January 16, 2004

By Leticia Vasquez
Editor

After a month-long winter break, University of Houston faculty, staff and students won’t have to wait long to get back in the swing of things.

The university has a slate of events for every academic taste bud.

On Jan. 22, the C.T. Bauer College of Business’ Global Energy and Management Institute (UH-GEMI) will host its second annual Restoring Confidence: Energy Trading and Marketing Conference in the Conrad Ballroom of the Hilton University of Houston Hotel.

There, local industry leaders will hear from representatives from such companies as ChevronTexaco, Cinergy and Blue Spruce Financial Advisors, who will enlighten them on the needs of the energy industry, including risk management and systems development.

“The main purpose of this conference is to restore confidence in the energy trading sector,” said Bo Carpenter, UH-GEMI program manager. “We address the things that keep people in industry up at night.”

Targeting mostly Houston-area business leaders, UH-GEMI Director Jeff Graefe said he was pleased with last year’s inaugural conference, in which approximately 200 people attended, and said he hopes to repeat that success.

Also on Jan. 22, the Conrad N. Hilton College of Hotel and Restaurant Management will host its second annual conference devoted to addressing concerns of the hospitality sector, including insurance, immigration, food and beverage liability, the Patriot Act and ethics, among others. The conference is a joint effort with HospitalityLawyer.com.

For cost and other information, please call (713) 963-8800.

Beginning Jan. 23, beautiful music will once again emanate from the walls of the Moores School of Music. The Abbey Simon Recital, which begins at 7:30 p.m. that Friday, will open the 21st annual International Piano Festival.

Included in the program are master classes with Ruth Slencyznska, Peter Frankl and Abbey Simon, in which students and the general public can perform music for critique.

“The Moores School of Music’s International Piano Festival provides a rare opportunity to experience the grand tradition of the piano with three of the world’s greatest performers in an extraordinary weekend of music making and interaction,” said Alan Austin, program manager for the Moores School of Music.

Continuing Education classes resume Feb. 7 with Evidence Based Practice and Ethics.

Mexico’s renowned novelist, essayist, scholar and diplomat Carlos Fuentes will visit the UH campus Feb. 11, delivering the Farfel Distinguished Lecture. Praised for his wit and eloquent writing, Fuentes is a past recipient of the National Prize in Literature, Mexico’s greatest literary award, and the Miguel de Cervantes Prize, the highest honor for a Spanish-speaking writer.

“Carlos Fuentes is a great addition to the series,” said Wendy Adair, associate vice president of public affairs. “He uniquely brings together literature and diplomacy.”

Next month, the UH School of Theatre will stage “Noises Off,” a hilarious comedy about the staging of a comedy. Written by Michael Frayn, the plot centers on a company that produces truly awful theater. Performances will be held Feb. 20, 21 and 27-29. For more information, please call (713) 743-2929.

On Jan. 26, the UH Creative Writing Program’s Margarett Root Brown Houston Reading Series will feature Yusef Komunyakaa, a Pulitzer Prize-winning author, and Kevin Young, a National Poetry Series winner. The event will take place at 7:30 p.m. at the Alley Theatre, 615 Texas Ave. For ticket and readings information, please call (713) 521-2026.

To bring the semester to a close, the UH community will celebrate the graduation of another group of students with its fall commencement ceremonies on Friday, May 14.