Freeman News

While drivers nationwide revel in lower gasoline prices, many in Louisiana are anxiously watching the cost of oil fall to its lowest levels in 18 months. In a state whose economy has for more than a half-century been closely linked to the petroleum industry, prosperity has been measured by the barrel, and some fear that as oil goes, so goes Louisiana.

Although Louisiana's economy depends heavily on the petroleum industry, faculty member Eric Smith believes the oil derricks will keep pumping through the economic crisis.

It's a fear that is largely unfounded, says Eric Smith...

The most innovative idea in the world isn't worth a nickel if you don't execute it properly.

That was the central message of Richard M. Bracken, president and COO of Hospital Corp. of America, the world's largest private operator of health care facilities, in his keynote luncheon address at the 29th annual Tulane Business Forum.

The forum, an annual presentation of the Tulane Association of Business Alumni, took place on Friday, Oct. 17, at the Hilton New Orleans Riverside. More than 700 local business leaders attended this year's event.

The theme of this year's...

Richard M. Bracken, president and COO of HCA, the world's largest private operator of health care facilities, highlights a wide-ranging lineup of speakers scheduled to present at the 29th annual Tulane Business Forum.

This year's forum, which will take place on Friday, Oct. 17, at the Hilton New Orleans Riverside, focuses on the theme of innovation, a topic that forum co-chair Keith Crawford says is relevant to all businesses regardless of size or industry.

"Innovation can be found in some unlikely places," says Crawford, a management consultant and chief financial officer...

The Freeman School jumped five spots to No. 43 in the latest U.S. News & World Report ranking of undergraduate business programs. The ranking appeared in the magazine's Sept. 1, 2008, issue.

"This is great news for the Freeman School and the undergraduate program, but as always we must be cautious about putting too much weight in this or any other ranking," said Angelo DeNisi, dean of the Freeman School. "Our true focus continues to be making the program the best it can be regardless of rankings."

The ranking was based on a spring 2008 survey of deans and senior faculty...

America's energy policy took center stage at a special congressional debate hosted by the Freeman School's Entergy-Tulane Energy Institute, but despite the organizers' goal of fostering a constructive dialog between parties, the participants in large part stuck to familiar partisan scripts.

"America is addicted to oil, but instead of developing new energy sources, the Republicans are demanding more drilling," proclaimed Rep. Bart Stupak (D-Mich). "We can't drill our way out of high prices. We need to develop alternative energy sources beyond drilling to reduce energy prices and...