Pilgrimage Journeys of the Body, Mind, and Spirit
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SUMMER 2009 Pilgrimage Journeys of the body, mind, and spirit Native Lands | Lessons at Sea | Long Live the King prelude Going to Graceland In the movie The Bucket List, Jack As for our twelve-year- Nicholson and Morgan Freeman star olds, they were just happy to as unlikely companions who set out to be out of school and on the complete a list of essential experiences road, eating junk and watch- before they die—see the Pyramids, go ing DVDs in the back seat. skydiving, drive a Shelby Mustang. On the way to Memphis, we I have no idea what a Shelby Mustang made them play the classic is, honestly, or what’s so special about Blue Hawaii, and they gamely it, but I suspect that most of us have our gave it about forty-five min- own list of things we’d like to do—or utes before getting bored and perhaps more correctly, to be able to say switching to Jurassic Park. we did. Some are undoubtedly unique (Which may be why, when we to individuals, but others, like seeing the discovered that you can actu- Pyramids, are near-archetypal experi- ally buy one of Elvis’s hairs, ences—the things that people travel for my son said, “Oh my god. days, walk for miles, line up by thou- DNA. We could clone Elvis!”) sands, and wait for hours to do. Then We took the VIP tour of they talk about them for years. Graceland, soaking up the While planning this issue of Emory 1960s décor, the fabled Jungle Magazine, Associate Editor Mary Loftus Room, the paneled walls lined and I decided we couldn’t properly with cases of music awards and elabo- to share a common event with others get into the spirit of the thing without rate stage costumes worn by the King. across space and time; to create an expe- taking a pilgrimage of our own. So we We saw the stables where Elvis rode his rience that won’t fade into oblivion, but decided to cross an experience off our beloved horses and the plush basement will take on new meaning in memory, lists and visit one of the ultimate sites den where he played pool. We filed by his relished and retold. of the South—Graceland. Luckily, we gravesite, where even on a hot weekday In his message for this issue, had an excuse in the form of a book on afternoon there were so many people President James Wagner likens college Elvis Presley fashion created by alum- I had to elbow them out of the way, students to “pilgrims of the mind” and nus Michael Feder 91MBA, and we also gently, to take a decent picture. Then we universities to sites of profound transfor- planned a detour to Oxford, Mississippi, shared a fried peanut butter and banana mation. I have no doubt that any one of tracing the route that Sally Wolff-King sandwich—Elvis’s favorite. Emory’s 3,810 new graduates would have 79G 83PhD travels with her students each Later that evening, we walked Beale agreed with his reverent description as year to William Faulkner country. We Street, taking in the ambiance and they reflected on their university experi- didn’t need much more encouragement attempting to interview passersby for ence during Commencement this spring. to pile into the car—no Shelby Mustang, our video. B. B. King was playing in a So, too, would those hundreds of alumni but my slower, safer Honda CRV—with blues bar and the place was hopping. We who journeyed to campus to take part in our two middle school kids (Elvis who?) caught snatches of music through a few the ritual once again. for an old-fashioned road trip. open windows (kids can really cramp Life isn’t a series of landmarks that Both my parents were born in Mis- your style) and ate burgers at Huey’s. you can check off a list. But there’s some- sissippi and grew up in the era of Elvis, This magazine is filled with accounts thing to be said for making moments so I was especially interested in gaining a of much weightier journeys than ours: an that become stories—the stories that deeper understanding of those influ- ambitious sailing trip, an annual literary connect us with others through shared ences. Mary, in addition to indulging her quest, an exploration of Native American human experience. Now, for example, natural curiosity about Graceland, was reservations in Montana, a midlife flight I can say I’ve been to Graceland and determined to capture the trip on cam- set to the strains of Joni Mitchell. But eaten a fried peanut butter and banana era with the aim of posting a short video what these travels have in common is a sandwich. And you know, we all agreed, on the Emory Magazine website. desire to find not just place, but purpose; it was strangely delicious.—P.P.P. PARVINPAIGE P. VOL. 85, NUMBER 2 SUMMER 2009 FEATURES 20 Catching the Breeze Navigating a fifty-one-foot sailboat in the British Virgin Islands was the final challenge for graduates of the Goizueta Advanced Leadership Academy. BY CHRISTOPHER WANG 03BBA 09MBA 24 Faulkner Found Each autumn, a group of Southern literature students and their professor set out for Oxford, 16 Mississippi, to seek the spirit of William Faulkner. BY SALLY WOLff-KING 79G 83PHD DEPARTMENTS 28 Long Live the King Elvis remains an icon, judging by the crowds that 3 Letters N gather at Graceland—and the success of a new to 4 Of Note IN H book by Michael Feder 91MBA. Winship Named NCI Cancer Center : KAY BY MARY J. LOFTUS S VI Braxton Resigns L ; E L IA Flu Fighters C 30 Circle of Darkness, Circle of Life PE S A journey to Northern Cheyenne and Crow Documenting Sustainability EINER/ Inspiring Scientists ch reservations in southeastern Montana is filled with S M I Legitimate Children J unexpected lessons for those who learn to listen. ING: Dueling Dooleys L BY GARY S. HAUK 91PHD AI S I, Robot Z; lt E M 34 Joni & Me RYAN RYAN 36 Campaign Emory Update B How Joni Mitchell’s hejira inspired a kindred soul to : T For many who give, philanthropy is an act of love. EN become a “hitcher on the free, free way”—at least M E C EN for a little while. 39 The Emory Register comm BY SUSAN CARINI 04G From the EAA Emory Commencement Weekend Alumni Ink: From Russia with Love 20 A Man of Two Worlds ONLINE ONLY VIDEO Fun With Elvis What’s your favorite outfit? SLIDESHOW Kicking Cancer Pilates instructor Jessica Lucas makes “survivor” an understatement. PAIGE P. PARVINPAIGE P. www.emory.edu/magazine letters The recent issue of Emory Maga- Editor Associate Editor zine is exceptionally well done. I have SPRING 2009 Paige P. Parvin 96G Mary J. Loftus received the magazine for many years, [email protected] [email protected] but questioned the lack of diversity in Living t he Art Director Lead Photographer coverage, especially given the demo- Erica Endicott Kay Hinton D r e a m graphics of the metro area. Emory is The voices of civil righT s speak on—aT T he pulpiT, Production Manager Copy Editor an outstanding institution; however, in on paper, and in pracT ice Stuart Turner Jane Howell my opinion, it hasn’t positioned itself Contributors Photographers as having significant connections in Susan Carini 04G Ann Borden Beverly Clark Bryan Meltz certain ethnic communities. Emory’s Nina Dutton 11C value to the Atlanta community, in New Centers for Civil Rights Gary Hauk 91PhD particular, is immeasurable; we simply The True Story of the Breanna McDaniel 09OX 11C Atlanta Times need to enhance its image within those Campaign Emory: Eric Rangus Financial Aid Alice Walker communities. Christopher Wang 03BBA 09MBA Linda Torrence Franchesca Winters 10C Atlanta publisher, Girl Friends Health who was my city editor on the Atlanta Sally Wolff-King 79G 83PhD Guide for Women of Color Constitution where I was a reporter in On the cover: Festival of Lights, ©2000 by John August Swanson. Tucker the early fifties after graduating from Serigraph, 30 ¾ x 24 inches. www.johnaugustswanson.com. Emory. Luke Greene was a soft-spoken, Full-color posters and cards of Swanson’s work are available from the I have read with much satisfaction highly respected newspaperman, who National Association for Hispanic Elderly, 234 East Colorado Blvd., almost every word in the latest issue skillfully, along with the late Lee Rogers Suite 300, Pasadena, CA, 91101; 626.564.1988. See story on page 9. of Emory Magazine. It is gratifying to and other associates, guided the news read of all that is happening at Emory coverage and editing of that paper Emory Magazine Editorial Advisory Board to further improve race relations in our whose editor was the famed Ralph society. In the 1930s, Emory contrib- McGill. Luke treated young report- John Dunn Karen Martucci Editor Emeritus, Georgia Tech Director, Academic Services, uted much to my commitment to ers like me with the same respect he Magazine Oxford College seeking improved black-white relation- accorded a group of more experienced Crystal Edmonson 95C Jeff Molter ships. The account of the desegregation “older hands,” including some of the Atlanta Business Chronicle Associate Vice President, Health of Emory and the roles in this played by South’s best newspaperwomen, Celes- Samantha Ehrlich 10C Sciences Communications Fink, Bowden, and Martin is of special tine Sibley being one. He and Lee Rog- Copresident, Student Alumni Santa Ono interest to me.