INCOGNITO-WEEK:
Let the Mystery Begin!
Where Am I Living?
The first thing to know about Will Rice is that there are three separate buildings: The Commons, Old Dorm, and New Dorm. If the last two digits of your room number are 29 or less, you will be living in Old Dorm! If the last two digits of your room number are 30 or greater, you will be living in New Dorm!
Old Dorm
Built in 1912, Old Dorm stands majestically as one of the first residential buildings at Rice University. Though it might be old, it is packed with Will Rice traditions. It is four stories tall with Esmeralda the snake meandering her way up the staircase to the top floor. The rooms are primarily doubles, with a few singles and triples scattered throughout. There is one communal bathroom per floor, and although each floor is co-ed the bathrooms are not. 1st and 3rd floors have female bathrooms, and 2nd and 4th have mens bathrooms, with the addition of a single female bathroom on 2nd floor.
Presidential Suite: It’s all in the name, this room is reserved for the current President of Will Rice and his or her roommate which includes a private bathroom and fireplace.
Long Hall: The first three floors all have a long hall with dorm rooms on both sides, but the term “long hall” generally refers to the second floor hallway.
Short Hall: A smaller version of long hall, on the side of the building closest to the Commons. Tami and Jake, our RA’s live in the first floor short hall.
Micro Hall: At the end of long hall on the side opposite the commons. Micro hall is composed of three rooms: a single, a double, and a triple, all of which are pretty spacious.
Wiener Hole: Yes, it is a pretty weird name, but we love it. As weird as it might be, this is a quiet study area at the top of Old Dorm for us to use at any time. It is located on fourth floor at the top of the stairwell, and it is equipped with desks, comfy couches, and a lot of books.
4th Floor: Fourth floor Old Dorm is unique because it is home to a two-story suite and the Piano Room. The Piano Room used to be part of an attic, but is now a gigantic quad complete with, of course, a piano. Every year, four lucky new students are placed in this room. In 2011, Will Rice opened the mysterious two-story suite that has its own 5th-floor private balcony overlooking campus. Upstairs features a double and downstairs is a cozy triple that five new students will be placed in.
New Dorm
Built in 2010, New Dorm is composed of 1 triple, 4 eight-person suites, and doubles. It stands four stories tall with an elevator and two staircases on both ends of the building. Each floor has its own lounge with tables, chairs, and couches perfect for studying. Every double has its own European style pod bathroom and cubby-like closet area.
1st Floor: The first floor consists of 6 doubles, 1 triple, and Sosa’s apartment (our RA). It also has the laundry room (all laundry is free!!), music room, and computer room with PC, Mac, and a printer for public use.
2nd + 3rd Floor: These floors are identical. Each floor has 12 doubles along the hallway and an 8-person suite on each end. Each 8-person suite has two bathrooms and share a common room.
4th Floor: This floor holds 16 doubles, and two covered balconies on either side, also great for a quiet study space.
The Commons & WRC Quad
The Commons
Throughout the next four years here you will probably be spending a lot of time in the Commons. Connected to East Servery, this is where you will eat nearly every meal for the next four years. Needless to say, the commons is much more than a place for meals. The Private Dining Room (PDR) houses one of WRC’s pianos, a projector that is great for team meetings and movie nights, and large tables and couches to catch up on some homework. The Parlor is also a great place for studying, it has even better couches and a large table for studying. Right across from the parlor is Joyce’s Office, where you can pick up your packages, mail, candy, and a fantastic conversation with one of the best people you will ever meet. For those of you who like to cook or bake goods, Will Rice has its own private kitchen. It is a communal space for all and everyone is welcome to use it. It is also a pretty quiet spot for studying.
WRC Quad
Rice is graced with many quads, and likewise many places are referred to as “the quad,” but the term Will Ricers mainly use refers to the grassy area between Old and New Dorm. It is a great area to do work outside on a nice day, or to grab a few friends for some late night football.