<p>Different_steps, that email was a joke.</p>
<p>Dear faculty, staff and students,</p>
<p>You probably already figured out that an e-mail you received earlier today about “Important news regarding Rice and Baylor” was sent by someone other than President Leebron even though it had his signature and listed “<a href=“mailto:president@rice.edu”>president@rice.edu</a>” as the sender. Apparently it was intended as an April Fools’ joke. Rest assured that no decision has been made about the merger of Rice University and Baylor College of Medicine, and we won’t be phasing out the School of Engineering.</p>
<p>With regards,
Linda Thrane
Vice President for Public Affairs</p>