University of Alabama updates

[Packer16]

Originally Posted by chadinhsv

Another link that shows how dangerous it is in Auburn. Protect your women in your life

https://www.houston-criminalattorney.com/most-dangerous-college-campuses/

"Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) (34 CFR 668.46(c)(1)(iv))
Dating violence: Violence towards somebody who is in a social, intimate, or romantic relationship with the victim.
Domestic violence: Violence committed by a current or former spouse or partner of the victim. As well as a person sharing a child with the victim, current or previous cohabitation as a spouse or partner.
Stalking: Actions directed at a specific person that causes the victim to fear their safety and cause emotional distress.
In light of recent events at Rice University regarding the murder-suicide of Andrea Rodriguez Avila, if you know somebody in a relationship and may be in danger of domestic violence, please call 1-800-799-SAFE (7233), to report it. For immediate assistance, call 911 to report domestic violence to local authorities."

Auburn University, and the city, work hard to cover their turds. And, a gullible public believes their propaganda. Chad, thanks for reporting this info. I wish the so-called media in the state of Alabama would report it. It's not that hard. But, I guess it's easier to be spoon-fed.

[atlanta68]

https://issuu.com/alumniau/docs/toomersoaks written in 2007! lol

What Harvey did was despicable. But the reality is that the trees were already dying as the Auburn Alumni magazine above explained, five years before they were poisoned.

[Packer16]

You are so correct, atlanta. Give me a few days and I'll tell a story that shows the weakness of Auburn and how they must always play the victim.

[Packer16]

Throwing toilet paper into trees ,“rolling”, has been a juvenile prank tradition for almost 100 years. Mostly, it’s more confined to junior high or younger high school students. But, Auburn University students have claimed “rolling” the Toomer’s Oaks after a win as a tradition for several decades, now. It’s just “their thing”. But, the trees were in trouble for repeated damage for years before Harvey Updike supposedly poisoned them in January of 2011. And, have been repeatedly damaged since.

Before, as the 2007 article atlanta68 referenced, repeated pressure washing, authorized by Auburn University, to remove toilet paper from the trees was doing major damage. But, if the toilet paper was left in the trees, it would kill the trees. Also, the trees had received fire damage on several occasions. Some examples below.

November of 1995 after a win over Alabama

https://www.thewareaglereader.com/2013/0...s-oaks-on-fire-after-the-1995-iron-bowl/

November 2010 after a win over Georgia.

https://www.thewareaglereader.com/2010/11/toomers-corner-set-on-fire/

Then, after the supposed poisoning.

November 2012 after a win over Alabama A&M. (Yes, after a win over Alabama A&M)

https://www.al.com/auburnfootball/2012/11/toilet_paper_catches_fire_on_f.html

September 2016 after a win over LSU. (video showed a man wearing an Auburn sweatshirt, set the toilet paper on fire. Auburn fans claimed he was not a real Auburn fan.)

https://www.montgomeryadvertiser.com/sto...following-auburns-win-over-lsu/91075052/

In January of 2011, Harvey Updyke claimed he poisoned the Toomer’s Oaks after Auburn’s win over Oregon in a call to the “Paul Finebaum Show” and stated that the trees would die. A couple of days after the claim, Auburn University sent a Horticulture Professor out to take samples and test the ground around the trees. After testing, his results were “NEGATIVE”. Then, after a short meeting with the Administration, the Professor returned to take more samples for testing. Interestingly, the samples now tested “POSITIVE” for the strong herbicide that Harvey had claimed he used. And, subsequent tests showed more and more of the poison. Then, the drama began. The media played it up and the donations, some even coming from University of Alabama alumni and fans, began to “roll” in .

Harvey Updyke was a retired State Trooper from Texas who moved to Alabama and became a so-called Alabama fan. He was a mentally ill, deranged man who took his fandom to a ridiculous level. But, his fandom was used by Auburn University to play the victim and raise money. The University of Alabama carries no responsibility whatsoever for his actions and it was sad that, with Auburn University's nudging, the State and National media made such a big deal of it. Even today, when you hear a story about the Toomer’s Oaks, it always ends with “that were poisoned by an Alabama fan”. You never hear about all the other damage that was done, and is continuing to be done, by Auburn University itself. It is weak for Auburn University and its fans to play the victim. But, it is another example of “Auburn being Auburn”. Paul Finebaum hit the nail on the head when he described Auburn as a “cheap polyester” institution.

[Packer16]

I'm proud that the President of the United States has chosen to speak at the University of Alabama's Commencement. I'm hoping for an inspirational speech. I'm worried that it may devolve into a political rant. We'll see. RTR

[chadinhsv]

Originally Posted by Packer16

I'm proud that the President of the United States has chosen to speak at the University of Alabama's Commencement. I'm hoping for an inspirational speech. I'm worried that it may devolve into a political rant. We'll see. RTR

Agreed. I'm glad he's not speaking during the actual diploma ceremony. I don't think people understand that. Everyone is up in arms over this but he's not taking away from the actual walk, unless I'm just reading that wrong. You should see me fighting the "outraged" over on the UA reddit page. It's a valiant effort, but it's like talking to a brick wall hoping that wall will crumble apart. I just need to leave it alone.

[Packer16]

You are correct. They made a special day, May1, where graduates can attend for free. But, they will recieve their degrees during the following days.

[SpawnOfVulcan]

I'm just glad he's not speaking during the actual ceremony. No doubt this will be special for some graduates, but simply a distraction for others. UA has a history, at least for the past 15 years I've paid attention, of not having speakers at commencement, and it should stay that way. The focus should be on the graduates, not a guest.

[Packer16]

This is a good sign from Senator Britt. She is by no means the level of Senator Shelby, yet, but maybe she is developing into a Senator that can truly help this State.

https://tuscaloosathread.com/ixp/532/p/sen-britt-refiles-national-water-bill/

If this passes, it will be an enormous positive for the University. RTR

[chadinhsv]

Originally Posted by Packer16

This is a good sign from Senator Britt. She is by no means the level of Senator Shelby, yet, but maybe she is developing into a Senator that can truly help this State.

https://tuscaloosathread.com/ixp/532/p/sen-britt-refiles-national-water-bill/

If this passes, it will be an enormous positive for the University. RTR

Yeah if she can get it passed I will forgive her for wearing orange and blue and dressing her daughter up in Auburn gear going to the Final Four.

[SpawnOfVulcan]

Originally Posted by Packer16

This is a good sign from Senator Britt. She is by no means the level of Senator Shelby, yet, but maybe she is developing into a Senator that can truly help this State.

https://tuscaloosathread.com/ixp/532/p/sen-britt-refiles-national-water-bill/

If this passes, it will be an enormous positive for the University. RTR

Sen. Britt further states that it is critical for the United States to have a coordinated water policy.

Amen. A national approach to water policy is sorely needed in the US. I wanna see that building bursting at its seams with hydrologists, geomorphologists, policy advisors, and supporting staff!

[atlanta68]

Originally Posted by SpawnOfVulcan

Amen. A national approach to water policy is sorely needed in the US. I wanna see that building bursting at its seams with hydrologists, geomorphologists, policy advisors, and supporting staff!

It is exciting for sure. Britt is NOT my cup of tea politically, BUT she is making friends across the aisle, which bodes well for bacon coming to TTown.

I have a question. Has anyone else noticed that UA seems committed to buildings being only three stories high or shorter? I can understand if it is done for aesthetics, but with limited space, I wonder how smart it is to build a Water Center that is only two stories high. Seems that it would have been better to build a three or four story high building, which would have allowed more horizontal room for expansion.

[atlanta68]

Speaking of Trump's speech at UA, unfortunately, it gave SNL a chance to mock UA's admission policy: https://www.al.com/life/2025/05/snl-blas...tupid-for-the-university-of-alabama.html

I don't understand why so few seem concerned about UA's weak academic reputation. We would never tolerate perceptions of mediocrity in our athletics, but for some reason, UA's leaders seem ok with perceptions of mediocrity in academics. Again, if UA raised admission standards, it would likely lead to even more applications. UA is like a beautiful diamond ring, being sold at Wal Mart for a discounted price. It is beyond absurd.

[Packer16]

Originally Posted by atlanta68

It is exciting for sure. Britt is NOT my cup of tea politically, BUT she is making friends across the aisle, which bodes well for bacon coming to TTown.

I have a question. Has anyone else noticed that UA seems committed to buildings being only three stories high or shorter? I can understand if it is done for aesthetics, but with limited space, I wonder how smart it is to build a Water Center that is only two stories high. Seems that it would have been better to build a three or four story high building, which would have allowed more horizontal room for expansion.

I know, for the old tall dorms (Tutwiler, Rose) that were replaced with 4-5 story buildings, the 15 story buildings cost more to insure (fire) and the students hated the elevator waits. And, as you know, the new dorms on campus are far more comfortable than the old concrete block cells. Kids, today, don't realize how good they have it. As for the two story Water Center, when it was built a decade ago, it was built to meet the current need. There was also some space within that was unfinished for future need. I bet, if Britt's bill passes, money would be available for expansion, if needed.
I have heard that taller (10 story) research buildings could be built next to Druid City Hospital, with a seperate 4 story animal facility to support the lab research. But, in the current political climate, who knows?

[Packer16]

By the way, look for The University of Alabama's 10 year Capital Campaign to reach it's adjusted goal ($1.8 billion) by the end of May. With a year and 4 months remaining until the Campaign is finished, look for a new adjusted goal ($2 billion). Amazing work and support for the University through COVID and a rocky economy. RTR

[TheCapstone]

Originally Posted by atlanta68

Speaking of Trump's speech at UA, unfortunately, it gave SNL a chance to mock UA's admission policy: https://www.al.com/life/2025/05/snl-blas...tupid-for-the-university-of-alabama.html

I don't understand why so few seem concerned about UA's weak academic reputation. We would never tolerate perceptions of mediocrity in our athletics, but for some reason, UA's leaders seem ok with perceptions of mediocrity in academics. Again, if UA raised admission standards, it would likely lead to even more applications. UA is like a beautiful diamond ring, being sold at Wal Mart for a discounted price. It is beyond absurd.

I'm in the same boat as you. I think there's way too many old heads in power at the university and running Tuscaloosa. Admission standards should have been increased ages ago and a more aggressive approach to lure in in-state quality students, instead of a primary focus on younger professionals who move back home. Quality > quantity.

Hopefully the new president has a good plan in place.

[atlanta68]

Originally Posted by TheCapstone

I'm in the same boat as you. I think there's way too many old heads in power at the university and running Tuscaloosa. Admission standards should have been increased ages ago and a more aggressive approach to lure in in-state quality students, instead of a primary focus on younger professionals who move back home. Quality > quantity.

Hopefully the new president has a good plan in place.

I would love to see Chuck Karr become UA's next president. He did a really good job building up UA's College of Engineering. And he is UA alum.

[Packer16]

Originally Posted by atlanta68

I would love to see Chuck Karr become UA's next president. He did a really good job building up UA's College of Engineering. And he is UA alum.

Chuck is approaching 70 years old. He did a great job at UA and is doing a fantastic job at UAH. Look for a younger "long term" President to be hired.

[atlanta68]

Originally Posted by Packer16

Chuck is approaching 70 years old. He did a great job at UA and is doing a fantastic job at UAH. Look for a younger "long term" President to be hired.

That is what bothers me. I don't want him to do a fantastic job up there. UA needs him back.

[Packer16]

The University Club renovations were long overdue, but, are outstanding, today.

https://alabamanewscenter.com/2025/05/31...s-one-of-a-kind-local-dining-experience/