Dateline Rice for April 8, 2013 (Weekend Edition)

FEATURED ITEMS

Diamonds, pencils and buckyballs: A look at buckminsterfullerene
A video about buckyballs mentions their discovery at Rice by Robert Curl, University Professor Emeritus and the Kenneth S. Pitzer-Schlumberger Professor Emeritus of Natural Sciences, and the late Richard Smalley. This video was featured on the National Science Foundation’s Science360.gov homepage.
Science360.gov
http://news.science360.gov/archives/20130408

Laws could protect gay job applicants
Laws against discrimination can have a significant positive impact on how gays and lesbians are treated in employment situations, according to new research. Mikki Hebl, professor of psychology and management, is quoted. This is the lead story on Futurity today.
Futurity.org
http://www.futurity.org/top-stories/laws-could-protect-gay-job-applicants/

Welcome to the USA: Do religious groups play unique role?
Despite different motivations, religious and nonreligious organizations may have a similar effect on the ability of immigrants to acclimate to life in the U.S., new research suggests. Elaine Howard Ecklund, associate professor of sociology, director of the Religion and Public Life Program and Rice Scholar at Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy, is quoted.
Futurity.org
http://bit.ly/10A4bTf

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL

A coordinated US strategy on Syria
Edward Djerejian, founding director of Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy, authored this op-ed about U.S. foreign policy in regard to Syria.
Foreign Policy (registration required)
http://atfp.co/ZcQGoy

Texas battleground as cowboy boots win Hispanics
Mark Jones, the Joseph D. Jamail Chair in Latin American Studies, professor and chair of political science and fellow in political science at Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy, is quoted in articles about the effect of Texas’ shifting demographics on the state’s politics and the Texas legislative session. Jones also appeared on KUHT-TV’s "Red, White and Blue" to discuss the Texas legislative session. A link to this broadcast is not available.
Businessweek (This article also appeared on Bloomberg.com.)
http://buswk.co/11J4Y5h
Parents may hold more sway than politicos in voucher fight
Houston Chronicle (subscription required) (This article also appeared in the San Antonio Express-News.)
http://bit.ly/145xd1S
KUHT-TV’s ‘Red, White and Blue’

Arming for virtual battle: The dangerous new rules of cyberwar
Now that wars are also being fought on digital battlefields, experts in international law have established rules for cyberwar. But many questions remain unanswered. Chris Bronk, fellow in information technology policy at Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy, is quoted.
ABCNews.com
http://abcn.ws/14Rz7Cj

The science on same-sex marriage
Research by Jenifer Bratter, associate professor of sociology and program director of Race Scholars at Rice in the Kinder Institute of Urban Research, is cited in an article about studies on same-sex marriage.
Reason
http://reason.com/archives/2013/04/05/the-science-on-same-sex-marriage

Houston rising — Why the next great American cities aren’t what you think
Rice research is cited in an article about "aspirational cities."
Newsweek/The Daily Beast
http://thebea.st/14Yrsm6

Thomas McEvilley, at 73; critic helped broaden view of world art
An article remembers Thomas McEvilley, distinguished lecturer emeritus of art history.
Boston Globe
http://b.globe.com/16IcBbJ

No dearth of gas, so why hike prices?
World natural gas reserves appear to be swelling by the day as new discoveries are made and brought online. So why are prices rising? Research from Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy is cited.
DNAIndia.com
http://bit.ly/10DCJ5y

HOUSTON/TEXAS

New poetry collections from two elder statesmen: Carl Phillips and Brad Leithauser
Joseph Campana, assistant professor of English literature, authored this review of ‘Silverchest: Poems’ by Carl Phillips.
Houston Chronicle
http://bit.ly/Zi3DgY

UTSA names Business College dean
Gerry Sanders, professor of management at the Jesse H. Jones Graduate School of Business, has been named dean of the University of Texas at San Antonio’s College of Business.
San Antonio Express-News
http://bit.ly/10L48Tt

Chesapeake’s stopgap leadership move
William Arnold, professor in the practice of management at the Jesse H. Jones Graduate School of Business, is quoted in a column about Chesapeake Energy’s search for a new CEO.
Longview News-Journal (This article also appeared in the Akron Beacon-Journal.)
http://bit.ly/11J7NDs

Mauritius: A thriller with manipulation and rare stamps at Rice University
An article reviews a performance of the play "Mauritius" at Rice. Several Rice students are mentioned.
Houston Press
http://bit.ly/10L4zOv

Lone Star College-Tomball ‘Star of the Month’ transitions from super mom to super student
Rice is mentioned in an article about a Lone Star College-Tomball student.
Paper Magazine
http://bit.ly/16I8AG9

UT head: $10,000 degrees not likely
University of Texas President William C. Powers said Saturday he supports a push by Gov. Rick Perry to develop degrees costing $10,000 but finds it unlikely the school could ever offer such plans to all students while maintaining its core mission of improving technology and research. Rice is mentioned.
Houston Chronicle (subscription required)
http://bit.ly/12AQweJ

BROADCAST/WEBCAST

KTRK-TV
Rice University students developed a unique type of soap dispenser using a common kitchen utensil that a downtown Houston restaurant will soon incorporate into its bathrooms. The KTRK-TV story quotes Matthew Wettergreen, lecturer in bioengineering; Duncan College sophomore Josiah Grace; McMurtry College junior Kayla McCarty; Lovett College sophomore Sarah Hernandez; and Sid Richardson College sophomore Marie Hoeger.
http://abclocal.go.com/ktrk/video?id=9056376
Cheese grater+bar soap+rubber band = DIY soap dispenser
Consumerist.com
http://bit.ly/Zi7CkC

KRIV-TV
Ric Stoll, the Albert Thomas Professor of Political Science and scholar at Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy, discusses the escalation of tensions between North and South Korea. Links to the KROI-FM and KXLN-TV broadcasts are not available.
http://bit.ly/ZvdBCE
KROI-FM
KXLN-TV

KPRC-TV
Despite disappointing national jobs numbers, Houston is hiring. Bob Stein, the Lena Gohlman Fox Professor of Political Science and fellow in urban politics at Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy, is quoted.
http://bit.ly/Y9LUND

TRADE/PROFESSIONAL

Contradictory electronic state explained
Qimiao Si, the Harry C. and Olga K. Wiess Professor of Physics and Astronomy, and Rong Yu, a postdoctoral research associate in physics and astronomy, have a theoretical explanation for a state in which a material simultaneously exhibits the conflicting characteristics of a metallic conductor and an insulator.
ElectronicsNews.com.au
http://bit.ly/10L0lpa

Which colleges have the smartest students?
Data scientists at Lumosity created a method to determine which colleges have the smartest students. Rice is ranked among the top 50 out of 411 schools. In brain-area competencies, Rice is ranked No. 5 for attention, No. 10 for problem solving and No. 13 for speed.
SmartPlanet.com
http://smrt.io/14QQx1Z

OTHER NEWS OF INTEREST

Tapia talks diversity
An article discusses the 2013 Richard Tapia Celebration of Diversity in Computing Conference, honoring the contributions of Richard Tapia, University Professor and the Maxfield-Oshman Professor in Engineering.
Latino Magazine
https://news2.rice.edu/files/2013/04/LatinoMagazineTapia.jpg

As Salazar starts packing, critics assess his conservation record
Douglas Brinkley, professor of history and fellow in history at Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy, is quoted in an article about Interior Secretary Ken Salazar.
EENews.net
http://www.eenews.net/public/Greenwire/2013/04/05/1

Bass, tenor, alto, sombrero
The Houston Grand Opera is commissioning new works that tap into city’s growing Hispanic community. Stephen Klineberg, professor of sociology and co-director of the Kinder Institute for Urban Research, is quoted.
HispanicTrending.net
http://www.hispanictrending.net/2013/04/bass-tenor-alto-sombrero.html

Flutist uses music to advocate for the disabled
Alumna Catherine Branch ’08 will perform at Wake Forest University April 10.
Winston-Salem Journal (N.C.) (This article also appeared on TMCNet.com.)
http://bit.ly/14RreN7

A new confessional: Facebook page goes viral
Rice is mentioned in a column about "university confessional" Facebook pages.
TheLaf.com (Pennsylvania)
http://bit.ly/10AiDKr

Emmy winning artist to entertain at OSUIT
An article reporting that artist Wayne White will speak at Oklahoma State University mentions his Rice Gallery installation.
GTRNews.com
http://bit.ly/Zi476J

The 26 best colleges to find a good husband
Rice appears on a list of "the 26 best colleges to find a good husband."
InsiderMonkey.com
http://bit.ly/10L6dPd

SPORTS

Rice rips NCAA for way it handled transfer cases
Rice officials said the NCAA acted in "careless and bewildering" fashion by not conducting an investigation into allegations of discrimination by two former men’s basketball players. Rice President David Leebron is quoted.
Houston Chronicle (subscription required) (This article also appeared in the Greenwich Time and the Danbury News-Times.)
http://bit.ly/10LAtJL
Investigation of Rice athletics finds no evidence of discrimination
MyFoxHouston.com
http://bit.ly/XYP6f6
KRIV-TV
http://bit.ly/10HqMvs

Hopes run high after Rice football scrimmage
News items discuss the Rice Owls football team’s preparations for the fall season. Head coach David Bailiff and McMurtry College junior Taylor McHargue are quoted.
Houston Chronicle (This article also appeared in the Norwalk Citizen, the Danbury News-Times, the Greenwich Time, the Fairfield Citizen and the Stamford Advocate.)
http://bit.ly/Z3rHrQ
KHOU-TV
http://bit.ly/Xz8Kz5
KRIV-TV
http://bit.ly/10HqMvs

Rice baseball team overcomes two deficits, edges past East Carolina
An article recaps a baseball series between Rice and East Carolina University.
Bellaire Examiner (Texas) (Coverage of this series also appeared on Scout.com and Examiner.com.)
http://bit.ly/16I5zp6

Gauchos place at Sam Adams invitational
Brown College sophomore Chris Sanders is mentioned in an article about the Sam Adams Multi-Event Invitational.
DailyNexus.com
http://dailynexus.com/2013-04-08/gauchos-place-at-sam-adams-invitational/

2013 NFL draft: Vance McDonald prospect profile
Lovett College senior Vance McDonald’s NFL prospects are discussed.
Palm Beach Post (Fla.) (This article also appeared in the Austin American-Statesman, the Dayton Daily News, the Middletown Journal, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, WJACTV.com [Johnstown, Penn.], WPXI.com [Pittsburgh], KIROTV.com [Seattle], WFTV.com [Orlando, Fla.] and SBNation.com.)
http://bit.ly/Y8ak5O

Sports expert analyzes blackout
A letter to the editor about Houston sports coverage on cable mentions Rice.
Houston Chronicle
http://bit.ly/10z0X2b

Kernels throw no-hitter against Beloit in 9-1 win
Former Rice baseball player Tyler Duffey is featured in an article recapping a Cedar Rapids Kernels baseball game.
KCRG.com (Cedar Rapids, Iowa)
http://bit.ly/YGkr5v

C-USA move official
Rice is mentioned in an article reporting that Western Kentucky University will join Conference USA.
Chicago Tribune (This article also appeared in the Orlando Sentinel.)
http://trib.in/Zvjik2

Kevin Ware’s injury calls attention to NCAA health care debate
An article about health care for NCAA athletes mentions former student Joseph Agnew’s lawsuit against the NCAA.
ABCNews.com
http://abcn.ws/XnQVR2

NEWS RELEASES

Religious, nonreligious organizations may have similar impact on ability of immigrants to acclimate to life in US
Religious and nonreligious organizations may have a similar impact on the ability of immigrants to acclimate to life in the U.S., despite the organizations’ different motivations for providing charitable services, according to new research from Rice University.
https://news2.rice.edu/?p=42945

Legislation can curb discrimination against gays and lesbians in employment situations
Antidiscrimination laws can have a significant positive impact on how gays and lesbians are treated in employment situations, according to new research from Rice University. The study on public awareness of sexual-orientation employment-antidiscrimination laws is one of the first to provide empirical evidence for the likely impact of pending antidiscrimination legislation.
https://news2.rice.edu/?p=42867

Margaret Thatcher Houston G-7 summit photos
In July of 1990, the United States hosted the Group of Seven (G7) countries’ summit on the campus of Rice University. Below are a couple of photos with then-British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher. Thatcher passed away today at the age of 87. Rice University political scientist Ric Stoll was on campus the week of the summit and can comment on the meeting and the passing of Thatcher.
https://news2.rice.edu/?p=43127

Rice engineers show and tell
More than 80 teams of Rice University engineering students will be at center court at Tudor Fieldhouse April 11 for the annual Design Showcase and Poster Competition, where they will demonstrate their senior capstone design and other projects.
https://news2.rice.edu/?p=43178

Statement of James A. Baker III on the passing of Margaret Thatcher
James A. Baker III issued a statement about Margaret Thatcher.
https://news2.rice.edu/?p=43200

Ocean explorers want to get to the bottom of Galicia
An international team of scientists and technicians led by Rice University will spend 45 days in the North Atlantic this summer to gather the most detailed information ever about the geology of the ocean basin that formed at what was once the center of Pangaea.
https://news2.rice.edu/?p=43030