The Auburn Plainsman

Taking the leap

Women’s basketball

A daily struggle

» PAGE B1

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Auburn Parkour Club tests the limits of human effort and agility daily.

April Dixon hopes to inspire others dealing with disorders.

Team rebounds past FSU loss.

The Auburn Plainsman A SPIRIT THAT IS NOT AFRAID www.theplainsman.com

Thursday, November 18, 2010

Vol. 117, Issue 13, 24 Pages

Chick-fil-A first in sales by volume Chelsea Harvey Staff writer

If you have ever waited 20 minutes in line for a chicken sandwich in the Student Center, you may have an idea of how popular the University’s Chickfil-A is.

The campus Chick-fil-A’s rank fluctuates between first and second in sales volume among noncompany-owned Chick-fil-A locations in the Southeast, according to Brad Motes, director of retail operations for the Student Center.

The No. 1 rank is occasionally taken

by Georgia Southern University’s campus location.

“It’s a great feeling,” Motes said. “You know, as with almost everything we do here on campus, whether it’s Auburn or Chartwells or whoever, we like to be on the top of our game, whether it’s football or dining services.”

Motes said the campus Chick-fil-A generally serves more than 15,000 customers on any given day.

According to Ian Locklar, sophomore in physics and aerospace engineering, other Chick-fil-A locations may offer services that are not found on campus, such as breakfast or ice cream. However, it is likely that the campus location still receives more customers than offcampus locations.

Locklar, a former employee of Chickfil-A on Magnolia Avenue, said the Magnolia location generally received about 300 customers an hour during rush periods, such as lunch and dinner hours.

Locklar attributed the campus location’s superior popularity to its convenience.

“People eat there just about every day,” he said. “The main thing is that it’s on the meal plan, and it’s really easy to get to for people on the Quad. And it’s right beside Haley. It’s really in the center of campus.”

Chick-fil-A on campus is open every day except Sunday and accepts both

Dave Martin / AP PHOTO

Defendant Courtney Lockhart listens during opening statements Nov. 12, 2010 in his capital murder trial in the Opelika courtroom.

Lockhart trial underway Jillian Clair Associate News Editor

The emotional trial of Courtney Lockhart, the Smiths Station resident accused of the March 4, 2008 murder of Lauren Burk, began Nov. 12.

Burk, an Auburn University freshman at the time of her murder, was a graphic design major and member of the Delta Gamma sorority. Burk was from Marietta, Ga. Day 1: Friday, Nov. 12 After a 16-member jury was chosen, the prosecution began calling witnesses who described the crime scene and Burk’s cause of death.

“She bled to death from a gunshot wound,” said John McFarland, Burk’s treating physician at the East Alabama Medical Center emergency room.

Jim Burk, Lauren’s father, was called to the stand. Jim glanced at Lockhart throughout his testimony, and at times looked directly at him when answering questions.

Jim said he spoke with Lauren at 5 p.m.

2 that day, and at 10:30 p.m.,Wagon he received a Quad Pod 1 tent call from the Auburn Police Department » Turn to CHICK-FIL-A, A2 2 cooler chairs 1 table 2 regular chairs 1 cooler chair printer and laptop bag 1 regular chair small table

Dave Martin / AP PHOTO

District Attorney Nick Abbett displays the gun used to kill Burk.

telling him his daughter’s car had been found on fire.

Day 2: Monday, Nov. 15 Sean McQuaed, Burk’s boyfriend at the time of her death, was called to the stand and testified about his interactions with Burk the day of her death.

Wagonsaid 3 Burk visited his dorm McQuaed 1 tent room in Sasnett Hall on Davis Drive from 3 benches 1 table

approximately 5 p.m. until 8 p.m.

The state also called Michael De St. Aubin, the friend Burk was supposed to meet up with to study for a history test.

De St. Aubin said he talked to Burk at approximately 8 p.m. March 4, 2008.

Burk told him she had forgotten about a dinner party for a friend and would not be studying with him that evening.

“I didn’t really think much about it at the time,” De St. Aubin said, “but once I got the call from Sean saying her car was on fire, I was like, ‘Wow, I should have known something was up.’”

Several officers from the Phenix City Police Department were called to testify about Lockhart’s arrest March 7, 2008.

Lockhart was apprehended in Phenix City after he fled from officers for two to three miles.

The iPod recovered from Lockhart after his arrest was identified as Burk’s.

Investigators also recovered a handgun along the route Lockhart drove as he fled from the police.

Day 3: Tuesday, Nov. 16

Two fewer days, but no fall break Brent Godwin Assistant Campus Editor

Mobile clinic aims for top prize Rachel Shirey Writer

An industrial design student has submitted a health initiative proposal to the Pepsi Refresh Project with hopes of winning $50,000 to bring free health screenings to rural populations.

“My passion is to address a critical and societal problem by saving lives of the poor and underserved,” said senior Arissa Wheeler in her project write-up.

INDEX

News » A3

According to the Pepsi website, the Pepsi Refresh Project will award more than $1 million to the public in 2010. The goal is to encourage refreshing and innovative ideas to improve the community.

Wheeler’s project design consists of a donated Honda Element to transport a free pop-up medical clinic in the back of the vehicle. The project’s current name is the Auburn Health Initiative.

If Wheeler wins the grant, she plans to make her idea a reality |

Commentary » A5

within a 50-mile radius of the Auburn campus.

“At first, it started out as a regular project in studio, but after hearing stories and getting to know what was really going on behind the scenes in the health profession and the health problems that we are facing, it motivated me more,” Wheeler said.

Wheeler said she started the

| Campus » B1

» Turn to PEPSI, A2

|

» Turn to LOCKHART, A2

Intrigue » C1

|

By the time Thanksgiving break rolls around, Auburn students will have been in the classroom for almost 70 days.

Auburn’s semesters have historically been 75 days long, but were shortened to 73 last year.

The most notable change is one that didn’t happen—still no fall break until Thanksgiving.

“The decision on the fall break at Thanksgiving is very old and goes back to the quarter system,” said Patricia Duffy, associate provost of undergraduate studies.

Andrew Harwell, a 2003 Auburn graduate,

Technology » C3

|

was a student when the switch was made from quarters to semesters.

Harwell said the change happened in fall of 2000, his sophomore year.

“People didn’t like it,” Harwell said. “When we were on quarters, we had 10 weeks of classes, and we were in class every day. Then when it changed to 15 weeks, it just seemed like such a drastic change. Students were not happy about it.”

On the quarters system, the fall quarter started in September, and students got the whole week off for Thanksgiving in November.

Wasting Time » C6

» Turn to SCHEDULES, A2

|

Sports » D1

News A2

The Auburn Plainsman

Crime Reports for Nov. 11 – Nov. 17, 2010

DUI Arrests in the City of Auburn Nov. 11– Nov. 17, 2010 Kaitlin R. Weaver, 20, of Atlanta West Longleaf Drive Nov. 13, 1:30 a.m.

Jared M. Lewis, 36, of Birmingham West Thatch Avenue Nov. 13, 8:36 p.m.

John L. McCormick, 19, of New York Opelika Road Nov. 14, 1:21 a.m.

SCHEDULES » From A1

This practice was carried over to the 75-day schedule and now to the 73-day semester.

The University senate decides the calendar and length of semesters, Duffy said.

The most recent discussion regarding the length of semesters happened in September and October of 2009.

The structure of the semesters was changed in order to allow two days between final exams and graduation and seven days between graduation and the beginning of the next semester.

Also, five to six days of final exams are needed at the end of every semester.

Nine days are needed after the semester for the registrar’s office to process academic issues.

The University of Georgia and University of Alabama also have 75 days of classes, but most other schools in the country have shorter semesters, and if not shorter semesters, they have a fall break in the middle of the semester to give students a rest.

“This year, our fall break was Oct. 7 and 8,” said

Sarah Rice, senior at the University of Tennessee.

“It’s always a Thursday and Friday to give us a long weekend.”

UT’s fall semester started on Aug. 18, like Auburn’s, but the last day of class at UT is Nov. 30.

“I don’t think our semesters are too long,” Rice said, “but if we didn’t have a fall break, I would.

“I always need a break by the time October gets here. I think we should have a week, though, and not just two days.”

Most Auburn students are exhausted and ready for a long break by the time of Thanksgiving.

“Most other schools get a fall break in the middle of the semester, but we don’t,” said Kristina Culotta, sophomore in biomedical sciences. “A few breaks here and there would decrease stress for students and help us do better in our classes.”

Still, other students seem to be unaffected by the lack of a midsemester break.

“It doesn’t bother me that much,” said Tyler Hunt, freshman in mechanical engineering. “I like the way we do it at Auburn. I would rather have a long break, as opposed to a short one.”

Thursday, November 18, 2010

Nov. 11 — Longview Court Theft of property reported. One Compaq laptop, one Xbox 360, one Northface vest.

Nov. 11 — Mell Street Theft of property reported. One Apple MacBook, one hard shell computer case.

Nov. 11 — Rosie Street Theft of property reported. One Canon PowerShot camera, one HP Pavilion 17-inch laptop.

Nov. 11 — Chewacla Drive Theft of property reported. One Smith & Wesson 41 Magnum revolver.

Nov. 11 — Lakeview Drive Breaking and entering of vehicle reported. One 870 Remington pump shotgun.

Nov. 11 — Longview Court Theft of property reported. One Samsung Plasma TV, one Xbox, one Apple MacBook, one safe, $500, one pair of running shoes, one Canon Elura video camera.

LOCKHART » From A1

The state presented Lockhart’s written and oral confession of the murder of Lauren Burk.

Kristen Maturi, a forensic scientist with the state department of forensic science, confirmed a match between Lockhart’s confirmed DNA sample and the DNA found on the hammer of the gun found

PEPSI » From A1

project last spring and has been working on it every day since.

She has attempted to submit her project online six times.

Only 1,000 people are allowed to submit a proposal at a specific time each month. After 20 seconds, the submission window is shut.

Kenneth Nusbaum, professor in the College of Veterinary Medicine, said the initiative is relevant and important because health care accounts for one out of every $7 in the U.S. economy.

“Arissa’s project would

Nov. 13 — Wire Road Unlawful breaking and entering a vehicle reported. One Penn 650 Rod and Reel, one Flugger Rod and Reel, 12-volt Ryobi air compressor, one Ambassador Rod and Reel, one Marlin .17-gauge rifle, various debit cards, one Alabama driver’s license.

— Reports provided by Auburn Department of Public Safety

at the Publix on Summerville Road in Phenix City.

The DNA from small spots of blood on a T-shirt found in Lockhart’s car matched the confirmed DNA sample from Burk.

Day 4: Wednesday, Nov. 16 The Opelika-Auburn News reported the defense presented two witnesses in the morning, calling a psychologist and Lockhart’s former fiancé Nicole

Threatt to the stand to testify about Lockhart’s mental state when he returned from Iraq.

After the lunch break, the prosecution and the defense issued their closing statements.

Lockhart’s defense reminded the jury that Lockhart claimed he did not intend to kill Burk.

The prosecution attempted to convince the jury that Lockhart did

intend to kill her.

“I submit to you, that was no accidental discharge for someone who had been trained to handle weapons,” said District Attorney Nick Abbett.

The jury began deliberation at approximately 3:30 p.m. and requested an overnight recess at 6 p.m.

Deliberation will resume Thursday at 9 a.m.

Visit www.theplainsman. com for daily updates.

provide diagnostic interventions to prevent people from developing clinical disease, which is more costly than disease management,” Nusbaum said.

“Many of these diseases are discovered when a patient is admitted to an emergency room, and that is the least efficient form of health care.”

Nusbaum said he believes the diagnostic screenings would enable management of disease and place less strain on health care resources.

Wheeler’s project also has the potential to connect students with the real world.

“If Arissa’s project is funded, it has the

possibility of giving students in our college studying in health-related areas the ability to engage with the community to solve real problems,” said Paula Bobrowski, associate dean of research in the College of Liberal Arts. “They will have an opportunity to work with an interdisciplinary team of faculty and students to provide health screening to those that are underserved in our area.”

Wheeler won’t know if her project will be approved until Dec. 1.

If the idea is approved, the project will be posted on www.refresheverything.com to compete with the other projects in the health section of the

Pepsi competition.

The public will vote on the projects to determine the winner.

Wheeler and her support system want to encourage the Auburn student body to vote. People will be able to vote via text, Facebook or the website starting in December.

Wheeler said the grant money would be used to cover the cost of two mobile screening clinics along with equipment, supplies and maintenance.

“The project seemed like a perfect candidate for it (the Pepsi grant),” Wheeler said. “There is no reason it shouldn’t be submitted, shouldn’t be heard and voted on.”

corporation, but are privately owned by a different food service company.

Auburn University’s Chick-fil-A is owned by Chartwells, which provides all the on-campus food services.

Locklar said he believes company-owned restaurants still exhibit better service.

Regarding the campus Chick-fil-A, Locklar said, “They [Chick-fil-A corporate officials] don’t physically go in and do quality checks. This one, it’s much more commercialized in that there isn’t much customer service, in that it isn’t much focused on the

customer. It’s more focused on getting the food out.”

Robby Thomas, freshman in political science, said the efficiency is what he likes about the campus Chick-fil-A. “It’s fast, it’s really fast— and it’s always really good,” he said.

Thomas said he eats there about once a week and has no complaints about the service on campus as opposed to off campus.

“It’s all the same,” he said. “Everybody’s nice. I get my food, I eat it, haven’t been poisoned yet, so I’m good.”

CHICK-FIL-A » From A1

meal-plan money and traditional forms of payment, which may help explain its high regional ranking.

Motes said it is difficult to determine a solid national ranking for Auburn’s Chick-fil-A because so many variables contribute to store ranking. However, he said the Auburn location has been ranked in the top 10 several times.

According to Motes, these rankings apply only to noncompany-owned Chick-fil-A locations; that is, locations that are supplied by the Chick-fil-A

The Plainsman congratulates the Tigers on a great season thus far!

BEAT BAMA! The Auburn Plainsman Staff

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News

Thursday, November 18, 2010

Nature playground »» Page A4

Comic book store owner »» Page a6

www.theplainsman.com

A Page A3

Jeremy Gerrard / Writer

(Left to right) Steven Howard, servicemember, Rep. Mike Hubbard, Opelika Mayor Gary Fuller and Gov. Bob Riley unveil a bridge sign in honor of Vietnam War veteran Col. Robert Howard.

Highly decorated Vietnam War veteran honored Jeremy Gerrard Writer

On three separate occasions, Col. Robert Howard of Opelika was nominated for his displays of valor and was finally awarded the Medal of Honor on March 2, 1971, by former President Richard Nixon.

The Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration a member of the U.S. Armed Forces can receive.

Because of the criteria that must be met before the medal can be awarded, it is often given posthumously, though it is considered an honor to simply be nominated.

On Veterans Day Nov.

11, the community of Opelika gathered at City Hall to recognize Howard and all other veterans who dedicated their lives to protecting their country.

Howard died Dec. 23, but on Thursday he was not forgotten.

As one of the most decorated soldiers of the Vietnam War, Howard’s name was permanently engraved in a plaque outside City Hall, and Gov. Bob Riley named the new bridge at Exit 58 on Interstate 85 in his honor.

Opelika Mayor Gary Fuller said when he proposed the idea to Riley, the governor answered in four short words, “Wow, let’s do it.”

The actions that led to Howard’s Medal of Honor occurred Dec. 30, 1968, as he led a 40-man rescue mission in Cambodia during the Vietnam War. Howard and another soldier were wounded by a land mine, and while he administered first aid to the wounded soldier, a bullet hit the man’s ammunition pack and exploded into Howard’s hands.

Wounded, Howard administered aid while giving orders to his men to resist and direct fire at the Vietnamese army.

After three and a half hours, a rescue helicopter arrived, and Howard made sure every man got on before climbing in himself.

“He was the type of person that never backed down, did his best and never quit,” said Sherry Beasley, Howard’s niece.

During his 36 years of military service, primarily under the 5th Special Forces Group, Howard served five tours in Vietnam and 33 years in airborne divisions.

For his time served, Howard was awarded eight Purple Hearts, the Silver Star, a Distinguished Service Cross and three Bronze Stars for valor, among other honors.

As Riley and family members unveiled the plaque, Riley commended Howard for his numerous accolades.

“Every time you see it, I want you to remember Bob Howard and his legacy,” Riley said.

Sadly, Howard died before he was recognized by his hometown.

“The thing that hurts the most is that we didn’t do something while he was still here, so we could tell him how proud we are,” Riley said.

After the ceremony, Howard’s brother Steven commented on the posthumous recognition as he flashed a bittersweet smile.

“It (today’s ceremony) means happy/sad—the happy part is that he’s home, and sad that it wasn’t done years ago,”

Steven said. “But Robert would say that’s OK.” While Howard’s accomplishments were the focus of the morning ceremony, all veterans were celebrated.

One by one, several decorated men and women who served in the Armed Forces arrived in uniform to be respected and honored by the community of Opelika.

Eagles soared above, and a flyover concluded the day’s ceremony.

“Freedom is a given right, but it is defended by those who fight for it,” Riley said. “We can never repay their debt, but can tell them every day how much their sacrifice meant.”

Comprehensive Plan maps future of Auburn Abby Townson Writer

The city of Auburn will present its new Comprehensive Plan 2030 to the City Council in a public hearing in April.

Until then, citizens can learn more about the plan and participate by giving their input at public meetings.

“Cities don’t just happen,” said Kevin Cowper, assistant city manager.

“They have to be planned.”

Cowper said one of the things people enjoy about Auburn is the quality of life. The new plan, he said, will enable takenfor-granted functions of the city, like traffic, economics and utilities, to be improved.

“The comprehensive plan is the long-range planning document for the city,” said Forrest Cotten, Auburn’s planning director. “It’s a guide for future growth and future good growth.”

The plan, which is designed to provide

guidelines on controlling and organizing land use and development, has been in the developmental stage for approximately two years.

“What you’re seeing now over this last stretch is really the culmination of all of that work,” Cotten said.

Cotten said it is unlikely that there will be any problems getting the plan approved by the Council.

“Effectively, what will happen is the plan will get adopted, and then we begin a fairly involved process, probably an 18to 24-month effort where we actually amend the zoning ordinance to correspond with the future land-use plan.”

The 2030 plan is not the first developed by the city.

The 2000 and 2020 plans did not emphasize landuse planning.

“The plan that we had in place previously was a little general, maybe a little bit too general to be practically applied,” Cotten said.

Cotten said one of the primary benefits of the 2030 plan is that it will give people a feeling of predictability about future developments in the city.

Cotten said the 2030 plan is a working plan, which the city will monitor and update every five years after it is passed.

“It’s sort of a rolling stone,” said Warren McCord, a member of the planning commission.

McCord is a former Auburn faculty member and a part of the ninemember commission appointed by the Council to develop the plan.

“Basically, you’re supposed to look at planning issues on a nonpolitical basis,” McCord said.

The commission has worked for months with the city’s planning department to refine and modify the plan.

“We’ve had about 10 work sessions with the planning commission » Turn to 2030, A4

Maria Iampierto / Associate Photo Editor

The Gnu’s Room on Gay Street is hosting a block party with barista competitions and muscial performances from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday.

Southside Block Party to help local businesses Courtney Smith Writer

Gnu’s Room will host its Southside Block Party, located on South Gay Street, Saturday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.

“We will have some really great entertainment,” said Tina Tatum, owner of Gnu’s Room. “And it’s free, so you can’t beat that.”

Gnu’s Room will kick off the festivities with an allfemale barista throwdown from noon until 3 p.m.

“It’s going to be local

female baristas competing to see who makes the best drinks, who can make them the fastest and who has the best personality,” said Sarah Barnett, barista at Gnu’s Room. “It’s always fast-paced and should be really fun.”

Barnett said they hosted an “insanely successful” barista throwdown in August and decided to bring it back for the block party.

After the throwdown, Gnu’s will feature musicians, from jazz singer Eric Johnson of the Auburn

Knights to the Green Rapper, an artist whose lyrics are about recycling and sustainability.

Tatum said Kristin Hines and local band The Good Doctor will perform, as will two stand-up comedians.

“It should be a really good experience for the community to come out and see local musicians too,” Barnett said. “They are all fantastic.”

The block party will give » Turn to party, A4

News A4

The Auburn Plainsman

CALENDAR: THURSDAY, NOV. 18 – SATURDAY, NOV. 27

Auburn Weekly Gas Monitor Week of Nov. 18

SUNDAY

Location

Reg

Mid

Prem

Shell — Glenn and Gay

$2.669

$2.789

$2.909

Walmart — South College

$2.699

$2.819

$2.939

Shell — Wire

$2.719

$2.859

$2.999

Circle K — Glenn and Gay $2.739

$2.879

$3.019

Chevron — South College

$2.799

$2.999

$3.199

Chevron — Wire

$2.899

$3.049

$3.199

BP — Samford and Gay

$2.899

$2.999

$3.299

Exxon — Wire

$2.899

$2.999

$3.149

Chevron — University

$2.899

$2.999

$3.099

Chevron — Glenn

$2.999

$3.159

$3.299

Average

$2.822

$2.955

$3.111

Thursday, November 18, 2010

MONDAY

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY 18

Women’s Basketball vs. Duke @ Arena, 6 p.m.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part One, midnight premiere 21

Thanksgiving Break

22

Thanksgiving Break

23

Thanksgiving Break

24

Thanksgiving Break

Men’s Basketball vs.

Middle Tennessee (CSS) @ Arena, 5 p.m.

$3.20 $3.00 $2.80 $2.60 $2.40 Oct. 28, 2010

Nov. 4, 2010

Regular

PARTY » From A3

local artisans the opportunity to display and sell their artwork and crafts.

Barbara Birdsong, the owner of Perch, said new artisans, in particular, use the block party as a way to figure out their personal market.

“It’s a nice, eclectic neighborhood venue,” Birdsong said. “It’s really low-key, but it’s also a great place to get Christmas gifts.”

Most of the stores located at the shopping district on South Gay Street will participate.

There are food specials, Tatum said, and each of the stores will offer different discounts on their merchandise.

“It should be a really good time just to come together and get some good food and get some

Nov. 11, 2010

Mid

25

Thanksgiving Break

FRIDAY

SATURDAY 19

Free eyebrow wax, hand massage or chair massage @ Spa Auburn, 5 p.m.

26

Thanksgiving Break Auburn @ Alabama, 1:30 p.m.

20

Saturday Arts Club @ Jule Collins Smith Museum, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Southside Block Party @ Gnu’s Room, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Men’s Basketball vs.

Jacksonville @ Arena, 7 p.m.

27

Nov. 18, 2010

Premium

cool stuff for cheap,” Barnett said.

Gnu’s Room will also have a book sale and discounts on its coffee, Tatum said.

“We hope to have some crafts for children to do, so it won’t just be for adults,” Tatum said.

“It will be a family kind of event.”

Tatum said while the block parties normally do not draw a huge crowd, she and the other store owners are always pleased with the turnout. They usually have a diverse group of all ages and different types of people, Tatum said.

“Because it’s outside, it has this really nice vibe to it,” Tatum said. “People driving by will slow down to listen to the music, then hopefully they’ll park and come by.”

Gnu’s Room hosts the block party quarterly.

2030

» From A3

dating back to May,” Cotten said.

In addition, public hearings have been held to gain citizen input.

“Anybody who’s a resident of the city of Auburn, I think, has a vested interest in not only knowing what Auburn’s like today, but how we as

a government are saying Auburn is going to be like 20 years from now,” Cotten said.

McCord said one difficulty in the development of a comprehensive plan is that everyone has a stake in the results and different ideas on how things should be done.

“Planning is something that is difficult to do in detail without some

emotion,” McCord said. “It’s a complex, fascinating civic process.”

McCord said the plan, if implemented correctly, would have many beneficial effects on the quality of Auburn as a city. If done wrong, he said, it could have some negative results.

McCord said cities either change for the better or the worse.

The Auburn Plainsman Volunteers come together

Elaine Busby / ASSISTANT PHOTO EDITOR

Fifth-grade students from Cary Woods Elementary play on the Nature Playground at the Louise Kreher Forest Ecology Preserve Nov. 9. The playground is designed to provide fun, naturalistic play spaces with logs, tunnels, trees and unique structures, such as a tree house and an “eagle’s nest” for kids to explore.

to build nature playground Sara Weeks

Wishing you a Happy Thanksgiving

Writer

New adventures wait to be discovered at the Louise Kreher Forest Ecology Preserve and Nature Center.

The new nature playground, which officially opened Nov. 9, offers Auburn residents a new place to enjoy all that the outdoors has to offer.

At the new playground, children can enjoy an eagle nest, beavers lodge, mole tunnel and tree houses.

The idea for the playground came to Jennifer Lolley, the administrator of the preserve, while she was visiting Milwaukee two years ago.

“There are a lot of nature playgrounds in Europe and in the Northeast, but none in the Southeast that we know of,” Lolley said.

Building materials are the difference between regular playgrounds and the nature playground.

The nature playground is made up of all-natural or made-from-recyclable materials. Lolley even had

large boulders brought in for children to climb.

“Lolley came up with the beaver lodge idea,” said Andrea Tidwell, senior in building science and AGC president. “We made up a design and tried to put it together, and it turned out greater than what we thought it would be. It took us one semester to finish it.”

Lolley said the purpose for building the playground was simple—to get children and families to get out and enjoy nature.

“Kids today spend 1 percent of their day outdoors,” Lolley said. “So it is becoming urgent to get them outside playing again and to attract them to the preserve.”

The natural elements of the playground are what make it so intriguing to children.

“Climbing up the big rocks and jumping off is what I like most,” said Grayson Blind, 8, of Auburn.

After a year of designing and recruiting help for the playground by Lolley and

Jocelyn Zanzot, an Auburn landscape architect professor, the project broke ground.

A year ago, learning communities from the College of Agriculture began digging the sandpit.

The preserve is a community outreach program for the School of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences, so it gives Auburn students a chance to help the community while learning.

“We have had many laborers and volunteers help with the project,” Lolley said. “I would guess about 500 volunteers over the whole project.”

Alan Deal, senior in exercise science, helped build the tree house, fort and put up a fence around the playground.

“I needed volunteer hours for a class and enjoy the outdoors and figured it was right up my alley, so we went out there and helped out,” Deal said. “I love working outside, and I enjoyed doing it—helping out the community.”

The playground was funded by a grant from

the Alabama Forests Forever Foundation, which receives most of its funds from Alabama car tags.

With the help of local businesses, contractors, students and volunteers, the playground has been deemed a success.

“We had several hundred people come out on Veterans Day,” Lolley said.

The Louise Kreher Forest Ecology Preserve is located on North College Street past the Auburn University fish ponds.

The preserve is home to 15 walking trails, a reptile viewing area, a native wildflower area and a turtle habitat.

The preserve hosts many seasonal events, such as fall nature walks and a holiday wreath workshop.

More information on the preserve can be found at www.auburn.edu/preserve.

“By building the playground, we are hoping to encourage people to get outdoors,” Lolley said.

“Then maybe from there they’ll walk out and see the rest of the preserve.”

Commentary

A5

www.theplainsman.com

Thursday, November 18, 2010

News

Our View

Fannin’ the flames of Toomer rumor Sunday morning about 2 a.m. a concerned citizen called the fire department to report a fire in the Toomer’s tree.

Several witnesses were interviewed and the police now believe a Georgia fan between 4-foot-11 and 7-foot-2 both shirtless and wearing red and named Mark Richt set fire to the Toomer’s tree while yelling “Auwbarn’s a pack of cheaters!

Go Dawgs!” before scampering into the darkness.

Separate witnesses called the fire department at 2:56 a.m. and again at 4:20 a.m. to report the return of the arsonist(s).

“Me and my friend Jill were on the Bodega porch when we saw the first fire,” said an unnamed source. “We were just smoking and stuff and then there was just smoke everywhere.

“Jill said she saw a little man in a red shirt and black pants running down Magnolia across from SkyBar, but she also told me she made out with Cam Newton in the uni-

sex bathroom.”

No arrests have been made, but the police remain confident they will find answers on the Internet.

A police spokesman said the department has had an employee monitoring Facebook, Twitter and various Auburn and Georgia football message boards since Sunday in a search for answers.

Various Facebook status updates from persons who wish to remain nameless have led the police to believe a Georgia fan or fans were at fault in the fire Sunday morning.

One promising lead read: “Georgia fans just couldnt handle us. Go back to Athens losers!!! War Damn Eagle!”

Another read: “We won, you lost. Get over it. Nuff said. 110. War Eagle forever.”

A post by a dawgman82 on a prominent Georgia football message board has also drawn considerable police interest.

In the post, dawgman82 said Auburn deserved “what

“Everybody’s had their cuts and their gashes. I’ve had more than my fair share, but it’s nothing that a shower, some alcohol and Neosporin didn’t have it taken care of.”

Eric Ingram,

grad student in electrical engineering from “Taking the Leap,” B1

Last week’s question:

Should WEGL play more mainstream music?

Yes No

13% 63%

I don’t listen or care 24%

This week’s question: they got” and that Auburn is a “team and town full of cheaters. I wish the whole town had burned down.”

“Sounds like probable cause to me,” said an unnamed police officer.

Police are now attempting to locate and question dawgman82.

The employee tasked with

monitoring Internet activity said he feels he will find the truth if he remains diligent and keeps searching.

All the above was fabricated in an attempt to show the ridiculousness of Internet speculation and how fast rumors become fact, both in the Toomer’s tree fire and the Cam Newton scandal allegations.

Should the student section keep ‘throwing it out?’ ❍ Yes ❍ No ❍ Totally classless

Vote at www.theplainsman.com

Auburn student section greatest, could be even better

Brent Godwin campus@theplainsman.com

Well, we did it.

An (up to this point) undefeated season.

A SEC West championship.

A Heisman hopeful in Cam Newton.

A shot at a national title.

The student body truly went “All In” after Coach Chizik’s now legendary speech, which has propelled us into this magical season.

We got to the game early in force.

We were louder than we ever thought we could be throughout.

And we stayed after the game to celebrate with our team after every win.

I began to take a lot of pride in our student section every time Coach Chizik said in a press conference that we were a large part of the team winning.

The student section and the players have a special bond this season.

It is, “We’ve got y’all’s backs because you’re playing for us.”

Watching the Ole Miss game on TV, the Auburn student section was so loud and supportive that Ole Miss might as well not have been there.

We will most likely never have another season like this in our lives.

Or at least not as students.

After beating LSU at Jordan-Hare this season, AUHD showed the student section celebrating with

the caption “Best Student Section in the Country,” underneath. It gave me chills.

After South Carolina came to town, even our opponents began to take notice: Auburn fans are classy.

We set the standard for other SEC teams and even other programs around the country for how to treat your opponents, even if we know we’re going to kick your butt on the field Saturday.

So here’s the part where I get to the problem.

Let’s stop throwing the ball out of the stadium

when the opposing team kicks an extra point or a field goal into the south end zone.

I understand the point.

But I don’t think it’s funny or even a clever way to “get back” at the other team for scoring.

Granted, it is not the worst thing in the whole world, but I think it makes us look bad.

I also understand that this has been happening for years—at least all four years that I have been here.

It’s time for this to stop.

I have always heard rumors that if we keep doing this, the stadium will be

forced to hang nets behind the uprights, and thus the eagle could no longer fly.

No one wants that.

Even if this rumor isn’t true, I think that the practice of tossing the ball out of the stadium goes completely against the reputation that we have obtained.

Other than that, well done to everyone—students, alumni, fans and, of course, coaches and players.

We will never forget the 2010 season.

I am proud to be an Auburn Tiger.

War Eagle.

Your View

Alabama Power should be ashamed of ‘customer service’ Editor, The Auburn Plainsman I hate paying bills. We all hate paying bills.

Bill time is that time of the month when we see the bottom fall out of our checking accounts and our credit balances jump through the roof.

For the past two months, I’ve been pulling my hair out because paying the Alabama Power Company is like giving yourself a root canal, except you decided to use Tabasco in place of Novocaine.

Paying APC should be as easy as calling them up, giving them my info and being off on my merry way.

Or maybe I could set up an auto-draft so I don’t have to deal with “pressing 1 for English” and that stupid recorded voice.

That’s what it’s like with every other company in the nation.

APC’s payment setup has me absolutely dumbfounded, and here’s why.

I got a bill from APC a couple of weeks ago that told me the date of my auto-draft and how much I would be charged on that date.

The date came and went, and I thought all was well, until I got letter saying they were going to shut off my power.

Totally baffled, I called up APC to inquire.

I went through their automated system to set up a “Payment Arrangement,” which shouldn’t be confused with an actual payment.

I still don’t know what kind of “arrangement” I made, but the bill still

wasn’t paid.

I called them up again and hit zero about six or seven times before I finally got an operator.

I asked him why my auto-draft had not gone through.

Apparently I had to set it up again because of a change in address.

Fine.

I’ll do that.

I asked the man if I could pay, and he told me to call Bill Matrix because APC is not equipped to take card payments.

Not equipped? What?

You don’t have a phone line and a credit card machine?

My cat could operate one of those things.

Why can’t APC? Anyway, APC has contracted an entirely different company, Bill Matrix,

to handle their credit/ debit billing.

When I say, “entirely different company,” I mean exactly that. The two don’t communicate.

Here’s an example: I called Bill Matrix to pay my bill.

I put my account info in, but it came back saying I had zero balance.

I called APC to ask why they wanted to shut off my power if I didn’t owe them money.

Apparently my account number was different from the one on my bill. Totally makes sense…

So I called Bill Matrix to give them my new account number.

They asked me how much I wanted to pay.

Apparently they have no way of actually looking at my bill, and I didn’t have

it with me at the time, so I had to call APC again to get my balance.

Then call Bill Matrix again to finally get everything solved.

Did I mention there’s a fee for using Bill Matrix?

I simply don’t understand why I have to wait through hours of redundant, automated systems just to pay my power bill.

Why can’t I just talk to a human the first time? Why does it take a machine to answer a phone and take my 16 digits?

Why can’t two companies communicate when each relies on the other so heavily?

This is the 21st century, y’all. It shouldn’t take a philosophy degree and the patience of a pre-K teacher to pay my bill.

APC, you make millions

The Auburn Plainsman Editorial Board

Ben Bartley

Opinions Editor

Rod Guajardo Editor

Laura Maxwell Managing Editor

yet refuse to adapt to a system that is actually easy to use.

Automated systems are NOT EASY TO USE. When will companies understand that I’d much rather sit on hold to talk to a person and work through their terribly irrelevant phone script than get passed from computer to computer?

In my opinion, customer service will be the downfall of this nation. Now I’m ranting…

Long story short—no, my call is not important to you, and I’m sincerely considering making a jump back to the Stone Age. Thanks for nothing.

See you assholes next month.

Philip Smith 2010 Auburn Grad

OUR POLICY 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.

HOW TO CONTACT US

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News Editor

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Copy Editor

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Campus Editor

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Intrigue Editor

Mailing Address Auburn Student Center Suite 1111H Auburn, AL 36849 Phone: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .334–844–4130 Email: . . . editor@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.

News A6

The Auburn Plainsman for comics and reading was inspired by his older cousin, John Wesley McEntyre, who died Nov. 13.

“As a kid, when he got through reading the comics, he would leave them for me,” Mullins said. “I taught myself how to read through those comics.”

McEntyre was 65 when he got in an accident involving a tractor at his farm house.

Mullins said even though his cousin was 10 years older than he was, as children, McEntyre always allowed Mullins to hang out and tag along.

“He was as big as a giant, but he was always gentle, too,” Mullins said.

Mullins said his love for reading in general can be attributed to his early love

Comic book store owner shares his childhood inspiration Emily Clever Copy Editor Superheroes aren’t only found in the glossy pages of a comic book.

For John Mullins, longtime Auburn native and owner of the comic book store in Auburn, Collector’s Corner, his passion

for comics.

Before he even entered kindergarten, he was reading and knew how to use a dictionary.

“When we got to ‘Jack and Jill went up the hill’ and all that, I just thought, ‘This is boring,’ because I was used to Spiderman,” Mullins said.

In honor of McEntyre’s recent death, Mullins is offering 40 percent off all back issues this week.

“He was my older cousin, and he was my favorite cousin,” Mullins said.

Mullins has owned the comic book store for 12 years.

“I got really tired of working in the corporate world,” Mullins said. “I gave a two weeks’ notice without having a job lined up. And I was looking to

buy a business I enjoyed. I was just fed up.”

Mullins said he walked into the shop and told the previous owner he was interested in buying the business.

The owner told Mullins the shop was always for sale if the price was right, so Mullins made an offer and became the owner effective Jan. 1 of that year.

“Even in the most difficult financial times, in the middle of the Great Depression, I would rather do this than work for anybody doing something I’ve done before,” Mullins said.

Mullins said he sees customers of all ages, from 6 years old to professors at Auburn.

“I’ve never actually counted,” Mullins said about his customer base.

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Thursday, November 18, 2010

Emily Clever / COPY EDITOR

John Mullins, owner of Collector’s Corner comic book store on E Glenn Avenue, stands in front of posters of his heroes.

“We have over 80 frequent customers.”

Mullins said he reads 90 percent of all the comics that he sells, not only because of his passion for them, but also because it can help with sales and

Board of Trustees meeting approves building designs Brian Woodham

The board also approved the program requirements, Associate Copy Editor budget, funding plan, site A maintenance project and schematic design of a to repair the exterior of the pavilion that will compleLowder Business Building ment a new Band Rehearsis expected to begin within al Hall facility. four to six months, accordThe project will be coming to Dan King, assistant pleted in two phase. The vice president for facilities, first will consist of the conwho briefed the Board of struction of a pavilion adTrustees jacent to during a the Band meeting Practice It will be Friday.

Field to T h e s h e l t e r a visible project b a n d project. is schedmembers uled to You’ll see scaffolding from inlast ap- on the exterior of the c l e m e n t proxiweather. m a t e l y building.”

T h e one and a cost of the Dan King, half years. pavilion assistant vice president As a reestifor facilites is sult of the mated at Lowder $800,000 Building being built in sec- and will be funded by the tions, water leaks and wa- College of Liberal Arts. ter intrusion have resulted Phase two consists of and caused damage, King the construction of the said.

Band Rehearsal Hall facilThe maintenance proj- ity, which may take several ect will replace the flash- years to complete because ing and windows, as well as funds need to be raised. install insulation, among Later in the meeting, other things, King said. a moment of silence was “It will be a visible proj- held for former College of ect,” King said. “You’ll see Sciences and Mathematics scaffolding on the exterior Dean Marie Wooten, who of the building. That scaf- died Nov. 5 in a pedestrian folding will move around accident. the building as we go Charles Savrda, profesthrough the phases.” sor and chair of geograElsewhere on the agen- phy and geology, has been da, the board approved named the interim dean of the schematic design of COSAM, according to Mike a proposed facility for Clardy, director of commuthe Center for Advanced nications and marketing.

Science, Innovation and Clardy said the search Commerce. committee will conduct a The facility has an esti- national search to find the mated cost of $28.9 mil- next COSAM dean. lion.

“It is very early in its The project will be fund- stages on a national ed by a National Institute search for a permanent refor Standards and Tech- placement,” Clardy said. nology grant and matchThe next scheduled ing funds from Auburn.

Board of Trustees meeting Auburn’s Research Park is Feb. 4 on the 10th floor has been identified as the of the Library Tower on site for the facility.

AUM’s campus.

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recommendations.

Collector’s Corner is located on E Glenn Avenue near the Chamber of Commerce. It turns 25 years old this January, making it one of the oldest comic book stores in the Southeast.

The Plainsman Now on Twitter and Facebook.

Stay up to date.

Campus Thursday, November 18, 2010

Mexico abroad

» B4

Painting the Class of the Week » B5

www.theplainsman.com

B Page B1

Taking the Leap Testing the limits of human effort and agility, the Auburn Parkour Club does whatever it can to get from point A to point B with as much style and speed as possible Derek Lacey Associate Campus Editor

Sidewalks are boring.

The everyday roadblocks of pedestrian traffic flow—railings, stairwells and walls—are objects that can easily be traversed by the members of Auburn Parkour.

“The art of movement and turning any everyday obstacle into just a normal stepping stone” is the definition of parkour given by Eric Ingram, president of AP and first-year graduate student in electrical engineering.

More specifically, parkour is a physical

activity that utilizes acrobatic moves to get from one place to another as quickly and efficiently as possible.

Parkour is more than a hobby or a sport to the members of the club, who have three training sessions and one gym night every week.

“You all progress together,” said Daniel Golden, freshman in undeclared science and math. “You see everyone on their best and worst days and just help people push and do better.”

When it comes to parkour, members of the club see benefits beyond the physically demanding moves, wall climbs and stair jumps.

“The freedom to just get your body to move how you want it to,” Golden said.

“It’s kind of hard to explain—just the whole atmosphere of it because everybody that’s out here is just like a family.”

Training sessions take place on campus—walking from building to building and trying different moves on different features, like the walls beside the library parking deck and the staircase outside the Student Center—but it doesn’t stop there.

“We consider everything where you’re moving to be practice for parkour,” said T.J. Nguyen, junior in mechanical engineering. “So as long as you’re out doing something, you’re training.”

Parkour is physically demanding, with wall climbing, running, jumping, flipping and spinning performed regularly.

“First and foremost, we work ourselves through conditioning because that’s gonna be the real big thing,” Ingram said.

“All this high impact and generating this instantaneous energy puts a lot of strain on you.”

Injuries are always looming in parkour, and every member of the club is well acquainted with minor injuries.

“Everybody’s had their cuts and their gashes,” Ingram said. “I’ve had more than » Turn to PARKOUR, B2

Derek Lacey / ASSOCIATE CAMPUS EDITOR

(Top) Auburn Parkour President Eric Ingram jumps a gap outside the AUSC. (bottom left) A member jumps a walkway outside the Science Center Laboratories. (bottom right) AP member Corsavius Jackson does a backflip after planting one foot on the wall outside the RBD Library parking deck. Auburn Parkour meets Sundays for one of its tri-weekly training sessions on campus.

SGA: A review of the Sasser reign Alison McFerrin Staff Writer

Emily Adams / PHOTO EDITOR

Kelly and James Reed were married in the amphitheater Saturday while tailgaters for the Auburn v. Georgia game watched.

The loveliest wedding on the Plains Emily Adams Photo Editor

Kelly and James Reed gave new meaning to the phrase “All In” before the Georgia game Saturday, turning their tailgate into an Auburn-themed wedding.

“It was absolutely perfect,” James said. “The wedding was exactly what we wanted, and it couldn’t have turned out any better.”

Kelly, junior in physics,

said they wanted everyone to have a good time.

“We just wanted it to be fun,” Kelly said. “Auburn is having such a good season, and we’ve been having a great time at our tailgates, so we wanted to do it there.”

Nicole Loggins, senior in journalism and friend of the couple, said the wedding reflected their personalities.

“Kelly and James are really a fun couple,” Loggins said. “They like to do

things out of the ordinary, clearly. This suited them much better than a traditional wedding.”

The couple’s unconventional wedding mirrors the turns their lives have recently taken.

In February, Kelly’s health began to deteriorate while James was at home in Michigan, Kelly said.

Kelly was diagnosed with mononeuritis multiplex, a nerve disorder that affects muscle tissue

function, with possible Lou Gehrig’s disease, or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, a degenerative motor neuron disease.

“It plays a roller-coaster ride with my muscles,” Kelly said, “but my body usually bounces back.”

The disorder, which causes Kelly to have occasional muscle weakness and choppy speech, is progressive, and there is no way to determine how it » Turn to WEDDING, B2

The Student Government Association’s motto is “Serving and promoting the individual student; unifying all that is Auburn.”

SGA has tried to live up to that goal this year.

“The year’s gone extremely successful,” said Kurt Sasser, SGA president and senior in human resource management. “There’s been a lot done. There’s been a lot of things that we’ve tried new that’s been successful.”

One new feature of the SGA this year has been the addition of the Council, which has handled initiatives with facets like auxiliaries, publicity and facilities, Sasser said.

“For Exec to be the liaison between the students and the administration, we felt like we needed to have more manpower and womanpower and

really get some help in those initiatives,” Sasser said.

One visible result of the Council is the hydration stations in the Student Center.

An annual SGA project carried out by the Senate is the Campaign Complain boards, which give students the opportunity to tell the SGA what’s on their minds.

“The Campaign Complain boards—we actually do look at those things,” Sasser said. “We take those boards, and we type every single one of those complaints up into a spreadsheet and then look at them from there and say, ‘What can we do about this?’”

Sasser said one complaint that always comes up is parking. This problem may not be solved during the next few years, but SGA does realize it’s a problem.

“Once the Coliseum » Turn to SGA, B2

Campus B2

The Auburn Plainsman

PARKOUR » From B1

my fair share, but it’s nothing that a shower, some alcohol and Neosporin didn’t have it taken care of.”

Ingram said the worst injuries he’s suffered are tendonitis and jumper’s knee, and the only time he had to take someone to the emergency room was when an out-oftowner from Columbus, Ga., fractured an elbow.

“We actually emphasize safety a lot in this group,” said Golden, who has suffered a sprained ankle and met his quota of scrapes and scratches.

Injury-prone activity or not, parkour brings

more benefits to its practitioners than costs.

“If you do it and you really love it, it’s just kind of it’s own thing,” Ingram said. “It’s really a state of mind rather than this is something I’m going to go out and choose to do.

You look at the world differently if you’re really into it.”

The club does not compete, per se, but they do participate in “jams.”

Jams are group parkour sessions, and according to Ingram, members of parkour groups will give each other places to stay.

Ingram said these jams can include up to 80 people from all over the Southeast.

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Thursday, November 18, 2010

SAE honors alumnus with dining hall Katie Brown Writer

Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity named its dining hall Saturday in honor of Tom Eden, former Auburn head cheerleader in 1949 and dedicated alumnus.

While the dining hall was previously unnamed, the brothers of SAE chose Eden for his extraordinary contributions to the chapter throughout the years.

“By naming the dining hall after him, we will show him our gratitude for all he has done for this chapter,” said Matt Cutbirth, SAE president and senior in accounting. “The dining hall will be a permanent feature of our chapter house so that generations to come will know of the contributions Tom Eden has made.”

Eden said he was surprised to hear the news.

“It was the most wonderful experience I’ve ever had,” Eden said. “I was so pleased and happy that they would name a room after me because that is the ultimate gift.

“It is absolutely beautiful.”

Eden became affiliated with the Alabama Alpha Mu chapter of SAE in 1947 after a friend from the Navy urged him to visit Auburn.

Eden purchased the property for the current fraternity house in 1955 and raised money to construct the chapter’s house.

“I chose the land, and in 1957 we built the present

Charlie Timberlake / ASSISTANT PHOTO EDITOR

Tom Eden, SAE alumnus and former Auburn cheerleader, stands with his family at the SAE house for the dedication of the dining hall in his honor.

SAE house from funds,” Eden said. “It has been renovated since, though.

I’m so proud of it, and we have a great group there.”

During his time at Auburn, Eden was senior class president, a member of Spades and chosen for Who’s Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges.

However, one of his most notable accomplishments was his role as captain of the cheerleading squad.

“There were 4,500 students at the school at the time, and there were seven of us on the cheer squad,” Eden said. “We recently had a reunion, which was great.”

Once his time at Auburn was completed, Eden remained involved in the fraternity by twice serving

as chapter adviser.

Eden was neither the first nor the last in his family to be involved with SAE. His father, Thomas, sons Tommy and Steve and nephew Terry have all been members of SAE. Even the women in Eden’s family are involved.

His daughter Eve and niece Diane have served as SAE little sisters.

The ceremony was held Saturday morning at the SAE house, honoring Eden’s lifelong contributions to the chapter.

It also brought together the brothers to help in the celebration.

“I think it is great we are honoring him,” said Taylor Howard, senior in finance.

“He’s done a lot for us over the years.

“We wouldn’t have this

SGA

problems and took steps to fix them this year.

“We’ve looked at those comes down within the problems and said, next five years and the ‘What can we do to fix Student Wellness Center them?’” Sasser said. “And goes up, that’s going to I think we’ve done a great be a lot of room for park- job.” ing over there,” Sasser One problem in SGA said. “Parking’s not good will be addressed in right now, I do under- the SGA constitutional stand that.” amendment that just Sasser passed. said SGA T h e has been addition We’ve “ t a k of an ating baby torney looked steps” general at those toward and chief “ b r i d g - problems and said, justice, ing the ‘What can we do constig a p ” to fix them?’ And I tuting a among judici al U n i - think we’ve done a branch v e r s i t y great job.” was ratistudent fied by Kurt Sasser, the stuorganiSGA President d e n t zations, as well populaas within tion last the University as a whole. week.

Textbook Reserve Pro“We want there to gram is an initiative that be more accountability SGA did as a partnership with SGA,” Sasser said. with the library, the In- “It’s something that we terfraternity Council and were really behind the the University Program ball on—most other Council.

SGAs and universities Another event the have that.”

SGA worked with other Many students are groups on is the gu- unaware of the things bernatorial debate, in in which the SGA is inwhich the SGA, the Of- volved. fice of Marketing and “I don’t really keep up Communication and the with it that much, honpresident’s office were estly,” said Conrad Lee, involved. freshman in building sci“That was extremely ence. successful,” Sasser said.

Sarah Lynn Dantzler, “It was truly a University junior in health adminiscollaborative effort.” tration services, said she Other SGA programs didn’t know much about have included and will SGA either. include annual events “I mean, I know that like Hey Day, Better Re- they try to put on as lations Day and the Beat many events for the stuBama Food Drive. dents as possible, and Sasser said he was they’re good about promost impressed with moting new organizahow SGA identified tions,” Dantzler said. » From B1

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Kelly and James Reed celebrate after their wedding at a tailgate Saturday before the Auburn v. Georgia football game.

WEDDING » From B1

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will develop, Kelly said.

“We don’t really talk about if it took a turn for the worse,” Kelly said. “We just stay positive.”

James said he tries to be supportive when she has bad days.

“We just don’t let it bog her down,” James said.

After her diagnosis, Kelly became a spokeswoman for ALS Therapy Development Institute, planning fundraisers and raising awareness.

James, who has been in the military eight years and plans on career service, moved to Auburn in September to prepare for reactivation in the Army as a drill sergeant in Fort Benning, Ga. About a month ago, his activation was delayed.

“They pulled the rug out from under me,” James said. “Kelly and I sat down to talk about it, and realized (Auburn) ROTC could give me the career I want in the military, and she can finish school.”

James applied to Auburn three weeks ago and has

already been accepted for spring semester.

“I don’t know what we would’ve done if they hadn’t accepted him,” Kelly said. “We didn’t have time to make a backup plan.

Auburn has been so good to us.”

James said the couple’s difficulties over the last year have made him more mature.

“I know what love is now, and I want to support her in whatever her problems are, whether it’s her disease or her horrible sense of humor,” James said.

The couple’s differences bring them together, Kelly said.

“He lives life by the seat of his pants, and I’m a planner,” Kelly said. “I give him that motivation to be more responsible, and he helps me have a lot more fun. I’m just happier.”

Not knowing what the future holds forces them to live in the present, James said.

“The unknown is the fun part of it,” James said. “We know there will be deployments, but here we are in Auburn, and I just married Kelly, who I love to death.”

house and great location if it wasn’t for him.”

The dining hall, which employs two full-time cooks, serves 10 meals each week.

It plays a vital role in showcasing the fraternity’s accomplishments.

The hall is also used to host events, such as band and date parties.

Cutbirth said, “We can comfortably seat 90 people on our unique and custom-made SAE dining tables.

“Two sides of the dining hall are adorned with composites from years past.

“Another side has a trophy case, and the last side of our dining hall looks out over our deck, band room and pond.”

Eden currently lives in Auburn.

“

Thursday, November 18, 2010

Campus B3

The Auburn Plainsman

Auburn University

Stan Reeves TedElectrical W. Tyson & Computer Malcolm A. Cutchins Biosystems Engineering Aerospace Engineering Engineering Susie Miller School of Nursing

Jim Jackson

John Morgan Art

Bill Daniels Michael J. Bozack OfficeandofAllied Communications Fisheries Department of Physics Aquacultures & Marketing Minseo Park Nancy Kickliter Department of Physics Pharmacy Rob Thomas Kathy Jo Ellison Thaddeus Roppel Industrial and Systems Nursing Electrical and Computer Engineering Engineering Steve Duke Charles Gilliam Chemical Engineering Wheeler Foshee Horticulture Richard H. Tabor Horticulture Ralph Henderson School of Accountancy Clinical Sciences Ross Heck SusanM. Anderson Jennifer Mueller Art School of Accountancy Research Compliance Randy Johnson David M. Bevly Aviation Management Mechanical Engineering and Logistics

Roger Lien

A. Scottedward Hodel Electrical andScience Computer Poultry Engineering Nelson Ford David M. Bevly Management

John Burkhalter Aerospace Engineering Lee Colquitt Finance

Thomas E. Nunnally Mechanical Engineering Ray Tarrer English Chemical Engineering Norman H. Godwin Roger Joe Eakes TedLien W. Tyson Poultry Science Horticulture

Biosystems Engineering

Tin-Man Lau Industrial Design

John Hung Electrical and Computer Engineering

J. John ThomasCarvalho Chesnutt Alabama Cooperative & Journalism Carol Whatley Communication Extension System Alabama Cooperative Extension System Thomas Shumpert KevenandYost Electrical Computer Daniel K. Harris Engineering Mechanical Engineering Finance David Rouse Fisheries and Allied Nelson Ford Aquacultures

Kai Chang Computer Science and Software Engineering

Management Jean Weese Nutrition and Food Science

Joseph T. Hood Agronomy and Soils

Stan Reeves Daniel Blessing Suzanne Shaw Electrical and Computer Health & Human Engineering College of Agriculture Performance Thomas R. Smith Department of Music

For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, that no one should boast.

Ephesians 2:8-9

Al Eiland

Office of Communications Thaddeus Roppel and Marketing Peter Grandjean Electrical and Computer Health & Human Performance Engineering

John S. Morgan

The University Industrial and Graphic Design of Alabama Glenn Fain

Donna Aldinger Horticulture Management/Marketing

Beth Macauley Communicative Disorders

Kevin Almond Associate Director DanielAthletic Blessing

David Maxwell Russell Student Health

Albrey Arrington Kinesiology Assistant Professor

Bill McDonald Athletic Department

Bruce Barrett Steve R. Duke Statistics

Betty McGinley Law School

Phillip Bishop Kinesiology

Advertising & PR

Chemical Engineering Lori McKinnon

J. David Williams Darron Boatright Director of Basketball Horticulture Operations Bill Brewbaker Thomas Chesnutt LawJ. School

ECDIBrooks / ACES Robert Finance

Robert McLeod Finance Brenda McPherson Law School Melissa T. Medlin Graduate Student Services

Rae Mellichamp Carolyn Marcus BrownW. Robinson Professor Emeritus Computer Science Horticulture Rick Moody Head Women’s David Campbell Basketball Coach Postdoctoral Researcher

Jeff Sibley

Having received God’s gift of eternal life through faith in Jesus Christ His Son, we are a group of professors, lecturers, instructors, administrators, and staff united by our common experience. We believe that Jesus Christ provides intellectually and spiritually satisfying answers to life’s most important questions.

We are available to students, faculty, and staff who might like to discuss such questions with us. If you would like to be a part of this fellowship, please contact John Hung, 4-1813, or Danny Blessing, 4-1459.

AUCHRISTIAN

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Jeremiah Castille Horticulture Football Team Chaplain

Michael Parker Assistant Professor

Edwina Crawford Undergraduate Admissions Paul Jungnickel

Philip Pearson Asst. Basketball Coach

Michael D. Picone Tommy Ford School of Pharmacy, Harrison Modern Languages Director of TIDE PRIDE Dean’s Office & Classics Cecilia Hammond Ben Pollard Journalism Department Ross Heck Strength Coach Charlie Harbison Department of Industrial David Rader Assistant Football Coach Offensive Coordinator and Graphic Design Allie L. Harper Paul Randolph UA Press Defensive Ends Coach Scott Hawker Lau Tin-Man Randy Ross Computer Science Industrial and GraphicAthletic Design Department Ruby Helton Chuck Schmidt Law School Charles D. Ellis Information Systems, Brenda Hunter & Electrical & Computer Statistics, Engineering Associate University Management Science Registrar Diane Sekeres JeffLarry Jackson Wit Elementary Education Electrical & Computer Department of Biological Sciences Sharron Skipper Engineering Theatre and Dance Henry Joiner W. David Sloan Building JeanMaintenance Weese Journalism Poultry William C. KeelScience Joe F. Smith Astronomy Kinesiology JoeRobert Kines Thomas Tom Strong Defensive Coordinator Industrial and SystemsDean Engineering of Students Sherry Kirksey Rubye Taylor Human Development Retired Staff & Al Family Studies Eiland Buddy Wyatt Harvey F. Kline Office of Communications Defensive Tackles Coach Political Science

& Marketing

Robert P. Leland Electrical & Computer Gary Page Engineering

College of Business NOTE: This ad presents the personal convictions of the individuals listed herein. The ad does not represent any view or position of Auburn University or any academic department. The ad does represent and acknowledge the diversity of academic contributions to Auburn University by men and women of various race, ethnic group, and cultural background who share the Christian faith.

Campus B4

The Auburn Plainsman

Thursday, November 18, 2010

New café wakes up campus Magnolia Coffee & Tea Co. brings big flavor to small-town Auburn Mackenzie Cogle Writer

Bringing the traditional big city coffee shop experience close to campus, Magnolia Coffee and Tea Co. offers a spot to study, relax or simply enjoy the atmosphere.

Located on Magnolia Avenue across from the Lowder Business Building, Magnolia Coffee and Tea Co., which opened Nov. 6, provides students an alternative to the library.

“It’s handy to just walk across the street because all of my classes are in Lowder,” said Megan Miller, junior in business administration.

Magnolia Coffee and Tea Co. features desserts and beverages made from local ingredients.

Beth Topping, the primary owner, graduated from Auburn in 2000 with a bachelor’s degree in English and earned her master’s in English in 2010.

Topping said since Cambridge Coffee closed in 2009, there has been a need for a similar “community” where regulars can come and converse.

“Opening a coffee shop is something I had always wanted to do, and the opportunity arose,” Topping said.

She and Richard Blackmon purchased the property next to Firehouse Subs and began remodeling the inside. New counters were built, and the fluorescent lighting was replaced by mood lights.

All the coffee and espresso is made exclusively and

Maria Iampietro / ASSISTANT PHOTO EDITOR

Randall Kaemmerer, senior in art, and Jennifer Thai, junior in graphic design, enjoy coffee and a snack at Magnolia Coffee and Tea Co. The shop offers locally roasted coffee.

roasted locally for Magnolia Tea and Coffee Co. by Sara Barnett of Mama Mocha’s Roastery.

The house blend is based on traditional grain coffee made with the shop’s espresso blend and organic ingredients.

Flavored coffees, such as pumpkin cheesecake and hazelnut, are picked, roasted and mixed with all-natural flavors.

They are then packaged in airtight containers and roasted again with flavorimpregnated beans to ensure the best flavor possible.

A light roast named Java Judah is also available, as well as Bear Mace, a dark French roast.

A decaffeinated blend is offered for coffee without the buzz.

The espresso bean, named “smoking jacket” by the shop, is used in the lattes, cappuccinos and macchiatos.

Specialty lattes like the Zebra Tux Mocha and the Almond Rocha White Mocha are made with Ghirardelli chocolate syrup.

For 50 cents, customers can add any of the eight other latte syrup flavors.

Mike Leigh, senior in theatre and a barista at the shop, said he makes lattes with “latte art,” a pattern on the surface of the latte made by pouring steamed

Maria Iampietro / ASSOCIATE PHOTO EDITOR

Mike Leigh, senior in theatre and barista at Magnolia Tea and Coffee Co., makes latte art at the new shop on Magnolia Avenue. The shop opened Nov. 6.

milk into two shots of espresso.

The shop’s baristas were trained by Barnett to use a four-group espresso machine.

For coffee-free options, Magnolia Coffee and Tea Co. serves chai lattes, Ghirardelli hot chocolate and premium Harney and Sons teas.

Premium tea bags are

available for $3 and regular tea bags for $2.

The hot chocolate is made with a Ghirardelli chocolate mix and Ghirardelli syrup. White, dark and milk chocolate syrups are also available.

The desserts sold each day come locally from Gourmet Tiger.

Red velvet cheesecake, New York cheesecake,

pumpkin spice scones, fudge brownies and lemon bars are a few bakery items offered.

Magnolia Coffee and Tea Co. is open daily from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. on weekdays and 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. on weekends.

Indoor and outdoor seating is available, and parking is located behind the building.

Mexico abroad program comes to indefinite end Jake Cole Writer

Students hoping to improve their Spanish no longer have the opportunity to study abroad south of the border in neighboring Mexico.

Last year, press coverage of increased drug violence and the fear of flu epidemic led the University to cancel the trip to Mexico in March after final preparations had been made by interested students.

“The University did not feel comfortable with the risk of traveling abroad,” said Jana Gutiérrez, associate professor of Spanish. “And certainly you can appreciate that we don’t want to put our students in any danger.”

Previously, Auburn sent students on a five-week trip to Cuernavaca, Mexico, capital of the southern state of Morelos.

Enrolled in classes at the Universidad Internacional, students lived with host families and could engage in a variety of extracurricular activities to help them learn the language through interaction and receive a richer experience beyond university walls.

Following the cancellation in 2009, professors looked forward to returning to Cuernavaca.

“We felt that, with the swine flu epidemic having subsided, we would be OK because in Cuernavaca, they weren’t experiencing the same kind of violence you see on the border,” Gutiérrez said.

However, this year the University did not reopen

an official trip to Cuernavaca, though students can still travel there and study with programs independent of the University.

When the Cuernavaca trip fell through in 2009, the department chose Costa Rica as an alternate location, and the program became the permanent replacement for the study abroad program in Mexico.

Costa Rica offers a comparable program for students, placing them with host families for four weeks while they study at the Universidad de Costa Rica in the capital of San José.

“What I love about this program is that it affords a home stay opportunity… while still giving students enough freedom to explore the city, engage with locals in Spanish and work on group projects during the day,” said Almitra Medina, assistant professor of Spanish and the director of AU Abroad in Costa Rica.

The end of the foreign language department’s program in Mexico coincided with the end of other study abroad opportunities in Mexico.

The School of Architecture ran its own exchange program for four years from a Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education grant that linked three universities: one in Canada, Mexico and the United States.

Once the grant expired in

Helen Northcutt / GRAPHICS EDITOR

2007-08, the program ceased.

“We have built some great relationships through the program, particularly with our Mexican partners at the SOA in Merida, but have not been able to sustain a more formalized exchange,” said Cheryl Morgan, professor of architecture.

The strength of the U.S. dollar over most Latin American currency makes studying in a Latin American country cheaper than programs in Europe, but the convenience offered to cash-strapped students is not the only reason to study in Latin America. “(The press coverage) is unfortunate because Mexico is a beautiful country with a rich history, and for our students studying languages, the reality is that in the United States, the Spanish they will come into contact with most is a Mexican type of Spanish,” Gutiérrez said.

Gutiérrez said she hopes the Mexico program will return, but also hopes to keep the Costa Rican option open, expanding students’ access to Latin American countries.

Thursday, November 18, 2010

Campus B5

The Auburn Plainsman

Painting the Class of the Week Students in Wendy DesChane’s Painting III bring color to the walls of Biggin Hall

 Painting students stand on stools to get the right stroke in their larger-thanlife mural for painting class.

 Ashley Sams and YunHee Choi, seniors in art, show off their talent.

 Randall Kaemmerer, junior in art, pays attention to the finest of details.

Photos by Maria Iampietro / ASSOCIATE PHOTO EDITOR

CLASSIFIEDS Index

Employment For Sale -Real Estate -Mobile Homes -Miscellaneous For Rent -Homes -Mobile Homes -Apartments

Lost & Found -Items -Pets Wanted -Roommates -Item Service

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Border Classifieds Local Rate: $11.00 per column inch National Rate: $16.00 per column inch

The deadline to place a classified ad is 3:00

Other than logos, no artwork is accepted.

p.m. the Friday preceding the Thursday of

Minimum ad size is 1 column x 4 inches.

publication. The Auburn Plainsman reserves

Maximum ad size is 1 column x8 inches.

the right to refuse any ad it considers mis-

Space reservation deadline for border

leading or in poor taste. No Work at Home

classified is 3:00 p.m. the Friday prior

ads will be accepted.

to publication. No advertising discounts apply.

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Campus B6

The Auburn Plainsman

ON THE CONCOURSE

Thursday, November 18, 2010

How do you think SGA is doing so far this semester?

“I think they’ve done a decent job. I haven’t been involved, but I think, all in all, they’ve done a good job.”

“Good. I think they’ve done really good with the debates and everything—all the events— they’ve done well.”

–Winn Carroll, sophomore, history

–Nicole Carter, junior, apparel merchandising

“I have no idea.”

–Clint Smith, senior, civil engineering

“I think they’ve done good. It seems like everything is running smoothly.”

“I have no clue about anything they do.”

“They have a pretty good act going on, but I would like to see more opportunities for student suggestions.”

–Jordan Lee Spencer, senior, communications

–Jacob Powell, senior, electrical engineering

–Lacey Wright, sophomore, computer science

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JESSICA BROOKSHIRE, 23 ¡Ay mamacita! This week’s Loveliest has been around the world and back with a helping heart.

She’s started a nonprofit that teaches school children the harm caused by bullying. A second-year graduate student in Spanish, she lived in Spain for five months as an undergrad.

“I loved their sense of openness and tolerance,” she says. “It allowed me to see my world from the outside looking in.”

Thanks for letting us into your world, Jessica.

Or perhaps more appropriately: ¡GRACIAS!

Think you know an Auburn woman who has what it takes to be the Loveliest Lady on the Plains? Send submissions, with names and contact information, to campus@theplainsman.com

Intrigue Thursday, November 18, 2010

MacBook Air review

» PAGE C3

www.theplainsman.com

NaNoWriMo

» PAGE C6

C Page C1

A daily struggle: life with paranoid schizophrenia April Dixon has dealt with paranoid schizophrenia for most of her life. She hopes her story will inspire others to find ways to cope with their disorders and bring peace to their lives Emily Adams Photo Editor

She walks through Haley Center like any other person, but as she passes fellow students, one question echoes in her mind, “Can they tell?”

A side effect of college life as a paranoid schizophrenic, this constant worry can make school difficult, but not impossible, according to April Dixon, freshman in animal science.

Dixon, diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia in 1996, never thought college was a possibility, until she was accepted to Auburn last year.

“To be honest, I did not think I was going to get in,” Dixon said.

“Even though I know I have this disease, people don’t understand it.”

The Mayo Clinic defines paranoid schizophrenia as “a chronic mental illness in which reality is

interpreted abnormally.”

Symptoms can include confusion, auditory and visual hallucinations and suicidal actions.

Dixon said she often hears conversations in her head and experiences intense confusion.

“Sometimes you’ll be sitting in class, and even if you really know what’s happening, it will get you to a state where you think, ‘What’s really going on? What’s really real?’” Dixon said.

Contributed by April Dixon At the height of her illness, April Dixon, freshman in animal sciDixon said she attempted sui- ence, sits with her pets. cide more than 20 times.

College can bring out the I’m stronger than this.” worst of the disease if you let it, Students have been respectful Dixon said. of her disease, even if they don’t “Everybody is saying they’re understand it, Dixon said. stressed out,” Dixon said, “but “The support of the Auburn this is a different level. It’s more community is something I’ve intense than a regular person. never experienced anywhere I’ve “But I just have to think that been,” Dixon said.

Professors have been accommodating without giving special attention, Dixon said.

“April comes to my office hours regularly to discuss assignments and ask questions,” said Kelly Kennington, assistant professor who teaches Dixon in World History I. “Any student has the ability to come speak with me about these types of issues.”

It is important for professors to understand students’ disabilities so they reach their full potential, Kennington said.

Students with mental problems should not be treated differently, said Doug Hankes, director of Student Counseling Services and licensed psychologist.

“It’s the same as if you were helping a friend with diabetes,” Hankes said. “What would you do? You would be a good friend, and this is the same thing.”

Once regulated on medication,

individuals can lead normal, healthy lives, Hankes said.

Each day, Dixon takes 150 milligrams of Effexor, a long-acting drug to treat depression, and 60 milligrams of Abilify, which treats schizophrenia symptoms, but said she believes a positive mentality is more effective than medication.

“In a way, I think controlling it is more about personal motivation than medicines,” Dixon said.

“They do help, but it’s not to the point where I want to be.”

Dixon said there are three main misconceptions about the disease she has observed.

“The No. 1 thing they think is that you’re crazy,” Dixon said.

“The second thing is they’re scared of you. They think the voices are telling you to do something evil.

“The third thing people think » Turn to STRUGGLE, C2

Hunting season begins with a bang Darcie Dyer

hunting is a sport he has enjoyed for as long as he can remember.

Writer “I’ve basically hunted in some This week marks the begin- form my whole life, so I’m just ning of a season to which many looking forward to another deer Alabamians look forward as season,” Sirockman said. much as football season.

Young, an Auburn native, said Nov. 15 is the opening day for hunting isn’t only a hobby, but muzzle-loader deer hunting, also an easy way to relax from which permits hunters to hunt everything. with a firearm rather than strictHe said he enjoyed takly bow and arrow. ing friends hunting on his Hunters are limited to strictly Loachapoka property during his muzzle-loader hunting during college years. the first four days of the season, “I think, more than anything, Nov. 15 through Nov. 19. people just like getting outside Lee County hunters can then and getting away from school enjoy antlered buck and un- and getting away from town and antlered deer just relaxing,” hunting on priYoung said. vate or leased “Usually when I’ve basically I go deer huntproperty, starthunted ing Nov. 20 ing, it’s because through mid- in some form my I just want to be January. out on my propFor many whole life, so I’m erty with my Auburn stu- just looking forward friends and just dents, hunting to another deer enjoying setting is a passion them up and letthat starts at a season.” ting them have a young age and good time.

Matt Sirockman, lasts a lifetime.

“When I was senior , business “The first in school, I went administration time I picked up out there dura gun to hunt ing deer season was as soon as I was allowed,” probably twice a week.” said Drew Young, 2010 buildHunting on public land, such ing science graduate. “Probably as national forests, is not perwhen I was 10. ” mitted in Lee County until Dec. Matt Sirockman, senior in 18, so student hunters are limitbusiness administration, said ed to what private property they

“

CONTRIBUTED

Jimbo Cross, senior in building science, and Goose pose with a deer—the spoils of a long day of hard work.

can access.

William Decelle, sophomore in horticulture, said he chooses to hunt in Loachapoka.

“My fraternity brother has a massive farm in Loachapoka just 10 minutes down the road,” Decelle said, “so this season so far, that’s where I’ve been bow hunting deer.

“The National Forest is always a good choice though—very massive public land located in prime deer and turkey country.”

Auburn students who want to hunt, but don’t have access to private property have alternatives—but with a cost.

Pat Dye, legendary Auburn football coach, owns and operates two hunting lodges in Auburn, Auburn Oaks and Crooked Oaks, which provide people with land, lodging and a leisurely approach to hunting.

Day deer hunts are offered for $200 per guest, which includes brunch, snacks and dinner.

“People that don’t have property in places in the Southeast will come and hunt there,” Young said.

“They’d rather have someone manage the property, and they just come hunt and enjoy it.”

Senior Chris Riley has had the pleasure of enjoying hunting in true Auburn spirit with Dye. “Every now and then growing up my dad, and I would come to » Turn to HUNTING, C2

Intrigue C2

STRUGGLE » From C1

is that you’re stupid. All my life, I thought I was.”

Being open about schizophrenia is the only way to change the stereotype, Dixon said.

HUNTING » From C1

Auburn and hunt with Pat Dye on his farm here,” Riley said. “It’s definitely pretty cool to be able to say I’ve done that. Plus, it’s a beautiful place.”

For avid deer hunters, the price is well worth it.

“As ridiculous as it may sound, hunting is kind of therapeutic,” Riley said.

“Being alone and quiet and in nature is definitely a nice escape even aside from the actual hunting.”

Decelle said he agrees

The Auburn Plainsman “It’s going to take people that have the disease to come out and not be ashamed,” Dixon said.

“Because of the disease, certain things are going to happen, but the thing I want people to know is that we’re just like everybody else.”

Thursday, November 18, 2010

Kerry’s recipe of the week

Linguini w/ artichoke & tomatoes

Ingredients: 1 1b. linguini pasta 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil 2 cloves garlic, minced 2 (15 oz.) cans diced tomatoes 1 (15 oz) can artichoke hearts, roughly chopped salt and pepper, to taste ½ cup flat leaf parsley, chopped ½ cup Parmesan cheese (optional)

hunting is relaxing.

“Hunting as a whole is a great way to just get away from everything and relax, especially when you’re having a rough week or something,” Decelle said.

“It’s a great way to take a step back and assess everything going on with school or anything stressing you out.

“It’s also, in my opinion, the most self-satisfying thing you can do.

Very, very self-rewarding—when you are successful, that is.”

Directions: Cook the linguini according to the directions on the box. In a skillet over medium heat, add the olive oil and garlic. Sauté for one minute. Add the diced tomatoes, artichoke hearts, salt and pepper. Turn heat down to medium-low and simmer for 15-20 minutes. At the last minute, add the parsley.

Toss with pasta and Parmesan cheese. Serve hot.

Serves: 6-8

Random Question & Answer

Casey Mahan

junior, biomedical science Age: 21 Hometown: Alexander City Greatest fear: Being totally and completely lost Hobbies: School, work, reading and Zumba Random fact: I have two dachshunds named Deagle and Doc Availability: Married

Save the Date!

UPC & sga proudly sponsor the annual Holiday Celebration Thursday Dec. 2nd 6:30 pm on Samford Lawn n: tio C a m P for u/U n I d t .e ven urn 4788 E b r Fo w.au 844 r o ww

Have you ever been hunting?

Yes, but I never really did it again. I am not really into the whole get up early and dress like a tree thing.

Where is your favorite place to get a student discount?

The Apple Store What are your Thanksgiving plans?

I am going to my grandmother’s house in Georgia.

Are you going shopping on Black Friday?

No, I have to work.

What are you most excited about for the Iron Bowl?

I am actually really upset because I have to work. I cried over it.

Have you started your Christmas shopping?

Yes, I started this Saturday.

What is the most difficult part about the last two weeks of school?

Just that you are so ready for it to be over, and you feel like you can’t possibly study anymore.

If you could have a last meal today, what would it be?

Taco Bell If you could have one wish, what would it be?

My husband is stationed in Afghanistan, so I would wish for him to be home for Christmas.

If you were a superhero, what would you want your power to be?

I would want to read minds.

Where is your favorite vacation spot in the entire world?

Anywhere tropical

Holiday absence do’s & don’ts

When traveling home for the holidays, remember these tips and tricks to protect your home

DO ■

■

■

■

■

Throw away perishable items from the refrigerator and pantry to prevent odors and spoiling.

Leave a light on and close the blinds to deter potential intruders.

Leave a radio by the front door to simulate the noise of someone being home.

Unplug large and small appliances to keep unnecessary energy costs down.

Plan ahead of time for someone to care for your pet while your are gone.

DON’T ■

■

■

■

■

Post locations or times of absence on social media sites like Twitter and Facebook.

Forget to arrange to have important mail or packages picked up during your absence.

Leave valuable items in plain sight Leave your air conditioner and heat on high to save yourself from unnecessary energy costs.

Leave a spare key outside no matter how good the hiding place is.

Technology Thursday, November 18, 2010

C3

www.theplainsman.com

Intrigue

Students save with technology discounts Alison McFerrin Staff Writer

Desktops, laptops and gaming systems are typical big-ticket desirables, but if you’re a student, you won’t have to break the bank to get them.

“We do 10 percent discounts off one accessory, whatever it is,” said Ravane Fall, operations manager at Best Buy in TigerTown.

This isn’t a Best Buy policy, but Fall said because the store is in a college town, they like to cut students a break.

“Let’s say you bought a computer,” Fall said. “You would need a printer, you would probably need a case, you would need antivirus or whatnot.

“You can pick the most expensive accessory—one of them—and we will give you 10 percent off of it.”

Best Buy may be the place to go if any of these items are going on your Christmas wish list.

“Around the

Thanksgiving holiday, come in, and we’ll be having some huge discounts for them then,” said Karl Word, assistant manager.

Best Buy is also able to offer students $100 off any Macintosh product.

Mac discounts take the spotlight in the tech center in the Auburn University Bookstore as well.

“On Apple hardware, you get a certain discount on various models of the computers,” said Dan Draper, bookstore employee and Apple sales associate.

Students can receive between $50 and $200 off a MacBook Pro, depending on its size and specifications, and $50 off the iMac. Discounts on software are also available.

“The Adobe products, which retail for between $1,000 and $3,000, are either $200 or $350,” Draper said. “Officially, you’re only allowed to use it educationally, so you can’t use it professionally, but no one’s

going to come after you if you did.”

With Christmas close at hand, the bookstore is also offering a deal on iPods.

“We’re offering a bundle where you buy an iPod Touch and get a free case, or you buy a new iPod Nano and get a free screen protector,” Draper said.

Dell is another company offering computers at a discounted rate.

“The more expensive the computer is, the bigger the instant savings,” said Bill White, inside sales representative for Dell. “Let’s say that you’re looking at an Inspiron.

“Generally speaking, if you get a low-end Inspiron computer, that’s going to have about 10 percent off; and if you’re looking at a higher-end Inspiron, that’s going to have about 15 to 20 percent off; and if you’re looking at our XPS and Alienware systems, those are going to have 20 percent to as much as 30 percent off.”

To access these discounts, students can use the membership ID from the Dell link on the “Hardware for Employees and Students” section of the Hardware and Software tab on OIT’s website.

At the bookstore and Best Buy, students must have a student ID, but at Best Buy, Fall said they cut students some slack.

“We understand that students can sometimes just forget their ID or may not have it,” Fall said, “so we kind of believe them if they just tell us that they are students.”

To get discounts on software packages and updates from Microsoft’s website (www.microsoft. com/student), students need only their Universityaffiliated e-mail address.

You could pay about $65 for the Microsoft Windows 7 Professional Upgrade, instead of $200. Or maybe you’d like the Office Language Pack 2010 for $10 instead of $25.

Christen Harned / ASSISTANT PHOTO EDITOR

Jimmy Cooper, sophomore in supply chain and aviation management, looks at a computer in the Mac store on campus.

Being a student has its perks.

“If you’re a student and you come in here, it doesn’t have to be schoolrelated stuff,” Fall said. “It could be, ‘You know what,

I’m an avid video gamer and I need an Xbox 360 and a television.’

“We will always, every single time, think of a way to package it out. You will never hear no.”

Tech review: Apple’s new 11-inch MacBook Air tested Adam Bulgatz Design Editor

Apple has recently released an update to its MacBook Air line of computers.

The upgrade includes a new unibody design, an all new 11-inch model to be sold alongside the 13inch model and speed upgrades.

I am reviewing the 11inch MacBook Air base model, which includes a 64 GB SSD (solid state drive), a 1.4 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor, 2 GB of memory and an NVIDIA GeForce 320M graphics processor.

At .68 inches at its thickest point, the Air is barely thicker than an iPad and weighs 2.3 pounds.

The left side of the 11inch MacBook Air contains a MagSafe power connector, USB port, headphone mini-jack and microphone. The right side contains a Mini DisplayPort hookup capable of driving a 30-inch external display and another USB port. The 13-inch Air includes an SD card slot.

The ports on both sides of the Air are extremely close together, and large peripherals can get in the way of each other.

The 2010 MacBook Air, like its predecessor, lacks a CD drive. Apple sells external USB CD drives for those who need one.

The MacBook Air is extremely well-built. It is small, light and solid. The Air should hold up well.

Opening the Air reveals a full-size keyboard, multitouch trackpad and an 11.6 inch 1366 x 768 pixel display.

While the keyboard is the same size as on all other Mac laptops, it doesn’t feel the same. The keys don’t press down as far and feel a little mushy. Noticeably missing is keyboard backlighting. Still, these are small gripes, and overall the keyboard is solid.

The Air’s trackpad is the same multitouch, buttonless, glass trackpad found on all of Apple’s other laptops, only shorter and squatter. It is usable, but it feels a little cramped.

The 11.6-inch LED

Photo courtesy of Apple

backlit display is beautiful.

It has a wide-screen aspect ratio of 16:10 and a resolution of 1366 x 768 pixels: that’s 2.45 percent more pixels than the 13inch MacBook pro, which has a display resolution of 1280 x 800.

What that equates to is a display that feels large despite its small size. The downside to the display’s high resolution and small size is that on-screen objects and text can be very small, and you will probably want to increase the font size in applications that support it.

It takes 12 seconds for the MacBook Air to boot up, and it wakes from sleep almost instantly.

This speed is a result of the Air’s incredibly fast SSD, which replaces the typical spinning hard drive.

SSDs contain no moving

parts, making them harder to break and giving the Air an extra layer of toughness.

The main downside of using an SSD is size—only 64 GB on the entry level 11inch air, upgradable to 128 GB for another $200.

On paper, the Air’s specs look extremely lacking, but the fast SSD and relatively powerful GPU go a long way toward making up for the Air’s slow processor.

Still, the Air is not meant for heavy lifting.

Programs open almost instantly due to the SSD, and browsing the Web in Safari is a pleasant experience. I opened up ten tabs without any problems.

Apple has chosen not to preinstall Adobe Flash on the MacBook Air. Flash is still available, but installing it will degrade browser performance and can shorten battery life by up

to an hour.

With Flash installed, 720p YouTube videos played smoothly, but put noticeable strain on the Air’s processor. Switching the video to 1080p or opening another window with 4 more tabs noticeably slowed performance.

This might be an extreme case for most users, but it is a significant limitation nonetheless.

Opening too many applications can quickly deplete the Air’s 2 GB of RAM. An extra $100 gets you a more roomy 4 GB, but the Air’s RAM is not user-upgradable. However, because of the fast SSD, most users won’t notice, and only power users should need to spring for the upgrade.

I was not able to test battery life. Apple claims approximately five hours for the 11-inch and 7-hours for the 13-inch without Flash installed, numbers confirmed by other reviewers.

I was unable to test iPhoto. GarageBand performed well for small audio recording and editing. iMovie ran slowly, and

I wouldn’t recommend it for anything but extremely short and simple video editing tasks.

I was able to try both Microsoft’s Office 2011 and Apple’s iWork 2009. All applications in both software suites performed very well, making the MacBook Air a great productivity machine.

The 11-inch MacBook Air is a very good laptop.

It is not a performance powerhouse, but it makes up for it in overall fit, finish and battery life. For those with light needs, it is a great machine. For those who need to edit photos or video or who are heavier computer users, it is hard to recommend as a primary machine.

It is a great companion to a more powerful computer—something to take on short trips or to use around the house. For those with the money, I would recommend it over an iPad. The 11-inch MacBook air is an extremely attractive package despite its flaws.

334.737.2080

Located at 3829 Pepperell Pkwy Across from Durango

Hours: Mon-Sat 9am - 6pm Sun: 10am - 5pm

Fraser Firs Christmas trees are here!

Come check out our prices before you go anywhere else!

We also carry jams, jellies, honey, chow-chows, relishes, nuts, and snack mixes.

Visa,MC,Check,Debit Accepted

Intrigue C4

The Auburn Plainsman

Thursday, November 18, 2010

A DAY IN THE LIFE OF PATRICK THOMPSON Miranda Dollarhide Associate Intrigue Editor

Plants are essential to human life, but for the plants at the Donald E. David Arboretum, specialist Patrick Thompson is essential to theirs.

An Auburn graduate, Thompson started working at the arboretum in 2000 as a student.

Now he works maintaining its plant collection, including recording plants’ arrival, growing them from seeds and planning all the habitat designs.

Thompson said he is also in charge of creating and presenting programs on anything related to Alabama.

Last spring, the arboretum hosted EarthFest, an event dedicated to celebrating Earth Day. When he isn’t working with the plants at the

arboretum, he works in his own greenhouse, which once belonged to Dennis Rouse, former dean of the College of Agriculture.

He uses his greenhouse to maintain his plant collection and house extinct plants for the arboretum.

“We do a lot with rare plants,” Thompson said.

“We started the Alabama Plant Conservation Alliance.”

The APCA monitors rare plants and holds them in a safe garden to be re-introduced into the wild, Thompson said.

After Thompson has finished his day, he said he enjoys spending time with his wife and two kids, Georgia and Frank.

“We watch epic movies like ‘Harry Potter,’ ‘Star Wars’ and ‘Lord of the Rings,’” Thompson said.

TYPICAL SCHEDULE 6 a.m.

7 a.m.

8 a.m.

9 a.m.

Noon- 2 p.m.

5:30 p.m.

6 p.m.

10:30 p.m.

Wake up and get the kids together for school.

Walk the kids to school. We walk to school every day.

Arrive back home. I water the rabbits and walk the dog. Then I do greenhouse stuff until 9.

Arrive at the arboretum. I walk around and make sure everything looks like it should. I’ll also take pictures. Then I’ll start my project of the day.

Continue project of the day. Eat a sandwich and check my e-mail.

Leave the arboretum and go home. Work in the greenhouse making plants—sometimes I’ll skip that though.

Sit down with the family and eat. Take a deep breath. I’ll do house work—clean the aquarium, fold laundry and do dishes.

Bed.

Maria Iampietro / ASSOCIATE PHOTO EDITOR

Standing next to a hickory tree, Patrick Thompson pauses to take in the sights and sounds of the Donald E. David Arboretum.

Black Friday attracts big crowds with low prices Mary Gillman Writer

With Thanksgiving a week away, stores and shoppers are preparing for the battle of the best buys on Black Friday.

In the weeks prior to the sales, shoppers may search online and find the specials that will be offered on Black Friday.

Certain websites, like Yahoo and blackfriday. info, post information, sometimes along with ad scans, about the sales.

For example, Hastings will open next Friday and Saturday at 8 a.m.

Specials will include $4.99 sales on DVDs and $7.99 Blu-rays.

There will be a special four-hour sale on certain items in the store from 8 a.m. until noon on Black Friday.

Kohl’s, Best Buy and

Target will also have Black was a steady flow of customers all day, but the Friday Sales.

“We’re having a 15 per- store was not extremely cent off deal if you sign busy, Touchet said.

Since the Iron Bowl is up for the Kohl’s card,” said Darryl Touchet, area away this year and the store has superviestabsor for lished itmi sses’, self in Tijuniors’ We expect ger Town, and men’s. it to be Kohl’s “ T h e r e ’s should also Kohl’s a bigger have no Cash— problem for every crowd this year. We attracting $50 you had deflation, so the s p e n d , prices are lower than shoppers.

“We exyou get pect it to $10 back they were last year.” be a bigin credit Darryl Touchet, that you ger crowd area supervisor at Kohl’s can use this year,” the folTo u c h e t lowing s a i d . week.”

“We had deflation, so the Touchet said the sale prices are lower than they will start Black Friday at 3 were last year.”

While most stores are a.m. and end at midnight.

With the Iron Bowl in anticipating the sales Auburn last year, there to bring in large crowds

“

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for details.

Friday and Saturday, Gap is one of the only stores that will be open Thank sgiving Day. "Our corporate office, the regional office down in Orlando, decided to make us open most street stores," said Jennifer Henderson, assistant manager of Gap downtown.

Gap will be open from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. Thanksgiving Day, but Henderson does not expect a large crowd during that time.

"I just know that there will be a ton of different sales that we'll do, and I know that they should run Wednesday through Friday," Henderson said.

For shoppers interested in sales on electronics, Best Buy will open its doors at 5 a.m. Friday.

Sales focus on HDTVs, including a 32inch Samsung for $327.99 and a 42-inch Insignia for $369.99.

Stores attempt to keep their sales secret as long as they can, but sometimes this hurts rather than helps the sales and shoppers.

“I wish the ads for Black Friday came out a little earlier,” said Nathan Roche, senior in industrial design. “That way you don’t miss the great deals, and you wait to buy things for the best deal.”

Roche bought an HDTV on sale at a competing store two weeks ago, just to find that Target will have the same brand TV, but in a larger size, on sale for Black Friday at the

same price he paid.

At the top of the Target ad for Black Friday is that HDTV, a 40-inch Westinghouse, for $298.

The store will open at 4 a.m. and offer a free $10 Target gift card to customers who spend $100 or more between 4 a.m. and 10 a.m. Friday.

Although the prices seem hard to beat this year, not all students feel the pull of the sales.

“Black Friday always seems like it would be a great opportunity to get my Christmas shopping done on a reasonable budget,” said Chelsea Byers, junior in industrial design, “but unfortunately, I usually find myself wanting to sleep in instead.

“We all know that unless you get to the stores at the break of dawn, you’re not going to get anything you want.”

Giving back with local charities Jeremy Gerrard Writer

Donating during the holiday season doesn’t always come with a price tag, and there are always opportunities to get involved locally.

According to the Alabama Poverty Project, 13.3 percent of Alabamians are food insecure, meaning they have limited or uncertain access to a healthy diet.

Donating food is one way for students can contribute.

The Beat Bama Food Drive, which benefits the East Alabama Food Bank, began in October and ends Nov. 19.

“The need for food is always present,” said Donna Demous, operations manager at the food bank. “The food that comes in during this drive takes us through the holidays and January, but with one in six people not knowing where their next meal is coming, the need is great.”

While donating food is always a way to help, Demous said volunteers are

also needed to help pick previously struggled with up and deliver the food. addiction himself, said the Another opportunity for home and other programs students to get involved with which they work are is the Harvest Evangelism a lifesaver to the people ministry, which also part- who need it, but they are ners with the food bank. always in need of volunThe ministry benefits teers to help donate and the men and women of help around the home.

His Place, “ Th e Hosanna best way H o m e to help and Hope With one in out is to Clinic in either six people Opelika. shop or These not knowing donate at places are our thrift home to where their next s t o r e ,” p e o p l e meal is coming, the Radford who have s a i d . struggled need is great.” “ T h a t with eihelps us Donna Demous, fund our ther adoperations manager at ministr y diction or the East Alabama Food by feedwho were Bank homeless ing the and have guys, givhad a difing them ficult time getting back on a place to stay and just their feet. keeping the lights on.”

Currently, His Place is The Harvest Thrift Store home to 28 men who have sits off Opelika Road in the entered the one-year reha- shopping center adjacent bilitation program, which to Outback Steakhouse. aims to help them find Radford said there is aljobs when they graduate. ways a box outside where Operations manag- people can donate items. er Mark Radford, who One of the other ways

“

students can help out is by donating their textbooks to the ministry.

The ministry will then sell them for funding that goes right into the program.

At the end of the semester, students look forward to getting at least a portion of the money back for their books, but sometimes the stores refuse to take them back or offer only a couple of dollars.

Glen Ward, director of His Place, said they accept all donations and will be set up outside the major bookstores around Auburn.

“We started this last year,” Ward said, “and I thought, ‘You know, there are a lot of people that wouldn’t miss one book, but that through this donations they could really do some help in buying curriculum for these men and women and giving them supplies.’”

Ward said volunteers can help with any of the programs by teaching classes, transporting the men and women and serving meals.

Wasting Time

C5

www.theplainsman.com

Thursday, November 18, 2010

Intrigue

CROSSWORD PUZZLE

HOROSCOPES

Written by Brian Desarro / INTRIGUE EDITOR

Leo: You will certainly have a multitude of problems this week.

Luckily, a lack of open sores and burning pustules will not be among them.

Pisces: You will realize this week that you have been using the word “hopefully” wrong for years. The word you should have been using is “hopelessly.”

Fold here

Scorpio: The chance to share your message of love, compassion and acceptance with the world has finally come. Do not, under any circumstances, respond.

Taurus: Be careful what you wish for. Lindsay Lohan is a strange and terrible creature.

Aquarius: You may have lost everything you once thought was special, but at least you have gained a few extra pounds to keep you company.

Cancer: Everything you desire shall be yours this week, providing you do not, under any circumstances, read your horoscope.

Libra: It has been a minute, but now it is again time to say, “Rammer Jammer Yellowhammer, go to HELL Alabama!”

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Into the sunset Half, in combos Miles or Dushevina Xanadu’s river Burned up Shepard or Ladd Casanova type Parts to be played Balance Flintstone pet Author __ LeShan Zoo swingers Far East staple __’-shanter Twang or drawl Hip-hop (2 wds.)

Some lenses Million suffix __ gin fizz Rocky Peak A long time Maj. ocean Bran scans Bohemian Zinc or tin Standards Alcove Churlish Revenuers Campy horrow show actress Plunder Bus alternative Hotel staffer Overcharge Seed covering Large cay Studio accessory Juniors Unisex wear Accordion parts Gentle exercise

DOWN 1.

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Voting district Wells’ oppressed race Wheeled around Axiom Nonstop Crumble away Actress __ Powers Graph ender Diverse Grade sch.

Speak hoarsely Colony members Houdini feats Thoughtful murmur Green card org.

Dawdle Montezuma’s empire Dove or pigeon Welsh dog Lasso Dark gray Tiny amounts Honeycomb units Cliffside abode Gridiron gain Long steps Sz. option Rapturous delight

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KLM destination Insurgents Stick-in-the-mud Radiate Use a surgical beam Despicable Stratagem Slangy suffix DEER __ (road sign) Rick’s old flame Sturdy tree

Aries: Your sexual attraction to Grover, Bert and the Snuffleupagus will cause confusion. Then enlightenment.

Sagittarius: Spend less time worrying about your look and more time worrying about your smell.

Gemini: Be reasonable. Just because last week’s horoscope was wildly inaccurate, that’s no reason to give up on the zodiac forever.

Virgo: What others think of you is a constant source of worry, so take heart in knowing that they rarely ever do.

HARRY POTTER SCRAMBLER

Answers to last week’s crossword

Clue 1: N C T S H I

Clue 4: I T O O N P

Clue 2: B Q I S U

Clue 5: W S R T K E

Clue 3: L I U L Q

Bonus: Use circles to solve Clue: Spell to end all noise

Fold here

ACROSS

Fold here

Capricorn: You will be relieved to know that person you met off the Internet is perfectly normal. You’re the crazy stalker.

OCTO

Sudoku

Instructions 1.

Place the numbers 1 to 8 in each of the octagons such that the numbers are not repeated in any row, column or diagonal.

2.

The numbers along the edges, top and bottom are the sums for the numbers in the diagonal that begins or ends at that number.

3.

The number in each diamond is the sum of the numbers of each of the four faces that border that diamond.

The numbers that border the diamonds do not have to be unique.

4.

Number of numbers provided in this Octo = 56

Sudoku Check www.theplainsman.com for the answers For more OCTOs, go to octo_puzzle.com © 2009, Doug Gardner — Patent Pending

Intrigue C6

The Auburn Plainsman

Thursday, November 18, 2010

November is for Novelists This month, students around campus are putting pen to paper or fingers to keys to produce their own literary masterpieces Alison McFerrin Staff Writer

With final exams looming and the pressure of assignments and essays mounting high, it’s hard to imagine students who would volunteer for an extra 50,000-word assignment during the month of November.

They call themselves WriMos. “I guess I like being challenged, especially when it’s something I already love to do,” said Cydney Lawson, freshman in education.

National Novel Writing Month, or NaNoWriMo, is celebrated annually in November.

Around the world, writers of all ages and skill levels commit to writing a 50,000-word novel—starting from scratch on Nov. 1.

Lawson said this is her second year participating in NaNoWriMo. “I went to a writing camp at D u k e

University, and one of my fun, and I wanted to get friends was just ranting my ideas out of my head,” and raving about it,” Law- Carswell said. son said. “As soon as I got NaNoWriMo is more back to school at the end about quantity than qualof the summer, I started ity, but Carswell said it’s planning out and doing still possible to write NaNoWriMo.” something worth reading According to its website, during the 30-day period.

NaNoWriMo was started “If I’m going to write in 1999. The first year, 21 something over the course people participated in the of a month, and I would project, which was initially have put the same ideas held in on paper July. over the This course of It sounded y e a r , a year and like it would a half, it’s m o r e not going t h a n be fun, and I wanted to suddenly 200,000 become n o v e l - to get my ideas out better beists have of my head.” cause I picked Clay Carswell, took a year up the freshman in molecular and a half gauntlet. biology to write Clay it all out,” C a r Carswell swell, freshman in molecular said. biology, is also participatThat philosophy is coning in NaNoWriMo for the firmed by the NaNoWriMo success stories on the websecond time. site, which lists more “It sounded like it’d be

“

Charlie Timberlake / ASSISTANT PHOTO EDITOR

Clay Carswell, freshman in molecular biology, and Cydney Lawson, freshman in education, work on their 50,000-word novels for National Novel Writing Month. Clay’s novel has a pseudo fantasy theme, while Cydney’s theme pertains to the reality of heaven.

than 60 books that started as NaNoWriMo novels and are now published.

“Support your friends” was Lawson’s advice to those who know someone attempting NaNoWriMo. “We are all going to die at some point in this month, and we need friends to just do the little Tinkerbell clap and bring us back to life.”

Lawson and Carswell agreed the story isn’t going to be perfect, but they did have some tips on how to keep it going.

“If your plot seems to die on you, just run with

it,” Carswell said.

“Use the shockers and bring it back to life,” Lawson added. “Over and over again until it is a plot zombie.”

“And if your plot starts at point A and ends at point Q, then, whatever works,” Carswell said. “And if it never actually gets to point B, you know, that’s fine. You don’t need point B. Point Q is fine.”

NaNoWriMo novelists have until midnight local time to upload their novels to the website for word count verification.

“Last year I won,” Lawson said. “Nothing but bragging rights and the satisfaction of writing 50,000 words.”

It may not seem like much of a prize, but for WriMos it’s enough.

Local WriMos hold write-ins—meetings that encourage brainstorming and periods of focused writing to help writers reach the daily NaNo word count—twice weekly at Daylight Donuts and the Auburn Public Library.

Visit nanowrimo.org to find out more.

Sports

Karate Club

Volleyball update

»» Page D5

D

»» Page D4

www.theplainsman.com

Thursday, November 18, 2010

Page D1

Women look to rebound off close loss to Florida St. Chelsea Harvey

Nick Van Der Linden

sports@theplainsman.com

Fall’s great games

“

First, I want to congratulate the 2010 SEC Western Division champions, the Auburn Tigers.

The Tigers did not get distracted and took care of business, earning a welldeserved trip to Atlanta.

Auburn has a bye week, so I figured this would be a perfect time to once again reflect on the memorable performances of Auburn teams this fall.

It all started the first weekend of September when junior midfielder Katie Frierson scored the winning goal in the second overtime to give Auburn soccer a 3-2 win over No. 5 Florida State.

Emily Adams / Photo Editor

» Turn to Linden, D3

second-chance shots and then being able to Staff Writer give ourselves secondThe women’s basketball chance shots, crashing the team will face Duke Thurs- O( ffensive) boards, and day at the Auburn Arena. just playing that lockdown For some players, the defense, keeping them ACC school represents a from pushing the ball, familiar rival. keeping them from getting Sophomore Morgan transition points, and then Toles recognized Duke se- using our equipment to nior Jasmine Thomas as a get transition points.” challenge.

Coach “ Ja s Nell Fortm i n e ner said Thomas— she is I thought she’s very satisfied we just t al ent ed , with her so if we were warriors on t e a m’s can slow the defensive end, defensive her down play, but no doubt.” the same may want way we Nell Fortner, to work s l o w e d women’s basketball coach on the ofd o w n fense.

Courtney “ I Ward (of Florida State) to- thought we just were warnight,” Toles said. riors on the defensive After losing a close end, no doubt,” she said. match to Florida State “We’ve got to find a few Monday, there are a few more ways to score the points on which the play- ball and get a little more ers say they hope to im- movement out there.” prove before Thursday’s Fortner said she thought game. the team could learn a lot Senior Jordan Greenleaf from its last game against said, “I think that one of Florida State. our main focuses is be» Turn to Basketball, D2 ing able to not give them

Senior guard Alli Smalley shoots the ball against Mercer Friday night. Auburn won 79-61.

All we do is win Auburn looks to snap a second rivalry losing streak this season Crystal Cole Sports Editor

Charlie Timberlake/Assistant Photo Editor

Sophomore running back Onterio McCalebb stiff-arms Bacarri Rambo.

The Auburn football team heads to Tuscaloosa Nov. 26, with hopes of continuing its national championship run.

Auburn currently sits at 11–0 and 7–0 in the SEC. The Tigers’ most anticipated game of the season comes with

its challenges.

Alabama currently ranks fourth nationally in scoring defense, giving up only 13.4 points per game.

The most points a team has scored on the Tide is 21.

Coach Gene Chizik said he has a plan for his team during its bye week.

“There is a fine line of balance

in there between trying to make sure that you are prepared enough, but yet again, we are a little bit of a tired and beat up football team,” Chizik said. “So, they have to regroup a little bit, and we have to get healthy.”

The Crimson Tide currently holds a 19-game win streak in » Turn to Preview, D2

Equestrian team takes time off until spring Brent Godwin

Auburn is ranked No. 3 heading into the break beAssistant Campus Editor tween fall and spring comThe Auburn equestrian petitions. team has had a great ride A trip to Hudson Oaks, so far in the 2010-2011 Texas, handed the Tigers season. one of their toughest comT h e petitions team holds of the a 7-2 res e a s on We are going cord after w h e n to continue then fell d e fe a ti n g the No. 1 to ride every day and to Texas G e o r g i a try to keep getting ChrisBulldogs tian Unibetter.”

Nov. 12. versity “They 11-7.

Mary Casey, rode to“The senior equestrian rider gether, season they rode has been well, and I thought they really good so far,” Wildid great,” said coach Greg liams said. “After a tough trip to Texas, I like the Williams.

“

way they responded on Friday against Georgia. I was proud of the way they competed.”

The hunt seat equitation riders are undefeated and the strongest aspect of the team.

“We know the strengths we need to maintain, and we know the areas where we need to improve,” Williams said. “What will help us is getting a break.”

The team will head home for the holidays for a much-needed and welldeserved rest.

Williams said the team would probably stay the same in the rankings, despite beating the No. 1 team.

Kelly Tsaltas / Photo Staff

Dottie Grubb competes in hunt seat over fences at home against Georgia Nov. 12.

Equestrian has five more competitions, in addition to SEC play in the spring, before the national

competition in April.

The Southern Equestrian Championships will be held in Blythewood, S.C.,

March 25-26.

“Our goal, of course, is » Turn to Equestrian, D2

Sports D2

The Auburn Plainsman

Thursday, November 18, 2010

EQUESTRIAN

PREVIEW

to make nationals,” Williams said.

The season has seen notable wins over Delaware State, Southern Methodist University and Fresno State.

“The season has been going well for the team as a whole,” said freshman Christina Lin. Lin said during the break, the team will work on getting better by continuing to workout and riding every day.

“My favorite part of the season was traveling to Texas,” Lin said. “Getting to bond with my teammates when we were under pressure was really a great experience.”

Equestrian will open the second half of its season in January against the Sky Hawks of the University of Tennessee Martin in Martin, Tenn.

Bryant-Denny Stadium and plays Georgia State Thursday night.

Alabama running back Mark Ingram said he loves playing at home.

“The fans are so special,” Ingram said.

“They’re important. They make it hard for the other team to have success, being how loud they are.

“Just how hard it is for the other team to communicate, it helps us a lot. The energy of playing in front of them is something we all look forward to.”

Alabama returned eight offensive starters from last year’s national championship season.

One of those is the school’s first Heisman Trophy winner, Ingram.

Charlie Timberlake / ASSISTANT PHOTO EDITOR Ingram missed the first Junior quarterback Cam Newton carries the ball forward two games of the season for positive yards against Georgia Nov. 13. to undergo knee surgery.

Since his return, In- anything for granted.

13-4 against the Associgram and fellow running ““We know that every ated Press Top 25 over back Trent Richardson game we play is impor- the past three seasons have combined for half tant,” said Robert Lester, and 8-2 against AP top-10 t h e Alabama teams. t e a m’s defensive For Auburn, defensive touchback. “Ev- lineman Mike Blanc and I need to downs. catch up on ery player defensive end Michael Richin college Goggans are suspended some school is an ath- for the first half of the ardson injured work and just start lete and Iron Bowl because they his knee studying up on our can make were ejected late in the in the plays.

Georgia game. loss to next opponent.” “ W e “Just really disappointLSU and can’t look ed in that,” Chizik said.

Lee Ziemba, ahead to “That’s a lot of reflection is cursenior lineman rently A u b u r n on us as coaches, and I quesand look am embarrassed by it. tionable to play. past Georgia State be- That’s not who we are.

Alabama head coach cause they could sneak up That’s not the way we carNick Saban said Richard- and beat us, which obvi- ry ourselves.” son is practicing with the ously wouldn’t look good.”

Auburn is looking at its team this week.

This year’s game will first bye week since the “He actually wanted mark the 75th meeting season opened Sept. 4. to play in the last game, between the two teams.

Many players look forbut we didn’t feel like he’d Alabama leads the all- ward to the free time. practiced enough or he time series 40–33–1.

“I’m probably going to was ready enough,” Saban In the SEC, Alabama do a little hunting,” said said. “I still think we have ranks fourth in total of- Lee Ziemba, a senior ofto evaluate that day-to- fense, averaging 430.30 fensive lineman. “I need day.” yards per game. to catch up on some Georgia State is in its While Auburn’s No. 2 school work and just start first season as a program, rank is intimidating to studying up on our next but Alabama isn’t taking some teams, Alabama is opponent.”

» From D1

» From D1

Kelly Tsaltas / PHOTO STAFF

Jill Fuller competes in reigning, a western event, during Auburn’s equestrian meet against UGA Nov. 12.

They will face Georgia again Feb. 12 in Bishop, Ga. “It’s been an awesome season,” said senior Mary Casey. “All of our girls have done amazing, and I’m proud of them.”

Casey said great riding by everyone on the team has been the highlight of the season.

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“We are going to continue to ride every day and try to keep getting better,” Casey said. “We are working for nationals in April.”

The Varsity Equestrian National Championships will be held April 14-16 in Waco, Texas.

For the team’s eight senior riders, it will be their last shot at a national title.

“

BASKETBALL » From D1

“This is our second game of the season, and I would much rather play a game like this and see what, you know, what we really need to work on and where we need to go from here,” Fortner said. “So, you know, we’ll get better in the next two days and be ready to play on Thursday.”

The Tigers lost by six points Monday, all of which Florida State earned in foul shots in the last 60 seconds of the match.

Fortner said she wants to make sure that doesn’t happen again.

“We’ve got to do a much better job boxing out,” she said. “We’ve got work to do keeping people on the boards and not fouling so they’re not at the free-throw line.”

Toles agreed the team has some work to do.

“Defensively, boxing out, and offensively, crashing the boards,” she said.

Fortner acknowledged that her team faced a rough schedule early in the season, moving from Mercer to Florida State

Charlie Timberlake/ASSISTANT PHOTO EDITOR

Morgan Jennings drives hard to the basket against FSU.

on to Duke.

However, she said she thought the challenge was good for the team.

“This is a very competitive bunch of players,” Fortner said. “They don’t want to go play anything less than this. This is what makes you better.

Win or lose, it makes you better. We want to be an

NCAA Tournament team and go deep into the tournament, and this is the only way you do that.”

Auburn currently stands at 1-1 after winning its first game against Mercer and losing its second against Florida State.

Duke stands at 2-0, having won against BYU and Southern California.

Thursday, November 18, 2010

LINDEN » From D1

It was the Tigers’ first win over the Seminoles since 1995 and their first win over a top-5 team since 2004.

The Tigers trailed 1-0 at the half and weren’t able to find an equalizer until the 74th minute, when Lydia Townsend chipped a shot over Florida State goalkeeper Kelsey Wys.

Florida State regained the lead, only to give it up minutes later after a Jessica Rightmer goal.

Later that month, Auburn volleyball earned its first-ever victory over a ranked opponent.

The Tigers upset No. 24 Kentucky 3-2 in what head coach Wade Benson referred to as a “programbuilding win.”

Sophomores Katherine Culwell and Sarah Bullock

The Auburn Plainsman staff picks | Week 12

Sports D3

The Auburn Plainsman recorded double-doubles during the night.

Culwell finished with 12 kills and 11 digs, while Bullock recorded 11 kills and 12 digs.

To close out the month of October, the men’s and women’s swimming and diving team completed a romp of LSU. After winning the conference title last year, the men had a rough start, losing to Alabama in their

season opener, but redeemed themselves with a dominating performance at home.

The men won 212-88, while the women defeated LSU 175-123, followed by a 197-101 victory over Notre Dame.

Then, just days ago, equestrian earned its biggest win of the season, knocking off No. 1 Georgia 13-6.

The Tigers won all four

events and earned two MVP awards on the day.

Hunt seat remained undefeated with a 7-3 win, while the western riders won 6-3.

Following this bye week, Auburn will prepare for the 75th Iron Bowl.

The Tigers are 11-0 and look to keep the winning streak going on their way to Atlanta and, possibly, Glendale, Ariz.

Alabama would love

nothing more than to knock Auburn out of the national title race, especially since the Tide can no longer go to Atlanta.

Records and rankings should always be thrown aside when these teams play.

Although the Tigers rank 58th nationally in passing defense, the Tide cannot possibly put up enough points to win this shoot-out.

Helen Northcutt Graphics Editor

Laura Maxwell Managing Editor

Tom Hopf Business Editor

Brian Desarro Intrigue Editor

Rod Guajardo Editor

Eric Austin Campus Editor

Ben Bartley Opinions Editor

Crystal Cole Sports Editor

Emily Clever Copy Editor

Emily Adams Photo Editor

Daniel Chesser News Editor

87-23

86-24

81-29

80-30

80-30

79-31

77-33

77-33

77-33

75-35

69-41

No. 9 Ohio State @ No. 20 Iowa No. 16 Virginia Tech @ No. 24 Miami (FL) No. 13 Arkansas @ No. 21 Mississippi State No. 8 Nebraska @ No. 19 Texas A&M Mississippi @ No. 5 LSU Tennessee @ Vanderbilt No. 6 Stanford @ California No. 7 Wisconsin @ Michigan Pittsburgh @ South Florida Purdue @ No. 12 Michigan State

Season Record

Youthfuloffender.com Just because you made a mistake doesn’t mean you have to carry a record with you for the rest of your life.

Don Eddins, Attorney. *Auburn * (334)821-9981 No representation is made that the quality of legal services to be performed is greater than the quality of legal services performed by other attorneys.

Todd Van Emst / MEDIA RELATIONS

Katy Frierson celebrates with her teammates after scoring the winning goal in overtime against FSU earlier this season.

Soccer loses in first tournament Blake Hamilton Associate Sports Editor

The Auburn soccer team came up empty handed in its fifth-consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance, losing to South Florida 3-1.

Sophomore midfielder Ana Cate scored a free kick in the 52nd minute to tie the game, but USF’s Taylor Patterson scored twice in addition to Sharla Passariello’s one goal to give the Bulls the win.

“The whole game we were knocking on the door,” Cate said. “We had shots. We had shots on goal. We had opportunities and we finally finished the one. It really gave us the boost that we needed.

“Mentally, after we scored, we really thought

we could do it. Right after that we had at least two or three good shots. Those go in and it’s a different game.

Those go in and we’re winning.”

Junior midfielder Katy Frierson said the South Florida midfield attack was key, with ball handling paramount to the Tigers’ loss.

“Their front three are very dangerous,” Frierson said. “The midfield does a great job of getting them the ball. They’re dangerous on the counter-attack.

As we were pushing forward trying to get that next goal, there was a huge gap within them. We understood that was going to happen. Our midfield did a great job of winning the first and second ball, but a lot of it opened up once

closest competition LSU, Ole Miss and Alabama’s records of three titles each.

The Tigers also walk away with three All-SEC honorees, with Sammy Towne named to the second team and Julie King and Frierson taking first team accolades.

Hoppa said her focus now is recruiting. She said she will most likely recruit strikers and other offensive players heavily in 2011 to replace her graduating senior class.

“We want to compete for the SEC Championship,” Hoppa said. “We think we’re capable. We want to go deep into the tournament, somewhere we’ve never been before, and get past that second round into the Sweet 16 and Elite Eight.”

when we starting pressing forward.”

The Tigers finished the season 11-8-2, ending a season marked with big wins against powerhouses like Florida State and Florida, ranked No. 5 and No. 6 respectively at time of defeat. Auburn also beat Alabama, a win that marked coach Karen Hoppa’s 200th career win.

“We had some really big moments,” said coach Karen Hoppa. “We had the big Florida State win and the big Florida win; obviously Alabama, it doesn’t get any bigger than that, but we also lost some games we shouldn’t have lost.

“The goal for next year is to win all the games we should win.”

Auburn took its seventh SEC West title, beating out

Spotlight on Seniors • • • • SAMMY TOWNE

Second-team All-SEC (2010) Second-team All-SEC (2009) Auburn defensive MVP (2009) Barbara Camp Unsung Hero Award winner (2008)

• • • • MONICA AFANADOR

31 shots for 10 points in career at Auburn (0.097 shot percentage) SEC Academic Honor Roll (2009) Top Tiger Award (2009) SEC Academic Honor Roll (2008)

Sports D4

The Auburn Plainsman

Thursday, November 18, 2010

Dega’s motivation lifts team Sarah Hansen Writer

Charlie Timberlake / ASSISTANT PHOTO EDITOR

Senior middle blocker Alyssa Davis blocks a shot during Sunday’s game against Ole Miss.

A chance at greatness With three games left in the season, the Auburn volleyball team controls its NCAA destiny Nick Van Der Linden Assistant Sports Editor

With three games remaining, it’s do or die for the Auburn volleyball team (17-12), as it prepares to finish out the season on the road, starting Friday with Alabama.

Auburn looks to make its first NCAA tournament appearance, but has dropped five of its last six matches.

Although winning the next three games will most likely earn the Tigers a bid, nothing is guaranteed.

“I’ve been around this NCAA thing too long to guess,” said coach Wade Benson. “You just go and play, and that’s what we’re going to do.”

The Tigers face the Tide for the second time this season after defeating

Alabama 3-0 at home in early October.

After starting the season 8-2, Alabama has struggled tremendously, winning only two of its next 17 games.

The Tide will start a three-game homestand to close out the season, and Benson said he believes although Alabama has struggled, they will be motivated and ready to try and take down its rival.

“Everybody knows it’s going to be a slugfest,” Benson said. “It’s going to be a big match for both teams.”

The Tigers hope to get back to their winning ways following Sunday’s Senior Day heartbreaker against Ole Miss.

“You rebound from a tough loss, you practice, try to learn a few things and go to the road for three in a row and see if

you can pull off something that is going to be very difficult,” Benson said.

Auburn fought its way back from two sets down to force a fifth set, but a season-best 27 digs from senior libero Liz Crouch were not enough to save the Tigers from a 3-2 loss.

“We fought hard, and we left it all out there,” said sophomore outside hitter Sarah Bullock. “Everyone who wasn’t a senior was playing for the seniors, so we really wanted this win.

It didn’t happen, but we’re still going to make it to the NCAAs.” The Tigers face Alabama at 7 p.m. before traveling to Starkville, Miss., to take on the Mississippi State Bulldogs, at 1:30 p.m. Sunday.

Auburn will close its regular season next Wednesday, facing the Georgia Bulldogs at 6 p.m.

Edgard da Gama e Silva is the assistant women’s volleyball coach.

His players, along with the rest of Auburn Athletics, affectionately call him “Dega.”

He never intended to become a coach while playing for his club team in Brazil.

“My club couldn’t give me any money, so they offered me a coaching position for young kids,” Silva said. “After two years, the coach for the U14 team resigned in the middle of the season. I covered for him and fell in love with coaching.”

Silva graduated from Federal University of Paraná in Brazil with a degree in physical education.

He played volleyball in Brazil for 10 years.

He has been coaching the sport for more than 20 years.

“Dega does a great job motivating the team,” said senior libero Liz Crouch. “He always stays positive and uses positive reinforcement to drive us to work harder.”

Before coming to a.m., heading to work at Auburn in 2008, Silva about 8 a.m., staying in coached at Eastern the office making scoutWashington University, ing reports for opposing North Idaho teams, orgaand Washnizing practice ington State and recruiting.

University.

He leaves for “A u b u r n home at about is different 6 p.m. than any “Dega’s best other colqualities as lege I’ve a coach are seen,” Silva just being a said. “The great person,” SILVA passion for Crouch said. sports here is amazing.”

“He has the kind of attiSilva was first exposed tude and personality that to the profession of just makes you want to coaching as a teenager. work for him.

“In my home city in “He never has anything Brazil, our (basketball) bad to say about somecoach retired, and we one and truly cares about never got a new coach,” you as a person and as a Silva said. “I was 16 and player.” was asked to help the 12Silva said one of his to 13-year-old team.” favorite aspects of the He said it was an amaz- game is scouting the oping experience because ponent. one of the players beGetting to watch two came the best athlete in or three matches per the state a few years later. team allows him to pass “I love to work with more information on to people,” Silva said. “It is the team. really important to help “We have practice from kids become adults. I 3 to 6 p.m.,” Silva said. also like to improve their “After that, I go home talent as players and as and spend time with my people.” family. We like to watch A typical day for Silva basketball or any Auburn includes breakfast at 7 sport.”

Getting to know Silva ■

What’s your dream car?

Venza (Toyota) or Murano (Nissan)

■

What’s your favorite breakfast food?

A breakfast burrito

■

How do you take your coffee?

Café con leche with a lot of honey

■

Ketchup or Mustard?

Ketchup

Thursday, November 18, 2010

The Auburn Plainsman

Sports D5

Karate club teaches discipline, self-confidence Mary Gillman Writer

The AU Karate Club does not just train students how to defend themselves—it also teaches self-confidence and stress relief.

“With karate, you gain strength and balance,” said Chase Kinsey, freshman in zoology. “You also gain confidence and discipline.

“It teaches you how to remain calm in stressful situations and how to defend yourself in dangerous ones.”

Kinsey said he has been active in martial arts for most of his life, and he anticipates being a part of the Karate Club throughout his college years.

The club started in the 1980s and continued to run until it became inactive in 1999.

Shannon Price, who originally joined the club in 1988 as a freshman, became the adviser and reformed the club in 2008.

“Karate has really been a huge benefit for me, also in my concentration and just general health,” Price said.

The club is open to students, faculty and staff, and it does not vary much from the karate class offered on campus.

“The teacher, Robert Martin, teaches a Japanese style of karate, but it is slightly different,” Price said. “If you take the class, there’s really no connection between them except

a friendly connection that recycling coordinator, beyou could come to our came interested this fall club and keep training.” when he saw their table Dilbur Arsiwalla, post- during O-Days and indoctoral fellow in human quired about the club. development and family Jacobson said his fastudies, said she felt excit- vorite part of most things ed to join the club, but also tends to be the people inhesitant. volved.

“I was slightly reluctant, “There are a variety of too, because I wasn’t sure cultures, ages and skill levwhether I was fit enough els represented among the for training of this nature,” men and women who train Arsiwalla said. “Also, I had with the club,” Jacobson questions said. “The a b o u t u p p e r the envibelts are Karate ronment generally has really and the very helpp hy s i c a l been a huge benefit ful with nature of advice to the mar- to me, also in my the lower tial art, as concentration and belts on most peo- just my general how to ple do.” train well.”

A r s i - health.”

Price walla said said it is Shannon Price, all of her nice that adviser fears were the club is quelled available when she attended the to faculty and staff befirst class. cause of the benefits from She said she found the training. teachers and her fellow “A lot of times a lot of students to be friendly and older people, even older welcoming. like people who aren’t stuPrice echoed Arsiwalla’s dents anymore, don’t think feelings about the club. about being able to do “We start people who this,” Price said. “So unlike we don’t assume they a lot of sports that are kind know anything,” Price said, of finished when you’re fin“and we will just stick with ished with high school or them. college, this one just con“I’ve seen the most un- tinues on and on and on.” coordinated and inflexBeyond the physical ible people just make huge benefits of training in the improvements in their club, Price said he hopes to health.” get opportunities for comLeigh Jacobson, AU petitions.

“

Christen Harned / ASSISTANT PHOTO EDITOR

Shannon Price and Dilbur Arsiwalla participate in a partner exercise that combines defensive tactics and offensive movements at practice Thursday.

Too little, too late for men’s basketball team A fourth-quarter rally wasn’t enough to push the men’s basketball team past UNC Asheville in the season opener. The team seeks redemption Friday against Samford Aaron Ellis Writer

The men’s basketball team takes on Samford University Friday at the Auburn Arena.

The game will be the second men’s basketball game played at the Auburn Arena and the second of the season.

In the inaugural game, the Tigers lost to the University of North Carolina at Asheville by one point in overtime to open the season 0-1.

Auburn led the game 3721 at halftime.

Junior forward Kenny Gabriel said the team stopped rebounding and hustling and showed a lack of physicality and a soft mentality.

The Tigers look to play much better against the Samford Bulldogs than they did against the UNC

14

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When asked what need- Jeffrey Merritt. At 6-foot-6 ed to happen going for- and 180 pounds, Merritt ward, coach Tony Barbee is averaging 16 points per said, “It’s about changing game for the Bulldogs.

Second the culon the ture, not team in acceptIt’s about scoring ing losing. is senior That’s why changing g u a r d I’m here.

J o s h “We did the culture, not B edw el l , more to accepting losing. who at c o n t r i b - That’s why I’m here.”

6 feet ute to our demise Tony Barbee, and 180 than they men’s basketball coach pounds is averaging did.”

10 points T h e Samford Bulldogs come per game. into the contest against Junior guards Matt Auburn with a 1-1 record Dickey and J.P. Primm of and fresh off a victory over UNC Asheville combined Tennessee Wesleyan. to score 35 points and Samford is located just were 7 of 16 from 3-point outside of Birmingham, range. and the Bulldogs compete The backcourt tandem’s in the Southern Confer- steady play and consistent shooting allowed UNC to ence.

Samford is led in win the game.

“

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Sports D6

The Auburn Plainsman

Thursday, November 18, 2010

Ragsdale inspires with generosity, selflessness Jake Cole Writer

Senior midfielder Addie Ragsdale has traveled to SEC and NCAA tournaments with the Auburn soccer team all four years of her collegiate career, but she can trace the beginnings of her interest in the sport to humble origins.

“I’ve been playing since I was about 5,” Ragsdale said. “I started after my sister because I wanted to be just like her.”

For those who know Ragsdale, that dedication and desire to emulate others is her defining characteristic.

“I think she’s one of the best human beings

I know, really,” said midfielder Katy Frierson, who has known Ragsdale since high school. “She cares so much about other people.

She’s very dedicated. Her work ethic is contagious.”

Ragsdale began her collegiate career as a substitute, playing in 18 of 20 matches during the 2007 season.

Since then, she and the Tigers have excelled on the field, at last “completing the circle” during her collegiate career, meaning the Tigers have defeated every team in the SEC at least once.

Auburn beat the University of Florida and Florida State University this season, the final two teams in the conference

the Tigers had not beaten. organized the SEC We Can Where Ragsdale stands Food Drive since coming out is in her generosity. to Auburn and has also For the second year, helped the Holiday Toys Ragsdale has been Auburn’s for Tots Drive. repre“I’ve sentaalways tive on She’s always thought the SEC it was going to go C o m imporm u n i t y out of her way to t a n t Service to give T e a m , do things for other b a c k ,” w h i c h people. Every team Ragsd a l e h i g h needs an Addie.” s a i d . lights “ I ’ v e players Katy Frierson, b e e n f r o m junior midfielder given an e a c h amazing school in the conference who opportunity to come to have worked to im- Auburn and play a sport I prove their community. love, so I like to give back Among her many con- to some of the unfortutributions, Ragsdale has nate.”

“

Ragsdale is also president of Auburn’s StudentAthlete Advisory Committee after serving as vice president last year.

When not on the field or volunteering, Ragsdale likes to relax.

“Student-athletes, we don’t have a lot of spare time, so when you do, you watch movies, sit on the couch with everybody and take a nice break,” Ragsdale said.

Ragsdale, who credited her commitment to soccer to being too short to play basketball, has no dreams of going pro after college, but she does not intend to fully leave the sport behind.

“I want to focus on my major and career, but I can

definitely see myself going back to coaching in a few years once I’m settled in somewhere,” Ragsdale said. “I’ve always enjoyed the teaching aspects of soccer, and I feel like I understand it in my mind a lot better, so I might have a career in coaching.”

A graphics design major, Ragsdale hopes to move to a bigger city after graduation for varied job opportunities, but she is not likely to be forgotten by those who have come to know her.

“She’s probably one of the most selfless people I know,” Frierson said.

“She’s always going out of her way to do things for other people. Every team needs an Addie.”

KNOW YOUR RIVAL SCHOOL:

UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA CRIMSON TIDE

COACH:

NICK SABAN

RECORD: 127-52-1

FOUNDED:

RECORD AT UA: 36-10

TUSCALOOSA, ALA.

PASSING YARDS PER GAME:

1831

PRESIDENT:

DR. ROBERT W. WITT

STADIUM:

BRYANT-DENNY STADIUM 101,821 CAPACITY

34TH OVERALL - 253.1

POINTS SCORED PER GAME: 31ST OVERALL - 32.5

POINTS AGAINST PER GAME: 4TH OVERALL - 13.4