Tulane Talk November 24, 2004
TULANE TALK
November 24, 2004
Good Morning:
Margie and I want to wish you a wonderful Thanksgiving. We hope you enjoy the break and the time with your family and friends.
Margie and I have many things to be thankful for, and one of them is having the privilege of being associated with Tulane University and all of you – faculty, staff, students, alumni and friends. You make this a special place and experience.
Happy Thanksgiving,
Tulane Talk November 19, 2004
TULANE TALK
November 19, 2004
Good Morning:
In September I sent a Tulane University flag to J. Michael Veron, who graduated from Tulane Law School in 1974. Mike requested the flag to send to his good friend, Army Lt. Col. Bernard McLaughlin, who is stationed in Iraq.
On Sunday I was surprised to receive a photo of the flag taken on Veteran’s Day at the former Presidential Palace in Baghdad. Lt. Col. McLaughlin and Marine Cpt. Eric Weiss are pictured with the flag. You can view the photo at http://www2.tulane.edu/images/DSCF0255.jpg
Lt. Col. McLaughlin reported that the Tulane flag had been carried on missions into the Red Zone and survived the BIAP road, the most dangerous stretch of road in Iraq, and the Haifa Street area, another hotbed of unrest. He told of one incident in which his attempt to fly the flag incited hostile fire.
I want to publicly thank Mike Veron and especially Lt. Col. McLaughlin and Cpt. Weiss for remembering Tulane as they face such perilous duty. We remember them, too, and all of our troops stationed overseas. And we look forward to the day when they can fly the Tulane flag again, safely, back home.
Have a great weekend,
Tulane Talk November 12, 2004
TULANE TALK
November 12, 2004
Good Morning:
What do Jordanís King Hussein, humorist Art Buchwald, playwright Lillian Hellman and actor Dustin Hoffman have in common? At one time or another, they all visited Two Audubon Place, the home of Tulane presidents and their families.
How do I know this? Well, after hearing story after story of interesting events and visitors to the presidentís residence over the years, Margie has begun compiling an oral history of the home. Iím pleased to say that so far her research has not uncovered any evidence that the house is or ever has been haunted, but we have had some wonderful and enlightening conversations with past occupants of the house going back all the way to the grandson of the original owner.
As a result of this project, I had the great pleasure of discussing the house and other Tulane related topics with Herbert Longenecker, the university’s 11th president, during my trip to Birmingham last week. My personal history lesson will continue this week as Margie and I visit with Lucy and Sheldon Hackney (12th president), and Margaret and Eamon Kelly (13th president).
By next summer Margie plans to complete her project, which will consist of a special DVD of these conversations as well as pages of notes and other archival information. All of this will be available to architectural students, history scholars and others interested in adding another dimension to their understanding of Tulane University.
Have a great weekend,
Tulane Talk November 05, 2004
TULANE TALK
November 5, 2004
Good Morning:
One of the great things about working at a university is the access you have to experts in almost every imaginable field. Next week we will have an extraordinary opportunity to listen to and ask questions of four national experts on cancer prevention.
Cancer is a frightening prospect that, unfortunately, has impacted all of our lives either directly or through the struggle of a loved one. We can take hope, however, in the promising work of researchers and in the fact that almost 200,000 of the approximately 564,000 cancer deaths each year are preventable.
That is why I am asking you, your families and loved ones to join me at this yearís Tulane University Presidential Symposium, ìFight for Your Life: Cancer Prevention in the Real World,î Nov. 11 from 5 to 6 p.m. in the Freeman Auditorium of the Woldenberg Art Center.
To learn more about the symposium and the outstanding speakers we have lined up please visit http://www2.tulane.edu/president_symposium.cfm
Have a great weekend,
Tulane Talk October 29, 2004
TULANE TALK
October 29, 2004
Good Morning:
We recently made two important senior level appointments that I want to share with you. Laura S. Levy, a professor of microbiology and immunology at Tulane University School of Medicine, has been appointed associate senior vice president for research effective November 15.
Deborah E. Love, the associate vice president for diversity and equal opportunity at the University of South Florida, has been named vice president for institutional equity and assistant to the president for diversity initiatives.
In her new position Laura will work with all of us to increase federal, state and private funding for research at Tulane, recruit research leaders to the university, oversee all aspects of research administration and compliance and increase collaboration among Tulane researchers of various disciplines.
Deborah will lead the efforts of the Office of Institutional Equity (formerly the Office of Equal Opportunity) to improve human relations in the workplace and enhance diversity throughout the university. She will also supervise the office’s investigation and monitoring functions. In addition Deborah and the Office of Institutional Equity, along with senior university administrators, will develop and implement a comprehensive institutional diversity strategy.
Click http to learn more about these extraordinary individuals and the vital role their positions will play in Tulaneís future.
Please join me in congratulating Laura and Deborah on their new appointments and wishing them much success.
Have a great weekend,
Tulane Talk October 22, 2004
TULANE TALK
October 22, 2004
Good Morning:
Homecoming is one of my favorite times of the academic year. Homecoming week kicked off with the Lighting of McAlister Auditorium Sunday evening and continued with window painting, sidewalk chalking, free snowballs (I didnít have one) and reunions for Tulane classes from 1929, 1934, 1939, 1944, 1949 and 1954. Margie and I hosted a reception at our house yesterday for the reunion attendees and it was such a thrill to talk with them about their years at the university.
Today, we will welcome parents to campus for our Parent and Family Weekend which will feature classroom visits, open houses, tours, art exhibitions, student performances and more.
Game day is tomorrow, Oct. 23, as the Green Wave hosts Conference USA foe UAB at Tad Gormley Stadium in City Park. Kickoff is at 2:30 but the fun begins a lot earlier with tailgating, live music, the teamís arrival and, of course,the world famous Green Wave Mambo Parade. I hope to see you there. For all the information on Homecoming 2004 visit http://www2.tulane.edu/homecoming.cfm
Have a great Homecoming Weekend,
Tulane Talk October 15, 2004
TULANE TALK
October 15, 2004
Good Morning:
I am pleased to announce that real estate developer Darryl Berger and Carol Lavin Bernick, a top executive of one of the worldís leading consumer products companies, have been named to the Board of Tulane.
Darryl, as principal, owner and founder of Darryl Berger Companies, Inc., has been at the forefront of major real estate transactions in New Orleans for nearly three decades. He and his sister, Donna Kay Berger, are also trustees of the Alex Berger Foundation, a local independent foundation named for their father.
Darryl received his undergraduate degree from Vanderbilt and his law degree from Tulane University. He is currently the chair of the Presidentís Council at Tulane, a member of the Tulane Law School Deanís Advisory Council and has served on the universityís Leadership Gifts Committee.
Darryl is a former member of the University College Deanís Advisory Council, the Associates Club, and the Technology and Communications Committee of the Board of Tulane. In 2004 he received the Tulane University Alumni Associationís Distinguished Alumnus Award.
Carol was recently named chairman of Alberto-Culver Company, a $3-billion manufacturer, marketer and distributor of beauty, personal care and household/grocery products. Its consumer package goods business, which Carol headed before assuming the chairmanís role, is a global marketer with brands such as Alberto VO5 and TRESemme hair care products, St. Ives skin care products and household brands such as Mrs. Dash and Static Guard. Alberto-Culverís Sally Beauty Company is the largest distributor of professional hair care products in the world.
Carol is also the president and treasurer of the Howard and Carol Bernick Family Foundation and the vice president of the Lavin Family Foundation. She earned her bachelorís degree in sociology from Tulane University and currently serves as a Campaign Leadership Volunteer at Tulane.
She also served as an honorary member of the Newcomb Campaign Committee and as the first chair of the Tulane University Associates Program for the Chicago area from 1983 to 1984. Carol and her husband, Howard, the president and CEO of Alberto-Culver, are past members of the Tulane University Parentsí Council.
I canít tell you how fortunate I feel to have these two leading professionals, who care so deeply about Tulane, join our board. They will no doubt be instrumental in the continued transformation of Tulane into one of the worldís leading research and educational institutions.
Have a great weekend,
Tulane Talk October 08, 2004
TULANE TALK
October 8, 2004
Good Morning:
Are you a fan of the Yankees? How about someone who saved the life of a drowning man? Would you like to meet a renowned cardiologist who returned from the national stage to practice in his hometown?
Last week we celebrated the 170th anniversary of the Medical College of Louisiana, the entity that would eventually give rise to Tulane University Health Sciences Center.
Besides giving us the opportunity to honor those whose research and care have saved countless lives throughout our city and world, the celebration also provided a launching point for the upcoming “Promise and Distinction: The Campaign for Tulane University.”
Now back to my original questions. If you answered “yes” to any of them, you will enjoy the 90-second movie linked below. It features one of the truly exceptional heroes of the 170th anniversary, a man who epitomizes the words “promise” and “distinction.”
The movie is available in three formats so if one doesn’t play for you, you can try a different link:
Real Media: http://pulse.tcs.tulane.edu:7070/ramgen/media2/Bobby1.rm
Windows Media: http://pulse.tcs.tulane.edu:8080/asxgen/media2/BobbyBrownFull-1.wmv
Quicktime: http://www2.tulane.edu/BBref.mov
Have a great weekend,
Tulane Talk October 05, 2004
TULANE TALK
October 5, 2004
Good Morning:
At last week’s Board of Tulane meeting I made two presentations that I want to share with you. The first is a summary of highlights for fiscal year 2004. This report offers concrete examples of how achieving the goals of the strategic plan is positively impacting and transforming Tulane University in the areas of student enrollment, SAT scores, student selectivity, retention, curriculum improvements, increased research and development funding and major construction and renovation. This report can be viewed at
http://www2.tulane.edu/pdf/presreport9-30-04.pdf
The second is an update on the goals of the 10-year strategic plan we formulated in 1998. This report includes an outline of our strategic priorities for 2005 through 2008, as well as an updated and revised version of our University Scorecard. You can view these reports at http://www2.tulane.edu/pdf/scorecard9-30-04.pdf
I hope when you review these reports you will experience the pride I felt when I presented them. After all, you are responsible for the successes they outline.
Tulane Talk October 01, 2004
TULANE TALK
October 1, 2004
Good Morning:
The Board of Tulane heard a report this week on the progress the Green Wave athletics department has made in meeting the challenges presented to it after last year’s exhaustive review and vote by the Board to continue to compete at the Division I-A level. Tulane Board member Doug Hertz, who is chair of the Board’s intercollegiate athletics committee, presented the report.
According to the report, the athletic department met the financial goals approved by the Board for the year ending June 30, 2004. Highlights for the year included the department raising a record $2.1 million through the Tulane Athletics Fund and surpassing $9 million in total revenues for the first time. The department received pledges of $7 million toward planned capital projects, including the renovation of Turchin Stadium and the Goldring Tennis Complex addition, where construction is scheduled to begin this spring.
The report also notes that the Perpetual Wave campaign, which was initiated in the wake of last year’s review to provide sustainable funding for Green Wave athletics, has raised approximately $30 million through private donations toward its goal of $50 million. Most importantly, the report lauded the fact that the graduation rate for Tulane student-athletes was 79 percent, which ranks Tulane 14th among all Division I-A schools.
The impact of last year’s conference realignment and the reforms of the Bowl Championship Series brought about by the Tulane-initiated Presidential Coalition for Athletics Reform were also highlighted in the report as positive developments for Tulane athletics.
The report concludes that the Tulane athletics program is on sound footing but says that there are significant goals yet to be achieved, including sustaining the season ticket base for football, growing the ticket base for basketball, increasing the number of major donors to the Tulane Athletics Fund and increasing the athletics endowment.
There is still a lot of hard work to be done, and Doug Hertz explained it well by describing this year’s good news as the promising start to a long journey. Nonetheless, this report is extremely encouraging. It shows that we are laying the groundwork for meeting the board’s expectations for an athletics program that is a model in terms of academic performance and graduation rates, is financially viable on a sustainable basis and supports the academic mission and goals of the university.
My congratulations to Athletics Director Rick Dickson and his entire staff for their dedication in building a sustainable program that offers the best opportunity for our student-athletes, the most excitement for our fans and the best representation of our university.
Have a great weekend,