Untitled Document

Tuesday, August 15, 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: 5

	Date	Outlet
Security important at smaller airports	08/15/2006	Opelika-Auburn News
AU fundraising campaign sets new record in state	08/15/2006	Opelika-Auburn News
For Tiger fans, Plains' issue is all academic	08/15/2006	Tuscaloosa News
Auburn die-hards asking question	08/15/2006	WAFF-TV
A passing grade at Auburn	08/15/2006	Birmingham News


Security important at smaller airports 08/15/2006 Opelika-Auburn News Donathan Prater		Return to Top
This story includes safety measures in place at AU-owned Pitts airport. Auburn-Opelika Robert G. Pitts Airport keeps new, high standards for safety Most Americans were a bit surprised Thursday morning when they turned on their televisions and learned of the foiled hijacking attempt of several commercial jets en route between the U.K. and the U.S. But for Todd A. Storey that news hits especially and uncomfortably close to home. Storey is the assistant director of the Auburn-Opelika Robert G. Pitts Airport, and, in addition to constantly monitoring the weather conditions in the skies above, the security of the 438-acre general aviation airport is one of his primary concerns. The tightened security at the nation's airports is something Storey isn't surprised to see. And although the local airport is 100 miles from the closest major airport (Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport), the security around the airport is something he vigilantly monitors. The Robert G. Pitts Airport is classified as a general aviation airport. Air carrier airports are in most cases larger airports with scheduled commercial service. "Even though what happens at a larger airport like one in Los Angeles or Chicago doesn't seem like it would affect us much, the issue of airport security is one we still keep a close eye on," Storey said. And Pitts Airport apparently isn't alone in that respect. "General aviation airports in Alabama have taken several measures since 9/11 to make ourselves as safe as we possibly can," said William T. Hutto, director of the Robert G. Pitts Airport. One of those measures was submitting an Airport Security Plan to the state in September 2005. In addition to being totally fenced in, the Robert G. Pitts Airport has a system of electronic gates that grant access only to vehicles and personnel that have been electronically "carded." A card is then issued to the holder that goes through Auburn University's Access System that can be denied via computer if necessary. The Robert G. Pitts Airport is owned by Auburn University, which also conducts a flight school at the airport. Hutto sees about 32,000 takeoffs and landings a year of the mostly single-engine aircraft that taxi into Robert G. Pitts Airport. "Most of those customers that fly in and out of here are regulars, so we have a pretty good handle on every aircraft that comes in and out of here," Hutto said. And while their electronic carding system represents how technology is helping to maintain security at the Robert G. Pitts Airport, there's no substitute for good old-fashioned common sense and occasional legwork when it comes to keeping things safe, according to Hutto. "We check all ramps every morning and night," Hutto said. "We're constantly looking for anything that's out of place." Inspections of all aircraft on the airfield and hangar security checks are also conducted twice a day, according to Hutto. At their larger commercial counterparts, additional security checks mean longer lines and wait times for many passengers, but Hutto believes that's OK when it comes to keeping things safe. "I think most people will be understanding of the additional security steps if it means making flights safer," Hutto said. "Air travelers can also save a little time by checking their airline's Web site for any information regarding their flight, making sure they arrive ahead of their departure times and having their baggage in proper order and ready to go," Storey said. There are 87 general aviation airports across the state of Alabama, according to the Federal Aviation Association.
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AU fundraising campaign sets new record in state 08/15/2006 Opelika-Auburn News Amy Weaver		Return to Top
Auburn University now holds the record for the largest fundraising campaign of any university in Alabama. Gifts to all 12 colleges and schools and significant and generous endowment giving during the past eight days enabled AU’s "It Begins at Auburn" campaign to set the record this week, bringing in more than $390 million to date. The "It Begins at Auburn" campaign has a goal of $500 million, the largest in the university's history. The previous record for the largest campaign fundraising effort was held by the University of Alabama at Birmingham, which raised $388.7 million through "The Campaign for UAB" that ended in 2003. It was the largest effort in UAB history. "The large outpouring of support by alumni and friends of Auburn is a great show of support for the university and its students," said Bob McGinnis, AU's vice president for development. "With continued support like that we have seen, especially in recent months, we are well on our way to meeting not just the campaign goal, but also the broader educational objectives that these funds allow us to achieve." Auburn Interim President Ed Richardson said he is surprised the university has been so successful in its fundraising campaign, especially considering the recent controversy surrounding academic misconduct. "The overwhelming response from alumni and supporters confirms for me and gives me great optimism that, even with the controversy, there is still loyalty and commitment to this university," he said. About 60 percent of the $500 million is set to support the university's endowment fund, including student scholarships and fellowships, as well as faculty chairs and fellowships. In addition to endowments, the campaign will raise $124 million for facilities, equipment and campus beautification. The remainder will benefit research and current operations. The lofty goal is the highest for Auburn, but Richardson said it is critical for the future of the university. In order to attract and retain top professors, Auburn needs money for faculty chairs and fellowships. It also needs money to attract and retain students with high academic credentials. "We will be more competitive, where in the past, we have not been," he said. The six-year "It Begins at Auburn" campaign began in June 2002 and entered its public phase last February. It encompasses all colleges and schools on campus as well as the library, athletics, Auburn University Montgomery and the museum. Richardson called the campaign a defining moment for Auburn's sesquicentennial year, "something to define Auburn for the next 25 years."
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For Tiger fans, Plains' issue is all academic 08/15/2006 Tuscaloosa News		Return to Top
Tiger football fans breathed a sigh of relief Thursday when Auburn University announced that an investigation determined that its athletes got no favoritism despite being given high marks for little work in directed-reading courses. Academic heads rolled. Professor Thomas Petee, the department head for sociology, anthropology, criminology and social work, and James Witte, the program coordinator for adult education, were forced to resign. But university officials apparently discounted another professor’s allegations in The New York Times that 18 football players on Auburn’s undefeated 2004 team, which finished the season No. 2 in the country, took a combined 97 hours of directed-reading courses with Petee. The 18 players held a 3.31 grade point average in Petee’s directed-reading courses and a 2.14 GPA. in their other courses, the newspaper story reported. Interim President Ed stressed that the issue had nothing to do with Auburn’s athletic department. He charged that The Times used the athletes to boost interest in the story. To his credit, Richardson did say that he is concerned about the academic irregularities. In addition to the resignations, he announced significant changes in Auburn’s directed-reading policies. The remediation may be too late, however, according to Wayne Flynt, Auburn professor emeritus of history. “This diminishes greatly the value of the education received at Auburn,” Flynt said. “Now people all over the country are speculating whether students did any work for the grades they earned at Auburn. I’d rather see an athletics scandal where a handful of athletes were receiving preferential treatment. That would have been a far less damning indictment of the university.” Auburn football fans were claiming victory on the sports talk shows, however. For them, the issue was all academic.
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Auburn die-hards asking question 08/15/2006 WAFF-TV		Return to Top
Fallout from the uncertainty surrounding athletes and their grades at one state university. New information keeps trickling out about alleged wrongdoing in which questions center around the validity of courses offered to student athletes at Auburn. The latest reports indicate any student can take those classes based on a special need. Still, the university is investigating while half a state of diehards is left wondering. Kerrick Whisenant bleeds orange and blue, wears his class of '99 ring, and pays yearly alumni fees to the university he loves. "Disappointed," he says. "You'd like to think your alma mater is doing everything above board." An alma mater that is currently investigating itself after one Sociology professor blew the whistle on another, claiming a colleague offered student athletes good grades in one-on-one directed reading courses that required little or no work. Of those student athletes, a handful played on Auburn's undefeated 2004 squad, 18 in all, including current Tampa Bay Buccaneer star Carnell Williams and current Washington Rredskin defensive back Carlos Rogers, leaving the university asking one question: are those classes legit? Auburn University president Ed Richardson released a statement reading: "I also want to make clear that in the event that any academic misconduct is confirmed, we will take appropriate action to insure that Auburn University's strong academic reputation is not damaged." It's a strictly internal investigation that's still in full swing some say the same should probably swing open elsewhere. "And therefore your disappointment turns to why isn't everybody being called out on this instead of just the school with the disgruntled professor?" Whisenant asks.
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A passing grade at Auburn 08/15/2006 Birmingham News		Return to Top
Auburn University's response to a controversy over athletes and academics satisfied the professor who ignited the whole thing with allegations about too-good-to-be-true grades in independent-study courses. "This is far more than I ever expected to come out of it," said sociology professor Jim Gundlach, whose allegations were first reported in The New York Times. "I actually really expect to see substantial improvement in academic integrity at Auburn." Although the university says its investigation is not finished, the controversy already has indeed yielded some welcome results: The university established better guidelines for independent-study courses, with more oversight and safeguards to prevent abuses. One new requirement is that faculty members must get approval to teach more than three independent-study students a semester. The two professors accused of offering too many independent-study courses have at least resigned from their administrative roles. James Witte, the adult education program coordinator, was reassigned to the College of Education dean's office. Thomas Petee stepped down as chairman of the department that encompassed sociology, anthropology, social work, criminology and criminal justice. He will continue as a professor. Petee, according to Gundlach, had taught more than 150 independent-study courses in one semester - a number that nobody in the academic world even attempts to justify. Auburn President Ed Richardson said the controversy raised questions about Petee's and Witte's judgment. That's certainly true. (Some might argue their conduct raises questions about whether they should even remain as professors. But that's the beauty of tenure for you.) Richardson went out of his way to say the issue was about academics, not athletics. Of the students who took the dubious independent-study courses, 18 percent were athletes. Football players, who were the focus of The New York Times story, made up 7.5 percent of the total. Richardson said the school's investigation turned up no evidence that athletics officials directed players to these courses. He said the athletic angle was "a minor player" that was "infused into this discussion ... to make it newsworthy." That may be true, but it's a bit of an artful dodge. It's true there were more of these independent-study students who weren't athletes than those who were athletes. But it's also true that many universities have a horrendous track record when it comes to educating athletes. That's the reason the athletic angle has traction. Richardson's report last week isn't the final chapter on this story. He says the investigation won't be complete until interviews are finished with more current and former students. The NCAA and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools are also waiting to see what Auburn finds. If they reach different conclusions, Auburn's response will have to be re-evaluated. But for now, it looks as if the university has earned a passing grade.
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