LETTER: Colleges do foster social interaction

---

by Travis Dunbar

---

There are a few things I would like to respond to in Usman Baber's column exposing the dark side of Rice's residential college system.

Mr. Baber's first exposure to the evil isolationism of the system came on Owl Day last spring. He was looking for some graduates of his high school but couldn't find them.

From this he "got the immediate impression that if a person isn't from your college, then you most likely will never ... meet them."

Interesting. From that same experience, I get the impression that a person might not know every one of the 2,700 undergrads at Rice.

Mr. Baber also complains that "the few students I've met from other colleges I rarely get a chance to talk to and therefore not much of an opportunity to get to know them."

I and many of my friends at Jones have found that going to eat, the Pub, parties, sports games, movies, etc. is not fun just with people from Jones but also with people from other colleges. While engaging in these activities, we have, amazingly enough, gotten to know some of these people.

Furthermore, Mr. Baber is disturbed by the colleges' "family-like atmosphere," citing the case of a friend whose personal experience was quickly churned through the Rice rumor mill.

I am sorry for any personal anguish this caused Mr. Baber's friend. However, I am reluctant to accept that "family-like" means "lack of privacy" and nothing more.

I'd like to think that the closeness within the colleges might even create opportunities to lend support to one another, develop new friendships or get more involved in activities such as sports, government, publications or theater.

And, looking on the bright side, at least Mr. Baber's isolating college system limited the spread of this rumor from Hanszen.

Mr. Baber concludes with a re-commendation for the colleges to initiate "programs or activities to increase interactions between students from various colleges."

I have two responses to that. One, such a step was taken years ago with the introduction of O-Week co-advisors. Call yours up. Have him/her take you to lunch at his/her college and introduce you to other people.

Second, do it yourself. In class, in IM, in student government, at any activity, you see hundreds of people who aren't from your college.

Try talking to them, getting their phone number, even doing something with them. People have been doing it for decades here, and it works pretty well.

Travis Dunbar

Jones '96

This item appeared in the Opinion section of the September 22, 1995 issue.

Copyright © 1996 The Rice Thresher. All Rights Reserved.
This document may be distributed electronically, provided that it is distributed in its entirety and includes this notice. However, it cannot be reprinted without the express written permission of:
The Rice Thresher, Rice University, 6100 Main, Houston, TX 77005-1892, USA.