We have copies of all the student handbooks in the Woodson but as whoever wrote this list noted, the changes from year to year tend to be quite small. Thus, if you need to know when something changed trying to figure it out can be quite tedious. (Most of these handbooks–there are a couple notable exceptions–are pretty bland.) So I was delighted to come across this document detailing the changes between 1966 and 1967, which was one of the most critical years in the transformation of student culture not only at Rice but across the entire country. Have a look:
We have the disbanding of a literary society and The Bird magazine, a new band director, the institution of a more liberal dress code for women (a precursor to the total abandonment of all restrictions on student dress), stereos in dorm rooms, alcohol in Jones, and the retirement of the great Jess Neely. Note also that Malcolm Lovett replaced George Brown as chairman of the board of trustees, although Brown remained on the board for another year as vice-chairman. Bigger changes were soon to come.
Bonus: Things are definitely winding down on campus this week as Christmas break approaches. The architects already have their stockings hung.
As I recall, Bo Hagan was a long-time assistant coach brought in from Georgia Tech to be the heir apparent (eventually). It took a long time. I remember attending a banquet, or some such, where Hagan was introduced. Maybe it was stage fright, but the poor man could hardly utter an English sentence when he was asked to speak. I thought to myself, “we are in big trouble”, and we were. It only lasted 50 years or so.
Ice cream scandals? I’m intrigued.
The Bird died because its Founder, Editor and all-around dogsbody, Bert Moser, graduated a few weeks before the 1967 Revisions. The rumor is untrue that Hafter and I had to appear before the Inter-College Court after breaking a few windows ( screens and glass) with the Hanszen Artillery water balloon slingshot. We did get a bill from the University which was paid by contributions from a large number of Hanszen men.
Dead Week may have been replaced in 1967, but we still called it that through 1981.
I recall that terminology when I was there too.