Dateline Rice for Feb. 29, 2012

FEATURED ITEMS

Panel on research universities sees need for fundamental changes
An article reports on the De Lange Conference at Rice. President David Leebron is quoted and pictured. Rice’s centennial is mentioned.
Chronicle of Higher Education
http://tinyurl.com/882dnmm

Rice becoming an international house of hoops
The Rice men’s basketball team features a United Nations roster rivaled by few in major college basketball, with five players who were born outside the United States. McMurtry College juniors Arsalan Kazemi and Omar Oraby and head coach Ben Braun are quoted. Martel College freshmen Ahmad Ibrahim and Jarelle Reischel, Duncan College freshman Dylan Ennis and assistant coach Marco Morcos are mentioned.
Houston Chronicle (This article appeared on the front of the Sports section.)
http://tinyurl.com/78t7573

How partisan are Texas state senators?
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, authored this op-ed about partisanship among Texas state senators. Jones is also quoted in articles about a dispute between Britain and Argentina over the Falkland Islands and two Texas state senators.
Texas Tribune
http://tinyurl.com/7mppzv2
The evening brief: Texas headlines
Texas Tribune
http://tinyurl.com/7bhtuzz
Argentina stops cruise ships from docking
Gulf News (Dubai) (This article also appeared on Yahoo.com and DefenseWeb.com.)
http://tinyurl.com/87nh5v7
‘Outrage’ at Argentina ships block
Gibraltar Chronicle
http://www.chronicle.gi/headlines_details.php?id=24162
Duncan ranked among the least GOP conservative senators, yet one of the most effective legislators
Lubbock Avalanche-Journal (Texas) (This article also appeared in the Amarillo Globe-News.)
http://tinyurl.com/75ndw5d

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL

Qatar Foundation launches stem cell research excellence centre
Edward Djerejian, founding director of the James A. Baker III Institute for Public Policy, is quoted in articles about the Qatar International Conference on Stem Cell Science and Policy.
Qatar Tribune
http://www.qatar-tribune.com/data/20120228/content.asp?section=first1_4
Top international experts in stem cell research convene for the Qatar International Conference on Stem Cell Science and Policy
Zawya.com
http://www.zawya.com/story.cfm/sidZAWYA20120227054331
Scope for innovation in genetic medicine
Gulf Times (Qatar)
http://tinyurl.com/73ef9g2
Qatar Foundation in stem cell research initiative
Gulf Times (Qatar)
http://tinyurl.com/7p7my4w

Wylie Vale
An article remembers alumnus Wylie Vale Jr. ’63.
The Telegraph (U.K.)
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/9111756/Wylie-Vale.html

LOCAL/STATE

Santorum’s biggest Texan supporter is a family-owned tomato business … but probably not for long
While Texas billionaires have poured millions into the campaigns of Mitt Romney, Newt Gingrich and Ron Paul, Rick Santorum’s biggest supporter in Texas is CEO of a family-owned tomato business. Bob Stein, the Lena Gohlman Fox Professor of Political Science, is quoted.
Houston Chronicle
http://tinyurl.com/6mmgyfg

Rice’s Boniuk Center to unveil mural
Rice’s Boniuk Center for the Study and Advancement of Religious Tolerance will unveil its second mural dedicated to religious tolerance as part of the second annual Sacred Sites Quest. The four-piece painting will be unveiled at the Museum of Cultural Arts Houston. Mike Pardee, executive director of the Boniuk Center, is quoted.
UltimateWestU.com
http://tinyurl.com/6rpu8hh

University of St. Thomas to hold clean energy forum
Richard Johnson, director of energy and sustainability, and George Bennett, the E. Dell Butcher Professor of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, will speak at the "Focus the Nation Clean Energy Forum" at the University of St. Thomas.
UltimateMontrose.com
http://tinyurl.com/6nmno6q

UH creates fund to attract STEM faculty
An article about the University of Houston’s efforts to achieve Tier One status mentions that Texas currently has only three Tier One institutions: Rice University, Texas A&M University and the University of Texas at Austin.
Houston Chronicle (This article also appeared on Individual.com)
http://tinyurl.com/87g8xwr

YES Prep teacher lauded for changing students’ lives
Alumnus Jeremy Tullis ’08 has been recognized as one of this year’s winners of the Crystal Award from the Spring Branch Education Foundation, an acknowledgment of teachers who make a significant difference in their students’ lives.
Houston Chronicle
http://tinyurl.com/7ok5j4j

IDEA Frontier’s ‘The Charge’ set for Sunday
Rice is mentioned in an article about the IDEA Frontier College Preparatory’s annual fundraising runs.
Brownsville Herald
http://www.brownsvilleherald.com/news/idea-137438-frontier-sunday.html

Two BU students reach state Japanese competition
Rice is mentioned in an article about two Baylor University students participating in a Japanese speech competition.
BaylorLariat.com (This article also appeared on WebNewsWire.com.)
http://tinyurl.com/86b2qnm

BROADCAST/WEBCAST

WAFB-TV (Baton Rouge, La.) (This story also appeared on BayouBuzz.com.)
More than a dozen Rice University students are spending spring break at a Louisiana elementary school doing everything from painting the school’s library to helping out in the classroom. Wiess College junior Adrianna Morell and Martel College junior Ginny Johnson are quoted.
http://tinyurl.com/7b4382v
College students help school in Jackson
Baton Rouge Advocate (La.)
http://theadvocate.com/news/2177593-123/college-students-help-school-in.html

TRADE/PROFESSIONAL

‘Un-privileged Views:’ Opening and panel discussion
Rice is mentioned in an article about the exhibition "Un-privileged Views."
Archinect.com
http://tinyurl.com/7zyvjvn

OTHER NEWS OF INTEREST

Patrick Archbald named interim police chief at UMass
An article about the new interim police chief at the University of Massachusetts Amherst mentions that Johnny Whitehead, the former police chief, has been appointed Rice’s chief of police and director of public safety.
Daily Hampshire Gazette (Mass.)
http://tinyurl.com/89wkk9w

Richard Dawkins, the atheist who isn’t, but the Episcopal bishop who might be
James Tour, the T.T. and W.F. Chao Chair in Chemistry and professor of mechanical engineering and materials science and of computer science, is mentioned in an article about author Richard Dawkins.
Christian Post
http://tinyurl.com/7jelh9b

Professor targets prejudice at Unitarian Universalism program
An article discusses a recent lecture by alumnus Charles Law ’78.
TheValleyAdvantage.com
http://tinyurl.com/832bqgx

SPORTS

Rice sweeps C-USA baseball awards
Off to their best start since 2001, the Owls swept the weekly Conference USA baseball awards.
Houston Chronicle
http://tinyurl.com/75g4net

Rice extends diamond mastery of UH
Articles recap a baseball series between Rice and the University of Houston.
Houston Chronicle
http://tinyurl.com/7afkp5g
Cougars fall 4-1 to Rice, the streak continues
Houston Chronicle
http://tinyurl.com/83ol7v4
Cougars just can’t win
TheDailyCougar.com
http://thedailycougar.com/2012/02/29/cougars-just-cant-win/

Houston College Classic returns for 12th year
Articles note that Rice will participate in the Houston College Classic baseball tournament this weekend.
MLB.com
http://tinyurl.com/6lrhoel
Minute Maid Park to host baseball tournament
FoxSportsHouston.com
http://tinyurl.com/7ne67mj
Houston College Classic this weekend at Minute Maid Park
Cypress Times (Texas)
http://tinyurl.com/7ky22gz
UT baseball and high school basketball
KXAN.com (Austin, Texas)
http://www.kxan.com/dpp/sports/ut-baseball-and-high-school-basketball
No. 21 baseball blanks Houston Baptist, 2-0
TexasSports.com (Coverage of the Houston College Classic also appeared on Scout.com and VolunteerTV.com [Knoxville, Tenn.].)
http://www.texassports.com/sports/m-basebl/recaps/022812aaa.html

UTEP women’s basketball team falls in the rankings
A news brief recaps a women’s basketball game between Rice and the University of Texas at El Paso.
KFOX.com (El Paso, Texas)
http://tinyurl.com/884swf3

Pain-free Benak making impression on mound
A Houston Chronicle "Rice Notebook" article discusses Lovett College senior Andrew Benak’s recovery from injury. The article also discusses recent events in Rice Owls baseball and women’s and men’s basketball.
Houston Chronicle
http://tinyurl.com/6stgcu9

Ennis named co-freshman of the week
Duncan College freshman Dylan Ennis was named Conference USA Co-Freshman of the Week.
Cypress Times (Texas)
http://tinyurl.com/72czbrl

Kuster CUSA player of the week and Porter freshman of the week
The Rice Owls women’s basketball team swept the weekly Conference USA awards as Lovett College sophomore Jessica Kuster was named the league’s Player of the Week and Lovett College freshman Christal Porter was selected as CUSA Freshman of the Week.
Cypress Times (Texas)
http://tinyurl.com/79rfdwr

Eric Baily’s Conference USA insider
Rice is mentioned in an article about Conference USA men’s basketball.
Tulsa World (Okla.)
http://tinyurl.com/79h8yny

Blair, Andaya to be inducted in Texas Sports Hall of Fame
Alumnus Tobin Rote ’50 will be posthumously inducted into the Texas Sports Hall of Fame.
AggieSports.com
http://www.aggiesports.com/localroundup/Aggie-Roundup–7000988

NEWS RELEASES

Rice’s Boniuk Center to unveil mural March 3 at Museum of Cultural Arts Houston
What does a religiously and culturally tolerant society look like? A group of Houston-area high school students answered that question by painting a four-piece mural as part of the second annual Sacred Sites Quest organized by Rice University’s Boniuk Center for Religious Tolerance. The mural will be unveiled March 3 at the Museum of Cultural Arts Houston.
http://tinyurl.com/75z5cpq

Brace available to comment on Arizona and Michigan primaries
As the GOP presidential contenders head into the Arizona and Michigan primaries, Rice University political scientist Paul Brace is available to discuss the candidates’ current standing in the Republican race for the White House.
http://tinyurl.com/7xvs8wo

Travel writer Rick Steves to discuss European versus US drug policies at Baker Institute lecture
Many European countries have adopted policies that treat illicit drug use as a health problem rather than as a criminal problem. Travel writer Rick Steves will discuss the differences he has observed between the European and U.S. models at a March 8 lecture at Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy.
https://news2.rice.edu/?p=21864