Letter to the Editor

The Rice Rings

Going through Mechanical Engineering in Sc'65 we had many excellent professors. The ones who were not excellent still taught us well. However, the one who stands out for me is Prof. William B. Rice. While lecturing, he had the habit of striding forcefully from side to side along the front of the room. At the end of each stretch, near the side wall, he would make a rather emphatic spin and reverse his direction. Each spin was accomplished on the heel of his shoe and scratched prominent concentric rings in the linoleum. Obviously this effect became known as the "Rice Rings Phenomenon." Below is an illustrative January 1965 photo. 

Merv Graf, Sc'65
Osoyoos, BC

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