The Auburn Plainsman A SPIRIT THAT IS NOT AFRAID ThePlainsman.com
Thursday, March 21, 2013
Vol. 119, Issue 36, 16 Pages
Toomer’s Oaks to be cut down April 23
Online
Chandler Jones COMMUNITY REPORTER
Campus A2
The date for the Toomer’s Oak Tree removal is set for Tuesday, April 23, three days after the last rolling on ADay, Saturday April 20. At the Auburn City Council meeting Tuesday, March 19, the Council passed a resolution to close streets from 7 a.m. for five hours to remove the trees. The University requested that date, and it was Council action to close the streets to accommodate them. “We are traffic control and closing the streets down,” said City Manager Charles Duggan. “I have the authority to adjust the hours. We really don’t
think it’ll take five hours. We are just being safe and telling people what to plan for.” The city hopes to be done before lunch. “We will put barricades up closing off the entire intersection, but we are going to allow space for bystanders and the public to watch what’s going on, as well as space for media,” said RonBooth, Project Management Director. Asplundh Tree Expert Company will have two teams to work simultaneously on both trees. “They are going to work from the top down,” Booth said. “They’ll cut it in sections and lower those sections down to
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Once they are both down they will be transported to a vendor who is going to make commemorative items out of it. —Ron Booth APROJECT MANAGEMENT DIRECTOR
the ground. Once they are both down they will be loaded onto a truck, and they will be transported to a vendor
A new face for the Vatican See Story on A4
Sports B4
THE PLAINSMAN POLL
This week’s question
who is going to make commemorative items out of it.” The roots will remain until the corner renovation is complete. Pending the University’s release of renovation plans for Toomer’s Corner the city has decided to create a temporary poll system as substitute. The three-poll system will be set up in triangle, one poll when be located next to Compass Bank; another on the landscaped area in front of Toomer’s Drugs; and the final in front of the Bank Vault.
COURTESY OF ANNA HENDERSON
Pope Francis was announced as the new pope Wednesday, March 13 at the Vatican.
Pirates cast to benefit CODA, Hemmes Family
Vote online at
Updyke case moved to Elmore County Staff Report
Lee County Circuit Court Judge Jacob A. Walker III has found a different location for the Harvey Updyke case, granting the defense’s request for a change of venue. Updyke is accused of poisoning the oaks at Toomer’s Corner. The case has been moved to Elmore County, abiding with state law that it be moved to the closest county free from prejudice, and will start Monday, April 8. A hearing previously scheduled for Friday, March 15, was canceled. The change in venue comes after Robert T. Treese III, Lee County district attorney, recently dropped his opposition to a change of venue. The change in venue was requested at Updyke’s Wednesday, Feb. 13 hearing by the defense, who said it would be impossible to have an unbiased jury in Auburn.
Last week’s question
Nathan Simone MANAGING EDITOR
COURTESY OF CHRIS LEWIS
Martin Klebba, left, and Kevin McNally, middle, will talk about the upcoming Pirates Of The Caribbean 5 during a charity fundraiser in the student center Friday, March 22 at 7 p.m.
Cast to discuss newest Pirates Of The Caribbean movie during fundraiser Jessa Pease WRITER
Campus Opinion Community Sports Intrigue
A2 A6 A7 B1 B5
UPDYKE
Currently, Updyke is being held at the Lee County Detention Center after Walker revoked Updyke’s $50,000 bond at his Wednesday, Feb. 13, hearing for allegedly violating the terms of his bond when he was arrested in Hammond, La. Sept. 24, 2012. Officer Matthew Brady in Hammond, La., arrested Updyke in a dispute regarding a refund for a lawnmower. Kisha Abercrombie, assistant district attorney, cited Updyke violated his bond by being arrested for an alleged assault.
» See UPDYKE A2
Gogue addresses state of University
ThePlainsman.com
INDEX
» See TOOMERS A2
Pirates from the Caribbean are jumping ship to speak in Auburn Friday, April 12, as the Coalition for Dwarf Advocacy hosts the crew for a night of autographs, questions and answers, costumes and the 10th anniversary of The Curse of the Black Pearl. Lt. and Stacia Hemmes are adopting a son from China who has dwarfism, and this event was organized by Coalition for Dwarf Advocacy and Marty Klebba, an actor from Pirates of the Caribbean who also has dwarfism, to help the Hemmes family fund the adop-
tion. “I contacted (Klebba), and this is the group’s way of assisting families that are adopting children with dwarfism,” Stacia said. “It will benefit other families as well through Coalition for Dwarf Advocacy, and then our family.” The event will feature four celebrities from the Pirates of the Caribbean who will meet everyone in attendance. Klebba, who plays Marty in the first three Pirates movies, will be in attendance along with Kevin McNally (Gibbs), Lee Arenberg (Pintel) and Vanessa Branch (one of Captain Jack Sparrow’s girlfriends
from Tortuga). “These actors are taking the time out of their schedules just out of the goodness of their hearts to do this event, so they are very committed to their fans and to helping others,” Hemmes said. “It is just amazing. I can’t believe people’s generosity and love for our son who isn’t even here yet. It’s going to be a great night.” Kayla Jackson, sophomore in pre-chemistry education is a huge fan of the Pirates of the Caribbean and said she is very excited for this event.
» See PIRATES A2
What’s in store for Auburn? Auburn University President Jay Gogue answered that question and more at the State of the University Address at 6:30 p.m. in Langdon Hall Tuesday March 19. The half-hour lecture was sponsored by Omicron Delta Kappa and approximately 50 students were in attendance, including former SGA president Owen Parrish. Gogue updated students on the current state of the University and addressed future concerns. In a move uncharacteristic of presidential figures, but symbolic, of his “students first” attitude, Gogue stood offstage at the front of the large classroom facility holding a microphone instead of using a podium. Like a graduate student presenting a well-researched thesis, Gogue informally addressed students about concerns such as rising tuition rates, graduation rates, e-learning and distance courses, the possi-
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“You’ve got kids coming here that have been told what Auburn is like by their grandparents and parents. It’s hard to change that.” —Jay Gogue AUBURN UNIVERSITY PRESIDENT
ble addition of more international students and the status of possibly increasing enrollment. Gogue also said that Auburn is due to be accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) the week of March 25, and that its Quality Enhancement Plan is electronic portfolios. At the end of the lecture, a brief Q&A was held in which questions about the new campus smoking ban, future parking and academic policies were also answered.
» See ADDRESS A2
Campus A2
The Auburn Plainsman
DUI ARRESTS IN THE CITY OF AUBURN MARCH 13 – 19, 2013 ■ Hannah Hodges, 21, Tuscaloosa Saturday, March 16, 3:07 a.m. at Thomas Street and Genelda Avenue ■ Joshua Wilson, 24, Auburn Saturday, March 16, 4:17 a.m. at Shug Jordan Parkway and Wire Road ■ Lawrence Phillips, 48, Opelika Saturday, March 16,4:52 p.m. at Alabama Highway 14 and Willow Creek Road ■ Rebecca Riley, 21, Auburn Sunday, March 17, 1:01 a.m. at West Magnolia Avenue and Thomas Street ■ Lagregory Houston, 23, Opelika Sunday, March 17, 3:50 a.m. on Opelika Road ■ Dominique Key, 30, Auburn Sunday, March 17, 4:44 a.m. at Spencer Avenue and North Donahue Drive ■ John Macdonald, 69, Auburn Sunday, March 17, 7:31 p.m. on Cox Road ■ John Norton, 63, Auburn Monday, March 18, 7:34 p.m. on South Gay Street
Thursday, March 21, 2013
CRIME REPORTS FOR MARCH 13 – 19, 2013 March 12 – South College Street Second-degree criminal mischief between 5:15–6 p.m. March 14 – Sara Street Harassment report March 15 – Law Drive Third-degree criminal mischief between 4:45–5:45 p.m. March 15 – Rick Drive Third-degree burglary of an iPhone and wedding rings between 5:50 a.m.–2 p.m. March 15 – Rick Drive Third-degree burglary of a tablet, U.S. currency, a laptop and safe between 5:50 a.m.–2 p.m.
March 16 – West Magnolia Avenue Third-degree theft from an automobile of a laptop, backpack and headphones between 10–10:10 p.m. March 17 – College Street Second-degree theft of U.S. currency between 1–3 a.m. March 17 – Harmon Drive Harassment report
March 18 – South Gay Street Left the scene of an accident between 7:08–7:12 p.m. March 19 – Pleasant Avenue Third-degree burglary of two guitars, shoes, a watch, a television and an Xbox between 6:15 a.m.–12:25 p.m. March 19 – West Glenn Avenue Third-degree burglary of a camera and a camera lens between 11 a.m.–2:30 p.m.
March 17 – Perry Street Third-degree criminal mischief between 3:15–3:20 a.m. March 17-18 – Tucker Avenue Harassment report between 8:30 p.m. March 17 and 3 p.m. March 18
— Reports provided by Auburn Department of Public Safety
Reflection of 2012-2013 Parrish SGA presidency Austin Lankford CAMPUS REPORTER
Owen Parrish has been Auburn’s student body president for the past year and his time in office is coming to a close. Parrish, senior in civil engineering, said he has enjoyed his time serving the Auburn student body. “I will say that I am worn out, but I loved it,” Parrish said. “I was challenged in a lot of different ways and parts of it were difficult, but it was an incredible experience.” Parrish said he did not come to Auburn with the intent of getting involved in the Student Government Association. “I had never been a part of SGA at all until college,” Parrish said. “I got here and it was something that some old-
PIRATES » From A1
“It’s good for all types of people,” Jackson said. “It appeals to kids because pirates are cool. It appeals to grown-ups because you’ve got the love intrigue and the action and adventure, but you’ve got the comedy in there too.” Jackson said she was happy about the cast members that will be in attendance, and because the event is helping other people, she thinks that makes it even better. “Gibbs, he was always one of my favorites,” Jackson said. “He had a lot of funny lines
er friends of mine suggested I get into.” Parrish decided to participate as a freshman and stayed involved with SGA throughout his time at Auburn and said it became something he enjoyed. “During my junior year, I got to work with facilities management on a certain project that was designing a new classroom facility,” Parrish said. “That was the first project that I got to do something related to SGA and my major that I really loved and really enjoyed and was passionate about.” Parrish said he saw his involvement in SGA as a way to serve and improve the University for the students and that is what he cared about. “Even though I liked being involved with it up until my junior year, I still didn’t have a that I like to quote when I am hanging out with my mom.” Chris Lewis is also helping host the event. Lewis is personal friends with Klebba, and also handles Klebba’s business and publicity. “It’s really all about helping the Hemmes family,” Lewis said. “So we hope everyone will show up and help them out. You know generally, premieres where you get a chance to see the stars are going to be in L.A. or New York or London. Everyone loves Pirates of the Caribbean and this is your chance to see them live in person.” Pirates of Caribbean is the fifth highest grossing film franchise and makes approx-
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I have loved every minute of it and it has made me realize the reasons for which I truly care about the University and its people. It emphasized to me that Auburn is not just bricks and mortar, but it is the relationships that you make while you are here.” —Owen Parrish FORMER SGA PRESIDENT
imately $930 million for each movie, according to Lewis. Only the Harry Potter movies make more money per film. “It should be an interesting evening,” Lewis said. “Just to kind of celebrate the 10th anniversary of the release The Curse of the Black Pearl. While putting this together, so many of the cast members were saying ‘Oh my gosh has it really been 10 years’.” Tickets for this event are $15 for adults, $12 for Auburn students and military and $10 for children 17 and under. For more information or to buy tickets visit: http:// coda.ticketleap.com/pillageand-plunder-world-tour.
desire to become president at that point,” Parrish said. Parrish was the last one out of the four candidates to decide to run for the presidency. “When I won, I saw it as a great opportunity for me to continue to serve the student body,” Parrish said. Parrish said being president for a year has reaffirmed his love for Auburn. “It has made me realize the reasons for which I truly care about this University and its people,” Parrish said. “It emphasized to me that Auburn is not bricks and mortar, but it is the relationships that you make while you are here that makes it so special.” Parrish said he has learned many things over the past year that will help him with his career.
“Politics are not in my future plans, but I think there are so many skills that I learned not only as president, but during my four years with SGA that will translate into what I want to do in the future,” Parrish said. “I learned a lot about leadership and the importance of communicating with people on a personal level.” Parrish said he is in the process of phasing out as president and working with the newly elected Harrison Mills transition into his new role. “It was important to have a great team around me to help push me and SGA forward and I think Harrison is doing a great job of that right now,” Parrish said. “I also told him to set objectives and goals for his team and to pursue and stick to them.”
Parrish said he is looking forward to the rest of the spring semester as a time to catch up with friends he has not been able to spend as much time with during the past year. He also said he is looking forward to catching up on a lot of sleep and getting to relax. “I have loved every minute and it has made me realize the reasons for which I truly care about this University and its people,” Parrish said.
UPDYKE
fense says the police video shows Updyke “did nothing at all.” According to the video, Updyke was banned from the property, but responded that he would return one more item. Updyke has pleaded not
guilty to poisioning the Toomer’s Oaks by reason of mental disease or defect. He faces multiple counts of first-degree criminal mischief, desecration of a venerated object and unlawful damage of a crop facility related to the alleged attack.
» From A1
Margaret Brown, Updyke’s attorney, stated that there were no grounds for the arrest because Updyke was not “legally arrested” and the de-
TOOMERS » From A1
Strung between the polls will be two wires, 3–4 inches apart and will be available for people to roll after the football games. “What we are planning to do is very simple, very inexpensive. We didn’t want to spend a lot of money, because we are looking at redevelopment opportunities at the corner,” said Kevin Cowper, assistant city manager. The city would like to look comprehensively at the whole intersection to make some improvements there. “This is just a low cost option that will not put us into a position where we’ve spent
a lot of money and we need to undo it, but at the same time it will allow the rolling tradition to continue,” Cowper said. In other news the Council passed resolutions to build a parking lot on Gay Street and convert En Fuego into a lounge. The Council passed an ordanance to build a parking lot of 93 spaces on the corner of Gay and Magnolia. The location for the parking lot will be the former location of the Auburn Bank drive-thru. “The project is underbid now, so we should be under construction shortly after school lets out,” Cowper said. .The Council determined En Fuego would need to be converted to a lounge. The outdoor café permit for
PARRISH
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What we are planning to do is very simple, very inexpensive. We didn’t want to spend a lot of money, because we are looking at redevelopment opportunities at the corner.” —Kevin Cowper ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER
En Fuego will be revoked and the establishment will need to reapply for liquor licenses.
The Auburn Plainsman 255 Heisman Drive, Suite 1111, AU Student Center Auburn, AL 36849
Newsroom - (334) 844-9108 COURTESY OF CHRIS LEWIS
Kevin McNally, middle, and Lee Arenberg, right, will be talking in the student center Friday, March 22 at 7 p.m. at the CODA and Hemmes Family Adoptionfund charity fundraiser.
NEWSROOM COMMUNITY Editor - Sydney Callis Reporter - Chandler Jones Writer - Abigail O’Brien CAMPUS Editor - Becky Hardy Reporter - Austin Lankford Writer - Kailey Miller INTRIGUE Editor - Elizabeth Wieck Reporter - Anna Beth Jager Reporter - Caitlin Wagenseil Writer - Kelsey Davis SPORTS Editor - John Burns Reporter - Will Gaines Reporter - Andrew Yawn Writer - Ethan Brady
COURTESY OF CHRIS LEWIS
Marty Klebba will be at the CODA and Hemmes Family Adoption Fund charity fundraiser in the Student Center Friday, March 22, at 7 p.m.
OPINIONS Editor - Benjamin Croomes SPECIAL SECTIONS Editor - Melody Kitchens
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ACCOUNT REPRESENTATIVES Lauren Darmanin Kathryn Holladay John McCullough ONLINE Ben Whitley Editor - Dustin Shrader Assistant Editor - Chelsea Harvey SENIOR DESIGNERS Multimedia editor - Daniel Oramas Whitney Potts Ashley Selby Webmaster - Zach McSwain JUNIOR DESIGNERS COPY DESK Caitlin Piery Editor - Bianca Seward Zoya Zinger Assistant Editor - Callie Ward DISTRIBUTION Jason Bass PHOTO Austin Haisten Editor - Raye May Justin McCroskey Photographer - Katherine McCahey GENERAL MANAGER & EDITORIAL ADVISER ADVERTISING DIRECTOR Austin Phillips Judy Riedl (334) 844-9108 (334) 844-9101 adviser@theplainsman.com gm@theplainsman.com admanager@theplainsman.com The Auburn Plainsman is OFFICE MANAGER published in print weekly Kim Rape every Thursday. We can be (334) 844-4130 found online at kelleka@auburn.edu ThePlainsman.com.
Thursday, March 21, 2013
The Auburn Plainsman
Campus A3
Counselors flip pancakes for scholarships Jordan Dale WRITER
The 14th annual Flapjack Fest and Silent Auction took place Thursday, March 7 at the Foy Hall Food Court from 6–8 p.m. Tickets were $5 and all proceeds went toward the Ryan F. Chandler Memorial Scholarship Endowment Fund. Five dollars provided attendees with all you can eat pancakes, bacon and sausage. The purpose of the fundraiser is to ensure that the scholarship is self-sustaining for years to come. Sodexo and Chartwells, a private food company, donated all of the food for the event. Ryan Chandler was an Auburn University camp counselor in 1995, the first year that Camp War Eagle was the orientation program on campus. Chandler died four years later in the summer of 1999. His family set up the endowment fund in his honor after his death. The scholarship fund is awarded to a student in the college of science and mathematics. “We are here to raise money for the scholarships, and keep Ryan’s name and his memory
alive,” said Mark Armstrong, director of the First Year Experience. “We kind of tagged on and said we need to do something as a program to honor his memory.” First Year Experience is involved in many areas of orientation including Camp War Eagle, SOS, first year university seminar courses and the learning community program. In the spring of 2000, the First Year Experience created the Flapjack Fest and Silent Auction. Over the last 14 years, the event has raised more than $60,000 toward the scholarship fund. Armstrong said the goal was to keep growing the endowment fund so that more and more students can receive scholarships. The Foy Hall Food Court was so full that people were standing and eating their food because no more seats were available. “More than 600 tickets were pre-sold, or sold at the door,” said Melissa Dunn, assistant director of First Year Experience, exceeding the original expectation of 400 tickets. Josh Huggins, head camp counselor and senior in music education, said that three ro-
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We are here to raise money for the scholarships and keep Ryan’s name and his memory alive.” —Mark Armstrong DIRECTOR OF FIRST YEAR EXPERIENCE
tations of staff were used during the event. “We’ve actually had counselors cooking the pancakes, bacon and sausage in the arena all afternoon,” Huggins said. Sixty-two counselors participated in the preparation and management of the event, including 36 camp counselors, 20 parent counselors and six head counselors. “That’s our whole staff that we’ll use throughout the whole entire summer,” Huggins said. George Merriam, junior in public relations, was the first student through the line to get pancakes. “I’m thinking of going back and getting some more flappies,” Merriam said. “I’ve only had 10.” Merriam said he stayed
away from the sausage because it would take up too much space in his stomach and attributes his consumption quantity to his friends helping him keep pace. The silent auction offered an alternative way for participants to show their support of the event. “The silent auction is going on and it’s all stuff that has either been made or donated, ranging from personal paintings to a football signed by Pat Dye,” Huggins said. The camp counselors were responsible for getting together most of the items that would be auctioned off. Some of this year’s contributions included a panorama photograph of Jordan-Hare Stadium, paintings done by faculty, hand-made jewelry and numerous Auburn memorabilia items. The photograph of JordanHare Stadium was the highestgrossing item at $70. Dunn estimated that more than $3,000 was raised by the Flapjack Fest and Silent Auction in support of the scholarship fund. “I’m grateful for anyone who comes out and takes part in it,” Armstrong said.
Campus Bellhops serve Auburn Eva Woghiren WRITER
Cameron Doody and Stephen Vlahos, two Auburn alumni, have put an end to every college students’ moving day hassle. The duo co-founded Campus Bellhops, a moving service for students. “Every semester we would always find ourselves helping move our friends from place to place,” Doody said. “We realized that students would never hire professional movers, so we wanted to provide a solution to the mass moving chaos on college campuses.” The two graduated in 2009 and thought of the idea for Campus Bellhops in 2010. Auburn was the pilot school for Doody and Vlahos’ business, and both said it was successful. According to Doody the company moved 230 students
into the Auburn dorms. In 2012 the company expanded to eight other universities and extended their services to include not only dorms, but apartments, houses and anyone who lives within 15 miles of a college campus. In addition to the added locations Campus Bellhops caters to. They have also extended their service to non students. Campus Bellhops recently partnered with Lamp Post Group, a venture firm that helps smaller companies grow. Doody said because of this partnership they have moved the company as well as their families from Birmingham to Chattanooga, Tenn. “We knew this was a huge need and knew no one had done it, so after a lot of brainstorming we decided to try it out,” Vlahos said.
On average there are approximately 75 bellhops on each campus. Although the bellhops are majority male the company will hire females, but they must be able to pass the weight requirement, which is lifting 60 pounds above their head. According to Doody, the company is starting a new system, something they say is similar to Facebook profile for the bellhops. After the bellhops are interviewed and hired they create a profile including a picture, their major, where they are from, ice breaker questions and some other things. “Once a bellhop picks your move in date you are sent an email introducing you to them with their profile,” Doody said. “That way the parents know exactly who will be helping
Senator Tom Whatley speaks to College Republicans Kailey Miller CAMPUS REPORTER
The Auburn University College Republicans held a meeting Tuesday March 5, where state Sen. Tom Whatley and Adam Thompson, deputy chief of staff to the Secretary of State in Montgomery, came to speak. “We’re in legislature right now. We’re on our tenth legislative day,” Whatley said. “So we’re 1/3 of the way through the session.” Whatley said in his opinion, the biggest thing they did last week was the AirBus legislation. “We got that passed and that was keeping our contractual obligations to AirBus, and what we did there is made it so they’re going to be in Alabama employing thousands of people,” Whatley said. He also discussed the Education and Accountability Act. This will allow tax credits for people who are in failing school systems. “You can take a tax credit up to 80 percent of what is allotted per student,” Whatley said. “You can take that and go to a performing school so you don’t have to continue the cycle of staying in a non performing school.” One school system will gain money and the other school system, that has students leav-
ing, will have the incentive to improve the educational quality they are providing so they don’t go out of business, Whatley said. “We’re going to give the opportunity for parents to take the dollars that they’re paying and instead of paying them to a non-performing school, take it to a school that’s going to be performing for the children,” Whatley said. Whatley said they want to focus on poultry science technology research at Auburn University. The energy and consumption research that Auburn University has done has created light bulbs that are saving approximately $7,000 per year, per chicken house, Whatley said. “This is a tremendous asset to us because that means that’s more money in the farmers pocket,” Whatley said. “He can hire more people, he can build more chicken houses; he or she reinvested in the economy.” Whatley said they are also going to start a technology research incubator and they will put $1 million in the budget this year to start it. Approximately $1 million will go to cancer research at Auburn’s Veterinarian School, Whatley said. Danielle Wall, chairwoman
of the Auburn University College Republicans, helps organize the meetings and getting the speakers to come. Wall said Whatley is a long time friend of hers. “As we’ve grown, we’ve met him around Auburn,” Wall said. “He represents this area so having him come talk to the students (was) pretty cool.” Adam Thompson also spoke at the meeting. Thompson has worked for the State Auditor and is now running for State Auditor himself. “(The) State Auditor audits property inventory and all assets the state owns,” Thompson said. “The State Auditor has to see every single piece of property, every two years. It’s a pretty massive undertaking when you think that there are over 140 state government departments and over 36,000 state employees.” The auditor’s office operates with fewer than 10 people on a budget of less than $1 million, Thompson said. They oversee $2 billion worth of assets. Thompson thinks there are three things that should be at the core of government in general. These three things that should be at the core of government are accountability, efficiency and transparency.
them and have zero worries.” “I don’t know how my mom found them, but I’m glad she did,” said Hailey Rubin, freshman in undeclared sciences and math. “The bellhops made moving in so much easier because I didn’t have to do anything. It was awesome.” Now Campus Bellhops has moved from just eight universities in 2012 to 54 in 2013. This year 2,500 will be employed by their team. Vlahos said they are just getting off the ground with the company. They are constantly fine tuning stuff to make their service better for the customers. College students and parents all over the country are just a few clicks away from not having to lift a finger. To book year-round service, visit campusbellhops.com.
KATHERINE MCCAHEY/ ASSISTANT PHOTO EDITOR
Sarah Mitchell, freshman in health service administration, enjoys the delicious pancakes at Flap Jack Fest held Thursday, March 7.
Thursday is Burger Night Burgers $5.99
where friends meet friends
1151 Opelika Road Auburn, AL 36830 334-821-3118 www.niffersplace.com
Campus A4
The Auburn Plainsman
What do students think about the new Pope?
Thursday, March 21, 2013
DO YOU THINK THIS POPE WILL RETIRE? “I dont think he will retire,” said Blake Evans, senior in communications. “A Pope retiring is very unusual and I doubt it will happen two times in a row. Plus, he probably doesn’t want to experience some of the same backlash that the previous Pope went through.”
HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THE NEW POPE NOT BEING EUROPEAN? “I wish they had picked the American just so we could continue our world domination, since that didn’t happen I think that this is a very interesting choice for pope,” said Jennie Crenshaw, senior in accounting.
DO YOU THINK THE NEW POPE IS TOO OLD ? “As long as he is in good health and is capable of performing his duties I don’t think his age will be a problem,” said LaDarius Lane, senior in animal sciences. “There are several people able to function very well at an older age.”
HOW DO YOU THINK THIS POPE WILL DO IN HIS POSITION? “Even though Pope Francis is an unconventional choice because he’s not European, I think he’s the kind of leader the church needs right now,,” said McCamy Pruitt, senior in agronomy and soils
WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE NEW POPE?
PHOTO CONTIBUTED BY ANNA HENDERSON, SOPHOMORE IN PUBLIC RELATIONS
Interviews conducted by Jherrica Luckie, writer
“I think Pope Francis appears to be healthier than the last pope. As of right now at least,” said Whitman Wesley, senior in communications. “No one saw the last pope resigning, so I guess it’s possible that the new one could also.”
Four directors appointed to Foundation Board Kailey Miller CAMPUS REPORTER
The Auburn University Foundation, which receives charitable contributions that are given to Auburn University and Auburn University Montgomery, has appointed four new directors to its board and selected a new board chair. The new directors are Benny LaRussa Jr., Dottie Kenady Blair, Ronald Dykes and Maj. James Hoskins. The new board chair is Jeff Stone. Blair, who owned a business for 25 years that she sold in 2008, graduated from Auburn University of Montgomery in 1981. “I’m looking forward to serving on the board,” Blair
said. “I think that since I am a graduate of Auburn University of Montgomery, I can bring knowledge and information about that part of the Auburn system to the other board members who may not have ever even been on the Auburn Montgomery campus.” The Auburn University Foundation is a separate organization from the University that develops contributions with donors and manages the donor’s money, Stone said. They then distribute the money for the purposes that the donors intended it to be used for. “Our endowment now that we manage is roughly $500 million,” Stone said. “The earnings off that endowment get
distributed for the benefit of the University students and the programs and faculty and so forth.” Stone graduated from Auburn in 1979 and is currently the chief operating officer for Brasfield and Gorrie, a construction firm. The board members may serve a term up to four years, but can serve two terms. “Right now, God willing and good health and all the other factors of life for people my age, that would be a good outcome if I could contribute for that period,” Dykes said. “To be able to work with a group like this is a great opportunity for anyone.” Dykes graduated from Auburn in 1969 and has retired
from his position as chief financial officer of BellSouth Corporation. Dykes is currently on the administration and audit committees. The board is divided into different committees including the finance, audit, development, directorship and investment committees as well as the Auburn University Real Estate Foundation. “We each have our own individual responsibilities and during our term on the board we rotate through and serve on all the different committees,” Blair said. “I currently serve on the development committee and I also serve on the Auburn Real Estate Foundation.”
LaRussa, who is from Birmingham, graduated from Auburn in 1982. LaRussa is the founder and chief executive officer of Sterling Capital Management. “I’m honored to be asked to serve and I look forward to providing whatever support I can and input that’s of any value to Auburn University and the foundation,” LaRussa said. The Auburn University Foundation chooses their board members using an internal development committee, Dykes said. “The foundation has an internal development committee to identify candidates who have a broad background in various things,” Dykes said. The development commit-
NEWGRADS
Ready to network? Put the power of the Auburn Family behind your job search. Joining the Auburn Alumni Association allows you to network with other members, including those in our 98 clubs nationwide. aualum.org/newgrads
Tell me more... To find out more about networking with alumni, contact:
334-844-2960 newgrads@auburn.edu
House United Building Project May 5-11, 2013, Lee County, AL
Applications now being accepted! Volunteers from the University of Alabama will team up with volunteers from Auburn University to build a house. Limited number of spaces remaining. For additional information and application visit, www.auburn.edu/houseunited or contact Joyce Thomas-Vinson, thomaj5@auburn.edu, (334)844-5117.
TOGETHER WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE!
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I’ve just worked with great people throughout my career and this is just another step in that direction.” —Ronald Dykes DIRECTOR OF THE AUBURN UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION BOARD
tee then puts forth a candidate to the board and the board decides who it wants to join. “I’ve worked with great people throughout my career and this is just another step in that direction,” Dykes said.
Thursday, March 21, 2013
Campus A5
The Auburn Plainsman
Big effort for BIG Event Ben Hohenstatt WRITER
CONTIBUTED BY RACHEL PIPAN
The Natural History Museum at Auburn will open Wednesday, April 3. The contrusction outside of the Biodiversity Learning Center, where the museum will be located, is still underway.
Auburn’s own museum Rachel Pipan WRITER
Auburn University has a museum of natural history. But it’s a museum without exhibits. The museum has more than one million specimens and one of the nation’s largest collections of North American tarantulas. There are fish from all over the Southeastern United States and from as far as Africa. There are stacks of Alabama tortoise shells that serve as a painful reminder of Campbell’s Soup Company hunting them to near-extinction for turtle soup. There’s a room full of croaking frogs and hissing snakes. The mammal department has mounted collections of species that used to roam Alabama. The museum even houses the state of Alabama plant collection. All of these collections and more make up the Auburn University Museum of Natural History, or AUMNH. And in April, it’s getting a new home. The Biodiversity Learning Center is slated to open Wednesday, April 3, behind M. White Smith Hall. It boasts specimen preparation rooms, a seminar conference room and more space to grow the museum’s collections. What the Biodiversity Learning Center won’t have is public display space. Although the museum is not completed yet it is not far from completiton. “The museum is in its intermediate stage,” said Dr. Jason Bond, professor of biology and director of the AUMNH. A two-time Colbert Report guest and spider expert, Bond has big dreams for the museum past the opening of the Biodiversity Learning Center. “We want to develop public exhibits to enhance access
to our collections,” Bond said. Although it won’t have public display space, the Biodiversity Learning Center will provide a platform for the museum to reach out to the community. “The new building gives us a unique opportunity to expand outreach,” said Dr. Craig Guyer, curator of the herpetology department. “We have presentations at Camp War Eagle and Talons Days,” Guyer said. “And now, with the new building, there’s no shortage of great schools that could come in here and visit.” The museum’s new location is an improvement from its previous location in the Physiology Building, but there’s still more to be done, Bond said. “A museum of natural history is what Auburn is missing,” Bond said. “How on earth do we have an art museum and not a natural history museum? As a land grant university, we are obligated to transmit our research, and a public museum of natural history could be the nexus of that. It’s an obvious fit.” The next step for the museum is to raise money and awareness for public exhibits. “M. White Smith Hall is a good candidate ( for exhibit space) because it’s connected to the Biodiversity Learning Center where the collections are housed,” Guyer said. “Right now it’s used for displaced offices, but it could be renovated and made into display space for the museum.” However, because of budget cuts and the declining economic climate, the top priority of Bond and the museum is to maintain its current collections. “We fight for every penny,” Bond said. “We spend $5,000 to $10,000 every year on alcohol alone to keep specimens preserved. We would need significant funding to expand to having exhibits.”
On Wednesday, April 10, the AUMNH will host “Celebrating Biodiversity,” a fundraising dinner at the Auburn University Hotel and Conference Center, featuring speaker and famous biologist E.O. Wilson. The proceeds, however, won’t be going toward building public exhibit space. It will be for basic upkeep and intake of collections. “We need to support the museum that we have,” Bond said. “Efforts to digitize our collections, outreach efforts, they all cost money. And we do not have as much funding as we need.” There is not a lack of interest in the museum by Auburn University students. But most students, when asked, didn’t know it exists. “I would definitely go visit a museum of a natural history if we had one,” said Talia Arevalo, sophomore in graphic design. “That would be really cool, and I’m not even a science major.” The Auburn University Museum of Natural History has opportunities for student involvement as well – students can work in the museum and with the collections. “We are working on ways, besides public exhibits, to have students be able to visit the museum,” Bond said. The Biodiversity Learning Center is the culmination of years of hard work by the staff of the AUMNH, but it’s not the end of the story. “The goal of these collections is to be able to throw open the doors and say, ‘Hey, use this resource,’” Guyer said. With this museum, Guyer said people would think about Auburn more for biology. “(They) think twice about using turtles for target practice,” Guyers said. Students interested in working with the museum or for more information about the “Celebrating Biodiversity” dinner can contact Dr. Jason Bond at jeb0037@auburn.edu.
Sweat, dirt, hard labor and smiles. All of these things are important elements of Auburn’s BIG Event. BIG Event is a philanthropy event that started at Texas A&M in 1982 as a way of saying thank you to the community. Today BIG Event has spread to many universities in the Southeast as well as a few high schools, and it continues to be driven by the desire to help the community. “It lets the people in the community see there are students out there that care about them,” said Logan Powell, executive director of the BIG Event “I volunteer, because this is my way to say thank you,” said Leanne Portera, assistant director of job sites and tools of BIG Event. This year’s BIG Event on Saturday, March 23 will mark the 11th year that the University has participated in the Big Event program according to Powell. As its name suggests the defining characteristics of BIG Event are its size and scope. This year Powell said there are more than 70 registered job sites. “We have a whole lot of different job sites,” Portera said. These job sites include locations that will help schools in Notasulga, The Boys & Girls Club, Humane Society, local churches, homeowners and others. “People will be doing everything from raking to washing windows,” Portera, said. “We just can’t use power tools.” Although this year’s BIG Event will be one of the biggest in the event’s history at Auburn it will actually be a step back in overall size from last year.
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They accomplish in one day what would take us two months on our own. It certainly has been a tremendous help.” —Dottie Battle BOARD MEMBER OF VILLAGE CHRISTIAN CHURCH
“It has had an exponential growth pattern, but has gotten a little bit smaller this year,” Portera said. “It will be a bit smaller, because this is the first year without spirit points.” Portera said she was optimistic, however, that BIG Event will continue to grow after this year. This news has not dampened the spirit of at least one recipient of BIG Event’s aide. “We are simply grateful for any assistance we can get,” said Dottie Battle, board member of Village Christian Church. Battle said that the church has been helped by BIG Event for the last four years, and the enthusiasm and vigor of the volunteers has always stood out.
“They help us to spring clean every year,” Battle said. Battle said this spring cleaning allowed the church’s garden and labyrinth to be open to the public much earlier than it would be without the help of BIG Event’s volunteers. “They accomplish in one day what would take us two months on our own,” Battle said. “It certainly has been a tremendous help.” This year’s BIG Event like previous BIG Events will start with an 8 a.m. kick-off before groups are assigned their job sites. The event starts at 9 a.m. and lasts until either the job is done or by 1 p.m. Register for the BIG Event at the University’s SGA website.
KSU Take Flight Want to pick up the pace for finishing your degree? Consider summer classes at Kennesaw State University.
KSU has flexible scheduling options and start dates, so you can get ahead with courses and still enjoy your summer. Choose from 2, 4, 6, and 8-week sessions. On campus, hybrid and online courses are available. • Transient student application and document deadline is April 19, 2013 • Classes begin as early as May 13 and end as late as July 28, depending on the session
• Starting March 4, check the KSU Registrar’s website at www.kennesaw.edu for the schedule of courses for summer
Apply online now at admissions.kennesaw.edu Office of Admissions • 770.423.6300
Opinions
A6 ThePlainsman.com
Thursday, March 21, 2013
Opinions
Our View
Tuition is too damn high Tuition hurts. Even if your family is well off – or you managed to wrangle a full-ride scholarship – tuition is expensive. For those of us who had no choice but take out student loans, the cost of tuition will follow us for many years after we graduate. If the job market for recent graduates wasn’t so bad, maybe we could deal with the cost of college better, but it isn’t. We want to know why Auburn, and college in general, is so damn expensive. There are more than 25,000 students attending the University. If each paid the in-state tuition cost, Auburn would bring in approximately $225 million every semester, and $450 million every year. According to the 2012-2013 summary of revenue, the University also receives approximately $155 million from the State of Alabama – of course, that number is always changing. So to add it all up, that’s approximately $605 million every year, not in-
cluding the $25,000 out-of-state students pay every semester and the millions the football program rakes in every fall. Yet, a lot of us are still selling our birth rights just to get a degree, a degree that might not even get us a job. We understand times are tough. We understand professors need to be paid competitive salaries. But something needs to change. When students in other countries, such as Spain and Canada, hear about tuition increases, they protest, which sometimes turn into riots. It probably isn’t a good idea to riot, but a protest is certainly worth our time. President Gogue’s lawn would be the perfect spot to take a stand and let the administration know we are tired of sacrificing so much to gain an education. The national consensus seems to be education, especially the post-secondary variety, is a privilege. We believe it
is a right. If you want to go to college, you should be able to without having to pay exorbitant amounts of money. You should be able to better yourself without experiencing many years of debt after you graduate. A flat tuition would be a good start. Books that don’t cost your first-born child would be a great next step. Obviously, the federal government is a long way away from making a college education an affordable option. But we think Auburn could serve as the perfect example for an institution that values its students more than their wallets. This is not socialism; this is not a free-hand out. How can we expect to prosper as a nation when we make the means to that prosperity too costly? It’s time we made our voices heard. We are sick and tired of paying inflated tuition, and we are sick of taking on massive amounts of debt just to improve our lives.
Letters to the editor
The truth behind food stamps The number of people on welfare in Alabama in 2010 was 51,205. This word, “welfare,” brings so much to mind, but let’s consider some other demographics. The population of Alabama in 2010 was 4,779,736. That means that only 1% of Alabamians were on welfare in 2010. The annual median income in Alabama is $42,934. The federal poverty line in 2009 was $22,050 for a family of four and 17.6% of people in Alabama fell below the poverty level from 20072011. I hear people on campus talk about welfare and the people on welfare, arguing about the injustices of paying for someone else’s laziness. Before these arguments can be made, and others like them, we as a student body need to educate ourselves and others on “welfare” and what it means for recipients. I think a lot of students would be surprised. Welfare has been around in our country since 1935 under Aid to Families with Dependent Children. That program remained in place until welfare reform in 1996. “Welfare,” then became Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF). Many would be surprised to know that a family of four in Alabama on TANF, can receive at maximum $245 a month.
Let’s look at the five biggest points of TANF. 1. Benefits through TANF can only last for a lifetime maximum of five years and you cannot remain on welfare for more than two consecutive years at a time. 2. In Alabama, to be eligible for TANF, the family must include a child or a pregnant woman. 3. Adults in families receiving cash assistance must work or participate in work related activities for a specified number of hours per week depending on the number of work-eligible adults in the family and the age of children. 4. If a family on TANF has children, those children under age five must be current with childhood immunizations and children age six to eighteen must attend school and parents or caretakers must participate in school conferences. Many have this notion that those receiving this assistance are just sitting around “living off of welfare.” However, this brings us to number 5. Single parents with a child under age 6 must have 20 hours weekly in core work activities. A married teen or teen head of household under age 20 must maintain satisfactory attendance at secondary school or the equivalent, or participate in education related to employment for at
least 20 hours weekly. Twoparent families who do not receive subsidized childcare have a requirement of 35 hours per week (total among both parents) with at least 30 hours in core activities. Twoparent families who receive subsidized childcare have a requirement of 55 hours per week with at least 50 hours in core activities. Now let’s look at Food Stamps or the SNAP program. Although not considered “welfare,” it is another form of cash assistance that many lump together with “welfare.” Let’s examine the three biggest points of SNAP. 1. To be eligible for SNAP, a family of four must fall below $1,921 in net income. 2. A family of four participating in program in Alabama cannot receive more than $668 a month. 3. Unless otherwise exempt, each household member must be registered for work. Also, certain food assistance recipients (between the ages of 18-50) who are able bodied and have no dependents are eligible to receive food assistance for only 3 months in a 36 month period if he or she is not working or participating in a work and training program for at least 20 hours a week. Let’s make this hit a little closer to home for us college students. A single person on SNAP receives about $30 a
week. For two meals a day, this averages out to $2.14 per meal. Now compare that to how much money you spend on food each week. Of these programs, a single male can only be qualified for SNAP. While a family of four can qualify for both programs, SNAP can only be used for food, leaving $245 to cover rent, transportation, utilities and other expenses. No matter what side of the fence you are on, living on welfare is not a life of luxury. We as a student body need to understand the provisions of these programs to better understand fellow students and others who receive these stigmatized benefits. Learn about the different program available to those in poverty and then decide for yourself whether you feel they are beneficial or detrimental to society. But we owe it to ourselves and others to know the facts.
Mollie Lewis Sophomore Social Work
His View
AU focuses on students Nathan Simone MANAGING.EDITOR@THEPLAINSMAN.COM
On Monday, March 4, I was invited to one of more than 25 focus groups at the Ralph B. Draughon library hosted by the Office of the Provost. A far cry from typical focus groups that seek opinions on products or national trends, this 90-minute session sought to gather input for the strategic plan of the University for 2013-18. There was only one other student participant beside me, with the rest of the 8-person discussion panel made up of various faculty members and employees. Four categories were labeled on a whiteboard as to what the University should start, stop, have more of and have less of. Faculty members said that the University should start having more endowed chairs within departments, recruiting National Science Fellows, start University-level mentoring programs and closely monitor the cost of attending Auburn, perhaps by re-evaluating the student financing system. Opinions of what the University should stop included the mandatory dining plan and a reform of human resources to alleviate staff disciplinary issues. I chimed in that the University should definitely have more skill based/active learning that gets students outside the classroom, while others touched on the topics of increased diversity, distance learning/online courses, required internships, increased updating of campus facilities and extending outreach. Discussion of what the University should have less of cen-
tered around administrators/ middle men and new centers and institutes that seem to be redundant in duties rather than extensions of a department. One of the larger issues discussed toward the end was the future income of the University. With maximum enrollment set by the Board of Trustees at 25,000 students, faculty and staff at the meeting were concerned that Auburn will not receive enough income from tuition compared to growing schools such as the University of Alabama. This problem is in addition to diminishing state and federal funding for public research universities, Members of the group expressed concern that the growing competitiveness of attending Auburn University has left many legacies excluded, therefore also decreasing private donations from alumni that feel mistreated. In June, the strategic plan will be finalized by President Gogue and the Board of Trustees before going into effect Friday, June 21. I want to highly encourage the University to continue seeking student, faculty and employee input for large decisions such as this by utilizing focus groups and online surveys. Not only was the session informative and interesting, but I felt that concerns I shared were heard and treated with legitimacy instead of being brushed off because of my student status. After all, the “Loveliest Village on the Plains” is comprised of people, not numbers and bottom lines.
A spirit that can do more for this deserted village Dear Editorial Board, Based on the article “Greek Gods of the SGA,” I see that there are still fresh ideas in The Plainsman office. Here’s a question: Why don't you use your considerable, uncontested journalistic prowess on campus to encourage the other 77 percent of Auburn's non-affiliated student body to vote and organize? Ask more from the student body? Also, the fact that there is a student higher education march on the Montgomery Capitol each year to advance the very same causes you suggest should be taken up on Dr. Gogue’s lawn must have
slipped the mind of the entire Plainsman Editorial staff. It is conceivable to the conscientious observer that your staff just does not know what it is talking about in this particular article. On the topic of breaking up the Greek influence: If you thought a fraternity of 90 guys campaigning is a political force majeure, maybe you should consider what might happen, if say, a member of the student band ran for SGA elected office? In reality, there are considerable resources at the disposal of any Auburn student who wants to change the campus conversation through elected
office. It just takes planning, determination and shaking some hands. Yes, Greek-affiliated students can more easily just throw a campaign together and win. But for a dark horse, unconventional candidate to take the office by storm just takes a compelling message. The body politic is craving it. Sadly, the message of winning candidates has been dry for years. Parking, classes, meals, etc. Same ideas, no pressure to exceed our expectations, no pressure to actually fulfill these promises. I wonder what would happen if The Plainsman used its circulato-
ry monopoly on campus news to demand a new paradigm in which only a genuinely progressive and forward thinking campaign with tangible ideas could march on to vic’try?! Alas, we get the same bland campaign promises to which the candidate is not held accountable, not by the press at least, a key difference between the Beltway and the Plains. We get the same bland newspaper that goes on occasional stumps about normative claims of undergraduate electoral justice and other oft-forgotten things. Do you want to write a valuable article? Do you want to
spark debate? Do you want to change the paradigm on campus? Then ask tough questions to our leaders and aspiring leaders. Ask something of the students who have the power to vote, especially those who abdicate that right. I’ll help you out with a first topic: why does the SGA Elections Board carry significant influence in the outcome of the elections, yet the student representative body (the Senate) does not vote to confirm appointment of these Board members? Federal Election Commission (FEC) appointees in the U.S. must be confirmed by the U.S. Senate, an elected
body. Why not these presidential appointees? Ask the tough questions, report on it, consider your contribution to electoral transparency, then you might actually find a glimmer of the change you want to see in this world. “You see things; and you say, ‘Why?’ But I dream things that never were; and I say, ‘Why not?’ – George Bernard Shaw. Ask “Why not?” Plainsman Editorial Board.
Oliver Goldsmith Alumnus
The Editorial Board ROBERT E. LEE Editor-in-Chief
Dustin Shrader
John Burns
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The Auburn Plainsman welcomes letters from students as well as from faculty, administrators, alumni and those not affiliated with the University. Letters must be submitted before 4:30 p.m. on the Monday for publication. Letters must include the author’s name, address and phone number for verification, though the name of the author may be withheld upon request. Submission may be edited for grammar and/or length.
The opinions of The Auburn Plainsman staff are restricted to these pages. This editorial is the majority opinion of the 12-member editorial board and are the official opinion of the newspaper. The opinions expressed in columns and letters represent the views and opinions of their individual authors and do not necessarily reflect the Auburn University student body, faculty, administration or Board of Trustees.
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Community
A7
ThePlainsman.com
Thursday, March 21, 2013
RACHEL SUHS/DESIGN EDITOR
Alabama Power rates under fire Abigail O’Brien COMMUNITY WRITER
Alabama Arise, a nonprofit group that works to represent the low-income sector of Alabamians, recently released a report, available on their website, saying Alabama Power lacks transparency in the ways its rates are decided and kept. The Public Service Commission regulates what Alabama Power does, but Arise said they feel the PSC’s accountability methods toward Alabama Power could be improved. “When we looked at, it turns out that, since making the change in how Alabama Power is regulated, the PSC has really had a sort of ‘hands off ’ policy,” said Stephen Stetson, policy analyst for Arise Citizens’ Policy Project. “When you compare what Alabama rate payers are paying to other folks in other states, the data shows we might not be getting the best deal possible.” Stetson said they began to look deeper into the rates. “Maybe there’s a connection between the rates that we’re paying and the way the Public Service Commission does its job,” Stetson said. Alabama began a new kind of regulatory system in 1982 called the Rate Stabilization and Equalization. Before, rate hearings consisted of both the utilities and the customers bringing in their opinions before each other to discuss them.
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When you compare what Alabama rate payers are paying to other folks in other states, the data shows we might not be getting the best deal possible.” —Stephen Stetson POLICY ANALYST FOR ALABAMA ARISE
Michael Sznajderman, spokesperson for Alabama Power, said that the RSE model keeps rates from being volatil, and they were more fickle in the rate-hearing system before 1982. “The way RSE works, we’re essentially under a continual review by the Public Service Commission,” Sznajderman said. “We have to provide reports on a monthly basis…the Public Service Commission staff at every monthly meeting, which is open to the public. Reports on how the system is working, if we’re staying within this range that we’re allowed to keep rates stable, it’s called Rate Stabilization Equalization, and based on a formula these things are adjusted up or down, but the formula also basically caps how quickly rates can increase or decrease, by what margin, etc.”
Alabama Power is held accountable to PSC as well as other public, state and federal agencies, but the RSE model has also been tweaked multiple times, Sznajderman said. “And again, as far as the transparency, while RSE has been in place for 30 years now, the Public Service Commission has looked at that system over the years. In fact, just for Alabama Power alone they have made, I think, 20 different changes to RSE, to various mechanism related to RSE…how RSE works from a policy standpoint,” Sznajderman said. Yet Stetson said Arise feels there needs to be a return to citizen interaction with the PSC and Alabama Power. “Our only argument- it’s a really simple argument -is just that, we need to look at whether the Public Service Commission ought to try a different model for evaluating what’s an appropriate rate to be set,” Stetson said. Kimble Forrister, executive director of Arise Citizens’ Policy Project said that keeping the RSE provisions in place has not been ideal and that formal hearings would allow disputed issues to be reevaluated. Sznajderman said the PSC will be holding meetings concerning these issues with the RSE, open meetings and any other questions about Alabama Power on Wednesday May 8, Tuesday June 18 and Wednesday July 17.
COURTESY OF CITY OF AUBURN
Mayor Bill Ham spoke about transportation safety at the Travel with Care campaign week kick-off Monday, March 18 on Samford Lawn.
Travel with Care campaign takes off Sydney Callis COMMUNITY EDITOR
The Travel With Care campaign revved up Monday, March 18 with an opening ceremony on Samford Lawn. The weeklong campaign includes daily activities and stations set up on campus and in the Auburn community to distribute promotional items. The stations have a five-question quiz for those interested to take on an iPad or smart phone. Those earning a 100 percent on the quiz are entered in a chance
to win merchandise from Big Dog Running. “We also give either a set of bike lights or a reflective t-shirt to anyone who completes the quiz,” said Susan McCallister, associate director or Auburn University Public Safety Information and Education. The campaign, designed to promote transportation safety awareness, is in its fourth year and emphasizes safety in all modes of transportation, from walking to driving. Travel with Care is a collaborative ini-
tiative between the City of Auburn, Lee County Sheriff ’s Office and Auburn University. “We have a number of issues we are focusing on campaign weeks, especially bike safety this year,” McCallister said. “Visibility is also a big issue for us and removing distractions.” Today, a station will be set up on the Auburn Concourse from 10 a.m.–2 p.m. Tomorrow, Friday, March 22, the station will be on the corner of Magnolia Avenue and Donahue Drive from 10 a.m.–noon.
Community
Unity race gives a new meaning to the buddy system Amber Franklin WRITER
An upcoming race in Opelika is giving participants a new, unique way to connect with others. The annual Two by Two Unity Run/Walk/Wheel Event is sponsored by Envision Opelika and will take place Saturday, April 6. During the race, participants can choose to be linked to a partner at the wrist and are encouraged to partner with someone of a different background or descent. “The objective is to have different cultural backgrounds get to know each other and spend time together and to make friendships with people of different diversities,” said Tom Tippett, chairman of the Envision Opelika Character Council. The Unity Race includes a 5K and a 1-mile run, with discounted registration to participants who choose to run linked with a partner. The 1-mile run begins at 8 a.m. and the 5K begins at 8:30 a.m. Both start at the Park Road parking lot in Opelika. Proceeds from the run benefit the Character Council, which works to promote excellence and character in the Opelika area, according to Tippett. The Character Council is part of a larger organization, Envision Opelika. “Envision Opelika is a citizen driven organization,” said Barbara Patton, director of Envision Opelika. “It’s focusing on citizens and what they wanted to see happen in the city of Opelika.” Since its creation, Envision Opelika has partnered with many other organizations in Opelika, such as Keep Opelika Beautiful, which works to promote recycling and beautification and preventing littering, and Opelika Main Street, which has worked to revitalize Opelika’s downtown Historic District. For the past three years, the Unity Race has also partnered with Opelika Middle School and its physical education program. Students participate in the President’s Physical Fitness Program and run one mile each week for 25 weeks. As part of the partnership, the students run the Unity race’s 1-mile run for their last mile of the program.
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The objective is to have different cultural backgrounds get to know each other and spend time together.” —Tom Tippett CHAIRMAN OF ENVISION OPELIKA CHARACTER COUNCIL
“We’re probably having 50 to 60 students that are participating in that,” Tippett said. “That’s relatively small, but we’re still going to persist and grow that number over the years.” Although students at Auburn University may be used to seeing people from different cultures and backgrounds all over campus, the diversity in Opelika is a different, Tippett said. “Opelika has had a history of being homogeneous,” Tippett said. “Now Opelika is becoming more culturally diversified, so it’s (the Unity Race) an attempt to bring an awareness about our cultural diversity.” Over the past four years, the race has had an average of 75 to 100 participants, according to Tippett. Because of the wide range of diversity found on Auburn’s campus, Tippett said he would like more students from the University to participate in the race. Additionally, Tippett said the money raised provides more opportunities for more projects and partnerships the Character Council could take part in. Allan Mudwilder, junior in business management, is planning on running the 5K portion of the Unity Race with a few of his friends. Mudwilder has run other 5K races in the area and says that he and his friends look for races they can all run in together. “I didn’t know when it was, but I was interested in doing it,” Mudwilder said. “I’ve been talking to my friends to see if they were 100 percent on doing it, and then we’re probably going to do the pair (running with a partner).” Those interested in participating in the race can pre-register online at bigdogrunning.com. Registration is also open on the day of the race.
Auburn Police Chief taking a 2-month medical leave of absence Chandler Jones COMMUNITY REPORTER
Auburn Police Chief Tommy Dawson has excused himself from police work in efforts to restore his health. He announced to the department Thursday, March 7, that he would, by doctor’s recommendation, be taking a two-month leave of absence. “It’ll be hard to stay away,” Dawson said. “It’s all I’ve done for 26 years almost. It’s sad because you finally get to where you want to be in the division, and you get your health problems.” Dawson has battled with Parkinson’s disease for the last five years. “I’ll be back, just a couple months,” Dawson said.
“It’s going to be a tough couple months, but I’ll make it through.” This announcement came shortly after the Auburn Chamber of Commerce awarded Dawson their Chairman’s Award on Thursday, Feb. 28. “It brought me to tears, because to know that the public thinks so highly of you that the people you work to serve think that you’re doing a good job makes you feel good,” Dawson said. According to the City of Auburn, Dawson was pivotal in the effort that lowered crime statistics in Auburn. Over the past two years, the city has seen a 58 percent reduction in building burglaries and an 18 percent in-
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It’s sad because you finally get to where you want to be in the division, and you get your health problems.” —Tommy Dawson AUBURN POLICE CHIEF
TOMMY DAWSON
crease in arrests over the past five years. “They were kind enough to show they appreciated me,” Dawson said. “I don’t deserve it. I’m very humbled by it. Credit goes to the Auburn community, our great
citizens and our great men and women we have working at the police department. We have some really great officers and would not be successful without their hard work.” Dawson, a fourth-gen-
eration Auburn native, has worked for the Auburn Police since 1987. He started as a patrol officer for three years before working as a narcotics detective for 13 years. He was then promoted to lieutenant in 2003. “I wanted to give back to the Auburn community and be a public servant,” Dawson said. Dawson graduated from the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s National Academy in 2006 before pursuing a degree in criminal justice. In 2008 he was promoted to assistant chief and then chief in 2010. “I really like the job, because I can give back to the community. The Auburn community has been better
to me than any community ever could be. I really am very appreciative,” Dawson said. “It’s a really unique job here because you get to work with the students. I hope I’ve made a difference in some of those lives along the way. I certainly tried to.” Dawson said his favorite part of the job is his work with the students, and said working with students is like adapting to a different culture. “I feel like our students now actually have a friend here at the Auburn Police Department,” Dawson said. “I feel like they know they can count on us. When you hear one of them say they feel safe here in Auburn it makes it a lot more worth it.”
Community A8
The Auburn Plainsman
Thursday, March 21, 2013
Restaurant brings tastes of the ocean to College Street Chandler Jones
kitchen. We started at 10 that night and we were done by eight the next morning.” The Shrimp Basket capitalizes on their competitive prices. Sundays and Wednesdays are all-you-can-eat shrimp; Mondays and Thursdays, all-you-can-eat fried fish; and Tuesdays all-you-can-eat raw oysters and steamed shrimp. The most expensive item on the menu is $13.99. The all-you-can-eat shrimp, popcorn shrimp and Mahi tacos are the restaurant’s top sellers. “All of our seafood is from the Gulf,” George said. “It’s all top-quality seafood. We have it shipped up here every two or three days. It’s always fresh.” The staff is growing and prospering, George said. At the moment, there are 50 employees, with a mix of veterans and rookies. “It’s going really good,” George said. “People are picking up fast. The workers are learning quickly.” The restaurant originated in 1993 in Gulf Shores with founders Eddie Spence and Steve Cheek. Spence then partnered with David Ca-
COMMUNITY REPORTER
That seafood smell coming from South College Street finally has a name: The Shrimp Basket. The Shrimp Basket is a beach-themed Seafood, Poboys and Oyster Bar located at 1651 S. College St. Recently opened, The Shrimp Basket is enjoying the “Honeymoon Stage” so deemed by The Shrimp Basket’s district manager Adam George. For their first month in Auburn, George said the numbers have been outstanding. “I’ve heard this is called the, ‘Curse of College Street’ I guess, but every one of my costumers has come up and said, ‘I think you broke the curse,’” George said. “Everyone loves our food.” Entering the restaurant feels like you’re stepping out of Auburn and onto the Gulf Shores. The mixtures of beach colors and costal décor give the Shrimp Basket a unique element. “We did all this in one day,” George said. “We signed the lease and three weeks later we got in here: painted, decorated and fully redid the
RAYE MAY / PHOTO EDITOR
The Shrimp Basket, located at 1651 S. College St. features a wide variety of seafood.
hoon to expand the name to 20 other locations in Florida, Alabama and Mississippi. The brand is still privately owned and operated. George said he speaks to Spence daily and Spence manages to work with each restaurant
two or three times a month. The restaurant opened a branch in Tuscaloosa less than a year ago and the success there inspired the opening in Auburn. George said they have plans to open more restaurants.
Sundilla places a spotlight on BE NATURAL. epilepsy awareness March 22 Anna Claire Conrad WRITER
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A debilitating disease certainly isn’t something to sing about, but why not sing on behalf of those afflicted by it? That’s what the Sundilla Acoustic Concert Series is doing by having Caroline Herring take the stage this weekend at the Auburn Unitarian Fellowship Hall on Thach Avenue to raise epilepsy awareness. This performance is part of a nationwide music tour put on by the nonprofit candlelight Concerts for Epilepsy Awareness called 50 Concerts, 50 States, One Weekend, dedicated to educating people about epilepsy. Sundilla was chosen to represent Alabama. According to Bailey Jones, president of the Sundilla Acoustic Concert Series,
proceeds from the ticket admission of Friday’s performance will not go to the epilepsy awareness organization or those working the event. Instead, the money will go straight to the performer, no matter how large or small that amount may be. However, volunteers will be present to distribute information regarding epilepsy, answer any questions attendees of the concerts may have, provide access to various services and raise donations. “There will be somebody there with literature from the epilepsy foundation, and they’ll accept donations, but nobody is under any obligation,” Jones said. “They’re mostly trying to spread awareness and get money, if they can.”
Southern hospitality does not fall short here in Auburn, and it’s at its best when musicians come to perform at Sundilla. Like the volunteers raising awareness of epilepsy, the Sundilla Concert Series is a nonprofit run by local volunteers who set up the equipment, tables with food and beverages, coloring stations for the kids, and some even host the musicians in their home while they’re in town for the show. “When musicians come, they come to my house, and I feed them and give them a place to stay and take them to sound checks and radio shows if they need me too,” said Rachel Sharpe, a Sundilla board member. “It’s a great way to meet people and make new friends.”
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Sports
B1 ThePlainsman.com
Thursday, March 21, 2013
Sports
Tony Barbee led his Tigers to a 9–23 season with only three SEC victories this year.
Time to go? John Burns SPORTS@ THEPLAINSMAN.COM
COURTESY OF TODD VAN EMST
Defensive tackle Gabe Wright (left), defensive tackle Jeff Whitaker (top) and fullback Jay Prosch (bottom) talk with the media and preview spring practice Wednesday, March 20, at the Auburn Athletic Complex. The players spoke about what they’ve done so far in the offseason and how the coaches are bringing them together.
Looking toward the present The Auburn football team isn’t waiting for next season or trying to analyze the past one. It’s just trying to get better one day at a time.
Andrew Yawn SPORTS REPORTER
As soon-to-be senior fullback Jay Prosch said Wednesday, “Offseasons are always hard.” Nobody would know better than him. Two years ago, Prosch was on an Illinois team that ran the spread offense. Wanting to be closer to his mother in Alabama and move to a system that better suited his abilities, Prosch made the decision to transfer to Auburn. After possibly the worst season in Auburn’s history, Prosch and the rest of the team are facing even more changes. However, Gus Malzahn and the rest of the new coaches are working hard to ensure last season doesn’t happen again. That doesn’t mean they’re talking about it though. “We’re ready to get back on the field, but what I think we’re doing this year is really taking it one day at a time,” said defensive tackle Jeff Whitaker Wednesday, March 20 at the Auburn Athletic Complex. “We’re not saying, ‘Hey man we’re just so ready for the season to start!’ No, we’re not ready now. We’ll be ready when it gets here. Right now we’re just chopping wood.” New strength and conditioning coach Ryan Russell is at the head of
the team’s offseason workouts and the players sounded thrilled with the workout regimen so far. “Workouts have been good,” said tight end C.J. Uzomah. “They’re cranking it up on us, which is good. It’s just different ( from last year), and that’s a good thing.” Prosch, one of the team’s premiere “workout warriors,” agreed with Uzomah and said he’s excited about the teams workouts under Russell. “It was really exciting when Coach Russell came in, because it was a change as far as how we were going to be working out,” Prosch said. “And guys were excited about it. We came out ready to get after it.” Defensive tackle Gabe Wright, offensive tackle Greg Robinson, defensive lineman Dee Ford, Whitaker, Uzomah and Prosch were all on hand Wednesday. In separate interviews, each player said approximately the same thing: change is a good thing and the team has a positive vibe missing from a year ago. One of the reason for that may come from the new coaching staff ’s attention to the team. Malzahn and his crew have organized numerous team activities, acoording to Uzomah, and are keen on keeping the players both motivated and content. “We’ve had a lot of team activi-
COURTESY OF TODD VAN EMST
Defensive end Dee Ford talks to reporters Wednesday, March 20. Ford was lighthearted and joked about everything from his diet to his preferred wardrobe style (leather jacket with sunglasses).
ties to get to know them more just because it’s a new staff, and I think that’s helped a lot as far as the interaction between the players and the coaches,” Uzomah said. According to Uzomah, the coaches organized events such as bowling to help the players gel and meetings in which the players are allowed to talk about anything to their newfound mentors. In addition, Russell’s workouts have a merit system in which players strive to earn green jerseys for perfect workouts. According to Prosch, a green jersey is the highest honor and means
that a player showed good effort, finished drills well, presented a positive attitude, and remained alert at all times. Prosch, Ford and Wright were the first three to win the jersey, but Whitaker said the rest of the team caught on quickly enough. “If you look at it now, everybody’s got the green (jerseys),” Whitaker said. Uzomah said the team has a “positive morale” and that unison among players is something the 2012 team seemed to lack. For now, however, Malzahn and his Tigers are only concerned with spring training.
Athletic Director Jay Jacobs has publicly stated his support for Auburn basketball coach Tony Barbee. Support for a coach who led a team to a 9–23 record in his third year at Auburn, which, by the way, is tied for the most losses ever by an SEC program. Here is what Jacobs said: “This was obviously a disappointing season for our men’s basketball program, but I want to commend our players and especially our seniors for playing hard all season.” Sure, they played hard, and they even came close to winning a few big games. But nobody cares about almost wins or “playing hard.” All fans care about is winning, and that didn’t happen but nine times. Five of those wins were all but worthless anyway, because they were out of conference nobodies. Give the Tigers four quality wins in their three SEC victories, including Alabama, the last victory of the season, and Florida State. It’s Barbee’s third year, and if Auburn truly takes this program seriously, something has to change. If not the coach, then something about the coach has to change, because this is not working. Here’s a statistic: in three years at Auburn Barbee’s team’s record is 35– 59 (12–38 SEC). That means he has won less than 25 percent of his SEC games, and never has he defeated more than five in-conference opponents. Last season the men’s basketball team had its best year under Barbee. It went 15–16 (5–11 SEC) and things were looking up for the program until this season’s debacle. Jacobs went on to say “my expectation for our program is to show significant improvement under Coach Barbee’s leadership. Coach Barbee and I will continue to work together to support our basketball program at the highest level so we can give our fans the kind of program they expect and
» See BARBEE B2
Senior Bozzelli leads strong Tiger golf team George Nunnelley WRITER
Basketball, football, baseball — teams in many sports often win backto-back games, but in an individual sport such as golf? It’s rarely accomplished. Last year, senior Auburn golfer Dominic Bozzelli charted his first two collegiate golf victories after winning the U.S. Collegiate and the Gator Invitational in consecutive tournaments, becoming the first golfer in Auburn history to do so. This year, he has continued his solid ball striking in the early stages of his senior season. Originally from Pittsford, N.Y., Bozzelli has a hard time finding time to tune up his game in the winter months. “I always go down to Florida with
“
Dominic is a totally different person and player than when he arrived here four years ago. He’s bigger, stronger, faster, more athletic and has matured a lot.” —Nick Clinard HEAD COACH
my swing coach for a week at the end of December,” Bozzelli said. “I had a productive week down there this year and got my game in good shape for the start of the season.” Bozzelli originally signed his letter
of intent with the University of Central Florida and head coach Nick Clinard. However, when Clinard decided to take the job at Auburn, Bozzelli followed. He lost a year of eligibility with his transfer, but things seem to be working out just fine for Bozzelli and the Tigers now. “(Bozzelli) is a totally different person and player than when he arrived here roughly four years ago,” said coach Nick Clinard. “He’s bigger, stronger, faster, more athletic and has also matured a lot in the classroom and outside of golf.” The Tigers traveled to Hawaii in early February for their first tournament of the spring, and Bozzelli wasted no time in starting the season off right. He shot 11-under-par for the weekend and won the Amer Ari Invitational by five strokes. The senior
All-American was later named SEC Men’s Golfer of the Week for his performance. Bozzelli earned another top-3 finish in the Samford Intercollegiate March 5, as he shot 3-under for the weekend and finished tied for second. “Dom and I have become pretty close over the past few years,” said senior teammate Michael Hebert. “We both like to compete, and I have seen that competitiveness bring out the best of us. And that goes for the majority of the team.” Not only has Bozzelli had recent individual success, but the team has continued to climb the rankings as of late. The Tigers won their previous two tournaments at the Mobile Bay Intercollegiate and the Samford Intercollegiate before finishing third at the Tiger Invitational.
“We think that we are good enough to win the rest of the way,” Hebert said. “If we could finish out the season with five straight wins that would be great going into the SEC tournament, and we all know we can do well and compete there again this year.” For the future, Bozzelli hopes to end the season on a good note, graduate in December and continue to play golf at the highest level for a career. “He’s a very competitive young man,” Clinard said. “I think he’s got a great chance at making the tour if he continues on the track that he has progressed on for the last two and a half years.” For more information on Auburn men’s golf, follow the Twitter handle @AUMensGolf or like the Facebook page at www.facebook.com/ AUMensGolf.
Sports B2
The Auburn Plainsman
Women’s basketball makes WNIT
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First year coach Terri Williams-Flournoy and the women’s basketball team was officially invited to participate in the National Invitation Tournament for the third time in program history. After a 16-14 regular season record, the Tigers began postseason play against UAB in the Auburn Arena Wednesday, March 20. “It’s definitely exciting for our program and our young ladies to have the opportunity to continue to play,� said WilliamsFlournoy. “Any time you have the opportunity to play in the postseason is a great opportunity for us.� Auburn began the season off to a hot start with a record of 15-3 before struggling in conference play that included an eight game losing streak. Though the team finished just above .500, they were an impressive 12-3 at Auburn Arena, losing only by single digits in each of the three home losses. “I think its great for our fans,� said Williams-Flournoy. “We have great fans at Auburn and they’re just as excited as we are to be able to watch another basketball game right here in Auburn.� In the first round of the SEC Tournament against No. 22 LSU, Auburn trailed by 18 with 12 minutes remaining and almost pulled off the comeback losing 6562. Being ousted from the tournament so early put Auburn’s chances of making the postseason at risk, but were offered a bid to the NIT against UAB. Auburn’s Blanche Alverson, who averaged 12.8 points-per-game is excited to continue her eventful senior season. “It means a lot. I had a feeling we would make the postseason. We’re going to take it one game at a time and I know every game could be my last,� Alverson said. Off the court, the 6-foot-3 guard was selected for the second time as the women’s basketball SEC Scholar Athlete of theYear and the SEC’s Community Service Team for the third year in a row for her Ballin’ for Books program. Alverson was also voted Auburn’s homecoming queen earlier this year, but now she’s focused on the post
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deserve.� The fans, especially the students who were itching to see winners after a miserable football season, definitely deserve better, and they threw full support behind the team. That is, until the team lost 16 of its last 17 games. So, since Barbee probably won’t be leaving (this season at least) all an Auburn fan can do is get behind him, and
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senior hopes to play near 100 percent in the tournament. “I’m close to a hundred percent,� said Ouardad. “It’s disappointing because I want to finish strong.� Ouardad finished second in the SEC in steals and assists this season. In her first season at Auburn, WilliamsFlournoy has taken Auburn to its first NIT and postseason since 2011. The Tigers have historically fared well in the tournament where they won the championship in 2003 and are 8-3 all-time.
COURTESY OF TODD VAN EMST
Auburn coach Terri Williams-Flournoy encourages her team against Arkansas Dec. 3, 2012.
hope that the program can get back to a respectable position. That’s what he was hired for in the first place was it not? There are probably a number of reasons Barbee hasn’t been released. The first is likely that he’s only three years in and that isn’t enough time to get a program going in the right direction, but some would say three years is plenty of time. Another potential reason could be that Jacobs does not want it to look like he gives all
of his coaches the ax after a bad season. After all, he did just can Gene Chizik after a dismal season. The final reason could be that Auburn doesn’t want to pile on another three million (which is what Auburn would owe Barbee if he was fired now) to the $11.09 million the University already owes Chizik and his fired staff. Well, it looks like Barbee will stay, for the nonce anyway, so if that’s the case, the Auburn faithful will hope to
Tony Barbee speaks to the media about his Auburn Tigers.
see a better season next year, because it could certainly be his last if things don’t go well.
Tella talks about Auburn baseball Daniel Cannaday WRITER
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season. “We all know its one and done and if we go down were going to go down fighting. Some of our best basketball is still to come,� Alverson said. Sophomore guard Hasina Muhammad, an AP All-SEC Second Team selection, said the Tigers will have to play hard to advance in the tournament. Muhammad led the team with 429 points and 39 blocks this season. Injuries have plagued Najat Ouardad throughout the season and the 5-foot-1
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Auburn baseball’s junior center fielder, Ryan Tella, is a man of relatively few words. When asked why the California native came to Auburn, he responded “It’s a great place, and a great place to play ball.� His play, on the other hand, speaks volumes. Almost a third of the way through their season and at the beginning of conference play, the Tigers already made a striking statement. They are 13-6, with three of those losses coming against No. 2 ranked Vanderbilt last weekend. Tella, a history major, is helping direct the charge into April, leading the team with a scorching bat and a glove that frustrates hitters game in and game out. After losing to the Commodores in a series of tightly contested games, Tella is hopeful about the rest of the season. “I’d like to see us win regionals. It’s been awhile since that happened,� said Tella. In fact, the last Auburn team to win regionals was in 1999, which shows the confidence Tella has in the current group of players. Perhaps one reason for this confidence is that eight of the players chose to return to Auburn this year after being drafted by MLB teams. This group includes Tella, who turned down the Baltimore Orioles after they selected him in the 11th round. Last season, Tella was named to
the All-SEC second team, and was recognized by SEBaseball.com several times for various performances throughout the season. Despite leading the team with 85 hits and a .360 batting average, marks that placed him among the top 100 hitters in college baseball last year, Tella felt he had unfinished business to attend to in Auburn. “I wanted to prove myself for another year and see what this team could do, but we each made our decision individually (to come back),� said Tella. The reasoning behind each player’s return may differentiate, but their record in 2013 shows a unity of purpose and drive. According to Tella, defense is one of the keys to his dominant play on the field. In 2012, he had a .973 fielding percentage and a team-high five outfield assists. This season, he is perfect in the outfield with a 1.000 percentage. Along with solid pitching, the Auburn fielders’ defensive play has led to a lowly 3.7 run per game average for opponents. The bats have been hot as well this season, especially for Tella, who leads the team with 20 RBI’s. He is quick to highlight the bat’s fickle nature, though. “Hitting comes and goes. The defense and the hustle is always there,� said Tella. He credits Gabe Gross, hit-
Ryan Tella made second team All-SEC last season and hopes to improve this year.
ting and outfielder coach, as the biggest influence on his career at Auburn. Gross has mentored Tella since he arrived at Auburn, and the coach’s instruction benefits Tella immensely on the field.
With all the pieces in place, the Tella and the Tigers hope for a memorable season for the team and its fans. Given their solid start, that dream could easily become a reality.
Thursday
Sports B3
The Auburn Plainsman
COURTESY OF TODD VAN EMST
Auburn players walk off the court after the SEC Tournament loss to Texas A&M March 13.
Auburn’s Dan Glevenyak makes the tag as Vanderbilt’s Tony Kemp attempts to steal second in the fifth inning Sunday, March 17.
Two weeks in Auburn sports Men’s Basketball:
The men’s basketball team ended the season on a low note. Tony Barbee’s squad finished the regular season with an overtime loss at Mississippi State 74–71 and then fell in the first round of the SEC tournament to Texas A&M by a score of 71–62. The Tigers finished the season with a 10-game skid, losing 16 of their final 17 meetings. Barbee’s squad’s final record rang in at a meager 9–23, only winning three conference games all season.
Baseball:
The baseball team began spring break with a three game sweep of Brown March 8–10, winning the games by scores of 9–4, 6–0 and 6–3. March 12 saw the Tigers travel to Kennesaw State where the team acquired a 8–3 victory. The Tigers then had a three game stretch against top-five Vanderbilt March 15–17. Auburn was swept by the Commodores by scores of 5–2, 8–1 and 8–6. After winning four of their seven games over the break Auburn improved their record to 13–6. The Tigers had lost only three games before being swept at the hands of Vanderbilt. The losses also mean Auburn is now winless in conference play. The Tigers also won Tuesday, March 19 at home against Alabama State. The scoreline was 10–2 in Auburn’s favor.
Women’s Basketball:
The women’s basketball team ended lost in the first round of the SEC Tournament by a narrow three points to LSU, but finished the season with a 16–14 record. By winning 16 games this season, Auburn secured its spot in the WNIT. The Tigers began playing for their season Wednesday, March 20 against UAB in the first round at the Auburn Arena.
Women’s Tennis:
The No. 17 women’s tennis team extended its winning streak to 14 matches in a row, which is an Auburn women’s tennis record, before it suffered a heartbreaking 4-3 loss to No. 8 Alabama in Tuscaloosa, March 15. Before the loss, the Tigers had swept LSU 7–0 March 8 and crushed Arkansas 6–1 March 10. Both victories came at home. The loss to Alabama was Auburn’s first since Jan. 26. The Tigers are now 14–2 (4–1 SEC) this season.
The next week in Auburn athletics March21
March 24
Championships, Indianapolis, Ind., all day
Gainesville, Fla., at noon
March 22
Baseball vs. LSU, Baton
Swimming & diving, NCAA Women’s
Men’s tennis vs. South Carolina, Auburn, at 2 p.m.
Women’s tennis vs. South Carolina,
Women’s tennis vs. Florida,
Rouge, La., at 1 p.m.
Men’s tennis vs. Florida, Auburn, at 1 p.m.
Columbia, S.C., at 4 p.m.
Softball vs. Alabama, Tuscaloosa, at 2 p.m.
Softball vs. Alabama, Tuscaloosa, at 6 p.m.
Men’s golf, Hootie at Bulls Bay, Bulls
Baseball vs. LSU, Baton
Bay Golf Course, Awendaw, S.C., all day
Rouge, La., at 7 p.m.
March 25
Swimming & diving, NCAA Women’s
Bay Golf Course, Awendaw, S.C., all day
Championships, Indianapolis, Ind., all day
March 23
Women’s soccer vs West Florida, Auburn, at 1 p.m.
Women’s gymnastics, SEC Championships, North Little Rock, Ark, at 2 p.m.
Men’s golf, Hootie at Bulls Bay, Bulls
March 26
Baseball vs. Troy, Troy, at 6 p.m. Men’s golf, Hootie at Bulls Bay, Bulls Bay Golf Course, Awendaw, S.C., all day
March 27
Softball vs. Troy, Auburn at 6 p.m.
Softball vs. Alabama, Tuscaloosa, at 2 p.m. Baseball vs. LSU, Baton Rouge, La., at 6:30 p.m.
Swimming & diving, NCAA Women’s Championships, Indianapolis, Ind., all day
KEEP UP WITH ALL NEWS @ THEPLAINSMAN.COM
Gymnastics:
The No. 12 women’s gymnastics team won two more meets over the break to extend their win streak to four. March 8 saw the Tigers throttle the visiting Lindenwood Lady Lions 196.400–190.450. It was the gymnastics squad’s final home meet of the season so seniors Toi Garcia and Petrina Yokay and their families were honored in a ceremony before the competition. The second victory came at Pittsburgh Saturday, March 16. Auburn handled Pitt by a score of 195.850–194.250. The Tigers now hold a record of 6–4, and will compete in the SEC Championships in Little Rock, Ark. Saturday, March 23.
Softball:
The Auburn women’s softball team went through a rough stretch of the season over the break, losing five of their eight games. The Tigers dropped two of three at home against Florida March 8-10. The scores for those three games were 13–0 in favor of the Gators, 5–4 for the Tigers and 2–0 for Florida. March 12 and 13 saw Auburn defeat Tennessee State 6–1 and Middle Tennessee State 5–2. From March 15–17 the Tigers dropped three games to Georgia by scores of 9–3, 2–0 and 9–8. On the season the softball team is 20–10, but their SEC record is sitting at 1–5 after the break.
Men’s Golf:
The No. 20 men’s golf team finished third at the inaugural Tiger Invitational Presented by Jason Dufner March 12. Junior Niclas Carlsson finished in second place, senior Michael Hebert finished tied for 22nd and senior Dominic Bozzelli came in 49th.
Men’s Tennis:
The No. 31 men’s tennis team split a pair of matches over the break, defeating Arkansas and falling to Alabama. The 6–1 victory at Arkansas came March 10, while the 4–3 defeat against Alabama was March 16. With the spilt over the break, the Tigers’ record is 10–5 (2–3 SEC).
Women’s Golf:
The No. 29 women’s golf team finished 15th at the Darius Rucker Intercollegiate which was hosted by South Carolina March 10.
Auburn asphalt technician thrilled to work with NASCAR Andrew Yawn SPORTS REPORTER
Auburn’s National Center for Asphalt Technology has collaboarated with NASCAR in the past. NCAT technician Mitch Pate didn’t get to experience those moments, but when NASCAR came calling again, Pate relished the opportunity to work with the motorsports giant. “It was a great experience just to get out on the track and see how efficiently the NASCAR personnel work together,” Pate said. For this particular project, NASCAR employed the NCAT to perform friction testing for the recently unveiled Air Titan track dryer. “They called on us to do some friction testing trying to determine a number they could assign to all their tracks to determine if they met a good grip number after the rain and to determine if there were good track conditions,” Pate said. As a result. Pate, who describes himself as a “casual NASCAR fan” who stays updated on each race’s winner, was sent to Daytona to run the
tests and analyze the data. “It was a privelege to be a part of the testing on it,” Pate said. “I’ve been to Talladega but never to the Daytona track.” Pate said the NCAT has a device called a grip tester which does exactly what the name suggests: tests a tire’s grip on asphalt. Pate’s job was to operate the grip tester on the Daytona track using other models of dryers as comparison. He did not, however, get to work with the Air Titan and explained he was merely providing analytics for NASCAR. The NCAT is one of the leading asphalt technolgy centers in the nation, and Pate said friction testing is a small part of what his company does. “We’re constantly trying to test and develop new methods and techniques and products used to better the quality of asphalt,” Pate said. “We do everything from mix design to friction testing and other types of testing related to asphalt.” The Air Titan is an improvement over other track dryers. According to the NASCAR Green release, the Air Titan will reduce the noise and pol-
“
It was a privelege to be a part of the testing on it. I’ve been to Talladega, but never to the Daytona track.”
—Mitch Pate NCAT TECHNICIAN
lution caused by the clunky, jet engine dryers being used. The dryer will also “dramatically improve the race-viewing experience” for the fans, NASCAR chairman Brian France said in a statement. Along with the NCAT, NASCAR also employed the services of International Speedway Corporation, Racing Surface Technologies, QualPro Inc, Elgin Sweeper Company, Sullair and Ring Power CAT. Pate’s work was but a small part of a immense project, however, Pate said he was satisfied to work alongside NASCAR on one of the sport’s most prolific tracks. “It was definitely a good experience,” Pate said.
Sports B4
The Auburn Plainsman
Thursday, March 21, 2013
COURTESY OF TODD VAN EMST
The offensive line is one of the main areas Gus Malzahn and his staff will have to focus on in the offseason as last year’s line ranked 110th in sacks allowed and 78th in rushing offense.
Offensive line set to improve in 2013 Will Gaines SPORTS REPORTER
Going into 2013 no other position has more room for improvement than the offensive line. Last year a lot of the Tigers’ offensive problems could be traced back to the guys up front. Auburn ranked 110th in sacks allowed, and 78th in rushing offense, averaging only 148 yards per game. This painful statistic placed Auburn in the SEC “outhouse” last year. The offensive line will return 12 players from last year’s roster. Six of those players earned at least one start and the other six will be redshirt freshmen. The Tigers have no senior offensive lineman, and while the youth of the group could be problematic, it could also be an advantage for the team.
Returning starters from last year will be Greg Robinson, Reece Dismukes, Chad Slade, Tunde Fairiyike, Avery Young and Patrick Miller. Young and Miller both played as true freshman. Dismukes, at center, is one of the most experienced lineman Auburn has. He earned All-SEC freshman honors after starting every game in 2011. An off-the-field issue before the first game with Clemson got his sophomore season off to a bad start, and later in the year he suffered an injury that caused him to miss the Ole Miss game. If he comes back healthy and has his mind in the right place in 2013 he could be one of the most solid offensive lineman in the SEC. Similar to Dismukes, Slade brings
a lot of experience to the table. He also brings a lot of size at 6-foot-5 305 pounds. Sometimes in 2012 he appeared to be a weak spot for the unit, but through it all he remained positive. If his positive attitude transfers into experienced leadership, he could be a playmaker this season. Robinson probably has the most potential of the entire group. At times in 2012 he showed glimpses of a solid player, but inconsistency as the season went on hurt him. Coming back in 2013 with a year of playing time and an offseason to mature should pay off big for Robinson. Young has been said by many to be an athletic offensive lineman with natural ability. After earning a start in his first game in college he was sidelined by
an injury for the remainder of the season. If he adds more size in the offseason he could be a major player on the line because Malzahn’s offense relies on athletic lineman. Miller was thrown into action before he was ready last year because of Young’s injury. While this was a negative at the time, it should pay off in the long run by helping him gain experience through trial and error. He could be a solid contributor in 2013. Another player looking at their first chance to play this fall will be Jordan Diamond. He probably would have seen playing time last year over Miller if he had not been sidelined with an injury for the entire season. In 2012 Auburn signed one of the top offensive line classes in the coun-
try with seven solid players. Those seven players will be getting their first shot at playing time this fall. Auburn also signed two offensive lineman in the 2013 recruiting class in junior college player Devonte Danzey and South Panola High School player Deon Mix. Danzey could be a player that’s looking at early playing time. “We needed some help at center and at guard, and I feel like he’ll (Danzey) have a chance to help us immediately,” coach Gus Malzahn said on signing day. In the SEC no offense will work without a solid line. This was the Achilles heel for the Tigers in 2012. If the solid potential of this year’s offensive lineman class matures on the playing field it will be a strength in 2013.
Women’s swim team ready for NCAAs Will Gaines SPORTS REPORTER
The women’s swimming and diving team are ready to spring into action at the NCAA Championships this week in Indianapolis beginning on Thursday, March 21. Going into the meet coach Brett Hawke thinks that a top 10 finish is a realistic expectation for this team. “We’ve been a top 10 team with these girls now since my time as head coach and that’s where we are looking to stay,” Hawke said. Auburn will have 14 swimmers competing in the championships: Olivia Scott, Micah Lawrence, Lindsey Norberg, Lauren Norberg, Katie Gardocki, Hannah Riordan, Aubrey Peacock, Jillian Viatrius, Abby Duncan, Becca Jones, Haley Krakoski Megan Fonteno, Emily Bos and Alex
Merritt. “We’ve got some girls that are looking to swim their best times of the season and that should put them in a spot for making the finals,” Hawke said. “I’m just happy with the way they have progressed throughout the season.” The swimmers understand the importance of this meet and are ready for the challenge that is ahead of them. “Physically we feel like we are at the top of our game and even mentally,” Hawke said. After finishing fifth in the SEC championships in February the Tigers may have been looking ahead to the biggest meet of the season. “A lot of the girls in some respect swam through the SEC’s in preparation for this meet,” Hawke said. “We really wanted the girls to be at their best at the biggest meet
of the year.” Going into the NCAA’s, women’s swimming could be more competitive than its been in the past, and that’s something that is changing throughout the entire sport. “I would say that women’s swimming is even deeper than men’s swimming right now,” Hawke said. “Across the board there are a lot of women’s programs around the country that are well funded and well supported. A lot of women are taking up the sport and there’s a lot of talent around the country. There are a lot of great young women’s coaches around as well. I think it’s a deeper level and a deeper feel. Just the depth of the NCAA level has grown and expanded in the last five or six years.” While the competition will be fierce the Tigers have
set the bar high for the team and believe that a top-10 finish is something they can easily achieve. They also believe because of the competiveness it is hard to predict what will happen when the competition begins. “Realistically we definitely want to stay in the top 10,” Hawke said. “Its one of those situations where you have the two top teams in California and Georgia then it gets very competitive from third to tenth and maybe even third to twelfth. “It just really depends on how you show up at this meet and how you swim in how you’ll finish. So its difficult to predict because its so even across the board.” Preliminaries for the meet will begin Thursday at 11 p.m. EST and will continue through the weekend.
The women’s swim team hopes to improve their SEC Championship results at the NCAA Championship.
Auburn Connects!
TONIGHT Speaker Event: The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks
The Auburn Connects! speaker event for 2012 – 2013’s common book, The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot, will take place on March 21, 2013, at 7:00 pm in the Foy Auditorium. This free event is first come, first served with overflow seating available; there is no ticket required. This event is sponsored by the Provost’s Office. Members of the Lacks family will speak to the Auburn community with commentary by Dr. Ruth Faden, director of Bioethics at Johns Hopkins University. There will be a short lecture followed by a question and answer period. The event will be hosted by Shakeer Abdullah, director of the Multicultural Center. Limited reserved and handicap-accessible parking available; to inquire about a parking permit, contact 334-844-5721 or lc@auburn.edu.
Auburn Connects! THE COMMON BOOK PROGRAM auburn.edu/auburnconnects
Intrigue
B5 ThePlainsman.com
Thursday, March 21, 2013
Intrigue
Alternative Student Breaks a trip that makes a difference Caitlin Wagenseil Intrigue reporter
Many Auburn students headed south for spring break to enjoy time off of class while basking in the sun. Few, however, spent their break helping those in need. One was Brianne Aeikens, senior in biomedical sciences. Her spring break consisted of studying community development in Costa Rica. Aeikens said she heard about the Alternative Student Breaks program through Auburn University freshman year, but hadn’t gotten specific details about it until this past year when she spoke with site leaders. “I talked with them quite extensively about it, and they gave me more information and told me what an awesome experience it was,” Aeikens said. “I just decided I wanted to do something meaningful with my break instead of laying on the beach all week,” Aeikens said. The application process involved writing essays and ranking the trips in order of preference. The process was also more competitive this year than in previous years. “I definitely wanted to do an international trip because it gave me a chance to work on my Spanish-speaking skills and interact with people from a native Spanish-speaking country,” Aeikens said. Getting the chance to work at a refugee village in San Jose filled with many Nicaraguan refugees and children was
something Aeikens enjoyed most about her trip. “The second day we were there, a bunch of the kids from the village came in and played with us; we brought sidewalk chalk, jump ropes, games and snacks,” Aeikens said. “They were so shy at first, but they ended up jumping all over us and throwing chalk at our faces—it was really cool to see, and even if it was just for one afternoon, you could tell that we really did make their day.” The houses there are crowded together, and the children in the village don’t have a park to play or run around in like many kids in America have. Aeikens said being able to give the children the chance to play, even if it was for one day, was extremely rewarding. The second site the students worked at was an orphanage in a different city approximately three hours away from the first site. Aeikens said they were given more of a chance there to interact with the children and the people in the community. She even got to paint a Disney princess theme in a little girl’s bedroom. “At the orphanage, we could paint the room and then go play with the girls that were going to live there,” Aeikens said. “We got to see the direct impact we were having.” Aeikens said the experience gave her a new outlook on many things in her life. “It just made me realize how many people out there really need our help,” Aeikens said.
“It was refreshing to know that I made a difference in people’s lives, instead of just taking a break for myself.” Aeikens said many children talked about how much they loved going to school, but most of the schools there are extremely small with about 50 children only going for approximately three hours a day. “I think everyone learned how much we take for granted—every single kid told us how much they like school, and it made me rethink all the opportunities we have here,” Aeikens said. Bonding with her group was something Aeikens said she also loved. “There were science majors, education majors, engineering majors and business majors,” she said. “It was such a broad group, and it was fun to interact with people from different ages and majors that I otherwise wouldn’t have ever crossed paths with.” Aeikens encourages anyone interested in community service to apply to the program. “While there are plenty of opportunities for it in Auburn, it’s something completely different to go into another country and see the differences there,” Aeikens said. Students interested in the program can go to auburn. edu/service and click on Alternative Student Breaks. To read about students’ experiences over spring break this year, the alternative spring break blog can be found at auburnccs. wordpress.com.
Contributed by Brianne Aeikens
Aeikens and the ASB group hang out on the playground with children at the orphanage in Nicarauga.
Aeikens holds toddler Wilmer at the orphanage. “This little guy was one of my favorites,” she said.
Anna Rose Abandan, Aeikens and Nathaniel Thomas and sand the walls at La Carpio.
Carnival cruise flounders with another legendary mishap Elizabeth Wieck Intrigue editor
During spring break, many make their annual southbound journey to warmer climates to tan, take a break from stressful classes and party with other student spring breakers. Whether it be in a condo, beach house or Caribbean-bound cruise, the getaway is meant to be a weeklong respite. As of late, Carnival Caribbean cruises have been a much talked about subject among news outlets. First, and perhaps most notorious is Carnival’s Triumph, which left from Galveston, Texas, in February and was crippled out at sea due to a fire in the engine room. There was no power and no running water, creating a nightmare with overflowing sewage and spoiled food for the thousands of passengers on board. Then there was the Dream, which departed from Port Canaveral, Fla. and broke down on the Caribbean island St. Maarten mid-trip, forcing the company to fly passengers home from the island. Sara Parrish, junior in political science, embarked on a 7-day cruise out of Tampa, Fla. on Carnival’s Legend on Sunday, March 10 for what was supposed to be an enjoyable trip with friends. Despite the flurry of controversy amid Carnival’s fleet, Parrish said she wasn’t concerned that the nightmare on the Triumph would happen to their ship. “We all thought since that had happened that all the ships would be up to date and they would be really, re-
Contributed by sara parrish
The Carnival Legend, in apparently fully-working condition, docked in Tampa, Fla. before its departure Sunday, March 10.
ally careful,” Parrish said. “So no one was nervous at all.” As soon as they boarded the cruise, Parrish said she noticed something was off. “You could tell that something was wrong, because it vibrated and rocked the whole week,” Parrish said. “This was my fourth cruise, and usually you can’t tell you’re on one. At dinner, it was hard to eat, everything was shaking. You couldn’t walk straight.” The plan was to dock at ports in Cozumel, Belize, Honduras and Grand Cayman, but Parrish said the experience didn’t exactly go as such. After spending Tuesday as planned in Cozumel, the mishaps began. “Then it happened,” Parrish said. “They gave us letters to our staterooms, and when we woke up Wednesday morning, they said we were having a minor malfunction problem and that it was being taken care of, repairs were being made
and the only thing it was going to affect was that we couldn’t make it to Belize.” Wednesday morning, the passengers aboard the Legend were supposed to be in Belize, however, they found themselves making an emergency stop in Costa Maya, Mexico, where Parrish said there wasn’t much to do. The ship made it to Honduras on Thursday as scheduled, but were told that night by ship management that they couldn’t make it to their final destination at Grand Cayman due to inclement weather. But Parrish and her friends had their suspicions. “We knew some people that were there and they said the weather was beautiful, so we think it was just a cover-up because they couldn’t get us there,” she said. “So they told us there was ‘bad weather’ in Grand Cayman, and they were going to take us to Belize since we missed it.” The ship never made it to Belize.
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Parrish said after apparent fixes were made to the ship’s system, it broke again, and the crew announced they wouldn’t be going anywhere else except straight back to Tampa at minimum speed. “We all couldn’t believe it, because of everything that happened a few weeks ago,” Parrish said, referring to the Triumph. “We started to hear that it was all over the news, and it was almost a joke to us, that we were on the ship that was making the news. The most frustrating thing was they wouldn’t tell us what was wrong.” According to Parrish, it’s still unclear exactly what happened to the ship and why their port stops were canceled. “They never really told us, other than there was a propulsion issue, so basically one of our engines wasn’t working was what we assumed,” Parrish said. “They never were up front with us about what happened.”
Parrish said the problem didn’t lie in the experience itself, but the way she, her friends and even her family were treated. “They actually lied about most of it,” Parrish said. “My dad called Carnival Wednesday morning, after I emailed him to tell him the ship wasn’t working. We were in Costa Maya, and Carnival told him I was lying to him, that we were in Belize and we were never in Costa Maya, and that our ship was not broken. I think they were just trying to cover it up, from everything that has happened.” As far as compensation goes for their unfortunate experience, passengers received a $100 refund, a refund for the day-trip plans they missed in Belize and Grand Cayman and 50 percent off a future 5-7 day Carnival Caribbean cruise. “We missed half of our ports,” Parrish said. “There were tons of stipulations. It didn’t compensate for what we paid to go.” In light of such public catastrophe and criticism, Carnival CEO Gerry Cahill released a written statement that the company is going to do a “comprehensive review of our entire fleet.” However, Parrish said this statement was not enough to remedy her negative feelings about the company. “I’m sure I’ll go on more cruises, because I’ve been on so many before and they’ve worked out fine, but I won’t go back on Carnival,” Parrish said. “Especially, the way we were treated during the whole thing. They didn’t treat us poorly on the ship, they just wouldn’t tell us anything, which was frustrating.”
Intrigue B6
The Auburn Plainsman
Thursday, March 21, 2013
Auburn professors bring educational opportunities to prisoners Kelsey Davis Intrigue writer
The learning experience is as life altering for the professors as it is for the pupils when the classrooms are set in prisons across central and northern Alabama. Seeds for The Alabama Prison Arts and Education Project were planted in 2001 when Kyes Stevens, founder and director, received a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts to begin the program. After Stevens received the grant, she began teaching poetry in a correctional facility, and quickly developed a passion for her incarcerated students. “Just think to yourself, what’s the worst thing you’ve ever done in your life?” said Stevens. “Would you want to be measured by that for all of eternity? That’s not the sum total of who you are, it isn’t for all of these people. “They’re mothers, they’re fathers, they’re brothers, they’re sisters. They like Christmas, they want to be at their kids’ birthdays, to go to their mother’s funeral, to be around their family. They want the same things we want. They’re not different.” Since its birth, the program has grown to serve a dozen prisons in Alabama and now offers courses in various types of literatures, arts and histories. The classes aim most importantly to educate, but also to motivate and to challenge. “I’m able to increase the challenges (of the class) because you start to build trust to the degree of them knowing that I’m there to teach them how to draw,” said Barb Bondy, Auburn associate professor of art. “If I push, it’s to get them to increase their skills. Their sense of accomplishment or recognition that they have ability becomes very apparent.” Bondy said she would often bring in project results from her incarcerated students to show her students at Auburn. “I would encourage my students here to work harder because the
work (of the incarcerated student) often had more effort applied to it,” Bondy said. Without fail, APAEP professors see a sincere application of abilities and a thirst for education unmatched by the typical undergrad in their incarcerated students. “One of the things that they (the incarcerated students) unfailingly teach me is perseverance and to not make excuses,” said Andrew Shotts, Auburn GTA and APAEP literature professor. “You see a guy who got attacked two weeks ago,” Shotts said. “He’s got twelve stitches somewhere, he can hardly walk. He’s coming to class, and he’s not complaining.” Shotts recalls an elderly student who as a boy wrote a poem about the day that J.F.K was assassinated. For decades the man held on to the poem, waiting for someone to help him with what he had written. By the time Shotts read it, it was faded with age and the writing was barely visible “It’s a humbling experience to meet a man who is 60 or 70 years old and will never see the light of day outside of the prison walls, and then to see the joy in his eye when you hand him back three paragraphs of comments on a poem,” said Shotts. Throughout the duration of the course, professors say changes in the students are evident. They learn patience and dedication. They grow in confidence and optimism. They exhibit a change that is physically visible. But as the courses affect the prisoners for the better, the prisoners affect the professors to that degree and higher. “I think that my students fundamentally changed me as a human being,” said Stevens. “I think that I always thought that I was accepting and progressive and open minded and compassionate. “I think my students made me prove that I was going to be those things, that I was going to view the world through the lens of compassion rather than hatred and contempt.”
Kyes Stevens / photographer
Students study biological life by inspecting various organisms that were found in small freshwater streams in Alabama.
Bondy teaches an art class in drawing, and often brings back her students’ work to show her classes at Auburn.
Step up the pace. Be Fearless.
Transient summer student Lindsay Little enrolled in an online accounting course while studying abroad.
Move closer to graduation. Take classes at GPC this summer. Full- and half-term classes start May 29. Second half-term classes start June 27. admissions.gpc.edu/transient
Thursday, March 21, 2013
Intrigue B7
The Auburn Plainsman
Old-time band Pomeranian Muffler Shop can’t be exhausted Kelsey Davis Intrigue writer
Violinist Lindsey Lester stomps her foot as her fiddle’s melody contributes to the quickening tempo of “Cumberland Gap.” Andy Cox beats faster on the cord of his washtub base, a self-made instrument, until the line becomes barely visible. Ross Wall carries the harmony on his banjo, and together they are Pomeranian Muffler Shop. The idea for the band’s name sprouted as two of the three members collaborated at a fall music festival. “I didn’t really have anything to do with it,” Lester said, laughing as she learned the story of the name’s origin. “I had always wanted a band called muffler shop,” Cox said. “We were trying to figure out a name to go in front of muffler shop, and I guess a Pomeranian must have walked by.” Matching the uniqueness of their name to the originality of their style, the band’s sound centers around old-time music, which is considered the predecessor to bluegrass. One of the differences between the genres revolves around style of banjo playing. Wall utilizes a claw hammer method of picking the banjo for old-time music, but also incorporates the more well-known finger picking ways of bluegrass. “It’s really cool getting to show people all of this older kind of music,” Wall said. Though the band is bringing a more unknown sound to the venues of Auburn, they’re also known to cover classics such as The Rolling Stones, Tom Petty and Ween. Featuring a varied array of mandolin, fiddle, acoustic guitar, banjo and the ever present washtub base, the band’s music flows with a surprising fullness for only having three members. “There’s only three of us and I’m the only one who’s playing loud chords all the time. She’s usually picking the melody, and he’s only playing one string, so there’s not a lot of space being filled,” Wall said.
Chelsea Wooten / photographer
Band members Ross Wall, Andy Cox and Lindsey Lester play the banjo, washtub base and fiddle to the tune of the classic song “Cumberland Gap.”
The beat that the washtub base provides fills in the sound by accounting for bass and percussion. “The emptiness is like a blessing and a curse in a way,” Wall said. “It really helps you hear what’s going on, and people can really tune into
the music, but also you’re afraid of it dropping out.” Newly formed, the band has played a few gigs in local venues, and continues to grow and enjoy performing live. “The first time (we played) I was kind of ner-
vous,” Lester said. “But then I realized that it was really just for fun.” Pomeranian Muffler Shop will take the stage on Thursday, March 28, at 10 p.m. at Zazu for a free show, and again at Earth Fest’s main stage at 4 p.m.
Leashes, labor, love: owning and caring for pets as a student Anna Beth Jager Intrigue reporter
As college students, the idea of adopting and maintaining a pet other than a goldfish or a gerbil can be somewhat unrealistic. Having someone to love and keep company on particularly lonely nights seems like a winning scenario, but this idea alone can cloud the reality. Because pets come with unfamiliar stenches, chewed or scratched furniture and extra costs for food and vet visits. They pee on things, eat a favorite pair of shoes and cry throughout the night. With all these cons, it seems like having a pet might not be worth the trouble, right? Actually, most seem to disagree. The pros of having a pet according to pet owners vastly outweigh any cons that we can come up with. The abundant love and friendship one develops between a pet is like adopting a new member of the family. Whitney Gentry, junior in health promotion, adopted her dog Stella from the Lee County Humane Soci-
Katherine Mccahey / assistant photo editor
Student Sami Griffith takes her 4-year-old dog Gemini outside for play and exercise.
ety and believes the pros of having a pet absolutely outweigh any cons. Future pet owners should, however, understand the time and responsibilities that come with owning a pet. For Gentry, every decision must be made with Stella in mind. “All of my free time is devoted to her, every decision I make has to involve her, and sometimes she chews
my underwear up,” Gentry said. Gentry said having a dog has helped her build relationships with other pet owners, kept her in shape and taught her many things about caring for another living being. “(Stella) teaches me responsibility and she teaches me not to have a kid until, like, ever,” Gentry said. As far as costs go, Gentry admits
the younger stages of any pet can be relatively expensive, but as the pet gets older depending on it’s health, the costs decrease. Animal caretaker at the Lee County Humane Society Kaci Jordan agrees. “Many people say they can’t afford to take care of their animal but then they can afford to go to the bar every single weekend,” Jordan said. “But for the most part, it’s not a big money issue because the unconditional love (you) get in return isn’t something money can buy.” Laura Robinson, sophomore in social work, has always had a pet back home and adopted a cat, Milly, to have someone here in Auburn who is always happy to see her. “It gives you a great amount of encouragement to care for someone other than yourself,” Robinson said. “(But) the cons are that it is very expensive and you always have to worry about how what you do could effect you and your pet.” Jordan has similar ideas, admitting that having a pet is like having a child as far as caretaking goes, and she be-
lieves that college students should definitely understand the responsibility involved with owning one. “If you’re not very busy and you have time to take care of (a pet) then that’s great!” Jordan said. “But I don’t think it’s fair to the animal or the owner to have an animal and are barely home to play with them.” Most college students have extracurricular activities and other things to keep them busy that may get in the way of maintaining and taking care of a pet. “I would recommend (having a pet) to someone with all the right resources like a yard, money and time,” Gentry said. “The pros absolutely outweigh the cons if you put enough time in at the beginning. And you have to love dogs as much as I do probably, otherwise it could be a headache. Definitely the best impulse decision I’ve ever made, though.” Gentry said she has a best friend around 24/7, Robinson said she has a great companion and Jordan said without her dog, it’s like a piece of her is missing.
Step into Lake Martin’s Springhouse with chef Rob McDaniel Sheyda Mehrara Volunteer
Blindfold a native Californian, unveil their eyes before Springhouse Restaurant at Lake Martin and you’ll fool them into believing they’re about to dine in Napa Valley. Make no mistake. This is Russell Lands in Central Alabama. Each facet of Springhouse serves as reminders that it’s heavily rooted in Lake Martin’s land and history. “I’ve had people come from places like Miami and New York visit,” said Rob McDaniel, executive chef and general manager. “It never fails that they are amazed a place like this actually exists in Alabama.” Maybe it’s the immediate “How are y’all doing today” from a young hostess with a sweet smile when you open the doors. Maybe it’s archived photos of the Russell family and Lake Martin’s humble beginning on the wall of the waiting hall. Maybe it’s the aroma of smoked lamb loin and freshly baked bread wafting over from the stone hearth as you walk into the main dining room. Regardless, you can stop the frantic search for your necktie and dinner jacket. Springhouse will become your second home. “There’s a reason that even on a dreary day like this people come to Springhouse,” said Sam Fonte, assistant manager and wine expert. “It’s
fine dining, but it’s not white table cloth.” If you’re lucky enough, you can sit on the far side of the room directly in front of the open kitchen. Although you’re the farthest from the hearth, the constant hustle of the kitchen is enough to keep your attention. Sous chef Chris Cantrell and the staff work harmoniously as servers bring in orders and take out preparations inspired by pure ideals with precise execution. Cantrell, who has worked in Napa Valley and New Orleans, wanted to step away from “overtly posh cuisine, but still wanted to be in fine dining and cook from scratch.” The lunch menu for the day offer entrees like creamy cauliflower soup with herbed breadcrumbs and panseared redfish with a slaw of red bell peppers, carrots and champagne vinaigrette. Tena Payne of Earthborn Pottery in Leeds, handcrafted each bowl and plate that the food is served upon. The tableware even mocks typical upscale formality. This is food, and Springhouse encourages personal connection to your dining experience There’s nothing more personal than eating one artist’s creation off another artist’s design. “I love working with people like Rob who are taking us out of the straight everything fried mindset,” said Cantrell. “We are elevating our
natural cuisine through a lighter, fresher take.” “Most people that come in here know each other,” Fonte said. “They get up from one table and chat with friends across the room.” There are no diners wearing threepiece suits. The bar is crowded with participants of the fourth annual Russell Forest Run held earlier that morning wearing Nike shorts and carrying athletic bags. They sit at the main dining hall’s bar that faces the back porch. But, if it’s the private dining experience that you desire, Springhouse offers that, too. You can make reservations for up to 12 guests in the Well House that is connected by tunnel to Springhouse. “We’ve had some pretty prestigious groups down here,” Fonte said. “People ranging from boards of trustees of Auburn and Alabama to doctors.” Guests destined for this intimate setting are led down the waiting hall, past the bathrooms, to an elevator. When the doors open to the underground floor, they’re facing a long dim hallway. “This is my wine cellar,” Fonte said, pointing to the left wall. “This is my baby.” The wall is paneled with temperature-controlled glass cabinets, each with a lock, stacked with wines ranging from $100 to $1,000. “Our most expensive wine is from
the Chateau Sauternes region of Bordeaux, France,” Fonte said. “It’s this dessert wine that tastes exactly like honey.” He goes on to explain that when Springhouse first opened its doors in April 2009, in the backdrop of the
“
I’ve had people come from places like Miami and New York visit. It never fails that they are amazed a place like this actually exists in Alabama.” —Rob McDaniel executive chef and general manager
recession, these lockers stored Lake Martin residents’ personal wine collections. However, the restaurant quickly changed their policy since the practice is illegal in Alabama. When asked which wine is his favorite, “Pinot Nior hands down. Everyone tries to make it because it’s the hardest to finesse, but very few perfect it.” “It’s the wine of the kings,” Fonte says fittingly right before the entrance of the Well House seating area.
It’s a circular, brick-walled dining area with a round table surrounded by 12 chairs. Down here, guests get treated like modern Knights of the Round Table with access to Sirius radio and specially crafted menus. Yet, if you ask Fonte or McDaniel, this isn’t even the best part of the restaurant. You have to go all the way to the third floor for that. The third floor consists of a balcony that overlooks the main dining hall, with an identical bar to accommodate guests that choose to sit up there. The balcony is nestled under wood beams cut from trees of Russell Lands, and the open porch is only a turn of a handle away. “The sunsets up here are insane,” Fonte said outside while looking out onto Russell Lands’ forests and The Stables that sit at the bottom of the ridge. On a separate occasion, McDaniel echoes Fonte. “This is probably one of the best places to watch the sunset. It’s unbelievable every day.” Springhouse seems foreign in the middle of Lake Martin, but it’s not until its history is uprooted that everything makes sense. This is more than a restaurant. “It was the eldest Ben Russell’s dream to build this community on the lake,” McDaniel said. “His son is fulfilling his father’s dream, and it’s amazing that my dream gets to fit into that.”
Intrigue B8
The Auburn Plainsman
Thursday, March 21, 2013
Adventures abroad: the World Race Other bucket lists being forced to cohabitate with approximately 50 people ages 21–35. Our squad was divided into teams of seven and eight that we spent at least three months with. We traveled to Central America, Asia and Africa, spending a month in each country we went to. On this particular trip, we went to Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Malaysia, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania and Malawi. We lived as the locals did, most of the time in their homes, or in their place of operation, doing whatever tasks they needed us to. Because the World Race is primarily a Christian mission trip, our tasks included community outreach, orphanage visitation, construction, evangelism
Jordan Dale Writer
In the March 7 issue of The Auburn Plainsman, I wrote a column about eating dog at a village outside of Chiang Rai, Thailand. That experience, along with subsequent columns in this series, will discuss things that students encountered during travels around the world. This column will serve as an introduction of sorts for forthcoming articles. In September 2012, I returned from an 11-month humanitarian journey to 11 countries called the World Race. I spent nearly a year away from my friends and family, while
LUNCH
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and, in some cases, counseling. We met incredible people who did things that I would never consider. Their dedication to their causes was unfathomable to me. We met people who had seen things that I would need years of therapy to overcome. The places we went were some of the most beautiful I have ever seen. To be candid, the Race came at a time in my life when I needed to take a break. My grades were deteriorating, my personal life was collapsing around me and I was burning bridges with a fervor an arsonist would be envious of. My life had become dominated by a prevailing sense of apathy. I needed to wake up and grow up. I was weighing my options of what to do with my time: either a stereotypical backpacking trip around Europe, working as a method of refocusing and even a serious trek down the path toward joining the Coast Guard. Backpacking around Europe was thrown out; I didn’t want to be stereotypical. Working wasn’t going to have the life-shaping impact I wanted and the time commitment required by the Coast Guard scared me to death. I agreed to the Race impul-
sively. I knew almost nothing about it, and while being raised in a Christian household, I could not be readily described as an active Christian. It was the hardest thing I’ve ever done in my life. Not because of the people I met, or the intense situations that I have been in that engendered these retellings, but because of the people I was surrounded by. Forty-five Americans and three Canadians all equipped with REI backpacks that could not begin to store the emotional baggage they were bringing with them. Some of us lost baggage along the way, and some of us did not. Sometimes life’s experiences can be too permanent to learn from. While the majority of my stories will come from my experiences during the World Race, I have also been to countries in the Caribbean, Central America and Europe. The final tally is approximately 40 countries. This is my second victory lap at Auburn. Hopefully, you will have the opportunity to gain some insight about cultures around the world through my experiences without forking out the money for a plane ticket and delaying your own graduation timeline.
pale in comparison Kelsey Davis Intrigue Writer
All right psychos, we’ve all heard of every cliche thing we’re supposed to do while we’re here at Auburn - roll Toomer’s Corner (awkward), take your picture in front of Samford Hall, graduate, etc. To me, these seem more like watered down guidelines. Below is a list of what you actually need to be checking off your list before your time at Auburn runs out.
Wear a wolf shirt on Wednesdays. I ’m talking graphic tee. I do this religiously and it never fails to make Wednesdays better. If you catch a glimpse of your reflection somewhere on campus and manage not to laugh, you’re broken on the inside.
Play Dance Dance Revolution on the bottom floor of the Student Center. Need I say more?
ing said, it’s a rite of passage, and you can’t consider yourself a real Auburn student until you’ve done it.
While you’re there.... Call a number off of someone’s leasing advertisement that they’ve so strategically placed inside the bathroom stall at eye level. If you’ve posted these before - shame on you. Everyone else - endless opportunities for entertainment await you.
Pretend you’re a zombie. Student zombies were running ramped last Spring and it freaked me the hell out. The closest I’ve come to one is narrowly missing being mowed down by a zombie warrior on the walk back to my dorm. It seems the object of the game is to avoid them at all costs, but mark my words, I will join their legion.
Steal a drunk bus. The Plainsman doesn’t endorse or condone this, but, I mean, come on....
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Spend the night in the library.
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The squad stops in Malawi for a final reunion on the last day of the Race.
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