News Briefs

Author, former diplomat to discuss war, U.S. policies

A former diplomat and author of the new book “Diplomacy Lessons: Realism for an Unloved Superpower” will speak at noon Oct. 13 in Sewall Hall, Room 301.

John Brady Kiesling gained notoriety in 2003 when after almost 20 years in the State Department, he resigned in protest of the Iraq War and other U.S. foreign policies. In his talk, Kiesling will discuss the war, his decision to resign and his ideas for policies that could restore U.S. credibility internationally.

The event is sponsored by the Departments of Sociology and Political Science and the Rice University Center for Education.

‘Texas Chainsaw’ creator to speak at visual arts lecture

As a prequel to the horror flick “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre” hits screens across the country, a writer and producer of the 1974 original movie, Kim Henkel, will appear as a guest speaker at an Oct. 18 lecture and panel discussion titled “Scared to Death.” Brian Huberman, associate professor of visual arts, and Charles Dove, director of Rice Cinema, will also participate in the lecture, which will be at 7 p.m. in the Visual Arts Auditorium, Rice Media Center. The event is free and open to the public.

RICEWorks goes online

This week, Human Resources launched its new online employment and job description system, RICEWorks.

This new system provides improved options for internal and external job applicants, as well as for hiring managers in their recruitment efforts to fill staff positions on campus. The system also includes a module for collecting, updating and organizing current job descriptions.

Managers who are recruiting for open staff positions will be able to administer the process online, accessing applicant data and other important information needed during the process.

Internal and external applicants can create and edit their applications, as well as submit their materials for multiple positions.

For more information, visit <http://staff.rice.edu/staff/RiceWorks2.asp>.

Faculty Senate meeting canceled

The next Faculty Senate meeting scheduled for Wednesday, Oct. 18, has been canceled.

Meetings of the Faculty Senate are open to all members of the university community but may be closed at the discretion of the Senate. Meetings are scheduled for noon to 2 p.m.

The meeting agendas will be posted on the Faculty Senate Web site, <www.professor.rice.edu/professor/faculty_senate.asp>, one week prior to the meeting.

Dates of future Faculty Senate meetings also can be found there.

Rice’s Cook to examine policy responses to suicide attacks

David Cook, assistant professor of religious studies, will deliver a lecture titled “Policy Responses to Suicide Attacks by Radical Muslims” Oct. 19 at the James A. Baker III Institute for Public Policy.

Cook is an expert on early Islamic history and Muslim apocalyptic literature and movements. His two most recent books are “Understanding Jihad” and “Contemporary Muslim Apocalyptic Literature.”

The presentation will be held at 4 p.m. at the Kelly International Conference Facility in James A. Baker III Hall. A reception will follow the talk.

Rice faculty, staff and students who want to attend must R.S.V.P. by e-mail at <bipprsvp@rice.edu> or by fax at 713-348-5993.

Free help from ‘Navigating Your Health Benefits for Dummies’

Want to get savvy about health benefits? Free help is available through a new guide, “Navigating Your Health Benefits for Dummies.”
Co-authored by Aetna and the Financial Planning Association, the guide helps demystify the health-benefits cycle at every stage of life.

Rice employees can order a free copy at <www.planforyourhealth.com> or by calling 800-994-7394.

RMC offers private lounge for nursing mothers

Rice’s first “mother’s room” — a place for nursing mothers to pump breast milk in a private and comfortable setting — is now open in the newly renovated lounge area of the women’s restroom next to Grand Hall in Rice Memorial Center.

The room is a secure, private, walled-off environment and has a sink and refrigerator.

The room is accessible by faculty, staff and students who have the access code, available from Elaine Britt, director of benefits in Human Resources, 713-348-6074 or <britt@rice.edu>.

IT Tech Fair Oct. 19

The third annual Tech Fair hosted by Information Technology will take place in Grand Hall, Rice Memorial Center, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Oct. 19.
Technology vendors, including Apple, Dell, HP and CDW, will demonstrate new tools and services and award door prizes, like iPods and digital cameras.

Rice faculty, staff and students are invited to enjoy light refreshments, test-drive new equipment and collect free giveaways.

Lunch Bunch at Hanszen College Oct. 31

Rice staff are invited join the Lunch Bunch Tuesday, Oct. 31, and have lunch for $7 at the South Servery at 11:30 a.m.

It’s an opportunity to meet and eat with Rice undergraduates and staff in a casual atmosphere and learn facts and history about Hanszen College, the first stop in the Lunch Bunch’s tour of colleges.

Meet the all-star Rice chefs and enjoy the choices from the all-you-can-eat full buffet line.

Preregistration and prepayment are required, and the lunch is limited to the first 50 participants. To register, visit <http://cohesion.rice.edu/services/eventreg/?event=EAC1>.

Reading club to examine Gerber’s ‘Freshman’

The Rice Readers will discuss “Freshman” by Michael Gerber at noon Oct. 25 in Humanities Building, Room 115.

“Freshman” is the story of Hart Fox, a young man who has the academic prowess to attend Stutts University but who is edged out by an influential gubernatorial candidate’s son. Concerned that his son could ruin his campaign, the candidate pays Hart’s tuition if Hart will take his son’s classes for him and keep him out of trouble.

For more information, contact Joyce Ball at 713-348-4024 or <joyce@rice.edu>.

Church-state relationship to be topic of Oct. 19 talk

Kathleen Kennedy Townsend, former lieutenant governor of Maryland, will present the first lecture in the God & We The People: Religion and Democracy in America lecture series presented by the Boniuk Center for the Study and Advancement of Religious Tolerance and the Congregation Emanu El Foundation Fund.

“Failing America’s Faithful” will be held at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 19 at Congregation Emanu El, 1500 Sunset Blvd.

The lecture series will examine and reflect on the relationship between religion and government as intended by America’s forefathers, as interpreted and lived in the ensuing two-plus centuries and as being practiced today.

Admission to the event requires a donation of nonperishable food items.

Training courses offered to faculty and staff

Registration is open for Human Resources and Administrative Career Training programs.

HR’s training component is committed to excellence through learning, and programs will offer support in achieving administrative, performance, personal and supervisory/managerial excellence.

A new supervision series has been added to the course list, including “Transitioning to Supervisor” and “Performance Management.” “Understanding and

Using the New Performance Appraisal Form” is a new one-hour session that will be offered monthly from November to May.

“Research at Rice,” a foundational course for research administration, has also been added.

For more information, visit <http://training.rice.edu/>.