The Rice Thresher (Houston, Tex.), Vol. 71, No. 14, Ed. 1 Friday, December 2, 1983 Page: 1 of 24
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SRC attempt to voice opinion angers Hackerman
by Christopher Ekren
Upset with a petition
questioning the wisdom of his
decision to build up the Rice
football program, President
Norman Hackerman called three
Sid Richardson seniors into his
office Friday, November 18,
greeting them with the
exclamation, "What the hell do
you think you are doing?"
Hackerman told Richardson
President Chris Rote and
petitioners Greg Smith and Lloyd
Bennack that he called them in to
tell them how much he thought
they "misunderstood" the football
situation, according to Bennack.
He particularly objected to the
petition circulated at Sid.
Smith noted in a later interview
with the Thresher from which
Hackerman's quotations are
reported, "He found the petition,
actually a long letter signed by 105
Sid members, to be very offensive.
Hackerman said that if he were an
athlete he would file a class action
suit for libel against the writers and
signers."
The portion of the petition most
offensive to Hackerman read: "We
fear that, in keeping with the
general trend of certain American
universities, Rice will propitiate a
small minority of individuals who
would require those playing
football to make athletics the
dominant part of their lives,
undermining the true purpose of
higher education and dramatically
changing its nature.
"Of grave importance is the
disconcern that you personally,
through the office of President,
have toward the interests of the
Honor Council in disregarding
evidence relevant to the issue, and
its general concern for a continued
effective functioning of the Honor
System at Rice."
According to Hackerman, by
stating that he disregards evidence
related to the Honor Council
situation, the signers and
circulators of the petition imply
that athletes cheat more than other
people, a statement he regards as
false and legally actionable. Smith
replied to Hackerman, "1
completely disagree. You haven't
shown us anything in the least
actionable."
Hackerman asked at the
confrontation, "How do you think
I disregard the Honor Council?
Are you talking about the appeals I
overturn? Why am 1 in the process
of appeals if I can't overturn
cases?"
Smith replied, "No, 1 am talking
about the statistics 1 have brought
to your office two times dealing
with scholarship football athletes."
According to Smith Hackerman
then claimed, "The way you solve
problems with cheaters is if they
cheat, you bust them out."
Smith, who is a senior Honor
Council representative, differed
with Hackerman, stating that the
Honor System's success should not
be measured by the number of
people busted, but rather by the
see Sidmen, page 7
!\ v
THRESHER
Volume 71, Number 14
Friday, Dtctmbcr 2, 1983
INSIDE:
• When games become
reality. . .page 9.
• Precolumbian exhibit
time trip, page 13.
• Women cagers awesome,
3-0, page 18.
Hackerman faces students on football question
by Melissa Cox
President Norman Hackerman
addressed the topic of Rice's
football program this past
Tuesday after dinner in the Lovett
College lower commons. Speaking
for about an hour, Hackerman
fielded questions from an audience
of approximately 100 students.
Jeanne Cooper, former editor of
the Thresher and academic
coordinator of Lovett, began the
forum by asking, "Besides the
obvious financial reasons, what
other reasons are there for having a
Division I, powerhouse football
team?"
"I wouldn't call it a 'powerhouse
team,* " Hackerman responded,
adding, "If Rice had been located
in the marshes of New Jersey like
(William Marsh) Rice had
intended for it to be, we wouldn't
have this problem. This setting
gives us a reason to stay in that
division; it's really a privilege...."
He continued, "Division III
might have been a good option,
but the problem is that we're so far
away from the Ivy League schools.
We can't afford to compete with
Hackerman visit* lovett—C. Clay
them. In Division III, scholarships
to athletes are only given based on
need. In II and I-AA as in I-A, they
can be given according to athletic
ability, so the same stresses and
pressure would exist in II."
Hackerman asserted that Rice
can compete in I-A football, yet he
said he realizes that Rice is the
smallest school in the nation that
tries to do so. Bringing up the
problem of scholarship versus
athletic ability, he stated, "The
athletes should come with a dual
purpose, to play football and get
Watson interviews cut
by Ian Davidson
Since the selection of Rice's
candidates for the Watson
Fellowships, several applicants
have brought up problems with the
selection process. Every year, 70 of
the fellowships, which carry
$10,000 stipends for independent
study abroad, are awarded
nationally to students from a
group of 200 nominated by 50
colleges and universities. Rice
selects its four nominees in mid-
autumn; recipients are informed of
their awards in late spring.
Several Rice students have
alleged that the Committee on
Scholarships and Awards, which
chooses the Rice nominees,
assured interviews to all but
interviewed only half of those
applying. Nine of the 18 students
who had submitted fellowship
proposals received interviews.
Luca Dona, a senior in Jones
College, said he was not granted an
interview, although he was led to
believe he would be. He stated, "At
a September meeting organized by
the Dean's office to encourage and
provide directions to seniors
considering applying for the
scholarship, it was definitely said
that everyone would be
interviewed."
Barbara Eudey, secretary to
Dean of Undergraduate Affairs
Ronald Stebbings, thinks that
Dona misunderstood her at the
meeting, which she conducted. She
stated, "I was outlining the
procedure that had been used the
previous year, but I don't think I
said at any point that the
procedure would definitely be used
this year."
Noting the number of
applicants, Dona added, "I feel
that everyone should have been
interviewed; if 200 people had
applied, then of course the decision
not to interview each one would be
understandable."
Dona discovered that he would
not be interviewed only when he
learned that the nominees had
already been chosen.
see Student*, page 12
an education. They use their
athletic ability to provide them
with an education. That sounds
good, and works in many cases,
but there are a few exceptions."
When queried how he felt about
the education that football players
receive here, Hackerman defended
the status quo. "Although educa-
tions are variable," he commented,
"the history shows that our ath-
letes have done well in professions
and in business. I don't know that
there's any reason to believe that
the people who are muscular and
adroit physically should be any
different in 1983 that they were in
I960....If they come here just to
play football, then they're wasting
their time."
Cooper then noted that "lack of
incentive" is often not the reason
that athletes are not on an equal
academic footing with the rest of
the Rice population, providing an
example of athletes in English 103
who did not know the difference
between a noun and a verb. "We
don't claim that we've made no
mistakes (in admitting some
players)," Hackerman stated.
In response to a claim that the
academic advisors in the football
program limit the choices of the
players for the courses they take,
Hackerman noted that if that is
true, "it's certainly not advisable."
He also stated that new football
coach Watson Brown (see related
story, this page) is "aware of the
kind of place Rice is, academically
speaking." The president declared,
"He (Brown) intends to produce a
team that can handle the workload
here.... The chances that he'll
succeed are good."
The possible development of a
new "commerce" program at Rice
was brought up by a student who
wanted to know why such
curriculum changes were
necessary. Hackerman pointed
out, "Ten years ago, when 1 first
came here, I suggested those
changes; they partially developed
into the managerial studies
program, but that wasn't the full
intent of my proposal. I wanted
practical courses that would teach
people how businesses are actually
run. I think the engineers that
come out of here should have had a
couple of courses to teach them
how business works "
Hackerman amused the
audience by remarking that
architects need such courses, too,
see Business, page 7
Rice names new football coach
by Jay Grob
Amidst the mad rush to escape
Houston for Thanksgiving break
came the expected announcement
that Rice's Board of Governors
and University President Norman
Hackerman will invest heavily in
Rice's football fortunes for at least
the next six years.
Hackerman made it official
Wednesday, November 23.
naming former University of
Cincinnati coach Watson Brown
to the dual position of head
football coach and assistant
athletic director for football.
Brown, 33, signed a six-year
contract for an estimated $1.2
million, effective immediately. He
leaves after coaching one year of a
four-year contract with
Cincinnati. In addition to paying
Brown's salary, Rice will pay an
estimated $150,000 per year to
Cincinnati throughout the term of
his old contract.
Brown replaces Ray Alborn,
who resigned in October in the
midst of a I-10 season. Alborn held
the head job for six years at
approximately $55,000 annually.
Alborn recently became an
assistant coach with the USFL's
Houston Gamblers.
Neither Brown nor Hackerman
would comment on the financial
aspects of Brown's contract.
Hackerman refused to deny the
figures mentioned at the
Wednesday press conference, but
at the same time he insisted that he
has seen no accurately reported
numbers.
Watson Brown
Apparently, the university will
foot less than half of Brown's
salary, with the remainder being
taken from "R" Association funds
and from private contributions.
Said Hackerman, "The terms of
the contract are really nobody's
business. It is safe to say that it is
more expensive to hire a good
football coach than a good physics
professor."
Brown added, "The salary is not
the main reason 1 am coming to
Rice. The number one thing in my
life is my family, and my wife and
daughter are excited about coming
back to the south. Plus, I really like
the atmosphere here at Rice."
Brown indicated that he hopes
to maintain good relations with the
Rice faculty and student body.
"I'm just like them (the faculty),
and 1 hope to work with them," he
said.
Though Brown's Cincinnati
squad finished only 4-6-1 this
season, the four victories included
an upset win over defending
national champion Penn State and
a 3-2 start before an injury
sidelined star quarterback Troy
Bodine.
But the most important
consideration for Brown's
appointment appears to be his
experiences at academically-
oriented Vanderbilt University,
where he played quarterback from
1969-1972 and was offensive
coordinator in 1981 and 1982.
Brown graduated from Vanderbilt
with a degree in geology.
Under Brown's tutelage, the
Commodore offense broke 27
school offensive records in 1982, as
Vanderbilt finished at 8-3 and
played in the the Hall of Fame
see Brown, page 7
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Ekren, Christopher. The Rice Thresher (Houston, Tex.), Vol. 71, No. 14, Ed. 1 Friday, December 2, 1983, newspaper, December 2, 1983; Houston, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth245546/m1/1/: accessed April 26, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Rice University Woodson Research Center.