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(08/23/14 12:00pm)
Students who live in the Hill dormitories are often plagued by problems, from technical issues to unsightly rooms.
Ward Taliaferro, sophomore in architecture, lived in the Hill's Graves Hall during his freshman year.
"The paint in the rooms was chipping, there was mold in the showers, the power failed every now and then and, sometimes, the hallways smelled pretty bad too." Taliaferro said. "The walls were thin so one loud neighbor was extremely audible. It was always hot and everyone always had their windows open and fans in their rooms."
According to Taliaferro, however, the Hill did have one redeeming quality.
"The convenience and proximity to campus almost made everything worth it," Taliaferro said. "It was quite the experience."
Major renovations for the Hill will be taking place as soon as next year.
Jim Carroll, university architect, said he and his team have very long-term goals for the project.
"It is just time for the buildings to be renovated," Carroll said. "We want these buildings to be around for a very long time, so we have to occasionally do some work on them."
According to Carroll, there are a lot of changes that need to be made.
"The units themselves, the mechanical systems and most of the technical engineering systems are definitely in need of renovation," Carroll said. "We will also be looking to clean up the interior, so we will be looking from an architectural perspective as well. It is a systemic renovation."
According to Carroll, the renovation will also affect areas that were once used for Greek organizations.
"It will go through all the units, even the public spaces and the formerly used chapter rooms, which are on the ground floors."
However, the renovations are expected to take at least a few years.
According to Bob Ritenbaugh, associate vice president for Auxiliary Services, this is because of a high on-campus housing demand, especially for freshmen.
"Unfortunately, we have to stretch it out," Ritenbaugh said. "There is a real demand for housing for freshmen that first year. We do not have the luxury to just wipe out more than 300 beds per year because we need them for freshmen. We really need every bed to make sure we meet all of their needs."
According to Ritenbaugh, the project will be completed in multiple phases.
"During each phase, we will take two or three buildings offline," Ritenbaugh said.
Also included in the renovation is a popular student eatery.
"When the renovation is over, we will have renovated all the buildings in the Hill and Terrell Dining Hall."
Ritenbaugh said he thinks all the hard work will pay off.
"We all understand the need for it," Ritenbaugh said.
According to Ritenbaugh, the Hill's renovation is long overdue.
"The last time the buildings were renovated was about 25 years ago, so it is something that is needed," Ritenbaugh said. "We need to get those buildings up to a good standard."
The project is set to begin immediately after students move out of the dorms for summer break.
"This academic year is when we will do some planning and testing of the issues we expect to encounter," Ritenbaugh said."So the first phase will start sometime in May after this year's students move out."
(08/22/14 4:00pm)
An Auburn University student has been diagnosed with an active case of pulmonary tuberculosis Thursday, Aug. 14.
Pam Barrett, director of the tuberculosis control office of the Alabama Department of Public Health, said approximately 90 people have been in close contact with the individual.
"The individual has active, contagious TB," Barrett said. "The people we identified as being in closest contact with that individual were notified yesterday through email. Those people are scheduled to be tested Tuesday."
According to Barrett, it will take all of Tuesday to evaluate the test results.
"It will take about three days for the results to come back," Barrett said.
Many Auburn students probably remember being tested for tuberculosis before enrollment. According to Barrett, this is not a test for active TB.
"They just tell us if you have been around someone with TB and picked up that the germ," Barrett said. "Most Alabama schools require skin or blood tests of students before they enter. I know Auburn does."
Barrett said tuberculosis is only spread through the air.
"TB is a bacteria that spreads through the air when someone shares air for an extended period of time in an enclosed area," Barrett said. "It is not highly contagious like chicken pox or the flu where you can just touch something and catch it. It is not something you would get in passing, or just with casual exposure."
Worldwide, tuberculosis kills approximately 1.3 million people every year and is the world's second deadliest infectious disease.
However, only a tiny percentage of those deaths come from the United States.
Jan King, Auburn University Medical Clinic's Nursing Manager, said Auburn students have no reason to worry for their safety.
"The general population of Auburn should not be concerned about catching tuberculosis," King said. "We've notified everyone who needs to be notified. We are working really closely with the Alabama Public Health Department."
For updates on the patient tuberculosis results visit ThePlainsman.com.
(08/14/14 6:23pm)
An Auburn University student has been diagnosed with an active case of pulmonary tuberculosis Thursday, Aug. 14.
Pam Barrett, director of the tuberculosis control office of the Alabama Department of Public Health, said about 90 people have been in close contact with the individual.
"The individual has active, contagious TB," Barrett said. "The people we identified as being in closest contact with that individual were notified yesterday through email. Those people are scheduled to be tested Tuesday."
Many Auburn students probably remember being tested for tuberculosis before enrollment. According to Barrett, this is not a test for active TB.
"They just tell us if you have been around someone with TB and picked up that the germ," Barrett said. "Most Alabama schools require skin or blood tests of students before they enter. I know Auburn does."
Barrett said tuberculosis is only spread through the air.
"TB is a bacteria that spreads through the air when someone shares air for an extended period of time in an enclosed area," Barrett said. "It is not highly contagious like chicken pox or the flu where you can just touch something and catch it. It is not something you would get in passing, or just with casual exposure."
Worldwide, tuberculosis kills about 1.3 million people every year and is the world's second deadliest infectious disease.
However, only a tiny percentage of those deaths come from the United States.
Jan King, Auburn University Medical Clinic's Nursing Manager, said Auburn students have no reason to worry for their safety.
"This is an isolated incident," King said. "The general population of Auburn should not be concerned about catching tuberculosis. We are taking all precautions, and we've notified everyone who needs to be notified. We are working really closely with the Alabama Public Health Department."
(05/19/14 11:51pm)
If you had told me senior year of high school that I would soon be a member of a sorority, I would've laughed at you. Not that I had anything against Greek life - I didn't know enough about it to form an opinion.
From what I had seen and heard, it just wasn't for me. I spent four years of high school trying to avoid anything even remotely resembling a "swap" or a "social" and now I was expected to voluntarily pay money for them?
Besides, the idea of being defined by a few letters creeped me out.
But when summer rolled around, something started to happen. Instead of enjoying their last few months at home, my friends were spending all their time freaking out about rush, or as it's formally known, sorority recruitment. They didn't have enough recommendations, their new Lilly Pulitzer dress just didn't fit quite right or, God forbid, someone Instagrammed a picture of them with a drink in their hand.
At first I was actually embarrassed for them. How could someone spend so much time worrying about something so trivial? But then I realized-when we started school in the fall, I would be the only person I knew who was not involved in the Greek system. I had no idea how I would spend my time or even who I would spend it with.
So, very begrudgingly, I signed up for recruitment.
On the first day, I tried to have a positive attitude. How bad could it be? I mean, thousands of girls do it every year, right? But as soon as I got to my first party, I knew I was in for a rough week. I was met at the door by a group of jumping, screaming girls. The looks on their faces were somewhere between "Oh my gosh, I'm so excited you're here!" and "Oh my gosh, I'm clinically insane!"
I went from party to party, having the same conversations.
"Wait, you're a journalism major? No way! My sister's friend's boyfriend's cousin majored in journalism!"
The whole thing stressed me out. The word "awkward" is thrown around a lot these days, but there really is not a better word to describe how I behave in situations like this. I was tired, sweaty and annoyed. While the other girls in my Pi Chi group giddily discussed which sororities they wanted to keep and wanted to drop, all I really wanted to do was nap.
Half way through the week, I got sick. I can't tell you if it was because I was actually sick, or because my body literally couldn't handle the stress I was under.
So I quit.
It wasn't that difficult of a decision. I hated Recruitment, so I was bound to hate being in a sorority. A couple weeks of school went by and everything was fine. All my friends were busy getting to know their new pledge sisters, but I had classes to worry about so I didn't really notice. Eventually, however, I started to get kind of lonely.
Then I got an email about continuous open bidding, or a very informal version of Recruitment. The way it works is you get to know a couple members of a sorority, and if they like you, they give you a bid. Still unsure about the whole thing, I put my name on the list.
The first sorority to contact me happened to have been my favorite during recruitment. The conversation had been easy, or as easy as forced conversation can be and I had a very personal connection to its philanthropy. After a couple days, I accepted their bid.
After all this, I still wasn't sure I made the right decision.
Everyone I met seemed so confident, well mannered and polished all the time. I didn't know if I would ever be able to fit in with this crowd.
Pretty soon, though, I realized there were girls in my pledge class that were just as weird and lost as me.
I'm now great friends with people I never would've met if I hadn't joined a sorority.
So, in the end, it was the best choice for me.
However, just because it was right for me doesn't mean it will be right for someone else.
There's a common misconception, especially for women in the south, that you have to be in a sorority.
That if you're not in one, you don't have an identity.
That somehow you're an incomplete person if you don't have Greek letters on your t-shirt.
Those things are absolutely, without a doubt, not true.
Yes, joining a sorority has a lot of benefits. Members form great friendships, do a lot of hard work for deserving philanthropies and tend to have relatively high GPAs.
But there are so many other ways to get involved at Auburn. Don't feel pressured to do something you don't want to do just because it feels like you have to.
I love the people I've met through my sorority, and I'm proud to wear my letters. But those things are not the end-all, be-all of my existence and they most certainly do not define me.
(05/02/14 8:15pm)
Non-enrolled students who continue to live in Auburn over the summer will have to pay a one-time fee of $200 or make payments of $66 per month if they wish to use the Campus Recreation Center.
According to Leanne Greene, assistant director of marketing for the Campus Recreation Center, there is a reason behind this.
"Enrolled students pay a fee every semester to use the facility through tuition and fees," Greene said.
Greene also said the classes offered will remain the same, and there will be new additions to the class schedule.
"The variety of classes offered does not change," Greene said. "Our classes vary each semester depending on space and instructor availability. We are currently working on the schedule for summer, but the exciting news is that we are launching several new formats including "Bounce," using mini trampolines, athletic conditioning, Zumba Step and more. We are looking forward to offering aqua classes this summer as well."
Greene said she hopes this summer will bring students to enjoy the new facility.
"We are excited about the variety of offerings made available to our students, as the Recreation and Wellness Center has become a destination built around their lifestyle and wellness needs," Greene said. "They have been so supportive, and we are hopeful that all of our students will come by this summer and enjoy the many amenities and programming opportunities we are working daily to provide."
Sarah Files, junior in human development and family studies, said she has worked at the Campus Recreation Center for a year.
"I love working there," Files said. "I work with other students and have really great bosses. They are very flexible with our hours and they understand that school comes first."
According to Files, the fee is necessary for non-enrolled students.
"Students enrolled in classes have a $200 fee in their tuition that pays for them to use the rec center," Files said. "So, to be fair, students who are not enrolled in classes are required to pay for a membership at the same cost. A lot of students don't realize this and they think they are having to pay more, but they really aren't."
Despite the reasoning behind the fee, many Auburn students are unhappy or unwilling to pay the $200.
Hannah Como, freshman in nursing, is living in Auburn over the summer.
Como said she thinks the $200 charge will hurt business.
"I think the fee will lead to less people using the facility," Como said. "I think that students should have the same access to the rec as they do during the school year. This will just cause people to go elsewhere."
Aside from the fee, almost everything else about the Campus Recreation Center will remain the same over the summer.
Taylor Coleman, senior in accounting, has worked with campus recreation for the past four years.
Coleman said not much changes during the summertime.
"Everything is about the same, but we have shorter hours," Coleman. "Not too many people stay over the summer, so we usually have a decrease of people coming in. Almost everything that is offered during the school year is offered in the summer."
(04/25/14 1:30pm)
Many people look at college as a 4-year job requirement. Others, however, choose to enroll in graduate school after they get their bachelor's degree.
Auburn University offers graduate degrees in more than 100 areas.
Chris Anthony, the graduate school's communications and marketing specialist, said graduate programs are more intense than undergraduate programs.
"You delve even deeper into the subject matter," Anthony said. "Really, it is for students who are really adept at critical thinking and problem solving. Those are the kind of students we encourage to apply to graduate school."
Recently, many of Auburn's graduate programs ranked high on U.S. News and World Report's list of best graduate programs.
Online graduate programs in Raymond J. Harbert College of Business, Auburn University's College of Education and Samuel Ginn College of Engineering were among the top programs.
According to Theresa Morgan, director of graduate admissions, criteria for admissions depend on the school.
"It varies by program," Morgan said. "The graduate school looks at your GPA, and if you're an international student, your English proficiency scores. For departments, however, it varies by program and they have a wide array of criteria. They can look at your grades, your prior research, letters of recommendation, if there is a professor in the same area of research, things like that."
George Flowers, dean of the graduate school and professor of mechanical engineering, said the graduate program application process differs from the undergraduate application process.
"Graduate applications are processed at two levels," Flowers said. "The way undergraduate applications are processed, they are really processed centrally, independent of the colleges and schools. A student applies to graduate schools, and we receive those applications. But the individual departments first review those applications."
According to Flowers, Auburn's graduate programs stand out.
"Auburn has outstanding graduate programs in education, English, the sciences, business, the humanities and the social sciences," Flowers said. "They are really good across the board. The goal of those programs is to provide a positive experience to the students and you can receive a very good grad education."
Even though they are based on the same campus, Auburn's undergraduate and graduate programs are different in a lot of ways.
Kara White, graduate student ambassador for pharmacy, said graduate school is slightly more difficult.
"You have to meet the requirements and you're held to a higher standard," White said. "It's more of a relaxed setting, but it requires more of you than undergrad does."
White said she has advice for people who are starting out in graduate school.
"Get to know your professors," White said. "Your classes are small enough so you can meet them. Also, get to know your colleagues. They probably have a lot of valuable insight for you."
Tausif Muzaffar, graduate student ambassador for computer science and software engineering, said it is important for graduate students to balance their social life with their education.
"Make sure you keep a good balance," Muzaffar said. "I know it's easy with grad school to get caught up in your research or your projects. Luckily, I went to undergrad at Auburn, too, so I knew people, and I knew what everything was like. Of course, it's important to stay involved and to stay on top of things, but it's easy to get fatigued from working so hard."
(04/24/14 6:15pm)
A new sorority could soon be coming to Auburn's campus.
Founded in 1981 at Rutgers University, Mu Sigma Upsilon is the nation's first multicultural sorority.
Josie Acosta, Mu Sigma Upsilon's national officer of expansion, said the move is not yet official.
"We are at the beginning stages," Acosta said. "We have a group of interested women. There are about 10 girls. It is not official, but we have been invited to have an informational session for these girls and have an interest group."
According to Acosta, the University has been welcoming.
"From there, we would work with the girls for the next one or two semesters to help them establish a chapter," Acosta said. "It looks like the school is pretty open, as far as us coming on campus, but it will not be for about another year."
In 1998, Mu Sigma Upsilon co-founded the National Multicultural Greek Council with 11 other Greek Letter Organizations.
"I believe Auburn does not have a council for us right now," Acosta said. "We fall under the umbrella of National Multicultural Greek Council. So it is basically like the National Panhellenic Council, but for multicultural sororities and fraternities."
The sorority, whose motto is "Mujeres Siempre Unidas" or "Women Always United," has more than 950 members at 13 chapters across the country.
Sabrina Colon, Mu Sigma Upsilon's national officer of communications, said the sorority has three goals.
"The first is academic excellence," Colon said. "The second is unity among all women, and the third is be active in the university and community. So we try to found all of our chapters based on those principles."
According to Colon, many women join the sorority because they have not yet found the right fit.
"I think the main reason a lot of girls are attracted to Mu Sigma Upsilon is that they do not feel like their university currently has an organization that speaks to them," Colon said. "Which sorority you choose to join is an extremely personal decision, and there is usually only one organization for each woman. That is why there are usually so many options."
Colon said she was a founding member of the University of North Carolina at Charlotte chapter of Mu Sigma Upsilon.
"As a founder of my own chapter, I personally wanted to bring Mu Sigma Upsilon to campus because I was looking for something that really united all women," Colon said. "I wanted something that celebrated all walks of life, but also brought us together because of the things we hold dear, like community service, philanthropy and elevating women."
Marie Beverly, freshman in business administration, is one of the women interested in starting an Auburn chapter of Mu Sigma Upsilon.
Beverly said the idea came from another campus organization.
"A group of girls and I were members of the Residence Hall Association," Beverly said. "The housing department told us they had to cut our program due to lack of funding. We loved hanging out, and had a really diverse group of people."
According to Beverly, the women were inspired by recent events.
"We thought that what just happened at the University of Alabama, and that just reflects badly on our state in general," Beverly said.
Beverly said the women want to make a difference.
"Some of us were in Greek sororities, some were in non-Panhellenic sororities and some of us were in historically black sororities," Beverly said. "We talked about how they're all similar, but they're still segregated even though it's 2014. We just thought there should be a way for all of us to hang out and have fun."
(04/22/14 7:25pm)
When most people think of college, they probably do not think of getting married and settling down.
That has not always been the case, however.
According to a 1981 Glomerata, 16 to 18 percent of the student body was married just three decades ago.
Until recently, Caroline Draughon Village served as housing for married Auburn students.
Jeffrey Dumars, assistant director of campus planning and space management, said the space is not currently being used.
"As of right now, the buildings are empty," Dumars said. "In the intermediate term, some sort of surface parking might be built. In the long term, it has been designated for on-campus housing."
The buildings were named in honor of Caroline Draughon, wife of the University's 10th president, Ralph Brown Draughon, in 1959.
During her time as first lady of Auburn University, Draughon made a lasting impact on the lives of married students.
As Auburn's enrollment increased following World War II, Draughon began to notice an increase in married students. She also realized many male students had working wives helping them pay their way through school.
Draughon began the Dame's Club to provide a way for those spouses to be involved in college life. Before each graduation, she held a special ceremony, where she presented each graduate's wife with a "PHT" (Pushing Hubby Through) degree.
The buildings were in use until the Village Community was built in 2009.
Like the Haley Center, there have been rumors of asbestos in Caroline Draughon Village.
Dan King, assistant vice president of facilities management, said that is a common occurrence in older buildings.
"A lot of old buildings have asbestos and mold, and that is pretty standard," King said. "You just have to go and eliminate both, as well as any other hazardous materials, before you demolish them. We have done that on other buildings we have had to demolish."
According to King, facilities management has a plan for Caroline Draughon Village.
"They are abandoned at the moment," King said. "They are not being used for student housing. So, the master plan would have at some point, probably within the next five to 10 years, the buildings being demolished."
Jim Carroll, Auburn's capital project program architect, said even though the buildings have not housed students in quite some time, they have served other purposes.
"The building doesn't serve a primary person right now," Carroll said. "We have used Caroline Draughon Village for swing space. Occasionally, if we need to relocate certain things for a short period of time, we will use that area. For example, when we relocated the facilities management building, there were about 20 to 25 of us that moved into Caroline Draughon Village temporarily."
According to Carroll, the buildings are beginning to show signs of aging.
"We go through a lot of buildings on campus," Carroll said. "Eventually they get to the end of their serviceable life, and Caroline Draughon Village went through that a couple years ago."
Although plans for the area have not been finalized, Carroll said there are some ideas.
"The space is a good location for additional parking," Carroll said. "But it is also could be used for additional student housing. It is just at the right location."
(04/16/14 8:30pm)
Approximately 1.9 million Americans are diagnosed with diabetes every year.
For the past three years, Alabama has ranked among the top three states for diabetes. Amie Hardin, manager of the East Alabama Medical Clinic Diabetes and Nutrition Center, and Jan Kavookjian, associate professor in the department of health outcomes research and policy in Auburn University's Harrison School of Pharmacy, said they hope to change that.
"We wanted to provide education to an underserved community with a high prevalence of diabetes," Hardin said.
Auburn University recently teamed up with Tuskegee University to make that happen.
"Reaching Out For Better Health is a collaboration between myself, the faculty in the school of pharmacy here, faculty from Tuskegee University and the Diabetes and Nutrition Center of East Alabama Medical Center," Kavookjian said. "We pooled our collective expertise and we took this accredited diabetes education program that is offered at EAMC down into Tuskegee."
According to Kavookjian, holding the program in Tuskegee was an obvious choice.
"Tuskegee is not as rural as you might think, but it is a draw area for people who live in very rural areas," Kavookjian said. "Our objective was accessibility. For them to get this accredited education, they would have to drive to Montgomery or Opelika. A lot of people don't drive. Even if they do, a lot of people don't have access to transportation. This was a 10-week class, and that's a lot to ask a rural person who may or may not be impoverished. It's a lot to ask them to come all that way for an education."
The goal of "Reaching Out For Better Health" is to educate people about how to prevent diabetes and how to manage its symptoms.
"Reaching Out For Better Health" offered two 10-week classes that covered everything from monitoring blood sugar and blood pressure to healthy eating.
"We offered two separate classes over the summer of 2013, and then held a reunion event this March," Kavookjian said. "That gave us a chance to measure the outcomes. We looked at their basic knowledge of diabetes, where they were in terms of behaviors like healthy eating and being active. We also collected some clinical data."
Kavookjian said after the course, participants' knowledge of diabetes management increased by 15 percent, the average participant weight decreased by 2.5 pounds, the average participant body mass index decreased by .4, and the average participant Hemoglobin AIC decreased by .2.
At the start of the program, participants reported being active four days a week.
At the program's end, they were up to 4.4 days of the week.
Alveta Reese, assistant professor of nursing at Tuskegee University, said she is proud to have been a part of the project.
"It was an awesome project, and I was honored to be able to assist the community," Reese said. "I am most proud that it was a sustainable project. There is still a great support group happening at Greenwood Baptist Church, so it is still ongoing and sustainable."
(04/10/14 6:00pm)
It is hard to ignore the controversy surrounding fraternity hazing, especially on a college campus.
Fraternities and sororities have to meet certain guidelines to avoid suspension. However, there is no one set of rules Greek organizations have to abide by.
Joshua Sheffer, an attorney with the Washington, D.C., firm of Bode and Grenier, is a member of the firm's Hazing Law Team.
According to Sheffer, fraternities are usually subject to at least two sets of laws.
"The organization is bound by the state and the university policies," Sheffer said. "How the hazing laws are written really differs from state to state. Some states just require the universities to have an anti-hazing policy. Other states have specific things the organizations are not allowed to do."
William Whittelsey, president of Auburn's Interfraternity Council, said one set of laws can override the other.
"Just as federal law has authority over state law, each Greek organization must follow state law above Auburn University law," Whittelsey said. "However, at the same time if the university law has certain policies that are more strict than state law, the university law must be complied with first followed by what the state law states."
Sheffer said most hazing laws are similar, but there are glaring differences. They generally cover the same kinds of things," Sheffer said.
"But they differ more than you think. Some make hazing a felony if it causes injury or death, and some make it a misdemeanor no matter what. Some only deal with Greek organizations at universities or colleges, and others deal with any organization at all. They can vary quite a bit."
According to Alabama Code - Section 16-1-23, hazing is considered a crime. People who commit an act of hazing could be found guilty of a Class C misdemeanor.
Alabama is one of six states that has a "Duty to Report" clause in its anti-hazing statute. Because of this clause, knowing about an instance of hazing and failing to report it is illegal.
Auburn University's hazing policy was adopted in 1989 and was last amended in 2003.
The policy is made up of three parts: the Alabama State Hazing Statute, Auburn's definition of hazing, all organizations, and reporting violations.
Auburn University defines hazing as "any action taken or situation created intentionally or unintentionally whether on or off campus, to produce mental or physical discomfort, embarrassment, harassment, or ridicule."
In the third part, the University stresses that the policy applies to all student organizations and not just the Greek system. The final part encourages students to report all instances of hazing to the Division of Student Affairs.
These rules may seem harsh to some, but they are lenient compared to other states.
Of the 44 states with anti-hazing laws, California's is among the strictest.
Matt's Law was signed into law by Arnold Schwarzenegger in 2006.
Prior to Matt's Law, hazing was considered a misdemeanor, even when it resulted in death. California now allows felony prosecutions when hazing causes serious injury or death. Violators can now face up to a year in prison and a fine between $100 and $5,000.
Sheffer said lawmakers in other states could learn a thing or two from California.
"If you look at California's anti-hazing statute, it actually holds the organization liable for the conduct of its members more than a lot of hazing laws do," Sheffer said. "I think that's important."
California is not the only state looking to put a stop to hazing.
Sen. Jamie Raskin of Maryland wants to raise the fine for hazing from $500 to $5,000. This legislation comes on the heels of the recent hazing controversy at the Salisbury University chapter of Sigma Alpha Epsilon.
Hazing in Florida can result in up to six years in prison, and a fine of up to $5,000.
According to Bradford Ladner, LLP, an Alabama law firm, a Class C misdemeanor in Alabama can result in only three months in jail and a $500 fine.
Sheffer said he believes it would be beneficial if states had more similar anti-hazing laws.
"It would be nice to have a little more uniformity, but it would also be nice if more of them actually held the organization responsible."
Jill Moore is Auburn's director of Greek life.
According to Moore, while there are policies in place to prevent and discipline hazing, it is up to students to report it.
"If a student is a victim of hazing or witnesses hazing, he or she should report it," Moore said. "If the problem is going to be addressed, the hazing must be reported. If students will recognize and report hazing, we can work together to address that behavior and eliminate hazing on our campus"
(04/09/14 1:30pm)
The Wilford and Kate Bailey Small Animal Teaching Hospital is set to be dedicated on Friday, April 11. The $47 million facility features services such as community practice, oncology, neurology, imaging, orthopedics and community care.
According to Janet McCoy, communications and marketing director for the College of Veterinary Medicine, the change of space was much needed.
"Our old facility was over 40 years old," McCoy said. "While we gave excellent care to the patients that came into the clinic, this facility allows us to give even better care because of the new technology."
William Brawner, veterinary radiation oncologist, said he agrees.
"So much of what we do now involves high-end technological equipment, and our old buildings were not designed to do that," Brawner said. "Both from the point of view of space and technology, we had just simply outgrown our old building after 40 years."
Brawner graduated from Auburn University in 1971.
"My class was the first to have a full clinic here in the small animal hospital," Brawner said. "So, I've kind of come full circle."
Brawner said he stayed in Auburn for more than one reason.
"Auburn is a great place to live," Brawner said. "I've raised my family here. From the point of view of the school, we've had a really collegial faculty over the years. That's not always true with schools. Here, there is cooperation. I can go into anyone's office and sit down and talk to them."
In fact, the hospital is named to honor an esteemed member of the faculty and Brawner's wife.
The late Wilford Bailey, veterinary parasitologist, began his career at Auburn as a professor.
Bailey became president of the University in 1983.
After retiring the next year, Bailey served as president of the NCAA.
John and Rosemary Brown made a $10 million donation to the University in memory of the Baileys.
"They had been friends since they were on college," Brawner said. "Mr. and Mrs. Brown wanted to honor them. People talk about the Auburn family, but that speaks about as highly as you could that somebody would pay $10 million to put a friend's name on a building instead of their own."
Ben Hohenstatt, journalism intern at the hospital, said he is impressed by the facility's technology.
"The new equipment is phenomenal," Hohenstatt said. "It's all amazing stuff."
According to Brawner, the hospital was built to accommodate the ever-changing medical technology.
"We built this facility looking ahead for the next 40 years, because a building like this we are not going to replace anytime soon, "Brawner said. "We built it with some expansion room, because we know technology will continue to get more advanced. We consciously built this building with an eye to the future so we can grow into it and stay at the cutting edge of veterinary medicine. "
(04/01/14 6:15pm)
The Auburn Real Food Challenge debuted its new seed bank on Thursday, March 20, on the first floor of Ralph Brown Draughon Library.
Hannah Hauan, junior in horticulture, is a member of the Auburn Real Food Challenge.
"This is really just a place for people to donate or take seeds," Hauan said. "We hope it will help bring farmers and the community together."
This year, Hauan said she decided to make the Seed Bank her main focus.
"We had the idea last year, but nothing really came of it," Hauan said. "I have been talking to farmers out at the community gardens, and they have been really excited about the idea, so they kind of encouraged me to make this a reality."
According to Hauan, the seed bank is easy to use.
"All the seeds are in a cabinet in the library," Hauan said. "Anybody can come in and take whatever they want. The next year, they can bring them back to the cabinet and maybe write a few notes about the seeds and about what worked and what didn't work."
The Auburn Real Food Challenge is just one chapter of a national organization.
The goal of the Challenge's campaign is to ensure at least 20 percent of dining hall food is real by 2020.
Rosa Cantrell, junior in agricultural communications and president of the Auburn Real Food Challenge, said real food is an important cause.
"Real food is defined as local, humane, fair and ecologically sound," Cantrell said. "We work with campus dining to get real food on campus. We try to unite the students together, help them reconnect with their food and help them understand where it's coming from."
According to Cantrell, education is key to understanding the food system.
"We need to help students learn about what they are eating and unite them to work with our institutions because they have billions of dollars in the food system," Cantrell said. "We want to shift that money toward just and sustainable food."
The Auburn Real Food Challenge also runs the Community Garden on West Samford Avenue.
Sara Geonczy, senior in environmental science, is head of the Dining Committee.
Geonczy said the community garden is open to everyone.
"It was run by a sorority for a while, but the Real Food Challenge took it over the spring of 2012," Geonczy said. "We manage the garden and rent out plots to anyone who wants one. We try to get a lot of students involved. Students actually have a discounted rate to rent a plot, but a lot of faculty and community members are involved, as well. "
According to Geonczy, the Community Garden and the Seed Bank go hand-in-hand.
"They both aligned with our goals in the Real Food Challenge," Geonczy said. "We are hoping it will become a resource for community gardeners. Even if you don't have a plot at the community garden, it can be a resource for your garden at home."
(04/01/14 4:30pm)
Many Auburn students have had the unpleasant experience of paying $50 for their first parking violation.
That could soon change.
Don Andrae, manager of Parking Services, has proposed several changes to current parking regulations.
If the Traffic and Parking Committee approves these changes at their meeting next month, they could be in effect by the beginning of the 2014 fall semester.
"The number of tickets before you are wheel locked will stay the same," Andrae said. "You will still be wheel locked after five [tickets], and if you don't have a permit, after two."
The cost of each ticket will be the largest change.
"The first violation will be $10," Andrae said. "The second violation will be $20, the third violation will be $40 and then all violations after that will be $50."
According to Andrae, most people who get tickets are one-time offenders.
"$50 is an awful lot for a first-time violation," Andrae said. "A lot of times, we end up working with students to try to reduce them to $10 if we can. Based on what we've seen, it seems better to make the first violation $10 because most people don't get a second violation."
Currently, suspension of parking privileges occurs after the third time a car is towed. With these changes, however, suspension will occur after the tenth ticket.
Andrae said he also wants to stop adding fines when a student does not have a permit.
"The other thing that was happening is if you got a $50 ticket, we could link that to your student account," Andrae said. "And if the student does not have a current permit, then an additional $50 was added to that ticket. There is no need to add an additional $50 just because you do not have a permit."
The parking ticket appeal process could also undergo some changes.
"Right now, if you try to appeal a ticket and you don't have a permit, you cannot appeal," Andrae said. "With these changes, anybody can appeal any ticket, but you can only appeal three tickets in one academic year. They give you seven counter days right now to appeal, and we want to change that to ten. For the second appeal, that was five days and we want to increase that to seven."
Parking services also hopes to increase the price of permits by $10 each academic year, for the next three years.
According to the proposal, this increase is meant to help cover the costs of several projects parking services is working on.
One of these projects is an app, which will allow a student to check whether a parking lot has any empty spaces.
Karley Keith, freshman in hotel and restaurant management, is not a fan of these changes.
"I don't like the idea of getting banned from parking after 10 tickets," Keith said. "It's unfair to punish students more than just ticketing them for the struggle of on-campus parking."
Adam Black, freshman in international business, has a different opinion.
"I think this policy would be good," Black said. "I think it would allow for leniency in mistakes, and consequences for disregard of easily followed rules."
Students may not always agree about parking services, but Andrae said he wants what is best for them.
"All in all, I think these changes will be for the better," Andrae said.
(03/30/14 2:15pm)
For many students, spending hundreds of dollars on textbooks is not a particularly pleasant experience.
Carolise Trupp, the Auburn Bookstore's official greeter, knows how to change that.
Trupp, affectionately nicknamed Ms. CT, has worked at the bookstore for the past 11 years.
Despite being a fixture on Auburn's campus, Trupp has lived in the city for less than two decades.
"I am a Miami, Fla., native," Trupp said. "I worked at Miami Elevator Company for 30 years. My son came here for college in 1972. By the time I retired, he had gotten married and had two daughters. I moved here about 16 years ago because I wanted to be near them."
Trupp, who has always enjoyed working, said she wanted to try a new kind of job.
"I was getting older, and my granddaughters were getting to where they could take care of themselves," Trupp said. "I heard there was an opening at the bookstore, so I came and applied. I'm very fortunate that they hired me."
Meredith Jane Bragwell, junior in elementary education, is a textbook sales associate at the bookstore.
"Ms. CT always greets me when I'm coming in and coming out, even though I work here," Bragwell said. "I think that is really sweet, because you would think she would only make that effort for the customers. She goes out of her way to say 'hi' to everyone. Sometimes I come in and out several times a day and she always greets me. "
According to Trupp, one of the best parts of the job is being able to work with people she cares about.
"I don't get around as well anymore," Trupp said. "I park in the parking deck and ride the golf cart from there to the door, and someone in here comes out and walks me in. I am so fortunate to work with them. I really am."
Trupp said she never gets tired of what she does.
"I feel good most of the time since I like to be around people," Trupp said. "Once in awhile somebody will ignore me when I say 'hello' to them, but it's okay. They're just talking on their phone or listening to their music. "
Most students appreciate Trupp's greetings, however, and they never fail to show it.
"So many students are nice to me, and they tell me they appreciate me saying, 'Hello,' to them," Trupp said. "I have one that I always remember. I used to tell him 'Good luck with your test,' as he walked out, and he would always come back and say 'Because you told me to do good, I did.' But I know it was really because he studied hard."
That was not the only time someone returned Trupp's kindness.
"This Valentine's Day, two young men came and bought me some Valentine's candy," Trupp said. "They told me how much they appreciated me saying, 'Hello,' and 'Goodbye,' to them. I thought it was so nice of them to do that."
The positive impact Trupp's presence has on people is hard to deny.
Alexander Dunaway, sophomore in mechanical engineering, also works at the bookstore.
"Ms. CT can really brighten up your day," Dunaway said. "Occasionally I get to walk with her, and we always have really nice conversations. She likes to be everyone's friend."
(03/20/14 1:00pm)
Auburn University is known for many things - Toomer's Corner, Samford Hall and the "War Eagle" cry, to name a few. However, one could argue the most famous of Auburn's symbols is its mascot, Aubie.
Phil Neel, a Birmingham Post-Herald artist, created Aubie for the Auburn vs. Hardin-Simmons program cover in 1959. The cartoon tiger proved to be good luck for the team. Aubie appeared on program covers for the next 18 years, leading the football team to a home record of 63-16-2.
In 1979, the Student Government Association decided Aubie was ready for a change. The organization sent copies of game programs to Brooks-Van Horn Costumes, with hopes of bringing the mascot to life.
On Feb. 28, 1979, Aubie made his first live appearance at an Auburn vs. Vanderbilt basketball game. The Tigers defeated the Commodores 59-53. The next day, the mascot led the team to victory against Georgia in the longest game in SEC tournament history.
Megan Lacy, senior in agriculture, said she has wanted to attend Auburn for as long as she can remember.
"When I was little, the main reason I wanted to come here was Aubie," Lacy said. "It doesn't matter what kind of mood I am in, I completely light up when I see Aubie. To me, he represents the Auburn family."
Lacy said she has a fond memory of Aubie.
"One time I was studying really hard for a test in the library," Lacy said. "Aubie just showed up out of nowhere and gave out free food and did those goofy dance moves he always does. It was really fun, but for some reason it made me work even harder."
Jen Ashman, freshman in international business, said she was not familiar Aubie before attending Auburn.
"I'm not from here, so I had never heard of Aubie growing up," Ashman said. "I really think he embodies the Auburn spirit."
Aubie gets recognition off campus, too. He has been selected six times for the All-American Mascot team, and has won the Universal Cheerleaders Association competition seven times.
Taylor Prouty, junior in communications, is an SGA Director of Aubie for the second year in a row.
"I wanted to be a part of this because nothing says 'Auburn' more than hanging out with Aubie every day," Prouty said.
According to Prouty, Aubie is in high demand.
"Aubie is at all athletic events," Prouty said. "If it's an athletic event, you will find him there. But athletic events are only about 1/3 of what he does. A lot of it is off campus, and around the community."
Prouty said Aubie is a fixture on campus, and is always quick to brighten a student's day.
"I think when people see Aubie on campus it automatically puts a smile on their face," Prouty said. "People always want to take a picture with him."
Prouty said she thinks of Aubie as a campus celebrity.
"No one's afraid to ask to take a picture with him," Prouty said. "He is just a really good representation of the Auburn spirit and the Auburn family."
(03/19/14 6:32pm)
UPC announced today that BJ Novak will be performing at Comedy on the Plains.
Novak is most famous for his role as Ryan Howard, the intern, on The Office. Most recently, he wrote "One More Thing: Stories and Other Stories."
Ryan Akers, junior in supply chain management, is UPC's Director of Speakers and Comedians.
"We were really excited to get BJ Novak because he has a really great background," Akers said. "He has a lot of credibility and he is a Harvard graduate."
According to Akers, the student response has been positive.
"Of course, everybody knows him from The Office," Akers said. "Most people in college really like that show. Overall, though, I think people are excited because he is a great performer."
The show will be held at The Old Student Activity Center on April 8.
"We wanted to have it there to open the building to freshman," Akers said. "A lot of them don't even know it exists because of the new activity center that has been built."
Miranda Marty, junior in public relations and one of UPC's Assistant Directors of Speakers and Comedians, said she is a huge fan of BJ Novak.
"I was really excited when we came to a general consensus that he appealed to most people on Auburn's campus," Marty said. "He is a really recognizable face and name. Obviously people know him from The Office, but some might even recognize him from his earlier days on Punk'd."
Tickets have only been available for a couple hours, but Marty said UPC has already gotten positive feedback from students.
"We just released the banner and made the formal Facebook announcement today," Marty said. "Tickets just went online today, too. So we haven't gotten a massive response yet, but what we have heard has been all good. We've seen a lot of excited people on Twitter. I just can't wait to see everyone there and enjoying themselves."
Bethany Bittinger, sophomore in aerospace engineering, is another one of UPC's Assistant Directors of Speakers and Comedians.
Bittinger said the committee spent a lot of time deciding on a performer.
"We do a lot of research and we like to get feedback directly from the students," Bittinger said. "His name kept popping up as someone the student body really enjoys."
According to Bittinger, Novak's comedy reaches a wide variety of people.
"I know a lot of people who loved him on The Office, or they are fans of movies he has been in," Bittinger said. "But he has also written for other shows, like 30 Rock. He is an actor, a writer, a comedian, and a director. Everyone I've talked to about it has been really excited to see the show."
Tickets are free for students and $10 for the public. Doors open at 6 p.m. April 8 and the show will begin at 7 p.m.
Tickets went on sale today at noon, and are available on UPC's website.
(03/04/14 3:30pm)
Auburn University's Office of Accessibility's purpose is to support students living with mental or physical disabilities as they pursue a higher education.
According to Tina Gilbert, assistive technology specialist, one of its most useful tools is assistive technology.
"It can help improve the functional capabilities of people with disabilities," Gilbert said. "It could be something as simple as a computer software that helps blind students read. It can be a range of things. A magnifying glass, a laptop or even wheelchairs or walkers."
Gilbert said the University does everything in its power to help students with disabilities reach their full potential.
"When a student is registered with our office, and they have assistive technology as one of their accommodations, they can either bring in their own assistive technology or we can supply it for them," Gilbert said. "We have computer programs, hearing aids and tape recorders for students to go back and listen to lectures. Whatever a student needs, we can provide. If we do not have it, we can buy it or borrow it from another university."
The Assistive Technology Act of 1998 defines assistive technology as "products, devices or equipment, whether acquired commercially, modified or customized, that are used to maintain, increase or improve the functional capabilities of individuals with disabilities."
R. Clay Yarbrough, instructional technology specialist, said there is a more simple definition for what this technology does.
"Assistive technology really just levels the playing field for students with disabilities," Yarbrough said. "It helps them access the same technology that everyone else does, in a way that is more beneficial to what they need. Overall, I have seen it leave a pretty positive impact. It helps students with disabilities with whatever they are trying to do, or whatever they are trying to obtain at Auburn University."
The University has always been active with assistive technology, and the Alabama Assistive Technology Expo & Conference (ALATEC) was held in Auburn just last year.
Laura Smith is a disability specialist and AEP coordinator.
Smith said most Auburn students use assistive technology everyday, and they do not even realize it.
"A great example of a person using assistive technology is anyone that has a brand new smartphone," Smith said. "They have tons of assistive technology features. The phone will tell you what page you are looking at, it will read your texts or emails out loud, and it does many other helpful things. The smartphones are very accessible for people with sensory impairments."
Smith said she has seen assistive technology at work on a personal level.
"My husband has severe hearing loss, and he depends on closed captions to be able to be able to watch what he wants on television," Smith said.
According to Smith, technology for people with disabilities is growing at an astounding rate.
"We have access to things I never [thought] anyone we would have access to," Smith said. "This is really just a phenomenal time to live in."
(02/27/14 5:15pm)
On Feb. 9, 1964, The Beatles exploded into American homes with a two-and-a-half-minute performance of "I Want to Hold Your Hand" on The Ed Sullivan Show. That night changed the way we would listen to music forever.
The Beatles transcend time. My parents listened to them, I listen to them and I'm willing to bet my children will listen to them too.
Growing up in a generation of Beliebers and Directioners, it can be hard to imagine another band having such a profound effect on a culture. It has been 50 years since that performance, and the world hasn't seen anything like it since. This anniversary begs the question: Is music past its prime?
One look at the current Top 40 would be enough to dishearten even the most optimistic rock 'n' roll fan. Grown-up Disney stars adorn the covers of every magazine, and choruses consist of only one word, repeated endlessly.
The amount of auto-tune on the radio at any given time would be enough to make Janis Joplin roll over in her grave. On the surface, the future of popular music looks bleak.
However, perspective is key. What makes music "good" is relative. A song that impacted a teenager in the sixties could have a completely different effect on a listener today.
Times have changed, whether we like it or not. Record producers know their audience, and people just aren't buying meaningful music anymore.
However, fans of antiquated music shouldn't lose hope just yet.
In recent years, there has been a massive resurgence of classic rock that does not seem to be going anywhere anytime soon. It has become trendy to embrace the culture of past generations. Vinyl record sales are through the roof. Instant cameras are back. And, you would be more likely to find affluent teenagers in a thrift store than in a shopping mall. Ten years ago it would've been considered strange to wear your parent's ratty Grateful Dead t-shirt. Now, it's become a popular trend.
This vintage revival has led to a slew of new artists who are developing styles of their own while paying homage to the greats at the same time.
Bands such as Mumford and Sons and The Avett Brothers evoke folk artists from the 60s and 70s such as Bob Dylan or Neil Young. Florence Welch of Florence and the Machine lists Grace Slick as one of her influences. And those are just the ones you hear about. Great bands like Shovels and Rope, Hurray for the Riff Raff and Neutral Milk Hotel fly under the radar all the time, just a Pandora click away.
Of course, it is doubtful any artist will change music the way The Beatles have. The impact they had on our culture is almost unthinkable, and they set an impossibly high standard for any artist that dared to come after them.
Nevertheless, music with substance is still happening. You just have to know where to look.
(02/26/14 6:30pm)
A new exhibit, "Jerome Myers: Raising Hope in the New World," opened on Feb. 8 at Auburn University's Jule Collins Smith Museum of Fine Art.
The exhibit will feature drawings, prints and paintings by Jerome Myers, an artist known for his romantic depictions of urban landscapes in the early 20th century.
Marilyn Laufer is the director of Jule Collins Smith Museum of Fine Art.
"The most important thing about this exhibition is [that] we are introducing an artist that has been historically underrated," Laufer said. "Students, at first, might think it is kind of old fashioned because all of the artwork [was] done before 1940. If they spend some time with it, though, I think they will see his skill as an artist. I hope they will start to see that the subject matter is a very interesting way of looking at the people who lived in the early 20th century."
Myers spent most of his life in New York City's Lower East Side. He was inspired by the huge influx of immigrants New York experienced during his lifetime.
"All my life, I had lived, worked and played in the poorest streets of American cities," Myers said in 1923. "I knew them and their population and was one of them. Others saw ugliness and degradation there. I saw poetry and beauty, so I came back to them."
Despite his unique style and subject matter, Myers never achieved the level of fame many of his contemporaries did.
Stephanie Baacke, freshman in pre-nursing, is taking her first art history class this semester.
Baacke said she does not know much about Myers' work, but she said she is still interested in the exhibit.
"I had never heard of Jerome Myers before, but I saw some of his paintings, and I think they are really beautiful," Baacke said. "I think it's really cool that Auburn University has access to such a large collection of his artwork."
The exhibit focuses on Myers' portrayal of children in his art.
Alison Warth, freshman in art history, said youthfulness is an important theme in much of Myers' artwork.
"His work seems to focus on the positive and lightheartedness of children and the working class in New York during his lifetime," Warth said. "He used media that a child would use, and he used it to emphasize the childlike wonder and playfulness that he tries to capture in his work."
According to Warth, Myers' art is meant to leave an impression on its viewers.
"The nostalgic undertone within his artwork reminds its audience of the harsh reality that nothing lasts, and should be enjoyed in the moment," Warth said.
(02/17/14 7:49pm)
Auburn University's Delta Zeta chapter will holt "Delta Zeta Dance-A-Thon," a fundraiser benefiting the Starkey Hearing Foundation at SkyBar Cafe. The event will take place Thursday, Feb. 20, from 8 p.m. until midnight, and costs $5 per person.
Participants will take part in a 1920s-themed swing dance competition, judged by Auburn wide receiver Sammie Coates and Tiger Eyes dancer Anslee Palmer. The last couple standing will win two Visa gift cards worth $100 each.
Taylor Burton, sophomore in pre-business, is a member of Delta Zeta.
"We will be raising money for such a great cause," Burton said. "Being a part of this really makes me think about how much we take hearing for granted. Hearing is just a part of life we don't usually think about a lot."
According to World Health Organization, at least 360 million people worldwide suffer from significant hearing loss.
Bethanee Smith, sophomore in industrial and systems engineering and member of Delta Zeta, said she had a personal connection to the issue.
"I didn't really know anyone who was affected by hearing loss until recently," Smith said. "My grandfather just got a hearing aid, so I guess it is starting to affect my family a little bit. It makes me think of how different my life would be if I weren't able to hear. It gives you a really different perspective if you sit down and really try to think about it."
William F. Austin founded the Starkey Hearing Foundation in 1984. The purpose of the organization is to provide hearing aids to children and adults from around the world.
Starkey Hearing Foundation's mission statement is simple: "So the world may hear."
Taylor Joseph is director of communications and marketing at Starkey Hearing Foundation.
"There are millions of people that might grow up their whole lives thinking they are deaf, but they are not deaf they just have a hearing loss that can be helped with hearing aids," Joseph said.
Since the organization was founded 30 years ago, Starkey Hearing Foundation has helped more than 1,000,000 people from across the globe.
"What we really do is use hearing as a vehicle to care for others, and empower them to reach their full potential in life," Joseph said. "We do this because it is our passion. Helen Keller once said 'seeing connects you to things, and hearing connects you to people.' We try to reach as many people as possible, and connect them to their families and connect them to life.'"
According to Joseph, programs like Delta Zeta help the foundation reach its goals.
"Delta Zeta helps out with our hearing missions from around the country," Joseph said. "One of the great things they do is distribute Build-A-Bears that have hearing aids to children. They also have amazing fundraisers, like the one that is being held at Auburn. They are an amazing partner, and they help us change lives around the world."