TULANE TALK

April 6, 2001

Good Morning:

This has been a good week. We were able to make two first-rate appointments for the dean positions at the School of Medicine and Law School. Ian Taylor and Larry Ponoroff are wonderful additions to the senior academic administrative team.

On Tuesday, I had the opportunity to be the master of ceremonies for the investiture of Dr. Gerald Berenson to the Gerald S. Berenson Chair in Preventive Cardiology. Gerry is a world-renowned cardiologist best known for his Bogalusa Heart Study which, since 1972, has tracked the cardiovascular health of more than 17,000 children and young adults in Bogalusa. This study has provided data that is crucial in understanding the development and progression of cardiovascular disease. It was a pleasure to recognize Gerry’s many contributions as a scholar, educator and clinician.

This week we are also hosting a NCAA Peer Review Team as part of the re-certification process of our Athletics Department. The visit has been extremely interesting. The team reviews four areas within the department: governance and commitment to rules compliance, academic integrity, fiscal integrity and equity, welfare and sportsmanship. When we get feedback from the visit I will share it with you as I did in the case of the SACS re-accreditation process.

Finally, Tulane is hosting or sponsoring a number of high profile events this week including The Tulane-Cambridge Conference, April 5-7, yesterday’s visit by Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia and, in conjunction with Loyola, the 62nd Annual Association of Southeastern Biologists meeting April 4-7.

I am extremely proud of the people on campus who have worked so hard to make these activities possible for all of us. This is university life at its best!

Enjoy the weekend,