4 STEIN SPEAKS ON CARTER BOOK 6 AHMED, ROBINSON HONORED FOR VACCINE RESEARCH 7 DE WaaL SIDES WITH DARWIN EApril 16, 2007m / volume 59, numbero 27 ry Reportwww.emory.edu/EMORY_REPORT CAMPUSNEWS CAMPUSNEWS ‘State of Race’ AIDS quilt panels honor African Americans forum takes on ‘N’ word, Imus flap BY CAROL CLARK “ ike. Gook. Wop. Spic. Wetback. Honkie. Nigger. And the list goes K on.” The audience in Woodruff P.E. Center Arena shifted uncomfortably in their seats as Harvard law professor Randall Kennedy got right to the point of the College Council’s seventh annual “State of Race” forum. The topic of this year’s discussion: “Racial Slurs in Modern America.” “The American language is littered with racial slurs,” said Kennedy, author of the bestseller “Nigger: The Strange Career of a Troublesome Word.” “These words have often been used to humiliate. They’ve often been used to terrorize. They’ve often been used to subjugate their targets. These words have provided the soundtrack for racially Ann Borden motivated violence — and they still do. Right now. And, actually, it’s happening Participants at a workshop led by celebrated Atlanta textile artist Marquetta Bell-Johnson sewed pan- daily.” els for the AIDS Memorial Quilt to honor African Americans who have been affected by HIV/AIDS. The Indeed, as the national uproar over Dean of the Chapel and Religious Life at Emory, in partnership with the NAMES Project Foundation, the cable talk show host Don Imus’ slur caretaker of the quilt, sponsored the “Call My Name” workshop April 9 in Cannon Chapel. The workshop against the Rutgers University women’s was designed to add a stronger African American presence of names on the quilt in an effort to educate basketball team was reaching its apex, African Americans about HIV/AIDS. Emory’s College Council was engaging students, faculty and the community in a discussion of what is — and what isn’t — appropriate when it comes to controver- EMORYMARKETING sial language. The Rev. Al Sharpton, who had been scheduled to join the “State of Race” Newman appointed chief marketing panel, became a central figure in the protests over Imus’ remark and canceled his Emory visit at the last minute. But officer to coordinate brand, advertising several hundred people turned out on “It is increasingly obvious that Prior to joining Emory, Newman the drizzly evening to join the discus- Emory is perceived by the general served as vice president for planning sion. In addition to Kennedy, the panel- public as one entity with one brand and marketing for the Southern ists included Earl Lewis, Emory provost name that needs careful cultivation,” Regional Health System in Atlanta. and executive vice president for academ- said President Jim Wagner. “Una Before that, she was a regional ic affairs, and Isabel Wilkerson, the James Newman is ideally suited by her marketing director for Charter Medical M. Cox Professor of Journalism and the experience and knowledge of Emory to Corp. with responsibilities for hospital first black woman to win a Pulitzer Prize pull together our marketing strategies marketing results throughout the in journalism. Susan Tamasi, a lecturer in in Atlanta, in Georgia and in the nation United States. She is active in the linguistics at Emory, who specializes in at large so that we may achieve maxi- community and serves as president of American English dialects, served as Special mum efficiencies and impact from all the board of directors of the Atlanta moderator. Una Newman institutional dollars for marketing – American Heart Association. The far-ranging discussion centered regardless of their source.” “I look forward to communicating mainly on the word “nigger” and its BY RON SAUDER Newman’s charge in particular will the impressive offerings of Emory, notorious history. Kennedy noted that focus on controlling and managing all both as a university and an academic African Americans have performed a sort advertising dollars for Emory Univer- health center, to our varied publics at of “verbal jujitsu” and today sometimes mory University and Emory sity and Emory Healthcare, the largest large,” said Newman. “It is with great use the word to make a political state- Healthcare have announced and most comprehensive health care pride that I step into this new role in ment or as a sign of camaraderie. Eplans to coordinate their system in Georgia, to achieve maxi- an institution that continues to mean “No word, no matter how hateful, marketing operations across the mum efficiency and impact by coordi- so much to me, both personally and has to be our master,” he said. “We have Emory enterprise under the leadership nating messages and placements. professionally.” of marketing executive Una Hutton the ability, as the inheritors of language, Major areas of focus for the Emory Newman is a four-year member of Newman. to make it do our bidding.” Kennedy University marketing program will be the Emory Parent Council. Two of her Newman will be the first-ever promoting the objectives of undergrad- children have graduated from Emory cited comedian Richard Pryor’s classic chief marketing officer for all of uate admissions and financial aid; College and one is currently enrolled. album “That Nigger’s Crazy” as an Emory, with the charge of coordinat- providing counsel to the comprehensive Danielle (Class of 2004) is a member example. ing brand management and advertis- campaign; and promoting the Universi- of the alumni board serving as event Lewis countered that today’s casual ing for both the University and its ty’s strategic initiatives, reinforcing coordinator in New York City and use of the word by some African Ameri- clinical arm. In addition to her awareness of Emory University as a Carly (Class of 2006) is president of cans was frequently not for political existing marketing staff which she will national and international destination the San Francisco alumni association. purposes but simply due to linguistic continue to lead as senior director of for students, faculty and patients. Craig (Class of 2008) is premed and laziness. marketing for Emory Healthcare, Under her leadership, the market- majoring in film studies. Her husband Wilkerson agreed with Lewis on that Newman will head a marketing ing offices will also continue to develop Mark Newman is an Atlanta attorney point. She said that one reason she didn’t department of seven persons in the positioning strategies for employee and with Troutman Sanders. use the word herself is because of the University’s Office of Communica- faculty recruitment, working with A graduate of the University of “many, many stories” told to her by her tions. She will hold the University title human resources in both the University Florida, Newman holds an M.A. in father, a college-educated airman, who of senior associate vice president of and health care system to align employ- psychology from Michigan State communications for marketing ment branding with overall Emory University and an MBA from Florida See STATE OF RACE on page 4 strategies. strategy. International University. 2 April 16, 2007 Emory Report AROUNDCAMPUS FIRSTPERSON DARREN MAYS EMORYVOICES Emory taps Zimmerman to head men’s basketball How will you use your tax Jason Zimmerman has joined The future of public health refund this year? Emory as the head men’s bas- ketball coach. Zimmerman, activities April 2–6 that were at Rollins who are truly dedi- a native of Warsaw, Ind., has open to the Emory community cated to making a difference spent the last 11 seasons as an and ranged from showing films in this field. assistant coach at the Division to featuring invited speakers The field of public health I level. to the RSPH Olympics. Each is facing a documented cri- Most recently, Zimmerman day of the week focused on sis in its workforce — many spent the 2003–04 through different public health issues. public health professionals at 2006–07 seasons as an assis- Tuesday’s theme was address- the state and local levels are tant at the University of ing the needs of local food reaching retirement age in the Evansville. He spent seven banks, for example, while next few years and there is seasons at Davidson College. Friday’s theme focused on During that time the Wildcats no doubt that the effects of the needs of individuals with this trend will be felt at fed- compiled an 122–81 record unique and chronic health Our daughter is going to Emory eral, state and local agencies. next year. Need we say anything and competed in the 1998 and conditions. The events (23 in A recent study conducted in more? 2002 NCAA Tournaments. total over the course of the Zimmerman graduated part by the Health Resources week) at Rollins represented from Davidson in 1994 and and Services Administration, Russelle and Walter Low the greatest response submit- earned his bachelor’s degree in which Georgia was a key visitors ted to APHA by any student in economics, where he was participating state, indicated Jon Rou Jon group in the U.S. a four-year letterwinner. He that public health agencies National Public Health concluded his career as the Darren Mays is a Ph.D. stu- have difficulty recruiting to fill Week events engaged the school’s No. 18 all-time lead- dent in behavioral sciences and key positions of employment, community with speakers on ing scorer. He finished fourth health education and chair of from public health nurses and in the Southern Conference in preparedness, scholarly poster the American Public Health physicians to health educators career free throws and seventh sessions and daily physical Association Student Assembly. and epidemiologists. in career assists. Zimmerman activities to get people out and also earned Davidson’s Thomas moving.