---

Auburn Hungry for Global Awareness

By Andrew Yawn / WRITER | February 19

The Alabama Possible Community Conversation will take place in Room 2326 of the Student Center on Feb. 22 at 8 p.m. and is one part of The Challenge, a two week campus global issues movement.

Are you up to The Challenge?

By Chelsea Harvey / CAMPUS EDITOR | February 9

Chris Osterlund, senior in industrial and systems engineering and SGA executive vice president, has teamed up with Nathan Warner, senior in chemical engineering, and Julia Wiard, coordinator for the Center of Leadership and Ethics, to develop an initiative he hopes will move Auburn's students to action.

WEGL uses resources for variety of campus projects

By Becky Hardy | Editor-in-Chief | January 26

Auburn University's WEGL radio station hopes to make an impact on Auburn and its community this spring.

Kids' art program connects Auburn students to community

By Kendall Wangman / WRITER | January 26

The Auburn CityKids Art Program is a free visual arts program for children ages 7-13.

Life in community theatre turns into a real drag

By Rebecca Croomes / ASSISTANT PHOTO EDITOR | October 20

Michael Prickett hasn't found the right way to tell his 4-year-old daughter he's going to be wearing a dress.

Kiesel park keeps it classy with community orchestra

By Anna Claire Conrad / STAFF WRITER | September 22

Don't expect dogs to be the only ones enjoying Kiesel Park Sunday.

Auburn locals gather for the 13th Annual Art Exhibit

By Laura Hobbs / WRITER | June 18

The 13th Annual Juried Art Exhibit at the Jan Dempsey Community Arts Center brought together the best of Auburn's local artists.

Auburn athletes commit to community service projects

By Max Newfield / Staff Writer | August 24

Forget trick plays or a new formation, community service is the best kept secret of Auburn Univeristy athletics."Most teams do a lot of community service that no one hears about because that's not the focus of the program" said Latisha Durroh, Director of Community Relations and Spirit for Auburn University.

Auburn Students Make Contributions to Fuller Legacy

By Jordan Dailey/Associate Campus Editor | August 19

Competitors in the average spring triathlon bike for 12 miles. For ironman athletes, that number jumps to 112 miles.

Auburn Educators Talk About New Teacher Code of Ethics

By Sarah Craft/Associate Copy Editor | July 28

The Alabama Legislature is working to enforce a new code of ethics for educators and cracking down on the inappropriate behaviors found in schools.The new code of ethics contains provisions regarding conduct standards for teachers, unlawful acts and maintenance of student confidentiality.According to the new code of ethics, teachers can be disciplined if they engage in behaviors such as using inappropriate language on school grounds, failing to provide adequate supervision to students and exposing students to unnecessary embarrassment."The code protects the health, safety and general welfare of students and educators; outlines objective standards of conduct for professional educators; and clearly defines actions of an unethical nature for which disciplinary sanctions are justified," reads the code's introductory text."I support the Alabama Education Association (AEA), but (the new code) could be abused," said Jason Wright, principal of Auburn Junior High School.

AU Plates Made Over

By Jordan Brantley/Staff Writer | July 23

Auburn pride will soon have a new face on the road.Beginning in August, Auburn license plates will be sporting a new style.Every five years, the state of Alabama requires license plates in the state to change their appearance.

Family Dinners Not Magic Fix

By Justin Dorman/Staff Writer | July 23

Television shows and the American media have been showing images of the perfect family and family dinners for years.In years past, it was shows like The Brady Bunch that showed America what it was like to sit at a table with six well-behaved kids.

Envision Opelika Announces New Community Foundation

By Jaclyn Dunn/Staff Writer | July 20

Lee County's community-based organization, Envision Opelika, has announced the implementation on the Community Foundation of East Alabama, Inc."The basis of the foundation is to build funds for philanthropic purposes and non-profit organizations based on identified community needs," board member Barbara Patton said.

Economic Woes has People Rediscovering the Library

By Sarah Phillips/ Staff Writer | July 16

The struggles in today's economy have libraries enjoying more business than ever.Looking into an average person's wallet, you are now more likely to find a library card than a credit card.People are now using these cards to check out not only books, but audio books, music and DVD's, many of which are popular new releases, at no cost.

Haircut Lounge Caters to Men

By Holly Hereth/Staff Writer | July 16

Just4Him Men's Haircut Lounge is a hair salon on Opelika Road where guys can watch the game, relax and get a haircut at the same time.When customers walk in for a cut, no appointment necessary, they are offered a drink: a water, a soda or a cold beer."Customers get a shampoo and a head massage after their haircut, and that's what keeps people coming back," said Kaitlyn Gregory, a hair stylist at Just4Him.

First Book Encourages Local Childhood Literacy

By Grace Henderson/Staff Writer | July 16

First Book, a non-profit organization, gives children one resource many take for granted: books.Founded nationally in 1992, First Book strives to increase literacy by donating books to underprivileged communities."I think this effort makes a difference in the lives of youth locally and helps to improve literacy rates among child populations," said Chippewa Thomas, a professor in the department of special education, rehabilitation and counseling."As the organization's adviser and president of the Alabama Association of Multicultural Counseling and Development, Thomas said she will work this year to collect books and distribute them to local youth organizations, schools and individuals."As part of the 'Read Across Alabama' initiative in November, books will also be given to children at a school in Birmingham who don't have books at home of their own to read," Thomas said.First Book raises awareness in Auburn by planning fund-raisers at local restaurants and bookstores, said Kimberly Parent, First Book president at Auburn."We also raise the bulk of our funds through the generosity of our donors, and we do appreciate whatever people are willing to give," Parent said.Parent said gift cards will be available in October for those wanting to support the organization."Anyone who wants to show their support for children in need can purchase one and give it to someone they care about to show some holiday spirit," Parent said.The Auburn chapter of First Book began as an advocacy project, consisting of a book drive and reading day at a local elementary school, for one of Parent's classes."Then the idea kept getting bigger, and I spoke to someone who had started a First Book chapter at their school," Parent said.

Local Legends Lie in Local Cemetery

By Natalie Nettles/Intrigue Editor | July 9

Five University presidents, two U.S. generals and the man responsible for bringing football to Auburn.These individuals are among the many Auburn men and women buried in Pine Hill, a 6-acre cemetery on Armstrong Street."It's the oldest and most historic cemetery in Auburn," said Ann Pearson, member and past president of the Auburn Heritage Association.Pearson said the land for Pine Hill was given to Auburn in 1837 by Judge John Harper, founder of the city."There are 1,500 people or more buried here, that we know of," Pearson said.

Web Site Pinpoints Local Sex Offenders

By The Editorial Board | July 9

You'd like to know if you were living next door to a registered sex offender, wouldn't you?We know we would.A recent update to the Lee County Sheriff Office's Web site enhances residents' awareness of sex offenders in the area.The site allows users to conduct a search for registered sex offenders living in their neighborhood, as well as the option of subscribing for e-mails alerts about sex offenders who plan to locate to the area.While our editorial board acknowledged both sides of the issue, we believe this to be an invaluable tool for residents of Lee County.Some may argue the features of the site are too intrusive, as they provides users with the names and addresses of registered sex offenders in the county, but this is information we think any family would want at its disposal.Imagine you're starting a family and have found the perfect home in the perfect neighborhood to begin raising your children.For their well-being, you would want to know if you were planning to become the neighbor of a person who had previously committed some form of sexual abuse.Even if this information wouldn't keep a family from moving into a certain home or a certain neighborhood, we still see merit in the site providing this information.Simply knowing where these people reside we feel is something any caring parent should be concerned about, and if the site increases a family's awareness of the neighborhood and tightens the parents' concern for where their children go, it's a good thing.We don't believe offenders found on the site should be so blatantly singled out to the point it's the equivalent of a Wild West "Wanted" sign or being shunned in the stocks in the town square, but we do applaud the awareness and heightened safety the Web site provides to families of Lee County.That said, for our editorial board's contrasting view, read below.