A return to "Rice apathy"? 

The Masterson crisis and the questions about the meaning and fate of the university that it sparked began to lose momentum with time. Many viewed the return to "Rice apathy" with disappointment after the excitement of the controversy. Norman Hackerman, former president of the University of Texas at Austin, was appointed president of Rice in April 1970. He would remain at the university until 1985. 

The Masterson crisis would not be the last protest at Rice, however. While students and faculty had distanced themselves from the radical demonstrations occurring at other universities during the Masterson crisis, this was not the case the following year. In April 1970 - just as Hackerman was appointed president - the controversial announcement and subsequent cancellation of an Abbie Hoffman speaking event provoked student demonstrations that culminated in a fire in the Rice Memorial Center and the occupation of the Allen Center.