Rice campus...How is it??? - Page 3

jym626 · 03-25-2005, 09:37 AM

I really think you guys are making the weather a bigger deal than it is. I went from the NE to grad school in Fla, where the weather was quite similar. Yes, it got hot and it got humid, but it wasn't that big a deal in the scheme of things. At least I never had to dig my car out of the snow or spin out on an ice patch. Now mind you, I love the cold weather too and just got back from Colorado, but the warm, and occasionally hot weather just isn't that terrible. I live in the South. You just handle it. Same as anywhere. I cant imagine cloistering myself indoors for the entire summer. Houston's weather is considered tropical. This isn't a bad thing...

The day we moved s. onto college at Rice this year-- mid August, was a gorgeous day- temps in the 70s, low humidity. It was no problem. Parents weekend in October was similar, but a little cooler (wore a sweater in the mornings). We thought this was an anomoly but the House Masters said the weather was similar the year before (I asked this on move-in day).

As folks said-- everything is air conditioned. Duke, Cal Tech and Harvey Mudd do not have air conditioned dorms. Rice does. As Jenskate said, it can get pretty cold in the bldgs. My s. uses his heavier blanket to sleep because the a/c is strong (thre is a knob to adjust it, but we think it is just for show-- doesnt really do much).

I really hope this thread doesnt deter poeple from applying to Rice becacuse of the weather. That would be a shame.

jym626 · 03-25-2005, 10:03 AM

Forgot to mention-
One day last month my s. got caught in a rainstorm on his way to an exam.. and his unbrella broke. He was riding in an elevator (rather wet)with a faculty member he didn't know. She gave him her umbrella to keep- said she had plenty more. That's what I like about Rice.

peariceparent · 03-25-2005, 08:54 PM

jym--Did you notice the plastic bags they have in the student center to put your wet umbrellas in? What a great idea! Coming from New England, I know my son has definately enjoyed the warm weather...and I think his complexion has actually improved!

I had to comment on the lasertag in the Library. My son was one of those who were caught. It was actually his first (and only, to my knowledge) time doing this "activity." When he emailed us one day about being "arrested," I almost had a heartattack. Actually, he only had to do 15 hours of community service, which I think turned out to be a good thing as he had the opportunity to get involved in activities that he might not of otherwise. Working security at NOD was a hi-lite...kinda funny that someone caught by campus security in a building after hours gets to do security at an event

jym626 · 03-25-2005, 11:41 PM

peariceparent-
No, actually I don't remember noticing the plastic umbrella bags, but then again it didnt rain a drop during any of my visits, so I probably didn't look for them.
Oh, please tell us more about the lasertag incident. I heard it was pretty funny. And the fact that they took some kids who messed with security in the library (they must have hidden in the bathrooms until after the library closed- yes? Anyway, giving them security jobs as NOD is a clever idea. Let them be at NOD without "attending" if you know what I mean, ans it is like hiring the excon bank robber to review bank security (well, thats a bit of an exaggeration)/

Yes, your son and his friends are lucky that the security cop figured out they had toy "guns" or it could have been ugly. But in the scheme of things, it sounds like a typical college prank.

I also found the "protests" of some of the students to the new president's inauguration after he fired the very popular Dean of Students funny, though a bit disgusting. Shall we say they "anointed" the stage, podiums and chairs that were set up at the Sallyport. Ahhh, students.... what will they do next.....

KrazyKow · 03-27-2005, 01:04 AM

I was at Rice today with my new, very pretty digital camera, so I took lots of random pictures of the campus. If anyone wants me to upload them somewhere, ask, and I will do so and post a link.

jenskate1 · 03-27-2005, 01:12 AM

i'd like to! Even though I live here, i still like to see pretty pictures

Maybe upload them to photobucket?

KrazyKow · 03-27-2005, 01:15 AM

Sure, I'll do it tomorrow. And there was this really cute squirrel...

athlonmj · 03-27-2005, 01:27 AM

Yes, pics please!

llamapyjamas · 03-27-2005, 01:41 PM

Rice is sooo pretty. The greenery and stuff is just gorgeous. I really liked the story about why the hedges are kinda beat up. Apparently its a tradition for seniors to jump (or at least try to jump) the hedges when they graduate, so the hedges have notches in them.

It was pretty hot on Friday. My parents left me there alone because they had to go the Chinese embassy in Houston, and after I took the tour, I ended up totally lost. I was trying to find the Shephard School, which wasn't marked as such on the map, so I ended up walking to Shephard Street. I walked right past the building (didn't recognize it from the side) at least twice in my forty minute wandering around in the noon-time Texas heat. I was incredibly sweaty by the time I finally found the lecture I was trying to catch and snuck in thirty minutes late. But despite that, I still enjoyed my visit.

KrazyKow · 03-27-2005, 01:44 PM

Aw, I'm sorry. Next time- the building near the football stadium.

KrazyKow · 03-27-2005, 02:01 PM

Okay, I started at the Shepherd School of Music (since that's where the big parking lot is) and walked around campus and back there for my viola lesson. My picture taking abilities aren't the greatest, but my camera mostly makes up for that. It was about 75 degrees outside and a big breezy; not very many people were outside, but it was Easter weekend, so that may be part of it. There were lots of squirrels, hence the pictures of them. I like squirrels, but apparently some of them bite...

http://photobucket.com/albums/y62/Kr...slideshow=true

jenskate1 · 03-27-2005, 02:12 PM

Yay, good pics. You got to a lot of the colleges, which is cool, and to some weird engineering buildings.

nspeds · 03-27-2005, 02:38 PM

Those photos are beautiful.

I will be at Rice this Friday, so I will try to take and post some pictures on my webserver.

jym626 · 03-27-2005, 02:40 PM

Yes, beautiful, but where is everyone?? My s mentioned something about "Willie week". (Actually, I read it on his "away" message) Jen, what is that????

jenskate1 · 03-27-2005, 02:57 PM

Willy Week is the week leading up to beer bike. There are loads of campus events going on this week, including a picnic, easter egg hunt, alumni events, parties, and a campus wide water balloon fight. On saturday is Beer bike, which is a bike/chug relay race. (Students drink water, alums drink beer).

Probably a lot of people were inside working/sleeping on a Saturday. Some people did go home for easter. There will be A LOT of people hanging out on friday though.