No Decision Reached on Co-President Amendment
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the Rice Thresher Vol.XCI, Issue No. 17 SINCE 1916 Friday, January 30, 2004 Committee to consider alcohol policy changes by Katherine Corley private party, which creates confusion among THRESH ER STAFF party hosts, chief justices and college courts. "Is a private party a six-pack and a pizza or Proposed changes to the Alcoholic Bever- is it 200 people out on a balcony with no age Policy could be instituted as soon as March, alcohol in sight?" Cox said. 'There's a lot of Alcoholic Beverage Policy Advisory Commit- ambiguity for hosts of private parties on how tee Chair Steve Cox said. ABPAC will consider to stay within the law." the changes at its next meeting. According to the current Alcoholic Bever- The most significant proposed change age Policy, a private party occurs when stu- would require each college to create a set of dents elect to privately consume or serve college-specific rules for what constitutes pub- alcohol. The policy stresses that underage lic and privates spaces. drinking laws apply, but that Rice University "The proposals are that, given the fact that Police Department officers will not interfere each college has its unique history, traditions if the party is not creating a disturbance. and architecture, it might be wise to ask indi- Martel College Chief Justice Anna vidual colleges to put before a review board Friedberg said this loose definition of a private what they believe constitutes a private party party will not change. under the alcohol policy," Cox, a Sid "[A party is private] in the sense that your Richardson College master, said. "The goal is neighbors should not know that you're having to try to fill in, college by college, what consti- a party," Friedberg, a senior, said. tutes a private party." If ABPAC decides to implement the pro- Cox, a computational and applied math- posed changes, colleges will be responsible ematics professor, said the Alcohol Policy for drafting their own guidelines, which will currently has no clear, practical definition of a See ALCOHOL, Page 8 \ No decision reached on JP*!- co-president amendment MATT CRNKOVICH/THRESHF.R by Jenny Rees The two senators absent from the meeting were Brown College senator Jerry Hopkins In the ZONE THRESHER EDITORIAL STAFF and Jones College Senator J.P. Rodriguez. Junior guard Brock Gillespie looks for a shot as the student section looks on in a 76-73 After two weeks of discussion, the Student The amendment was proposed by Debbink Rice win over Hawaii Wednesday at Autry Court. The Owls, tied for first place in the Association Senate will vote Monday for the and Leggett, who promised during their cam- Western Athletic Conference, host last-place San Jose State tomorrow at 1:05 p.m. second consecutive meeting on whether to paign to address the issue of co-presidents at place a constitutional amendment on the Gen- the first SA meeting of the spring semester. eral Flections ballot requiring that the office At the Jan. 12 meeting, when the proposed of the SA president be held by a single amendment was announced to the senate, person. The senate voted on the proposed Debbink and D-ggett led a discussion on Patriots stop Rice practices amendment at its meeting Monday, and the whether co-presidents should be allowed. amendment did not pass, but the senate but They presented their opinions on the posi- decided to vote again on the issue because two tive aspects of a co-presidency. Debbink and AFC champions move to Texans' indoor practice bubble senators were not present. Ixggett said co-presidents can offer two per- the Patriots practice there Wednesday, Thurs- Seventeen of the 22 voting members voted spectives on issues and can accomplish more by David Brown day and Friday." in favor of the amendment, but this total was than a single person by combining their time THRESHER EDITORIAL STAFF The NFC Champion Carolina Panthers, as one vote short of the four-fifths supermajority and energy of Wednesday, had remained at their Univer- required to place it on the ballot for approval Those in attendance gave their opinions on After practicing Monday the wet Rice prac- sity of Houston practice facility, though rain by the SA at large. the negative aspects of co-presidents. They tice field, the AFC Champion New England Thursday or Friday could cause them to move In a roll-call vote, three college sena- said co-presidents might have difficulty main- Patriots have unexpectedly moved into "the the bubble as well, Aiello said. tors—Sid Richardson College senator Manish taining consistency in their positions on issues bubble," the Houston Texans' FieldTurf prac- Rice Director of Athletics Bobby May said Agrawal, Hanszen College senator Ian or might be less efficient than a single person tice facility, for the remainder of their pre- the Patriots used the Rice football practice Fverhart and Martel College senator Trey because of the energy used in communicating Super Bowl practices. field, locker room and fitness center for their Smith — voted against placing the amend- with each other. Some also said administrators NFL Vice President of Public Relations weight training Monday. ment on the ballot. Voting members of the might take co-presidents less seriously than a Gary Aiello said the Patriots may have had May said it was the opportunity to use the senate are the SA external and internal vice single president. concerns about the quality of Rice's field and bubble — not an inadequate Rice field — that presidents, secretary and treasurer; the nine Those arguing against the constitutional that they saw the opportunity to use the Tex- prompted the Patriots' decision. college presidents; and the nine college sena- amendment said students voting in the Gen- ans' excellent facility as too good to pass up. tors. SA co-presidents Bryan Debbink and eral Flections should be allowed to choose the "It was simply a matter of rain over the "There was nothing about the field," May Michael Leggett have a single vote, which most promising candidate, which could be a weekend making the practice field less than said." [The NFL] has been in here many weeks, they cast only in the event of a tie. Sec AMENDMENT, Page 7 ideal," Aiello said. "Since we had the Texans' if not months, preparing the facility." practice facility available, we decided to have See PATRIOTS. Page 8 Treehouse still in quad INSIDE Entrance closings OPINION Page 3 by Ian Fverhart Camacho said he was surprised but Making high school kids grovel Due to tightened security for the Super Bowl THRESHER STAFF delighted when he learned about the treehouse. weekend, Rice will be closing all gates except for A&E Page 12 Constructing the treehouse in the "I think what the students did those at Entrances 8 and 11 from 5 a.m. today until Our fa vorite bimbo northwest corner of the academic was absolutely marvelous," 10 p.m. Sunday. Entrance 13 will be open for only quad took only two hours, one of its Camacho said. "I loved it. It was inbound traffic today from 5 a.m. until 2 p.m. Addi- SPORTS Page 17 builders said. The student, who whimsical, fun and funny." tionally. all cars without Rice parking permits will iMrry the Lizard: Rice's Super Bowl hero asked that his name be withheld, One of the treehouse's builders have to go through a screening process in order to said about 12 people worked to build said they dedicated the "study loft" enter campus. the structure in the early morning to Camacho to recognize his dedica- hours of last Monday. tion to students. Quote of the Week The treehouse, located in a tree "Dr. Camacho gives the adminis- Petitions due today "Having strangers in the building for profit is not an between Fondren Library and Ander- tration a human face, a human Petitions for the Student Association General ethical way to conduct yourself. I'm dead set against it. son Hall, consists of a ladder leading touch," the builder said. "He makes Elections are due today at noon at the SA office. It's a dumb idea." up to a platform surrounding the it a point to get to know the students — Sid Richardson College Master Steve Cox, on the main trunk of the tree on three sides. and shows genuine concern. We dangers of subletting one's room. See Story, Page 7. thought a creative study spot would Weekend Weather The platform, measuring 90 square Scoreboard feet, does not have a railing or other be a fitting honor." Friday Women's Basketball safety devices. The builder said the students built Mostly sunny, 69-48 degrees Saturday Nevada 49. Rice 78 the treehouse because they thought A small plaque dedicating the Mostly sunny, 69-53 degrees Men's Basketball treehouse to Vice President for Stu- they would enjoy it. Sunday Hawaii 73, Rice 76 dent Affairs Zenaido Camacho is at- "We thought it a challenge, some- Rain, 70-53 degrees Rice 76, Nevada 101 tached to the platform near the ladder. Sec TREEHOUSE, Page 8 2 THE RICE THRESHER OPINION FRIDAY, JANUARY 30,2004 the Rice Thresher Alcohol Policy changes should be clear, simple $ We appreciate that the Alcohol Policy changes being considered by the Alcoholic Beverage Policy Advisory Committee are, in theory, a good idea. (See Story, Page 1.) Current definitions of public and private space are ambiguous, and some degree of clarification would benefit students, the Rice University Police Department and other members of the Rice community. However, we worry that the changes will involve too many R obscure rules to constitute an improvement over the current situa- Hey Thaddius! tion.