Carol Anderson, Tayari Jones Nominated for NAACP Image Awards
Two Emory professors were nominated for the 2019 NAACP Image Awards for their literary works. Carol Anderson, who serves as Charles Howard Candler Professor of African American Studies and chair of African American studies, was nominated in the “Outstanding Literary Work — Youth/Teens” category for her book “We Are Not Yet Equal: Understanding Our Racial Divide.” Anderson’s book is the young adult adaptation of her 2016 book “White Rage,” which examines white society’s treatment of African-American progress.
Tayari Jones, professor of English and creative writing, was nominated for her novel “An American Marriage” in the category of “Outstanding Literary Work — Fiction.” A New York Times bestseller and a selection of Oprah’s Book Club, “An American Marriage” details how a black man, Roy, and his wife deal with Roy’s wrongful imprisonment.
The NAACP Image Awards celebrates the accomplishments of people of color in television, music, literature and film, as well as people “who promote social justice through creative endeavors,” according to a Feb. 13 press release.
Rollins Foundation Pledges $65 Million to Emory
The O. Wayne Rollins Foundation pledged $65 million to construct a third Rollins School of Public Health building at Emory, according to a Feb. 13 University press release. The building will be named the R. Randall Rollins Building and located next to the existing School of Public Health facilities. The building is in the early stages of planning and more information will be available during Summer 2019, according to Vice President for Campus Services Matthew Early.
Emory Hospitals Ranked Among Top Hospitals
Emory University Hospital and Emory University Hospital Midtown were ranked in the top 2 percent of hospitals nationwide in 2019, according to a Feb. 12 report from Healthgrades. The hospitals were evaluated “on clinical quality outcomes for 32 conditions and procedures,” including heart attack, pneumonia, respiratory failure and more. About 85 percent of patients reported they would “definitely recommend” Emory University Hospital, and about 73 percent of patients said the same of the Midtown location, according to the report.
Five Workers Dead in Illinois Shooting
Five workers died in Aurora, Ill., on Feb. 15 after a former employee opened fire on his previous workplace, the Henry Pratt Company’s warehouse, according to The New York Times. The gunman, 45-year-old Gary Martin, died while exchanging gunfire with police officers, injuring five police officers in the process, the Times reported. Martin’s sister told the Times that he had worked at the warehouse for about 20 years before he was recently let go. Martin’s state weapons permit was revoked five years ago due to a felony assault conviction, according to the Times.
Trump Declares National Emergency for Border Wall
President Donald J. Trump declared a national emergency on Feb. 15 to obtain funding to build a wall on the United States’ southern border after Congress refused to give him the $5.7 billion he requested. The emergency declaration will allow Trump to use the $3.6 billion allocated to military construction projects for the wall, the Times reported. Trump also plans to divert $2.5 billion from counternarcotics programs and $600 million from a Treasury Department asset forfeiture fund, according to the Times. Congress allocated $1.375 billion toward the border wall. In a Feb. 15 press conference, Trump said, “I expect to be sued … [but] I think we will be very successful in court.” The last time a U.S. president declared a national emergency authorizing military action was after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
Michelle Lou (19C) is from Irvine, Calif., majoring in political science and minoring in East Asian studies. She previously served as copy chief, news editor and executive editor. She won first place in the 2017 Georgia College Press Association’s Better Newspaper Contest in the category Best News Article Based on Investigative Reporting for her coverage of the Spring 2017 student government elections. Outside the Wheel, she is an undergraduate research fellow at Emory’s Center for Law and Social Science; a member of Phi Eta Sigma, Omicron Delta Kappa and Pi Sigma Alpha; and an avid snorkler. She has interned at USA TODAY's copy desk and HuffPost's breaking news team.
