The N1agazine of Rice University Volume 45. No. 2, Winter 19S9 Building Rice In February, Rice breaks ground on two major buildings that mark its greatest construction effort in the past two decades. SMARM Winter 1989, % ol. 45, No.2 Editor "Women's Work" Suzanne Johnson Any remaining notions of a "Typical Rice Girl" are left behind there's nothing typical Assistant Editor as three alumnae entrepreneurs prove Maggi Stewart about a "TRG." Contributing and Staff Writers: Mimi Crossley Scheleen Johnson '87 Rice on Ice 10 Bill Noblitt Contents Debbie Schmidt '89 Sitting in its subtropical surroundings, Rice supports a hotbed Writer Keith C. Watson follows Editorial Assistants of activity in polar research. Timothy Moloney '90 Rice scientists to the ends of the Earth for the chilling story. Jay Fitzgerald '91 Art Director Jeff Cox Thies from the Far Side 15 Graphic Designers humans and silly scientists are Corinne Zeutzius Condescending cows, hapless Geri Snider '80 just a few of the characters that inhabit the world of Donna Mary Owens'90 Carolyn Caddes shows that Mar- Martin. Writer/Photographer Photographer tin's rise in the world of humor publishing is not just funny Tommy LaVergne business. Officers of the Association of Rice Alumni President, J.D.(Bucky) Allshouse '71 President-Elect, Bridget Rote Jensen '53 From Razorbacks to Raising Hopes 20 1st Vice President, Juliana Williams Itz '72 Head Football Coach Jerry Berndt trades 2nd Vice President. Karen Hess Rogers '68 Athletic Director and Treasurer, H. Russell Pitman '58 the Owls of Rice for those of Temple, while Arkansas' Fred Past President, William (Bill) Merriman '67 Goldsmith heads for Houston with high hopes for reviving Executive Director, Susan Baker '78 Rice football. Association Committee on Publications J.D.(Bucky) Allshouse '71, ex officio. Association ofRice Alumni Susan Baker '78, ex officio. Association ofRice boosterism. What a pleasure and a surprise, Giving Due Credit Alumni issue with its Nancy Boothe '52, chair then, to receive the Fall 1988 Your special issue on Rice in the years stories of Larry Oswald, Linda Williams, Jim Asker '74 1968-71 (Fall 1988) provided a valuable John Boles '65 Frances. Albert, Joshua Pailet, Paul Mary history of the momentous period after my Hardy Bourland Lee Horstman, Bennett Falk and Wiggins, own departure from the academic groves. In Charles Bracht '69 Jeff Cox. the interest of accuracy, however, it should Joyce Bradsher '77 encouraging to read about some It was be noted that the Vietnam War did not end Lynda Crist '67 who are working with so Rice alumni in 1973. It was in the spring of 1975 that Kent E. Dove courage and love Doug Killgore '69 much intellect, thought, the North Vietnamese launched their final, decent, aware and giving Bill Merriman '67 to try to create successful invasion and conquered the midst of this frightening Fred Murray '72 lives in the Republic of South Vietnam. The American culture we all inhabit. Bill Noblitt military involvement had indeed ended after Sandy Rivera '77 Louis R. Hedgecock '76 the signing of the Paris agreements in B.C. Robison '88 Letters New York City January 1973, but the war continued. Linda Sylvan '73 will give In my view, future histories Alumni Governors Addendum due credit to those Rice graduates and others Joyce Pounds Hardy '45 Early Activism Having belatedly just received my Fall who struggled honorably for the survival Jerry McClesky '56 in that far-distant land. Devine '52 Your articles in the Fall 1988 issue seemed 1988 issue, I first of all want to commend and success of liberty Carolyn Douglas Paula Meredith Mosle '52 to imply that Rice students did not engage the editors for faithfully conveying my Richard A. Best Jr.'65 (M.A. '67) in social protest before 1965. During the remarks except regarding three ancillary Washington, D.C. points: Sal/sport(USPS 412950) is published in 1963-64 school year some Rice students April and July by the •I'd enjoy hearing from others at my October, January, joined students from other Houston-area Enlightening Issues Association of Rice Alumni and Rice University, home mailing address: P.O. Box 263, universities and colleges in picketing the 1988 Sallyport was the greatest. It and is sent free to all university alumni, parents Davenport, CA 95017; The Fall Houston School Board to protest policies was very enlightening for this "oldster... of students and friends. Second-class postage that we believed prolonged segregation. •The 18th Annual North American paid at Houston, Texas. Nevada, July Judy B. Reaves'41 There are some pictures of this event in the Rainbow Gathering will be in San Diego, Calif University offers equal '64 Campanile. 1-7, 1989; William Marsh Rice •The Philosophy of Consciousness opportunity to all applicants without regard to I expect that even earlier examples or I deem the race, color, sex, age, national or ethnic origin, could be found. Even inside the hedges, Without An Object is the book We Plead Ignorance (by physical handicap. things were "blowin' in the wind." exemplar for modem philosophy Your article on bicycling (Fall 1988) is Franklin Merrell-Wolff, 1887-1985; Julian track, but the picture Bill Alexander '64 confined to road and Editorial offices for Sallyport are located in the Austin, Texas Press). clearly depicts an off-road "mountain" Office of University Relations, Allen Center for Thank you for letting me add these bicycle. Business Activities, Rice University, 6100 S. particulars and may the Great Spirit smile This is like illustrating an article on Main St., Houston, TX. Mailing address: P.O. Varied Views upon your bicycle ride through the Lila. the ballet with a photograph of a Sumo Box 1892, Houston, TX 77251. I always look at Sallyport when it arrives Lee Horstman '70 wrestler. How come? Sallyport. but can rarely make it all the way through, Postmaster: Send address changes to Davenport, Calif. Bob Browning '40 University, usually ending up so repulsed by its Office of University Relations, Rice Dickinson, Texas 1892, Houston, TX 77251. uncritical, white, upper-middle-class P.O. Box 0 1989 Association of Rice Alumni (Continued on Page 31) Cover Photo by Tommy LaVergne Page 2/ WINTER 1989 I Pledge Allegiance... student swore he would pierce his When the Rice Owls took on top- nose). Others promised to dress up, ranked Notre Dame in South Bend, dress down or wear other, Through uncharacteristic clothing (one male Ind., on Nov. 5, student support for the Owls ran high. Despite the fact that student pledged to "wear pinks, pastels Rice was sporting the longest losing and other sensitive clothing for a the streak in the NCAA,the students week"). Some said they would go to remained optimistic about meeting the class, take better notes or do more undefeated Fighting Irish. As one homework; one student swore she student put it, "When two perfect would burn all her textbooks. Sallyport records meet, something's got to More outrageous students pledged give." that if Rice beat Notre Dame, they The MOB sold T-shirts, chose to would: ride to South Bend on a bus (for the • Get a tattoo; Owl-Fashioned "life experience" it offered) and • Not sit on any "sitting thing"(i.e., When Rice students returned to cam- planned the trip for more than a year. no chairs or sofas) for a week; pus last fall, they found a few changes. Individual carloads of intrepid students • Dance on the table at dinner; Not only • Wear a pink bowtie with an had Fondren Library been braved the cumulative 2,200-mile, 42- A man without a throne: 1988 Homecoming renovated and the Allen Center grown hour drive to Irish country to watch the uncollared shirt for a week, waking an Queen Mike Grubbs. extra floor, but Sammy the Owl had Owls win. The Thresher even sent a and sleeping; undergone a transformation as well. crack team of reporters to cover the • Get half a tan; "We wanted to create a Sammy that game. • Do laundry for all seniors for a students today could empathize with," But not everyone could make the week; At the Cotton Bowl festivities, says Andy Karsner, enterprising trip. And back on campus, those left • Undress, burst into President which started Thursday, Dec. 29, and Student Association president and behind to cheer in front of a television Rupp's house, and roll on the floor ran through the Cotton Bowl parade Sammy's personal manager, so to set (granted, the room was warmer while singing "Swing Low, Sweet and football game Jan. 2, Grubbs speak."The new Sammy's not exactly than the sub-freezing temperatures in Chariot"; accompanied Jones to each function Cocky, but he has the tone of the Indiana) still wanted to show their • Wear a "Visualize World Peace" but did not ride with her on the float at MOB. He pokes fun at other schools, support. So Marc Kossover, a sopho- tie-dyed T-shirt to ROTC drill; the pregame parade. Instead, he and and he's out to have fun." more physics major at Wiess College, • Chug a medium-sized jar of the other escorts walked alongside the started a list of pledges to be fulfilled Miracle Whip Salad Dressing; float to the parade's end. if and when the Owls put the Irish in • Not return from Notre Dame. "When I walked past the grand- their place. The list was presented to It's probably just as well Rice lost stand, a woman in the crowd yelled to the team upon departing for Notre the game — campus would never have me, know you, you're the queen.