This Week @ AU

A two-game football package will be available for those students who were not able to purchase a season or mini-season ticket. These tickets will go on sale at 9 a.m. Friday, Aug. 1, through the student ticket Web site. The two-game package is $30 and includes admission to the Southern Miss game (Sept. 6) and the Tennessee-Martin game (Nov. 8), which is homecoming. To order, log-on to AU Access, click on the tigeri icon and follow the instructions for ordering student football tickets. You will need your username and password to order. Friday, Aug. 15 is the last day for students to cancel or purchase student tickets for 2008. After this date, refunds will not be issued.

The Auburn University chapter of the Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi will hold its summer initiation at 5 p.m. Thursday, July 31, in 213 Foy Student Union. A reception to honor the 65 new members will be held immediately following the ceremony. All Phi Kappa Phi members are invited to attend. For more information about the Auburn University chapter, visit www.auburn.edu/pkp.

The AU Bookstore will be open the following hours for the Saturdays in August:
August 2: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. (Fan day and sales tax holiday)
August 9: 8 a.m. - 2:15 p.m. (Graduation)
August 16: 10 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. (Move-in weekend)
August 23: Closed
August 30: 8 a.m. - 6 p.m. (Football, Auburn vs. Louisiana-Monroe)

After 11 years of serving the College of Business faculty, students and staff, Strictly Business, Lowder room 003, will close on Thursday, July 31. The closure is in response to changing market conditions, economics and requests by students to have all of their course materials available at the Haley Center Bookstore. As of August 1, all of the course materials required for College of Business students will be conveniently located in the AU Bookstore in Haley Center. The AU Bookstore will continue to offer free, next-day delivery on most office supply items. The Bookstore will provide test materials and snacks at both the Haley Center location and at our future satellite location in the new Student Center. The staff of Strictly Business extends their thanks to the campus community for their support these past 11 years.

The Department of Housing and Residence Life is seeking volunteers to assist with fall move-in for the Hill and Quad residence hall communities. The goal of Move-in-Mania is to make the move-in experience more pleasant by having extra helping hands available during check-ins on Aug. 9 and 16. For more information or to sign up either individually or as a group, contact Becky Bell at bellcr1@auburn.edu.

Students participating in the summer program, Interdisciplinary Studies for Sensor and Biosensor Development, will make their final poster presentations Thursday, July 31, 9-11 a.m., in the Shelby Center grand foyer. They have been working on research projects under the direction of mentors from the Materials Research and Education Center and the Departments of Poultry Science, Chemistry and Biochemistry, Chemical Engineering, Electrical Engineering and Polymer and Fiber Engineering. The summer program is sponsored by the Research Experience for Undergraduate Site Program of the National Science Foundation in collaboration with the Department of Defense through the Awards to Stimulate and Support Undergraduate Research Experiences (ASSURE) program. The presentation is open to the Auburn University community. For more information, contact Omar Oyarzabal (844-2608, oyarzoa@auburn.edu) or Jeff Fergus (844-3405, jwfergus@eng.auburn.edu).

Professor Juan Gilbert will address the U.S. Senate Committee on Rules and Administration at 10 a.m. Wednesday, July 30, in Washington, D.C., as part of a hearing on the Bipartisan Electronic Voting Reform Act of 2008. Gilbert, the T-SYS Distinguished Associate Professor in the AU Department of Computer Science and Software Engineering, has received national attention in his field and in the news media for his research in Spoken Language Systems, Advanced Learning Technologies, User Interfaces (Usability) and Ethnocomputing (Culturally Relevant Computing). He also directs the Human-Centered Computing Lab at Auburn.

NASA has awarded an AU School of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences researcher a $1 million grant to study the monsoon climate changes of 20 countries in the portion of Asia that includes the Indian subcontinent, Southeast Asia and China. This area is controlled by the monsoon climate, which is of crucial importance to Asia because it brings the water that supports human life, plants and animals, said Hanqin Tian, an AU ecology professor and the project's principal investigator. Tian said there is concern that land cover and land use changes caused by urbanization, deforestation and biofuel production may affect local, regional and global climates. Tian's goals are to understand the interactions among land use, ecosystems and climates and to project the impacts until 2050. To make these projections, he will create a model of the region's climate, ecosystem, land use and economy using NASA satellite pictures, remote sensing and field observations. To read the news release, see http://wireeagle.auburn.edu/news/402.

The architect and contractor for the Alabama 4-H Environmental Science Education Center have received awards for the design and construction of the environmentally focused educational facility. The Birmingham-based firms of Davis Architects and B.L. Harbert International were recognized for the 17,000-square-foot building, which is in line to receive gold status Leadership in Energy and Environmental Education (LEED) certification from the U.S. Green Building Council. The facility, which opened last November in Shelby County, sets a new standard for sustainable design that is both environmentally responsible and energy efficient. This facility was constructed to provide an opportunity for youth to learn about the environment in a way not previously offered in Alabama – specifically about why and how the building was designed and constructed. The Alabama Chapter of the American Institute of Architects (AIA) presented Davis Architects an Honor Award during the 2008 AIA Birmingham Chapter Design Awards. The award is the highest the judges could bestow in a category. B.L. Harbert International received top construction industry honors for its work on the center, winning an Eagle Award as part of the Associated Builders and Contractors National Excellence in Construction Awards. Alabama 4-H is the youth development mission of the Alabama Cooperative Extension System. To read more, see this link (http://www.aces.edu/department/extcomm/npa/newsline/archives/003697.php).

Samia Spencer, AU alumni professor of French and honorary consul of France in Alabama, was an invited participant at the first meeting of the newly founded Terrafemina association, created under the auspices of French President Nicolas Sarkozy to serve as a link with the Union for the Mediterranean. The first meeting was held at the Senate of France July 12 on the eve of President Sarkozy's meeting with the heads of the union's 43 member nations. The objective of Terrafemina is to establish a network of women leaders who will contribute to the achievement of the union's goals.

Bicyclists will find a more welcoming environment at Auburn University over the next few years as the university implements the third stage of its transition from the traffic-clogged campus of a decade ago to a pedestrian- and bicycle-friendly environment. The rapid rise in gasoline prices is making bicycles a more attractive alternative to the automobile for short trips at Auburn and nationally. However, even before fuel costs escalated in 2008, campus planners and a university committee were developing a network of bike paths and taking other actions to make the campus more conducive to bicycle traffic. Previous stages in the transition included expansion of the Tiger Transit bus system and replacement of streets with pedestrianways in the center of campus. In addition to new bike paths, plans and efforts to revive bicycling at Auburn include standardized bike racks near major buildings, a bicycle-repair shop in the new student center, new safety programs, adding bike racks on campus buses and possibly implementing a bike loaner program, which would add a campus variant to a program started by the City of Auburn in May. To read the news release, see http://wireeagle.auburn.edu/news/396.

The Outdoor Warning Sirens on the Auburn University campus are tested on the 4th Wednesday of each month. The test for July 2008 will occur this Wednesday between 11:00 a.m. and 12:00 noon. Sirens are located all across campus to warn you of severe weather or other emergencies. AU Public Safety & Security will also be testing a new system that projects a voice and tones across campus. This test will be completed just prior to the monthly test. These tests will be canceled in the event of severe weather or other emergency on campus.

The latest phishing scam circulating campus asks auburn.edu web-mail users to provide their name, username and password. This message is not legitimate - please delete these messages and do not respond. An example of this message can be found at www.auburn.edu/oit. The source of these messages is being investigated. The Office of Information Technology will never ask you to provide your password or other personal information via e-mail. For more tips on avoiding e-mail scams or what to do if you have fallen victim, visit www.auburn.edu/phishing or contact the OIT HelpDesk at helpdesk@auburn.edu or 844-4944.

War Eagle Food Court will be closed as of August 1st. Chef's Table will close on July 25th. Sub Generation and All Star Player's Grill will remain open until August 1st. The hours will be as follows: Monday through Friday 10:30 am - 1:30 pm. Haley, FRC will have extended hours during this time for your dining needs. Starting July 28th Haley, FRC will be open 7:00 am - 2:00 pm Monday through Friday. Thank you for your cooperation as we transition into The New Student Center! If you have any questions please visit Tiger Dining online at: http://auburn.edu/dining.

The success of the Auburn Canine Detection Research and Training program in providing detector dog teams to law enforcement agencies, public safety officials and the U.S. military is drawing the interest of Congress. Members and staff from the Homeland Security Committee in the U.S. House of Representatives will tour the AU canine facilities near Anniston on Tuesday, July 22, followed by a hearing on the needs of local first responders. John Pearce, associate director of training and operations, will serve as an expert witness at the hearing and will provide an overview of the AU program that has trained detector dog teams now serving around the country and many places around the world. The program works closely with the AU College of Veterinary Medicine on research to better understand canine athleticism and olfactory systems, or sniffing capability, helping to characterize and assure effective detector dogs.

Joe Sumners, director of the Economic and Community Development Institute, has written a chapter, "Strategies for Small Town Success," for a new book, "Building the Local Economy: Cases in Economic Development." Sumners' chapter uses case studies from Tupelo, Miss., and Uniontown, Demopolis, Eufaula and the Coastal Gateway region of Alabama to promote a holistic approach to economic development. The author suggests that small towns are best served by promoting strong and diverse community leadership that is inclusive, collaborative and connected; an engaged citizenry; and a community mindset of pride and optimism. According to Sumners, these characteristics of strong communities actually form the foundation for prosperous small town economies. The book, published by the Carl Vinson Institute of Government at the University of Georgia, was edited by former Auburn City Manager Doug Watson and AU alumnus John Morris. It is available at www.cviog.uga.edu/store.

Ya-Xiong Tao, assistant professor in Department of Anatomy, Physiology and Pharmacology at the College of Veterinary Medicine, has received a three-year, $219,000 grant from the National Institutes of Health to study how the melanocortin-3 receptor functions. The melanocortin-3 receptor is a molecule in the brain that controls energy balance, especially fat storage. Excessive fat storage in humans results in dramatic increases in risks for type two diabetes, cardiovascular disease and certain types of cancer. Tao's research will help explain how this molecule functions. The results obtained will help with the design of new drugs targeted at this molecule as a novel therapeutic approach for treating human obesity. He recently gave a talk on his findings at the 90th annual meeting of the Endocrine Society in San Francisco.

Football tickets for incoming students with no previous hours earned at AU will go on sale at 9 a.m. on Thursday, July 17. Current students who have already earned hours should check the Student Ticket Order Menu on Tiger i for the first date they can order.

NOTE: Please call 844-4040 for questions regarding student tickets or visit the Web site at https://appserv.auburn.edu/athletic/football/index.html

Summer is here and is when many people spend time tanning on the beach or by the pool. Unfortunately the effect of prolonged sun exposure can lead to skin damage. Have you ever wondered if you have skin damage from the sun? The Auburn University Pharmaceutical Care Center's pharmacy is having Sun Safety Week July 14-18. Stop by the pharmacy in 2150 Walker Building (Harrison School of Pharmacy) between 10 a.m.-3 p.m. and use the Skin Scope to reveal sun damage not seen in normal light. The pharmacist will provide information on sun products and sun safety tips. Be sure to register to win a Sun Safety gift basket containing a beach towel, water bottle, sun screen, lip balm and a Harrison School of Pharmacy mug. Call 844-8938 for information.

The Jule Collins Smith Museum of Fine Art has announced the opening of a small exhibition of works from the Nelson and Joan Cousins Hartman Collection of Tibetan Bronzes. The exhibition, Aspects of Buddha, is open now and will be on display through the fall semester. Aspects of Buddha provides a selection of Buddhist images created in Tibet. Each figure tells a story meant to relay information about Buddhist thought and philosophy. The works also show the diverse region of Asia, and the combination of Indian and Chinese influences on Tibetan art. The works are cast bronze and date back to the 15th Century. Originally the objects were venerated in Buddhist temples and private altars. On Aug. 21-24, monks from the Drepung Loseling Monastery in Atlanta will create a sand mandala in the Grand Gallery of the Jule Collins Smith Museum of Fine Art. The public is invited to see the monks at work, and take part in the opening and closing ceremonies of the mandala making.

Auburn's Delta Beta chapter of Alpha Epsilon, the honor society for agricultural and biological engineering, has been recognized as the most improved chapter for 2008 among all U.S. and international chapters. Faculty and students in the Department of Biosystems Engineering were honored at the annual international meeting of the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers in Providence, R.I., June 29-July 2. Throughout the last three academic years, the chapter has taken the initiative to provide leadership and professional development opportunities to students by sponsoring a Fundamentals of Engineering Exam review series, which is coordinated by Alpha Epsilon members and taught by Biosystems Engineering faculty, said department head Steven Taylor. Three years ago, faculty member Puneet Srivastava and student Sarah Sanders volunteered to reactivate the chapter and renew efforts to recognize scholarship and professional attainment in the agricultural and biological engineering profession. For more information, visit http://eng.auburn.edu/programs/bsen/programs/student/index.html.