Duo responds to their letter’s replies:

Editor, The Auburn Plainsman:

As we were driving down South College in our Z-71’s from our weekly trip to Kinnucan’s (sale on Sperry’s), both of us noticed that our Blackberry’s were blaring to inform us that Rush Limbaugh was about to speak on Fox News.

We quickly turned down Hank Jr. and made haste to the fratcastle to watch our beloved leader smite the socialist infidels. Upon arrival, a fellow fratstar informed us that members of our fan club had responded to our brilliant editorial. This pleased us as much as our block seating privileges. This was, however, short lived. Upon further inspection, it almost sent us into an uncontrollable HGH-driven rage. Realizing that we have no political future, we phoned our fathers to make sure our trust funds were still secure. Throwing on our Hanes Beefy pocket T’s, buttoning our Carhartt’s and donning our Costa’s that radiated a deep blue sea of frattiness, we prepared to happily clarify our misinterpreted editorial.

Although our response could have been misconstrued to suggest that we believe Auburn is a single-minded monolithic entity, we realize that this is still a work in progress. The essence of higher education encourages students to find their niche and make it a priority for their future success. We would like to remind February 26th’s writer that everyone’s “first duty” in college varies depending on this niche.

This is diversity that all students can appreciate and understand. While we fully support strong debate on important issues facing our campus and appreciate that there was no intent to “poke a finger” in our eye, the idea that we desire a “conservative rag” at Auburn misses the point. We desire a paper that doesn’t poke a finger in the eye of the student body. The only ‘rag’ we wish for is the kind you don’t have to rinse after every use. In regards to last week’s writer, while Senator McCain won the state of Alabama by 22 points, yes, David, you are correct. Because of Alex Schriver & Chandler Harris, John McCain lost the 2008 Presidential Election to Barack Obama. Our “blatant regard for facts” has lead us to this conclusion.

While we would appreciate insight on the Plainsman’s policy regarding Greek life, unfortunately, that is currently not possible. We have attempted accessing the Plainsman’s Web site several times over the past two weeks. Fail.

At the end of the day, we love Auburn University every bit as much as the thousands of young men and women that have passed through her doors. While we from time to time attempt to engage this campus in healthy debate, we are striving to make Auburn a better place. We would encourage all students not to fall victim to apathy. Be it through a class, campus organization, or another medium, every student has the obligation to challenge something he or she does not agree with. This is what the college experience should be about and is the best opportunity to leave an endearing legacy at this university.

Alex Schriver

junior, political science

Chandler Harris

junior, economics

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Foy vote should be a motivator to right a wrong:

Editor, The Auburn Plainsman:

It was with great pleasure when we heard the news that members of the Alabama Legislature passed a resolution concerning naming the new union after Dean Foy 99-0.

We would like to commend our state leaders in making the correct choice.

As the senators that rejected the resolution concerning the new union’s name last semester spoke up about the fact “other” universities have this same practice of payment for naming buildings and that if we name a new building after their predecessor it will set a precedent issue.

That argument is not true; however, see Hutsell Track and Hutsell-Rosen Track. Nearly all senators who spoke in favor cited speaking to their constituents and what Dean Foy means to them and their friends.

The problem is that Auburn is not like “other universities”.

In fact, we tend to think everyone came to Auburn because it was unlike any others.

As such, Auburn must be free to make independent decisions that are best for the entire Family.

In this case, upsetting vast numbers of alumni, many elected state leaders, current and former SGA members, Camp War Eagle Counselors, campus leaders and countless others solely for money seems like the wrong decision.

Even students on the actual committee in 1999, planning for a “new Foy” as it was called, were under the impression the name would transfer.

Our question to the board, if this was in the works all along why did the board start looking for a donor now instead of ten years ago?

Much like the unnamed and donor-less Science Center, the “new union/student center/new Foy” might be nameless for a very long time.

The current Foy Hall is slated for destruction within ten years or so, as even our own Dean of Students, Dean Green, has stated in previous instances.

After that point no building will carry Foy’s name.

Dean Foy selflessly served the students of Auburn for many years, including his continued service to the university long after he retired as Dean.

It is only fitting that the student center carry his name.

The Board’s own policy on naming rights allows for exceptional service, not just donors.

It seems like an obvious question, but if Dean Foy is not worthy of being named because of his exceptional service we would greatly appreciate a suggestion of someone that qualifies for this honor.

We certainly do not have a problem with the building of a new union, clearly it was needed.

What we do have a problem is with the one hundred and fifty dollars every student on this campus pays for a building fee, on top of the tuition that last summer was raised another twelve percent.

Especially in these economic times, twelve percent raises in tuition, nearly three times that of annual inflation, is not what Auburn needs to be doing.

This fee raises close to four million dollars a year, or the same amount it cost for the new union itself every thirteen years.

We have a problem that this fee, along with others, which tack on approximately one thousand more dollars, yearly.

It is one thing to use the fee to pay for the building and remove it, but that is not the case here.

It has now just become one of many next to Tiger Transit fees, student program fees, class fees, COB students we understand your pain, and soon the new student activity center fees; all on top of what we pay as tuition.

The Board apparently makes it very easy to raise costs to attend this fine institution but clearly has trouble cutting overhead or rescinding extra expenditures.

It is high time that the Auburn SGA leadership take a proactive stance.

We remind them, they answer to the students and students alone.

They are the ones that represent our voice; they are the ones that are supposed to fight for us.

Strangely enough, the man that has spent a better part of half his life fighting for students now needs our help. It is now time we fight for him.

We encourage everyone to e-mail new SGA president Jacob Watkins (watkija@auburn.edu) and our Board of Trustees (trustees@auburn.edu) your opinion on the matter.

Let us hope our new SGA leadership is willing to take proactive measures to correct this injustice; and, let us hope they and the trustees are unafraid to stray from the normal “business as usual” mindset.

Not to mention Smith Union or Williams Student Center has absolutely nothing on “meet me at Foy”.

War Eagle!

Brandon Demyan

Tommy Horton

Ashley Prichard

Leanne Marek

Bo Bledsoe

John Godwin

Former Senators

John Griffin

Julian Vida

Bethany Donaldson

Current Senators

Matt Ulmer

Former SGA VP