NEWS SPLASH

Tuesday, September 29, 2009  

Town Hall for Students  

The Undergraduate Student Government along with Student Affairs is hosting a Student Affairs Town Hall meeting on Thursday (Oct. 1) on the uptown campus.  

Designed to allow students to ask administrators questions and express their concerns about Tulane, the open meeting will be held from 6 to 7:30 p.m. in the Kendall Cram Room of the Lavin-Bernick Center. Students who attend also will get the latest information on such topics as academics, dining, H1N1 flu preparations, housing, construction and safety.  

Administrators who will be attending are Kevin Bailey, associate vice president for student affairs; Carolyn Barber-Pierre, assistant vice president for intercultural life; Evette Clark, assistant dean for student affairs; Collette Creppell, university architect; James Farrow, executive director of the Student Health Center; and Rob Hailey, associate vice president for university services.  

Also on hand will be Kristen Kawczynski, director of student conduct; Missie McGuire, assistant vice president for campus recreation and student centers; James MacLaren, dean of Newcomb-Tulane College; Capt. Reid Noble, Tulane University Police Department; Todd Schill, associate vice president for student affairs, housing and residence life; and Erica Woodley, assistant dean for student affairs.  

News About New Orleans  

The latest New Orleans newsletter from the Fleur de Lis Ambassador program discusses a volunteer group that monitors the justice system in Orleans Parish.  

In the newsletter, a video features Andrea Bland, board chair for Court Watch NOLA. The group's volunteers log hundreds of hours each month at Orleans Parish Criminal District monitoring the entire justice system from police to court personnel to the scheduling of motions and trials. The group issued a report for the first half of 2009 and found improvement in many areas.

A public-private partnership, the Fleur de Lis Ambassadors are a group of New Orleans citizens from various backgrounds who help spread news about the city's success, post-Katrina.

Monday, September 28, 2009

Diversity Convocation on Wednesday

The 11th annual Diversity Convocation lecture series will take place on Wednesday (Sept. 30) at the Lavin-Bernick Center, featuring a talk by the Rev. Jamie Washington, a Baltimore, Md.-based multicultural consultant.

Washington will speak on “Meeting at the Intersections: Talking About Race, Religion and Sexual Orientation” at 6:30 p.m. in the Kendall Cram Room. The lecture is open to the public and is sponsored by the Office of Multicultural Affairs, with additional support from student affairs.

The president and founder of the Washington Consulting Group, Washington also is a senior consultant with The Equity Consulting Group of California and Elsie Y. Cross and Associates of Philadelphia. An educator and administrator in higher education for more than 25 years, he formerly served as assistant vice president for student affairs at the University of Maryland–Baltimore County.

Focus on Fitness

The TUWellness committee and UnitedHealthcare will host a seminar today (Sept. 28) on the uptown campus on “Fitting Fitness into Your Busy Day.”

The seminar will be held from 11 a.m. until noon in room 203 of the LBC. Topics to be discussed include the benefits of regular exercise, how to determine what’s holding you back, identifying ways to fit more movement into everyday routines and developing a personal action plan.

The seminar is open to everyone, but reservations are encouraged.

Friday, September 25, 2009
  

Freeman Lecture Features Marks  

Howard Marks, chair of Oaktree Capital Management and an expert on economic trends and investment opportunities, will deliver this year's
R. W. Freeman Distinguished Lecture on Tuesday (Sept. 29).  

The lecture, which will take place at 5:15 p.m. in Goldring/Woldenberg Hall, is free and open to the public.  

Marks co-founded Oaktree Capital Management in Los Angeles in 1995 and built the firm into an elite alternative and non-traditional investment company with more than $60 billion in assets under management, but Marks has gained even greater acclaim in recent years for his insightful writings on the economy.  

He serves as a trustee of the University of Pennsylvania, and he chairs the university's investment board.  

The R. W. Freeman Distinguished Lecture series is the premier annual speaking event at the A. B. Freeman School of Business. The lecture series is named in honor of Richard W. Freeman, a 1934 Tulane graduate, former vice chair of the Louisiana Coca-Cola Bottling Co. and a major benefactor of Tulane University. He served on the Board of Tulane for 13 years and received the university's Distinguished Alumnus of the Year Award in 1975. Freeman was instrumental in naming the business school in memory of his father, Alfred Bird Freeman.
  

Bands in Saturday Spotlight  

Fans at Saturday's (Sept. 26) football game will be treated to music by more than 500 marching band performers as part of the first Tulane "Band Day" at the Louisiana Superdome.  

At 2 p.m. on Saturday, 30 minutes prior to the kickoff of the football game between Tulane and McNeese State University, all six invited bands will perform together for the pre-game show. Participating bands are Roots of Music, Warren Easton Charter High School, Chalmette High School, Patrick F. Taylor Science and Technology Academy, Hurst Middle School and the McNeese State Marching Band.  

The Tulane Marching Band will be hosting workshops at the Superdome that morning for the bands, says Barry Spanier, director.

Thursday, September 24, 2009
  

Lushtak in New York Concert  

Pianist Faina Lushtak, professor of music in piano performance in the Newcomb Department of Music, will perform Oct. 1 in the renowned Steinway Hall in New York.  

The one-hour concert will be a private, invitation-only performance at 7 p.m. The Tulane Office of Development has a limited number of tickets to share with interested alumni. For information, e-mail or call 504-314-2967.  

Lushtak is considered a Steinway Artist, an elite honor in classical music circles, and the Newcomb Department of Music at Tulane is designated as an All-Steinway School.
  

Second Line to Combat Diabetes  

Join with other Tulane students, faculty and staff to fight diabetes by walking in the American Diabetes Association's Step Out/Walk to Fight Diabetes in Audubon Park on Nov. 14.  

Contributions also can be pledged to the Tulane team, which was among the top teams in last year's Step Out event, raising nearly $4,000 to support diabetes research. The Nov. 14 event begins at 9 a.m.  

"This annual event is vital because it raises much-needed funds that further research on diabetes and increases awareness about the disease," says Dr. Tina Thethi, assistant professor of endocrinology in the School of Medicine and Tulane's Step Out team captain. "Each participant can help in contributing their efforts towards the goal of achieving the resources to help fund research, while themselves benefiting from walking. Walking is an exercise that's excellent for keeping diabetes at bay and keeping it under control if you do have it."  

According to Thethi, 23.6 million Americans live with diabetes, including type 1 and type 2, both children and adults.    

Those persons wishing to participate this year can register online or by phone, and they can recruit friends or co-workers to walk and raise funds. Each team member who raises $100 receives a Step Out T-shirt. The first 500 people to raise $50 will receive a StepOut handkerchief (since the walk is a second-line parade this year). In addition, the American Diabetes Association offers prize incentives weekly.  

Register to join the Tulane Step Out/Walk to Fight Diabetes team or contact Thethi.


 

Wednesday, September 23, 2009

Take a Look at Tech Day

Friday (Sept. 25) brings a chance to take an inside look at technology and enjoy food, fun, presentations and prizes during Tech Day at the Lavin-Bernick Center.

Presented by technology services, Tech Day will be held from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. on the second floor of the LBC.

It will include a vendor floor staffed with experts from the university’s main technology providers; encores of popular “Digital Trends” lectures from the past year; demonstrations from certified engineers; an interactive Second Life display featuring Tulane’s Island; door prizes such as a new Dell computer system and an iPod touch; and a keynote address by Alan Levine, vice president of the New Media Consortium.

Service Week Under Way

Highlighting Tulane Service Week, a public-service fair will be held from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. today (Sept. 23) in Pocket Park at the Lavin-Bernick Center.

The Tulane Center for Public Service is sponsoring the week’s events. At today’s fair, information will be available on the variety of service opportunities available at Tulane. Community partners, student organizations and Tulane staff members will be on hand to discuss internships, international service programs, federal work-study jobs and student-led projects.

On Friday (Sept. 25), a Community Partner Spotlight will be held on environment and climate-change organizations, featuring talks by AmericaCorps VISTA members. The session will be from 1 to 2:30 p.m. in room 301 of Alcee Fortier Hall. To attend, RSVP to ccp@tulane.edu.

Two events are scheduled on Saturday (Sept. 26) — a community walk with GreenLight New Orleans from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m., and SleepOut! on the quad to raise awareness and support for the homeless of New Orleans.

GreenLight New Orleans will be registering Hollygrove residents to have volunteers replace their incandescent light bulbs with CFL energy-efficient bulbs. Anyone interested in participating must RSVP to commserv@tulane.edu.

The SleepOut! Event, sponsored by CACTUS and the Homeless Action Team of Tulane, begins at 9 p.m. on Saturday. Participants will design their own cardboard box beds (cardboard and tape will be provided). The event will include late-night dinner, live music from Keeping Crescent, screening of the documentary Easy Street and student-led discussions of poverty and homelessness. To register, e-mail HATT@tulane.edu by 5 p.m. today.

Tuesday, September 22, 2009  

Lecture on Indie Chinese Films  

"Independent and Underground Filmmaking in Present-Day China" will be the subject of a lecture on Thursday (Sept. 24) on the uptown campus by Paul Pickowicz from the University of California–San Diego.  

Sponsored by the Office of Academic Affairs and Provost, the presentation will take place in room 1111 of Goldring/Woldenberg Hall II from 3–5 p.m.  

Pickowicz, who holds an endowed chair in modern Chinese history, will focus on the recent growth in Chinese non-state-sector filmmaking and he will review the new filmmakers. He also will discuss the social, political, economic and cultural themes they explore; the audiences drawn to the films; and the state's attitude toward the activity.  

Short clips from a wide range of representative films will be screened. Organizers of the event said the lecture is not suitable for children due to treatment of themes related to violence and sexuality.  

A reception will follow the lecture.

Ranking High in Entrepreneurship

The A. B. Freeman School of Business is No. 4 in graduate entrepreneurship education in the latest national rankings by Entrepreneur Magazine and the Princeton Review.

The rankings, the result of a survey of more than 2,300 schools, were announced today (Sept. 22) and are listed in Entrepreneur's October issue, which includes the nation's top 25 undergraduate and top 25 graduate programs for entrepreneurship.  

Schools were evaluated based on key criteria in the areas of academics and requirements, students and faculty, and outside-the-classroom experiences.

The Freeman School's Levy-Rosenblum Institute for Entrepreneurship trains and inspires entrepreneurs through coursework, community service projects and internships.

Monday, September 21, 2009  

Moving Up  

The fall semester brings new faculty and staff members and advancements. Jane Bertrand is the new chair of health systems management, Dr. Felix H. "Buddy" Savoie is in a new leadership position with the Arthroscopy Association, and Eric Peterson is new director of the Tulane cross country and track and field programs.  

Bertrand has returned to Tulane to head the Department of Health Systems Management in the School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine.  

She had joined the Tulane faculty in 1979, serving as chair of the Department of International Health and Development from 1994–1999. Bertrand left Tulane in 2001 to serve as professor in the Bloomberg School of Public Health and director of the Center for Communication Programs at Johns Hopkins University.  

Savoie has been named first vice president of the Arthroscopy Association of North America. He is chief of the division of sports medicine and a professor in the Department of Orthopaedics at the Tulane University School of Medicine.  

Peterson, who comes to Tulane from the University of California–Los Angeles, was appointed to head the Tulane men's and women's cross country and track and field programs. In the last nine seasons, Peterson served as the head coach for UCLA men's cross country and was coach of the track and field distance squads for the Bruins' men's and women's track teams. He also served as the women's cross country head coach for the last 15 seasons.  

Learn About Brass Bands  

Music faculty member Matt Sakakeeny will moderate a discussion by the Dirty Dozen Brass Band on Wednesday (Sept. 23) at 7 p.m. at 938 Lafayette St. in New Orleans.  

"The Dirty Dozen Brass Band as Told by Themselves: New Orleans Brass Bands" is the third session in a project to present the history of the bands. The session is made possible by funding from the Greater New Orleans Foundation and the Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities (LEH).

Band members will discuss the origins, innovations and perseverance of their group in a live recording session that features a panel discussion with Sakakeeny, a question-and-answer period with the audience and a performance by the band. Admission is $5 but is free to students and LEH members.  

Sakakeeny is an assistant professor in the Tulane music department.  

Friday, September 18, 2009  

Lecture to Discuss Abuse of Prescription Drugs  

Nationally known speaker Robert Gordon will lecture on the Tulane uptown campus on Monday (Sept. 21) about "The Other Drug Category: Find Out the Facts About Prescription Drug Abuse."  

The lecture, which is free and open to the Tulane community, will be at 8 p.m. in McAlister Auditorium. It is sponsored by Newcomb Student Programs with additional support from the alcohol education program, the Student Health Center's Office of Wellness and Health Promotion and housing and residence life, as well as the Wirtz Costello Fund.  

Planners of the lecture said the program will clarify myth from fact and provide examples from recent media reports and research about the recreational use of prescription drugs, which has drastically increased among college students.  

Gordon has spent 15 years in higher education as an instructor, adviser, marketing specialist, consultant and alcohol and drug counselor.  He has served higher education on the board of the Inter-Association Task Force for Alcohol and Other Drug Issues since 1997.  

Museum Features Author  

Newcomb alumna Roulhac Toledano will talk about her new biography of French perfumer Francois Coty on Sunday (Sept. 20) at the New Orleans Museum of Art.  

Along with Elizabeth Coty, Toledano wrote Francois Coty: Fragrance, Power, Money, which debuted earlier this year. Her talk will take place from 1 to 2 p.m. followed by a book signing from 2 to 5 p.m.  

Toledano, a 1960 graduate of Newcomb College, works as an artist, writer and preserver of historic American treasures. She lives in Charlottesville, Va.  

Thursday, September 17, 2009  

Rosh Hashanah Celebrations  

From eating apples dipped in honey to hearing the sound of the shofar (ram's horn), Jews at Tulane will be celebrating with local area synagogues, Hillel and Chabad New Orleans.  

New Orleans Hillel is holding Rosh Hashanah services on the uptown campus on Friday (Sept. 18) at 6:15 p.m. in the Lavin-Bernick Center (Kendall Cram Room for Reform services and Stibbs Conference Room for Conservative services), followed by dinner at the 1834 Club at 7:30 p.m.  

Rosh Hashanah dinner, which costs $20, is included in the kosher meal plan. To sign up for the kosher meal plan contact Tulane Dining Services. Students who are not on the kosher meal plan will be able to pay for the meal by swiping their student ID cards.  

On Saturday (Sept. 19), students are invited to Reform, Orthodox and Conservative services and lunch hosted by families in the community.  

Services at Chabad House will be on Friday at 7 p.m., followed by a free, traditional, home-cooked Rosh Hashanah dinner at 7:30 p.m. Rabbi Yochanan Rivkin leads services that explain the idea behind each prayer, accompanied by singing of traditional Chassidic melodies.  

On Saturday, Chabad will hold morning services from 10 a.m.–1:30 p.m., a holiday lunch at 1:30 p.m., and evening services at 7:30 p.m., followed by a traditional holiday dinner.  

A popular practice of the holiday is Tashlich ("casting off"). Jews walk to flowing water such as a creek or river to empty their pockets' contents into the river, symbolically casting off sins. Some put small pieces of bread in their pockets to cast off. Following the holiday lunch at 1:30 p.m., Chabad will lead Tashlich at 3 p.m. in Audubon Park.  

On Sunday (Sept.20), Chabad will hold morning services from 10 a.m.–1:30 p.m., with the sounding of the shofar at 11:30 a.m.  

The shofar will be played on Sunday (Sept. 20) at various locations on the Tulane uptown campus: Monroe Hall – 4:30 p.m., Butler – 5 p.m., Wall – 5 p.m., Willow – 5:30 p.m. and Sharp – 5:30 p.m.  

Flip-flops, Anyone?  

The IN Exchange free-trade store in the Lavin-Bernick Center will celebrate the ever-favorite flip-flop with a party today (Sept. 17) in conjunction with Feelgoodz Eco-Flops.  

The event will beheld from 6:30–8 p.m. at the store with po'boys, pizza and $5 off Feelgoodz flip-flops. And yes, there really is a National Flip-flop Appreciation Day, which online searches indicate was celebrated on June 19.  

For more information send email IN Exchange or call 504-314-7463.  

Wednesday, September 16, 2009

Star-Spangled Singer

Tulane alumnus Bryan Batt, television and Broadway actor, sang “The Star Spangled Banner” on Sunday (Sept. 13) in the Louisiana Superdome for the season-opening football game of the New Orleans Saints.

A 1985 Tulane graduate and a native New Orleanian, Batt recently received rave reviews for his portrayal of Salvatore Romano in AMC’s critically acclaimed dramatic television series “Mad Men.” The runaway hit has been awarded with six Emmys, three Golden Globes, a Screen Actors Guild award and a Peabody award, and is nominated for a record 16 Emmys this year.

As a Broadway veteran he had leading and principal roles in the 2005 revival of La Cage Aux Folles, Beauty and the Beast, Suessical the Musical, Sunset Boulevard, Saturday Night Fever, the Scarlet Pimpernel, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Starlight Express and Cats.

Batt also is co-owner of Hazelnut, a gift and home accessories shop at 5515 Magazine St. in New Orleans.

Genetics Seminar Scheduled

New findings and methods in human genetics research will be the focus of a seminar on Friday (Sept. 18) at the Tulane University School of Medicine.

The continuing education seminar, “Statistical Models and the Risk for BRCA1/BRCA2 Gene Mutations,” is sponsored by the Hayward Genetics Center. It will be held from 11 a.m. until noon at the medical school, 1430 Tulane Ave., room 7062.

Chris Dvorak, genetic counselor, said anyone who is interested in presenting a seminar this semester should e-mail Dr. TaraChandra Narumanchi.

Tuesday, September 15, 2009

Earn College Credits at Disney

Students who are interested in earning college credits while working at Walt Disney World can attend an orientation meeting on Wednesday or Thursday (Sept. 16–17).
 
The Tulane School of Continuing Studies has a partnership with the Disney College Program that is now in its third year. Twice yearly, Disney enrolls hundreds of college students to live and work at Walt Disney World while earning college credit.
 
The orientation meeting will be held at 7 p.m. on Wednesday and again at noon on Thursday in room 179 of Minneburg Hall on the University of New Orleans campus.
 
Students accepted in the program work in areas such as retail, food and beverage, marketing, special events, transportation, operations, and theater and dance. Accredited college-level classes also are offered on-site.
 

Film Explores Inequality

Is inequality making us sick? The documentary Unnatural Causes, which discusses that issue, will be screened on Thursday (Sept. 17) and on Sept. 24 at the Tulane School of Medicine.
 
The Tulane School of Medicine Office of Community Affairs and Health Policy is hosting the film screenings. The documentary explores the social determinants of health such as economic inequality.
 
Screenings will be held from noon until 1 p.m. at the Tulane School of Medicine, 1430 Tulane Ave., room 6001. Each session will be followed by facilitated dialogue led by faculty members from the School of Medicine and School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine. Light refreshments will be offered.
 
For additional information, call Natalie Cooley, 504-988-4016.
 

Monday, September 14, 2009 
 

30 Minutes to Fitness  

Even if you only have 30 minutes to exercise, the Reily Student Recreation Center has you covered. The center has introduced new, 30-minute fitness classes for members.  

The 30-minute classes take place in the Riverside Activity Room on Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 7:30–8 a.m. and every weekday from 12:15–12:45 p.m. Options include Kickin' Core Ball, Zumba, Bodies in Motion, Body Blast, Dance Fit, Bodies in Motion, Cardio Fit and Total Body Conditioning.  

Additionally, there are 30-minute spinning classes on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday from 7:30–8 a.m. (additional fee for spin pass).  

"Remember that every minute counts toward being a healthier you," says Sarah Grunblatt, assistant director of fitness and wellness at the Reily Center.  

Reily offers more than 60 free classes for members every week. For more information or to view the full group exercise and spinning schedules, check the Reily Center's website.  

Teaching Diverse Students  

The Tulane Teacher Preparation and Certification Program presented a "Workshop on Differentiation and Diversity" on Friday (Sept. 11) for 200 education professionals.  

The workshop at the Chateau Bourbon had attendees from more than 20 different schools (private, parochial and public), eight district offices, four private providers, a regional service center of the State Department of Education and eight universities.  

Keynote speaker was Carol Tomlinson, internationally recognized in the field of differentiation — how to teach with a diverse group of students in the classroom. Tomlinson, from the University of Virginia, is the mentor of Linda McKee, director of teacher preparation and certification, who organized the workshop.  

"The topic is of great need for pre-K-through-12 schools and universities, as noted by overwhelming response of attendees across the state," said McKee.  

Friday, September 11, 2009

Shots for Seasonal Flu

On Wednesday (Sept. 16), the Student Health Center will offer regular seasonal flu shots in the Lavin-Bernick Center to anyone in the Tulane community.

For the cost of $20, students. faculty, staff members and their family members can take advantage of the opportunity for seasonal flu vaccine from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. in the LBC’s Pederson Lounge on the uptown campus. Additional sessions are scheduled on Sept. 22, Oct. 14 and Nov. 16.

Seasonal flu vaccines also are being offered to students in residence hall lobbies from 5:30 until 7 p.m. on the following dates at these locations: Tuesday (Sept. 15), JL; Thursday (Sept. 17), Butler; Sept. 23, Willow; Sept. 29, Wall; and Sept. 30, Mayer.

Officials with the Student Health Center said that vaccines for the H1N1 flu are not available at this time, adding, “Information regarding availability and distribution of H1N1 vaccines will be forwarded when we receive it.” For more information, e-mail Scott Tims or call 504-865-5255, extension 8.

Volleyball’s Home Opener

The Tulane Green Wave volleyball team, defending champs of Conference USA, return to action in Fogelman Arena today and Saturday (Sept. 11–12).

The opening home game of the volleyball season will be at 7 p.m. today when Tulane takes on rival Louisiana State University. On Saturday at 7 p.m., the Wave will battle nationally ranked Long Beach State University at 8 p.m.

Led by first-year head coach Sinisa Momic, the squad returns seven players from last year’s team that finished 28-6 and advanced to the second round of the NCAA tournament. This year’s team is defending a home-court winning streak for the past two seasons.

Thursday, September 10, 2009

Freeman School Admits 498 New Students

Five new incoming classes of 498 students are enrolled at the A. B. Freeman School of Business.

The new students include 290 first-year students admitted to the bachelor of science in management program, 92 for the MBA program, 68 in the master of finance program, 29 in the master of accounting program and 19 for professional MBA studies.

While those numbers are down slightly from last year’s incoming classes, a drop-off largely attributable to the recession, Bill Sandefer, director of graduate admissions for the Freeman School, says this year’s classes are outstanding in terms of test scores, work experience and geographic diversity.

Light the Night Walk

Across the Tulane campuses, volunteers are planning to join the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society Light the Night Walk on Saturday, Oct. 3, at Zephyr Field.

Tulane Medical Center, Tulane Cancer Center and the Louisiana Cancer Research Consortium will be fielding a large team to join the fund-raising walk.

Sixty years ago, a blood cancer diagnosis was almost always fatal. Today, thanks to innovative research funded in part by the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, survival rates for some blood cancers have doubled or even tripled.

The Light the Night Walk is the nation’s night to pay tribute to everyone who has been touched by leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin’s disease and myeloma. The non-competitive walk is two to three miles, during which walkers carry illuminated balloons — white for cancer survivors, red for supporters and gold for remembrances. In 2008, the walk raised $270,000 in the New Orleans area and more than $39 million in the U.S. and Canada. This year’s goal is to raise $300,000 locally.

Dr. Roy S. Weiner, associate dean for clinical research and training, is the 2009 corporate walk chair and plans to walk himself. “Getting involved with Light The Night is a fun, easy experience for everyone, and it will raise funds to cure cancer and provide hope to thousands,” Weiner said.

To join the team, e-mail Tulane co-captain Cherie Joseph.

Wednesday, September 9, 2009

Art and Rockabilly

Gal Holiday and the Honky Tonk Revue will perform tonight (Sept. 9) for a special reception at the Newcomb Art Gallery as part of its exhibit, “American Letterpress: The Art of Hatch Show Print.”

The reception is from 6–8 p.m. in the Woldenberg Art Center. On view at the exhibit are 120 original posters and 20 hard-carved wooden printing blocks from the Nashville-based printing house, which has been in business since 1879 producing vibrant depictions of music royalty, from Elvis Presley to Herbie Hancock, as well as everyday ads.

The exhibit continues through Oct. 11. For more information e-mail Teresa Parker Farris or contact her by phone at 504-314-2406.

Return of Men’s Tennis

The Green Wave men’s tennis program has returned after four dormant seasons in the wake of Hurricane Katrina.

Led by head coach Mark Booras, the nine student-athlete squad sees its first action since 2004-05 on Friday (Sept. 11) at the Rice Invitational at Rice University in Houston.

“There’s a lot of excitement on the courts and a buzz in the athletic department with men’s tennis finally coming back,” Booras said. “I’ve been waiting for some time for this and I’m impressed with the level of players we have on the court now.”

Team members are freshmen Adam Bernstein, Coby Kramer-Golinkoff, Etham Frenkel, Trevor Getz, Joe Young, Idan Mark, Rod Rappaccioli and Chris Somers, plus sophomore Shaye Wali. The Green Wave team will make its home debut Oct. 22–26 at the Goldring Tennis Complex as host of the Intercollegiate Tennis Association Southern Regional Championship.

Tuesday, September 8, 2009

Gumby Shows Spirit

For Homecoming 2009, which will commemorate the 175th anniversary of Tulane University, the President’s Spirit Trophy Competition will take the theme “Gumby Goes Green.”

To enter, teams must decorate both sides of a wooden cutout “Gumby” (the vintage Green Wave mascot) in a manner that reflects their Tulane spirit. In accordance to the theme, there will also be a separate category for entries decorated in environmentally friendly ways.

Prizes will include possession of the Spirit Trophy for one year and a $100 award for the best overall entry, a $75 award for the most spirited entry, and a $50 award for the most environmentally friendly entry. Those receiving honorable mention will receive a pizza party for their participation.

Judging will take place on Thursday, Oct. 1, and the winners will be announced on Oct. 2. The decorated Gumby cutouts will be displayed in the James Lounge of the Lavin-Bernick Center during Homecoming week (Oct. 7–11).

Rules and registration information is on the homecoming website.

Photo Exhibit Open

Longue Vue House and Gardens in New Orleans is featuring an exhibit of the “Pontchartrain Park Photography Project” through Sept. 30.

Tulane University is a partner in the project along with Longue Vue, the New Orleans Kid Camera Project and Delgado Community College. It is funded by a History Channel Save Our History Grant.

Project partner members worked with seventh and eighth graders at Coghill Elementary School to document the history of the school’s neighborhood, Pontchartrain Park. The students’ oral history collections and photographs are featured at the exhibit, as well as a documentary on Pontchartrain Park.

Pontchartrain Park, which suffered heavy devastation after Hurricane Katrina, was one of the first areas in New Orleans designed to provide home ownership to middle and upper income African Americans.

The exhibit, at the historic home located at 7 Bamboo Road, is open from 10 a.m.–4:30 p.m., Monday–Saturday, and 1–5 p.m. on Sunday. Free for Longue Vue members, the entrance fee is $10 for nonmembers. For additional information, call 504-488-5488.

Friday, September 4, 2009

Social Work Enrollment Up

When classes began on Tuesday (Sept. 1), the halls of the Tulane School of Social Work were filled with students as enrollment has nearly reached pre-Hurricane Katrina numbers.

The 2009 fall class boasts 78 full-time students and 14 part-time students, marking the school’s fourth straight year of admissions growth. The school was set to admit 88 full-time students and 18 part-timers in August 2005.

The student growth is more clearly illustrated over a three-year period. In the fall of 2006, 45 full-timers registered while the numbers grew to 57 in 2007 and 73 in 2008.

“We are certainly encouraged to see our numbers continue to near our pre-Katrina enrollment levels,” says Ron Marks, dean of the school. “While our numbers increase, our student body continues to become more diverse as well.”

This semester, social work students hail from 21 states including as far west as California and several northeastern states such as Maine, Pennsylvania and Connecticut.

Faculty Scholar Awards

The Tulane Center for Public Service named English department faculty members T. R. Johnson and Nghana Lewis as its first Faculty Scholar Award recipients for this school year.

The new program recognizes one faculty member each semester for exemplary public service and community involvement expertise, awarding a $5,000 honorarium.

Johnson, associate professor of English who was chosen for the fall semester, will offer a three-part workshop for undergraduate seniors who are public service fellows to discuss the best features of the public-service experiences.

An assistant professor of English and director of the African and African Diaspora Studies Program, Lewis will serve in the spring semester. She will examine the connection between video blogging and students’ sense of self and community. She plans to assess the role that this evaluation tool plays in supporting student learning and growth.

Thursday, September 3, 2009

Women and Green Jobs

Nancy Mock, interim executive director of the Newcomb College Center for Research on Women, participated in a round table sponsored by the National Women’s Bureau of the U.S. Department of Labor on the Tulane uptown campus on Tuesday (Sept. 1).

The Women’s Bureau hosted “Women in Non-traditional Employment, Apprenticeships and Green Jobs” to create awareness about the need for women to have equal access to green jobs.

Participants from colleges and universities, women’s, nonprofit, faith-based and government organizations, trade unions, professional associations, apprenticeship programs and corporations attended the event, seeking to identify best practices, challenges, training and job opportunities and putting forth resources and ideas to promote women’s involvement in “good” green jobs.

Mock is an associate professor of international health and development in the Tulane School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine.

Independent Scholar in Mauritius

Through the Center for Global Education’s independent scholar option, Miles Babin is spending his junior year abroad at the University of Mauritius in the Republic of Mauritius studying the small island nation’s demographics, language (Mauritian Creole), culture and history. He is chronicling his year abroad on his blog.

The independent scholar option for study abroad is available to students looking for an academic experience beyond the usual portfolio of Tulane study abroad programs.

To pursue the independent scholar route, Tulane students must petition the Study Abroad Committee and have a minimum 3.5 GPA.

Before submitting a petition, students considering the independent scholar option are required to have an advising session with Mark Beirn, director of the Office of Study Abroad. For more information, call 504-865-5340.

Wednesday, September 2, 2009

Ride the Shuttles

The Tulane Police Department operates a variety of shuttle services that connect the uptown, health sciences and University Square campuses.

Riders are now required to swipe their Tulane ID cards when boarding the shuttles. Complete schedules are posted online and are available at the police department in the Diboll Complex, from shuttle drivers and at the Lavin-Bernick Center information desk. Here is an overview:

• Safe Ride on Call. Operates from 8 p.m. until 5 a.m. on Tuesday–Saturday for members of the Tulane and Loyola University communities. Call 504-865-5381 to be picked up and dropped off within the area bounded by South Carrollton Avenue, Fountainbleau Drive, Jefferson Avenue and Tchoupitoulas Street.

• Uptown/Downtown Shuttle. A connection between the Tulane downtown and uptown campuses.

• Park-and-ride Shuttles. Two park-and-ride shuttle routes connect parking lots and the uptown campus. The University Square shuttle operates Monday–Friday with pickups every 20 minutes from the University Square parking lot off Broadway and at Law Road and Freret Street. The second shuttle runs from the Rosen Parking Lot (Ben Weiner Drive at Claiborne Avenue) to four stops on the university campus.

• On/Off Campus Shuttles. Operates Monday–Friday evenings with stops at Howard-Tilton Library, Gibson Circle, McAlister Drive and Freret Street, the Reily Center and Ben Weiner at South Claiborne Avenue.

• Other services. For students, a Saturday grocery shuttle, entertainment shuttle and “Wal-Mart Express.”

Chapter Wins Honors

The Gamma Tau Chapter of the national honors fraternity of Phi Sigma Pi at Tulane received several awards at the fraternity’s national convention in August. 

The chapter was named “best in region” for the second year in a row.  Additionally, two members made fraternity history by being the first two brothers from the same chapter to receive the Todd Tripod Scholarship.

Tuesday, September 1, 2009  

Med School Among Finalists  

The Tulane School of Medicine is one of three national finalists for the prestigious Spencer Foreman Award for Outstanding Community Service.  

Representatives of the Association of American Medical Colleges, which presents the award annually, made a site visit to Tulane on Aug. 20 as a part of the association's process to select the winner, which will be announced in Boston this fall.  

"Tulane School of Medicine is highly honored to be among the finalists in the competition for this coveted award," says Dr. Karen DeSalvo, vice dean, Office of Community Affairs and Health Policy. 

Dr. Benjamin P. Sachs, senior vice president and dean of the medical school, nominated Tulane in April. He wrote that the medical school developed and continues to lead initiatives to ensure healthcare delivery "to the most vulnerable, building innovative care models that meet both patient and community needs, and providing unique opportunities for education and service."  

The AAMC team visited the Tulane Community Health Center at Covenant House, the New Orleans East Health Center, St. Anna's Medical Mission and the Children's Health Fund while in New Orleans.  

Ticket Specials for Football  

The Tulane Green Wave, which kicks off its fall football season on Friday (Sept. 4), is offering ticket specials for football fans.  

In Friday's contest, the Wave will play the University of Tulsa in the Louisiana Superdome in a nationally televised game on ESPN. Kickoff is at 7 p.m. Tulane employees receive a 50 percent discount on all season tickets.  

The athletics department also announced a "Business Person's Special" for all six home games. Anyone with a business card will receive $5 off both sideline and end zone tickets. Fans can redeem the special at Gate A (ground) at the Louisiana Superdome from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. and at Gate B and F on Friday from 5 p.m. until 7 p.m. In addition, the Business Person's Special can be redeemed at the Tulane Athletics Ticket Office at the James W. Wilson Jr. Center on the uptown campus from 8:30 a.m. until 5 p.m., Monday through Thursday (Aug. 31–Sept. 3).

Toledo and his players are requesting that all Green Wave fans wear their Tulane colors for Friday's game against Tulsa.