Dateline Rice for Oct. 20, 2014 (Weekend Edition)

FEATURED ITEMS

A hard look at an uncomfortable classic
The Civil War saga “Gone With the Wind” celebrated its 75th anniversary. Nicole Waligora-Davis, associate professor of English, teaches the film in a class on slave narratives and is quoted.
Houston Chronicle (This appeared on the front of the Star section. Subscription required.)
http://bit.ly/1CM1iPQ

More than $5 million and counting: Black-tie dinner tradition continues to raise big bucks for Rice athletics
The biennial fundraiser “An Evening in Rice’s Honor,” chaired by Linda and Dr. Walter McReynolds and Cynthia and trustee Bucky Allshouse ’71, raised $256,000 at the black-tie dinner at River Oaks Country Club. The event honored alumni and trustee Jay Collins ’68 and Steve Trauber ’84. Rice President David Leebron is quoted. Athletics Director Joe Karlgaard; head football coach David Bailiff; women’s swimming head coach Seth Huston are mentioned, along with a number of other Owls supporters, including Board of Trustees Chair Bobby Tudor ’82 and his wife, Phoebe.
CultureMap Houston
http://bit.ly/1t2nC6S

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL

What’s behind Boko Haram ‘truce’?
David Cook, associate professor of religious studies, authored an op-ed about Nigerian Salafi-jihadi group Boko Haram’s truce with Nigeria’s government.
CNN World
http://cnn.it/1t5p7lP
Will Boko Haram actually release the abducted Nigerian schoolgirls?
Washington Examiner
http://washex.am/1wk5ofP

After 3 decades away, scholar of Islamic finance returns to Egypt as a provost
Mahmoud El-Gamal, the Chair of Islamic Economics, Finance and Management, professor of economics and statistics and Rice Scholar at Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy, has been appointed provost of the American University in Cairo.
The Chronicle of Higher Education
http://bit.ly/1olI8PP

Which of these 7 ed tech solutions will get $20M from the Gates Foundation?
Rice’s OpenStax College is a finalist for the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation’s Next Generation Courseware challenge worth $20 million.
Education Dive
http://bit.ly/ZI6aZp

Review: ‘Hyperobjects — Philosophy and Ecology after the End of the World’
Huffington Post writer Illya Szilak reviews Timothy Morton’s book, “Hyperobjects: Philosophy and Ecology after the End of the World.” Morton is the Rita Shea Guffey Chair in English.
Huffington Post
http://huff.to/1nx6ftV

A quiet place: The Windhover Contemplative Center at Stanford
The newly opened Windhover Contemplative Center at Stanford and James Turrell’s “Twilight Epiphany” Skyspace on the Rice campus are cited as examples of “American structures that meld contemplative practice with the visions of modern and contemporary artists.”
Huffington Post
http://huff.to/1ybolm9

University of Texas looking to make more of massive online courses
Changing approaches to massive open online courses are discussed. Rice is mentioned for its Coursera and edX online courses.
Government Technology (This article also appeared in Gilmer Mirror.)
http://bit.ly/1t2QFHB

Ex-baseball all-star returns to alma mater Rice
Former Rice baseball player Lance Berkman, who is completing his kinesiology degree at Rice, is featured. Rice President David Leebron; head baseball coach Wayne Graham; James Disch, associate professor of sport management; and Rick Schell, senior lecturer of management, are quoted. McMurtry College junior Ford Stainback, Will Rice College sophomore Blake Fox and Wiess College sophomore Ben Tour are mentioned.
Miami Herald (This article also appeared in Washington Times and 15 other media outlets.)
http://hrld.us/ZLxIgv

John S. Waugh, 85; expert on nuclear magnetic resonance
An article about the late American chemist John S. Waugh quotes James Kinsey, the D.R. Bullard-Welch Foundation Professor Emeritus of Science in the Department of Chemistry.
The Boston Globe
http://bit.ly/1DsY7yA

Oklahoma interfaith community moves into 2nd year of Beyond Coexistence initiative
The Interfaith Alliance Foundation of Oklahoma used a model provided by Rice’s Boniuk Institute for Religious Tolerance for their small-group home dinners project.
NewsOK
http://bit.ly/1vDbee7

Robert W. Fri, energy adviser and director at Smithsonian, dies at 78
Alumnus Robert Fri ’57 died from lung cancer in Washington.
New York Times (This article also appeared in the Sun Herald.)
http://nyti.ms/1ybzjs0

HOUSTON/TEXAS

Obamacare website, call center popular among Texans
Texans favored contacting the call center over healthcare.gov to enroll in a health insurance plan, according to a new report released by the Episcopal Health Foundation and Rice’s Baker Institute for Public Policy. Elena Marks, scholar in health policy at Rice’s Baker Institute for Public Policy, and Vivian Ho, the James A. Baker III Institute Chair in Health Economics at the Baker Institute for Public Policy and professor of economics, are quoted.
Houston Chronicle (Subscription required.)
http://bit.ly/1vWH871
ACA lessons learned: Cost of enrollment high due to website issues
Science 2.0 (This article also appeared in Bio-Medicine, Insurance News Net and EIN News.)
http://bit.ly/11XN2rL

Abbott, Patrick command big leads in KHOU – Houston Public Media poll
Bob Stein, the Lena Gohlman Fox Professor of Political Science, is quoted about Greg Abbott’s double-digit lead over Wendy Davis in the race for governor.
KHOU.com (This article also appeared in Austin American-Statesman and Talk Radio News Service.)
http://bit.ly/1wr7xbJ
KUT 90.5 (Austin)
http://bit.ly/ZD464O

Dallas-area candidates expected to swing Texas Senate further right
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 the candidates and potential changes in Texas after the November election.
Dallas Morning News
http://bit.ly/10dFOQ6
Candidates for Texas agriculture chief have deep roots on the farm
Dallas Morning News (This article also appeared in Free News Pos.)
http://bit.ly/1vWaMt4
Politics more divisive than race, gender
KTRH-AM (This also appeared in KODA-FM.)
http://bit.ly/1t5zp5d
KPRC-TV
http://bit.ly/1CM4Pxt
The overlooked November elections: Judicial races
Governing
http://bit.ly/1vVvTvB
Abbott ‘rose from ranks,’ aims for governor’s office
Lubbock Avalanche-Journal (This article also appeared in RedRaiders.com.)
http://bit.ly/1yRR6aI
Rangel: Races decide how conservative legislature will be
Lubbock Avalanche-Journal
http://bit.ly/1nwX4cV
Dems. hope Davis’ political stardom, performance in governor’s race paves way for others
Lubbock Avalanche-Journal (This article also appeared in RedRaiders.com.)
http://bit.ly/ZCG9dF
US Rep. Pete Gallego, Republican Will Hurd locked in tight Lower Valley race
El Paso Times (This article also appeared in Insurance News Net.)
http://bit.ly/1t57fHI
Wendy Davis faces long odds without an ‘October surprise’
Star-Telegram
http://bit.ly/1Dsz270
Surprise in Rice study: Tarrant an R county, but not a deep shade of red
Star-Telegram (Subscription required.)
http://bit.ly/1wjHbqc
DA race developments
Off the Kuff
http://bit.ly/1rng9d6
2014 election guide: Wendy Davis could be wake-up call for GOP
Amarillo Globe-News
http://bit.ly/1rngdth
2014 election guide: Greg Abbott pledges to keep economy strong
Amarillo Globe-News
http://bit.ly/ZLA4Mp
Rangel: Don’t overlook legislative races
Amarillo Globe-News
http://bit.ly/1wfBjPq

Muddy mural at Rice
Japanese artist Yusuke Asai’s “yamatane” installation, which will be on display at Rice Gallery through Nov. 23, is featured.
ArtStrollerTX.com
http://bit.ly/1CLwAWU

Law firm founders exceed expectations as they ride area’s economic roller coaster
Former Rice professor Charles Tighe ’51 is featured for his law firm.
Midland Reporter-Telegram
http://bit.ly/1ybsCGl

BROADCAST

KRIV-TV
World-class “speedcubers” from the United States and around the world gathered at Rice Oct. 18 for a World Cube Association-sanctioned Rubik’s Cube competition.
http://bit.ly/1wg1bLk
KTRK-TV
http://bit.ly/1zi8gQ2

WTOP2-DC
Douglas Brinkley, professor of history and fellow in history at Rice’s Baker Institute for Public Policy, discusses presidents and the press on The National Press Club’s “The Kalb Report.”
http://bit.ly/1t5Gy5v

TRADE/PROFESSIONAL

Rice’s Office of STEM Engagement promotes K-12 outreach
Rice created the Office of STEM Engagement for its efforts to improve K-12 science, technology, engineering and mathematics education in Houston-area schools. Carolyn Nichol, director of Rice’s Office of STEM Engagement, and Vice Provost for Research Yousif Shamoo are quoted.
ECN
http://bit.ly/1t5F0IL

Frontiers in Optics 2014: The Optical Society’s annual meeting on optics and photonics
Rebecca Richards-Kortum, the Stanley C. Moore Professor of Bioengineering and of Electrical and Computer Engineering and director of the Institute of Biosciences and Bioengineering, Beyond Traditional Borders and Rice 360°, will speak at the FiO Plenary Session and Awards Ceremony Oct. 20 in Tucson, Ariz.
Optimax
http://bit.ly/1rnCEib

OTHER NEWS OF INTEREST

Grand Rapids Symphony appoints music adviser as spotlight on music director search begins
Larry Rachleff, the Walter Kris Hubert Professor of Orchestra Conducting, will guide the Grand Rapid’s Symphony’s planning for its 2015-16 season and conduct two of its 10 Classical Series programs.
MLive.com
http://bit.ly/1DsXDZn

Beyond marijuana: Legalize all drugs
Dean Becker, a nonresident research associate and member of the Drug Policy Program at Rice’s Baker Institute for Public Policy, is quoted about the legalization of marijuana.
The Des Moines Register
http://dmreg.co/1ySl5zu

Higher black populations mean harsher prison policies, study says
Rice’s Baker Institute for Public Policy found that states with a large minority population incarcerate more people. Postdoctoral research fellow and lead author Katharine Neill is quoted.
The Grio (This article also appeared in Datzhott.)
http://on.thegrio.com/1tDQqED

SPORTS

Owls overpower Cougars in rivalry matchup
Rice women’s swimming beat University of Houston at the Campus Recreation and Wellness Center.
The Cougar
http://bit.ly/1vWjt6v

Rice Owls versus North Texas Mean Green pick-odds-prediction
Rice football will play against North Texas University Oct. 25 at Rice Stadium.
Sports Chat Place
http://bit.ly/1t5ChiG

Overtime drama results in 2-1 win over Rice
Rice women’s soccer fell to Florida International University 2-1 in Miami.
FIUSM.com
http://bit.ly/1zhPaJW

UTSA beats Rice 3-2, wins 10th straight in volleyball
Rice women’s volleyball fell to University of Texas at San Antonio 3-2.
San Antonio Express-News
http://bit.ly/1r1UQhT

ITA Regional update: pair of men’s singles players advance to quarterfinals
McMurtry College senior tennis player Srikar Alla fell to Texas A&M University’s Harrison Adams at the ITA Regionals.
The Battalion
http://bit.ly/1wrk6nb

Davis named assistant director of game operations
Former assistant equipment manager Stephanie Davis has been named assistant director of game operations at Miami University.
MURedHawks.com
http://bit.ly/1uuoEEZ

NEWS RELEASES

Rice MBA for Executives ranked No. 5 in the US
Rice University’s Jones Graduate School of Business continues to climb in the annual Financial Times rankings for Master of Business Administration for Executives (EMBA) programs.
http://bit.ly/1uvnAkh

High blood-sugar levels may harden heart valves
Rice University bioengineers have found new evidence of a possible link between diabetes and hardening of heart valves.
http://bit.ly/1rYO8IH

International Rubik’s Cube competition to be held at Rice Oct. 18
World-class “speedcubers” from the United States and around the world gathered at Rice Oct. 18 for a World Cube Association-sanctioned Rubik’s Cube competition.
http://bit.ly/1ySro5W