(09-10-2020 05:40 PM)Owl 69/70/75 Wrote:  

(09-10-2020 12:56 PM)Hambone10 Wrote:  I just find it odd that you assume that they are doing this to hide something, when it seems clear that they've been consistent (and on the correct side of the issue) from day 1 (in the 1840's).

I don't think there's any attempt to hide anything. The data regarding racial breakdown typically come from federal compilations of statistics which universities who receive federal funds are required to report. Hillsdale accepts no federal funds, and therefore does not file such reports.

I must take exception to trying to overemphasize one point for which you have no actual data and which was not the point of my comment. Hillsdale is a staunch defender of free market capitalism (George Mason is another) and their curriculum is set up to require all students, regardless of major, to obtain an education in the classics, history, and basic sciences. Those are the two--and the only two--points I am making about wishing Rice to be more like Hillsdale. Going off on a race baiting rabbit trail, when there is no evidence to support that and considerable evidence to refute it, seems to me to be out of bounds.

You aren't directing this at me, right? My comments certainly weren't directed at you

(09-11-2020 04:33 PM)ExcitedOwl18 Wrote:  Is there space on this forum for someone who think Rice has been overtaken by the most corrosive elements of the left wing over the past 10 years, yet, does not want to see the school become “Hillsdale on the Bayou?”

I can't speak for others, but I can admire certain aspects of what they do without wanting to become them... I just find it a bit hypocritical to have attended and supported a school that was on the wrong side of the issue for almost 100 years after the civil war and to cast shade on a school that wasn't based on opinions and perceptions, not facts.

(09-11-2020 04:37 PM)Rice93 Wrote:  

(09-11-2020 03:57 PM)OptimisticOwl Wrote:  Interesting to hear people claim that not caring about race is somehow racist.

I don’t know that Hillsdale is racist. What I do know is that I do not share the enthusiasm for modeling Rice after school that is probably > 95% white not to mention the presumed lack of diversity of thought. No thank you.

So it's 1914 and you're founding a University... Do you model it after Rice or Hillsdale. How many black students or 'diversity of thought' on segregation do you think you would attract if you modeled Rice? I don't think there is any particular enthusiasm for it... just more of a 'pick your poison'. Even if the world changes around you, there is something to be said about remaining true to a cause like 'no discrimination based on race that was started before the civil war'.

It's the presumption that bothers me. Why can't they be 95% white (assuming that's true) simply because they're in an incredibly 'white' part of the state and country and they don't pad their stats by 'exploiting' minority athletes? I'm not saying that's what we do... I'm simply saying that interpretation is just as true as any other being given about Hillsdale. Does Berkeley have significant diversity of thought? I know your reaction is probably, I wouldn't want to be them either and I agree... but that's why people weren't really addressing you... and instead we're addressing people who seem to be wanting to draw the very conclusions you have declined to do.

(09-11-2020 04:37 PM)Rice93 Wrote:  

(09-11-2020 03:57 PM)OptimisticOwl Wrote:  Interesting to hear people claim that not caring about race is somehow racist.

I don’t know that Hillsdale is racist. What I do know is that I do not share the enthusiasm for modeling Rice after school that is probably > 95% white not to mention the presumed lack of diversity of thought. No thank you.

Probably? Making some assumptions there? As the headlines about Trump so often say, making a claim without evidence.

Isn't what you claim I do?

As for diversity of thought, (presumed of course)when did thought become synonymous with race? I attended Rice during the segregated years. I was roomies with a monarchist and knew a Druid. I knew an English Lord and kids from France, Norway, and Panama, not to mention every state.

I thought the diversity(of thought) was pretty remarkable.

No, I am just astounded that a school founded on the principle of being color blind is being attacked as racist. I guess they are sexist as well, since they don't take that into account either.

"If its just names... somehow a basketball player named Jacob Ngobi got admitted. He's a junior who is 1-3 in his career from the floor and 1-2 from the free throw line."

Sounds like a walk on to me.

(09-11-2020 04:37 PM)Rice93 Wrote:  

(09-11-2020 03:57 PM)OptimisticOwl Wrote:  Interesting to hear people claim that not caring about race is somehow racist.

I don’t know that Hillsdale is racist. What I do know is that I do not share the enthusiasm for modeling Rice after school that is probably > 95% white not to mention the presumed lack of diversity of thought. No thank you.

Would you argue that Rice has great diversity of thought?

From all that I see (which is not everything but it is all that I see) I would argue that there is no more diversity of thought than there is at Hillsdale, if as much. I think the Hillsdale approach encourages more diversity of thought than Rice does.

As far as the school that is 95% white comment, 1) you have exactly zero evidence to support that assertion, and 2) that comment has maybe zero relevance to the points I have made—defense of free-market capitalism and a core curriculum for all students requiring the classics, history, and basic sciences. Are you opposed to either of those?

You are presuming a lot without evidence.

(09-11-2020 04:37 PM)Rice93 Wrote:  

(09-11-2020 03:57 PM)OptimisticOwl Wrote:  Interesting to hear people claim that not caring about race is somehow racist.

I don’t know that Hillsdale is racist. What I do know is that I do not share the enthusiasm for modeling Rice after school that is probably > 95% white not to mention the presumed lack of diversity of thought. No thank you.

Do you think a school that is probably 95% one race lacks diversity of thought?

If so, would that also apply to HBCUs?

Or is it just whites who cannot think in various ways?

(09-11-2020 04:26 PM)Hambone10 Wrote:  

(09-11-2020 03:29 PM)RiceLad15 Wrote:  

(09-11-2020 01:59 PM)Owl 69/70/75 Wrote:  I have Hillsdale as a Facebook friend. I have the following message from them today.

"In these uncertain times, we need your input now more than ever. Is America at risk of becoming a socialist state?"

Can't imagine getting anything like that from Rice. My answer to the question, in case you haven't figured it out, is, "Yes."

I’m assuming that is a post of there’s.

Let’s compare that to Rice’s most recent posts:

Highlighting OpenStax, promoting recent research, and the announcement of the new materials science research center.

I think I’m good if Rice doesn’t become Hillsdale on the Bayou...

So you'd rather a school ignore what's going on in the world than one that asks a very direct and straightforward question? The answer to which could easily be 'no'?

One is clearly driving a political agenda, while the other is clearly driving an educational agenda.

And the question from Hillsdale isn’t even about “what’s going on in the world,” if it is legitimately asking if America is at risk of becoming a socialist state. I would not want Rice to be publicly asking if America was at risk of becoming a fascist state - that’s too overtly political for the mission of the university.

My guess is that Hillsdale, if it is making public statements like that, does not provide the breadth of intellectual diversity it champions.

(09-12-2020 07:06 AM)RiceLad15 Wrote:  My guess is that Hillsdale, if it is making public statements like that, does not provide the breadth of intellectual diversity it champions.

But as you correctly characterize it, that's a guess and not based upon factual evidence.

Do you think that Rice provides a breadth of intellectual diversity? I don't see it, but I don't follow happenings on campus that closely, so I could be wrong. As Thomas Sowell said, "The next time some academics tell you how important diversity is, ask how many Republicans there are in their sociology department."

And as far a socialism is concerned, do you not think that a drift toward socialism would be troubling? For argument's sake, I'm going to give you an economic definition of socialism and communism, which are at their hearts economic systems. Communism advocates the elimination of private property. Socialism advocates the massive redistribution of private property to achieve social goals.

By contract, capitalism believes that free market economics provide the best and surest path to social progress. Compare the poorest here to the poorest, or even the middle class, in any sociaist/communist country.

And no, you can't use Scandinavia or Western Europe as examples. They are very much capitalism with a safety net. On average, their highest income tax rates, both personal and corporate, are lower than ours.

(09-11-2020 05:13 PM)Hambone10 Wrote:  

(09-10-2020 05:40 PM)Owl 69/70/75 Wrote:  

(09-10-2020 12:56 PM)Hambone10 Wrote:  I just find it odd that you assume that they are doing this to hide something, when it seems clear that they've been consistent (and on the correct side of the issue) from day 1 (in the 1840's).

I don't think there's any attempt to hide anything. The data regarding racial breakdown typically come from federal compilations of statistics which universities who receive federal funds are required to report. Hillsdale accepts no federal funds, and therefore does not file such reports.

I must take exception to trying to overemphasize one point for which you have no actual data and which was not the point of my comment. Hillsdale is a staunch defender of free market capitalism (George Mason is another) and their curriculum is set up to require all students, regardless of major, to obtain an education in the classics, history, and basic sciences. Those are the two--and the only two--points I am making about wishing Rice to be more like Hillsdale. Going off on a race baiting rabbit trail, when there is no evidence to support that and considerable evidence to refute it, seems to me to be out of bounds.

You aren't directing this at me, right? My comments certainly weren't directed at you

(09-11-2020 04:33 PM)ExcitedOwl18 Wrote:  Is there space on this forum for someone who think Rice has been overtaken by the most corrosive elements of the left wing over the past 10 years, yet, does not want to see the school become “Hillsdale on the Bayou?”

I can't speak for others, but I can admire certain aspects of what they do without wanting to become them... I just find it a bit hypocritical to have attended and supported a school that was on the wrong side of the issue for almost 100 years after the civil war and to cast shade on a school that wasn't based on opinions and perceptions, not facts.

(09-11-2020 04:37 PM)Rice93 Wrote:  

(09-11-2020 03:57 PM)OptimisticOwl Wrote:  Interesting to hear people claim that not caring about race is somehow racist.

I don’t know that Hillsdale is racist. What I do know is that I do not share the enthusiasm for modeling Rice after school that is probably > 95% white not to mention the presumed lack of diversity of thought. No thank you.

So it's 1914 and you're founding a University... Do you model it after Rice or Hillsdale. How many black students or 'diversity of thought' on segregation do you think you would attract if you modeled Rice? I don't think there is any particular enthusiasm for it... just more of a 'pick your poison'. Even if the world changes around you, there is something to be said about remaining true to a cause like 'no discrimination based on race that was started before the civil war'.

When it was said that it would be nice if Rice could become a "Hillsdale on the bayou" it was a statement about modern day Hillsdale. It was not a comparison of who had a better founding charter > 100 years ago. I understand your point about Hillsdale's charter but I'm not sure how relevant it is to the original point.

Quote:It's the presumption that bothers me. Why can't they be 95% white (assuming that's true) simply because they're in an incredibly 'white' part of the state and country and they don't pad their stats by 'exploiting' minority athletes? I'm not saying that's what we do... I'm simply saying that interpretation is just as true as any other being given about Hillsdale. Does Berkeley have significant diversity of thought? I know your reaction is probably, I wouldn't want to be them either and I agree... but that's why people weren't really addressing you... and instead we're addressing people who seem to be wanting to draw the very conclusions you have declined to do.

So do their students come exclusively from neighboring states? They don't pull from multiple areas or international? I guess that's fine for Hillsdale but, again, not something to which I would like Rice to aspire.

OK, Hillsdale on the Bayou is probably overstatement on my part (although I would admittedly be comfortable with a lot that they do). What I'd really like to see is a Rice with room for some Hillsdale-type thinking. That would be true intellectual diversity. And no, I don't think Rice has that now.

As far as the race issue, I still think that has been an attempt to hijack the Hillsdale commentary away from the points I was making, which are the defense of free market capitalism and the emphasis on a broad foundational education resting on the classics. I still haven't seen any comments on those aspects.

I think what we are seeing here is that there is a diversity of logic at Rice.

(09-12-2020 07:39 AM)Owl 69/70/75 Wrote:  

(09-12-2020 07:06 AM)RiceLad15 Wrote:  My guess is that Hillsdale, if it is making public statements like that, does not provide the breadth of intellectual diversity it champions.

But as you correctly characterize it, that's a guess and not based upon factual evidence.

Do you think that Rice provides a breadth of intellectual diversity? I don't see it, but I don't follow happenings on campus that closely, so I could be wrong. As Thomas Sowell said, "The next time some academics tell you how important diversity is, ask how many Republicans there are in their sociology department."

And as far a socialism is concerned, do you not think that a drift toward socialism would be troubling? For argument's sake, I'm going to give you an economic definition of socialism and communism, which are at their hearts economic systems. Communism advocates the elimination of private property. Socialism advocates the massive redistribution of private property to achieve social goals.

By contract, capitalism believes that free market economics provide the best and surest path to social progress. Compare the poorest here to the poorest, or even the middle class, in any sociaist/communist country.

And no, you can't use Scandinavia or Western Europe as examples. They are very much capitalism with a safety net. On average, their highest income tax rates, both personal and corporate, are lower than ours.

The economic definition of socialism you provide leaves out the most important part, which is the social/government ownership of industry.

But to answer your question, I do think a drift towards true socialism would be concerning. But we aren’t seeing anything close to the movement towards mass nationalization of multiple industries, government playing a central planning role, or a total loss of capitalist markets. I see movements towards programs more similar to what we see in the socially democratic nations you reference, which leverage capitalism. Unfortunately, any proposal which even somewhat relies on the government to play a role has been incorrectly labeled as socialist, which has started to water down and distort the true meaning of that word.

As to intellectual breadth, I generally don’t think Rice as a university, publicly engages in ways that overtly make it a liberal in its politics. If we compare Rice to its academic peers, I think we would find that it was more centrist/apolitical, and not the flaming bastion of liberal wonkiness that some posters think it is. And I do believe that the majority of the political influence on campus is driven by students, and not admin/professors (Rice has always been very supportive of allowing students to run the show).

Rice is notorious for having a really diverse student body, both racially and across the socioeconomic spectrum (unless something has changed in the last few years), and I think that would go a long way to having a breadth of intellectual diversity. How that intellectual diversity is actively fostered on campus, is another question. And whether or not people feel comfortable speaking their mind, and challenging ideas, is not something I have a good feel for (I never took a class where politics was part of the discussion ). But Rice doesn’t seem to have the same staunch focus as Hillsdale, but after reading this op-Ed, it seems like Hillsdale may not always live up to its goals (but it is good to have them).

http://hillsdalecollegian.com/2020/02/hi...-thinking/

(09-12-2020 08:28 AM)Owl 69/70/75 Wrote:  OK, Hillsdale on the Bayou is probably overstatement on my part (although I would admittedly be comfortable with a lot that they do). What I'd really like to see is a Rice with room for some Hillsdale-type thinking. That would be true intellectual diversity. And no, I don't think Rice has that now.

As far as the race issue, I still think that has been an attempt to hijack the Hillsdale commentary away from the points I was making, which are the defense of free market capitalism and the emphasis on a broad foundational education resting on the classics. I still haven't seen any comments on those aspects.

I've intentionally kept out of this and other political debates here since I truly think it's the wrong forum for it. Having said that, enough is enough already. I do believe you're confusing political diversity with intellectual diversity. You're dead wrong if you think, as you stated above, that Rice does not currently have intellectual and broad-based demographic/geographic diversity providing a wide range of perspectives in thinking. As you even admitted, you're not that close to what Rice is doing now; so why are you making such statements?

As for you capitalism vs. socialism statements, since when has America ever had totally free market capitalism? Certainly not since the beginning of the 20th century, when anti-trust laws and labor regulations were enacted. And aside from the small minority on the very far left of the political spectrum, nobody is suggesting we abandon capitalism for socialism. Instead many are suggesting that the income inequality gap has become so out of whack that an ever-increasing number of Americans are barely scraping by, despite working full time. It also recognizes that among all capitalistic and developed countries, the U.S. lags the world, badly, in providing a safety net and subsidized services to it's citizens (health care, schooling, maternity leave, child care, etc.). Strange given we're the most advanced and wealthy country in the world. The recently expired COVID-related CARE package also was a joke with regard to the level of financial support provided to citizens vis-a-vis that offered to citizens in almost every other developed country.

(09-11-2020 05:27 PM)OptimisticOwl Wrote:  

(09-11-2020 04:37 PM)Rice93 Wrote:  

(09-11-2020 03:57 PM)OptimisticOwl Wrote:  Interesting to hear people claim that not caring about race is somehow racist.

I don’t know that Hillsdale is racist. What I do know is that I do not share the enthusiasm for modeling Rice after school that is probably > 95% white not to mention the presumed lack of diversity of thought. No thank you.

Probably? Making some assumptions there? As the headlines about Trump so often say, making a claim without evidence.

Actually I had checked out some forums from students at Hillsdale. There were a lot of comments like, "Really no black people here except for a few on the basketball team. There were a few students from China."

Quote:As for diversity of thought, (presumed of course)when did thought become synonymous with race? I attended Rice during the segregated years. I was roomies with a monarchist and knew a Druid. I knew an English Lord and kids from France, Norway, and Panama, not to mention every state.

I thought the diversity(of thought) was pretty remarkable.

No, I am just astounded that a school founded on the principle of being color blind is being attacked as racist. I guess they are sexist as well, since they don't take that into account either.

I understand their charter and it seems like noble aspirations to me. Again, I don't know if Hillsdale "is racist". Are we referring to the administration or to students? The quote from their leader regarding "dark ones" wasn't great. In terms of the students, I might question what type of student is attracted to a school where, de facto, they will only be around white people. Not that attending Hillsdale means you are racist but that situation does merit some questions, IMO. Who would want to attend a college where there is nearly ZERO diversity? Why would they choose that situation?

(09-11-2020 08:51 PM)OptimisticOwl Wrote:  

(09-11-2020 04:37 PM)Rice93 Wrote:  

(09-11-2020 03:57 PM)OptimisticOwl Wrote:  Interesting to hear people claim that not caring about race is somehow racist.

I don’t know that Hillsdale is racist. What I do know is that I do not share the enthusiasm for modeling Rice after school that is probably > 95% white not to mention the presumed lack of diversity of thought. No thank you.

Do you think a school that is probably 95% one race lacks diversity of thought?

If so, would that also apply to HBCUs?

Or is it just whites who cannot think in various ways?

I was referring to the presumed (yes... I presume here) overwhelming right-wing bent at this school. Aren't you guys always complaining about left-wing indoctrination at elite universities? Basically the same thing here... doesn't have to do with white or black.

(09-12-2020 08:31 AM)OptimisticOwl Wrote:  I think what we are seeing here is that there is a diversity of logic at Rice.

Nice.

(09-12-2020 08:59 AM)Rice93 Wrote:  

(09-11-2020 05:27 PM)OptimisticOwl Wrote:  

(09-11-2020 04:37 PM)Rice93 Wrote:  

(09-11-2020 03:57 PM)OptimisticOwl Wrote:  Interesting to hear people claim that not caring about race is somehow racist.

I don’t know that Hillsdale is racist. What I do know is that I do not share the enthusiasm for modeling Rice after school that is probably > 95% white not to mention the presumed lack of diversity of thought. No thank you.

Probably? Making some assumptions there? As the headlines about Trump so often say, making a claim without evidence.

Actually I had checked out some forums from students at Hillsdale. There were a lot of comments like, "Really no black people here except for a few on the basketball team. There were a few students from China."

Quote:As for diversity of thought, (presumed of course)when did thought become synonymous with race? I attended Rice during the segregated years. I was roomies with a monarchist and knew a Druid. I knew an English Lord and kids from France, Norway, and Panama, not to mention every state.

I thought the diversity(of thought) was pretty remarkable.

No, I am just astounded that a school founded on the principle of being color blind is being attacked as racist. I guess they are sexist as well, since they don't take that into account either.

I understand their charter and it seems like noble aspirations to me. Again, I don't know if Hillsdale "is racist". Are we referring to the administration or to students? The quote from their leader regarding "dark ones" wasn't great. In terms of the students, I might question what type of student is attracted to a school where, de facto, they will only be around white people. Not that attending Hillsdale means you are racist but that situation does merit some questions, IMO. Who would want to attend a college where there is nearly ZERO diversity? Why would they choose that situation?

Which brings us back to my question to you about HBCUs.

(09-12-2020 09:01 AM)Rice93 Wrote:  

(09-11-2020 08:51 PM)OptimisticOwl Wrote:  

(09-11-2020 04:37 PM)Rice93 Wrote:  

(09-11-2020 03:57 PM)OptimisticOwl Wrote:  Interesting to hear people claim that not caring about race is somehow racist.

I don’t know that Hillsdale is racist. What I do know is that I do not share the enthusiasm for modeling Rice after school that is probably > 95% white not to mention the presumed lack of diversity of thought. No thank you.

Do you think a school that is probably 95% one race lacks diversity of thought?

If so, would that also apply to HBCUs?

Or is it just whites who cannot think in various ways?

I was referring to the presumed (yes... I presume here) overwhelming right-wing bent at this school. Aren't you guys always complaining about left-wing indoctrination at elite universities? Basically the same thing here... doesn't have to do with white or black.

So it has nothing to do with being (presumed) 95% white? Then why mention it?

As I said, I found Rice to be an incredibly diverse school as for as ideas and thought, even though it was all white and 70% male.

I have always thought our true diversity could best be served by admitting the white Croatian guy. But in the statistics that matter, he is just another white male.

(09-12-2020 09:05 AM)OptimisticOwl Wrote:  

(09-12-2020 08:59 AM)Rice93 Wrote:  

(09-11-2020 05:27 PM)OptimisticOwl Wrote:  

(09-11-2020 04:37 PM)Rice93 Wrote:  

(09-11-2020 03:57 PM)OptimisticOwl Wrote:  Interesting to hear people claim that not caring about race is somehow racist.

I don’t know that Hillsdale is racist. What I do know is that I do not share the enthusiasm for modeling Rice after school that is probably > 95% white not to mention the presumed lack of diversity of thought. No thank you.

Probably? Making some assumptions there? As the headlines about Trump so often say, making a claim without evidence.

Actually I had checked out some forums from students at Hillsdale. There were a lot of comments like, "Really no black people here except for a few on the basketball team. There were a few students from China."

Quote:As for diversity of thought, (presumed of course)when did thought become synonymous with race? I attended Rice during the segregated years. I was roomies with a monarchist and knew a Druid. I knew an English Lord and kids from France, Norway, and Panama, not to mention every state.

I thought the diversity(of thought) was pretty remarkable.

No, I am just astounded that a school founded on the principle of being color blind is being attacked as racist. I guess they are sexist as well, since they don't take that into account either.

I understand their charter and it seems like noble aspirations to me. Again, I don't know if Hillsdale "is racist". Are we referring to the administration or to students? The quote from their leader regarding "dark ones" wasn't great. In terms of the students, I might question what type of student is attracted to a school where, de facto, they will only be around white people. Not that attending Hillsdale means you are racist but that situation does merit some questions, IMO. Who would want to attend a college where there is nearly ZERO diversity? Why would they choose that situation?

Which brings us back to my question to you about HBCUs.

Yeah... I guess I should have said why would white people in 2020 want to attend a school with (nearly) exclusively white people. I understand the role that HBCU's play for black students in terms of graduation rates, a learning environment that lacks the historical racism that was directed at them, better support systems, etc. Stuff that is really not necessary for their white counterparts.

(09-12-2020 09:21 AM)OptimisticOwl Wrote:  

(09-12-2020 09:01 AM)Rice93 Wrote:  

(09-11-2020 08:51 PM)OptimisticOwl Wrote:  

(09-11-2020 04:37 PM)Rice93 Wrote:  

(09-11-2020 03:57 PM)OptimisticOwl Wrote:  Interesting to hear people claim that not caring about race is somehow racist.

I don’t know that Hillsdale is racist. What I do know is that I do not share the enthusiasm for modeling Rice after school that is probably > 95% white not to mention the presumed lack of diversity of thought. No thank you.

Do you think a school that is probably 95% one race lacks diversity of thought?

If so, would that also apply to HBCUs?

Or is it just whites who cannot think in various ways?

I was referring to the presumed (yes... I presume here) overwhelming right-wing bent at this school. Aren't you guys always complaining about left-wing indoctrination at elite universities? Basically the same thing here... doesn't have to do with white or black.

So it has nothing to do with being (presumed) 95% white? Then why mention it?

Because you were waxing poetic about how great it would be if Rice could be more like Hillsdale. My two main counterpoints to that were 1) nearly all white people and 2) lack of diversity of thought. "1)" isn't necessary of the existence of "2)".

(09-12-2020 09:21 AM)OptimisticOwl Wrote:  

(09-12-2020 09:01 AM)Rice93 Wrote:  

(09-11-2020 08:51 PM)OptimisticOwl Wrote:  

(09-11-2020 04:37 PM)Rice93 Wrote:  

(09-11-2020 03:57 PM)OptimisticOwl Wrote:  Interesting to hear people claim that not caring about race is somehow racist.

I don’t know that Hillsdale is racist. What I do know is that I do not share the enthusiasm for modeling Rice after school that is probably > 95% white not to mention the presumed lack of diversity of thought. No thank you.

Do you think a school that is probably 95% one race lacks diversity of thought?

If so, would that also apply to HBCUs?

Or is it just whites who cannot think in various ways?

I was referring to the presumed (yes... I presume here) overwhelming right-wing bent at this school. Aren't you guys always complaining about left-wing indoctrination at elite universities? Basically the same thing here... doesn't have to do with white or black.

So it has nothing to do with being (presumed) 95% white? Then why mention it?

As I said, I found Rice to be an incredibly diverse school as for as ideas and thought, even though it was all white and 70% male.

I have always thought our true diversity could best be served by admitting the white Croatian guy. But in the statistics that matter, he is just another white male.

How can you claim Rice was "incredible diverse" back then when it was not only all white and 70% male, but 75% of the students were Texans, with 40% being from Houston? Even when I attended (mid-to-late '70s) the male-female ratio was a tick better given the two new co-ed colleges, but it was still almost all white (save for the student-athletes and a VERY small scattering of regular students), had very few international students, and was still 66% Texans and 33% from Houston.