O-Week letter

Dear Dean Forman:

My son is a freshman at Rice and we helped him move into his room at Hanszen College last Sunday. It brought back memories of my move into Sid Richardson 36 years ago. In every respect, I feel that Rice has improved with time.

We were met by an army of upperclass students when our car pulled up. The enthusiasm and good cheer put us at ease immediately. I had been dreading having to lug boxes and suitcases up two flights of stairs and instead the student helpers moved everything into his room by the time I had parked the car and returned to Hanszen.

The welcome for the parents and students by the Hanszen masters and the O-Week organizers was so overwhelming that my wife and I had smiles on our faces rather than tears when David said good-bye and went to join his O-week group.

The speeches by you, President Leebron, and the others were just the right tone. We left feeling that Rice was delivering on its promise — a warm, friendly atmosphere where undergraduate education is a top priority. My only regret is that I can’t move back on campus and go through another four years at Rice.

Thanks,
Michael D. Maher