This Week @ AU

Feb. 23-27 is Alabama Severe Weather Awareness Week. Do you know what to do in the event of severe weather? It’s important to prepare ahead of time for dealing with the common severe weather threats in Alabama.
-Severe thunderstorms/damaging winds: Severe thunderstorms can contain hail, high winds, lightning and tornadoes. Damaging wind events (often associated with severe thunderstorms) occur 10-20 times more often than tornadoes in Alabama. During thunderstorms, you should stay inside a substantial building until they are over. When thunderstorms are expected, pick up loose items outside so they don’t become dangerous projectiles.
-Lightning: All thunderstorms, whether severe or not, contain lightning. Lightning is typically responsible for more deaths in Alabama than tornadoes. If you can hear thunder, you can be struck by lightning. Practice lightning safety by staying inside during a thunderstorm.
-Tornadoes: Auburn University has designated severe weather shelters in most campus buildings for sheltering during tornado warnings. Classes are suspended for the duration of a tornado warning. Please visit www.auburn.edu/emergency to view our new video highlighting safe procedures for tornado watches and warnings.
-Flooding: The biggest flooding hazard to Auburn University is flash flooding, caused by heavy rainfall in a short period of time. Stay away from flooded areas and never drive through a flooded roadway.
-NOAA weather radios: One of the best ways to stay updated about weather conditions is via a NOAA weather radio. NOAA weather radios are very affordable (as low as $20) and provide current weather conditions, watches and warnings for your area. They can be purchased at many electronics, hardware or sporting goods stores. Make sure to purchase one with S.A.M.E. technology, which can be programmed to broadcast alerts for only the counties that you specify.
For more severe weather and emergency preparedness information, please visit the Auburn Emergency Management Web site at www.auburn.edu/emergency. Be weather aware and be safe!

One person's trash is another person's treasure. The Big Swap will take place today from 3-6 p.m. in Student Center 2227. Got something you're tired of but just can't throw out? An awesome item of clothing that you don't wear anymore? One too many books on your floor? Why not bring it along to The Big Swap and pick up something in exchange? For every item you bring, you get to take one home. The only criterion is, please, no junk. The Big Swap is sponsored by the Office of Sustainability.

The Women's Studies Program together with the Office of Diversity and Multicultural Affairs will present a free public lecture by professor Mujah Shakir. "The New Face of Sexual Oppression: Is Healing Possible?" will take place Tuesday, Feb. 24, at 12:15 p.m. in 2216 Student Center. Shakir is an affiliate of the Tuskegee University National Center for Bioethics in Research and Health Care. She is a doctoral candidate with the California Institute of Integral Studies, Humanities Transformative Learning and Change, San Francisco, California. Her dissertation is an oral history project that deals with the impact of the Tuskegee syphilis study on the lives of contemporary women living in Tuskegee and Macon County. She is also a diversity trainer and group facilitator who has worked with community groups for many years on social justice issues. For more information, call 844-6647 or 844-1974 or visit http://www.auburn.edu/academic/other/womens_studies/.

The Black Student Union will have their annual Soul Food Bazaar Tuesday, Feb. 24 in conjunction with N.P.H.C. The event will take place at the Student Center Ballroom and will begin at 6 p.m. Come and enjoy free soul food, music and a chance for social networking. Tiger Stomp tickets ($5 for students and $10 for non-students) may be purchased at the Soul Food Bazaar.

A "Career Opportunities in the Biotechnology Industry" presentation and discussion will take place Tuesday, Feb. 24, from 7-8:30 p.m. in 115 Sciences Center Classrooms. All students are invited to hear about graduate programs from the president of Keck Graduate Institute (KGI). Go to http://www.kgi.edu/ for more information about the college, admission procedures and their programs. They offer a Master of Bioscience degree, which they describe as the place where science and business meet. The degree is designed to place students on an accelerated career track in the biosciences industry. Contact the College of Sciences and Mathematics advising office at 844-4269 with any questions.

The College of Liberal Arts Student Eminent Society is a select 25-member group of Liberal Arts undergraduate students that serve as the official hosts of the college. Applications to join the Eminent Society are now available in the College of Liberal Arts Office in Haley 2238 and from the Student Eminent Society Web site (visit cla.auburn.edu then "Organizations"). To learn more about our organization, we encourage interested applicants to attend one of the two information sessions: Monday, Feb. 23, at 7 p.m. in Student Center 2218; or Tuesday, Feb. 24, at 7 p.m. in Student 2218. Applications are due by 2 p.m. Thursday, March 5, in the College of Liberal Arts Office in Haley 2238. When you drop off your application, sign up at the reception area for an interview time. Interviews will be held Monday, March 9, from 12:30-4:30 p.m., and Tuesday, March 10, from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. in Cater Hall in the conference room. Names for those applicants selected as members of the Student Eminent Society will be posted in the Liberal Arts Office in Haley 2238 Wednesday, March 11, by 9 a.m. The Student Eminent Society assists with events such as TALONS Day, CLA Student Scholarship Banquet, Faculty Awards Program, Dean's tailgates, Dean's Advisory Council meetings and much more. The Student Eminent Society is responsible for assisting the development staff with events involving Liberal Arts alumni, participating in development programs for the College of Liberal Arts and serving as a liaison between undergraduate students and Liberal Arts alumni. For questions or more information please contact Membership Director Caleb Rotten at rottocc@auburn.edu.

The first lecture in the new Stone Lecture Series for Multicultural Understanding, Equality and Justice will feature Cecile Coquet-Mokoko, professor of American Culture and African American Studies at the University of Tours, France. She will present "Biracial Couples in France and the United States" on Wednesday, Feb. 25, at 4 p.m. in 2223 Student Center. A reception will follow. Coquet-Mokoko, who received her doctorate from the University of Paris, developed an interest in the concept of interracialism in American history and society as a graduate teaching assistant at Harvard. She is on sabbatical at the University of Alabama pursuing research on biracial couples in the southeastern United States. The lecture series is supported with an endowment funded by Janet and John Stone. A lectureship will be awarded annually to individuals who have made significant contributions to, or are conducting research in, the areas of cultural and racial understanding, equality and justice. For more information, contact the Office of Diversity and Multicultural Affairs at 844-4184 or visit http://wireeagle.auburn.edu/news/758.

The Ole Miss game is a few days away but Auburn head coach Jeff Lebo has already called his first play. Lebo is calling for a "White Out" and is asking all Auburn fans in attendance at the coliseum to wear white for the Ole Miss game on Wednesday, Feb. 25, at 7 p.m. in Beard-Eaves Memorial Coliseum. The first 2,000 fans will receive a "White Out" T-shirt. Fans can purchase advance tickets online at www.auburntigers.com or by phone at 800-AUB-1957.

The Auburn Theatre Department presents “Into the Woods” by Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine, directed by Dan LaRocque. The play will take place on the mainstage of the Telfair B. Peet Theatre Feb. 25-29 at 7:30 p.m. For tickets, call 844-4154.

The Auburn University Health Administration Alumni Organization will hold its annual education conference Feb. 26-27 at The Hotel at Auburn University and Dixon Conference Center. Attendees will have the opportunity to network with health administration alumni and guests, attend educational sessions and help fund the annual health administration scholarship. Auburn President Jay Gogue will be the luncheon speaker on Friday, Feb. 27, at 12:20 p.m. The Political Science Department in the College of Liberal Arts will give a brief update at 8:30 a.m. on Friday about the health administration program. The first session begins at 9 a.m. with "Health Care Reform: It's a Mess and How are We Going to Pay For It?" by Cary Kuhlmann, executive vice president of the Medical Association of the State of Alabama. There is no charge for students to attend the sessions. For all the program details, contact Mark Burns at burnsma@auburn.edu or 844-6164.

Twenty yearlong fellowships and two semester-long fellowships for research with Auburn faculty are available. Yearlong fellowships begin summer 2009 and continue through spring 2010. The annual student stipend ranges up to $4,400 and project funds range up to $1,400. Students must have sophomore standing by summer 2009, a GPA of 3.0 or better, and time to complete the fellowship before graduation. Faculty who are interested in being a mentor to an undergraduate student and are committed to teaching the student, on a one-to-one basis, how to conduct research are encouraged to apply. The student and mentor should apply as a pair. Application deadline is Friday, Feb. 27. If you have questions, contact Leanne Lamke at 844-3231 or lamkelk@auburn.edu. For more information, visit www.auburn.edu/research/vpr/urfp.

Auburn University, on behalf of Universities Fighting World Hunger (UFWH), will host the 4th annual University Hunger Summit at The Hotel at Auburn University and Dixon Conference Center, Feb. 27-March 1. Partnered with the World Food Programme, Universities Fighting World Hunger is a coalition of more than 80 higher education institutions around the globe committed to implementing short-term grassroots approaches and long-term academic solutions to ending hunger. The theme for the weekend conference is "Ending Hunger...Yes We Can!" Among the attendees will be university students, faculty and administrators, as well as hunger activists from across the country. Summit highlights include keynote addresses by Congressman Spencer Bachus of Alabama; Jonathan Blum, Vice Chairman and President, Yum! Brands; and Alan Jury, Director of U.S. Relations, United Nations World Food Programme. Featured also will be award-winning student initiatives focused on developing high impact solutions to ending hunger and poverty; a panel of domestic and international humanitarian aid professionals; models for implementing and maintaining a grassroots student hunger initiative; disciplinary approaches to ending hunger; and journalistic techniques for conveying a hunger message. Lead sponsor for the summit is Yum! Brands. Yum!, the world's largest restaurant company, is the parent organization of Taco Bell, Pizza Hut and KFC. The company recently pledged to raise and donate $80 million over the next five years to help the World Food Programme and other agencies provide 200 million meals for hungry school children in the developing world. Co-sponsors are the Alliance to End Hunger, the World Food Programme and Auburn University. Conference registration is $100 and includes all meals from Friday dinner through Sunday lunch. To register, go to www.univerisitesfightingworldhunger.org.

Come join the Auburn Asian Association for free Henna (a traditional plant-based ink used for "temporary tattoos") as we watch "The Painted Veil" starring Naomi Watts and Edward Norton. The movie tells the story of a British doctor in the midst of a cholera outbreak in a small Chinese village while he also faces a loveless marriage at home. The event will take place Sunday, March 1 in Student Center 2222, with Henna at 3 p.m. and the movie at approximately 4 p.m.

The Disney College Program at the Walt Disney World Resort or Disneyland is a one-of-a-kind, Disney-designed combination of education and work experience. Disney College Program cast members have the opportunity to build transferable skills that include relationship building, problem solving and written and verbal communication. Explore networking opportunities at the Walt Disney World Resort or Disneyland. Tap into educational opportunities that offer new courses coupling academic theory and Walt Disney management expertise. Earn real-world experience with a leader in the industry. Make friendships that cover the globe. Enjoy the privileges of being a Walt Disney World Cast Member, including free theme park admission for you and your friends and discounts on resort accommodations, merchandise and more. If these opportunities interest you, please join us at our presentations March 2 at 6 p.m. in Student Center 2218 or March 3 at 3 p.m. in Student Center 2218.

Each year, Auburn University recognizes the efforts of three outstanding individuals who represent the institution through their unsurpassed humanitarian leadership and contributions to the community. Eligible recipients for the Algernon Sydney Sullivan Award include one male and one female student from the 2009 graduating class and one non-student member of the campus community. Faculty, students, staff, alumni and friends of the university are encouraged to nominate individuals they believe are deserving of this prestigious honor. Nomination packets should include a letter of nomination, resume or curriculum vitae, and newspaper articles or any other appropriate supporting documentation. Please submit nominations to: The Algernon Sydney Sullivan Committee, 129 Quad Center, Auburn University. The deadline to submit nominations is March 2; awards will be presented at the President's Awards Luncheon. For more information on the award, contact Julie Huff at 844-5725 or visit the Undergraduate Studies Web page at http://www.auburn.edu/us and click on the Algernon Sydney Sullivan link on the left side of the page.

Education Interview Day is Tuesday, March 3, from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. at The Hotel at Auburn University and Dixon Conference Center. Education majors and those interested in positions with school systems are encouraged to attend. A list of participating schools can be seen at http://www.auburn.edu/career and students may utilize the career counselors in Career Development Services to aid them in preparation.

The Auburn Student Veterans Association is recruiting members. Any veteran, whether student, faculty or staff member, retired, active, reservist, guardsman or ROTC cadet, or anyone with an interest in veterans activities or a desire to support Auburn's military veterans is invited to join. Membership is free. Our next meeting will be Tuesday, March 3, at 6 p.m. in Nichols Hall 141. We will be planning some spring events. Election of new officers will be conducted in May. Contact Steve Pattillo at spp0001@auburn.edu for more information.

Kappa Delta sorority has traditionally dedicated its philanthropic endeavors to the benefit of child abuse prevention. Shamrock Project is a fundraiser that Kappa Delta collegians and alumnae throughout the country hold annually to benefit a local group and the Prevention of Child Abuse America (PCAA). The Sigma Lambda Chapter at Auburn University will have their 16th annual Shamrock 5K Run to benefit LeeSCAN (Stop Child Abuse and Neglect) Saturday, March 7, at 8 a.m. Registration is $15 until Feb. 28 and $17 after that. Eighty percent of the money raised will be donated to LeeSCAN/ Special Deliveries and the remaining 20 percent will be donated to Prevention of Child Abuse America. Last year Kappa Delta’s Auburn chapter raised $39,900 dollars to benefit this cause. With your help, we can reach an even higher goal this year. For questions, contact Kelsey Ware at (256) 797-8849 or Allie Ashurst at (334) 322-5665. For more information, registration forms or to make monetary donations, please visit www.auburn.edu/kd.

The Ready to Run program is coming to Auburn's campus on March 10 and will give women who are considering a run in office the tools and training to make the attempt a successful one. Ready to Run is a nonpartisan program for women who want to run for office, seek higher office, work in a campaign or position themselves for other types of public leadership. The Women's Leadership Institute in the College of Liberal Arts is teaming up with the American Association of University Women (AAUW) to provide this one-day intensive training session. According to AAUW, Alabama has no women in the United States Congress and there are only five women serving in statewide elected executive positions. AAUW will provide scholarships to 10 women who would like to attend. The scholarship covers the $39 fee for materials. There are no other costs associated with this session. To apply for one of the scholarships, e-mail Audrey Salgado at audrey5190@yahoo.com. The session will be held in room 502, the Alabama Power Room, of the Lowder Business Building and will begin at 8:30 a.m. For more information about this one-day event, contact Martina Janska at janska@auburn.edu.

The Foy Spirit Award is a $1,000 scholarship given each year in honor of former Dean of Students James E. Foy and his late wife, Emmalu Foy. The Foy family established the award to recognize and reward a student who exhibits exceptional qualities of leadership, character and a commitment to the Auburn community while maintaining a job to help fund education expenses. Applications can be downloaded at http://www.auburn.edu/deanofstudents and are due March 13 to 3248 Student Center.

The Student Government Association has created a new scholarship for current Auburn students. The Auburn Creed Scholarship will be awarded to five students who exemplify the meaning of the Auburn Creed through their academic excellence, involvement and community service. The amount of each scholarship is $1,000. The application will be available in the SGA office (Student Center 3130) and on the SGA Web site at www.auburn.edu/sga. Applications are due to the SGA office by Friday, March 27.