How many other Auburn alums...

[misanthrope]

...are there here?

How did you manage to cope with the overriding ultraconservatism at Auburn? I felt very out-of-place there.

I was raised as the child of alumni and had a lot of the Auburn mythology drummed into me from an early age. My experiences there, though, erased a great deal of that.

Before I went to school there, I saw it in terms of academic ideals and potential.

Now, I just see it as another big part of society's problems, churning out troglodytes and fully programmed automatons for the status quo.

[harrison]

1. Well, don't just pick on Auburn, every college seems to have

an ultraconservative student body, especially in the SEC. Auburn is a land grant university and, if I am not mistaken, land grant colleges came out of the populist movement which rose up against the corporations back in the 19th century. Now, they are no different. They are ruled by corporations just like every other college.

[misanthrope]

2. Correct you are...

...and it was that land grant tradition that was instilled in me as the essence of Auburn. I was taught that the state's other major traditional university was busy turning the children of the upper classes into doctors and lawyers and politicians, Auburn was offering a chance to those from more humble beginnings. Auburn was the place where county agents and veterinarians and engineers and architects were formed from the descendants of share croppers and fieldhands.

Now, it's just another playground for the children of privilege with a minor league sports franchise attached. The fact that a pampered son of wealth has turned it into his private fiefdom is ironically poetic in light of Auburn's change over the years.

[Hog lover]

20. Don't you mean Auburn's PRO football team?

How long can you go without NCAA probation this time?

(just some friendly ribbing - don't get riled)

[misanthrope]

22. Sour grapes?...

...I'm glad Matt Jones is gone.

[Frances]

3. War Eagle!

You may be interested to know what Auburn was like for a freshman woman the summer of 1959. On weeknights,we had to be in the dorms at 8:30 pm (before dark). The rule book for women was about an inch thick. Every woman had to take a test on the rules, and if we failed, we had to stay in the dorm for a whole weekend. There was no air conditioning, but we could only wear bermuda shorts (certainly not short shorts) if we were going to Lake Chewalca. And even then we had to wear raincoats over the shorts from the dorm to the car!

I took a current events course (1 credit) and we read U.S. News and World Reports, but I don't remember a single real discussion. As I look back, everyone in the class, including me, was like a zombie when it came to politics.

The Cuban missle crisis was during the fall of my senior year. We were all glad that we hadn't gotten blown up, but there was the extent of our interest.

Since I had grown up in a small town in southwest Alabama, Auburn felt very comfortable to me. At that time, most of the other students were also from small towns with the exception of some blue collar students from B'ham. The University was much more snobbish and class conscious than Auburn at that time.

Auburn was still segregated when I graduated in 1963. It was integrated when I went back for my master's in the fall of 64. I don't understand how it happened, but I supported integration. Maybe it was because I had a gut disgust with George Wallace, and I loved John F. Kennedy's speeches and news conferences. I went to some meetings of the Human Relations Council which had Auburn and Tuskegee faculty members. And I taught in a summer program at Tuskegee.

I left Alabama in 1967 and was living very happily in liberal areas until Bush was installed in the White House and began doing his best to make the whole U.S. into the worst of the right-wing culture.

[SouthALdem]

4. War Eagle!!!

It was very tough! I was an officer in College Dems while I was there and I think we had a whopping 10 members at most. There really are some "liberals" hanging out there but getting them to turn out is difficult when the conservatives run everything. What conserns me most is the growth of the machine at Auburn.

I guess my big claim to fame is that I was the one a few years back who protested and forced Auburn to change the policy of giving a test to allow people to run for SGA office. I ahd to take such a test. Strange thing was however that certain "chosen" people were provided with answers to this test. One guys sitting behind had no idea what the questions were and knew nothing about the materials but knew exactly what answers to mark (it was multiple choice). I guess it really scared them when I threatened to get a rather famous lawyer in the state involved and APT decided to run some news on the story. All of a sudden, the policy changed and the test was no longer necessary. Last I heard, it was still being given but is now open book and no one failed anymore (compared to rather high failure rates previously)

I still think there is hope that one day things will change but the younger crowd (and I myself am not all that old) scare me. I think they need to learn that just because yor parents are Repubs and conservatives you don't have to be that way. Heck, I got my parents to switch from being Repubs to being Democrats.

[JessicaEast]

5. College Democrats at Auburn are strong

The College Democrats at Auburn are strong these days. I am the current President. As of yesterday, our email list contains over 350 people. Last year (in a boring, non-election year for most students' standards), our kickoff meeting had almost 60 people in attendance. :) Check out our website at www.auburn.edu/audems to see pictures from the past few years and our events, and feel free to join the email list if you'd like to keep up with what we're doing.

This fall, we're going to be doing a lot of things, including

Joint Tailgate with LSU College Democrats
Joint Tailgate with UA College Democrats
Hosting an Auburn Run Against Bush
Debate with the College Republicans
Campaigning for Kerry
Campaining for Bill Fuller
Traveling to Tallahassee, FL to campaign for Kerry with ACORN
Election Night Victory Party
Community Service Events
Pizza Party Fall Kickoff Featurning Jim Wrye as Guest Speaker




SouthALDem,

This past year, I ran for SGA Vice President. The test policy is back and in full force...the test is not open book and if you fail it then you are not allowed to run for office. Campaign managers and senate candidates are also required to take the test. I've always thought it was a ridiculous policy as well. :) Thought you might be interested to know that. What did you run for?

[newyawker99]

6. Hi JessicaEast!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[SouthALdem]

7. You have GOT to be kidding.....

Looks like the lawyers need to get back involved again. Do they not realize how much trouble they can get in for this? I'll have to make a few calls and see what we can do about this. The ACLU might find this one interesting. :) *big grin*

[Centre_Left]

9. Do you remember Jim Francisco, Jessica?

He was once president of the College Dem's at Auburn during the late 90s and was a friend of mine.

[JessicaEast]

10. Yes I know Jim

I do know Jim, actually! He's from Auburn, so I usually hang out with him while he's home on break from law school. He was a good advisor to me during my SGA campaign this year.

[SouthALdem]

11. I know Jim too....

He was there when I was there. Small world.

[southlandshari]

24. You carried the torch well for the college Dems

Keeping things going during lean years has paid off - as an Auburn resident active in local Dem and progressive political activities, I have been so impressed with the size and spirit of the current AU College Democratic Club. They put forth a huge and visible effort during this past campaign season.

I actually first encountered them at DU - the current club president is a DU'er. Jessica, are you out there?! Keep up the great work!

Kudos to you on the abolishment of the test for SGA candidates. I wasn't living here at the time, so don't know the story, but my hat's off to you! And just out of curiosity...are the initials of the well-known attorney you mention J.B.?!!

Now I'm going to have to go google this story - you've inspired me!

[southlandshari]

25. Should have finished the thread before posting!

I would have seen that Jessica had already waded in!

=)

[Centre_Left]

8. Unfair criticism

Many, many colleges churn out automatons, liberal or otherwise. Meet an ivy league law school graduate and you will indeed see an automaton; an automation of the left rather than right, to be sure, but one that is equally sickenining.

[Frances]

12. Ivy League Lawyers

Do you have any data to document your claim?

My guess is that some are conservative, most are moderate, and a few are liberal.

After all, it takes a lot of money to pay for an ivy league law degree, and most of the people who attend are from conservative or moderate families.

[Centre_Left]

16. lol

I know exactly 14 people who graduated from top 25 and/or Ivy League law schools and all but two are slavishly liberal. The one's who were not liberal were basically intellectual outcasts. The faculty at nearly all law schools are overwhelmingly liberal. Anyone who attends a law school will back me up. The left controls law schools and legal thought. Of course, the dominance of the left at law schools is not exactly a bad thing; it just often comes with a pretentious, self-serving tone I find distasteful. I am also a fan of intellectual diversity, something that is missing on many college campuses.

[JustFiveMoreMinutes]

13. You guys DO KNOW misanthrope.. the thread starter..

.. was the one who lost their job at Mobiles NPR radio site for posting to DU, right?

[SouthALdem]

15. Yup...

and I know him personally. :)

[phatkatt]

14. Hey! I was one of those automatons!

'83-'87 I was a very conservative x-tian (witnessed on campus) and of course voted raygun in '84 (registered by my church).

I didn't fit in too well because I was a little TOO conservative.

My, how things have changed!

[southpaw]

17. The liberal arts departments were actually kinda... liberal.

[ThoughtCriminal]

18. Survived

1977-1981. The students were far more right-wing than the profs.

[southlandshari]

26. This is still very true

A drive around the faculty/staff parking lots and the student parking lots on campus last month would be a quick illustration of your point. Guess which lot was home to more cars with a lot of miles on 'em and more Kerry-Edwards bumper stickers?

[richabk]

19. WAR EAGLE!

Class of '94.

Do they still have the screaming "preachers" on campus that yell
that everyone's going to hell?

[KelleyKramer]

21. Ha Ha. I forgot all about the 'preacher man' who came to campus!!

Wonder if thats the same crew that used to come around back in the 80's.

Something like 'Brother John'(??) and his two side-kicks.

They used to set-up shop in the field by the eagles cage, quite a show.. there would always be a big crowd.
Seems they would always happen to be around on a Friday before a big football game .. "If you drink after the game tomorrow night you are going to BURN IN HELL!!"

Gotta hand it to 'em though, he had his smack down pat and would always engage hecklers and try to stir up a debate.

Sheesh, that brings back memories.

War Eagle!

On to ATL and then USC or OK!!

[southpaw]

23. We knew him as "Brother Zed"

He showed up about once a quarter... Got off his meds...

[BamaLefty]

27. Say...

don't you guys have to get by 'Bama first? :D

[Debau2005]

29. War Eagle children of the 80's!

I remember the preacher man, and his "wife." Her name was Cindy, I don't remember his. He used to cause quite a stink during his visits.

A few of us campaigned heavily for Al Gore, when he ran for President during the Primaries in the 80's. We were brave, lonely souls back then. I am thrilled to meet some AU Dems, I was beginning to think that I was the lone survivor!! :hi:

[stuckinlucky]

28. I no longer live in Auburn, but...

My family still lives there and are all proud liberals, and I visit as often as I can.

Growing up there, I didn't have too many problems, because as a child, I guess, you don't pay too much attention to politics.

But, now that I've grown up and moved up north, I actually find myself defending my home to people here who have misperceptions about what life in the south is really like.

As for the "Auburn mythology," I actually enjoy having that connection to my hometown. The story of "War Eagle." The 1957 National Championship. Bo Jackson. Pat Dye. From 1985 to 1988, I sold programs at AU games out on Lee Road 112.

I enjoy Football so much that I'm not going to let some dumbass rednecks take it away from me.

The Chicago Auburn Alumni Club is about 100 strong (and we're largely liberal), and we get together to watch most of the games.

I guess the way you "cope with the overriding ultraconservatism at Auburn" is by knowing you're right and by knowing enough to back it up. If nothing else, It'll prepare you for life outside of Auburn where there are just as many people who have yet to hear the truth.

[jody]

30. Did any of you attend Auburn's B-School from 82 to 87? n/t

[Debau2005]

31. I did.

I was there from 84-90. I was on the "party plan" and I took my time graduating...:bounce: