'C y Curriculum proposal passes first test, awaits council by Jay Grob curriculum changes will be thoughts and their clear the departments in the School of Latin America. Rice's Committee on the implemented at Rice. expression. Social Sciences one course which 8. A one-year requirement in Undergraduate Curriculum has Last September the University 2. One semester of work in the department in question literature and the arts. Students approved proposed curriculum Council rejected a different computer science. recommends as a suitable must take at least two courses in changes submitted to it by proposal from Brody's committee, 3. One semester of mathematics, introduction to the approach of its literature and/or the arts, one of philosophy Professor Baruch requesting that the committee involving either the study of discipline. which must be in literature. Brody's Ad Hoc Committee on reconsider its recommendations calculus, probability, logic or 6. A one-semester requirement 9. A one-semester requirement Curriculum. and develop an alternate general finite mathematics. in history. All students will be in philosophy or religion. All The University Council will next curriculum plan. The new 4. One year of work in the required to take a course in United students should be required to take review the proposed changes, proposal calls for an end to Rice's natural sciences, emphasizing States or European history. a course in philosophy or religion which establish a new set of current distribution system and fundamental concepts and basic 7. A one-semester requirement that emphasizes critical thinking distribution requirements for advocates the following methods in physics, chemistry in non-Western studies. Students about funadmental, metaphysical, undergraduates. If passed by the requirements: or biology. will be required to take a course epistemological and value University Council in the fall, the 1. A one-semester course in 5. A one-year requirement in the which covers the history, politics, questions. changes will come before a vote of "writing skills." The course would social sciences. Students will be economics or culture of some part the faculty; and if passed there, the emphasize the organization of required to take in each of two of of Eastern Europe, Asia, Africa or see Some, page 11 INSIDE: • Movies, movies, movies! What to see and why, p. 7. • Cagers in action? Owls play in Puerto Rico, p. 9. THRESHER • Swim coach resigns, p. 9. Volume 70, number 1 Wednesday, July 7, 1982 Frosh face housing problems Hacker man injured by Jeanne Cooper advance for Owl Day. alternate housing, with no luck," An unexpected five percent "As a result," Stabell Stabell continued. "Still, we're by Jay Grob The other cyclist, who was increase in the number of commented, "we ended up with 75 hoping the nursing dorms at TWU University President Norman riding a ten-speed, escaped with applicants accepting Rice's offer of more students in attendance than (6723 Bertner) will be available. If Hackerman is recovering slowly no serious injuries. admission could force as many as so, the University will contract but steadily from injuries he Hackerman was treated forty Houston-area prospective space for any freshmen who wish sustained in a bicycle accident immediately following the freshmen to live at home or in it." near the gym on June 4. accident at Methodist Hospital; alternative housing such as a Texas Freshmen living in the TWU Hackerman, who regularly bikes the full recovery process should Woman's University dormitory residence halls would eat meals at on campus, suffered three broken take six weeks. Hackerman next year. Rice in their assigned college, as ribs, various cuts on his arms, received whirlpool and Assistant to the President for well as participating in all college and a badly bruised left leg in the ultrasound treatment from Admissions and Records Richard activities. Rice would provide mishap. Athletic Trainer Allen Eggert for Stabell stated that although the shuttle transportation for TWU Hackerman, 69, was making a about a week as well, and is now applicants' pool exceeded 3000 for residents, although Stabell noted left turn from the street into the back at work full-time. the first time, only the normal that the dorms are only a 10- gymnasium parking lot when Hackerman is still experien- number of candidates, 1000-1100, minute walk from Lovett College. another cyclist attempted to pass cing some pain while breathing were extended offers of admission. "It (TWU) is a terrific facility," him on the left. According to due to the broken ribs and has He explained, "Normally if we commented Stabell, listing private Hackerman, "He hit my front trouble sleeping. But the biggest offer admission to 1000 students, bathrooms for suites, a large wheel and the blow took the bike setback, he insists, is that he we get 550 to come. This year we Richard Stabell laundry room, exercise room, pub, out from under me. There was cannot participate in his daily ended up with 635, instead of the we've ever had at Owl Day. Of cafeteria and small grocery store as nothing 1 could do but fall on my squash matches until completely anticipated 550-575, excluding side. It was totally unexpected." recovered. those who came to Owl Day, 75 see Rice, page 11 athletes." percent accepted our offer of "We didn't do anything different admission. Part of the increase (in this year that I know of," said freshmen) is right there." Emergency phones bolster safety Stabell, "except we tinkered with In late May, all the freshmen by Patty Cleary Enclosed in red steel boxes In response to an upsurgence ot Owl Day." That "tinkering" is one were distributed into colleges, with The installation of six police marked "police emergency." the crime last spring, campus police probable cause for the surplus in 65 paid students unable to be emergency phones around campus phones have been placed in the officers increased foot patrols and students. housed by their college. According marks the most recent measure in academic quad, between Allen have a bicycle patrol planned tor Traditionally students were sent to Stabell, the Committee of the the continuing effort to improve Center and Baker College, on this fall. Another security measure Owl Day invitations with their College Masters met in early June security on campus. The phones "virgins' walk," by Sewall Hall, by discussed last semester, building a letter of acceptance three or four and decided that the incoming are designed so that when the the Space Science building and fence which would surround tht- days before Owl Day occurred. H ouston students could "suffer the receiver is lifted, tl.e campus police outside the gym. Flashing blue campus, has since been dismissed. This year applicants received a least, although everyone's going to lights will be installed to attract According to Vice President of postcard before a letter of be inconvenienced." will immediately know which phone is in use, and be able-to attention to the phones, which Administration William Akers, acceptance/rejection, notifying "At the same time we decided, dispatch an officer to the site while should be operational by August 1 student feedback about a fence was them to make travel plans in we began looking around for the call is being answered. According to Assistant Police overwhelmingly negative. "Unless Chief Mary Voswinkel, "traffic our situation would dramatically patterns, problem areas, past worsen," he said, "we'd rather not Duncan named to board chair incidents, and the distance to an do anything so extreme." versed in dealing with complex available phone" were all taken Other security measures, affairs and is a very able financial into consideration when selecting however, have been instituted. administrator. In addition, his sites for the phones. see Campus, page 5 association with academic life has f been very consistent. I believe he knows the factors involved in making a university function well." "The election of Ms. Abercrombie," Hackerman continued, "puts a very able person in that position. The two together should make a very competent team." The selection of Duncan and Charles W. Duncan Josephine Abercrombie Abercrombie marked only two of several important changes on the Long-time board members President Jimmy Carter. university's 19-member governing Charles W. Duncan and Josephine Abercrombie is a director of the body, which is composed of seven Abercrombie became chairman J.S. Abercrombie Mineral trustees, eight term members and and vice-chairman, respectively, of Company. Both became board four alumni governors. the Rice Board of Governors July trustees in 1975, after completing C.M. Hudspeth, a former Rice 1. four years as term governors. lecturer on business law and Duncan, who replaces outgoing University President Norman prominent Houston attorney, is a chairmjfn E.D. Butcher, is Hackerman was pleased with both new trustee after previously currently president of Warren- selections, commenting, "Mr. serving as an alumni governor. J. King Companies and served as Duncan is going to be a fine person Evans Atwell, another Houston New emergency phone near Anderson Hall M. Gladu U.S. Secretary of Energy under to work with. He is obviously well- see Board, page 5 Curriculum proposal is little improvement The curriculum proposal now being considered, though earnestly developed by a diverse group of Ripe faculty members 55 to provide what they see as a broad education, both limits the freedom of choice Rice students have come to expect and creates a discrepancy between what is necessary for a broad education and what is not. Two of the chief objectives behind the new curriculum proposal center on the over-availability of "roll" courses and the fact that, in the present system, students may take advantage of course cross-indexing for distribution.