If Rice Unive.Rsity April/M.11 1993
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THE MAGAZINE (IF RICE UNIVE.RSITY APRIL/M.11 1993 ; Won't you consider sending Rice something back? Your voluntary subscription helps cover the cost of our prize-winning magazine. Please see the bound-in, postage-paid envelope for full subscription details and subscribe today. E A 1111PIPP s RICE UNIVERSITY UltIP RI AP R 1993 12 Pranks That Rank Hard to believe and hard to beat, the top ten Rice pranks testify to the creative powers and the mechanical know- how of Rice students. —By David D. Medina 18 Making Their Marks Established in 1916,the Rice Thresher is among the oldest and boldest of Rice traditions. —By Greg Kahn 24 A Hand of Hope Robots and robotic prostheses devel- oped by Rice engineers may significantly extend the reach of the physically handi- capped. —By Philip Montgomery 30 Striking Out With distinguished pitching records at Rice and with the Cincinnati Reds, ex-Nasty Boy Norm Charlton is Seattle's first choice to pilot the Mariners to the top ofthe AL West. —By Francis Loewenheim April / May '93 1 4 Letters IL 11.‘111 I 6 Through the Sallyport Campanile. Mysterious machete found in wall of blishe< cutivc 7 News chael Jimmy Carter keynotes Rice commencement; George Rupp appointed to ing head Columbia University; Ronald Stebbings resigns as vice president for Dire( Student Affairs. norial liP Mc unholk 9 Academia Sign S htistinc Stellar discoveries in the Orion Nebula, page 9. Rice astronomer Robert O'Dell's discovery of the "missing link" in planet cbonal, formation paces research for space physics and astronomy department. Rict scree,. Abcra 10 Books, Etc. Evans David Thomas' exercise guide makes aerobics safer and more effective; Murtr Nicer Marguerite Johnston looks at Houstonians who helped create and shape bbr, the Bayou City; and Joseph Manca reevaluates the forgotten art of Italian painter Ercole de Roberti. 34 Students College theater offers entertaining escape from the rigors of academic life. Pikr: 35 Sports Coach Wayne Graham wants Rice baseball to conquer the SWC in 1993. High fives highlight Rice 36 Alumni Gazette baseball, page 35. Georganna Barnes will chair Homecoming 1993; reunion committees named for Homecoming 1993; Area Group activities keep alums con- nected; and programs help alumni stay involved in Rice. 'II Ypo 38 Gifts and Giving Jones Graduate School students launch student-managed investment fund; Harris and Kay Forbes cochair Founder's Society; and Founder's Society recognizes donors for annual unrestricted gifts. 1:1)14411'4til'. tiIsS hniut:i1'1'31'11.'1'1 40 Sally Forth ARA sponsors luxury cruisc through ports of the Suez. 42 Classnotes 56 Yesteryear A Passage to Suez, page 40. 57 Calendar 2 Sallyport FOREWORD "We believed in each other" and one by your peers. They were completely different grading systems." During the '60s a group of Rice Some of the courses that most in- • %1 k) 11, Thresher writers and editors would fluenced the three history majors were • • .......................... gather at an all-night coffee shop taught by Rice history professor lished by the Office of External Affairs called the Towers across from the Francis Loewenheim, a prolific con- • ............................ Shamrock Hotel and talk and talk tributor to newspapers and and talk. During these sessions, re- ransacker of government ar- 'Wive Director of News & Publications, diacl Ilcro hill calls Greg Curtis, he came to under- chives. stand that "ideas were not just in "One of the "8 Managing Editor, Winston Derden Director, Jeff Cox books but in the world, that they things influence people and events." Besides Loewenheim °Hal Staff: David I). Medina M.A.'83, Curtis, who graduated in 1966, the said," IlP Montgomery, staff writers; C.S . (inholland M.A.'89, copy editor talkers included a slightly older Burka ex- SPIXIAL 20111 ANNTWAWLY 15lq,111 group of history majors: Bill Broyles, plained,"was in Staff: Tommy LaVergne, photographer, %tine Minuto,graphic Griffin Smith and Paul Burka. In that when you O designer Carrie kinald '91, interim designer. 1973, they became the founding look at docu- • ........................... writers and editors of one of the ments, don't look Itice University Board of Governors great recent successes in American at what they say, rees: Charles W. Duncan Jr., chair, Josephine journalism, Texas Monthly magazine. look at what they EA—rcrombie, vice chair, 1). Kent Anderson, t'4'ls &meth John L. Cox, Burton J. After editing Texas Monthly for don't say. I think we B4W13T, Jack T. Trotter; Term Members: lames nearly 10 years, Broyles (see brought the same view- aker, Ill, E. William Barnett, William P. Sallyport, August 1991) left to edit point to politics and Al. Jensen, George R. Miner, Paula M. le, James I.. Pate, Selby W. Sullivan. Alumni Newsweek, then turned to writing Texas institutions." fwentaears of Texas :Mors: T. Robert "Bob" Jones, Albert N. Hos:curr mid hal ibangui • G. books and working in television. Griffin Smith recalled Walter McRernolds, Steven J. Shaper. Smith left the magazine for a news- being required to sub- tittistrative Officers paper career and was recently named scribe to the New York 'dent, George Rupp; Provost, Neal Lane; editor of the Arkansas Democrat- Times for one of Loewenheim's upper- President for External Affairs, Frank B. Ryan; President for Finance and Administration, Gazette. Burka, who serves on the level classes. W. Currie; Vice President for Student Af- Sallyport advisory board, is now "I don't want to get in the posi- konald F. Stebbings; Vice President for luate Studies, Research, and Information Texas Monthly's executive editor and tion of denigrating professional jour- 'Ths) G. Anthony Crony, Treasurer, expert 1W. wise. a formidable on Texas politics nalism programs," Smith said,"but and institutions. one ofthe things I noticed at Texas 14'rt Editorial Board Curtis succeeded Broyles at the Monthly was that as we worked on sto- Asker '74, Rim Bowers '64, Paul Burka editor's desk, where one of his most ries in the early months and years, we Sidney Burrus '57, Lynda Grist '67, Mary ntire Ph.D.'75, Bill Merriman '67, Ronny recent pleasures was to celebrate found that many of the daily newspa- Is 62. F..v officio: Frank B. Ryan '58, Vice Texas Monthly's 20th anniversary in per people didn't write as well as ident for External Affairs; Lydia Asselin the February 1993 issue. people who came from other kinds of President-elect, Association of Rice ;I'll; Joseph Elias, President, Graduate Curtis can't help but attribute writing. And that was reflected in that lent Association; John Shields '93, Presi- some of the magazine's success to none of us from Rice were profes- C Rice Student Association. those coffee shop discussions and to sional journalists before we came to OPart(USPS 412950) is published bi- friendships formed at Rice. Maga- Texas Monthly. We had spent our time l“ly by the Office of External Affairs of zines work most successfully with at Rice studying people like Bismarck university and is sent to all university parcnis of students and friends. Edito- collaboration, and that means editors instead of newswriting." „ ces: News & Publications, Allen Center 5U and writers have to talk frankly and Recalling their Thresher days, it siness Activities, Rice University, 6100 S. St., Houston, Mailing ad critically about stories. Such open- Curtis emphasized the nurturing ef- 8: p TX 77005. - , Box 1892, Houston, TX 77251. ness was required at the coffee shop. fects of working on a campus newspa- university is an Equal Opportunity/Affir- The topics were typical undergradu- per that was not overseen by a journal- 'er Action Institution. • ate stuff, Curtis recalled. ism department. It meant a faculty subscriptions to Sallyport are "We couldn't fake each other member wasn't going to make deci- 'thle for a $15 suggested contribution. out," Curtis said,"You had to say sions for the students. It meant mak- what you thought and be what you ing choices and taking responsibility were, because everybody knew when seriously. It led to the most important you weren't." ingredient for any successful enter- Rice was a meritocracy, Burka prise: "We believed in each other." said, and what mattered was respect from fellow students for one's mind. —Michael Berryhill "There were two ways to be Executive Director graded," he said. "One by the faculty News and Publications April! May '93 3 Sorte Soars spoke diverse languages, which un sometimes led to a degree of confu- \1,1,110R1 te; dti I thoroughly enjoyed your article on sion or less than optimal teamwork John Sorte and his roles at Drexel on the field. Despite our differences, we th and New Street Capital in the Octo- to ber/November(1992; pp. 24-28) played hard, and often well, with 11( issue. Having worked with some notable successes and the oc- on several transactions, casional "experience of a lifetime" to P( John it I can attest to the fact that remember. I'm glad to know that Rice men's soccer is alive, well and "r he's a class act and a plea- gr sure to work with. getting at least some support from the official levels. Hopefully, the Pr I would like to correct d one factual inaccuracy in the women's club is getting a bit ofsup- port, too. I look forward to seeing tl article relating to Drexel's 01 involvement with Mesa and more coverage of both clubs' efforts in the pages offuture issues of producing scholars of outstanding Boone Pickens during the di Gulf Oil deal. Boone Sallyport. quality, both undergraduate and PI Pickens did not "greenmail" One additional comment: graduate.