TULANE TALK

April 20, 2001

Good Morning:

This week began with a continuation of last week’s concentration on our public housing initiatives. On Monday, I and members of the Tulane-Xavier National Center for the Urban Community met with residents of the C.J. Peete Housing Development to assess our Campus Affiliates Program, an effort of Tulane and Xavier to address the problems of poverty in public housing and, in particular, at C.J. Peete.

On Tuesday, Paul Whelton and I accompanied a group of representatives from the A. B. Freeman School of Business, The Center For Gene Therapy, the Cancer Center, the Tulane-Xavier National Center for Excellence in Women’s Health, the School of Public Health, Alumni Affairs, Admissions, Project Return, Service Learning and many other facets of the university to the State Capitol. We transformed the rotunda of the Capitol into a Green Wave smorgasbord of sorts, featuring samples of Tulane at its best.

I had the honor of addressing both houses of the state legislature. Our group didn’t get back to New Orleans until after midnight. No, I didn’t speak that long. I also attended a reception with legislative leaders and had dinner with Congressman Billy Tauzin.

On Wednesday I had lunch with the resident managers from several public housing developments to assess the partnership we have had with the Housing Authority of New Orleans since 1996. Thursday I attended the Student Leaders Luncheon downtown and that evening spoke at the Student Crest Awards, an event that recognizes student achievement in all areas of service and scholarship.

This weekend I’ll attend the induction of the newly formed chapter of the Golden Key Honor Society that recognizes the top academic achievers of the junior and senior classes. I’ll also attend a fund-raiser for Summer Lyric and the retirement party for outgoing Law School Dean Ed Sherman. Ed was instrumental in helping Tulane’s Law School achieve the national stature and recognition it now enjoys. Tulane will long remember him and his accomplishments.

Have a great weekend.