the Rice Thresher Vol. XCIV, Issue No. 3 SINCE 1916 Friday, September 7, 2007 Students demand • •: SW ff alcohol policy input •MM 1 "if-1 by Lily Chun into public spaces (such as hallways, ? 1 .1. I " landings, lounges, bathrooms, or THRESHER EDITORIAL STAFF wmm — r" a **- other common areas) orthat causes At the first Student Associa- undue disturbance to other college tion meeting of the year Monday, members" (Section 2a). students voiced concerns about Every summer, Ostdiek makes changes made to the Alcohol changes to the alcohol policy as he Policy last summer. sees fit, and Dean of Undergradu- Although the majority of the ates Robin Forman approves them. alcohol policy stayed the same, Then, these changes appear in ill m II' • fill an additional clause defining the student handbook. Ostdiek the difference between public said in some years he consulted and private parties was added. chief justices and presidents prior Chief justices met with Assistant to making changes, but not this Dean of Student Judicial Pro- year. Forman said there was not grams Don Ostdiek Thursday to time to consult college leaders discuss addendums. and still have the revised Alcohol After he meets with chief jus- Policy ready for publication in the tices Thursday, he will meet with student handbook. the presidents and masters. Dean The result was that many stu- of Undergraduates Robin Forman dents, including chief justices, did said he hopes to resolve issues not know about the policy until re- with the Alcohol Policy as soon as cently. Brown College Chief Justice possible — by the end of fall semes- Phil Gorman said he did not know ter at the latest Currently, the clause about changes in the alcohol policy is being held in abeyance. until prompted for an interview. a • . viyr-. The clause added to die alcohol "I'm concerned that they did not SHEjftBgBgHH '•'J-* m policy states: "No more than one keg inform us because I'm supposed to SMS ... ' - v may be present at a private gather- know this stuff and register par- c-'-S •_ ing. More than one keg requires ties," Gorman, a senior, said. "If I'm MARCUS ROMAN/THRESHER registration as a public party" (Sec- not informed about the changes, I tion 2a). Last year's Alcohol Policy can't really be expected to correctly Sammy's picnic stated: "Any party or gathering that is register them." Students gather under cloudy skies at Sammy's picnic on Aug. 30. The Rice Student Association hosts public in spiritoreffect isconsidered Lovett College Chief Justice this annual picnic as its kickoff to the year. a public party or function, including Nathan Bledsoe, who also coordi- those in private areas that overflow see ALCOHOL, page 7 Directors hired in preparation Hispanic Studies plans future for enrollment increase programs, adds to faculty by Lily Chun David Vassar will present the initiatives in Hispanic Studies at the next Student by Sarah Rutledge Walker said she plans to reorga- THRESHER EDITORIAL STAFF nize several processes to provide a Association meeting. THRESHER STAFF more efficient way for students to After facing a possible merger with the Aranda said two Latin-American teaching French, Germanic, Slavic and Classical Two new undergraduate direc- apply for financial aid. She plans to positions will be filled by next fall. He said he Studies Departments last year, the Hispanic- tors, Director of Student Financial make the office as paperless as pos- expects to receive applications in October, Studies Department is growing with plans Services Anne Walker and Director sible and process loans exclusively and invite the top three candidates to meet to recruit new faculty, build a research of Admission Keith Todd, were hired by computer. faculty and students on campus. center and start a doctoral program. Eng- this summer. Both play integral parts "You'll be able to go directly from Additionally, Aranda said there are plans lish Professor Jose Aranda was appointed in facilitating the enrollment increase, ESTHER to Loans by Web, so there to build a Latin American research center Hispanic Studies Chair July 1. Aranda said Vice President for Enrollment Chris won't be a 24-hour lag," she said. of which he will be the director. He said he after an external review, a merger was Munoz said. Merit- and need-based financial aid hopes there will be interdisciplinary studies not a possibility. Todd, who had previously worked expenditures at Rice total $23 million, between different departments as well. at Rice as associate director of admis- and 74 percent of students receive Aranda, Vice Provost for Academic Affairs "The idea is that we will have some sion, returns to campus after a stint some form of financial aid, Walker Carol Quillen and Assistant to the President see HISPANIC, page 10 as Director of Admissions at North- said. She also plans to redesign the western University. Todd increased financial aid Web site to make it more the applicant pool by 19 percent at accessible to students, especially INSIDE Northwestern, and he will bring the those looking to take out loans, she same increased applicant interest to said. Currently, the site has a lender OPINION Page 4 Rice, Munoz said. chart with side-by-side comparison of Academic deadlines Asexual campus? "The combination of being both a different rates. This information will It's time to make a decision. If you Page 11 former employee of Rice and having be made easier to access with the new- A&E are thinking of adding or dropping any Ferocious pingpong left and taken on the responsibilities design, she said. course online today's the day to do it if of Northwestern, is very appealing for "Our goal is to get this kind of you don't want to bother with permis- SPORTS Page 14 our aspirations at Rice to grow enroll- information front and center where sion slips and pesky late fees. The first Rain, rain, go away ment by 30 percent," he said. you guys can find it quickly," she said. Registration, Add/Drop (RDA) PIN Quote of the Week Todd has also worked at Stanford, "Students can still choose the lender for this semester expires and online and he will be able to bring what he they want, but we want to make sure registration for all undergraduates will "There's nothing I enjoy more than putting pen to paper." has learned from all three universities we're providing the best information be disabled today at 5 p.m. Today's to improve Rice, Munoz said. we can and at the same time, giving Douglas Brinkley, History Professor. See also the last day to convert that Pass/ Story, Page 7. "He's worked at three highly selec- the students the option to go out Fail to a letter grade for courses you tive universities, another added value and do their own research if they took last semester. If you don't get it Scoreboard wanted to." that he brings to Rice," Munoz said. done, late registration will commence Football "He'll bring what he learned there A link to simpletuition.com will be Monday at 8 a.m. Nicholls State 16, Rice 14 to here." added to the site for additional loan Women's Soccer Todd was unavailable for comment. comparison, and a financial aid calcu- Darmouth 0, Rice 3 Walker has served as director of lator will be available for prospective The crew in blue Volleyball enrollment management and financial students to calculate the amount of Rice 3, Texas Southern 0 aid at Brazosport Community College aid they should receive. Additionally, Our neighborhood RUPD is spon- and was more recently a senior ac- the financial aid office will focus on soring Campus Night Out this Weekend Weather count executive at Texas Guaranteed customer services, with a fall customer Tuesday, Sept. 11 from 5 to 10 p.m. Friday Student Loan Corporation. Walker was service survey of all students who in the RMC. Information booths and Isolated T-storms. 76-91 degrees Saturday hired in July. receive aid. bike registration will be available. Scattered T-storms, 74-91 degrees Walker replaces former Director Munoz said this plan to expand the Come out and meet your friendly Sunday of Financial Services Julia Benz, who number of applicants fits in directly police officers. Scattered T-storms, 73-88 degrees left July 2006. see STAFF, page 8 i fi THE RICE THRESHER OPINION FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 7,2007 the Rice Thresher HBf. SlRP- IT changes unnecessary WlU-Vj I AM So TXHSV Consider a Rice student's wore'.- ~ase scenario: It is 4 a.m. during op P£0PL6 WAU<IW£r Ok) "TH£ finals and she is finishing up a 20-page research paper. Suddenly, WftOlJfc^keFT) ->|P£ OF rue her computer locks up. What does she do' Normally, the answer is to call a College Computing Associate. They are helpful, in the same 5/PEWALK/ building and are often up at 4 a.m. as well. The same is not true of the IT Help Desk, which is in Mudd Lab and closes at 6 p.m., at the latest. And we are afraid that the transition hiT from college-based IT to a centralized system of Student Computer Consultants will leave students sitting in the dark — or at least in ToVAY X MEAftCV RmI the blue glow of a screen of death (see story, Page 5). Administrators have listed several reasons for this change, includ- ZUlb TWESe IDIOTS c*J ing a need to balance inconsistent college coverage and a need to F6UA. track the work done by CCAs.