Senator’s Support Rice’s Academic, Athletic Programs

Senator’s Support Rice’s Academic, Athletic Programs

BY DAVID D. MEDINA
Special to the Rice News
September 30, 1999

For the first time in recent memory, both sitting U.S. senators from Texas–Phil Gramm and Kay Bailey Hutchison–recently met on the Rice campus to support the university’s academic and athletic programs.

“Loyalty to Rice runs deep in the heart of Texas–as confirmed by this rare occasion when we can welcome both U.S. senators who represent Texas,” said Rice President Malcolm Gillis during his opening remarks at an athletic fund-raising dinner Sept. 24 in the “R” room of the Rice Stadium.

Gillis provided the 100-plus dinner guests–including Gramm and Hutchison–a list of athletic accomplishments during the past decade.

“Never let it be said that Rice is all brains and no brawn,” he said.

But Rice never yields the primacy of academics, Gillis continued.

“Rice is also at the top of its game in the ‘scholar’ half of scholarship athletes,” he said. “Having met Rice’s demanding admission requirements, our young men and women continue to meet Rice’s tough academic standards. Ninety-seven percent of all scholarship athletes who complete their athletic eligibility at Rice also complete their degrees.”

In his introductions of Gramm and Hutchison, Gillis highlighted the senators’ commitment to higher education. Gramm, he said, has been a champion of Rice and all higher education, in particular serving as a leading proponent of basic research funding. Hutchison, too, has been a friend to higher education, strongly supporting the 1997 tax bill, which featured a host of higher education tax incentives, and backing the Higher Education Act of 1998, which eases the process of paying for a college education.

Gramm said his support for Rice’s athletics program goes far beyond the personal. His son, Marshall, graduated from Rice in 1995.

“Rice is the epitome of intercollegiate athletics,” Gramm said. “Rice maintains academic excellence yet is competitive in athletics.”

He added that “Rice is in a renaissance of athletics,” and that it is imperative that the university continue to be competitive and remain an example of what college sports should be like in Division 1 athletics.

To do this, Gramm said he believed Rice’s football stadium, especially its seating, must be improved.

“The good news is that we have enough money to renovate the stadium and return it to the glory of the past 50 years,” he said. “The bad news is that the money is still in your wallets.”

Hutchison, who was born in LaMarque, Texas, said she remembers the days when her father took her to watch football games at Rice stadium.

“I thought it was the biggest thing I had ever seen,” she said. “And it was.”

Hutchison praised Rice for its commitment to excellence.

“What Rice has done for Houston and Texas is fabulous,” she said. “You just keep doing better and better. You are a treasure to Texas, and I thank you for that support.”