June 16, 2011 by The Auburn Plainsman

The Auburn Plainsman A Spirit That Is Not Afraid www.theplainsman.com

Thursday, June 16, 2011

Vol. 117, Issue 32, 8 Pages

Judge denies gag order in case Natalie Yarid News Editor

Lee County Judge Jacob Walker III denied a gag order requested by the district attorney in the case of Harvey Updyke Jr., who is accused of poisoning the Toomer’s oaks. The judge chose to allow the The Alabama Rules of Professional Conduct to govern the behavior of Updyke and his attorney.

Harvey Updyke

Glennon Threatt, Updyke’s attorney, said he is pleased with the decision.

“I think that’s great,” Threatt said after the decision was announced. “You know what they wanted was more than that. They wanted us to be prohibited from talking to the media at all, and you’d have to ask them why they felt that was appropriate. You know I disagree.” The gag order request, filed in May by the district attorney’s office, was in-

tended to seal case records. The order would create restricted access to future court affairs and prohibit the parties involved from speaking with the media. The judge said he would not seal records, except for those concerning mental evaluations. Walker said he would let the interaction between the attorneys and the public be governed by the state’s rule

of professional responsibility. The status hearing is set for August because both the prosecution and defense voiced concerns about being prepared to go to trial by the tentative court date set for June. In late May, Harvey Updyke pleaded not guilty. He claimed a mental disease or defect caused the two counts of first-degree crim-

inal mischief, two counts of desecrating a venerated object and two counts of unlawful damage, vandalism or theft of property from a farm-animal or crop facility. The delay in court date allows the time needed for the results of mental evaluation to be made available and the appropriate tests to completed on the soil of Toomer’s trees.

Trash, sewer rates increase to cover costs Andrew McCaslin Writer

Students looking for places to live off campus next semester should keep in mind that sewer and trash rates are expected to rise. Tim Woody, director of environmental services in Auburn, said the increase in rates will only affect students living in duplexes and rental houses, as these services are contracted by the city. Trash services for apartments are contracted by private companies, so residents of those areas will see no change in their rent. The reason for the increase is because of a number of economic factors, including the rise of expenditures, the breakdown of equipment and lack of revenue to cover expenditures. Currently, Auburn subsidizes between $619,000650,000 per year for trash services. Woody said the rate in-

crease will cut the current subsidization in half to $350,000. Even with the cut, trash services will still depend on subsidies. The rate increase will allow other cost portions, currently paid by the general fund, to be allocated to the solid waste management fund. The cost portions include workers’ compensation, fleet service and general management costs. Difficulties with outdated equipment are another cost allocation the rate increases are expected to address. According to Woody, 14 of the 26 trash collection vehicles are in need of repairs that will cost more than the machines themselves. The rate increase, Woody said, will create a reserve fund for the swift replacement of equipment. The Auburn City Council voted on the issue June 7, » See rates, A2

Alex Sager / PHOTO EDITOR

Auburn will be switching from Blackboard to a new system named Canvas in 2012.

Blackboard changes coming soon Kristen Ferrell Campus Editor

It is hard to take a class at Auburn and not have to use Blackboard to look at grades or turn in assignments. Professors depend on it, and students check it often. Soon though, Blackboard will not be a common word heard on campus. Auburn has begun the process to replace Blackboard for a new learning management system, Instructure Canvas, and the University Senate recently approved the recommended replacement. Because Auburn’s license with Blackboard Vista ends in 2013, the University decided it will not renew its contract with Blackboard. Instead, a group was created to search for a replacement. The Learning Management System Working Group began searching in Decem-

“

I just don’t like change. Blackboard is not rocket science.” —Noel Eason senior in english education

ber and has done its homework to find the best system for the University. After narrowing the search down to five learning management systems, LMSWG found the one it thought was best and recommended to switch to Canvas at the recent Senate meeting. “We need to replace the current managing system,” said Kathy McClelland, chairwoman of LMSWG. McClelland said the change needed to be made because Blackboard was no longer supporting Vista, which is the operating system the University runs on.

The recommendation was approved, and McClelland said everyone involved in the evaluation process supported the transition to Canvas. “Overwhelmingly, the faculty liked Canvas,” McClelland said. “It’s a product I think everyone will come to love.” McClelland said Canvas is a learning management system that was created as a class project by two students who were fed up with Blackboard. Students will quickly notice that this learning management system is geared toward their needs, with many of its key features including Facebook notifications and video chat. “It was developed with the students’ perspective,” McClelland said. McClelland said the transition should startimmediately. This means professors and administrators will start using it as soon as fall

semester, and McClelland said that by fall 2012 everyone on campus should be using Canvas. The main concern is how easy the transition will be. It may be hard for students to understand the change in systems, because many believe the current system is fairly proficient. LMSWG representatives assured the Senate the system would be worth the time and effort. “I just don’t like change,” said Noel Eason, senior in English education. “Blackboard is not rocket science.” Eason said she loves Blackboard, but she wouldn’t mind changing systems as long as the new system wouldn’t be too hard to learn because Blackboard is a system she heavily depends on for her classes. “Blackboard is something I use daily,” said » See Blackboard, A2

Inside Campus » A3 | Classifieds » B2 | Opinions » A4 | Intrigue » B1 | Sports » B3

Alex Sager / PHOTO EDITOR

Transit bus driver, Edward Meek, pushes the ignition button in one of the hybrid buses.

Cleaner rides for students Tyson McKinnon Writer

Going green is more than a trend at Auburn University. It’s also being implemented in many modes of transportation around campus. Efforts by Auburn University to leave a smaller carbon footprint are both diverse and ambitious. At the forefront of the advances is the Tiger Transit bus system. The service added six hybrid buses to its fleet in August. Like the other Tiger Transit buses, they have a regeneration system in place

which reuses emissions. All Tiger Transit buses meet federal emissions standards. Hybrid Tiger Transit buses look just like the other 49 Tiger Transit buses around campus, but come with a heftier price tag. They each cost about $181,000, according to Rex Huffman, manager of transit services. Nonhybrid buses cost about $143,000. All Tiger Transit buses are replaced within five years or upon reaching » Read the rest online at

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Thursday, June 16, 2011

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DUI Arrests in the City of Auburn ■ Gregory Lamar Jones, 28, of Opelika Booker Street at Julie Avenue June 10, 8:16 p.m. ■ Janae Deanne Setaro, 23, of Fort Myers, Fla. West Glenn Avenue June 10, 4:07 a.m. ■ Kimberly Dianne Felton, 37, of Opelika US 29 South at Enterprise Drive June 10, 9:46 p.m. ■ Caroline Marie Gibson, 24, of Opelika Thach Avenue at Dean Road June 11, 3 a.m. ■ Leslie Morgan Beadles, 29, of Opelika Tichenor Avenue June 12, 3:24 a.m.

Blackboard » From A1

Takaila Spence, senior in pre-pharmacy. “It is easy to navigate, especially the discussion boards.” For students like Eason and Spence who have no complaints with Blackboard, LMSWG wants to

Rates

» From A1

Read the Plainsman online! www.theplainsman.com

and the entire Council, except Brent Beard, agreed to increase the rates. The Council’s overall mission is to reduce the general fund. Currently, trash service equipment is being bought at a rate of $250,000. Fuel costs have doubled since the last rate increase in 2004. “I understand that fees need to increase somewhat to keep the fund self-sufficient, but things (that the

South College Street Theft of property. Blackberry Storm, black. West Longleaf Auto breaking and entering. MP3 player and Apple iPod.

Account Executive advertising

Editor

June 6 - 13

West Thach Concourse Auburn University Theft, miscellaneous. Purse, $55, $200 in gift cards, Compass bank checkbook and RBS checkbook. East University Drive Theft from public building. Drivers license and social security card. Lee Road Auto breaking and entering reported.MP3 Apple ipod and chamers co. ring. Auburn Auto breaking and entering while carrying illegal gun. Blackberry, two ipods, portable gaming system and head lamp. West Longleaf Drive Auto breaking and entering reported. Backpack, HP laptop and wireless mouse black. Webster Road Theft of property 2nd degree. Pistol and gold 14K necklace. North Gay Street Theft from residence. Gaming console, two Xbox games, eight DVDs and $200. Opelika Road Auto breaking and entering. Visa Card BBT.

Commerce Drive Auto breaking and entering reported. $130, leather wallet and Redstole federal credit union debit card. East Veterans Boulevard Theft of property 1st degree. 60” LCD Samsung, 42” LCD Samsung, Nintendo Wii game console and MacBook Pro. West Longleaf Drive Auto breaking and entering. Digital camera canon, GPS magellan, wallet, debit card, credit card and immigration naturalization card. West Longleaf Drive Auto breaking and entering reported. Apple iTouch. Glenn Avenue Theft from residence. Sony Playstation 2, logitech speaker set, creative speaker set, black cell phone LG, navy threepiece suit and seven DVDs. Glenn Avenue Theft from residence. White Oakley sunglasses, Samsung 32,” memory foam mattress topper, globe with gold base and Sony camera. Kudeina Acres Burglary 2nd degree. STIHL weedeater, Canon REBEL digital camera, Canon zoom lens, digital camera Canon power shoot, video camera JVC and Dell laptop.

— Reports provided by Auburn Department of Public Safety

make sure any new system Auburn decides to start using is easier than what is already in place. LMSWG knows this is one of the biggest concerns for everyone and chose to recommend Canvas on because of its easy-to-understand format. “I have found the conver-

sion was pretty seamless,” said Jane Kuehne, LMSWG faculty member. “Canvas is a nice change, and it has a lot to offer.” This recommendation is one of the first steps in the process of adopting a new system, but Auburn is making sure every step has plenty of feedback from faculty

and students to make sure the best choice is made. Until the transition to Canvas begins, students and faculty can learn more about it through information on its website and also by talking to any of the LMSWG members who have worked to find the best system fit for Auburn.

current fund is paying for) like recycling cost well over 300 grand. My thinking is that picking up people’s recycling at their houses is an extreme luxury.” Beard said the city could still offer the recycling services, but fees would have to be paid in addition to the garbage fee. “It could be like the backside garbage collection service, it’s a little extra, about ten dollars more per month,” Beard said. Laura Koon, director of Water Resource Management, said the trash fund is

relatively new, and that Auburn is trying to make this new fund self-sufficient. The new rates will balance out the revenue loss from the general fund. The total amount of money for the general fund for the 2011 fiscal year is currently $54.5 million. “The sewer fund is currently self-sustaining and sewer requirements (sewer operations and capital improvement) are met through the collection of sewer rates and charges. “The sewer fund is not subsidized by the general

fund,” Koon said. According to figures provided by Woody, the sewer rate will increase 32 cents for every 1,000 gallons of water with annual increases implemented through 2013. Trash rates are expected to increase $3 for curb-side services and $3.50 for backdoor services. Additional rate hikes are expected to increase by $3 for curb-side services and $3.50 more for back-door services, which are expected to be implemented in 2014.

A Campus Indian ensemble offers escape www.theplainsman.com

Thursday, June 16, 2011

Page A3

Nicole Singleton Sports Editor

Being a part of India can be as easy as walking into Room 229 in Goodwin Hall on a Monday night. In Shiladitya Chaudhury’s Indian ensemble class, the point is to immerse yourself in another culture by learning to perform classical Indian music. Forget desks and tests. This class is for the experience. Students sit in a circle on colorful mats and joke about having the unfamiliar instruments upside down. But, once the music begins, it feels like you could be walking the streets of India. The Indian ensemble class, which began last fall, will also be offered in the upcoming fall and spring semesters. There are no requirements for the class or any major restrictions, and it counts as a liberal arts/music elective. Students in the class play instruments including harmoniums, tapturas, tablas, surpetis and an assortment of other authentic Indian instruments. Western instruments, like violins and flutes, can also be incorporated. Don’t be afraid to be vocal along with the music. The only instrument that you need in the class is your voice, Chaudhury said. “(The class) is primarily vocal, mainly because the Indian instruments are kind of difficult to master,” Chaudhury said. “What I tell people is everyone comes with one free instrument from birth, and that’s your voice.” The melodies are easy going and relaxing, enough so that students say they use this class as a time to free their mind of the pres-

Nicole Singleton / Sports Editor

Students listen to Chaudhury before they begin playing another classical Indian melody. sures of more challenging classes. The Indian culture also plays an important role in the class. “We try to make it authentic as possible,” Chaudhury said. “We sit on the ground Indian-style, and when we perform at the end of the semester, we typically get authentic (Indian) outfits for everybody.” Chaudhury said some students might come in and realize it’s not for them, but said he encourages people to come and try it. “I think that people who stick with it a few weeks eventually grow to like it,” Chaudhury said. It is possible that there will be a 2-3 week study abroad course this time next year. “It would be learning about Indian music, but doing it in India,” Chaudhury said. While there, students would be introduced to Indian musicians and instrument makers. Although the class may seem

difficult to some, Chaudhury said participation is the main key to success his classroom. “In Indian music, there are two fundamental pillars that it’s built on,” Chaudhury said. “One is called Raga, which is melodic aspect of music. The other is Taal, or Tala, which is the rhythmic aspect. Each one of these has a whole theory kind of behind them and the way they interact which makes music.” The goal of the class is not to come out knowing how to play or sing the music like an expert, but to gain an appreciation and understanding for this form of art. “My main goal in the class is that students should go away with a little bit of kind of theoretical understanding of how Indian music is put together from Ragas and Taals,” Chaudhury said. This is a class where students are taught to play music, but they

Nicole Singleton / Sports Editor

Shantanu Pradhan and Thomas Harbin play the tabla and swara mandal during class. do not have to be familiar with reading staff notation, so anyone can enroll in it. “We actually use an Indian no-

tation system translated in English, so everyone can understand,” Chaudhury said. At the end of every semester, the students’ final exam is to perform a public recital. This class has also given students the opportunity to get involved with the Indian Cultural Society in Birmingham and to participate in Indian cultural functions. “I think that people come in sometimes, and they don’t know what to expect because — especially in Alabama — there is not a lot of Indian culture music that is available to people,” Chaudhury said. This semester’s students seem to be enjoying the once-in-a-lifetime aspect of the class. “I originally played piano and guitar growing up,” said Shalyn Creel, senior in pre-pharmacy. “But I never played instruments like this before, so it’s really unique and special to be able to play a different culture’s instrument.” Students from India are also in the class, offering a unique experience for those far from home. Shantanu Pradham, Ph.D. student in chemical engineering, said he has been interested in Indian classical music since his childhood and took this opportunity to learn about it. The students are not the only ones getting pleasure out of taking this music class. “I think I get the most pleasure actually listening to my students, and because when they get it — for any teacher — that’s just the most amazing part of it,” Chaudhury said.

Software engineers aid rural areas with medical programs Trent Erwin Associate Campus editor

Technology from Auburn University’s software engineering program is revolutionizing medical care in rural Alabama. KidCheck, a medical program for children in rural communities of Alabama, administers health screenings in public schools to check for symptoms that will indicate medical issues. KidCheck was a program originally implemented by Gov. Bob Riley and his administration. However, KidCheck has been obtained by the nonprofit organization Sight Savers America. Jeffrey Haddox, CEO of Sight Savers America, began the nonprofit because he realized the need for vision correction for children in Alabama. The organization has since moved to incorporate KidCheck and help with screening of all general medical needs for children in rural areas. Nurses from the Auburn School of Nursing worked in collaboration with KidCheck and inquired about updating the process of filing medical records. The nurses involved with the screenings were originally required to collect and file paperwork on each child. The department of computer science and software engineering was alerted about the project and began developing software that would simplify the filing process. To receive funding for the project, Auburn approached sponsor Verizon Wireless. A proposal was sent during the spring semester of 2009 to Verizon, which was granted and offered the department of computer science and software engineering $23,000 for the software project. Richard Chapman, associate professor of computer science and software engineering, led

the project construction along with students. There were teams of software engineering students with senior design projects and graduate students that worked on the project. “These teams go and meet with the nursing students and see how they work and how they gather the data,” Chapman said. “From there, they get an idea of what the functions of the system need to be and then design and produce a prototype. They go out with the nursing students and test the prototype and refine it.” The software allows children to complete the screenings without carrying paperwork to each station. Nurses are equipped with netbooks, small laptops, that are connected to the Verizon network and are able to enter data immediately. There are certain instruments that can be connected directly to a netbook by USB that record measurements through the software, creating a more fluid process. Previously, nurses had to manually enter all data from paper files to a database. “The project is not completed yet,” Chapman said. “It is an ongoing thing. We started back in 2009 and will continue as long as funding supports the project.” The current phase of the project is dedicated to improving medical instruments connectivity through USB and the database that records can be uploaded to. “When Auburn first brought this proposal to our attention, we knew we were in. It was a nobrainer,” said Michelle Robinson, Verizon’s southeast region president. “This project is such a great collaboration of nonprofits, the public sector, colleges, nursing schools, healthcare providers and others.”

Alex Sager / PHOTO EDITOR

Pedestrians walk by the new sign in front of the Alumni Center.

New signs around campus make it easier to navigate Sarah Layne Writer

Buildings on campus will soon be identified by uniform signs placed at their entrance, rather than a name located on the exterior wall of a building. Auburn University’s Campus Planning and Space Management Department is currently placing building identification signs throughout campus. The library, Student Center, quad dormitories and the Auburn Alumni Center are just a few places where these signs will be located. These signs are the last step in the three-phase Exterior Building Identification and Wayfinding Signage Project, which has a goal to improve Auburn’s building signage system. Phase one, implemented in fall 2009, addressed the concern for additional parking signs, followed by a second phase which focused on street identification signs last fall. “This phase that is going forward is specifically for buildingidentification signs for 911 response,” said campus planner Jeffrey Dumars. “That is the priority goal for our signage sys-

tem.” Ben Chapman, who works with Auburn Construction Management, said the plan is to put signs in front of each major building in the core area of campus. A committee composed of graphic designers and University faculty members from the departments of landscape architecture and industrial design planned the signs, which are gray and orange and feature the Samford Hall logo. According to Dumars, the initial budget for the plan was an estimated $350,000, and the cost may vary based on the final number of produced signs. Dumars said as of now, he estimates the count to be between 100 and 200 signs. The map of this project can be found on the University website, which gives a detailed view of the buildings which will receive new identification signs as well as accessibility signs. This project is also being used to help incoming freshmen familiarize themselves with the campus prior to attending Auburn. “We’re giving this to OIT, as

well as the Office of Communication and Marketing, so that this will be the format for the online graphics, as well as maps that the office sends out to incoming freshmen,” Dumars said. Chapman said the projected completion date for this third phase is in mid-August. Cindy Orsenigo, senior in communication disorders, said she believes this project will be beneficial to Auburn students and visitors, as well as helpful in the recruiting process. “Our campus is somewhat complicated if you’re not familiar with it,” Orsenigo said. “We do have a lot of visitors frequent our campus, and I think new signs will make it a lot more appealing for students to come here. “These will definitely make our campus an even friendlier environment.” Chapman said he hopes the project is finished before school resumes in the fall. “Hopefully, it will make it easier to find buildings and classrooms,” Dumars said. “Ultimately, we want it to improve the overall image and character of the campus.”

Opinions

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Thursday, June 16, 2011

Campus

Our View

Alabama immigration law goes too far Gov. Robert Bentley signed the state’s new immigration bill into law June 9. The law, now the strictest in the nation, makes it illegal to not only employ an illegal immigrant, but also to knowingly rent or provide transportation to an illegal immigrant. The law also requires public schools to report the costs of educating illegal immigrants. Bill sponsor Rep. Micky Hammon told The Birmingham News the bill was meant to attack all aspects of illegal immigrants’ lives. “This bill is designed to make it difficult for them to live here so they will deport themselves,” Hammon said. For a while now, we have wanted Alabama to be in the spotlight for something other than inclement weather and football. However, it is appalling to now be thrust into national media attention for all the wrong reasons. We are not surprised to see a law like this passed in our state, knowing how Republican and conservative the state

of Alabama is. What we are surprised to see is how far Bentley and his administrationare taking this. It is ridiculous to expect the police to enforce something on this large of a scale with no additional funding. Individuals arrested on suspicion of being here illegally can be detained in jail until their status is confirmed. This seems counter intuitive to add strain to an already overburdened system. The thing we dislike the most about this bill is the implications from an educational standpoint. To interrupt the flow of a free public education system goes against a lot of what our country was founded on. Teachers should not have to spend any of their time focusing on whether the children they are teaching are citizens or not. This is not the only aspect of the issue we find troubling. Many people say illegal immigrants are taking jobs from unemployed American citizens, but we don’t feel this is

the case. How many people in your life would be willing to work construction in the sweltering heat for almost nothing? There’s no accountability for companies to pay the wages they tell the government they are paying these people. To make matters worse, there is seldom any legal action taken against employers. Illegal immigrants want to be here so badly, they fear for being discovered and take what they can get. They are getting screwed over and they know it. This isn’t even something Alabama legislators should be dealing with. We feel immigration should be a federal issue. If this has become such an issue, the federal government should get involved. It should make standard guidelines that the states can bend, to an extent, to fit their individual needs. We also believe the naturalization process should be reformed and become more streamlined.

It is unrealistic and unfair to think illegal immigrants, many of whom are barely getting by, have the kind of spare cash to apply for citizenship forms. The filing fee to apply for citizenship is over $600. To apply for employment authorization is $380. With fees like that, it’s no wonder so many illegal immigrants remain illegal. Many of us don’t even have extra money like that. These fees seem a bit archaic because of today’s technology and convenience. It takes just the click of a mouse to forward the application to the next reviewer. We understand the need for a fee, but the ones in place are outlandish. And if there should ever be national immigration reform, we feel it should include some anti-racism clauses. What’s in place now only encourages racial profiling. Our country is known as the melting pot for a reason, and targeting the people who make up our nation’s diverse groups doesn’t sit well with us.

Quote of the Week

“

They wanted us to be prohibited from talking to the media at all, and you’d have to ask them why they felt that was appropriate.” —Glennon Threatt “Judge denies gag order” A1

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Plainsman public record policy not controversial Natalie Wade Editor@theplainsman.com

There are times when it is incumbent upon the editor of this paper to address certain policies or procedures of the paper. It is not the job of the editor to defend the policies, but clarify why they are in place. To defend is to imply a policy is flawed or malicious in some way, and, as the current and three-time editor, I can assure our readers there is not one malicious or discriminatory Auburn Plainsman policy. We, present, past and future Plainsman staffs do not set out to trample upon people’s privacy or point out a particular group unnecessarily. One particular policy that has become a hot issue around the office is the list of DUIs we run each week. We received several phone calls concerning the list, and the callers’ misunderstanding of public records laws concerned me. The Plainsman began running DUIs Aug. 23, 2007. It was the first issue of the fall semester, and the list was run on the front page alongside an article about a state trooperled, state-wide crackdown on traffic violations. David Ingram, editor at the time, presented other papers’ policies and what he said was ‘way too many senseless DUIs in Auburn’ to the staff and together we decided to make it a weekly feature of the paper. In an editor’s note in the Aug. 30, 2007 issue, Ingram wrote ‘(We) have chosen to print the names of individuals who have received a DUI within a week’s time not to exploit the arrests, but to bring this common issue to the surface in hopes that students and citizens will learn from it… (We) do not hand pick which names to publish, but print all names in the Auburn City Police reports.’ Since that first week, the list has been run on page A2 and includes every DUI arrest listed for that week in the Auburn City Police reports. The reports are simply arrest reports, which are public records and available to anyone. It is most important to point out the list is only of arrests, not convictions. This is a common feature for weekly, daily and community newspapers.

Although it was not the reason we implemented the policy, it is apparent that we are not the first nor will we be the last newspaper to run DUIs or other public safety-related records. If a DUI arrest is run in our paper, it is neither mandatory or neglectful for us not to follow up on the case. To the best of our knowledge and fact checking, the information is accurate at the time of press. False arrests become a law enforcement issue, and not an issue for our paper. I was a member of the fall 2007 staff and remember the backlash from embarrassed individuals, but I also remember the outpouring of support by students, faculty and staff. Even today I have been a part of discussions with classmates who voice support for the list because they use it as a guide of where and when not to drive to remain safe. As our mission statement says, ‘As the official student newspaper of Auburn University, The Auburn Plainsman’s principle mission is to serve as the primary print news and information source for the University’s students, staff and administration.’ We will continue to run the DUIs and crime reports each week because a vital part of our purpose is public safety through information. The majority of our readership is bingedrinking college students, and since August 2010, there have been 166 DUI arrests, not including breaks between semesters. We are serving thse students best by providing information and a level of accountability for their actions. We would not be doing our journalistic duty if we buckled under opposition and threats of legal action. To expand further on Plainsman policy in regards to public records, any factual information from arrests, deaths – accidental or otherwise – will be printed. Other editors have put it more concisely that I can muster: ‘Anyone who knows the history of this newspaper… knows that it is pointless to call and request that a name be left out,’ said Paul Osborne, editor and publisher of the Decatur Tribune in Decatur, Ill. ‘Either all names go in as the public record, or they all stay out. Some will not get better treatment than others because of who they are, or the money they have. The print rule applies to everybody.’ War Eagle and drive safely.

Reader says ALFA dropping clients To the Editor: What does it take to make a good corporate citizen? Especially, during a time of tragedy and heartbreak such as during the storms of April 27, 2011. It is just reasonable and good common sense to expect Alabama’s corporate community to step up to the plate, pitch in and do their share-after all, many have to depend on the residents of Alabama for their business? The homeowner insurance companies in Alabama should make an extra effort to be there when they are needed, providing the protection their policyhold-

ers have paid premiums for over the years. Yet, ALFA Insurance, the state’s second largest home insurer, announced June 3, 1011, that they will not be renewing homeowner coverage on 1 of every 6 current policies. This amounts to some 73,000 homeowners who will be without coverage, leaving ALFA with about 330,000 customers. ALFA Executives have acknowledged that this action is a direct result of Alabama’s April 27 storms with claims estimated to be $450 Million.. Is this be the quality corporate citizens we want in Alabama? A state company that

has for years solicited homeowners’ business, yet, when we have an act of nature-which is the very reason we pay premiums, ALFA cuts and runs to maximize profits! The bottom line: Alabama does not want or need such companies. The public needs to let the executives of ALFA know how they feel about ALFA’s behavior. There are many other homeowner companies who have not reacted in such an outrageous matter. ALFA must remember they are not the only company in the state.

-James W. Anderson Talladega resident

Teachers, not professors, make impact Maria Iampietro copy@theplainsman.com

Sometimes I wonder how much I’ve actually learned in college. Sure, I know how to read a book, decide what’s important, memorize and internalize, and I know that’s a skill. But shouldn’t every college student be able to read and think critically? There are very few classes that I’ve taken (and this isn’t to say they don’t exist) that caused me to rethink the way I did something. These classes are the precious gems in universities that make me still believe in the system. Though I take all teaching with a grain of salt and understand that all knowledge comes from perspective, those classes that taught me something I’d never encountered before excited me. One of these classes was my photojournalism class in spring 2010. Having never used a “real” camera, or an SLR, I felt intimidated going into the course. What I discovered, lo and behold, was that it was a learning laboratory, a place where I could make mistakes, and it was OK. We had one or two tests, but we were primarily judged by our work, our images. After this class, I felt as though I’d actu-

ally, truly learned something — a skill. I learned to do something I had never done before, and, unlike the things I committed to short-term memory, I could still remember how to do it! Like any skill, ability comes with practice and time, and I knew my affair with photography would need more work. Coincidentally (not really), The Plainsman needed photographers. It always does. In the past year at The Plainsman, I have learned so much. The knowledge is invaluable, and most of it never happened in a classroom or the library. It happened through the human interaction of a teacher, Chris Walker, and a student, me. This interaction never would have worked if Chris handed me a book and said ‘this is how you do it.’ I knew what was expected of me as a student. I was to go out in the community, get in people’s faces and take some photos. If I did it wrong, I would hear about it, too. Sadly, Chris won’t be teaching at Auburn anymore. As the photo editor for The Plainsman in the fall, I fear what will become of the photojournalism department at Auburn. But more than that, I fear what will become of students like me who didn’t know they even were interested in photography. I have had many professors, but few teachers, at Auburn. And I’m sad that others won’t get to have my favorite one.

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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.

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Thursday, June 16, 2011

Page B1

Courtney Smith Intrigue Editor

Turning your wardrobe into a unique work of art is effortless when you can make most of it yourself. Mary Grant McKibben, senior in apparel design and production management, is one of many students who designs and creates her own clothing. “I always really liked art,” McKibben said. “I found my passion was to go and create something.” McKibben said she relies on a combination of things she finds in magazines and things she observes in real life to help inspire her creations. “I am a big Vogue magazine reader,” McKibben said. “Every month I’ll tear pages out and put them in a binder, which I have labeled by season.” McKibben said she also likes to see what people on the street are wearing and will take pictures of outfits or clothing items that inspire her. Heather Hall, senior in apparel design and production management, said she enjoys spending her time designing a lot of her own clothes as well. “I am much more comfortable wearing my designs now than I used to be,” Hall said. “It makes my day when someone asks where I got something and I can say I made it myself.” Once Hall has an idea, she then has to figure out how to bring it to life. Hall said the most challenging part is the technical aspect, which almost always involves trial and error. But, she said, that’s how she learns. “I sit and stare and start sketching until I think I know how something will come together,” Hall said. With a self-proclaimed passion for all things detailed and artistic, Hall said her design aesthetic is inspired by vintage themes and handwork such as French heirloom, embroidery, ribbon work and beading. A major difficulty she said she faces when putting together a design is creating a piece that looks the way she envisions it in her head. Hall said that in Auburn, finding materials for her projects is difficult because they are at a disadvantage when it comes to getting supplies. While there is a Hobby Lobby in Opelika, she said,

Alex Sager / Photo Editor

Mary Grant McKibben, senior in apparel design and production management, works on the final steps of one of her creations. the nearest fabric store is located in Montgomery. “Sometimes it doesn’t seem possible to find exactly what I’m looking for in terms of color, trimmings or other design details,” Hall said. “However, sometimes I have to just use what I have or keep trying until it comes out the way I planned.” Designing a garment can be time consuming and expensive, Hall said, but it’s an accomplishment when finished. Hall said she is in the process of creating her online website and portfolio as well as designing her own line, which she plans to have ready for show by the time she graduates in December. “If nothing else, these experiences have shown me how much the world has to offer and that you should do something you enjoy while making a positive difference in someone else’s life,” Hall said. Lenda Connell, professor in the department of consumer affairs, teaches specialized apparel design courses that move ap-

parel design from an intellectual concept to the actual production of garments. Connell also supervises interns throughout the semester. “Some (students) may design garments. Others may produce patterns. Others find the fabrics for production,” Connell said. “Add to that the different categories of apparel… it is a huge field.” Miranda Mardis, senior in apparel design and production management, said she has been making clothes for herself since she was 15 years old and revels in the opposite end of the designing spectrum by opting for a more theatrical approach. “I enjoy anything overexaggerated and over the top,” Mardis said. “The gaudier, the better, I say.” Mardis said she wants to work in costume design because she understands that the concepts she designs are not practical for an everyday woman. “I love making people question my designs and really think about the meaning behind them,”

Mardis said. “And I feel I can have more design freedom in costume design.” For Mardis, anything can be inspirational. She said she takes her ideas from different things she sees on a daily basis, but she also loves vintage clothing. “I feel like vintage garments tell a story of another time, and I like taking that idea of a story and giving it a little twist,” Mardis said. Martha Faber, senior in apparel design and production management, also designs and creates clothes. “When I came to Auburn, I knew I wanted to do something creative,” Faber said. “I had always been the arts and crafts volunteer/teacher or the creative one baking something, and I knew I would be bored in a career if it didn’t include designing or creating.” It’s amazing how much time goes into a garment, Faber said, especially when you are making the patterns yourself and not buying them at a store. “A lot of math, critical thinking

Play that funky music, Wildman Local disc jockey shakes up the airwaves through online radio website Alexander Harper Writer

If you ask Wildman Steve, good music has no genre. Wildman Steve, whose real name is Steve Bronson, is the founder and head deejay of locally-owned and operated Internet radio station Wildman Steve Radio. Although it started out with humble beginnings, Wildman Steve Radio now has at least 50 regular listeners in each state, as well as listeners in countries around the world including France, the Netherlands, Sweden, Canada, Mexico and the U.K. “It’s far out to watch,” Bronson said. “We have 5,000 listeners across the world on a daily basis, which is considered in the world of radio to be a ‘large station’ audience, but we are real happy with our growth.” For Bronson, running the radio

station comes naturally. “It’s just in my blood,” Bronson said. “It’s something I always did. I was born that way, literally. I don’t think I could do a job not involved in music.” After graduating from West Virginia University, Bronson took time off to play the trumpet, piano, drums and even the washboard. Bronson said he has been in 15-20 bands, which has allowed him to take a first-hand look at the music that has always been a part of him. He picked up work here and there, he said, and played everything from hard rock to country. After five years, Bronson attended the University of Florida to get his bachelor’s degree in music. In 1983, after almost nailing a record deal, Bronson sold his band equipment and opened a record store with the nearly 4,000 records he had in his possession. He then conducted a study on college towns to decide where he could open his record store. He finally settled on Auburn in 1988 based on market research that showed a lack of competition in this area. » See steve, B2

and patience goes into making a garment from scratch,” Faber said. “But it is always worth it in the end.” Like Hall, Faber said it is difficult having a vision and being unable to find the right fabric or buttons or accessories for it. Limited resources makes it difficult sometimes, Faber said. Faber said she has many favorite styles and types of clothing, but she loves creating simple pieces that have a few pops of interest. “My main design adjectives are comfort, nostalgia, structure, a little quirkiness and a little nomad,” Faber said. In the future, Faber said she might want to own a business that focuses on different body types and sizes and create clothes for certain body types. “All women need to feel good in what they put on — not in a shallow sense — because it gives them confidence,” Faber said. “I hope I am able to use my passion and talents to help women gain confidence.”

Summer heat takes a toll on automobiles Ariana Diaz writer

Alex Sager / Photo Editor

Bronson emcees the Alex City Jazz Festival on Friday, June 10.

With temperatures reaching record highs this summer, staying cool is something you may struggle with, especially when it comes to your car. The summer heat can cause many different kinds of damage to your car. Mechanics around Auburn said the most common areas of cars affected by heat are the cooling system, water pump, head gasket, radiator and tires. Kevin Smith, manager at Tiger Tire and Auto, said the heat can cause tires to wear down faster, and it is always a good idea to check the alignments, the coolant system and get regular oil changes to prevent your car from going over the recommended mileage. It is important to check the maintenance of your car regularly and to address any problems right away. If you are planning to take a road trip this summer, there are a few things you might want to check before you go. “Most people just kind of forget the importance of tires,” said Phil Torrejon, co-owner of United Auto Service Center. To make sure your tires stay in good shape, » See Cars, B2

Intrigue B2

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Thursday, June 16, 2011

Cars

» From B1 Torrejon advises that you check the pressure and have plenty of tread left on them. Another thing you should make sure of is that they are not cracked or dry rotted. Checking all your fluids, oil, coolant, brake fluid and making sure to check belts for wear is important too. Torrejon said most cars have a translucent plastic jug which holds the coolant and, when you check it, make sure it is in between the high and low marks in the container. Smith said another way you can check your car is by finding out if anything smells different. A sweet smell could mean something is wrong with your coolant, and a gassy or musty smell means there is an exhaust leak. Joseph Pinson, junior in mechanical engineering,

Steve

» From B1 Bronson said he began noticing a decline in CD sales throughout the late 90s and early 2000s with the rise of music sharing sites and CD burners. On what would have been the store’s 13th anniversary in 1991, Bronson ended up having a closeout sale instead. Bronson spent seven years working at local radio station WQNR, where he was named program director and helped the station win four consecutive Station of the Year awards. After Bronson was let go from the station, Bronson and his wife, Laura, then decided to move Wildman Steve Radio to the Internet, using the only money they had in savings on their

“

said people shouldn’t forget to check their spare tire and make sure that it has the correct amount of air pressure. To be on the safe side, he said, it would be a good idea to take a few things with you on your trip for your car as well. “For more general purposes just extra oil, extra coolant and a basic tool set are good,” Pinson said. Whether you are going on a trip or staying home this summer, don’t leave your car unattended be-

cause the summer heat can cause serious damage. If you hear any strange noises, smell anything unusual or notice any puddles from leaks, get those things checked. “Basic thing to do is do a walk around your vehicle in the morning,” Smith said. “Check everything. Make sure with the tires one’s not low, seat belts all that good stuff just as long as everything’s working. Main thing is coolant and the oil, and you can also check your transmission fluid.” Torrejon said regardless if it is summer or winter, don’t ignore the little things because something that seems small can actually become a bigger problem or even a dangerous one. “A lot of times people tend to ignore stuff like that thinking it’s not a big deal,” Torrejon said. “You’re usually better off taking care of a small problem early on than you are waiting for it to become a big problem.”

third year wedding anniversary. Bobby Guy, patron of Wildman Steve Radio, said he has listened to Wildman Steve since the beginning, after stumbling upon the previous FM radio station. “I liked it, because it wasn’t the same old stuff,” Guy said. “It wasn’t predictable. Most radio stations were just putting in the same old CD and hitting replay, and I would always guess which ZZ Top or Pink Floyd song they were going to play next.” Laura, better known as her on-air alias Lola Palooza, said she believes in what she and her husband are doing for music and that this is more of a labor of love. They work hard at what they do, she said, because they share a deep

love of music. “I couldn’t ask for anything more,” Laura said. “We’ve all got to do something in this life. I don’t know how important this is for the world, but it’s important to the musicians.” Guy said listening to the station introduced him to music he would have never discovered had it not been for Wildman Steve. “My friends and I absolutely love Wildman Steve and are grateful for him turning us on to good music,” Guy said. Bronson said there isn’t much money to make a living off of, but they are doing good for the world of music. “There really truly is lots of good music out there, if you know where to look,” Bronson said.

You’re usually better off taking care of a small problem early on than you are waiting for it to become a big problem.” —Phil Torrejon Auto Service Shop co-owner

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Sports

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Thursday, June 16, 2011

Page B3

Swimming to success

Chizik

Chizik featured on FOX program special Nicole Singleton Sports Editor

Todd Van Emst / Auburn Media Relations

Mazzaferro served as captain for the team this year. This season Meissner clocked the second best time in the 200 individual medley.

Mazzaferro and Meissner win conference awards and Academic All-American honors Crystal Cole Managing Editor

Although two members of the Auburn swimming and diving teams are currently working on internships in Europe, they are still receiving awards on their athletic and scholastic success. Dan Mazzaferro and Erica Meissner were honored at the June 2 SEC annual awards banquet held in Destin, Fla. Both swimmers received the McWhorter Award for being the top male and female student athletes in the conference. They will each receive a $15,000 post-graduate scholarship from AT&T. “The H. Boyd McWhorter Scholar-Athlete Award is the highest honor a student-athlete can receive in the Southeastern Conference,” said SEC Commissioner Mike Slive. “The commitment and dedication that Dan and Erica embody make them excellent selections for the McWhorter Scholar-Athlete Award. They are outstanding representatives of Auburn University and the Southeastern Conference.”

Mazzaferro earned his degree in chemistry in May 2010 and will finish his masters of business degree in December. He was named an Auburn Academic Top Tiger four times and was honored three times to the SEC Academic Honor Roll. He served as captain of the swimming and diving team this season and was the 2011 SEC champion in platform diving and the 3-meter event. He is a nine-time All-American and was a U.S. Olympic diving finalist. He was also recently named to the Capitol One At-Large AllAmerica First Team after making the second team in 2009. “Dan is very deserving of this honor and has represented Auburn well throughout his career,” said Brett Hawke, head swimming and diving coach. “He has been stellar in the pool during his time and has been a great role model in the classroom. We are very proud of him and excited for what the future has in store for him.” Mazzaferro is one of only nine Auburn swimmers to be named

“

The commitment and dedication that Dan and Erica embody make them excellent selections for the McWhorter ScholarAthlete Award.” —Mike Slive SEC Commissioner

an Academic All-American and one of only six first-teamers. A two-time SEC Diver of the Year, Mazzaferro was also a member of the College Swimming Coaches Association of America Scholar All-American Team. Mazzaferro also won the 2011 SEC Commissioner’s Cup as the highest scorer at the SEC Championships and was the 2011 SEC Swimming and Diving ScholarAthlete of the Year. Meissner is a member of three honors fraternities and will earn a degree in anthropology this summer. She was also a Rhodes Schol-

New assistant volleyball coach returns home to Alabama Nicole Singleton Sports Editor

It took a nation-wide journey for coach Eysha Ambler to find herself back where she began. The new assistant volleyball coach was at the University of Pittsburgh at one point, but now the Alabama native is coming back home. “I’m glad to be back home and recruiting kids to my home state,” Ambler said. “Alabama is a great place, and I’ve been gone for so long, and I’m glad to be back.” Ambler said that she was surprised when head coach Rick Nold offered her the job, but Nold said she was always a target for a coaching position here at Auburn. “I had worked with her before,” Nold said. “I knew the great job she does recruiting.” Ambler played college volleyball at Jacksonville State. After ending her college career, she decided to try out for a professional volleyball team, but did not get a

AMBLER

position on the team. “After I found out I couldn’t play professionally, I was like ‘coaching would be my next route.’ I just wanted to be around sports somehow,” Ambler said. This decision led her back to Jacksonville State where she was a graduate assistant for coach Nold, who at the time was coaching there. Ambler said she is excited about the opportunity to work with Nold again. “I learned so much just those two years that I worked with him,” Ambler said. She said she wants to improve her knowledge of the game and

recruiting abilities by working with Nold. Ambler said she is also looking forward to the vollyball team’s upcoming season. “They had a great season last year, and I just want to keep building on that,” Ambler said. “They should know this is Auburn. We should be winning.” Ambler said she believes that making it to the NCAA tournament should be an annual occurrence for the Tigers. “We’re really excited just in general for the change,” said Katherine Culwell, junior outside hitter. “It’s like a fresh start.” Culwell said she feels Ambler will bring a lot of excitement to the program. Nold said Ambler’s greatest qualities are organizational skills and her ability to work with her players. “To me, when you are trying to bring in new staff, you want people who are hungry, and that’s her,” Nold said.

arship finalist. Meissner was named an Academic All-American SecondTeam member after being named to the All-District First Team. This marks the first time since 2006, only the fourth time ever, for Auburn’s swimming and diving team to have two recipients in the same year. “This is a great honor for Erica and really exhibits the hard work she put in during her career, both in the pool and the classroom,” Hawke said. “She has been a great role model to her teammates during her time at Auburn and we cannot wait to see where the future takes her.” She earned All-America honors in 2008 and is a two-time College Swimming Coaches Association of America Scholar All-American. Meissner had Auburn’s secondbest time this season in the 200 backstroke and the 200 individual medley. The SEC awards were accepted by the athletes’ parents, Thomas and Cyntia Mazzaferro and Walt and Rosemarie Meissner, since both are out of the country.

Football head coach Gene Chizik appeared on SportsSouth Tuesday night in a program recapping the 2010 season. In My Own Words: Gene Chizik “Journey to a Championship” features Chizik meeting with FOX SportsSouth television network producer Ray Goodrich. On the show, Chizik and Goodrich discuss the Tigers’ road to the 2010 BCS National Championship. The 30-minute program included untold stories and an in-depth analysis of the Tigers’ biggest games of the season. The show will include Heisman winner Cameron Newton and Lombardi winner Nick Fairley. For a brief preview of what the program will feature, visit foxsportssouth.com for a short video of coach Chizik discussing the LSU game and Newton’s touchdown run that gained national attention for his Heisman candidacy. Reruns will air during the following dates :

• 6/17 4:30 pm CT • 6/17 10:30 pm CT • 6/18 1:30 pm CT • 6/18 8:30 pm CT • 6/26 7:00 pm CT • 6/30 8:30 pm CT

AMBLER’s answers

Coach quick hits

Sports B4

The Auburn Plainsman

Thursday, June 16, 2011

Baseball camps showcase potential Auburn athletes Brandon Miller Writer

Although the 2011 Auburn baseball season is over, the staff is still busy at work. Baseball beginners and college prospects are headed to Plainsman Park this summer for camp, and they are in similar shoes as current Tigers once were. “I would say probably half our team has been through camp here at some point along the way,” said volunteer assistant coach Ty Megahee. Auburn baseball has four camps throughout the summer that focuses on further developing baseball players. Thirteen-year-olds to high school graduates may

participate in the exposure camp, and high school players have the option of attending the elite camp or team camp. All camps are on a first-come, first-serve basis. Megahee and Scott Duval, director of baseball operations, are the two main forces behind Auburn’s summer baseball camps. Head coach John Pawlowski is always in attendance, along with current players and guest coaches. “When we have camps going on, I want to give the utmost attention to our campers and give them a great experience,” Pawlowski said. The exposure camp does exactly what its name says.

“Camp is a place that you’re guaranteed to be seen by the coaches, and you’re coming to our facility and the coaches are working with you,” Duval said. “That’s a good opportunity for a lot of players that want to play at the next level.” That was the case with Auburn senior Dan Gamache. “I think Dan came to a winter camp down from Rhode Island,” Duval said. “That’s when the coaches saw him for the first time. Now he’s a sixth-round draft pick.” During this July 24-27 camp, all aspects of the game will be covered, including offense, defense and pitching.

However, the players aren’t the only ones being exposed, Pawlowski said. “Camps provide a great opportunity for prospective student athletes to have an opportunity to be involved on campus here at Auburn, to get an opportunity to have a feel of what Auburn is like, what the campus is like,” Pawlowski said. If players want to register they must do it quickly. The elite camp is the only camp that takes a certain number of players before filling up. “In doing that allows a little more one-on-one instruction,” Megahee said. “We’re able to do a lot more stuff because of the small number,”

Welcome Camp War Eagle Students and Parents!

Those interested have to be quick in registering considering each year it fills up quicker. Typically the 44 spots are filled by mid-June or early July. According to Duval, this year the camp was sold out June 2. The camp doesn’t start until July 17. Currently, there is a waiting list for campers who were not able to get one of the 44 spots. Players take batting practice, field from their positions and get timed for their 60-yard dash, while coaches try to watch for possible prospects. One night during camp, Auburn coaches and attending teams and coaches all meet in the same spot

to discuss what makes Auburn baseball Auburn baseball, Duval said. “We’ll give them the ideas that we have here at Auburn, our philosophies on pitching or defense or hitting,” Duval said. “It’s a way for us to work with those coaches and players also and give them the philosophy of the way we do things at Auburn.” Auburn continues to improve its camps to make it the best possible for campers, whether they are learning the game or attempting to succeed at the college level. “I love seeing a guy leave knowing he had a good time and that he got better somehow,” Duval said.

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