Untitled Document

Tuesday, September 5, 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: 14

	Date	Outlet
State protecting shoal bass in chattahoochee tributaries	09/05/2006	Tuscaloosa News
Dream come true	09/04/2006	Opelika-Auburn News
Roads hit rough patch over asphalt prices	09/03/2006	Montgomery Advertiser
Clemson fans get help to steer clear of traffic	09/02/2006	GreenvilleOnline.com
AU's raptor center kicks off 'Football, Fans & Feathers'	09/02/2006	Opelika-Auburn News
Auburn drops 'interim' from Richardson's title	09/02/2006	Press-Register
AU honors Richardson by removing interim tag	09/02/2006	Birmingham News, The
Richardson no longer 'interim'	09/02/2006	Opelika-Auburn News
Changes in AU academic recruitment include more money for scholarships	09/02/2006	Opelika-Auburn News
Southern Comfort? Not in this house	09/02/2006	Seattle Times
Auburn to honor military students	09/02/2006	Columbus Ledger-Enquirer
Major stadium changes await fans	09/01/2006	Opelika-Auburn News
Richardson Named President of AU	09/01/2006	Opelika-Auburn News
AU board removes 'interim' from Richardson title	09/01/2006	Columbus Ledger-Enquirer


State protecting shoal bass in chattahoochee tributaries 09/05/2006 Tuscaloosa News From combined Reports		Return to Top
This brief refers to AU Department of Fisheries participation in a study. The shoal bass, one of five black bass species in Alabama, lives in Chattahoochee River tributaries. (File photo) MONTGOMERY \| Recent fishery surveys in Chattahoochee tributaries of Alabama indicate shoal bass numbers are low and immediate protection is warranted to alleviate any additional mortality. Therefore, the harvest of shoal bass in the Chattahoochee tributaries of Alabama is prohibited. This regulation prohibits only the harvest of shoal bass; angling for shoal bass is still permissible. If a shoal bass is caught, great care should be taken to ensure the fish is returned quickly to the water. The Alabama Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Division, in conjunction with the Auburn University Department of Fisheries, began a study in 2004 examining the status of shoal bass in Alabama. After extensive sampling in all available shoal bass habitats, very few fish were collected, and only one viable population was observed. Alabama black bass species include the largemouth bass, spotted bass, smallmouth bass, redeye bass and shoal bass. Of these five black bass species, the shoal bass has the most restricted distribution in Alabama. This species is native to Alabama, Georgia and Florida in the Chattahoochee, Flint and Apalachicola river drainages. In Alabama, it is found in tributaries of the Chattahoochee River drainage. The shoal bass can reach 25 inches in length and weigh over 8 pounds. The Alabama record is 6 pounds, 11 ounces.
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Dream come true 09/04/2006 Opelika-Auburn News William White		Return to Top
Editors Note: This is part of a weekly series about everyday people who make a difference in our community. Elements came together which helped Margaret Holler of Auburn fulfill the dream of a lifetime. Those elements came together for Holler with the development of the Louise Kreher Forest Ecology Preserve north of Auburn. 'We happen to live so close. The preserve happened to need somebody, and here I was,' were those elements, said Holler, coordinator of the preserve which is an outreach program of the Auburn University School of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences. The former kindergarten teachers dream was not revealed until last year when she and her husband went to a nature center administrators conference last year. The keynote speaker was someone she knew in Florida at a time she wanted to do something with childrens programs. Holler had wanted to start a weekend program for kids more than 20 years ago and had prepared everything, but nothing became of her dream then. Her husband, Nick, had never seen all the material until she pulled it out to take it to the convention to share with the keynote speaker. When her husband read through the material he said, 'I cant believe this. You have had this dream all your life and finally, you have been able to bring it to fruition.' 'This has been kind of a long dream that I had, and I was able to do something about it,' she said. 'Everyday is exciting for me,' said Holler, who wants to return to the preserves volunteer group when her position, which is being advertised, is filled by the university. 'I dont like the administrative part of it and being in front of a computer,' she said. 'I come out here and see things and then really want to do some of the detail stuff. I love working and being with the kids. If someone comes and wants a little tour of the preserve, I want to be free to do that. I am going to be a volunteer again so I can do the things I enjoy more.' On Saturday, Holler saw more than 100 parents and children gather at the canopy for the 'Snakes in Your Backyard!' program given by Dr. Craig Guyer, who shared the mysteries, myths and facts everyone should know about snakes and many of their reptilian friends. While the preserve is there as a lab for Auburn University students, thousands of young children have spent a school day studying in the preserves setting during the school years and age-specific camps in the summers while she has been coordinator. She said the kids learn more than a science lesson. 'The kids are my motivation as a volunteer. If we dont get the children interested in the natural world, it is going to be a problem conservation wise as well as their own lives. My concern is that the ugliness in this world and all the bad things that are happening - the abuse and the lack of caring for living things which translates into humanity. There is a learning experience that can take place through nature. These kids need this learning experience.' This fall the preserves gate is open Tuesday, Saturday and Sunday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The preserve is located on Alabama Highway 147 North (North College Street), across the highway and just north of the Auburn University fish ponds. For more information direct questions via e-mail to preserve@auburn.edu, the Web site, www.sfws.auburn.edu/eco-site/, or call 502-4553. Individuals can volunteer, donate to or join the preserve through the membership program. The preserves next program will be a Member Appreciation Luncheon on Sunday, Oct. 8, at 1 p.m. at the new School of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences building on campus. The guest speaker will be Dani Carroll, who is well known for her lively presentations on the plants and trees of Alabama. Carroll is a Lee County extension agent, and holds a masters degree in horticulture from Auburn University. She will present a colorful and informative program on native, drought-tolerant, and, of course, beautiful Alabama plants and wildflowers. A tour of the preserve highlighting the many fall wildflowers will be available after the luncheon.
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Roads hit rough patch over asphalt prices 09/03/2006 Montgomery Advertiser Bob Lowry		Return to Top
This story refers to research conducted at AU's National Center for Asphalt Technology, which tests asphalt aggregates. If that pothole on your street hasn't been filled or you're still driving over that rough patch on Interstate 85 every morning, it could be because the cost of asphalt is nearly triple what it was last summer. After years of holding relatively steady, the price of asphalt jumped from about $23 a ton before Hurricanes Katrina and Rita to as high as $60 a ton this summer. Experts say the spike reflects a similar increase in the price of crude oil, a key ingredient of asphalt, as well as a greater demand for asphalt to make roofing shingles for the massive Gulf Coast rebuilding effort. For tri-county residents, the most noticeable fallout is a bumpier ride. The higher asphalt prices have forced the state, counties and municipalities to take a second look at their paving projects. "Some of our projects didn't go as far," said John Lorentson, maintenance engineer for the state Department of Transportation. "We didn't cut, but we may not have gotten enough done because we ran out of money." Montgomery is only resurfacing short stretches of roads and filling potholes in residential neighborhoods, said Tom Provitt, assistant director of the city's Maintenance Department. The higher cost of asphalt has "had a lot of effect on us," Provitt said. Prattville uses asphalt only for street cuts and potholes, leaving the street paving or resurfacing to contractors, said street superintendent George Williams. "I don't know if it's permanent," Williams said of the cost increase, "or if we're going to get some relief or not." The cost of asphalt hasn't changed the emphasis of the research conducted at Auburn University's National Center for Asphalt Technology, which tests asphalt aggregates. "We're working on recycling old pavement -- anything we can do to help reduce the costs," said Ray Brown, the center's director. Asphalt producers don't expect their prices to drop anytime soon because of continuing high crude oil prices, affected most recently by the violence between Hezbollah and Israel and Iran's insistence to keep its nuclear program. "The worst part is we don't know where it (price) is going from here," said Harry Curlin, the Montgomery manager of APAC, which not only makes asphalt but is also a major roadbuilder. "The difficult part for contractors is private work -- the Wal-Marts and strip shopping centers that don't have a (price) index in it," Curlin said. The high cost hasn't meant a drop in business -- yet -- for Jackson, Miss.-based Ergon Asphalt & Emulsions. "We do anticipate a pullback in demand until the state and federal governments can accommodate higher fuel taxes," said the company's Baxter Burns. "They're going to have to raise fuel taxes, and it's about time." Alabama, according to Lorentson, might look at new techniques to prolong the life of asphalt surfaces by treating them with new compounds or look into concrete surfaces, even though the cost of concrete is also rising. In fact, Lorentson said, the state will ask contractors to calculate their bids for an Interstate 65 resurfacing and improvement project from Catoma Creek to the Alabama River bridge using asphalt and concrete surfaces. Previously, contractors and asphalt companies were willing to lock in prices in multiyear contracts, but that's coming to an end. "When you honestly don't have any idea of the cost of liquid asphalt will be, suppliers won't quote that far out," Curlin said. "You can't lock down a contract -- it's like swinging in the dark."
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Clemson fans get help to steer clear of traffic 09/02/2006 GreenvilleOnline.com Anna Simon		Return to Top
This story includes a comment by Tiger Transit operations manager Clarence Cobb about AU's Tiger Transit Game Day transportation. CLEMSON -- On a typical day, Greenville resident Adam Hammond needs 45 minutes to drive to Clemson University. But on football game days, the timing depends on when he leaves home. "If you wait until four hours before the game, (the drive) could easily become two hours," said Hammond, Clemson's 2004-05 student body president. As a young alumnus, he's like most of the other 80,000 or so fans in the college town on football Saturdays. He gets no special privileges when it comes to game-day traffic. Hammond plans to leave home at 8 a.m. for the 3:30 p.m. season opener against Florida Atlantic University in order to avoid the gridiron gridlock that's as much a Tiger football tradition as tailgating. Advertisement More than 95 percent of the out-of-town fans come by car, and 80 percent arrive on game day, according to a new traffic pattern study by four Clemson student researchers at last year's games. Their top recommendation for reducing gridlock is to offer more venues where people can park and ride the bus, said Ben Boyles, a graduate student research assistant who led the study with Anne Dunning, an assistant professor of planning. Fans coming from Oconee County and Georgia can park at the YMCA and ride a bus now. A second bus route begins this year connecting parts of the city with the campus, but there aren't a lot of parking options for out-of-towners. The researchers' vision goes further: parking for cars in outlying areas with people driving to the stadium in golf carts -- currently banned except "working" carts approved by athletics -- or on emission-free trams or bicycles to tailgate in a festival atmosphere. Another study by civil engineering associate professor Wayne Sarasua's students examined traffic patterns and ticketholder data to see where fans drive from and suggests solutions for routing traffic to parking areas based on where people live. Clemson fans don't need to get their parking placards in an uproar yet. "We will continue with our present plan," said Van Hilderbrand, associate athletic director. "Our donors have made contributions to our program to park in certain parking lots and on certain streets." But the door is open. "Our students did a wonderful and professional job of examining alternative ideas and strategies to improve circulation on campus," said Clemson President Jim Barker. "We are always interested in making game day 'the best college game day experience in America.' We are focused on sportsmanship, hospitality for our guests and improved circulation on campus." Auburn University's Tiger Transit buses carried an average of 22,000 fans per game to their stadium from various points in and around the city in a 6-year-old free-ride program funded by the athletic department, said Clarence Cobb, Tiger Transit operations manager. Al Babinicz, executive director of Clemson Area Transit, would love to expand park and ride venues for Clemson's CAT buses. "But for that to be successful, they can't be stuck in automobile traffic for an hour or more," Babinicz said. Buses could work at Clemson if they can get people to tailgating areas where they don't have to walk far with coolers and food, said Liberty resident Lance Edwards, a 2004 Clemson graduate. Typically, the men in a group Edwards tailgates with go early to get their favorite spot. Their wives "brave the traffic" later with the food, which means two cars per family. They could park away from the congestion and ride buses, but carrying food could be an issue, Edwards said. The good news for gamegoers is that there's no construction in Clemson or on campus this year, said Hilderbrand and Clemson Police Chief Jimmy Dixon. Stadium security rules are the same as last year. No food or drink, chairs, umbrellas, backpacks or large bags except diaper bags will be allowed, Hilderbrand said. Golf carts and shuttle vans will transport people who have trouble walking from perimeter parking on a first-come, first-served basis. For easiest traffic flow, Dixon suggests fans coming from Easley and Greenville on U.S. 123 use the State 93 exit and that drivers coming from Anderson on U.S. 76 turn left on Perimeter Road. Those coming from Oconee County should use State 93, and drivers from Pickens and North Carolina should use State 133 and go down College Avenue, Dixon said. Some outbound traffic lanes will be rerouted to inbound toward campus four hours before kickoff, Dixon said. Barricade passes are required to enter neighborhoods off College Avenue at Edgewood, Dixon said.
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AU's raptor center kicks off 'Football, Fans & Feathers' 09/02/2006 Opelika-Auburn News Jaime Lakin		Return to Top
Tiger fans arriving for tailgating and other pre-game traditions now have an added attraction for the home-game experience. Auburn University's Southeastern Raptor Center on Friday kicked off its "Football, Fans and Feathers" program, giving fans an educational, up-close experience with birds of prey. The program will continue each Friday before home football games. "We just have a lot of people here in town on these home games, and it just gives us a great opportunity to do our education programs for these people," said Roy Crowe, eagle consultant with the Southeastern Raptor Center. "It gives them something fun to do and educational while their here in town." Along with the eagles, fans will get to meet some other birds of prey. "The birds need to know that when they're around people that it's going to be a positive experience - that nothing scary is going to happen. And that they're going to get a food reward, which is what they really want," said Marianne Murphy, raptor education biologist. "So, we're able to teach the birds using people and teach people using the birds." The raptor center's presentations will be at 10 a.m. and again at noon in the 350-seat Edgar B. Carter Educational Amphitheater on Raptor Road just off Shug Jordan Parkway, except that on Sept. 15 the program will be at 10 a.m. only and Oct. 20 at noon only. Tickets are $5 and will be available at the Auburn University Bookstore in Haley Center. Children under the age of 3 enter free.
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Auburn drops 'interim' from Richardson's title 09/02/2006 Press-Register Evan Woodbery and Bill Barrow		Return to Top
AUBURN -- Ed Richardson became the 17th president of Auburn University on Friday after the board of trustees voted to remove the "interim" tag from his title. The unanimous vote was intended as a symbolic show of appreciation for Richardson's work during the last two years and should not alter the ongoing search for a new president, trustees said. In an emotional speech in support of the measure, Trustee Jimmy Rane said Richardson deserved to be remembered in history as more than just a temporary leader. "It may be seen as only ceremonial, but it is justice, and it is fair that he should have the title of president," Rane said. "He should go down in the history of Auburn as our 17th president. This is one of those times when justice and compassion require us to do this." Richardson, the former state superintendent of education, was named interim president Jan. 20, 2004, after the forced resignation of William Walker. Richardson will relinquish his title as soon as a new president is selected and installed. Trustees received assurances from Auburn's presidential search consultant that Richardson's new title would not discourage candidates from applying. After the vote was completed, the trustees and most of the audience stood and applauded. Gov. Bob Riley, who serves as chairman of the trustees by virtue of his office, did not attend Friday's meeting. Jeff Emerson, Riley's spokesman, said the governor was aware that board members were considering changing Richardson's status. Emerson said Riley had no comment on the decision. Richardson becomes the second consecutive Auburn chief executive to have "interim" removed from his title. Walker was named "interim president" in 2001 when trustees fired William Muse. Shortly thereafter, he moved into Auburn's on-campus presidential home, saying at the time that he did not want to become permanent president. Within months of that move, trustees suspended a presidential search and removed "interim" from Walker's title. Wilford Bailey served as Auburn's interim president in 1983-84. He never had his title changed but was honored at the end of his tenure as "president emeritus." That allowed him to be recognized historically as a permanent president, as trustees suggested they are attempting to do for Richardson. In Tuscaloosa, during the University of Alabama's most recent presidential search, Barry Mason, the longtime business dean, served as interim president. He declared his first day on the job that he would not seek the permanent post. His title remained the same until trustees, upon the recommendation of a campuswide search committee, hired Robert Witt. Richardson said Friday in Auburn that he is grateful for the honor but urged trustees to continue to focus on the search for his successor. Trustee Charles McCrary, who is chairman of the search committee, said 50 people had expressed interest in the position, including current and former university presidents, provosts, CEOs, military leaders and administrators in the federal government. "We're throwing our nets wide," McCrary said. McCrary said the committee had not wavered from its goal of having a new president "identified" by the end of the year. In other news, Richardson prepared the board for the possibility that student enrollment could drop or remain flat over the next two or three years. Richardson said he would prefer to focus on recruiting quality students "rather than be stampeded in the race for highest enrollment." To increase the academic profile of entering students, the board allocated $2 million from the university's general fund to support scholarships. Also the university plans to establish a private foundation that would be devoted entirely to funding scholarships. The Auburn University Foundation, which is governed by a separate board, already controls some scholarship endowments. Richardson said the university would revamp its recruiting program to target high-achieving students, particularly in Alabama. He said he believes enrollment would pick back up after the initial stagnation. "Quality sells," he said. "I cannot imagine a better situation for the next president." Auburn's current total enrollment is about 23,500, a preliminary figure for the beginning of the fall semester. Final enrollment numbers are scheduled to be released next week.
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AU honors Richardson by removing interim tag 09/02/2006 Birmingham News, The David White		Return to Top
AUBURN - The Auburn University board of trustees voted unanimously Friday to remove "interim" from Ed Richardson's title, even though board members hope to replace him by June. Trustees said they upgraded Richardson's title to reward him for his "many successes" at Auburn since the board hired him as interim president in January 2004. He replaced President William Walker, who resigned. Seconds after the vote, Trustee Earlon McWhorter of Anniston announced, "Dr. Richardson, you are the 17th president of Auburn University." Trustee Virginia Thompson of Opelika recalled that the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Auburn's accrediting agency, put Auburn on probation in December 2003 after it found the board of trustees micromanaged day-to-day operations of the university. A loss of accreditation could have caused the loss of federal funds. But the agency removed Auburn from probation in December 2004. "He drove the board, the faculty, the alumni on a relentless path to getting us off," Thompson said. "This is to honor and recognize the hard work that he's done for Auburn in the last 2½ years." Richardson, 67, said he is not a candidate in the search for a new president, which began in earnest earlier this year. Trustees said they wanted to assure the 50-plus people who have expressed interest in the job that Richardson would not be a candidate. Richardson joked that his wife, Nell, would do him bodily harm if he even considered it. "She's made it quite clear that we're going to finish this up," Richardson told the trustees. "I hope to maintain a very positive environment for the next president," he said. "Thank you for this honor. It's extremely important to me." No raise came with the title upgrade. Richardson's salary is $325,000 a year. Trustee Charles McCrary of Birmingham, who chairs Auburn's nine-member presidential search advisory committee, said he hopes the committee will recommend a new president, and that the board of trustees will approve that choice, no later than January and perhaps as early as November. McCrary said that person may not be available to start work until May or June, but said he expected Auburn's next president to be on the job no later than June. Richardson, who was state school superintendent from 1995 until becoming Auburn's interim president, said he would serve as president until his successor is on the job. McCrary said the vote was a sign of respect. "The whole thing really was about honoring him. He took Auburn through some hard times. He'll be leaving soon," McCrary said. "It's just the right thing to do."
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Richardson no longer 'interim' 09/02/2006 Opelika-Auburn News Amy Weaver		Return to Top
Auburn University's trustees showed their appreciation for Dr. Ed Richardson Friday by removing the word "interim" from his title. The board’s honorary action officially made the former state superintendent the 17th person to head Auburn, a job Richardson has had since January 2004. Richardson was prepared to end his tenure in education when he was asked to serve as AU’s president until a search could be conducted for a long-term replacement. The Presidential Search Advisory Committee started a national search earlier this year, with the goal of finding the 18th president by the end of the year. No board or committee members present at Friday's trustees meeting thought the change in Richardson's title would have an effect on the search process. John Kuhnle of Korn/Ferry International, the search firm hired by the board, expressed no concern in a letter to Committee Chair Charles McCrary. Candidates would be told Richardson is not a candidate and the title change did not change that fact, he said. Committee members are currently in the process of reviewing information from more than 50 people interested in serving as the next president of Auburn. "We have a wide spectrum of people who have expressed interest in being president of Auburn University," McCrary said, noting the current candidate pool includes current and former university presidents, current and former CEOs, military personnel and federal employees. Reviewing extensive resumes and letters is the most time-consuming part of the process for committee members, but McCrary said they still anticipate finding a suitable replacement by the end of the year. Professor Conner Bailey, who serves on the committee and sits on the board as the immediate past president of the Auburn University Senate, said he has found the applicants so far to be "quality" candidates. He noted that the board had the support of the university senate to change Richardson’s title. McCrary asked anyone with names of people who might be interested in the job to share them with Korn/Ferry. Since the search began, Gov. Bob Riley, chairman of the AU board, has contacted several people to see if they were interested. He recently talked to retired Army Gen. Wesley Clark about the post. Clark, who made a run for president in 2004 and is considering another in 2008, declined to join the list of potential presidents. Richardson reiterated he is not a candidate to be the 18th president, but he considered the board's action to be a "vote of confidence" in his abilities in serving Auburn University. Former president William Walker served in an interim capacity before being named the 16th president. After 19 months in office, however, he resigned in early 2004 amid controversy over a football coaching search and academic probation issues. Richardson took over soon after.
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Changes in AU academic recruitment include more money for scholarships 09/02/2006 Opelika-Auburn News Amy Weaver		Return to Top
The quality of students who enroll at Auburn University will begin to improve in November. By then, President Ed Richardson is expected to have a plan to employ the best recruitment practices at Auburn. The AU Board of Trustees called for a change in the status quo during its regular meeting Friday by passing a new resolution aimed at revamping current scholarship and recruitment practices, including budgeting $2 million of new state money specifically for scholarships. Richardson announced an additional $1 million for scholarships would be available from a brand-new foundation through which the Auburn Alumni Association has committed 100 percent of the revenue generated from its affinity credit card program. "The board of trustees has established providing additional scholarships to in-state students as a high priority," Richardson said. "With the appropriation we received this year, we were able to fund this priority now so that additional scholarships would be available for fall semester of 2007." The university's scholarship fund was around $7.5 million before the new allocations. The resolution also calls for Richardson to supply information about what happens to freshmen, including those with high ability, once they are admitted to each school, department and college; about scholarships at the different colleges; and about current marketing and recruiting efforts of potential freshmen to the board at its next regular meeting Nov. 10. A discussion of the quality of Auburn students will inevitably lead to a debate over the quantity of students. Auburn celebrated reaching record enrollment last fall with 23,333 students. Numbers as of Wednesday showed an enrollment of 23,547, including 4,097 freshman. Richardson said Auburn has a goal of 25,000 students. Executive Vice President Don Large accounted for the $2 million scholarship allocation when he developed the $733.2 million 2006-07 budget. The new budget also commits $3 million - $2 million from the general fund and $1 from the Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station and the Alabama Cooperative Extension System - to the Auburn Alternative Fuel Initiative, a new initiative aimed at advancing economic development in the state through reinvigoration of natural resource-based industries and establishing new industries based on energy and value-added products from renewable biomass. "This initiative has great potential for a state like Alabama with a large agricultural base," Richardson said. "Auburn has some of the world's leading researchers in this area, so the initiative and the investment in the initiative make sense. In addition, the initiative is consistent with our land-grant mission, with our emphasis on research and with our commitment to help enhance the state’s economic development and create jobs for Alabamians." The new state money is also being used to fund salaries and benefits for AU faculty, staff and other employees. In particular, it has allowed AU to raise faculty salaries to near 99 percent of the Southern Regional Education Board average - a goal set by the board of trustees several years ago. In addition, the money is being used to fund a growing number of initiatives out of Auburn's Office of Diversity and Multicultural Affairs. These initiatives include those aimed at the recruitment and retention of minority students and the recruitment of minority and women faculty.
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Southern Comfort? Not in this house 09/02/2006 Seattle Times Bud Withers		Return to Top
This story includes comments on AU's directed reading courses. AUBURN, Ala. — This is one face of Auburn football, sitting behind an office desk piled high with newspapers and other assorted clutter. You could say it's the red face. It belongs to 63-year-old James Gundlach, the sociology professor who this summer blew the whistle on some questionable academic practices in his department benefiting athletes. About 10 miles away, on a 700-acre farm of Southern pine and cypress and man-made ponds, is another face. This one is that of Pat Dye, 66, maybe the greatest living icon of Auburn football, man enough to stand up to the largest legend of this state, Bear Bryant. "It is some serious stuff down here," says Dye, talking about the place of football in the state's culture. Washington State brings its banged-up football team to sample this milieu tonight against Auburn, a chic choice to win the national title this year. There are some parallels in the football history of the two Land Grant universities. In 1982, each broke its longest losing streak in the series against its rival (WSU had lost eight in a row to Washington, Auburn nine straight to Alabama). One of the signal moments in each program's history was the date it managed to bring its rivalry game back to its campus — for WSU, 1982, and thanks to Dye, Auburn in 1989. "I guess you're gonna try to take the game to Auburn," Dye remembers Bryant telling him when he got the Tigers job in 1981. "I'm going to," Dye said resolutely. "We got a contract through '88," Bryant retorted. "We're gonna play it at Auburn in '89," Dye shot back. But where WSU and Auburn diverge can be found on page 200 of the Auburn media guide, where it posts photographs of the four Alabama state troopers who provide security at Tigers games. Nothing reflects the place of Southern football like troopers escorting head coaches off the field, protecting them from — from what, assassinations? Nuclear warheads? Up in his office, Gundlach thinks he knows the intersection where WSU and Auburn began to differ, the place where football got big here. "One of the problems in Alabama is, we're at the bottom of so many things," says the bespectacled Gundlach, wearing jeans and a ponytail. "Football is one thing where Alabama competes on a national level." And so it got big, way big, here. It produced Heisman Trophy winners Pat Sullivan and Bo Jackson. Sixteen months ago, it had four players taken in the first round of the NFL draft. Big means passion often overwhelms restraint. Gundlach thinks fellow professor Thomas Petee was motivated partly by a simple jock-sniffing urge when Petee offered an inordinate number of directed-reading — independent-study — courses. Gundlach didn't just throw rocks willy-nilly. He meticulously researched Petee's students, one of whom he describes: "I'm not going to name the sport, or even the sex of the athlete," Gundlach says. "They were going along, kind of a low C, kind of hanging on, and all of a sudden, one semester, they flunked every course. The next two semesters, they take five classes in directed-readings format from Petee, and get four A's and one B. During those same two semesters, they take three other classes and make F's in them." Auburn's interim president, Ed Richardson, acknowledged the irregularities but said it was an academic problem, not an athletic one. "The administration's afraid to touch football," Gundlach said. The NCAA hasn't been. In 1993, you could almost hear the NCAA committee on infractions sighing as it whacked Auburn again, writing it was "indicative of what can occur when, in the minds of a university's athletics department staff and [boosters], the program becomes more important than the university of which it is a part. "As a result of this case, Auburn University has become one of only three universities that have been placed on probation six or more times by the NCAA." Dye lost the athletic-director segment of his duties over that one — to ex-Washington AD Mike Lude — and retired a year later. "He may think he had something to do with me retiring," Dye said defiantly of Lude, "but he didn't." It's better here, anyway, on his farm, where Dye delights in landscaping projects, building rustic dwellings and being the gentleman farmer. Oh, and giving the waitresses a hard time at a nondescript roadside eatery, with pictures of the Earnhardts on the walls and a copy of the Ten Commandments in the window. "Catfish, hush puppies, slaw and fried okra," Dye orders, and two reporters follow suit. "Melanie!" he barks, feigning impatience. "Where's the fried okra?" He is back on the big spread now, playing tour guide, obviously proud of what he has wrought here. It is suggested that he seems a man who likes having a project waiting. "I do," he said. "But I like it without the pressure. Doing it when I want to do it, not when somebody else wants me to." His words seem to convey a message, felt both in the sociology office and here in the woods on a sultry afternoon: The big ticket here is Auburn football, and don't you forget it.
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Auburn to honor military students 09/02/2006 Columbus Ledger-Enquirer Mick Walsh		Return to Top
Seven Auburn University students and an instructor from AU's ROTC program will receive heroes' welcomes during today's season-opening football game against Washington State. The group will be honored at midfield during a pre-game ceremony. Included in the honors will be Army Sgt. Jep Dubose, a senior majoring in building science; Army Spc. Jimmie King, a senior majoring in history; Army Spc. Joshua Lackey, a senior majoring in history; Army Spc. Joshua Addison, a sophomore majoring in mechanical engineering; Navy Midshipman Paul Dillon, a sophomore; Capt. Matthew Correia, an Air Force ROTC instructor at the university; Marine Corps Staff Sgt. Timothy McWhorter, a senior; and Marine Corps Staff Sgt. Omen Daniel Quelvog, a freshman. All served either in Afghanistan or Iraq. The ceremony is part of the Army's Operation Tribute to Freedom program that honors returning soldiers for their service. Auburn is one of more than 40 colleges and universities that will honor soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines this fall. • Pink flamingoes, anyone? Yes, it's time again for Fort Benning's twice-a-year postwide yard sale. Bargain hunters are invited onto post Sept. 23 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. The sale will be conducted across all of the post's housing areas including Custer Terrace, Bouton Heights, Davis Hill and Lavoie Manor. Since access to the post is still controlled through vehicle checkpoints, anyone without a military sticker will need to obtain a temporary access pass at one of the two visitors centers -- one on Interstate 185, the other on Benning Boulevard. Don't fret; it only takes a couple of minutes, but be sure you have your driver's license and registration papers with you. • Strike up the band : The Infantry Center Band will present "A Salute to America," a free concert at 5:30 p.m. Sept. 21 on the lawn at Riverside, the commanding general's quarters. The band will present a selection of patriotic tunes and marches during the hourlong concert, which is open to the public. Concertgoers are encouraged to bring picnic baskets, blankets and lawn chairs. But please leave your pets at home. And if it rains? The concert will be postponed. • And bring your war stories : Hard to believe it's been 40 years since the 1st Cavalry left for Vietnam. So for those planning to attend a reunion of 2nd Battalion, 5th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division, in St. Louis, there's going to be a lot of catching up to do. Charlie Company of the 2nd Battalion/5th Cavalry Regiment will meet at the Airport Marriott Oct. 6-8. Any member of that unit who served in 'Nam between 1965 and 1972 is invited to attend. For specifics, call James Machin at 630-587-4058 or e-mail him at burgertogo@msn.com. • Dig deep, guys : Fort Benning's Combined Federal Campaign, the federal version of the United Way, kicked off this week. The six-week campaign is conducted by federal employees in their workplace each fall, which includes military. The goal this year is to increase participation to about 60 or 70 percent. Last year, about 44 percent of people contacted participated.
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Major stadium changes await fans 09/01/2006 Opelika-Auburn News Amy Weaver		Return to Top
The hordes of Tiger fans preparing to see the Auburn University football season kick-off Saturday night will notice some updates to Jordan-Hare Stadium. The west entrance, for instance, has been expanded. Instead of entering the stadium through two concrete columns, they are now greeted by a much larger series of brick columns and wrought-iron gates. By removing the parking lot and pulling the gate farther away from the structure, “we, in essence, enlarged the ground floor of the stadium,” said John Mouton, the special assistant to the president. The red brick continues within the stadium along the concourses, primarily where concession space has been expanded. The asphalt along the concourses around the stadium has been replaced with concrete, making the areas more handicap accessible, Mouton said. Some ramps were taken out in order to make the remaining ones longer and less steep. Mouton said the update is also for handicap accessibility but will help anyone with walking impairments, not just wheelchairs. The ramp from the upper deck in the southeast corner of the stadium no longer empties into the concourse, but rather outside. Mouton said it will help with pedestrian congestion after games. Women should notice the amount of bathrooms has “significantly increased,” according to Mouton. He said there are four times as many bathrooms for women now than there were when the renovation project started. The capacity and amount of men’s bathrooms didn’t change, but Mouton said the troughs have been removed and replaced with individual urinals. The massive construction project at Jordan-Hare started after the 2003-04 season in the upper deck, including adding more seating and luxury boxes. The last two phases, conducted between seasons, have been on the ground floor, Mouton said. Every year, Auburn makes small adjustments to the stadium, but Mouton said this will be the last major renovation for a while. Parking Construction for the new student center has wiped out a Haley Center parking lot used by season ticket holders and luxury box owners. But Kirk Sampson, head of athletic media relations said they will now get to use the new parking deck next to the stadium. Open spaces in the Petrie Hall lot, which was also used by season ticket holders and luxury box owners, have been filled with media vans and emergency vehicles, he said. Those vehicles had parked in the lot that was taken out to expand the west concourse. More than 388 parking spaces have been created in the Caroline Draughon Village. This low-traffic and abundantly-shaded area in the northwest quadrant of campus provides ideal tailgating opportunities. Tiger Walk Tiger Walk, the traditional greeting of Auburn players and coaches on their way to the stadium, will continue but with some safety measures in place. Players and coaches will continue to exit team buses at the corner of Samford Avenue and Donahue Drive at Sewell Hall and will make their way down the sidewalk on Donahue to the south end zone entrance. Barriers will be placed along both sides beginning at the intersection of Donahue and Biggio Drive for the remainder of the route. Fans will be able to cheer the team on both sides of the route except for a portion of the brick wall outside Plainsman Park. Fans will be allowed to watch Tiger Walk through the fence inside the outer concourse of Plainsman Park.
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Richardson Named President of AU 09/01/2006 Opelika-Auburn News Jaime Lakin jlakin@wrbl.com		Return to Top
Auburn University's Interim President, Dr. Ed Richardson isn't interim anymore. Friday, the Auburn University Board of Trustees voted to remove the "interim" from Richardson's title, making him the 17th President of Auburn University. Richardson and university officials stress that it's just a title change. The search for a long-term President for the four-year college is ongoing. The change just recognizes Richardson's service to the school. Here is the press release from Auburn University: AUBURN - The Auburn University Board of Trustees today unanimously voted to remove interim from Ed Richardson's title, making him the 17th president of Auburn University. The Board's vote came after it was read a letter from AU Trustee Dwight Carlisle, chair of the Board's Assessment Committee. Carlisle was not present at today’s meeting. "As Chair of the Assessment Committee, I have had the opportunity to observe Dr. Richardson during his entire tenure," Carlisle wrote. "Based upon these observations, I believe it is time that the Board considers removing the 'interim' from Dr. Richardson's title and, by such action, name him as the 17th president of Auburn University. I am recommending this action due to his overall performance and many successes during his tenure as Interim President. "This recommendation is with my knowledge and understanding that Dr. Richardson will not be a candidate in the presidential search and will step down as president as soon as a new president is selected and in office." Carlisle's recommendation was put in the form of a motion by Trustee James Rane. Rane's motion was seconded by Trustee Charles McCrary. In seconding the motion, McCrary noted that the move would have no impact on AU's current presidential search and produced a letter from AU's presidential search consultant saying that the move "would not have any negative impact on the search process." "Properly explained to the candidates that (Richardson) would in no circumstances become a candidate in the current presidential search, the action would not have any negative effect on the search process," wrote search consultant John Kuhnle of Korn/Ferry International. "Such a decision by the board in my view would be an appropriate recognition of Dr. Richardson's courageous leadership of and distinguished service to Auburn University." In other action, the Board approved a budget that would use portions of AU's record state appropriation to fund additional scholarships for deserving Alabama students and a new alternative fuels initiative. The record appropriation is also being used to increase faculty salaries to near 99 percent of the regional average and to fund initiatives within AU’s Office of Diversity and Multicultural Affairs. "We were pleased and very appreciative of the Legislature and Gov. (Bob) Riley for the appropriation we received in the most recent Legislative session," Richardson said. "These additional funds will allow us to address some of Auburn's and the state's greatest needs. This is a good start." The new budget approves $2 million from AU's general fund for scholarships. In addition, Richardson announced that an additional $1 million would come from a new foundation through which the Auburn Alumni Association has committed to make available revenue from its affinity credit card program. "The Board of Trustees has established providing additional scholarships to in-state students as a high priority," Richardson said. "With the appropriation we received this year, we were able to fund this priority now so that additional scholarships would be available for fall semester of 2007. "I also want to commend the Auburn Alumni Association for its commitment of funds for these scholarships. This is a great example of how the alumni, too, saw a need and helped the university address that need." The new budget also commits $3 million to the Auburn Alternative Fuel Initiative, a new initiative aimed at advancing economic development in the state through reinvigoration of natural resource-based industries and establishing new industries based on energy and value-added products from renewable biomass. Richardson said $2 million would come from the general fund and an additional $1 million from the Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station and the Alabama Cooperative Extension System. "This initiative has great potential for a state like Alabama with a large agricultural base," Richardson said. "Auburn has some of the world's leading researchers in this area, so the initiative and the investment in the initiative make sense. In addition, the initiative is consistent with our land-grant mission, with our emphasis on research and with our commitment to help enhance the state’s economic development and create jobs for Alabamians." The new state money is also being used to fund salaries and benefits for AU faculty, staff and other employees. In particular, it has allowed AU to raise faculty salaries to near 99 percent of the Southern Regional Education Board (SREB) average - a goal set by the Board of Trustees several years ago. In addition, the money is being used to fund a growing number of initiatives out of Auburn's Office of Diversity and Multicultural Affairs. These initiatives include those aimed at the recruitment and retention of minority students and the recruitment of minority and women faculty. Auburn University is a comprehensive research institution with more than 23,000 students and 6,500 faculty and staff. Ranked among the top 50 public universities nationally, Auburn is Alabama's largest educational institution, offering more than 230 undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degree programs.
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AU board removes 'interim' from Richardson title 09/01/2006 Columbus Ledger-Enquirer Associated Press		Return to Top
This story also appeared in the Montgomery Advertiser, Chattanooga Times-Free Press, Sarasota Herald-Tribune, Gadsden Times and on WSFA-TV and WKRG-TV. AUBURN, Ala. - Auburn University trustees removed the "interim" from President Ed Richardson's title Friday, formally designating him as the school's 17th president while the board seeks to find a permanent successor by the end of the year. "It's a reward for what he's done," said trustee Earlon McWhorter of Anniston. Richardson, who became interim president in 2004 when Auburn was rocked by a botched football coaching search and academic probation issues, has said he is not interested in the permanent position. Auburn was cleared of probation by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools in December 2004 after Richardson restructured the staff and worked on trustee issues. Auburn trustee Charles McCrary, who leads the school's search for a new president, said recently that about 50 people have applied for the job and the board's goal is to name a new president by year's end. Richardson, who took the reins of the Auburn administration in January 2004 after President William Walker resigned, is paid $325,000 in compensation. He was serving as state school superintendent when named interim president at Auburn.
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