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"The Slow Track is the Right Track"

July 5, 2003

David Leiva
Phone: (504) 865-5714

inside@tulane.edu

David Halberstam addressing the graduates and guests> In the very back of the noisy and crowded faculty robing room David Halberstam sat on a worn brown couch reading over his speech. Above him hung a large photo of former New Orleans Saints linebacker Pat Swilling. But a last-minute read proved difficult for Halberstam as faculty members stopped by, lauding him for his scores of published books. He politely stood up and chatted, before returning to his prepared oration. If the interruptions bothered him, he didn't show it. On the Superdome floor where the hard-charging Swilling is fondly re-membered, Halberstam later managed to deliver his own hit: a memorable commencement address peppered with colorful, often funny anecdotes about hope and determination. There's a simple way to achieve happiness in the glimpse of existence called life, he said. Find what makes you happy. David Leiva is a former member of the Office of Publications. Upon graduating from University College last month, he took a full-time assignment with the Associated Press.

Tulane University, New Orleans, LA 70118 504-865-5000 website@tulane.edu