04.25.2013 edition of The Auburn Plainsman by The Auburn Plainsman

SEE PHOTOS CELEBRATING

TOOMER’S CORNER FINAL ROLL A4–A5

The Auburn Plainsman A Spirit That Is Not Afraid ThePlainsman.com

Thursday, April 25, 2013

Vol. 119, Issue 36, 16 Pages

Jacobs responds to Roberts’ allegations

Online

Kelsey davis Intrigue writer

Campus

Community

Raye Maye/photo editor

The Auburn family gathers to drape Toomer’s oaks in toilet paper one last time before their removal.

From A-Day to last day A look back on the final moments leading up to the Toomer’s oaks removal Nathan simone and austin Lankford

Sports

managing editor/campus reporter

As toilet paper flew through the air following A-Day, there wasn’t a shred of sadness in sight nor tear that needed to be wiped. Auburn fans gathered at Toomer’s Corner in masses before the famous scrimmage was over, papering not just the Toomer’s Oaks, but any plant, pole or large object lining the street toward Thach Avenue and the Ralph Brown Draughon Library. At 5 p.m., after fans danced to live music by a variety of bands, Auburn President, Jay Gogue, and Auburn Mayor, Bill Ham, took the stage to address the crowd and begin the “final roll” ceremony. “This is a great historic site where generations of Auburn families have come to celebrate victories,” Gogue said. “We just want to say that we’re awfully proud of Auburn.” Gogue then referenced the poisoning of the

Intrigue

trees by Harvey Updyke in 2010, but championed that Auburn would persevere without its beloved symbols. “We had an unfortunate event a few years back that damaged our trees,” Gogue said, “But nothing will ever dampen the Auburn spirit. War Eagle.” Ham then spoke, referencing the 83,401 fans that attended the A-Day game and festivities, saying it was a sign of positive influence from new coach Gus Malzahn. “There were 83,401 of you in the stadium today, so I want y’all to give yourselves a hand,” Ham said. “What does that say for coach Malzahn, his staff and the Auburn Tigers?” Ham then thanked the crowd for their support before, during and after A-Day and affirmed that the Auburn spirit was still alive and well. “I know each one of you love Auburn, so thank you for being here,” Ham said. “I hope to see each and every one of you at every game this coming year.” Following Ham was Bill Stone, president of the Auburn Alumni Association, and Harrison Mills, newly-elected SGA president.

» See A-Day A2

In a letter addressed to the Auburn Family released April 22, Jay Jacobs refuted a list of allegations made in Selena Roberts’ Roopstigo report. “The most serious allegation is the claim that academic fraud occurred prior to the 2011 BCS National Championship game,” Jacobs stated in the letter. To examine these accusations for evidence of academic fraud, Auburn Athletics and Auburn University Internal Auditing conducted internal reviews, according to Jacobs’ letter. No evidence of academic fraud was found. Following the letter was a report, which side-byside compared Roberts’ allegations to evidence-based facts. Roberts was quoted reporting, “Three players say that before the 2011 BCS National Championship game, the team was told that as many as nine of their teammates would not be able to play in the title game because they were academically ineligible.” The report issued by Auburn Universtiy addressed this charge, along with many others. “An internal review by Auburn Athletics and an independent review by Auburn University Internal Auditing found no evidence that improper grade changes occurred. “In fact, six players were deemed academically ineligible for the game and did not travel with the team to Arizona.” Also rebutted in the report were accusations of grade inflation, racist implications from coaches, overwhelming numbers of players testing positive for recreational drug usage and

JACOBS

more. On the same day the letter was issued, former Auburn head football coach Gene Chizik conducted his first media interview since his termination in November. Chizik reaffirmed points made in the report by offering continued defenses against Roberts’ allegations. “This is not a performance enhancing drug, it’s a performance debilitating drug” Chizik said in reference to allegations of players’ recreational use of the drug Spice. “So if half of our team is on it during our 2010 National Championship run, how were we performing at a level that was the best football team in the country? That doesn’t even make sense.” Chizik also stated that when testing for recreational drug usage began, only 10 percent of the current team tested positive. Jacobs concluded in his letter that Roberts’ article is clearly flawed, as demonstrated by the facts given. “I want you to know that I will always act on the basis of facts. “I will continue to fight for Auburn University, and I will continue to defend this great institution against such attacks,” Jacobs said. Roberts said that she is working on a story about Auburn’s release statement to Aaron Brenner of War Eagle Extra. She also stated that the story is “a work in progress.”

Equestrian Team wins national championship, rolls Toomer’s Corner to celebrate and commemorate Readers Respond

INDEX Campus Opinion Community Sports Intrigue

A2 A6 A7 B1 B5

Lance Davis Sports Writer

A day after celebrating what was supposed to be the final rolling of Toomer’s Corner on A-Day, Auburn decided to let the equestrian team, which won the national championship Saturday, give the oaks a fresh coat. “This is incredible,” head coach Greg Williams said. “Our dream and what we worked for all year long is win a national championship, but the way the Auburn fans treat each other like family, it’s like bringing your daughters down here and having a celebration. Knowing it’s the last time we’re going to be rolling these trees, it adds a lot of historical significance to it.” Auburn won the Hunt Seat National Championship earlier in the day and defeated Georgia, 3-1, in a ride-off com-

petition to seal the 2013 NCEA Overall National Championship in Waco, Texas. The Hunt Seat Team topped No. 1 seed Baylor, 5-3, in the semifinal round. Auburn faced No. 3 seed Georgia in the championship round. With the match tied 2-2 after flat, Auburn got points from Elizabeth Benson and Jennifer Waxman to earn a 2-1 win in fences and give Auburn the Hunt Seat National Championship. A ride-off between Auburn and Georgia was needed to determine the overall national champion. Benson won flat and fences, and Cheyenne Cracraft won reining to take a 3-1 win and the overall national championship. “It was definitely [nervewracking],” said freshman Elizabeth Benson, who finished 8-0 in her events.

Chelsea wooten/ photographer

Seniors Anna Becker, Coryn Bergenty, Casey Fowler, Indy Roper and Lindsay Portela pose with trophies.

“We were all sitting in the stands waiting for it to happen. “It came down to the first round before the final ride-off, and at that point we knew that we had won the Hunt Seat Na-

tional Championship, but that also meant we tied with them. We were nervous. “We tried to enjoy the moment as much as possible, but then going back to the barn to get ready for the ride-off was

definitely nerve-wracking.” “It came down between us and them, and our girls pulled it out,” Williams said. “It was a great win.”

» See equestrian A2

Campus A2

The Auburn Plainsman

DUI Arrests in the City of Auburn April 17–24, 2013 ■ Jessica Snawerdt, 21, Auburn Thursday, April 18, 2:24 a.m. on Opelika Road ■ Harold Billingslea, 59, Auburn Friday, April 19, 1:55 p.m. on Opelika Road ■ Gerri McDaniel, 49, Alexander City Saturday, April 20, 12:07 a.m. at South College Street and Pine Hills Avenue ■ Gregory Brown II, 22, Birmingham Saturday, April 20, 3:40 a.m. on Opelika Road ■ John Morvant, 23, Mobile Saturday, April 20, 10:24 p.m. on West Magnolia Avenue ■ Joel Czerkawski, 19, Newburgh, In. Sunday, April 21, 1:04 a.m. on North Gay Street ■ Edward Bragg, 38, Auburn Sunday, April 21, 6:19 p.m. on North Donahue Drive ■ Joseph Jones, 24, Auburn Tuesday, April 23, 2:35 a.m. on West Magnolia Avenue ■ Jordan Penney, 27, Auburn Wednesday, April 24, 1:15 a.m. at East Glenn Avenue ad North Gay Street ■ Richard Owens, 19, Auburn Wednesday, April 24, 2:55 a.m. on South College Street

Thursday, April 25, 2013

Crime reports for April 17–24, 2013 April 17 – South Donahue Drive Third-degree theft of an iPhone between noon–2 p.m. April 18 – Toomer Street Third-degree criminal mischief between noon–8 a.m. April 18 – North Gay Street Third-degree theft of U.S. Currency between 4:50–8 p.m. April 19 – Opelika Road Third-degree theft of clothes between 4:30–4:42 p.m.

April 20 – Opelika Road and Temple Street Left the scene of an accident between 9:14–9:17 p.m. April 20 – Rick Drive Third-degree burglary of two laptops, a cell phone, two watches and jewelry between 2–9 p.m. April 22 – West Veterans Boulevard First-degree theft of a motor vehicle between 7:45 a.m.–noon

April 20 – South College Street Second-degree theft of two desktop computers between 1:25–1:31 a.m.

April 22 – Samantha Court Third-degree burglary of a television, Wii, iPad and Sony game system between 11:30 a.m.–2 p.m.

April 20 – Lunsford Drive First-degree criminal trespass between 7:45–7:50 a.m.

April 22 – Samantha Court Second-degree burglary of shotguns between 9 a.m.–2 p.m.

A-Day

» From A1 After leading the crowd in a “War Eagle,” Stone thanked the crowd for rolling Toomer’s Corner and then alluded to a well-kept secret. “Thank you for rolling Toomer’s Corner one more time,” Stone said. “But you know what? This ain’t the last roll. We’ll be here, and we’re gonna roll and roll and roll this corner. Just as we always have and just as we always will.” Stone then told the crowd they could purchase parts of the trees as commerative gifts, with all the money going toward scholarships. The pair then presented the new design for Toomer’s Corner, which will feature a more open walking space, shaded benches and other tree coverage. “One thing I can guarantee you is that there will be live trees on this corner,” Stone said. The last ones to speak were Athletic Director Jay Jacobs and Gus Malzahn, who also emphasized the continued spirit of Auburn. “These trees may be dead,” Jacobs said. “But the Auburn spirit is alive.” Malzahn said the high attendance at A-Day was a testament to Auburn’s devotion and promise of a bright future. “83,000 fans at A-Day today, we made a statement to the rest of college football about the Auburn Family,” Malzahn said. “It is an honor and blessing for me to be back here as your

Equestrian » From A1

Sunday evening, the team marched from the Hotel at Auburn University and Dixon Conference Center down to Toomer’s Corner carrying boxes of toilet paper, and joined the crowd in tossing the rolls onto the beloved oaks. “I felt like Auburn kept the

Raye may/photo editor

Surrounded by onlookers, the first limbs of Toomers’ oaks began to come down April 23, at 7 a.m.

head football coach.” Malzahn then gave a glimpse of what fans can expect for next fall. “Here’s the plan in the fall: to give the Auburn Family numerous opportunities to roll these trees. War Eagle!” After a weekend of celebration and one final roll, fans and students surrounded the Toomer’s Oaks Tuesday, April 23 at 7 a.m. while they were being cut down. Armond Glidewell, 1984 Auburn graduate, was one of the onlookers.

party going and waited on our girls to get here,” Williams said. “These Tigers didn’t come empty-handed. They brought party favors with them.” “The environment here is just so wonderful,” senior Indy Roper said. “It’s great for the sport of equestrian. For us as a team, words really can’t even describe it.

April 23 – Dekalb Street Third-degree criminal mischief between 3–9 a.m.

“There is a sense of sadness this morning because it is the end of an era for what we have had at the University for a while now,” Glidewell said. “It is sad that one person’s misdeeds have led to the loss of a tradition like this.” Rob and Betty Martin were there Saturday, April 20, for the final roll and they were also present Tuesday morning. The Martins went to Auburn in the 1960s. “It is a sad day, but it is going to be okay because Auburn will be Auburn forever,” Betty Martin said. It is sad, but it is also a new begin-

April 23 – East University Drive Left the scene of an accident between 2:55–3:56 p.m. April 23 – Lee Road 20 Third-degree criminal trespass between 8:20–8:40 p.m.

— Reports provided by Auburn Department of Public Safety

ning because we are both very pleased with the new design that has been produced.” Rob Martin said the best he has ever seen the corner rolled is after the national championship in 2010. “I like how the paper went all the way down the street that day and I think that is the way it is going to be with the new design when we spread the area out a little bit,” Rob Martin said. Ben Gustafson, sophomore in software engineering, noted the difference between the atmosphere around Toomer’s Corner for the final roll Saturday, April 20 and Tuesday morning. “Just a few days ago, we were all gathered as close as we could get to the trees and today we are separated from them and in a somber mood,” Gustafson said. “No one is laughing or anything and we are almost a state of disbelief that this is actually happening.” Despite the sadness, Gustafson said he is looking forward to being part of starting the new tradition at Toomer’s Corner. “It’s exciting and it is a big task,” Gustafson said. “I don’t know what collectively as a body we want that tradition to look like, but I think it will be very similar to the tradition we had.” Gustafson is pleased with the new design and said he trusts that it was designed with the fans and students in mind. “I think it is cool to be able to know what it used to be and then also be a part of bringing about a new tradition and experience what it will be,” Gustafson said.

“Obviously the last time we roll Toomer’s, this is something that you’ll tell your children and grandchildren about.” The riders gathered between the trees for a team picture and circled to lead the crowd in the “Bodda Getta” cheer. “Nothing beats this if you’re an Auburn person,” Williams said.

Raye May/Photographer

Seniors Anna Becker, Kasey Saucer, Indy Roper, Coryn Bergenty, Casey Fowler and Lindsay Portela prepare to roll Toomer’s corner one last time after claiming National Championship title.

The Auburn Plainsman 255 Heisman Drive, Suite 1111, AU Student Center Auburn, AL 36849

Newsroom - (334) 844-9108

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 OPINIONS Editor - Benjamin Croomes SPECIAL SECTIONS Editor - Melody Kitchens

Advertising - (334) 844-4130

Editor - Robert E. Lee Managing Editor - Nathan Simone DESIGN Editor - Rachel Suhs Graphic Artist - Emily Brett

ADVERTISING

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, April 25, 2013

Campus A3

The Auburn Plainsman

Students raise awareness for sexual assault Kailey Miller CAMPUS REPORTER

April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month, or SAAM, and Auburn University students are doing their part by informing the public. The SAAM Task Force at Auburn University has already organized many things for this month to get the community involved. The SAAM Task Force is made up of 12 girls, said Gabrielle Brundidge, senior in interdisciplinary studies. The group has organized the These Hands Don’t Hurt campaign, the Clothesline Project, and a program of speakers who will talk about sexual assault prevention as well as recovery and how to support a friend or loved one who has been assaulted. On Thursday, April 25, they will have the Take Back The Night program. For These Hands Don’t Hurt, all that the group needed was a canvas and some paint. “People can put their hands in the paint and put it on a canvas that we have and pledge to

not use their hands for violence of any kind,” said Kathleen Brown, freshman in chemical engineering and member of the SAAM task force. The Clothesline project was an opportunity for people to paint t-shirts in memory or in honor of those who have survived Sexual Assault or sometimes for themselves if they have been a victim of sexual assault. The T-shirts were then hung on a clothesline on the green space. Take Back The Night is an event for sexual assault survivors to tell their stories and speakers will come to educate the audience on sexual assault. “Our overarching goal of course it to promote awareness,” said Kristy Malone, diversity initiatives coordinator. “One in four college aged women can expect to be victims of sexual assault at some point in their lives, we’ve all heard that statistic, but still awareness is not where it should be.” Malone is also a Safe Harbor advocate on campus and said that most victims of sexual as-

Why Care Campaign calls Auburn students to action Becky Hardy CAMPUS EDITOR

Four students started the Why Care Campaign at Auburn last fall, but have now expanded it worldwide. Reaching out to 73 countries, Devin Yeomans, cofounder, Jenni Daniel, cofounder, Anna Kate Mullinix, co-founder and Aubrey Sullivan, co-founder have created this project to raise awareness about hunger locally and internationally. “The goal wasn’t to collect money,” Daniel said. “The goal was to spread awareness and really make people truly think about it.” The four women first started the project in their Hunger Studies Capstone class taught by Kate Thornton, director of the hunger and sustainability initiative. The assignment was to create something that would change the world. “It was one of those things that we didn’t plan, it just happened,” Mullinix said. “It’s one of those things that we could have never dreamed of happening.” The women came up with the idea to spread awareness on the hunger issue, but focused more on asking people a question, not just giving them statistics.

“We realized once we figured out our reason it really empowered us to do more,” said Yeomans. “I think by allowing it to be a question made it more powerful.” The Why Care Campaign has partnered with the World Food Program and the Food and Agriculture Program of the United Nations to reach more people. The first step of the Why Care Campaign was to encourage people to figure out why they care about hunger through pictures sent to the campaign’s social media sites. “The campaign was actually for World Food Day on October 16, 2012, so everything that we had done was building up to that one day,” Yeomans said. “The results were incredible. We peaked at 36,000-person reach on Facebook alone. The days leading up to World Hunger Day we collected over 2,500 photos and counting.” The first step of the campaign had gained the attention of people throughout the world by people sending in their photos of why they care about hunger. “We had a lot of athletes, Olympians, politicians, Christina Aguilera, a lot of NGO leaders and people from the UN,” Yeomans said. “The variation was incredible.”

CONTRIBUTED BY DEVIN YEOMANS

The Why Care Campaign collected over 2,500 Why Care photos from over 73 countries and grabbed the attention of Olympians, students from around the world and even pop stars like Christina Aguilera.

“

We realized once we figured out our reason it really empowered us to do more. I think by allowing it to be a question made it more powerful.”

sault say they can’t believe it happened to them and that they didn’t know this could happen at Auburn. “We definitely want people to not be afraid, Auburn is no more dangerous than any other college campus,” Malone said. “Women who are college aged are most likely to be victims of sexual assault so we really need people to be aware so they can take appropriate precautions.” Student participation was high for the These Hands Don’t Hurt project, but not as high for the Clothesline Project because it was more time consuming, Brown said. They have been planning these activities since January. The group gets their funding from Verizon and the Health and Wellness Promotion Services along with other groups. “We also really try to promote drink safety, the date rape drug is frequently used,” Malone said. “There are certain bars downtown that people are starting to recognize as you’re more likely to get date rape drugged there.”

—Kristy Malone DIVERSITY INIATIVES COORDINATOR

Not every victim of the date rape drug decides to go to the hospital for testing, Malone said. For these situations, she recommends that the person be taken home by a trusted companion who can make sure they are ok. “Even though we are in the Bible Belt, it’s still a touchy subject to talk about sex in general so it has been a little bit difficult getting the word out,” Brundidge said. “(We are) keeping students aware of what happens when the lights go out and (making sure) that everyone has the correct consent for any activity that is done.”

Adventure Sports S.C.U.B.A. Inc. 212 North Gay Auburn, AL 334-884-8005

—devin Yeomans CO-FOUNDER OF WHY CARE CAMPAIGN

Yeomans said that people gave them varied ‘Why I Care’ responses. “You had things that were really deep from people that had seen hunger first-hand and then you had people that were more fluid about it, which is fine,” Yeomans said. “They would just say ‘I care about hunger because I love bacon and everyone should have bacon.’ We had a lot of religious, personal and moral reasons.” The second step of the campaign is a call to action. “We’re trying to get together a 50 million pound food drive, for food banks kind of like Beat Bama Food Drive,” Yeomans said. The women want to get various schools across the country and world involved in the 50 million pound food drive, Daniels said. Mullinix said the issue of hunger did not affect her directly until her mission trip to Honduras last summer. “This past summer I was in Honduras and there was this little boy that came to the orphanage that I was working at and trying to eat made him sick, which is a primary symptom of starvation,” Mullinix said. “It really took on a different face that it was no longer just an issue, but it was a person, a name, a face and a story.” The group hopes to encourage students to volunteer on campus to help out their community and the world. “They can get involved with Committee of 19, start their own food drive or help out the Campus Kitchen,” Mullinix said. “There are many initiatives on campus that give students the ability to make in different in their community and around the state and the world.” The campaign has grown into something that the women cannot control entirely anymore, but they hope it grows into something much bigger. “I’m just really excited to see where it goes,” Mullinix said. “It’s one of those things that we have some control over it, but when it comes down to it there’s really not many of us involved can do to control where it goes and what it does. I’m excited to see what it looks like in the future and how it continues to evolve in the international program.”

“

One in four college aged women can expect to be victims of sexual assualt at some point in their lives.”

www.adventuresportsscuba.com

Mother’s Finest

Lee Roy Parnell

Sister Hazel

Shooter Jennings & The Triple Crown

Jeffrey Steele

Hot Rod Walt & Sarah Davidson Jonathan Tyler & The Psycho DeVilles The Northern Lights

Hacienda

Sonia Leigh

G e t yo u r t i c ke t s o n s a l e n ow at w w w. c u t b a i t m u s i c. co m D i s co u nt o n we e ke n d p a s s i f yo u p u rc h a s e by M ay 1

W W W. C U T B A I T M U S I C . CO M | U P TO W N CO LU M B U S , G E O R G I A E MA I L I N F O @ C U T B A I T M U S I C . CO M

Campus A4

The Auburn Plainsman

Thursday, April 25, 2013

The Auburn Plainsman

Campus A5

One Last Roll

PHOTOS BY RAYE MAY / PHOTO EDITOR

Andrew Yawn SPORTS REPORTER

It wasn’t a funeral. It was a going away party. On Saturday, April 20, Auburn‘s Orange team played the Blue team in front of a recordbreaking A-Day audience. The Tigers were guaranteed to win the scrimmage, but that didn’t make the final rolling of the famed Toomer’s trees any less sweet. With the oaks scheduled to be removed on Tuesday, April 23 (see right), it seemed that all of Auburn had come downtown to say farewell. The Auburn faithful had waited for years, yearning to see signs of life from the noticeably ailing oaks after they were poisoned by Harvey Updyke, however, on ADay, what little leaves the trees could muster were obscured by a curtain of white, a sign that fans had surrendered to the inevitable.

Visit ThePlainsman.com to watch videos and photo slideshows of A-Day and the final rolling at Toomer’s corner.

Tails of toilet paper streamed through the Auburn sky and fans sang of how great it was to be an Auburn Tiger, but there were no tears. Instead, fans reveled in the moment, and savored their last chance to roll the once-mighty oak trees. It was a family gathering the likes of which hadn’t been seen on The Plains in a long time. The Samford Park renovation ensures toilet paper will continue to litter the corner of College and Magnolia, and passersby will always know if Auburn won the game. The Toomer’s trees will never be rolled again, and yet Auburn did not lose its tradition or its spirit. Instead we danced, we sang and we proved that Auburn’s postagame tradition is not about the branches that hold the twoply, but the hands that throw it up there.

CHELSEA WOOTEN / PHOTOGRAPHER

Opinions

A6 ThePlainsman.com

Thursday, April 25, 2013

Opinions

Our View

It’s the end of the year as we know it With the end of the semester staring us in the face, we thought it would be a good time to reflect on the past few months. A lot has happened, and it seems like a good time to put things into perspective. Groucho Marx once said “Time wounds all heels,” and after this semester, we are inclined to agree. After three long years, Harvey Updyke is finally paying for his 2010 poisoning of the Toomer’s oaks. We promised not to write editorials about Updyke – so we won’t – but we do need to say it feels good to see him behind bars. Updyke has been a thorn in our collective side for too long. Unfortunately, we have a new thorn, and this one seems to be digging in for the long haul. Selena Roberts, Roopstigo founder and a former Plainsman reporter, seems to have her heart set on proving the Auburn football program is corrupt. Her claim

is the Athletic Department is responsible for academic fraud and shady recruiting practices, a claim which mostly rests on the shoulders of Mike McNeil, a now convicted felon. The slipshod manner in which Roberts defended her article is enough to raise some serious questions about the validity of what she reported. But the fact the NCAA has said Auburn is not guilty just pushes our B.S. meters to the limit. Hopefully time will again work its magic and prove what already looks to be a heap of conjecture and hearsay to be just that. On the positive side of what has happened this semester, there’s one guy that’s given us some hope for the future. By the way, we’ve also said this guy should be fired. Athletic Director Jay Jacobs has made us proud, and that’s something we never thought we would say. The way he’s responded to the

allegations presented in Roberts’ article has shown the professionalism and leadership we so desperately need in the Athletic Department. Of course, anytime we hear the words internal investigation we roll our eyes, but we still need to give Jacobs some credit. It’s not easy being so unpopular and still having the desire to defend the people who don’t like you. His massive paycheck probably helps, but that’s not the point this time. He stepped up to the challenge, and though it may be too little too late, we’re happy he can still fight for the Tigers. We’re also hopeful coach Gus Malzahn will return us to our former football glory. It’s still too early to tell, but we have confidence in him. Of course, there will also be painful after effects in the coming semesters. The recent tuition increase is just adding on to the

pressure building up among the student body.We have to pay too much to eat and park our cars, and it seems we are going to continue paying too much to go to school. So, at the end of the Spring 2013 semester, we are left with a bittersweet optimism. We have a new football team to rally around, a new scandal to fight off and an athletic director finally coming out of his shell. We’ll try not to let the cost of being a part of the Auburn Family get us down, but it will definitely be in the back of our minds. We want to encourage our readers to take this time of transition to think about what it means to be an Auburn Tiger – to think about what it means to be more than a football team. Let’s start a new chapter in the history of Auburn, a chapter centered on integrity, kinship and a desire to make our future better than anything we’ve achieved in the past.

Letters to the Editor

John Porter@JporterAU11 “Doesn’t even look like Toomers” (About Toomers trees removal)

Vicki @NoWayWithWords “It breaks my heart to see it. So many memories... 2 generations of tradition for my family... #WarEagleForever” (About Toomers trees removal)

Adam @WarDamnAdam

“It’s an important and unique program that has been neglected for too long. #FlyAuburn” (On Auburn Aviation program being shut down)

MP the ϕ 5th @MtPaulC

@auburnalphas is not racists and does not promote racism and @ TheAUPlainsman has no right to insinuate otherwise without proper research. (About column from April 11)

His View

Boston: have a heart, mind After finals, do yourself a favor I've heard it said that things like the tragedy that happened in Boston this week bring out the best in us. A number of my friends, all over the country, think that the man responsible for this crime should be executed without a trial or legal representation. In other words, we want revenge, and we think he should be lynched. In Massachusetts, no one has been executed since 1947. Capital punishment is unconstitutional there. Even if it weren't, the U.S. Constitution guarantees the right to not be denied life, liberty, or property without the due process of law. What is the law for? It protects us from other people. If you steal my car, I can, with the power of the law, take it back. If I don't pay you rent, you can evict me from your property by that same power. However, the law is also a protection from ourselves. When a crime or tort has us angry, we can lose sight of what constitutes an acceptable treat-

ment for the person responsible. The law provides us with a calm, unbiased template explaining the just and deserved punishment for an action. It is the dividing line between government of, by and for the people, and rule by the agitated, furious, enraged mob. Now here we are as a country, during a time that we say brings out the best in us. Do we discard our laws because we're agitated, furious, and enraged, and decide that a man's life is worth less than our anger and hatred? I was born in Boston. Many of my friends are in Boston and I'm sure count themselves lucky to not be among the victims. I am angry too. But if this is our country at its best, are we any better than the killer? David J Shuckerow Sophomore, Computer Science

Live Out Toomer’s Legacy When tragedy strikes Auburn, we as a community rise up. We saw this in action as over 80,000 members of the Auburn family celebrated in the “Last Roll” at Toomer’s Corner. While visiting over the weekend, I was in awe of how the Auburn faithful came together to celebrate one of the most unique traditions in all of college athletics. Students: just as you celebrate traditions in and outside of the stadium, you should celebrate them in and outside of the classroom as well. Be proactive in developing relationships with your professors, high five the ca-

shier at the bookstore, hold the door open for a stranger. Join an organization, stay up all night studying at the library. Have the same passion and enthusiasm for what you do in your education as you do celebrating an Auburn Tiger victory. Auburn men and women should reach outside of the campus environment too. Serve someone else in the surrounding Auburn community. Hunger, grief, and suffering may seem like a distant concern, but they are a lot closer than you think. These are all traditions that make Auburn a truly special place. These are the things

that will develop you personally, professionally, and academically. The ceasing of one tradition (at least for the time being) should be the beginning of something new that generations of Auburn fans will enjoy. The Toomer’s Oaks are now gone. However, their presence will still be felt throughout the campus and surrounding community. Live out this spirit in your life, Auburn, so that their legacy will live on forever. Matt Henderson Alumnus ‘10, ‘12

Love, also according to the Bible Let me start by saying that this habit some of us have fallen into of using the bible to justify why homosexuality is wrong or why marriage equality laws should not be passed just simply does not make sense – as we all have different beliefs and perhaps more importantly, because America is not a Theocracy! However, since we are in the habit of quoting scripture, Romans also states in 13:8 “Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law.” This “inspired word” clearly states that loving another fulfills the law

and conveniently makes no mention of what gender that person you love has to be. With that be ing said, which law exactly is my loving someone in violation of? We all have our opinions on religion, marriage, and relationships, but one thing that everyone should be able to agree on is the power of love. No one owes anyone an explanation for why they love someone, nor should it be made into a religious debate. Love is not defined by our doctrines; it is an emotion – defined by our hearts. Love is more than simply feeling physically attracted to some-

one – it is an enduring feeling of emotional closeness and warmth. If I feel that way for someone – anyone at all – it should be celebrated! I honestly do not understand how feeling affection for someone could ever become a matter of right or wrong. I look forward to the day when we can accept and respect each other enough to support loving relationships, even if they “violate” the laws of the scriptures we carefully select to read. Montinique McEachern Graduate Student, Clinical Mental Health Counseling

ROBERT E. LEE EDITOR@THEPLAINSMAN.COM

In a little more than a week from now, finals will be concluded and the glory of next semesters’ schedule will be upon us. For some, graduation will be next, but for others, summer classes and more academics. If you have the luxury of taking a few days of, or finding a job just isn’t your top priority, go do something other than school. At least for a few days. Take some time to refresh yourself and tell yourself that things are probably better than they seem. Of the popular ways to rewind and recharge, taking a few days to do only what you want to do is my most popular. This doesn’t necessarily need to be a vacation in Bahamas either. A day of walking around the neighborhood, eating good food, watching a

movie or reading a good book can work just as well. Being in the South, especially bordering Georgia, we are blessed with having gorgeous landscapes in which to take advantage of, and chances are you already know someone who owns some amount of land you can visit and relax. With all the media coverage of bombings, bad economy and misguided politics, it’s safe to say getting away from what we see on the news is a good idea. At least for a day or two. If finding time to do this seems impossible, ask yourself why? Too much work? Not enough time off? Too much class? When finals are concluded, graduating or not, take the afternoon off. If you can spend an afternoon alone or with your significant, do it. Take time and enjoy life. Everyone needs some time to think and reflect, and if you have a job lined up, do something before hand to clear your mind and start your new position with a clear conscience. Bring your dog with you too, he probably needs a break just as bad.

Her View

Removal of trees restores hope RAYE MAY PHOTO@ THEPLAINSMAN. COM

I was raised in a house divided. My mother graduated from Alabama, and her father was a professor there. Both sets of grandparents are Alabama fans, as are many aunts and uncles, but not my dad— he bleeds orange and blue. Maybe that’s why I ended up being such a daddy’s girl. I’ve been an Auburn fan since I could talk. Because my dad went to college here, it’s where I wanted to go too. I grew up hearing about the Auburn Spirit, learning traditions and yelling “War Eagle.” I knew this place was something special before I ever became a student, and living here has only reinforced that belief. Despite all that, I don’t think I knew just how truly special this place really is until A-Day. We’ve had some amazing highs and some awful lows. We won the national championship my freshman year. Shortly after, we started the long process of losing our beloved Toomer’s oaks. This past year, we had an abysmal football season that I’m

sure we’d all probably love to forget. If there were any fairweather fans, they’re probably long gone by now. That’s why I think what happened at A-Day was so absolutely incredible. We broke spring game turnout records with 83,401 fans; it might as well have been an SEC matchup. The energy in the stadium was incredible, but the passion I saw afterward at the last rolling of Toomer’s Corner was more than that. It was moving. I tend to be a little bland when it comes to emotions. I don’t get upset by much of anything—I didn’t even cry the first time I saw Les Miserables or Titanic. But listening to the speakers on A-Day moved me to watery eyes. This is the Auburn Spirit that is not afraid. This is the Auburn I know and love. This is the place I dreamed of coming to since I was a little girl. In the piece I wrote last week titled “Rodeo lassoes in the lunatics,” I was pretty harsh about how Auburn men and women behaved. After A-Day, I truly want to believe the people who were so horrible were from out of town, because the crowd last Saturday was easily triple the size, but everyone I encoun-

tered was polite. People were yelling and throwing things, but it wasn’t profanities and beer cans. It was “War Damn Eagle” and toilet paper. I had the privilege of watching a good chunk of the last rolling from the balcony of Ware Jewelers, and it was one of the most amazing things I’ve ever seen. A sea of orange and blue people stretched out from Glenn Avenue to Samford Lawn and beyond in all directions. Toilet paper wasn’t just on the two sacred oak trees—it stretched down College Street, decorating every bush, shrub and sapling in sight. Even stoplights and street signs were hung with streamers of white. It was a truly incredible thing to witness. People from all walks of life and of all ages came together to celebrate the tradition of the Toomer’s oaks and bid them farewell. I didn’t hear an unkind word spoken as I moved through that crowd. If anything, this weekend didn’t feel like an ending. It felt like hope. That, and a big, friendly middle finger to all the Updykes out there: We believe in Auburn and love it, and nothing anyone does can ever take that away. War Damn Eagle.

The Editorial Board ROBERT E. LEE Editor-in-Chief

Dustin Shrader

John Burns

Mailing Address

Submissions

Policy

ONLINE EDITOR

SPORTS EDITOR

Nathan Simone

Daniel Oramas

Elizabeth Weick

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.

MANAGING EDITOR

MULTIMEDIA EDITOR

INTRIGUE EDITOR

Auburn Student Center Suite 1111H Auburn, AL 36849

Ben Croomes

Sydney Callis

Raye May

Contact

OPINIONS EDITOR

COMMUNITY EDITOR

PHOTO EDITOR

Bianca N. Seward

Becky Hardy

Rachel Suhs

Phone 334–844–4130 Email opinion@theplainsman.com

CAMPUS EDITOR

DESIGN EDITOR

COPY EDITOR

Community

ThePlainsman.com

Thursday, April 25, 2013

Community

Auburn introduces its Spring Concert Series with SoulCo Anna Claire Conrad WRITER

RAYE MAY / PHOTO EDITOR

Located on South Gay Street, The Gnu’s Room, a nonprofit bookstore and arts center, is going to close its doors after July.

Local nonprofit bookstore, The Gnu’s Room, is entering its final chapter Chandler Jones COMMUNITY REPORTER

After serving 10 years as a community gathering and one of Auburn’s favorite subcultural hubs, The Gnu’s Room is closing its doors. “It’s finally reached the point where we just don’t have enough revenue coming in to take care of the rent, utilities and all that, so we had to make the difficult decision to shut down,” said Tina Tatum, owner of The Gnu’s Room. Tatum said she has received a lot of feedback from The Gnu’s Room’s frequenters and community members since announcing the closing. She said she remembers a similar incident that occurred in 2009 when The Gnu’s Room was facing closure, and a group of Auburn University graduate students fundraised approximately $10,000 to save the store. “I was so overwhelmed with all the community support I was like, ‘Well, I’m going to find a way to make this keep going,’” Tatum said. Although their efforts were able to save The Gnu’s Room in 2009, Tatum said consistent support is lacking. “The problem is people really like us,” Tatum said. “They like the idea of The Gnu’s Room. They don’t want us to go away and so if we get in a crisis they’re willing to donate or volunteer. The problem is there is no sustainable, long-term support.” Tatum said having to close the store is heartbreaking.

“

The problem is people really like us. They like the idea of The Gnu’s Room, they don’t want us to go away and so if we get in a crisis they’re willing to donate or volunteer. The problem is there is no sustainable, long-term support.” —Tina Tatum THE GNU’S ROOM OWNER

“We wanted this to be a place where people felt welcome and free to express their opinions, learn from other people and experience the arts,” Tatum said. Built in 1950, the building was first home to South Side Grocery and has housed a number of businesses since its construction. The Gnu’s Room’s previous owner, Bill Shearling, intended the space as only an used bookstore. It was when Tatum, The Gnu’s Room’s owner for the past five years, took over that it took on the life we all know and love. Shearling, a fan of puns, created the name “Gnu’s Room” by standing a dic-

tionary on it spine and letting it fall open. It fell open to an image of a gnu, a wildebeest. Tatum decided to keep the name when she became owner. “I wanted to make it a community space,” Tatum said. “In order to accomplish that, what did I need to do? One was to bring in events: open mic’s, poetry readings, music and all kinds of things that would draw people in. Also, I wanted to put in a coffee bar, because coffee and books just seem to go hand-in-hand.” Tatum said managing The Gnu’s Room has been both struggling and rewarding. “I’ve met some incredible people,” Tatum said. “We’ve given some bands their start here. There have been people who have told me, ‘Oh, my gosh. The Gnu’s Room was the first place I had the courage to read my poem out loud.’ I feel like we’ve made a substantial investment in the community.” In its heyday, The Gnu’s Room has seen a member of Fleetwood Mac, was a sneak peak venue for the PBS’ Acclaimed Pointof-View Documentary Films and heard Madison Jones, Professor Emeritus at Auburn, give a reading. “Anytime somebody approached me with an idea it’s rare that I said no,” Tatum said. “We tried to figure out a way to make it, because it might not have been my particular interest, but it was for the community.” Tatum said they hope to stay open through the end of July. Currently, all books in the store are on sale for half-off of the ticket price.

Just because this semester is winding down and students are preparing to return home for the summer doesn’t mean the City of Auburn’s music scene will be silenced. Beginning Thursday, May 2, Town Creek Park will be home to the City’s Spring Concert Series during which local and regional bands will perform every weekend in May to kick the summer off right. According to Dana Stewart, the special programs director for the parks and recreation department, people in the Auburn and Opelika communities should take advantage of this event that will be fun for the whole family. “It’ll be a night of relaxing music and the beauty of the park area,” Stewart said. “Town Creek has some beautiful walking trails and a playground area for children. Bring the family and friends, a picnic, your lawn chairs and of course don’t forget your pets, just make sure they are on a leash.” Stewart also said this will be an event targeted at college students. “The music is for anyone that enjoys music,” Stewart said. “Some of the bands the college students may have heard somewhere around town, and they could bring a picnic and enjoy socializing with others.” The Soul Coalition of East Alabama, popularly known as SoulCo, will be the first of many to take the stage under Town Creek Park’s pavilion. According to Bruce Yandle, lead guitarist in the band, they couldn’t be more excited to give back to their community. Yandle said he hopes to see college students out at next Thursday’s performance. “You know, college students are people too, and I think they would enjoy a nice day out in the park listening to some music just as much as everyone else,” Yandle said. Yandle also said he and his band members are excited to perform at such an open venue for the people of Auburn and Opelika. “We just like getting to-

“

It’ll be a night of relaxing music and the beauty of the park area.” —Dana Stewart SPECIAL PROGRAMS DIRECTOR

gether to play music and have a good time,” Yandle said. “And playing outside is always fun, as long as the weather is nice. Plus, a live band is a bit more of an organic type deal, and I like that. It’s ‘hand-made music.’” SoulCo performs a lot of cover songs that are easily recognized by the audience, but Yandle said he enjoys playing his original work more. “A lot of people say to play a particular song that’s been done and done again, but I always say that people don’t know what they want to hear until they hear it,” Yandle said. “At one time ‘Brown-Eyed Girl’ and ‘Brick House’ were original songs, and I think the audience should be given the credit to hear something for the first time, and if they like it and if they’re open-minded they should be able to enjoy that.” However, Yandle said he enjoys playing the songs that people enjoy listening to and makes them get up and dance to the music. “We cover everything from Stevie Wonder to the Spice Girls,” Yandle said. “We’re kind of a groove band, you know, rock’n’ roll, funk, soul, r&b and a little bit of jazz; so, we touch on everything and have a great time performing.” Cameron Mosely, senior in psychology, said she would enjoy Auburn’s Spring Concert Series. “I love live music, and since it’s outside it sounds like a lot of fun for a sunny Spring day,” Mosely said. “I think this kind of thing is great for the community, and it should be a lot of fun, especially if they play any Spice Girls songs.” For more information about this event and the upcoming performances in May, visit the Auburn-Opelika Tourism Bureau’s website.

13th Annual Auburn CityFest makes a splash with a live shark encounter Knock, knock, they

Chandler Jones COMMUNITY REPORTER

One fine day, 13 years ago, two Auburn Parks & Recreation employees were lunching at Niffer’s when they had the epiphany of CityFest. They knew when the late George Kiesal donated Kiesal Park he intended for it to serve as a cultural and community gathering place. The idea took the two by storm. In that lunch they expounded the idea and drew the entire scheme out on a napkin. When the two returned from lunch they pitched their idea to Parks & Recreation Director, Rebecca Richardson, who loved it, thus the CityFest was born as a free, outdoor festival. Thirteen years later CityFest has evolved into “A great event for children’s activities, live music, arts & crafts and fine arts vendors,” said Meg Rainey, public relations specialist for Auburn Parks & Recreation. This year’s Fest is a Carib-

bean theme, which will include Bama Air Dogs and the new Live Shark Encounter. “It’s entertaining and engaging because people love sharks, but it’s also very educational,” Rainey said. “These are rescue sharks that would other wise probably be captured. These sharks would not have made it in the wild. They were injured, so they now travel the country as part of this show and they have a message of conservation and education for people.” An interactive museum comes with the exhibit for further, in-depth education. “People can interact with the exhibit all day long, take a tour of the museum, ask questions and find out everything they could ever want to know about sharks. This year’s CityFest will be on Saturday, April 27, from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. at Kiesel Park. This year’s presenting sponsor is the Opelika-Auburn News. “They really do an amaz-

come to your door Sydney Callis COMMUNITY EDITOR

COURTESY OF MEG RAINEY

ing job helping us promote the event and financially supporting the event,” Rainey said. “Lots of great sponsors, and our sponsors will be out there the day of the festival. It’s just a great opportunity for the business community to interact with our citizens.” The Children’s Imagination Station will include Are You Tougher than a Boy Scout. The presentation by the Boy Scouts of America Saugahatchee Branch will be an exhibit about what scouts do and the skills required.

Also included will be inflatables, Kona Ice and ArtFest tank. Home Depot built a sandbox named the Creative Fun, and an art show will feature art from local city schools. The Raptor Center and Aubie will also be present. “The biggest thing about CityFest is it really is a collaborative effort,” Rainey said. “It’s every department in the city working together. We may be the one’s that’s kind of coordinating it and presenting it. It’s absolutely a group effort and a community wide effort.”

They come to your door, offer their services, but before giving them your money, ask to see their business license. The Auburn’s Police Department is asking for the community’s help in finding unlicensed solicitors. Capt. Tom Stofer of the Auburn Police Department said door-to-door solicitors in the Auburn community are required to have a city issued business license. “If I was a resident of the city and someone came to my door saying they have this for sale or this service they’re vending, the first thing I would do is ask to see their City of Auburn business license,” Stofer said. “If they don’t have that on their person, they’re in violating of city codes and ordinances. So, that’s one of the first things you want to ask.”

If a solicitor is licensed, Stofer said he recommends citizens know up front which goods or services you are paying. “You don’t want to pay somebody upfront for a magazine, and the magazine never makes it to your mailbox,” Stofer said. Stofer said common services and goods being solicited in the area are magazine sales, lawn maintenance and driveway paving. “Magazine sales is probably one of the most common here in Auburn that we contend with is magazine solicitors,” Stofer said. “Many of those will not have a business license.” The Auburn Police Department has received many complaints from citizens about unlicensed solicitors and asks citizens to report their actions by calling 334-501-3110.

Community A8

The Auburn Plainsman

Thursday, April 25, 2013

Professor teaches all the classics, from Shakespeare to Santana Amber Franklin WRITER

It’s not very often that someone can go from talking about degeneration theories and tattoos to showing someone how to string a banjo, then circle back to discussing folklore and fairies in literature. But if you’re talking to Tom O’Shea, this is a completely normal conversation. O’Shea is an English instructor at Auburn University and the owner of The Guitar Shoppe on East Glenn Avenue. O’Shea loves both his teaching position and his job running The Shoppe and said he has had an interesting journey to get where he is today. Before returning to school to get his masters in English, O’Shea worked in Chicago as a clerk for a few years. “I kind of realized I could go back to school, and it’d be fun,” O’Shea said. “I got there, and I realized I was having a wonderful time and started teaching and really liked it so I kind of worked my way into it that way.” O’Shea taught at Springfield College in Mobile and Tuskegee University before he came to Auburn in 2001. Once in Auburn, O’Shea immersed himself in the local music scene. “I got a guitar and started teaching myself, and other people had instruments so we just started playing together,” O’Shea said. “Pretty soon we had a band, and then we had a band.” O’Shea started making PA systems for the band, which lead to becoming a representative

RAYE MAY / PHOTO EDITOR

Tom O’Shea teaches English at Auburn and also owns local music store, The Guitar Shoppe.

for a speaker designer and becoming interested in how sound systems and instruments worked. He continued to get more interested in fixing guitars and instruments in general and started fixing instruments for The Guitar Shoppe. “I’m a friend of Mark Mckenzie’s, who owned The Guitar Shoppe,” O’Shea said. “Back in December, he felt like it was time for him to do something else and Constance [O’Shea’s wife] and I decided this would be a good thing to do.”

To Place an Ad, Call - 334-844-4130 or Email classifieds@theplainsman.com

Line Classifieds

15 words . . . . . . . . . . . $6 Extra Words. . . . . . . . 40¢ Bold/outline. . . .$1 per ad

Display Classifieds

Local............$11 per col inch National......$16 per col inch 1 col x 4″ min to 1 col x 8″ max

Magnolia Studios Apt. Unit available for summer sublease! Contact Marcus Harlan for details. 334-703-1871. ROOM FOR RENT Bedroom located in a faculty home near A.U. Campus (10 minute walk from main library). International, female graduate student preferred. Rent is $300 per month. Kitchen, laundry, and utilities included in rent. Available 1 June 2013. If interested, please call (334) 821-9268 or email emilyamelvin@gmail.com.

Are you and your pet tired of crowded apt. living? Only 6 miles from campus Whatley Farms is your place. Enjoy fishing, hiking etc. 2bedroom/1bath homes from $550.00/mo. 2bedroom/2bath homes from $650.00/mo. Charles Whatley 334-559-5554. Ernest Whatley 334-703-7771.

The Auburn Plainsman is not responsible for the content of the ads. Ads that seem too good to be true usually are.

FOR SALE Subletter Needed for Summer! (May-July 31) Contact Matt Villarrubia at mrv0003@auburn.edu or Ben Coffin at bdc0007@auburn.edu. EXTREMELY NICE 3BR/3BA HOUSEWON’T LAST LONG!!! 9-Foot-Ceilings Corner-Lot Tiger Transit Washer/Dryer/Yard Work Included Email spatrick15@hotmail.com

GREAT VALUE- 3 BR/2BA TWO-STORY DUPLEX!!! Washer/Dryer/Yard Work Included.Pet-Friendly Walk-In Closets Email spatrick15@hotmail.com

1,120sq.ft mobile home in Orchard Way Mobile Home Park-Tiger Transit, pool, volleyball, stocked pond outside door, pets welcome - GREAT NEIGHBORHOOD, lighted streets! Fenced-in yard and includes: Central Air/Heat, washer/dryer, refrigerator, dishwasher, electric stove, pantry closet, storage closet and ceiling fan every room. Also - medium size shed, freezer, bakers rack, dinning room table/4 chairs and computer desk - contact avmarasco@gmail.com

1 bed, 1 bath condo for sale now. 404-863-0029. maryfdaniel@bellsouth.net 79,000 or best offer.

EMPLOYMENT Guthrie's at the corner of Glenn and Dean is now hiring for both front counter and kitchen positions. Apply in person at the store after 2PM.

Come Join Our Marriott Team at Auburn Opelika! Where you’ll work alongside co-workers, who share your enthusiasm, energy and you’ll discover hospitality jobs that offer growth and promotions that will let you experience the career of a lifetime. Discover your place to shine in our warm, respectful, and inclusive culture. SUPERVISORY POSITIONS • Restaurant Supervisor HOURLY POSITIONS • Restaurant & Pool Servers • Pool Attendants • Bartenders • Tennis Pro Shop Attendants • Engineering/Maintenance • Cooks • Kitchen Steward Apply online at www.pchresorts.com Must pass drug test and background check. An EEO Employer M/F/V/D.

Print Deadline Noon three business days prior to publication

RELEASE DATE– Thursday, October 18, 2012

FOR RENT Lakefront condo. Stillwaters Resort. 2 bedroom, 2 bath. Furnished. All utilities paid. Washer/dryer, swimming pool and boat slip. $1200/month. 256-825-6356.

Although he has only been the owner for three months, O’Shea and his staff are very close and have come up with a lot of new ideas for The Shoppe. “We have a lot of interesting stuff going on,” O’Shea said. “We’ve got a recording studio, we’ve done some archival recording things, and we do repairs. We do lessons in just about any kind of instrument. We have jam sessions every Saturday - at 10:30 am we have old time and bluegrass

stuff, at one is rock and rollers and at 3:30 we do jazz and blues.” Many of the workers at The Guitar Shoppe have worked there for a long time and love the atmosphere of shoppe and O’Shea’s playful personality. “He’s super laid back, super easy to deal with and he just loves the store and everything about it, so it’s easy to work for him,” said Josh Mckenzie, who has worked in The Guitar Shoppe for 10 years. “It makes you want to come to work. He’s always trying to push for new and how we can make the store better.” Larry Mitchell, a Grammy-winning producer and engineer, has been coming to The Guitar Shoppe for many years and enjoys just hanging out with the employees and customers. “I just stop in, everybody here is really nice,” Mitchell said. “It’s a good vibe and it’s always very friendly.” Although being a teacher and being the owner of The Guitar Shoppe may seem like two entirely unrelated and hard to balance, O’Shea doesn’t see it that way. “Teaching comes first, that’s the real job. I work here when I can, but teaching is the important thing,” O’Shea said. “Teaching is what matters. But even when I’m here, I’m teaching someone. I’m teaching someone about their instrument or how to play something, that kind of thing. Teaching English is who I am or what I do or something, but this is something in addition to that.”

Los Angeles Times Daily Crossword Puzzle Edited by Rich Norris and Joyce Nichols Lewis

ACROSS 1 Browns’ org. 4 Twine material 9 Come-ons 14 SS supplement, for some 15 Golfer who was #1 when she retired in 2010 16 Missouri’s __ Mountains 17 TUMS target 18 Congregational divide 20 Modern address starter 22 Spirited mount 23 Do a hatchet job 24 “Inside the NBA” analyst Barkley, familiarly 28 Burning rubber sound 30 Decorous 34 Green hole 35 Wings it, musically 39 Heavenly bear 40 Fix-it guide 44 Like many eBay items 45 Tuscany city 46 Hum attachment? 47 Fable messages 50 Manually 52 Woolly garment 56 He voiced Elmer 59 Sweethearts maker 60 Leap in a tutu 63 Office purchase, and in a way, what can be seen in this puzzle’s sequence of circles 67 Fish lacking pelvic fins 68 Aptly named bug spray 69 New product div. 70 Holiday tuber 71 Surrogate 72 Out of port 73 “Strange Magic” rock gp. DOWN 1 Soon to happen 2 Its name usually has only two or three letters 3 Da Vinci masterpiece, with “The”

Sudoku

43 Put on the 56 Amt. you 4 Humanities maj. 5 Einstein’s “I” canvas don’t expect 6 Complaint about 48 Desolate to pay a library volume? 49 Poet Silverstein 57 Wide-mouthed 7 Primary artery 51 Pilgrimage to pourer 8 One working on a Mecca 58 Slimming choice, punch, perhaps 53 Ghana’s capital briefly 9 Dump truck 54 Apple messaging 61 Marsh duck adjunct tool 62 Sailor’s patron 10 Israeli arms 55 Horses with 64 Plague expert __ Gal interspersed 65 Ending with 11 Diaper woe colored and white fluor12 Gardner who hairs 66 Nutritional stat invented cases 13 Depict unfairly ANSWER TO PREVIOUS PUZZLE: 19 Common menu option 21 À la mode serving 25 Sitarist Shankar 26 Woodwind instr. 27 Franklin’s genre 28 Rugby tussle 29 Mexican cheese 31 Magnum, for one 32 Krupp Works city 33 Did Ebert’s job 36 Roast hosts, for short 37 Part of PBK 38 Understand 41 First family member? 42 “Mad Money” 10/18/12 xwordeditor@aol.com channel

10/18/12 By The Mepham Group Level: 1

By The Mepham Group Level: 1

YOUR AD COULD BE HERE! WWW.TWITTER.COM/

Sudoku

Complete the grid so each row, column and 3-by-3 box (in bold borders) contains every digit 1 to 9. For strategies on how to solve Sudoku, visit www.sudoku.org.uk.

Complete the grid 3-by-3 box (in bold 1 to 9. For strategie visit www.sudoku.o

Solution to Mond

Solution to Saturday’s puzzle

CONTACT ADMANAGER@ THEPLAINSMAN.COM

2012 The Mepham Group.@TheAUPlainsman Distributed by Tribune Media Services. All rights| reserved. News updates daily www.ThePlainsman.com | Follow us ©on Twitter! Like us on Facebook! 9/10/12

Sports

B1 ThePlainsman.com

Thursday, April 25, 2013

Sports

Courtesy of Todd Van Emst

Rhett Lashlee coaching in practice.

The A-Day standouts Will Gaines Sports Reporter

Raye May / Photo Editor

Cameron Artis-Payne earned an offensive MVP award for his standout performance in the A-Day game Saturday, April 20. He ran for 117 yards and scored a touchdown.

Finishing last can be a good thing Auburn was the final SEC football team to complete spring practices, but Gus Malzahn and his staff believe is to their team’s advantage George Nunnelley Writer

Although A-Day came and went this past weekend, the Auburn Tigers were back on the practice field Tuesday and Wednesday morning, making them the last SEC team to hold spring practice. After an entertaining spring game in front of more than 83,000 fans, most of who then traveled for the celebration at Toomer’s Corner, Gus Malzahn and the Tigers took back to the practice field for two final spring fine-tunings. Typically, a program’s spring game symbolizes the end of the NCAA’s 15-allotted spring practices, but this year, the Auburn coaching staff decided to have a couple of evaluation days during usual practice times and push those practices back until now. Overall, Gus Malzahn seemed pleased and had a positive attitude toward the team’s progress throughout the spring. “The attitude and the team togetherness was my big thing this spring,” Malzahn said. “I’ve said all along, the Xs and Os and the schemes will come with time, but I really feel like we got closer as a team. We talked about the having the hard-nosed, physical edge, and we really put them through it.” After stressing physicality all spring, Malzahn said the emphasis Wednesday was on the fundamentals and techniques. The offense and defense stayed separate and went back to what they worked on at the beginning of the spring. Malzahn wanted those techniques to be fresh in the players’ minds so that they can get better over the summer. He thinks that the subpar outcome of last season

should be a motivating factor for the players and push them to continue to get better over the summer when the coaching staff isn’t around. He said those teams that are able to improve over the summer are the ones that have success during the fall. “I like where we are at right now as far as our attitude,” Malzahn said. “It will just be a matter of how hard we work over the summer, and hopefully they will come back improved from today.” Malzahn said the coaching staff will spend the next few days further evaluating each position and working toward coming up with a preliminary depth chart. They will then hit the road for recruiting. Malzahn doesn’t think not having a depth chart at this point is a bad thing, because it will inspire competition and establish depth at most positions. He said they will also need some of the young guys coming in to help out in that regard. However, they have a much better understanding of the players than at the beginning of the spring, and that is the good thing. Malzahn and offensive coordinator Rhett Lashlee will be able to further evaluate the quarterback position now that the spring is over. They will match up the numbers, meet with each quarterback and go over what they need to improve on. Malzahn said the idea is to open up the competition for fall camp, but they want to name a starter sooner rather than later once they get there. He had no updates on the eligibility of senior safety Demetruce McNeal, who missed the final five practices of the spring due to off-the-field issues, but hopes to have the situation resolved at

Raye May / Photo Editor

Jaylon Denson catches a pass in the A-Day game.

some point next week. Malzahn said the staff will begin to shift some of their attention toward next season’s opponents over the summer, but they need to spend more time focusing on their team for now.

Chizik makes as “big a splash with the truth” as possible Will Gaines Sports Reporter

Former Auburn head football coach Gene Chizik spoke publicly for the first time since being fired in November on Birmingham’s 94.5 Jox Roundtable show Monday, April 22 in response to the recent allegations against him and Auburn University last month in Selena Robert’s Roopstigo.com article and ESPN the Magazine story. After Jay Jacobs revealed the results of an internal investigation into the allegations in both articles today, Chizik wanted to also be able to tell his side of what happened. “The reason I’m out is simply because we want to make as big a splash with the truth as what was accused and the different allegations that are out there. I think it’s only fair,” Chizik said Chizik was asked how difficult it was to hear former players have accusations against him and Auburn and he said it was tough, but nobody knows what context the allegations were said in the interviews. “The bottom line is the majority of the players that come through Auburn University are very appreciative of the opportunity they’ve received to

play football and get a degree from Auburn,” Chizik said. “Any allegations that come back from a few former players that shed any negative light you have to understand that number one what are their circumstances and what is their motive. Number two that’s not representative of the majority of the phenomenal kids that have gone through that program and will continue, and are as we speak going through that program.” One of the worst allegations that Roberts article made was grade changing of players before the 2010 national championship game including former star running back Michael Dyer. “That accusation is ludicrous,” Chizik said “Where did that come from what were the facts and data that supported that, because if you read Auburn’s response it’s fact.” In Auburn’s response Monday, April 22 it showed that Dyer had a 2.85 GPA and had passed 15 hours worth of credits before the end of the semester. “How many grades do you have to change to get that to a 2.85 GPA? It just doesn’t make sense,” Chizik said. Chizik was also asked if coaches on his staff had ever put pressure on pro-

Courtesy of Todd Van Emst

Gene Chizik has adamently denied the allegations of any wrongdoings at Auburn.

fessors to change grades for players. “Absolutely not, we don’t deal with the professors,” Chizik said. “We have an outstanding academic staff and supporting staff. Everything they do is of the upmost class and integrity. They’re the ones that deal on a daily basis with anything academically related. Simply, coaches dealing with professors are simply not true.” Also Chizik was accused of not doing anything after the four players were arrested for armed robbery in 2011. “I can assure you this as the head coach of Auburn there were multi-

ple educational sessions on making the right choices and doing the right things to the point where even when that unfortunate event happened I had a team meeting that morning I explicitly told them and reminded of the decisions they needed to make and the importance of not embarrassing their family, this University and everybody you represent,” Chizik said. “The truth of it is when one player makes a bad decision it exponentially effects everyone around them.”

» See Chizik B3

A-Day is normally a day for fans to just see players on the field. Most of the performances are inconsequential, as there is still a lot of time left before the season, but for some players, their performances can be a glimpse into their future. For the most part this was true last Saturday, because there were some players that stood out and had surprising performances. It’s hard to say that Cameron Artis-Payne’s play was surprising because he was a decorated junior college recruit, but it was still nice to see him step up and prove he can play well on the field in front of 83,000 plus fans. Artis-Payne finished the day with 117-yards rushing on 18 carries and 47-yards receiving. That was good enough to earn him the offensive MVP award. “He’s had a good spring,” said coach Gus Malzahn. “He’s a big strong guy, he’s a hard worker, he wants to be good and there’s great competition in the backfield and that’s a good thing going into next year.” Jonathan Wallace has been a surprise to Auburn fans ever since he surprisingly signed with Auburn in 2012. Some thought he would play another position instead of quarterback, but he surprised people by starting the final three games in 2012. Many believed Kiehl Frazier would step right into the starting quarterback role once Malzahn was hired as the head coach, but Wallace stepped up Saturday by completing 18-23 pass attempts for 191 yards and two touchdowns, while Frazier only threw for 125 yards. Frazier also did not look nearly as comfortable in the pocket as Wallace. “I really went out there and wanted to have some successful drives and put together some long drives and I think that was something that we were able to do to put the ball in the end zone,” Wallace said. Defensive back Justin Garrett’s name is not necessarily a familiar one, but during spring practices coaches have been raving about how physical he has been in practice. He seems to fit perfectly into the “star” position in Ellis Johnson’s defense and he had a successful game on Saturday. “He has had an outstanding spring,” Malzahn said. “Coach Johnson, I believe, has him in the right position, letting him play.” Tight end Brandon Fulse did not have an excellent day statistically, but he did have a 17-yard touchdown reception and a solid performance on the day. He was a pleasant surprise and should be a threat this fall. With Malzahn’s return, Fulse will probably be in a more comfortable position to make plays in the fall. “I’m playing a different role now, I’m more split out now than I was last year,” Fulse said. “I like it more because it gets me out in space just like I was in high school and that’s very good.” The A-Day performances by these players may impress now, but they will mean nothing when Auburn kicks off against Washington State in game one next year.

Sports B2

The Auburn Plainsman

Thursday, April 25, 2013

Sports B3

The Auburn Plainsman

chizik » From B1

Courtesy of Todd Van Emst

A spring game record of 83,401 fans attended an A-Day game that showcased the new offense and defense of the Tigers Saturday, April 20.

A week in Auburn sports

Women’s Equestrian:

Softball:

The women’s equestrian team won a rideoff 3–1 against Georgia to capture the 2013 NCEA Overall National Championship Saturday, April 20. Along with the overall championship, the Tigers also won the Hunt Seat National Championship.

The Auburn women’s softball team dropped a weekend series against South Carolina, losing two of the three games played. The first loss came Friday, April 19 by a score of 8–4. Saturday, April 20 the Tigers left the diamond with a 7–1 victory, but the softball team lost 3–1 Sunday, April 21. The Tigers fell to 28–20 (7–14 SEC) after they lost the series.

Men’s Tennis: The No. 21 men’s tennis team had a short run in the 2013 SEC Tournament, as they fell to No. 16 Vanderbilt Thursday, April 18 in their first meeting. The Tigers are expected to receive an NCAA Tournament bid with their record of 13–10.

Men’s Golf: The No. 19 men’s golf team finished in 3rd place at the SEC Championship Sunday, April 21. The Tigers were as close as two strokes away from the lead, but could not manage to make the final push to capture victory. Senior Michael Hebert finished tied for fifth, his third top-five of the season, while junior Niclas Carlsson tied for 15th and senior Dominic Bozzelli tied for 20th.

Women’s Tennis: The No. 19 women’s tennis team entered the 2013 SEC Women’s Tennis Championship as a 10-seed, and defeated Arkansas 4–3 in the second round. Their run was ended in the next round when they were defeated 4–0 by the second seed Texas A&M Aggies. The Tigers ended their SEC Championship run with a season record of 18–8.

Women’s Golf: The women’s golf team finished in 10th place in the SEC Championship Saturday, April 20. The Tigers play was highlighted by sophomore Victoria Trapani, who played well enough to tie for sixth overall.

Chizik went on to say that it is unfortunate four players’ decisions brought down the rest of the team, because the whole team was educated on making good decisions. At the end of the day it comes to personal responsibility. He also went on to say that Mike McNeil never had any behavioral problems and he had as good a relationship with him as he did any other player on the team. Darvin Adams was quoted in the Selena Roberts story as saying he was offered money by the coaches to stay at Auburn for his senior season instead of entering the NFL draft in 2011. Adams spoke out for the first time denying he was ever offered any money while at Auburn. “I’m very proud of him,” Chizik said. “Darvin is a quiet guy he doesn’t want to be the media darling, but it was important to Darvin to get the truth out.” Finally it wouldn’t be an interview with Chizik unless he was asked about Cam Newton and if he paid him to play football at Auburn. Chizik denied this and said he never paid a player to play at Auburn, and said

that he does not understand why questions are still being asked about this, because they have spent the past two years at Auburn investigating players being paid and have found nothing. He also mentioned all the investigations that have went on around the country since then and they have not got nearly as much attention as Auburn. Places like Miami, Ohio State, North Carolina and most recently Oregon. He also said Auburn has not had a NCAA violation in 20 years and said he feels confident it will soon be 21 years. Auburn was one of the first teams to start testing for synthetic marijuana and the number of players that tested positive were much lower than the ESPN story indicated. Accusations were also made that Chizik had a no tolerance policy for players with tattoos and dread locks. He responded by saying it hurts him deeply they would say this and if it were true he would not have recruited players with tattoos and dread locks. He finished by saying he is mulling over his options for his future and believes he still has a lot to offer young men as a football coach

Thursday is Burger Night Burgers $5.99

where friends meet friends

Track: The Auburn track team had 17 personal bests at the War Eagle Invitational over the weekend. Diana Levy set an Auburn women’s hammer throw record Friday, April 19, with a toss of 60.32 meters. Sixteen Tigers broke personal records Saturday, April 20. Jason Miller won the men’s 1500 meter run with a time of 3:59.84 minutes, and Niklas Buhner won the men’s invitational 1500 meter run, clocking in at 3:45.50 minutes. Harry Adams recorded the fastest preliminary time in the 100 meter dash at 10.29 seconds, but was disqualified from the final because of a false start.

1151 Opelika Road Auburn, AL 36830 334-821-3118 www.niffersplace.com

Women’s Soccer: The women’s soccer team was held scoreless in its final spring match, but they were able to hold Ole Miss to zero goals as well. The final score was 0–0.

Baseball: The baseball team dropped two of the three games they played last weekend against No. 10 Mississippi State. Thursday, April 18 the Tigers fell 6–3 to the Bulldogs. Auburn rebounded Friday, April 19 by winning 3–1 but the Tigers were shut out 6–0 Saturday, April 20. The baseball team is now 24–16 (6–12 SEC), but since April began is 8–4, with 51 runs scored, a batting average of .285 and the pitching staff has an ERA of 2.97.

Auburn Running Festival

Saturday April 27,, 2013 vww

Starting at Toomer's Corner and finishing on the 50 yard line of Jordan-Hare Stadium

1/2 Marathon 10 K 5 K FunRun www.runauburn.com

Use the code PLAINSMAN and save 25% off your registration for any event!

Sports B4

1888 Ogletree Rd. Auburn 826-1207

The Auburn Plainsman

Thursday

334 W. Magnolia Avenue 1791 Shug Jordan Parkway 1017 Columbus Parkway Auburn 826-2476 Auburn 826-1716 Opelika 749-3528

2300 Gateway Drive 1650 Opelika Road Inside Bread nâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Buggy Flints Crossing Shopping Crt. Opelika 749-2309 Auburn 821-7835

600 Webster Road TIger Chevron Aubrun 821-9996

1599 S. College Street Inside Eagle Chevron Auburn 887-7460

Intrigue

B5 ThePlainsman.com

Thursday, April 25, 2013

Intrigue

Fans tie the knot beneath Toomer’s Raye May PHOTO EDITOR

RAYE MAY / PHOTO EDITOR

ABOVE: Cliff McCollum, Auburn alumnus and news editor at the Opelika Observer, officiated the matrimonial ceremony. BELOW, LEFT: Ray Sapp kisses his bride, Toni Sapp, amidst a sea of toilet paper from the previous night’s rolling. BELOW. RIGHT: Toni Beth Holland, now Sapp, throws a roll of toilet paper to commemorate the last rolling of Toomer’s.

Today Toni Beth Holland and her boyfriend of five years, Ray Sapp, shouted “War Eagle” as well as “I do.” The pair tied the knot under the toilet-papered Toomer’s oaks on Sunday, April 21, for Toni’s 36th birthday. Toni said she and Ray met through work and, though they did not attend Auburn, they’ve always been big fans. “We didn’t go to school down here, we just have season tickets and come down here every chance we get,” said Toni. “We love it.” Though a large crowd was present to roll the trees and take their final pictures with the soon-to-be gone oak trees, Toni said it actually made the day more special. “We love it. It was cool, it was awesome, hearing everybody ‘War Eagle’ and cheer as we got married. That was really cool,” Toni said. When the couple told their families they would be getting married beneath Toomer’s Corner, Toni said their relatives weren’t surprised. The couple made a last minute tweet to WarBlogle to find someone to officiate it this weekend. "We had talked about it, and we just decided Friday that we’d go to Lee County and get our marriage license and do it today,” Toni said. Cliff McCollum, news editor at the Opelika Observer and an Auburn and Plainsman alumnus, performed the

“

We wanted to do it before the trees came down, during all this while everybody is here, celebrating all this. It’s very special. It’s sad, but it’s special at the same time.” —Toni Sapp

ceremony. Toni said she and Ray wanted to get married before the oaks are cut down Tuesday, April 23. “We’d have probably ended up getting married here anyway, after like a football game,” Toni said. “We wanted to do it before the trees came down, during all this while everybody is here, celebrating all this. It’s very special. It’s sad, but it’s special at the same time.” The newlyweds went to a traditional Auburn haunt, Niffer’s Place, following the ceremony and said instead of a honeymoon, they usually save their vacation days to come to Auburn for football games. “We honeymoon every weekend down here,” Toni said. “This is the best place on Earth. We wouldn’t want to vacation anywhere else.”

MTV reels in hopefuls for “Catfish” castings Anna Beth Jager INTRIGUE REPORTER

MTV’s reality show “Catfish” has blown up ever since it’s debut in 2012. It’s a show that depicts what most consider modern love stories, and helps people who have developed online relationships finally meet face to face. Many times, the person on the other side of the keyboard isn’t who they claim to be, a situation very similar to the documentary the show stemmed from. The documentary was made for show creator Nev Schulman’s personal ‘catfish’ experience when he found out the young woman he fell in love with online wasn’t a model, but was actually a middle-aged mom. The documentary went to Sundance and won, causing an overwhelming amount of fans to begin writing Schulman about their similar online experiences. Schulman realized how relevant his story was to our world today, and set out to help others with theirs. We had the unique opportunity of chatting with one of the “Catfish” casting producers, Valerie Hamerling, who gave us insight about the show and the casting process. “We basically get thousands and thousands of applications, so I sift through them, I interview people and I fact check everything,” Hamerling said. “We can only pick a few but we do read literally every application. I interview hundreds and hundreds of people because I can see potential in a lot of different stories.” The casting process for “Catfish” is more detailed and takes a little more time than most reality shows. Hamerling and other casting producers take the time to get to know each of the potential applicants throughout the process, all while spending an extended amount of time fact checking and looking for authentic feelings within each individual. They always want to make sure there is a great story to tell. “With this show, if you real-

“

We can only pick a few but we do read literally every application. I interview hundreds and hundreds of people because I can see potential.” —Valerie Hamerling “CATFISH” CASTING PRODUCER

ly want it, you can make it happen because we do read every application and we are so interested in helping people that if you want to apply and take the time to fill it out thoroughly, we’re willing to look at the application and you will probably get a phone call if you’re honest enough and the story is kind of along those lines.” When applying for a show like “Catfish,” honesty is key. With the extensive application process, frauds rarely get far before they are found out, and while most believe all reality TV is dramatized by producers, “Catfish” is unique in it’s authenticity. “These are strangers that haven’t met before; there’s not really that much you can dramatize. This is a show that shocks me how much time we spend carefully picking people to be on to carry the show. It’s pretty real.” Hamerling believes the show caught on quickly with the public because people in this digital age relate to the stories told. Many relationships today begin via social media, especially with the various match-making websites created, apps like Tinder, and, of course Facebook. The issue with meeting someone online is they are usually never exactly like the picture they paint for the rest of the world to see. This is a major theme the show presents as many people realize the person they fell in love with over the web isn’t who they said they were.

RAYE MAY / PHOTO EDITOR

Kyle James Houser performs originas from his upcoming album.

Beth Wood plays her guitar while singing to the crowd.

Sundilla brings in national performers Kelsey davis INTRIGUE WRITER

Reaching as far back as 1993 for its first performance, Sundilla concert series is the oldest still-running concert venue in the state. What began with two sisters trying to find a place for talented singer/song writers to perform has now transcended to a monthly local music venue that only features artists who are nationally touring. “It started kind of by accident, they had no idea it would take off the way that it did,” said Bailey Jones, president of Sundilla. Taking place once a month at Auburn Unitarian Universalist Fellowship Church, the venue is known for having great acoustics. “I go to a conference every year where 3,000 musicians and 2,000 venue operators all meet and greet. “Any time a musician I know introduces me to another one, the first thing he says is, ‘They’ve got this great building,’” Jones said. But even though the venue is housed in a church, Bailey notes that it only serves as a church on Sundays. “People have been reluctant to come to the other concerts because they’re afraid Sundilla is a religious organiza-

tion. It’s not. In fact, attendees over 21 are invited to bring alcoholic beverages to the concerts,” Bailey said. The only connection between Sundilla and the church is that Sundilla is grateful for the use of the building, Bailey said. Sundilla is not only known for the great building it provides to a community of singer/song writers, but also for its welcoming audience and intimate shows. “It’s always a treat to play for a group of people who are listening very intently. “I play to a lot of audiences that are in a bar where they’re talking, so to play in a room like this is a real treat,” said Kyle Houser, opening act for Sundilla’s Friday, April 20 show. Houser, based out of Kentucky, lulled the audience with softer blues inspired tunes provided by his electric guitar and banjo. As he played songs from his old and upcoming album, Houser intertwined telling stories to the crowd by beginning one before he would begin singing, and picking up right where he left off as the show ended. Beth Wood, Oregon native and main act for Sundilla’s April show commented in between songs, “I’ve been hearing about Sundilla for years and years and

I’m so happy I’m here.” The performances are intimate, but they have room to grow, Most shows only have an audience turn out of approximately 60 people, where there is room for nearly double that. While attendance in the Auburn area can sometimes be sparse, the desire for artists to play at Sundilla still remains high. “In the last six months, 140 different people from 32 states and six countries have wanted to book (Sundilla). We’re doing 12 to 13 shows a year, which means we’re not just taking the best, we’re taking the best of the best,” Jones said. For those who can’t make the monthly shows, Troy Public Radio, WEGL and WildmanSteve Radio have all begun hosting a weekly Sundilla Radio hour. “The show consists of an interview with a performer who’s coming here, and a playlist of music similar to the artist,” said Scott Waters, WEGL broadcast associate. Though the radio segment is a nice addition, it can’t be outdone by the actual shows hosted by Sundilla. “If people come, I guarantee as long as they like music, they’re going to like what they hear and hopefully keep coming back,” Jones said.

Intrigue B6

The Auburn Plainsman

Thursday, April 25, 2013

Musician Katie Martin plays for the moment Caitlin Wagenseil INTRIGUE REPORTER

There’s a certain feeling musicians get when they perform live for others, and it’s because of this feeling that Katie Martin, a musician out of Atlanta, continues to come back and play at local venues in Auburn. Last Saturday, April 20, Martin joined two other bands to play a show at Stir Auburn. Martin was involved in band when she attended Auburn High School, but didn’t start making and playing the kind of music she does now until she was 20. “I just kind of tapped into it,” Martin said. “I started writing music on the guitar and I got a lot out of it emotionally, so I just stuck with it. Somehow, it switched over to what I’m doing now.” Martin said when she moved to Atlanta about a year and a half ago, she got involved with the blues music scene, and because of this, the bluegrass genre of music has had a heavy influence on her sound. “I can’t really be classified as a straight up blues musician, but I definitely have some strong influences of blues in what I play. I also have a good bit of folk and soul genres mixing in with what I’m doing,” Martin said. She added that the song-writing aspect of her music has become a main focus lately. Martin said that with her song writing, sometimes she’ll just hear a melody and go from there. “Some of it just comes to me—I normally get a line or two stuck in my head and end up writing the rest of the song based off of that,” Martin said. This isn’t always the case, however. “Some songs are going to be more difficult,” Martin said. “A lot of my writing comes from personal experiences, things happening in my life and how I’m dealing with them at the time.” Actually making it to the finished product of a song and then performing it is something Martin loves about what she does. “When I’m able to find the sound that completes it, it’s almost like a drug. It can be a little addicting,” she said. She said that not much can compare to the feeling of performing live. “When you’re playing in front of people, you’re very much in the moment—you’re in the now, you are in the music.”

RAYE MAY / PHOTO EDITOR

The third floor of the student center is an often overlooked spot to study or take a quick lunch break.

Silent, successful study spots Anna Beth Jager INTRIGUE REPORTER

COURTESY OF KATIE MARTIN

Katie Martin often mixes genres in her music.

It’s because of this feeling Martin continues making music and performing live. Additionally, Martin said playing her music in the moment can help her forget about any stresses she might have. “I find that when I play music, I just have to let it take over,” she said. “It also makes a big difference in how your audience feels the song or feels the music.” With regards to the future, Martin has begun recording songs for an album, and said she only wants to grow more as a songwriter and musician. In a year, she plans to move to Hungary along with her Hey Alligators band mate to further pursue music. “One of the guys that I’ve played in shows with is originally from there, and is a phenomenal blues musician,” Martin said. “His family lives there, so he is going to help us get into some festivals over there and just see how it goes.” Martin said all she has to do now is learn how to speak Hungarian.

Finals are around the corner, which means inevitable chaos at our beloved RBD Library. People flock there to camp out from dusk till dawn, making it nearly impossible to find a parking spot or sometimes even a place to sit. An abundance of people in the library can be problematic for those trying to actually get work done. If you’re not interested in the socializing that comes with the library and can’t stay focused at home, there are many alternative places to study on and off campus. While most floors of the library get pretty rowdy during finals week, the fourth floor is always a good choice for students trying to buckle down and get a thing or two accomplished. Besides the occasional dirty look for opening a bag of chips or sneezing too loud, there really isn’t a down side to being up there, especially if you’re trying to hammer out an essay or study for a big test. Whatever you’re up to, this is the floor to try and get it done.

On Campus Library Student Center Village Dining Tichenor library Chapter rooms Samford Lawn Foy dining area Off Campus The Gnu’s Room Crepe Myrtle Cafe The Overall Company Panera Bread Starbucks in Tiger Town Toomer’s Coffee Daylight Donuts Another on campus place to try would be the third floor of the Student Center. It closes at midnight, and is kept perpetually quiet thanks to multiple shushing smiley faces plastered on the walls with the words “Quiet Zone.” It’s easy to focus and is the center of campus so it’s easy to get to. Plus, if you live off campus, you can park in the parking garage after 5 p.m. and have plenty of time to get work done before the Student Center closes. The only downside is there are limited tables and they fill up fast.

If studying on campus isn’t your style, there are many places around Auburn with the perfect atmosphere to get on a study grind. The Gnu’s Room and Toomer’s Coffee Company on S. College are both cozy places with solid study environments. They are relatively close to campus, but aren’t nearly as packed as the library or the Student Center. They also both have cafes with snacks, pastries and coffee to satiate any caffeine craving. Crepe Myrtle Cafe on S. College offers silence and a lot of good food. In the spring, entire place is surrounded by gardens and blooming flowers. It’s a good place to go to clear your head of anything except the books in front of you. These are just a few examples of the many prime places in Auburn to crack down on the books and get studying. Each are unique in their own way, but for those who have difficulties concentrating with a lot going on around, all of them are preferable to the perpetual RBD circus that occurs every finals week.

Thursday, April 25, 2013

Intrigue B7

The Auburn Plainsman

e t’ sg op ick ing !

Angel’s Antique and flea mall Mon - Sat 10 -7 and Sun 1 - 5

INTRIGUE@ THEPLAINSMAN.COM

It’s been a big year for Twitter. The company released video-sharing Vine earlier in 2013, and on Thursday, April 18, released a new music app appropriately called, #music. According to Twitter’s website, “Twitter and music go great together,” which is arguably true. Many of the most followed users are musical artists. Justin Beiber, Lady Gaga and Katy Perry have more followers than the U.S. president. Nearly half of all users follow a musician. Responding to this, the company has created a “New service that will change the way people find music, based on Twitter.” The app consists of four main categories: Popular “new music trending on Twitter,” Emerging “Hidden talents found in the Tweets,” Suggested “Artists you might like” and #NowPlaying “Tweeted by people you follow.” It is available in an application for iPhones and iPads and also

on computer web browsers at music.twitter.com. #music streams music through iTunes, Spotify and Rdio, although to listen to full tracks, you must sign in with your Spotify or Rdio account. Features include the ability to tweet what you’re listening to directly from the app and the ability to see what musical artists your favorite artists are following. The interface of the app is clean, intuitive and features a sleek grid of profile pictures of musical artists. When playing a track in the iPhone or iPad app, a CD spins on the screen, an ironic graphic considering CDs are often considered outdated. But what makes #music different than Spotify and other music streaming services, and is it more usable? The answer lies in that #music is merely a jumping off point for Spotify. Spotify is prime for searching for artists and listening to full albums and playlists created by others. #music differs in that it offers songand artist-specific suggestions based off of what’s currently popular on Twitter, emerging artists on Twitter, who you follow on Twitter and what people you fol-

A great place to live. Sign NOW, Save LATER! low are tweeting about. People love discovering new music, and perhaps love even more saying they’ve discovered new music. While I like the idea of discovering new music, the only way to get tailored suggestions is to follow artists on Twitter. When I first downloaded the app, I only followed a handful of artists, an amount that doesn’t lend to accurate suggestions. It certainly sounds like a service that will increase artists’ following, and Justin Beiber already has 37.9 million. Of course, knowing the innovative nature of Twitter, #music will likely turn into something of wild popularity.

COURTESY OF MARY KATHERINE SMITH

The AU Singers perform “Raise Your Voice” from Broadway’s “Sister Act” in December 2012.

Dexter said she is especially excited about the wide variety of genres they will be performing, such as pop, Broadway tunes and vocal jazz. "An exciting part about AU Singers' shows is that we tend to appeal to a wide range of audience members, and this is accomplished by the variety of music selected," Price said. "The current singers genuinely enjoy performing for people." With a mix of choreography and ballads, Price said he believes the show will be a nice break for students taking finals. Dexter said attendants can expect to hear songs such as, "I Dreamed a Dream" from Les Miserables and "Some Nights" by Fun. "I am excited for a ballad called “From a Distance,”" Price said. "This was one of my favorite songs that the AU Singers would sing when I used to come to shows with my family. It is usually a crowd favorite and may be stuck in some heads the week after the show." For the 10 Singers who are graduat-

“

We have worked extremely hard and are very excited about all of the numbers we are performing.”

We rent apartments, not bedrooms!

Rates per apt. 1 BR-$420 2 BR-$495 3 BR-$570

Scan for more info!

(334)-821-9192 560 North Perry St. Auburn, AL www.lemanssquare.com

CHEESE OR PEPPERONI CHEESE OR PEPPERONI

95 95 CARRY-OUT

ADDITIONAL

Plus Tax & Delivery. Limited Time Offer. TOPPINGS

AVAILABLE

Plus Tax & Delivery. Limited Time Offer.

ing in May, the Spring Show will be their last performance with the group. Students interested in becoming an AU Singer should contact Farmer for an audition. "It's a really fun time," Farmer said. "We do something for everybody. It's very wholesome entertainment and it doesn't cost a lot to see it. The Singers is kind of one of Auburn's traditions. It's been around for 41 years."

Work at a fun location, happy work environment and a great place to eat! Now hiring hosts/hostesses and servers for the Downtown Opelika location.

AUBURN AUBURN 1409 S. College St.

Watch for the Graduation issue May 2nd

& First Summer print issue May 16th!

on finals!

1.5 Miles West of the University next to Acapulco’s Mexican Grille

OVER 550 LOCATIONS

This is our last regular issue for Spring 2013!

Applications available at: http://www.niffersplace.com/ Niffersplace/Employment.html

1409 S. College St.

1.5 Miles West of the University 826-5555 next to Acapulco’s Mexican Grille OVER 550 LOCATIONS 826-5555

education.auburn.edu

SENIOR IN ACCOUNTING

ADDITIONAL TOPPINGS

CARRY-OUT AVAILABLE

Addison Combs Grace Christian Ashley Roberson Earvin Comer Betsy Cobb Ethan Branch Holland Brown Katie Byers Margaret Anne Hendry Megan Eldridge Melanie Beth Meadows Olivia Tofani Paige Martin Parker Pippen Shelley Cox

—Allison Dexter

LARGE HUNGRY? LARGE PIZZA PIZZA

DELIVERY • CARRY-OUT LUNCH • DINNER • LATE NIGHT DELIVERY • CARRY-OUT LUNCH • DINNER • LATE NIGHT

- Only 4 blocks from campus - Water/Garbage included - On Tiger Transit Route - Spacious Floor Plans - On-site Management - Sparkling Pools - Pet Friendly

C ongratulations to the new C ollege of e duCation s tudent a mbassadors

WRITER

Cheap furniture, old windows, cool Auburn stuff, vintage records, jewelry, etc!

Leasing Now for Fall!

Jherrica Luckie

$ $

900 Columbus Pkwy Opelika, AL 36801 1 blk off I-85 N, exit 62 334-745-3221

Lemans square & Chateau apartments

AU Singers prepare for spring show The Auburn University Singers will perform their annual Spring Show on Saturday, April 27 and Sunday, April 28 at the Telfair Peet Theater. The show, which lasts approximately one and half hours, will start at 2:30 and 7:30 p.m. on Saturday and 2:30 p.m. on Sunday. "We are hoping the show will be a success," said Allison Dexter, senior in accounting and an AU Singer for four years. "We have worked extremely hard and are very excited about all of the numbers we are performing." Tickets can be purchased beforehand in 101 Goodwin Music Hall or at the door of the event. For Auburn students, the tickets cost $5 and general admission is $10. "I suggest people arrive early or try and buy their tickets before hand," said Dale Parker, conductor of the Auburn University Singers. "The theater holds 360 people and we do three shows and we usually sell them out." The AU Singers, which includes 35 vocalists, 10 instrumentalists and one technical support, have been hard at work preparing for this show since January, with rehearsals at least twice a week. "We have class every Tuesday and Thursday from 3:30 p.m. to 5:15 p.m., but a lot of work is done outside of class to ensure that our shows are up to mint condition," said Mark Price, junior in interdisciplinary studies and member of the AU Singers. Farmer said this Spring Show, which is their second major production of the year, will be slightly different from past shows, because they are doing an all-female performance and all-male performance, which they don't normally do.

TR IP

Twitter debuts #music Elizabeth Wieck

sa nd l

Gr ab yo ur fri end

RO AD

It’s HUG

917 So. Railroad Ave. Opelika, AL 36801 334-787-5989

The Auburn Plainsman

Intrigue B8

The Auburn Plainsman

Thursday, April 25, 2013