As I watched the tow truck pull away from the scene of the wreck, the first thought in my mind was how I am going to get around for the next few weeks without my car. After two full weeks with no vehicle, I am now a satisfied user of Auburn University’s public transportation system.

I live close to campus, so I walk to class usually anyway. If it is raining however, I have the choice of jumping on the Tiger Transit that will take me right to the back door of the Haley Center.

The Tiger Transit has 19 routes that extend to almost any area in Auburn that students may live. They run continually all day from 7 a.m. until 10 p.m., so students usually only have to allow 20 minutes to get to campus.

“I have been riding the Tiger Transit back and forth to campus since my freshman year,” said Joey Bacon, a junior at Auburn. “It has been really reliable and convenient, especially when it is raining since it drops off right at Haley.”

The Transit system even has routes that will take students to Wal-Mart or Winn Dixie for grocery shopping. The Tiger Transit Web site contains adequate information about all of the routes and stops.

During the normal hours of operations, the Tiger Transit system has 44 buses running through the various routes. Twelve lines begin and end at the Haley Center, which is a central location on Auburn’s campus. There are a few other lines that begin and end at Terrell Dining Hall, the Quad, the Stadium Deck and the Mell Street stop in front of the library.

“I used to drive to campus, but now I ride the Transit since it is really hard to find parking because of all of the construction going on,” said Nickole Sweeney, an Auburn student.

The other form of transportation that Auburn offers free of charge is the Security Shuttle. I have used “Dan the van man,” as many students refer to it, frequently over the last two weeks.

The A.U. Night Security Shuttle Service runs from 6 p.m. to 7 a.m. every day of the week. This is the most convenient form of transportation throughout the night. The drivers will take you anywhere on campus that you need to go. I have been using it to go back and forth from my apartment to the library.

The Security Shuttle is operated by the A.U. Department of Public Safety, so all of the drivers are trustworthy and reliable.

Auburn University has produced a consistent and dependable form of transportation for students who may not have a vehicle while in college. There is even an online tracker system that allows for the specific location of any bus to be known. Many students access this through a cell phone which lets them know how long the wait for a bus might be.

For more information about the Auburn University Tiger Transit system or the A.U. Night Security Shuttle Service, visit the Web site at http://www.auburn.edu/administration/parking_transit/transit/index.html.




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WEGL 91.1 FM, Auburn University’s student-run radio station, is holding the first WEGLfest on Saturday, April 25. The day will consist of five bands that have agreed to donate their time to benefit the “War on Hunger” program. All proceeds from the day will go directly to the charity.


The concert will offer the familiar sounds of local artists and a new beat from different bands coming from all over the southeast. The day is scheduled to start at 3 p.m. and run until 10 p.m. in the AU Student Center Ballroom.


“We hope to get a good turn-out for our first annual WEGLfest,” said Lindsay O’neal, a member of the WEGL staff. “These artists were generous enough to donate their time for such a great cause, and we hope that Auburn students feel the same way.”


“War on Hunger” is a program that links Auburn University with the United Nations World Food Programme. Auburn is the first academic institution to partner with the World Food Programme. “War on Hunger” was started in 2004 and has thrived on Auburn’s campus throughout the last four years.


The World Food Programme is the largest humanitarian organization in the world and has provided food to an average of 90 million people in at least 80 of the world’s poorest countries.


The “War on Hunger” campaign stands behind the slogan, “Uniting the fighting spirit of the eagle with the compassion of the human touch.” Because there are 24,000 people that die every day from hunger and related causes, the “War on Hunger” campaign helps out the WFP in any way that it can.


“I am excited to be a part of such an influential organization,” said O’Neal. “This concert gives us an opportunity to raise money for such a great cause, but also have fun while doing it.”


WEGLfest is open to students, faculty and citizens of Auburn of all ages. People are encouraged to bring their friends or family members to the concert. There is a $3 entrance fee and a chance to win one of several door prizes, including a ticket to the Bonnaroo Music Festival.


Some of the bands and artists that will be playing throughout the day include Tony Brook of Auburn, Red Mouth of Muscle Shoals, Weak Music for Thomas of Montgomery, Three Happening Guys of Montevallo, and Magnolia Sons of Lake Charles, La.


“Everyone at WEGL 91.1 FM is anticipating a great afternoon because of the musical talent that will be playing,” said O’Neal. “Even though most people have probably not heard of some of the bands, I have listened to some of their songs already, and I am really impressed. I hope that everyone decides to come for the concert because it should be a great time.”


Look for more information about WEGLfest on campus starting at the beginning of April. There will be signs all around campus, concourse promotion and university group meeting visits.


Find out more about the War on Hunger campaign by visiting its Web site: http://www.auburn.edu/event/hunger/publish.php?doc_id=1 or e-mail at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).


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Racial, gender and ethnic diversity are increasingly becoming more common in leadership roles. The Association for Education in Journalism & Mass Communication (AEJMC) has created a fellowship to prepare and mentor academics across the nation. Dr. Brigitta Brunner, an associate professor in the Department of Communication and Journalism at Auburn, has been chosen to participate in the year-long fellowship.

The Journalism and Mass Communication Leadership Institute for Diversity (JLID), a sector of the AEJMC, selects nine associate or full professors interested in administration. These participants come from various universities or colleges across the United States. The institute’s objective is to “offer a year-long program to identify, recruit, mentor and train future leaders and administrators.”

“JLID is a very interesting program,” said Brunner. “It is meant to help minorities and women who might be interested in leadership positions to learn more about what it means to be a leader, department chair, dean or something along those lines.”

Each member is provided with a mentor for guidance and support throughout the year. The participant and the mentor keep in contact through telephone and email. There is also a week-long visit from the mentor to the participant’s home campus. Brunner’s mentor is from the Virginia Commonwealth University.

There are several workshop sessions throughout the year. This is a chance for the nine members to come together and cover an array of administrative issues.

“In December we met in Louisville and talked about leadership styles and personality traits,” said Brunner. “This offered great insight into why people may react to a situation in a certain way, how they think differently than us and how they may process information differently. Learning this information about myself was empowering.”

Next week the group will meet in Chicago, Ill. They will be discussing accreditation. This will be especially useful information to bring back to Auburn University to help the communication and journalism department through the next cycle of accreditation said Brunner.

The final workshop will be held in August. It will be in Boston, and the session will be focused on fundraising.

The 2009 JLID group consists of three men and six women. Four of the members are minorities and the other five are Caucasian. The nine members keep in touch through email, Facebook, Twitter, and more in between workshops.

“There are only nine people chosen nationally to participate, so I am really quite honored to be taking part in this organization,” said Brunner.

This program is an opportunity to learn about and accept the growing number of women and minorities in leadership roles. Brunner will bring back and share with Auburn the insights that she has learned from the organization. Brunner said that she would be interested in taking on a leadership role in the future. She will be prepared for the position because of the experience and knowledge that she has gained through JLID.

The JLID program was founded in 2000 and was created by AEJMC President, Dr. Marilyn Kern-Foxworth. It has received funding from the Ethics and Excellence in Journalism Foundation and is based out of South Carolina. For more information about the AEJMC or JLID, visit the Web site: http://aejmc.org/_org/_jlid/index.php.


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Heartstrings has been an Auburn icon for more than 20 years. Now is the time that we must say goodbye to the downtown boutique and welcome the new store, Wrapsody.

On Feb. 28, 2009, the employees of Heartstrings will flip around the “closed” sign on the door for the last time. The next time that the building will be open to the public, Wrapsody will be a part of the downtown Auburn businesses.

There are about 15 current employees at Heartstrings. The new owners, Sarah Brown and Terry Shea, have decided to keep all of the same girls on staff.

“We are excited that Ms. Thrash is getting her chance to retire,” said Mary Beth Walton, an employee of Heartstrings. “I am very thankful for Sarah and Terry, the new owners, to keep all of us on staff, and I’m thrilled to work for them. I’m sure that we will all miss Ms. Thrash though.”

The major difference between Heartstrings and Wrapsody will be the amount of home décor available. Heartstrings carried a large amount of bedding, frames and other various home decorations. Wrapsody will be focused more on jewelry.

“We will be carrying a lot of updated jewelry more geared toward the younger crowd,” said Hillary Dickey, a long-term employee of Heartstrings.

There are some similarities in terms of the merchandise that Heartstrings and Wrapsody will share, however. Vera Bradley, Brighton and Heartstrings Enterprises will still be kept as the main sellers in the store.

“We are going to still carry Vera Bradley, Brighton and Heartstrings Enterprises, which is our engraving company,” said Dickey. “Those are our top-three sellers, and the new owners want to make sure to keep them available for everyone.”

Wrapsody will also be keeping the supply of Greek merchandise since Heartstrings has been the main provider of Greek products for 22 years to Auburn University.

During the month of closed doors, the staff will be working non-stop to clean and transform the building to fit the personality of the new store. Fresh paint will cover the walls, new carpet will be put in and different displays will be set up.

“The closing of Heartstrings is bittersweet. We are sad to see Heartstrings leave Auburn, but are really excited about the new store opening up,” said Dickey.

Although Auburn is losing a downtown icon, Wrapsody should be able to jump in and fill Heartstrings’ shoes.

“I am glad that another store is opening up immediately in that building,” said Barbara Whately, a downtown store owner. “Heartstrings will be missed, but the new owners seem extremely nice. They have both come down to introduce themselves to me and they
wanted to make sure that they would not be starting any unnecessary competition with the merchandise that they will carry.”

Heartstrings has been open for 22 years. Many women come into the store and reminisce about coming to Heartstrings when they were in college years ago said Dickey. Although Heartstrings left big shoes to fill, the new owners said they are optimistic about the business.


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Did you know that Auburn’s campus has four miles of hiking trails and boardwalks? Although it is not located close to the concourse, the “Louise Kreher Forest Ecology Preserve” is considered part of Auburn’s campus and has proved to be a useful “outdoor classroom.”

The Preserve is an expansive four-mile piece of land containing various hiking trails. All of the trails are marked with memorable names, which make for easy navigation. “Reptile Rest” leads to “Wildflower Loop” and the “Tree Walk” flows into “Canopy Way.”

There is also a pond with a few small boardwalks and benches which are perfect for a picnic. In the north section of the land there is a butterfly garden and a barn for anyone’s enjoyment.

The Preserve is free for all students since it is considered part of campus. For anyone in the community who wishes to come to the land, there is a yearly fee of $35. The Preserve depends solely on donations and the small membership fees for 90percent of all of its expenses.

There is only one officially employed staff member, Jennifer Lolly. Everyone else involved is a volunteer.

The School of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences uses the Preserve as an environmental learning laboratory. However, it is meant for all students.

Louise Kreher was an education professor at Auburn University until the mid 1970s. She and her husband, Allen Turner, wanted to donate land that had been in the Kreher family for generations to the university. They dedicated the land as a forest ecology preserve to Auburn in 1993.

The main facility where the office is located was made possible because of a grant from the “Alabama Forest Forever Foundation” in 2004. It features a large covered area with several benches and restrooms.

Almost every issue of the magazines, “Audubon” and “Birds and Blooms,” is available for anyone to read. There are several guides for how to bird watch, and there are also available binoculars to rent for the afternoon.

Another great attraction is the amphitheater. It has several rows of seating built into a hill and made of stones with a stage in the middle. The amphitheater is a great place for any outside performance.

The mission of the Preserve is “to provide programs, experiences, nature trails and natural habitats for education study and relaxation while creating an atmosphere of discovery and stewardship toward our natural world.”

In the summer, the Preserve provides several small sessions of a day-camp for younger children. They are taught to appreciate nature and everything that it has to offer. They also receive hands-on experience with different species from Madagascar hissing cockroaches to tarantulas.

“I am a member of the Outdoor Adventure Club, and I came to check out the Preserve for our next hike,” said Lindsay O’Neal. “This seems like a great untapped resource that students should really start taking advantage of.”

“The trails were easily marked, which is helpful when you are trying to plot a course in a new area,” said O’Neal. “This is a perfect location for the most skilled hiker or someone less experienced who just wants to spend an afternoon outside.”


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Auburn University will soon be acknowledged in low-orbit space. The Auburn University Student Space Program (AUSSP) is currently building the first student-made satellite in Alabama, known as AubieSat-1, to be launched into space.

The AUSSP was established in 2002 by Dr. J-M Wersinger of the physics department. With the help of mentors, the students design, build, launch and operate spacecraft. As a member of the National Space Grant Student Satellite Program, the AUSSP receives funding from NASA.

“[AubieSat-1] is the first student built satellite to be sent into low-orbit space by a university in Alabama,” said Grant Moore, a sophomore member of the AUSSP.

The CubeSat is an aluminum alloy cube which has 4-inch sides and weighs about 2.2 pounds. After being thoroughly tested, the satellite will be sent to Russia for a launch on the Russian ICBM. This is hoped to happen within the next school year.

The satellite will measure the Earth’s magnetic field and transmit images of Earth to the ground station located in the physics department. Students are responsible for making most of the electronics on AubieSat-1.

“Right now I’m working on electrical power system, otherwise known as EPS, and our job is to gather power from solar cells and supply it to the rest of the satellite,” said Moore.

Along with the EPS, there are seven other teams working on AubieSat-1. Each team is responsible for a specific function of the satellite. There is a systems engineering team which makes sure that every part works well together and sees that all mission requirements are met.

The “Ground Station Team” designs, builds and operates all of the ground equipment including all antennas and computers. The “Communications Team” is in charge of the antennas and transceivers. The “Command and Data Handling Team” designs the command and data architecture and circuit board layout and also programs the processor.

The “Structures Team” oversees the structure of the satellite and makes sure that it meets all requirements. The “Thermal Team” makes sure that both the internal and external structures meet the thermal requirements. Finally, the “Payload Team” develops hardware components needed to accompany payload.

Each group must stay organized and efficient. The work and progress of one team affects the overall advancement of the project. All of the teams work under a systems engineer and a project manager. These positions are all held by students. In charge of the entire program is Wersinger, the program manager.

The satellite will generate power by solar cells that cover the whole cube to guarantee power from the sun and two lithium batteries. It is able to measure and store temperature, voltage, current and payload data from different sensors on the satellite because of an onboard microprocessor.

“I thought it sounded like a really interesting project to work on because we are combining electronics and space,” said Moore, an electrical engineering major.

This satellite will put Auburn University on the map as far as collegiate space programs are concerned.

For more information, check out the AUSSP Web site: space.auburn.edu/aubiesat-1/.


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Ciao! How would you like to experience an entire semester in Italy? Nineteen Auburn students will embark on
their journey overseas this month to the country known for its rich history.

The College of Human Sciences developed a program known as the Joseph S. Bruno Auburn Abroad in Italy. This
program allows students of any major to travel with the safety of an Auburn group and mentor. The experience these
students gain will open the door to endless possibilities in the future.

Throughout the semester, the students will attend classes and gain 16 hours of credit and an International
minor. They will participate in various guided field trips outside of the classroom and also have time allotted for
self-exploration of the city.

“I am so grateful that I have this opportunity to live in Italy for three months and enrich my knowledge of
a new culture,” said Ashley Pavey, a junior interior design major. “Even though I will be completely out of my
comfort zone, I am ready to accept each new experience and grow as a person.”

Auburn’s sister-city, Ariccia, will be the place the Auburn students call home for the semester. Ariccia is
located just 20 miles outside of Rome and offers Italy’s famous architecture, cuisine, literature and art. The
students will experience true authenticity because very few in the small town speak English.

Along with day trips to Rome, Venice, Milan, Tuscany, Florence and a few others, the students will also have
free weekends to plan other trips to various countries.

“For Spring Break my friends and I are going to Dublin, Ireland, for Saint Patrick’s Day,” said Pavey.
“Since most places are just a train ride away, I want to take advantage of the time that I have in Europe and see as
many places that I can.”

During the week the students will spend time in the classroom learning about everything the Italian culture
has to offer. From cooking classes to scavenger hunts around the city, no two days are alike.

The program lists four goals of the trip: broaden the students’ worldviews, increase the students’
appreciation for cultures outside of their own, increase the students’ understanding of the worldwide quality of
life issues and develop the students’ ability to function in a global community.

With an international faculty and staff, the students will gain knowledge in several areas. They will
receive formal training in the areas of Consumer Affairs, Human Development and Family Studies and Nutrition and
Food Science. They will acquire understanding of these subjects through various lectures, field trips, research
projects and learning activities.

The semester is structured so that each week is focused on a different era in Italian History. The students
will cover the Middle Ages, the Renaissance, Baroque, Modern Italy and Contemporary Italy.

The Joseph S. Bruno Abroad in Italy is a program dedicated to the extension of Auburn students’ knowledge of
international affairs. The program produces well-rounded individuals who are accepting of other cultures.

For additional information, check out the website: http://www.humsci.auburn.edu/italy/chs_au_italy.php.


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Five. Four. Three. Two. One. Time to make a resolution! As many of us counted down to midnight on New Year’s Eve, we also counted down to the launch of our resolutions.

The new year brings a fresh start, clean slate and new beginning. This is a perfect time to make a promise to yourself to kick that bad habit, exercise more or simply spend more time with your family. No matter what it is, most people continue to make resolutions every year.

“I make a couple of resolutions every year,” said Mark Johnson, a junior at Auburn. “Even if I only keep them for a couple of months, it feels good to start the year off with goals.”

According to usa.gov, the most popular resolutions are lose weight, manage debt, save money, get a better job and get fit. Although these are things that a majority of people strive for, resolutions are not limited. The most important thing about resolutions is that they mean something to you, whether they are common or creative.

“I decided this year to focus on a strict workout plan,” said Johnson. “Even though it may be difficult to stay on track, I’m going to try my hardest.”

There are a couple of problems with resolutions. A majority of people do not keep them even through the month of January. They may also cause a sense of stress and failure when the resolutions are not achieved. Some may feel that there is not enough time to commit to the resolution. Others may not be able to afford things involved with reaching the resolution. For example, gym memberships or personal trainers are expensive. Finances may hold someone back from achieving his goals.

According to womenshealth.gov, there are three simple steps to keeping a new year resolution. First of all, you must be committed. The resolution should be something that you feel passionate about. Secondly, know that there will be set-backs. Plan ahead, and do not get discouraged if you feel like you have failed. Start again the next day. Finally, track your progress. By keeping a journal you can see your success on paper.

“I decided to make a resolution this year to get better grades,” said Haley Andress, a pre-pharmacy major. “I bought an agenda and now write everything down, which seems to be working.”

This year make a resolution to keep your resolutions. Whatever your resolution may be, find the time to incorporate it into your daily schedule. After a couple of weeks it should become a habit.

Resolutions should be realistic and attainable. They are simply goals. You should set check points twice a month to examine your progress. The smaller increments of time make it seem easier to reach rather than facing an entire year. Reward yourself when you reach a check point. This offers incentive during the time in between.


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