Dateline Rice for Feb. 24, 2012

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL

For atheists of color, ‘coming out’ can be painful
Anthony Pinn, the Agnes Cullen Arnold Professor of Humanities and professor of religious studies, is quoted in an article about atheism among African-Americans. Pinn is also quoted in an article examining reasons why atheist civil rights activists are remembered by so few people.
Washington Post (This article also appeared on ReligionNews.com.)
http://tinyurl.com/846yyth
Blacks say atheists were unseen civil rights heroes
ChristianCentury.org
http://tinyurl.com/6q656kn

Groupon and other group buying sites such as WagJag and LivingSocial benefit from consumer ‘herd mentality’
Research by Utpal Dholakia, professor of marketing at the Jesse H. Jones Graduate School of Business, is cited in an article about daily deal websites such as Groupon.
Toronto Star
http://tinyurl.com/788h2l3

Difference engine: Wireless’s colliding worlds
Rice Wi-Fi research is cited in an article about the government’s plans to auction UHF airwaves.
The Economist
http://www.economist.com/blogs/babbage/2012/02/beyond-wifi

More MBAs pursue education-related jobs
MBA students are increasingly looking for work in the education sector. Rice’s Jesse H. Jones Graduate School of Business is mentioned.
U.S. News & World Report
http://tinyurl.com/76lx3sy

LOCAL/STATE

Sculpture by celebrated public artist Plensa installed on Rice campus
Rice University dedicated "Mirror," a site-specific installation by renowned international artist Jaume Plensa, during an outdoor ceremony on the Rice campus. Rice President David Leebron and Molly Hipp Hubbard, university art director, are quoted.
West University Examiner (This article also appeared in the River Oaks Examiner, the Bellaire Examiner and the Memorial Examiner.)
http://tinyurl.com/7cmodso

Study on education shows Texas lagging behind nation
Thirty percent of American adults had at least a four-year degree last year — the highest level ever — with Hispanics making especially sharp gains, according to census figures. Stephen Klineberg, professor of sociology and co-director of the Kinder Institute for Urban Research, is quoted.
Houston Chronicle (This article also appeared on Individual.com.)
http://tinyurl.com/78p4lhg

Rice University study shows plants make preparations to fend off caterpillars
In a study of the molecular underpinnings of plants’ pest resistance, Rice University biologists have shown that plants both anticipate daytime raids by hungry insects and make sophisticated preparations to fend them off. Janet Braam, professor and chair of biochemistry and cell biology; Danielle Goodspeed, a graduate student in biochemistry and cell biology; and Wassim Chehab, faculty fellow in biochemistry and cell biology, are mentioned.
UltimateWestU.com
http://tinyurl.com/6weao33

Rising gas prices could become a major campaign topic
The next big economic debate of the presidential race is already being felt in checkbooks and family budgets across the country: pain at the gas pump. James Coan, research associate for the Energy Forum at the James A. Baker III Institute for Public Policy, is quoted.
Dallas Morning News (subscription required)
http://tinyurl.com/6uun69k

Texas donors have given more to super PACs than any other state
In 2011, Texas donated $20,405,728 to super PACs, more than any other state, according to data provided by the Center for Investigative Reporting and California Watch. Mark Jones, the Joseph D. Jamail Chair in Latin American Studies, professor and chair of political science and fellow in political science at the James A. Baker III Institute for Public Policy, is quoted. Jones also appeared on KETK-TV and KTRH-AM to discuss a recent Public Policy Polling survey where Texas ranked as the 37th most-popular state among the 50 United States. A link to the KTRH-AM broadcast is not available.
Houston Chronicle
http://tinyurl.com/7wm3t7o
KETK-TV (Tyler, Texas)
http://tinyurl.com/7aoc3nj
KTRH-AM

Authors light up Inprint gala
Justin Cronin, professor of English, was the featured speaker at the Inprint Poet & Writers Ball.
Houston Chronicle
http://tinyurl.com/74oaoym

McCaul calls for internal homeland security investigation into Operation Fast and Furious
Rep. Michael McCaul, chairman of the U.S. House subcommittee that has oversight of the Department of Homeland Security, spoke about security risks along the U.S.-Mexico border Feb. 21 at Rice’s James A. Baker III Institute for Public Policy.
TexasInsider.com
http://www.texasinsider.org/?p=58875

Reaching beyond the hedges: Book aims to illustrate Rice University’s greater impact in Houston
An article discusses the book "Houston. It’s Worth It: Rice."
Culturemap.com
http://tinyurl.com/7acmfwq

Austin College hosts lecture on mysterious history
Alumna Mary Helen Specht ’01 will present a lecture at Austin College March 5.
KXII.com (Sherman, Texas)
http://tinyurl.com/7o9mjud

Denton County Republican Party scholarships
Rice is mentioned in an article about the Denton County Republican Party’s scholarship contest.
TheNewsConnection.com
http://tinyurl.com/7vja5kx

Memes madness reaches campus
Rice is mentioned in an article about the Houston Baptist University Memes Facebook page.
HBUCollegian.com
http://hbucollegian.com/?p=8757

OTHER NEWS OF INTEREST

Can we communicate?
Ewa Thompson, research professor in German studies, authored this op-ed about contemporary academic discourse.
DissidentProf.com
http://www.dissidentprof.com/colloquium/91-can-we-communicate

US drivers at the mercy of crude prices
Amy Myers Jaffe, the Wallace S. Wilson Fellow in Energy Studies at the James A. Baker III Institute for Public Policy, is quoted in an article about the reasons for rising gasoline prices.
PressTV.com
http://presstv.com/usdetail/228270.html

Down the rabbit hole of ‘Sidereus’
Kurt Stallmann, associate professor of composition and theory and director of the Rice Electro-Acoustic Music Labs, is mentioned in an article about composer Osvaldo Golijov’s "Sidereus."
Sequenza21.com
http://www.sequenza21.com/2012/02/down-the-rabbit-hole-of-sidereus/

Innovative (and cheaper) digital textbook program offered to CSU students
Using Rice’s Connexions open-education platform, the OpenStax College textbook initiative will debut the first of five free peer-reviewed textbooks next month.
Long Beach Post (Calif.)
http://www.lbpost.com/news/addison/1309300173

Conyers Rotary recognizes top high school students
Rice is mentioned in an article about students from Rockdale County in Georgia.
Rockdale Citizen (Ga.)
http://tinyurl.com/7rnm62b

Highlights
Rice is mentioned in a news brief about the Western Kentucky University forensic team.
Ark Valley News (Kan.)
http://arkvalleynews.com/web/isite.dll?1330035137022

SPORTS

Rice women clobber UH
Articles recap a women’s basketball game between Rice and the University of Houston.
Houston Chronicle
http://tinyurl.com/743tnez
Cougars take a beating from Rice
Houston Chronicle
http://tinyurl.com/7n599xd

Hallsville’s Stringer helping Rice stay perfect
Wiess College junior Christian Stringer is profiled for his performance with the Rice Owls baseball team.
Longview News-Journal (Texas)
http://tinyurl.com/7ucybkh

KHOU-TV
McMurtry College junior Omar Oraby is profiled for his performance on the Rice Owls men’s basketball team.
http://tinyurl.com/7c87yyu

Signing of Pontbriand now official
Alumnus Ryan Pontbriand ’03 has been signed to play with the San Francisco 49ers.
CSNBayArea.com
http://tinyurl.com/7mhlg2d

Aggie roundup
Rice is mentioned in an article about Texas A&M University athletics.
BrazosSports.com (This article also appeared on AggieSports.com.)
http://www.brazossports.com/localroundup/Aggie-Roundup–6991096

Tournament brings exposure, branding to Islanders baseball
Rice is mentioned in an article about the Kleberg College Classic baseball tournament.
Corpus Christi Caller-Times (Texas)
http://tinyurl.com/792rdjl

FSU baseball hosts FIU this weekend
Rice is mentioned in an article previewing a baseball game between Florida International University and Florida State University.
WCTV.tv (Thomasville, Ga.)
http://tinyurl.com/7y4sfcv