„ P. 3 AAE P. 12 J SPORTS P. 13 On the fence XC has a need for speed m About dinner time! BISF presents two views on the controversial Arizona illegal Relish finally returns with a verdict for One's a Meal. Men's and women's cross country run away with Rice Invita- I immigration law. tional titles. ¥j VOLUME XCVIII, ISSUE NO. 6 STUDENT-RUN SINCE 1916 FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2010 Rice rises to top 50 BY KATHERINE HSU FOR THE THRESHER London's Times Higher Education magazine's newly released university rankings place Rice among the top 50 universities in the world, a marked in- crease from last year's rank at 100th place. Rice is the only university in Tex- as to appear on the Times Higher Educa- tion's list of top 200 schools worldwide, and is ranked 29th among the 81 univer- sities on the list from the United States and Canada. "The top 200 universities in the world represent only a tiny fraction of world higher education and any institu- tion that makes it into this table is truly world-class," Ann Mroz, editor of Times Higher Education, said. "Being ranked 47 in the world's top 200 is an impres sive achievement." When news of Rice's 47th place be- came public, President David Leebron said he was pleased with the change in Rice's ranking from last year. "While I have traditionally had a deep suspicion of rankings, I'm happy Students in HANS 164, Witches Weekly!, perform an Autumn Equinox ritual at sundown to see that Times Higher Education Double toil and trouble; fire has focused on universities' quality of Wednesday in the grove outside Hanszen to raise awareness of neopagan religions and education, research and impartation of burn, and caldron bubble celebrate the turning of the season and prosperity of the fall harvest. knowledge as opposed to historic repu- tation," Leebron said. The focal reason behind Rice's rise in the rankings is credited to Times Higher Education's new weighting system for * RU Press funding stops after 4 yearscalculatin g universities' ranking scores. After 10 months of comprehensive con- sultation and research, Times Higher BY SETH BROWN leading digital university press. ed a market. make an impact as a university press, Education has compiled data provided THRESHER EDITORIAL STAFF RUP, in its previous incarnation a Levy said that although the an- Levy said. He said that the report did by universities themselves and more traditional university press, was ini- nual cost of RUP was not unexpected, propose an alternative option - to put than 13,000 verified academics to create Rice University Press, Rice's digi- tially shut down in 1996 but was then the financial downturn was. RUP in the hands of the School of Hu- rankings based on five categories. tal academic press, will stop receiv- brought back in 2006 as an all-digital "The press was funded at pretty manities at the Humanities Research The first category is "Citations," ing university funding at the end press. Publications were published much the level that was initially re- Center. However, Levy said that even worth 32.5 percent of the overall score, of the month. The decision to cut through Rice's Connexions project quested," Levy said. "It would have this would have required the funding which focuses on the university's re- RUP's funding, which has consisted and could be accessed digitally for been foolish to undertake [RUP's re- to be approximately doubled. search cited in academic papers. The of $i50,000-$200,000 a year since free, but bound copies could also be vival] if it didn't retain the position of "It was hard given the financial de- next most influential category, valued its revival as a digital press in 2006, purchased. Former Provost Eugene being able to be reevaluated." mands on the university to prioritize at 30 percent, is titled "Teaching," and came after a report by a group of con- Levy said that although RUP was According to the report submit- the press in a way that it could have looks at student-staff ratios, under- sultants said that RUP would require never intended to make a profit, the ted by the group of consultants, RUP continued while we were cutting oth- graduate-postgraduate student mix, significantly more cash in order for it publications that had so far been put could not continue to function in the er things on the campus," Levy said. academic reputation for teaching qual- to achieve its original goal of being a forward by RUP had not really attract- same fashion as it had if it were to 0 see PRESS, page 8 ity and school income. "Research," also weighted at 30 percent in the rankings, focuses on the institution's research volume, income and reputation. Lastly, ' Parker discusses leadership, economy the magazine considered "Interna- tional Mix," the ratio of international to domestic faculty and students, and BY ELLEN LIU they elected me and why I think we are Houston's other key economic ele- "Income/Industry," which accounts FOR THE THRESHER the city of the future and why I think ments, including the Port of Houston for research income per academic staff we will lead the United States into a — America's largest foreign port — the member, for 5 percent and 2.5 percent of Houston Mayor Annise Parker brighter future," Parker said. Texas Medical Center and the techno- the overall ranking score, respectively. (Jones '78) visited the Jesse H. Jones Parker said that Houston is already logical presence of NASA and aero- Graduate School of Business last week leading the country economically and space. She said that all four of those The rankings' emphasis upon these to give the first presentation of its that she has been able to balance the sectors have a strong international categories helped Rice rise to its 47th Thought Leadership series. This pro- budget without laying anyone off — component. However, Parker also said place because the criteria were adjusted gram was hosted and attended by the mostly because of the strength of the that there are challenges, especially for size. This change was noteworthy Jones Partners, a group of business local economy. According to Parker, economic ones, looming on the horizon because Rice is considered a small aca- professionals who work to encour- the mortgage crisis did not hit Houston — challenges that began manifesting demic institution, with only 3,300 un- age collaboration between the Jones that hard partly due to rising oil prices themselves when the world financial dergraduates and 2,300 postgraduates School and Houston's business com- at the time. Parker said that Houston markets seized up during the recession. as of fall 2009. munity, and geared toward bringing was the one place in America where "As the only mayor who's ever "There are thousands of universities leaders of multiple sectors to speak at higher oil prices were a positive. come into the office with time as a in the world, so the fact that Rice is in the Jones School. "When I graduated from college in council member and time as a control- the company of the top 50 universities is a good sign. Still, we will strive to contin Parker came to Rice on Sept. 20 to 1978, the oil industry was 80 percent of ler, I am probably the most prepared o ue to better Rice as an institution overall discuss Houston's future and the im- our economy," Parker said. "It's now mayor we've ever had — prepared in JAMES UU/ for both students and staff. We will take portance of a partnership between the more the oil and energy economy, but terms of on-the-job training," Parker note of the rankings, but not pay them city and the Jones School. it is still 50 percent of what we do here." said. "But as prepared as I was and Annise Parker Houston mayor too much attention," Leebron said. "Let me tell you about why I think In addition, Parker recognized with the knowledge of where the prob- O see PARKER, page 4 Calling Behishi, Aykroyd Not a misnomer Not yet sold for $10 million INDEX Opinion 3 Rumors that Baker Blues — which will be in Who knew there are so many museums in the Grab your grappling hook and head to the fourth News 4 the Baker quad from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. tonight Museum District? For those of you who have floor of the Allen Center Monday if you've ever Arts & Entertainment 9 — is weird because parents are there are never gone beyond the hedges, that's where wanted to ask President Leebron anything - he has Sports 13 completely false. We don't know why anyone the Museum of Fine Arts is, and it, along with his office hours then from 3-4 p.m. We recommend Feature 18 would spread lies like that it's a great party... 16 others, will offer free admission tomorrow asking for his Vizzini impression - just don't accept if Calendar 19 for picking up cougars and older men. from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. he asks to play the iocaine game. Backpage 20 EDITORIAL THE RICE THRESHER FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 24,2010 FRIDAY 12 ff.M. FRIDAY DEftK/W the Rice (Ihresher MApi VJ C£cbstbrvN . The Rice University Press closes down? For many members of the Rice community, the news that the university's digital press is being shut down (see story, page 1) illicits a common reaction: The university had a digital press? 11 P.M.