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Locals gorge hotdogs for fire victims

By Katie Ehrhart / WRITER | February 25

Scarfing down hot dogs was the theme of Friday's fundraiser to benefit an Auburn resident whose home recently burned.Eleven days after Auburn resident Annetta Sparks' home in Gentilly Park burned, the students, faculty and family members of the College of Veterinary Medicine came together to raise money for Sparks.However, the means by which the school chose to raise money, was anything but conventional.The fundraiser, thrown together last minute in honor of Sparks, was the Second Annual Hot Dog Eating Contest."The reason for this contest is strictly for Ms. Annetta Sparks who lost everything when her trailer burned up and three of her four dogs died," said Dougie Macintire, emcee of the event.

Toomer's bricks buy education

By Bethany Donaldson / WRITER | February 25

Bricks from Toomer's Corner have turned into scholarship money for students.The Auburn Alumni association is selling the bricks for $100.

Italians Say 'Ciao' to Auburn

By Maddy Hall / WRITER | February 25

For some, thinking about Italy conjures images of famous ruins in Rome, fashion in Milan or romantic gondola rides in Venice.After attending L'ora Del Caffe, the Italian Conversation Hour, thoughts center on food, family and fun.A group of students and professors met in the Eagle's Nest South in Haley Center to enjoy some Italian sweets and practice their conversation skills Monday afternoon.The conversation hour, which is free and open to the public, will meet March 29 and April 19.

Furman trio takes over Goodwin Hall

By Chelsea Harvey / WRITER | February 25

The dimming of the house lights followed by the tenor of a cello tuning offstage brought a hush to the audience in Goodwin music hall Saturday night.At 7:30 p.m.

Cutting a Rug for Credit

By Sarah Phillips / STAFF REPORTER | February 25

Many students find themselves struggling to make it to class on time.Sluggish students have to get out of bed, get dressed and find a way to make it all the way on campus, whether walking or taking a transit most of the way.But for those in Adrienne Wilson's Intermediate Dance Techniques II class, they find themselves arriving early with smiles on their faces, greeting each other as if it's been weeks since they last talked."We're one big happy family," said Richard Davis, senior in microbiology and theater.Located in the recently renovated Foy ballroom, Wilson's dance class of more than 20 students gathers to learn and practice different techniques of modern dance."We look at movement theory and take things to a different level," Wilson said.

Labradors Keep Society Safe in CIA

By Maxwell Newfield / ASSOCIATE CAMPUS EDITOR | February 25

The classroom buildings and animal hospital on Wire Road may not be comparable to the CIA headquarters or the Pentagon, but the College of Veterinary Medicine is doing its part to keep the world safe.The Canine Detection Research Institute, a branch of the Auburn University Animal Health Performance Program, created a form of canine detection technology called Vapor Wake Detection to improve the utility of detection dogs."There is no other mode of technology out there as effective as a dog," said John Pearce, associate director of the Canine Detection Research Institute.

Kristi MeGahee Elected Miss Auburn

By Michelle Wilder / CAMPUS EDITOR | February 19

After being announced Miss Auburn at the SGA callouts Thursday night, Kristi MeGahee said she is ready to get the ball rollin'."It's been the most fun and rewarding week of my life, and I'm really excited," MeGahee said.MeGahee, whose platform supports the Lakeshore Foundation for returning soldiers, said she is ready to start working on her platform as soon as possible.

'Reverend Run' educating Auburn

By Maxwell Newfield / ASSOCIATE CAMPUS EDITOR | February 18

Joseph "Reverend Run" Simmons spends most of his time educating his children on the MTV reality show "Run's House," but the reverend took time out of his schedule to educate the students of Auburn University

Atheists, agnostics unite in disbelief

By Bree Bowen / WRITER | February 18

Ravikumar said AAA group meetings are also a time for friends to get together, have a good time and be a part of something."It's a different lifestyle, what we believe in," Ravikumar said. Even after growing up Christian, Ravikumar realized through observation and talking with others that his views greatly differed from that of mainstream religion.

IFC reps impress at conference

By Maxwell Newfield / ASSOCIATE CAMPUS EDITOR | February 18

The executive members of Auburn's Interfraternity Council attended the Southeastern Interfraternity Conference in Atlanta in order improve fraternity operations on campus the weekend of Feb.

Honor Band Keeps Arts Alive

By Michelle Wilder / CAMPUS EDITOR | February 18

After more than 850 high school band members applied for Auburn's honor band, only 223 were selected to participate in the 19th annual Honor Band Festival last weekend.After auditions, participants were split into three bands--Tiger Band, Eagle Band and Wind Symphony--and spent two-and-a-half days preparing for the final concert for friends and family Sunday, Feb.

Nomadic artist shapes life, style with uncommon art

By Jillian Clair/ Staff Writer | February 18

Chia, a red jumpsuit and water are all Jeff Schmuki needs to create art.Schmuki has been a visiting artist and professor at Auburn for the past two semesters and has been traveling the country since Hurricane Katrina.Hurricane Katrina devastated Schmuki's neighborhood in Gulfport, Miss., and since then, he has become a nomadic artist, traveling to different parts of the country and the world."I had a home, and now everything I own is now in a backpack, which is kind of liberating in a way," Schmuki said.After the hurricane, Schmuki said his art changed because of what he had seen and his need for portability in art."I'm not interested in art that is static," Schmuki said.

TV class debates family value trends

By Maxwell Newfield / ASSOCIATE CAMPUS EDITOR | February 18

The Department of Radio, Television and Film offers a class that combines two popular college student activities into one experience: class discussion and television viewing.The class is TV and the Family, taught by Ric Smith, professor of radio, television and film.Smith said the class has a lot of interesting learning opportunities."We look at how families are portrayed on television and how families use television and the impact that usage has on families both good and bad," Smith said.Over the course of the semester, the class watches clips of popular family based television shows such as "The Simpsons" or "Everybody Loves Raymond" and classic shows such as "Leave It To Beaver" or "Good Times".Smith said these viewings are used to discuss how families are portrayed on television and how those messages about families have changed over time.Keista Hough, senior in radio, television and film, said the discussion portion of the class is vital to its success."The thing about Ric is he does a lot of discussion," Hough said.

Aerospace researches air flow, here and there

By Drew Thompson / ASSISTANT CAMPUS EDITOR | February 18

From supersonic wind tunnels to laser scanning technology, aerospace engineering is not lacking research to be performed.Kyle Lynch, first year master's student in aerospace engineering, is taking advantage of both the wind tunnel and laser scanning technology.Lynch has been using the Pulse Burst Laser System in cooperation with the supersonic wind tunnel and in development of a high-speed, 3-D flow visualization technique.

SAA Supports Haiti by Collecting Shirts

By Drew Thompson / ASSISTANT CAMPUS EDITOR | February 18

Members of the Student Alumni Association will leave for Oxford, Miss., for the Affiliated Student Advancement Programs District 3 conference today at 1 p.m.The conference is centered on spreading ideas among different universities.Starting last Wednesday, Matthew Cox, junior in accounting and SAA president, started collecting shirts on the Concourse with the help of his fellow SAA members in preparation for their appearance at the ASAP conference at Ole Miss.Cox said the T-shirt drive is for the benefit of those affected by the earthquake in Haiti."Any kind of shirt will work at this point," said Wendy Norred, senior in health administration and SAA vice president of campus relations.Norred said it did not even matter if the shirts were clean before they were donated."We are taking (the shirts) to a conference who will clean them all," Norred said.All kinds of shirts were collected at the tent SAA set up on the Concourse."Long sleeved, short sleeved and even sleeveless," Norred said.The SAA members had a plastic bin filled with various donated shirts.SAA contacted news groups who spread the word of the shirt drive as far as Columbus, Ga., Cox said.SAA has received help from the Auburn community, Cox said.As of last Wednesday, the Auburn University Marching Band had collected around 300 shirts, Cox said.All the shirts that were collected will be taken to the conference today.The conference will include the University of Georgia, University of Florida, University of Tennessee, University of South Carolina and University of Mississippi.ASAP evokes slight competition but the bottom line of the conference is to support Haiti and increase relations amongstDistrict 3 schools.

Guitarists keep JCSM classy

By Patrick Dever / ASSOCIATE SPORTS EDITOR | February 18

The sounds of classical guitar floated throughout the auditorium at the Jule Collins Smith Museum last Thursday evening.

Katrina Survivor Speaks About Artistic Inspirations

By Derek Lacey / WRITER | February 15

Jeff Schmuki, an artist who uses growing plants as his medium of choice, presented his lecture, Armegarrden, Thursday in Biggin Hall.Wearing a bright red jumpsuit, he explained that hurricane Katrina had destroyed his house in Mississippi, changed his life and has become a major inspiration for his work."Your life can change in one day," Scmucki said, "some of my neighbors stayed and didn't make it. I helped recover them."

Weather Causes Campus to Close, Toomers Ten to Postpone Services

By Staff reports | February 11

The campus is closed, and classes are canceled Friday, Feb. 11.Auburn University Public Safety plans on operating the night Security Shuttle pending the safety of the roads Friday.Toomers Ten will not run regardless of weather conditions Friday evening.Public Safety anticipates operating at a minimum as long as campus dining areas are open.Updates will be posted when necessary.