<p>^ Just as an extra note about that kind of thing, President Leebron was actually my O-Week group’s faculty mentor when I was a new student last year. Each one of us got to have an individual meeting with him as we adjusted to college life, and we had two lunches with him as a whole group. The president of the university as your individual faculty mentor. How often does that happen?</p>
<p>That’s inconceivable!</p>
<p>I just want to comment that last year Pres. Leebron did a “lottery” for an invitation to his home for dinner. My son got a spot! He was part of a group that attended a dinner party with Dr. Leebron and his wife, Ping. She is great. They had a wonderful meal and really made an effort to get to know the students. They sound like they have an incredible amount of energy! </p>
<p>I don’t know if they are doing something similar this year, but if so I highly recommend it.
It was a fantastic experience for my son’s first semester at Rice.</p>
<p>While I was having lunch with my Rice group (a group composed of one freshman from each college and 4 advisors from random colleges) during o-week President Leebron, his wife, and his son came in to eat lunch. His wife actually sat at our table and talked with us the whole time. Everyone also gets to meet the two of them during the President’s Barbecue during o-week.</p>
<p>That sounds great, but I’m curious: how does Leebron balance his desire to meet all of the new Rice students with the time demands of being a professional basketball player with the Miami Heat? The commute alone must be a bear…</p>
<p>Kidding aside, the personal touch is important. My indelible first memory at Virginia was the first weekend when, after the big greeting event at the basketball stadium (where we were introduced to the phrase, “work hard, play hard”) President Hereford invited all of the first year students to the President’s Home across from the Rotunda. In the garden under the magnolia trees most of us had a chance to chat with him and his wife - he was a UVA alum and his wife a grad of nearby Sweet Briar. A very personal and genteel introduction to the south for a Yankee like me. It sounds as though your President Leebron is a true gentleman of a similar tradition.</p>
<p>Now we just have to get through our S through the whole applying-and-getting-in part…</p>
<p>Actually, he got (unofficial) word yesterday that he’s an NMSQT semifinalist, which means he can go places like UHouston, UAlabama, UTDallas, UMemphis, etc. for free. Hopefully that sort of thing will also help him with the Rice adcom.</p>