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10 DEC 03: CIVIL WAR EAGLE
Auburn University was put on a year's probation Tuesday by an important college accrediting organization, the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. So to put this in language most Auburn grads can understand - A.U. got SAC'ed.
SACS put Auburn University on probation for five specific reasons. The association's report did NOT list those reasons - but you can't help noticing there's one for every trustee being urged to resign.
SACS investigated Auburn for two years, amid reports the board of trustees "micro-managed" the university. Apparently the trustees didn't do that with everything - because microbes made birds sick at the Raptor Center.
A statement issued by Auburn University said it is "surprised and disappointed" by the SACS probation. Someone should check the original statement to see if it has liquid paper on it - with "SACS decision" replacing "football season."
The Auburn statement notes the university still has full accreditation by SACS -- which means it still can get corporate donations from Sak's in Birmingham.
(And throughout the administration building, Auburn officials keep muttering about why no one's mentioning the undefeated basketball team....)
The year of probation was announced only hours after Auburn's chapter of the "American Association of University Professors" approved a resolution, calling for several top officials to resign. Isn't it amazing how so many college educators strive for the protection of tenure, but they don't want trustees or presidents to have it?
Did you hear Dr. Virginia O'Leary explain why the university professors want a shake-up at Auburn? She specifically mentioned the "clandestine trip to Louisville" to meet with a football coach. She gave herself away as a professor right there - because everybody else in Auburn is calling it a SECRET trip.
The vote was 45-1 by Auburn University professors to demand the resignation of not only several trustees, but President William Walker and Athletic Director David Housel. We presume the one who voted no is being recruited by officials at Alabama -- or some other Southeastern Conference school....
Yet as storm clouds grew around William Walker's office, there was also news Tuesday that the President and Athletic Director will talk with Tommy Tuberville about extending the football coach's contract. They'd better hurry and lock that in - because the way things are going, Tuberville is going to wind up as Auburn President.
Believe it or not, this week's meeting about Tommy Tuberville's contract will take place NOT in Auburn - but in New York. This is a clever move for two reasons. The talks will occur hundreds of miles from the Alabama news media - and the big college football issue in New York is whether Notre Dame's coach should be fired.
Officials at Auburn say potential football recruits are raising questions about whether Tommy Tuberville will stay there for years to come. As long as reporters from the Opelika-Auburn News can follow Athletic Director David Housel's every move, the chances are good....
Now other highlights from a quite temperate Tuesday....
+ Columbus Council approved a new three-year lease for the arena football Wardogs. The team will get half the concession money from the Civic Center - so maybe now the portions for your money will be lineman-sized, instead of kicker-sized.
(Now will the Columbus Council kindly arrange new deals for the other three pro teams in town? At least the Wardogs have a contract, so you can hear their games on radio....)
+ Columbus Police announced they have an urgent need for bilingual officers, especially ones who can speak Spanish. After all, Taco Bell never posts details about the items on its menu anymore.
+ Richard Ussery stepped aside as Chief Executive Officer at T-SYS, but will remain with the company as Chairman of the Board. After what Ussery accomplished at the former Total System Services, his next goal may be to change his title to C-BOD.
+ Voters in Phenix City rejected two proposed changes in city government by wide margins. But then again, only about 2,000 people citywide cast ballots -- so most people apparently rejected the current government as well.
+ Georgia's basketball team was embarrassed at home, losing to Winthrop by 20 points. Some Bulldog fans went online after the game, to send "all is forgiven" e-mails to former coaches Jim Harrick and Ron Jirsa.