At 2 p.m. Sunday, March 28, at the Old Courthouse on the Square in Decatur, GA, the new Ambassador to the Republic of Singapore placed his left hand on the family Bible, raised his right hand and said:

"I, David Adelman, do solemnly swear that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter. So help me God."

And with that statement David Adelman 89L and his family will embark on a life changing event later this week as the new ambassador, his wife Caroline and their three children fly to Singapore to take up the responsibility as America's representatives in the Republic of Singapore and, in that position, to help further America’s goals with respect to Asia.

An island city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, Singapore is the smallest nation in southeast Asia, but it is one of America's most important diplomatic partners. America's 11th most important trading partner, Singapore is also an important military partner. The country has served as a staging area for certain military operations in the region and a helicopter and military personnel from Singapore were among our first world partners to be on the scene in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. Singapore also has an extraordinarily high rate of education and per capita income ranking it among the top five in the world.

Service to Emory, to the State of Georgia and to the country has long been a part of Adelman’s make-up. Adelman has served as Georgia state senator representing Emory's neighborhood and district, as well as being a partner at Sutherland, Asbill & Brennan.

A former president of the Law School Alumni Association, Adelman has hosted newly admitted law students during the visitation weekend in the spring in his home for the last several years. Adelman has served as a member of the Law School Council, and, most recently, a member of the Board of Visitors.

In assuming this new post in Singapore, Ambassador Adelman has affirmed to President Jim Wagner and to others in the Emory community, that he hopes to be able to continue his service to Emory from this new position.

When Ambassador Adelman and his family arrive in Singapore, they will already have Emory friends to show them around. Woody Hunter, former dean of the Emory Law School and former interim provost of the University, has been serving as president of Singapore Management University for the past five years. He and his wife, Susan, are eagerly anticipating the arrival of the Adelman's and a dinner to introduce them to new friends, is in the works.

What a joy and pleasure it was for me to join with family members, community and business associates, to witness David’s swearing in and see his beautiful family as they all prepare to take on this important service on behalf of the United States.

Having known our newest ambassador since he was an Emory Law student, it is a privilege to see our alumni taking on these important responsibilities. I am particularly excited about David's sincere interest in continuing his relationship with Emory during these busy months and years ahead. We’ll keep you posted on developments as we wish the Adelmans well on their new journey!

-- Martha Fagan, senior director, alumni relations, EAA

His stand-up act began with some signature lines and segments from his former acts, like "Now, hear me out" and "Hey boss." You can see those on youtube.com or on the Kevin Nealon link on yesterday's post. He got up on Glenn's two pulpits and related the railing to feeling like he was on a boat. He even referenced the ever-popular Emory student haunt, Maggie's Neighborhood Bar and Grill (how did he know?).

Toward the end, he included a spontaneous (at least, I thought it was) dating game-esque talk show with a student couple in the front row ... he definitely had fun with that, and so did the girl whom he asked to make a commercial break noise. He got some good ole hearty laughs echoing high and low from the auditorium and ended with a bang that you had to be there to understand.

The real treat came after when the Student Programming Council (SPC) and the SPC VIPs had a meet-and-greet with Nealon. As is expected of a comedian, he was a funny guy. He asked us how old we all were, and when we responded with a chorus of 18 through 21, he told us he was old. To prove it, he told us to stay really quiet, while he bent his knees. When they popped, he let out a variant of the "I-told-you-so."

One SPC member asked him to come to Maggie's tonight, but he turned down the invitation, not wanting to be that "creepy, old guy." It's too bad, because he would've been the creepy, old, famous guy...

...maybe we'll try our hand with Kid Cudi tonight at 7 p.m. on McDonough Field.

-- Lindsey Bomnin 12C, EAA communications assistant

Dooley's Week kicked off yesterday with its first event, the second annual Taste of Emory, in the Goizueta Business School Courtyard, and I could not be any happier for it be over.

I say this because I, along with my brilliant co-chair Daniel Chapman 11B, have been planning this event with the Student Programming Council (SPC) since last November. You could say the Taste of Emory (photo above by Alle Fuller 13C, The Emory Wheel) is equivalent to a small child who's now over 18 (or 21, depending on how you look at it) and no longer needs me or Danny.

Although the weather was not exactly ideal, the rain's efforts to dampen the mood failed. Never underestimate college students' desire for free food. We had about 1,000 attendees coming through the event and it showed in those lines. Eleven local restaurants, including oldies and newbies to the event, brought out their portable ovens and grills to feed the always-hungry Emory students.