Tulane Talk March 10, 2006
TULANE TALK
March 10, 2006
Good Morning:
I’ve always felt, in light of what we’ve experienced over the last few months, that this year’s commencement will be a special one. Just how special was made plain this week when George H. W. Bush, 41st President of the United States, and William J. Clinton, 42nd President of the United States, agreed to be the keynote speakers at Commencement 2006.
As you know, Presidents Bush and Clinton first joined forces to raise funds for the victims of the 2004 south Asian tsunami. Then, in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, they formed the Bush-Clinton Katrina Fund, which has raised more than $100 million to date, some $30 million of which has been dedicated to 33 higher educational institutions in the Gulf region, including Tulane.
The whole world has admired how these two leaders have risen above their political differences, harnessed their formidable skills and galvanized the generosity of the American people. Their partnership provides a lesson for all of us.
Please join me as we welcome our two former presidents and salute the graduates of this historic class, May 13 at 9:30 a.m. in the New Orleans Arena. For a full schedule of Commencement 2006 events visit http://www.grads.tulane.edu/.
Have a great weekend,
Tulane Talk March 03, 2006
TULANE TALK
March 3, 2006
Good morning:
This week we appointed a pair of outstanding Tulane University faculty members and experienced academic administrators to lead, on an interim basis, two of the new academic units created under the recently adopted
http Plan.
Associate Provost James MacLaren, who currently serves as interim dean of the School of Liberal Arts, will be named interim dean of the newly created Undergraduate College. George Bernstein, who is currently dean of Tulane College, will be named interim dean of the School of Liberal Arts. Both appointments are effective July 1, 2006.
George, who received his B.A. from Columbia College and his master’s and Ph.D. from the University of Chicago, is a highly regarded historian, author, administrator and teacher. He has won numerous awards including the Honors Program Professor of the Year, the Sheldon Hackney Award for Teaching Excellence, the Newcomb College Alpha Lambda Delta Advising Award, the Undergraduate Student Government John H. Stibbs Award for Outstanding Undergraduate Professor and the Tulane College Senior Class Advisor Award for Exemplary Service to Students. As a long-term faculty member in the Liberal Arts and academic administrator, George is ideally suited for this new role.
James received his bachelorís and masterís from Churchill College at the University of Cambridge, and his Ph.D. from the University of Londonís Imperial College. His work as a physicist on Giant Magneto Resistance, a technology in use in all current disk drives, with colleagues at Oak Ridge National Laboratory won an award for Outstanding Scientific Achievement from the Department of Energy. James has been widely published and is also a highly regarded professor, having won the Tulane University Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching. He has also gained the admiration of students by directing TIDES and many of the First-Year Experience programs. James’ dedication to undergraduate students, his administrative acumen, knowledge of the university and his role in the development of the new Undergraduate College have well prepared him for this new position.
I know George and James will serve in these new positions with the same commitment to excellence that has marked both of their careers. I hope you all will join me in thanking them for assuming these critical positions at a momentous time in the university’s history. Given the mission and importance of the new Undergraduate College and School of Liberal Arts to the university’s future, we will embark on nationwide searches in a few months for permanent successors to lead these two new and vital academic units of Tulane University.
Have a great weekend,
Tulane Talk February 24, 2006
TULANE TALK
February 24, 2006
Good Morning:
If you had told me six months ago that I would be wishing you all a safe and happy Mardi Gras today, I might not have believed you. But now that this most unique and cherished cultural expression is upon us, I am glad to do just that.
Have a great Mardi Gras with your family and friends.
Tulane Talk February 17, 2006
TULANE TALK
February 17, 2006
Good Morning:
This Valentineís Day was an extra-special one for Tulane University as hundreds of physicians, nurses and other healthcare professionals welcomed, in true New Orleans style, the reopening of Tulane University Hospital & Clinic.
As you know, the hospital was at the epicenter of the harrowing aftermath of Katrina as floodwaters engulfed downtown. Now it is the first hospital to reopen downtown since those dark days and is yet another sign of our great city coming back to life.
One of the most moving scenes of the reopening ceremony was the unfurling of a huge American flag atop the hospital building. This flag, the same one that flew as a symbol of hope during the evacuation of the hospital, was brought to the ceremony via a helicopter flown by a pilot who assisted in the evacuation.
Tears, rousing ovations, even a spontaneous ìwaveî led by well-wishers gathered in stands outside the emergency room were all part of the day. Mayor Ray Nagin took note of the infectious Tulane spirit, declaring, “All the energy that you guys have; I don’t know what you’re taking at Tulane, but I want some.”
Please visit the link below to view some images of this special day:
http://www.tulane.edu/newwave/021506_hospital.html
And whatever you are taking, try to take some rest as well this weekend.
Tulane Talk February 10, 2006
TULANE TALK
February 10, 2006
Good Morning:
Tulane University’s purpose is to create, communicate and conserve knowledge in order to enrich the capacity of individuals, organizations and communities to think, to learn, to act and to lead with integrity and wisdom.
For this reason we are presenting ìPerspectives on Katrina,î an interdisciplinary seven-week series, free and open to the public, that will seek to understand and derive lessons from this great catastrophe.
The series kicks off on Feb. 12 at 6 p.m. in McAlister Auditorium with ìAugust 28: Katrina Takes Aim.î Tulane history professor and best-selling author Doug Brinkley, New Orleans Homeland Security Director Terry Ebbert, Army Corps of Engineers Deputy District Engineer Gregory Breerwood, meteorologist Dan Milham, and R. King Milling, chairman of the Governorís Advisory Commission on Coastal Restoration and Conservation, will lead the discussion which will be moderated by radio personality Spud McConnell.
Over its seven-week run the series will feature 21 different programs examining diverse aspects of the stormís impact. For instance, on Feb. 14 at noon, Tulane law professor Stephen Griffin will discuss ìKatrina and the Constitution: How Our Fundamental Political System Contributed to the Crisisî in Room 239 of the Boggs Center for Energy and Biotechnology.
On Feb. 16 at 4 p.m. on the first floor of Josephine Louise House, Dennis Kehoe, chair of Tulaneís classics department and a board member for the New Orleans-area Habitat for Humanity, will discuss ìRebuilding New Orleans: Habitat for Humanityís Operation Home Delivery.î For additional programs in this series please visit http://www2.tulane.edu/katrina/perspectives.cfm
I hope you will attend as many of these programs as possible. Hopefully, the lessons learned through this series will be part of the good that we as Tulanians have always searched for in the midst of tragedy.
Tulane Talk February 03, 2006
TULANE TALK
February 3, 2006
Good Morning:
Cicero said, “Gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues, but the parent of all the others.” This weekend I had the opportunity to join Tulane law students in thanking representatives from more than 20 law schools around the country who hosted our students in the aftermath of Katrina.
The thank you, which was dubbed “Pro Bono Publico: An Expression of Gratitude and Renewal,” included an evening of reflection on Katrina, a panel discussion featuring city and state leaders instrumental in the response to Katrina, a bus tour of New Orleans and an opportunity for participants to work on a community service project.
The community service project was Tulaneís “Paint Rally for New Orleans Schools,” just one of the many events in which the Tulane community is helping bring our city back to life. On this weekend, and indeed, on every weekend since August 29, I have been so proud and grateful to be a part of this wonderful Tulane community and this wonderful city. In addition to their work at the paint rally, many of the visiting students are already making plans to return to volunteer and others are initiating their own letter-writing campaigns to Congress regarding New Orleans’ needs.
This weekendís events were topped off with “An Evening of Louisiana Revelry,” featuring local food and music. I know we are all looking, and working, toward the day when that, and not Katrina, is the first thing people think of when they hear the words, “New Orleans.”
Tulane Talk January 27, 2006
TULANE TALK
January 27, 2006
Good Morning:
New Orleans music, homegrown and world-famous, is one of the defining characteristics that makes our city such a special place. Indeed, the soul of the city lies within such cultural treasures and keeping them alive and well is vital to our recovery.
That is why I am pleased to announce that Tulane University will serve as the new residence of the New Orleans Jazz Orchestra (NOJO). Led by Grammy-nominated trumpeter Irvin Mayfield, NOJOís 16 members will perform semi-annual concerts at Tulane and continue to serve as ambassadors for New Orleans around the country.
Since its founding in 2002, the non-profit NOJO has gained recognition as a national performing arts and education organization. Through its widespread appearances, including Jazz at Lincoln Center, the orchestra has promoted the history and importance of jazz and New Orleans culture. Past education programs have included ìNOJO in the Schools,î a high school lecture series conducted by Mayfield, and a community-wide jazz lecture series that brought national scholars of jazz music, art and literature to New Orleans.
NOJO’s residency at Tulane complements the universityís existing jazz strengths, including our undergraduate and graduate Jazz Studies programs, various jazz ensembles directed by John Doheny and the renowned Hogan Jazz Archives.
Often New Orleans jazz songs begin mournfully only to end in a festive, handkerchief-waving second-line. Over the last few months as a university, a city and as individuals we have experienced that opening sorrowful tempo. Now, we look to NOJO, whose leader himself suffered great personal loss in Katrina, to help us begin our second-line.
Tulane Talk January 20, 2006
TULANE TALK
January 20, 2006
Good Morning:
What a glorious and historic week it has been! It began with an evening of music and inspiration by http Marsalis followed by the first day of university-wide classes since Katrina. Good Morning America, The Today Show, CBS Evening News, NPR, Reuters, Los Angeles Times, Christian Science Monitor, Associated Press, USA Today, Chicago Tribune and Dallas Morning News are just some of the national media who covered our re-opening.
The week also offered the opportunity, through our Town Hall meetings, to discuss with you the changes to the university brought on by Katrina. I truly appreciated your patience and understanding as I explained what we have been through and the necessity of the changes made. I also welcomed your comments on various aspects of the Renewal Plan. These will be important as we move to the implementation stage.
It is so wonderful to have you and our students back where we belong. But as we move forward together we should take time to remember our own who were lost in the terrible tragedy of Katrina. A memorial service for http ìDuckyî Riess will be held today at 3 p.m. at the St. Charles Avenue Presbyterian Church, 1545 State Street. Visitation begins at 1:30 p.m. in the chapel. Ducky, as he was affectionately known by all of us, was truly one of the most beloved figures in Tulaneís history. He passed away, September 4, 2005 at the age of 92, after being evacuated from his home in the aftermath of Katrina.
Duckyís life was linked inextricably with Tulane. As a Tulane student, longtime professor of physics, faculty advisor to the Interfraternity Council, a member of Phi Beta Kappa, National President of Omicron Delta Kappa and Phi Kappa Sigma and a member of numerous other honorary fraternities, as well as Tulane University commencement marshal for 25 years, Ducky carried the spirit of Tulane wherever he went and to whomever he met. Though in frail health, Ducky still managed to attend commencement ceremonies at Tulane in 2005, just a few months before the storm.
Ducky will be sadly missed by all of his students, friends and colleagues who were the heart and soul of his long and happy life.
Tulane Talk January 13, 2006
TULANE TALK
January 13, 2006
Good Morning:
Yesterday was a glorious day for Tulane University and New Orleans as we welcomed back the first wave of undergraduates to the university. Prior to this date we had already welcomed back our students in the schools of law, medicine and business. As of today, we expect the return rate for all full-time students to be in the low to high 80 percent range.
Needless to say, we are excited and gratified by the dedication and commitment of our students to Tulane University and by our faculty and staff for being the catalyst for the return of our students.
At yesterday’s undergraduate convocation, I spoke to the entering class about what has happened to the university since the storm and about our future together. I wanted to share those remarks with you. Please find them at http://www2.tulane.edu/president_conv2006_dejavu.cfm
Have a great weekend,
Tulane Talk January 10, 2006
TULANE TALK
January 10, 2006
Good Morning:
In seven days Tulane University will hold classes university-wide for the first time since Hurricane Katrina.
The newsletter at http://tinyurl.com/7b7tt will give you important information on how to make the best of your return for yourself and others.
To our colleagues and students still away from New Orleans, our thoughts remain with you. We look forward to reuniting as a campus community in the renewal of our great city.