Articles written by Dusty Harper

RecycleMania, a nation-wide contest between colleges and universities in the country, ended last week, and Auburn closed with much better numbers than a year ago.

The University collected approximately 202,000 pounds of recycled goods from Jan. 27 through April 5, which is 59,000 more pounds than it did in 2007.

Though final results won’t be tallied until next week, that total should put Auburn in the top 50 of all schools in terms of total weight collection.

The third annual Faculty Staff Campaign is in full swing.

This year, the University hopes it can build on its success from the previous two years.

The program is a continuing part of a larger fundraiser launched Feb. 3, 2006, called “It Begins at Auburn.”

That campaign set a goal to raise $500 million to keep the University among the nation’s best public institutions.

The target of $500 million was passed last July, and more than $540 million had been collected by the end of 2007.

The Jule Collins Smith Museum of Fine Arts will hold an Art in Bloom Exhibition and Extravaganza from April 3-5.

For the third consecutive year, the museum will feature galleries displaying floral arrangements and artwork.

The main attraction of the event will be the “Remix Revolution” exhibit designed by 1963 Auburn graduate Raymond Waites.

Auburn defeats Virginia Military Institute in 4-game sweep over weekend

No. 3 Mike Bianucci: makes contact with the pitch. Bianucci leads the team in slugging percentage and tied for second in home runs with two. JD Schein / ASSISTANT PHOTO EDITOR

The Auburn baseball team concluded a strong third week of the season by sweeping the Virginia Military Institute Keydets in a four-game set last weekend.

The Tigers ran their record to 10-4, while Virginia Military Institute fell to 4-7.

Auburn put a six spot in the board in its first at bat Thursday night and coasted to a 9-3 win in the opening game of the series.

Luke Greinke doubled, and Justin Hargett walked to start the first inning.

VMI right fielder Brian Sandridge then misplayed a ball off the bat of Mike Bianucci, allowing Greinke to score.

Following another walk, Joseph Sanders broke the game open with a three-run double.

A Kevin Patterson single and Matt Hall RBI-groundout made it 6-0 after one.

That was plenty of support for AU starter Grant Dayton, who was making his first collegiate start. Dayton struck out eight in six innings to preserve his first win.

The only run he allowed came in the sixth, when Mike Roberts blasted a pitch to center that eluded outfielders long enough for him to score for an inside-the-park homer.

Down 4-1 after four, VMI pushed three runs across the plate off of Tiger starter Bradley Hendrix in the top of the fifth to tie the game.

With two on, VMI’s Shane Geisslinger singled to score a run and to put runners on the corners.

Geisslinger and Sam Roberts then executed a double-steal to add another run, before a Mike Roberts single made it 4-4.

Auburn tried a double-steal of its own in the seventh. With two out, the Tigers had Bianucci on third and Hunter Morris on first.

After getting the 2008 season off to a roaring start in its opening series, the Auburn baseball team came back down to earth last weekend against ACC-powerhouse Florida State.

The No. 11 Seminoles beat Auburn four straight times, twice at home and twice on the road. Florida State kept its unbeaten record in tact at 7-0, while the Tigers fell to 4-4

Homerun Tigers: Infielder Matt Hall, No. 5, and infielder Joseph Sanders, No. 18, celebrate with a high five after Sanders scored for the Tigers during a game against Florida State. Pete Riley / PHOTO EDITOR

The series began on a cold Thursday night in Plainsman Park. The Noles handed Auburn its first loss of the season, defeating the home squad 7-5.

Up 1-0 after two innings, FSU used four singles and a sac fly to plate three runs in the top of the third off of Auburn starter Luke Greinke.

Auburn struck back in the bottom of the fourth. After FSU starting pitcher Elih Villanueva hit Brian Fletcher and walked Hunter Morris, third baseman Joseph Sanders drove both runners in with a double to slice the lead in half.

Florida State added a run in the fifth, and the Tigers responded with one in the sixth to make the score 5-4. After a scoreless seventh, FSU’s Dennis Guinn blasted a 2-run homer over the left wall just inside the foul pole to give his team all the insurance it would need. Guinn was 3-for-4 with three RBI’s for the night.

Greinke, who pitched six innings and gave up four earned runs, took the loss for Auburn, while Villanueva earned his second win of the season for the Noles. Posey also came in and got his first save of the year for FSU by retiring the Tigers in the ninth.

John Price: a junior in chemistry, receives a tattoo at Voodoo Needle by tattoo artist Conan O’Shight. Austin Nelson / PHOTO STAFF

Though the practice of tattooing dates back more than 5,000 years, the prevalence of tattoos among entertainers and athletes have made them as popular as ever in American culture.

College students are among the many who have stopped by a tattoo parlor and had their favorite image drawn somewhere on their bodies.