The Auburn Plainsman

The Auburn Plainsman Thursday, April 14, 2011

A Spirit That Is Not Afraid www.theplainsman.com

Vol. 117, Issue 26, 20 Pages

Republican chair defends expenses AUCR chair accused of abusing group funds Eric Austin Managing Editor

A blog bearing the ambiguous title “Alabamians 4 Truth,” accusing the chairman of Auburn University College Republicans, Michael Lee, senior in business, of misusing group funds, has stirred controversy within the organization since its creation last Friday.

The group is calling for the immediate resignation of Lee and the entire executive staff. Lee maintains he has done nothing wrong.

The Accusations Alabamians 4 Truth accuse Lee of several instances of financial negligence that range from expensive dinners paid for by AUCR funds to a $600 campaign contribution made to former AUCR member and Auburn graduate Alex Schriver, who is running for

the chairman of the College Republican National Committee.

“It doesn’t matter if it’s a political organization, a religious organization, if you’re going to lead, you have to lead with character and integrity,” said Caleb Byrd, a former AUCR member who has held numerous positions on the executive staff. “We are supposed to hold ourselves to a higher standard as Auburn men and women with honesty and integrity, truth and perseverance, and we have not received that from Michael Lee or Alex Schriver at any step of the way.”

Byrd, senior in political science, got involved with Alabamians 4 Truth

when the possibility of negligence from Lee was brought to his attention by current AUCR members.

The concerns were first raised by secretary Alexandra Jelinek, senior in economics, and vice-chair Hayley Thrift, senior in public relations in late March.

As secretary, Jelinek was supposed to go over every financial expenditure in a monthly report with Lee. All semester, Jelinek said she had seen no reports, so she figured no money was being spent.

Eventually, she and Thrift requested bank statements from Lee, and after he handed them over, the two were alarmed at what they saw. » See AUCR, A2

Michael Lee

AUCR Chairman

Alex Schriver

CRNC Candidate

■ ‘Alabamians 4 Truth’ allege Michael Lee donated $600 to Alex Schriver’s CRNC campaign and then lied about where the money was going.

■ The group also claims Lee used group funds on dinners for personal political gain.

■ Lee denies any wrongdoing.

Smoking resolution vote nears Liz Conn Associate Campus Editor

PLAINSMAN ARCHIVES

DB Harris and The Men of Action play the steel guitar Buck Owens tune “Act Naturally” during last year’s Boogie.

Too much Boogie for Waverly Jillian Clair News Editor

What began as a celebration about the rerouting of a bustling highway out of a tiny town has grown into a festival so large the planners worry there will be too many people.

Waverly, which normally has a population of 184, grows exponentially during the Old 280 Boogie Music and Arts Festival held every spring.

During the 2010 Boogie, Carolyn Stubbs, lifelong resident of Waverly and previous Boogie planning committee member, estimates 3,000– 4,000 people packed the tiny town’s 2.7 square miles.

Because of the event’s rapid growth and mounting safety concerns, there will be a limit on the number of attendees allowed inside the gated event, and a $10 entrance fee will be collected.

Parking attendants will make parking more organized, and the entire Boogie will be on the property of Standard Deluxe, a screen-printing and T-shirt shop, instead of spread throughout the town as in years past.

“We’re considering now that it’s all on our property, and we have gates, we’re kinda thinking since we’re charging admission that it’s going to cut back on people going,” said Scott Peek, owner of Standard Deluxe and planner of the event. “What we want to do is not growing it to make it bigger, but to take some of the funds from this year and put it to next year to bring bigger bands—limit attendees and get a little bigger talent.”

Stubbs said another reason for the changes was the workload it placed on the 10–15 volunteers who run the event.

Smokers will have a chance to butt into the conversation regarding a smoke-free campus at the April 18 SGA senate meeting.

Interested students should attend the meeting, said Kirby Turnage, SGA president and senior in finance.

Kirby Turnage, SGA president and senior in finance, said interested students should attend the meeting, in which SGA will vote on a resolution proposing a smoke-free campus.

The other Universi-

ty governance groups— the University senate and staff governance groups— will also vote on the resolution at their upcoming meetings.

If the governance groups approve, the committee will draft a specific policy and plan for implementation, which will eventually go to the president’s office for a final decision.

SGA recently released its own survey to gauge student interest.

“We saw it as our responsibility to collect data on our own and make sure we were get» See Smoking, A3

Dorm visitation survey revised Chelsea Harvey Assistant Campus Editor

PLAINSMAN ARCHIVES

Josh Datnoff of Pell City Fire Department shows Colson Beaudoin, 2, how to use a fire hose.

“You just get that many people, and that handful of volunteers just can’t handle it,” Stubbs said. “It became a big event with really just volunteers running it, so something had to change, and I think everybody felt that way.”

Stubbs said she isn’t surprised about the popularity of the event— a problem that’s good to have for the community.

“Waverly needs this injection of life,” Stubbs said. “It translates into tax dollars and money to do other things and to maintain the town.

You have to have life, or you don’t have a town. I mean, all you have is

a bedroom community or a subdivision if you don’t have some activity.”

Stubbs said the event will be more professional and organized this year, but the Waverly City Council is no longer involved.

However, Stubbs said the town will still benefit from the Boogie.

“The town will get revenue from it because the vendors will have to have a business license, and Standard Deluxe is a business, so any profit they make will translate into tax of some sort.”

At the beginning, Stubbs said the festival was mostly a town re» See boogie, A2

Dorm visitation hours may soon get a makeover, thanks to recent student interest in the policy.

A survey was released

by Housing and Residence Life last week via email to on-campus students, asking for their input on visitation policy.

“Our res life staff earlier last semester had just started talking about so many of our judicials are related to visitation,” said Kim Trupp, director of Housing and Residence Life. “So they started talking early on last semester, about taking a look at our visitation hours as they are, and do we need to consider expanding them, and of course you know the first people we want to ask are our residents.”

Trupp said the release

Inside Campus » A1 | Classifieds » A4 | On the concourse » A8 | Community » B1 | Opinions » B3 | Intrigue » C1 | Sports » D1

of the survey coincided with interest gathered from a Facebook group petitioning to change the dorm visitation hours.

“It all kind of came together at the end of the semester,” Trupp said.

The survey was originally submitted to Housing and Residence Life by Timothy Dunlap, freshman in electrical engineering and physics. The survey was then modified and released.

Dunlap said he gained an interest in visitation hours after reading an article on the policy in The Plainsman last semester.

He said he was not aware of the Facebook petition until after he had submitted the survey.

“I first went to my hall director who referred me to the area director, and he was the person who » See dorm, A3 Recycled paper

Campus A2

The Auburn Plainsman

DUI Arrests in the City of Auburn April 8 – april 12, 2011

Crime Reports for april 8 – april 12, 2011

■ James J. Pitts, 22, of Opelika East Magnolia Avenue April 8, 3:39 a.m.

April 8 — Ford Court Theft of property reported. One silver bicycle.

■ Robert E. Wilson, 43, of Dalton, Ga. Interstate 85 South April 8, 6:14 p.m.

■ Iris E. Talbot, 23, of Opelika Rock Fence Road April 9, 2:08 a.m.

■ Richard S. Pate Jr., 18, of Montgomery Shug Jordan Parkway at Wire Road April 9, 3:46 a.m.

» From A1

union gathering, but as word spread, the 280 Boogie grew to include Auburn students and alumni as well as people from farther away.

“Things change, and when an event changes and gets bigger or whatev-

April 8 — Armstrong Street Theft of property reported. One cellphone and $25.

April 9 — Hilton Garden Drive Theft of property reported. One debit card and $600.

April 9 — Shelton Mill Road Auto theft reported. Silver Volkswagon.

April 9 — West Magnolia Avenue Theft of property reported. Two textbooks and $85.

AUCr

er, you just have to accommodate to make sure everybody’s safe and make some adjustments when what you’re working with changes,” Stubbs said.

“It’s just time for something different. And honestly, a 10-year run on something like that is good. A lot of festivals don’t last that long.”

Su mm er

» From A1 Lee came to one of the girls’ apartments to discuss the matter, and with a hidden camera, Jelinek and Thrift videotaped the entire conversation.

In the video, which was posted to the blog, Lee admits to lying to Jelinek about the destination of the check made out to Alex Schriver.

“I lied to you about where that money was going,” Lee said in the video.

“I just wanted to look like a badass.”

Lee said he would not have spoken as candidly had he known he was being videotaped.

Thrift said she never agreed to post the video online, and that Jelinek had taken this action herself.

Jelinek said Lee told her the money was going to Schriver to pay for a table at the Alabama GOP dinner, not a campaign contribution.

Jelinek said the executive board typically would approve such a large expenditure. This time, however, she said a vote was not taken.

“This was a check to a candidate that many of the members did not endorse,” Jelinek said. “He’s a personal friend of Michael Lee. He said to the executive board, ‘We’re writing a check to Alex Schriver for $600.

OK?’ Case closed. Nothing.

There was no vote, there were no objections. It was just kind of a statement.”

Even more alarming to Jelinek, the check was made out to Alex Schriver directly, not “Friends of Alex Schriver,” the campaign committee that collects funds for his campaign.

Thrift said she was more concerned by the large tabs that had been run up at restaurants. These included a $300 bill at Ruth’s

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April 9 — Mell Street Theft of property reported. One laptop case, one TI-89 calculator, four textbooks.

April 9 — North Dean Road Theft of property reported. One bottle of prescription medication.

■ Ashley N. Hamilton, 23, of Opelika Northpointe Drive at Northwood Drive April 12, 2:22 a.m.

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Lee said he gave his staff the opportunity to object to the donation to the Schriver campaign.

“It was a miscommunication,” Thrift said. “Michael brought it up that we were going to make this donation. I didn’t object. And then later it was kind of Alexandra heard one thing, and we kind of all heard another, and so that’s when my concerns came up, but they were addressed.”

Jelinek said if a donation was made to a campaign, the members of the organization had a right to know.

Lee said outside of the executive board, no AUCR members were informed the donation was made.

“There are no guidelines in our constitution about how to go about endorsing,” Lee said.

He said the constitution is equally ambiguous about how to use funds.

“There are no guidelines in our constitution for budget and expenditures,” Lee said. “So when looking at it, I just kind of used precedence of methods of past chairmen, and that’s how I went about deciding.”

Treasurer Katherine Hart, senior in marketing, said she was aware of the expenditures every step of the way and said she approved them because there are no guidelines in the constitution address-

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April 11 — West Longleaf Drive Burglary of residence reported. $225.

April 11 — Lee Road 55 Burglary of residence reported. 42” flat screen TV. — Reports provided by Auburn Department of Public Safety

ing such expenses.

In the video, and in subsequent interviews, Lee said he had done nothing that past chairmen had not done. Lee reimbursed AUCR for the Ruth’s Chris bill and a trip to New Orleans for a College Republicans convention which he and Schriver attended together.

“It’s never my intention to do something the members didn’t want me to do,” Lee said.

Lee and Thrift said an open meeting was held at the Creekside clubhouse on the evening of April 3 to address any concerns members had.

“Members of Alabamians 4 Truth were present at our meeting when we decided how to move forward,” Thrift said. “They should have spoken up then if they weren’t happy with how to move forward instead of handling it on the Internet.”

Jelinek said Lee invited an official from the Lee County Republican Party to the meeting to intimidate any present dissenters.

“He wouldn’t let me speak,” Jelinek said. “The guy would keep grabbing me every time I opened my mouth.”

Jelinek said at the end of the meeting Lee said he would resign at the end of the semester and hand over the duties of chairman to Thrift.

Jelinek said this is why Thrift has come to call the situation a “miscommunication.”

Broader Implications Lee is also the chairman of the College Republican Federation of Alabama.

Deputy Chairman West Honeycutt, junior at the University of Alabama, has called for Lee’s resignation.

“Michael could be innocent, he could be guilty,

Sports Editor Associate Sports Editor Assistant Sports Editor

“

It’s never my intention to do something the members didn’t want me to do.”

—Michael Lee AUCR Chairman

we’re going to find out,” Honeycutt said. “But I don’t see how we can fundraise when anyone who wants to give us money Googles us, and they see that our state chairman is caught up in this allegation.”

The controversy surrounding the campaign donation to Schriver is the second glitch in his campaign for national chairman.

Video evidence has also surfaced showing Schriver toasting the Texas Federation of College Republicans chairman, who uttered an anti-gay slur earlier in the video.

Schriver was contacted for an interview multiple times and would not respond to phone calls.

Wednesday morning, screenshots of Twitter posts from an account of unknown origin that made legal and personal threats to Jelinek were posted on the Alabamians 4 Truth blog. Two home addresses were included in the posts, one of which is to the home of the parents of former AUCR chair Allison Kajs, among Lee’s accusers.

According to the site, the second address belongs to Alex Levin, Alex Schriver’s opponent in the national race.

Jelinek said AUCR needs help from beyond the organization to handle the situation.

“Obviously we need help from outside people because we’ve tried to handle this internally, and it hasn’t worked,” Jelinek said.

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Chris Steakhouse in Huntsville, two $90 bills at Cancun Mexican restaurant and a bill at Amsterdam Cafe more than $100, in which Lee took former agriculture commissioner candidate Dale Peterson to dinner. Peterson has been featured in a campaign ad for Schriver.

“You can hide little things,” Byrd said. “But it’s when you start getting greedy that it’s hard to cover your tracks.”

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April 11 — Opelika Road Breaking and entering of an auto reported. One car stereo system, one GPS.

April 10 — North Ross Street Theft of property reported. 9 mm Glock.

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April 10 — Mell Street Theft of property reported. One MacBook with charger.

April 9 — South Donahue Drive Auto theft reported. Blue Jeep Wrangler.

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April 9 — West Samford Avenue Theft of property reported. $10.

April 8 — North College Street Theft of property reported. One Droid cellphone.

April 9 — West Samford Avenue Theft of property reported. $100.

■ Joey T. Railey, 31, of Opelika South College Street April 9, 4:38 a.m.

Boogie

Thursday, April 14, 2011

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The Auburn Plainsman

And that’s how winning is done Alpha Gamma Delta won its third Greek Sing title. What did it take?

Eric Austin Managing Editor

For three months the worlds of Dori Dobbs, Michelle Knowles and Brittney Holmes revolved around time counts, synchronized moves and a boxing ring.

The three girls are the choreographers for the Alpha Gamma Delta Greek Sing team. Tuesday, their months of work culminated in a final run-up of last-minute preparations. The goal was to win a third straight Greek Sing title for the sorority.

No pressure, right?

Coffee and Conversation: Five days until Greek Sing The three sat at the Student Center Starbucks Friday afternoon reflecting on everything that had led up to this point.

“Every year our main goal for Greek Sing is to do something that will stand out and be different,” Dobbs said. “We’re ‘Alpha Gam Knockouts’ this year. It’s a fighting theme. I’d never seen it done before.”

Knowles said the theme for the dance came out of nights of brainstorming in the girls’ apartment.

“We went through a lot of ideas,” Knowles said. “We went through a bank robbery idea, and we wanted something that would tell a story. But the crime thing has sort of been done by a lot of other schools, so we went with motivational after that, which inspired the fighter.”

Dobbs said they wanted to do something that would grab the attention of the crowd and the judges.

“Everything is on a bigger scale this year,” she said.

“The stage is bigger, it’s in the new arena, and that’s never been done before.”

While winning was the ultimate goal, the girls said

Smoking » From A1

ting student opinion,” Turnage said.

SGA senators sent the survey to their respective colleges. It was also sent out to various student organizations.

About 3,750 people took the survey, Turnage said.

The sur vey results showed 51 percent strongly agreed with the proposal of a smoke-free campus, 13 percent agreed, 10 percent disagreed, and 22 percent strongly disagreed.

Four percent said they

dorm

» From A1 gave me the idea to run a survey to submit,” Dunlap said.

Dunlap said he submitted his survey to his hall director, who then passed it on to Housing and Residence Life, where it was modified and released.

“I was trying to do things as close to by the book as I could,” Dunlap said.

Dunlap said a few changes were made to his original survey.

“Well one difference is, the thing that I’m really going for is 24-hour visitation all week, and there are a number of reasons why I think that would be the best option,” Dunlap said.

“One of the questions goes along the lines of, ‘What do you think the policy should be?’ and they cut out a 24hour option all week. That was not one of the options you could put.”

the Greek Sing experience also brings sisters closer together.

“We have so many freshmen doing it,” Dobbs said.

“And I know my freshman year I got to meet so many seniors that I probably wouldn’t have had the opportunity to meet otherwise. So it’s definitely a way to meet people and to get closer with girls.”

The 40 girls selected for the dance practiced twice a week beginning in February, and Knowles said after Spring Break they moved to practice three times a week.

“I feel like on Tuesday night all your work over the past three or four months gets paid off,” Holmes said.

“Win or lose, just getting out there in front of that crowd and doing what you’ve been practicing, it pays off.”

Sorority Showoff: Two days until Greek Sing Sunday night, the team rehearsed in full dress at the Opelika Sportsplex. The entire sorority traveled to see the show for the first time.

Everything seemed to go off without a hitch, and the dancers’ sisters screamed, “Squirrel power!” (the sorority’s mascot) from the bleachers.

Following the rehearsal, Dobbs, Knowles and Holmes got tips from last year’s choreographers, who attended to give advice.

Ashley Lewis and Emily Busby worked under the former choreographers, and they discussed the difference in style.

“I feel like the choreography’s a lot different this year,” Lewis said. “It’s more dancey.”

One thing that was clear was that the girls knew the gravity of this year’s performance.

“We have a big target on our backs because we’ve didn’t care.

One option the committee has considered is “buffer zones,” or zones around buildings where smoking is prohibited.

“If you look at the literature and you talk to some of the other institutions, buffer zones aren’t as effective as a straight smoke-free campus,” said Eric Smith, director of health promotion and wellness services.

“They send a mixed message. They’re actually harder to patrol and harder to enforce.”

Smith said the policy might allow smoking on Trupp said an ‘other’ box was left for students to write in suggestions if their preferred option was not listed on the survey.

According to Trupp, the survey contained several features besides a list of options for visitation hours.

She said several other SEC schools’ visitation policies were listed to give students a frame of reference while taking the survey.

Students were also given the option to list concerns they had about expanded visitation hours, such as too much noise or not enough privacy.

Students were also asked if they had ever been documented for a visitation violation.

“It’s good to know the thoughts of those who have been documented versus those who have not,” Trupp said.

Trupp said the surveys are confidential and participants in the survey could

Emily Adams / Photo Editor

Michelle Knowles, Brittney Holmes and Dori Dobbs react after Alpha Gamma Delta won its third straight Greek Sing. won the past two years,” Busby said.

The choreographers left the Sportsplex feeling good about their chances.

“We know that we’re just going to do our best, and literally if we come in first place or last place, we’ll be ecstatic either way,” Dobbs said.

The Main Event The “fighting squirrels” waited anxiously as the other competition strutted their stuff for a crowd that was a sea of patterned Greek letters.

“Every one of them was so good,” Dobbs said. “But we were just like, ‘Well, we just have to keep doing what we’ve been doing.’”

Finally, the moment came.

“It was an adrenaline rush,” Knowles said. “I literally don’t remember a second except when I thought I messed up really bad, and I had a breakdown when I got off stage.”

If she did mess up, the judges didn’t notice.

The moves were even sharper than in rehearsal, and the roar of applause that sprang from the Alpha Gam section brought hope to the dancers.

But nothing was guar-

anteed, and it was clear the other sororities had brought their best stuff.

The awards were read; fourth through third place went to other sororities.

It was all or nothing.

For the third year in a row, it was all.

The choreographers rushed to their sorority with the trophy in hand.

“Cam Newton went through my head when we ran up to the sorority,” Knowles said. “All of the emotion of working on this for a semester paid off.”

the sidewalks bordering campus, since they are adjacent to public thoroughfares and share a border with the city.

“That helps achieve a lot of the goals here,” Smith said. “It keeps smoking from the central core of campus. It keeps it from the concourses—the areas where a lot of people are hanging out.”

As for enforcement of the policy, Smith said those in violation would probably receive a warning on the first incident and an educational sanction on the second.

“It would be addressed very much from an educational perspective,” Smith said. “There might be a referral over to the Medical Clinic for a smoking cessation program.”

Smith said in a 2009 survey of smoke-free campuses, 67 percent reported no problems with compliance.

Minor problems were reported by 33 percent, and fewer than 1 percent reported major problems.

Zero percent reported a negative impact on recruiting or admissions.

“This policy could upset a few people here and there,”

Smith said, “but this policy could also prevent someone from starting to smoke.

“If that’s the case, we’ve given that person an awful lot in terms of better health.”

Haroldo Toro, professor of pathobiology, said he would not quit smoking if the policy were to be implemented.

“I don’t think that smokers will quit smoking as result of a ban,” Toro said.

“Smokers will find hiding places to continue with their habit.”

Toro said he sees the policy as discrimination.

“A sizeable minority at this University enjoy smoking, a common practice in the New World long before Columbus,” he said. “Outside smoking doesn’t harm others and to suggest otherwise is not objectively defensible.”

At the SGA senate meeting April 4, Smith said court precedent rules in favor of nonsmokers.

“If you look at all the court documents, if you look at all the legislation, the right to free air trumps the rights of the smoker time and time again in the courts,” Smith said.

“

It’s good to know the thoughts of those who have been documented versus those who have not.”

—Kim Trupp director of Housing and Residence Life

not be identified.

Trupp said if any changes are made to the visitation policy, they will not be implemented until the fall.

She said the results would first need to be examined with other administrators, such as Ainsley Carry, the vice president of student affairs.

“We’ll present the findings and the results to them, make our recommendations, and then the discussion begins,” Trupp said.

Emily Adams / photo editor

The sisters of Alpha Gam get into it at Greek Sing April 12 at the Auburn Arena. “Alpha Gam Knockout” was the sorority’s theme.

Campus A4

The Auburn Plainsman

Thursday, April 14, 2011

Going green pays off Madeline Hall Writer

Maria iampietro / associate photo editor

Emily Brennan, junior in animal science and president of Auburn’s rowing team, was awarded the Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship, a National Prestigious Scholarship.

Winning the Goldwater Animal science junior wins prestigious Goldwater Scholarship Alexandria Smith Writer

She is president of the rowing team, ambassador to the College of Agriculture and is setting her sights on veterinary school—all while whipping up smoothies at Smoothie King—but now Emily Brennan can add a National Prestigious Scholarship to her resume.

Brennan, junior in animal science, was recently awarded the Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship, given to sophomores and juniors who intend on holding careers in mathematics, natural sciences and engineering.

“I didn’t expect it, but I was really excited when I found out that I won,” Brennan said. “When you are involved in research, that is the one type of recognition you can get from it.”

Each university can nominate four undergraduate students to apply for the award.

The scholarship is valued

at $7,500 toward educational expenses.

About 300 Goldwater scholarships are given each year to students at colleges and universities all across the country. This year, there were 278 recipients of the scholarship.

“You don’t just come and apply,” said Paul Harris, Auburn’s associate director of National Prestigious Scholarships. “It takes months of preparation to get prepared for these scholarships; the recommendation letters are very lengthy.”

Along with the Goldwater, the National Prestigious Scholarships consist of the Udall, Truman, Rhodes, Gates Cambridge and the Fulbright scholarships.

“The fact that Emily is in animal science, but doing research in biology, is what made her such a strong candidate for the award,” Harris said.

Geoffrey Hill, professor of biological sciences, has worked with Brennan in the lab for three years.

“Emily has the rare combination of smarts while also being high energy,” Hill said. “She channels these qualities correctly; she uses her intelligence and energy to get a lot of stuff done.”

Brennan has been conducting research on bird

pathogens and whether birds can transfer disease resistance through their eggs, Hill said.

Brennan will now be working on gene expression in adult birds.

“Because Emily is the president of the rowing team and an agricultural ambassador, I am hoping she will be a strong candidate for the Rhodes Scholarship next year,” Harris said.

Last year, Auburn student David Harris won the Goldwater Scholarship and became a Gates Cambridge Scholarship recipient this year.

Also, in 2008, Auburn had another Goldwater winner in Anne Marie Hodge, who went on to receive a National Science Foundation scholarship of $100,000 the next year.

Brennan, from Jacksonville, Fla., visited Auburn after she told her high school guidance counselor about her desire to be a veterinarian.

She said she then fell in love with Auburn after the visit.

“If I have enough endurance, I want to go to vet school and then continue going on with my research and get a Ph.D.,” Brennan said.

After a year of perfecting his application, hours of dedicated research and serving in several leadership roles, Nathan Warner was selected for a $5,000 Morris K. and Stewart L. Udall Scholarship for Excellence in National Environmental Policy.

“The Udall scholarship was established to promote and encourage environmental stewardships,” said Paul Harris, associate professor and associate director of the University Honors College. “It is given to undergrads who have demonstrated a commitment to protecting our nation’s heritage and natural resources.”

Warner, junior in ecological engineering, was one of 80 scholars chosen from across the nation out of 600 applicants.

“A successful Udall scholar has not only good grades—a 3.6 GPA or above—but they’ve demonstrated leadership on and off campus in activities that promote environmental sustainability,” Harris said. “They must also demonstrate undergraduate research in their respective major.”

Warner is president of the Auburn Sustainability Action Program, co-founder of Engineers Without Borders and engineering representative for the Committee of 19.

“I’m just trying to figure out what I can do to make Auburn and the world better,” Warner said, “whatever I can do to link the environment to people.”

The next part of the application involved obtaining recommendations from Warner’s superiors.

“He had to have three letters of recommendation from faculty members or individuals who know his work in environmental sustainability, each one detailed and two pages long,” Harris said. “Then he had

Rebekah Weaver / Assistant Photo Editor

Nathan Warner, junior in ecological engineering, was awarded the Morris K. and Stewart L. Udall scholarship. to obtain an institutional endorsement from me.”

Harris said he got to know Warner after working with him.

“He exemplifies our Auburn creed, especially as someone who does hard work,” Harris said. “He is dedicated to making the world a better place.”

Matt Williams, program manager in the Office of Sustainability, has worked with Warner since he was a freshman.

“I enjoy working with Nathan because he is organized and passionate,” Warner said. “He deserves this award because he is able to make it his mission to do what the scholarship is about.”

The final step for Warner’s application was a series of essay questions on environmental issues.

“Nathan began working on his essays back in November because it is a lengthy process,” Harris said. “He had to address the problems and provide realistic solutions.”

Warner said he has always had a passion for the environment.

“I watched ‘An Inconvenient Truth’ in high school, and it opened my eyes to all the possibilities,” Warner said. “I want to find out what my role on Earth is and what I can do to make it better.”

Warner said he already has plans for his $5,000.

“I’m going to India for a study abroad internship during June and July,” Warner said. “The class will focus on culture, environment and public health, and then I will work with an organization on these matters.”

Warner and Harris both said they hope his success will encourage more students to apply for prestigious scholarships.

Warner also has high hopes for the sustainability movement at Auburn.

“We have so much potential and interest,” Warner said. “I just hope we can grow and cooperate a little bit more.”

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Thursday, April 14, 2011

The Auburn Plainsman

Campus A5

Campus A6

The Auburn Plainsman

Thursday, April 14, 2011

Rotary Club recognizes museum’s excellence Ellen Weathers Writer

The Jule Collins Smith Museum of Fine Art has splashed color onto Auburn’s cultural canvas since its opening in 2003.

This year, the Auburn Rotary Club chose the JCSM as its Citizen of the Year.

“Receiving the Citizen of the Year award is so important for the museum because it’s our community telling us that we are on the right track,” said Colleen Bourdeau, marketing and events manager for the JCSM. “It’s a nice way of letting us know that people appreciate our hard work.”

The Citizen of the Year does not have to be just one individual. The Auburn Rotary Club accepts nominations of individuals, groups or businesses that give back to the community through service.

“The museum is a neat place,” said Elizabeth Pugh, freshman in public relations. “It’s easy to call your friends and check it out together.”

Nominees for the award cannot be Rotarians nor any business closely affiliated with the club. Past businesses awarded Citizen of the Year include East Alabama Medical Center and Auburn Bank.

Michael Tullier, public re-

“

The museum is a neat place. It’s easy to call your friends and check it out together.”

—Elizabeth Pugh freshman in public relations

lations director for the Auburn Rotary Club, said recognizing upstanding citizenship in the community is only one way the Rotary Club gives back.

“We’re focused on supporting our community through grants and honoring those who are making a difference, whether it be a museum, teacher or public safety official,” Tullier said.

The JCSM was chosen for three main reasons: aesthetics, cultural contribution and educational value.

“One was its aesthetic,” Tullier said. “It is significant to the entryway as you come into Auburn and begin to see the University.”

The JCSM is the only university art museum in Alabama and a popular place to visit for prospective students.

“I think it’s great that people considering Auburn get to see the museum,” Pugh said. “It’s not some-

Emily Adams / Photo Editor

The Jule Collins Smith Museum of Fine Art was awarded Citizen of the Year by the Rotary Club for increasing Auburn’s artistic culture. The JCSM is the only university art museum in the state. thing you would expect to see on a campus visit.”

Exhibitions change three to four times a year, providing diverse collections and artworks. The JCSM also changes programming throughout the year to coincide with new exhibitions and topics of interest in the area.

“Admission into the gallery is free for students,”

Bourdeau said. “Our work with local business partners has allowed us to lower admission for everyone so even more people can enjoy what we have here.”

The museum’s educational contribution includes educational opportunities for students at Auburn and people of all ages.

“I know that a lot of professors use the museum for

projects and assignments,” Pugh said. “It gives students a nice break from the kind of work they’re used to.”

The JCSM also hosts fundraisers and fairs throughout the year.

Art in the Garden, its largest fundraiser of the year, was held Friday with proceeds benefiting art programming for children.

The annual May Day craft fair will be May 14 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

“Auburn is often cited as a top place to live in the state and in the country,” Tullier said. “In addition to golfing and the University, the presence of a cultural community is important to those who decide what makes a place a great place to live.”

Trash turned treasure sashays down the runway Miranda Dollarhide Intrigue Editor

Aluminum cans, cardboard boxes and plastic bottles may sound like last week’s recycling dropoff, but for Sustain-a-Wear contestants, they make an outfit.

Sponsored by the Auburn Sustainability Action Program, students will compete against each other May 1 in the Student Center ballroom to create the best outfit made of recycled items.

“Sustain-a-Wear offers students the ability to apply themselves and create something that is unique and representative of the recycling movement,” said Hunter Morgan, senior in

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public administration and ASAP president. “It’s applied recycling.”

Each outfit must be able to stay intact while modeled on the runway in front of a panel of five judges.

At the end of the fashion show, the judges will select a first, second and third place winner.

“They will win a scholarship and a prize package from local Auburn businesses,” said Laura Cobb, event coordinator. “We do not have a specific number on scholarships right now…but I requested $500 to $1,000.”

Morgan said contestants that show originality and go beyond the judges’ and audience’s expectations will

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do well in the competition.

Contestants are encouraged to be as unique as possible, and Cobb said they are allowed to incorporate unconventional fabrics into their outfit such as upholstery, air filters, mats, ribbons, seatbelts and ribbons.

Other fabrics may be used as a lining or backing, but shouldn’t be an intricate part of the design.

Cobb said she came up with the idea for Sustain-a-

Wear last May. “I wanted to do it because I’m a fashion major and thought it would be something that someone like me would want to do,” Cobb said. “I brought it up with our club, and it has taken off and gotten a good review already.”

Contest a n t s must be ready to submit some of their design during registration April 26 in Student Center Room 2225.

Cobb and ASAP will be checking entries to make sure contestants are following the criteria.

“I’ve already seen some of the designs in work,” Cobb said. “I know specific people who have even melted plastic bags together to make fabric using iron to melt it together. I think it would be really cool to see someone use metal and solder it together. It would be heavy, but it would be really interesting to see.”

The event will be held from 7 to 9 p.m. with door prizes provided by PINK Nation.

Cobb said she wants to give local businesses the opportunity to show their products during the event.

Although it’s Sustain-aWear’s debut year, Morgan said he hopes to max out the ballroom, but worries

it may not be possible in its first year.

“We want to get students out there to it even though it is a Sunday evening right before finals,” Morgan said.

“We’ve got a lot of things against us, but hopefully the students will come out and recognize that this is something unique and beneficial.”

Next year, Morgan wants to expand participation.

“We want to increase the visibility of Sustain-a-Wear and mainly get people who aren’t in the apparel design program involved,” Morgan said. “In the first year it is open to all students. As far as I’m aware it’s not getting much recognition from students in other disciplines.”

Earth Day 2011 This year’s Earth Day is April 22. For green living, follow these tips from the Environmental Protection Agency: 1. Save energy.

■■ Drive less. Ask your boss if you can work from home a few days each week.

You’ll reduce your carbon footprint—and you can work in your pajamas.

■■ Carpool or walk as much as you can.

■■ Take your used electronics to an electronics recycling center. Reusing these materials helps cut back on natural resources.

2. Use water efficiently.

■■ Wait to run your dishwasher and washing machine until the load is completely full.

■■ Take showers, not baths.

■■ Fix leaky faucets in your house.

3. Reduce, reuse and recycle.

■■ Make a compost pile in your backyard. Cut grass and food scraps work well as compost material.

■■ Look for creative ways to reuse household materials.

■■ Use reusable shopping bags.

■■ Reuse towels and sheets in hotel rooms.

4. Make environmentally-protective choices.

■■ Check the outdoor air quality before heading out for a walk or run.

■■ Always scoop. Leaving your pet’s waste can cause polluted storm water runoff.

■■ Lock up your household cleaners and pesticides to prevent poisoning.

http://www.epa.gov/earthday/tips.htm

Thursday, April 14, 2011

Campus A7

The Auburn Plainsman

Theatre performs ‘butchered’ take on Hamlet Colton Campbell Writer

To butcher, or not to butcher?

That was the question for Chris Qualls, who wrote the adaptation and is directing Auburn Theatre’s production of “99-Minute Butchered Rock & Roll Boombox Hamlet.”

“It’s highly edited,” Qualls said. “I savagely butchered it, but it still retains the same story and characters.

It’s more like a modern film adaptation of the play.”

Qualls said the play has pop, rock and rap music accompanying the drama.

“The feeling of the piece is driving, disturbing and ultimately challenging and entertaining,” Qualls said. “At times, it’s a down-and-dirty battle of wits and bodies.”

The play still takes place in Denmark, but the dialogue, action and characters are more current than the original.

“I wanted to use music and contemporary references in a classic play like this,” Qualls said.

Eli Jolley, junior in theatre, plays Hamlet—with a Mohawk—and said the play is fast-paced and full of action.

“It gives you the nuts and bolts of the story without all the fluff and some of the subplots,” Jolley said.

Jolley said he hasn’t acted in many Shakespeare plays before and has been training with professors in the theatre department to get the language and dialect to feel natural.

“I really never thought I would play Hamlet,” Jolley said. “I’m just blessed to be able to play him, no matter what form the play is in.”

Shannon Dunlap, senior in theatre, plays Ophelia, Hamlet’s love interest.

“It’s a really powerful piece,” Dunlap said. “Everyone’s put in a lot of work,

and it is just a beautiful show.”

Qualls said his adaptation, while extreme, is not rare because it departs from the original text.

“Anyone who performs Hamlet does their own kind of adaptation of it,” Qualls said. “You have to make choices about what to leave in and what to leave out.”

Qualls said the official script of Shakespeare’s “Hamlet” lasts four-and-ahalf hours.

“We’ve created this kind of inflated version of ‘Hamlet’ by putting all these texts together,” Qualls said. “It took about three months to edit it to the way I wanted it.

I felt guilty at every cut.”

Qualls said in some instances his cuts took an entire speech down to a few key words.

Jolley said the play should be unlike any other Shakespeare experience the viewers have had.

Christen Harned / Assistant Photo Editor

Ophelia and Laertes banter back and forth about Hamlet’s affections for Ophelia.

“It’s just a great, amazing play,” Jolley said. “It’s fun and fast-paced, and there’s plenty of blood. It’s good for action fans, and then it’s also good for people who like the beauty of the language and the struggle of the human spirit that was in Shakespeare’s original play.”

Dunlap said people who don’t like or understand Shakespeare should come see this adaptation of what is arguably his best play.

“It’s very approachable that way,” Dunlap said. “It shouldn’t be scary if you aren’t a Shakespeare fan.”

Qualls said an edited ver-

sion of the play gives the actors a better chance to go into the remaining words with greater depth.

The play’s remaining shows are April 14 and 15 at 7:30 p.m. with a matinee April 16 at 10 a.m.

Tickets are free for students.

Emptying pockets, filling stomachs Breakfast raises money for charity Madeline Hall Writer

Emily Adams / photo editor

David Sutton, professor of communication, is known for being the funniest professor in his department.

Professor valued for sense of humor Blakeley Sisk Writer

David Sutton may be a failed rose gardener, but he always knows how to make his students laugh.

Sutton, professor of communication, attended Auburn’s graduate school for speech communication.

He began teaching full time in 1993 when he became the director of public speaking.

Since, Sutton has taught a multitude of classes in the communication and journalism department with his favorite being Foundations of Rhetoric.

“I like the Foundations of Rhetoric the best,” Sutton said. “I think I like it because I get to be more of a show and be a little bit bigger on stage.”

Sutton’s colleague, Robert Agne, professor of communication, said he hears only great things from Sutton’s students.

“I can tell he has a knack for leading class discussion, and I think that is a lot harder than most people think,” Agne said. “Leading productive and yet enjoyable class discussions so that the discussion is guided, but still feels like everybody can meander is hard to do.”

Martie Fulk, senior in communication, said Sutton is one of her favorite professors not only in the department, but also at all of Auburn.

“Even though some of his classes haven’t been my favorite topics, he makes them relatable to us,” Fulk said. “If you ask any student or colleague of Sutton’s, they will say that he is the funniest person they know.”

Sutton did not fare as

well with his roses as he does with his students.

“I wish I could say growing roses (is a hobby),” Sutton said. “I felt like it was something a gentleman scholar would do.”

Besides trying to grow roses, Sutton spends his time playing golf and watching Netflix.

He is also preparing for his daughter, Allison, to get married.

“I am involuntarily involved in the wedding planning,” Sutton said.

Along with planning a wedding comes a lot of expenses, but Sutton has been excited about finding discounts.

“If they want to make me happy with this wedding planning stuff, before you tell me anything say, ‘Dave, you got the best deal,’” he said.

To find out more about his students, Sutton uses a question of the day to make calling roll more enjoyable.

“Questions of the day are my favorite classroom tool, like, ‘What is your biggest turn off ?’” Sutton said. “Mine is poor dental hygiene—got to have fresh breath. My nightmare is to be trapped in an elevator with someone with bad breath.”

Sutton also does not like ketchup on his hot dogs, but prefers total chocolate Cadbury eggs and only plain Krispy Kremes.

Along with being the funniest professor in the department, Sutton is also patient and appreciated, Agne said.

“He doesn’t fancy himself more than he is, but he is always there and people look to him and he does so without bells and whistles,” Agne said.

Eating stacks of pancakes may not be your typical way of being charitable, but this Saturday, Miss Auburn University is hosting an all-you-can-eat breakfast with proceeds benefiting Children’s Miracle Network for the Columbus, Ga., hospital.

Miss AU 2011 Emilee Williams will be hosting the breakfast from 7:30 to 10 a.m. at Longhorn Steakhouse in Opelika April 16.

“The funds are going to be helping children and families in our area,” said Williams, junior in civil engineering.

Tickets, $5, are available in the SGA offices or at the door on the day of the event.

“The $5 gets you all-youcan-eat pancakes, eggs, bacon, sausage, coffee, juice and all the soft drinks Longhorn normally offers,” Williams said.

Michelle Murphy, executive director for the Miss AU scholarship pageant,

hopes the extra crowd from A-Day will bring in more people for the fundraiser.

“It’s a great opportunity for people who wouldn’t normally be in town to support a worthy cause,” Murphy said. “Since A-Day doesn’t start until four hours after the breakfast, it’s a great way to blend events happening on that day.”

Williams said she chose CMN because it is the national platform for the Miss America organization and for the Miss Alabama pageant, and each contestant is required to raise money for CMN. “This is part of my effort to raise money for the organization that Miss Alabama supports,” Williams said.

“Two hundred fifty dollars is the minimum amount for the Miss Alabama pageant, but my ultimate goal is to raise above and beyond that.”

Murphy said money donated to CMN goes toward new technology to provide the best care for children.

“One example is a giraffe bed,” Murphy said. “They

give the best access for infant care, but cost approximately $35,000.

“We realize we’re not going to raise that type of money, but we want to raise as much as possible to directly benefit individuals there and provide better quality of life for those children.”

Rebecca Hart, junior in communication disorders and Miss AU 2010, said visiting the hospital in Columbus gave her a new perspective.

“Being able to visit the children’s hospital and seeing people who have benefited from that, you see how grateful and thankful they were to have that service,” Hart said. “It’s one of those things that you never think will happen to you, but if it does and you need their service, it is such a blessing.”

Murphy said Williams has been the driving force behind the event.

“She has been the correspondent with Longhorn to organize everything with them,” Murphy said. “She has also taken donation

letters to grocery stores to donate eggs, juice and pancake mix.”

Murphy also said Longhorn has been gracious and flexible to work with.

“Longhorn has been completely supportive of different community events,” Murphy said. “For us, they are providing a cook, coffee and butter, and they are allowing us to utilize their facility.”

Williams said her family and Auburn students will make up the volunteer staff that will be greeting, serving and preparing plates.

“We’ve been careful with the volunteers we recruited because we wanted it to be people we know to be in the kitchen and be quick on their feet,” Williams said.

“Hopefully they’ll be able to learn from the chef and join in on the cooking as the morning goes on.”

Hart, who attended the pancake breakfast last year, encourages students and families to plan on going before heading to the game.

“It’s a lot of fun because Longhorn doesn’t usually serve breakfast,” Hart said.

“And you get to interact with the community while supporting Children’s Miracle Network.”

Library receives piece of Alabama history Elizabeth Bonner Writer

The library is pleased to have recently received a rare piece of Alabama history, despite its role in keeping Tuscaloosa within the border.

A 19th-century letter instrumental in the formation of Alabama state borders was recently donated to the library.

John Williams Walker, a pivotal figure in early Alabama government, wrote the letter.

Mississippi was admitted to the union in December of 1817, and Walker wrote the letter in February of 1818 in an effort to keep the majority of the Tombeckbe River, now the Tombigbee, within Alabama Territory and out of Mississippi state borders.

Walker’s efforts were rewarded Dec. 14, 1819, when Alabama was admitted to the union with a western boundary that included most of the Tombigbee River.

Had he been unsuccessful, Tuscaloosa would be in Mississippi today.

“This letter is from one of Alabama’s most signifi-

cant early politicians and was written by him before Alabama was even a state,” said Bonnie MacEwan, dean of Auburn University Libraries. “It offers insight into a significant chapter in Alabama history when what would become Alabama did not even have clearly-defined borders.”

Walker wrote the letter while working as a lawyer and serving in the legislature of the Alabama Territory.

Walker later became the president of the constitutional convention that drafted Alabama’s first state constitution in 1819, and he was selected as one of the first senators to represent Alabama in Congress.

However, because of his tuberculosis, he was unable to complete his first term as a senator, dying in 1832.

“This letter is unique in the archives held in Alabama,” MacEwan said.

“While many Walker papers are held in the state from when he was a U.S. Senator after Alabama became a state in 1819, nothing currently held in the state archives is from this

“

There are so many ways you can give to Auburn.

When somebody sees these rare documents and thinks of Auburn, I’m especially flattered.”

—Greg Schmidt Special Collections Librarian

pre-statehood era.”

Walker wrote the letter from the Alabama Territory capitol of St. Stephens.

The letter is an appeal to an unknown contact in Washington, D.C., regarding the western boundary of the territory.

Those close to the project are thrilled with this addition to the library’s Special Collections and Archives.

A supporter of the library who wishes to be left anonymous donated the letter.

Greg Schmidt, special collections librarian, put this letter on his “wish list” a few years ago.

“Gifts are really how we get the most striking and newsworthy material,” Schmidt said. “I really appreciate these supporters.

“There are so many ways you can give to Auburn.

When somebody sees these rare documents and thinks of Auburn, I’m especially flattered.”

Schmidt wants students to know that they are welcome to take a look at this letter or the other documents in the library’s Special Collections and Archives at their convenience.

“This letter, which came to us as a private gift from a generous donor, shines a fascinating light on Alabama history,” said Dwayne Cox, head of Special Collections and Archives. “The Walker letter is part of a growing collection of rare books, historical photographs and manuscripts that support the work of Auburn University students and faculty.”

Special Collections and Archives are open to all faculty, staff and students, and Schmidt said no special permission is required to go to special collections and read.

Campus A8

The Auburn Plainsman

On the Concourse

Thursday, April 14, 2011 Question:

Did you take the dorm survey on visitation hours and, if so, how did you respond?

“I don’t think I took that.”

“I did take that. I think having later visitation hours would not be a bad thing.”

“I didn’t really take the survey.”

—Samantha Bailey freshman, prephysical therapy

—Andrew Whited freshman, graphic design

—Joseph Illg freshman, history

“I didn’t do it, but I think the rules are good as they are.”

“Yes, I took the survey, and I thought it was silly that we have to take a survey on whether or not people should be allowed to have visitors where they live.”

“I did take the survey, and I said yes to the extended hours.”

—Katie Evatt, freshman, prepublic relations

Anna Grayce West, 21 This week’s loveliest has a special admirer. The newlychosen director of Aubie will be transporting the anticfilled tiger to next year’s athletic events and more.

“I just wanted to share Aubie with the community and see the impact he has around people.”

Like Aubie, we saw the impact Anna Grayce has on people from minute one. This junior in nursing will be impacting people for years to come—with or without Aubie at her side.

Think you know an Auburn woman who has what it takes to be the Loveliest Lady on the Plains? Send submissions, with names and contact information, to campus@theplainsman.com

—Jon Coley sophomore, industrial design

—Kelly West, freshman, nutrition and dietetics

Community

Opelika updates » Page B2

A-Day plant sale

B

» Page B4

www.theplainsman.com

Thursday, April 14, 2011

Page B1

Photo Illustration by Christen Harned / Assistant Photo Editor

On the Tracks is held twice a year in downtown Opelika and features food, drinks and live music. This year’s spring event will take place Friday from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m.

On the Tracks brings good spirits Mackenzie Cogle Writer

Transforming the quiet streets of downtown Opelika into a festival complete with food, fellowship and fun, the 11th biannual On the Tracks food and wine festival will take place Friday from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m.

With the downtown blocked off for the event, On the Tracks gives guests the opportunity to sample fine wines and local cuisine while venturing through 19 different shops and galleries in downtown Opelika. Live music will also be provided during the night, featuring John Bull Band, Destiny Brown and My Two Wings.

“It’s a lot of fun and a great atmosphere,” said Pam PowersSmith, director and co-founder of On the Tracks and owner of Flip Flop Foto in Opelika.

Powers-Smith said all of the restaurants in downtown Opelika will be open, selling food and drinks from the regular menus both inside and outdoors.

Several Auburn restaurants, including Maestro 2300, Cuban Delight and Amsterdam Café will also have vendors at the event serving food a la carte.

On the Tracks will also have an outdoor bar available for guests.

Though most of the action takes place outside, Powers-Smith said she hasn’t found weather to be an issue because there is so much going on indoors as well.

A rain or shine event, On the Tracks will have tents and tables set up outside for guests to enjoy.

Powers-Smith said groups can purchase tables prior to the event if desired.

A trail ticket to sample a variety of fine wines and food offered by participating stores on the wine trail can be purchased for $25 the night of the event or preordered at onthetracks.org.

Powers-Smith said guests must purchase a $5 wristband to drink during the event.

All proceeds from the tickets and wristbands benefit Opelika Main Street, a nationally-recognized program that aims to revitalize areas in downtown Opelika.

However, Powers-Smith said anyone is welcome to come and enjoy the live music and visit the 19 different shops participating in the event.

“It’s a great chance to come with friends and see stores and restaurants in Opelika you may not see otherwise,” said Ryan Schwartz, intern at Opelika Main Street.

Eight years ago, Powers-Smith and the owner of Eighth and Rail in Opelika founded On the Tracks after realizing the need for an upscale event for adults in the area.

On the Tracks was started as an annual event and is now offered twice a year, in the spring and fall.

Powers-Smith said all ages are welcome, but the event is mainly focused toward an adult crowd.

Stacie Money, board member for Opelika Main Street and owner of Fringe in Opelika, said the event usually draws a crowd of approximately 500 guests from Opelika and surrounding areas.

“It’s great for people who are new to the area or locals to come and see what businesses are downtown,” Money said.

Money said several new businesses have opened downtown since the last On the Tracks festival, including Sips n Strokes and other stores and restaurants.

“It’s always a lot of fun,” Money said. “I hope new people will con-

Contributed

Proceeds from On the Tracks benefit Opelika Main Street, a program that works to revitalize the downtown area. tinue to come to the event.”

The date for On the Tracks in the fall is already set for Oct. 7.

The event has received acclaim during past events.

“Most people that come to the

event love it,” Money said. “It’s always fun no matter what.”

To reserve a group table, Powers-Smith can be contacted at 334-737-1474, or by email at pam@flipflopfoto.com.

Divorce bill may force parents to split custody Liz Conn Associate Campus Editor

Emily Adams / PHOTO EDITOR

Earl Bryant of Valley, an apprentice blacksmith, makes a fireplace poker at the Battle of Loachapoka Saturday.

Traveling back in time Second Saturdays presents a Civil War re-enactment and colonial arts and crafts Elizabeth Fite Staff Writer

Second Saturdays at Pioneer Park in Loachapoka allows people to revisit the days before fast cars and Facebook.

The second Saturday of every month from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., the Lee County Historical Society hosts a re-enactment of pioneer and Civil War era life in Alabama.

“We have a blacksmith working,” said Sheila Eckman, city councilwoman and public rela-

tions representative for Second Saturdays. “We have people cooking on the open hearth in the log cabin.

“We have people spinning. We have people weaving; we have people playing and teaching dulcimer.”

Last Saturday also featured a small Civil War re-enactment to honor the 150th anniversary of the War Between the States.

Eckman said the historical society plans to make the battle reenactment an annual activity.

Jean O’Donnell, a participant in the spinning and weaving demonstration, has been a part of Second Saturdays since September.

“Upstairs we have a whole room dedicated to spinning and weaving, quilting, sewing and » See Re-enactment, B3

A bill facing the state Senate could require judges to appoint equal parenting time to both parents in divorce cases.

The bill is currently in committee, said Sen. Paul Bussman, R-Cullman, the sponsor of the bill.

“In Alabama, the majority of the time, it’s an 80/20 split,” Bussman said. “You actually take one parent out of the life of a child, and you turn them into a visitor as opposed to a parent.

“What we’re trying to do is get both parents to take responsibility for their child and to raise that child and make them a productive citizen.”

Judges would be required to order an even split between the parents, unless one parent is deemed unfit.

“When both parents have the authority and both parents are expected to be responsible, I think that can only be beneficial,” said Joe Pittman, professor and department head of human development and family studies.

The bill would require parents to submit a parenting plan, detailing activities like school, church and athletic activities, as well as which parent would make executive decisions in each area.

If the parents could not agree, each parent would make important decisions on alternating years—mothers on odd-numbered years and fathers on evennumbered years.

“The main intent of the bill is when a couple gets divorced

and you have two fit parents, then both parents should share equally in the custody and the raising of the child,” Bussman said.

Bussman said the bill stems from the negative effects of a single-parent home.

“We see increased youth suicides,” he said. “We see increased teen pregnancy; we see increased drug and alcohol problems. We see problems with criminal activity.

“The system is actually broken, and everybody knows it’s broken.”

Auburn lawyer James Sprayberry said he thinks the bill would create an unstable development atmosphere for a child.

“I think it is poorly written, poorly conceived, and I hope it does not pass,” Sprayberry said.

“Automatically awarding shared custody, particularly with children that are in elementary

school, could be detrimental on the children.

“They would have no permanent home. They would have no fixed schedule if they were alternating a week on and a week off, or two weeks on and two weeks off.”

Pittman said research has shown that children can eventually recover from the effects of divorce.

“They get over divorce usually in about two or three years,” Pittman said. “What kids don’t get over is the interparental aggression and hostility that can arise from all different problems associated with divorce.”

Pittman said custody battles are often a source of this aggression.

“The custodial issue is one of those issues that really makes it challenging for parents to work together,” Pittman said. “When one person’s been given all the rights, and the other person has no rights, it makes for a pretty difficult and awkward parenting arrangement.”

Community B2

Re-enactment » From B1

anything that would be needed to make a garment from the raw fiber—the cotton and the wool mostly comes from Lee County,” O’Donnell said.

The event also features authentic gardens of the time period, including a crop garden with sweet potatoes and cotton, a medicinal herb garden, a vegetable garden and a bog garden.

Eckman said approximately 12 people lead reenactment activities along with many additional apprentice participants and 15–20 dulcimer players.

“We wanted to come up with a way to get people to the museum—there’s a great museum there,” Eckman said. “The museum is the old trade center— Loachapoka used to be a

The Auburn Plainsman big railroad town.”

The exhibits in the museum include a section on local Native Americans, furniture from the 1850s, books, military goods and armor, kitchen supplies, clothes and other antiques.

“It gives people a chance to come and visit the museum for free, which has a wonderful collection on the history of Lee County,” O’Donnell said.

Bill Yates, Auburn resident and Second Saturdays first-timer, said the event made for a relaxing afternoon activity.

“The workers around and the barn and cabins make it feel like an old-time village,” Yates said.

More information about Second Saturdays can be found on the Lee County Historical Society website at www.leecountyhistoricalsociety.org.

Thursday, April 14, 2011

calendar: Thursday, April 14 – Saturday, April 23 Sunday

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

14

Saturday 15

280 Boogie

Downtown Opelika ■ 6:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.

Boogie, Waverly ■ 12:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

■ Historic

17

18

East Alabama Youth for Christ Iron Man Golf Tournament

■ Indian

19

Auburn City Council

■ 141 N Ross St. ■ 7:00 p.m.

Pines Golf Course ■ All day

20

16

On the Tracks

21

■ Old 280

22

Aprilfest

■ Terrace

Room, Hotel at Auburn University ■ 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

23

Burn City Rollers vs.

Greenville Derby Dames

■ The Skate Center, Auburn ■ 4:00 p.m.

Downtown Opelika renovations boost business Molly Montgomery Writer

Opelika’s historic downtown district is renovating, renewing and making efforts to recruit businesses to fill the remaining storefront vacancies.

The area has recently welcomed several new stores and restaurants. Historic buildings are getting fresh coats of paint, and the roads are getting a touchup.

Pam Powers-Smith, director of the Opelika Main Street organization and co-owner of Flip Flop Foto, said she has seen a dramatic change in the area since her business arrived in 2001.

“It’s a completely differ-

ent downtown,” PowersSmith said. “Because we are adding things so often and getting new things, I think sometimes people come down just to see what’s new.”

Powers-Smith said Opelika Main Street receives government funding and allocates it to businesses to support building improvements.

Barbara Patton, president of the Opelika Chamber of Commerce, said the funding comes from a community development block grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

In addition to grants, the Opelika Main Street organization is partnering with

the city of Opelika to continue the Streetscape project, an initiative working to improve the appearance of the downtown area.

The project began in the early ‘90s and has continued in small segments when grants are available.

“In downtown Opelika we have these old pavers,” said Lori Huguley, economic development project manager for Opelika.

“They’ve actually pulled those up and are redoing the street which makes it more friendly for traffic.

“They also have an outdoor music system so that you can hear music.”

The Streetscape project also added streetlights to improve public safety.

“

It makes downtown cohesive, so it looks like we all belong together.”

—Pam Powers-Smith director , opelika main street Organization

“We’re finally seeing it come to fruition, which is really nice,” Powers-Smith said. “It makes downtown cohesive, so it looks like we all belong together.“ Silverstone coffee shop, Frou Frou floral and gift company and Sips n Strokes art studio are some of the businesses that have recently moved downtown. A

yarn and fabric store is also coming soon.

Martha Venable, owner of Venable’s Sweet Shoppe on South Ninth Street, said opening her business downtown was an easy choice.

“It’s been overwhelming,” Venable said. “We’re just tickled pink.”

The Event Center Downtown—a 33,000 square foot, former Coca-Cola warehouse—has been converted into a venue for weddings, sorority formals, parties and other events.

Lisa Beck, co-owner of The Event Center Downtown, said she and her husband made sure to include “downtown” in the name of their business.

“The word ‘downtown’ was included to help with further economic development for the downtown area,” Beck said.

“Anytime somebody receives an invitation or nonprofit fundraisers announce an event and you see ‘Event Center Downtown,’ people know that that’s downtown Opelika, so it will continuously be on people’s minds.”

The revitalization efforts in downtown Opelika have increased interest in the existing businesses.

“It’s amazing if you come down here on a Friday or Saturday night,” Huguley said. “You’re going to see cars and cars and cars in downtown Opelika.”

Contributed

Renowned musicians from across the Southeast will perform and give lessons to attendees at the Lee County Gathering April 28 to May 1. The old-time genre is a subset of North American folk music.

Old-time music to ring out in Lee County The Lee County Gathering will provide lessons and performances in dulcimer, guitar, mandolin and more Jade Currid Writer

Popular festivals like the 280 Boogie may be getting too crowded, but a lesserknown festival coming to Loachapoka promises to bring musical entertainment as well.

Those who attend the Lee County Gathering will have a chance to enjoy both music and dance and celebrate life in a way the pioneers who settled the mountains would have centuries ago.

Themed “Down From The Mountains,” the music festival will be held at the Lee County Historical Society in Loachapoka April 28

to May 1.

“Old-time music is considerably different from bluegrass,” said Bob Taunton of Sweet Fern Oldtime Music. “People refer to some of the music we play as bluegrass, but actually it’s not. It’s much older than that.

“Bluegrass started sometime between 1925 and 1930, but our music goes back hundreds of years.”

The festival will feature old-time music workshops, continuous jamming sessions, concerts, storytelling, period re-enactors and frontier food.

Musical instruction and performances will be provided by local and out-oftown artists and nationally-acclaimed musicians.

“It’s great fun and a great way to get to know and reach out to the community,” Taunton said.

Taunton said he would like to see college students attend the festival.

“They can see what entertainment was like 200 years ago,” he said. “I think it would be a good eye-

opener for them.”

Attendees will gather at the auditorium of an old schoolhouse.

The Camp 1921 String Band will provide music, and a dance instructor will be available.

Multi-instrumentalist performer Joni Carr said he and his wife Ashley are enthusiastic about playing at the event.

“We both have a great love for old-time music and think it’s still a very popular music, and it should be more popular than it is,” Joni said. “It’s old-timey dance music. It makes us feel good playing it and listening to it.”

The couple will perform and provide music instruction. Joni will play guitar, bass, mandolin and fiddle.

Ashley will play the guitar and banjo and demonstrate flat footing, a type of folk dance.

Award-winning national performer Bing Futch will be performing and teaching mountain dulcimer and Native American flute.

“When I go to festivals, I

tend to focus on Americana and roots music­—music that is passed down from generation to generation,” Futch said. “I try and reference as much tradition as possible in music as well as putting one foot firmly forward into a progressive approach to traditional and modern music.”

Christian humorist and musician Bill King will tell stories and sing songs as Billy Bob Bohannon, a character with whom he has entertained crowds for several years.

King will also teach harmonica.

“The event is fun,” King said. “We have people from all over the Southeast perform. Most of them are music performers.”

Various other performers and instructors will also attend the festival.

Taunton said he and his wife Rose enjoy being oldtime music enthusiasts.

“We’ve come to know some of the greatest people in the world by following the old-time music circuit,” he said.

Opinions

B3 www.theplainsman.com

Thursday, April 14, 2011

Our View

AUCR members must take control It seems it’s turned into a game of “he said, she said” (See AUCR, A1).

On one side, Alabamians 4 Truth claim Auburn University Republicans chairman Michael Lee has abused group funds.

On the other side, Lee and members of his executive staff claim that the allegations have “been addressed,” and the group is moving forward.

However, the truth between the lines is obvious.

While Lee and his subordinates may not have broken a single guideline in the AUCR constitution, this does not mean they acted ethically. And if ethics mean anything to Lee, he will see that this situation is far from resolved, and concrete action must be taken to rectify it and ensure it does not happen again.

The defense of “no guidelines” can only go so far. Of course there were no guidelines in the constitution that mentioned hundreds of dollars for personal expenses at restaurants and on trips.

These are things that should be common sense to anyone in a leadership position who is responsible for managing funds, especially when the majority of those funds come from member dues.

While Lee has attempted to downplay his personal relationship with Alex Schriver in his decision to use AUCR funds to make a donation to Schriver’s campaign, it is clear more played into this decision than the simple fact that Schriver is an AUCR alum.

If this were the sole reason for the donation, then AUCR members should have at least been informed their dues contributed to this donation. The members have a right to know where the organization’s money is going, and Lee and his staff have still not produced an adequate explanation as to why the members were not informed. Again, the “not in our guidelines” defense only proves further incompetence.

Regardless of what is obvious to even the most casual observer, no action will be tak-

have taken former, internal concerns and made them part of a deliberate attack against their fellow Auburn University College Republicans.

Internal matters should not be played out on the Internet.

This whole situation is childish, irresponsible and completely inappropriate, and I am hopeful that those behind it will realize this and take down the blog posts.

As a member and officer of AUCR, I am content with decisions made and hope to have conflicts with these members completely resolved immediately. Enough time and energy have been spent on this senseless matter.

—Hayley Thrift, vice-chair, Auburn College Republicans

“AUCR” A1

What are you most excited to see on A-Day? ❍❍ First look at the QB race ❍❍ The eagle flying! ❍❍ The band

Helen Northcutt / Graphics Editor

en to remove the entrenched Lee unless AUCR members demand it themselves.

While the efforts of Alabamians 4 Truth are admirable, it is unfortunate they only came forward as a last resort, giving Lee the chance to resign multiple times. Had he accepted their request, all of the abuse would have been swept under the rug, with AUCR members never learning their dues had been mismanaged.

Thus, the responsibility to rectify the situation lies in the hands of AUCR members.

They must come together, be it through Alabamians 4 Truth or other external help, to once again take control of their organization from leadership that has clearly failed in its responsibility to its members.

Transparency should be expected from the top, but it also must be demanded from the bottom.

The ball is now in the court of every AUCR member. They can either demand change, or turn a blind eye to this unethical behavior.

almost four months, including his road trip to New Orleans which utilized nearly $500 in AUCR money in support of an event for Alex Schriver. In total, Michael Lee’s spending spree constituted nearly $1800, which is 38% of the AUCR budget.

Furthermore, Michael has prevented the general membership from participating in their own organization’s activities. Michael never notified the organization that appointed officer positions were available, preventing paying members from becoming involved in the management of their organization. As if this were not egregious enough, it has been discovered that a $600 AUCR check was embezzled by Michael Lee to the personal bank account of CRNC National Chairman-candidate Alex Schriver. Such actions present a clear picture of the dishonesty, financial abuse and unethical behavior of Michael Lee and the “Move CRNC Forward” leadership.

During the 2010 election cycle and my chairmanship, I witnessed AUCR volunteers work hard to establish a sol-

id footing and reputation for their organization. Now that hard work has been stolen and squandered by the actions of Lee. Republicans were swept into office in 2010 not because they were suddenly popular, but because they promised to restore fiscal sanity, integrity, transparency and responsibility to our nation’s budgetary crisis. The actions of Lee and the willing beneficiaries of these dishonest actions within “Move CRNC Forward” are precisely the opposite of what our nation needs. The CRNC and CRs across this country cannot afford to be represented by those who are willing to steal and manipulate their way to power. We deserve better from those who seek to lead us. That is why I am calling for the immediate resignation of Chairman Michael Lee from his leadership positions and the resignation of CRNC National Chairman-candidate Alex Schriver for being a willing participant in these activities.

—Allison Kajs, former chair, Auburn College Republicans

AUCR answers charges Smokers need answers To the editor: Recently, Auburn University College Republicans dealt with a number of internal concerns. These were addressed, discussed and handled in a respectful, responsible manner Sunday, April 3, 2011. The meeting resulted in a unanimous decision that all matters had been resolved and we could all move forward.

I want AUCR to continue to be one of the top College Republican chapters in the nation, as I know that it can.

Slandering the name of AUCR and its officers on the Internet is no way to restore the integrity of our club. These vicious attacks are not what College Republicans should stand for, and I am greatly saddened that these members

—Caleb Byrd

This week’s question:

Chairman Lee must step down as the 2008 elections. During the course of this time, I have come to know them and their leadership decisions well.

It is with a heavy heart and great disappointment that I must set the record straight.

Given that Alabama is the “reddest of the red” states, AUCR and the CRFA should be among the most potent and significant CR institutions in the nation. Unfortunately, the current leadership uses these organizations as launching pads for their own careers at the expense of the organization and its members.

Chairman Michael Lee has depleted the financial foundation of AUCR for purposes that do not benefit or include the general membership. Expenditures include dinner and drinks at local Mexican restaurants, personal lunches and dinner at the most expensive steak house in the state.

He loosely justified these expenditures by tying them to AUCR, but he never notified the membership or the executive board of these finances.

In fact, he went out of his way to hide the bank statements from the executive board for

“

You can hide little things.

But it’s when you start getting greedy that it’s hard to cover your tracks.”

Your View

To the editor: I served as Chairman of the Auburn University College Republicans from December 2009–November 2010, stepping down at the end of my term following the unprecedented Republican victories in the midterm elections. I have been involved with College Republicans since my freshman year at Auburn and dedicated most of my college career to the success of AUCR. Recent revelations concerning the conduct of current AUCR and Alabama state chairman Michael Lee have prompted me to speak out against his behavior and share my experiences. With the most important election in the history of the republic looming in 2012, it is critical that AUCR, the College Republican Federation of Alabama and the College Republican National Committee have the most competent and capable leadership possible.

I have known Michael Lee and current CRNC Vice-Chairman Alex Schriver for several years. I met Michael in the spring of 2009 and worked with Alex Schriver as far back

Community

To the editor: I’ve been following this smoking ban story since late February. Since then, I have become deeply troubled by growing suspicions that the administration isn’t approaching this issue with the interest such a controversial, far-reaching change to public policy demands.

The letter sent to President Gogue by a group of concerned students, mentioned in the Plainsman article entitled “University Considers Smoking Ban,” hasn’t been made publicly available, to my knowledge.

The same article states that Mr. Eric Smith formed a team to gauge support for the ban, and that feedback had been positive. Since the

majority of feedback in the Plainsman and on the Wordpress forum has been antiban, I would like for the positive feedback to be made available to the student body.

Earlier this week I saw the SGA had posted a survey to assess the student body’s opinion regarding the smoking ban. I sent them an email expressing some concerns— like their honoring their commitment to make legislation available to the public before voting on it—and have yet to hear back from them.

All of the secrecy surrounding this proposal makes me wonder, what gives?

—Patrick Carpenter, graduate student, software engineering

Vote at www.theplainsman.com Last week’s question: What should happen to the Facebook profiles of the deceased?

It should be for the family to decide 45% Let it be ‘memorialized’ 21% Remove them 33%

Staff Column

Trying to find the balanced schedule Chelsea Harvey campus@theplainsman.com

A few days ago, I sat down to review my schedule for next fall. As I have it laid out, I’ll be taking 18 hours of classes in three different disciplines and working two separate jobs.

In a moment of panic, I asked a few people if they thought I could handle it all, and the unanimous answer I received was “no.”

This got me thinking.

I’m used to being excessively busy. I get to campus before 8 a.m. every weekday, and I usually don’t come home until 10 or 11 p.m. I’m taking two minors on top of my major and working for The Plainsman. Believe it or not, I even have an active social life (most of the time).

I could make it easier on myself if I wanted. I could settle for my one major and take no more than 12 hours every semester. I could have gotten an easier, slower-paced job.

The problem is, I just love it all too much.

I am the product of having too many interests and too many ambitions.

There are days when I literally want to tear my hair out, I’ll be honest. But when I come home, finish studying and finally collapse in bed for the night, it is with a feeling of accomplishment.

That said, everyone has a breaking point—myself included. I didn’t realize it until I started examining my schedule for fall.

Granted, I could probably pull it off physically, and I’ve gotten pretty good at time management. But for my own peace of mind, I’ve decided I need to draw a line somewhere.

Maybe I’ll drop a class. Maybe I won’t take the second job. I’ll make ends meet.

The stubborn part of me is still rebelling a little. But upon reflection, I think the real message in, “We don’t think you can do it,” is, “We don’t think you really want to.”

And considering that, I think I probably don’t.

Like I said, I like being busy. I like pursuing many interests and activities. I like pushing myself.

But I also like my sanity.

I don’t think I ever won’t be busy. It’s not my style. But I think I can handle not being manic, at least for another year or so. Life is too short for that.

The Editorial Board

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Editor

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Auburn Student Center Suite 1111H Auburn, AL 36849

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The Auburn Plainsman welcomes letters from students as well as from faculty, administrators, alumni and those not affiliated with the University. Letters must be submitted before 4:30 p.m. on the Monday for publication. Letters must include the author’s name, address and phone number for verification, though the name of the author may be withheld upon request.

Submission may be edited for grammar and/or length.

The opinions of The Auburn Plainsman staff are restricted to these pages. These unsigned editorials are the majority opinion of the 9-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.

Community B4

The Auburn Plainsman

Opelika-Auburn News reporter Kristen Letsinger hails from Knoxville, Tenn., but now calls Auburn home Morgan McKean Writer

Kristen Letsinger spends her days telling stories.

And no, she’s not a firstgrade teacher or a mom of toddlers.

Letsinger, originally from Franklin, Tenn., works for the Opelika-Auburn News as the education reporter, covering grades K–12 and Auburn University.

Her favorite stories to tell revolve around ordinary people, she said.

“People are so interesting,” she said. “I believe there is no boring person out there.”

Letsinger remembers writing a profile story about a local World War II veteran

who was being honored in Washington, D.C. He later called and thanked her for writing the article because no one had told his story before, she said.

“To tell people’s stories that deserve to be told and then to see the look on your face that you’ve made their day—that’s really rewarding,” Letsinger said.

Ed Lammon works as the city editor for the OA News.

Everything Letsinger writes goes through Lammon, who took the position in October 2010.

“Kristen knows how to tell a story well,” he said, attributing this to her engaging leads and conversational tone.

Letsinger said she also enjoys the exhilaration of breaking-news stories.

“Your heart starts beating, and you want to get it up before anyone else,” she said.

She said some of the most unusual stories are the ones that just fall into place.

The job keeps her on her toes, but Letsinger said she doesn’t mind. She enjoys the challenge of doing something different each day.

Lammon said Letsinger’s love for her work is evident in the office.

“She’s almost always in high spirits,” he said. “This contributes to a fun and lively work environment.”

Letsinger started with the OA News in May, less than two weeks after graduating from the University of Tennessee in journalism and electronic media.

“Some days when I’m going on campus to cover a story, I feel like I should be one of the ones hurrying to class, that I should be one of the ones in the library studying,” she said. “Well that is a pleasant adjustment—not being in the library studying.”

Lammon said her youthful enthusiasm translates into a great attitude while covering stories.

“As an editor, it’s nice to see when a reporter is actually excited to get an assignment,” he said.

Her schedule requires her to work every Saturday, which she said was difficult at first because she was used to sleeping in Saturday mornings during college.

“It’s kind of like the initiation into the field, I guess,” she said. “But now I don’t mind it at all.”

A few similarities between Auburn and Knoxville, Tenn., the home of the Tennessee Volunteers, made the transition easier.

334-821-4844 or 334-319-0830 327 N. Ross Street Auburn, Al Conveniently located to campus and downtown

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1 Bd/1 Ba or 2 Bd/ 2 Ba Security System Pet Friendly

On Tiger Transit Route On-Site Management 24 Hour Maintenance

0 Golden Eg 5 $ a n i g !

W April 18-22: Easter Eggs worth $1.00 will be hidden all over campus!

Here’s how to win 1 of 5 golden eggs: 1. Save your receipt from April 18-22.

2. Solve the riddle printed on the bottom.

3. Be the first to go to that correct location!

Each golden egg contains $50 dining dollars!

One golden egg is given away each day. First person to claim the prize wins.

auburn.edu/dining for more info.

The first five people to send “Happy Easter” to groomgr@auburn.edu will win a free meal worth up to $10!

Thursday, April 14, 2011

Christen Harned / ASSISTANT PHOTO EDITOR

Kristen Letsinger began working with the OA News in May after graduating from the University of Tennessee. She covers grades K–12 and the University.

“I love that it’s a college town and the tradition of Auburn because I came

from a college town, an SEC school,” Letsinger said. “I didn’t know anybody, but I

feel like I’ve still got the SEC family.

“It’s like home.”

A-Day plant sale helps scholarships blossom Fifteen $1,000 scholarships will be funded by the A-Day plant sale Jillian Clair News Editor

Planting a tree can help the Earth. Buying it from the seventh annual A-Day weekend plant sale Friday and Saturday can help a horticulture student pay for college.

The Auburn chapter of PLANET, a horticulture student organization, and Campus Club partner every year to help raise money for an endowment that funds Campus Club’s First Ladies Scholarships in Horticulture program as well as travel expenses for PLANET competitions.

The sale is located at the parking lot on the corner of Samford Avenue and South College Street.

Plants will be available Friday from 9 a.m. until sunset, and the sale will last from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday.

Growers around the state as well as the horticulture department have

donated hundreds of different types of plants, including annuals, perennials, shrubs, groundcovers, trees, herbs, vegetables and sod.

Mary Lou Matthews, cochair of the Campus Club, said the most expensive plants are usually priced at about $50.

“It’s a really wide variety,” said Amy Wright, associate professor of horticulture and PLANET adviser.

Buyers can also ask questions about plants or their landscaping needs.

“There should be plenty of students out there working—and faculty—so lots of people available to answer questions about the plants themselves,” Wright said.

“So if someone were looking for a plant for a particular spot in their yard, there’ll be people there that can help them make that selection.”

The First Ladies scholarship honors the University presidents’ wives and benefits horticulture students.

Last year, the plant sale raised $54,000, Matthews said.

“We have raised altogether in the neighborhood of about $300,000 for the

“

We have raised altogether in the neighborhood of about in the neighborhood of about $300,000 for the First Ladies scholarship.”

—Mary Lou Matthews Campus club Co-Chair

First Ladies scholarship,” Matthews said.

“At this point, we are doing 15 $1,000 scholarships a year, and there are a total of 18 first ladies, so we want to continue to raise money so that we can get everybody at least $1,000, and then when we reach that goal, we will increase the annual amount that everybody gets.”

In addition to funding scholarships, PLANET benefits from the sale as well.

The members of PLANET take a trip to a national competition, where they compete in events related to horticulture, and the funds from the plant sale cover the club’s expenses.

Intrigue Thursday, April 14, 2011

The PoliSci Pro » Page c3

Healthier snacks » Page c4

www.theplainsman.com

C Page C1

Calling all

coeds

Playboy’s “Girls of the SEC” comes to the Plains

“

In college, we really look for someone that is going to be enthusiastic, because it really needs to travel in the photography.”

—Maria Hagen Photo Stylist

Miranda Dollarhide Intrigue Editor

The South may be famous for its fried chicken, but Playboy’s “Girls of the SEC” casting call is here for a different breast and thigh.

Undressing college girls for 35 years, Playboy’s college edition features coeds from a different sports conference every year.

Last year, it featured girls from the Pac 10.

“Our college edition is our most popular issue because it’s the girl next door,” said Maria Hagen, photo stylist. “It is someone in the community that they see going to class or the restaurant they go to or at the bar or someone that works at the farmers market. It really could be anyone.”

The casting call lasts two days with the official photo shoot immediately after.

“We take all the film or digital files now back to Chicago where then the editors will work on the layout,” Hagen said. “Sometimes they will choose just one representative from the university, but sometimes we have an opportunity to do a couple single girls or a group shot of five » See Coeds, C2

Emily Adams / Photo Editor

Zachary Johnson, Playboy photographer, shoots an eager coed for “Girls of the SEC.”

Drunk texting may have harmful effects Crystal Cole Sports Editor

(727): You kept yelling, “This bitch stole my phone” to the guy who found you passed out in the parking lot.

The popular website “Texts From Last Night” has hundreds of drunken text messages like this one, many from college students.

While most of these texts are good for a laugh, sometimes sending texts while inebriated can cause unwanted problems with the recipient.

Parker Dillard, bouncer at SkyBar Café, said he sees plenty of drunk texting while at work.

“Most people text mean things to their exes or try to hook up with someone they like,” Dillard said.

“What gets really bad is when I see people accidentally text their parents. I’m sure they regret that in the morning.”

Chris Correia, associate professor of psychology, has done research on college students’ drinking and said many different factors affect someone’s decision to text while drunk.

“Alcohol, as it affects different areas of the brain, eventually affects the part of your brain that is designed to inhibit you,” Correia said. “We have a system in place to prevent us from making poor choices, and alcohol dampens that system.”

Dillard said some of the worst

Photo illustration by Maria Iampietro / Associate Photo Editor

drunk texts he has seen are to bosses of customers at the bar.

“I’ve seen people who got yelled at work leave really obscene messages for their boss,” Dillard said.

“I know how it feels to get mad at your boss, but that’s a great way to not have a job when you wake up.”

According to Correia, once someone feels less inhibited, that person is more likely to talk to someone they would normal-

ly feel uncomfortable around and say things they know are inappropriate.

“There’s a phrase called alcohol myopia,” Correia said, “which means, for whatever reason, you really start focusing on the rightnow and maybe what’s going to feel good right now. You’re not thinking about how this is going to affect me an hour from now or a week from now. You get caught

up in, ‘Right now, it would really feel good to text this person,’ or, ‘I’m really feeling I need to say some things that can’t wait until tomorrow.’”

Correia said he doesn’t necessarily believe people are more of their true selves while drunk, but said people are more likely to act on impulses.

“If those immediate impulses are angry in nature, they’re

more likely to be expressed,” Correia said, “whether it be fighting, cursing someone out or sending a belligerent text. It may be that you’ve been carrying those feelings around, and you finally feel assertive enough to act those out.”

Correia said a good solution for students who do send out drunken text messages would be to leave the cellphone at home and find other means to get around.

“I know it seems impossible, but people survived without cellphones for a while—for most of my life,” Correia said. “If you can arrange for a ride home or are with a big group of friends, just leave it at home.”

Another option he gives is to give your cellphone to a good friend and only use it in case of an emergency situation.

“Friends don’t let friends send angry texts,” Correia said. “Make that your party slogan.”

Correia said research suggests alcohol intensifies current emotions rather than changing them.

With this in mind, he recommends keeping drinking to a minimum when angry or frustrated.

“You have to know when it’s appropriate,” Dillard said. “You can’t really enjoy a night out if you have to rush to your phone in the morning to make sure you didn’t make a fool of yourself. Just don’t do it.”

Modern views on sex influenced by education, technology Kelly Tsaltas Assistant Intrigue Editor

When our parents were in college, they were probably thinking about the same things we are: freedom, independence…and sex.

College students today are more focused on sexual exploration than their parents might have been, though.

“In general, I think that college has become a place where people start to get in touch with their sexuality,” said Karlene Cunningham, graduate clinician in psychology.

Cunningham said views on sex in college have changed during the years.

“During the sex revolution in the ‘60s and ‘70s, people were getting into this kind of free love ideal, and then we went back a little bit and reined things in, and now we’re getting in touch again,” Cunningham said.

People commonly think present-day college students’ partying and drinking makes unplanned and unprotected sex more likely.

According to a 2007–2008 study conducted by the Journal of American College Health,

men are more likely to initiate sex while intoxicated and women are more likely to accept while intoxicated. The occurrence of unprotected sex is low, however, with only 16 percent of students reporting sex without a condom.

The introduction of new technologies has given today’s college students a variety of ways to spice up their sex lives. Cunningham said technology can be a great way to communicate sexually.

“In terms of being sexual with your partner, you can send them a dirty text message or something like that. We’re just now getting a

handle on how Internet and technology are starting to impact the way people interact sexually,” Cunningham said.

Emily Fessler of the Department of Human Development and Family Studies, said technology is impacting multiple aspects of sexual communication.

“The advances in technology allow for individuals to have multiple sexual outlets and multiple ways to consume—and produce—sexual media,” Fessler said.

Cunningham said researchers are taking advantage of sites

like YouTube to share knowledge about sex, especially new forms of birth control.

“I think we’re getting a lot of different information out there in a lot of different ways,” Cunningham said.

But just because people are being informed doesn’t mean they’re listening.

“Our approach right now in research is to say, ‘We know you’ve heard about it, but what are the barriers keeping you from using birth control correctly?’” Cunningham said. » See Sex, C2

Intrigue C2

Coeds » From C1

girls fishing or on a canoe or something.”

When picking a girl or girls to represent each school, Hagen said they don’t look for the stereotypical model.

“In college, we really look for someone that is going to be enthusiastic because it really needs to travel in the photography,” Hagen said. “So it’s not just about being a perfect 10 and being super long and leggy or blonde or big, huge boobs.”

Hagen said in her eight years at Playboy, the girls they pick don’t usually expect to be chosen.

“They’re doing it on a dare, or it’s something fun,” Hagen said. “It really is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

“Not a lot of girls get to go to a casting.“ Kimmie Bailey, junior in graphic design, said she came to the casting because she thought it would be a good experience.

“I don’t have a hesitation about it because I think Playboy is a respectable brand, and there is nothing wrong with it,” Bailey said. “I am comfortable with myself.”

Most girls at the casting call were nervous about

Sex

» From C1 Fessler said she believes people are confused because of a lack of truthful knowledge about the use of birth control.

“There is often a perpetuation of misinformation spread from one individual to the next or one group to another,” Fessler said.

In our parents’ generation, the only place to get information about safe sex was in sex education class, and the main forms of birth control back then were the condom and the pill.

Today’s birth control methods include many different varieties of the pill to suit different wom-

The Auburn Plainsman posing for Playboy.

“I got a little bit nervous, but less about being photographed and more about ‘Oh, I hope I’m pretty enough,’” Bailey said.

During the casting call, the girls don’t have to be completely nude.

They can choose to wear a bikini or lingerie.

“I wore a bra and panty set for the pictures,” Bailey said.

Unlike a typical Playboy issue, most of the girls aren’t completely nude or put in overly sexual poses.

“The college issues are always a little more playful, young, fresh, less hair and makeup and a little more wardrobe than other pieces we run in the magazine,” Hagen said. “It’s school spirit, sweatshirts, hoodies, little jerseys and boy shorts.

“A lot of the stuff that we do is implied nudity, and sometimes that is the sexiest stuff where there is just a hint of nudity.”

Despite the playful setting, some girls still feel uncomfortable in front of the camera.

Zachary Johnson, Playboy photographer, said he tries to calm the girls while shooting.

“I just keep talking to them,” Johnson said. “It might take a minute or two.”

When they take the photos back to Chicago, they will also decide on a cover girl.

“You have to be 21 to be on the cover because of our alcohol sponsors and advertiser,” Hagen said.

“We will bring her out to L.A. to maybe meet (Hugh) Heff(ner) at the mansion and do a cover try.”

Hagen said Heffner approves every page of the magazine.

“We are looking for girls from the direction he has given us, through our direction and creative direction,” Hagen said. “Then we present him with all the photos we do here. He will then curate the pages and layout.”

While they’re looking for girls for the college issue, Hagen said they are also looking for new playmates as well.

“Playmates end up being actresses, personalities, CEOs of Fortune 500 companies, household names and supermodels,” Hagen said. “It’s all what the girl makes of it.”

If Bailey is chosen for the magazine, she said she wants to do something special for the unveiling.

“I’d want to have a little get-together with friends,” Bailey said. “I would have a Playboy-themed party with little, pink cupcakes.”

en’s needs, multiple kinds of female condoms such as the vaginal ring and a long-term hormonal form of birth control called Implanon which is implanted in the upper arm.

Cunningham said a male form of birth control is also in the works.

Even with all this protection, sexually transmitted diseases and infections are still prevalent and a source of anxiety.

Family Planning Perspectives states in a special report that last generation’s STD scares were AIDS and syphilis.

Cunningham said AIDS is still a concern today.

“HPV and HIV are very much in the limelight at the moment,” she said.

To keep STD and pregnancy risk at a minimum, Cunningham offered a few suggestions.

She said the biggest mistake people make with birth control is, “not taking it on time every day.

And with condoms, using the wrong kind of lubricant. You want to use a water-based lubricant instead of a petroleumbased lubricant because the petroleum breaks down the latex in the condom.”

Even with all the common mistakes made with birth control, Fessler said people do have general knowledge about STDs. “Now, people know that STDs can happen to anyone, even the first time!”

Thursday, April 14, 2011

Baby-sitting provides income, nostalgia Alison McFerrin Associate News Editor

The first baby-sitting job is a rite of passage for most teenage girls, but for the young woman in college, it’s a getaway back to the fun of yesteryear—plus a much needed income.

“I like to be really silly, and when you’re with people your own age, they’re kind of like, ‘What in the world are you doing?’” said Jasmine Rodgers, junior in early childhood special education. “When you’re with kids, they love it, and they’ll be just as goofy right back.”

Rodgers baby-sits three to five times a week for different families she meets through her job as a dance teacher.

“It’s really fun to play with them and be, like, the good guy and everything, and just enjoy your time and not have to be that one later that they get mad at and tells them they have to do things,” Rodgers said.

Some baby sitters, however, gladly take on the responsibility of making rules.

Aleesa Sipe, junior in elementary education, is a nanny for a 3- and 6-yearold, a job she described as being more of a parental role.

“I’m more active in their lives,” Sipe said. “I take them to appointments and things like that.”

But being in that parent role means rules have to be enforced.

“Sometimes, the firstgrader doesn’t want to do her homework, and it seems so much easier to just not let her do it and go out and play, but I want to teach her that studying is something important that you have to do,” Sipe said. “I want her to learn that if you

work hard at something, you can succeed.”

Olivia Hutchinson, sophomore in public relations, had to submit her resume and go through an interview process to land the baby-sitting job she found on Tiger Recruiting Link.

“God had his hand on me, looking down,” Hutchinson said. “I’m so blessed to have found them.”

Hutchinson baby-sits three to four hours a day, four to five days a week, and said her favorite part is just to see how excited her girls are about everything.

“The 5-year-old—she has red hair,” Hutchinson said.

“And she always says that Aubie is her best friend because he has red hair, or he has orange hair.”

One thing Jilian Petty said she learned from baby-sitting is that children say the funniest things.

“We were in his room, and he walked out and locked himself out of his room because they just put new locks on them, and he’s just fascinated by the locks,” said Petty, who will be starting nursing school at Southern Union this summer.

“Then he was wanting back in, and he was like, ‘Jiwee, let me in, let me in,’ and I’m like, ‘What’s the password?’

And he said, ‘Umm…Jesus!’

And so I really wasn’t expecting that at all.”

Petty said baby-sitting for a family is great because of the close relationship you already have.

“You’re more comfortable with them,” Petty said.

Of course, every baby-sitting experience isn’t positive.

Rodgers said one of her worst experiences was with a mother trying to get the most bang for her buck by

adding a chore list.

“Along with having three kids that were 2 years old, it was like, do the dishes, do the laundry, fold the laundry and vacuum and all this stuff,” Rodgers said.

But sometimes it’s the children themselves who throw the baby sitters through a loop.

“I had a girl who, she got back—her friend dropped her off from riding horses— she was dirty, and she needed a shower,” Rodgers said.

“And she is usually such a sweetheart, and she just refused to take a shower. I was like, ‘Why don’t you want to take a shower?’ and she was like, ‘I don’t want to get clean.’ And so I kept insisting to the point where she locked herself in the dog’s crate.”

One of Rodgers’ biggest challenges is with her children who have special needs.

“I have two that have to get fed through feeding tubes in their stomach,” Rodgers said. “It took getting used to at the beginning…I was so afraid of messing up. You just look at it, and it’s just a tube sticking out from their stomach.

And they’re like, ‘Be careful, you can pull it out so easily, and then you have to quickly stick a pencil in there and bring her to the emergency room.’”

But the women all said baby-sitting was worthwhile—and not just for the extra cash.

“I think it’s a really good job to have as a college student because it’s not—I don’t want to say it’s not a hard job because there’s definitely challenges—but it’s not like I have a boss hanging over my shoulder,” Sipe said.

Crossword Puzzle

you say

Goodbye... we

say

Hello Across

Your Auburn Alumni Association is here to help you prepare for graduation. For everything a graduate needs, go to:

www.aualum.org/goauseniors New graduates receive a discounted membership for the first five years. Join before you leave the Plains!

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Thursday, April 14, 2011

Intrigue C3

The Auburn Plainsman

Poli-sci professor a pro at politics Kala Bolton Writer

Christen Harned / ASSISTANT PHOTO EDITOR

Steven Brown, professor of political science, is respected by students for his unique method of teaching.

They take our money.

They regulate our actions.

They make us wear seat belts. They even decide the type of water we use for our morning shower.

“Everything is affected by law and government at the local, state and national level from the time we get up to the time we go to bed,” said Steven Brown, professor in political science. “We send people to Washington, D.C., we send them to Montgomery and even here in Auburn to make decisions for us, and when we don’t know or care what they do, it’s not good for our democracy.”

With new wars starting, Brown said he believes involvement in, and an understanding of how government works is more essential now than ever.

“We of all people need to be aware and involved with how our leaders are doing,” Brown said.

Brown has taught at Auburn since 1998, and he has a rich background in the field of political science.

“Dr. Steve Brown is totally dedicated to his students,” said Gerard Gryski,

chair of the department of political science. “He has won every available teaching award, yet somehow maintains his humility.”

Brown graduated from Brigham Young University with a degree in political science before pursuing his master’s and doctorate in government with an emphasis in public law from the University of Virginia.

After graduation, Brown went straight to Capitol Hill and worked for two years as an aide to a senator.

While working in D.C., Brown helped with a number of issues including the Structural Impediments Initiative, which involved major trade disputes between Japan and the United States.

“It was a great experience,” Brown said.

Since then, Brown has added to his impressive resume. In 2005, his book “Trumping Religion: The New Christian Right, The Free Speech Clause and the Courts” received the National Communication Association’s Franklyn S. Haiman Award for Distinguished Scholarship in Freedom of Expression.

“

Everything is affected by law and government… from the time we get up to the time we go to bed.”

—Steven Brown Professor of political science

Brown was also awarded the National Faculty of the Year award by the National Society of Collegiate Scholars in 2006.

Brown currently teaches courses in American constitutional law, religion, politics and American government.

“Dr. Brown’s class is great because he makes learning about the 14th amendment enjoyable,” said Ashley Baxter, junior in political science and student in one of Brown’s constitutional law classes. “We have class discussions about a variety of civil liberty cases which helps us understand the material better.”

Many of Brown’s students say his experiences and immense knowledge shows through his lectures.

“He knows his subjects better than any other teacher I’ve come across,” said Megan McIllwain, senior in political science.

“He carries around a copy of the Constitution in his shirt pocket to pull out whenever he needs it. He’s tough and expects a lot out of his students, but he’s very engaging, knowledgeable and just an all-around great professor.”

Brown said politics is something that has interested him since he was a child.

“I have always been fascinated by politics,” Brown said. “I can remember just as a little boy watching the 1972 presidential election on television and in ‘76 listening to different presidential candidates on the radio and television.”

While Brown said he has enjoyed his 13 years as a professor, he is eager to get back to working in the field.

“I had never thought of myself as staying a professor for 20 or 30 years,” Brown said. “I don’t see myself staying here, even though I really love it a lot.

I would like to get back into Washington and pursue some things.”

Surviving the stress of semester’s final stretch Semester’s end calls for ways to preserve energy Alison McFerrin Associate News Editor

In the final push to the end of the semester, fatigue is bound to set in. With final exams approaching, students need to know how to keep their energy levels up to finish strong this semester.

Bill Jackson, associate director of campus recreation for lifetime wellness and fitness, said being physically fit can help you accomplish more in your day.

“If you’re more fit, that means your body has adapted to doing higher levels of work,” Jackson

said. “The more fit you are, the more you can do without becoming fatigued.”

However, Jackson said this appearance of increased energy will not happen immediately. If you are not used to working out, and then you decide to run a mile, you can except to feel more tired than energetic. Increased energy from working out is an effect over a period of time.

“But energy, too, is related to appropriate nutrition,” Jackson said. “If you’re getting the wrong types of food, or you’re not getting the right type of food in your body to give you energy, regardless of how fit you are, you’re going to feel fatigued.”

Suresh Mathews, professor of nutrition, explained

“

Typically what I see with people that get fatigued or get tired during the day is more related to lack of sleep…than it is to lack of fitness.”

—Bill Jackson Associate Director, campus recreation

some ways students can structure diets and stay more energetic.

“The primary thing is make sure you get plenty of fruits (and) vegetables,” Mathews said. “You have so many vitamins

there, and these vitamins— some of them—would help you overcome fatigue and things like that.”

Jan King, registered nurse at the Auburn University Medical Clinic, also stressed the importance of healthy eating.

“If they’re eating junk, it’s not going to help them at all,” she said.

In addition to quality eating, quantity eating should also be a consideration.

“I would definitely not overeat,” Mathews said.

“That can put you off to sleep in no matter of time.”

Of course, when it comes to sleeping, King said that is still the best way to keep your energy up.

“If you’re tired during the day, the first thing you’ve got to ask yourself: Are you

getting enough sleep at night?” Jackson said.

“Typically what I see with people that get fatigued or get tired during the day is more related to lack of sleep or improper sleep than it is to lack of fitness.”

King said they discourage people from using caffeine as a replacement for sleep.

“That’s just going to get their caffeine levels up; it’s going to get their heart racing, and sometimes that makes it even worse,” King said. “It’s a quick fix, but in the long run, there’s absolutely nothing healthy about it.

“You’ll feel great—jazzed a little bit when you’re doing it—but when it wears off you’re going to come crashing down.”

Mathews said water is the drink of choice if you’re concerned about energy and health.

“Drink water, plenty of water, because you don’t want to be dehydrated,” Mathews said. “Just to help you focus, just being hydrated helps.”

Although Mathews and King both stressed healthy eating, you don’t always have to give up your favorite treat to stay awake.

“Things like cookies are…like a comfort food,” Mathews said.

“Sometimes students may find some kind of comfort, you know, getting that cookie…If that is something, if they want that sort of comfort or something, chocolate or something, it doesn’t hurt.”

Making the most of bachelor’s degrees in and out of college Some graduates choose careers in community service Kate Jones Writer

More students participate in community service than pursue jobs in that field.

Jack Walls, career counselor at Career Development Services, said they have two types of students who come for advising.

The first is a group of students called to serve.

Walls said they are topnotch students with a high GPA. They are interested in Teach For America or the Peace Corps, and they are not concerned about the money.

“They are trying to get experience before they go on to a professional school of some kind,” Walls said.

Teach for America is a two-year commitment and provides the opportunity to earn a master’s degree at the same time for free.

Sam Lamere, senior in political science, will be teaching secondary Spanish as a part of Teach For America in Nashville, Tenn.

“I wanted to do some-

thing where I felt like I was having an impact,” Lamere said.

Lamere said growing up in a blessed home where there was always food on the table, family there to comfort her and teachers that cared about how she performed academically, she felt compelled to give back to those less fortunate.

“I wanted to have an impact while I’m young and care about this stuff— while I’m able to make a difference,” Lamere said. “I want to continue to make a difference throughout my life and think that this will open so many doors to be able to do that for the rest of my life.”

After her stint with Teach For America, Lamere will attend law school and focus in public law.

The second type of service-oriented students are those looking to make a career by working in nonprofit or performing mission work.

Walls said he advises students to pick a major that suits them and their ambitions.

In addition, he encourages students to volunteer frequently and to shoot for an internship with an organization like the Make-

A-Wish Foundation.

Walls also suggests minoring in community and civic engagement, an interdisciplinary minor that provides knowledge to students through practical contributions with the common good and interactions with the community.

“For those hoping to pursue careers of service, this hands-on approach will be an invaluable asset,” said Giovanna Summerfield, director of the arts and faculty initiatives.

“We have a list of AU graduates who have become leaders and key staff in nonprofit organizations.

Every academic year, we have asked at least one of our former students to come and interact with our current students to encourage them, inspire them and provide them further role models and pertinent sources of network and knowledge.”

Summerfield said the community and civic engagement minor will provide context, skills, tools and methods for understanding and addressing public issues. Also, at least one service learning class will be completed.

“If this is your calling, then you are going to be able to do it,” Walls said.

Advisers and counselors help students prepare for life outside the classroom Kelly Tsaltas Assistant Intrigue Editor

Nearly 68 percent of Auburn students don’t graduate within six years.

In these economic times, that could be troubling, said Rick Enkeboll, academic adviser.

Enkeboll suggested that to graduate on time and make the most of their college education, students should combine their studies with extracurricular activities.

“The big thing I’m liking right now is more involvement and engagement,” Enkeboll said. “You’re not here just to study, you’re here to become a more complete person, and in order to do that, you’ll get involved with stuff, you’ll do better, you’ll have better self-esteem, and you’ll get out of here faster.”

Katie Mantooth, career counselor, said involvement is important as well, but students should also think about the future beyond college.

“I think that through in-

volvement, developing skills, identifying what your skills are, figuring out what your leadership style is— it’s all those things that give you real examples that you can then articulate in a resume or in an interview down the line,” Mantooth said.

She said most college majors are for education and skill acquirement, not necessarily to guide students to a particular career.

While majors like chemical engineering and accounting have a specific job associated with them, Mantooth said majors like English and communications lead to many different job fields. It depends on what the student has done to narrow such a broad major.

“It’s important to spend some time reflecting on what you’ve done, in the classroom and out, so that you fully know: What are your strengths? What are your skills? What knowledge do you have that you actually possess to offer an employer?” Mantooth said.

Enkeboll said students should take advantage of every opportunity possible.

“Use the resources available,” Enkeboll said. “Go to career fairs, go to all these interview fairs, have lots of options. Just because

you have a degree in this doesn’t mean you have to do that. You have to go out and look.”

He said students should start attending these events and thinking about their careers freshman year, but that many students don’t do either until later.

“The average college student changes their major four to five times,” Enkeboll said. “A lot of them just don’t have any idea what they want to do.”

Sometimes indecision can cause students to get off track in their studies, Enkeboll said. But that doesn’t mean that the student’s degree is wasted.

“If you never finished, you can always come back because you might find, if you go out and work for a couple of years, and you might say, ‘Well, I really want to do this, but I can’t do this officially until I have that degree,’” Enkeboll said.

He suggested taking Success Strategies 1050 for underclassmen to stay on track, and left some words of wisdom for this year’s graduating class.

“Open every door possible,” he said. “Just don’t settle for the first thing that comes along. Look, and dig, and don’t expect anything to be handed to you.”

C4 Food What can I eat instead of… www.theplainsman.com

Thursday, April 14, 2011

Intrigue

Jessica-Lauren Roberts, dietitian and nutritionist for campus recreation, offers suggestions and alternatives for students’ unhealthy late-night snacking tendencies

A large pepperoni or cheese pizza

A “bowl” of chocolate ice cream

Alternative Fix:

Alternative Fix:

Pizza is not necessarily a hands-off food; the components can make or break it. Consider the crust, toppings and the amount of pizza consumed.

Order thin crust, request less cheese and more veggies than meat for toppings.

To make your own: For one serving, use one “sandwich thin” and top with spaghetti sauce. Add turkey pepperoni to one and veggies such as olives, peppers, tomatoes or mushrooms to the other. Use reduced fat cheeses, mozzarella or crumbled feta. Embellish with Italian seasoning, garlic or parmesan cheese.

For many, ice cream comes in large portions only. The key is to watch the serving size. Try measuring the ice cream to equal ½ cup.

Measure ½ cup low-fat frozen yogurt or Yogurt Blends

by Edy’s and top with 1 tsp unsweetened cocoa powder, strawberries or 1 tbsp chocolate chips.

Another Fix: delish.com

Sandwich thins can be used instead of pizza dough.

Opt for a healthy smoothie: –½ Greek yogurt; ice and water to texture preferred –½ banana and 4–5 strawberries –1–2 tsp unsweetened cocoa powder

Sugary drinks—coffee, soda, etc.

A bowl of sugary cereal

Make your calories count! Don’t automatically dump tons of creamer and sugar into your coffee drinks—you might be satisfied with less than you think.

Measure a serving and put into a bowl, coffee mug or bag for snack/study time. Try mixing a favorite sugary cereal with another cereal that is more nutritious such as Kashi GoLean, providing protein and fiber while low in added sugar.

Limit soda consumption by drinking water first and then topping off with one serving of soda instead of the other way around. Try cold, unsweetened fruit teas or carbonated water with lemon or lime juice.

Alternative Fix:

Order “skinny” at the coffee shop or make your own at home and save time, money and empty calories!

Use skim milk instead of whole milk and in more quantity than creamer. tibco.com

An additional tip:

A lot of times, we eat because we’re thirsty—especially if we’re up, functioning on less sleep, consuming salty and sugary snacks and under the stress of a looming exam. Stay hydrated with water; drink first, then snack.

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Sports Thursday, April 14, 2011

Coaches Corner

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Equestrian rides into nationals Destiny Brown Writer

The equestrian team will travel to Waco, Texas, April 14–16 for a chance at the Equestrian National Championship title.

The event will be hosted by Baylor University at the Extraco Events Center in Waco.

The competition consists of 12 teams competing in the hunt seat and 12 competing in the western seat.

“We had to beat some very hard teams away and at home in order to come out on top,” said Ali Loprete, senior MVP in fences on the team.

Auburn was selected as the No. 1 seed in the hunt seat bracket, followed by the University of Georgia as the No. 2 seed.

On the western side, Texas A&M University earned the No. 1 seed after an 11–1 season. Oklahoma State University will be seeded in the No. 2 spot, followed

by Auburn seeded third.

Coming off a 11–7 loss on the road against Texas Christian University, Auburn is prepared to bring it all for the national championship.

“It’ll be exciting to see who we play in the western division; it’d be nice to get revenge on TCU,” said Greg Williams, head coach of the equestrian team.

Both the western and hunt seat squads have earned first round byes for the competition.

As the No. 1 seed, Auburn’s hunt seat competitors will face the winner of No. 8 Kansas State and No. 9 TCU in the second round.

In the most recent collegiate coaches poll, the Tigers were ranked second, just seven votes behind No. 1 Texas A&M who have held the top ranking throughout the spring season.

“I believe for the western team Texas A&M will be the most challenging,” said Jillian Fuller, reigning MVP for the Auburn equestrian team.

Texas A&M is 10–1 on the season, its only loss against Oklahoma State.

“Going into nationals everyone will be bringing their ‘A’ game, so no team is to be taken lightly,” Fuller said.

The team has been preparing for the national championship on the 60 acres of the Auburn University Horse Center and is focusing on learning new routines.

“As a team we have been holding competitor practices and perfecting our patterns,“ Fuller said.

However, Williams said the most challenging part of preparation is not being able to practice as a team.

Contributed

Junior Grace Socha clears a fence during the Tigers’ SEC Championship win in South Carolina.

“I wish we competed together and didn’t have to get split off, but each girl is working hard on their individual categories,” Williams said.

For the championship, Auburn will take 15 horses.

“We have had a very good mix of riding, mental preparation and

team building,” Fuller said. “We have also spent time getting our horses ready.”

Auburn holds a 15–1 record heading into the championship.

“We have a very strong team this year,” Fuller said. “Auburn always is competitive, but I have a very good feeling about this year

on both the hunt seat and western sides.”

Expectations are high for Auburn’s outcome in the championship.

“I’m very proud of these girls, and I can’t picture a better group to represent Auburn,” Williams said.

Two injuries, one determined athlete After working through an IT-band injury and a broken foot, James McCurdy records Auburn’s highest triathlon finish in four years Rachel Hampton Writer

Emily Adams / Photo Editor

Junior right-handed pitcher Derek Varnadore pitches against Vanderbilt at home last weekend.

Walking through Death Valley, looking for a win Nick Van Der Linden Associate Sports Editor

The Auburn Tigers snapped a six-game conference losing streak last weekend and aim to stay the course as they face Louisiana State University for a three-game series this weekend at Alex Box Stadium.

“It’s a long season and a long journey with a lot of baseball still left to be played,” said head coach John Pawlowski. “We know that one series is not going to make or break us at this point in the season, but each series continues to get more and more important.”

After starting the season 16– 1, LSU struggled, losing its next 10 of 15 games including a series sweep at Arkansas last weekend.

At home, however, the Bayou

Bengals continue to post strong performances and hold an 18–6 record.

“LSU will play at their park and is a very good baseball team,” Pawlowski said. “We will have to play well, perform well and at a high level this weekend in order to be successful.”

Key players for LSU include freshmen right-handers Kurt McCune and Kevin Gausman and junior shortstop Austin Nola.

McCune has a 5–1 record this season with an 1.80 ERA and has allowed opponents to hit .176.

McCune pitched 7.2 innings against the Hogs last Friday and had a career-high nine strikeouts while allowing just one earned run on four hits.

Teammate Kevin Gausman

followed up by pitching eight shutout innings with five strikeouts the next day.

On the offensive end, Nola recorded one grand slam, 6 RBIs and three runs while batting .462 during four games last week.

After losing eight out of the last nine, Auburn seems to have once again found its stride after recording its first sweep of Kentucky since 2003.

“A lot of different players stepped up this past weekend,” Pawlowski said. “Offensively, from Tony Caldwell and Casey McElroy to our relief pitching, but I thought overall one of our biggest keys this past weekend were our relievers.”

Freshman Dillon Ortman was part of this reliever group and re» See Baseball D2

Two hours, 50 kilometers and a 1500-meter swim later, the Auburn triathlon club finished 16th overall out of more than 80 teams at Collegiate Nationals in Tuscaloosa Saturday.

“Overall we were kind of hoping to be in the top 10,” said Robert Bedsole, president of Auburn’s triathlon club. “James McCurdy finished seventh overall. That’s the highest finish since the tri team reformed four years ago.”

McCurdy led Auburn, finishing the 1500-meter swim, 40-kilometer bike and 10-kilometer run just 35 seconds before the two hour mark.

McCurdy placed seventh overall in a field of more than 1200 triathletes from all across the country.

McCurdy, a seven-year triathlete and doctoral student in agronomy and soil, was just two minutes and 21 seconds from the winner, Karl Khaser from Colorado University.

“A lot of time when you’re racing you just have to be prepared to do what it takes to stay with the guys in front of you or catch them,” McCurdy said. “I don’t know, I didn’t catch some guys.

I’m happy with being in the top 10.”

McCurdy was unable to run

from November to January because of an IT-band injury, and then he broke his foot at the end of January.

“I was just getting back…and had to take another five weeks off,” McCurdy said. “I maintained a lot of fitness by swimming and biking. I biked about four to five times a week which helped maintain aerobic fitness.”

McCurdy said it’s hard to compare this collegiate race since it is so competitive.

“It might be one of the most competitive age-group races in the nation because there are so many young guys,” McCurdy said.

“You’re bringing in guys from every region that I’ve never raced before, and you just never know.”

Colorado was the repeat winner, with three of the top five men’s finishers.

“There are actually trophies and awards for top teams and individuals,” said John Martin, communications and media relations manager for USA Triathlon. “The winners get a lot of great prizes from our corporate partners. Our marketing team puts together great prize packages so (the athletes) are certainly excited about winning those.”

McCurdy, Bedsole and the men’s team finished 20th, leading the Southeastern Conference.

“I think we did pretty well,” Bedsole said. “Clemson finished up right around us, so we had two teams from our conference in the top 20 I think in almost every category.”

The Auburn women finished 16th in their field.

“Colorado still found a way to dominate the field,” Bedsole said.

“They won last year, too.”

However, in true SEC-rivalry fashion, Auburn was the real win» See Triathletes D2

L 36830

Sports D2

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Baseball » From D1

corded the first two saves of his career, earning SEC Co-Freshman of the Week.

Ortman recorded a save Friday and in Sunday’s sweep-clinching win, throwing for a combined three and a half innings.

The Huntsville native

Thursday, April 14, 2011

has appeared in 10 games this season and has a 4.34 ERA in 18.5 innings, allowing 10 runs on 20 hits while striking out 15.

Junior Casey McElroy, senior Tony Caldwell and senior Kevin Patterson finished with two hits each Sunday while the team finished with 12 hits, recording a hit from at least every

spot in the batting order.

Auburn finished the series with 35 runs on 48 hits.

“We had a lot of quality at bats,” Pawlowski said. “I thought our approach at the plate was very good.

Even when we were struggling, we hit some balls hard. But whether the other team makes plays

or whether you’re hitting it right at them, you can’t control that.

“What you can control is your work ethic and have a good approach at the plate, and I thought we did a really good job of that this weekend.”

Friday’s game will be played in Baton Rouge, La., and starts at 7 p.m.

Softball prepares to send Gators back to Gainesville with series loss Victoria Rodgers Writer

Contributed

James McCurdy finished seventh at the triathlon collegiate nationals Saturday in Tuscaloosa.

Triathletes » From D1

ner Saturday.

“We definitely finished ahead of Alabama,” Bedsole said.

The 1500-meter swim Saturday was in the Black Warrior River.

“The river was really flat, so we weren’t worried so much about having to swim upstream at the start of the swim,” Bedsole said. “I think that the swim times were pretty reasonable, especially knowing that we were on the Warrior River.”

Some unexpected running took place after the triathletes got out of the river because of a creek located next to the exit.

“There was an unusually long run once you exit the water to get to the transition,” Bedsole said. “(It was) about a 400-meter run in your wet suit, which I enjoy

“

It might be one of the most competitive agegroup races in the nation because there are so many young guys.”

—James McCurdy triathlete

as a runner, but some people weren’t.”

Because nationals is only the second race of the season, the Auburn triathletes are running full speed into more competitions.

“I think that we are really competitive and growing,” McCurdy said.

“I thought our performance was good. I think we are going to get better—we have a lot of strong freshman guys and girls. We can only get better.”

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Auburn (32–9, 11–6 SEC) will host the No. 5 Florida Gators (33–7, 10–6 SEC) at home on Jane B. Moore Field this weekend.

The Tigers are coming off of a series win in Starkville, Miss., against the Mississippi State Bulldogs and plan to keep the streak alive against the Gators.

“That would be a huge win for us,” said junior infielder Amber Harrison.

“We’re going to go in positive hoping to come out with a couple wins, and it would really set the tone for the rest of our season.”

The fifth-ranked team is coming off an impressive sweep against the Arkansas Razorbacks. The Gators scored a total of 20 runs during the series compared to the Razorbacks’ one run of the weekend.

“Florida is a very offensive-minded team, and physically they have good strong pitchers on the mound,” said head coach Tina Deese. “We’ve got to be one hit better, one run better than Florida. It’s going to be a good, hard fight.”

Florida has a lot of big hitters including senior Megan Bush, who recently set the SEC record for 62 career home runs, but the Tigers continue to focus on their play.

“I don’t think we really look at that,” said junior left-handed pitcher An-

Christen Harned / Assistant Photo Editor

Caitlin Schultze, sophomore catcher, steals third base against Ole Miss March 27. Auburn won the game 8–0 and took the series 2–1. gle Bunner. “Of course it’s a part of the game, but it’s not really something we look at.

“I think we are capable to bounce back from anything, so I don’t think we really put an emphasis on big numbers like that. We can’t look at that as an intimidation factor, we just have to go out and play.”

Although the Tigers are facing a hard-hitting team, Auburn has a few hitters of their own, leading with Harrison batting an average of .327 and Morgan Estell batting an average of .398.

“Basically at this point in the year, you’re not

learning a whole lot, you’re just getting out there and performing,” Deese said.

Auburn plays the defensive side of the ball just as well as the offensive.

Bunner (11–3, 1.30 ERA), Lauren Schmalz (12–3, 2.03 ERA) and Jenee Loree (9–3, 2.07 ERA) are all doing well at the mound.

“It’s always extra room for stuff you need to work on,” Bunner said. “We need to make sure we’re playing fresh with pitching; we need to keep our defense sharp and stay on top hitting.

“It’s pretty much the whole part of the game we

need to keep a focus on.”

The team hopes to receive help from the fans as they play at home against the Gators.

“It’s definitely an advantage to play at home and to get to be on your home turf when you’re playing a tough school because you don’t have to play in front of their fans; you get to play in front of your fans,” Harrison said. “Everyone is cheering for you instead of against you, so it’s definitely a better atmosphere to play tough completion on.”

The Tigers play the Gators at Jane B. Moore Field Friday at 6 p.m.

Volleyball welcomes new head coach

Rick Nold

from auburntigers.com

Athletic director Jay Jacobs announced Sunday that Rick Nold, head coach at Jacksonville State for the past nine seasons, will be the new volleyball coach at Auburn.

“I am honored and excited to lead the volleyball program at Auburn University,” Nold said. “This is a wonderful opportunity, both personally and professionally, and I hope to

build on the recent success the team has experienced…

I look forward to competing for championships very soon with this group of hard-working young women.”

A three-time conference Coach of the Year, Nold led the Gamecocks to an Ohio Valley Conference regular season and tournament title in four of the previous six seasons. He captured the

OVC regular season in ‘06, ‘07 and ‘09, while winning the conference tournament title in ‘05, ‘06 and ‘09.

“I also want to thank the Jacksonville State administration for giving me my first head coaching opportunity,” Nold said.

“I’ve had the pleasure of working with and coaching some truly great people and I will cherish those memories forever.”

Get details at vetmed.auburn.edu/open-house

April 16, 2011 - 8:30 a.m. - 2 p.m.

Paleontology Dig Teddy Bear Surgery Petting Zoo Scavenger Hunt Birds of Prey

Portable Dairy CPR Demo Heart and Lung Sounds Display of Breeds Fleas and Other Parasites

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Thursday, April 14, 2011

Sports D3

The Auburn Plainsman

Golf to compete for league’s top honor Ethan Bernal Writer

Both the Auburn Tigers men’s and women’s golf teams will be in action this weekend as they compete for a conference championship.

The women’s team will host the 2011 SEC Championship at the Jack Key Golf Teaching Center while the men travel to St. Simons Island, Ga. Men’s head coach Nick Clinard will try to lead the Tigers to a conference championship after coming off a first-place finish at the Bluegrass Invitational

last Sunday.

“If you’re not motivated by now, you’re not going to get motivated,” Clinard said.

The No. 6 men’s team is one of four top-10 teams participating in the tournament as No. 3 Alabama, No. 5 Florida and No. 10 LSU join them on the list.

They will also have to face the defending SEC Champions, No. 14 University of Georgia and reigning individual champion Russell Henley.

The Alabama and Florida rosters boast five of the nation’s top 20 players.

Clinard and the Tigers remain confident and look to finish the season strong as they have finished first in three of their last four tournaments.

“We’ve got a lot of talent, and everyone is prepared,” Clinard said.

Led by No. 14 Blayne Barber and No. 45 Michael Herbert, the Tigers are eager to embrace the challenge and improve on last year’s seventh-place finish.

Women’s head coach Kim Evans and the women’s golf team will enjoy home field advantage at this year’s tournament as

Gymnasts flip for coach Victoria Rodgers Writer

Assistant coach Kurt Hettinger is in his third season coaching women’s gymnastics at Auburn and has improved the program since his transfer from Kent State. “(Auburn) is a really successful program, and it’s in the best gymnastics conference in the country, so I thought it would be a great opportunity to get into,” Hettinger said.

Hettinger is the recruiting coordinator for the Tigers and is the head coach for the uneven bars.

He also assists the vault and floor events.

With the help of Hettinger, Auburn received its highest ranking at No. 4 in 2009.

Hettinger started coaching at an early age.

“I started coaching a little bit in high school,” Hettinger said. “I would coach younger kids before I had to do the practice for my-

hettinger

self, and then in college I would help out in camps.

Then it was pretty much my first full-time job right after college. I just fell in love with it.”

Hettinger said he likes the teaching factor of coaching and seeing the growth in his athletes.

“I really enjoy coaching,” Hettinger said, “helping kids learn a skill as much as I enjoy learning skills.”

After coaching the men’s team for a year at his alma mater—the University of Illinois—Hettinger moved on to the women’s side of the sport.

“The reality is there are only about 15 men’s pro-

Evans aims to lead the Tigers to her seventh SEC title.

Junior Haley Wilson said she is ready to take on the challenge with the help of her hometown support.

“The greens are the tough part of this golf course,” Wilson said. “If you can play these greens well and putt well, you should be able to do pretty well out here.

“We have to try and not get too comfortable—just go out there and take it hole by hole and try and not get ahead of ourselves.”

The women’s team,

“

We try and do the same thing every time we play and that is win championships.”

—Kim Evans head coach

ranked No. 20 nationally, will arguably have a tougher road to the title than their counterparts.

The SEC women’s field includes eight of the top 25 nationally-ranked teams,

including defending conference champion No. 3 Alabama.

Auburn senior Cydney Clanton, ranked 13th nationally, is welcomed back after a brief absence competing in the LPGA’s Kraft Nabisco Championship and aims to end the Tide’s momentum.

Both the men’s and the women’s teams are optimistic and focused heading into the SEC tournament.

“We try and do the same thing every time we play, and that’s win championships,” Clinard said.

Both teams tee off Friday.

Hanging with hettinger

grams left,” Hettinger said.

The lack of competition in the men’s programs left Hettinger believing women’s gymnastics was the best option.

“I’ve always loved coaching, but if I were to continue coaching club, that’d be the way I could coach men’s,” he said. “I also wanted to get married and have a family, and I knew that my wife wouldn’t be interested in me getting home at 10 o’clock at night, and that’s what coaching club pretty much is.”

Hettinger is proud of the Auburn gymnastics team and encourages everyone to come to the meets.

“It’s a great event for your family. It’s really good entertainment, and you can see great athletes at the same time,” he said.

Hettinger has a wife named Katherine and enjoyed the birth of their newborn son Cameron in June of 2010.

Track hosts War Eagle invite Erik Yabor Writer

The Auburn track and field teams will be hosting the War Eagle Invitational at Hutsell-Rosen Track next Friday and Saturday.

Entrance will be free for the public.

The invitational will feature numerous teams from across the Southeast.

After a successful outing at the Seminole Invitational last weekend in Tallahassee, in which the teams won a combined six events during the two days of competition, head coach Russell Spry said he is confident in the team’s current position.

“I think we’re where we need to be,” Spry said.

Sophomore Maya Press-

ley won the women’s high jump with 1.83 meters while freshman DJ Smith finished first in the men’s high jump with 2.05 meters.

The home tournament will be a welcomed challenge for the Tigers because despite his confidence, Spry admitted the Tigers will be facing much more difficult competition than they did last weekend.

“There’s going to be a real challenge for us,” Spry said. “We just try to improve each weekend. We have a lot of young athletes and we’re trying to get them rolling.”

Auburn had it’s only home meet in the Tiger Track Classic earlier in the month.

“I feel very good having

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a home crowd,” said sophomore Maya Pressley. “It’s nice to have that.”

Pressley has the team’s best women’s high jump at 1.80 meters.

The Tigers finished with seven titles in the two days of competition during their lone home meet. Auburn’s 4x100-meter relay team recorded their season-best time of 43.80 during that tournament.

Sophomore Harry Adams, who is second on the team in the men’s 100-meter with 10.17, said he feels the team can continue to perform well with the effort being applied now.

“We’re just running hard and getting good times,” Adams said. “I have to go out there and do my best.”

Founded in 1776, Phi Beta Kappa is the nation’s oldest and most widely-known academic honor society. A chapter at Auburn University was granted in 2001. Celebrating and advocating excellence in the liberal arts and sciences, the campus chapters of Phi Beta Kappa elect for induction the most outstanding arts and sciences students at America’s leading colleges and universities.

Auburn University’s Gamma of Alabama chapter of PBK is proud to announce the 2010-2011 initiates: MELTON C. AMBROSE KATHERINE ELIZABETH AMOS KAITLIN DENISE BAKER TAYLOR L. BARONICH STEPHEN BAUGH LESLIE ANN BEECH JORDYN BROOKE BEERS LISA BLUMOEHR MATTHEW W. BOOTHE REBECCA S. BOWDEN KATHRYN BOWERMAN AMANDA LEIGH BRADLEY KNOX BROWN COURTNEY CHAMPION MEGAN COLLINS GRIFFIN S. COLLINS KYLE ROBERT CUMMINS ABIGAIL RENÈ DAY SYDNEE E. DOOLITTLE TALOR M. DRINKARD AUDREY DUKE MEGAN COLLEEN EHLINGER JESSICA CLARK FOSTER REBECCA ANN FRANK JESSICA L. GODWIN JORDAN ASHLEY HALL SARAH E. HAND VIRGINIA GRACE HENDERSON ELIZABETH ANNE HILLEY BENJAMIN JACKSON LAUREN ELIZABETH KETRON

ANDREW KIENE JOSEPH A. KIMMINAU KIMBERLY ASHMORE KISER CAROLYN ADAIR KUHN GRIFFIN R. LIMERICK CHRISTOPHER S. MILLS ANDREW B. MITCHELL ASHLEY GRACE NICHOLS LINNEA COLLEEN PEPPER MATTHEW D. RAMIREZ JARON D. RAPER COLLIN RAY DRAGOS-LUCIAN REZEANU JAMES R. SCOTT ASHLYN ROSE SEELEY ROBERT SCOTT SEITZ EMILY SHORT CAROLINE BRYARS SMITH APRIL CHRISTINE SMITHERMAN REBECCA SUSAN SOLLIE KAYLA STARLING LAUREN RAMSAY ULRICH MICHELE C. VILSECK KRISTINA A. VOSS REBEKAH E. WEAVER CHARLES V. WELDEN BRETT R. WILLIAMS REBECCA L. WILLIAMS DANA K. WOODS MILLARD V. YOUNG

Honorary Member Professor James R. Hansen

Sports D4

The Auburn Plainsman

Thursday, April 14, 2011

Tennis leads Puetz to US Christina Santee Writer

Rebekah Weaver / Assistant Photo Editor

Sophomore Lucas Lopasso returns in a doubles match Friday against MSU.

Men’s tennis prepares for Tide Brian Woodham Assistant Sports Editor

After snapping an 18year losing streak to Ole Miss, the No. 21 men’s tennis team (13–8, 5–5 SEC) has leveled its sights on Alabama (9–10, 2–8 SEC).

The Crimson Tide travels to the Plains to face the Tigers in the last regularseason SEC meet for both teams Saturday at 5 p.m.

“The Bama match is always big,” said senior Tim Puetz. “I don’t think it really matters too much how the season went coming

up to the Bama match.

“It never matters much whether they’ve had a terrible SEC season or a really good one. It’s a rivalry; it’s always a game of its own.”

Puetz, who ranks 15th nationally in singles, will face Alabama’s Ricky Doverspike.

Puetz and freshman Daniel Cochrane, the 28thranked doubles team, will face the 76th-ranked duo of Doverspike and Jarryd Botha in doubles play.

Freshman Rafael Rondino said the team will prac-

tice hard this week for Alabama.

“We need to prepare, and I hope everyone will be here to watch,” Rondino said.

Head coach Eric Shore said some of the players don’t understand the Auburn-Alabama rivalry yet.

“But I think they’re learning,” Shore said. “It’s not going to be a problem getting up for the match.

We’re going to be up for the match, and I know they will be too. We’re looking forward to a challenge.”

Born and raised in Frankfurt, Germany, senior Tim Puetz is a long way from home, but a tightly-strung racket and yellow ball are the ticket to keeping a sense of familiarity in his life.

“I lived in Frankfurt for pretty much my entire life,” Puetz said. “Twenty years. I was born right in Frankfurt, and then we moved to a (neighboring) suburb when I was 3 right after my brother was born. That’s where I lived until I came here.”

Even at a young age, Puetz was determined to live out a collegiate athletic career overseas.

“Going to college and playing college tennis, I had always said I was going to do it ever since I was 14 without even knowing what it was really like,” Puetz said. “I had always wanted to go to the states. My dad used to live in England for a while, so I always had some sort of affiliation with the English language.

“So, coming to play tennis just seemed like a good fit. Then I found out about Auburn, and the whole recruiting process started.

I ended up coming here when I was 20 in January 2008.”

Although Puetz enjoyed a variety of sports as a child, his love for tennis didn’t happen accidentally.

“My dad’s a tennis teacher, so it wasn’t too farfetched for me to play,” Puetz said. “We have pictures at home with me standing in my grandpa’s backyard with a plastic racket and one of these soft balls, so I mean, I pretty much started playing tennis when I could walk or hold a racket.”

Growing up, Puetz enjoyed partaking in many of

Puetz

his native country’s popular recreational activities.

“I never played basketball or football or baseball, but that’s just because we don’t usually do those at home,” Puetz said. “I played a lot of soccer; I did track and field; I played badminton. I played pingpong; I did karate. I did everything you could think of over there.”

Coincidently, Puetz found out about the Tigers through a former Australian Auburn player he met in Germany who forwarded his information to the Auburn tennis coach at the time.

Puetz had never been to the United States before his Auburn arrival, excluding a small trip he took to visit family in Dallas.

“It’s very different,” Puetz said of the U.S. compared to Germany. “We had only heard stories about America before we came here.

Some things are quite similar, other things are quite different.

“Everything’s much bigger here, obviously. The cities are much bigger. Just the people in general, especially in the South, they’re much nicer, more friendly. We’re cold people in Germany.”

Puetz’s younger brother Tom, 21, plays tennis at UAB, but his mother and father are still in Germany.

“I’m not homesick or anything,” Puetz said. “I like it here, too, but I miss my friends, I miss family, I

miss—just Germany. You know, it’s home to me. It’ll always be home.”

Even so, his fellow teammates, friends and the coaching staff like Puetz right where he is—playing tennis at Auburn.

“He’s what you look for in a student athlete,” said head coach Eric Shore. “If my daughter was going to date somebody, Tim Puetz would be the guy. I would be very OK with him dating her. He’s a class guy.”

Puetz has been the team’s captain for the past two years.

“He’s a leader who sets the example both on and off the court,” Shore said.

“He knows what it takes to get the job done. They look up to him a great deal.

He’s easy to talk to—he’s a laid-back guy. I think from what he does on and off the court, these guys respect him.”

Freshman Daniel Cochrane, Puetz’s doubles partner, agreed Puetz is an essential addition to the team.

“He’s been a great teammate since I’ve been here,” Cochrane said. “He’s led by example. He likes his fun and games, but when it comes to match day, you know he’s zoned in. He wants the team to do as well as he does.

“I think he’s very humble in the way he approaches his position because he’s by far our best player here, and he’s one of the best players Auburn has ever had.”

When Puetz isn’t on the court, he enjoys what little downtime he has, whether that involves acing some Southern-style barbecue ribs, listening to techno, playing golf or even watching the always-appreciated movie, “The Hangover.”