Skip to Content, Navigation, or Footer.
A spirit that is not afraid

News

The State Press

Opelika Library Hosts Book Signing

Photographs, business cards, a few examples of her work and a bouquet of pink roses decorated the table as Kanisha Wilson signed autographs and posed for pictures at her first book signing.An Opelika native, 28-year-old poet Kanisha Wilson has had her first book of compiled poetry published.Wilson said she compiled her poems into her book, "Portraits of the Heart," to share her work with others.The book signing was Saturday from 2 p.m.


The State Press

Moped Collides with Vehicle at Toomer's Corner

An Auburn student driving a moped collided with a vehicle at the corner of Magnolia Avenue and College Street this morning.The student, believed to be a 21-year-old female, was not transported to the hospital and was released from the scene, Captain Tom Stofer said.


The Auburn Plainsman

Auburn Public Library takes part in National Gaming Day

Libraries, which are typically associated with reading level quiet, are embracing the louder world of video gaming.The American Library Association is promoting "National Gaming Day," Saturday, Nov. 14., sponsored by Hasbro.The Auburn Public Library (APL) held their first gaming night Thursday because they weren't able to do so Saturday, said Eve Kneeland, the head of youth services.The event was open to the general public, but geared toward teenagers.

The Auburn Plainsman

Opelika Gets Ready for Christmas

Welcoming the Christmas season early, Opelika Main Street and Downtown Merchants held its annual Christmas Open House, Sunday.The event has been celebrated for about 10 years as a way to bring people downtown and support the small business, said Velinda Wheels, director of the event.The open house was from 1 p.m.

The Auburn Plainsman

REMEMBERING THE BERLIN WALL: Former East Berliners Have Fond Memories of Growing Up Behind the Wall

"The wall was there and we lived with it," said Anja Werth, an Auburn professor in German. "We didn't know anything else."Werth grew up in East Germany, also known as the German Democratic Republic."I knew there was another Germany somewhere, but you never really thought about it," Werth said.Werth said she remembers enjoying school, playing games after school and having a happy childhood.Her family lived in a private apartment in a hotel, because her father worked for the government in the hotel business.People were not starving, but there were fewer brands of food.

The Auburn Plainsman

Internet Instigates, Energizes Brain

Turns out spending all day searching Facebook and YouTube may not be such a waste of time, according to a UCLA study.The study, which worked with 24 neurologically normal volunteers between the ages of 55 and 78, found Internet use stimulates neural activity and may enhance brain function in older adults."Basically, we wanted to see what the brain looked like the first time it searched online," said Gary Small, professor of clinical psychiatry at UCLA.

The Auburn Plainsman

Ceremony Celebrates Veterans

Auburn held its 10th annual Veteran's Day Ceremony yesterday at the Auburn Veteran's Memorial Monument on the corner of Ross Street and Glenn Avenue.The ceremony included music from the Drake Middle School Mixed Choir and bagpiper Dan Drummond, a memorial wreath laying, remarks from Mayor Bill Hamm Jr.

The Auburn Plainsman

Budget Cuts Will Not Affect Classes at Auburn

An article by the Associated Press claims universities are facing budget reductions that ultimately cause courses to be cut and teachers to be laid off, making it harder for students to graduate.However, University officials assert this is not a problem at Auburn."I would like to give credit to our budgeting office to make sure that we are physically sound," said Mike Reynolds, director of student financial services.

The Auburn Plainsman

Study Predicts PACT May Run Out in 10 Years

An August 2009 study by the Retirement Systems of Alabama concluded if people with Prepaid Affordable College Tuition accounts were paid full benefits, the funds would be depleted by 2016 if the economy continues as predicted.However, the study said the funds could be depleted as early as 2014.Established in 1990, the PACT program promised benefits to all account holders through 2032.There are currently more than 45,000 account holders, and almost 20,000 are eligible to use the benefits.The most recent actuarial study showed the liabilities for the program are $917 million, and the assets are only $571 million, which leaves a $345 million deficit.Liabilities refer to how much money PACT needs to operate."An actuarial report is a snapshot of a situation where you are measuring assets and liabilities on a given day," said Alabama State Treasurer Kay Ivey.Ivey said on any given day the fund could pay for only 62 percent of students with its current assets."There will never be enough money in this moment to provide for tuition for all of those students without some kind of funding mechanism to pay the tuition over the short time until the corpus of $571 million can grow when the market grows," Ivey said.PACT was pioneered in 1990 by Lt.

The Auburn Plainsman

WWII book author visits Auburn

Thursday afternoon, Pulitzer Prize nominated author Jack Sacco spoke at the Auburn Public Library. Sacco spoke to promote his book, "Where the Birds Never Sing."Sacco, a native of Birmingham, has traveled around the world to endorse his book. He said he was invited to Vienna to speak in front of the royal family."Where the Birds Never Sing" tells the true story of an American liberator in World War II. The story told through the eyes of his father, Joe Sacco, who spent his time at the Dachau Concentration Camp in Germany. Sacco served his country and is responsible for the freeing of Holocaust prisoners. Sacco said his friends encouraged him to write the book.

The Auburn Plainsman

University student struck on Magnolia Avenue

Drunken driving was behind the car accident that sent a University student to Columbus Regional Medical Center Friday night, according to police officials.Shouju Chen, 35, one of the University's visiting exchange scholars, received life-threatening injuries after she was struck by Thomas Latham, a pre-business sophomore.

The Auburn Plainsman

Barbie Receives Ethnic Makeover

Mattel has launched a new black Barbie doll line in an attempt to make the doll's appearance a more realistic representation of a black woman.The "So In Style" dolls were made to celebrate the diversity of black girls and send a positive message, according to a Barbie Media press release.Although the new doll's aesthetics have roused some controversy, there are those who agree the new line is a positive change for the Barbie Industry.The dolls feature fuller lips, a wider nose, more distinctive cheek bones and curlier hair than the previous "Christie" doll."The 'So In Style' line features 'Grace,' 'Kara' and 'Trichelle' dolls," according to the Barbie Media press release.

The Auburn Plainsman

Alabama MADD Chapter Gets Help

Alabama Mothers Against Drunk Driving received a $27,645 grant from the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs to aid victims of drunken drivers in Alabama."We're just excited that we have received funding to keep our services at no charge to victims," said Peggy Batey, executive director for Alabama MADD.An estimated 11,773 people died in vehicle crashes involving intoxicated drivers in 2008, according to MADD's Web site.That represents 31.6 percent of all driving-related fatalities over that period."(The grant) is strictly used to provide services at no cost to victims of drunk driving crashes," Batey said.More specifically, the funds will go to services such as payment for parole hearings, access to important resources, travel for MADD representatives and the organizations 24-hour hotline, 1-877-MADD-HELP."Victims of drunken drivers and the families of victims often face a long and hard recovery," Gov.