Welcome Back Fall 2020

welcome back fall 2020

published by The

Auburn Plainsman JACK WEST / EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

The Auburn Plainsman: Welcome Back 2020

August 13, 2020

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Welcome Back Fall 2020

Table of Contents 4................................A Healthier U 7.................................Wear a Mask 8..........................Parking Updates 9.......................................Traditions 10....................Director of the AU Medical Clinic 12...........................Welcome Back Letters 15.........................New Businesses 16...............................Coffee shops

around Auburn 18.......................Tigers Basketball 19.....................AU Sports during COVID-19

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The Auburn Plainsman: Welcome Back 2020

August 13, 2020

CORONAVIRUS

A Healthier U

The policies and guidelines that Auburn University has put in place to help keep students safe Face Coverings

By TIM NAIL

The University initiated its face covering policy on June 22.

It will continue into the fall semester, requiring anyone in a public indoor facility space to wear a mask.

This includes classrooms and laboratories and additionally applies to participants of University events in off-campus buildings, according to the University.

“Students and faculty should consult the Universi-

Section Editor

By now, face coverings and physical distancing have become a common sight in a pandemic-affected 2020. As students, faculty and staff return to the University this fall in large numbers for the first time since March, they will be required to abide by many of these policies as part of Auburn’s “A Healthier U” reentry plan.

So, here’s a look at many of the policies that will be in place this fall.

ty’s Policy on Classroom Behavior for information on adherence to classroom expectations,” the University said in reentry plan documents. “The University will provide all interested faculty with a face shield to use in teaching their classes.”

Exceptions to this policy are for those alone in private offices and roommates together in residence hall rooms, the University previously stated.

Physical Distancing Physical distancing policies first appeared when campus reopened over the summer.

Those on campus are asked to enter and exit buildings through marked doors as directed by signage, and some seating in public spaces will be blocked off to encourage separation.

“Most academic buildings maintain informal, non-classroom spaces that allowed for study [and] teamwork,” the

University said. “With face coverings required, students using these spaces should maintain appropriate physical distance by leaving at least one seat open between themselves and other students.”

Classrooms, on the other hand, will be reduced to 50% occupancy. The University said this will be achieved by following the same one-gap seating suggestion between students oc-

6 ft.

cupying rooms.

Distancing and lower capacity rules also extend to lab classes and those performing hands-on activities as part of their coursework. The University requests that faculty be transparent with their departments and dean’s offices to ensure these are followed.

“Practicable distancing will be followed between individuals engaged in experiential learning

opportunities as well as between students in vehicles required for travel to instructional field laboratories when possible,” the University said. “Faculty and staff should take every reasonable precaution in safely continuing student participation in experiential learning environments such as the use of proper face coverings and additional PPE as needed [and] physical distancing.”

August 13, 2020

The Auburn Plainsman: Welcome Back 2020

Campus Dining

Dining areas and restaurants see some of the most frequent close quartering of employees and customers, and Campus Dining has adapted these policies to its facilities, said Glenn Loughridge, director of Campus Dining.

“All employees will be required to wear face coverings and be subjected to a daily check-in process that includes a wellness assessment and temperature check for each employee before they are allowed to enter a location,” Loughridge said.

“Customers should wear face coverings when they enter the building, during ordering and receiving food and then remove their face covering when they are seated at their table to dine.”

These procedures will be observed at all dining locations, Loughridge said, and customers are asked to wear their masks whenever they move around a dining area. Most locations will continue to provide on-site seating, though limited as

per distancing policies, with dividers on tables for added safety.

Loughridge also noted that Campus Dining has expanded mobile and remote ordering methods for the fall to lessen the time customers with safety concerns spend in dining areas.

“We have implemented multiple purchase and ordering options for students to dine at any capacity they feel safe,” he said. “Some of those new options include Grubhub mobile ordering at all locations and War Eagle Supply [stores], the ability to purchase Home Chef meal kits using dining dollars, curbside and to-go ordering and pickup.”

Food trucks will continue to serve students, faculty and staff on campus, but orders will only be taken through Grubhub in order to prevent long lines in outdoor walkways, Loughridge said.

“At all locations Grubhub will notify the customer when their order is ready for pickup to eliminate the need to congregate close to the

Ralph Brown Draughon Library

Ralph Brown Draughon Library is undergoing some adjustments to comply with the face covering and physical distancing guidelines as another high-traffic facility. Fewer items for checkout, different operating hours and limits on capacity in certain areas are among some of the changes.

“Like the rest of the campus, while you’re in the building, we do expect you to wear a mask in the library, and we are asking people to social distance … if possible,” said Jayson Hill, director of communications and marketing for Auburn University Libraries. “Some places are roped off so we can keep people apart.”

Restrictions on checkouts will apply to short-term use and “high touch” items, which include hourly laptops, chargers and calculators and are unavailable to check out until further notice, according to AU Libraries.

“Some items we would normally check out can’t be cleaned well enough,” Hill said. “There’s going to be a pile of dry erase markers instead of checking out dry erase sets and that sorta thing.”

Other items are physical books loaned through traditional reserves. AU Libraries encourages faculty to request scans of desired book chapters through the AUBIExpress system or contact their subject specialist librarian in order to buy an e-book or streaming video for their courses. Only chapters of 50 pages or fewer may be scanned via AUBIExpress.

truck or location,” he added.

In addition, The Village Tiger Zone and Foy Dining Hall will take advantage of these changes by moving from a self-serving buffet model to instead serving pre-made meals and taking largely remote orders. Students may pick up grab-and-go sealed containers of food and use new kiosks in place at separate stations to place orders.

Some meals in the two locations will be based on a True Balance format which takes consideration of common allergies, according to Loughridge.

“Foy Hall is transitioning to a mobile order platform that will allow a student to order their food via Grubhub or from kiosks and be able to pay with either dining dollars or a meal swipe,” Loughridge said. “We are utilizing heated food lockers to keep the food hot and fresh. Tiger Zone and Foy will continue to provide great variety, special events and accommodate all needs of students.”

In accordance with physical distancing policy, self-checkout stations are available by the parking deck entrance and Mell Street exit. Existing checkouts from before campus closure are not subject to the same schedule as normal and may be returned “All items that were checked out in February were renewed and any fine accrued during the campus shutdown was forgiven,” AU Libraries said in a FAQ document provided to The Plainsman. “The normal fine and fee schedule became active again on Aug. 1, 2020. Any patron that cannot return a book due to [a] COVID-related issue should contact the circulation department or business desk directly to discuss their options.”

Occupancy limits for elevators and restrooms in the building have also been significantly reduced. Only one person may use each restroom at a time, and only two people may be inside an elevator at once.

“That is probably going to have to change at some point,” Hill admitted. “We are asking people if at all possible to take the stairs.”

In turn, study rooms will be limited to two students per reservation, but the process to reserve a room is otherwise the same as normal, Hill said.

The library will not be following its usual 24-hour schedule at the start of the semester and will close at midnight on weekdays to ensure a “thorough cleaning” may be performed, Hill said.

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The Auburn Plainsman: Welcome Back 2020

August 13, 2020

August 13, 2020

The Auburn Plainsman: Welcome Back 2020

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OPINION

JACK WEST / EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

The University has mandated that people wear masks while in campus buildings, it’s up to us to follow through.

Don’t be stupid; wear a mask

By EDITORIAL BOARD Fall 2020

It is already abundantly clear that this semester at Auburn will not be like any other before or after it.

The packed lecture halls and crowded concourses that so many students recognize will likely be a lot emptier this fall.

The roar of a packed Jordan-Hare won’t echo off the surrounding buildings on Saturdays, and we may not get the chance to roll Toomer’s Corner this year.

Even the small, daily interactions in classrooms, the library or the Rec that make this campus feel like a home are going to have to be socially distanced.

But it’s important to remember why this year is going to be so different.

The University has spent the summer developing and implementing a number of strategies and regulations that are designed to prevent COVID-19 from spreading amongst students, faculty and staff.

As we have seen through the summer, this virus has the ability to sweep through buildings and communities with incredible speed. Even worse, it has the ability to leave thousands of bodies — our loved

ones and neighbors — in its wake.

The system the University has worked out is certainly not perfect, but we as students still need to do our best to follow the guidelines they have set. It is up to us to protect our own health and the health of people around us.

Of the guidelines set by the University, the easiest, most effective and most obvious step that nearly every student can take is to wear a mask.

Yes, it’s also important to wash your hands and stand six feet apart, but wearing a mask is both easier and more effective than both of those.

It may not be comfortable.

In August, Auburn’s average high temperature is nearly 90 degrees, and in September is usually only drops to a balmy 85.

The last thing anybody wants to do when walking from Parker to Haley in 90-degree weather is put a piece of cloth over their face.

However, the alternative is for another batch of seniors to spend their last year at Auburn taking classes through a computer. The alternative is for a group of incoming freshmen to have their first experiences at Auburn be virtual instead of personal. The alternative is for all of us to

try and take notes, quizzes and exams online … again.

Wearing a mask is not a political statement, and it’s not virtue signaling. It’s not about how comfortable you are or how cool you think you look.

It’s about protecting the people around you from a virus that you may or may not have. It’s about having enough respect for your community to value their lives over your own minor discomfort. It’s about being a decent human being who cares about something greater than themselves.

When you’re walking across campus this year, masked and socially distanced, it might be helpful to remember the sacrifices that Auburn students made in the past.

In 1917, when the United States officially entered the First World War, hundreds of Auburn students left The Plains to fight the Central Powers in the trenches.

In 1941, after the bombing of Pearl Harbor, more Auburn students volunteered or were drafted to fight in Europe and the Pacific.

In the 1950s a number of Black students faced hatred and threats of violence when they integrated Auburn for the first time.

This is nothing like that.

We aren’t being asked to risk our lives to fight for something we believe in. We aren’t being asked to climb over trenches, storm any beaches or be beaten for daring to believe we deserve equal rights. We aren’t evening being asked to sacrifice our time or money.

All that we are being asked to do is wear a mask whenever we’re in public.

At Auburn, we pride ourselves on being a Family. This year will be a good test of that because members of a family don’t just care for each other when it’s convenient. Members of a family protect each other when it’s difficult.

It’s easy to say War Eagle after the Iron Bowl, but a true member of the Auburn Family will say it from behind a mask too.

This semester is going to be weird, and it’s going to be difficult, but it will also be a possibility for our Family to work together.

So, now that classes have started and we can see the friends that we’ve been missing since March, it’s imperative that we all do what we can to keep each other healthy.

That starts with wearing a mask.

Don’t be selfish, don’t be arrogant, don’t be stupid. Wear a mask.

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The Auburn Plainsman: Welcome Back 2020

CAMPUS

Parking services prohibits backing into spots

August 13, 2020

SOCIAL MEDIA

Who to follow The Plainsman’s top 7 Twitter picks @theauplainsman

By EMMA KIRKEMIER Copy Editor

Following an update from Auburn University Parking Services for the fall 2020 semester, students will no longer be allowed to back into or pull through parking spaces.

AU Transportation Services first announced the new “back up/pull through” rule on Twitter on July 2, saying the policy would go into effect at the start of the fall semester. It was later decided to push it back to Sept.

14.

“We are actually delaying that in response to the COVID situation,” said Arishna Lastinger, parking operations manager.

According to the AU Parking Services website, drivers can pick up a “back in/pull thru decal” from the Parking Services office that, when displayed on a vehicle, will allow them to back into or pull through a parking space without being penalized.

Lastinger said anyone can pick up a decal, but that things may change depending on how well things go this year.

She explained that when enforcing parking policy, employees are unable to scan the tags of cars that have been backed into spaces. Employees must exit their vehicles and attempt to scan the license plate with a phone instead.

“These extra steps cut into overall parking enforcement, preventing staff from effectively covering all parking lots,” Lastinger said. “It makes it hard for us to read your license plate. The new policy is intended to make the enforcement process more efficient.”

Lastinger said that in the first month of the semester, Parking Services will be working to provide better protective measures against COVID-19 in its office.

“Usually at the beginning of a semester the Parking Services office is flooded with students who have received parking tickets,” she said. “Parking Services is delaying the new policy to offset this influx of students in the interest of protecting its office workers.”

The Parking Services office will be available for drive-thru or in-office service.

For customers who need to go inside, they ask that a mask be worn at all times and that social distancing guidelines are followed.

In addition to this new rule, a few lots have been re-zoned.

PC3 lot will now be designated as a B Zone, PC4 has been expanded, the CVD lot is now a PC5 lot and Hayfield parking will be RO/C parking.

An updated and complete parking map can be found on the AU Parking Service’s website.

NATALIE BECKERINK / MANAGING EDITOR

The Auburn Plainsman @AuburnU

Auburn University @auburnsga

Auburn SGA @PlainsmanSports

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August 13, 2020

The Auburn Plainsman: Welcome Back 2020

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SUITE 1111

Return to tradition:

Students recall what they missed about campus life

By TRICE BROWN Enterprise Editor

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Hannah Krawcyzk, senior in public administration, relied on structure to get through quarantine: the Zoom classes that kept their regular class times, the phone calls she would schedule with her friends and the movie nights she held over FaceTime.

“Having those things really helped in making it feel like we were able to do some of those things that we did

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expect he would miss, like getting a haircut, walking to his classes and Chick-fil-A. “It’s one of my favorite places on campus, not going to lie,” Getman said.

Soon after classes start, the Tabletop Gaming Club, which he serves as president, will have rooms available to play Dungeons & Dragons in-person. It’ll likely be the first time he’s played his campaigns face-to-face in months.

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to be typing for a couple hours with a mask on, so now I have to stay home.”

Now, Coffee Cat’s layout has changed. Its tables and chairs are pushed to the walls and distanced apart.

For Ickes, who has to be extremely careful so she doesn’t contract the novel coronavirus and spread it to her students and supervising teacher, her last experiences at the coffee shop will likely be limited to takeout.

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Ickes is a fifth-year senior and will be graduating in December, but her last semester will be spent in an internship in a fourth grade class. She likely won’t be on campus at all this fall.

The place she missed the most is Coffee Cat, where she would study, make lesson plans and hang out with people in her cohort.

“It’s sad that I don’t quite feel comfortable spending a large amount of time here,” Ickes said. “I don’t want

Eli Getman, senior in computer science and mathematics, spends a lot of his time playing the tabletop game Dungeons and Dragons. While he was sheltering in place at his family’s house over the spring and summer, he played the game virtually.

Getman said he missed playing the game with other people faceto-face. It was something he knew he would miss once campus initially shut down.

Other things, however, he didn’t

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like being able to call a friend and get coffee or work on a class project. She misses the ease of being able to see people.

Returning in the fall doesn’t mean the anxiety will be gone, Krawcyzk said. She will be unmasked at home, but her time with friends will be six feet away and masked.

“I have high risk friends,” she said.

“I have people who can’t afford to be sick. I don’t want to put anyone in danger.”

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Before leaving for spring break, Anna Ickes, senior in elementary education, hugged the second graders she had been teaching three days a week goodbye.

She didn’t expect it would be her final goodbye to them, as Auburn’s campus and her practicum shut down over spring break.

“I never really got to say goodbye to them for real,” Ickes said. “So that was hard. It was hard not being able to say goodbye to a lot of people.”

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before together, even though we are so far away,” she said.

Krawcyzk rarely left her apartment during quarantine. The most she did in the Auburn area was go grocery shopping.

The thing she said she misses most about normal life on campus is being able to see her support system of friends without the “lingering stress of ‘Are we going to be okay? Is it alright to see each other?’”

She misses the day to day things,

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For the complete audio story, go to the online version at our website here:

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The Auburn Plainsman: Welcome Back 2020

August 13, 2020

CAMPUS

FILE PHOTO

Dr. Fred Kam, Dr. Ricardo Maldonado and Brooke Bailey hold a press conference to address the threat of coronavirus on March 5, 2020.

‘I do what I’m doing because I love it’

Dr. Kam, director of the AU Med Clinic, shares his story

By COLLINS KEITH Assistant Editor

While a brief glance at the plaques and accolades around his office reveals that he is a man of many talents, Dr. Frederick Kam, director of the Auburn University Medical Clinic, is a family man.

With three grown daughters and a wife and mother-in-law at home, Kam has a love for welcoming people. He is committed to dinner with his daughter’s boyfriend and Auburn college game days with family and friends.

And that love for community is what brought him to Auburn.

Born in Trinidad and Tobago, Kam’s attitude and capabilities were quickly recognized by both his teachers and parents at a young

age, and preparations were made to send him to high school in England.

While his future was laid out for him from a young age, for Kam, the decision really only came down to two professions.

“I’ve only ever wanted to become two things in my life. One was a doctor, and the second was a Catholic priest,” said Kam with a laugh. “The Catholic priest went out the door when I was 12 years old; I guess puberty, hormones, whatever you want to call it … I was like, not priesthood, medicine.”

According to Kam, he knew he wanted to study medicine by age seven. While he had an intrinsic love for it, attending Catholic school and seeing commercials and documentaries on TV about children in Africa in need of medical care only served to reinforce those ideals.

“In those days and times, they used to have these documentaries or ads that would show you, which would just tear at your heart, kids starving in Ethiopia and Uganda and the Congo,” said Kam. “So you always felt that you [had]to go there … that you had to do what you [could]. [It] was very emotionally moving.”

For high school, Kam moved to Birkenhead, England, right across the Mersey river from Liverpool. It was there that he further developed his skills and prepared for University; not in Trinidad and Tobago or England, but in the States, at the University of Miami.

At Miami, as much as he enjoyed studying medicine, Kam loved learning about all the new American sports that he hadn’t been exposed to in Trinidad and Tobago or England.

“When I came in as a Freshman, I came in

as an international student. I played British sports my whole life: cricket, soccer; which I call football, tennis, badminton, all those things,” said Kam. “So as a freshman at the University of Miami, I had to learn American sports; one of which was football. So I was very excited about learning new things.”

At the University of Miami, according to Kam, he also got very involved with Student Government. As an international student in just his second semester at college, Kam co-led the SGA campaign at Miami, and as a sophomore, Kam was the chief-of-staff to the SGA president.

Kam took an accelerated course load at the University of Miami, and after three years, he graduated, applying and being accepted into medical school at Miami. In medical school, Kam was named president of his class.

August 13, 2020

The Auburn Plainsman: Welcome Back 2020

After completing medical school, Kam finished his schooling at Miami by completing an internal residency, graduating in 1986. He then worked at the University of Miami briefly, before transitioning over to be the chief medical officer at Collegiate Healthcare, a company that manages healthcare at colleges and universities, both in the U.S. and in Canada.

According to Kam, while he enjoyed his work at Collegiate Healthcare, his work caused him to be away from his wife and two children more often than he would have liked.

“Back in those days … I travelled about 40 weeks a year in airplanes. It was not why I became a doctor,” said Kam. “But I was trying to make my impact on improving the delivery of healthcare at colleges and universities.”

It just so happened that, in 1996, Collegiate Healthcare decided to accept a bid from Auburn to rework their student healthcare, in which Kam led a transition team to take over what was then the Drake health center. It was in these nine months of travel back and forth to Auburn that Kam fell in love with the town.

“So I wanted to stop travelling as much, I wanted to go back to the practice of medicine, and Auburn was just the right location, right time, all of those,” said Kam. “I [had] this epiphany that I needed to change what I was doing … I was not watching my two children, spending time with them. I was basically [only] home on the weekends.”

The timing of Kam’s epiphany could not have been any better, according to Kam. Since he was the chief medical officer of the implementation of the updates student health services here at Auburn, hiring the staff was one of his jobs. So when he realized he wanted to be here in Auburn, Kam just simply hired himself.

“So I interviewed myself, and hired myself to come to Auburn!” Kam said with a laugh. “The truth is that we had done a search and we got down to our final two candidates, and literally the weekend before we were to interview the final two candidates was the weekend I had the epiphany.”

25 years later, Kam still loves living and working at Auburn. According to Kam, in the first few years of his appointment at Auburn, many companies and universities approached him with job offers, but he put a stop to that soon after coming to Auburn.

For Kam, some of his most memorable moments came in his graduation from high school and college.

Neither of his parents graduated high school, so for Kam, his successes mean even more.

“Graduating from college, and then from high school definitely are up there, because again, you

know … there were no doctors in the family. I was your first generation college student,” said Kam. Kam also values the positive impact that he and his team at the med clinic have been able to have on students.

“Through the years, the team at the clinic and I have made significant positive impacts on a number of students, and helping them to achieve their dream of graduating from Auburn,” said Kam. “Some of them had health issues and other things that we had to manage, or in some cases, diagnose, or treat, to get them to successfully complete their degrees at Auburn.”

According to Kam, most every year, after graduation, families come to the med clinic to bring gifts, to meet him and his staff, and to say thanks. Unfortunately, due to Covid-19, these visits, at least in person, have had to stop, at least momentarily.

For Kam, his team at the med clinic have been instrumental in the successes seen throughout the pandemic.

“I think we have positioned the medical clinic to serve Auburn incredibly well,” said Kam. “When Covid-19 hit Lee county back in March, on March 16th, we had a tent erected, we had a plan, we had staff and clinicians out there screening patients. When testing first became available, we were the only college health center in the state that made testing available.

According to Kam, as more types of tests became available, like commercially sold tests as well as rapid tests, his med clinic was some of the first to gain access to and provide these tests to the public. He credits this fact to the relationships he and his team have made over the years, as well as the tenacity of his staff.

“I think we’ve done a phenomenal job, to be honest.

When I look back, there’s nothing else I could say, “oh, we could have done this better,” or “we could have done more of that,” said Kam. “As of yesterday [August 7th], the clinic has performed over 9,000 tests.

Right now, in the country, I know we’re one of a few that can offer the full gamut of tests available. That’s the antigen, the PCR, and the antibody; all the above.”

While Kam has been busy overseeing the implementation of safety measures for students coming back to campus this semester, he still hasn’t lost any love for his job, or for Auburn.

“For right now? I love what I do, and my plan is to continue doing it until that point that I’ll say, okay, either I don’t love it anymore, or it’s time for someone else to get an opportunity, or maybe Auburn doesn’t love it anymore,” Kam said with a smile. “I do what I’m doing because I love it. And I’m doing it at Auburn because I love Auburn.”

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The Auburn Plainsman: Welcome Back 2020

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

August 13, 2020

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Welcome from Woodard

‘Student experience stronger than ever’ A letter to students from the president of Auburn University

By JAY GOGUE Auburn University President

Dear students, It is my pleasure to welcome you to Auburn! To those of you who are returning to the Plains, we’re glad to see you back on campus.

This year has been unlike any in our lives, and this semester is sure to be unprecedented, too.

It is important to remember that by taking personal responsibility for our own health and behaviors, we move closer to an uninterrupted fall semester.

As we navigate this new normal together, it is critical that we remember that the simple protocols expected of us on campus — physical distancing, wearing face coverings, completing your daily Healthcheck and others — are essential to keeping everyone around us safe.

We’ve been busy on campus, making preparations and accommodations to ensure your safety. If you have not yet done so, I encourage you to visit ahealthieru.auburn.edu to read important information that will help you succeed and stay healthy this fall.

You will see that campus looks a little different from how you remember or may have envisioned, but every decision and change made has prioritized your well-being inside and outside the classroom.

As a result, the Auburn student experience is stronger than ever.

Despite guidance from health officials to maintain safe physical distancing from others, an overwhelming majority of your generation has reported that the pandemic has strengthened your connection to others.

For you and your peers, care for others comes as second nature. You have taken the lead fighting for causes that are shaping meaningful change in our world, used this downtime as an opportunity for creativity and inspired us to reimagine traditional milestones.

Your resilience and compassion has been truly remarkable, and because of this, your impact stands to be greater than that of any previous generation.

Thank you for doing your part to keep Auburn A Healthier U, and remember, commitment is contagious.

I look forward to seeing you around campus.

By BOBBY WOODARD Senior Vice President for Student Affairs

Welcome Back.

Can I just say that one more time? Welcome back, y’all.

I love how that sounds, especially after five months of most of us being away from the campus we love so much. Sure, we’ve emailed and phoned and Zoomed our way through this tough time, but it’s just not the same as being able to walk into Jordan-Hare Stadium or across Samford Lawn, yelling “War Eagle!” to each other – at a proper physical distance, of course -- along the way.

We’re back – and thousands of students are here for the first time – but we’re not out of the woods, yet, when it comes to COVID-19. We need everyone to do their part to help ensure that we all stay healthy and safe. To that end, I need you to wear your masks on campus, wash and sanitize your hands regularly and keep 6 feet apart.

Remember to complete your Healthcheck assessment each day, too. If we all do those things, maybe we can slowly but surely get back to some semblance of normalcy.

As we work toward that, though, we’ve got to acknowledge that things are a bit different on campus. We need to keep our physical distance, so crowds can’t gather the way they used to. Room capacity has diminished, and signs a nd stickers promoting A Healthier U and COVID-19 safety have increased. Student organizations will still meet, events will still occur and classes will still be held – they just may have a different look to them than they’ve had in years past. Try to embrace this new normal, and we really will get through this together.

Summer 2020 wasn’t all about the coronavirus. A tragic event in Minneapolis – the death of George Floyd – precipitated pro-

tests around the country, including peaceful protests right here in Auburn. But it sparked more than that. It has become painfully obvious that for too long, we’ve talked about diversity, equity, inclusion and the need to embrace all of our students, but we haven’t taken enough actions to accomplish equality on campus. That is going to change.

President Gogue has appointed a task force on equity and inclusion, and I, along with others in Student Affairs, are participating in meetings to explore ways we can assure our Black students feel heard and, more importantly, respected. These conversations must, and I believe will, lead to meaningful actions that will unify us, not divide us.

Already, Auburn’s Office of Inclusion and Diversity has conducted a workshop for all Student Affairs staff, Student Involvement has created a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion workgroup that includes weekly professional development, and the Black Student Union has hosted a MidSummer Mixer Series and plans a number of in-person and virtual events and activities during Welcome Week.

In addition, I’ve been reading the Black at Auburn Instagram feed (@blackatauburn), which is shining a much-needed light on some inexcusable incidents on our campus. Hopefully, with students returning to campus for the fall, more progress can be made, and we can continue to build an inclusive, equitable and anti-racist Auburn Family.

So we’re coming off a summer that literally pulled us apart, but it’s also a summer that will have ended up bringing us closer together. And one of these days, we’ll be able to stand next to each other, maybe even link arms, and celebrate.

The trek to that celebration continues this week with your arrival, and I couldn’t be more thrilled to see students on campus this fall. The Student Center and Student Greenspace – heck, even the parking lots – weren’t the same without you.

I want to say welcome back just one more time. And I want to leave you with a big, physically distanced ...War Eagle!

August 13, 2020

The Auburn Plainsman: Welcome Back 2020

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LETTER TO THE EDITOR

A message from the Auburn SGA President

By ADA RUTH HUNTLEY SGA President

Welcome back!

My name is Ada Ruth Huntley and I have the honor and privilege of serving as this year’s Student Government Association President. I could not be more humbled to serve you in this role; particularly during these challenging times.

It is no secret this semester will be unlike any semester Auburn has seen. However, I want to challenge each of you to continue to make the most of these unprecedented circumstances. Your choice to attend Auburn is one of the best you will make in your lifetime. I know that has been the case for me.

College is difficult under any circumstance. Through that difficulty, I have gained so much knowledge, learned the meaning of true friendship, further experienced the world around me and learned more about myself. Even through these differences, I know we will all find ways to experience Au-

burn has to offer.

As we continue to navigate the COVID-19 pandemic, my team and I have been thankful to work alongside our committed administration to ensure an engaging, meaningful, yet safe college experience. I would be remiss if I did not emphasize the important role each and every one of us share in keeping our Auburn community safe. Following the guidelines put in place by the university’s initiative, A Healthier U. Be sure to check out the A Healthier U website to learn more about how you can do your part.

Additionally, our country was rocked this summer as issues of racial injustice were brought to the forefront. Auburn demonstrated its commitment to issues of racial inequality in a statement released from Dr. Gogue on June 5, 2020. Since May, I have had the privilege of being involved in numerous conversations with various administrators, faculty and staff from across campus on how to better support Black students

A AI IM M

H HI IG GH H

and dismantle the systemic injustices that we see across our campus.

I have also had the privilege on serving on the Presidential Taskforce for Opportunity and Equity. I am excited about the direction the university is headed to better support the university’s Black, Indigenous and People of Color BIPOC and look forward to substantial changes being made in the near future.

I also want to take this time to recognize these last several months have been challenging for numerous reasons and the circumstances have impacted each of us differently. Whether mentally, emotionally, financially and/or otherwise, we have all been impacted by an incredibly challenging time in our nation. Please take note there are several offices and resources across campus prepared to help you as we navigate this season.

Some that come to mind include but are not limited to: Auburn Cares, Student Counseling and Psychological Services, Student Financial Services and many more.

Lastly, please know that my team and I

Auburn International Mentoring Program 2020-21

have worked tirelessly to cater to you since our installation in March. I have been so incredibly proud of the way each and every member of our team has fulfilled SGA’s mission statement of, “serving and promoting the individual student; unifying all that is Auburn.” We do not plan to stop any time soon. You can stay engaged with us by attending our virtual programming, connecting with your School’s Council representatives and Student Senators, submitting an Auburn Answers on our website and so much more. Check out our social media accounts on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter to stay updated as we launch our new SGA and Auburn Answers websites.

This will be a challenging semester for all of us. We will all be navigating unprecedented circumstances. Yet, I am confident we will do so the only way we know how: as the Auburn family. Please let me know if my team or I can do anything for you. Stay safe, study hard and enjoy the semester. War Eagle!

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DEADLINE: Sept. 18, 2020

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The Auburn Plainsman: Welcome Back 2020

August 13, 2020

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August 13, 2020

The Auburn Plainsman: Welcome Back 2020

15

COMMUNITY

New, local businesses open during pandemic

By CHARLIE RAMO Section Editor

Well Red: Well Red is a coffee shop, bookstore and wine bar wrapped into one. It opened its doors on June 22 in the previous Day Spring building.

Owners Richard and Crystal Tomasello were inspired to open their shop after visiting the Battery Park Book Exchange in Ashville, North Carolina.

“We sat there and ate, had some wine, had coffee; we sat there all day,” Mrs. Tomasello said.

“We said, ‘We’ve got to have something like this in Auburn. Auburn doesn’t have anything like this whatsoever.’”

Well Red has something for everyone, Mrs. Tomasello said. Students can order a coffee and study while adults can enjoy wine and desserts on a date night. A trained pastry chef makes different desserts every day.

“There are a lot of different coffee shops in town,” she said. “[Well Red has] a homey vibe.

You’re going to feel that as soon as you walk in through the door.”

Uniq Coffee: Located near the corner of N Gay St. and Mitcham Ave, Uniq Coffee provides locals and students with its bean-based namesake, teas and food. Owner Sam Lee opened his doors to the public in early March.

“After I graduated, … I wanted to change something for Auburn,” Lee said. “I wanted to make a coffeeshop as a platform to bring in more artists [and] build relationships [with the] community.”

Lee said wants Uniq to be a home to diverse coffee, good music and local art. He intentionally kept the walls white to create the feel of an art gallery, and hopes his coffeeshop can serve as a platform for local artists to show their talent to the community.

In addition to focusing on art, Lee said that new brews of coffee are available every month.

“We bring in different kinds of coffee every month [for customers to] taste the diversity in coffee,” he said. “[We do not want to] serve the same thing over and over again.”

Despite opening during the pandemic, Uniq has seen local support from to-go orders and Lee

has hired additional employees and extended his hours in anticipation of students returning to Auburn University’s campus.

WNB Factory: WNB Factory is a franchised wings-andburgers restaurant that opened near the N Dean Rd. Kroger on August 3. Franchise owner DK Lee saw Auburn as a young, vibrant city that would be a good fit for the young restaurant chain. “[Back in 2002, I went to the] Auburn vs.

Alabama football game and I was shocked to see all of the students so excited,” Lee said. “At the time, I said, ‘ok, this is a city for young people.’ After I finished my studies …

NATALIE BECKERINK / MANAGING EDITOR I decided to open my own business.”

WNB Factory is a Georgia-based restau- Well Read in Auburn, Ala. rant chain with roughly 50 locations, Lee said. He is opening two locations in Alabama, in through Uber Eats, Doordash, Grubhub and Tiboth Auburn and in Montgomery. gerTownToGo. Lee said the WNB Factory offers high-qual“What makes us stand out is our focus on ity food at a price affordable for college stu- quality,” said Vice President and Chief Operatdents. A discount will be offered through a cou- ing Officer Robert Bales. “We try to keep our inpon book handed out to students who move in gredients very simple. Nothing is added to our on campus . WNB Factory also offers delivery ingredients.”

CAMPUS

Professors adapt to changes in student instruction

By DESTINI AMBUS Reporter

While COVID-19 adds challenges for school administrators with reopening campuses, it also has forced some Auburn professors to adapt to remote instruction.

In the University’s reentry plan titled “A Healthier U,” professors are required to choose a mode of instructional delivery that ‘best [aligns] with the learning outcomes of their courses.’

These modes include face-to-face courses, online courses, blended courses, and HyFlex courses; which allow students to choose if they want to attend class in person or participate online.

“For the fall, my current plan is to offer blended courses, with both online and in-person components,” said Matthew Clary, a professor in international relations and comparative politics.

Clary is also one of the professors

JACK WEST/ EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Haley Center, the home of Auburn’s College of Education.

that was able to give remote classes a trial run in the summer semesters, after the sudden switch to remote instruction in March.

“During the summer I sent out a Qualtrics survey asking if people would be available in Auburn for interaction at least partially in person, and if they preferred online, face-toface or some blend of the two,” Clary said. “The responses were overwhelmingly in favor of online. It’s been a challenge maintaining flexibility to accommodate students being in several different time zones.”

Robert Pantazes, an assistant chemical engineering professor, taught classes in the summer and now plans to do a blended course in the fall. He said that going online has had both positive and negative effects.

“Teaching an entirely remote course this summer has had some challenges,

but they have resulted in excellent opportunities to learn what strategies are most effective for student learning and engagement in online environments.”

Pantazes said.

Both Clary and Pantazes plan to implement the blended course option in different ways to best fit the work of their individual classes. Pantazes is teaching CHEN 2110: Chemical Engineering Thermodynamics, through a flipped classroom.

“This style of class [is] where students watch recorded lectures and do assigned reading outside of class meetings followed by in-class problem solving activities,” Pantazes said. “Prior to the pandemic, I had significant concerns about how to create effective recorded lectures, and therefore didn’t structure my courses this way. Now that I’ve had to learn how to make those lectures, I’m excited about the

opportunities to engage with students as they learn the course material.”

Clary, who is teaching two upper-level political science courses, said if they can safely hold some class activities in person, there is merit in doing so.

“I am still grappling with what activities we’ll be able to do as a class given that we will all be so distant from each other as well as how well communication will occur with everyone wearing masks.” he said.

In order to (attempt to) safeguard the health and safety of both its students and faculty, The University has set up guidelines regarding the function of classes this semester. Some of these include increasing the availability of online material for students, and guaranteeing that all classes will be recorded regardless of the delivery method.

16

The Auburn Plainsman: Welcome Back 2020

August 13, 2020

COMMUNITY

Where to find coffee around Auburn

By NATALIE BECKERINK Managing Editor

At the beginning of each semester, students are faced with the dilemna of having enough energy to get through long days of classes. With homework, extracurriculars and socializing, sleep can become a less viable option as the days go on. For freshmen who are starting their college journey, the transition from high school life to their undergraduate experience can also be quite taxing at times.

While thankfully the student center and various other locations on campus can pro-

vided a much-needed caffiene boost after a short night, the physical lines and Grubhub ques can sometimes get quite lengthy.

Fortunately in Auburn, there are several local coffee shops that provide a multitude of food and drink options. These stores are run by community members, and a lot of times have students working as baristas.

Along with the various families and teenagers that walk into the stores, this allows the Auburn community to intertwine between the college and city in a unique way.

One important aspect to keep in mind, which current Auburn students know, is how popular these shops can become, es-

pecially during the weekends. Some of the greatest fights are over parking spots near The Bean or Ross House. The best piece of advice for a freshmen coming to The Plains would be to stake their claim, or table, early before others are awake.

Coffee shops around town are for more than just completing Canvas lessons and study guides though, they also serve as a safe place for students and their friends to hide from their responsibilities. A hot tea on an October night is sometimes the only real solution to mending a broken heart.

Or, when you don’t have a date on Valentine’s Day, just take your best friend to grab

a cinamon roll. Honestly, both of those are less complicated than college dating.

For anyone who needs a new place to study, meet a friend or change the world, here is a list of just a few of the coffee shops located in the vicinity of campus. While some are a walk away and others a drive, some are modern and others more home-y, all of these locations have the one thing that every human needs — coffee. Hopefully this coffee guide can help current students decide where to grab their next cappucino, and help new students discover their home away from home ... away from home.

The Bean Known for its warm, retro environment and homemade cinamon rolls, The Bean has been serving the Auburn community for five years and at two different locations. After spending many years on Gay Street, they moved to Dean Road in November 2019, which allowed them to expand both their menu and seating for customers.

The Bean has always offered an assortment of coffee and tea beverages, from lattes and cappuccinos to simple drip coffees and hot, fruity teas. Now, in addition to their vast des-

sert menu, The Bean has recently partnered with Samford Farms to provide pimento cheese sandwiches as a lunch option.

Due to COVID-19 restrictions, The Bean has decided to operate with curbside service only in order to protect the health of their employees and customers. The hours are limited from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Tuesday - Saturday. They have also committed to wearing gloves and masks while working with food or drinks and placing orders on a table outside for contactless service.

BY NATALIE BECKERINK/ MANAGING EDITOR

Dining area inside The Bean in Aubrun, Ala.

Coffee Cat Tucked away behind The Hound, Coffee Cat has provided a comfortable environment for customers to gather since 2014. The string lights and rows of books on bookshelves that can be found throughout the coffee shop draw people into spending hours sipping beverages and sharing their life stories.

Coffee Cat has made sure to provide all the essential menu items, such as pour overs and cold brew. Aside from the basic caffinated drinks, there are also a few creative cold options, includ-

ing the jittery cow, a mix of cold brew and chocolate milk, and the numen, espresso and lemonade.

Something else that Coffee Cat focuses on is including other locally owned family businesses within their shop. Currently, they sell coffee beans from Mama Mocha’s, a variety of welness juices from Livewell Juice Co., desserts made by local baker April Click and assorted artisan teas from Tea Town. Customers can see these products located at the counter or throughout the store.

BY NATALIE BECKERINK/ MANAGING EDITOR

Outdoor seating at Coffee Cat in Auburn, Ala, on August 5, 2020.

August 13, 2020

The Auburn Plainsman: Welcome Back 2020

17

Uniq Coffee

BY NATALIE BECKERINK / MANAGAING EDITOR

New to the Auburn coffee scene, Uniq Coffee began serving customers during the spring 2020 semester. Despite students leaving campus due to COVID-19, the owners have kept the business going and continued to serve coffee to the remaining community members.

Though the front of the building is a simple brick exterior, the inside of Uniq has a more modern look that invites guests to experience their coffee in a different way. The clean lines and simple colors allow for a calming atmosphere. In addition. the owners have focused on the crafting and taste of the coffees and teas they

serve to everyone who walks through the door, along with a few dessert options for people to choose from.

Along with serving coffee and other espresso beverages, Unique also encourages various artists to share their work within the store. They have included featured “Artists of the Month” on their Instagram account to help promote the idea of working together as a community.

Uniq, after closing their store for a period of time, is now allowing customers back into their store to enjoy their creations at their normal operating hours.

Uniq Coffee in Auburn, Ala. on August 6, 2020.

Ristretto Lounge While fairly new to the Auburn/Opelika area, Ristretto Lounge has become a popular location for students and the community to study, chat or simply sip their coffee and enjoy the bright atmosphere.

Ristretto’s was opened in 2019 by Johan Jo, who had spent a lot of time learning about coffee-making from his grandmother in South Korea. He then earned the proper certification and came to Opelika and set up his shop, which is just a short ride from Auburn’s campus. The modern style and bright color scheme of both the outside and inside create an atmosphere different from some of the other coffee shops in the surround-

ing area.

In addition to his coffee creations, Jo has also focused on trying out different pastry options.

Some of his recent creations include shaved ice/ milk, red bean paste and five flavors of macarons.

Pizza buns, a personal twist on regular pizza, are another addition to the menu.

As many other restaurants have decided to do, Risretto Lounge remains open for guests to eat and drink inside, as long as they comply with CDC guidelines, like wearing facemasks when not at a table and social distancing from other customers. Every day, people are still seen through the many windows around the perimeter.

BY NATALIE BECKERINK/ MANAGING EDITOR

Ristretto Lounge in Opelika, Ala. on August 5, 2020.

Ross House

BY NATALIE BECKERINK/ MANAGING EDITOR

Ross House Coffee Roastery in Auburn, Ala. on August 5, 2020.

Next to a modern apartment complex, 160 Ross, sits a cozy, white home with a large wrap-around porch with and a smell of coffee beans floating through the air.

Ross House Coffee and Roastery has a special story behind its building. The owner, Toni Holt, reached out to the previous owner after hearing about a campaign to save the property. Since then, the building has been transformed from a worn-down, green colored house into the bright coffee shop it is today.

The inside of Ross House still resembles a home, including multiple rooms with vari-

ous seating arrangements. One of the rooms in particular was turned into an ordering area for customers to grab their favorite beverage and pastry, before settling into a warm corner.

Though socially distanced and masked, Ross House still allows customers to eat and drink inside the establishment. Students can be seen with binders of material spread across the tables and a coffee in hand. If they get hungry, Ross House also provides several breakfast and lunch options as well, including bagels, oatmeal and paninis. Just make sure to grab a parking spot behind the house before they are all taken up.

18

The Auburn Plainsman: Welcome Back 2020

August 13, 2020

BASKETBALL

JOSH FISHER/PHOTOGRAPHER

JOSH FISHER/PHOTOGRAPHER

FILE PHOTO

Horace Spencer (0) shoots a free throw during Auburn Men’s Basketball vs. Ole Miss on Wednesday, Feb. 13, 2019.

J’Von McCormick (5) goes for a dunk prior to Auburn Men’s Basketball vs. Alabama, on Wed, Feb. 12, 2020, in Auburn, Ala.

Daisa Alexander (0) shoots during Auburn Women’s Basketball vs. LSU on Feb. 8, 2018, at Auburn Arena.

Three former Tigers sign professional contracts

By CHRISTIAN CLEMENTE and JAKE WEESE Assistant Editor and Section Editor

Horace Spencer After spending his first professional season in Argentina, Horace Spencer will be playing for Kocaeli BSB Kagıtspor in Turkey this upcoming season.

The team announced the signing on Saturday, and Spencer posted it on his Instagram, saying: “Moving on to the next opportunity. Just blessed to still be able to play the game.”

Over his four-year Auburn career, Spen-

cer was a consistent part of the rotation, averaging 4.7 points and 4.4 rebounds per game.

Spencer recently took part in the TBT as part of War Tampa with fellow Auburn alumni Bryce Brown and Desean Murray.

“Argentina was really a learning curve for me playing my first pro basketball,” Spencer said prior to the TBT. J’Von McCormick J’Von McCormick’s basketball career is continuing at the next level. The former Auburn point guard has signed a contract with BC Odessa, a Ukrainian professional team,

per the team’s Instagram.

McCormick joined the Tigers ahead of the 2018-19 season after spending two seasons at Lee College. In his first season with Auburn, McCormick came off the bench, averaging 4.1 points and 1.4 assists in limited playing time.

In his senior season, McCormick became a full-time starter where he started in 31of-31 games for the Tigers. In the increased role, he averaged 11.7 points and 4.5 assists.

BC Odessa competes in the Ukraine Basketball SuperLeague, and after a brief pause after the 2015-16 season, the club reformed before the 2018-19 season.

Daisa Alexander Daisa Alexander is heading overseas to continue her basketball career. Alexander has signed with B.B.C. Etzella in Luxembourg, per the Auburn women’s basketball Twitter.

In four seasons at Auburn, Alexander finished her career with 1,215 total points and 225 total steals. She finished her career at Auburn ranked 25th in career scoring, 10th in free throw percentage, ninth in career 3-pointers made and eighth in steals.

Alexander came off the bench to start her career but started the last 12 games of her sophomore season and never came off the bench again.

August 13, 2020

The Auburn Plainsman: Welcome Back 2020

19

SPORTS

How we got to this point: An Auburn sports timeline

By CHRISTIAN CLEMENTE and JAKE WEESE Assistant Editor and Section Editor

As the sports world continues to be shaken by the COVID-19 pandemic, Auburn sports has gone on a rollercoaster over the past several months.

3/11 Fans not allowed for remainder of SEC tournament, on-campus sporting events due to coronavirus concerns

4/21 Auburn equestrian named SEC Champions after shortened season

3/12 SEC cancels remaining spring and winter championships

MARCH

3/12 SEC cancels remainder of men’s basketball tournament

7/20 After SWAC’s fall sports postponement, Auburn will need to find replacement for Week 1

6/7 Report: Three Auburn football players test positive for COVID-19

APRIL/MAY/ JUNE

3/30 NCAA grants springsport athletes extra year of eligibility

today. I remain comfortable with the thorough and deliberate that the SEC and our 14 members are taking to support a healthy environment for our student-athletes. We will continue to further our policies and protocols for a safe return to sports as we monitor developments around COVID-19 in an

At the time of writing this, the SEC has decided to continue on with its fall 2020 football season.

On the 11th, Greg Sankey said: “I look forward to learning more about the factors that led the Big Ten and Pac-12 leadership to take these actions

5/22 SEC approves return of voluntary athletics starting June 8

8/7 Auburn adds South Carolina and Tennessee to 2020 schedule

7/30 SEC decides on a 10game conference-only football schedule

8/11 Big Ten cancels fall football, hopes to move to spring

8/9 College football players start #WeWantToPlay movement; call for players assocation

JULY

7/14 SEC postpones volleyball, soccer and cross country competitions through August 31

effort to support, educate and care for our student-athletes every day.”

As of now, Auburn football is scheduled to start its season on September 26, playing a 10-game conference-only schedule while volleyball and soccer are delayed through at least August.

AUGUST

8/5 Chandler Wooten opts out of 2020 season

7/29 ACC’s decision cancels Auburn and North Carolina matchup in Atlanta

8/10 President Donald Trump tweets support for college football season

8/7 Auburn defensive back Traivon Leonard opts out of 2020 season

FILE PHOTO

Auburn fans fill the arena during College GameDay on Saturday, Feb, 1, 2020.

8/11 Pac-12 cancels fall football, hopes to move to spring

JOSH FISHER/PHOTOGRAPHER

Auburn fans storm the field following the 2019 Iron Bowl victory.

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