06.21.12 edition of The Auburn Plainsman by The Auburn Plainsman

The Auburn Plainsman Thursday, June 21, 2012

A SPIRIT THAT IS NOT AFRAID www.theplainsman.com

‘Did I do it? Yes.’

Vol. 119, Issue 6, 8 Pages

COURTESY OF VASHA HUNT OF THE OPELIKA AUBURN NEWS

Former Auburn football player Antonio Goodwin was sentenced to 15 years in prison for a trailer robbery in March 2011.

Goodwin sentenced COURTESY OF VASHA HUNT OF THE OPELIKA-AUBURN NEWS

Harvey Updyke confessed to a Plainsman reporter Tuesday afternoon during a break from jury selection at the Lee County Justice Center that he is responsible for poisoning the Toomer’s Oaks in 2010.

Updyke confesses to Plainsman reporter on poisoning the Toomer’s Oaks (Editor’s note: This story appeared on ThePlainsman.com on Tuesday, June 19, prior to the gag order that was issued in the case Wednesday, June 20. The Plainsman community editor Andrew Yawn approached Harvey Updyke at the Lee County Justice Center in Opelika on Tuesday, June 19, following the first round of jury selection in regard to Updyke’s apparent health issues. After Yawn identified himself as a Plainsman reporter, Updyke voluntarily spoke candidly about the charges he is facing.)

Andrew Yawn COMMUNITY EDITOR

It didn’t happen on a stand, in a courthouse, before a judge or in front of a jury of his peers: Harvey Updyke admitted his guilt before the trial even began. He had the ability to decline comment, to wait until the trial, to not say anything at all, and yet the same candor that broke his story on The Paul Finebaum Show in January 2011 revealed itself again on Tuesday, June 19. “Did I do it? Yes,” Updyke said outside of an elevator on the second floor of the Lee County Justice Center in Opelika. Updyke pleaded innocent to several counts of desecration of a venerated object, first-degree criminal mischief and unlawful damage

or vandalism of a crop facility after he allegedly poisoned the Toomer’s Oaks with Spike 80DF, a powerful herbicide, after the 2010 Iron Bowl. Updyke appeared to have some difficulty breathing while attending the jury selection for his upcoming trial and while Judge Jacob Walker read the charges filed against him aloud. Updyke acknowledged the trial was already sapping his fading strength when approached about his health concerns. “I thought I was going to pass out all morning,” Updyke said. His wife, Elva Updyke, said she had doubts about how he would fare throughout the trial. “I guarantee he won’t last the trial without something happening,” Elva said. Updyke said he has lost 62 pounds since his arrest and is currently taking 18 different medications for a variety of ailments. But Updyke didn’t stop there. As he and his wife stood by the window on the second floor of the Justice Center, a seemingly remorseful Updyke opened up about the

VISIT US ON OUR WEBSITE FOR LIVE COVERAGE OF THE TRIAL at theplainsman.com

crime that fanned the flames of one of the most heated rivalries in sports history. Before his trial began and before his jury was even selected, Updyke convicted himself by admitting to poisoning one of Auburn’s most iconic landmarks. Updyke also said his lawyer, Everett Wess, would probably drop him if he found out he was speaking about the case. Why he decided to admit his guilt may remain unknown. However, Updyke had seemingly already resigned himself his fate. “They’re going to find me guilty… it’s a done deal,” Updyke said. “I don’t think I’m going to get a fair trial.” Elva also said Judge Walker refused to excuse a juror during the questioning of potential jurors Tuesday morning after she said she “probably couldn’t” remain impartial. Judge Walker also issued a gag order for all participants except the attorneys on Wednesday. Opening statements are expected to begin today or Friday, depending on when the jury selection is completed. A motion was also filed for a change of venue, but this was denied.

» See UPDYKE 2

Community mourns loss of shooting victims Zeke Turrentine COMMUNITY EDITOR

Three separate groups of families, friends and communities gathered over the weekend to bid farewell to their slain son, grandson, brother, father, cousin and friend. Ladarious Phillips, 20, was remembered at a service Friday, June 15, in the packed gymnasium of Handley High School, his alma mater, in Roanoke, Ala. “DaDa”, 20, was a multi-sport athlete while at Handley and eventually signed to play football ( fullback specifically) at Auburn in 2010. He had planned to transfer to Jacksonville State. The gym was full of white T-shirts emblazoned with Phillips’ portrait. Roanoke residents and Auburn friends and teammates alike said Phillips was always smiling and always willing to be a friend to those who needed one. The word most often associated with his smile is “infectious”. The Phillips family’s spokesperson, Camille Olmstead, told the Opelika-Auburn News, “No one has seen a smile like that.” Olmstead said Phillips would hang out with the younger kids of the community who didn’t have father figures. He would often take them fishing, to play basketball or throw a football around with them. “Most people don’t know the character and spirit he had.” Olmstead told reporters before the service that as emergency service providers arrived on the scene of the shooting last Saturday, Phillips told them, despite three gunshot wounds to his chest, to help his wounded friends first.

The victim’s mother, Jemicia Phillips, prepared the following written statement for Olmstead to read aloud: “I hope in the coming days and years, as the legal system does the work necessary to resolve the senseless murder of my child, I will be there every day to ensure that the man who allegedly killed him is brought to justice. I would also like to extend my condolences to all the other victims of this tragedy. They were young people in the prime of their lives, and I am saddened because we are all sharing the same pain.” A service was held at Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church in Loachapoka for DeMario Pitts, 20, on Friday. He was fondly remembered as a “brother” and someone who “never looked for (trouble)” according to 19-year-old Jaquavious Strickland of Loachapoka. “If you ever needed anything, he’d give it to you,” said Strickland. The grandfather of Pitts’ daughter, Randall Lipscomb, said Pitts was never a troublemaker, and “he never disrespected me and did what he could for his kid.” “Da-Kidd”, as Pitts was nicknamed, also had a young son. The J.E. Mathis Auditorium in Valdosta, Ga., hosted the funeral of Ed Christian, 20, on Saturday. The Rev. H. Mathis told the Christian family to hold on to hope and faith and to “stay in COURTESY OF REBECCA CROOMES the race.” “We know that (he) is gone. He is at home,” Gene Chizik and his wife, Jonna, stand with canMathis said. “There is no sorrow in his heart dles lit to honor the lives of his former players, anymore because God has called him to a new Ladarious Phillips and Ed Christian, Thursday evening at a prayer vigil on Samford Lawn.

» See FUNERALS 2

Former Auburn football player sentenced to 15 years in prison Zeke Turrentine COMMUNITY BEAT REPORTER

On Tuesday, June 19, former Auburn football player Antonio Goodwin was found guilty of first-degree robbery and sentenced to serve fifteen years in prison for a robbery that took place in March 2011. “I want to apologize for my actions and my poor judgment,” Goodwin said before the sentencing. “In the time I was at home, I had time to think about it and I’ve become a better person and a better decision-maker.” Goodwin, 21, was sentenced by Lee County Circuit Court Judge Christopher Hughes, who said he took into consideration the testimonies of the many members of Goodwin’s family who spoke of his good character, but said people deserve to feel safe at home. Goodwin’s father, stepfather, sister, mother, girlfriend, and the Rev. Allen Hollie all testified on his behalf. Hughes spoke to ESPN and said Goodwin’s actions were “inconsistent somewhat with his history.” “It is not uncommon for a terrible offense to happen and not be a habit,” Hughes said. “One mistake often has tragic consequences, as it did here.” The 180 months Goodwin received are about the middle of the estimated range of 117-255 months that state law demands. Goodwin’s lawyer, Lauryn Lauderdale, argued that Goodwin was impaired from the synthetic marijuana he had been smoking the night robbery occured. Lauderdale told al.com that Goodwin had been offered a plea bargain that included a 21-year sentence, so there was nothing to lose by going to trial Lauderdale applied for an appeal bond, but was denied for now. Goodwin will have 43 days to appeal the decision, and Lauderdale also applied for probation. Goodwin had 21 days of jail credit before the verdict. He will also be required to pay a $500 attorney fee, court fees and possible reparations for the victims undergoing emotional therapy. Goodwin was convicted of first-degree robbery on April 13. Goodwin was the first of four former players to go to trial. Former players Mike McNeil, Shaun Kitchens and Dakota Mosley are alsosuspected of robbing a trailer home at gunpoint in March of 2011, and all are waiting for their trials that should begin later this year. The former players allegedly intimidated the victims and made off with a safe and some cell phones. Moseley is thought to have been driving the get-away vehicle. Former Player Mike Dyer testified in April that Goodwin wanted him to participate in the robbery because he was in possession of a .45-caliber Hi-Point handgun, according to al.com According to the Opelika-Auburn News, Dyer said, “They said they were going to hit a lick.” Dyer said believes Goodwin took the gun from his apartment.

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UPDYKE » From 1

Also, when asked if they previously heard or read about Updyke’s alleged crimes, almost all of the candidates raised their hands, with approximately seven of the 85 being employed by Auburn University. Updyke also said he was not alone in poisoning the oaks. However, he declined to reveal his accomplice’s name. “There’s a lot of stuff that’s not going to come out,” he said. For Updyke, the blame and the guilt are solely his to bear. “Do you ever wake up in the middle of the

night and just wish that you hadn’t done something?” Updyke said. Despite his contrition, the attempted killing of the approximately 131-year-old trees attacked the roots of one of Auburn’s oldest traditions. And yet, Updyke did not come out unscathed. Like the trees, the damage for Updyke is already done. “It’s ruined my life,” Updyke said. “I’ve got a daughter that won’t even talk to me now.” As for the oaks, uncertainties abound as the trees’ ability to recover remains unknown. While Auburn’s citizens hope to see new foliage sprout soon from the historic branches, Updyke may now be the trees’ most ardent supporter.

Thursday, June 21, 2012

COURTESY OF REBECCA CROOMES

Two flags hang in the Student Center in memory of Ed Christian and Ladarious Phillips.

FUNERALS » From 1

place.” The last week has been a trying time for the Lowndes High School and Valdosta communities, who showed up in droves for the memorial, including members of the Lowndes County Sheriff ’s Office, where Christian’s father is an officer, showed to offer their support. Jarius Humphrey spoke and riveted the attendees saying, “That man that killed my brother, his mind wasn’t in the right spot. Everyone should look out for their neighbors.” Chette Williams, the Auburn football team chaplain, spoke briefly to give the program’s

REBECCA MOSELEY / CAMPUS BEAT REPORTER

Francis Aihe, left, Jonathan Haynes, middle, and AJ Greene, right, meet to discuss designs for memorial TShirts in honor of the victims of the Auburn shooting.

Seeds planted for Orange Navy Scholarship Foundation Rebecca Moseley CAMPUS BEAT REPORTER

With the main goal of providing financial aid to students of low income by means of scholarship, the non-profit organization Orange Navy has been working closely with faculty and staff to build a long-lasting relationship with the University. On Thursday, June 14, Francis Aihe and Johnathan Haynes of Orange Navy met with Assistant Athletic Director for Public Relations Cassie Arner to discuss further developments. The objective of the meeting was to discuss the possibility of providing anywhere between one and five students with a scholarship to cover tuition costs based off the money generated by funds raised through Orange Navy with the amount of each individual depending on variations in donations and funding. “It’s an idea that is still in its infancy, but it has a lot of potential to grow for several different purposes,” Arner said. “It is obvious that these are very driven individuals who were impacted by getting their degree at Auburn. They all have a lot of passion for the University and what it has done for their lives. All they want to do is share that passion and find a way to give back to their Auburn community.” One strategy discussed was the use of Tigeri on AU Access. With every purchase of a student football ticket through Tigeri, the organization hopes to present students with the option of purchasing an official Orange Navy student section T-shirt with a percentage of sales going toward the Orange Navy Scholarship Fund. Orange Navy also plans to hold charity events where former athletes and other Auburn alumni will be invited to share in the Auburn spirit. After receiving guidance from Arner, the

organization has a clear idea of what needs to be done. Aihe described it as arriving with an “afro” hairstyle and leaving with a neat, fresh haircut.” The Orange Navy staff said they now understand the appropriate procedures necessary to develop this nonprofit organization, and it must be done correctly for the organization to have lasting effects on the University and the student body. “Things can get real jammed up because it’s a lot, but it’ll all be worth it in the end,” Aihe said. The next steps to be taken include registering and being certified as a non-profit organization, collaborating with banks and setting a meeting with the SGA to discuss other possibilities. There are currently two primary designs for the student section T-shirts with a myriad of colors for each design. Other projects remain in the works with hopes of representing the Auburn lifestyle. Also, websites providing further information regarding the organization and its projects and products are under construction. Orange Navy plans to seek endorsement through athletic icons such as Bo Jackson, Cam Newton, Charles Barkley, Marquise Daniels, Jason Campbell and other former athletes and Auburn-affiliated sports icons. Other hopeful ventures include attempting to gain partnership with Under Armour Sports Clothing, Athletic Shoes and Accessories and the famous Trooper Towels. According to Aihe, Orange Navy would love to create an Under Armour design that will be available to athletes first, then students and fans. The University has expressed its willingness to help these former student athletes give back to current and future students by working with the organization on certain tasks such as pep rallies and other events.

COPY EDITOR

Most Auburn University students have a strong work ethic and treat their classes like a job. Luckily, working is required for this same majority to graduate from their college with an Auburn diploma. For several departments on Auburn’s campus, students are required to complete an internship before they graduate. Students receive credits for completing an internship or a specific amount of work hours within their concentrated field of study. “Students must complete and may receive up to three course credits for completing an internship before they graduate,” said Dr. Jane Teel, Undergraduate Advisor for the Department of Communication and Journalism. “This is required of all students in all four of our departments.” Students in the Department of Communication and Journalism are encouraged to complete an internship as early as their junior year, according to Teel. “We have to make sure our students have completed the appropriate amount

of course work before they embark on their internships so that they’re ready for the job they signed up for,” Teel said. “This will also give them a chance to experience the job firsthand.” Teel also said this trend is popular among most departments at Auburn. “This summer, I worked with three graduate students from the University of Georgia to collect data from schools in Newnan, Ga.,” said Cameron Mosely, senior in psychology. “Technically, it wasn’t an internship, but it was still field work. Like most internships, I wasn’t paid and I gained a lot of valuable, hands-on work experience.” Mosley said this experience was beneficial, especially with networking with professionals and building up her résumé. “The women I worked with gave me great advice and insight into what graduate school will be like,” Mosley said. “They all wrote excellent letters of recommendation that I will use when I apply to graduate schools. Letters are crucial when applying to graduate programs for psychology.”

COURTESY OF REBECCA CROOMES

A roll of toilet paper on Toomer’s Corner symbolizes those lost in the shooting.

Students compete to be Auburn’s next Top Young Professional John Burns WRITER

Auburn’s second annual Top Young Professionals Event is just one example of how the University pushes its students to strive for success, and it comes ripe with experience, opportunities and rewards for its participants This event is a contest among students who will be interviewed by a panel of potential employers. These panelists will judge the contestants on their interview skills, professional appearance, résumé quality, and closing the interview. The Top Young Professionals Event is a 2-part series that will include an interview and the “Dress for Success Fashion Show”, during which male and female winners will be announced and door prizes will be distributed. The winners will also receive a $500 shopping spree at Dillard’s in the Village Mall in Auburn. “The fashion show is designed to share ideas of what the proper attire for a job interview is,” said Melvin Smith, the Top Young Professionals Event supervisor. The fashion show will also display which outfits are inappropriate for interviews in the “real world.” “We are trying to prepare students for the professional world,” said Matthew Anspach, a special events graduate assistant and promoter for the event. “Students will get experience with the career center's Tiger Recruiting Link as they apply for the Top Young Professionals Event the same way they would apply for an actual job.” Actual employers who are in the field of human resources will interview the contestants, according to Anspach. “Even if they do not win the $500 shopping spree from Dillard's, the realistic interview experience is crucial,” Anspach said. Auburn’s reigning male Top Young Professional Schavion Graham, 2011 graduate in business administration, said he believes the experience will be invaluable for the students.

Required work experience pays off Anna Claire Conrad

condolences. “We grieve with the family. Our hearts are crushed, but we celebrate with the family because we know what kind of guy Ed Christian was.” After the service, Christian’s body was laid to rest one final time at the Boston Cemetery in Boston, Ga.

Abigail Yuzenas, junior in secondary English and language arts education, said her required pre-teaching hours helped her decide on her major. “I was in elementary education before I completed my pre-teaching,” Yuzenas said. “I decided to switch to an older age group after that week of pre-teaching.” Hands-on experience such as this is a major benefit of working in the field, according to Teel. “A lot of times, students discover that they want to do something completely different within their department after completing their internship,” Teel said. Teel encourages students to keep an open mind when applying to internships or when working in the field. “Though it is common for students to go home or stay close to Auburn, I do not believe it is difficult for students who wish to travel and work in places outside of Auburn and even the United States to do so,” Teel said. “As long as these students meet the requirements of the program and apply sooner rather than later, anything is possible.”

“This event was more than just a $500 shopping spree at Dillard's. It was a personal journey,” Graham said. “As I submitted my résumé, sat in the interview room and attended the actual event, I realized that I had won the competition within myself. I had proved to myself that I was a professional and that I could confidently and successfully complete a job search.” The $500 shopping spree is a perk for contestants, but it is not the main focus of the event. According to Smith, this event is designed to give contestants a glimpse into the business world. “This will allow [the contestants] to work on their job search skills and present their work before judges (employers that normally recruit at Auburn),” Smith said. “It will help them in their search for suitable career opportunities. This is just a creative way of preparing them for what is ahead.”

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Thursday, June 21, 2012

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Graduates take on mountain, elements TJ Harlin CAMPUS EDITOR

Many graduates venture off the Plains after graduation. Recent Auburn graduates Brooke Donald and Anna Wells did not take a typical graduation trip. They asked their parents to got to California, but were not seeking the beaches of Los Angeles. Instead, they asked their parents for a trip to climb Mt. Whitney, the tallest mountain in the continental United States. The trip was anything but relaxing. The pair had previously climbed Mt. Shasta in Northern California, but it did not prepare them for their pursuit of Mt. Whitney’s Summit. “This one was a lot harder,” Wells said. Donald and Wells, along with three native Californians, climbed without guides, dealt with rough terrain and were faced with strong mental challenges. At times, the beach seemed like

the better vacation destination “At one point, Anna was laughing and said ‘Brooke, we could’ve gone anywhere, and we chose to come here,’” Donald said. “At that point, we were camping in a tent in the freezing cold. It was kind of miserable.” They began their climb at 3 p.m. and hiked the first 12,000 feet in five hours, carrying 40-pound bags with them the entire time. They then set up camp and slept. The next morning they began climbing again but faced new, more challenging obstacles. “During the day we hit snow, and that was probably the hardest part,” Wells said. “It was literally straight vertical and you feel like you’re never getting anywhere. It took probably three hours to go less than a mile in distance.” This vertical stretch causes many climbers to throw in the towel. From April to June, the summit rate for Mt. Whitney is 30 percent, meaning that only 30 percent of

climbers reach the summit. “There were parts we were not prepared for, a little bit of rock climbing and snow,” Donald said. “It was intense if I could describe it in one word.” However, the most challenging aspect of the climb for Wells and Donald was not the physical act of climbing the mountain. “The hardest part honestly is probably overcoming the mountain mentally and not allowing yourself to have the option of quitting,” Wells said. The girls’ strong resolve and patience eventually prevailed as they reached Mt. Whitney’s summit. They spent the next few minutes celebrating with other groups who also made it to the top. “I’ve never gotten the since of accomplishment,” Wells said. “It’s a huge reward when you’re up at the summit looking down.” Donald had similar feelings. “You are so exhausted, but it’s just

an incredible feeling of accomplishment,” Donald said. However, their excitement was short-lived. The human body can only stay at that altitude for about twenty minutes, and the group was forced to climb seven hours back down the mountain. “It’s so different than something like running a marathon where when you get to the 26th mile you’re done,” Donald said. “When you summit, you celebrate, and you’re excited, but then you realize you still have another journey to go. The thought of going back down was nauseating.” They eventually made it back down the mountain and are already talking about climbing again, just not on Mt. Whitney. They both said Mt. Whitney could be scratched off their bucket lists. “Anna and I definitely have plans to climb other mountains,” Donald said. “Maybe McKinley in Alaska or Kilimanjaro in South Africa.

COURTESY OF BROOKE DONALD

Anna Wells and Brooke Donald begin their ascent of Mt. Whitney. Their group was the only girls on the mountain.

Architecture student builds big dreams Nathan Simone ONLINE EDITOR

COURTESY OF BRANDON BLOCK

Brandon Block’s design earned him a prize of $2,500 from Boral Bricks in Washington, D.C.

It’s no secret that Auburn has some of the brightest students around. The latest example of Auburn ingenuity comes from Brandon Block, a recent architecture graduate who was a semi-finalist in the 2012 “Live. Work.Learn.” Student Architecture Contest held in Washington, D.C. in May. The contest was sponsored by Boral Bricks, the largest clay brick and paver manufacturer in the United States, and planned in collaboration with the American Institute of Architectural Students. The contest challenged students to design a live/work building utilizing brick for 70 percent of the exterior siding. Shelley Ross, director of marketing for Boral Bricks, explained why brick was chosen as the main element. “With so much focus on building product innovation, we sometimes lose sight of the Earth’s longest-lasting materials,” Ross said. “Brick stands the test of time because it truly is so energy efficient and du-

rable. It is also locally-sourced from natural material and can be fired with the safe use of methane from landfills then distributed with limited packaging to reduce waste.” Block designed a multi-use, five-story building for downtown Montgomery. Block’s professor and thesis adviser, Behzad Nakhjavan, spoke highly of Block’s creativity. “(Block’s design) uses brick as an exterior surface and skin in an inventive way but remains true to the traditional use of bricks (as building materials) within the South,” Nakhjavan said. “His fresh design is what has pushed him to be a finalist in the recent competition in D.C.” Nakhjavan also stressed the innovative nature of Block’s design in keeping with progressive and modern sustainable building practices. “His use of traditional local materials assembled in a new and evocative way is in line with the ideas of sustainable practices which employ regional materials and local labor/craftsmen and is one of

the hallmarks of Green Building design theory,” Nakhjavan said. For his design, Block received $2,500 and the acclaim of the judges at the contest, all of whom represent industry leadership in the architecture, brick and building industries. Some of the judges for the contest included Chip Clark, Vice President of Engineering Services for the Brick Industry Association and licensed AIA industry architect; Nick Mancusi, President of the American Institute of Architecture Students; and Nigel Maynard, Senior Editor of Builder magazine and Residential Architect magazine. Recent graduates of the architecture program expressed their joy at having an Auburn graduate achieve such an honor. Nourah Said, a classmate of Block’s, said Block is “a hard working student, and surely such achievements will contribute greatly to Auburn’s continuation of its architecture program.” Since the contest, Block has been looking for a job in

many areas of the country including Detroit, New York City, Los Angeles and Washington, D.C. Nakhjavan is adamant that other students can learn from Block’s experience.

“You can be both forward looking and yet anchor your ideas in culture. If architecture is going to have a meaning, it needs to operate within culture,” Nakhjavan said.

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Thursday, June 21, 2012

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Our View

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

Social media, viral stupidity wouldn’t have been able to provide half the content we did if it weren’t for the social media tools we had to quickly and repeatedly check up on throughout the hours and days of the shooting crises. The downside to the speedy accessinility to this wealth of information is clarity and accuracy, which are two journalistic qualities we can’t afford to lose in today’s opinionbased news atmosphere. It’s like trying to read a book in the middle of a hurricane. You can see the words, but they just don’t make sense. Occasionally, you see something that looks correct, but then you get hit in the head with a fence post. Our fence post in the hurricane that is Desmonte Leonard is the rampant hate speech and ignorance that has become part of the online dialogue. We read a comment posted on al.com (where it seems a majority of the anti-Leonard

Desmonte Leonard is in custody awaiting trial, and the Auburn Police Department is still saving the details of the infamous pool party until that trial comes around. Rumors and ignorance, however, are still running free as ever. They’re being streamed to the new headquarters for viral stupidity and extremism: the Internet, where creativity and critical thinking have become a cesspool of trolling and abuses of free speech. We all witnessed this insanity during the days after the shooting while Leonard eluded the police, and Twitter or Facebook was, unfortunately, the only place to get breaking coverage. Yes, the coverage was mostly citizen journalists spreading rumors, but we still bought it. However, Twitter and Facebook did help make this case a national news story, and social media is a valuable news gathering source. We

group hangs out) that implied Leonard should be hanged from the oaks at Toomer’s Corner. The saddest part of the comment is how many people agreed with it. In case you haven’t noticed, the year is 2012, which is the twelfth year in the 21st century. The time for antebellum, Old South racism and hate motivated violence has been up for at least 450 years. On the other side of this spectrum of extreme stupidity is the group calling for the release of Leonard, or “Woosie Woo,” as they so affectionately call the alleged murderer. These people, black and white, are claiming that Leonard is a victim of a white police conspiracy to keep a black man down. Like we said before, pure insanity. Leonard might as well be the victim of an alien abduction planned by Elvis.

USPS: letter of reform lost in the mail? nathan simone ONLINE@ THEPLAINSMAN. COM

When’s the last time you mailed a letter? For me, it wasn’t that long ago, but for some reason I like paying money to send pieces of paper across the country to friends that I could easily just send a text message or call. Not only is it personal, but it’s also tangible, and it seems to be beginning to become an art form lost in the fog of digital and wireless technology. It’s more difficult to throw away a complete envelope with a handwritten letter inside and maybe even a small trinket of affection that it is to delete an email or a text message. It’s almost like throwing away a piece of your loved one, their time and your memories. Most Americans don’t share my views. This is easy to see if you’ve picked up the latest TIME magazine and read the briefing on the United States Postal Service, where it was reported that USPS lost $3.2 billion in its most recent quarter. Many small countries in the world don’t even have a GDP of $3 billion, but USPS can afford to lose that in a quarter. How is that OK? The postal service has clear-

ly become the Greece of government organizations, and it’s time to either cut it loose or make some serious changes. Projected losses for USPS if changes are not made is estimated at $14.1 billion for 2012 and $21 billion annually by 2016. The United States cannot afford to continually flush $21 billion down the toilet due to a failing postal service. So what can be done? The same TIME magazine briefing made six excellent recommendations to help USPS get back on its feet, all of which I think are excellent ways to start generating immediate profit for this floundering industry. Because of limited space, I’ll highlight which options are the most important, in my opinion. The first recommendation is to partner with companies to personalize promotional materials for mail routes, kind of like a physical version of how Google tailors ads toward user preferences. While this may result in more “junk mail” for us, it has the potential to help out small businesses and forge a relationship between the industry of local areas and USPS. The second recommendation is to offer basic financial services such as selling bonds, credit cards and mortgages like postal services do in Eu-

rope, giving people important reasons to come to the post office other than to send packages. In 1911, USPS started selling certificates of deposit that allowed buyers to earn two percent interest. However, this initiative went under by 1967. Training USPS employees to make a variety of financial transactions could also be helpful and allow them to transfer to other industries, such as banking, if USPS needs to cut its budget (again). The third and most interesting recommendation, in my opinion, is to turn postal trucks into “roving science labs.” USPS has 213,881 mail trucks that traverse the entire country, which means that they have the opportunity to gather information about weather patterns and air pollution levels that some weather stations just can’t access. It also mentions that the USPS could lease truck space to businesses like Google Maps, therefore outsourcing from one of the biggest companies in the world to stay in America. USPS has a lot of opportunities to turn itself around; it’s just a matter of who it wants to listen to. One thing’s for sure: USPS needs to be eagerly awaiting that letter of reform in the mail.

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“Did I do it? Yes” —Harvey Updyke suspect in toomer’s oaks poisoning

THE PLAINSMAN POLL Vote at theplainsman.com

The police officers and federal agents who made up the task force that searched for Leonard were men and women, black and white, of varying creeds and backgrounds. Anyone who doesn’t realize that is an idiot, plain and simple. Spreading illogical ideas and crackpot hypotheses like they were concrete facts is despicable. Believing these falsi-

ties is even more despicable. What ever happened to critical thinking? We want to encourage all of you, pro- and anti- Woosie alike, to think, if you can. Think about the families of the victims; think about Leonard’s family; and think about how you look when you spew your ignorance all over the Internet for the rest of the world

to see. You have the right to free speech, and social media is a great platform to exercise that right. Ranting and raving are key parts of having a voice that is able to be heard and read. Just remember, respect,

empathy and thought go a long way when you want people to listen.

ESPN clouding vision of sports fans worldwide John Burns WRITER

I love sports. I was not gifted with superior speed, size or athleticism, but watching people with those gifts perform is almost as good. I know that I’m not the only person who shares this feeling. ESPN is the juggernaut in sports nowadays. You cannot watch television in a bar or in your average frat boy’s house without seeing an ESPN analyst give a speech about why he or she has the best opinions about sports. It has not always been that way. Ten years ago, I could turn in on the worldwide leader in sports during the day and actually see highlights of games from the day before. Nowadays, it seems like all ESPN wants to do is talk about the games and how things could have gone differently. If you want to watch the highlights of your favorite team or the playoff game, you

had best turn ESPN on in the early hours of the morning or catch their first show of the late night broadcast. If you like to sleep, as most college students do, forget it. You’re not going to catch anything but a talk show. I’m not trying to say that all ESPN does is talk, but they sure do it a lot more than they used to. For instance, last weekend Tiger Woods had a spectacular chip shot on hole number 16 at the Memorial Tournament that all but locked up his victory. I was working on Sunday, so I turned on ESPN that night hoping to get a rundown of the Sunday golf. I waited patiently for Tiger’s highlights to come up, but was immensely disappointed with what I saw. Inst ead of showing Woods’s charge on the back nine, ESPN showed three clips of spectacular shots out of chronological order. Instead of showing the clips with the crowd’s roar and announcer’s excitement, ESPN showed it with golf analyst Curtis Strange droning on about essentially nothing. While watching and lis-

tening to Strange, I realized that was all ESPN was going to show of the tournament. Needless to say, I was disappointed. I know I’m not alone in saying that was not the first time ESPN has angered me. They have their own agenda, and, more often than not, I don’t agree with it. Being a fan of Auburn and Atlanta professional sports, I know that ESPN plays favorites. Every year my teams get trash talked or, even worse, completely ignored. I understand that Atlanta teams, minus the Braves, have smaller markets than many other professional teams, but that doesn’t mean they should be labeled as a bad team. In today’s world of sports, the teams without ESPN’s favorites are the bad teams though. Unfortunately, those of us who are bitter about the system will have to live with it because no one can compete with ESPN. That means people can either listen to the opinions that ESPN spoon feeds them, or they can come up with a sports opinions on their own. I suggest the latter.

Letter to the editor

AU ALERT should reach full potential on campus I read your article today in the Plainsman, regarding the AU alert and wanted to give a comment on my view of the situation. After the mishap in Montgomery, when police wholeheartedly believed that Desmonte Leonard was in the house and were found to be incorrect on Leonard’s actual whereabouts, the police stated that the next logical place for him to hide was in Auburn. Leonard was familiar with The Editorial Board

the area and had a number of contacts in Auburn. Some of those contacts, which he could have potentially reached out to, could have been students. There were many students at the party when the shooting occurred. Maybe there was somebody else who was the intended target in the shooting. At 22 years old, he could have easily blended in with the student population and went

John Holtrop

Nathan Simone

EDITOR

SPORTS EDITOR

ONLINE EDITOR

Melody Kitchens

Rachel Suhs

Robert E. Lee

MANAGING EDITOR

DESIGN EDITOR

Andrew Yawn

Danielle Lowe

NEWS EDITOR

PHOTO EDITOR

TJ Harlin

Anna Claire Conrad

CAMPUS EDITOR

COPY EDITOR

Ben Croomes ONLINE EDITOR

after somebody on campus. Many students don’t follow the news, especially when they’re busy with class assignments. How many knew he wasn’t caught in Montgomery and that a likely place for him to head was back to Auburn? Why not inform the students and have how many thousands more on the lookout for him? I feel there should have been an AU ALERT sent out with a

picture of Leonard and information on what to do if he was spotted. It could have been a student that was the first to spot Leonard or provide information of his location to the police. I feel this is the second time in the passed two years that AU alert was not used to its full potential when a dangerous situation arose. The first being when the suspected man, (I think he had a weapon, but I’m not sure),

was spotted on campus and then was later seen fleeing that scene. An email was sent out, but by that time the crises had subsided. I understand trying not to raise panic in the students, but in these two cases it could have been someone the Auburn family that was harmed for trying to hinder them from getting away. A student may have gotten assaulted when they wouldn’t

willingly give up their car to somebody trying to evade the police. The AU ALERT should notify people of the potential dangers on campus as well as the surrounding area since a great number of the AU Alert recipients don’t live on campus. The AU ALERT’s number one priority should be for keeping the Auburn family safe. Steven Kessler

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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.

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

Community

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Thursday, June 21, 2012

Community

Miss Alabama Q & A Andrew Yawn COMMUNITY EDITOR

Katherine Webb, 23, recently finished in the top 10 in the 2012 Miss USA pageant in June after winning the Miss Alabama title in January of this year. Born in Montgomery and raised in Phenix City, she attended Auburn University and graduated in 2011 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management and Administration. Webb agreed to sit down with The Plainsman and discuss the experience of competing for the crown , her final result in the competition and her current plans for the future. COURTESY OF MARISA GRIMES

Running with the torch Auburn student, Marisa Grimes, was chosen to be a torch carrier for the 2012 Olympics. Robert Lee EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

While enjoying summer away from class, Marisa Grimes, junior in international business, is preparing to carry the Olympic torch in the London 2012 Olympic Games. Grimes is a scholarship recipient of the Coca-Cola Scholar Foundation, a nationally recognized program that provides more than $3.4 million annually in scholarships, making her eligible for nomination to run with the torch. Michelle Freeman, CEO of the Joshua M. Freeman Foundation, a non-profit arts presentation organization, nominated Grimes for this honor. Freeman says that Grimes deserves the honor because she has witnessed the young athlete’s evident passion to help others since the age of two. “This is a young woman who— whether we needed the time or needed volunteers—has always put her hand up and said, ‘I will help,’” Freeman said. “You just don’t meet many peo-

ple in your life who have that engrained in them. That runs deep in Marisa. Whether it’s hurricane relief or an orphanage in Africa or working at the Freeman State, this woman who is constantly there and willing to help. She stands out at a time when a lot of young people aren’t expecting that attitude.” Grimes’ mother, Patti Grimes, is also involved with the Joshua M. Freeman Foundation, a non-profit arts presentation organization where more than 60 percent of the shows are free and open to the public. Even with her position as executive director, Patti said she had no idea her daughter was a contender for the torch run. “Michelle and Marisa knew about it before her dad and I because there was a lot of screening with the U.S. Olympics, Coca-Cola, and the London committee. Marisa actually found out last fall, but had to keep it under wraps until recently,” Patti said. With a life focused on community outreach, Grimes said she was nominated for three specific activities. “I’ve been volunteering since I was four, but I was nominated for three main things,” Grimes said. “The first would be my trip to Ghana to help the non-profit orphanage, Building Bright Future. What we do is provide funds to cover the cost of the 103 children living in the orphanage that we actually worked in sum-

mer 2008.” Grimes says that her second most memorable act of volunteerism was starting All In For Alabama, which is a campaign to raise supplies for the victims of the tornados that devastated Tuscaloosa in 2011. Before college, Grimes was the president of her high school’s volunteer club where she succeeded in her third most notable volunteer project, Operation Tumaini. “Tumaini of Operation Tumaini means ‘hope’ in Swahili,” Grimes said. “We pair up with an impoverished school in Kenya to help benefit by raising money. We raised enough money for all of the students to get uniforms.” Despite her numerous accomplishments, Marisa never thought she would have the opportunity to hold the position of torchbearer in the Olympics. “I knew I was nominated, but I just forgot about it because I never thought I’d win something like that, “ Grimes said. Upon receiving the unexpected news of her daughter’s participation in the Olympics, Patti Grimes insisted that her husband learn to run backwards in order to play the role of photographer. “Marisa is a humble person so I think it is nice that she can use her philanthropic endeavors in a beautiful way that continues to recognize and promote them,” Patti said.

Auburn pride active among troops overseas Summer Austin WRITER

Auburn’s Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps graduates succeed faster than the national average, according to Col. Joseph Fetsch, professor of Aerospace Studies and commander of the AFROTC Detachment 005 at Auburn University. Currently, the program consists of approximately 130 cadets. Twenty to 25 of these cadets are commissioned each year. Fetsch said there are approximately 250 Auburn alumni in active duty including a general and more than 20 colonels. He also said there are more who have served on active duty and are now in the reserves, specifically two generals who visit Auburn frequently, one is in the Air Force reserve and one is in the National Guard. Fetsch said Auburn’s AFROTC is highly respected by the United States Air Force. “I’m not an Auburn graduate, but I wish I was,” Fetsch said. “I tell our students, […] this is a good school, you are surrounded by good students and faculty and that makes all the difference. When you join the Air Force it’s the same idea, to put a bunch of good people together and good things tend to happen.” He said that Auburn’s AFROTC program has a variety of majors, which contributes to a lot of diversity within the company, which is important because everyone learns from each other. Fetsch said that he equates the AFROTC program to other prominent

University programs because it is an additional way to enhance the students’ academic experiences at Auburn. Fetsch also said this program is different from basic training because its approach allows students to have a normal college experience while being trained for the military. “I went from being your typical college kid to having to travel across the country to California to work in nuclear missile training,” said Captain Donald Thomas, Auburn AFROTC graduate. “It hit me that I wasn’t a college kid anymore. I was about to be a 22-year-old Air Force officer watching over our entire Nuclear Intercontinental Ballistic Missile Fleet.” Thomas also said Auburn helped him prepare for his current career. “Auburn taught me how to manage my time wisely,” Thomas said. “Between my course work, ROTC and my job I had to learn that prioritizing my responsibilities is key to being successful as a student.” Auburn graduates are double the national rate of being designated distinguished, according to Fetsch. Two years after women were accepted into the AFROTC, Auburn’s own Leslie Holley became the first woman to be commissioned through AFROTC in 1971. She later became the Air Force’s first female three-star general. Capt. Justin Andress said being a part of the Auburn family and feeling that invaluable sense of community is what means the most to him as an Auburn graduate.

Andress also said that he has had several ‘War Eagle’ moments while on duty abroad. “We landed at Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar and stayed for a night before our final 4-hour leg of a 20-hour trip,” Andress said. “The next morning, I met two of my former roommates that were deployed there. Since they’re both tanker pilots, we all shared the typical comments of hoping to see each other airborne duringour deployment. One of them, George Clark, was the co-pilot of the KC-135 that took us from Qatar to Afghanistan. He photographed me with the Auburn flag I had since college.” According to Andress, this photograph was an enormous hit with the media. “I don’t think there was a single radio transmission made that didn’t have a solid ‘War Eagle’ on the end of it,” Andress said. “Everyone in the six ship was jealous of our Auburn pride.”

How long have you been competing in pageants? It all started when I was 18 years old, and I competed in the Miss Georgia United States of America pageant. I placed in the top 15 and won Miss Photogenic, which was great for it being my first time ever doing something like that. So, I decided that I would wait until after I finished college and had a degree before I would compete again. During that break I signed with a modeling agency in Atlanta and Chicago, and I did that to make a little extra money on the side while I was in school at Auburn. What kind of preparations need to be made to get ready for something as huge as the Miss USA pageant? Well, obviously, it’s a beauty pageant, so you’ve really got to focus on your outward appearance by means of constantly going to the gym and making sure you’re eating right. You have to maintain perfection, all the way down to your hair, nails, teeth, and makeup, but you’ve also got to prepare mentally and internally by just spending some time by yourself to gather your thoughts and focus on what you’re going to do while you’re in Vegas competing. You’ve also got to prepare for your interview by meeting with your interview coach and have them teach you how to handle political or personal questions, and how to correctly answer those questions. It’s a lot of work. As far as your hair and nails go, do the judges really look that close? No, but if you’re standing beside someone who is equally beautiful, and we’re all the most beautiful girls in each of our states, and being compared to those girls, those tiny little things make a big difference. As for mental preparation, talk about your progress from when you were 18 and just starting out till now. You had to have some kind of nerves at first, right? Oh gosh yes. I was just finishing from high school, and I was competing against these girls who had a lot more life experiences than me, so I knew I was going for a long shot. I wasn’t mentally ready or mature enough to win Miss Georgia at 18. So, as the years passed, I had a lot of time onstage from modeling to work on my runway walk and stage presence, and that taught me alot. After having gone to college and experienced that stage of life, I knew I was ready to compete at the national level. So, you felt comfortable and confident at the Miss USA pageant? Yes, which was suprising, because everyday leading up to that moment you wake up and get a little pit in your stomach like,”Oh gosh, one day closer.” I remember waking up that morning and having no nerves at all. Of course you get nervous right before the competition, but it was strange for me to see Donald Trump walking backstage like a normal guy. It was weird because that night I walked up to him and said, “Hey, Mr. Trump.” Then, he just said, “Hello, Alabama.” And, at that moment, all of my nerves dissapeared because

COURTESY OF KATHERINE WEBB

Katherine Webb placed in the top 10 at this year’s Miss USA pageant.

I remembered that the beauty pageant is first a television production and second a beauty pageant. Therefore, I needed to perform for this show and its audience. The whole night I had no nerves at all, and I was completely shocked. Obviously, every contestant is trying to win, and everyone wants that crown, but is it as intensely competitive behind the scenes as most people think it is? Yes, for some girls it is. At registration, all of the girls are comparing themselves to one another and sizing each other up. I try my best not to do that because we’re all beautiful. If that weren’t the case, none of us would have been there. To me, there’s no point worrying about something you can’t control. It’s the judges who pick the winners. However, we all became friends and got to know each other well, and it was really cool getting to know the different personalities from across the nation. So, what does a Miss USA hopeful do when she’s not onstage? Well, leading up to the Miss USA pageant I had three or four appearances per week. I remember one week I put 1,500 miles on my car while driving across Alabama. It’s exhausting, but you’re promoting yourself and your state. For me, I’ll probably go to New York City and take part in the New York Film Academy. After that, I’d like to go to Los Angeles and see what kind of modeling or acting opportunities I can find. So, you’re going to try to use this to springboard into a modeling or acting career? Yes. I come from a very religious family, and my parents are worried about me jumping into such a liberal arena, but how cool would it be to have some girl from Alabama with southern qualities about her jumping into the film industry? What about your downtime activities that aren’t job related? Well, for the past week, I’ve literally been on my couch in my pajamas. My parents live on a lake, so I love to waterski, tube and just chill on the dock. Right now is the perfect time for me to reconnect with my friends. Sadly, I’ve kind of been anti-social for the past three months because I’ve been so busy. And I’ve been catching up on my movie time and all of my shows, like The Bachelorette. Looking ahead toward the realm of acting and modeling, who do you admire the most in those professions? I’ve always been fond of Heidi Klum. I love her because she’s so real and very exuberant. She’s full of life and has one of the best smiles in Hollywood. Wherever I end up, whether it’s modeling or acting, I hope that I can be like her. She’s created an empire for herself, and she’s a household name, but at the same time she’s influenced so many lives in so many ways, which is what I hope to do.

Community 6

The Auburn Plainsman

Thursday, June 21, 2012

New state bill shields grieving families from harassment Andrew Yawn COMMUNITY EDITOR

CONTRIBUTED BY THE OFFICE OF HOUSE SPEAKER MIKE HUBBARD

Gov. Robert Bentley signs a new law that restricting the disrespectful protests of the funerals of fallen soldiers and other victims.

On Wednesday, June 6, Governor Robert Bentley held a ceremonial signing of H.B. 238, an amendment to Alabama Code Section 13A – 11 – 17, which will increase the distance at which protesters can organize at a funeral. The bill, sponsored by Rep. DuWayne Bridges, R – Valley, states that protesters must now remain 1000 ft., or approximately 2.5 blocks, away from the property lines where the funeral is being held, according to Bridges. This is an addition to the previous law that outlines the illegality of disrupting funeral or memorial services and decrees that all protests must end at least one hour before the beginning of the service. Bridges proffered the bill for approval in the wake of several recent funeral disruptions, particularly by the Westboro Baptist Church, a religious organization that has put itself in the national spotlight for what could be considered radical beliefs. The WBC has picketed numerous military funerals over the past year and threatened to picket the funerals of murdered Auburn University student Lauren Burk in 2008 and last year’s Tuscaloosa tornado victims. As a former sergeant in the Vietnam War and Alabama resident, this was a sign to Bridges that action must be taken. “They were saying that they’re glad the soldiers were killed and that God brought judgement on them because they were serving in the military, and that’s just totally wrong,” Bridges said. “To be so disrespectful to grieving loved ones is unconscionable; they

don’t deserve it and I don’t appreciate it.” The WBC could not be reached for comment, but according to their website, “military funerals have become pagan orgies of idolatrous blasphemy, where they pray to the dunghill gods of Sodom & play taps to a fallen fool.” Bridges said he fervently disagrees with this belief. “My Bible doesn’t read that way,” Bridges said. Bridges said he spent some time with a chaplain in Vietnam and saw firsthand the unquenchable grief of a family that first receives notice of the death of a loved one. “I saw how terrible that was, and what the parents and families go through... and I just felt like they should have all the respect in the world,” Bridges said. “They’ve given their all for this country, and the least we can do is have some reverence when their family is burying them.” House Speaker Mike Hubbard cosponsored the bill and said the situation with Lauren Burk and other funeral protests were “truly distasteful and disgusting.” “Unfortunately, there are people out there who have a warped sense of right and wrong,” Hubbard said. After the murder of freshman Lauren Burk in 2008, the University organized a memorial service on Samford lawn. The WBC then issued a release on its website titled “Thank God for another Dead College Student” saying the organization planned to attend the service. The University then moved the funeral service to the Beard-Eaves Memorial Coliseum and were able to avoid the picketers. While opponents of the bill

CHICKEN PARMESAN

may claim this violates the First Amendment right to protest and assemble, Bridges said he did the research and H.B. 238 adheres to the Constitution. The 1000 ft. limit was the maximum distance that could be applied, Bridges said. “If I (could) I’d move them 1000 miles away,” Bridges said. The WBC’s penchant for harassing military funerals across the country has gained national attention, and there is some dissent on the degree of its illegality. In March 2011, the United States Supreme Court ruled that the First Amendment protected the the WBC after Albert Snyder, father of deceased Lance Cpl. Matthew Snyder, sued them for emotional distress after they picketed his son’s funeral. Alabama legislators such as Hubbard, however, are taking a more personal view on the matter. “They have First Amendment rights, and they can (protest) when they want to do it, but they do not have a right to interfere with someone else’s First Amendment rights,” Hubbard said. Gov. Bentley said the law doubles the distance from which protesters can assemble, but the law is necessary for families’ “privacy and dignity.” “There is nothing we could ever say or do to replace the loss of a loved one,” Bentley said. “What we can do is ensure that proper respect, dignity and reverence are preserved as (people) gather for such a solemn event.” “I’m proud of the fact we passed the law,” Hubbard said. “I think it was appropriate and I believe the vast majority of Alabamians would agree with that.”

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MEATBALL steak with aCHICKEN kick.

PIZZIOLA MELT MELT ToppedPEPPERONI with bacon, cheese and a new horseradish mayo.

Sports Thursday, June 21, 2012

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Sports

Megan Fonteno swims for gold Nathan Kelly WRITER

DANIELLE LOWE / PHOTO EDITOR

Megan Fonteno prepares for the London 2012 London Olympics at the James E. Martin Aquatic Center.

As most of Auburn’s students are enjoying their summer break away from school, Megan Fonteno is spending her first summer at Auburn training for the London 2012 Olympic Games. Fonteno, freshman in pre-pharmacy, will be racing the 100-meter freestyle as the only women’s swimmer representing American Samoa. “I’m trying not to worry about the competition I’ll face,” Fonteno said. “I’m just going to focus and swim my own race.” Fonteno’s parents were both U.S. Marines, so she has been moving around her entire life. “I was born in Japan,” Fonteno said. “But I’ve lived in Georgia, Pennsylvania and Virginia. Now my parents live in Jacksonville, Fla.” Durinher high school years, Fonteno’s first choice for college was the University of Florida, but after visiting Auburn, she changed her mind. “The athletic facility at Auburn is one of the best I’ve ever been to,” Fonteno said. “What really set Auburn apart was the atmosphere here. As soon as I stepped on campus, I knew it was the place for me.” Fonteno said swimming has always been a major part of her life. “When I was six years old, my parents actually signed me up just so I wouldn’t drown,” Fonteno said. “I loved practice. However, when we got to swim meets I was scared to jump in the pool and race people, but I got used to it.” Fellow swimmer Emily Bos, sophomore in exercise science, said there’s never a dull moment around Fonteno. With 36 days left until the Olympics, Fonteno said she doesn’t have a lot of time to train and spend time with her family. “In a few days, I’ll be training at home in Florida until I leave for the Olympics,” Fonteno said. “My coach here will be giving me advice and assisting me with my workouts.” Demerae Christianson will be coaching Fon-

teno long distance whenever she begins training in Florida. “I get to help ... her in the pool everyday to make her better,” Christianson said. “I’ll keep helping Megan in the summer by writing her workouts for her when she goes home. We’ll stay in close... contact up to the day she races.” Christianson said she has only been coaching at Auburn for two months, but holds years of experience from her time as a student athelete at the University. “I swam here at Auburn from 2000-2004, and then I swam professionally here for two years,” Christianson said. “It’s a lot of experience, but I want to get some more banners up.” When it comes to Fonteno, Christianson said her energy and coaching skills are key factors that will contribute to Fonteno’s success in London this summer. “This is an exciting time for her. It’s the highest goal you can get as an athlete,” Christianson said. “She just needs to embrace this and get excited. It’s only every four years, and not everyone gets to make the Olympic team.” Fonteno and most of her Auburn teammates will be racing for different countries. “We won’t be together, but it will be cool seeing all of us in non-Auburn caps on the pool deck,” Fonteno said. Regardless of what country the Tigers are swimming for, Christianson said she thinks the Olympics will attract a big crowd from the Auburn faithful. “With the success Auburn has had with swimming, we’re going to have a good representation of the Auburn family out there in London,” Christianson said. Fonteno said the presence of the Auburn fans provides a sense of comfort. “It’s nice to have the support behind you so that you know you’re not only swimming for yourself. You’re swimming for the Auburn family.”

Finance students find market in game day rentals Robert E. Lee EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Trying to find parking on a game day in Auburn during football season is sometimes pointless, but finding a place to stay after the game is now as easy as the click of a button. When Rent Like a Champion Chief Operating Officer Mike Doyle saw the University of Notre Dame-based company book more than 300 homes during the 2011 season, he knew there was room for expansion. “We started advertising through the Auburn Career Center, and we knew Auburn would be a good place to expand the business to, and we’re just looking for motivated entrepreneurial students who want to take ownership of the website and kind of make it their own, ” Doyle said. “They (Bill Mitchell and Reid Taylor) liked the concept and had some good ideas about how to make the website work (in Auburn).” Doyle then began University Football Rentals in order to expand his idea nationwide. Mitchell and Taylor, both juniors in finance, are co-founders of Opelika Football Rentals, a local a branch of University Football Rentals. “With the amount of hotels and the lack of lodging options there are, we saw the demand for it,” Mitchell said. The core focus behind Opelika Football Rentals is its easy-to-use website listing for homes available to rent during football weekends and other popular events. “We’re going to be doing a lot of posting about football season and sports news to keep the site interesting and to keep everyone on top of when listings are coming in and what properties are up at different times,” Taylor said.

Although they have not received any official postings yet, Mitchell and Taylor are in the beginning stages and expect listings to pick up closer to football season. “Right now we’re just really excited for the opportunity of growth,” Mitchell said. “With us being in school right now, we have already created these different relationships with people that we know who own property that are down here right now whose parents are definitely going to want to list. Now is the hardest part – going out and hunting down these houses ourselves.” When renting a house, a $1,000 deposit is required for insurance purposes. Posting a home on the website also has additional benefits, such as a $10,000 non-taxable income credit from the IRS when a home is rented for less than fourteen days a year. Homeowners are expected to prepare their homes prior to the handing the house over to the renter, and Opelika Football Rentals will also provide homeowners with a homeowner expectations guide. While Doyle continues to oversee the expansion of University Football Rentals to more than 19 universities, he is excited to see what kind of progress the Auburn branch can achieve. “We know how (Notre Dame) football weekends go, but we don’t have that inside knowledge of what a football weekend in Auburn is like,” Doyle said. “So (Bill and Reid) will put there own spin on it as far as what they think will work as far as marketing and things like that.” For more information, visit opelikafootballrentals.com.

DANIELLE LOWE / PHOTO EDITOR

Harold Marshall, surface-mount technology operator, continues his work on manufacturing circuit boards for CoachComm

CoachComm enhances communication Rebecca Moseley CAMPUS BEAT REPORTER

CoachComm is a small, locally-owned business that was started in 1991 by Peter Amos, Auburn graduate in accounting, with the idea of better sports communication. ‘It takes months to find a customer but only seconds to lose one,’ is the saying on the poster hanging in the hall as you enter the CoachComm facility in Technology Park. This phrase does not simply decorate the wall, but also defines the style of business that CoachComm has acquired through its excellent customer service and understanding of its customer base. Its customer base begins with the University at the top of the list, followed by more than 95 percent of Division 1A colleges, thousands of high schools in the Southeast and other small colleges. “Customers use CoachComm’s products and services 12 to 13 weeks out of the year, so the company is interested in making sure the schools and coaching staffs get the full benefit of what they pay for,” said Charles Beasley, inventory manager. Being top priority, Auburn is the first to view and purchase new products and has

more equipment than any other customer to date. CoachComm install s ground cables and conducts hardline testing free of charge in return for allowing the company to test their products at Jordan-Hare Stadium. During football season, the company works quickly to find solutions for issues with headset and communication systems for each customer within a short amount of time to react. One of CoachComm’s latest products is the Nomad Master Belt which allows infinite roaming, and is currently being demonstrated by police. Also, a new headset system called Tempest is allowing further possibilities in sideline communication for Division 1A colleges and has been the model for a simplified and less expensive version. “We are excited that high schools are now able to expand in the Tempest way,” said Gardner Swindle, CoachComm’s material planner. “Since 2011, Tempest has been simulated into a simpler form called FX, which we are making available to bigger high schools and smaller colleges and is taking off more this year.”

FX has become a middle ground between the simplistic systems sold to high schools and the very large, elaborate systems sold to universities. Until 2008, almost all of CoachComm’s focus was sports-related, but the company is currently working to reach other sports markets with the introduction of editing software to cut tapes for easy viewing. Also, further conversion to markets other than sports began with spinning this football product design to meet another market’s need, or other entities that need wireless communication. These include broadcasting, musical entertainment and live performances. The interest of expanding from exclusive involvement in the sports aspect of wireless communication led to the beginning of CoachComm’s relationship with Clear Com in 2008, a company that has been in the wireless broadcasting business for several years and has a wider customer base than CoachComm. After discussing with Clear Com the possibility of manufacturing this product that they would push out to their

customer base, the relationship began to grow stronger each year the two companies remained in contact. CoachComm is on a constant search for new outlets for expansion to interact with new endusers, such as groups within political elections and the Olympics. Further expansion began in 2011 when companies such as NBC, WWE, PGA Tour and Cirque de Solei began. However, Clear Com has remained CoachComm’s high priority customer with immediate turnover and cooperation due to its influence on other markets. This partnership has taken CoachComm’s products worldwide. “There are a lot of different markets out there, and a lot of that is sort of under their contract which is for broadcast which is ABC, NBC and Golf Channel,” said Chief Operation Officer Rick Crowley. For example, Crowley said Lady Gaga’s tour was the first to use their equipment on a live traveling tour. “We’re kind of a little hidden secret, but hopefully we’ll become a little more known before too long as we start to distribute that kind of stuff under our own name,” Crowley said.

Sports 8

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Lemans square & Chateau apartments Only 4 blocks from campus (334)-821-9192 Water/Garbage included 560 North Perry St. Auburn, AL

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Thursday, June 21, 2012

A week in Auburn sports All- Each of the 18 Auburn athletic teams received a passing grade in the

2011-2012 Academic Progress Ratings released Wednesday. Teams could score up to 1000 points and any team under 925 could face penalties, including the loss of scholarships. Women’s cross country posted the highest score of 991and men’s basketball scored the lowest at 925. Football and baseball both posted scores of 943.

Baseball- Former baseball players Ty Kelley and Hunter Morris have been

selected to play in their respective league’s All-Star Games last Tuesday night. LHP Kelley has been selected for the Midwest League annual showcase ,while first baseman Morris will play in the Southern League All-Star contest.

Men’s Golf-

Junior Dominic Bozzelli was named to the Division I PING AllAmerican Honorable Mention team, the Golf Coaches Association of America announced on Wednesday. Former golfer Jason Dufner finished tied for fourth place at three over at the U.S. Open at the Olympic Club in San Francisco. His performance puts him in first place in the FedEx Cup standings.

Women’s Basketball- Sherill Baker has been hired onto the Auburn

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

women’s basketball staff as the Director of Basketball Services and Danielle Bell has been hired as the Director of Basketball Operations, head coach Terri Williams-Flournoy announced. Scan for more info!

www.lemanssquare.com

Swimming & Diving- Recent graduate diver Vennie Dantin finished 19th in the 3-meter springboard preliminaries, missing a spot in the semifinals on her first day of competition at the 2012 U.S. Olympic Diving Trials.

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IN THE DISTRICT COURT OF LEE COUNTY, ALABAMA PEN AIR FEDERAL CREDIT UNION, Plaintiff, vs. MARVIN T. MORRIS, II, Defendant. CASE NO: DV-2011900487 NOTICE OF PUBLICATION To: Marvin T. Morris, II, Defendant named above You are hereby notified that the above-styled action seeking a judgment against the Defendant Marvin T. Morris, II was filed against you in said court on October 17, 2011, and that by reason of an order for service of summons by publication entered by the court on April 11, 2012, you are hereby commanded and required to file with the clerk of said court and serve upon Annie J. Dike, Attorney-at-Law, whose address is Post Office Box 2767, Mobile, Alabama 36652, an answer to the complaint within thirty (30) days of the last date of publication, to-wit: by the 30th day of June, 2012. Signed: Corinne T. Hurst, CLERK, CIRCUIT COURT OF LEE COUNTY, ALABAMA, April 13, 2012.

Auburn Condominium Fully furnished, first floor, 2 bedroom, 2 bath condominium in a gated community. Includes refrigerator, dishwasher, microwave, washer, dryer. 1 bedroom is larger master, with master bath and walk-in closet. Screened porch overlooking lake. Located on Tiger Transit within 1 mile of Auburn Campus. Complex has pool, gym and clubhouse. Available 1 June. Call 203-224-8444. Email Forrest.Hendrick@ hsius.com 3BR/2BA small house. W/D, DW, Central H/A, deck. Located near Tiger Town, available Aug. 15 $600/mo. lease call 334524-6807

FOR SALE Steel Buildings. 33 1/3 to 50% off. Complete for Assembly. Ex. 20x24 Reg $6,792 Disc. $5,660 (Quantity 1). 50x100 Reg $42,500 Disc. $29,000 (Quantity 2). Call for Others. Source#1PK, 866-609-4321

FOR RENT Mobile Home for Sale24x60 Doublewide vinyl sided. 3BR 2FB WD Room. Fireplace. For $10,000, $5000.00 down. Owner will finance the balance. 334.567.1396

$500/mo. 2BR/1BA duplex available in August, wood floors, all appliances included, fenced back yard. 12mo. lease. 334-524-5871

Sudoku Sudoku

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EMPLOYMENT

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Cinda B on campus representative. Cinda B is looking for an on campus rep for Auburn University. This position requires an outgoing fashion loving individual. This is a great opportunity to start building your resume and making some extra money! Send your resume to sara@cindab.com Email sara@cindab.com Hiring Event Mon. 6/25, 9:00 AM – NOON! P/T Demonstrators Wanted! Will conduct in-store sampling of food/products. Must be 18+ to apply. HS Grad/GED & avail wknds. Competitive pay & benefits. Attend our hiring event on Mon. 6/25 from 9:00- NOON at Goodwill Career Center, 3740 Pepperell Pkwy. Opelika. Contact Shannon Sprangel, at Shannon.sprangel@asmnet. com or 888-882-2025 ext. 16522. www.asmnet.com/ careers. AmeriCorps Opportunity Full-time and Part-time positions available from September 1, 2012-August 31, 2013 in Alabama (Auburn, Opelika, Phenix City, and Sylacauga). Receive a living stipend and education award for college. Engage in the community by serving nonprofits, schools, American Red Cross, Boys & Girls Clubs, SAFE in Sylacauga, Cora Reid Greene Home for Children, and/ or Employers’ Child Care Alliance. Interested applicants should send an email to americorps@ccrcalabama.org to receive the online application link.. e-mail: americorps@ ccrc-alabama.org

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