Class of 2002 Participates in Traditions of Matriculation, Freshman Orientation Week

Class of 2002 Participates in Traditions of Matriculation, Freshman Orientation
Week

BY DANA DURBIN
Rice News Staff
Sept. 3, 1998

The Rice class of 2002 participated in the time-honored tradition of matriculation
last week and had a crash course in college life during Orientation Week.

After passing ceremoniously through the Sallyport at matriculation Sunday,
Aug. 23, marking their entrance into Rice as freshman, President Malcolm Gillis
addressed the new students, passing on a few important dos-and-don’ts.

He told the class, "Do learn to say y’all instead of you guys," and
"Do go swimming in the president’s pool, except when it is iced over,"
while admonishing them, "Do not forget your swimming trunks: There may
be video cameras about."

More importantly, Gillis told the class of 2002, 648 strong, "Do always
be proud of your college and your university."

O-week continued throughout the week with activities such as the faculty address,
counseling sessions, residential college parties, placement tests, diversity
and gender issues workshops. Freshman also participated in the All Campus Picnic
on Aug. 26 during which they divided up according to college and competed on
an obstacle course.

Of course, pranks pulled between residential colleges–called "jacks"–
were a part of this year’s O-week, though there were new rules set in place,
according to Amy Cooper, student Orientation Week coordinator.

The "jack" policy mandated that college coordinators seek approval
of any pranks planned on another residential college from the coordinator at
that college. Another change for this year’s O-week kept advisers from attending
matriculation, resulting in a subdued atmosphere with no chants and pranks.

O-week is a valuable experience for the incoming freshman class of 2002, Cooper
said, which includes an array of students with impressive high school records.

The class includes 210 varsity athletes, 168 club or organization presidents,
50 editors in chief of high school newspapers, 11 published writers, and 72
members of student government (including 15 student council presidents and nine
senior class presidents). Also among the class of 2002 are 176 students involved
in community service and 79 who speak more than one language.