Campus rallies against racism, for unity
AU closes fraternity following racial incident
Alabama residents: What underfunding?
Health insurance to cost more in 2002
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AU REPORT |
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| Headlines Campus rallies against racism, for unity AU closes fraternity following racial incident Alabama residents: What underfunding? Health insurance to cost more in 2002 |
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to racially charged photos. See story, below. |
AU closes Beta Theta PI chapter on campus
Auburn University on Monday, Nov. 12, withdrew its recognition of the Beta Theta Pi fraternity in the wake of a Halloween party where members posed in photographs wearing blackface and jerseys bearing the Greek letters of an African-American fraternity.
The university's action, which bans the 120-member fraternity from campus for an indefinite period, followed an investigation by AU's Office of Student Affairs and the fraternity's national organization.
"Fraternities have great potential for social and leadership development of students, but when a fraternity abuses its privileges, Auburn University will show little tolerance," Interim President William F. Walker said.
AU earlier temporarily suspended Delta Sigma Phi, and the chapter membership voted to expel two members and suspend four more. The Delta Sigma Phi national organization has also temporarily suspended its Auburn chapter and a decision could be announced as early as Tuesday on the chapter's future at AU. At least one member of Delta Sigma Phi dressed as a Ku Klux Klan member and another posed in blackface with a noose around his neck at a Halloween party.
Meanwhile, disciplinary action against individual students at both parties who posed for the photographs is being reviewed by the university.
"This incident has been painful for everyone involved," said David Wright, general secretary of Beta Theta Pi's national organization. "Losing a chapter is always difficult, but the actions which gave rise to this decision are not reflective of our fraternity's values and cannot be tolerated."
Wright said Beta Theta Pi likely would not be permitted to apply for reinstatement at Auburn for at least two to three years.
Walker also announced Monday that representatives of the Southern Poverty Law Center will be on campus Wednesday to launch a series of programs on diversity training for students, faculty and staff. SPLC founder Morris Dees has agreed to personally help Auburn in developing the program.
"We've got to lower the level of the rhetoric. We've got to create a situation where people have an opportunity to begin to work out the issues," said Walker. "The Southern Poverty Law Center will be coming in Wednesday to begin working with us. I've talked with Mr. Dees and he has agreed to provide us the help we need to get past this issue."
The first program -- Education and Tolerance at Home (turning HATE around through education and tolerance) will be Wednesday at the Foy Student Union Ballroom from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Tolerance.org, a project of SPLC, will present the program.
The AU Beta Theta Pi chapter voted unanimously last week to suspend 13 of its members involved in photographs discovered on a local photographer's web site showing members in blackface wearing the Greek letters of Omega Psi Phi, a prominent African-American fraternity, at the Beta chapter's Oct. 25 Halloween party.
AU administrators temporarily suspended the Auburn chapter pending an investigation shortly after becoming aware of the existence of the photographs.
Campus rallies against racism, for unity
An estimated crowd of 800 Auburn students, faculty and staff gathered on Samford Lawn Thursday afternoon, Nov. 8, to begin the process of healing wounds caused by racially offensive activities at two fraternity parties over the previous weekend.
"This is our house," said the Rev. Byron Franklin, a member of Auburn's Board of Trustees. "And we will not allow this kind of behavior in our house."
The gathering capped a week filled with revelation, investigation and intense media scrutiny. The unity rally was one of several activities on campus after photos surfaced on the Internet showing several students at the two parties wearing Halloween costumes wearing racially offensive costumes and engaging in racist conduct.
On Monday, AU temporarily suspended Beta Theta Pi and Delta Sigma Phi fraternities for violation of school policies on harassment and discrimination pending a full investigation of the circumstances surrounding photographs allegedly taken at the Halloween parties.
Members of Omega Psi Phi discovered the offending photographs on the web site of a local photographer over the weekend and copied them to the fraternity's web site, which is hosted by the AU web server. According to Omega Psi Phi, it did so to preserve evidence of the offensive behavior of the two predominantly white fraternities.
Omega Psi Phi members met with AU administrators on Monday and showed them the pictures taken at the Beta Theta Pi and Delta Sigma Phi parties. After he became aware of the photos, Wes Williams, AU's vice president for student affairs, met with interim AU President William Walker, who asked Williams to conduct a full and expedient investigation of the circumstances surrounding the photographs.
Later that morning, Williams met with his staff and, on Monday afternoon, with student leaders representing the Black Student Union, the Student Government Association, the Interfraternity Council and Panhellenic. The university then suspended the two fraternities pending a full investigation.
The fraternities were notified of their temporary suspensions on Monday afternoon. Monday evening, Walker, Williams and other AU administrators met with a large contingent of African-American students at a regularly scheduled meeting of AU's Black Student Union. Walker termed the photographs "shocking and outrageous" and pledged that the administration would pursue a thorough review of the facts and decide on appropriate punishment.
Monday night, by vote of its membership, Delta Sigma Phi expelled two members and suspended four more for roles they played in the Halloween party. On Wednesday night, Beta Theta Pi's membership voted unanimously to suspend 13 members who were photographed in blackface at its party. The two local chapters have also apologized both generally and specifically to the membership of Omega Psi Phi. Delta Sigma Phi's chapter president, Matt Furin, apologized publicly at the Nov. 5 Black Student Union meeting and Beta Theta Pi's chapter president, Zac Gibbs, issued a public statement of apology on Wednesday.
In addition, the national offices of both fraternities have suspended their Auburn chapters. The disciplinary actions of both the local and national Beta Theta Pi and Delta Sigma Phi fraternities are independent of any actions that might be taken at the conclusion of the university's investigation.
AU administrators began their investigation of the circumstances surrounding the photographs on Tuesday. Walker has urged the Office of Student Affairs, which is conducting the investigation, to send him its recommendation on discipline of the two fraternities by Friday, Nov. 16.
Message from the president
Racist behavior will not be tolerated at AU
Editor's Note: The following remarks were delivered on Nov. 5 to the Black Student Union at Auburn University. The message is repeated for the entire AU community.
By William F. Walker, Interim President, Auburn University
This morning (Monday, Nov, 5), I became aware of pictures that had been posted on the Internet showing scenes from Halloween parties held by two of our fraternities. The scenes in some of these photographs include students dressed in Klan robes, as well as students made up in blackface. At least one picture shows a student in blackface with a noose around his neck.
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These images are shocking and outrageous, and they are unacceptable. On behalf of the faculty, staff, and students I apologize deeply for the hurt that has been caused for so many by the insensitive acts of a few students.
On learning about what had happened, I instructed my staff to begin work immediately to determine the facts surrounding these photographs, and to prepare recommendations concerning the university's response.
I see our response taking several forms. First, we are determined that our discussion of these matters and our decisions concerning them be accessible to public scrutiny. Second, we are involving many of the various stakeholder groups on and off campus in these discussions.
Third, after a thorough review of the facts we will decide on appropriate punishment. As a beginning, the two fraternities involved have been placed on temporary suspension.
Fourth, I am determined that this dreadful moment should serve as a positive opportunity for Auburn University to reaffirm its position on issues of diversity and discrimination, and to embody that position in loud and clear public statements of policy. It is my understanding that all students involved in the discussions so far agree that we should seize this moment and turn it to our advantage. I agree and we will do so.
Perhaps most importantly, this is a time for us to do what we do best. That is to educate ourselves, and all of our students, about the values this university embraces and the behaviors that we find acceptable. I see this educational process playing out not only through the policy statements I mentioned a moment ago, but also through public convocations and forums in which we can talk with one another and draw on experts to help inform our discussions.
Just recently I signed the Birmingham Pledge and I believe the words of that statement capture the spirit that these very recent events suggest must be reinvigorated here at Auburn. I appreciate the comments, and the support, of all members of the campus community as we move quickly to renew our appreciation of how important tolerance and diversity are in the world we live in.
The Birmingham Pledge
I believe that every person has worth as an individual.
I believe that every person is entitled to dignity
and respect, regardless of race or color.
I believe that every thought and every act of racial
prejudice is harmful; if it is my thought or act,
then it is harmful to me as well as to others.
Therefore, from this day forward I will strive daily to
eliminate racial prejudice from my thoughts and actions.
I will discourage racial prejudice by others at every opportunity.
I will treat all people with dignity and respect, and I
will strive daily to honor this pledge, knowing
that the world will be a better place because of my effort.
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Media focus
Survey finds state residents unaware of underfunding
More than 8 of 10 Alabamians feel that Auburn is one of the best universities in the South and nearly three out of four believe it is one of the best in the nation, according to a new survey by the AU Center for Governmental Services.
However, the report found that only one in seven Alabama citizens correctly perceives that Auburn is underfunded in relation to other universities in the Southeast, and a nearly equal number think Auburn receives more state funding than its peers in the region.
The random survey was conducted by telephone in July by the center under a contract with University Relations and the Office of the Vice President for Outreach.
The results are based on responses from 539 interviews by telephone statewide. CGS researchers found that the makeup of the sample was consistent with the state's demographic profile, with results that would be statistically accurate within plus or minus four percent when applied to the state's population.
The survey was conducted before recent incidents in which two AU fraternities were suspended for racially offensive behavior at Halloween parties. However, questions that were repeated from a 1999 CGS survey of Alabama residents showed that public opinion toward AU in Alabama has remained high and virtually unchanged despite highly public conflicts among AU constituencies over governance during the past two years.
The latest survey found nearly 93 percent recognize that AU significantly affects the quality of life in the state. That compares to 86 percent who rated Auburn 7 or higher on a 1-to-10 scale for the same question in 1999.
More than three-fourths in last July's survey said they consider AU important to the quality of life in their community. There was no comparable question in the earlier survey.
Approximately 94 percent of respondents say they believe that AU is important in creating jobs in Alabama, and 84 percent say they believe Auburn research is important in attracting and keeping jobs in their local community.
Ninety-four percent say they believe that funds spent on the university by the state are a good investment. Almost 90 percent believe that the quality of higher education in Alabama affects them personally, and 60 percent feel that they are strongly impacted by the quality of higher education in the state.
Eighty-three percent said they think Auburn graduates play an important role in their community and only 5 percent said they do not know what role AU grads play in the community.
However, only 14 percent were aware that Auburn receives less state funding for equivalent operations than peer institutions in the South, while 13 percent said they think AU receives more funding than others in the region. Thirty percent said they do not know. In actuality, AU ranked 19th among 21 peer institutions and was 28 percent below the regional peer average for appropriations per fulltime equivalent student in 1999-2000, according to data from the Southern Regional Education Board.
Trustees to consider premium hike
AU trustees are scheduled to consider a 10 percent increase in employee health insurance premiums at the board's Friday, Nov. 16, meeting at the Dixon Conference Center.
The insurance report is scheduled to go before the board's Budget Committee at 9 a.m. and the full board at the 10:30 a.m. session.
If approved, the much-discussed insurance premium hike will take effect Jan. 1. For faculty and staff earning above $30,000 per year, the cost of family coverage would increase $19 per month to $210.
Those earning $20,000-$29,999 would pay $157, and those below $20,000 would pay $106 per month for family coverage.
Costs for the university are also projected to go up. The university pays from 60 to 80 percent of the total of health insurance for each employee in the insurance plan administered for AU by Blue Cross-Blue Shield of Alabama.
The University's 17-member Insurance and Benefits Committee recommended the increase in benefits to make sure AU's self-insurance plan has enough money to cover an expected 10 percent increase in claims and operating costs in 2002. The committee recommended that Auburn prepare for a total cost of $25.8 million, which includes a reserve of $3.9 million to handle possible cost overruns.
Since last spring, administration officials have cautioned trustees and employee groups to expect an increase due to rising prescription and medical treatment costs.
In other Board of Trustees business, the Property and Facilities committee will hear a progress report at 2 p.m. Thursday in Samford 107 from Sasaki Associates, a consulting firm which is preparing a master plan for campus.
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Rickenbacker auto
Combined musical groups to present concert
The AU Department of Music will present a concert of the combined AU bands and choirs at 8 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 15, in the Student Activities Center.
The free program, "Sounds of Auburn: Celebrating Auburn and America," will include six bands and groups bringing together nearly 500 performers.
"One purpose of the Sounds of Auburn is to showcase the musical excellence of the performing groups in the Department of Music," said Thomas R. Smith, chair of the Department of Music. "We want the community and state to know what we have to offer for those students interested in music study.
"The opportunity to present the Auburn community with a musical gift celebrating both Auburn and America is especially gratifying during this renewal time in the American spirit."
Performing will be the AU Marching Band, the Concert Choir, Symphonic Band, Steel Drum Band, Jazz Band and the Auburn University Singers. Each group will perform individually and the program will conclude with a combined performance of all the groups.
Conductors of the Sounds of Auburn will be Smith, who is also director of choral activities at AU; Johnnie Vinson, director of bands, who will conduct the Symphonic Band and the AU Marching Band; Rick Good, associate director of bands, who will conduct the Marching Band and the Symphonic Band; and Troy Breaux, assistant director of bands, who will conduct the Steel Drum Band and the Jazz Band.
AU alumnus Lee Miller, who performed with the AU Concert Choir, AU Singers and AU Vocal Chamber Ensemble as a student, will be master of ceremonies for the program. A 1999 graduate, Miller is associate producer for NBC's Today Show.
Alumnus to discuss his experiences in space
Auburn alumnus and NASA astronaut Jim Voss will return to campus Nov. 15-17 to share with students and faculty his experience of being in space for more than five months earlier this year.
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Voss, a 1972 aerospace engineering graduate, will present a public address sponsored by the Auburn Alumni Association at 4 p.m. Thursday in Broun Hall auditorium.
The Opelika native will also visit with students in AU's College of Engineering as well as Department of Industrial Design students, who worked on a NASA project -- Payload Equipment Restraint System. Voss used the system in space as a crew member on the International Space Station.
The Expedition-2 crew launched March 8 aboard the shuttle Discovery and docked with the International Space Station a day later. As a member of the second crew to live and work on the ISS, Voss spent 163 days in space and returned to earth on Aug. 22.
Voss has spent 201 days in space, and has flown on five space missions and has conducted four spacewalks -- including the longest recorded by NASA (8 hours 56 minutes) and the shortest (19 minutes).
On Friday, Voss will be grand marshal in the Beat Bama Parade at 4 p.m., and on Saturday before the AU-UA football game, he will greet visitors to the Alumni Association's tent outside Jordan-Hare Stadium.
AU receives grant targeting abuse of alcohol and drugs
Auburn is one of six universities nationwide receiving awards from the U.S. Department of Education to recognize model programs aimed at reducing high-risk alcohol and other drug use among students.
The awards, announced Nov. 8 in Washington, D.C., includes a grant for each university of up to $100,000 to continue prevention efforts on campus and to distribute information about their programs to other schools interested in reducing student alcohol problems.
AU's Psychological Services Center in the Department of Psychology will receive $99,400 for one year to help AU students understand the problems associated with alcohol abuse.
Other universities selected to receive the award through a nationwide competition are Boston College, Lehigh University, San Diego State University, Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute and the State University of New York at New Paltz.
AU's Psychological Services Center, which operates the Health Behavior Assessment Center, provides AU students with an evaluation of their alcohol use along with a brief intervention aimed at reducing heavy drinking and drinking-related harm. Psychological Services Center Director Polly Dunn, Psychology Professor Rudy Vuchinich and graduate student Jim Murphy wrote the proposal for the grant.
"The intervention is supportive rather than confrontational and includes detailed feedback about the student's drinking pattern, blood alcohol content and risk factors," said Dunn.
"Our work to reduce heavy drinking among AU students is an example of the commitment on the part of the AU Psychological Services Center and the Department of Psychology to provide valuable outreach to the Auburn community," she added.
"The U.S. Department of Education grant award will allow us to provide this service to interested AU students free of charge, and also will support continued research and dissemination of this novel approach to reducing collegiate drinking."
Kochan to lead national organization of educators
Frances Kochan, interim dean of the AU College of Education, has been elected president-elect of the University Council of Education Administration. She will serve as president of the national organization in 2002-03.
The council was founded in 1957 and represents 72 member institutions across the United States. Headquartered at the University of Missouri, the council strives to strengthen relationships among institutions that prepare administrators for service in education.
A founding member of the council and one of its early presidents was Truman Pierce, who was dean of the College of Education at Auburn and a legendary figure in U.S. education in the mid-20th century. "This honor is even more special because I follow in the footsteps of Dean Pierce," Kochan said.
Bailey Awards go to three alumni
The College of Veterinary Medicine has named three of its graduates as the 2001 Wilford S. Bailey Distinguished Alumni in honor of their contributions to animal health and welfare.
The recipients, announced Nov. 1 during the college's 94th annual conference, are J. Lee Alley of Montgomery, Jon Dee of Hollywood, Fla., and Bob Horne of Auburn.
Alley recently retired after 22 years as Alabama state veterinarian.
Dee has been a partner and surgeon at the Hollywood Animal Hospital in Hollywood, Fla., since 1969.
Horne taught at Auburn for 35 years before joining Tuskegee University seven years ago, where he is head of the Department of Clinical Sciences.
The AU veterinary award is named in honor of veterinary pathologist and former AU President Wilford Bailey, who died in 2000. He held a 50-year appointment at Auburn.
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