Discover the Top 6 Intriguing Fun Facts About Rice University That'll Amaze You!

1. Hogwarts for Architects and Engineers

Ever heard of Hogwarts for scientists, architects, and engineers? It's on the other side of the pond: Rice University's residential college system is modeled after the University of Oxford and the University of Cambridge, fostering a close-knit community and uniquely styled houses built around a quadrangle. Geographically classified, these houses act as homes, dining halls, and social hubs for students, who are forever tied to their college in traditions like the Beer Bike competition and the Baker 90's party.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

2. Pedal and Guzzle: The Beer Bike Event

Where pedaling meets partying, and hydration takes on a whole new meaning: Rice University hosts an annual Beer Bike event since 1957, where residential colleges and the Graduate Student Association field teams to compete in a combined bicycle race and alcohol-fueled chugging contest, featuring its own unique culture, chants, and tradition of 'Willy Week' leading up to the race, but don't expect any beer showers at the finish line.
Source => riceprogramcouncilsite.wordpress.com

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=> Fun Facts about Texas

3. Rice's Weekly Farmers Market

No need to rice and shine on a Sunday morning for this farm fresh activity: Rice University hosts its very own Farmers Market every Tuesday from 3:30 pm to 6:30 pm, offering an array of locally produced goods and further supporting the community through a token purchasing system.
Source => texasrealfood.com

4. Baker 13: The Shaving Cream Streakers

In a world where Superman wears a cape, Rice University's Baker 13 dares to wear just a slippery, foamy alternative: This infamous group of streakers speeds through campus sporting only shaving cream and sneakers, maintaining traditions since the 1970s while adhering to university regulations and safety precautions—even covering their most vital asset, their face!
Source => houstonchronicle.com

5. Wizard-Speed Mail Delivery System

Step aside, Hogwarts: there's a new mail delivery system in town! Rice University's magical number crunching system is delightfully enchanting: each department has its own mail stop number, ensuring mail zips its way directly to its intended destination, faster than an owl on a Nimbus 2000. Pro tip: using PO Box 1892 for USPS-bound letters will even earn you a place in the "special delivery" hall of fame. Just remember, Delivery Services is the oracle to consult for all your incoming mail-related emergencies.
Source => delivery.rice.edu

6. Shaving Cream Chic Tradition

If Rice University students appear a little "shaving cream chic" at times, don't be alarmed: this esteemed institution boasts the famous Baker 13 tradition where students streak across campus wearing nothing but shaving cream each semester, starting from its origin in 1965. Visiting each residential college, the au naturel fleet of collegians wraps up their run at the Baker College magister's home, collecting free t-shirts and snacks as rewards, inspiring similar soirees at universities nationwide.
Source => chron.com