The Auburn Plainsman A SPIRIT THAT IS NOT AFRAID ThePlainsman.com
Thursday, May 16, 2013
Vol. 120, Issue 2, 8 Pages
Leonard to court Thursday
Online
Baseball vs. Ark. Visit ThePlainsman.com for game updates
News
A5
LEONARD
Andrew Yawn NEWS EDITOR
COURTESY OF ART MORRIS
How one group of students puts trash to good use
Sports
Advisory Management Advisory Board vice chair Allen Thames (center) heads meeting where announcement to sunset flight program was made.
Up in the air
Auburn’s flight degree in danger of being cut
A7
Kelsey Davis EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Damek Tomscha wins SEC player of the week
This week’s question:
Opinions A6
The Aviation Management Advisory Board met on May 10 during which Bill Hardgrave, dean of the College of Business, recommended the Aviation Management Program’s flight program be outsourced to a private flight school. He also suggested the flight degree program be sunsetted. “The private flight school will be affiliated with Auburn, but will be open to the community. This option should provide an opportunity for more people to pursue their dream of flying,” Hardgrave said. The outsourcing of the flight program and sunsetting of the flight degree means that students will not be able to receive training as professional pilots through Auburn University. “It will be in partnership with the University. It won’t be a four year Auburn degree,” said Mike Clardy, Director of University Communication Services. When asked by a member of the board the primary reason for the decision, Hardgrave said the aviation management program was no longer viable. “The overall reason is when we look at the program as a stand alone program, it has been in a state of decline for a number of years,” Hardgrave said. “This year, we will graduate six people from that program.” The University has recently entered into a gateway program for graduating
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I actually think the decision to shut down the flight department is very short-sighted because I think the long-term prospects for it are very good.” —Rob Maruster C.O.O., JETBLUE
pilots with jetBlue Airlines. “It is a program for the aviation students to reach a major airline, in this example jetBlue, as quickly as possible. It also gives students access to a personal mentor from the day they’re accepted into the program,” said Jose Caballero, a jetBlue captain. Without the flight school, Auburn students will be ineligible for the gateway program. “I’m very disappointed in the decision by the dean to offer that recommendation,” said Rob Maruster, C.O.O of jetBlue. “Hopefully there’s an opportunity to at least reconsider it because I view the future of the industry as one of needing a lot more pilots than it has today.” Maruster also expressed disappoint-
ment in the suggestion outside of its connection with the gateway program. “I actually think the decision to shut down the flight department is a very short-sighted decision because I think the long term prospects for it are very good. “I can absolutely see it growing very much larger than what it is today based upon what I have seen in the industry future in terms of needing pilots,” Maruster said. The board meeting was open to students currently enrolled in the program, parents, professors, alumni and more. Hardgrave’s visit to the board was unscheduled, and the news delivered was unexpected, according to AMAB vice chair, Allen Thames. “We’re, of course, all in shock,” Thames said. “We did not expect this sort of bombshell without any advanced warning whatsoever.” However, the suggestion to terminate the flight program means more for the University and aviation management students than just the loss of training. “(The program) won’t be accredited with an outsourcing program,” said Jason Mohrman, a United Airlines captain. “You could come to Auburn and fly on a contract, but you wouldn’t have the same reputation we have now because it’s con-
» See AVIATION, A2
On Thursday, May 16, alleged University Heights shooter Desmonte Leonard will appear for a status conference at the Lee County Justice Center. Assuming they remember to bring him this time. The hearing was originally scheduled for March 20, however, Leonard was forgotten in Montgomery where he is being held and the conference was delayed due to his absence. At Thursday’s hearing, Judge Jacob Walker is expected to select a date for Leonard’s trial. Leonard is allegedly responsible for shooting six people, killing three, at University Heights June 9, 2012. On August 27, Leonard was indicted by the grand jury for one count of capital murder for allegedly killing Demario Pitts and former Auburn football players Ladarious Phillips and Ed Christian. He was also indicted on two counts of attempted murder for allegedly shooting at Turquorius Vines and former player DeAngelo Benton in addition to first and second degree assault charges for gunshot wounds to John Robertson, Xavier Moss and thenfootball player Eric Mack. Leonard’s attorney Susan James, who orginally helped bring Leonard into custody following the shooting, is expected to motion for a change of venue. In addition, the defense is reportedly seeking permission to bring Leonard back to the scene of the crime.
FOLLOW THE TRIAL @ THEPLAINSMAN.COM
Changes on the horizon for local J&M Bookstore Taylor Jones WRITER
INDEX News
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Opinion
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Sports
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J&M Bookstore on South College Street is looking to adapt to the changing environment in today‘s textbook industry with a name change and a new sales focus. The well-known establishment located near Toomer’s Corner is known for its catchphrase, “A Tiger of a bookstore,” and it is a popular destination for tourists or fans on gameday. While the store has focused on selling textbooks since its opening in 1953, the emergence of the e-book, or textbooks that can be purchased electronically at a cheap price, has badly hurt textbook sales. Traditional college bookstores like J&M are having a difficult time competing with the low prices that e-books offer. Trey Johnston, co-owner and the face of J&M Bookstore, said with this changing textbook market certain measures must be taken to stay competitive. “I can’t compete with book prices, so we’re trying to do a
ANNA GRAFTON / ASSOCIATE PHOTO EDITOR
J&M Bookstore will focus sales more on apparel and will drop the words “book store” from its logo.
better job of becoming a college store with university supplies and memorabilia,” Johnston said. One major step toward reaching that goal includes removing “Bookstore” from the store‘s title. “We’ve already been in contact with attorneys, trademark licensing people and other people who handle the
legal issues with changing our trade name to ‘J&M College Store.’” Johnston said. The name change is the start of a transition from being a traditional college bookstore to becoming a vendor focused on supplying universityspecific supplies, such as art supplies, along with increasing its merchandise and apparel sales.
While J&M’s location opened in 1953, Trey’s father, George Johnston, and his partner, Paul Malone, purchased two other Auburn bookstores, Hawkins’ Bookstore and Burton’s Bookstore. By acquiring Burton’s, which was opened in the late 1800s, J&M became Auburn’s oldest bookstore. While J&M may not have “bookstore”
in its future name, Johnston stressed that they would always sell textbooks, just in a lesser capacity. “We go back to 1878 as a college bookstore on this block,” Johnston said. “I always want to sell textbooks and be a part of serving Auburn University.” Johnston also said he does not plan on expanding the store. “It will likely result in the elimination of the beautiful 8,000 sq. ft. store located on Donahue and College Street,” Johnston said. The reason the new store would close is because of the lack of foot-traffic on football gamedays that generates a large amount of sales for the original location. As J&M makes its move toward a new direction, one thing has not changed: Johnston and his associates and staff still plan on serving the Auburn family. “I take a lot of pride in my family having J&M since 1953,” Johnston said. “We will try to maintain and continue our service to Auburn University.”