Articles written by Lauren Bowar

Every year, the University Program Council brings movies, workshops and other social events to our campus, and this year is no different.

“As UPC president, I am most excited about our awesome events this fall,” Emily Dorman said. “We have a great team of student leaders who have been working really hard to find events that Auburn students will enjoy.”

UPC’s annual block party will be held Aug. 21, on Cater Lawn. This event gives students the opportunity to meet new people and enjoy a little fun during the chaos of starting a new semester.

Hettinger

Auburn gymnastics recently named former University of Illinois gymnast, Kurt Hettinger, as assistant coach for the upcoming season.

Hettinger comes to Auburn from Kent State where he served as assistant for the past three years.

Before that, he served as the first graduate assistant in two decades.

While at Kent State, Hettinger served as the head bars coach, leading the girl’s team to a 2007 Top 25 national ranking.

He helped lead them to two Mid-American Conference Championships and three consecutive regular season titles. Hettinger also coached gymnast Kristin Peters to a MAC uneven bars title last year.

Hettinger worked with head coach Brice Biggin on tumbling and vault. He also worked with the summer camps and served as a recruiting coordinator.

Previous to his time at Kent State, Hettinger returned to his alma mater, the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, to serve as assistant coach, 2003. He coached the men’s team to a fifth place national ranking that season.

Hettinger previously worked for the Champaign County YMCA, where he headed the development of the Class VI and Elite boys programs, as well as the girls, level 8-10.

With eight incoming freshmen, six home meets and another tough schedule, the Auburn gymnastics team has an exciting year ahead.

“We basically have a brand new team this year,” said Rachelle Thompson, assistant head coach. “I am looking forward to watching the freshmen move into the next level.”

Auburn’s recently announced schedule includes meets against SEC teams Alabama, Florida, LSU and Georgia, as well as non-conference opponents Iowa State, Michigan State and Ohio State.

Auburn players Brian Fletcher and Hunter Morris were recently named to Baseball America’s Freshman All-American team, making the Tigers the only Southeastern Conference school with two representatives.

“Awards like these prove to everyone that hard work does pay off,” said John Pawlowski, head coach. “Something pushed them towards this, and that push was their work ethic.”

Outfielder Brian Fletcher is ranked second on the team in slugging percentage with a .611 and third in batting average. Fletcher ended the 2007 season batting .324 with 10 home runs, 17 doubles, three triples and 42 RBI, reaching base 44 out of 54 games.

“I worked hard this season,” Fletcher said. “It is a great honor to be nominated.”

Fletcher is spending his summer playing Cape Cod League ball for the Falmouth Commodores, who were ranked 4th in the West as of July 3.

Victoria’s Secret and Collegiate Licensing Company have fans across the nation tickled pink for their new co-branded merchandise.

The new line, which is currently available online, gives girls a new option for supporting their favorite college team.

“Every year, we encourage fans to buy orange and blue lingerie to support Auburn,” said Candace Benson, Victoria’s Secret-Auburn Manager. “We always sell out, so having a line with the actual Auburn logo will be an extra bonus.”

Time with friends, cook-outs and trips to the beach. All of these describe a typical summer, but what about danger, pain and injuries? Most people don’t think about the bad parts of summer activities, only the fun.

According to Forbes, normal summer activities cause many injuries every year. Activities like mowing the lawn, setting up camping equipment and even grilling out, along with water activities, send people to the hospital during this time of year.

Research: with Auburn’s marching band showed “a majority of the members who had leg pain indicated they had been wearing flip-flops 75 percent of the time.” Lindsey Davidson / PHOTO EDITOR

Auburn’s biomechanics lab recently completed a study that may have you asking if you are putting your best foot forward.
Graduate student Justin Shroyer’s interest in flip-flops began with an idea from Wendi Weimar, director of the sports biomechanics lab.

“Our lab is in the coliseum and watching the participants of the summer camps, I noticed that a lot of campers were wearing flip-flops,” Weimar said. “It appeared that they walked differently while wearing them.”

Research with Auburn’s marching band showed “a majority of the members who had leg pain indicated that they had been wearing flip-flops 75 percent of the time.”

Shroyer, Weimar and their team recruited 39 students, men and women, between the ages of 19 and 25.

Gov. Bob Riley, along with various members of Auburn University’s faculty, left Saturday for a trade mission to South America, in hopes to increase trade relations and academic understanding. This mission also includes Alabama business owners, as well as Tuskegee University professors.

“This is the first time higher education has been involved in trade relations,” said Paula Bobrowski, CLA Associate Dean of Research. “I take great pride in that."

Auburn faculty received the opportunity, thanks to a grant from the U.S. Department of Education. The three initiatives of the program include: “faculty awareness of the social, political, economic and business environments in Latin America, a focus on student programs and academic enrichment, as well as state and local business,” said Beau Lore of the Alabama Development Office.

Departments and colleges represented in the trip include the College of Business and the College of Liberal Arts, as well as the College of Agriculture, Veterinary Medicine and the Vice President of Outreach.

“We will be visiting a university in each country, looking into faculty and student exchanges, as well as visiting central banks and learning about the cultures,” Bobrowski said.

The Auburn men’s golf team will compete in the NCAA Championship May 28-31 after finishing sixth in the NCAA East Regional.

The event will be held at Birck Boilermaker Golf Complex, Kampen Course in West Lafayette, Ind.

“Five of the guys going to the Championship have seen the course before,” Auburn Coach Ryan Cabbage said. “This gives the players a good comfort level, and they are able to practice with the course in mind. They are able to prepare accordingly, and this leads to confidence.”

The 7,431 yard, par 72 course was ranked one of the best in the nation for collegiate play.

The NCAA East Regional tournament was held at Council Fire Golf Club in Chattanooga, Tenn. May 15-17.

Of the 27 teams competing for a spot at the Championship, only the top 10 were chosen.