1.) Parking on Campus Without a Clear Parking Permit
Most Rice students have had a run with the police that is, with the Rice University Police Department (RUPD). Officers are fairly cool about mostly everything (loud parties, drinking), but the one thing they’re sure to crack down on is illegal parking. Don’t ever do it. You will run a fine of up to $75 per citation and be annoyed with yourself for the rest of the day. We all know that’s not worth the hassle. If you don’t have on-campus parking, park across the street at Hermann Park or Rice Village and take the few extra minutes to walk. Or put your emergency lights on; just keep in mind that RUPD watches time limits on 15-minute parking like a hawk.
2.) Baker 13 Runners
On the 13th of every month, and sometimes on the 31st or 26th on particular months or occasions, anywhere from two to two hundred Rice students strip down to nothing, don a few cans of shaving cream, and streak across campus late at night. Yes, they run everywhere, and they leave no building unmarked. Many bring extra cans of shaving cream with them to spray on buildings. Others just learn to mosey on up to unsuspecting students walking back from the library and douse them with shaving cream the personal way. At any rate, just make a note on your calendar to leave the library early on Baker 13 nights, unless you want to be swarmed by streaking students.
Baker 13 is one of Rice’s most storied campus traditions, drawing interest from both participants and spectators alike. The two most well attended runs are Halloween Run on October 31st and Senior Run in May. While Baker College officially (or unofficially) hosts these runs, the other colleges love to retaliate with water balloons. It’s all about keeping up those friendly college rivalries.
3.) Friday Night Dinners At The Servery
Rice students refer to the cafeterias as serveries. I’ll be the first to say that servery food is actually awesome, and I mean that. As someone who’s no longer in school, I don’t have someone cooking spaghetti and meatballs for me every night anymore, and I no longer have fresh hot cinnamon rolls to look forward to on Wednesday nights. With all that in mind, I will say that servery food on Friday nights is something to definitely avoid. While our chefs typically bring their A game for Friday lunch (mac and cheese or other treats to celebrate the end of the week), dinner is a different story.
It’s a little like the chefs just want to go home already, and you’re better off sticking with a bowl of cereal instead. Here’s an easy solution text your friends and meet with them for dinner in Rice Village instead. It’s just a short walk away from campus, and Rice even provides a free shuttle to the Village on Friday and Saturday nights. Take advantage of it! I don’t know about you, but sushi from Kubo’s sounds like a much better way to ring in the weekend than a bowl of cornflakes and milk.
4.) Not Signing Up for Classes as Soon as Your Registration Block Opens
Rice students sign up for classes in one of four waves, based on when they matriculated and what their student status is (continuing, new/first time, transfer). Each semester, the Office of the Registrar determines the exact time and it’s a time that’s down to a science that students can begin filling their schedules with requested courses. You must drop everything you’re doing and log into your student account online if you want a seat in that ever popular “Chemistry of Cooking” class. Otherwise, forget about it while Rice is a small school, the administration aims to keep class sizes down. It is notoriously difficult to try to get a seat in a class for which the maximum size cap has been reached.
5.) Delaying Talking to the Center for Career Development Until the Last Minute
The Rice Center for Career Development (CCD) can get a bad rep with students: “They only help students get engineering jobs. I’m an English major they can’t help me.” “Companies at the career fair weren’t recruiting for freshmen, so I don’t need to go back until I’m a senior.” Thinking like this is problematic the CCD can help polish your resume over a lunchtime editing session or help you prepare for summer internships with a mock interview session. They’ll even offer to videotape you, so you can see all the habits/tics you have when interviewing (tapping your foot, using overly aggressive hand gestures). Over the years, the CCD has been much better about catering to students of all majors. Forget about how they can’t help you and start considering the ways that they can help you land that dream internship or job.
Miranda Roberts received a degree in sociology at Rice University in 2014. She considers the double Macchiato and Danish from Rice Coffeehouse the perfect way to start the day.