Message from Interim President Walker

["President's Office" <auemail@groupwise1.duc.auburn.edu>]

August 8, 2001

Dear Members of the Auburn Community,

This past Friday, as you are probably aware, Auburn University filed
suit against SACS. I have received several questions about the purpose
of the suit, and this message attempts to respond to some of those
questions.

SACS' decision to proceed with a visit before receiving my response to
the complaint constituted a violation of SACS' own policies. It caused
me and our legal counsel to have serious concerns about the process. My
sole purpose in filing the lawsuit is to ensure fairness during the
visit by SACS.

I intend to approach this visit as a highly positive experience for
Auburn. Accordingly, I have instructed our legal counsel to ask the
federal district court for expedited handling of this matter. My strong
hope is for a rapid resolution of the issues we have raised.

On a different matter, I want to thank each of you who took time to
meet with Dr. Bill Weary last week. Between Tuesday and Friday he was
able to speak with representatives of many groups on campus, including
the leadership groups of students, faculty, and staff.

I have been encouraged by the feedback that has come to me concerning
Dr. Weary's approach to these meetings and his ability to promote
informed discussion of issues facing the university. He feels he learned
a great deal about Auburn, and I have invited him for a return visit in
September.

The visits by Bill Weary and also by the SACS visitors will serve us
well. They will certainly provide opportunities for open communication,
and they should help us take a fresh look at one another's concerns. I
will keep you advised of developments as I become aware of them.

Sincerely,

William F. Walker,
Interim President