I was reading in the DUC when I looked up to see Dr. Neil Shulman heading in my direction.
He was putting his tray down at a vacant table when our eyes met. I smiled. I’d read the article in the Wheel about him: the Einstein-haired, goofy-looking professor perpetually dining at the DUC, meeting various students and discussing schemes that stretch their way across the globe. He’s the author of countless books, one of which was turned into a bestselling movie and a few of which I now have in my possession. Anxious to meet this man, I motioned him to my table and he took a seat.
Some may remember Shulman on the front page of an October edition of The Emory Wheel, where he holds a sign protesting the rape of women in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Part of his acute awareness of current events comes from his close connections with people. For example, he knows a lady on staff in the DUC whose relatives have been raped in the Congo.
His work toward medicare reform is in part influenced by another such staff member who was diagnosed with cancer, could not afford to treat it and was forced to wait until the cancer spread in order for the government to fund the treatment necessary to save her life. According to Georgia law, one must be both poor and disabled to receive government benefits. We talked about such things as he stabbed at his food, dropping his fork at one point. I explained to him about my own international background as he systematically cracked a pile of hard-boiled eggs, removed the yolks and ate them.
“You know,” he told me, “you might be interested in the Global Health and Humanitarian Summit.” It was something Shulman had helped start here at Emory only a few years ago. After some pushing, he was given space to host this summit for free and continues the annual tradition of inspiring others for bigger and better ways to serve their fellow man. It’s a place to mix ideas and get excited.
Shulman’s opinion is that after a man has fulfilled his basic and most necessary needs, he should cease to amass for himself and rather turn his attention to the less fortunate. The profligacy of the upper classes astounds and disgusts him and draws much scrutiny and criticism in his books, most notably The Corporate Kid.
Also on Shulman’s mind is the almost laughable and certainly near-useless attention bestowed on things as insignificant as a bad example in a speech. Wagner is obviously not a racist, says Shulman. He made a controversial move to hire a black provost when he first took office.
What, then, is all the hullaballoo? It is indeed interesting for me to see close to a hundred people march with signs into Woodruff Library to protest Wagner’s words when much larger problems exist.
Consider Atlanta, even, with a massive homeless and refugee population. All that protesting energy should really be funneled into more crucial change – is not feeding, clothing and sheltering the millions in desperate need of it more important than a possible case of racism, or perhaps a simple misunderstanding?
An hour after our meeting, I was standing in Shulman’s home, speaking with his wife Zoe. After making acquaintances with his young son and a visiting MIT professor (who wanted to bring the Humanitarian Summit to Boston), and a long exchange of ideas, I was dropped off in front of the champions’ residence, Longstreet-Means, my blood still stirring with the excitement of new prospects.
Somehow, I knew my next three years at Emory were to be much different than I’d previously imagined them.
Jonathan Warkentine is a College freshman from Almaty, Kazakhstan.
The Emory Wheel was founded in 1919 and is currently the only independent, student-run newspaper of Emory University. The Wheel publishes weekly on Wednesdays during the academic year, except during University holidays and scheduled publication intermissions.
The Wheel is financially and editorially independent from the University. All of its content is generated by the Wheel’s more than 100 student staff members and contributing writers, and its printing costs are covered by profits from self-generated advertising sales.
Shulman ideas are nonsense. There is no way that the US can get rid of poverty. The US is going broke just paying for current entitlement programs. Even if the rich paid much higher taxes, we wouldn’t be able to afford to expand the government. Pensions and healthcare costs expanding like crazy and crowding out everything else. Health care costs are much higher in the US than any other country, yet we get worse results. Should people who pay for this crappy, system be forced to pay even more? The problem with poverty in the US is a cultural problem. Too many Americans don’t have any sense of pride and aren’t willing to work or study. There are a few poor people who are unlucky, but there is no sense of dignity among large swathes of the population and way too many people abuse welfare programs. Americans are too generous to want to punish the children of the poor, but by targeting social services towards poor children, we’re encouraging people who shouldn’t be having kids to have them. Then their kids adopt bad habits, have a ton of mental problems and can’t contribute in any meaningful way to society. By the way Dr. Shulman’s brother is a founding partner at a big law firm in MD. He probably makes well over $1 million per year.
Practicality certainly isn’t Dr. Shulman’s strong point, but at the same time my respect is for a man who has a heart to take action and fight the impossible over someone sitting at their computer criticizing those who do.
Dr. Shulman is a complete goof. He’s a brilliant guy, but he’s a child of the 1960’s and did a little too much experimenting back in the day. He knows that he’s just talking non-sense half of the time, but he likes to mess around with people. And boy, can that guy pull some ass! I don’t know if he’s married now or what, but he used to be a lady killer. And I heard that back before Emory got all strict and all, he used to be down for puffing a J with students. Dude, I love that guy!
So Shulman thinks it’s “near useless attention” paid over the bad example Wagner used in a speech? It’s hullabaloo? As an Afrucan-American graduate of 2 Emory programs, it sure feels different to me. I’m not necessarily calling Wagner a racist, but rather incredibly insensitive. The fact that Wagner and all the editors missed how this would read to thousands of people in the Emory community, not only African-Americans, is incredibly tone deaf.
It’s COMPLETELY useless attention paid to this bad article (not a speech, get you facts straight)! “Afrucan-America”??? Stop whining. You probably only got into those two Emory programs because of affirmative action. Wagner and the editors are morons.
Bashing doesn’t help anyone. Neither does whining. If you have an opinion, write an article and submit it. The editors are probably “moron” enough to publish it.
OK, Borat.
…seriously?
Dude, I didn’t get it at first, but this guy comes from the same country as Borat. I have to meet you.
In my country there is problem……….
This is highly offensive. Please be culturally sensitive.
Justice Scalia, is that you?