When I (Phoebe S., Hanszen ‘28) first arrived at Hanszen College for O-Week, I didn't expect to make new friends on my very first day! But fast forward a year later, and I found myself serving as an O-Week Coordinator on the other side of orientation. O-Week is a key part of how community is built at Rice, and setting the tone for a new class of Owls was truly a full-circle experience!

It isn’t just a bike race; it’s a full week of traditions, energy, and community that brings every residential college together. Before coming to Rice, Karlianna, Duncan ‘28, thought Rice’s annual bike race amongst residential colleges is just one of many quirky events that happen that week. She quickly realized that it’s the heartbeat of the spring semester — a time when your college truly becomes your home team.

From Christmas in September to the legendary BakerShake festival, Baker College has its own unique brand of spirited chaos. Doc, Baker ‘29, shares the traditions and community that define Rice University’s very first Residential College.