Catherine Hamilton

Last week, Auburn University began, yet another, construction project on campus. While many students say that the continuous construction on campus is frustrating, the latest construction project seems to be the worst, by far.

For the next month, the concourse will be completely closed off to students as workers re-brick the high-trafficked walkway. Already, after only a week, many students have found it very difficult to get around on campus and have been forced to find alternative routes to class. This new inconvenience has sparked a great deal of anger and irritation among students.

“It’s really inconvenient for students. It inhibits students from doing things on campus,” said Sarah Stalnaker, a senior in Fashion Design. “It takes so much longer to get to the places you need to go. I’ll be happy when it’s done.”

And talk about bad timing. Homecoming weekend and the Grand Opening Celebration of the Auburn University Student Center are quickly approaching and the concourse construction shows no signs of being completed any time soon.

Many students have raised the question as to why the project was not started over the summer or postponed until Winter Break. “This just seems like the worst time to start this construction,” Stalnaker added.

Auburn’s campus has had one construction project after another. When is it all going to end? Well, probably not any time soon. There has been talk about building a new coliseum and Student Activities Center.

For now, Auburn students are just going to have to get used to the inconvenience of the many construction projects.

Auburn fans claim to be extremely dedicated to their school and football team, but some students displayed very poor sportsmanship by booing as we lost another game to Arkansas this past weekend.

Obviously no fans want to see their beloved tigers lose, but that is when they need the most support from fans.

Despite Dean Green’s request for Auburn students to be respectful of our team at home football games, students showed very little class as they booed their own team. In his email to students a few weeks prior, Green said, “First, please join me by agreeing to demonstrate your support for, and not criticism of, our football team. That means no booing! Remember, the team isn’t trying to lose the game—the players work hard all spring and during fall camp to be ready to compete in the S.E.C. Let’s show our appreciation for their hard work by encouraging them with loads enthusiasm! Secondly, help me show the world what I get to experience everyday: that Auburn men and women are special, dedicated, loyal, fun loving, bleed orange and blue, are compassionate, and demonstrate good will to others, even our competitors.”

As a devoted Auburn fan, I was completely disgusted as the group of guys sitting behind me booed throughout the entire game on Saturday. But they definitely weren’t the only ones doing it. As Wes Byrum missed a field goal, the student section roared with derogatory comments towards the Auburn football player.

I heard comments such as, “Even I could kick better than Byrum” and “He is worse than John Vaughn.”

Not only is this behavior inappropriate, but it also gives Auburn fans a bad image. This past weekend, many possible recruits came to the game to see what Auburn football is all about. I’m sure they heard as students booed at the team’s loss to the razorbacks.

Why would anyone want to come play for a school whose “loyal” fans boo their own team?

Sports commentators have also brought attention to this appalling behavior. With many Auburn football games televised on national TV, everyone watching the game could see the poor sportsmanship displayed by fans.