Tulane's response to Anita Rea Toler's piece Tulane's Shame , Mobile Press-Register, 5/20/07

May 22, 2007

Robert Buchanan
rbuchanan@press-register.com

To the Editor:

Anita Rea Toler's story on Tulane University and the Newcomb legacy is filled with errors and misinformation. It is hard to believe the Press-Register would publish such a piece without requiring even rudimentary fact checking. Three key points that need to be corrected are:

First, contrary to the statements of Ms. Toler, Josephine Newcomb did not place any such condition on the use of the funds in her will. She explicitly stated that she was entrusting the disposition of the funds "fully and solely" to the discretion of Tulane.

Second, Mrs. Newcomb did not create any endowment for Newcomb at all. Tulane University and other donors provided the funds in today's endowment. The endowment remains intact and is being used for the very same programs for women through the newly created H. Sophie Newcomb Memorial College Institute.

Third, the Institute was established after extensive study by a task force appointed by the Tulane Board. The result of that study was an Institute that provides Newcomb programs to all undergraduate women enrolled at Tulane, not just those in liberal arts and sciences. Previously women majoring in architecture, business, public health and engineering were not allowed to participate in Newcomb-sponsored programming.

The Newcomb Institute hosted 104 speakers and 110 programs this year. There are more academic opportunities available now for women at Tulane University than ever before. Tulane is honoring Mrs. Newcomb's legacy.

Deborah L. Grant
Vice President of University Communications
Tulane University
215 Gibson Hall
New Orleans, LA 70118
504-865-5210