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R E S O L U T I O N
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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 trustees |
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of the Rice Institute gathered alongside local and state officials |
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and dignitaries from governments and universities around the world |
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to celebrate the establishment of a new institution of higher |
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learning; in his address, President Edgar Odell Lovett announced |
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that Rice would "aspire to university standing of the highest |
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grade," while proposing "to assign no upper limit to its |
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educational endeavor"; and |
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WHEREAS, Since that historic day, Rice has grown tremendously |
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in enrollment and academic stature; in recognition of the changing |
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and broadening scope of its educational mission, its name was |
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changed to William Marsh Rice University on July 1, 1960; today, it |
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is a globally oriented, private institution that boasts an |
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impressive 6-to-1 undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio, and it |
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consistently ranks highly among private universities for best |
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quality of life and best value; it is further recognized as one of |
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the most diverse private universities, with more than a quarter of |
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students classified as minorities and more than 60 countries |
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represented in its undergraduate and graduate student bodies; and |
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WHEREAS, Rice holds membership in the Association of American |
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Universities, an organization consisting of North America's 71 |
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leading research universities; its faculty and alumni have made |
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significant contributions in numerous fields, and alumni have |
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notably gone on to win the Pulitzer Prize, the Nobel Prize, and |
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Olympic gold medals, to set records for human spaceflight, to win |
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Oscar, Emmy, and Grammy Awards, and to serve in offices as prominent |
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as lieutenant governor of Texas; they have helped found such Lone |
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Star institutions as Austin City Limits and the Texas Film |
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Commission and have made their mark in countless other areas of |
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endeavor that have enriched our state and nation; and |
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WHEREAS, The achievements of Rice University and its alumni |
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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 88th Texas Legislature, 3rd |
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Called Session, hereby recognize October 12, 2023, as Rice Day and |
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extend sincere best wishes to the university's students, faculty, |
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staff, and alumni as they celebrate the 111th anniversary of Rice's |
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historic opening 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 by the |
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Texas Senate. |