Student leaders of bother Auburn University and the University of Alabama held a joint press conference Wednesday afternoon in front of Samford Hall to announce what is being hailed as a joint venture of “mutual respect.”
In response to last week’s news that an Alabama fan poisoned the two iconic oaks at Toomer’s Corner in downtown Auburn after the Iron Bowl, student governments from both universities will plant two “sister trees” on each campus “as a symbol of the shared bond between the two schools.”
As TWER was late to the press conference — we took “press conference on Toomer’s Corner” to literally mean “on Toomer’s Corner” — we caught up with University of Alabama SGA President James Fowler afterward to get a better feel for what exactly was happening and why… and if he feared a retaliation.
Full video of the press conference is available here.
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that kid grew up down the street from me. he’s talked like that since he was 5
I am about as sick of this unity BS as I am their fans having a good time with this. Through the various social media outlets I have seen more of their fans mocking the tragic event than morning it. Auburn needs to quit giving the gumps free photo ops to try to save whatever image they have. They need to get the hell away from Auburn, return to whatever rock they crawled out from under and stay there.
the last thing I want is a tree from Bama
I’m not really against the idea, but you just know that when Bama wins the Iron Bowl (twice ever 9 years?), they’re gonna roll their tree. So, like the Tiger Walk, it’ll be one more tradition they steal from us.
I don’t want it, and if our SGA pres had any balls he would tell the bammer SGA pres to F off. THEY did this to US, and we shouldn’t be helping them to save face by letting THEM make alterations to OUR campus.
I live out West, but the best part I see is the sensible — and embarrassed — Bama fans ridiculing their ‘Neck Nation fans just like we always have. Events like this only help the people who want to be helped with their image. The others will continue to wallow in their sad lives while we all rise above.
I agree with all of the above. But let me go further. Not only is the unity tree a bad idea for Auburn, it irks me to the core to think that money, from bama fans, will be partially responsible for whatever renovations/replacements/whatever at Toomer’s Corner from the “Tide for Toomer’s” publicity campaign.
Don’t get me wrong, I appreciate the fact that some bama fans realize how wrong it was to poison the trees, and that they even feel the need to make some type of reparations. But here’s the bottom line: It’s not their place to rebuild part of our tradition. It was built by Auburn people, and should be maintained that way. Toomer’s, a tradition uniquely Auburn, shouldn’t be funded in any way or part by bama money. Not one crimson cent.
Besides, imagine the reaction if we just give the tide for toomers money to Cam?
@AUElvis, sure they’ll win a few but that just gives US something to roll after we win in JH west! We’ve been calling it that for a while, and now we’ll have a tree there to prove it.
Dodn’t count Harvey out. His grand plan if he would not be accepted into Bama would be to find a way to a least live on campus. Bryce hospital may be his next stop. Genius Harvey, pure genius.
I’m sorry, but the only thing I got from the press conference video is that AU’s SGA president needs to buy a suit that fits. He looked like a high school kid that borrowed his dad’s suit to go to a dance.
Check out the Never to Yield Foundation, which opposes this gesture.
http://www.facebook.com/NeverToYield
You guys realize that the tree money, a lot of it, will go to scholarships for Ag and Forestry students at AU. Whether it comes from Crimson or Orange & Blue wallets shouldn’t matter if the money’s green.
@Hobbes – I didn’t realize that. I was under the impression that the money was to go exclusively to the work done to save/replace the trees… at least that’s what I thought after reading the “Tide for Toomer’s” facebook page.
I actually think scholarships for students would be a better use for the money, and you’re right, if it’s for scholarships, it shouldn’t matter where it comes from.
@Hobbes. No one would have a problem with what you’re suggesting.
However, that is not what this article is about. It clearly mentions the notion of of the Auburn and Alabama SGA presidents planting “Sister Trees” in each campus. These comments are directed at the article that this comment section are tied to.
This is being blown way out of proportion. I think we’re going to forget where these trees are immediately after they’re planted.