5.24.12 edition of The Auburn Plainsman by The Auburn Plainsman

WEGL 91.1 close to broadcasting, page 2

2013 recruiting class, page 7

The Auburn Plainsman Thursday, May 24, 2012

A SPIRIT THAT IS NOT AFRAID www.theplainsman.com

Vol. 119, Issue 2, 8 Pages

Facilities summer budget at $300 million, 86 projects Nathan Simone ONLINE EDITOR

COURTESY OF ALLIE GARZA OF THE THE KENTUCKY KERNAL

Murphey Coy consults Dr. Mark Bonnell before his surgery on April 9, 2009, at the Gill Heart Institute in Lexington, Ky.

A change of heart

Graduate student Murphey Coy was a VMI lacrosse commit in 2007 until an unexpected diagnosis changed his life forever. John Holtrop SPORTS EDITOR

In the spring of 2007, Murphey Coy, an Auburn University graduate student in entomology, played in his final season of lacrosse at St. John’s Jesuit High School in Toledo, Ohio. After being diagonosed with dilated cardio myopathy and congestive heart heart failure, it would be the last game of his career. One week prior to that game, Murphey became ill and spent the night at the hospital. He was sent home with asthma medicine, but with no clear diagnosis. “It was on my mom’s birthday in May,” Coy said. “I could feel my heart racing and I was out of breath all day. That’s when it all hit the fan. I felt terrible all day, but I didn’t want to ruin mom’s birthday so I waited until midnight to tell her.” Coy played in the game, and even returned after collapsing. After a trip to the hospital, Murphey made the painful decision to leave lacrosse. His plans to attend Virginia Military Institute were out of the door and his next option was the University of Kentucky. He spent more than a year at UK without complications until he started feeling sick again. He received the news that would change his life forever. “In February, I was told I needed a heart transplant,” Murphey said. “I was given six months to live at best. I

didn’t want to hear that. As tired as I was and as tired as my body was I didn’t want to admit it, but I knew it was true. In a way it was a bit of relief. It confirmed my thinking. The hardest part of the whole ordeal was not knowing.” In March 2009, Coy passed out in class. He regained consciousness and raised his hand. “Professor, I think something is wrong,” Coy said. He was rushed to the hospital. Murphey said he was a frequent flyer at that time and his appearance was no surprise to anyone. “My cardiologist came down and said, ‘This is it, things have gotten worse and we have to do it,”’ Coy said. “I filed my paperwork and was given the highest priority for an organ.” Within 24 hours, there were two hearts that matched Murphey’s need. Doctors chose to pass on the first with hopes of finding something better. Four hours later their hopes would be fulfilled. “Around 5 p.m., my extended family members started showing up so I knew that something was going on,” Coy said. “My doctor came to my bedside and said that he found one and they were going to get it.” Despite the grave uncertainty ahead of him, Murphey handled his emotions with humor. “I am not a very serious person; I’d much rather laugh so I tried to keep the mood light,” Coy said. “The surgeon showed me his plan of action

on my dinner with a butter knife and he showed my family the anesthesia process by putting a pillow to my face.” Ed Coy, Murphey’s father, said his son’s demeanor throughout the ordeal was one to be noted. “In the almost two years from his diagnosis to the surgery, I never heard him once say ‘Why me; my life is over’ or complain one time,” Ed said. “When they wheeled him away into the surgery room, he looked at me and said he was so thankful for the donor family.” At approximately 9 p.m., he was wheeled into surgery while his family waited in the designated waiting room. Their only contact with the surgery room was a phone call with updates. “Around 10:30 p.m. we got a phone call letting us know that our son’s heart was out of his chest,” Ed said. “My son lay in that room without a heart, that was the most sinking feeling that I have ever experienced. At that moment I realized the gravity of the situation, even though I knew that this would be a step in the process.” As the next day began, so did a new chapter in Murphey’s life. “I remember waking up and feeling, warm,” Murphey said. “My toes were warm, my fingers were warm and my skin had color. You would be amazed how cold you are when you

» See MURPHEY, 2

Fire fee vote set for Lee County Anna Claire Conrad COPY EDITOR

On May 29, residents of Lee County have the chance to increase and renew the fire fee set to expire in August 2013. “Most people don’t understand that once the money is gone, so are we,” said Southwest Lee County Fire Chief Daniel Haden. “This vote will actually renew the fire fee because once this legislation’s 25-year lifespan runs out, we won’t receive any more funds.” An open forum concerning this legislation was conducted at the town meeting held on Tuesday at 7 p.m. at the Loachapoka Community Center on U.S. Highway 14. Volunteer fire fighters and board

members from the Southwest Lee County Fire Protection Authority facilitated the meeting with many Lee County residents in attendance. The fee was established in 1987 at $25 per structure per year with a 25year limit, leaving it to expire at the end of this fiscal year. This fee covered the expenses necessary to keep a fire house running, including covering the cost of truck upkeep and uniforms. If the vote is successful, the fee will double, increasing the annual fire fee to $50 per structure per year. Haden said if this vote for an increase is not passed, the department would have to solely rely on fundraising and donations. “Unfortunately, those two means

of income are not enough to run a fire department,” Haden said. “The current $25 fee covers the bare minimum of what it takes to run a fire department.” Haden said this increase would catch the Lee County Volunteer Fire Department up with current times. “Back in 1987, we were paying $0.40 per gallon for diesel fuel. Now, we’re paying upwards of $4 per gallon, which is a six hundred per cent increase,” Haden said. “Another example is that 25 years ago, the cost of a fire truck was in the ball park of $100,000. Now, one fire truck costs between $300,000 and $500,000 depending on what you get. One of the trucks we’re having to use

» See FIRE FEE, 6

INSIDE Campus » 1 | Opinions » 4 | Community » 5 | Sports » 7 | Classifieds » 8

Year-round construction on campus has become the “norm” to Auburn students, with the majority of it occurring during the summer months. According to a map released by the University’s Facilities Management division, Auburn will be working on 86 projects during the 2012 summer semester, some of which will remain through the fall. Ron Booth, director of program management and project execution for facilities management, said the four biggest projects being undertaken are the construction of the South Donahue Residence Hall, Parking Facility and the Recreation & Wellness Center and Small Animal Teaching Hospital. Booth said all of the projects currently underway are on budget and

have not experienced any problems or delays. Many of the projects are large endeavors that require road closings or sectioning off certain parts of campus, making summer an opportune time to complete them without inconveniencing students and faculty. “We try to plan ahead for things like road closings, so as not to disrupt the lives of students and faculty,” Booth said. “However, it’s simply necessary in order to replace or install underground water pipes, gas lines or other utilities, which some of these projects require.” Some of the road closings include the portion of West Samford Avenue that connects to Duncan Drive for two months, the closure of The Hill parking lots later in the sum-

» See CONSTRUCTION, 2

Skybar takes the party to the roof Skybar Café expansion approved to increase capacity by 400-600

MELODY KITCHENS / MANAGING EDITOR

Auburn City Council approved Skybar Café for a second-floor bar expansion that will increase capacity by 400-600 people.

Rebecca Moseley CAMPUS BEAT REPORTER

Skybar Café’s future plans of expanding are going through the roof. A new rooftop bar attached to the recently developed VIP area above the back bar is expected to boost capacity and revenue. The plans are still in the works as many of its employees are not fully aware of the upcoming changes. “I don’t know much yet except that you’ll be able to look down over the front bar and it will connect to VIP in the back,” said Sloan Gaither, sophomore in mechanical engineering and SkyBar employee. “I think the idea came with hopes of increasing capacity or to add an additional aesthetic appeal to the bar.” Bradley Johnston, senior in supply chain management and SkyBar security staff member, said the roof top bar will be over the front area. Johnston said a skylight will also be added between the rooftop bar and the main floor. “To make an outdoor bar available upstairs will open up the whole place, easing congestion problems and giving the patrons upstairs a place to go outside when it gets too hot as it often does in Skybar, especially during football season,” said Kaleigh Hill, senior in psychology. At the Auburn City Council meeting on May 15, other issues such as

the effect of amplified sound on the rooftop on nearby businesses were discussed as well. The Skybar Café staff wants to restrict the amount of amplified sound to ensure compliance with surrounding establishments. “It was unanimous to approve it,” said Charles Duggan, Auburn city manager. “Minus the condition that it had been recommended by staff on the prohibition on amplified music.” Duggan said current occupancy is about 1200, and the expansion will add an additional 600. “This depends on the codes, inspections, and their final determination,” Duggan said. Other tabled issues include increasing bathroom requirements and fire escape routes. “That’s a building code requirement,” Duggan said. “It will all be part of the inspection process. Before they get a code requirement, all of those requirements will have to be met. So I’ll have to speak with the building manager.” City Council members Sheila Eckman and Dick Phelan, along with Mayor Bill Ham, voted against the expansion. Eckman expressed the issues of capacity at Skybar and the question of how much the additional bar area will affect the capacity. Recycled paper

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Thursday, May 24, 2012

CONSTRUCTION » From 1

COURTESY OF JOSH STRANGE

Murphey Coy speaks at the 22 annual Central Kentucky Heart Ball on Feb. 27, 2010, in Lexington, Ky.

MURPHEY » From 1

have a bad heart. I have been trying to put my feelings that day into words for the past three years–I can’t do it. It was awesome and amazing.” Three days later, the medical staff had Murphey on his feet. Eight days later, he returned home. Within a day of returning home, he was contacted by the American Heart Association asking for his participation in their Heart Walk, a three mile charity event to raise money and awareness for cardiovascular disease. Murphey accepted the opportunity and had 40 days to raise money and prepare for the event. He accepted with the support of his surgeon, Dr. Mark Bonnell. “By the time of the walk I had raised $14,000,” Murphey said. “My fraternity, family and friends all showed up. Dr. Bonnell and I led the walk. It was a pretty amazing day.”

Several months after the walk, Murphey was contacted by Betty and Dwight Bowers, his heart donor’s family. “That was a real emotional experience,” Murphey said. “I didn’t know what to feel, at first it was guilt, but I realized that someone willingly donated an organ that they didn’t need to save a random person’s life. That’s pretty special. I am still close with them.” Ed said donor Jared Bowers lives through Murphey and that gives Dwight and Betty comfort. “On Mother’s Day weekend of this year, the Bowers family came and stayed with us for a couple of days, just to visit,” Ed said. “We stay very close. Murphey called to wish his step mother and Betty a happy Mother’s Day. She couldn’t have been happier.” In the three years since the surgery, Murphey has made a full recovery and continued his life with a renewed outlook. “I have felt fine,” Murphey

said. “I am clear to exercise. I work out, play basketball and pick up lacrosse games when I can. I use my new heart as a force of motivation. Whenever I get down, I get back up with my heart in mind.” Murphey’s girlfriend, Christina Armstrong, said she also has seen how the surgery and recovery process has strengthened Murphey. “He tries to live life to the fullest these days,” Armstrong said. “He lives as normally as possible and perseveres through everything like it is his last day. I think the surgery as a whole really showed his resiliency on life and it shows.” Murphey said he has no plans to return to competitive lacrosse, but hopes to one day coach. He is still involved with the American Heart Association as well as Donate Life, a non-profit organization that is dedicated to promoting organ, tissue and eye donation. To learn more and become involved with organ donation, visit Donatelife.net.

mer and the continued closure of the Athletic Complex Service Drive. Booth said the budget for summer projects is $614 million. The ongoing construction has also been affecting on-campus workers and students in different ways. Riley Gilchrist, junior in electrical engineering, said the construction looks unsightly, but is otherwise only a minor inconvenience to students. “It would be nice to finally have a semester at Auburn where there is no construction going on, but I under-

elsewhere for the summer. “I’m really excited about the new rec center, not to mention the parking garages they’re building. After everything is finished, I think it’s going to be really nice,” Jinnette said. The construction is not immediately limited to Auburn as well. One of the projects is the construction of a Wellness Center at Auburn’s Montgomery campus, along with constructing a radio tower and installing two security gates at the AU Regional Airport. A PDF map of all the summer construction projects is available on the Facilities Management website under “Projects.”

stand that they’re taking advantage of the times when less students are on campus,” Gilchrist said. Cody Jinnette, freshman in biomedical sciences who makes deliveries for the Harrison School of Pharmacy, thinks differently about the construction because he’s an on-campus worker. “It makes my job harder because with all the construction going on, a lot of faculty offices get moved,” Jinette said. “That makes it difficult to find people, not to mention the road closures sometimes make me drive out of the way of where I’m supposed to be going.” However, Jinnette echoes the excitement of many students here in Auburn and

Student ACT Class Schedule May 21–June 22 Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday

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11:45 Butts & Guts 12:00 Yoga

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1:00 Zumba

TRX Body Blast Yoga Retro Robics Pump Express Step Aerobics

Zumba

3:00 TRX Body Blast

TRX Body Blast Yoga Zumba Toning Kickboxing Zumba Toning

4:00 Kickboxing

Cardio Tone Kettlebells Hip-Hop AU Burn

Kettlebells

Friday

4:45 Beach Body Butts & Guts Butts & Guts

Pilates Cardio Tone Turbo Kick & Core

Abs

5:00 Yoga

Pilates

5:15 Step

Pilates

Step Aerobics

Aerobics

6:15 Zumba

Yoga

Zumba

For More Information visit auburn.edu/studentaffairs/campusRec

Lightning strike takes WEGL off air, use time to improve Anna Claire Conrad COPY EDITOR

Auburn’s student-run radio station, WEGL 91.1 FM, was forced to take a brief hiatus due to a lightning strike two weeks ago. “The lightning hit our antenna directly,” said Brian Long, WEGL promotions director. “We had been having problems with that part anyway, so after this hit it was just done for.” According to Long, the radio station has been completely down for two weeks. “It doesn’t help when you’re trying to order parts with the majority of the station not there,” Long said. Lane Jones, junior in English and disc jockey at WEGL, said despite this technical difficulty, WEGL will come back stronger than ever once it’s back on the air. “We’ve had issues in the past with this antenna and with issues on our live online

stream when people can’t access our shows, and that’s always devastating,” Jones said. “But we always keep up with our callers and listeners to let them know we’re working diligently to fix the problem at hand. They know they can count on us to come back.” Despite being off the air, WEGL has remained hard at work. “We’ve used this time off to work on our station and offices,” Long said. “We’re moving a lot of our recording equipment around in an effort to rearrange the studio.” Long said the replacement part has been ordered, and that it is expected to arrive sometime this week. “Once we receive the replacement radio antenna tube, we should be back on the airwaves within a couple days,” Long said. “We’re all eager to get back to doing what we love.”

Diamone Scott, sophomore in graphic design, said she is anxious for WEGL to come back. “I love tuning into to WEGL because of how free and diverse it is,” Scott said. “It’s clear that the students are who run the show, and I love that. Giving power and choice to the students why I listen. They play music I like or haven’t heard of, and they talk about issues I can relate to.” Long said he hopes to host a concert for the University this summer. “We have a lot of good connections with local bands, and I think it’d be a great thing for the students since nothing really happens on campus during the summer,” Long said. Jones agreed that a concert for the students is a great idea, but that it’s also important to recruit more DJs. “Working for this radio station has been an incred-

ible experience,” Jones said. “My friends and family always make sure to tune in when I’m on the air, and they tell their friends, and so on. Building a network like that is how we’ve been successful.” According to Long, WEGL is on the lookout for DJs this summer. “We’re in need of a couple more DJs because some of our staff members have graduated or gone home for the summer,” Long said. Jones said she encourages anyone with a passion for music and the radio to consider applying at WEGL. “The beauty of WEGL is that you can play what you want to play and talk about what you want to talk about. Anyone with a passion for music and open discussion is welcome to stop by and apply.” For more information on WEGL and how to get involved, please visit its website at wegl.auburn.edu.

Fulbright recipient to teach in France TJ Harlin CAMPUS EDITOR

Many recent graduates are struggling to find employment, but Hanna Gordon is not like most college graduates. This fall, Gordon, who graduated in December with a French major and a minor in sustainability, will work for seven months in Besançon, France teaching English to French students. Gordon was a recipient of the Fulbright Scholarship, a program sponsored by the U.S. government to increase international education and understanding. “I was recommended to the French government by the Fulbright Program,” Gordon said. Gordon was accepted as the French teaching assistant and was placed with middle and high school students by the

French government. Gordon’s love for French began when she was in high school. “I took high school French for four years, and my French teacher was really influential and ... inspiring,” Gordon said. “It was one of my favorite classes, so I decided to major in it (in college).” Since then, Gordon has traveled across Europe. During the summer after her freshman year, Gordon took a four-week trip to Europe, visiting Scotland, Italy, England and France. A year later, Gordon spent all of July in Paris. She was there for Bastille Day, Tour de’ France and the World Cup. “It was one of my favorite experiences,” Gordon said. Though she will be teaching, Gordon will still be able to travel.

“I get five weeks of paid vacation,” Gordon said. During that time, she will try to visit as many places as possible. “I want to go to Pragu, Spain, Ireland and Switzerland,” Gordon said. Gordon will also be going to culinary school while she teaches in France. “My future goal is to have my own bakery someday with French culture influence with local food, because my minor is sustainability,” Gordon said. With her interests in food and sustainability, Besançon, France is the perfect place for Gordon to be. “Where I’m going to be they are known for their jura mountain wines, their cheese and their hazelnuts,” Gordon said. Gordon appreciates the help she has received along

The Auburn Plainsman A SPIRIT THAT IS NOT AFRAID EDITORIAL

CONTRIBUTED

Fulbright recipient Hanna Gordon will be teaching English and attending culinary school in France this fall.

the way. “I really want to thank Madame Sammie Spencer (professor of French in the Department of Foreign Languages),” Gordon said. “She was really influential in me applying for this, and Dr. Harris for doing Fulbright with me.” Gordon should arrive in France in September and school begins October 1.

Robert E. Lee Editor-in-chief Managing editor Melody Kitchens Copy editor Anna Claire Conrad Photo editor Danielle Lowe Campus editor T.J. Harlin Rebecca Moseley Campus reporter Community editor Andrew Yawn Zeke Turrentine Community reporter Sports editor John Holtrop Design editor rachel suhs Online Editor Nathan Simone Benjamin Croomes

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Economics professor receives Final Lecture Award Rebecca Moseley CAMPUS BEAT REPORTER

After more than a decade of teaching, students elected Kentucky native, former Auburn graduate student, and current economics professor, Macy Finck as this year’s final lecturer. The program allows students to choose the most deserving professor and thank them for all of their hard work and contributions to students inside and outside of the classroom. This chosen professor is asked to be a keynote speaker for the University community. Finck’s efforts to relate to his students and offer interesting and engaging expla-

nations are just some of the classroom techniques Finck has used to earn his student’s respect. “His teaching is effective in that he is creative with his lectures in order for students to retain the material more easily,” said Kelly McMurray, senior in biomedical sciences and pre-pharmacy and one of Finck’s former students. Finck said he was able to choose his Final Lecture topic. He said he begain his first draft by making an outline consisting of bullet points. “I wrote a first draft in about five hours. Then, I made several revisions over a period of a few days,” Finck said.

CONTRIBUTED

Economics professor Macy Fink was chosen by students to be this year’s final lecturer.

While previous Final Lecture speakers have offered advice for upcoming freshman as well as future graduates, Finck displayed his realistic

manner by offering students some truth about the economy. He also noted on different subjects such as unemployment rate and the rough state of the job market. “I found out I would be the final lecturer on February 14 and gave the lecture on April 17,” Finck said. “Usually, I have less time to prep a whole semester. When creating class lectures, I usually loosely follow some type of source material, such as a text or article.” Finck offers advice for entering the real world by emphasizing the importance of staying true to oneself. Some options he offers for

success after graduation include selecting a field of gainful employment in order for opportunity of further improvement, selecting a different economy more suitable for one’s wants and desires and waiting for a boost in this economy. “Find your own passion and create your own definition of success,” Finck said. The honor of being the Final Lecturer was first given to Dr. Joseph Kicklighter, professor of history, in 2008. Next awarded was Dr. Lawrence Wit, dean and professor in the College of Science and Math, in 2009, followed by Dr. Donna Bohanan, professor of history in 2010.

Matthew Kearley, professor in biology, was given the award in 2011. Finck currently resides with his wife, Emily, in Opelika, Alabama. They are ecstatic to be preparing for the birth of their twin boy and girl in October. “I was even more proud of Macy when I found out about the Final Lecture Award because I knew how much he loves teaching and helping his students, and it was an amazing feeling to know that they appreciated all that he does,” said Emily Finck. “We feel very blessed to be bringing two more Auburn fans/students to this Auburn family,” Emily Finck said.

SACS to review accreditation, will be completed in December 2013 TJ Harlin CAMPUS EDITOR

Every ten years schools must go through an accreditation process, and the accreditation process is a rigorous one. Auburn University was last accredited in 2004 and will be up for accreditation again in 2013. In a meeting at Langdon Hall on Tuesday, Drew Clark, Director of the Office of Institutional Research and Assessment, spoke about the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools accreditation process. Clark also discussed Auburn’s plans on remaining an accredited institution. The process to keep accreditation is a tough one that requires much correspondence. “I send letters to SACS about once a week and get one back about once a week except six-eight months lat-

er,” Clark said. Auburn is currently accredited to award Bachelor’s, First Professional, Master’s, Educational Specialist and Doctor’s degrees. This does not mean Auburn can offer these degrees in any field. If Auburn decides to add a new program, the program must receive approval from SACS. Auburn is currently obtaining accreditation for more programs. There was a one-year delay in the last accreditation process. “Recently we submitted a proposal for a Master’s level degree in nursing,” Clark said. Accreditation is important for many reasons, especially financial. The federal government will not give loans or grants to students or teachers at a nonaccredited institution.

Clark said he believes Auburn will not lose its accreditation. “When SACS looks at us, they don’t really see us the way we appear to ourselves in the mirror,” Clark said. Things like research, something that Auburn considers to be important, hold little weight to SACS. SACS accreditates schools as large as universities, but is also responsible to accreditate seminaries, stand-alone law schools, stand-alone medical schools, technical schools and community colleges. SACS accredits schools in 11 states and has 804 member institutions. Though SACS is tough, they are not around to punish schools. “Our goal is to help schools stay accredited,” said Pamela Cravey, coordinator of communications and external affairs at SACS.

When going through the accreditation process, SACS is concerned with things like mission statements, qualified executive officers and effectiveness at meeting goals. They are also concerned with a school’s financial situation and the resources available to students. “Institutions that do (lose accreditation) typically do so for financial reasons,” Clark said. SACS also requires that a competent instructor must be teaching every course at the school. Auburn defines a competent instructor as someone who holds a master’s degree in the field they are teaching or parallel experience in their field. GTA’s that have completed 18 graduate hours in the field they are teaching are also considered competent provided that they are overseen

TJ HARLIN / CAMPUS EDITOR

Drew Clark explains the SACS accreditation process

by someone in the field. They are also required to be regularly assessed on their teaching ability and have inservice training in teaching. The accreditation process will begin in September when

CHICKEN PARMESAN

Auburn sends their accreditation papers to SACS. SACS officials will visit Auburn in March 2013 and a ruling will be officially announced at a meeting in December 2013. “To my knowledge the flagship schools have not lost accreditation,” Cravey said. Flagship schools include larger institutions like Alabama, Auburn, Florida and Georgia. “Auburn was around before the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, and Auburn will be around after the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools,” Drew said. Auburn University has been an accredited institution since 1922, and has had continuous regional accreditation ever since. More information on SACS and the entire accreditation process can be found at www. sacsoc.org.

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Opinions

Thursday, May 24, 2012

4 www.theplainsman.com

Thursday, May 24, 2012

Campus

Our View

Advice for WEGL, tune in or turn off A few weeks ago, WEGL 91.1 posted as sign on their door saying broadcast was shut down by a lightening strike to their antenna, and while we are sorry for our friends, we would like to take this opportunity to give them some much needed advice. To say WEGL has been going downhill is an understatement. Their programming has left much to be desired. Even before the lightening strike, we noticed that hours of the day would go by without any music at all. We are not saying we hate WEGL, far from it. We believe that WEGL is an underutilized source for entertainment, but also music that is not available on any other local radio station. However, we do think that some changes need to be made for our radio station to be respected again.

Long gone are the days when radio was the only way people listened to music, but WEGL’s inconsistent programming and disc jockey quality aren’t doing anything to help expand their listener base. Although any student can be a DJ, which is a good policy, there needs to be a bit more training before a fledgling DJ goes on the air. We suggest holding DJs to a higher standard. They should know that their listeners expect them to put in some effort, especially when it comes to avoiding profanity and FCC fines. WEGL could also benefit from proper promotion. We wish we didn’t know so many people who didn’t even know Auburn had a radio station. Unfortunately, passing out sunglasses at Camp War Eagle isn’t going to cut it.

We would like to see DJs and staff out promoting the station as much as possible. People can’t listen to something they don’t know exists. According to the SGA’s budget, which also funds the Glomerata, Circle, Eagle Eye and many other Auburn institutions, it spends almost $150,000 a year to keep WEGL afloat. However, WEGL only spends $600 in promotion and advertising. Of course, $600 is a lot to promote a station that plays mostly dead air. WEGL has been operating in a fantasy world for too long, and we would like to see them come back down to the real world. We think expecting some professionalism from its DJs is a good place to start. We miss the WEGL of yesteryear. We miss hearing local bands play

live in the studio, and we miss listening to DJs that kept us captivated. Most of all, we miss the music. Not the top 40 junk we could get anywhere else, the real music, the music that makes college radio better than all the rest. They have the ability to create something wonderful, something worth listening to. All they have to do is take what they do a little more seriously. The best thing WEGL could do now is take the down time to not only repair their antenna, but also repair their operating standards. We look forward to seeing a revitalized WEGL that is a breath of fresh air when compared to the commercialized monotony that plagues other radio stations.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

“

The beauty of WEGL is that you can play what you want to play and talk about what you want to talk about.” —Brian Long WEGL PROMOTIONS DIRECTOR

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Texting while driving, not something to LOL about Andrew Yawn

COMMUNITY@ THEPLAINSMAN. COM

On May 8, Gov. Robert Bentley signed into law the creatively named House Bill 2, better known as the law against texting while driving. Afterward came the usual uproar as the younger generation of drivers – most likely the same ones who claim they drive better drunk than sober – filled social media feeds with complaints, adamant that their high school textingwithout-looking training is

more than sufficient to avoid an accident. However, covert cell phone skills or not, accidents do happen. I’ll admit, I frequently confuse my driver’s seat for a LaZ-Boy, texting with one hand, eating with another and cruising along with a sure-handed knee holding the wheel. However, the fact of the matter is, the law is not only necessary, it’s not as rigorous as it could be. The law is essentially in the same class as the seat belt law with the first offense costing $25 if you can’t give the officer a convincing explanation of why that last message you

sent was absolutely necessary. After the first offense, the fines go up to $50 for a second offense and $75 for a third. No matter how aware you think you are, cell phones seem to command all attention as texters focus more on typing between the lines than driving between them. One particular example of technological multitasking incompetence occurred in 2009 when a teenage girl named Alexa Longueira was walking down a street in New York texting one of her friends. With visions of smiley faces and “lolcats” clouding her mind, she failed to see the open manhole in front of her

and fell 5 feet – straight into the sewer. If people can manage to hurt themselves texting and walking, I’m sure you’re not more in control going 70 mph down Interstate 85. The law goes into effect Aug. 1. but most likely, drivers will continue to text and drive anyway. But, if you do, be intelligent about it. If you have a smartphone with a screen bright enough to signal Batman, don’t text and drive at night. Driving home after a night at the bars could reduce your cell phone plan from unlimited minutes to one phone call

if a routine ticket stop for texting turns into a DWI. If you’re driving on a crowded road surrounded by cars, wait until a stop sign or red light to talk to your friends. Or, instead of risking your money for a 20 minute conversation in texts, go old school and just call them. Whether you put them on speakerphone or not, you’ll be able to see the road, you won’t get a ticket. Or, you know, have a real conversation.

Police brutality rampant in U.S. Death penalty still haunts judicial system

The National Registry of Exonerations has released a disturbing statistic: since 1989, there have been 891 exonerations in the United States. In my lifetime, there have been at least 891 miscarriages of justice. Though that number is frighteningly large, it is not entirely unexpected. No matter how perfect a system of law and order we create – and I believe we have one of the best, if not the best, in the world – it is inevitable that our system will produce a wrongful conviction. The statistics released by

the National Registry of Exonerations is particularly alarming when you remember that 33 states still execute citizens found guilty of committing capital crimes. Even the staunchest of the death penalty’s supporters must admit that the United States has, on more than one occasion, executed an innocent man. And with a track record of 891 wrongful convictions in a mere 23 years, how many of those innocent men could have been executed by the State for a crime they didn’t commit? What we must focus on and what we must ask ourselves is whether or not we

will stand for a system of justice that allows for the statesanctioned death of an innocent man. In 1989, Carlos DeLuna had the misfortunate of sharing the name and looks of Carlos Hernandez. When I say DeLuna looked like Hernandez, I am not speaking of some Texan subliminal racism that found two Hispanic men to look similar. I mean that DeLuna’s own family had trouble distinguishing him from Hernandez in photographs. In 1989, DeLuna was executed by the State of Texas for a 1983 murder that evidence now indicates Her-

nandez committed. Unlikely? Perhaps. But 891 other wrongfully convictions demonstrate it is not impossible. Imagine that was you. As long as capital punishment remains legal in the United States, the specter of the inevitable execution of another innocent citizen hangs over our heads. Alabama’s skies can never truly be blue until we are assured that no innocent man will ever be put to death by the government. I ask that we dare defend that right. Alexander B. Roberson President Emeritus Auburn Democrats

Auburn impresses visiting V.I.P. I am a 1993 graduate of Auburn University of Montgomery and so proud to be an alumni of the Auburn family. Especially after watching Auburn students and staff in action. Y’all are awesome! On behalf of the V.I.P. Organization Inc. of Selma, Alabama, I want to thank Auburn University for giving us the V.I.P. treatment while on a field trip for special needs kids from Selma High and Selma Middle Schools to Auburn on May 3, 2012. I want to thank Lauren Swindle, a Selma native and President

of Best Buddies at Auburn, and John Sasser, President of the Plainsman hosts and hostesses. They worked very hard to make this field trip special. While in Auburn, the special needs kids and I learned about what it was like to be loved, appreciated and accepted for what we are. This was a spiritual revolution for us all.They showed us it is ok to be different. You could feel God’s blessing upon this activity when we stepped off the bus at the Auburn Athletic Department.

We saw true hospitality from the Auburn family. From the time we got off the bus in Auburn to the time we boarded the bus to leave we had a student guiding us all the way. Former AU Head Coach Pat Dye gave us a welcome to Auburn and an inspirational message on having a good attitude and how it will take us along way to being accepted and will help us overcome our disabilities and lead us to success. We were treated to a pep rally with a Tiger walk complete with Au-

The Editorial Board Robert E. Lee

T.J. Harlin

Anna Conrad

EDITOR-IN-CHEIEF

CAMPUS EDITOR

COPY EDITOR

Melody Kitchens

John Holtrup

Daniel Lowe

MANAGING EDITOR

SPORTS EDITOR

PHOTO EDITOR

Andrew Yawn

Rachel Suhs

NEWS EDITOR

DESIGN EDITOR

burn Cheerleaders. We then visited the Disability Center, headed up by Mr. Scott Renner. He gave the kids a presentation on assistive technology and how he uses it to do his job at Auburn and how it makes him productive. He also told the kids not to be afraid to talk to others with disabilities and to ask questions. Thanks Auburn University for showing us a good time and what it is like to be accepted into a family of folks you do not know. The field trip was sponsored by the V.I.P. Orga-

nization Inc, The Black Belt Community Foundation and Auburn University and Capital Trailways. To see pictures of trip visit V.I.P.’s website at www.visuallyimpairedpeople.org or Selma.wsfa.com and on facebook at facebook.com/visuallyimpairedpeopleorganization. To make donations to V.I.P. future activities call me at 334-3544015. William H. Bowman President and C.E.O. V.I.P. Organization Inc.

ZEKE TURRENTINE

COMMUNITY@ THEPLAINSMAN. COM

On May 5 last year, a Pima County, Arizona SWAT team fireed 71 bullets into the home of Iraq War veteran Jose Guerena while his wife and four-year-old hid for their lives. Twenty-two bullets hit him, though no one shot was fatal. He spent his last hour bleeding to death in front of his family. Many incidents like this have happened in America, with two occuring just last month. Eighty-four rounds were fired at one murder suspect in Harlem. Ninety rounds were fired at a fleeing, unarmed suspect in Los Angeles who turned out to only be carrying a bag of laundry items. Our police officers have an alarming tendency of overaggression. An excellent New Yorker article by Jill Lepore called attention to the American obsession with guns and its sometimes-invisible but always-there role in our lives. However, she did note that the rate at which Americans horde guns unnecessarily is slowing. Lepore said “According to the General Social Survey, conducted by the National Policy Opinion Center at the University of Chicago, the prevalence of gun ownership has declined steadily in the past few decades. In 1973, there were guns in roughly

one in two households in the United States; in 2010, one in three. In 1980, nearly one in three Americans owned a gun; in 2010, that figure had dropped to one in five.” Our police forces, while maybe not seeing dramatic rises, are definitely not seeing the rapid decline in citizen gun ownership. I’m not accusing each and every individual officer here of being too aggressive. Unfortunately, they are caught up in a cultural trend that leads us to believe a criminal, or even a suspect, may sometimes have to die for the sake of law and order. There can be many reasons to explain prolice brutality away as an insignificant or a uniquely American problem that we must deal with for our own safety, but I fail to see connections between the Wild West days and our modern, urban police officers. German officers are known to say they have failed at their job if they needed to fire a weapon. They are also looked to as a pillar of trust, camaraderie, and even friendship who by the very act of signing up for the force realize that their comfort may have to be laid down for the protection of citizens. In a country where police officers are so often seen as above the law, we are seeing a dangerous shift towards mass militarization of police units nationwide. This brutality must be slowed down and brought to an end and we have to restore a sense of trust in our police officers.

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The Auburn Plainsman welcomes letters from students as well as from faculty, administrators, alumni and those not affiliated with the University. Letters must be submitted before 4:30 p.m. on the Monday for publication. Letters must include the author’s name, address and phone number for verification, though the name of the author may be withheld upon request. Submission may be edited for grammar and/or length.

The opinions of The Auburn Plainsman staff are restricted to these pages. These unsigned editorials are the majority opinion of the 9-member editorial board and are the official opinion of the newspaper. The opinions expressed in columns and letters represent the views and opinions of their individual authors and do not necessarily reflect the Auburn University student body, faculty, administration or Board of Trustees.

Contact Phone 334–844–4130 Email opinion@theplainsman.com

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Thursday, May 24, 2012

Community

Opponents of H.B. 56 say state’s revisions leave much to be desired Zeke Turrentine COMMUNITY BEAT REPORTER

DANIELLE LOWE/PHOTO EDITOR

For now, WOW! will keep the Knology name and ease the transition for its customers.

More cable-bilities

Cable company merger between WOW! and Knology promises upgrades and more options for the company and its customers Andrew Yawn COMMUNITY EDITOR

In today’s tech-driven world, it’s all about the upgrades. On April 18, Midwest cable provider WideOpenWest Internet, Cable and Phone (WOW!) announced a merger deal to acquire the West Point, Ga.-based cable company Knology, Inc. The Auburn City Council approved the FCC Form 394 application requesting the transfer of the non-exclusive cable franchise agreement from Knology to WOW! at the City Council meeting on May 15. On the surface, the merger will not bring much change to residents who are already customers of Knology, according to Knology Vice President of Sales and Marketing Royce Ard. “The most important thing at this point in time is that it’s business as usual for our customers, and we’re going to continue to provide the same great service that we’ve been providing in the Auburn market,” Ard said. The changes that are made, however, will only be for the better, according to Ard. “We’re very proud of the customer service experience that Knology provides, but at the same time, WOW! would tell you that they offer best in class customer service, and they have a lot of trophies to prove it,” Ard said. While Knology has less national recognition, WOW! is

renowned for its customer service, earning 14 J.D. Power and Associates awards for customer satisfaction since 2005 and being ranked the top triple service provider in the nation by Consumer Reports in 2011. WOW!’s reputation combined with more advanced technologies looks to help keep Knology’s current customers and attract new ones. “The WOW! company is extremely focused on customer service and employees,” said Knology President Todd Holt. “I think it’s a ‘one plus one equals three’ type (of) scenario where WOW! is a great company, Knology is a great company, and we’ll be even better with more resources.” For example, WOW! offers up to 50 megabytes per second Internet speed compared to 30 MBps by Knology. According to Ard, WOW!’s effort in its “TV-everywhere” feature, which allows its customers to watch television on their mobile devices, will be made available to Knology customers after the merger. “WOW!’s ahead of us in ‘TV-everywhere’ offerings. For instance they have HBO Go, which we’ve been working on getting a contract with HBO to provide,” Ard said. “They are on the forefront as far as programming goes, and I think that’s something the customers will see in the near term.”

» See CABLE, 6

Gov. Robert Bentley signed into law House Bill 658, a rewrite of the immigration law H.B. 56 on Friday. “We needed to make House Bill 56 better ... and we did that,” Bentley said at a press conference Friday, May 18. “There is substantial progress in this bill: burdens on legal residents and businesses are eased, and the goal remains the same – that if you live and work in Alabama, you must do so legally. Bentley and his legislators worked closely together over the past few months and said that, while not all agreed upon changes were reflected in the new bill, the final product emerged simplified, yet still strong. When the original bill was passed, Bentley said that he had concerns over some of Sen. Scott Beason’s provisions that he thought violated people’s constitutional rights. Despite these concerns, opponents say H.B. 658 is nearly identical to its predecessor. “This so-called ‘reform bill’ is nothing more than window dressing apparently aimed at appeasing the state’s business leaders, even though the majority of small businesses and the state’s farmers will continue to suffer,” said Mary Bauer, legal director of the Southern Poverty Law Center, in a press release Friday. Bauer said the bill actually makes the original law much worse and that as a resuly of this legislative deision more lawsuits will now be filed against the state. Olivia Turner, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union’s Alabama branch, chided Bentley for authorizing the legislation and expressed hope that courts would strike it down. “Gov. Bentley had the opportunity to send a message to lawmak-

ers that the racial profiling, discrimination and fear these laws spark must be stopped,” Turner said in an email statement on Friday. “Sadly, he declined. “We are hopeful the courts will soon overturn these shameful measures once and for all.” Bentley did reiterate that he doesn’t think the new law fixes all the problems he saw in the old bill, but that he wasn’t going to pass on signing the bill into law. One of those problems is the school provision included in the original law checking the status of students, according to Bentley. He also said he disagrees with H.B. 658’s provision to expand the state’s funds to create an illegal immigrant database system that the public will have access to. In Bentley’s mind, the good of signing the bill outweighed the bad of leaving provisions yet to be changed. “The bottom line is there are too many positive aspects of House Bill 658 for it to go unsigned, and I don’t want to lose the progress we have made,” Bentley said. “This bill reduces burdens on legal residents as they conduct government transactions … (and) also reduces burdens on businesses while still holding them accountable to hire legal workers.” In addition to several possible civil rights violations, opponents of the bill point out that it has harmed the state’s economy by driving away farm workers and other laborers and frightening away potential business relocations worried what the law means for any workers they would bring into the state. Still, Bentley stands behind H.B. 658 as the right move for the state at this time. “These changes make this a stronger bill,” Bentley said.

Board of Education cuts more than just money Ben Croomes OPINIONS EDITOR

The Lee County Board of Education cut $1 million from its fiscal budget last Tuesday to make up for the loss of federally allocated funds. The budget cuts will result in 15 of the system’s 110 aides and one teacher losing their jobs. Schools will also not be allowed to spend as much on textbooks and purchase any software. These measures were taken in order to make up for the lack of federal funding allotted for transportation and textbooks. Superintendent Dr. Stephen Nowlin said the cuts have been a topic of discussion since last

fall. “We were dipping into our reserves $1.5 million,” Nowlin said. “Over the past four years, we have lost $10 million.” Nowlin said this coming fiscal year will be the system’s first without federal funding. “By cutting the 15 aides, Lee County Schools will save about $460,000,” Nowlin said. For the aides that remain, their contracts will be reduced to 182 days, acording to Nowlin. “Naturally, some folks are disappointed, but we should reduce aides instead of teachers,” Nowlin said. However, he also said one teacher would not have his or her contract extended into next year. “We have one teacher who will not have (his

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or her) contract renewed, and a few others who are leaving for personal reasons,” Nowlin said. The effect the cuts will have on the system may not be obvious until next school year, but administrators remain confident in the abilities of the school board to protect the teachers’ jobs. Smiths Station High School principal Dr. Jason L. Yohn said that his school has been doing well despite the current economic climate. “We’ve been fine. Lee County’s been very good about protecting instruction, from a standpoint of protecting teachers and teacher jobs,” Yohn said. “And this year’s been no different for us.” He said that if the economy does not stabilize in the near future, however, the budgets will

have to be cut more and that will cause an issue. Yohn said he trusts the school board’s ability to handle the recent budget deficit. “I feel extremely confident that the superintendent and the board are going to continue protect instruction by keeping the teachers we need in the classroom,” Yohn said. “They’ve always done that and they will continue to do that, in my opinion.” Although Yohn said he has hope for the future of his school and the Lee County school system, Nowlin did not share the same certainty. “It all depends on the legislature,” Nowlin said. “We have to be able to function with whatever they decide.”

Community 6

The Auburn Plainsman

Thursday, May 24, 2012

Lee County posts third lowest unemployment rate in the state Andrew Yawn COMMUNITY EDITOR

Gov. Robert Bentley issued a press release on May 18 announcing that Alabama’s unemployment rate has dropped to 7.2 percent, the lowest unemployment rate seen in the state since November 2008, before the recession. Lee County was listed as having the third lowest rate in the state with a 5.6 percent unemployment rate behind Shelby County at 4.6 and Coffee County at 5.3. Wage and salary employment in the state has increased by 8,500 jobs over the past month with tourism and the automotive industry seeing the largest increases, according to the release. “Just yesterday, we announced Toyota Motor Manufacturing of Alabama will be expanding its production facility in Huntsville,” said Bentley in the release. “We have also seen many other exciting developments across the state that are leading to new jobs for Alabamians.” A similar situation is occurring in Lee County as the unemployment rate is expected to decline even more in the

coming year with the addition of Auburn Technology Park West, according to Auburn City Manager Charlie Duggan. “We have our third technology park underway with GE and SiO2 and some other companies located there, so it’s really been a concerted effort to make sure the infrastructure is in place … and that there are quality jobs for people,” Duggan said. GE is expected to offer Lee County 300-400 jobs and SiO2, a pharmaceutical company, is expected to create another 300. Auburn Mayor Bill Ham Jr. agreed, saying that the county’s effort in creating and seeking new jobs has paid off this year. “There are a lot of factors, but obviously available jobs, particularly here in Lee County,” Ham said. “In the last seven months we’ve had a lot of very good announcements, rankings, and expansions in all parts (of the county).” For comparison, Duggan recalled the job market in Lee County in the 80s as having numerous low-wage service industry jobs that were serviceable for a college student,

but couldn’t provide for a career or support a family. Now, he said, the quality of jobs is as important as how many people have them. “It comes down to years of economic development efforts focused by certainly our city council making sure that people have, not just a job, but decent paying jobs,” Duggan said. Duggan also attributes the improvement over the past few years to the educational system saying that from kindergarten to college students in the county are groomed for success. The Alabama unemployment rate is down 2.1 percent from its 9.2 mark in May 2011, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The national unemployment rate is slightly higher at 8.1 percent, however this remains a decrease from the 9 percent rate from this time last year. In the release, Bentley suggested that this might be a sign that the recession is slowly ending and that “many areas of the economy are improving.” Ham also hopes that the

Lee County Unemployment Rates 2008-2012

economic signs he’s seeing are pointing out of the economic crisis. “I’ve seen a lot of indicators, new home sales picking up, home sales in general picking up, our sales tax numbers are

continuously increasing so I’m certainly hopeful that at least the worst is over,” Ham said. As for Duggan, he’s looking to the past and hoping not to repeat it in the future. “We certainly hope (the re-

cession’s ending),” he said. “Sometime last year we’re hoping that things really did hit the bottom and that we’re now in an upward swing towards more employment in the future.”

CABLE

to be a very large player, but I think we compete very well with Charter and we take our share of the customer base for sure,” Ard said. Auburn University student Mark Tesney, a junior in sociology and Charter customer, said that large cable companies’ response times and lack of immediacy in solving problems is a major factor in whether or not he continues his subscription. “I use Charter and my parents use Cox (Communications), and they both take forever with fixing problems,” Tesney said. “My internet goes out at least once a week and this has been going on since last fall so I might be switching to someone else when I move out.” To Ard, this merger represents the best of both worlds: big city consumers intertwined with small-town hospitality. “I think we take two great customer service providers and push them together, and with those added resources it becomes a bigger player in the industry,” he said. “We’re much, much more ingrained in those individual communities because we’ve hand selected those.” In a community as closeknit as Auburn, this personal touch may help attract residents unhappy with their current service. The decision on whether or not Knology will keep its name or take on the WOW! moniker is completely up to WOW!, although Ard said he expects no change in the first few months as WOW! eases the transition to a new ownership. The deal is not yet finalized, but WOW! is paying cash for all of Knology’s outstanding shares at $19.75 per share, according to WOW!’s press release. Chief Marketing Officer Cathy Kuo declined comment until the deal is done. The entire deal is valued at approximately $1.5 billion. WOW! representatives refused any further comment until the deal is finalized. According to the FCC application, the two companies intend to finish the transaction no later than July 31.

» From 5

ANNA CLAIRE CONRAD / COPY EDITOR

Eight volunteer firefighters of the Southwest Lee County Fire Protection Authority in front of one of the two outdated fire trucks in their department, along with board member Bob Schafer, fifth from left.

FIRE FEE » From 1

is over 20 years old, and the other one is from the 90s. These are just a couple examples of how our costs have gone up, and why we’re asking for the increase.” Southwest Deputy Fire Chief Jeremy Jones said Lee County’s fire department is asking for a minimum amount compared to the rest of the country. “The national average for fire protection services about $125 per structure per year,” Jones said. “We felt after careful calculations that $50 was the lowest amount we could increase the fee to insure that we would be able to provide proper services to our community.” Haden said the $50 is suf-

ficient for now and is in the voters’ best interest. “The important thing to remember is that this vote is for a renewal,” Jones said. “Yes, it concerns the fiscal increase, but if this vote is turned down and we stop receiving funding in October, we’ll have to close.” If the legislation passes, the fee’s lifespan will be renewed until September 2036. The majority of the people volunteering as fire fighters for Lee County are Auburn students and Auburn graduates. “This department had student fire fighters before the city of Auburn did,” said Bob Schafer, board member and advocate for the fire fee renewal and increase. “Out of our 27 members, most of those are students.

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These are young people who grew up with fire fighters in their families. They’ve been around it their whole lives. So, when they came to Auburn they were looking for a way to get involved. ” Schafer said the election will be run just like any other election, and that it will be clear to the registered voters what they are voting on. “In the past, this legislation was clumped together with other pertinent issues at one time. So when the residents voted ‘No’ on the ballot with a whole lot of other issues they didn’t agree with listed on it, they also voted ‘No’ on the fire fee renewal,” Schafer said. “We’re holding a separate election for this fire fee renewal so the people know exactly what they are voting for.”

Haden also said it is a common misconception that this fire department is owned by the county. “Lee County does not own this volunteer fire department,” Schafer said. “It is operated by a board of directors that is not affiliated with local government at all. We serve Lee County, but we are not owned by Lee County.” Schafer said it is critical for voters to cast their vote as “yes.” “Bottom line is I believe the board is committed to shutting down the volunteer fire department if the fee isn’t upped to $50,” Schafer said. “ For more information on this legislation, including how to register to vote, please visit: www.LeeCountyFireFee.org or contact Haden at (334) 728-6323.

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And yet the merger does hold a mutual attraction. While WOW! offers Knology a recognized name and advances in services, the sale of Knology allows WOW! to expand and break into the southeastern markets of the country, according to Ard. “WOW! would love to expand their footprint and be a larger company, and at Knology we would like to see our business grow as well, and it’s just a good fit for both of us,” Ard said. As of now, WOW ! offers services in Illinois, Indiana, Ohio and Michigan. In acquiring Knology, WOW ! will gain control of markets in Alabama, Georgia, Florida, South Carolina, Tennessee, Kansas and South Dakota, with Auburn being one of its four Alabamian markets. Ard said with the expansion of the customer base, quality customer service will be even more important than it is now. “You have to decide what kind of company you want to be, and if you want to be a large company that’s going to cover wide swatches of the population, and that typically has not been Knology’s plan, nor has it been WOW!’s plan,” Ard said. “We like to … be very careful in picking the market, because once we do we invest not only a lot of money, but a lot of time and resources in developing those markets and giving back to the communities.” By combining their resources, Holt believes that WOW! can challenge and supercede larger cable companies such as Charter Communications while maintaining the support and attention provided by a smaller business. “The cultures of the two companies are very consistent … they both go in and compete with the incumbent cable and telephone companies and play the David v. Goliath type of business model,” Holt said. “We don’t cover the same number of homes as Charter, so (Charter) is always going

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Sports

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Thursday, May 24, 2012

Sports

Cameron Toney: Linebacker

Dee Liner: Defensive End

6’3” 225 lb. Huntsville Huntsville High School 3 Star Recruit

6’2” 274 lb. Muscle Shoals Muscle Shoals High School 4 Star Recruit

COURTESY OF AUBURNUNDERCOVER.COM

Kamryn Melton: Defensive Back 5’10” 165 lb. Dothan Dothan High School 3 Star Recruit

2013 football recruits to invade campus for Big Cat Weekend

COURTESY OF AUBURNSPORTS.COM

COURTESY OF TOM HAUCK, ESPN HS

Trey Johnson: Linebacker

6’1” 220lb. Lawrencville, Ga. Central Gwinnett High School 4 Star Recruit

Carl Lawson: Defensive End

6’2” 253 lb. Alpharetta, Ga. Milton High School 4 Star Recruit

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Earnest Robinson: Wide Receiver

6’3” 200 lb. Pinson Valley Pinson Valley High School 4 Star Recruit

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Jeremy Johnson: Quarterback 6’6” 215 lb. Montgomery Carver High School 4 Star Recruit

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An undisclosed amount of recruits will be on site for the fourth annual Big Cat Weekend, an event held to intice potential recruits to commit. Auburn’s verbal commitment list includes these seven players.

Sports 8

The Auburn Plainsman

Thursday, May 24, 2012

Barber continues to impress in postseason John Burns WRITER

Auburn University has been in golfing news recently with former player Jason Dufner winning two PGA tournaments in his last two attempts. Flying under the national media radar is 22-year-old Blayne Barber, a junior from Lake City, Fla. Barber was ranked eighth in the nation going into the NCAA Greensboro Regional last weekend, according to Golfweek. He would finish in fourth place at two strokes under par. Barber was coming off a double bogey on hole 14 when he shot four strokes under par in his last four holes, including a hole in one on 16. Barber’s performance was expected, as he has been averaging slightly more than one shot under par this year. When asked if there was any added

“maturity, patience, his swing improvement, his short game, ball striking and most of all his putting,” have improved over their long coach-golfer relationship. Osteen and head coach Nick Clinard have coached Barber throughout his collegiate career. They were all UCF Knights before moving to Auburn to coach and play respectively. Clinard was proud of the team’s performance last weekend, especially Barber’s. “That’s what champions do,” Clinard said when referring to Barber’s hole in one, However, the team’s success cannot be attributed solely to Barber. Without a strong team behind him, the Tigers would not have had a chance to compete in the NCAA Tournament. “Inside 10 feet he makes a lot of

pressure from being ranked eighth in the nation, Barber said, “Nope. That’s exactly where I want to be. My ultimate goal is to be number one.” The all-American golfer has been hard at work toward reaching this personal goal, and will lead the fifthranked Tigers to the 2012 NCAA Division I Men’s Golf Championships from May 29-June 3. Barber has been honored with several awards this year, including being named to his second consecutive Palmer Cup Team. He was also named a Ben Hogan Award semifinalist for the second time. Barber said he owed his outstanding play this season to maturity, the patience that comes with it and excellent ball striking. Assistant coach Evan Osteen said Barber’s game has improved due to

putts, and that’s really what separates him from everybody else,” Clinard said in reference to Barber’s improved putting. Indeed, Barber has had an excellent putting average of 28.7 per round this year. Barber’s putting average may well be the reason he is ranked first in the SEC in stroke average at 70.66 each round this year. He is only .02 strokes away from breaking Auburn’s scoring record which was set in 1976 by Buddy Gardner, according to Auburn Tigers 201112 tournament notes. “Blayne’s future is extremely bright in whatever he attempts, be it golf or something else,” Osteen said. Barber is majoring in entrepreneurship and family business, but if he continues to succeed as an amateur golfer, the sky is the limit.

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Junior Blayne Barber leads the Auburn men’s golf team as well as the SEC with a 70.66 stroke average this year.

To Place an Ad, Call - 334-844-7928 or Email classifieds@theplainsman.com All real estate advertised herein is subject to the Federal Fair Housing Act, which makes it illegal to advertise any preference, limitation or discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, or national origin, or intention to make any such preference, limitation or discrimination. We will not knowingly accept any advertising for real estate which is in violation of the law. All persons are hereby informed that all dwellings advertised are available on an equal opportunity basis.

EMPLOYMENT AmeriCorps Opportunity Full-time and Part-time positions available from September 1, 2012-August 31, 2013 in Alabama (Auburn, Opelika, Phenix City, and Sylacauga). Receive a living stipend and education award for college. Engage in the community by serving nonprofits, schools, American Red Cross, Boys & Girls Clubs, SAFE in Sylacauga, Cora Reid Greene Home for Children, and/ or Employers’ Child Care Alliance. Interested applicants should send an email to americorps@ccrcalabama.org to receive the online application link. e-mail: americorps@ ccrc-alabama.org

Print Deadline 12 noon three business days prior to publication

FOR RENT $500/mo. 2BR/1BA duplex available in August, wood floors, all appliances included, fenced back yard. 12mo. lease. 334-524-5871 $750/mo. 2BR/1BA house close to campus, wood floors all appliances included, fenced backyard. 12mo lease. 334-524-5871 Country Cottage. Garbage, water and yardwork provided. Screened porch. Country setting. Email stonylonesome1@att.net 334-821-3660 ROOM FOR RENT Furnished bedroom located in faculty home near A.U. campus (10 minute walk from main library). International female graduate student preferred. If interested, call (334)821-9268 or email at emilyamelvin@ gmail.com. Eagles Landing: 4 bedroom 4 bath condo $1200.00 mth. great location, large common area with vaulted ceiling, kitchen island with granite countertops, appliances, water, trash removal and lawn maintence all included. For more info, call 770-772-5699 available 8/2012 Signed lease bonus! GREAT VALUE - 3 BR/2BA TWO-STORY DUPLEX!!! Washer/Dryer/ Yard Work Included. Pet-Friendly. Walk-In Closets. Email spatrick15@hotmail.com

Crossword

LEGAL NOTICE IN THE DISTRICT COURT OF LEE COUNTY, ALABAMA PEN AIR FEDERAL CREDIT UNION, Plaintiff, vs. MARVIN T. MORRIS, II, Defendant. CASE NO: DV-2011900487

NOTICE OF PUBLICATION

To: Marvin T. Morris, II, Defendant named above You are hereby notified that the abovestyled action seeking a judgment against the Defendant Marvin T. Morris, II was filed against you in said court on October 17, 2011, and that by reason of an order for service of summons by publication entered by the court on April 11, 2012, you are hereby commanded and required to file with the clerk of said court and serve upon Annie J. Dike, Attorney-at-Law, whose address is Post Office Box 2767, Mobile, Alabama 36652, an answer to the complaint within thirty (30) days of the last date of publication, to-wit: by the 30th day of June, 2012. Signed: Corinne T. Hurst, CLERK, CIRCUIT COURT OF LEE COUNTY, ALABAMA, April 13, 2012.

FOR RENT Rent four bedroom/bath house partially furnished with security system. Available 8-10-12. Email: JCluvsPA@aol.com, call 609-822-2461. 1BR/1BA apartment @295/mo. all appliances included. Wood floors, water, sewage, garbage, and hot water furnished. 334-524-6807 12mo lease.

ROOMMATE WANTED 2012/2013 Looking for Male Roommate to share 2BR, 1BA apartment Just $295 + utilities, Only 2 blocks to Campus and Downtown Great Shape--Full Kitchen, separate dining + large living area Call 757-848-3774 or email ejc0012@tigermail. auburn.edu Last Week’s Answers: Sudoku 4

Sudoku Sudoku 4

1 8

3 3

5 9

5 Difﬁculty: Hard

1 6

Difﬁculty:

7 1

6 3

4 2