Dateline Rice for Nov. 14, 2014

FEATURED ITEM

Consumer confidence high as Houstonians enter the holiday season
Jill Foote, senior lecturer in finance at Rice’s Jones Graduate School of Business, comments on Houston’s strong economy and its positive effect on retailers for the holiday season.
Houston Chronicle (Subscription required.)
http://bit.ly/1zoVWtv

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL

On elite campuses, an arts race
Elite campuses across the country are building architecturally ambitious arts facilities. The opera theater that is being designed for Rice is mentioned.
New York Times
http://nyti.ms/11nRGzs

Disgusting stuff turns us into liars and cheats, and cleanliness makes us honest again
According to marketing experts at Rice, Pennsylvania State University and Arizona State University, cleanliness helps people return to ethical behavior. Vikas Mittal, the J. Hugh Liedtke Professor of Marketing at Rice’s Jones Graduate School of Business, is quoted.
The Independent
http://ind.pn/1wYuvaP
How cleanliness begets honesty
The Economic Times
http://bit.ly/1EKoC3d
Cleanliness really IS next to godliness: Thinking about hygiene and being tidy makes people more ethical, study claims
Daily Mail
http://dailym.ai/1v9A9YN
A clean desk could make you a better person
Nine MSN
http://bit.ly/1GWYfsT
Feelings of disgust may lead people to lie, cheat
University Herald
http://bit.ly/1yF0Cui
Disgust leads people to lie and cheat, cleanliness promotes ethical behavior, study shows
Medical Xpress (This article also appeared in Yahoo! India and 16 other media outlets.)
http://bit.ly/1oWwKtG

MOOCs aim to fill knowledge gaps in secondary education
Rice is mentioned as a partner of EdX, which is offering MOOC courses to high school students.
Forbes
http://onforb.es/1pZwYRq

A new business pitch should never last more than 18 minutes
John F. Kennedy’s speech given at Rice in 1962 is referenced.
Forbes
http://onforb.es/1vcAaL1

Universities are taking neighborhood engagement to the next level
An article about universities active in community involvement highlights Rice’s Center for Civic Leadership.
NextCity.org
http://bit.ly/1qIiLmA

State Department puts out $5 million reward for US-born Zetas leader
The U.S. State Department issued a $5 million reward for information leading to the arrest of an American citizen who is allegedly leading a faction of a drug cartel in southern Mexico. Tony Payan, the Baker Institute’s Françoise and Edward Djerejian Fellow for Mexico Studies and director of the institute’s Mexico Center, is quoted.
Fox News Latino
http://bit.ly/1sN2XzS

Segregated surveys: How politics keeps evangelicals white
More ethnic minorities are attending evangelical churches, but it is not documented on the national survey reports of religious Americans. Michael Emerson, the Allyn and Gladys Cline Professor of Sociology, is quoted.
Christianity Today
http://bit.ly/1tRrgvQ

Jon Kimura Parker will weave fantasies at UW program
Jon Kimura Parker, professor of piano, will perform at the University of Washington Nov. 14.
The Seattle Times
http://bit.ly/1zRrdZ8

HOUSTON/TEXAS

Perry, Dewhurst push to extend border surge before leaving office
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, comments on Texas Gov. Rick Perry’s decision to extend the surge of law-enforcement officers on the southern border until next August.
Houston Chronicle (This appeared on the front page. Subscription required. This article also appeared in ExpressNews.lk.)
http://bit.ly/1EHtUfX

Startup studio overcoming an entrepreneur shortage
Stanford University graduate and lecturer Leo Linbeck III hopes to develop a business model that will help create an entrepreneurial ecosystem in Houston, which is the mission of Rice’s accelerators.
Houston Chronicle (Subscription required.)
http://bit.ly/1zoUBD8

Student blog: Anguish of a vanishing people — The uncertain fate of the Yazidis
Duncan College sophomore Anita Kapyur authored a blog post about the threats Yazidi people face by Islamic State jihadists.
Houston Chronicle
http://bit.ly/1xEFJRL

Tale of the shot chart: The Rockets have a defense!
Will Rice College junior Senthil Natarajan authored an essay about the Houston Rockets.
Houston Chronicle (This article appeared in the Houston Chronicle’s “Gray Matters” online magazine. Subscription required.)
http://bit.ly/1GWKiLz

In the garden with Urban Harvest: Let’s talk oranges and apples
The Urban Harvest fruit tree sale will be Jan. 17 at Rice Stadium.
Houston Chronicle (Subscription required.)
http://bit.ly/14mSZQh

Oil’s comeback could take awhile
Though it took months for oil prices to drop to its lowest level in four years, it could take more than a year to rebound. Jim Krane, the Wallace S. Wilson Fellow for Energy Studies at Rice’s Baker Institute for Public Policy, is quoted about Saudi Arabia’s desire to keep prices low.
Midland Reporter-Telegram
http://bit.ly/1tR8ogh

IBM wants to look at your genes
Luay Nakhleh, associate professor of computer science and assistant professor of biochemistry and cell biology, and his group have developed PhyloNet, an open-source software package that accounts for horizontal as well as vertical inheritance of genetic material among genomes.
KTRH-AM
http://bit.ly/1zoUiYS

CTBP research seminar at Rice University
University of Alberta assistant professor Michael Woodside will be the speaker at Rice’s Center for Theoretical Biological Physics seminar.
TMC News
http://bit.ly/1xzzTjy

Mellon Foundation starts curatorial fellowship program at MFAH and 4 other major museums
The Mellon Foundation announced Jones College senior Jennifer Cernada as a fellow in the Andrew W. Mellon Undergraduate Curatorial Fellowship Program.
Glasstire
http://bit.ly/116wcq9

Revered Texas novelist and Oscar winner thrill gala crowd with Houston insights
Alumnus Larry McMurtry ’60 co-headlined the Center for Houston’s Future’s “Dinner and Conversation” at the River Oaks Country Club.
CultureMap Houston
http://bit.ly/1xEGl9Y

It’s free stuff Friday!
Rice is hosting a free softball clinic for young amputees Nov. 15 at Reckling Park.
KTRK-TV
http://abc13.co/1BoUBHU

This week in Houston’s buzz: Gewandhausorchester, the Buffalo Bayou Ball and more!
Colombian violinist and conductor Andrés Orozco-Estrada will use Spanish language commentary to discuss his performance of Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony at Rice’s Stude Concert Hall.
Forward Times Online
http://bit.ly/1v9KTGt

2014 distinguished scholars: Amy Griffiths
Corpus Christi High School student and 2014 distinguished scholar Amy Griffiths is considering attending Rice.
Corpus Christi Caller-Times
http://bit.ly/1EKC9YE

TRADE/PROFESSIONAL

Week in review, Nov. 10-14
Researchers created a device that uses a person’s brainwaves to trigger a light-inducible optogenetic implant in mice. Matthew Bennett, assistant professor of biochemistry and cell biology, is quoted.
The Scientist
http://bit.ly/1BoDVQN

Subducting oceanic plates are thinning adjacent continents
Earth scientists led by Rice University have determined that subducting oceanic plates are unexpectedly thinning adjacent continental plates. The findings reconcile a number of “sometimes mutually exclusive” tectonic models in the study areas, according to the researchers. Alan Levander, the Carey Croneis Professor of Earth Science, is quoted.
Phys.org
http://bit.ly/11nXnxs

OTHER NEWS OF INTEREST

Top architecture schools in the US revealed
Rice is No. 3 on DesignIntelligence’s list of the top 10 U.S. architecture undergraduate programs and No. 7 for graduate programs.
Editor at Large
http://bit.ly/1wzkfBS

‘The Servant of Two Masters’ begins tonight at Rice University
Christina Keefe, professor in the practice in theater and director of the Rice Theatre Program, is the director of “The Servant of Two Masters,” which will play at Rice Nov. 14-22.
Broadway World
http://bit.ly/1x128Zk

‘Software is complicated and many software projects fail’
MBA student Dougal Cameron is interviewed.
BusinessInterviews.com
http://bit.ly/1sNdLOq

Michigan Honors: Gray Gorton, 91, of Midland, thanks God for kamikaze pilot’s poor aim
Alumnus Gray Gorton ’44 is featured.
MLive.com
http://bit.ly/1ua583t

2014 Winthrop-Sears Medal for entrepreneurial achievement awarded to Dr. Scott Power of DuPont
Alumnus Scott Power ’78 was awarded the 2014 Winthrop-Sears Medal for entrepreneurial achievement.
Financial Content (This article also appeared in BioSpace.com, Townhall, Minyanville, Money Show, Sun News, Industrial Info and Machinery & Equipment MRO.)
http://bit.ly/1ul7gqG

San Diego Symphony fills critical positions
Alumna Danielle Kuhlmann ’09 has been appointed second horn for the San Diego Symphony.
UTSanDiego.com
http://bit.ly/1wyJuEa

Opera Naples announces cast of ‘Così Fan Tutte’
Alumna Amy Owens ’12 is profiled.
Naples Daily News
http://bit.ly/1BpmiQQ

SPORTS

Articles preview the upcoming Rice football game against Marshall University Nov. 15 in Huntington, W.Va.
Computer favor TCU over Jayhawks on Saturday
NBC Sports
http://bit.ly/1vd81mX
Game preview: Rice Owls
The Parthenon (Similar articles appeared in 25 other media outlets.)
http://bit.ly/116265X
The herd to spot ’75’ on helmets in Saturday’s game
WCHS-TV
http://bit.ly/1162HEN
Rice-Marshall preview capsule
Miami Herald (This article also appeared in Sacramento Bee and 12 other media outlets.)
http://hrld.us/1uu4MGb

Women’s soccer to take on Rice in NCAA Tournament opener
Rice women’s soccer is playing against the University of Texas at Austin Nov. 14 in Austin.
The Daily Texan
http://bit.ly/1wz6Klz

Beaver basketball begins
Rice men’s basketball will play against Oregon State University Nov. 14 in Gill Coliseum.
The Daily Barometer
http://bit.ly/1tRghTa
Preview — Rice at Oregon State
KXLY.com (This article also appeared in KTVZ-TV, WYFF-TV and WDSU-TV.)
http://bit.ly/1xEOs6t
Rice (0-0) at Oregon State (0-0)
The News Tribune
http://bit.ly/1x1zTtB

Lady Braves enter season with high hopes
Rice women’s basketball will play against Alcorn State University Nov. 28 at Tudor Fieldhouse.
HBCUSports.com
http://bit.ly/1xzv7CN
Women’s basketball set to host Prairie View in opener
Conference USA
http://bit.ly/1sOp5Zz

Golf signs two to NLIs in early period
Boulder High School student Grant Rogers and Delbarton School student Will Voetsch signed National Letters of Intent to play for Rice men’s golf. Head golf coach Justin Emil is quoted.
The Rancher (This article also appeared in Bellaire Examiner.)
http://bit.ly/1Bpf4MK

Williams announces signing of 4 future Owls
Rice women’s basketball head coach Greg Williams announced that Lexie Ducat, Lauren Grigsby, Gabrielle Stanton and Jasmin Taylor signed National Letters of Intent.
Conference USA
http://bit.ly/1sN95rK

NEWS RELEASE

James Conway, former senior US Marine Corps leader, to speak at Rice Nov. 20
Retired U.S. Marine Corps four-star Gen. James Conway will speak at Rice University’s Jones Graduate School of Business Nov. 20 at the Rice Veterans Leadership Series, “An Evening with James Conway.”
http://bit.ly/1x1F6lg