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The Auburn Plainsman A Spirit That Is Not Afraid
THURSDAY, February 4, 2010
Vol. 116, Issue 17 32 Pages
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Burn calories, not money Gyms, organizations offer prices, amenities for students to decide best option for working out
OLIVIA MARTIN ASSOCIATE INTRIGUE EDITOR
With spring break over a month away, students looking to increase their workout schedules may be baffled by the array of choices offered in Auburn. From pricier places to free fitness, students can customize their workout routines with these options. Gold’s Gym would not release any prices, because they wanted people to focus on fitness, said John Goodwin, manager. “It may seem like a lot until you look at the quality of the gym and the amenities we offer,” Goodwin said. Gold’s Gym offers group exercise classes such as yoga, spinning
and bodypump, as well as a cardio theater, tanning and many other amenities. Between the newer Gold’s Gym on East University, the Gold’s Gym on Opelika Road and AC Fitness for Women, members can access whichever of the three gyms is most convenient, Goodwin said. However, students may not make full use of the amenities and multiple
gyms. Virginia Casey, junior in hotel and restaurant management, said she did not think it through when signing up for a Gold’s Gym membership. Casey said that even though the facility was very nice, the $50 she pays each month is too much because she usually just uses the treadmills. “I wasn’t thinking when I got it; it’s not worth it to me,” Casey said. “But I am still glad I have it especially in the winter when it’s cold out.” However, others may want to take advantage of the array of options and can contact any of the Gold’s Gyms for information. Because some may be hesitant to sign up for a potentially pricey contract, other places are offering more flexible schedules. World Gym on South College Street, for example, has a month to > Turn to WORKOUT, A2
Ashlea Draa / ASSISTANT PHOTO EDITOR
Haley Bagwell, first runner-up, community service award and talent winner, and Rebecca Hart, Miss Auburn University 2010, converse after the pageant.
Miss Auburn University 2010 Rebecca Hart Hart, sophomore in communication disorders, was crowned Miss Auburn University 2010, Jan. 29. For the full story, turn to B1.
Creative create clubs on campus MAXWELL NEWFIELD
group has submitted all of the necessary inforASSOCIATE CAMPUS EDITOR mation, a representaIn a university of tive from the group and 24,000 people, some peo- its advisor must appear ple may have a difficult before the Student Ortime finding their role on ganization Board. If the campus. group is approved by the As long S tu d e n t as one Organiof those zation people has Board, Creating 15 friends the Unia club is, no pun who all versity love the intended, a group grants s a m e effort.” t h e things, group a Jonathan Phillips, one-year then they junior, radio, television p r o v i can create and film s i o n a l their own role on status. campus. JonaThat’s right, for any than Phillips, junior in Auburn student who radio, television and cannot find a single film, said starting the thing on campus they Auburn Film Society was are interested in can no easy task. start their own club in a “It took the entire Aufew simple steps. burn Film Society to get “When a group wants the group started up,” to start, the biggest thing Phillips said. “We had is finding 15 students to write a constitution, with similar interests, decide on how our meetthen it snowballs from ings would be set up, and there,” said Tim King, the figure out what direcvice president of student tion we wanted to move affairs. in. Creating a club is, no In addition to finding pun intended, a group the first 15 members, a effort.” potential group must Most groups that fill also have a faculty advi- out their paperwork corsor and draft a constitu> Turn to CLUB, A2 tion and bylaws. After a
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INDEX
Philip Smith / ASSISTANT PHOTO EDITOR
Sidewalk music created by students has become more common around campus. Tyler Case, senior in chemical engineering, takes time to play guitar between classes at the Foy Student Union pond.
Music adds rhythm to humdrum campus CHRISTIAN BECRAFT WRITER
It’s not a project. It’s not homework. It’s not even really for a purpose, yet some students are just doing it. It’s their breakaway from school life, and luckily, it’s something everyone can enjoy. As students break into spring semester, many are already finding
News A3 Opinions A6
activities that they can fiddle with to get out of the study mode. Jamming out or harping on some instruments all across campus is what many students are using as their relaxation tool. “It’s more fun to play an instrument than go to school,” said Christian Hamrick, sophomore in women’s studies, with a laugh. Hamrick is one of the many musicians that on a beautiful day brings
his instrument on campus, finds a spot and just plays. “We’ll just sit around for hours and hours with a song and good weather,” Hamrick said. Tyler Case, senior in chemical engineering, enjoys playing whenever she can take a break from her heavy work load. “It’s just something that I gen> Turn to MUSIC, A2
Campus B1 Intrigue C1 Arts & Entertainment C3 Wasting Time C8 Sports D1
The Auburn Plainsman
News, A2
CRIME REPORTS
DUI Arrests in the City of Auburn Jan. 27 - Jan. 31, 2010
Jan. 27 - Jan. 31, 2010 Jan. 25, 2000 block Barkley Crest Lane - Theft reported. One blue Apple iPod classic reported stolen.
Stephen M. Gulia, 21, of Toronto, Canada East Longleaf Drive / The Exchange Jan. 27, 11:47 p.m.
Jan. 28, Northwood Dr. – Theft of property third degree ($500 or less). One 16” blue Toshiba 160 GB laptop.
Rachel A. Stewart, 19, of Montgomery West Thach Ave. Jan. 28, 2:06 a.m.
Jan. 29, E. University Dr. – Automobile B&E reported. One white Apple Mac Book and one blue Auburn University backpack.
Shea K. Hasson, 32, of Montgomery South College Street / I-85 Jan. 29, 2:15 a.m.
Jan 29, Jack Hampton Dr. – Automobile B&E reported. One Beretta 92F Brigadier 9mm cal., one Beretta 950 .25 cal. and one black 8GB Apple iPod Touch.
Lithiya M. Chacko, 19, of Conyers, Ga. West Longleaf Drive Jan. 30, 4:10 a.m.
people stopped and asked questions and said they enjoyed their playuinely enjoy for myself,” ing. Case said. During the rushed In elementary school, breaks of a school day, Case said she started students hurry to their playing the piano then next class in the short 10 moved to the guitar in minutes before the hour, fifth grade. while the next 50 minToday, she said she utes can seem lonely. has tampered with the For Melissa Allen, the piano, guitar, clarinet, music breaks up the flute, mandolin and ac- sometimes eerie silence. cordion, to name a few. “I think having any “I just have an obses- kind of live music on sion with music and in- campus is a positive struments in general,” thing,” said Allen, sophoCase said. “I wouldn’t say more in radio, television I’m accomplished in all and film. “It gets wicked of them, but I definitely quiet, too quiet.” like to mess around with Allen said she likes them and try to make to hang out with her noise and make it sound friends while they play, pretty.” and it’s something to do Kyle Gissendaner, un- in between classes. declared sophomore, is Allen said she hopes another musician who more people will come plays on campus with out and play too. Hamrick among other “Get everybody tofriends. gether and they’ll all jam Gissendaner plays and hang out,” Allen said. guitar, “It will be but also fun.” Check w o r k s B o t h with the Hamrick online for computer and Gismore photos. as a DJ. s e n d When aner are mixing members music, Gissendaner said of the band Cranberry he plays a lot of Dubstep, Horses. a new form of electronic They said playing on music. campus is nice practice Just last week, Gis- for them to prepare for sendaner and Hamrick their shows. spread out on the steps Tonight the Cranberry of the green space near Horses will be playing at the Student Center. The Gnu’s Room at 6:30 Gissendar said a few p.m. >From A1
Jan. 31, 300 Block of Embry Lane.– Automobile B&E reported. One 17” black HP laptop.
Jan. 28, Northwood Dr. – Burglary second degree and theft of property third degree reported. One black Sony Playstation 3.
Wynn O. Springer, 21, of Florence South College Street Jan. 29, 1:10 a.m.
MUSIC
Jan. 30, 700 Block W. Magnolia Ave. - Criminal mischief second degree and criminal trespass first degree reported. Damaged one fraternity photo composite, damaged one silver tea maker and damaged interior walls and floor.
Jan. 27, North Donahue Drive Theft reported. Crown Royal worth $282 reported stolen.
Alison L. Fagan, 22, of Birmingham Lee Road / College Mobile Home Park Jan. 28, 1:59 a.m.
Patrick J. Kruidbos, 23, of Aufrasil, Netherlands South College Street Jan. 31, 2:59 a.m.
Thursday, February 4, 2010
>From A1
rectly and appear before the Student Organization Board are granted provisional status. “After they become a group, they can reserve rooms in the Student Center for free, they can get a mailbox, they can appear in the Glom, they can use the Auburn University name and logo and they can have access to webspace,” King said. “After they become permanent they can request funding.” Scott Russel, the president of the Environmental Awareness Organization, said becoming an official university group helped spread his groups message of conservancy. “Being affiliated with the University brings us a degree of credibility and clout that we can use to reach other organizations and individuals outside the Auburn community,” Russel said. “Also, we are more easily able to spread our message to the student body by being able to table and hold meetings and events on
>From A1
month plan so students don’t feel locked in to a contact, said Joey Young, owner. “Students like the flexibility of our contract and price,” Young said. “Truly, it does not look like a $20 gym, we have some really nice stuff in here.” Young said they have amenities such as a ladies’ section, which is a work out area only for women, cardio area, free weights and a classroom with core equipment, among other features. World Gym only offers one class called Back to the Basics, taught by a trainer, but it is free and offered at least twice a week. For more information,
Jan. 29, National Center for Asphalt Technology – Theft reported. One check book containing two checks and $433 reported stolen. Jan. 30, Thomas Street – Theft reported. One cubic zirconium ring and one gold Woodward Academy ring reported stolen. Jan. 30, 700 block of West Magnolia Ave. - Criminal mischief reported. One fraternity photo composite and one tea maker reported stolen. Interior walls and floor reported damaged. Jan. 31, 300 block of Embry Lane – Theft reported. One black Dell laptop reported stolen.
Jan. 26, 425 Webster Road – Theft reported. One 27-inch CRT television, one black Playstation 2, six
CLUB
WORKOUT
Jan. 31,1400 Block Talhiem St. - Theft of property first degree (greater than $2,500). One diamond ring in gold filigree setting, two diamond ring settings, one blue saphire gold setting w/diamonds, one purple Amethyst ring in gold setting, one ruby cluster ring w/ gold band and one yellow citraine ring in gold setting.
gray surround sound speakers and one beige area rug reported stolen.
campus.” A group can become permanent after completing its one-year provisional status while maintaining a membership of at least 15 members. The group must also attend the president’s meeting at the end of the year and the advisor must maintain their advisor certification. If a group does not perform these actions they are put on probationary status. King said groups are usually put on probationary status for simple mistakes. “Probably the easiest thing to do is update the database,” King said. “But they might not remember to change the information so the new officers don’t get the news about a meeting they have to attend.” Students who wish to start an athletic club must complete more steps than a normal University group. In addition to completing the normal steps to becoming a Universitysponsored group, the club sport must also receive approval from Campus Recreation.
go to worldgym.com. Yoga Ananda, located on South Gay Street, also offers a flexible contract. According to the Web site, students can pay per class, per month or per year with increased savings per package. Beginning with $15 per class and going up to $480 per year, students can choose whichever package best suits them. Yoga Ananda offers several classes, such as Yin, Hatha and Vinyasa, as well as workshops for all levels of yoga practice. For more information and class schedule, go to yogaananda.org. There is the option of not paying anything at all and using what is provided. Justin Foster, senior in English, said he uses the
- Reports provided by Auburn Department of Public Safety
“My first thing is can it be covered in the liability insurance,” said club sports director Diane Harper. “Then the facilities: do we have them or are they close by?” Harper said the University’s insurance strictly prohibits student groups involving firearms. Roughly 50 percent of club sports applications are approved, according to Harper. “Some just don’t have the facilities, like baseball” Harper said. “We have a great working relationship with the city but they don’t have the facilities for us to have a team. I’d love to have baseball, but we would need the cities facilities right when their season is in full swing.” King said the University encourages students to create their own groups. “It’s just a good thing for students to get involved in,” King said. “I think it’s one of those things you’ll remember most about your college days.” More information about student groups is available auburn.edu/sga/ organizations.
Student Activities Center because he wanted to take advantage of what the University offers. “They have a decent amount of free weights, but it’s hard to find what you want since all the labels are peeled off and there isn’t enough space,” Foster said. Foster said he thinks the best part about the Student Act is that it is free to students and faculty. But, Foster said he wished he could be here to exercise after the Student Act is renovated. According to the Auburn Student Act Web site, the renovation will expand the Student Act to include a sand volleyball court, golf simulator and rock climbing wall in addition to standard gym features.
Currently, the Student Act offers a variety of classes, such as Pilates, Zumba, Bootcamp and circuit training. They have two cardio rooms, machine weights, free weights and nal training. For more information go to auburn.edu/student_ info/student_life/recreation. For students preferring more creative options, the Salsa Club and the Auburn Swing Dancing Association offer free weekly dance classes for students at various levels; check out their Facebook pages for more information. Whether it’s enjoying TV on the treadmill or dancing the night away, students will have a hard time finding an excuse not to get in shape this spring.
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Scott Wilkerson reads poetry at the Gnu’s Room A4
People of the Plains: Doc Waller A8 Non-profit arts organization opens office A4
NEWS
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2010
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South seeks speedy trains DANIEL CHESSER ASSOCIATE NEWS EDITOR
Taking the train may make a comeback as a more popular travel option, but in a different form than has been seen in the past. Alabama joined six other states to form a coalition to develop a form of high-speed intercity rail connectivity in the Southeast.
High-speed rail transportation is a passenger train that can reach speeds up to 150 miles per hour. “Top speeds would likely be reached only on specially designed and dedicated tracks,” said Jim Plott of Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs. “This is more practical in denselypopulated areas with sufficient demand to support numerous trains per day.” Existing train tracks will
be the starting point for the high-speed rail plan. “One of the problems is the U.S. rail system is the tracks are shared with freight trains,” said Larry Childers of ADECA. “That slows things down because they are not built for speed.” According to Amtrak, a train ride from Birmingham to Atlanta takes over four hours. > Turn to Trains, A3
Helen Northcutt / GRAPHICS EDITOR
Helen Northcutt / GRAPHICS EDITOR
Grant lets states ‘Race to the Top’ DAVIS POTTER WRITER
The state has submitted an application for approximately $180 million in “Race to the Top” funds that would help improve education and innovation in public schools. The grant will be taken from the $4.35 billion set aside for federal education money as part of the stimulus bill, according to U.S. Department of Education Deputy Press Secretary Justin Hamilton. Alabama is one of 40 states, as well as the District of Columbia, that have applied. “It’s a competitive process,” said Todd Stacy, governor’s office press secretary. “Our hat is in the ring.” Deputy State Superintendent Tommy Bice said a portion of the money could go to aid with funding for Auburn University’s College of Education in collaboration with the state department to make sure the next wave of teachers will be prepared for new educational experiences for students. Bice said he thinks the grant would make it easier for all levels of education to work as a unit. More than 19 categories from each application will be evaluated by a panel of viewers in round one, with each criterion being given a point value. Points will be awarded for each category based on the panel’s
judgment of each state’s presentation. The grant focuses on four main areas, including the adoption of internationally measured standards and assessments, the development of a data system to monitor student proficiency Pre-K through college, equipping new teachers and leaders and distributing them to the areas of need and a turnaround in consistently low-performing schools with aggressive turnaround models, Bice said. Additional factors will be taken into consideration to determine which state receives the funds, Hamilton said. “Some of the big ones are state capacity for reform,” Hamilton said. “We also want to see what you’re doing to invest in great teachers.” Hamilton said states need to go beyond the basic requirements. “It’s not enough to just have a good plan,” Hamilton said. “We want to know that you have a track record of reform and then you’ve generated support in your community to carry that plan out.” A good track record is something state representatives say it has working in its favor. “Alabama has been a national leader in education reform for the last several years,” Stacy said. “You have Alabama really leading the pack as far as > Turn to Race, A4
Ellison Langford / NEWS EDITOR
(Left to right) Natalia Phillips watches while her daughter Kendyl Russaw plays near the tractor at Hickory Dickory Park. E.V. McGowan climbs on the tractor with her grandfather Jim Doyle.
Small towns receive big honor in 2010 LAURA MAXWELL ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR
Local residents believe in Auburn and love it, but now the rest of Alabama has a chance to as well. Gov. Bob Riley has declared 2010 “The Year of Small Towns and Downtowns.” The celebration for Auburn was held Jan. 29 at Toomer’s Corner. “Basically it’s a big Alabama homecoming,” said Carl Morgan, assistant planning director of the Auburn Planning Department. Morgan is also on the steering committee for the City of Auburn Historic Preservation Com-
mission. “This is part of the tourism department’s ‘Year of ’ campaigns that they do,” Morgan said. Morgan said each year since 1994, the Alabama Tourism Department has declared various “Year of ” campaigns. For example, 2009 was the “Year of Alabama History.” Ingrid Brown, owner of AuburnArt.com and The Villager, said she was excited that the state is highlighting small towns and downtowns. “We’re going to do our part,” Brown said. “Last year we made fliers going into customers’ bags.” Brown said the fliers were passed out to raise awareness about how it
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is beneficial to a community when residents shop locally. In addition to helping encourage local business, the state is providing each participating town with a historical marker. “We’re looking right now in the vicinity of Toomer’s Corner,” Morgan said. Morgan said the language of the historical marker was drafted by Ralph Draughon Jr., “I think it’ll bring a lot of focus and a lot of interest particularly on downtown and a heightened sense of pride in downtown,” Ham said. Ham said Auburn City Council has a variety of events coming up to cel-
ebrate throughout the year. The homecoming celebration of “The Year of Small Towns and Downtowns” will coincide with Auburn University’s homecoming. There will also be readings and storytelling by long-time residents of Auburn about downtown, how they remember it and how it has changed. The Big Read, which kicked off Feb. 1 at the Student Union, and Read Across America will focus on historical readings. Read Across America will also center on the Alabama Reading Initiative. In the summer, walking tours of the city will be held.
The Auburn Plainsman
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Thursday, February 4,2010
TRAINS >From A3
Philip Smith / ASSISTANT PHOTO EDITOR
John Doyle and Saya look at a piece by Sarah Scott in the Layman Group office above Behind the Glass boutique.
Group brings art to the ‘layman’ ASHLEY MARKS
of art hung on the white walls of the office. Doc Waller is the founder of the organization. Waller’s extensive background in the arts includes dance, acting, writing, painting and music. Waller’s goal for the organization is to offer a program that shares knowledge of arts with those who otherwise may have not ever been involved. “We want to make sure everyone sees why the arts are relevant to them,” Waller said. “It is essential in so many ways. It can be essential to a policeman. That’s what we’re doing; we’re trying
WRITER
A new non-profit arts organization moved in behind the glass of downtown Auburn. The arts-based group, the Layman Group, opened its first location in downtown Auburn. The office is located on the top floor of Behind the Glass boutique. The Layman Group began in fall 2009. The group held its open-house party Friday. Layman Group artists, dancers, teachers and aspiring members mingled among beautiful works
to make everyone real- new location will be the ize why art is essential to venue for most smallerthem. That’s why we’re size events, while it will called the Layman Group: look to bigger venues for the regular person.” larger size productions. Waller said the group This year, the group will is not based on any one focus on various projmedium of art. The group ects, but its biggest spotis in existence to further light will be on the Pose the education of arts for Awards. people of any age. The Pose Awards is a “We focus on education competition for anyone in the arts, all mediums between the ages of 15 to in the arts, whether it’s 20. painting, dance, theatre, “We are nominating film, dance, whatever,” twenty of the most promiWaller said. “We’re focus- nent artists in the state of ing on productions, we’re Alabama under the age of not just going to teach, 20,” Waller said. we’re not going to just educate, and we’re going to For the complete story, go produce our own events.” to www.theplainsman.com Waller said the group’s
“Although feasibility studies have not been completed,” Plott said. “Passenger trains in Alabama will probably make use of existing freight rails and perhaps be limited to a top speed of 79 to 90 mph.” Plott said transportation by train has some advantages over driving. “One of the main advantages to high-speed rail transportation is that, depending on distance and highway congestion, it can get you from one location to the next faster than traveling in an automobile,” Plott said. “In addition, a study prepared by the U. S. Department of Energy found that rail travel required (less energy) per passenger mile than travel by automobile.” Another advantage is the impact on the environ-
RACE
>From A3
education reform and improvements in education.” Stacy said one thing the state’s application is missing is a charter schools law, which permits the Alabama school systems to charter schools. The lack of a charter schools law drops Alabama 40 points behind other applicants. However, the state is relying on other strengths to offset the lack of the law. “Alabama has focused on our STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) initiatives which are recognized
ment. “A passenger rail system could have many advantages including less dependence on foreign oil, reduced pollution from gas-burning vehicles, and less highway traffic which could enhance safety and reduce wear and tear on highways,” Plott said. The concept is still in the early phases of development and there are elements to the construction that have to be taken into account, Childers said. According to the U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Railroad Administration, President Obama has proposed to begin an ongoing investment in his 2010 budget proposal, which calls for high-speed rail funding of $1 billion per year for five years. “We are encouraged by the heightened interest of the current federal administration,” Plott said.
nationally but have not been taken to scale,” Bice said. “We are also focusing on our existing partnership with colleges and universities as we focus on preparing a new generation of teachers and leaders.” The recipient of the grant will be announced in April. If Alabama is not selected, the state can reapply in June for round two of the process. The winner of that round will be announced in September. With more than fourfifths of the country vying for the funds, Stacy said Alabama’s chances are as good as any.
Poet reads poems, finds way out of labyrinth at Gnu’s Room NICOLE EMMETT WRITER
Scott Wilkerson, a poet and theorist, enthusiastically shared poetry from his new book “Threading Stone” at Gnu’s Room Saturday night. The 22 listeners sat shoulder to shoulder in the bookstore as they sipped coffee and made requests for poems. Wilkerson’s book is the second publication of Auburn-based publisher New Plains Press. “I am delighted, of course, to be one of the first, but it is also an ex-
traordinary amount of pressure,” Wilkerson said. John Summerfield, creator and owner of Summerfield Publishing/New Plains Press, said he was impressed in a strange way when he came across Wilkerson’s poetry. “He invited me to his classroom to read my poetry,” Summerfield said, “and that’s when he let me know he was a poet and I read his manuscript.” Summerfield said he and Wilkerson differ in the poets they admire, but they respect each other’s work. Summerfield said he has known Wilkerson for
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Ashlea Draa / ASSOCIATE PHOTO EDITOR
Scott Wilkerson reads his poetry at the Gnu’s Room.
three years and they have developed a great relationship. “Scott is a funny guy, a wonderful poet and a great orator,” Summerfield said. Wilkerson, a self-pro-
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said. “I believe we are all lost and trying to find our way out of something.” Wilkerson also introduced a character who says what he is too shy to say, named Felix Omega. “I enjoyed the references to Greek mythology and current interest,” said Amber Floyd of Columbus, Ga. “He creates images that stay with you and uses fun little phrases that stick in your brain.” Molly Wright, an English teacher at Columbus State University, said she was impressed with the poems. “I just bought the last copy they had here,” Wright said.
&RXQFLO FORVHV &ROOHJH 6WUHHW IRU %LJ (YHQW LAURA MAXWELL
Regular
claimed jokester, is a professor at Columbus State University who teaches English Composition and Creative Writing. He has written poetry for 20 years.
“This book is compiled of perhaps three years of work,” Wilkerson said. Some of the poems had been published before, but more than half were written specifically for the book. Wilkerson shared poems such as “Peter Piper on Sabatical” and “Late View of a Mill Ruin.” Wilkerson said the title of his book comes from his poem, “Labyrinth Studies,” in which a character finds himself trapped in a maze, but escapes by following a thread. “We are all threading our own stones, that’s what life is,” Wilkerson
ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR
A representative from the SGA made an announcement about the Big Event during Tuesday night’s City Council meeting. The Big Event, which includes community service-based projects, will begin Saturday at 8 a.m. Since it is taking place Saturday morning, the City council agreed to close College Street, in between Magnolia Avenue and Thach Avenue, for the event. The SGA will be holding a blood drive Feb. 17 and 18 in the ballroom on the third floor of the Student Center. Appointments for donating can be made on the University Web site.
Campaigns for SGA executive elections will begin Feb. 10. Elections will be Feb. 14 to 18. Store 17 Package, Archie’s Oysters and Tiger Food Mart were granted alcoholic beverage licenses. The possibility of having a farmer’s market downtown during the summer was discussed. Kyle Hildreth, water distribution manager for the Water Resource Management Department, was declared Employee of the Month for Auburn. Mayor Bill Ham read a letter to the city manager explaining why Hildreth deserved this honor. Ham said that, in addition to managing daily activities, Hildreth also continually seeks opportunity for improvement.
Teacher of the Year honorees for Auburn City schools were recognized for their work. Phil Wilson was named the elementary school teacher of the year and Deanna Marshall was the secondary education teacher of the year. Ham said the council is proud and appreciative of the teachers’ hard work. Service pins were given out to individuals who worked for the city. Brad Bass was awarded with a pin and plaque for working with the judicial department for 20 years. Jason Brown and Neil C. Godfrey received pins for their 10 years of service. Forrest E. Cotton, Amos Lockhart and Brenda H. McManus each received a pin for their five years of service.
The Read Across Auburn campaign was announced to be Feb. 15 through March 12. This is a community-wide event meant to encourage reading for leisure. Ham discussed the importance of reading and the positive impact it has on people. Auburn’s Downtown Merchants Association has created a Facebook fan page celebrating downtown. The page’s title is Downtown Auburn, Alabama. In the short time that it has been up, it has gotten more than 2,800 fans. Local events are posted on the page. Ham said the City council is partnering with Auburn University’s School of Architecture to do planning for downtown.
Thursday, February 4, 2010
The Auburn Plainsman
News, A5
2010 Unofficial Gubernatorial Candidates Dr. Robert J. Bentley
Bradley Byrne
Artur Davis
Republican
Republican
Democrat
• Anti-abortion • Against gambling • Supportive of land appraisals every four years instead of one • Advocate of 10th amendment
• For ethics reform and education budgeting reform • Against gambling • Against homosexual marriage • Against raising taxes
• Wants to reform public schools and protect the PACT program • For ethics reform • For Constitutional reform
BENTLEY
BYRNE
Kay Ivey
Tim James
Bill Johnson
Republican
Republican
Republican
• Anti-abortion • Against gambling • Against homosexual marriage • Committed to the “Taxpayer Protection Plan”
• Wants to give small businesses similar incentives as out-of-state companies • Supportive of capturing renewable energy
• For ethics reform • For transparency in government • For high school drop-out prevention
IVEY
MOORE
DAVIS
JAMES
JOHNSON
Roy Moore
James Potts
Ron Sparks
Republican
Republican
Democrat
• Wants to create new jobs • Supportive of eliminating the business personal tax • For lower taxes and transparency in government
• Wants to keep alcohol from being sold after midnight on Saturdays in bars or restaurants • Wants to eliminate sale of carryout alcohol after 10 p.m.
• Supports gambling • Wants to eliminate annual property tax appraisals • An advocate of LifeStart Scholarship Lottery
POTTS
SPARKS
As the list of gubernatorial candidates has not been finalized, this is a tentative list of the individuals who, most likely, will campaign for governor.
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The Auburn Plainsman
COMMENTARY The Auburn Plainsman Editorial Board Lindsey Davidson Editor
Cliff McCollum
Rod Guajardo
Opinions Editor
Managing Editor
Ellison Langford
Abby Albright
Ben Bartley
News Editor
Sports Editor
Copy Editor
Michelle Wilder
Tom Hopf
Callie Garrett
Campus Editor
Business Manager
Intrigue Editor
Our View
Alabama needs to climb on board high-speed rail After hearing there could potentially be $8 billion available for new high-speed rail projects, we assumed any state would be jumping through whatever hoops necessary to procure those funds. Alabama appears reluctant to step up to the task. The Birmingham News’ John Archibald said Alabama’s share of the high-speed rail money would only be around $200,000. Why so little? Because this state has continually dragged its feet when it comes to allocating funds for improving and restructuring our state’s rail systems. Any additional funding to help maintain and improve our state’s rail systems has been pushed aside, and the state only paid its dues to the Southern HighSpeed Rail Commission last year. Any student of Alabama’s history can tell you the importance of the railroad in the development of this state. With the rail lines came towns and jobs, and a spirit of opportunity to travel further and move onward, pushing America to become the great nation it is today.
The bold spirit of manifest destiny and promise the rails once held now grows dormant, a distant memory of an unfamiliar past. Trains seem antiquated and out-ofplace, a sad anachronism. The railroad industry is still vitally important. In 2007, 37 percent of all goods shipped within this country were shipped by rail. High-speed passenger trains may not sound like a great idea for a state like ours, but we do have to start somewhere. Why can’t we envision a small network of commuter trains, shuttling Alabama’s citizenry from Mobile to Birmingham, with a stop in the central hub of Montgomery, of course. We accept the fact Montgomery would have to be a hub. We’d also lobby for a train departing from Auburn, so students could find an easier way to travel home on weekends. By at least making plans now, we set ourselves up to perhaps one day make them realities. America and the railroad have a long, beautiful relationship. Let’s embrace it, for our benefit.
Give Lebo the heave-ho Although there are nine games left in the basketball season, we feel the need to speak out on this matter now. When we reach the end of this season, we call on Coach Jeff Lebo to step down from his position. His short tenure here has not been a great time to be an Auburn Tiger within the walls of Beard-Eaves. He has led his teams to only two overall winning seasons and only one postseason appearance. While Coach Lebo has an admirable, long list of accomplishments and accolades in the media guide provided to us, we can’t help but notice they are all from before his time on The Plains. His two SEC championship appearances would certainly be more impressive if they had been with us. As it stands now, we are a team with severe problems. We’re ranked last in the SEC in free throw percentage, a problem that has plagued us for several seasons. Free throws are a part of fundamentals; shouldn’t an effective coach notice that? We’re also ranked last in the SEC in field goal and three-point defense, signs pointing to the pandemic defense issues we suffer from. Anyone listening at home can tell we over-rely on three-point shots, as the announcers have stopped finding ways to make Auburn sound new and exciting. Our record stands currently at 11-11, 2-5 in the SEC. Even with nine games left, we don’t
see the situation improving, if at all. Sure, we beat Alabama, but Alabama wasn’t that great of a team this year, and we have beaten them six of the last seven times we’ve played them. The “If we beat ‘Bama, we’re fine” mentality that dominates Auburn sports’ life is dangerous, signaling to lackluster coaches that one simple win could save them from the chopping block. It’s time to change that point of view. Coach Lebo’s recruitment issues also deserve some observation. We spend twice as much on recruiting expenses for basketball recruits than we do for football recruits, only to see most of our hard-earned money leave Auburn before the end of their 4-year stay. The man can’t keep recruits here, so we develop depth issues. No doubt the new Arena will help bolster recruitment for us. A state-of-theart facility does wonders for a program. We’re getting excited about the potential it represents, but we feel we won’t be able to fully do our best with Lebo still at the helm. Change came to the football team in the form of Coach Chizik, and we started to get back on the right track. With the big change of the new facilities should come the equally big change of a new coach. We were once a school with a great football team and a great basketbal team. We feel with Lebo’s departure, we can begin to go back to those glory days.
Our Policy The opinions of The Auburn Plainsman staff are restricted to these pages. These unsigned editorials are the majority opinion of the twelve-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.
A6 Thursday, February 4, 2010 Staff Column
Diversity brings better life I love culture. I love diversity. Living in the South, as you might imagine, presents a few difficulties. Not that the South lacks culture (it’s definitely unique), but it’s just not a Petri dish full of diversity. I mean, the only Asian student at my high school had a George Bush drawl. He probably liked his politics, too. That’s why I love living in a university town. I have close friends from Korea, Kenya, Nigeria, India, China and Italy. I’ve tasted authentic Thai food, shopped at an Indian mall in Atlanta and I’ve even gotten married Korean style. International students spice up my life. And I’m not just talking about the food. Hanging out with people from other countries may be one of my favorite things about going to Auburn. That’s right, it’s up there with hugging Aubie and beating Bama. I won’t lie, becoming friends with international students was definitely awkward at first. Try using pop culture references to break the ice with someone who has never heard of Michael Scott or Jon and Kate. Fail.
Jillian Clair reporter@theplainsman.com
Not to mention the language barrier. Trying to understand my valley girl like ramblings must be like my 10-year-old self trying to understand what the heck the Spice Girls were talking about in the fast part of “If You Wanna Be My Lover.” I often wonder why more people don’t get to know them. Fear? Arrogance? Ignorance? Whatever the reason, they are missing out. My friend Rawee from Thailand could show everyone in Auburn a thing or two about dancing, and my friend Lynn from South Korea could suggest some fashionable alternatives for the Uggs and leggings crowd (and… I digress. I don’t want to beat a dead horse with that subject). Matteo from Italy can make any woman feel beautiful with a warm embrace and a kiss on the cheek. My point is—diversity is
a good thing. As the world gets smaller and smaller, people have got to leave the ethnocentrism, fear and misconceptions back in the 20th century. Let our parents be the last generation to hold onto those things. Racism doesn’t end with black and white, and ignoring people is just as hurtful as deliberately discriminating against them. America is great and all, and I am so glad I have freedom, democracy and football, but I think we get caught up in our greatness. There’s so much more of the world to see. Seeing life from someone from another country’s perspective is humbling, eye-opening and utterly life changing. People who can provide that perspective are all around us—sitting in class, teaching our classes, studying at the table next to us at the library. Let’s get out of our perfect friend bubbles and be adventurous. Want world peace? Well, Miss America, let’s show some hospitality. Jillian Clair is staff reporter of The Auburn Plainsman. You can reach her at 844-9109.
Be earnest: It’s good for you Being a product of the Internet generation has made me realize several things about myself. (Well, many, but this is neither the time nor place for a fetish roundtable.) The main epiphany being I am all about some irony and sarcasm. And I don’t know if that’s the way I want to be. Sure, the guy who always has the witty comeback is great to have around now and again, but is that guy, with his pettiness and sharp jokes, worth being? I don’t know. As I get older, I find myself thinking about the power of earnestness more and more. For me, it is refreshing to talk to someone who doesn’t layer his or her conversation with that’s what she said and sarcastic references to supposed bad music. It’s just nice to talk to someone cool enough to be totally and unabashedly his or her own person — without the shield of sarcasm and irony, because, in most cases, that’s what it is — something to keep other people from seeing the “real” you. If the faux you is rejected, the you who
Ben Bartley copy@theplainsman.com
hates popular music and Michael Bay movies, that’s fine, you know that’s not really you. If the “real” you, however, the you that wants to be upfront, honest and forthright, gets rejected, your inner being, your core, your sense of self and identity is being attacked. So we put on faces and fronts to protect our core. The really brave people are those facing the world with their true selves, with earnestness. I am afraid to do this — afraid people won’t like earnest Ben. So I am slacker Ben or Ben who says and does ridiculous things. For example, I have become that guy in class. You know, the guy who shows up late, doesn’t pay attention and gives the teacher ridiculous, pithy answers. Sure, being that guy has benefits. Girls find it intriguing.
HOW TO CONTACT US Auburn Student Center Suite 1111H Auburn, Ala. 36849 844-4130 or editor@theplainsman.com
I get the “that guy is such a rebel, he is relaxed and doesn’t give a damn about anything” looks. That’s nice. But where does it lead? I ask because I really don’t know. All I know, or think I know, is life between the two extremes — caring too much and caring too little — is harsh. I err on the side of caring too little. I live by the slacker ethos — don’t try so hard, man — in everything from grades to money to girls to nutrition. I could cite philosophers and religions and great men to back my claims, but as I go on in life, I realize there is power in telling people how you feel about them, minus the irony and sarcasm. If you like a girl, tell her. If you’re passionate about something, be proud of your passion. There is a basic, ground-level, core-ofyour-being honesty to that type of earnestness. It makes us human. Ben Bartley is copy editor of The Auburn Plainsman. You can reach him at 844-9109.
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.
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Procrastinating while procrastinating
Lindsey Davidson editor@theplainsman.com
Why must I have three pages of to-dos, two tests, a paper, four meetings, a closet full of laundry and hands marked over with immediate tasks that seem to be permanent to actually get anything done? I can’t seem to finish one simple thing I need to do
on a lazy Saturday; I have to wait until busy hump day. Maybe it’s the journalist in me waiting until the hour before deadline to start and finish any sort of project. Everyone knows I don’t start any sort of paper or project till the day before, and I always tell myself I will not wait next time. There was one point freshman year I finished an English paper two days early, and I still remember the feeling of satisfaction. Haven’t felt that again. It could be the lack of caring knowing something more is waiting past this transition period. In high school you knew
something bigger was waiting for you. In college, I imagine much hasn’t changed. The constant whirl of trying to balance class, work, a failing social life and the little sleep I treasure nightly can’t last much longer. Having a 6:45 a.m. class is quite rough when you are working (socializing) till midnight and studying (procrastinating) till 2 a.m. My college-kid mind and body will start to give out more than once a semester. Tests don’t seem to phase me anymore. School has become a blockade to what I want to believe is reality.
It could just be the lull of the mid-year. And of course, the inevitable senioritis. I find myself longing for a “real” job so I can have normal hours and possibly a shorter list to cross tasks off. Possibly there, I could have meaning other than tests, class and papers being done in an hour. I’m sure I will always wait till I only have a bathing suit left to do laundry, but I’ll just have to wait till then. Lindsey Davidson is editor-in-chief of The Auburn Plainsman. You can reach her at 844-9021.
Your View
Remember John B. Gordon Editor, the Auburn Plainsman Jeremiah 6:16 of the Bible reads, “Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls.” But, have we forgotten God and the old paths of our Founding Fathers and Mothers? Is American history even taught anymore in public and private schools? As the world looks to America, do we know who helped make the USA free and great? President Theodore Roosevelt said of John B. Gordon, quote “A more gallant, generous, and fearless gentlemen and soldier has not been seen in this country.” unquote February is Black History Month and it is also the birthday month of George Washington, America ‘s first president. February is also the birthday month of John Brown Gordon of Georgia. John B. Gordon, born February 6, 1832, was an orator, lawyer, statesman, soldier,
A7
COMMENTARY
publisher and governor of the State of Georgia. He is best known as one of Gen. Robert E. Lee’s generals. At Appomattox, Gordon’s corps encounter with the soldiers under Gen. Joshua Chamberlain is a classic story. Gordon would always remember Chamberlain for the courtesy and respect shown to him and his men. Carter Godwin Woodson, father of Black History Week, has much in common with John B. Gordon. Both men believed that accurate American history should be taught in our schools. Woodson also believed the study of Black history should include those African-Americans who fought on both sides of the War Between the States. Black History Week became Black History Month in the 1960s. Woodson, 11 years after the first Black History Week, founded the “Negro History Bulletin” for teachers, students and the public. Gordon also worked to see that the history of the Confederate soldier was taught in public schools. After the war only the Northern version of the War Between the States was taught to Southern children. John B. Gordon believed in the South’s Constitutional right to secession, but after it was crushed, he worked to reunite the nation and helped white
and black Southerners the war had made poor. In Gordon’s day there were no skyscrapers, telephones, automobiles, bright lights, or bad air to obscure the view of Heaven’s stars. The American Revolution was in the past only as far back as the Great Depression is today. American history was still taught at a time when the Union and Confederate Veterans were still living and honored. A John B. Gordon birthday celebration was first held in Atlanta on Saturday, Feb. 6, 1993, in front of Georgia‘s old historic state capitol building. Weather forecasters called for rain and cold but God must have blessed that day as it was warm and sunny. Nearly one thousand people came to remember Gordon. A Confederate reenactment band with authentic band instruments played “Dixie” and everyone stood straight and proud. The band gave the melody, but the crowd sang the words. Many speakers praised Gordon. One man turned to Gordon’s statue and asked “General Gordon what would you say to those who would change the history of America ?” Gordon, the American, the Southerner might have answered: “Take your history and teach it to your children or others will teach their history!” Gordon set up a
Quote of the Week: “This isn’t the Jetsons” -Zach Thornton, senior, English education on why the move to online textbooks will be a slow progression
Last week’s question: “Is Generation Y downgrading the value of sex” >Yes: 83 percent > No: 17 percent
This week’s question: “Should Lebo leave?” >Yes > No Go to www.theplainsman.com to vote.
publishing company after the war to help teach children their Southern history. In 1995, a third John B. Gordon memorial was held in Atlanta, but this time it was cold and snowy. Among the speakers in 1995 was a young Black-American. Eddie B. Page was a true friend and defender of the heritage of America. He was proud of the United States, 1956 Georgia and Confederate flags. Eddie knew his history, Southern style, and did not parrot “Political Correct” history. John Brown Gordon was born in Upson County, Ga. He was the fourth of 12 children born to Zachariah and Malinda Cox Gordon. After attending the University of Georgia he came to Atlanta to study law. Here he met and married Rebecca Haralson and their union was long and happy. Sept. 17, 1862, is known as the bloodiest day in American history. Confederate General John B. Gordon was there, defending a position called the sunken road. Wave upon wave of Union troops attacked Gordon’s men. The casualties were beyond today’s understanding. Gordon was struck by Union bullets four times, but continued to lead his men. Then, the fifth bullet tore through his right jaw and out his left cheek. He fell with his face in his hat and would have drowned in his own blood
except for a hole in his hat. Though Gordon survived these wounds, the last bullet left him permanently scarred. That is why you see later photographs of him only from the right side. For years the John B. Gordon celebration, in Atlanta, was concluded by a mile march to Oakland Cemetery where the general is buried with his Confederate compatriots. Not since past Confederate Memorial days has there been a scene on an Atlanta street of soldiers in Confederate gray and women and children of black mourning dress. The spirits of Carter G. Woodson and John B. Gordon were there with us on those February days when Confederate gray marched through a Black-American neighborhood. The people watching the parade were told about the Gordon service and were invited to Oakland. Black children spread the word that this was a memorial to Gordon who was once governor of Georgia. Woodson and Gordon are still with us – in spirit and, if you listen, they are saying, “Teach your children the whole story of America’s past.” Let’s not forget! Calvin E. Johnson, Jr. Kennesaw, Ga.
Staff column
Living with roommates is always interesting
Daniel Chesser news@theplainsman.com
I like to think I am a likable guy. I am the kind of guy that you get to know and love in small doses. I say small doses because everyone needs an opportunity to adjust and maintain alone time, especially me. Of course I have my quirks and habits that make me who I am as a person in this trip we call life. I do not usually tell a person how I feel about them until I know they can take my criticism. If you smell bad, somebody should tell you at some point. Don’t get upset; I am trying to help you make it through life without everyone whispering behind your back about how they can’t stand being around you. I grew up in a family of six: mom, dad and my three younger brothers. We tell each other how we feel. More often than not we
pick at each other’s faults. Of course the psychology behind it would lead you to believe we all have our own insecurities, but on the other hand it is an opportunity for the person being made fun of to better themselves. For example, my 15-yearold brother is going through puberty and an image crisis. He shaves his eyebrows in the middle to break up his unibrow. I asked him about it in a joking manner because he now looks like an angry Sesame Street character. I have lived in Auburn for almost five years. I have had six different roommates. This is not counting the one hometown junky friend I let move in to get clean. I welcomed him with open arms only to find out he was driving to Birmingham every morning to re-up on his drugs before I would wake. He continued to be high as a bird on pet tranquilizers in his stay at mi casa. Needless to say he disappeared after a week. That was three years ago. In 2005 my first two roommates were my best friend and some dude from Colorado who played lacrosse for Auburn. Lacrosse guy lasted two
semesters and did his best to avoid the other roommate and I. His replacement was my Vietnamese buddy who lasted a year before he knocked up his girlfriend and got married. Good morning Vietnam’s replacement was a short country bumpkin that could always put a smile on your face. My mom calls him her little ray of sunshine. He flunked out of Auburn multiple times and moved in with his girlfriend. He got back into Auburn this semester, but commutes daily. I guess he could not handle managing his own time. My best friend did not last much longer after these three fell by the wayside. I thought he was going to be by my side throughout college and life in general. He knocked his girlfriend up and moved back to Birmingham to be a loving father. He named me his son’s godfather. There is something so gangster about saying, “I’m da godfatha.” Now let me make an offer any college student can’t refuse. Move into my house that I own and pay me $300 a month plus cable. It was a big mistake on my
part to let the next dude move in. This dude and I hung out for a couple of months before he asked to move in. I was living alone for the first time in my life. I was so lonesome I bought a dog from the Humane Society. So the dude wants to move in. Cool? This guy goes out and buys another dog without consulting me on the matter. I live in a three-bedroom duplex that is a little over a 1000 square foot. Two dogs equal strike one. Then his television goes out. So I loan him an extra TV set I was not using at the time. Almost strike two. Then his car breaks down. I was a nice guy and let him borrow my ride daily for a month and a half. Come on, get your damn car fixed and quit using me. I thought to myself, why does he not take advantage of the Tiger Transit that picks up in our front yard? Strike two for real. The third strike was a combination of little things. He would not do sock-laundry so he would ball up nasty wet socks around the house for me to clean up. Come to find out he throws
out his used socks and has his mom buy new ones monthly. He took over my section of the couch. I did not sit in my seat for six months. He never did dishes or took out the trash even once. He never slept at night and slammed doors until I jumped out of bed with a barrage of curse words. The worst part was that he stunk like dog excrement and body odor. My house was starting to adopt the smell. Strike three and you are out, man. The list was endless. My belief is that he was raised as a grandchild by his parents and never had to do anything for himself. This dude is finally gone. My house now has new floors, new furniture and freshly painted walls to cover up any traces of this disgusting human being. I am pleased to say my sixth roommate is one of my brothers and it is working out better than I could have imagined, but anything is better than my 6-month stay in hell. Daniel Chesser is the associate news editor of The Auburn Plainsman. You can reach him at 844-9108.
The Auburn Plainsman
News, A8
goal — the formation of the Layman Group. The Layman Group is a non-profit arts organization that began last fall, but finally opened its office on the top floor of Behind the Glass. One of Waller’s purposes for the group is to provide a way for local artists, who don’t like that they sometimes have to move to larger cities to pursue their work, to stay in Auburn. Waller said another purpose for the group is mit he’s fond of grabbing to bring the arts to people a wrench and using it to who might not otherwise completely restructure his take the opportunity to experience them. life. “I want truck drivers and “I do that a lot,” Waller said. “I need something construction workers to be able to have that ’ l l something throw a big Check artistic screwdriver into my online for about their and not process. I video coverage day have to be need someof this story. completely thing that’ll tunnel vishake up sion on whatever their work,” Waller said. I’m doing right now.” Waller, on the other But for the last few years Waller’s life has been con- hand, appears to have exsumed by one immutable perimented with almost
Doc Waller brings his love for art to Auburn ELLISON LANGFORD NEWS EDITOR
He realized the NBA wasn’t likely to start knocking down the door of a “toothpick” so he turned to art. “One day I was this big basketball guy and next day I was this nerdy arts (kid),” said Doc Waller of his transition in high school. “I just realized, wow, the arts are pretty cool. And then I can get girls if I do really cool poetry.” But Waller, 28, does ad-
every kind of art there is. Waller wrote poetry in high school, did theater while serving in the Air Force, performed West African Dance after he was discharged and has performed spoken word poetry at the Gnu’s Room. Of his career, Waller said he is particularly proud he achieved “working actor” status in New York City. All the sacrifices were worth it, Waller said, when he pulled out his first pay check to pay for a coffee on Chambers Street in Manhattan. He said he’s willing to make sacrifices because he needs art. “Just like coffee, if I don’t have a lot of art, if I don’t have a lot of expression, I can get headaches,” Waller said. So, Waller will continue to express himself. “There was a point where I realized I can’t do anything else,” Waller said. “Not that I don’t have the ability to do anything else, but if I don’t do this, I’m just going to be a very de-
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Ellison Langford/ NEWS EDITOR
Doc Waller is an Auburn artist and performer and serves as executive artistic director for the Layman Group.
pressed person.” And Waller is trying to bring what he so obviously loves into the lives of Auburn’s residents. But Waller stressed that the organization is not for
him. It’s for Auburn. “I’m very proud of the Layman Group,” Waller said. “This is a very, very big, significant achievement for the city.”
Meal to Heal for Haiti B4
Class of the Week: Ancient Mythology B7 Step show to raise money for Haiti B3
CAMPUS
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2010
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www.theplainsman.com
Pianist charms judges in pageant CHELSEA HARVEY WRITER
The Miss Auburn University Scholarship Pageant began with a curtain rising over the Student Activities Center stage to reveal Miss Auburn University 2009 accompanied by 13 contestants vying for the 2010 title. After a series of events observed by five judges, each comprising a certain percentage of the contestants’ final scores, Miss Auburn University 2010 was chosen. Rebecca Hart, sophomore in communication disorders, was crowned Miss Auburn University 2010, Jan. 29. The pageant began with a group dance performed by Kimberly Freind, Miss Auburn University 2009, and the contestants to Frankie Ford’s “Sea Cruise.” The contestants then individually introduced themselves before yielding the stage to Jacob Watkins, president of the SGA. Watkins introduced Catherine Crosby Long, emcee for the evening. Long was Miss Auburn University 2001, Miss Alabama 2003 and a semifinalist in the 2004 Miss America Pageant. As a seasoned pageant winner, Long said Miss Auburn University is expected to be “a role model for women,” a person both “socially conscious and dy-
namic.” The pageant moved to its first judged event, the onstage question. Each candidate was required to draw a question from a bowl and respond with her opinion, which counted as 5 percent of her overall score. Questions covered a wide array of topics, including education, teen pregnancy, campus safety and the role of the social media. The opinions of the contestants were also widely varied, although education was a theme that surfaced several times. The onstage questions were followed by another group dance performed by the contestants and the song “If I Could” by guest performer Rachel Evans. The swimsuit contest was the next portion of the pageant, counting for 15 percent of the contestants’ final score. Each candidate was required to individually walk across the stage for the judges. This segment was followed by a performance by Freind, a baton routine to “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof.” Freind’s performance was followed by the talent portion of the evening. This segment was 35 percent of each candidate’s overall score. A wide range of talents were exhibited, including piano, harp, dance, baton
and vocal performances. Hart’s 90-second performance was playing the piano. Display of evening wear was the last judged portion of the pageant, counting for 20 percent of each contestant’s score. As in the swimsuit segment, contestants were required to walk, one by one, across the stage for the judges before departing. This segment of the pageant was followed by a series of performances in order to give the judges time to come to a consensus of the winners of the pageant. Freind was accompanied by eight Auburn men in a dance routine set to “Rock the Boat,” followed by a rendition of “Lately” by Evans. The contestants then reappeared for a last group dance to “Beyond the Sea,” followed by a rendition of “Crazy Train” by the Auburn University Tiger Paws. Aubie appeared onstage next to perform a brief skit that included a medley of popular music. Just before the crowning of Miss Auburn University 2010, Freind appeared for her final walk as the reigning queen. Freind took the opportunity to thank the various people who influenced her during her time of service > Turn to PAGEANT, B2
Ashlea Draa / ASSOCIATE PHOTO EDITOR
Rebecca Hart, sophomore in communication disorders, was crowned Miss Auburn 2010.
Ashlea Draa / ASSOCIATE PHOTO EDITOR
Winners of the Miss Auburn University Scholarship Pageant pose with reigning queen Kimberly Freind. Winners from left to right were third runner-up Jordan Hall, Miss Congeniality and second runner-up Kristina Azar, Freind, winner Rebecca Hart, first runner-up and community service and talent winner Haley Bagwell and fourth runner-up Noelle Jones.
Females take over theater MICHELLE TESLIK WRITER
A shortage in male actors has left the next Auburn theater production solely to the ladies. Monica Bland, senior in stage management and director of “Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing,” adapted the play herself from Judy Blume’s book. “I sat down last Christmas and turned it into a play,” Bland said. “When I put in a request to the fac-
ulty, they came back and said ‘yes.’” The faculty also recommended Bland do the play as her senior project. “No males auditioned for the roles,” said Fred Paul, junior in theater production and the stage manager for the play. “So women have to play the male roles.” The play is based on a children’s book about Peter Hatcher, a 9-year-old boy who has a 3-year-old > Turn to THEATER, B2
Auburn professor’s life, struggle inspire ROD GUAJARDO MANAGING EDITOR
Michelle Teslik / WRITER
Actress Paralee Williams in the all-female cast of the theater production rehearses for “Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing.”
The bases are loaded in the final game in the College of Business softball league. The score is 13-2 as the 9th inning arrives. The batter steps up to the plate and hits a ball deep into left field. Instead of dashing to second he stops at first. As the next batter steps up, the baserunner steals second and breaks the teams record for most bases stolen in a season. “It didn’t mean anything because we were losing,” said Andrew McLelland, associate professor school of accountancy.
“It was just that he was going to have some fun and he was a good sportsmen.” Mark Bertus, associate professor of finance, left memories like these to remind the world of his positive outlook on life. Despite undergoing numerous surgeries and stages of chemotherapy Bertus lost his three year battle with stage four colon cancer Jan. 26. Bertus was diagnosed with the disease Oct. 16, 2007, at the East Alabama Medical Center. A week later Ronda Bertus, Mark’s wife, began > Turn to BERTUS, B2
Robo Camp seeks future engineers MAXWELL NEWFIELD ASSOCIATE CAMPUS EDITOR
Helen Northcutt /GRAPHICS EDITOR
Some children use Legos to create windmills or landscapes, but the children who gathered in the Shelby Center Jan. 30 used them to create robots that communicate with Bluetooth technology. Those children were participants in the 2010 Auburn University Robo Camp. As a part of the College of Engineering’s outreach program, Robo Camp seeks to
educate local children ages 10 to 18 on computer and software engineering. “The idea is we want to excite as many kids as we can for engineering careers, especially computer science,” said Ben Brahim, Ph.D. student in computer science and instructor at the camp. At Robo Camp, children have the opportunity to work with either Lego Mindstorms robots or 3D animation software. “These are NXT robots; they are a little bit more advanced,” Brahim said. “We are still discov-
Printed on Recycled Paper
ering what we can do with them.” Brahim said the Lego robots used at the camp function with technology that may be familiar to those who may not be computer engineers. “The idea is for one robot to send a command to three other robots,” Brahim said. For children who prefer a more computer-oriented Robo Camp experience, the camp offers training in the Alice Programming System, a 3-dimensional programming system that allows the user to create animations and
video games. “They’re really into it,” said Joe Shanahan, junior in wireless engineering. “They’re going to learn how to use a camera and some filming techniques. Then they’ll learn how to combine their animations with their footage, kind of like ‘Avatar.’” Shanahan said what the children create is entirely up to them. “When they’re done with the project they’ll have a movie that
> Turn to ROBO, B2
The Auburn Plainsman
CAMPUS, B2
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Industrial design ranks high nationally JAKE MASTROIANNI WRITER
Auburn ranks top in the nation for its small yet powerful industrial design program. In 2007, the industrial design graduate program was ranked third in the nation by DesignIntelligence Magazine. It was ranked sixth in the nation for its undergraduate program by the same magazine the same year. “Being that Auburn is a smaller school and we are still ranked as high as we are, I think that really says something about the professors here,” said Thomas Lucic, senior in indus-
trial design. “We don’t have half the budget that some of the bigger schools do, but we are still able to produce designers that constantly get recognition all over the country and all over the world.” Auburn’s industrial design program began in 1945. It has a lineage of professors that goes back about 65 years, said Tin-Man Lau, professor of industrial design at Auburn for 24 years. “I think it is probably the tradition (that makes Auburn so good),” Lau said. “Auburn is probably one of the oldest industrial design programs in the
PAGEANT >From B1
and to offer words of encouragement to the new pageant winner. The announcement of the pageant winners then commenced, beginning with Haley Bagwell, who was awarded for community service. Kristina Azar was recognized next as Miss Congeniality. Haley Bagwell was then recognized again for winning the talent award for her en-pointe performance. Noelle Jones was awarded the title of fourth runner-up and received a scholarship of $500. Jordan Hall was named third runner-up and received $1,000. Kristina Azar won second runner-up and was awarded $2,000. Haley Bagwell was awarded first runner-up and received $3,500. Rebecca Hart was finally
BERTUS >From B1
posting a blog, markscancer.blogspot.com, where friends, family, Auburn faculty and students could go to stay up to date with his condition. “It seems as if time has stopped and at the same moment time is flying by,” Ronda posted Oct. 23, 2007, a week after learning of the diagnosis. For three years Ronda kept up with posting the blog through the good and bad times of Mark’s fight with the disease. “It is with heavy heart I write one last time,” Ronda wrote. “Mark passed this morning. His suffering has ended and he is no longer in pain. He was surrounded by family and he went in peace.” Mark was born in Bartlesville, Okla. and attended the University of Oklahoma where he graduated with a bachelor’s
ROBO >From B1
will let them express whatever it is they want to express, whether it’s humor or something political or a story,” Shanahan said. Shanahan said the skills children learn at Robo Camp will do more than help them create the next YouTube sensation. “This will change their lives,” Shanahan said. “Video is a powerful experience that will emotionally or log-
country.” Since Auburn has a history of industrial design tradition, the students receive experience better than most other schools in the nation, Lau said. “Our students’ handson experience and the problem solving education makes us better than other schools not only over in Taiwan, but over here as well,” Lau said. “I take Auburn students to Taiwan every year, and this will be my seventh year. Other schools just allow them to use computers and preview pictures, but our shop is filled with students all the time. They use all the ma-
crowned Miss Auburn University 2010. Hart was awarded $6,972, which is equal to one year’s instate tuition. Michelle Murphy, executive director of the pageant committee, said there are many aspects to pageants. “The hardest part of any pageant is making sure that you cover all of the details,” Murphy said. “There are so many things that are taken care of behind the scenes leading up to the pageant that people do not know about. This includes contestant paperwork to backdrop design and construction to writing the script to communication with contestants.” Murphy said it takes a lot of people working together to achieve the final product. Hart will complete a year of service to Auburn University and will be representing her peers throughout the year.
chines to make the models.” Auburn’s industrial design students visit different schools and notice that they are above others most of the time, Lau said. The students are thoroughly trained to not only know how to solve problems but also how to be hands-on with their work. Hands-on experience gives the industrial design students a chance to practice their traits. It also gives them something to show future employers. “If you can think it up, we can find a way to build it,” Lucic said. “Having that ability to
THEATER >From B1
brother named Fudge. Fudge is forever annoying his big brother and bringing more trouble into his life. “Fudge has a birthday party and Peter is annoyed with all of Fudge’s slobbering friends running around,” Bland said. “Especially when Fudge swallows Peter’s pet turtle.” Lane Vines, senior in English, said she remembers reading the Judy Blume books as a child. “I’d like to see the books I read as a kid come to life,” Vines said. Six women play all the male roles. “It’s interesting that women can pull it off,” Bland said. “In my opinion, women are more able to play the younger boys than the male actors are.”
come up with designs and to produce working models and prototypes helps for when I go to an employer because I have something to show them, an actual model that functions and works. The ability to produce the stuff we have here is definitely going to help in the real world.” Students receive training in many aspects of the industrial design world. “Being able to learn how to use research and to incorporate that in to a product and those types of things I think are really important,” said Paul Melen, senior in industrial design.
Blakeley Sisk / PHOTO EDITOR
Aaron Pierce, junior in industrial design, sketches during class. The graduate program ranked sixth in the nation in 2007.
The women play roles that range from boys who are 3 years old to men who are 65 years old. “These actresses are accustomed to playing the roles of young maidens or young innocent lovers,” Bland said. “Now we see them rolling around on the floor as 3-year-old boys.” Mallory Hammond, senior in theater performance, plays Fudge’s friend, Ralph. “I have a lot more freedom to be more impolite and wilder with this part,” Hammond said. Paul said this was the first time no males have auditioned for an Auburn production and women have had to take all the roles. Paul is the only male involved in the play. “One difference there is in being a cast of all women is that we’ll gather around and talk about our days and our emotions before we practice,”
degree in economics in 1995, then switched to finance and graduated with a Ph.D. in 2003. Along with four other professors, Mark and McLelland were hired in the fall of 2002. “He would be busy, ready to go to class, working on a research paper,” McLelland said. “No matter what, if you went in (his office) he would say ‘Hey buddy, what’s going on?’ In other words, he always seemed to care more about what you were doing than what he was doing.” Mark was promoted to assistant professor in 2003 and remained in that position until 2008 when he was promoted to associate professor. John Jahera, head department of finance, oversaw Mark’s career from the interview process. “I saw him develop professionally very quickly after his arrival here,” Jahera
said. “He wasn’t just here to work an 8 to 5 type day. Sometimes we hire faculty, and it’s a job. That’s it, nothing more. He was very committed to Auburn.” During his eight year teaching career at Auburn, Mark received various teaching honors including the Outstanding MBA Teacher of the Year Award in 2005 and 2006 and the Department of Finance Teacher of the Year in 2007, 2008 and 2009. “I joked at the service that if they re-ran his tapes he might win in 2010, too,” McLelland said. While Mark was diagnosed in 2007 he continued teaching until the fall of 2009. Mark’s dedication as a professor has remained with students after their departure from Auburn University. Kevin Moen, a 2009 graduate of industrial and systems engineering, submitted a letter to the edi-
tor regarding the impact of Bertus as a professor. “Throughout college, I’m pretty sure every student had those days where they just didn’t want to get up for that 8 a.m. class or thought the stress of finals was too much so they took a trip to the medical clinic for an excuse,” Moen wrote. “When you see a visibly ill person standing in front of a classroom making no excuses and going about business as usual it really makes all your own problems seem minutely insignificant.” McLelland delievered the euogly at Mark’s funeral and ended it with a passage from Ronda’s blog. “Mark was a wonderful man who taught me to love deeper than I thought I was capable, laugh more than I thought possible and live in each and every moment,” Ronda posted Jan 30. “He was a great husband, father, teacher and coach.”
ically send a message.” Robo Camp may seem like the chance of a lifetime for children interested in software engineering, but Brahim said the program is beneficial for the students who run it as well. “The summer camp has a students-with-disabilities program where a specialist comes to work with the kids,” Brahim said. So the graduate students learn to work with kids with disabilities.” Robo Camp has become
increasingly popular since its inception. Robby Hall, ninth-grade student at Auburn Junior High, said he has attended Robo Camp for 5 years. Last year, Hall’s animation project he created at Robo Camp won second place at University of Alabama-Birmingham. “I wanted first, but I’ll take second,” Hall said. Hall said he could not have made it as far in the competition without the lessons he learned at Robo
Camp and that people should be open to trying Robo Camp. “A lot of people should try it,” Hall said. “It’s good experience if you’re into computing and stuff like that or if you want to go into engineering.” Hall’s brother, Grady Hall, fourth-grade student at Richland Elementary, said he appreciates every aspect of Robo Camp. “You get to eat pizza,” Grady said. “That’s one of the fun things.”
Hammond said. “It makes Fred, our stage manager, so uncomfortable sometimes.” Amanda Monell, sophomore in musical theater, said she’s used to playing the young ingénue. “It’s a blast playing a boy’s role,” Monell said. “This is nothing like I’ve ever done before.” Monell plays the part of the main character, Peter. Hammond noted the physical difference in playing a younger role. “I’m playing a character without fully developed motor skills,” Hammond said. Bland said the actresses have to step beyond comfort levels to play the parts. “Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing,” will run March 8-10 in the Black Box Theater at Telfair Pete. Performances begin at 7:30 p.m.
The Auburn Plainsman CAMPUS STAFF
MICHELLE WILDER Editor MAXWELL NEWFIELD Associate Editor
DREW THOMPSON Assistant Editor
To reach the staff, call 844-9104.
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Ashlea Draa / ASSOCIATE PHOTO EDITOR
Members of Omega Psi Phi perform a step show in a fundraising effort for Haiti victims.
Ashlea Draa / ASSOCIATE PHOTO EDITOR
The Yéle Foundation raised $2 million for Haiti as of Jan. 18 by selling T-shirts and food.
Small steps for Haiti Omega Psi Phi fraternity performs a step show, sells T-shirts to raise money for hurricane victims in Haiti. MAXWELL NEWFIELD ASSOCIATE CAMPUS EDITOR
The Auburn chapter of Omega Psi Phi has stepped up to do whatever it can to help the island nation of Haiti after the 7.0 earthquake last week. For its main fundraising effort, the brothers of Omega Psi Phi hosted a step show and T-shirt sale in the Student Center Friday, Jan. 29. “We’re selling shirts from Banana Graphics,” said Skylar Forney, senior in French international trade. “They’re $10, and $7 of that will go directly to the people of Haiti.” In addition to selling T-shirts, the brothers of Omega Psi Phi also sold
food donated by Price’s Barbecue, Papa John’s, Domino’s Pizza, Niffer’s, Veggies to Go and Liz’s Bakery. Other businesses such as Nexxt Level Barbershop and Auburn University Catering gave canned food or cash donations to help the victims. Mario Jones, senior in finance and secretary of Omega Psi Phi, said the fraternity wanted to do something different with the money they raised. “Were giving all of our money to the Yéle Foundation,” Jones said. “That’s Wyclef Jean’s charity. A lot of people are giving money to the Red Cross so we wanted to do something different.”
The Yéle Haiti Foundation is a charity established by Wyclef Jean in 2005 to assist the musician’s home country. The organization has raised $2 million for the disaster-stricken nation as of Jan. 18, according to the New York Daily News.
Jones said Omega Psi Om Phi hoped to rais raise at least $3,000 for the people of p Haiti. “We wanted to start out on camp campus and go into the th community to raise money, mone ” Jones said. “We sa wanted it to be something bigger than the University.” In order to spread the word of its fundraising efforts to as many people as possible, Omega Psi Phi decided to put on a step show in the Student Center to attract crowds to its tables, said Jonathon Howard, senior in electrical en-
Greek Calendar Greek Weeks
Feb. 21-27
Iota Phi Theta
Feb. 28 - Mar. 4 NPHC
March 7-13
April 4-10
Alpha Kappa Alpha
April 11-17
Delta Sigma Theta
April 18-24
Sigma Gamma Rho
Kappa Alpha Psi
March 21-27
April 25-May 1
Alpha Phi Alpha
March 28-April 3 Phi Beta Sigma
Omega Psi Phi
Other Events Jan. 12 - Feb. 19
Greek Drive is accepting donations of used clothes, books, shoes, linens, small appliances and items for women and children in need. Collection bins are in Magnolia, Oak and Willow halls.
gineering. “We really want to inform people about what we’re doing and this is a way to get them to come buy a T-shirt or a piece of pizza,” Howard said. The step show and community fundraiser are not the only efforts Omega Psi Phi is making to assist the people of Haiti. “We have a party next week,” Howard said. “We’re taking the money we raise to buy hygiene products. A lot of people lost their homes and will need things like toothbrushes and soap and shampoo so we’re trying to help provide that.” Howard said all of the fundraising efforts of Omega Psi Phi are some-
thing to be expected from their fraternity. “For the most part, living in an American world, we’re very fortunate,” Howard said. “We enjoy being able to help people. At Omega Phi Psi, that’s our mission.” Forney said every member of the Auburn community and University should be able to do something to help those in need in Haiti, no matter how small. “This is a terrible disaster and we’re very fortunate it didn’t happen to us,” Forney said. “Auburn University is a family and we should all pull together to help the people of Haiti.” To donate money to the Yéle Haiti Foundation, visit http://yele.org.
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The Auburn Plainsman
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Haiti support continues
Phillip Smith / ASSISTANT PHOTO EDITOR
Pharmacy students Zach Miller, Josh Martin, Brad Ledbetter, Amber Shaffer and Beth McDaniel (left to right) eat meals provided for them by A Meal For Haiti in the Student Center Ballroom.
A Meal for Haiti gathers money to donate to support victims of earthquake in Haiti CRYSTAL COLE STAFF REPORTER
Auburn students helped the victims of the Haiti earthquake by doing what they do best: eating. A Meal to Heal for Haiti, last Monday night in the Student Center Ballroom, fed approximately 1,500 people in four hours. The price for a meal was $5, but attendees were encouraged to donate as much as they could. Pannie-George’s Kitchen, a restaurant on South College Street in the shopping center next to McDonald’s, provided the food for the meal. Mary Counts, co-owner of Pannie–George’s, said she felt honored to be asked to participate in the fundraiser. “The support that everyone’s shown to be able to come together and help is just wonderful,” Counts said. “That’s how we get things done, in unity, because we’re all as one in this world.” Nicole Nero, senior in communication and marketing, was the director for the event. Nero said the idea for a fundraiser came from a text message from a
friend working at the Red students are broke, but Cross. whatever I have to donate “Out of that, we I try to do that.” thought maybe we’d get Abrams said donating a thousand or two thou- $5 was easy to budget sand (dollars) and it just and that every donation became something so makes a difference. much bigger,” Nero said. Nero, who had a friend Nero and her team had in the Dominican Reprivate donors provide public at the time of the money for the food so all earthquake, said watchthe money raised could go ing the coverage made to support the victims in her sympathetic towards Haiti. the people of Haiti. People attending the “I know it’s one of the event were surrounded by poorest countries already loud music and active TV and then when a natural screens, providing an up- disaster strikes, what do beat, lively atmosphere. you do?” Nero said. “What Guests were given a do you do when you have generous helping of fried less than nothing?” or baked chicken, green Nero took a lot of steps beans, to get the mashed fundraiser Check p ot ato e s, together. a roll and Between online for sweet tea. getting video coverage a faculty Brittany Abrams, a dv i s e r, of this story. sophosecuring more in Pannieelectrical engineering, George’s and getting dotook the food to go, but nors, her team of students said it looked delicious. stayed busy, Nero said. Abrams said she loves “I look in that room and to donate to people in think ‘I did this,’” Nero need when she can. said. “We were just two “Whatever little bit I friends who wanted to do can help, that’s what I ac- something.” tually strive to do,” Abrams Donations for the night said. “I know I’m a college were close to $4,000 which student and most college far surpassed ticket sales.
Auburn Hygiene Drive for Haiti calls Auburn community to gather hygienic supplies ANNA SCHIERHOLZ WRITER
The Auburn community can now donate something tangible to aid in the relief of Haitians after an earthquake devastated their nation Jan. 12. The Auburn Hygiene Drive for Haiti is a community-wide effort to collect hygiene kits to help support the country’s overwhelming demand for medical supplies. Matthew Broadway, senior in wildlife sciences, had the original idea to collect hygienic items from students. Broadway said he thought he wanted to do a clothing drive for third world countries in need, but when disaster struck Haiti, he knew medical supplies were the first priority for the current situation. “The citizens of Haiti are forced into condensed areas, in the streets, under medical tents and in sort of refugee situations,” Broadway said. “The concern of the spread of disease has increased substantially.” The Committee of 19, the Global Campaign for Christ and the Global Aid
Network are combining forces to collect kits and monetary donations for the cause. “I wanted students and people in the community to be able to give something tangible,” Broadway said. “I wanted to make it personal, not just for us, but for the Haiti people.” Chaney Moss, sophomore in actuarial mathematics, said her sorority has encouraged her to donate a kit to the Auburn Hygiene Drive. “I want to do anything I can to help,” Moss said. “The kits are an easy way to do lots of good.” Broadway said the goal of the drive is 10,000 kits and $50,000 to the Global Aid Network, which will be receiving all of the kits and shipping them to Haiti. “I hope that with 24,000 students, our goal will prove to be a gross underestimate of the weight of the human heart at Auburn University,” Broadway said. The kits are a great way to donate without having to give a lot of money, said Joey Palazzolo, junior in criminology. “Even though I can’t give lots of money,” Palaz-
zolo said, “I feel like I can give a great deal by donating a kit.” To build a hygiene kit, students can fill a twogallon zip-close bag with a new hand towel, wash cloth, toothpaste, toothbrush, bar of soap, comb, wet wipes, shampoo, bandages, tissues, feminine pads and $5 to assist with shipping. The kits can be placed in barrels around campus from Feb. 7 through March 3. In addition to a kit, checks can be made out to GAIN, and can be turned in to each University department or to the Campus Crusade for Christ office. The checks should be given in a sealed envelope. People can also text the word “GAIN” to 85944 to donate $10. The charge will show up on the donator’s cell phone bill. Everyone in the community is encouraged to participate, including local schools, churches and businesses, Broadway said. For more information, contact Broadway at broadms@auburn.edu or Lauren Jones at jonesl1@ auburn.edu.
Thursday, February 4, 2010
The Auburn Plainsman
Campus, B5
Campus Calendar Campus events calendar is provided by University-chartered organizations. Submit written events to The Plainsman office between 7:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., prior to the Monday before publication. Limit 30 words. May be edited for pertinent content. Thursday, Feb. 4
2 p.m. - 3 p.m., Louise Kreher Forest Ecology Preserve
Women’s Basketball vs. South Carolina 6 p.m., Beard-Eaves Memorial Coliseum
Monday, Feb. 8
Black Student Union presents... Reggie Bullock 6 p.m. - 7:30 p.m., AUSC 2222
Southeastern Society of American Foresters 8 a.m. - 5 p.m., AUCC JCSM: Photographs in the Permanent Collection 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., Jule Collins Smith Museum of Fine Art
Engineers Without Borders Welcoming Special Guest From Bolivia 7 p.m. - 8 p.m., Shelby 1103
Film: Visual Acoustics: The Modernism of Julius Shulman 6:30 p.m. - 8 p.m., Jule Collins Smith Museum of Fine Art
Southeastern Society of American Foresters 8 a.m. - 5 p.m., AUCC
Swim/Dive vs. Emory 11 a.m., James E. Martin Aquatics Center
Career Expo: Engineering & Technical Majors 3 p.m. - 7 p.m., Hotel at Auburn University
After You Left, They Took It Apart: Demolished Paul Rudolph Homes exhibition opens Noon - 1 p.m., Jule Collins Smith Museum of Fine Art
Lecture by John Phillips, metal artist 4 p.m. - 5 p.m., Jule Collins Smith Museum of Fine Art
Bird Counting and Feeding 101
Women’s Basketball vs. Arkansas 6 p.m., Beard-Eaves Memorial Coliseum
Sunday, Feb. 14
Thursday, Feb. 18
Women’s Basketball vs. LSU (FSS) 3 p.m., Beard-Eaves Memorial Coliseum
Informational Meeting for China Summer Abroad Program 4 p.m. - 5 p.m., Foy Hall 242
Tuesday, Feb. 16 Movie with BSU and UPC “4 Little Girls” 7 p.m. - 9 p.m., AUSC Ballroom
Wednesday, Feb. 10 Men’s Tennis vs. Troy 1:30 p.m., Yarbrough Tennis Center
Tuesday, Feb. 9 Saturday, Feb. 6
3 p.m. - 7 p.m., Hotel at Auburn University
Chinese Film, “Perhaps Love”: Asian Film Series 7 p.m. - 9 p.m., Haley 3195 Men’s Basketball vs. Georgia 8 p.m., Beard-Eaves Memorial Coliseum
Thursday, Feb. 11 Career Expo: Business & Non-Technical Majors
Classical Guitar Performance 7 p.m. - 9 p.m., Jule Collins Smith Museum of Fine Art BSU Jazz and Poetry Night Part II 7 p.m. - 9 p.m., Auburn University Hotel and Dixon Conference Center
Friday, Feb. 12 Winter Constellation Class 7 p.m. - 8:30 p.m., Mary Olive Thomas Demonstration Forest
Provost to Discuss Scholarship of Public Engagement with AU Faculty 3 p.m. - 4:30 p.m., SC 2225
Wednesday, Feb. 17 Auburn Abroad Spring 2010 Study Abroad Fair 9 a.m. - 2 p.m., Haley Center Lobby Japanese Film, “Train Man”: Asian Film Series 7 p.m. - 9 p.m., Haley 3195
Saturday, Feb. 13 Women’s Tennis vs. Jacksonville State 11 a.m., Yarbrough Tennis Center
Black Student Union Presents... Joseph “Reverend Run” Simmons 7 p.m. - 9 p.m., AUSC Ballroom
Artist’s talk: Chris Mottalini 5 p.m. - 8 p.m., Jule Collins Smith Museum of Fine Art
Friday, Feb. 19 Baseball vs. SEMO 3 p.m., Plainsman Park Softball - Tiger Invitational 5:30 p.m., Jane B. Moore Softball Complex
Saturday, Feb. 20 Men of Every Color Leadership Symposium 8 a.m. - 7 p.m., The Hotel at Auburn University and Dixon Conference Center
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Auburn University turns roads green Other recycled materials being tested are roof shingles, old ASSISTANT CAMPUS EDITOR tires, steel slag and sulfur. Reclaimed asphalt pavement, Some states do not allow the RAP, is one of many recycled recycling of used shingles in the materials tested at the National asphalt mixture. They only alCenter for Asphalt Technology low the use of new shingles that at Auburn University. were intended to be put on a “The NCAT and its unique house but were leftover followprograms represent the best in ing the construction. cutting-edge technologies in “Crumb rubber (old tires) can the field of asbe added to the phalt research pavement to help and educawith the flexibiltion,” said Jim ity of the pave(We are) pavKillian, direcment,” Kvasnak tor of commu- ing our way to a more said. “It actually nications and sustainable future.” boosts the permarketing for formance of the Randy West, road.” Samuel Ginn director of NCAT College of Steel slag is Engineering. used in the same “Millions of fashion as RAP, as dollars have been saved, safety an aggregate. has been increased and innoThe steel slag does not rust vations in recycling have made because it is coated in the oilthis a green industry.” based asphalt. When an old asphalt surface NCAT not only tests recyclais scraped up, the product is ble materials, but they also test gravel-sized aggregate chunks, certain additives that reduce which are characterized as RAP. the asphalt’s melting temperaRAP is the No. 1 most recy- ture. cled material in the world, said “(We are studying) technoloAndrea Kvasnak, lead research gies to reduce fuel usage and engineer for NCAT. emissions in the process of RAP is processed into two producing asphalt pavements,” categories, fine and coarse, ac- Kvasnak said. cording to the size of the pieces. Asphalt has to be heated to “State agencies typically al- 300-350 degrees Fahrenheit below mixes containing 15 to 20 fore it can be mixed and paved percent RAP in surface mixes,” as a surface. said Randy West, director of Asphalt binders (called addiNCAT. “(We are) paving our way tives) are added to asphalt mixto a more sustainable future.” tures to reduce the viscosity.
Is it possible for a person to tip a cow over? “No. Cows often lay down to rest and sleep, but they also have the ability to sleep while standing. It is not uncommon to find a cow standing that is asleep. However, because they are preyed upon by other species, they do not fall into a deep sleep while standing that we as humans experience laying comfortably in our beds. Therefore, it would be extremely difficult to sneak up on a cow at rest during the night hours without alerting them to potential danger. If a young adult was naive enough to attempt ‘cow tipping’ and was successful at being stealthy enough to come within touching distance of a sleeping cow, the first slight touch of the individual to the cow would result in rapidly startling the cow to the point that it would quickly have a flight response. Hopefully the participants of ‘cow tipping’ have chosen a non-aggressive cow that is going to retreat rather than stand and fight. If they are unlucky and find one that is aggressive, I hope the participant is a ‘track star’ with the ability to leap hurdles in order to clear the barbed wire fence at the pastures’ border. Cows with young calves can become extremely protective of their offspring and the ‘cow tipper’ could find themselves facing an undesirable destiny if they chose the wrong animal to attempt this event. An aggressive cow is not necessarily concerned about the health of the ‘cow tipper’, they simply want to address the danger to themselves. Since ‘cow tipping’ is absolutely impossible to accomplish, it is often used ‘by our younger generation’ as a ‘wild goose chase’ for the naive.” –Wayne Green, professor and head of Animal Sciences
This Week in Auburn’s History: 1985 –Students find new ways to avoid studying – roof diving. “All it takes is a few mattresses, a third story balcony, a lot of courage and a little insanity.” The Auburn Plainsman, Feb. 7. –Auburn University enjoys steady enrollment increase. There were 17,470 students enrolled for fall semester with the present day (Feb. 7) count being 18,888 students. –Three Auburn men’s track stars qualify for NCAA championship: Steve Griffiths, Bruce Hardy and Brian Abshire. Griffiths and Hardy both qualified for the 500 meter with respective times of 61.91 and 62.49 seconds. Abshire qualified for the 3000 meter with a time of 8:00.01.
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Viscosity refers to the fluid nature of a substance, so asphalt binders make the mixture flow easier when the asphalt is heated. With additives, the asphalt is a warm mix because it melts at lower temperatures, 185-200 degrees Fahrenheit, compared to the mixture without additives. The asphalt binders include wax and a silicate mineral called zeolite. Wax is mixed with asphalt to reduce the melting temperature and zeolite is mixed, making the asphalt mixture expand as yeast does in dough. The zeolite can hold 20 percent moisture. When the water in the zeolite mixes with asphalt, the water vaporizes, creating bubbles that makes the asphalt foam up, Kvasnak said. “Asphalt roads can last more than 20 years if they are constructed properly and good maintenance occurs,” Kvasnak said. The asphalt mixtures are tested at the NCAT Pavement Test track in Opelika. The track is oval and consists of 46, 200 foot-long sections allowing for 46 mixture tests at a time. The track is 1.74 miles long. Semitrailers drive around the track to test the mixtures. Kvasnak can be contacted at ank0004@auburn.edu or 8447303 for more information.
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DREW THOMPSON
Thursday, February 4, 2010
The Auburn Plainsman
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Campus, B7
Professor teaches mythos of Mythology PATRICK DEVER ASSOCIATE SPORTS EDITOR
By the beard of Zeus! Auburn’s English department offers a course in Ancient Mythology. Professor Dan Latimer teaches the course this semester and said the course covers a lot of mythological texts. “It’s mostly the classical background,” Latimer said. “Stories from Homer up through the tragidean: Sophocles, Euripides, Escalus.” Mythology, the word, is defined as a set of stories. “That’s what myth means, ‘mythos’ means story,” Latimer said. The course, however, isn’t limited to the classics. “The novels that we have are from the ancient world, Daphnis and Chloe and ‘The Golden Ass,’ which is a really good novel,” Latimer said. Latimer said the class spends three weeks going over Homer’s “The Odyssey” and spends just about as much time on “The Iliad.” “‘The Iliad’ is 15,000 lines and ‘The Odyssey’ is around 12,000 lines,”
Latimer said. “It’s quite a chore to get through all of it.” Tim Ramsey, senior in English, said he enjoys reading “The Odyssey.” “This was probably my fifth time through,” Ramsey said. “It has to be one of my favorite books,” Latimer said students take the class as a change of pace from their everyday class load. “Because this is my last semester, I thought I might as well just sign up for classes that I genuinely wanted to take,” Ramsey said. Latimer said he uses the class to look further into the classics than just character development and plot line. “The Odyssey,” for example, shows the differences between men and women in ancient society. “‘The Odyssey’ seems to be about domesticity on the one hand and adventures on the other,” Latimer said. He said the students enjoy all the battles and crusades they read in the novels and epics. “It’s a lot about heroes and monsters, heroes kill-
ing monsters,” Latimer said. “‘The Odyssey’ is about Odysseus slaying a lot of monsters, getting free of them and escaping them when they want to eat him.” In recent years, Latimer said, many works the class discusses have been made into movies. Movies like “Troy,” “Helen of Troy” and even “O Brother Where Art Thou?” are some of the more recent Hollywood renditions based on classic mythology. “A lot of these stories have been made into film recently and its interesting to see how Hollywood portrays characters,” Latimer said. Ancient Mythology is a three-hour credit course and is open to anyone interested in taking it. The course is open to “anybody who’s looking for an extra course, something entertaining to take besides their requirements,” Latimer said. “I have students come in from the graduate school who take it just to entertain themselves to read something aside from their work.”
Drew Thompson/ ASSISTANT CAMPUS EDITOR
Brent Vickers, University electrician (left), and Klint Welcon, University electrician (right), wire appliances at the gasification unit in the bioproducts and bioenergy laboratory.
Lab turns trash to gas DREW THOMPSON ASSISTANT CAMPUS EDITOR
Auburn University is constructing a gasification unit off of South Donahue Drive that will take farming feedstock and produce fuel, high-value chemicals and electrical power. “Our goal is to create a unique pilot-scale facility that will enable our faculty to be leaders in the science of using gasification to convert biomass resources into liquid fuels, high-value chemicals and electrical power,” said Steven Taylor, professor and head of biosystems engineering and director of the Center for Bioenergy and Bioproducts. When the unit is finished, it will be the best biomass gasification unit in the Southern U.S., Taylor said. “This laboratory will allow us to develop improved methods for creating synthesis gas from biomass,” Taylor said.
Biomass is separated into categories. Forest biomass comes from places such as pine plantations or logging operations that contain residue from harvesting pulpwood or saw timber. Agricultural biomass includes materials such as switch grass, peanut hulls, pecan shells and poultry litter. Sushil Adhikari, assistant professor in bioenergy, will be conducting research for the gasification unit at the Auburn University Center for Bioenergy and Bioproducts. “I will be involved in research to understand the effect of temperatures, pressures and biomass feedstocks such as pine wood and switch grass,” Adhikari said. Dave Mills, manager of the bioenergy and bioproducts laboratory, has been working in the lab for over a year and a half. “We are going to be gasifying multiple feed-
stocks, agricultural waste and forest waste to produce liquid fuels from the gas,” Mills said. The gasification unit is designed for research, not for commercial sale operation, Taylor said. “The system will consume over 100 pounds of biomass per hour and produce as much as 40 cubic feet per minute of synthesis gas,” Taylor said. Adhikari will be researching the synthesis gas. “Syngas, or synthesis gas, is a mixture of carbon monoxide, hydrogen, carbon dioxide and methane,” Adhikari said. The syngas will be studied for its energy content and its cleanliness. “Our primary focus is on the processes needed to make these fuels and their overall quality,” Taylor said. “If we end up making enough fuel, we will of course be interested in using it in some of our University vehicles.”
Lunch and Learn teaches students diversity, acceptance MAXWELL NEWFIELD ASSOCIATE CAMPUS EDITOR
The Multicultural Center has combined two common college student activities, eating and learning, into one activity, the Lunch and Learn series. “It’s a program that has been done a little bit in the past, but we wanted to make it more consistent this semester and to try and continue it kind of as a signature program for the Multicultural Center,” said Shakeer Abdullah, director of the Multicultural Center. “The idea was to give students the opportunity, well students, staff and faculty, the opportunity, over their lunch hours to come and learn about a topic that they may not be familiar with.” All of the topics of the Lunch and Learn series are related to issues of diversity and cultural relations in the world today. Forthcoming guests include Dr. Evan Lyon who has experience working with sufferers of AIDS in Haiti, to speak about the impact of AIDS on people of color. Abdullah said even though the subject matter
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of the Lunch and Learn series may seem serious, the attitude of the events is casual and all students are welcome. “Obviously, we ask that you don’t chew too loudly,” Abdullah said, “but other than that, it’s pretty laid back, and I think students should feel free to come and go as they need to.” The laid-back attitude of the series along with the series’ association with the lunch hour are two things Abdullah said he thinks will attract people to the conversations. “We want to give (the attendees) an opportunity to gain a new perspective during their regularly scheduled work day,” Abdullah said. “We don’t want people to have excuses as to why they weren’t able to learn about issues of diversity, so we try to provide them with as many opportunities as possible.” Josh Inwood, assistant professor in geography, who has worked with Abdullah on the Lunch and Learn series, said he thinks the series is beneficial for Auburn’s community. “I think it’s valuable for a number of reasons,”
Inwood said. “It’s an opportunity for students to learn. We live in a globalized world where you’ll be challenged with issues like these. This is an opportunity to engage in a thoughtful and informed way.” Inwood said aside from exposing students to lessons they may not have learned in the classroom, the Lunch and Learn series provides students an opportunity to learn about issues encompassing cultural diversity in a nontraditional manner. “When I was an undergrad I had a lot fewer opportunities to sit down and have a face-to-face conversation with someone, and that’s what the Lunch and Learn series is about,” Inwood said. Abdullah said he hopes, in time, the series can become, “a signature program for the Multicultural Center.” “(We want) to challenge people to learn a little bit more about issues of diversity and diverse topics and issues that around the world,” Abdullah said. The next Lunch and Learn series is scheduled for Feb. 17 with Lyon as the guest speaker.
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The Auburn Plainsman
Campus, B8
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Photo of the Week
On the Concourse
Jeffrey Bolan, freshman in aerospace engineering
“What’s your favorite class you’ve taken at Auburn?” “Genetics.”
Specifications: f/5.6, 1/250 sec, 150400 Kodak Ultramax 35 mm film
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Taken Nov. 5, 2009, at 5:57 p.m. “Introduction to computer programming.”
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Freelance photographer captures celebrities C3
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INTRIGUE
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Dive deeper, discover hidden underwater world Scuba diving can be an opportunity to push the limit. CALLIE GARRETT INTRIGUE EDITOR
Imagine experiencing a weightless, silently intriguing atmosphere that takes up two-thirds of the earth and has never been explored by many people. Scuba diving gives the opportunity to unveil underwater mysteries that cover the majority of planet earth. “Being underwater is
like flying,” said David Baskin, open water instructor of Auburn University’s scuba program. “You are weightless as you glide around the underwater world. The sounds of a hectic world cease. The only sounds are those of the bubbles as they race to the surface. As your body calms, and your breathing slows, you observe the life below.” Jake Kurland, a dive specialist through Scuba Schools International, said he agrees with Baskin, the experience underwater is unforgettable. “The experience of being underwater is one of my favorite things in life,” Kurland said. “Since you are naturally buoyant, it
feels like you are flying almost.” Baskin said the most remarkable experience while diving was with the whale shark. “I enjoy diving because it lets me see a world that most people only see in magazines, or in the movies,” Baskin said. “It’s the last great frontier on our planet, and it’s nice to see what everyone else is missing.” Some may use the chance to dive as an opportunity to live on the edge, while others see it as a way to escape from today’s chaotic world and relax. “Scuba diving is very calming and serene,” said Sarah Ellis, senior in history. “You can’t
talk to anyone, but the sounds you do hear are amplified in the water so you feel more in tune with your surroundings. Overall it’s an extremely relaxing experience.” Baskin said the experience of feeding sharks is surreal. “The thought that (sharks) could tear you up shows you that you have entered their world, and you have to respect that,” Baskin said. Kurland said his most fascinating encounter has been feeding the sharks in the Bahamas. “We dove out of a place called Stuart’s Cove,” Kurland said. “We had a shark dive where they were feeding about > Turn to SCUBA, C2
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Being underwater is like flying. You are weightless as you glide around the underwater world. The sounds of a hectic world cease. The only sounds are those of the bubbles as they race to the surface. As your body calms and your breathing slows, you observe the life below.” David Baskin, open water instructor
Photos contributed by David Baskin and Rachel George Pictured: David Baskin
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The Auburn Plainsman
Intrigue, C2
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Antiperspirants contain harmful BUSTED! metals, possibly causing cancer MYSTERIOUS MYTHS
SARAH PHILLIPS STAFF REPORTER
Everyone has an individual morning routine and more often than not it involves puttingg on deodorant. But how manyy stop and think, “I wonder if my deodorant is givingg me cancer?” Today where the Internet allows people to research any health topic, some people are questioning the effects of the aluminum found in most antiperspirants. “I read in a magazine this morning about different common items that
SCUBA >From C1
40, 8-to-9-foot long reef sharks abut 10 feet away from me. It was kinda scary but at the same time they would just bump into you and then swim to where the food was. It was a ton of fun.” Diving is an exclusive adventure that people may not think about trying. “My favorite part about scuba diving is knowing that not everyone gets to see the things you’re seeing, to me that makes it thrilling and adventurous,” Ellis said. The effect of scuba diving creates an adrenaline rush from sheer excitement or a threat of fear. Diving has caused Baskin injuries as well as fearful encounters. “I was working on a dive boat in Florida, and while
have aluminum, mercury and lead in them,” said Marsha Gladfelder, owner and manager of General Nutrition Center in Opelika. The threat of cancer is a trendy topic in today’s world, but it seems that there is an overwhelming amount of items it can originate from. Blake Robertson, senior in nursing, wasn’t surprised to hear about this rumor of a new origin of breast cancer. “I think oxygen causes cancer today,” Robertson said. The antiperspirants myth, which was started
Carolyn Rush / PHOTO STAFF
Emily Littleton, freshman in international business, applies her deodorant every morning before she leaves.
through e-mail, states that the real threat is the aluminum in antiperspirants, but doesn’t apply to deodorants. According to an e-mail, which has circulated around the world and can
be found online, “antiperspirant, as the name clearly indicates, prevents you from perspiring, thereby inhibiting the body from purging toxins from below the armpits... Instead, the body deposits them in the
lymph nodes below the arms since it cannot sweat them out. This causes a high concentration of toxins and leads to cell mutations: a.k.a. CANCER.” The American Cancer Society (ACS) said these statements were false. “A carefully-designed epidemiologic study of this issue published in 2002 compared 813 women with breast cancer and 793 women without the disease,” the ACS said on its Web site. “The researchers found no link between breast cancer risk and antiperspirant use, deodorant use, or underarm shaving.” Although this study fo-
cused on women, the majority affected with breast cancer, the ACS still determined that there was no correlation between antiperspirants and breast cancer effecting men. This particular threat of breast cancer may be false, but many people are deciding to switch from antiperspirants to aluminumless deodorant. “We have a lot of customers who use (natural deodorants),” Gladfelder said. These crystal-formulated deodorants contain no aluminum and come in the same varieties as antiperspirants, including a roll-on, stick and spray.
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working I was welcomed by a 9-foot tiger shark,” Baskin said. Freak accidents can happen to anyone at anytime, as Baskin witnessed. “I went to jump off of the boat, while working, and jumped in head first,” Baskin said. “When I hit the water, my mask was at just the right angle and the glass shattered, sending a half-inch shard of glass into my eye ... and thus sealing my fate as forever being known as Face.” Scuba diving can offer an opportunity to reach outside one’s comfort zone, Ellis said. “Relax,” Ellis said. “The calmer you are the easier it is to learn. Humans weren’t meant to breathe underwater so if you are anxious or can’t get the hang of something the first time, it’s OK. You’ll get it soon enough.”
SARAH PHILLIPS STAFF REPORTER
With today’s economy, many students are finding it hard to make a decent living off of their paychecks from part-time jobs. Both rent and food prices are skyrocketing, not to mention the clothes and shoes that many like to splurge on. What else is there to do without getting another boring retail job? For some students there are quite a few options, although they aren’t your typical or normal ideas of making money. According to the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM), “there is not consensus on the precise payment that oocyte donors should receive, (but) at this time sums of $5,000 or more require justification and sums above $10,000 go beyond what is appropriate.” So those who donate through an
ASRM egg donor program should make a minimum of $5,000. “I would donate my eggs for a substantial amount of money,” said Jessica Hoover, senior in biomedical sciences. “If I was in a financial crisis and I would make a lot of money, it’d be an easy choice.” Men who donate their sperm make much less, from five to 200 dollars, simply because it’s easier to donate. “I wouldn’t donate my sperm,” said Jacob Basset, senior in political science. “It’s kind of weird to (think about) having five kids that I don’t know about running around.” There are also more conventional ways to earn money, but the cash load is not quite as good. Those who have experienced a football gameday here at Auburn have seen the infamous biking taxi service. Whether someone is headed to their car or the game, the taxis allow you to climb in the back of their
taxi bike pulling a 2-person cart. There’s no limit to how much they will make during a day because it’s all based on tips. “If you really needed the money, I guess (the biking taxi) would be a good idea,” said Anne Poundstone, junior in pre-pharmacy. “I wouldn’t want to do it.” Although the taxi service is a good idea to earn a little extra money, tips aren’t always the most reliable resource. When it comes to the easiest money to make, most students rely on writing papers or doing homework for their friends. Basset said he has experience when it comes to doing other peoples work for a profit. “I wrote a paper for someone for $20,” Basset said. Basset also took an online calculus class for a friend for free, but regrets not getting paid. “If I wanted to give charity, I’d go to the Salvation Army,” Basset said.
Random ABOUT JANE:
Kaitlin Williams
Age: 22 Hometown: Tampa Greatest fear: Tornadoes Hobbies: Tennis Random fact: One day I want to live in Costa Rica. Availability: In a relationship
senior, English
Blockbuster, Movie Gallery or Redbox? Blockbuster
out, because it’s more fun, and you see more people.
What is your favorite job you have ever had? Working on a farm
All-time favorite meal? Pad Thai
What is your least favorite job you have ever had? Working at a grocery store
you visited? Four: Ireland, England, Jamaica and Costa Rica. Favorite thing to do when its cold outside? Build a fire
Have you ever collected anything? I collect and dry flowers.
Favorite drinking game? Beer Pong
Last movie you saw? “The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou”
Night out or night in? Night
How many countries have
Favorite TV show? “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia” Plans for after graduation? Leave Auburn Apple products or PC? Apple
Bake Bread Pudding with Apples, Pecans and Raisins Contributed by: Panera Bread Company Ingredients 4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) unsalted butter 1 loaf Cinnamon Raisin White Bread torn into bitesize pieces 1/2 cup brown sugar, packed 1/2 cup pecan halves Zest and juice of 1 large orange 1/4 cup apple cider 1 tablespoon vanilla extract or rum 8 small baking apples (about 2 pounds) such as Fuji, Gala or Granny Smith, peeled, cored and thinly sliced 1/2 cup apple, quince or blackberry jam or jelly
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Directions Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Melt the butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add the bread and cook for two to three minutes, or until well coated. Add the sugar, pecans, orange zest and juice, cider, and vanilla extract. Cook an additional two to three minutes until a sauce begins to form. In a 9 x 13-inch baking dish, layer the bread mixture with the apples and dot the top with the jam or jelly. Bake for 40 minutes. Makes six servings.
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Intrigue, C3
Capturing celebrities’ finest moments
Photo taken by Taylor Hill Photo taken by Taylor Hill
Taylor Swift pictured at the Country Music Association awards in 2009.
Sarah Kline, sophomore in apparel merchandising, Julianne Robinson, sophomore in childhood education, Twilight actress Kristen Stewart, Hadley Kirkpatrick, sophomore in English, Mary Ellen Skinner, sophomore in rehabilitation services and Twilight actor Taylor Lautner have a War Eagle Moment in Knoxville, Tenn.
Alumnus, Taylor Hill, shows his success through freelance photography, sharing his experience of the red carpet CALLIE GARRETT INTRIGUE EDITOR
Freelance photography brought many accomplishments for Auburn grad Taylor Hill. Hill, 27, has work published in a variety of media, from Rolling Stones to People Magazine. “I stayed because I fell in love with capturing moments that tell stories or confront the viewer,” Hill said. “I never knew that taking photos would be so important to me that it’s now difficult for me to enjoy a concert when I don’t have a camera.” There are many aspects to a freelance photographer, some good and some not so good. The red carpet experience is not what everyone may dream of, Hill said. “This is the greatest illusion about the red carpet — that it’s a fun place to be,” Hill said. “It’s a dream, but it’s extremely hard work. Every photographer is packed in tightly with their gear everywhere.” Hill said it becomes exhausting after holding the camera up for more than four hours at a time and photographers become
Photo taken by Taylor Hill
Dierks Bentley performing at the Samsung AT&T Summer Krush at the Tabernacle in Atlanta Aug. 18, 2009.
territorial. Although photographers can get space–sensitive, they are on each other’s side while being courteous to one another and making sure everyone can get the shot they want. The red carpet can also
be a strenuous activity for celebrities as well. “On the celebrity side of the red carpet, they have to wear a certain outfit and carry certain accessories and pose for everyone while flashbulbs are going off constantly,” Hill said.
“They have to keep posture and keep smiling in the midst of blinding flashbulbs and they’re hustled around constantly.” Although the job becomes tiresome, Hill said, it is still a memorable experience. “That said, inexplicably, it’s still an exhilarating experience, but it’s like driving in Manhattan,” Hill said. “I’ve never done a red carpet where my back didn’t hurt the next day.” Hill said the rewards of photography are unique to each photographer. “It’s nice to get published in Time and Rolling Stone, but the biggest honor I’ve ever gotten is having my work hung in someone’s house,” Hill said. Every time Hill opens a magazine, it is potentially a new surprise. “It’s rewarding to be reading a magazine and see one of my pictures that I had no idea was there,” Hill said. “That’s happened to me a few times and it’s always a treat. It’s a lot harder to read magazines though because I’ll just start trying to find my pictures in there.” The encounter with ce-
lebrities is no big deal for the seasoned Hill. “I see them as people who work hard and are there to work and get photos taken and get exposure,” Hill said. “I’m usually too busy working to get to chat. The experience is me holding up a giant camera and figuring out the right second to say ‘look over here, please!’” Hill said he believes in getting permission to take a photo before snapping private pictures, unlike paparazzi. “I’ve run into celebrities in restaurants or on the street before, and I’ve asked them if I could take a picture,” Hill said. “If they said yes, I did. If they said no or didn’t want to, I wouldn’t do it. Unless they are on a stage or on a red carpet, which means they are clearly OK with being photographed, then I’m not going to take their picture if they aren’t OK with it.” Jeff Kravitz, president and founder of FilmMagic. com, hired Hill as a freelance photographer a year ago. “Taylor is intuitive and he also knows how to treat people with respect, which
probably comes from his Southern upbringing,” Kravitz said. “He’s also good at keeping his eye on the ball and staying focused.” Kravitz said Hill is easy to work with and reliable when it comes to getting photos. “He thinks outside the box and likes to push the edge, which is important in any business that’s creative,” Kravitz said. Chuck Hemard, a photography professor, expresses how challenging a career in freelance photography can be. “Like many creative endeavors, earning a living off photography can be extremely competitive,” Hemard said. “One would need to consider in which capacity they are willing to make images for clients if one hopes to sell work.” Hemard said it may come down to moving to a major city where established photographers work directly with publishers and clients. “I think Taylor has a bright future ahead,” Kravitz said. “I have received nothing but compliments from others that have worked with him.”
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The Auburn Plainsman
Intrigue, C4
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Redbox debuts near Chick-fil-A KELLY NICASTRO WRITER
Typically found in grocery stores or fast-food restaurants, Auburn students can now access Redbox in the Student Center near Chick-fil-A. Philip Clothiaux, sophomore in business, brought the Redbox into the Student Center and funds its operation. Clothiaux and his roommate have put their college savings and a tremendous amount of effort into constructing the optimal way for students to conveniently rent DVDs. The Redbox first occupied the Student Center in October, but has officially been running since the start of the semester. “It’s all about keeping the kids on campus,” Clothiaux said. “It reduces the need for students to have to get in their car and drive all over the place to find a movie.” Student reactions to the new Redbox addition seem to be mostly positive. “I think that having the Redbox right at the tip of our fingers of campus is much more convenient than driving to the movie store,” said Katie Blume, sophomore in pre-nursing. “I’m always around the student cen-
ter, as many other students are, so returning the DVD wouldn’t be out of the way.” To rent a DVD, a debit or credit card is swiped and charged a fee of only $1.50. Every day after, $1.50 is billed to a renter’s account up until the 10th day of the rental when the movie is then charged to the credit card and is theirs to keep. In comparison to other movie rentals such as Blockbuster, Redbox is a cheaper option. “Whenever I rent a movie I typically only watch it once anyway and if you use Redbox instead of a movie store you can easily save almost $4.00 on your rental,” said Kendall Hartman, sophomore in building science. The machine is set up to calculate which movies are most popular, in order to figure out what movies students want. There are movies available including ’90s films, TV shows, new releases including “Devil’s Advocate,” “The Ugly Truth” and “District 9.” Ideas concerning the Redbox are continuously expanding, including the proposal for Redbox to carry video games as well.
Ellison Langford/ NEWS EDITOR
While cows may not be a large source of anthropogenic emissions, they do benefit the environment in other ways like reducing the amount of atmospheric carbon dioxide through the rapid regrowth of their grazing vegetation.
Skipping meat may help environment JILLIAN CLAIR STAFF REPORTER
Eat less meat; save the planet. This is part of the mentality of supporters of the Meatless Monday campaign. According to meatlessmonday.com, eating less meat is not only good for a diet, but beneficial for the environment. The Meatless Monday campaign seeks to reduce meat consumption by 15 percent by motivating people to abstain from eating meat every Monday. “There may be other compelling reasons for advancing a vegetarian agenda, but I simply don’t think that you can rest your argument on the prospects of a measurable decrease in the output of anthropogenic emissions,” said Russ Muntifering, a ruminant nutrition professor in the department of Animal Sciences. The campaign has also gotten commitments from school systems and universities to serve vegetarian meals to students on
Mondays. The Web site said the meat industry generates nearly 20 percent of the man-made greenhouse gas emissions, which is more than the transportation industry. The amount of water used to raise livestock is also addressed by the campaign. According to the Web site, “An estimated 1,800 to 2,500 gallons of water go into a single pound of beef.” Meatless Monday also claims moderating meat consumption helps reduce fossil fuel demand. Muntifering said there are more factors involved with climate change than the methane cows produce. Muntifering said rather than 20 percent, only about five to 10 percent of the greenhouse gas makeup is methane, which is what cows’ waste emits into the atmosphere. Cows are not the only source of methane, Muntifering said. Wetlands, bogs and landfills also emit methane. Muntifering said he
would question the effectiveness of a single day without meat in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and water consumption. Muntifering said livestock affects the environment in a positive way. “There are very many positive effects of cattle grazing that are overlooked, especially in grassbased beef cattle production,” Muntifering said. Muntifering said grassbased beef cattle production causes frequent defoliation of vegetation and stimulation of rapid regrowth, which can be significant in reducing harmful atmospheric carbon dioxide. Christi Talbert, senior in nutrition and intern with the sustainability department, said greenhouse gas emissions are only a small portion of why mass meat production is bad for the environment. The way livestock is raised is the main reason students should decrease their meat production, Talbert said. Talbert said a large number of livestock are raised in small area that
doesn’t get cleaned, so the animals live knee-deep in their own waste. “That manure that could be used as fertilizer is just making the animals sick,” Talbert said. Talbert said students don’t have to cut meat out of their diets all together to make a positive impact. Eating sustainable, humanely raised meat, such as the grass-based beef from the Auburn meats lab, is better for the environment and for a diet, Talbert said. Victoria Lisle, Ph.D. student in English, has been a vegetarian for three years. The industrialization of the meat industry is one of the reasons Lisle stopped eating meat. One American eats about 200 pounds of meat per year, and an extremely high amount of resources goes into meeting this high demand, Lisle said. “Most people who go vegetarian start from a love of animals,” Lisle said. “But the more you look into it, the more you see that there’s a lot that’s wrong with the industrialization process.”
The Auburn Plainsman
Thursday, February 4, 2010
w o H To
Prepare a special Valentine’s Day
ELLIOT NOLAN WRITER
open nounced that they will be Whether spending Valday, Sun and 13, . on Saturday, Feb entine’s Day with that spes, day h bot on g escape Feb. 14, deliverin vecon cial someone or trying to and e eas spend- for customers’ the meaning of the day by e can nience. d Eding it with close friends, on “We tend to go all-out,” sai packbusiin still take advantage of the re mo ho panies. ward Taylor, sop ng goi ages offered by larger com I’m ht, nig be ness. “During the bou “Actually we are going to h wit m roo g back to fill her dorm en wh y, spending the day drivin wa at Th . ham quets of flowers from Orlando,” said Gra will feel like she busi- she wakes up, she Grindstaff, sophomore in . We’re going den ause is in a flower gar ness. “Which will be nice bec favorite resr ou and we to eat lunch at we are both from there, t evening, tha n spend taurant. And the will get the opportunity to kie dough coo eat we’re going to time with our families.” movie at te ori fav t he and watch her Grindstaff confessed tha it sim- my place.” Valand his girlfriend both like Taylor was unaware of any Authe ple and sweet. d un aro ls buy entine’s specia “Just because some people a. are a are ex- burn and Opelik en it things for each other that “Money is not an issue wh t they lor Tay ” pensive, doesn’t mean tha rt, hea eet sw re is spent on my care about each other mo ,” said. than any other couple has The Georgia Aquarium the of Grindstaff said. on oti “M extra a special titled, e& For those willing to go the tur Lec y Da ’s ine town Oceans Valent De lfoff mile, there are some out of Ha by ted Dinner” presen age the packages as well. r ove s son ine’s pot.com for per Waffle House and Valent d in the of 21. with Day are not usually couple “The evening will begin ive uct same sentence. sed h wit lled the a reception fi an by But anyone willing to make ed low fol s, nk ngham bites and dri ck Pu ng two-hour drive to Birmi lfga Wo by ve-star enticing dinner a h wit will be able to enjoy a “fi ing nat mi cul accord- Catering and tma ls’ meal for a one-star price,” ma ani at k ws in provocative loo ing to the Birmingham Ne according to the Houses ing behaviors,” an article titled “Waffle site. b Valen- Aquarium’s We in Moody, Calera Primp for and lecture are ner After the din tine’s Day.” invited to stay are sts 32 finished, gue The article explains how ver,” where epo sle s of- for an “adult participating Waffle House watchful the der un light they will sleep fer a table cloth and a candle ls. ma ani e rin the eye of the ma ing dinner for the nights of With all these money sav the , 12th, 13th, and, of course ess sin bu s iou var by deals offered ose 14th. cho to t cul diffi store, es, it will be Auburn’s Check-It-Out Blakeley Sisk / PHOTO EDITOR an- what path to follow. an in-vogue boutique, has
Chocolate covered strawberries and other sugary desserts are Valentine’s Day staples.
Ashlea Draa / ASSOCiATE PHOTO EDITOR
Colt Ponder, junior in exercise science, picks out flowers for Valentine’s Day, a classic gift.
Guy’s guide to Valentine’s Day DEREK LACEY WRITER
Valentine’s Day is closing in fast, and that means a lot of nail biting and stress headaches for guys in search of plans for a day with their special woman. “It’s a day to feel special,” said Mamie Price, junior in nutrition and dietetics. In elementary school, Valentine’s Day meant sheets of manufactured cards and cheap suckers to sheepishly place on a girl’s desk, but today, expectations are a little higher. “My wife expects me to do something extravagant and romantic,” said Jacob Meredith, junior in accounting. Yet extravagance doesn’t always mean making plans difficult or expensive. “My ex-boyfriend wrote ‘I love you’ in 20 different languages and posted them on my car,” Price said. But if Post-it Notes on a windshield won’t cut it, jewelry is a model Valentine’s Day gift, especially diamonds.
Becca Terry, sophomore in radio, television and film, said a good gift would be flowers and an expensive necklace, preferably diamonds. But price can be one of the major factors that decides which gift to buy. “It’s better if you know about how much they are going to spend, so you can get it close to what they spend,” Meredith said. “You don't want to spend too much, but you don't want to buy something too cheap either.” But the best gifts do not have to be the most expensive gifts. “It's just not this big deal where you need extravagant gifts,” said Gerri Wright, sophomore in communication. Dinner is almost always a big part of Valentine’s Day. Whether it is a romantic stay-at-home candlelight dinner, or the most expensive restaurant in town, it should be something special and from the heart. Sarah West of Amsterdam Cafe said the restaurant has a special menu for the holiday that includes
Intrigue, C5
special desserts and select menu items, chosen by the chef. While going out to eat is nice, a Valentine’s Day dinner needs a special touch to set it apart from any other regular date. “We’ve had a lot of people get engaged here and request the same table as they had on their first date, stuff like that,” West said. Dinner at home is a way to avoid the restaurant crowds, get creative and keep distractions at a minimum. “Cook dinner,” said Alicia Ridout, sophomore in German. “Cook a good dinner, not just microwave.” Flowers, chocolate and teddy bears can be an inexpensive way to accentuate any Valentine’s Day gift, even if they are not the focal point. These classics can be found nearly anywhere, including Walmart, Target, Winn-Dixie and Kroger and can be a simple and easy way to add a little something extra to an already special Valentine’s Day celebration.
The Auburn Plainsman
Intrigue, C6
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Apple reveals iPad, receives skeptical response BEN BARTLEY COPY EDITOR
Steve Jobs, in his trademark tucked-in black shirt and blue jeans, announced the Apple iPad at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts in San Francisco Jan. 27. The iPad is a multitouch tablet device similar to both the iPhone and iTouch. It will sell for anywhere between $499 and $829, depending on memory size and Wi-Fi capabilities, according to Apple’s Web site. Dan Draper, senior in industrial design and Mac salesman at the AU Bookstore, said he wouldn’t buy
an iPad this generation. “I would wait a couple versions later until it at least had a camera on it,” Draper said. “As far as the device itself goes, it’s a pretty strong device, but in terms of what means for the direction Apple is taking, it’s kind of disturbing, because it kind of locks down what you can do with your device and gives them all the control.” Draper said he sees the iPad as mixture of the Kindle, an e-book reader produced by Amazon, and an iTouch. “Stuff like this you always have to listen to what they say and then take it and
decide for yourself what it Apple’s latest product have is,” Draper said. “What it been mixed. really is is “Basia big iPod cally, I’m To u c h . not too ... it kind of They’ll impressed try to sell locks down what you with the it as a producfullscreen can do with your detion of a In t e r n e t vice and gives them larger verdevice, sion of a all the control.” multismaller t o u c h Dan Draper, v e r s i o n like the senior, industrial design of a deiPhone vice I can does. Or a check my device that’s easier to use. Facebook with,” said Zac Or, like they’re saying now, Thornton, senior in Engan e-book reader. But real- lish language arts educaly it’s a big iPod Touch; it’s tion. “The price point is not much more than that.” impressive, but as far as Student reactions to what all it can do and the
“
restrictions that are surely coming as it gets better and better, it’s not that impressive. I wouldn’t buy it. I don’t think it’s going to take over the Kindle.” Thornton said he doesn’t believe college textbooks will shift to e-book readers anytime in the near future. “This isn’t The Jetsons,” Thornton said. Hannah Crichton, senior in psychology and AU Bookstore employee, agrees with Thornton. She said she doesn’t believe textbooks will shift to the e-reader format any time soon. “I personally would never buy it,” Crichton said. “If
I got it as a gift, that’d be cool. But I’d never buy it.” Cortney Dryden, senior in communications, is currently searching for a new laptop. She said she has not been satisfied with Dell and other brands. “I think this sounds perfect for me, because of being so connected to my iPhone,” Dryden said. “When I was in the market I was thinking about a netbook, because that’s really all I am going to need it for. I just think (the iPad’s) exactly what I’m looking for personally.” The iPad has a tentative release date of late March.
Contributed by Veterinary Sports Medicine
The department of Veterinary Sports Medicine researched and developed its own training techniques.
Dogs detect danger, prevent disasters MICHELLE TESLIK WRITER
McGruffs they may not be, but life-saving, terrorist-preventing dogs they are. Craig Angle, associate director of Veterinary Sports Medicine, works with two Auburn students and a professional staff of more than 30 for the Animal Health and Performance Program at the College of Veterinary Medicine, researching and developing ways of training detection dogs that are used for various reasons all over the world. “Auburn has a rich history in detection dogs,” Angle said. “The interest in understanding their possibilities has intensified in the last 20 years.” Three programs work under the AHPP to research and train the dogs: K-9 Detection Training, K-9 Detection Research Institute and Veterinary Sports Medicine. “It’s a great program,” said Tara Lanier, of the communications and marketing department of the College of Veterinary Medicine. “No other research in the world compares to it.” Auburn has been working for many years to fine tune the techniques used for training. “They are very complicated systems and programs,” Angle said. “People think you just teach a dog to smell an odor, but so much more goes into it.” Not just any dog can be taken off the street and trained to do the jobs the vet school dogs are doing, so the program breeds its own dogs to ensure successful training. Angle said their goal is to continue researching the limits of dogs because no one has really studied it. “They have studied nutrition and endurance,”
Angle said. “But not much has been done in terms of researching the physiological, physical, psychological and environmental perspectives.” The detection dogs have many jobs around the world, including finding narcotics, tracking people, detecting mold in homes, hunting and many other uses. Some dogs, like the hunting dogs, can operate alone. They can be away from their trainers and still be doing their jobs. “They’re motivated,” Angle said. “And not only that, but they love it.” Auburn’s dogs are working in Iraq and Afghanistan to detect Improvised Explosive Devices. IEDs are the No. 1 killer of civilians and soldiers of the conflict in the Middle East. The dogs are trained by applying the methods and research discovered by the Auburn programs. “We have multiple classes of clients,” Angle said. “Mostly federal and government organizations.” Other clients of the training programs are Amtrak, the nation’s capital, local police and federal protective services. The Auburn dogs work events all over the world. “Our Vapor wake dogs were used at the presidential inauguration,” Angle said. “Vapor dogs are a type of detection dog that learn to smell vapors off a person carrying explosive devices when they walk by as opposed to smelling a bomb directly.” The dogs were developed at Auburn and the program is seeking a patent for them. “I have heard that dogs who pass through that program are allowed to ride with their guardians on planes,” said Joanne Tong, English professor. “That is quite an incentive to learn more about it.”
The Auburn Plainsman
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Intrigue, C7
Keeping it clean: Dirty jobs take guts JESSICA SHADDIX WRITER
Blakeley Sisk / PHOTO EDITOR
Social smoking has taken hold among students as a cheaper alternative to heavy smoking.
Social cigs save money ELLIOT NOLAN WRITER
Social smoking has caught hold with students as a way to limit their indulgence. The phrase “social smoker” is a loosely regarded term, but the average number of cigarettes consumed per day is six. “I call myself a situational smoker,” said Zach Barnett, junior in business. But whatever idiom is used, the definition is the same. “I do it when I drink, or I’m bored and it is available,” said Andrew Perez, sophomore in business. Perez said he doesn’t even buy a pack unless he is inebriated or it is the weekend, and since he cut down on smoking, he can breathe better.
Not all social smokers are former “heavy smokers.” Some are new to the indulgence. “I started during finals week my freshman year,” said Cameron Traylor, sophomore in civil engineering. Traylor jokingly said that he started to follow in his parents’ footsteps. “I smoke when I drink or when I am in my car,” Traylor said. “My car smells like smoke so it makes me want a cigarette pretty bad any time I crank up the whip.” Guys are not the only ones lighting up socially. “I started out as a social smoker, and then became what would probably be labeled a heavy smoker this past semester,” said Sara Kenny, sophomore in social work. “Now I’m
making the transition back to being a social smoker.” Kenny said she started smoking socially to keep a buzz going or relieve stress. According to taxfundation.org, the tax on a pack of cigarettes in Alabama is 4% as of July 1, 2009. “I figure buying cigs with this new tax is a double positive,” Traylor said. “I can make myself happy and help pay for the six trillion dollar deficit.” Perez said the new tax has made him realize how stupid smoking is. “I can’t even fathom paying extra cash for something that kills me; it is dumb,” Perez said. This social smoking phenomenon might not be a new installment, but it is in vogue.
Beer cans, beer bottles and bothersome waste. These are just a few things collected and taken to the dump each month on campus, along with an average of 406 tons of trash. According to Leigh Jacobson, assistant coordinator of the Recycling and Solid Waste Program, that’s 812,000 pounds of waste to pick up. But who picks up the trash? “We’re not just yard boys,” said Melissa Newton, landscape services supervisor at the University. “We do a lot more than cut grass. We’re the only department that cleans the outside.” Landscape services and waste management work together to help beautify Auburn’s campus. Newton has been working for Auburn for 22 and a half years and said her team really cares about what they do for the campus. Newton’s landscape services team not only cleans the campus grounds, but also handles the outside of buildings and the landscape surrounding them. Newton said of all the places on campus, the amphitheater and Wire Road are the dirtiest loca-
tions on gamedays. “It could take up to four hours for four people to clean the amphitheater,” Newton said. Newton and her team pick up 42 tons of trash after each football game That may be hard to believe, but Renaya Carter, administrative associate for landscape services and “co-captain” to Newton, said the ground is filled with everything you can think of, including old cheese wrappers, party trays, hotdogs, shrimp and toilet paper with surprises underneath. “We’ve tried to put out trash bags,” Newton said. “We put dumpsters. People just drop it. It’s kind of like they think we’re fairies who are going to clean it up.” Carter said they really do have to deal with some disgusting stuff. “From pig heads to poop,” Carter said. “Yes… a pig head, a for real one… on a stick.” The pig head was found after an Arkansas game about four years ago on Wire Road, Newton said With situations like these, clean-up can become overwhelming. “They don’t understand,” Carter said. “When they come here and they party and they drink and they have a wonderful time and then they leave a disgusting mess, it’s land-
scape services that’s out front picking it up.” Newton said sometimes they don’t even know where to start, but with her team of 22, they get the job done. Messy or dirty as it seems, Newton said she enjoys her job, especially designing how the flower beds are going to look and picking out what plant materials are going to be used. Newton said it’s good to get dirty sometimes; however, some local bar employees disagree. Tom Boardman, a barback who works at 1716 on Magnolia Avenue, said it stinks to clean up and it’s even worse to clean up vomit. Boardman’s job is to clean and wash everything in the bar, even the less appealing things. Boardman said he’s been doing it for so long now that he’s gotten use to the throw-up part. “You just got to get in there and do it,” Boardman said. His advice for those in the bar scene is to go to the bathroom and throwup, because it’s better than throwing up in the middle of the bar. Both on campus or off there are people fighting the battle against bothersome waste for everyone. And they’re cleaning it up, one pig head at a time.
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The Auburn Plainsman
Intrigue, C8
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Wasting Time
The Auburn Plainsman INTRIGUE STAFF
Callie Garrett Editor Olivia Martin Associate Editor
Horoscopes
Brian Desarro Assistant Editor
To reach the staff, call 844-9109 or e-mail us at intrigue@theplainsman.com
Aquarius: The positioning of the moon makes you extra smooth with the opposite sex; get some digits.
Cancer: Jupiter’s shadow will give you severe insomnia this week. On the downside, you’ll be up until the wee hours of the morning. On the upside, you now have more hours devoted to Farmville.
Libra: Stop being a couch potato and go on an adventure, you lazy piece.
Tuesday–1/2 price Quesadillas Friday–Buy 1 get 1 free Fajita dinners and $2 Tall Boys
Aries: You will begin an ambitious project this week which you will never finish. You will, however, insist on discussing it incessantly. Sagittarius: From the windows to the walls, you’ll be getting low this week.
Gemini: The rotation of Venus makes you a little Martha Stewart this week. Hopefully without the jail time.
Capricorn: Unluckily, you will have a severe panic attack this Sunday at 3 p.m. Luckily, you’ve been warned.
Virgo: Avoid people named Bob or Barbara.
Taurus: You are extremely sexy this week. Hell yeah.
Leo: You will be exceptionally angry this week. If you are a girl, blame the hormones. If you are a guy, you will have no excuse and everyone will think you are a jerk.
Scorpio: The planets are ignoring you for the next seven days
Pisces: The planets are not aligning in your favor this week. Sorry.
Written by Olivia Martin / ASSOCIATE INTRIGUE EDITOR
Ages 19 & up
CROSSWORD
ACROSS 1. Portico 5. Exclude 8. Nature’s bandage 12. Squander 14. Foundation 15. Vacuum part 16. Watch feature 17. Reindeer herder 18.Is, in Madrid 19. Marvels 21. Peter, for one 23. EEC currency 24. Online letters 25. Soph. and jr. 26. Played loud 30. Embroidery thread 32. Exclaimed over 33. Lens type 36. River in England 37. Faculty honchos 38. West Coast st. 40. In agreement (hyph.) 42. Well-known 43. Night crawlers 44. Bldg. custodians 45. Sault — Marie 48. Polynesian plants 49. LAX hours
50. Chocolate treats 52. Poor pairing 57. Defiant reply (2 wds.) 58. Humid 60. Quebec school 61. Neck and neck 62. Mythical warmonger 63. Succeed (2 wds.) 64. Crime novelist — Buchanan 65. Fabric meas. 66. Catamount DOWN 1. Did the backstroke 2. Anklebones 3. Glacial ridges 4. Razor brand 5. Sheep calls 6. Rattlesnake kin 7. Scoldings 8. — Wooley of 1950s pop 9. Huxtable player 10. In a ferment 11. Plays the drum 13. Moderated 14. Salad-dressing cheese 20. Arith. term 22. Too
24. Skirt style (hyph.) 26. Fancy scarf 27. Strong emotion 28.Captain’s shout 29. Take up again 30. Conflicts 31. Ice-cream utensil 33. Is rife with 34. “Laugh-In” name 35. Knowing look 37. “Teacher’s Pet” star (2 wds.) 39. Mdse. 41. Carryall 42. Eggnog topper 44. Slow leak sound 45. Go rollerblading 46. Not bold 47. German city 49. Dice spots 51. Type of cracker 52. Fr. ladies 53. “Rent- — - —” (1988 flick) 54. Meat substitute 55. Quahog 56. Zeus’ spouse 59. Grandson of Benjamin, in the Bible
Ralph Crocker Invitational Page D5
Athlete of the Week: Adam Brown Swim and Dive Page D5
Rugby Iron Bowl Page D4
SPORTS 5-Star review
D
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2010
www.theplainsman.com
Patrick Dever sports@theplainsman.com
Overview of signees, NSD National Signing Day turns the entire nation’s attention to a group of 17 and 18 year olds. The pressure these kids are under is tremendous. Every media outlet is jockeying to know which school each athlete will attend before the next one does. It’s truly a phenomenon. That said, I am extremely excited about Auburn’s 2010 football signing class. Quarterback Cameron Newton, running back Michael Dyer and defensive tackle Jeffrey Whitaker should get a chance to compete for starting positions in their first year on The Plains. Depth was the big question at the end of the 2009 season, especially on defense. Auburn addressed the problem by adding 15 players on the defensive side; six on the defensive line, four in the secondary and four linebackers. Wide receiver Trovon Reed gave us all a scare when he didn’t commit as early as the other big name recruits, but his addition to the receiving corps will add much needed depth. NSD isn’t only about the players, however. Coaches are the reason these players are coming to Auburn. Head coach Gene Chizik and his coaching staff should be commended for all of their hard work. They took the Tigers from No. 19 in recruiting in 2009 to No. 3 according to Rivals.com, the largest jump within the top 25 from last year.
MICHAEL DYER Position: RB Hometown: Little Rock, Ark. Previous school: Little Rock Christian Academy Height: 5’ 8” Weight: 201 ESPN: No. 5 player overall, No. 1 running back Scout.com: No. 15 player overall, No. 2 running back Rivals.com: No. 11 player overall, No. 2 Running back
CAMERON NEWTON Position: QB Hometown: College Park, Ga. Previous school: Blinn Junior College Height: 6’ 6” Weight: 247 Rivals.com: No. 1 JUCO prospect, No. 1 JUCO quarterback *Enrolled at Auburn in January 2010
SHON COLEMAN Position: OL Hometown: Olive Branch, Miss. Previous school: Olive Branch High School Height: 6’ 7” Weight: 285 Scout.com: No. 72 player overall, No. 7 offensive lineman Rivals.com: No. 22 player overall, No. 3 offensive lineman
Dyer and Coleman mugshots provided by Rivals.com, Newton by Todd Van Emst / AUBURN MEDIA RELATIONS
THE LIST Reverse signing order Joel Bonomolo Corey Lemonier Trovon Reed Tunde Fariyike Chad Slade Ryan White Jake Holland LaDarius Owens Justin Delaine Chris Davis Dakota Mosley Michael Dyer Jawara White Jeffrey Whitaker Shon Coleman Demetruce McNeal Shaun Kitchens Ryan Smith Ladarious Phillips Ed Christian Jonathan Mincy Eric Mack Kenneth Carter Jeremy Richardson Steven Clark Antonio Goodwin Cody Parkey Craig Sanders Jessel Curry Roszell Gayden Brandon Mosley Cameron Newton
DE DE WR OL OL CB LB LB DE CB TE RB LB DT OL DB WR S ATH OL S OL DT WR P WR K DE LB OL OL/TE QB
National Signing Day 2010
Todd Van Emst / AUBURN MEDIA RELATIONS
Auburn assistant head coach Trooper Taylor and head coach Gene Chizik cheer as recruit Corey Lemonier announces that he will sign a National Letter of Intent to play football at Auburn on ESPN U, yesterday. Lemonier is a defensive end from Hialeah, Fla.
Chizik preaches value of character BLAKE HAMILTON ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR
As Gene Chizik stepped to the podium he didn’t look relieved. He didn’t look ecstatic. The Auburn head coach looked as if everything had gone precisely as it was supposed to. Yesterday Chizik completed his second signing day on The Plains, concluding a year of recruiting that has yielded one of the best classes in Auburn Football’s recent years, if not its entire history. “This was a great day for Auburn,” Chizik said. “A
year ago at this time, literally when this day ended a year ago, we knew we had to really use this class which we had a full year to recruit to build the foundation of what we’re trying to do at Auburn. I really feel like this first building block is, a year later, exactly what we had envisioned.” Coming into Wednesday morning Auburn had five recruits already enrolled. One of these was Cameron Newton, ranked five stars by Rivals.com, as well as the best JUCO quarterback in the country. Two more
Blakeley Sisk / PHOTO EDITOR
Head coach Gene Chizik speaks during yesterday’s press conference.
five star recruits, running back Michael Dyer and offensive lineman Shon Coleman, are part of the
2010 class, as well as 13 four stars from around the country. All total, the class is 32 men strong. Impressive though this is, Chizik said he isn’t always necessarily looking for the best athlete alone. “One of the things that we wanted to do was bring in student athletes,” Chizik said. “It’s very, very important to us as we go out and recruit young men that we recruit guys who want to get an education and want to get a degree. It’s important to them and their families to get a degree from Auburn.”
Printed on Recycled Paper
One of the day’s surprises was the signing of Corey Lemonier, a defensive end from Louisiana, who had narrowed his choices between Auburn and Florida State. Another addition appearing in the last days of the process was defensive tackle Jeffrey Whitaker. “Auburn had what I was looking for,” Whitaker said. “It just felt like home. It was like home away from home. It was one place I just couldn’t turn away from.” Chizik has been noted for his gall in taking the
number one best recruits from particular states, particularly Arkansas (Dyer), Louisiana (wide receiver Trovon Reed) and Mississippi (Coleman). “We just asked them to really look at the people that look at them and say what do YOU want you to do,” Chizik said. “That gave us a chance to go to other states and really recruit the right guy for Auburn.” Though Chizik said it will take a few years to see how the class pans out, most of the Auburn family can agree that the future is bright on The Plains.
The Auburn Plainsman
Sports, d2
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Women’s tennis passes by LSU BETHANY DONALDSON WRITER
JD Schein / PHOTO STAFF
The Auburn Gymnastics team celebrates moments after its first ever defeat of the Georgia Gym Dogs.
Gymnastics pulls historic win BLAKE HAMILTON ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR
The Auburn Gymnastics team made its mark last Friday night as it beat the Georgia Gym Dogs 195.225-194.00 for the first time in the history of the program. “I’m really speechless,� said senior Krissy Voss. “A historic win of this magnitude made the results just a bit more meaningful on this night; our night.� Auburn (1-3, 1-2 SEC) faced the Gym Dogs (1-3, 0-2 SEC) on 64 separate occasions, losing each time. Before the Tigers’ final event, the floor rotation, it looked as if it might become 65. Thankfully, all but one of the Auburn’s six participants scored over 9.725, allowing the Tigers to surge ahead by 1.225. “We came over here and I told you floor was going to be our best event, and floor was our best event,� said Auburn head coach Jeff Thompson. “It sealed the win, and I think we had it locked up before Rachel (Inniss) even went. She had a great floor routine, and it’s just a really, really special feeling.� The Georgia Gym Dogs are 5-time national cham-
JD Schein / PHOTO STAFF
Allyson Sandusky performs her bar routine last Friday in Beard-Eaves Memorial Coliseum against UGA.
pions and are, along with Utah and UCLA, widely regarded as one of the best in the sport. “We just took it one step at a time,� said sophomore Allyson Sandusky. “Each event was like a different meet for us, so we just went out there and did our best.� The win marks Auburn’s first victory of the season after an unsuccessful stretch against Alabama, Oklahoma and LSU.
"I'm really speechless,� Voss said. “I'm so proud to be a part of this team because we just rise to the challenge. My teammates totally had my back. I love it." Auburn was aided in the final round by Gym Dog mistakes, including Kat Ding and Grace Taylor both falling from the beam. The two received a 9.375 and an 8.700, respectively, the latter being the only score of the
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meet to dip below 9.0. “We were turning the pages, but it was just a rough day,� said Georgia’s Courtney McCool. “There were some highlights but we can’t really focus on the highlights anymore. This has happened too many times this year and we’re sick of this feeling.� As Kool and the Gang’s “Celebration� blasted over the Coliseum speakers, Thompson speculated that the motivation to overcome a Goliath like Georgia came from the season’s previous losses. "We've been preaching `process, process,' and the logic of what you do,� Thompson said. “We've been talking about the percentages of hit routines during the week, and that's what we did tonight. What a great, great win. This is a milestone for us." Auburn will next face Arkansas (2-2, 1-2 SEC) in Fayetteville at 7 p.m. this Saturday, Feb. 6. The Razorbacks, coming off a win against Kentucky last Friday, feel confident entering the meet. “The last two weeks, we struggled on the road in tough environments,� said Arkansas’ Jaime Pisani. “We want to keep improving every day in practice.�
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The Auburn Womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Tennis team defeated No. 28 Louisiana State University 4-0 last weekend at the 2010 Intercollegiate Tennis Association Kickoff in Los Angeles before being defeated 4-0 by No. 9 University of Southern California. Seniors Fani Chifchieva and Jil Hastenrath were victorious in No. 2 doubles, beating the LSU pair 8-4. Chifchieva was selected as an All American last year. No. 3 Plamena Kurteva and Paulina Schippers defeated the LSU No. 3 team 8-5. Head coach Tim Gray said knocking off LSU was a highlight from the weekend, and the teamâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s doubles were impressive. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Any time you beat a ranked team as good as LSU, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a nice win,â&#x20AC;? Gray said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We had a lot of bright spots, but our No. 3 doubles is undefeated.â&#x20AC;? Saturday, the team of Myrthe Molenveld and Caroline Thornton were defeated by the USC team 8-3. Following, Fani Chifchieva and Jil Hastenrath were defeated 8-4. The only victory for the day was the No. 3 doubles team of Plamena Kurteva and Paulina Schippers. Sophomore Taylor Schreimann said the positive energy going into the match helped motivate the team to conquer LSU. The win showed the team was stronger than everyone was expecting them to be, she said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;After our first doubles
win, we were all so excited,â&#x20AC;? Schreimann said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;After that, we were motivated for the rest of the match against LSU.â&#x20AC;? Chifchieva said she thought the team stayed positive and motivated throughout the weekend. She said Saturday the girlsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; did well, but the other team played better in some parts. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I was a little nervous,â&#x20AC;? Chifchieva said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I started playing better as the match went.â&#x20AC;? Chifchieva said winning Friday was great and beating LSU 4-0 was not easy. Gray said the weekend was an interesting mix of emotions because some older members of the team were forced to play higher after last yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s graduation. Gray also said he felt the team could have done better playing against Southern California. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve got a group of new, young freshmen,â&#x20AC;? Gray said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s interesting to see how they respond to pressure.â&#x20AC;? Gray went on to say that not one person stood out during the weekend, but all the players competed well. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Everyone did what we asked them to do,â&#x20AC;? Gray said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;In terms of the weekend itself, we seemed like we were almost in midseason form this early, which is definitely a good thing.â&#x20AC;? Gray said to end the weekend score of one and one was a success. â&#x20AC;&#x153;A lot of people thought we were going to have a down year,â&#x20AC;? Gray said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;To come and beat a team that is 28th in country I definitely feel is a success.â&#x20AC;?
LIFESPORTS
SPORTS, D3
Blakeley Sisk / PHOTO EDITOR
Blakeley Sisk / PHOTO EDITOR
The 2009 men’s advanced basketball intramural champions, Mighty Whitey II (black) took on The Church of Fratterday Saints (yellow) Tuesday. Mighty Whitey II beat the Saints 57-27.
A member of the Sigma Pi advanced intramural men’s basketball team looks to pass against Blood Bath and Beyond, Tuesday. Blood Bath and Beyond won 56-44.
Students show off their skills with intramurals ABBY ALBRIGHT SPORTS EDITOR
Basketball enthusiasts of all skill levels formed teams for the 2010 intramural season to take part in friendly competition and fun. “We just have a group
of friends who like to play ball together and it’s fun to get out here and have the rules enforced with the referees and such,” said senior Zach McKinnon of Mighty Whitey II. Mighty Whitey II, the 2009 men’s basketball intramural champions, played The Church of Frat-
terday Saints Tuesday, but the game was called early in the second half due to the 30-point mercy rule. After the Saints left, a couple of Auburn Football players, including sophomores Darvin Adams, Eric Smith and freshmen Philip Pierre-Louis and Tyrik Rollison took to the court
to play Mighty Whitey II. “We just wanted to go in there and see what those guys have got,” Adams said. Women’s basketball senior center KeKe Carrier was also there with some teammates to support “the student body” and Mighty Whitey II. On another court, Blood
Bath and Beyond took on Sigma Pi, winning 56-44. At halftime BBB was only up 28-25. “Clay (Taylor) had a good pep talk. (At halftime) he told us, ‘We can’t lose to these kids, they smell bad,”’ said sophomore BBB team member David Scott. Sophomore Kyle Mc-
Cabe said BBB has been training for months at high elevations to prepare for this advanced level of competition. “I do it for the ladies, mainly,” McCabe said. “All of them came for me. “ Intramural basketball games will continue tonight at 6:30 p.m.
Tonight’s Intramural Basketball Games
6:30
7:30
8:30
9:30
Court 1
Court 2
Court 3
Court 4
Oakland vs. Wombats
Fritzkreig vs. Theta Xi
Dobbs vs. Power Sales
Cambridge Commoners vs. NROTC
Phly Haiis vs. Monstarz
NSBE vs. Team White Street
BCM vs. Pharm Kids
PVMA Vamps vs. Dynasty
Rae Rae vs. G Unit
Yellow House vs. Orange Balls
Scoregasms vs. Beta 2 vs. Alpha Computer Gamma Rho Science 2 Honors vs. Wesley Wildcats Bringing Paxil vs. Plain White T’s Back ACSC 2 vs. Thunder
Wesley Wombcats vs. Fighting Plattipi
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CARRIER
We just feel like (the students) support us on the court and in the stands so we feel like we need to make it mutual and come out here.” KeKe Carrier, senior, center Women’s Basketball
Monday Intramural Basketball Games
6:30
Court 1
Court 2
Court 3
Court 4
Court 6
Court 7
DDD vs. SK
AOP vs. AZD
ZTA vs. DZ
ACSC vs. Owens Moose Knuckles
LCA vs. SPE
PKP vs. DSP
Ninja Penguins
ACF 5 vs. ACSC 6
The Recruits vs. Cultural Diversity vs. Lonestars ATL
BTP vs. SAE
DTD vs. PKPsi
Trix R 4 Kids vs. Drop The World
ACSC 4 vs. Just for Kicks
PGD vs. PKT
KS vs. PDT
Falcons vs. McCrew
Carl Sagan vs. Dunder Mifflins
7:30 vs. The Yellows
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The Auburn Plainsman
Sports, D4
Rugby is a mad sport BETHANY DONALDSON WRITER
Fans braved the cold weather as the Auburn rugby club team took the ice-laden intramural field Sunday to battle Alabama in the Rugby Iron Bowl. The game ended in a muddy draw with both teams scoring five points. In the first 40-minute half, Auburn junior Joey Palazzolo scored a try. A try is similar to a touchdown in football, but the ball carrier has to place the ball on the ground after crossing the goal line. Alabama matched the score in the second half. Sophomore Cullen Hanly suffered the only injury of the game, a broken finger, but was back on the field after a quick wrap. “We haven’t had an Iron Bowl game in the four years I’ve been playing,” said senior Michael Gay. “We’ve played them in
tournaments, but never one-on-one at home.” Michael said this game was an intense one because the draw could qualify them for post season tournaments. Assistant coach Brian Rhett said this was the first time in three years the teams played, with Alabama winning the last meeting. The team prepared for the match by practicing two days a week and members’ independent exercise. The Rugby Little Sisters got the word out about the game using methods such as Facebook groups and emails which resulted in a “really good turnout,” said junior Zoey Gay. “Because we’re a club team, it’s the officer’s responsibility to keep the team on the right track,” said Michael, the team’s treasurer. “We encourage our players to maintain a workout plan. They need
to be in good shape to play in the match.” Sophomore Chris Vellon was there to cheer on the Tigers Saturday and said he has followed rugby for four or five years. “The Auburn team has a really good reputation,” Vellon said. “My brother used to play for South Carolina, and Auburn was a tough team.” The Rugby Little Sisters helped the team stay energized by bringing gallon jugs of water and snacks. The rookies were responsible for running the water jugs from the sidelines to the field, so the players stayed hydrated during the game. In rugby, only five substitutes are allowed during the game, so they must keep the main players in top condition, Rhett said. “When talking about players who stick out, a few come to my mind,” Rhett said. “Daniel Gancalves, Aaron Zeanah and
Jake Holtrop all get a lot of play.” Vellon said the intensity and continuous play of the game keeps him interested. “There’s no real stopping,” Vellon said. “You can only tackle someone with the ball, so it’s different than any other sport.” Sophomore Helena Stover said she enjoyed coming to the game and learning what’s going on in the game. She said the rugby players do not know who their Little Sister is and she is excited for revelation which is set for next week. “I don’t think rugby gets enough recognition at Auburn,” said Zoey, who serves as the Little Sister’s vice president. She said the Rugby Little Sisters plan to travel to some away matches this year to cheer on the team. The next rugby match will be at home against Georgia, Feb. 13.
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Emily Adams / ASSISTANT PHOTO EDITOR
Junior Patrick Quigley avoids being tackled Sunday.
Rugby Positions Emily Adams / ASSISTANT PHOTO EDITOR
Sophomore Cullen Hanly and seniors Jim Smith, Daniel Goncalves and Rick Cherry compete for the ball during a line out.
Loosehead Prop
Hooker
Tighthead Prop
Second Row Second Row Openside Flanker
Blindside Flanker er 8 Number
Emily Adams / ASSISTANT PHOTO EDITOR
Junior Aaron Zeanah rushes to the ball.
halff Scrum-half
halff Fly-half
Inside Centerr e Outside Center
Left Wing Full-back
Right Wing Emily Adams / ASSISTANT PHOTO EDITOR
Senior Daniel Goncalves gets lifted during a line out.
Tigers win thriller against Tide, look forward to Hogs BLAKE HAMILTON ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR
The final Iron Bowl in Beard-Eaves Memorial Coliseum proved a fitting send-off as the Auburn Men’s Basketball team sunk the Alabama Crimson Tide Saturday afternoon 58-57. The Tigers put up one of their best defensive efforts this season, holding Alabama to no points in the last 2:22 of the game. Offensively, Auburn
senior guard Tay Waller scored a game-high 20 points, nine of which came from behind the 3-point line. “This is one of my best overall games,” Waller said. “Everyone was waiting for the offense and defense to come together and it did. I felt like if I stepped up defensively in transition and our offense would flow more smoothly and it did tonight.” Auburn senior guard DeWayne Reed was first to put points up for the
Tigers by hitting two foul shots prompted by Alabama junior forward Chris Hines. Auburn extended its lead to 7-0, until a layup by Alabama junior forward Justin Knox kicked off a Crimson Tide surge ending in a 27-24 halftime lead. “I’ve played (Alabama) a couple of times now, being a senior,” said Auburn senior forward Lucas Hargrove. “I think this is the best defensive Alabama team we’ve played so far. You have to give them a
lot of credit, they’re a good ball club.” With 13:30 to go, senior guard Mikhail Torrance put the Tide at 40-33, its largest lead of the game. Auburn then scored 10 straight points, and from then on the score margin was no more than four points. “We defended really, really well for 40 minutes,” said Auburn head coach Jeff Lebo. “We just found a way to gut it out, make some stops and some big plays.”
A Reed free throw tied the game at 57-57, but the game-sealing play came when Reed stole the ball from Torrance at half court with five seconds to go. “DeWayne made a gutsy move trying to steal the ball at half court,” said Auburn sophomore guard Frankie Sullivan. “Any other time coach would have gone crazy but he got the steal.” Hargrove scored the winning point after being fouled with 3.1 seconds to play. The win moves Au-
burn to 11-11 overall and 2-5 in the SEC. Alabama moves to 13-8 total and 3-4 in conference play. “We have to do a better job with the basketball,” said Alabama head coach Anthony Grant. “We turned the ball over 19 times, 12 in the second half. No flow. No continuity. You can’t do that, especially on the road.” Auburn will take a week off before facing Arkansas in Fayetteville at 12:47 p.m. next Saturday.
Thursday, February 4, 2010
The Auburn Plainsman
Sports, D5
Brown out of the pool HELEN NORTHCUTT
JD Schein / PHOTO STAFF
Boys dive into the pool to compete in the 15 and older 200m freestyle timed finals Sunday.
Crocker proves a success JENNIFER BECKETT WRITER
Much like any other day, the smell of chlorine wafted through the air in the James E. Martin Aquatic Center Sunday. Young swimmers clad in spandex suits, swim caps and goggles wove through the crowd to line up behind the diving blocks. Parents, some taking notes on their heat sheets, others snapping pictures or video footage, watched eagerly from the bleachers as their children swam in the Olympic-sized pool below. It was the last day of the Ralph Crocker Invitational, marking the three-year anniversary of the death of former Auburn head coach Ralph Crocker. “Ralph was one of my best friends,” said Jeff Dellinger, Auburn Aquatics head coach. “He was such a genuine person, even to the most vehement component.” After Crocker died of cancer in January 2007, David Marsh, former Auburn head coach, and Dellinger, meet director, renamed the invitational after Crocker to honor his dedication to Auburn swimming. Crocker, a former Auburn swimmer, coached distance swimmers from 1999 until his death in 2007.
“He was known to be a straight shooter, but also as a kind and good man,” Dellinger said. “He never went out looking for accolades.” This weekend, swimmers from approximately 35 club teams across the Southeast gathered to practice their strokes, improve their times and donate to the Ralph Crocker scholarship for distance swimmers. A portion of each swimmer’s entry fee went directly toward the scholarship fund. Marsh started the scholarship fund to recognize one male and one female swimmer each year. “It gives them the chance to swim in Crocker’s name,” Dellinger said. Marsh said he had known Crocker for 25 years before his death. “Being an associate head coach was very appropriate for him because he helped in every aspect of the program,” Marsh said. “He was the guy who kept us organized and provided critical wisdom.” Crocker had the ability to express his passion and intensity without having to say a word, Marsh said. “Swimmers knew by looking at Ralph every day that he was there because he loved being there and loved working with people on the team,” Marsh said. “He loved Auburn.”
Various Tiger Splashers, the official hostesses for Auburn swimming and diving, and other volunteers helped with timing and organizational tasks during the meet. “I really wanted to get involved in the invitational because I think it’s a good way to spread awareness and shows how (cancer) can affect people close to you,” said Tiger Splasher Amy Odell, freshman in early elementary education. “It’s also a great way to raise money for the scholarship.” Sitting on the crowded bleachers with seed sheets in hand, Katie Icimsoy traveled from Birmingham to watch her 9-year-old son, who started swimming only a year ago, compete in the invitational for the first time. “Anytime you can bring awareness to cancer research, it helps others,” Icimsoy said. More experienced swimmers from Auburn’s men’s and women’s teams competed Friday night not only to improve their NCAA qualifying times, but also to recognize Crocker’s contributions to the University and its athletes. “The way I knew Ralph, he would have been humbled by the outpouring of support for the invitational and contributions to the scholarship fund,” Dellinger said.
x 100 meter freestyle relay for Great Britain. GRAPHICS EDITOR “Going into the OlymFor his first season pics games, I didn’t know competing with the Au- what to expect,” Brown burn team, Adam Brown, said. “It was my first sesophomore from Cam- nior international for my bridge, England, has set country and my favorite his expectations high. swimming memory was “He is very gifted ath- being in the final. It was letically,” said head coach amazing to see the world Brett Hawke. record get “I think he is beat by all 6-foot-6 and the A teams.” he has a very This seagood feel for son, Brown the water. I is focusing think just in on improvterms of his geing in order netics he is set to prepare up very well to for the SEC be a very fast and NCAA BROWN swimmer and Championthen he brings ships. a great attitude to the “I’ve been working on pool as well.” a few things like trying to Brown learned to swim get more flexible and also at the age of 3 on a family something that will benholiday in France. efit from being more flexWhen he was 9 he ible is my start,” Brown joined his first club swim said. team and began to progBrown said he views ress through the swim SECs and NCAAs as a clubs. stepping stone toward After attending high acquiring his future goals. school and training in “My main focus is the Australia, Brown said it Olympics in 2012 in Lonwas the coaching staff don,” Brown said. “Hopethat drew him to Auburn. fully when London comes “Brett has coached around I’ll be ready to some of the fastest sprint- win some medals.” ers in the world, Cesar Brown’s training ex(Cielo) and Freddy (Bous- perience in Auburn has quet),” Brown said. “I just been different from what wanted to be a part of that he was used to back and hopefully one day be home. just as fast as them.” “The experience of beBrown competed in the ing around similar people 2008 Olympic games in of his age and abilities has Beijing, swimming the 4 helped him grow,” Hawke
said. “Where he came from, he was the center of his universe where as here he is just one of the guys and so I think in that sense he has changed a lot.” Brown said everyone on the team is like a family with the same goals: everyone just wants to win. “He’s just one of those guys that you are really glad he is on your side,” said team captain Tyler McGill. “Since he can compete now, I can tell something has kind of switched on in his head. Now he is willing to emotionally buy into winning races. I think he is one of the most naturally athletic people out there, just explosive.” Hawke said Brown has a sprinter’s mind-set, he likes to compete and challenge himself. Hawke is looking forward to seeing him swim fast at the end of the year. “I think his sense of how good he is sets him apart from other athletes,” Hawke said. “He has a true sense that he has got some gifts and he’s pretty special. I think when an athlete is aware of that it really sets him apart from other people. We will be looking for him for leadership in the pool rather than outside of the pool at the championship meet.” Brown’s next meet will be this Saturday, Feb. 6 at Auburn against Emory.
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The Auburn Plainsman
Sports, D6
Thursday, February 4, 2010
The Auburn Plainsman SPORTS STAFF
ABBY ALBRIGHT Editor PATRICK DEVER Associate Editor
BLAKE HAMILTON Assistant Editor
To reach the staff, call 844-9109.
Rod Guajardo/ MANAGING EDITOR
Senior center KeKe Carrier fights with Angel Robinson for one of her nine rebounds.
Women’s basketball rebounds vs. UGA PATRICK DEVER ASSOCIATE SPORTS EDITOR
After an embarrassing 29-point loss to the No. 5 University of Tennessee Lady Vols Jan. 28, Auburn Women’s Basketball rebounded with a 67-53 victory over the No. 9 University of Georgia Bulldogs Jan. 31, literally. The Lady Vols out rebounded the Tigers 43-37. Auburn head coach Nell Fortner said they put the loss out of their mind quickly. “We just used it to learn some things from,” Fortner said. Senior center KeKe Carrier echoed what Fortner said about moving on after a loss of that magnitude. “We let it go that night, because we knew we had Georgia coming up,” Carrier said. “We had to move on and look ahead.” The Tigers worked hard in practice to correct mistakes from the UT game. “They came out, had two great days of practice,” Fortner said. “I was really proud of them for that, but they have always done that, all year long.” When Auburn took the court Sunday evening, they were ready for their second straight game versus a top-10 team. “They were totally prepared to play this game,” Fortner said. The 6-foot-7 Carrier was a force on the boards against the Bulldogs, leading Auburn with nine rebounds.
“I think KeKe Bobble-head Day got her all fired up,” Fortner said. “She came ready to play today.” Carrier said she always tries to be a presence under the basket whether it be on offense or defense. “Every game I try to go in there and dominate,” Carrier said. “I probably was a little more aggressive coming off two losses and got motivated by my team.” In all, Auburn out rebounded UGA 3927. UGA head coach Andy Landers was not happy with his team’s play under the basket. “They kicked our butts,” Landers said. Seventeen of Auburn’s 39 total rebounds came offensively with UGA recording only eight offensive boards. “That’s a nice stat right there,” Fortner said. “That definitely helped us to stay in the game early.” She said getting so many offensive rebounds changes how the game is played. “Offensive rebounding is a confidence builder and it is an energy destroyer for other team,” Fortner said. “So, when you can really get on those O-boards it will really help you.” Auburn is now 2-1 when facing teams ranked in the top 10 from the SEC. “I think it shows us the potential of this team,” Fortner said. “I’d like to see a few more wins, but it’s nice to know you can compete at that level.” Auburn hosts the University of South Carolina tonight at 6 p.m.
Tales of the Towels KATIE EHRHART WRITER
Fans may have noticed the players passing off orange towels as they substitute in and out during Auburn women’s basketball games. The towels were brought in by the coaching staff as a communication tool for the girls during gameplay. “We’re supposed to hand them off and talk to the girl coming out,” said junior forward Jordan Greenleaf. “She tells you the player’s weakness and strengths and what to watch for in the game. They allow us to encourage one another.” Senior center Keke Carrier sees the towels as a symbol to remind the players they are a team and they need to depend on each other. “Trooper came and talked to us,” Carrier said, in reference to football coach Trooper Taylor and his towels that have become a staple at Auburn football games. “After he came we put tape on the towels that say ‘DWWD—Do What We Do’ to remind us to go out there and give everything of ourselves.” While the towels are a big component in helping to build trust among the teammates, there are other ways the team jells. “After every practice we high-five everyone,” Greenleaf said. “It’s a little way of saying we’ll never let each other down and it helps build team trust.” The team also says the Lord’s Prayer and sings the fight song before every game. Carrier, who says her prayer and eats a peanut butter Powerbar before every game, said the team talked about a new pre-game ritual before the UT game and will start reciting Isaiah 40:31 before every game. It may not talk about orange towels or team work, but this passage communicates a lot about the team’s indestructible spirit.
Thursday, February 4, 2010
The Auburn Plainsman
Sports, D7
Tigers race to top spots KATIE EHRHART WRITER
The Auburn Track and Field team traveled to Clemson University this weekend to compete in the Clemson Games. The Games are a national indoor qualifier and no team score is kept, but Auburn head coach Ralph Spry said he thought his team would’ve placed towards the top. “I saw a lot of fight and hard work from my team,” Spry said. Spry, who said he is confident in his athletes and feels they are right where they need to be, was particularly proud of the weekend’s two stars. Sophomore Marcus Rowland and junior Sheniqua Ferguson both finished first in their respective 60-meter dashes and each had the fastest time in the nation for the year. Ferguson, who was an automatic qualifier for the NCAA Indoor Championships with her time of 7.22 seconds, said her No. 1 goal for the weekend was to perform at her best ability. “The win was just an extra bonus for me,” Ferguson said. Rowland, whose 6.61 seconds was the second best time in school history, missed the automatic qualifying time by a hundredth of a second. Rowland knows how it feels to miss out on the chance by a hair. Last year, his personal best missed the cut by three slots. This year he is going to try and keep that from happening. “I’m only a sophomore so I’m just enjoying it,” Rowland said. “But I’m always up for a challenge. So I’m going for the 6.5 and am going to take a different approach from here.” Rowland might be a little disappointed that
the nation’s fastest time was not good enough for the automatic qualifying time. Spry is not worried about Rowland or any of the other athletes. “We try to train so we run our best later in the season,” Spry said. “So I feel confident we’ll continue to get better because of how we train.” After this weekend, Spry said his confidence is well-founded. Between the two days, Auburn walked away with seven automatic or provisional qualifiers, as well as six first place winners in the individual events. Auburn earned first place finishes in both the men and women’s mile races. For the men, sophomore Jeff Sanders won with a 4:17.08, while junior Amber Riley took the women’s race with a time of 5:03.97, according to auburntigers.com. Outside of these great finishes, Auburn had many who placed among the top three. Junior Joanna Atkins finished behind Ferguson in the 60-meter dash with a time of 7.32 seconds. Junior Gerard Brown finished second in the men’s triple jump with a leap of 14.25 meters. Many others finished either first or in the top three, leaving both Rowland and Ferguson excited for what was to come this season. “I am very confident in the team we have this year,” Ferguson said. “I know when we go to the championships everyone will know who Auburn is.” The men and women’s track and field team heads to Penn State Feb. 5 for the Sykes-Sabock Challenge Cup. The Cup is a competition that Spry said will be tougher and will really show the caliber of the team.
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‘Craft’-ing up a plan JENNIFER BECKETT
ing as young men,” Craft said. “And I think trying WRITER to meet with them indiAiming a soccer ball vidually and talk to them at a peach basket, James about what’s going on in Naismith created the their lives helps to form game of basketball for his trust and strengthen relagym class in 1891. Since tionships.” then, the Senior sport has forward developed a Johnnie distinguishLett said he ing idenhas learned tity, much more about like one the the game by Auburn Tilistening to gers have Craft’s inachieved structions with the and advice. guidance “He says of assistant to just go CRAFT coach Tim hard, and Craft. to play “(Craft) is a hard work- through mistakes,” Lett er, always prepared, stud- said, ies the game and loves the Craft has years of previgame,” said head coach Jeff ous coaching experience, Lebo. “He’s a young coach he said, and was excited who has a long, bright ca- when Lebo recruited him reer in his future.” as an assistant coach in During his third year on 2007. Lebo’s staff and second “I was coaching at Gardyear as an assistant coach, ner-Webb University, a Craft continues to moti- smaller Division 1 school vate players to work hard in North Carolina, when both on the court and in I had the opportunity to the classroom. come here and work for “The reason I’m in Coach Lebo.” Craft said. coaching is to have a posi- “He’s been a great boss, tive influence on our play- and I learn so much from ers and watch them grow- him every day.”
The community and traditions of the University made it an easy decision for him to leave GardnerWebb, Craft said. “My wife and I love Auburn,”Craft said. “It’s a close-knit kind of family, and one thing I’ve loved about Auburn is that the school spirit is so strong, and people are so supportive of the University and athletics.” Growing up in the college town of Tallahassee, Fla., Craft discovered his love of basketball at a young age and looked for ways to continue his involvement in the sport as an adult. “All the things about basketball interest me, from the practices to the time spent working on individual skills,” Craft said. “The competitiveness, the strategies, the X’s and O’s part of it, all of those are reasons I became a coach after growing up playing the game in junior high and high school.” In his first season as an assistant coach, Craft helped the 2008-2009 Tigers to finish second overall in the SEC with a 10-6 record, according to the Auburn Athletics Web
site. This season, the Tigers have lost a few games, but have nine more chances to finish with a strong record, Craft said. “Right now, we’re on the verge of being able to put together some conference wins, but we’re just a hair away from doing it,” Craft said. “We’ve lost four games in the second half, where we’ve been so close to putting it all together to get a huge win.” After beating Alabama by one point Saturday, the Tigers continue to show their determination to have a successful season. “I think our team is one that is going to keep fighting and playing together,” Craft said. “And if they continue to do that, they will continue to get better.” Craft said he appreciates the time and dedication the players give to Auburn’s basketball program and looks forward to seeing results in the future. “It’s a lot of hours (of coaching),” Craft said. “But the great thing about it is that it’s really enjoyable, and I’m really excited to come to work every day.”
Chatting with Craft How do you wind down after a game? Come home and hang out with my family, if they’re still awake. What is it like having two daughters? It is so great. No matter how my day went, they are always there with big smiles waiting to greet me at the door. Last movie you went to in theaters? Actually, I can’t remember the name of it. It was 2 and a half years ago. What do you miss most about Tallahassee, Fla.? My parents, of course. Also, pick-up football games, backyard whiffle ball and hoops.
What song is playing on your iPod right now? I don’t even have an iPod, but if I did, probably something by Jack Johnson or Jimmy Buffett. Dogs or cats? Dog. We have a golden retriever. When was the last time you played basketball? Last Wednesday. Favorite Auburn restaurant? Mellow Mushroom. Pregame rituals or superstitions? Not really, besides I always shower in the locker room and change into my suit 30 minutes before tip-off. Where would you go on a weekend getaway? Destin, Fla.
The Auburn Plainsman
Sports, D8
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Thursday, February 4, 2010
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