Thanks, trustees, but we're not done yet
Thanks, trustees, but we're not done yet
The University will switch to semesters in the fall of 2000, and there is nothing we can do about it now. Since the change is going to be made, The Plainsman wants to thank the members of the Board of Trustees who supported quarters. Lowell Barron, Jimmy Samford and Jack Venable each made strong arguments for quarters, the loudest argument being that none could find a significant reason to switch.
The Plainsman agrees.
Barron asked during the meeting who was pushing for the change.
"The students aren't pushing this. The faculty aren't pushing this. Where is this coming from?" he asked.
Each seemed to agree that Auburn was changing for the sake of change which The Plainsman feels is not a good thing. Change is good when it is needed, but with no overwhelming argument for change other than because everyone else is doing it, there really is no reason for change.
The Plainsman would also like to thank SGA President Tom Bingham for standing up for the student voice. During the meeting Bingham told the trustees there were some students who wanted semesters, but a majority favored quarters. He also expressed concerns for increased class size and loss of diversity in curriculum.
The trustees had an opportunity to listen to the student voice through Bingham and The Plainsman presenting its ballots and poll results. The members knew how the students felt. Unfortunately, the trustees felt the University would be better off on the semester system.
A bigger question remains.
Basically the board is a big tangled-up mess.
Currently, three board members are sitting on the board without being confirmed by the Alabama State Legislature, a process which under law must occur for the trustees to legally stay on the board.
Paul Spina replaced R.C. Bamberg when he died two years ago. Phil Richardson, backed by ALFA and its money, replaced Bobby Lowder and is sitting on the board along with Albert McDonald by order of Attorney General Jeff Sessions.
The Alabama Supreme Court is to decide in the near future whether it is legal for these new members to sit on the board without confirmation.
So if the Supreme Court finds it unconstitutional for these men to sit on the board, will their decisions be nullified?
That question was posed to University President William V. Muse after the meeting, and Muse basically said, "No comment."
So maybe there is hope the University will remain on the quarter system. It is a sad situation, though, that it might take a long-standing power struggle and a Supreme Court ruling to reverse the decision. If the new members appointed don't reverse the decision, so be it. But there is a chance.
So as far as quarters go, The Plainsman concedes the University will switch to semesters and will do everything possible to inform students of the changes going on Ñ for now. But there is a faint glimmer of hope, and it lies in the hands of the Alabama Supreme Court.
Whale kills three in tragic accident
Andy O'Donnell
Assistant Web Designer
I am here to tell you a story about a little whale named Joe Joe and his incredible journey. But while I'd like to talk to you about Joe Joe, I'm afraid that his story will have to wait for another time. Actually the Joe Joe thing was just a line to get rid of all those people who just skim through the paper. I hate those people.
Anyway, the topic this week is dating. We columnists try to avoid this topic because if we say the wrong thing WE WILL NEVER AGAIN GET ANOTHER DATE AGAIN. But I figured, who reads these things anyway, so what the hey.
Because dating is such a broad topic and I'm too lazy to cover most of it, we're gonna talk about the third biggest hurdle in the quest for the date. The first two hurdles are being ugly and having no personality.
The third biggest hurdle would be making the first call. While this may not seem that bad, especially if you know the person, it is still many people's worst fear. Why? Because while some of us can write what we feel, we have trouble saying it.
For example: "I don't believe we have been formally introduced. My name is Andy. It is a pleasure to meet you," comes out more like "Hi, my name Andy, you pretty, I go to Auburn, you want some of my twinky?"
Let's look at the worst case scenario. Through a friend, you met the person you want to call, and you got their number from their friend's friend, either because you were too much of a wuss to ask them for it or because you wrote it on your hand or something edible. Also, you met at a party when you were drunk, but you remember that they were "really fine" and that you made a "connection," which, in your drunken state, could have meant that they asked you where the bathroom was.
OK, you've got the digits Ñ what next? Time to prepare to make the call. Here are a few pointers:
1. Never make a list of what you're going to say. If you do, you're a big dork. I've seen someone try this, and it wasn't pretty.
2. Know the person's marital status.
3. Prepare yourself for what to do if her boyfriend answers the phone. If he does, tell him to giver her the message that last night was "magic" and that you never knew a ceiling fan could be used like that.
(More on this in next week's column: relationship sabotage.)
The first sentence you say when you call will be the most important. So here are a few that you should stay away from:
1. "Hey, you don't know me, but I've been following you for
a couple of weeks."
2. "Hey baby, tell me what you're wearing."
3. "Hi. How ya doin? Go over to your window. See the guy with the night vision goggles? That's me!"
4. "Hi my name's Andy. Want to hear a story about a whale?"
If you follow these simple rules, you'll still probably get nervous and screw up, but that's OK because as one famous guy once said, "It is better to have something somethinged than to never have somethinged at all" or something like that.
One last thingÑ if anyone has any bright ideas for columns, e-mail me at odonnja@mail.auburn.edu because as you can see, I'm really hurting for stuff to write about. I mean come on, I opened with a whale named Joe Joe for God's sake.
