O-week 2009

We are winding down orientation week 2009 on the Rice campus. I have to say it's really fun and making me nostalgic to see the 900 new freshmen coming to campus. Afterall, I met Chris my first weekend on campus way back in 2002.

A fun thing about Rice is that there are no fraternities or sororities. Instead the dorms are referred to as colleges. Your college is your home during your time at Rice. It is what all alumni will ask you about. It creates bonds. It creates your college family.

Students cannot pick their college unless they are a legacy of that college. You can request a roommate but other than that you are randomly given a college. This prevents a student coming with 13 of their closest friends, all moving into the same dorm, and never branching out. Your meal plan works in your college's meal facility. No other colleges. You have to learn to live and coexist with your college mates.

All the students seem to love the system and it has bred a lot of college rivalries. Rice students are known for their pranks. Each college develops their own reputations and are taught which other colleges they prank and which ones they work together with to prank others.

Each college also has annual events they host on campus. These range from the traditional and classy affair all the way down to beer bike.

I think I might try to get involved in one of the colleges. Faculty and staff can be associates of the colleges and help out there. Toying with the idea.