Turning trash to treasure Page A5
A different kind of relationship Page B5
Tigers take on the Gatorsw Page B1
The Auburn Plainsman A SPIRIT THAT IS NOT AFRAID www.theplainsman.com
Thursday, October 13, 2011
Vol. 118, Issue 8, 20 Pages
Annual report shows increase in drug, alcohol incidents Robert E. Lee ASSISTANT CAMPUS EDITOR
Campus safety concerns can now be answered with one practical solution. The Department of Public Safety and Security has released its annual security and fire safety report to help students, parents and faculty access safety information on demand. “I think it offers them a wealth of information and gives the resources for students to succeed
in any situation that arises in regards to public safety,” said Melvin Owens, executive director of public safety and security. Ten burglaries were reported in Auburn University residence halls in 2010, eight fewer than in 2008. Drug law arrests on campus have increased from five incidents in 2008 to 18 in 2010. Liquor law incidents ending in disciplinary actions have risen from seven incidents in 2008 to 159 in 2010.
Owens said students should take advantage of the guide. “It’s an opportunity for the University to make students aware of programs, policies and procedures,” Owens said. “Secondly, it’s a mandate for the Department of Education.” Owens said the guide details safety services offered by Auburn and useful information students can use in a practical format. The guide, accessible at www. auburn.edu/administration/pub-
lic_safety, offers numerous topics of discussion including phone numbers to various campus services and security authorities, emergency guidelines, the City of Auburn public safety information and advice on crime prevention. Chance Corbett, associate director for emergency management, explained how the guide is being used as a convenient tool. “For students and parents, you get to see a snapshot of what was reported on campus,” Corbett
Students take on Wall Street
Madeline Hall ASSOCIATE COPY EDITOR
Chelsea Harvey CAMPUS EDITOR
» See BIKE, A2
» See REPORT, A2
NCAA clears Cam Newton
Supporters of Occupy Wall Street create group A nationwide protest has taken root in Auburn. Occupy Auburn was recently formed as a means of expressing local support for protesters in New York opposing the federal government’s involvement with large corporations—a movement known as Occupy Wall Street. A number of other cities nationwide, such as Atlanta and Birmingham, have already formed organizations, collectively referred to as Occupy Together, to express local support for the protesters. “We have a lot of different people in our group that have different thoughts on politics and political ideology, so we decided kind of on a baseline position that we don’t think businesses should work with the government to receive unfair privileges, just in general,” said Ross Kenyon, chief organizer of Occupy Auburn. Katelyn Cowser, senior in English and member of the group, said she viewed Occupy Auburn as a way for her to participate in a nationwide issue. “Well, I got involved with this just because I wanted to go to Wall Street to help out with the protesters there, but being a student here I can’t really skip my classes to go to Wall Street,” Cowser said. Kenyon said the movement began when he created a Facebook page approximately two
said. “We pride ourself in having a safe campus.” The guide is in response to a mandate put forth by the Jeanne Clery Act, a federal law requiring colleges and universities to disclose certain timely and annual information about campus crime and security policies, according to www.securityoncampus.org. Originally known as the Campus Security Act, the current act
REBECCA CROOMES / ASSISTANT PHOTO EDITOR
A new bike law orders cars to maintain a three-foot gap between the motorist and the bicyclist.
Bikers get a handle on the road Auburn City Council passes new bike law Melody Kitchens ONLINE EDITOR
A law requiring a three-foot gap between a motorist and a bicyclist was passed at the Oct. 4 Auburn City Council meeting. “Unfortunately, in our society, you have to have a law or ordinance before it becomes an acceptable idea,” said Tommy Eden of the Auburn Bicycle Committee. “Just like seat belts or things like that. It’s been a great idea for a long time, and until somebody put up a law or ordinance in place, relatively few people did it.” At the meeting members of the Auburn Bicycle Committee said they were glad to see the council recognize and address their concern for safety. “Thrilled. In one word, thrilled,” Eden said. “I am extremely grateful for the city council’s decision.” Police Captain Tommy Car-
swell agrees. “We’re glad that the city council has considered it and dealt with it,” Carswell said. “A lot of people think it’s just for recreation, but in the college area especially it’s a great mode of transportation for some people.” Before the 5–3 vote to approve the law, councilman Bob Norman expressed his concern regarding future enforcement issues. “I just don’t think we can legislate courtesy,” Norman said. Carswell said there are various factors at play in enforcing this law. “The bike law enforcement will lie in an exaggerated circumstance where a citation is warranted,” Carswell said. “I may not know what three feet is, but I know what way less than three feet is.” In addition to this new law, the Auburn Bicycle Committee said they plan to put up “Share the Road” signs throughout the city. “We’re actually trying to locate signage in other states that have some kind of three-foot visual so you can look at it and under-
“
It’s been a great idea for a long time, and until somebody put up a law or ordinance in place, relatively few people did it,” —Tommy Eden AUBURN BICYCLE COMMITTEE
stand what it means,” Eden said. Dustin Woodley, bicyclist and senior in industrial design, said he feels confident this law will be enforced correctly. “If they enforce it as much as they’ve been enforcing the other bike rules, like making sure you have lights on at night, making sure you’re not riding in the middle of traffic, it’ll work,” Woodley said. Woodley organizes and participates in Critical Mass, a studentled bike ride through Auburn that happens the last Friday of each month starting around 6 or » See BIKE, A2
The National Collegiate Athletics Association announced Wednesday that its investigation into Auburn’s recruitment of former quarterback and 2010 Heisman Trophy winner Cam Newton is over. Auburn fans everywhere celebrate while Alabama fans shake their heads in disappointment. The University received a letter from the NCAA enforcement staff announcing the conclusion of their investigation. No major rule violations were found. The NCAA’s statement read, “After conducting more than 80 interviews, the NCAA has concluded its investigation into Auburn University. “The NCAA enforcement staff » See NCAA, A2
A different dry campus Local Red Cross low on blood supply Sarah Cook WRITER
Orange and blue are not the only colors Auburn needs to bleed right now. With the April storms and general need for blood in Alabama, the Plains are in need of healthy blood donors. The Student Government Association partners with the American Red Cross each year to host four blood drives, one in January, April, September and November. On average the drives accumulate 400–600 pints of blood. “The Red Cross is always in constant need of blood, especial» See BLOOD, A2
Graduate school moves from Hargis Hall to Langdon Hall Nick Bowman OPINIONS EDITOR
Hargis Hall will most likely remain empty until next year. “It just really depends on the results of the inspection,” said George Flowers, dean of the graduate school and professor of mechanical engineering. “There’s been some indication that it might be passed December, so it’s
looking more like it’s going to be a bit longer.” Flowers said that the graduate student is moving from its temporary office in the OIT building back onto the main campus, where it will function fully until the office is moved back to Hargis. “We are moving today and are almost completely moved into the basement of Langdon,” Flowers
said. “We’re in the building right next door to where we were. The same staff is in this building. We’ll be back up and running full-speed tomorrow morning.” Hargis Hall, near Toomer’s corner, caught fire on Oct. 6 at 6 p.m. No cause for the fire has yet been determined, but Robert Hodge, battalion chief of C-shift with the Auburn Fire Department, said the
building didn’t sustain any significant structural damage. “There may be a little structural damage to the steeple, but nothing that would cause a collapse,” Hodge said, “just some charred wood.” The flames were held in check before the firefighters arrived. “A sprinkler system in the building activated and pretty much
INSIDE Campus » A1 | Community » A5 | Opinions » A8–A9 | Classifieds » B7 | Sports » B1 | Intrigue » B5
held it in check,” Hodge said. “When we got here there wasn’t a lot of fire left.” Flowers said that plans are uncertain until the inspection is finished. “It’s going to depend very much on what the building inspectors can find in regards to what needs to be done to get the building back up to standards,” Flowers said. Recycled paper
Campus A2
The Auburn Plainsman
DUI ARRESTS IN THE CITY OF AUBURN OCT. 7 – OCT. 11, 2011
CRIME REPORTS FOR OCT. 7 – OCT. 11, 2011
■ Demarcus J. Martin, 22, of Union Springs Interstate 85 North Oct. 8, 1:12 a.m.
Oct. 7 — Padgett Court Burglary of residence reported. One Nintendo Wii.
■ Daniel M. McCarty, 24, of Homewood Farmville Road at North Donahue Drive Oct. 8, 7:33 a.m.
Oct. 7 — Armstrong Street Burglary of residence reported. One gold ring with diamonds and light green stone and one 40” LCD TV.
■ Young Ku Jung, 54, of South Korea South College Street Oct. 8, 8:03 p.m.
REPORT » From A1
was named after Jeanne Ann Clery, a 19-year-old college freshman who was raped and killed in her residence hall on April 5, 1986. The parents of Clery were unaware of 38 violent crimes on their daughter’s campus at the time, bringing about the current act which passed in 1990. A portion of the guide includes criminal offense statistics for the prior year, as mandated by the act. Other sections include lifestyle improvement, bi-
BLOOD » From A1
ly since the tornadoes last April,” said Courtney Kyzar, SGA director of blood drives. “The blood supply is extremely low.” In the Alabama and Central Gulf Coast Region, about 21 percent of blood donations come from high school and college students, according to the Red Cross. Although Auburn has about 24,000 students, participation in blood drives has been low in comparison with other universities. “We just went to a blood drive at Appalachian State University where they had over 12,000 students give
BIKE
» From A1 7 p.m. “It’s just a group of bikers getting out there to
Thursday, October 13, 2011
Oct. 8 — South College Street Theft of property reported. One sapphire ring and one sterling ring. Oct. 8 — Webster Road Theft of property reported. One Grizzly Smokeless Tobacco Display Case
cycle safety and a weapons policy. The Rape Aggression Defense program is also an important focal point of the guide. RAD demonstrations help women to prepare themselves for times of assault. Corbett also mentioned the department is always trying to improve the guide to further benefit students. “It leaves no doubt,” Corbett said. “We show you what we are improving on and welcome feedback and put it in place whenever we can.”
Oct. 8 — Webster Road Theft of property reported. One 42” flatscreen TV and one Playstation 3 with two controllers. Oct. 9 — Old Mill Road
Oct. 9 — South College Street Burglary of residence reported. One laptop and one Vera Bradley laptop carrying case.
Oct. 10 — West Thach Avenue Theft of property reported. One Dell Inspiron computer. Oct. 11 — South College Street Theft of property reported. $13. Oct. 11 — South College Street Theft of property reported. $450.
Oct. 9 — Warrior Court Burglary of residence reported. One 46” flatscreen TV, one Xbox with two controllers, one Playstation 3 with two controllers, one Wii with one controller, 20 video games and one HDMI cord.
— Reports provided by Auburn Department of Public Safety
Oct. 10 — Opelika Road
ple from the community that were older, other folks that were younger, people from all different political backgrounds that wanted to take an active interest in Auburn,” Kenyon said. Cowser said participants in the first meeting were overwhelmingly members of the community rather than students. Cowser said she is in the process of securing a permit to distribute flyers on campus so the organization can become more involved with recruiting members. “I think it gives potential to grow the movement in terms of diversity of people, but I think what we’ve already encountered is that a lot of people don’t
even know about Occupy Wall Street movement, you can’t describe this to them if they don’t know about that,” Kenyon said. Kenyon said some students have also discussed going through the process of having an official Occupy Auburn student organization on campus. Tyler Look, freshman in aviation management and member of the group, said he thought Occupy Auburn would be unique among student organizations if this were to occur. “I think if that did happen, I would personally not want it to be mixed up with other organizations, like recreational and stuff because this is actually something going on in our
nation today, it’s extremely applicable to our lives and our future,” Look said. Occupy Auburn is organizing several more events to take place on campus this weekend. “On Saturday, Oct. 15 is the National Day of Solidarity, so Occupy Together groups around the country are gonna be having demonstrations and showing that they stand with the occupiers of Wall Street,” Kenyon said. Members of Occupy Auburn will be present on the Student Center green space Saturday before the football game, handing out flyers and talking to people about the organization in the hopes of recruiting more members.
NCAA
pant public speculation online and in the media. “The allegations must be based on credible and persuasive information and includes a good-faith belief that the Committee on Infractions could make a finding. “As with any case, should
the enforcement staff become aware of additional credible information, it will review the information to determine whether further investigation is warranted.” Athletic Director Jay Jacobs released a statement Wednesday evening.
His response read, “We appreciate the NCAA and thank them for their professionalism and thoroughness during this exhaustive investigation. We are pleased to put this matter behind us.” The letter concluded a 13-month investigation.
afraid that drivers won’t see me, but I try and make eye contact with them so I can be sure they see me,” said Jenny Myer, first-year pharmacy student.
Law enforcement and members of the Auburn Bicycle Committee said they agree this law will further educate the community on bicycle safety.
» From A1 is committed to a fair and thorough investigative process. As such, any allegations of major rules violations must meet a burden of proof, which is a higher standard than ram-
show the community that yes, you see bikers out on the road, but when you see a big group of us, it really makes everybody think, ‘I should watch out for these
Oct. 9 — Lee Road 12 Theft of property reported. $70.
Burglary of residence reported. One cellphone.
WALL STREET
» From A1 weeks ago advertising the idea of Occupy Auburn. As people discovered the page, the group grew in membership. “I have some friends that have been doing it in different parts of the country that kind of encouraged me to do it here in Auburn,” Kenyon said. “I just started the page one day on a whim.” The group held its first general assembly last Sunday at 1 p.m. in Ross Square, the courtyard area in front of Ross Hall on campus. Kenyon said approximately 40 people attended the meeting. “There were a lot of peo-
blood in one day, and they have 15,000 students, which is a lot less than what Auburn has,” Kyzar said. SGA has been investigating why Auburn’s donations are low, but can’t find a concrete reason. “I think Auburn is definitely in a more conservative area where they’re maybe a little bit more stuck in their ways,” Kyzar said. “Students up North tend to be a little bit more open to change and trying new things, so that could be a reason.” Students will have an opportunity to donate Nov. 8–10 at the annual Beat Bama Blood Drive. Last year, Auburn collected 525 units beating Bama.
Theft of property reported. One digital camo wallet with debit card, Medicaid cards, Social Security cards and $450.
guys,’” Woodley said. Carswell said prior to the law there was no statute mandating the distance required between a motorist and a bicyclist.
n a m s n i a l P n r u b u A e Th
Members of the Auburn Bicycle Committee said they feel unsafe riding on the road at times. “When I’m going through a stop sign, I’m sometimes
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Thursday, October 13, 2011
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The Auburn Plainsman
Leading ladies inspire success Hayley Blair ASSOCIATE CAMPUS EDITOR
REBECCA CROOMES / ASSISTANT PHOTO EDITOR
Auburn physics professor Connor Ballance speaks on nuclear fusion at the Atomic Data Analysis Structure workshop Oct.7 at the Dixon Conference Center.
Fusion finds home in AU Hayley Blair ASSOCIATE CAMPUS EDITOR
The Atomic Data and Analysis Structure, a European group that has worked for the last 15 years on making nuclear fusion a valid source of energy, held its first workshop in the United States Oct. 6–8 at the Auburn University Hotel. “It’s a historically European thing, but there are more Americans becoming involved,” said physics professor Stuart Loch. “It’s getting bigger.” Martin O’Mullane, the current head of ADAS, said in order to expand the organization they are reaching out to universities beyond Europe and the U.S. “All the major European universities have joined, and we have an increasing membership in the Far East and Japan, India and China,” O’Mullane said. Auburn was the first American university to join ADAS, and the history of cooperation between them was one reason the workshop was held here. “The Americans have never really been much in it, but over the last two
U P C P r e s e n t s
years they’ve expressed more interest,” said physics professor Mitch Piudzola. “I think Auburn for many years was the only participant that worked beside Europe.” Both Piudzola and Loch have connections to ADAS. Loch worked under its founder at the University of Strathclyde in Scotland. “My supervisor started this project, so after I finished my research with him I came over here as a researcher, but I kept a connection back to Scotland,” Loch said. “When they needed a place to hold the workshop I volunteered Auburn.” The workshop was made to bring researchers together to work toward the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor, a large-scale nuclear fusion reactor. Some of the research presented even came from two Auburn graduate students, Di Wu and Josh Vander Hyden. Piudzola said the focus of ADAS and the specialties of Auburn’s physics department are closely relat-
ed, a reason for Auburn’s early membership. “Physics departments are spread over many different disciplines, and they all have their expertise,” Piudzola said. “Auburn’s strength has been in plasmic physics and the atomic physics associated with nuclear fusion.” Other American universities, including Princeton and the University of Wisconsin, are contributing research as well. The fees paid by member universities are key to the project’s continuation. “Each of these university sites has a yearly fee, which makes it a self-sustaining organization,” O’Mullane said. Loch made sure to differentiate nuclear fusion from fission, a more dangerous and less environmentally friendly process. “What the experiment tries to do is the same reaction as the sun does,” Loch said. “If you can make it, you have an energy source that doesn’t make greenhouse gases, it’s not radioactive and it runs on hydrogen, which you get from water.”
Marie Wilson, longtime women’s advocate and founder of the White House Project, will speak at the Extraordinary Women Lecture Thursday at 2 p.m. at Telfair Peet Theatre. The lecture is sponsored by the Women’s Leadership Institute. The White House Project was created to increase the amount of women in White House leadership, and Wilson will speak on this issue in her lecture. “Marie Wilson’s theory is when we bring women to the table to make decisions,” said Barbara Baker, executive director of the WLI, “we bring in a different kind of leadership. We bring in a more inclusive leadership, we bring in a more feminine leadership. That changes the tone of the conversation.” The WLI has earlier invited Lt. Gen. Leslie Kenne, the first woman to be a three-star general, and Lily Ledbetter, the only woman from Alabama to have a law named after her, to speak at the annual conference. “Dr. Baker creates a theme for the year,” said Maria Reyes, technology coordinator for the WLI. “When the Lt. Gen Leslie Kenney was here it was military leadership. When Lily Ledbetter was here, it was equal pay, so the whole year’s theme was equal pay.” With Wilson’s scheduled appearance, the theme is leadership in all arenas, not just in the White House. “This time it’s not only political leadership,” Reyes said. “It has to do with civic engagement, communi-
CONTRIBUTED
ty, volunteerism and how all of those things will help raise a feminist type of leadership.” Baker began the Extraordinary Women Lecture series after she was put in charge of the institute in an attempt to inspire women to pursue their goals. “I really wanted to try to find people our students could connect with so it wasn’t just some random speaker, but somebody who really had some connection so the students could see themselves as leaders,” Baker said. Reyes said meeting such powerful women in person can make the most ambitious dreams seem possible for those who attend. “When you meet a general and you yourself are a cadet in ROTC, it makes it a possible goal,” Reyes said. “It makes it something you can reach. Just that tangible experience of meeting someone who is maybe where you can be inspires you.” Baker said a big part of the lectures is not only inspiration, but networking. “We’ve invited all sorts of groups from all over the re-
gion to be at the reception,” Baker said. “We have connections to the American Association of University Women, Vision 2020 and Center for American Women and Politics. All these groups are going to be coming in to work together, meet each other and form bonds.” Because those who work in women’s leadership are so few, they have become a tight-knit group able to cooperate on many levels. “That’s one of the main purposes of the institute: the networking we’re able to offer to the students, and the networking we’ve been able to build through these speakers,” said Tracy Snoddy, program director for the WLI. The WLI will continue the lecture series in the hope that it can address the pressing issues that continue to crop up. “We try to find current, relevant topics and people in leadership positions for those,” Snoddy said. “There’s always a relevant topic and always something going on as far as leadership goes, and we hope to always be useful.”
Last Comic Standing Tuesday, October 18th AUSC Ballroom 7:00 PM
Healthy Eating Cooking Workshop Thursday, October 20th 5:30 PM *Must Sign Up in AUSC Suite 3130 to Participate
From Project to Runway: Auburn Edition Monday, October 24th AUSC Ballroom 7:30 PM Prizes will be awarded for Best Full Look, Best Half Look, & Fan Favorite
Check Facebook for Info on how to participate! For More Info on all our events visit www.auburn.edu/upc or call 334-844-4788 Follow us on Facebook and Twitter @AuburnUPC
Campus A4
The Auburn Plainsman
Thursday, October 13, 2011
Do you Do Deutsch? Anna Claire Conrad STAFF WRITER
CONTRIBUTED
Students help artist Noah Kirby install pieces of his exhibit at Biggin Hall.
The sounds of sculpture ‘Things Unsaid’ makes noise in Biggin Hall Hayley Blair ASSOCIATE CAMPUS EDITOR
“Things Unsaid,” a sculpture-sound exhibit created by the husbandand-wife team of Noah Kirby and Alison Ouellette-Kirby, is echoing through Biggin Hall. “They were invited because of their reputations as artists,” said Barb Bondy, exhibitions and lectures coordinator for the art department. “We worked very hard to create an exhibition schedule that features diversity, both in the artists and the disciplines in which the artists work.” At the beginning of the exhibit a wall of speakers obscures the other sounds from the exhibit. “We were very conscious of where pieces were placed and how they would affect the viewer,” Kirby said. “You might start off hearing one
voice, but as you move through it and get acclimated to the environment you start hearing multiple voices and it’s easier for you to navigate.” The exhibit was inspired by miscommunications the couple experienced in their marriage. “We have these conversations that are very intense debates, and for all intensive purposes we’re arguing,” Kirby said. “At some point during the conversation we realize we are actually arguing the same point, but using different kinds of words and coming from slightly different perspectives.” Kirby said the exhibit is interactive, and viewers must make hard choices. “Some of it’s politically motivated,” Kirby said. “In one of the pieces you’ll have Barack Obama and Hitler speaking at the same time, so you’re faced with a choice of what to focus on and what you can focus on.” Bondy said the exhibit’s message is effective in highlighting National Arts and Humanities Month.
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The Auburn community is about to receive a crash course in what it means to be German. The Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures will be hosting a week of campus events to celebrate German culture Sunday through Oct. 22. “The Do Deutsch event will help make Auburn students aware of other cultures,” said Kelly Walters, senior in German language education. “Germany is so much more than just Hitler and World War II. It has a lot to offer our generation, and I think that college students would love to learn more about it.” Traci O’Brien, assistant professor of German, said she and her colleagues had to create a plan of action for the week and submit an application to participate in this national event. “Auburn was one of 50 universities chosen to host Do Deutsch,” O’Brien said. “Since this program offers grant monies funded by Germany’s federal government, we had to gather and come up with ways to include the entire University’s community, not just the small portion that is taking German classes.” O’Brien said the week will have competitive and noncompetitive events open to all students. “There will be a variety of contests in the categories
RACHEL SUHS / GRAPHICS EDITOR
of poetry and song writing, speech and essay writing, visual art and film,” she said. O’Brien said she encourages students who are not competing to come, too. “We want students to come support their fellow students, and we plan to reward them for this effort,” she said. “We’re going to have free give-away items, such as T-shirts, candy, pens and binders.” O’Brien said the grand prize on the national level of competition will be an all-expenses-paid trip to Berlin sponsored by the German embassy. Walters said in addition to the variety of German media, Do Deutsch will also
be hosting a coffee and cake sale Monday called “Kaffe und Kuchen” and an Oktoberfest celebration at the Auburn Ale House Oct. 20. “These social events will help students experience what German youth gets to partake in on a daily basis,” O’Brien said. O’Brien said all the week’s activities will be free except the bake sale, which requires a $1 donation. Also, having a knowledge of the German language is not necessary to enjoy and participate in Do Deutsch. “All the events are in English so that everyone can participate,” Walters said. Walters said she expects Auburn students to thoroughly enjoy this event not
only because of the competitions and giveaways, but also because it can help them learn more about their German heritage. “I bet that some students here actually have a German background,” Walters said. “Do Deutsch will help them learn about what goes on in Germany and its history.” Ritchie said she believes Do Deutsch will be a great way for students to learn about a different culture. “I’m most looking forward to the film portion of the week,” said Katie Ritchie, sophomore in nutrition. “I’ve been taking German for six years counting my high school classes, and I’ve learned that watching foreign films is a great way to learn about a nation’s culture.” O’Brien said she hopes students will walk away with a desire to learn more about Germany. “In addition to the cultural exposure, this will be a great way for students to get involved in something they’re interested in with other students,” O’Brien said. “Through a love of one thing in particular you can meet people you may not have met otherwise.” For more information contact O’Brien at tso0001@auburn.edu or visit the event’s webpage at www.cla.auburn/edu/ forlangs/documents/dodeutsch.pdf or www.dodeutsch.com.
Professor has campus-wide impact Kristen Oliver WRITER
Visiting professor of geography William Bailey has been part of the Auburn family for 22 years and has found a way to impact students of all majors. “I have had contact with many different professors from different backgrounds, but none like William Bailey,” said James Chapman, senior in software engineering. “He has made the absolute greatest impact upon my academic career, and more importantly, upon my life.” Chapman said Bailey shows interest in his students outside the classroom. “He has valuable knowledge from many of his past experiences that he can relate to the class material to make it easier to understand and draw parallels to,” said Cody Blair, senior in accounting. “He
also takes numerous measures to ensure that his students succeed in all of their classes, not just his, as well as their out-of-school activities.” Bailey said he is strict about attendance, but tries to make classes interesting for students. “I think there are things you can do other than exams, especially in big classes,” Bailey said. “You get the multiple choice test and there’s a right answer and wrong answers, no in-between, although life is in between.” Chapman said he enjoys Bailey’s unique teaching style. “His classes are really great,” Chapman said. “I don’t have to take geography, but I took his intro class one semester because I needed to make a good grade in a class and I thought it’d be a good class to do that in. I was so inter-
ested that I took another class, and I plan on taking more until I graduate.” Blair said he looks forward to Bailey’s classes. “It has a different atmosphere than many of the other classroom environments,” Blair said. “Bailey’s teaching methods are a little different than most of the other instructors. I always feel as though I have learned something new when I leave.” Bailey said he tries to style his classes differently from the usual lecture format. “I try to have a conversational style of teaching,” he said. “I don’t just get up there and lecture or read them the book.” Bailey came to Auburn in 1989. “I was an elementary school principal in Rabun County, Ga., and I got a call from my major professor at Tennessee who said
he wanted to recommend me for a job at Auburn,” Bailey said. “I said, ‘Well, you know, I’m really happy where I am.’ I thought I might even want to retire there. Nevertheless, I came down.” At the time, the geography department was looking for someone in geographic education who could also teach in liberal arts. Bailey stayed from 1989 until 1996, and he then worked in consulting in Auburn until 1998 before moving to Atlanta to retire. Bailey said he has enjoyed being a visiting professor the last four years. “Each time they offer it I think about it, and it’s an easy choice,” Bailey said. “Who knows? They need to hire somebody full time. I guess once they do that, they’ll change the situation. I’m enjoying it in the meantime.”
AU View SAA members get your FREE BEAT SHIRTS Oct 13 @ 7pm . Stay for our BEAT party, with free food, drinks and activities!
Auburn Alumni Center, 317 S. College Street (next to Fiji) Members must bring cans benefiting the East Alabama Food Bank. 2 cans minimum.
CHRISTEN HARNED / ASSISTANT PHOTO EDITOR
The Egyptian Student Association set up a panoramic display in the Student Center last week, detailing with photographs the history of Egypt through this year’s Arab Spring revolution.
Community
Gas prices » Page A7
People of the Plains » Page A7
www.theplainsman.com
Thursday, October 13, 2011
A5 Community
ALEX SAGER / ASSISTANT PHOTO EDITOR
Listed as a 2010 Place in Peril, the third train depot to serve passengers traveling to and from Auburn sits vacant on Mitcham Avenue. It is on the market for $1 million.
High list price keeps depot vacant Alison McFerrin NEWS EDITOR
This pink brick building on Mitcham Avenue may go unnoticed. Today, its only use is for gameday parking, but in years past the Auburn train depot served as a hub of activity in the town. The current depot, which has been vacant since 2003, was put on the 2010 Places in Peril list through the Alabama Trust for Historic Preservation. Not much has changed since. “The intent of putting things on the Places in Peril list is to try to get them not to be in peril,” said David Schneider, executive director of the Alabama Trust for Historic Preservation. “We’ve had quite a few sites over the years that publicity was enough to find the right person that came in and
saved the day.” The train station has not had such luck. Matt Mosley, Auburn planner and staff representative for the historical preservation commission, said the building is structurally sound, but in need of exterior repairs such as the replacement of rotted wood, window repairs and new paint. “We’re interested in preserving that piece of history,” Mosley said. “We really feel that the depot is the centerpiece of the North College historic district.” The current depot was built in about 1905 after the first depot was attacked during the Civil War and the second burned. It was the gateway for travelers to Auburn, whether dignitaries or students. It was near this site where Auburn students greased the tracks
when the Georgia Tech football team came into town—a story that has been told and retold, and led to a popular pajama pep rally. “There’s a lot of opportunities for the depot,” said Charlie Duggan, Auburn city manager. “I’m sure we will do everything we can to work with anyone who wants to rehabilitate the depot.” The city once had plans to make the purchase. Those plans disintegrated, however, when costs couldn’t be negotiated for the building which Duggan described as having “quite a lot of charm, but needs some specialized care.” “The city council had some requirements to complete all the environmental studies,” Duggan said. “It kind of fell apart from there.” Any future use of the depot and
CONTRIBUTED
The Auburn train depot used to be a prime site for pep rallies. the land on which it sits would need to be preceded by environmental studies, Mosley said. “It may take some deeper environmental cleanup,” Mosley said. “Someone would do an environmental assessment of the site and the building … They would be
looking at whether fuel or other material leeched into the topsoil, or maybe some metals.” Environmental issues are a concern because trains were refueled at the site, and the Spur gas sta» See TRAIN, A6
Program turns trash to treasure Natalie Yarid ASSOCIATE NEWS EDITOR
ALISON MCFERRIN / NEWS EDITOR
Charles Mitchell, professor of agronomy and soils, explains how to harvest sugarcane at Pioneer Park in Loachapoka as part of Lee County Historical Society’s Second Saturdays.
Colonial customs entertain locals Anna Claire Conrad STAFF WRITER
It’s hard to imagine what life was like in Alabama during the 1800s, but volunteers at the Lee County Historical Society’s Second Saturdays event have helped Loachapoka and the surrounding community relive that era. “The overall purpose of the Second Saturdays is to simply get the members and friends of the Lee County Historical Society involved with the museum and to highlight bits of Alabama’s cultural heritage,” said Charles Mitchell, vice president of LCHS and professor of agronomy and soils. Tia Gonzalez, agricultural program assistant
at the LCHS, said the program, sponsored by the historical society, is held the second Saturday of each month at Pioneer Park. “There are always different events going on,” Gonzalez said. “Last Saturday we had blacksmiths, spinners, weavers and gardening demonstrations.” One of the most popular events is the rain barrel making demonstration, the cost of which covers the required materials. “The rain barrel program is put on by Doyle Keasel. He works for extension here at Auburn,” Gonzalez said. “He’ll talk about the rainwater » See SATURDAY, A6
ALISON MCFERRIN / NEWS EDITOR
Tia Gonzalez, agricultural program assistant, explains fall herb planting techniques Saturday.
ALISON MCFERRIN / NEWS EDITOR
Doyle Keasal (right) teaches rain barrel making, a class that attracted about 20 participants Saturday at Pioneer Park.
The Chizik family has become heroes off the football field to many in Dadeville and the Lake Martin area. Earlier this year the Chiziks founded The Chizik Family YouTurn Foundation. One of its first major projects is raising money to support locals affected by the area tornadoes this spring. “It was during many trips to the Dadeville and Lake Martin area where we witnessed the treasured possessions of so many being tossed to the side of the road as trash,” said cofounder Jonna Chizik. During multiple trips to clean and rebuild the Dadeville area, Chizik recovered various items of “tornado trash” from the storm’s aftermath and was inspired to help restore the trash into valuable items. Chizik said she was astounded at the items that managed to survive such an intense storm. “We were, more importantly, in awe of the resilience of the human spirit and in awe of people who stood even stronger and not only survived the storm, but were already recognizing the blessings that come from such a trajedy,” Chizik said. Since the foundation’s start, it has grown into an effort of more than 100 people. And over the last few months, local artists helped transform the trash into beautiful artwork. “When Jonna told me about this upcoming event, she inspired me to transform a piece of my own,” said Kristen Cooper, senior in marketing. Cooper chose to use her creative abilities to transform a
CONTRIBUTED
Jonna Chizik holds a few of the tornado treasures created from Lake Martin-area trash. brick from the tornado site into a treasure. “I painted a tornado for the background with a cross in the center of the brick to show that Christ is always there in a time of need and desperation,” Cooper said. Limited artwork, along with other items like Auburn football memorabilia, celebrity autographs and vacation packages, were available through an online auction, but the rest of the items are available at the main event, Trash2Treasure Art Gala and Celebration Concert, taking place Thursday at The Event Center Downtown in Opelika. Some of the artists will be present at the event to share their personal story of transforming the trash and what inspired them. The restored items in the auction range from fur» See TRASH, A6
Community A6
The Auburn Plainsman
Thursday, October 13, 2011 AUBURN GAS MONITOR
CALENDAR: THURSDAY, OCT. 13 – SATURDAY, OCT. 22 SUNDAY
MONDAY
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
13
Fall Sundown Concert Series ■ Kiesel Park ■ 6–7:30 p.m. Trash2Treasure Art Gala ■ Event Center Downtown ■ 6–7:30 p.m. 16
17
18
19
14
Popes Haunted Farm
■ Lee Road
724 Salem, Ala. ■ 7:30–11:30 p.m.
20
15
Location
Reg
Mid
Prem
Coaches vs. Cancer
Big Cat - Opelika Rd.
3.13
3.25
3.36
Grub Mart - Gay St.
3.15
3.27
3.39
of Auburn Arena ■ Prior to kickoff
Circle K - Glenn Ave.
3.15
3.29
3.42
Chevron - N Dean Rd.
3.19
3.34
3.49
Grub Mart - S College St. 3.25
3.37
3.49
Murphy USA - College St.
3.25
3.29
3.42
Raceway- Opelika Rd.
3.25
3.37
3.49
Shell - Shug Jordan
3.26
3.32
3.44
Shell- Glenn Ave.
3.29
3.43
3.57
BP - Samford AVe.
3.39
3.59
3.79
Average
3.23
3.35
3.49
■ In front
21
22
“The Marvelous Wonderettes” musical
Fighting For Freedom lecture
Jean Dean RIF Run to Read
Theatre ■ 2:30 p.m.
Smith Museum ■ 6 p.m.
■ 7 a.m.
■ Telfair Peet
TRASH » From A5
niture, canvas art, quilts, glasswork, doors, shutters and more. “The message of Trash2Treasusre is to celebrate the blessings that come from tragedy and the healing that comes from the way our God connects communities through his people who are willing to share their many talents,”
TRAIN
» From A5 tion adjacent to the depot has underground tanks. “Right now I think the best thing for the building is that they keep the water out of it, and it could sit there until hopefully the right person comes along,” Schneider said. Wayne Russell purchased the building about
■ Jule Collins
Chizik said. A committee including Dadeville city and community leaders and families affected by the tornadoes will gather after the event to decide where the money raised will be most beneficial. “Trash2Treasure is such a unique event that shows how the Auburn family is so giving and passionate about the community,” Cooper said. 10 years ago. He has since transferred ownership to his three children, and the property is in the name of MRT, LLC out of Montgomery. “When it came up for sale, we thought it was a good buy,” said Russell, who had already purchased the Spur gas station. “I’d like to sell the whole thing and see it looking like it did when it was originally built.”
SATURDAY
WEEK OF OCT. 13
SATURDAY
■ Floral Park, Opelika
Syrup Sopping
■ Pioneer
Park ■ 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.
$3.80 $3.68 $3.55 $3.43 $3.30 Sept. 15
Sept. 22
Regular
Sept. 29
harvesting and how important this practice is to society.” The Second Saturdays program is in its fifth year. “We at the Historical Society started this to get the members and the community more involved in the museum and to expand the exhibits that we have there,” Mitchell said.
Gonzalez said each monthly event is free to the public. “Since these events are put on by volunteers, we encourage participants to make donations to go toward the expenses of organizing Second Saturdays, but there is no mandatory, up-front cost,” Gonzalez said. Mitchell said some University students are learning how to blacksmith, and
he would love to see more college students get involved with the program. “There’s just so much offered at each Second Saturday that I think college students would enjoy,” Mitchell said. “While everyone is working, we spend our time talking with one another about all sorts of topics, whether it be current issues or agronomy. We’re all learning from one another.” Alana Jones, sophomore
Russell said they are asking $1 million for the depot and gas station, a figure Schneider called an “awfully large price for that piece of property.” “A purchase price like that scares a lot of people away,” Schneider said. “The economy being what it is, it’s hard to find people to invest in a project like that right now.” Russell said he still thinks
ownership by the city or another government agency would be the best option. “That way they could keep it up and keep it intact and make it a showpiece,” Russell said. “Nothing would be better than the City of Auburn owning it, or some federal agency.” But city ownership isn’t the only option, and Duggan said the city hasn’t talked about purchasing the de-
pot in recent years. “I think the city should be very careful about buying things that we don’t have an identifiable use for,” Duggan said. “What would the city do if we owned it?” Russell said while they have had three or four interested parties, price remains an issue. “I hate to see it in the state it’s in now,” Russell said. “We’ve tried to patch
» From A5
Oct. 6
Mid
OCt. 13
Premium
in nutrition, said although she would be interested in helping at Second Saturdays, her busy schedule doesn’t allow her the time to volunteer. “I would love to work with the kids and help them harvest crops like potatoes and cotton,” Jones said. “But I don’t think I’ll have the time to devote to Second Saturdays, especially during midterm season.”
“
It’s hard to find people to invest in a project like that right now.” —David Schneider EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, ALABAMA TRUST FOR HISTORIC PRESERVATION
up and board up until we can get it sold.”
Thursday, October 13, 2011
Love for children leads to nonprofit Elizabeth Bonner STAFF WRITER
A few years ago Micah Melnick was just an ordinary college student with a desire that changed everything: to serve the people who needed her. Melnick is the founder and executive director of BigHouse Foundation, a Christ-centered nonprofit organization created to meet the needs of foster
Community A7
The Auburn Plainsman
children in Lee County. Melnick was exposed to the foster care system when her parents took in four foster children during her junior year of college. “It was overwhelming at first with four,” Melnick said. “They were just kind of thrown in the deep end. They had friends that would help with tutoring, babysitting and hand-medowns.” Melnick saw that people wanted to help when there was a tangible way to contribute. She realized many don’t help because they don’t know what is needed. The idea to form a nonprofit organization came up during a conversation Melnick had with her friend Susannah Jones, now the program director of BigHouse.
“We were talking about how foster kids don’t get to do extra stuff like yearbooks, prom and trips to the beach,” Jones said. “We were saying there needed to be something like a Make-A-Wish for foster kids. It was out of that that Micah came up with the idea.” Melnick said she feels one of the biggest challenges foster families face is clothing their children, so in 2008 she opened a clothes closet in donated office space in Opelika. In February 2009 the clothes closet officially became BigHouse Inc. She and her husband graduated in May of that year and returned to Opelika to develop the organization. They wanted to do more than offer free clothing for
foster kids, and they found just what they needed to achieve that goal: a big house. They opened it in March 2010. Now BigHouse is a place where foster children can come to get clothing, help with schoolwork or just enjoy BigHouse’s dance, music and game rooms. They can also come to special events like Kids Night Out, summer camps and family beach trips. “It’s a very long process, starting an organization, but because she saw the vision for it, that enabled her to put this together,” said Blake Melnick, Micah’s husband. “It was a lot of hard work, but because of the passion she has for foster children, she was willing to put in the time and effort to start this.”
MARIA IAMPIETRO / PHOTO EDITOR
Micah Melnick opened a clothes closet at BigHouse.
Students welcome reduced gas prices Graham Carr WRITER
For students traveling to upcoming away games or just going home for the weekend, filling the tank won’t break the bank. After being close to $3.75 for regular grade earlier this year, gas prices have fallen to around the $3.05–3.45 range in Auburn. Ryan Rice, sophomore in mechanical engineering, said the lower prices could not have come at a better time. “I was paying almost $80 to fill up my truck earlier in the year, but now it is down to about the $65–70 range,” Rice said. “With bow season starting (Saturday), I will be traveling more going to my hunting club. It will be nice to have a little extra cash.” Bill Steinen of the Liberty gas station on East Glenn
ALEX SAGER / ASSOCIATE PHOTO EDITOR
Jerry Long fills his tank at a station on Glenn Avenue. Avenue said last week’s prices were the lowest he has seen. “Our prices are based 100 percent on the distributor,” Steinen said. “If the distributor goes up, we have to go up.” Jackie Hontzas, sophomore in human develop-
ment and family studies, said she believes the lower gas prices will lead to more traveling by college students. “I know I am going to go see my friends at Alabama and UAB before the end of this year, especially with not many big home games left
the rest of the season and gas being cheaper,” Hontzas said. Kabrina Carter of the Chevron at the intersection of Sand Hill Road and South College Street said she has not noticed any difference in people filling their gas tanks all the way up with the lower prices. She also doesn’t believe prices will fall as low as they were in the spring. “If a natural disaster like a hurricane or another oil spill hit, or just a bad day on the stock market, our prices would jump,” Carter said. Steinen said he does not know which way the gas prices will move next. “I think our distributor sometimes just flips a coin on how much they want to charge us,” Steinen said. “We have to change our prices according to them.”
Thursday The Auburn Police Division in cooperation with the Central Alabama Highway Safety Office and Alabama Department of Economic Affairs, will be conducting traffic enforcement checkpoints. Officers will be stationed on Sand Hill Road (Lee Road 10), noon to 2 p.m. and Bragg Avenue from 3–5 p.m. They will be asking motorists for their driver’s license, proof of insurance and vehicle registration.
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Opinions
A8 www.theplainsman.com
Thursday, October 13, 2011
Community
Our View
Auburn bike law splits Editorial Board The recently passed bike ordinance split the Editorial Board nearly down the middle. Half of us felt the ordinance was unnecessary—one extra ticketable offense on the books. The other half felt the law was necessary to make people aware of the need for caution around cyclists on Auburn’s roads. Of those that felt the bike law was unnecessary, some were already annoyed by bikes. They didn’t understand why we needed another law that puts more obligation on the automobile and not the cyclist. They felt since many cyclists choose to ride on the sidewalks, a ticketable offense, that this law is missing the real problem in Auburn. Police should start getting cyclists off of the sidewalks and back onto the roads. Once that is done, a law of this sort would make more sense. A concern with passing the law was that vehicles turning right paid no attention to a cyclist that may be nearby. Cyclists must abide by all
the same laws as motorists, and braking for a vehicle making a right turn is just as obligatory as when driving an automobile. They argued that cyclists should be just as aware of the vehicles on the road as the drivers are of them. Riding in a motorist’s blind spot is even more dangerous than a two or one-foot gap when being passed. Others on the board felt that the law was unenforceable, as was mentioned in the article. How would an officer go about judging the gap between bike and automobile? How heavy of a fine would it be? It seems that the offense would be applied only after a separate offense occurred or a cyclist was struck. In that case, the separate fine is unnecessary. They also argued that it’s not up to the government to legislate courtesy. A one-foot gap leaves the cyclist just as unharmed as a three-foot gap, and as such, the City Council is forbidding perfectly legal
rudeness. Alabama has a similar law on the books, and the group argued that instead of adding a new law to the Auburn books, why not just enforce Alabama’s law? Several members of the group are regular riders of bikes, either to and from school or around town, and said they’ve never had a problem with drivers passing too close. If possible, they said, motorists would often change lanes before passing a cyclist. Those supporting the law argued that there is no other effective way of increasing awareness of cyclists on the roads. They said any law which makes roadways safer is a law worth having. They also argued that despite concerns about enforcement, an officer would be able to judge whether a motorist passed with a one-foot or three-foot gap, and that this fact is the essence of the law— it’s not about strict accuracy, but about a reasonable and safe distance between a mo-
torist and a cyclist. Not all roads in Auburn have bike lanes, and many of the streets downtown are narrow. They said forcing motorists to give a reasonable berth to cyclists would reduce collisions with other motorists and cyclists. They argued this law is preferrable to the extensive construction and high cost that comes with fitting more roads with bike lanes. Then there’s the numerous states and cities with similar laws. They argued that cyclistawareness laws have worked well in other areas and would reduce motorist-cyclist collisions in Auburn. There’s also the fact that the number of cyclists in Auburn has increased recently. More students are leaving their cars at home and using their bikes to get around. With this recent uptick in bike usage, it’s important to make sure the incidence of accidents doesn’t increase, and they felt this law was a step towards that goal.
Quote of the Week
“
I just don’t think we can legislate courtesy.” —Bob Norman Bike Law A1
The Plainsman Poll
Vote at www.theplainsman.com
Staff Columns
Common courtesy goes such a long way that we can’t find it Kate Jones Intrigue@theplainsman. com
I was in the Plainsman office a couple of weeks ago and went to leave a message for Sarah, the design editor, about a fun image that Intrigue wanted to put on the front of our section. The message ended with, “Hope you are having a great day! Thanks, bye.” One of my colleagues heard me and responded, “Wow, you leave nice messages!” I was puzzled by what she was talking about, and she referenced my goodbye.
I joked back and told her the nicer you are, the more inclined someone is to call you back. The truth is, though, I end all of my messages that way and was surprised and saddened to hear that was abnormal or uncommon. It seems there is a lack of common courtesy in today’s society. In an age where everyone moves fast and even faster, slowing down for courtesy seems to be hard. Everyone is trying to stay ahead of the game, learn more and discover more. Especially in a society with fewer jobs, individuals strive to make themselves look good and will all exhaust their resources to do so. Common sense would say offering common courtesy would make people more in-
terested and happy to help, because you are identifying that you need their help. The reality is people expect help from others immediately with no need for a, “Thank you for taking the time to help me.” It’s all about the individual now, with less a feel for community. At age 16, George Washington wrote the “110 Rules of Civility and Decent Behaviour in Company and Conversation.” His No.1 rule was, “Every action done in company ought to be with some sign of respect to those that are present.” At 16, Washington realized the importance of courtesy and decency. Furthermore, it was No. 1 on his list of 110 rules. Clearly there was some importance there. Why is it that even adults today do not
grasp the concept? Holding the door for a person, and thanking the cashier at the grocery store or the movie theatre are just extra gestures people seem to have forgotten. My Momma taught me respect for everyone. There isn’t one person who doesn’t deserve decency. It took me an extra 10 seconds to add that phrase to the end of my message. Yes, I could have cut it and spent that extra ten seconds probably procrastinating on my work, but instead Sarah was able to recognize I addressed her as a person. I didn’t just request and expect her help because she has a skill I lack. As a result, the call back was respectful and she was quick to help.
New bike ordinance necessary to raise awareness of road safety Melody Kitchens Online@theplainsman.com
I agree with the new bike law, especially for spreading awareness. For those who haven’t heard of Auburn’s bike law, it has started to generate a lot of buzz concerning its enforcement issues.
Just for background, this law will require a three-foot distance between motorists and bicyclists on the road. I don’t bike to class or on the road in general, but I have several friends who choose bicycling as their main mode of transportation, so I hear about their issues. Most actually feel safe riding on the roads, but some have had experiences with motorists coming too close, or motorists not watching when they’re turning. When I drive next to a bicyclist, it freaks
me out almost every time. If there’s not a car in the other lane, I’ll move over to give them plenty of room because who knows what could happen if you’re too close. But back to the enforcement issues. I attended the city council meeting last Tuesday. Some council members had issues on legislating what they think is courtesy, and I can understand where they are coming from, but I don’t think it’s an issue of courtesy, but an issue of enforcing safety. If you’re cautious around bikes, then you
have nothing to worry about. If you’re not cautious around them then I think you deserve a ticket. I think it will keep motorists in check, as well as spreading awareness from the fact of having Auburn know about this law and recognize that it has been passed. While I think Auburn is becoming more and more bicycle friendly, there will always be issues with motorists sharing the road with bicyclists. That’s why I’m glad there’s a law for it.
Campus dining is consistently unhealthy Divide the blame Hayley Blair Campus@ theplainsman.com
Au Bon Pain, Freshens, Rye of the Tiger. What do these three dining venues have in common? They are all thought to be some of the healthiest dining options available options on campus. It’s sad to say, but this is probably true. The fact is that, even though most of Au Bon Pain’s sandwiches fall into a range of more than 600 calories, and though some of the biggest-selling items at Freshens consist of sugary coffees topped with whipped cream and donuts, they are still probably some of the healthier options on campus. One of the most popular venues, Chick-fil-A, has fries with enough
calories to be mistaken for an entire meal. Over the summer I had Papa John’s every day for breakfast and Chick-filA every day for supper just because they were the only things available on campus, and the only kitchen in the dorm I lived in always smelled funny. The University has now had the opportunity to bring in some new food options for students, and they bring Panda Express. Now, don’t get me wrong. I love Chinese food, and my inner fatty is totally celebrating the change. But if I think about it rationally I can’t help but feel that this was not the best decision to make for the students. If you’ve ever read any of the “Eat This, Not That” books, you’ll find that all that fried chicken really can pack on the calories, and even though there are vegetables in the fried rice it’s still not all that healthy. One meal
can go up to more than 1,000 calories. So why does the University continue to bring in all of these unhealthy food choices, when there are better options on hand? I think it is so students don’t start complaining even more about the dining card system they keep in place. If the University didn’t provide anything for students but the kinds of meals they need to stay healthy, I’m sure a lot of students would be even more outraged at the $995 they are forced to put on their Tiger Card every semester, unless they live off campus. I think providing healthier dining options on campus would go a great ways to getting students out of an unhealthy mindset when it comes to food. Surrounding them with junk, on the other hand, is probably going to cause problems for them later on.
To those who march, let me first state that I am all for freedom of speech and expression. However, I do not have to support the viewpoint. Last week began a “grass roots” movement of 1,000 different viewpoints called the “99 percent” who decided to march on Wall Street and demand equality of life through economic policy. Many have blamed Wall Street executives and banking officials for the economic struggles this country is in. Others have blamed D.C. and corrupt policy brought forth by the likes of Barney Frank, Chris Dodd, President
Obama and the last administration. It is evident that people from Wall Street had a hand in the demise of the housing market. It’s also evident that several politicians “banked” on their own policy-driven tactics. Here’s some advice to those who support this movement: make sure you educate yourselves before trashing this country. Choosing one side in a two sided affair is idiotic. Capitalism isn’t the problem—bad people are! Michael Freeman Risk Management and Safety Environmental Programs
The Editorial Board
Mailing Address
Submissions
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Miranda Dollarhide Chelsea Harvey
Nick Bowman
Editor
Campus Editor
Opinions Editor
Liz Conn
Kate Jones
Nik Markopoulos
Auburn Student Center Suite 1111H Auburn, AL 36849
Managing Editor
Intrigue Editor
Copy Editor
Contact
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News Editor
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Phone 334–844–4130 Email opinion@theplainsman.com
The Auburn Plainsman welcomes letters from students as well as from faculty, administrators, alumni and those not affiliated with the University. Letters must be submitted before 4:30 p.m. on the Monday for publication. Letters must include the author’s name, address and phone number for verification, though the name of the author may be withheld upon request. Submission may be edited for grammar and/or length.
The opinions of The Auburn Plainsman staff are restricted to these pages. These unsigned editorials are the majority opinion of the 9-member editorial board and are the official opinion of the newspaper. The opinions expressed in columns and letters represent the views and opinions of their individual authors and do not necessarily reflect the Auburn University student body, faculty, administration or Board of Trustees.
Thursday, October 13, 2011
Opinions A9
The Auburn Plainsman
Alabama immigration law misses the mark on progress Alabama’s new bill, HB 56, went into effect recently, and it’s already having a negative impact on our communities. Let’s ignore, for a moment, the philosophical and ideological underpinnings of immigration—whether it’s right or wrong, good or bad—and look solely at the bill itself. Alabama introduced the bill because legislators did not believe the federal government was enforcing immigration law well enough, so we took it into our own hands. Let’s go over a few myths about immigration that make this bill seem necessary. First, it is not a crime to enter into the United States illegally—it’s a civil offense very similar to a traffic ticket. It is now, however, a Class C misdemeanor to enter Alabama illegally. Secondly, many undocumented workers do pay income taxes, Medicare and Social Security using fraudulent Social Security cards. The American Immigration Council argues that undocumented workers pay an estimated $130 million in state and local taxes. The difference is that undocumented workers can’t file to re-
ceive income tax returns or Social Security benefits, even though many would probably be eligible, and that money is simply absorbed into the system. Let me state clearly: our immigration system is broken. Work and education visas can be difficult to obtain or renew, creating obstacles to legal residency. Our borders are unsecure, presenting a great threat to national security. But here’s a little secret: HB 56 cannot secure Alabama’s border with Mexico—because there isn’t one. HB 56 has unique stipulations and loopholes that don’t provide universal enforcement. It creates provisions that allow corporations to put a legal distance between themselves and their workers, taking the responsibility for verification out of their hands. It also distinctly excludes household laborers. By manipulating the definition of “employer,” HB56 allows for some businesses and individuals to have an advantage over the law and over small businesses. Secondly, HB 56 is already hav-
ing a tremendous impact on education and agriculture in Alabama. The bill requires that schools verify immigration statuses, even though the Supreme Court upheld (Plyler v. Doe) that every child has the right to an education regardless of status. The law says that the information will only be used for data collection, but sets no restrictions on its use or privacy. Many of these children were born in America anyway, and are therefore American citizens. Some might call them anchor babies. I call it the 14th Amendment. While the impacts on education may not be visible for years, our agriculture industry is suffering the impact sooner rather than later. After a similar bill was passed in Georgia, the loss of migrant workers caused an estimated $140 million in lost agriculture, says the Georgia Fruit and Vegetable Growers’ Association. Tomatoes are already rotting on the vines around Alabama because there aren’t enough workers to pick them—and we’re still at 9.9% unemployment for legal workers.
As per basic economic principles, the decrease in supply will drive up the cost of food, making your cost of living increase. Lastly, this law has a tremendous inconvenience on American citizens. Simply enforcing the law is a tremendous inconvenience and risks violation of our Fourth Amendment rights. Many people have already seen a tremendous effect by way of six-hour long “Beason lines” at courthouses. To renew a car tag, a process usually completed online, you now must go to the courthouse, bringing with you proof of citizenship and the proof of citizenship for anyone else whose name is attached to the vehicle. So if your car is registered back home, you’ll have to make a trip to renew your tag. Also, the bill creates a unique situation regarding citizens’ relationship with law enforcement. During a routine traffic stop, an officer actually now has the ability to “reasonably suspect” illegal status, even if he is provided with a driver’s license. He can use this “reasonable suspicion” to detain you for 24 hours until the feder-
al government verifies your immigration status. This also leads way to racial profiling—any of us could be an illegal immigrant from somewhere, especially since the United States has the longest unsecured border in the world. So what then constitutes reasonable suspicion? Regardless of ethnic status, culture or anything else, if you’re a citizen, you have the same rights as everyone else. So how do you protect the rights of those more likely to be suspected of being illegal? Yes, the system is broken. But the solution lies in comprehensive reform, not retroactive enforcement. Presidents like Reagan and George W. Bush paved the way for offering amnesty to undocumented residents—let’s take a page from their books. In the spirit of Columbus Day, let’s embrace our own heritage as immigrants and advocate for reform of our procedures for visas and obtaining legal status so that everyone can have a chance at reaching the American Dream. Beth Clayton president, College Democrats
Liberty group can be biased while remaining nonpartisan There has been some confusion recently about whether Young Americans for Liberty is nonpartisan or not, and I hope I can clear things up for everyone. I refer here to an article published about us in USA TODAY and to Matt Greenemeier’s letters to the editor. It is a mistake to think that because YAL is influenced by libertarian philosophy, it cannot be nonpartisan. While some in the group are libertarians, that is not to say that the group advocates voting on the Libertarian ticket. It
is an easy mistake to make, but it is a mistake that needs to be addressed. Among libertarians, the phrases “large-L” and “small-l” are used to distinguish the political party from the philosophy. Small-l libertarianism refers to the political philosophy, while large-L Libertarianism refers to the party. The two are not mutually inclusive, especially given the depth and breadth of the small-l movement and the small size of the party. Certainly, many members
of YAL are supporters of small-l libertarianism. But this in no way indicates any affiliation with the large-L Libertarian Party. Also, the word “nonpartisan” means “free from party affiliation, bias, or designation” according to Merriam-Webster. Since YAL is not affiliated with or biased toward a party, the group is nonpartisan. The group and many in it may be ardent supporters of small-l libertarianism, but that and our nonpartisanship are not contradictory. Would one
say an organization dedicated to furthering democracy or republicanism is partisan despite there being political parties with capitalized versions of those words? In the sense that the group is defined by certain principles, of course YAL is biased -- what organization isn’t? Any organization standing for a particular political philosophy is by definition going to be biased; otherwise there really isn’t a point to the organization. However, there is a difference between adopting a philosophical
position and supporting a political party. I commend those doing research into YAL’s philosophical position, and I understand how they might get confused about the meanings of the word “libertarian.” Anyone with further questions or concerns should stop by our next meeting which will be listed online at facebook.com/auburnyal.
Eric Phillips senior, psychology and economics
Myths about organics prevalent in food culture Bible not to Many myths abound about what organic actually is, and the “Get Clean with Organic” article was full of some of the most common. Probably the No. 1 myth about organic foods is that they are safer than non-organic foods because they are pesticide free. In fact, organic foods are NOT pesticide free. There is an extensive list of pesticides approved by the Organic Materials Review Institute, which is the national nonprofit organization that determines the approved products for organic production and processing. There are many approved organic fertilizers and pesticides that are just as deadly to humans as some on the conventional list. The second most common myth is that organic foods are more nutritious. The United States Department of Agriculture re-
ports there is no evidence that organic foods are more nutritious than conventional food products. Further, the USDA reports that consuming organic food does not significantly reduce ones exposure to pesticides over a lifetime. The term “organic” is a government regulated term meaning organic meat, poultry, eggs, and dairy products come from antibiotic- and growth hormone-free animals. Organic food is produced without using most conventional pesticides; fertilizers made with synthetic ingredients or sewage sludge; bioengineering; or ionizing radiation. These unconventional production practices are used in an attempt to protect soil and water resources. There are three organic designations as
defined by the USDA. All organic producers must follow the strict guidelines. You may use terms such as “all natural” or “natural” which give the impression that the product is minimally processed. However, unlike the term “organic,” these do not have legal definitions or standards. These technical definitions were confused and used interchangeably in the article. All eggs laid by a chicken, even a free range one, will come with some manure. Free range production is about a more humane and sustainable way of raising livestock. Ellen Huckabay ACES Outreach Coordinator Extension/Horticulture
be changed
To be a Christian is to be a disciple of Jesus. I think that Braxton Tanner’s and Samuel Maddox’s view that homosexual practice and Christian practice are not opposed to each other is a serious misinterpretation of what the Bible teaches. Professing Christians, myself included, need to ask ourselves if we are letting the Bible speak for itself, or if we are reading our own views into the Bible. Caleb Petrie graduate student, mathematics
Dire societal consequences result of Alabama immigration law Tuesday night, the Auburn University College Democrats held a non-partisan forum addressing Alabama’s new immigration law which went into effect the day before. The moment of the evening came when Paul Harris of the Department of Political Science asked the audience, “What kind of society will we choose to be?” Of course, the exhaustive conservative political points were raised at the forum by audience members who argued Alabama’s minuscule immigrant population is a collection of lawbreakers and that the federal government
has failed to curb illegal immigration. That might as well be tabled, for even though President Barack Obama’s administration is deporting immigrants at a dramatically faster rate than his predecessor, George W. Bush, somehow it will never be enough. The real theme of the night was truly Harris’s question. With House Bill 56, Alabama has reaffirmed its position as the historical Mecca for bigotry and xenophobia. “Come in if you look like us, get out or shut up if you don’t.” If hate is what Alabama’s best at, going to church is certainly a close second. Growing up in
a Catholic family, I was always taught that all Americans were created equal and that we were a society of laws. But even more important than that, I was taught every human being on this planet is equal under God’s eyes. Though the Right has played on cheap fears by demonizing immigrants as criminals and job stealers, any Christian who truly believes in the principles of Jesus Christ cannot accept this bill. What happened to being your brother’s keeper and loving thy neighbor? Until we change our view on this issue and seek a perspective
that recognizes the reality that in the end we are all human beings, regardless of lines on a map, we will spiral ever further down this well of fear and hate under the guise of “the law.” So let’s seek a human perspective. Let’s strive for that value that is so often lost in this individualistic society: empathy. What would you do if you lived in a region where the necessities of life are not guaranteed, where bodies are dumped off of highway overpasses, where centuries of colonization and exploitation have left an entire race of people broken and impoverished? How
far would you go to feed your family? If we are to preserve the American dream, we must remember we are all descendants of immigrants. None of us were here first. We were given the Statue of Liberty as a reminder from the world that the United States is a nation of people who came to this land from a far away place only to seek a better life. Again, we must ask ourselves, “What kind of society will we choose to be?” Eric Austin junior, political science
Breast cancer awareness over-funded, publicized Editor’s Note Breast cancer is way, way over-advertised. Before anyone goes and says that’s opinion, I’ve researched this a ridiculous amount over the years because it’s always kinda bugged me that everyone seems to put so much emphasis on one type of cancer. And I did go back and do the research for the most recent statistics, so everything I’ve got to say is fact. Breast cancer is, in fact, the No. 1-diagnosed cancer in women, but right on its tail is lung cancer. Also, the mortality rate of breast cancer is one of the lowest. Only 16 percent of people diagnosed with breast cancer actually die from it. In a list of the top cancers, breast cancer has one of the lowest mortality rates. People should be more aware of lung cancer, pancreatic cancer and leukemia. More
than half—70 percent—of the people diagnosed with lung cancer died from it. An unbelievable 84 percent of those diagnosed with pancreatic cancer died, and about 50 percent of those with leukemia died. The really sad thing is breast cancer raises more money than all of these cancers combined. People are putting their money into something that is not nearly as deadly as other cancers, and which already has way more funding than it needs. It is a common cancer, but not much more-so than lung cancer, which causes many more deaths. Because it’s so advertised, people think, “Oh wow, since so many people are trying to raise money for it, and an entire month is dedicated to it, I should probably donate to
this cause.” This is not to make light of breast cancer, because I’ve known people that have had it, and most of my friends know someone who’s had it, and any kind of cancer is truly terrible. I only want to put it in perspective. There are many far deadlier cancers that need funding more than “the pink.” I hope that people will perhaps learn about such things before they blindly donate to a cause that’s already over-funded.
Kelly Tsaltas sophomore, psychology
In case you haven’t noticed, we received many more letters to the editor than in previous weeks. We’d like to thank the Auburn students, faculty and community for the time they took to send us their thoughts and comments. The Plainsman is nothing without its readers, and we, along with the rest of the community, benefit from each letter we receive. We encourage you to keep sending us your thoughts. The paper is nothing more or less than a marketplace of ideas. Your thoughts are just as valid as ours, so please keep them coming.
Community A10
The Auburn Plainsman
Thursday, October 13, 2011
Sports Thursday, October 13, 2011
Equestrian seeks win
Tigers set to play LSU
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B1 Sports
Kicker sets new goals Coleman McDowell ASSOCIATE SPORTS EDITOR
Cody Parkey knew the cleats he was stepping into would be hard to fill. Wes Byrum, starti n g ki cker from 2007– 10, made CODY PARKEY numerous game-winning kicks throughout his career and kicked the most famous field goal in Auburn history last year in the BCS championship game. Parkey knows Byrum left Auburn a legend, but the sophomore kicker wants to carve his own niche. “I want to make my own legacy here, but at the same time following a guy like Wes is going to be hard,” Parkey said. “But he gave me some great tips and good pointers. He told me to stay focused and do all the little things right, and all the other stuff will follow. It was good to have Wes last year to mentor me.” Byrum’s mentoring along with special teams coach Jay Boulware’s instruction this past year have helped Parkey lead the country in touchback percentage this season. Twenty out of 33, or over 60 percent of his kickoffs, have been unreturned. “It feels good to be able to execute every week,” Parkey said. “For the people who thought that it was just the first game, I think I’ve proven to them that I can do it every week. I’ve worked hard, and it’s something I pride myself in. The harder I work, the better I’ll be, so I’m going to continue to work hard and lead the nation in touchback percentage.” Parkey’s efforts have caught Boulware’s attention as well. “Obviously his improvement since last year is in his leg strength, overall consistency in striking the ball on kickoffs,” Boulware said. “I attribute that to the work that Cody’s done down in the weight room with coach (Kevin) Yoxall. Then obviously the hard work that he’s put into being consistent in striking the ball and being able to hit it with enough power behind it.” Last year Parkey split kickoff duties with Byrum and only had two touchbacks on 35 attempts. Parkey credits his success to focusing and working on the details of his game. “Last year, I felt like I wasn’t striking the ball or exploding through the ball as well on kickoffs,” Parkey said. “This year I’ve been focused on that. I’ve worked hard on that all summer, and I’ve been able to execute so far.” Early in the spring Parkey suffered a quadricep injury that could have derailed his progress, but instead he used it to come back a stronger kicker. He said it was a “bummer” to miss his first game in Jordan-Hare as a starting kicker. “I was ready to get out there and show everyone what I had, » See PARKEY, B2
TODD VAN EMST
The Auburn defense tackles Arkansas’s running back Dennis Johnson in the first half of Saturday’s game.
Stakes high after Razorback loss Brandon Miller ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR
Auburn coach Gene Chizik has been called “The Will Muschamp before Will Muschamp.” Saturday, the two former Auburn defense coordinators will meet as No. 24 Auburn (4–2, 2–1 SEC) faces Florida (4–2, 2–2 SEC) at 6 p.m. “They are very talented,” Chizik said. “There is speed everywhere. On the defensive side of the ball, they are physical. They’re big and they have a great plan. Let’s not lose sight of who their two losses are to.” It will also be Chizik’s first chance to defeat his alma mater as a head coach. “It’s not about me,” Chizik said. “This is about another great SEC week for Auburn and another great opportunity for our team. That’s the way I see it.” While both the Tigers and Gators enter Saturday after suffering rough losses last week, Florida has braved through two consecutive challenges after starting the season 4–0. The Gators have had no success against the SEC West the past two weeks. After suffering a 38–10 loss at home to No. 3 Alabama, Florida traveled to No. 1 LSU and was beaten 41–11. Florida also lost something more than the game against Alabama: senior quarterback John Brantley. True freshman Jacoby Brissett will start against Auburn, his second start of the season. Against LSU, Brissett had a below-average performance. He threw for 94 yards, completing eight of 14 passes. While Brissett threw a touchdown, he also threw two interceptions. The Gators are known offensively for their speed, mainly from senior running backs Chris Rainey and Jeff Demps, two of the fastest players in the league. Demps even won the 2010 national championship in the 60-meter
dash in indoor track and field and 100-meter dash in outdoor track and field. “Here’s the thing about this offense,” Chizik said. “Regardless of who is at quarterback, they’ve got incredible speed at their tight end and wide out positions and their tailback position.” Demps’ speed has allowed him to average 8.3 yards per carry in 2011, gaining 324 total yards on 39 attempts. He also has four touchdowns to his credit. Rainey, however, has been the primary back this season. Despite having only two touchdowns, Rainey has 467 yards on 87 carries and is also the team’s leading receiver. On 16 receptions, Rainey has 245 yards and two more scores. The Gators’ running attack is crucial week in and week out considering the team ranks 98th overall in passing yards. And Florida’s defense had been complimented nationwide before allowing 801 yards in the last two games. The Gators defense allows an average of 291 yards per game. With only 115 of those coming on the ground, Florida has been able to stop the run game effectively. Sophomore running back Michael Dyer averages 113.2 yards per game. Although Auburn’s passing offense has struggled recently, Chizik showed full confidence in junior quarterback Barrett Trotter. “I expect him to play well, but I expect everybody around him to play well with him,” Chizik said. “Barrett is our quarterback today, and he is our quarterback on Saturday. For us to be productive offensively, it has to be a complete team effort.” Chizik said he will use Kiehl Frazier when the Tigers are looking for different ways to score and get first downs. He also said the
TODD VAN EMST
Defensive end Corey Lemonier puts pressure on Tyler Wilson.
TODD VAN EMST
» See TIGERS, B2
Freshman quarterback Kiehl Frazier runs in the first half.
Auburn basketball to host Tiger Hoop Madness Friday Brandon Miller ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR
Before Auburn’s basketball squads have a chance to take a crack at other opponents, they must face themselves first. A year after Auburn Arena had its official grand opening, Auburn’s basketball program will host Tiger Hoop Madness this Friday at 7 p.m. “I am extremely excited about the tipoff of basketball season with Tiger Hoops Madness,” said men’s coach Tony Barbee. “It’s a great way to welcome back the guys and meet the new players.” The event marks the first day fans can see Auburn’s basketball
teams and the first day the NCAA allows teams to practice. The arena doors open at 6 p.m. with activities beginning at 7 p.m. Tiger Hoops Madness is free to the public. All seating is general admission, and fans may enter through the main entrance or the scholarship entrance. The student section will be available for all students who present an Ignited card. Indoor activities will include team introductions and appearances by the Auburn cheerleaders, Tiger Paws, Pep Band and Aubie. The men’s team will conduct a slam dunk contest and an in-
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I am extremely excited about the tip-off of basketball season with Tiger Hoops Madness.” —Tony Barbee BASKETBALL COACH
tra-squad scrimmage, while the women’s team will have a threepoint shootout and dribble battle. “We are very excited about this event and the opportunity to show our fans what they can ex-
pect when they come out to Auburn Arena this season,” said women’s coach Nell Fortner. “It is going to be a great year for Auburn basketball, and we can’t wait to get it started.” Prior to the indoor festivities, there will be Fan Fest on the lawn outside the arena’s main entrance. The Fan Fest at 5 p.m. will feature inflatable games for kids, a face painter and a balloon artist. Both the men’s and women’s basketball teams will also be available for an autograph session beginning at 5:45 p.m. In addition, all fans in the arena will have a chance to win various prizes throughout the event,
including two pairs of tickets to the Auburn vs. Florida football game. Other prizes include various Under Armour items and a free round of golf at any Alabama Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail course. The parking lots surrounding Auburn Arena will be available on a first-come, first-serve basis. The lot beside Beard-Eaves Memorial Coliseum will not be available. “It is going to be a fun-filled evening for the students, our fans and my team,” Barbee said. “There is going to be plenty of planned events and surprises for everybody. Get there early for a good seat.”
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PARKEY » From B1
but then a couple days before, the whole quad incident happened,” Parkey said. “I didn’t try and dwell on it, I just kind of thought I had to get healthy for the season. “I was in rehab 3–4 times a day. I came back pretty fast. I didn’t lose a step, and I was able to come back with a full recovery. I feel like I’m kicking the ball as good or better than ever right now.” Parkey began his playing career on the soccer field instead of the football field. After playing soccer for years, Parkey decided to join his older brother on the football team. “I came out and they needed a kicker, and I thought, ‘I played soccer,
TIGERS
» From B1 decision on junior wide receiver Emory Blake, who hasn’t played since being injuried against South Carolina, will be made at game time, and senior left guard Jared Cooper will not play Saturday. Redshirt freshman Chad Slade will start in Cooper’s place. The similarities of Chizik and Muschamp are too numerous to ignore, but they could not be more opposite on the field. While Chizik usually remains content on the field, Muschamp is known as being vocal, jumping around and breaking clipboards. He’s more similar to intense assistant coach Trooper Taylor. Chizik’s first tenure on the Plains was from 2002– 04 when he served as the defensive coordinator. Following Auburn’s perfect season in 2004, he was
The Auburn Plainsman
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I feel like I’m kicking the ball as good or better than ever right now.” —Cody Parkey AUBURN KICKER
I could probably do this,’” Parkey said. “So in middle school I played kicker and some lineman. You had to get a certain amount of plays in Pop Warner, so I had to play a lot of positions.” Entering high school Parkey went to several kicking camps and ended his senior year ranked the No. 1 kicker in the nation. Parkey was the first Auburn commitment in the
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It’s going to be an exciting week, and I’m extremely excited for our fans. It’s going to be a great game atmosphere.” —gene chizik FOOTBALL COACH
hired by Texas coach Mac Brown as the Longhorn’s defensive coordinator. Muschamp arrived on the Plains in 2006 as the Tigers’ defensive coordinator. Two years later, when Chizik took the head coaching job at Iowa State, Muschamp was hired as his replacement. While at Texas, Muschamp was named the coach-in-waiting by Brown. However, a head coaching offer from Florida enticed
2010 class. While he hasn’t attempted a 50-plus yard field goal at Auburn, Parkey said kicking a record goal in high school stands out as his favorite memory. “I hit a school record 55yard field goal,” Parkey said. “We were losing, and my coach decided to let me try and see my leg. I was able to hit it, and it would have been good from a lot farther.” Parkey hopes Saturday’s game won’t be decided by a three-point margin, but it if comes down to a field goal, he said he’ll be prepared. “If we do need one, I feel like I’m going to be ready. The long snapper, Josh Harris, and holder, Ryan White, we’ve been executing really well and we’re going to practice hard this week and be ready for the game.“ him away from Texas. “Ironically, we have had similar paths,” Chizik said. “But he’s a great football coach, and I think his accomplishments really speak for themselves as an assistant and the great defenses that he has had pretty much wherever he has been. He has had a lot of success, and that is not by accident. He does a great job.” Not only will Saturday be the first time Muschamp will return to Auburn since resigning, but it will also be the first time he and Chizik will coach on the same field simultaneously. “It’s going to be an exciting week, and I’m extremely excited for our fans,” Chizik said. “It’s going to be a great game atmosphere. I want to urge our great fanbase to come out and do their thing as they normally do. They know how important they are to us, especially in games like this.”
Thursday, October 13, 2011
Future lies in Frazier Coleman McDowell SPORTS@ THEPLAINSMAN. COM
We’ve seen what the offense looks like with Barrett Trotter at the helm. Complete ineptitude when the offense is behind the line of scrimmage. Fourteen, 16 and 14 points in the past three games. A combined 34–70, 371 yards, three touchdowns and four interceptions in the same stretch. The offensive line has dropped off from last year’s play, but has been above average pass blocking this year. If you’re a quarterback with limited scrambling ability, then pocket awareness and the ability to make smart and quick decisions are a must. Trotter has shown neither. No. 1 target Emory Blake and slot receiver Trovon Reed were out against Arkansas, but that doesn’t make up for the quarterback play. Open receivers were missed in favor of deep throws in double coverage, a wide-open receiver assured a touchdown was underthrown, and general ineffectiveness abounded. Gene Chizik shuttled in freshman Kiehl Frazier for 23 plays during the Arkansas game. Frazier opened up Auburn’s entire rushing attack, gaining 54 yards on 13 carries. He forced the Razorback linebackers to respect the quarterback keeper, allowing Onterio McCalebb and Tre Mason to get outside for big gains. Granted, Frazier was tricked twice by Arkansas coverages, leading to a pair of interceptions, but
Frazier knows he can learn from those mistakes. “I got a lot better just from yesterday, just seeing myself throw those passes and kind of make those mistakes,” Frazier said. “That’s something I can definitely learn from.” That’s the maturity you want to see from a true freshman. Frazier’s offensive coordinator has confidence in his ability to make plays with his arm as well. “He can throw it,” Gus Malzahn said the week before the Arkansas game. “And we’ll definitely let him do that.” On ESPN’s documentary “Year of the Quarterback,” which outlined the quarterback competition between Trotter, Frazier and Clint Moseley, Malzahn said Frazier was the most talented of all three quarterbacks on the roster, but was the least experienced. How can Frazier gain experience for next season? Start him. Let Trotter be the situational quarterback to come in and throw on obvious passing downs. Let’s face it, Auburn isn’t winning the SEC West this year. But next year we’re lined up for a run at the SEC Championship game. Who’s going to take us there? Kiehl Frazier. Would you rather have Frazier take the reigns of a championship contender with no starts to his name and very limited chances to throw the ball, or have Frazier start game one next season having traversed Death Valley against LSU, battled Georgia between the hedges and faced Alabama in the Iron Bowl?
Barrett Trotter is a great leader, a fiery competitor and was an excellent quarterback in high school, but there is a reason only Army, Duke, Samford, Troy and UAB offered him a scholarship before he committed to Auburn. I’m not into bashing players, but the future is now. Auburn is a running team this year. Michael Dyer is unstoppable at times. McCalebb and Mason are excellent at spreading the defense and getting to the outside. Frazier simply makes all of them better. Those four are averaging more than five yards per carry this season, even when opponents know Auburn is one-dimensional. Frazier isn’t Kodi Burns. He wasn’t ranked the second-best quarterback solely because of his athletic ability. He’s a dualthreat quarterback that can attack a defense with his arm just as much as with his legs. The main knock is that Frazier only knows a small portion of the playbook. But let’s be honest, our current offensive playbook consists of a handoff to Dyer, a sweep to McCalebb or an incompletion. Let Frazier run however much of the offense he’s comfortable with. He might have more interceptions than touchdowns each game, but he’ll learn from each of those mistakes. It will make him a better quarterback when we need him the most: 2012. If we are going to lose, we might as well lose with our future quarterback at the helm.
October is
Month From now until October 31, 2011, visit any Ware Jewelers location and receive a 30% off discount on any one piece of jewelry or 10% off any one giftware item.* 2415 Moore’s Mill Rd, Suite 220 Auburn 334.821.7375
The Shoppes at East Chase Montgomery 334.386.9273
TigerTown Center Opelika 334.749.5005
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Thursday, October 13, 2011
Sports B3
The Auburn Plainsman
REBECCA CROOMES / ASSISTANT PHOTO EDITOR
Freshman western rider Bailee Bussey competes in western against South Carolina.
Another win for equestrian improves chances of success
Christina Santee SPORTS EDITOR
After opening SEC competition with a 10–10 tiebreak win over the South Carolina Gamecocks Saturday, the Auburn equestrian team is preparing to continue its success when it meets Kansas State University at home Oct. 21. “We really just want to make sure we’re fundamentally sound at least until we get through all these fall events, and then we’ll start ratcheting it up a little bit,” said coach Greg Williams. “Staying out of the penalty box—we’re going to have to get that part fixed, but if they stay united as a team we’re going to be quite a force in the spring.” Although the Tigers won Saturday’s meet, it was by a mere 41.5 points, the final score being 1486–1444.5.
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We definitely have a really strong team this year, but a bunch of room for improvement.” —Kristen Hansen SENIOR WESTERN RIDER
Many of the girls dropped points for inaccuracies. “I’m going to try to work on my turns and my jumps and try to keep everything a little bit smoother looking and not so rough,” said sophomore Christina Lin. “We have some stuff to work on as an equestrian team,” said senior Kristin Hansen. “We definitely have a really strong team this year, but a bunch of room for improvement. I
think by next week we’re going to work hard, and we’ll be (ready) for Kent State.” The upcoming match will likely test the team’s skills in each category. Kansas State has only one win for the season, beating Minnesota-Crookston 19–0. They will face Baylor University Friday morning. “Next week what we’re going to do is, when we get those patterns we’re going to work on what we made mistakes on because we definitely had mistakes,” Hansen said. “And clean those up and then we’ll go out there and get that pattern down because we don’t want any bobbles. As long as we have clean patterns, we’ll be good. We have great riders.” The Tigers will meet Kansas State at the AU Horse Center Friday at 3 p.m.
REBECCA CROOMES / ASSISTANT PHOTO EDITOR
Sophomore hunt seat rider Christina Lin competes in equitation over fences.
No simple fix for Tigers lineup Brandon Miller SPORTS@ THEPLAINSMAN. COM
It appears a lot of Auburn fans have been ranting recently in favor of benching junior quarterback Barrett Trotter. Who should play then? True freshman Kiehl Frazier, of course. What’s new, though? If Auburn isn’t undefeated, fans want a different quarterback. Jason Campbell helped Auburn find its way to 13–0 in 2004. Then, Brandon Cox, Kodi Burns and Chris Todd took snaps until Cam Newton arrived and changed the way any Tigers fan watches the game. Burns clearly was not a quarterback, and with him as the primary starter, Auburn went 5–7. Remember that year? Todd did just enough to get by in coach Gene Chizik’s first year. With offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn’s offense and the personnel surrounding him on the field, he did all he needed to. Auburn fans want a quick fix, and it doesn’t stop with quarterbacks.
The firing of Tony Franklin midway through the 2008 season was the first example. Despite the offensive coordinator getting the appropriate blame for the unsuccessful offense, the team continued to struggle the remainder of the season. How should the Athletic Department handle that? Fire the head coach. Despite everyone being happy with Chizik’s almostinstant national championship, it only reinforced the logic that Tuberville’s fire was the right way to handle the situation. But back to the quarterback situation. Benching Trotter would work, except there’s one major problem: there’s no one better to play the position. I knew fans would want Frazier to start because his playing style is comparable to Newton’s. Frazier just doesn’t have two national championships, a Heisman Trophy or a collegiate start to his name. Frazier’s playing time substantially increased against Arkansas, but his actual play did not. This season Frazier has completed two of only four pass attempts for 18 total yards. He also has two interceptions under his belt.
His efficiency rating is -9.76. And while Frazier has 135 yards on 26 attempts on the ground, Michael Dyer and Onterio McCalebb both still average more per carry than the freshman. Despite Frazier’s effectiveness on the ground— especially on third-andshort situations—and Trotter’s virtual lack of mobility in the pocket, passing is the element that a quarterback must have. Frazier doesn’t have that … yet. Meanwhile, Trotter has a 126.73 rating, as he’s completed 79 of 141 passes for 976 yards, averaging 162.7 yards a game. He has nine touchdowns outweighing six interceptions. He’s our quarterback. Just be happy his name isn’t Stephen Garcia. Coming into the season, it was known the team wouldn’t be able to live up to the success of last year’s team. Most admitted 2011 would be a rebuilding season. But at some point, many fans forgot that. To be sitting at 4–2 overall and 2–1 in the hardest conference in the nation heading into the season stretch is better than any football-savvy person expected Auburn to be after the Utah State game.
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Sports B4
The Auburn Plainsman
Thursday, October 13, 2011
Williams uses experience to get most out of big men Sloane Hudson WRITER
Coach Tony Barbee announced Oct. 6 that Harper Williams has been named Auburn basketball’s new administrative assistant. Barbee and Williams were teammates at the University of Massachusetts. “Harper comes to Auburn with a wealth of basketball knowledge, having played and coached professionally for 17 seasons,” Barbee said. During Williams’ sophomore year at UMass, his team advanced to the Final Four and played at Madison Square Garden in the 1992 NCAA Tournament.
“I got a slam dunk that game at the same time my family was walking into the arena,” Williams said. “That was an experience.” After his 17-season professional career with some of Europe’s top leagues and coaching for Connecticut’s Bassick High School, Williams began to seek other coaching positions. Williams had plans to coach at UMass when Barbee contacted him about the administrative assistant opportunity. “Being a 6-foot-7-inch power forward, being able to play center on two different levels and with the talent we have at Auburn,
I can pass on some knowledge to a guy who has the natural ability to perform well,” Williams said. Senior guard Frankie Sullivan said Williams’ relationships with the players have formed naturally. “He’s worked with the big guys and is making moves to make us better every day,” Sullivan said. “When a guy comes in and soaks in everybody like a sponge, you know it’s going to be great for the team.” The chemistry of the team is crucial, Williams said, and establishing relationships with each player individually is key to success.
“I don’t just care about you because of basketball,” he said. “I see your future. The most difficult part is that I can’t always be your friend, but at the end of the day, you’re going to respect what I do for you.” Williams said he is proud to be a part of Auburn’s basketball program and is impressed by the attitudes he has observed among the players and students. “One thing I really like about Auburn is that these kids are very respectful,” Williams said. “I like the environment where everyone is just really passionate about sports and respecting the years of tradition.”
GETTING TO KNOW WILLIAMS
Tigers work for win after SEC losses Christina Santee SPORTS EDITOR
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After dropping a fiveset match for the first time this year against Mississippi State University Sunday, the Tigers (9–9, 3–5 SEC) are looking to improve their 0–4 conference record for road games. “I think we haven’t had the same energy on the road as we’ve had when we’re at home,” said coach Rick Nold. “I think it shows up a lot of times defensively. I think the teams on the road, they’ve just out-defended us. “We’ve got to make some changes to how we approach those games. It’s got to be a different mindset going into them and understand that it’s not going to be one little push and you win the match. It’s going to be a long match— you’ve got to push through
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it, you’ve got to fight and earn points and that’s how you do it.” The Tigers are in for another challenging weekend as they continue their season away at the University of Arkansas Friday at 7 p.m., followed by a match against Louisiana State University Sunday at 1 p.m. “I think coming off the last week, we’ve got to step things up a little bit,” Nold said. “We know that both Arkansas and LSU are very good teams, and for us it’s a matter of preparing ourselves and coming out and giving the best effort. I think that’s going to be most important.” Auburn opened the season with multiple wins, but as weeks passed they accumulated more losses than expected. The Tigers know something’s missing from their game strategy.
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“We want to be able to serve aggresively,” said assistant coach Eysha Ambler. “That’s something we’ve been working on all season, and defensively, just behind the block— working on getting a lot of balls.” Team practices have fo-
cused on areas that cost Auburn their match against the Bulldogs. “We expect a good fight and we’ll be up and ready to go for it,” said senior setter Christina Solverson. “Just working together as a unit will be the key to our success this weekend.”
Barbee to host benefit tailgate Christina Santee SPORTS EDITOR
In support of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Auburn basketball coach Tony Barbee will host the first Coaches vs. Cancer on Saturday at the Auburn Celebrity Tailgate, prior to the start of the evening’s Auburn vs. Florida football game. “We want to be more involved with the Coaches vs. Cancer organization,” Barbee said. “They do such great work every year.” The tailgate will be held in front of the Auburn Arena and will be attended by some of Auburn’s most-appreciated legends, including former players and coaches. Barbee is determined to continue the success that
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“
We want to be more involved with the Coaches vs. Cancer organization.” —Tony Barbee AUBURN BASKETBALL COACH
the Coaches vs. Cancer campaign has had across the nation. Barbee and other featured attendees will be available to greet fans and sign autographs for the duration of the tailgate. “It’s just another avenue for me to have more of an impact from just the suits and sneakers weekend and bringing that Coaches vs.
Cancer tailgate to campus and making that again, another annual part of this program,” Barbee said. “What we do helps out with the visibility obviously in the community, but at the same time we’re bringing light to a cause that’s worth fighting for and hopefully one day, sooner rather than later, finding a cure for.” Those who choose to attend will also get to enjoy a tailgate-style meal. Tickets are $100 each and are tax-deductible. Proceeds will benefit the American Cancer Society and will fund life-saving services, research for cures and community awareness. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit www.aucoachesvscancer. org.
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Intrigue Thursday, October 13, 2011
Buzz enjoys ride as fair game clerk » Page B6
www.theplainsman.com
B5 Intrigue
Costumes steal show at Telfair Peet Bianca Seward Writer
An army of mannequins lines the wall of the costume shop as costume designer Thereza Oleinick stands hidden in a sea of taffeta and sparkle sheer. Oleinick received a Bachelor of Arts in speech and drama at the University of Iowa and studied costume design at the California Institute of the Arts in Valencia before moving to New York to design for off-Broadway shows. “That’s where all the real experimental stuff in theatre happens,” Oleinick said. Before coming to Auburn, Oleinick taught at the City College of New York. “I learned so much while working at the City College of New York,” Oleinick said. “It was a place full of talented people who couldn’t necessarily afford Julliard or NYU.” Oleinick teaches four classes on costume construction and stage makeup while designing all of the costumes for shows at the Telfair Peet Theatre. Oleinick said all of the costumes are handmade. “We tell you so much about the character before they even speak,” Oleinick said. “A costume has to tell the audience right away who they are, if you like them, if their character is good or bad, et cetera.” The upcoming production, “The Marvelous Wonderettes,” includes one costume change per person that spans a decade. Oleinick said the time change was the main difficulty in designing. “The first costume is for the
Raye May / Associate Intrigue Editor
Alison Hora, freshman in theatre, prepares the wigs for the show. prom set in 1958,” Oleinick said. “There is a good deal of bright colors and sparkle sheer. By the end of the play we are in 1968, so the costumes are muted tones of the same color of their prom dress. This way the character can remain their identity through the time change.” Vicky Anton, costume shop manager at the Telfair Peet Theatre, said limited time to make the costumes was a second source of anxiety for the production. “With only two weeks to complete the dresses we were very lucky this production only had eight costumes,” Anton said. “Normally we will get five weeks to complete a show’s costumes, but because we just closed ‘La Bete’ last week we couldn’t have the full five weeks.” Design work on pieces for the production began in the spring
when Oleinick contacted former student Danielle Griffith to help her with the multiple wig designs. All eight wigs that will be used are handmade and include a lace front to appear more lifelike on stage. “I’m so excited to see wigs on stage,” said Tyler Baxter, junior in musical theatre and current costume construction student. “The actress wearing the blue dress has these bright blue eyes that will just pop against her red wig. It’s going to be so great.” The costumes are made during the lab hours of students taking costume construction, which gives them firsthand experience at creating pieces. “I love working on the costumes, but I already know how to make a corset or add a collar,” Oleinick said. “I want the students to » See design, B6
Raye May / Associate Intrigue Editor
Shanna Henderson, senior in musical theatre, prepares to play Betty Jean in “Marvelous Wonderettes.”
Maddie’s story attracts attention Becky Hardy Assistant Intrigue Editor
Raye May / Associate Intrigue Editor
Cowboy Church members attend a barrel racing event held by the church Thursday afternoon.
From yee-haw to Yahweh Raye May Associate Intrigue Editor
For one church in Auburn, members’ Sunday best consists of blue jeans, boots and cowboy hats. The congregation meets Thursdays at 6 p.m. and Sundays at 10:30 a.m. in an open arena with a dirt floor and uses hay bales instead of traditional pews. The Cowboy Church of Lee County, located on Highway 280 across from College Street, has been in operation since November 2010. Pastor Gary Walker said despite the location’s newness, the Cowboy Church has been around for some time. “The Cowboy Church is nothing new,” Walker said. “We as an association are the American Fellowship of Cowboy Churches.” Walker said he believes Cowboy Churches have over 300 locations, many of which are in Texas. “There’s lots of churches in Texas that’ll run several thousand,” Walker said. “In Marshall County up by Blount County we have one of the largest in the state, with three or four hundred members.”
The mission statement of the Cowboy Church is to reach the Western culture for Jesus Christ, Walker said, and the churches have worked wonderfully throughout the South. “They’re used to coming to horse shows and rodeos and bull-riding things,” Walker said. “It’s a little rougher crowd. They’re used to coming to these venues, but they’re not going to go to traditional churches because they’re very suspicious of it.” The heritage of the Cowboy Church is Southern Baptist, Walker said, but they tend to keep that fact quiet. “We don’t advertise it because our demographic, the people we’re trying to reach, are the folk that don’t fit into traditional church,” Walker said. “We want them to feel like they can come here.” At the same time, though, Walker said they do like the legitimacy of being a fellowshipped church. The church will be voted into the Southern Baptist Convention next week. “We want to let folks know that we’re not just some hayseed-Hanks that just came out
here, dropped our tailgates and stuck our hats out,” Walker said. “We are bona fide.” Walker said Cowboy Church is one of the fastest growing church plants in the Southern Baptist denomination, and its specific location is the 13th fellowshipped Cowboy Church in Alabama. In addition to Sunday morning and Thursday evening services, Walker said the church hosts Western-themed events to draw interest. “We’ll have a team-roping like once a month out here on a Sunday afternoon,” Walker said. “That’s what we do, it’s how we reach the folks. We’re not trying to have the biggest church in the county.” The locations for Cowboy Churches are chosen carefully, Walker said. “Obviously this wouldn’t work in New York City,” he said. “We try to seek out culturally relevant areas.” Brenda Vickery is a member of the church and leads the children’s ministry with Walker’s wife, Kathy. Vickery was a kindergarten » See Cowboys, B6
Auburn’s annual dance marathon chose a mysterious form of advertising this year that has many students questioning, “Who’s Maddie?” “We really wanted to find an alternative to get the campus’ attention,” said Casey Stein, director of Dance Marathon and sophomore in human devlopement and family studies. “Because Dance Marathon is incredibly different from every other fundraiser, we needed a campaign that was just as bizarre.” Maddie, a miracle child in Auburn, is expected to attend with her family to share their story at the Dance Marathon this winter. Maddie was born 20 weeks premature in 2010, and she stayed for a period of time at the Columbus Regional Medical Center in the neonatal intensive care unit. Today, Maddie is a healthy 21-month-old girl because of the care at CMN.
“Miracle children can be defined as a child or family who has been a patient at a Children’s Miracle Network Hospital,” Stein said. Dance Marathon flooded campus with its paper-filled advertising scheme, and students embraced the cause. “Because the poster and fliers lacked any organization affiliation, it was frustrating for Auburn to distinguish the legitimacy of the posters,” Stein said. “But by the second day, Auburn was onboard with the Dance Marathon and also touched by Maddie’s story.” The Dance Marathon will be Feb. 4 in the Student Center Ballroom from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. to allow the miracle children to come in and share their stories with Auburn students. Auburn’s Dance Marathon hopes to make a huge difference in Auburn’s community. “Everyone knows a child whom » See Maddie, B6
Raye May / Associate Intrigue Editor
Dance Marathon advertises Maddie’s story with fliers and table setters scattered around campus.
Intrigue B6
The Auburn Plainsman
Jambalaya
Kerry’s recipe of the week Ingredients: 1 tablespoon vegetable oil 1 large onion, diced 2 bell peppers, diced 3 stalks celery, diced 1 ½ cups long grain rice ½ teaspoon salt ½ teaspoon ground black pepper ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper 1 teaspoon garlic powder 1 teaspoon paprika 1 teaspoon thyme 1 bay leaf 1 (28 oz.) can diced tomatoes, with juices 1 ½ cup water 2 cups cooked sausage (andouillie or kielbasa), sliced ¼ inch thick ½ lb. shrimp, peeled and deveined
Directions: In a large pot or Dutch oven, heat vegetable oil over medium heat. Add the onion, peppers and celery. Sauté for 10 minutes or until vegetables are softened. Add the rice, salt, black pepper, cayenne pepper, garlic powder, paprika, thyme and the bay leaf. Stir ingredients and allow rice to toast for 2 minutes. Add the diced tomatoes and water. Bring to a boil. Cover and reduce to simmer for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally. After 20 minutes, add the sausage and shrimp. Cook for an additional five minutes, or until liquid is gone and the shrimp are pink. Serves: 6
Contributed by Kerry Fannon
Buzz enjoys ride as fair-game clerk Kate Jones Intrigue Editor
Buzz would recommend his job to anybody. A game clerk at the Lee County Fair, Buzz first walked on a Midway in Coco Beach, Fla., when he was 16 years old. He said the fair came looking for work and gave him a job. “By the end of the week, they asked me, ‘Did I want to go with them?’” Buzz said. “And I was like, ‘OK, sure. Why not?’” More than 20 years later, Buzz still loves his job. “I get to travel all over the country,” Buzz said. On Wednesdays, Buzz said the workers take a break and find a state park or novelty in the area they are working in. “That way we get to enjoy the town that we're in and the atmosphere that's around the community that we're catering our entertainment to,” Buzz said. Mardi Gras in New Orleans is the most exciting
Kate Jones / Intrigue Editor
Buzz is back on the road with the fair for the first time in six years working as a game clerk. place Buzz said he’s been. He said he sometimes goes there on his own and sets up a place to sell beads. “It's really cool,” Buzz said. “You get to see people from all over the coun-
try at Mardi Gras, and of course there you get to see them in their rare form.” Once in Pensacola, Fla., Buzz took a picture of a man walking across the highway.
“It was a big gentleman,” Buzz said. “White hair, white beard—looked like a Santa Claus with a backpack on his back.” Buzz sent the picture to everyone he knew. “I said the economy is so bad even Santa Clause is looking for work.” Buzz works nine months on the road with a threemonth off-season. While on the road Buzz lives in a trailer at a nearby campground or park. He said he and his co-workers have satellites in order to keep in touch with friends and watch TV. “We all have our own quarters as far as trailers and things like that,” Buzz said. “So the living accommodations would be no different than if we were on a vacation in a camper for a week.” Buzz said people are good all over the country. “You just got to look for them,” Buzz said. “Actually don't have to look too hard.”
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Thursday, October 13, 2011
Maddie » From B5
this philanthropy has helped, and ‘Ask Maddie’ is about having that child’s face right in front of you,” said Ben Burkett, sophomore in marketing and assistant director of Dance Marathon. Stein and Burkett both have a personal connection with CMN. “I was actually a ‘Miracle Kid,’ being treated by a CMN hospital for over 10 years,” Stein said. “My childhood was truly defined by the care and experience I had from CMN, and I wanted to help be a part of the cause that facilitated a love for hospitals rather than a resentment toward my condition.” Burkett’s passion for CMN started when a boy in his fourth-grade class was diagnosed with leukemia. “He was treated by a Children’s Miracle Network hospital,” Burkett said. “Now that I am older, I understand what all the CMN hospitals did for him and his family.” Fundraising for CMN is an important part of Dance Marathon. “Other universities are able to raise millions of dollars in a single year for their CMN hospitals, and once we have the Auburn family invested, I have no doubt we will do the same,” Stein said. Alexa Cox, freshman in biomedical sciences, has raised money since attending her Camp War Eagle session over the summer. “So far I have raised $1,133, and I am hoping to raise $2,000 by February,” Cox said.
“
So far I have raised $1,133, and I am hoping to raise $2,000 by February.” —Alexa Cox Freshman, Biomedical Sciences
Cox’s life experiences pushed her to support the cause and the children who benefit from it. “When I was 9, I was in a boating accident that left a giant scar on my right arm,” Cox said. “It could have been a lot worse than it was, so any chance I get to help others, I do.” Cox plans to apply to be a morale leader, helping to lift the crowd’s energy during the 12-hour event. Stein hopes to strengthen Dance Marathon by extending it into the community. “We would love to expand Dance Marathon out into the community, but this year our focus was needed on campus and spreading the word,” Stein said. “Once we have a firm foundation developed on campus, we would like to include the local high schools and middle schools by helping to organize their own mini dance marathons.” Stein said faculty and students should think of this year’s marathon as an entirely new event. “We ultimately want Dance Marathon to be a philanthropy that the Auburn family embraces and welcomes as an Auburn tradition,” Stein said. “We stand for those who can’t, and we do it for the kids.”
Design
ally very comfortable,” Pair said. “At my last fitting they hadn’t put in the zipper yet to make sure it fit. Because my character says she designed all the dresses for their performance, mine is, of course, the biggest and brightest dress.” The show opened Tuesday and runs through Friday.
Cowboys
McCoy said he enjoys being a member of Cowboy Church, even in the colder months. “We just bundle up when it’s really cold out, or go to the room upstairs,” McCoy said. “In the earlier days, though, they would sit around barrels of fire.” Walker used to be a pastor at a traditional church, but felt called to come to the Cowboy Church after hearing about it from a friend. “I tell people it found me,” Walker said. “My wife and I explored it further, then we decided it was exactly what God wanted us to do.”
» From B5 learn. I want them to come away from this class confident they can make a costume for a show.” Rachel Pair, sophomore in musical theatre, completed some of the work her own costume. “The costumes are actu-
» From B5
teacher until she retired, and she now teaches a class akin to Sunday school in a room above the arena’s floor. “I think we have six or seven who come consistently,” Vickery said. “The ages range from 2 to about 15, but they seem to like it.” Brent McCoy, senior in wildlife sciences, said he has been attending Cowboy Church since January or February of this year. “I had a friend through showing horses who got me into it,” McCoy said.
Thursday, October 13, 2011
Intrigue B7
The Auburn Plainsman
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Intrigue B8
The Auburn Plainsman
Thursday, October 13, 2011
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