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The Auburn Plainsman A Spirit That Is Not Afraid
THURSDAY, September 10, 2009
Vol. 116, Issue 3 28 Pages
www.theplainsman.com
UPC features Kellie Pickler By JORDAN DAILEY Associate Campus Editor
UPC’s fall concert will feature Kellie Pickler. The country artist was featured on the fifth season of American Idol and then recorded her first album. It will be held at the fall Tiger Nights event Sept. 18. Pickler, who sings “Best
Days of Your Life” and “Red High Heels,” is joining Taylor Swift on the 2009 “Fearless” tour. “Jeremy McCombs will open for Pickler,” said Paul Bagley, UPC’s major entertainment director. “He is scheduled to open at 8:30 p.m., with Pickler to follow at approximately 9:30 p.m.” The western theme for Ti-
ger Nights will be “Wanted.” “We’re having line dancers, square dance callers and can-can girls along with the usual inflatables and games,” said Sharne Rice, UPC president. UPC will be holding Tiger Nights in and around the Student Center. “We’re looking at the concert being outside this year,”
Rice said. “This is pending a University decision, since people will still be tailgating.” The budgets for UPC’s major concert and first Tiger Nights event have been combined for the September function. “It’s going to the major concert at Tiger nights,” Bagley said. “The two committees are working together.”
The second Tiger Nights will be Nov. 6. “This function will have a different theme, and the artist information will be released at a later time,” Rice said. This will be the first time UPC has hosted a major concert featuring a country artist since Dierks Bentley in 2006. UPC plans to host a “Drive-
In Movie” event in October. “We have a company bringing in a big screen, and students will be able to tune in to the movie over their car radios,” Rice said. “We will also bring in big speakers for students who don’t want to watch the movie from a car.” The featured movie will be Transformers 2: Revenge of the Fallen.
Rod Guajardo / PHOTO EDITOR
Safety Daren Bates intercepted a pass last Saturday.
La. Tech falls to Auburn 37 - 13 By ABBY ALBRIGHT Sports Editor
First-year Head Coach Gene Chizik led the Tigers to its first victory of the season Saturday, beating Louisiana Tech 37-13. “It’s great to win your opening game,” Chizik said. “It was certainly one of our goals to win the opening game. I have weight on my shoulders for every game, we have a lot put into this. The kids have a lot put into this. So, every game is important, but again it was great to win the first game.” After a great freshman season and a hard sophomore season, junior place kicker Wes Byrum has gotten back in his groove, kicking three field goals Saturday. The first, a 25-yard field goal, was the first points Auburn put
on the board. He later completed 47- and 49- yard field goals. Senior quarterback Chris Todd threw for 255 yards and completed 17 of 26 passes. Former quarterback and now wide receiver/backup quarterback, Kodi Burns (as quarterback) scored the first touchdown of the game on a 1-yard run with 1:33 left in the first quarter. The most notable touchdown of the game was Todd’s 93-yard pass to junior wide receiver Terrell Zachary, an Auburn record. Sophomore wide receiver Darvin Adams and freshman running back Onterio McCalebb both scored touchdowns for the Tigers, and McCalebb was named SEC’s Freshman of the Week for his performance Saturday.
Rebecca Croomes / PHOTO STAFF
Marianne Hudson professionally trains birds, such as this vulture, Kramer, at the Southeastern Raptor Center. The raptor center welcomed Auburn fans for an up-close look at the birds used in gameday traditions last Friday.
Fans, feathers, football gather Fridays By BRITTANY COSBY Campus Editor
Auburn fans of all ages swooped down to the Southeastern Raptor Center Friday for an up-close and personal look at the special birds that have become part of a gameday tradition. Raptors have become known as nature’s aerial killing machines. The professional trainers of the raptor center have developed relationships with these animals through the sport of falconry, or training raptors
By BLAKE HAMILTON Associate Campus Editor
The Ralph Brown Draughon Library has seen its share of changes over the years, but imminent remodeling of the building will rival any seen before. What began in the summer with the closing off of part of the first floor near the Mell Street entrance will result in a full service Caribou
INDEX
Coffee shop and a learning commons area on the second floor. “We had been working with SGA and the Student Advisory Council (SAC) for several years, asking them to survey students and get input about their thoughts on the library,” said Bonnie MacEwan, dean of libraries. “The number one thing that came out in the > Turn to LIBRARY, A2
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the bald eagle. “Bald eagles are our wonderful success story,” said Marianne Hudson, a professional bird trainer of 12 years. “They used to be an endangered species, but they are no longer threatened. The eagles are everywhere in Alabama, because we have a lot of water and therefore a lot of fish and that’s what they eat.” Eagles can fly over 100 miles an hour and are stronger than a man. The strongest man in the world would be on his knees if an
eagle squeezed him with his talons. “Eagles have incredible crushing strength in his feet and four big needles on each foot,” Hudson said. “Those talons are long and backed up by incredible leg muscles that push them into their prey. They are powerful birds” No one should try to approach or own a raptor for they could be dangerous to humans if kept in captivity. State and federal laws pro-
> Turn to BIRDS, A2
‘Heart of Auburn’ lost in construction By BRITTANY COSBY Campus Editor
Library offers new amenities
to hunt. “People often ask us how we train the birds to fly at the games,” said Roy Crowe, a professional bird trainer. “The eagle only comes to us because he is hungry and we have food. The trainers have pre-conditioned the birds on a lure and the bird knows when he touches the lure that he gets to eat.” The most popular type of hawk is the giant hawks or eagles. There are two types of eagles most prominent in our country, but only one can be found in Alabama:
As Auburn progresses to become a pedestrian friendly campus, some historical areas have become lost along the way. One area in particular was the “heart of Auburn.” The area referred to as the “heart of Auburn” was installed in 1981 in the old Katherine Cater Cooper lawn design in the center of campus. Franklin Olmsted, who designed Central Park in New York and Riverside Park in Chicago, established the original design for the Samford Hall and Cater lawn areas.
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“There was a perfect heart with a little lawn around it,” said Paula Backscheider, an English professor that works on the ninth floor of Haley Center and could see the heart from her window. “There were some benches around it and that is where people would go to propose.” A committee of people including Cathy Love, university engineer, agreed on the plan for the Thach pedestrian way. Bulldozers moved in and construction began in 2004. “I saw the bulldozers moving in and I ran down to ask if they intended to take out the ‘heart of Auburn,’” Backscheider said. “I don’t know if they didn’t know
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what it was or if it was just for progress. But the bulldozers squashed the ‘heart of Auburn.’” Sasaki & Associates created the plan. The new concourse promotes a pedestrian inner core for Auburn’s campus and the safety of campus pedestrians, skateboarders and bicyclists. “In my opinion the ‘heart of Auburn’ was a relatively short lived area of campus,” said Greg Parsons, a university architect. “I would not consider the area to hold historical value. It could have held sentimental value to students who spent time in the area.” The redesign addressed
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a number of issues on campus: not only the conversion from vehicular to a pedestrian dominant campus, but also the deterioration of existing walkways and materials and declining health of trees in the area. “Replacement was done on major underground utilities including hot water, chilled water, natural gas, domestic water, storm drainage, site lighting and electrical distribution,” Parsons said. “Improvement was made on wheelchair access and emergency vehicle access.” Another new concourse was designed last spring to
> Turn to HEART, A2
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The Auburn Plainsman A SPIRIT THAT IS NOT AFRAID
The Auburn Plainsman is the student newspaper of Auburn University. It is produced entirely by students and is funded by its advertising revenue. The Auburn Plainsman is published every Thursday and averages 15 printings per semester. It is distributed free of charge to Auburn students and faculty. Please take only one copy. First copy free; additional copies are 25 cents. Anyone caught taking more than one copy will be prosecuted to the fullest extent. Staff meetings are Wednesdays, 7 p.m. in Suite 1111 of the Student Center. For more information, call 844-4130, e-mail us at editor@theplainsman.com or view our Web site at www.theplainsman.com.
Editorial Staff
Business Staff
Lindsey Davidson Editor editor@theplainsman.com
Tom Hopf Business Manager
Natalie Wade Managing Editor managing.editor@theplainsman.com Ben Bartley Copy Editor Michelle Wilder / Associate Editor Elizabeth Mahaney / Assistant Editor copy@theplainsman.com Ellison Langford News Editor Sam Solomon / Associate Editor Kendra Kelley / Assistant Editor news@theplainsman.com
Erin Coffey Creative Director Ed May Layout Coordinator Production Artists Brent Lang Geoffrey Pitts Kayla Shults Erika Bilbo Account Executives Vincent Aragon Elizabeth Cammon
The Auburn Plainsman DUI Arrests in the City of Auburn Sept. 1 - Sept. 9, 2009
Michael T. Powers of Birmingham 101 S. College St. Sept. 1, 11:40 p.m.
Sept. 1, Sleep Inn & Suites – Auto burglary reported. Two pairs of black Oakley sunglasses, $20 in cash, one Garmin GPS system, one carton Marlboro Lights, one Browning 3V flashlight/battery charger and one Canon Snapshot digital camera stolen.
Austin Carl Barto of Wilton, Conn. 520 Opelika Road Sept. 3, 1:09 a.m.
Sept. 2, Sears – Shoplifting reported. Three bras, one pair of capri pants, five shirts and a two-piece set of baby clothes reported stolen.
Robert Hunter Fuzzell of Tuscaloosa 626 Shug Jordan Parkway Sept. 4, 3:17 a.m.
Sept. 2, Big Cat Gas Station – Gas driveoff reported.
Scott A. Wilkerson of Supply, N.C. Shug Jordan Parkway / Martin Luther King Drive Sept. 5, 4:25 a.m.
Rod Guajardo Photo Editor Morgan Thacker / Associate Editor Ashlea Draa / Assistant Editor Blakeley Sisk / Assistant Editor photo@theplainsman.com
Joseph P. Shanahan of Wichita, Kan. North College Street / South Cedarbrook Drive Sept. 6, 1:32 a.m.
Kevin Saucier Multimedia Editor Griffin Limerick / Associate Editor Julian Kersh / Assistant Editor multimedia@theplainsman.com
Michael Daniel Johnson of Decatur, Ga. 800 Wire Road Sept. 6, 2:36 a.m.
Cliff McCollum Opinions Editor opinion@theplainsman.com
Edward D. Harvey of Atlanta, Ga. 1945 Lee Road 137 Sept. 6, 3:43 a.m.
Andrew Sims Online Editor online@theplainsman.com ADVERTISING POLICIES Campus Calendar is provided by The Auburn Plainsman to all Universitychartered organizations to announce activities. Announcements must be submitted on forms available in the office between 7:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. no later than Monday prior to publication. Submissions must be no more than 30 words and are edited to retain only pertinent information. Classified ads cost $6 for the first 15 words, and 40 cents for each additional word. Forms are available in the office during business hours. Deadline is Friday at 3 p.m. Local advertising rate is $11/ column inch. National advertising rate is $16/ column inch. Deadline for all advertising space reservation is Friday at 3 p.m. The Auburn Plainsman (USPS 434740) is published by Auburn University, AL 36849 weekly during the school year. We do not publish during class breaks. Subscriptions are $40 a year, $20 a semester. Periodicals [postage [paid at Auburn, AL. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The Auburn Plainsman, Student Union Suite 1111, Auburn University, AL 36849.
LIBRARY >From A1
surveys was that the students wanted a full service coffee shop. They also wanted priority to auxiliary services. We also worked a series of exercises to determine the best place in the building for it to be. The AU Hotel and Conference Center gave us some advice and we determined that the space by the Mell Street entrance was the best place. We received a grant from the EBSCO Corporation that helped immensely.” The shop will be open at the end of October. Some students don’t mind the obstructions caused by
BIRDS >From A1
tect raptors and vultures because native species cannot be kept as pets. “The vulture shown is named Kramer, and he was raised illegally as a pet,” Hudson said. “Since this bird was raised by humans, he is not afraid of them and would tussle with a human just as it would its own vulture brother. He has to be kept in captivity or he would cause a problem if he was released.”
Sept. 1, Ethan Court – Burglary reported. One Xbox 360 and nine Xbox 360 video games reported stolen.
John D. Hamme of Baltimore East Samford Avenue / East Glenn Avenue Sept. 3, 6:38 a.m.
Jacob Hunter Stianche of Montgomery East University Drive / Wrights Mill Road Sept. 5, 2:24 a.m.
Abby Albright Sports Editor Nick Van Der Linden / Associate Editor Patrick Dever / Assistant Editor sports@theplainsman.com
Sept. 1 - Sept. 9, 2009 Sept. 1, University Village – Auto burglary reported. One Garmin GPS system, one Kenwood flatscreen stereo system and one black 8GB iPod reported stolen.
John L. Bowling of LaGrange, Ga. Benwood Circle / Martin Luther King Drive Sept. 5, 1:49 a.m.
Helen Northcutt Intrigue Editor Olivia Martin / Associate Editor Callie Garrett / Assistant Editor intrigue@theplainsman.com
CRIME REPORTS
Noal Austin Butler of Wellington, N.C. 425 Roosevelt Drive Sept. 1, 2:33 a.m.
Benjamin Phillip Hornbuckle of Huntsville West Glenn Avenue / North Donahue Drive Sept. 5, 12:41 a.m.
Brittany Cosby Campus Editor Blake Hamilton / Associate Editor Jordan Dailey / Assistant Editor campus@theplainsman.com
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Christopher L. Waller of Opelika South College Street / I-85 Sept. 7, 3:01 a.m. William Allen Cutchen of Birmingham 128 East Glenn Avenue Sept. 7, 4:30 a.m. Dexter L. McIntosh of Tuskegee Wire Road / Simms Road Sept. 7, 5:20 a.m.
these changes as long as they have an alternative to the library’s current coffee establishment. “I think it will be beneficial to everyone because there will not be so many people in one line in one place,” said Darian Cheshier, a sophomore in public relations. “Everyone will be more spread out and have to spend less time getting coffee and more time studying. I hate standing in line to get coffee in the basement.” In addition to food venues, the library’s academic services are continuing to expand. According to Marcia Boosinger, reference department chairman for the RBD Li-
brary, organizations such as Study Partners call the building home and a lack of digital resources such as scanners, printing, and additional software in group-study areas has necessitated the construction of a commons area. “With the grant money we had been planning to take the second floor and use it as a learning area for group service space where there would be access to technical services,” Boosinger said. “We’re about to start work on what will be open next semester. The library advisory said that we would get input from Tiger Tuesdays, so we give them to the planner and incorporated those suggestions. Hopefully
the learning commons will be available by January.” All AU students can have a voice in the development of library facilities and services. by providing feedback at the library’s link on the SAC’s Web site at www.lib.auburn. edu. “We’ve been studying this process for a number of years and have visited half a dozen libraries across the country,” Boosinger said. “Students will experience some shifting around while these things are happening. You may go to find a book that you were using yesterday and find that it’s on a different floor, but overall our goal is to do this as painlessly as possible.”
People have a common misconception that vultures are ugly, dirty birds, but the raptor center has tried to change that stereotype. “The vulture will span its wings to sun themselves,” Crowe said. “These birds have an iridescence to them and reflect UV light. Vultures are magnificent creatures.” Hawks are the most common category of birds in the South because of what they like to eat and their habitat. “The rat is the perfect meal package for a red-tail
hawk,” Crowe said. “Sixty to 70 grams of meat is enough to last these birds for a day. Even though the hawk weighs about a pound and a half, it is capable of catching a threepound rabbit into the ground and killing it with its feet.” One essential role raptors play in the environment is as Earth’s predators. A study was done in the South on the quail population, because it was believed the predators were eating the quail. “They did an intensive kill of the predators including
the coyotes, foxes, owls and hawks, but the quail population actually went down,” Crowe said. “The reason was that everything got out of balance. The rats were preying on the quail eggs and, with the predators gone, the rat population flourished.” Females are generally larger than males in many raptor species. Raptors live all over North America in all seasons of the year. “Raptors do migrate, but there are always populations,” Hudson said. “These
Sept. 3, Arbor Ridge Drive – Burglary and larceny reported. One Nintendo Wii game system with controllers, one Sony Playstation 3 with controllers, one Sanyo 19” flatscreen television and one 9mm semi-automatic pistol reported stolen. Sept. 3, Turn Lake Drive – Burglary and larceny reported. One Nintendo Wii game system, one Nintendo Wii game remote, one Wii Fit game, one Nikon digital camera, one Dell laptop and one Bridge men’s watch reported stolen. Sept. 4, Barron’s Trailer Park – Auto burglary and larceny reported. One Motorola two-way radio and one Smith and Wesson .38 caliber revolver reported stolen. Sept. 5, North College Street – Larceny reported. One Toshiba laptop, one black Garmin GPS, one 150GB iPod and various clothing items reported stolen. Sept. 5, Swann’s Triangle Trailer Park – Burglary and larceny reported. One storm window and one .38 caliber Charter Arms revolver reported stolen. Sept. 6, Auburn University Club – Auto theft and larceny reported. One Matthews Drenalin bow with range finder and one 2002 black Chevrolet K2500 pickup truck reported stolen. Sept. 7, VFW Road – Larceny reported. One 10-pack of Coors Light beer, one package of Heineken beer and one bottle of Pinot Grigio wine reported stolen. Sept. 7, Wright Street Parking Lot – Auto burglary and larceny reported. One set of 13 Ping golf clubs in an Auburn bag reported stolen. Sept. 7, Brown Villas – Burglary and larceny reported. One Apple laptop, $60 in cash, a twelve-inch hunting knife and a 32-inch HD flatscreen Insignia television reported stolen. Sept. 7, Eagle Circle – Auto burglary and larceny reported. One JVC car stereo, one 2-CD set of Frank Sinatra’s Greatest Hits and one Frank Black CD reported stolen. - Reports provided by Auburn Department of Public Safety
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replace all the bricks on the concourse and replace it with concrete. “I support the idea of a pedestrian inner core for our campus, but I don’t like all the concrete and would prefer permeable pavers, recycled concrete paving or permeable concrete,” said Charlene LeBleu, an associate professor in landscape architecture. “We have missed opportunities to implement sustainable practices such as rainwater recapture, green roofs, rain gardens, ecosystem resto-
birds do a great service for us because they eat so many rats and mice.” Falconry can be a difficult sport because there is a lot of timing involved. “When we train the birds to hunt, they will not know the difference between a real rabbit and a fake one,” Hudson said. “It is a delicate procedure to get them off of the lure. If we rob the raptors of their prey, they will resent our approach. We have to take time and let her eat some of the rabbit and then
ration and “heritage landscape” restoration. I think being a leader in sustainable practices is what being a land grant university is all about.” The ‘heart of Auburn’ is long gone with all the university changes and upgrades, but to Paula Backsheider and those who remember it, it will never be forgotten. “Every once in a while I used to see an old couple come and sit on the bench in front of the heart and take a picture,” Backscheider said. “When I would see a couple do that, I knew they got engaged there.”
get her off of her kill.” The Southeastern Raptor Center hires volunteers in animal science to help with the training and up-keep of these animals. “I got involved when I saw an ad for a volunteer needed for rehabilitation,” said Katherine Gaskill, a senior in animal science. “I come out to the raptor center six days a week to train the animals. I have worked with these birds for two and a half years and it still amazes me how powerful they are.”
The Auburn Plainsman
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NEWS
THURSDAY, September 10, 2009
Legislators look to solve PACT problems By LAURA MAXWELL Staff Writer
A concern for many Auburn students is whether the PACT program will continue to pay for their education. Many ideas are being tossed back and forth among legislators about how to rescue the plan. The plan was created by then State Treasurer George Wallace Jr. to help low-income families seeking financial aid, but were unqualified for grants. “It was a solid plan that worked well for two decades,” Wallace said. He said the reason for the current PACT problem is the combination of the downturn in the market and the increase in college tuition. Wallace has decided to run for treasurer once again—his
primary focus being to rescue the PACT plan. He said he thinks it is important to finish what he started. There are several proposals of how to save the plan. Wallace said he thinks the best solution proposed thus far is to borrow money from the Alabama Trust Fund, which gets its funding through royalties from gas and oil companies. Wallace said he does not think taxpayers should have to pay out of their pockets to help save the plan. According to Wallace, $50 million would help the plan “get back on sound footing until the market recovers.” Robert Bentley, one of the gubernatorial candidates for 2010, has been actively working on ideas to help save the PACT plan.
Bentley said he thinks Alabama has a moral obligation to honor all PACT plans. Bentley’s proposal is to freeze the PACT plan by not allowing any more people to purchase it and to continue to cover those who are already using the program. Then, he proposes Alabama take that money and set up an annuity program with insurance companies. That way the plan would receive the same amount of funding every year for 20 years. The amount would be $35 million per year, but that might not be enough, Bentley said. Bentley suggests Alabama borrow the remainder of the needed funding from the Alabama Trust Fund, which is Alabama’s savings plan. Then, as the number
Kay Ivey, state treasurer, is of students covered by the plan decreases over the next also a gubernatorial candi10 to 12 years, there will be date for 2010. She disagrees more money available than is with the proposals to borrow money from the Alabama needed. So then the excess money Trust Fund to rescue the PA C T w ould plan. b e “It is paid It was a solid plan that not the back to the worked well for two decades.” r i g h t way, but A l a it is not bama Tr u s t George Wallace Jr. the only Fund. former state treasurer w a y , ” I v e y “It is said. not a Ivey said in order for a probailout, it is just a loan,” Bentposal to have her support, it ley said. If this proposal is imple- would have to meet a variety mented, taxes will not be of requirements. Ivey said she agrees all sturaised in order to help fund the PACT plan. dents who are currently usAnd as far as the PACT ing the plan should continue plan goes, Bentley said he is to be covered by it, and taxes sure the present problem will should not be raised in order be solved. to rescue the program.
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However, Ivey said she thinks a cash infusion should come from a variety of sources. She also said she thinks something should be done soon. The PACT plan is not a state program, but was created by the legislature, said Mike Reynolds, the University’s executive director of student financial services. It is a contract between the PACT program and the purchaser. Because of that, Auburn is not looking for ways to assist those students who are using the plan to pay for tuition should the PACT program run out of funds, Reynolds said. It would be different if Auburn offered such a plan. There are approximately
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Auburn University takes steps to battle swine flu By ELLISON LANGFORD News Editor
Ashlea Draa / ASSISTANT PHOTO EDITOR
The Dr. J.W. Darden house, in the historic district of Opelika, was added to the National Register for Historic Places in August. It was owned by Dr. J.W. Darden. an African-American doctor who practiced in the early 1900s.
Millard Fuller’s dream of housing continues By JUSTIN WARD Staff Writer
Lanett needs a superhero. It has an unemployment rate double the national average, almost 21 percent of the city’s population lives below the poverty line and the per capita income is under $16,000. And since 2000, Lanett’s job growth is negative, meaning jobs have decreased by 15 percent, and the school system spends thousands less per child than the national average. As a result, some of its long-time residents migrated elsewhere. But Friday afternoon offered a glimmer of hope for
this struggling city. The Fuller Center for Housing brought hundreds of volunteers to help several Lanett families. Few events can bring a community together like this one, said Bill Scott, president of the Chattahoochee Fuller Center Project. “Events like this can rebuild communities and neighborhoods,” Scott said. For one week they built six new houses and renovated eight others. The volunteers came from all over the country and world. How was Lanett picked? Millard Fuller, who helped millions of people worldwide with his organization Habitat for Humanity, grew up in Lanett.
Fuller, an Auburn graduate, started planning last year for this project as a way to celebrate his 50th wedding anniversary with Linda Fuller. After he passed away in February, his family and those who knew him continued working and developing his final project. Linda, Millard’s wife and business partner, worried she would spend the anniversary alone, their daughter Faith Fuller said. Instead, she was surrounded by hundreds of people her husband had inspired and helped throughout his years of service. In the project’s first year, there are over 100 houses being built in nine countries.
The Auburn University Medical Clinic has diagnosed over 200 cases of H1N1 influenza since the start of classes. However, despite a popular rumor that the University will have to shut down if 200 more students come down with it, that is just not the case. “Can it happen? Yes,” said Dr. Frederick Kam, director of the AUMC, about the University shutting down because of the virus more commonly know as “swine flu.” “Do I see this happening? No.” Kam said the University would need to see a significant disruption in its ability to operate before it would shut down. This means at least 20 percent of the faculty would be unable to conduct classes, or a significant number
of students would be out because of the illness. This could also happen if the staff at the AUMC started seeing so many cases of swine flu that they started to think they were looking at an epidemic. However, if it did shut down, it would be for at least a week or two, Kam said. And then classes would have to be made up over Thanksgiving or Christmas break, before the spring semester. The medical clinic sees about 15 to 20 more cases of the virus every day. The reason students are so susceptible to the malady is because they have no natural immunity, Kam said. “We have not had any kind of swine flu outbreak since the 1970s,” Kam said. “So everybody who was born after that point has had no exposure, > Turn to FLU, A4
Contributed by the Fuller Center for Housing
Hundreds of volunteers gathered in Lanett last weekend to help build and remodel homes for impoverished families. The project was the brainchild of Habitat for Humanity creator Millard Fuller.
The organization decided to build in the Jackson Heights area, which is an economically depressed area of Lanett. “The goal was to build affordable housing and to rebuild these communities and neighborhoods,” Scott said. Faith Fuller, Millard’s daughter and the director of communications for the Fuller Center for Housing, played a part in keeping the ball rolling. “He wouldn’t want us to stop,” Fuller said. “Hundreds of people showed up. And (Sunday) in Atlanta they’re dedicating a house they’ve been working on.” The Fuller Center for Housing gets hundreds of requests
a year, sometimes from the families and sometimes someone from the community reaches out and sees a neighbor who needs help. But the process to get a house isn’t easy. Families selected for new houses have to go through a credit and background check. They also agree to volunteer 350 hours of “sweat equity” toward their homes. “A lot of times families see the work and change their minds,” Fuller said. “Families also have to learn about money management. It’s a complete makeover.” Renovations go to families whose houses need less than $5,000 worth of work and don’t have the funds to do it.
Millard Fuller had a dream to provide affordable housing to those in need all over the world, Faith Fuller said. Spoford, a volunteer, met Millard Fuller four years ago, and his inspiration led her to become a part of the Fuller Center for Housing. Spoford has lived in Lanett for more than 11 years and said the effect of an event like this can be seen all over Lanett. “It has a ripple effect in surrounding neighborhoods as well as the entire community,” Spoford said. Those interested in volunteering for the Fuller Center can go to its Web site fullercenter.org and click on ‘Get Involved’ to learn more.
The Auburn Plainsman
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2,500 students at Auburn who currently use the PACT program. He said it would be unfair to assist them when parents who invested in 529 plans or the stock market are suffering, too. Freezing tuition is not an option, Reynolds said. Auburn’s appropriations from the government are being cut, but the University wants to ensure that
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and no immunity to a virus like this.”
However, it does not appear to be likely that swine flu will go away any time soon. “Expect to see this on a continual basis all the way through the end of this semester, possibly next semester,” Kam said. The reason being Auburn has a large population of people with no natural immunity to this particular virus. Also, students are constantly coming to and going away from Auburn, preventing the city from keeping the virus out. As part of University policy during the swine flu outbreak, each professor has been asked to have a plan about how they would continue class if the University was shut down. They have also been asked to come up with a plan for how they would have their classes covered if they were to become sick, Kam said. As for the small number of fatalities that have been associated with the H1N1 virus, Kam said it is only people who have compromised immune systems that have anything to worry about.
THURSDAY, September 10, 2009
it will be able to continue educating students at the present level of quality. Increasing tuition is one of Auburn’s primary methods of making up for budgetary limitations, Reynolds said. For students relying on the PACT plan to get to college, their only hope may be for the legislature to find a solution for the present problem. “I feel pretty confident that they will come up with a solution,” Reynolds said.
“The average immune normal person really does not have a lot (to be concerned about),” Kam said. “Because so far, from what we’re seeing, the symptoms and the outcomes of this particular flu is no worse than the seasonal flu.” But while the virus is still making its way through the student body, the University has taken a few precautions in order to alleviate the problem. Hand-sanitizer stands have been placed in hightraffic areas throughout campus, and the University has handed out thousands of little flu kits that have items like hand-sanitizer and tissues in them. Also, students who have gone to the AUMC and been diagnosed with the H1N1 virus have been given a couple of options. Students who live within what Kam called a “reasonable” distance from campus have been asked to be picked up and taken home by their parents until they are well. Students who live on campus, but have parents who live too far away to pick them up, have been given the option to stay for a few days in University-created isolation dorms in the Extension, in order to keep the disease from spreading so much through the campus dorms, Kam said.
Ashlea Draa / ASSISTANT PHOTO EDITOR
Southern Union experienced a record level of enrollment this semester. The influx of students is causing the college to hire more adjunct professors to keep the student-to-teacher ratio low.
Record enrollment at SUSCC By ALISON MCFERRIN Staff Writer
Enrollment reached record highs at Southern Union Community College this fall. Across the three campuses in Wadley, Valley and Opelika, enrollment totaled 5,160 students, the highest in the school’s history. The majority of these students, about 4,000, are enrolled at the Opelika campus. “Students want to get their educations at the best value possible,” said Mary Jean White, dean of instruction, about why she thinks the static tuition prices may be a reason. There are several reasons for the increased number of students applying to Southern Union, said Gary Branch Jr., dean of student
development. Branch said the smaller class sizes are positive incentives for many students. Another reason might be the guaranteed credit transfer. However, the main reason may be the economic vice fastened onto many peoples’ wallets. Southern Union has not raised tuition in four or five years, keeping rates low at $90 per credit hour for residents of Alabama, Branch said. At many of the large state universities in Alabama and surrounding states, tuition is more than $200 per credit hour for residents. Since it is more difficult today to get a job with just a high school diploma, many displaced workers are returning to school to obtain associate degrees.
Jonathan Lovelace, a freshman in landscaping architecture, said losing his job of seven years was the reason he returned to school. “It really made me think,” Lovelace said. “I want to have something I can rely on in case the economy is ever this bad again.” However, this influx of students has put some strain on Southern Union’s ability to accommodate everyone. The technical and health science programs are filled to capacity, but both Branch and White agree space is not an issue. The campuses are still able to maintain their 19:1 student to teacher ratio by using adjunct instructors in some of the classrooms. Adjunct instructors are faculty who are not employed full-time by the school, so
they are paid less, which enables Southern Union to keep costs and the studentto-teacher ratio low. “We hope that with increasing enrollment, increased funds will become available to expand our facilities in order to meet the needs of the community,” White said. In addition to enrollment, another effect of the economy on Southern Union can be seen in the financial aid office. FAFSA application submissions have increased, as has the percentage of FAFSA verifications, White said. This means more paperwork for those who work in Financial Aid, said Dorothy Cantor, director of financial aid. > Turn to SUSCC, A5
Southern Union Enrollment Fall Semesters 2004 - 2009
By THEADORIS MORRIS Staff Writer
The Auburn University’s Department of Biosystems Engineering has been awarded $4.9 million to help develop systems which will handle, deliver and lower the cost of biomass feedstock from the seed to the pump. Feedstock is raw material, usually plant or agricultural waste, that can be processed into fuel. “Our feedstock is going to be woody biomass with the kind of the trees and things we have all around us here
in the South,” said Steven Taylor, head and director of the department of biosystems engineering. Biomass is a clean, renewable energy source that can help diversify transportation fuels in the U.S., according to the Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) News Web site. Auburn University was one of the five projects awarded the federal grant by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) for the biofuel project. The awards are part of the > Turn to GRANT, A5
Number of Students
Biofuel research grant awarded
The above graph depicts fall enrollment at Southern Union State Community College. Note the dramatic increase in the number of students enrolling during the last three years and the overall increase in enrollment during the last six years.
Year
Goodbye power cords, hello wireless electricity By SAMUEL SOLOMON Associate News Editor
Imagine a world where clusters of mangled wires under desks are non-existent. Imagine a world where laptops and cell phones charge every time they enter a room. A world where all those things are possible may not be far away. The idea of wireless electricity dates back more than 100 years to Nikola Tesla and his giant electrical towers, known as Tesla coils, which would relay electrical charges through the air. “Tesla made an antenna of the high-voltage end of his secondary, it became a powerful radio transmitter,” according to PBS online. “In the
early decades of radio, most practicable radios utilized Tesla coils in their transmission antennas.” The modern concept of wireless electricity was conceived by Marin Soljacic, an assistant professor in MIT’s Department of Physics and Research Laboratory of Electronics. According to a November 2006 edition of MIT Tech Talk, one night Soljacic fell asleep and forgot to charge his phone. He awoke to an irritating beeping sound emitting from his dying cell phone. He started to wonder if somehow the phone could charge itself, and began investigating the possibility of charging devices wirelessly.
Soljacic and a team from MIT’s Department of Physics, Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science and Institute for Soldier Nanotechnologies began research . “Realizing their recent theoretical prediction, they were able to light a 60W light bulb from a power source seven feet away; there was no physical connection between the source and the appliance,” said a June 2007 edition of MIT Tech Talk. Wireless electricity provides benefits similar to wireless Internet. It supplies a steady current of electricity to electronic devices without needing a cord. The concept of wireless electricity is based on trans-
ferring electric energy or power over distance without wires, according to WiTricitiy’s Web site, a company in wireless electrical technology. Possibilities for application of the technology look to be immeasurable. According to eCoupled’s Web site, the company is working toward consumer technology that will power and charge electronic devices quickly and easily without a tangle of wires and adapters lying around the living room and behind the television. eCoupled also is working on automotive solutions such as powered cup holders and compartments that allow car occupants to wirelessly charge a phone, PDA, MP3
player, camera or laptop. While it hasn’t disclosed an exact date, eCoupled expects its first products to hit the market in late 2009. WiTricity is looking at ways to direct wireless power into implantable medical devices such as pacemakers, heart pumps and defibrillators. “Just walk outside, there are trillions of dollars that have been invested in infrastructure around the world putting up wires to get power from where it is created to where it is used,” said Eric Giler, CEO of WiTricity, in a TED video. Giler said he thinks wireless electricity could reduce the need for disposable batteries. “Forty billion disposable
batteries built every year for power that is generally speaking, a few inches or a few feet of where there is very inexpensive power,” Giler said. Many of these batteries are disposed of in landfills where they later corrode. Wireless electricity is also a safe non-radiative mode of energy transfer which relies on magnetic near fields, which interact weakly with biological organisms, like people and animals, and therefore are scientifically regarded to be safe, says WiTricity’s Web site. “A feat of physics so subtle and so profound it could change the world,” said Paul Hochman in a January 2009 Fast Company article on wireless electricity.
Thursday, September 10, 2009
The Auburn Plainsman
Opelika Sportsplex opens By KENDRA KELLEY Assistant News Editor
The Opelika Sportsplex and Aquatics Center opened its doors to the public Monday, Aug. 31. More than 50 people were waiting in line from 5 a.m. to 6:30 a.m. At the head of the crowd was Opelika Mayor Gary Fuller, who said he admires the new facility. “The mayor is here at 4:45 a.m. every morning for his workout,” said Tim Gore, the Sportsplex director. A plan for a recreation center in Opelika was started in 2000 by the community and a group called Invision 2000. They held local and regional meetings to decide what they could do to impact their community, Gore said. An ongoing debate pushed the building of a recreation center that would benefit everyone into overdrive. “The cost for funding the facility was $32 million,” Gore said. “It’s the largest one-time project that the city of Opelika has undertaken.” Some people and groups that helped fund the project were Cal James, The East Alabama Medical Center, The Hanwha, W. James Samford Jr., The Charter Foundation and Steel Lab. “We have about 500 members now,” Gore said. “About 200 of 2,000 people to come in
SUSCC >From A4
“This is a wonderful problem to have,” Cantor said. Also, more student organizations are being added in order to foster a stronger feeling of community among the Southern Union students, Branch said. Newer organizations include the National Student
GRANT >From A4
DOE’s continuing efforts to reduce the U.S.’s dependence on foreign oil, spur the creation of the domestic bio-industry and provide new jobs in many rural areas of the country, according to a U.S. DOE press release. The projects were selected
are college students. We also have a lot of athletes to come in, such as Bo Jackson, who came in recently to workout.” The Sportsplex and Aquatics Center is not just a gym or recreation center. It’s a “life enhancement center,” Gore said. “Once you see it you will see why,” Gore said. “Physically you will have new capabilities from working out in the cardiovascular center and the fitness room.” The focus of the center is to enhance health, fulfill fitness goals, broaden cultural horizons and to provide a fun atmosphere where the community or special interest groups can come together to interact and participate in activities, according to the complex’s Web site. The center has amenities like a splash park, two racquetball courts, an indoor aquatics center, a youth game room, a concession area, an outdoor walking trail, a gymnasium, an indoor walking track, three large meeting rooms with AV equipment, a warming kitchen, a cardiovascular area, a weight room, a group fitness room, an outdoor amphitheater, childcare and a soccer complex. “People in the community say that now they have no excuses for not being active, because now we have a center in Opelika,” Gore said. “We
Blakely Sisk / ASSISTANT PHOTO EDITOR
A trainer worked with Patsy Jones, Opelika city councilwoman, at the Opelika Sportsplex and Aquatics Center.
are providing a facility that promotes health awareness.” The rates for using the facility vary. In the adult activity center daily fees are $10 for a two hour gym session, $20 for an all day pass to all facilities and $4 per swimmer for public swim at advertised times. Guests must be accompanied by a member. “The facility is a good investment with awesome rates, and it’s affordable for students,” said Patrice Pitts,
Nurses Association, Circle K, Phi Beta Lambda, Phi Theta Kappa and the Association of Radiologic Students, among others. A full range of athletic programs is now available at the Wadley campus, as well as new dorm housing. Some students said they are chosing Southern Union instead of other institutions because of motivations like convenience of location,
smaller class sizes and whether it has their major. However, many of those students were in agreement that the economy was a major motivating factor in their chosing Southern Union. “I didn’t want my parents to have to pay all that money for Auburn,” said Kassi Watts, a freshman in elementary education. “This is a much cheaper choice.”
because of their ability to stimulate the design and demonstration of a comprehensive system to handle the harvesting, collection, processing, transport and storage of sufficient volumes of sustainably produced feedstocks, according to the DOE press release. The feedstock will be used to produce ethanol.
“The target goal for the DOE is to produce 32 billion gallons of biofuel by the year 2022,” Taylor said. “We produce nine or 10 billion right now, so that is a long way to go.” President Obama announced at a press conference in May his administration is taking several steps to progress biofuels research.
customer service representative for Sportsplex. Single membership rates for residents are $28 a month and $37 a month for non-residents. Anyone who lives outside the Opelika city limits will be charged 30 percent more than members. There are also special fees for people who are not part of any membership plans. The fees are $50 per week and $100 per month.
News, A5
The Auburn Plainsman
COMMENTARY
A6 Thursday, September 10, 2009
The Auburn Plainsman Editorial Board Cliff McCollum Opinions Editor
Ellison Langford News Editor
Brittany Cosby Campus Editor
Kevin Saucier
Multimedia Editor
Lindsey Davidson
Natalie Wade
Editor
Managing Editor
Rod Guajardo
Abby Albright
Photo Editor
Sports Editor
Ben Bartley
Helen Northcutt
Tom Hopf
Andrew Sims
Copy Editor
Business Manager
Intrigue Editor
Online Editor
Our View
Community college causes conundrums
When we heard enrollment at our local community college, Southern Union, had skyrocketed, we took pause to think about what this huge influx of students meant. It is obvious the economy is playing a large role in this student enrollment shift, as laid-off employees are returning to school to get more job training and students who can’t afford the tuition here at Auburn and other universities look for less costly forms of education. Southern Union hasn’t raised tuition in four or five years; Auburn raises its tuition every year. Students at Southern Union end up paying around $90 a credit hour; tuition at most of our state’s major universities averages out at around $200, and that’s for those students who qualify as in-state residents. And, let’s not forget, that $200 may well increase in the next budget year. In these economic times, it just makes sense to look at our community college system as a real and viable alternative. We think it’s great that people who want to get an education and better themselves are able to do so. The three Southern Union campuses (Valley, Wadley and Opelika) are working hard to create a more collegiate atmosphere for their students by creating more student organizations and new student housing. We applaud these efforts and hope more developments and expansions will come from this boom in enrollment.
There is a factor that does worry us about the Southern Union experience, however: the huge influx of adjunct faculty that is coming in with these masses of students. Sure, a 19:1 student to teacher ratio is great, but what is the quality of instruction being received there? If anyone with a master’s degree can teach at our state’s community college, are we in danger of exposing people who want to learn to instructors that may not have the necessary tools to be able to teach effectively? Of course, the flip side to this issue is that adjunct faculty are paid less than full-time faculty, and this is how the community college system keeps costs low. Within our university system, we’re reasonably well-assured that the instructors teaching our classes have at least the basic, rudimentary skills necessary to teach us. Making last-minute hires to take on new classes could prove problematic. We assume Southern Union and our other community colleges have rigorous standards in place for who can teach these students. They want to learn, and that learning needs to be guided by hands of wisdom and experience. Is the community college system a viable option? Yes. We just worry if it is the best solution to the problem instead of a simple, viable option.
Why public records matter
We realize a change in the city of Auburn’s handling of public records is not particularly exciting to most of you, but we can assure you it is vitally important and could potentially affect you. For instance, copies of fire and police reports for victims are free. Since these reports are always needed for insurance purposes, this is a nice thing for the city of Auburn to do, considering they used to charge $3 for such services. Also, for those of you who may need multiple reports, the first five copies are free. After those initial five copies, however, the price of copies has now been raised from 10 cents to 25 cents. This price rise is certainly understandable and is not unexpected, given both the current economic climate and that Auburn’s per copy charges were far lower than most across Alabama. The new rate puts Auburn on parity with Tuscaloosa, Columbiana and our sister city Opelika, and has been a change that honestly needed to happen. The city will also charge $25 per hour on larger jobs that require more time to complete. From the city’s perspective, these changes should help bring in extra revenue, or at least help better cover
the costs of operations for making these reports available to the community. These changes are great for a large swath of people, but there is one group of people the changes aren’t necessarily the best for: those of us in the journalism community. Every week, we comb through the city’s crime reports for story ideas and, of course, those much talked about DUIs we run each week. We make a promise here to you, our readers, that we will continue to search through these reports in the same deliberate fashion we do now. We won’t be bringing you a’la carte crime reports, grabbing a random handful and running out of the police station. And, rest assured, we will get every DUI each week. That will never change. The next logical step for the city of Auburn in its revitalization and upgrading of its public record keeping should be digitalization. We live in a technological age, and it’s time our bureaucracy and record keeping moves to reflect changes within our society. In terms of accessibility and ease of use, digital records are the wave of the not-so-distant future, and this is a wave Auburn needs to catch.
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.
Adam Cooner
Your View
Building naming issue continues to rile alumnus Editor, The Auburn Plainsman Good evening everyone. It has been quite some time since we last contacted this membership in regards to the new Student Center/Foy Student Union. Not much has changed in the stance of the Board of Trustees in opposition to naming the building after Dean Foy. The Resolution in the State Senate we wrote you about was killed in session due to the inaction of Senator Lowell Barron. Even with the overwhelming showing of support for the Resolution by so many members of the Auburn Family, Senator Barron did nothing to further the movement to continue to honor by Dean Foy with his name on the Student Center. To reiterate our point of view at Petition to Save Foy, we have been worried that the University has made an ideological shift from focus on Family and Tradition, to a focus on money and branding. Alumni from across the nation and across generations are in support of Family and Tradition. The administration of the university is not. I will not bore you with the examples already previously laid out in the past year, but with another instance involving a new policy– one that also centers around the student center. Besides having paid, on-campus, non-RV tailgating spots set up at Auburn this year, the administration has decided to block off access to parts of the Student Center as well. This is not because they don’t want any of the thousands of fans to wander in to restricted areas of the center, but because they don’t want any of the thousands of fans to wander in to private tailgating parties sold to individuals inside the Student Center. Everywhere from outdoor patio space to the Ballroom are being sold off each week to provide exclusive, closed off areas to members of the ‘Auburn Family.’ The prices of the rooms and areas of the building aren’t going cheap, either. The lowest at $300 and going all the way to $1,200 for the Ballroom. Most of these areas will be catered by the University, as well. Is the new Foy only a money-making opportunity for the Board of Trustees, or is it an open space made for the students and alumni to freely gather for fellowship? The University plans to make upwards of $4,000 a game and well over $30,000 a season by restricting access to a student-funded building. Some might question what the big deal is, and to us, it is quite simple. If the building is not a money-making scheme, why do people have to pay? The idea that a room has been leased, especially if it is being catered, leads people to believe that some will be let in, while others are forced out. Correct us if we’re wrong, but isn’t the point of tailgating before Auburn sporting events camaraderie and sharing excitement with other members of the Auburn Family?
How can that occur if some members of the Family are segregated from others? Of all the buildings on campus, the Student Center (isn’t it much simpler to just call it Foy?) is about unity, comfort, and spirit. Having ‘private functions’ in a facility like that is hypocritical. While this has nothing to do with the naming rights to the Student Center, at least on the surface, I’m afraid that this policy is another sign that the members of the administration are making decisions based solely on profit potential, rather than examining all avenues for growth. This will only hurt our effort to have the University give up on a bid for the $25 million naming rights to the building When I arrived at Auburn, I thought that the SGA was an organization established to protect the interests of the students and, through an extension of the student body, the alumni of the University as well. As far as I know, not one single elected individual from SGA has made a statement regarding these private tailgates. The only organization on campus that seems to be worried about the Auburn Family is The Plainsman. Now, with Petition to Save Foy onboard, maybe a concerted effort can be put forward to encourage the SGA to take a stand, too. Thank you for everyone’s continued devotion toward Foy, the new Student Center and Auburn University as a whole. As we start to realize that this administration is focused more on money than on the stability and success of its large, ever-expanding family, please take the time to send an e-mail, even a short, quick one, to some of these following addresses: 1) opinion@theplainsman.com – there is no better organization that can put your thoughts and concerns in to published media than the student newspaper, The Plainsman. Don’t think that because you’ve graduated The Plainsman is obsolete to you, letters from alumni are routinely published. 2) trustees@auburn.edu – this is the address for Board of Trustees as a whole. Each e-mail is recorded, so the more that are sent, the more they are forced to ignore. 3) watkija@auburn.edu – this address belongs to Jacob Watkins, SGA president. The head of the student body on campus is an excellent individual to make contact with to directly express your concerns involving this or any campus issue. A quick e-mail affirming your support for Dean Foy, the Auburn Family and the continued growth and well-being of the University to all those involved can do quite a bit of work, if we all chip in a little. Please continue to invite your friends to this group or tell them about it. This will be an excellent conversation piece Saturday, whether you’re in Auburn at the game or watching it from afar with a circle of friends! If the University wants to rent out rooms for tailgating, Haley Center has hundreds. If the University wants to wedge a divide between students, alumni and the administration, it can keep up its pace at $500 a room in the unnamed Student Center. R. Nathan Payne ’08 alumnus
Send us your letters, rants, complaints and raves at
opinion@theplainsman.com HOW TO CONTACT US Auburn Student Center Suite 1111H Auburn, Ala. 36849 844-4130 or editor@theplainsman.com
The Auburn Plainsman welcomes letters from students as well as from faculty, administrators, alumni and those not affiliated with the University. Letters must be submitted before 4:30 p.m. on the Monday for publication. Letters must include the author’s name, address and phone number for verification, though the name of the author may be withheld upon request. Submission may be edited for grammar and/or length.
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Parents let go, kids think for yourselves
Lindsey Davidson editor@theplainsman.com
The president’s speech gave quite an uproar before it was actually given to the munchkins this week. I’m sure you read the countless extremists’ comments warning and protesting the president of the United States addressing the younger population he was elected to lead. North Carolina felt like they didn’t have to participate in this nationwide event. There were administrators giving their teachers the option to tape the 15-minute speech and air it later if it fit into the curriculum. And some other county public schools were leaving it up to the teachers’ discretion completely. One area actually had it set up where the speech was only showing if it could be worked into the
lesson plan for the day. This system required the parents’ approval. Wow. That’s pretty excessive for a speech on education in an academic setting. His speech included lines such as: “But at the end of the day, we can have the most dedicated teachers, the most supportive parents, and the best schools in the world – and none of it will matter unless all of you fulfill your responsibilities. Unless you show up to those schools; pay attention to those teachers; listen to your parents, grandparents and other adults; and put in the hard work it takes to succeed.” After prefacing this with other speeches he has given on supporting teachers and parents, I want to know where the threatening line on young minds is drawn. That line is with the parents. Thankfully, I have had parents who have never pushed politically opinions on me. So when someone asked me who I wanted to vote for, my dad’s answer didn’t exit my mouth.
Student reply to last week’s staff column Editor, The Auburn Plainsman
In the article titled “A fear a day keeps the logic away,” published Sept. 3, 2009, Andrew Sims contends that conservatives fear change, and use scare tactics to try to oppose the new health care bill. He describes conservatives as ignorant, crazy, as roadblocks to progress and even compares them to Nazis. His article is riddled with historical inaccuracies, insults, sarcasm and scare tactics of his own. Allow me to begin by pointing out that socialism is defined as “a political theory advocating state ownership of industry.” As this healthcare bill would give the government more control over the healthcare industry I would have to say that this is, by definition, a step towards socialism. Now Mr. Sims would have The Plainsman readers believe that “These German people ... their mindset was conservative, unwilling to accept change because they were afraid of the instability of questioning themselves and their leaders.” Mr. Sims needs to check his facts. The Nazi party was the German socialist party, and Adolf Hitler promised the German people change. Nazism took hold of Germany in large part due to the economic hardships imposed by the treaty of Versailles and the fact that Hitler promised to save Germany from these hardships. There was nothing conservative about the rise of Nazism. In fact, it would be a more apt comparison if Mr. Sims were to look at the current actions of the Democrats alongside those of the Nazis. I do not, however, believe that comparing Americans to Nazis is a valid analogy, and is more a play on the fear of being identified as some crazy, ignorant Nazi. Mr. Sims tells us that we should all be liberals, that we should all think the same way. We should adopt the liberal mindset so that we can remain open-minded towards anything. Mr. Sims is advocating that we give up diversity in our thinking so that we can think like him. If we do this, we begin to pave the way for the rise of totalitarian government. If Mr. Sims would check his history text, he would see that socialist countries give rise to totalitarian government. This would seem to be a rather logical sequence of events, as one must relinquish more and more power to the government to allow the government to give one what one wants. It was Thomas Jefferson who said, “A government that is big enough to give you everything you want is big enough to take everything away.” It is for these reasons that conservatives question the ideas our government puts forth. It is for these reasons that conservatives resist the movement toward socialism. It is for love of our country, not ignorance, that we do not blindly follow the govern-
A7
COMMENTARY The president speaks every term to the young pupils with considerable flak. It’s the people who are so quick to jump against the president, no matter who he is, that need their words edited. Obviously I am for free speech, but the mayhem about an inspiring chitchat with kids in school was taken too far. Parents were giving permission for their children to miss school because they would be exposed to someone telling them to excel in life. Maybe the parents should have swapped with their offspring for the day. Or at least read the manuscript for everyone’s benefit. Newt Gingrich and Jim Greer even agreed after it was said and done that it wasn’t so bad. I’m sure there is still that obnoxious mother that wouldn’t know Obama’s health plan from Bush’s stimulus plan out there shaking her finger at the school system and the “dumb” president. Parents: let your kids go to school and decide if they don’t want to listen. If you want to be really
extreme, you took them away from a full day of class (minus a 15-minute inspirational speech.) Let them decide if they want to go against you and side with the Democrats or the Republicans. It is OK to have opposing views from your children. It makes for more interesting dinnertime conversations. I know my mom and I don’t see eye-to-eye when it comes to the political side of life, but, hey, no harm done. And for the younger ones: have an opinion of your own. Daddy’s view does not have to be your view. And don’t pretend to have an opinion if you don’t. It shows. I do agree it is slightly difficult to branch out before the collegiate years. But it is possible to read up on the news (both sides, not just Fox or CNN) and make personal judgements. It will be satisfying when someone asks you who you are voting for and you can answer with a name you actually know. Lindsey Davidson is the editor of The Auburn Plainsman. You can reach her at 844-9021.
“What’s coming through our doors as far as students go, it’s pretty hoppin’.” -Bethany Garth, employee of Women’s Hope Medical Clinic about how many junior high, high school and college students to which the clinic has administered pregnancy tests
Last week’s question: “Should the campus ban on skateboards be overturned?” >Yes: 59 percent > No: 41 percent
This week’s question: “Are you excited about Kellie Pickler being the UPC fall concert?” >Yes > No > Who? Go to www.theplainsman.com to vote.
Your View ment. Mr. Sims, I respectfully disagree with you, but I’ll have the decency to refrain from calling you an ignorant, crazy, stubborn Nazi. Thomas Dowling senior, sociology
Sims’ editorial is inaccurate, offensive, wrong Editor, The Auburn Plainsman I’m writing in response to Andrew Sims’ article about fear in the Sept. 3 Plainsman. Specifically, I wish to do two things: to turn the notion that liberals represent the pinnacle of tolerance on its head, and to illustrate that the tired, old comparison of conservatives to Nazis doesn’t hold water (or even small pebbles). As a conservative, even I bought into the idea that liberals epitomize tolerance until I thought about it. Now, I don’t accuse them of being hostile towards people different from themselves, but rather ideas different from their own. So, I certainly don’t accuse Mr. Sims of being intolerant toward any group of people, but he did make my case for me, and better than I could have, I might add. The first such example is his description of citizens who loudly oppose so-called Obamacare as “roadblocks to progress.” Sounds like he’s not very interested in their ideas. Well, maybe he’s just decrying their disruption of useful, necessary discussion-- he just wants everyone to be heard, not drowned out by the “roadblocks.” That’s reasonable, however, I suggest this was instead a glimpse into a favorite tactic of liberals: discrediting those with different ideas, usually by accusing them of being intolerant – be the first to accuse and no one will suspect you. Just watch MSNBC if you don’t believe me. I don’t think it’s so much a scheme as an assumption they naturally make, that anyone who disagrees must be intolerant. If your definition of tolerance is liberalism, then anything un-liberal is necessarily intolerant. Next, Mr. Sims asserts that conservatism is about “ignorance and a refusal to move.” Now we’re certain that he’s not interested in other ideas. Now, for the piece de resistance of my argument, all credit due to Mr. Sims. (Sorry for sounding like a total jerk.) In his own words, “Liberal[ism] is not a political party, but a mindset that we all should adopt that allows us to remain open minded to anything.” Not quite a paradox, but wow! I hope that jumped off the page at you. Liberalism may not be a party, but it is characterized by certain beliefs, just like conservatism, socialism, fascism, etc. If it didn’t have any precepts of its own it wouldn’t end in -ism. The only conclusion to be made then is that we should all think the same way in order to ensure diversity of ideas. If you are not liberal, you are intolerant.
Sounds like what I said a few sentences back, doesn’t it? So, moving on, who came up with the notion that conservatives are like Nazis, anyway? Maybe it’s because conservatives favor a strongmilitary, as Hitler did. Or maybe it has to do with the brutal conflict between the Soviets and the Nazis; perhaps because many liberal ideas resemble those of the Soviet Union, someone concluded that conservatives must be like Nazis. “Nazi” is actually the German acronym for the National Socialist party; socialism is definitely not conservative. In fact, the Nazis favored a heavily regulated economy, the suppression of alternative ideas, and gun control (Hitler bragged about how safe the streets of Berlin would be). In light of the above paragraph, who does that sound like? Furthermore, in his article, Mr. Sims asserts that the Holocaust was motivated by fear of change. The aim of the Holocaust wasn’t to prevent an influx of Jews, Slavs, gypsies, and other minorities, it was to eliminate those already living in Europe; change was the goal of the Holocaust. It wasn’t my intention to show that conservatives are more open-minded – although a study came out a few months ago showing that conservatives read articles that challenge their own beliefs more often than liberals – it was merely to refute the idea that liberals are our society’s bastion of acceptance and openmindedness.
large group of frat guys behind the goal posts. Aside from the hassle of belligerently drunk brothers constantly cursing at our own team and the surrounding home team crowd through whiskey hate goggles, there was a also a quick pushing match that came from them that resulted in several people falling to the next bleacher down and my girlfriend catching a flying elbow in her back from a large dude. I was frustrated but not surprised. The subtle unease of belligerence and a lingering possibility of minor violence seem to be the price paid for showing up too late to not sit further away from a frat. I know a lot of non-Greek students share this opinion and it’s unfortunate that a sizable minority of the student body ( frat guys) carry that stigma; it dirties the reputation of the decent members and is the reason that phrases like “frat douchebag” are so liberally and oftentimes ignorantly applied. Auburn prides itself on being a family; if so, a number of frat guys seem like the cousin who shows up drunk to Thanksgiving and tries to fight Grandpa. Let’s leave the violence and aggression on the field where they’re wearing pads next time and focus on cheering for our team.
Clinton Patterson graduate student, computer engineering
Retired professor takes on jocks, ‘Frat guys’ ruin issues challenge football game experience for grad student Michael LaPointe senior, mechanical engineering
Editor, The Auburn Plainsman
Editor, The Auburn Plainsman AU played a great game Saturday and I would guess most fans thought it was one of the best game-watching experiences in a while. There was, however, a notable group of students that did their best to ruin the experience for those around them. I am talking about “Frat Guys In Large Groups.” I don’t claim to be a GDI, and I assume that the Greek community adds vibrance and positive activity to The Auburn Experience that no other organization does. I also assume that a large number of people in fraternities are fun and considerate as individuals. That said, repeat evidence at AU football games makes me question both of these opinions. More than any other segment of the crowd, frat guys appear to make up the obnoxiously vocal, occasionally violent, and openly inconsiderate part of the student section. I misjudged arrival time for the season opener and ended up having to sit near a
The trustee diversity debate is completely off the mark. There should be a lot more people with interest in developing minds, not just winning football teams, regardless of race, gender, eye color or blood type. We get a new jock every day. In the past 20 years Auburn has lost all respect as anything other than a jock factory. As Dr. Philpott warned, “The coaches want to run the whole school.” Well, they are doing it and have done it ever since Drs. Philpott and Littleton were pushed out by a barbaric jock invasion. Democracy and free speech are not present on this campus. If you doubt this, just try criticizing the Board of Trustees. You may find yourself shut up in a room as I did with a big campus cop with a big 45 on his hip, lecturing me on all the penalties for “harassment.” So what? You students are being groomed not as proud members of a democracy, but as mice cowering in corners while the wrong people shape your heads into footballs. We once had a Plainsman to keep everybody honest, but it disappeared in the 1980s. Check the library and understand a lot more about Auburn than you are being told. Remember “the spirit that is not afraid.”
Nicholas Davis retired professor in architecture
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Thursday, September 10, 2009
Obesity may be cause for Alabama’s prescription drug use By MARY-GLENN SMITH Staff Writer
Total sales for prescription drugs reached $291.5 billion last year in the U.S. and Alabamians may have lent a big hand to that statistic. Alabama was ranked second behind West Virginia in prescription drug use for 2007, according to a report released by Forbes Magazine. “Physicians are prescribing more, because when people take the time to go to a doctor, they expect to leave there with a prescription,” said pharmacist Angie Vaughan. “They won’t leave without one.” In Alabama in 2008, phar-
macists filled 16.7 prescriptions per capita compared to a national average of 11.5. However, that may not be because Alabamians are running to the doctor every time they get a head cold. “I think Alabamians take more drugs because of their high-fat content diet,” Vaughan said. “We eat everything fried and we consume more fast food than we should. That has a lot to do with it. It can lead to numerous health problems like diabetes, high cholesterol and high blood pressure.” The national average for obese or overweight adults is 63 percent, and Alabama ranks above that at 67.9
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percent, according to statehealthfacts.org. The same goes for heart disease rate among Alabamians, 252.3 people per 100,000 in Alabama struggle with heart disease. The national average is 200.2 per 100,000 people, according to statehealthfacts. org. Also, Alabamians have a higher prevalence of diabetes. Statistics for the state show 11.3 percent of residents suffer from it, as opposed to a national average of 8.2, according to statehealthfacts. org. Obesity leading to the use of blood pressure and heart
medications is just one of the things that could be to blame for Alabama’s high prescription drug use rates. Other possible contributing factors include allergies, increasing use of anti-depressants, pain medication and recreational drug use. “We have more allergens in the South, due to the climate and humidity,” Vaughan says. “That causes a lot of people to have to take drugs like Allegra.” Many popular decongestants used to treat allergies contain pseudoephedrine, which has caused them to no longer be available over-thecounter. Patients needing a pre-
scription for medicines they used to get over-the-counter is another contributing factor to the rise in prescription drug-use among Alabamians and other states nationwide. “Also, in the past year I have seen an increased use of anti-depressants,” Vaughan said. “I think this has a lot to do with people stressing out over issues related to the bad economy.” The pain medicine hydrocodone is the most widely prescribed prescription drug in Alabama. According to Vaughan, the drug is often abused by patients and in some cases used as a recreational drug. “Hydrocodone is abused
due an increased tolerance after taking it so much,” Vaughan said. “You have to take more and more to receive any beneficial effects from it.” Hydrocodone was once the most was commonly used recreational drug on college campuses across the U.S. But according to Dr. David Chupp, a pediatrician, the popular pain medicine has now been surpassed by the stimulant Adderall. The drug, which is intended to treat patients with ADHD, is frequently used by college students to help improve focus and keep them wide awake when studying for a big test.
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IFC Formal Rush begins By MICHAEL HANSBERRY Staff Writer
Last week more than 650 men rushed 26 fraternities in hopes of getting a bid in their dream fraternity. Rush took place from Aug. 31 to Sept. 1 and is where guys who desire to be in a fraternity go out and become familiar with the brothers and try to find the fraternity that is best for them. Recruitment is twice a year, once in the fall and once in the spring. Elliot Cook, senior in history and president of Phi Gamma Delta, said while most guys rush during the fall, spring semester offers a second opportunity for some. “I went through spring recruitment, and it gives you
an opportunity to take a semester and see who you like and figure yourself out,” Cook said. “My advice would be to look around at the other frats and see what they have to offer.” “Rush is all about getting to know people on a first-hand basis,” said Ryan Stitz, senior in physical education and member of Delta Tau Delta. “You want to get and understand what the person is like and how they react to certain things, like if they’re social or not and know what they have in common with the person in the fraternity.” Stitz said a rushee can see a whole new side of college he would have never gotten a chance to if he would not have joined a fraternity.
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Bayleigh Murray/ CONTRIBUTED
Abbe Chesser and Josh Gulledge got engaged in the Alpha Chi Omega Chapter room. They posed on Samford Lawn.
Students get engaged near historical landmarks on campus By BRITTANY COSBY Campus Editor
Samford Lawn, Toomer’s Corner and Jordan-Hare Stadium have been monumental spots for students to make memories, but some choose to take it a step further. Some students are taking Auburn’s traditions and making them the perfect spot to propose to their college sweetheart. One couple met at Auburn in the spring of 2000. They spent a great deal of time together on Samford Lawn taking naps after class or walking the grounds at night. Timothy Cain chose to propose to his wife of five years, Alexis, at that exact spot.
“I had a friend hide some chimes coming from the roses in the flower bushes clock tower, especially the in front of Samford Hall fight song at noon. He thought it was right the night before we left for summer break,” said Timo- because Auburn is where thy Cain, an Auburn alum- he and his wife met, fell in love and nus. “We began f o u n d life tothe flowI love Auburn, I gether. ers and “ A l l walked to love the time we have the grass spent here, I love you and kinds of people area diwill you marry me?” come torectly in gether front of Thomas Cain, and learn Samford Auburn alumnus and love Hall. I got together down on one knee and said ‘I love for a short time and then Auburn, I love the time we take that spirit with them to have spent here, I love you the rest of the world,” Cain and will you marry me?’” said. “Two people with that Cain said he chose Sam- spirit have a great start in ford Hall as the backdrop life together.” for his proposal because The couple was married he and his wife loved the exactly one year later in the
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Auburn United Methodist Founder’s Chapel. Josh Gulledge, a senior in business administration, chose The Village chapter room of Alpha Chi Omega as a surprise to his girlfriend during a candlelight ceremony with her sisters. “We hold a candlelight ceremony in the Chapter room when a girl gets engaged, and I believed it was for another girl,” said Abbe Chesser, a senior in nursing who was engaged Aug. 25. “But when the candle got to me, Josh came through the door and was kneeling on one knee.” Abbe and Josh are to wed May 29. Her wedding colors will be coral and navy. The grooms’ cake will be in the shape of Jordan-Hare > Turn to ENGAGED, B2
Morgan Thacker/ASSOCIATE PHOTO EDITOR
The line of students for the Daniel Tosh comedy show waited outside the Student Activities Center.
Lined up for laughs with Tosh.O By AUBRIE DAVIS Staff Writer
Almost every seat in the Student Activities Center was filled when Daniel Tosh from Comedy Central’s “Tosh.O” performed last Thursday. Tickets for admission were free for students with
a valid student ID. The show started at 7:30 p.m. and lasted approximately two hours. The show had a large turn out. Tosh had the crowd laughing the entire hour and a half he was on stage. Matt Fulchiron was the opening act for Tosh. Fulchiron performs on CBS’s “The Late Show with Craig Fergu-
son,” “Last Comic Standing” and “Live at Gotham.” Jovie Lindawan, a freshman in nursing, said Fulchiron was “funny, but not as good as Tosh.” Erica Vondyke, a freshman in human science with a concentration in prepharmacy, shared that idea. Vondyke thought Fulchiron
“over did it” and “went too far” with several of his jokes. Several of Fulchiron’s punch lines had to do with relationships. As for Tosh, both Lindawan and Vondyke loved the show. Neither had seen nor heard of him be> Turn to TOSH, B2
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Blakely Sisk/ ASSISTANT PHOTO EDITOR
Students used kickboards to work their leg muscles in aerobics.
Students dive into aerobics By EMILY BECKETT Staff Writer
Chlorine conquered calories as participants in the University Program Council’s Water Aerobics Workshop learned new ways to exercise and tone their muscles in the pool. Thursday’s workshop, held in the James E. Martin Aquatics Center, was one of several fitness-related events UPC will host this year. “Next semester we’ll choose another aerobics class,” said Nadja Helbling, a sophomore in German and assistant director of Special Projects for UPC. “Whether we do (water aerobics) again depends on how many people come today.” Helbling said one of the primary goals for UPC workshops is to provide freshmen with a way to get involved in a campus organization. “This gives students an idea about what Special Projects is and what we do,” Helbling said. “They can also try something new or something out of the box.” Helbling said UPC sponsored a hip-hop workshop taught by members of the AU Rhythm Dance Troupe this
spring and have made plans for the fall concert. “It was a lot of fun and energetic,” said Anne Smead, a sophomore in public administration and Director of Special Projects. “We want to promote wellness and provide a different workout from your normal workout of jogging or running,” Smead said. Smead and the rest of UPC work all year to come up with new and exciting events for students. Ceren Yarar, a graduate student in neuromechanics, was instructor for the workshop. “I used to teach a water aerobics class for our department,” Yarar said. “This is my first event for UPC.” Yarar said she prepared a routine consisting of 10 exercises for the shallow end of the pool and five exercises for the deep end. “Ten to 15 exercises total in a session is good for water aerobics,” Yarar said. Yarar said her main focus was on shallow exercises. “Exercises in the deep end are more intense and designed for experienced swim> Turn to AEROBICS, B2
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Stadium while their guests will use shakers instead of bubbles or birdseed as they leave the reception. “People looked at us funny because we were running around gathering 100 shakers after the game on Saturday,” Chesser said. Another Auburn University cheerleader met her future husband, Aubie, during the football games at JordanHare Stadium. Chris Delvizis found a creative way to combine the excitement of football season, cheering and Aubie in his proposal. “One February afternoon, I invited 20 friends and family members to stand with a designated poster at JordanHare Stadium,” Delvizis said. “Haley was brought to the stadium to help with a ‘project for Aubie,’ but found herself alone in the upper deck. But then she looked to the field to see the posters spell out, ‘Will you marry me?’” An Aubie figurine and an Auburn cheerleader were chosen for their cake toppers. Their 400 wedding guests lined the hallway inside The Hotel at Auburn University and Dixon Conference Center with shakers while playing the fight song for Chris and Haley to Tiger Walk to the dance floor. Aubie drove them off in a golf car. “People who love and understand what Auburn is are what make it great,” Cain said. “These people understand the words War Eagle!”
mers,” Yarar said. “My goals for students today are to have fun for an hour, improve their fitness levels and give them a break between their classes.” Yarar said water aerobics targets leg muscles, arm muscles and upper and lower back muscles. “It is great for the joints because you’re not really carrying your weight,” Yarar said. “You can use water resistance, but you’re not exposing your joints to degeneration or bloating.” Yarar incorporated a series of warm-up and cool-down exercises and stretches into her routine. “It helps you more to do
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Blakely Sisk/ ASSISTANT PHOTO EDITOR
The water aerobics instructor, Ceren Yarar, demonstrated the exercises for the students to try in the water.
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“I’ve seen the best of both worlds, being Greek and non-Greek,” Sitz said. “Both sides are very enjoyable and there are a lot of memories that I’ll never forget.” Bo Mantooth, assistant director of Greek Life, said, despite the economy, the turnout was great and better than expected. “Our office markets re-
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fore, but would recommend him to others. Lindawan said if Tosh returned to Auburn, she would go see him perform again. That seemed to be a common reaction amongst Auburn students. Tosh travels to several college campuses around the country and seems to relate well to the crowds. Tosh dressed in a comfortable T-shirt and jeans similar to how most of the Auburn students were dressed. Tosh used profanity and told a handful of offensive jokes. He even found it necessary to apologize to the crowd before the show even began, because he said it was almost guaranteed that he would offend everyone in the auditorium. Tosh made references to Mormons, gay marriage and the death penalty. One of his jokes was about homeless people. Tosh said he created a charity for people to help out and Febreeze the homeless. “Who would you rather give a dollar to, the man that smells like liquid garbage or ocean breeze?” Brannon Goodrich, a sophomore in industrial engineering, thought the show was hilarious. “I saw signs on the concourse during O-Days, so that’s how I heard about the show,” Goodrich said. Goodrich had seen Tosh perform on TV and was excited to see him in Auburn. Some of Goodrich’s favorite comedians include Jim Gaffigan and Dane Cook. Goodrich thought Tosh was great and he will recommend him to others. The crowd was anxious for Tosh to take the stage and the screams were deafening. They left the auditorium with smiles on their faces, still laughing about the jokes that Tosh told.
have to recruit new men to replace themselves. So if you’re a president, you have to recruit someone who you think will be a good president for your fraternity one day.” Mantooth said rushing is beneficial to freshmen because of connections they can make both socially and professionally and give benefits such as block seating. “It sort of gives you that sense of belonging right at the beginning,” Mantooth
arm and shoulder stretches,” Yarar said. “You’re students, and you’re constantly sitting over a desk with hunched shoulders, making a curve in your back.” Yarar’s routine also included underwater leg lifts, kicks, jumps and crunches. “We use kickboards because they really help the legs,” Yarar said. The workshop was open to all students and faculty, as well as those who wanted to observe. Kat Milly West, a faculty member of clinical laboratory sciences in the chemistry department, said she came to learn new techniques for teaching water aerobics. West said she has been teaching water aerobics for
four years through Auburn Parks and Recreation at the Samford pool. “I was looking for a way to start teaching all year long instead of just during the summer,” West said. “I love teaching.” West said she likes to see students become regular attendees of water aerobics classes. “You’re not sitting on the sofa eating bonbons,” West said. “You’re here.” In addition to fitness workshops, UPC organizes a multitude of events each semester. Free movies, guest speakers, open mic nights and a battle of the bands are a few of many entertainment options UPC provides.
said. “For the 30 percent of the campus that does go Greek, we give them what we can, and we try to make it the best time they can have. But going through as a freshman is very important in sort of getting acclimated from the transition from high school to college.” Philanthropy is important throughout all Greek organizations at Auburn. Two years ago IFC Fall Philanthropy Challenge was started to help the Boys and
Girls Club of Lee County to get their name out and let people know they can be a part of the community. Greek Week, Oct. 18-22, is also a community service based event that will give money to Boys & Girls club and put defibrillators in police cars. “When I first got my bid to a fraternity, I got to know a lot of people,” Stitz said. “ I’ve had a lot of good memories of being involved in a fraternity and I’ll never forget it.”
Engineers build makeshift bridges in Bolivia By JORDAN DAILEY Assistant Campus Editor
TOSH
cruitment and rush and they set things up,” Mantooth said. “Our fraternities here at auburn mainly do recruitment, which is 365 days a year. Rush is just one week out of each semester.” Mantooth said about 85 to 90 percent of the new rushees are freshman and they can go to whichever house they prefer and check out which one interests them. “Recruitment is really sort of the lifeline of the chapter,” Mantooth said. “They
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Year after year, locals die trying to cross a Bolivian river in a makeshift gondola. Greg Ryland, a professional engineer, came to the first meeting of the Auburn chapter of Engineers Without Borders to tell the story of building a bridge across that river. Ryland graduated from Auburn with an undergraduate degree in math and physics, as well as a degree in engineering. “The location is five hours, at best, from the nearest village,” Ryland said. “Getting the materials to us was a creative process. They have to come down the face of a mountain.” All the group’s supplies had to be carried down a 4,000-foot elevation to reach the building site. This included bags of sand and cement, water and cables. “We spent six hours on real roads and six more on bad dirt roads, “ Ryland said. “We ended up at 13,000 feet. We walked, with everything on our backs, to 9,000 feet. The path is maybe two feet wide and the walk down takes three to four hours. I say this to emphasize how strenuous our project is.” Chris Canon was the proj-
ect manager on the Bolivian Bridge Project. The project worked with Bridges to Prosperity, an organization that has sponsored similar bridge-building projects in 17 locations worldwide. The mission statement of Bridges to Prosperity states it is “a volunteer based charity that seeks to empower poor African, Asian and South American rural communities through footbridge building, thereby advancing personal responsibility, community public works, economic prosperity and access to schools, clinics, jobs and markets.” The bridge Canon and Ryland helped build was across a tributary to the Mamore Grande River and was named the Quesimpuco Bridge. The suspended bridge spans 350 feet and serves a population of 5,000 people. Auburn United Methodist Church and SIFAT, Servants in Faith and Technology, sponsored the bridge project. AUMC and SIFAT have been working in Quesimpuco, a high Andes Quenchua village, for 10 years. Through their efforts, the village now has a school, a community center, a clinic, power systems and a church, according to Bridges to Prosperity’s Web site.
“I wanted to be an engineer to become MacGyver ,and I’ve been drowning in text books,” said Lori Beth Dutcher, secretary of Auburn’s EWB chapter. “No matter what type of engineer you are, in this project you have to use your basic engineering knowledge and learn to adapt,” Ryland said. Engineers Without Borders has more than 300 chapters and 12,000 members. “Auburn’s chapter is interested in doing international projects to better the lives of people while supporting local service organizations,” said Andy Todd, president of the Auburn chapter. “I want to work in thirdworld development,” said Will McCartney, vice president of Auburn’s chapter of Engineers Without Borders. “You can affect your world, not just people in college.” The organization has a plan for Auburn engineering students to take an active roles in their education. The group’s potential projects include continuing work at the Bolivian site and a spring break service project dealing with Gulf Coast relief or rural studio. The local chapter plans to attend the Boys and Girls Club to help students with schoolwork.
Seduction and reproduction among freshwater mussels By JORDAN DAILEY Assistant Campus Editor
“Seduction and reproduction in freshwater mussels, Unionoida,” was the title of Chris Barnhart’s presentation to fisheries students Friday, Sept. 4. Barnhart is a professor of biology at Missouri State. The presentation was part of a seminar class for fisheries students, and the room was overflowing. A video and sound set up was in the adjoining room so more stu-
dents could attend the seminar. Barnhart’s research interests include unionoid mussels, amphipods and amphibian eggs, but he focused on unionoid mussels while speaking at Auburn. A unionoid is a type of mussel that is most populous in South America. In the United States, there are about 80 species. These are most prolific in the old river system of the southeast. Much of Barnhart’s research focuses on the en-
dangered status of unionoid mussels. In the U.S., 70 species of native mussels are classified as federally threatened or endangered. “These mollusks are probably the most endangered group of organisms in North America,” Barnhart said. “Many freshwater animals are in trouble, but mussels are attracting particular attention from biologists and conservation agencies be> Turn to MUSSELS, B6
Rod Guarjardo / PHOTO EDITOR
Garrett Cheney attended the Engineers without Borders meeting.
Campus Events • Sept. 10 Cirque D’Or featuring the Golden Dragon Acrobat from 7 - 9p.m. in Student Act
• Sept. 11 National Day of Service and Remembrance for victims of Sept. 11 attacks
Time: 10 a.m. - noon on the Haley Center Concourse
Battle of the Bands Time: 7 - 8 p.m. Location: Cater Lawn
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BRITTANY COSBY Editor
BLAKE HAMILTON Associate Editor
JORDAN DAILEY Assistant Editor
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Thursday, September 10, 2009
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Los Angeles radio show WWW. praises Toomer’s Ten By BLAKE HAMILTON
in college and a Mississippi state trooper pulled me over,” Sharp said. “I had been Think all talk radio in- going 80 miles an hour with a volves two political pundits case of beer in the passenger yelling at each other? Think seat, a case in my lap and an again. open can in my hand. He told “Ridin’ Dirty” is a show me to pour it out and then which broadcasts on KNFX wrote me a speeding ticket.” radio in Los The show Angeles. was tested It’s the only in Phoenix, It’s the drunk Ariz., beginradio show in America drivers who are ning June 1, dedicated 2007. to the issues being arrested and After six surrounding not underage drunk months of drunk drivpositive people. One thing ing. feedback, The show’s leads to another.” it was reofficial Web launched in Ken Sharp, Los Angeles site, duiracreator of “Ridin’ Dirty” to an overdioshow. com, said whelming “Ridin’ Dirty” response. was created by Ken Sharp. Segments such as trivia Sharp’s experience as a be- and a “cocktail quiz,” as havioral health technician in well as a sponsorship by Scottsdale, Ariz., convinced Jack Daniel’s, have made the him to work toward creating show accessible to a broad public service initiatives to audience. educate and prevent instancIt is aired on the same es of drunken driving. station that carries the LA Sharp, a Mississippi State Angels of Anaheim games University graduate, has which brought the show into targeted Auburn’s Toomer’s the national consciousness Ten transit system to show- when pitcher Nick Adenhart case Alabama as a part of was killed by a drunk driver the show’s “50 Shows in 50 in April. States: Drinking and Driving Sharp said an Internet Across America” series. search turned up the article Sharp said he wanted to about the Toomer’s Ten bususe his show and the power es from the Aug. 27 issue of of radio to create a new way The Auburn Plainsman. for the public to discuss “I guess that the story drunk driving and the life- would attract his attention altering consequences because it’s kind of the oppo“I remember when I was site of what you would expect Associate Campus Editor
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a school to do,” said Michael Evans, a freshman in chemical engineering. “A student here can drink and not have to worry about it how he’s going to get home. It makes it to where there really is no excuse to drive drunk.” Sharp recalled his time as a college student in the Southeastern Conference to inform and relate to his audience. “Behavior has changed with the police, but it has stayed the same with everyone else,” Sharp said. “When it’s football time in Auburn people are going to be tailgating, bust out some more alcohol after the game and then get on the road, but it’s the drunk drivers who are being arrested and not underage drunk people. One thing leads to another.” The show broadcasts from 11 a.m. to noon PST on KFNX radio and can be listened to live on the show’s official Web site. The segment featuring Auburn aired Wednesday, Sept. 9. Sharp said the creation of the Toomer’s Ten indicates authorities’ not wanting to be forced to make arrests while also providing a practical method of transportation on traffic-heavy nights in Auburn. “Thirty years ago this sort of thing would have been unheard of in the SEC,” Sharp said. “It’s great that Auburn has created a solution-based opportunity.”
Did You Know? • 48 percent of college students who consume alcohol are underage. • 1,700 people die each year in alcohol related instances, including motor vehicle crashes. • It is estimated that more than two million college students operated motor vehicles while under the influence of alcohol in 2001. • Students who attended schools with high rates of heavy drinking experienced a greater number of secondhand effects, including disruption of sleep or studies, property damage and verbal, physical or sexual violence. – Information gathered from madd.org and drunkdrivinglawyers.com
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THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2009
AU Rhythm tests dancers’ moves By AUBRIE DAVIS Staff Writer
CONTRIBUTED
AU Rhythm members stopped to take a photo during Homecoming.
AU Rhythm is dancing its way to a new squad. The team choreographs dance routines to popular dance songs and performs at events such as the Miss Glomerata Pageant and football pep rallies. Each year AU Rhythm competes in Huntsville. Members say this is their biggest competition. The team is hoping to travel to Tuskegee, New York and Georgia for several contests this year. The AU Rhythm team practices on Sunday and Thursday from 7 - 9 p.m. “If there’s a big event coming up like a step show or anything like that, we usually practice more than that,” said Danielle Phillips, public relations and community service
chairwoman for the team. Phillips has been part of AU Rhythm for two years. AU Rhythm captain, Chris Colvin, said he has been part of AU Rhythm for three years. Colvin had no dance experience prior to coming to Auburn, but began taking classes when he enrolled as a student. Colvin said dance experience is not required of those trying out. “You’ve just got to have rhythm,” Colvin said. It is required that students trying out are enrolled at Auburn University and maintain a 2.0 GPA. For the first round, a choreographer teaches a routine to groups of potential members. After each group has performed, there is an opportunity for students to show off freestyle dance skills that will
make them stand out. A list is posted after the dance portion of people invited back for the interview round, which takes place the following day. In interviews, captains look for people who will be dedicated to the team. They consider personality and also give people trying out an opportunity to express themselves. Captains want to know what a person will bring to the team, as well as what the team will do for them. After that round, a second and final list is posted listing those who made the team. This year, AU Rhythm was looking at adding eight or nine new members to the team. Korshetta Rudolph, a freshman, and Sarah Lambert, a sophomore, both undeclared
in the College of Math and Science, saw AU Rhythm perform at Camp War Eagle and decided to try out. Rudolph danced at the Jeff Davis Auxiliary for three years before coming to Auburn. Lambert has been dancing since she was two years old, but has been focusing on hip-hop dance for the past six years. Freshmen Adria Harris and Nagaria Davis heard about AU Rhythm over the Internet. They were both interested in joining a dance team at Auburn, and AU Rhythm was exactly what they were looking for. AU Rhythm is well-known around Auburn, but the team wants to receive more recognized across the state and in the Southeast by competing several times this year.
Law school admissions counselor hosts informational seminar By JORDAN DAILEY Associate Campus Editor
Rachel Wishum, admissions director of Jones School of Law at Faulkner University in Montgomery, spoke to Auburn students interested in law school Thursday, Sept. 3. She spoke about important areas for all potential law students– LSAT scores and GPA. “The LSAT tells us how you think and process what you read,” Wishum said. “Your GPA tells us what your work ethic is like.” Though the LSAT measures students’ performance at one point in time, GPA spans a longer period. “We look at trends,” Wishum said. “If your GPA started out badly, but has increased over time, it tells us you got serious and decided to work hard.” Sara Duffy, a secondyear student, or 2L, at Jones School of Law, graduated from Auburn in May 2008 in public relations. “Law school is different than undergrad in that you’re learning how to be a good lawyer, not just memorizing a bunch of stuff for a test,” Duffy said.
Potential law students may wonder when is the best time to take the LSAT. Wishum and Duffy recommend the June before a student’s senior undergraduate year. “It’s not like the ACT where you take it over and over,” Wishum said. “This test is extremely difficult. You don’t want to take it more than once if you don’t have to.” Wishum highlighted the LSAC, Law School Admission Council, Web site. “You register with LSAC and send in the materials required for application,” Wishum said. “Every law school in country has their application on the site so you don’t have to worry about getting them separately. It’s a comprehensive process.” Duffy spoke of her experience applying to law school. “I didn’t take my LSAT until September,” Duffy said. “It was a headache. Don’t do it that late.” The former Auburn student brought up further difficulties brought on by late application. “I didn’t get any scholarship money for my first year at Jones,” Duffy said. “Most
schools give out money in February, and I missed that deadline.” Students may worry about the financial burden of professional school. “Law school is expensive,” Wishum said. “We assume everyone wants a scholarship, therefore, we consider all students for scholarships.” Katie Thompkins, a senior in political science, asked about the proper way to write reference letters. “It’s nice to give people a lot of time,” Duffy said. “You don’t want to be waiting on a reference letter.” Wishum told students to consider a few important points while looking for a law school that fits them well. Students should seek a school that offers classes interesting to them. Bar pass rates of potential schools are also important. “Go visit the schools you’re applying to,” Wishum said. “How does it feel? You’re spending three years and lots of money there. You want to be happy.” Jones School of Law is having an open house in the spring for interested prospective students.
Rod Guajardo / PHOTO EDITOR
Rachel Wishum of Jones School of Law, spoke to Auburn students about law school admissions.
Thursday, September 10, 2009
The Auburn Plainsman
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CLASSIFIEDS 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. .................................................... INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITY: Walker’s Point Condos. 2 bedroom, 1.5 bath condo, leased through 7/31/10. www.WalkersPoint-11.info Christina Soler, RE/MAX Professional Partners, (334)826-7111.
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The Auburn Plainsman
Campus, B6
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Stolen identity: replacing Ignited Cards By BLAKE HAMILTON Associate Campus Editor
The new Auburn Ignited Cards have drawn criticism for the inconvenience in picking them up, but they have also garnered praise because they are a separate and distinct vessel for football tickets. Both signal a departure from the basic Tiger Card, but what is one to do if a ticket is lost or stolen? “During football season, the replacement cost of the Auburn Ignited Card is $50 for the first card and $100
for each additional card needed,” said the Auburn Ignited Web site. “If your card is worn and the magnetic stripe can no longer be read, the card can be replaced at no charge to you.” According to the Web site, students are fully responsible for keeping up with their cards. “The Auburn Ticket Office is not responsible for Auburn Ignited Cards that are lost, stolen or destroyed,” said the Web site. This replacement fee is significantly higher than that of the Tiger Card, which is $25.
One reacontrol son is to over the encourage I feel much better ICganri dt esd, students to be care- about selling my ticket and they ful with now that the card has don’t have the cards. to work nothing to do with my with other W i t h less to lose meal plan or getting into g r o u p s who rely by sellmy dorm. ” ing one’s Lauren Meyer, on the Ticard, an sophomore ger Card, increase but I’m in instancstill scared es of scalping could occur. I’m going to lose it,” said “Putting tickets on Ignited Lauren Meyer, a sophomore Cards make it much easier in biomedical sciences and for the athletic department French. “I’m not in a sororbecause they can have more ity so I don’t care about spirit
“
points, but I feel much better about selling my ticket now that the card has nothing to do with my meal plan or getting into my dorm.” Though the Web site claims cards remain valid for a student’s entire career at Auburn, the Web site also states, “Only the most up-to-date card will be valid for admittance.” The location to replace missing or stolen Tiger Cards is now at the Coliseum Ticket Office on the second floor of BeardEaves Memorial Coliseum. Cards can be replaced on
gameday for $50, with distribution taking place on the third floor of the Coliseum beginning four hours before kickoff until halftime. They can also be found on football Saturdays at the student ticket trouble gate. “The number of cards that students have applied for since this past Saturday's game vs. Louisiana Tech has been minimal,” said Chris Condit, coordinator of event ticketing for the Department of Athletics. “We have received nothing but positive feedback from students about the new Ignited Card.”
Photo of the Week If you would like to submit your photos for the photo of the week, e-mail them to photo@theplainsman.com
Tommy L. Davis / UNDERGRADUATE ELEMENTARY EDUCATION STUDENT, COLLEGE OF EDUCATION
Jordan-Hare Stadium before the Auburn vs. Louisiana Tech game. Photo specifications: F 7.0, 1/25, ISO 80, f = 28 mm.
MUSSELS >From B2
cause they are so sensitive to so many of the problems affecting streams.” The University of Alabama cites Barnhart as a source on their site, “The Mussel Project.” The site explains the reproduction of unionoida mussels is different from most bivalves, a species of which unionoida mussels are members. Basically, the female houses fertilized eggs in cysts in her gills, and “after a suitable natal period…those juveniles kick free of the cyst with their foot.” The economic impact of unionoid mussels is vital to the pearl industry. From 1884 to 1948, the lining was harvested for pearl button manufacturing. But from 1952 to the present, unionoids are used for the cultured pearl industry. A substance is inserted behind the lining of the shell, and pearls form as tiny beads. In 2006, 1,400 tons of shells were used for this purpose in Tennessee, generating $2.4 million in revenue for the state. Unionoids may also be eaten. In American, they have traditionally been used as a food source by Native Americans. A large portion of Barnhart’s presentation focused on the parasitic characteristics of unionoid mussels. “The larva of mussels are briefly parasitic on fish, and much of our research is directed at understanding the fish host relationships of endangered species,” Barnhart said. Unoinoida mussels have developed parasitic characteristics to keep from being swept downstream of rivers. The mussels can attach themselves to a fish and be pulled against the river’s current to an upstream location. “The parasitic life cycle of the Unionoida has had an affect upon their evolutionary history. Some freshwater mussels species have modified…the edges of their mantle lobes to serve as fish-host attracting lures,” according to “The Mussel Project” site.
The Auburn Plainsman
Recipe Jane Random Arts & Entertainment
INTRIGUE
C
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2009
Hundreds proof of Auburn’s pep
Athletic Trainers stretch to help athletes stay intact By CALLIE GARRETT Assistant Intrigue Editor
A football program like Auburn’s would not be as successful as it is without its athletic training staff to keep players intact throughout the season as well as off-season. “Lots of planning, communication and organization goes into preparing for a game,” said Clark Pearson, Auburn’s head football athletic trainer. “Everything from preparation of emergency situations to last-minute player treatment, evaluations and physician follow-ups. We work with the strength and conditioning staff on activating our hydration plan as well as deciding on team meals.” There is a tremendous amount of tedious work that goes on behind the scenes for the players’ health throughout the week just for a single game. “We also have to stock trunks, set up the stadium training room and sidelines,” Pearson said. “All of this starts as early as Sunday prior to the next week’s game. We work as a team with many other athletic department personnel to get the job done.” The players are appreciative the training staff is on call every practice and game. Wes Byrum, a junior kicker, said for the first game of the season the athletic training staff did an amazing job tending to him throughout the entire game. “I actually cramped up in both of my calves right at the beginning of the third quarter,” Byrom said. “The whole time they were rubbing Icy Hot on my calves and stretching me the whole time until the end of the game.” Andrew McCain, senior offensive tackle, said he agrees and the team cannot thank them enough. “We can’t speak highly enough of Clark and the staff put together all the way down to the students that help them out,” McCain said. “They know the best treatment and injury prevention. They keep us healthy and we really appreciate it.” McCain said the offensive linemen tend to get more banged up and bruised, so the athletic trainers help keep them on the field practicing and during games. Pearson said in order to be an athletic trainer a person must have a degree in athletic training from an accredited institution and certification in CPR and First Aid. You also need to pass the National Athletic Trainer’s Association’s Board of Certification exam after the degree is obtained. Putting in more than 80 hours a week, Pearson said there are some initial evaluation and assessments the staff will do while tending to players injured on the field before they make any decisions on what to pursue from there. “Once on the sideline we’ll do further evaluations and determine whether it’s safe for the player to return to the game,” Pearson said. “We’ll notify the necessary coaches to what is wrong with the player and his possibility of re-
Rod Guajardo / PHOTO EDITOR Magnolia Avenue, between College and Gay Street, was blocked off for the Friday Night Kick-Off Block Party Sept. 4. A sea of orange and blue piled on top of the pavement for Auburn University’s first pep rally and downtown event. This year the University returned to the tradition of pep rallies at Toomer’s Corner, the historic location for the beginning and ending of many athletic traditions at Auburn.
We remember Sept. 11 Laurel Kostakis junior, rehab services
Chris Conaway senior English
Frank Walters professor in English
“I was in the seventh grade, and the teacher came into the room and told us we had a terrorist attack. I was shocked, I didn’t really know how big of a deal it was until I saw the second plane hit.”
“It didn’t register to me what it actually was. I kept getting this mental image of the final scene of Men in Black, where the spaceship crashes into the World Fair. Then, when the next plane crashed, I got it.”
“I was coming in for class and got on my computer and saw the pictures of what had happened. I spent a couple hours deciding how to deal with my graduate class that day. We all wondered, ‘How widespread is this?’”
> Turn to TRAINERS, C2
Ursula Scott sophomore, exercise science
Callie Downes freshman, nursing
Rene Bolivar, political science professor and director of health administration
“I was in middle school, and we saw it on the television, and we just watched it the whole time. I was just blown away because it was something I never experienced before, and I remember everyone just being really sad.”
“My dad was actually in D.C. when it happened, and I remember my mom checked me out of school. I can remember being pretty scared because my dad was in Washington at the time. It was heartbreaking.”
“I remember thinking, ‘Why are they letting airplanes fly in downtown Manhattan?’ not realizing what happened. I knew in a way our country would never be the same. It was a monumental shift in society.”
“The sad part is, eight years later it seems like most people have forgotten about it. I just don’t think it’s right, I think we should stand firm. We all have short Joel Willis memories, and that is GTA doctoral student, rehab and one of the downfalls of this country.” special ed
Dustin Smith senior supply chain management
James Seroka, professor in political science
“I was in ninth grade history during 9/11. It was really weird. At first, I didn’t understand what was going on then our teachers started showing us the videos and it just made you think ‘Wow, this is really happening.’”
“I was here in my office during 9/11. My first reaction was disbelief. After the fifth image and second crash, I finally mentally acknowledged that a commercial airplane had struck the tower. It took away part of our innocence.”
Feminist Alliance for ‘Libe(her)ation’ By OLIVIA MARTIN Associate Intrigue Editor
CONTRIBUTED BY FEMINIST ALLIANCE
The Feminist Alliance group will put up flyers like the one above to promote its events.
A quotation by Gloria Steinem, founder of New York magazine and prominent feminist leader in the early ’70s, graces the Feminist Alliance Web site. “In my heart, I think a woman has two choices: either she’s a feminist or a masochist.” The Auburn Feminist Alliance addresses issues such as equal pay, rape prevention and awareness, body image and reproductive justice. “Feminism is a strong word, especially around conservatives, and we want people to understand what it means and promote awareness,” said Amanda Petersson, a senior in
architecture thesis and president of the organization. Feminist Alliance sponsors events such as Love Your Body Day, Be a Hero of Safe Sex and shows films to spur discussion among members and guests. “At Love Your Body Day, we have a dance instructor and a yoga instructor and talk about body confidence,” Peterson said. “The instructors help empower students by allowing them to feel their bodies move and not simply see them through a mirror.” The organization has put out a newsletter called Lib(her)ation and is currently working on a new publication called The Plainswoman with art, poetry and literature focusing on the empowerment and promotion
Printed on Recycled Paper
of women. Annie Gilbertson, Auburn alumna and president of the Feminist Alliance for two years, would like to see the newsletter pick back up in the upcoming year. “Recently we’ve had funding issues and it’s hard to get volunteers, but we’re receiving funding help from the women studies,” Gilbertson said. Although many see their work as positive reinforcement of women and equal rights, their discussion boards also have comments left by male students accusing the group of underestimating male importance. Petersson takes this negativity in stride and the organization’s members attempt to dis-
cuss even offensive comments tactfully and informatively. “It doesn’t bother me at all because I was raised in a more liberal family,” Petersson said. “It’s not a problem for me to say that I am a feminist, and I think women should come together and discuss issues and empower each other. However, we try to tread delicately as far as putting ourselves out there.” Katie Lushington, a graduate student in polymer and fiber engineering, thinks most people would be surprised if they came to a group meeting. “People think it’s only about women, but a quarter of our members are guys who want to learn more, support our cause
> Turn to ALLIANCE, C2
INTRIGUE, C2
TRAINERS >From C1
turning.” Not only does the staff tend to players during their season, but they also put in many hours outside of the stadium. “We will offer transportation to class and physician appointments to student-athletes that are injured and unable to walk or drive a car,” Pearson said. “My staff accompanies student-athletes to Birmingham if surgery is needed and will stay with them and return them back to Auburn
Thursday, September 10, 2009 safely.” The staff makes sure to look after its players and keep family posted on any updates necessary. “We communicate and work with our athletic academic staff in helping injured student-athletes with their academic responsibilities,” Pearson said. “We also communicate with student-athletes’ parents with updates and treatment and rehab plans.” Pearson said they also do all of the rehab for the players throughout the entire year. They work as a team with many doctors in the community as well as physical therapists.
“Our football athletic training staff, Dr. Michael Goodlett and Dr. James Andrews are present during games,” Pearson said. “The athletic training staff and Dr. Michael Goodlett are present for all practices, and the athletic training staff is present for all lifting and conditioning workouts.” Pearson said the staff also attends to the day-to- day rehab and treatments. The Auburn athletic trainers put in many hours of work behind the scenes to help keep the program up and running that most people do not notice.
Weekly Horoscopes Aries (March 21 - April 19): You'll give the way you respond to the challenging relationships in your life a second glance on Monday. This weekend you will satisfy your desire to become a major player and a mover and shaker in your community.
Virgo (Aug. 23 - Sept. 22): You will run into quite a few delays and obstacles on Monday. Rely on your instinct and follow your hunches on Friday, as you deal with a challenging situation that crops up in your life.
Taurus (April 20 - May 20): An enormous amount of glitches in your schedule will be your norm. Your speed dial will become especially sluggish as you go about your daily routine for the next several weeks. Be prepared to run into delays as you run errands.
Libra (Sept. 23 - Oct. 23): Monday you’ll embark on a makeover of the way you live your life. You may decide the time is right to become the person you want to be and to live the life that truly pleases you.
Gemini (May 21- June 20): You'll find yourself experiencing a lack of inspiration. Make every effort to pay attention to your words and actions. Make a wish over the weekend, and be sure you enjoy yourself as much as possible.
Scorpio (Oct. 23 - Nov. 21): You are usually very perceptive and you rely on your sixth sense, but now you’ll need to rely on your logic more than on your hunches. You’ll have to dig into your motivations and sort through your feelings on a particular matter.
Cancer (June 21 - July 22): You need to establish a safe environment to live in because your sense of security is important to you. If you know you have taken safety precautions you’ll sleep better at night. Your emotions will be in overdrive over the weekend.
Sagittarius (Nov. 22 - Dec. 21): You discover that you have been lying to yourself on a very important issue. Be sure that you are true to yourself and your needs and wants above all other considerations this week. You are ready to work for your own personal satisfaction.
Leo (July 23 - Aug. 22): You approach life from an optimistic perspective. However, you may carry your positive urges too far on Friday and embark on a wild goose chase in an important area of your life. Brainstorming with friends and family helps you set new priorities in your life on Saturday.
Capricorn (Dec. 22 - Jan. 19): Monday you may have trouble with someone in your neighborhood. You enjoy establishing connections in your community, as your standing in society is important to you. Now you’ll feel in control of yourself and your destiny.
Aquarius (Jan. 20 - Feb. 18): For the next several weeks you will need to check that you have your travel documents with you before you leave your house. Saturday you will want to lose yourself in an activity that really holds your interest and lets you escape from your daily routine for a while.
Pisces (Feb.19 - March 20): Your favorite motto is ‘go with the flow. Monday you’ll get the chance to put your favorite phrase into action, Saturday you’ll find yourself engaged in a power struggle with a very close friend, and he or she will become very demanding of you and your time.
ALLIANCE >From C1
and want women to feel empowered,” Lushington said. The Feminist Alliance is firm in its promotion of positive messages clarifying what feminism means. “People tend to think we are feminist nazis and that’s not true at all,” Lushington said. According to Britannica, feminism is a social movement that seeks equal
rights for women. However, Gilbertson said the issue extends beyond lawful rights. “A lot of people want to know what we bitching about since we have ‘equal rights,’” Gilberston said. “However, if you look at Congress, if you look at the judicial system, women and minorities are extremely under represented.” Interested students can find Feminist Alliance meetings and events posted on its Facebook page.
Hollywood misleads teens about pregnancy By SIMPSON FLETCHER Staff Writer
We’ve all seen the dozens of magazine covers with yet another pregnant celebrity proudly showing off her “baby bump,” and we remember the quirky one-liners from Juno like “your eggo is preggo.” However, with teen and young adult pregnancy on the rise, Hollywood seems to be sending the message that it’s not such a bad situation to be in. “More than blaming Hollywood, although I think that’s a legitimate part of it, I think we need to look at the parents who aren’t talking to their kids anymore about these issues,” said Bethany Garth, who works at Women’s Hope Medical Clinic, a faith-based, nonprofit pregnancy resource center. “Kids are reading on the Internet, and they’re going to find the answers to their questions somewhere. Parents aren’t stepping up and doing their role in educating their own children. I think that’s really what’s lead us into a very sexually promiscuous society, and it’s just getting younger and younger. We get 12 and 15-year-olds.” Elizabeth Snipes, a sophomore in pre-pharmacy, said it’s as if the press is suggesting being a parent at an early age is acceptable regardless of marital status. “I think there are certain situations that make this OK,” Snipes said. “But overall I think the pregnancy hype that celebrities are contributing to is negative.” This year in Alabama one in six females will be a teen mother, and the numbers continue to rise according to the Alabama Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy. In the most recent ranking of states, Alabama placed 35th in the nation with a pregnancy rate of 90 in the population of girls between the ages of 15 to 19. “I think they are glamorizing preg-
nancy out of wedlock which can have both positive and negative effects on society,” said Ansley Mendenhall, a junior in French and international trade. “On the one hand, I hope it encourages more women who become pregnant to keep the child. On the other hand, it seems to encourage pregnancy in general, and young women may not realize how difficult it is to raise a child.” In 2008, the Women’s Hope Clinic administered pregnancy tests to 866 young women. Ten of those young women were in junior high school, 138 were in high school and 562 were in college. “What’s coming through our doors as far as students go, it’s pretty hoppin’,” Garth said. Garth also said the clinic offers free and confidential pregnancy testing, free STD testing, free parenting education classes and a post-abortion recovery group for women who have had trouble dealing with it and want to find some level of healing. “Students can come somewhere like this, and I know a lot of students do come here because it’s not going to show up on mom and dad’s insurance,” Garth said. “If you’re struggling and you’re in a crisis situation some people will want to go to their parents, but a lot of people want to work things out and think through it before they talk to their parents. So, we offer a place where they can come in privacy and talk things out with someone who is trained to help them in this situation. It gives them an opportunity to really process.” When a test does come back positive, Garth said their job is to find out how the person feels physically, emotionally and spiritually. “Are your parents going to freak out on you?” Garth said. “Is your boyfriend, fiancé, husband, in or out? What is your situation? How can we help you? Then we give them resources and referrals to help them move forward.”
Campus Rants ● 16th Annual Auburn Chamber Golf Classic Sept. 16 at Moore’s Mill Club ● Sundown Concert Series featuring County Road 12, Sept. 10 at Kiesel Park ● Sept. 11 HVAC Sustainable Practices Workshop, Shelby Conference Room ● Sept. 11 National Day of Service and Remembrance 10 a.m.- noon ● Cirque D’Or featuring Golden Dragon Acrobats Sept. 10 at 7 p.m. ● Battle of the Bands, Cater Lawn at 7 p.m., Sept. 11 ● “So You Think You Want To Be In Love?” Greg Behrendt and Amiira Routola- AUSC Ballroom at 7 p.m., Sept. 11 ● Sept. 12 The 17th Floor with Zig and Joe in the Snapper Dome at The Supper Club ● Chris McKay & The Critical Darlings, Sept. 12 at The Independent ● Water: Three States (Phase I) Exhibition Sept. 14 Biggin Hall, 8 a.m.- 4 p.m. ● Auburn vs. Mississippi State, Sept. 12
● At the game this past weekend, my friend lost her sorority pin somewhere in the stadium. She made such a big deal out of finding it saying that this was unacceptable and no one else understood what a big deal it was for her to find it. It was embarrassing to watch her sift through everyone in the stands asking for her pin. ● I always hate when people standing in front of you at the game wave their shaker in your face. This girl in front of me would repeatedly hit me in the face with her shaker. After I made an effort to stay out of her way and it wouldn’t stop, I finally yelled at her out of frustration, “Quit hitting me in the face!” When she turned around I realized it was my exboyfriend’s new girlfriend. Perfect. ● After the game I was starving, so before I left I stopped by the concession stand and bought a hot dog. On my way out I dropped the entire thing on the ground (which wasn’t that clean outside the stadium). I picked it up to finish it because I was so hungry. When I turned around I saw a group of girls talking about how disgusting I was for not throwing it away. ● This weekend, me and a couple of friends climbed up on the roof of my friend’s house. While we were sitting up there, his roommate came by and pulled the ladder off the roof so we couldn’t get down. My friend ended up having to jump off the roof to get the ladder and the rest of us down. ● When I came home around 2 a.m. after a long night out, I realized my apartment complex had changed the locks to my apartment. I ended up having to sleep somewhere else that night, and management said they had taped a flyer to our door. Yeah, thanks a lot.
● Retro Wave ’80s Night In Italy, Sept. 10 To submit your anonymous campus rants e-mail them to intrigue@theplainsman.com
The Auburn Plainsman
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Intrigue, C3
Kiesel Park releases free concert series schedule By MAX NEWFIELD Staff Writer
Dogs, discs and dinner are welcome at Kiesel Park’s free concert series. Auburn residents looking for a relaxing way to spend an evening need look no further than the Sundown Concert Series, which will return to Kiesel Park Thursday, Sept. 10. The free concert series features local and regional musicians of all different genres said Alison Hall, the community programs director for the City of Auburn Parks and Recreation Department. “We want to offer lots of different stuff, a little bit of everything,” Hall said. “We don’t want to be known as just a country music series or a jazz series.” If Auburn residents want to hear jazz music then The Lo-Fi Loungers can satisfy the desire Sept. 24. “We see our band as historic preservation,” said Adam Strickland, guitarist for The Lo-Fi Loungers. “We’re letting people hear something they might not hear otherwise.” Strickland also said anyone is welcome to join in on the jam. “Even if you just have some bagpipes, you can bring them along,” Strickland said. “We’ll just tell you we’re in the key of whatever and hop right in.” Hall said the laid back attitude is something the Sundown Concert Series
wants to emphasize. “People can bring their pets, the Frisbee, lawn chairs, a picnic supper, whatever,” Hall said. “Alcohol is not allowed though.” Even though alcohol is not permitted, Hall said she wants students to come as well. “I love seeing students sitting in the grass with all of their books spread out around them,” Hall said. “It’s great that they can have a different setting from the library to get their work done in.” The setting of Kiesel Park was the original inspiration for the concert series. The City of Auburn Parks and Recreation Department started the fall concert series over 10 years ago in order to showcase the area’s largest park. “It’s a great park, but residents and students didn’t know about it,” Hall said. “There are lots of folks in town who love music so I guess it just made sense.” The people of Auburn are what bring artists back to the concert series. “Auburn is a great place to play,” said Clemon Byrd, the saxophone player and co-founder of Sundown Concert Series veterans Satin Soul. Byrd said Satin Soul typically plays at bars and clubs, but they will always make an exception for the Sundown Concert Series because Kiesel Park’s
Cook an Easy Dinner Recipe contributed by Jessica Smith, assistant manager of Panera Bread:
Asiago Strata Cook Time: 45 Minutes Level: Easy Yield: 6 Servings
Ingredients 2 tablespoons butter (softened) 1/2 cup milk 1 cup cream 2 eggs pinch of salt pinch of cracked black pepper 1 loaf of Panera Asiago bread 1 cup Asiago cheese, shredded
Concert Series is always successful. “It’s definitely a fun place to play,” Byrd said. “We enjoyed ourselves last year, and we were excited when they asked us back again this year.” Strickland said The Lo-Fi Loungers also enjoy playing in Auburn. “We’ve never encountered a bad time,” Strickland said. “It’s not like Tuscaloosa where you have hillbillies yelling ‘Free Bird’ at you the whole time.” The Lo-Fi Loungers and Satin Soul may play different types of music, but their emphasis on a family friendly experience is the same. “From 2-year-olds to 100-year-olds, we want everyone to come out,” Strickland said. Hall thinks the family friendly setting of the concert series is what is most important. “It’s just a good opportunity for people to come out, relax and enjoy some music without having to go to a bar to do so,” Hall said. The concerts begin with County Road 12 Sept. 10 and will run every Thursday until Oct. 22. Music starts at 6 p.m., and people are encouraged to bring food, blankets, chairs and pets. For more information, visit www.auburnalabama.org/parks or contact the City of Auburn Parks and Recreation Department.
Sundown Concert Series at Kiesel Park: Sept. 10 - County Road 12 Sept. 17 - Auburn Knights Orchestra Sept. 24 - The Lo-Fi Loungers Sept. 27 - Auburn Community Orchestra Oct. 1 - Satin Soul Oct. 8 - Old Soul Oct. 15 - Auburn Road Oct. 22 - Spoonful James
Directions Pre-heat oven to 375 degrees F. Brush sides and bottom of 1 1/2-quart casserole dish with softened butter. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together milk, cream, eggs, salt and pepper and set aside. Cut Asiago bread into 1/4-inch slices. Start assembly of the strata by placing one slice of bread on the bottom of the dish. Sprinkle about 1/2 teaspoon of shredded Asiago cheese on the bread slice. Cover with another slice of bread and sprinkle the same amount of cheese on top. Continue this pattern for two more pieces of bread then pour about 1/3 of the custard on top. Return to building the strata for four more layers, then pour another third of the custard on top. Build the strata until you have reached 1/4-inch from the top of the dish and finish off with remaining custard. Cover the strata and refrigerate for 15 minutes. Place the strata dish on a cookie sheet to catch any drips. Bake for about 45 minutes on the center rack of the oven. The custard should develop a rich dark color and rise slightly from the pan. (It will settle back after removal from the oven.) Carefully remove from the oven and set aside to cool for about 15 minutes before unmolding. Carefully invert the strata by placing a 10-inch plate over the top of the dish. Slowly flip the plate and dish over together. Place on the counter and allow the strata to fall from the dish onto the plate. If the strata does not release from the dish, cut around the sides of the dish and try to invert again. Serve hot or warm as an accompaniment with meat and vegetables to fill out the meal.
The Auburn Plainsman
Intrigue, C4
Thursday, September 10, 2009
NIV Bible receives update, creates controversy By JILL CLAIR Staff Writer
The global board of Biblica announced on Sept. 1 that an updated edition of the world’s most popular Bible translation, the New International Version, will be published by evangelical Christian publisher Zondervan in 2011. In a press release for the NIV 2011 Bible, Keith Danby, global president and CEO of Biblica, explained the purpose of a revised edition. “As time passes and English changes, the NIV we have at present is becoming increasingly dated,” Danby said. “If we want a Bible that English speakers around the world can understand, we have to listen to, and respect, the vocabulary they are using today.” The Committee on Bible Translation, an independent body of global biblical scholars, will finish the revision next year. The CBT is made
“
We’re looking for a translation that is above all accurate – that says what the original authors said.” Douglas Moo, chairman of the CBT up of the top biblical scholars from world-class religious institutions around the world. There are currently 14 members of the CBT that are dedicated to providing the most accurate translation possible. The NIV was first introduced in 1978 and was last revised in 1984. Since 1978, 300 million copies of the NIV have been distributed worldwide. NIV Bible readers are wondering if the 2011 NIV will use gender-neutral language instead of masculine nouns and pronouns used in the 1984 NIV such as “dear brothers” or “sons of God”.
The CBT has not given a definitive answer to the question of gender neutrality in the 2011 edition, but it has committed to review every gender-related change it has made since the publication of the 1984 edition. In 2005, another version in the NIV family of Bibles, the Today’s New International Version, was published. The abbreviation TNIV stands for Today’s New International Version Bible. As written in the preface of the TNIV Bible, “(One of) the more programmatic changes in the TNIV (is) … the elimination of most instances of the generic use of masculine
nouns and pronouns.” Traditionalists and scholars disagreed with the CBT’s decision to release the gender-neutral TNIV for a variety of reasons. “I think it was a mistake to make the TNIV genderneutral,” said Josh Trowell, a junior in English. “From a scholarly standpoint, I don’t believe the translators have to edit the words of the Bible to reflect our changing views, because our changing views should be predicated on our understanding of the Bible without the aid of translation changes.” Some people are in favor of gender-neutral language in the Bible and would like to see it used in the 2011 NIV because it does specify gender or race when making generalizations. “I am in favor of language that is more inclusive, whether this is a matter of referring to ‘brothers and sisters’ or using an entirely different
word, such as ‘beloved,’ to address a group of people with affection,” said the Rev. Diana Allende, minister of Auburn Unitarian Universalist Fellowship. The controversy over gender neutrality is one that has been ongoing for years, even in 1895, when Elizabeth Cady Stanton wrote “The Woman’s Bible.” “The Woman’s Bible” was one of the first attempts to clarify the roles of JudeoChristian women, their legacies and the impact these texts have made. To quell the controversy of the TNIV, Zondervan plans to stop printing the 2005 TNIV and the 1984 NIV after the 2011 NIV is published. Several students weren’t as concerned with the Bible being gender-neutral as they were with it being accurately translated. “I don’t really have a problem with gender-neutral translations, because I think
if it says ‘brothers and sisters’ or just ‘brothers’ it is meant for both sexes either way,” said Courtney Cooper, a junior in social work. According to www.nivbible2011.com, in response to questions about the 2011 NIV in a press conference on Sept. 1, Professor Douglas Moo, chairman of the CBT, said, “We’re looking for a translation that is above all accurate – that says what the original authors said in the way they would have said it had they been speaking in English to the global English-speaking audience today.” Despite the challenge of translating the Bible into modern English, Biblica, Zondervan and The CBT pledge to continue to fulfill the mandate of the NIV charter: to deliver a translation that is accurate enough for scholarly study of the Bible, yet understandable enough for someone with no Biblical knowledge to comprehend.
Students react to H1N1 flu virus spreading on campus By LIZ CON Staff Writer
The H1N1 virus continues to spread throughout the country, and Auburn’s campus is no exception. There have been 200 reported cases of H1N1, according to Dr. Fred Kam, director of the AU Medical Clinic. “We see about 15 to 20 patients a day with H1N1 and another 60 to 90 with other respiratory illnesses,” Kam said. “We expect to see this number stay steady over the next few weeks.” Students who live on campus who have been diagnosed with the virus have been isolated at the Extension dorms, with the exception of those in the Village who have their own rooms. Due to the publicity this flu strain has generated in the national and local media, some students feel anxious about the possibility of coming down with swine flu. “The prospect of contracting swine flu is very daunting,” said Jeff Haney, a freshman in pre-veterinary medicine whose roommate has been diagnosed with H1N1. “I worry that it would interfere with my academics, extra curricular activities and thriving social life.” Other students are less apprehensive about the flu and the disruption it could cause in their lives. “I’m not extremely worried about getting swine flu,” said Eric Dooley, a senior in software engineering. “I feel that our immune systems are at their primes right now.” The Office of the Provost has been working with Auburn’s professors to de-
velop a contingency plan in case the virus interferes with classes and students will be notified if needed. Despite rumors of a school closure once the number of cases hits a certain mark, there is no specific threshold in regards to Auburn’s plan of action, said Susan McCallister of the Department of Public Safety and Security. “The Medical Clinic is monitoring the situation,” McCallister said. “The only reason we would consider canceling classes is in the case of an attendance problem that would hinder our academic mission, but it is unlikely that we would get to that point.” McCallister also said the H1N1 vaccine is expected to be available in Alabama in mid-October. Announcements will be made through Auburn Daily and This Week at AU regarding the vaccination. The seasonal flu vaccine is now available. The AU Medical Clinic will hold flu vaccine clinics Monday, Sept. 14 and Tuesday, Sept. 15 from 7:45 a.m. to 1 p.m for any student who wishes to be vaccinated. Vaccinations will be provided on a first come, first serve basis until the supply is exhausted. The vaccine costs $25, payable with cash or check. Employees with AU Blue Cross/Blue Shield insurance will not be charged, and the cost will be filed to their insurance directly by the clinic. The Center for Disease Control recommends washing hands as much as possible and covering coughs and sneezes in order to prevent spreading the virus.
All H1N1 Influenza map images courtesy of www.cdc.gov.
Morgan Thacker / ASSOCIATE PHOTO EDITOR
Katie Wilcox, a freshman in elementary education, fills out a symptoms sheet at AU Medical Clinic. The medical clinic is currently divided into four wards in order to properly handle the H1N1 Influenza virus.
Did you know? Why is 2009 H1N1 virus sometimes called “swine flu”?
What to do if you have the flu •
This virus was originally referred to as “swine flu” because laboratory testing showed that many of the genes in this new virus were very similar to influenza viruses that normally occur in pigs (swine) in North America. But further study has shown that this new virus is very different from what normally circulates in North American pigs. It has two genes from flu viruses that normally circulate in pigs in Europe and Asia and bird (avian) genes and human genes.
•
Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hand cleaners are also effective.
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Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread this way.
•
Try to avoid close contact with sick people.
Swine Flu spreads rapidly in the Southeast Most state health officials are reporting regional or sporadic influenza activity. Six states (Alabama, Alaska, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, and South Carolina) and Puerto Rico are reporting widespread influenza activity. Reports of influenza activity in August are unusual.
Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.
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Do not share food or beverages.
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Find healthy ways
to manage stress. •
Get plenty of sleep; seven - eight hours per night.
•
If you are sick with flu-like illness: CDC recommends that you stay home for at least 24 hours after your fever is gone except to get medical care or for other necessities. (Your fever should be gone without the use of a fever-reducing medicine.) Keep away from others as much as possible to keep from making others sick.
•
Follow public health advice regarding school closures and other measures.
The Auburn Plainsman
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Ability to drink milk genetic mutation By MAX NEWFIELD
The researchers in University College London’s genetics, evolution and environment department found that people If you enjoyed a nice, cool glass of milk who produce lactase for their entire life with your breakfast this morning you are do so because of a genetic mutation. These people are said to be lactase pera mutant. According to a recently published Uni- sistent. Americans or Europeans may not reversity College London study, published alize how uncomAug. 28 in PLoS mon the ability to Computational drink milk is. This Biology, the ofis a direct result ficial journal You have to remember, of the origin of of the Internabeing able to drink milk is pretty the lactase persistional Society of tence mutation. Computational rare outside of America or The study said Biology, most Europe. ” the mutation adults worldwide cannot most likely ocRobert Keiss, a nutrition professor digest milk into curred 7,500 years adulthood, and ago in central the ability to do Europe when the so is the result of a genetic mutation. practice of dairying began. The human body produces an enzyme Rex Dunham, a professor of fish genetcalled lactase in order to break down ics, genetic engineering and aquaculture lactose, a milk sugar, in milk said Doug at Auburn University, said this theory White, a faculty member in the depart- makes perfect sense. “It’s the purpose of mutation, genetic ment of nutrition and food science at Auburn University. variation to adapt to surroundings,” “If the enzyme lactase is not present Dunham said. “The mutation would be then the body cannot digest the lactose,” eliminated if it was not advantageous.” White said. “This results in nausea, gas, White said genes have specific variavomiting or diarrhea.” tions, or markers, in them allowing reAll people have the gene necessary to searchers to track how the gene spreads. produce lactase, that gene is simply not “You can see how certain populations expressed throughout adulthood said are related,” White said. “It’s almost like Robert Keiss, a professor of nutrition at migration.” Auburn University and a nutrition speOutside of Americans and Europeans, cialist for the Alabama Cooperative Ex- the ability to digest milk is quite rare. tension System. Roughly 50 percent of Mediterranean “We all have the gene, it’s just not ex- people, 25 percent of African people and pressed in adulthood,” Keiss said. “Over zero to five percent of Asians and Natime the gene becomes quiet.” tive Americans have this ability, White Staff Writer
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ACROSS 1 Urban peoplemovers 4 Fellow 8 Paper Toy 12 Sea bird 13 Gymnastics coach - Karolyi 14 Not even one 15 Sudden forays 17 Fencer’s blade 19 Quaker pro-noun 20 Pale-green moth 21 Taped over
23 Retiree’s income 24 Go very fast 26 LP speed 29 Choir members 30 Billiard sticks 31 London and Hong Kong 33 Exclaiming over 35 Bruins 36 Kidded around 37 Grassy field 38 Appear 40 Numero uno 42 Pay 44 Control device
46 HS student 48 Luxury fur 49 Former capital of Japan 50 Bronte heroine Jane 52 “Primal Fear” star 54 Natural elev. 55 Herbal soothers 56 Valhalla honcho 57 Tofu base DOWN 1 Noblemen 2 Occasions for leis
said. This means about 60 percent of the world’s population is lactose intolerant. Keiss said he thought more people were lactose intolerant. “I would have thought it would be about 75 or 80 percent,” Keiss said. “You have to remember, being able to drink milk is pretty rare outside of America or Europe.” Keiss said certain cultures having an inability to process certain foods is not uncommon. “Native Americans and Asians don’t produce alcohol dehydrogenase, the enzyme used to process alcohol,” Keiss said. “Because they cannot process the alcohol they become excessively intoxicated very quickly.” Not all people who are lactose intolerant are violently allergic to lactose. “There are varying degrees of it,” Keiss said. “Some can handle it, some can’t.” White said the typical reaction of a lactose intolerant person varies so much that some people who can’t drink milk could probably eat aged cheese or yogurt because those items have enzymes in them that assist the body in digestion. But what about those who cannot drink milk at all? Keiss said they should reach for a vegetable. “Milk is definitely the best source of calcium,” Keiss said. “But if you can’t drink milk you can get calcium from green, leafy vegetables or fish with bones in it.” Both White and Keiss also said functional foods, food with nutrients added to them, make it easier for people to get all the vitamins and minerals they need. “Milk is still definitely the best though,” Keiss said.
3 Hide 4 TV network 5 The gentleman 6 Puts on guard 7 Of the bishop of Rome 8 Body joint 9 Corn Belt st. 10 Take a crack at 11 Rib.- steak 16 Showy flower 18 WNW opposite 21 Piccadilly statue 22 Stonehenge worshiper 25 Sporty truck 27 Ballpoint 28 Food additive 29 Book of maps 30 Impudent 31 - de-sac 32 Decorate cupcakes 33 Breezy 34 Arith. mean 36 Tugged 38 Yale athlete 39 Tropical fruit 40 Slogan 41 Lustrous black 43 “Mister Ed” actor 45 - de plume 46 Hangar occupant 47 Deli bread 49 Novelist - Follett 51 Nile sun god 53 Providence Ioc.
For answers visit www. the plainsman. com
Intrigue, C5
Lactose Intolerance Facts: Lactose intolerance is the inability to absorb lactose—the predominant sugar in milk—into the digestive system. Type 1 - Symptoms begin quickly after ingesting cow's milk. Reactions mainly affect the skin, causing eczema or hives. Type 2 - Symptoms begin several hours after ingesting cow's milk. Symptoms of this type are mainly diarrhea and vomiting. Type 3 - Symptoms develop more than 20 hours after ingestion. The main symptom for this type is diarrhea. Courtesy of allergyescape.com
The Auburn Plainsman
Intrigue, C6
Thursday, September 10, 2009
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
C O N C E R T Week’s Band Lineup REVIEW Thursday SkyBar- Plato Jones: Acoustic Show Supper Club- Spoonful James 1716- $2 tall boys
Sister Hazel, Trotline, Aslyn ★★★★
By CLIFF McCOLLUM Opinions Editor
I’m usually not much of a concertgoer, save the occasional outing to an Auburn Chamber Music Society recital or two, but I was coerced into going to the Lake Martin Amphitheater this weekend for their Labor Day Concert. I must say I was glad that Beth and Mollie invited me along on their trip, as Sister Hazel and the other bands there for the concert provided a wonderful experience. Aslyn, the opening act, was interesting, and I’m still not sure what to make of her. She had a weird Carole King vibe going on with her voice and frantic pounding of the piano while she was singing, but she didn’t have Carole’s stage presence. She also felt the need to explain each song before she sang it, telling us bits and pieces of her life and the inspirations behind her songs. Sufficed to say, some of her explanations about the songs were longer than the songs themselves. I paid for a concert, not a book reading. After she finished her set, Trotline, mainstays of the bar scene, took the stage and the evening began to truly warm up. Trotline had a decent set, but it was nothing that I haven’t seen any other time they’ve come to town to play. To be perfectly honest, their rendition of “If You’re Gonna Play in Texas (You Gotta Have a Fiddle in the Band)” was a bit lackluster. I was hoping for the fiddle player to really attack that song and show us his skills, considering the song was actually about fiddle playing, but he never reached the peaks of showmanship I thought he might. Perhaps I just have high expectations for fiddle players. I don’t know. The main attraction, Sister Hazel, was right on the money and gave one
of the best shows I’ve seen them give. Coming fresh from the excitement of the release of their new album “Release,” the veteran performers took the stage and you could feel the excitement in the air. You can tell Sister Hazel is a great touring band, as it had the right mix of old and new songs: enough old to placate the fans, and enough new to pimp the new album. We were in a crowd filled with true Sister Hazel fans, evidenced by the fact that even when the band sang a few songs from the new album, the crowd was still singing along. I was surprised to learn the release album had debuted and was, for some amount of time, the number one album on iTunes, a great accomplishment for any band in our digital world. While their new songs were good and had the crowd dancing and swaying, it was when the band played some of its more recognizable, older hits that everything truly gelled. Toward the end of its set, the band played its classic “Champagne High” and the assembled crowd went wild, even yours truly (and I am, admittedly, not the biggest Sister Hazel fan). As I listened to the song, I began to look around at the masses assembled around me, and that’s where I saw the magic in Sister Hazel’s performance power. Couples all over the amphitheater were holding each other close and swaying in a loving and slightly awkward manner, including what had to have been a couple in their early 60s enjoying a nice moonlight serenade. Call me an old softie if you wish, but that’s sweet. Young and old had a wonderful time at Lake Martin Sunday night, and, even though I didn’t expect to do so, so did I. If you were there, you know what I mean. If you weren’t, I feel bad for you. You missed a heck of a show.
Local artist plays for the community By HELEN NORTHCUTT Intrigue Editor
John Peterson has been playing guitar since he was 13. For his high school graduation he received a mandolin. The next year he got a banjo and two years later he acquired a steel guitar. Peterson described his music as Americana or American roots music. “It is all songs I’ve written, and I’ve written six CDs worth of songs now,” Peterson said. Peterson mostly plays at The Gnu’s Room, a coffee shop and bookstore on Gay Street. “The main reason I like playing there is because it is a small place, so I don’t have to use amplification,” Peterson said. “It is kind of neat like the way the old famous blues guys started out playing a guitar and singing. They played in people’s houses and clear out the furniture. When I’m playing at The Gnu’s Room it feels like we are sitting in someone’s house.” “It’s a really cool feeling for me to be able to play like that,” Peterson said. “There is a lot of connection with the crowd, and it is a venue where people are there to listen to the music.” Peterson, who plays solo, does not charge venues for his entertainment.
“I just want the music to get out there,” Peterson said. “It’s not really the fact that I want to make a living off of it. I just do it to get the music out and for people to hear the music and what I have to say.” Peterson said community building is an important aspect of his music. “Another reason why I like playing at The Gnu’s Room is because the owner is interested in having a community type feeling in there,” Peterson said. “It is not just about books and coffee, it is about community, and I really like that idea.” Peterson said his music is his contribution to the community. Peterson said his favorite memory is his first time playing at The Gnu’s Room. “The first time I did a full set there was just amazing to me,” Peterson said. “It was such an organic feel. It was great to have that community feeling.” Peterson said when you play over loudspeakers and through a microphone there is just a disconnection with the music. Peterson said to play in an environment like The Gnu’s Room is refreshing. Peterson will be playing this Friday at The Gnu’s Room at 7 p.m. To access Peterson’s music and a free CD, visit his MySpace at www. myspace.com/alabamahog.
Friday
Bodega- Todd Dickery Supper Club- Reckless with Jason McMillan SkyBar- Poptart Monkeys
Saturday
Bodega- Joe Bagley Supper Club- The 17th Floor SkyBar- Mojiles
Monday
1716- Drink special with burgers and beer SkyBar- Karaoke
SkyBar- Tim Tyler 1716- $2 tall boys
Tuesday Top 10 Movies In Theaters #1 The Final Destination #2 Inglorious Basterds #3 Halloween #4 District 9 #5 G.I. Joe: The Rise of the Cobra #6 Julie & Julia #7 The Time Traveler’s Wife #8 Shorts #9 Taking Woodstock #10 G-Force Information provided by InternetMovieDatabase.com
The Auburn Plainsman
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Intrigue, C7
The Auburn Plainsman INTRIGUE STAFF
J Robby Spruiell freshman, pre-dental
E &J R A N D O M
NE
What was your favorite moment of the last football game? The 93-yard touchdown pass thrown by Chris Todd. What is one wish you would have granted? To go on a date with Hayden Panettiere If you could be anywhere in the world where would it be? Costa Rica
If you were stranded on an island what three things would you bring? A Bible, fireworks and an ax.
Editor OLIVIA MARTIN Associate Editor
CALLIE GARRETT Assistant Editor
To reach the staff, call 334-844-9109.
Brittany Godwin senior, public administration
What three things can you always find in your refrigerator? Cinnamon rolls, Dr. Pepper and peanut butter What is the favorite age you have been and why? Sixteen, because I could take girls on dates.
HELEN NORTHCUTT
What three things can you always find in your refrigerator? Wine, fruit and cheese What is the favorite age you have been and why? When I was a toddler and my mom did everything for me
What was your favorite moment of the last football game? A very intoxicated guy told me, “The eagle flew over the student section and said, ‘Wassup, you drinking whiskey?’”
What is one wish you would have granted? To look like Heidi Klum when I am 40, or now.
If you could be anywhere in the world where would it be? On the space shuttle, The Endeavour Favorite saying? “Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious” If you were stranded on an island what three things would you bring? Chapstick, a satellite phone and Chace Crawford
Favorite song to sing in the shower? “Two Step” by Dave Matthews
Favorite song to sing in the shower? The Little Mermaid“Under the Sea”
Interviewed by Callie Garrett
The Auburn Plainsman
Intrigue, C8
w o H To
Thursday, September 10, 2009
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Morgan Thacker / ASSOCIATE PHOTO EDITOR
Grady Bone,a junior in building science, makes his own beer with a kit his uncle gave him for his 21st birthday.
Green thumbs teach fall gardening techniques at workshop By LINDSEY GRUBBS Staff Writer
April showers bring May flowers and South Alabama heat brings summers filled with gardeners busy harvesting vegetables and vine-ripened fruits. Just because the temperature falls and the summer season draws to a close, the growing doesn’t stop and the gardeners don’t either. The Alabama Cooperative Extension System is hosting its seasonal garden workshop series Friday, Sept. 11 at the Loachapoka Community Center. This second series workshop will focus on techniques and tips for fall gardening and maintenance. Green thumb or not, all gardening enthusiasts are invited to the workshop to discuss any topic from fall planting to diffusing a pesky fire ant
hill. Janet Frandsen, administrative support associate for ACES, said this fall’s series is a continuation from the last series held in Comer Hall at Auburn University. “The series will discuss various fall planting, herb gardens, backyard composting and fire ant demonstrations,” Frandsen said. There is no need to hibernate your garden and take the winter off because fall brings a host of new vegetables and plant varieties that have different problems of which to be aware. The “Fall for Gardening” series will show gardeners how to battle different insect predators and shield gardens from frost that will begin in mid to late fall. “My favorite time to garden is in the fall because it is not so hot,” said Danielle Carroll, Lee County Ex-
tension’s agent who specializes in home grounds, gardens and home pests. “A lot of people don’t realize that you can keep on going throughout the entire year.” The series will discuss the different vegetables hardy enough to withstand lower temperatures during cooler months, such as cabbage, turnip greens and broccoli. The series will also answer any other special interests from the crowd. Shane Harris, the regional extension agent for the ACES said they have seen a rise in interests of gardening and harvesting. “We have seen a huge turnout and demand for vegetable garden information from everyone from seasonal and veteran gardeners who have been growing things their whole life to a population who have never had a garden before,” Harris said.
The Lee County Extension Office said a possible reason for the sudden increase could be due to the economy. “Some (interests) have been due to the economy and some have been due to food safety concerns,” Harris said. One benefit of growing food is that it can be cheaper than buying at the grocery store. “Everyone is growing what they can so they don’t have to spend as much money on it,” Carroll said. Another benefit of growing produce is the nutritional value. Homegrown foods have a higher quality. Carroll said anything fresh is better than many things in the grocery store because fruits and vegetables are picked unripe. Unripe vegetables can cause them to lose a lot of their nutritional value. “Sometimes the food at the gro-
cery store could have been picked six months ago,” Carroll said. According to ALFAfarmers.org, there are 48,000 people in Alabama who are farmers by trade. This make agriculture Alabama’s largest business through traditions of growing and cultivating crops throughout the United States. “A lot of people are getting back into gardening,” Harris said. “A lot of young people, including myself, want to teach our children to garden because it is a tradition and part of our lifestyle.” The Loachapoka Community Center is located at 6494 Stage Road in Loachapoka. Registration is required and a $10 fee will cover the workshop and lunch. For more information, visit www. aces.edu or call the Lee County Extension Office at 334-749-3353.
The Auburn Plainsman
Coach’s Corner AU Club Sailing Editor’s Picks AU Rhythm
SPORTS
D
Thursday, September 10, 2009
AUBURN WINS 37-13 Patrick Dever sports@theplainsman.com
Good start, still need more time
Starting off a season with a win is always a good thing. Starting off your first season as a coaching staff with a win is even better. This first game put the new staff in a strange position however; call it a “football limbo.” Auburn won by 24 points, but it was against Louisiana Tech. La. Tech is a veteran team that played excellent football in the first half, but just couldn’t keep up with the Tigers’ offense in the second half. The ratings computers and the people who didn’t get to watch the game will only see the score and the opponent. On the other hand, if Auburn had lost, all the talk would’ve been about how La. Tech is a veteran team out to make a name for themselves in the Western Athletic Conference and possibly crash the BCS. The blame for a loss would have been put on the new offensive scheme and the new staff and fans would be preparing for another dismal season. This week brings Mississippi State University to The Plains. I fear that Auburn will be in the same position this week as it was last week. Mississippi State beat Jackson State University handily Saturday, but JSU is in the Football Championship Subconference ( formerly DI-AA). The Bulldogs were the only team to be picked to finish lower than Auburn in SEC West projections. Again, if Auburn wins, it’s > Turn to DEVER, D2
Rod Guajardo / PHOTO EDITOR
Junior Kodi Burns scores the first touchdown of the game on a 1-yard run in the first quarter. Auburn beat Louisiana Tech in the season opener 37-13, Saturday.
Tigers tame Bulldogs, Round 2 Saturday By NICK VAN DER LINDEN Associate Sports Editor
The Auburn Tigers (1-0) will try and go 16-1 in the last 17 years in its SEC openers as they prepare to take on the Mississippi State Bulldogs (10) Saturday night in JordanHare Stadium at 6 p.m. Auburn opened its season with a win last Saturday, defeating the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs 37-13 and gave Head Coach Gene Chizik his 16th consecutive win at Auburn since he left in 2004. Auburn spread the wealth offensively, racking up 556 total yards which was the most since the 2005 Kentucky game. Senior quarterback Chris Todd had a solid game, completing 17 of 26 passes for 255
yards and two touchdowns and no interceptions. Todd’s total passing yards were a career high, surpassing his previous high of 250 yards. The first passing touchdown was 93 yards to Terrell Zachery, the school’s longest play from scrimmage. “We felt like the corners were getting a little bit aggressive, and we just felt like the double move would have a chance to hit and Chris made a great throw to Terrell,” Chizik said at a press conference Saturday. The player who helped get there was Onterio McCalebb, who leads the SEC in all-purpose yards (197) and became the first Auburn freshman to rush for 100 yards in a season opener since Bo Jackson in 1982.
Former quarterback Kodi Burns played a key role in Malzahn’s Wildcat offense and scored on a one-yard run to give Auburn the lead over Louisiana Tech with 1:33 left in the first quarter. Chizik said it was great to see Kodi score and they were going to use him to help the team win. “It’s a great feeling when you see a person as selfless as Kodi do well,” Chizik said at Saturday night’s press conference. Senior defensive end Antonio Coleman now has 15.5 career sacks after getting one last Saturday, which ranks tied for 10th in Auburn history for career sacks. The Bulldogs will be led by
2009 Stats
OFFENSE
OFFENSE
First Downs: 27 Rushing Attempts: 52 Rushing Yds.: 301 Passing Attempts: 27 Passes Completed: 17 Passing Yds.: 255 Total Yds.: 556 Penalties-Yds.: 8-87
First Downs: 20 Rushing Attempts: 45 Rushing Yds.: 238 Passing Attempts: 25 Passes Completed: 16 Passing Yds.: 172 Total Yds.: 410 Penalties-Yds.: 12-152
DEFENSE
DEFENSE
Sacks: 3 Interceptions: 1 Fumbles caused: 3 Touchdowns: 0 Total Yds. Against: 245
Sacks: 1 Interceptions: 2 Fumbles caused: 0 Touchdowns: 1 Total Yds. Against: 194
> Turn to FOOTBALL, D2
Volleyball succumbs to 2 teams at Classic By NICK VAN DER LINDEN Associate Sports Editor
CONTRIBUTED
Junior Morgan Johns attacks against George Washington University during the Diet Coke Classic Saturday. The Tigers won the match 3-1.
The Auburn volleyball team lost both Friday and Saturday, falling to No. 13 Minnesota, 3-0, and No. 12 Iowa State, 3-0, at the Diet Coke Classic in Minneapolis, Minn. The Tigers played three games in the tournament, two of which were losses to Minnesota and Iowa State and one win against George Washington. The Gophers started strong offensively as their sideout game took charge of the match. With tough Minnesota serves, the Tigers had difficulty running its offense, forcing setter Sara Shanks to turn her sets into pins, allowing the Gophers to put a double block each time. After a short Auburn run to cut the lead, the Tigers struggled offensively in the first set, hitting .000 with eight kills and eight hitting errors. In the second set, they already
had several kills and trailed by just one, 5-4. “It can be a good growing experience for a young team like ours to play against a Top 25 team,” said Head Coach Wade Benson. “Now they see what kind of a team we want to become, and we clearly know where we need to get better.” Junior Morgan Johns led the Tiger attackers with six kills. Freshman Sarah Bullock had five. Junior Liz Crouch finished with 14 digs. In the second game, the Tigers battled hard, but fell to Iowa State (25-14, 25-18, 25-13) in the first of two games on day two of the Diet Coke Classic. Leading the way for the Tigers was sophomore Kelly Fidero with nine kills, while freshmen Sarah Bullock and Katherine Culwell finished with five kills each. Bullock also tallied three service > Turn to VOLLEYBALL, D2
Printed on Recycled Paper
JD Schein / PHOTO STAFF
Senior midfielder Jenni Prescott sends a ball downfield against Kennesaw State last Friday. The Tigers won the game 3-1.
Soccer to battle No. 25 Missouri By PATRICK DEVER Assistant Sports Editor
The No. 21 Auburn women’s soccer team (20-2, 0-0-0) continues its home stand tomorrow against No. 25 University of Missouri (3-2-0, 0-00) at the Auburn Soccer Complex. Auburn is coming off a 3-1 win over Kennesaw
State University. The team did not play last Sunday, so it has the whole week to prepare. “We have some time off, and we can get well and get ready for the twogame weekend,” said Head Coach Karen Hoppa. Freshman goalkeeper Amy Howard has played
> Turn to SOCCER, D2
The Auburn Plainsman
Sports, D2
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Katherine Culwell spikes past the rest of the SEC By DANIEL CHESSER Staff Writer
Katherine Culwell, outside hitter for Auburn University’s women volleyball team, is the Southeastern Conference’s Freshman of the Week. “It is a great honor,” Culwell said. “I’ve been working really hard and I will continue to try my hardest because of the goals we have set for the years to come.” Culwell is number six on the team and one of 10 newcomers. She has earned the Auburn volleyball program its first Freshman of the Week award since the establishment of the honor in 2005. She was named Most Valuable Player of the first three games in the War Eagle Invitational. “I’m very proud of Kather-
ine and her efforts from this weekend,” said Wade Benson, volleyball head coach. “This shows we are moving in the right direction as a program and we look to continue to build on what we accomplished this weekend as a team.” Culwell is a 6-foot-tall 18-year-old chemical engineering major and has been playing volleyball since the sixth grade. In 2008 she was Texas Class 4A Player of the Year and AllArea Player of the Year, earning four letters for volleyball in high school. Culwell is also a four-time Academic All-District selection and a member of the Natonal Honor Society. “My role on the team is to play at a high level and compete,” Culwell said. “I have a lot to learn and my opportu-
nity to play helps me figure out what I need to work on to be better.” Volleyball, the SEC and the weather is what brought Culwell from Highland Park High School in Dallas, Texas, to Auburn. Culwell said she became a Tiger and chose to move here because the pride and school spirit of Auburn University itself. “Katherine helps complete the puzzle for our team,” said Alyssa Davis, middle blocker and a junior in psychology. “I have only known her for a month, but I expect great things from her and the team as a whole.” The volleyball program was reinstated and has been active for 23 years with a record of 341-373. It has won the SEC Championship and was Co-West
Champions in 1996. The last winning season was in 1999, with a record of 11-4. In 2008 the volleyball team finished sixth in the SEC West. Their record was 6-25 and 1-19 in the SEC. The team’s overall record in 2009 so far is 5-2 with no conference wins or losses, 4-0 at home, 0-1 away and 1-1 at neutral sites. The Student Activities Center, where the volleyball team plays all of its home games, seats 2,000 people and the Tigers are hoping to see more fans come support them. The team hosted Jacksonville State on Tuesday and travels to Statesboro, Ga., for the Georgia Southern Tournament. They will play Coastal Carolina at 4 p.m., Friday, Wake Forest at 9 a.m. and Georgia Southern at 6 p.m., Saturday.
CONTRIBUTED
Freshman outside hitter Katherine Culwell spikes a ball past an Alabama A & M blocker during the War Eagle Invitational.
FOOTBALL
VOLLEYBALL
first year Head Coach Dan Mullen after being the offensive coordinator at the University of Florida where he led the best offense in the Southeastern Conference. Saturday’s meeting between the two schools will mark the 55th consecutive year the two schools have played each other Auburn has won 20 of the last 27. In the most recent years, it is the defenses that have taken control of the game, like last year in Auburn’s 3-2 win in Starkville, Miss. Twelve games in the last 39 years have been decided by seven points or less, and the Bulldog offense has not been able to throw for more than 100 yards against the Auburn defense in each of the last three meetings. The Bulldogs defeated Jackson State last Saturday at home in front of a sellout crowd of 54,232, the third-largest in school history. Mississippi State manufactured 20 first downs, 410 yards of total offense and both quarterbacks, Chris Relf and Tyson Lee, saw action. Relf was 7-10 for 75 yards, three
aces, and Culwell and junior Liz Crouch had six digs on the day. Set one started with both teams going back and forth as the Tigers went up 4-2. The Cyclones would eventually go on a 5-0 run, leading 10-8 and taking the first set 25-14. The second set was similar with both teams exchanging points back and forth, but Iowa State would go on to close out the set with a 7-2 run, winning 25-18. The Cyclones jumped out to an early 4-0 lead, but a kill from Fidero and a service ace from Bullock cut the lead in half, 4-2. Iowa State, however, put together a pair of big runs and finished the match with a 25-13 win. After two losses, the Tigers regrouped and defeated George Washington, 3-1 (2522, 25-21, 21-25, 25-22) in the final match of the Diet Coke Classic. The two teams kept it close throughout the beginning of the first set and at the 6-6 mark, two-straight kills from Sarah Bullock gave the Tigers a two-point advantage.
>From D1
DEVER >From D1
because we were playing Mississippi State. If Auburn loses, it’s because the Bulldogs have something to prove with its new coaching staff, and Auburn has not fully bought in to the new schemes. On the bright side, Auburn had an offensive explosion on Saturday night. Freshman running back Onterio McCalebb made quite the debut, joining Bo Jackson as the only other freshman to rush for over 100 yards in the first game of a season. Senior running back Ben Tate added 118 yards on the ground as well. I loved that junior H-back Mario Fannin was the team’s leading receiver. He has the ability to turn a game around or make a big play every time he touches the ball. He makes all of the short catches over the middle and
>From D1
Rod Guajardo / PHOTO EDITOR
Auburn takes on another set of Bulldogs next Saturday at 6 p.m.
touchdowns and 202 total yards, 82 of which were rushing, while starter Lee was 9-14 for 97 yards. Mullen said junior tight end Brandon Henderson is questionable for Saturday’s game with an ankle injury, while right guard Tobias Smith should be back. Running back Anthony Dixon, who
opens the field up for the long passes, like senior quarterback Chris Todd’s record setting 93-yard pass to junior wide receiver Terrell Zachery. The offensive line played a stellar game. They gave up zero sacks and only two runs were stopped for negative yards. Todd played great too. He completed 17 passes on 26 attempts for two touchdowns and no interceptions. Auburn’s defense was stifling, as was expected. The Tigers gave up less than 100 yards on the ground and less than 200 in the air. The first half, however, was plagued by personal fouls caused by sloppy and undisciplined play. Three such penalties in the same drive led to a Louisiana Tech touchdown. Coach Gene Chizik was pleased with the aggression of the defense, even
SOCCER >From D1
in all four of Auburn’s games this year and has only let in two goals. Hoppa said Missouri plays a different style of soccer than the team is used to seeing. “They’re very athletic and play very direct, they’re going to be really tough to play,” Hoppa said. Sophomore midfielder Katy Frierson reiterated what Hoppa said about Mizzou. “They play a very direct style of play, a lot of kick ball,” Frierson said. Auburn traveled to Columbia, Mo. and faced Mizzou last season. Auburn lost the game 1-0 on a goal by then sophomore Kari Adam. “We did play them last year so we can look at that tape and make some adjustments from what we did last year,” Hoppa said. Auburn’s offense has been get-
JD Schein / PHOTO STAFF
Senior forward Caitlin King sets up for a shot against Kennesaw State Friday.
ting better at producing goals as the young season has progressed. The team thinks it can do better though. “We need to work a lot on the
missed the first game for a DUI arrest, will also be back for the Auburn game to much the delight of Mullen, who said it will give them extra support at that position. For Saturday’s game against the Tigers, Mullen plans to continue a twoquarterback system with Tyson Lee and Chris Relf.
with a few penalties here and there. Wes Byrum’s 49-yard field goal at the end of the first half was the high point of his 3-3 night and ended the sloppy first half on a good note, giving Auburn the lead going into the half. The coaching staff earned their paychecks at halftime. The game was completely different from the first half to the second. Auburn took the good of the first half and compounded on it while looking at the bad and making the correct adjustments. The team was more crisp and quickly got over the opening game jitters in the second half. I would have liked to have seen a touchdown pass from Todd to junior wide receiver Kodi Burns. That would have been a great gesture of sportsmanship between the two, showing everyone they are here to win games and not positions.
chemistry between the forwards and midfield,” Frierson said. Senior midfielder Jenni Prescott said the offensive production needs to be better. “We’re working hard to get there ,and it’s only going to get better,” Prescott said. Frierson said scoring goals has helped the offense get better. “Getting goals in those (previous) games gives us confidence going forward,” Frierson said. Tomorrow is the annual “Cram the Complex” game. It is also an All Auburn All Orange game, and students can receive four Auburn Ignited points when they get their card scanned. The objective of the “Cram the Complex” game is to break the attendance record for the Soccer Complex. The first 250 fans will receive a free T-shirt compliments of University Village.
The Colonials came back with a 4-1 run to take its first lead of the set, 10-9. With George Washington up 18-16, Auburn put together a 9-4 run to take the 25-22 win. “We knew it was going to be a growing experience for our team and our youth saw what true execution looks like,” Benson said. “I’m happy and proud how our team rebounded and defeated a tough team like George Washington. This tournament gave us something to build on and look forward to in the future.” With set two being similar to the third, the Colonials jumped out to a 4-0 run in the third. Kills from Morgan Johns and Alyssa Davis brought Auburn within two, but George Washington held onto the lead for a set three win. The Colonials gave Auburn its largest lead at 12-4 with a pair of kills from Davis. Although George Washington came back to tie the score at 14, Auburn pushed a 7-1 run to take the lead and eventually win the game. The Tigers ended the tournament with a 5-2 overall record and hosted Jacksonville State Tuesday.
The Auburn Plainsman SPORTS STAFF
ABBY ALBRIGHT Editor
NICK VAN DER LINDEN Associate Editor
PATRICK DEVER Assistant Editor
To reach the staff, call 334-844-9109.
9/11 vs. Coastal Carolina at 4 p.m.
9/11 vs. Missouri at 7 p.m.
9/12 vs. Mississippi State at 6 p.m.
9/13 vs. Texas Tech at 2:30 p.m.
The Auburn Plainsman
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Sports, D3
Roller derby women out to prove toughness By BRIAN DESARRO Staff Writer
Racing around a rink at breakneck speeds, smashing into an opponent’s shoulder in an attempt to send her flying to the ground, the women of Burn City Rollers are tough. Auburn’s newest flat track roller derby league, the Burn City Rollers, was started a year ago and has been building its team and reputation ever since. Roller derby is an all women’s sport for people “from all walks of life, of all ages, sizes and ethnicities, who enjoy the challenge of a fullcontact, organized, competitive sport that is run by and for its skaters,” according to the Web site burncityrollers. com. Carrie Holzmeister goes by the derby name “Cho Cold.” Every skater in the league must also have a derby name, which is a nickname completely unique to the person. Holzmeister read an article in USAToday about the rise of roller derby and decided to
start a league in Auburn. “Pretty much every derby team out there is amateur, and it’s just grass roots where people build it up from nothing,” Holzmeister said. The team currently has about 10 members, but Holzmeister said she is always looking for new talent. In order to attract more women, the age limit was recently lowered from 21 to 19. “This has been our very first season,” Holzmeister said. “I didn’t really expect to win at all. I thought we would get our asses beat a little bit and learn a lot, but we have had two victories.” The typical season is from March to November, and the next upcoming match is at home Oct. 10 at the Skate Center located off Commerce Drive in Opelika. One of the common misconceptions about roller derby, Holzmeister said, is that it is all about the violence. “People always seem to think we are getting into fights, but there are a lot of rules in women’s flat track roller derby,” Holzmeister
said. “You are going to see people fall down and you are going to see a lot of legal hits, but you won’t see us getting into cat fights or ripping people’s hair out.” Roller derby is played by two teams of five, with a pivot, three blockers and a jammer on each team. It is the pivot’s job to set the pace for the pack, and it’s also used as a last line of defense. The blockers attempt to stop the other team’s jammer as well as help their own jammer move through the pack. The jammer scores points by passing the opposing teams blockers and pivots. The competition is played in three heats, each lasting 15 minutes. Within each heat, there are numerous jams, lasting up to two minutes each. However, the lead jammer can end a jam at any time at her discretion. Penalties for unsafe or illegal behaviors can be called, resulting in the offending player being removed for one minute and her team playing short one player.
CONTRIBUTED
Carrie Wllis also known as “Cho Cold” is leading the pack as they come around a turn at practice.
Within the sport, there is definitely a lot of legal physical contact. In fact, it is this physical contact that draws in many of the team members. “I’ve always loved to skate, and I’ve always been an athletic person and played sports,” said Amy Baker, who goes by the derby name “Amyn Atcha.” “I can also be
somewhat of an aggressive person at times; so skating as a contact sport is what got me.” One of the dangers of the sport, however, is injuries. Holzmeister said there are lots of knee injuries, with the torn meniscus being the “signature derby injury.” “I’ve had the typical knee injuries,” said Laura Bank,
who goes by “Lucy Ferocious.” Not as bad as a torn meniscus, but I have had multiple issues with it.” But these are risks every member of the team is willing to take. Roller derby is growing in popularity across the country, and the women of Burn City Rollers are proud to be a part of the movement.
AUHC kicks off first meeting of the year By NICK VAN DER LINDEN Associate Sports Editor
Ashlea Draa / ASSISTANT PHOTO EDITOR
Club Historian Breanne Maraman plays one of many games in Thursday’s meeting.
The Auburn University Horseman’s Club kicked things off last Thursday with the Round Up Kick Off CookOut. The cookout featured Auburn equestrian Head Coach Greg Williams and was meant to encourage students to come out and get to know the club better. About 50 students showed up for the club’s first meeting and were excited about the upcoming schedule that was announced. There were T-shirts, flyers, membership forms and great barbeque provided by Williams.
The members played games and watched slideshows of past memories and had fun getting to know each other and Williams. “We had a blast with our new prospective members,” said Hayley Dickinson, president of AUHC. “We threw horseshoes, had balloon barrel races and went over our ideas for this semester and what we had planned for the club.” The club will be working together with the equestrian team this year, going on trips and supporting each other. “Having support makes all the difference,” Williams said. “When our kids are at home and there
is a big crowd supporting them, they always do better because they know they are home and that gives them extra confidence.” Along with supporting the equestrian team, AUHC will also go on trail rides together to bond with each other as well as with the horses if everything goes according to plan. Williams has always been a close member of the club ever since he started it in 1989. According to Williams, the success of the club will rely on the students and their enthusiasm. Both Dickinson and Williams emphasize that students do not need to have a horse to partici-
pate and learn more about the animal. “It is great that there is the opportunity for students to go out and have fun with horses because many do not have the money to transport their trailer and horse from home,” Williams said. Members of the club will also be involved in service projects, fund raisers, volunteer work, trips and other activities. AUHC will meet the second and fourth of every month in Upchurch Hall in Room 203 on Mell Street. Each week there will be a guest speaker who will be there to discuss wound care and more.
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A Plainsman Tradition Plainsman staff members make picks each week about which college football teams will win. The staff members will move up or down on the tree, depending on how many games they pick correctly.
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Week 2 Auburn vs. Mississippi State Georgia Tech vs. Clemson Michigan vs. Notre Dame LSU vs. Vanderbilt UGA vs. South Carolina
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Ohio State vs. Southern Cal East Carolina vs. West Virginia Tennessee vs. UCLA Minnesota vs. Air Force Wisconsin vs. Fresno State
Thursday, September 10, 2009
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The Auburn Plainsman
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Sports, D5
Hostess Spotlight: The Tiger Splashers By CHARLEY GAINES
Splashers time the swimmers. During the week they For the past 30 years, make posters for the team a group of “cheerleaders” and about once a month has helped lead the record- they have socials to get to breaking Auburn swimmers know the athletes. and divers “We are to numerous the official championcheerleadships and ers,” Newton We try to get Olympic apsaid. “We more students to come pearances. take time to the meets to cheer Started in away from 1978, the Ti- on the team because I the serious ger Splashers think it will help them parts to have has evolved perform better.” fun with each Jordan Orr, other and the into a group Tiger Splasher Spirit chair team.” of about 70 women supE v e r y porting the Monday, the teams. group gets together in the Each year Splashers’ offi- team room at the aquatics cers look for potential mem- center to discuss strategies bers to bring spunk, creativ- to support the swimming ity and passion to the James and diving teams. E. Martin Aquatics Center. The officers conduct in“We try to recruit women terviews each year to pick that have a lot of Auburn their next group of Splashspirit, love Auburn swim- ers. ming and have a heart for “We look for girls that are serving world class ath- spirited and classy,” said Niletes,” said Tiger Splashers cole Sterghos, the SplashPresident Katie Newton. ers’ public relations chair. The season for the swim- “Someone who encourages ming and diving teams the team and loves Auburn.” starts in October, but it’s a Not only do they cheer year-round commitment for on the team by attending the world-class athletes. meets, but they also get the Many of them travel word out on campus. around the country and the Tiger Splashers’ spirit world, competing at an in- chair, Jordan Orr, said they ternational level. want to get more awareThe Splashers’ goal is ness about the team around to do anything and every- campus. thing they can to support “We try to get more stuthe swimming and diving dents to come to the meets teams. to cheer on the team beEvery home meet, the cause I think it will help Staff Writer
Volleyball Head Coach Wade Benson By DEVIN RUTLAND
expectations of the team, as in six of his seven seasons with EWU, the team earned the Game Plan/American Volleyball Coaches AsCoach Wade Benson began sociation Team award. his volleyball career in his early The AVCA Team award is awardteen years while living in Marina ed to high school and college voldel Rey, Calif. leyball teams that excel in the class“My background developed in room. A minimum team GPA of junior high, and I grew to love 3.30 is a requirement for the award, it,” Benson said. “While living and the team must hold that mark in Southern California, I trained for the entire academic year. alongside former Olympians.” Benson said he has high hopes Benson continued on his path and goals for his team. and, before coming to Auburn, He said his expectations do not BENSON received the opportunity to play necessarily amount to the wins or overseas in Australia and Eulosses that the women attain, rathrope. er, it’s that they give their absolute highest efNow in his second season with Auburn fort in practices and in matches. women’s volleyball, Benson brings experience “It’s a young team,” Benson said. “We have as well as an impressive record to Auburn, high hopes for a great 2010—not to say that having coached at his alma mater, Eastern 2009 will not be great, but our expectation is to have an impressive 2010.” Washington University, for seven seasons. Benson is married and has two children, In those seasons, he led his team to three Brady, 6, and Bailey, 4. His wife, Jill Benson, consecutive Big Sky regular-season titles, as was an All-American volleyball player at Sacwell as a Big Sky Tournament title in 2001. ramento State University and is a member of Before he coached at EWU, Benson spent the SSU volleyball hall of fame. four years as an assistant coach at Western Th e Tigers are in the second year of BenOregon University. son’s three-year plan. He accumulated a 154-55 record while at “We have a great administration here, great EWU. His career record is 202-87. Benson said the “athletics, the beautiful support and an excellent university and town campus, spirit of the students and, of course, to recruit to,” Benson said. “My excellent staff the academics,” are what brought him to Au- and I have put together a three-year plan for the team and the future is bright for Auburn burn. Benson continually stresses the academic volleyball.” Staff Writer
10 Questions with Benson Favorite Ice cream? Chocolate Fudge Brownie from Ben & Jerry’s.
What do you do when you’re not coaching? Surfing, Skiing and Reading
Favorite movie of all time? “Lawrence of Arabia”
Surfing or Skiing? Surfing
Pet Peeve? When others have low expectations.
Any interesting or odd talents? I’ll give everyone a nickname. I’m also a big practical joker.
What’s the last movie you saw in the theaters? “Taken.” It was a while ago.
What’s the last song that you listened to? Train? They were on Letterman− they were pretty good.
Favorite restaurant? Roy’s
Spontaneous or Schedules? Fairly Spontaneous.
“
them perform better,” Orr said. In 2007, the team lost Head Coach Ralph Crocker to cancer. Then in 2009, they lost Head Coach Richard Quick to the same horrible disease. Both the swimming and diving teams participate in Relay for Life on campus. Some raise money for the charity by running marathons and half marathons. Tiger Splashers is about helping raise funds to find a cure for cancer. “It’s very important to us and very close to our hearts,” Sterghos said. “It’s really neat to be a part of. I think it’s a great way for us to honor the coaches we’ve lost to cancer.” The swimming and diving teams recruit members from around the country and around the world. “It’s exciting to be around such talented men and women that bring passion and commitment to Auburn swimming and diving teams,” Sterghos said. “It’s wonderful to be around athletes that set such high goals for themselves and encourage the best in their teammates.” The Tiger Splashers is looking for a committed group of people to encourage the swimming and diving teams to victory this year. Tiger Splasher applications are due Sept. 11 for anyone interested.
The Auburn Plainsman
Sports, D6
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Sailing Club prepares for regatta, season By HELEN NORTHCUTT Intrigue Editor
Mark Twain once said, “Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.” Auburn University’s Sailing Club offers students a chance to do just that. The Sailing Club’s purpose is to promote sailing at Auburn University by providing the organization, equipment and instruction to encourage recreational and com-
petitive sailing. No previous sailing experience is needed to be a part of the Sailing Club. “We will teach everyone from beginners to someone who wants to race,” said Kyle Stadele, a member of the Sailing Club. “We just want to sail, have fun and meet new people.” The mention of a Sailing Club sends students thoughts to open waters far from Auburn, but in reality the Sailing Club practices and spends its days at Lake Martin, a 45-minute drive from campus. “We try to get together as much as possible, mostly Saturday mornings or Sunday afternoons and sail
around on Lake Martin out of Dixie Yacht Club on the north side of the lake,” said Tim Laupert, vice president of the Sailing Club. “We try to carpool, so new members do not have to drive or pay for gas. Just come sailing for the day.” In addition to the recreational aspect, the Sailing Club also competes in a regatta which means boat races. The Sailing Club switched to the South Atlantic Intercollegiate Sailing Association where it will compete in a regatta in Charleston, S.C., Sept. 12 and 13. “There are 10 regattas (competitions) that we
can go to a year,” said Sammy Hodges, Sailing Club president. “Most regattas are one day of sailing. We will go to the regatta location on a Friday afternoon, meet with the other schools Friday night, sail on Saturday, hang out with the other sailors Saturday night and drive home Sunday morning. We need four members to go to each regatta, but we can take as many as we want. Some people go just to see what it’s like or just to have a good time.” They are looking to also attend regattas at Clemson University, University of Tennessee and Tulane University.
“Regattas are fun,” Stadele said. “Everyone is enjoying themselves, you meet people from different colleges and you get to be on the water in a beautiful place.” Students who are interested are encouraged to go to the Sailing Club Web site at auburnsailing.org and join its mailing list to become a member. Its dues are $30 a semester and members receive unlimited instruction. No prior sailing knowledge or ability is required for its recreational sailing. In the next few weeks, the club plans to have barbeque socials and other events to kick off the year.
CONTRIBUTED
Members of the Auburn Sailing Club while competing at a regatta last year.
AU Rhythm aspires to star on BET’s ‘106 & Park’ By ABBY ALBRIGHT Sports Editor
AU Rhythm, Auburn’s only hip-hop dance group, entertained fans at Friday night’s first pep rally of the year. “I enjoy dancing at the pep rallies because we get a chance to show our school spirit and prove to any and everyone that has doubts that AU Rhythm deserves to be apart of the Auburn family,” said senior Chris Colvin, AU Rhythm’s captain. “The pep rallies are a good way to prove our worth and show that AU Rhythm is supported around campus.” AU Rhythm is a co-ed dance team that performs at pep rallies and other events on campus, while being involved in the community. “I come to all the pep rallies with my sorority and we all love to see AU Rhythm dance,” said junior Megan Moore. “It seems like every
year I’ve been here they have gotten better and more innovative. They are so energetic. I love them.” AU Rhythm is fully student run and choreographs all of their routines. “We had auditions last week and, as of right now, AU Rhythm has 14 new members,” Colvin said. “We have a new group of dancers from all type of dance backgrounds. While we are a hip hop dance team, don’t be surprised if you see AU Rhythm incorporating ballet, jazz, tap or any other style of dance in our routines.” Sophomore Gabrielle Green said she was pleased with her first big performance with the team, even with a “set” setback. “I think the pep rally went real well despite the small stage.” Green said. “We did well and really supported each other.” The team surprised stu-
Rod Guajardo / PHOTO EDITOR
The AU Rhythm dance team performs with Aubie at the Louisiana Tech football pep rally, Friday.
dents and fans Friday by performing with Auburn’s mascot, Aubie. “AU Rhythm has wanted to dance with Aubie for quite some time now, and it was a privilege to come together with Aubie and perform for the student body,” Colvin
said. AU Rhythm co-captain, junior Portia Duncan, said the team would love to perform more around campus. “This year, AU Rhythm is hoping to do a lot,” Colvin said. “We have a competition and a dance showcase com-
ing up and are also hoping to host our own dance showcase in the near future. Above all, we hope to be seen on a larger scale so hopefully after we are recognized locally, we hope to join the national scene with the possibility of going on ‘106 & Park.’”
“106 & Park” is a music video countdown show on BET. Similar to MTV’s Total Request Live, but with a hip-hop focus and weekly competitions, “Wild Out Wednesday” and “Freestyle Friday.” According to BET’s Web site, one champion of “Freestyle Friday” was cast in the movie “Fast & Furious II.” “Our motto is, ‘The price of glory is high. The door to success is labeled push,’” Colvin said. “This year, the Rhythm will push harder than it has ever pushed before.” Duncan said AU Rhythm is “one big happy family,” and their chemistry on the stage is a direct result of their close relationships. “AU Rhythm is more than just a dance team,” Colvin said. “We are involved around campus and in the community. This year, we will make sure that the student body knows that AU Rhythm can do more than dance.”