<p>Browsing through a few threads on this board, I've seen political apathy as a common complaint. How apathetic is Rice really? For a politically-minded person, how bad is it?</p>
<p>Also- If anyone in the School of Social Sciences could comment on the strength of the poli/sci and public policy departments, that'd be awesome.</p>
<p>When we were visiting during the presidential election season, there were lots of political posters in college windows etc, and DD was a member of Rice Democrats. Also lots of volunteerism, and much more "civic engagment" with the Rice programs. People are busy - very busy - with lots of school work, studying, research, committees, fellowships and internships, work/study or work, and playing on club sports or intercollege teams, plus participating and watching musical groups/plays/movies/sports, working out, organizing college parties and events, hanging out - and all that other stuff kids do. I know of lots of politically-minded people at Rice. But - you have to remember Rice is a TINY school, and kids wear many hats and are involved in a huge number of things at one time, so you will not see huge school demonstrations etc. like you might at a big school. If you look on the Rice website you'll find kids getting politically active about the reorganization of the Hispanic studies program... and there are plenty of Rice kids interning with politicians, interning in DC, interning with civic organizations in Houston and around the country. If anything, Rice kids seem the very opposite of apathetic, and they seem to be very aware of world events and politics. (They just aren't marching out of class, waving banners and demanding change.... more likely to work from within the system to ferment change.)</p>
<p>According to Facebook, these are the top 10 interests that Rice students list --
1. Music
2. Reading
3. Travel
4. Dancing
5. Politics
6. Movies
7. Running
8. Physics
9. Photography
10. Math</p>
<p>===</p>
<p>I'm rather amused by #8 and #10.</p>
<p>There was also a pretty good discussion going on Facebook about politics back when Interim decision came out. Lots of people commented so I wouldn't say people were apathetic.</p>
<p>I'd tend to agree with anxiousmom's view. Most Rice students don't spend that much time out protesting in the streets (I don't think that I've ever witnessed anything close to a political rally/protest on the Rice campus) but overall, they tend to be well informed, capable of discussing their views and backing things up, and dedicated to actually changing the world in some way - though probably through some method other than political activism.</p>