Dateline Rice for May 16, 2016 (Weekend Edition)

FEATURED ITEMS

UH, Rice graduate thousands
Rice University’s commencement ceremonies were held May 13 and 14. Commencement speaker Sheryl WuDunn is quoted.
Houston Chronicle (Subscription required.)
http://bit.ly/23UPIzi
Rice to confer degrees to grads Saturday
KTRH
http://bit.ly/22dCOgG
http://bit.ly/1OwfsQO (Click on the audio button to listen to the broadcast.)
http://bit.ly/1ThTyB1 (Click on the audio button to listen to the broadcast.)
http://bit.ly/1ZXzJPQ (Click on the audio button to listen to the broadcast.)

‘FOX 26 Morning News Weekends 7 a.m.’
Lisa Blinn, associate director of Rice’s Institute of Biosciences and Bioengineering, discusses Rice’s Rice IBB Girls STEM Initiative.
KRIV
http://bit.ly/1qnLbbn

Schubert: Texas should support Reach Act
An op-ed supporting the Reach Every Mother and Child Act discusses Rebecca Richards-Kortum’s work in Malawi. Richards-Kortum is the Malcolm Gillis University Professor, director of the Institute of Biosciences and Bioengineering and of Rice 360° Institute for Global Health.
Houston Chronicle (Subscription required.)
http://bit.ly/1ZX1Iz8

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL

How and why you diversify colleges
An op-ed mentions that Rice was one of five finalists for the $1 million Cooke Prize for Equity in Educational Excellence, which goes to a selective college or university with an excellent record of admitting, supporting and graduating outstanding low-income students.
The New York Times (This also appeared in Rutland Herald.)
http://nyti.ms/1Yvqsy5

GOP is coming around in its embrace of Donald Trump
Douglas Brinkley, professor of history, is quoted about the presidential primaries.
The New York Times (This also appeared in Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.)
http://nyti.ms/1ZOsD06
The realities of the Sanders ‘revolution’
San Francisco Chronicle
http://bit.ly/1V65HtU

Texas takes a lickin’ but keeps on tickin’
Findings from the 2016 Kinder Houston Area Survey are reported. Mark Jones, the Joseph D. Jamail Chair in Latin American Studies, professor of political science, fellow in political science at Rice’s Baker Institute for Public Policy and fellow at Rice’s Kinder Institute for Urban Research, is quoted in the Houston Chronicle article; Stephen Klineberg, founding director of the Kinder Institute and a professor of sociology, is quoted in the Radio-Canada article and mentioned in the Forbes article.
Forbes
http://onforb.es/1TENG0M
Simpson, Ramos say runoff for GOP chair crucial for county party’s future
Houston Chronicle (Subscription required.)
http://bit.ly/1WBtza6
Ces minorités qui changent le Texas
Radio-Canada (An English translation is not available.)
http://bit.ly/23UUcpI

Pablo Escobar’s chief assassin reveals the 2 things that spook drug lords like ‘El Chapo’ Guzmán
Nathan Jones, the Alfred C. Glassell III Postdoctoral Fellow in Drug Policy at Rice’s Baker Institute for Public Policy, is quoted about drug lord Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán.
Business Insider
http://read.bi/1TgLgpy

Nanocars rev up for the world’s biggest small race
James Tour, the T.T. and W.F. Chao Professor of Chemistry, professor of computer science and of materials science and nanoengineering, is quoted in an article about nanocars.
The Irrigator
http://bit.ly/1TcSXSY

BHOS students to be able to visit Abu Dhabi Petroleum Institute
An article mentions that Thomas J. Hochstettler is a former Rice associate provost.
Trend
http://bit.ly/1VYsNUv

Controversial Texas education board candidate’s fuzzy facts raise eyebrows in run-off race
Mark Jones, the Joseph D. Jamail Chair in Latin American Studies, professor of political science, fellow in political science at Rice’s Baker Institute for Public Policy and fellow at Rice’s Kinder Institute for Urban Research, is quoted about ride-sharing programs in Texas, the presidential primaries, school funding in Texas and Texas State Board of Education primary run-off race.
Breitbart
http://bit.ly/1TELZR6
Did big spending on Austin’s Prop 1 send a message to other cities?
Austin American-Statesman
http://atxne.ws/1qnDOAS
Cruz announces he’s not releasing his delegates before convention
New York South East Post
http://bit.ly/1ThNush
NOM finally addresses the failure of Ted Cruz’s campaign
Sacred Heart
http://bit.ly/1R4bHwo
Senate Republicans ask Trump to soften his tone
Bilbaoya
http://bit.ly/27rSqRk
School districts devastated by ruling on education funding
KRIV
http://bit.ly/1TgIWie
http://bit.ly/2563Vzo
WOAI
http://bit.ly/1YvBIdW (Click on the audio button to listen to the broadcast.)
http://bit.ly/23UZ7H7 (Click on the audio button to listen to the broadcast.)

Celine Cooper: Next City Vanguard conference will help Montreal tackle the urban issues that matter
Rice’s Kinder Institute for Urban Research is mentioned.
Montreal Gazette
http://bit.ly/1OvVeqk
Early jump on literacy crucial for English-language learners
Lancaster Online
http://bit.ly/1siejlA

HOUSTON/TEXAS

Students design device to monitor fetal oxygen levels
Rice engineering students have created a minimally invasive device to monitor the pulse and oxygen levels of a fetus undergoing endoscopic surgery in a mother’s womb and recently carried out proof-of-concept testing at Texas Children’s Hospital. Eric Richardson, lecturer in bioengineering; Baker College seniors Claudia Iriondo and Thomas Loughlin; and Duncan College seniors Samir Saidi and Kathryn Wallace are mentioned.
TMC News (This article appeared in the May 16 issue of TMC Today.) 
http://bit.ly/23EMNKU

Study probes heart of synthetic heart valves
Rice researchers are studying the characteristics of hydrogels that may be used as a tunable bioscaffold for new spongiosa, the middle tissue layer in the leaflets of heart valves. The ultimate goal is to develop synthetic replacement heart valves that mimic natural ones. Jane Grande-Allen, the Isabel C. Cameron Professor of Bioengineering, and graduate student Dan Puperi are quoted.
TMC News (This article appeared in the May 16 issue of TMC Today.) 
http://bit.ly/1rP9Bfl
A step closer to synthetic heart valves that mimics the original
Med India
http://bit.ly/1s83Zgb

Local celebs rally for ‘Game Day Gala’
Ruth López Turley, associate professor of sociology and director of the Houston Education Research Consortium, is mentioned for her help with “Project 88,” a local group hoping to improve the student-to-guidance-counselor ratio in the Houston Independent School District.
Houston Chronicle (Subscription required.)
http://bit.ly/255wOf5

Texas colleges from most to least conservative, ranked
Rice is No. 42 on a list of the most conservative colleges in Texas.
Houston Chronicle
http://bit.ly/1TEHMNa

Gender guidelines
Alumnus Carey Snyder ’71 wrote a letter to the editor.
Fort Worth Star-Telegram
http://bit.ly/1VYw5an

Humble native selected for captain
Alumnus Todd Wanack ’07 is featured.
The Humble Observer
http://bit.ly/1X8gBQa

Finding light in the darkness: Local family starts foundation for premature babies
An article mentions that the fundraiser “Baseball for Babies” took place at Reckling Park May 14. Alumnus Vincent Sinisi ’05 is featured.
Woodlands Online
http://bit.ly/1s819rx
KRIV
http://bit.ly/1OwfsjL
http://bit.ly/1TSqeNu

Administrators named to Cooper’s Executive Leadership Team for upcoming school year
An article mentions that John Hoye coached at Rice.
Woodlands Online
http://bit.ly/1XpHy1Y
The John Cooper School names new administrative staff
The Woodlands Journal
http://bit.ly/1XukwHt

53rd Farm and Ranch Tour pulls out Tuesday
Alumnus George P. Bush ’98 is mentioned.
Athens Daily Review
http://bit.ly/23OxUWD

Agent snapshot: Tiffany Markovsky, broker/owner, Sky Real Estate Professionals, Cypress
Rice is mentioned.
Houston Agent Magazine
http://bit.ly/1VYtblM

Pangea Network offers Young Women Leadership Camps in Kenya, Houston
Pangea Network’s Young Women Leadership’s Camp in Houston will be hosted at Rice July 18-23.
The Courier of Montgomery County
http://bit.ly/1TENcry

No Mo PoMo! Let’s argue about architecture
Lars Lerup, the Harry K. and Albert K. Smith Professor of Architecture, is mentioned.
Glasstire
http://bit.ly/1TVDqE5

Houston’s 10 best bars if you’re broke
Valhalla is featured on a list of Houston-area bars.
Houston Press
http://bit.ly/1rPa0yd

BROADCAST

NASA probe results could improve Rice’s ‘space weather’ forecasts
New findings from NASA’s orbiting Magnetospheric Multiscale mission could help Rice University physicists and their colleagues better predict “space weather” – the magnetic storms high above Earth that can damage satellites and terrestrial power grids. Patricia Reiff, professor of physics and astronomy, is quoted and alumnus James Burch ’68 is mentioned.
KTRH (This also appeared in KRPC.)
http://bit.ly/1TVzweo

KVUE
Five Rice seniors are trying to make sure grill masters never undercook or overcook their steaks again. The team, Five Guys & Ribeyes, has designed and constructed a functional prototype seven-sensor meat thermometer for the students’ senior engineering design project. Baker College senior Rico Marquez is mentioned.
http://bit.ly/1WAKpXb

‘FOX 4 News at 9’
Alumnus Colt Keo-Meier ’06 is mentioned.
KBTX
http://bit.ly/24US8R0

WOAI
Rice is mentioned.
http://bit.ly/1TcSakU (Click on the audio button to listen to the broadcast.)

TRADE/PROFESSIONAL

Microwaved graphene nanoribbons boost oil and gas industry
Wellbores drilled to extract oil and gas can be dramatically reinforced with a small amount of modified graphene nanoribbons added to a polymer and microwaved, according to Rice University researchers. James Tour, the T.T. and W.F. Chao Professor of Chemistry, professor of computer science and of materials science and nanoengineering, and Rouzbeh Shahsavari, assistant professor of civil and environmental engineering, are quoted.
Controlled Environments
http://bit.ly/1TLx0EF
Microwaved nanoribbons may bolster oil and gas wells
ECN (This also appeared in Wireless Design Mag, Science Newsline, Oil Gas Daily, Materialsgate, Natural Gas Intel and Bright Surf.)
http://bit.ly/27kQ8n6

Una revolución potencial en la energía solar gracias a la inesperada utilidad de un lubricante de motores
Mechanics know molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) as a useful lubricant in aircraft and motorcycle engines and in the CV and universal joints of trucks and automobiles. Isabell Thomann, assistant professor of electrical and computer engineering and of materials science and nanoengineering, knows it as a remarkably light-absorbent substance that holds promise for the development of energy-efficient optoelectronic and photocatalytic devices. Researchers Hossein Robatjazi and Shah Mohammad Bahauddin are also mentioned.
NYCT (An English translation is not available.)
http://bit.ly/1WAxwMC

OTHER NEWS OF INTEREST

Professors note grade inflation at universities, reasons for trend
The average GPA at Rice and other private colleges is mentioned.
The Chronicle
http://bit.ly/1Ow1yOL

Avoiding the next Flint: Urban planners need to work with public health officials
Leah Binkovitz, staff writer for Rice’s Kinder Institute for Urban Research, authored an op-ed about the need for cooperation between urban planners to cooperate with public health officials.
GovTech
http://bit.ly/1Op2VyA

Eatery’s drug lord theme too spicy for some
Tony Payan, the Baker Institute for Public Policy’s Françoise and Edward Djerejian Fellow for Mexico Studies and director of the institute’s Mexico Center, is quoted about Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman Loera.
Northwest Arkansas Democrat Gazette (This also appeared in Arkansas Online.)
http://bit.ly/1ZXc4iB

Baggett, McAnally among MIAL winners
Samuel Jones, professor emeritus of music and the founding dean of Rice’s Shepherd School of Music, won the Mississippi Institute of Arts and Letters’ Music Composition (Classical) Award.
Hattiesburg American
http://hatne.ws/1NvAFdp

Trump, Ryan vow to end rift in GOP
Paul Brace, the Clarence L. Carter Professor of Political Science, is quoted about House Speaker Paul Ryan’s stance on Donald Trump.
Sacred Heart
http://bit.ly/24UUVtj
Trump, Ryan end rift, promise to work together against Clinton
New York South East Post
http://bit.ly/24UUVJJ
Trump, Ryan pledge to work together, see end to rift in GOP
La Kabylie
http://bit.ly/1XfcDFs

As yearbooks die, universities lose a link to the past
Kelley Lash, director of student publications, is quoted about universities that have stopped publishing yearbooks.
Fredericksburg.com (This also appeared in Abilene Reporter-News and Newsela.)
http://bit.ly/1si4rsj

STA experimental vehicle team to represent the Americas at the Shell Drivers’ World Championship in London
An article mentions that a team from Rice participated in the 2016 Shell Eco-marathon Americas.
Mendota Heights Patch
http://bit.ly/1Osn2Xo

George Rupp invites Lawrentians to imagine a more inclusive community
Former Rice President George Rupp is mentioned.
The Lawrentian
http://bit.ly/23OxFuJ

Mercury concludes 15th anniversary season with Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 tonight
Alumna Sarah Mesko ’10 is mentioned.
Broadway World
http://bit.ly/1WAx7tB

The Republican revolution
Alumnus Christopher Allen ’90 is mentioned.
Patheos
http://bit.ly/1R4bsBq

Jones announces bid for BOE chair
Alumnus Jonathan Jones ’96 is running for the chairman’s seat on the Tift County Board of Education.
The Tifton Gazette
http://bit.ly/1TVArvm

Student startup turning heads by utilizing biofuel waste for good
The Rice Business Plan competition is mentioned.
AgAnnex
http://bit.ly/23UXER8

50 young Asian-American stars in politics
Alumna Melissa Fwu ’12 is featured.
Asian Fortune
http://bit.ly/1sry8rj

Voters will decide on voter photo ID this year in Missouri
A Rice study on voter ID is mentioned.
Lake Expo
http://bit.ly/1TSnPSX

Around town
Rice is mentioned.
Foresthill Messenger
http://bit.ly/1TSoDaq

Hay empresas que ven la paz como algo lejano que no se relaciona con su labor
Alumna Angela Rivas ’04 is featured.
Vivir En El Poblado (An English translation is not available.)
http://bit.ly/1si2v2K

Gasolina importada cumple con estándares de calidad: Sener
Miriam Grunstein, contributing expert and scholar in the Mexico Center at Rice’s Baker Institute for Public Policy, is quoted about gasoline quality in Mexico.
Expresión Económica (An English translation is not available.)
http://bit.ly/1Ww0MDB

Opaca, la fortuna incautada al narcotráfico
Gary Hale, a nonresident fellow in drug policy at the Baker Institute for Public Policy, is quoted.
El Diario (An English translation is not available.)
http://bit.ly/1NvBGlJ

Los nicas que triunfan en Estados Unidos
Pedro Alvarez, the George R. Brown Professor of Materials Science and NanoEngineering, is mentioned.
Confidencial (An English translation is not available.)
http://bit.ly/1qnBART

SPORTS

Rice tracksters win C-USA outdoor title
Rice women’s track and field team won its fourth Conference USA Outdoor title May 15. Sid Richardson senior Claire Uke is mentioned.
Houston Chronicle (Subscription required.)
http://bit.ly/1shTeYL
http://bit.ly/1ZX4HYD
Around sports: Kenseth holds off Larson to win at Dover
Houston Chronicle (Subscription required.)
http://bit.ly/1NvzevC
The Sunday leftovers — UNT men finish 5th, women 6th in C-USA track meet
Mean Green Sports
http://bit.ly/255B7a4
Takele captures 10K; Lady Tops 2nd after day 2 of C-USA Championships
WKU Athletics
http://bit.ly/255B12f
Wangui paces UTSA women on final day of C-USA Championships
UTSA Athletics
http://bit.ly/1TjxCEe
Heiniger’s 2nd place in javelin leads MU at C-USA meet
Herald-Dispatch
http://bit.ly/1OwdiAH

Rice baseball series finale versus Florida Atlantic canceled
Rice baseball won one of two games against Florida Atlantic University. The third game was cancelled due to rain. Players Tristan Gray and Jon Duplantier are mentioned.
Houston Chronicle (Subscription required.)
http://bit.ly/1OvJ9kQ
http://bit.ly/1ZX4BAd
College roundup: Lauer dazzles in no-hitter
Baseball America
http://bit.ly/1OvQ0ee
Around the bases: Wright registers shutout for Vandy at Florida (May 14)
College Baseball Insider
http://bit.ly/1OvLhnu
Fading hopes
FAU Owl Access
http://bit.ly/1NvBiDV
Rice rolls
FAU Owl Access
http://bit.ly/1Xun3kS
Around the bases: No. 2 Texas A&M blanks No. 7 South Carolina (May 13)
College Baseball Insider
http://bit.ly/1TVy7EB
Tracking results on College Baseball’s hosting bubble
College Baseball Central
http://bit.ly/1rP3aZN
Shuffling the deal
FAU Owl Access
http://bit.ly/1NvBWB9
Baseball: Rice and FAU split series after rain cancels tiebreaker
University Press
http://bit.ly/1TcOFLk
Fox Sports
http://bit.ly/1YvzP0E

Ranking all 63 college football non-powers for 2016: Houston’s No. 1, but not a runaway
Rice football is mentioned. Head coach David Bailiff is mentioned in the Campus Insiders article.
SB Nation
http://bit.ly/1NtBhjS
Doug Smock: Louisville, Pitt provide early tests for Herd football
Charleston Gazette-Mail
http://bit.ly/1TSbYnZ
The 2016 Conference USA football preview, featuring the key games, players, pro prospects and coaches on the hot seat
Campus Insiders
http://bit.ly/1TgEwYH
Best in Texas (May 14): 5 teams receive 1st-place vote for best secondary; TCU has most and still isn’t the top unit
Sports Day
http://bit.ly/24UJJgr
Best in Texas (May 12): Can anyone catch the Longhorns when it comes to the best LB unit in the state?
Sports Day
http://bit.ly/1TSes5z
Betting odds for Week 1 of 2016 college football season hit the board
Covers
http://bit.ly/1ThO618

Rice and UH Battle for the Silver Glove and for the postseason
Rice baseball will play the University of Houston May 17. Head coach Wayne Graham is quoted.
Houston Press
http://bit.ly/23OvSFY

Big baseball series set this weekend for Southern Miss and Louisiana Tech
Rice baseball is mentioned.
WBRC
http://bit.ly/1YqJOVc
It’s time for Texas Longhorns baseball coach Augie Garido to resign
SB Nation
http://bit.ly/1R1oOOR
Texas baseball’s RPI ‘historically bad’; NCAA hopes slim
Hook ‘em
http://bit.ly/1TcOFLu

Watch the implosion of Baylor’s Floyd Casey Stadium
A photo from a 2011 Rice-Baylor University football game is included.
Houston Chronicle (Subscription required.)
http://bit.ly/1NvzevC
http://bit.ly/1WBu43P
Baylor’s Floyd Casey Stadium demolished
Houston Chronicle (This also appeared in My San Antonio.)
http://bit.ly/1VYqVuM

Texans officially re-sign rookie linebacker Eric Lee
A slideshow mentions that three Rice football players have gone on to play for the Houston Texans. Alumnus James Casey ’11 is mentioned.
Houston Chronicle (Subscription required.)
http://bit.ly/1TcLEuu
http://bit.ly/1V61BlF

Lamar tennis coach transforms team into conference champions
Rice men’s tennis is mentioned. Student-athletes Tommy Bennett, Jamie Malik, Adam Gustafsson, Jake Hansen, David Warren and Emanuel Llamas are mentioned.
Houston Chronicle
http://bit.ly/27rqMUz
There when it counts
Stanford Athletics
http://stanford.io/1rOZ6Zr
DI men’s tennis: LSU edges Rice behind Arias’ clutch performance
NCAA
http://on.ncaa.com/1TEMhXX
Clutch performance gives tennis NCAA win over Rice
LSU Sports
http://bit.ly/1qnChKV
LSU tennis teams to compete in NCAA tournaments
The Advocate (This also appeared in The New Orleans Advocate.)
http://bit.ly/1TbwS5w

Dallas Cowboys have eyes on Houston, Super Bowl LI
An article mentions that Super Bowl VIII was hosted at Rice Stadium.
Inside the Star
http://bit.ly/1OvNkbc

Rams notebook: Inside the Hotel California
A photo of Baker College sophomore Brandon Douglas is included.
Yahoo! Finance Canada
http://yhoo.it/1OvRBLT

KABB
Rice football head coach David Bailiff is featured.
http://bit.ly/1Owhiky

NEWS RELEASES

More than half of Kentucky’s mayoral elections unopposed
More than half of Kentucky’s mayoral elections are unopposed, according to a new report from the Center for Local Elections in American Politics, part of Rice University’s Kinder Institute for Urban Research. The research also finds that contested mayoral elections tend not to be close.
http://bit.ly/1rPf5qn