Need a Kleenex? You won't find one at Rice University

The Houston Chronicle ^ | December 14, 2006 | Kevin Moran

[Zakeet]

If you're looking for a Kleenex on the Rice University campus in the near future, you'll be out of luck.

Students at the highly rated university in Houston have convinced campus officials to quit buying Kleenex products in favor of products that include recycled material and exclude material from trees cut from North America's largest ancient forest — the Boreal forest that stretches from Alaska through Canada.

"It was an initiative that students involved in various environmental groups started," Kyle Saari, a sophomore earth science major at Rice, said today. "We simply showed our purchasing (department) that there are cheaper and environmentally superior products, so it was a no-brainer."

[Zakeet]

Note to self -- do not shake hands with Rice college students.

[VeritatisSplendor]

I remember when my father had cloth hankies...

Mrs VS

[SoldierDad]

So, they are going to switch to sandpaper for blowing their noses. Ouch!

[muawiyah]

Even cheaper, blow (snork) entire contents of sinus cavities through the nose into hands. Use deft flip motion to release contents to sidewalk.

These may be harvested later as a product known as "street oysters" and sold through specialty stores.

[SelmaLee]

This reminds me of a bumper sticker that I saw a few weeks ago: "If you are opposed to logging - try using plastic toilet paper".

[Westlander]

If you don't like renewable paper products, try wiping your butt with a plastic bag.

[randita]

Maybe Rice should spend some of the money they're supposedly saving to educate students to the fact that trees are a renewable resource.

[Westlander]

Our thoughts must be 'mind melded' with that solar thing going on.

[muawiyah]

Or, alternatively, with sycamore leaves ~ BTW, they use these little waterbottles in Indonesia.

[Calvin Locke]

Idiots. What's that story line from one of the Hitcher's Guide books?

After the planet "deports" all the telephone sanitizers, all life on the planet was destroyed by a virus from a dirty telephone...

[metmom]

Scotties works.

[metmom]

ping

[blam]

This seems out of line for the Rice I knew years ago.

[WorkingClassFilth]

Over 70% of the forested surface area when Columbus landed is present in the cumulative American forests of today. Not the same acres, but the same area. Plus, about 13% of our forests are old growth and much of our forests are aging, some beyond what is good for healthy resource management. We ain't about to run out of trees, kids, so blow your damn noses and try to learn something useful.

[LibFreeOrDie]

Kyle Saari, a sophomore earth science major at Rice, said today. "We simply showed our purchasing (department) that there are cheaper and environmentally superior products, so it was a no-brainer."

It's easy for students with no brains to think up a "no-brainer."

[Beagle8U]

Paper products are made with pulp wood and has nothing to do with ancient forests. The liberal twits were sold a bill of goods by Greenpeace.

Pulp wood comes from trees usually less than 30 years old.

Any older/larger trees used are scraps from making lumber.

[ConservativeStatement]

The student body at Troy now has a prop for their bowl game.

[Xenalyte]

That's 'cause this is NOT in any respect - except the name, the library, and the gorgeous campus - the Rice you knew years ago.

[Tall_Texan]

Boogers are organic.

[Right_at_RiceU]

According to the article, they just don't use Kleenex brand, because they're from a rainforest or something, but use other brands that are cheaper. Don't look down on us Rice students just because the administration decided to buy another brand. If those hippies in charge want to change brands, fine, as long as it doesn't cost more. And at least students won't hold annoying protests about it.