the Rice Thresher

Issue date: 11/13/09 Section: Opinion

Likewise, we would like to reaffirm our belief that continued architectural expansion should not stem from the need to impress the aesthetic tastes of prospective students or those of our neighbors. Beautifying the campus should never come at the expense of academics. While we're not saying that we should forgo lawnmowers for more textbooks, we would like to make sure that all future construction serves both academics and aesthetics, not merely the latter.

And when it comes to the physical architecture, we would like to stress an accent on the past. While the Brochstein Pavilion continues to rack up awards - and congratulations are, of course, offered - its discontinuation of Rice's architectural trends has chafed a large swath of the student population. Tudor Fieldhouse and the Humanities building, on the other hand, hearken to Rice's architectural traditions, and as such, fit seamlessly into the university.

There are a few other posited additions that we shy from - putting Main Street underground would heavily disrupt our neighbors, whom we should strive to pacify, and moving the administration from Lovett Hall may preclude prospective students from being awed by Rice's most grandiose building upon first entrance - but, by and large, we look forward to seeing the changes Rice has in store for the next half-century. So long as there is a legitimate student center, complete with a bowling alley, we should be happy.

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