NEWS SPLASH

Friday, October 30, 2009

First NewDay Speaker on Monday

Darell Hammond, founder and CEO of KaBOOM! Playgrounds, will kick off the NewDay Distinguished Speaker Series in Social Entrepreneurship on Monday (Nov. 2) at Tulane.

Speaking at 5:30 p.m. in the Kendall Cram Lecture Hall at the Lavin-Bernick Center on the uptown campus, Hammond will discuss his passion for social change and play, and how he created KaBOOM!, a national non-profit that empowers communities to build playgrounds.

The NewDay Speakers Series, debuting this fall, will present prominent leaders from across the field of social entrepreneurship to share their own experiences, challenges, insights and recommendations to students and the community.

The free lecture is sponsored by the Tulane president’s office with additional support from the Center for Public Service. For more information, e-mail Stephanie Barksdale or call 504-862-3361.

Awards Top Faculty News

Tulane faculty members are in the news as they receive accolades for educational and book awards, take leadership positions and testify before Congress.

Dr. Gerald S. Berenson, director of the Tulane Center for Cardiovascular Health and principal investigator of the Bogalusa Heart Study, is the 2009 recipient of the Cecil J. Picard Award for Excellence in Education to Prevent Childhood Obesity.

The award is presented annually by the Louisiana Council on Obesity Prevention and Management in honor of the late Cecil J. Picard, a noted Louisiana educator and legislator. Berenson, a cardiologist, started the Bogalusa Heart Study, the longest-running and most detailed study of a biracial population of children in the world, focusing on understanding the early natural history of coronary artery disease and hypertension.

Anastasia Gage, associate professor of international health and development in the School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, is the new president-elect of the International Union for the Scientific Study of Population, the premier international professional association for population research. Gage will serve as vice president from 2010–2013 and will become president in 2014.  

Stephen A. Nelson, chair of the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, received the Outstanding Educator Award from the Gulf Coast Association of Geological Societies on Sept. 29. The award honors educators in academia who have made a major positive impact in the lives of Gulf Coast geologists.  

The latest book by Dan Purrington, The First Professional Scientist: Robert Hooke and the Royal Society of London, has been published by Birkhauser. Purrington is a professor of physics.  

Judith Schafer won the Gulf South Historical Association's Book Award for her book titled Brothels, Depravity and Abandoned Women: Illegal Sex in Antebellum New Orleans.  

Jay P. Shimshack, an assistant professor of economics, testified before the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure on Oct. 15. The hearing was entitled "The Clean Water Act After 37 Years: Recommitting to the Protection of the Nation's Waters." Shimshack was the only academic researcher invited to testify. His written testimony can be found online. Shimshack is on leave at the Erb Institute for Sustainable Enterprise at the University of Michigan.  

Thursday, October 29, 2009  

'Degas in New Orleans'  

Marni Kessler from the University of Kansas will give an art lecture today (Oct. 29) on the uptown campus on "Degas in New Orleans: Touching, Feeling and Le Pédicure."  

Kessler, who is associate professor in the Kress Foundation Department of Art History, will speak about Edgar Degas' painting, Le Pédicure, at 6 p.m. in Freeman Auditorium in the Woldenberg Art Center. A reception will follow.  

The event is co-sponsored by the Newcomb Art Department, the Newcomb College Institute and the Newcomb Art Gallery, with additional support from the Center for Scholars of the School of Liberal Arts.  

Medical Training Days  

The Tulane Center for Advanced Medical Simulation and Team Training is helping the next generation of healthcare professionals get a taste of hands-on medical training.  

Students from the Academy of Health Sciences at Walter L. Cohen High School in uptown New Orleans will participate in today's (Oct. 29) training day event. They also took part in a training day on Oct. 19.  

The center at the School of Medicine vividly replicates a hospital setting to give healthcare providers and medical students a real-world environment to learn, practice and master the latest techniques for patient care using life-sized, robotic "patients" that can mimic ailments and symptoms.  

However, on the two training days, Tulane medical students are the teachers, passing on knowledge to Cohen High School students, who will learn about hospital rapid-response teams and performing CPR in a hospital setting. They also will practice laparoscopic skills, take vital signs on a "patient," assess simulated trauma victims and learn how to insert an IV using a training mannequin.  

The Sim Center is located at 131 S. Robertson St. in the Murphy Building at the Tulane health sciences campus in downtown New Orleans. For more information or to find out how to book individual or team-based training sessions go to the Sim Center's website.  

Wednesday, October 28, 2009

Experts Head to Tax Institute

The 58th Tulane Tax Institute, “Bringing Washington, D.C., to New Orleans,” will be held today through Friday (Oct. 28–30) at the Westin New Orleans Canal Place.

Sessions open at 8 a.m. today for the institute, sponsored by Tulane Law School, which this year is joining forces with the U.S. Court of Federal Claims, the Federal Bar Association and the Court of Federal Claims Bar Association to bring the latest insight into the unique tax policy issues being debated in the nation’s capital.

In addition to the reviews of new tax statutes, regulations and decisions, the institute features U.S. Court of Federal Claims judges and Washington, D.C., policy experts discussing the latest from Capitol Hill.

Admission is charged for the events, which are open to the public. For additional information, e-mail Ann Schumacher or call 504-862-3597.

Walk for Children’s Health

The New Orleans Children’s Health Project will sponsor a wellness walk on Halloween (Oct. 31) starting at 11 a.m. to prevent obesity, promote wellness and raise funds for the project.

Audubon Park Shelter No. 12 will be headquarters for the walk. Registration is free for all walkers but those who raise at least one $10 donation receive a free T-shirt. The top three fundraisers will receive prizes. For information or to register, e-mail Laura Kreller or call 504-210-6598.

All proceeds benefit the New Orleans Children’s Health Project, a nonprofit organization that provides medical and mental health services to children and families in New Orleans at no or low cost. It is a partnership between the Tulane University School of Medicine and the Children’s Health Fund.

Tuesday, October 27, 2009  

Cousteau Speaks on Thursday  

Ocean explorer, environmentalist and filmmaker Céline Cousteau will be the featured lecturer on Thursday (Oct. 29) for the Powerhouse Women Speaker Series, sponsored by the Newcomb College Institute.  

She will speak at 7 p.m. in the Kendall Cram Lecture Hall at the Lavin-Bernick Center on the uptown campus. Cousteau, daughter of ocean explorer and filmmaker Jean-Michel Cousteau and granddaughter of the legendary Jacques Cousteau, will discuss the intersection of nature and culture, and share stories of her voyages into the deep.  

Admission is free and the talk, part of Celebrate Newcomb Week, is open to the public.  

Cousteau is featured in PBS' successful new television series, "Jean-Michel Cousteau: Ocean Adventures." Fluent in three languages, she has collaborated with her father's Ocean Futures Society to promote the educational program Ambassadors of the Environment throughout her travels.  

In connection with the lecture, the Newcomb Senate will be raffling off Beta fish to raise money for Amazon Promise, one of Cousteau's non-profit projects. The fundraiser will take place at 6 p.m. on Thursday outside the Kendall Cram Lecture Hall.  

Horrors on Stage

The musical Little Shop of Horrors will open on Thursday (Oct. 29) for a two-night run in Dixon Auditorium on the uptown campus.

Presented by the Tulane Musical Theatre Workshop, the popular play is the first all-student, full-scale production in more than 10 years. There will be professional costumes, sets and a seven-foot-tall, fully functional plant puppet. Sixteen students are in the cast.  

Chase Kamata, a 2007 Tulane alumnus, is director of the production, which is at 8 p.m. both Thursday and Friday (Oct. 30).  

General admission tickets are $15, with $10 tickets for students and Tulane faculty and staff members. For additional information, call 504-865-5269.

Monday, October 26, 2009  

Take Back the Night  

Tulane and Loyola universities are joining together on Tuesday (Oct. 27) for Take Back the Night — a march against domestic violence and sexual assault. Take Back the Night is part of an international effort to increase awareness about sexual violence and lend support to survivors.  

The march will begin at 6 p.m. with a speaker and candlelighting at the Loyola University horseshoe, and then will proceed to Rogers Memorial Chapel on the Tulane uptown campus.  

The event, sponsored by the Newcomb College Institute at Tulane as well as Loyola University, will include a speak-out against violence. For more information contact Newcomb Student Programs at 504-865-5422.  

Also on Tuesday (Oct. 27), the Take Back the Night committee is encouraging faculty and staff members to participate in "Denim and Teal Day" by wearing denim and teal to work and donating $5 for the domestic violence cause. Teal ribbons (teal is the "awareness color" for domestic violence) will be handed out on the campuses.  

New Orleans service organizations that will receive funds raised this year are Crescent House, the Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner program (SANE) and the Metropolitan Center for Women and Children. For more information, contact the Denim and Teal Day committee at 504-865-5422.  

Denim Day gets its name from a 1992 Italian court case in which a driving instructor was first convicted and sentenced to jail for raping his student, an 18-year-old woman. But then the conviction was overturned. The court ruling, as reported in the New York Times, "suggested that a woman cannot be raped if she is wearing jeans because, the ruling contended, they are impossible to remove unless she helps." Organizations worldwide have sponsored Denim Days to raise awareness about sexual assault.       

Top 50 for 50+ Nominee  

The Tulane School of Continuing Studies has been nominated as one of the state's "Best Places to Learn Something New" in an initiative that promotes Louisiana as a place for 50-plus adults to live.  

Online voting is under way now for favorites in various categories in Lt. Gov. Mitch Landrieu's new program, Encore Louisiana — the Official Guide to Louisiana Living for Boomers and Beyond, and a related website.   

People age 50 and above can go online through Nov. 15 and vote for their favorite organizations in 10 categories, including top destination and attractions, favorite festivals, best places to work, and more. The winners known as the "Top 50 for 50+" will be announced in December.        

Friday, October 23, 2009 
 

Day for Climate Action  

Students from Tulane and Loyola universities will gather at noon on Saturday (Oct. 24) for an event to mark the International Day of Climate Action promoted by the environmental group 350.org.  

The event will take place in front of Gibson Hall on St. Charles Avenue with speakers, free food and live music. Supported by Repower Louisiana, the Alliance for Affordable Energy and the Gulf Restoration Network, the event is designed to draw attention to the need for immediate action on climate change. The Tulane Green Club and the Tulane Environmental Action League also will participate.  

The group 350.org takes its name from the number that some scientists say is the safe upper limit for carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Two years ago, leading climatologists issued a series of studies showing that the planet faced both human and natural disaster if atmospheric concentrations of carbon dioxide remained above 350 parts per million.  

Former Indian Leader to Speak  

Abdul Kalam, the former president of India, will deliver an address to Tulane students on Monday (Oct. 26) at 1:30 p.m. in the Lavin-Bernick Center's Kendall Cram Lecture Hall. 

The lecture is free of charge and open to the public.

Kalam is an aeronautical engineer known for his passion for education and scientific advancement. He was the 11th president of India, serving from 2002 to 2007. During his term, he was popularly known as "the people's president." He is now a professor at Anna University in Chennai, and has been active in making state-of-the-art medical equipment to improve the lives of people in India.

In 2009, Kalam received the Hoover Medal, America's top engineering prize, for his outstanding contribution to public service.

While at Tulane, Kalam will meet with students and faculty at the School of Science and Engineering and will tour the electron microscopy facility on the uptown campus. The India Association of Tulane University is sponsoring Kalam's visit.

Thursday, October 22, 2009
  

Festive Weekend at Roosevelt

The Roosevelt New Orleans will roll out the red carpet for a historic grand-opening gala weekend at the hotel beginning on Friday (Oct. 23), with a portion of the proceeds benefiting Tulane University and three other organizations.  

The opening will feature New Orleans entertainers and the introduction of John Besh's Domenica Restaurant and the Guerlain Spa. A portion of proceeds will benefit the Tulane School of Medicine, the Fore!Kids Foundation, the Louisiana State University Health Sciences Foundation and the National World War II Museum.  

The newest member of the Waldorf Astoria brand, the hotel plans a weekend of festivities including the Neville Brothers; Grammy Award-winning singer Irma Thomas; musician, composer and producer Allen Toussaint; and clarinetist Tim Laughlin.  

The grand-opening package includes a two-night stay at the luxurious hotel, two tickets to the events, a welcome amenity upon arrival, a Roosevelt New Orleans commemorative gift and valet parking. Tickets also are available for Sunday's (Oct. 25) champagne jazz brunch in the Blue Room with Laughlin. Reservations are available by calling 504-648-5380.  

Green Party Rescheduled

With free music, food tastings and information on environmental initiatives, the Second Annual Going Green Block Party will be held on Tuesday (Oct. 27) from 4 until 6 p.m. in the Mayer Quad behind Le Gourmet. Originally planned for today (Oct. 22), it has been rescheduled.

Tulane University Dining Services, which are provided by Sodexo, is sponsoring the event with support from environmental affairs. It will feature live music from student bands, local and sustainable cuisine on the grill, free samples and an opportunity to meet campus organizations and offices working to enhance sustainability on the uptown campus and in the community.  

This annual event also highlights executive chef Corey King's implementation of sustainability criteria for Le Gourmet, an upscale campus eatery that is both a deli and grocery for Tulane students and faculty and staff members on the uptown campus. This policy states that all products served in Le Gourmet must fall into one of four categories: local, organic, natural and biodegradable.  

Information will be available on recycling, environmental majors, sustainable dining, green rebuilding projects, student service and environmental organizations and public school initiatives, as well as free bike repair and instruction. For more information e-mail Liz Davey or call 504-865-5145.  

Wednesday, October 21, 2009

Discussing Women and Ambition

Jennifer W. Allyn, a managing director in the office of diversity for PricewaterhouseCoopers, will discuss women and ambition in a special interactive lecture today (Oct. 21) on the Tulane uptown campus.

Her talk, “A Candid Conversation About Women and Ambition,” will take place at noon in room 131 of Goldring/Woldenberg Hall. It is cosponsored by the Louisiana chapter of the International Women’s Forum.

Allyn’s presentation will cover topics including leadership, retaining and advancing women, differences between men and women regarding ambition, and factors that can promote — or undermine — ambition in executives.

As an executive and thought leader promoting diversity initiatives, Allyn is responsible for designing programs to retain, develop and advance women and gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender professionals.

The lecture, which is free and open to the public, is cosponsored by the A. B. Freeman School of Business, the Newcomb College Institute, the Tulane Chapter of the National Association of Women MBAs and the Tulane Office of Institutional Equity. A reception will follow.

‘What Is New Orleans?’

Tulane geographer Richard Campanella and historian Larry Powell will be panelists for a presentation today (Oct. 21) at Loyola University on “What Is New Orleans?”

The event, sponsored by the Center for the Study of New Orleans, is at 7 p.m. in Nunemaker Auditorium in Monroe Hall at Loyola.It is free of charge and open to the public.

The panelists will discuss what construes a city — emotionally, historically and geographically. Joining Powell and Campanella on the panel are New York Times journalist Susan Saulny and writer John Biguenet.

Tuesday, October 20, 2009  

Dancing Into Fall  

The Newcomb Dance Company will present its Fall Dance Concert starting today (Oct. 20) in seven performances in the Lab Theatre of the Dixon Performing Arts Center Annex.  

Alice Pascal Escher is artistic director of the company, which has created experimental dance works for the smaller, more intimate space of the Lab Theatre on the uptown campus.  

Performances are at 8 p.m. today through Saturday (Oct. 24) and at 2 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday (Oct. 25). Tickets range from $7–$12 and are available online or by calling 504-865-5106.  

Emerson Quartet Performs  

The New Orleans Friends of Music opens its 55th season tonight (Oct. 20) with a performance by the Emerson String Quartet in Dixon Hall on the uptown campus.  

The performance, which is free of charge to Tulane students who present an ID, is at 8 p.m.  

The Emerson String Quartet will present a program of 20th century works, two from American composers, and all featuring music that incorporates native folk themes into the music. Performing for the 17th time with Friends of Music, Emerson is considered the premier American string quartet.  

Tickets are available at the door the evening of each concert or online. 

Monday, October 19, 2009  

Healthy Mondays, Anyone?  

A new series of programs focused on healthier living, called Healthy Mondays at Tulane, is under way now through Nov. 23.  

The initiative is sponsored by the Student Health Center's office of Wellness and Health Promotion, Tulane Dining Services and the Reily Recreation Center. Its goal is to encourage the Tulane community (students and staff and faculty members) to start the week off with healthy behaviors. Studies show that healthy habits incorporated at the beginning of the week are more easily maintained throughout the course of the week.  

Today's (Oct. 19) theme is "meatless Monday," with special vegetarian menu options all day in Bruff Commons and a health assessment from 5–7 p.m. in the Reily Center atrium.  

Upcoming Mondays will include healthy eating days, strength training programs at Reily, special health screening services, tips from a personal trainer and a free yoga class. See the schedule for additional information.  

Business Owners Speak Out  

The A. B. Freeman School of Business will host "Owning a Socially Responsible Business in NOLA," a panel featuring local business owners, on Wednesday (Oct. 21).  

As part of the Freeman School "Majors Week" Oct. 19–22, the school is hosting the panel of socially responsible business owners featuring Kyle Berner of Feelgoodz, Will Bradshaw of Green Coast Enterprises and Don Kelly of Project 30-90/Don Kelly Productions. Stephanie Barksdale of the Tulane Social Entrepreneurship Initiatives will moderate the event.  

The panel will take place from 5–6 p.m. in Goldring/Woldenberg Hall 1, room 101, and refreshments will be served.  

Other events for Majors Week at Freeman will include an open house in Freeman's Career Management Center on Monday, a lunch at Bruff Commons with the business school coordinators on Tuesday (Oct. 20) at noon, and an information session on study abroad opportunities on Tuesday evening.  

The week will end with the school's "TGIT–Thank Goodness it's Thursday" with pizza and beverages. A raffle for Voodoo Fest tickets will take place throughout the week with a drawing at the Thursday night party. For more information contact the Office of Undergraduate Education at 504-862-8377.

Friday, October 16, 2009  

Woodward Art on Exhibit  

A major exhibition of artwork by the late William Woodward, co-founder of the Newcomb art program, opens on Saturday (Oct. 17) at the New Orleans Museum of Art.  

"William Woodward 1859–1939: An American Impressionist in New Orleans" is the sixth collaborative exhibition between the Historic New Orleans Collection and NOMA, located in City Park.   

The exhibition features more than 70 paintings, etchings, sculpture and ephemera related to Woodward's life and works. A native of Massachusetts, Woodward came to New Orleans in the 1880s to teach fine arts, mechanical drawing and architectural drawing at Tulane University.  

The exhibit will remain on view through February 28, 2010. Admission is free for Louisiana residents through Nov. 14; regular NOMA admission rates apply after that date. The museum is open on Wednesday, noon until 8 p.m., and Thursday-Sunday, 10 a.m.–5 p.m.  

Faculty Authors at Book Fair  

The Louisiana Book Festival convenes on Saturday (Oct. 17) in Baton Rouge, La., featuring more than 175 authors, including several Tulane faculty members.  

The free festival is from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. in the downtown area of Baton Rouge. Among the authors on hand will be Tulane faculty members Richard Campanella, Nick Spitzer, Larry Powell, Peter Cooley and Paula Morris.  

Authors and participants will present their latest releases, discuss them with their fans and sign autographs. There also will be more than 80 book-related organizations at the festival.  

During the day, the festival takes over the State Library of Louisiana, the Louisiana State Capitol, the Louisiana State Museum and the nearby streets. Since it's a Louisiana festival, there will be plenty of great food and live music.

Thursday, October 15, 2009

Super Bowl Winner

New Orleanian and alumna Sara Warren was the winner of the raffle for Super Bowl tickets held during homecoming festivities to raise funds for Tulane student-athletes.

Warren, a 1976 graduate of Newcomb College, won two tickets to Super Bowl XLIV that will take place on Feb. 7, 2010, in Miami. Tulane supporters began purchasing tickets for the drawing during the Hullabaloo Homecoming auction fundraiser on Friday (Oct. 9). The final drawing was held during the Marshall University–Tulane football game on Saturday (Oct. 10).

During the live and silent auction at the Hullabaloo event, Tulane supporters also bid on a variety of items from sports memorabilia to prime tickets to sporting events to special dinners.

An online auction also benefiting Tulane athletics programs continues through Oct. 21 on the Charity Buzz auction website. Organizers expect to raise more than $200,000 from the auctions.

High Blood Pressure in China

High blood pressure is the leading preventable cause of death in China, causing 2.3 million deaths each year, according to researchers at Tulane University, the National Center for Cardiovascular Disease in Beijing and other institutions.  

Released online by Lancet on Oct. 5, the data was based on a study of nearly 170,000 Chinese people 40 or over who were first gathered in 1991 for medical exams that included blood pressure tests.  

Dietary sodium is very high in China because "people add a lot of salt in cooking," said Dr. Jiang He of Tulane, the study's lead author. He, who holds the Joseph S. Copes, MD, Chair in Epidemiology and chairs the Department of Epidemiology in the Tulane School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, is studying genetic links to salt sensitivity.   

"Lifestyle modification, especially reduction of dietary sodium, should be an effective approach for primary prevention," according to the study's authors. "The enormous burden of mortality attributable to blood pressure calls for a national policy to emphasize prevention and control of hypertension as the top public health priority."

Wednesday, October 14, 2009

No. 8 ‘Best Neighbor’ Ranking

Tulane University ranks No. 8 among the nation’s “best neighbor” colleges and universities according to a new survey.

Tulane was cited for its "strong focus on community health care" in the survey results, which were announced on Monday (Oct. 12) by Evan S. Dobelle, president of Westfield State College in Westfield, Mass. He named the nation’s top 25 “best neighbor” institutions of higher education as part of the presentation, “Saviors of Our Cities: A Survey of Best College and University Civic Partnerships.”

In his report, Dobelle said Tulane "has been heavily engaged in ensuring the delivery of primary care to vulnerable populations in the Greater New Orleans area," especially since Hurricane Katrina, involving its School of Medicine faculty and residents in more than a dozen community programs throughout the city.

Dobelle said that the current state of the U.S. economy makes the economic relationship between institutions of higher education and their local communities “more important than ever.”

In the rankings, the University of Pennsylvania and the University of Southern California tied for no.1. The University of Dayton and the University of Pittsburgh tied for second, and Indiana University–Purdue University Indianapolis completed the top five. Creighton University, Case Western Reserve University, Tulane, Portland State University and Drexel University are in the top 10.

The list’s 25 academic institutions were selected because of their positive impact on their urban communities, including both commercial and residential activities such as revitalization, cultural renewal, economics, and community service and development.

Dobelle made the announcement while appearing in Philadelphia before the 15th annual conference of the Coalition of Urban and Metropolitan Universities.

Spirit Contest Winners Named

The team from University Services took top prize for the best overall entry in the President’s Spirit Trophy Competition.

Other winners were the Workforce Management Organization team for most spirited entry and Erica Trani of IN Exchange for most environmentally friendly entry. The 3- to 5-year-olds at Newcomb Child Care Center took honorable mention.

Team members from University Services earned the Spirit Trophy for one year and a $100 award.

Following the theme “Gumby Goes Green,” teams decorated a wooden cutout “Gumby” (the vintage Green Wave mascot) in a manner that reflects their Tulane spirit. The decorated cutouts were displayed in the James Lounge of the Lavin-Bernick Center during Homecoming week (Oct. 7–11).

Fair Trade Celebration

The IN Exchange store in the Lavin-Bernick Center is celebrating its second birthday today (Oct. 14) and Fair Trade Month.

The store offers ethically traded apparel, artwork, crafts and food items from artisans around the globe and New Orleans. The birthday party is from 12:30–3:30 p.m. today with free-trade cake and coffee.

Store hours are Monday–Friday, 11 a.m.–5:30 p.m., and Saturday, 11 a.m.–3 p.m.

Tuesday, October 13, 2009
 

Muskie Fellow at Law School

Tulane University is hosting a new international student on campus as part of the U.S. Department of State’s Edmund S. Muskie Graduate Fellowship Program.
 
Tatiana Okisheva from Russia is taking courses in the law school, working on her general LLM degree. In addition to academic coursework, all Muskie fellows perform community service and complete a summer internship in their field of study.
 
Established by the U.S. Congress in 1992 to encourage economic and democratic growth in Eurasia, the Edmund S. Muskie Graduate Fellowship Program is a program of the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs of the U.S. Department of State.
 
The Muskie program is highly competitive, averaging more than 3,000 applications per year with a 5 percent rate of acceptance.
 

Check Your Health

Tulane employees who are UnitedHealthcare members still have time to get a $75 gift card for completing a confidential online health assessment.
 
All Tulane UnitedHealthcare members are encouraged to take 15 minutes to complete the health assessment. To complete the assessment, you should have your most recent height, weight, blood pressure, glucose and cholesterol numbers handy, but whether you have the numbers or not, you can still take the assessment.
 
You will be notified of the rewards you earn via e-mail. Call 866-868-5484 if you have questions about rewards. The assessments are private and confidential.  The health information you provide is only used to help you reach your health goals and better manage your personal health care.

Monday, October 12, 2009

‘Wringing Out New Orleans’

Journalist and author Dan Baum will speak on Wednesday (Oct. 14) on the uptown campus about his book, Nine Lives: Death and Life in New Orleans.

The topic of his talk is “Wringing Out New Orleans: Squeezing the Pre- and Post-Katrina City Between Book Covers.” Sponsored by the English department with additional support from the Center for Scholars, the lecture will be at 2 p.m. in the lobby of Cudd Hall.

Baum arrived in New Orleans the day after the levees failed, and, over the next few months, covered the city for The New Yorker magazine. He returned to the city in 2007 to blog for that magazine about New Orleans and also to finish his book-length set of profiles of nine New Orleanians as they struggled through the experience of Hurricane Katrina.

For more information, e-mail T. R. Johnson or phone 504-862-8163.

Merit Scholarships Awarded

One first-year medical student and a recent graduate from Tulane University are among the recipients of merit scholarships from the Louisiana Medical Mutual Insurance Co.  

Among the scholarship recipients are Jared A. Breaux, a student at Tulane University School of Medicine, and May Tulane graduate Emily McIntosh, who is attending the Louisiana State University School of Medicine–Shreveport.  

"As an organization closely aligned with Louisiana's medical community, we continue these merit awards to retain students who will soon have the opportunity to become excellent contributors to our state's healthcare system," said Dr. Thomas H. Grimstad, LAMMICO's president and CEO.                                                              

The announcement marks the ninth consecutive year that Louisiana's largest medical professional liability insurance company has awarded academic scholarships to help defray tuition and other expenses associated with enrolling at the Tulane School of Medicine, LSU medical schools in Shreveport, La., and New Orleans, and the LSU School of Dentistry in New Orleans.

Friday, October 9, 2009

Time for Tailgating

It’s homecoming weekend and that means time for Green Wave football and tailgating at the Louisiana Superdome tomorrow (Oct. 10).

Tulane will play the Thundering Herd of Marshall University in a Conference USA game starting at 2:30 p.m. Tailgating will precede the game outdoors on top of Garage No. 5 on the Claiborne Avenue side of the Superdome beginning at 11 a.m.

The Green Wave team is 2-2 on the season, with a chance to win its third game in a row. Marshall, making its first trip to the Superdome, has a 3-2 record. The Herd’s junior running back, Darius Marshall, is the nation’s leading rusher, averaging 159 yards per game.

For ticket information, contact the Tulane athletics ticket office at 504-861-9283.

Junior Chronicles Year Abroad

Tulane student Miles Babin is writing an engaging blog during his junior year abroad in the Republic of Mauritius.

At the University of Mauritius, Babin is studying the small island nation’s demographics, language (Mauritian Creole), culture and history through the Center for Global Education’s Independent Scholar Option in Newcomb-Tulane College. His blog carries the heading, “Big boy; tiny island. I’m rather big. Mauritius is rather little. It’s all so wonderfully topsy-turvy."

Mark Beirn, director of the study abroad program, said through the Independent Scholar Option, Tulane students may propose to study abroad for a year or semester through a university or program that has not been preapproved by the Study Abroad Committee.

This option is available to students whose academic needs are not met by the existing portfolio of approved Tulane programs, Beirn said.

Thursday, October 8, 2009  

New Home for Hillel  

A groundbreaking ceremony for a new, 10,000-square-foot Hillel Center at 912 Broadway will take place on Friday (Oct. 9) at 3:30 p.m.  

In attendance, among others, will be members of the Mintz and Goldring families, the lead donors. The new state-of-the-art facility will be completed during the fall semester of 2010. Demolition of the current center is slated to begin on Nov. 1.  

The facility will house the growing student Hillel population, with multi-purpose spaces to allow for maximum program flexibility, says Rabbi Yonah Schiller, executive director of New Orleans Hillel.

"Centrally located to the students and campus, the center will fit architecturally into our unique New Orleans neighborhood," Schiller says. "New Orleans Hillel has grown to engage hundreds of uninvolved students, and it has emerged as a vital partner to the greater New Orleans Jewish community and to Tulane University."  

Construction will cost $4 million and fundraising is now in place. More than $4.8 million has been raised toward a $6 million capital campaign goal.  

Africa Is Focus of New Center  

Sen. Mary Landrieu, the Tulane Energy Institute and high-ranking officials from energy-producing African nations are creating a program to educate and modernize natural resource ministries across Africa.  

Representatives from 11 African nations, the U.S. Institute for Peace, the U.S. government, the World Bank and several international energy corporations met in Washington, D.C., to discuss establishing the Tulane University Center for African Resource Development. The center would train African governmental employees in common international regulatory practices and resource management.  

"I can think of no better place than Tulane University to facilitate the collaboration of global leaders in academia, industry and governance," Landrieu said.  

The center would offer a month-long master certificate program to introduce participants to the U.S. energy industry, its management practices and technology used in oil and gas exploration and production. Participants will travel between Tulane in New Orleans, the Tulane Executive Center in Houston, the U.S. Institute for Peace in Washington, D.C., and industrial sites in the Gulf South.  

Geoffrey G. Parker, director of the Tulane Energy Institute in the A. B. Freeman School of Business, said that getting strong support from Landrieu, African officials and the private sector is an important first step to launching the new program.  

Wednesday, October 7, 2009

Judeo-Christian Lecture Set

A professor from the Catholic Theological Union graduate school in Chicago will give a lecture at Tulane on Thursday (Oct. 8) sponsored by the Chair of Judeo-Christian Studies.

The 7:30 p.m. lecture will be in the Myra Clare Rogers Memorial Chapel on the uptown campus. Guest speaker is professor Robert Schreiter, the Bernardin Center Vatican II Professor of Theology at CTU, who will speak on “The Philosophical and Theological Relevance of Professor Edward Schillebeeckx, O.P., for the 21st Century.”

It is the Kathleen and John F. Bricker Annual Memorial Lecture. The lecture series, which is open to the university community, free of charge, is held in collaboration with the Military and Hospitaller Order of St. Lazarus of Jerusalem.

See Campus in Virtual Tour

A new addition to the Tulane University website offers 360-degree virtual tours of favorite uptown campus locations.

The virtual tours offer unique outdoor views of the Newcomb Quad, Israel and Boggs buildings as well as the Gibson Quad, Gibson Circle, Goldring Tennis Center, Greer Field at Turchin Stadium and the Westfeldt Practice Facility.

The tours also offer 360-degree views inside the Reily Student Recreation Center, Lavin-Bernick Center, Learning Commons at Howard-Tilton Memorial Library, Wilson Center, Newcomb College Institute and the Trading Room of Goldring/Woldenberg II.

True View Images of New Orleans, and photographer Patrick Niddrie, produced the virtual tours. Viewers can pan around the images and zoom in on details. Thumbnails of various tour locations are at the bottom of the screen, but you also can click on the compass to pull up a map of campus and see where the photo locations are.

Tuesday, October 6, 2009
  

Gala Benefits Cancer Research  

The Saks Fifth Avenue New Orleans 2009 Key to the Cure charity shopping fundraiser, benefiting Louisiana cancer research programs, will begin with a kickoff gala on Oct. 14.  

The gala will be held from 6–9 p.m. at Saks New Orleans, 301 Canal St. The store will be closed to the public that evening as Key to the Cure guests enjoy beverages from Republic National Distributing Co., delectable bites from 31 of the area's best restaurants and caterers, as well as New Orleans-style entertainment by the Delfeayo Marsalis Uptown Jazz Orchestra, the John Boutte Band and guest pianist Jonathan Batiste.  

Saks will donate 2 percent of sales from the night of the gala through close of business on Sunday, Oct. 18, to the Louisiana Cancer Research Consortium, a cancer research partnership between Tulane, Louisiana State and Xavier universities. Over the years, this event has generated approximately $935,000 for cancer research in New Orleans.  

Tickets for the gala are $50 each and can be purchased now (with cash or check) by e-mailing Melanie Cross or calling 504-988-6592. Tickets also can be purchased at the gala.  

'Music for Matt' Returns  

To raise money for the Peace Corps and for a Tulane scholarship, the Second Annual Music for Matt Benefit Concert will take place on Saturday (Oct.10) at the Howlin' Wolf, 907 S. Peters St.  

Papa Grows Funk and the Revivalists will play for the benefit. Doors open at 9 p.m. and tickets are $10 in advance or $12 at the door.  

The concert is being held in honor of Matt Costa, a Tulane student who died while serving the Peace Corps in central Africa. Proceeds will benefit the Peace Corps Partnership Program Mali and the Costa Memorial Scholarship, which will benefit a Tulane student and a member of Sigma Phi Epsilon (Costa's fraternity) who excels in music, service, academics, adventure and wit.

Monday, October 5, 2009

Night for Comedy

In conjunction with the 2009 Reading Project, Ruperto Vanderpool will present an evening of comedy on Tuesday (Oct. 6) in Dixon Hall about growing up Dominican American.

The free event starts at 7 p.m. and is open to the public. It is sponsored by the Reading Project with additional support from Newcomb-Tulane College.

Vanderpool is a comedian best known for his pantomiming humor and his variety of facial expressions. He is a native of the Bronx in New York City, the son of Dominican parents. He currently is featured in a major motion picture, The Cookout, produced by Queen Latifah’s Flavor Unit Films and Lions Gate Films.

Vanderpool’s television appearances include “Urban Latino TV” on CBS, BET’s “Comic View,” Galavison’s “Que Locos!” and NBC’s “Law & Order Special Victims Unit.” He recently made his debut as a writer for the online animated series, “La Familia,” which can be seen on the new website icaramba.com.

This year’s Reading Project centered on Junot Díaz’s Pulitzer Prize-winning book, The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao.

Review Your Benefits

Tulane faculty and staff members have a once-a-year chance to review their benefit elections during the 2010 open enrollment period that begins today (Oct. 5).

Open enrollment continues through Oct. 23, when employees can make changes to their benefit elections, including identifying which family members are covered under the plans.  

To help employees better understand benefits, the Workforce Management Organization will be conducting benefit fairs on Oct. 13–15. Representatives from benefit vendors, along with staff from the Workforce Management Organization, will be available to discuss plan options and answer questions.  

The benefits fairs are on Tuesday, Oct. 13 (room 212, Lavin-Bernick Center, from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m.); Wednesday, Oct. 14 (Tulane National Primate Research Center Auditorium, from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m.); and Thursday, Oct. 15 (1440 Canal St., Diboll Gallery, from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m.).  

For more information contact the Workforce Management Organization at 504-865-5280.

Friday, October 2, 2009  

Benefit Concert on Saturday  

Two young musicians from the Guildhall School of Music and Dance in London will perform a benefit concert of chamber music in Dixon Hall on Saturday (Oct. 3).  

Proceeds from the concert, which starts at 8 p.m., will benefit the Greater New Orleans Youth Orchestra (GNOYO) and the Daughters of the British Empire service organization. Violinist Jenna Sherry and pianist Prach Boondiskulchok, award-winning musicians, will perform sonatas for violin and piano by Schubert, Walton and Ravel, plus music by Takemitsu and Gershwin.  

Sherry is a GNOYO alumna and multiple winner of the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra's Concerto Competition for young musicians. She is returning from master's studies at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London to lead the benefit concert. A native of New Orleans, Sherry is the daughter of Tulane professor Tom Sherry and his wife, Tracey.  

"The GNOYO was created to give this community's young musicians the opportunity to experience the joy of classical music and of performing in an orchestra. This is something I really believe in," Jenna Sherry said.  

Thai-born pianist Boondiskulchok also is pursuing a master's degree at the Guildhall School. Admission to the concert is $5 for students (with ID) and $20 for adults.

Women Hit the Weights

Women who want to join a small-group personal weight-training class at the Reily Student Recreation Center can consider "Women on Weights" that begins on Tuesday (Oct. 6).

The class, led by a female personal trainer, will help women learn to train on weights and develop a personalized exercise program. A free introductory session will be held at 6:30 p.m. on Monday (Oct. 5), open to Reily members and non-members. The class costs $200 for members and $300 for non-members, beginning on Tuesday and continuing through Nov. 24 on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.

U.S. Physical Activity Guidelines for adults recommend 150 minutes per week of aerobic activity at a moderate intensity level and muscle strengthening activities for all major muscle groups twice a week, says Sarah Grunblatt, assistant director of fitness and wellness. For more information on Reily programs, e-mail Grunblatt.

Celebrating Day of the Dead

The Pebbles Center, a collaboration between the Stone Center for Latin American Studies at Tulane and the New Orleans Public Library, will host a Day of the Dead celebration for children on Saturday (Oct. 3) at 2 p.m.

Festivities will include a reading of award-winning author Yuyi Morales' book Just in Case: A Trickster Tale and Spanish Alphabet Book and an arts-and-crafts session making sugar skulls. Day of the Dead is a holiday celebrated in Mexico and by Latin Americans to remember friends and family members who have died. Traditions include building private altars honoring the deceased, using sugar skulls, marigolds and the favorite foods of the departed, and visiting graves with these as gifts.

The Pebbles Center provides a diverse collection of books, music and movies in Spanish for families within the New Orleans community, who use the resources in order to support bilingual households. The Stone Center supplies these materials. Tulane graduate student Heidi Krajewski, who is in the master's program at the Stone Center, assists at the Pebbles Center.

The Pebbles Center is located within the Children's Resource Center in the New Orleans Public Library at 913 Napoleon Ave.  

Thursday, October 1, 2009

Gumby Shows Spirit

Judging will take place Wednesday (Oct. 7) on the uptown campus in the President’s Spirit Trophy Competition for Homecoming 2009.

The deadline has been extended until 3 p.m. Monday (Oct. 5) for this year’s spirit trophy contest, which has the theme “Gumby Goes Green.” Teams have been decorating 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 is a separate category for entries decorated in an environmentally friendly way.

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 best environmental entry. Those receiving honorable mention will receive a pizza party for their participation.

The decorated Gumby cutouts will be displayed in the James Lounge of the Lavin-Bernick Center during Homecoming week (Oct. 7–11).

Preparing for Careers

Women who are Tulane undergraduates or recent graduates can take part in the free Newcomb Career Boot Camp on Friday (Oct. 1) on the uptown campus.

The session, sponsored by the Newcomb Alumnae Association with additional support from the Newcomb College Institute, will feature a talk by Mauri Schwartz, a 1974 alumna who is president and CEO of Career Insiders.

Pre-registration is required by today by e-mailing nsp@tulane.edu, but priority will be given to senior female students.

Featuring classroom presentations, interactive role play and real-time demonstrations, the boot camp will cover topics such as writing a winning resume, developing a search strategy, learning how to “ace the interview” and dressing for success.

Sessions will be held from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. on Friday in Room 201 of the Lavin-Bernick Center. One-on-one sessions with Schwartz will continue on Saturday (Oct. 3) for participants who sign up for those sessions.

Schwartz is a leading figure in the San Francisco Bay-area career management community and has clients nationwide. She is an adjunct adviser at the University of California–Berkeley Haas School of Business Career Center.