Looking for neat, responsible roommate to share 2nd floor of duplex with 1,800 sq/ft 3 bedroom, 2 bath, large living/dining room, open kitchen with gas range, washer/dryer, high ceilings, hardwood floors and great light. We share a swimming pool with 3 downstairs tenants.

Incredible location in the middle of Montrose (Shepherd and Alabama) near restaurants, shops, and 4 grocery stores. Only 2 miles from campus (less than 7 minutes by car). Street parking available.

No pets. Rent is $700/mo. + 1/2 utilities. Room is available now.

Contact Max Brodsky at maxbrodsky@earthlink.net, or 617-571-7144.

Help keep traffic moving on campus Friday night -

Thousands of football fans will be heading to campus late Friday afternoon to watch the Rice Owls take on SMU in the first game of the season. Many of you will be heading in the opposite direction as you leave work. To keep the traffic moving as smoothly as possible, the University Police Department recommends that faculty and staff who are leaving campus after 4 p.m. exit through entrances 1, 2 or 3 onto Main Street. This should help prevent traffic jams at the entrances by the stadium where visitors will be arriving. If you return to campus for the game, which we encourage you to do so Rice has a great turnout for this game, please come in through entrances 8, 18 or 20. Go Owls!

In addition, if you use Entrance 17 to enter
or exit campus please be aware that a large tent is being set up over the two northbound traffic lanes near Gate 3 of the football stadium. This has limited both north and south traffic to one lane. On Friday morning Entrance 17 will not open as usual, it will remain closed until after the football game.

Thank you,

Dianna Marshall
Captain
Support Services Commander
Rice University Police Department
(713) 348-4593

English Corner is a weekly lunch get-together between native and non-native English speakers every Friday at noon in the Grad Student Lounge with the purposes to:

1) allow non-native English speakers a forum to practice their English with native English speakers in a comfortable setting,
2) allow all members a method to learn about a variety of cultures, and
3) foster the founding of friendships from across various backgrounds and departments.

English Corner accomplishes this by having each meeting ideally divided into two parts: Presentation and Conversation.

During the presentation, one native speaker and one native speaker present for 5 to 10 minutes about anything they want. Presentations have ranged from the origins of King Cake during Mardi Gras to which city in China has the most beautiful women to a "Make your own adventure" story about the kidnapping of Prof. Randy Hulet of the Physics Department written by one of the members of English Corner.

During the conversation, the group discusses any topics which a member of the group cares to discuss. They have been as deep as discussing the benefits of various educational systems to as light as the best TV commercial.

Currently, English Corner is open to Undergraduate, Graduates, and Post-Docs from any department at Rice. The majority of members are from the sciences and engineering, but we do have members from Linguistics, English, Psychology, etc. Our membership is also fairly diverse in terms of nationalities. Our members come from China, India, Costa Rica, Greece, Germany, Iran, America, and many other nations.

And yes, we do occasionally provide lunch!

See you all Friday at noon in the Grad Student Lounge or join our listserv at EnglishCorner-L@mailman.rice.edu

Dear Rice Graduate Students:

The university launched an official page on Facebook on July 31 to create another opportunity for Rice fans to show support for the school. More than 10,000 Facebook members identify themselves as part of the Rice Network, which includes current students, alumni, faculty and staff. The official fan page allows those in the Rice network, as well those not yet affiliated with Rice – such as prospective students and college advisers – to show their interest by becoming a fan. Much of the content for the page is drawn from material already posted on www.rice.edu.

If you are a Facebook member and not yet an official fan of Rice, please visit http://www.facebook.com/pages/Rice-University-Official-Page/28331765549 to add the page. If you are not yet a member of Facebook and would like to join, please visit www.facebook.com.

Rice University students and employees have a new transportation option available on campus: use of a Toyota Prius or a Volvo S 40 through the Zipcar program.

On Tuesday, August 26th, Zip Car representatives (and free ice cream while supplies last) will be on the north side of the RMC from 10 am - 3 pm to answer questions and sign individuals up for membership. Zipcar, a car-sharing service, is an easy way to get access to a car, whether it’s for an hour or an overnight trip. The service allows members to reserve a car online or via a mobile device any time – day or night. Hourly and daily rates include gas, insurance and use of a car up to 180 miles per day.

Rice applicants must be at least 18 years old to become Zipcar members. There is a one-time $35 membership fee, and new members get a $35 driving credit (in the first 60 days of membership).

To learn more about the Zipcar at Rice program, please visit www.zipcar.com/rice.

Note: Neither Rice nor the GSA endorse or are associated with the Houston Tutorial Association

Houston Tutorial Association is currently looking for tutors in all subject areas to start the new school year off right. Our clients consist mostly of Middle and High school students in the private and public Houston schools in the River Oaks, West University and Memorial areas.

More information is available on the website – www.houstontutorial.com.

Starting today, METRO Q cards for graduate students are for sale in the Cashier’s Office (first floor Allen Center). Students do NOT need to visit any other office first, but should go directly to the Cashier's Office.

For any questions not answered below, please contact Kelly Harp at 713-348-3994, or e-mail passport@rice.edu. This information is also available on the Passport to Houston website at http://students.rice.edu/students/More_Information.asp.

• The METRO Q card value is $500. The cost to graduate students is $55.00.
• Students must present a Rice student ID to the cashier. Payment may be made in person or the charge may be added to the student’s bill.
• Pictures are no longer required on the card.
• The $500-value Q card will provide 250 round trips on the light rail plus the card will generate 5 free trips for every 50 trips used (e.g., another 25 round trips)
• If you were a graduate student at Rice in 2007-08 and have a METRO Q card with a remaining balance, the balance is available until utilized. However, you are encouraged to exhaust that balance before purchasing your new fare card.
• A graduate student may buy only one Rice-subsidized METRO card per year.
• A graduate student may add value to the fare card from his or her own funds at anytime. The Cashier’s Office will sell additional fare amounts. For each $10 spent, students will receive $20 in Q card value.
• Using your METRO Q-Card - Tap your Q Card on the Q Box located on all buses and on ticket vending machines (TVM) on METRORail platforms. The correct fare will be deducted from your Q Card for local, express, METRORail, or Park and Ride Services. When you tap your Q Card on the Q Box, a green light will appear with your remaining balance. If you accidentally tap your card a second time on the Q Box, a red light will appear, however, you will not be charged a second time.
• Lost or stolen Q-Cards - Once you realize you have lost your Q Card or it has been stolen, contact Kelly Harp immediately (713-348-3994 or passport@rice.edu). She will contact you when your replacement can be picked up at the Cashier’s Office. A $10 charge will apply for each replacement.
• The Passport to Houston Office is located in the office south of the Chapel in the RMC Cloisters.
• Graduate students at the Jones School are not eligible for this program. Student fees collected by the Jones School are being used to fund other Jones School student activities.

The condo is a 2 bed, 2 bath, 1300 sq feet. Rent would be $1100/month(this includes cable TV and water and trash). 12 month lease preferable.

Unit is top story (2nd floor); fireplace; new tile floors in bathrooms, kitchen, and entry way; new flat-top stove and microwave in a large kitchen; private balcony with storage area + stacked washer/dryer; has a bbq grill right in front of the building next to the stairs; 1 covered parking spot and 1 uncovered parking spot; complex has 3 pools and a gazebo next to the closest pool.

It's 5 mins from Rice and Med Center, a few blocks from the light rail, there are several buses right on the corner that go to the Med Center. Krogers and the new Baylor Hospital are right down the street, as well as the VA.

Contact Tim at 832-816-5349

More pictures can be seen at:

http://picasaweb.google.com/zarana.patel1/Condo?authkey=NYbd_5xTbIM

The Loan Closet at the Rice Graduate Apartments is in desperate need of some graduate student help. Students are needed to help organize inventory, direct new students, repair furniture and appliances, and simply help the ladies who run the Loan Closet reach high shelves. They will be open on the following days and will need help:

Hours all days 2:15p - 5:15p

• Thursday, August 28

• Wednesday, September 3

• Thursday, September 11

• Thursday, September 18

• Wednesday, September 24

• Thursday, October 2

These are also the hours the Loan Closet will be open if you would like to borrow or return something. Please also see: http://python.rice.edu/~rfc/

All you have to do is show up at the Rice Graduate Apartments, 1515 Bissonnet, Room 149.

Contact persons are Mary Lou Margrave 713-667-9887 and Marcy Johnson 713-529-2342.

Thanks for your help!

PS. The Loan Closet is a project of the Rice University Faculty Women's Club. It maintains an inventory of household goods to assist Rice Graduate students in getting settled in Houston.