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(12/24/15 6:55pm)
"Je suis Charlie," French for "I am Charlie," has become a slogan around the world to those showing solidarity with Charlie Hebdo, a satirical magazine in Paris whose staff was attacked by two masked gunmen Jan. 7.
Isabelle Kallenberg, senior in French and microbiology, said she was studying abroad in France during the attack.
Kallenberg said she arrived back in Paris from Germany approximately two hours after the incident.
"It definitely shook me up," Kallenberg said. "We didn't want to go out, and I didn't feel safe going to public places."
On Jan. 9, Kallenberg and her sister were at a coffee shop as victims were held hostage at Hyper Cacher, a kosher grocery store, approximately five blocks away. She said she heard police sirens outside.
Despite the attacks, Kallenberg said the support for France was a breath of fresh air.
"I think I was really in awe by the fraternity you could see in (France) and the support that they received from adjacent nations and the United States," Kallenberg said. "Despite all the horrible things that go on in the world, it was really nice to see the other side -- the silver lining."
Samia Spencer, professor emerita of French and former honorary consul of France in Alabama, said the incidents in France were a wake-up call.
"In a way, it's tragic, it's awful, but, for many, it's not totally unexpected," Spencer said.
Spencer was also in France when the shooting took place.
Spencer said she was about to leave the house to meet a friend when her friend called, sobbing, and said, "They murdered my friends."
Spencer's friend knew some of the cartoonists and writers at Charlie Hebdo.
Evelyne Bornier, French professor, said French people tend to provoke to ellicit a reaction out of others.
"It was extreme to publish this when you know you're putting your life at risk and putting other people's lives at risk," Bornier said. "By the same token, freedom of speech is freedom of speech. You should be able to express yourself."
Spencer said the cover of the latest issue of Charlie Hebdo sent the right message.
"There's nothing offensive about the cover," Spencer said. "It's actually quite the opposite. It shows the Prophet crying that people are using his name to commit murder, so he is sad that he is being used to kill. Furthermore, he is claiming, 'All is forgiven,' and carrying a sign saying, 'Je suis Charlie,' to express his support for freedom of the press."
From a French culture perspective, Bornier said French people are resilient in difficult times.
"If you stop living, then the terrorists get what they want," Bornier said. "By remaining stern and keeping your head up, you show them that they don't win, that you're strong."
(01/21/15 1:00pm)
Auburn University has partnered with Shorelight Education, a company that funds and manages partnerships with universities, to establish Auburn Global, an international accelerated program that aims to bring more diversity to campus by recruiting more international students beginning fall 2015.
Emmett Winn, associate provost, said the project began with the University's comprehensive planning process for its five-year strategic plan, which spans from 2013-18.
"The various stakeholders from the districts felt that Auburn University needed to do what it could to internationalize its campus," Winn said. "Both for the good of Auburn University and also, more importantly, for the good of our undergraduate students so they could have the benefit of studying and learning from people from other cultures."
The University enrolled 317 international undergraduate students in fall 2014, which, according to Winn, is extremely small.
"There are so few international undergraduates that, I would have to say, I have seen very little impact [on diversity of Auburn's campus]," Winn said.
Auburn Global will bring Auburn's undergraduate enrollment from 317 to more than 1,000 students in the next five years, according to Winn.
Recruiting from 30 countries, Shorelight Education will design the non-academic aspects of the first-year experience for students, provide an international recruitment network and handle the logistics of traveling to the University.
Winn said Auburn is primarily looking to target countries with partnerships in Alabama, such as South Korea, Germany and France.
Tom Dretler, CEO of Shorelight Education, said Auburn, as a top 100 school, has an extremely low percentage of international students compared to other institutions of Auburn's academic ranking.
Most Top 100 schools have an 11 percent international demographic, whereas Auburn has less than 2 percent.
"Our goal is to provide a diverse student population and to not just create an opportunity for international students at Auburn," Dretler said. "But to create a wind for domestic students at Auburn so they can have an opportunity to learn in a global environment."
Nevertheless, Dretler said international students unfamiliar with Western academic culture need special attention in transitioning academically, socially and culturally.
Lidiane Garcia de Sousa, freshman in animal science and international student from Brazil, said incorporation into the university's culture is a united effort.
"I don't know how to relate with North American students," Sousa said. "I think it doesn't only depend on the University, it depends on the students."
Looking to the near future, Winn said Auburn Global is a chance to improve campus culture by further diversifying it.
"This is an opportunity to expand the Auburn Family globally," Winn said. "We'll welcome many, many new and wonderful members into the Auburn Family."
Dretler said he's grateful to be working with Auburn's administration, which has a vision for and value of international students aligning with Shorelight's values and goals.
"Students don't know about Auburn right now," Dretler said. "It hasn't been part of the University strategy to recruit around the world, and I think (Auburn) is such a gem, and I'm excited for what it will mean for domestic students to have an international learning environment."
(12/24/15 6:56pm)
Auburn is getting ready to replant its tradition of the Toomer's Oaks as February grows closer.
Two oaks from Ehrhardt, South Carolina will be making their way to Toomer's Corner to be planted Feb. 14.
According to Mike Clardy, director of communications and media relations at Auburn University, Auburn crews have completed the Toomer's Corner preparation process as they excavated and arranged the soil for the implant, while the trees have been root pruned and their root balls wrapped in burlap for proper rooting.
Clardy said it's a matter of waiting for the date now.
"It's been a long time since we've had trees on the corner," Clardy said. "Those trees meant a lot to a lot of people in the Auburn Family so it's going to be an exciting day as we turn the page and look more towards the future."
According to David Dorton, public affairs director for the city of Auburn, the city plans to renovate the traffic signal mast arms during the renovation of the Toomer's Corner intersection summer 2015, which includes the removal of the wires fans roll in place of the oaks.
Dorton said there is currently no plan to reinstall the wires after the renovation.
(01/07/15 5:29pm)
Two professors' research, innovation and patents earned them induction into the National Academy of Inventors this March.
The NAI looks for nominees who "demonstrated a prolific spirit of innovation in creating or facilitating outstanding inventions that have made a tangible impact on quality of life, economic development and the welfare of society," according to the organization's eligibility criteria on the NAI website.
Bruce Tatarchuk, Charles E. Gavin III professor in the Samuel Ginn College of Engineering and S.D. Worley, professor emeritus in the College of Science and Mathematics were officially announced as fellows on the NAI website Dec. 16, joining the 170 total individuals named fellows of the NAI.
Tatarchuk's work centered on the manner in which chemicals interact on solid surfaces and the discovery of new matter structures.
Tatarchuk said he believes research should benefit mankind and create a better lifestyle for those supporting research.
"You can do things here that can have a real, tangible impact on people," Tatarchuk said. "And since you're only going to live once, you might as well give back as much as you take out."
Worley said his research focused on developing a new polymer that takes the form of a small bead.
Starting with polystyrene, the material that makes up Styrofoam cups, Worley modified the surface of polystyrene via chemical reactions so it could hold chlorine or bromide, which would then collide with bacteria or viruses in water to disinfect it.
"[The NAI] felt this [research] was a benefit to the world -- to mankind -- specifically in third world countries," Worley said. "This is pretty cheap, relatively speaking, compared to boiling water. It requires no electricity."
John Weete, assistant vice president for the Office of Technology Transfer and Commercialization, serves on the board of directors of the NAI and nominated Tatarchuk and Worley.
"I saw the high caliber of people who were being inducted in the organization, and I believe Drs. Worley and Tatarchuk fall into that high caliber of faculty that are worthy of recognition," Weete said. "We want to make sure Auburn is represented."
Worley said being named a fellow is an award he's happy to have received.
"It shows that what we did over the years was worth something," Worley said.
Tatarchuk said despite awards, he's focused on the endgame.
"[The recognition] is nice, and I'm very appreciative, but does it change anything?" Tatarchuck said. "No. Whether you get recognition for your work or not, it's nice but it doesn't change the outcomes ... of the effort you expend. Or at least it shouldn't."
(12/31/14 8:30pm)
The message the College of Agriculture has begun to use is, "This is the work that makes the world work."
Josh Woods, communications and marketing director for the College of Agriculture, said the students believe they are improving the world.
"What we learned is that the people here are really passionate about what they do, and what they've accomplished is something that is making the world a better place," Woods said.
This is the underlying message that travels alongside the visual rebranding they have recently launched. Along with a new website, the college has designed new recruitment pieces and plans to have a new magazine.
The rebranding process began in March 2013 when Woods started studying a market research analysis of focus groups, interviews and surveys to find out how people perceived the college.
After viewing the results several times, Woods noticed a trend.
"Our challenge is not one of a lack of visibility," Woods said. "We're just misunderstood. People have a pretty accurate perspective of our college, it's just incredibly narrow."
Michelle Bufkin, senior in agricultural communications and ambassador for the College of Agriculture, said she saw how this realization caused the college to focus more on non-traditional farming.
"Everybody thinks farming means standing out in a field," Bufkin said. "It's a lot more than that. It's a lot of research. It's a lot of science-based curriculum."
To convey these aspects, the college looked to stakeholders such as students, alumni and professors.
"Rather than bombarding people with more information of who we are and what we do, we are proactively marketing why we do it," Woods said.
The rebranding ideas underwent several trials through internal and external audiences, receiving a range of perspectives and criticisms to help weed out weaknesses in the concepts.
The college then launched its new message, "The work that makes the world work," in the summer. Then focused shifted to media, with a new website launching in October.
Woods said the challenge is reaching a ranged of audiences with a unified image.
"It doesn't just rebrand an academic institution, it rebrands an entire industry," Woods said. "The world's largest industry."
Mary Catherine Gaston, communication specialist for the College of Agriculture, works mainly with integrating the new brand into news releases, feature stories and social media. She believes the new message has power in its simplicity and authenticity.
"It's such a simple thing to say, 'This is our work,' but it's so powerful in this context, and I love that about our new brand because it is a reflection of our people," Gaston said. "It builds on Auburn University's brand message, 'This is Auburn.' Our message takes that a step further and helps people understand that this is Auburn, and this is what we do."
Woods said their message continues to evolve.
"A brand is a living, breathing thing. It continues to grow," Woods said. "We have a unified voice that ties everything within our college together."
(12/18/14 2:30pm)
In a sleek black gown Nov. 22, Brooke Fletcher was crowned the 2015 Miss Georgia USA in McDonough, Georgia.
Fletcher, a native Georgian who graduated with a business marketing degree, said she loved broadcasting and came to Auburn with the ultimate goal of doing on-camera work.
Most of her experience came from Eagle Eye TV as the entertainment director and a reporter.
She's now the associate director at ESPNU and the SEC Network.
Her pageant experience began with a local pageant, Miss Pride, and in 2009, she competed for Miss Georgia Teen USA, winning on her first try.
"[Miss Georgia Teen] was a great experience," Fletcher said. "But I always knew I wanted to do Miss Georgia USA, but it was just about timing."
In 2014, Fletcher said she focused her energy into working out and eating healthy for Miss Georgia USA, among other preparation with the help of her pageant coach Thomas Barnette.
With more than 25 years of coaching experience, Barnette said he helped Fletcher in areas from interview skills to her image in terms of how she presented herself to the judges.
"Brooke is a natural beauty, super intelligent and just a very likable personality," Barnette said. "She's just as beautiful on the inside as she is on the outside."
Barnette said he will be assisting Fletcher in the Miss USA competition in 2015.
The Miss Georgia USA competition consisted of several rounds of swimsuit and evening gown review and interview to narrow down the contestants.
"I didn't think I was going to win," Fletcher said. "I grew up watching Miss USA my whole life, and I always thought about how neat it would be to compete there, and now that I'm going to compete there, it's crazy."
Fletcher believes her experience with Miss Georgia Teen USA and Miss Georgia USA gives her a leg up on what to expect with Miss USA.
She said Eagle Eye TV also helped her think on her feet, answer honestly and not overthink the question during the interview.
"Just doing the interviews with Eagle Eye and constantly talking to people and working with others really taught me to be comfortable talking to people and being in front of the camera," Fletcher said.
Rachel Lundberg, senior in journalism and sports manager of Eagle Eye TV, worked closely with Fletcher in previous years.
Though Fletcher worked behind the scenes, Lundberg said Fletcher's reporting experience helped her gain valuable on-camera skills.
"I'm sure (Eagle Eye) helped her a lot with being comfortable and knowing that she can pause and think about her answer, put it together and say it eloquently," Lundberg said.
Barnette said preparation for Miss USA will be a continuation of the process already in motion.
"It's more than about beauty and being in a pageant," Barnette said. "It's about the empowerment of these young ladies to believe in and love themselves, and to showcase that as an inspiration to other people because I think at the end of the day, the women who compete in these pageants really do have a lot more than just physical beauty."
The location and date of Miss USA 2015 have not been announced yet.
(12/08/14 6:39pm)
Employees of Ralph Brown Draughon Library are getting ready for Christmas and encouraging students to do the same.
A large Christmas tree made of green books sits in the center of the room for people to see as they walk through the front entrance of the library on the second floor.
Behind the tree, on a wall by the staircase, the message on the "Ralph Asks" bulletin board encourages students to grab a colored index card, write a holiday wish and hang it on the red tinsel wrapping the book tree.
According Jayson Hill, director of communications and marketing for the library, the book tree is commonly done at libraries.
Hill said the tree is officially called a National Union Catalogue tree, made with 220 of the 754 volumes that make up the full NUC set.
According to Hill, the entire volume set weighs 3.5 tons, so the tree weighs in at approximately 1,700 pounds.
"(The catalogues) used to be the primary source for what was in the Library of Congress, but now all of that has gone online and it's searchable so no one uses the books anymore," Hill said. " The books are all exactly the same size and thickness, so they stack nicely, and they're always green."
Though the NUC tree was not the library employees' original idea, Hill said the holiday wish aspect of the tree was.
"This year we thought, since we need something on the tree to give it a little more decoration, let's use colored index cards, and we'll let people hang their holiday wishes on it," Hill said. "To give it a bit of color."
Hannah Grace Oberlies, senior in apparel design, works at the library's information desk, and said she has seen people observe the tree.
"People do stop and they look," Oberlies said. "You can tell that they like it. It's a really fun way to celebrate the holidays. I thought it was very creative. I love it. I hope we do it again."
She said she even considered hanging her own holiday wish on the tree.
"I would probably write that I wish my family's house would sell," Oberlies said. "That's probably the only thing I could possibly wish for."
Rebecca, senior in organismal biology pre-med, said she wishes to omit her last name.
Rebecca wrote her holiday wish with her boyfriend Scott Godchaux, senior in electrical and computer engineering.
Rebecca said she always passed the tree and thought it was a cute idea, so she made her wish to get accepted into medical school.
"I think it's a good way to de-stress," Rebecca said. "I know there are some funny ones up there that people enjoy reading. It's good to see people with similar goals."
Godchaux said he wrote a wish simply because his girlfriend did.
"[The tree] makes me feel very neutral," Godchaux said. "It's just there. I was like, 'Oh that's a fun stack of books,' and that's all I thought of it."
Godchaux said he wished for an end to unnecessary evil in the world.
Hill anticipates people will continue to hang their wishes until the break begins.
"We expect it to fill up by the end of finals," Hill said.
(12/05/14 11:30pm)
According to local legend, the Auburn seal in front of Langdon Hall is not to be stepped on.
Richmond Gunter, SGA treasurer and senior in finance, said doing so means you will not graduate on time, will not find true love at Auburn or have seven generations of Alabama fans.
But what if your class ring "steps" on it?
On Thursday, Dec. 4, Auburn SGA placed roughly 350 class rings onto the Auburn seal, introducing a brand new tradition to the Auburn family called Ring Night.
According to Gunter, the idea surfaced last summer when Taylor Rowell, senior supply chain management, brought the idea to his SGA peers.
"We were looking at other programs around the country," Rowell said. "They'd tie it in with something at the school to try to integrate it with an ongoing tradition at the school."
Rowell said the Auburn seal curse, which focuses partly on not graduating on time, would be an interesting tradition to tie to graduates' class rings.
The box of ordered rings spent part of the night on the seal in front of Langdon Hall. Gunter said they placed the rings on the seal at 6:56 p.m., which is 18:56 military time, symbolizing the year 1856, when Auburn University was founded.
The rings then remained on the seal until 8:14 p.m., or 20:14 military time, bringing the rings into the present.
"The rings are gaining the Auburn spirit but also being cursed," Gunter said. "At the ring ceremony on Sunday, every ring recipient will take their ring and dip it in water from the president's fountain, thereby reversing the curse but keeping the Auburn spirit and tradition."
Colson Smith, SGA executive vice president of programs and senior in biomedical science, said after seeing the hard work SGA put into creating the event, he was thrilled to see people taking part in the new tradition.
"I was super pumped to see this tradition kick off," Smith said. "It's very rare to see a new tradition start. The turn out was awesome."
Any student with at least 75 credit hours at Auburn can order a class ring and participate in Ring Night, which will happen each semester.
(12/08/14 1:00pm)
An invasive lizard species known as the Argentine black and white tegu,or Tupinambis merianae, may be coming to Alabama, and University researchers want to know if the creatures are capable of thriving in the state's climate.
David Steen of the Alabama Natural Heritage Program heads the project.
Steen said the primary concern is the potential harm the non-native lizards could pose on native wildlife and other sensitive species over time if they can reproduce and survive in Alabama environments the way they have in Florida.
Steen said the project originated through a conversation with one of his friends from the United States Geological Survey.
The study uses 19 tegus captured in southern Florida set up in individual semi-natural fiberglass enclosures outdoors, which are maintained by Craig Guyer, professor of biological sciences.
According to Guyer, the enclosures are set up to accommodate the lizards as much as possible, with sandy soil, deep burrows where they can overwinter, constant access to water and objects to climb in and on when they are active outside the burrows.
"We expect them to survive through winter and, if they do, we will place adult males and females together to determine whether they are capable of reproducing this far north," Guyer said. "There is no native lizard that fills the ecological role that tegus fill."
But Steen said their survival comes with some concerns.
"The issue is that tegus can cause environmental problems," Steen said. "They're big predators of reptile eggs, bird eggs. Tegus are not only carnivorous, but they eat vegetation as well. If there was a large established population, they could cause problems for some farmers' vegetables."
Jack Kottwitz, graduate student in Auburn's College of Veterinary Medicine, served as exotic animal and zoo and wildlife veterinarian.
Kottwitz planned the anesthesia protocol and assisted in the surgical implantation of radio tracking and temperature monitoring devices into the tegus. Kottwitz also addresses follow-up medical care after the procedure, as well as additional medical concerns that may arise over the course of the study.
Kottwitz said there has been speculation over the last few years as to how far north the climate will allow non-native species to thrive and reproduce before conditions become too severe.
"Computer models have made some concerning predictions, but this study represents one of the first attempts to actually test reproduction in the environment of concern," Kottwitz said. "We are doing something very unique here at Auburn University, something that will give much more information than assumptions made based on a computer model."
(11/25/14 1:55pm)
Two Auburn ladies stepped off campus and onto the stage at the Miss Alabama USA 2015 pageant, strutting to success.
Liz Willis, junior in communication, placed first runner up to Miss Alabama USA and Caroline Pettey, sophomore in broadcast journalism, placed fourth runner up.
Contestants were judged on evening gown modeling, swimsuit modeling and interview, all of which require preliminary training.
Willis and Pettey's preparation ranged from exercising and dieting to interview and walking practice.
Bill Alverson, a widely acclaimed pageant coach and coach for the past three Miss USA winners, has mentored Pettey for the past few years.
Auburn graduate, Alverson is an attorney, specializing in polishing contestant interviews, public presence, and resumes as he brings legal development skills to the pageant world.
"My mission is to empower girls to use their brain -- get self-confidence and self awareness," Alverson said. "Be a modern day Cleopatra...not just the prettiest girl in the room."
He said Pettey is great student and quick learner.
"She has an amazing presence. Training givers her confidence that makes her nearly unbeatable."
Willis said her older sister Rebecca Willis serves as an inspiration to her because Rebecca Willis suffered from severe dyslexia at a young age, was told she'd never graduate high school or go to college, but is currently in college, has a 4.0, and recently passed the Georgia Assessments for the Certification of Educators (GACE) test.
"I'm never going to give up," Liz Willis stated. "Because as long as she's fighting for her dreams, I'm going to fight for mine."
Rebecca Willis said she admires her sister as well, believing she has a unique and driving personality that contributes to her success in the pageants.
"Knowing Liz, I know she is who she is," Rebecca Willis said. "It's not like she changes her personality or who she is when she's on stage. It's her."
Liz Willis and Pettey have both participated in pageants since high school, and continue to do so for different reasons.
Pettey said she competes in pageants because of the opportunities it presents for her future.
"I've received $25,000 in scholarship to Auburn through pageants and it has given me a confidence and happiness that nothing else ever gave me before I started competing," she said.
Liz Willis, after reading anonymous posts online last year about her waist being too wide to be Miss Alabama, set out to prove them wrong this year, though that was only part of her motivation for the pageant.
"I love to see my hard work pay off and have something to be proud of," Liz Willis said. "To take the negative criticism and turn it into a positive experience for me and show others that no matter what you do there's going to be somebody or something that's going to try to tear you down. You just have to ignore it. Nobody's perfect."
Both girls said their placement gives them further confidence to compete next year.
"Knowing I was on [the judges'] radar the entire time was just amazing and gives me inspiration and hope to compete next year," Pettey said.
"I plan to move up a slot next year and win," Liz Willis stated. "I recommend that every girl do [the pageant]. No matter what, everyone ends up having a great time."
(11/21/14 2:30pm)
November is National Novel Writing Month, often shortened to NaNoWriMo.
NaNoWriMo is a celebration that has expanded to an international level as aspiring novelists are challenged to meet a 50,000-word goal by the end of the month.
Participants sign up on the NaNoWriMo website, where they can track their progress, gain inspiration through pep talks from famous authors and interact with other writers in the NaNoWriMo community.
Hannah Pryor, senior in English literature, clocked in with her seventh year of participating in the challenge this November.
Pryor said the large word goal can be daunting at first, but is valuable once inspiration begins to flow.
"It forces you to write and holds you accountable to it," Pryor said. "Having a real deadline with a goal is a huge motivation."
She said school and finals can overshadow her progress at times, but she always loves doing NaNoWriMo, especially because of its sense of community.
Though she considers writing a solitary hobby, Pryor said she enjoys the way NaNoWriMo brings many writers together.
"We write late into the night, both at the library and in virtual meet-ups, and we cheer each other on as we each meet our daily goals," Pryor said. "I think that embodies the creative spirit of NaNoWriMo."
Zoe Tucker, junior in mechanical engineering, is participating in her third NaNoWriMo and said she decided to break the traditional rules of NaNoWriMo.
Instead of focusing on one novel, she is continuing other works she's written as well as working on multiple other pieces.
"I do NaNoWriMo partially just because it's something that my friends do," Tucker said. "It's fun, and it makes you part of a community, and at the end of it, you have something to be proud of."
Tucker said she believes the challenge is rewarding.
She said, however, the benefits of the experience are specific to each writer.
"NaNoWriMo is good for me because it gives me a little bit of motivation to get out of my engineering box," Tucker said.
Chantel Acevedo, associate professor of English and alumni writer-in-residence at Auburn, has published novels and poems.
Acevedo said she has participated in NaNoWriMo in the past, but never writes the entire month.
Nevertheless, she said she sees the value in participating.
"It's a wonderful tool to get started on a project, and get some serious words down," Acevedo said. "That's often enough to get you through a year of writing - building on what was started during November."
(11/13/14 11:30pm)
The "Keller Cat" has been reportedly missing for two to three weeks, causing concern she may have passed away.
The cat was known on campus for greeting Keller Hall's residents for roughly 16-17 years, according to Maggie Beans, Keller Hall resident and freshman in marketing.
Beans said the Keller Cat was a sort of celebrity and a mascot for the all-female dorm.
"She was our pride and joy," Beans said. "If we were having a bad day, she would be there to cheer us up. She meant a lot to our hall, and we are all very devastated by her passing."
Tori Chancellor, Keller Hall resident and freshman in media studies, said she made a quick connection with the Keller Cat during one of her first nights in the dorm.
"I felt a little homesick and I just sat on our front porch for a while," Chancellor said. "She laid down in front of me and I just spent some time with her for a while. My homesickness was quelled after that, and I owe her for that."
Chancellor said she remains hopeful.
"She is one precious kitty and while we don't know for sure whether or not she's dead, miracles do happen," Chancellor said.
Sarah Fritz, Keller Hall resident and freshman in pre-nursing, said she's devastated the Keller Cat has potentially passed.
She said she's also familiar with cats' tendencies to run away from home to die so their loved ones don't have to see them pass.
"We were best friends," Fritz said. "She was the whole reason I chose to live in Keller. Keller seems so lonely without her so the thought of her being gone forever is just unbearable."
Though they are not entirely sure of what happened to the cat, Fritz said she believes the girls have come to terms with believing she's no longer a Keller resident.
The girls have designed a shirt in honor of the Keller Cat, featuring a photo of the cat.
Nicole Moss, sophomore in physical activity and health, is a resident assistant in Keller Hall.
Moss said the girls noticed the cat had not been eating much and had been walking slowly a few weeks ago.
"The girls really love the cat, and it going missing has created a bond throughout the hall," Moss said. "I can definitely tell it has made an impact on the hall and I have gotten to know some of the girls better by having conversations about it going missing."
(11/17/14 1:30pm)
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.
(11/07/14 1:30am)
The Delta Chi fraternity will invite students to put on their boxing gloves Tuesday, Nov. 11, for a night of recreational boxing to "knock out cancer."
Delta Chi encourages students in fraternity and sororities to sponsor a member to be in the boxing bracket, but anyone is free to participate.
There is a registration fee of $30 and a registration form must be filled out in order to participate, both of which will be available at the event.
Zachary St. Clair, Delta Chi's external fraternity affairs coordinator and junior in political science, said the fraternity aims to host an event everyone will love while informing students of cancer research.
"We really want Auburn students to participate and unite around the fact that everyone's life has been touched by cancer in some way," St. Clair said.
Students will step into the ring at 6:30 p.m. at SkyBar.
All proceeds go to the V Foundation for cancer research.
The fraternity will also be giving out prizes, such as a Dick's Sporting Goods gift card.
Jake Schwartz, Delta Chi's current chapter president and junior in international business, said he worked specifically with the design and logistics of the event.
"It's exciting to do a philanthropy that has a buzz around campus, especially one that hasn't been done here before in Auburn," Schwartz said. "It will be a great time and it's for a great cause. What more could you ask for?"
Alex Townsey, alumni secretary of Delta Chi and sophomore in finance and history, said the philanthropy intimately connects to his experience with cancer.
He said his dad was diagnosed with cancer two years ago.
"The experience was enough to change my life completely," Townsey said. "I have a new outlook on life...a better relationship with my dad, and something to strive for on helping all those people who have been, are, and will be affected by cancer."
Students can find the registration form and more information on Delta Chi's Facebook page, while online registration can be found here.
For more information, contact Zachary St. Clair at zachstclair@auburn.edu.