BAKER• ACADEMIC INTERESTS:
POLITICAL SCIENCE
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Academic Schedule:
• History of the American South • Ancient Greek Philosophy
• Soviet and Post-Soviet Policy • Public Policy and the Bureaucracy
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Although Will appreciates a little respite just as much as the next guy, he doesn’t spend much of his time lazily resting on his laurels. Even during his summer break, Will ventured far from home and traveled to Prague on a mission information trip to learn about religion’s role in Czech culture. He also was busy working for the State Office of Risk Management here in Texas. He performed legal research to determine whether people’s worker’s compensation insurance claims were legitimate, and he found that he especially enjoyed the work because “it is related to the occupation I am hoping to pursue.” Will wants to be an attorney one day. His schedule—filled with history, philosophy, and public policy courses—should help him find his way. Though he thought this summer was “great,” his work at Rice is the reason, he says, that he is “very glad to be back.”

Will is studying Soviet and Post-Soviet Policy, and while he can grasp the theoretical ideas, his visual impairment makes it difficult to determine the boundaries of Soviet-era Russian geography. “The problem became apparent with my first political science classes last year,” Will explains, “however, it has become even more necessary to address this semester, especially in the Soviet and Post-Soviet Policy class.” But he’s used his ingenuity and determination to overcome the obstacle. “I purchased a textured globe with raised lines for longitude and latitude markings, along with raised continents and textures for mountains,” says Will. “This has helped allow me to spatially figure out where countries are in relation to each other, which becomes a major concern when discussing Soviet politics.” Will says that his professors and roommates also have pitched in to help him map out the areas.

Will juggles his busy academic schedule with the responsibilities of his role as second vice chair for the Rice College Republicans, his position on Rice University Court, his duties as campus liaison for the Reformed University Fellowship, and his work as a member of the Baker Associates Committee. He finds time to attend concerts at First Baptist Church, regularly participate in synchronized swimming, engage in Bible study, attend a few on-campus movies, and even go kicker dancing at Wild West dance club.

Though he rarely gets to bed by midnight—Will more commonly finds the clock reading almost 2:00 a.m. before he gets some sleep—he still finds time to keep in touch with the people who are responsible for where he is today—Mom and Dad. Will makes sure to phone in about once a week.