Gomes speaks tonite

I Rice President Norman Hackerman and Willoughby C. Williams, general chairman of the 1971-72 Rice University Fund, spoke with about 80 students last Sunday evening in the RMC concerning university finances and their relation to the RUF. Introduced by Will Rice President Bill Starnes, Hackerman f i rs t said that the Rice financial aid program is better than all but one private institution he has checked with. Last year, Rice financial aid paid 32% of all tuition bills. While tuition grants will cover only 29%' this year, the next highest rate he could find among private institutions was 25%. On the subject of athletics, Hackerman said that "the appropriateness of an athletic program and whether it would be a help or hindrance if we didn't have one iare two very different questions. Other schools tell us that athletic programs are important in developing funds." Schools which h'ave done away with athletics have higer tuition than Rice does, he said. "Football requires two thirds of athletics expenditures, but produces 95% of the income. Thus if you eliminate that part of the program (football), you are still in the same position financially." Between 1950 and 1959, Hackerman said, the athletic program was self-supporting and paid for the stadium. Since 1960, athletics has brought the university over $1 million, losing money only during the last three years. The Athletic Department paid for its own scholarships until 1968. Hackerman also said that he hopes to open the Commerce Department to all students "in the near future." He announced the hiring of a new financial aid officer who has a great deal of experience in arranging student work programs. He siaid he hopes that our "weakness in the work area" can be rectified. Speaking next was Willoughby C. Williams, general chairman of this year's Rice University Fund. He said that the 71-72 Fund seeks to "involve everyone we can" — particularly alumni, business, and the community. Williams appealed for student help in a number of areas. First, he suggested that each college stuff envelopes for one of the eight alumni mailings. The university, he said, will provide the beer. Second, students can make calls on business people (some of them prospective employers) in the community. Mr. Williams also hopes that; each college will on a specific night call a group of Houstonarea alumni. He feels that student-alumni contact of this sort will prove invaluable in the 1971-72 fund drive. Last year (through June 30, 1971), Rice's operating budget