The Rice Thresher (Houston, Tex.), Vol. 74, No. 11, Ed. 1 Friday, October 31, 1986 Page: 1 of 28
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HP
FRESHER
Voltme 74, Number 10 Bock in bbck. And white. Still read all over.
Friday, October 31, 1986
Grade report shows science,
engineering give high marks
by Chip Dorosz
and Paul Angles
The average grade at Rice is a
little higher than a B, according
to the Grade Distribution Report
for the Spring, 1986, semester,
and differences in grading
methods from department to
department make it nearly im-
possible for students who-are not
majoring in either science or
engineering majors to receive the
university's highest academic
honor.
Only 20 graduating seniors
were honored as summa cum laude
last year by the Committee on
Examinations and Standing on
the basis of their grade point
averages. Of the 20, 17 majored
exclusively in science or engi-
neering, and one double majored
in electrical engineering and
economics. Only two majored
exclusively in liberal arts fields.
Cum laude and magna cum
laude honors are well distributed
among the majors, however. The
disparity implies that although
good grades are possible in any
division, science and engineering
majors are more likely than
academic majors to receive the
A+ grades necessary to achieve
summa cum laude.
The Grade Distribution Report
for the 1986 Spring Semester
confirms this implication. This
report presents a breakdown of
grades in each course, depart-
ment, and division.
The overall GPA for all
courses at Rice last semester was
3.12. The School of Social
see A+'s, page 7
Rupp to give coed opinion at
December governors' meeting
by David Schnur
President George Rupp will
ask the Board of Governors to
decide at their December 3
meeting whether or not Brown
and Richardson colleges will
become coeducational.
Rupp said he supports the
concept of coed colleges. "There
are certainly substantial advan-
tages to having interactions
between men and women in all
kinds of informal contexts,"
recommendation to the Board.
Said Rupp, "We're looking at
some further details in terms of
costs, for instance the cost of
modification of the bathrooms in
Brown."
The president also plans to
consult with the foundations
which gave the money to build
the two colleges. "It's not a
matter of our having to check
with them — it's a matter of
when people are generous to the
Rupp said.-"But I'm also aware university it's good to welcome
that there are advantages in
having differences between the
colleges."
Rupp said the administration
must still do more work before
lie is prepared to make his
their input when changes are
made," he explained.
Committees in Brown and
Richardson last week gave
reports to Rupp suggesting ways
to integrate the two single-sex
Happy Halloween
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Jack o'lanterns for All Hallow's Eve
—M. Thomas
colleges, if the Board of Gover-
nors makes such a decision.
Both colleges recommended a
gradual transition, and both plan
eventually to have men and
women on all floors.
Transfers would be accepted
from other colleges, and the
male/female ratios in the col-
leges' freshman classes would
slowly equal out to the university-
wide ratio. The process of
integrating the colleges would
take only two years in
Richardson, but four in Brown.
Rupp expressed gratitude for
the work committee members
have done. He acknowledged that
college members opposed in-
tegration but said, "I haven't
heard any compelling arguments
against it."
Fifteen years have passed
since the first colleges went
coed. Rupp said he wanted to
finally settle the issue. "There is
no virtue in having this sit
around for another 15 years," he
said.
Rupp said he will ask the
Board of Governors not to put
off making a decision. 'The
committees have been very clear
that if there is a decision to go
coed, it should be made as soon
as possible. I don't think having
a decision like this left open
indefinitely is a very good state
of affairs," Rupp said.
For the moment Rupp will not
reveal what his recommendation
will be. "I will resist the
temptation to make predictions,"
he said.
Ringing up a charge at the campus store
-P. McCalmon
Campus store to take
student credit cards
Today is the last possible day
to drop a class or convert a
pass/fail option to a grade
without special permission. The
registrar's office will close at 5:00
by Henri de la Garza
The Board of Trustees has
approved the use of credit cards
for campus store purchases,
Apple Macintosh orders, athletic
tickets, and courses in the
continuing studies program. This
policy will take effect as soon as
the necessary forms and electron-
ic card approval devices arrive.
VISA and Mastercard will be
the only two credit cards accepted
on campus, but according to
Robert Rawlings, manager of the
campus store, American Express
may be added later. Electronic
verification devices will check
credit cards each time they are
used, and the store will require a
minimum credit card purchase.
The Board of Trustees decided
in September not to approve the
use of credit cards, but changed
their decision after realizing how
convenient credit cards would be
for customers, according to Neill
Binford, associate vice-president
of administration. "Two months
ago the board didn't know how
interested the administration and
students were about the possi-
bility of using credit cards on
campus. There was a better
presentation for the use of credit
cards, and the board changed its
mind," Birtford said.
Because of the reasonable
discount rate negotiated with an
area bank, there will be no need
to raise prices either for books
or for the Macintosh.
Rawlings expects no problems
with the change. "It will be very
good for us. When there's a
function such as homecoming, a
lot of people ask about credit
cards, and now they'll probably
buv more at the store because
they can charge it," he said.
Rawlings said another benefit
of allowing credit cards is that
they will help during orientation
week, before freshmen have
checks.
Binford emphasizes that the
use of credit cards will not extend
beyond the purchase of books,
athletic tickets, Macintosh com
puters, or continuing studies
courses. "We do not intend to
ever use credit cards as a form of
payment for tuition, room and
board, or fees," said Binford.
One consequence of the deci-
sion is that it might increase the
sale of athletic tickets and Macin-
tosh computers. "Credit cards
will make it easier for students
who don't have the necessary
cash to buy a computer," Binford
said. Binford also said credit
cards will "definitely help sales"
of athletic tickets.
Although the credit card
decision has changed, the board
has continued to adhere to its
previous decision not to allow
automated teller machines on
campus. Rawlings said the huge
cost of teller machines makes
them unprofitable at a university
the size of Rice.
INSIDE:
• Madness, p. 15
• Death, p. 5
• Enchantment, p. 3
•And even scarier things:
CK,p.6
Aggies, pp. 18-20
Politicians, Dp.6 12-13
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Gray, Lisa & Greene, Spencer. The Rice Thresher (Houston, Tex.), Vol. 74, No. 11, Ed. 1 Friday, October 31, 1986, newspaper, October 31, 1986; Houston, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth245647/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.