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THE MAGAZINE OF RICE UNIVERSITY ,..SPRING 2001

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RICE UNIVERSITY

OF RICE UNIVERSITY • SPRING 2001

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18 INSPIRED INNOVATION The President's Annual Report for 2000. From enhancing the learning experience to developing basic scientific discoveries, technology makes the grade at Rice.

28 BUILDING BOOM Board approves new library design. BY B. J. ALMOND

30 MUSIC IN THE AIR Although less than 20 years old, the Shepherd School Symphony has a reputation as one of the best orchestral programs in the nation. BY KIMBERLEY O'NEILL PIROG

36 FLIGHT OF THE DREAM CATCHER When a Rice undergraduate and his buddy decided to fly around the world, getting off the ground was the biggest problem. BY DAVID D. MEDINA

40 POPULATION, HEAL THYSELF Research is showing that life expectancy, illness, and other health factors may be closely related to social structure. BY LIA UNRAU

DEPA R T MEN T S

6 THROUGH THE SALLYPORT

16 ON THE BOOK SHELF

45 WHO'S WHO

49 SES & ACADEMS

51 SCOREBOARD

!HEIDE COVER PI-oo-ro BY TOPARiV LRVERONE 53 YESTERYEAR

SPRING '01 1 FOREWORD THINKING

OVERTURE

Sallyport Not long ago,I was walking west across campus from Lovett Hall,and as I walked, I noticed that there was a dynamic and purposeful resonance in the air. I couldn't SPRING 2001, VOL. 57, NO. 2 quite put my finger on what it was, though a hint came in the sounds of Published by the Division of Public Affairs construction that lately form a lively aural backdrop to campus life. From several Terry Shepard, vice president directions, I could hear the muted roar ofheavy equipment and the various noises

EDITOR that accompany any building project. But while construction sounds may have Christopher Dow been a distinct element of whatever it was that I heard, they were still just a part. Maybe it was something going on inside the buildings. Yes, that was more of

CREATIVE DIRECTOR the puzzle, for when I nosed my way into the library and several of the academic Jeff Cox and research buildings, I perceived the hum and bustle of technology at work. And this was as true along the Humanities Corridor as it was in both the

ART DIRECTOR Engineering Quad and the Science Cluster. While the advances in biosciences, nanoscience, computing, and other fields emerging from our labs are truly impressive,technology at Rice encompasses more than the science and engineer-

EDITORIAL STAFF ing disciplines. Here,technology also is a powerful tool in the process ofteaching David I). Medina '83, senior editor and learning, a method for better understanding and connecting to the world M. Yvonne Taylor, associate editor around us, and a means of making life's expanding journey ever more interesting Lorrie Lampson, production coordinator and rewarding. Technology was,indeed, a major current in what I heard, but I knew that more DESIGN STAFF lay ahead, so back outside, I continued my own journey across the campus. Amy Wilson-Webb, designer Tommy LaVergne, photographer Passing Baker Hall, I noticed that all sound seemed to halt in a sudden hush of Jeff Fitlow, assistant photographer anticipation. Among the many programs going on inside is the Texas Institute for Society and Health. This new institute is exploring research indicating that the overall health and well-being ofdistinct populations may be predisposed by social THE RICE UNIVERSITY BOARD OF TRUSTEES forces and societal conditions that are not affected by direct medical intervention. E. William Barnett, chair; j. D. Micky Allshouse; Very likely, vital answers to many long-standing human issues and problems will D. Kent Anderson; James A. Baker, III; Teveia be discovered through social and humanistic programs such as this. Rose Barnes; Raymond D. Brochstein; Albert Y. Chao; James W. Crownovcr; Janice G. Doty; I walked a little farther, and as I neared Alice Pratt Brown Hall, the hush of James A. Elkins, III; Lee Hage Jamail; K. Terry anticipation was erased in billowing music. The Shepherd School Symphony was Koonce; Frederick R. Lummis, Jr.; Michael R. practicing for its next concert, and I paused to listen, amazed that this was a Lynch; Robert R. Maxfield; Burton J. McMurtry; Robert C. McNair; Steven L. Miller; William student orchestra and not a visiting professional philharmonic. Robert Parks; Harry M. Reasoner; Karen Hess After enjoying the music for a few moments,I turned to resume my stroll, when Rogers; William N. Sick. it struck me that all the sounds I had been hearing were like the individual instruments of an orchestra, all joining their voices in a theme that was too

ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICERS monumental and mysterious to easily grasp. All I needed was to have a tuning note Malcolm Gillis, president; Zenaido Camacho, sound forth to bring the concert into harmony and help me understand the vice president.*Student Affairs; Dean W.Currie, music I had been following all the way from Lovett Hall. vice president for Finance and Administration; meaning of the elusive Charles Henry, vice president and chiefinfbrma- At that moment from overhead, or so it seemed, came the drone of a small tion officer, Eric Johnson, vice president*. Re- airplane trolling above the campus. I looked up and thought I saw two students source Development, Eugene Levy, provost; Terry in the plane's cockpit. As they passed, they were harvesting the music I'd been Shepard, vice presidentfor Public Ajjairs; Scott W. Wise, vice presidentfor Investments and trea- hearing and carrying it with them to broadcast it far and wide. But then the surer, Ann Wright, vice presidentfor Enrollment, sunshine dazzled my vision, and I could see nothing but clear blue sky and a few Richard A. Zansitis,general counsel. high clouds.The drone was gone. Did I actually hear it drift in from far continents, Sallyport is published by the Division of Public or was it only imagined? Affairs of Rice University and is sent to university No matter,for real or imagined,this final note gave me the clue to what I'd been alumni, faculty, staff, graduate students, parents sensing, and still sense, here in the air at Rice. It is the music of our hopes and of undergraduates, and friends of the university. dreams and aspirations played on the instruments of our endeavors and given to EDFrosi AL OFFICES:Office ofPublications,5620 the world. It is the music of Rice today, but even more, it is an overture for the Greenbriar, Suite 200, Houston, Texas 77005. future. Fax: 713-348-6751. E-mail: [email protected]

POSTM AAAAA Send address changes to Rice University, Advancement Services—MS 80,5620 Greenbriar, Suite 200, Houston, Texas 77005. 0424 C21301 RICE UNIVERSITY

2 SALLYPORT RETURN ADDRESSED

scribing my experiences coming out as a gay man at Rice; the editor replied that, although he appreciated some of the difficulties of being gay, the subject was too controversial to print my letter. Given all the protests on Vietnam, the sexual revolution, and the Nixon foibles, I was surprised by his position. I figured that Rice remained in the great Southern conservative tradition and would continue to treat gay men and lesbians as either invisible or with disdain. It appears that not much has changed in the ensuing years. JAMES P. Toucusronle, M.D. '73 CULTURE San Francisco, California As a Hispanic woman who graduated from Rice in 1977, I read MORE ON DIVERSITY the coming decades,I believe there David Medina's diversity article will be oases of tolerance, prosper- with great interest. His thorough First, I would like to thank you for ity, and great achievement—Rice coverage and perceptive insight your ever-evolving coverage of Rice and Houston should be among provided a fascinating perspective. and my native Houston. I loved them and recognized as such not I am pleased that so much atten- both your main article covering Main just nationally but globally. It is the tion, time, resources, and energy Street revitalization and the other 21st century; we all need to work are being allocated to such a critical article on diversity; however there together. issue within the university. was a glaring omission: There was I ended up at Rice partly because During my years at Rice, the Af- no mention of homosexuals or gay I did not get into the foreign ser- rican American students had a group contributions to the Rice commu- vice school of another university. I for mutual support, but Hispanics nity. This is not acceptable and needs was asked about my political views did not have a group of their own. to evolve. It would be great for regarding sexuality and human There were few of us at Rice at the everyone. rights. It was all very polite, but I time, and a Hispanic student club Schools such as Stanford and could tell that the young man, an would have provided a good sup- Northwestern, plus many of the aggressive Reagan-era yuppie, port system to help us weather the Ivy League Schools, revel in at- didn't want gays in the school. challenging days at the university tracting the best and brightest from Today, I would have sued, but this and to assist us in forging relation- our community. Rice should fully was in the early '80s. The experi- ships based on the common bonds take advantage of the urban caul- ence certainly changed my life and we shared through our heritage. It's dron of creative and economic vi- retarded my desire to serve my good to know that the Hispanic tality of which we are a vital part. country as a diplomat. Association for Cultural Enrichment There would be no Broadway, no Finally, I am sure that there are at Rice now exists. fashion, nor much of the art in some lost creative people on cam- Being involved in SOLAR, the museums if it were not for our pus right now who are confused and Hispanic Rice alum group, I am contributions. Also, it is no mis- who would benefit from role mod- aware of many of Rice's important take that the great vitality of the els and guidance. initiatives to support diversity and San Francisco area, New York,and ROBERT BURNSIDE '90 am elated to discover that so much even Austin is due to an atmo- New York, New York more is being done. Mr. Medina's sphere of tolerance. From ancient minority affairs position for the Greece and Alexandria to the I would like to reiterate the senti- Office of Public Affairs] and his present day, gays have helped build ments expressed in Tom Neal's important work in the minority com- our modern world and make it letter (Sallyport, winter 2000) on munity on behalf of Rice is positive interesting. the invisibility of the gay commu- proof that Rice is serious about I look forward to more leader- nity at Rice. Many years ago, I reaching out to the minority com- ship, which is all that is needed. In wrote a letter to the Thresher de- munities and should be applauded.

SPRING '01 3 RETURN ADDRESSED

paper with some real foreign stu- NROTC unit in 1941, but there dents. Although I had visited Hous- were no navy boys housed on cam- ton several times while growing up, pus until the V-12 Unit was acti- I had always spent the time with vated in July 1943. I am quite sure family. Going to school there was of these facts since I was a civilian very different. In many ways Rice student on a scholarship from Nash- and Houston were foreign to me. ville, Tennessee, for the 1942-43 I'd grown up in the cosmopolitan school year. I played freshman foot- port city ofHonolulu. During World ball and basketball during that year, War II, we lived under military rule and the navy sent me back to Rice in for two years, and I carried a gas the V-12 Unit in July 1943. Unfor- mask to school every day. While I tunately,four other boys and myself was in high school, we had the Ko- were screened into the NROTC pro- rean "Crisis." gram at the University of Texas, In Houston, I found a city that where I spent 1944 before receiving was segregated—and Rice was an my commission. all-white school. Although there I am currently listed as a member were few blacks in Hawaii at the of the class of 1946, but due to the time,I lived in a multiethnic neigh- "year-around" sessions during the borhood with Japanese, Chinese, war years, most ofthe people I knew Hawaiian, part-Hawaiian, Portu- well are in the class of 1945. If this guese, and whites, or Haoles as we group has any meetings or gather- were called. I attended Rice be- ings, I would like to know about it. cause of my family in town and BRICE "PINKY" Qu '46 because three of my uncles gradu- Dallas, Texas ated from Rice. I left Rice midway through my junior year because of I am writing in response to your family problems. recent article,"A Look Back,a Look I learned a lot at Rice, but it took Forward" (spring 2000). The ar- me a long time to get used to the ticle reminded me of my recent visit area. I was so cold the first winter, I to the Rice campus for my 10th wasn't sure I would ever get warm. reunion last November. Both in the I learned to play bridge well enough images in Sallyport and during my It certainly delights me to read to earn some master points. I had visit, I was astonished by the designs about the growing numbers of His- some wonderful classes and some of recent buildings on one of the panics entering and graduating from not so wonderful classes. I'd come most beautiful campuses in the Rice. Hispanic magazine's award- from a private school, so Math 100 United States. ing Rice #2 ranking in the nation for was not a problem. I passed the None of the recent buildings 2000 for demonstrating commit- spelling test the first time I took it, live up to the legacy of either the ment to diversity clearly signals that but I understand the test has been significant historic buildings we Rice is making diversity a priority at done away with. all cherish or the exemplary newer all levels of the university. Your stories on legacies were very works ofStirling/Wilfort at Ander- Multiculturalism can add an in- interesting and brought back many son Hall and Cesar Pelli at the credible learning experience to a memories. Jones School and Ley Student Cen- student's college education. I look BAU-Y HUDSON R.50AI-11- '55 ter. All of the buildings of the last forward to reading about more of Riperstdc, California 10 years have merits—they were Rice's diversity successes and to see- designed by some of the most cre- ing improvements made in the de- TIME AND AGAIN ative, responsive, and sensitive ar- mographics ofthe faculty too in the chitects in the world—yet they do future. The job that your staff does with not strengthen or contribute to BANDY RIVERA '77 Sa//yport is truly outstanding. I am the high quality and unique char- The Woodlands, Texas also an alumnus of UT—Austin and acter of the campus. What is hap- Vanderbilt,and your efforts are very pening at Rice that is creating a When I arrived at Rice in fall 1951, much the best. campus of mediocre work by ter- I had come 4000 miles from Ha- In the year-by-year reports in the rific designers? waii. I was considered "foreign" by spring 2000 issue, there was a small I hope that the look forward will some and even had my picture in the but important mistake. Rice had an include an evaluation ofthe process

4 SALLYPORT RETURN ADDRESSED

that is establishing the design inten- efforts to establish the institute,so I tions for future buildings on the was familiar with that information, campus. but I had always been curious ofthe MICHAEL HARVERLAND '89 details of Mr. Rice's accumulation ASSISTANT PROFESSOR, YALE UNIVERSITY of wealth that you explained in very SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE interesting detail. New Haven, Connecticut I was intrigued with how the history of my family was related to BAHA BOOBOO Rice's life in the early days of Hous- ton. My great grandfather relocated I was delighted to receive my De- to Houston because of its promis- cember 2000 Sallyport today. I ing future. He was in no way com- couldn't help noticing that most of parable to Rice, but he worked at the letters were pointing out errors various jobs, including a time with in previous issues. Unfortunately, F. A. Rice in the furniture line. In this issue contains another egre- 1857, the H&TC Railroad was be- gious blunder. It was pointed out ing built, and he was employed as to me by my 14-year-old daughter, agent at Houston. He died in 1859 Alyson, when I showed her the as a result of a train fire on a train- photo on the back page. When I load of cotton near Eureka Junc- doubted her word, she immedi- tion, which is now Memorial Park ately showed me her CD of"Who off I-10 and Post Oak. Let the Dogs Out?" by the Baja I was born at home on Crawford Men,not the Baja Boys,as stated in Street, directly across from Eliza- Sallyport's caption. beth Baldwin Park. My dad gradu- PETE STEINFELD 973 ated from the high school that Rice Portland, Oregon established as the Houston Acad- emy. By 1902, it was the Normal Your editor had never heard of this and High School, and my father's musical group and unfortunately diploma was given by the City of accepted the namegiven by the blurb Houston. As the young graduate writer. The CDshows that thegroup's prepared to leave for UT in Austin, actual na we is the Baba Men. he asked his father to record his EDITOR recollection of the Civil War. This him to return to New York City. 75-page handwritten document was The yellow fever epidemic of 1867 THE FOUNDER recently rediscovered, and it gives a took the life ofGrandfather's fiancée. lot of details that parallel Rice's in It was refreshing to read your For over a halfa century I have owed the growing town of Houston. detailed description ofthe man who a debt ofgratitude to William Marsh During the post-Civil War years, was very important to Houston and Rice for furnishing me an excellent my grandfather was employed by who has had a life-long effect on my college education for free, some- Houston Direct Navigation Com- own life. thing that was very important to my pany on the steamboat Bagby, run- BOEI AMERMAN ,46 parents' strained budget in the last ning between Houston and Houston, Texas days of the depression. My older Galveston. Later he was a brakeman brother and I overlapped at Rice; he on the GH&H Railroad, ran a train CORRECTION entered in 1936 and I followed in on HT&B Railroad, and worked at 1939. I was a local boy, and my Harrisburg for BBB&C Railroad. In "Rethinking the University: Rice father plead hardship to the require- In all ofthese jobs, he observed that in the 21st Century," by Malcolm ment that one year be spent in the the Yankee army of occupation was Gillis (winter 2000), there is an dormitory,although Uncle Sam pro- not composed of veterans of the editorial error in the sentence on vided me dorm occupation in my friendly type they had known at page 22 that reads,"Tuition at Rice senior year in the V-12 program. I Vicksburg, but soldiers who had is less than one-third the cost of was one offour in the tower room of not seen any combat during the war undergraduate education at our peer West Hall [Hanszen College]. and were generally a hard lot. This institutions." The sentence should In the mid 1930s,a national mys- would not be a very attractive atmo- read, "Tuition at Rice is one-third tery writer ran a story on the forgery sphere for Mr. Rice to continue his less than the costs of undergraduate of Rice's will and Captain Baker's enterprises, and it was logical for education at our peer institutions."

SPRING 'Dl 5 THROUGH THE SALLYPORT r TUB Moves Closer to Opening

A major step in the beginning of International University Bremen, a private university in Bremen, Germany, modeled after Rice, has been achieved with the appointment of its two founding deans.

Last fall, IUB president Fritz worked as a researcher at the presti- As of now, plans call for IUB's Schaumann announced that gious Social Science Research Cen- library to be completely digital. Gerhard Haerendel has been se- ter (Wissen-schaftszentrum fur This would be connected to Rice lected to head up the School of Sozialforschung) in Berlin. by two optic cables (DS-3 lines) Science and Engineering and Max Founded in 1999, the private established through a strategic al- Kaase will preside over the School International University Bremen liance between Rice and Enron of Humanities and Social Sciences. plans to open its 80-acre campus Broadband Services. This connec- Taken together, these two schools next fall with the admission of tion—the first international direct comprise the basic academic orga- about 100 students from all over high-speed line between two uni- nization of the new university, and the world. IUB works closely in versities—will allow simultaneous both Haerendel and Kaase hold the cooperation with Rice University and constantly available resources title of vice president and dean of and with the public University of to users at both ends. IUB. Bremen with the purpose of of- "The Enron broadband connec- The role of the dean at IUB fering internationally recognized tion between Rice and IUB repre- differs substantially from that nor- undergraduate and graduate de- sents a new frontier of interna- mally found at German universi- grees in engineering, science, the tional collaboration," says vice ties, where deans serve primarily humanities, and the social sci- president and chief information as administrative managers, ac- ences. One of the first private re- officer Chuck Henry, who is work- cording to Thomas Hochstettler, search and educational institu- ing on the project at Rice. "We Rice's associate provost for inter- tions in Germany, IUB will offer now have a superb opportunity to national affairs and a visiting pro- its students an opportunity to as- develop, implement, and test a fessor at IUB. Instead, the IUB sume leadership roles within the truly innovative international elec- deans resemble more closely aca- global economy. tronic information environment demic deans at North American As a residential university, IUB for teaching and research. The re- universities. In addition to pro- is distinctive among German uni- sults of this alliance may indeed grammatic and professional plan- versities. The intellectual lives of change the way we think of a uni- ning, the new deans' responsibili- students will be integrated with versity in the years to come." ties will include the development their social and extracurricular ac- After 2003, as IUB further de- of curriculum, strategic planning tivities, much as they are at Rice velops its curriculum and research for future research initiatives, fac- and at other highly selective insti- programs and its intellectual ties ulty and program assessment, and tutions in the United Kingdom, to Rice become more formalized, fund raising. Canada, and the United States. there may be collaborative re- Haerendel holds a doctorate in Rice and IUB plan to collaborate search in such disciplines as physics from the University of through programs such as faculty bioengineering, geosciencc, neu- Munich, and he began his academic and student exchanges and joint roscience, industrial design, and career as a postdoctoral researcher course offerings. The two univer- cultural studies. Potential appli- at the California Institute of Tech- sities will coordinate their degree cations include molecular model- nology. He returned to Germany to programs to ensure automatic ing, structural genomics, inte- assume an academic post at the Max transfer of credits for exchange grated 3-D visualization of data, Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial students. Rice president Malcolm virtual reality, and the creation of Physics and, since 1972, has served Gillis has said that one reason Rice real-time laboratories on each as the institute's director. looks forward to IUB's opening is campus. Kaase, a social scientist, has served that it will provide science and as executive director of the engineering students from Rice the Mannheim Center for Surveys, Meth- opportunity to study abroad while ods, and Analysis and held a profes- still taking courses that meet Rice's sorate at the University ofMannheim. rigorous degree requirements in For the past several years, he has those areas.

6 SALLYPORT CHARITABLE GIVING DOESN'T HAVE TO BE A ONE- WAY PROPOSITION. IT IS POSSIBLE TO MAKE A CHARITABLE GI FT AND TO HAVE A STREAM OF PAYMENTS FLOW BACK TO YOU AT THE SAME TIME-ALL WHILE ENJOYING VALUABLE INCOME-TAX BENEFITS.

There are a variety of charitable strategies that allow vou to realize such benefits. One ofthe oldest—and most popular—is known as the charitable gift annuity. Rice University offers favorable rates for charitable gift annuities. This is good news for persons who want to make an important charitable ifift but need to retain a source ofcash flow based on the value ofdonated assets. A very attractive feature ofthe gift annuity is its simplicity. The gift annuity is a straightforward instrument that does not require extensive, complicated legal documents. But even though it is simple, the gift annuity can be a powerful planning tool. Annuities are flexible,dependable, and safe. They can be excellent investments for those concerned N‘ith ensuring steady income beyond their peak earning years. At its heart, a gift annuity is simply a contract between a donor and a charity,such as Rice University. In exchange fin- a gift ofa specified amount, Rice agrees to make specified annual payments for life to one or two beneficiaries. Our obligation to make gift-annuity payments is backed by all the assets of Rice University, not just by the amount contributed for any individual gift annuity.

Example: Mary R., age 82, Class of 1937, had a certificate ofdeposit maturing. She decided to make a gift of$25,000 to Rice University. In return, Rice promised to pay Mary $2,400 (9.6%) a yearfor the rest of her life.

The amount of the annuity payment depends on the age(s) of the individual(s) receiving the annuity and the amount ofthe gift. In addition to receiving an income-tax charitable deduction, a donor may also receive tax-free income as a portion ofeach annuity payment. Call us for examples of various payout rates at different ages, the tax-free portion of each •* payment, and the charitable deduction calculation for an annuity estab- PLEASE CALL US. WE 1VILL BE HAPPY TO lished for one or two lives. PROVWE INDIVIDUAL GIFT ILLUSTRATIONS Funding a gift annuity with long-term appreciated stock is an excellent A14CA1.CULATIONS OR DETAILS ABOOMPIWR way to minimize and spread out the capital gain tax. Part ofthe appreciation GIVING OPPORTUNITIES AT RICE escapes capital-gain taxation entirely, and the portion ofcapital gain that is reportable may be spread out over the donor's life expectancy. THE PLANNED GIVING OFFICE A charitable gift annuity ofkrs many attractive benefits for the security- 713-348-4610 minded individual. A gift annuity may be established with Rice beginning at age 50 for a minimum contribution of $25,000. If your objectives ANN JUNGMEYER include receiving a guaranteed, dependable income for life, substantially EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT reducing income tax, providing additional income for other family mem- 713-348-4635 • [email protected] bers, or shoring up your income for a comfortable retirement, all while making a significant gift to Rice University, a charitable gift annuity may be an attractive alternative for consideration. THROUGH THE SALLYPORT

a December 4 rally of 200 to 300 KTRU, University students in front of the statue of Wil- liam Marsh Rice in the Quad. Mean- while, negotiations on the new struc- Administration Agree on ture went on among KTRU student volunteers Ben Home, Sarah Pitre, and Alexei Angelides; Student Asso- New Operating Policy ciation president Lindsay Botsford;and Vice President for Student Affairs After a temporary suspension by university administra- Zenaido Camacho. tion, student After five days ofwork,they reached programming resumed at KTRU-FM an agreement that was overwhelm- (91.7) December 8 when the student staffof the Rice ingly approved by KTRU volunteers radio station, the Student Association and the univer- (a vote of 41-1 among student DJs) and by Student Association senators in sity agreed on a new operating policy. an e-mail poll (13-0 by the time the agreement was announced). Official approval came during January's S.A. The new agreement for deciding policy the broadcast ofa women's basketball Senate meeting. Rice president and programming states,"KTRU, as a game in protest of an interim agree- Malcolm Gillis said he backs the new student-run radio station, is account- ment to air more Rice sporting events. operating policy 100 percent. able to two bodies: the university as The increased coverage of athletic KTRU volunteers explicitly recog- holder of the Federal Communica- events was equivalent to five percent nize accountability to the student body tions Commission license and the stu- of annual airtime on the station. The and the university. The station man- dent body." The policy calls for the student station manager made clear to ager will be voted on by the student station manager to be elected by the the chair ofthe KTRU Advisory Com- body in the annual February elections. student body and for a "KTRU- mittee that while he did not condone The new KTRU-Friendly Committee Friendly Committee" to establish the disruption, he would not take re- will consist of nine voting members: policy guidelines and be attentive to sponsibility for it, would not discipline the station manager;three undergradu- concerns and programming ideas. Issues ofaccountability for the station go back at least as far as a 1997 report KTRU'S STUDENT STATION MANAGER WAS NOT from a committee of students, faculty, ELECTED BY THE STUDENT BODY AND HAD NO LINES staff, alumni, and trustees. That report OF ACCOUNTABILITY TO EITHER THE STUDENT ASSO- recommended the creation of an advi- CIATION OR THE UNIVERSITY. sory oversight committee,appointed by the president to provide accountability and guidance for the manager and the the students involved, would not be ates appointed by the S.A. Senate; station as a whole, and broader pro- surprised if further such incidents oc- three faculty members nominated by gramming of university news, lectures, curred, and could or would do noth- the Faculty Committee on Commit- Shepherd School music, and athletics. ing to prevent them. tees;one alumna or alumnus,required Little progress was made by the student The university judged his position to to have had KTRU DJ experience, to volunteers at KTRU, in part because mean that, de facto, no one was ac- be nominated by the president of the they viewed themselves as completely countable for what the station aired. alumni association; and one staff mem- autonomous. Unlike the heads ofother This was unacceptable, university offi- ber. The university president will offi- student organizations receiving blanket cials said, because the Rice Board of cially appoint the faculty members, tax funds,KTRU's student station man- Trustees owns the FCC license and is the alumna or alumnus, and the staff ager was not elected by the student body responsible for what is broadcast. In- member. Decisions of the committee and had no lines of accountability to deed,each trustee signs an annual affi- require at least six votes for approval. either the Student Association or the davit so stating his or her responsibility. KTRU student volunteers expressed university. In light of the situation, the university satisfaction with the agreement,which That gap in accountability ultimately temporarily suspended student pro- they said gave them the ability to make led the vice president for student af- gramming and closed the studio until day-to-day programming decisions, fairs to suspend student programming an accountable management structure and with the makeup of the new over- for eight days, starting November 30, could be put in place. The World Radio sight committee. Student Association after he determined that no one was Network, a satellite service normally and university representatives likewise exercising responsibility for what the aired on KTRU during breaks, was praised the new structure as providing station aired. On November 28, stu- broadcast during the interim. appropriate accountability to the student disc jockeys used music to disrupt The action prompted meetings and dent body and the university.

B SALLYPORT THROUGH THE SALL Y POR T

Scholarship Fund-raising Effort

41C. a Success 130LICe 110 A Rice University alumni organization has raised, in a matter of months, almost $300,000 for merit scholarships for minority students attending Rice. Recruitment Into Collegiate Education Through Minor- RUPD Armed with ity Scholarships Fund( RICE-TMS) is a nonprofit organiza- New Badges tion that is not associated with Rice University, but it hopes to convince the best minority students to stay in Texas by offering them scholarships to Rice. (See Sallyport, spring 2000, for the story of the scholarship's formation.) Rice University Police Department officers "The program is off to a good start, and the Rice are proud members ofthe campus commu- community is a big part of its early success," says Carl nity, and now they have new uniform and MacDowell, president of the corporation and former assis- hat badges that reflect that pride. tant to President Malcolm Gillis. "The donations from Rice "Our old badges were just kind ofplain," have given us a big boost in opening other sources ofgiving says Sgt. Randy Marshall, designer of the for the program." About 170 members ofthe Rice commu- new badges, who has been with the Rice nity contributed a total of$66,000. The rest ofthe $300,000 police department for 12 years. "Plus,they came from foundations,corporations, businesses, and indi- didn't have the officer's rank or number viduals. anywhere on them." Initially, the group,which is made up ofsix Rice alumni, The department also wanted a badge had planned to fund five $10,000 scholarships for fall unique to Rice. Marshall started with the 2001, but with the recent windfall, the group hopes to ring of stars that surrounds the police increase that amount to 10. The scholarships will be department's logo and set them around the awarded over a four-year period—or $2,500 each year. outer edge ofan oval shape. Deciding what The first 10 scholarships were awarded April 15. should be in the center of the badge was a "I am confident that with another good year of fund bit more difficult. Preliminary designs de- raising, we will fund 20 in the fall of2002," MacDowell says. picted an owl and Lovett Hall, but ulti- To qualify for a scholarship, a student must first be mately the idea of using Willy's Statue hit admitted to Rice and then be nominated by a high school home. The Texas state seal is depicted in counselor,teacher, or administrator. The scholarship will be the base of the statue. The new hat badge awarded strictly on the basis of merit and leadership poten- shows an owl with its wings spread. tial. To keep the scholarship over the four years, recipients If you don't have a chance to stop an must maintain at least a 2.80 grade-point average. officer for a closer look, the badges can be More information can be fbund at the organization's viewed online at http://rupd.rice.edu/ website at www.ricetms.org. newbadge.html.

—DAVID D. MEDINA —DANA BENSON

SPRING '01 9 THROUGH THE SALLYPORT

A Piece of the Wall There is a section ofwall on the Rice campus that does not belong to a building designed to expand the frontiers of knowledge and freedom. Just the opposite—it was once part of a concrete barrier topped with barbed wire and patrolled by armed guards.

Erected in 1961,the Berlin Wall was an attempt to halt the mass exodus of people who were fleeing East Berlin and the Soviet section of Germany to pursue better jobs and freedom in West Berlin and the noncommunist world. Called the Berlin Wall Monument, the concrete panel was donated to Rice by Browning-Ferris Industries of Houston at the urging of Mary McIntire, dean of the School of Continu- ing Studies. Originally installed on the campus in 1991 between the Speros P. Martel Center for Continuing Studies and the Rice Media Center, the panel is 12 feet high, four feet wide, and weighs 5,000 pounds. It was extracted from the Frohnau district of West Berlin, on the border with the East German district of Oranienburg, in April 1990. The writing on the monument is actually on the side of the wall that faced east, which suggests the graffiti was applied after the wall came down or after people had access to the east side when the wall was no longer guarded. Last fall, the monument was relocated to the southeast corner of Baker Hall to acknowledge the leadership of 61st secretary of state James A. Baker, III, in 1989 when the Berlin Wall was taken down and in the subsequent successful effort to unify Germany in peace and freedom. The dedication took place on November 10, 2000—the eleventh anniversary of the date when the people of Germany demolished the wall---in a ceremony attended by Juergen Chrobog, ambassador of the Federal Re- public of Germany to the United States; Hanno von Graevenitz, German consul general; Malcolm Gillis, r Ar' • • Rice president; and Edward Djerejian, director of the Baker Institute. James Baker was scheduled to speak at A' • • the ceremony but had to travel to Florida unexpect- edly when then Texas governor George W.Bush asked for his assistance with the presidential election re- count. Edward Djerejian presented Baker's speech. "We must all understand that the fall of the Berlin Wall marked not just the end of one chapter in the history of human aspiration, but the beginning of another," Baker wrote. Djerejian noted that generations of Rice students will pass the monument at Baker Hall and be reminded of the historical significance of the fall of the wall and the end of the Cold War. THROUGH THE SALLYPORT

Lane Returning from Presidential Post 1

sity of Colorado at Colorado Springs and returned in 1986 to serve as provost. Lane is a fellow with the Ameri- can Physical Society, the Ameri- can Academy ofArts and Sciences, and the American Association for the Advancement of Science. In his previous time at Rice, he was awarded an Alfred P. Sloan Foun- dation Fellowship and twice won the George R. Brown Prize for Superior Teaching. He also has studied as a postdoctoral fellow at Queen's University of Belfast, Northern Ireland, and has held Pmmo we Tommy LAVImawa. several visiting fellowships at the Neal Lane, assistant to the presi- ers on Science and Technology Joint Institute for Laboratory As- dent of the United States for sci- Policy and managed the president's trophysics in Boulder, Colorado. ence and technology, director of National Science and Technology the U.S. Office of Science and Council. President Clinton named —B. .J. ALMOND Technology Policy, and former Lane in 1993 to lead the National director of the National Science Science Foundation (NSF), the Foundation, is rejoining the fac- federal agency that provides more ulty at Rice University this spring. than $3 billion in support for re Lane returns to Rice from the search and education in science Clinton White House to take the mathematics, engineering, and positions of University Professor technology. Lane also served ex in the Department of Physics and officio on the National Science Astronomy and senior fellow at Board for six years. the James A. Baker III Institute "I have had the privilege to for Public Policy. University Pro- serve in the Clinton—Gore admin- fessor is a special appointment istration for more than seven entitling the holder to teach in years," Lane says. "Now I am e\ any department in the university. cited to be coming home to Rice, Lane is the only person ever to where my wife, Joni, and I have so RICE UNIVERSITY PRESIDENT IVIALCOLM GILLIS hold the position at Rice, where many friends. I look forward to (LEFT) MEETS WITH K. DAE JUNG, PRESIDENT he served as provost from 1986 to teaching again and working with OF KOREA, DURING A RECENT VISIT TO SEOUL. 1993 and was an award-winning Rice's outstanding students and Kim, THE 2000 NOBEL PEACE PRIZE LAUREATE, THANKED GILLIS AND RICE teacher and researcher in atomic faculty on physics research ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR and OF ECONOMICS BUCHAN CHAE FOR THEIR and molecular physics for more science and technology policy." ASSISTANCE DURING KOREA'S ECONOMIC CRISIS than 27 years. Lane earned his undergraduate, OF THE LATE v90s. CHAE SPENT CONSIDERABLE Lane has been assistant to Presi- master's, and doctoral degrees TIME IN KOREA TO HELP THE INCOMING dent Clinton and director of the from the University of Oklahoma GOVERNMENT COPE WITH THE COUNTRY'S FISCAL Office ofScience and Technology in the early 1960s. He joined the PROBLEMS IN 1997-98, AND HE SECURED GILLIS'S HELP WITH CONTACTING Policy since August 1998. In his Rice faculty in 1966 as an assistant TI-C U.S. SENATE AND HOUSE, U.S. BANKS, THE federal roles, Lane provided the professor ofphysics and was named INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND, AND THE president with advice in all areas of chair ofthe physics department in WORLD BANK TO ENSURE THAT KOREA WAS science and technology policy,and 1977. While departmental chair, NOT TARRED WITH THE SAME BRUSH THAT WAS he coordinated policy and pro- Lane spent 1979 serving as direc- USED TO PAINT OTHER EAST ASIAN NATIONS AT grams across the federal govern- tor of the Division of Physics for THE TIME OF ME SO-CALLED "MELTDOWN." ment. He also co-chaired the the NSF. Lane left Rice in 1984 to president's Committee of Advis- become chancellor of the Univer-

SPRING '01 11 THRDUDH THE OALLTPORT

pulsion. But in 1096,the choice became Professor Strives to Establish Record baptism or death. The murder of Jews in 1096 led to a of Jewish German History martyrdom movement in which Jews in several cities killed themselves rather than face conversion or murder by Germans When Eva Haverkamp was a teenager in Germany, her crusaders. This self-sacrifice, known as high school history teacher asked each member of the "kiddush hashem,"would become an ideal over several centuries among Ashkenazi class to write about a figure from German history. She told (European) Jews, Haverkamp says. him that she planned to research the life of German Haverkamp finds that there still is a philosopher Moses Mendelssohn,the father ofthe Jewish reluctance to incorporate Jewish community life into the history ofGermany, Enlightenment. Her teacher had never heard of him. and not necessarily because of anti- Semitism: A large part ofthe literature is Incidents such as that had an impact on produce a long-awaited new edition of written in Hebrew,she explains, which Rice assistant professor of these important texts,and her study will Haverkamp, most German scholars can't read. Also, history. The German native found that place them for the first time in a compre- Haverkamp notes, "many historians Jewish German history was almost com- hensive Jewish—Christian framework." would rather not delve into the dark side pletely missing from German history The book is being published by the of German history." books. One of her central goals as a prestigious Monumenta Germaniae But it seemed only natural for historian is to help establish Jewish Ger- Historica(Munich) in cooperation with Haverkamp to study Jewish German man history as part of German history. the Israel Academy ofSciences and Hu- history, partly because ofher father. She Currently, Haverkamp is one ofonly manities and will be a first-in-a-series said she always has felt at home in Jewish German professors researching the text for research on Jewish life in medi- three culture, having grown up in Trier, of Jews in medieval Germany. eval Germany. It will be the first time history Germany's oldest city, with many Jew- other two are her father, Alfred that the most respected center for medi- The ish friends. Haverkamp, professor of history at the eval studies in Germany has acknowl- Haverkamp's next project will be to University ofTrier, and her former the- edged Hebrew sources as a part ofGer- write an interpretation ofthe chronicles. sis adviser Alexander Patschovsky,of the man history, Haverkamp says. "In a For that project, she will "situate the University of Konstanz. sense, it is a political statement. It is Hebrew accounts in the histories ofthe Ofthe three,she is the only one who acknowledging Jewish German history particular cities and regions in which the knows Hebrew,and that knowledge has as part of German history." persecutions took place" and offer a her to compile an authoritative The year 1096 was a turning point in enabled historical—literary analysis. edition ofimportant texts.She is prepar- Jewish persecution in Germany. Before year,she says, persecuted Jews were ing a new edition ofthree Hebrew nar- that -DAVID K APLAN ratives, also know as chronicles, that faced with two choices: baptism or ex- document a crucial time in Jewish history: the persecution of the Jews in various German cities during the First Crusade in 1096.The new edition ofthe narratives will include commentary by Haverkamp. The narratives have been copied over the centuries, and in her edition, Haverkamp attempts to establish an original text, to identify the chronicles' authors, and to determine the time in which the narratives were written. She says that she approached the narratives as literature and aimed to describe the authors' intentions. Ivan Marcus, professor of history at Yale University,says, "The Hebrew narratives about Crusader anti-Jewish riots in Germany the spring of 1096 are the first and most important Hebrew chronicles of any aspect of the Jewish historical experience in medieval North- EVA HA VERK AMP, ASSISTANT PROFESSOR OF HISTORY, STANDS IN HER OFFICE WITH A DISPLAY OF ern Europe. Eva Haverkamp is going to SCENES FROM THE HEBREW MANUSCRIPT THE GOLDEN HAGGAHAH (CIRCA 1320).

12 SALLYPORT THROUGH THE SALLYPOR T

Rice Alumnus Assumes Top Job in Bush White House

As George W. Bush begins his term as the 1975 and 1977. 43rd president, he has a Rice graduate Among his numerous honors are a Presi- among his closest advisers. dential Citation from the State Bar of Texas Alberto Gonzales '79 was named by in 1997 for his dedication to addressing the Bush as White House counsel-designate. legal needs of the indigent. He was selected Gonzales has served as a Texas Supreme as one offive Outstanding Young Texans by Court justice since January 1999, a posi- the Texas Jaycees in 1994 and as the Out- tion to which he also was appointed by standing Young Lawyer ofTexas in 1992. In Bush. Prior to that, he served as Texas's 1993, he was honored by the United Way 100th secretary of state from December with a Commitment to Leadership Award. 1997 to January 1999 and as general coun- Most recently, Gonzales was recognized as sel to Governor Bush. the 1999 Latino Lawyer of the Year by the Born in San Antonio,Gonzales was raised Hispanic National Bar Association, and he in Houston,where he attended public schools. At Rice, was selected as one ofthe 100 Most Influential Hispan- he was a member of Lovett College. He went on to ics in 1999 by Hispanic Business. graduate from the Harvard Law School, and he served Gonzales is involved in many professional and civic in the United States Air Force between 1973 and 1975 activities, including having served as a member ofRice's and attended the U.S. Air Force Academy between Committee on Undergraduate Admissions.

RICE Is BECOMING A CONTINENTAL FREQUENT FLIER. THROUGH A SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT WITH CONTINENTAL AIRLINES' IN-FLIGHT MAGAZINE, PASSENGERS WILL BE EDUCATED ABOUT RICE'S DISTINCTIVE QUALITIES, STARTING WITH THIS QUIZ IN THE MAY ISSUE. THE JESSE H. JONES GRADUATE SCHOOL OF MANAGEMENT WILL REACH BUSINESS FLIERS WITH A SIMILAR VISIBILITY PIECE AND WITH ADS ATTRACTING ENROLLMENT IN EXECUTIVE EDUCATION COURSES. Four great universihes Harvard Can lion ranii them according to: H. Highest percentage of National Merit Scholars B. Largest endowment per student MIT C. Lowest undergraduate tuition Rice H. National Merit Scholars: 1. Rice 2. Harvard 3. Stanford 4. MIT For 11 years in a row, Rice University has led the nation's universities in percentage of National Merit Scholars in its freshman class, averaging 32.5%. Stanford 0. Endowment: 1. Harvard 2. Rice 3. Stanford 4. MIT Rice University's endowment is more than $750,000 per student. C. Lowest tuition: 1. Rice 2. Stanford 3. MIT 4. Harvard Rice recognizes the financial commitment parents make to their child's II 1100 01 0 11011 III education and uses its endowment to keep its tuition lower. The median tuition for almost all other top private universities is 60% higher than Rice's. And Rice guarantees that enrolled student tuition will go up by no more than the CPI each year.

Want to know more about what makes Rice such an intelligent choice? Visit: www rice edu/moreinfo E-mail: [email protected] Phone: 800-527-6957 Write: Rice University Office of Admission — MS 17C P.O.Box 1892 Houston, TX 77251-1892 RICE

SPRING 'Dl 13 THROUGH THE SALL YPOR T

Into the Volcano Most people go into the mountains to catch a breath offresh air. Not Frank Tittel. As he and fellow researchers ascended Masaya volcano last year, above them stretched a smoky plume, and before long, a faint, sickly sweet smell similar to rotten eggs, filled the air.

That mixture of stinky gases was ex- research associate Dirk Rehle, who gases will help scientists in their efforts actly what Tittel,the J.S. Abercrombie returned to Germany in November,in to predict volcanic eruptions. Professor in Electrical and Computer collaboration with a research group Part of a national park, Masaya vol- Engineering, and the Rice Laser Sci- from the University of Cambridge, cano sits about 30 miles south ofdown- ence Group hoped to find. Tittel, Rice England, were visiting the volcano to town Managua, Nicaragua. It is the doctoral candidate Dirk Richter, now test their compact prototype laser- most active volcano in the region and a postdoctoral fellow at the National based gas sniffer. The ability to accu- an ideal place to study emissions be- Center for Atmospheric Research,and rately capture and measure a variety of cause of the easy access by car to its rim. An eruption at Masaya in 4550 B.C. was one of the largest on Earth in the last 10,000 years. It has erupted at least 19 times since 1524—its most recent explosive eruption was in 1993, and its most recent Strombolian eruption occurred in 1997. Strombolian eruptions are characterized by the in- termittent explosion or fountaining of basaltic lava from a single vent or crater and are caused by the release of volcanic gases. Two mid-infrared diode laser-based gas sensors developed by the Rice team were set up next to the active volcano crater, marking the first time that this type of sensing system has been tested at a volcano. For 10 days, the team measured five different types of gases: carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide, methane, hydrochloric acid, and water vapor. Meanwhile, the Cam- bridge team—Clive Oppenheimer, Hayley Duffell, Rodney Jones, and Mike Burton—studied the volcano's gas emissions using a different type of sensing method called Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The data from the three sensors allowed the researchers to get a useful comparison between the two technologies. Marked advantages of the mid-infrared diode laser- based sensor are that its measurements are more sensitive and selective and they are given in real time. Another advantage over the Fou- rier transform system is that the sensor uses a more versatile light source and requires no consumables such as liquid nitrogen.

14 SALLYPORT THROUGH THE S ALL YPOR T DOUBLE The researchers also looked at the based on measurements of seismic ac- impact of the gasses on atmospheric tivity, but sudden changes in a chemistry. In 1981, sulfur dioxide volcano's gas activity also might be an was released from Masaya's Santiago indicator. An autonomous sensor that YOUR Crater at a rate of 500,000 tons per volcanologists can leave unattended at year. Three periods of similar gas ac- a site for weeks or months at a time tivity occurred this century, but would allow them to monitor emis- DOLLARS Masaya has been venting continu- sions regularly and with high accuracy ously—about every 30 seconds—for from a remote location. the last 300 years. The researchers Such a sensor would have to be found that Masaya was putting out 60 rugged,and the Rice team's unit seems kilotons an hour of sulfur dioxide. In to fill the bill. In spite ofbeing checked comparison,the total output ofsulfur as baggage on the airline, jostled dioxide in all of the United Kingdom around in a four-wheel drive vehicle, is 0.2 kilotons per hour. A region and subjected to high humidity and called the "death zone" spreads over temperature fluctuations, the diode the land below,where the steady winds lasers and fiber optics were not dam- blow the volcano's plume. The emis- aged and the sensor worked well. TO THE RICE UNIVERSITY sions destroy the fertility of the soil As the prototypes continue to evolve, ANNUAL GIFTS CAMPAIGN, AND and produce acid rains during the the researchers intend to make the YOUR SUPPORT FOR STUDENTS region's rainy season. Civil defense system more compact, perhaps the GOES TWICE AS FAR! and the impact of increased gas on size of a shoebox, and to create sepa- health and agriculture are serious con- rate modules for the energy source cerns in the area. and the detector. They also wish to Volcanologists are interested in gas apply the technology to other indus- Just follow these simple steps: concentrations emitted from volca- trial and manufacturing sensing and noes because by measuring the con- control situations, such as fence-line • Make a gift to the Annual Gifts Campaign. centrations and ratio of hydrochloric monitoring around chemical plants. • Find out if acid and sulfur dioxide, they can de- More information and photos are your employer (or your spouse's duce the de-gassing activity of the available online at www.ruf.rice.edu/ employer) matches gifts to universities. If you are volcano and its patterns and look at —lasersci. retired, check to see if your previous employer the long-term trend of the volcano. will match your gifts to universities. Currently, eruption predictions are UNRAU • Get a corporate matching-gift form from your human resources office and send it to the Rice University Annual Gifts Campaign.Some com- Matching Gifts Continu panies require just a phone call. Yours may be one; check with your human resources office.

You've just doubled your dollars to the Rice University Annual Gifts Campaign. porate matching-gift programs. The pro- SUPPORTING YOUR FAVORITE gram has alumni vol- INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION unteers at 15 companies throughout IS THAT EASY! Houston and the United States. Last QUESTIONS? year,$1.4 million was raised from such Call 713-348-4991 to obtain more informa- companies as Exxon, tion about doubling your dollars to the Rice A recent gift to Rice of$17,302 Pennzoil, Shell, and Texas In- University Annual Gifts Campaign through from Deloitte & Touche is an- struments. The Deloitte & Tou- the corporate matching-gifts program. other example ofthe importance che gift was presented by Rich- of Rice's Corporate Agent Pro- ard L. Avant '83, a partner with Rice University gram,which encourages alumni, Deloitte Consulting, who also Annual Gifts Office—MS 81 parents, and friends to take ad- serves as the corporate agent at P.O. Box 1892 vantage oftheir employer's cor- Deloitte & Touche. Houston, TX 77251-1892 713-348-4991 [email protected] ON TOE 1100K•NCLF

Divided by Faith DIVIDED White evangelicals speak passionately about ending racial segregation, but their theology is more likely to keep white and black people as separate as squares on a chessboard, according to a new book co-authored by Rice sociologist Michael Emerson.

Emerson describes the book, Divided veyed more than 2,500 Americans

the around the nation by phone and then A111/ 1111 by Faith: Evangelical Religion and EVANGELICAL RELIGION AMERICA Problem of Race in America (Oxford interviewed 200 of them in person. PROBLEM DI RACE III University Press, 2000),as "a story of Emerson also moved his family from how well-intentioned people,their val- an all-white community to an all-black ues, and their institutions actually rec- community in Minneapolis,where they tures, directs evangelicals to mini- reate racial divisions and inequalities lived for five years. "I was amazed at mize and individualize racial issues. they ostensibly oppose." the support that I got and the lessons As a result, most of the white He conducted research for and I learned," Emerson says."And I made evangelicals who were interviewed for started writing the book before he some best friends for life." the book reinforce racial lines. They joined the Rice faculty as an associate Emerson describes an evangelical as denied that the United States has any professor of sociology in 1999. He someone who believes the only way to systematic racial discrimination and and co-author Christian Smith, pro- salvation, or eternal life, is to accept blamed any attention to such prob- fessor ofsociology at the University of Jesus Christ as the only person who lems on the media, black leaders, and North Carolina at Chapel Hill, sur can save them. Evangelicals also are the inability of blacks to forget the people who believe that they should past. They believe most racial prob- share this message with others and lems would go away if sinners would Poems Earn that their faith should address their repent and accept Jesus as their savior Wood's culture. Evangelicals have recently di- and if people would become friends National Honor rected much attention toward racial with someone from another race. problems. Emerson estimates that one- Evangelicals favor integrating con- fourth of white Americans are gregations, but their beliefs don't al- Last year, professor of English Susan evangelicals. low for such goals to be more than a Wood received the distinguished Push- In his book, Emerson prefers the politically correct thought. They state cart Prize for her poem "Diary," and term "racialized society" over "preju- that their congregation is, or ought to the year before,she won a Guggenheim dice" and "racism," defining it as "a be,open to all people, but most white Fellowship for poetry. In September, society wherein race matters pro- evangelicals do not suggest that their Wood again struck poetic gold when foundly for differences in life experi- congregation adapt or diversify its her third book ofpoems, Asunder, was ences, life opportunities, and social methods to become racially mixed. chosen by judge Garrett Hong°for the relationships." He notes that eco- Rather, they expect blacks to make National Poetry Series. nomic, political, social, and psycho- the change and initiate the effort to According to Wood, Asunder is, in logical rewards are allocated on the mix with white congregations. part, about "griefand how we live with basis ofracial lines that society creates. Evangelicals tend to oversimplify it; how, as my friend the late poet Bill "On meeting someone for the first racial issues by suggesting one-dimen- Matthews said,'We metabolize griefas time, Americans often assume that a sional solutions to multidimensional fast as we have to.'" white person is middle-class or higher," problems, Emerson says. He advo- Each year, five poets serve as judges Emerson says. "They also often as- cates that in dialogue with others, to select five manuscripts of poetry for sume that a black person or an Ameri- evangelicals consider engaging in publication through the National Po- can Indian is lower-class." Associating more serious reflection on race-rela- etry Series, which was begun more physical characteristics with selected tion issues to combine their own than 20 years ago with funds from social features reflects that racial divi- unique contributions with an under- novelist James Michener. In addition sions are "socially constructed," he standing of the complexity of Ameri- to publication, each winning poet re- notes. can race relations. ceives $1,000. Asunder will be pub- American evangelicalism's theologi- lished by Viking Penguin in 2001. cal emphasis on individuals, to the -B. J. ALMOND exclusion of social groups and struc-

16 SALLYPORT ON THE BOOK SHELF

Booknotes

Builders: HL rinan and George R. Greenspan: The Man Brown, by Christopher J. Castaneda '81, associate director of Public His- Behind Money tory Programs at California State Uni- versity—Sacramento, and Joseph A. Pratt'70, the Cullen Professor of From playing as a professional musician in a traveling swing band History and Business through his rise to the most powerful position in the world at the University of economy,Alan Greenspan has gained truly mythic status. And Houston (Texas now, his personal history and career are chronicled in A&M Press, 1998). Greenspan: The Man Behind Money (Perseus Publishing, 2000) by Justin Martin '87. The book is peppered with Business Planning: 25 interesting vignettes of the rich, powerful, influential, and Keys to a Sound Business sometimes romantic and exotic people and ideas he en- Plan, by Edward E. Wil- countered on this miraculous journey. Of some of the liams, the Henry most notable ofthese individuals and intellectual move- Gardiner Symonds Pro- ments, the book relates brief but intriguing histories as fessor ofManagemen t and well. professor of statistics; The book provides a bit of Federal Reserve history James R. Thompson, pro- and a short discussion ofthe important issues facing fessor of statistics; and H. the Federal Reserve itself, but while acknowledging Albert Napier, professor of the complexity of the Fed, its operation, and its management and psychol- policies, the discussion does not fully reflect the fundamen- ogy,all at Rice(Le bhar—Fried- tal inadequacies of our economic understanding of the most basic man Books, 1999). monetary processes, processes in which the Federal Reserve is inti- mately involved. Primarily, this is a history of a brilliant career. Home, Exile, Homeland: Film, Media, Greenspan was a student ofArthur Burns, who in turn was a student and the Politics ofPlace,edited by Hamid of the preeminent business cycle theorist and free market advocate Naficy,associate professor ofart and art Wesley Mitchell. Under Bums's influence, Greenspan became an history at Rice (Routledge, 1998). enthusiastic advocate ofthe free market. Mitchell and Burns were both great "numbers men," strongly emphasizing the gathering and analy- Invisible Fuel:Manufactured and Natu- sis of economic data. This appreciation, and feel for, data rubbed off ral Gas in America 1800-2000, by on Greenspan and may account for a pragmatism that leavens his Christopher J. Castaneda'81, associate noninterventionist views. director ofPublic History Programs at Greenspan also was involved in Objectivism and was a member of California State University—Sacramento Ayn Rand's inner circle. Rand finished the job Arthur Burns started of (Twayne Publishers, 1999). making Greenspan a free market advocate. Still, Greenspan was always very pragmatic in his approach and,over time, developed a reputation The Madness ofKing Nebuchadnezzar: for brilliance and high integrity and for being the consummate The Ancient Near Eastern Origins and "numbers man." Following in the path of his mentor Arthur Burns, Early History of Interpretation of Greenspan ultimately became chairman of the Council of Economic Daniel 4, by Matthias Henze,assistant Advisers and then of the Federal Reserve. professor of religious studies at Rice This book should not be taken as a treatise on economics or (Brill Academic Publishers, 1999). monetary history, which it handles with a light touch. Rather it is the compelling personal history of a man who rose to the most powerful Simulation: A Modeler's Approach, by position in the world economy and who met some most interesting James R.Thompson, professor ofstatis- people on the way. In an era suspicious of Washington, that it tics at Rice( John Wiley and Sons,1999). describes a hardworking, brilliant, and extremely dedicated public servant is also most heartening. Understanding and Managing Orga- nizational Behavior, 2nd. Ed., by Jen- —JOHN BRYANT nifer M.George, professor of manage- HENRY S. Fox SR. PROFESSOR OF ECONOMICS ment at Rice, and Gareth R. Jones (Addison-Wesley, 1998).

SPRING 'Dl 17 I Inspired I nnouation

Since the first of m) annual reports nine years ago,technology has been reshaping our economic and social lives at an unprecedented rate.These changes raise questions that go to the very core of how universities carry out teaching and research: How does the Internet—and the myriad possibilities for interaction it creates—affect the way students learn? How does it change the way professors teach,or even what they teach? These questions have no simple answers,so it is not surpris- Malcolm Gillis ing that some institutions have found it unsettling to adapt themselves to such a rapidly changing world. Where others see threats, however,Rice sees opportunity.This first president's report of the new century focuses on the ways in which Rice is meeting these challenges and pioneering new technologies that

18 SALLYPORT

..411111m promise to transform our lives in disciplines to reach that goal. ways we cannot fully imagine today. Rice has taken its place among the Our success should not startle any- nation's leading universities through one who knows our past. Edgar its tradition of nurturing innovative Odell Lovett and the Board ofTrust- teaching and research.This tradi- ees did not set modest goals for the tion—renewed and extended by the university when they stated its mis- efforts of the board,faculty, academic sion in 1909.Instead, they aimed to leadership,alumni, and legions of sup- create a university of the first rank, porters of Rice—will enable us to "setting no upper limit to its educa- shape our future rather than react to tional endeavor." We are fortunate changes forced upon us. that our dedicated board of trustees No one can predict all the chal- and our talented faculty backed this lenges that will face us in the new vision to the fullest extent. century.We can be certain,however, Guided by this tradition,the uni- that Rice will respond to them by versity enters the new century with drawing on that part of its heritage a vision no less bold and optimistic that stressed the importance of re- as President Lovett's was at the turn maining at the forefront of techno- of the last century:to make Rice un- logical change. questionably the finest private university between the two coasts.The following pages illustrate how we are creating and employing technology across the entire spectrum of

SPRING '01 19 Arthur C. Clarke, the first to envision the possibility of communications satellites and author of 2001: A Space Odyssey, once commented that "any suffi- ciently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic." While technology is hardly magical, its current innovative applications for higher education would appear miraculous to earlier generations. What does it mean to be educated in a digital environment? At Rice University, technology is affecting virtually every discipline; it is changing teaching as well as research. It is assisting in the creation of new medical treatments, industrial materials, and computing processes. It is fostering collaboration in cross-disciplinary projects. It is creating a robust, university-wide communications system that can marshal fruitfully all of our intellectual resources. Technology is revolutionizing the physical reality of Rice, from the design of campus buildings to the unfolding of our global presence. Rice University has long been recognized as a leading fount of innovative technology. As we move into the 21st century, we intend to expand that reputation. We are embracing every appropriate opportunity offered by the information revolution, with the intention of becoming one of the most technologically capable residential universities in the nation. fl World of Teaching and learning

Teaching and learning are social enterprises; the residential university will for many years to come be the preferred setting for these enterprises. At Rice, we believe that technology is the handmaiden of Illustrations by Jack Slattery learning when it enhances, not eliminates, the encounter of teacher and student. As faculty in all disciplines take up new and more efficient ways of presenting content, they improve communication and enable better assessment of student performance. The quality of our students' classroom experience is thereby strengthened. Computer-enhanced learning has been prac- ticed at Rice since the late 1950s, when students learned computing fundamentals by helping con- struct Rice's room-size RI computer. Later, as the Internet exploded in the early 1990s, the horizons

20 SALLYPORT

JOIN= of computer-enhanced learning were measurably text, browse the Internet, or send electronic mail in raised when history professor Albert Van Heiden all the languages taught on campus, including those launched the Galileo Project, a pioneering Web- that use non-Roman characters. LRC staff also have based teaching forum for studying about the life been active in developing technologies such as and discoveries of the famed astronomer. Since ExTemplate, a software program that could change then, the Galileo Project has become international fundamentally the way foreign languages are taught in scope. not only at Rice but elsewhere. In virtually every field, Rice faculty have used ExTemplate was developed to enable Rice lan- electronics to enhance the teaching and learning ex- guage faculty to create exercises that improve the perience, often with wide-ranging effects. History teaching of language, culture, and literature. Be- professor Patricia Seed has a website tracing the cause ExTemplate is Web-based, audio and video history of navigation at http://www.rufrice.edu/ files and links to various websites can be embedded -feegi/. This site receives more than 1.5 million in any of the exercises, encouraging immersion in hits a year. In her classroom, students have the op- the language being learned in a way never before tion of creating electronic reports as alternatives to possible. Language students can access text and traditional papers. They have responded with so- classroom material then read a newspaper, listen to phisticated QuickTime movies and PowerPoint a radio broadcast, and watch a film. In the process, presentations. In the Department of Electrical and they not only build their technical language skills Computer Engineering, Professor Richard Baraniuk but deepen their understanding of the culture they and colleagues are developing software to enable are studying. All the while, they can take notes on creation of course "textbooks" on the Web. These their computers and create self-learning modules knit together learning modules from various that will help them identify and correct their own courses, universities, even countries, into a mesh of language weaknesses. materials that each student can explore in the way ExTemplate allows students to complete home- he or she learns best. In the Jesse H. Jones Gradu- work assignments online and answer questions on a ate School of Management, information technology webpage created by the instructor, and instructors permeates the entire curriculum. This, coupled with can post online exams. ExTemplate also is being the fact that the Jones School is one of the few used to develop tests to measure students' language schools that provides laptop computers to every proficiency, both for initial placement in a language M.B.A. student, has caused the Jones School to class and for readiness to conclude a course of lan- develop its own intranet. Routinely, students work guage instruction. "This is absolutely a stunning with knowledge management software, including teaching and testing device," says Gale Stokes, conducting team meetings electronically. interim dean of humanities. "We're very excited Rice's language programs have pioneered a about it because it combines a good Web-based number of innovations in the teaching of language, interface with proficiency testing." an undertaking that particularly lends itself to Most Rice introductory instruction is now computer-enhanced learning. Spanish lecturer Jane Web-based. Experimental sections are devoted to Verm was searching for a way to challenge her ad- new techniques and proficiency standards. Much of vanced students without discouraging those who the material—including digitized audio and video were not as far along. She adapted a Macintosh- files as well as exercise and testing modules—is be- based authoring program called Libra to present ing developed internally. The university is taking the films and videos. Using Libra, students move task very seriously by trying to combine the best through a series of simulated index cards with in- pedagogical, testing, and delivery methods into one creasingly difficult questions related to segments of comprehensive package. A patent is pending on a movie, video, or telecast, challenging them with ExTemplate, and plans for the future include con- practical applications of learned language skills. tinued development and testing at Rice and beta On a broader scale, the Language Resource testing at other institutions. Center supports students and instructors with a ExTemplate is not by any means the only com- wide array of foreign language software applica- puter-based teaching and learning environment be- tions, tutorials, and online catalogs. They can write ing developed at Rice. Professor Richard Baraniuk

SPRING 'Dl 21 of the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering is coming up with a way to exploit the fascinating relationships between seemingly very different fields of knowledge. Called the Connexions Project, it is a new paradigm in educational publishing—one that acknowledges the limitations of traditional textbooks, which are con- strained to cover topics sequentially. Instead, Connexions fully exploits the World Wide Web and browser technologies in an experimental course- publishing philosophy and methodology that involves two key notions: Modules of information, called "information quanta," are developed collaboratively by a community of authors under an open-content license, and the information quanta are then are woven together by Web browsers. "Most current Web-based publishing merely transfers standard textbook material to the Web with no adaptation to its unique structure," says Baraniuk. "Connexions has the potential to reinvent the development and usage models of educational materials. It will not only help students better understand how a concept relates to applications and other concepts but also will inspire and motivate them. They will complete their studies with a holistic vision of their field of expertise and how it relates to, and is applied in, other fields." There are other benefits as well. Connexions quanta can be developed to accommodate a range of different student learning styles. They can support both electronic and print media, they can be developed rapidly and continuously updated, and their scope is not only multidisciplinary, it is unlim- ited: materials can be shared and developed across many campuses and many fields of study. "We have a lever with real potential to effect revolutionary change in education," Baraniuk says. "The system holds special promise for primary and secondary education, continuing education, and distance learning." Prototype Connexions quanta are already in development for Rice University's core engineering curriculum. Undergraduates, directed by Rice faculty and staff, dominate the software development team.

22 SALLYPORT major projects completed in 2000 have significantly Helpin9 Make improved Rice's ability to pioneer the use of technology in education in widely diverse fields. The Things Happen first was the thoroughgoing renovation of the Old Chemistry Building, now renamed Howard Keck Students very often are at the leading edge of new Hall, to anchor Rice's burgeoning research pro- teaching and learning methodologies. Language grams in the biosciences and bioengineering. students were among the first to take advantage of These include the recently created Department of Rice's Gardiner Symonds Teaching Laboratory, a Bioengineering, the Department of Biochemistry prototype of the classroom of the future, located in and Cell Biology's programs in X-ray crystallogra- Fondren Library. Under the purview of the Center phy and molecular biophysics, the W.M. Keck Cen- for Technology in Teaching and Learning, the ter for Computational Biology, the Center for Ex- Symonds Lab incorporates two large-screen projec- cellence in Cellular and Tissue Engineering, and the tors, numerous flat-screen workstations, cameras, Laboratory for Molecular Biophysics. Keck Hall and a high-tech sound system. The Symonds Lab now contains a dozen 21st century research spaces, is "capture ready": Any activity that takes place including a nuclear magnetic resonance suite, state- there—from the presentation of materials on a com- of-the-art classrooms, video teleconferencing capa- puter screen to writing on a sheet of paper—can be bilities. . . and Symonds Lab II. recorded, reproduced, or broadcast anywhere in The second project completed in 2000 was the the world. new Humanities Building, which affirms the com- The technology showcased in the Symonds Lab mitment of the entire university community to the is being incorporated into new as well as renovated study and teaching of the humanities. The new classrooms across campus. Rice faculty and students building is fully wired with leading-edge communi- in every department will soon benefit from some of cations tools, including in every classroom elec- the most advanced facilities in the nation. Anne and tronic podiums for the presentation of videos, Charles Duncan Hall, for example, contains a room digital slides, and Internet images. The first floor equipped with an ImmersaDesk, a powerful 3-D vi- videoconferencing and VCR classroom provides sualization device that can visually simulate an array Rice students and faculty with a literally global ex- of situations, such as medical procedures, scientific perience as they participate in conferences or classes research, and consumer games. The simulations are at institutions and other universities around the in stereovision, so users see depth on the screen as world. they work with scientific data or visualized objects. The future holds much more. One of the most The system's possibilities recently led two Rice interesting developments—and most important for undergrads in computational engineering, Jeff the entire campus—is the new Fondren Library, Hoye and Derek Ruths, to create important new slated for completion in 2005. In this effort, Rice software that allows individuals to quickly develop has a strategic opportunity to create the most tech- interactive graphic visualizations that can be ac- nologically advanced library in the nation. cessed and altered by multiple users. What is more, At the heart of Rice's physical and virtual cen- their method can be adapted to any computer, from ter, Fondren Library will be a nexus of the growing a mainframe to a laptop to a Palm Pilot, and it can universe of electronic books, journals, documents, be employed on any networked system from a databases, and other information sources—all im- simple office network to the World Wide Web. mediately at the fingertips of students and research- Ruths and Hoye's achievement, says Ken Kennedy, ers. Here students will be able to access print and the Ann and John Doerr Professor in Computa- digital resources, receive research assistance from tional Engineering, is an important step toward trained consultants, learn in electronic classrooms, making the Internet a computing system that can study individually or in groups, and share ideas truly be shared by all its users. with classmates, professors, and colleagues, all on a The construction now under way on campus is worldwide scale. Fully wired work areas will enable bringing other equally valuable technological tools students and faculty to test-drive premarket tech- to the Rice teaching and learning experience. Two

SPRING '01 2:3 nology acquired in partnerships with corporate sponsors for the creation of course materials and research. Through these co-ventures, Rice will be one of few American universities actively helping to shape the way learning technologies evolve. More- over, Internet workstations will be available 24 hours a day in a state-of-the-art cyber cafe that also will serve as one of the campus's most inviting and intellectually stimulating meeting places. Fondren will become a dynamic center of data creation, preservation, and sharing, not only between elements of the Rice campus but also between Rice and the other institutions with whom we partner. In redefining Fondren Library, Rice University will provide a template for Information Age libraries everywhere.

Ohi Expanding Human Potential

Of course, buildings and instruments are only a means to an end—their significance lies in what they enable people to accomplish together to ad- vance knowledge and understanding. Sometimes those advances are as basic—and profound—as improving human health. Rice researchers are working to develop an array of medical technologies that hold out the promise of materially improving healthcare in the century to come. Of- ten, these projects are cross-disciplinary. The Insti- tute of Biosciences and Bioengineering, directed by Antonios Mikos, the John W. Cox Professor of Bioengineering and Chemical Engineering, is nationally recognized for promoting research in biosciences, biotechnology, and biomedical engineering. And it is multi-institutional as well, joining 37 faculty from several Rice departments with 24 adjunct faculty from the Texas Medical Center, NASA's Johnson Space Center, and private industry. Mikos and others, including bioengineering professor Kyriacos Athanasiou, associate professor of bioengineering Jennifer West, and Larry V. McIntire, the E.D. Butcher Professor of Bioengi- neering and Chemical Engineering, are among the nation's leading experts on tissue engineering. Some of their work focuses on the manufacture of artificial implants that can be used to repair bone or

24 SALLYPOR T soft tissue damaged by injury, disease, or aging. The patented layered particles, called nanoshells. In beauty of these implant is that they will biodegrade addition to serving as a drug delivery system, and disappear as the body naturally regenerates its nanoshells can absorb or scatter light at virtually own replacement bone or tissue. Other researchers any wavelength, thus providing a platform technol- are discovering ways to help the body naturally pre- ogy for a range of dry and "wet"—or biological— vent scarring that results from medical procedures applications. Particularly auspicious is a collabora- such as angioplasty. Still others are learning to grow tion with Jennifer West's group in the replacement parts from the body's own cells, creat- bioengineering department in which they have ing synthetic blood substitutes, introducing novel made nanoshells that absorb infrared light. After genes that repair and improve the function of cells, being irradiated with infrared light, these nanoshells and focusing the power of advanced computing on are then delivered specifically to cancer cells, and cellular and genetic studies, bioinformatics, and once in place, they radiate the stored infrared light computer modeling and simulation. In fact, Rice as heat, killing the targeted cells without damage to faculty engage in about 70 collaborative research surrounding healthy cells. The technique is promis- programs with researchers and physicians in the ing for the treatment of inoperable cancers, such as nearby institutions of the Texas Medical Center brain cancer. Clinical trials are in the planning alone. stages through collaboration with researchers at Equally promising are the technological ad- M.D. Anderson Cancer Center. vancements Rice researchers are making on the On the "dry" side, Halas's group collaborates nanofrontier, where materials and devices are ma- with physics groups led by Professors Alex Rimberg nipulated at the ultimate level of finesse—atom by and Peter Nordlander to research the electrical atom. The watershed moment worldwide for transport properties of metal nanoshells. This re- nanoscale science and technology as a discipline search could carry light-based technologies—cur- occurred at Rice in 1985 when Rice professors rently used primarily in sensors, data transfer, and Robert Curl and Richard Smalley, along with remote control devices—into whole new areas of Harold Kroto of Britain's University of Sussex, dis- application. Metal nanoshells manufactured to re- covered buckminsterfullerene—the "buckyball." spond in certain ways to particular wavelengths of Curl, Smalley, and Kroto won the Nobel Prize for light can be embedded in films, such as plastic or chemistry for their discovery, and Rice became the glass, or coated directly onto surfaces. New prod- first university to concentrate in a fully coherent, ucts emerging from this technology could be en- planned way on the nanofrontier, not only in its ergy-efficient paints and windows; coatings for cars, building plans but also in faculty recruitment, in- airplanes, and buildings; solar energy collectors; and strumentation purchases, and collaborative scientific even fabrics. Metal nanoshells also may prove valu- development. able in chemical monitoring systems, biosensors for Today, the Center for Nanoscale Science and medical diagnosis, and switches that respond to Technology, directed by Smalley, serves as an um- certain types of light. brella for numerous multidisciplinary research ef- Excellence in computational technologies has forts in biosciences and bioengineering, computa- been a Rice hallmark since the construction of the tional biology, electrical and computer engineering, R1 computer decades ago. A long series of accom- physics, and chemistry. Smalley works primarily in plishments in computing hardware and software what is called "dry" nanotechnology—discovering paved the way for a major program in computa- materials with applications for industrial manufac- tional engineering. Of special note is our research turing. Through ongoing collaboration with scien- in parallel computation—linking multiple proces- tists at NASA, he focuses on carbon nanotubes with sors, each working on a specific part of a problem, vast promise for industry: manufacturing compos- enabling a huge increase in speed. Here, too, Rice's ites and cables 100 times stronger than steel at only partnerships have proved of immense importance to one-sixth the weight; new batteries, fuel cells, and industries as diverse as manufacturing and commu- solar energy devices; and ultra-efficient sensors. nications. Rice's partnership with Texas Instru- Chemistry professor Naomi Halas, leading the ments, for example, has led to pioneering research Halas Nanoengineering Group, has developed and in digital signal processing and produced hardware

SPRING 701 25 and, especially, software that forms the basis of much of today's wireless communications such as cellular telephones and wireless computers. The university's national and world influence is growing. Through the Center for Research on Par- allel Computation, Rice is leading the national effort to enable parallel computing on the next generation Internet. Directed by Ken Kennedy, this multidisciplinary enterprise is currently concen- trated on fundamental research for Grid Application Development Soft-ware (GrADS), which will one " day enable the integration of software, databases, and hardware into a seamless whole throughout the Internet. Seamless communications across the whole range of digital devices is also the aim of the Center for Multi-Media Communications and professors like Behnaam Aazhang. The world is experiencing a proliferation of mobile phones, laptop computers, and personal digital assistants, such as the Palm Pi- lot, coupled with a rapid growth in high-speed wireless networks in businesses and homes. Often, however, these systems are incompatible. Aazhang and his colleagues are working to change that. They are developing a prototype system for wireless communications networks called the Rice Everywhere Network (RENE), which will attempt to bridge systems that are as different as high-speed indoor wireless computers and cellular telephones. Software and network development are con- spicuous examples of computational development at Rice, but a little harder to see are the computer components being made by James M. Tour, the Chao Professor of Chemistry. By combining molecules with conductive properties, Tour and his colleagues are building a computer at the molecular scale. Their devices will have components a billion times smaller than are possible with silicon-based computers and that could be produced cheaply in astronomical numbers. A molecular processor would operate at ultrafast speeds but consume power at a mere trickle, while a molecular memory system could be so powerful and compact that the entire Internet could be stored on a single desktop computer. Tour also is involved in creating other novel nanoscale devices such as nanomachines and nanovehicles. His research group is already experi- menting with nanoscale motors made from organic molecules and driven by alternating electric fields. And in a similar vein, they are synthesizing "nano- Molecular Electronics; and Advanced Reality, a com- trucks" to demonstrate electric propulsion at a pany that will market a new programming platform for molecular level. The nanotrucks are single-mole- the visualization software created by undergraduates cule transport devices with four independent axles, Hoye and Ruths. bumpers on the front and rear, and a loading bay Another example of Rice's far-reaching technologi- for molecular payloads. The only remaining con- cal synergy is our collaboration with International Uni- struction needed is the affixing of the four wheels, versity Bremen (TUB), located in Bremen, Germany. It then fielding can take place. Tour's nanocomputers, is the first American-style private research university in motors, and trucks are just the first steps in creating continental Europe. Plans call for IUB's "library" to be devices that could transform technology in the near a completely digital information resource center con- future. nected directly to Rice via the first international direct Rice's technology agenda also includes the con- high-speed line between two universities. This connec- struction of a digital campus that leaves no depart- tion would be made possible through a strategic alli- ment behind. Chuck Henry, vice president and ance between Rice and Enron Broadband Services, will chief information officer, is directing the Commit- allow simultaneous, constantly available resources to tee on the Digital Environment(CODE), which is users at both ends. formulating a strategy for Rice's fiiture. That envi- With that connection, IUB would have access to ronment includes expanding and managing digital a wealth of Rice's library resources, including full text- content in addition to maintaining the hardware books and journals; bibliographies, image sets, and and software necessary to operate the Rice com- statistical data; and interlibrary loan and document puter network. These are long-term issues that af- delivery services. It would also share in the Research fect researcher and student alike as well as Rice's Channel, which broadcasts over the Internet videos connections with industry and other research and of seminars, colloquia, lectures, and other events educational institutions worldwide. among a consortium of higher education institutions. These interactions with IUB would allow Rice to have an unprecedented opportunity to learn how faculty and students can work with an all-digital library. ficross Boundaries Unlike any other experiment, IUB will not have an extensive paper library to fall back on when it hits rough Technology, by its nature, leaps over boundaries. spots. A truly innovative, international electronic infor- In practice, it can bring together people from differ- mation environment for teaching and research, the ent regions or disciplines; in development, it thrives budding IUB initiative bids fair to change the way we under the light of diverse ideas and perspectives. A think of universities. healthy example of this is the Rice Alliance for Technology and Entrepreneurship. The Rice Alliance knits together the Jesse H. Jones Graduate School of Management, the George The future R. Brown School of Engineering, Rice research cen- ters, alumni, and the larger business community. Technology, of course, is but a means to sonic very Such networking boosts the development of start- important ends. At Rice, the utility of technology lies up technology businesses and assists Rice students, in creating tools for human advancement—in science faculty, researchers, and alumni in bringing their in- and the humanities, in business and engineering, and ventions and innovations to market. For example, in medicine, the social sciences, architecture, and even Jones School faculty provide help on business plans, music. Those tools are evolving with astounding speed. engineering school graduate students work on the Properly marshaled, they will deepen and broaden the technology itself, and alumni supply venture capital. learning experience, allow understandings that cross Among the start-ups that the Alliance helped in just cultural and political boundaries, and facilitate discover- its first year are Nanospectra, an outgrowth of Halas ies that expand human potential across all disciplines. and West's medical treatment research; Smalley's Carbon Nanotechnolgies, Inc.; Tour's company,

SPRING '01 27 BUILDING BOOM

Board Approves New Library Design

Observers applauded when, on a model of the books during the reconstruction. Work on the auxil- campus,internationally acclaimed Brit iary buildings is expected to begin in 2002, but the ish architect Michael Wilford lifted out board's resolution calls for donations for the library to the current Fondren Library and replaced total at least half of the cost of the project before it with a building of sleek new design. The ground can be broken. None of the funds for library breakthrough concept that will give Rice the construction will come from student tuition. template for the library of the 21st century was Charles Henry, vice president and chief informa- approved March 14 by the Rice Board ofTrustees and tion officer, said the new building and the off-site unveiled to a group ofdeans,faculty, staff, and student storage facility will resolve the severe shortage of leaders the following day. space and allow expansion of the more than two With two arcaded arms the size ofSewall Hall on the million volumes, two and a half million microforms, east, an elliptical "immersion corridor" in the center, and 14,300 current serials and periodicals in the and a spectacular loft reading room on the west, the library collection. It also will take advantage of the preliminary design matches the material, look, and latest innovations in information technology. scale of the academic quad while, as it moves west, He noted that for the past three years, faculty, staff, transitioning into the future."For years we have been students, and alumni have been consulted about the discussing a way to make Fondren Library not only the needs of Rice's library. During that time, the program geographic center of campus but also the intellectual committee and other architects' contributions have heart of the campus," said Rice president Malcolm sharpened Rice's focus on the program and architec- Gillis."The newly approved plans will not only help us ture. World-class academic library designers Shepley fulfill that vision but also serve as a template for the Bulfinch Richardson & Abbot of Boston did the library of the 21st century." master plan study for the new Fondren and will stay on The plans, still in the predesign stage, call for the project through the duration. leveling the existing 230,000-square-foot, six-story Wilford's design hit the bull's-eye."It has space that Fondren Library and building a new facility of nearly allows for intensive collaboration between faculty 300,000 square feet, with two floors below ground and students, which is important because learning is and four floors above ground. The underground largely a social act," Henry said. "A library should floors, which will be designed to prevent ground- serve as a structure that brings researchers and schol- water infiltration and flooding—similar to the design ars together to create new ideas and foster the discov- of the Smithsonian in Washington, D.C.—allow for ery of new knowledge. It also should be equipped an increase in space without recreating the outsized with tools for that discovery, including electronic mass ofthe current Fondren. Other university librar- resources for worldwide collaboration and speedy ies that store collections below ground include retrieval of information." Cornell, Princeton, and Yale. To create his redesign proposal, Wilford consulted A temporary library on campus and a permanent the original campus master plan designed by Ralph off-site storage location will be constructed to house Adams Cram in 1910. He confirmed that the current

28 SALLYPORT library building violated the original plan for a con- views across campus from just above the tree canopy. tinuous flow from Lovett Hall's Sallyport to the west The new building will be made of brick and stone out end of the campus and acted as a "dam" that disrupts of respect for the historic character ofthe architectural the movement ofpeople across campus. His plan,with style of the academic quad. a narrower silhouette and entrances on all sides ofthe Wilford's appreciation of how Fondren should fit in library, breaks the dam, enabling unimpeded travel with the campus stems not just from his research on along the east—west and north—south axes. the original master plan but also from his previous The front ofthe library will be a U shape in which the connections to Rice. He taught at Rice's School of long arms, or slip bars, on each side will be approxi- Architecture during the early 1980s and designed mately the same width, height and length as those Anderson Hall with his partner, the late Sir James forming Sewall Hall and Herzstein Hall in the quad. Stirling. The overall building will be narrower, allowing the Board chairman Bill Barnett said the trustees gave original cloisters ofoak trees along the western quad to extended consideration to the $130 million project— be replanted and reinforced. This also will make it approximately $50 million higher than previous plans possible for pedestrians to walk past the building on to renovate the current building. either side without having to go outside the quad area. "We do not lightly commit to this amount of Wilford envisions at the intersection ofthe north—south money," Barnett said,"especially given all the other and east—west axes a multilevel "immersion concourse" projects we have under way. However, the board's that will bring together library users and all the re- approval indicates both the central importance of sources of the new library in an elliptical well that will the library to Rice and the board's conviction that, "glow invitingly at night." A grand reading room in the in this design, Rice has it right." highest space ofthe building,on the west end,will offer Gillis projected a completion date of 2005.

-B. J. ALMOND

SPRING '01 2''

by Kimberley O'Neill Pirog

nside Stude Concert Hall in Mice conducts; his every movement re- Pratt Brown Hall,flutes and picco- veals the emotion he wants the CTlos soar,racing up and down scales. instruments to convey. More than Violins and cellos resonate. A lone an hour later, the first run-through bassist rehearses his part. Beautiful is over. "Really good,everybody," cacophony. Backpacks attached to Rachleff says. "This is just excel- students file in. Orchestra mem- lent,excellent work—no small feat. bers arrange themselves on stage. And it's only the third rehearsal." Some are deep in thought, others Such is a "day at the office" for deep in conversation. Violin bows Rachleffand the student members receive last-minute cleanings. Or- ofthe Shepherd School Symphony ganized disorder. Orchestra. Enter Larry Rachleff, conduc- The Shepherd School of Music, tor. He pats a practicing cellist on which opened its doors in 1974, the shoulder and passes with a smile. may be one ofthe nation's young- He greets the pianist and waves his est university music schools, but it arms, indicating the tempo he is also one ofthe most prestigious. wants for the piece about to be Its world-renowned faculty edu- played. More welcoming shoulder cates musicians on the undergradu- pats, and then Rachleffrises to the ate,graduate, and professional lev- podium. The pianist hits a note, els, and the school attracts an and a solo oboe plays, tuning the international student body. From orchestra. All goes suddenly quiet. its inception,the Shepherd School "Good afternoon, everyone," has emphasized orchestral training Rachleff says. "Brahms." as a central element ofits perform- As the orchestra rehearses its all- ing curriculum, and as the school Brahms program—Academic Fes- has grown and matured,so has the tival Overture, Variations on a orchestral program. Originally a Theme of Haydn, and Piano Con- small chamber orchestra called the certo No. 2 in B-flat Major, 83— Shepherd Sinfonia,the group grew bows fly madly, then slowly. to a full-size orchestra and changed Rachleff appears to levitate, lifting its name in 1984 to the Shepherd himselfoff his feet. His entire body School Symphony Orchestra.

SPRING 'Dl 31 Today,a nationally syndicated Na- drop by orchestra rehearsals to lis- tional Public Radio program; ten and offer suggestions. He tries famed conductor Christoph to balance old and new works, Eschenbach has conducted read- challenging students to study all ing rehearsals with the orchestra; types of music. Some of the and the symphony regularly re- symphony's recently performed ceives invitations to perform na- works are Copeland's Appalachian tionally. Best ofall,their concerts, Spring in both large orchestra and which attract more than 70,000 chamber orchestra versions; listeners each year, are free to the Mahler's First, Fourth, and Sixth public. Symphonies; Beethoven's First,

Critics praise Rachleff's keen mu- Third, Fourth, Seventh, and Eighth sical instincts,excellent leadership, Symphonies; and Stravinsky's and consistently polished perfor- Firebird Suite,Petrouchka, and The mances molded with beauty and Rite ofSpring. insight. These are difficult results The symphony is a required The 100-plus-member sym- to achieve, considering that at the course for all bachelor and master phony has been directed by pro- start of every season, university of music degree candidates, many fessor ofmusic Larry Rachleffsince orchestras have to contend with of whom hope someday to pursue 1991, and in 1993, Rachleff cre- different personalities and musical a career with a professional sym- ated a chamber orchestra ofabout strengths as some students gradu- phony orchestra. "In addition to 30 instrumentalists to comple- ate and new ones arrive. producing electrifying concerts at ment the symphony orchestra. "Larry deserves a huge part of an astoundingly high technical Under his leadership, the orches- the credit for that," notes Michael level," notes Katz, "Larry is also tral program has risen to new ar- Hammond,dean of the Shepherd great at teaching orchestral tech- tistic heights,and today,the Shep- School."He's really galvanized that niques, which prepares graduating herd School Symphony is widely program and brought focus and a students to go out and get good recognized as one of the finest heightened sense of quality to the jobsin big orchestras." French horn university orchestras in the world. work of the orchestral instrumen- player and recent Shepherd School The group now plays major pieces talists." And, Hammond says, graduate Kim Penrod says of from a standard orchestral reper- "Larry is involved in the complete Rachleff's teaching style: "He's toire, premieres important new education of the students in the incredibly verbally gifted and knows works, and performs with the orchestra." how to convey what he wants from Shepherd School Opera. "My goal," says Rachleff,"is that his musicians. It's very difficult to "My jaw just dropped open the the symphony continues to attract describe what you want music to first time I heard the Shepherd gifted students. I want to make sound like—think how hard it School Symphony rehearse," says sure these students have important would be, for example, to express Paul Katz, professor of cello and and challenging experiences at the exactly how Beethoven's Ninth chamber music, a Grammy Award school, and when they leave, I Symphony makes you feel. For a winner, and founding member of want to see them win jobs and musician, it is something you feel the internationally acclaimed become resourceful members of a very deeply, but you may not even Cleveland Quartet. Katz believes musical community." want to share it because it's so the Shepherd School's Symphony Each of the two orchestras per- personal. But Larry is very concise and Chamber Orchestras "equal forms three or more concerts a and easy to understand. In one major professional American or- semester. While Rachleff decides word he can tell you what to do." chestras." The group's concerts most ofthe programming,he does The way Rachleff structures the often are broadcast on Houston's seek input from the performance orchestras maximizes students'ex- KUHF Radio and on Performance faculty at the school,who regularly periences. Typically, orchestras

32 SALLYPORT VISIT THE SHEPHERD SCHOOL OF MUSIC'S NEW WEEIBITE AT ,-irrP://www.pIcE.Eou/---Mus,c/ have a hierarchy in which particu- professional world," says former setting up the stage. lar musicians permanently reside student and double bass player Rachleffand Merritt credit much as principal violin, principal cello, Jonathan Burnstein. "While in of the orchestra members' success and so forth. The Rachleff-led or- school, I was a substitute with the to the school's performance fac- chestras, however, are more egali- Houston Symphony and the Phila- ulty and to Shepherd School dean tarian, with members in constant delphia Orchestra, and last fall, I Michael Hammond. "He has a rotation. Students prefer Rachleff's joined the Colorado Symphony." wonderful vision," says Rachleff. rotating system because it keeps Achieving this level of success "He is the soul of the Shepherd the orchestra alive and different right out ofschool is not a common School and one ofthe world's most and keeps jealousies at a minimum. occurrence."Atypical career path," intelligent,insightful, and spiritual "Being a member of the orches- says orchestra manager Marty men.He has created the most won-

tra," says clarinet player Rochelle Oddo, "has shown me how to both perform and behave like a professional—something vital for survival in the 'real' music world." Rachleff does more than focus on the next Shepherd School concert—he keeps his eye on his students' careers. "Among American music schools," says Katz, "the Shepherd School probably has one of the highest percentages of students who win orchestral auditions in the professional world." The Shepherd School's job- placement rates are indeed impressive. In the last five years alone,92 percent of French horn graduates were offered full-time orchestral positions. The school's hard-work ing orchestra members have won appointments with the Houston Merritt,"involves playing in smaller derful place to work, and it has Symphony,the New England Con- regional professional orchestras and attracted incredible faculty and stu- servatory, the Australian Chamber joining the 'big leagues' after hav- dents and given them the freedom Orchestra, the Colorado Sym- ing had some years of professional to create. He is our leader and our phony,the Phoenix Symphony,and experience." friend, and I can't imagine a mor- the Los Angeles Philharmonic, to He should know. With 18 years' tal with a more generous and genu- name a few. Recent graduates also experience as the Shepherd ine spirit than he." have secured faculty positions at School Symphony stage manager In Hammond's 14 years at the Texas Christian University, and 16 as personnel manager, Shepherd School,he has enhanced Duquesne University, Texas Tech Merritt understands the ins and the curriculum in a multitude of University, and Roanoak College, outs oforchestra life. His respon- ways. He has brought in what among others. sibilities include collecting and Rachleff calls "a remarkable resi- "We are given an environment posting orchestra seating assign- dent faculty and fabulous teachers where we can demand the best of ments, taking attendance, find- from the Houston Symphony," ourselves and get the professional ing extra players if needed, over- and he was the driving force be- insights we need to succeed in the seeing the orchestra library, and hind the creation of Alice Pratt

TOR INFORMATION ABOUT THE SCHOOL AND A CAL ENDAR ELL UPCOMING MUSICAL EVENTS. SPRING 901 3L3 itie,„e 4/1-z04(1,4, 20ci4 ;wwer a,

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Brown Hall—efforts that re- dents give great performances warded him with the Association balanced with the learning proof Rice Alumni's Gold Medal in cess," Rachleffsays. "Such teach- 1998 in recognition of his ex- ing and learning experiences re- traordinary service and dedication quire an environment that is to academic excellence. nonthreatening, inspiring, and "Our students are committed challenging." Playing in an or- to the hard work required for mu- chestra is definitely a team effort sical and intellectual growth," says and one that requires many small Hammond. "Together, our stu- elements to tit together to pro- dents and teachers constitute a bers are highly gifted, intelligent, duce a whole that is greater than community ofmusicians for whom and dedicated," says Rachleff. the sum of its parts. "So much of artistic development and achieve- "They bring a special and unique playing in an orchestra relies on ment are the crucial measure. The energy to what they do." the ability to work well with Shepherd School is committed to His students agree. "I was people," Oddo explains. "The the rigorous demands ofthe art." blown away by the symphony the whole group is trying to achieve Rigorous definitely seems to first time I heard it," says violin- one goal—to produce the best be the case. In addition to shoul- ist Gillian Leigh Clements. "I performance of a piece possible. dering a regular course load, or- hadn't heard any other student This requires the ability to tune chestra members rehearse five to orchestra, or even some profes- together,to blend,to know when seven hours a week and take rep- sional orchestras,sound so good. to play out and when to stay ertoire classes for brass, percus- At Rice, each student has a high back,and how to ask the flutist in sion, woodwind, and string in- level of technique and a genuine front,'Could you please move a struments. Students audition for love for music and is serious about little to the right?" concertmaster positions—cov- performing at a high level." Part Although ambitious about their eted spots—and rotate on a regu- of the reason, says Burnstein, is future careers, orchestra members lar basis so each player must learn that "students at Shepherd have recognize that learning is at the multiple roles. And although a nurturing place to rise up to core oftheir Shepherd School Sym- Rachleff directs the bulk of the musical challenges. We have al- phony experience. Professional performed works, graduate stu- ways been encouraged to play sounding results just happen to be dent conductors occasionally have with the highest level of exper- a bonus for their hard work. the opportunity to conduct one tise." And Oddo says, "I have "The most important thing is or two pieces of a concert. performed with the school's two the process of the journey," Although the symphony rehears- orchestras for two years and have Rachleff says. "If it has great love als and performances are demand- never gotten bored. Not only has and care and dedication, the rest ing, most students wouldn't trade my playing matured, but my atti- will have freedom and fire." the hard work and experience for tude has, too." anything. "Our orchestra mem- "My job here is to help stu- (q---

34 SALLYPORT 11 Paceinn fnr Muck% A • SHILWANN MILWAN -411111111111111111 Larry Rachleff's rehearsals are not for the emotionally timid. "More gripping!" 411111 he tells the musicians. "More maniacal! I want freedom!"

After they play a section from Dvorak's Symphony No. 8in orchestra that he had been thinking about the Dvorak work' C minor, op. no, he asks if they could be "a little more all weekend,then he proceeds to share his insights. After the ecstatic. And while you're being ecstatic, try to be more rehearsal, he explains that "a conductor really can't practice together on the third beat." without an orchestra, but you can silently prepare. You Anyone who has heard a Shepherd School orchestra spend hours a day reflecting on what you believe to be the concert knows that Rachleff demands a lot from his musi- composer's wishes, intent, or point of view and try, in a cians, but he also demands a lot from himself. When he is sense, to get in the composer's head and at the same time conducting, his entire body seems to be in a state of high make it your own." alert. He works up a sweat. His gestures are precise and Students say that Rachletrs sense ofhumor keeps rehears- graceful,even when he's moving at a seemingly superhuman als from getting tedious, but the real reason students are so pace. His face is an ever-changing mask of anticipation, devoted and willing to give their all fin- Rachleff may be that sadness, delight, and wonder. Now enjoying his ninth year at the Shep- herd School, Rachleff was trained as a conductor and percussionist. The New Lon- don, Connecticut, native holds two master's degrees from the University of Michigan and previously taught at the University of Southern California at Los Angeles. In addition to teaching at the Shepherd School, he also conducts the Rhode Island Philharmonic Orches- tra and is the musical director of Sym- phony II, which is the symphonic version ofthe Lyric Opera ofChicago. "I straddle both worlds," Rachleff says of his positions leading both professional and student orchestras. "I can't imagine a time without students, or a better place for students to learn than the Shepherd School." What makes Rachleffan extraordinary teacher, say his students and colleagues, are a variety of attributes. Among them are his personal artistic skills and the ability to communicate with musicians. And there is painstaking effort. Rachleffenters each rehearsal scrupulously well-prepared. they In fact, he conducts almost every score from memory, a know the remarkable feat. Unencumbered by sheet music, Rachleff respect is mutual. explains, he is "freer to communicate and use the space in an Rachleff has learned the name • unrestricted way." cvcry one of the 120 orchestra members by chletisavs that w hen he leads the orchestra, he mentally the time they first assemble. And he insists that be in several places at once, but that directing rehears- they call him "Larry," not "Maestro." and conducting a concert are very different experiences. "Larry is constantly reaching out to students by During a rehearsal, your mind and heart expect to hear a talking to them and supporting them with his :ertain sound that you gesture for betbre it happens. While encouragement,"says violin player Gillian Leigh e sound happens, you judge to sec if that was the sound Clements. ou heard in your head while you arc gesturing for the next Asked to describe his Shepherd School students, -sounds. You're both in the moment and ahead of time at Rachleff says, "This is paradise. They're not just , once." But the act of conducting a concert "has a kind of wonderful musicians but great people, and I am timelessness. You're both completely aware and completely SO blessed to be with them. They arc my greatest • unaware at the same time. When it's working and you're in teacher." the middle of the sounds, it's a very complete experience." —DAVID K APLAN During one Monday afternoon practice, Rachletitells the fti ht of the re tcher By David D. Medina looking to do other flights. We When a Rice undergraduate and his buddy wanted to go to Africa but then thought, 'Why not go around decided to fly around the world, getting off the world?'" They realized, though, that the ground was the biggest problem. without money, they wouldn't get very far. "I sat back and said to myself'What did I just com- he first pop issuing from the twin-engine plane mit myselfto?'"says Dominguez. startled Chris Wall. He and copilot Dan Dominguez "We didn't even have a plane." had just taken off from Cairo and had climbed Following the advise of others, 14,000 feet in an effort to cross the Red Sea and fly they spent two years setting up into Saudi Arabia. Wall, a Rice University senior, Global Advancement Founda- was sitting in the back part of the executive plane, tion, a nonprofit organization near the luggage compartment,to help balance the designed to support students in weight ofthe aircraft. When the engine backfired a making their dreams come true. third time, Dominguez switched it off, turned the plane, and In the meantime, Wall got his headed back to the nearest airport. Through the window,Wall saw pilot license, enrolled at Rice, the blades of the engine standing still, and a feeling of dread and then took an airplane me- overtook him. chanic course. He spent two se- They made an emergency landing at a small military base in the mesters and a summer attending Egyptian resort town of Hurghada, only to encounter more classes from 5 P.M. to midnight trouble: nervous guards wielding machine guns and yelling in five days a week. "It was tough. Arabic amid lights flashing and sirens wailing. When the dust settled On Friday nights, when all the and the two Americans were able to explain why they had landed, students were out partying, I they were allowed to stay until the plane was fixed. was in class." Wall, a Hanszen It was the first time during his trip that Wall wondered why he had College senior, is majoring embarked on such an odyssey. Was it worth it? he asked himself. Was in electrical engineering. it worth going to aviation school five nights a weeks for a year, Dominguez graduated last year spending more than a year repairing his plane, and then seeking with an economics degree from sponsors for his world trip, only to end up with this kind oftrouble? the University of Rochester. Yes, he told himself. "There is a certain chance in life that you Money was slow coming in have to take in order to reach your dreams," he says. because, as Walls says, "no one On December 15, as the refurbished 1957 Aero Commander wanted to back two twenty-year 560E touched ground in Roch- ester, N.J., Wall and Dominguez accomplished what they had set out to do: fly around the world in three months. By doing that, the twenty-two-year-olds unof- ficially became the youngest crew to circumnavigate the globe. They were teenagers when they came up with the flight idea. On the day Dominguez turned 17, he got his private pilot's license,and a few months later, the two rented a Cessna 172 and flew from their home- town of El Paso to Alaska. "We got itchy feet after that," explains Wall, "and we started RICE UNDERGRADUATE CHRIS WALL AND FRIEND DAN DOMINGUEZ CHECK THEIR CHARTS.

SPRING 901 37 at

side and out. With the help oftwo student volunteers, they stripped all the paint and polished the aluminum underneath. They gutted the interior and put in a new instrument panel, replaced all the hoses, electronics, and nuts and bolts. They installed a bigger gas tank to increase the range ofthe plane's flight. "Basically," says Wall,"we rebuilt the plane from the ground up." The volunteers also helped set up a website, www.worldflight2000.org,which was used in part to find sponsors. DAN AND CHRIS SPEAKING IN A money was slow in coming in. They got their first break at CLASSROOM IN BUBANESHWAR, INDIA But the an air show in Oshkosh,Wisconsin, where,through some publicity olds who didn't have a plane." of their expedition, they received about $100,000 in in-kind Wall spent almost all his free donations,such as camera equipment, radios, and global position- time looking for a plane to buy. ing gear. One mechanic even gave them an engine overhaul worth He found it in an Internet classi- $25,000. fied one day when he was sup- But the biggest break came when AOL president Robert W. posed to be studying for a final Pittman called them and offered to sponsor the trip. Xerox Corpo- exam.That winter break,instead ration and Rice University also gave cash donations. Planning the of driving home to El Paso, he trip was the next step, and that took several months. They picked went to Guthrie, Oklahoma, their destinations according to the weather, travel time between where a 1957 twin-engine Aero cities, city preference, availability of fuel, and safety. Commander 560E sat idle, not Wall and Dominguez loaded the plane with survival gear to having flown for a year. withstand the desert, jungle, and the open ocean. So that children "It was in pretty rough shape," around the world could follow their journey through the says Wall. "The FAA [Federal worldflight2000.org website, they took a laptop and a digital Aviation Agency]told me it would camera and installed an antenna with a satellite link. They would never fly again." But Wall, with post photographs,a daily journal,and information about the places his mechanical knowledge of air- they planned to visit. planes,knew better. He convinced On September 15, 2000, Wall and Dominguez climbed aboard Dominguez that the asking price Dream Catcher and took offfrom Rochester."I was a little nervous of$15,000 was a good deal. They and a bit anxious," says Wall. "I had never been outside of North pooled money from their credit America." Their first stop was Bangor,Maine, and then Newfound- cards and other sources and land,and from there,they flew to the Azores Islands in the Atlantic. bought the plane, which they They flew for three months across five continents, spanning christened Dream Catcher after a 26,000 miles and visiting a total of30 cities, among them Tangier, Native American myth. Barcelona, Rome, Cairo, Bahrain, Muscat, Mumbai (Bombay), For several weekends, Wall Bali, Darwin, and Honolulu. Among the spectacular sights they drove 700 miles from Rice to Guthrie to work on the plane. He gave the propellers an overhaul and made sure the engine and other hardware were in run- ning condition. During spring break, he took a one-way bus ride to Oklahoma and flew the plane to Rochester. "Everyone at the airport came out the day we were taking off," says Wall. "They were expecting to see a big ball of fire at the end of runway." There was no fire, but the plane did shake a lot, he says. In Rochester,where Dominguez was studying at the time,they proceeded for a year and a half to painstakingly restore the plane in- BREAKING INTO SUNLIGHT OVER THE AZORE ISLANDS

38 SALLYRORT

.4111111110.. 4*, saw were the pyramids in Egypt,the coliseum in Rome,Ayers Rock in Australia, and the pristine beaches of Thailand. They spent two or three days at each stop, staying in youth hostels, motels, homes, and huts. At each stop, they attempted to learn about local culture. One of the most interesting experiences they had was in Bhubaneshwar, a city in northeast India. A group of Rotarians took the two on a tour of the city and surrounding areas, and they got to see people living in unsanitary shacks and whole families riding around on one moped like a circus act."The thing that struck me the most after spending time with the people is how happy they are despite how little they have," Wall wrote in his diary. They also were taken to a fishing village where electricity doesn't exist and time seemed to have stopped as the villagers cooked meals over an open fire and sacrificed a goat. Just as they received, they were able to give back. In the city's auditorium, they talked to 600 students representing 17 schools from Bhubaneshwar about their journey. The children barraged them with questions about their trip. "It was great to see the excitement in the children's eyes as we talked about a world that was m.) far away from them," Wall wrote. OVER VANUATU Up in the sky,it was another world. They saw sunsets and sunrises that lifted their spirits. "We were flying from Singapore to Bali in His father, Ken Wall, had the the Pacific Rim after a thunderstorm, and we saw millions ofstars. same feeling. "By the time they Suddenly, there was a crack of light on the horizon, and within a got to Australia, I was confident couple ofseconds, the whole horizon was infused with light," says that they would complete their Dominguez. "It makes you believe there is heaven on Earth." journey," he says. "Rather than The natural beauty below was just as magnificent. As they flew feeling concerned, I was feeling twenty feet above the beaches ofWestern Samona,they watched sea sorry that it was rapidly coming turtles swimming through crystal clear water. Near Monterey Bay, to an end. They had worked so they spotted a pod of grey whales. hard and too long for it to be When they were not witnessing lofty sights, they spent their time over so soon." reading and answering e-mails to schools across the country. Linda The trip may be finished, but Boaz, Wall's fifth grade teacher, made her students from Polk not the memories or the work Elementary in El Paso follow the crew's every move through the associated with it. Wall has taken Internet. Her class used the journey to learn about geography. offthe spring semester from Rice, "Chris was a real inspiration to our students," says Boaz."He gave and he and Dominguez will be the students hope that they too can accomplish their dreams." traveling around the country to Before Wall and Dominguez could make their own dream come visit schools and air shows to talk true,they had to complete the longest and most difficult leg oftheir about their journey. They arc world odyssey. They had to cross 2,400 miles of empty ocean also writing a book, which \\ between Hawaii and San Francisco—a flight that would take 16 and have an introduction by singer a half hours."The plane was so heavy with fuel that it could hardly Jimmy Buffet, who was a big take off and barely climb," explains Wall. "If something went supporter of their dream. wrong,the closest land was 1,000 miles away. That's when you have "We learned a lot about our- to remain focused, because one little error can be devastating." selves," says Wall. "We learned They arrived without incident and proceeded the next day to to believe in our own message, travel to El Paso, where family, friends, and a live Mexican band which is to dare to dream. We awaited them. They took time to visit Coronado High School, also learned that people around where their dreams of circling the globe had started, and they also the world are extremely nice. talked to students at Polk Elementary. That even though they speak After landing at their final destination at Rochester on December different languages and have dif- 15,Wall's first act was to kiss Dream Catcherfor performing so well. ferent colors ofskin, they are all He was happy to have accomplished his dream, yet he was sad that pretty much the same. They all it was over in just three quick months. "Coming back and slowing have good human nature." down after visiting so many places was a hard process," says Wall.

SPRING '01 39 Population, Heal Thyself Diagnosing the Social Determinants of Health

Individuals who are ill can visit their physicians, but where do we begin when the issue is the health of entire populations?

by Lia Unrau

f you've ever tried to drive out of a parking lot have to face up to the fact that we have a problem. While into a long line of traffic, you know the feeling. we're doing well as a nation in many different domains, IIt's the feeling you get watching car after car pass we're not doing well in health. We have to take that you by, cars whose drivers will not allow you to seriously and try to evolve policies that will strengthen squeeze into line. You sigh heavily. You inch forward. social capital and thus improve health." Your insides tense up,and suddenly you're aware that Tarlov, who also is a professor ofpublic health at your knuckles are knotted against the steering wheel. the University ofTexas (UT)—Houston Health Science You sigh again and try to relax, thinking of all the Center and a professor of medicine at Baylor College of people you've let into line in the past. Ultimately, Medicine, is at the forefront of a whole new field of someone gives you space, and you emerge from the study that examines, through collaborations among parking lot. You wave thanks to a kind soul on the social scientists and medical researchers, the connec- road,and a few blocks later, you pause long enough to tions between social structure and public health. Re- let someone else into the stream of traffic. sults are showing that life expectancy, illness, and other You may not know it, but there is a term health factors are closely related to the for what just happened: The phenomenon structure of a society, and that varia- of helping another person and tions of health within a population are expecting that you will be related to sociological factors, such assisted in your time of as income inequality, education, need is called reciproc- opportunity, and racism. Some re- ity. It is part of commu- searchers have found links between nity cohesion or social health and childhood development, capital. And something race, social status, and stress. else you may not know, say public Tarlov directs a new multi-institutional health health researchers: It affects the health of large research initiative formed by the Baker Institute and populations and even entire countries, such as the dubbed the Texas Institute for Society and Health. United States. Based at Rice, the new institute also involves Texas "Reciprocity is disappearing from American com- Medical Center institutions and the University ofHous- munities, and people don't trust their neighbors," says ton. Major research programs initiated by the institute Alvin Tarlov,the Sid Richardson and Taylor and Robert will attempt to identify social and societal determinants H. Ray Senior Fellow in Health Policy at the James A. ofthe health of the world's population and to develop Baker III Institute for Public Policy. A physician,Tarlov public policies that could contribute to significant has made a career of working to improve the health of decreases in illness and increases in well-being and the public."This is not an easy thing to correct, but we productivity.

40 SALLYPORT

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One reason Tarlov is concerned is that among arlov sees three overarching components that the 25 industrialized nations of the world, on a scale must come together for the program's success. ofhealthiest to unhealthiest nations,the United States T The first and largest is basic medical and social ranks in the bottom third. The healthiest nations are science research with an emphasis on social epidemi- Japan and Sweden, but Japan was not always at the ology. This research, which is being done largely in the top—national health changes as society changes. For school of public health at UT,in the social sciences at example, during World War II, the British living in Rice and the University ofHouston, and in the clinical Britain became the healthiest people in the world, a departments of UT and Baylor, is aimed at revealing change Tarlov suggests was probably due to factors more about the factors in society and in communities such as food rationing, equal access to medical care, that are responsible for influencing population health. equalized income, general efforts to ensure public One project studies adolescents to identify differences safety, and fulfillment ofcivic expectations for the war in the physiologic regulation of the heart that could effort. In another example, the world witnessed a explain the four-fold variance in heart disease in adults crash ofhealth in the former Soviet republics and a rise ofdifferent social status. The research focus ofanother in health in some of the eastern European countries, joint venture, this one between the UT—Houston such as Hungary and the Czech Republic, after the Schools of Medicine and Public Health, the Texas dissolution ofthe centralized com- Heart Institute, and Rice, is on the munist regimes. neuro-immunologic, endocrino- r„ mecha- Until recently, researchers logic, and central brain studying the social determinants t, nisms that vary by patients' social of health focused on research in class. Other projects will look at income inequality, including how stress affects health, concen- variations in health with social trating on programs to improve status. Two-, three-, and even the health of African Americans four-fold mortality differences of- and Mexican Americans living ten have been reported between in Houston with an eye toward higher and lower social status prevention,early detection,and groups. In recent years, work has , more effective treatment of shifted to examine how = high blood pressure. Because social factors get packaged responsiveness to chemo- and internalized in people therapy among cancer patients to affect their biology and is directly related to social class, vulnerability to disease. Today, researchers distinguish one study will investigate the influence ofsocial factors five major categories ofinfluence in population health: on cancer rates and cancer responsiveness to chemo- genes and associated biology; health behaviors such as therapy. diet, physical fitness, and tobacco, alcohol, and drug The second component necessary for the use; medical care and public health services;the ecology institute's success is research that will examine public of all living things, including the environment; and policy issues relevant to medicine and the improve- social and societal characteristics. ment of public health. This research will be headquar- After Tarlov arrived at Rice and the Baker tered at the Baker Institute and will be interactive with Institute in fall 1999, he immediately met with researchers at all five participating institutions. administrators and researchers at area educational And third, the Texas Institute for Society and and medical institutions to generate interest in the Health will undertake a long-term initiative to explore initiative and to develop a research team."Dr. Tarlov the potential of public policy initiatives designed to has done a masterful job from the outset in launching actively improve population health. Currently,there are the Texas Institute for Society and Health," says five targeted objectives. Edward P. Djerejian, director of the Baker Institute. The first is to improve child development. "He has initiated a truly collaborative effort amongst The second is to improve community develop- five major educational and medical institutions, which ment and to strengthen community cohesion, reci- can enhance the prospects for population health procity, and mutual gain. improvement in a major way." Other institutions The third is to strengthen opportunities for collaborating with Rice in the Texas Institute for continuous adult development of work and social Society and Health are the UT—Houston Health skills for self-fulfillment. What adults want in addition Science Center, Baylor College of Medicine, M.D. to happiness and material comfort, Tarlov says, is to Anderson Cancer Center, and the University of provide well for their families. They want to live in an Houston. area that is harmonious with their values. Continuing

42 SALLYPORT education and training are necessary so that, as the every year in the United States,and ifthere are specific economy changes,people are ready for the next higher behaviors that have a positive influence on their chil- level ofjobs. dren, Tarlov says, families ought to know that. The fourth is to improve the opportunity for Being either isolated or apart from the commu- socio-economic mobility or socio-economic well-be- nity, as results from racism and discriminatory atti- ing. This might be done through increasing the mini- tudes toward specific groups, has a negative influence mum wage, but it could be tied to job training, too. and generates harmful effects on that group's health. Tarlov also envisions lifting people out of a sense that "I think that high rates of juvenile delinquency, tru- they cannot improve themselves by encouraging indi- ancy, violence, adolescent and adult viduals to express what they want out of life and then crime, domestic violence, dissolution helping them create opportunities to achieve those ofmarriages, drug abuse and alcohol- goals in communities, churches, schools, homes, and ism, and suicide are not causes but the workplace. are symptoms of a discohesive soci- The fifth objective is to temper the conse- ety," Tarlov says."They should be looked quences ofa steep social hierarchical structure. People at that way, as signs that something is are organized hierarchically everywhere, and espe- wrong in living circumstances. What cially in America,according to income and education. appears to be wrong, in a nutshell, In this hierarchical structure, which ranges from the are extraordinarily steep impoverished and alienated through the lower and nonrandom gra- middle classes to the wealthiest class, is an uneven dients in op- distribution of opportunity, privilege, authority, ca- portunity, pacity to take control of oneself, and material re- privilege, sources. "Somehow or another, we've got to learn as power, influ- a society to take the hard cold steel edges off of those ence, author- limitations," Tarlov says. "We're not going to elimi- ity, and access. We nate that kind of a system, but because it has such a have to learn how to make powerful influence on population health, we need to a course correction in this dimen- do what we can to modulate its effects." sion." Tarlov suggests that other examples of social discohesion are low rates of he ideas and theories that are being developed voting coupled with cynicism with regarding the social determinants ofhealth can regard to elected officials and the govern- T be controversial, and researchers frequently ment. "We're overcome with the desire for debate interpretations of data, but Tarlov wants to smaller government," he says. "These are symp- bring the discussions to the fore and facilitate more toms, not reflections, of fundamental values held by research in the field. Some factors that influence most Americans." some population health may be surprising. Although Tarlov arrived at his current perspective through that critics disagree,Tarlov points to research showing a process of elimination—progressive tests of hy- there are aspects of early childhood development, potheses that have brought him to the idea that social from birth to age three or four that, even if corrected, factors play a significant role in the health of popula- have a lifelong negative impact on health. One study, tions of people. His background in medicine is as a for example, found that weak mother—child bonding traditional internist who focused on biological re- not only interferes in later life with relationship forma- search while on the faculty at the University of tion but also predisposes individuals to early develop- Chicago. ment of chronic disease, such as coronary artery Tarlov first explored the idea of population disease, arthritis, health in the 1970s, when the president ofthe univer- and diabetes. sity asked him to improve the health and well-being of There are four people in a neighboring community,which was prima- million new r' rily African American and impoverished. "During the mothers '70s, I was under the impression that medical care could improve population health," Tarlov says. "So I started clinics there and immunization programs, child wellness programs, and emergency and prenatal services." He and his team used a detailed data system to monitor progress. When the data showed that there was no progress being made in areas such as infant

SPRING 'Dl 43 mortality, death through injuries and accidents, and arlov sees the first three years of the Texas life expectancy, Tarlov's response was to put more Institute for Society and Health as a time to doctors on the project. But the results remained : build infrastructure,establish participation and disappointing. "I discovered through the '70s that, specific roles at the various universities, and gain despite more and more medical care, we were not consensus on the overall concepts and direction. Sev- having any effect on the health status of the whole eral new faculty are actively being recruited for posi- population." tions in various participating institutions. UT has the In 1984,Tarlov became president ofthe Henry new Lorne Bain Professorship in Society and Health, J. Kaiser Family Foundation in California, where he there is a new joint position in Rice's sociology depart- worked from the idea that the health of whole groups ment and UT's Houston Health Science Center, and of people could be elevated by improving health a position in Rice's psychology department focuses on behaviors—by getting people, for example, to im- health psychology. In addition,the search is on for the prove their physical fitness and diet, to use alcohol James A. Baker III Professor of Health Economics, a only in moderation, to stop smoking, and to wear joint appointment at the Baker Institute and Baylor. seatbelts. But Tarlov knows that development of the Tarlov was successful in converting the whole program and establishment ofcontacts and collabora- foundation's program to that idea, and soon they had tions with various institutions and agencies around the health-behavior improvement programs in almost 200 world also interested in society and population health different communities throughout the United States. will be an on-going process. "We who are working in "What we found was that a community could be this field have to understand that this is a very long- mobilized and could choose its leader and develop term proposition," he says. "We're not going to partners. Schools could improve their driver education restructure society in a day or a decade, but we need programs, and we could affect alcohol-free proms and to get started. We also know that often little changes other dances. We could have no smoking areas in make a significant difference. We need policies that restaurants, and we could get the grocery stores to impact families, work,community organizations,faith promote nutritious foods, and so forth. But nothing organizations, transportation,communication, taxes, happened in terms ofimprovements in health statistics and opportunities to own one's home, for example. or population health." This is really a very large transformation, and one After increasing medical care and modifying person,one organization,or even five organizations in health behaviors with no real impact, Tarlov de- one city can't do this all by themselves. We need to cided that population health is strongly determined have partners, allies who are also interested. Research by societal factors. He moved to Boston in 1990, must be continued because that's where the knowl- built a research institute there called the Health edge comes from. But then knowledge from research Institute, located at the New England Medical has to be translated into messages that the public can Center, and developed faculty appointment and understand,relate to,and resonate with. After a public teaching programs at Harvard University and Tufts agenda has been established, a political agenda will University, all organized around the social determi- follow, and we must offer a set of policy alternatives nants of health. that should be debated and adopted to the best extent "I think I've learned enough now to know that the possible." formulation is correct—that you need to have medical Taking a grassroots approach,Tarlov would like I care, but medical care is a late intervention; people are communities to discuss the research and the idea of already sick at that time,"Tarlov explains."Health social cohesiveness as an influence on health. He behaviors are important, but they only account wants the American for 15 to 20 percent ofthe variation in popu- people to consider put- lation health in communities. The ting the issue of social largest fraction of the unex- determinants ofhealth plained causation of on the national agenda health is related to a total as they have with edu- ecology that includes so- cation and managed cial and societal features, health care. Through especially inequalities in the Texas Institute for income, housing, jobs, Society and Health,the and opportunities; hier- pieces are falling into archical structures gen- place in Houston to al- erally; and community low an informed pub- cohesion." lic to do just that.

44 SALLYPORT

,_ WHO'S WHO

I 1 In the News

Poly( Ethylene Glycol)-Mono- methyl Ether Surfaces." The article was published in the Journal I of Biomedical Materials Research 1 in June 1999. The researchers, working on growing tissue-engi- 1 neered bone, were studying how bone marrow cells adhere to different degradable polymer surfaces and how successfully they grow and function.

Richard Tapia, the Noah Harding Professor of Computa- tional and Applied Mathematics and a nationally honored leader and champion ofscience and engineering education and outreach, especially among minorities and women,recently added two more honors to his list. On September Vicki Colvin, assistant professor Lu '99;and Achim Gopferich and 30, Tapia has received the 2000 of chemistry, was featured in the Andrea Lucke, who are associated International Day ofPeace Award 1 October issue of Discover maga- with the University ofRegensburg, for Education from the Spiritual zine as one ofthe "Top 20 Scien- have received the 2000 Phoenix Assembly ofthe Baha'is of Hous- 1 tists to Watch." In making the Pharmazie Wissenschaftspreis for ton. The award is presented each choice, Discover surveyed more their paper titled "Modulation of year to individuals or organiza- 1 than 1,000 researchers under the Marrow Stromal Cell Function Us- tions for their work in serving the 1 age of 40, looking for those who ing Poly(D,L-Lactic Acid)-block- community and breaking down have "demonstrated once-in-a- generation insight." Colvin, a physical chemist,studies the structures and properties of nanoscale materials, particularly those with highly patterned structures, in hope of finding building blocks for new materials that may lead to advanced telecommunications and data-storage systems.

An international collaboration between Rice University bioengineers and pharmaceutical scientists at the University of Regensburg, Germany, has gar- nered a prize for its work.Antonios Mikos, the John W. Cox Profes- sor ofBioengineering and Chemi- cal Engineering at Rice; former Rice bioengineering graduate students Susan Peter '98 and Lichun

SPRING '01 45

_1_ In the News

ficer training, implementing the College Officer Program through which police officers are assigned to the residential colleges, and bringing the Rape Aggression Defense (R.A.D. ) program to campus. Because of her numerous contributions to the field of campus law enforcement, the Texas/New Mexico Association of College and University Police Departments has named its annual scholarship in Voswinkel's honor.

Three Rice staff members were honored by President Malcolm Gillis for their commitment to barriers ofculture, race, class, and resentatives from all ofRice's resi- the university at a meeting of the creed. In addition,the Society for dential colleges and making his Rice Board of Trustees. Kay the Advancement ofChicanos and office more technology oriented, Henry, director of the M.B.A. Native Americans in Science allowing students to register via for Executives program at the Jesse (SACNAS) honored Tapia with the Web as well as to check their H. Jones Graduate School of the 2000SACNAS Distinguished grades, make changes to their per- Management, was honored for Scientist Award. Tapia is interna- sonal information, and more. her contributions to promoting tionally known for his research in cultural inclusiveness in the Jones the computational sciences. Doug Tomlinson is Rice's new School and her role in the devel- operations manager I'm facilities opment and growth ofthe M.B.A. The search to fill the role of asso- and engineering. He comes to for Executives program. Greg ciate vice president for human the university after solving engi- Marshall, director of university resources is now completed with neering problems worldwide for relations in the public affairs divi- the appointment°Mary Cronin. the U.S. Navy for the past 21 sion, was noted for his leadership Cronin comes to Rice from years. He is a registered profes- following the March van accident Harvard University, where she sional engineer in Texas with involving members of Rice's Fo- served as director of human re- bachelor's and master's degrees rensics Society, in which fresh- sources. Before that, she was in civil engineering from Texas man Daniel Henning was killed, deputy commissioner in the Mas- A&M University. Tomlinson is and for his exemplary work dur- sachusetts Department ofPerson- responsible for all aspects of utili- ing a rally organized by students nel Administration. ties management. in response to racist fliers that had been placed on cars on the Rice As Rice's new registrar, Jerry Rice's longtime police chief, Mary campus. Barry McFarland,dean Montag brings with him a di- Voswinkel, who was a widely re- for enrollment administration, verse background that includes spected and loved figure on cam- received the Certificate ofRecog- experience at private, state, and pus and beyond, died October nition Award for his service to community colleges, most re- 20. She had served the Rice com- Rice, particularly his role as act- cently at the University of Arkan- munity for 21 years, 14 years as ing registrar, a position he filled sas at Little Rock, where he was the chiefof police. She is remem- for nearly a year until the new director of admissions and uni- bered for innovations that helped registrar, Jerry Montag, came on versity registrar. Among his goals provide a safe environment for board this summer. McFarland at Rice are the creation of a stu- the Rice community,such as pro- assumed this position while ful- dent advisory committee with rep- viding crime prevention and of- filling his regular responsibilities.

46 SALLYPORT WHO'S WHO

The Play's the Thing

Rice has always been a dramatic place, and recent events show that the stage still calls and the footlights shine on.

PLAYERS' SEASON OPENS WITH NEW DIRECTORS theater is a great opportunity, but they expect a lot out of you," she says. "Just working with them and watching how Last WI, audiences at Rice Players productions witnessed meticulous and driven they are kind ofrubs offon you. And something unseen in 36 years: a play that wasn't guided by when you see the reason for all the extra things that they Sandy Havens. The Players have two new leaders, both have you do, it's really that much more gratifying." committed to artistic excellence and devoted to teaching: The 2000-01 season opened with a Ramont-directed Mark Ramont,director of theater, and Trish Rigdon, asso- presentation ofthe British comedy Smash by Jeffrey Hatcher, ciate director of theater. Each has considerable experience and the second production was Spike Heels by Theresa in professional theater. Rebeck. Both plays deal with women, their roles in society, Ramont served for the past four years as director of the and their sense of self and worth. Ramont says that Rice Hangar Theater, a professional summer theater in Ithaca, Players will continue to present plays that reflect issues that N.Y. He also has directed locally for the Alley Theatre and are on the minds of students. Stages Repertory Theatre. He says he took the position at Rice because it offers an interesting balance between LINGUIST'S PLAYS GAINING A WIDE AUDIENCE teaching and artistic directing and because he has many established theatrical relationships in Houston. Paul Douglas Mitchell admits that his half-Cherokee, half Tetreault, managing director ofthe Alley Theatre who has British ancestry influences his playwriting. From his Brit- known Ramont for 15 years and seen him work as an ish side, he learned his English and intonation patterns, artistic director, director, casting director, and teacher, and from his Cherokee side, he gained a great memory that says,"I have probably never met a smarter, more thought- ful, caring, and sensitive person in my entire career." THe RICE PLAYERS' NEW DIRECTOR, MARK RAMONT, Rigdon worked as a freelance scenic, lighting, and AND ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR, TRISH RIGDON, TAKE THE SPOTLIGHT. costume designer for the University of Houston, Houston Community College, Southwest Texas State University, and University ofSt. Thomas drama departments. She also works professionally with her husband, internationally acclaimed scenic and lighting designer Kevin Rigdon, on stage productions in New York, London, Chicago, and many other cities. The Rigdons were involved in last fall's performance,Open Book/Open House,at the dedication of the new Humanities Building. Rigdon finds it essential as an artist to keep a foot in the professional world. "Collaborating with other artists on the professional level is where I get energy and ideas and keep up with what's new." She also enjoys teaching at the college level, where people are making decisions about their lives. The commitment shown by the Rice Players, she notes, is "astounding. One of the things I love about teaching at a university without a theater department is that the students have a deep well of knowledge to draw from based on all their studies that theater majors in other programs with a narrower focus might not." Rigdon jokes that there is great flexibility in her work schedule:"I can set my own hours. Any 16 to 18 hours a day I like." Among the changes implemented by Ramont are expanding the rehearsal time for each production by about a week and offering a series of theater workshops. Liz Durham, a Players coordinator and Hanszen College senior,says that Ramont and Rigdon are instilling a sense of professionalism in the Rice Players. "Having these directors whose primary experience is in professional CARROLL PREMIERES HIS "GREEK TRAGEDY"

Michael Carroll, an engineering professor by trade, is finding it hard to focus on continuum mechanics these days. He enjoys his field ofresearch, but he was more than a bit distracted during a semester sabbatical last fall when his play I Hear the Rolling Thunder had its world premiere at Stage West Theater in Fort Worth. The play is a behind-closed-doors look at President Lyndon Johnson as he agonizes over escalating the Vietnam War, a pivotal and heart-wrenching time in his presidency. The multitalented Carroll, the Burton J. and Ann M. McMurtry Professor of Engineering in Computational and Applied Mathematics, has been basking in the life of the IN HIS PLAYS, RICE'S DOUGLAS MITCHELL POINTS OUT TO PEOPLE "THAT WHICH THEY HAVE playwright. During rehearsals at Stage West,for example,he ALWAYS KNOWN BUT NEVER KNOWN." had a long chat with former House speaker Jim Wright,who knew Johnson well. facilitates his proficiency in languages. Mitchell, adjunct Carroll has had a keen interest in LBJ for decades. In the professor of linguistics, knows about 30. His Cherokee late 1960s, he was teaching at the University of California at also contributed "the earthy,erotic basis ofeverything you Berkeley, a hub of anti-war activity. "The conventional can think." And, Mitchell says, "Cherokees cannot sepa- wisdom at the time was that Lyndon Johnson was evil," says rate the external world from the internal world." Carroll. But after studying Johnson for many years, Carroll Mitchell's internal world is the source ofabout 30 one-act has come to see him in a far more positive light. He recalls plays. The New York City-based theatrical company One watching last year's Democratic National Convention and Arm Red produced two of his most recent works, Flores hearing a speaker cite the accomplishments of Democratic Para Una Muerta and Loss ofInterest, at Galveston's Strand presidents Roosevelt,Truman, Kennedy, Carter, and Clinton. Theatre last December. Last July, the same company pro- Johnson,who created the Great Society,was not mentioned. duced four of Mitchell's plays and seven staged readings of "I've never been so mad in my life," Carroll says. his works off-off Broadway. And last spring, Houston's Carroll spent many hours researching his subject at the Stages Repertory Theatre presented a Douglas Mitchell Lyndon Baines Johnson Library and Museum in Austin. Play Festival over three weekends. Prior to that, Pulitzer Aboutfive or six times in his readings he came across the phrase Prize-winning playwright Edward Albee directed Mitchell's "like a Greek tragedy" to describe Vietnam's impact on Old Friends along with his own play The Zoo Story in Johnson. The play's title comes from the code name for a Amsterdam. The two plays later toured. saturation bombing of North Vietnam called "Operation Actor/director William Hardy,the production manager of Rolling Thunder," and thunder is a recurring motifin the play. the Douglas Mitchell Play Festival, believes that Flores Para The Irish-born-and-raised Carroll was drawn to a Texas Una Muerta may be Mitchell's best work."It treats the classic figure like Johnson partly because,he says,"of all the American themes oflove, death, youth, and aging with humor,tender- states, Texas is closest to Ireland." He notes that both places ness,and a certain poetic fantasy in a way mindful ofTennes- have their own expressive language and both celebrate color- see Williams," Hardy says."Loss ofInterest, while wonderfully ful, larger-than-life people. Johnson was definitely colorful, comedic, also is, like Flores, very romantic." and Carroll believes the Irish would greatly appreciate him. Mitchell maintains that "nothing really happens" in his In Rolling Thunder, Carroll sometimes borrows actual plays. "It's all language," he says. Rob Bundy, artistic lines and phrases LBJ used, such as "I've got more trouble director of Stages, once described his first impression of than a farmer's got oats." At other times he Mitchell's work as "like Samuel Beckett meets Harold uses phrases that Johnson might have used, Pinter. The writing is very smart." In his one-acts, Mitchell such as "money, marbles, and chalk." often plays with language and comes up with an imaginative The play does contain a Rice refer- and unexpected take on life and death and personal motiva- ence: The character Hardy, a Bill tion. "I point out to people that which they have always Moyers-type aide to Johnson, is known but never known," he says. named after Hardy Bourland,who Mitchell, who is playwright-in-residence at Stages, notes was associate dean of the George that his characters tend to look at rational events in an irrational R. Brown School ofEngineering manner while using rational and terse language.In All Wrapped when Carroll was dean. Up, for example, a couple receives a package and grows Carroll is already at work on his increasingly terrified ofits contents. Eventually,they decide to next play, which is about Napo- burn down their house. "You will find it rare that you can leon. When getting started on a predict early on how his stories will end," observes Hardy. play, Carroll says, he does a lot of A native of Owasso, Oklahoma, Mitchell first taught at reading and note-taking. "But for Rice from 1960 to 1962 after studying at the University of my first draft, I don't look at my Vienna on a Fulbright Scholarship. He returned to Rice in notes," he says."The things I need to 1981 and has been teaching here ever since and watching his remember,I remember. The cream artistic life thrive. Theater companies in Holland,Germany, will rise to the top." Philadelphia,Seattle, and Phoenix have expressed interest in producing his plays. -DAVID KAPLAN

MICHAEL CARROLL, ENGINEERING PROFESSOR AND PLAYWRIGHT.

48 SALLYPORT SE, & ACADEMs

Quartet Takes Community Service Project on the Road

The Marian Anderson String Quar- tet, which is studying in the quartet training program at Rice's Shep herd School of Music, has made a habit of taking music to new heights and to new places.In 1991, the quartet won the prestigious Eastman School of Music Cleve - land Quartet Competition and became the first African American ensemble to win a classical competition. And their pioneering hasn't WILL RICE JUNIOR TYSON PILLOW, A BIOCHEMISTRY MAJOR, IS RICE'S FIRST RECIPIENT stopped at the concert hall door. OF THE JAMES BYRD MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP. Motivated by a belief that artistic expression is a birthright ofall people, the quartet has performed hundreds James Byrd Scholar Tyson ofconcertsin churches,libraries, mu - scums,soup kitchens,institutions for Pillow is Promoting Diversity the criminally insane, and juvenile correctional facilities. Currently, the members are teaching music to stu- As Rice's first recipient of the James my college and in the university as a dents at Looscan Elementary School Byrd Memorial Scholarship, junior whole." in Houston's inner city in conjunc- Tyson Pillow intends to continue be- Pillow's campus activities include tion with Project GRAD. ing an active and visible leader on serving as treasurer ofWill Rice and of "The desire to reach new and campus. The biochemistry major says the Black Student Association and diverse audiences has been the driv- that he thinks it's important to be working as a campus tour guide. He is ing passion ofthe Marian Anderson involved in areas where minorities need a member of the National Society of String Quartet for 11 seasons," ex- more representation. In fact,he counts Black Engineers, the South Asian So- plains Diedra Lawrence,the group's involvement on campus as a signifi- ciety, the College Assistance Peer Pro- violist. Now the quartet,in conjunc- cant way to promote diversity. gram, and the Minorities Interest tion with Da Camera of Houston, Created in 1998 and named for Committee. Pillow serves as an or- has received a $140,000 grant from James Byrd, the victim of a racially ganic chemistry grader and tutor and the Texaco Foundation that will en- motivated crime in Jasper, Texas, in is a member of the Rice Emergency able them to conduct community 1998, the full-tuition scholarship is Medical Service (EMS). residency projects in communities in based on financial need. It is awarded "Many times, minoritystudents feel western and southwestern states. to students who have strong interest isolated and discouraged from partici- The Marian Anderson String in building bridges across racial and pating in college and university life," Quartet Community Residency cultural divides and who have acted to Pillow says. "Instead of being frus- Project aims to enrich the musical build such bridges. One Byrd scholar- trated,I have tried to be as involved as and cultural life ofcommunities that ship will be awarded each year. possible in various areas of college life have limited access to cultural expe- A native of St. Louis and a member where minorities need more represen- riences. The residencies, typically in of Will Rice College, Pillow says he tation, especially giving tours and rural areas, will provide interactive was completely surprised and honored working for Rice EMS." workshops and public concerts and to be selected for the James Byrd Me- As a James Byrd scholar, Pillow says seek to empower communities to morial Scholarship. "I am glad that I he will continue to offer minority rep- provide more opportunities for mu- was chosen as the first of many people resentation on campus by "doing what sic education.The quartet begins the who the university believes is carrying I have been doing for the past two program this spring. Residencies will on the spirit of James Byrd," he says. years—being involved." be 10 to 12 days in length and culmi- "I think the most important thing that nate in a public concert performance I have done to be a cultural bridge- —DANA BENSON for the entire community. builder is to get active and visible in

SPRING '01 49 SE, & ACADEMs

Students in the News

In recognition of her abilities both as deserving Rice freshman students who a researcher and a teacher, mathemat- display some of the same leadership ics graduate student Katherine qualities that were integral to the late Crowley received the Schlumberger congresswoman's character. The stu- Foundation Fellowship for the 2000- dents were cited for their ability to 01 academic year. The Schlumberger build bridges across racial, cultural, Foundation Fellowship supports a stu- and religious divides and for their en- dent in the Wiess School of Natural hancement of the campus environ- Sciences in mathematics, geology and ment by embracing the racial and eth- geophysics, chemistry, or physics. nic traditions that are a part of our Crowley, a doctoral candidate in the society. Coming from diverse back- Department of Mathematics, is inves- grounds and life experiences,the schol- tigating the relationship between the ars are tied together by their admira- fields of geometry and combinatorial, tion and respect for Jordan and their or discrete, mathematics. Crowley also desire to emulate the qualities she is admired for her lecturing abilities possessed. They are Kevin Jontae and teaches a section of Mathematics Bailey, Brown College; Eve Wilson 211. Bower, Lovett College; Ebonee Baker College senior Tatsuya Nicole Butler, Will Rice College; Kiguchi,a double major in civil engi- Ryann LaVaughan Ferguson, Baker neering and managerial studies, was College; William David Hodges, named a Star Student by CE News. Baker College; Grace Hu,Jones Col- Kiguchi was one of two students se- lege; Audrey Lyn Hucks,Lovett Col- lected to receive a $1,000 scholarship lege; Brooke McShane Lathram, and full-page coverage in the Baker College; Naturaleza Maria magazine's December issue. The 30 Moore, Wiess College; Abigail finalists from many ofthe nation's top Deborah Rubin, Hanszen College; universities were judged on academic and Ta-Shina Kathleen Williams, excellence, extracurricular activities Baker College. Students do not apply and philanthropies, leadership, and for the four-year, half-tuition scholar- hands-on experience in the profes- ship, which was created in 1998, but sion. The judges also were impressed are selected from the incoming fresh- with the two winners'communication man class based on a number of spe- skills, character, and drive. cific qualities such as academic achieve- The Barbara Jordan Scholarship ment, leadership, community program recently recognized eleven outreach, and writing.

50 SALLYPORT SCOREBOARD

New Kick on the Block "Wegot next!" The hard court chant can be heard at Rice Gymnasium, but it's not coming from a basketball game. It's coming from the office of Chris Huston, head coach of Rice's new women's varsity soccer team.

The team won't begin play until fall, but the excitement is already building. Huston exudes enthusiasm as she talks about the status ofthe soccer program and the progress she's made since being hired eight months ago."I'm ready for signing day to happen,ready to get the kids here on campus, and I'm ready to start playing," Huston exalts. "Everyone's favorite part of coaching is the actual coaching, so right now is the hard part for me." Huston has been concentrating heavily on recruiting, and that focus will continue with the help of her newly hired assistant coach, Steve Nugent. The soccer team will consist of about 24 players, 15 of whom will be new recruits. Huston hopes to supplement the squad with students from the club soccer teams and other students already on campus who have an interest in playing com- petitive soccer. While Huston is restricted by NCAA rules from talking about her recruits before the signing day, she's clearly optimistic about her squad. "It's hard to put a time limit on it, but with the way our recruiting is going right now— and if it keeps going this way and gets better as the years go on—I think we're going to be successful very quickly," she says. "We're seeing a lot of interest from all over the country, not just from kids in Texas. Rice is such a great school academically that Rice itself is a recruiting tool for us. In fact, the academics here are our No. 1 sell. Not many schools out there can offer what Rice has to offer." Academics are especially important to women's collegiate soccer players, Huston says, because there is little opportunity to play professional soc- CHRIS HUSTON, HEAD COACH OF RICE'S NEW WOMEN'S VARSITY SOCCER TEAM

SPRING '01 51

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cer after college. While a women's pro league is starting, most soccer players "know that at the end of four years, 2001 RICE OWLS SOCCER they're probably not going to be playing soccer for a living," she says. "It's REGULAR SEASON SCHEDULE the degree that's going to take them places in life." Even after this year's recruits are signed, Huston and Nugent will get Aua. 31 ARMY,7 P.M. recruiting—they'll start no break from SEPT.4 Hous-roni, 7 P.M. recruiting students who are currently high school juniors. Huston notes that SEPT.7 SOUTHWEST TEXAS STATE, 7 P.M. established soccer programs already SEPT. 1 2 STEPHEN F. AUSTIN STATE, 7 P.M. class, so are recruiting from the junior SEPT. 1 6 NORTH TEXAS STATE, 1 P.M. she'll have to play catch-up. But that shouldn't be a problem—Huston has SEPT. 21 @ BAYLOR, 7 P.M. a handle on building a new soccer SEPT. 23 (a TEXAS, 1 P.M. program, having done it once before, SEPT. 30 SOUTH ALABAMA, 1 P.M. at the University of Houston. 9 P.M. She was at UH for three years and left OCT. 5 FRESNO STATE (WAC), to come to Rice after the team's second OCT. 7 @ SAN JOSE STATE (WAC), 3 P.M. year of play. Huston guided the Cou- OCT. 10 I TEXAS CHRISTIAN, 1 P.M. gars to the No. 3 spot in Conference 1 P.M. U.S.A.,out of 12 teams,in its first year OCT. 14 HAWAII(WAC), of play; by the second year, the team OCT. 19 @ TULSA (WAC), 7 P.M. was ranked No. 2. The Western Ath- OCT. 2 1 ORAL ROBERTS, 2 P.M. letic Conference is a tougher confer- UT—EL PASO (WAC), 7 P.M. ence,Huston notes,and one that she is OCT. 26 eager to compete in. OCT. 28 @ SOUTHERN METHODIST (WAC), 1 P.M. Huston's ears perked up the mo- Nov. 2 BOISE STATE (WAC), 7 P.M. ment she heard about Rice starting a NEVADA (WAC), 1 P.M. soccer program."I remember saying Nov.4 when it was announced, 'I need to check things out.' I knew immediately it was going to impact my program at UH for the simple reason ing the mold. It's an exciting time for that is really special." that we're three and a halfmiles apart," women's soccer in college, and I love When Huston was hired, Athletic she says."But I also knew I wanted to being a part of it right now." Director Bobby May said, "We all find out a little bit more because I Soccer has been a part of Huston's look forward to the launch ofwomen's grew up in Spring, and in all my years life for a long time. She started playing soccer at Rice University and feel very growing up and playing soccer,people at age 7 and competed all the way fortunate to have Chris Huston at the kept saying,'If Rice would only start through school. She attended North helm. Chris is a proven winner and will a women's soccer program. . . Carolina on a soccer scholarship but be a great asset to Rice athletics." There's always been interest out there suffered a career-ending neck injury Huston hopes that other members in the community." before her junior year. A psychology of the Rice community feel the same Women's collegiate soccer has ex- major, her first job out of college was enthusiasm about the soccer program perienced a growth spurt over the last in social work, and for several years, as she does. She's already received decade,Huston explains.She attributes she didn't pursue coaching. But after positive response, especially from the sport's success to Title IX, legisla- being in the "real world," she discov- alumni but also from faculty, staff, and tion that prohibits gender discrimina- ered she missed soccer and soon took students. tion at federally funded institutions, a job as a coach at the Challenge Her excitement will continue to and to the recent success at the Soccer Club in Houston's Klein area build as the players arrive on campus in Women's World Cup and the Olym- before moving on to coaching at the mid-August and then start play Au- pics. In addition to the strong women's college level. "I love the collegiate gust 31. The team will play at the Rice soccer programs at such colleges as the environment," Huston says."It's neat track stadium, where a top-notch fa- University of North Carolina, Santa to be part of someone's life over that cility currently is under construction. Clara University, and Notre Dame, four-year period where there's a lot of Huston says, "There are a lot of new growing up that happens,and to know -DANA BENSON schools that are coming in and break- you can be an influence and a part of

52 SALLYPORT YESTER YEAR

The original Rice 'Boys of Summer'—the 1913 squad—must be looking down with extreme pride on the university's baseball program under coach Wayne Graham. Yet again, this year's team is ranked among the best in the country and for much of the first half of the season has held the number 1 spot in the major polls. This spring, Wayne Graham won his 400th game in his tenth year as the Rice skipper. Keep in touch with the progress of this Owl team's march to the College World Series through www.RiceOwls.com, or listen to the game broadcasts over the Rice radio station, KTRU 91.7 FM, or on the Internet at www.ktru.org/sports.html. Rice University I Nonprofit Organization Sallyport U.S. Postage Publications Office—MS 95 PAID P.O. Box 1892 Permit #7549 Houston, Texas 77251-1892 Houston, Texas RICE Address service requested

MR TONY GOODWYN MAIL , FONVREN LIBRARY CAMPUS MAIL MS-44

It was a beautiful spring day for the annual Beer—Bike race, a tradition of competition between the residential colleges since 1957 This year's event was held March 31st at the Rice Stadium bike track before an enthusiastic crowd. Brown College, victors in the women's race, took first place for the fifth time in the six years, while Jones College took the men's event with a come-from-behind victory over Will Rice College. Will Rice did come out on top in the alumni race. We at Sallyport however, thought the T-shirt contest was won easily by Jones College, with the theme,"2001: A Beer Odyessy." Stanley Kubrick would have been proud.. .maybe.

Photo byItlf