Brewfest A3
Nathan’s Famous B2
Guide to Wine C2
A Spirit That Is Not Afraid
The Auburn Plainsman
Thursday, September 2, 2010
Vol. 117, Issue 2
www.theplainsman.com
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32 Pages
T•Pain Live At tiger nights Eric Austin Campus Editor
T-Pain wants to buy Auburn a drank. The University Program Council has announced the hip-hop superstar will send the Plains into an AutoTune frenzy Thursday, Sept. 23. The event, officially called “Tiger Nights: Tiger Mania Tailgate, featuring T-Pain,” will be held on the green space in front of the Student Center from 5 to 10 p.m. T-Pain is expected to perform at approximately 8:30 p.m. “We’re expecting a large variety of the Auburn community to come out and celebrate tailgating,” said Anne Smead, a junior in public administration and director of UPC’s Tiger Nights. The concert will take place two days before the Auburn vs. South Carolina football game, and UPC is hoping to energize the student body for the crucial home game. The concert and surrounding festivities will be open only to Auburn students with a valid student ID. “It’s going to be a really exciting time,” said Meredith Walkup, graduate adviser to UPC, “especially before the South Carolina game. Hopefully he’ll get a lot of
students excited before the game.” Brittany D’Angelo, senior in biomedical sciences and director of UPC Major Entertainment, is in charge of the event planning. “We wanted someone from the rap or R&B genre,” said D’Angelo. Both D’Angelo and Mead said they felt that with previous concerts from artists like Sister Hazel, The Goo Goo Dolls and Kelly Pickler, a change of pace was needed. “Our main goal was to bring an artist that we think would satisfy the majority of the student body,” Smead said. Smead worked throughout the summer on securing the contract for T-Pain, and D’Angelo took on the role of event planner with the start of fall semester. “With anything we plan, we have to be able to justify it,” Smead said. UPC feels being able to land an artist as popular and unique as T-Pain was justification enough. Smead said T-Pain and company were very excited
to get to perform specifically for a group of college students. The event will feature all of the usual festivities associated with UPC’s Tiger Nights, but the presence of such a well-known act is sure to drive up audience numbers. “It’s going to add more to the event in general,” said Mike Smith, also a graduate advisor
to UPC. “I think attendance is going to be up and they’re going to experience more than they would in a normal Tiger Mania.” Prior to the show, there will be food, games, moon bounces and Auburn-
themed give-aways. The evening is intended to celebrate the fall tradition of tailgating. “We feel his music is so new and fresh that we think a lot of people will come out for it,” D’Angelo said. “Akon was such a huge hit when he came to Auburn, so hopefully he (T-Pain) can bring out a crowd like that.”
T•Pain
Concert WHEN:
Sept. 23 5 p.m. WHERE:
The green space Photo By Jeff Siner
College Colors Day declared by Riley, SGA J.P. Kelsey Staff Writer
Mascots and other representatives from Alabama public colleges met in Montgomery on the steps of the state Capitol Tuesday. The gathering was in recognition of Gov. Bob Riley’s “college colors day” proclamation. College colors day has been recognized by the governor since 2007, but this year it’s official. “There is something special about the South and living in Alabama,” Riley said. “No other state in the union understands football like Alabama does.” The College Colors Day idea was spearheaded by Gordon
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Stone, executive director of the higher education partnership. “We want the people to help tell the story of what it means to be a student in Alabama,” Stone said. “We want everyone to help encourage people to support their school with pride.” SGA representatives from each school were in attendance at the event. “It has been very special to come out here and share this experience with everyone,” said Kurt Sasser, SGA president. “ Auburn is more than just orange and blue. Our colors help everyone express the spirit of what Auburn is and all that it entails.”
Charlie Timberlake/ ASSISTANT PHOTO EDITOR
Auburn University President Jay Gogue speaks to members of the Black Student Union Monday.
Organization offers ‘sweet’ deal The Black Student Union enticed prospective members at its first meeting Laura Maxwell Managing Editor
The first meeting of the Black Student Union was a treat for all who attended, including President Jay Gogue.
The organization’s annual ice cream social drew a large crowd, as most seats were filled. When all the seats were filled, students lined the walls of the room in order to attend. “Everything that we’ve been doing this year has been bigger crowds than what we expected,” said Shawntell Pace, president of BSU and senior in radio, television and film. “But it’s all due to our leadership team. We’re known on
campus for actually getting the job done.” Pace said topics discussed in BSU meetings can vary from college retention rates to why single black women have a hard time finding a man after the age of 30. Gogue said he could relate to worries about college retention. Gogue admitted he didn’t do well as a freshman at Auburn. “It’s incredibly important to use your time wisely while you’re here,” Gogue said.
Gogue said he would study from 6 to 10 p.m. Sundays through Thursdays, taking Fridays and Saturdays off. Gogue pointed out three important factors relating to college retention. “They always encourage the development of friendships in small groups,” Gogue said. The other two factors he mentioned were living and eating on campus and getting to know faculty and » Turn to BSU, A2
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