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Gnu's Room Kicks Off Writers' Series with Jacob Thompson

By Jake Mastroianni / WRITER | January 18

The Gnu's Room Bookstore on South Gay Street in Auburn began its writers' series with a short story reading by local student Jacob Thompson. He read "Guide to Biking Rural Roads at Night" in front of a fairly crowded Gnu's Room on Friday night.

Old Foy Opens With New Amenities

By Jordan Dailey/ Assistant Campus Editor | December 3

James E. Foy Hall will open Spring 2010 with new dining venues and an updated look.

Auburn Biological Sciences Sells Clownfish

By David Crayton/ Staff Writer | December 3

Two University biologists are selling ornamental fish cultured from the Red Sea.The sale is being organized by Nanette Chadwick of biological sciences and graduate student Joey Szczebak.The department is selling anemone fish, which are also called clownfish.Chadwick said people will buy the fish because they are unique."Our fish were born in aquaria, and so they are acclimated and used to aquarium life and do not experience the transition shock of wild-caught fish," Chadwick said.

Agriculture Alumni Association Adds Members to Hall of Honor

By Jordan Dailey/ Assistant Campus Editor | December 3

The Auburn University Agriculture Alumni Association will induct three new members Feb. 23, 2010.The Hall of Honor/Pioneer Award gallery honors living Alabamians for the achievements in the agricultural sector."It's probably the greatest honor I've received as a member of Auburn's faculty," said William Hardy, former College of Agriculture dean for instruction and a professor in the Department of Agricultural Economics and Rural Sociology.Hardy will be honored alongside William Powell, executive director of the Alabama Cattlemen's Association, and Raymond Jones, Huntsville cattleman and businessman."I've said this a thousand times," Hardy said.

Verizon Wireless Funds Rural Health Screenings

By Blake Hamilton / Associate Campus Editor | December 3

What do cell phones, engineers and nurses have in common? They can all help rural Alabamians.Auburn's Samuel Ginn College of Engineering has teamed up with the School of Nursing to utilize a grant from Verizon Wireless.The Verizon Foundation awarded $23,000 to Loachapoka High School Nov.

Auburn Hosts Renewable Energy Conference

By Blake Hamilton / Associate Campus Editor | December 3

Cars of the future were the talk of the town Nov. 17-18 as Auburn hosted the Sixth Annual Alabama Renewable Energy Conference at The Hotel at Auburn University and Dixon Conference Center.More than 200 scientists and engineers from across the country attended the conference, exchanging concepts ranging from alternative forms of energy to the design of vehicles to implement these technologies."I was very pleased with the turnout at the conference," said Kathy Hornsby, renewable energy program manager with the energy division of the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs.

Extended Insurance Available for Holidays

By Blake Hamilton / Associate Campus Editor | December 3

The holiday season has arrived, meaning faculty and students alike will be throwing end-of-semester parties.However, in this age of endless litigation, an age where one can seemingly be sued for looking at someone else in a funny way, is basic homeowner's insurance enough protection?Enter event insurance, special coverage that can make sure all bases are covered in the event of an accident, arrest or any other liability specific to a medium to large-scale event."If it is a small party at your house, your homeowner's (insurance) probably is enough," said Alan Mitchell, Eclectic Insurance agent.

Coat Campaign Lends Helping Hand to Needy

By Lindsey Grubbs/ Staff Writer | December 3

With weather reaching cooler temperatures, coats are a must for everyone, even in south Alabama.This season, Auburn University Medical Clinic and East Alabama Medical Center have begun the first "One Coat Campaign" to receive coat and jacket donations for those in need around the Auburn-Opelika community.Since beginning Nov.

Shelby, Coliseum Still on Schedule to Open Late 2010

By Brittany Cosby / Campus Editor | December 3

With the semester winding down, construction is moving full speed ahead on the new basketball arena and phase II of the Shelby Center construction.The new arena will have an approximate capacity of 9,600 fans and will include more than 29,000 square feet of space with features including a two-court practice facility, coaches offices, the Auburn University Athletic Ticket Office, an AU Team Store and two food courts."Some of the new features the project will have are a dedicated weight room, separate men's and women's training rooms, 12 tailgate suites, the relocated new and interactive Lovelace Hall of Honor, on-site food prep facility and meeting/conference space for after hours functions," said Brain Hale, project manager for Robins & Morton and construction manager for the project.The Lovelace Hall of Honor will open up with the arena and will be a showplace highlighting the history, accomplishments and current happenings in all the Auburn sports programs.Randy Byars, project coordinator for the Auburn Arena and director of Athletic Facilities, said the project is contracted to be completed in July 2010.He said they are currently ahead of schedule and the arena is approximately 82 percent complete.The seating configuration will offer better sight lines for fans and move them closer to the court, Byars said.The furthest seat will be 43 feet in elevation from courtside compared to 60 feet away at Beard-Eaves."The new arena is radically different from Beard-Eaves," Byars said.

Students Find Best Places to Cram

By Max Newfield / Staff Writer | December 3

College students can often find themselves asking a multitude of questions each final exam period.Questions such as, "How many energy drinks should I buy?," "Why do I always seem to be scheduled for the last final of the term?" and "Why didn't I go to this class more often?" are always among the most commonly asked questions.The one question every college student must answer is, "Where will I study for this final?"Whether gathered around a table with classmates in the library or locked away in the dark recess of a silent bedroom, (almost) every student must settle in for at least a couple hours at the end of each semester to cram for impending finals.So, The Plainsman decided to do an informal survey of Auburn students and residents to find out where students like to study.The Library.With resources such as individual and group study rooms, study partners and the Internet cafe available, one might think the library would be the best place around town to study.

Langdon Hall Gets Renovations

By Jordan Dailey/ Assistant Campus Editor | December 3

To some students, Langdon Hall's locked doors are a mystery."The auditorium is not currently in use and is not planned for use in the near future," said Jann Swaim, an Auburn Facilities Division administrator.The building's history extends back to the middle of the 19th century.Langdon was built in 1853 and rebuilt in 1883, said Boyd Childress, Ralph Brown Draughon Library's architecture specialist."Charles Langdon was an Alabama politician, mayor of Mobile, state legislator, secretary of state from 1885 to 1889 and an Auburn trustee for many years," Childress said.

Discovering Dining around Campus

By Charley Gaines/ Staff Writer | November 21

Sprouting up on campus are new buildings, and in those buildings are a new variety of dining places for students, faculty and visitors to enjoy.When the new Student Center on campus opened in August 2008, students got the opportunity to experience new food on campus.

Discover Auburn lecture focuses on evolution

By Simpson Fletcher/ Staff Writer | November 20

The Discover Auburn series, a yearlong series featuring programs on research, history and other topics of interest, held its last lecture of 2009 Wednesday afternoon, titled "Evolution Proven: The Curious Development of American Anti-Evolution."The talk was given by Charles Israel, chair of Auburn's Department of History, in the Special Collections and Archives Department of the Draughon Library.A special exhibit commemorating the 200th anniversary of Charles Darwin's birth and the 150th anniversary of the first publication of Darwin's "Origin of Species" is in the Special Collections and Archives Department as well.

A Look Under the Curtains, Cast of 'Brighton Beach Memoirs' Tells All

By Theadoris Morris/ Staff Writer | November 19

The play, "Brighton Beach Memoirs" by Neil Simon, had its opening night last Friday at the Telfair Peet Theatre.Brighton Beach, the third of eight productions this year, will be running for six days.The play is about the struggles of a Brooklyn family during the worst year of the Great Depression.

Tubbi and Martin Win Last Comic Standing

By Jordan Dailey/ Assistant Campus Editor | November 19

The comedy duo Tubbi and Martin had students laughing as they took home first place at Thursday's Last Comic Standing.

Auburn Students Compete in Costume Contest During Screening of 'Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince'.

By Brittany Cosby / Campus Editor | November 19

Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.At least that was the case Tuesday night when Harry Potter fans dressed like their favorite characters to attend the screening of the year six film, "Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince."In this installment, Voldemort has returned in full force while Harry, Ron and Hermione return to new troubles at Hogwarts.Harry begins taking private lessons from Dumbledore, while Ron dabbles in a new relationship creating a rift with Hermione.Harry becomes suspicious of his school rival, Draco Malfoy, who Harry believes is up to something with the help of Snape."I have been a fan since the beginning of the novel and film series," said Mitchell Kilpatrick, sophomore in social science secondary education and costume constest winner.

Four Auburn Grads Receive Lifetime Achievement Award

By Blake Hamilton / Associate Campus Editor | November 19

Four Auburn graduates who went on to be movers and shakers will find recognition from the Auburn Alumni Association as its Lifetime Achievement Award is distributed next March.The 2010 recipients will be Robert Kenneth Johns '57, Smith Lanier '49, Gerald Smith '61 and Kathryn Thorton '74."Numerous individuals are nominated each year who have had significant careers and made outstanding contributions over their life times," said Debbie Shaw, vice president for alumni affairs and executive director of the Auburn Alumni Association.

Past Aubies Reflect on Time as Mascot

By Michael Hansberry/ Staff Writer | November 19

Aubie stands as one of the official symbols for Auburn University to many Auburn students and fans alike.Julian Holmes created the prototype decades ago, yet the same costume is still worn today.Every five years there is a "Friends of Aubie" reunion at the University and all the alumni come together to celebrate.Debbie Shaw, vice president of alumni affairs, hosts what she calls a geographic reunion in Atlanta during the Auburn-Georgia game, because she said so many past "Friends of Aubie" live in the area.Shaw said the geographic reunion is their chance to go to them, instead of having them come back to Auburn."It has been extremely important to me that we stay connected with these folks," Shaw said, who served as adviser to Aubie for 20 years before handing the position over to Mike Reynolds four years ago.