Rice University Apparel History: From Brown College Traditions to Athletic Brand Evolution

Rice University, a distinguished private research university in Houston, Texas, boasts a rich history and vibrant community. From its unique residential college system to its athletic achievements, Rice has cultivated a strong sense of identity and tradition. This article explores the evolution of Rice University's apparel, encompassing the history of Brown College, traditions, and the development of the athletic brand.

The Genesis of Brown College

The story of Brown College begins in the early 1960s, a period when Jones was the sole all-women’s college on the Rice campus. Faced with a critical housing shortage that even led to Rice women being housed at Texas Women’s University, plans were set in motion to establish a new and improved women’s college. Thanks to a generous $1 million donation from George R. Brown and his wife, Alice Pratt Brown, a new residential college was founded in memory of their sister-in-law, Margarett Root Brown. On October 3, 1965, Brown College was dedicated, marking the beginning of a new era at Rice University.

Early Days and Traditions

In its early years, Brown College had a housemother residing in the Resident Associate’s (RA) apartment, and all women were required to sign in and out of the building at night and on weekends. The first Magister of Brown College was Frank Vandiver, who later became president of Texas A&M University. In 1966, Vandiver resigned due to a "scandal" when the members of Brown voted to drink alcohol in their rooms (provided they were of legal drinking age), which he considered inappropriate behavior for young ladies.

Alice Pratt Brown remained an active patron of the college until her death in 1985, donating much of the furniture and art found in the first-floor lobbies and private dining room. While the colleges became coed in 1971, Brown remained the only female college until 1987, when male members were first accepted. However, the community bathrooms on all floors remained coed until 1994, when renovations created separate facilities for men and women on each floor. Also in 1994, Brown ceased to be the only college with only one RA when it remodeled the suite and single on the eighth floor in order to form another RA apartment.

The new wing of Brown opened in 2002 and supplements the 188 beds in the tower. The new wing houses 56 additional students, taking Brown from being the smallest to the largest residential college. Unlike the tower, which is comprised of doubles and singles with community bathrooms, the new wing is composed of four-person suites. Each suite has four small single rooms, a large common room, and a private bathroom.

Enduring Traditions of Brown College

Brown College is known for its unique and spirited traditions, which foster a strong sense of community and camaraderie among its residents. These traditions include:

BROWN SKATE: During O-Week, Brown rents out a roller rink and takes our newest Brownies skating!
BIRTHDAYS: Whether it’s someone in your O-Week group, a friend, or a roommate who is celebrating their birthday, this person must be soaked in the sacred waters of the Fairy Fountain to ensure good luck and success over the next year. Whether it be at midnight or at lunch, we're sure to get the birthday boy or girl and make sure they get tossed in the fountain. Sometimes this involves a long, intense chase, but other times it works as a quiet ambush.
BROWN DEFENSE: Baker 13 has its fun all year, but on the Halloween Run, Brown College has had enough. We won’t take the injustice of shaving cream on our windows and walls. Instead, we build barricades and bombard the runners with water balloons as they try to infiltrate our home.
FRIDAYS IN THE QUAD (FITQ): The week can often be hard, and to help kick off the weekend, the Brown EC and Committees host Fridays in the Quad! Filled with food, music, games, and drinks, FITQ is a great way to just hang out in the Quad as you pass by or for the whole afternoon.
Snow Ball: Snow Ball is one of our newer traditions, where we celebrate the spirit of winter and the end of the fall semester with a fabulous winter formal (Snow Ball). Students dress their best and enjoy music, dancing, elegant refreshments, and a gorgeously decorated Commons.
FLOORLYMPICS: At the beginning of the year, all the floors are equal. But after Floorlympics, one floor will dominate all others. Floorlympics is a great exhibition of Brown’s floor culture. Each floor comes down in their own special jerseys (shirts/tanks), and we compete in watermelon eating, juice pong, volleyball, tug of war, and cheer battles.
COLLEGE NIGHT: While every college has college nights, Brown’s are whole College Weeks.
BACCHANALIA: What’s college without a toga party? Incomplete. Brown makes sure your Rice experience is a complete college one by hosting Bacchanalia, an evening to rival the parties of Olympus! You have all year to learn how to tie a toga and personalize it, so you better be ready. Past themes have included BacchaNOLA, Waka-Flocka-nalia, and more.

Rice University Athletics: Building a Consistent and Recognizable Brand

The Rice University Athletics Department has partnered with Torch Creative and Adidas to create a consistent, authentic, and recognizable identity. The goal is to align visual assets closely with the vision of athletic excellence.

Feedback and Design Evolution

The athletic department gathered feedback from key stakeholders, which revealed:

Mixed feelings for the Old English Script with a sense it is disconnected from the direction of Rice Athletics.
Fondness towards being an owl and all that it represents but a desire for an owl mark that is dynamic, sharp, aggressive and relevant.
Based on this feedback, we worked closely with designers from Torch Creative and adidas to ensure our marks represented an authentic Rice Athletics brand: dynamic, sharp, aggressive and relevant. We also frequently met with our key stakeholders to get their input as the marks evolved.

The Essence of the Rice Athletics Brand

An aspirational and memorable brand is more than a logo, a name, a phrase, or an idea. It is an impression, a feeling, an affinity. The Rice Athletics brand is the culmination of everything we stand for - our culture, our interactions, our performance. It is our connection to the community and its connection to us. Our reputation and core values have remained but we saw an opportunity to grow, scale and innovate. We believe the refreshed family of design elements better embodies what our brand represents and will help amplify our brand in the years to come.

Identity Standards

As part of the overarching Rice University brand, the Athletics Department has developed an identity standard to better tell our story across a wide range of applications and media. to staff, partners and suppliers, thereby reinforcing Rice's identity in an authentic and recognizable manner. The new identity is the road map to create excitement around and develop a strong passion for Rice Athletics, while also engaging new audiences in a distinct and impactful way.

Read also: A Look Inside Duncan College

Maintaining Brand Equity

In order to maintain the equity of the Rice brand, the identity should never be modified or altered. The following are examples of incorrect usages that must be avoided. Do not modify the Rice shield, logos or wordmarks. All retired versions of the Rice logos should not be used. The owl may not be filled in with texture or color. The owl must use the approved color palette; this includes the primary, secondary and extended colors. In order to maintain the equity of the Rice brand, the identity lockup system should never be modified or altered. The following are examples of incorrect usages that must be avoided. The old fonts, colors and layouts for lockups were retired in 2019 and are no longer permitted.

Rice University Apparel: A Symbol of Pride and Tradition

Whether you're a student, alumni, or just a fan, you can find the perfect way to show your support with our collection of collegiate apparel. Want the most trending setting and stylish, officially team-licensed apparel, clothing, and accessories for the Rice University Owls Gear? Get the latest athletics and sports merchandise. College is a time to be remembered, and we help you do just that by keeping you looking good. Shop now!

Finding the Perfect Gifts for Rice University Students & Fans

If you're looking for the perfect gift for a diehard fan, look no further than our online store. We carry a wide variety of items that any fan would love, including t-shirts, hats, hoodies, and more. No matter what you're looking for, you can be sure to find it at our online store.

A Legacy of Excellence

The school's history started with the passing of Massachusetts businessman William Marsh Rice. In 1891, Rice made the decision to charter a free-tuition educational institute, named after him, to be built after his death. He specified that the institution was to be a competitive institution of the highest grade. For more information, visit www.rice.edu. The athletics at Rice play in NCAA Division I and participate in the Conference USA. Rice University has tremendous success in women's sports. In 2004-05, the women's volleyball, soccer, and basketball teams were sent to NCAA tournaments. The men's basketball team has won 10 conference titles.

A Notable Alumnus: George Rufus Miner, Jr.

George Rufus Miner, Jr. was born in Dallas on Dec. 31, 1926, and grew up in Lake Charles, Louisiana, interrupting his college career to serve in the navy for two years before graduating from Rice Institute in 1950. He majored in mechanical engineering and was a varsity football player. Married to Elaine Dederick (1930-2007) for fifty-two years, he had six children. After graduation, Miner joined his father-in-law's Hosuton-based construction company, becoming president and owner in 1955 and later changed the firm's name to Miner-Dederick. The company was involved in the construction of a number of Houston landmarks and several campus buildings. For decades, Miner was deeply involved in fund raising and alumni affairs. He served two years on the board of governors, was president of the alumni association, endowed several scholarships, was inducted into the Athletic Hall of Fame, was named an outstanding engineering alumnus, and in 1995 won the gold medal for his many contributions to the university. He died on Feb.

Read also: Rice University Alumni

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