4> s New coach Conover speaks out on academics, athletics by GARY RACHLIN things that I'd like to get done and how getting a "1" for the program . breakfast entirely. As far as lunch, I'm Last Saturday, President Hackerman will they affect Rice University. So I'm Thresher: Do you have any desire for going to leave it up to the football announced that Rice's new head coach going to be very cautious about what I an athletic dorm at Rice? team. During the season and spring- is A1 Conover and the new athletic di- do. Conover: An athletic dormitory? At practice we will have training table for rector is "Red" Bale. Monday I had an Thresher: What sort of things do you Rice? Not at Rice University. I wouldn't lunch, but for the rest oft the time, the interview with Conover. Excerpts follow: need for a successful football program even consider that. That's absurd. decision will be left to the team. at Rice? Thresher: Would you suggest any Thresher: The evening meal will be at Thresher: Coach Peterson had some di- Conover: One of the things that I have changes in the training table? the colleges for those periods other than fficulties concerning the relationship in, mind concerns people who are coming Conover: First thing I'm going to do the season or spring training. between academic and athletics at Rice. into Rice University, not only football away with is breakfast—all year long. Conover: Yes—just like it's been. How do you see football fitting into Thresher: How will you sell Rice Uni- the scheme of things at Rice Univer- versity to recruits? sity? Conover: Well there are a number of Conover: When I came to Rice Uni- things we are concentrating on when we versity last year with Coach Peterson I talk to recruits. First of all, we try to knew absolutely nothing- about Rice. I find people who have an interest in : had heard of it; I knew it was a great 11 i obtaining an education. Right away school; I klnew it had had great teams we're ahead of everybody when we find in the past. But th'at is not really know- somebody like that, because Rice is the ing anything about Rice. I don't think top university in the southwest and, as there is any way to really understand far as private institutions, it is in the the structure of this university until you top ten of America. So, you're way have actually been involved in it. This ahead when you talk to a boy who has is one thing that I have been real for- an interest in academics. tunate to (have the advantage to have been here for a whole year. I think that We sell the college system real big. any coach who comes in here and hasn't This is really impressive to a parent had that advantage is in a heap-of- when you talk to a parent. You'd be troiuble. I have no desire to get myself surprised. We tell them that we don't in that heap—believe me. As I've said have an athletic dorm. We tell them before, I realize now the traditions and that their son will be but with chemists, the ideals and the purposes of Rice Uni- engineers, etc. and that ho will associate versity. And one of my objectives is to with people of all types. When he comes fit our football program into that more out he'll be able to carry on an intelli- than it has been done in the past, be- players but any student, that have Thresher: Does that include the season gent conversation with anybody, and mix cause as I see it, it is now two separate weaknesses in certain areas. I'd like to and spring training? with any type of person. There are a entities with this world over here and explore the possibilities of setting up a Conover: Yes it does—all year round. lot of plusses to the college system—so that world over there. I think that there program (maybe it would be for no 1 have to depend on my players to have we sell that. are a lot of things that I need in this credit, I'm not concerned about that) initiative and responsibility. If I can't We also sell our football. We feel program and the best way for me to where boys improve their reading skills, depend on them to get out of bed and like we've got a real advantage over a get these things is to let people know their speaking- skills, and their writing- go to class—now I'm going to have lot of schools because we're one of the what I need and why I need them—and skills that would help them make it at other ways of making- sure they are few major schools in the nation that then for me to find out what the best Rice. going to class because there is no way really emphasizes throwing the football. way for me to accomplish these things Thresher: Would you consider a three to make it at Rice University without I guess Stanford would be another on< is. In order to do that I have to have to four week seminar in the summer going to class and 1 want to make sure, Arkansas has been, but they're getting the help and the cooperation of the mas- before the individual's freshman year as that they do that—but I don't intend away from it. I'm hoping they go to ters, the faculty, the administration, a possible format for such a program? to be a policeman where 1 have to go the wishbone. We're going to have the and the students. I'm not going to make Conover: I think that would be just tre- around and make sure that everyone is exclusive rights to all quart>-rbaeks ar.d raish decisions. I'm going to find out mendous. I'm not concerned about the abiding by all the rules and this and receivers. So how can you miss'.' There's what is the best way to accomplish the individual getting academic credit or that—so j'iii going to do away with no wav. 1 I* the rice thresher volume 59, number 14 thursday. January i:t, 197: Public Interest Research Group suggested for Texas by LEIGHTON READ Interest Rose a r c h Group ment policy. They are conduct- being investigated and alterna- porate responsibility and re- In an entirely new direction (MPIRG). Fifteen campuses in ing a fond price comparison fives incarceration are b sponsiveness s. ing explored for student activism, students Oregon made the same decision study t.» see where patterns of for prisone «*Fhere were many nmblems iu awaiting trial. in Minnesota and Oregon have anil the Oregon Student Public- higher pricing exist and to This may i-e establishing the Oregon and broach ned into put together an organization Interest R e s e a r c h Group monitor compliance with Phase a. statewide Minnesota PIRG's. Slate uni- study of jails with the resources and ability (OSPIRG) is now a reality. II. The ISO9 Refuse Act has and bonding versitv Boat f Re practices. to bring about effective social Groups are also beginning to been discovered as a tool for reluctant to approve the fei change. In each state, they have organize in Wisconsin, West fighting water poll u t e r s . The list of projects that could collection for an organization organized and funded a Public Virginia, Illinois, New Jersey MPIRG is currently investigat- be considered is endless. On the that might jepordize their in- Interest Research Group to act and,. Vermont. ing- 1,000 applications by in- Minnesota list for possible ac- terests in the community, and dustries for permits that will tion are studies of mass trans- as a voice for students in the The usual process of organi- private trustees were addition- allow them to continue their dis- portation, health care delivery, affairs of government and the zation begins with a core group ally concerned about their charges into navigable waters, auto warranties, zoning, sexism, community. These new groups of Workers on each campus. school's tax exempt status. and plans to intervene in the minority hiring by the govern- are showing already that by They start a petition drive to These and countless other ad- courts on some applications. ment, drug and draft laws, and combining student idealism and obtain support of over 50% of ministrative hassles were <n laws that would encourage cor- (Continued on Page 4) resources with the talents and the student body. This petition In a complicated project in- dedication of professionals, they calls for the establishment of volving a new suburban hous- can be a match for the power- the PIRG and requests the uni- ing project with a poorly plan- fully well organized representa- versity administration to col- ned sewage disposal system, Franklin and Margrave to move up tives of private interests. lect $3.00 from each student at MPIRG may go to court to pre- registration yearly. The rights Rice University News In 1963, when the Welch Chair The concept of a student vent the destruction of a pop- of a minority are protected by Dr. Joseph Louis Franklin, was established, he left Humble based group of professionals, ular recreational lake.