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Dear Members of the Auburn University Family, On Monday, April 17, 2000, Auburn University posted a statement concerning War Eagle VI on the University's official web page. I believe that their statement fails to tell the whole truth regarding the recent event surrounding War Eagle VI and the University's role in manipulating this situation. In 1985, while teaching at a local high school, I became a community advisor to Alpha Phi Omega. During the past few weeks I carefully witnessed the events as they transpired. I have advised the members of the fraternity to work with university officials to try and resolve this matter. I was naive enough to believe that the university officials would uphold the principals of the Auburn Creed. However, as has recently been the case with other incidents, this has not been the case. I believe you should know the rest of the story. The university statement notes that "On Thursday, April 13, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service ordered that the permit to keep War Eagle VI be transferred from the Alpha Phi Omega Service Fraternity to the Southeastern Raptor Rehabilitation Center." Alpha Phi Omega never held the permit, a faculty member in the Department of Biological Sciences did. The USF&W came to Auburn after the director of SERRC contacted them with alleged violations. Although the director of SERRC had apparently been collecting "evidence" for some time, he never contacted the caretakers of War Eagle VI or the permit holder to resolve any possible legal or medical concerns. I find it difficult to understand why one of the nation's premier authorities on raptors would sit back for months and allow these alleged "violations" to occur and make no attempt to work with a fellow employee of the university or the student care providers to resolve any concerns. It is also difficult for me to understand why someone associated with the university, who should be acting in the best interest of both the university and the eagle, would contact an outside agency without first attempting to resolve the problem internally. The university's official statement seems to indicate that the action of the USF&W Service was sudden and unexpected. However, Dr. Muse wrote a memo to the director of SERRC in October giving him permission to proceed with his plan to transfer War Eagle VI to SERRC and instructing him to work with Alpha Phi Omega in this matter. Alpha Phi Omega was first contacted the last week in March by the director of SERRC, informing them that the bird was going to be transferred to the SERRC and that APO would be phased out as caretakers. A meeting was scheduled for April 10, 2000, at which time all parties involved met to attempt to resolve the situation. At that meeting current eagle trainers expressed a willingness to work with SERRC by going though their training program and by working closely with the SERRC to resolve any problems with the eagle program. They asked, however, that Alpha Phi Omega be able to continue their forty year tradition as being the primary caretakers, fund-raises, and handlers of War Eagle VI and her aviary. It was made clear at that meeting that there was no room for compromise--SERRC must have total control of the bird. It appears to me that there is much more involved here than a simple decision by the USF&W Service to take action in the best interest of War Eagle VI. The October letter from Dr. Muse, as well as the "evidence" collected over the past few years seems to indicate to me that officials at the university had a plan to transfer War Eagle VI to SERRC at least six months before the U.S.F&W service became involved. Tiger's condition, known as bumblefoot, is a common problem of captive birds of prey including many birds housed in zoos across the country. Tiger arrived at Auburn with bumblefoot. She has had regularly scheduled visits to the vet school for check-ups. Trainers have been instructed by doctors at the vet school regarding ways to treat occurrences of bumblefoot as well as in preventative practices. For the past 14 years, doctors at the vet school have worked with members of the fraternity to insure that War Eagle VI received the highest quality of care possible. Is bumblefoot really the issue or is it simply one way for the university to implement what has been planned for some time? The aviary's location was selected and it was designed with the assistance of Mr. Jim Fowler, a nationally recognized authority who has served as a consultant to many of the nation's finest zoos. It has been Tiger's home for the past 14 years. Her new home is a much smaller cage at SERRC. Why must Tiger physically reside at SERRC rather than in the second largest aviary in the country for a single bird? Could SERRC not provide care in her current home that was built especially to accommodate her needs? This would allow her to remain visible as an educational tool to the students on Auburn’s campus, as well as accessible to the many families who frequently stop by the aviary so that their children can see a live golden eagle up close. Has the fact that some administrators have demonstrated a desire to distance Auburn from the eagle as a symbol by eliminating the licensing of official Auburn products bearing the eagle's image played any role in these recent events? Is the fact that the aviary sits on prime real estate that some would like to see used for other purposes a factor? If you share my concerns that this move is simply another step towards moving the university away from the War Eagle as a symbol of Auburn University, then please write to President Muse, the members of the Board of Trustees, and Athletic Director David Housel. Thank you, and WAR EAGLE! Sincerely, Back to Main Page |
