You Know It When You See It
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PRAISE AND WHAT COOL IS HEAVY HITTER MIKE FITTS THANKS The substance James Andrews, FINDS HIS Commencement and style of super doctor for PLACE 2014. American cool. athletes. President-elect THE MAGAZINE OF TULANE UNIVERSITY is ready to lead. TUlaneJUNE 2014 COOLYou know it when you see it. PAULA BURCH-CELENTANO hip-hop ALMA MATER Green Envy, an a cappella group of Tulane students, sings the alma mater, includ- ing a rap rendition of one stanza, at Tulane University Commence- ment in the Mercedes- Benz Superdome on May 17, 2014. The group also sang the iconic tune, “The House of the Rising Sun,” with lyrics rewrit- ten in tribute to retiring Tulane President Scott Cowen. Among the lines in the recast version of the song: “There is a school in New Orleans/ Some say the perfect one. It’s been the home to this Jersey boy/And now they say he’s done.” TULANE MAGAZINE JUNE 2014 1 PRESIDENT’S LETTER to the exclusive and intense study of a par- ticular field that they have a lot more to learn seems like a cruel joke. But the truth is that any career worth pursuing, any endeavor worth undertaking, any dream worth dreaming and any life worth living is defined by the continu- al, lifelong pursuit of learning and knowledge. Second: Make a difference People often hope to get involved with some- thing bigger than themselves to find purpose in life. But often the “something bigger” they are seeking turns out to be something or someone smaller than themselves—a child who has never been loved, an adult who has never learned to read, an elderly person who does not have a home, an ill person who needs to be healed. As I often stated to Tulanians through the years—no one will ever remember you for what you did for yourself, they will only re- member you for what you did for others. Third: Find your passion This may come as a surprise to you, but I never wanted to be a university president. Yet, becoming one turned out to be the most re- warding and meaningful opportunity of my life. My first dream was to be a professional football player. An illness in college and an un- MARK ANDRESEN MARK believable lack of talent took care of that. Then I thought I would go to law school but instead I enlisted in the Army. After my time in the Saying Goodbye service, I thought I would be a management consultant so I got an MBA degree. While in by Scott S. Cowen business school a faculty mentor thought I had the potential to be an academic and con- The following is an excerpt from President Scott Cowen’s commencement A NEW PHASE OF LIFE vinced me to get my doctorate—and, though address to graduates on May 17, 2014. The president and I never aspired to be a professor, an academic the graduates of All of you are saying goodbye to a chapter of your life, bidding farewell 2014 prepare for dean, let alone a president, yet here I am 40 to a time and a place and also to an experience that has shaped, chal- the next chapter. years later having done all of these things. lenged and changed you. You are saying goodbye to one life and hello You have probably been told not to be to another. afraid to experiment, to try, to risk, to fail I suspect you have a lot of mixed feelings now ranging from relief to and to repeat the whole process over again. joy to anxiety about the future. Trust me, I know how you feel because In fact, be afraid not to do that. And once you this is my 16th and last commencement as President of Tulane, and I have arrived at a destination, be prepared am experiencing all the same things as you are. to re-evaluate where you are and where you The good news is that after your time at Tulane you have a degree from want to be and be ready to start all over again one of the country’s most distinguished universities plus your youthful until you find that burning passion that gives energy and many years to figure out what and who you want to be. meaning to your life. I, on the other hand, have 16 years of memories and adventures to And always, no matter where you are, carry me forward and just enough time left to enjoy an encore career re- remember you have a family here at Tulane, turning to my first love—the classroom populated with extraordinarily who cares about you very much. I have no talented and civic-minded students just like all of you. doubt that you will find your way. You will No matter where you are headed next, I suggest your journey be live your dream. You will become who you defined by three commitments: were meant to be and end up where you are First: Lifelong learning. needed the most. And the world will never be Telling people who have just dedicated four or more years of their lives the same, because of you. 2 JUNE 2014 TULANE MAGAZINE TUlane CONTENTS The King Elvis Presley performs for adoring fans at the Tupelo, Mississippi, Fair in 1956. (See “What Cool Is” on page 16.) 2 PRESIDENT’S LETTER So long, see you around 6 NEWS Y. R Middle campus transformation • Water AIT GALLE AIT Prize • Freeman School R T R centennial • Who dat? Elyse Luray • New president of Costa OF NATIONAL PO NATIONAL OF Rica • Football play TESY R safe with precautions • Bourbon Street • , 1956. COU 1956. , AmeriCorps Fellows • Funeral Procession SHUTZ R by Ellis Wilson • T MA T R Laura Levy ROBE 13 SPORTS Tennis star • Future in pro 14 Praise and Thanks football Festive music sets the tone—this is New Orleans, after all—for graduates and their friends and family at Commencement 2014—Scott Cowen’s 16th and final graduation ceremony 30 TULANIANS as president of Tulane University. By Mary Ann Travis Noah Barth • Rocking chair for Scott Cowen • Reynold T. Décou • Susan Murphy • 16 What Cool Is Jeff Rosenheim The concept of cool—you know it when you see it, but it’s tricky to define. By Michael Luke (TC ’04) 31 WHERE Y'AT! Class notes 35 FAREWELL 22 Heavy Hitter Tribute: Thomas Dr. James Andrews has successfully treated the most famous athletes in the world and Langston sent them back to the playing fields. By Kirby Messinger 38 WAVEMAKERS Drs. Waring • Jerry & Barbara Greenbaum 26 Mike Fitts Finds His Place • Glazers, Bergers, Corasanitis The next president of Tulane is thrilled to take on the challenge of leading the university that he’s admired for so long. By Mary Ann Travis 40 NEW ORLEANS Dining guides TULANE MAGAZINE JUNE 2014 3 WITH A LITTLE HELP FROM MY FRIENDS Thomas Kelly (M ’78) recalls the 1964 Beatles concert in New Orleans (although he was only 12 years old at the time and did not attend). He also has a 45 rpm Beatles record that Bruce Spizer (“He Loves Them, Yeah, Yeah, Yeah,” December 2013) might wish to add to his collection. YEAH, YOU WRITE INTEGRATION OF TULANE Your article [Who Dat? “Doctor them before they were teenagers. and history disappear under I am writing this because your at Bat,” March 2014] does not do So that’s where it came from. his “leadership.” article about the integration of this great guy credit. First, he Peter Pizzo Jr., A&S ’51 So, how about a little balance Tulane [“The Desegregation of a married Sara French (NC ’51), New Orleans in the story regarding President University,” September 2013] re- the Tulane homecoming queen Cowen’s legacy by telling the minded me of an incident in the in 1950. NEWCOMB COLLEGE entire story and how it impacted UC at Tulane and the handling His four World Series games I was extraordinarily dis- those who saw their legacy and of it by Col. [Robert] Scruton in 1947, ’49, ’50 and ’51 set a world appointed in your article history disappear? [campus security chief]. … record batting average: .439—18 on President Scott Cowen Don Michael, E ’68 I am not sure of the year but hits with 41 at bats. Won all four (“Something Extraordinary”) Madison, Mississippi it was either 1967 or 1968 and World Series: Dodgers ’47 and [March 2014]. You mention his I was sitting in the cafeteria ’49, Philadelphia ’50 and Giants eliminating Newcomb College Editor’s Note: It should be noted of the UC eating lunch. At ’51. He had four World Series as a minor footnote. Many of that the legacies of the School of Engi- that time there were a group rings by age 27! us alums consider it more a neering and Newcomb College live on of booths in the center of the His roommate on the road: major mistake—one that will at Tulane in real and vibrant ways. cafeteria. Sitting in one of Yogi Berra. He and Yogi are the forever tarnish his legacy. In the 2005 post-Katrina the booths were two African- only two still living from the Peggy Jo Abraham, NC ’72 reorganization of Tulane, the School American couples chatting and 1951 [Yankees] team. Santa Monica, California of Science and Engineering was having some coffee. Bobby asked Max Lapham established, integrating engineering All of a sudden a group (our medical school dean) if he ENGINEERING and science in one academic unit, of about twenty young men could take time off to play base- I am a 1968 graduate of Tulane while the School of Liberal Arts also come in and totally surround ball during his years at Tulane University’s School of Engineer- was established at that time.