Though 2021 presented many challenges, there were also numerous achievements and moments to celebrate. Below are Tulane Today’s most read stories of 2021.
Class of 2025
Even amid a global pandemic, Tulane shattered institutional records by receiving over 45,000 applications for the Class of 2025. The newest class of Tulanians are the most academically qualified students, as well as the most diverse class to be admitted to the university to date.
The Nissan Cedric
Cedric Walker, a retired biomedical engineering professor at Tulane, was surprised with the gift of a rare classic car, a 1964 Nissan Cedric, from former student Jim Dillard during Homecoming Weekend 2021.
Marijuana infertility study
A study by Dr. Omer A. Raheem, associate professor of urology at the School of Medicine, suggests that marijuana use can cause infertility in men. However, further research is needed to gain a full understanding of the effects of marijuana on male reproductive health.
Hurricane Ida
Classes were cancelled and students were evacuated to Houston following Hurricane Ida. Meanwhile, assessments and repairs were made to campus infrastructure and the academic calendar was revised.
COVID-19
Tulane researchers, doctors and medical staff have worked tirelessly to treat patients and conduct COVID-19 research. Tulane began the vaccine rollout in January and continued to tackle questions such as what makes a person a super-spreader.
Lyme disease
In a study led by Monica Embers, associate professor of microbiology and immunology and director of vector-borne disease research at the Tulane National Primate Research Center, evidence of persistent Lyme infection in brain tissue was found despite aggressive antibiotic therapy.
Cavitand molecules
Tulane chemistry professor Bruce Gibb and chemical engineering professor Hank Ashbaugh collaborated on a study that shows there are exceptions to Aristotle’s rule that says unfilled spaces go against the laws of nature and physics. An exception is the bowl-shaped molecules called cavitands.
Tulane rankings
The U.S. News & World Report and the Princeton Review ranked Tulane among the top schools in several categories in their 2022 rankings.
Charity lease
Tulane has signed the lease for the former Charity Hospital building. The university will occupy over a third of the total square footage and fill it with state-of-the art spaces for research, teaching and administration.
Warwick Hotel redevelopment
Tulane, in partnership with the New Orleans Redevelopment Fund, renovated the former Warwick Hotel building. Named Thirteen15, the former hotel is now a modern apartment building with retail space on the downtown campus for students, staff, faculty, postdocs, residents, researchers and other Tulane affiliates.
