Dateline Rice for April 25, 2012

FEATURED ITEMS

Afraid of poetry? Try these tips
Joseph Campana, assistant professor of English literature, offers tips for enjoying poetry.
Houston Chronicle (This article appeared on the front of the Star section and also in the San Antonio Express-News.)
http://tinyurl.com/83x654x

Houston Area Survey offers good news but also suggests need for change
Stephen Klineberg, professor of sociology and co-director of the Kinder Institute for Urban Research, presented this year’s Kinder Houston Area Survey at a meeting of the Greater Houston Partnership. Other articles discuss the survey.
Houston Chronicle (This article also appeared on Individual.com.)
http://tinyurl.com/cx4mafr
Rice University releases new research on Houston
Click2Houston.com
http://tinyurl.com/7pa85cn
Houston supports mass transit, ethnic relations
Houston Business Journal
http://tinyurl.com/bqa9kex
City in transition
KTRH.com (Houston)
http://tinyurl.com/7yzkz6k

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL

Al Jazeera Arabic
Edward Djerejian, founding director of the James A. Baker III Institute for Public Policy, appeared on Al Jazeera Arabic to discuss civil unrest in Syria. The interview is conducted in Arabic.
http://youtu.be/nGrTOANncpg

Hurt by Arizona immigration law, Hispanics organize
As the U.S. Supreme Court prepares to hear Arizona defend its crackdown on illegal immigrants, Hispanics in the state are responding to the two-year-old measure with a surge of activism ranging from civil rights classes to a revved up effort to get out the vote this election year. Mark Jones, the Joseph D. Jamail Chair in Latin American Studies, professor and chair of political science and fellow in political science at the James A. Baker III Institute for Public Policy, is quoted.
Reuters (This article also appeared in the Windsor Star, the Regina Leader-Post, the Province, WHTC.com [Holland, Mich.], WKZO.com [Kalamazoo, Mich.], PublicBroadcasting.net/WKNO [New Orleans], PublicBroadcasting.net/KSFR [Santa Fe, N.M.], PublicBroadcasting.net/WAMC [Albany, N.Y.] and KDAL610.com [Duluth, Mich.].)
http://tinyurl.com/blbj37z

‘I am not signing oil deal;’ Ellen clarifies purpose of US trip
An article about Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf’s trip to the U.S. mentions that she spoke at Rice’s James A. Baker III Institute for Public Policy. Edward Djerejian, founding director of the Baker Institute, and Rice President David Leebron are mentioned.
Liberian Daily Observer
http://tinyurl.com/7zm2kj2

A user’s guide to how the brain functions
Alumnus David Eagleman ’93 is profiled for his work in neuroscience.
DNAIndia.com
http://tinyurl.com/75ghmqt

Tim League wants film buffs to remember Alamo Drafthouse Cinema
Alumnus Tim League ’92 is profiled for his work as chief executive and co-founder of Alamo Drafthouse Cinema in Austin, Texas. His wife, alumna Karrie League ’92, is mentioned.
Chicago Tribune
http://tinyurl.com/7nq72ur

HOUSTON/TEXAS

Calderón to visit Houston on Wednesday
News items about Mexican President Felipe Calderón’s trip to Houston mention that he will visit Rice’s James A. Baker III Institute for Public Policy.
Houston Chronicle
http://tinyurl.com/6vxxs6j
KTRK-TV
http://tinyurl.com/cgdl9vk

Mothers through the ages: Brandt and Eagleman world premiere honors survival and perseverance
An article discusses a performance by the River Oaks Chamber Orchestra that featured a work by Anthony Brandt, associate professor of composition and theory, and alumnus David Eagleman ’93. Rice’s Richard E. Smalley Institute for Nanoscale Science and Technology is mentioned.
Culturemap.com
http://tinyurl.com/78blbam

Rice public art push
A news brief discusses several public art installations at Rice.
Glasstire.com
http://tinyurl.com/7awchqz

UTA places third at annual Texas Shoot-Out real estate competition
Rice is mentioned in an article about the North Texas Chapter of the National Association of Industrial and Office Properties-Commercial Real Estate Development Association’s annual Texas Shoot-Out competition.
TheShorthorn.com
http://tinyurl.com/6u85m8b

BROADCAST/WEBCAST

KXLN-TV
David Medina, director of multicultural community relations in the Office of Public Affairs, appeared on KXLN-TV to discuss a screening of "Interesting Times: Tracking Houston’s Transformations Through 30 Years of Surveys," at Discovery Green. The film is narrated by Stephen Klineberg, professor of sociology and co-director of the Kinder Institute for Urban Research. Medina appeared again on KXLN-TV Tuesday evening to discuss the Kinder Houston Area Survey. English translations of these clips are not available.
http://tinyurl.com/cww6bch
KXLN-TV
http://tinyurl.com/c7nv97y

TRADE/PROFESSIONAL

Bringing open education to the mainstream
Richard Baraniuk, founder and director of Connexions and the Victor E. Cameron Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering, is quoted in an article featuring Rice’s OpenStax College textbook initiative.
Campus Technology
http://tinyurl.com/d29jh6o

Boron gets a clean energy makeover
Thinking of boron as Swiss cheese helped Rice scientists figure out what atom-thin sheets of it might look like. Boris Yakobson, the Karl F. Hasselmann Chair of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science and professor of chemistry, is quoted.
CleanTechnica.com (This article also appeared in Scientific American and PlanetBerries.com.)
http://cleantechnica.com/2012/04/24/boron-gets-a-clean-energy-makeover/

12 ways high-performance computing is leading to scientific breakthroughs
A photo slideshow about how 12 institutions are using IBM supercomputers notes that Rice University announced that it has acquired the state’s first Blue Gene supercomputer, which will allow further investigation of the molecular basis of disease.
eWeek.com
http://tinyurl.com/7pns2hk

Quantum dots win $100,000 for University of Utah students
An article reporting that a team from the University of Utah won the University of Colorado Cleantech New Venture Challenge mentions that they competed in the Rice Business Plan Competition.
SolarNovus.com
http://tinyurl.com/6rbk3k3

OTHER NEWS OF INTEREST

Pianist Andrew Focks in return engagement
Andrew Focks, a graduate student in music, will perform in Swampscott, Mass., May 6.
Patch.com
http://swampscott.patch.com/articles/pianist-andrew-focks-in-return-engagement

Committee kills effort to repeal Louisiana Science Act
Hanszen College sophomore Zack Kopplin is mentioned in an article about an effort to repeal the Louisiana Science Education Act.
Alexandria Town Talk (La.) (This article also appeared in the Opelousas Daily World.)
http://tinyurl.com/7cv9knk

Volunteers at UNH scramble to get votes to win Zipcar contest
Rice is mentioned in an article about the University of New Hampshire’s participation in a Facebook voting contest.
Foster’s Daily Democrat (N.H.)
http://tinyurl.com/cqsrukb

Your Treasure Valley business community
A news brief reports on the performance of the team from the University of Idaho at the Rice Business Plan Competition.
Idaho Statesman
http://tinyurl.com/72wymqx

The 2012 Arkansas Times Academic All-Star Team
Rice is mentioned in an article about the 2012 Arkansas Times Academic All-Star Team.
Arkansas Times
http://tinyurl.com/7dm49s7

The long- and short-term strategies for coping with spiraling costs of college
Rice is mentioned in an op-ed about coping with the rising costs of college.
Wilkes-Barre Times-Leader (Penn.)
http://tinyurl.com/6r7e7tw

SPORTS

Rice’s Reckling named C-USA pitcher of the week
Hanszen College senior Matthew Reckling was named Conference USA pitcher of the week.
Houston Chronicle
http://tinyurl.com/bunaopv

Willson signs with Jays
Lovett College senior Luke Willson has signed to play with the Toronto Blue Jays.
Windsor Star (Ontario)
http://www.windsorstar.com/sports/Willson+signs+with+Jays/6513780/story.html

Texas to shine brightly during NFL Draft
Several Rice football players are mentioned in an article about the NFL Draft.
CBSLocal.com (Houston)
http://houston.cbslocal.com/2012/04/25/texas-to-shine-brightly-during-nfl-draft/

Rice could be adding USC assistant
According to sources, Adam Cohen, director of basketball operations at the University of Southern California, is under consideration to join Rice coach Ben Braun’s coaching staff.
Houston Chronicle
http://tinyurl.com/c9rmnbz

Kwickies
A news brief reports that former Rice baseball player Philip Humber threw the first perfect game in the majors in almost two years.
Orange County Record (Texas)
http://tinyurl.com/bvpw5hy

Villanova lands Rice transfer Ennis
Rice freshman point guard Dylan Ennis will transfer to Villanova University.
CSNPhilly.com
http://tinyurl.com/7bnknlh
Dylan Ennis will be a ‘Cat
VUHoops.com
http://vuhoops.com/2012/04/24/dylan-ennis-will-be-a-cat/

Newcastle Eagles player Ross Wilson could play in NBA With American scholarship
An article reports that a Newcastle Eagles basketball player has accepted a full basketball scholarship at Rice.
Sky.com
http://tyneandwear.sky.com/sportsnews/article/18974

Bruny Surin’s daughter Kimberley-Ann chooses a different sporting path
Rice is mentioned in an article about a student-athlete from Manitoba.
Brandon Sun (Manitoba)
http://tinyurl.com/7qjtz9e

NEWS RELEASE

Rice’s 31st Kinder Houston Area Survey reveals more Houstonians support mass transit
One of America’s most automobile-dependent large cities may be heading into a new era, according to the 31st annual Kinder Houston Area Survey conducted by Rice University. Among the findings in this year’s survey: Houstonians support mass transit, feel better about the economy and say relations between ethnic groups are better than ever.
https://news2.rice.edu/?p=27028