The Rice Thresher

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August 19, 2005 > News > SA to host picnic Thursday

SA to host picnic Thursday

By David Brown | Thresher Editorial Staff

by David Brown

Thresher Editorial Staff

Sammy the Owl (the inflatable one) will make a rare daytime appearance at 6 p.m. Thursday in Founder’s Court to host a campus-wide party featuring music, food and $5 T-shirts.

“Sammy’s Picnic,” organized by Student Association President James Lloyd, is one of several new SA initiatives beginning this fall. “True Blue” is a year-long spirit campaign to be launched at the picnic, and “Hedge-hopper,” already in place, is a redesigned student discount program replacing the Silver Saver card.

Lloyd said he worked to plan the picnic because he thought there were too few campus-wide events during the fall semester and because he wanted to build campus-wide spirit.

Lloyd said Founder’s Court, although rarely used for events, is ideal for a picnic.

“It’s nice because it’s a quintessential Rice location and has a good deal of shade — and no hedges like in the academic quad,” he said.

Fall athletic teams will introduce themselves at the picnic, and 500 True Blue T-shirts will be for sale for $5 each.

Lloyd said he hopes the navy blue T-shirts — which feature Athletics’ Rice Owl logo on the front and the phrase “To Rice be true” on the back — will boost Rice spirit.

“I felt there needed to be a little more energy and concentrated focus on a clear and concise message about uniting the school,” he said.

True Blue is cosponsored by the Alumni Assocation, whose contribution is still being determined, and the Athletic Department, which is helping with logistics and paying part of the cost of the T-shirts, Lloyd said.

However, Lloyd said True Blue will not be solely athletics-focused. He said he hopes the campaign will encourage people to take pride in whatever they find most meaningful about Rice.

“True Blue is designed around the last line of Rice’s alma mater, ‘To Rice be true,’” he said. “I thought it could strike a chord with everyone.”

Lloyd said he hopes the SA can soon order more T-shirts to sell to students as well as alumni, community members and Rice families by offering them at events like football games and Families Weekend. Shirts will also be sold periodically at the colleges by SA officers.

With the help of SA senators, Lloyd said he plans to develop some other True Blue events such as tailgate parties or events at Willy’s Pub. The profits from the T-shirts — about a dollar per shirt — should help fund the events, he said.

Another SA initiative revamped the Silver Saver Card, an annual discount program that is also a fundraiser for the SA.

Lloyd said the main difference between the Silver Saver card and Hedge-hopper program is that students will now show a Rice ID rather than a separate card. Currently Hedge-hopper features 29 shops and restaurants, fewer than last year, but Lloyd said that without requiring a separate card, the SA can add discounts throughout the year.

Information on the discounts is being distributed along with the Passport to Houston, now available in college coordinators’ offices. Discounts added to the program will be posted on the Passport Web site.

Lloyd said the fee for Hedge-hopper merchants in the program is $75, down from about $200 for participants in the Silver Saver card program, in order to attract more businesses. Lloyd said revenue from the program will go toward other SA programs.

Participants in Hedge-hopper include Ben and Jerry’s, Berryhill Tamales & Tacos, and Leapin’ Leotards.

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