Marni Baron

Baseball fans are all excited that Emory’s Class Day (Thursday, May 9th) speaker will be former Atlanta Braves third baseman, Chipper Jones. Class Day includes the presentation of class gifts and awards, and a special address from the keynote speaker.

After 19 years on the Braves (the only team he has ever played for professionally), Jones retired in 2012 at age 40. His athletic accomplishments include having the most RBIs of any third baseman and being known as one of the best switch-hitters of all time. The Braves will retire his jersey, number 10 this June and will induct him into the Braves’ Hall of Fame. Chipper also started the Chipper Jones Family Foundation, through which he has donated to organizations such as the Boys and Girls Club and Little League.

For a preview of Class Days’ events, check out Jones’ farewell speech on the night of his last game! 

Drum role please…the 2013 commencement speaker has finally been selected! And it’s Rita Dove!

…Wait, who?

We’re willing to bet that most of you have never heard of poet and author, Rita Dove…but, since she will be delivering a speech (or reciting poetry?!) at graduation this year, it is time to get ourselves familiarized!

Quick Facts

Education: BA from Miami University in Ohio (summa cum laude- duh!) and received an MFA at the University of Iowa…oh and she won a Fulbright Scholarship in Germany (nbd).

What she does now: She is currently a professor at UVA in Charlottesville.

Biggest accomplishments: Second African American to receive the Pulitzer Prize for Poetry and United States Poet Laureate from 1993-1995 (this means the government selected her to be the official poet and to write poetry for special occasions).

Most famous work: Thomas and Beulah (it’s a book of poems…just $11.85 on Amazon if you’re looking for something to read while laying out over spring break…)

Have you been affected by Emory’s “phase out” of certain academic programs? Do you want to participate in a movement to protest these changes? Meet Jonathan Denmar—a senior who is double majoring in Music Composition and Journalism, who facilitated the organization of “#EmoryCuts.” According to its Facebook page, #EmoryCuts is “an organization seeking to ‘save’ the Liberal Arts infrastructure at Emory University.” Jonathan adds, “Our mission is to find logical ways of working with the administration to figure out how these cuts could be reversed, and what needs to happen to keep the fundamental programs here at Emory.”

We spoke with Jonathan to find out more about his involvement with #EmoryCuts, and the group’s plans for this semester. Originally from New York City, Jonathan chose to attend to Emory because he wanted a liberal arts education. After taking JRNL 201 News Reporting and Writing for his writing requirement, Jonathan discovered his love for Journalism, and chose to make it his major. This fall, following Dean Forman’s September 14, 2012 announcement of departmental closures, Jonathan created social media pages for “#EmoryCuts in order to “get people talking…and promote the idea of a need for liberal arts education and what we can do to improve our school.” Although Jonathan has become the face of this movement, he maintains that many other people are behind this movement and that he is “not the sole leader.”

In order to commemorate Breast Cancer Awareness month, the Emory Clinic (affiliated with the Winship Cancer Institute) is sponsoring the 1st Annual Breast Cancer Awareness Festival. Mary Brookhart, the supervisor of business operations and key member of the intake coordination team, is leading these efforts. On Tuesday, October 23rd, the clinic offered free breast examinations, provided food, and coordinated educational games. The clinic also extended its hours open this week, and will offer examinations this Saturday, October 27th from 8 AM to 3 PM at Emory University Hospital Midtown.

Bloomindale’s Lenox Square also hosted a Breast Cancer Research Fundraiser on Tuesday, October 23rd in which 10% of Bloomingdale’s purchases benefited the Glen n Family Breast Cancer Program at Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University.

If you missed out on these opportunities to promote breast cancer awareness, don’t worry…we have plenty of other options for you. Here are a few highlights:
• Sage Clothing Store (in Buckhead): Sage Clothing will be donating 50% of breast cancer awareness t-shirt purchases to Komen Atlanta. Visit their website for more information!

• J. Christopher’s: Throughout October, the J. Christopher's Atlanta, Buckhead, Cobb and Alpharetta locations will donate $1 from every order of Pumpkin Pancakes and .50 from every pumpkin latte to Komen Atlanta. Get ready for fall and support Komen Atlanta in the process!