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(06/21/13 5:28pm)
The single largest donation in University history was officially announced during the Auburn University Board the morning of Friday, June 21.
After a unanimous vote to approve the $40 million donation, the College of Business received a new name and a boost towards its vision of national prominence.
The college will now be known as the Raymond J. Harbert College of Business following the historic financial commitment from the Birmingham-based CEO and outgoing president pro tempore on the Board of Trustees.
"This really is a significant change for us, going from an unnamed College of Business to the Raymond J. Harbert College of Business," said Bill Hardgrave, dean of the College of Business. "Over time, what we hope to see is that migration from the Raymond J. Harbert College of Business to eventually what we see with others now, that (the name) just becomes Harbert... and that attracts great students."
Harbert, a 1982 Auburn graduate, serves as chairman and CEO of Harbert Management Corporation, an independent investment firm.
According to U.S. News & World Report, 42 of the top 50 ranked business schools in America are named after benefactors. Auburn College of Business officials believe this gift and name change will give the college a new level of prestige.
"There's a tremendous sense of pride in having the college named for me and it being there after I'm long gone," Harbert said. "The bigger sense of pride will be watching (Hardgrave) implement this vision and watching it become successful. When we are talking about the Harbert College in the same vein as some of the other well-known and great business schools, that will be when I'm particularly proud."
Hardgrave said Harbert's donation will strengthen the college's position as a national leader in many different ways, from creating national eminent scholar chairs for top faculty members to forming a doctoral program in finance.
"It is extremely gratifying to have this opportunity to help move Auburn forward, and I look forward to Dean Hardgrave making these improvements," Harbert said. "I have always felt that college was a place to explore and find out who you are, and I hope this gift will allow Auburn to seek out professors who will challenge the students to be the best they can be."
A $15 million matching gift was included in the $40 million donation, challenging other alumni to partner with Harbert in helping the College of Business achieve these goals.
"(The matching gift) is a very generous thing for Mr. Harbert to do," Hardgrave said. "This allows us to go out now and get those funds in order to grow our endowment. We just went out these last few weeks and already have had three people give at least $1 million as part of this matching campaign.
"So when we talk about a $40 million gift, it really becomes a $55 million gift by the time we're all said and done."
Harbert and his wife Kathryn were presented a gavel made out of the wood from the Toomer's Oaks as a gift of appreciation for his record-setting donation.
(06/19/13 10:13pm)
One year ago, I met the most hated man in Auburn.
I was nervous, inexperienced and had just begun my first semester as community news editor for The Plainsman.
He was on trial, unhealthy and understandably miserable.
Despite all of this, Harvey Updyke was nothing short of polite.
We spoke for a time about a variety of topics. I learned we're both Louisiana residents. In fact, he and his wife, Elva, have a house about 45 minutes west of my parents'.
I also learned he and an unnamed accomplice did, indeed, poison the Toomer's oak trees.
Even so, we smiled, shook hands and Elva and I exchanged contact information to do a feature on Updyke in the future.
None of us knew we would never speak again.
None of us understood the price of being honest.
Much has changed since June 19, 2012, when Updyke confessed his guilt to me during his own jury selection, and most who care know the rest of the story.
I published an article detailing the confession and was subsequently subpoenaed and placed under a gag order. After Updyke's attorney called me a liar, my name was apparently changed to "student journalist" and The Plainsman then became "Auburn's student-run newspaper." Under the gag order, I was defenseless.
But that's not the issue. Updyke has now served his sentence, the trees have been removed and I can now speak and write freely once more.
A year removed, I will say this: I imagined the day going much differently before I spoke to Updyke.
I saw Updyke for the first time earlier that day. Judge Jacob Walker read the charges against Updyke, and with each word, Updyke's eyelids drooped lower and his breathing became more labored.
After tweeting the observation and having it questioned, I went to the source. The Updykes stood by themselves outside the elevator at the Lee County Justice Center. I had left everything but my cell phone in my bag. Not wanting to miss the opportunity, I settled for texting quotes and notes to myself.
Updyke confirmed that he felt ready to "pass out" all morning, and the two were more than candid about Updyke's somewhat publicized health issues.
The numbers alone were staggering: 62 pounds lost since his arrest, 18 different medications in his system and thousands of Auburn fans clamoring for him to end his days in a cell.
Numerous stories portraying his mistakes had poured from the media outlets (including The Plainsman) almost daily. But part of journalism is occasionally advocating for the devil, and I wanted Auburn to know the man being demonized.
The father whose daughter would no longer speak to him. The Alabama fan whose beloved university banned him from its campus, stadiums included.
To me, it was only fair.
The chance for a sympathetic piece passed by when his candor spread to the crime he had pleaded innocent of. When he admitted he was involved in the incident, he said that was all he would say about the matter. And yet the question came to my lips anyway as a sort of due diligence, anticipating a "no comment."
"So, what happened that night?"
In this case, the former Texas state trooper was a straight shooter: "Did I do it? Yes."
Harvey and Elva watched as I took notes on my phone. Even so, we said farewell amicably and left on good terms. I had just met with the most despised man on The Plains, and I left with sympathy for the devil. Not to mention an obligation to create more mayhem in an already difficult situation.
Maybe it was all an orchestrated plot to change the venue or add credibility to his insanity defense. Perhaps Updyke truly had given up.
Whatever the reason, as a journalist, his confession was breaking news, immeasurably more important than any softer feature story.
As an Auburn man, the destruction of the historic oaks was deserving of punitive measures. And yet, I couldn't help but feel sorry for the man. I still do. Had I never spoken to Harvey Updyke, the biased Tiger in me would most likely still loathe him.
Updyke still has an elephant's share of lawsuits to deal with, but one year later, I can only hope he's beginning to get his life back together.
(06/20/13 1:30am)
Spring practice has passed, and as fall practice approaches, a glaring question has yet to be answered.
Who will be the starting quarterback?
Many thought this decision would have been made before the end of spring practice, especially with Gus Malzahn's "chosen one," Kiehl Frazier, competing for the job.
But spring is gone, and neither Frazier, nor Jonathan Wallace showed the coaching staff enough for them to pull the trigger and name a starting quarterback.
Frazier has the benefit of being hand-chosen by Malzahn to run this offense and has been playing in this offense his whole life.
"I definitely feel more comfortable in this offense," Frazier said after A-Day. "This is the system that I ran in high school and what I expected to run when I got to Auburn."
But Frazier has continuously shown he is a timid quarterback, and this tendency continued during the A-Day scrimmage.
However, he has also shown some bright spots. He has an extremely strong arm and some athletic ability, which he showed with his touchdown throw to Emory Blake against Clemson, and his Hail Mary against Louisiana Monroe.
But his inability to make quick decisions has handicapped him throughout his career so far.
If he can fix this flaw in his game, then he will finally be able to show off the strengths people saw in him when he was a high school star.
His competitor and teammate, Wallace, also has a lot of upside. He has shown he can lead even in tough situations. With his tireless work ethic, Wallace focuses on every detail to make him and his team better.
"That's the only way I'm going to get better," Wallace said. "I can't focus on one or two things, I need to focus on everything and look at the big picture."
Wallace also has some big issues. He lacks the ideal size for an SEC quarterback, at 209 pounds, while Frazier is 234 pounds and has a better frame to withstand an SEC schedule. Wallace also only has average throwing capabilities, with decent arm strength and accuracy, but neither are exceptional.
If Auburn wants to be a better football team in 2013, Frazier is going to have to step up and improve on his decision-making abilities. He is the only quarterback Auburn has right now with the basic abilities to succeed in this conference.
Newcomers Nick Marshall and Jeremy Johnson have things to bring to the table to compete in fall camp, but right now they are not the answer to Auburn's effort to improve the quarterbacks.
Marshall is unproven. In fact, no one knows what he will be able to do to help the Tigers.
Johnson has a bright future ahead of him, but he will not be ready this season.
If one of the newcomers starts this season, it will only be an average year for the Tigers.
Will Frazier step up, improve on his decision-making and seize the job he was recruited for?
We will see in fall camp.
(06/17/13 7:29pm)
As college students, we are educated on numerous subjects, some resulting from our choosing, but most from the University curriculum's choosing.
(06/17/13 5:15pm)
After wrapping up a collegiate career that would be the envy of any college student, recent Auburn graduate Blanche Alverson has even loftier aspirations in mind. While adding to a list of accolades including being named Miss Homecoming and the 2012 SEC women's basketball scholar-athlete of the year may seem to be a daunting task, Alverson seems to be up to the challenge.
After signing a training camp contract with the WNBA's Atlanta Dream in early May, she stayed with the team for a week and a half, appearing in two preseason games: one against the Tulsa Shock in Oklahoma and another versus the Brazilian national team in Atlanta. While Alverson's stay with the Dream wasn't a lengthy one, her International Basketball Federation accredited agent, Auburn alumnus and brother, William Alverson, said her experience with the WNBA team was crucial for her development as a player.
"Even though she wasn't with the Dream for very long, she was a great teammate to all of them. It was also good to see her succeed in the fast-paced system most WNBA teams run. She was only in that type of system for (her senior) season at Auburn, but in those two preseason games, she was able to not only play, but play well," William said. "After talking to the Dream officials, they made it very clear that it was an extremely difficult decision to let her go, but she definitely exceeded their expectations and proved that she belonged with players of that caliber."
Using her positive experience with the Dream as a springboard, Blanche has since been negotiating a contract with a professional team in Europe. Though the final details haven't been set in stone, she will be joining the team in September.
"I'll be playing (in Europe) for at least a year, depending on how the season goes," Blanche said. "If I go over and have a great season in Europe and am presented with an opportunity to keep playing, then I'll do that. But that will just have to be a decision I make when that time comes."
While Blanche is fully prepared to continue her professional basketball career, she is more than willing and able to pursue other options if she feels that is the right career move at that time. She boasted a 3.68 grade-point average in biomedical sciences at Auburn and hopes to one day enroll in medical school to fulfill her life-long dream of becoming a pediatrician.
"Regardless, I'll probably end up in medical school," Blanche said. "I think that long-term I want to be a pediatrician."
While the past few months have been a whirlwind for both Alversons, the brother-sister duo agreed being able to work so closely with one another has been the most gratifying aspect of the entire process.
"While she was not my first client, she was the first international contract I did," William said. "It was really cool to be able to go through that process with my sister. I've got a little more comfort with her background than with my other clients, and knowing I'm able to help put her in a good situation has been really rewarding."
When asked what it has been like working hand-in-hand with William, Blanche had nothing but good things to say about the comfort level her brother has afforded her with.
"It's been awesome. It's been so much easier to work with him, because we obviously have that previous relationship," Blanche said. "I think it's brought us closer, and I know that he'll always be honest with me. I know that he'll do whatever it takes for me to be put in the best situation to succeed."
William has been equally impressed with Blanche's seemingly seamless transition from college star to professional athlete.
"She's a hard worker and follows through on everything she says she is going to do," William said. "She juggles around so much. It's really quite impressive that she never drops the ball on anything. If I tell her that she's got to be at a workout, she's there early and always stays late. I've just been impressed to see her grow, not only as a basketball player, but as a person."
(06/16/13 9:17pm)
Athletics Director Jay Jacobs announced Sunny Golloway has been named Auburn's next baseball coach Friday, June 14.
This was the second hire of the day after Jacobs hired Clint Myers as the new softball coach earlier Friday afternoon.
Golloway has spent the past eight seasons as the head coach at the University of Oklahoma, and has led the Sooners to seven NCAA regional berths, four NCAA super-regionals and the 2010 College World Series.
In his introductory press conference Saturday, June 15, Golloway said there were two things that secured his interest in being Auburn's next baseball coach. The first was the Auburn community, its people and traditions, and the second was Jacobs.
"The minute I met Jay Jacobs I knew," Golloway said. "When I met Jay I knew there was a commitment to winning championships, and sometimes when you sit down with people you hit it off and you know."
Jacobs said Golloway possessed everything he was looking for in a new baseball coach.
"When we started out we wanted to hire a coach that was a proven winner and someone that had a proven track record of developing players," Jacobs said. "Sunny has had more than 100 players drafted and he's been to 14 of the last 15 regionals. That's really important, but we have all come to admire about coach is his character and integrity. He wants to invest in these young men's lives. Not just on the baseball diamond, but also in their life."
Golloway said he has had other opportunities to make a move and come to the SEC, but the time was never right. After his success in Okla., Golloway said it didn't seem like he would ever leave.
"I know in my gut when to make the pitching change, when to make the hit and run, when to lay down a bunt and I also know when to make a move," Golloway said. "We've been offered opportunities to come to the SEC conference in the past and it wasn't the right time in life."
Golloway also said that the recruiting hotbed of the SEC is another reason why he decided to make the move.
"I know we are in a hotbed for baseball talent and we are going to be able to bring those Athletes to Auburn," Golloway said. "We know Atlanta and we know the East Cobb League and there isn't a quality team in the country that doesn't. It's been hard to pull those players out of the SEC, so these players are going to desire coming to Auburn. I can only imagine what it's going to be like on football game day and we are recruiting them."
Golloway plans to take time to celebrate Father's Day with his family and then work on hiring a coaching staff, meeting with the current players and begin to start building relationships with recruits.
He also said he has brought some assistant coaches with him from Okla. and they will decide if they want to join him at Auburn.
"They've got to make sure their family is on board before I actually announce them, but everything looks really good," Golloway said.
His coaching philosophy is simple, but he also believes that you have to be open to change if you want to keep up in college baseball.
"Pitching and defense are what win championships, there is no doubt about that," Golloway said. "But, you have to be able to score some runs once the pitching and defense is shutting them down. Pitching and defense has definitely changed over the years and you have to be able to change with it."
With the SEC putting nine teams into postseason play and two in the College World Series, Golloway knows that he has a tough task ahead.
"Being in the SEC is very appealing to anybody in the country," Golloway said. "This is without question the best conference in America, and we're really looking forward to the challenge."
Golloway said he is looking forward to what Auburn has to offer, and what he can bring to the table.
"I'm really excited about this opportunity because I've always held the Auburn baseball program in very high regard," Golloway said.
(06/06/13 6:45pm)
The Golf Coaches Association of America announced Friday, May 31, senior Dominic Bozzelli and sophomore Michael Johnson were named to the Division I PING All-Region Team after their performances in the NCAA Championship earlier in the week.
(05/23/13 5:31pm)
Pitcher Conner Kendrick's lights-out performance against No. 11 Arkansas Thursday, May 16 couldn't have come at a better time for his team, and he was handed the SEC Pitcher of the Week award because of it.
(05/21/13 11:42pm)
Auburn second baseman Jordan Ebert was named SEC Freshman of the Week on Monday, May 13, after a breakout week that helped Auburn go 4-1.
(05/16/13 12:14am)
"You want to see my daily ritual?" Wayne Keith asked with a smirk.
(04/27/13 7:07pm)
There's a reason why Auburn is called the loveliest village on the Plains: its natural beauty.
(04/26/13 8:43am)
After serving 10 years as a community gathering and one of Auburn's favorite subcultural hubs, The Gnu's Room is closing its doors.
(04/26/13 8:33am)
Stephen Malkoff, auburn alum, has returned to his roots to draw Toomer's Oaks.
"I'm an Auburn man and I've played football at Auburn and I've studied architecture at Auburn," Malkoff said. "I'm a tree artist, which is kind of unusual. They're not many people that specialize in drawing trees, so it makes sense that I'll be the one drawing the trees."
Immediately after graduation, Malkoff decided that he did not want to pursue his architecture career.
"When I came home from Auburn I met my wife. I became a starving artist," Malkoff said.
Malkoff started drawing trees when he created a piece for his wife and his one-year anniversary.
"There's an old oak tree they call the Ole Oak in Geneva, Ala," Malkoff said. "She loves the tree and it's where we go to get away from the hustle and bustle of life. I thought, 'You know what, I'm going to draw that tree for her.'"
When Malkoff started working on the rendering of the Ole Oak he found his calling.
"It's kind of weird how sometimes in life you don't really know your destiny or calling, but drawing that tree for my wife ended up being my career," Malkoff said.
Malkoff strictly uses pencils for his tree drawings.
"I love pencil," Malkoff said. "I just love pencil because it's so pure. What you see is what you get. I love the fact that I'm a modern artist and the drawings I do are modern works of art, but when you look at them they look like they could have been done hundreds of years ago."
After he created the piece for his wife, Malkoff began to draw other iconic trees across the country.
"I drew the tree that Walt Disney played on as a boy," Malkoff said. "It's a giant cottonwood tree in Marceline, Mo. and I drew the tree that George Washington planted at Mount Vernon. I stayed at Mount Vernon as a guest and that was just an incredible experiment."
Malkoff was not expecting to draw the Toomer's Oaks for a while until he got a call about the poisoning.
"First I didn't believe it," Malkoff said. "I'm thinking it's a joke and then I'm thinking 'You know what this is for real.' So I grab my camera and I head to Auburn to photograph the trees."
Malkoff photographed the oaks in winter of 2011 and started drawing them during the summer of 2011. The final prints were released in fall 2011.
"I marketed the prints on my own, but I felt like it was time to do something with our alumni association to preserve the memory of The Oaks and to raise money for scholarships," Malkoff said.
The original drawing is currently located in President Jay Gogue's home.
"One day my hope is that it will hang in the Jules Colins Smith Museum of Art where more people can see my work," Malkoff said. "Most of my drawings are in private collections, but I'm always honored when the public can see my work."
While at Auburn, Malkoff said he took rolling Toomer's Trees for granted.
"You don't think of the not being here," Malkoff said. "I loved rolling the trees and what an awesome unique tradition. I can't think of any other university flying an eagle before every game, the Tiger Walk and watching the band march in. And then after a victory, you can go roll some trees without getting arrested."
Malkoff said he does not even like to say Udyke's name.
"I feel bad for the guy because there are certain people that determine their self-worth depending on an event or relationship," Malkoff said. "I determine my self-worth on who my creator is. Some people just take it too far and the trees were an easy target."
Malkoff said Auburn made a tremendous effort to save the trees.
"Alabama folks came to help save the trees too," Malkoff said. "The University of Alabama folks that get it and understand tradition, they came through for us."
To purchase the renderings of Toomer's Oaks visit Malkoff's website, Tiger30.com, or call his gallery at (888) 410-3559.
(04/24/13 5:27pm)
Although A-Day has come and gone with this past weekend, the Auburn Tigers were back on the practice field Tuesday and Wednesday morning, making them the last SEC team still holding spring practice.
(04/21/13 12:27am)
After a rough start for Auburn's offense during the A-Day scrimmage they were able to settle down and bounce back for a good day and have some new players step up and begin making a name for themselves.
(04/19/13 2:28pm)
They never achieved any feats on the football field to compare with the likes of Pat Sullivan, Bo Jackson and Cam Newton, and they never led groups of young men to victory as Ralph "Shug" Jordan and Pat Dye did, yet they are as much a part of Auburn football history as any of them.
(04/17/13 4:10am)
Patrick Donnan, junior in physics and music, was recently awarded the Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship to help fund a year of his undergraduate studies at Auburn University.
(04/18/13 6:05pm)
After 30 years of teaching, Ed Williams, journalism professor, is retiring.
(04/16/13 2:44pm)
Nashville-based band Humming House took the stage Saturday, April 13 at The Railyard after Tedo Stone opened at 9:00 p.m. Full of energy and offering a variety sounds from Irish pub influences to ukelele accompaniments, Humming House doesn't disappoint. The show served as an after party to weekend-long Alabama G.O.A.L Fest - a local non-profit organization aimed toward encouraging the community to 'go out and live' by hosting trail runs, criterium bike races and more. Lead singer and lyricist Justin Wade Tam recently visited WEGL Radio's recording studio where The Plainsman caught up with him.
(04/13/13 6:40am)
Auburn UPC's most recent Tiger Nights event, Cirque d' Auburn, entranced audiences and raised the standard for student events to new heights. The Cirque du Soleil inspired circus and carnival event took place Friday, April 12 at the student center from 7:00 p.m.-midnight.
