February 2007

War Eagle and welcome to eCommons, the
electronic version of
Auburn Commons especially for AU Alumni .

Here's a look at what is happening on campus
this month:
 
 
 
Actor Ryan Phillippe, left, portrays Auburn graduate Eric O'Neill, right, in "Breach," a movie about O'Neill's role in helping capture spy Robert Hanssen. (Photo courtesy of Universal Studios)
 
 

RICHARDSON APPOINTS LEADERS IN AU'S INSTITUTE FOR NATURAL RESOURCES
Auburn University President Ed Richardson has made three appointments to lead AU’s newly created Institute for Natural Resources, naming Larry Fillmer as executive director, Steve Taylor as head of its Center for Bioenergy and Bioproducts, and Graeme Lockaby as head of its Water Resources Center.
http://www.ocm.auburn.edu/ecommons/feb07/story1.html

AU PROFESSOR’S BOOK ON NEIL ARMSTRONG HONORED BY CHOICE MAGAZINE
Auburn University Professor James R. Hansen’s book, "First Man: The Life of Neil A. Armstrong," has been named by Choice magazine as one of the Outstanding Academic Books of 2006. Choice, the publication of the Association of College and Research Libraries, listed Hansen’s book in its January issue among the top 10 percent of more than 7,000 works reviewed last year.
http://www.ocm.auburn.edu/ecommons/feb07/story2.html

AU ALUM'S ROLE IN CAPTURING SPY INSPIRES MOTION PICTURE "BREACH"
A major motion picture set for nationwide release this Friday tells the story of an Auburn graduate who played the central role in capturing one of the most notorious spies ever on American soil.
http://www.ocm.auburn.edu/ecommons/feb07/story3.html

STUDY LINKS CHILDREN’S SLEEP PROBLEMS TO SCHOOL PROBLEMS, ESPECIALLY IN AFRICAN AMERICANS
A new study led by researchers at Auburn University shows that African American children and children from lower socioeconomic backgrounds fare worse than their counterparts when their sleep is disrupted.
http://www.ocm.auburn.edu/ecommons/feb07/story4.html

AU ALUM WHITSON, PRESS SECRETARY TO LAURA BUSH, SPEAKS ON CAMPUS
Susan Dryden Whitson, Auburn University alumna and press secretary to first lady Laura Bush, spoke at AU as the College of Education’s fifth Keystone Leader-in-Residence.
http://www.ocm.auburn.edu/ecommons/feb07/story4a.html

AUBURN EARNS $100,000 SCHOLARSHIP FOR WINNING THE PONTIAC GAME CHANGING PERFORMANCE OF THE YEAR AWARD
Tre Smith's blocked punt return for a touchdown during Auburn's 27-17 victory over No.2 Florida Oct. 14 earned Auburn the "Pontiac Game Changing Performance of the Year" award. Auburn University was announced as the winner of a $100,000 donation to the school's general scholarship fund from Pontiac during halftime of the BCS National Championship Game for receiving the most on-line votes for the award.
http://www.ocm.auburn.edu/ecommons/feb07/story5.html

AU THEATRE TO HOST ALABAMA SHAKESPEARE FESTIVAL’S PRODUCTION OF “GEE’S BEND”
The Alabama Shakespeare Festival’s world premiere production of “Gee’s Bend,” a drama with music based on the life of a rural Alabama quiltmaker, will come to Auburn University Theatre on Sunday, Feb. 25, at 2:30 p.m.
http://www.ocm.auburn.edu/ecommons/feb07/story6.html

AU RAPTOR CENTER RECEIVES CUSTOMIZED VAN FOR EDUCATIONAL BIRDS
Auburn University’s Southeastern Raptor Center has received a specially built van to transport its birds of prey, such as War Eagle VII, to educational programs across the Southeast.
http://www.ocm.auburn.edu/ecommons/feb07/story7.html

OFFICE OF DIVERSITY AND MULTICULTURAL AFFAIRS ANNOUNCES "DIVERSITY NEWS" PUBLICATION
The Office of Diversity and Multicultural Affairs has announced the publication of "Diversity News," a newsletter to be published each semester highlighting the office's programs, activities and staff. The first issue can be read at www.auburn.edu/academic/provost/odma/diversity-news.html.


 
ESPECIALLY FOR ALUMNI





SPIRIT OF AUBURN CREDIT CARD BENEFITS SCHOLARSHIPS
You can make a difference by using the Spirit of Auburn credit card when making your normal, everyday charges. Every time you use the card, it benefits talented, deserving students by providing them with an AUsome Auburn educational experience, through the new Spirit of Auburn scholarship program. The credit card program will fund 500 new merit-based scholarships for fall 2007 incoming freshmen. To apply, click here. We can all help the students who have worked so hard to earn this opportunity.

REQUEST FOR NOMINATIONS FOR AUBURN ALUMNI ASSOCIATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The 2007 Nominating Committee of the Auburn Alumni Association is soliciting nominations from alumni and friends of Auburn University. There are four director positions to be filled for four-year terms who will be installed this fall. All candidates must be Life Members of the Auburn Alumni Association. For more information visit www.aualum.org/news/index.html#nominate.

SHARE YOUR FAVORITE AUBURN FOOTBALL MEMORIES
Did you spend fall weekends on the Plains, shouting “War Eagle” and “Bodda Getta”? If so, we want to see your favorite photos or video clips from Auburn football seasons of the past. Photos (in JPG format) and videos (in MOV, WMV, AVI, or MPG format) should be emailed to alumweb@auburn.edu by March 31. The Auburn Alumni Football Follies will be posted on our Web site, www.aualum.org, from April 15 through June 15, so check back often to see your submission. The winner of the best display of Auburn football season spirit (as judged by a committee of three from the Alumni Affairs staff) will receive an Auburn T-shirt.

DID YOU KNOW?
More than 100 Auburn Club leaders from across the nation spent Feb. 9-10 back home on the Plains for the Auburn Club Leadership Conference. There are 95 active Auburn clubs who help raise valuable scholarship funds in their hometown communities, and enjoy myriad networking opportunities along the way. For more information on how to get involved in your local Auburn club, go to www.aualum.org/clubs.

Nearly 16,000 Auburn alumni participate in the ALUM Network…an online community where you can post pictures and update your records. Members of the Auburn Alumni Association can also search for old classmates and roommates. To get started, register at www.aualum.org/aoc.

The ALUM Career Center is a great place for you to start the new year off right…join more than 100 postings today! Upload your resume and start searching for a job…or upload your job and start searching for an Auburn grad. www.aualum.org/aoc

Auburn Magazine is published this month! All Auburn Alumni Association members receive a complimentary copy in the mail…look for yours. This issue, we uncover the behind-the-scenes story of Eric O’Neill, Auburn graduate who, upon graduation, joined the FBI and was instrumental in solving the largest security breach in US History involving Robert Hansen. The Universal Pictures movie, “Breach,” is the true story of O’Neill and is released this month nationwide. To join the Auburn Alumni Association and start receiving your copy of Auburn Magazine, go to www.aualum.org today.


 
E-Commons is an official electronic publication of Auburn University and is produced by the AU
Office of Communications and
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Please send all other correspondence to commons@auburn.edu