The Rice Thresher, Vol. 95, No. 1, Ed. 1 Friday, August 24, 2007

THE RICE THRESHER O-WEEK FRIDAY, AUGUST 24, 2007 15 TAYLOR JOHNSON THRESHER Wiess College leaves the Wless Acabowl Monday for cheers Lane addresses common reading, global warming, new students Astronomy Professor Neal Lane gave this year’s faculty address by lily Chun "IMSMOHUWUMIWl For this year's Orientation Week faculty address, physics and astronomy professor Neal Lane discussed Elizabeth Kolbert's Field Notes From a Catastrophe, the common reading selection for this year about global warming. The lecture took place Monday in Stude Concert Hall. Lane began the lecture by repudiating the claim that global warming is a hoax, referring to the 2007 U.N. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report as proof. "Most parts of the world have experienced climate change, aver¬ age temperature and precipitation have increased, species have been shifting their habitat or dying out. glaciers have been receding and sea ice has been melting," Lane said. H ead of Goddard Space Science Institute James Hansen warned that scientists are underestimating how much the sea level will rise in the next several decades. Lane said. The rapid rise of the sea level is detrimental because ice reflects nearly all sunlight while oceans absorb nearly all sunlight. Hansen believes if the Earth becomes even five degrees Fahr¬ enheit warmer, the sea level could rise 15 feet by the next century. Lane said. 'Ten percent of the world's population fives within that zone," he said. "This includes London, New York City. Vancouver, Syd¬ ney, Shanghai, much of Bangla¬ desh, many islands and other populated areas." Lane said potential effects of global warming include severe heat waves, strongerhurricanes and the release of methane gases trapped under the Artie tundra. He said droughts and Hooding would cause food supplies to be depleted. Lane also discussed the U.S.’s policy towards environmentalism in the past. He indicted President George H.W. Bush for withdrawing trom the Kyoto Protocol. “The Bush Administration's policy is to continue pretty much as tile U.S. has been doing (or sev¬ eral decades, increasing emissions while making more efficient use of energy," lane said. "The efficiency improvement is good, but continu¬ ing to increase emissions is very- dangerous. “ Lane said although the U.S. economy depends on energy at as low a cost as possible, we can decrease pollution by paying a little more for energy. "We can reduce emissions with¬ out paying a high price — maybe a few cents more per kilo-watts per hour on our electric bill. $4 per gallon gasoline, a slightly higher automobile price tag and giving a little more attention to using efficient lights and appliances," he said. Line said Houstonians should be especially concerned with the rise of the sea level and help find a solution. “Houston is the energy capital of the world," he said. "Houston can be the environmental capital of the world. We can say we're not going to pollute the environment with greenhouse gases." Wiess College senior Karen Leu said she thought the lecture could not have been more timely The issue of climate change is the most pressing one today because it presents dire conse¬ quences for the whole world at the same time." Leu said. “It’s great the freshmen are learning about its importance." Line said he thought the topic was appropriate for incoming fresh men to hear. "The environment has always been important to young people, and my attitude (when I was young] was the old folks are messing up the environment, and it's up to us to straighten it out," he said. “And I think it's absolutely true now." Martel College Incoming students are welcomed as they come back to Martel after matriculation. ■ m за Шш J JL к A Lovett College freshman chugs at Tea Trike between Lovett College and Will Rice College. 2007 0-WEEK THEMES Baker: Worst Case Scenario Week Will Rice: Bellagio Week Hanszen: Dynamic Duo Week Wiess: Team Wiess Jones: Nintendo Wiik Brown: Cameo Week Lovett: Ve О Week Sid Richardson: Frodo Week Martel: Dr. No Week