LETTER: RPC partied with $1,300 of our money

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by Daniel Whiteson

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A few weeks ago, I congratulated some friends of mine on their election to the Rice Program Council as they left for the now infamous turnover party.

What I did not realize is that while I was shaking their hands and patting them on the back, the RPC was dipping into my wallet to throw them a party.

After hearing that the turnover party -- held at a swanky restaurant -- ran a bill of over $1,300, I felt pity for the poor saps who had to foot such a ridiculous bill.

It appears that I am one of those 2,600 saps on this campus.

According to Brian Prewitt, outgoing RPC treasurer, the RPC receives a large amount of money via a student blanket tax, at eight dollars a head.

This year he commented, there was a budget surplus. Hence the extravagance, I suppose.

It occured to me that instead of blowing the money on turnover, the RPC might have elected to roll the money over to spend on the students next year. Prewitt admitted that this option was viable.

Unless I was misinformed, the RPC was created to put on programs for the students , not to throw parties for themselves.

If Rice students were asked the question, "Would you give money so that the RPC can throw itself a huge party?" I doubt that the response would be in favor of paying for an extravagant party to which we are not invited.

If the RPC has too much money, either lower the blanket tax or spend more of it on the students for a change.

I challenge the outgoing president Lee Hsia to explain his questionable expenditures and the incoming presidents Ryan Levy and Jennifer Lin to break the tradition.

Daniel Whiteson

SRC '97

This item appeared in the Opinion section of the April 21, 1995 issue.

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