Untitled Document

Monday, August 14, 2006

Good morning! Here's today's summary of news coverage of Auburn University.
NOTE: Any errors in text are due to formatting by the publication.

Total Clips: 13

	Date	Outlet
Auburn making adjustments, Administrator involved in scandal resigns	08/14/2006	Gadsden Times
The Good and Bad of Coffee	08/14/2006	WTVM-TV
Probiotics Could Make You Healthier	08/14/2006	WTVM-TV
Lobbyist spending	08/14/2006	Birmingham News
In the Internet Era, Everything Comes Out	08/14/2006	New York Times
COMMENTARY Student-athletes must assume responsibility for their grades	08/13/2006	Montgomery Advertiser
Auburn fans, players have mixed feelings about Tiger Walk changes	08/13/2006	Columbus Ledger-Enquirer
Liquid explosives no challenge for dogs	08/13/2006	Chicago Sun-Times
New students warned to think safety	08/13/2006	Opelika-Auburn News
Two lose posts over AU academic abuse	08/13/2006	Press-Register
A banner year for Aubie the tiger	08/13/2006	Press-Register
A solution at Auburn	08/12/2006	Huntsville Times, The
Two professors lose positions at Auburn	08/11/2006	Lufkin Daily News, The


Auburn making adjustments, Administrator involved in scandal resigns 08/14/2006 Gadsden Times		Return to Top
The chairman of Auburn University's sociology, anthropology, social work, criminology and criminal justice department turned in his resignation last week, and another administrator was reassigned, after allegations began to brew this summer that many students were receiving good grades for little work in directed-reading courses. Thomas Petee faced accusations - publicized in a New York Times news story - that he carried an enormous load - 152 students - of directed-reading courses in the spring of 2005. The story focused on athletes (as so much pertaining to universities in Alabama does) being directed toward the directed-readings courses when they were in jeopardy of losing their eligibility. In fact, about 75 percent of the directed-reading students were not athletes - something Auburn Interim President Ed Richardson has noted. He told The Birmingham News the ongoing investigation is "clearly an academic issue." In addition to Petee's resignation, Auburn's adult education program coordinator, James Witte, has been assigned to the College of Education dean's office. Both men remain tenured professors at Auburn. The university has taken steps already to change the way directed-reading courses are handled as its investigation into potential grade inflation continues. Starting this fall, faculty members who want to teach more than three directed-reading courses in a semester will need approval. Students who want to take more than nine hours of directed readings toward the degree they seek must get approval and only juniors or seniors will be considered for such class loads. The directed-reading courses must be documented with objective criteria for grading, and an administrator above the faculty member teaching the class must give approval for it. Although the administrator whose practices sparked this investigation resigned as chairman of the department, Auburn's evaluation of what students must accomplish to get course credit should continue - and it should spur other universities to examine what guarantees they require that instructors are demanding enough from students. Sacrificing a couple of administrators' positions alone does not resolve the allegation that some students were allowed to sacrifice their educations with overly easy classes.
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The Good and Bad of Coffee 08/14/2006 WTVM-TV Brock Parker		Return to Top
Dr. Robert Keith, nutritionist at AU was quoted in this story. If you were seen with a cup of coffee in your hand 20 years ago, you might have received a lecture on how bad it was for you. However, new studies suggest a few cups can be very beneficial as long as you don't overdo it. "Moderation may be three cups per day, up to maybe six," said Dr. Robert Keith, a nutritionist at Auburn University. That little boost of energy every day could prevent some diseases. "What they find is that people who drink coffee get significantly less type two diabetes, so coffee seems to have a protective effect on that disease," said Keith. However, Keith says diet and exercise are still your best bet for preventing this type of diabetes. The caffeine in coffee can also be helpful. "Coffee has been shown to have a pretty good striking effect on reducing your chances of getting Parkinson's Disease," Keith said. Where there are benefits, there are also risks. Coffee also increases the level of a harmful protein. "People with high CRP, or C-reactive protein, levels in their blood are more likely to get some level of cardiovascular disease," keith said. Women in particular have to be careful. "Women who consume lot of coffee seem to have less bone mineral and are more likely to perhaps get the disease osteoporosis, which is a bone-loss disease," said Keith.
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Probiotics Could Make You Healthier 08/14/2006 WTVM-TV Brock Parker		Return to Top
The sources quoted in this story are Dr. Jean Weese, ACES food scientists and AU professor of nutrition and food science, and Dr. Robert Keith, ACES nutritionist and AU professor of nutrition and foods. Probiotics. It sounds like something concocted in the lab of a mad scientist, but it's a natural occurrence. "They're microorganisms that are added to foods. A lot of people think bacteria are only bad bacteria, but they are actually good, beneficial bacteria," said Dr. Jean Weese, an Alabama Cooperative Extension System food scientist and Auburn University professor of nutrition and food science. These bacteria help break down food in your intestine, but how do you know where to find these little guys? "Naturally, they come in mostly fermented milk products. Buttermilk, yogurt, yogurt-type drinks, those kind of things," said Dr. Robert Keith, an Alabama Cooperative Extension System nutritionist and Auburn University professor of nutrition and foods. While they do help in digestion, they serve another purpose. "They also keep the bad bacteria from getting in there and setting up abnormally large colonies and producing toxins that will make you ill," said Keith. Those colonies could be E.coli or salmonella. If you happen to get one of these bad bacteria, you'll need to replace the good bacteria they destroy. "You would do it yourself slowly or most people will. It depends on the intestine system and the health of the individual. Some people do not replace them well, and that's when they need a little help," said Weese. --Written by: Brock Parker
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Lobbyist spending 08/14/2006 Birmingham News David White		Return to Top
Similar stories appeared in the Decatur Daily, Columbus Ledger Enquirer, Herald-Tribune, TimesDaily, Gadsden Times and as an Associated Press story. Community Bankers Association of Alabama: Spent $31,384 hosting 10 senators and eight of their relatives at its annual convention, May 1-4, 2005, in Charleston, S.C. The senators: Lowell Barron, D-Fyffe; Jack Biddle, R-Gardendale; Gerald Dial, D-Lineville; Steve French, R-Mountain Brook; Curt Lee, R-Jasper; Pat Lindsey, D-Butler; Zeb Little, D-Cullman; Wendell Mitchell, D-Luverne; Jim Preuitt, D-Talladega; and Jabo Waggoner, R-Vestavia Hills. Alabama Development Office: Spent $11,277 to take four lawmakers on a week-long trade mission to Santiago, Chile, and Sao Paulo, Brazil, in September 2004: Reps. John Knight, D-Montgomery; Victor Gaston, R-Mobile; Jamie Ison, R-Mobile; and Sen. Del Marsh, R-Anniston. Talladega Superspeedway: Gave Sen. Gerald Dial, D-Lineville, suite passes worth $1,200 for the UAW-Ford 500 race, October 2005; gave Dial passes worth $1,200 and Sen. Jim Preuitt, D-Talladega, passes worth $800 for the Aaron's 499 race, May 1; gave Dial passes for races in 2004 and spring 2005, and Preuitt passes for races in 2004. Alabama Bankers Association: Spent $4,552 to host four members of the banking committee of the state House of Representatives at the ABA's annual convention, June 2005, at Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort, near Destin, Fla.: Reps. Lesley Vance, D-Phenix City; Mike Hill, R-Columbiana; William Thigpen, D-Fayette; and Steve Clouse, R-Ozark. University of South Alabama: Spent $4,076 to charter a jet to fly Rep. Joe Faust, R-Fairhope, five Baldwin County officials and two university officials from Mobile to Fayetteville, Ark., and back, Nov. 14, to visit a plant that turns solid waste into alcohol for fuel. Faust said he hopes such plants will be built in Baldwin County. Also, USA spent $3,918 to charter a jet to fly two board members of the Alabama Commission on Higher Education, Stephen Shaw and Andrew Linn Jr., from Birmingham to Mobile and back on Nov. 28, so they could tour the South Alabama campus and talk about budget and academic proposals. Gulf United Metropolitan Business Organization, GUMBO, which includes business and chamber of commerce leaders from south Baldwin County: Spent $7,639 hosting eight lawmakers, an unspecified number of their relatives and two Cabinet members at a tourism conference, May 17-18, 2005, in Orange Beach. The lawmakers: Reps. Johnny Mack Morrow, D-Red Bay; Joe Faust, R-Fairhope; Lea Fite, D-Jacksonville; Todd Greeson, R-Ider; Eric Major, D-Fairfield; Sue Schmitz, D-Toney; and Sens. Pat Lindsey, D-Butler, and Bobby Singleton, D-Greensboro. The Cabinet members: state conservation commissioner Barnett Lawley and state tourism director Lee Sentell. Also, GUMBO lobbyist Martin Christie on May 20, 2005, hosted Rep. Craig Ford, D-Gadsden, and Ford's wife and son on a fishing trip that cost $165 per person. Auburn University: Spent $2,909 hosting Sens. Lowell Barron, D-Fyffe; Hank Sanders, D-Selma, and his wife; and Reps. Mike Hubbard, R-Auburn and Seth Hammett, D-Andalusia, and his wife, in Orlando, where the Capital One Bowl was played Jan. 2. Auburn also hosted five lawmakers and state Finance Director Jim Main at a bowl game in January 2005. Alabama Electric Cooperative: Spent $1,177 to fly Sen. Lowell Barron, D-Fyffe, from Montgomery to Scottsboro and back in early 2005. Southern Poverty Law Center: Spent $1,158 on air fare and lodging to send Sen. Quinton Ross, D-Montgomery, and his wife to a conference on juvenile justice June 23-24 in St. Louis. E-mail: dwhite@bhamnews.com
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In the Internet Era, Everything Comes Out 08/14/2006 New York Times Selena Roberts		Return to Top
FOR those athletes talented enough to inspire giddy alumni to tailgate in team-colored R.V.’s, stocked with casseroles in the shapes of mascots, there have been traditional loopholes to workloads and shortcuts to class work. Need a summer job? A local car dealer forever named Buddy or Buzz with school spirit up his sleeve has been eager to provide the Big Moneymakers on Campus with a timecard that required no punching at all. Need an easy A on the report card? Cupcake courses, whether leisure studies or tuba history, have been available to save athletes who are teetering on the edge of losing academic eligibility. Need to improve a transcript? Prep athlete mills have been providing aspiring college players with answers in the back of the book to juice grade point averages in an attempt to manufacture genius. But this wink-wink era for athletes has been recently thrust into hard times. Oklahoma Coach Bob Stoops dismissed Rhett Bomar, the starting quarterback, and J. D. Quinn, an offensive lineman, on Aug. 2 after they received pay at Big Red Sports/Imports, a car dealership, for phantom work in violation of N.C.A.A. rules. Auburn booted two professors from their leadership posts last week after an investigation by The New York Times in July revealed that Thomas Petee, department head for sociology, anthropology, criminology and social work, offered an excessive number of one-on-one directed-reading courses, many of which were taken by athletes and required no attendance nor the effort equivalent of humming a fight song. Late last year another Times investigation uncovered a cache of snake-oil academies like University High School in Miami, a storefront institution with no teachers or classrooms, which qualified 28 athletes for colleges. In June, the N.C.A.A. began assembling an initial list of schools from which it will no longer accept transcripts, putting a crimp in the recruiting pool for many teams, including Florida State, South Carolina and, once again, Auburn. A disclosure: I graduated from Auburn around the Bo Jackson era, but I took neither directed-reading courses nor pay for a no-show job. I did, however, sign up for geology and worked beside athletes at a restaurant in the Sizzler genre. The athletes wore polyester to work and hairnets in the kitchen like anyone else who replaced macaroni on the salad bar. (Note: they were nonscholarship athletes.) Back then, there were whispers about star athletes who never paid for a drink or wrote their own papers or purchased their own cars. After all, Pat Dye was the football coach at the time. And Auburn, for more than a decade, has been among the N.C.A.A.’s most consistent visions on the perp walk of violators. Given Auburn’s recent purge of academic guilt, Oklahoma’s self-policing of bogus summer jobs for athletes and the shutdown of prep factories, has anything really changed on big-time campuses? Yes, if only technically. Certainly the rite of easy passage in college athletics has become a path obstructed by scrutiny. Out of the sporting society’s pathology of cheating — if it isn’t steroids or corked bats, it’s sham grades and corked diplomas — a rampant skepticism about a team or an athlete too good to be true has emerged in the high-tech age. The Internet has eyes. Every chat room is filled with rumors of programs out of control. And the e-mail messages leave trails. Rival boosters routinely send whiffs of scandal to opposing athletic directors. Cover-ups are becoming more difficult by the day. Scandals aren’t over, but the scandalous have to be more ingenious, because no one is above suspicion these days. No one is above punishment. No one is immune from accountability. “When you knowingly and intentionally and premeditatedly break N.C.A.A. rules, you cannot be a member of this football team,’’ Stoops said at a news conference announcing his players’ dismissals. Stoops’s words rippled with false integrity and self-righteousness. The rash of recent internal actions by college programs — including Phil Fulmer’s new zero-tolerance approach at Tennessee and Larry Coker’s fresh hard line at Miami — has not been hatched from a moral obligation to do what is right, but out of self-preservation. Bomar was not the first Sooner who worked at Big Red Sports/Imports. The team mascot of car dealers has employed 20 to 25 Oklahoma players over the past several years, according to The Dallas Morning News. As recently as this spring, running back Adrian Peterson was cruising in a luxury auto from the dealership before returning it. But what set off Oklahoma’s car alarms? The Tulsa World reported last week that details of the car plot were posted on a message board for Texas A&M fans in January. Sooners foiled by an Aggie with spy info. And Auburn was not motivated to check the academic veracity of its course work until James Gundlach, a sociology professor, surfaced as a whistle-blower to perk up the ears of the N.C.A.A.’s antennae. Self-disclosure isn’t a sign of an epiphany of college ethics, just a way for university officials to plea-bargain with N.C.A.A. investigators: see, we launched an internal investigation; see, we took action. Don’t confuse self-protection with self-policing. The wink-wink era isn’t over, but its loopholes and shortcuts require more creativity.
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COMMENTARY Student-athletes must assume responsibility for their grades 08/13/2006 Montgomery Advertiser L.C. Johnson, Asst. Sports Edotpr		Return to Top
When I was covering Alabama athletics about 15 years ago, Wimp Sanderson had a great line regarding student-athlete graduation rates. Asked how many of his Crimson Tide basketball players have earned college degrees, Wimp scowled and barked back rather matter-of-factly 'Everyone of them that wanted to!'It was vintage Wimp. Humorous, brutally candid and amazingly insightful. I recall a similar incident from my college days at the University of Akron a little more than 20 years ago -- I know I'm dating myself. Then, a young, fiery coach, Bob Huggins, was equally successful at winning conference championships and 'March Madness' basketball tournament bids. Yet, he also faced scrutiny about the scholastic aptitude of some of his Zips. To which Hugs huffed and puffed and pondered how many college graduates were in a certain veteran sports reporter's household? I have to admit he was right, too. So, for all of the hand wringing that the National Collegiate Athletic Association is causing up over students-athletes' class loads and graduation rates, I say they don't know their A-C-T from a hole in the ground. Let's get one thing straight It's NOT the university's responsibility to see that these kids get a college degree. And it sure as heck isn't the football or basketball coach's job. The only books they care about these kids comprehending are playbooks. And who can blame them? To suggest a coach is responsible for graduating players rather than winning games and producing huge streams of revenues for the schools they represent, is about as sketchy as a BALCO urine sample. Show me a coach who graduates all of his players but loses a high percentage of games, and I'll show you a former coach. Hence, it doesn't take a 1600 SAT to figure out that the outrage over this is completely misguided. That's why, for as much as I would like to commend Auburn President Ed Richardson for acting swiftly and decisively earlier this week in trying to resolve the entire Grade-Gate scandal on the Plains, I'm afraid he missed the point as well. It is entirely up to the individual student-athletes and their parents to work this out, plain and simple. This isn't something that can be force-fed administratively. I have a 14-year-old son who just entered high school. I'm not sure if he will blossom into the type of athlete who will garner scholarship consideration or not. But it would be nice, particularly since his dear old dad is still paying off his own college student loans. But let's say my boy, 'C.J.,' becomes the next LeBron James, Reggie Bush or Tiger Woods. He will undoubtedly have his choice of any number of colleges. But guess what? Not one of them will be responsible for making him graduate. That's what's so stupefying about what happened at Auburn. These two Auburn sociology professors started what amounts to a civil war on campus. The problem is this conflict should have been settled at a faculty or board of trustees meeting rather than in the pages of The New York Times. As a result, not only was every Auburn student-athlete caught in the crossfire, but everyone who participates in intercollegiate athletics is in jeopardy of getting sprayed by the Uzi-toting NCAA, which threatens retaliation of revoking scholarships for schools that don't comply. There's something wrong with that. What gives the NCAA the right to access a university's athletic program based on degrees of difficulty? ESPN Game Day host Rece Davis made a great point during a recent visit to Montgomery for a speaking engagement. I asked him about the directed-studies issue at Auburn. Davis insists that each institution should set its own academic mission and agenda and then adhere to them.'There is no reason that Auburn has to have the same academic mission that Vanderbilt or Stanford or Duke has,' Davis said. 'Alabama doesn't have to have the same academic mission as the U.S. Military Academy or Boston College. They should set their own academic mission, decide who they are going to admit, and adhere to it.'Want to know something else that's shady about this? College athletes perform what amounts to full-time jobs (in excess of 40 hours per week without wages) for their scholarships. It's not enough that they are bringing wads of money and prestige to the schools. They are now being charged with having to meet arbitrary standards set by some nerds who obviously have biases against sports because of their own athletic shortcomings. I wonder how many egghead professors would rate as academic casualties if given a test on the Cover-2 zone defense or the West Coast offense? Similarly, I want Myles Brand, president of the NCAA, and his red-tape consumed busybodies to explain why academic reform is seemingly a top priority now? I don't recall anybody raising an eyebrow a few months ago when NCAA Golden Boy and Heisman Trophy repeat hopeful Matt Leinart took a three-credit hour ballroom dancing class! And it was his ONLY class. Are you kidding me? Compared to that, Thomas Petee's independent study classes at Auburn must seem like advanced quantum physics. Don't get me wrong, I'm all for educating our youth. But make no mistake, I'm mostly concerned about educating my own. That's why I'll offer plenty of 'Hugs,' but I'm not about to let any kid of mine 'Wimp' out on taking responsibility for earning a degree.
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Auburn fans, players have mixed feelings about Tiger Walk changes 08/13/2006 Columbus Ledger-Enquirer Associated Press		Return to Top
This story appeared in media outlets statewide and around the Southeast. AUBURN, Ala. - This upcoming football season, the hugging and pre-game high-fiving that usually occurs when Auburn fans line the Tiger Walk will be at least somewhat restricted when barriers are added for the first time. Thousands of Tiger fans have lined Donahue Drive since the 1960s to cheer on the players on game day and feelings are mixed now that Auburn University officials have decided that barriers will separate the team from their beloved Tiger crazies. Citing safety precautions, officials said the barriers will be placed on both sides of Tiger Walk beginning at the intersection of Donahue and Biggio Drive as players, coaches and cheerleaders make their way down the sidewalk to the south end zone of Jordan-Hare Stadium. Senior offensive guard Ben Grubbs said he will miss the original Tiger Walk, which gave him time to hug his mother and brother and receive Good Luck wishes and cheers from fans. Let me put it this way. When we get on the bus, we're 'game ready' and we know those fans are hyped up. There's nothing like it, Grubbs said. The fans help us get pumped up. Some of them may slap us on the chest or something, but I never felt like I'd get hurt. We're bigger than our fans anyways. Auburn resident and fan Keith Windham said he's never personally seen anything that would cause officials to question the team's safety during Tiger Walk, but agrees with the precautions. I think it's a good idea for safety, said Windham, who attended AU's practice Saturday morning. The idea is to have fun and not get hurt, so anything to keep us safe is a good idea for me. Auburn alums Danny Lindsey and Rich Trucks, who were members of the 2004 SEC Championship team, visited former teammates at Saturday morning's practice. The whole point is to go down and enjoy the fans and now we're going to be just like every other school, Lindsey said. That's the whole tradition and now because other schools have barricades we're having to put it up. They said it was a security issue, but I never felt threatened by fans. I just think it's ridiculous! I couldn't believe it either, Trucks said. I got more kisses in Tiger Walk than I got my entire career in college. Auburn University officials first announced the possibility of barriers on July 10 and finalized the decision on Wednesday. The barriers will be used for the Tiger's first game against Washington State on Sept. 2. Amika Fannin's son Mario Fannin is a first-year Tiger from Hampton, Ga. She said the barriers may be better for safety, but she'll miss the experience. It was an awesome experience the first time we came up here to visit, Fannin said. You get to shake their hands and get into it. I personally just loved the atmosphere.
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Liquid explosives no challenge for dogs 08/13/2006 Chicago Sun-Times Annie Sweeney		Return to Top
This story uses AU's Canine Detection Training Center at Auburn University as an example of how dogs may be used to detect liquid explosives. Detection dogs should be able to be trained to detect liquid explosives in a day, a national expert said. So long as the handlers use the same training method that was used in the past, a dog will typically need 30 to 40 trials with a new odor to learn it, said John Pearce, director of training and operations for the Canine Detection Training Center at Auburn University. It's no time at all if they are already trained, Pearce said. The new odor could be trained in a day. A Chicago Police Department spokeswoman said the dogs searching for explosives at the airports here are trained by the Transportation Security Administration. There were no immediate plans to retrain any of the dogs that are part of the Bomb and Arson Section. TSA spokesman Christopher White said that for security reasons he could not comment on what scents the dogs are trained to sniff out but that the administration is constantly adding new odors for the dogs to learn. Working with the intelligence arm of TSA, we very often train our dogs to detect new odors, White said. We get threat information. asweeney@suntimes.com Copyright © 2006 ProQuest Information and Learning Company; All Rights Reserved.
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New students warned to think safety 08/13/2006 Opelika-Auburn News Jaime Lakin		Return to Top
Between the football games and new freshman class, fall is the busiest and most crowded time of the year in Auburn. With the rise in population, there also comes a rise in crime. But the good news is many of these crimes can be prevented. Two years ago, Callyn Tedin moved from her home in Dothan to Auburn to begin her college career. She moved into a house near campus and everything was going well until she went home for Thanksgiving break. While she was away, someone threw a concrete block through the window of her Auburn home. The robbers rifled through her belongings. They took her jewelry and two credit cards. They also took her sense of security. 'It made me really scared, because the worst feeling is just not feeling comfortable in your own house,' she said. 'We activated our alarm system after that. Every night I was scared, because I was afraid something was going to happen' In just a few days, fall semester at Auburn University will be underway. But already the students have begun to migrate back. For some of these students, it will be their first time on their own. 'Theyre used to mom and dad locking the doors at night,' said Lt. Tommy Dawson of the Auburn Police Division. 'Theyre used to mom and dad taking care of their car and when they get away from home, they have to learn to be responsible and do these things for themselves.' Both on and off campus, police say a little common sense, like locking the door behind you when you leave, is the best protection against the most common crimes, crimes of opportunity. 'People walk through the parking lot and see something in plain view grab it and keep going,' Dawson said, adding that the most common crime they see among student communities is theft. He recommends that residents keep doors and vehicles locked at night and locked when you leave. And don't leave purses or wallets in plain view. 'The biggest thing that helps us is if someone sees any type of suspicious activity at all, even if it turns out to be nothing, call us and let us know,' Dawson said. On Friday, Tedin said she still takes extra precautions to make sure she and her belongings are safe. And she shared some sage advice for new students 'Definitely lock your doors and dont walk alone at night, thats the best thing and if you are walking by yourself have pepper spray or some sort of defense,' she said. Dawson also shared these safety tips for students and residents 'One thing we encourage them always to do whether theyre at the apartment, dorm or where ever, keep the doors locked at night. If they leave, lock the doors behind them,' Dawson said. 'Keep their vehicles locked and dont keep a wallet or purse sitting on the seat of a vehicle in plain view. Keep them covered up or put it in the truck. Make sure the vehicles locked. 'When going to your car have your keys, especially if youre a female, out and ready to get in the car so you can get in immediately and drive off. For our older students that may be going to the bars Dont leave you drink unattended where someone could put something in it. 'If you see any type of suspicious activity at all, even if it turns out to be nothing, call and let us know. Simply dial 9-1-1 or (in Auburn) call (334) 501-3100 ... We catch a lot of our criminals by word of mouth.' For parents, Dawson says, 'Just keep up with them and remind them daily. Call them once a day and say hey are you locking your doors, are you keeping things out of your car. Bring your purse in at night bring your wallet in at night things of that nature.' Overall, he says its just common sense things that, sometimes, we all forget to do.
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Two lose posts over AU academic abuse 08/13/2006 Press-Register Evan Woodbery		Return to Top
AUBURN -- Auburn University interim President Ed Richardson stripped two department heads of their duties and instituted strict new rules for directed-reading classes Thursday, but said that the university's investigation of academic irregularities had exonerated the athletics department. "I believe that athletics was infused into this discussion to provide sufficient traction to make it newsworthy," Richardson said. "I would say that athletics is a minor player in this academic issue." The university is investigating allegations first raised in a front-page New York Times article last month that a professor was abusing the directed-reading system by giving out easy grades to hordes of students, including many athletes. That professor, Thomas Petee, has resigned as chairman of the sociology department. Richardson also said that the university's investigation uncovered a second department -- adult education -- that had been abusing the directed-reading system. The program director for adult education, James Witte, has also resigned. The professors are tenured and will remain employed by Auburn. "I do not believe that the professors in question conducted themselves in a malicious or self-serving way, but exercised very poor judgment," Richardson said. In his 45-minute press conference at Samford Hall, Richardson repeatedly stated that the athletics department was blameless in the scandal. Specifically, he exonerated members of the coaching staff and academic support counselors, and said no one had contacted or pressured faculty members to accept athletes into classes or give them easy grades. The university's investigative committee has not yet completed its work, and a few students are still to be interviewed. But Richardson said he wanted to announce the changes before the new semester begins on Wednesday. James Gundlach, the sociology professor whose allegations prompted the Times article, stopped cooperating with the university's investigation two weeks ago. He told the Press-Register he believed the purpose of the committee was to clear the athletics department of any wrongdoing and avoid NCAA sanctions. The university knew of Gundlach's allegations more than a year ago when he arranged a meeting with John Heilman, who is now provost. But Richardson said the complaints were never acted on because Gundlach failed to follow proper protocol. "I don't believe you will find that the professor chose to follow established protocol and go back to the dean (with his complaints)," Richardson said. Gundlach has said that he went to Heilman because he had no other choice. The dean of his college was ill and eventually died after a battle with cancer. Richardson said the university didn't form a committee to investigate the complaints until this summer, when Auburn received an anonymous complaint. Richardson said he was satisfied that the university's data showed no special privileges were given to athletes. He said 18 percent of the students enrolled in directed-reading classes in the sociology and adult education departments were athletes, and 7.5 percent were football players. "I think we can again see that it is not an athletic issue, it is clearly an academic issue," Richardson said. When asked about Gundlach's allegations that individual athletes were steered toward directed-reading classes to keep them eligible, Richardson said he believes the university's data is reliable. "The real issue on the standard is did athletes get preferential treatment or were they offered something (other) students weren't offered," Richardson said. "I have not found that to be the case." Auburn head football coach Tommy Tuberville said he was pleased that Richardson cleared the athletic department. "You hate that you're going to get that type of publicity," Tuberville said after Thursday evening's practice. "It lasted a month. When it's all said and done, we've been looked at pretty good. Our guys work hard in the classroom, and they'll continue to do it." On the academic side, however, Richardson said he was deeply troubled by the abuse of the directed-reading system. The new rules for directed study, effective immediately, are designed to clamp down on abuses: Any student enrolled in directed-reading classes must be at junior level or above. The class must have carefully documented content and objectives, and be approved by an administrator above the level of the faculty member who will teach the course. Any faculty member wishing to teach more than three students per semester must get prior approval. Any student wishing to take more than nine credit hours through directed-reading classes must also get approval. Academic concerns are particularly sensitive at Auburn. The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Auburn's accrediting agency, has monitored the case and will be kept fully informed of the investigation, Richardson said. "I have not only confirmed in writing, but I have confirmed in verbal conversation with SACS representatives that we're committed to conducting a thorough investigation and we'll provide whatever requested information they (need)," Richardson said.
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A banner year for Aubie the tiger 08/13/2006 Press-Register Renee Busby		Return to Top
Justin Shugart dreamed of suiting up for Auburn University and running onto the football field at Jordan-Hare Stadium on game day. He doesn't have to dream anymore -- Shugart's wish will come true this football season. When the Auburn Tigers play their first football game Sept. 2 against Washington State, Shugart will be on the field. In the spring, Shugart was selected to be an Aubie mascot for 2006-2007. "My entire life my dream has been to run out on the field when the team runs out," said Shugart, the son of Press-Register sports reporter Kim Shugart and his wife, Jane, who live in Fairhope. "I knew I wasn't blessed with being 6 feet 5 inches tall and 200 pounds, and couldn't play on the football team." So the Fairhope High School graduate tried out for mascot and was selected. An Auburn fan since he was old enough to say "War Eagle," this is his first time to be a mascot. In the few months since he was chosen, the accolades have been rolling in for the striped Tiger that prowls the sidelines at Auburn games. You might say 2006 has been the year of the Tiger. On Tuesday, Aubie will be among the first collegiate mascots inducted into the Mascot Hall of Fame in Philadelphia, Pa. Justin will be there for the induction ceremony. Aubie will join the University of Delaware's YoUDee and the University of Wisconsin's Bucky the Badger as new inductees. Earlier this year, Aubie was selected as one of Sports Illustrated's 10 hottest mascots in the country, and was also the 2006 winner of the Universal Cheerleader Association's National Mascot Championship. Justin says he hasn't been surprised at Aubie's success and popularity. "To me, Aubie is the ultimate in college mascots," said the 20-year-old Auburn student. Auburn's orange and black-striped tiger started as a cartoon character created by Birmingham Post Herald artist Phil Neel. He first appeared on the cover of a football program on Oct. 3, 1959 for the Auburn/Hardin-Simmons game. But the costumed Aubie didn't appear on the scene until 1979. Aubie has won six national championship mascot titles, and Justin is hoping to bring home a seventh national title for Aubie next year. He is such a big Aubie fan that when he left home two years ago headed for Auburn he took one of his favorite keepsakes -- an autographed picture of Aubie, which was a birthday gift from his sister when he was in seventh grade. The picture now adorns a wall in his house in Auburn. His friends kidded him about the photograph, accusing him of forging Aubie's signature, something they can't claim now. "He always said, 'I'm going to be Aubie,'" said Jessica Casto, who has been friends with Justin since they were in third grade. "He's always been the biggest Auburn fan I've known." Casto said she thought he would try out for the golf team at Auburn and was surprised when he chose the mascot tryouts over golf. He played on his high school golf team for four years. "He's not really a guy who jokes around," said Casto, who thinks the mascot is her friend's outlet to show his witty side. This summer, Aubie appeared at Auburn alumni functions around the state, including a golf tournament where he was dressed in a golf shirt and knickers like the late golfer Payne Stewart, who was known on the greens for his colorful knickers. Aubie even took a swing at the golf ball. Apparently, he was pretty good. The other golfers tried to recruit Aubie for their team, according to Justin. At a recent visit to a school, Justin saw firsthand Aubie's popularity. "The (Auburn) basketball team was there," he said. "They were excited to see the basketball players, but when Aubie came out they just went crazy." Casto said she knows her friend will "take this job seriously" and put his all into it. "He said (if he could) he'd be Aubie the rest of his life."
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A solution at Auburn 08/12/2006 Huntsville Times, The John Ehinger, Editorial Board		Return to Top
Richardson and the university did exactly what had to be done Auburn University and its interim president, Dr. Ed Richardson, have done exactly what they should done about a controversy involving students taking directed-reading courses and whether too many of those students were athletes. Richardson announced the investigation's findings Thursday. He also outlined what is being done The program involved few athletes and still fewer football players. Richardson rationally concluded that whatever problems might exist, athletes were a small and insignificant part. Richardson said the probe did not support the allegation of a faculty member that athletes were being steered into the directed-reading programs. But changes have been made. University policy from now on will severely restrict faculty in the use of directed-reading courses. In 2004-2005, one sociology professor supervised some 250 students in such studies. Henceforth, the program will be limited to juniors and seniors, and professors may have no more than three students in such programs. If a faculty member wants to have more than three students, permission will have to be secured from an administrator. Two faculty members involved in the directed-readings programs will remain on the faculty, but they have resigned all administrative functions. The investigation, which included interviews with more than 60 people, is ongoing, but it shouldn't last more than two additional weeks. Richardson noted that the whole question of directed-readings courses probably would not have arisen if the news media had not linked it to athletics in general and football in particular. Although directed-readings programs must be retained as a part of the academic process, they should be used on only a limited basis with undergraduates. Such courses, where they are deemed appropriate and where they are authorized, should be no less rigorous than more traditional classroom instruction. Auburn has had more than its share of problems. This one it has solved.
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Two professors lose positions at Auburn 08/11/2006 Lufkin Daily News, The Cox News Service		Return to Top
Similar stories appeared in other media outlets including The Tupelo Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal, Macon Telegraph, Grand Junction Sentinal (CO), Nacagdoches Daily Sentinal (TX), Longview News Journal (TX), Hamilton Journal-News (OH), Middleton Journal (OH), WAFF-TV and WJSU-TV (Anniston, AL). AUBURN, Ala. — Two Auburn department heads have been forced to resign their administrative positions in the wake of allegations that students, including members of the football team, didn't earn the good grades they were given. But interim school president Ed Richardson said four times during a 35-minute news conference Thursday that the athletic department was blameless, maintaining it was dragged through the mud as a way to provide "traction" for professor James Gundlach's claims that athletes got easy As in directed reading courses. Richardson said the investigation was near completion and that results would be given to the NCAA, probably within a couple of weeks. As a result of the investigation, sociology chairman Thomas Petee has resigned as the head of his department, but as a tenured teacher he will be allowed to stay as an instructor, Richardson said. Also, the adult education program chairman, James Witte, resigned as chairman of the School of Education. He'll also remain part of the faculty. "This is clearly an academic problem for Auburn University," Richardson said. "Athletics was infused into this to provide sufficient traction. This is not an athletic problem." Richardson said he was confident that no athlete's eligibility would become an issue. He said the internal investigation found no reason to believe athletes were steered into easy courses to keep them, or the team, eligible. "When this first came up, one could assume that might have been a problem," Richardson said. "It was on my radar screen. But it is not the case." While Richardson was clearing the athletic department, he indicated he'd rather be exonerating Auburn academics, something he couldn't do. "Academics is far more important to me than all the athletics put together," he said. "I'm most pleased with the academic support of the coaches in our athletic programs. This is an academic problem." Gundlach first raised concerns to administrators a year ago that Petee was teaching too many directed reading — or independent study — classes and giving out easy grades. When Gundlach concluded the university wasn't paying attention to his claims, he went public with them. Richardson said Thursday that Gundlach should have gone to the dean of liberal arts to make his complaint. Instead, it floundered in the administration's office during a change of leadership. But had Gundlach not used the athletics department "to gain traction" for his claims, Richardson admitted things might have gotten further out of hand. "I really don't care who called it to our attention, and it's better that Gundlach dealt with the problem sooner rather than later," Richardson said. "He brought it to our attention and we're addressing it. I'm pleased it got to our attention or it could have gotten worse." As a result, Auburn has come up with new policies regarding directed reading courses. They include: — Students must be juniors or above and the course must be taken for credit toward the student's major or minor. — Students must have approval of the dean and provost to take more than nine hours of directed reading course work. — Instructors can't offer directed reading course work to more than three students per semester without written approval from the department head (or dean, if the instructor serves as department head, as Petee did). Richardson said he was confident neither Petee nor Witte conducted themselves in malicious or self-serving ways, but that they clearly used poor judgment. Richardson said the university's findings, as far as numbers went, weren't entirely dissimilar to what Gundlach's data showed. "In our review of the two academic programs in question, we found only 18 percent of those students enrolled in directed studies were student-athletes. Of those, 7.5 percent were football players," he said. "In addition, the investigation has not produced any evidence that the athletic program — coaches, counselors, athletic staffers — had improper communications with or pressured our faculty in any way." Bill Sanders writes for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
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