EDITORIAL: SAFETY FIRST

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Funds for a new Beer-Bike track would be money well spent.

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It's the ultimate expression of the college spirit and all of its pageantry. It's a war of alacrity, skill and audacity. Over the years, it has involved various degrees of danger, but rule changes have been made to protect the warriors from unnecessary pain.

What, you might ask, are we talking about?

Beer-Bike '97.

This year, the Beer-Bike celebration will be bigger and better than ever before as the coordinators celebrate the 40th anniversary of the race. Thanks to a lot of students donating their time and energy in the name of their colleges and university, the race has become a major university event. With the beer taps from St. Arnold's Brewery pumping out a lot of Amber Ale and the hundreds of alumni in attendance, it will have the makings of the ultimate party, except for one thing -- safety.

No, we're not talking about the need for less alcohol and more campus police. What we are talking about is the track. Over the years, the track has taken a beating. The university administration has understandably rented out the parking lot behind the stadium to various functions in an effort to make some money and build a rapport with the community. In addition, the administration has generously repaired the track after these events to bring it up to a reasonable safety standard, but the repairs no longer quite cut it.

The administration must take the next step by appropriating the money to replace the old track with newer and more durable materials. It is, admittedly, a large financial commitment, but the money will be well-spent in the interests of students. After all, in the modern Rice building boom, this expense is a drop in the bucket.

As the voice of the student body, we at the Thresher applaud the university's actions to this point while also urging the administration to take the next step.

Please keep Beer-Bike safe for another 40 years of traditional Rice festivities. Build a new track.

This item appeared in the Opinion section of the January 31, 1997 issue.

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