---

Sororities duke it out to win Derby Days

By Christian Becraft / Staff Writer | April 22

Posters, billboards, glitter and war paint. As the countdown closed at midnight, girls from all sororities raced around the Sigma Chi lawn showing their sorority poster paraphernalia in support of the fraternity's philanthropic event Derby Days.Derby Days is Sigma Chi's annual week-long event to raise money for its philanthropy the Children's Miracle Network.Zach Moore, a sophomore in accounting and this year's Derby Days chair, said the week is packed with fundraisers.A specific restaurant donates a portion of its profits to the Children's Miracle Network each day.Sigma Chi also hosts an activity each night for the sororities to participate in."We try to make it as fun as possible," Moore said.

Former priest speaks on homosexuality, Bible

By Mallory Boykin / Campus Editor | April 22

Daniel Helminiak discussed "What the Bible Really Says About Homosexuality" Tuesday night in the Student Center.Helminiak, a former priest and author who now teaches psychology and theology at the University of West Georgia, came to campus through Campus Progress, the Auburn University Spectrum Alliance and the Office of Diversity and MultiCultural Affairs.During his presentation, Helminiak said the Bible, when read in its own historical context, does not state an opinion about homosexuality.He argued the Biblical texts are ambiguous.

UPC hosts comedy team Tim and Eric

By Blake Hamilton / Staff Writer | April 22

The first of UPC's big acts for the month of April brought big laughs as Tim and Eric rolled onto the Plains Monday night.The stars of Adult Swim's "Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job!" and "Tom Goes to the Mayor," as well as various cult-favorite Internet shorts, brought their off-the-wall humor to a packed Student Act Auditorium.The team is comprised of Tim Heidecker and Eric Wareheim, former film students who initially worked from their Web site, but soon began working with former "Saturday Night Live" writer and "Mr. Show" co-creator Bob Odenkirk to develop projects for Cartoon Network's late night schedule.As with "Awesome Show," most of the live act parodies cheaply made cable access TV channels in characters such as "Casey and his Brother," a send-up of telethon entertainment involving a 17-year-old singer with a skin condition and crippling stage fright, and the "Channel 5 Kid Break," in which Heidecker and Wareheim play two young children who rap about conserving toilet paper and their dads' dirty socks.The duo also lampoons timeshare conferences as they attempt to earn a commission by selling the audience hot tubs.Opening for Tim and Eric was Dan Mintz, a comedian whose deadpan delivery and array of one-liners has seen him on "Late Night with Conan O'Brien" and landed him a 30-minute special on Comedy Central.Filling in during Tim and Eric's costume changes was a DJ who crafted remixes of random bits of dialogue that ranged from scrap gold commercials to the Sham-Wow guy."I thought that the Tim and Eric show was completely wacky and unique," said Alisa Courtney, a freshman in exercise science.

Free organic gardening workshop means healthy alternative for produce

By Ellyn Zagoria / Staff Writer | April 22

Eating organically is one way to stay healthy.Now, locals will have the chance to start an organic garden and learn how to grow their own vegetables for free.Jan Garrett, a research fellow in the organic vegetable production research program, will be holding a free organic vegetable production workshop May 2 from 9 a.m.

Students enjoy dancing in Student Center

By Brittany Cosby / Staff Writer | April 22

Students danced across the Foy ballroom during a night of fun, food and friendly competition.UPC and the Auburn Latino Association of Students hosted "Salsa Magic and Fiesta Latina" in the Foy Ballroom April 16."The purpose of throwing the fiesta is we wanted to deepen the understanding of Latino culture and current issues concerning Latinos on campus and in the community," said Vivian Aparicio, president of ALAS.

SAE Baja Alabama makes tracks in Auburn

By Brittney Williford / Associate Campus Editor | April 21

Auburn played host this weekend to the annual Baja SAE Alabama competition. The event, held Thursday through Friday, inculded automotive and race competitions.Teams from across the country competed, and Auburn placed in several of the events, including a fourth place finish in suspension traction and fifth place in maneuverability.Overall results have not been released, but Auburn faculty adviser Peter Jones said he is pleased with how the team performed despite technical setbacks in competition."We turned in good performances," Jones said.

'Token Hunchback' wins first place in film festival

By Brittany Cosby / Staff Writer | April 20

The student film "Token Hunchback" won first prize at the Jay Sanders Film Festival at the Auburn Hotel in the Theatre Auditorium Thursday."My favorite film was the hunchback one because the clay animation took a lot of time and talent," said Kelsey Paz, a senior in radio, television and film.

Buskist receives lifetime achievement award

By Zachary McDonald / Staff Writer | April 16

Auburn professor honored

Lee County Junior League hosts 3rd annual art walk

By Leah Cover / Staff Writer | April 15

For 321 early birds, the Jule Collins Smith Museum became Auburn's center of attention as they ran, jogged and ambled for 1.5 miles around the museum.The JCSM hosted the Junior League of Lee County's 3rd Annual Art Walk, benefitting local art and literacy education, Saturday.Summer Vaughan, JLLC's fundraising director, has been leading the mission for a few years and said she loves her work."I enjoy continuing to give back, to see local programs more driven and more accessible (to those in need of them)," Vaughan said.Saturday's Art Walk was expected to raise more than $10,000, which would then benefit seven separate sponsoring local organizations.The crowd included students and community members.Ashley Eden, junior in elementary education, managed to get up early to fulfill her sponsorship of the Art Walk/Run.The JLLC has been a local sector of the national Junior League since the '80s, supporting and promoting women's image as a professional, maternal and empowered individual.The JLLC employs its almost 200 members through volunteer work or sponsorship at three annual fundraisers, including a spring rummage sale, an art walk or run and a Christmas poinsettia sale.

Events honor students who go to school, have jobs too

By Amanda Irle / Staff Writer | April 15

Auburn University's Career Development Services honored students who hold jobs this week by sponsoring National Student Employment Week."The point of National Student Employment Week is to celebrate the contributions students make to our campus and our community," said Holly Holman, the student employment manager at Career Development Services.

Miss Auburn takes lead with 'Miracle Mile' Sunday

By Laura Vaughn / Staff Writer | April 15

Children's Miracle Network is a non-profit organization, that, through donations, funds, medical care, research and education for children of all backgrounds with all types of diseases.They are the reason Kimberly Freind, Miss Auburn University, is hosting "The Miracle Mile.""The Miracle Mile" is a one-mile walk around Auburn's campus.

Assistant commissioner talks sports PR with students

By Bridgette Bonner / Staff Writer | April 15

Charles Bloom, assistant commissioner for media relations for the Southeastern Conference, spoke to Auburn public relations students about working with sports PR in the Auburn Athletic Complex Auditorium Tuesday, April 7.Bloom graduated from the University of South Carolina in '85 with a bachelor's degree in public relations and went on to cover PR at LSU, Ole Miss and East Carolina before he began covering the entire SEC in '95.A small staff of approximately 30 people run media relations for the SEC headquarters in Birmingham.Bloom said promoting the SEC goes deeper than athletics."We are just as concerned with academic excellence in our 12 institutions as we are with athletics," Bloom said.

Wit delivers final lecture

By ALLISON THOMPSON | April 13

Lawrence Wit, physiology professor and Associate Dean of Biomedical Science, at SGA's Final Lecture advised students on lessons he wish he had known graduating college.

Auburn helps bring art to Alabama prisons

By Morgan Stashick / Staff Writer | April 10

Since 2003, Auburn has brought art and literature to Alabama prisons through the Alabama Prison Arts and Education Program

Religious holidays give students a reason to skip class

By Mallory Boykin / Campus Editor | April 9

Teachers may be experiencing a lull in class attendance Friday because of e-mails sent to students from the Office of the Dean of Students and the Office of the Provost regarding the University's attendance policy for those wishing to observe religious holidays.According to the Tiger Cub and e-mails sent this week, a student's absence from class will be excused for religious reasons if they notify their teacher in advance in writing and they do not have to provide any other form of written evidence.Dean of Students Johnny Green said Auburn is one of the only universities he knows of that does not require written proof of attending a religious service for the absence to be excused.Green said the University does not ask for written proof because students can not be compelled to tell the University how they worship."It's a personal, constitutional right that is protected by those rights we all hold dear," Green said.Ali Kidwell, a sophomore in interior design, said while she is not going to miss class on Friday, she knows a lot of people who are."I think it's pretty much inviting students to skip classes on Friday," Kidwell said.Green said he had received e-mails from many students with questions about religious holidays prior to the ones he sent to the students."This time of the year there are some Jewish celebrations on the weekend running from Friday through Sunday or Monday, some Christian ones and some other ones that are going to come up," Green said.

Students lace up shoes for walk supporting diabetes research

By Vicki Johnson / Staff Writer | April 9

The Cardinal Key National Honor Society for juniors and the REACH Community Connection, a community leadership program for freshmen, hosted the Walk to Cure Diabetes last Sunday.All of the money donated from the walk goes to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, and according to their Web site, the organization is the leading charitable funder and advocate of type 1 juvenile diabetes research worldwide.At pre-registration there were 150 participants signed up for the walk, and Clay Parker, Cardinal Key President, said he expected another 100 to 150 people to attend the walk.Walk to Cure Diabetes consisted of a one mile walk, which began and ended on Cater Lawn.

Glomeratas given to students since 1897

By Loren Willis / Staff Writer | April 9

Beyond rolling Toomer's Corner, Tiger Walk and call-outs on Cater Lawn, lies another Auburn tradition embedded in the history of the University.The Glomerata, Auburn University's yearbook, has been produced and distributed to students at no charge since 1897."There are 112 volumes of the Glomerata," said Benjamin Arnberg, editor-in-chief of the Glom and a senior majoring in English.

Gospel Choir concert speaks to souls Sunday

By Allison Clark / Staff Writer | April 9

The Auburn University Gospel Choir showed its audience how to let loose Sunday at Victory World Prayer Center for its Spring Concert.The choir entered the building in a parade of movement and sound and performed with unceasing energy."I was very proud of the students in the Gospel Choir," said William Powell, associate professor of music and director of choral activities.