The Rice Thresher, Vol. 93, No. 13, Ed. 1 Friday, November 18, 2005 Page: 4 of 20

                                
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THE RICE THRESHER NEWS FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 18,2005
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Hang time
YONG SHI/THRESHER
Will Rice College freshman Neel Shah relaxes in a tar paper and twine hammock students in ARTV 390:
Investigating Drawing constructed.
Outer Loop robbery reported
by Risa Gordon
THRESHER EDITORIAL STAFF
An attempted armed robbery on
the Outer Loop was reported to the
Houston Police Department Nov. 14.
The alleged victim—from whom noth-
ing was stolen—has given inconsistent
reports, and HPD is still investigating
the allegation, Rice University Police
Lieutenant Dianna Marshall said.
The attempted robbery occurred
near the intersection of Main Street
and Sunset Boulevard, Marshall said.
The alleged victim, who is not affili-
ated with Rice, called HPD at 12:40
a.m. to report the attempted robbery.
He originally told HPD there were
three suspects, but he later told the
HPD reporting officer there was only
one suspect, Marshall said.
"The major difference [in his
account] could call into question
the whole veracity of the story,"
Marshall said.
The alleged victim reported a
large, black semi-automatic pistol
was used in the attempted robbery,
Baker Institute Summer in DC Intern Program
The James A. Baker III Institute for Public Policy is seeking applicants for its 2006 Jesse
Jones Leadership Center Summer in Washington DC Policy Research Internship Program.
The program will provide stipends sufficient to support a select group of Rice
undergraduates conducting policy-making research at government agencies, private think
tanks, and NGOs in DC in summer 2006. Those accepted must be currently enrolled as
full-time undergraduates through fall 2006. Those selected will attend a seminar on
public policy and global affairs coterminous with their internships, and will write a
research report for publication. Applicants are individually responsible for selecting and
establishing internships and residency in DC. Interested students should send the
following materials by January 31 to Dr. Steven Lewis, Washington Internship
Committee. Baker Institute, MS-40:
1. A letter of application with your campus and home addresses, telephone number
and e-mail;
2. A short essay of no more than 600 words describing your career goals, your
internship plans (including the organizations to which you have applied or will
apply), and how these tie in with the mission and policy research programs of the
Baker Institute;
3. A resume;
4. An official, sealed transcript;
5. One letter of recommendation from an individual who can discuss your ability to
conduct policy research.
Questions should be addressed to swlewis(« rice.edu
Coffeehouse debuts
organic coffee brand
by Monica Huang
THRESHER STAFF
Marshall said.
Marshall said RUPD did not
respond to the call because it was
not called and because HPD did not
request help, since the attempted
robbery was reported after it had
allegedly occurred.
Marshall said she has sent an
internal memorandum to patrol offi-
cers and supervisors informing them
of the allegation and encouraging
increased awareness on their patrols.
She said officers routinely patrol the
perimeter of campus.
Coffeehouse patrons can now
get their caffeine fix while support-
ing fair prices for coffee farmers
and organic growth.
On Wednesday, the Coffeehouse
began serving organically grown
and fair-trade-certified coffee
from Katz Coffee — a Houston-
based roaster — which also sup-
plies area farmers' markets and
restaurants such as Empire Cafe
and Mi Luna, Coffeehouse Public
Relations Manager Mara Courtney
said. Courtney, a Baker College
sophomore, said the new brand
costs the same amount as the old
brand, so the prices of drinks will
not change.
'We've always thought
we could improve our
coffee. People were
saying our coffee tasted
like crap, but they
drank it anyway.'
— Katie Stephens
Jones College senior
Coffeehouse small inventory
manager
Fair-trade-certified coffee guar-
antees coffee farmers are paid a fair
base price for their produce, and the
organic growth helps preserve bird
habitats by growing plants under
shade trees, Courtney said.
"Wethink (the coffee] tastes bet-
ter, and we believe in the fair trade
mission," Courtney said. 'There are
still some kinks in the program,
but we all agree that [fair trade is]
something important enough to
be a part of."
Coffeehouse Small Inventory
Manager Katie Stephens said the
new coffee comes in different fla-
vors and from different countries,
and it will be served on a rotating
basis.
Stephens, a Jones College se-
nior, said the Coffeehouse staff
first thought about changing coffee
brands when Center for the Study of
Environment and Society Coordina-
tor Elizabeth Stephens (Will Rice
'05) contacted the managers about
two months ago. Katie and Eliza-
beth Stephens are not related.
Katie Stephens said Elizabeth
Stephens' proposal about switching
to free-trade organic coffee and the
managers' desire to provide abetter
product prompted their decision to
change suppliers.
"We've always thought we
could improve our coffee," Katie
Stephens said. "People were saying
our coffee tasted like crap, but they
drank it anyway."
Courtney said Coffeehouse
managers visited various local
roasters before making the decision
to switch suppliers last week. They
chose Avi Katz, the owner of Katz
Coffee, because of his enthusiasm
for fair trade and his expertise in
coffee, Courtney said.
Courtney said the Coffeehouse
will continue to improve the taste
of its cof fee. The managers are cur-
rently working with Katz to improve
their coffee-making procedures
and machine maintenance.
In other Coffeehouse changes,
the managers have announced
a contest to design a mural for
the service counter's wall, which
was painted blue during recent
renovations. The contest is aimed at
encouraging student involvement,
Courtney said.
Entries, which will be judged by-
Coffeehouse managers and Student
Center directors, are due Nov. 28.
Managers hope to have a completed
mural in place by Spring 2006. As
of Tuesday, no entries had been
submitted.
POLICE BLOTTER
The following items were reported to the Rice University Police Department
for the period Nov. 8-13.
Residential Colleges
Brown College Nov. 10 Computer monitor stolen.
Other Buildings
Autry Court
Autry Court
Parking Lots
North Lot
Greenbriar
Annex Lot
Other Areas
Entrance 4
Rice University
Greenbriar Drive
Wiess President's
House
Nov. 10 Two credit cards stolen from wallet Nov. 9.
Nov. 10 Laptop stolen from backpack left at
operations desk.
Nov. 8 Vehicle hit.
Nov. 13 Car broken into and purse stolen. $1,000
withdrawal from debit card reported.
Nov. 9 Gate swung closed and struck front
of vehicle.
Nov. 11 Money stolen from wallet two weeks ago.
Nov. 12 One subject stumbling in road while
walking with Rally Club from Chaucer
House to Rice Stadium. Intoxicated
underage Rice student issued municipal
citations and sent back to Chaucer
House with sober adult.
Nov. 12 Valet damaged gate.
University Boulevard Nov. 13
near Entrance 8
Subject driving with flat tires ran red light
and sat through green light. Intoxicated
non-Rice driver in possession of
clenbuterol, a Mexican drug illegal in the
United States. Subject arrested and
remanded to Harris County Jail.