Dear Houstonians, HIWI contributors, and fans,
It’s Rice University’s birthday—their 100th at that! The HIWI brain trust, always thinking about what makes Houston Worth It, thought, ‘hmm....’ So, to honor their centennial, we are proud to announce our newest book, HIWI: RICE. Which, contrary to the way it might sound, is not a cookbook. Nor, for all you anxious undergrads, is it a text book. It’s one of those leisure things. You know, for after you’ve finished your biomacromolecular complexular analysis. Never mind....
Anyway, there’s a well known expression about how Rice students “stay behind the hedges.” There may be some truth to that but we all know that Rice has played an influential role, in countless different ways, in the lives of Houstonians for, well, a century. So we want to dispel that simplistic notion by publishing another great collection of comments, stories, and photographs that show your own unique perspective.
We’re looking for any anecdotes, souvenirs, or indelible memories.... We see this book being part love letter, part roast, part remembrance. We’re looking for anything that reflects this venerable institution's presence in our community. From concerts to sporting events, art exhibits to summer camps, running the trail to falling in love—even tying the knot. Have you ever shot bottle rockets in the parking lot? Were you there for Kennedy’s speech? Ever knocked back a few at Valhalla? Do the words “Beer Bike” mean anything to you?
Even if you’ve never set foot inside a Rice classroom, we want to know what the “Institute” means to you. And to those of you who did happen to go to Rice, Happy Birthday! Now please share with the rest of us what made your school so special. Just try not to pontificate, we know what that word means too. Oh and please, for the sake of our eyes, go easy on the Baker 13 pictures....