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<H1 ALIGN=CENTER>Charles Dorsey</H1>
<H2 ALIGN=CENTER>Lending A Helping Hand</H2>
<CENTER><FONT SIZE=2>By Amber Guy</FONT></CENTER>

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<IMG ALT="Helping Hand" BORDER=2 SRC="pic/helphand.jpg" WIDTH=314 HEIGHT=209>
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<FONT SIZE=2><B> For more information on this program, please contact:
Robby Weighall, Margaret Smith, Jayne Lathram
Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) or
Audrey Phillips, Advisor
Office of Student Athlete Support Services
Sewell Hall Annex, Rm 105
334-844-9756
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<P><FONT SIZE=7>b</FONT>ack in September, Charles Dorsey had an idea. The senior defensive lineman, who had previously received recognition for his community service efforts by being named to the 1997 Southeastern Conference's Football Good Works Team, wanted to do more.

<P>In addition to his frequent visits to the Boys and Girls Club and Wright's Mill Road Elementary, Dorsey had been spending quite a bit of his spare time at the Frank Brown Recreation Center playing basketball. He didn't like what he saw.

<P>"We saw a lot of violence and arguing among the young kids. I felt that in order for Auburn to improve as a community, we needed to talk to them before they got too old. Once they become teenagers, it's hard to reach out. We tried to get the kids together at a young age, while they're still learning to explain right from wrong, good from bad, and sharing," Dorsey explained.

<P>With the help of teammates Antwoine Nolan, Jimmy Brumbaugh, Haven Fields and others, Dorsey began organizing a "Stop the Violence Rally." He also enlisted Student Athlete Support Services counselors Troy Smith and Audrey Phillips as well as the Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC), who not only aided in the organization process, but participated as well.

<P>The response generated by the rally and classroom visits around Auburn has been positive. Not just among the children the athletes visit, but also within the athletes themselves.

<P> "I really enjoy just being helpful," Brumbaugh said. "I visit schools, and teachers ask me to read books. It's so great just seeing their faces when you walk in there. They run up to me yelling, 'I know you.' Some of the questions they ask are so simple to answer, but it just amazes them because of what you do and who you are."

<P>Kendell Mack, who saw action on both the football field and basketball court over the past year, also participated in the "Stop the Violence Rally" and visits local schools whenever he gets the chance.

<P>"My counselor Troy Smith really helped me get involved in it," Mack said. "I love working with kids and I just wanted to volunteer my extra time to help the kids out. I feel like I had a big impact at Wright's Mill Road Elementary School where I went and worked with kids who were having problems in the classroom. I go back to check on them periodically, and the teachers have thanked me because the kids have made a complete turnaround in the classroom."

<P>In addition to the work of the football team, a SAAC outreach program that involves all student-athletes was implemented this fall. The program, known as "Team Reach," was developed with the goal of preventing delinquency through positive character building.

<P>Robby Weighall, a senior on Auburn's track team, participated in a similar program at his California high school and thought that the program would be a great way to help Auburn student-athletes get involved in the community.

<P>"The purpose of "Team Reach" is to get athletes out in the community and give back to them all the support they give to us," explained Weighall. "We go and talk to kids from fourth to eighth. Our main focus is peer pressure and self esteem. We give them a five-step plan to help overcome a bad situation, whether it be drugs, alcohol or gangs.

<P>"Different student-athletes get to interact with the kids through demonstration skits. The kids love it because they get to interact with who they see as superstars. When they see these student-athletes who have positive self-esteem react to these situations, I think it can motivate them to do the same."

<P>"Team Reach" has tried to get one or two student-athletes from each sports team in order to fit the multiple interests that exist in a classroom. On any given day, students might see Auburn gymnasts do flips, or football player Antwoine Nolan and track athlete Jayne Lathram perform skits together.

<P>"The athletes feel good because they get out and are able to make a positive influence on somebody. They really should feel like they are somebody's role model. Somebody is listening to them. I think that most do. It really should be something that makes their heart feel good," Weighall added.


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<P ALIGN=CENTER><I>&copy; 1999 Auburn Network, Inc.</I></P>


</BODY>
</HTML>
	<HTML>

	<HEAD>

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	</HEAD>

	<BODY <body bgcolor="#FFFFFF">>

	<H1 ALIGN=CENTER>Charles Dorsey</H1>
	<H2 ALIGN=CENTER>Lending A Helping Hand</H2>
	<CENTER><FONT SIZE=2>By Amber Guy</FONT></CENTER>

	<TABLE ALIGN=RIGHT BORDER=0 WIDTH=10>
	<TR>
	<TD>
	<IMG ALT="Helping Hand" BORDER=2 SRC="pic/helphand.jpg" WIDTH=314 HEIGHT=209>
	</TD>
	</TR>
	<TD>
	<FONT SIZE=2><B> For more information on this program, please contact:
	Robby Weighall, Margaret Smith, Jayne Lathram
	Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) or
	Audrey Phillips, Advisor
	Office of Student Athlete Support Services
	Sewell Hall Annex, Rm 105
	334-844-9756
	</TD>
	</TR>
	</TABLE>

	<P><FONT SIZE=7>b</FONT>ack in September, Charles Dorsey had an idea. The senior defensive lineman, who had previously received recognition for his community service efforts by being named to the 1997 Southeastern Conference's Football Good Works Team, wanted to do more.

	<P>In addition to his frequent visits to the Boys and Girls Club and Wright's Mill Road Elementary, Dorsey had been spending quite a bit of his spare time at the Frank Brown Recreation Center playing basketball. He didn't like what he saw.

	<P>"We saw a lot of violence and arguing among the young kids. I felt that in order for Auburn to improve as a community, we needed to talk to them before they got too old. Once they become teenagers, it's hard to reach out. We tried to get the kids together at a young age, while they're still learning to explain right from wrong, good from bad, and sharing," Dorsey explained.

	<P>With the help of teammates Antwoine Nolan, Jimmy Brumbaugh, Haven Fields and others, Dorsey began organizing a "Stop the Violence Rally." He also enlisted Student Athlete Support Services counselors Troy Smith and Audrey Phillips as well as the Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC), who not only aided in the organization process, but participated as well.

	<P>The response generated by the rally and classroom visits around Auburn has been positive. Not just among the children the athletes visit, but also within the athletes themselves.

	<P> "I really enjoy just being helpful," Brumbaugh said. "I visit schools, and teachers ask me to read books. It's so great just seeing their faces when you walk in there. They run up to me yelling, 'I know you.' Some of the questions they ask are so simple to answer, but it just amazes them because of what you do and who you are."

	<P>Kendell Mack, who saw action on both the football field and basketball court over the past year, also participated in the "Stop the Violence Rally" and visits local schools whenever he gets the chance.

	<P>"My counselor Troy Smith really helped me get involved in it," Mack said. "I love working with kids and I just wanted to volunteer my extra time to help the kids out. I feel like I had a big impact at Wright's Mill Road Elementary School where I went and worked with kids who were having problems in the classroom. I go back to check on them periodically, and the teachers have thanked me because the kids have made a complete turnaround in the classroom."

	<P>In addition to the work of the football team, a SAAC outreach program that involves all student-athletes was implemented this fall. The program, known as "Team Reach," was developed with the goal of preventing delinquency through positive character building.

	<P>Robby Weighall, a senior on Auburn's track team, participated in a similar program at his California high school and thought that the program would be a great way to help Auburn student-athletes get involved in the community.

	<P>"The purpose of "Team Reach" is to get athletes out in the community and give back to them all the support they give to us," explained Weighall. "We go and talk to kids from fourth to eighth. Our main focus is peer pressure and self esteem. We give them a five-step plan to help overcome a bad situation, whether it be drugs, alcohol or gangs.

	<P>"Different student-athletes get to interact with the kids through demonstration skits. The kids love it because they get to interact with who they see as superstars. When they see these student-athletes who have positive self-esteem react to these situations, I think it can motivate them to do the same."

	<P>"Team Reach" has tried to get one or two student-athletes from each sports team in order to fit the multiple interests that exist in a classroom. On any given day, students might see Auburn gymnasts do flips, or football player Antwoine Nolan and track athlete Jayne Lathram perform skits together.

	<P>"The athletes feel good because they get out and are able to make a positive influence on somebody. They really should feel like they are somebody's role model. Somebody is listening to them. I think that most do. It really should be something that makes their heart feel good," Weighall added.


	</TD>
	</TR>
	</TABLE>

	<P ALIGN=CENTER><A HREF="./" target="_top">TABLE OF CONTENTS</A> \| <A HREF="../" target="_top">PROGRAM INDEX</A> \| <A HREF="../../index.html" target="_top">HOME</A></P>

	<P ALIGN=CENTER><I>© 1999 Auburn Network, Inc.</I></P>


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