This Week @ AU

Members of the Board of Trustees and the president and chief executive officer of EBSCO Industries Inc., Dixon Brooke, will hold the dedication of the new Learning Commons in Auburn University's Ralph Brown Draughon Library at 2 p.m. Friday, Feb. 5. Funding through a gift by EBSCO helped create this space that was designed to respond to the needs of today's students. Throughout the past three years, The Libraries has worked closely with Auburn's students to gather input in order to have a space designed by the students and for the students. The Learning Commons features 300 additional power outlets, 10 group study rooms and almost 500 new seats. The Libraries partnered with the Miller Writing Center, the Office of Information Technology and Study Partners to provide academic and technologic assistance in one convenient space with library reference services for users.

Some internal Auburn e-mail addresses did not receive the AU ALERT test message last week, so a follow-up test of the system (e-mail only) will be conducted at 12:50 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 3.  The test will not take place if there is an actual emergency or threat of severe weather. The test message will be sent to all Auburn e-mail addresses as well as all external e-mail addresses registered with the system. To register or update your contact information, log on to AU Access and go to the AU ALERT link on the Campus Life tab. The information you supply is considered confidential and will not be shared or used for other purposes. You will only be contacted through the system in the event of an emergency or periodic system test. Any questions, comments or concerns should be sent to aualert@auburn.edu.

An Auburn University professor in the College of Agriculture who was on the ground during the massive earthquake that devastated Haiti and who provided medical care to many of the victims presented a seminar about his experience on Friday, Jan. 22. This seminar is available for viewing at AU iTunes. Dennis Shannon, professor of agronomy and soils, arrived in Haiti the day before the earthquake struck and was standing in his hotel lobby when the tremors began. Shannon, a U.S. Department of Agriculture economist and two University of Florida agronomists were in the country to work on a food security initiative for the U.S. Department of State. The details of his experience in Haiti, as well as his thoughts on what should be done in the immediate and long-term future to help the Haitian people recover, were included in his presentation.  You can find Shannon's seminar by following these steps: Click this link, click on Distance Learning and Outreach Technology, select Presentations, select Faculty Presentations and there you will find Shannon's seminar. If you have questions, contact Leslie Keeler in Distance Learning at lak0007@auburn.edu.

The Art of Living Yoga Club will host a free “Yoga of Breath” workshop on Monday, Feb. 1, at 7 p.m. in 2218 Student Center and Wednesday, Feb. 3, at 6 p.m. in 2222 Student Center. This workshop is an introduction to the science of one's breath. Discover the latent power of your breath and its therapeutic faculty to enhance the quality of your personal, professional and social life. The workshop will include breathing techniques and a guided meditation which help one relax instantly, focus better and gain clarity of mind.

A viewing of the film, "Precious," will be held Tuesday, Feb.2, at 7 p.m. in 2370 Haley Center.

Frank Warren, founder of PostSecret.com, will speak on Monday, Feb. 8. Tickets are available with a current student ID thru Feb. 5 for $1 at Foy Information Desk in the Student Center.

Students in the Harrison School of Pharmacy can help individuals who are dealing with chronic health conditions and need assistance in dealing with both their conditions and medications. In routinely scheduled visits, student pharmacists can take blood pressure, check blood sugars, fill pill boxes and respond to questions or problems the participant may have with his or her condition or medications. In addition to the benefits the participant receives by having students monitor medications, participants are afforded the opportunity to mentor students and expose them to situations that will enhance their learning. For more information about this free service, contact Kathy Kyle at 844-8345 or kylekat@auburn.edu.

This year’s Big Read book is Mark Twain’s "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer." The Big Read brings together partners across the country to encourage citizens to read for pleasure and enlightenment. Auburn University will host a public lecture by Alan Gribben, internationally known Mark Twain scholar, on Thursday, Feb. 11, at 3 p.m. in the Special Collections lecture room at the Ralph B. Draughon Library. Gribben's lecture will focus on "Ten Good Reasons to Read Tom Sawyer." Other events include a scavenger hunt and public Lunch and Learn discussions. To read more go to this link.

Rita Kemp, of the Auburn Birding Club, will host a bird identification program Saturday, Feb. 6, at 2 p.m. in the Louise Kreher Forest Ecology Preserve. Learn about  The Great Backyard Bird Count, identifying the most common birds found in the area, and some feeding tips to attract birds. After quick lesson on using binoculars and scopes, guests will head out for some birding on the preserve trails. You will go home with a bird ID sheet and some confidence to participate in the count or enjoy birding on your own.  Admission is $2 and all proceeds will go for bird seed for the preserve feeders. For more information, call Jennifer Lolley at 707-6512 or visit the preserve Web site.

Career Development Services is inviting students to network to find jobs at the Career Expo. The expo for engineering and technical majors is Tuesday, Feb. 9, and for business and non-technical majors on Thursday, Feb. 11. Both events are from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. at The Hotel at Auburn University. Students should prepare by visiting this link or meeting with a career counselor in 303 Martin Hall. Walk-in hours are Monday to Friday, noon to 4 p.m.

Associate professor Mark Bertus of the College of Business died Tuesday, Jan. 26. Bertus was born Dec. 21, 1971, in Bartlesville, Okla. He earned his Ph.D. in finance from Oklahoma University and taught finance at Auburn University, where he received multiple teaching awards. With his outgoing personality and love of life, he worked to further collegiality within the department and College of Business.  Donations are being accepted for the Mark Bertus Scholarship Fund and can be made at any Auburn Bank location or mailed to P.O. Drawer 3110, Auburn, AL 36831.

Auburn's newly founded chapter of Engineers Without Borders will be taking students to the village of Quesimpuco, Bolivia, in August to complete work in the community. The trip is open to any interested students, regardless of major. Application deadline is Thursday, Feb. 4. For more information, visit the EWB-AU Web site at this link or contact the chapter president, Andy Todd, at toddand@auburn.edu.

A traveling exhibition of contemporary craft and traditional art produced in the southeastern United States is on display at the Jule Collins Smith Museum of Fine Art at Auburn University through May 15. Auburn's museum is the only venue in Alabama that will host the exhibition. This collection, "Tradition/Innovation: American Masterpieces of Southern Craft and Traditional Art," contains more than 100 objects including works of art in glass, clay, fiber, metal, wood, paper and mixed media. To enrich the viewer's experience, the museum is offering an array of artist interviews as well as stories and background information on the artists and their processes. Organized by the Southern Arts Federation, a nonprofit regional arts organization, "Tradition/Innovation" features 58 of the region's master artists from Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee. See the entire feature story at this link. Admission to the museum is free in 2010 thanks to the museum's Business Partners. For more information, see the museum’s Web site.

The Career Leadership Seminar: Finding the Leader Within is an opportunity for juniors, seniors and graduate-level students to increase self awareness, enhance leadership skills and prepare for the career development process. Participants will learn how to evaluate, market and communicate their leadership skills to potential employers, while facilitating a better understanding of themselves. The seminars will be held in the Student Center on Tuesdays, March 2, 9, 23, 30, April 6 and 13, from 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. Lunch will be provided as students engage in exploration, listen to innovative speakers and collaborate together. Interested students should submit a brief statement of interest to Katie Mantooth at mantokp@auburn.edu no later than Wednesday, Feb.17. Contact Career Development Services at 844-4744 or mantokp@auburn.edu with any questions.

The Athletics Department is now accepting applications for Executive Suite Ambassadors for the 2010 football season. Executive Suite Ambassadors are the official hosts and hostesses of the skyboxes at Jordan-Hare Stadium. Applications are being accepted through March 15. For an application, e-mail Janie Boles, director of Donor Services and Annual Giving, at boles@auburn.edu.

A group of Auburn University students is coordinating a dinner, “ A Meal to Heal for Haiti,” in support of the Lee County chapter of the American Red Cross to help in the Haiti relief efforts. The dinner will be held Feb. 1 in the Student Center ballroom. A home-cooked dinner is being prepared courtesy of Pannie George’s, a local Auburn business.  Only 2,000 meals are being prepared. Tickets for the meal are $5, with all proceeds going to the American Red Cross’ International Relief Fund in support of disasters like the recent earthquakes in Haiti. Due to the high volume of expected ticket sales and limited seating, the event will occur in one night at four separate seating times. There will be 500 tickets sold for each meal time. The meal times are 5 p.m. to 6 p.m.; 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.; 7 p.m. to 8 p.m.; and 8 p.m. to 9 p.m. Tickets are expected to sell out, so students, faculty and the community are encouraged to purchase tickets in advance. You may purchase tickets online at this link.  Members will be selling tickets throughout the Auburn campus beginning Thursday, Jan. 21. Organizations eligible for spirit points will receive three spirit points for each ticket sold. If you are interested in volunteering or making a contribution for “A Meal to Heal for Haiti,” contact Nicole Nero at nicole@auburn.edu or by calling 749-9981.

The Committee of 19, Auburn University's student leadership group for the War on Hunger, is donating $15,000 to the United Nations World Food Programme for Haiti relief. The money was collected over the past 18 months through various fundraisers by Auburn's individual schools, colleges and organizations, as well as campus-wide activities. The World Food Programme, or WFP, is the largest humanitarian agency in the world, feeding on average over 90 million people in 82 countries annually. As a first responder in the current crisis, WFP is attempting to bring weekly rations to more than 2 million people in Haiti over the next few weeks. The latest donation by the Committee of 19 brings the total amount contributed to WFP as a result of the Auburn University War on Hunger to $45,000. The entire news release can be read at this link. For more information on the War on Hunger student campaign, go to this link.

A test of the AU ALERT emergency notification system will be conducted at 12:50 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 27. The test will not take place if there is an actual emergency or threat of severe weather. The test message will be sent to all contact numbers that are registered with the system. Students who have registered contact information for their parents are encouraged to let their parents know about the scheduled test. To register or update your contact information, log on to AU Access and go to the AU ALERT link on the Campus Life tab. The information you supply is considered confidential and will not be shared or used for other purposes. You will only be contacted through the system in the event of an emergency or periodic system test. Any questions, comments or concerns should be sent to aualert@auburn.edu.

Watch 14 beautiful and talented contestants compete for the title of Miss Auburn University 2010 on Friday, Jan. 29, at 7:30 p.m.  in the Student Activities Center. You can purchase your boarding pass for $5 at the door or by contacting the Auburn University Student Government Association at 844-4240.

This February, almost 4,000 Auburn students in 30 residence halls will compete in this year's Sustain-A-Bowl Championship, Auburn's annual resource competition. Beginning on Feb. 1 and ending four weeks later on Feb. 28, Sustain-A-Bowl will put halls against one another to see which is the most sustainable.  The competition challenges residents to reduce their electricity, water and waste and increase their recycling over the course of the four weeks and to live more sustainably as a community. But the competition is not just about using less, it is also about learning more. It is not just about turning off your Wii at night and taking shorter showers, it is also about knowledge and participation. Throughout the month of February, residents and Residence Life staff can earn points for their halls by participating in events that promote the competition and educate other residents about sustainable living. For a complete list of events see this link.

Also starting Feb. 1 is RecycleMania, a national competition for college campuses to minimize waste and increase recycling.  Last year during Sustain-A-Bowl, students managed to save $5,506 in electricity and $2,785 in water, for  a total of $8,291 over the course of the month. Over the last four years the Auburn campus has recycled thousands of tons of materials that would otherwise have gone to the landfill. This event is being hosted by Residence Life with the help of all their staff and the Eco-Reps, the Office of Sustainability and its interns,  the Auburn Recycling Program and Ken Martin and Rob Rodiek in Facilities.  For more information e-mail sustain@auburn.edu or visit this link.

What does the Chia Pet have to do with sustainable living? Can grain crops be an art form? Jeff Schmuki, visiting artist in the Auburn University Department of Art, challenges viewers both to confront and to collaborate on these and other issues in “agritecture.” Schmuki’s exhibit is on display through Feb. 26 in 101 Biggin Hall.
Schmuki received his master of fine arts degree from the New York State College of Ceramics at Alfred University and his bachelor’s degree from Northern Arizona University. His approach combines environmental, social, economic and aesthetic concerns with a nomadic sensibility developed after Hurricane Katrina. Whimsically functional yet serious hydroponic plant growth systems such as mobile garden machines, botanic "enhancements" and "portable fields" often begin as a response to a specific place and are fashioned to mutate and adapt to new situations and environments along the way. Schmuki often encourages the audience to consider art-making a collaborative research laboratory, empowering the community and promoting a more accountable use of natural resources.

Auburn University students won a competition Friday, Jan. 15,  for the design of a pedestrian bridge that Volkswagen Group of America will build as part of its new assembly plant in Chattanooga, Tenn. Of eight awards given, Auburn Design-Build students won four.  Volkswagen announced the winners at the Hunter Museum in Chattanooga. Auburn’s first-place team received $2,500.