From the Atlanta Journal-Constitution: “Hoping to secure its place as the Southeast’s foremost private university, Emory has launched the public phase of a $1.6 billion fund-raising campaign. Officials planned a grand gala for Thursday night to roll out the drive, the most ambitious in the university’s 172-year history. But Emory isn’t starting from scratch. More than $800 million has been pledged toward the goal since September 2005, when fund-raisers began quietly approaching deep-pocketed potential donors. University president James Wagner acknowledged that hard economic times could slow the rate at which gifts arrive. But he said there was no hesitation to go forward with the campaign. Wagner said he believes philanthropists will see the request as an opportunity to invest in society.”