ECOLOGY CHARTING A THE SKINNY IN ACTION NEW COURSE ON LONG Research meets A new day for Huey P. Long’s community activism New Orleans papers come in Ecuador. Public Schools. to Tulane. THE MAGAZINE OF TULANE UNIVERSITY TUlaneWINTER 2013 Tales From the Rain Forest CoverWINTER2013.FINAL.indd 2 2/21/13 10:00 AM PAULA BURCH-CELENTANO PAULA 0-1photospread.proofFINAL.indd 1 2/21/13 10:01 AM Sun-fACED On a cold morning, two pedestrians occupy different sides of Freret Street as they head toward the uptown campus. Beyond Ornamental On the cover: The long-wattled umbrella bird gathers the fruit of the chapil palm tree in the rain forests of Ecuador, a key act in the area’s ecology. Photo by Murray Cooper. TULANE MAGAZINE WINTER 2013 1 0-1photospread.proofFINAL.indd 1 2/21/13 10:01 AM PRESIDENT’S LETTER the public service graduation requirement, students must participate in one of the fol- Engaged Citizens lowing: a high-level service learning course, an academic service learning internship, a by Scott S. Cowen faculty-sponsored public service research project, a public service honors thesis project, a public service–based international study abroad program or a capstone experience with a public service component. These curricular service activities as well as extracurricular activities are managed by the Center for Public Service, which maintains partnerships with nearly 400 community- based organizations. And Tulane goes even further in its zeal to connect academics and action, classroom and communities. The Center for Engaged Learn- ing and Teaching (CELT) provides theoretical and applied resources, tools and direction to the university community to realize the goal of engaged learning, in which students expe- rience themselves not as passive recipients of information but as active participants both in the classroom and in the world. On the social innovation front, we have established a new interdisciplinary minor in social innovation and social entrepreneurship. MARK ANDRESEN MARK Courses are being developed that take the Perhaps you know the story: After the deliberations of the Constitu- LIGHTNING concept of community engagement and build- tional Convention ended in 1787, Benjamin Franklin was asked by IN A BOTTLE ing it deeply into the curriculum. A republic derives a group of citizens as to what kind of government he and his fellow its energy and vitality We also are promoting awareness of social delegates had created. Franklin is reported to have replied, without from the vigorous entrepreneurship issues by inviting to campus hesitation, “A republic, if you can keep it.” participation of some of the most remarkable social entrepre- its citizenry. In his wisdom, Franklin understood that a democracy was not a neurs working today. In February, through static thing, and that in order to thrive, a republic must have the ongo- the NewDay Social Entrepreneurship Distin- ing and vigorous participation of its citizenry. This is no less true now guished Speakers Series, Kristen Richmond, than it was 200 years ago. Last year, the National Task Force on Civic co-founder of Revolution Foods, spoke on Learning and Democratic Engagement sent out something of a call-to- campus about the effort to serve healthy food arms to the nation’s institutions of higher education. Noting that a “so- to students in lunchrooms, transforming the cially cohesive and economically vibrant U.S. democracy” requires an way kids eat. informed and engaged citizenry, the report urged the nation’s colleges Tapping into the desire of our students and universities to make civic learning and engagement an essential to make social change, quickly, we also offer part of students’ education. competition for NewDay Challenge awards. While many universities have strayed from this mission, at Tulane These awards of up to $20,000 in seed funding we have made a concerted effort to put community engagement and are available to Tulane students who are social social entrepreneurship on equal footing to education and research. innovators looking to turn their social impact Indeed, our commitment to civic engagement is part of what defines ideas into reality. Past NewDay Challenge win- and distinguishes us as a university community—and that commit- ners have included Sudz Soap, an enterprise to ment extends in many directions. sell soap in the U.S. and then use the proceeds First of all, as you are more than likely aware, all undergraduates must to send soap overseas to places such as Haiti fulfill a public service graduation requirement. To meet the two-part and India, where the short-supply of soap is requirement, students in their first two years must complete a service contributing to health problems. learning course. In doing all of the above, we strengthen the And then, as we expect them to deepen their understanding of educational experience of our students and public service, we present students with several avenues for commu- move us as an institution closer to the com- nity engagement in their junior or senior year. In the second part of munities in which we work and live. 2 WINTER 2013 TULANE MAGAZINE 2-3_presTOC.FINAL.indd 2 2/21/13 10:14 AM TUlane CONTENTS Salvaged Bloom A bouquet of recycled material, straight from the rain forest. 2 PRESIDENT’S LETTER Ben Franklin had it right 6 NEWS Northeast calamity • Taking aim at arthritis • Baseball figures • Who dat? Bud Brimberg • Code noir • Public health in Africa • Trombone U • Cultural GPS • Atala & Chactas • Marcello Canuto 13 SPORTS High hopes • 21-of-21 30 TULANIANS CHRIS KRAUL CHRIS David Goodman helps repair the world • Mary Lynn 14 Ecology in Action Hyde travels with Tulane • Shelby In the rain forests of Ecuador, locals are learning how to achieve lasting conservation Tucker • Olga of their precious natural resources. By Chris Kraul Merediz • Jean Morgan Meaux 31 WHERE Y'AT! 20 Charting a New Course Class notes 35 FAREWELL A sense of urgency and spirit of optimism fuel the post-Katrina reinvention of Tribute: James J. public schools in New Orleans. By Mary Ann Travis Corrigan 38 TULANE EMPOWERS Show Chwan Chair 26 The Skinny on Long • Ham’s trophies • Benenson Plaza • Tulane alum Jack McGuire has uncovered and donated to Tulane a trove of information Flower Hall about Louisiana’s most notable and perhaps least documented politician. By Ryan Rivet 40 NEW ORLEANS At the movies TULANE MAGAZINE WINTER 2013 3 2-3_presTOC.FINAL.indd 3 2/21/13 10:06 AM COFFEE, FRIENDS AND THE NEWSPAPER Carol Peebles sends in her homage to The Times-Picayune, “A Grand Tradition,” rendered in charcoal and paper. YEAH, YOU WRITE AT WHAT PRICE? MORE IPAD LOVE Denis, was making women’s was close friends with Hale In your Fall 2012 cover story Love the ipad app! Issues history. After graduating from Boggs and Lindy Claiborne. “Going, Going, Gone...Is Ink download and install quickly, Newcomb in 1899, she was By all reports he was smart, Fading?” I believe Ms. Del Toro and they look great! Makes it awarded an AM in 1902 (Tu- handsome and a popular sums up completely the problem much easier to catch up on my lane) and a PhD (cum laude) in young man-about-town. Sadly, today with print journalism. reading when I have a spare chemistry from the University I never knew him; he was Having been employed at a moment. Thanks! of Chicago, in 1907; possibly killed in an automobile daily newspaper for nine years, I Jodi Pollack Benaroch, NC ’90 the first Newcomb graduate to accident in North Carolina have seen more than half of my Atlanta obtain the PhD. in 1938 before I was born. newsroom coworkers laid off, Following a brilliant career Joan von Kurnatowski our pay and benefits reduced, FRIENDLY AND FOLKSY as a clinical biochemist with Hooper Feibelman, NC ’62 all while being asked to do more Many thanks for another Otto Folin at MGH in Boston, New Orleans (now vacant) jobs associated with meaningful issue of Tulane. I in 1925, she was appointed producing a newspaper, includ- especially wanted to express Chair of Biochemistry at Tu- 10 CENT DIXIE BEER NIGHT ing taking photos, videos and my thanks to Paula Burch- lane Medical School, the first It has been years since I have posting stories online. When you Celentano for her haunting woman to chair a department received your great publica- have to concentrate on taking a photograph of the lonely, at a major medical school. tion, “The Tulanian,” per- great picture, your ability to focus empty Times-Picayune box. It Unfortunately, her career was haps it is called the “Tulane on asking important questions says it all for me. I have framed abruptly terminated when Magazine” now? I look forward and getting notable, relevant it and hung it alongside two she died of breast cancer four to again receiving issues of Tu- quotes seriously declines. I feel earlier photographs from your years later. lane Magazine very much. … It news consumers are aware of this magazine, one of the interior Although I am sure that seems like yesterday that I was and are responding in kind, by of the St. Charles streetcar and many Newcomb graduates studying in the Howard-Tilton not consuming their news in a one of the Napoleon House qualify as famous, certainly Library; closing the library print form and instead seeking interior. They are part of my Denis should be included down at 11:45 p.m., and then other platforms. Digital is the way nostalgia shrine to wonderful among them. proceeded by closing “The of the future, but at what price? days in New Orleans and at William Baricos, G ’72 Boot” down (if that is possible I applaud Tulane Magazine for Tulane so many years ago! Boston in the first place) on 10 cent choosing to highlight these im- Hale Boggs was also part Dixie Beer night, while portant issues that affect not just of those memories.