Universities' Endowments Drop
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YOUR SOURCE FOR UNIVERSITY NEWS FEBRUARY 2, 2009 / Vol. 61, No. 18 FIRST PERSON PEOPLE EDITOR’S NOTE: ER now accepts ads 2 “I’m competitive by Tri-Delta’s Abi PEOPLE: Unsung Heroines announced 3 nature,” says Kevin Freeman is Dugas, bagpiper helping to promote DISCOVERY: Uncovering an icon 6 and lab manager. healthy self- FORUM: Asking the undergrads 7 Page 3 images for young women. Page 7 SPECIAL “NEWS YOU CAN USE” INSERT Inauguration Arts experiment with evolution film viewed as link, spark By LESLIE KING Can film build a bridge? Can it be a solid representation of the atmosphere of hope, excite- ment, the spirit of unity and community? That’s what a team from Emory’s Transforming Community Project has set out to discover in Project Inauguration 2009, a documen- tary about the inauguration of President Barack Obama. As team member Heather Williams, a copyright special- ist with Emory Libraries, put it: “I see the documentary as a way to encourage a continued dialogue about race relations at Emory, and in particular, how the inauguration of the first African American president may influence those relations.” Team members split duties, LORI TEAGUE with some traveling to the event Jessica Moore learns choreography from David Neumann for his new work “Big Eater (heart of glass)” as part of the to film and others staying put “Emory Evolving Arts: New Works Festival.” to help with logistics. By Sally CORBETT The Feb. 5–28 festival orga- were awarded in spring 2008 director. “We immersed actors, nized by the Emory College by the CCA. Funding from choreographers, writers and a Please see FILM on page 2 Timed to the bicentennial Center for Creativity & Arts Emory’s Creativity & Arts sculptor in the latest theories of Charles Darwin’s birth and (CCA) features new dance, Strategic Initiative, led by and debates on our origins the 150th anniversary of his theater and sculpture based University Vice President and and introduced them to E.O. “Origins of the Species,” the on themes from the October Secretary Rosemary Magee, Wilson, Frans de Waal and “Emory Evolving Arts: New 2008 Evolution Revolution supported the four commis- other great science minds of our time. I’m eager to experi- Works Festival” looks at evo- Symposium presented by the sions and two grants. ence the art they will gener- lution through the lens of the Emory Computational and “The evolution project and ate, and hope it sparks broad Leading arts, bringing a larger audi- Life Science Initiative. festival are a provocative first public conversation.” ence into a provocative dia- Evolving Arts commissions experiment for the Center for logue about our lives, our plan- for non-Emory artists and fac- Creativity & Arts,” says Leslie the force et and our future. ulty grants totaling $44,250 Taylor, the CCA’s executive Please see ARTS page 4 for good By Patti GHEZZI Universities’ endowments drop As an emergency medicine physician at Grady Memorial By NANCY SEIDEMAN Through June 30, Emory expects further declines. Hospital, Sheryl Heron witness- maintained its relative stand- In a Jan. 22 letter to the es the desperation of the city’s Higher education endow- ing among the select group of Emory community, President poorest residents every day. In Emory ments reported an average rate American universities with Jim Wagner noted the impact 2001, she enrolled in Leader- of return of -3.0 percent for billion-dollar endowments, of the lost investment revenue ship Atlanta, joining the city’s the fiscal year ending June 30, standing at $5,472,528. Emory on the institution. “What the business, arts, government and maintains 2008, according to a survey was ranked in 16th position world is experiencing is no nonprofit leaders in a yearlong released Jan. 27 by the National — one place behind Duke and passing storm; it is an eco- study of Atlanta’s past and pres- national Association of College and one place ahead of Cornell, a nomic climate change. Volatile ent. University Business Officers slight rise from fiscal 2007 markets illustrate the serious “Leadership Atlanta helped (NACUBO). In absolute terms, when Emory came in 17th. The structural nature of the chal- me see how everything fits to- standing, Emory’s endowment declined survey includes data from 796 lenges confronting us. But we gether, how everything is inter- by 1.6 percent for this time colleges and universities in the are experiencing more than twined,” says Heron, associate adjusts period. United States and Canada. just a market-driven reces- residency program director for The results of a follow-up Emory’s endowment expe- sion…” wrote Wagner. “…We emergency medicine and assis- survey of 435 institutions show rienced a negative return of must take account of these new tant dean in Emory School of to new that endowments’ investment approximately 20 percent economic realities and adjust Medicine, noting that she returns fell an additional 23 between July and December. accordingly in order to contin- learned about the criminal jus- percent from July to November This return does not include ue to pursue the leadership to tice system, education, develop- economic 2008, when virtually all invest- Dec. 31 valuations for private which we are called as a top-tier ment and transportation — all ment markets tumbled around m a rket s , wh ic h w i l l not b e ava i l- research university.” issues that impact her patients. realities the world and the Standard able before March. Once the & Poor’s 500 index fell 43.4 Dec. 31 valuations for private percent. markets are in, the University Please see ENDOWMENT page 4 Please see LEADERSHIP on page 4 EMORY REPORT FEBRUARY 2, 2009 2 People A NOTE TO OUR READERS EMORY PROFILE Kevin Dugas Emory Report now accepting advertisements Bagpipes are wind in his sails Emory Report is pleased to announce the launch this semester of our advertising program. Music infuses lab manager’s life Whether you’re with a campus organization or an Two years later, Dugas, Commencement, which gives area business, advertising who earned a bachelor’s with Dugas a chance to expose his in Emory’s official news honors from St. Francis Xavier Emory peers to his music. publication is a powerful way University, arrived at Emory to He got another chance last to reach thousands of faculty manage the lab led by Patricia fall, when Dugas competed and staff, as well as alumni, Bauer, senior associate dean of at the first-ever Emory Arts emeriti and students. research. Competition. He was excited to Advertising account The Bauer Memory be chosen as one of 10 finalists executives from our sales Development Lab at — and the only piper — from partner, the Emory Wheel, Emory researches memory 150 applicants. will help you select a size development in typically Dugas is also teaching and frequency that achieves developing children and private lessons for the first your goals. Special on- adults. Families from the time in his career. “There campus rates are offered community bring their kids, are not a lot of instructors in to Emory groups, units and infants through age 11, into Atlanta,” he says. “I’m happy departments. the office, which has a homey to provide my experience.” We believe that atmosphere. Children are A student as well as a advertisements will add tested in ways that make it teacher, Dugas still studies value for you, our readers, seem like a fun game. under an instructor in Halifax. as you work, learn, live, “We stay very busy with Now in his seventh season shop and dine in the Emory parents bringing in their community. Accepting with the professional band, children,” says Dugas, who he returns to Canada one advertising is also an was looking to gain valuable opportunity for Emory Report weekend a month for intensive research experience while rehearsals. to generate revenue in making sure he is on the right He has discovered at least these challenging economic career path. one benefit to playing in the times, to support our When Dugas sought out South. The Atlanta Pipe Band communications operations local pipers, he found the large, enjoys a longer competitive to better serve you. energetic and accomplished season because of the warmer Call 404-727-6178 to Atlanta Pipe Band, which was climate. In Canada, his season speak with an advertising formed in 1970 and includes a runs from June to August. In representative today. Bryan MeltZ few Emory alumni. We look forward to Kevin Dugas, pictured here at the Emory Arts Atlanta, he competes from Competition, manages the Bauer Memory Development Lab. “Our community is unique serving you. in you’re accepted anywhere in March to October. “You can’t the world,” he says. “Anywhere have outdoor competitions in Sincerely, By Patti GHEZZI Dugas grew up in a rural cold weather,” he says. community rich in musical you go, you can meet up with pipers and drummers who Dugas’ days of playing on Kim Urquhart, editor Some days when the tradition, surrounded by share that common passion.” the balcony are numbered. In weather is mild, teachers and the fiddle, the piano, square Advertising information He’s now with the 50-plus- the spring, the lab will move to students at the Glenn School dancing and Gaelic speaking. available at www.emory. member band, which has the new psychology building. His mother is an accomplished edu/EMORY_REPORT. crane their necks to figure out competed around the South. Soon after, Dugas will leave where the beautiful music is step dancer. Dugas took to the As a solo performer, Dugas Emory for graduate school, coming from. instrument his great-uncles competes in the professional probably at a university in They’re listening to Kevin played and now competes grade.