TULANE TALK

September 28, 2001

Good Morning:

I began this week by meeting at my home with student leaders and the student affairs officers of each of Tulane’s schools and colleges. My purpose in calling this meeting was to determine how we, as a university, could help students better process and understand the events of the past two weeks.

One common theme that emerged from this and other meetings was the need for additional forums and “teach-ins” that will provide students with all the pertinent facts, historical perspectives and ramifications of the September 11th attacks. I am proud that our students are taking the steps that will allow them to become better informed and more responsible participants in our democracy and I will definitely honor their request for more forums.

Tuesday morning began with an interview on WSMB’s Ed Clancy Show regarding Tulane’s response to the terrorists attacks. I also spent part of Tuesday, via teleconference, with my fellow board members of the American Council on Education as they met in Washington, D.C. The council includes 1,800 colleges and universities and serves as a forum for the discussion of issues related to higher education.

On Wednesday I met with representatives of the governor’s office to discuss a proposed state-funded project aimed at encouraging the growth of biotechnology and environmental science start ups and businesses here in New Orleans and throughout the state. The project would include the creation of laboratories throughout the state to serve as the foundation and stimulus for a flourishing science-based industry. Such an industry would obviously have vast benefits for our universities and our entire state.

This morning I shared my perspective on what it takes to turn a city around and what role a university can play in this process to approximately 200 commercial real estate professionals at a gathering downtown. I am also looking forward to welcoming Wayne Leonard, CEO of Entergy, to the Leadership Class I teach each Friday morning and meeting with the School of Social Work’s Alumni Board.

Saturday I will watch as our Green Wave Football team takes on the Jaguars of Southern University in what promises to be the start of a great tradition for our city. Here’s hoping we start that tradition with a victory.

Before I end I want to invite you all to the upcoming Presidential Symposium that will be held November 8 at 2 p.m. in the School of Medicine Auditorium. The featured speaker will be Ruth L. Kirschstein, acting director of the National Institutes of Health. Dr. Kirschstein will discuss the evolution of infectious diseases over the last century and the threat they pose today. This is the first in a series of symposia that will allow the entire Tulane community to listen to and exchange ideas with the country’s leading scientists and policy makers. Be sure to mark your calendar for this important date.

Have a good weekend,