Sid Richardson College

Sid Richardson College is one of nine residential colleges on the Rice University campus in Houston, Texas. Like the other eight residential colleges on the Rice campus, Sid Richardson College provides undergraduate residential and dining facilities, social organizations and student government, as well as faculty members and alumni and community associates.

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Rice University - Houston - Texas

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Sid Richardson College, also known by its student residents and alumni as "Sid," "SRC," "Sid Rich," or "Richardson College," was opened in 1971 as a men's residential college. A $2 million pledge from the Sid Richardson Foundation, which was established by Texas oilman, cattleman, and philanthropist Sid W. Richardson (1891-1959), funded the construction of the college. The college went co-ed in 1987. Richardson College is the tallest building on Rice campus - while officially only 7 floors high (in accordance with the Rice charter), each floor is split into upper and lower levels, pushing the building to almost 14 stories.

Related Topics:
1971 - Sid Richardson Foundation - Sid W. Richardson - 1987

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In addition to providing basic residential and social services to its residents, Richardson College is rich with traditions, which have included some notorious pranks. For example, Richardson students have made use of the six balconies towering above the main entrance of the college to "douche" unsuspecting visitors--including past Rice University president George Rupp and his wife--with buckets of water as they climb the steps to the wooden double doors. While such "free-flowing water" is the only sanctioned projectile, rogue students have also flung flour tortillas and, in one particularly infamous situation, a couch. Other unique pastimes include Balcony Ball, Vatoring, and Death Ball. On Fridays, the Sid Stacks blast "Radio Free Sid" with a pair of Klipsch La Scalas across the campus from the 7th floor balcony. 80's Party and Tower Party are two of the main social events each year.

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