Interestingly enough RiceVM1 is closer to Stanford than RUTVM1...
especially since there is a Bitnet II link between RICEVM1 and UCBCMSA.
 
Your friend probably subscribed after you did and after the Rice--Berkeley
(spelling?) link was made.
 
And no, peered lists are not automatically exploded (move subscribers to
best peers)...
 
/Gary
 
P.S. Because of the local topology here, Canada is "closer" to Rice than Akron,
     Ohio (which is two nodes from OHSTVMA)! ;-)