TULANE TALK

January 19, 2007

Good Morning:

This week marked the start of a new semester and, through the 21st Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Week for Peace, what I hope will be a new beginning of cooperation and understanding among all races in our community.

The theme of this yearís Week for Peace is ìDefining Our Citizenship: Uniting Communities.î I cannot think of a more appropriate challenge for us at this time in our cityís history. The only way we can truly recover from Katrina and the social ills its aftermath so glaringly revealed is for all of us, no matter our skin color or heritage, to work together in the pursuit of justice.

So far the Week for Peace, sponsored by Tulane, Dillard, Loyola and Xavier universities, has included an interfaith service, a day of community service, an address by best-selling author and Princeton professor Cornel West, the honoring of chef Leah Chase with a Lifetime Achievement Award and the presentation of the Student Community Service Award to Tulane student Emily Petrino.

Today, a candlelight march, perhaps the most moving event of the Week for Peace, will begin at 5 p.m. at the University Center Terrace at Xavier University. The march will proceed to Loyolaís campus and then to Tulane for Expressions of Unity a celebration of Dr. Kingís life through song, drama, dance and music at McAlister Auditorium. Buses taking Tulane students, faculty and staff to Xavier for the candlelight march will leave from McAlister Drive near Avron B. Fogelman Arena in Devlin Fieldhouse at 4:15 p.m.

Please attend the candlelight march if you are able and, more importantly, continue to look for ways to unite our community so that every week will be a week for peace.

Have a good weekend,