Dateline Rice for March 20, 2014

FEATURED ITEM

WNBC-TV
Rice is mentioned on the NBC show “Late Night with Seth Meyers” for doctoral candidate Grant Adamson’s translation of a letter found outside a temple in the Egyptian town of Tebtunis using infrared images to read the centuries-old text. April DeConick, the Isla Carroll Turner and Percy Turner Professor of Religious Studies and department chair, is quoted in some articles about this research.
http://bit.ly/1eVA4uv
Egyptian soldier Aurelius Polion’s 1,800-year-old letter home has poignant modernity
International Business Times (This article also appeared in HeritageDaily, RedOrbit, Phys.org, Science 2.0, Raw Story and ScienceBlog.com.)
http://bit.ly/1hGIbgf
Rice grad student translates a Roman soldier’s letter from centuries ago
Houston Press
http://bit.ly/1fJVCK2

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL

Democratic women candidates make equal pay a top issue in midterm elections
Mark Jones, the Joseph D. Jamail Chair in Latin American Studies, professor and chair of political science and fellow in political science at Rice’s Baker Institute for Public Policy, is quoted about Texas primary campaign strategies. He is also a guest speaker on the radio show “Voice of Russia” to discuss the protests in Venezuela.
Washington Post
http://wapo.st/1j7hUNK
Will voter ID changes affect the 2014 elections?
Governing.com
http://bit.ly/1fJI7Kd
Why would Venezuela protests look just like the protests in Ukraine
Voice of Russia
http://bit.ly/PTX1IX
A tale of 2 states: California and Texas
Burnt Orange Report
http://bit.ly/1lT1Xbi

Shadow banking deals prompt SEC plan to cap leverage for brokers
Jefferson Duarte, the Gerald D. Hines Associate Professor of Real Estate Finance, is quoted about leverage ratio for broker-dealers.
Bloomberg (This article also appeared in Live Mint and La Repubblica.)
http://bloom.bg/1hGHxPX

Another vapid effort to claim that science and religion can get along
An opinion piece focuses on research by Elaine Howard Ecklund, the Herbert S. Autrey Chair and Professor of Sociology, co-director of the Boniuk Institute for the Study and Advancement of Religious Tolerance and director of Rice’s Religion and Public Life Program, who conducted a study that supported coexistence and introduced similarities among science and religious communities.
New Republic
http://bit.ly/OAsnDI

‘Virtual’ border fence idea revived. Another ‘billion dollar boondoggle’?
The customs and border protection agency proposed plans to build a high-tech virtual fence along the Arizona portion of the U.S. and Mexico border. Christopher Bronk, fellow in information technology policy at Rice’s Baker Institute for Public Policy, is quoted. He is also quoted about cyberattacks and its effect on national security.
Yahoo! News (This article also appeared in AlaskaDispatch.com and Christian Science Monitor.)
http://yhoo.it/OAq834
Morning security brief: Crimea update, new radar data in missing plane case, catastrophic cyber attacks, and more
Security Management
http://bit.ly/1fK1xyy

Principal reportedly told students not to speak Spanish — now her contract won’t be renewed
The Hempstead Middle School principal’s contract will not be renewed because she repeatedly instructed students via intercom to not speak Spanish on campus. Steve Murdock, the Allyn and Gladys Cline Professor of Sociology and director of Rice’s Hobby Center for the Study of Texas, comments on the fast growth of Texas’ Hispanic population.
The Blaze (Similar articles appeared in 41 other affiliates.)
http://bit.ly/1lSKSy9
Texas principal about to lose job over ‘English only’ policy
BizPac Review
http://bit.ly/1hGXp4V

5 things you need to know about rapper Bun B
Bernard “Bun B” Freeman, the Center for Engaged Research and Collaborative Learning’s Distinguished Lecturer, is featured.
SFGate
http://bit.ly/1j7B31V

There’s a new George Bush on the campaign trail in Texas
Rice alumnus George P. Bush ’98 is featured.
Business Insider
http://read.bi/1qZEuJ6

HOUSTON/TEXAS

Get outside and catch spring fever
An article lists spring activities, including listening to music from Rice student composers to serenade passers-by at the Jo Ann Fleischhauer’s “What Time Is It?” art installation at Market Square’s clock tower, visiting James Turrell’s “Twilight Epiphany” Skyspace on the Rice campus and going on the Rice Design Alliance’s architecture tour, “Additionally.” The skyspace is pictured.
Houston Chronicle (This article appeared on the front of the Star section.)
http://bit.ly/1lT1B4v

Human trafficking in Houston is more likely than you think
Rice’s Kinder Institute for Urban Research partnered with the American Jewish Committee’s Bridging American Task Force for a free summit to discuss human trafficking and immigration reform March 18.
Houston Press
http://bit.ly/1hH78Za

Demographer: Fort Bend, US’ future depends on reversing racial disparities
Steve Murdock, the Allyn and Gladys Cline Professor of Sociology and director of Rice’s Hobby Center for the Study of Texas, is featured for his presentation at Missouri City’s Leadership Luncheon.
Sugar Land Sun
http://bit.ly/1ijcQlF

Rice-based OpenStax College unveils free textbook for introductory economics
Rice’s OpenStax College is featured for its addition of Principles of Economics, OpenStax College’s first book for an introductory course with an annual U.S. enrollment of more than 1 million students. Richard Baraniuk, the Victor E. Cameron Professor of Engineering and founding director of Rice’s OpenStax College, is quoted.
Memorial Examiner
http://bit.ly/PTTCde

Culture scene: March 20-26
Students from Rice’s Shepherd School of Music will perform works that resonate with art in the galleries at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston.
Houston Chronicle
http://bit.ly/1dtdGYN

Sharpening your cinematic edge
Rice’s Chao Center for Asian Studies is hosting filmmakers from India and showing their films at Rice Cinema.
Houston Chronicle
http://bit.ly/1eVEu4i

Baker Institute lecture: “US Policy in the Middle East” with Edward Djerejian
Edward Djerejian, founding director of Rice’s Baker Institute for Public Policy and former U.S. ambassador to Syria and Israel, will discuss the Arab awakening and its implications for U.S. national security interests, foreign policy and public diplomacy in Baker Hall.
CultureMap
http://bit.ly/1epY5wU

Harlan and Kathy Crow donate $5 million to SMU’s Residential Commons
Rice is mentioned as a university using residential commons.
Dallas Morning News
http://dallasne.ws/1gKie1o

BROADCAST

Panhandle crime stoppers offers reward for missing spring break student
Panhandle Crime Stoppers announced a $15,000 cash reward for information that leads to the location and recovery of Martel College senior Reny Jose.
WMBB.com
http://bit.ly/1ij48E4
http://bit.ly/1j7ThjR

TRADE/PROFESSIONAL

Change the homework, improve student achievement
Study from Rice University and Duke University found that making a few changes to homework assignments in an upper-level undergraduate engineering course at Rice led to improved scores on exams.
Campus Technology
http://bit.ly/OEzDOp
Homework changes improve performance
Education Dive
http://bit.ly/1mj4CxP
Rice study: Simple changes to homework improved student learning (Rice University)
WN.com
http://bit.ly/1kMcPHX
New studies released on math anxiety and homework
WBSM.com
http://bit.ly/1r02XOt

Ukraine crisis strengthens EU interest in US gas
Kenneth Medlock III, the James A. Baker III and Susan Baker Fellow in Energy and Resource Economics at Rice’s Baker Institute for Public Policy, is mentioned for his comment in Forbes about U.S. entry into the European gas market.
HazardEx
http://bit.ly/1d3MgOf

SPIE recognizes accomplishments by individuals and teams in photonics
Naomi Halas, the Stanley C. Moore Professor in Electrical and Computer Engineering and director of Rice’s Laboratory for Nanophotonics and professor of physics and astronomy, received the Biophotonics Technology Innovator Award from SPIE.
Laser Focus World (This article also appeared in Photonics.com and OptoIQ.)
http://bit.ly/1g4IsMq

KB Home crushed earnings, will Lennar Corp. follow suit?
A Rice stock market study is referenced.
Seeking Alpha
http://bit.ly/1eVCg59
Why have Revance Therapeutics shares more than doubled since the February IPO?
Seeking Alpha
http://bit.ly/1dfPeQn
 
OTHER NEWS OF INTEREST

Enthralling interactive session
James McLurkin, assistant professor of computer science, is featured for his visit to India to discuss his research on nature being a model for the growth of swarm robotics.
The Statesman
http://bit.ly/1jbHsos

Experiencing Skyspace: Ringling Museum’s Turrell Exhibit
James Turrell’s “Twilight Epiphany” Skyspace at Rice is featured.
Sarasota Magazine
http://bit.ly/1gCSP5w

SPORTS

Houston Dash defeat Rice University in 1st preseason game
Rice women’s soccer fell to the Houston Dash 4-0 at Houston Sports Park.
Houston Chronicle
http://bit.ly/1peEEsw
Dash net 1st pre-season victory
SB Nation
http://bit.ly/1l7bM87

College basketball coaching hot seat: Programs looking for a new coach in 2014-15
Rice has begun its search for a new basketball coach since Ben Braun stepped down after six years of coaching at Rice.
SB Nation
http://bit.ly/1fJVoT6

TF: Veith leads decathlon after day 1 at Rice
Wichita State competed at the Rice Shirley Crow Meet held at Rice.
GoShockers.com
http://bit.ly/1nGf4RM

NEWS RELEASES

Rice Business Plan Competition announces 42 finalists to compete for more than $1 million in prizes
Forty-two teams hailing from some of the world’s top universities will vie for more than $1 million in prizes at the 14th annual Rice Business Plan Competition (RBPC) at Rice University’s Jones Graduate School of Business April 10-12.
http://bit.ly/1fK2VBp

US policy in the Middle East to be discussed at Rice’s Baker Institute March 27
Edward Djerejian, founding director of Rice’s Baker Institute for Public Policy and former U.S. ambassador to Syria and Israel, will discuss the Arab awakening and its implications for U.S. national security interests, foreign policy and public diplomacy in Baker Hall March 27.
http://bit.ly/1eVQItS

Economics 101: free textbook + 1M students = opportunity
Rice’s OpenStax College is featured for its addition of Principles of Economics, OpenStax College’s first book for an introductory course with an annual U.S. enrollment of more than 1 million students.
http://bit.ly/1kMakW9