The Auburn Plainsman A SPIRIT THAT IS NOT AFRAID www.theplainsman.com
Thursday, March 24, 2011
JESSICA FOSHEE
CAMPUS MOURNS STUDENTS’ DEATHS
Jessica Foshee’s favorite Bible verse was 1 Thessalonians 5:16: “Be joyful always.” She lived out those words every day of her life, according to her friend and sorority sister Lauren Wetzel. “From the time I met her freshman year to the time I dropped her off at her apartment when we got home from spring break, she always had the most beautiful smile plastered on her face,” Wetzel said. “Jessica was a perfect friend and a model example of joy.” Foshee, junior in history and member of Alpha Chi Omega sorority, died Saturday night from acute cardiac failure at her boyfriend’s residence on DeKalb Street. A postmortem examination showed the cardiac failure was because of a congenital heart disease, according to the coroner’s office. “She was born with holes in her heart, and she had surgery when she was really little to reroute some stuff so that her heartbeat and blood flow wouldn’t be disrupted by the holes,” said Mary Lenoir, Foshee’s “little sister” in the sorority. “She had lung problems, too, and her condition made her not able to do a lot of cardio activity. “The last that I had heard of it, everything had been pretty normal. Nothing had been disrupted. She had to go see a doctor every six months to check on it.” Foshee, 20, was from Roswell, Ga. She and Wetzel worked together at the Foy Information Desk in the Student Center. “Working with her felt like getting paid just to hang out,” Wetzel said. Foshee had also participated in IMPACT, Project Uplift and Tiger Tuesdays. More than anything, she loved her sorority, Lenoir said. “Even though she never had an exec office or anything, everyone knew who she was,” Lenoir said. Foshee and her boyfriend, Troy Braswell, had been dating for almost a year. “She had a smile that could light up a room and was » See FOSHEE, A2
Friends, family remember Jessica Foshee and Mary Beth Goodner
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She had a smile that could light up a room and was one of the most passionate people I have ever met.” —Troy Braswell
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She’s someone who would have talked to anyone and helped anyone.”
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—Alle hausfeld
STORIES BY LIZ CONN / ASSOCIATE CAMPUS EDITOR
Vol. 117, Issue 23, 20 Pages
MARY BETH GOODNER
Early in the morning of March 17, the Auburn family lost a beloved daughter, sister, friend, volunteer and student. Mary Beth Goodner, 22, originally from Opelika, was a senior in elementary education. “She was the sweetest person I’ve ever met,” said Alle Hausfeld, who met Goodner through education classes. “I met her the first day of class, and we talked the whole time. She’s someone who would have talked to anyone and helped anyone.” Goodner fell down a staircase at Pelican Landing Resort in Key West, Fla., according to police reports. Goodner attended Lee-Scott Academy, where she was a cheerleader and a member of the track team. “She loved Jesus and loved children,” said Lisa Anz Persons, friend of the Goodner family. “Loved her family. She was just a sweet girl.” Goodner was passionate about Orphanage Emmanuel in Guaimaca, Honduras, said Elizabeth Caldwell, who attended Covenant Presbyterian Church with the Goodner family. The orphanage cares for unwanted and abandoned children. Caldwell said she hopes Goodner will be remembered for her work in the mission field. Goodner participated in Project Uplift, an organization that works with inner-city children, and had volunteered at Storybook Farm. Goodner was involved with her sorority, Kappa Delta, participating in activities like the 5K Shamrock Run and KD Girl Scout events. Claire Lewallyn, president of Kappa Delta, has known Goodner since fall 2008. “Mary Beth was a great attribute to Auburn Kappa Delta, and she will be greatly missed by our chapter,” Lewallyn said. “Her compassion for the sorority and the people around her was contagious.” Goodner’s funeral, which was standing room only, was held March 23 at 2 p.m. at Auburn United Methodist Church. “I hope that she’s remembered not for her death, but » See GOODNER, A2
TOOMER’S UPDATE
Soil samples lead to further removal Eric Austin MANAGING EDITOR
CRAIG BELL / PHOTOGRAPHY DIRECTOR BGSU
Mary Ellen Mazey speaks at Bowling Green State University after being named the next president.
Bowling Green bound Auburn provost named president of BGSU Jillian Clair NEWS EDITOR
After a two-year tenure as provost and vice president for academic affairs, Mary Ellen Mazey was named the 11th president of Bowling Green University in Bowling Green, Ohio, Tuesday. “Within recent years, I’ve had the opportunity to work with some very good presidents, including President Gogue, and I just think that I would like to have that opportunity myself,” Mazey said. President Jay Gogue said Mazey worked with a limited budget to make Auburn a better institution. “She helped guide us through some
tough budget challenges in ways that made Auburn stronger,” Gogue said in a press release Tuesday. “We regret seeing her leave, but wish her all the best at Bowling Green University.” Mazey began her tenure as provost and vice president for academic affairs February 2009. “I think probably my greatest accomplishment has been getting the faculty and the administration to work closely together and trying come up with new structures and ways of managing the institution,” Mazey said. Before coming to Auburn, Mazey was dean of Eberly College of Arts and Sciences at West Virginia University from 2005 to 2009, and she also held various administrative positions during a 26-year tenure at Wright State University in Dayton, Ohio. She received a bachelor’s degree in
sociology and a master’s degree in geology from West Virginia University and a doctorate degree in urban geography from the University of Cincinnati. Mazey has agreed to a five-year contract at BGSU and will succeed President Carol Cartwright June 1. BGSU was founded in 1910 and has more than 20,000 students and 900 full-time faculty members. “I think that Bowling Green is an institution very similar to Auburn, and I look forward to doing what I can to help build its national and international reputation and making it a better institution,” Mazey said. Experience gained during budget reductions at Auburn will be useful in the coming years at BGSU, Mazey said. Mazey said she will miss the friend» See BGSU, A2
The Toomer’s Oaks task force has shifted focus from the soil to the trees themselves, which have begun to show their first leaves of spring. “We’ve got to minimize stress on the trees,” said Gary Keever, professor of horticulture and task force leader. “We’ve got to make sure they don’t dry out.” Keever said a lift will arrive early Friday morning so the team can begin testing the leaves to determine the amount of herbicide absorbed by the trees. “The leaves are emerging, and we’ll be looking at any yellowing of that new growth,” Keever said. “If the trees have taken up herbicide and moved it to the foliage, it won’t take them long to begin to show some yellowing along the edges of the leaves.” The shift in focus from the soil to the trees came after test results performed in the lab of Vince Cammarata revealed the herbicide had traveled below the initial 20-inch depth. Keever said herbicide
INSIDE Campus » A1 | Classifieds » A4 | On the concourse » A8 | Community » B1 | Opinions » B3 | Intrigue » C1 | Sports » D1
was found at depths of four feet. The task force removed the soil at these depths within the tree beds. Following the removal, the roots were rinsed with high-pressure hoses and the soil was replaced. “It’s an inexact science,” Keever said. “So we have to gather information such as the soil samples and then try to determine what might’ve happened so we can come up with the most effective solution.” While the herbicide traveled farther under ground than originally thought, Keever said the substance had not traveled far beyond the oak tree beds. Keever said he could offer no odds of the oaks’ survival. “I can tell you that we’ve talked with many herbicide experts around the country, and most of them have told us we’ve done just what we needed to do,” Keever said. “But they’re not optimistic. This is a very lethal substance, and we’re in uncharted territory. No one’s ever tried to save two trees that have been poisoned.” Recycled paper
The Auburn Plainsman A SPIRIT THAT IS NOT AFRAID www.theplainsman.com
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Vol. 117, Issue 20, 20 Pages
University considers smoking ban Students’ letter prompts discussion of smoke-free campus Liz Conn
S
ASSOCIATE CAMPUS EDITOR
mokers on campus may soon get burned. The Campus Health and Wellness Committee, made up of faculty, staff and students, is investigating the possibility of making Auburn a smoke-free campus. The initiative stems from a letter a group of students wrote to President Jay Gogue in spring 2010 asking him to consider eliminating smoking on campus. The main concern of the University is secondhand smoke, said Eric Smith, committee member and director of health promotion and wellness services. “I’ve always approached this as trying to protect the rights of a majority, not punish a minority,” Smith said. “Because if the majority of the population here isn’t smoking, but they have to walk through clouds of smoke just going about their daily business here, our environment is hurting them in that regard.” With more than 50 chemicals in cigarette smoke known to be direct causes of cancer, smoking kills approximately 400,000 people each year, Smith said. Of
that number, secondhand smoke kills 40,000. “You’re here to get an education, you’re here to work, you’re here to be part of the Auburn family, and you don’t need to be exposed to secondhand smoke as a part of that,” Smith said. “That’s the argument people are making.” In November, the Surgeon General released a report saying secondhand smoke is not safe to breathe at any level. “Smoking is bad for your health—period,” said Fred Kam, director of the AU Medical Clinic. “I understand it may inconvenience some people who are smokers, et cetera, but there is no health benefit that they will get out of continuing to smoke. If it’s something we can do to help decrease their risk factors for stroke, heart disease, cancer and other things, then it makes total sense.” In the United States, 466 college campuses have smoking bans, with the only one in Alabama being Calhoun Community College. In the SEC, Kentucky, Florida, Vanderbilt and Arkansas are smoke free. Georgia and Alabama are considering their options also, Smith said. Smith has organized a team of students and faculty to gauge opinions on the issue through surveys, a possible town forum and a newly launched blog. “The feedback I’ve received so far has been pretty positive for the most part,” Smith said. “We’ve talked to a lot of people
and a lot of different audiences, and generally speaking, people are OK with it.” Smith said an option for the University to consider is establishing “buffer zones,” or areas around buildings where smoking is prohibited to a certain distance. “You’ve got to make headway where you can,” Smith said. “If we’re enabling people to walk in and breathe clean air coming in the building, that’s a good thing. There’s a lot of good reasons out there for just going completely smoke free though, and that would be the preferred way to go.” Another reason, Smith said, is the cost associated with smoking—both for the University and for the state. Smith said research at the University of Kentucky estimated self-insured institutions spend an extra $5,200 in lifetime insurance costs per smoker. On a larger scale, the American Lung Association reported in 2010 that smoking costs Alabama $3.68 billion each year. Kam said he would expect a no-smoking
policy to cause a decrease in the number of smokers. “I think if it became more inconvenient, then there’s a higher likelihood that they would have more of an incentive to stop,” Kam said. Smith said the University would announce the policy far enough in advance to allow smokers time to prepare, as well as offer cessation programs to help smokers quit. “We wouldn’t want to say, ‘No smoking’ and not offer ways for students, faculty and staff to stop smoking,” Smith said. “The cessation programs are key.” Kim Trupp, director of housing, said she thinks a no-smoking policy might deter students from living on campus. “What may happen is, especially with first-year students, maybe mom, dad or whoever takes care of them doesn’t know they smoke,” Trupp said. “Mom and dad want them to live on campus, so they’re » See SMOKING, A2
Surveying begins for Rec Center Liz Fite
weight room, a one-third mile indoor inclined track, an outdoor pool, a threestory rock climbing wall, eight basketball courts, an indoor soccer field and a game room. “The cool thing about the running track is that it’s suspended, and it’s hanging from the ceiling, and it actually crisscrosses, and if you run around it almost gives you a self-tour of the building,” said Kurt Sasser, SGA president. The Wellness Center will also feature multiple men’s and women’s locker rooms with showers and will offer a wide variety of fitness classes and personal training options. Harper said the building was conceived as part of Auburn’s initiative to encourage a healthier, more active lifestyle. » See CENTER, A2
STAFF WRITER
EMILY ADAMS / PHOTO EDITOR
John Vollor examines the Toomer’s Oak tree as he places fresh dirt on the roots Wednesday morning.
Toomer’s fallout unites rivals Auburn-Alabama joint venture announced while rescue is still unlikely Eric Austin MANAGING EDITOR
One week after word broke that the oaks at Toomer’s Corner had been poisoned, a task force has begun its attempt to rescue the oaks and assess the damage to the surrounding soil. Gary Keever, professor of horticulture and member of the task force, said he was not optimistic about the chances of a recovery for the trees. “I’d put it between zero and 15 percent,” he said. Even so, workers have removed the topsoil surrounding the roots. Protective tents were placed over the uncovered roots, and more activated charcoal was applied in an attempt to stop further uptake of the deadly herbicide through the tree’s roots. Keever said the task force was INSIDE
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EMILY ADAMS / PHOTO EDITOR
Jay Amling, pesticide applicator for landscape services, spreads activated charcoal on the soil of the Toomer’s trees Wednesday afternoon. given extra help Sunday from a surprising source when workers from Alabama Plant Services, a Sylacaugabased company, came to Auburn to
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aid in the project. “These were Alabama people, and they volunteered their services,” Keever said. Clad in Crimson Tide T-shirts and using an industrial-strength vacuum, the company workers were able to remove the soil from the roots when the vacuum the University was using failed. “They’re part of our community and part of our state, and this was something we felt we could do to give back,” said Steve Sherbert, regional manager for the company. Sherbert said he and his men worked for about 18 hours on the soil. “These people were truly interested in helping us out,” Keever said. “There’s so much goodwill coming out of this that just amazes me.” The task force drenched the roots in water to keep them hydrated and new, herbicide-free top soil was packed into the tree beds with more activated carbon early Wednesday morning. As for the surrounding plant-life, Keever said their initial analysis was showing encouraging signs. Concentration of the herbicide was not found to be at lethal levels » See TOOMER’S, A2
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Surveying is underway as construction plans for the new Auburn University Recreation and Wellness Center are complete. “We are way behind the times with this building,” said Scott Harper, assistant director of recreational services. “It’s old, there’s not enough space, and it’s not designed like current rec centers.” Harper said his construction team is on target with the building plans, and they are excited to build a new facility for students. “We’re going to have all new equipment; everything is going to be brand new and state-of-the-art,” Harper said. “We’re not taking any of the old stuff and putting it in the new building.” Features of the center include a large cardio and
BY THE NUMBERS
RECREATION AND WELLNESS CENTER
$72 million Estimated total cost of the Center
$50 $100 $150 $200
total tuition spike, fall 2010 total tuition spike, spring 2011 total tuition spike, spring 2012 total tuition spike, cap until completion 2013
*tuition increased in $50 increments from 2010-2011 tuition
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The Auburn Plainsman A SPIRIT THAT IS NOT AFRAID www.theplainsman.com
Thursday, February 3, 2011
Vol. 117, Issue 17, 24 Pages
LOCAL EGYPTIANS
JOIN
PROTESTS
JILLIAN CLAIR / NEWS EDITOR
Sherif Hammad of Alexandria, Egypt and Modather Sediman of Sudan hold signs calling for President Hosni Mubarak’s resignation during the Demonstration to Support the Egyptian People Feb. 1. Mubarak became president in 1981. Protests began in Egypt Jan. 25, and the death toll has risen to more than 300.
As violence in Egypt continues to escalade, locals aim to raise awareness
Hosni Mubarak’s 30-year regime. “I am proud and happy and sad at the same time,” Eletrabi said. “I am proud because the people finally moved, and they are taking an action against the current regime, but I’m sad because of the people who died during this process, but I guess this is necessary. After 30 years of ruling, I don’t think there is a more peaceful way of transition since (Mubarak) doesn’t want to give up.” Approximately 30 others gathered with Eletrabi Tuesday at a rally they called the “Demonstration to Support the Egyptian People.” The multinational group stood on the concourse under umbrellas and a tent, holding handmade signs and striking up conversations with students about
Jillian Clair NEWS EDITOR
Haitham Eletrabi stood in the rain on the Haley Center concourse for two hours Tuesday passing out fliers and holding a sign that said, “Mubarak, you are down, just leave.” Eletrabi, a Ph.D. student in civil engineering from Cairo, said he is supportive of the protests in Egypt calling for the end of President
on the streets. They’re really tired, exhausted, but they don’t give up until Mubarak leaves.” The group claims that Mubarak is a dictator who has driven his people into poverty and rigged elections to remain in office. “His party pretty much represents 90 percent of the whole senate,” Abdelrehiem said. “He’s not listening.” Eletrabi and Abdelrehiem have family and friends in Egypt and have been able to contact them by phone despite the loss of Internet. “They cannot Tweet or go to any news or organize any peaceful demonstration on the Facebook,” Eletrabi said. Eletrabi said there are groups of Egyptians all over the world gathering to show their support for their people. “I wish I was there, but I’m
JILLIAN CLAIR / NEWS EDITOR
Asmae Mesbahi, a graduate student in computer science and native of Casablanca, Morocco, holds a sign that says, “Go out” in five different languages. the conflict in Egypt. The group sought to raise awareness and support for the people of Egypt. “We’re trying to show people what’s going on,” said Amr Abdelrehiem,
first year pharmacy student from Alexandria, Egypt. “We’re trying to tell people how Mubarak is. We’re trying to support the Egyptian people—they’ve been awake for almost a week now, out
still glad I’m here supporting them in my own way,” Eletrabi said. “And there are lots of people coming to support us, and we are spreading the word—people not only from Egypt, but the majority of people actually around here today are not Egyptians.” People from Arab countries, Europe and the U.S. participated in the demonstration. Asmae Mesbahi, Ph.D. student in computer science from Casablanca, Morocco, held a sign aimed at Mubarak that said, “Go out” in five different languages. “I am supporting what’s happening in Egypt,” Mesbahi said. “I’m supporting Egyptian people. They have the right to live in democracy and freedom.” Mesbahi said she hopes » See EGYPT, A2
Line-up announced for 2011 Hangout Festival Staff Reports The Hangout Music Festival revealed an array of top musical artists that will headline its second annual music festival in Gulf Shores. Paul Simon, Foo Fighters, Widespread Panic and a variety of other musical artists will entertain festivalgoers Friday, May 20 through Sunday, May 22. Shaul Zislin, Hangout Music Festival co-founder, said he feels hosting the festival in Gulf Shores does more than just bring recognition to the
MARIA IAMPIETRO / ASSOCIATE PHOTO EDITOR
Taco Bell’s beef chalupa is a popular item on the menu.
Where’s the beef? Taco Bell battles false advertisement lawsuit with ground beef qualifications
The law firm had the beef product tested and found the beef mixture doesn’t exactly measure up to the advertisements that customers are receiving. “Taco Bell internally refers to its beef products as ‘taco meat filling,’ but advertises the same product as ‘seasoned ground beef,’ said Dee Miles, attorney and section head of consumer fraud at Beasley Allen. According to the USDA, the difference between “taco meat filling” and “seasoned ground beef ” is that ground beef must be 70 percent beef and 30 percent fat, whereas taco meat filling must only be 40 percent » See TACO BELL, A2
Kelly Nicastro WRITER
There’s beef between a Montgomery law firm and Taco Bell—literally. Montgomery law firm Beasley, Allen, Crow, Methvin, Portis and Miles is suing Taco Bell for false advertisement of its “seasoned ground beef.” INSIDE
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beachy area. “It’s not just the recognition, it’s the vibe,” Zislin said. “Existing fans of the area are being catered to in a new way, and droves of new fans are being introduced to this wonderful area.” While the first festival gave him experience, Zislin said the anticipation of hosting a successful event is always present. “The jitters will always be there,” Zislin said. “The team is constantly adjusting to new variables and seeks to improve the experience
for fans, bands, staff and owners.” Zislin said he has high expectations for this year and the future of the festival. “From day one our mission was to create a very specific type of event that puts Gulf Shores on the map,” Zislin said. “In five years I would like the Hangout Festival to be known as the premiere music festival destination the same way Sundance is to Park City, Utah.” For more information visit www.hangoutmusicfest. com.
HANGOUT FESTIVAL 2011 WHEN WHERE WHO
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Friday May 20 – Sunday May 22 Gulf Shores Paul Simon, Foo Fighters, Widespread Panic, The Black Keys, My Morning Jacket, Flaming Lips, Cee Lo Green, Primus, Michael Franti and Spearhead, Pretty Lights, Bassnectar, Girl Talk, Ween $159 three day pass
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The Auburn Plainsman A SPIRIT THAT IS NOT AFRAID www.theplainsman.com
Thursday, November 11, 2010
Vol. 117, Issue 12, 24 Pages
Keeping WEGL weird Station manager’s push for change faces scrutiny Eric Austin Campus Editor
W
EGL station manager Cheeano Cambridge, junior in English, began the semester with a vision of change. He is seeking to expand the listenership of FM 91.1 by streamlining the station’s content and expanding the station’s community presence. However, his big ideas and aggressive approach have created backlash both within and without the station from those who feel WEGL’s traditional college radio identity is being lost. A new direction: Cambridge said he is seeking structure in what he felt was a structureless organization. “You have a person at the top, and then it goes down,” Cambridge said. “You can no longer be competitive with other schools without some kind of structure.” Cambridge has proposed a station model organized around “blocks,” where listeners can expect to hear the same genre of music for a set period of time each day. “If you like jazz, you have a certain time to listen to jazz,” he said. “If you like alternative, we have a time to listen to that. If you like R&B, if you like country, I think we even have that as well.” Within these blocks, he is pushing for his DJs to play at least one “mainstream” song for every few “up-and-coming” songs. Cambridge said he believes this structure will bring in new listeners to a station dominated by indie music. Cambridge’s push for a more streamlined
approach to the station has made waves within WEGL’s studio, leading veteran DJs to believe his vision is a clear move toward molding WEGL into a Top-40 station. In response, a group of DJs have created “Keep WEGL Weird,” with the sensational slogan “Top 40 is Tyranny.” The group’s Facebook page has received more than 800 hits in a week. “College radio, for me, is the ability of any DJ or any student at the station to come on and express themselves by the music they play,” said Alessio Summerfield, sophomore in radio, television and film and a leader of the group. Summerfield and Isaac Lim, junior in computer science, cohost “Elephant with a Mozart Soul” Tuesday nights on WEGL. They assumed leadership of the KWW movement after Rivers Langely, an alumnus, created the group in response to what he saw as a worrisome change in the direction of the station. “He (Cambridge) basically said we don’t want it to be dark and underground,” Lim said. “We need to bring more of the mainstream stuff to compete.” Competition is something Cambridge willingly acknowledged he is trying to address. He said he sees WEGL as an opportunity for students of all majors to receive real radio experience while they are in school. “We’re in college to get a degree and find a job,” Cambridge said. “You create a lab so that once you leave here, you can transfer into corporate America more easily.” Cambridge said he wants to improve the professionalism of the station. He no longer » Turn to WEGL, A2
Auburn mourns death of beloved dean Jillian Clair Associate News Editor
Professionalism, intelligence, passion and personality—these were qualities College of Sciences and Mathematics Dean Marie Wooten embodied. Wooten, an Auburn faculty member since 1987 and newly appointed dean of COSAM, died Nov. 5 after being struck by a vehicle while jogging at the intersection of South Donahue Drive and South College Street. “Marie, in my opinion, was one of the most talented faculty members I’ve ever met,” said Lawrence Wit, associate dean of COSAM. “She was good at everything—whether that was teaching, or her research program, or her outreach to the community at large—everything she did, she did a superb job.” Wooten, who began her tenure as dean Aug. 1, was interested in researching cellular and molecular developmental neurobiology and neurodegeneration and had recently discovered a genetic link between obesity and Alzheimer’s disease. She earned two patents and commercialized one technology. Passionate about women in sciences and mathematics, Wooten also co-founded the Institute for Women in Sciences and Engineering. She also held grants from the National Science Foundation, the American Heart Association, NASA and the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Despite her accomplishments and numerous responsibilities, Wooten remained humble, approachable, energetic and organized. “She was one of those people that even though she was giving to so many different relationships and so many different commitments, she was never spread too thin,” said Dana Woods, senior in biomedical
INDEX
sciences and president of COSAM with you, you were excited about the Leaders. “She was wholeheartedly meeting because you knew it was giving to whatever it was at that gonna be a fun meeting. You could time.” tease and kid her, and she would Wooten cared deeply about un- tease and kid you back. When I think dergraduates, even after she was of Marie, I think of a smiling face.” chosen as dean. When someone young dies unexShaista Walji, junior in molecular pectedly, there is a deep sadness and biology, worked with Wooten in her a sense of lost potential, said Sharon research lab. Roberts, associate professor of bioWhereas most other research labs logical sciences. rely on graduate students to do most However, Roberts said she feels of the research, Walji said Wooten the same sadness when she thinks had a different perspective and en- about Wooten’s death, even though couraged her to not only assist grad- she was 53 years old. uate students, but “All this poto pursue her own tential, all of research as well. these ideas, “I just know perall this excitesonally it’s a loss ment—and now for me because I’ve it’s gone, and it always looked at seems unfair to her as a role modus, and I also el,” Walji said. “She have a sense of was kind of like it being incredthat other motheribly unfair to ly figure over here, Marie,” Roberts where you know, if said. “She had you had any condone so much. cerns or anything, She was lookyou know you ing forward to could go to her.” this, she knew WOOTEN Wooten often what she wantmentioned focused to—I just ing on three P’s—planning, persis- feel like she should have gotten the tence and passion, said Jack Femi- chance. There’s kind of a little sense nella, professor and chair of the almost of anger that way—real disdepartment of biological sciences. appointment.” “There’s a fourth P that I think reBefore her death, Wooten laid ally personifies what Marie is and foundations for many ideas for the what she’s meant—and the fourth P future of COSAM that Wit said are is people,” Feminella said. “Very few important for the college to contindeans have the combination of intel- ue to strive to fulfill. lect, passion and people skills, and “I think she would want us to she had that.” move on with the vision she had, and President Jay Gogue remembers I think that is what everyone’s intenWooten for her energy and humor tion is—that is, to pursue toward exduring meetings, as well as the fresh cellence individually and collectiveideas she presented. ly,” Wit said. “The vision was bigger “The part that I’ll always miss is than herself—it was the institution, her smile and her sense of humor,” and the institution has to pick it up Gogue said. “If she was gonna meet and go on.”
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Emily Adams / PHOTO EDITOR
Erica Meissner and Krissy Voss stand in front of Samford Hall. Both are finalists for a Rhodes Scholarship.
Potential Rhodes scholars compete Liz Conn
Meissner, senior in anthropology with a minor in sustainability, is captain and four-year member of the swim team. “Not only is she a world-class athlete, but she is also a leader among her peers that are doing the same things she is,” said Caleb Rotton, senior in psychology. “I think that sets her apart from anyone I know.” Meissner is working on her honors thesis, and while she has not picked a definite topic, she said her thesis will combine her passions for sustainability and anthropology.
Assistant Copy Editor
Though Erica Meissner and Krissy Voss will soon have Auburn in their rearview mirrors, the “Rhode” ahead is bright. As finalists for the prestigious Rhodes Scholarship, the two students will interview with district committees Nov. 19-20. Scholarship winners will be announced following the interviews. The Rhodes Scholarship covers tuition and fees and provides a living stipend for two years of study at Oxford University in Oxford, England. Each year, 32 students in the United States receive the award. |
Wasting Time » C5
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The Auburn Plainsman A SPIRIT THAT IS NOT AFRAID www.theplainsman.com
Thursday, January 20, 2011
Vol. 117, Issue 15, 24 Pages
Tigers celebrate historic season Eric Yabor WRITER
TODD VAN EMST / AUBURN MEDIA RELATIONS
Aubie and Mr. Penny do push-ups during a pep rally in Phoenix, Ariz., a day before the national championship game.
GLENDALE MEETS MR.PENNY COMMUNITY RAISES $9,600 TO SEND JOHNNY RICHMOND TO THE BCS NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP Jillian Clair
I
PHILIP SMITH / PHOTO STAFF
NEWS EDITOR
f his wife would let him, Mr. Penny would paint his entire house orange and blue. Known for enthusiastically performing thousands of pushups at home football games, Mr. Penny, Johnny Richmond, is classified by many as Auburn’s greatest fan. Although Richmond claims he is a motivator for the team’s success, he was shocked when the community raised $9,600 to send him to Glendale, Ariz. for the BCS National Championship
game—something he could never have dreamed. “I want to thank people—I can’t thank them enough,” Richmond said. “They didn’t have to do that, but God put it in their hearts to do it, and so that’s what they did. I really appreciate it. I had a great, great time.” Richmond works at Dean Road Elementary School as a custodian and a crossing guard. The group of parents and students he ushers across the street as they walk to school call themselves the Penny Walkers. » See PENNY, A2
Auburn fans are preparing to party like it’s 1957 as the football team brings home the Coaches’ Trophy Saturday. Head coach Gene Chizik invited all Tiger fans to join the team in Jordan-Hare Stadium as they present the American Football Coaches Association National Championship Trophy. Lolly Steiner of the Auburn Chamber of Commerce said many hotels are booked for Saturday night as Auburn faithful pour into town to celebrate. “We typically participate in these types of celebrations and events that involve the community,” Steiner said. Two events of similar size had been planned before: Toomer’s 2000, which was a celebration for the new millennium, and a celebration for the 2004 perfect season, Steiner said. Scott Carr, senior associate athletic director, said the city plans to close off Toomer’s Corner to traffic as people will naturally flow there following the trophy presentation. “I would assume we had something like this back in 1957,” Carr said, referring to the Tigers’ last national title 53 years ago. The Tigers have come close to being awarded titles again since then, most noticeably in 1983, 1993 and 2004. Each time, bad luck in the polls doomed the team to wait another year. Now that an undisputed championship has finally arrived, the school is planning for large support to come in. Carr estimated that anywhere from 40–60 thousand Auburn faithful will attend the ceremony. “I would say this is the
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We’re going to get this thing rolling; and we’re going to celebrate this national championship.” —Gene Chizik, HEAD COACH
largest celebration of this type on this campus,” Carr said. Carr, who had previously worked on planning the FedEx Orange Bowl game, said while he’s used to coordinating large events, he has never planned a historical event such as this. Carr recommended fans also attend the men’s basketball game against the University of Alabama where the Foy-ODK Sportsmanship Award will be presented. The award is given each year to the winner of the Iron Bowl, with Auburn currently holding that honor after a 28-27 win in Tuscaloosa to finish off a perfect regular season. In keeping with the tradition of the sportsmanship trophy, Alabama’s SGA president will sing Auburn’s fight song during the presentation. The celebration, set to begin at 1 p.m., will last about one hour and will feature the band, cheerleaders, Tiger Paws, Aubie and of course, the team. Entrance is free and is through gates 2, 4, 5 and 7. Seating is first-come, first-serve. Students with an Auburn Ignited card may walk onto the field through the gates in sections 46 and 35. Parking for the event will be at the hayfields on South Donahue Drive. » See CELEBRATION, A2
Studies reveal danger-soaked side of drinking games Liz Conn ASSOCIATE CAMPUS EDITOR
Drinking games, a staple of the college lifestyle, may provide danger as well as fun. “The biggest danger with drinking games is that you lose control over how much you’re drinking,” said Chris Correia, associate professor of psychology. “You put yourself in a situation where you might be drinking more than you normally would or more than you can handle in that period of time.” Correia published a study in 2010 that showed a correlation between participation in drinking games and alcohol-related problems. Problems included having trouble studying, experiencing withdrawal symptoms and going to school or work drunk. “With drinking games, I think the reason that you see such a high correlation with those problems is because people are drinking at really elevated levels,” said Jenni Cameron, who co-authored the study. INSIDE
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Cameron graduated from Auburn in August with her Ph.D. in clinical psychology. The fast-paced nature of drinking games is also a contributing factor, according to Mark Silvestri, graduate student in psychology. “If you think of Flip Cup, for example, it’s a pretty fast and rapid game,” Silvestri said. “You can consume a good amount of alcohol in a short amount of time, and what that does is, obviously, it makes you drunk fast because your BAC spikes up much higher.” Cameron said drinkers often lose track of how much alcohol they have consumed and consequently drink more. “Consumpt i o n games” such as Century Club are especially dangerous, where participants drink an ounce of |
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beer every minute for 100 minutes, Cameron said. “The other ones that are really high are the chance games—stuff like Kings, Circle of Death, Three Man— the ones where there really aren’t any rules,” Cameron said. “What you drink literally just comes down to the flip of a card or the roll of a dice.” Cameron said the prevalence of drinking games on college campuses stems, in part, from the large popula-
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tion of students under 21. “Before you’re able to go to the bars and get in legally, it’s something that you can do when you’re hanging out and drinking with people,” Cameron said. Correia said books, video games and even national tournaments market to college students one of the most popular drinking games: Beer Pong. “There is this huge culture specifically around Beer Pong,” Correia said. Another study published by Cameron and Correia in
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2010 studied average blood alcohol content levels during games of Beer Pong. The study analyzed disparities in BAC levels because of metabolic differences between males and females. “Guys and girls drink about the same amount when they play Beer Pong,” Correia said, “but the girls are going to come away, on average, with a higher BAC.” In a 20-minute, two-player game of Beer Pong, the average male had a BAC of .08, while the average for a female was .14. “Looking at those differences in BACs, you can see some of the risks of drinking games, specifically for female participants,” Cameron said. Cameron cited a 2004 study in which participants were questioned about their motives for playing drinking games. “Some of the ones that males
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reported, that females didn’t, were that some of their motives were to intoxicate other players or to facilitate sexual contact,” Cameron said. “When you look at those differences in BACs for males and females, you can see where that could lead to some of that.” Silvestri said drinkers should give their bodies time to catch up after playing a drinking game. “You may not feel the effects of how much you drank when you were playing that drinking game,” Silvestri said, “because it usually takes your body some time to process that alcohol.” Correia said participants should avoid playing with hard liquor and, for Beer Pong, decide beforehand how much beer will go in each cup. “The No.1 thing is knowing that you can always stop,” Correia said. “That’s something to keep in mind for any drinking situation you’re in.” Recycled paper
Newton is Scootin’ D1
UPC Block Party B6
Tiger-Sized Cravings C1
The Auburn Plainsman A Spirit That Is Not Afraid
THURSDAY, August 26, 2010
Vol. 117, Issue 1 32 Pages
www.theplainsman.com
Mandatory meal plan spurs student lawsuit BRENT GODWIN ASSISTANT CAMPUS EDITOR
Using your Tiger Card to pay for a meal on campus may be mindless to some, but to others it is a hot-button issue. Three Auburn students filed a lawsuit Aug. 11 in Jefferson County against Chartwells, the company that handles dining on campus, claiming the Board of Trustees and Chartwell’s parent group, Compass, USA, have entered into an illegal conspiracy in restraint of intrastate commerce.
Also named is Board of Trustees President Pro Tem Sarah Newton. The lawsuit claims that the University’s policy to charge a mandatory dining fee in addition to the cost of tuition is unfair, violating Code of Alabama section 6-5-60. It states the mandatory dining plan at Auburn was implemented in July 2007 as a way to boost the University’s revenue. In 2007, the plan was known as “Dining Dollars,” which gave students the option whether they wanted to spend this mon-
ey, and only 991 students opted into the program, according to the lawsuit. The Tiger Card could be used to purchase meals on campus, but select places off-campus also would accept payment in this way, as it acted as a debit card of sorts—not a mandatory predetermined amount as it would later become. Beginning with the class of 2012, which started in Aug. 2008, the dining plan was made Emily Adams / PHOTO EDITOR
> Turn to MEAL PLAN, A2
Students wait in line to get food from the Chic-Fil-A in the Student Center.
* Votes rounded to nearest tenth of a percent
PERCENTAGE OFF VOTES TES P
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Ham: 3.4% Thompson: .8%
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Ham: 11.1% Thompson: 3%
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Ham: 14.3% Thompson: 3.6%
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5 6
Ham: 20.9% Thompson: 6.3%
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Ham: 30% Thompson: 5.1%
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TOTAL VOTES VOTES Infographic designed by Adam Bulgatz / Design Editor torr
Ham: 80.9% Thompson: 19.1%
Ham re-elected to fourth term DANIEL CHESSER NEWS EDITOR
Bill Ham sliced through the competition and is still Auburn’s mayor after Tuesday’s city election. Ham’s numbers in every ward far outweighed his opponent’s, SkyBar Cafe owner Paul Thompson, who was a noshow for the results at Auburn City Hall. “I’m glad the campaign is over with, and we can get back to work,” Ham said. “To be honest with you, I hate asking for money to run a campaign, but it is part of the political process.” Ham is entering his seventh term on Auburn’s City Council and his fourth as mayor. “We have a great city council,” Ham said. “I have not worked with a better group collectively than the one that
just got re-elected.” Gene Dulaney of 7th Ward and Brent Beard of 4th Ward were the only other council members being challenged for their seats. Their opponents were also not in attendance. “Everything seemed to go very smoothly,” said Charlie Duggan, city manager. “I always make it a habit for municipal elections to go by every polling place really just to thank the workers.” Duggan said there were no waiting lines at the polling stations because of the efficiency of the poll workers. “We have a lot of people working the polls that have done it many times before,” Duggan said. The results were expediated because only three of the nine slots on the council were challenged this term, including the position of mayor.
Auburn’s ‘Buddy Ball’ remembered JILLIAN CLAIR ASSOCIATE NEWS EDITOR
After students finish a meal at Sewell Dining Hall, they take their dishes to a window, where someone they’ve never met scrubs it with soap and hot water. Many students don’t give the people who make their dining experience possible a THOMAS second glance. Isiah Thomas was one of the people on the other side of the window. While walking on campus after work Aug. 16, Thomas, 66, had a heart attack and later died at East Alabama Medical Center. Thomas worked in Sewell Dining Hall for 43 years. Affectionately nicknamed “Buddy Ball” by friends, family and coworkers, Isiah was loved by those who knew him, said Isiah’s brother Silas Thomas, an employee of Auburn Housing and Residence Life. “He was a very caring person,” Silas said. “He’d be willing to help anyone.” Silas said his brother was a responsible man who knew when to have fun and when to be serious. “He always said, ‘When it comes down to business, you don’t joke around—you be > Turn to THOMAS, A2
Under Armour showcases new sideline collection ALISON MCFERRIN STAFF WRITER
The Auburn University Bookstore held its first fashion show Tuesday afternoon to showcase fall fashions for both guys and girls. “We’ve talked about it before,” said Katie Lee, bookstore director. Lee said Haley Concourse would have been a great location, but amplified sound permits can’t be obtained until after 7 p.m. “We wanted to do it in the store because students don’t like to come back in the evening time,” Lee said. Jennifer Edwards, marketing and communication specialist for the bookstore, said planning started in July.
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The bookstore team got the idea from different professional associations. “Other bookstores have had a show and had good results,” Edwards said. Models for the event were members of the Greek community, including eight girls and seven guys. “Loved it,” said Drew Cullen, senior in accounting and an Interfraternity Council Executive. “It was great for the bookstore, and we thank them for having us.”
News A3 Opinions A6
The girls and guys agreed they did it “just for fun,” but as an added perk, models got a free item of clothing for participating. “We’re all about the Under Armour,” Cullen said. Under Armour was only one of the many clothing brands featured at the fashion show. Other fall fashions included clothing from Klutch Apparel, For the Glory, Russell Athletic, Victoria’s Secret, Press B o x and MY U. Carolyn Rush, sophomore in public relations and member of Alpha
Delta Pi, said her favorite outfits were the game day dresses. “It was so fun,” Rush said. Rebecca Hart, Miss Auburn University, served as the emcee for the event. Hart said she has emceed pageants before, but never a fashion show. “It was different because of the crowd interaction, but that just made it more fun,” Hart said. Edwards said this will likely become an annual event, or even semiannual. “We might do it again in the spring,” Edwards said. Edwards said even if the bookstore doesn’t see increased sales, it was a success. “If we can do fun stuff for the students, that’s just a bonus,” Edwards said.
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