File - Duncan College

Duncan College
SOMEWHERE OVER THE
RAINBO-WEEK
2013
1
table of contents
A Welcome from the Coordinators 5
Logistics8
So what is O-Week? Duncan Contact Information
What to Bring
9
10
10
Campus Map How to Get Here...
Move-In Instructions
Local Banks
Hotels Nearby
12
13
13
14
14
Duncan16
Anne and Charles Duncan
18
Duncan College
19
What is BaDunc?
21
What is the Adult Team?
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
28
The Quirks and Character of Duncan
Rooms29
Living With a Roommate
29
The Residential College System 31
The Other Colleges
32
People36
The Coordinators
37
Master39
Head Resident Fellows
40
Resident Associates
41
College Coordinator
43
Duncan Associates
44
Duncan Fellows
44
Message from Duncan’s President 46
Rice Administration
47
First Year Programs
48
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
Resident Health Advisor (RHA) 83
President84
Chief Justice
84
Rice86
Rice: How Did It Get Here?
87
The Annual Fund
88
Rice Traditions
89
Beer Bike
90
Academic Calendar
91
Building Acronyms
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 and Minors at Rice
100
International Student Perspective 101
The Transfer Student Perspective 102
Off-Campus Perspective
103
Student-Athlete Perspective
104
First Generation Perspective
105
Student Research at Rice
105
Study Abroad
107
Fondren Library
110
Wellness Center
111
Computing at Rice
112
Employment Docs
113
Working at Rice
114
Student Run Businesses
115
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
126
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
Houston136
Houston: An Overview
137
Life Without a Car
139
Passport to Houston
139
Where to Eat
139
Places of Worship
141
Texas Adventure
141
Rice Speak
143
Major Abbrevs
148
Useful Links
149
Useful Numbers
149
149
Last-Minute Advice
Don’t Forget...
150
Closing151
3
Hello and welcome to Duncan! This is the beginning of
your journey. Your first steps as an undergraduate at Rice
University are about to commence. We invite you to join
us on an adventure down our unique yellow brick road and
are excited to have the opportunity to welcome you to Rice
University and Duncan Residential College. You are in for
the journey of your life. Keep your eyes and minds open as
you make your way to our Emerald Palace. You will learn
so much in the coming months, so don’t forget to breathe
and remember that you are in good company. We are all
in this together, with you, and intend to see you through
to the end of the road. We will help you overcome the obstacles to make your time at Rice (and Duncan) the most
enjoyable and memorable as possible.
DUNCAN COLLEGE
O-Week 2013
A Welcome from the Coordinators
4
Allow us to introduce ourselves. We, Becca, Michael, and
Nick, are your Orientation Week Coordinators; undergraduates who were selected to plan, organize, and execute
your acclimation and assimilation into Rice University.
Our job is to make your transition into our incredible community as fun, positive, and smooth as possible. This first
week, known to the Rice community as “O-Week”, 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 as a Duncaroo, and
get the guidance and advising you need to plan your first
semester schedule as well as your academic career at Rice
as a whole. Don’t worry; you’ll have lots of fun too!
You probably have many questions, but trust that we are
working tirelessly to make sure that they are all answered
in due time. 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 that 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 guide to navigate the yellow brick road ahead of you. 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. In addition, consider it and this accompanying
letter to be a formal introduction. 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; we would love to talk with you and your family to
answer any questions or concerns that 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 “O”. We have selected Somewhere Over the RainbOWeek, as a reference to Dorothy and her journey down the
yellow brick road in the classic “Wizard of Oz”. We spent
a long time thinking about why we think O-Week is important and what we think should come from it. In that
process, we came up with a vision that can be applied to
the Duncan community as a whole. It is our main goal to
make you, as new students feel like Duncan, and Rice University, are a home and we want to continue to build with
you, and those before you, a place that has a solid sense of
community at its core.
With that in mind, we came to a decision to embark on an
adventure down the yellow brick road together, with you
and our team of upperclassmen advisors and affiliates. You
will undergo turmoil and adversity (and maybe a flying
monkey or two). You will overcome the odds and reach the
Emerald Palace and come out of the adventure as a unified front; with a brain, a heart, and courage. We hope you
will come to the realization, too, that you aren’t in Kansas
Michael, Nick and Becca ponder O-Week
anymore (or Virginia, or China, or California, or wherever
you’re from), but in an even greater sense we hope you will
see that there is no place like home. And that home, you
will come to see, is Duncan College.
DuncLove,
Your Duncan College Somewhere Over the RainbO-Week
Coordinators,
Becca Hamm Conard (Duncan ’14)
Michael Petrus (Duncan ’14)
Nick Irza (Duncan ’14)
5
Why, if I had a brain I could...
I could wile away the hours
Conferrin’ with the flowers
Consultin’ with the rain
And my head I’d be scratchin
While my thoughts were busy hatchin’
6
If I only had a brain
Logistics
7
DUNCAN COLLEGE
O-Week 2013
So what is O-Week?
From the moment you step foot on Rice campus on Sunday,
August 18th you will be whisked into a frenzied and gravity-defying cyclone of academic and social chaos. Don’t
worry; this is nothing like the tornado in Kansas. Think of
it as a very structured whirlwind of information and fun.
Structured chaos… Sounds questionable, doesn’t it? Well,
trust us when we say that we have everything planned out
and ready for you. Your matriculation and acclimation to
Rice University will be an experience like no other orientation and we intend to ensure that you experience the most
amazing week we can give you. It will be only the beginning of the many other amazing opportunities that Rice
has to offer.
Are you worried about choosing your classes? Are you 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 Tice. There
will also be designated Peer Academic Advisors (PAAs),
upperclassmen whose primary role is to give you a student
perspective and guidance on Rice academics and courses.
at Rice, the coordinators have placed you into an O-Week
group. As part of this group, you will have three to four
upperclassmen designated to help guide you and a small
group of other new students through the transition into
Rice University life. They are there to help you with any
concerns that you may have; whether it be about academics, or about social life, or just about life in general. They
were hand chosen to serve you, and want to volunteer their
time to make your experience during and after O-Week
the best that it can be.
As you can tell, O-Week is a very busy and tiring time. So
you better rest up and come prepared to dive right into
life at Rice and Duncan, because we’re so excited to meet
you and guide you on your journey down the yellow brick
road. Your journey starts with O-Week, so get pumped and
come prepared for a whirlwind of fun.
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 each major. The student activity fair allows you to gain
exposure to some of the clubs and organizations in which
you can participate. In addition to these, you will be able to
meet some of the various student leaders in the residential
colleges and be exposed to other resources around campus
such as Health Services, the Wellness Center, the Rice University Police Department, Rice EMS, and other campus
organizations.
Just as important to O-Week is the opportunity that you
have to interact with other new students from Duncan
College. You will also get to know some of the returning
upperclassmen from both Duncan as well as other residential colleges. We have designed and planned activities so
that you can bond and interact with many other students
and build relationships that will last through your time at
Rice and beyond. As part of O-Week and your first year
8
It’s ridiculous how excited your advisors are
to meet you
Duncan College O-Week
Coordinators:
Becca Hamm Conard
(518) 788 - 8452
[email protected]
Nick Irza
(858) 692 - 9993
[email protected]
Michael Petrus
(512) 496 - 5475
[email protected]
Duncan College Masters
Luis Duno-Gottberg
[email protected]
Head Resident Fellows
Brandy & Caleb McDaniel
[email protected]
[email protected]
Resident Associates
Nick & Kate Pascuzzi
[email protected]
[email protected]
Suzanne Kemmer & Michael Barlow
[email protected]
[email protected]
Logistics
Duncan Contact Information
Duncan College Mailing Address:
(Your Name)
Rice University
1601 Rice Boulevard
Houston, TX 77005
College Coordinator
Vicki Woods
(713) 348 - 4647 (phone)
(713) 348 - 2790 (fax)
[email protected]
Duncan President
Jeremy Scher
(201) 527 - 0201
[email protected]
Duncan Chief Justice
Sanjay Gadasalli
(432) 853 - 0028
[email protected]
Duncan SMR
Jayson Carter
(480) 382 - 7876
[email protected]
What to Bring
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!
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
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.
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 facebook and reddit. 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/multioutlet surge protectors are also a great idea (and a musthave for most people). For tips on what type of computer
to buy see the Computing at Rice section on page 113.
9
Bikes:
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
DUNCAN COLLEGE
O-Week 2013
Clothes:
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, college can be messy. 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.
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.
Sheets:
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. The Target in Houston has a great college section
with XL sheets (and practically anything else you want).
Other thoughts:
- A dry erase board for the door can be a good idea so
other people can leave you messages.
- 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 machines to malfunction (really, it’s not pretty).
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.
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
Make sure you bring your dance skills like
Dean Hutch!
10
Logistics
Campus Map
Some important things to note:
1. The inner loop, the road that runs around the academic quad, is ONE WAY! If you see curremt students trying to flag
you down while you are driving, it may be because you’re going the wrong way down a one way street (it happens pretty
frequently).
2. Those gorgeous trees lining Rice Blvd are called “live oaks.”
3. If you become disoriented at any time on campus, there are maps placed strategically around the inner loop. Also
Rice students love giving directions! Actually! Stop anyone and they’ll be happy to help you.
11
DUNCAN COLLEGE
O-Week 2013
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/
12
Duncan advisors help move new students in
during ApollO-Week.
Move-In Instructions
Move-in begins the morning of Sunday, August 18th. 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. Chase ATMs
charge a $3.00 withdrawal fee for most other ATM cards.
If you would like to avoid this fee it’s recommended to either open a Chase account or find a local bank that forgives
ATM fees.
Hotels Nearby
Logistics
Local Banks
The following is a brief list of hotels that are located near
campus. Many of these hotels offer a special discount to
Rice families. Ask for the “Rice Orientation Week Rate.”
Please note that all information is subject to change. Please
call the hotel to verify rates and availability
Courtyard By Marriot At West University
2929 Westpark Dr. (2.7 mi)
(713) 661-5669
Holiday Inn at Astrodome/Reliant Park
8111 Kirby Drive. (2.6 mi.)
(713) 576-5086
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
13
When a man’s an empty kettle
He should be on his mettle
And yet I’m torn apart
Just because I’m presumin’
That I could be kinda human
14
If I only had a heart
15
16
DUNCAN COLLEGE
O-Week 2013
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.
Anne and Charles Duncan
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.
17
DUNCAN COLLEGE
O-Week 2013
Duncan College
The year was 2007. Charles William Duncan, Jr. and his beds for 324. As luck would have it, Baker College (Rice’s
wife, Anne Smith Duncan, had just celebrated their 50th first residential college) was in need of renovations, so for
wedding anniversary in June. The Duncans had always the 2009-2010 school year, Bakerites lived in Duncan with
been great patrons of Rice University. Mr. Duncan, Rice the first Duncan class. The two colleges were collectively
class of 1947, had served as chairman of the Rice Board referred to as “BaDunc,” and Baker and Duncan have been
of Governors (now known as the Board of Trustees) from sister colleges ever since. Also living in Duncan were stu1982 until his retirement in 1996. Mrs. Duncan had been a dents from other colleges, known as Ambassadors. Their
proud supporter of Rice’s Shepherd School of Music, serv- job was to provide insight from their colleges to help Duning on its governing council and organizing fundraising can get started.
events. They knew they wanted to make a large contribuAfter learning the
tion to Rice, and so
ropes,
Duncan
asked David Leestarted having colbron, 7th president
lege
government
of Rice University,
meetings,
called
what would help
Forum.
Duncan
Rice the most. This
chose this name for
coincided with the
its government in“Vision for the Secstead of others like
ond Century,” (Rice
“Cabinet,” or “Parcelebrated its 100th
liament,” to convey
anniversary Octothat it is a place for
ber of 2012), part
open discussion, in
of which included
which all Duncaincreasing the size
roos may particiof the student body
pate freely. Duncan
by 30%. Since this
also threw its first
would require adpublic party, “Senditional housing,
sation: The WhitPresident Leebron
eout,” based off of a
suggested that the
series of events in
Duncans found a
Duncaroos celebrate the anniversary of Duncan’s
Europe
and
South America.
new residential college. And
dedication at Duncan Gala
Sensation has now happened
so, in October 2007, Anne and
Charles Duncan donated $30 million to establish Duncan three times, and has a reputation as one of the best parties
College, Rice’s 11th residential college. Duncan wanted the on campus.
building to be green and energy-efficient, as he had served
as Secretary of Energy under President Jimmy Carter from Later in that year, Duncan competed in its first Beer Bike
1979-1981. And so Duncan College would be one of the race, an exhibition against McMurtry, the other new colfirst buildings in Houston to receive LEED (Leadership in lege. On that day, tragedy struck as one of Duncan’s bikers crashed during the race. But then something amazing
Energy and Environmental Design) Gold certification.
happened. All of Duncan immediately forgot about the
Duncan College opened its doors in 2009 to its first ma- Beer Bike race (which anyone who has been to Beer Bike
triculating class of 79 students. Of course, 79 students knows is a big deal) and rallied to help the fallen biker. Afwould not have come close to filling up a building with ter the race, Duncan’s then Head Resident Fellow and current College Master, Luis, sent an email to the college em-
18
bracing 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
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.
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.
Duncan’s birthday, “Duncan Day,” and the week leading up
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.
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. 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).
In 2012 Duncan celebrated Duncan Week in the biggest
way yet. The week included Monday Night Lights, Dodgeball, a Talent Show, Duncan Tavern, Duncan Carnival (including a McMurtry pinata) and concluded with Duncan
Gala, a formal dinner and awards ceremony that ended in
a casino night. We added Roobilation, a holiday celebration, and started Cultural Nights on the sundeck. In 2013
Duncan celebrate WoodsTOKC, a music festival in the
quad to benefit Triumph Over Kid’s Cancer.
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!
Monday Night Lights
-Drayton Thomas (Duncan 2014)
19
What is BaDunc?
DUNCAN COLLEGE
O-Week 2013
participation in Baker 13, Mohawks for Beer Bike, an appreciation of winter holidays (Baker celebrates Christmas
Party, Duncan Roobilation), and general awesomeness. Of
course, we are our own college as well. Unlike Baker we
perform very well in Beer Bike and have come pretty close
to winning, and Tavern is something unique to Duncan.
You’ll see a lot of Baker during O-Week and throughout
the year. Although we try to play dodgeball against every
college, our Willy Week game is always reserved for Baker.
Sometimes it’s a friendly rivalry, sometimes we’re besties,
but we always remember the BaDunc love. And like any
younger sibling, sometimes Duncan gets a little hyper, especially when it comes to Sensation and our electric/house
music (our first O-Week was The Kids Want TechnOWeek), so remember, Baker Says Relax.
Duncan clearly dominating BaDunc Dodgeball during
ApollO-Week 2013
A long time ago, like at least 4 years ago, Duncan was
founded. But it made no sense to leave the first Duncan
class (class of 2013) all alone in this big, eco-friendly building. How would they do O-Week? Figure out traditions?
What upperclassmen would they talk to? Conveniently
enough, Baker, the oldest residential college was being renovated, so Bakerites were moved into Duncan, the newest
residential college for a year. And thus began a beautiful
sisterhood, or… BaDunc.
We had a combined O-Week, College Nights and Beer Bike,
and although Baker has moved back across campus and
that first class has graduated, the bond still lives on in all
of us. New Baker was built to look exactly like Duncan. We
adopted (Baker says stole) the traditions that we enjoyed;
a healthy feeling of justified superiority over the other colleges, strong patronage of Coffeehouse and Willy’s Pub,
20
Duncan’s “The Kids Want TechnO-Week” and “Baker
Says Relax” in the Duncan Commons
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.
39).
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.
21
DUNCAN COLLEGE
O-Week 2013
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
(Jeremy) goes through his agenda, 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! For more information on Duncan’s committees, representatives, and government structure, visit
http://duncan.rice.edu/government.html.
President
Jeremy Scher (Duncan 2014)
The Duncan College President has three main areas of responsibilities: management, representation, and communication. The President oversees Duncan’s committees,
representatives and executives, and moderates Duncan
Forum. He also represents the Duncan student body to
our support team (Masters, HRFs, and RAs), campuswide
groups such as Rice’s Student Association (all students are
members of it!), administrators (most often the Dean of
Undergraduates), other campus departments (H&D, for
example), and the other residential colleges. The President
serves as the primary point of contact between Duncan
students and all of the above, and is available to discuss any
ideas or concerns about happenings at Duncan and Rice.
Vice Presidents
Drayton Thomas (Duncan 2014), Lidija Wilhelms (Duncan
2014)
The Vice Presidents jointly oversee Duncan’s committees
and representatives, serve on the Executive Committee,
and are both voting members of Duncan Forum. They are
the intermediate between committees/reps and Duncan’s
Executive committee. The Vice Presidents also work with
the President to implement new ideas for Duncan, and
have other minor responsibilities. Drayton and Lidija are
22
both available to answer any questions about any of the
above.
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
Carly Biedul (Duncan 2015), Louis Lessar (Duncan 2015),
James Kittleman (Duncan 2016)
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
Nimish Mittal (Duncan 2015), Austin Hughes (Duncan
2016)
The college treasurers are responsible for managing the
Duncan college budget. Together they allocate funding to
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.
Chief Justice
Sanjay Gadasalli (Duncan 2015)
Sanjay’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.
Food Rep
Chynna Foucek (Duncan 2015)
If you ever have food suggestions for our Duncan servery,
let Chynna know. In the past, food reps have managed to
get us a panini maker! So feel free to suggest anything to
her. 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
Michael Donatti (Duncan 2016)
As your Student Association Senator, Michael is the liaison
between Duncan College and Rice University’s Student
Association (Student Gov). Make sure to ask him what’s
going on in the campus-government; he represents one of
Duncan’s votes on many campus wide policies and proposals. He’s always willing to talk about the S.A. and is eager to
have you join him 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
Jenny Goeddel (Duncan 2016)
RPC plans events on and off campus, such as the two
dances, the blind date tradition we call Screw Your Roommate, and cultural events around Houston. Jenny keeps
us informed of when ticket sales are and what events are
coming up. Read more about the Rice Program Council
on page 121!
Duncan
Class Reps:
2014: Justin Winikoff, Zuhdi Abdo
2015: Patrick Wilson, Zia Rosenzwieg
2016: Jenny Goeddel, Natalie Gow
2017: 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.
They also help organize their class for events in the Kangaroo Cup, a friendly competition between the classes.
Honor Council Rep
Erin Rieger (Duncan 2016)
The Honor Council Rep serves as a member of the
Rice Honor Council during investigations and hearings, while also working to promote the goals of the
Honor Council at the residential college level. She
is also responsible for communicating information
about proposed or enacted Amendments to the Honor
Code. Erin is available to answer any questions about
Honor Code policies and Honor Council procedures.
University Court Rep
Colin Shaw (Duncan 2016)
Duncan’s University Court (or UCourt) representative is
1 of the 17 members of UCourt. In the event a student is
charged by Student Judicial Programs (SJP) with a violation of Rice’s Code of Student Conduct or Alcohol Policy,
his college’s UCourt Rep helps to guide the student through
the process. Colin is available to answer any questions or
concerns about policies, procedures, SJP, or UCourt itself.
23
Cool Things We Do at Duncan
DUNCAN COLLEGE
O-Week 2013
College Night
Once per semester, each residential college at Rice picks a
Friday to host a “college night.” 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.
On the day of college night, we 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
Caitlin Garcia, Victoria Tobin, Dylan Mendelson and Tess
Weiner (Duncan 2016) celebrate “Little Kid Birthday Party”
College Night
24
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)
Pub Night and Duncan Tavern
In addition to College Night, once per semester, a residential
college at Rice will typically hold a “Pub Night.” For most
colleges, this means renting out Willy’s Pub for a night of
food, drink, and fun for the college. However, Duncan is
not “most colleges.” Instead of the traditional college pub
night, Duncan holds “Duncan Tavern” on its sundeck each
semester. While the idea is similar, the location isn’t the
only part that is different.
Tavern remains Duncan’s preference because it’s twice the
fun! Tavern has a relaxing, chill atmosphere in which all
Duncaroos can unwind and hang out with friends (and make
new friends too!). The scenic view of the Houston Medical
Center, music from a live band, a chocolate fountain, and an
absurd amount of pizza rolls have all become synonymous
with Duncan Tavern. This is an event loved not only by
Duncan students, but by Luis (Duncan College Master)
and Hutch (Rice’s Dean of Undergraduates), as well. It is
so cool that many Duncan alumni will return from beyond
the hedges for the event!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.
Tavern is one of several events organized by the Duncan
Socials Committee. Each Tavern has its own theme, and
past themes have included Yacht Club, Club Hollywood,
Ides of March, Tiki, and St. Patrick’s Day. Typically, the Fall
Tavern is held during Duncan Week (a week long celebration of Duncan College commemorating its dedication),
and the Spring Tavern coincides with the Duncan government changeover.
- Drayton Thomas (Duncan 2014) and Nicole Roberson (Duncan 2016)
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 Big Mystery,
Baker Blues, Sid 80’s, Wiess’ NOD, 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,
and Duncan’s Sensation!
Duncan
Sports
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 a great
time 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.
Justin Winikoff (Duncan 2014) everybody.
Welcome to Sensation.
- Becca Hamm Conard (Duncan 2014)
25
DUNCAN COLLEGE
O-Week 2013
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. 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 fifth floor, residents of the entire building are always
welcome to chill on the sundeck.
Although each college has its own commons, a shared
servery 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. Housing and Dining now also provides Food Truck options right behind Duncan! See the
options at http://dining.rice.edu/mobiledining/
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. 140). 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!
On the ground floor of Duncan is the College Coordinator’s Office (p. 43) and the HRF apartment (p. 40). Also
located on the first floor are several common spaces, which
means they are open to all members of the college, such as
an EMS office, laundry room, and computer lab. There’s
also the Green Classroom, Game Room and Duncan’s
Classroom. Each of floors 2-4 have two common rooms
behind the stairwells where 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. You can do homework here, have a jam session, or just lay out and enjoy the sun! While it is located
26
A view from the Duncan Sundeck.
Duncan Rooms
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).
Duncan
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 up there
An unfurnished Duncan double.
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.
(Left) Each room has its own bathroom, complete with shower.
(Right) There is also a closet with shelves and hanging bars.
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.
27
It’s very exciting that Duncan is so green, but sometimes interesting things can happen. If your lights suddenly turn off for no reason, do not be alarmed, it’s because
you were sitting so still that the sensor doesn’t notice you anymore. Try waving
your arms in front of it, or opening and closing your door. If this is ineffective,
move your chair into the closet, open the ceiling vent, feel around for the reset button with a broom or stick of some kind, and press that. You can also call our SMR
(Student Maintenance Representative), Jayson Carter. Pod bathrooms, also very exciting, but you’ll notice that there is nothing to block the water in the shower from
flowing into the bathroom. The best option is to ensure that you have a long enough
shower curtain (if it is too short call the SMR) and fold it in towards the shower to
block water. Some ingenious students have also constructed barriers or purchased
a squeegee.Is your bed too low or too high? Would you like it lofted or bunked
with your roommate’s? Call the SMR! Jayson has the supplies and the know-how to
take care of most of your roomming needs, including if you are locked out of your
room and it is after our College Coordinator’s office hours. If it is out of his areas of
expertise you can always put in a work order to [email protected].
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”
Roommates Justin Winikoff (Duncan 2014) and Nick Irza (Duncan 2014) are so close
they’re attached at the hip as Toy Story’s Slinky Dog
28
Jayson Carter, SMR
Living With a Roommate
DUNCAN COLLEGE
O-Week 2013
The Quirks and Character of Duncan Rooms
Duncan
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
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!
Roommates Molly Horn (Duncan 2014) and Nichole
Taylor (Duncan 2014) dress up for College Night
-Elizabeth Harwood (Brown 2014)
29
O-Week 2013
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)
30
The Other Colleges
South Colleges
Duncan
Baker
Baker is the oldest and classiest of the residential colleges, a place of tradition, culture, and
society. Baker will always be in your face reminding you which college comes first (hint: it
is Baker) yet will probably have the most laid-back people on campus you will meet. Baker is
also always looking out for Duncan, its little sister, and therefore there is plenty of opportunity to build on this endearing relationship. So please, make your way to Baker, whether it is
to jam to one-hit wonders at Baker’s 90’s party or to run naked (with however much shaving
cream, or lack thereof, you prefer) in their infamous tradition, Baker 13.
- Sachin Gupta (Baker 2015)
Will Rice
As a Rice student, you better get used to hearing the phrase “WILL RICE WILL SWEEP!”
And no, this won’t be coming from a custodian, but from a proud Will Ricer. Will Rice, the
second* college founded and namesake of William Marsh Rice’s nephew, is obsessed with
winning Beer Bike. Not only are they the only college to have ever swept (won all three
races in a given year), but they have done so five times! With rust and gold flowing through
their veins and a flaming phoenix in their heart, Will Ricers have a strong sense of community secured by their competitive nature and bimonthly Kegs in the Quad.However, don’t
feel too intimidated by this College of Gods and Goddesses. Stop by to spend an evening
in Will Rice’s historic Long Hall, use their lusciously maintained foosball tables, or attend
their annual public party “Classy Trashy!”
- Erica Skerrett (Will Rice 2015)
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 fourth oldest college on campus. Welcome 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!
-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)
31
O-Week 2013
DUNCAN COLLEGE
Lovett
Follow the Rainbow Building in the Medical Center like a north star and you’ll soon find
yourself at Lovett! Don’t be intimidated by the bleak 70s architecture; while the grey concrete and grating’s initial purpose was originally to make Lovett riot-proof, today it serves as
one of our many defining quirks, as well as the basis for our friendly nickname “the toaster.”
For friendly we are: while we may not have the best rooms, we are known for having great
people—so feel free to stop by and party on Second Floor, hang out in the Commons, jump
on our massive trampoline, draw on the chalkboard, or give a performance at Lyle’s, our
underground theatre venue and bar. However, don’t expect the niceties to continue on the
court or field—Lovett does IM sports bigger than any other college, so come Powderpuff in
the fall you’ll have to give it your all if you want to come close to beating us.
- Kayla Opall (Lovett 2014)
Sid Richardson
SID SID SID SID SID SID SID SID SID SID SID SID SID SID SID SID, EVERYBODY! Do
you think you have a pretty low chance of seing people painted head to toe in black paint
scream at the top of their lungs while running around campus like maniacs? Well despite
what you might expect, your chances are pretty good, all thanks to Sid Richardson College.
Where is Sid on campus? You’ll always know, thanks to its huge (HUGE) size. Sid boasts 7
elevator stops with two floors on each stop (each a half staircase up or down from the elevator stop), making it the tallest building on campus at 153 feet. We Sidizens, as we’re called,
love to have fun. Whether it’s purposely getting disqualified at Beer Bike, blasting music off
the top balcony on Friday afternoons, throwing awesome public parties (such as 80s and
Schoolgirls), or winning Powderpuff games, you can always find fun at Sid.
- Oscar Turner (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
Mary Gibbs Jones College was founded in 1957 through a million dollar donation
from Houston philanthropist, Jesse H. Jones. Jones is divided into three buildings:
Jones North, Jones Central, and Jones South. Jones is known for its chill attitude,
kickass parties, and most importantly, ability to win! Just across the quad, Jonesians
are always up for hanging out with new people. Definitely stop by and get to know
some of the coolest people at Rice!
- Leah Cabrera-Marquez(Jones 2015)
32
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 the weekends for
brunch since West servery is closed.
Duncan
-Samantha Hea (Martel 2015)
McMurtry
As you look across West Servery, it might seem as though you are gazing into a giant mirror with Duncan’s reflection; but don’t be fooled, that’s just Duncan’s closest neighbor and
pseudo sibling college, McMurtry College! While only four 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. On
special occasions, you might spot a Murt showing off our Scottish heritage by wearing a
kilt or maybe even see one in a banana costume (because, as you will discover, McMurtry
is *bananas*). Duncaroos are always welcome to come chill and have fun at McMurtry, so
come visit (especially since it only takes a minute to walk over)!
- Michael Williams-Hart(McMurtry 2016)
From left: exterior views of Jones, Brown, and Martel Colleges.
33
Yeah, it’s sad, believe me, Missy
When you’re born to be a sissy
Without the vim and verve
But I could show my prowess
Be a lion, not a “mowess”
34
DUNCAN COLLEGE
O-Week 2013
If I only had the nerve
35
People
The Coordinators
DUNCAN COLLEGE
O-Week 2013
Becca, Nick, Michael
Michael (left), Becca (middle), and Nick (right) spend some quality time at Duncan
Do you hear Christmas music? Is someone wearing a Santa hat? No, silly, Christmas is four months
away. No one loves Christmas that much. Wrong. Becca Hamm Conard loves Christmas that much. This
Bostonian History major can always be found with Christmas lights in her room and a spare Santa hat to
lend out. However, there’s more to this Duncan senior than just a love for all things red and green: Becca
Becca Hamm has a talent for organizing events. Whether it’s O-Week, Duncan Gala, a college wide nerf gun fight, or
Conard Duncan Olympics, if an event is awesome, it’s usually a good guess that Becca had some part in it. When
someone needs a costume for an event, who do they go to? That’s right, Becca. She’ll craft a ZaZu costume
Senior
[Bridport, VT] out of paper, knit a beanie with squirrels on it, or paint a car like the Mystery Machine from Scooby Doo.
{POLI, HIST} And she’ll do that for you too. However, Becca has one major flaw. If you can’t find her at Duncan, go
check Coffeehouse. In order to finance her serious coffee addiction, Becca began to work there and can
usually be found serving delicious coffee drinks (ask her for a Green Tea latte - it’s delicious!). In conclusion, Rebecca Osuna Hamm Conard has your back, especially if you’re a new Duncan student. She’ll help
you with all your event planning, history paper writing, coffee drinking needs. Just don’t ever give her a
dancing Christmas hamster to take care of.
36
Michael Petrus
Senior
[Austin, TX]
{PSYCH}
Babies. Animals. FREE HUGS.
People
As we sat down to write Michael’s bio, we did a word frequency analysis on previous O-week blurbs and Facebook
statuses. Those three words came up everywhere. But
there’s more to Michael Petrus than endless hugs - this
Duncan Senior from Pflugerville (aka Austin) Texas is involved all across campus. Some afternoons you’ll find him
saving lives and looking good at the Rice pool. Other days
you’ll find him at Rice Coffeehouse, hanging out with his
friends from all across campus. No joke - I won’t believe
you if you tell me that you’ve found someone at Rice who
doesn’t know Michael. However, your best bet to find this
busy guy is at Duncan. Most nights you’ll find him serving
up delicious food to tired students at the Hoot or studying psychology tirelessly in the Duncan commons. He’s not
there? No worries - just check Facebook. Michael uses Facebook like famous celebrities use twitter. You can always
find out what he’s up to, where he is, and how he feels about
life just by checking his Facebook. You’re not friends with
Michael on Facebook? Check again. You are now.
Babies. Animals. FREE HUGS. Michael Petrus.
Nick Irza
Senior
[San Diego, CA]
{CEVE}
What do the words sweltershocking, hydrology, Manquitt, and California have in common? One person: Nick Irza.
When you arrive at Duncan on the morning of August 18th, you will feel a new feeling. It’s going to be weird: you’ll
feel really really hot (welcome to Houston in August), and you’ll feel surprised at how hot you feel. But you’ll also feel
shocked at the welcome you will receive from the Duncan advising team. Most people have a problem naming this
weird feeling that only occurs on move-in day. Not Nick Irza. He created the word “sweltershocking” to fully express his
feelings about move-in day. However, there is more to Nick than just a talent for making up words. Hailing from sunny
San Diego, this senior Duncaroo studies Civil Engineering and works in a hydrology lab. When he’s not studying for
classes, you might find him modeling rainfall runoff or running all across Houston to collect samples. Though he will
be returning this year to grace Rice with his presence, Nick lived off campus this past year at a house lovingly christened
“Manquitt” and, as a result, can answer all your questions and more about life outside of the hedges. He’ll most often be
spotted on the Sundeck, so make sure you head up there and pay him a visit.
Written by the 2012 Coordinators: Molly Horn (Duncan 2014), Jeremy Scher (Duncan 2014), Drew Moore (Duncan 2013)
37
Master
DUNCAN COLLEGE
O-Week 2013
Luis, Emilia, and Cecilia Duno-Gottberg
I am ecstatic to welcome you to 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, caring scholars and future professionals. I see you as young adults
entering a fascinating journey of self-discovery and growth. In
my experience, integrity, respect and responsibility are important principles that can produce extraordinary results when
combined with flexibility and a good sense of humor. This vision
guides many of my efforts and initiatives in the college. Another
key principle I like to share with my fellow Duncaroos is that of
solidarity. I firmly believe that one of the keys of our success as a
college derives from an organic relationship between diverse individuals who share some core values and are deeply committed
to supporting each other. Therefore our motto: “somos equipo,
somos familia.” In short, we are all different and we treasure
such diversity while helping each other succeed. Solidarity is
also a political principle that informs the way this college is run.
I share Uruguayan writer Eduardo Galeano’s characterization
of this principle as horizontal and taking place between equals.
I invite you to actively participate in Duncan Forum, an open
space to engage the community and establish, together, a shared
vision of what we want to be as a college. My function as Master
is to create an enriching intellectual and human experience for
you at Rice University. I 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. I also contribute
From left to right, Emilia, Cecilia and Luis
38
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, I
see my mission as that of a mentor who works with you to create
and sustain a healthy and stimulating community. You will get
to know me well throughout you life here at Duncan, but here
are some things you might want to know. I was born and raised
in Caracas (Venezuela), but have I lived in many places around
the world (such as Santiago de Chile, Montreal, Pittsburgh, and
Miami). Before coming to Rice, I 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 FAU. I am Associate Professor of Caribbean Studies
and Film in the Department of Spanish and Portuguese. I am
an active researcher, mostly exploring the relationship between
culture and politics in the Spanish and French Caribbean. I have
authored several books and articles, and my teaching is closely
related to my scholarly inquiries. My most recent book project
deals with popular protest, violence and representation. I enjoy
swimming, running and surfing (yes, it can be done in Galveston
with the right attitude). I have two amazing daughters: Cecilia
and Emilia. Cecilia, my eight-year-old, is outgoing, curious and
always very busy. She will engage you in long conversations and
you will most likely see her riding her bike in the quad. Emilia,
my eighteen year-old, is a freshman at Trinity University. She is
a very serious student, enjoys singing and all things related to
the arts.Welcome to your new home at Duncan College. I look
forward to meeting you and working together to create a great
community.
Head Resident Fellows
Caleb, Brandy, Ellery, and Carter McDaniel
As Head Resident Fellows, we are very excited to meet you--the incoming new students!
One of our primary jobs on the A-Team will be to welcome you and assist you in your transition to Rice, both academically and socially. We’ve been preparing for your arrival!
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, like gourmet popcorn study
breaks or monthly Birthday Cake celebrations on our front porch.
We also strive to create opportunities for intellectual exchange and academic development
within the college, whether that means hosting guest speakers, providing study tips, or convening monthly Tea Talks to discuss hot topics or current events.
People
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 twentieth-century 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.”
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 six (well,
six-and-a-half if you ask her) and is a first-grader in a Dual Language Immersion EnglishSpanish program. She likes to read, talk (a lot), play soccer, and beat her dad at checkers.
Carter is a pretty content and easy-going two-year-old who is convinced he can do pretty
much anything “all by myself.” We also have a cat, Shea, who likes to peer through our window and keep an eye on things.
Congratulations on being selected to join Duncan. We can’t wait to meet you, so stop by and
say hello!
39
Resident Associates
DUNCAN COLLEGE
O-Week 2013
Michael Barlow and Suzanne Kemmer
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 fourth year in Duncan and we are very
much looking forward to meeting you all.
I am Suzanne, Michael’s spouse, and this is our fourth 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
also involved with the Neurosciences program that allows
Rice undergraduates to take courses and/or do research in
the medical center. If you want to do cognitive or neuroscience research at Rice or at med center, talk to me! I
40
also have a bunch of non-academic hobbies just like all you
guys. I do yoga and crafts; I like to watch Dr. Who and
Sherlock (especially with Duncaroos) and I travel as much
as I can. Each year I spend some of May and June in New
Zealand with Michael on a small island off the coast of
Auckland. Back at Duncan, our little pet Badger, the smallest Duncaroo, needs lots of care and attention and hopes
you will come to RA Suite 247 to pet him in his corral and
feed him as many treats as possible. 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. We
want you to feel at home at Duncan. Come and hang out!
Nick, Kate, and Lulu Pascuzzi
People
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 KPMG 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.
41
College Coordinator
DUNCAN COLLEGE
O-Week 2013
Vicki Woods
I’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
amazing journey! I look forward to meeting and developing a lasting relationship with all who pass through Duncan College.
I have worked at Rice for seven years. Prior to coming here,
I had the privilege of working in public education with
students, young adults, and professional educators. I am a
proud mother of two and grandmother of three.
While hear at Duncan, my desire is that each of you pursue
your dreams, both academically and socially. There is no
limit to one’s personal success. Believe in yourself, respect
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.
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
- Temp Loaner Key for room lockout
- Give/receive hugs
42
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 class here or may need help with exams, problem
sets, or papers. You may not be used to Rice’s workload or
curriculum, whether you come from high school or another university! However, no matter the situation, Duncan’s
Academic program will 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)
The Fellows host a variety of events throughout the year.
You’ll meet us at the Fellows Ice Cream Social during the
first week of class and hear about our summer experiences
during our Summer Opportunities Fair held during the
Spring semester. In conjunction with the Academics Committee, we also host the annual Duncan Undergraduate
Research Symposium. This Spring event allows students to
present the research they have done over the past year in
whichever discipline they have chosen to research.
If you want to request a tutor, see what subjects we hold
reviews in, or just meet the Duncan Academic Fellows, just
check out the Fellows page on the Duncan website:
http://duncan.rice.edu/people/academic-fellows.html
-Molly Horn (Duncan 2014)
43
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. Each college has a program specifically tailored to the needs of its students. At Duncan,
the Fellows are juniors and seniors who have been selected
based on their GPA, judicial standing, and commitment
to mentoring and teaching in higher learning. The Fellows
organize review sessions before major exams, can edit and
help with papers, and explain almost any piece of material. Every Sunday, join the Fellows in the Commons when
they host Sunday Study Sessions. During those informal
sessions, Duncaroos can ask about problem sets, questions
in a course, or go over missed exam problems. In addition,
the Fellows offer one-on-one tutoring if you need help in
a specific course. Each Fellow specializes in some of the
introductory classes and they represent all the major academic disciplines.
44
DUNCAN COLLEGE
O-Week 2013
A Message from the Duncan President
Dear Duncaroos,
Welcome to the newest and greatest residential college on
campus! My name is Jeremy Scher, and I will be serving
as Duncan’s president for this year. It is with great honor
that I take this opportunity to personally welcome you into
your new home. As I am sure you have realized by reading
every inch of this page-turner, you are beyond fortunate to
have been placed into our vibrant and exciting community,
filled with Duncaroos like you eager to do great things and
make a difference.
Duncan prides itself on having opportunities for all students to get involved from the beginning. We have a level
of diversity here that is nothing short of incredible; I encourage all of you to contribute your skills and talents to
further develop the culture and traditions we have already
established. Ultimately, the role that Duncan plays in your
Rice experience is entirely your choice; you will always be
unconditionally accepted here! From this point forth you
are a lifelong member of a caring community that is eager
to see you grow and succeed.
As your president, I am here to serve you; I look forward
to working with you to make your vision for Duncan and
Rice a reality. Welcome again to Duncan and I am excited
to meet you at O-Week!
Dunc Love,
Jeremy
45
People
First off, let me tell you a few things about myself: I am
a senior studying Cognitive Science originally from the
wonderful State of New Jersey (I encourage you to visit
their beautiful gardens). Aside from working to make your
Rice experience the best it can be, I am an avid Trance
and House music enthusiast and Duncan’s resident Dance
Dance Revolution expert. I am so excited to get to know
all of you, so please do not hesitate at any point to talk to
me about your ideas, thoughts, or anything that pops into
your head.
DUNCAN COLLEGE
O-Week 2013
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.
46
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
Student Association President
47
People
Yoonjin Min
Welcome to the Student Association (SA)! We are Rice’s
Undergraduate Student Government and every student is
a member! The SA is the voice of the Rice undergraduate
body, and we work to proactively facilitate communication
between undergraduates and the administration. The SA
also works on a number of projects to improve the quality
of student life on campus: from securing classes, money
and space for entrepreneurial organizations, to aligning
library and servery hours with student needs. The SA is
an umbrella organization for all campus clubs and student
organizations, and provides services such as the hedgehopper card (giving you discounts at businesses around Rice),
and activities during homecoming week, To learn more
about ways you can get involved as a new student in the
During the fall and spring semesters, freshmen will also SA, visit sa.rice.edu/nsr
be able to take part in a truly unique course—UNIV 110.
It will allow them to discover more about themselves and Voting members of the SA include the SA executive officthe resources available at Rice to help them in the aca- ers, college presidents and senators; senate meets weekly at
demic, career, leadership, and social exploration they can 9p.m. in Farnsworth Pavilion at the RMC. There is always
experience in college. UNIV 110 is taught by teams of ex- food, and administrators and other guests are invited for
perienced upperclassmen students and professional staff discussions and questions. These meetings are a great opmembers.Additional opportunities designed to help new portunity to get involved in discussions on topics that are
students take advantage of their time at Rice include the important students, and are a great avenue to get involved
Common Reading Program and Convocation, the Emerg- in working on projects in the students’ interest.
ing Leaders Forum, and First Year Fridays. We are also
developing new and exciting ways to support first genera- The SA is really a great way to get involved in making a
tion college students and their families as they transition difference on campus – if you have any questions feel free
to come talk or email to your colleges’ Senator, President
to life at Rice.
or any Executive Officers. Check out sa.rice.edu for more
To learn more about First Year Programs and all that we information!
offer, visit firsyear.rice.edu and stay connected with us on
Facebook and Twitter. Welcome to Rice!
Ginny Johnson 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 by providing resources, support, and programming during their
first year and beyond. Most students and families will first
interact with our office through O-Week, Rice’s week-long
orientation program that allows students to get acclimated
to campus in intellectual, social, and individualized aspects
of Rice. O-Week is the first introduction to the unique residential college system, but also allows for the opportunity
to meet with distinguished faculty, identify staff that will
help students navigate their journeys at Rice, and time to
prepare for the academic rigor of the university.
It’s the morning of Sunday, August 18th. 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
O-Week 2013
What is an O-Week Group?
The “Space Suit Up” O-Week Group from ApollO-Week 2012
48
Somewhere Over
the RainbO-Week
Groups:
Advisors:
BRICK CLIQUE
DOROTHY THE EXPLORER
FLYING MONKEY BUSINESS
I GOT 99 PROBLEMS BUT A WITCH AIN’T ONE
LEGEN-WAIT FOR IT-DOROTHY
LIKE A BOZ
POPPY LOCK AND DROP IT
TIN MANIACS
TOTO ECLIPSE OF THE HEART
TOTOLLY OZSOME
TOTOLLY SPIES
WICKED WITCHES OF THE KANYE WEST
YELLOW BRICK BROS
Alice Chen, Zia Rosenzweig, Will Eldridge
Obi Nwabueze, Julia Sunderland, Amber Wang
Seth Lauer, Clara Roberts, Ariel Guerrero
Grace Apfeld, Daniel Millar, LiTre Smith
Nicole Roberson, Drayton Thomas, Katharine Li
Caleb McBride, Cristal Tan, Oscar Turner
JB Makhani, Tess Weiner, Becca Kellner
Natalie Gow, Nichole Taylor, Michael Hart
Jordan Bley, Kelly Mover, Shane Alpert
Kira Clingen, Josiah Grace, Sachin Gupta
Mary Anderson, Peter Lambert, Kylie Cullinan
Hannah Abrams, Chris Hurd, Gabrien Clark
Olivia Ragni, Josh Solis, Alexis Bailey
People
Advising Groups
49
DUNCAN COLLEGE
O-Week 2013
Brick Clique
Alice
50
Zia
Will
Kavana
Zia Rosenzweig
Junior, Duncan
[Los Altos, CA]
{POLI, PSYCH}
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. When she’s not busy incepting
you with her Psych skills, she enjoys
listening to This American Life and
keeping up with the NYT and putting
her PoliSci major to use. You should
probably get on her good side, because
one day she IS going to rule the country (and the world?!). This little ninja is
fluent in Spanish and sarcasm and unfortunately has an unhealthy obsession
with Hawaii Five-0. But how awesome
must she be for us to still love and accept her after that right?! But anyways
if you’re ever having trouble coercing
her to do something for you, she loves
Thai tea, gloomy weather, pot stickers,
PUMPKINEVERYTHING and ramen
more than life. Use this information
generously and she’ll love you forever!
- Chynna Foucek (Duncan 2015)
- April Kwan (Duncan 2015)
Will Eldridge
Sophomore, McMurtry
[Houston, TX]
{CEVE, FRENCH}
Imagine...it’s move-in day. You’re busting a chill in the backseat of your family’s mini-van, drowning in a sea of your
belongings and recently-purchased knickknacks from the Container Store. Suddenly, a vision in turquoise and neon
appears, enthusiastically screaming your name. Lucky you. You’ve just had your first encounter with the one and only
Will Eldridge. This sophomore Civil Engineering-major from McMurtry is awesomeness personified. Not only is he
ridiculously fun, but Will is also a guy who puts friendship and integrity first, so you can always count on him for an
honest opinion or genuine advice. Whether you’re in need of a shoulder to lean on or just looking for someone to
jam out to crazy music (Mash-ups are kinda his thing.) or watch Pitch Perfect with (“Anna Kendrick is just...perfect.”
-Will Eldridge), Will is your man. Will dedicates himself to the important things in life, so undoubtedly, O Incoming
Student, Will will dedicate himself to you. - Olivia Lammers (McMurtry 2016)
Read Kavana’s Affiliate Bio on page 78!
51
People
Alice Chen
Sophomore, Duncan
[Vancouver, British Columbia]
{BIOC, PHIL}
Once upon a time, as legend has it, a bunch of Duncaroos were chilling in
the Duncan quad on a warm night in April; all of a sudden, a baby rabbit
was spotted cowering in the corner. No Duncaroo could touch the baby
rabbit, as it was too afraid of all the college students. There was, however,
one who could, only because of her gentle, kind nature and calming presence. The baby bunny leaped right into her arms. This girl was Alice Chen.
And now, you’re incredibly lucky to have this girl as your very own advisor! Hailing from the great nation of Canada (eh?), Alice is a biochemistry
and philosophy double major-thus you can have really really deep life cons
(a.k.a. conversations about life), such as understanding the meaning of life
of a cell. So, of course it would make sense that she’s pre-med and eventually
headed to medical school. She’s joined Quizbowl at Rice and is also treasurer of the Model UN club. Have a trip planned to the beach? Make sure
to invite Alice, where she’ll feel right at home playing her favorite sport,
volleyball (or just step over to McMurtry and play on the sand courts near
there). When asked about her favorite hobby, Alice replied, “Rhythm tap
dancing. In fact, if there was a fire in Duncan, I would grab my tap shoes
and tap right out of the building.” Don’t worry, she’d probably save you
from the fire first, and then dance out (I heard she’s basically invincible....)
Don’t forget to ask this girl about the names she’s already picked out for her
children and most importantly, don’t diss Twilight in front of her (legend
has it she owns the ultraviolet edition of Breaking Dawn)......I was skeptical
at first, until I learned that Alice has also read most of the Western Canon
(it’s a book that defends and talks about, basically all of Western literature).
In summary, you’ve been placed with one of the sweetest, smartest and
incredibly motivated advisors at Duncan! Enjoy her while you can; hopefully she’ll stick around tap dancing for a while!!
Julia
Amber
Dorothy the Explorer
DUNCAN COLLEGE
O-Week 2013
Obi
Read Avanthi’s Affiliate Bio on page 79!
52
Avanthi
If you look up “adventure” in the dictionary, you might think you would find a picture of Lewis
and Clark or perhaps Indiana Jones next to the definition. Nice guess. If I’m not mistaken, Indiana Jones never led any trips for ROPE, worked at the Rice Outdoor Adventure Center, or ran
Baker 13. Indiana Jones never went rock climbing on the weekends for the sheer thrill of it, and
Indiana Jones certainly never went to crazy, audacious techno raves with more energy than anyone else there. That’s why if you looked up “adventure” in the dictionary, you would instead find
a picture of Julia “Sundy” Sunderland: a Texas native and an incredibly friendly thrill enthusiast
who has done all of the above, like a boss. However, this spunky girl is more than an avid exciteJulia Sunderland ment seeker. Julia admirably served Duncan on the Alumni Relations Charge Committee, helpSophomore, Duncan ing to foster a relationship between past and present members of our residential college. When
[Dallas, TX]
she’s not dominating Organic Chemistry tests as the dedicated student she is, Julia regularly visits
{CHBE}
Coffee House to recharge. But don’t let her awe-inspiring lifestyle fool you. Julia is one of the
nicest, most down-to-Earth people at Duncan. She is a dedicated friend and classmate who will
always be there for you. Not to mention, withher experience, she is perhaps the most physically
fit and mentally prepared advisor in the history of O-Week. So, if you have the privilege of being
in her group, get excited, because with Julia as your guide, your journey down the Yellow Brick
Road is going to be more fun than you’ve ever had.
- Louis Lessar(Duncan 2015)
Are you feeling a little anxious? Relax: Obi has made some cookies and no-carb milkshakes for
you to enjoy. Are you feeling a little under the weather? Don’t fret: Obi has brought you multiple
varieties of gatorade to keep you nourished. If Duncan’s own Nigerian tribal chief from Trinidad
is your advisor, you are in for a treat. Even though he thinks his native land of Louisiana is a
country, this budding neuroscientist is a Duncan academic fellow, so he’s eagerly waiting to help
you all conquer physics. His cooking skills are no joke either, as he regularly amazes his friends
with delectable delights from his Trinidadian mother’s book of secret recipes. He is a founding
member of Rice’s sketch comedy troupe “Kinda Sketchy”, so he clearly inherited that great Nigerian sense of humor from his father. Chief Obi has been waiting eagerly to meet you all summer,
so get ready for a fun filled week with one of Duncan’s greatest.
- Nicholas George-Jones (Duncan 2014)
Weiran Yan (Duncan 2013)
Sarah Percival (Duncan 2014)
Eric Bush (Duncan 2014)
George Romar (Duncan 2014)
Is Amber feared or loved? Easy, both. People are afraid of how much they love her. Not that I’m
biased as her best friend or anything, but I can easily say you’ll either instantly fall in love with her
or want to. Who else can charm her way into multiple anonymous boys’ hearts within a semester,
Amber Wang
Sophomore, Lovett leaving them to profess their undying affection via Rice Missed Encounters? Armed with a killer
sense of style, a cultured mindset and wit, a brain that should be donated to science, and natural
[Katy, TX]
charisma, she’s as special as that one good movie you didn’t expect to be on Netflix. She’s like that
{COGSCI}
one girl you want to hate for being good at everything, but you just can’t because she’s so nice. You
haven’t met perfection until you’ve met Amber Wang.
- Jackie Fu
(University of Texas, Austin)
53
People
Obi Nwabueze
Senior, Duncan
[Saint Francisville,
LA]
{COGSCI}
O-Week 2013
DUNCAN COLLEGE
If you get to Rice and see a strange guy walking around in multi-colored pants, no shirt, giant
sunglasses, and body paint, don’t be alarmed. It’s just your advisor, Seth. This friendly, energetic,
flamboyant sophomore is always happy, and can’t help but spread the love. If he were to be voted
for a high school superlative, it would definitely be “most likely to hug a stranger”. He probably
Seth Lauer
Sophomore, Duncan already does it every day. Despite being loud and crazy on the outside, Seth is secretly a total
nerd. He likes to pick up random computer programming projects in his free time, and he has
[Damascus, MD]
trouble choosing courses each semester because everything just looks so interesting! The greatest
{COMPSCI}
thing about being welcomed to Rice by Seth Lauer is he has a TON of school spirit. He’s been a
Rice cheerleader and paints himself or dresses up for just about every school event. But he never
forgets his roots in cow-town Damascus, Maryland, where he developed his special talents of
baking, puddle jumping, and climbing trees.
- Julie Eisenburg (Martel, 2014)
Clara Roberts
Junior, Duncan
[Pearland, TX]
{PSYCH, SOCI, POLSTUD}
Clara Roberts hails from a suburb of Houston, Pearland to be exact. This is where she honed
her skills of Mum-making and colorguard. Clara has recently been investigating what type of
degrees people have that work for the President of the United States. While she may have her
eye on being Hillary Clinton’s Chief of Staff or the Secretary of Education, I know that Clara will
one day be the head honcho herself. Practice calling her “Supreme Ruler” now. Clara is Psychology/Sociology/ Policy Studies triple major. This social science prodigy is not only an academic
all-star but has also been a Duncan College committee head and is involved in many activities
around campus. Tell Clara about what you hope to accomplish at Rice. She can give you the 411
on campus activities or introduce you to others that share your interests and goals. In all seriousness, Clara is one of the coolest people I know. She is always willing to listen and will give you
the best advice ever. Like the yellow brick road, your time at Rice will be an exhilarating adventure, and Clara will be your Glinda, the Witch of the North, to make sure you thrive in your new
home.
- Estevan Delgado (Duncan 2013)
Ariel GuerreroStewart
Junior, Wiess
[Austin, TX]
{POLI, POLSTUD}
Ariel Guerrero-Stewart is a sweet, smart, and sassy brunette coming all the way from Austin,
Texas to give you the best O-Week experience that any incoming student could hope for. You
might imagine ‘The Little Mermaid’ from under the sea, but there’s nothing little about all this
rising junior’s fantastic personality. Ariel is a bubbly individual and is happy to share her advice
and kind words with anyone passing by. This Political Science major and Business minor knows
a thing or two about having lots of fun, as she was one of Wiess’ awesome coordinators for Beer
Bike 2013! When this girl isn’t talking about her cute kitten, Charlie, or showing you GIFs of
cats on the web, you can find her on the field and the court cheering on the Owls to victory on
the Rice Cheer Team-- ask her to do a back tuck or pull a scorpion for you (she’ll know what
that means)! In all your time at Rice, you’ll never meet a more caring, responsible, or downright
incredible person than Ariel! If you’re lost or scared during O-Week, Ariel will be your guiding
light.
- Nkemjika Nweke (Wiess 2015)
54
Flying Monkey Business
Ariel
People
Clara
Read James’s
Affiliate Bio on
page 83!
James
Seth
55
DUNCAN COLLEGE
O-Week 2013
I got 99 problems
but a witch ain’t one
Grace
56
LiTre
Daniel
Carly
Read Carly’s Affiliate Bio on page 82!
-Meaghan Ryan (Duncan 2014)
When you first meet Daniel Millar, you might have a few questions about him like, “Why does
he eat pineapple with granola at EVERY meal?” or “Why is he always trying to show me pictures
Daniel Millar
of his dog?” Give him a day or two and you’ll realize why EVERYONE loves him. Shortly after
Sophomore, Duncan his acceptance to Rice, it was decided that there was no better day to have BEEERRRREEEE
BBBIIIIIIKKKKEEE 2013 than Daniel’s Birthday! Born and raised in San Antonio, he can give a
[San Antonio, TX]
run down of the good ol’ Texas state. Although he won’t admit it, he secretly likes it when people
{KINE}
call him “Brown Suga”. This guy is natural born runner, which he puts to good use every day. If
he has 9:00 am class, you might be able to catch a glimpse of him sprinting through the servery
at 9:05 to grab a quick breakfast (granola, of course!). Worried about spraining an ankle on the outer loop or getting attacked by a vicious squirrel? Not to worry! Not only is he an Athletic Trainer, this Kinesiology major volunteers weekly at
Memorial Hermann hospital learning how treat any type of medical injury. As if that’s not enough, he addicted to community service! He’s always volunteering with Best Buddies and Duncan Service committee spreading his contagious
smile. Wanna know a little secret? When he thinks no one is looking, he likes to workout ‘dem abs’ in the quad. Want a
legit campus tour? Think you’re the only person awake at 2:30 in the morning? Stop by Duncan’s Green classroom and
you’re sure to find him there, because going to bed any sooner than that would be ridiculous! Oh, there’s event with free
food? Yep, he’ll be there snacking away….even if its a formal “Casino Night” and he’s in a t-shirt and shorts. If you have
this handsome Filipino as your advisor, then I guarantee that therest of the new students will be begging you to switch
O-Week groups.
- Angie Razo (Duncan 2016)
57
People
LiTré [li-tray] is like no human you’ve ever met before, because he is mostly composed of metal
and wire. This Computer Science and Visual and Dramatic Arts double major spends his time
procrastinating, or alternatively staying up all night finishing all the things he procrastinated.
You can often find this junior from Dallas longboarding around campus, or looking for trouble
around his home college, Martel. After a heated half-hour internal debate about his favorite
things, he decided on Naruto, Argentina, the book Twilight in August by William Faulkner,
LiTré Smith
and going to parties (not necessarily in that order). LiTré is always down to hang out, meet new
Junior, Martel
people, and tell you everything that is on his mind (and let me tell you, there’s a lot of crazy
[Shreveport, LA]
thoughts going on inside of that afro). Although outwardly carefree and wacky, he really cares
{COMPSCI, VADA}
about others and will offer you frank and honest advice if you need it, about any and every subject. I asked him to close this bio by giving the new students one piece of advice. His response
(as he slurped some lukewarm ramen)-- “Girl, shake that Laffy Taffy. That Laffy Taffy. Wait, no,
don’t write that down.” A great man and a better robot, LiTré is a wild dude you will be glad to
- Isabel Cosculluela (Martel 2015)
have on YOUR team.
This bad mama jama is just as fine as she can be. When she’s not out digging in the Tanzanian
terrain, putting the pieces of the past back together, or playing bubble spinner on her laptop, you
can find Grace lighting up every room she walks in to. This brunette beauty could easily steal
the scene anywhere she goes, but Grace has the uncanny ability to bring out the best in everyone
around her and is never without a story to share or a hug to give. Her laugh sounds like a bubGrace Apfeld
bling stream on a glorious sunny day. Her smile is like a bright star glittering in the night sky.
Senior, Duncan
She’s got a body like Aphrodite and the moves like Jagger. She’s sassier than Robert Downey Jr,
[Wolfeboro, NH]
and according to Shakira, her hips don’t lie. In fact, Justin Bieber’s new hit single was written
{ANTH, HIST}
about her: If she was your girlfriend, you’d never let her go. She will take you places you’ve never
been before. Baby take a chance or you’ll never ever know. She’s the best advisor and can drop
it down low. Swag, swag, swag for you. Chillin by da commons while we eatin fondue, I don’t
know about me, but she knows about you. So say hello to new Duncaroos in three, two...
DUNCAN COLLEGE
O-Week 2013
Katharine
Drayton
Legen-wait for itLeah
Nicole
-Dorothy
Read Leah’s Affiliate
Bio on page 78!
58
Katharine Li
Junior, Wiess
[Sugar Land, TX]
{BIOE, GLHT}
Katharine “Kitty Kat” Li a.k.a. Clathrin may seem at first glance to be Queen of the Underworld
but don’t let first impressions fool you (she doesn’t bite…?). Under her black wardrobe and face
pale from lack of sleep, this double-transfer Bioengineer is a ray of sunshine with enough energy to deadlift twice her body weight, run a nationally recognized design organization, and eat
enough food to break her own ribs. When she’s not at the gym performing exclusively lower
body lifts or off campus as an elite tutor, she can be found at Coffeehouse or in the Wiess Commons putting off her alarming amount of problem sets to keep the peace between her ridiculously work-oriented Pre-med buddies and the 130bpm heart rate induced by the seven shots of
espresso she just chugged. Katharine is the physical manifestation of the perfect combination of
quirkiness and chill, the precious baby child of sarcasm and humor, and the epitome of a unique
Asian female. Not only will Kitty Kat crack you up with her one-of-a-kind jokes, her seemingly
infinite life experiences will provide you with limitless wisdom and advice, all of which aim to
serve only one goal: your ultimate well-being. No matter what happens, you can always count
on Katharine to be there as another shoulder to lean on and another hand to lift you up, even
when she has five problem sets, three midterms, and two projects due the very next day (based
on true story).
- Alan Hsieh (Wiess 2014)
- Julianne Roberson (Sid Rich 2013)
Drayton Thomas
Senior, Duncan
[Birmingham, AL]
{STAT, MATHECON}
Drayton Thomas is so knowledgeable and sophisticated that he can hold a conversation in Latin
and point out flaws in modern depictions of Roman times. But then he’ll blast Danger Zone from
his massive portable speaker and sing (yell) along. Drayton is the guy who will organize a poker
game where the winnings go to charity. But then he’ll beat you so emphatically that you swear
he must be cheating– even though he isn’t. Drayton is a Southern gentleman from Alabama who
comes to Duncan powderpuff games with extra water bottles for the players and fans. But then
he cheers so obnoxiously that the refs ask him to shut up and leave. Drayton is a responsible guy
who has successfully planned campuswide events for 1500+ people. But he’ll demolish you in a
prank war by posting a Craigslist ad for free Corgis that leads to 20+ voicemails and 30+ texts
on your phone in just 12 hours. Drayton is a double major and Duncan Vice President who can
be seen at pretty much every Duncan event. But he still finds time to play Super Smash Bros and
FIFA with his friends, watch Walking Dead or HIMYM, and make a computer program in his
free time just to see how it picks the NCAA tournament. Drayton clearly leads a busy life. But
he’ll still put aside plenty of time to care for his new students, whom he’ll love so dearly. In closing: rabble rabble, derka, Roll Tide. Because America.
-Alan Harkins (Duncan 2014)
59
People
Nicole Roberson is AWESOME (true story). In fact, she is so awesome that everyone she meets
becomes more awesome just by being around her. As a psychology major from Dallas, Texas, she
has finally reached the possimpible- where the possible meets the impossible. Nicole is Duncan’s
Head Social, and she is therefore always better. Not only does she throw awesome parties,
Nicole Roberson newest
but she is friends with literally everyone she meets. When her friends are sad, she makes sure
Sophomore, Duncan they stop being sad and makes them awesome instead (most likely by driving them to wherever
[Dallas, TX]
they need to go, introducing them to new music, throwing them a dinner party, or presenting
{MECH}
them with funny internet memes). As her new student, you will be the mini cherry on top of the
regular cherry, on top of the sundae of awesomeness that is her life. So suit up new Duncaroos,
because O-Week with Nicole Roberson is going to be LEGEN… wait for it… and I hope you’re
not lactose intolerant because the second half of that word is… DARY!
DUNCAN COLLEGE
O-Week 2013
Like a
bOZ
Cristal
60
Oscar
Caleb
Erin
Caleb McBride
Senior, Duncan
[Houston, TX]
{ESCI}
Oscar Turner
Junior, Sid Rich
[Raleigh, NC]
{MECHE}
Have you ever wonder what Tarzan would be like if you replaced the
pack of gorillas that raised him with a pack of Fortune 500 CEOs?
The answer is John “Oscar” Turner. Born in the dirty burbs of Raleighwood, North Carolina, Oscar was born to run a different kind
of street: Wall Street. Known as “All-Business” in the investment
game, JOT can flip a stock like no other. Raised from an early age
by Papa John Turner to get business or die trying, Oscàr gives a new
meaning to “stunting like my daddy”. But don’t think street smarts
and a hustle-hard attitude are all that define this advisor. Oscar is
also an aspiring mechanical engineer, award-winning cellist, and
knows all the words to Drake’s “The Motto”. He’s also an avid sports
fan, with a love for Tim Tebow that almost equals his love for the
Pussycat Dolls’ “Buttons” music video. The only thing he loves more
than sports is critiquing the players’ uniforms. Ask him how he feels
about yellow shoes on basketball players. Basically, if you want make
sure that your O-week investment enjoys a profitable return, this
club-baseball-playing, business-minded, thug life fashionista is your
man.
- Altumash Mufti (Sid Rich 2015)
Congratulations, my friends, Caleb McBride is one of your O-Week advisors! This country boy
was born and raised in that-one-place-where-they-have-farms, TX, where he learned to use
his Southern charm and baby blue eyes to woo the masses.It’s no secret that Caleb knows every
person at Rice University. In fact, since he already knows all the humans, he’s started learning
the squirrels by name. Along with their family histories. Speaking of which, make sure you
brush up on what you know about yourself (favorite movies, family vacations, special talents,
etc.) because Caleb will want to know it all. He’s the easiest person in the world to talk to, and
he’s full of great advice. Actually, his advice is so great that his closest friends aspire to recreate
him in bobble head form, complete with real Caleb quotes, such as: “If it’s healthy, count me
out,” and the more controversial “I immediately thought of tooting in his face.” Classic Caleb.
But that’s certainly not it. Caleb’s an Earth Science major, which is a fancy way of saying that
he spends much of his time at Rice … not at Rice! Rather, he travels the world via cruise ships,
doing “research” and “schoolwork.” Consequently, Caleb often comes down with a bad case
of cabin fever if he stays within the hedges for any extended period of time. Major side-effect:
spontaneous mid-week road trips.In all seriousness, Caleb is one of the most genuine people
you will ever meet. You are very privileged to have him serve on your team of advisors, and it
would do you well to get to know him as best you can. One thing’s for certain, whether you’re in
Kansas or somewhere over the rainbow, Caleb will make you feel right at home.
- Connor Titus (Brown 2014)
Read Erin’s Affiliate Bio on page 81!
61
People
Cristal Tan
Senior, Duncan
[Melaka, Malaysia]
{ASTRO}
This beautiful young woman comes from the
tropical paradise of Malaysia. She can charm
you in any language (she speaks French, Russian,
English, Malay, and Chinese). If you ever say hello while she’s giving a tour, she’ll get excited and
wave her arms frantically, it’s quite a sight! Cristal
will always make your day brighter with her smile
and big greetings. If there’s any hint of sadness in
your face, she’ll treat the problem immediately
and take your woes away with her angelic singing
voice. On top of that, she’s an Astrophysics major that can describe the beauty of the universe
and how special you are. However, be forewarned,
don’t ever get in the way of her food or sleep, just
don’t! She needs both to maintain her smile and
happiness. And don’t ever hurt her or her loved
ones because she will use her black belt in Taekwondo to protect the ones she loves. It should be
clear to you now that she can go toe to toe with
James Bond, but she’s sweeter, smarter, and better
- Josue Lopez (Duncan 2014)
looking.
DUNCAN COLLEGE
O-Week 2013
Tess Weiner
Sophomore, Duncan
[Chicago, IL]
{COGSCI, FRENCH}
Meet my cousin, Tess Weiner. She is 5
feet and 2 inches of a good time. She
is a cognitive science major, so she
knows how to get inside your mind. If
I were to list off Tess’s favorite things,
it’d probably go like this:
1. Food
2. Middle school music
3. Food
4. Lying by the pool
5. Food
6. Working Out
7. Food
8. Baking
9. Food
10. Food
With such a diverse group of interests,
it’s pretty difficult to summarize Tess
Weiner into a single blurb. But here’s a
tip: Pay attention to #8 on the list and
do everything in your power to exploit
it. I’m serious, do it. Fake a birthday
or accomplish something really minor
and she will bake you a cake or some
cookies. There is a good chance you’ll
only like Tess because she’ll bake for
you. Which is cool, I totally get it. But
if you get to know her, you’ll find out
that she is one of the coolest people
you’ll ever meet. She is driven, motivated, and a natural leader. On top of
that, she is the most loyal, caring, and
amazing friend you could ever hope
to have. Overall, Tess is an awesome
girl and you are extremely lucky to
have her as an advisor.
- Dylan Mendelson (Duncan 2016)
62
Becca Kellner
Junior, Hanszen
[Saint Albans, UK]
{HIST, PSYCH}
Becca is like no one you’ve ever met. She knows almost every good country
song. Nights out on the town with her are the definition of a good time. Her
acting is better than anyone in Hollywood. There isn’t a music video she hasn’t
seen. She’s practically Einstein. And let’s be honest, dat British accent. (You’ll
soon find it is true what they say about posh girls.) Her beauty, charm, and wit
command everyone’s attention. Don’t be fooled by her quiet demeanor, this girl
is a blonde bombshell in every way. If you’re lucky, you’ll hear about her crazy
times— just ask about #roadtrip2013. She’ll challenge you to be a better person
simply from her example and every moment with her will be an adventure. A
word of wisdom, though: don’t go against her in powderpuff. You’ll regret it.
The only thing you could possibly regret more is not getting to know her—she’ll
change your life.
- Jayme Smith (Hanszen, 2016)
JB Makhani
Sophomore, Duncan
[Austin, TX]
{POLI, ECON}
JB is so cool he doesn’t even need vowels in his name. Seriously, that is his
name – JB. No dots. JB was that kid growing up that was part of chess club and
was soccer captain. I think he once went to chess camp with a bleached-blonde
mohawk. The combination didn’t always make sense to some people, but JB has
made it work for him. In the short year that he’s been at Rice, JB has managed to
do it all – school, work off-campus, research in the Baker Institute, intramural
sports, videogames (he is a champ at FIFA), volunteering, leisure reading, and
sleep! Even despite running around campus and Houston for all of this, JB is
still one of the most laid-back and fun-loving guys you’ll ever meet. You are so
lucky to have him as your advisor and Rice Health Advisor (RHA) for the next
year, as he’ll help you make the most of your Rice experience and keep you
smiling and laughing along the way. JB is SO excited to be your advisor, and
you should be too!
- Amber Makhani (Duncan 2012)
Becca
JB
Tess
People
poppy lock
and drop it
63
O-Week 2013
DUNCAN COLLEGE
64
Natalie
Michael
Nichole
Tin
Maniacs
Add smart, beautiful, and wonderfully compassionate together, then factor in sexy dancing
queen, CrossFit extraordinaire, and the next singing sensation…and BAM SHAZAM!!! Natalie
Gow is in the house! For those of you who are lucky enough to be in this amazing lady’s O-Week
group, you will most definitely receive lots of love in the form of many hugs and smiles. This
Natalie Gow
Chinese-American sophomore from Dallas, Texas is well known as one of the kindest, most apSophomore, Duncan proachable people you’ll meet at Rice. When she’s not busy writing philosophy and cognitive sci[Dallas, TX]
ence papers, she’s most likely hanging out at New Life church, scoring touchdowns for both the
{COGSCI, PHIL}
Duncan Powderpuff and girl’s rugby team, and killing it with her hip-hop dance moves for the
BASYK dance team. And did I mention that she frequently bakes delicious cupcakes for everyone around Duncan? YOU CAN’T BEAT THAT. So if Nat Gow is your advisor, get ready and be
excited because you’re going to have an awesome O-Week and a friend for life.
- Sophie Hu (Duncan 2015)
- Becca Hamm Conard (Duncan 2014)
Who needs a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow when you already have Mike
Hart? Don’t be intimidated by his suave looks or his charisma. Do, however, be
intimidated by his friendliness and excitement to meet all of you. Mike has a
character and personality like no other. He somehow makes time to fit everything
Michael Williams- and everyone into his schedule, which includes taking insane engineering courses,
constantly learning Chinese, and repeatedly switching back and forth between
Hart
Sophomore, McMur- majors. Was that your heart skipping a beat? Oh no, it was just Mike’s ridiculously
strong stride as he sweeps in motion with the rest of his crew team every Saturday
try
morning. You like food? Mike knows a thing or two about that. Or six, if you want
[Agoura Hills, CA]
to count the number of meals he eats a day. All jokes aside, Mike’s an incredibly fun
{BIOE}
guy to be around, and is always down to chill with a friend. Be ready to have the
most memorable week of your life with the best advisor you could ask for!
- Daniel Hsu (McMurtry 2016)
Cynthia Guo (McMurtry 2016)
65
People
Nichole (pronounced Ni-CHO-lay) Taylor is a perfect blend of sophistication and down-home. She
hails from the small town of Boerne, Texas, where she’s just a stone’s throw away from George Strait’s
house and her dad gets up at 4 in the morning to put the brisket in the smoker. She loves her country music and two-stepping, and recently introduced me to something called cascarones, where you
smash an egg full of confetti on peoples’ heads. But she’s not just a Texan, she’s worldly too. How Nichole Taylor
worldly? She is the biggest Harry Potter fan you’ll ever meet. I’ve only seen her beaten in Harry Potter Senior, Duncan
trivia once, by a mysterious gentleman from Indiana with a rattail and a deathly hallows tattoo. Clearly [Boerne, TX]
{CHEM}
he wasn’t really a muggle. Once you’ve used your Harry Potter knowledge to befriend her, Nichole is a
great Texan to have in your corner: she’s as scrappy as her spirit animal, the stray cat (and gives amazing back scratches) and if you wake her up and jump up and down enough she may just drive you to
Whataburger at 3 in the morning. What more could you ask for in an advisor?
DUNCAN COLLEGE
O-Week 2013
Shane Alpert
Junior, McMurtry
[New York, NY]
{ASTRO}
The sounds of Shane are half the dusky boom-bap swagger she imported from her beloved New
York City and half the bubbling syrupy slur of her adopted Houston home. Most days, you can
find her hitting the books at Coffeehouse, dancing wherever there’s music, or tramping through
the outdoors to find a good spot for people-watching and a book. As an Astrophysics major,
she spends most nights either atop Brockman Hall, staring at the stars through a telescope, or
holed up in Herman Brown, analyzing some astronomical images. Where can you find her on
the weekends? Hopping from college to college with her tiny backpack, yelling and screaming,
hugging strangers, and having a grand old time no matter what. She’s the person to talk to until
4am about all the craziness the world has to offer. Not only does Shane know what’s up, but she’s
thrilled to death to help you figure it out.
- Katya Arquilla (McMurtry 2014)
Kelly Mover
Senior, Duncan
[Champaign, IL]
{PSYCH}
What do you need to know about Kelly Mover? Only
that this pint-sized pre-Med is capable of knocking your
socks off. A Psychology major by day, coffee enthusiast by night, Kelly is capable of juggling everything in
life that matters, including (and especially) you. Hailing from Champaign, Illinois, this gal loves to spend
her time traveling around Houston in search of excellent coffee shops to study and geek out over. Often seen
wearing cut tees with obscure British bands, Kelly is not
afraid to show you her excitement over a new song or a
cute puppy. Rocking her aviators as a constant homage
to Top Gun, Kelly will be more than happy to field any
questions you have about life in general or Rice in particular. Known as one of Coffeehouse’s sweetest baristas, she manages all the money in the bank. Harboring
a secret love for video games and a not-so-secret love
for the show Community, Kelly will always be there to
laugh and joke around with you, as well as be a truly
caring friend when you’re in need. Funny and sweet,
Kelly is the best advisor you can ever have. Bide your
time, because once you meet her, your life will never be
the same. Get excited. (Just don’t call her cute. She’ll get
real sassy.)
- Marissa Hall (Duncan 2014)
Max Ingraham-Rakatanksy (McMurtry 2014)
66
McKenna Mitchell (McMurtry 2015)
Patrick Shipsey (Jones 2015)
Jordan Bley
Junior, Duncan
[Columbia, MO]
{KINE}
Who’s that fashionable Sperry-wearing Missourian approaching your car on move-in day? It’s not a Southern Tide model;
it’s actually Jordan Bley (rhymes with eye). Duncan’s resident
“Midwestern Gentleman” is the admirable captain of about
every single Duncan IM sports team, regardless of injury. Jordan is your go-to source of knowledge for anything related
to collegiate athletics and will gladly hit the field or the court
with you. He has also served the community as a proud member of the Associates Committee, the Duncan College Sports
Rep, and in his latest role, your Gopher! Although he rocks
preppy pastels like no other, Jordan is more than just a pretty
face (but he literally is a Southern Tide campus ambassador).
He is beyond willing to drop everything and help with whatever you ask of him: from a ride to a sketchy concert outside
the Loop, to personally designing and decorating the programs for Associates Night. Jordan is a purveyor of endless
advice, fun-facts and the lyrics to any Disney song (always in
tune, we might add). These traits alone comprise one of the
most qualified people we know to orient you all into Duncan
College. But more importantly, Jordan and his ever-present
smile could not be more excited for O-Week. His hugs are
inevitable, his laughter is contagious, his style is beyond compare, and once you meet him, you’ll soon question what life
was like without him (at least, we do).
- Emma Hurt (Duncan 2015),
Louis Lessar (Duncan 2015)
Toto Eclipse of the
Heart
Jordan was not
available for Toto
Eclipse of the
Heart’s group
photo
People
Read Dylans Affiliate
Bio on page 81!
Jordan
Shane
Kelly
Dylan
67
O-Week 2013
Sachin
Josiah
Drew
DUNCAN COLLEGE
Kira
Totolly Ozsome
68
Read Drew’s Affiliate
Bio on page 82!
David Smith (Baker 2016)
Josiah Grace
Sophomore, Duncan
[Albuquerque, NM]
{COMPSCI, STAT}
Yosiah: the omnipotent, ever-present force in my life.
This demi-god of puns wouldnot take the stairs even if
the fire-marshal demanded him. Nay, not even if the allencompassing Tongues of a blazing conflagration were
to lick and lash at his door, beckoning him forth from his
meager meal of Maruchan ramen enjoyed simply from
the very bowl in which the broth was boiled. With a fork.
A FORK?? Aye. A fork. Nay, the Yosiah could never be
bothered to brandish a proper set of chopsticks even if
the aforementioned Tongues with their Rose-Red Fingers were to stick out upon the threshold of his doorstep
once more, threatening to lap up his supper unless he
learned to tote each individual noodle with a set of unwieldy sticks. But enough about fire, enough roasting of
the Yosiah – at the end of the night (yes night, not day; he
actually doesn’t sleep (and apparently I’m far too much a
“hipster” to use such a colloquial phrase as “at the end of
the day”), Yosiah might not know the proper way to eat
Americanized Japanese instant soup, but he sure owns a
set of great, big (figuratively so) ears of caring that he’s
willing to lend out more often than all of Caesar’s friends,
Romans and countrymen combined. Go ahead. Ask him
anything. He’ll be right there by your side in a hot-sec,
albeit with a blazing volley of puns, no doubt.
- Phillip Haddad (Duncan 2016)
I like to think of Sachin “Swadisth” Gupta as a super hero. A sort of Captain India
Sachin Gupta
figure, if you will. As with any super hero, Sachin is equipped with a number of powJunior, Baker
ers that he uses to defeat the evil forces of our world. The first of these is his ability to
[Hackettstown, NJ]
name and jam to any 90’s song you could think of. Sum 41? No problem. Smashing
{MSCI}
Pumpkins? On lock. And don’t even get him started on Blink-182… Bad guys stand no
chance against the distorted angst of Sachin belting some Blink. Second in his list of miraculous powers is Sachin’s quickness to laugh with so much enthusiasm that evil villains can only feel good, and suddenly become much less evil. Ha!…
take that wrongdoers. Finally, and certainly not least, is Sachin’s ability to brighten up any room he enters. Scientists have
yet to figure out how exactly he does it; some say it is his adorable smile, others insist it’s his sense of humor. Perhaps it’s
one of those things we’ll never really understand, like cricket, or what MSG really is. Either way, bad guys are often blinded by the brightness, and run into walls resulting in bold onomatopoeias appearing out of thin air. Of course, with these
great powers Sachin is bound to attract some arch enemies. These include hunger, sleep deprivation, and simple tools.
He tackles hunger with a strict, and sometimes blind adherence to getting all of his meals every day…all four of them.
And he pummels sleep deprivation with his barrista skillz at Rice Coffeehouse. He’s still working on the simple tools part
(just don’t ask him to help you with any twisty ties).Whether it’s help with homework, a serving of caffeine, or just an
enthusiastic hello, Sachin is always there to save the day, which makes him (as I’m sure you’ll find out) a hero to us all.
-Andrew Stout (Baker 2015)
69
People
Kira Clingen
Have you ever wondered
Sophomore, Duncan
how to derive an equa[Marblehead, MA]
tion? What a capacitor is?
{POLI, ENVIRO, ASIA}
Sadly, Kira Bre Clingen,
the token humanities and social sciences major, is not the advisor to ask. However, if you ever want to know about nautical
flag signs, what that essay really means, or how to get from
point A to point B without a car, Kira—sailing and public
transportation connoisseur—is your girl. This beautiful small
town girl from Marblehead, Massachusetts loves Dunkin Donuts, beaches, drawing kick-ass abstract lions, Russian literature, and being involved in everything. As you become part
of the Duncan and Rice community, you will come to realize
that there are two truths in the world. 1) Rice and Duncan are
amazing and 2) Kira is in charge of and involved in EVERYTHING. She is triple majoring and double minoring (all without having to take Math 101), taking tons of different classes,
and staying fit by playing tennis, doing backflips, and going
on cross-Houston adventures every week. Somehow, Kira still
manages to make time for her friends, to bake brownies on
weekends, and to keep her tea cabinet fully stocked for her
roommate. Kira is your all around do-everything-be-everything Rice student, but, she always has time to chat if you need
it or make up a dance to cheer you up (ask her about her swine
dance!) Get excited! Once you get to know Kira you’ll realize
that she’s a little crazy, a little weird, but all around awesome!
You’re going to have an amazing Rice experience with Kira as
your advisor!
- Connie Shen (Duncan 2016)
O-Week 2013
Totolly
DUNCAN COLLEGE
Peter
Kylie
Spies
70
Mary
Mary Anderson
Junior, Duncan
[Houston, TX]
{ENGL, FILM}
- Obiefuna Andrew Chideu Akuwata Nwabueze (Duncan 2014)
Allison Parker (Duncan 2016)
-Amod Desai (Brown 2014)
Shelley Reese (Brown 2014)
Peter Lambert
Peter, peter pumpkin eater,
Sophomore, Duncan
Really couldn’t be any sweeter!
[College Station, TX]
He puts Duncan above all else,
So I hope this paragraph describes him well!
{BIOC}
New Duncaroos, welcome into the magical mystery life of Peter Lambert! Peter is the soul child of a Southern gentleman and a mystical creature, which is pretty much the perfect recipe for an amazing advisor! There are two truths in
this world: Peter will always out-sass you, and his hair will always outdo yours. Although he might own more kicks than
there’s room for in our closets, he’ll still wear flip-flops in January. His lack of cowboy boots is almost impressive when
you know he’s from College Station, Texas. However, if you’re not from the lone-star state, he is all knowing in all things
Texas. Peter has more hidden talents than there are squirrels at Rice (this probably comes from his mystical side of the
family). In fact, they range from acrobatics in the quad, roller-skating during casino night, playing the piano on Thursday
nights at the student center, all the way to being a professional boss at ballroom dancing. He’s even done research on rice
in China! Though a very dedicated Bio-Chemistry major, Peter is also minoring in Fun. If you’re interested in pursuing a
similar track, the requirement for Peter’s Fun minor consist of always, at anytime, day or night, being around Duncan
ready to hang out. Peter is always ready for a good time, and if he’s around so will you!
- Isabella Marcotulli (Duncan 2015)
71
People
Mary Anderson is fierce! No, I don’t think you understand. Mary Anderson is FIERCE! Even though the
previous sentences are all that is needed to describe Mary,
they tell me I need to write more. So you want more? I’ll
give you more. Look at her. Look at that style. This girl
knows style, fashion, the works. She’s practically a guru.
Enlightened, maybe. The Dalai Lama of fashion, if you
will. And that’s merely part of a certain set of skills that
she possesses, all of which she has complete mastery over.
Like film. Seriously, you should take a look at what this
girl can do with a camera. It’s like Hollywood quality, or
something. She’s clearly using magic. Now if you actually
mention a Hollywood film, she’s never heard of it. She’s a
leader not a follower, and she will lead you straight over
the rainbow and down the yellow brick road. That is why
Mary Anderson is FIERCE!
Kylie Cullinan
Senior, Brown
[Spring, TX]
{BIOC, ENGL}
Kylie is one of the goofiest individuals that you’ll meet at
Rice University. Hailing from Spring, Texas, this mid-distance track athlete knows how to have a good time. She’s
got sick dance moves, she invents a new hashtag on twitter everyday, and she loves making new friends. Seriously,
just give her some cereal, and the rest will be history. In
addition to getting down on the dance floor, Kylie has her
way with school as well. One heck of a biochemistry major
and soon to be super-doctor, Kylie could one day save your
life. Yeah, she might be worth knowing. Although she has a
crazy schedule filled with running on the Rice track team,
looking for the keys that she loses on a daily basis, and taking BIOC 605, Kylie is someone that will always make time
for you. And the more you get to know her, the more interesting she gets. At first glance, you wouldn’t think that
this sweet southern girl would have the rapping prowess of
Snoop Dogg. You wouldn’t even be able to articulate how
amazing her facial expressions are. But trust us, with Kylie
it only gets better. No matter who you are or what you’re
going to do, Kylie will find a way to be friends with you!
But she’s not a rapper.
O-Week 2013
DUNCAN COLLEGE
Wicked Witches of
the Kanye West
Chris
72
Gabrien
Hannah
Carissa
Gabrien Clark
Senior, Hanszen
[Farmersville, TX]
{BIOE, HIST}
It’s a bird, it’s a plane, it’s Gabrien Clark! Hailing all the
way from Farmersville, Texas,
population 3,500, Gabrien
is one amazing guy. You will
probably see him around
campus working with the SA
as a senator at Hanszen College, making sure no student
is left behind! He also enjoys
serving through Rice Empower, promoting the STEM fields
of study to K-12 students from
all over Houston. Gabrien is a
Senior majoring in Bioengineering and History- whew!
He was on a team that designed a 3D printer this past
year, so ask him about it! On a
side note, this superman uses
cookie dough and fro yo to
boost him through the challenges of life, and enjoys any
flavor of cookie dough you
can offer. But don’t give him
cheese—he hates it! You’ll always see Mr. Clark with a
smile; he loves to laugh. He’s
a fun and faithful friend so
don’t miss the opportunity to
Real facts about Chris Hurd: Chris loves Chicago get to know him!
and collects Economist covers. He’s a snowboard-Andre Critsinelis (Hanszen 2015)
er and soccer player that is always suffering from
knee injuries. He gets way too intense about FIFA.
You probably don’t want to play against him. He
does not respond to “Churdle.”
Read Carissa’s Affiliate
Bio on page 80!
-Charles Danan (Duncan 2014)
Evan Austin (Duncan 2014)
Hannah Abrams
Sophomore, Duncan
[Houston, TX]
{LASR}
I’ve been solicited to write a confession, one of most refreshing
candour. Very well. Hugs. Don’t
let the week pass you by without experiencing a Hannah-hug.
Tremendous. Utterly, ineffably
divine. I’m no baker, but I went
to her house for Hanukkah; her
mom makes AMAZING bread.
Bread and hugs / Hugs and bread
/ What more to ask of a girl so
red? Yes, red indeed. She’s got
rosy cheeks, but such a botanical
metaphor could never conjure up
an image anywhere near as sweet
as the multitudinous honey-laden petals that are her care and
concern for her pandilla. From
such a deeply-rooted solicitude
blooms-forth a rather unexpectedly sneaky albeit sassy attitude
(the likes of which are much akin
to that of a Red Forest Fox) with
regards to those that seek to selfishly uproot her ever-flowing generosity. Now, I might have gone
out to the flowerbed and picked a
terrible metaphor in my attempts
to describe Hannah to you, seeing as she has just now informed
me via text message that she hates
gardening, but in my infamously
judgmental eyes, I believe this description to depict her perfectly.
That, and I have assumed all liberties as the writer. I might add a
word of caution before I go: never
lend her your can opener.
- Phillip Haddad (Duncan 2016)
73
People
Chris Hurd
Senior, Duncan
[Hinesdale, IL]
{MSCI}
Khaki. Math. Hinsdale. Jack Johnson. NASA. Jack
Johnson.
The only thing you need to know about Chris Hurd
is that he doesn’t make sense.
Chris Hurd is like the 7th season of Lost. Chris
Hurd is the 7th season of Lost. Chris Hurd is lost.
This is Chris Hurd’s bio.
We have a saying around here. Chris Hurd has
never heard it.
Chris Hurd plays club soccer for Rice. He’s actually
pretty good.
There are a lot of things to say about Chris Hurd. I
forget what they are.
Chris Hurd isn’t a religion. Chris Hurd is a way of
life.
Chris Hurd does this thing at meals where he stares
blankly at the table and chuckles quietly to himself,
but just loud enough that you’ll hear and ask him
why he’s laughing. To this he replies, “Chris Hurd”.
Chris Hurd likes alternative rock. Chris Hurd likes
alternating rock.
Chris Hurd likes to rock, alternating between brilliant and bewildering. But maybe that’s why he’s
brilliant. Or maybe that’s why we love him. Maybe
that’s why he loves him.
We don’t know. The only answer we have is “Chris
Hurd”.
The only person who knows is Chris Hurd.
Chris Hurd. Jack Johnson.
Alexis Bailey
Sophomore, Wiess
[Houston, TX]
{Undecided}
The cackle. Anyone who knows Alexis has heard it-that’s because she’s always laughing and
making other people laugh. She likes to call me “mom” because I can and have cleaned up after her; but the truth is, she is the one that I look up to. Alexis is smart, beautiful, caring, and
tough-as-nails. She is the hardest working person I know, whether she’s giving it her all on the
powderpuff field or finishing her papers weeks in advance, but she’s also the best person to call
when you want to go on an adventure or get into trouble. Although you can usually find her at
coffeehouse geeking out to the latest Hillary Clinton news, watching sloth videos on youtube,
or belting Lana del Rey lyrics, if you need her she’ll be right by your side. Don’t you dare steal
her away from me because I’ll eat you.
DUNCAN COLLEGE
O-Week 2013
- Margeaux Epner (McMurtry 2016)
Hello, future Owls. Look at everyone around, now back to Josh, now back to everyone else,
now back to Josh. Sadly, those people aren’t Josh, but even if they tried, they couldn’t even
come close. Talk about brains and brawn: not only does Josh play soccer, he is also outstanding
Josh Solis
academically especially with a Cognitive Science major- the good looks and year-round tan are
Sophomore, Duncan just a bonus. He is just one well-rounded stud. Josh is chill and down-to-Earth, and his even
[Arlington, TX]
temper makes him an awesome listener, so if you ever need any help you know who to go to! He
{BIOC}
will always try to help you out and give you advice or just listen. Josh will always greet you with
a smile that is to die for. He’s fun and has a good sense of humor, so you’ll also be sure to have
a good time at Duncan College! How much better can anyone get than Josh Solis? They can’t.
Read Connie’s affiliate bio
on page 80!
Olivia Ragni
Senior, Duncan
[Arkadelphia, AR]
{EEB}
- Jessica Tjahja (UT Arlington)
Congratulations, newest Duncaroos! Your lives are about to be graced by the awestriking presence that is Olivia Ragni (you can consider yourselves among the luckiest now). Be prepared
for astonishment when you lay eyes on this flaming redheaded cheerleader from the small town
of Arkadelphia, Arkansas. Not only is she known campus-wide for her striking beauty (think
Princess Merida on a perfect hair day everyday), but Olivia also has the brains and experience to
back it all up. A future doctor, Olivia has shadowed physicians in India, served as an elephantcaretaker in Thailand (while living in a treehouse!), and hiked volcanoes while learning Spanish
in Guatemala – all before her freshman year of college. But don’t be intimidated by this adventurous superwoman (who is currently studying abroad in Denmark), because Olivia is just as
passionate about Rice as she is about her travels. On any given day, you may spot her cheerleading for the Rice athletic teams, showing off her artistic talents (like decorating an owl statue for
Duncan), working in her EEB lab (ask her to identify insects on campus – she knows them all!),
or even running Baker 13. Yet despite her wide array of activities, she somehow always finds
time to spend with friends, family, and new students. We don’t know how Olivia does it all (she
must never sleep), but if you aren’t convinced now, just wait…you’ll soon see how lucky you are
to have Olivia Ragni as your advisor.
- Ashley Devitt (McMurtry 2014)
74
Yellow Brick Bros
People
Olivia was abroad Spring
2013. Read about the
abroad experience on
page 107!
Alexis
Josh
Olivia
Connie
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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
O-Week 2013
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
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Kavana Gowda
Sophomore, Hanszen
[Fresno, CA]
{Undecided}
Leah Cabrera-Marquez can’t wait to meet you and your
mother on the first day of O-Week! That is, as long as
your mother is also Ted Mosby’s future wife. But don’t
let Leah’s self-proclaimed Barney Stinson-ness scare you!
Coming to Duncan from nearby Jones College, Leah is
sure to cover you with care, compassion, and some stray
purple paint right from the start. As a Sexuality, Gender
and Women Studies major, it’s okay that she starts every
sentence with ‘bro’ because she knows it’s only a social
construct. And thanks to her other major in Political Science, Leah will be happy to talk with you about current
American and global issues (especially education!). This
future Teach For America teacher gets all her sass from
Texas’s Rio Grande Valley, her energy from high-quality
coffee, and her love from … well, from her love of people! So don’t be afraid to meet the girl under the beanie,
because you’ll find that Leah has the warmest heart and
plenty of Jones College swag to keep it that way.
If you see a cute Indian girl dancing on one foot during
O-Week, congrats, you’ve just met your wonderful diversity facilitator Kavana. She’s got serious moves, but also
attracts injuries like flowers attract bees. When she’s not
hurt, she plays powderpuff, lacrosse, and bounces around
on trampolines. Hailing from India, and then Idaho, Kansas, Connecticut, and California, this friendly Hanszenite
knows all about diversity, so ask her if you have any questions! An undecided engineer, Kavana has already contributed to a chimpanzee water dispenser that’s being installed
in the Houston Zoo. She also works with middle school
children through PAIR (Partnership for the Advancement
and Immersion of Refugees), and helped successfully campaign for PAIR to partner with Jeremy Lin in his Making
A Difference project. On top of that, Kavana is a freshman
and sophomore rep at Hanszen. Busy as she is, Kavana is
always down to have a good time and is super excited for
Somewhere Over the RainbO-Week. So strike up a conver- Zia Rosenzweig (Duncan 2013) sation; you won’t regret getting to know her! (Hint: Indian
food will melt her heart.)
-Kathy Li (Hanszen 2015)
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People
Leah Cabrera-Marquez
Junior, Jones
[Tampa, FL]
{POLI}
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.
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.
DUNCAN COLLEGE
O-Week 2013
What is an O-Week PAA?
- Bo Sripharphan (Hanszen 2015)
Avanthi Ajjarapu
Junior, Duncan
[Ames, IA]
{BIOC}
It is August of 2013, 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 non-smartphone 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. 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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Carissa Livingston, Care Bear, C-Money, C-bass-this is your
O-Week group’s Peer Academic Advisor, and boy, are you
so lucky to get to know her. You know when you watch the
news and they bring up those stories about the dudes that
were able to fight off that bear and not get mauled? That’s
Carissa-except replace the bear with life, and you’ve got a
girl who rocks it all. This rising junior bioengeenering/cognitive science/pre-med girl, when she’s not working super
hard in the library, can be found saving lives as an EMT, or
baking delicious desserts in a Duncan kitchen, which I gladly noms (learned the word from her) upon as soon as they’re
cooked. “But wait,” you may ask….’how will Carissa have
time to spend with me if she’s so busy cooking and saving
lives?!??” Fear not! Out of all her other amazing qualities,
Carissa’s dedication to her friends at Duncan surpasses all.
Just ask her to grab her camera and go on a walk, and you’ll
not only get some great photographs taken of you, but have
an awesome time exploring the Rice campus and the rest of
Houston with her. Looking for a way to win this girl’s heart
and friendship? Just drive her to 59 diner, order her some
onion rings and sour patch kids, and you’ve got a friend for
life. Just make sure you’re ready for an awesome O-Week,
and with Carissa, you’ll be more than ready for your next
journeys at Rice!
Connie Wang
Sophomore, Duncan
[Sugarland, TX]
{CSCI, BIOE}
Connie Wang is a beautiful individual who has a heart
of gold. She sleeps in the oddest intervals of time,
thinks septum rings on others looks adorable, and
has a dislike for blueberries and ramen. Yes, this girl
has her quirks, but you won’t meet another with more
passion and enthusiasm for color-coding a Google calendar. As a friend, Connie is the one you know you
can count on. Her sincerity is genuine, warm, and endearing; and you know she’ll always give you an honest
opinion without being brutal. She’s that friend whose
door you can knock on at 4 am in the morning, and
she’ll greet you at her door with a drowsy smile. She is
clever, feisty, and intelligent. Trust me when I say you’ll
definitely learn a thing or two from her just by being
around her. Best way to strike up a conversation with
her? Mention Game of Thrones, Community, or Suits.
TV is a sure way to her heart. No matter what you end
up deciding to do, just remember: getting to know
Connie will only better your life.
- Melissa Kang (Duncan 2015)
- Chynna Foucek (Duncan 2015)
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People
Carissa Livingston
Junior, Duncan
[Valley Forge, PA]
{CSCI, BIOE}
DUNCAN COLLEGE
O-Week 2013
Photographer
Erin Rieger
Sophomore, Duncan
[Ithaca, NY]
{BIO, CSCI}
When you first meet Erin, you will be wondering why
she is greeting you with so much happiness. Actually, this
thought will probably run through your head every time
you encounter her. Her smile will be large, her eyes will
be squinting, her head will be bobbing in excitement, and
her hand will be waving. Once Erin begins conversing with
you (the greeting will take longer than expected), you will
realize how her greeting captures her personality. Erin
is an incredibly kind and thoughtful person. You would
never expect her to be from the chilly town of Ithaca. She
would never brag about her achievements, but if you pay
close attention you will realize all the amazing things she
accomplishes. She gets involved in so many extracurricular
activities that I cannot keep them straight (ask her about
Owlchemy, Wharton and Rice Mentoring, Rice Program
Council, and Honor Council). She loves sciences so much
that she is double majoring in Biological Sciences and
Cognitive Sciences. Her sparkling personality and passion
for Rice will make her a wonderful PAA. Never hesitate to
ask Erin a question, not only will her response be helpful,
her attitude will brighten your day.
- Jenny Goeddel (Duncan 2016)
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Dylan Mendelson
Sophomore, Duncan
[Shrewsbury, NJ]
{STAT}
If you’re sitting in the commons during dinner and hear
what sounds like a duck choking, you’ve been mistaken—it’s Dylan Mendelson laughing. This Jersey native is
frequently found locked out of his room, trolling on Facebook, gazing at pictures of Boo (if you don’t know who
I’m talking about, go to Google right now), or wandering
off campus to neighborhood parks, but don’t be startled by
his big personality. Dylan is outgoing and always willing to
meet new people, and if you’re having a bad day he’s sure
to cheer you up. Dylan has impeccable athletic abilities—
which will become obvious when you see him play dodgeball—in addition to his impeccable good looks. As a tour
guide and sociology major, he can really show you around,
and when he tells you “all you need is DuncLove,” you’ll
never doubt it. This bronze Adonis will always accompany
you to the pool, and will never cease to amaze you with his
eating habits. If you’re looking for a nice Jewish boy, Dylan
is the one you’ve been looking for. As soon as you meet this
renowned photographer, you’ll know he’s “a big dill.”
-Tess Weiner (Duncan 2016)
Gophers
- Louis Lessar (Duncan 2015)
Carly Biedul
Junior, Duncan
[Santa Barbara, CA]
{EEB}
Carly Biedul (pronounced like the “beetle”) is, simply put,
unlike anyone else you will ever meet. While it’s next to impossible to explain exactly how unique and awesome she
is, we shall do our best. New students, get ready to have
your lives permanently changed for the better. This waterpolo star from Santa Barbara, California cooks a mean wiener schnitzel, is the owner of multiple ice cream makers,
knows an abundance of insect/animal trivia, and has the
widest range of music taste around (Macklemore to Alison
Krauss...and everything in between). Carly is one of those
rare people who is able to make mismatching socks and
Keds legitimately look good, and she can effortlessly insert
hashtags into an everyday conversation. The video of her
winning money on Wheel of Fortune has 4,019,654 views.
No big deal. Last summer she spent a few weeks canoeing
and camping her way through the Canadian wilderness.
Yet in all seriousness, what really sets Carly apart is her
heart. She will gladly drop everything to help a friend with
whatever he or she might need. Whether that be a free ride
in her car or just a buddy to sit with. You’re all more than
lucky to have her as a part of your O-Week team. She certainly cannot wait to meet all of you and share her love of
Duncan and Rice. She’ll probably tell you what your spirit
animal is, too. This is just the beginning of what makes
Carly the rare gem she is.
-Isabella Marcotulli (Duncan 2015), Emma Hurt ( Duncan 2015),
Madison Stacy (Duncan 2015)
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People
Drew Kohner
Senior, Duncan
[Wellington, FL]
{BIOC}
When you arrive at O-Week, you might notice a lime green
Mustang outside Duncan. Upon seeing said car, you might
think to yourself, “could this be a prop from Fast & Furious
6?” It might as well be, because the driver behind the wheel
is as action-packed as they come: your affiliate, Drew Kohner. Drew serves many roles here at Duncan. He is foremost the Technical Director, in charge of managing the
audio/visual equipment at Duncan. His duties range from
the simple assistance of setting up the projector for Lunch
Announcements, to coordinating the lighting design for
Sensation, our widely acclaimed public party. However,
Drew also served as Jacks Coordinator during Willy Week,
helping to organize whimsical pranks against the other
residential colleges. In addition, this rambunctious fellow
is an active member of the Club Lacrosse Team, and is always willing to talk sports, especially if the subject pertains
to his beloved South Florida teams (yes, even the Marlins).
However, the biggest reason you should be ecstatic that
Drew is one of your affiliates is that he has an unmatched
passion for Duncan. He not only serves as coach for our
Powderpuff team, but he also plays on as many Duncan intramural squads as he can, and is always the most spirited
person on the field and the sideline. In short, O-Week with
Drew is going to be awesome, and if you get the chance to
have him in your group, you’ve hit the jackpot.
DUNCAN COLLEGE
O-Week 2013
Resident Health Advisor (RHA)
James Kittleman
Sophomore, Duncan
[McAllen, TX]
{Undeclared}
Congratulations, you have the lucky opportunity to have
James Kittleman as your Resident Health Advisor. But you
should know he is more than a man, he is a Skittleman.
This handsome Dunc-Hunk is a fun loving math major. If
you ever need help with a differential equation or untying
a tricky knot, James is your man. James is the only one I
talk to about my relationships, and you should too!! James
is an excited Rice Health Adviser (RHA) and is always willing to help others. He is also a hard working secretary for
Duncan and sends out great daily announcements. Be sure
always to read them for hidden fun! James loves tossing
the disk on the ultimate Frisbee team, putting 3 pieces of
an incredibly hard puzzle together, and long walks on the
beach. James’s favorite pastimes are opening a banana with
his head and watching hilarious Youtube videos. No one
knows Mr. Snowman like James Kittleman so take some
time to sit in the commons and have a great time with your
RHA.
- Karl Pierce (Duncan 2016)
82
Chief Justice
Jeremy Scher
Senior, Duncan
[Tenafly, NJ]
{CSCI}
Sanjay Gadasalli
Junior, Duncan
[Midland, TX]
{BCB}
Jeremy Scher is all ready to be your big brother, in more
ways than one. First off, he’s a Cognitive Science major and
the Duncan College President and wants to provide you
with all the opportunities to help you succeed at Rice! Second, he loves you unconditionally, and you haven’t even
arrived yet!!!
What do you get when you mix two parts awesomeness,
one part Texas gentleman, two parts Packer fan and a
sprinkle of the Indian spice? This guy. Sanjay Gadasalli is
hands down one of the most ridiculously good-looking
kids at the best-looking college on campus. While being
both responsible and respected in his role as Chief Justice,
don’t let that intimidate you. With his great sense of humor, booming laugh and genuine smile, Sanjay is a catalyst
for a good time. This Duncaroo always knows where the
party’s at, but he is not afraid to lay down the law when
necessary. It’s no wonder all the ladies at Duncan have his
number… Remember to follow these rules around Sanjay:
1) Don’t talk about the Chicago Bears, 2) Don’t talk about
the Chicago Bears, and 3) Let him know where the party’s
at; he needs to know.
So don’t let his busted shirt sleeves scare you because his
heart is just as big as his biceps. As a matter of fact, don’t
be intimidated by anything Jeremy, because Jeremy is the
friendliest species of bear. This bear loves dancing to boy
band music, drinking out of straws, eating hunter-gatherer
food and/or bagels, being boss at DDR, and finding out
everything about your life.
The only thing he possibly cares about more than the wellbeing of the Duncan College community is keeping his
hair under the 5 mm mark. So stop by the 5A PresiDEN for
his Office Hours, his EDM Hours, or for just his company
(which together are 24/7)--at any time of day he’d love to
see you!
- Kelvin Pho (Duncan 2013)
April Kwan (Duncan 2015)
Zia Rosenzweig (Duncan 2015)
- Lidija Wilhelms (Duncan 2014)
Grace Apfeld (Duncan 2014)
Sanjay’s phone number is (432) 853-0028
He’ll give it to you during O-Week as well. Put it in
your phone, chances are you’ll need it at some point
during the year.
83
People
President
Somewhere, over the rainbow, way up high,
There’s a land that I heard of once in a lullaby.
Somewhere, over the rainbow, skies are blue,
And the dreams that you dare to dream
84
DUNCAN COLLEGE
O-Week 2013
really do come true.
85
Rice
Rice: How Did It Get Here?
DUNCAN COLLEGE
O-Week 2013
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.
86
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 Annual Fund
Rice has a relatively large endowment that provides many of the resources required to be a top university. However did
you know that the endowment earnings cover less than half of the university’s annual operating budget?
Tuition does not quite cover the rest, the cost to educate one Rice student is roughly $90,000 – over twice the amount
of tuition and room and board. Thanks in part to the Rice Annual Fund’s continued support of scholarships and fellowships, Rice remains a best value university. Additionally, Rice is a needs-blind institution, meaning all applicants who
gain admission are judged only based on merit – not on ability to pay. You might think of it like a silent scholarship
provided by generations of Rice alumni, parents and friends. In fact, nearly three-quarters of the $8.2 million donated
to the Annual Fund last academic year supported this initiative.
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. Every dollar
contributed to the Rice Annual Fund during one academic year is used the following academic year to improve your
student experience. The Rice Annual Fund Student Initiative (RAFSI) is a student organization whose volunteers help
plan events to educate others on campus about the vital role of philanthropy at Rice. Here are some events that RAFSI
plans and organizes:
For more information, email Erika Moul at [email protected] or visit
www.facebook.com/RAFStudentInitiative.
87
Rice
•Dine with a Donor – enjoy lunch with successful former Owls who love Rice and want to share their experiences with you! Each monthly luncheon will feature different Rice alumni form different backgrounds and
fields.
•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 and a coupon for free coffee at Coffeehouse!
•Jar Wars during College Battle – battle it out during Willy Week – with coins! – to see which college will win
a food truck dinner after Beer Bike! The college with the highest overall giving participation among alumni,
parents and students will be awarded the prestigious Sammy Cup.
•Senior Class Gift – seniors representatives from each college gather their class to come together to commemorate their passage from students to alumni by making a class gift to the Rice Annual Fund.
Rice Traditions
DUNCAN COLLEGE
O-Week 2013
As I’m sure you’ve heard, Rice celebrated our Centennial
last year. Over the past 101 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
5. Take a picture [with] Willy’s Statue
RPC, which is explained on page 121, 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 Ed and
the rest of the outstanding kitchen staff.
88
The countdown to Beer Bike started as soon as Beer Bike 2013
was over. Above, Eric Bastoul (Duncan 2014, right) prepares to
overtake a Jones biker.
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.
Molly Horn (Duncan 2014) and Michael Petrus (Duncan 2014)
are ready for the water balloon fight!
Lidija Wilhelms (Duncan 2014) chugs water for
Duncan at Beer Bike 2013
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
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Fall 2012-Spring 2013 Academic Calendar
DUNCAN COLLEGE
O-Week 2013
(This is an overview with the most important dates. A complete fall academic calendar can be found here: http://registrar.
rice.edu/calendars/fall13/)
Sun-Fri, Aug 18-23......... Orientation Week for new students
Mon, Jan 13..................... FIRST DAY OF CLASSES
Mon, Aug 26.................... FIRST DAY OF CLASSES
Fri, Jan 17......................... Deadline: Last day to resolve
Mon, Sept 2...................... Labor Day (Holiday—No Classes)
grades of “Other” from Fall 2012 semester
Fri, Sept 6......................... Deadline: Last day to add courses
Mon, Jan 20......................Martin Luther King, JR. Day (Holi
Deadline: Last day to designate a credit course as
day—No Classes)
“Audit” or vice versa
Fri, Jan 24.........................Deadline: Last day to add courses
Fri, Oct 11........................Deadline: Last day to drop courses
Deadline: Last day to designate a credit course as “Audit”
(non first-semester undergraduates)
or vice versa
Deadline: Last day for instructors to submit Mid-semester
Deadline: Last day to convert a “Pass/Fail” to an earned letGrades for first year undergraduates
ter grade for courses taken in Fall 2013
Mon-Tues, Oct 14-15.....Midterm Recess (No Scheduled
Deadline: Last day to resolve grades of “Incomplete” for
Classes)
courses taken in Fall 2013
Fri, Nov 1.........................Deadline: Last day to designate a
Fri, Feb 28........................Deadline: Last day to drop courses
course status to “Pass/Fail” option
Deadline: Last day for instructors to submit Mid-Semester
Sun, Nov 17..................... Spring 2014 Registration begins
Grades for first-year undergraduates
Fri, Nov 12.......................Deadline: Last day to register for
Sat-Sun, Mar 1-Mar 9.....Spring Break (No Classes)
Spring 2014 by 5:00 PM without a late fee
Fri, Mar 28.......................Deadline: Last day to designate a
Thurs-Fri, Nov 28-9........Thanksgiving Recess (Holiday—No
course status to “Pass/Fail” option
Scheduled Classes)
Thu-Fri, Apr 3-4..............Midterm Recess (No Scheduled
Fri, Dec 6......................... Last Day of Classes
Classes)
Deadline: Last day to drop courses (for Fall 2012 under- Sun, Apr 13...................... Fall Registration Begins
graduate matriculants only)
Fri, Apr 18........................ Deadline: Last day to register for
Sat-Tues, Dec 7-10..........Study Days—No Exams
Fall 2014 classes without a late registration fee.
Wed-Wed, Dec 11-18.....Final Examinations for
Fri, April 25......................Last day of classes
undergraduate courses
Deadline: Last day to drop courses (Spring 2014 matricuFri, Dec 27.......................Deadline: Last day for instructors to
lants only)
submit Final Grades
Sat-Tue, April 26-29........Study days, no exams
Wed, Apr 30-May 7.........Final exams
Sat, May 17.......................Graduation
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Building Acronyms
As you attempt to locate your first classes, you’ll notice that the building acronyms you’re provided with on Schedule
Planner and in the General Announcements seem to have no correlation to any known buildings. Even fifth year seniors have this problem. Here is a list of all the acronyms you may encounter during your time at Rice:
Anderson Biological Laboratories, M.D.
Abercrombie Engineering Laboratory
Anderson Hall, M.D.
Alice Pratt Brown Hall
James A. Baker Hall,
Margaret Root Brown College
BioScience Research Collaborative
Brockman Hall for Physics
Cohen House
Dell Butcher Hall
Duncan College
Anne and Charles Duncan Hall
Fondren Library
George R. Brown Hall
Gibbs Recreation and Wellness Center
Hamman Hall
Herman Brown Hall for Mathematical Sciences
Harry Clay Hanszen College
Robert R. Herring Hall
Herzstein Hall
Humanities Building
Howard Keck Hall
Keith-Wiess Geological Laboratories
Ley Student Center
Janice and Robert McNair Hall
Mechanical Engineering Building
Media Center
Mechanical Laboratory
Marian and Speros R. Martel College
Mudd Computer Science Laboratory
North Servery
Oshman Engineering Design Kitchen
Police Department
Rice Memorial Center
RYN
RZR
SEW
SST
SSV
STA
TUD
WSC
WSV
Ryon Engineering Laboratory
Rayzor Hall
Sewall Hall
Space Science and Technology Building
South Servery
Rice Stadium / “R” Room
Tudor Fieldhouse
Wiess College, Harry C.
West Servery
Rice
ABL
AEL
ANH
APB
BKH
BNC
BRC
BRK
COH
DBH
DCC
DCH
FON
GRB
GRW
HAM
HBH
HNZ
HRG
HRZ
HUM
KCK
KWG
LEY
MCN
MEB
MED
MEL
MLC
MUD
NSV
OED
POL
RMC
Herztein Hall, home of HRZ Amp, where you will
take many a final exam
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Classes
O-Week 2013
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.
DUNCAN COLLEGE
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. The Registration Process.
You don’t have to worry about registration until O-Week,
but the basic process a good thing to know. You’ll be picking your top choice classes, and then picking alternate
classes. The registrar will go through a lottery and you’ll
get a preliminary schedule. You will then anter an add/
drop period in which you can shuffle your schedule to your
heart’s content.
Karen Jong (Duncan 2013) and Grace Apfeld (Duncan 2014)
are excited for classes!
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4. 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.
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 HRZ 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. Check out the Duncanwebaite! 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!
The Academ Perspective
DUNCAN COLLEGE
O-Week 2013
versity student can be stressful at times, your professors
will be there with you every step of the way.
Out of all the major schools of study at Rice, the Humanities Department has the largest amount of majors. At
Rice, you will be allowed and encouraged to explore a ton
of classes, from Art History to Japanese, Medieval Studies
to Philosophy, Sport Management to Visual and Dramatic
Arts. I could go on and on, but for the brevity of this article
I will stop at mentioning only six out of thirty major possibilities. Because the size of Rice, as well as these individual
divisions, is relatively small, you will be able to participate
in an interactive environment in and out of the classroom.
As a student of the humanities, you will learn a variety of
skills that will help you both in your future career (whatever that may be) and life itself. Not only will you study
Academs Lidija Wilhelms (Duncan 2014) and Grace Apfeld the facts, but also the significant skill of quantitative and
(Duncan 2014) study the anthropological significance of hats qualitative thinking. As a humanities major, be prepared!
You will spend a lot of your time reading extensive artimade of cheese with Sanjay Gadasalli (Duncan 2015)
cles in the library, writing long research papers, practicing
your communication skills, and drinking copious amounts
So, you’ve already chosen to come to Rice, and now comes of coffee! You will have so many chances for research with
an exciting four years of academic exploration. Many new professors, who are easily reached and invested in your
students come into O-Week their first year with an idea of ideas, and creating your own projects.
what they want from life. Let me tell you, this will change
(most likely)! The majority of your incoming class will be
engineering majors, science majors, and pre-meds, which Because the Social Sciences department is somewhat small,
is very interesting. Don’t let this fool you! All areas of you will have the fantastic opportunity of cultivating actual
study at Rice University are equally excellent, interesting, relationships with your professors. Whether you are graband challenging. This is why, during your Rice career, I bing coffee with your Policy Studies professor or aiding
suspect many of you will either change your major or at your Economics professor in his new research project, the
least unexpectedly explore all the possibilities that Rice has connections that you form in the Social Sciences will last
to offer.
past your career as a student and into the ‘real world’. Assignments and classes in the Social Sciences will encourage
As a student of the Social Sciences and Humanities, be you to work on your writing and communication skills, acprepared to be lovingly called an ‘Academ’. In many ways, quire skills in writing grants and proposals, and engaging
life as an Academ is quite different than life as an engineer with the rest of the world. Many Academs choose to study
or science student. Instead of being thrown problem sets abroad during their time at Rice, in locations across the
every week, professors in the Social Sciences will choose to world, from London to Tanzania, Jordan to Equador. So
toss an abundance of articles and pretty large papers your get ready to involve yourself in experiments, talk to profesway. Don’t worry, however, although life for any Rice Uni- sors, and conduct your own research!!
- Grace Apfeld (Duncan 2014)
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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)
Only a civil engineer could design such an accurate Gingerbread
Duncan. (Designed by Will Santore, Duncan 2014)
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 steller 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 AM
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
O-Week 2013
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.
One of the hardest things about being a Musi during OWeek is balancing your practice schedule with the important activities and orientation events. Don’t freak out about
it! The best thing to do is communicate with your advisors. They know that you have to prepare for audititions
and if you just let them know what you need as far as free
time goes, they’ll accomodate you. If you’d like to connect
with a Musi that has gone through O-Week themselves and
get the inside scoop, let your advisors or the coordinators
know and they’ll find someone you can talk to!
And remember when you’re ordering food to Shepherd, on
maps the actual building is called Alice Pratt Brown Hall.
Shepherd School of Music
Majors:
Performance, Composition, Music History, Music Theory
The Turrell Skyspace is an outdoor concert hall
completed in 2012
The Pre-Law Perspective
Do you love the sound of gavels? Carefully pressed
suits? Pages on pages on pages of briefs? If so, the life of a
lawyer may just be for you, and luckily, the Pre-Law track
at Rice can help you achieve the dream. The Pre-Law track
is known for being full of resources, not requirements.
There is no track to declare or specific major to choose,
so you’re free to pursue your passion for Mechanical Engineering or Asian Studies, or anything in between. While
you take classes, remember to explore the resources on
campus to see if Pre-Law is the best fit for you! Beyond
talking to other pre-law students around campus, you can
join Legalese, the official club on campus with a focus on
Pre-Law students. They throw events and sponsor LSAT
courses, and are a great resource whether you have ques-
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tions about classes to take or the top law schools. Other organizations, like the Baker Institute Student Forum and the
ACLU, often have students with a common interest in law,
so it’s a great place to meet and connect with other likeminded Owls! If you feel like you’d like a taste of what a
law classroom will look like, there are many courses on law
offered at Rice, with one of the most popular being COLL
201, which is an introduction to law by a practicing lawyer. While you explore, remember that law schools will be
looking at your GPA and LSAT score, so keeping a strong
academic record is important no matter which major you
choose, but be sure to discover your passions with the freedoms that Pre-Law offers!
- Kira Clingen (Duncan 2016)
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, 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
School of Architecture
Majors:
Architecture, Architecture Studies, Urban Design
(Left) Archis hanging out outside of studio. (Right) Projects in Anderson Hall.
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DUNCAN COLLEGE
O-Week 2013
The Pre-Med Perspective
I’m sure many of you are considering the premedical track,
just like I was when I went through O-Week 3 years ago.
And just like you might be, I was intimidated by all of the
rumors I had heard about being premed in college. First
off, I want to dispel some of these rumors. Rumor #1: Premed classes will be full of cutthroat students. While premedical students are very determined and hardworking
(like all Rice students are), Rice lacks the cutthroat environment of many other schools. In fact, the residential
college system encourages collaboration among students.
We have programs that organize late-night study sessions,
especially before big tests. Students are always willing to
work together on homework assignments. Being at a place
where everyone is eager to help each other out has been
a huge help to my academic career! Rumor #2: To get accepted into medical school, you have to major in biology,
biochemistry, or chemistry. While it is required to take
introductory classes in these subjects, there is no requirement to major in the hard sciences. What’s important is
to major in something that really interests you; it can be
anything from art to physics! Not only will you be happier,
but you’ll also get better grades in your classes, which is
really important!
Rumors aside, you’ve already made a great choice for your
future medical career by coming to Rice University. Rice
has an incredible 90% admittance rate to medical school!
There are numerous resources to help you out. One of
them is the Office of Academic Advising (or OAA). You
can schedule a meeting with the OAA for things such as
academic and extracurricular advice, and they provide invaluable information during your Junior year when you
begin to work on medical school applications. Get familiar
with the OAA early, they’ll help mold you into a competitive medical school applicant! Additionally, Rice has the
Rice Pre-Med Society (or RPMS). RPMS provides many
things from helpful information sessions to shadowing
opportunities in the medical center. Keep in mind that a
certain amount of shadowing is REQUIRED to even be
considered for acceptance to med school.
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I know it can seem daunting, but with hard work and determination, you can become incredibly successful as a
premedical student. One last point of advice: Get involved
in some sort of extra-curricular. As with your potential
major, it doesn’t have to be medical/science related. Finding something that you’re passionate about and involving
yourself in it on a long-term basis is crucial for medical
school. Good luck!
- Nichole Taylor (Duncan 2014)
Pre-Med Nichole Taylor (Duncan 2014) is ready to save lives!
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. Being undecided
doesn’t exclude you from being a pre-law or pre-med, and
thanks to distribution credit, you can explore your major
options without worrying about being behind on graduation requirements. 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.
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 interests define your schedule (and not your major).
Remember too, most people that think they’ve figured out
their major are wrong. What they enjoyed in high school
or what they thought they wanted to do will likely not be
the major on their diploma come graduation.
School of Humanities
Majors:
Art History, Classical Studies,
English, French Studies, German
and Slavic Studies, Hispanic
Studies, History, Linguistics,
Philosophy, Religious Studies,
Visual and Dramatic Arts (Film,
Theater, or Visual Arts)
School of Social Sciences
Majors:
Anthropology, Economics, Mathematical Economic Analysis, Political Science, Psychology, Sociology, Sports Management
Minors:
Wiess School of Natural
Sciences
Majors:
Astronomy, Astrophysics, Biological Sciences, Biochemistry and
Cell Biology, Chemical Physics,
Chemistry, Earth Science (Geology or Geophysics), Ecology and
Evolutionary Biology, Kinesiology
(Sports Medicine or Health
Sciences), Mathematics, Physics
Minors:
Biochemistry and Cell Biology,
Ecology and Evolutionary
Biology, Mathematics
Anthropology, Business,
Sociology
Interdisciplinary Programs
Majors:
Ancient Mediterranean Civilizations, Air Force Science, Applied
Physics Program, Asian Studies,
Cognitive Sciences, Environmental Studies, Managerial Studies,
Medieval Studies, Military
Science, Policy Studies, Secondary
Education Certification, Study of
Women and Gender
Minors:
African Studies, Energy and Water Sustainability, Financial Computation and Modeling, Global
Health Technologies, Jewish Studies, Naval Science, Neurosciences,
Poverty Justice and Human Capabilities
George R. Brown School of
Engineering
Majors:
Bioengineering, Chemical and
Biomolecular Engineering, Civil
and Environmental Engineering, Computational and Applied
Mathematics, Computer Science,
Electrical and Computer Engineering, Materials Science,
Mechanical Engineering, Statistics
Minors:
Computational and
Mathematics, Statistics
Applied
- Zia Rosenzweig (Duncan 2015)
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Rice
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, and you don’t have less of a chance of working at NASA or completing an engineering major becuase
you took the time to really examine what interests you. 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. 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.
Majors and Minors at Rice
DUNCAN COLLEGE
O-Week 2013
International Student Perspective
Is English your second language and this is your first time
in the United States? Do you have a posh accent and are
confused by the way Americans use the word football? I
Hockey your national sport and you’re a fan of socialized
medicine? Have you lived in the U.S. half your life but you
have two passports? You fall into the broad range of international students! 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 Houston a few days before
O-Week 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 international credit card but trust me, life will be so much easier
100
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 make 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.
students, and I know the transfer advising for Somewhere
Over the RainbO-Week feel the same way.
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
well-balanced 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 for ApollO-Week
and give back the love and care I received to other new
Duncan hosted a barbeque for
transfer students last spring
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. Welcome to Rice,
and I hope you’ll enjoy O-Week as much as I did. GET
EXCITED!!
- Ryan Kim (Duncan 2014)
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Off-Campus Perspective
O-Week 2013
The first step to a successful off-campus (also known as
“OC”) adventure is to find a place to live. Options range
from a one or two bedroom apartment to multi-bedroom
houses. Living in a tent or out of your car, while undeniably cost-effective, is not recommended. One important
factor to consider when making this choice is proximity,
which is strongly dependent on what method of transportation you will have access to. Having a car is not a necessity (although it is nice), as there are numerous housing
options within biking distance of campus or along the light
rail. In order to facilitate your search, try getting a realtor
(you don’t have to pay them anything!) or using websites
such as har.com.
DUNCAN COLLEGE
At some point in your time at Rice you may volunteer or be
selected (through the random “bump” process) to venture
out beyond the hedges and brave the real world. Although
this may seem intimidating at first, there are plenty of people and resources to help you along the way. Off-campus
living definitely has its pros and cons, but ultimately it ends
up being an enjoyable and rewarding experience.
Once you’ve found a place you’ll then need to set up your
utilities and acquire some furniture (depending on your
arrangement). Although this may sound like quite a daunt-
Now that you’ve found and furnished your home away
from Duncan for the next year, the final step is to actually live in it! Living OC provides numerous amenities
that on campus life doesn’t. One of the main perks is the
higher quality living space. For less money than you pay
per month to live on campus, you could have your own
room, kitchen, washer-dryer, and more. At this point you
may be thinking, “A kitchen? But I don’t even know how
to cook!” Fear not, this is only a minor obstacle, and with
some practice you’ll soon be making gourmet meals that
even Gordon Ramsay would approve of. OK, maybe not,
at least once you’ll probably end up throwing a blackened
mess into the trash and sulking over to Whataburger, but
that’s just part of the experience. The key is to start out
learning some easy meals and to make it fun. Give your
friends a taste of OC life by inviting them over for a dinner party where everyone helps cook (and clean if you can
trick them into that).
Managing your social life and staying involved at Duncan is one other important aspect of off-campus living.
Although living OC definitely makes this more difficult,
there is no reason to think this change in living quarters
should isolate you from the Duncan and Rice community.
Many OC students still spend a lot of time on campus between classes, extracurriculars, and meals. If you’re starting to feel like you are drifting away and becoming what
we call “deep OC” don’t worry, it happens. Try to balance
it out by putting forth the extra effort to attend a Duncan
sporting event or Forum, or even inviting your friends for
a fun-filled game or movie night at your OC paradise.
Off-campus living means more delicious meals
you can cook yourself!
102
ing task, again there are countless resources to help you
out. Your realtor and/or other students who have lived offcampus previously can give you advice on how/what you
will need utilities-wise, and reasonably priced furniture
can be obtained via former OC students, thrift shops, or
Craigslist.
As great as living at Rice is, living off-campus is an unparalleled part of the college experience. While intimidating
at first, it effectively prepares you for the “real-world” and
leaves you with many priceless memories.
- Matt Kaufman (Duncan 2014)
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
Dunc-step and be involved in forum. You’ll make some of
your closest friends during O-week.
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 studentathlete. 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 Kylie Cullinan (Women’s Track &
Field Brownie) any questions about athletics or integrating into the community! Your advisors are also excited to
guide you through any athletic questions during O-Week,
and accomodate your training and practice schedules
during the week and the rest of the year. Rice
Kylie Cullinan (Brown 2014, Left) balanced Brown’s O-Week
with being a Varsity Track athlete
Christian Covington (Duncan 2015) dominates the
competition both on the football field and in Skyrim
- Leah Fried (Duncan 2014), Christal Porter (Lovett 2015)
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DUNCAN COLLEGE
O-Week 2013
First Generation Perspective
I step onto Rice’s beautiful campus with joy in my heart. All of my hard work has led to Move-In Day. The whirlwind of
activity that surrounds Wiess College is a welcome relief. Reaching my room, I immediately feel a sense of dread once I
review the schedule. According to the schedule, my parents will have to leave in less than an hour, but my room is not set
up and they have no clue what I will need in my room and I don’t have any answers for them. This is life as a “first gen.”
As a first generation college student, Rice University is new territory for both my parents and I. Although it may seem
unfortunate and confusing at first, this system is very rewarding because it forced me to learn important lessons and
become more assertive. I won’t lie it can be difficult at times, but once you find a group of supportive people the stress
will begin to ease. Everyone’s situation is different, but my best advice is for you to find someone with whom you have
rapport with to ask your questions. There is no worse feeling than to have an issue to which your parents have no answer
and feeling like you have no one on campus to reach out to.
The upside to all of this is that you will meet a lot of new people. Due to the number of questions I have had during my
first year at Rice I became very familiar with the financial aid office, Multicultural Affairs Office, and developed a great
relationship with my Masters.
A couple of Tips:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Reach out for help when you need it
Never be ashamed of being a “first gen”
Don’t let the pressure destroy you
Most importantly: Have fun
Student Research at Rice
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 The Baker Institute is the place to go for research in most of
a particular subject, chances are, you will be able to find
the Social Sciences
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. If your research is lab-based 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
104
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 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). Academs can often receive funding for their independent research projects by applying for the
thesis program in their major. The small class size also makes it easy to be noticed by your professor and invited to join
their project.
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)
Teacher Education
Do you love working with people? Are you passionate about sharing your ideas and thoughts and helping others build
their own? Then you might be interested in teaching! Teachers are important members of any community who help build
the next generation of movers and shakers and commit themselves to continued growth and inquiry throughout their
careers.
For those of you who don’t have time to take the full load of classes needed for certification, never fear! Almost all education classes are open to anyone who is interested. So if you’re not sure if you want to be a teacher or if you just want
to get some background information for your TFA app, you should still be sure to check out “Contemporary Issues in
Education” or “Methods of Teaching” (offered for any of the four core subject areas).
Rice
At Rice, we are lucky enough to have a great Teacher Education program which allows us to get certified in Secondary
Education (grades 7-12) within our four years here or to get an MAT (Masters of Arts in Teaching) in just five years
(check out education.rice.edu for more information)! As students in the teacher ed program, we complete all major and
graduation requirements in whatever field of study we chose. Additionally, we complete a series of education classes,
including “Educational Psychology” and “Digital Learning and Technology,” to prepare for our capstone learning experience – full time student teaching for the spring semester of our senior year. Students in the teacher ed program come
from all majors and fields of interests, including English, economics, chemistry, classics and more!
Still have questions? Well, your fellow education students are here to help! Rice Future Teachers is the society for undergraduate education students – if you have any questions about teaching or the program at Rice or just want to chat kids
and curriculum, email us at [email protected] at any time. Welcome to Rice, new Owls! We hope to see you around the
education department soon.
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Study Abroad
DUNCAN COLLEGE
O-Week 2013
If after your journey down the yellow brick road is 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)
Carissa Livingston (Duncan 2015, second from left) and
her friends abroad!
106
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
- Drew Moore (Duncan 2013), Leslie Nguyen (Wiess 2014),
Carissa Livingston (Duncan 2015), Louise Bentsen (Duncan 2013)
Academic Advising
Your next two to six 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 during orientation week. 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 have a
chance to meet with a faculty advisor within your school
of interest, which you designated on your academic ques-
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 lifetime physical activity program classes
(better known as 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.
Rice
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. They are likely to be your
first contact with academic advising. 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
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 four 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. Feel free to contact them at any time
with any questions you may have.
tionnaire 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, study
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 with them over a
meal and tap into their wisdom!
Office of Academic Advising—The OAA helps students
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O-Week 2013
DUNCAN COLLEGE
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
Leadership, 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. Prior to and during Oweek, PAAs and
Divisional Advisors can help you with most specialized advising questions, as they have been extensively trained. To
make appointments with an advisor in the OAA, contact
the office by phone (713.348.4060), by email (aadv@rice.
edu), 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 (or Mentors) Societies— Each residential college has an academic fellows or mentors society, an
honorary service organization dedicated to academic life
in the college. Read about the Duncan Fellows on page 44!
Center for Written, Oral and Visual Comunication—
The new Center for Written, Oral, and Visual Communication (CWOVC) is your one stop on-campus writing center.
From 8 am to midnight, writing consultants are available by
appointment to assist you with all of your communication
needs. Whether you are writing an engineering lab report,
preparing a history presentation, or drafting an email to a
psych professor asking for a research position, these fellow
students have been trained to assist you in making your
communication skills the best they can be. The CWOVC is
located on the second floor of Fondren library; check out
their website for more information at cwovc.rice.edu.
What is Distribution Credit?
Most liberal arts schools have some kind of core curriculum to ensure that you receive a well-rounded education that
touches on the range of classes from english to physics. At Rice we call this Distribution Credit and you are required to
take 12 hours in each of three Distribution Groups.
Group I
These courses have one or more of the following goals: they develop students’ critical and aesthetic understanding of
texts and the arts; they lead students to the analytical examination of ideas and values; they introduce students to the
variety of approaches and methods with which different disciplines approach intellectual problems; and they engage
students with words of culture that have intellectual importance by virtue of the ideas they express, their historical
influence, their mode of expression, or their critical engagement with established cultural assumptions and traditions.
Group II
Three types of courses fulfill this requirement. The first are introductory courses which address the problems, methodologies, and substance of different disciplines in the social sciences. The second are departmental courses that draw
upon at least two or more disciplines in the social sciences or that cover topics of central importance to a social science
discipline. The third are interdisciplinary courses team-taught by faculty from two or more disciplines.
Group III
These courses provide explicit exposure to the scientific method or to theorem development, develop analytical thinking skills and emphasize quantitative analysis, and expose students to subject matter in the various disciplines of science and engineering.
108
Fondren Library
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!
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, ar-
chitectural plans and drawings, university and faculty publications, newspaper clippings, AV material, and university
memorabilia.
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.
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.
Fondren also has great outdoor study spaces with shady
trees and a fountain that makes sounds like a gently
bubbling brook
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O-Week 2013
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.
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
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 in-
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cluding 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.
Rice Health Advisors
Rice Health Advisors, or RHA’s for short, are student students who have applied and gone through rigourous training to be wellness representatives at your college. They are
part of the support system at your college and are there
to help answer questions about health and wellness. RHA’s
have been trained on a wide variety of topics, including
but not limited to mental illnesses, relationship issues, and
nutrition. These peer advisors are positive, inclusive, and
empowering, and they are always willing to talk about anything from missing your old best friend to any problems
you might have with your new schedule. Do not be afraid
to come to them no matter how trivial or serious your concern—they are here to be a resource for you. Our Duncan
RHA affiliate, James Kittleman, and the other RHA’s are always here for you with a hug, a condom, a band-aid or an
ear to make to sure you are safe happy and healthy.
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
supportive, dynamic atmosphere on campus. Located in
the RMC across from Coffee House, our office of student
coordinators and volunteers organizes educational and social events in 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, Vagina Monologues, 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 every other 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 or facebook/RiceWRC to learn more and get involved!
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!
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/
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.
Rice
Office of Multicultural Affairs
Computing at Rice
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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.
O-Week 2013
Employment Docs
Federal law and Rice University require all new student
employees (students that have not worked at Rice before), including international students, to complete an
I-9 Employment Eligibility Verification Form. The I-9
form establishes identity and eligibility to work in the
U.S., and is completed after you are hired, but BEFORE
you start work.
DUNCAN COLLEGE
Common forms of documentation includes either a valid/unexpired Passport, or a driver’s license or student ID
card AND a social security card or birth certificate. A list
of all acceptable documents can be found at http://www.
uscis.gov/files/form/i-9.pdf. Scroll to the last page to see
a list of all acceptable documents.
Documents must be unexpired originals (no copies allowed!) . You must present one List A document or a List
B and a List C document in combination.
You will present these documents to the department in
which you are being hired before you begin work and the
department will provide details on completing the I-9
form.
Like “Joe ITGuy” on Facebook - he’ll answer all of your IT
questions and more!
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President Leebron learning to steam milk at Rice Coffeehouse
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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Student Run Businesses
Ahh, Tetra Points! With the purchase of a meal plan, every
on campus Rice student also receives $50 worth of “Tetra
Points” per semester, a type of currency exclusive to Rice.
With a swipe of your Rice ID, you can purchase a latte from
Rice Coffeehouse or a sandwich from Willy’s Pub, as well
as goods from other campus vendors. Support your fellow
students by using Tetra Points at campus Student Run Businesses (SRBs): either Willy’s Pub (est. 1975) or Rice Coffeehouse (est. 1991) in the Student Center, or one of The
Hoot’s late night locations out of South or West Servery.
For students, by students, Student Run Businesses provide
both educational opportunities as well as crucial services
(such as cheap pizza, coffee, and more!) to campus. We are
entirely managed and staffed by students.
Looking for a campus job? Try applying to a SRB! You even
might end up on one of the management teams! SRB stu-
dent managers work together to ensure rent is paid, quality products are served, health code is followed, and that
customers and staff alike stay happy. It’s a one-of-a-kind
chance for students to gain hands-on business experience.
Student Services
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.
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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.
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 Erin Rieger, the
Duncan 2013-14 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 Rice is the fact that
you’re about to spend four (or three, or five) years learning
and living with people who are different than you. Beginning in O-Week, your time at Rice will be full of encounters
with peers who have had lives that are drastically dissimilar from your own. You’ll be surrounded by people from
all over the globe, many of who will be different than you.
At Rice, you will have peers of different races than you,
and peers who hold different spiritual and political beliefs
than you. You’ll find that people explore and express their
sexuality in ways that you might not. You’ll meet 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 of your comfort zone and grow in ways you
can’t begin to imagine.
Rice is uniquely set up to facilitate this growth. Since each
residential college is populated with a random cross-section of students, you have the chance to meet all sorts of
people: it’s as easy as talking with you roommate, eating in
the servery, participating in a musical, playing on a sports
team, or talking with an Associate. You might also choose
to take classes that push you to think in new ways, and
to explore clubs and organizations such as ADVANCE,
the BSA, the Vagina Monologues, HACER, AGAPE, the
Women’s Resource Center, and PAIR, among many others.
So to sum things up: respect difference, be open to new
things, support those around you, and we promise you’ll
enhance your time 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.
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.
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)
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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
The full Alcohol Policy can be found here:
http://www.students.rice.edu/students/Alcohol_Policy.asp
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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 Players
Rice Student Volunteer Program
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 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’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.
Rice
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 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.
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Impact Rice
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 people
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.
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)
Duncan Tavern features a student band
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
College and IM Sports
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.
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
Rice
Duncaroos show their Rice pride.
Natalie Gow (Duncan 2016) owning Powderpuff as usual.
125
- Megg Ryan (Duncan 2014)
126
Molly Horn (Duncan 2014) outruns the competition in a
Brown vs. Duncan Powderpuff game
Club Sports
More intense than intramural sports, but not always 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.
Because of our smaller number of DI teams, Rice has many
high caliber athletes that are unable to play varsity sports.
As a result many of our club sports are very competitive and
some even play on a collegiate Division II level.From Men’s
Soccer to Water Polo, 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. Many of Duncan’s advisors play
club sports, including Baseball, Lacrosse, Soccer and Crew.
DUNCAN COLLEGE
O-Week 2013
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!
Look for 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.
Sean Kim (Wiess 2013) and Matt Kaufman
(Duncan 2014) play for undefeated Club Rugby.
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.
nation’s top programs, it does mean that our fans must get
extra loud and vocal to make our cheers heard. So come
join the Owl fans in the student sections every weekend.
Goooooo Rice!
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.
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.
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)
Rice fans are an invaluable part of Rice athletics and while
our size doesn’t stop us from staging major upsets over the
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.
Rice Fight Song (words and music by Louis Gerard ‘40)
Duncaroos at a Rice Football game. Clockwise from left:
Becca Hamm Conard, Zack Carlins, Nichole Taylor, Will
Santore, Drayton Thomas (Duncan 2014)
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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!
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!
- Hannah Willey (Duncan 2014)
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The Recreation Center
We have 2 pools and diving boards!
Rice Bike Shop
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!
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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
KOC’s (Keepers of the Coffee) working hard at Coffeehouse
- Nick Irza (Duncan 2014)
Rice itself is also aware of its environmental impact. Installations from hand dryers to a water bottle filling station
in the RMC have come about through the hard work of the
Environment Club, the RESET Committee, and the college
Eco Reps. The Eco Reps are representatives from each college who are given an annual budget to help maintain and
improve upon each college’s involvement in eco-friendly
practices. I, Rachel Poppers, am your Eco Rep for the 20122013 year and can best be reached by emailing [email protected], with any questions, concerns, or ideas.
Being ‘green’ at Rice is easy, especially if you’re a Duncaroo!
Rice
Born in the basement of Hanszen College in 1990, Coffeehouse—not “the Coffeehouse” (this distinction is important)—is one of the most successful student run businesses
on campus, serving hundreds of customers each and every
day. But that’s right, you heard that correctly: student run.
Coffeehouse isn’t some caramel-choco-coco-triple-shotskinny-macchiato-manufacturing corporate monstrosity
catering to the caffeine cravings of soccer moms and nineto-fivers. No, Coffeehouse is hip, fun, delicious, but most
importantly, staffed with some of your coolest colleagues
here at Rice. At Coffeehouse, our KOCs (Keepers of the
Coffee) want to remind you that getting coffee shouldn’t
be a chore. We’re here to shorten long nights in Fondren,
cool down the Houston heat, and jumpstart your morning schedule. With Coffeehouse, getting coffee will be the
refreshing highlight (or highlights) of your day. We want
to be the friendly faces that help you relax, caffeinate (I
know this sounds counterintuitive, but yes, it’s possible),
and succeed with whatever you’re working on. So, whether
it’s 8AM or 1AM (yes, those are our weekday hours), Coffeehouse is a place to chat, relax, study, or yes, just grab a
drink to go.
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
know I had just been assigned to the most eco-friendly
college on a very environmentally conscious campus. At
Duncan, our college colors are not only green, gold, and
ivory, but we are green and gold – our building was the
first gold LEED certified at Rice. This is because of cool
features like a pod bathroom in every double (it was built
off-site to minimize materials), lights that turn off while
you’re not in the room, a dual-flush toilet, and air conditioning that shuts off when a window or door is open. In
addition, each room is equipped with its own recycling
bin, in which you can put anything recyclable (except for
#6 plastics or something with food residue) because Rice
has single-stream recycling. There are also additional recycling bins around Duncan and in the commons.
- Rachel Poppers (Duncan 2014)
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DUNCAN COLLEGE
O-Week 2013
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.
130
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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DUNCAN COLLEGE
O-Week 2013
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!
Alexis Bailey (Co-advisor) - Powderpuff, SAC, Tutoring,
Wiess College
Alice Chen (Advisor) - Duncan Soccer, Beer Bike, Quiz
bowl, Working at Rice, RSVP, Model UN
Amber Wang (Co-advisor) - College Sports, Art Lab,
Habitat for Humanity, SA, OwlSquad, Rice Theater,
Rice Dance Theatre, KTRU, Lovett College
Ariel Guerrero-Stewart (Co-advisor) - Powderpuff,
Wiess Court, Beer Bike, Cheerleading, Wiess College
Avanthi Ajjarapu (PAA) - SAS, Campanile Orchestra,
PAA, RPMS, Student Research, A Cappella, Study
Abroad
Becca Hamm Conard (Coordinator) - Spirit Commit
tee, Improvements Committee, Beer Bike, Powderpuff, Coffeehouse, Writing Consulting, Club Crew, IM
Sports, O-Week, NOLS
Becca Kellner (Co-advisor) - Powderpuff, Caregiving,
BSIF, Hanszen College
Caleb McBride (Advisor) - Navigators, Interfaith, Work
ing at Rice
Carissa Livingston (PAA) - PAA, Adacemic Fellowing,
EMS, RPMS, Study Abroad
Carly Biedul (Gopher) - Powderpuff, Club Water Polo,
Soccer, Duncan Government, Beer Bike
Chris Hurd (Advisor) - College Sports, Club Soccer, Rice
Materials Advantage, Nanotechnology Lab Work
Clara Roberts (Advisor) - Culture and Arts Committee,
ASB, Volunteering, Research
Connie Wang (PAA) - PAA, NSR, Outreach Day, Global
MedicOwls, ASB, Research
Cristal Tan (Advisor) - Rice Tour Guide, PAA
Daniel Millar (Advisor) Drayton Thomas (Advisor) - Duncan Government, Dun
can Committees, Impact Rice, Working at Rice, Beer
Bike, Powderpuff Fandom
Drew Kohner (Gopher) - Duncan Technology, Duncan
Sports, Club Lacrosse
Dylan Mendelson (Photographer) - SAC, OWL Days
Rep, Research
Eshan Kejriwal (Advisor) - College Sports, Rice Bhangra
Team, Club Tennis
Erin Riegner (PAA) - PAA,Wharton and Rice Mentoring,
Owlchemy, RPC, Honor Council
Gabrien Clark (Co-advisor) - SA, Rice Empower, Han
szen College
Grace Apfeld (Advisor) - Duncan Women’s Group, Acad
mic Fellowing, Anthropology Research
Hannah Abrams (Advisor) - Duncan Technology, Club
Crew, Quizbowl, Q&A, Rice Basketball
James Kittleman (RHA) - Duncan Government, College
Sports, RHA, Club Ultimate Frisbee
JB Makhani (Advisor) - Duncan Sports, RHA
Jeremy Scher (President) - Duncan Government
Jordan Bley (Gopher) - IM and College Sports, Associ
ates Committee
Josh Solis (Advisor) - Duncan Sports, Club Soccer,
HACER, Salsa Dancing, PEAK
Josiah Grace (Advisor) - Merchandise Committee, Com
puter Science, Flag Football
Julia Sunderland (Advisor) - ROPE
Katharine Li (Co-advisor) - Design for America, Re
search, Wiess College
Kavana Gowda (Diversity F.) - Class Rep, RSVP, Powder
puff, PAIR, Club Lacrosse, Hanszen College
Kelly Mover (Advisor) - Coffeehouse
Kira Clingen (Advisor) - Duncan Court, PAA, Powder
puff, NSR, Mental Health Resources, ACLU, BISF
Kylie Cullinan (Co-advisor) - Varsity Sports, IM Basket
ball, Academic Fellowing, O-Week, Brown College
Leah Cabrera-Marquez (Diversity F.) - Powederpuff, IM
Sports, Jones Socials, Jones College
LiTre Smith (Co-advisor) - Martel Court, Working at
Rice, BSA, HACER, Research
Mary Anderson (Advisor) - NSR, Rice Centennial, Being
Well-Dressed
Michael Petrus (Coordinator) - RHA, ASB, Research,
132
The HOOT, Wellness, LGBT Activism, Houston Handbell Ensemble, Hugs, O-Week
Michael Williams-Hart (Co-advisor) - College Sports,
Honor Council, Club Crew, SAC, Research, Multicultural Students at Rice Club, McMurtry College
Natalie Gow (Advisor) - Powderpuff, Flag Football, Fel
lowship, BASYK Dance Crew, A Cappella, Coffeehouse
Nichole Taylor (Advisor) - Spirit Commitee, Beer Bike,
Research
Nick Irza (Coordinator) - O-Week, Hydrology Lab, Being
Chill
Nicole Roberson (Advisor) - Socials Committee, Powder
puff
Obi Nwabueze (Advisor) - Duncan Historian, Kinda
Sketchy Improv, Academic Fellowing, Research
Olivia Ragni (Advisor) - Cheerleading, Study Abroad
Oscar Turner (Co-advisor) - Sid College Night, IM and
College Sports, Club Baseball, RCEL, Solar Car, Campanile Orchestra, Sid Rich College
Peter Lambert (Advisor) - Ballroom Dance, Smiling
Sanjay Gadasalli (Chief Justice) - Duncan Court, Duncan
Government, Beer Bike
Sachin Gupta (Co-advisor) - Rice Solar Car, Baker
Environmental Committee, Coffeehouse, IM Sports,
Lab Work, Baker College
Seth Lauer (Advisor) - Honor Council, Cheerleading
Shane Alpert (Co-advisor) - RPC, Rice Theater, Working
at Rice, McMurtry College
Tess Weiner (Advisor) - College Sports, Nourish Interna
tional
Will Eldridge (Co-advisor) - McMurtry Socials, Rice
Homecoming, IM Soccer, Beer Bike, Houston Parks,
McMurtry College
Zia Rosenzweig (Advisor) - UCourt, ASB, Step Ahead
Rice
Duncaroos participate in a variety of activities, including the annual Mr. Duncan pageant held in the spring.
133
Toto, I’ve a feeling we’re not in Kansas anymore.
134
O-Week 2013
DUNCAN COLLEGE
We must be over the
rainbow!
135
Houston
DUNCAN COLLEGE
O-Week 2013
Houston: An Overview
How many of you decided on Rice because it was in
Houston? Coming to Rice despite its location is a common sentiment, but I would argue that the city outside the
hedges is just one more big (and I mean fourth largest city
in the US big) reason to love our school. A lifetime resident of the sprawling Houston suburbs, I thought getting
far, far away was the ultimate goal, but living in Houston’s
core has given me a whole new perspective. Who could
not love being a short drive away from a dozen museums, every kind of restaurant imaginable, a world-class
theater district, the eighth largest mall in America, dozens
of quirky stores and coffee shops, and several sporting
venues? (And for the more practical minded of you, lotsa
jobs).Aside from amenities, the best thing about Houston
is the population. It’s what makes this place so much more
than an oil-driven metropolis. Our metropolitan area
recently surpassed New York City’s for most diverse and it
shows on the streets and in the stores. People with every
possible combination of human characteristics inhabit
this dynamic city, making for an inspiring salad bowl of
humanity.
Houston has gotten some press lately for being an up and
coming ‘cool’ city and not without reason. My personal
favorite outings include watching free shows on the hill
at the Miller Outdoor Theater, visiting the butterflies at
the Museum of Natural Science, and hitting Chinatown
for some quality Dim Sum, but I urge you all to find your
own Houstonian hot spots. In a city this big and diverse,
there’s no doubt all of you will be able to discover something to suit your passions. It can be easy to get caught up
in this beautiful life we live on campus, but don’t forget to
get a taste of what Houston has to offer. Please, go explore.
Seriously. Go.
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!
Some highlights include the Art Car Parade (May), the
International Festival (April), Pride Houston (June), and
the Greek Festival (October), but these are only a few of
many. You can find events online (www.houstonpress.com
136
is a great site with Houston happenings), through cultural
clubs at Rice, or by asking upperclassmen for their advice.
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.
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.
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. There are lots of organized runs and bikerides (like Houston Critical Mass) that take place in the
city throughout the year. If you’re an avid runner also try
the ‘outer loop,’ a public, shaded 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. I recommend taking a picnic and sitting on the hill to
watch; it makes for a quality night out. Another option for
exploring the outdoors is biking along the bayou.
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 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. The Menil
campus houses several buildings with art, as well as the
Rothko Chapel. If you’re in the mood for something more
somber, the museum district is also home to Houston’s
Holocaust Museum. There are also smaller, lesser known
museums dispersed in the city center. One such hidden
gem is the Bayou Bend house, owned by the Museum of
Fine Arts, which is filled with antiques and surrounded by
gardens.
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
Houston Professional Sports teams:
• Baseball (MLB) – Astros
• Men’s Basketball (NBA) – Rockets
• Football (NFL)– Texans
• Hockey (AHL) – Aeros
• Soccer (MLS) - Dynamoww
Nightlife
Houston also has a thriving bar, club, and dance scene.
(Limited to 21 or older in most cases, but on some nights
and in some places 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
Downtown Houston is home to Wortham Theater, Jones
Hall, the Alley Theater, and the Hobby Center for Performing Arts which provide great opportunities to see
ballet, opera, symphony, or a variety of plays and musicals, all accessible by Metrorail. Keep an eye out for Rice
emails about free tickets to some of these events. Movie
theaters are also plentiful and are popular destinations on
weekends.
the other end of town, Reliant Stadium is where football
games are played and where the Houston Rodeo is held.
Those of you from major coastal cities will have your
minds blown by how cheap tickets can be here.
137
Life Without a Car
DUNCAN COLLEGE
O-Week 2013
Houston is a driving city. 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 how:
The Rice Shuttle Service
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.
The Light Rail
Riding the Light Rail is free with your QCard! The most
convenient stop is directly between the North Colleges
and Hermann Park, extra convenient for us! check out the
schedule and map at:
www.hou-metro.harris.tx.us/pdf/routes/700-redline.pdf.
Zipcars
New to Rice three 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. 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.
138
Where to Eat
It’s Saturday night and the servery is closed, or maybe
you are out celebrating a friend’s birthday or your parents
are in town (or you just got sick of servery food). Where
do you go? This guide gives you a few places to start with
(some of my personal favorites) for any occasion!
* Outdoor seating!
† Rice Discount with ID!
∆ Reservations recommended
Rice Village Highlights: check out the local options!
Buses run there all day Saturday.
Black Walnut Café – American – $$ – 5510 Morningside
Dr.*
Great for breakfast and lunch (or brunch).
Chocolate Bar – Desserts – $ – 2521 University Blvd. †
Everything chocolate and candy. Get a brownie, microwaved, with ice cream.
Istanbul – Middle Eastern – $$ – 5613 Morningside Dr.*
Delicious kabobs and hummus.
Kubo’s – Sushi and Japanese – $$ – 2414 University Blvd.
(upstairs)
Moderately priced. Good for a regular Saturday or more
of an occasion.
Ruggle’s – American & Dessert – $ – 2365 Rice Blvd.* †
If you want cake, THIS IS YOUR PLACE. A million
amazing options.
Shiva – Indian – $$ – 2514 Times Blvd.
Great Indian food at a good price. Nice atmosphere.
Torchy’s Tacos – Tacos – $ – 2400 Times Blvd.
The newest location of this local favorite. Cheap and SO
delicious!
Zoe’s Kitchen – American – $ – 5215 Kelvin*
Healthy pizzas, wraps, salads, and more. Download their
phone app for freebies!
Metro Centric: tired of Rice Village but car-less? Take the
Metro (for free!) and try…
Bodega’s – Mexican – $ – Museum District Stop (1200
Binz St., Suite 160)†
Chipotle-esque but more options and cheaper. Cheap
margaritas when you’re 21.
Natachee’s – American/Southern – $ – Ensemble/HCC
Stop (3622 Main St.)*
Great Southern diner. Fun to sit outside. Live music.
Pho Saigon – Vietnamese – $ – McGowen Stop (2808
Milam St.)
Very cheap and delicious. Different kinds of pho (and
other food, but go for the pho).
Tacos a-go-go – Tacos – $ – Ensemble/HCC Stop (3704
Main St.)†
Another great taco joint. Cheap and delicious.
Late Night Food: where to go at 2:00 am for some cheap,
greasy food
59 Diner – American – $ – 3801 Farnham St.
Cheap, greasy diner food. Open 24 hours.
House of Pies – American – $ – 3112 Kirby Dr.
More cheap diner food. Good for breakfast as well. Open
24 hours.
Little Bigs – American – $ – 2703 Montrose*
Best sliders and fries. Make sure to use the sriracha sauce!
Open til 3 am weekends.
Ruchi’s – Mexican/Tex-Mex – $ – 3102 S. Shepherd
24/7 Mexican food is one of the highlights of living in
Houston.
Taco Cabana – Mexican/Tex-Mex – $ – 3905 Kirby or
8101 Main (numerous locations)
Satisfying at all times of the day, but especially after midnight. Get chips & queso.
Elsewhere!
You can also check out all of Houston’s food trucks at http://
roaminghunger.com/hou
Where to take the parents: you’ll learn to exploit their
visits…
Backstreet Café – American – $$$$ – 1103 S. Shepherd*
Delicious, straight-forward food. Beautiful outdoor patio.
Hugo’s – Mexican – $$$$ – 1602 Westheimer Rd.∆
Sophisticated Mexican food. Be daring and try the grasshoppers, if you dare. James Beard Best Chef Southwest
Nominee 2012 and 2013.
Reef – Seafood – $$$$ – 2600 Travis St. ∆
Amazing fish and seafood, every way. Great desserts.
(Personal favorite!)
Uchi – Japanese – $$$$ – 904 Westheimer Rd. ∆
Unique twist on Japanese. Top Chef fans: this is Paul’s restaurant (season 9 winner). Difficult to get into—reserve
ahead (at least a few weeks!).
Underbelly – American – $$$$ – 1100 Westheimer Rd.
James Beard Best Chef Southwest Nominee 2013. Focus
on local foods.
Houston
Amy’s Ice Cream – Ice Cream – $ – 3816 Farnham St.
The best ice cream. Fun flavors and mix-ins.
Beaver’s – BBQ – $$ – 2310 Decatur St.*
Great BBQ and Texan fare. Get the queso knocked up
(you won’t regret it).
Buffalo Grille – American – $ – 4080 Bissonnet
Huge selection, and everything is cheap. Great brunch
spot.
Café Brasil – American – $ – 2604 Dunlavy St.*
Delicious fresh food. Perfect brunch spot (like when the
line at Empire is too long).
Empire Café – American – $ – 1732 Westheimer Rd.*
Perfect brunch spot, but the line gets long on weekends
(worth the wait).
Hobbit Café – American – $$ – 2243 Richmond Ave.
They have a little of everything so groups will be happy.
Vegetarian friendly.
Hot Bagel Shop – Bagels – $ – 2009 Shepherd Rd.
Extremely cheap hot bagels. Not quite the Northeast, but
closer than most.
Niko Niko’s – Greek – $$ – 2520 Montrose Blvd.*†
Gets busy, but worth the wait. Addictive fries. Try the
loukoumades (honey balls).
Ninfa’s on Navigation – Mexican – $$ – 2704 Navigation
Blvd.*
The original location of this well-loved Mexican joint is
the best.
Pondicheri – Indian – $$ – 2800 Kirby Dr.*
New twist on Indian food (not traditional). Try a lassi and
a frankie, or share a thali.
Ruggle’s Green – American – $$ – 2311 W. Alabama St.*
Fresh and healthy. Great tacos, pizzas, sandwiches, and
salads. Never disappoints.
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Places of Worship
Houston has a very diverse population with people from many different countries who follow different religions.
Hence, Houston has a large number of worship places for different religions. Below is a list of places of worship.
DUNCAN COLLEGE
O-Week 2013
Baha’i - Baha’i Faith of Houston, 2419 Fannin St.
Baptist - Rice Temple Baptist Church, 6409 Greenbriar St.
Baptist - Baptist Student Center, 1130 MD Anderson Blvd.
Buddhist - Jade Buddha Temple, 6969 Westbranch Dr.
Catholic - Catholic Student Center, 1703 Bolsover St.
Catholic - St. Anne’s Catholic Church, 2140 Westheimer Rd.
Christian Science - Fourth Church of Christ Scientist, 4910 Montrose Blvd.
Church of Christ - Bellaire Church of Christ, 8001 South Rice Ave.
Church of Christ - West University Church of Christ, 3407 Bissonnet St.
Disciples of Christ - First Christian Church, 1601 Sunset Blvd.
Episcopal - Palmer Memorial Church, 6221 Main St.
Hindu - Meenakshi Temple, 17130 McLean St.
Hindu - Swaminarayana Temple, 10080 Synott Road
Nation of Islam - 4443 Old Spanish Trail
Jewish (conservative) - Beth Yeshurun Congregation, 4525 Beechnut
Jewish (orthodox) - Chabad House, 1955 University Blvd.
Jewish (reform) - Congregation Emanu El, 1500 Sunset Blvd.
Lutheran - Christ the King Lutheran Church, 2352 Rice Blvd.
Lutheran - St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church, 5315 Main St.
Methodist - St. Paul’s United Methodist Church, 5501 S. Main St.
Methodist - West University United Methodist, 3611 University Blvd.
Mormon - Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, 5008 Calhoun Rd.
Presbyterian - First Presbyterian Church, 5300 Main St.
Unitarian - First Unitarian Universalist Church, 5200 Fannin St.
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
140
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.
The Texas State Fair is a must-see, especially if you’re
from out of state
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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.
Backpage
The back page of the Thresher contains ads (free to Rice
students), and stuff somebody thinks is funny.
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Baker 13
An organization whose sole function is for its members
to undress, smear shaving cream on their bodies, and run
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.
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.
Chug
To consume high volumes of liquid as quickly as possible
(see Beer Bike).
Dunc Love
The ultimate manifestation of Duncan’s values of community, togetherness, and culture of care.
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 are Becca, Michael and Nick!
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.
Dunc Hunks
The men of Duncan are known as the “Dunc Hunks,”
extremely attractive members of the Rice community.
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.
Houston
Duncaroo
1. A resident of Duncan College.
2. An email sent out to the entire college by addressing it
to [email protected]
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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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. DUNCAN COLLEGE
O-Week 2013
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
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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.
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 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”
(and fun) of the college sports as well as a great spectator
sport. Played during the fall semester.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Houston
Peoplequarium
Nickname given to Brochstein Pavillion during construction because it “would be a great place to watch students
in their natural environment.”
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.
Powderpuff
Women’s college flag football. One of the most intense
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DUNCAN COLLEGE
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.
Shepherd School
Rice’s School of Music. One of the nation’s top conserva-tories, they hold free performances of some kind or other
almost every day.
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.
Sidebar
Declare sidebar to break off from the main conversation
and create a separate one with your buddy. Use liberally.
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.
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
bulbs as well as the furniture in your room.
“Somos equipo, somos familia.”
“We are a team, we are family.” A summary of the Duncan Lifestyle and the origin of our Latin motto, Classis et
Germanitas.
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.
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.
TC
Taco Cabana. A 24 hour Mexican food serving institution, and an all-nighter’s best friend.
S/E
A student majoring in science or engineering.
Tetra Points
The credit on your meal plan used to buy food at the Student Center. Also known as free money.
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.
146
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.
Thresher
Rice’s student-operated newspaper. Famous for the Backpage and theater reviews of varying quality.
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.
ZZZ’s
Rumored to mean sleep, but Rice students have never
actually experienced getting any zzz’s.
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
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.
Major Abbrevs
147
DUNCAN COLLEGE
O-Week 2013
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.
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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 Quiet.... 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.
- Bring your O-Week book!
- Make sure you take the comp exam this summer.
- Call or email us if you have questions!
Houston
- Read all information that comes from Rice; even if it isn’t
the most exciting, you’ll be glad you did!
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Closing
Duncaroos, we hope that you now feel more prepared,
knowledgeable, and excited to take your first steps down
the yellow brick road. 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 adventure in the land of Oz awaits!
DUNCAN COLLEGE
O-Week 2013
Dunc Love,
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Michael
Becca
Nick