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SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 13
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WHEREAS, October 12, 2023, marks the 111th anniversary of |
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Rice University's formal opening ceremonies, an event that is |
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commemorated annually as Rice Day; and |
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WHEREAS, On October 12, 1912, students, faculty, and |
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trustees of the Rice Institute gathered alongside local and state |
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officials and dignitaries from governments and universities |
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around the world to celebrate the establishment of a new |
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institution of higher learning; in his address, President Edgar |
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Odell Lovett announced that Rice would "aspire to university |
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standing of the highest grade," while proposing "to assign no |
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upper limit to its educational endeavor"; and |
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WHEREAS, Since that historic day, Rice has grown |
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tremendously in enrollment and academic stature; in recognition |
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of the changing and broadening scope of its educational mission, |
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its name was changed to William Marsh Rice University on July 1, |
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1960; today, it is a globally oriented, private institution that |
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boasts an impressive 6-to-1 undergraduate student-to-faculty |
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ratio, and it consistently ranks highly among private |
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universities for best quality of life and best value; it is |
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further recognized as one of the most diverse private |
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universities, with more than a quarter of students classified as |
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minorities and more than 60 countries represented in its |
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undergraduate and graduate student bodies; and |
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WHEREAS, Rice holds membership in the Association of |
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American Universities, an organization consisting of North |
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America's 71 leading research universities; its faculty and |
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alumni have made significant contributions in numerous fields, |
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and alumni have notably gone on to win the Pulitzer Prize, the |
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Nobel Prize, and Olympic gold medals, to set records for human |
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spaceflight, to win Oscar, Emmy, and Grammy Awards, and to serve |
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in offices as prominent as lieutenant governor of Texas; they |
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have helped found such Lone Star institutions as Austin City |
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Limits and the Texas Film Commission and have made their mark in |
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countless other areas of endeavor that have enriched our state |
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and nation; and |
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WHEREAS, The achievements of Rice University and its |
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alumni have helped to keep Texas at the forefront of research, |
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scholarship, and innovation, and the observance of Rice Day |
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provides a fitting opportunity to reflect on the long and |
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distinguished history of one of our state's most venerated |
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educational institutions; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 88th |
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Legislature, 3rd Called Session, hereby recognize October 12, |
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2023, as Rice Day and extend sincere best wishes to the |
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university's students, faculty, staff, and alumni as they |
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celebrate the 111th anniversary of Rice's historic opening |
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ceremonies; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this Resolution be |
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prepared for the university as an expression of high regard from |
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the Texas Senate. |
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Miles |
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________________________________ |
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President of the Senate |
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I hereby certify that the |
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above Resolution was adopted by |
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the Senate on October 12, 2023. |
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________________________________ |
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Secretary of the Senate |
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________________________________ |
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Member, Texas Senate |