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Friday, November 10, 2006

NOTE ON FORMATTING: When stories are transferred from the Web, certain punctuation marks and other marks in this report don't carry over and result in symbols and other formatting errors. To see or print the story in full without these translation errors, simply click on "full story" at the end of each item."

Total Clips: 6

	Date	Outlet
High court: Dismiss trustee suit	11/10/2006	Opelika-Auburn News
Acting the part	11/10/2006	Opelika-Auburn News
AU initiatives to recruit high-achieving students under way	11/10/2006	Opelika-Auburn News
Notable (War Eagle VI)	11/10/2006	Opelika-Auburn News
Auburn to make over facilities	11/10/2006	Press-Register
Supreme Court tosses out suit over Auburn trustees	11/09/2006	Columbus Ledger-Enquirer


High court: Dismiss trustee suit 11/10/2006 Opelika-Auburn News Amy Weaver		Return to Top
The Alabama Supreme Court has found that a member of the Auburn University Board of Trustees does not have the standing to bring suit against the university and other board members over the length of trustee term limits. The high court released its decision Thursday, ending seven months of speculation regarding the terms of current board members. In March, Trustee Dwight Carlisle filed the suit in Lee County Circuit Court against President Ed Richardson, Gov. Bob Riley and fellow board members because of an opinion made by Attorney General Troy King in October 2005 on the length of trustee terms. King declared the term of Trustee Charles Ball of Gadsden to have ended Feb. 10, 2005, while the terms of several other trustees, most notably Montgomery banker Bobby Lowder, would end in 2011, not 2007 as believed. Ball voluntarily stepped down Feb. 9. AU legal counsel fought this summer to dismiss the suit from the local court, citing that Carlisle did not have the standing to question King's opinion and therefore bring suit. When Judge Jacob A. Walker disagreed, the defense filed a writ of mandamus, to overturn Walker’s decision, with the state supreme court. Walker declared that Carlisle had the right to question the opinion and file suit at least as a trustee, a post Carlisle has held since 2004. Carlisle’s attorney Bob Harris argued that his client had standing as a trustee and a taxpayer, and because AU is a charitable trust. In its decision, the high court said it would only rule on the question of standing and not on whether King's opinion was legal or not. It rejected all the claims made before Walker to prove standing. "Because the petitioners have established that Carlisle does not have standing to maintain his declaratory-judgment action, the trial court does not have subject-matter jurisdiction over this case. Therefore, the trial court erred when it refused to dismiss the action," according to the ruling. The document explains over 17 pages how Carlisle lacks standing. Since he had not suffered an actual injury or been barred from performing his duties he did not have the standing to take action. Carlisle contends that he does have a right, at least as a public official, because he has an interest in a matter that questions his duties as a trustee. He also contends he has the right as a taxpayer. Since Carlisle does not allege he or his term are affected by King's opinion or Ball's voluntary dismissal based on the opinion, the court found Carlisle fails to establish injury and therefore doesn't show standing. The supreme court's action of granting the writ of mandamus directs Walker to enter an order, dismissing the case. Harris could not be reached for comment Thursday. AU officials would not elaborate on the decision but released the following statement through Brian Keeter, director of public affairs: "The court made a sound decision, and we're pleased that this time-consuming issue is now behind us. We will continue to improve scholarships and recruitment, make Auburn a national leader in alternative fuels and advance other university priorities."
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Acting the part 11/10/2006 Opelika-Auburn News Donathan Prater		Return to Top
The AU Multicultural Center hosted this activity in celebration of Native American heritage month. As the son of well-known Native American actor, being on a movie set isn't anything new to Tatanka Means. In fact, at around only 7 years of age, Means, who is of Lakota heritage, got his first introduction to acting as his father Russell worked on the set of the movie "The Last of the Mohicans" on location in North Carolina. Tatanka Means wound up being cast as an extra in the movie and has since gone on to work in other roles while continuing his education close to the Chinle, Ariz., reservation on which he was raised. More recently Means landed a role in the six-part TNT network series "Into the West." But earlier this week before an audience at the Foy Building on Auburn University's campus, Means discussed not just acting. He talked about life growing up as an American Indian, dispelling myths, and breaking down stereotypes about what it is to be an American Indian - an experience for which there is no script. "I don't speak for all Indians and I don't speak for my nation, but I do speak for myself," said 21-year-old Means, who was raised on an Arizona Indian reservation, the second largest in the United States. In his short life, Means has become familiar with many of the issues that face Native American youth living on reservations across the country such as alcohol abuse and the lack of educational opportunities for Indian youth that leave them with few choices as they move into adulthood. As a result many of them end up leaving the "rez" and in doing so leave the what is left of their traditional way of life. "I know that we cannot avoid change, but we can retain the knowledge of our culture," Means said. It's that same socially conscious approach Means brings to the thespian table when he auditions for film roles. And while Means, a 2001 U.S.A. National Boxing Champion, says acting opportunities for and portrayals of Native Americans on the silver screen are slowly improving, many of the negative, traditional stereotypes about Native Americans are still alive and well. Once, he was asked by a film director to portray the American Indian leader Crazy Horse as a fierce killer, something Means was not comfortable with. A point he explained to the movie’s director. "Crazy Horse wasn'T like that," explained Means to the director. "He was a quiet, humble warrior who fought only to defend his people." Painting a more accurate picture of American Indian culture through film is something Means hopes to make inroads in doing. "So many people's impression of the American Indian is some movie with John Wayne killing 1,000 Indians with his six-shooter and that's just not true," said Means, who also adamantly opposes the use of American Indian likenesses as both collegiate and professional mascots. Nowadays if Means comes across a role that calls for an American Indian, but isn't socially or historically accurate, he makes a decision of whether or not he can project the character in a more positive light on screen before turning down the role. "You have to ask yourself in a situation like that as an aspiring actor if you want to get your foot in the door as an actor, but if the role was disrespectful or poorly written I’d definitely pass on it," Means said. Means most recently finished a role in a mini-series called Comanche Moon that will be released next year. Means' visit to the AU campus marks one of the activities the AU Multicultural Center is hosting in celebration of Native American heritage month.
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AU initiatives to recruit high-achieving students under way 11/10/2006 Opelika-Auburn News Amy Weaver		Return to Top
Auburn University will host 64 potential students Monday in its first attempt to deliberately convince Alabama's high-achieving students to attend AU. Kent Hopkins, vice president of consulting services at Noel-Levitz, told members of the AU Board of Trustees Thursday the recognition event is just one of the many initiatives started at AU since the board passed a resolution in September to improve scholarships and recruiting efforts to target the state's top academic students. Hopkins said 94 students were invited to campus to be recognized, 68 percent of which agreed to visit. Very few of the students have committed to Auburn, but that should change after Monday. "Every moment (of the event) is a 'wow' moment and an Auburn blue carpet (for these students)," Hopkins said. Some of the events on Monday include pictures with the President Ed Richardson, a recognition lunch and a chance to attend class with current AU students. With approximately 240 students in Alabama who are considered high-achieving, meaning they have a grade point average of 3.75 or higher and earned a 33-36 on the ACT, Hopkins said there is potential for AU to attract many more. The challenge is getting the word out to them and wooing them to AU, he said. Hopkins said he and his team found that the top students are applying early and to at least four schools. It is important for AU to get to them before their junior year and get them to campus. War Eagle Days are popular at AU, but Hopkins said the university can influence the types of students who attend the sessions to best utilize the program. The university also needs to provide scholarships and financial aid to these freshman. Auburn is offering a school record $15.5 million in scholarships for the 2007-08 academic year, including more than $2 million specifically for new scholarship offers for Alabama's top high school students. More than 500 students will receive the new Spirit of Auburn scholarships, which are merit based, next fall. "We have just scratched the surface with scholarships," Hopkins said. AU also needs to attract high-achieving students from outside of the state as well. Marketing for Auburn should emphasize what high-achieving students claim are its best features -- academics, the campus and majors, he said. NOTE: No Web link is available for this story.


Notable (War Eagle VI) 11/10/2006 Opelika-Auburn News		Return to Top
Auburn University's 26-year-old War Eagle VI, better known as Tiger, will be the guest of honor at "Breakfast with Tiger," hosted by the AU Southeastern Raptor Center at 9 a.m. Saturday before the Auburn-Georgia football game. The event is the first of the ceremonies on Saturday marking the retirement of AU's longtime golden eagle mascot. Gates at the raptor center, located just off Shug Jordan Parkway, will open at 8:30 a.m. for the 9 a.m. "Breakfast with Tiger" educational show about eagles. Tickets for the show are $5, payable by check only, and will be available at the gate. Breakfast food items will be available for purchase from a private vendor, or guests may bring their own food. A special police and fire truck escort will transport Tiger at 9:30 a.m. from the raptor center to Jordan-Hare Stadium. University officials will retire the school's famed eagle during a pregame ceremony in the stadium at 11:05 a.m., 25 minutes prior to kickoff. At half-time, they will present her successor, 6-year-old Nova, known as War Eagle VII. NOTE: No Web link is available for this story.


Auburn to make over facilities 11/10/2006 Press-Register Evan Woodbery		Return to Top
AUBURN -- The building that houses Auburn's athletics department leadership and all of its football coaches is getting a makeover. The Board of Trustees' facilities committee approved Thursday the hiring of an architect to refurbish the complex at the corner of Samford and Donahue that serves as the headquarters and public face of Auburn's athletics department. A firm cost hasn't been finalized, but Auburn hopes to improve the office configuration, lighting and furniture in the building. "We've been in that building almost 17 years," said Auburn athletics director Jay Jacobs. "We wanted to come to the board so that we're being proactive rather than reactive. We want to have a plan for each of our facilities." The committee also agreed Thursday to fund about $600,000 in cost overruns created by the swimming team's new outdoor pool. John Mouton, who oversees building projects at Auburn, said the overruns came from expenses unforeseen by the architect. "We don't build a lot of swimming pools," he said. Trustee Bobby Lowder was concerned about the extra money, which amounts to about 30 percent of the outdoor pool's total costs. He said that "instead of wasting our time," Auburn should seek out-of-state architects who have specialized experience in pool-building. The biggest athletics department project on the board is the new basketball arena. Mouton said requests for design teams had been published and the project's timeline was moving on schedule. On Dec. 4-6, Auburn will meet with potential architects during "work sessions" to familiarize the design teams with the project. On Dec. 11, Auburn will interview design teams. By Jan. 4, Auburn hopes to start negotiations with its selected architect. In other business: -- The committee was briefed on a $700,000 renovation to the football locker rooms in the athletics complex that will begin after this season. -- The three-phase renovation to Jordan-Hare Stadium completed this year had about $300,000 in cost overruns, which were covered by the athletics department, the committee was told. -- LOOKING FOR A MATCH: Auburn is still searching for a high-profile opponent to add to its 2007 home schedule, but Jacobs said it's becoming increasingly difficult to find one. "It's going to go down to the wire," he said. "We're committed to trying to find a BCS team. We're going to hold out as long as we can until we just can't get one. There's very little hope of doing that, but we're going to keep working, because things can happen in December." Auburn has a difficult road schedule in 2007, playing SEC games at LSU, Arkansas, Florida and Georgia. The home schedule is less attractive, with SEC games against Ole Miss, Mississippi State, Vanderbilt and Alabama. Auburn has filled two of its four non-conference slots, agreeing to home games with New Mexico State and South Florida. The out-of-conference schedule gets tougher in 2008, when Auburn begins a home-and-home series with West Virginia. -- BURNS COMMITS: The Tigers have landed a major quarterback prospect from Arkansas, a state where Auburn coaches rarely make recruiting inroads. Kodi Burns of Fort Smith committed to Auburn Thursday. He will make an official visit to the Plains for Saturday's game against Georgia. The 6-foot-2, 195-pounder also considered Arkansas. "I like the quarterback situation at Auburn," Burns told AuburnSports.com. "There's nothing wrong with the quarterback situation at Arkansas, but I really like it at Auburn." Burns is Auburn's 19th commitment. -- ON THE FIELD: Auburn practiced for about 90 minutes Thursday in warmer weather. The Tigers worked on special teams and scout-team scenarios, finishing with the two-minute drill. According to the Weather Channel, the temperature is expected to be 68 degrees when Auburn kicks off against Georgia at 11:30 a.m. Saturday at Jordan-Hare Stadium.
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Supreme Court tosses out suit over Auburn trustees 11/09/2006 Columbus Ledger-Enquirer Phillip Rawls, Associated Press		Return to Top
This AP story was also carried by: The Gadsden Times, TimesDaily, The Tuscaloosa News, The Sarasota Herald-Tribune, The Opelika-Auburn News, WALA-TV, WSFA-TV, WVTM-TV, WTVM-TV and WAFF-TV. AUBURN, Ala. - The Alabama Supreme Court blocked a lawsuit Thursday over the length of Auburn University trustee terms, saying trustee Dwight Carlisle didn't have legal standing to file the suit that could have affected several trustees, including Bobby Lowder. In a 9-0 decision, the Supreme Court said Carlisle's suit must be dismissed. "Carlisle simply does not establish that he has incurred an actual injury; therefore, he does not establish standing," Justice Lyn Stuart wrote for the court. Auburn President Ed Richardson and trustees who were named as defendants in the suit had appealed to the Supreme Court after Lee County Circuit Judge Jacob A. Walker refused to dismiss the case. "The court made a sound decision. We are pleased that this time-consuming issue is now behind us," Auburn spokesman Brian Keeter said. Carlisle's attorney, Robert Huffaker, said he was disappointed with the decision, which was decided without addressing the issue of when some trustees' terms end. Carlisle filed suit after Attorney General Troy King issued an advisory opinion declaring that trustees' new terms begin when their selections are approved by the state Senate, not when their previous terms end. That meant the term of trustee Charles Ball of Gadsden legally ended on Feb. 9, 2005, a decision Carlisle contended was wrong. King's opinion also meant the terms of several other trustees, including Lowder, a Montgomery banker, would be longer than previously thought. Lowder's term was extended four years, from 2007 to 2011. Gov. Bob Riley is a member of the board of trustees by virtue of his office, and Carlisle served as Riley's state revenue commissioner until being appointed to the Auburn board. The governor's lawyer, Ken Wallis, said Riley did not take a role in the appeal to the Supreme Court. The case now goes back to Walker to officially dismiss the suit. Once that happens, the next step will be for the governor to call a meeting of the Auburn trustee selection committee to recommend someone for Ball's seat. Huffaker said that based on the Supreme Court's ruling, a member of the trustee selection committee would likely have legal standing to raise the issue Carlisle tried to address in his suit, but he has not heard any indication that might happen.
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