TULANE TALK

April 7, 2006

On April 10 Tulane University students, in partnership with their colleagues at other local universities, will present a mayoral debate in which the candidates will address student-specific concerns regarding the future of New Orleans. Doors will open at 6 p.m. and close at 6:45. The debate, which is open to the public, will begin at 7 p.m. in McAlister Auditorium with Roop Raj of WDSU-TV moderating.

I am very proud of our students for taking the initiative and arranging this forum on their own. Lately, I have been thinking a lot about the most important issues the next administration will face as it leads our city toward recovery.

After securing adequate levee protection and addressing our urgent housing needs, I believe the most important issue for the the recovery of New Orleans is repairing, physically, fiscally and academically, our K-12 public school system. As you may know, I recently headed the Education Committee of the Bring New Orleans Back Commission. Our recommendations for creating a public school system that puts the needs of children first can be found at http://www.bringneworleansback.org/

I urge you to attend Mondayís mayoral debate and decide for yourself which candidate is most worthy of being entrusted with the future of New Orleans and the future of our children.

Have a great weekend,