1.12.17

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The Auburn Plainsman A SPIRIT THAT IS NOT AFRAID

Thursday, January 12, 2017 Vol. 124, Issue 16, 12 Pages

First copy is free. Additional copies 50 cents per issue.

STUDENT STORIES

‘I saw him and then I saw the gun’

Student gives his account of Fort Lauderdale airport shooting Chip Brownlee COMMUNITY EDITOR

Auburn student Calen Santos was on the phone with his mom, sitting in Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport on Friday afternoon when he looked over his shoulder and saw the gunman.

"I heard a scream, and I turned and looked over my shoulder," Santos said. "I saw him. I saw him and then I saw the gun. I just fell to the ground. People were running and screaming, but I just fell to the ground."

Santos was waiting on his plane at the airport just north of Miami, getting ready for his flight back to school at Auburn, when the shooting began, he said. He was sitting at his gate in Terminal 2 when he heard a woman behind him say there was an active shooter at the airport.

"I googled Fort Lauderdale Airport and that was the first thing that came up," he said. "I looked behind me and saw on CNN that it said 'active shooter at Fort Lauderdale Airport."

He said, at the time, he thought the shooter must have been somewhere else in the large international airport because everything seemed normal where he was.

"At the time, I just thought he had to be in a different terminal," Santos said. "I didn't really worry about it, and I just didn't think anything of it. A few seconds later, I called my mom and told her that I had read on the news that there was a shooter. I told her I was fine."

As soon as he told his mom that he was safe, he heard the scream, saw the gunman, hit the floor and heard a shot. Santos said he covered his head with a backpack and stayed on the phone with his mom.

"I just said, 'I love you. I love you. I love you so much," Santos said, but when the words came out of his mouth his phone disconnected, cutting him off from his mother. He was in an airport, by himself, hundreds of miles from his mom and miles from his dad, who lives in Miami.

"The shooter was probably 30 or 40 feet from me, and I thought for sure that I was going to die," he said. "He was just so close to me, and I was so close to him. I just thought he was going to shoot me."

Santos wasn't completely alone, though. A man, Mike DiSanti, and his wife Mary, helped Santos get out of the airport alive. He credits the two strangers, and God, with risking their lives to get him safely out of the airport.

"As I'm laying there, this man picked me up by my arm," Santos said. "He picked me up, and his wife, who I was laying on the ground with, and said 'Come on.' But when he was reaching to help me up, these people came by and trampled him."

Mike suffered a broken rib as a result of the trampling, but it didn't stop him from helping Santos and Mary get out of the airport.

CONTRIBUTED BY CALEN SANTOS

Calen Santos, center, with Mary and Mike DiSanti, who he credits with helping to save his life at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport on Friday. Mike suffered a broken rib helping Calen and Mary out of the airport.

"It broke his rib, but he still picked us up, and we ran," Santos said.

The three made it down their gate's jet bridge, down a flight of stairs and onto the airport's concrete tarmac, along with hundreds of other people trying to escape the madness that ensued inside the airport.

"We went outside, and we were all standing there," he said.

"I thought everything was okay, so I called my mom again. I told her I was okay, but after that, I guess they didn't get him or something."

Confusion and chaos reigned at the airport for several hours, even after authorities told news media that they had caught the

Wiest pleads guilty

Back on track

Chip Brownlee COMMUNITY EDITOR

MADISON OGLETREE / PHOTO EDITOR

SPORTS REPORTER

Bruce Pearl continues to collect a fair number of surprises from his young Auburn Tigers squad. Between the all-too late-game heroics of Jared Harper, the

Page 3

» See SHOOTING, 2

COMMUNITY

SPORTS

Nathan King

man, Esteban Santiago, who is accused of opening fire at the Florida airport, killing five people and leaving six others with gunshot wounds.

Once they made it outside, Santos said he felt safer, but it still wasn't calm. He said at the time he thought maybe the shooter had gotten loose or that there had been multiple assailants. He didn't know because no one was telling them anything, he said.

"Whenever I got out of the airport is when I felt the safest," he said. "They moved us behind a building, and there were at

sudden arrival of Austin Wiley, or the recent dominating play of Mustapha Heron, one startling early-season trend has towered above the rest: Auburn’s 0-3 start in conference play.

Auburn was thoroughly handled in

Page 6

their road loss to Vanderbilt. Their pair of home conference contests, however, were tremendously winnable. Auburn blew a 12 point second-half lead to Georgia, and Ole

» See BASKETBALL, 2 Page 9

Accused Toomer's Oak tree-burner Jochen Wiest, a 29-year-old German national, has entered a guilty plea for the Sept. 25 burning of Auburn's historic landmark.

Wiest, who could be seen setting fire to the Magnolia Avenue Toomer's Oak after an Auburn win over LSU in September, agreed to plead guilty to first-degree criminal mischief, a felony, according to court documents.

With the help of an interpreter, Wiest and his attorney agreed to the plea in Lee County Circuit Court Thursday. The Lee County District Attorney's office also consented to the guilty plea.

In accordance with the plea, Lee County Circuit

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WIEST

Judge Jacob Walker sentenced Wiest to three years in prison, but that sentence was suspended to allow Wiest to serve five years of probation.

Wiest will also pay more than $20,000 in restitution to the University.

» See GUILTY, 2 INDEX Campus

3

Opinion

5

Community 6

Spurlin celebrates 10 years

Longtime J&M employee retires

Gymnastics prepares for Georgia

Starting the semester with a healthy mind

Sports

8

Lifestyle

11

News 2

BASKETBALL

This week in review

» From 1

Miss invaded Auburn Arena to douse a red-hot Jared Harper in the final moments of an 88-85 victory.

Bruce Pearl is not used to slow starts in his head coaching career. By his second season at the helm in Knoxville, Pearl led the Volunteers to the Sweet Sixteen of the NCAA tournament. Pearl accomplished the same feat in his fourth season at Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Granted, Auburn is off to their best start since the 2002-03 season, hardly a disappointment. However, the sensation of a scorching 10-2 start has since screeched to a halt on the Plains.

Winless in the SEC no more, the Tigers of Auburn, without second leading-scorer Danjel Purifoy, bested the Tigers of Missouri in an ugly 77-72 victory on Tuesday night in Colombia, MO. Auburn’s win was their first ever against Missouri on the road.

Both Tiger squads flaunted cold and sloppy offense from the opening tip. Trading early leads, Auburn and Mizzou shot a collective 21% from the floor midway through the first half. Jared Harper and Horace Spencer powered the remnants of an Auburn offense in the first 20 minutes, with 7 and 6 points respectively.

“For Mizzou to have 25 offensive rebounds is impressive,” said Auburn head coach Bruce Pearl. “It shows the effort they’re still getting.”

Pearl alludes to Missouri’s striking play on the boards. Missouri corralled 51 total rebounds, and 25 of those coming on the offensive end. Mizzou’s exertions on the glass was in the end outdone by the Auburn defense. The road warriors totaled 12 blocked shots to Missouri’s 3. Austin Wiley feasted, with 4 blocks, backed by Horace Spencer and Anfernee McLemore’s posting 3 apiece.

Ronnie Johnson sustained his streak of productive bench play, finishing with 13 points and 4 assists. Johnson boasted Auburn’s primary free throw bright spot on a night where the Tigers in blue shot a season-low 54.5% at the charity stripe. The backup point guard converted 4 of 4.

“It’s a great survival game for us,” said Pearl. “11-5 is a lot better than 10-6, it equals our win total from last year. I think you have to find ways to win. The kids found a way tonight, which is huge.”

“We didn’t play very well tonight. I appreciate the effort of the guys tonight. It’s

GUILTY » From 1

Gary Keever, an Auburn horticulture professor, has said the $20,000 would be needed to replace the tree on Magnolia Avenue if it cannot be saved. Wiest will pay an additional $1,000 in fines and court costs.

But with the suspended sentence and probation, Walker also ordered Wiest’s passport returned, which will allow the German citi-

MADISON OGLETREE / PHOTO EDITOR

Ronnie Johnson (35) makes a pass during Auburn Men’s Basketball vs. USC Upstate on Tuesday, Nov. 29, 2016 in Auburn,Ala.

hard to deal with a bad locker room as a coach. I’ve got a great locker room with these guys, and it feels great to get a win.”

The way the two teams ebbed and flowed in the first half, all signs pointed to a gritty finish. Free throws almost doomed Auburn, with 55 combined fouls committed between the two teams. Missouri also shot poorly from the line. (69.7%) The Tigers combined for 29 turnovers, with Missouri finishing 32% from the field to Auburn’s 42%.

Mustapha Heron, who made his first shot with 9:44 to play after starting 0-9, directed the Tigers offense late. Heron hit a huge triple to break a tie with 2:12 left. On the next possession, Heron drilled a pullup jumper as the shot clock expired to extend Auburn’s lead to 5. Heron’s jumper capped off 4 straight baskets by Auburn to steal momentum after Missouri tied the game at 66.

Heron polished off his hot finish by nailing both shots at the line with 21 seconds left, maintaining Auburn’s five-point lead.

Heron led the Tigers to victory just a day after turning his ankle in practice. Bruce Pearl might have Heron’s father to thank for the victory in Columbia. Heron’s father insisted to Pearl that the freshman play, even if it required Mustapha to take some “pain pills and tough boy pills.”

Jordan Barnett dropped a career high 20 points for Missouri in the loss. Terrence Phillips provided an instant impact off the bench and down the stretch with 12 points.

Missouri will head to Arkansas on Saturzen to return to his home country when he gets it back.

Lee County assistant district attorney Jessica Ventiere said comparing Wiest with Harvey Updyke, who was found guilty of poisoning the original Toomer’s Oaks in 2011, is like comparing “apples and unicorns.”

“Updyke was a malicious damage to property,” Ventiere said, according to AL.com. “Mr. Wiest was someone from

SHOOTING » From 1

least 300 of us standing against this building.

No one was telling us anything. We thought there were multiple shooters because of the timespan that it lasted.”

It wasn’t until later that authorities started telling Santos and the others where to go, and he wasn’t allowed to leave the chaotic airport until almost 8 p.m. For almost six hours after the shooting, Santos and others waited outside the airport

day, still seeking a conference win of their own.

Auburn has now matched its win total from the 2015-16 season, meaning it’s only uphill from here. However, the Tigers will find the sixth-ranked Kentucky Wildcats waiting at the top of that hill. Auburn faces their toughest test yet on Saturday, when they travel to Lexington to take on the SEC powerhouse. Kentucky looks to avenge their loss at Auburn Arena last season, which has since been dubbed Bruce Pearl’s signature win.

Past the daunting challenge of Big Blue Nation, Auburn’s remaining schedule allows for optimism for Tiger faithful. Backto-back home games against LSU and Alabama provide a huge opportunity to close in on a winning record in the conference.

Of Auburn’s remaining opponents past No. 6 Kentucky, only one team is currently ranked in the AP Top 25 (No. 23 Florida).

Analysts are still giving Auburn respectable chances to not only compete in the SEC, but possibly make the NCAA Tournament. It will take a photo finish by Auburn in conference play, however none of the fan base, coaching staff, nor hungry Auburn Tigers team is doubting their ability to stun the league in the second half of the season.

“This is a great win for us going into Kentucky,” said freshman guard Mustapha Heron. “We’re ready. We’re ready to go to Lexington.”

Tip-off in Lexington is set for 3 p.m.

CST on ESPN. Germany who didn’t really understand what he was doing, he was very intoxicated at the time, damaged the property and has essentially from the beginning been trying to claim responsibility for this, making it known, entering his guilty plea, making it right and he’s already (paying) full restitution.”

Additional charges of desecrating a venerable object and public intoxication were dropped as part of the guilty plea.

near a building workers were using for construction on one of the airport’s terminals.

When he was finally allowed to leave, Santos found his way to a mall to try to find a place to charge his phone. He stayed at an Apple Store nearby until his dad came and picked him up. Later, he got to talk to his mom again.

“My mom, she was so distraught, because she was on the phone with me when it was all going down,” he said. “She was so terrified, and I thought she was going to have a heart attack because she was so scared. Her voice was like sheer

CAMPUS CRIME LOG Date Reported

Thursday, January 12, 2017

The Auburn Plainsman

Your weekly roundup for state, national and international news State • Former U.S. secretary of state and Birmingham native Condoleezza Rice endorsed Sen. Jeff Sessions to be President-elect Donald Trump’s attorney general this week.

“He is a man who is committed to justice and knows that law and order are necessary to guarantee freedom and liberty,” she wrote.

• (AL.com) A bill due to be introduced into the Alabama Senate in February is calling for the introduction of attendants in mixed-gender public bathrooms to guard against possible crimes such as molestation, assault and battery. Along with seven other state legislatures, the bill will attempt to restrict bathroom access.

• Gov. Robert Bentley is asking a court to dismiss a lawsuit filed by his former law enforcement secretary who publicly accused Bentley of having an affair with a staffer.

National • A classified report delivered to President Obama and President-elect Donald Trump last week included a section summarizing allegations that Russian intelligence services have compromising material and information on Trump’s personal life and finances, U.S. officials said. The officials said that U.S. intelligence agencies have not coroborated those allegations, but believed that the sources involved in the reporting were credible enough to warrant inclusion of their claims in the highly classified report on Russian interference in the presidential campaign.

• Twelve federal jurors said Tuesday that Dylann Roof, the man who killed nine people in a 2015 massacre at a historically black Charleston, South Carolina, church, should be put to death. The 10 women and two men recommended the death penalty for all 18 counts that carried that as a possible sentence. Roof will become the first federal hate crime defendant to be sentenced to death.

International • (CNN) Deadly attacks ripped across Afghanistan on Tuesday, with two suicide bombings near the Afghan Parliament in Kabul, an explosion at a Kandahar province government compound and a suicide bombing in Helmand province -- strikes leaving dozens of people dead and wounded, US and Afghan officials said. The Taliban claimed responsibility for the Kabul attacks, which killed at least 31 people and injured 45 others in the capital, Afghan officials said.

• (CNN) China’s space program is targeting a landing on the dark side of the moon by 2018, and reaching Mars before the end of the decade. The country’s space agency held a press conference on Tuesday to mark the release of a policy paper, and outlined the government’s goals for exploring deep space.

terror.”

All parents have a fear of mass shootings or terrorist attacks, Santos said, but this was a worstcase scenario.

“She was mortified, and was just so scared because I was hundreds of miles away, and there was nothing she could do about it,” he said. “There was somebody that was trying to kill people. It was one of the worst things that could happen, an airport shooting, and I was involved in that.”

Santos, a sophomore in public relations, was planning to be back in Auburn by Friday after-

noon, but he won’t be able to fly back until Sunday, which is the next time he could book a flight.

But before he can do that, he has to track down the bags and his other belongings he left in the airport.

For some, walking back into the place where such a traumatic event occurred could be terrifying, but Santos said he isn’t too worried.

“I’m not scared really,” he said. “I don’t think I should live in fear. I feel like I may have a little anxiety whenever I walk in, but I think I’m going to be fine.”

PHOTO OF THE WEEK

Type of Incident

General Location

1/9

Theft of Property Fourth Degree

100 Block of Hemlock Dr

1/9

Theft of Property Fourth Degree

300 Block of W Samford Dr

1/9

Failing to Appear - Traffic

W Samford Av @ Shug Jordan Pkwy

1/8

Possesion of Marijuana Second Degree

300 Block of W Samford Av

1/8

Possession of Drug Paraphernalia

300 Block of W Samford Av

1/7

Possession of Marijuana Second Degree

500 Block of W Magnolia Av

1/7

Criminal Trespass Third Degree

500 Block of Devall Dr

1/4

Harassment

400 Block of Research Rd

1/2

Possession of Marijuana Second Degree

900 Block of S College St

1/2

Possession of Drug Paraphernalia

900 Block of S College St

1/1

Failure to Appear

100 Block of S College St

MADISON OGLETREE / PHOTO EDITOR

Remnants of toilet paper in trees at Toomer’s Corner after Clemson’s win against Alabama on Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2017.

Campus

Thursday, January 12, 2017

3 ThePlainsman.com

Campus

FACULTY

‘Striking up the band’ for a decade

Corey Spurlin reaches 10th year with marching band Lily Jackon LIFESTYLE EDITOR

After 10 years, Corey Spurlin is well aware of how to “strike up the band.”

Spurlin, head marching band director, reached his tenth year with The Auburn University Marching Band when the clock struck 12 on January 1. He was among students in New Orleans for the occasion thanks to the conveniently scheduled Sugar Bowl trip.

His job encompasses all seasons, loads of time and energy and Spurlin is known for his dedication and passion for the programs he oversees.

This dedication grew from dinner-table talk about music, marching and everything performance-related with his father and high school band director. His lessons at school coupled with music and marching-centered trips fostered a clear passion for the arts in the young Corey.

“Some students only experience music at school with their band director, but I got a double-dose at home and even more instruction,” Spurlin said. “Most of it carried over when I was teaching public school.”

Spurlin’s father has been very involved in the band, helping with behind-the-scenes elements. While setting up for a halftime show in 2008, Spurlin’s father was looking for an outlet to plug up Spurlin’s wife’s violin for the performance and realized there were none open.

He snatched one of the other cords out, plugged up his daughter-in-law and later realized he had unplugged ESPN. The family received a decent scolding.

Spurlin grew up in Oxford, Alabama and attended Saks High School in Anniston. His father worked as the marching band director and his mother was the librarian.

From the beginning, Spurlin took guidance from his parents musically and in leadership.

After lessons at Jacksonville State, he was offered music scholarships from a couple schools, eventually settling on the University of Ala-

bama. Spurlin began studying performance but found himself drawn to the conversations held by those in education.

“I found out I was really passionate about teaching and developed a private studio for trumpet and enjoyed teaching,” Spurlin said.

“I decided to change my major to music education.”

Spurlin envisioned himself as a middle school or high school director when he first changed directions. As he became more involved in the college marching program, eventually gaining a drum major position, his teaching style was tailored to the college ear, striking his interest in directing at the collegiate level.

After graduation, he began teaching at Tuscaloosa Middle School and later Tuscaloosa County High School for two years. He returned to the University of Alabama as an interim assistant director and then a graduate teaching assistant. During this time he received his master’s degree.

After receiving his master’s, Spurlin attended Louisiana State University for his doctorate.

He married after his first year at LSU and was hired by Auburn University after three. Spurlin was welcomed in by students and faculty with excitement and grace.

The culture of each university varied greatly from the next, Spurlin said.

“One thing that struck me immediately coming to Auburn is the work ethic of the students and the accountability they have for each other and respect for authority and desire to represent their school — not that it wasn’t the case at the other schools, but that was the creed and the students desire to live out the creed,” Spurlin said.

He said he’s encountered the best of the best in his time.

Along with students, Spurlin has worked with and encountered many musicians, professors and colleagues that have influenced him

» See SPURLIN, 12

MADISON OGLETREE / PHOTO EDITOR

TOP: Spurlin directs the marching band during a rainy morning practice.

BOTTOM: Spurlin sitting in his office.

Campus 4

Thursday, January 12, 2017

The Auburn Plainsman

ABROAD

SENATE

SGA sets goals for spring semester Romy Iannuzzi CAMPUS REPORTER

CONTRIBUTED BY AMELIE MAROHN

TOP LEFT: Mary Lauren Mitchell and Amelie Marohn explore Fox Glacier in New Zealand.

TOP RIGHT: Mitchell and Marohn climbing Mt. Maunganui, a dormant volcano.

BOTTOM LEFT: Mitchell and Marohn visiting “Hobbiton,” where The Lord of the Rings movies were filmed.

BOTTOM RIGHT: Mitchell and Marohn traveled to the top of a mountain range by helicopter ride.

Students spend holidays exploring New Zealand Loren Kimmel CAMPUS WRITER

Winter break usually marks a time when students are able to escape from exams and homework. However, making a holiday escape isn’t always an option for students raised far away from Alabama.

Mary Lauren Mitchell, senior in media studies, is a New Zealand native who has not always been able to make it back home for the holidays.

Her freshman year, Mitchell said, she befriended Amelie Marohn, senior in communication. Marohn invited Mitchell to join her and her family for Thanksgiving in Greensboro, North Carolina, marking the beginning of a new tradition.

“Mary and I stuck together, as I could not go home either for weekend holidays,” Marohn said.

Due to neither having the ability to travel home easily, Marohn said she and Mitchell have bonded by creating their own traditions.

“Easter 2014 we went to Atlanta for the day and Mary swam with whale sharks…and we topped it off with a nice lunch in the city,” Marohn said. “Other Easters we go to church and have a ‘fancy meal’ together in Auburn.”

The summer after her sophomore year, Marohn’s family moved to Vienna, Austria.

“This made Mary and I related even more so, with both of us having international parents,” Marohn said.

This took the pair’s holiday tradition to the next level, Marohn said, as they spent the next Thanksgiving in Vienna.

“It was amazing,” Marohn said. “We explored my new home, went to countries like Slovakia…we spent the holiday going around the city, shopping at Christmas markets, going to art museums and then eating with my parents at home.”

For this winter break the duo took on New Zealand together for the first time.

“Now it is her turn to show me her hometown and family,” Marohn said.

“Hometowns and families say a lot about how a person has come to be.”

“We have just completed a 10-day road trip around the South Island and today hiked our thirtieth mile in two weeks together,” Marohn said. “We went to the beach to hike up a mountain in her hometown and there were hundreds of campers filled with families and their Christmas trees.”

Marohn said she’s enjoying seeing the difference in family dynamics between countries.

“It is so refreshing to be in a culture that wants to be outside and be together,” Marohn said.

Marohn said her trips with Mitchell have opened her eyes about what the holiday season represents.

“Mary and mine’s experiences have taught us about what the holidays are all about,” Marohn said. “It doesn’t matter whether you are blood related, holidays are about people being there for each other and being together.”

SGA President Jesse Westerhouse recently discussed some of SGA’s accomplishments this semester, as well as some projects they’ll undertake in the spring semester.

Westerhouse said changes would likely be coming to the ticketing system for football games in the near future.

“We are working with athletics and other groups on campus to outline some effective adjustments for ticketing policies next fall,” Westerhouse said.

“We are working hard to do all we can to ensure a full student section.”

The changes are in response to the floundering student attendance rate at football games this past fall, largely attributed to the controversial changes introduced to student ticketing.

Westerhouse said the syllabus bank will be up and running next semester.

“The syllabus bank has been completed and will be live for student use in the spring,” Westerhouse said. “We are hoping that this becomes a popular platform for students to figure out what classes are best for each individual learning style.”

Westerhouse said he is currently spearheading a project to expand the Student Act. “The Student Act project is one that aims to transform the current state of the north courts in the Student Act into a 1,2001,500 seat multi-use auditorium,” Westerhouse said. “This space will be used for anything from concerts to speakers to pageants.”

The space will be a benefit to events with large attendance, Westerhouse said.

“As Auburn currently lacks a space that could hold this capacity, we feel that it is both a need and a desire to see a space like this that could be used for both Academic and Extra-Curricular activities,” Westerhouse said.

Westerhouse said SGA would be meeting with Alabama state politicians on Thursday, Jan. 26, at Capital On the Plains to discuss student concerns.

“Our External Affairs team has worked extremely hard to reach out to state legislators to attend and address the student body,” Westerhouse said.

Westerhouse said SGA is working to decrease the number of “TBA” slots denoting unknown times and professors for classes during registration.

“Our goal of decreasing the number of TBA’s students encounter is really making progress. There have been policy changes made that will ensure that TBA’s are minimized in every way possible,” Westerhouse said. “This goes hand in hand with the syllabus bank project. If you don’t know who your professor is, the syllabus bank will be of no use when figuring out which classes to register for.”

Westerhouse said students should participate in the student body’s own political process.

“As always, we encourage all students to stay engaged and vote in the spring elections.

This is an important time to elect the incoming positions for the 2017-2018 year,” Westerhouse said. “The more educated each student is on individual candidates, the better off the election process and the university as a whole are.”

RECREATION

RECREATION

TRX classes expanding this spring at the Rec Center

Kressie Kornis CAMPUS WRITER

TRX is a full-body strength workout using a person’s own body weight instead of relying on machines or dumbbells. It stands for Total Body Resistance Exercise and was originally designed by a Navy Seal who needed to stay in shape with limited space using something he could easily take on his travels.

The TRX is commonly used by all four branches of the military, athletes and celebrities. Classes will be offered this spring semester at the Rec Center using the yellow and black TRX straps in the Circuit Room.

Kelsey Mason, senior in nutrition, will teach TRX at the Rec on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 7 a.m. this semester.

Mason trained to be a group fitness instructor at the Rec the summer before her junior year, and she said she has also received a group fitness certification by taking a test given by the American Council on Exercise.

“It’s a body weight suspension group

fitness format,” Mason said. “It’s when you can connect these straps to an anchor point, and the straps will hang down and they’re adjustable, and you basically perform various exercises either holding the straps or putting your feet in the straps.”

Mason said using the straps requires people to use their body weight to perform exercises.

“We do squats, plank holds, pull-ups, just working different parts of the body,” Mason said.

Anyone can attend the class from beginner level to advanced, Mason said.

“This past semester I’d have two girls who’d come back for every class, so I would try and challenge them by taking basic movements and adding a twist to them,” Mason said. “With newer participants coming into the class I would keep it at that basic level and kind of show them new movements but encourage them to stay at what they’re comfortable with.”

Mason said she formats her class to where she’ll have a ten-minute warm-up in the beginning and four rounds of work

followed by a cool-down.

“Each round is divided up into four different upper and lower body exercises,” Mason said. “For the first round I usually start off with the lower body such as squats, and then I’ll go into a different repetition of upper body movements such as chest presses. Then I’ll go into another lower body movement of squats just to enhance what we started off with.”

The fourth round includes a different variation of the chest presses from previus rounds, Mason said.

“I’ll add a different progression to it to make it a little more challenging,” Mason said. “I’ll change the body position, changing the center of gravity, so it challenges the participant more.”

Mason said a friend who instructed scuba diving introduced her to group fitness.

“I would take her classes and I told her I was really interested in group fitness because I’m a nutrition major, and I love the aspect of providing physical fitness with the nutrition aspect,” Mason said.

DAKOTA SUMPTER / MANAGING EDITOR

A student climbs a rock wall.

What’s in store for Auburn Outdoors Loren Kimmel

Wednesday, Jan. 11, Dirksen said.

“If people are wanting to go on a trip, I suggest they sign up sooner than later,” Dirksen said. “If they don’t make a trip because it is full, we always encourage people to still come in and we can work with them and give them information and gear they need to go out and adventure on their own.”

Dirksen said there’s opportunities to be lead if you’re not ready to explore on your own.

“We have an amazing trip leader program and all of our trips and clinics are led by an experienced leader,” Dirksen said.

Dirksen said not all of Auburn Outdoors’ events require participants to leave campus.

The first Wednesday of each month, Auburn Outdoors will be hosting movie nights from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m., where they offer hot and cold drinks and snacks.

Dirksen said the program also offers multiple workshops throughout the semester, serving as informational sessions for students to gain exposure and learn more about the trips they will be taking and the skills necessary.

Come h t i w e v o l fall in !

CAMPUS WRITER

Auburn Outdoors is a campus organization connecting students with outdoor activities. The adventure-based education program provides avenues for outdoor recreation through trips, indoor climbing and weekly events on and off campus. Some of theses activities include paddling, climbing, biking, hiking and backpacking.

Auburn Outdoors is offering a variety of events next semester varying in skill and difficulty level, according to their spring agenda.

Auburn Outdoors Assistant Director Scott Dirksen said there are three larger scale trips planned for the upcoming spring semester.

“Our big events in the spring are Auburn Ascent Climbing Festival, spring break trip and our May trip to Moab, Utah,” Dirksen said.

Dirksen said each of these events require different skill sets and allow students to leave campus and explore different regions with other outdoors enthusiasts.

Registration for these trips and others offered opens on

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Opinion Thursday, January 12, 2017

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Opinion

OUR VIEW

Senator Sessions should not be confirmed

Spring Editorial Board 2017

Back in late February of 2016, Alabama’s junior Sen. Jeff Sessions was in a favorable political position.

The Trump train was steaming along Republican primaries decimating nearly everyone who got in its path, and Sessions’ constituents were more than willing to feed it.

And so, Sessions was in a comfortable position to do what many Republicans were afraid to do: He became the first sitting United States senator to give Trump an endorsement.

Sessions’ endorsement sapped away some support from Sen. Ted Cruz’s base, evangelical and tea party voters, and the train trudged onward.

This early gesture of allegiance, plus his nativist stance on immigration, catapulted Sessions toward his candidacy for U.S. attorney general, the head of our Justice Department.

His confirmation hearings were Jan. 10-11, where he faced intense scrutiny over some of the stances he has taken throughout his public life.

We, in view of Sessions’ record as Alabama’s attorney general and his time spent representing Alabama in D.C., do not believe Sessions should be confirmed as the next U.S. attorney general.

Upon assuming control of the Justice Department, the next attorney general will have the unique ability to reverse many of the policies set forth during the past eight years. They will be able to partly chart the course for whatever America they desire.

Is Sessions’ America the one to which we should aspire?

With respect to criminal justice and civil rights, we don’t think so.

Sessions’ record on criminal justice isn’t wholly bad, considering his support for reducing the deficit in sentencing for crack and cocaine offenses, but on balance, it’s not good enough to warrant giving him the position of the nation’s top prosecutor.

Sessions spreads the myth that crime in America has gotten out of control (it’s actually been decreasing for over a decade) and uses this false premise to argue against criminal justice reforms aimed at reducing incarcerations.

In fact, when a bipartisan effort to pass the Sentencing Reform and Corrections Act surfaced, a bill designed to reduce some prison sentences for lower-level drug users while retaining mandatory minimums for violent crimes, Sessions planted himself firmly against it.

Due to his obstinacy, GOP leaders decided to

HER VIEW

Rolling is a form of expression Brytni Emison COLUMNIST

Rolling the Oaks on Toomer’s Corner with toilet paper is a sacred tradition for Auburn fans.

It is one of the greatest and wide-ranging Auburn traditions.

The act is rooted in rolling the Oaks after winning a football game.

It is a tradition that encompasses every Auburn fan, or at least those who have a decent throwing arm.

This act, however, is sanctified by many.

Those who hold tree rolling in the highest regard claim it may only be done after something the whole school can get behind, usually a win in some sort of athletic competition, more often than not a football game.

So when this Auburn tradition is used after events that may isolate a group of Auburn fans, the sanctity of rolling the Oaks is called into question.

Who may roll the Oaks?

When?

For what purpose?

What does rolling the Oaks even mean?

Most recently the Oaks were rolled after Clemson won the College Football National Championship.

Why, pray tell, would any Auburn fans roll the Oaks for another team?

Did a band of vandal Clemson fans besmirch Auburn’s sacrosanct tradition of throwing toilet paper into the leaves of oak tress?

As any good detective would do, before

coming to any conclusions, all of the facts need to be considered.

Clemson was playing the University of Alabama, Auburn’s greatest rival.

Another National Championship would only allow Bama fans to gloat for another year about the successes of their football team.

Therefore, no Auburn fan would want Alabama to win the National Championship.

So the rolling of the Oaks was not because of Clemson’s win, but actually because Alabama lost.

Was this act of rolling the trees really justified? Perhaps. Perhaps not.

But there’s no reason to get mad about someone rolling the Oaks, for any reason.

So long as that person is celebrating a success and they are an Auburn fan, then let them celebrate amongst their friends, amongst their Auburn family.

The trees were even rolled after the presidential election of 2016.

Not every Auburn fan wanted Donald Trump to win.

But that doesn’t mean that we can’t support our fellow family members.

Family means supporting and including everyone, despite their differences.

If any Auburn fan can’t roll the tree, then why roll it all?

The act in and of itself is a symbol.

A symbol of the Auburn family, that we can succeed and share together in an act that represents that success.

Before condemning your fellow Auburn family members for rolling the trees, ask yourself, why does the Auburn family roll the trees?

Brytni Emison is a junior in political science.

shelve the bill for 2017 rather than have their party divided.

If confirmed, Attorney General Sessions would be in an even more powerful position with respect to whether this bill passes during the upcoming year.

As chief legal counsel to the president, Sessions’ personal philosophy could be written over future legislation in a manner unknown to mere senators.

Sessions is known for being a kind man, as is often repeated by his defenders, but kind toward whom?

Being kind to your constituents and fellow legislators is a virtue, by all means, but we need an attorney general who can extend that same kindness toward incarcerated individuals.

Sessions illustrates his view of drug users with his personal truism: “Good people don’t smoke marijuana.”

A man with such a simplistic and calloused view on drug users cannot be allowed to run our federal penitentiaries, especially when nonserious drug offenders currently take too much prison space and tax dollars.

If his own state’s problems with prison overpopulation doesn’t teach him that mass incarceration is an issue, we aren’t confident he’ll real-

HER VIEW

The importance of recognizing privilege

Claire Tully CAMPUS

Madison Ogletree PHOTO

Dakota Sumpter MANAGING EDITOR

Chip Brownlee COMMUNITY

Anne Dawson SOCIAL MEDIA

Jessica Ballard COPY

Kris Martins INVESTIGATIONS

Parker Aultman MULTIMEDIA

Weston Sims OPINION

Jack Winchester

Lily Jackson LIFESTYLE

SPORTS

It is, however, adjacent to neighborhoods without nearly as much money and many families living below the poverty line.

I grew up feeling, for the most part, safe in my environment.

I felt comfortable going to the Wal-Mart five minutes from my house alone at midnight.

I was careless about locking my car.

My family usually kept the backdoor unlocked for convenience.

A safe community to live in is a privilege I, naively, overlooked until this experience.

Growing up in a community in which incidentlike this are commonplace must shape a person to some extent. Becoming desensitized to violence is inevitable when it’s an everyday occurrence, and when someone is desensitized to violence it unavoidably becomes easier to partake in.

I’ll never know what that $70 went toward.

It could have been drug money. It could have been the co-pay on their 6-month-old’s doctor visit.

It would be presumptuous to assume either.

People are complex. Struggling to provide for your family is a horrible feeling.

Desperation is a strong motivator.

I’m not justifying their actions, but it is imperative to remember that maybe they weren’t afforded the same privileges as I was.

Maybe at age 12 they didn’t have a steady home.

Maybe at age 16 they didn’t have teachers or counselors to tell them about the college financial aid available to them.

Maybe at age 22 $7.25 per hour wasn’t enough to feed their family of five and pay the bills too.

I refuse to reduce those men to the crime they committed. It’s possible that they felt they had no other choice or no other options.

It could have been a matter of survival.

But whether it was or not, recognizing privilege is the first step to helping those without it.

Jessica Ballard COPY EDITOR

I grew up in a suburban neighborhood outside the city of Birmingham, Alabama.

I am white.

My family is middle class.

I went to a relatively well-funded public high school that provided Advanced Placement classes that thoroughly prepared me for college.

I didn’t have a college fund, but I had supportive parents and counselors exposing me to the scholarships I could earn and the loans that would cover the rest.

College was never a “maybe” for me; it was a matter of where.

College meant a degree, and a degree meant the opportunity to pursue any career I chose.

I worked hard to get a scholarship to Auburn, and I earned my place here. However, I never earned the high-quality teachers, technology and counselors that made it possible for me to get to where I am.

They were given to me, and they are privileges not everyone has.

On New Year’s Eve a friend and I were robbed at gunpoint as we sat in her silver Volkswagen beetle next to Avondale Brewery in downtown Birmingham at 9:30 p.m.

They forcibly opened the passenger side door.

We saw three men.

At least two of them had guns.

One gun was pressed against my arm. They took $70 from me and $20 from Rachel.

To be clear, Avondale is not a part of the downtown area that suburban moms forbid their children from. There are successful restaurants, breweries and coffee shops in Avondale where people from the entire Birmingham metropolitan area go.

It’s proof of the revitalization that’s been happening in downtown Birmingham in recent years.

Jessica Ballard is the copy editor at The Plainsman. You can reach her at opinion@ThePlainsman.com

The Auburn Plainsman

The Editorial Board Corey Williams EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

ize it anytime soon.

One of the most vital pillars of our society could be further eroded under a Sessions Justice Department: voting rights.

Despite his claim to support it, Sessions has been highly critical of the Voting Rights Act throughout the past. In the 1980s, he called it “an intrusive piece of legislation.”

More worrisome, after the Supreme Court invalidated key provisions of the VRA, which mandate places with histories of discrimination secure approval from the Justice Department when changing election laws, Sessions said it was a good thing for the South.

Additionally, Sessions has supported voting restrictions through the use of voter ID laws on the premise that voter fraud is an urgent problem (it’s actually extremely rare), which disproportionately affect minorities and the poor.

Dr. Wayne Flynt, a professor emeritus in Auburn’s department of history, sums up Sessions with, “His whole life, he has been on the wrong side of every issue.”

Alabama has been given a similar distinction by many people as well.

We can’t risk giving Sessions such an influential position, lest our country be ripe for regressing to a condition similar to Alabama’s.

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Community Thursday, January 12, 2017

6 ThePlainsman.com

Community

BUSINESS

J&M Bookstore manager retires after 52 years Lily Jackson

LIFESTYLE EDITOR

Pat Giddens, former manager at J&M Bookstore, had just graduated high school at the ripe age of 16 when she left her parents for Auburn with a small bag on her shoulder, assuming she’d be staying for just one month.

This month, 52 and a half years later, she retired from J&M Bookstore.

Initially in Auburn for family, Giddens found work, school and a community she couldn’t leave behind. As the months went by, it became clear to Giddens and her parents that she wouldn’t be leaving anytime soon.

Giddens said her mother never completely got over her daughter leaving at such a young age, but once in Auburn, she grew and became a part of the community.

Although it became her career, sales at J&M wasn’t her original job when she moved to Auburn. Giddens’ uncle worked in the ticket office at that time, and he had her work once. The night after her first shift she was told she couldn’t return because of conflicts with being related and working at the University.

“My uncle still didn’t want me to leave,” Giddens said.

“I kept staying a little longer each time.”

Her uncle was quick on his feet and found her a job at J&M a couple days later. Giddens remembers him pulling to the curb outside the downtown J & M store, pointing at

MADISON OGLETREE / PHOTO EDITOR

Pat Giddens discusses her time working for J&M Bookstore on Monday, Jan. 9, 2016, in Auburn, Ala.

the door and saying he’d pick her up at lunch. She wondered where the introduction was, but she soon realized she didn’t need one.

Dory Ann Johnston and George Johnston, founders of J&M, became family to Giddens.

“I would stay at the house and keep their three kids,” Giddens said. “[Dory Ann] didn’t cut me any slack, though. She taught me every-

thing and took me under her wing.”

Giddens settled down with a family in Auburn and her children are grown and have families of their own, giving her eight grandchildren, all Auburn fans. She said there is no place she’d rather be, and her life in Auburn was God’s plan for her.

Her first job at J&M was upstairs without air conditioning working with text-

books and invoices. It wasn’t long before she was moved downstairs to the retail floor, where she has spent her time since. She was shy at first, she said, but found that one cannot be shy when in sales.

“I always tell the girls I hire that they need to put themselves out there and go to the customer,” Giddens said. “If you are shy or you had a bad day, you have to leave it at the door when you come in.”

The move from Atlanta to Auburn wasn’t difficult for Giddens. Growing up in Decatur, the communities didn’t vary greatly.

“You could definitely tell that [Auburn] was a familyoriented town,” Giddens said.

“Where my uncle took me in was the baseball park, so I met a ton of local people that I am still friends with.”

On top of helping with her cousins and working, Gid-

dens took classes at Auburn University. She studied home economics until she switched to business. When she wasn’t in class, she was in the store working, without question.

Giddens has always loved working at J&M, because when people shop there, they are happy ­— it is shopping without the chores. A customer told her once that he could get the same merchandise elsewhere, but buying from J&M made it official. For Giddens, the job is all about the customer.

“Working retail is customer service, customer service, customer service,” Giddens said. “We can have the product, but if we don’t let them know we care, they won’t come back. They can go anywhere to get this stuff. We have to do something different.”

Not much has changed at J&M aside from the size and the addition of a ladies’ section. Giddens remembers the first ladies’ golf shirt she hung on the wall. Today, the ladies’ section stretches across an entire wall at the store, something Giddens took pride in buying and managing.

Giddens isn’t completely sure how she feels about retiring just yet, as she already misses the work and the people.

“If I had it to do over, I probably wouldn’t retire,” Giddens said. “But at some point it is just time. I would work five or six more years if I could.”

Thursday, January 12, 2017

Community 7

The Auburn Plainsman

DEVELOPMENT

CITY COUNCIL

AV EN UE

STRE NORT

H CO

L EGE

191 COLLEGE

VIA BOARD OF ZONING ADJUSTMENTS DOCUMENTS

The variance would allow developers to add 11 feet in height to the already 75-foot building, which is planned for the corner of Glenn Avenue and College Street.

Vote postponed on adding height to 191 College Chip Brownlee

COMMUNITY EDITOR

The Auburn Board of Zoning Adjustments voted last week to table a request to add 11 feet in height to a planned downtown apartment complex called 191 College.

The board, lacking one of its five members Jan. 4 and leaving the possibility of a tie, decided to postpone the vote on the height variance, along with several other items on the board’s agenda.

The board also did not discuss the variance, even as several residents and city officials attended the meeting because of the proposed variance for 191 College.

“A meeting like this was a waste of time,” said Stone Ray, a sophomore in architecture who was present at the meeting. Ray was also a member of a Task Force on Growth last year. “There should have been some discussion. I know they have thoughts. Tabling things like this is getting us nowhere as far as the scope of Urbanism.”

The variance would have allowed developers to add 11 feet in height to the already 75-foot building. The addition would have made a portion of the building — part of the development’s parking garage — above the 75-foot height limit in the city’s Urban Core, which includes most of the downtown area.

The variance, developers said, would allow

space for elevators, stairs and amenity spaces, including a pool, within and above the development’s parking garage, according to city documents. The total height of the area impact would be 86 feet.

“All these buildings are only as tall as the mask of their garage,” Ray said. “You can’t take it one project at the time and table it. Put your 30year goggles on. This is what the current zoning policy produces.”

Many members of Keep Auburn Lovely, a grassroots group in Auburn opposing large developments and unrestrained growth, were present at the meeting, but didn’t get the opportunity to speak because of the tabling.

Lynda Tremaine, Ward 5 city councilwoman, has been an outspoken critic of the large apartment complexes that have been proposed and approved in the downtown area, including the large 191 College, which is slated to house more than 450 beds across seven floors.

“I’ve always thought that 75 feet was too tall,” Tremaine said. “I’m disappointed in what we’re seeing with these apartments going up that don’t show some type of architectural style or appreciation for what I feel like everybody loves about Auburn. It’s already been approved for the 75 feet, so my question is: Why are they coming back at this late date wanting to keep adding to it?”

Chip Brownlee COMMUNITY EDITOR

T

GL EN N

Interim city manager appointed

191 College is planned for the southwest corner of West Glenn Avenue and North College Street. It will be built over the footprint of the existing University Chevron and a parking lot along Wright Street.

A portion of the building, but not the part affected by the variance, will lie within the city’s College Edge Overlay District, which has a 65foot height limit. The building was approved when the height limit was still 75 feet.

“Sixty-five feet is okay,” Tremaine said hesitantly. “The College Edge Overlay District, which is where this building will be built, should be 65 feet, but they just got in before the Downtown Master Plan was approved. So, when you look at it, it’s really a 21-foot variance.”

The developers said that the addition will be fully encapsulated by the residential building wrapping the perimeter of the street front, according to city documents. In addition to the stairway, elevator and amenities, the addition will also make room for more spaces in the parking garage, some of which may be used for public parking in downtown, developers said.

“I know we’re going keep growing, and I’m not against growth, but I just wish people would look at the scale of things,” Tremaine said.

The variance will reappear on the agenda of the Board of Zoning Adjustments at its Feb. 1 meeting.

The Auburn City Council appointed Assistant City Manager James “Jim” Buston as the interim city manager following City Manager Charlie Duggan’s retirement.

Buston has worked with the city for more than 20 years, coming to Auburn as the city’s first chief information officer in 1996 after working as software group chairman for the R.U.R. Group in the private sector. He has been assistant city manager for 11 years.

“I am happy that (Duggan) is at this young age where he can retire and still move on,” Buston said.

“It’s going to be difficult in those interim months to continue with the level of excellence he has set for us and prepare the staff for the incoming new city manager.”

Buston was also a vice president for software development at Intermark, a Peace Corps volunteer in Honduras and a U.S. adviser for Latin American Affairs in Honduras. He graduated from Oregan State University with a bachelor’s degree and Auburn University with a master’s degree.

In 2014, Buston received an Executive Education Certificate for Senior Executives in State and Local Government from the John Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.

Buston will begin serving as acting city manager in February when Duggan is expected to take several weeks of leave before his March 1 official retirement date, at which time Buston will begin serving as interim city manager. Buston will stay interim city manager until a replacement is found and appointed.

“I’m looking forward to the next few months,” Buston said. “I’m usually acting city manager in (Duggan’s) absence, so it’s not going to be really new to me. ... I am not interested in the position for the time, so I’m not going to be seeking it.”

Mayor Bill Ham said the city will hire a search firm to conduct a nationwide search for candidates for the position. He told The Plainsman last month that he expects a long-term replacement within six months.

TOOMER’S OAKS

Harvey Updyke skips Lee County court hearing, judge issues a citation Chip Brownlee COMMUNITY EDITOR

Harvey Updyke, the man known for poisoning Auburn’s historic Toomer’s Oaks, skipped a hearing in Lee County Circuit Court last week. Circuit Judge Jacob Walker issued Updyke a citation for failing to appear.

Walker issued Updyke, who pleaded

guilty in 2013 to poisoning the Oaks in after Auburn’s 2010 Iron Bowl win, a citation for contempt, the Opelika-Auburn News reported.

The Court held a hearing for Updyke to present a budget detailing his financial and medical hardships. Updyke has said he is unable to travel to Alabama from Louisiana, where he currently

lives, because of his hardships, according to court documents.

Flooding in Updyke’s area of residence in Louisiana caused damage to his vehicle and his home, which has required him to spend money that would have otherwise gone toward the fines he incurred from poisoning the Oaks, Updyke said.

And, he is in subpar health and has been “in and out” of the hospital for a “variety of medical issues,” he said.

Walker’s Court said it has not received any of the materials requested from Updyke back in October 2016, which included the budget and documentation of the expenses he has incurred as a result of the flood damage.

The Court also asked for a letter from his doctor explaining his medical issues.

Updyke has been ordered to appear at a hearing in Walker’s courtroom on March 1 at 10 a.m., at which time he could be incarcerated if he does not show good cause for why he failed to appear.

OBITUARY

Albert Brewer, former Alabama governor, dies at 88 in Birmingham Chip Brownlee COMMUNITY EDITOR

Former Alabama Gov. Albert Brewer, a champion of constitutional and government reform and a consistent face in Montgomery, died on Jan. 2. He was 88.

Gov. Robert Bentley confirmed Brewer’s death last week.

“Alabamians have lost a great leader today in the passing of Governor Albert Brewer,” Bentley said. “He lived his life as an example of integrity and professionalism in public service and displayed an unwavering commitment to making Alabama a great state.”

Brewer, a Democrat, began his rapid rise as a statesman in 1958. At 28, Brewer was elected to the Alabama House of Representatives.

Four years later in 1962 while in his second term, Brewer was elected speaker of the House as the youngest leader of the Alabama House in the state’s history.

In 1966, the people of Alabama elected Brewer as their lieutenant governor. As lieutenant governor, Brewer served under Gov. Lurleen Wallace, the state’s first and only female governor who was elected to the post after her husband became ineligible for a third consecutive term as governor.

After little more than a year as governor, Ms. Wallace passed away in May 1968 after a long battle with cancer. At which time, Brewer became the governor for the remainder of her term.

During his 33 months as gover-

nor, Brewer championed many progressive programs.

Brewer continued Ms. Wallace’s commitment to reforming Alabama’s mental health system while simultaneously championing a large public education package that passed the state Legislature in 1969.

The reform package gave public school teachers nearly a 13 percent raise in pay in one year, upped education appropriations by more than $100 million over the next two years and, perhaps most notably, made funding appropriations more equitable between school districts. The package also began the first Alabama Commission for Higher Education.

Brewer also established the first state motor pool, which saved taxpayers nearly a half million dollars a year, and left numerous executive positions vacant that had been used under previous governors to reward political allies.

In addition to fighting bloat and cronyism in Montgomery, Brewer also consistently fought for a more ethical state government by establishing the first Ethics Commission by executive order.

“I’m saddened to learn of the passing of Governor Albert Brewer,” said Selma Mayor Darrio Melton. “His work to expand educational opportunity, create a more ethical state government and reform our outdated Constitution will not be forgotten in generations to come.”

Perhaps the consistent theme

in Brewer’s history as a legislator, lieutenant governor and governor was his commitment to reforming Alabama’s 1901 Constitution, which he believed disenfranchised black people and poor, working-class white people and concentrated too much power in the hands of Montgomery politicians. He continued that commitment to constitutional reform as a professor later in life at Samford University.

“Gov. Brewer was a trailblazer,” said House Minority Leader Craig Ford, D-Gadsden. “He is the youngest person to ever be elected speaker of the House in the state Legislature, and he wasn’t afraid to stand up to the segregationists and work to make our state a better place for all Alabamians. He was a good man, and he will be greatly missed.”

After an objectively successful two years and some months as governor, Brewer announced he would run for his first elected term in 1969, unknowingly challenging Mr. Wallace to a political standoff.

The 1970 campaign for the Democratic nomination for governor was filled with racial vitriol, most, if not all, of it from Wallace’s side. Wallace’s supporters painted Brewer as a “friend of the blacks,” which at the time hurt his support with the white working-class base of the then Alabama Democratic Party.

Brewer told the people of Alabama that they needed a “fulltime governor” in his 1970 campaign. With his successful résu-

mé, Brewer captured the support of many moderate white people, black people, liberals and even many Republicans, who saw Brewer as a moderate alternative to Wallace.

The Wallace campaign spread rumors about Brewer and his family, published doctored photos of him with controversial black activists and covered Brewer bumper stickers with their own stickers that said, “I’m for B&B: Brewer and the Blacks,” according to the Encyclopedia of Alabama.

Some other ads attacked Brewer as a sissy, accused his wife of being a drunk and falsely said his daughters had gotten pregnant by black men, according to the Associated Press.

“We have lost an important piece of our history, as his family has lost their loved one,” said State Auditor Jim Zeigler. “Albert Brewer would rather lose the race for governor than to demagogue the people of Alabama.

He lost.”

At the end of the primary campaign, Brewer lost to Wallace by more than 30,000 votes. Later, he returned to his law practice in Decatur, where he was a renowned lawyer. He ran again for governor in 1978, but lost again to Fob James Jr. after evidence surfaced that he accepted more than $400,000 in secret contributions from President Richard Nixon’s campaign.

Brewer began a third career as a professor in 1987, joining the faculty of the Samford University Cumberland School of Law

VIA PEERIE ONLINE

Former Alabama Gov. Albert Brewer died Monday in Montgomery at age 88.

as a professor of law and government. There, he began the Public Affairs Research Council and the Institute for Ethics in Business and Government.

“The Samford University and the state of Alabama have lost a giant in the passing of Gov. Albert Brewer. He was loyal to the university, to his family, to his state and to his God and was the epitome of a Christian gentle-

man,” said Samford University President Andrew Westmoreland in a statement.

Brewer, who is the only person to ever serve as speaker of the House, lieutenant governor and governor in succession, died in Birmingham. He was preceded in death by his wife, Martha Farmer Brewer, who died in 2008. He had two daughters, Allison and Rebecca.

Sports

Thursday, January 12, 2017

8 ThePlainsman.com

Sports

SOFTBALL

Cooper named to 2017 USA Women’s National Team Jack Winchester SPORTS EDITOR

Auburn softball infielder Kasey Cooper has earned a spot on the 2017 USA Women’s National Team, USA Softball announced Friday.

Cooper is one of 20 women to make the team after a camp was held in Clearwater, Florida.

“It’s an honor and a privilege to, first of all, play with the best,” said Cooper. “[The Selection Camp] was awesome down there. Every inning there was a great play. There were no average plays; it was all great.”

The senior was selected by members of the Women’s National Team Selection Committee. Cooper and the other athletes were chosen after a selection process of 40 athletes.

“I wasn’t sure,” stated Cooper of the possibility of making the team

“

I’m very happy, honored and privileged to be a part of the USA program, and to continue another year with them.”

—Kasey Cooper A UBURN SOFTBALL INFIELDER

again. “Everyone did very well at the tryouts and it was up to the committee. They said it took forever because they didn’t know. They deliberated and I was ecstatic when I found out.

“I’m very happy, honored and privileged to be a part of the USA program, and to continue another year with them.”

The team will compete at the World Cup of Softball XII this July in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and at a Pan American Games/World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) World Championship Qualifier.

“We’re very excited for Kasey and she’s very deserving of this honor,” said Auburn head coach Clint Myers. “We’re excited for her to repre-

sent not only the Auburn softball program but also the country on the Women’s National Team.”

The third baseman is one of the 16 returning veterans from the 2016 roster which reclaimed the Gold Medal at the WBSC Women’s World Championship in Surrey, B.C., Canada after defeating Japan 7-3 in the Gold Medal Game.

Cooper is a three-time AllAmerican, has a career batting average of .410 and has already blasted 57 home runs with 224 RBI – topping the Auburn career record books with one season still to go. She was also the 2016 espnW Player of the Year, SEC Player of the Year and the NCAA Elite 90 winner.

FILE PHOTO Kasey Cooper (13) during the WCWS in Oklahoma City.

BASKETBALL

VIA MIZZOU ATHLETICS

Mustapha Heron (5) drives towards the basket during Auburn’s game against Missouri on Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2017 in Columbia, MO.

A season of ups and downs so far for Auburn basketball Will Sahlie ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR

A win is a win, right? No matter how bad it looks. That is what Bruce Pearl must be thinking as his team returns home from Columbia, Missouri with a 77-72 victory over Missouri.

Auburn was out-rebounded 51-42 by Missouri, including allowing an astounding 25 offensive rebounds to the home-standing Tigers. Auburn also shot a dismal 55 percent (18-of-33) from the free-throw line to go along with 14 turnovers. However, without second leading scorer Danjel Purifoy, Auburn found a way to get a road conference win. A win over Missouri is not typically something to celebrate, but this win could provide a big confidence boost to a young Tigers team who was still searching for their first SEC win.

This season has been full of ups and downs for Auburn, which was expected with the Tigers starting four freshman. Jared Harper has started 15 of 16 games at point guard for Bruce Pearl and has been very solid at controlling the game for Auburn. The 5-foot-10

guard is averaging 13.5 points per game to go along with a team-leading 49 assists.

Mustapha Heron has started every game thus far for the Tigers, and has quickly emerged as a star in the making. The Waterbury, Connecticut native leads the Tigers in scoring, averaging 16.2 points per game. Heron also leads Auburn in rebounding, averaging 6.4 per game. The 6-foot-5 forward broke the Auburn freshman record scoring at least 10 points in the first 15 games of his college career. Heron ranks 8th in the SEC in scoring.

Danjel Purifoy had started every game for Auburn until he suffered an ankle injury in the Tigers’ loss to Ole Miss on Jan. 7. Purifoy was sensational early in the season for the Tigers, but had struggled on the offensive end before he was sidelined. He had backto-back 27-point games vs. Coastal Carolina and Boston College, but has averaged just 7.8 points per game in six games since.

The Centerville, Alabama native is averaging 13.7 points per game to go along with 5.8 rebounds per game. It is vital for Auburn to get him back in the lineup before the grind of the SEC season begins.

On Dec. 16, two days prior to the final home non-conference game of the season vs.

Mercer, Auburn added a five-star to its roster in 6-foot-11 center Austin Wiley. Wiley won Alabama high school Class 7A player of the year as a junior a year ago, averaging 22 points per game and 12 rebounds per game.

The freshman quickly joined the starting lineup in his second game, and has earned more playing time as the Tigers have entered SEC play. The Hoover, Alabama native is averaging 7.7 points per game to go along with 4.3 rebounds per game.

Freshman are bound to experience ups and downs during their first season, but with four freshman in the starting lineup, Bruce Pearl has seen the extreme of the ups and the extreme of the downs. On Dec. 15, Auburn made a school record 21 three-pointers, which also tied a SEC record in a 117-72 victory over Coastal Carolina. That three-point barrage came just three days after the Tigers most disappointing loss of the season, a 7271 loss to Boston College. Auburn followed the dismantling of Coastal Carolina with an electrifying last second victory over Mercer and wins over typical powerhouses Oklahoma and UConn.

The Tigers entered conference play with a 10-2 record, just one win shy of last season’s total. After the four straight victories following the loss to Boston College, confidence was high on the Plains. Auburn followed up with three straight losses to open the SEC schedule, two of the losses coming at Auburn Arena. Home losses to Georgia and Ole Miss sandwiched a road defeat to Vanderbilt, and suddenly, things felt the same as usual for Auburn. However, this season is nowhere near the feeling of Pearl’s first two seasons

at Auburn.

With the victory over Missouri on Tuesday, Auburn has already matched its win total from a season ago. After a trip to Lexington, Kentucky on Saturday to face No. 6 Kentucky, the Tigers will welcome LSU and Alabama to Auburn Arena, two very winnable games for Auburn. A 20-win season is still very attainable for this young Tigers squad.

Auburn has not made a postseason appearance since 2009, something that could very well change this year. Auburn may still be a year away from true aspirations of making the NCAA Tournament, but this Auburn team is quite capable of winning 10 SEC games, finishing with 20 wins and making the NIT. Good times are here, but great times are ahead for Pearl and his Auburn program. Auburn’s four extremely talented freshman will be much more experienced next season. The Tigers will also welcome four-star guard Davion Mitchell and four-star forward Chuma Okeke next season. Pearl already has his first commitment for the 2018 season in five-star E.J. Montgomery. Auburn has not made the NCAA Tournament since 2003, the longest drought in the SEC. However with Pearl at the helm, that drought is sure to be snapped sooner rather than later. Next season could be the year for the Tigers, but this year’s team still gives Auburn fans plenty reasons to watch.

Thursday, January 12, 2017

Sports 9

The Auburn Plainsman

What you missed in Auburn sports Soccer

Auburn Soccer’s Alyse Scott has been named to the 2016 SEC Community Service Team, the conference office announced last Friday.

The Community Service Team highlights an athlete from each school who gives back to their community in superior community service efforts. The senior goalkeeper has landed on the annual team for the third time in her career.

Scott has spent hours in the Auburn community volunteering at Campus Kitchens, Habitat for Humanity and the United Way during her tenure with the Tigers.

Scott believes it was an experience in the public school system on the south side of Chicago with Camp iCare that sparked her to think big.

The Marietta, Georgia natives ability to connect with people, especially children, has served as the driving force to her being able to show campers how much they could accomplish in life. Her work with Camp iCare bridged a gap that brought students from Schmid Elementary in Chicago to Auburn for a weekend, where the students experienced Auburn and were introduced at a football game.

Scott’s dream is to open a non-profit agency to help youth who age out of children’s homes or the foster care system.

Scott is one of only three players in conference history to be named to the Community Service Team, joining Kelsey Fenix of Kentucky (2005-07) and Ashley Baker of Georgia (2010-12).

Gymnastics Despite a loss in the first meet of the season on Friday, the Auburn gymnastics team enters the week ranked No. 13 in the national rankings.

The young Tiger squad finished with a 195.275 in the loss to the nationally ranked Oregon State team.

“We don’t try to pat too much attention to the rankings at this point in the season since it is so early,” head coach Jeff Graba said. “However, to be ranked in the top 15 at this point is good news for our young squad. We obviously have some work to do, but overall we are happy to be headed in the right direction.”

The LSU Tigers moved into the number one spot nationally, followed by Oklahoma at No. 2. Florida stands third, while Alabama and Utah close out the top five.

The Tigers are ranked in the top 15 in three events early in the year. Auburn ranks 12th on vault, tied for 12th on bars, and tied for 15th on beam.

Auburn remains at home this week as they host conference foe Georgia. The Tigers and the Bulldogs square off in Auburn Arena at 6 p.m.

CT, and the meet will be televised on the SEC Network.

Football The more things change, the more things stay the same. At least, that’s how it’s seemed for Auburn over the Tigers’ last handful of games to close the 2016-17 season.

In the month leading up to the Sugar Bowl, Auburn was able to rest up its injured players to prepare for Oklahoma. Sean White’s shoulder was fine, and Kamryn Pettway’s quad injury was a thing of the past.

And for the opening drive of Monday’s game, it looked like the Auburn of old — the one that, when healthy, reeled off six straight wins in the heart of the season and fielded a potent offense that featured a bruising ground game and a precise, efficient passing attack.

But the injury bug reared its ugly head when White broke his forearm trying to dive for a first down near the goal line on Auburn’s first possession, and the Tigers were back to the of-

fensive quandary they faced against Georgia and Alabama.

The offense stalled again and again, and the defense — which had bottled up Baker Mayfield and Oklahoma for a bit — wore down and became another victim of the Sooners’ explosive offense, and Auburn fell in the Sugar Bowl, 35-19.

“Right now, I’ve got a locker room full of disappointed players,” said Auburn coach Gus Malzahn. “...We are disappointed we didn’t win.

Give those guys credit. They played a very good game.”

John Franklin III replaced White, as he had in the past, and he was relatively effective.

But then he got hit on the arm and, according to him, was unable to grip the ball. As a result, Jeremy Johnson played in his third straight game.

With the backup quarterbacks in, the offense struggled.Oklahoma began playing its safeties closer to the line of scrimmage, which slowed down running backs Kamryn Pettway and Kerryon Johnson. Pettway led everyone with 101 rushing yards, but he wasn’t ever able to break a long run or repeatedly batter the Sooners’ front seven like he had to previous opponents.

It resulted in several threeand-outs, which kept the defense on the field longer against Mayfield, Dede Westbrook, and Samaje Perine.

Oklahoma started finding ways to work against Auburn’s stout defense, and the Tigers couldn’t keep up forever. They blinked, and Oklahoma was up 35-13.

“We had a great week of practice,” said receiver Kyle Davis. “We came out, we executed everything well in practice, we just had, like, a lot of confidence coming into the game. I’m not exactly sure what happened, maybe we just didn’t execute as well.”

Mayfield finished with 26 passing yards and a pair of touchdowns en route to winning MVP honors, and Oklahoma outgained Auburn 524-339.

“We knew going into the game (Mayfield) was very elusive, he made plays with his feet, and he knew how to escape pressure,” said safety Nick Ruffin. “Just going through practice, always keeping that in mind. Coaches had us doing drills, letting the quarterback scramble around a little bit, but it’s nothing compared to the real thing.”

The real thing torched Auburn, putting a damper on an otherwise stellar season for the defense. It wasn’t all somber in the locker room, though.

When the confetti finished falling and the sting of losing subsided at least temporarily, some of the Tigers were able to reflect on the season and realize how much of a leap they made from last season, going from the Birmingham Bowl to playing in a New Year’s Six bowl.

“It tells us we’re definitely headed in the right direction, slowly but surely figuring it out and getting back to where Auburn football should be,” Ruffin said. “Albeit we didn’t get the outcome we hoped for, it’s definitely a step in the right direction.”

Next season, a young team will be a year older, and they’ll take the Sugar Bowl loss with them. With quarterback transfer Jarrett Stidham entering the fold and vying for the starting job, the offense is oozing with potential. w“We’re going to feel this loss at the beginning of next year,” said Kerryon Johnson.

“We’ve gotta take it out on somebody on the schedule.”

Lawson to enter NFL Draft Two days after the final game of 2016, junior Carl Lawson made a decision.

That decision came over Twitter, when the defensive end announced he would forego his senior season on the Plains, and enter his name

in the 2017 NFL Draft.

Lawson is leaving Auburn after his best season as a Tiger. This season, Lawson recorded 30 tackles, 24 quarterback hurries, 13 tackles for loss and nine sacks in 13 appearances for the Tigers. The finally healthy Lawson was able to appear in every game for Auburn this season, something he had not been able to accomplish since his freshman season in 2013.

The Alpharetta, Georgia, native finished his career with 67 tackles, three forced fumbles and 14 sacks.

Despite battling injuries throughout his college career where he missed the entire 2014 season, and much of the 2015 season, Lawson will look back on his time at Auburn in a positive way.

“All that bad stuff aside, every day at Auburn has been great,” Lawson said prior to the Sugar Bowl. “I have the fellowship with my brothers, and just got to live this college football experience. Everything leading up to this point has been a great experience.

As a junior this season, Lawson was named firstteam coaches All-SEC and FWAA All-American, and second-team AP All-SEC. He was also Auburn’s defensive player of the year.

Lawson’s coaches and ESPN’s Mel Kiper believe that Lawson has a bright NFL future. Kiper told reporters in December that Lawson could be “top 10-15 guy” if he could stay healthy.

Lawson is the first underclassman from Auburn to declare for the 2017 NFL Draft.

CATHERINE WOFFORD / PHOTOGRAPHER

Carl Lawson (55) greets fans during Tiger Walk on Saturday, Nov. 16, 2016 in Auburn,Ala.

Offensive lineman returning On the same day that the Auburn defensive line was dealt the blow of losing Carl Lawson to the NFL Draft, their offensive counterparts received some better news.

Right guard Braden Smith announced on Wednesday that he will return to the program for his senior season.

In a statement released through Auburn’s official website, Smith said that he considered making the leap to the next level, but decided to return and be a part of an offense that could be lethal in 2017.

“I feel like we have a chance to do something special next year,” Smith said. “We have a bunch of people coming back.

I feel like it’s going to be a really strong line next year.”

With Smith returning, Auburn’s offensive line now awaits decisions from juniors center Austin Golson and left tackle Darius James.

If they return as well, the Tiger front will only need to replace right tackle Robert Leff and left guard Austin Golson. That would also ensure that six of the nine players on the two-deep depth chart would return next season.

Regardless of their decisions, offensive line coach Herb Hand knows he’ll have an anchor at guard next season.

KENNY MOSS / AUBURN ATHLETICS

Alyse Scott (16) during the 2014 season.

CATHERINE WOFFORD / PHOTOGRAPHER

Taylor Krippner performs on the beam.

STUDENT AFFAIRS S P OT L I G H T

Brown hired as secondary coach Gus Malzahn has found his man that will coach the Tiger secondary next season. On Saturday afternoon, Auburn hired Greg Brown from Missouri. Brown coached the cornerbacks last season at Missouri, and his Tiger unit led the SEC in interceptions with 15.

Prior to last season, Brown spent two seasons at Louisville. In 2013, Brown was Nick Saban’s main secondary coach at Alabama, and served as defensive coordinator for Colorado during the 2011-12 season. Before that, Brown served as Arizona’s defensive play caller in 2010. Brown has held more than 16 different assistant positions, including some at the professional level. He has coached at the collegiate level since 1984.

Campus Food Pantry, an initiative to aid Auburn University students struggling with food insecurity, is now open.

The food pantry is located in the Auburn University Student Center and provides non-perishable food items to any currently enrolled Auburn student. For additional information or to access the Campus Food Pantry, please email auburncares@auburn.edu or call 334-844-1305.

auburn.edu/StudentAffairs

@AuburnStudents

facebook.com/AuburnStudents

@AuburnStudents

Auburn Students

Sports 10

Thursday, January 12, 2017

The Auburn Plainsman

Winter Break Recap: In Photos

MATTHEW BISHOP / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Gus Malzahn previews the Mercedes-Benz Superdome prior to kickoff.

MATTHEW BISHOP / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Kamryn Pettway (36) pushes through OU’s defense.

CATHERINE WOFFORD / PHOTOGRAPHER

Sean White (13) looks to make a pass.

MATTHEW BISHOP / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Javaris Davis (31) prepares to make a tackle against OU’s Dede Westbrook (11).

MATTHEW BISHOP / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

MATTHEW BISHOP / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

OU coach Bob Stoops, left, and Gus Malzahn shake hands after the Tigers’ 19-35 defeat in the Sugar Bowl.

Quarterback Sean White (13) reacts to a play.White broke his arm on the first drive of the game.

MADISON OGLETREE / PHOTO EDITOR

Mustapha Heron (5) drives towards the basket during the Tigers’ game against UGA on Thursday, Dec. 29, 2016.

MADISON OGLETREE / PHOTO EDITOR

Austin Wiley (50) attempts a shot during the Tigers’ game against UGA, ending in a 96-84 defeat for Auburn

WADE RACKLEY / AUBURN ATHLETICS

WADE RACKLEY / AUBURN ATHLETICS

Gracie Day performs on the bars during the Tigers’ meet against Oregon State. OSU defeated Auburn 195.575195.275.

Jared Harper (1) drives towards the basket during the Tiger’s game against Ole Miss. Ole Miss defeated Auburn 88-85.

WADE RACKLEY / AUBURN ATHLETICS

WADE RACKLEY / AUBURN ATHLETICS

WADE RACKLEY / AUBURN ATHLETICS

MJ Rott performs her floor routine. Rott won her first event title of the season with a 9.825 score.

Brandy Montgomery (10) shoots for three during the Tigers’ win against Ole Miss.

Janiah McKay (33) drives towards the basket during the Tigers’ game against Ole Miss.Auburn defeated Ole Miss 83-60.

Lifestyle Thursday, January 12, 2017

11 ThePlainsman.com

Lifestyle

HEALTH

How to start Spring semester with a healthy mindset Lily Jackson LIFESTYLE EDITOR

With planners in hand and a book bag full of freshly sharpened pencils, students make their way to campus for a brand new semester and a new year. Organization and health living seems to be a priority, but a healthy mind ranks even higher for many.

Eric Bloch, Auburn University Student Counseling Services psychologist, offered helpful tips and guidance on how to sustain a healthy mind and a solid sense of self at the beginning and throughout the semester.

Q: What are the most common hesitations and problems for students at the beginning of a semester?

A: “At the beginning of the semester there is a lot of excitement, people coming back after summer or winter break, seeing their friends again, seeing the town and getting settled back in. That being said, they know that stress is coming. They know what is going to happen. They know the semester is going to be hard. There is a mixture of excitement and trepidation, a little bit of fear and anxiety.”

Q: What are ways to deal with the fear that comes with the start of a new semester?

A: “The best way is to do it coming from the front end. You don’t want to put yourself in a position where you are in the middle of the semester and you are struggling and then you are having to figure out what to do. The best thing anyone can do is have a plan going in before the semester even starts. Know what you like to do, know what you do for fun and know what you do to relax and get that in your schedule before classes start.

When you have tests and papers do you have a plan of how to handle the stress.”

Q: What are practical steps to ensure positivity through the semester?

COLUMN

A: “Planning. I use my phone. You should put school schedules, test, classes and work in the planner so you can see it. Put in other activities as well. ‘This is what time I’m going to work out.’ ‘This is when I’m putting the homework away to hang out with friends.’ Those are the things you can do, make concrete steps to make things easy for you because when you are already stressed out you don’t want to think about what your plans were to relax.”

Q: What should you look for in an accountability partner to keep your spirits high and your mind on track?

A: “I would look for someone ideally in the same major, so their stress level will be almost the same. Then you are able to help each other out. Anyone who is understandING, someone who knows you, who knows how you react to stress and how to calm you down if you are overwhelmed. They should know how to get you out of the bad mindset and get you out to do something that is actually fun or creative or relaxing.”

Q: What are mental reminders to assist oneself in keeping a positive mindset?

A: “I think the most important reminders when you are in a bad place for any reason at all is remembering what’s good in your life. When you are in a bad place you get tunnel vision and all you can see is what’s going wrong. Take five minutes, take 10 minutes, take as much time as you can and think about the last thing you did that was fun, the last thing you were really excited about or enjoyed. This will recharge you a little bit.”

Q: When worse comes to worse, what is the first move someone should make?

A: The first move is to ask for help. It can be from a friend, a parent, a girlfriend, boyfriend, professor, tutor or [counseling services]. We offer the professional side of the help, but help doesn’t just come from us. Anybody is able to help. It is the first step and the hardest step. It’s hard to say, ‘Look, I need help.’”

FILE PHOTO

Finding a place to relax is key in having a healthy mind.

ENTERTAINMENT

Self over salary

Neglected albums of 2016

Major with passion in mind, not payday Emily Hale COLUMNIST

The top of the manila folder read “Please Return to Engineering Student Services.”

These were the boldface printed words I read over and over again in my head as I stared down at my academic file.

As many times as I had visited Engineering Student Services on the first floor of Shelby, this time my folder was not to be returned to the office I once frequented.

I marched my folder to Tichenor Hall to officially switch to what many consider the ‘opposite’ of STEM disciplines, the College of Liberal Arts.

This move is not uncommon for those of us who started off in one of the various engineering disciplines our freshman year.

Many quickly realize or decide they’ve made the wrong choice, and, of course this isn’t a phenomenon unique to just engineering majors.

I was elated to be leaving vectors, integrals and chemical processes behind. The $70,400 average starting salary for chemical engineers or the wide demand for such a degree, however, I was going to miss.

I’ve loved politics since I was 12 years old and had aimed to use my newfound chemical engineering degree to push for sustainable and renewable energy policy.

I loved current events and competing

on my high school debate team.

I fell in love with public speaking and enjoy complex writing assignments. Not surprisingly, I picked political science as my new major.

I made the decision at the end of the fall semester of my freshman year. I got to spend a little over a month in my hometown mulling over the unknown prospects of my future after making such an on-the-surface stupid decision.

Although I was met with many responses that validated what had led me to switch: I had many more innate talents that led me to excel in liberal arts than in the technical fields.

It wasn’t those responses that echoed and played over in my head.

It was the, “What will you do with a political science degree?” that really got to me. It was the subtle change of facial expression from excited to apprehensive after I replied.

The task of switching majors, something many students do more than once before they receive their degree, had resulted in a mini existential crisis for me.

I wondered if I knew what I was doing.

If I simply wasn’t what the job market needed or wanted.

If I was simply not capable of passing and learning physics.

The doubts that two years spent in the wrong major caused me to question my ability to do just about anything.

I failed the same physics course twice, which had been one of the only areas I had remained steadfastly confident in throughout puberty, high school and my initial college years.

This made me question my academic ability overall.

I entered Spring semester of 2016 an odd ball of emotions. As I settled into my courses, I connected with my professors in an authentic way for the first time. I was overjoyed to be sitting in my courses. I found myself making connections between my various course subjects.

It was a feeling I thought I had left in high school. I made straight As for my first time at Auburn University. I’ve enrolled in an accelerated master’s program in public administration here.

I still haven’t figured out what I want to do once I leave college, but I certainly have figured a few things out since I sat in engineering student services for the last time.

When making decisions that will influence your lifelong career trajectory, pick subjects and endeavors that bring you great joy.

Do things you are good at. When you’re passionate and talented, your vision and outlook are contagious.

I’m not advising to ignore the practicality of certain career choices, but I will argue when someone is passionate they will work harder than most and get far, at least compared to their apathetic counterpart.

Not only will your work seem easier to start and feel more rewarding upon completion, but it will make you feel more confident in your ability to succeed.

After all, it would be hard to turn down a job applicant who is confident in their ability to learn, even if they do not know everything yet.

Average starting salaries aren’t everything.

Don’t neglect the pursuit of happiness in the name of total comfort.

Lily Hendrix LIFESTLYE WRITER

Last year was nothing short of a disaster. There were many failures, losses and undesirable surprises around each corner. Despite everything that happened in 2016, it was a great year for music, which is what I used to cope and it made the year seem a little less awful.

Kanye West blessed us with his album, “The Life of Pablo.”

Beyonce gave us the female empowering anthems from her newest album, “Lemonade.” Other truthfully great albums were released throughout the year like, “Coloring Book,” by Chance The Rapper, “Blackstar” by David Bowie, “Blonde,” by Frank Ocean and “22 A Million,” by the resurfaced Bon Iver.

All of these new albums stayed at the top of the charts and were widely promoted when there were several other albums out that were just as good. These hidden gems didn’t necessarily go unnoticed, but they could’ve received more attention and promotions.

For starters, a relatively new artist, 6lack, released his first album titled “FREE 6LACK.” This mix of classic trap soul and R&B isn’t played everywhere is puzzling.

The singer’s warm raspy voice croon while the repetitive bass line and synth remains timeless. “Ex Calling” may seem familiar, but do yourself a favor and listen to the whole album in one sitting and you’ll love the flow and somber disposition.

It’s hard to pin this album in a genre, but it’s full of all the things that make it a crowd pleaser and appears on the typical ‘indie’ playlists on Spotify like, “Ultimate Indie.” This New York based singer and music experimentalist created his title as Two Feet and released his first EP called “First Steps.” The heaviness and dynamic sound make up for there just being four songs, as well as the fact you can’t find anything else exactly like this. If you’ve heard of the artist Banks, then you’ve heard of her first album, “Goddess.” It’s hard to make something better, or just as good as this album.

In September 2016, Banks released yet another emotional album, “The Alter,” that shares her perspective on heartbreak, assertiveness and desire. “Mind Games” and “Lovesick” are full of warm strings and experimental bass that capture this mysterious and moody sound that you can either dance to or workout to.

The rap duo, Run The Jewels followed the trend and dropped an album overnight. Run The Jewels released their third album, “Run the Jewels 3,” as an early gift on Christmas Eve. What’s eye catching is Danny Brown’s feature in this album is rare. This is easily one of their heavier albums that’s full of rage, political views and examples of their success especially on the track, “Legend Has It.”

FOOD

Cooking with Anne: zoodles, ‘I can’t believe it’s not noodles’ Ingredients: 1 zucchini

Anne Dawson

2 tsp. garlic powder

ONLINE EDITOR

3 oz. ground beef

1/2 cup store bought marinara sauce 1/2 tbsp. goat cheese

Alright guys, its a new year full of new goals. Many of you have probably set out to lose that freshman 15, or 20, that you gained when you first came to college and the easiest way to lose a few pounds is to change your eating habits.

Eating healthy doesn’t have to be miserable and taste awful. Try this recipe for zoodles topped with meat sauce and creamy goat cheese. If you can tell that these noodles aren’t really noodles then you’re one of few, because the substitution doesn’t taste like a sacrifice at all.

You will need a pasta maker to make this dish. You can buy cost efficient devices at Walmart and Target. It will be worth the money, because once you use it you will be obsessed.

This recipe is for one person, so if you’re making it for multiple people just double it, triple it or serve an army.

Directions:

Run zucchini through noodle maker until zucchini is completely spiraled.

Heat zoodles on medium heat in a pan for 4-5 minutes until cooked. Turn heat to low until sauce is ready. Season with garlic powder.

While noodles are cooking, start to brown the beef.

Once cooked all the way through, add sauce and heat up for 60 seconds.

VIA VSCO

Pour sauce on noodles and top with goat cheese.

Serve with garlic bread or veggies.

Lifestyle 12

SPURLIN » From 3

throughout his career.

Some of those role models and mentors are Doug Rosner, Rick Good, Nikki Gross from Auburn, Roy King, Frank Wicks, Linda Moorhouse from Lousiana State University and Kathryn Scott and Kenneth Ozzello from the University of Alabama.

“They are quick to give advice and help me when needed, they are largely who I lean upon,” Spurlin said. “They have had a huge role in helping me define my craft.”

Over the past 10 years, Spurlin has taken this craft and executed successful shows and seasons despite changes in the industry.

“In terms of the band and my job, I think that it’s the things that haven’t changed much that I appreciate,” Spurlin said. “Some of my colleagues around the country over the past decade have found that their band is less utilized at football games and basketball games because of all the technology.”

“I’ve felt fortunate over my time here that Auburn continues to value the traditional elements — our marching band, our cheerleaders, our mascot. The fans want that to be an integral part of the game day experience here. That makes my job more fun.”

In the past few years, the marching band has surpassed expectations, using large tarps, a vehicle, fireworks and utilizing the jumbotron for an interactive element.

It’s often a shot in the dark, guessing whether a certain show will receive the desired reaction,

MADISON OGLETREE / PHOTO EDITOR

Corey Spurlin assists student drum major, Jonathan Corona on the stand.

“

In terms of the band and my job, I think that it’s the things that haven’t changed much that I appreciate.”

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Employment

this week, the plainsman editors chose their favorite ‘new year, new me’ songs. listen to their picks and follow the auburn plainsman at spotify.com/the_auburnplainsman.

“Sorry” by Beyonce Madison Ogletree, photo edior “Sorry, not sorry.”

—Corey Spurlin AUMB Director

“The Greatest” by Sia but Spurlin said they don’t know until they try.

“We are always trying to come up with new, innovative elements that we can offer in our shows to our fans without necessarily changing the style of the band or what has made us successful over the years,” Spurlin said. “We put everything on the table and we accomplish what we can.”

Some of Spurlin’s favorite shows have been the Back to the Future Show in 2015, the Irish Show in 2008, and his first show, the Movie Adventure show in 2007.

It is no mistake to assume that Spurlin loves his job, from the results of his hours of work.

He said his favorite part of the job is the students and his colleagues.

“People make life fun, not computer work,” Spurlin said. “The creative work is fun, but it is tedious. That is fun, especially when you see it on the field and the students enjoy performing it, but I probably love the student interaction more.

Seeing how they mature from when they come in at 18 to when they graduate at 22. Especially seeing them after college and how they have succeeded.”

Spurlin said the technical work and the music matters, but what matters more to him is how each student develops as a person through their accountability and character.

At the start of each season Spurlin and Gross, assistant director of athletic bands, use photo flipcards to memorize the names of each member of the marching band. Spurlin makes a point to know each student and be able to engage in conversation with them.

“We want to have some relationship with each student,” Spurlin said. “If they are walking across campus I should know that they are in the band and be able to address them by their name and see how their day is going and they know that I know who they are.”

Spurlin’s effect on his students came to surface when he was honored with a video of former students from all over the United States, thanking him for his time and effort.

“New Person, Same Old Mistakes” by Tame Impala Jessica Ballard, copy editor “Already eaten Taco Bell twice this year.”

Auburn dog of the week

CHIP BROWNLEE / COMMUNITY EDITOR

Minnie Jackson runs with her rope on Samford Lawn.

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RELEASE DATE– Monday, January 30, 2017

Los Angeles Times Daily Crossword Puzzle Edited by Rich Norris and Joyce Nichols Lewis

ACROSS 1 Song of praise 6 Madagascar primate 11 “Norma __” 14 Fiber-__ cable 15 Last Olds model 16 Make a decision 17 Massachusetts witch trial town 18 Frenzied 19 Speedometer reading: Abbr.

20 Mork’s sign-off 22 Cute Aussie “bear” 24 What we breathe 25 In favor of 26 Native of Damascus 27 Chinese menu letters 28 Eastside Manhattan thoroughfare 31 Dijon darling 33 Brain scan: Abbr.

34 Had the best record in 35 Confidentially, in Cannes 39 Univ. near Harvard 41 Unspecified number 42 Choppers 46 Boat made from a hollowed tree trunk 50 Ship, to a sailor 51 Zambia neighbor 52 Suffix with east 53 Male or female 54 Pastoral poem 55 Request for the latest update 58 Cozy cat seat 59 Kind of Boy Scout badge 61 Ancient region of Asia Minor 63 “Lux” composer Brian 64 Tylenol alternative 65 “Filthy” moolah 66 “Sure thing” 67 Eight plus one, to aviators 68 Disdainful grin DOWN 1 Places to buy stamps: Abbr.

2 Language of Chile 3 On the loose

4 Property encumbrance 5 Golden Arches egg sandwich 6 Hollywood’s Hedy 7 Stylish vigor 8 Café chalkboard listing 9 Ocean State sch.

10 1990 Stallone boxing film which at the time was thought to be the conclusion of its series 11 Caesar salad lettuce 12 Give a hand to 13 Flammable hydrocarbon 21 There’s __ in “team” 23 Bully’s threat ender 24 “Breaking Bad” channel 26 Palm starch 29 “Later, bro” 30 X, to Cato 32 Update factory machinery 36 “Toodles!”

37 GOP fundraising org.

38 Kitchen implements 39 Humdrum 40 “Lust for Life” punk rocker 43 Defining quality 44 2000s crime drama set in Baltimore 45 Cast a spell on 46 Dan of old MGM musicals

47 Tracey on whose show “The Simpsons” debuted 48 More orderly 49 Dinner plate scrap 55 Chirpy bird 56 Home with drones 57 Sentence subject, as a rule 60 Yale collegian 62 __ Lingus: Irish carrier

ANSWER TO PREVIOUS PUZZLE:

xwordeditor@aol.com

By Kevin Christian and Andrea Carla Michaels ©2017 Tribune Content Agency, LLC

01/30/17

01/30/17