AU REPORT December 9, 2002
Headlines Civil Rights leader to help dedicate AU center Former Secretary of State receives AU award Architecture ranked in top 10 in U.S.

Decorating for holidays
Facilities workers strung lights on the holly tree at the northeast corner of Samford Hall last week as the campus took on a more festive look for the holiday season. The lights have been on nightly since Thursday.

Happy Holidays

With the holiday season approaching, I want to take this opportunity to thank the entire university community for the dedication and support each of you has provided to Auburn University.

The people of this university make it special. Auburn is a stronger institution today because of your efforts and the efforts of your colleagues across the university during the past year. I have long been impressed by the work ethic and the degree of talent across the spectrum at Auburn -- in the professional and support services as well as in the academic ranks. Even when members of this community differ with one another on various issues, they have remained united in their commitment to this institution and its students. That commitment bears fruit every day of the year in the quality of Auburn's graduates and the rising national reputation of the university.

Fall semester ends in a few days, and we will soon break for the Christmas and New Year's holidays. Whether you observe these or other holidays or simply take the time to relax with family and friends, the season brings with it a sense of renewal. This break between semesters provides opportunities to reflect on the accomplishments of the past and to return in January with renewed dedication to each other and our students. As you prepare to celebrate the holiday season, I wish the best for one and all.
-- William F. Walker, President

Civil rights leader to help AU dedicate new diversity center

Julian Bond, chairman of the National Association for Advancement of Colored People, will be the featured speaker when AU dedicates its Center for Diversity and Race Relations on Jan. 14.

The ceremony will be at 4:30 p.m. at the new center in Foy Student Union, and Bond will speak at 5 p.m. at Dixon Conference Center.

"This is a great benchmark for Auburn and we are pleased to have someone like Dr. Bond on hand to help us dedicate the center," said AU President William F. Walker. "He has spent his life advocating the value of diversity and justice. To have someone of his stature come and share in our building value of diversity here at Auburn is appropriate and exciting."

Bond, who is a Distinguished Scholar-in-Residence at American University in Washington, D.C., and a faculty member in the history department at the University of Virginia, has been prominent in civil rights issues for more than four decades.

As a student at Morehouse College in 1960, Bond was a founder of the Committee on Appeal for Human Rights, which won integration of Atlanta's movie theaters, lunch counters, and parks.

He also helped organize the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee and became its communications director.

Between 1965 and 1986, Bond served four terms in the Georgia House of Representatives and six terms in the Georgia Senate.

Speakers at the dedication ceremony in Foy Student Union include AU President William Walker, interim Provost John Pritchett, interim Assistant Provost for Diversity and Multicultural Affairs Keenan Grenell, Black Student Union President Kai Mumpfield and Student Government Association President Heath Henderson. Planned activities also include a dance by the Indian Cultural Association of East Alabama and AU's Indian Students Association.

Former cabinet official receives award from AU

The AU College of Human Sciences will present its International Quality of Life Award to former U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine K. Albright in New York on Monday, Dec. 9.

In addition, the college will present a Lifetime Achievement Award in memory of the late Professor Samuel Mockbee, who was a faculty member in AU's College of Architecture, Design and Construction.

Presented annually since 1994, the awards recognize individuals who have made significant contributions to communities at home and around the world. Each year, the college presents the awards in a ceremony at the United Nations Building.

"The International Quality of Life Awards provide the College of Human Sciences and Auburn University with the opportunity to recognize outstanding individuals, such as Madeleine Albright who has dedicated her public life to pursuing peace, justice and equality for all humanity," said Human Sciences Dean June Henton.

Albright came to the United States as an 11-year-old immigrant and became the highest ranking woman in the history of the federal government. In addition to paving the way for American women to participate in government at the highest levels, Albright has demonstrated the value of public service as a way to make a difference in the world, said Henton.

Mockbee combined his intellectual and creative genius and his vision for humanity to co-found AU's internationally-known Rural Studio. Mockbee's legacy of "social architecture" continues to operate in West Alabama.

Past recipients of the International Quality of Life Award include Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu of Capetown, South Africa; Millard Fuller, founder and president of Habitat for Humanity International; Don Logan, chairman and CEO of Time Inc.; Lawrence Klein, Nobel Laureate in economics; and Catherine Bertini, executive director of the United Nations World Food Program.

AU print shop to cease operation in February

Auburn University will close AU Printing and Design on Feb. 28, ending three decades in business for the printing operation.

Bob Ritenbaugh, interim vice president for auxiliary services, said the university could not justify spending for new equipment when printing services are readily available in the commercial sector. The cost-recovery operation operated at a deficit in the past fiscal year, and the long-term prospects were not good without a large investment in new equipment, he said.

President William Walker approved the closure on the recommendation of Ritenbaugh and Executive Vice President Don Large, the university's chief financial officer.

"Since printing is not central to the university's academic mission, and other options are available off-campus, it would have been difficult to justify the kind of investment necessary to continue the operation," said Ritenbaugh.

The university has retained the services of an outplacement consulting firm -- Challenger, Gray and Christian of Atlanta -- to help the unit's 19 employees find other jobs on campus or market themselves effectively for jobs off-campus. "The loss of jobs is traumatic on employees any time a business enterprise has to close, but we will make every attempt to ease the transition as much as possible."

Many departments already contract with commercial printers through the Purchasing Department for their printing needs. Drew Burgering, director of AU Printing and Design, said the unit will complete printing jobs already scheduled over the next two and a half months and will advise customers on specifications for bidding their future projects.

The AU Printing Service started in 1972 and adopted the current name last year to emphasize the capabilities of its art department. Printing Service was an outgrowth of the Duplicating Service, which Auburn started in the late 1940s in combination with Photographic Services. Those units were separated in 1962, and the first offset press was added later in that decade.

The ensuing decades saw the emergence of several large printing companies that compete for printing jobs from AU departments. While the industry had shifted to multi-color presses, the AU operation was limited to two-color presses due to cost constraints and was unable to compete for business off campus.

Meats Lab groundbreaking
Leaders in the Alabama cattle industry joined AU officials in November for the groundbreaking for a new meats lab at Auburn. The new building north of Shug Jordan Parkway will replace the obsolete meats lab off South Donahue Drive. Among those taking part in the groundbreaking were, left to right, John Jensen, interim dean of the College of Agriculture; Raleigh Wilkerson of the Alabama Farmers Federation; Billy Powell of the Alabama Cattlemen's Association; State Rep. Jack Venable of the AU Board of Trustees; Stanley Wilson, who was AU vice president for agriculture in the early 1980s; AU President William Walker; and Lowell Frobish, chair of the Department of Animal Sciences.

Fans adjust to new Game Day rules

Auburn's new approach to football game days won favorable reviews from many fans this fall, says Christine Curtis, the plan's coordinator.

The plan, modeled on ones at other SEC institutions, provided picnic areas in the center of campus, added safety measures around the stadium and provided more parking within walking distance of the stadium and a transit system for those who wanted to ride.

"We've received many, many phone calls and e-mails from fans who were supportive of the changes and appreciated the enhanced atmosphere on campus," said Curtis, who is associate provost for Facilities.

The changes at the start of the 2002 football season were communicated to AU fans and visitors through letters, a 2002 Guide to Game Day brochure, e-mails and the World Wide Web.

"We understood there would be some people who would be concerned," said Curtis. "But when people saw that the changes actually provided more parking than before, increased safety for all and benefited campus buildings and grounds, our fans were accommodating."

She said the two new lots for RV parking on the west side of Jordan-Hare Stadium proved very popular. RV drivers organized a waiting line off the roadway until the lots opened each Friday at 4 p.m. so they could obtain a prime spot.

Curtis, who headed a committee of university employees from Facilities, Athletics, Public Safety and University Relations, said many people worked to ensure the success of the changes.

"Our employees worked very hard to make sure the fans were accommodated on Game Day," Curtis said. "And, our Public Safety officers worked hard to make sure fans obeyed the rules."

The plan included new parking lots for RVs and vehicles, adding more than 1,650 parking spaces on campus.

Survey ranks School of Architecture in U.S. top 10

A new national survey ranks AU's School of Architecture in a tie for 10th in the U.S. with its counterparts at Columbia and Rice universities as one of the "Best Architecture Schools for 2003."

The survey also ranks the School of Architecture's Interior Architecture Program as the 13th best program in the country for interiors education.

"Obviously, we're very pleased to be recognized with such outstanding universities as Harvard, Cornell, Yale, Columbia and Rice, among others," said Daniel Bennett, Dean of the College of Architecture, Design and Construction. "It's an honor to be included with such nationally prominent universities, especially since only four of the top 10 listed Universities are public institutions. The majority are Ivy League schools. Being ranked as one of the top Schools of Architecture in the U.S. and Canada is a significant honor for the CADC and for Auburn University."

The survey was conducted during the summer and early fall by DesignIntelligence and the Design Futures Council, in conjunction with The Almanac of Architecture & Design. The survey team polled more than 300 leading interior design and architecture firms throughout the nation.

United Way surpasses goal for 2002

In one of its fastest United Way campaigns in recent history, AU surpassed its goal for 2002 before Thanksgiving. As of Dec. 3, the AU campaign had collected $129,206, which is 103.4 percent of this year's goal.

"We got off to a strong start this year and kept going strong, so we were able to meet our goal quickly," said campus campaign chairman Susie Hall of Auxiliary Services. "That is a tribute to an outstanding group of volunteers and to the sense of community that we have at Auburn."

In recent years, the campus campaign continued into December before reaching its goal. Hall said pay raises for faculty and staff enabled many people to increase their contributions this year.

Hall noted that United Way contributions stay in this area to help meet the needs of local charities and the local operations of national charities. "Thousands of people benefit from our United Way contributions," she said. "These contributions enable local organizations to provide humanitarian services that would probably not be available otherwise."

The campus campaign is part of the Lee County Campaign, which last week was at 98 percent of its 2002 goal of $850,000.

Educator appreciation
College of Engineering Dean Larry Benefield, right, and graduate student Will Barrett, second from left, joined interim College of Education Dean Frances Kochan, left, in honoring Engineering faculty member David Timm, third from left, in connection with Educator Appreciation Day.

College of Education honors Engineering faculty member

It is not often that one college honors a faculty member from another college, but the AU College of Education did that in November.

David Timm, an assistant professor in the College of Engineering, received an award and gift basket in connection with the College of Education's second annual Educator Appreciation Day. Timm was among 300 teachers at all levels of education in Alabama nominated by students, parents and alumni attending homecoming activities.

Brenda Barrett of Montgomery, whose son is a graduate student of Timm's, nominated the civil engineering faculty member. The college also presented a gift basket to the nominator. Items were donated by local businesses and members of the College of Education Advisory Council.

Will Barrett said his mother shares his appreciation for Timm's dedication to teaching. "Dr. Timm has such a genuine care for his students' success both inside and outside the classroom," he said. "It means a lot to me. It motivates me -- and anybody really -- to work harder because you know he's not only concerned about your research and work, but about you as a person."

FSU honors interim dean of AU College of Education

Frances Kochan, interim dean of the College of Education at AU, recently received the highest alumni honor -- the Distinguished Educator Award -- from the College of Education at Florida State University.

The award is presented annually to an alumnus or alumna who has demonstrated a proven strong commitment to students and to lifelong learning, is committed to enhancing his or her professional growth and that of others, is respected by peers, has contributed significant service to the field of education at any level in either a teaching or administrative capacity and has contributed to the betterment of his or her community.

After a successful career as a teacher, principal and superintendent in elementary and secondary education, Kochan earned a doctorate in educational foundations/adult education from Florida State in 1991. She then served the FSU College of Education as a faculty member and department chair before joining the Auburn faculty in 1994 in the Department of Educational Foundations, Leadership and Technology. She has also served as director of the College of Education's primary outreach unit, the Truman Pierce Institute.

Spirit of Excellence
AU Human Resources each month presents four Spirit of Excellence awards to recognize superior performance by professional and staff employees. Recipients for November, from left, were Dana Latham of Student Life, Debra Carey of Entomology and Plant Pathology, Robert McKinnell of AU Outreach and Tommy Hobson of Housing and Residence Life.

Harzem examines control techniques of dictators

Peter Harzem, Hudson Professor of Psychology at AU, recently presented papers at the Karl Popper Centenary Congress in Austria, and at the 25th anniversary conference of the International Society for Political Psychology in Germany.

At the Karl Popper congress, Harzem briefly reviewed some of the problems facing the contemporary science of psychology and the ways in which Popper's ideas concerning social sciences may contribute to addressing those problems. Popper is best known for his book, "The Open Society and its Enemies," which is generally recognized as the work that challenged the influence of Marxist-communist philosophies of social organization and led to Marxism's gradual decline.

At the conference of the International Society for Political Psychology, Harzem presented a paper on "Establishment and Maintenance of Political Power," which focused on how monstrous dictators such as Hitler and Stalin succeed in controlling millions of people and persuading or coercing them to commit horrific acts of cruelty that the majority would not ordinarily commit.

Sounds of Auburn to air on TV

During the holidays, television stations around the state will present a repeat of the recent Sounds of Auburn concert. More than 500 AU musicians and singers performed in the November concert, which was videotaped by University Relations.

The show will air locally over WSFA-12 TV, the NBC affiliate in Montgomery, from 5 p.m.-6 p.m. on New Year's Day. It also recently aired over WTVM-9 in Columbus, Ga. WAAY-31 in Huntsville will air the show at 1 p.m. on Dec. 15, and WTVY-4 in Dothan will present it at noon and 6 p.m. on Christmas Day.

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AU Report Editor: Roy Summerford. Contributing editors: Bob Lowry and David Grange. University Relations Executive Director: John Hachtel. The AU Report is the faculty/staff newsletter of Auburn University and is published by the Office of University Relations at Auburn University. Direct correspondence to AU Report, 23 Samford Hall, Auburn, Ala. 36849-5109. Telephone 334/844-9999. Electronic mail: summero@auburn.edu