HOME HOLLYWOOD FREE REIN SWEET HOME CONNECTION ON THE Yulman Stadium Students learn the INTERNET opens with fanfare ins and outs of Erik Martin THE MAGAZINE OF TULANE UNIVERSITY on uptown campus Tinseltown runs Reddit TUlaneSEPTEMBER 2014 You’ll love Yulman JACKSON HILL GLORIOUS GRIDIRON Yulman Stadium opens on Sept. 6, 2014, with a sell-out crowd of 30,000. The day was hot and spirits high in the football stadium, where every seat is good. The Green Wave lost to Georgia Tech, 38-21, but that didn't dampen the enthusiasm of Tulane fans, happy to be uptown and at home on campus. Fan Zone On the cover: Students cheer on the Green Wave during the first game in the new stadium. Photo by Paula Burch-Celentano TULANE MAGAZINE SEPTEMBER 2014 1 PRESIDENT’S LETTER decidedly a more thoughtful person for know- ing, arguing and connecting with this sweeping range of personalities. So pay attention to the people you meet over these next few weeks—they are individu- als who may make a profound and lasting dif- ference in your life, and potentially the world. Tulane attracts more students from more than 300 miles away than any other institution. That speaks volumes about the range of ideas, philosophies, and yes, even dialects you’ll find in this community. Outside Tulane’s campus is a city that is tes- tament to what is possible when people of dif- ferent backgrounds come together. It’s a place built upon European, African, South American and Asian influences that symbolize the Amer- ican melting pot—and what it can create. Tulane asks that you immerse yourself in the city. We are the only university in the coun- MARK ANDRESEN MARK try that requires its undergraduates to pursue public service. It is why Tulane is at the cen- True Grit ter of the renaissance of New Orleans—we are building houses, writing business plans, tutor- ing in the school system. by Mike Fitts We have a world-class faculty. Engage The following is an excerpt from President Mike Fitt’s convocation WE ARE ALL FRESHMEN them. Indeed, take a few classes and pursue address to new students on Aug. 23, 2014. New Tulane President fields that you might find scary. Mike Fitts welcomes In high school I was a wrestler. Wrestlers new students, saying You are now a member of an incomparable family—the Tulane they are all in the same spend months training. But the difference family. It is an intellectually daring and innovative family that will boat—new to Tulane. between good wrestlers and great wrestlers challenge you to justify your ideas and beliefs. It’s a supportive and happens in the last two minutes of the match. resilient family that celebrates its matchless traditions, all while It’s the point when your muscles have grown building a better world. You are now a Tulanian for life. weary, and the other wrestler—uncannily—is I have a special insight into how you must be feeling right now starting to look a whole lot bigger. The great because we’re in the same boat. I am also a freshman at Tulane—a wrestlers summon every ounce of strength in freshman president. this last, difficult moment. Like you, I am unbelievably excited and inspired by this venerable That quality is a thing called grit. Social institution—and inspired by all the opportunities that await us here. scientists tell us that the greatest determinant Like you, I packed my bags this summer and relocated from the of success, in school and life, isn’t necessarily place of my birth, a city where I spent almost all my adult life, to come to your intelligence or creativity—it is your grit: this university. your ability to persevere against the obstacles I made this decision for a simple reason. Tulane is magical. that will come your way in life. So, put yourself It is a place that will profoundly transform who you are today and in situations that will require you to summon how you live the rest of your life. It impels you to engage like no other your strength. institution in the United States: intellectually, socially, professionally— It goes without saying that Tulane and even gastronomically. New Orleans have grit—like no other commu- My father and his family grew up on a farm in rural Tennessee. My nity. We rose out of the devastation of Katrina mother, a Quaker—one of the first women of her generation to earn a and rebuilt ourselves into social and innova- college degree—was raised in a secluded suburb a few miles away from tive role models for the country. Tenacity is the predominantly African American neighborhood in Philadelphia in the DNA of this institution and this city. where I grew up. My wife is from a New York neighborhood inhabited It’s a powerful example from which we all by Eastern European immigrants. Our family spans the breadth of re- can learn. As much as anything, it is why I ligions—Jewish, Catholic, Presbyterian, Quaker, and last but not least, decided to come to Tulane. agnostic. And our politics range from the left to the right. You made the right move. We made the Sounds like a recipe for disaster, right? But you know what, I am right move. 2 SEPTEMBER 2014 TULANE MAGAZINE TUlane CONTENTS Home Again In Yulman Stadium, craftsmen mount a restored 1,500-pound cast stone medallion that had adorned the old Tulane Stadium. 2 PRESIDENT’S LETTER New kids on the block 6 NEWS Joining the American Athletic Conference • No smoking • Primate Research Center 50th year • Who dat? Emily Clark • Pursuit of Ebola vaccine • Breast cancer treatment • Tourism, a means to recovery • L Creole tales • Greenie by John Churchill Chase • Barbara Burke 13 SPORTS PAULA BURCH-CELENTANO PAULA Lionel Washingon in Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame • David 14 Home Sweet Home Pierce, new head Roll on, Green Wave! It’s game day in the new Yulman Stadium and Green Wave football is baseball coach back playing on the uptown campus, where it belongs. By Angus Lind (A&S ’66) 30 TULANIANS Wesley Hedden • Homecoming coming up in November • 22 The Hollywood Connection Wendy Aronsson • Students learn the ropes of the movie business, calling on a Tulane network of alumni Gerry Keefe and friends in high places in the film industry. By Mary Sparacello 31 WHERE Y'AT! Class notes 35 FAREWELL 28 Free Rein on the Internet Tribute: Doc Laborde Erik Martin (TC ’99) is general manager of Reddit, a most influential online message 38 WAVEMAKERS board with 5.5 billion page views a month. By Michael Luke (TC ’04) Aaron Selber • Stacy Mandel Palagye and Keith Palagye • Jeffrey Altman 40 NEW ORLEANS Keep on truckin’ TULANE MAGAZINE SEPTEMBER 2014 3 CONNECTIONS “We love the Tulane magazine! Helps us stay connected!” write Tara Lindabury Thronson (E ’00) and Eric Thronson (TC ’00) of Sacramento, California. YEAH, YOU WRITE LET THE GOOD TIMES ROLL published etc. in reference to the The June issue of Tulane “new” School of Science and En- brought to mind my admira- gineering. Then, there was your tion for Dr. John, one of the statement that (paraphrasing) issue’s five featured “cool” New “Newcomb College lives on in Orleanians. When our son Fred the Newcomb College Institute.” (Tulane, 2016) was a self-taught … The facts remain: Tulane’s movie buff in high school, he School [sic] of Civil Engineering suggested I watch Scorsese’s (to give one example) is gone and The Last Waltz, about The at a time when there was/is un- Band’s last concert. In the film, precedented rebuilding in south- Dr. John performs “Right Place, east Louisiana following Katrina. Wrong Time.” Though I had Likewise, however it might be heard the song before, this time cloaked in high-sounding titles, I was hooked by the music and Newcomb College is gone, too. by Dr. John. After Fred became I join Peggy Jo and Don in say- a Tulanian, I became even more ing these were major mistakes interested in New Orleans histo- of the Cowen years. Of course, ry, culture and music. I listened BURCH-CELENTANO PAULA the future will be the final judge, to a lot of Dr. John’s music and Dr. John performs at Commencement 2013. as always. thoroughly enjoyed attending But none of this, in my judg- his performances with the Lower was reminded that another latter category is the work of ment, makes President Cowen’s 9-11 Band. I live-streamed the Tulane alum also held a high Underground Gourmet founder time at Tulane a failure. The 2013 Tulane graduation as Dr. office in Costa Rica. Dr. Rodrigo Richard Collin. No one will ever rebuild of Tulane that he faced John, Allen Toussaint, the Dalai Altmann was in my class at describe the taste bud offerings after Katrina would have broken Lama and Natasha Trethewey Tulane, graduating from A&S in of the city’s various establish- a lesser man. I’m glad he has were awarded honorary 1952, and Medicine in 1955. He ments better than he has. I trust decided to make New Orleans, doctorates. was elected and served as the you will continue keeping this which he clearly loves, his home On reflection, I realized that vice president of Costa Rica in most worthy column a part of for at least part of the year and in addition to the marvelous the 1970s. I have not seen him future Tulane magazines. I wish him nothing but good music, I was particularly im- since graduation, but in 2004 I often find myself flipping to things in his retirement.