The Auburn Plainsman Thursday, April 21, 2011
A Spirit That Is Not Afraid www.theplainsman.com
Vol. 117, Issue 27, 20 Pages
UPC cancels annual spring concert Eric Austin Managing Editor
The University Program Council’s stage will remain silent this spring as the concert set for next Tuesday evening was officially cancelled Wednesday. “We just got an email from Taio Cruz’s agent saying he canceled,” said Brittany D’Angelo, UPC director of major entertainment. “There were no specifics about it; nothing more was said.”
Following notification of Cruz’s cancellation, an online survey was quickly put together Monday to decide if Neon Trees, who were set to open for Cruz, should still come to campus. “In order to have a good concert we needed at least 2,500 students attending,” D’Angelo said. “So we needed 6,000 people to fill out a survey online and out of those 6,000, we needed at least 2,500 to say yes and that ended up
not happening.” D’Angelo said all funds would be returned to the University and would go toward another concert in the fall semester. “It was upsetting because we put so much hard work into it, and it was only a week out, and it just kind of fizzled out basically,” D’Angelo said. D’Angelo said she did not know if the funds for the canceled show would be combined with UPC’s
budget in the next fiscal year, which begins October 1, to potentially lure a better artist to campus or if two separate concerts would be held. “I just want to apologize to the student body for any inconvenience,” D’Angelo said. “No one saw this coming. “Just know that student funds are still going to go toward a great concert, it’s just not going to be next week.”
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Just know that students funds are still going to go toward a great concert, it’s just not going to be next week.” —Brittany D’Angelo UPC Director of Major Entertainment
Committee assigns trustee members Bobby Lowder, ‘controversial’ Board member, is reappointed Jillian Clair News Editor
Emily Adams / Photo Editor
Harvey Updyke Jr., leaves the Opelika courthouse Wednesday after waiving his preliminary hearing.
Updyke, May cases bound for grand jury next month Jillian Clair News Editor
The alleged Toomer’s oaks poisoner and the man who is accused of shooting into a vehicle at Southern Union State Community College appeared in court for preliminary hearings Wednesday. Both men will appear before the grand jury in May. harvey updyke Harvey Updyke, the man accused of poisoning the Toomer’s Oaks sometime after the Iron Bowl game, waived his preliminary hearing Wednesday and will appear before the Lee County grand jury next month. Updyke is charged with one count of criminal mischief, a class C felony. He could face up to 10 years in prison if convicted. Updyke’s lawyer, Glennon Threatt, asked District Judge Russell Bush to allow Updyke to reside in Louisiana with a family member until the trial. District Attorney Robbie Treece said he had no issue with the resi-
dence change. Bush granted Threatt’s request, but reminded him none of the other bond conditions would change. According to the Opelika-Auburn News, Threatt said he tried to reach a plea agreement with Treece, but was denied. Threatt said he wanted to keep his client out of jail. After appearing in court, Updyke told the Opelika Police Department he was assaulted in the parking lot of Tiger Express on Hwy. 280 in Opelika. Updyke said he arrived at the gas station between his 1:30 p.m. court appearance and 2 p.m. Updyke told police he thinks more than one person assaulted him, but he never saw them. Updyke said he was treated at East Alabama Medical Center and was treated for a blow to the face and several small abrasions and scratches. After receiving treatment, Updyke said he went back to Tiger Express to see if the staff had surveillance video of the incident. Updyke said he is interested in
seeking prosecution for the people who attacked him if they can be identified. Threatt called the Paul Finebaum show after the incident. “Somewhere right outside of Opelika, Harvey stopped at a gas station to get a drink and some gas, and when he got out of his car, it went black,” Threatt said. “He woke up on the ground. He had been hit in the head with something, so he wandered into the gas station in pain, and they directed him to a local emergency room. He has got facial bruises and a split in his brow.” Threatt said he was not with Updyke during the incident. Thomas may Thomas May III, accused of the April 6 murder of his mother-inlaw Brenda Watson, 62, and the attempted murder of three other family members at Southern Union State Community College, will appear before the Lee County grand jury next month. » See JuRy, A2
The University’s governing body, the Board of Trustees, may have three new members in addition to six returning trustees if approved by the state senate. All six trustees eligible for reappointment were selected to serve on the Board for seven more years. Three new trustees, Ben Thomas “B.T.” Roberts of Mobile, James “Jimmy” Hopson Sanford of Prattville and Elizabeth Huntley of Clanton were selected to represent districts 1, 4 and 6, respectively. The Process The trustee appointment committee consists of Gov. Robert Bentley; current Board members John Blackwell, District 8, and Raymond Harbert, at-large; and Alumni Association members Bobby Poundstone, Nancy Fortner and Howard Nelson. Fortner and Nelson rotated in and out of the voting process because of the large number of applicants, said Brian Keeter, director of public affairs. Poundstone, president of the alumni association, said the appointment committee reviewed the materials submitted by each of the 195 applicants, but did not conduct interviews. Poundstone said the 2003 amendment to the state constitution is the only guideline the committee has for selecting trustees. Each time the committee convenes, there is a different process, Poundstone said. “I feel very strongly that one thing we do need in moving forward—we need to come up with some guidelines for con-
Lowder
sistency in the way that we handle the nomination process,” Poundstone said. The constitutional amendment has only three requirements in selecting trustees. The nominee must be under the age of 70. The nominee must reside in the district he or she represents or must be a U.S. citizen if an atlarge trustee. The nominee must not be an employee of the University. Keeter said Trustees do not receive any monetary compensation for their service. Poundstone said monetary contributions are not an official factor in selection, but contributions do show dedication to the University. “It doesn’t hurt,” Poundstone said. “Obviously, it’s one of the things that you can look at and see if someone is committed toward Auburn’s betterment, and part of that equation is, ‘Have they supported Auburn financially?’ But it’s certainly not the sole factor for me—I look at the big picture.” Prior to 2003, trustees were appointed by the governor and served 12-year terms. The 2003 amendment states trustees can serve two 7-year terms. However, the amendment allows a trustee like Bobby Lowder, who was first appointed by Gov. George Wallace 28 years ago in 1983 to finish his current term and be eligible for reappointment. Bobby lowder Some have questioned the re» See Trustee, A2
College of Architecture, Design and Construction names new dean Annie Faulk Staff Writer
Vini Nathan is climbing the ladder toward being the new dean of the College of Architecture, Design and Construction. Nathan will take over June 1. Nathan is the current dean for Philadelphia University’s School of Architecture. She has taught architecture and interior design programs for Philadelphia University, New York Institute of Technology, Michigan State University, University of Minnesota, Eastern Michigan University and the University of Michigan.
“I am not arriving with a boilerplate list of goals that I wish to impose,” Nathan said. “Instead, I look forward to working with the CADC faculty, staff, students, alumni, our friends from all over the world and our University administration in continuing and extending our impressive legacy.” Nathan’s design experience stretches across the globe. She has worked on design projects in India, New York and Virginia. While in India she worked for design projects for corporate buildings and public areas of tourist hotels.
“I was chosen as the dean of College of Architecture, Design and Construction through a highly competitive national search,” Nathan said. “This multistep process included four stages of well choreographed, comprehensive, intense and focused interviews.” The search committee interviewed many applicants and narrowed down the group to eight people. The eight applicants were taken to an off-site interview conducted by the search committee, and this group was narrowed down to four. » See Dean, A2
Contributed photo
Vini Nathan works with architecture students at Philadelphia University, where she is currently architecture dean.
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