| Established |
1957 |
|---|
| Namesake |
Harry Clay Hanszen |
|---|
| Masters |
Wesley and Barbara Morris |
|---|
| Resident Associates |
Nancy Elliott
Paul and Jen Sutera |
|---|
| President |
Daniel H. Jaqua |
|---|
| Location |
Houston, Texas, USA |
|---|
| Membership |
350 (approximate) |
|---|
| Mascot |
The Guardian |
| Website |
hc.hanszen.rice.edu |
|
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Hanszen College is a residential college at Rice University in Houston, Texas. The original building, known as West Hall, opened in 1916. In 1957, Rice adopted a residential college system, and Hanszen was created around the existing dormitory and named for Harry Clay Hanszen, a benefactor to the university and chairman of the Board of Governors.
The Grounds
Hanszen is one of the six colleges in the southern part of the Rice University campus, consisting of Old Section, New Section, the Commons, the Quadrangle (often known colloquially as "the Quad" or "the Hanszen Quad") and the Masters' House. The Quad is bounded on three sides by the Commons, Old Section and New Section. Old Section and New Section run parallel to one another, each having a tall tower at opposite ends.
Old Section is the oldest part of the college, constructed in 1916 the first phase of construction on campus by the Boston architecture firm Cram, Goodhue, and Ferguson. It has been described as the most beautiful of the original dormitories. The first, second, third and fifth floors are primarily residential, while the fourth floor is host to the Weenie Loft. Second and third floor consist of double-occupancy rooms with hallway bathrooms. First floor contains an Resident Associate apartment along with the Pit and the Psych Ward (two uniquely designed suites).
New Section was built in the mid-1950s in conjunction with the development of the residential college system at Rice. New Section contains suites composed of two double-occupancy rooms attached to a common room, interconnected to another suite via a bathroom. These rooms are quite popular with upperclassmen as they are more "apartment-like" as compared to the rowdy, chaotic hallways of Old Section. In particular, "the 'burbs" (the wing of New Section furthest from the commons) is seen as a bastion of Hanszen upperclassmen. New Section is grouped by stairwells with four quads in each stairwell. The stairwells are often referred to by number (i.e. "the 40's", "the 50's", etc.). The 40's, 50's, and 60's all face the main Hanszen quad. The 70's are located in New Section Tower. The 80's and 90's are located in the 'burbs.
The Commons was part of a project completed in 2002 to replace the 1970s-vintage commons in conjunction with the construction of a new Wiess College . The Masters' House was moved in fall of 2004 to the location of the previous Wiess College master house, across an open field from Old Section.
Public spaces within the College include the Weenie Loft television room, computer lab, and lounge, Old Section kitchens, Old and New Section sundecks, the New Section Basement and Play-room "B&P" storage space and the New Section laundry room.
Government
Hanszen College is administered by the Cabinet, a body consisting of the Executive Board and Class Representatives elected by members of the college on an annual basis. The Cabinet supervises an annual budget of nearly $60,000, regulates the use of public spaces within the college, and serves as an official liason between the College membership and the university administration.
Wesley and Barbara Morris were appointed masters of Hanszen College in the spring of 2004, succeeding Klaus and Eugenia Weissenberger.
At the presidential election held February 9, 2005, Daniel Jaqua was elected president for the 2005-2006 academic year.
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