Bicycle Thefts Continue
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the Rice Thresher Vol. XCIV, Issue No. 18 SINCE 1916 Friday, February 1, 2008 TAYLOR JOHNSON/THRESHER Black Student Association President Alicia Burns-Wright speaks before the Sid Richardson College commons during dinner Monday. The BSA went to Sid to protest the racialiy-themed vandalism and Sid's traditional 40s Party that took place over the weekend of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. by Lily Chun to urine on a photocopy machine. Alicia Burns-Wright, President of the Black black community at Rice. On Monday, the In the wake of these incidents, people on Student Association, said the 40s Party, BSA ate dinner at Sid to protest the 40s Party THRESHER EDITORIAL STAFF campus responded with mixed reactions as which was banned in 2004 but still held and to ask the college to discontinue it. On Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, nearly the complicated issue of race relations at as an unregistered party every year since, Sid senior Kelli Newman said she was also two weeks ago, an act of racially-charged Rice resurfaced. From the Black Student was offensive because the 40-ounce bottles offended that the 40s Party occurred even vandalism happened at Sid Richardson Col- Association to President David Leebron, of malt liquor consumed at the party are though it was banned, especially considering lege. The office of Sid College Coordinator everyone had something to say. stereotypically associated with poor black the fact that it was held so close to Martin Kelly Penrod was vandalized with Oreo people. Luther King, Jr. Day. cookies littered on the floor and crammed Reactions Though there is no evidence to prove "Just imagine as a minority this happen- in student mailbox locks as well as a racist This act of vandalism brought attention that the party and the vandalism are linked, ing," Newman said. "It's like they wanted message written on the door. This incident to an unregistered party thrown at Sid Burns-Wright said the occurrence of the 40s to continue the tradition even thou, |h it was repeated two days later when more the night before, which had a theme that Party on the night of Martin Luther King, Jr. was banned." Oreo cookie crumbs were found in addition carried offensive connotations for blacks. Day was enough to cause anger within the see REACTION, page 10 Enrollment growth matches V2C plans Bicycle thefts continue by Dale Swartz for Admission, RAVA, conducted sions decision in mid-February. Rice Background investigations reveal thieves 1000 more interviews this year than stopped the interim plan because THRESHER STAFF last. Similarly, nearly 1,000 more it would not be able to evaluate a more than just petty criminals Applications for the Class of 2012 prospective students visited the larger number of applicants in that jumped 11 percent, allaying fears that campus, participated in tours, and short a period. by Sarah Rutledge profiles reveals that the majority of bicycle thieves on campus are more the elimination of Interim Decision met with students. Munoz said all of Munoz said the decision to THRESHER EDITORIAL STAFF would adversely affect the number these factors resulted in increased eliminate interim decision was not than petty thieves. RUPD chief Bill of prospective students. Rice exposure to high school stu- a reaction to the recent decisions of When Rice University Police Taylor said most of these thieves There were over 9,700 ap- dents, and ultimately led to more schools like Harvard, Princeton and Department originally began collect- are habitual drug users and steal for plicants for 2008, compared with applications. the University of Virginia to abandon ing bikes across campus during the drug money. about 8,960 in 2007 and 8,700 in early admissions. These schools did winter break, it was nothing more "It's the easy way of getting the 2006. Additionally, the number of so because they felt such programs than a countermeasure. With Rice money they need to buy their next students who applied early deci- disproportionately benefited upper- experiencing a rash of bike thefts, hit," Taylor said. sion rose 28 percent. APPLICATION class white students. Critics also say RUPD Captain Phil Hassell said. He Hassell said that the bicycle "Put simply, this is the largest that these policies limit the options of collected unfastened bikes to cut off thieves communicate amongst applicant pool in the history of Rice NUMBERS students needing financial aid by not all resources for bike thieves setting themselves about opportunities at University," Vice President for En- allowing them to compare different their sights on the Rice campus. Rice. One of the apprehended thieves financial aid awards. "If you have roommate in an apart- confessed while in custody to hearing rollment Chris Munoz said. 2008: Over 9,700 Munoz credited new recruiting Historically at Rice, approximate- ment and you all are fairly clean, but about Rice from others. applicants techniques for much of the success. ly eight percent of admitted students you have one roommate who leaves "He said he heard from them that He said there was a more concerted 2007: About 8,960 come from the early admissions pool. food lying around, it's just going to at- Rice is easy picking, so that's what effort to target students by selective- 2006: About 8,700 This figure is low compared to peer tract roaches and rats." Hassell said. he did," Hassell said. ly buying names of those who took institutions, Munoz said. There is an "The same analogy for these thieves: RUPD also learned from a thief in standardized tests like the PSATand effort to make Rice more attractive You've attracted somebody to cam- custody that bicycles were being sold SAT. Enrollment staff also improved to those interested in applying early, pus that not only victimizes you but at pawn shops near the Greyhound internet-based communications with "I'm not saying [these things] but Munoz said this is balanced by is victimizing other people." Bus Station on Main St. prospective students by making sure were never done, but the frequency the desire to ensure that all students Not surprisingly, this coun- Of the four apprehended bicycle they were informed of Rice-related and quality of our efforts this year make an informed choice, since early termeasure was met with a lot thieves so far, all have more extensive deadlines and had easier access to made a big difference," he said. admission is binding. of student resistance, especially criminal records than petty theft. marketing materials. This was the first year that Rice Rice is also lower than its peers after RUPD had enacted a similar One thief has been convicted Student and alumni efforts also did not offer Interim Decision, which in terms of the number of members measure with unsecured laptops in twice for a burglary of a vehicle, played an important role, Munoz let students apply at the beginning of of the freshman class who are Fondren Library last fall. But a re- evading the police, delivery of a said. The Rice Alumni Volunteers December for a non-binding admis- see ENROLLMENT, page 6 cent Th resher examination of RUPD see BICYCLES, page 6 INSIDE OPINION Page 2 Scoreboard Academic deadlines Battle of the Bands Women's Swimming Today is the last day to complete late reg- Today is the deadline to enter KTRl l's Battleof Page 12 Rice 225, Houston 117 A&E LSU 119, Rice 216 istration or add courses, adjust variable credit the Bands. Send a demo with your email address, Not your average cartoon Men's Basketball courses, drop courses wtihout a fee and desig- cell phonenumber, band name and members and Page 14 Southern Miss 71, Rice 53 nate a course as "Audit" or vice versa. drop it in KTRU's office before 5 p.m. SPORTS Thank God for baseball Weekend Weather SA deadline extended Year of the Rat Friday "I've been pulled over by the cops and have told Sun, 46-64 degrees The deadline to register to run in the SA The RiceChinese Students and Scholarsclub them I go to Rice ... I have to show my Rice ID to Saturday elections has been extended to this coming is putting on a Chii icse New Year celebration this prove I go to Rice. It shouldn't have to be that way." Partly Sunny, 59-70 degrees Monday. So run for office! Sunday at 6 p.m. in the RMC's Grand Hall. — Gary Anderson (Jones '07) on black male Sunday athletes at Rice. See story, page 1. Partly Sunny, 63-73 degrees THE RICE THRESHER OPINION FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 1.2008 you know, i wr evtH CtAtSegwe, PAftTY TWErttes IS A YW'Ife K/6HT.' You Swoiwv uwt#sxwi> TOTnut cewte ~n> mv PATTY fi//*wr stc*' "hustle < «•» 1T WOUCP 6ET WAD ABOUT TMe WET* " 'VHAT ULOULV 7«SUS -THIS wtekswp, ** TVEW* Of "MOi JfctfTY' MtvJ," " camrttuwivr mAmtxsra--—— . AWESoMt ThCHS. / P{)RTY 7Hos.r peot>u Acs smfi/p/ WtlK"... Soon the Rice Thresher D* ucn'r ee Waiting for Sid Over the last week, campus has been shocked by the racially themed vandalism of the Sid Richardson College coordinator's office (see story, page 1). But what is even more shocking is Sid's apparent unapologetic attitude in wake of complaints about the college's 40s Party. While we do not wish to minimize the vandalism, in reality it could have LETTERS TO THE EDITOR been caused by anyone off of the street. Rather, it is Sid's reaction to the anger about the 40s Party that indicates a willing ignorance about and make sure to give credit where there is a very important action race on campus and a conscious decision to ignore the welfare of many BSA calls for end to credit is due.