca Black’s “music” and somehow actually enjoys listening to it. A
lot. (GROSS). But how awesome must
she be for us to still love and accept
her after knowing that little factoid
right?! But anyways I will leave you
with a little secret—if you’re ever having trouble coercing her to do something for you, she loves oatmeal, Thai
tea, chocolate, PUMPKINEVERYTHING, and ramen more than life.
Use this information generously and
she’ll love you forever!
- Yahaira Verdejo (Wiess 2013)
Read Drayton’s Affiliate Bio on page 81!
63
- April Kwan (Duncan 2015)
Matt
Leslie
Zia
Drayton
People
lunar tunes
64
ApollO-Week 2012
DUNCAN COLLEGE
65
Andrea
Nichole
Ryan
Moon
walkers
Andrea is the perfect face of Rice. She reflects the values of diversity, caring, and friendship. Not
only has she taken a road trip around the entire United States, but she was also born and raised
Andrea Paramo in Mexico. Being a world traveler has allowed her to develop the tools that are necessary to relate
Sophomore, Lovett to a variety of people no matter what their background may be. It doesn’t matter if Andrea has
[Mexico City, Mexico] no idea who you are, if you need help she will lend a hand; she is the most caring person I know.
All of these qualities make her the best friend you could imagine. If you are in her O-Week group
{PSYC, HISP}
beware because you will fall in love and gain a lifelong friendship. Andrea is from Lovett college
and has many talents such as painting nails and also working out. She has a variety of talents
and interests, so she will be able to accompany you in whatever activity you may be interested
in. Don’t let this innocent description fool you; Andrea knows how to have fun, and plenty of it.
On the weekends you will not find this girl in Fondren Library, although she does attend Club
Fondy almost every day during the week, so she is the perfect study partner. There are so many
things to describe about Andrea, but that would possibly take up the entirety of this O week
book. Be excited because you will soon meet one of the best and coolest people on Rice campus!
- Christal Porter (Lovett 2015)
- Grace Apfeld (Duncan 2014)
Molly Horn (Duncan 2014)
Ryan Kim
Junior, Duncan
[Seoul, Korea]
{MECH}
In one short year Ryan Sangwoo Kim has easily claimed the title of best dressed male, no actually best dressed person, at Rice University. This Korean transfer student from the University of
Toronto can regularly be seen strolling around campus in his suede oxfords, button down shirts,
and classy blazers. And that doesn’t even begin to describe Ryan’s unimaginable wardrobe: he
lives alone in a Duncan double with a closet meant for two, and he still had to buy extra shelves
to store his enormous collection of clothing. The only thing that even compares to his love of
clothing is probably his love of soccer. He is a member of the Rice lads, Rice’s club soccer team,
as well as an integral part of the Duncan college men’s soccer team. If he is your advisor this affable pre-med/mechanical engineering major is sure to make your O-week memorable. From
his renditions of every song on the top of the charts to his slightly above average imitations
(which in all honesty are funnier than if he was actually really good at them), he is sure to make
you laugh. And even though he’s only been at Rice for a year, he is just as knowledgeable as any
upperclassmen, and as a Peer Academic Advisor he can give you advice on anything and everything academic related. Basically, if Ryan Kim is your advisor, get excited because you’re about
to have an amazing O-Week. - Nimish Mittal (Duncan 2015)
66
People
Have you ever been walking down a city street, when all of a sudden you find an 100 dollar bill in your
pocket, and then there’s an 95% off sale in your favorite store, and then you get free tickets to Harry
Potter World and Disney World at the same time, and then you realize that it’s actually an owl bringing you your Hogwarts letter because you aren’t a muggle, and then the sky starts raining skittles, and
then you can suddenly inexplicably speak 24 different languages, including Swahili, Old Irish, and Nichole Taylor
Mandarin Chinese??? Well I have, and let me tell you, that sensation is NOTHING compared to the Junior, Duncan
feeling you will have when you learn Nichole Taylor is your advisor!!! You never know where you’ll
find Nichole - you may see her one afternoon watching adorable videos of kittens (and inviting you [Boerne, TX]
{CHEM}
to watch with her). But then 20 minutes later you’ll find her across campus creating mysterious and
wacky substances in chemistry lab. But then 2 hours later you’ll hear about the event that she’s planning for Duncan. But then 30 minutes later, you’ll hear someone walking down the halls belting out
country music and know that she is near. With this Texan (she’ll always remind you that she’s from
Bourne, not San Antonio), life will never be boring and always be fantastical :D
ApollO-Week 2012
DUNCAN COLLEGE
“A wise man once told me…” should be the start of any story about Nimish Mittal. Nimish is one
of the most intelligent and grounded people I know. If you ever need advice from anything as
big as a life decision to something as simple as which seat to pick on your flight home, Nimish is
the man to ask. In addition to being wise beyond his years, Nimish is one of the busiest people I
Nimish Mittal
Sophomore, Duncan know. If he’s not studying for his bioengineering degree, he’s either regenerating bones in the lab
or participating/dancing in the South Asian Society. However, don’t think that Nimish is all work
[Overland Park, KS] and no play; he loves to go out and chill with his friends. He’s the man to hit up if you want to
{BIOE}
shoot around on the basketball court or go out to explore Houston. He’s into hip hop and can get
down with a cat daddy, but he’s really got a sweet spot for the Red Hot Chili Peppers. One thing’s
for sure; Nimish is a super chill guy and he’ll ensure that you’re transition into Rice University is
smooth and welcoming. You couldn’t be luckier to have Nimish Mittal as your O-Week advisor.
- Adrian Bizzaro (Duncan 2015)
Maria Jose (Majo) Ramirez
Junior, Brown
[Miami, FL]
{CEVE}
If this little girl was a piñata, cracking her open you’d find a
handful of paintbrushes, gallons of coffee, a love for Parks
and Rec, mountains and mountains (and mountains) of
chocolate, and a laid-back Colombian charm. Majo (Mahhoe), as we like to call her, was born and raised in Colombia
(evident in her accent that she strongly denies), and moved
to Miami, Florida when she was 8. Her other name is Gloria, inspired from the show Modern Family, so take your
pick. As a student in Civil Engineering, Majo works hard
and plays hard, always finding time to enjoy other people’s
company. If she’s not speaking broken English (“Not with
all the gain I weight,”—direct quote), she’s laughing. Majo
has a good creative eye, and she enjoys photography and
painting. She’s from Miami so of course she loves the sun.
It is a possibility that she could also be diagnosed with a severe case of Cute-Puppies-Addiction. As a Social at Brown
College, Majo helped throw one of biggest on-campus parties at Rice, so this girl knows how to have fun. She loves
laughing, she loves fun, she loves relaxing, she loves people, and if you’re lucky enough to have her as your advisor,
she’ll love you!
67
- Truc Huynh (Brown 2014)
Grace Apfeld
Junior, Duncan
[Wolfeboro, NH]
{HIST, ANTH}
This bodacious babe (or bro?) likes to spend most of her
time in the dark dungeons of Sewall with the dusty remains
of the world’s most interesting deceased. But let’s set the record straight: she is NOT a paleontologist and doesn’t give
a crap about the dinos. Thousand-year-old coin hoards are,
however, this future archaeologist’s idea of a fun time. Her
epic procrastination skills are a blessing to all who enter
her lair of Harry Potter memorabilia and authentic Tanzanian decor. From the X Factor to side-splitting comedic
shorts to old Nickelodeon favorites, Grace has something
for everyone. She is always up for a sundeck chat, some
chill time with her knitting needles in the RA lounge, or
some intimate time in bed (woahh there… this is reserved
only for fantastic massages with her closest friends). This
New Hampshire native can just as often be found watching her brother’s college basketball games as watching the
Bachelor, and she shares a love for her family, friends, and
her hometown’s beautiful mountains. If it wasn’t already
obvious from her many awkward photo faces, this is the
most interesting woman in the world. Those of us who
have climbed Mt. Grace and lived to tell the tale will say
that it’s a journey more worth taking on than Everest.
- Kelly Mover (Duncan 2014)
Marissa Hall (Duncan 2014)
People
Grace
Majo
Nimish
rocket
like
it's hot
68
ApollO-Week 2012
Matt
Max
DUNCAN COLLEGE
Emma
spaceballers
69
Connie
Read Connie’s Affiliate
Bio on page 80!
- Madison Stacy (Duncan 2015)
Besides being a tech wizard, Matt is also an amazing friend.
His only problem with doing favors is that he has so many
people he wants to help that he may not have time to help
everyone. However, as you have been graced to be in his
O-Week group, I can assure you that Matt will place you at
the top of his priority list. In all seriousness, you all could
not have been given a better person for an advisor. I have
had the privilege of knowing Matt for three years now, in
addition to having been his roommate, and he is one of
the most reliable, thoughtful people I have ever met. I am
grateful to have him as my friend, and I know you will be
too!
- Ruben Sandoval (Duncan 2012)
Max Ingraham-Rakatansky is a big deal—almost as big a deal as his last name. A champion fencer, Max is a great man to have on your side if your honor is ever challenged
by some young rapscallion from the wrong part of eighteenth-century England. He
plans to use his political science major to eventually work as a secret agent (so if you’re
involved in an international crime syndicate and/or a terrorist, please forget that piece
Max Ingraham-Rakatansky of information). This New Yorker can be seen traveling all around campus to spread
his unmatched sense of humor and even greater sense of compassion. If you are lucky
Junior, McMurtry
enough to be one of his smaller mates, you can expect to be lifted up whenever you are
[Brooklyn, NY]
down- and I do mean literally. Really. Expect to be lifted into the air at parties if you see
{POLI, POST}
him. His falsetto could make the angriest person giggle, and his genuine compassion
for others’ feelings and opinions make him the kind of advisor any freshman would
be lucky to have- and aren’t you lucky you’re at Duncan, so you can meet him. Others
come and go, but this true friend will always be by your college or even find you in
Fondy to check in and cheer you on. His one weakness: cute animals (especially dogs).
Figures.
-Kelly Mover (Duncan 2014)
Michelle Doughty (McMurtry 2014)
70
People
Emma Hurt
Sophomore, Duncan
[Washington D.C.]
{HIST, POST}
Emma is going to be the person that is there for you. When
you have your first breakdown in college, she is the one
to call. She’ll put everything into perspective and help you
figure out what to do next. If you want to know the random
history about anything in D.C., she knows it all. She’s always down for a good life-con (life conversation) whether
it’s midday or 5 o’clock in the morning. If you need to escape for a little while, she knows the best coffee shops to
study at off campus. When you write your first college paper and you know it’s definitely not your best, she can edit
papers like it is nobody’s business. And after she has done
all of these things for you, the best way to pay her back:
BAKED GOODS. Cupcakes, cake, brownies, cookies, angel food, etc. She has a huge sweet tooth. Whether you’re
in deep or you just need friend, Emma’s got you covered.
Matt Koby
Senior, Duncan
[Washington D.C.]
{HIST, POST}
Today, you have the amazing opportunity to read about
Matt Koby (don’t you DARE call him Matthew). What
talents does Matt possess, you ask? Well for one, Matt
has acquired the ability to turn any event that requires
electronics into the most mind-blowing spectacle you’ve
ever seen; He designed the lighting and sound for Duncan’s sensation with his eyes closed and laughs at the ridiculousness of anything related to theatre tech being
described as “difficult.” If you haven’t already caught on,
he’s an insanely good techie. In fact, Duncan, Housing and
Dining, and FE&P (look it up) all grovel to him for his aid.
ApollO-Week 2012
Space
Alan
DUNCAN COLLEGE
Tristanne
Invaders
71
Leah
Alan Harkins
Junior, Duncan
[Sugarland, TX]
{MECH}
You might be asking yourself, “Wow, who is that tall glass
of tomato juice creeping towards me??” Don’t worry too
much, it’s only your advisor Alan Harkins. This carrot
topped Duncaroo will teach you everything you need to
know about anything. How? Because he literally knows
everything. Hailing from Missouri City, Texas, this Mexican gingerbread-head (weird, right?) will spew out random
facts faster than you might like. But don’t feel uncomfortable, this jolly tomato top will care for you like one of his
own. Underneath those ruby locks is the mind of a father.
Don’t believe me? His favorite Disney park is Epcot. Still
don’t? He’ll even drive you around on dates (ask him about
it). This flame brained Mechanical Engineer will help you
settle into Rice so well that you’ll already feel at home after
Day 1. Just give this fireball a couple days and he’ll know
everything about you: from your favorite movie to your
current location. Is he a little creepy? Yeah, he is. But it’s
worth it because with this red rocket you’re destined to go
straight to the top.
- Santano Rosario (Duncan 2014)
Tristanne Mock
Junior, McMurtry
[Weatherford, TX]
{CSCI}
Tristanne, a Texas native (no really, she grew up on an authentic Texan cattle ranch), is excited to meet YOU. A pure
ball of energy and joyfulness is waiting to show you around
the Christian groups on campus, explain the financial secrets of being a college treasurer (cause she gonna make
it *rain*), and have a coffee and a chat at Coffee House
(which she is always up for!). She is a Cognitive Sciences
major, so watch out or she might analyze your accent or
try to read your mind. Pero además de la escuela, Trista le
encanta mucha la lengua de España, si quieres hablar con
ella. Aside from academics and extra-curriculars,Tristanne
is a great listener and is always ready with a hug or some
friendly advice. But be careful or she might just jump into
her cowboy boots and teach you how to Texas two-step!
-Sena McCrory (McMurtry 2014)
Maire Gavagan (McMurtry 2014)
72
People
Leah Fried
Junior, Duncan
[Birmingham, MI]
{POLI, BUSI}
All she loves is Dunc Dunc Dunc no matter what
Got O-Week on her mind she can never get enough
And y’all are so lucky to call this wild one
Your ApollO-Week advisor
And you’ll say Yay!
They’ll say no way!
And you’ll say Way!
My advisor is the best!
Cuz all she loves is Dunc Dunc Dunc
And as y’all go on in she’ll put her hands in the air,
Give a big shout!
Originally from Michigan
But moved to Florida and now a duncaroo
Keep your hands up put em in the sky for this Poli Sci
major and Rice Women’s Tennis star.
She frequents baseball games
And reps the RPC
You’re gonna love this ginger
The hood call her Lego-Leah
And she’s ready to invade some space with the ApollO
crew
But she’s even more excited to get to know each of you
When your sink is broken or you need help picking your
classes
When you are stressed out with exams, or just need a
smile and a hug
She’s got your back no doubt
Y’all can always count her in
Get pumped and stoked for the week of your life to begin
Make memories all year long, with Dunc’s champion
Cause all you’ll do, all ya, all ya, all ya
All you’ll do is win win win no matter what
With Leah as advisor you can never get enough
And as you move on through your years here
She’s always gonna be there for you
As a freshman
As a sophomore
Junior, senior
Your advisor’s number one
Cuz all you’ll do is win win win, and
She’ll welcome you all in
To Rice University
Make y’all say hoot!
- Mecklin Ragan (Duncan 2013)
Matt
73
Dante
Isabella
Avanthi
DUNCAN COLLEGE
ApollO-Week 2012
Dante Zakhidov
Sophomore, Hanszen
[McKinney, TX]
{CHEM}
When this sophomore chemistry major from McKinney, Texas isn’t rocking his frat tanks or hanging out with
friends, you’ll find this chess-grandmaster beating you at any strategy
game known to man, or maybe playing
water polo for Rice, or maybe taking
pictures for the Thresher, or running
the 25K at Hell’s Hills. That’s right, this
Russian speaking Century Scholar is
involved in an array of things, from
taking Orgo for fun, to doing research
at one of the most prestigious labs at
Rice, and being an active member in
Rice Empower. People called DaVinci
the quintessential man of the renaissance? That’s because they hadn’t met
Dante. Sparta needed an army of 300
to defeat the Persians; Dante did it by
himself. Forget Chuck Norris jokes;
you’ll be making Dante Zakhidov
jokes by the end of the week. Get excited because this friendly and engaging Uzbek is dying to meet you. So
suit up and get ready for the greatest
week of your life with the best advisor
on this side of the Milky Way.
-Andre Critsinelis (Hanszen 2015)
- Kelsey Wooddell (Duncan 2014)
Read Avanthi’s Affiliate Bio on page 79!
Isabella Marcotulli
Sophomore, Duncan
[Houston, TX]
{ARCH}
Have you ever had a stuffed animal
that was just so cuddly and adorable
that you had trouble falling asleep
without it? Well, that’s what Isabella
Marcotulli is. I mean, she’s not, like,
filled with cotton or anything (or at
least let’s hope not), but she is (and
this has been scientifically proven,
there are charts and everything) the
absolute cutest thing in the world.
It is physically impossible to resist
the urge to give her a bear hug every
time you see her, and, if you can resist this urge, you need to see a doctor, because you probably don’t have a
heart. But don’t be fooled by her sheer
adorability. This Architecture major/
Venezuelan native is much more than
just an almost unbearably cute face;
she is a brilliant artist with the ability to sing every single Shakira song
known to man. Isabella is also known
as one of Rice’s preeminent Hipsters
with her impeccable musical taste
(don’t ask her what bands she listens
to, you probably haven’t heard of any
of them), and amazing sense of style.
She has also been known to support
the environment by exclusively purchasing organic strawberry flavored
children’s toothpaste, and by eating
grass and leaves that she finds around
Rice campus. All in all, you should
consider having Isabella as an Advisor as a very exciting opportunity. She
has an uncanny ability to make every
single person around her smile, and I
know that she will have the same effect on you. So congrats! It’s going to
be a great O-Week!
-Josh Specht (Wiess 2014)
74
People
Matt Winkler
Junior, Duncan
[Paris, TX]
{BIOE}
If you cut this kid open he bleeds green
and gold. Though born and raised in a
small town in Texas (for all you country fans, he is indeed a true blue Small
Town Southern Man), this die-hard
Packers fan did not have to change his
colors a bit when he became a Duncaroo, which is a very good thing considering his many activities: IM sports
rep, Powderpuff coach, and BEEEEER
BIIIIIIKE biker AND coordinator, he
is an all-around V.I.P. (Very Involved
Person). But does your altogethertoo-awesome advisor stop here? You
bet he doesn’t! Premed, bioengineer,
avid COD and Starcraft player, stud
guitarist in quite a fantastic band
(which was even featured at Pub last
semester), and last but DEFINITELY
not least, one half of the best bromance that you will ever encounter.
EVER. New student, you’ve got yourself a one in seven billion type of guy
to show you the ropes at Rice. He is
someone who you can talk to about
anything and trust more than anyone.
(He is also someone you can ask to
take random midnight road trips with
you or drive you to the airport.) Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you,
MATT WINKLER!
ApollO-Week 2012
DUNCAN COLLEGE
Andy’s the kind of girl that can befriend just about anyone. She’s got such a wide range of
interests that just about anyone can relate to her. Love reliving the glory days of your high
school track or crew races? Andy can listen for hours on end. Missing your siblings or family
at home? Andy knows what that’s like and can help you out (her twin sister goes to Yale!). Not
so sure about your major or your freshman classes? Andy’s been there, done that. It’s safe
Andy Grimbergen to say that whatever you’ve been through, Andy’s got some experience and can you help you
Sophomore, Duncan through it, or just be an ear to listen to whatever’s going on. But that’s not what makes Andy
special. She’s going to make your o-week awesome because she’s honestly the kindest person
[Redwood Shores, CA] I’ve ever met. Literally, at any hour of the day (especially 3AM), Andy would drop anything to
{CHEM}
help you out. Whether it’s homework help, relationship issues, a quarter-life crisis, or you just
need someone to bike with you to the all night grocery store, Andy’s got you covered. In fact,
she’s running around helping her friends so much you might start to wonder when she has time
for herself! Andy’s random quirkiness and easygoing attitude will make for an enjoyable OWeek with a great advisor, but her selflessness and caring for her friends will make for a lasting
friendship at Rice. - Benjamin Huber-Rodriguez (Duncan 2015)
Sachin Allahabadi
Senior, Sid Rich
[Los Angeles, CA]
{BIOE, KINE}
His name means truth. And this is the truth: you are SO INCREDIBLY LUCKY to have Sachin
Allahabadi as your O-Week Advisor. HE IS THE BEST YAYAYAY!!! Some may ask, “Why? Isn’t
‘the best’ a subjective title?” NO. It is just as much a fact as the orbiting of the Earth around the
sun. Still need reasons? Please take a seat as I describe to you your future best friend. Sachin
drinks at least 7 cartons of milk per day. When you add this to the 2 gummy vitamins he eats every morning, you get a strong, healthy guy. Does this equation confuse you? Don’t worry, Sachin
has brains better than Einstein and will happily explain and compute it for you. Sachin likes to
play with stuffed animals**. Everyone wants an advisor who is warm, playful, and snuggly! And
so manly (check out his muscles!). Sachin is pre-med AND getting an engineering degree. Have
you ever heard of anyone more boss at life? I haven’t! Sachin’s also a Social at Sid, Head Peer
Academic Advisor, Head Fellow, an Alternative Spring Break Leader, club basketball player, and
researcher. Just to name a few things. But most importantly, Sachin will be an amazing, kind,
always-there-for-you advisor, and an UNBELIEVABLE friend. He has the hugest heart of anyone and is guaranteed to make you smile so hard that the world turns to rainbows and puppies.
**Caution: Do not to get in the way of him and Turtle.
- Kate Travis (Sid Rich 2015)
Have you ever wanted to have a real life mystery machine? Becca painted one. Have
you ever wanted a giant horseshoe disco ball made of papier-mâché and broken mirrors? Becca crafted one. Have you ever wanted a Pikachu beanie? Becca knitted one.
Have you ever wanted to participate in a 100 person giant nerf gun war inside of a college dormitory? Becca organized one. Have you ever wanted to come back from ChristBecca Hamm Conard mas break to find your entire room filled with toilet paper? Or to find it impassable due to
high volumes of saran wrap? Becca orchestrated that (don’t worry, she always cleans it up).
Junior, Duncan
Becca did drive in the mystery machine, create a rotating disco ball, knit scores of warm winter
[Millburn, NJ]
beanies for her friends, and get caught in the middle of countless prank wars. Tack on a dou{POLI, HIST}
ble major in Political Science and History and you’d think she’d never have time for a friendly
conversation. On the contrary, she’s always free to chat, whether for a few minutes about the
weather or for a few hours about your life. Maybe she’ll bring you baked goods. Maybe she’ll
knit you a hat or a blanket. Maybe she’ll craft an intricate wallpaper out of leftover scraps of
paper for your room. Whatever she does, she will brighten your day and bring a presence to
- Eric Bastoul (Duncan 2014)
your life that you will never be able to let go.
75
Read Chris’ Affiliate Bio on page 78!
starcommand
People
Andy
Sachin
Becca
Chris
76
Affiliates
Affiliates come in many shapes and sizes. An affiliate may
come in the form of a Peer Academic Advisor, a diversity
facilitator, a gopher, an SMR, and a photographer. Think
of your affiliate as an extended family member. They care
about you just as much, but serve a slightly different purpose. The point: affiliates rock our world, and they will
soon rock yours too!
DUNCAN COLLEGE
ApollO-Week 2012
What is a Diversity Facilitator?
On behalf of the O-Week Diversity Facilitators, allow me
to add yet another heartfelt welcome to Rice! If you’re
wondering about the role Diversity Facilitators play in
O-Week, it can best be summed by one of our six guiding principles for O-Week: Rice is an open community,
a place where freedom of expression is uncompromisingly protected and where civility is powerfully affirmed. We
embrace diversity, and you will notice that amongst your
fellow new students. We celebrate that you all hail from
different backgrounds, environments, beliefs, and traditions and value the educational experiences that come
from living in a diverse community. We have to acknowledge, however, that the diverse community we prize at Rice
may be new to some of you, so the Diversity Facilitators
are here to help ensure that everyone feels welcome and
valued as a new member of our community, and that our
sense of civility towards each other is, indeed, shared and
cherished. We are not here to tell you what to say, think, or
feel, but we do offer a Diversity Workshop because three
(3) common issues arise each year when we ask students
about their experiences with diversity. 1) It’s not the big,
overt acts of racism or bigotry that typically surface at Rice;
it’s the smaller, more subtle, seemingly innocuous things
that are said that create difficulty. 2) More and more students are expressing that they have experienced some level
of religious intolerance. And 3) very many students report
feeling almost paralyzed in the face of an incident of bigotry; they simply do not know how to respond. The diversity workshop allows us the opportunity to explore these
incidents in small group settings, and then identify tools
for responding to everyday bigotry, in an effort to uphold
the values of civility and community. Additionally, the facilitators are a great source of information on our plethora
of cultural student organizations, cultural events on campus, and the Office of Multicultural Affairs. On top of that,
the facilitators are just really cool people. Once again, welcome to Rice. We wish you the best on this remarkable
journey.
- Cathi Clack, Director, Office of Multicultural Affairs
77
Ayyyy! It’s ya girl Andreezy
Or you can call her Pinto Bean
Click. Click. Take a pic of her huge adorable smile
You can find her at her main scene
Club Fondy, without a doubt
Sometimes she’s at Will Rice doing her thing
She’ll graduate with a degree in BioE
With that on her plate, sleep is never an issue
Hahaha psyche, sleep…what a luxury
She’s hard working and down to earth
There’s no doubting her love for people and Christ
H-town Get Down is her place of birth
If you like this Pinto
Meet the family, there are a million mo’
Dancing is one of her many talents
And there isn’t someone that she doesn’t know
Did I forget to mention that she’s real cra-craaaa
You can find her spittin rhymes errrday
You just got to love her! Ayyyyy
- Kathia Dumelle (Duncan 2014)
Jelsi Cruz
Senior, Will Rice
[Bryan, TX]
{PSYC}
“Houston… we have a problem”… just kidding, because
things will be smooth sailing with Jelsi (pronounced Hellsee) Cruz as your O-Week diversity facilitator. New students better prepare themselves, because this girl’s personality is as big as the sun. Jelsi is originally from El Salvador,
though her hometown is now Bryan, Texas where she spent
the gap year she took at the start of the spring semester of
junior year. During her time at Rice, Jelsi has volunteered
in Guatemala with a group of Rice students as part of the
International Service Project and has also been an active
member of HACER, the Hispanic Association for Cultural
Enrichment at Rice. Overall, it is her sense of adventure
and openness to new experiences that really make Jelsi
shine (that and she knows where to find really amazing
papusas in Houston). A deep and introspective thinker as
well as a psychology major, Jelsi will be there to talk about
anything you want really. Don’t feel like talking to her in
English? Well, guess what - she’s also fluent in Spanish.
And if you run out of things to talk about (which is extremely and very highly unlikely), just bring up the topic of
her family. She comes from a huge one and is a very familyoriented person. That conversation will probably last you
a couple of hours. But in the end, what it comes down to
is that while she would be perfectly happy to serve as your
sound board, she’s really looking to be your friend.
-Angela Chen (Will Rice 2012)
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People
Andrea Pinto
Junior, Will Rice
[Houston, TX]
{BIOE}
DUNCAN COLLEGE
ApollO-Week 2012
What is an O-Week PAA?
If you’re ever feeling a bit bewildered by all the academic
information being thrown at you, there are three Peer Academic Advisors on hand during O-Week to talk to and help
you pour through the general announcements to find a
schedule. They’re here to clear up any confusion you might
have and to act as a liaison between you, the Office of Academic Advising, the divisional advisors, etc. Please feel free
to contact them with any sort of questions you might have.
Chris Chu
Sophomore, Hanszen
[Baton Rouge, LA]
{BIOC}
The swoosh in the hair combined with all the Hollister attire gives Chris Chu a Cali, surfer dude look. But don’t be
fooled. He can’t surf to save his life. The half Chinese, half
Mexican, repeat state champion gymnast was born in Houston, raised in Salt Lake City and currently lives in Baton
Rouge. Ladies (and Gentlemen) don’t be afraid to ask him
to take his shirt off either. He models shirtless for Hollister
all the time, showing off each of his eight cut abs. Yet under all the defined muscle, Corey (as his parents call him)
is the stereotypical Rice student with his nose in a book
from Monday through Thursday. Not that he has much of a
choice however, the PreMed, who is a chair of RPMS, plans
to major in Biochemistry. When you see the Mr. Talented
winner on campus, he’ll probably be speeding by on his
longboard. Although a proud Hanszenite, Chris has agreed
to become a Duncaroo for a week, bringing his enthusiasm
to Orientation for the incoming freshman. And even after Orientation is over, never hesitate to stop by his room,
Hanszen Old Section 103, where the good times are always
going.
Need to know where to go to get academic advice after
O-Week? Visit the Office of Academic Advising in the
Ley Student Center, your Divisional Advisor (who you’ll
meet during O-Wekek), Major Advisor (you’ll get one
after you declare your major), or yearlong Peer Academic Advisors at Duncan! During the school year, there is
a whole team of PAAs who will be glad to answer any of
your questions. You can find them at: http://www.ruf.rice.
edu/~acadadv.
- Bo Sripharphan (Hanszen 2015)
Duncaroos are excited to get some academic advising!
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- Nicole Howard (Duncan 2014)
Rachel Poppers (Duncan 2014)
Avanthi Ajjarapu
Sophomore, Duncan
[Ames, IA]
{BIOC}
It is August of 2012, and you find yourself headed to Duncan
College for your first ever O-Week. You believe yourself to be en
route to Houston, but find that your plane/car/mode of transportation has gotten you lost. You check your iPhone (or, for us nonsmartphone users, your print copy of Mapquest directions) and
find that somehow you have ended up in the cornfields of Ames,
Iowa. You hear a noise, and intrigued, venture into the massive
cornfield. Finally, you come upon the source; it’s Avanthi Ajjarapu, your O-Week Peer Academic Advisor. “Wait,” you ask, “I’ll
be getting academic guidance from a girl who hails from Iowa?
Didn’t she spend her formative years as a farm girl tilling the
cornfields in the hot sun? Had she even seen a textbook before?”
Avanthi will soon prove you wrong. She hasn’t hesitated in giving
me a lesson (or a million) as to why Iowa is probably better than
any other state in this country (just ask her to show you the youtube video called “Iowa Nice”). A prospective Biochemistry and
Cell Biology major, this girl works harder than almost anyone I
know. She’s already doing research across the street at the Texas
Medical Center, and still has time to sing at the South Asian Society’s cultural show, called Dhamaka. As PAA, it will be her job
to make sure that you’re prepared academically for your first semester at Rice. It’s her sweet and fun-loving personality, however,
that will make you realize you’ve probably been placed with one
of the coolest affiliates possible-just make sure you don’t smack
talk Iowa when she’s around...
- Chynna Foucek (Duncan 2015)
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People
Rebecca Salinas
Junior, Duncan
[McAllen, TX]
{CAAM}
Rebecca Salinas is a south Texan beauty who adores
penguins and pugs. Trust us, her pug Eloise is the
cutest dog you will ever meet, and Becca has the
pictures to prove it. All her years at math camp paid
off, because she is now a CAAM major and an amazing PAA who knows everything there is to know
about graduation requirements and schedule planning. This is her second year as an O-Week PAA,
and now she’s even one of Duncan’s head PAAs! But
don’t doubt how down to earth she is: she loves to
watch TV and paint her nails, even though she can
never decide on a color. She was also a cheerleader
freshmen year, and although she’s no longer on the
team, she still supports the athletes by working in
the academic advising office for athletics. In case
you’re intimidated by her size of 5 foot 2, don’t worry, because an intense amount of friendliness and
sweetness is packed into that small frame. She is
always ready to answer questions, so never hesitate
to approach her with all your academic planning
needs. Although, if you want to make sure she’s giving you the best advice, you should bribe her with
candy or penguin paraphernalia.
DUNCAN COLLEGE
ApollO-Week 2012
Photographer
Connie Wang
Sophomore, Duncan
[Sugerland, TX]
{CSCI, BIOC}
The year was 1994. The world was a dark and desolate
place, but from the shadowy depths of Sugar Land, a new
hope was born. The world came to know this being…as
Connie Wang. Connie was a prodigy from birth, but besides her known prowess on the monkey bars, Connie’s
early history was shrouded in mystery. Now, she is known
for many things: a genius tutor, an expert organizer, a professional tumblr-er, and a master at juggling schoolwork,
friends, and 20 beloved TV shows. But don’t be fooled by
Connie’s sometimes cold exterior, she’s actually one of the
nicest and most caring people you will ever meet, and if
you listen closely, you can hear her Texan accent (especially when she says ten or tin). After only a year at Rice University, Connie has managed to help organize two fantastic
community service projects: Outreach Day and Pancakes
for Parkinson’s. She has been a part of the Ultimate Frisbee
Team, and she has served a year as Duncan’s New Student
Representative. This Cognitive Science and Biochemistry
double major pre-med is definitely the person to go to if
you have any questions, whether they be about academics
or the beauty that is Neil Patrick Harris. Oh and of course,
Connie also has a great sense of humor. The first joke she
ever told me was: What’s invisible and smells like carrots?
Rabbit fart! So, don’t ever be afraid to approach the WangBang because no matter what she’s doing, she’ll drop everything to lend a helping hand.
- Steffi Hu (Duncan 2015)
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Carissa Livingston
Sophomore, Duncan
[Valley Forge, PA]
{CSCI, BIOE}
So it’s O-Week and you’re probably wondering who is
this random girl all up in my grill with an SLR taking all
my pictures. Well first of all, she’s not just taking pictures,
she’s capturing moments, recording memories, making
art. Second of all, she is far from some random girl. She’s
from Philadelphia, but this chick has been everywhere in
the world! Okay maybe not everywhere but she comes
close. From Turkey to Germany, from Italy to Spain, she
has captured the beautiful scenery of them all. Check her
Facebook albums if you’re in doubt. This lady of experience is stock full of stories and awesome adventures in all
the places of my bucket list. These stories, her punny wit,
her fun-loving spirit, and her faith in God all make her
great to converse with. A lady of beauty and brains, with
luscious long hair, she’s a premed double majoring in Cognitive Sciences and BioE, and the E does not stand for easy,
just saying. Now it might appear to you that her hair is not
that long; don’t mind me, I’m just still in denial that she cut
it. But you know what? I still love her, and you will too. So
even if you’re not ridiculously photogenic like Zeddie Little
(google if you don’t know this reference and be amazed),
her camera loves everyone, and so does she. Her hugs will
make you feel loved down to your toes, and even makes
you crinkle your nose, and her compassion will make you
feel like it’s worth living. Anyhooo, get ready to meet this
far from random girl. Her name is Carissa.
- Sheri Ann Peckham (Duncan 2014), Megan Troxell (Duncan 2014)
Gophers
- Evan Austin (Duncan 2014)
Hannah Willey
Junior, Duncan
[Galveston, TX]
{BIOE}
When you first meet Hannah Willey it’s like taking a trip
to the beach. Why you ask? Because Hannah is, at her very
core, an island girl. What island you may ask, perhaps Jamaica? No, don’t be absurd. Aruba maybe? Not in a million years. Bermuda? Nope, eeeven betterrrr….. Galveston.
That’s right ladies and gentleman, Hannah is a bona-fide
Galveston girl, born and raised. What does that mean you
ask? Does she wear cowboy boots? Does she enjoy attending the rodeo and knitting owl hats and other woolen accessories the Texas weather is too hot for? Yes, to all of the
above and more. Don’t be fooled by her laid-back appearance, however, because behind all that knitting and cupcake baking (yes, delicious owl-shaped cupcakes) there is
a fierce Bio-E with the heart of a champion (and a love for
sloths). When she’s not making epic discoveries with her
PBL group Hannah enjoys long walks on the beach and
three hour drives to get Pink-Berry. She knows every word
to every 90’s song there ever was, and she used to work
with penguins. Ask her about it, if you’re lucky she might
even show you their artwork. For reals. Long story short,
Hannah E. Willey is a total boss, and if you get the chance
to hang out with her, you should, because she is one of the
best Duncaroos out there, and if you’re nice, she might
even knit you a scarf!
- Faith Shapiro (Duncan 2014)
82
People
Drayton Thomas
Junior, Duncan
[Birmingham, AL]
{MTEC, STAT}
Drayton Thomas invented swagger. He also invented electricity, but in his never-ending modesty decided to let
Thomas Edison take the credit for that one. What a guy.
Hailing from the rolling, snow-covered hills of Birmingham, Alabama, Drayton is a true southern gentleman
whose virtue is only exceeded by his disarming good looks
and razor-sharp intelligence. A double major in math-econ
and statistics, Drayton just recently beat his statistics professor in an investing competition, at which point the professor decided to retire and give Drayton his Ph.D. We now
call him Dr. Dre. At Duncan, Drayton is so beloved that
we chose him to represent us in the campus-wide Mr. Rice
competition. Dray didn’t win, but only because the bear he
was supposed to wrestle on stage called in sick with general malaise. We all know he was really just scared. Besides
competing in manliness pageants, Drayton plans Duncan’s
biggest events of the year as Socials Head, and coordinated
ALL of our jacks during Willy Week. He also ensured that
the entire college would laugh its way through lunch every
Thursday by publishing a weekly satire page. Dray’s creativity and dedication simply do not end. You are all lucky
lemurs to have Drayton Thomas at Dunc for this coming
O-Week. I can’t think of a better person to spend one of the
most exciting weeks of your life with. With Dray on board,
your Apollo-week will be sure to blast off.
DUNCAN COLLEGE
ApollO-Week 2012
Student Maintenance
Representative (SMR)
Will Kasper
Sophomore, Duncan
[Spring, TX]
{CHBE}
Squilliam, Sweet Will, Diamond Tiara, Will the Manslayer,
Free Willy; all of these are pseudonyms of Will Kasper. A
man of many names is a man of many talents. Will is a man
of action - when he is hungry he eats; when he is thirsty
he drinks, when he is bored he rocks out with his flute. He
is a man who always takes the time to listen; his favorite
tunes stretch from obscure indie songs to classical concertos. Will keeps up to date with the latest news, checking the
front page of Reddit everyday. He sees value in what others
would consider obsolete, proven by his outdated MacBook.
Don’t be intimidated by Will’s blonde hair or boyish smile.
Will is friendly and social, even known to carry out conversations in his sleep. Will Kasper cares about the environment - he drives a Honda and prefers walking to his
classes. Will helps out the less fortunate as part of the service committee, visiting less privileged children in hopes of
bringing out their inner Will. Whenever you find yourself
studying late at night you can join Will for a drink, St. Arnold’s famous root beer. Years from now you’ll be rocking
back and forth on your porch ready to let go of life. As
the sun sets on the horizon, and you close your eyes, you’ll
think, man what a guy, that Will.
- Sergio Gonzalez (Duncan 2015)
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Fernando Ramirez
Sophomore, Duncan
[Waco, TX]
{BIOE}
Fernando Ramirez has many great qualities. He is dependable. As a man who has replaced his blood with red bull
and taught his body to survive with 2 hours of sleep a day,
he runs at full speed 22/7 to accomplish every task set for
him. He is strong. I once saw him wrestle a squirrel with his
bare hands. And he almost won. He is smooth and determined. Once I witnessed him biking miles away to obtain
flowers for his love interest, stealing the hearts of women
everywhere. On top of it all, however, he is charming, athletic, and handy. As your BEEEEER BIIIIKEEEEE captain,
and student maintenance representative, he can rally spirit,
win races, and fix anything in sight, all simultaneously. Yes,
with Fernando Ramirez, you get the complete package.
- Matt Makansi (Duncan 2014)
Chalk art in the Duncan quad.
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85
86
Rice
DUNCAN COLLEGE
ApollO-Week 2012
Rice: How Did It Get Here?
DUNCAN COLLEGE
ApollO-Week 2012
Wealth, power, intrigue, suspicious characters, a murder
mystery. Sounds more like a made-for-TV movie than the
origins of one of the top universities in the nation.
Truly, though, the beginning of Rice University is peppered with these elements. Since you will now be attending
the school, what better time to learn a little about the university and its namesake?
William Marsh Rice was an import/export merchant from
Massachusetts who came to Houston in 1839 and began
to amass a considerable fortune in the developing city. He
was already one of the richest men in Texas when the Civil
War broke out. During the war he managed his business
ventures from Mexico (trading with both the North and
the South) and returned to the North after the war ended.
Although Rice maintained his business ties during frequent visits to Houston, he lived the remainder of his life
in New Jersey and New York.
When Rice began to think of leaving some of his fortune
to posterity, he intended to found an orphan’s home on his
New Jersey estate. Since Rice made his money in Houston,
representatives of the city of Houston asked Rice to donate
a building for the first public high school they were building. Rice considered the idea and rejected it, but later decided to establish an institute of higher learning. In 1891,
Rice gathered six trustees and established a charter for the
founding of the William Marsh Rice Institute of the Advancement of Literature, Science, and Art. Nothing else
was to be done until after Rice’s death, which occurred
rather suddenly in September 1900.
Rice died in his sleep September 23, 1900 in his Madison
Avenue apartment. The next day, an observant bank clerk
noticed that a large check bearing Rice’s name was made
out to a lawyer, but the lawyer’s name, Albert T. Patrick,
was misspelled. Sensing that something was wrong, the
bank officials telegraphed Captain James A. Baker, Rice’s
trusted attorney, to help unravel the conspiracy.
Patrick stated that Rice had drawn up a new will on June
30 and had named Patrick as legatee with a subsequent
assignment as sole beneficiary just two days before Rice’s
death, leaving nothing to the institute.
87
A view of Rice’s Academic Quad
Eventually Charles Jones, Rice’s valet, admitted that he and
Patrick had practiced signing Rice’s signature, forged a new
will, and had chloroformed Rice to death after a steady diet
of mercury pills had failed to kill the aging millionaire. Patrick had inadvertently misspelled his own first name on the
face of the check. Because Jones provided state’s evidence
he was never imprisoned, but Patrick was convicted and
served until 1912, the date of the opening of the institute,
when the governor of New York pardoned him.
Thus, the trustees began building the university with an
initial endowment of $4.6 million, and by the time the first
class had matriculated, the endowment had grown to $10
million. The Institute’s first president, Edgar Odell Lovett,
gathered together an international faculty and guided the
university until 1946. Willy’s Statue was dedicated in 1930
and does in fact contain Rice’s ashes. In 1960, the Rice Institute changed its name to Rice University to reflect the
broader nature of its curriculum. In the same year, Rice
began charging tuition to meet the rising costs of education that the endowment could not cover.
Now the endowment stands at a little over $4 billion and
tuition has gone up, but the legacy of Rice’s vision of an
“institute of higher learning” continues.
The Centennial
The Annual Fund
Rice’s 100th Birthday is upon us this October! Your class is
extra special because you are one of few students who will
ever get to experience such grandeur while at Rice. The
University is going all out: from 2012 pies and cupcakes to
free t-shirts to the school even branding their own line of
Beer---Centenni-ale. Rice will even be rolling out the red
carpet for many esteemed visitors from all over the world.
This celebration will truly be a weekend you don’t want to
miss!
Rice is rich, right? Didn’t I hear that from someone?
Yes, Rice has a relatively large endowment that provides
many of the resources required to be a top university. But
did you know that the endowment earnings cover less than
half of the university’s annual operating budget?
Classes will be cancelled so you can take part in all the
festivities. Be sure to rest up because you won’t be getting
much sleep during this 4-day birthday party. During the
day you can look forward to great showcases, lectures from
distinguished scholars in leading disciplines, various exhibitions, historical memoirs, mingle with alumni from
all over, and show your Rice cheer at the homecoming
football game! In the evenings there will be great entertainment spanning from the Mr. Rice Pageant, Esperanza,
Alumni and Associate dinners, college exhibits, surprises,
and more! The Student Association, Rice Program Council, Duncan, and all of Rice are working behind the scenes
to make sure this weekend is one you will never forget. So
get excited and save the date for October 10-14th and see
Rice in its entirety as you relive the history and traditions
that make this place so incredible!
For a sneak preview, check out centennial.rice.edu.
- Sanjula Jain (Brown 2013)
Well, I pay tuition. That MUST cover the rest…
Not quite, the cost to educate one Rice student is roughly
$90,000. Due in part to the Rice Annual Fund’s continued
support of scholarships and fellowships, tuition was reduced to $34,900 per student last academic year. You might
think of it like a silent scholarship provided by generations
of Rice alumni, parents and friends, and even those who
pay full tuition have benefited. In fact, nearly three-quarters of the $6.7 million donated to the Annual Fund last
academic year supported this initiative.
So, what exactly is the Rice Annual Fund?
The Rice Annual Fund is Rice’s most powerful giving vehicle through which Rice students, alumni, parents, and
friends make unrestricted donations for the university’s
immediate use, providing vital funding for Rice’s core priorities and most pressing needs. For example, last year the
Annual Fund provided more than $1 million to support
intramural sports, student center activities, and the people
and programs that bring your residential college to life.
Find out more information at RAFSI.rice.edu
88
Rice
Neato! How can I help?
The Rice Annual Fund Student Initiative (RAFSI) encourages students like you to learn more about the vital role
of philanthropy at Rice. Here are some events that RAFSI
plans and organizes: National Philanthropy Week – celebrate the impact philanthropy has at Rice by writing a
thank you note to a donor and picking up a free National
Philanthropy Week t-shirt. Jar Wars during College Battle
– the college with the greatest average percentage of supporters among students, alumni, and parents wins $1,000
for its student budget and takes home the Sammy Cup trophy. Senior Class Gift – seniors come together each year
to commemorate their passage from students to alumni by
making a class gift to the Rice Annual Fund.
DUNCAN COLLEGE
ApollO-Week 2012
Rice Traditions
As I’m sure you’ve heard, Rice is celebrating our Centennial this year. Over the past 100 years, Rice students have
spent time perfecting the Rice experience. These are just
some of the great traditions that Rice has to offer.
Sallyport Crossing
Every new student walks in through the Sallyport as a part
of Matriculation, officially becoming an Owl. Every graduate walks out of the Sallyport as a part of commencement.
BUT THAT’S IT! According to legend, a student tried to
walk out of the Sallyport once before she graduated and
she was attacked, never reaching her graduation. Sounds
like a myth, but do you really want to risk it?
Other things to do
1. Jump over the hedges
2. Go to Willy’s Pub to hang out on a pub night
3. Run Baker 13
4. Travel to support Rice Athletics (Roadtrip to Omaha, anyone?)
5. Take a picture [with] Willy’s Statue
RPC, which is explained on page 122, also sponsors a large
number of Rice traditions. These include Screw Yer Roommate, Esperanza, Willy Week, and Beer Bike.
- Alan Harkins (Duncan 2014)
Jacks
Rice students are famous for jacks, which is the Rice term
for pranks. Jacks on other colleges are allowed during OWeek and Willy Week. However, some of the most notable
jacks were just done randomly by students, such as when
a group famously turned around Willy’s Statue in 1988. As
one of the masterminds behind the turning of Willy explained, Rice students love Jacks because we are “creative,
intelligent, and a bit irreverent.”
College Night
Each residential college chooses a Friday each semester to
celebrate College Night. College Night is basically a day
during which the college parties in honor of itself. Every
College Night has its own theme, and students often dress
up and attend class in costume. There are also various activities that occur at the college all day, such as giant slipn-slides or costume contests. Themes from the past year
included Woodstock, Summer Camp, NBA, Space Jam,
and Pokémon.
Associates Night
Once a semester, each college invites their Associates to
enjoy a nice dinner with them. Associates are Rice faculty,
Rice staff, and outstanding community members who have
been chosen by the college to be Associates. Duncan has
some fantastic Associates, so we love Associates Night. It’s
a chance to dress up, have a nice conversation with an Associate, and enjoy a great meal prepared by Chef Roger and
the rest of the outstanding kitchen staff.
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Tristan Clement (Duncan 2012) and Alex Roe (Duncan 2013)
DJ at Duncan’s Sensation party.
Beer Bike
Beer Bike is that time of year when Rice students come
out and show their college pride. The festivities start in the
morning with a parade and the largest water balloon fight
you will ever see. Each college fills up around 10,000 balloons throughout the week leading up to Beer Bike. The
balloon fight is followed up by free food and soda at the
racetrack as people wait for the race to begin. The race it-
self involves two distinct parts: a team of chuggers and a
team of bikers. Back in the day, beer was chugged, hence
the name “Beer Bike,” but as a result of the raised drinking age, colleges stick with water (also because water is
much easier to chug!). Usually around 4000 students, staff,
alumni, and community members attend this event. Willy
Week, the week leading up to Beer Bike, is packed with
socializing activities and events that help Rice kids unwind
and get ready for the madness ahead. Such events included
the “Beer Debates,” which involve Rice professors debating
over pints of beer, and “International Beer Night” where
those of age can sample various foreign beers. The week
is rife with “jacks,” jokes that colleges perpetrate against
one another. Jacks are a fun part of the Beer Bike experience as they bring out the inventive and playful nature of
Rice students. Beer Bike exemplifies the true spirit of the
residential college system and effectively encompasses the
incredible community we have here at Rice.
Luis, our Master, and Melissa Kang (Duncan 2015) show off
their Beer Bike spirit!
Eric Bastoul (Duncan 2014, right) prepares to overtake a Jones
biker during the race.
Every year the residential colleges and the Graduate Student Association (GSA) compete in a campus-wide bicycle
relay race. Each of the colleges puts forth a team of cyclists
and chuggers who then race against one another in a relay
event. The all-day event includes a huge water balloon fight
in Founder’s Court (the field in front of Lovett Hall) and
the race itself, which takes place in the football stadium’s
south parking lot and is divided into three separate races:
Alumni, Women’s, and Men’s. This event is known as Beer
Bike.
Rice
90
Fall 2012 Academic Calendar
DUNCAN COLLEGE
ApollO-Week 2012
(This is an overview with the most important dates. A complete academic calendar can be found here: http://registrar.rice.
edu/calendars/fall12/)
Sun-Fri, Aug 12-17 Orientation week for new students
Mon, Aug 20 FIRST DAY OF CLASSES
Fri, Aug 31 Mon, Sept 3 Deadline: Last day to add courses
Deadline: Last day to designate a credit course as “Audit” or vice versa
Labor Day (Holiday—No Classes)
Fri, Oct 5 Deadline: Last day to drop courses (non first-semester undergraduates)
Deadline: Last day for instructors to submit Mid-semester Grades for first year under
graduates
Mon, Oct 8 All classes normally held on Friday meet; all monday classes canceled (to equalize holi
days by days of the week during semester)
Tues, Oct 9 All classes normally held on Thursday meet; all Tuesday classes canceled (to equalize holidays by days of the week during semester)
Thurs-Fri, Oct 11-12 Centennial Celebration Days (No Classes)
Fri, Oct 26 Deadline: Last day to designate a course status to “Pass/Fail” option
Sun, Nov 11 Spring 2013 Registration begins
Fri, Nov 16 Deadline: Last day to register for Spring 2013 by 5:00 PM without a late fee
Thurs-Fri, Nov 22-23 Thanksgiving Recess (Holiday—No Classes)
Fri, Nov 30 Last Day of Classes
Deadline: Last day to drop courses (for Fall 2012 undergraduate matriculants only)
Sat-Tues, Dec 1-4 Study Days—No Exams
Wed-Wed, Dec 5-12 Final Examinations for undergraduate courses
Fri, Dec 21 Deadline: Last day for instructors to submit Final Grades
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Spring 2013 Academic Calendar
(This is an overview with the most important dates. A complete academic calendar can be found here: http://registrar.rice.
edu/calendars/spring13/)
Mon, Jan 7 FIRST DAY OF CLASSES
Fri, Jan 11 Deadline: Last day to resolve grades of “Other” from Fall 2012 semester
Fri, Jan 18 Deadline: Last day to add courses
Deadline: Last day to designate a credit course as “Audit” or vice versa
Deadline: Last day to convert a “Pass/Fail” to an earned letter grade for courses taken in
Fall 2012
Deadline: Last day to resolve grades of “Incomplete” for courses taken in Fall 2012
Mon, Jan 21 Martin Luther King, JR. Day (Holiday—No Classes)
Fri, Feb 22 Deadline: Last day to drop courses
Deadline: Last day for instructors to submit Mid-Semester Grades for first-year under
graduates
Spring Break (No Classes)
Fri, Mar 22 Deadline: Last day to designate a course status to “Pass/Fail” option
Thu-Fri, Mar 28-29
Midterm Recess (No Scheduled Classes)
Sun, Apr 7
Fall Registration Begins
Fri, Apr 12
Deadline: Last day to register for Fall 2013 classes without a late registration fee.
Fri, April 19
Last day of classes
Deadline: Last day to drop courses (Spring 2013 matriculants only)
Sat-Tue, April 20-23
Study days, no exams
Wed-Wed, Apr 24-May 1
Final exams
Sat, May 11
Graduation
Rice
Sat-Sun, Feb 23-Mar 3 92
If the title of this page sets your heart racing or you’ve already set up a schedule for yourself, slow down! While
there’s no harm in thinking about the subjects that might
interest you or even exploring the Rice website a little if
you’re really eager, wait until O-Week for the rest. There’s
plenty of time then to set up a schedule you’ll be happy
with, and plenty of people to help you figure it out.
1. How many classes should I take?
Most students at Rice take about 15-17 hours a semester,
though many only take 12 and some take as many as 20. A
usual course is about 3 hours of credit, although there is
some variation with language classes and labs. No matter
how much of a hot shot you were in high school, or how
challenging your high school was, don’t overload yourself
with 20 hours your first semester! Classes tend to be a lot
harder and take a lot more of your time than you’ve previously experienced.
2. Choosing your classes.
The first thing to consider, especially if you’re thinking
about engineering or natural sciences, is what basic classes
you might need to get down. Physics, chem., etc might be
a good idea for you. Don’t overload yourself on classes for
your major, though: schedule in at least one elective that
really interests you. Undecided? Start shopping around
for classes you find interesting! And if you have any questions, your advisors, the PAAs, the coordinators, and your
faculty academic advisor are all excited and more than
qualified to assist you.
3. Courses with prerequisites or special registration (and
using your AP/IB credit).
Some courses have prerequisites, AKA other classes you’re
required to complete before you can enter that class. This
is where your AP/IB credit might come in: you might be
able to use it to pass out of that intro class and go straight
into the advanced one (but be prepared to drop back down
if you’re having trouble with those higher-level courses). Some courses won’t let you register online, but instead
require special registration. You can get a Special Registration form from the Registrar (or online) and then go talk
to the professor.
DUNCAN COLLEGE
ApollO-Week 2012
Classes
Karen Jong (Duncan 2013) and Grace Apfeld (Duncan 2014)
are excited for classes!
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The First Day of School
You’re going to come out of O-Week ready to take on your
new Rice-centered world. You’ve registered for classes, you
(kind-of) know your way around campus, and you’re ready
for Monday morning. But wait: unlike the past week, your
advisors won’t be there every second of the day. It’s time to
make it on your own. Fortunately, these tips should equip
you to successfully navigate your first week of classes.
1. Mapping out your way. Spend some quality time Sunday night with your schedule and a campus map figuring
out where exactly all of your classes are located. Sometimes
buildings are labeled differently on the map than they are
are on your schedule, so don’t be afraid to ask your roommate or call up your advisor if you get confused. And Monday morning if you CAN’T find HZ 121, ask your nearest
upperclassmen.
2. Get there early! This should be pretty obvious. Don’t be
late on the first day of class! You don’t want to look like a
fool on the first day; many classroom entrances are right
next to the lecturing prof.
4. Shopping around. Not sure about that 300-level History
class? Try it out! Professors almost expect students to be
“shopping around” for classes during the first week. If you
don’t like it, you can always drop it and add something else.
You’ll find that experienced upperclassmen often attend 18
or 20 hours of class on Monday and Tuesday, only to drop
down to 14 hours by Friday. Just remember to be considerate of the professors and try and finalize your schedule by
the second week.
5. Buying books. You don’t have to purchase books before
attending a class (unless you’re 100% positive you’re going
to take it). Go to the class first, make sure you like it, and
then purchase them online or from a Rice student that has
already taken the class (there’s a Rice marketplace). But if
you really can’t find it cheaper anywhere else, you can go to
the bookstore. You can always share with a classmate during the first lesson if you really need it.
6. Do your homework. Your first assignment isn’t due
until next Wednesday, labs haven’t started, tons of stuff
is going on across campus... time to slack off, right? Well,
maybe, but don’t neglect your homework! If your professor
assigns reading the first week, get started on the right foot
and make sure to get it done. A little self-discipline makes
getting your work done AND having fun possible.
7. Still confused? Just because O-Week is over doesn’t
mean your advisors stopped loving you! In fact, they’re
probably crying from neglect. Give them a call with any of
your questions, or talk to your academic advisor or one of
the coordinators. You’re going to have a great first week!
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Rice
3. Getting into a class. Because new students are the last to
register for classes, a class you really want or need may be
full. Don’t worry! All hope is not lost. The first thing you
should do is go to that class, with a Special Registration
Form (get these at the Registrar’s Office or online) to see
if the prof will let you in anyways; often they will. Arrive a
few minutes early to talk to them, or do it after class if you
can’t talk to them ahead of time. The second thing to remember is that you have four years here. If you absolutely
cannot get into ECON 201, don’t freak out. There’s always
next semester.
Getting pumped for the first day of classes!
DUNCAN COLLEGE
ApollO-Week 2012
The Academ Perspective
If you classify yourself as an Academ, that means you have
made the wise decision of avoiding the kind of science or
engineering major that would completely consume your
life, academically and socially. So, congratulations! Now
before a cohort of S/Es come after me with whatever physics, biochemistry and calculus-constructed weapons they
build in their laboratories, I must commend them for
what they have chosen to study. They truly have my full
respect. They also will probably have guaranteed employment before graduation, which I hear is rather important.
Academs occasionally face some pushback for their majors. This is because our majors tend to require fewer
hours, which is true. But just because we do not have a
problem set due every night does not mean we do not
work hard. The thought of a twelve-page paper sets an
S/E into panic; that’s just one of five midterms for an
Academ. Studying the humanities and the social sciences
requires work based heavily in reading and writing, work
that requires serious time management. And it is work
that will serve you extremely well, regardless of what career
path you end up following. There is a reason why medical
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schools actually prefer non-medically related undergraduate degrees. It’s because those who study the humanities
and the social sciences have learned how to listen, read,
understand, and communicate effectively. These seem
simple, but you would be surprised how few people really
have such skills down.
When people ask me about my projected career path, my
answer is less definite than if I were a bioengineering premed. But one thing I am certain of is that I absolutely love
what I am studying. What am I going to do with my life? I
could not tell you for sure. But here’s something else: most
undergraduates don’t really know either. In the meantime,
I am going to spend my time learning as much as I can
about what I love and taking advantage of the freedom my
major gives me by exploring as much as possible. That
way, I will have a much broader base of knowledge when
I do settle on a career, because contrary to popular belief,
there are definitely jobs for Academs. These jobs just take
a little more time and exploration to identify.
- Emma Hurt (Duncan 2015)
The Science Perspective
Worried about research? Not to fear, Rice professors are
great at helping facilitate undergraduate research. Simply
talk to your divisional advisor or send out a few (dozen)
emails, and chances are that you will be more than able to
find a professor who will be glad to let you into their lab.
However, try not to get caught up in the stresses of being
a science major; rest assured, everyone is riding the same
struggle-bus (ask Zia Rosenzweig for a full definition), and
chances are, with some planning, a balance between work
and play, and some help from your peers, you won’t only
get a degree from the Wiess School of Natural Sciences, but
have the experience of a lifetime as a science major at Rice
University.
- Chynna Foucek (Duncan 2015)
Carissa Livingston (Duncan 2015)
A view of the Engineering Quad
If you are considering studying engineering, then congratulations and welcome to the wonderful life of an engineering major! No matter what type of engineering you
decide to pursue, you will have a second family here on
campus. Though the life of an engineer can be full of work
and studying, there will never be a lack of help and support
from your family away from home. You will be assigned a
faculty academic advisor and receive information on what
classes to take and mock schedules for your whole four
years during O-Week. Professors hold office hours once or
twice a week, in which you can go and ask questions about
homework, material learned in class, or pretty much about
anything. Aside from this, TA’s (usually graduate students)
hold weekly homework and review sessions. However, the
most important resource is your fellow students. Study
groups form naturally among people in classes; working on
homework, studying for tests and general group bonding
are the results. Even though engineering is a lot of work,
there will always be time for relaxing and having fun. In
fact, some of the most involved people are in the engineering division! Most importantly: don’t be scared. Although
people will say engineering is hard, and even if sometimes
you feel as if you are drowning in a sea of work, don’t panic. Rice University is what you make it, so make it the best!
- Matt Lopez (Duncan 2014)
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Rice
If you’re thinking about majoring in the Sciences, you’ve
come to the right place. Rice has a (star)ller science program, and incredible students to go with it. Whether you
start out your freshman year with the big three (Calculus, Chemistry, and Physics) or use your AP credit to opt
straight to some of the upper level courses, you will always
have plenty support from both professors and students.
Office hours are offered weekly by professors who are more
than happy to give you advice about your major, courses,
or homework problems. Professors’ office hours are usually supplemented with weekly or bi-weekly TA sessions,
geared to help groups of students through tough problem
sets or to prepare for an upcoming exam. You’ll also be
matched with a divisional advisor to help guide you during
O-Week as well. But, if you have a busy schedule, never
fear; students at Rice are always willing to lend a helping
hand. Many friendships at Rice are solidified during those
2 a.m. Fondren study sessions with pizza from the Hoot
and a problem set due at 8 am (or if you’re like us, by begging your friends to drive you to the nearest supermarket at
12 a.m. for hummus and carrots). Additionally upperclassmen are more than willing to take a couple of hours out of
their week to lend a hand and help you understand a difficult concept. Duncan’s fellows are also a huge help; they
often host study sessions a few nights prior to midterms in
order to answer last minute questions. Just make sure to
start your work a couple of days before it’s due-there is no
worse feeling in the world then staying up late enough to
watch the stars fade and the sun rise!
The Engineering Perspective
DUNCAN COLLEGE
ApollO-Week 2012
The Musi Perspective
Congrats! You’ve been accepted to the prestigious Shepherd School of Music within Rice University. Don’t worry,
the fun doesn’t stop there. Once you enter the large glass
doors of your new favorite building, you’ll be greeted
with the harmonious sounds of some of the world’s most
talented young people. You too can become one of these
talented young people with the help of the rigorous curriculum you’re about to endure. The teachers are highly respected and regarded at Shepherd and within the Houston
community. All of them are there to help you become the
best musician you can be. In between all of these classes,
you’ll have time to practice in some of the finest practice
rooms overlooking the beautiful campus that attracts so
many to Rice in the first place. When you’re not practicing
or studying, you have the privilege of attending many free
performances at the Shepherd School or in the Houston
community. Be sure you have time to participate in the college experience here at Rice too because that’s the beauty of
studying music at a conservatory within a university. Rice
and Shepherd both have a lot to offer their undergrads
and when paired together create a perfect harmony. You
never know what sort of inspiration you can find within
the hedges.
- Stephanie Jordan (Wiess 2013)
The Pre-Law Perspective
So you’re interested in law. That’s awesome! Careers in law can range from sports agents to criminal prosecutors. I
talked to my parents (both lawyers) a bit to get some tips and advice for y’all;
Me: Hey dad, what kinds of courses should someone take if they’re a pre-law student?
Dad: Whatever they’re interested in, it doesn’t really matter.
Me: Not political science? I mean, what kind of major can teach you about law?
Dad: Look, the stuff you learn in undergrad has NOTHING to do with law school, and the stuff you do in law school
barely has anything to do with being an actual lawyer!
He wasn’t being a jerk, just honest; unlike medical school, there are no required courses when it comes to law school. So
major in whatever you’re interested in! The best way to get into law school is with a high GPA, and the best way to obtain
a high GPA is by studying things you like.
So, being pre-law sounds pretty relaxing. With no particular requirements, it can be easy to fall into a trap of assuming
you’ll just waltz into law school after taking the LSAT. While that may be true for some people, rather than hedge your
bets, you should probably attempt to get your hands wet a little bit.
Rice Pre-Law society can introduce you to many opportunities that can give you some legal experience. The Center for
Career Development can hook you up with internships, mentors, and can help you get cracking on that resumé. Numerous tutors and guidebooks exist to help you ace that LSAT come junior year.
So if you’re interested in law, check out some of Rice’s opportunities, and talk to some pre-law students. It’s okay to be
on the fence about law school for a year or two, or even up to your last semester, provided you gave yourself chance to
impress the schools you do want to at least apply to.
And remember; the top law schools may look really impressive, but good lawyers are ones that work hard and dedicate
themselves to perfecting their trade, and, as my parents have both said, the school on a new job applicant’s resumé means
very little next to their personality and dedication.
- Benjamin Huber-Rodriquez (Duncan 2015)
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The Archi Perspective
Congratulations, you have been accepted into Anderson
College! Oops, did I say college? No, Anderson Hall is not
another residential college, but it very well could be if you
consider the amount of time you will soon spend eating,
sleeping, and working with the rest of this building’s inhabitants.
much as you can your first year! Studio is a priority, but be
involved at your other many interests because the first year
is the best time to start it. College is all about newfound
independence, so don’t be afraid to explore Houston, get
involved in the Rice community, meet new people, and
take some time to relax.
That’s right, Anderson Hall is the glorious home to the archi (pronounced ar-kee) family. Your first year studio will
be a diverse group of 20-something students, all of whom
you will grow to know almost too well. Over the course
of your first year (read: archi kindergarten), you will work
through a series of projects, beginning with paper squares
and ending in your first full design project, led by your new
parents, Danny and Nonya, professors teaching first year
studio. Don’t be too surprised if you accidentally start calling them mom and dad at some point through the year, because they’re really just that awesome! You’ll be taught how
to clearly represent your ideas and learn from the advice
you get in reviews. Hopefully, you’ll also fine tune your
time management skills, because those will become particularly important as you progress through your education.
Oh, did I mention the perks of the archi label? We’re known
for our creativity and hard work as well as our quirky personalities. Also, we are the ONLY major to throw campus-wide parties. Seriously, telling people that you’re an
archi will make you feel pretty cool because of the array
of flattering reactions you’ll probably receive. They’ll most
likely think you know and can do more things than you
can imagine. It’s like being a celebrity, but with talent and
a human-sized ego.
In all honesty, archi life is not too different from that of
other majors. With the exception of studio, the bulk of
your first year classes will be general university requirements and you will have time to participate in clubs, intramural sports, or college-related activities. In fact, get out as
Alright, there’s your rundown of all things architecture.
There’s a lot of opportunity here, so make the most of the
next 6 years. Be nice to your studiomates because you’re
all in the same metaphorical boat, flippy floppies and all,
on that cliched journey to greatness. Talk to upperclassmen because they like telling stories and helping you out.
Bring your non-archi friends to the studio to show off your
work and invite them to frequently stop by with food for
you. Anderson awaits your arrival, so go grab your favorite
exacto knife and join the club!
- Isabella Marcotulli (Duncan 2015)
Adam Wagner (Duncan 2013)
Rice
(Left) Archis hanging out outside of studio. (Right) Projects in Anderson Hall.
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DUNCAN COLLEGE
ApollO-Week 2012
The Pre-Med Perspective
Greetings Fellow Pre-Meds,
Like you, I hail from the planet of the “Pre-Med track”, and
was once in your shoes; at the start of O-Week, I was confident that I was going to medical school in 4 years. And
almost one year later, this still rings true. Worried about
being pre-med at a top-tier institution? Don’t fear- as a
pre-med student, you have come to the right place! Did
you know Rice’s medical school acceptance rate was
90%? That’s a huge percentage, and is possible because of
several things Rice offers, such as:
a)Collaboration Among Students: Rice lacks the
cutthroat atmosphere present at other schools. Students
are instead willing to work on homework assignments
together (make sure they aren’t pledged under the honor
code first), host late-night study sessions together in Club
Fondren Library, and have general intellectual conversations about material during dinners and that quick breakfast eaten 15 minutes before Che“misery” (I kid, it’s not
that bad!) midterms. You may think this sounds cheesy,
but trust me: it’s great to be at a school where everyone is
eager to help each other out because everyone is encouraged to succeed, and time isn’t spent wondering if your
peers are trying to sabotage your work. I know my success in many classes is due to the help of my friends. They
provide a perspective on class material that is unique and
sometimes helps you understand it even better!
b) Smaller Classes: Granted, at times, many of
your pre-med/intro lecture classes are going to be bigger
than expected, but you’ll soon find that classes break into
small discussion sessions with TAs, and upper level classes
tend to have less students.
c) Access to Research: Rice prides itself as an accessible undergraduate research university. There are numerous labs searching for undergrads to volunteer and even
get paid for research-go out there and find some when you
feel like you are ready for a new experience!
d) Health Professions Advising: Rice’s Office of
Health Professions provides advisors to meet with for academic and extracurricular advice as you begin the journey
to med school. Become familiar with this resource: they’ll
mold you into a competitive applicant for medical schools
through information sessions and guidance with applications.
e) Rice Pre-Med Society: Rice’s Pre-Med Society
has everything from information sessions and helpful advice for premeds to opportunities to shadow doctors and
meet with med students from many of the schools across
the street at the Texas Medical Center (The Big Owls/Little
Owls program is awesome!)
With all this information in mind, try not to get overwhelmed. Being Pre-Med is a lot of work and a huge commitment, but with some hard work and utilization of the
resources offered by Rice, you’ll be on your way to a great
medical school.
- Chynna Foucek (Duncan 2015)
Pre-Med Nichole Taylor (Duncan 2014) still has lots of fun!
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Undecided Perspective
So your roommate is a pre-med bioengineer, and is considering a business minor and a certificate in French for
some little things “on the side.” And you don’t even know
what classes you’re going to take. GOOD FOR YOU! It
may seem like everyone at Rice already has a major and a
future career in mind, but don’t worry: You’re not alone in
searching for a specific field of study. The world isn’t made
of just doctors and lawyers (and if it was, what kind of
world would it be?), and you don’t need to be pre-med or
pre-law to be a successful “real person” one day. Your goal
at Rice should be to find happiness in an area of study, and
what’s right for everyone else might not be right for you.
So don’t worry too much when your peers think they have
the next four years and/or the rest of their lives figured out.
Odds are, they’re wrong! Make the most of your college experience by taking as many different kinds of classes as you
can. You’ll discover where you belong after exploring the
subjects that most pique your interest, and cross out potential areas of study when you find those that don’t. Step
out of your comfort zone, take advantage of what Rice has
to offer, and don’t stress too much: Your major is out there;
it’s just waiting for you to discover it.
- Zia Rosenzweig (Duncan 2015)
School of Humanities
Art History
Classical Studies
English
French Studies
German and Slavic Studies
Hispanic Studies
History
Kinesiology
Linguistics
Philosophy
Religious Studies
Secondary Education Certification
Visual Arts
School of Social Sciences
Anthropology
Economics
Mathematical Economic Analysis
Political Science
Psychology
Sociology
Wiess School of Natural Sciences
Biochemistry and Cell Biology
Chemistry
Ecology & Evolutionary Biology
Earth Science
Mathematics
Physics and Astronomy
George R. Brown School of Engineering
Bioengineering
Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
Civil and Environmental Engineering
Computational and Applied Mathematics
Computer Science
Electrical and Computer Engineering
Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science
Statistics
Shepherd School of Music
Music
School of Architecture
Architecture
Interdepartmental Majors
Ancient Mediterranean Civilizations
Asian Studies
Chemical Physics
Cognitive Sciences
Latin American Studies
Managerial Studies
Medieval Studies
Policy Studies
Study of Women and Gender
Rice
Luckily Rice gives you plenty of academic flexibility and
time to explore your areas of interest. (You have until the
second semester of your sophomore year to declare your
major.) Not only do Rice’s divisional requirements force
everyone to explore outside his or her area of study, but
also Rice offers over 50 majors. So take advantage of all the
great departments and academic opportunities here! Take
a course in subjects from multi-variable calculus to Shakespeare to Anthropology 101. Play around with your schedule, because one of the best parts of being undecided is that
your schedule defines your interests (and not your major).
The hardest part of being undecided is hearing everybody
else’s opinion on it. Maybe your parents won’t think you’re
a success unless you end up at NASA or you feel pressured
to be an engineer because that’s what The New York Times
told you. But take a deep breath and remember that this is
your life. At the end of your years at Rice, you’ll be most
successful and happiest with a major and a future school
or career that suits you. Listen to yourself and do what’s
best for you.
Majors at Rice
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DUNCAN COLLEGE
ApollO-Week 2012
International Student Perspective
So, you’re not from the United States, you speak with an accent, and you don’t fully understand (if at all) the football
thing—you’re an international! You’re slightly different,
but do not fret! The Rice experience will be no different
for you, and maybe even better than most people’s, ‘cause
you get the best of both worlds! You might feel slightly
intimidated by the whole starting-a-new-life-in-a-completely-different-country thing, but I can assure you that
everything will be just fine, and you’ll enjoy every moment
of your time at Rice. Below are just a few helpful hints to
help ease you into college life in the States.
#1: Know Your Resources.
• The Office of International Students and Scholars (OISS)
is definitely the most helpful resource for international students. You should have already heard from them, as they’re
in charge of all your immigration matters (I-20s and visas)
amongst many other things. If you want to get an American Social Security Number and card later on (you’ll need
a job first) or a driver’s license, go talk to the OISS. They’re
super helpful and important, so don’t forget to keep in
touch. Their office is on the 2nd floor of Lovett Hall.
• Your O-Week coordinators and advisors are amazing
people. They are probably the best people you can turn
to for help during O-Week and throughout the year. They
have been carefully selected to help you. They may not
know everything, but will definitely be able to point you in
the right direction.
• The Masters, HRFs and RAs will be like your newly established American family. They are adults and will provide a
different perspective from your fellow students. Don’t feel
intimidated because some of them are professors/important university staff—they’re great people who are looking
out for everybody, so make sure you get to know them!
#2: Things You Should/Can Do before O-Week Starts
Lucky you, you’re going to get to Rice a few days before OWeek starts because of iPREP! iPREP itself will only last a
day, but you should definitely make use of the extra days
you have before O-Week kicks off.
• Set up a bank account. Yes, you can always use an inter-
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national credit card but trust me, life will be so much easier
if you have an account at a local American bank. For starters, online shopping is way easier. Getting a bank account
is simple—I recommend Chase Bank because there’s one
in the Medical Center (~15 mins walk) and there are Chase
ATMs on campus. Other banks charge a fee every time
you want to withdraw cash. You’ll get more info at iPREP,
but try to get it out of the way before O-Week.
• Get a cell phone plan. Please go get some sort of working
cell phone before O-Week for safety’s sake and for the sake
of people’s sanity when they try to contact you. Many carriers have prepaid options, or you can sign up for a monthly plan. There are a ton of carriers—T-Mobile, AT&T, Verizon, Sprint, Virgin, etc. There’s an AT&T in the Village,
but there are other stores not too far away; just Google
Map it.
• Go shopping. Be it for food, bed sheets or other dorm
room essentials, there will be things you want to buy. Your
O-Week advisors will be willing to take you to Target, but
if need be, the Village is within walking distance and there
should be a shuttle going to Target on Saturday. Go to Rice
Transportation’s website for more info.
#3: Things to Keep in Mind.
• Ask questions. If you don’t understand something, just
ask. It’ll just be harder to figure out yourself, so let people
help you. There is no such thing as a stupid question.
• Be open-minded. Like the US in general, Rice is an extremely diverse place. There is, without a doubt, a plethora
of people with different beliefs and opinions. Come with
an open mind and listen to what others have to say—but
don’t feel like you have to change your beliefs because of
someone else!
• Be yourself. Possibly THE most important thing to remember. So what if you don’t like American football,
speak differently and/or can’t figure out why they use the
imperial system? None of that has to change for you to
fit in with everybody else at Rice. People will respect you
for who you are, and not for who you are trying to be. It’s
probably harder to pretend to be someone you’re not anyway. GLHF! (Good Luck, Have Fun!)
- Priscilla Leung (Duncan 2013)
The Transfer Student Perspective
Before you come to Rice for O-Week in August, you may
feel like the awkward third wheel—because I also did, too.
You don’t feel like you belong anywhere. The young, ambitious freshmen that have just too much energy? The more
reserved upper-classmen who already seem to have their
own friend circles? Honestly, I was even somewhat intimidated to participate in O-Week, because I thought nobody
would fully understand my long, complicated story about
transferring to a new college. However, I was really surprised by the fact that Rice is one of the most transferfriendly schools across the nation (both figuratively and
environmentally). Transfer students take up as much as
10% of the total student body, and they play an integral
role in making the Rice environment what it currently is.
Everyone truly welcomes transfers as they do any other
freshmen, but with an additional sense of respect. Though
not everyone may know or understand how you finally
ended up at Rice, all of us acknowledge your accomplishments that led you into Rice as well as your competence
that will keep you successful when you leave this place. So,
please do not feel awkward or out of place at all. By the end
of O-Week, we are all just the same new students, and I
promise you will make a good amount of friends that will
last forever.
To recap, with your extra age advantage, try to be a positive
influence on other new students but learn from them as
well. Make new friends, come up with a feasible and wellbalanced degree plan for your next two or three years at
Rice, and share your interesting story about how you arrived at Rice. Trust me, telling how you got to the most
awesome college in the universe will always be a great conversation-starter.
Rice
Here is a word of wisdom that I wish to give to all of you
transfer students: when you first come to O-Week, be as
active as possible and try to get the most out of it. I observed that many of my fellow transfer friends were either
shy or not interested in the O-Week programs. Such a lack
of energy and interest kept them from fully immersing
themselves into the fantastic opportunities to meet other
new students and faculty members and also to discuss
their academic plans for their remaining years of college.
I on the other hand cheered and yelled as loud as I could
for Duncan. Other times, I pulled out a more mature side
of me, having had an extra few years of college experience,
and tried to consult other freshmen regarding their major
selection. Indeed, I personally had so much fun that I decided to apply to be an O-Week advisor and give back the
love and care I received to other new students.
Transfer students always bring such a unique perspective
to our student community that they have become an essential part of Rice; we implore your help in developing
and maintaining such an incredible trend. You are just as
precious and meaningful to us as any. Welcome to Rice,
and I truly look forward to meeting you all in August. GET
EXCITED!!
- Ryan Kim (Duncan 2014)
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ApollO-Week 2012
Off-Campus Perspective
About 30% of undergrads live OC (or off-campus) each
year, for various reasons. As Rice only guarantees three
years of housing, some are kicked off because Duncan
doesn’t have enough beds. Others do so because of financial reasons, while still others simply enjoy apartment life and having their own space away from the college. Living OC can seem quite daunting; you may be
new to living on your own, and also new to Houston, but
fear not. This can be an awesome experience for you,
and if not, at the very least it can be mildly enjoyable.
Worried about MONEY?
It’s usually a lot less expensive to live off than on, especially
if you share an apartment with some roommates. There
are still costs to consider, like food, furniture, utilities, and
gas (if you have a car). You can use living OC as an opportunity to start using a budget and being smart about
your spending. As far as furniture goes, you can usually
find cheap furniture on Craigslist or from graduating seniors. You may not have all the pieces you’re used to seeing
in a typical house, but hey, less furniture = more space!
Worried about FOOD?
Don’t be. One of the best parts of living off campus is being
able to choose what you eat. If you love to cook, great! If
you’re a little scared of the stove, or if you’re just too lazy
to cook, then sandwiches will be your best friend. As the
year goes on, you might find cooking more appealing than
Worried about TRANSPORTATION?
It’s not too difficult to find somewhere to live within biking
distance of Rice, so it may be a good idea to bring a bike
from home, or invest in one. If you live farther away, don’t
have a car, and don’t live with someone who has a car, it’s
not the end of the world. Plenty of apartments are located
along the lightrail or near metro bus stops. Public transportation in Houston may take a little time to figure out,
but it’s great and the best part is, you get to ride for free
with a Metro Q Card from Rice!
Worried about STAYING INVOLVED?
First off, people will not forget who you are just because
you’re not living at Duncan. The friendships you build
during O-Week or your first year here won’t dissolve just
because you don’t live right down the hall. Yes, sometimes you miss things because you’re at home and sometimes you will feel tired of making the extra effort to stay
on campus so that you don’t miss things, but if you plan
right, you can minimize the stress of living OC. You could
keep a change of clothes in your car, for those late nights
when you just don’t feel like going home. You could find
a friend’s room to crash in, and maybe keep a toothbrush
there as well. It all comes down to good planning. So
think of living OC as a good practice for your future!
IMPORTANT RESOURCES.
Ask these Duncaroos (and many more) for the
best way to live off-campus!
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before, and pretty soon you’ll have mastered the art of
making enough spaghetti to last a week and you’ll be able
to prepare Easy Mac in your sleep. Also, Rice offers an offcampus meal plan that might interest you, or you could
eat out at some of the many great, local restaurants around
Houston. Check out page 139 for a list of some of OC the
kids’ favorites.
Talk to upperclassmen who have experienced off-campus
life. They are a wealth of information about cheap furniture, the best housing, where to buy food, and what bus
routes to take. You might even find the apartment of your
dreams through them. Also, check out the Off-Campus
Housing Guide at http://offcampus.rice.edu.
- Karen Jong (Duncan 2013)
Student-Athlete Perspective
Congratulations on being a part of the best school in
Conference USA! We have Sammy the Owl and a terrific
support staff in the academic office. Soon, you will meet
athletic staples like Athletic Director Rick Greenspan and
super-fan Roger and his owls. There are many opportunities to be involved as a student athlete on the athletic side
of things. One opportunity is the Student Athletic Advisory Committee, which is like student council for athletes. You can also be a peer athletic advisor for your sports
team. Not only can you join these groups but you can also
support your fellow athletes at their matches, games, and
events…and they’ll really appreciate it! Since Rice is such
a small school, we have a very tightknit athletic community, which means you’ll have a lot of new friends. You’ll be
an integral part of your athletic team as well as the Duncan
community. You can go to techno raves and parties like
Christal Porter (Lovett 2015) poses with some of her Rice
Basketball teammates
Dunc-step and be involved in forum. You’ll make some of
your closest friends during O-week.
Rice
Student-athletes at Rice have a lot more on their plate than
the average Rice student. Not only do you have to worry
about Rice academics, but you also have to concentrate
on your sport. You may have to work a little bit harder to
be a true Duncaroo but it is definitely possible and worth
it. Although many Rice students seem to be nocturnal
Owls, you need to make sure to get enough sleep as a student-athlete. It’s also important to study hard in order to
stay eligible for your sport and prepare yourself for life after college whether you plan on going pro, continuing your
education, or getting a job. If you need help, the academic
advising office has advisors and tutors for every class and
you can also ask upperclassmen athletes or teammates for
help. Get excited for the best time of your life!! Incoming
student-athletes can ask Leah Fried (Women’s Tennis Duncaroo) or Christal Porter (Women’s Basketball Loveteer)
any questions about athletics or integrating into the community! Not only are we advising here at Duncan but we
are also your Student Athlete Ambassadors to guide you
through any athletic questions during O-Week. - Leah Fried (Duncan 2014), Christal Porter (Lovett 2015)
Leah Fried (Duncan 2014) during a Rice Tennis match
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Student Research at Rice
Josh Chartier (Duncan 2014) howing off his semester’s work.
The student to faculty ratio here at Rice doesn’t just mean
that the classes you will take are small. It also allows for
every interested undergraduate (even freshmen) to participate in exciting research projects with amazing professors.
Regardless of your major, if you are intrigued by a particular subject, chances are, you will be able to find professor
at Rice or at the Med Center across the street actively investigating your area of interest or able to assist with your
proposed endeavors. While most professors would love
to have your help, don’t expect research opportunities to
pop up all around you (although this may happen). The
easiest way to get involved is to simply ask. Most professors keep updated websites detailing their current projects.
Shoot a quick email to a professor expressing interest and
more often than not, he/she would love to talk with you
and may even have a few possible projects in mind. The
faculty know that you lack experience, so enthusiasm is often the basic requirement. Depending on the lab you may
be able to earn an hourly wage or 400 level course credit
offered in every department. If you need time to decide
before jumping into independent research, a great option
to gain exposure to different research areas is by enrolling in freshman seminars such as BIOC 115 or by joining a VIGRE (Vertically Integrated Research and Education in the Mathematical Sciences) seminar by enrolling in
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CAAM/MATH/STAT 499. Another way to explore cutting
edge research is by attending academic talks throughout
the year (http://events.rice.edu/index.cfm?e_id=22).
Rice also wants you to succeed in your research endeavors.
The Office of Fellowships and Undergraduate Research
(OFUR) (http://ofur.rice.edu) is set up for this very reason.
They put on events to improve skills such as poster creation, which helps students succeed at events like the Rice
Undergraduate Research Symposium (http://rurs.rice.edu)
which takes place every spring. The site details various research programs, grants, and scholarships at Rice including
Beyond Traditional Borders, the Community Involvement
Center, and Center for Civic Engagements grants, among
others. The OFUR faculty can also provide assistance with
fellowship applications and to find the research experience
right for you whether it is at Rice or around the world. Yes,
it is possible to go anywhere in the world to pursue a project you are most passionate about and have Rice support
you financially. Rice students have done everything from
studying gender equality in Mexico to archaeological digs
in Tanzania to bettering epilepsy treatment at Cambridge.
If you are excited about getting involved with research, you
are in the right place. All you have to do is ask.
- Josh Chartier (Duncan 2014)
Study Abroad
If after your Apollo voyage through O-Week iss complete
you are still longing for adventure – studying abroad is
the perfect remedy! For many people, studying abroad is
a once in a lifetime opportunity to jump on the world adventure train, so you should definitely start considering a
semester outside the states.
Going abroad is one of the best decisions that students make
in their Rice careers. The experience is completely yours. If
you play your cards right, you can go practically anywhere
and do practically anything in the name of education AND
get your credits to transfer. Studying abroad gives you a
huge amount of independence to do the things you want to
do. This independence is not only fun, but gives you a great
life experience by preparing you for living on your own.
By taking an adventure across the globe, you will experience another country’s education, meet new people,
test your boundaries, challenge yourself, and immerse
yourself in a new culture. So if you’re thinking, “sign me
up!” then the first step is to get in contact with the Study
Abroad office. After attending a mandatory info session,
you are assigned a specific study abroad advisor who will
handle all of the paperwork required for you to leave
Rice for a semester. It is a good idea to go early in your
time at Rice; that way, you can plan ahead and make sure
you will not be missing required classes for your major
that you cannot take abroad (especially true for S/Es).
Or are you reading this book and Rice (or really Duncan)
Rice
seems so cool, you don’t think you’d ever want to leave?
Understandable, but people seem to appreciate their lives
here so much more after spending a semester abroad. It’s
time to push your boundaries. And although it may be
scary to explore a new country, culture, and language on
your own, you won’t regret it.
Things to remember about Study Abroad:
· Financial aid and scholarships will transfer to pay for
study abroad. Studying abroad is most times less expensive
than Rice (yes, even with the plane ticket and traveling—
depending on where you go).
· You can study abroad in the summer if you want!
· Studying abroad can fit into any major.
· Many medical schools and graduate schools encourage
taking a year or a semester abroad.
· Some study abroad programs are easy (much less work,
less time in class), and some are comparable to Rice or
even more difficult. Do your research to find what you are
looking for!
· Your grades won’t transfer (though credit will), so there is
less stress during the semester! (Be cautious though, some
med and grad schools will want to see those grades)
· You don’t necessarily have to “study” abroad. You can
volunteer, research, or do essentially anything you can get
funding for!
· You get to travel CHEAPLY and FREQUENTLY.
· Meet people and travellers from all over the world and
learn that you have more in common than you expected.
· Check out the study abroad website! www.abroad.rice.edu
Carissa Livingston (Duncan 2015, second from left) and
her friends abroad!
- Drew Moore (Duncan 2013), Leslie Nguyen (Wiess 2014), Carissa Livingston (Duncan 2015), Louise Bentsen (Duncan 2013)
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Academic Advising
Your next four years at Rice will be an incredible experience, but you have to get an education at some point,
right? Switching from a high school to a college curriculum can be kind of a scary transition, but have no fear!
Rice has a number of well-trained faculty, staff, and students to help you with your academic transition. A lot of
your initial questions will be answered during O-Week
through presentations and academic planning sessions
in time for you to register for classes on the Friday of OWeek. There is a list of people that are available for your
entire career at Rice. They are a great resource and can
really help you succeed in your first year and beyond.
Divisional Advisors — During O-Week, you will meet
with a faculty advisor within your school of interest, which
you designated on your academic questionnaire this summer. He or she will give you general guidance within your
division of study. These faculty advisors are a great resource
for questions on academic rules, regulations and policies,
general graduation requirements, campus resources, current educational opportunities for students, course planning, major considerations, studying abroad, and other
Rice and non-Rice opportunities. Your divisional advisor
doesn’t serve as a resource only during O-Week, though.
You can continue to meet with your divisional advisor after
O-Week and even after you decide on a major. Plus, these
advisors are associates at Duncan which means they often
come hang out at the college at lunch or during Associates
Night. Feel free to chat them up over a meal and tap into
their wisdom!
Peer Academic Advisors — During O-Week and the rest
of your career at Rice, you will have numerous interactions
with one or more peer academic advisors (“PAAs”). Serving as liaisons for the Office of Academic Advising, PAAs
are students that have been broadly trained in numerous
areas of academics here at Rice. Generally speaking, your
college PAA team coordinates numerous group and individual activities that attempt to strengthen the academic
vitality of your residential college. You may find yourself
seeking the advice of a PAA about general graduation requirements, specific classes, research opportunities, studying abroad, professional school requirements, or any topic
as it relates to academics. Remember, even if a particular
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PAA cannot answer each and every one of your detailed
questions, they can at least serve as a helpful resource to
point you in the right direction of someone else that can.
As you become more familiar with academics here at Rice,
we hope you begin to understand that academics, learning,
and especially advising are all ongoing dynamic conversations that involve multiple perspectives and not just a prescription for registrations.
During O-Week, there will be three O-Week PAAs to facilitate all O-Week academic events and help you with any
academic questions you have regarding registration and
your first year at Rice, but these aren’t the only PAAs. Yearlong PAAs are also trained to be resources for you after
O-Week!
O-Week Advisors — Your advisors, those really cool people who show you the ropes during O-Week, have been
specially trained about many of the basic academic requirements at Rice. The advisors come from many different educational backgrounds, and all are very willing to
help you and answer your questions. They are especially
a great resource for questions about the big intro classes,
distribution courses, and LPAPs, since many of them have
taken the courses themselves.
Major Advisors — You don’t have to declare your major
until the spring semester of your sophomore year, but it’s
always a good idea to meet with these advisors if you are
thinking about a particular major. They know about all of
the specific major requirements, as well as special opportunities and events held within your area of interest. They
have the most current knowledge about discipline-specific
course offerings, curricular sequence, independent study
projects, research and internships, professional organizations, and grad schools/careers related to the specific field.
You can log onto rice.edu/advising to find a major advisor
in your department of interest. During O-week, you will
also attend an Academic Fair, where major advisors and
representatives from all academic departments will be present to talk to you about the ins and outs of a specific major
and answer any questions you might have.
Office of Academic Advising—The OAA helps students
find opportunities based on their interests and goals. Not
only can they assist you with your course schedule, but
they can lead you to other resources available outside of
the classroom. The OAA works closely with a variety of
programs on campus, including International Programs,
the Center for Career Development, the Center for Civic
Engagement, and the Office of Fellowships and Research.
The OAA can also direct you in the way of more specialized advising, including transfer student advising, health
professions advising, pre-law advising, and academic advising for athletes. To make appointments with an advisor
in the OAA, contact the office by phone (713.348.4060), by
email ([email protected]), or just drop by the office, which is
located on the first floor of the RMC in the hallway to the
left of the info desk.
Academic Fellows Societies — Each residential college
has an academic fellows or mentors society, an honorary service organization dedicated to academic life in the
college. Duncan Fellows/Mentors are juniors and seniors
who have proven academic achievement, college citizen-
ship, an interest in academic life of Duncan College and
a willingness to help fellow students. Providing academic
assistance, whether through review sessions for courses
like Microeconomics, General or Organic Chemistry, and
Physics, or as individual tutoring sessions is one of the primary responsibilities of the Fellows/Mentors Society. Fellows also plan lectures and other events to integrate academics within the residential college life.
First Year Mentors - First Year Mentors are members of
the Rice faculty and associates at Duncan who provide
students with guidance on issues related to both academic
and personal development when needed. Each O-Week
group is assigned a First Year Mentor, who will participate
in some events during and after O-Week, such as O-Week
lunches. Mentors have the opportunity to assist new students with their transition to Rice, provide a trusted source
of guidance and informed support, share specific knowledge and insights about their own areas of expertise, engage in a residential college community, and significantly
impact the lives of undergraduates.
Rice
Duncan Men’s Soccer team: champions on the field and in the classroom.
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As a Rice student you are lucky enough to have immediate access to our premiere library, Fondren. Lovingly called
“Club Fondren” or “Fondy” by the students that frequent
it, the library offers something for everyone. Not only
does each floor of Fondren offer a unique study experience, ranging from very isolated to relatively social, you
can always check out study rooms for late night cram sessions. Don’t be intimidated by the confusing layout - a few
months at Rice and you will become quite familiar with
the library. In the meantime don’t forget to check out these
other resources offered there:
The Fondren Library holds over 2,240,000 volumes, approximately 3 million microforms, and 33,000 current
serials and periodicals. Thousands of journals, full-text
books, databases, and digital resources are accessible anywhere, anytime, via online access. Materials not owned by
the library can be requested and delivered online (journal
articles) or via a very fast courier service. The library is
also a selective depository for U.S. and Texas government
publications and for U.S. patents and trademarks. There
are collections accessible from online for fine arts, architecture, and classical music too!
DUNCAN COLLEGE
ApollO-Week 2012
Fondren Library
A view of the first floor of Fondren Library.
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You can also use the computers in Fondren!
Fondren Library’s Woodson Research Center is the repository for the archives of Rice University and for Fondren
Library’s rare books and manuscript collections. Although
these materials are not in circulation, anyone may use
them in the Woodson Reading Room.
The Rice University Archives collects and maintains many
types of records related to the history of Rice, including
textual documents (such as presidents’ papers and records
of student organizations), Rice historical photographs, architectural plans and drawings, university and faculty publications, newspaper clippings, AV material, and university
memorabilia.
Rice
The building was renovated in 2005/2006, and boasts a
wide variety of study areas, including study rooms, collaborative carrels, and individual study carrels. The building features wi-fi throughout the building, and is open 24
hours a day, five days a week during the school year. It is
also open for part of the day on Saturday/Sunday. A new
reading room reserved for Rice student and faculty use is
located on the 6th floor. The room is accessible for use with
your Rice ID card.
The Digital Media Center (DMC) is a part of Fondren located in nearby Herring Hall. Rice students, faculty, and
staff can use this facility to scan images, edit audio and
video, create DVDs, and work on other digital media projects in a bright, large area with a staff always eager to help.
The DMC also features innovative high tech equipment,
including a 60-inch flat panel monitor that small groups
can gather around to discuss PowerPoint presentations or
other collaborations involving visual displays, workstations for scanning, workstations for video editing, camcorders, digital cameras, and two audio recorders available
for checkout.
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DUNCAN COLLEGE
ApollO-Week 2012
Wellness Center
Since Wellness is more than just physical and mental
health, we want to remind you to explore Rice and Duncan! Your own process of finding wellness can include everything from playing IM or college sports to joining the
MOB, learning a new language, or exploring a new place
of worship. Come in open to new experiences, to forming life-changing relationships with some of the amazing
people you’re about to meet, and to seeking out support
when you need it - we promise you can’t go wrong.
Health Services
Students hanging out at the Wellness Center
To quote the Director of the Wellness Center, Emily
Page, “Wellness is the process of finding wholeness.” One
of our goals for you during your time at Rice is that you
will grow in every aspect of your life, not just academically. To that end, Rice and Duncan are designed not
only to help you grow, but to support you along the way.
Listed on the next pages are the specific support services available on campus. Use them as resources while
you decide what your own wellness looks like. Each one
is awesome, with a highly trained and approachable staff
that understands what life at a competitive university can
bring and how to help you handle things that may arise.
In addition to the formal ‘support services,’ remember
that your Masters, RA’s, and Head Resident Fellows are
all here to support and empower you in every possible
way. Also remember that every other student on campus
is going through this with you, so use upperclassmen,
your coordinators, and advisors, as resources as well.
There is no reason for your time at Rice to be anything
but positive, and utilizing the huge network of supportive people available to you will help make that happen.
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Rice Student Health Services provides preventive and outpatient clinical care for students in an on-campus clinic near
Brown College. We are in the Morton Rich Health Center
and open Monday thru Friday from 8am to 5pm. Services
are scheduled by appointment at 713-348-4966. You can
read about our services and find health related resources including self-care guidance on our web site health.rice.edu.
You should plan to bring some health related items with
you to campus. The most important is your health insurance card. Please also confirm that your health insurance
will cover you for general or specialty care in the Houston area. You should also pack a thermometer, Tylenol or
Advil, band aids, and other medications that you regularly
need. Bring sunscreen for O-week. We will have seasonal
influenza vaccine available in late August. We look forward
to meeting with you on your campus tour during O-Week.
Wellness Center
Also at the Barbara and David Gibbs Recreation and Wellness Center is (unsurprisingly) the Wellness Center. Directed by Emily Page, the Wellness Center’s mission is to
make sure students at Rice are operating at “an optimal level of well-being, not just freedom from disease or illness.”
They offer a ton of amazing programs and resources de-
signed to help students manage stress and depression, have
and maintain healthy and safe relationships, and support
students as they make healthy decisions about alcohol and
other substances (among many other things). In addition to
an extensive library of books and CD’s, the Wellness Center
offers a nutritionist, a massage therapist, acupuncture, free
condoms, and facilitates guided meditation. There’s also a
friendly dog named Jack who loves to play. If walking isn’t
your thing, you can call 713-348-5194 or visit wellness.rice.
edu for more information. Stop by to see what they have
to offer or to set up an appointment - it’s worth the trip!
Counseling Center
One of the many awesome things about Rice is the fact
that we have a counseling center on campus. Better than
that is the fact that the services it offers are free (you pay
for them as part of your student health services fee). The
Counseling Center has four licensed psychologists and
four licensed social workers on staff; everyone is helpful,
supportive, and more than willing to talk to you about anything through short-term individual counseling, couples
and group counseling, or psychotherapy (if appropriate).
Really, though, they’re here to talk to you about everything: homesickness, stress, transitioning troubles, depression, relationship problems, concerns about a friend, sudden lack of motivation, and personal crises are just some of
the many things the counseling center handles on a daily
basis. If you have a pre-existing condition, the Counseling Center will also help you find someone in Houston
qualified to continue care you were receiving at home.
Women’s Resource Center
The Rice Women’s Resource Center was established in
1996 with the mission of increasing awareness of and sensitivity to issues facing women in order to build a more
Queers and Allies (Q&A)
Queers & Allies is the on-campus organization for LGBTQA students at Rice. We provide a safe place and community where all are welcome and encourage to participate. We sponsor several events every year, including the
annual Drag Show that raises money for HATCH, a local
organization that caters to LGBT youth. We also sponsor
diverse programming every year during National Coming
Out Day, National Freedom to Marry Week, and World
AIDS Day. We participate in political activism in the Houston area attempting to elect fair-minded public officials, as
well as service projects in the community outside Rice. We
hope you will consider joining our organization!
Rice
The Counseling Center has two locations. One at the Rec
Center, and the other at the Morton L. Rich Health Service
Center (next to the Brown Master’s House). You can also
find them online at rcc.rice.edu, and by phone at 713-3484867. This number is a 24-hour hotline. The counselors
take turns answering the phones after-hours, which means
that in the event of an emergency or crisis someone is always there to help you or a friend. Don’t hesitate to call the
Counseling Center - listening to you is why they’re here!
supportive, dynamic atmosphere on campus. Located in
the RMC, our office of student coordinators and volunteers
organizes eductional and social events to which community members of all genders are invited. We address issues
such as sexual health, gender equality, body image, nutrition, feminism, financial planning, women in leadership,
women’s history and sexual violence. Some of our events
include The Clothesline Project, Financial Planning workshops, Take Back the Night, collaborating with the Women
LEAD series, Women’s History Month, Consent is Sexy
Week, Rape Aggression Defense (RAD) classes, and Perspectives and Popcorns, informal discussions that change
theme each week. While we are not counselors ourselves,
we can refer students to a wide range of services and resources on and off campus to address their needs. We also
provide free resources like hair ties, tampons, condoms,
candy, magazines, movie and books and of course, just
a cool place to hang out and chat. Stop by our office or
visit us at women.rice.edu to learn more and get involved!
Office of Multicultural Affairs
The Office of Multicultural Affairs, directed by Cathi Clack,
is in the RMC cloisters and acts as an umbrella to the diverse clubs and organizations here on campus. Through
advocacy, cultural programs, and education, OMA helps
students understand and appreciate the many types of diversity found in our community. Through forums, panels,
ADVANCE, and the awesome O-Week diversity facilitators, OMA creates opportunities for students to challenge
bias and expand their cultural knowledge and appreciation. Visit the OMA online at http://oma.rice.edu/
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Computing at Rice
DUNCAN COLLEGE
ApollO-Week 2012
The information below is intended to help you decide whether or not to bring a computer, what type of computer to bring,
and to clue you into the support system available at Rice.
Public Computers
While most people bring their own computers to Rice, this is
by no means necessary. There is a plethora of campus computer labs packed with Macs, PCs, and UNIX workstations
for student use. Most building have at least one computer
lab open 24 hours a day. The computers in these labs have
all the programs that one would expect (a word processor,
spreadsheet, and database manager), any program required
for class, and internet access. Additionally, during the summer, you can go to http://apply.rice.edu to sign up for e-mail
and webspace once your receive your student ID number.
Finding the Right Computer:
Personal Computers
If you are planning to buy a new computer for college, here
are some basic pointers to keep in mind:
Usage
First of all, consider what you’ll be using your computer for. Most students use their personal computers for
email access, word processing, listening to music, and
doing homework. Other students may want a computer
that is also capable of running more advanced software.
Laptops vs. Desktops
One common misunderstanding is that you must have a
laptop for college. While a laptop is convenient for taking notes in class, working in the commons, and transporting on plane rides home, many people use desktops
without a problem. That being said, it is MUCH more
convenient, especially since it will give you a lot of flexibility in terms of where you can work. With the low cost
of a laptop today, there aren’t many reasons to purchase
a new desktop, but if you would prefer, a desktop works
fine. We suggest having an external hard drive/zip drive.
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Like “Joe ITGuy” on Facebook - he’ll answer all of your IT
questions and more!
Apple vs. PC:
Both Apple computers and PC’s work without any problems on the Rice network and for class work. Your purchase should depend on your personal preference.
Working at Rice
Although it sounds complicated, having a job can actually be quite enjoyable! Most employers are sensitive to
the needs of students and are extremely accommodating.
For many of the on-campus jobs, hours are quite flexible
and Rice employers understand that your education comes
first so they anticipate that you may work less around midterms and finals. Working on campus can also provide
you with an opportunity to get to know your professors
and “network”with faculty. For this reason, research jobs
are often the most desirable as they provide valuable experience, pay reasonably well, can help with grad school,
and have interesting work. Often the best way to find
these jobs is to find a professor who has done research
that interests you and talk to them. If they don’t have an
opening themselves, they probably know someone who
does. Other jobs include library assistant, grader, waiter/
waitress at Cohen House, Department Aid, fitness instructor, and intramural official for any of the sports.
Rice
Many students at Rice seek employment during the school
year in addition to pursuing their academic career. There are
many job opportunities for Rice students on-campus and a
variety of opportunities off campus in the Medical Center
and Rice Village area as well. For those of you who will
be looking for on-campus employment, the Rice website
offers a link to assist you (http://www.cspd.rice.edu). This
website posts available on-campus employment opportunities and lists sample wages for a variety of jobs. If you are
interested in a job listed online, contact the employer or
department you are interested in working for and they will
direct you to complete a Student Personnel Action Form
which you will have to turn in at the student Financial Service office in the Allen Center. You will then be approved
either for Rice Work or for Federal Work-Study. If you are
paid through Rice Work, the university pays you directly;
if you are paid through Work-Study, the Federal Government pays you. Either way, you win. You can search online
for jobs here: http://jobs.financialaid.rice.edu/index.cfm
If working on campus isn’t your thing, there are many options for off-campus work. Rice Village, the Med Center,
and the city in general each have a variety of job opportunities for college students. Keep in mind that you will have
to find transportation and the part-time jobs often require
larger time commitments. However, these jobs may pay
more and provide you with a life outside the hedges. Good
luck with the job hunt!
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Office of the Registrar
Cashier’s Office
The Registrar’s office does an amazing job handling the
huge amount of paperwork associated with your academic
record, so everyone needs to know where it is. Located
on the first floor of the Allen Center, this office is where
you’ll go if you have any questions about classes. Chances
are you’ll swing through many times before the semester is
over. You might want to add or drop a class. You may want
to uncover a pass/fail or designate a class pass/fail. You can
also do these things online! You may want to change your
home address, submit information for the student directory, pick up class listings, request transcipts, pick up an
academic calendar, or transfer class credits. While many
of these things can be done online, if you need to talk to
someone in person or turn in a form, it’s worth the walk.
Unlike at other universitites, the line is usually short and
the staff is extremely helpful.
This department is located in the Allen Center, across the
hall from the Registrar’s office. It will become an integral
part of your Rice Student experience if you:
a) haven’t paid all of your fees for the upcoming semester
and can’t register until this is done
b) need to write a check for hard cash and don’t want to die
walking all the way to the bank
c) need to pay off all those parking tickets without getting
a fine for paying late.
Financial Aid
Student Financial Services awards both need-based and
merit assistance on an individual basis. Students are encouraged to apply for aid regardless of income. Detailed
information on financial assistance programs is available
in a brochure published by the Student Financial Services
or in the General Announcements. If your financial situation changes during the school year, discuss the issue with
the Financial Aid staff. Like so many departments at Rice,
they’re here to help.
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Student Services
Lots of “Dunc Love!”
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Center for Career Development
Located at the Huff House (by the North Colleges), CCD
provides information about summer jobs, career guidance, choosing a major, job workshops and seminars, and
a Career Fair in the Spring and the Fall. They will also give
you tests designed to predict which jobs will fit you best.
In the Career Services Center you can sign up for job interviews, look up information on companies in their library,
have your resume critiqued (or even get help constructing
it!), and ask questions of current career advisors during
walk-in hours. The CCD has up-to-date information on
internships; they also compile resume books which many
companies use for hiring. If you ever need help writing a
resume, want to discuss interview etiquette, or just need
information about anything related to a job, stop by and
visit in person, or visit online at ccd.rice.edu. Students
should also be encouraged to make a profile on RICElink,
the website that the CCD uses as a link between itself, employers, and students.
The Honor Council
“On my honor I have neither given nor received any unauthorized aid on this (exam, assignment, etc.).”
Start memorizing this now. You’ll need it for most assignments.
One of the best things about Rice University is its belief
that you are an adult and fully capable of making adult decisions. So if you want to start your take-home math midterm at two in the morning, go for it. If you have to stretch
your legs in the hallway during your three hour final, don’t
raise your hand to ask the professor. Just do it.
Just make sure you follow your professors’ Honor Code
policies (each professor has their own requirements for the
course), and you’ll be fine. If you have any questions or
want to learn more about Rice’s Honor Code system, you
can check out: www.honor.rice.edu, or ask Nick GeorgeJones, the Duncan 2012-13 Honor Council Rep.
Rice
Here at Rice, we have an Honor Code system that students
and faculty take very seriously. Students must pledge “On
my honor I have neither given nor received any unauthorized aid on this (exam, assignment, etc.)” on every assignment. With the Honor Code system here at Rice, professors
will assign take-home exams that are usually closed-book
closed-note, and time-limited. They trust you to follow
their requirements and, in return, you get to take your
exam when you want and in the environment you work
best - whether that be Willy’s Pub or in Fondren library.
Many exams in the classroom are unproctored as well.
a hearing where they determine the guilt of a student and
their punishment if found “In Violation.” The starting punishment is an “F” in the course along with a two-semester
suspension, but there can be mitigating circumstances. We
aren’t kidding when we say the Honor Code is taken seriously at Rice.
Besides giving us students amazing freedoms, the Honor
Code system ensures that the integrity of your work and
eventually your Rice degree are maintained.
To handle Honor Code violations (because unfortunately
they do happen), there is an Honor Council made up of
fellow students. When a violation is reported the Honor
Council holds an investigation and, if deemed necessary,
Duncaroos celebrate the graduation of the Rice class of 2012.
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University Court (U-Court)
The Rice University Court is something that is unique to
Rice. It is the Student Judicial Body on campus composed
entirely of students that hears cases dealing with infractions of the Student Code of Conduct. This is different from
other programs because students are given the opportunity
to go before their peers (or have their cases reviewed by
them) and have decisions made from a student’s perspective. While this doesn’t mean that you’ll get off easy because you know the people trying you, you can take comfort in the fact that students hear cases with an open mind.
Students are typically referred to U-Court by Rice Police
officers when RUPD feel a student has broken the Code of
Conduct. There is a fine structure for every infraction of the
Code and you are given the total fine amount of the charges.
If for any reason you feel that your case has unique circumstances that weren’t addressed, a talk with Don Ostdiek, the
Assistant Dean of Judicial Affairs, can clear that up for you.
How do you avoid going to U-Court? Well first off, you
should become familiar with the Student Code of Conduct as well as the Alcohol Policy. The Code, which you
will receive during O-Week, formally defines appropriate student behavior and serves as a guide to U-Court
when determining punishments. Reading through it
can only improve your undergraduate experience at
Rice. For all but the rarest of situations, a healthy dose
of common sense will suffice in preventing you from being referred to U-Court. By now you know the difference between right and wrong. This will serve you well at
Rice. You can have fun and take part in a variety of activities on campus, but make sure you think before committing an unnecessary and potentially unlawful act.
Basically, have common sense and we can almost promise
a trouble-free experience at Rice.
Diversity at Rice
One of the absolute best things about both Rice and Duncan is the fact that you’re about to spend two, three, four
(or five, or even six) years learning and living with people
who are different than you. Beginning in O-Week, your
time at Rice will be full of peers who have had lives that are
drastically dissimilar from your own. You’ll be surrounded
by people from all over the globe!
At Rice and Duncan, you will have peers of different races,
and peers who hold different religious and political beliefs
than you. You’ll find that people explore and express their
sexuality in ways that you might not. You’ll meet many
people who have different financial backgrounds than you
do, and others will look, dress, or express themselves differently than you choose to. You’ll certainly find people
who have had different opportunities and experiences than
you, and who are exploring different majors, classes, activities, and interests than you are.
And that’s awesome.
As President Leebron likes to say, “if you’re completely
comfortable, you’re doing something wrong.” College
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should be a time for you to gain self-awareness and understanding while you grow and push yourself. Interacting
with, listening to, and respecting fellow students who have
had different lives than you is one important way for you to
step outside your comfort zone and grow in ways you can’t
begin to imagine.
Rice is uniquely set up to facilitate this growth. Since Duncan is a residential college populated with a random crosssection of students, you have the chance to meet all sorts of
people. It’s as easy as talking with your roommate, eating in
the servery, participating in a musical, playing on a Duncan sports team, or talking with Associates. You might also
choose to participate in activities that push you to think in
new ways such as ADVANCE, the BSA, the Vagina Monologues, HACER, AGAPE, the Women’s Resource Center,
and PAIR, among many others (see the “Getting Involved”
section for a more complete list). So to sum things up,
respect difference, be open to new things, support those
around you, and we promise you’ll enhance your time in
Duncan and at Rice - all the while growing as a person and
having some awesome experiences along the way. Could
you ask for anything more?
Sexuality at Rice
As any Rice student will tell you, the Rice population is
made up of an incredibly diverse group of students from
all parts of the world and they bring with them very different attitudes and experiences surrounding sex, sexuality,
and gender. Some incoming students may be in long-distance relationships. Some may have dated ever since they
can remember. Others may not have any experience with
relationships at all. Each student has different values and
different ideas about what a relationship should be like and
what behavior that entails. No matter what you believe or
have experienced regarding sex, there is a place at Rice for
you: there are students who only have sex if they are in a
serious relationship, students who date and have sex casually, students who don’t have sex at all, students who date
or have sex with multiple people, students who date people of the same sex, students who date people of the other
sex, and students who fall in-between these categories. According to a recent survey by the Rice Wellness Center, approximately 50% of Rice undergraduate students have not
engaged in sex.
If you are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex,
queer, asexual, an ally, or you find yourself questioning
your sexuality or gender identity at Rice, don’t worry: Rice
is an open and friendly environment and there are plenty
of resources available to you, both on campus and in the
Houston community. Definitely check out Queers and Allies, which is open to all undergraduate and graduate students and provides a venue to interact socially with other
queer students on campus, check out resources relating to
sexuality and gender, and get involved with activism and
visibility efforts both at Rice and in Houston. Another resource for queer students and people interested in learning
more about sexuality and gender is the Rice Ally Program,
which educates students, faculty, and staff about what it
means to be LGBT, how to support someone who is coming out, and how to fight heterosexism and discrimination.
If you are coming out or thinking about coming out and
need someone to talk to, look for the Rice Ally placard on
the door of any office or dorm room at Rice: it means that
those faculty, staff, or students are ally-trained and happy
to help you. The Rice Counseling Center is also available to
anyone who is questioning their sexuality or gender identity or having other personal, sexual, or relationship problems. Their services are free and confidential.
Overall, sexuality at Rice is as diverse as the other aspects
of the school. What is important is that you are true to
yourself, respectful to those who are different from you,
and always safe!
- Amanda Mills (Sid Rich 2013)
Rice
That being said, coming to college is an opportunity to
explore and try new things. You are away from your parents and friends from high school and establishing your
beliefs, maybe for the first time. You are also surrounded
by hundreds of people your age, with varying interests
and backgrounds. Don’t be afraid to experiment and find
out what you like. Just remember that, no matter who you
are interacting with and how, you should prioritize your
mental and physical health and wellness. If you are going
to engage in sexual activities, it is important to be safe.
Discuss your relationship and your boundaries with your
partner(s) and always use protection if engaging in a sexual act. You can get condoms, dental dams, informational
pamphlets, and other materials from Rice Health Advisors, the Wellness Center, the Women’s Resource Center,
and Health Services. In the event of an emergency, Plan
B is available in Texas without a prescription to anyone
over the age of 18. It is also a good idea to lay out ground
rules with your roommate and suitemates and discuss your
expectations, like who can come over when or how to let
your roommates know you need privacy. Also remember
that sex must always be consensual. In Texas, if you or your
partner is drunk or otherwise intoxicated, you cannot legally consent to sex. Be open with your partner and always
respect their decisions.
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Safety at Rice
Rice University has its very own police force that patrols
campus 24/7, making sure that you stay safe. The police
officers tend to interact with the students frequently, and
it is common to be on a first name basis (without having gotten in trouble) with several of the officers on campus. An officer will even show up every week to Duncan
Forum just to report announcements to us. Just because
the officers are amiable does not mean that they won’t get
down to business; the Rice Police are a full-fledged police
force with all the rights and responsibilities as a Houston
city-cop. The police respond quickly to any sign of distress from a student. In fact, for our protection, there are
blue-light emergency phones all over campus that dial the
police immediately. If you need the cops and are not by a
blue-light phone, you can reach them at (713) 348-6000.
In order to enter the building at Duncan, you will need to
use your Rice ID card (you’ll get this during O-Week). It
is important to get in the habit of taking your ID card and
your keys pretty much everywhere. The ID card gives
you access to the building, while helping to keep intruders out of the college. That being said, if you ever see suspicious activity within the college never hesitate to call
the police. Also, on the off chance that you forget your
ID card and keys, Ms. Woods, the college coordinator,
can help you gain access to your room during business
hours. After hours students must call RUPD to gain entry.
As class, clubs, and organizations meet at night, and the
campus is generally very active, students often walk through
the campus after dark. While all the walking paths are well
lit and blue-light phones are common, it is best to walk with
a friend or two. Rice feels very safe, and for the most part
is crime-free, but the reality is that the campus is located
in one of the largest cities in the country and anything can
happen. It is important to keep this in mind and take simple
precautions like not walking with headphones in at night.
Another way Rice keeps campus safe is by locking all of
the entrance gates at night, except for entrance 8, which
runs right past the police station. This means that all vehicular traffic to campus funnels right past the cops. If
you are ever hurt while on campus, you should call Rice
EMS, which has a lightning fast response time. Rice EMS
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has the same number as the police: (713) 348-6000. Rice
is a safe place and thanks to all of the services offered
to the students, staff and faculty, it will stay that way.
Rice EMS
When you’re in class one day and the person next to you
suddenly looks down at their wrist, jumps up, and runs
out in the middle of the lecture, don’t be surprised. This
means that a few seconds ago, somewhere on campus,
someone just got hurt or became very sick. The phrase
“call RUPD!” was uttered, a cell phone was dialed, and a
dispatcher sent out a page to the Rice University Emergency Medical Services duty crew. In just a few minutes
you’ll see tricked-out emergency Expeditions, electric
cars, golf carts, or personal vehicles arrive seemingly
out of nowhere at the scene of the call. Two or three official-looking kids in blue shirts with pagers, radios,
and huge blue-and-orange bags will jump out of the car.
Though it might seem intense, fear not; these individuals are the members of REMS who have come to help out.
REMS operates one of the most prestigious collegiate
EMS programs in the country. REMS provides emer-
gency pre-hospital care to the Rice community 24/7 and
handles everything from sprained ankles to heart attacks
to alcohol poisonings. Everyone involved is a student volunteer that has undergone extensive training to receive
their national certification. With an average response
time of less than four minutes, the men and women of
REMS are committed to providing the best care possible to anyone within our response area. Call them at
713-348-6000 (same as the police!) for anything and
everything; like everyone else on campus they’re here
to help. The purpose of REMS is never to punish students for mistakes, but to keep everyone on campus safe.
As a Duncaroo, you’ll be more familiar with REMS than
most since they have an off-duty room on Duncan’s first
floor. If you find that you love talking with these REMS
members, have an interest in patient care, like pants with
lots of pockets, scissors that cut through anything, running
out of class when your pager goes off, or being part of a
great service to Rice, the EMT-Basic class (offered every
Spring) could be for you. If you would like to ride on abulances and see some life-changing sights, talk to a Rice
EMS member about becoming an EMT, or visit our website at rems.rice.edu. Don’t forget: if you need emergency
help, dial ex. 6000.
The Alcohol Policy
consume an alcoholic drink in a “public party,” you need
to show a valid ID and wear a wrist band. “Private gatherings” are a little less regulated, frequently taking place
in student’s rooms. The Rice policy basically says what
happens behind closed doors is up to the students, unless
there is reason to believe that what it occurring is unsafe
or illegal. Accordingly, when you attend a “private gathering” it is important to keep activities inside the room,
stay alert, and be safe. The Alcohol Policy works because
students, student authorities (like college Chief Justices),
and the police ultimately have one shared goal: to keep students safe. If you are interested in checking out the Rice
party scene, team up with a responsible friend. Never be
afraid to call Rice EMS (student-run emergency medical
service team) if you suspect that a friend has consumed
too much. At Rice, the goal is not to get you in trouble, but
to encourage you to make healthy, pressure-free choices
about alcohol consumption in a caring and responsible environment.
Rice
Unlike many universities, Rice’s campus is “wet,” meaning
that alcohol can be served and consumed on the premises. As you enter this next phase of your life, it is important to realize that you will be confronted with new choices. For some, the availability of alcohol may be familiar
and welcome, while others may find its presence annoying,
threatening, or confusing. Regardless of your opinion of
alcohol, it is important to understand the Rice rules that
govern its consumption on campus. You should read and
understand both the Code of Conduct and the Rice Alcohol Policy, but the intention of this blurb is to give you a
more general idea of what you should expect about alcohol
at Rice. The Rice Alcohol Policy does not supersede state
and national law. The law says that you have to be 21+ to
consume alcoholic beverages, and the reality is that most
incoming students are not of age. Rice realizes that adults
like yourself can make decisions about consuming alcohol. In recognition of the reality that you will have access
to drinks, Rice makes a distinction between what it calls a
“public party” and a “private gathering.” “Public parties”
take place in public spaces (college commons, quads, etc)
and register their alcohol with the university. In order to
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Large Clubs at Rice
Students in RSVP (see next page) volunteer at Rice and in the greater Houston area.
Rice Program Council
Community Involvement Center
YO. Do you enjoy fun? Do you like being happy? Then you
should love Rice Program Council (RPC)! RPC is a student-run organization that plans happy and amazingly fun
campus-wide events and is dedicated to providing you with
a good time. Through RPC, you can jam out at the Welcome Back Concert, meet your significant other dressed
up as peanut butter on a blind date at Screw-Yer-Roommate, go crazy cheering on your college at Beer Bike, meet
your match at Crush Party, and eat tons of nommy food
at Study Breaks. You can even enjoy a nice night dancing
the night away with your date and/or friends at the dance
formals, Esperanza and Rondelet. RPC helps organize all
of these events and lots more! RPC will subsidize cultural
events off campus such as professional sports games, music
and art entertainment, and the popular Houston Rodeo.
Get pumped to find out why Rice ranks at the top of the
Happiest Students and Quality of Life lists with the awesome social events RPC puts on for the entire Rice campus!
The CIC, located in the RMC, is the center for community
service programming at Rice. They can refer you to any
of the 13 student service organizations including Habitat
for Humanity and Best Buddies. If you are interested in
volunteering on your own, stop in and get a personalized
referral using the volunteer database. You can work with
the elderly, children, in hospitals, in shelters—you name it.
E-mail [email protected] and ask to be included on the recipient list for GIVE-A-HOOT, the bi-weekly email newsletter announcing different campus and Houston volunteer
opportunities as well as internships and jobs in social services. The CIC also sponsors Outreach Day the Saturday
of O-Week, domestic and international Alternative Spring
Breaks, and International Summer. Contact Mac Griswold
at 713-348-4970.
- Sachin Allahabadi (Sid Rich 2013)
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Rice Student Volunteer Program
Rice Players
RSVP is open to all students and is another student-run organization dedicated to community service, featuring five
committees to help the community: Children, Education,
Environment, Health, and Hunger and Homelessness. You
can tutor wonderful kids, help at a children’s carnival, serve
food at a shelter, get down and dirty with some gardening,
or help out in a hospital. This list is endless! You can volunteer on a weekly basis, once a month, or whenever; it’s
all up to you.
The Rice Players is to residential college theatre what the
Founding Fathers intended the Federal government to be
to the United States: bigger and better (well, except without
the whole dual sovereignty/governing thing…just ignore
that part of the analogy). While the residential colleges
each receive modest budgets to put on an amateur play or
two in their commons each year, Rice gives the Players oodles more Benjamin Franklins and their very own special
building (Hamman Hall) to stage professional-level plays
multiple times per year. Their productions range from
tragedies to comedies, both ancient and modern. The
Players also invite non-Rice productions (like The Actors from the London Stage who performed The Tempest
by William Shakespeare) to come perform at Hamman.
RSVP also works with CIC to organize campus-wide Outreach Days each year, including one during O-Week, where
students can volunteer with organizations all over Houston. You can be a college representative to let your fellow
college members know all about all these exciting events,
and even be a part of orchestrating them. You can go to the
weekly RSVP meetings held in Miner Lounge in the RMC
every Monday night at 8 P.M. to learn about all the wonderful opportunities. Regardless of your interests and time
commitments, RSVP has something for everyone!
The Rice Players are run by the Players Coordinators,
Rice students who have previously worked on Players’
productions and apply and are chosen to be coordinators. Usually a group of 8-12 students, the coordinators
orchestrate the production side of the performances.
Rice
Rice’s Theater faculty directs the productions and oversees
the coordinators: the coordinators organize everything else
from costumes to stage design. Rice Players is still very
much a student-run program. Any interested Rice student
is welcome (and encouraged) to try out for the plays or
volunteer to work on a production crew. The Rice Players
offer a great outlet for people who were involved in theatre
in high school and would like to continue to perform, or
for those who have no theatre experience but would like to
see what it’s all about.
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ROTC
Everybody eventually asks themselves, “What’s my purpose?” Like any reasonable adult, I turn to Avenue Q for
sound advice. “The world is a big scary place! But I just
can’t shake the feeling I might make a difference to the human race!” However, you eventually realize that Avenue
Q is just a feel-good musical, and you’re still sitting there
dejectedly staring at your computer screen for inspiration. Well, don’t worry because Rice has answers! The purpose of Impact Rice Retreat, an annual leadership retreat
sponsored by the Office of Student Activities, is to help you
develop your leadership skills so you can find your purpose and make an impact on the Rice community! Many
of the people that are in high positions at Rice (members
of college government, presidents of the Student Association, etc) have blossomed because of this program, and you
will too! Impact Rice will give you a focused, challenging,
and supportive environment to realize your leadership potential. You will be whirlwind-spiraled via car transportation to a far, far off campsite in Texas and will embark on
thrilling adventures with thirty other equally confused but
vibrant people. Throughout the weekend, you’ll be with
your fellow students in workshops facilitated by other students and not only grow as a leader, but also be in close
proximity to some of the coolest (and soon-to-be most
powerful) people on campus. Few words can describe the
experience except “Where’s the nearest shower?”
“LEFT, LEFT, LEFT, ROIGHT, LEFT…” You’ll undoubtedly hear this motivated shout coming from the inner loop
sometime. You may wonder, “Who are those psychopaths
running around yelling?” Why, they’re the midshipmen
of Rice’s NROTC (Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps)
Unit. Well, what exactly is NROTC? It is a scholarship
program where the Navy pays for your tuition and fees for
all four years of college, and then you repay the Navy with
service as a commissioned officer once you graduate. During school, you participate in weekly drill sessions, physical
training sessions (as mentioned above), and naval science
classes designed to prepare you to be a Naval officer. Plus,
during the summer, you’ll get paid to spend about a month
with a fighter jet squadron, or perhaps on a ship in the
Mediterranean, or a submarine in the Pacific. All in all,
it’s a pretty good deal. To summarize, you get to look sexy
in your uniform, they pay for your college, and you have a
guaranteed job once you get out of school.
DUNCAN COLLEGE
Impact Rice
There are so many media sources at Rice, you must be picky
about the ones you keep up with or else you’ll be spending
all your time in front of a computer, TV, or newspaper. If
you were a yearbook editor, a member of your school’s film
crew, a music junkie, or anywhere in between, Rice has
some form of media that is sure to pique your interest…
and, of course, there are always plenty of opportunities to
get involved.
The Thresher
Rice students at Impact!
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Rice Media
Want to find out the latest Rice news? Then pick up a copy
of the Rice Thresher! Founded in 1916, The Thresher is
the oldest student run organization on campus and features the most topical Rice news of the week with opinion
columns, reviews, sports coverage, a calendar of upcoming events, and the usually funny Backpage. The Thresher
comes out every Friday and can be found all over campus.
You’ll no doubt see a stack of papers at your college commons, eagerly waiting to be picked up and read by you. The
Thresher also boasts a tireless staff of writers, editors, photographers, layout designers, business liaisons, and much
more, all of whom prescribe to the Thresher belief that late
Wednesday night and early Thursday morning don’t exist. If you’re even vaguely interested in anything somewhat
newspaper-y, stop by the Thresher office (located at the
RMC) and see what we’re all about! We’re always looking
for new talent in any of our fields (And we’ll pay you for it
too!).
KTRU
-Dante Zakhidov (Hanszen 2015)
If you want to know... www.ktru.org.
RTV5
You can watch Rice Television (RTV5) on channel 5. It
shows sporting events, random shorts, and movies created
by students (for example “Top Cocktail” and a Blair Witch
Project spoof set in Fondren Library). You can also see
Baker Institute events which is great because you can see
a live speech by the Dalai Lama from the comfort of your
room while eating Doritos and wearing a cowboy hat and
your favorite Homer Simpson slippers. Also, with RTV5’s
Video-on-Demand feature, you can request programs on
the RTV5 website, and they will air in the order of requests
Rice Media Center
Located just west of the baseball field, the Rice Media
Center houses a movie theatre and photography and film
labs. It is the home of Rice’s photography and film departments. The Media Center theater shows diverse independent films that cost $4 for students. It is the only theater in
Houston capable of showing 70mm films since it got new
sound system and equipment a few years ago. Students
can get involved by selling tickets and helping curate the
film schedule. Website at www.ruf.rice.edu/~media.
Rice Gallery
Rice has its own internationally renowned art gallery, located on the ground floor of Sewall Hall. Rice Gallery is
the only university gallery in the country dedicated to sitespecific installation art, where contemporary artists construct large-scale works that transform the gallery space
into a new environment. The last exhibit of the year features work by graduating visual art majors. Rice Gallery
has regular opening parties with free food, drinks, and
music, hosts study breaks and a Houston folk art tour, and
provides opportunities for students to meet and work with
the artists who come to campus. www.ricegallery.org.
Rice
KTRU is Rice’s student-run radio station. You can tune in
online at ktru.org or on 90.1 HD-2 with an HD radio. Your
first introduction to KTRU will probably be through its yellow bumper sticker, which students like to improve on in
creative ways. KTRU is similar to most college radio stations in that it features underground alternative rock, but it
prides itself on being more experimental—and it is. In addition to playing alt. rock, you’ll hear blues, aegean, reggae,
chickenskin, skordatura, abstract jazz, intelligent dance
music, ambiance, punk, and sometimes what sounds like a
dying cow (but is really a trumpet player). Being a KTRU
DJ is the best way to learn about new music. KTRU takes
DJ applications in the beginning of the fall and spring semesters and summer.
received. The best thing about RTV5 is that anyone can
film a show for it, and they have equipment you can borrow. Online at http://rtv5.rice.edu.
Campanile
Finally, the Rice yearbook is called the Campanile and is
published by students. Every tuition-paying student receives a copy. Each semester, an event called “Picture
Yourself ” is held in the RMC that allows students to pose
for creative group pictures to be included in the Campanile, so everyone at Rice has a chance to be famous.
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Music for Non-Majors
Like performing music? Not a music major? Not a problem! Rice has many opportunities to get your groove on,
all designed to fit nicely into your Rice schedule. Nonmusic majors can be a part of the Rice music scene which
includes (but is not limited to) choral, jazz, opera, a capella, musical, orchestral, band, and solo performances. The
Rice Chorale, Rice Symphonic Band, and the Campanile
Orchestra are three music options where you can even get
course credit for ensemble performances. You can meet a
bunch of people who love music just as much as you do,
practice with them on weekends, and put on concerts each
semester where all your friends can come and hear your
mad skills. Furthermore, the prestigious Shepherd School
of Music also offers vocal and instrument lessons/classes
taught by grad students to non-music majors to help improve your skills. They’ve got everything from percussion
to classical guitar to harp. There’s even a Jazz Ensemble
class. Several organizations at Rice are also here for you
who enjoy entertaining people. The Rice Marching Owl
Band (MOB) is Rice’s “marching band” which doesn’t
march, but instead performs humorous halftime skits set
to music during football games. The Rice Phils (coed)
and the Low Keys (female) are a capella groups which
are known for their fun renditions of popular songs and
can be seen performing at concerts around campus and
at various competitions. Many of the residential colleges
and the Rice Light Opera Society (RLOS) put on musical
plays throughout the year, where you can sing and dance
onstage or show off your musical talent in the pit orchestra. Even if you’re not in an organization, Duncan College
has a music room where you can have a jamfest with your
friends! Also, student musicians/bands have all sorts of
opportunities to showcase their talents during the year at
shows. No matter what your music style, interest, or skill
level, there will probably be an opportunity for it at Rice!
- Justin Lin (Will Rice 2011)
The MOB
You’re at a Rice Football game. Halftime arrives, and people
in suits run out from the sidelines, screaming at the tops of
their lungs. You may think: WHAT IS GOING ON??? Is
this a band?!?! The Rice University Marching Owl Band,
better known as The MOB, is anything but your traditional marching band. For starters, they wear pinstripe uniforms and uniquely-decorated fedoras and then skip, run,
or ‘scatter’ onto the field into formations. In addition to
“traditional marching band” instruments, The MOB also
features non-traditional instruments, including strings,
electric guitars, keyboards, kazoos, and many others!
Each unique MOB halftime show satirizes current events
ranging from University happenings to politics, using costumes and props to bring the script to life. You
could see Michael Phelps evading a horde of crazed
fans, a swarm of demons escaping from Dante’s Inferno,
or even squirrels rolling around an 8 foot beach ball!
There are bound to be MOBsters from Duncan, so cheer
them on during halftime! Also, join us in celebrating the end
of the school week with a cheer around Willy’s statue every
Friday right before noon, or join us for a few football games!
If you want to learn more about The MOB, check out our
website at http://mob.rice.edu
- Justin Lin (Will Rice 2011),
Micaela Blank (Will Rice ‘12),
Jamie Sammis (Brown ‘10),
Ryan Kruse (Wiess ‘11),
& Jane Labyer (Brown ’11)
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Spirit
RICE, FIGHT, NEVER DIE! Whether you enjoy being on
the field or can’t throw a ball to save your life, you should
definitely support all Rice athletic teams—varsity, club,
and college. It’s a lot of fun to root your team on to victory
and, if you are ever the one playing in the game (you can
be pulled out of your room at any given time to represent
Duncan in one sport or another), you will truly appreciate
the support.
Cheerleaders
The Rice Cheerleading Squad is not just a club that you sign
up for, they are actually varsity athletes. If you cheered in
high school, have some sort of dance or gymnastics background, or have ever had a desire to be a cheerleader, you
can try out in the spring. (This year there will be tryouts
during the first weeks of school).
The squad is made up of 12 people, boys and girls, and they
cheer at all football games, home volleyball games, home
basketball games, and basketball tournaments. The cheerleaders passionately support Rice athletic teams and have
a lot of fun attending events and traveling throughout the
year.
Rice
Rebecca Salinas (Duncan 2014) cheering on the sidelines for a Rice football game.
Duncaroos show their Rice pride.
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College and IM Sports
Being involved in IM sports is one of the best ways to
meet other Duncaroos and take a well-deserved break
from all that studying you are supposed to be doing. Rice
has one of the most extensive intramural sports programs of a school of its size, and nearly every student has
found themselves participating at one time or another.
There are two different types of IM sports: Open and College. Open IM sports leagues let you and your friends
from all the other colleges form a team; you can create
a serious all-star softball team, or just grab some people
to play inner tube water polo. College sports will be your
opportunity to show your Duncan spirit and prove to
the other colleges just how awesome we really are. Duncan will field a team in almost every sport you could imagine, from powderpuff football to floor hockey. College
teams compete for the coveted “President’s Cup” which is
won by the college with the most wins by the end of the
year. Keep in mind that the champion of a smaller sport,
like table tennis, can win just as many points as the winner of the most competitive IM sports like powderpuff.
Hopefully you are fully inspired and have already started
your two-a-days. If not, that’s okay too! We’ll take you no
matter what. So remember: men’s freshman flag football
and women’s powderpuff start the week after O-Week. Be
ready to lace up your cleats and get out on the field!
Duncan’s sports reps are Matt Winkler, Jordan Bley, and
Blair Lunceford. Look for their emails and sign-up sheets
all year long to find out when your sport is in season!
Intramural Sports: 3 on 3 Basketball, Men’s Basketball,
Women’s Basketball, Co-ed Flag Football, Men’s Flag
Football, Indoor Soccer, Men’s Soccer, Women’s Soccer, Men’s Softball, Co-ed Softball, Sand Volleyball,
Co-ed Volleyball, Billiards, Tennis, Ultimate, Racquetball, Badminton, Table Tennis, Inner Tube Water Polo
College Sports: Men’s Basketball, Freshman Basketball,
Women’s Basketball, Freshman Flag Football, Co-ed Flag
Football, Men’s Soccer, Women’s Soccer, Men’s Softball,
Women’s Softball, Men’s Volleyball, Women’s Volleyball,
Billiards, Tennis, Ultimate, Cross Country, Dodgeball,
Swim Meet, Sports Trivia, Table Tennis, and Floor Hockey.
- Megg Ryan (Duncan 2014)
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Club Sports
Abby Corrington (Duncan 2013) owning Powderpuff as usual.
More intense than intramural sports, but not as hardcore as collegiate varsity sports, club sports offer a level
of commitment similar to that of a high school varsity team. For such a small school, Rice has nearly every
sport and the clubs are always in search of more athletes.
From Men’s Soccer to Quidditch, you can meet new people from every college and every grade level, while taking a much-needed break from the books. Even if you’ve
never played before, club sports provide the ultimate balance of fun and exercise. Plus, you get to travel to meets
all around Texas, and represent Rice as a whole. If you’re
interested in serious athletics, but still want time to engage
in other pursuits, club sports may be the thing for you.
Club Sports: Aikido, Badminton, Baseball, Basketball
(Men’s), Crew, Cricket, Cycling, Equestrian, Fencing, Jiu
Jitsu, Karate, Lacrosse (Men’s), Lacrosse (Women’s), Powderpuff, Quidditch, Dance, Rugby (Men’s), Rugby (Women’s), Sailing, Soccer (Men’s), Soccer (Women’s), Tennis,
Ultimate (Men’s), UItimate (Women’s), Water Polo (Men’s),
Water Polo (Women’s), Wrestling
- Megg Ryan (Duncan 2014)
Varsity Sports
The story of varsity athletics at Rice is one of the little David slaying the mighty Goliath time and time again. As
the smallest Division 1-A school in the NCAA, Rice’s
success on the playing field, court, or track demonstrates
how a small school known for academic excellence
can be the home of a very successful athletic program.
We are fairly new members of the Conference USA, and
in our first year we captured four conference championships—women’s soccer, women’s tennis, women’s crosscountry, and baseball—with several more titles the following years. Our baseball team also captured Rice’s
first ever national championship back in 2003. The football team hit a winning streak in 2007 that led to a bowl
game in New Orleans—Rice’s first bowl game in decades. Our basketball teams have experienced a boom in
both success and popularity, as we cheered them on to
berths in both the NCAA and NIT postseason tournaments. Also, Rice women’s soccer and volleyball have
both made their first appearance at the NCAA conferences in recent years, starting a tradition of success.
Rice fans are an invaluable part of Rice athletics and while
our size doesn’t stop us from staging major upsets over the
nation’s top programs, it does mean that our fans must get
Rice Fight Song (words and music by Louis Gerard ‘40)
Fight for Rice, Rice fight on, loyal sons arise.
The Blue and Gray for Rice today,
comes breaking through skies.
Fight, fight, fight!
Stand and cheer, Vict’ry’s near,
Sammy leads the way.
Onward go! to crush the foe,
we’ll fight for Blue and Gray.
Rice Alma Mater (words written by Ben H. Mitchell ‘24)
All for Rice’s Honor, we will fight on.
We will be fighting when this day is done.
And when the dawn comes breaking,
We’ll be fighting on, Rice, for the Gray and Blue.
We will be loyal, to Rice be true.
Rice
Varsity athletics at Rice is also unique because of the
student athlete’s relationship with the rest of the student body. Due to the size of the undergraduate student body, the varsity athletes have a visible presence
in and around the colleges. It makes for a better experience when the people you cheer for are actually
your friends; either from class or from down the hall.
In all, Rice competes in 14 varsity sports:
• Baseball (men’s)
• Basketball
• Cross Country
• Football (men’s)
• Golf (men’s)
• Soccer (women’s)
• Tennis
• Track&Field
• Swimming (women’s)
• Volleyball (women’s)
extra loud and vocal to make our cheers heard. So come
join the Owl fans in the student sections every weekend.
Goooooo Rice!
Sammy the Owl (middle) is the mascot of Rice Athletics.
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The Recreation Center
The Hoot
The Barbara and David Gibbs Recreation and Wellness
Center opened in November 2009. The new world-class facility is a great place to workout, get information on health
and wellness, or simply relax with some friends. The recreation side of the building includes such amenities as a
cardio center and weight room, a large gym, an expansive
dance studio, racquetball and squash courts, pool tables,
an indoor floor hockey arena...the list goes on! There are
also two outdoor pools. One is a 50-meter Olympic size
competition pool (home to the Rice Owls Swim Team),
while the other is a gorgeous rec pool which is the site of
many lazy afternoon hangouts, especially to combat the
Texas summer heat.
Always hungry for a midnight snack? Don’t have a car
to leave campus when you’re hungry late at night? Well,
you’re in luck! The Hoot is Rice’s first and only student-run
on campus late night food stop. The Hoot North opened
in West Servery (between Duncan and McMurtry Colleges) in January 2010, and a South branch opened in South
Servery (near Hanszen) in Fall 2011. Both the Hoot North
and Hoot South are staffed by awesome Rice undergraduates. The Hoot offers a variety of Papa John’s pizzas, Chickfil-A sandwiches and nuggets, energy drinks, candy, sodas,
and other snacks for Rice students who are up way past
there bedtime. Every Sunday there are honey butter chicken biscuits from Whataburger and on occasion there are
other specialty nights such as Dunkin Doughnuts or Swirl
frozen yogurt. The Hoot North has regular hours from 9
PM to 1 AM every night but Saturday and The Hoot South
from 10 PM to 2 AM every night but Saturday as well. Just
be sure to get there as soon as you know you’re hungry because the selection becomes limited as the night goes on.
Remember, supplies are limited!
Also included in the complex is the new home of the Wellness Center. The Wellness Center (as discussed in the article on page 106) is a great place to get information on
how to stay healthy, both body and mind. In the new Wellness Center there are offices, as well as a peaceful outdoor
courtyard. On the second floor of the same building is the
new home of the IM/Clubs sports offices, etc. Basically, the
Recreation and Wellness Center is the home of all things,
well, recreation and wellness related.
- Hannah Willey (Duncan 2014)
Another important fact about the Recreation Center is that
it’s a popular location for students to obtain an on-campus
job. Make sure that you look out for openings!
Rice Bike Shop
We have 2 pools and diving boards!
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Rice Bike Shop (RBS) is an on-campus bike shop at Rice,
located in the basement of Sid Rich. We offer all types of
bike repairs, bike parts and accessories, and bike services
at a low price (much cheaper than other bike shops around
Rice). We also sell refurbished bikes for $20 to $100 depending on the quality of the bike. Contact us at [email protected]. Hope to see you in the shop next year!
Rice Coffeehouse
Brochstein
The Brochstein Pavilion (known affectionately as the
“Broch”), is one of the go-to places on campus to meet up
with friends, professors, and such for coffee or a quick bite
to eat. Its unique architecture make the Broch essentially a
“Peoplequarium,” meaning that the inhabitants oddly resemble fish in a bowl. This quality also makes the Broch a
great place to see and be seen.
Recycling and Sustainability
Rice
Moving from California to Texas, I thought many things
about my lifestyle were about to change, including environmentally friendly practices like recycling; little did I
Rice Coffeehouse (above) is located in the Rice Memorial Center. know I had just been assigned to the most eco-friendly
college on a very environmentally conscious campus. At
Born in the basement of Hanszen College in 1990, Coffee- Duncan, our college colors are not only green, gold, and
house—not “the Coffeehouse” (this distinction is impor- ivory, but we are green and gold – our building was the
tant)—is one of the most successful student run businesses first gold LEED certified at Rice. This is because of cool
on campus, serving hundreds of customers each and every features like a pod bathroom in every double (it was built
day. But that’s right, you heard that correctly: student run. off-site to minimize materials), lights that turn off while
Coffeehouse isn’t some caramel-choco-coco-triple-shot- you’re not in the room, a dual-flush toilet, and air condiskinny-macchiato-manufacturing corporate monstrosity tioning that shuts off when a window or door is open. In
catering to the caffeine cravings of soccer moms and nine- addition, each room is equipped with its own recycling
to-fivers. No, Coffeehouse is hip, fun, delicious, but most bin, in which you can put anything recyclable (except for
importantly, staffed with some of your coolest colleagues #6 plastics or something with food residue) because Rice
here at Rice. At Coffeehouse, our KOCs (Keepers of the has single-stream recycling. There are also additional recyCoffee) want to remind you that getting coffee shouldn’t cling bins around Duncan and in the commons.
be a chore. We’re here to shorten long nights in Fondren,
cool down the Houston heat, and jumpstart your morn- Rice itself is also aware of its environmental impact. Ining schedule. With Coffeehouse, getting coffee will be the stallations from hand dryers to a water bottle filling station
refreshing highlight (or highlights) of your day. We want in the RMC have come about through the hard work of the
to be the friendly faces that help you relax, caffeinate (I Environment Club, the RESET Committee, and the college
know this sounds counterintuitive, but yes, it’s possible), Eco Reps. The Eco Reps are representatives from each coland succeed with whatever you’re working on. So, whether lege who are given an annual budget to help maintain and
it’s 8AM or 1AM (yes, those are our weekday hours), Cof- improve upon each college’s involvement in eco-friendly
feehouse is a place to chat, relax, study, or yes, just grab a practices. I, Rachel Poppers, am your Eco Rep for the 20122013 year and can best be reached by emailing duncanedrink to go.
- Nick Irza (Duncan 2014) [email protected], with any questions, concerns, or ideas.
Being ‘green’ at Rice is easy, especially if you’re a Duncaroo!
- Rachel Poppers (Duncan 2014)
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Making It All Work
College is a lot of fun, and many people look back on their
time at Rice as some of the best years of their life. But, it
isn’t always easy. There are classes and other challenges
that you will surely face. Here are a few suggestions about
how to make the best out of your time here.
Study hard, because you want to learn a lot. However, find
time for other things too. Hang out with friends. Try new
things. There are a lot of extracurriculars at Rice that you
can easily become involved with, and who knows? You
just might discover something you are truly passionate
about. Try some different things, but don’t try to do more
than you can. Remember to take time to relax. Exercising
regularly is great for you. It keeps you physically healthy,
but perhaps more importantly, relieves stress and keeps you
mentally healthy. Naps work well, too. Get to know your
professors. They can help you a lot if you are confused in
a class, but are also great resources even if you are acing
all the material. If the grade you get back on your first
exam isn’t what you wanted, try not to freak out. You got
to Rice. You’re very smart, and you can and will adjust to
crush the next exam.
There are a ton of resources here at Rice to help you with
any problem. You have advisors, RA’s, RHA’s, HRF’s,
masters, PAA’s, professors, the wellness center, and
academic fellows to name a few. If you need help with
anything, don’t hesitate to ask someone. Rice and Duncan
are strong communities on which you can rely. Seriously,
at what other university do over 400 students not only give
up two weeks of their summer, but apply and pay to be
your advisors? These strong communities are one of the
main reasons why Rice is voted to have the number one
quality of life, time and time again.
Meet new people and make new friends. In college you
have a chance to completely redefine yourself. But, if you
choose to do that, make sure you’re being who you want
to be, and not who you think others might want you to
be. Rice is extremely diverse in so many ways, so you will
find lots of people just like you, and lots that are completely
different. Rice is an amazing place, but so is Houston! On
Saturday nights when the serveries are closed, go out to
dinner and explore the city.
Most importantly, find a balance that works for you. People
often joke that in college there are three things: sleep, good
grades, and a good social life, and that you can only pick
two. But, if you manage your time wisely and are aware of
yourself and your own strengths and weaknesses, then you
can definitely have all three. So, welcome to the beginning
of an awesome journey, one on which you will make lots
of friends, learn a ton, and later regard as one of the most
rewarding experience of your life!
- Drayton Thomas (Duncan 2014)
Jordan Bley (Duncan 2015) takes a break from studying to play some dodgeball in the Duncan Commons.
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Clubs at Rice
Below is a list that represents only a small sampling of some
clubs to join at Rice. Don’t see the one you want? Make
your own! Visit sa.rice.edu to see a complete listing and
for info on how to make your own.
Rice
• ADVANCE (Advocating Diversity and the Need for Cultural
Exchange)
• Aegean Club
• Rice Aerospace Club
• Rice African Students Association
• AGAPE Christian Ministries
• ACLU
• American Society of Civil Engineers, of Mechanical Engineers
• Amnesty International
• Archi Arts
• Baptist Student Ministries
• Best Buddies
• Bhangra Team
• Biological Journal
• Biomedical Engineering Society
• Black Student Associations
• Canterbury
• CATALYST
• CDF Shout
• Colleges Against Cancer
• Computer Science Club
• C-Sters (Women in Computer Science)
• Crew Club
• Cricket Club
• Cycling Team
• Rice Dance Theatre
• Rice Owl Dance Team
• Rice Young Democrats
• Education Club
• Electrical Engineering
• English as a Second Language
• Environment Club
• Equestrian Club
• Fast Warp
• Fellowship of Christian Athletes
• French: Club Chouette
• Fresh Rice Breakers (breakdancing)
• Habitat for Humanity
• Hillel
• HACER (Hispanic Association for Cultural Enrichment at
Rice)
• HuMed (Humanitarian Medical Outreach)
• Korean Student Association
• Lacrosse
• Legalese
• College Libertarians
• Light Opera Society
• Marching Owl Band
• Microfinance
• Muslim Student Association
• National Association of Women in Business
• National Soceity of Black Engineers
• Native American Student Association
• Rice Thresher
• Open Magazine
• One-on-One Tutoring
• PAIR: Partnership for the Advancement and Immersion of Refugees
• Philharmonics
• Rice Pre-Med Society
• Progressive Christians at Rice
• Queers and Allies
• KTRU 91.7
• Rice for Choice
• Rice for Life
• Rice for Peace and Justice
• Rice Program Council
• Rice Student Volunteer Program (RSVP)
• Robotics Club
• Rugby
• Sailing Club
• Secular Students of Rice University
• Sextant Club
• Shepherd Student Club
• Soccer (men and womens)
• Society of Hispanic Professional Enginers
• Society of Women Engineers
• South Asian Society
• Spontaneous Combustion
• Student Admission Council
• Student Association
• Taekwondo Club
• Taiwanese Association
• Television: RTV5
• Theatre: Rice Players
• Ulitimate Frisbee
• University Blue
• Volleyball Club
• Water Polo
• Women’s Resource Center
• Yearbook: Campanille
• Yoga Club
• YOUR CLUB!
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Ask me about...
Listed below is a sample of some of the ways that your
coordinators, advisors, and affiliates enhance their time at
Rice. Each of them will be readily accessible to you, especially during O-Week, and together they are involved in
close to 100 distinct groups and activities! Want to know
the best part? There are even more to choose from (and
an infinite number for you to create :). Make sure you ask
around, especially to those involved in O-Week, about
clubs that seem interesting to you. Everyone is more than
willing to help you become an active member of the Rice
community no matter where you find your niche!
Adrian Bizzaro (Advisor) - Duncan Court, Duncan Soccer
Alan Harkins (Advisor) - College Government, IM sports
staff, Duncan Committees
Andrea Paramo (Co-advisor) - HACER, RSVP, Pancakes
for Parkinson’s, CCD, America Reads, Lovett College
Andrea Pinto (Diversity F.) - BSA, Impact Bible Study,
Chowl Bhangra, NSBE, Diversity, MVP
Andy Grimbergen (Advisor) - Service Committee, Spirit
Committee, Rice Health Advisors
Avanthi Ajjarapu (PAA) - SAS, Campanile Orchestra,
PAA, RPMS, Student Research
Benjamin Huber-Rodriguez (Advisor) - Thresher, Socials Committee, IM Frisbee
Becca Hamm Conard (Advisor) - Spirit Committee, Beer
Bike, Class Rep, Coffeehouse, IM/College Sports
Carissa Livingston (Photographer) - PAA, Habitat for
Humanity, RSDS, Agape, IM Sports Staff, Socials PAIR
Chris Chu (Diversity F.) - Premed Society, Humane Society, Hanszen College
Christal Porter (Co-advisor) - Athletic PAA, SAAC, Varsity Basketball, Navigators, FCA, Lovett College
Christina Fakes (Advisor) - Phils
Chynna Foucek (Advisor) - Student Association, Club
Tennis, Habitat for Humanity
Connie Wang (PAA) - NSR, Outreach Day, PfP, IM Frisbee, Academics Committee, Student Life Committee
Dante Zakhidov (Co-advisor) - Thresher, Student Research, Club Water Polo, Rice Empower, Hanszen College
Drew Moore (Coordinator) - Cohomology, Study
Abroad, O-Week, Class Reps, VIGRE Research
Drayton Thomas (Gopher) - Socials Committee, Historian Committee, Duncan Jacks
Elizabeth Harwood (Co-advisor) - Nocturnal, Brown
College Eco-Week, Eco-Friendliness, Brown College
Emma Hurt (Advisor) - ESL Tutoring, PAA, Telefund,
Historian Committee, Powderpuff, Duncan Soccer
Fernando Ramirez (SMR) - Rice Bike Shop, MOB, Beer
Bike
Grace Apfeld (Advisor) - Duncan Committees, Women’s
Group, Anthropology, Powderpuff, Academic Fellow
Hannah Willey (Gopher) - Improvements Committee,
Hall Reps, Biomedical Engineering Society
Isabella Marcotulli (Advisor) - Architecture Society
Jelsi Cruz (Diversity F.) - ADVANCE, HACER, Tour
Guide, CIC, America Reads, RUF, Quest Scholars, Will
Rice College
Jeremy Scher (Coordinator) - Duncan Court, Rugby,
CTTL, Academic Fellow, Writing Consulting, O-Week
Justin Winikoff (Advisor) - College Government, Spirit
Committee, Improvements Committee, NSR
Kelvin Pho (President) - College Government, Water
Polo, VSA, Habitat for Humanity, ASB
Kevin Koch (Co-advisor) - Lifeguarding, Beer Bike, College Sports, Brown College
Laurel Bingman (Advisor) - Catholic Students Association, Service Committee, Step Ahead, Powderpuff
Leah Fried (Advisor) - Varsity Sports, Writing Consulting, Athletic Tutoring, RPC, SAAC
Leslie Nguyen (Co-advisor) - SWE, DREAM, Wellness
Center, LYBM, Club Ultimate Frisbee, Wiess College
Louise Bensen (Advisor) - PAA, Rice Health Advisors,
Duncan Committees, Powderpuff, Study Abroad
Maria Jose Ramirez (Co-advisor) - Socials, Staff Appreciation, Brown College
Marie Valovska (Co-advisor) - Coffeehouse, Club Water
Polo, Powderpuff, Medical Outreach, Will Rice College
Matt Koby (Advisor) - Duncan Technology, IM Sports,
Rice Cinema, Education Technology, Visual Arts
Matt Lopez (Advisor) - Student Engineers Educating
Kids, RCEL, SHPE, IEEE, Coffeehouse
Matt Winkler (Advisor) - Beer Bike, IM Sports, College
Sports, Powderpuff Coaching
Max Ingraham-Rakatansky (Co-advisor) - NSR, Socials,
Grappling, Napping, McMurtry College
Megg Ryan (Advisor) - Water Polo, MOB, Beer Bike
Team, IM Sports, College Sports, Aquatics, SWE
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Michelle Bowen (Advisor) - Navigators, Service Committee, Ballroom Dance, IM Volleyball, BSA Soul Night
Molly Horn (Coordinator) - Rice Health Advisors, Duncan Women’s Group, Aquatics, Lifeguarding, O-Week
Nichole Taylor (Advisor) - Duncan Socials, Beer Bike,
Powderpuff
Nick Irza (Advisor) - Coffeehouse, Beer Bike Committee
Nimish Mittal (Advisor) - Pre-Med Society, Chowl Bhangra, Duncan Soccer
Rebecca Salinas - PAA, Associates Committee, Athlete
Academic Advising
Ryan Kim (Advisor) - Duncan Soccer, TA’ing, ASB, PAIR,
Navigators, Transfer SA, Pre-Med Society, SME
Sachin Allahabadi (Advisor) - RPC, Socials, ASB, Club
Basketball, IM Basketball, PAA, Academic Fellow, Sid
Richardson College
Samantha Hea (Co-advisor) - Powderpuff, Student Association, Tour Guide, Caregiving, PAA, Martel College
Sanjay Gadasalli (Advisor) - College Government, Class
Rep, Duncan Committees, Rugby
Tristanne Mock (Co-advisor) - RPC, Tour Guide, College
Government, RUF, Agape, ASB, McMurtry College
Will Kasper (Gopher) - Caregiving, Service Committee,
Improvements Committee, Campanile Orchestra, AICHE, Owlchemy, Navigators
Zach Bielak (Co-advisor) - Phils, Sid Outreach, EWB,
PAIR Global Leaders, College Theatre, SAC, ASB, RESET,
Eco-Rep, Impact Rice, Family’s Weekend, Sid Richardson
College
Zia Rosenzweig (Advisor) - UCourt, Step Ahead
Zuhdi Abdo (Advisor) - Duncan Court, Powderpuff
Coaching, College & IM Sports
Rice
Duncaroos participate in a variety of activities, including the annual Mr. Duncan pageant held in the spring.
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Houston
DUNCAN COLLEGE
ApollO-Week 2012
DUNCAN COLLEGE
ApollO-Week 2012
Houston: An Overview
Do you consider yourself a cultured soul? Do you enjoy a
night on the town? Do you like really, really good food? If
you answered yes to any of the above, then Houston is just
the town for you. Now, many of you must be asking: “but
wait, isn’t Houston a dingy, poverty-ridden, unsafe place
that runs on oil money?”. Well, I’m happy to tell you that
this is not the case (except maybe the oil thing. I mean,
come on, it’s Houston!). This crazy, charming metropolis
boasts a lively arts scene, world-class entertainment, and if
you love a good meal like I do, some of the best eating to
be had in the country. Best of all, for those of you not vehicularly blessed, the city’s lightrail (subsidized by Rice for
students) can take you to many of the best spots in town.
vorite). Closer to Rice is the Montrose area, which boasts
great local food and clothing shops. Known as the “San
Francisco of Houston,” it has diverse food, clubs, and people. Montrose is a trendy and engaging part of town.
Amongst its many charms, Houston has the world class
Menil Collection as well as the Houston Grand Opera. If
sports are more your game, then the Astros (baseball),
Rockets (basketball) and Dynamos (soccer) are all major
league teams based in Houston. To boot, the city also has
everything from a ballet to country dance halls and great
concerts to art exhibitions. And most importantly, I can
confidently tell you that there is no limit to the great restaurants in Houston, whether they be Cajun/ Creole, Mexican, Thai, Ethiopian, Greek, or just a plain old steakhouse.
However, for extensive shopping and high fashion, you
might consider finding a friend with a car and taking a
trip to the Galleria—is the largest shopping mall in Houston. The Galleria includes many shops and department
stores for all tastes and preferences, as well as a number
of restaurants and a large ice skating rink. You may find
that the merchandise is expensive in the glittering halls of
places like Saks Fifth Avenue or Neiman Marcus, but it is
not impossible to find a good deal if you’re a savvy shopper.
Your first year at Rice is a great opportunity to go out and
explore the great city of Houston. Just beyond those hedges is one of the most amazing cities you’ll ever see, and it
can offer you some of the best experiences of your life. All
you need to do is go looking for them.
Cultural Diversity
With a population of nearly 5 million in the metropolitan
area, Houston is a cosmopolitan city where over 90 languages are spoken. This means that the city has a lot to
offer in terms of cultural events, different ethnic cuisines,
exhibitions, festivals—you name it!
You can find events online (www.houstonpress.com is a
great site with Houston happenings), through cultural
clubs at Rice, or by asking upperclassmen for their advice.
Just 15 minutes south on highway 59, Chinatown is a great
place to get authentic Chinese food (Fu Fu’s is a Rice fa-
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Shopping
The Rice Village—four or five blocks of shops, restaurants
and boutiques—is a popular destination for students. The
Village is bordered by two main streets close to Rice—
Greenbriar and Kirby—and is located only a short walk
or bike away. If you like window shopping or browsing
through used books and flavors of ice cream, you can easily spend a nice afternoon there.
The Outdoors
If you’re more a fan of the ‘Great Outdoors’ than an army of
clothes racks, Houston offers some options to step outside,
as well. If you’re an avid runner, the ‘outer loop’ is a public track that circles the Rice campus (about 5 kilometers
in length). Hermann Park, located a few minutes east of
campus, also provides a nice place to walk or jog, and is a
good location for a picnic in the grass. The park also offers
free music festivals and concerts on the weekends that are
well worth checking out.
Museums & Theaters
In the general area of Hermann Park and Main Street you
will also find more sophisticated forms of entertainment
like the Houston Zoo, the Miller Outdoor Theater, the Museum of Fine Arts, the Museum of Natural Science, and the
Contemporary Arts Museum of Houston. The ‘Passport
to Houston’ program makes most of these surrounding attractions free for all Rice ID holders during the academic
A view of downtown Houston.
year. Keep your eyes open for traveling art exhibits or
IMAX screenings. You’ll also want to check out the butterfly center (located within the Houston Museum of Natural
Science) with its greenhouse collection of hundreds of live,
iridescent butterflies.
In addition to the planetarium at the science museum, for
more space-related fun you can visit the famous NASA
Johnson Space Center (1601 NASA Road 1) located approximately an hour’s drive from Rice.
Downtown Houston is home to Wortham Theater and
the Alley Theater which provide great opportunities to
see ballet, opera, symphony, or a variety of plays and musicals. Movie theaters are also plentiful and are popular
destinations on weekends.
Nightlife
Houston also has a thriving bar, club, and dance scene.
(Limited to 21 or older in most cases, but on some nights
18 and up are permitted.) If your style is fancy drinks and
tapas (Spanish appetizers) or perhaps sitting at a picnic
table, the Rice Village is a good destination. At places like
Richmond Avenue (also known as the Richmond strip),
you can find anything from Swing to Salsa. Downtown
Main Street has its own lively collection of upper scale
bars and clubs as well.
Music Scene
Houston has a great music scene. The Woodlands Pavilion, Reliant Stadium, The Warehouse, and The House of
Blues all attract big name bands. And for the more local
scene, we suggest the Big Easy Blues Bar on Kirby, or the
Meridian, both conveniently located close to campus.
Houston
Sporting Events
If you’re interested in professional sporting events, you
can watch hockey and basketball games downtown in the
Toyota Center or baseball at Minute Maid Park. On the
other end of town, Reliant Stadium is where football games
are played and where the Houston Rodeo is held. Some of
these tickets will be expensive, but if you’re willing to sit in
the nosebleed seats, you might not break the bank.
Houston Professional Sports teams:
• Baseball (MLB) – Astros
• Men’s Basketball (NBA) – Rockets
• Football (NFL)– Texans
• Hockey (AHL) – Aeros
• Soccer (MLS) - Dynamo
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DUNCAN COLLEGE
ApollO-Week 2012
Life Without a Car
Houston is a driving city. With its huge flat geography and
widely dispersed destinations, getting around without a
car can seem next to impossible. If you don’t have a car,
though, don’t stress. Many Rice students don’t have a car,
and they all manage just fine. Read on to find out why:
• You save money! – You don’t have to worry about that
expensive parking fee that Rice charges for you to park in
the far-off West Lot. Filling up your tank with exorbitantly
priced gas will never be an issue, and you’ll never have to
deal with the horrors of discovering an ominous yellow
parking ticket on your beloved car’s windshield.
Transportation
The Rice Shuttle Service
It won’t take you long to figure out that your distant classes
are only a shuttle ride away. But did you know that the
Rice shuttle system also runs off campus? The shuttle runs
to the Rice Graduate Appartments and The Texas Medical
Center. On the weekends, the Rice Shuttle runs to Fiesta,
Target and The Rice Village.
If you return to campus and the shuttle is no longer running,
the night escort service (not that kind) can be reached at
by calling the dispatcher at 713-348-6000 or 713-348-3333.
• You get exercise! – Tons of stuff is within walking distance. For example, the Rice Village, full of good food,
shopping, and other essentials, is barely five minutes away.
It’s honestly a comfortable walk through a nice neighborhood lined with attractive trees.
The Light Rail
• You get to ride the METRO RAIL! – This is so cool! A few
years ago, Houston opened up the metro rail line with two
stations located across Main Street from Rice. The metro
rail runs from Reliant Arena, where the Houston Texans
play, to Minute Maid Park (home of the Astros) and all the
way to Houston’s ultra-spiffy downtown.
Zipcars
• You get to use public transportation! – Houston also has
an extensive system of public buses, plus using public transit saves a lot of energy (always act green)!
• You make friends! – If you’re hungering for some Taco
Bell or desperately need something from Super Target and
all else fails, trust me… there are ALWAYS Rice students
driving to those places, and they’re usually more than willing to give you a ride. Car rides are bonding time! You get
a ride and a friend all at the same time!
• Life at Rice without a car is definitely the good life. Here’s
another reason why: the new Zipcars on campus. They are
a great way to have the convenience of a car without all the
hassle.
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Riding the Light Rail is free with your QCard! check out
the schedule and map at:
www.hou-metro.harris.tx.us/pdf/routes/700-redline.pdf.
New to Rice two years ago, Zipcars are all the talk around
campus. Don’t have a car? It’s only 35 dollars for a year long
subscription. What does the membership include? 180
miles a day, free gas, free insurance, anytime, go anywhere
you want. Signing up is so easy a caveman can do it. http://
www.zipcar.com/rice/
Passport to Houston
Passport to Houston is a program designed to engage students with the city of Houston in order to develop students
who are community-oriented, socially-engaged, and culturally-aware. To achieve this goal, the Passport program
provides free or discounted access to public transportation
and free or discounted admission to cultural arts venues
such as free admission to the Houston Zoo, Museum of
Fine Arts, and Museum of Natural Sciences. During Fall
2012 as part of Rice Nights we will offer free tickets to the
Houston Symphony concert on September 16 and Houston Grand Opera’s performance of Fidelio on October
28. For more information about Passport to Houston and
to find out about upcoming events and other discounts
visit http://passport.rice.edu and like Passport to Houston
on Facebook.
Where to Eat
Did you know that Houston is the city with the most restaurants per capita? It’s been said that you could eat at a
different restaurant for each meal of the day every day for
over a year in Houston. While we don’t suggest you try
that, we do suggest that you go out and explore! With the
Hedgehopper card (which you’ll receive during O-Week),
you’ll get discounts at select places in the Village, but there
plenty of additional places to go as well. This list ought to
help get you started. Each restaurant was judged based on
price. ‘$’ indicates price level and ranges from $ (college
student price) to $$$$ (only when the folks are in town).
Pizza
• Papa John’s Pizza - $ - Kirby @ Sunset 713-432-PAPA
• Pizza Hut - $ - 2400 Holcombe 713-664-1391
• Star Pizza - $ - 3700 Shepherd 713-523-0800
Burgers and BBQ
• Barnaby’s - $$ - 1701 Shepherd
• Bubba’s Burgers - $ - Westpark at 59, under the freeway
• Goode Company BBQ - $ - 5109 Kirby
• Luther’s BBQ - $ - 8777 Main (Near Target)
• Kobecue - $ - 3957 Richmond
Mexican/Tex-Mex
• Chipotle - $ - Kirby and Sunset
• Chapultepec - $ - 813 Richmond Ave.
• Freebirds - $ - Shepherd and Greenbriar
• Chuy’s - $$ - Westheimer west of Kirby
• Guadalajara - $$ - 59 between Buffalo Speedway& Kirby
• La Tapatia - $$ - Richmond and Woodhead
• Lupe Tortilla - $$ - 59 between Shepherd and Kirby
• Pappasito’s - $$ - Richmond and Kirby
Italian
• Prima Pasta - $ - 6811 Kirby
• Carraba’s - $$ - 3115 Kirby
• Collina’s - $$ - Times Blvd and Morningside
• Macaroni Grill - $$ - 5802 Westheimer
• Olive Garden - $$ - 1010 Old Spanish Trail
• Prego’s - $$ - Village Parkway in the Village
Brunch
• Baby Barnaby’s - $ - 602 Fairview St
• Croissant Brioche - $ - Rice Blvd in the Village
• Einstein Brothers Bagels -$ - Kirby and Bissonnet
• Le Peep - $$ - 6128 Village Parkway
Restaurants Open 24/7
• House of Pies - $ - 3112 Kirby
• IHOP - $ - 2412 Holcombe
• Ruchi’s - $ - Shepherd and Alabama
• Taco Cabana - $ - Holcombe and Greenbriar
• Chacho’s Mexican Restaurant - $ -6006 Westheimer
• Starbucks - Post Oak & Westheimer
• 59 Diner - $ - Shepherd and Norfolk
Fine Dining and Special Occasions
• The Cheesecake Factory - $$ - In the Galleria
• Raven Grill - $$ - 1916 Bissonnet
• America’s - $$$ - 1800 Post Oak Blvd
• Azuma Sushi - $$$ -5600 Kirby
• Churrascos - $$$ - 2055 Westheimer
• The Capital Grille - $$$$ - 5365 Westheimer
• Fogo de Chao - $$$$ - 8250 Westheimer
• Michaelangelos - $$$$ - 307 Westheimer
• Post Oak Grill -$$$$ - 1415 S. Post Oak Lane
Houston
American
• Empire Café - $ - 1732 Westheimer
• Ziggy’s Healthy Grill - $$ - West Alabama west of Kirby
• Boulevard Bistro - $$ - Montrose before 59
• Goode Company Seafood - $$ - Kirby and Westpark
• Little Big’s - $$ - Montrose & Westheimer
• Houston’s - $$$ - Kirby and Westpark
Vegetarian
• Field of Greens - $ - 2320 W Alabama St
• The Hobbit Cafe - $$ - 2243 Richmond Ave
• Chinese Café - $ - 9252 Bellaire
• Hunan Village - $ - 3301 Shepherd
• Mai’s Vietnamese - $ - 3402 Milam
• Bombay Brasserie - $$ - Richmond and South Rice
• Fu’s Garden - $$ - Kirby and University
• Shiva’s - $$ - Times Blvd east of Kirby
• Thai Village - $ - 2512 Times Blvd
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ApollO-Week 2012
DUNCAN COLLEGE
Duncaroos celebrate Duncan’s dedication in November 2011 with matching t-shirts.
Texas Adventure
For those of you with a burning desire for exploration, look
no further than the wild Texas frontier. Any native Texans
have probably already been sufficiently indoctrinated with
Texas pride, but for you newcomers to the Lone Star State:
Texas is awesome. Although it never got around to officially seceding from the rest of the United States, it’s basically a separate country (most people from Texas will agree
with this). In case you haven’t seen a map of the United
States recently, let me let you in on a little secret. Texas is
HUGE! I’m talking 12 hours of driving from East to West
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and 14 from the panhandle to the valley. The old maxim
is true: everything is bigger in Texas. You just need to get
up and get out to see it. If you’ve got a free weekend, grab
some friends, jump into a car with a few day’s worth of beef
jerky and red bull, and hit the road. There’s a world out
there to discover, so you might as well start now. Hopefully,
this guide can give you some ideas of places to check out,
whether you’re looking for beautiful hiking, great beaches, truly epic amusement parks, or random idiosyncratic
towns tucked back away in the wilderness. Happy trails!
Less than 3 hours away:
Galveston - The beaches aren’t particularly breathtaking, but at only an hour away it’s a great day trip and a
nice change of geography. The historic Strand District has many well-preserved older houses, many of
which have been turned into museums. Maybe check
out out the Schlitterbahn water park or Moody Gardens, a giant glass pyramid containing a tropical rain
forest. At the very least, bring a frisbee, a picnic, and a
towel to enjoy a relaxing afternoon in the sand and surf.
Austin - Although it’s the state capital and home to over
500,000 residents, Austin has all of the quirky appeal of
a college town, riddled with funky stores and restaurants
and a prime location for people watching (the city’s unofficial slogan is ‘Keep Austin Weird’ and they’re doing a good
job of it). Swing by the UT campus, hit up one of the music clubs, or go on a sunset “bat tour” where you’ll see the
largest urban bat colony in North America (1.5 million) as
they fly off for the night.
3-5 hours away:
Over 5 hours from Rice:
Big Bend National Park - Sometimes considered three
parks in one, Big Bend includes mountain, desert, and
river environments. An hour’s drive can take you from
the banks of the Rio Grande to a mountain basin nearly a mile high. Here, you can explore one of the last remaining wild corners of the United States, and experience unmatched sights, sounds, and solitude. If you want
to see mountainous desert at its finest, look no further.
Hueco Tanks State Historic Site - Named for the natural
rock basin in its granite outcroppings that capture water and
attracted Native Americans to the area for millennia. As a
result, the ancient site preserves more than 2,000 perfectly
preserved pictographs. They have a limited park capacity, so
you may want to make reservations a few days in advance.
Padre Island National Seashore - Located along the southTexas coast, Padre Island National Seashore protects the
longest undeveloped stretch of barrier island in the world.
They’ve got 70 miles of sandy beaches, wind-carved dunes,
vast grasslands, fragile tidal flats, and warm waters...basically, everything you could ever want in a seashore.
Houston
Schlitterbahn (New Braunfels) - This massive water
park is consistently rated one of the best water parks in
the world. Need we say more? And the heavily Germaninfluenced New Braunfels is a great day trip (see Wurstfest
or the Guadalupe River).
Sea World (San Antonio) - The largest marine-life park in
the country, this placed is absolutely stocked. As well as the
typical stock of orcas, sharks, dolphins, and LOTS of fish,
this park also has three roller coasters (including a hypercoaster that reaches speeds of up to 70 mph) and two water
rides. Try to catch a performance or two. Maybe you’ll get
to chat up some cute dolphin trainer.....
Six Flags (Arlington) - The oldest Six Flags in the world,
this park has over 50 rides and a huge amount of things to
do. If you’re a thrill seeker, the Mr. Freeze wooden roller
coaster (the number one wooden coaster in the world)
and the innovative Batman are sure to get your adrenaline
flowing.
Enchanted Rock - This pink granite dome is basically a
425-foot-tall round mountain rising up out of the Texas Hill
Country. It has some of the best camping, backpacking, rock
climbing, and hiking on this side of Texas, and is definitely
worth the 4-hour drive. Be sure to wander through the quaint
and quirky Fredricksburg at some point during your trip.
Guadalupe River - Worth checking out, whether you’re
into kayaking, canoeing, or just sitting lazily in a floating
inner tube with an ice-cold beverage in hand. The river is
riddled with campsites, nearly all of which offer rentals and
tours.
There are lots of places to explore - in and out of Houston!
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Rice Speak
45/90/180
A trio of statues situated in the Engineering Quad that
are modeled after their namesake angles. As a result, 180
makes for an excellent study spot! 45... not as great.
Academ
A person who is majoring in the humanities or social sciences.
All-nighter
An act of desperation involving staying up all night to
finish an assignment. Considered incomplete until you
attend breakfast or see the sun rise before crashing. Common usage: to pull an all-nighter.
Anderson
Anderson Hall. Also known as the 12th residential college; home of the Archis.
Archi (ar-kee)
A student majoring in architecture. Find one if you ever
need something drawn.
Associate
Faculty, staff, and community members associated with a
college. Good people to get to know.
Associate’s Night
A formal dinner held in the Duncan commons once a semester to honor Duncan Associates. Dress up and come
eat good food with interesting people.
Autry
Technically refers to the gym where the basketball teams
played up until two years ago when huge rennovations
began.
around campus leaving a trail of body prints. A proud
Baker institution for over thirty years.
Baker Institute/Baker Hall
Respectively, the James A. Baker III Institute for Public
Policy and the building which houses The Institute.
Beer-Bike
A very competitive, inter-college race held every spring,
in which ten bikers and ten chuggers from each college
compete in a life and death struggle for personal and college pride. Widely held to be much like your birthday to
the hundredth power but with lots of college cheers. Get
ready to bike or chug now.
Beyond the Hedges
The Real World. It’s thought to exist.
Big Three
Specifically, chemistry, calculus, and physics. Almost all
S/E’s take the big three. Most pass.
Blow off
To postpone doing something, as in “let’s blow off studying and go to House of Pies instead.”
Bookstore
This is where you can go to get all your textbooks for
class, plus lots of nifty Rice paraphernalia. Take your parents there so you can all get gear to show off your school
pride.
Backpage
The back page of the Thresher contains ads (free to Rice
students), and stuff somebody thinks is funny.
Campanile (kam-pa-neel-ee)
1. A bell tower of any kind.
2. Rice’s Undergraduate Orchestra.
3. The Rice yearbook, a mythical creature, which used to
be known only to appear every leap year. For the past few
years they’ve been out on time, albeit “ontime”means the
fall after the year it covers. Just realize that the yearbook
crew does a great job so it is well worth the wait.
Baker 13
An organization whose sole function is for its members
to undress, smear shaving cream on their bodies, and run
Chug
To consume high volumes of liquid as quickly as possible
(see Beer Bike).
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Coffeehouse
A student-run coffee shop providing the best legal way to
artificially increase your study skills on short notice. Located in the RMC.
Dunc Tank
The name of Duncan’s lovely water element situated just
outside of the commons.
Cohen House (CoHo)
The faculty dining club near Sewall Hall. They make very
good food. If you get the opportunity, eat or work there.
Eight A.M.’s
Generally a pretty bad idea. Regardless of how early your
high school started, you’ll be much less likely to wake up
for these classes in college.
College Night
Misnomer. Actually a full day of themed partying held
every semester during which we celebrate our college
awesomeness with other Duncaroos. Each residential college has their own college night.
EMS
Rice Emergency Medical Service. Known as EMT’s,
they’re a group of Rice students that provide medical attention in an emergency. You can join them too by taking
the EMS class at Rice. In emergencies, call 713-348-6000.
Convocation
The calling together of the college. It is held each fall to
inaugurate the academic year and welcome the new members (YOU!). Like Associates’ Night, it’s a formal seated
meal with above-average food.
Esperanza
Fall formal held sometime in November put on by RPC
Coordinators
1. Typically some of the most physically attractive people
on campus. Always hyper, helpful, and in love with OWeek!
2. Your lovely coordinators Molly, Jeremy, and Drew!
DMC
The Digital Media Center. A technophile’s dream. Lots of
computers to use and cool equipment available to check
out. Also a great place to study.
Duncaroo
1. A resident of Duncan College.
2. An email sent out to the entire college by addressing it
to [email protected]
Dunc Love
The ultimate manifestation of Duncan’s values of community, togetherness, and culture of care.
Facebook
You already know. Just make sure it doesn’t consume
your soul...or do, if that’s your thing. Great procrastinating tool.
Fondren (Club Fondy)
The Rice Library. It has seminar rooms, study rooms, and
classrooms. A great place for a quick nap between classes,
and it’s open 24 hours a day during the week.
Forum
Duncan’s governing body, made up entirely of Duncan
students. Meets every Thursday at 9pm in the Green
Classroom.
Frog Wall
An architectural quirk of Anderson Hall, and popular
stop for tour groups. Try it out for yourself.
GSA
The Graduate Student Association. We play them in college sports, and unfortunately they win a lot because there
are about 1500 of them, compared to 250-400 for each of
the colleges. Houston
Dunc Hunks
The men of Duncan are known as the “Dunc Hunks,”
extremely attractive members of the Rice community.
Extension
Wonderful things! A lengthened deadline for a paper/
project, obtained by asking a prof. Use discretion when
requesting one. (Note: must actually ask prof)
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DUNCAN COLLEGE
ApollO-Week 2012
Hedges
Extensive botanical growth found surrounding campus
and in the quad. “Beyond the Hedges” refers to the world
beyond Rice.
House of Pies
Often referred to as House of Guys due to the eclectic
clientele, this 24-hour diner is to Rice what the Maxx was
to Saved by the Bell.
Housing & Dining (H&D)
The people who are responsible for administering all the
food service and residential buildings on campus.
IM
Intramural. Informal, low-stress sports played among
students. Not to be confused with college sports which
are played between teams representing one of the colleges
with points going towards the President’s Cup.
Ironman/Ironwoman
Someone who both rides and chugs at Beer Bike. A true
American hero.
Jack
To pull a prank, usually on another college. The more
clever and over-the-top (without being destructive) the
better. Only happens during O-week and Willy Week.
Jones School
Rice’s Graduate School of Business. MBA students are
usually only here for a year so we don’t really consider
them true grad students. Not to be confused with Jones
College.
KTRU (kay-true)
The campus radio station which can be found online
at ktru.org or on HD radio at 90.1 HD-2. It is a student
operated radio station that plays everything from jazz, to
reggae, to ridiculously indie rock bands that no one has
ever heard of before. They also broadcast Rice baseball
games.
Ley Student Center
Wing of the RMC that houses the Thresher, Student Association (SA), Campanile, KTRU, RPC, as well as the
Academic Advising office.
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Leebron
Our beloved president, Dr. David Leebron.
Matriculation
Ceremony held during O-Week to officially welcome you
to Rice.
Media Center
Building found near the stadium where film and photography classes are held. Also houses a gallery space and
theatre with Houston’s only silver screen.
Meet (Meat) Sheet
Officially called the Newcomer’s Guide, a catalogue of
pictures of all incoming students. This it a great resource
if you’re trying to figure out who exactly it is that you’re in
the middle of gossiping about. Very useful for finding a
Screw Yer Roommate date for your roommate.
MOB
The Marching Owl Band. They do not in fact march
nor is any musical ability required for membership, and
they’re the only band around with electric violins and
kazoos. They always put on an entertaining show during
halftime filled with amusing skits, jibes at opposing teams,
and zany antics.
Montrose
The area near campus around the intersection of Montrose and Westheimer. Contains lots of rainbow-friendly
clubs, restaurants, and people of diverse character.
Mudd Lab
The university computer center. If you have problems
with your computer, the people here are glad to help
out. Also, a great place to plot large documents.
Musi
A student majoring in music. See “Shepherd School”
NOD
Night of Decadence. A big party near Halloween which
features lots of beverages and “decadent costumes.” The
only college sponsored party you have to pay money to go
to. Once on Playboy’s Top 10 Party list.
O/C
Off Campus. Both a great place to explore and a great
place to live!
Outer Loop
The path that encircles campus. Great for a jog. About 3
miles long.
Owl Days
A weekend in the Spring when lots of admitted high
school seniors come to visit campus. Sign up to host and
show someone how great Rice is.
Pass-Fail
You can declare this for up to four elective courses (i.e.,
courses that aren’t used to satisfy a requirement for your
major). Only one can be used per semester, but they can
be lifesavers. You only need a D- in a class designated P/F
to receive a P. It does not influence your GPA unless you
end up failing the class.
Pavillion, The
The recently built Brochstein Pavillion is the only modernistic building on campus, and you can’t miss it. Located behind Fondren, the Pav is a great place to relax.
Peoplequarium
Nickname given to Brochstein Pavillion during construction because it “would be a great place to watch students
in their natural environment.”
Pledge
The Honor Code Pledge. “On my honor, I have neither
given nor received any unauthorized aid on this (exam,
assignment, etc.).” See page 115.
Pub
“The Pub” or “Willy’s Pub” is located in the basement
of the RMC. In addition to selling beer and pizza, they
also serve wine coolers, subs, sodas, etc. If you want to
be somewhere loud and dark, try the pub on Thursday
nights, also know as Pub Night.
Quad
The central academic quadrangle fixed around Willy’s
statue. Also known as the “academic quad.”
R2
The Rice Review. An independent literary magazine published entirely by students.
Reserve Reading
Class readings that the professor leaves at a particular
desk in the library so that everyone can have access to
them. High usage, limited checkout privileges.
Rice Players
Only campus theater group not associated with a college. Usually well worth the ticket price.
RMC
Rice Memorial Center, the student center and location
of student advising, the book store, Pub, Sammy’s, and
Coffeehouse. You can use the ATM there, as well as buy
postage.
Room Draw
The process we use to assign rooms for the next year. It’s
a little bit complicated, but you’re smart enough to figure
it out. Don’t ask about Room Jack unless you really like
drama.
RPC
Rice Program Council. The organization in charge of all
university-wide social events. It has a large budget and is
in charge of Beer Bike and Screw Yer Roommate.
RSVP
Rice Student Volunteer Program. An organization that
runs a lot of community service opportunities in which
Rice students seem to seek to improve the quality of life
beyond the hedges.
Houston
Powderpuff
Women’s college flag football. One of the most intense
(and fun) of the college sports as well as a great spectator
sport. Played during the fall semester.
Pumpkin Grades
Mid-semester grades given to new students in the fall so
that they have an indication of how they are doing. They
come out around Halloween.
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Rustication
A harsh penalty in which a student is not allowed on
campus except for classes and tests. This is very, very bad.
Avoid at all costs!
SA
Student Association. The campus-wide body representing students. The SA deals with campus wide issues and
administrative business. Its officials are elected and you’re
already a member, so vote or die!
Sallyport
The big archway in the middle of Lovett Hall. Tradition
holds that if you walk through it from the inside of the
quad between matriculation and graduation you won’t
graduate on time.
Sammy’s
A cafeteria in the RMC. An option if want a change from
servery food.
Screw Yer Roommate
A Rice tradition held in the fall in which roommates set
up blind dates for each other who then either have a good
time or struggle to make it through the night.
S/E
A student majoring in science or engineering.
bulbs as well as the furniture in your room.
“Somos equipo, somos familia.”
Luis’ favorite cheer. Will often be heard during Beer Bike,
or any other time Duncaroos feel spirited.
Steam Tunnels
The system of underground tunnels connecting all the
buildings on campus. Strictly off-limits, but it’s cool to
know they’re there.
Sweep
To win all the races at Beer Bike. Will Rice has done this
four times.
TA
A teaching assistant. Sometimes they’re really sweet and
they help you.
TC
Taco Cabana. A 24 hour Mexican food serving institution, and an all-nighter’s best friend.
Tetra Points
The credit on your meal plan used to buy food at the
Student Center. Also known as free money, a.k.a. mom
and dad’s.
Servery
The kitchen where your everyday food is made. Every
college either has its own servery or shares one with nearby colleges. Duncaroos and Murts share West Servery.
TG (Tailgate)
A cookout open to the whole college where we usually
eat something grilled and hang out. Somehow, short for
tailgate, although trucks are rarely involved. A frequent
source of free food and a reason to celebrate.
Shepherd School
Rice’s School of Music. One of the nation’s top conservatories, they hold free performances of some kind or other
almost every day.
Thresher
Rice’s student-operated newspaper. Famous for the Backpage and theater reviews of varying quality.
Sidebar
Declare sidebar to break off from the main conversation
and create a separate one with your buddy. Use liberally.
SMR
Student Maintenance Representative. This year’s SMR is
Fernando Ramirez. He is the liaison between Housing &
Dining and the students. He can help you change light
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Trasher
The April Fools edition of the Thresher. Not “officially”
part of the Thresher however.
Ubangee (You-bang-ee)
Wiess tradition frequently unleashed upon anyone at any
time… run screaming through the Wiess Commons during the moment of silence for a demonstration.
Ultimate
A popular sport played with a Frisbee. Often seen being
played on the intramural fields.
Valhalla
The graduate student bar located underneath Keck
Hall. Allegedly serves the cheapest beer in Houston.
Village, The
A commercial area just to the west of campus. Great,
close place to shop and eat.
Willy
Memorial statue and burial site of William M. Rice in the
Central Quad. Commonly used as a meeting spot (Screw
Your Roommate). In a famous jack, Willy was turned 180
degrees by some ingenious Wiessman.
Willy Week
The week preceeding Beer Bike is filled with college activities, alumni, and plenty of jacks.
Y’all
Short for “you all” this Southern slang is something you
have to get used to. Y’all will be saying this if you want to
or not.
ZZZ’s
Rumored to mean sleep, but Rice students have never
actually experienced getting any zzz’s.
Major Abbrevs
ArchiArchitecture ARCH
Bioc Biochemistry & Cell Biology BIOC
BioE Bioengineering BIOE
Busi Business (Minor Only) BUSI
ChBE Chemical Engineering CHBE
CEVE Civil Engineering CEVE
Cog Sci Cognitive Sciences CSCI
Econ Economics ECON
Earth Sci Earth Science ESCI
Educ Education EDUC
EEB Ecology & Evolutionary Biology EBIO
Elec Electrical Engineering ELEC
Fwizzle First-Yr Writing Intensive
Seminar (Not a major) FWIS
Health Sci Health Sciences HEAL
Ling Linguistics LING
MechE Mechanical Engineering MECH
Math Econ Mathematical Economic Analysis MTEC
Musi Music MUSI
Phil Philosophy PHIL
PJHC Poverty, Justice, and Human Capabilities (Minor Only) PJHC
Poli Sci Political Science POLI
Psych Psychology PSYC
Reli Religious Studies RELI
Soci Sociology SOCI
Sports Mana Sports Management SMGT
Stat Statistics STAT
SWGS Study of Women, Gender, and Sexuality SWGS
Houston
Duncan loves techno! Especially at our annual Sensation party.
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Useful Links
Last-Minute Advice
Find a good place to study early on. Try Fondren Library,
Rice Website: www.rice.edu
the Commons, the Baker Institute, or Brochstein PavilO-Week Website: firstyear.rice.edu
ion... whatever works for you.
Duncan Website:
duncan.rice.edu
Financial Aid: financialaid.rice.edu
Bring medicine...there is a good chance you will eventually
Academic Advising:
www.rice.edu/advising
Language Placement:
csllab.rice.edu/students/ get sick, and you might even become the hero of the cute
sick guy or girl who lives next door.
language-place
ment-test/
Always smile and wave to the Housing and Dining staff; it
English Competency Exam: compexam.rice.edu
Academic Calendar: registrar.rice.edu/calen will make their day, and yours.
dars.aspx
Campus Employment:
http://financialaid.rice. If you wash printed T-shirts inside-out, they will last longer and make you look much better.
edu/main.aspx?id=66
Useful Numbers
Campus Police/EMS: 713-348-6000
Night Escort: 713-348-6000
Counseling Center:713-348-4867
Health Services:713-348-4966
Wellness Center:713-348-5194
Disability Support Services: 713-348-5841
Mudd Lab: 713-348-4005
Housing and Dining Emergencies: 713-348-5445
Admissions:713-348-7423
Cashier’s Office: 713-348-2362
Registrar:713-348-8036
Financial Aid:713-348-4958
Extension cords and splitters are your new best friends.
Also, bring an ethernet cable—it’s faster than wireless.
Buy some cheap flip flops for the shower, because you never know what you might be stepping on.
Make exercise a part of your life; it gives you a break from
studying and makes you feel better.
Lunch lines are the longest at 12:05, and dinner lines at
6:00.
Don’t forget about your tetra points; they can give you that
much needed break from studying at The Hoot or caffeine
from Coffeehouse.
Don’t walk alone at night; even if the shuttles aren’t running, you can always call RUPD for a free escort.
Wear deodorant. It gets hot. Real hot. And sticky, too. Your
peers will appreciate it.
Your ID card is of utmost importance. It gets you food and
lets you into buildings across campus including other colleges and the library. And provides discounts in the Village.
Ask people out. Get to know them outside of an academic
setting.
Call your family. They love you.
149
Join college sports teams, even if you suck. They’re a great
way to meet new people and have fun.
Bring lots of socks and underwear; you’ll be happy you did.
This way you won’t feel as inclined to do laundry.
Always go down to dinner and pick up some food, even if
you are not dining at the servery that night. You’re paying
for it anyway, so you might as well have a snack later when
you’re still up studying at 3 a.m.
Don’t be afraid to make friends with the upperclassmen;
they were once new too.
Don’t Forget...
- Relax and enjoy your summer!
- Register for a Net ID (www.apply.rice.edu)
- Read the summer reading book Whistling Vivaldi.... seriously, it’s good.
- Packing will take you longer than you expect!
- Contact your roommate to coordinate what to bring.
- Spend time with family and friends. They’re going to miss
you and you will have very little time to spend with them
on move-in day and during O-Week.
- Read all information that comes from Rice; even if it isn’t
the most exciting, you’ll be glad you did!
- Bring your O-Week book!
- Call or email us if you have questions!
Chalk art in the Duncan quad.
Houston
- Make sure you take the comp exam this summer.
150
That about concludes your first mission. Duncaroos, we
hope that you now feel more prepared, knowledgeable, and
excited about Rice University and Duncan College. When
we say we would love to hear from you, we mean it. If you
have anything left unanswered, or just simply want to chat,
do not hesitate nor feel awkward about contacting us; nothing would put a bigger smile on our faces. In the meantime, we hope you have a great summer, spend some time
with family and friends, and stay excited to meet all of the
other Duncaroos! Get some rest; a glorious galaxy awaits!
Astronomical Love,
DUNCAN COLLEGE
ApollO-Week 2012
Closing
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Molly
Jeremy
Drew
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