<p>That sounds great, but I’m curious: how does Leebron balance his desire to meet all of the new Rice students with the time demands of being a professional basketball player with the Miami Heat? The commute alone must be a bear…</p>
<p>Kidding aside, the personal touch is important. My indelible first memory at Virginia was the first weekend when, after the big greeting event at the basketball stadium (where we were introduced to the phrase, “work hard, play hard”) President Hereford invited all of the first year students to the President’s Home across from the Rotunda. In the garden under the magnolia trees most of us had a chance to chat with him and his wife - he was a UVA alum and his wife a grad of nearby Sweet Briar. A very personal and genteel introduction to the south for a Yankee like me. It sounds as though your President Leebron is a true gentleman of a similar tradition.</p>
<p>Now we just have to get through our S through the whole applying-and-getting-in part…</p>
<p>Actually, he got (unofficial) word yesterday that he’s an NMSQT semifinalist, which means he can go places like UHouston, UAlabama, UTDallas, UMemphis, etc. for free. Hopefully that sort of thing will also help him with the Rice adcom.</p>