EDITORIAL: MONEY

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TI gift marks new era in funding and curriculum changes.

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While many people question the intense focus of this university on fundraising, especially such Telefund efforts that target the parents of current students, the $7 million Texas Instruments gift marks the beginning of a very exciting period in Rice history -- one where students will be direct beneficiaries of curriculum changes instead of just new buildings. And we're not talking just restructured foundation courses and a better minor system, we're talking new faculty, new departments and new majors on the cutting edge of technology.

While this particular gift mainly benefits graduate students, all you science and engineering undergraduates out there keep your ears peeled, for a new major is coming your way soon. The details are being hammered out and kept locked behind closed doors for now, but soon, the university will formally announce this new major.

For these two curriculum changes alone, the administration deserves praise, but they also deserve a great deal of praise for opening this new era. They are operating under severe constraints with the university charter prohibiting the borrowing of funds. Especially considering the major construction boom on this campus and the fundraising projects for those buildings, this large donation for research is refreshing.

It points to a balanced attack by the administration to improve both the physical and mental characteristics of both the graduate and undergraduate academic worlds. While you may not agree with all of the university's fundraising policies, numerous benefits are starting to materialize for students from the James A. Baker III Institute for Public Policy to the new TI professorship. The future of Rice University is looking exceedingly good. Once again, the Thresher has to acknowledge that the administration has done an excellent job.

Of course, we can always suggest some improvements: How about a nice William Broyles (or William P. Hobby Jr.) School of Journalism right next to the Baker Institute so we can keep those politicians honest? We can always dream ...

This item appeared in the Opinion section of the March 22, 1996 issue.

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