Use the fields below to perform an advanced search of The Auburn Plainsman's archives. This will return articles, images, and multimedia relevant to your query.
799 items found for your search. If no results were found please broaden your search.
Parkerson Mill Creek, which runs through Auburn University’s campus, is listed on the Alabama Department of Environmental Management 303(d) List of Impaired Waters for pathogens.
Sara Rains, senior in nutrition and wellness, and Jessica Adams, senior in microbial biology, were named finalists for the Harry S. Truman Scholarship, the most competitive public service award for undergraduates in the nation, according to Paul Harris, associate professor and associate director of the University Honors College.
Auburn University will host No Impact Week from March 8-15 to encourage students, faculty and staff to reduce their negative impact on the environment and raise awareness about personal well-being.
Moriah Gilbertson, freshman in undeclared science and math, planned to go to college. She planned to major in medicine, make new friends and obtain her dream job as a radiologist. She never expected she would be doing all of that while also caring for her 1-year-old daughter, Elliyah.
The Auburn City Council put a suspension on development when the council members present voted to pass an apartment moratorium. Councilwoman Beth Witten, Ward 3, and Councilman Clemon Byrd, Ward 1, were not in attendance. Property owners and citizens from all over the community attended the meeting Feb. 17, to argue for and against the moratorium. Councilman Brent Beard, Ward 4, said in nine years, he hasn't seen greater conflict brought before the City Council. "I've had communications with people on both sides of the fence for over a month now ... and they've all been right," Beard said. "I can't argue with any of them so it makes it very difficult." Effective starting Feb. 17, there will be a temporary halt on construction of multiple unit developments. This will include apartments, condominiums or any other form of ownership or operation within the University service zoning district located east of College Street, according to city documents. Councilman Gene Dulaney, Ward 7, said this was not a result of conflict surrounding the new development at 160 N. Ross St. as many citizens against the moratorium had mentioned. "When we look at multi-unit family development ... it's not following the normal supply and demand that we typically see in a competitive market," Dulaney said. "It's not sustainable and because it's not sustainable it's creating unintended consequences that are affecting our city as a whole." The moratorium will not impact any multiple unit developments that have received a zoning certificate from the City Planning Department, a valid land disturbance permit from the City Public Works Department or a construction or building permit from the City Codes Enforcement Division on or before Feb. 17. Councilman Tommy Dawson, Ward 8, said he thought it was time to look at the issue of the moratorium from a public safety standpoint. "We have people coming to live in these apartments that have been vacated by students, that frankly, we don't want in Auburn," Dawson said. "I primarily look at the safety of these kids." City documents state that the moratorium will be in effect for six months unless it is terminated or extended by action of the City Council. Mayor Bill Ham Jr. said he believes the council had to consider the impacts of their decisions on the community 50 and 100 years from now. "This community is not going to stop growing," Ham said. "As long as (we have) the quality of life, the school system, Auburn University and all the things that are good, people will continue to want to be a part of that." Other topics at the meeting included: -The council passed an annexation for the Industrial Development Board of the City of Auburn located south of Beehive Road. It will be approximately 78.35 acres. -The council passed an agreement with the City of Opelika for a traffic signal at the intersection of Opelika Road/Pepperrell Parkway and Commerce Drive. -The council granted a retail alcoholic beverage license to University Station RV and Resort as well as a request for a retail beer and wine license for the convenience store also located on the property.
The College of Architecture's Rural Studios program is giving impoverished residents of Hale County something to be proud of. Director of Rural Studios Andrew Freear and his team of architecture students have designed and donated $20,000 homes that fit the needs of impoverished people who would otherwise be living in substandard conditions. Rural Studios has donated one house per year since the program started in 1993 for third-year architecture students who move to the rural Alabama town of Newbern for one semester to study under Freear and other faculty. But after 10 years of learning more about designing affordable housing and helping the poor, Freear said the Rural Studios team took action. "We wanted to give people a plan they could take to a contractor," Freear said. "We established the amount of $20,000 because we thought that was a mortgage payment that even the poorest of the poor could afford. Over a 30-year fixed-interest rate, the monthly payment would be $100." According to Freear, the challenge of the project has been to build something that won't deteriorate physically or lose value. Freear said he and his team focused on making the homes sustainable, affordable, heated and cooled while still retaining beauty on a limited budget. "We tried to learn a lot from antebellum homes in the area," Freear said. "They're all mostly made of wood and still standing many years later. They're sensible. They have high ceilings that allow hot air to rise and porches. So we utilized both of those things in the 20k houses to increase energy efficiency and create a welcoming effect." Conner Bailey, professor of agricultural economics and rural sociology, said many of the poorer residents of the Hale County area are forced to live in houses and mobile homes that do not provide adequate shelter because of their financial situation. Bailey said the psychological effects of having to worry about the fundamental aspects of living can make a person less productive in their pursuit of the American dream. "Owning a home gives people a sense of self-pride," Bailey said. According to Bailey, the level of substandard living in Hale County and surrounding areas in west Alabama is greater than in other areas of the state because of the area's transition from row crop farming to forestry over the course of decades. As farmers gradually left the area, a decrease in population resulted in economic decline that has yet to rebound. Audrey Hodges, Rural Studios student and senior in interior architecture, said leaving the "life of luxury" in Auburn to live in Newbern for a semester made her a better observer of how the people in the area live and affected how she interacted with the residents. "We were taught to value community there," Hodges said. "The people were so grateful to have place to take care of their families. It made me grateful for what I have."
Auburn University has been selected as one of Alabama's 2015 Green Ribbon Schools in recognition of the University's progress in environmental education and sustainability. This is the first year the state education department and the Alabama Commission for Higher Education have collectively nominated a university for the national Green Ribbon Award, according to Mike Kensler, director of the Office of Sustainability. Leonard Lock, director of instruction and special projects for the Alabama Commission on Higher Education, said Auburn integrated sustainability efforts into its overall strategic plan. "The extent of the initiatives and the documentation is extremely impressive," Lock said. Office of Sustainability program manager Amy Strickland said Auburn's sustainability programs affect all students. "What really stood out was that we have accomplished more than we could fit on the nomination application in ways that affect everyone on campus," Strickland said. Strickland said as a part of the application process, Auburn presented evidence of how they reduced their environmental impact and costs. Programs such as Tiger Transit and the newly introduced Bike Share program lower emissions, according to Strickland. Strickland said the second requirement was for Auburn to show how it improves the health and wellness of students, faculty and staff. Wellness initiatives including TigerFit, the Recreation and Wellness Center and the Med Clinic contribute to the well-being of the campus community by encouraging well-being of the mind, body and soul, according to Strickland. The final step was for Auburn to demonstrate how they have instituted effective environmental and sustainability education programs. The University has integrated sustainability into its educational programs, offering sustainability as a minor. In 2011, Auburn adopted a sustainability policy stating a commitment to environmental sustainability. This outlined a "campus master plan" for Auburn to utilize sustainability in all facets of the University, including operations, instruction, research and outreach activities. This policy details the sustainability goals of the University and assesses the progress on the goals with a commitment to continuous improvement. Auburn is a member of the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education. Through this association, Auburn was awarded a Sustainability Tracking, Assessment and Rating System Silver rating by the association for their contributions. Office of Sustainability communications and outreach manager Jennifer Morse said she sees a movement emerging that will raise awareness about sustainability on campuses across the nation. "The more frequently we highlight the programs and awards of sustainability, the more people realize that they should get on board," Morse said. Morse said the University has signed the American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment, committing to be involved in finding the answer to address global climate change. The award winners will be announced April 22 in honor of Earth Day.
The SGA Senate held their first meeting of 2015 Monday, Jan. 26, at 7:30 p.m. Treasurer Richmond Gunter introduced a plan for future SGA cabinet members to spend the $1.3 million in the student involvement reserve fund throughout the next 4 to 5 years. "The reserve fund is where student activity money goes that has not been spent by Student Activity Projects (SAPs) during the course of the year," Gunter said. "The problem is there has not been a lot of vision or planning to spend this down in a way that benefits the student body and also has an affect that lasts several years." According to Gunter, the SGA cabinet has put together a plan to spend the money in ways that would benefit future SGA members as well as the entire Auburn student body. "We wanted to be the group that sat down and put together a bold vision for the future," Gunter said. Spending would include improvements to the Student Involvement office, creating a student memorial, transforming the Student Activities Center into a functional auditorium and improvements to the Student Center. The SGA would especially like to see expansions to the Student Center, according to Gunter. "Auburn's Student Center is currently smaller than Georgia State's," Gunter said. "I think this current space underserves the students, and it will only get worse." In other Senate news: The SGA Senate introduced three proposals to be voted on next week. The first proposal, introduced by Sen. Natalie Thomley, is a proposal for SGA to add a referendum to the Spring election ballot for candidates for the 2015 Final Lecture. "The final lecture is given by a professor who has made extraordinary contributions to Auburn University," Thomley said. The second proposal is a request to change a Constitutional Amendment, which will be voted on by the student body. In order for a change, 25 percent of the student body must vote with 10 percent approval. Presented by Sen. Abby Lemons, the amendment would change the GPA requirement for joining SGA. "This amendment will propose a GPA requirement from a 2.25 to a 2.5," Lemons said. The last proposal to be voted on next week is to recognize Auburn as a Styrofoam-free campus. "This is a resolution that recognizes all the hard work put in by Tiger Dining and the Office of Sustainability to make our campus a little more environmentally friendly," said Luke Carlson, senator for sustainability.
Oysters, beer, bourbon, fresh foraged foods and scholarship money will all be on the table Jan. 30 at the Alabama Oyster Social. Acre restaurant staff is partnering with the Auburn University Shellfish Laboratory to host this event, and the proceeds will benefit the laboratory. "We're donating the money in the form of a scholarship for the professors at the shellfish laboratory and the students going into the studies of stable shellfish harvesting," said David Bancroft, chef at Acre. The event will have six different chefs, Caleb Fischer, Jason Stanhope, Adam Evans, Rob McDaniel, Wesley True and Bancroft cooking oysters in different ways. They will prepare fried oysters, chargrilled oysters with garlic and parmesan, oyster stew with chickweed and smoked ham, poached oysters with ham hock broth, a raw oyster bar, different condiments, catfish from Auburn University fisheries and shrimp. "After, obviously, Katrina and the amount of oyster farmers that were struggling, (we were) seeing the progress that they've made over the last few years and watching them with their sustainable oyster research," Bancroft said. "(I was) speaking with a few other chefs, and everybody just really agreed that it was something we wanted to highlight, such an awesome resource to have off the coast of Alabama." Bill Walton, associate professor in the School of Fisheries, Aquaculture and Aquatic Sciences, said that they will use the money for student research so they can focus on the questions that oyster farmers have. They have been looking at what is working in other places for oyster farmers and developing their own methods for better oyster farming. "Because our waters are so productive, the oysters grow fast, but so does everything else and so baskets that you're raising the oysters in will get covered up with seaweed and barnacles," Walton said. "You're spending so much time keeping them clean ... that you just weren't going to make any money." Walton said they recommend growing oysters by taking them out of the water to dry for a period of time because the oysters will survive but the things growing on them will not. Each of the oyster farmers providing oysters for the social raises their oysters in different waters and has oysters with a different taste. "Oysters, they take on the flavor of where they're grown," Walton said. "Even though they're all Alabama oysters, they're grown in three different locations. They're going to get a variety of taste." Cullan Duke, oyster farmer off the west coast of Dauphin Island, said there is a historical difference in oysters from different regions of the country. "The best part is just kind of seeing what everyone has going on in Alabama and realizing we can produce world class oysters right here in Alabama," Duke said. "What we're doing that's different is having individually named oysters from specific different kinds of microenvironments that have different tastes." They will also have drinks from Back Forty Beer, Cathead Distillery, Sazerac Bourbon, International Wine and Pinnacle Imports. The event will start at 6 p.m. and are $57.92. "My grandfather is a fish farmer in Alabama with Auburn University, and I have a brother who is a graduate of the fisheries program," Bancroft said. "Working with Auburn University fisheries has always been something important for our family."
Don Andrae, manager of Auburn University Parking Services, said Auburn University is bringing a bike-share program to campus that will enable students to borrow a bike for free for 24 hours. Sean Flood, CEO of the GOTCHA Group, founded the program known as GOTCHA Ride, an on-campus transportation system that allows passengers to tip the driver, according to Andrae. Andrae said the Gotcha Bike is the first smart bike and has an app available for Android and iOS. The app enables Parking Services and the bike user to monitor the whereabouts of the bike and control lock and unlock functions as well. "When you download the app, it's going to ask you for who you are, some address information and then it's going to ask you for some credit card information," Andrae said. "At the end of 24 hours, if you have not returned it then there will be an amount of charge. I think, right now, they are setting it maybe $4 a day." The University will purchase 75 bikes and place them at various locations across campus. The placement of the bikes will enable Parking Services to monitor where the bikes are needed most and increase or decrease the amount of bikes in that area, according to Andrae. Jennifer Morse, communications and outreach manager for the Office of Sustainability, said the Gotcha Bike is useful for many reasons. "The Gotcha Bike is good for your personal body, it's healthier, it helps society, as well with issues of obesity," Morse said. Morse said the program is economically efficient because students are not spending their money on gas and parking permits. According to Morse, the Office of Sustainability has previously worked on a project known as War Eagle Wheels, a 2013 program that never made it past the development stages. Andrae said War Eagle Wheels was not able to give a location for the bike, so students did not know where and when the bike was in use. Andrae said the service is aimed at making commuting for students more efficient. Daniel McGee, freshman in pharmacy, said the bike will come in handy when he runs into problems with his current bike. "I know some people who haven't used their bikes because they might have been broken, so they can use it as a replacement," McGee said. Andrae said the bikes will be ready for use before the end of the year. "They are going to Germany next month to finalize plans to get the bicycles produced, and I'm hoping no later than mid-June to first of July to get us implemented for fall semester," Andrae said.
The Auburn University Office of Sustainability has condensed the history of the University's sustainable resource efforts into a Prezi. The Office of Sustainability has a mission of focusing on nature, economy, society and well-being. The Office of Sustainability has a commitment to bettering individual health, fulfillment and happiness, according to Director of the Office of Sustainability Mike Kensler. According to Communications and Outreach manager Jennifer Morse, the presentation provides students with information on sustainability related organizations and initiatives they can become a part of. Morse said she hopes the presentation will give viewers information about the different aspects of sustainability and projects within the University. "This presentation doesn't even cover the full story," Morse said. "This is just a sampling of all the efforts the University has been and is currently involved in. We wanted to make this a resource of information to be made available to anyone who wants to know more about any of the aspects of sustainability." Kensler said some of the projects featured in the presentation are the increasing of energy efficiency at the Auburn Arena, Tiger Transit keeping approximately 5,000 cars off campus each day, Alabama Water Watch training students to monitor local streams and the newly introduced Gotcha bike-sharing program. "It's a comprehensive overview of a broad spectrum of sustainability projects at Auburn," Kensler said. An excerpt within the presentation from the Auburn University Sustainability Policy states, "Auburn University is committed to integrating sustainability into all aspects of the University including: operations, instruction, research and outreach activities. Auburn University considers sustainability a core value and strives for excellence in sustainability through continuous assessment and improvement." According to the Office of Sustainability's website, sustainability efforts at Auburn enhance all aspects of the University's mission of research, instruction and outreach. Chelsea Roadman, summer intern at the Office of Sustainability, said she used Prezi to create the presentation. "It's very visual and extremely effective as a story telling format," Roadman said. Morse said the Prezi shows how those four areas are connected to the components of sustainability--nature, economy, society and well-being--over the course of Auburn's history with a focus on current projects as well.
An Auburn University sophomore died after succumbing to injuries sustained in a two-car accident.
Students come to Auburn from all over the United States and the world. Sometimes maintaining long-distance romantic and platonic relationships with those back home takes a toll. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, families provide members with a sense of belonging and a distinctive identity. Families are typically a source of emotional support, comfort, and security to each member; this is why maintaining a close bond with one's family is crucial to individual growth in young adult years. "I try to call my family at least once a week," said Kaitlyn Hof-Mahoney, senior in history. "My grandmother will look out for me and text me when there is bad weather and I typically get a lot of care packages from her as well." Hof-Mahoney said she keeps close ties with her family even though she is several hours away from their Stuart, Florida home. Connor Romanelli, sophomore in business, also said he talks to his family a great deal, though he also tries to build close relationships with his college peers. "It's just as important to find people here that you are just as close with," Romanelli said. "They will become your family away from your family." Long distance friendships are also important to sustain, but can become a more complex task than just picking up the phone according to The Huffington Post. When dealing with friends your own age, their lives are often constantly changing, unlike the family always waiting at home. Long distance friendship requires constant attention, similar to that of a significant other. "I Snapchat a lot of my old friends and I try to text my really close friends at least twice a week," said Taylor Mollere, freshman in undeclared science and mathematics. Mollere is from Miami and said she rarely gets to see her old friends. Eric Turner, sophomore in aerospace engineering, said he also uses social media to stay in touch. "Social media is always fun and occasionally calling, but FaceTiming is what is really fun and a great way to keep up with each other," Turner said. Some students use breaks to see their long-distance friends, and are planning special events to catch up. "When we were in high school, we used to have Christmas parties every year," said Sami Bustos, senior in microbial, cellular and molecular biology, who is originally from the Bay Area in California. "We are having one again this year for the first time in four years. I am so excited to see what's up with all my old friends, one is married now and another one is finally coming home from studying abroad in Italy." Some students, such as Matt McCutcheon, freshman in business, have a long distance relationship with a significant other. CBS News reported up to 75 percent of college students are in a long-distance relationship at some point, making it something that affects large numbers of students. "I went to prep school in Maine last year so we were always separated by a 3.5 hour drive even then," McCutcheon.said. McCutcheon is originally from Boston, where his girlfriend still lives. "She has been able to come down two times during this football season, but it's the time in between that is hard," McCutcheon said. "FaceTime, Skype, texting, phone calls, and really expensive plane tickets is the only way to make it work."
Bill Hardgrave, dean of the Raymond J. Harbert College of Business, is making his college Styrofoam-free one ceramic mug at a time. Tiger Dining, the Office of Sustainability and the Waste Reduction and Recycling department eliminated all Styrofoam products from on-campus dining areas in August. The College of Business followed suit when Hardgrave replaced all Styrofoam cups in the Lowder break room with individual mugs for staff and faculty. According to Jeff Long, chief operation officer at the College of Business,the change from Styrofoam cups to mugs will save the college and estimated $3,000 per year. "We did an analysis that showed that we were spending a couple of thousands of dollars a year buying Styrofoam cups," Long said. "We have 150 staff and faculty here in the building, and at any given day we could easily go through 250-300 cups." The mugs cost $5, so the switch cost the college $700. The process of making Styrofoam releases toxic chemicals into the air, according to Courtney Washburn, recycling coordinator at the waste reduction and recycling department. "Making Styrofoam cups in itself is a pretty dirty process that uses chemicals that have been known to cause health issues," Washburn said. Cheryl Woodard, Outreach program specialist for the College of Business, said this change is a great way to save money while impacting the environment positively. "I love the fact that dean Hardgrave saw the amount of money the college had been spending on paper coffee cups," Woodard said. "I believe in an effort to save money and the environment, he chooses to give everyone in the college a coffee mug, which I think is great. It's great to know that our dean cares about the environment." Marketing instructor Jasmine Le said she enjoys the mugs for several reasons. "I prefer having my own cup so I can always be sure it's clean," Le said. "Also, if you have a guest and you want to offer them a cup of coffee or hot tea they can drink out of a nice, fancy cup instead of a Styrofoam cup." Long said he hopes the switch to Styrofoam cups will inspire other colleges on campus to make the same changes. "There has been a push on campus [to remove Styrofoam], and we were feeding off that idea of doing the right thing for the environment," Long said. "I think, hopefully, that when other colleges read about this, they'll start looking at their own costs of what they are spending on Styrofoam cups."
Courtney Lu, senior in chemistry, has dedicated her last three football seasons at Auburn University to help promote recycling and sustainability on campus. "I've always been involved in some kind of recycling organization since I was in elementary school," Lu said. Courtney Washburn, recycling coordinator at the Department of Waste Reduction and Recycling, said the game day recycling program celebrated its 10th season this fall. According to Washburn, the department has partnered with the athletic department to promote recycling at tailgates on game day. Washburn said the first 12 students to volunteer receive a pass into the football game. However, she said Lu volunteers even if she does not get a football game pass. Washburn said two volunteers are sent to each of the six main tailgating areas on campus to pass out recycling bags. Lu's route is Wire Road. "It doesn't matter what time it is, how bad the weather is or who we are playing, Courtney (Lu) is there and dedicated to Game Day Recycling," Washburn said. According to Lu, recycling is fulfilling to her because of the environmental impact it has. Lu said her favorite part about participating in the program is the people she has met on her route and the relationships she formed with them. "The tailgaters know her, and she knows them," Washburn said. Lu said she also tries to promote recycling when she goes home to Huntsville. Lu recruited her cousin Emily Ong, freshman in biosystems engineering, to join Game Day Recycling. Ong said Lu made her aware of the opportunity because she is always trying to get her involved on campus, and she usually says yes to everything Lu suggests. "We're very close, so it's great to get to spend time together on our two-hour route while also doing our part to promote sustainability and save the planet," Ong said. According to Washburn, building services deals with all recycling contracts on campus in some way. Washburn also said building services places 900 trashcans and 300 recycling bins on campus every game day. The goal of game day recycling is to try to promote recycling and make sure all guests on campus have an opportunity to recycle their trash, according to Washburn. Washburn said game day recycling collected 41 tons of recycled materials in 2013 with the help of Lu and other volunteers. Washburn said Lu deserves recognition for her hard work and dedication to recycling over the years because sometimes it means waking up early, and sometimes it means dealing with harsh weather. "She shows up every week with enthusiasm," Washburn said. Lu said she encourages Auburn students to join the recycling effort. "It is such a great thing to reduce waste, and do our part protect the environment," Lu said.
The Alabama Power Foundation made the largest research gift ever donated to the University, according to an announcement at the Nov. 7 meeting of the Board of Trustees. The gift will be used to honor board member Charles McCrary and create the Charles D. McCrary Institute. McCrary is a 1973 Auburn graduate in mechanical engineering and retired from Alabama Power last April as the president and chief executive officer of the company. The Institute will emphasize the advancement of research in the areas of energy security and conservation of recourses. The research on energy security will focus on the protection of the electrical power grid that supports all electricity in the United States. According to Larry Fillmer, director of program development the U.S. government has identified the electrical power grid as essential to support our quality of life. Students in the Samuel Ginn College of Engineering will be engaged in hands-on research projects in the spring. "[The grid] is a very essential element in our society and our economy that needs to be protected from cyber attacks," Fillmer said. "The research that will be done by the institute will be done to increase protection for that grid, and to increase technology that would support that kind of protection." The Institute will also open doors for the University to hire experts in the field of energy security. "It's going to help us to attract some of the world's leading experts in these areas, so we are going to have some great professors," said Christopher Roberts, dean of the College Engineering. Conservation research will take place in the School of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences and will focus on the balance of conserving natural recourses while utilizing those recourses in the most economically beneficial way. "Our state is blessed with an abundance of natural recourses," Fillmer said. "So part of the focus in this area will be how to balance the needs of development with the use of natural recourses in the state." The Institute will provide an opportunity for graduate students to work alongside professionals in the field of wildlife and forestry. "We are going to be able to do a lot more applied research related to certain commercial species of wildlife like deer," said Graeme Lockaby, dean of the School of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences. "It will update the expertise in the school as well as enable quite a few students to get their graduate education." The Institute is in its early stages, so the next step will be to expand research to other areas. "The intent is that it's a long-term institute that will expand beyond just those two focus areas," Fillmer said. "In furthering the research the institute will also focus on the economic development of the state, workforce development and sustaining an maintaining the quality of life for our citizens."
Auburn is considering instituting a moratorium that would entail a delay or suspension of the construction of new apartment buildings. A public hearing on the issue is scheduled to take place at the Auburn Chamber of Commerce at 714 E. Glenn Ave. on Monday, Nov. 17 at 6:30 p.m. Mayor Bill Ham said at the Auburn City Council meeting Nov. 4., new apartment growth was getting out of control. "I don't like the m-word, I don't like moratoriums on anything," Ham said. "I'm not proposing that we do something for a long period of time, and I don't know whether it needs to be 90 days or six months or whatever, but we need to call a timeout for just a little bit." Auburn studied how much apartment growth the city could sustain each year, 300 beds per year, according to Ham. "Since 2011, we've had about 2,200 new beds to date, and we have over 2,000 already approved, passed by the Planning Commission and the (city) council currently," Ham said. "That exceeds 300 per year by a long shot." Ham said at three times the suggested rate, it would not be long until Auburn was inundated with vacant units. "It's no secret what happens," Ham said. "Our Auburn University students move to the newest stuff and they leave in their wake the older stuff." Ham said the issue becomes a health, safety and welfare problem as the older buildings start to deteriorate. "I think there are strong feelings on both sides of the argument and the city council has made it clear that they want to hear from people so they can make an informed decision about it," said Kevin Cowper, assistant city manager. American Campus Communities, the company building the new 160 Ross apartments, as well as Serendipit Consulting, the marketing company for 319 Bragg, Auburn Reality and Northcutt Reality did not return calls by deadline
Named the greenest college campus in Alabama by The Princeton Review's 2014 Guide to Green Colleges earlier this semester, Auburn University is known for implementing sustainable practices and resources, such as Weagle Water, on-campus recycling and the removal of Styrofoam products. Auburn extended its sustainability efforts to include more specific campus areas through the Adopt-A-Spot program. The program involves certain locations around campus individuals or groups can adopt and maintain. Since the program's launch in October, 16 groups and seven individuals have adopted a spot on campus. According to the Adopt-A-Spot official website, the program is a collaborative effort between the Office of Sustainability, Landscape Services, the Waste Reduction and Recycling Department, the Administrative and Professional Assembly Welfare Committee, Staff Council, SGA and Graduate Student Council. Amy Strickland, Adopt-A-Spot committee member from the Office of Sustainability, contributed to the initial logistics of the program. "We hope to see it help to kindle a sense of community among different groups on campus," Strickland said. "Overall, I believe the program helps build that culture of sustainability at Auburn." James Smith, junior in electrical engineering and vice president of Auburn for Water, maintains the upper quad with his organization. "Although it is upsetting to see how much litter is casually tossed around our campus, it excites me to see both our group and other campus groups take the initiative to help keep our campus clean," Smith said. "Seeing students clean up after one another really solidifies the idea of the Auburn Family." Michael Freeman, chair of staff council for Adopt-A-Spot, adopted the Auburn Research Park area and along South College Street with Environmental Management and the Water Resources Institute. "It gives us a chance to get out of our normal routine and improve teamwork and interaction while helping keep out campus free of litter," Freeman said. Interested parties can request a spot by following the guidelines on the Adopt-A-Spot website.
After a nail-biting victory over Ole Miss last weekend in Oxford, No. 3 Auburn came into the afternoon as a 23.5 point favorite over an unranked and inconsistent Texas A&M team. However, Kevin Sumlin and company had other plans. In a game full of pivotal booth reviews and big plays by both offenses, the Aggies were able to capitalize on Auburn's miscues and outlast the Tigers, winning 41-38. "Obviously we are disappointed with the way the game finished." Coach Malzahn said, "Our kids fought back. We got in a hole early and they had a lot of momentum." Auburn's home game winning streak ends at 14, and the Tigers will fall to 7-2 on the season with the health of their star receiver D'haquille Williams in question. In the second quarter, Williams went down with an apparent knee injury and left the field on crutches assisted by the medical staff. He did not return to the game.
The Rhodes Scholarship is the oldest international fellowship award in the world. Each year, 32 people are selected as Rhodes Scholars, according to its website. Richmond Gunter * Richmond Gunter, senior in finance, is set to graduate in May. Gunter said he hopes to attend law school and dreams of serving others through public service. * "The Lord opened this door for me and has allowed me to walk through it," Gunter said. "The Rhodes Scholarship could be a great stepping stone for me to develop my skills to the fullest so I can best serve others." Azeem Ahmed * Azeem Ahmed, is a recent alumnus in finance with a minor in sustainability. He said he aspires to go to medical school. * "I'm very interested in making sure every child has the nutrients they need," Ahmed said. "If I could help feed 14 million people before I even had a college degree, I'm excited and thankful for this opportunity, and I can't imagine how many more people I could feed when I have an even better education." Tofey Leon * Tofey Leon, senior in biomedical science, said he has a concentration in pre-medicine. * "You just never know what could happen," Leon said. "This process has taught me a lot about myself and what my future goals are. It will greatly influence my ability to have an impact as a physician, no matter what the outcome." Tekisha Rice * Tekisha Rice, senior in human development and family studies, said she was excited when she was sought out to apply to be a Rhodes Scholar. * "Even if I don't receive a scholarship, this has been the best opportunity," Rice said. "It's made me a better writer and has helped me self-reflect on what I want to do with my life." David Shuckerow * David Shuckerow, senior in computer science, said he dreams of producing technology that solves real problems. * "I want to create technology that changes the way people do things for the better," Shuckerow said. "I've always been a people person, and I'm very focused on trying to create the most value for the people I know." Alyssa White * Alyssa White is an alumna in anthropology and Spanish with a minor in Asian studies. White currently resides in the United Kingdom. * "This is a once in a lifetime experience," White said. "There's a professor of archaeology at Oxford who could expand my education farther than I've ever imagined." Peter Lund * Peter Lund, senior in finance, said he hopes to work with start-up companies and help them become successful businesses when he graduates in May. * "It's been a blessing that I was able to apply for this opportunity," Lund said. "Even if I don't get accepted for this, that's not the end, I'll just have to find a different way to get there." Patrick Young * Patrick Young, senior in biomedical science, is expected to graduate in May. Young said applying for the scholarship was one of the best things he ever did. * "My dream is to do a medical administration to better international and developing countries," Young said. "That is the vision I have, and I hope this opportunity will help me pursue it."
