YOUR SOURCE FOR UNIVERSITY NEWS MAY 4, 2009 / Vol. 61, No. 30 FIRST PERSON CAMPUS PEOPLE: A father-son celebration 2 Oxford’s East Stacy Bell brings CAMPUS: Walkways open paths 4 Village follows back lessons from LEED to get gold. Sing Sing. Page 7 DISCOVERY: ‘Mother of all fears’ 6 Page 5 FORUM: Rising risks of epidemics 7 EVENTS: Staff Fest geared for fun 8 Sample this: Farmers market tips Passing the torch at ‘09 ceremony By CAROL CLARK Emory’s 164th Commence- ment begins at 8 a.m. sharp, on Monday, May 11. Physicist Ray DuVarney, who has served as chief marshal for more than a decade, is retiring from Emory, but will lead in the Atlanta Pipe Band one last time, for the class of 2009. The keynote will be delivered by Vicente Fox, president of Mexico from 2000 to 2006, and former president of Coca-Cola Mexico. Fox established Centro Fox in 2007, the first presidential library and museum in Mexico. Its activities include a “center for the advancement of democracy” modeled loosely after the work of The Carter Center. Fox will receive an honorary Doctor of Laws degree during the ceremony, along with Nancy Cantor, chancellor and president of Syracuse University. David Satcher, director of the Satcher Health Institute at the Morehouse School of Medicine, will be awarded an honorary Doctorate of Science, and Robert Spano, music director of the Early arrivals enjoy the plum picks at the Emory Farmers Market. Bryan MELTZ Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, will receive an honorary Doctorate of Music. By Kelly Gray many other enjoyable delicacies. farmland and green space in to the growers about what will Oxford College will stage its Free parking is available in the your community. be coming to market in upcom- commencement on Saturday, Cropping up around the Fishburne and Peavine decks Getting around your local ing weeks. May 9, at 10 a.m. on the College farmers market may seem city are local farmers markets, after 4:30 p.m. Green. The keynote speaker daunting. With the following offering direct access to locally The fruits, vegetables and Shop early will be James Laney, president tips, your next trip to the open- grown, farm-fresh produce and other wares found at these mar- Get a jump on the competi- of Emory from 1977–1993 and air market will be a breeze. the opportunity for farmers to kets are locally grown and have tion by arriving as the mar- former dean of Candler School develop personal relationships been picked and packed at the ket opens for the best selection. of Theology. Laney served as Know what’s in season with their customers. peak of perfection, often within Since farmers plan to sell out by U.S. ambassador to South If you know what to expect Emory’s weekly farmers mar- hours before making it to the the end of the day, the early bird Korea after leaving Emory. when you get there, making ket, held on Tuesdays from 2 to market. On average, food trav- always gets the worm. 6 p.m. on the Cox Hall Bridge, els 1,500 miles before it reaches decisions at each booth is much offers locally grown produce, your table. By buying food local- easier. Learn what grows in cheeses, salsas, pastries and ly, you are helping to maintain this area and when, and talk Please see MARKET page 5 Please see COMMENCEMENT page 8 Alice Walker’s visit brings art and archives alive By KIM URQUHart Color Purple,” unpublished mary source herself. Walker, at she went through to get to the little things that had changed. poems and correspondence with Emory for events surrounding printed word — and then to It was so enjoyable, to look at Students in Rudolph P. Byrd’s family, friends and colleagues. the opening of her collection, have the honor of having her it and say, I know what came African American literature Stapled to the front of a manila made a surprise visit. The stu- there with us in the archives — before,” said Coffman. “It’s like class were the first to use the file folder containing the first dents were able to learn first- was a real treat.” discovering a little secret about Alice Walker archive when the draft of Walker’s landmark hand from what Byrd calls a Later, at the James Weldon Alice Walker’s process as a writ- Manuscript, Archives, and Rare essay “In Search of Our Mothers’ “living archive.” Johnson Institute’s symposium er.” Books Library opened the col- Gardens” was a photograph of a “I’ve gained a sense of impor- “A Keeping of Records: The Visitors to the Woodruff lection to the public on April 23, garden. tance in primary documents Art and Life of Alice Walker,” Library can get their own giving scholars unprecedented The students wondered: Was through my coursework at Coffman had another moment of behind-the-scenes look at access to the Pulitzer Prize win- this her mother’s garden? Emory,” said Candace Coffman, scholarly discovery. Walker’s creative process at ner’s life and work. The answer was no — the a history and women’s stud- “I was looking at the final copy an exhibition that highlights The young scholars sifted flowers pictured, brightly-colored ies major. “So getting to touch of ‘In Search of Our Mothers’ the major periods, events and through papers, journals, mem- cosmos, were grown in Walker’s these living documents of hers, Gardens’ and was thinking of orabilia and letters, including own garden in California — but to see her handwriting on the the first drafts we had looked drafts of writings such as “The they were able to ask the pri- manuscripts, to see the process at in her archives, and I noticed Please see WALKER page 4 EMORY REPORT MAY 4, 2009 2 People NEW ONLINE at Emory.EDU EMORY PROFILE Wai and Nathaniel Poon www.emory.edu/president/ www.emory.edu/secretary/ The offices of President Strong work ethic a familial trait Jim Wagner and University Secretary Rosemary Magee are among the earliest to adopt the University’s Standard University a path for employment, achievement Templates for their Web sites. Their offices worked with University Marketing’s By MARGIE FISHMAN Web Office to redesign the sites, which now feature Nathaniel Poon hasn’t won an award streamlined navigation and since kindergarten. His family, who cross-links to highlight separate emigrated from Hong Kong, is not much and shared responsibilities. for compliments, preferring to show love in Photos, quick links and callout other ways. graphics reflect the individual But when the technical project manager initiatives and interests of these at Goizueta Business School won the University leaders. University’s Award of Distinction last month, For information about the Nathaniel’s father, Wai Poon, couldn’t help Standard Templates, visit Emory but broadcast the news. WebGuide at webguide.emory. And word traveled fast. edu. Poon, incidentally, is a mail clerk at the Office of Undergraduate Admission. ER BI-WEEKLY “It is a big achievement, a great achievement,” he said. “We are proud of IN SUMMER him.” Nathaniel is among a dozen employees This issue concludes Emory Report’s weekly selected for the University’s highest staff print publication schedule honor, recognizing outstanding contributions for the 2008–09 academic to the Emory community. A key player in year. Following a special upgrading Goizueta’s first wireless network Commencement edition, the and expanding the school’s global platform next print issue will be June 8, to encompass 70 countries, “Nathaniel when Emory Report switches has consistently solved problems through to a bi-weekly summer technological innovation,” his supervisor, publication schedule. Visit Barbara Maaskant, wrote in his nomination Emory Report online for news letter. updates and extras all summer. Nathaniel was formally recognized at a reception attended by President Jim Wagner and received a $1,000 award. He is using the Wai Poon, mail clerk in the Office of Undergraduate Admission, celebrates SPECIAL WANTED: YOUR money to take his parents to Disney World, with his son Nathaniel, technical project manager at Goizueta Business his first vacation in two years. School. OPINIONS ON ER The Poons and Emory go way back. Have you participated in At age 16, Nathaniel moved to the U.S. Emory Report’s Reader Survey to live with an aunt and take advantage yet? Your candid feedback is of the educational opportunities. When more important than ever as he was scouting for universities as an Emory Report evolves to better undergraduate, his father encouraged him meet community needs. to look at Emory based on its reputation for Visit Emory Report online strong pre-health offerings. (www.emory.edu/EMORY_ Then when Poon and his wife moved REPORT) to take the short to Atlanta from Hong Kong — following survey, and share your views a 10-year separation from their son — on your news. Nathaniel (’97C–’99PH) suggested that his father apply for a job at Emory. Later, when Nathaniel was dissatisfied working in the corporate side of public #RAFTSMANSHIPBY2ENEWALs!RCHITECT*ONES 0IERCE health, Poon recommended that he return to his alma mater. Three years ago, Nathaniel became a EXECUTIVE EDITOR permanent employee at Goizueta and Poon Nancy Seideman passed along a bit of advice: “A memo is not [email protected] from God. You have to follow up and monitor EDITOR the progress.” Kim Urquhart That strong work ethic was internalized, [email protected] recalled Nathaniel, who shares his father’s DESIGNER quiet, low-key personality. “I wasn’t expecting Christi Gray anything,” he said of his nomination.