1/13/03

'SURVIVING WEST POINT' PROGRAM INVOLVES TWO AU PROS

AUBURN -- "Are you tough enough to survive a work out led by former West Point drill instructors?"

That's the question that appears on the website of the National Geographic television channel, which is expanding its coverage to New York this weekend.

Auburn University's connection to National Geographic's "Surviving West Point" program is Bonnie Stauffer, the 5-foot-3-inch, 125-pound dynamo that some called "Dr. Bouncy" because of her buoyant, bubbling personality and approach to physical fitness.

But Stauffer, now associate director for AU's Outreach Program Office and Elderhostel Coordinator, was for 14 years the director of upperclass physical education at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point

That's where she earned another nickname -- "Dr. Death."

"Bonnie Stauffer is one of the most energetic and fit people at Auburn," said David Wilson, associate provost and vice president for University Outreach at AU. "When she was at West Point, she was quite renowned for putting cadets through a very rigorous physical fitness regimen.

"I'm told she was very deserving of her nickname, 'Dr. Death.' We are proud of Dr. Stauffer's involvement in this national event. My advice to her is to take it easy on the participants."

New Yorkers can test their strength and endurance as Stauffer and her husband Bob, another former West Point physical education instructor, conduct a military-style workout to promote the National Geographic Channel's series "Surviving West Point."

The event will be Saturday and Sunday (Jan. 18-19) at Chelsea Piers, a state-of-the-art, seven-block fitness facility in New York City. The "Surviving West Point" Challenge is free to the public, but attendance is limited. Interested participants can register at www.chelseapiers.com/sc.

Bob Stauffer, who served as a visiting assistant professor in AU's Department of Health and Human Performance from 1996 to 2002, was a full professor and director of research in the department of Physical Education at West Point from 1970 until 1994. He was the first civilian in the academy's history to be appointed full professor.

"Bonnie and I are excited about the opportunity to present the 'Surviving West Point' Physical Challenge in New York City," said Bob Stauffer.

"This activity will be so much fun for us and will provide me with a chance to relive the 25 marvelous years I taught at the United States Military Academy," he said. "It's not every day that you get an opportunity to revisit a professionally exciting and wonderful time in your life."

But Bob Stauffer was not the only one to break new ground on the drill fields of West Point.

Both Bob and Bonnie were recognized as "Distinguished Educators" by the academy, but Bonnie was the first woman to earn that distinction in the Department of Physical Education.

"We have been preparing and training to make this program as realistic as possible," said Bonnie Stauffer. "For our program, we are using some classic West Point/military activities for the four 100-minute classes we will be teaching," she said.

Those who accept the "challenge" can look forward to conditioning drills, grass drills, guerilla drills, an obstacle course, which includes rope and cargo net climbing and a sandbag weight training circuit, said Bonnie Stauffer. "These will be followed by an intense eight- to 10-minute push-up and sit-up improvement regimen and/or intense relay activities which will take place in an indoor sand volleyball court.

"We were asked to be a part of this promotional, I believe, because of our past experiences, and because they (National Geographic Channel) liked the idea of having 'Dr. Bouncy' or 'Dr. Death' available to teach. We feel that we are not only representing the United States Military Academy, but Auburn University as well."

So as Bob Stauffer brushes up on the repetitious "sing/yell" cadence calls, his wife is perfecting her rope-climbing technique. And while there may be some so-called "macho men" in New York City, who think they can outdo any woman, Bob has a message for them.

"They can't keep up with Bonnie," he said. "I've seen it all before."

# # #

jan03:AU-westpoint

CONTACT: Outreach Program Office, 334/844-5100.