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The Auburn Plainsman A Spirit That Is Not Afraid
THURSDAY, September 17, 2009
Vol. 116, Issue 4 28 Pages
www.theplainsman.com
Rod Guajardo / PHOTO EDITOR
The Auburn University Marching Band has a record 380 members. The band exhibits original performances at the football halftime and continues the traditional pre-game show and spirit march.
Band marches with record membership By BRITTANY COSBY Campus Editor
The crowd is silenced as the drum major steps onto field, walking with precision and leading the band into Jordan-Hare Stadium. This is the Auburn University Marching Band. Though it is built on tradition, the band has increased
in size. The AUMB boasts its largest membership in history this fall with 380 members, beating their previous record of 372 in 2006. “The biggest reason we have grown is because of the retention of our veteran members from year to year,” said Marching Band Director Corey Spurlin. “I think they are having a good experience
and view the band as special on this campus, leading more of them to return each year. Our students are our best recruiters and, thanks to them, we have had a very large freshman participation the past couple of years.” An audition process carefully selects each member of the AUMB. A playing audition and a marching evalua-
tion at a preseason camp are required. Auditions are open to any student who registers. “Not many people realize it, but less than 15 percent of the band receives scholarship money, so the time they put in for Auburn to have a great band is impressive,” Spurlin said. “I am proud of the students I teach not only for their high performance
University says asbestos poses no health risks By ELLISON LANGFORD News Editor
Auburn University buildings are full of asbestos. Not all them, just the majority that were built before 1980. However, there are those who don’t think this is a problem. “I want to be clear with you, there is no asbestos crisis across campus,” said Assistant Vice President for Facilities Dan King. “We have asbestos in many places, but it generally is contained, and it’s not a problem unless you take a saw to it or you’re shredding it or pulverizing it. You got to somehow
make the asbestos material so that the asbestos fibers fly around in the air, and then they’re dangerous if you breathe them.” One of the reasons asbestos was initially utilized is because it’s a fibrous mineral. Asbestos has also been used by humans for thousands of years because of its fire-resistant properties. It’s been in use since ancient Greek civilizations and is still used by nations that do not have the restrictions the U.S. does about not using materials that contain it in construction.
INDEX
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standards, but also for their dedication to Auburn University. It is important to me that their college experience is enhanced by their participation in the band.” Even with its large numbers, Spurlin said fans should expect to see six different halftime shows this football season, along with the traditional pre-game show and
spirit march. “I’m excited about the potential this band has,” said Nick Vita, a senior in international business. “This is just a great band, and I think fans really get to see it on gameday with the amount of enthusiasm we have inside and outside the stadium as well
> Turn to BAND, A2
Bulldogs fall to Tigers By ABBY ALBRIGHT Sports Editor
Blakeley Sisk / ASSISTANT PHOTO EDITOR
Senior running back Ben Tate rushed for 157 yards.
Head Coach Gene Chizik earned his second win of the 2009 season by leading Auburn their first SEC win of the season over Mississippi State. The Tigers ran over and around the Bulldogs on the way to a 49-24 win. “Tonight, of course, it was great to get our first SEC win,” Chizik said. “It was one of those games. It is a typical SEC deal. It goes back and forth and
back and forth. We played with a lot of energy. I thought we answered the bell quite a few times when some adversity hit our team. I am really proud of the way our players responded to a lot of negative things that happened tonight.” Junior wide receiver/quarterback Kodi Burns pulled out a touchdown earlier in this game than against Louisiana Tech on Sept. 5. > Turn to FOOTBALL, A2
University, city webcams showcase Auburn By NATALIE WADE Managing Editor
Student’s need not worry about missing the big Toomer’s Corner celebration if they don’t feel up to the trek or crowd, because they can catch it online. Auburn University has 11 webcams in place across campus and one is specifically aimed at the celebration corner of town. “A lot of universities have one or two webcams and we offer many more, and some of the ones on our webcam page are
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run by other groups,” said Mike Clardy, director of University communications. Clardy said the webcam facing Samford Lawn has been in place for more than 10 years, and the Web site hosting the 11 webcams was launched more than two years ago. “We went around campus and looked at the different vantage points and tried to come up with some places that would really show off campus,” Clardy said. One reason for the site is to attract perspective students.
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Intrigue C1
“There are lots of reasons to have webcams, and there are lots of different audiences for webcams,” Clardy said. “We compete with other universities in gaining attention of perspective students, so offering webcams gives perspective students another view into our campus. Hopefully it will entice them into making a visit here.” Since the launch of the Web site, Clardy said the technology has improved and allowed them to offer more views than in the past.
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The webcams have also afforded students the ability to contact far away relatives. Clardy said his favorite story to tell is about the mother of a student who was serving in Afghanistan. The daughter and mother were in constant e-mail communication, and leading up to the mother’s birthday the daughter set a time and camera. When the day came she stood in front of the webcam holding a sign that read “Happy Birthday Mom.” > Turn to CAMERAS, A2
Wasting Time C8
Sports D1
The Auburn Plainsman
News, A2
The Auburn Plainsman
DUI Arrests in the City of Auburn Sept. 8 - Sept. 12, 2009
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.
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Lindsey Davidson Editor editor@theplainsman.com
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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 Brittany Cosby Campus Editor Blake Hamilton / Associate Editor Jordan Dailey / Assistant Editor campus@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 Jim Bain Kyle DuBose Diana Hall Courtney Heinlein Chris Henley Trent Montgomery
Sept. 11, South Donahue Drive/Biggio Drive- Larceny reported. One Aztec 10’x 10’ blue and orange tent reported stolen. Sept. 12, East Glenn Avenue- Larceny reported. One black and white skateboard reported stolen. Sept. 12, Barkley Crest Circle- Theft reported. One black wallet, one Alabama Driver’s License and cash reported stolen.
close to celebration time. “You can actually watch the graphs go up as it gets closer and closer to the celebration,” Buston said. “We do notice a lot of people coming on to our site and then using our links to get to the University’s webcams.” Clardy said although the
cameras are placed in different areas of campus they are not apart of the security element on campus. “These cameras here serve an entirely marketing purpose,” Clardy said. “We don’t record the images, so they’re not meant to be security cameras.”
tory, Auburn students and faculty may not need to run to the store to purchase protective masks just yet. “My professional opinion is that there are very few asbestos-related diseases that come from just incidental exposure (like) being in buildings where there’s some asbestos,” Sikes said. “For non-occupational exposure, there’s no doubt in my mind that there’s very, very few asbestos-related diseases.” This is because the majority of people who have become sick because of asbestos-exposure had a job that involved working with asbestos. like installing or renovating materials that contained asbestos. Sikes said there is little evidence that University students and faculty who have such limited exposure to asbestos will eventually develop asbestos-related diseases.
“Mesothelioma may be caused by very, very small exposures, we don’t know,” Sikes said. “But something like asbestosis is another disease caused by asbestos, we do know it takes very large exposures, maybe constant occupational exposure for five, 10, 15 years.” However, asbestos doesn’t appear to be a more serious threat to people with ailments like asthma, Sikes said. But he did cite a study which said smokers are more likely to develop lung cancer caused by asbestos-exposure. Places that usually contain asbestos include coatings on ceilings, pipe insulation, soundproofing panels in theaters, protective coverings around structural steel and floor tiles. “There’s really not a lot of asbestos (in the University) that the average person should be bumping into,”
King said. “Other than floor tile.” However, Sikes said even with all the tiles students and faculty tread over during their time at Auburn, it doesn’t seem very likely that would be enough to make them sick. “And the reason is this, is that while there is asbestos in that floor tile; it’s very tightly bound in it,” Sikes said. “And you really need to disturb the tile, cutting through it, or breaking it up, to really release the asbestos from it. There would be gradual release from just wear, and that amount of wear is going to be related somewhat to how well those floors are maintained.” Sikes said routine floor waxing is one thing that helps maintain floor strength and prevent the release of asbestos fibers. But even if the floors aren’t
well-maintained, the amount of asbestos that might be released would be so small there is little chance it would sicken anyone, Sikes added. “Asbestos is not a problem unless you make it airborne,” King said. “When asbestos floor tile would be a problem is if you demolish it, then you have to be careful how you remove it because when you chip it and scrape it up it causes the asbestos fibers to get in the air, and that’s when it’s dangerous.” However, as can be seen from renovation at Foy Student Union, the University takes precautions to contain any asbestos that might escape during renovation in older buildings. A professional asbestos-removal crew was hired to work on the floors. The workers wore protective equipment, and the work area was sealed so that those not trained to
work with asbestos couldn’t enter. But some materials are more susceptible to damage than others. and therefore more likely to break down and release fibers into the air. Sikes said roof leaks can cause asbestos to be released into the air. He said floor tile is a much sturdier material because it’s made to be walked on, and, because of the way it’s designed, it does not release asbestos so easily. However, if there is asbestos on the ceilings, then roof leaks caused by a humid climate can cause a problem. “If you have a problem roof, and you have asbestos on ceilings, that would be a greater concern because the ceiling material could become damaged by the water and become very fragile and start releasing asbestos fibers,” Sikes said.
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.
Once it is extracted from rocks there are a myriad of industrial applications for it. Or, as Sikes pointed out, there used to be. After it was proven that asbestos can sicken people who are exposed to it for long periods of time OSHA placed limits on how many asbestos fibers are allowed to be in the air in workplaces. Most people who have heard about asbestos are probably familiar with it because of television commercials advertising legal services for those suffering from mesothelioma. Mesothelioma is a lung cancer that is almost always caused by asbestos exposure. However, according to John Sikes, UA assistant director for environmental programs at the UA Asbestos Labora-
Sept. 11, Stonegate Drive- Theft reported. One Auburn University “C-zone” parking permit reported stolen.
pecially the Toomer’s Corner celebrations after football games,” Buston said. “That’s not only just an Auburn tradition, but it’s kind of something a lot of the world knows about, and it just allows us to let them experience that.” Buston said the site is saturated on gamedays, especially
Cliff McCollum Opinions Editor opinion@theplainsman.com
>From A1
FOOTBALL
Sept. 11, South College Street- Theft reported. One 18 karat yellow gold ladies Rolex watch reported stolen.
Jim Buston, assistant city manager and chief information officer for the city of Auburn, said the city installed webcams three years ago “We had the idea that we wanted to put cameras in the downtown area of Auburn just to show the world what was happening in Auburn, es-
Kevin Saucier Multimedia Editor Griffin Limerick / Associate Editor Julian Kersh / Assistant Editor multimedia@theplainsman.com
HEALTH
Leah Rene Colvin of Pensacola, Fla. 1703 S. College St. Sept. 12, 3:39 a.m.
Sept. 11, West Magnolia Avenue- Larceny reported. One silver Verizon I Touch cell phone, and one silver Canon Powershot 4500 digital camera reported stolen.
some of the webcams around the city of Auburn, and they link to our cameras on their Web site,” Clardy said. “It’s a nice partnership and all told there are nearly 20 web cams available on that Web page either direct link to the image or a link off campus to the city site.”
Rod Guajardo Photo Editor Morgan Thacker / Associate Editor Ashlea Draa / Assistant Editor Blakeley Sisk / Assistant Editor photo@theplainsman.com
“That kind of feedback tells us we are doing something right,” Clardy said. The University webcams are not the only webcams in town. “We also cross link with
Justin W. Scruggs of Lagrange, Ga. 1716 Opelika Road Sept. 12, 8:51 p.m.
Sept. 11 - Sept. 13, 2009
With 8:13 left in the first quarter Burns scored his first of three rushing touchdowns of the game on a 1-yard run. “It is as good as it gets. It is great,” Chizik said. “You are looking at great things happening to great kids. As we told (Burns) when this whole thing happened, we said ‘You are going to help us win football games.’ He has played a big role in the first two. It is great to see him contribute, and he will contribute in other ways, too.” Burns threw a 13-yard third quarter touchdown pass to freshman tight end Philip Lutzenkirchen. The Tigers ignited the stadium at the end of the first quarter when senior defensive end Antonio Coleman returned an interception 20 yards for a touchdown, giving the Tigers a 14-0 lead over the Bulldogs. Freshman running back and SEC Freshman of the Week, Onterio McCalebb and senior running back Ben Tate each rushed for more than 100 yards in the game. This makes McCalebb the first Auburn freshman to rush for more than 100 yards in his first two games at Auburn. McCalebb ignited the Auburn crowd with a 48-yard
Abby Albright Sports Editor Nick Van Der Linden / Associate Editor Patrick Dever / Assistant Editor sports@theplainsman.com
>From A1
Arthur Whittney Lacey of Guntersville Mell Street/ West Samford Avenue Sept. 10, 3:31 a.m.
CRIME REPORTS
touchdown run in the second quarter. “I give all the credit to the offensive line,” McCalebb said. “If it wasn’t for them, I wouldn’t be able to get a single yard. They hit all their blocks for me, and I was able to get down the field.” McCalebb’s rushing counterpart, Tate, scored a touchdown in the third quarter on a 35-yard run. “The offensive line is playing great with the whole blocking scheme,” Tate said. “The coaches are working in unison with each other. It’s been a little bit of the offensive line and a little bit of me. That’s what it is. When we do that, we’re bound to get yards.” Senior quarterback Chris Todd threw for 186 yards on 10-of-23 attempts. “The offensive line has been doing a really good job of helping us run the ball,” Todd said. “They are really helping out the passing game and giving me plenty of time to get rid of the ball. The whole offense really stepped up tonight and made some big plays. All of our receivers did a great job tonight of coming back to the ball and really stepped up right before the half when we drove the ball. All the guys have really come together, and we’re really getting great chemistry on the field.”
Helen Northcutt Intrigue Editor Olivia Martin / Associate Editor Callie Garrett / Assistant Editor intrigue@theplainsman.com
CAMERAS
Dustin K. Neace of Fayetville, Ga. South Donahue Drive/Dormitory Drive Sept. 8, 6:56 a.m.
Thursday, September 17, 2009
>From A1
Sept. 12, Hazelwood Court- Larceny reported. One brown leather purse, one Wachovia Bank credit card, one Social Security card, one Alabama Driver’s License, one Sam’s Club card and one Cosco card reported stolen. Sept. 12, Lakeview Drive- Theft reported. One white wicker purse, $115 and one blue Coach wallet reported stolen.
- Reports provided by Auburn Department of Public Safety
BAND >From A1
as the shows we put on. I look forward to the new era of Auburn football and the AUMB.” Because of the band’s size, new accommodations will be made to house the band as they outgrow Goodwin Hall where they have practiced since 1974. A plan is being made for a new band hall with an adjoining practice field and is estimated to cost $15 million. “Every year I’ve been in band, it has been larger than the year before,” said Spencer Lynn, a junior in wireless-software engineering. “This is contributed to the quality of players joining each year. Not only does the band get bigger each year, but it gets better. This entices people to join the AUMB.” The AUMB has formed
the R.A.T. program or rookie Auburn Tiger to help new members adjust. “The program introduces new members not only to the marching band, but to Auburn,” Lynn said. “During the band’s summer camp, we hold R.A.T. activities that help new members get to know the veterans. We host a bowling night, a scavenger hunt, and an ice cream night.” The AUMB, however, would not function without dedicated members. “I am extremely excited about the work ethic of this year’s band,” Spurlin said. “Although we are bigger, the students are even more disciplined. For this reason, I think there is great potential for what we can accomplish. We greatly appreciate the support we get from the entire Auburn family. War Eagle!”
The Auburn Plainsman
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THURSDAY, September 17, 2009
Start of semester spike in DUI arrests By CHARLEY GAINES Staff Writer
Alabama is cracking down on unsafe driving. Each year, states get money from the National Highway Safety Bureau that is distributed throughout the states, and Gov. Bob Riley has delegated grant money to counties across the state to support highway safety. These grants are used for campaigns such as “Click It or Ticket” and “Over the Limit. Under Arrest.” “We want people to be aware of driving safely and the consequences if you don’t,” said Scott Moore, a highway safety coordinator for central Alabama. “We want to make sure people are buckling up, and we want to keep the roadway safe for all of us.” These campaigns take place during holidays and busy travel weekends, said Mike Presley, of the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs. Riley awarded $4.1 million of grants to highway safety offices across Alabama. There are nine of these offices located in different sections of the state. Lee County is grouped with eight other counties in Alabama. Autauga, Bull-
ock, Elmore, Lee, Lowndes, Macon, Montgomery and Russell counties split the $126,040 grant money. The grant is set aside for campaigns taking place during the next 12 months. Moore said grants like these are used for sustained enforcement of safe driving and covers the eight counties from Oct. 1 to Sept. 31 each year. The amount of money each
county receives is based on information gathered from software developed at the University of Alabama. Rhonda Strickland, a spokeswoman at the CARE Research and Development Laboratory, said Critical Analysis Reporting Environment, or CARE software, analyzes databases for crash information. The Highway Safety Department looks at areas
more prone to accidents, injuries and fatalities caused by drunken driving and delegates grant money accordingly. The population of each of the nine highway safety centers is also taken into consideration, Presley said. “Over the Limit. Under Arrest” is a campaign aimed at drunken driving. Officers throughout the state worked overtime dur-
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ing the Labor Day weekend and the weeks preceding it to catch drivers under the influence. Will Mathews of the Auburn Police Department said local police in each county reported that the times around holidays more impaired drivers were pulled over. Mathews said Auburn police have problems with reckless driving Wednesday through Saturday.
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From Aug. 21 to Sept. 7, officers looked for drivers exhibiting behavior associated with drunken driving. Signs of drunken driving included vehicles meandering from lane to lane, following too close to other cars or unlit headlights. Mathews said these are things sober drivers don’t normally think about. Alabama received the funding for these grants in July. Money from the grants goes toward paying officers overtime during the campaigns, education programs and equipment for local departments. It also goes toward education. Police departments around the state are working to educate drivers and future drivers the importance of wearing seat belts and the severity of drunken driving. All of the officers said they hope to enforce the importance of driving safely. Since the campaigns started, the amount of people wearing seat belts has gone up, and there has been a reduction in impaired driving. “The purpose of the campaigns is to raise awareness and to send the message that traffic safety is serious,” Pres-
> Turn to DUIS, A4
Cost of tuition continues rising, despite recession By EMILY CLEVER
Even during a recession, universities still find reasons to raise tuition. This year, a semester of education at Auburn University for in-state students costs $3,462. That is a 6 percent increase from last year, and it only applies to students taking between 12 and 15 hours. Tuition and fees at private universities rose an average of 4.3 percent this year, the lowest hike in 37 years, according to The National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities. Auburn’s tuition increased 3 to 4 percent less than other in-state public universities of equal caliber, said Mike Reynolds, the executive director of Student Financial Services. “When tuition has to increase, it is generally because of inflation,” Reynolds said. “Auburn really worked hard to keep the tuition as low as possible. (A) 6 percent (increase) was very minimal.” The state appropriates a portion of its budget each year for higher education. During a recession, these funds are liable to be cut. In the 2009 fiscal year, which ends Oct. 1, the state allocated 27.6 percent of its budget for higher education. This amount was decreased to 27.3 percent for the 2010 fiscal year, said Gina Smith, the director of public affairs for the Alabama Department of Finance. That is a .3 percent decrease from the amount that
COST
Staff Writer
Photo Illustration Rod Guajardo / PHOTO EDITOR
Control over access to the internet could one day be in the hand of the president.
This graph depicts how much the cost of tuition for an academic year, meaning fall and spring, has increased from 1999 to 2009. The shorter, forward placed bars represent the amount Alabama residents are paying for a year of tuition. The taller bars in the background represent the amount out-of-state students are paying for an academic year of tuition. The price for out-of-state students is almost three times more than the price in-state students are paying to take classes at Auburn.
was allocated last year. While this may not seem like a large number, there are 15 public universities, 26 public two-year colleges and 17 private universities in Alabama. Education funds are split 58 different ways, even though private institutions typically receive less state funds than public universities. “For Auburn to make up the difference in the budget cuts that we took ( from the state), we would have had to increase tuition by 25 percent,” Reynolds said. But rather than do that, the University found another way to cut operating costs. Instead, each administrative office took cuts on supplies, purchases, new staff and raises. “This is the second year of all employees not getting raises,” Reynolds said. “When the appropriations aren’t there, raises don’t come.” The University is probably dependent on the state for
around half of its budget, Ault said. “We have referred to Auburn University, at times, as a state university and a state-supported university, and I think it’s becoming more of a state-supported university,” Ault said. When state appropriations are cut, the source of that money has to be shifted elsewhere. In most cases, that burden lands on students in the form of tuition. “On the one hand, they are trying to raise or at least maintain their national rankings, and one of the ways those rankings are calculated are the number of students per faculty member,” Ault said. “To meet those qualifications, they are having to hire more and more highly qualified and therefore highly paid faculty members.” Another way the University could cut costs is to cut back on maintenance spending, therefore freeing up money to spend on educational expenses and re-
ducing the amount the students have to pay. “There are a number of ways (to reduce costs),” Ault said. “All of them are painful, and some of them will have the tendency of reducing the quality of their product.” Reynolds said each college or school had to make their own sacrifices to make up for budget cuts without decreasing the quality of education. The entire University had to work together to keep costs low this year, and to keep a balanced budget, Reynolds said. “We increased by 6 percent,” Reynolds said. “That was the students’ contribution.” Reynolds said everyone involved with the creation of the budget, including trustees, were pleased with the 6 percent increase. “And it was very evident to them, everybody pitched in,” Reynolds said. “The 6 percent increase shows that this is a total Auburn University effort to make this work.”
New cybersecurity bill poses problems By SIMPSON FLETCHER Staff Writer
The Senate Bill 773 may be only part of the Cybersecurity Act of 2009, but it has been stirring up controversy all on its own. The bill, introduced in April 2009, is only in its first step in the legislative process. Its intent is to ensure the free flow of commerce within the U.S. and with its global trading partners by increasing security for cyber communications. However, some people fear the current wording of the bill will give the president a dangerous level of control over the Internet. “I think it’s very likely to pass because I really think there is a need for what this committee has suggested for the president,” said Phylissa Mitchell, a press law and ethics professor. Mitchell also said she believes it will pass during this term of Obama’s presidency because of the urgency with which this commission has written it. “If you read this thing, it’s frightening,” Mitchell said. “They’re saying that most of
the threats (to the U.S.’s Internet) are coming from foreign countries.” As of right now, the bill provides the president with the authority to shut down or limit the Internet traffic for all systems in the national, state, local and non-governmental information systems in times where he or she has declared a “cyber-emergency.” Many people fear the potential meaning of terms like “non-governmental systems” and “cyber-emergency” because they are not clearly defined in the bill. “Non-governmental entities are utilities,” Mitchell said. “For instance, banks and things that this commission has considered particularly vulnerable. So yeah, if there is some planned attack, which apparently we have experienced before this, this cybersecurity net would in some way protect us.” Johnny Blankenship, a sophomore in political science, said he believes cybersecurity is a vital aspect of our nation’s safety.
> Turn to BILL, A4
The Auburn Plainsman
NEWS, A4
DUIS
>From A3
ley said. “Over the Limit. Under Arrest” and campaigns like it will continue in the future since there is growing concern about texting while driving, and legislators have
BILL
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“I do believe that certain checks and balances must be in place before we can grant the power to shut down the Internet to the president,” Blankenship said. Many people also fear that giving the president such a high level of control over the Internet would allow for infringement of First Amendment rights to freedom of speech. “With regards to our First
been talking about doing something about that with the grant money for road safety, Moore said. While the number of DUI arrests has been higher during the campaigns, the number of arrests has decreased. “There were more officers on the road looking for
DUIs, so there were more arrests during the program,” Mathews said. From 20 arrests the last week of the campaign to four arrests the week after, Mathews said drivers are now paying attention as officers crack down. Auburn police want peo-
ple to know that drinking and driving doesn’t just put you at risk, but others as well, Mathews said. “Consequences of injuries when driving drunk are secondary thoughts,” Mathews said. “If you don’t care about yourself, care about your neighbor.”
Amendment rights, that’s the second thing that this commission looked at,” Mitchell said. “How do you do it and protect First Amendment rights? You got me. The Internet is like the ‘Wild, Wild West.’” Caitlin Myles, a junior in journalism, experienced what it was like to have her First Amendment right to the freedom of speech monitored while she was in China this summer. E-mails to their family and friends in the U.S. were moni-
tored to the point where they could not write about the specifics of what the group was doing since prosthelytizing is illegal in China. “Being back makes you appreciate the fact that we have those First Amendment rights to freedom of speech and the free flow of information and why it’s so important to have those rights protected,” Myles said. The bill currently states that a “cyber-emergency” would be “any threat by a terrorist or any other person
that disrupts the operation of programmable electronic devices and communication networks essential to the reliable operation of critical electric infrastructure.” “This thing calls for a lot of judicial and legal oversight,” Mitchell said. “So, it really wouldn’t give the president the power to shut down private Web sites.” The bill is being reviewed by the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, which will decide the bill’s future.
A body found in a research building on the Yale University campus was confirmed as the body of missing graduate student Annie Le. Out of 10 public beaches that were tested for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, a potentially fatal staph bacteria more commonly-known as MRSA, nine tested positive. The U.S. military is considering training troops in advanced trauma care because it says that could prevent up to 20 percent of combat deaths in Iraq and Afghanistan. A high school cheerleader in Pelion, S. C. was part of a group of hunters who bagged a 10-foot-six-inch, 353-pound alligator. Cammie Colin, 16, is on the junior varsity team at White Knoll high school.
The Auburn Plainsman NEWS STAFF
ELLISON LANGFORD Editor SAMUEL SOLOMON Associate Editor
KENDRA KELLEY Assistant Editor
To reach the staff, call 844-9109.
THURSDAY, September 17, 2009
Auburn Weekly Gas Monitor Week of Sept. 14 This week’s prices
Location
Regular Mid Premium
Shell - Shug Jordan Chevron - South College BP - Gay & Samford Shell - Glenn & Gay Spectrum - Glenn & Gay Chevron - Glenn & College Average Gas Price
$2.269 $2.499 $2.499 $2.399 $2.319 $2.499 $2.414
$2.409 $2.699 $2.699 $2.499 $2.459 $2.649 $2.569
$2.549 $2.899 $2.839 $2.699 $2.599 $2.799 $2.731
Last week’s average Regular $2.484
Mid $2.649
Premium $2.314
By SAMUEL SOLOMON
The Auburn Plainsman
Thursday, September 17, 2009
Testicular cancer linked to marijuana use By KENDRA KELLEY Assistant News Editor
The results of a Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center study said using marijuana may increase a man’s risk of developing testicular cancer. Researchers found that the male reproductive system produces a cannabinoidlike chemical that is thought to have a protective effect against cancer. Marijuana may disrupt the body’s natural resistance to developing tumors, which could be a possible link between marijuana and testicular cancer. According to the National Cancer Institute, testicular cancer is rare and accounts for only 1 percent of cancers in men from the U. S. About 8,000 men are diagnosed with testicular cancer each year and about 390 die from the disease annually. “In 2007, 183 males were charged with use of marijuana in the Auburn area,” said Lt. Tyrone Gulce of the Narcotics Division of the Public Safety Department. “In 2008, 226 males in the Auburn area were charged with marijuana use. There has been an increase in marijuana use in Auburn over the years.” Gulce added that 130 males have been charged with possession of marijuana this year. Researchers noted that the testes could be vulnerable to the effects of marijuana, because they, along with the brain, heart, uterus and spleen, carry specific receptors for tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the principal
psychoactive ingredient in at the FHCRC. marijuana, said the U.S. DeFHCRC researchers said, partment of Health and Hu- since the 1950s, occurrences man Services Web site. of two cell subtypes of tes“Testicular cancer tends to ticular cancer, nonsemioccur in younger men, so col- noma and seminoma, have lege males could be greatly increased by 3 percent to 6 affected by this,” said Stephen percent per year in the U. S. Schwartz, FHCRC researcher. Researchers also found Testicular cancer is the that marijuana use also inmost common creased form of canduring the cer in men besame time tween the ages In 2008, 226 period. of 15 and 34. The study males in the Auburn showed “Caucasian that men are at a area were charged family hishigher risk of with marijuana use.” tory of the getting testicudisease, unlar cancer than descended Lt. Tyrone Gluce, African-Amertestes or Auburn Public ican men,” abnormal Safety Department Schwartz said. testicular “Hispanic and developAsian men are also less af- ment can also cause cells to fected by the disease.” become cancerous. Males between the ages Chronic marijuana use has 20 and 35 who develop non- multiple adverse effects on seminoma, a fast growing the endocrine and reproductesticular malignancy that tive systems. causes germ cell tumors, acThe results of the study also count for about 40 percent of showed that male infertility, all testicular cancer cases. impotency and poor semen “We found that men who quality has been linked to an had used marijuana for increased risk of testicular more than 10 years tend to cancer. be heavier users during the The National Cancer Inweek,” Schwartz said. “Men stitute estimated there are who are more recent users about 8,400 new cases of still have the risk of nonsemi- testicular cancer in the U.S. noma, the less common, but this year. The estimated numharder to treat, testicular ber of deaths is 380 so far for cancer.” 2009. Schwartz also said men There is no cure for the who have a father or brother disease, but there are treatwho has testicular cancer are ments like surgery, chemoat risk. therapy, radiation therapy, Researchers also found immunotherapy and vaccine that being a marijuana user therapy. at the time of diagnosis inThere are also things men creased the risk of testicular who might be pre-disposed cancer by 70 percent, accord- to develop the disease can do ing to a study by researchers to help prevent developing it.
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“College males should do monthly testicular self-examinations, so they can detect any signs of cancer early,” said Fred Kam, medical director at the AU Clinic. The National Cancer Institute, the National Institute on Drug Abuse and funds from the FHCRC supported this research. “We conducted our research by interviewing men and giving them questionnaires to fill out,” Schwartz said. “Some of the questions involved dieting habits and their smoking history.” The researchers said their results are not definite, but they are a way to open the door to more research questions and possible answers. “We are still researching, and we have found genes that could be a possible cause of testicular cancer,” Schwartz said. Kam said the most important thing is that all of the possible indications from long term- marijuana usage and its effects are still unknown. And all the consequences have yet to be determined. Schwartz said, unlike cigarette smoking, there’s been limited research on longterm risks of being a marijuana smoker so people just assume marijuana is safe. Also they should think about what they put in their bodies because of the possible effect. “Avoid the use of drugs because there are consequences, some of which are irreversible,” Kam said. “What may be enjoyed short-term may result in long-term detriment.”
News, A5
Volunteer at The Plainsman Wednesday, 7 p.m. Student Center, Suite 1111
The Auburn Plainsman
COMMENTARY
A6 Thursday, September 17, 2009
The Auburn Plainsman Editorial Board Cliff McCollum
Lindsey Davidson
Natalie Wade
Opinions Editor
Editor
Managing Editor
Ellison Langford
Rod Guajardo
Abby Albright
News Editor
Photo Editor
Sports Editor
Brittany Cosby
Ben Bartley
Helen Northcutt
Campus Editor
Copy Editor
Intrigue Editor
Kevin Saucier
Tom Hopf
Andrew Sims
Multimedia Editor
Business Manager
Online Editor
Our View
Haley Center’s clear and present dangers
We’d like to begin by stating this editorial is not to be seen as alarmist or unnecessarily provocative. We simply wish to call your attention to issues that could affect the quality of life for some of the Auburn family. We begin on a positive note: while there is asbestos within the Haley Center and other buildings on campus like Foy Student Union, it is not believed to be harmful to students. The nature of the asbestos in the building is such that only if it is disturbed by construction or maintenance and one suffers prolonged exposure to it will one see the negative health effects caused by the substance. The asbestos in the flooring is kept in check with a simple, occasional waxing. The asbestos present in the insulation should be, according to experts, fine as long as it is not disturbed. However, for those faculty members and support staff that spend their lives working and “living” in Haley, there are some problems that do need to be discussed, as they pose a real and present issue to health and safety. We live in the South with a climate known for heat and humidity, the perfect storm that allows black mold to grow and expand. There are numerous areas of Haley Center where this mold is present, and those professors and support staff who are made to work near these conditions should be concerned about how this could be affecting their health.
We strongly encourage all of the building managers on campus to be diligent in finding these problems and eradicating in a swift and timely fashion. The black mold issue is a pressing one, but the central thesis of Haley’s problems stems from one simple word: renovation. We all know Haley is horribly outdated and needs to be renovated, if only to allow each classroom to have full access to the technological age we live in. There are no meeting places for students, and the offices and storage spaces are known to be quite the logistical nightmare for faculty and building support staff. Renovations and updates are drastically needed, yes, but costs would be astronomical and the logistics of closing Haley for the requisite amount of time to complete such updates would force a slew of “mobile classrooms” (see: trailers) onto a campus that already has space issues. We don’t need more parking problems than what we have now. Honestly, it would be cheaper to build a new Haley Center than it would be to perform all of the needed updates on the current structure. There is not an easy or clear-cut solution to this larger problem, and many campus leaders are now attempting to figure out how best to address these issues. We await their decisions, but we want you, Auburn’s students, faculty and staff to be aware of what is around you.
Internet takeover bill a bad bet
Senate Bill 773, the Cybersecurity Act of 2009, is causing some concern across the country, as images of cyberattacks begin to invade the minds of our citizenry and cause them to reach a frenzied panic. Rest assured, our government is at work to make sure the horrors illuminated by “Live Free or Die Hard” do not become a reality. Timothy Olyphant won’t be able to flummox our national defenses with a cell phone; neither will Bruce Willis be able to stop him with a BlackBerry, The real reasoning behind the emergency powers being granted to the president by this bill is done under the auspices of national security, the argument being that in trying times, the Internet could be used to tie up infrastructure, transportation, energy and security systems across the U.S. At face value, this argument sounds good, like the government is our friend, watching out for us and keeping us safe from the villains in a shadowy, online world. Our concern comes when we examine this further, below the surface. Taking control of the Internet is seen as a way to help prevent mass chaos and panic, to keep the “terrorists” from
spreading misinformation about evacuations. Our question is this, though: Wouldn’t taking over the Internet cause an even larger panic than one the unknown “cyber-terrorists” could cause? We realize the Internet is a vital and necessary part of our lives, so disrupting it in such a fashion, even in the case of a national emergency, may cause more problems than what it would solve. What should be done? We have a few humble suggestions. Continue to update and strengthen the cyber-security systems used by our governmental agencies, businesses and online marketplaces. Make sure our nation’s transport systems and airport control towers are adequately protected. If the Blackout of 2003 showed us anything, our nation’s energy grids need updating and maintenance, so focus your energies there, where they are most needed. We’re reasonably well-assured NORAD central command can no longer be hacked by a kid playing a computer game, a’la “War Games.” Let’s leave the cyber-terror plots to Hollywood’s B-list writers and actors and focus on the real problems at hand.
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
Staff Column
Judge news, not opinion A recent study released by the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press indicates 63 percent of Americans believe news stories are inaccurate. This percentage in 1985 was 29 percent lower. The same study showed the number of people who believe articles often favor one side of an issue is up 8 percent. Obviously something has changed. The Associated Press article published by the Mobile PressRegister explored the idea of a suffering business, striving for readership and struggling to keep up with new media. In a way, that viewpoint is favorable. The business is changing, condensing and using its resources in new ways. In a tumultuous economy any business will experience change, and the news is no different. Ad sales have decreased, papers are downsizing to tabloid from broadsheet and some are even transitioning to weekly publications instead of a daily schedule. Journalism students are flocking to grad school to ensure some sort of future career. Adding all the difficult fiscal problems to trying to keep up with ever-expanding outlet capabilities and there is bound to be problems. The problem lies in that journalists are held to a much higher standard than most people in other professions.
Natalie Wade managing.editor@theplainsman.com
This is not a bad thing, because the standard must be high when talking about where most people get their news, current events and, most importantly, voting basis. News companies have a lot of persuasion abilities when it comes to voters. The idea is to keep that in mind when reporting while also treading the murky waters of ethics. For those more experienced journalists the line is more defined, but for green reporters it’s a slippery, abstract thing. The difference is the experience. Readers need to be critical of their news sources. They also need to realize those news sources are trying to adapt to what the studies show people want. All the change is worth it, honestly. No longer do you have to wait for the next day’s paper for a short, information-lacking recap of an event. Now you can check the Web mere hours later and get a full article. I would, however, like to address what I think is the biggest problem this study
and the article did not address. This is also a point Jay Rosen, an NYU journalism professor, hit on in one of his tweets about the study: the public is confused about what is opinion and what is news. The business is heading into more new media, such as Twitter, Facebook, newspaper and broadcast convergence and blogging by respected journalists. Because of this the journalism industry may be confusing readers on what is opinion and what is not. Often The Plainsman has to combat complaints by readers about what they call “articles” when they are really upset over a column or editorial, which are based on opinion and are clearly assigned to opinions or commentary pages. So readers, please judge on basis of factual error, spelling, grammar and news value. If the articles seem to be more slanted toward one side or issue, also let us know. But if the column or editorial is on the commentary or opinions page, please don’t try to judge on basis of misplaced opinion. I know sometimes we fail in the coverage of news, but we need you all to point out our inaccuracies. So bring it on.
Natalie Wade is the managing editor of The Auburn Plainsman. You can reach him at 844-9108.
Adam Cooner
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 17, 2009
Credit needed for the overachievers Lindsey Davidson editor@theplainsman.com
Graduation is closer than I would like to accept. In this period of denial, the ‘hopeless’ job search has begun with the never-ending tweaking of resumés and cover letters. I’ve been reflecting on the classes that I’ve taken to prepare me for the scary real world.
As a journalist, are those 30 extra elective hours required really going to help me land that first job? I would complain about how much I hate history 1010, and that’s why I’ve waited till now to take it, but those classes are needed to make us well-rounded. Or something like that. Class skipper, I am, I will admit, but my devotion is to another aspect I know will be beneficial to my career. The best advantage this university has given me academically is working an internship into my curriculum. But I also feel I wouldn’t have succeeded without the experi-
A7
COMMENTARY ence I had with this ‘extra-curricular’ activity. Gogue has a vision of wanting all students to study abroad or receive a touch of cultural influence before their diploma is handed over. I couldn’t agree more. It’s the external experiences in college that make students excel. The wasted hours could go toward the activities that a large quantity of students devote their entire four years to instead of classes that will only exist on a transcript. More classes should intertwine with the student projects and credit given to the workers. The science labs have students
who don’t see the outside world just to have the chance to get into their professional schools. The engineering school gives large grants to student projects for young minds to tinker. A redesign and distribution of credit would be most beneficial for us and employers. It drives students to work more for the application and not the theory. It’s just giving a little credit to the students that go above and beyond. Not everything can be taught in a classroom. Lindsey Davidson is the editor of The Auburn Plainsman. You can reach her at 844-9021.
Last week’s question: “Are you excited about Kellie Pickler being the UPC fall concert?” >Yes: 23 percent > No: 38 percent > Who?: 39 percent
This week’s question: “Is Sasquatch real?” >Yes > No Go to www.theplainsman.com to vote.
Your View
Grad assistant true Tiger fan mad about cuts Editor, The Auburn Plainsman
Editor, The Auburn Plainsman
The English Department and the College of Liberal Arts have recently decided to give graduate students and instructors a de facto pay cut by cutting their maximum travel funds from $1,200 to $250. Nobody would argue that the previous amount wasn’t very generous, but the new amount is a slap in the face. It won’t even cover airfare. It doesn’t make sense that the people who need that money the most have it taken away from them. The graduate students and instructors do the heavy lifting in the English department. As a group, we handle most of the University’s incoming students, and we do so with good cheer and dedication, but without equitable compensation. We also do so without fair representation in department decision-making. It is immoral to make those without any say in the matter bear the overwhelming brunt of budget cuts that were made necessary not only by the downturn in the world economy, but by irresponsible spending at the college and department level. It doesn’t make sense that we constitute a larger constituency than the professorial faculty, but have no influence in making the decisions on policy matters that affect us. Matt Thiele graduate teaching assistant, English
Student Union issue still alive
I was overcome with a sense of profound disgust during my gameday experience this past weekend with Louisiana Tech. No, not during the game since the football team, the game and all the stadium activities were admirable. I’m talking about when we arrived at 8 a.m. for a 6 p.m. kickoff, only to find the campus parking where all our tailgating friends have parked for many years closed off with a standing guard. This is a space that can hold at least 200 cars and still leave the egress lanes open; however, at 5 p.m. when we left for the stadium there were twelve (yep, that’s 12) Pay-for-Parking cars in this entire area. The cause? Is it greed and the unadulterated lust and lasciviousness for the very last dollar that can be squeezed from the Auburn faithful; or perhaps another more devious plot, the continuing effort to drive the tailgaters off campus? Well, take the upper deck off the stadium, put in reclining seats and serve martinis because the sum total of your efforts to become an Ivy League “walking campus” with Tailgate-for-Rent tents is the alienation of all that is Auburn. When you finish with your plans there will be about 25,000 “fans” in the stadium at kick-off. Other teams have fans or simple spectators, Auburn has always had family. You, the Auburn administration, promote these family beliefs and market this atmosphere, but your base actions appear to be those of the uncle that’s not allowed alone with the cute nieces. Get back in line with the Auburn family or head northeast before you ruin the true Auburn family values. Mike Mancil Montgomery
Editor, The Auburn Plainsman
Auburn treasures Caroline Draughon and Evelyn Jordan, in a capital campaign video more than a decade ago, observed independently that ourUniversity’s students were losing appreciation for Auburn’s past. Not R. Nathan Payne ’08. Not countless others who know of James E. Foy, other than Auburn trustees. In a Facebook appeal gone viral, Payne bemoans what he perceives as an “ideological shift from focus on family and tradition to a focus on money and branding,” citing the pay-to-play policies in the student-funded Student Center, turning that hub into preand post-game skyboxes. Woe betides the hapless student who wanders into that complex without big bucks on a game day. What’s next: subway-style turnstile tokens? But the piecemeal rental of students’ home-away-from-home pales to what’s going on outside the building. You see, the trustees are saying, when we dedicated the James E. Foy Student Union in 1978 in honor of 28 years of loving, inspired leadership as dean of students, we didn’t mean, like, forever. Anybody who ponies up $25 million can have his or her name on Auburn’s student center, even if they prefer Big Al to Aubie. Watch out Samford, Greene, Biggin, Funchess, Smith and Draughon. Money talks in the Loveliest Village. Pete Pepinsky Class of ’69 Alumnus
Letter from a
Use labels, words correctly Editor, The Auburn Plainsman The following is a response to the op-ed “A Fear a Day Keeps the Logic Away” and “Your View: Sims Editorial is Inaccurate, Offensive, Wrong” respectively authored by Andrew Sims and Michael LaPointe. The words “conservative” and “liberal” are often thrown around by the media, politicians and now undergraduate ideologues without any thought to their meaning. A paradox has now risen in American politics where the meaning of politically descriptive words is ambiguous and their attachments to Communism and Nazism abound to a nauseating degree. If taken literally and applied to politics, the words conservative and liberal may mean the same thing. One may be “conservative” with the use of government, necessarily meaning one is “liberal” with freedom. If one is “liberal” with the use of government, then they are “conservative” with respect to freedom. Obviously in the modern context, the words mean nothing when describing political thought. The use of the word liberal today is taken with offense by those who describe themselves as classically liberal or libertarian, where historically the term was used to describe one who was a proponent of liberty and freedom in all matters, personal and economic. To accurately define the difference between political ideologies, we should realize that the institutions that actually oppose
each other are in fact freedom (individualism) and government (statism), not left and right, conservative and liberal, or socialism and fascism. If we draw a cross (no spiritual analogy intended) and imagine that freedom (complete autocracy) lies at the tail of the cross and statism (absolute government) at the head, we then realize that the feud we observe between Mr. Sims and Mr. LaPointe is between the opposing arms of the cross, each side the same distance from both freedom and statism. I do realize that the use of the liberal/ conservative misnomers by the aforementioned authors is to refer to the political Left and Right, respectively the Democrats and Republicans, in an attempt to gain points in the Red-Blue game. I challenge anyone who disagrees that these two groups are effectively palindromic to look at the current and former administrations and compare their policies. President Obama is maintaining the same rate of military withdrawal from Iraq as Bush, increasing the military presence in Afghanistan, continuing the bailouts of Wall Street, and now is pushing the continuation of government involvement in healthcare-involvement legitimized by George Bush with his Medicare Prescription Drug reform in 2003. The Patriot Act remains in effect, reports of warrantless wiretaps continue and the reckless regard for true free-market economics remains unchanged. In final response to Mr. Sims’ article, the use of fear is indeed used to coercively affect policy, however, fear is a facet and function of collectivism. Collectives form—whether they are the KKK, the Nazis or the Bolsheviks— because those in power are able to point out some difference— skin color, ethnicity/nationality or social/economic class—between themselves and another group of people. Collectivism necessarily leads to statism, as established by Fredrick Hayek in “The Road to Serfdom,” and, unfortunately, the ideologies held by Mr. Sims and Mr. LaPointe represent trivial extremes when viewed in light of freedom. It is time for those who wish to label themselves as responsible citizens and patriots to begin a fact check with their political ideologies. The inconsistency and hypocrisy that abound in the modern political arena has placed us on a soon-to-be irreversible path of economic turmoil, imperialism and abolition of personal liberty. Josh Jackson graduate student, chemical engineering
Tailgating way of life ending Editor, The Auburn Plainsman I’m not sure if my letter will be read or even glanced at, but I feel as an Auburn supporter and avid fan I must write expression of my feelings in regards to the tailgating experience at Auburn. I’m a 28 year old Auburn fan and I bleed orange and blue. Hell, I even went as far as to get the tiger eyes logo tattooed on my arm! Over the past few years I know Auburn has been making improvements to the campus surrounding Jordan-Hare. This past weekend when I went to the La. Tech game I was disgusted to see all of the places that used to be tailgate friendly are now blocked off and even being guarded by the “yellow coats.” I’ve been to a lot of Auburn games, 75 to be exact, and that might not be a lot compared to the season ticket holders and old timers that’s been going since the 50s, but I’ve done my part and continue to do my part. I’ve traveled to see them play at USC, Syra-
cuse, and every SEC opponent except SC and Vandy. I feel like it’s my duty to let you know that we the fans are not pleased. Tailgating at Auburn is a tradition that is uniquely Auburn. I have friends that are Alabama fans that say they would rather go to Auburn to see a game just for the tailgating. I know this letter will not change anything, but I hope that it informs you on the displeasure that the Auburn faithful are having with the University. I will reach out to my Auburn family through e-mail and social networks and ask that they all contact you with their anger towards this ongoing problem. Please don’t let Auburn tailgating become extinct!
Brandon Morehouse Montgomery
Professor angry with more than building name policies, rules Editor, The Auburn Plainsman With the coming of fall and the welcome return of alums to campus come the sea of complaints about the nameless Student Center. Well, it would be great if it were named after Dean Foy– last year’s letters made the case eloquently. But I’m tired of the complaints. How about some action? How much would each person who thinks the center should be named for Dean Foy have to give to make it happen? And when will they start raising the money? Why am I tired of the complaints? Well, students pay a lot of tuition to “use” the campus. Why shouldn’t football fans pay to tailgate if they want prime spaces? They are using the campus. There’s massive clean-up, extra staff and security to make everything go smoothly, and other costs. And are these people out of touch with the economic impact of the recession on AU? Class size is creeping up. Faculty who leave or retire are often not replaced leaving more work for fewer faculty and, for instance, longer waits in hallways as students come to meet with faculty advisers. Without specific experts, some courses cannot be offered. Faculty haven’t had raises in two years, and some of the young faculty are struggling to pay off the loans that made their educations possible. Travel money has disappeared or been drastically cut, and we stay in touch with cutting-edge research by going to conferences and specialized research sites. Provost Mazey and the deans have done a wonderful, creative job in protecting academics at AU, and all of us have to think about the future. For example, gaps in periodical holdings testify to past recessions and hard times, and this year’s smaller library budget may impact what students and faculty can find in the library for decades. The AU family needs to think of the students of the future. Yes, right now, “it’s all about the money” is often a major consideration. It would be great if alums and others took pride in helping protect academics and our students’ pocketbooks every time they pay for something on campus. Dean Foy was famous for having his priorities straight. In hard times, it would be a very special gesture if people accepted the challenge and raised the money to name the center for him. Paula R. Backscheider Philpott-Stevens Eminent Scholar
The Auburn Plainsman
News, A8
Thursday, SEPTEMBER 17, 2008
Auburn City Council Meeting Summary Tuesday, Sept. 15
The Auburn Student Government Association presents Toomers Ten statistics: - Average 590 riders per night - First week 1,600 riders - Second week 1,840 riders - Third week 2,150 riders
Plans approved to replace the bridge over Saugahatchee Creek on North Donahue Drive and resurface from the bridge to Farmville Road. Joint funding with Lee County.
Zoning approved for West Pace, LLC. Property located between Interstate 85 and Shell Toomer Parkway. Rezone 150.89 acres from rural to comprehensive development district.
Traffic control signs and devices to establish “No Parking” zone on Old Stage Road from the railroad to Sumerhill Road approved.
Approved $289,476 for East Alabama Healthcare Authority emergency response, rescue and ambulance services.
The next Auburn City Council meeting is Oct. 6 at 7 p.m. in the City Council Chamber on Ross Street.
Rod Guajardo/ PHOTO EDITOR
Speakers Moore Hallmark and Suzanne Repress discuss healthcare reform at Southern Union State Community College.
SUSCC hosts heathcare forum By SAMUEL SOLOMON Associate News Editor
More than 50 people attended the healthcare reform forum at Southern Union State Community College’s health science building. The forum was Sept. 11 and was sponsored by the Opelika Chamber of Commerce. Speakers Suzanne Repress, a legislative liaison for Children’s Health System in Birmingham, and Moore Hallmark, executive director for the southeastern region of the U. S. Chamber of Commerce, gave audience members an outline of what may happen regarding healthcare bill drafting. They also facilitated discussion on a range of questions. “No one can really answer all the questions,” Repress said. “All of us, whether its individuals, whether its families, whether its businesses, whether its communities, want to know, what does this mean to me? And I don’t think that there is anybody who can tell you that.” This discussion, as opposed to other recent public discussions of healthcare, did not feature any hostile attendees disputing with speakers and
other attendees. Topics included whether the government-proposed public option could be taken across state lines, current healthcare options, affordability of healthcare policies to citizens and government and means of collecting information. Repress and Hallmark focused on getting individuals to contact their congressmen and other government officials. Repress asked attendees to make a list of questions about how the proposed healthcare bill might affect individuals, businesses and families and then e-mail that list to congressional staff. The Senate released framework for a draft of the bill Tuesday, Sept. 8, which involved a large amount of insurance reform. Repress said, while the bill is well-composed, it lacks a vast number of specifics which leaves too many unknowns. “Those are the kind of things that many of us in the healthcare field, in the mire and depths of this, are trying to figure out,” Repress said about existing flaws in the proposed healthcare bill. The Senate framework,
with respect to the public option and the proposed government managed healthcare plan, contains four packages. The first tier is a basic package that covers essentials, the second tier contains the basic package with a few more benefits, the third tier adds dental coverage and the fourth is a comprehensive package covering dental care and eyesight. The speakers said Alabama is one of only three states to offer the bare minimum Medicaid program. “If you are an adult in Alabama you can’t make more than $1,400 to be eligible for Medicaid,” Repress said. “Not $1,400 a month, $1,400 a year.” However, the speakers said they thought the new bill might change that. “I have been working for the U.S. Chamber of a little more than 6 years and when you look at this room, 50, 70 people here, maybe,” Hallmark said. “Two years ago if you had a discussion about healthcare you might have five people. I have never seen the business community or individuals, just average citizens, getting so involved on an issue before.”
By Samuel Solomon
The Auburn Plainsman
CAMPUS
Photo of the Week Classifieds
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THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2009
Tailgating vandalism on campus By BLAKE HAMILTON Associate Campus Editor
With the advent of “The Tailgate Guys” and other hands-free tailgating services on The Plains, independent pre-game festivities on campus are quickly becoming passé. It may be destruction of private property rather than the convenience factor that is causing this Auburn tradition to lose ground.
Courtney Ritterbush, a senior in hotel and restaurant management, learned this lesson the hard way two weeks ago after the Auburn vs. Louisiana Tech game. Ritterbush lent her friend a tailgating tent, which was set up behind Parker Hall on Friday evening. “They went through Saturday fine,” Ritterbush said. “Sunday I got a phone call at about 10:30 in the morning because they had gone to the
site to clean everything up.” Ritterbush said that her friend went on to tell her that he would not be bringing any stuff back but it was no longer there. “Fifteen or 20 other people were walking around, looking at pieces of tents that had been bulldozed down,” Ritterbush said. “It wasn’t just tents that were ruined, either. Grills had been ruined. I’m talking about $300 grills. If there’s a night game like that,
something that starts at 6 or 6:30, they can’t expect you to come right afterward and clean up every piece of tailgating equipment. That just doesn’t make sense.” Some equipment had been shredded up, while more had simply been thrown in the garbage. Ritterbush and her friends had been under the impression that noon was the cutoff point for taking down tailgate sites. The official gameday sec-
director of University Communications. “Our tailgating regulations account for tents, but there’s no specific time in place. We realize that there are several evening games this year, but I would hope that people would clean up their areas directly after the game.” Landscaping services are responsible for cleaning up after game days, but they do
tion of the AU Web site contains a wealth of information regarding the 4 p.m. Friday set-up time, acquisition of permits for large tents, roping off of tailgate sites and the disposal of food and charcoal, but nothing about a teardown time for non-RV equipment. “The only deadline we have for the removal of tailgates is for RVs, which says that they have to be gone by 4 p.m. on Sundays,” said Mike Clardy,
> Turn to TAILGATE, B2
Under Armour story hits home By BRITTANY COSBY Campus Editor
Ashlea Draa /ASSISTANT PHOTO EDITOR
The Golden Acrobats perform stunts for the crowd as part of their show titled Cirque D’or in the Student Activities Center.
Cirque D’or act wows fans By MAX NEWFIELD Staff Writer
The Golden Dragon Acrobats wowed both students and families with their bodybending performance of Cirque D’or in the Student Activities Center Thursday, Sept. 10. “It was ridiculous,” said Aaron Bartlett, a senior in electrical and wireless engineering. “It’s very impressive what these people do.” The Golden Dragon Acrobats is a group of 16- to 23-year-old performance artists who perform feats of balance and athleticism all over the world, according to Randy Williamson, the produc-
tion manager for the Golden Dragon Acrobats. “They’re all Olympic-caliber athletes,” Williamson said. The Golden Dragon Acrobats is currently performing its latest show, Cirque D’or in the U.S. Cirque D’or is French for Golden Circus. “This current tour started in August and will finish in May,” Williamson said. Williamson said he loves the extensive touring schedule of the Golden Dragon Acrobats. “In May, I’m out of a job,” Williamson said. Williamson may not have to worry about his future
employment opportunities; he has worked as the Golden Dragon Acrobats production manager and road manager since 1994. “The kids are terrific. I love them,” Williamson said. “It’s one of those fresh minds, fresh ideas things. It keeps me young.” That freshness is what brought the Golden Dragon Acrobats back to The Plains for the second year in a row. “They came last year and it’s a totally new show happening tonight,” said Elise Pace, the director of fine arts for the University Program Council (UPC). “We had such a good turn out last year that it was a good thing to bring
back.” Pace was certain people would come out for the Golden Dragon Acrobats this year. “Since it’s a free show we knew that a lot of people would show up,” Pace said. Both students and families were invited to the event, which is not typical for UPC events. “Mostly UPC is a studentrun organization for students, but we will advertise that the public is welcome if they are,” said Victoria Dominic, director of public relations for UPC. “I would say we have about four or five (public) events a semester.” > Turn to CIRQUE, B2
Auburn students and fans packed into the Hotel of Auburn University and Dixon Conference Center to hear the true Cinderella story of Under Armour told by its creator. Kevin Plank is the Chairman and CEO of Under Armour and started the business in his basement in late 1995. The brand now earns more than $700 million globally a year and is still growing. “Under Armour is a story of hope, because that is what entrepreneurship is,” Plank said. “It is talking about what is possible. It is taking something that does not exist and making something great.” Under Armour has formed a special relationship with Auburn and its students. Under Armour has become a symbol of Auburn athletics as the company formed a partnership with Auburn more than four years ago under the direction of Athletic Director Jay Jacobs. The last national commercial featured new head football coach Gene Chizik and Auburn’s athletic program. “Jay Jacobs was a person very early on that stuck his hand out and said sometimes people need a chance in life and that is what we are going to give Under Armour,” Plank said. “It was big and bold of him to do
that and something I will never forget. It is one of the reasons why we hope to be one of the long term partners of Auburn University.” Plank said that part of Under Armour’s success today is the brand was built on the field with today’s athlete and their mission is to make all athletes better. He said they do it with this relentless focus on performance and innovation. The company sees itself as the athletic brand of this generation. “I can tell you that it wasn’t always like that,” Plank said. “In fact, prior to Under Armour, athletes never had a choice. The only option kids had when they played sports was a short sleeve cotton T-shirt in the summer and a long sleeved cotton T-shirt in the winter. I always knew there was something better out there.” Through his years of playing football in high school and at the University of Maryland, Plank said he wondered why no one addressed the equipment athletes wore beneath their pads. Cotton T-shirts, when dry weighed, about six ounces, once it became wet on the body it weighed somewhere between two or three pounds. “I had this idea for this compression T-shirt that wouldn’t hold moisture, but more importantly wouldn’t hold that moisture’s weight,” Plank said. > Turn to PLANK, B2
Annual Fast-A-Thon for Ramadan By BRITTANY COSBY
and benefit the Auburn community. “We can choose to not eat today, but some do not have Students went hungry for a choice, ” said Martha Fauple, the Ramadan Fast-A-Thon the executive hosted by the director at Muslim Stuthe East Aladents’ AssociWe can bama Food ation ThursBank. “Many day, Sept. 10. choose not to eat tonot unParticiday, but some do not do pants fasted derstand the for one day have a choice.” level of the during Rahunger issue madan from in our comMartha Fauple, sunrise to munity. There executive director of East sunset and is an increase Alabama Food Bank businesses in of people the area were needing help asked to donate money to the because more underemploylocal food bank. ment and those struggling to This is an annual effort to make end’s meet.” raise awareness about Islam A check was donated to the Campus Editor
“
East Alabama Food Bank for $700. The remainder of the money raised from the night was donated to the food bank as well. This is the sixth year the food bank worked with the Fast-A-Thon since it began in 2003. It generates 300,000 pounds of food a month and operates on a large scale. “Many have people around us are in need, and we sometimes don’t even know it,” Fauple said. “One example is a boy at a local school had a hot dog fall out of his pocket in the lunchroom. The teacher got on to him because she believed he was starting a food fight. He began to cry and say that was his
mom’s dinner.” Fauple said we all come from different faiths and backgrounds, but we start similarly in charity. “We are not islands, we are connected,” Fauple said. “We affect one another for better or worse and for richer or poorer.” Ramadan is the Islamic month of fasting, in which participating Muslims refrain from eating, drinking, smoking and indulging in anything that is in excess or ill-natured, from sunrise until sunset. “We are meant to feel hunger and reflect on what other people feel when they > Turn to FAST-A-THON, B2
Printed on Recycled Paper
Ashlea Draa / ASSISTANT PHOTO EDITOR
Jawad Mammou explains why Muslims fast for Ramadan.
The Auburn Plainsman
CAMPUS, B2
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2009
Battle of the Bands By DAVID CRAYTON Staff Writer
Rod Guajardo/ PHOTO EDITOR
John McMeans performs with his band, The Bandar Log, at UPC’s Battle of the Bands.
It comes once every year. It is a battle to determine who the absolute best is. It is the Battle of the Bands. UPC hosted the Battle of the Bands Sept. 11 which featured local talent from around the University and the Auburn community. Anne Smead, director of special projects, gave insight on how the bands were selected for the event. “We have six bands participating, but 11 applied,” Smead said. “We have a scoring process based on demo tapes that they have turned in.” UPC didn’t specify on what genres can perform at the Battle of the Bands. “Any genre can apply and perform,” Smead said. “We do have rock and we have a turntable for playing music. Jazz
bands have applied.” Smead said they wanted to have a huge mix because some of the bands perform more pop or rock type music while there are others that play more like funky rhythms and some other different, more eclectic sounds. UPC awarded a cash prize for the winners of the competition. The first place prize was $400, second was $300 and third was $200. Smead said the competition is judged on originality, vocals, stage presence and the quality of the music. Ann Geoghagan, assistant director of special projects, said the rules for the competition were straight forward. “This is a family event, so there’s no cussing or obscene lyrics allowed,” Geoghagan said. “You have to play two original songs and then one cover song. If you have
more time after that and you want to play more songs, you’re more than welcome to.” Some bands chose to play more of their songs to show their range of talent. The Battle of the Bands, according to Smead, will be used to expose local talent to the Auburn community. Some bands debut at this event each year. “The inspiration for Battle of the Bands is to get local bands that might not be heard anywhere else,” Smead said. “Not all Auburn students have heard them before, so they have a place where they can perform for free and get their music put out there and win a prize of course.” Anthony Van Edwards, lead singer of Blame Sydney who played in the competition, said this will be the bands first public appearance. “It’s our first time to
display our talent in a campus event,” Edwards said. “We do a couple of shows around Auburn.” Edwards said the band has been playing together for awhile and they feel like they have perfected their sound and were ready for the competition. “We were playing for awhile, and we’re pretty cohesive now,” Edwards said. “It’s pretty competitive, and we hope the people will like our music.” The band decided to compete because it agreed it was a good chance to get its name out. Edwards said Blaming Sydney has been working hard to get their music to various record companies. “We are making a demo right now, and we’re going to see how that goes,” Edwards said. “We’re trying to get a label to sign us soon.”
Ashlea Draa/ ASSISTANT PHOTO EDITOR
The Golden Acrobats perform stunts such as jumping through hoops and juggling umbrellas on their feet and hands on the stage in the Student Activities Center.
CIRQUE D’OR >From B1
Students who attended the show were in awe of the Golden Dragon Acrobats’ abilities. “I can’t believe they can do that,” said Tyler Baxter, a freshman in musical theater. “People have bones, bones can break.”
PLANK >From B1
“To test this concept, I wondered what if I made something like a synthetic that sort of stuck to the body like a second skin.” Upon graduating, Plank pursued the idea of a synthetic T-shirt, but he met challenges and resistance along the way. “People said I was crazy and it will never happen and that I didn’t stand a chance,” Plank said. “But I woke up every single morning, and I never believed that it couldn’t happen. My goals were that I am going to make the world’s greatest athletic gear.” So Plank put his plan into action by purchasing fabric to fit his concept and taking it to a local tailor. He purchased seven Tshirts and took them back to his teammates at Maryland to test them out. “One by one, they all started coming back to me asking what is this thing and where can I get more of them,” Plank said. “Not only were the guys on the football team asking for them, but also the guys on the baseball team. I realized that this idea to build a great T-shirt for football was a category that was much bigger.” Plank found a better way to manufacture and got the
Baxter said his favorite part of the performance was the last individual act in which one of the acrobats performed handstands and contortions on an increasingly taller stack of chairs. “He was about 20 feet in the air,” Baxter said. “It was awesome.” This feat may seem extraordinary to the untrained eye, but for Williamson it is
just another work day. “The first thing any of (the acrobats) learns is how to do a good handstand,” Williamson said. Bartlett enjoyed the portion of the show that highlighted two of the acrobats’ contortionist abilities and core body strength. “My favorite part was probably the strength and conditioning part where the
guys in the purple suits and the masks were picking each other up in ridiculous ways and flipping each other,” Bartlett said. “It was completely ridiculous.” Shannon Polkowski, a senior in exercise science, said she enjoyed her first experience with the Golden Dragon Acrobats. “I’m pretty thoroughly impressed actually; it was pret-
ty intense,” Polkowski said. “I always watch it on TV, but I’ve never been.” Polkowski’s future patients do not need to feel concerned with Polkowski’s enjoyment of acrobatics. Polkowski said she would never make her clients attempt anything the Golden Dragon Acrobats did. “Heck no, I would never do that,” Polkowski said. “It puts too much strain on the body.”
FAST-A-THON >From B1
go without food,” said Jawad Mammou, a member of the Auburn Muslim community. “When other people ask about Ramadan, they assume we fast for 30 days without eating or drinking anything. They accept that idea, because they have no idea what it is to be hungry like those in need.” Mammou said this country is great in coming up with programs to feed the hungry, like the East Alabama Food Bank, but more still needs to be done. He said that is what the Fast-A-Thon and Ramadan is all about. Every day during the month of Ramadan, Muslims around the world get up before dawn to eat Sehri or Sahari, the pre-dawn meal, and then they perform the fajr prayer. They have to stop eating and drinking before the call for prayer starts until the fourth prayer of the day or Maghrib. “It is about training, and it is an order from God to sustain from food and pleasures,” Mammou said. “We are encouraged to control ourselves on when to eat and when to not to eat. Strong morality makes you free from your desires.” Muslims practice not only fasting, but giving money and charity as well during the month of Ramadan. “We are more generous in Ramadan because it is believed that our rewards are multiplied during this time,” Mammou said. “We believe that a society that has reckoning with God will be successful.” Donations were taken up as the Fast-A-Thon came to a close in the Student Center Ballroom. A call to prayer was given and the fast was broken at sundown. Food from different countries was served. “Ramadan is not just about fasting and being Islam, but also about giving back to the local community,” said Curtis Jolly, diversity chair in the Department of Multicultural Affairs. “The idea of fasting is to reflect on the hardships that other people are going through.”
TAILGATE >From B1
first 500 shirts made. He set up shop in a house that used to belong to his grandmother, where he worked in an upstairs office and kept inventory in the basement. The first fabric has since been improved upon more than 40 different times. “That first year of business in ’96, we did about $17,000 in sales,” Plank said. “But we had momentum, we had passion, we had people who enjoyed our product and that turned into $100,000 in 1997.” The Under Armour brand attributes its growth to its ability to tell the story of its product. “To convince a bunch of 280 pound football players to wear what at one point was just women’s lingerie on their body, you better be a good storyteller,” Plank said. Since Under Armour ran its first national ad in ESPN The Magazine in 1999, it has told many stories through campaigns. “Probably the one that defines us more than anything is the campaign called ‘Protect This House.’” Plank said. “We are proud of this legacy that we have built around these words that are also written in Jordan-Hare Stadium. To us it means protecting our team and protecting what we are building.” In the future, Under Armour plans to extend its
footwear category since introducing shoes in 2006. The company is also working on a new garment called Recharge that is meant to help athletes recover quicker after sporting events. Another product the company is working on is a new mouth guard designed to align the jaw and increase flexibility. “We have matured not only as a brand, but as a company,” Plank said. “We are affiliated with some of the greatest organizations, leagues and schools in the world. At the heart of that is our flagship university and about being an Auburn Tiger and War Eagle!” This story of inspiration spoke to some students who are about to enter the next phase of their life and trying to achieve goals of their own. “I thought his story was encouraging and had a lot of energy,” said Jennifer Stuart, a sophomore in nutrition. “It made me want to jump up and down and scream ‘War Eagle!’” Even those who invited Plank to speak said they were inspired by his incredible journey. “We have a special relationship with Under Armour, in athletics,” said Carol Warfield, department head of consumer affairs. “And what a great story it is to tell.”
Campus Events Thursday, Sept. 17, 2009 Yoga of Breath Workshop: 4:30 - 5:30 p.m. in Student Center, Room 2310 AU NAACP & BPGSA Lyricist Lounge Time: 7 - 9 p.m. Location: 2223 Student Center
Friday, Sept. 18, 2009 Wanted: Tiger Nights Featuring Kellie Pickler. 7 p.m. - 11:59 p.m. in the Student Center
The Auburn Plainsman CAMPUS STAFF
BRITTANY COSBY Editor BLAKE HAMILTON Associate Editor
JORDAN DAILEY Assistant Editor
To reach the staff, call 844-9109.
not remove people’s personal belongings. “The only thing that we do is clear up trash like wrappers, cans, that sort of thing,” said Renaya Carter, administrative associate for landscape services in the facilities division. “We’re not allowed to touch any personal equipment whatsoever. We try to encourage people to clean up after they finish. We have three guys who just go around handing out garbage bags, but nobody touches personal effects.” If the University is not to blame, then was vandalism caused by outside parties? With authorities directing traffic on roads clogged with out-of-towners for several hours after the game, officers monitoring tailgating sites would have been sparse. As it got later at night, fewer people would have been in that relatively secluded area, making it easy for someone to trash the remaining items. The moral of the story is obvious: leave tailgating equipment unattended at your own risk. These students experienced the bad side of tailgating, but a few incidences will not discourage fans from tailgating. For more gameday policies see the University Web site at www.auburn.edu/communications_marketing/gameday.
Thursday, September 17, 2009
The Auburn Plainsman
Campus, B3
Bell’s book signing brings fans Come volunteer By ALISON MCFERRIN Staff Writer
Kevin Bell does what he can. His autobiography, “I Do What I Can,” is a story meant to inspire and encourage. Bell was diagnosed with Friedrich’s Ataxia, a severely physically debilitating neurological condition, when he was seven years old. Bell has been able to persevere in spite of his limitations. He attended Auburn University and graduated at 19 with a degree in psychology. He went back to school and two years later graduated in Spanish. Bell eventually became a resident of the Arbor Springs Health and Rehabilitation Center. In January 2007, Kevin Bell decided to write his life story. The only problem was he couldn’t write, having finally lost all of his fine motor skills to Friedrich’s Ataxia. A year later, with the help of former high school teacher Betty Burgess, Bell was able to put pen to paper, so to speak, and tell his story. Burgess and Bell worked for about an hour each Friday Bell telling the story and Burgess writing it down. Burgess would then type and format at home on her computer. “Working with Kevin was very inspirational,” Burgess said. “I didn’t know him well until about three years
Blakely Sisk / ASSISTANT PHOTO EDITOR
Auburn graduate Kevin Bell, who has Friedrich’s Ataxia, greets Sigma Kappa friends during his book signing.
ago. I really feel like I know him now, because I’ve been through his life story.” “I Do What I Can” is available in a published form now, and a reception/book signing was held Sept. 10 to release Bell’s story to the public. More than one hundred people filtered in and out of the reception room during the course of the event, dropping in to buy the book and congratulate Bell on his achievement. These included Mayor Bill Hamm Jr., who read a resolution and proclaimed Sept. 10, 2009, “Kevin Bell Day.” Susan Hubbard, standing in for Rep. Mike Hubbard and Joy Johnston, standing in for Sen. Ted Little, presented similar proclamations honor-
ing Bell for his achievements. Others who attended the reception had a lot to say about Bell’s character. “You knew he was going to do things, even back when he was at Dean Road Elementary School,” said Debbi Coleman. Bell has made his mother, Debbie Allen, proud. “He always did what he could, just like the book title says.” Allen said. “I’m so very proud of him, of his tenacity, and his will to live and strive to be the best he can be. I love him to death.” Bell, who said the best part of telling his story was the trip down memory lane, said the most important thing someone should take away from reading his book
is “hope”. That seems likely, based on what Mary Jane Laumer had to say about Bell, who has known him since he was two. “He’s such a good example for young people, whether they are disabled or not,” Laumer said. Bell is now working on another book. “It’s a crime novel,” Laumer said. “The main character is a cop in Auburn. I’ve got some connections at the police department to help with details. I’m working on it slowly, but steadily.” When Bell isn’t writing, however, he most enjoys hanging out with his friends, many of whom are members of the Sigma Kappa sorority here at Auburn University. When asked what he would say having Friedrich’s Ataxia has taught him, Kevin let his humorous and upbeat spirit shine through. “It has taught me that everybody has at least one area where they are not the best and at least one area where they are,” Bell said. “They may not be as handsome or as intelligent as I am, but nobody is perfect.” If you would like to purchase “I Do What I Can” you can contact Betty Burgess at goodwaterbetty@yahoo.com. Profits go to the Kevin Bell fund to help cover the costs of sitters who come to stay with Bell at Arbor Springs.
PHOTO OF THE WEEK Matt Henderson, senior in psychology Rolls of sod laid down near the new Village residence halls on campus. Photo Specifications: F 3.5, 1/1600, f=18 mm
If you would like to submit your photos for the photo of the week, e mail them to photo@theplainsman.com
Ask a Professor?
Each week a student can ask a professor a question of the week in their field. This week a student would like to know:
“Does Sasquatch exist?” “To my knowledge, I believe that they have never found any hard evidence that Sasquatch is real. There are videos of supposed sightings, but I find many of those suspect.”
Professor Matthew Kearley, Department of Biological Sciences To submit a question of the week for ask a professor, e-mail them to campus@theplainsman.com
for us. No experience or sanity needed. Wednesday, 7 p.m. Student Center Suite 1111
The Auburn Plainsman
Campus, B4
Volunteer fair commemorates 9/11 by helping students serve
Thursday, September 17, 2009
Seminar teaches the ‘Taylor Rule’ By BLAKE HAMILTON Associate Campus Editor
By JORDAN DAILEY Associate Campus Editor
President Barack Obama declared Sept. 11 the National Day of Service and Remembrance. In honor of this day, the Office of University Outreach hosted a volunteer fair Sept. 11 from 10 a.m. until noon in the Student Center. “University Outreach wants to present opportunities to students to take what they learn in school and apply it in the community,” said Joyce Thomas-Vinson, who organized the event. “The nation is remembering by promoting service.” The Boys and Girls Club was at the fair. They serve the Lee county area and provide homework assistance, tutoring and youth development programs for children when they’re not in school. “We see anywhere from 150 to 250 kids on a typical
school day and about 350 Reading is Fundamental kids per day in the summer,” was also present at the fair. said Yvonne Batts, unit direc- The organization is a key sertor of the Boys and Girls Club. vice project of the Kiwanis The Boys and Girls Club Club. focuses on five key areas in RIF partners with Impact, its programs: Circle K and character other groups and leaderat Auburn. The nation ship; educa“We put books in tion and ca- is remembering by the hands reer; health promoting service.” of kids,” said and life skills, Executive Disports, fitness Joyce Thomas-Vinson, rector Cathy and recreevent organizer Gafford. ation; and the “These kids arts. are at risk.” “This past Th e term “at risk” is federsummer, ‘Science, Math and ally defi ned and applies to Communication’ was the fochildren from low-income cus of our program,” Batts said. situations or those who have The Club is looking for vol- physical or mental special unteers who can devote a few needs. hours a week to the kids. The RIF is partnering with KapBoys and Girls Club has es- pa Kappa Gamma on Oct. 3 tablished partnerships with for the second annual “Run students from Auburn’s psy- to Read” event. Participants will choose chology, education and athfrom a one-mile walk at 8 letic departments.
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On the Concourse:
a.m. or a 5K run at 8:30 a.m. All registrants will be entered into a drawing for a one-week vacation in Sapphire Valley, N.C. Spirit points will be awarded to all Auburn students who participate. The AU Women’s Gymnastics team, Aubie and Clifford the Big Red Dog are scheduled to attend the run. Those interested in participating can register online at www.jeandeanrif.org. Every year, RIF provides more than 75,000 quality, ageappropriate books to 25,000 at-risk young children, according to an RIF pamphlet. RIF also has several upcoming events. Two “Warehouse Work Days” will be held on Oct. 10 and 24, followed by the Alabama Kiwanis statewide golf tournament at FarmLinks Oct. 29. The Truel Watts Ride to Read Motorcycle Poker Run will take place June 12, 2010.
What do you think of Kellie Pickler as UPC’s major entertainment choice?
“She was on American Idol, right? That’s all I know about her.”
“Honestly, I have no clue who she is.”
Joe Knight, junior in history
Melanie Hailey, junior in biomedical sciences
“I’ll definitely come if Taylor Swift is opening.”
“I know who she is, but I’m not a huge fan. The opener better be good.”
Cullen Johnson, senior in biomedical sciences
Clark Brewer, senior in biomedical engineering
Students and professors from the Department of Economics might leave the recession richer than the rest of us. Emory University professor Tanya Molodtsova came to The Plains Sept. 11, and presented her paper, “Stock Return Predictability and The Taylor Rule.” The New Palgrave Dictionary of Economics defines the Taylor Rule as monetary policy rules providing direction to central banks changing interest rate policies in response to inflation. It promotes a high interest rate in times of heavy inflation to alleviate pressure. “(Professor of Agricultural Economics) Henry
Thompson invited me to give this talk to the Economics Department, and I was very happy to see so many students and professors,” Molodtsova said. “I hope that they will be able to use this information in their studies.” Molodtsova said in her presentation economic models using fundamentals from the Taylor Rule allow for an anticipated return. She said when U.S. policies characterized by these rules and data are examined monthly rather than quarterly, predictability will be stronger. If able to tell the future of the market, the federal government could avoid another financial crisis, not to mention private citizens could make a considerable profit.
The Auburn Plainsman
Thursday, September 17, 2009
Campus, B5
CAMPUS CALENDAR Campus calendar is provided to University-chartered organizations. Submit written events to The Plainsman office between 7:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., no later than the Monday before publication. Limit 30 words. May be edited for pertinent content.
Announcements
from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Dunkin’ Darlings Informational Sessions: Thursday, Sept. 17 at 7 p.m. in the Student Center, Room 2216
Webinar: Civic Engagement in Higher Education: noon to 2 p.m. in Tichenor Hall Room 310
St. Dunstan’s Episcopal Church Free Lunch: Food and conversation with Joan Harrell, doctoral candidate at Chicago Theological Seminary Wednesday, Sept. 23 from noon to 1 p.m. R.S.V.P. by Sunday, Sept. 20 at 334887-5657 Campus Events Thursday, Sept. 17 “TGIF...Graduation” Fair: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in front of Haley Center Art Exhibit in Biggin Hall: Water: Three States (Phase I) Exhibition in Biggin Gallery
Yoga of Breath Workshop: 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. in Student Center, Room 2310 JCSM Art Museum Lecture: “The Bird Artists,” with guest speaker Bill Steiner. 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. in Jule Collins Smith Museum of Fine Art
Art Exhibit in Biggin Hall: Water: Three States (Phase I) Exhibition in Biggin Gallery from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Equestrian vs. SMU: 10 a.m. at the Horse Unit on Wire Road Fisheries Seminar: guest speaker: UGA professor Jeb Byers, 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. in Swingle Hall, Room 303 Equestrian vs. TCU: 3 p.m. at the Horse Unit on Wire Road
“Auburn Football: 1892 to Present” Class: 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. in Student Center, Room 2225
Football, Fans & Feathers: 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the Southeastern Raptor Center, Shug Jordan Parkway
AU NAACP & BPGSA Lyricist Lounge: 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. in Student Center, Room 2223
Wanted: Tiger Nights Featuring Kellie Pickler. 7 p.m. to 11:59 p.m. in the Student Center
Friday, Sept. 18
Saturday, Sept. 19
Alumni Hospitality Tent: 3:45 p.m. to 6:15 p.m. on Wallace Center Lawn Football vs. West Virginia: 6:45 p.m. in Jordan-Hare Stadium Monday, Sept. 21 Art Exhibit in Biggin HallWater: Three States (Phase I) Exhibition in Biggin Gallery from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Exhibition in Biggin Gallery from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Olympus Imaging Tech Tours: An Educational Series: 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. in Broun Hall Room 203 Engineering Education and the Challenges of the 21st Century: 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. in Hartley Auditorium, 1103 Shelby Center
ET York Distinguished Lecture Series: Global Environmental Issues: Guest Speaker: Fabian Cousteau 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at AU Hotel & Dixon Conference Center
How to Work a Career Fair Workshop: 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at AU Hotel and Dixon Conference Center
UPC Outdoor Movie: The Taking of Pelham 123: 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Cater Lawn
Olympus Imaging Tech Tours: An Educational Series: 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. in Broun Hall, Room 203
Disney College Program Info Session: 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. in Biggin Gallery, 101 Biggin Hall
Disney College Program Info Session: 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. in the Student Center, Room TBA
JCSM Art Museum Lecture: “Elvis’s America: 1956,” 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. in Jule Collins Smith Museum of Fine Art
Art Exhibit in Biggin Hall: Water: Three States (Phase I) Exhibition in Biggin Gallery from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Tuesday, Sept. 22
1956 Film: The Man Who Knew Too Much: 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. in Jule Collins Smith Museum of Fine Art
Tiger Dining Cooking Workshop: Executive Chef ’s Kitchen: 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Terell Dining Hall
Art Exhibit in Biggin Hall: Water: Three States (Phase I)
Wednesday, Sept. 23
Volunteer @ The Plainsman Wednesday, 7 p.m. Student Center, Suite 1111
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Lost & Found Pets
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The Auburn Plainsman
Campus, B6
Blake Hamilton / ASSOCIATE CAMPUS EDITOR
Jeff Etheridge, manager of photographic services for the Office of Communications and Marketing, welcomes students at his department’s desk at the Auburn Alumni Association’s graduation fair.
Graduation fair creates ‘one-stop shop’ for seniors By BLAKE HAMILTON Associate Campus Editor
The Auburn Alumni Association’s graduation fair is occupying the front entrance of Haley Center this week, filled with opportunities and information for graduating seniors. TGIF… Graduation (Thank Goodness It’s Finally…Graduation) will host representatives from various insurance, diploma frame, class ring and career service companies. Career development and moving services and information regarding the Alumni Association will be available. “Our goal was to make a one-stop shop for graduating seniors so that they have everything they need,” said Amanda Hodge, director of marketing and membership for the Alumni Association. “Everything from home rental to short term medical insurance, pet insurance and dental insurance; we’re just trying to cover all the basics.” Hodge said this is the
first year the Alumni Association is doing this, and they have been planning since last January. They are glad to be able to test the success of the fair on the Auburn December graduates. The location of the fair is pivotal. The AU Bookstore in Haley Center will be promoting caps and gowns throughout the week. Half of the total graduates for the semester are expected to be walking through the front entrance. The goal of the Alumni Association was to make students aware of postgraduate opportunities. “We hope to show students that there is insurance and the Alumni Association available after graduation so that students won’t be lost once they leave Auburn,” said Maconica Holloway, a senior in communication. “There are photography services so that you can get pictures made in your cap and gown. It keeps you plugged in. You can connect with old classmates and be in the Auburn club program
wherever you end up living.” The Alumni Association advertises benefits such as discounts for selected medical and auto insurances, car rentals and University merchandise. Another organization with representatives at the fair is the Auburn Graduate School Jessica Nelson, director of marketing, recruiting and public relations for the graduate school, said the days are gone where an undergraduate degree is sufficient. To make strides, often times a master’s degree is required. “Graduate school is about your future and what comes after graduation,” Nelson said. “Grad school brings an increase in job openings and in earning potential in terms of graduate and professional degrees. Get your degree while you’re waiting for the economy to pick up so that you’ll be there when the jobs and higher pay are there.” The fair lasts until Thursday, Sept. 17. More information can be found at aualum.org.
Thursday, September 17, 2009
The Auburn Plainsman
Recipe Jane and Joe Random Arts & Entertainment
INTRIGUE
C
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2009
Morgan Thacker / ASSOCIATE PHOTO EDITOR
The three drum majors pause at the edge of the field before the beginning of the football game. The band’s entrance is a fan favorite.
Band blasts students into school spirit By THEADORIS MORRIS Staff Writer
Hearing the harmonious sounds of the band at a football game, basketball game or pep rally not only heightens the spirits of the athletes and fans, but keeps the adrenaline of the band members high as well. “That’s what I’m talking about, some gameday enthusiasm,” said Band Director Corey Spurlin. For the 2009-2010 season the Auburn University Marching Band consists of 380 band members, the most band members in Auburn history. “Stepping out onto the field is absolutely amazing,” said Elizabeth Foster, a senior in prephysical therapy and a third year band member. “It is the most amazing feeling you will ever have.” According to Spurlin, unlike high school bands, the Auburn Marching Band has numerous performances to prepare for in a short amount of time and does not have much time for practice and has short pre-season preparation. “Practices are intense and quick,” said AJ Matthews, a freshman in engineering and mellophone player. “Gameday practices are more intense and just as quick.” The Saturday morning game day practices are used to bring everything together and go back over any problems so the band is confident going into the game. “This year’s band really works hard in rehearsal so I am excited to see how that pays off in terms of their performance and people’s impressions of them and what not,” Spurlin said. “I’m always excited and proud of what we accomplish in rehearsal.” Spurlin and the rest of the band gets together before games to get an idea what they want to accomplish Saturday. “Every Saturday before we leave out of practice we huddle up and talk about what we want to accomplish that day,” Spurlin said. > Turn to BAND, C2
Ashlea Draa / ASSISTANT PHOTO EDITOR
Craig Hamm, a junior in philosophy with a religious concentration, chooses not to wear shoes to class. Shedding shoes is becoming more common, and students are more likely to see bare feet on the concourse.
Barefooted students take to the Concourse By JILL CLAIR Staff Writer
Several Auburn students are shedding their shoes and braving campus with bare feet. Why do they do it? Some students just want to try something different. “It’s a new way of experiencing the world around you,” said Jonathan Blanchard, a sophomore in business. “It’s fun to feel what you’re walking on.” Blanchard tried walking barefoot for a day and enjoyed the experience. Students sometimes vow to go barefoot temporarily to make a statement about a social issue. According to TOMS shoes, they advertised a worldwide event to raise awareness for those without shoes by having people pledge to go barefoot April 16. The event had participants in 200 cities in 12 countries. Other people simply don’t like shoes and would rather go barefoot. Kevin Jones, a sophomore, goes everywhere barefoot except places that require shoes for service. Jones is well known on campus for his constant bare feet. Jones said he isn’t trying to make a statement by not wearing shoes.
“I just don’t like shoes,” Jones said. “They make my feet feel weird.” Jones isn’t sure if he will wear shoes this winter. Barefooters on Auburn’s campus don’t seem to be causing any problems. “I don’t have a problem with people going around barefoot,” said Betsy Munger, a junior in graphic design. “I just think it’s funny.” Many people around the world share Jones’ love for barefeet. The Society for Barefoot Living, an organization that promotes “going barefoot pretty much everywhere, all the time,” has 1,269 members in all 50 states and in 53 other countries. On their Web site, www.barefooters.org, the SBL says barefooting is healthy and decreases the risk of athlete’s foot, bunions and painful feet. According to a local podiatrist, the safety and medical concerns of the barefoot lifestyle outweigh the benefits. Dr. Brett Stark, a podiatrist at Auburn Foot Care Center, said he is opposed to the barefoot lifestyle for two reasons. The most obvious risk of walking around barefoot is a foreign object, like a piece of glass or a nail, becoming lodged in the foot.
Stark said he often performs surgeries to remove foreign bodies from people’s feet. “A lot of the foreign body surgeries I have done have been on Auburn University students,” Stark said. Stark also said the foot needs support when walking, especially on uneven or rocky terrain. “You need a shoe with a good balance between support and cushioning, like an athletic shoe or Birkenstocks,” Stark said. Some students agree with doctors’ opinions and are noticing the negative effects of a barefoot lifestyle. “I have some back pain issues, and when I went to the podiatrist I was told that prolonged periods of time walking around barefoot or in flip-flops leads to an increased occurrence of foot injury and back pain because of the different gaits of people’s feet,” said Scott Gentry, a senior in mechanical engineering. “Few people have perfectly neutral gaits and most of us should wear corrective footwear.” Many people enjoy walking on the beach or in the grass barefoot, but a few students in Auburn live their lives mostly shoeless. These students inspire some and baffle others. For now, no one is complaining—as long as the clothes stay on.
Local pet stars in Auburn store By MARY GLENN SMITH Staff Writer
Morgan Thacker / ASSOCIATE PHOTO EDITOR
Shug, the dog at Big Blue Bookstore, greets customers as they enter the store.
It’s football season. Auburn fans from all over scurry to bookstores on and around campus to pick up their favorite orange and blue gear for the game. T-shirts, sweatshirts, caps and more, whatever it is, wherever the store; it’s all orange and blue. But the customers shopping at Big Blue Bookstore won’t be able to leave the store with their orange and blue without a little gold too; golden retriever that is. Shug, is a 1-year-old golden retriever, who spends his day laying around Big Blue, greeting customers and shaking hands with kids. “He is our companion first and
Printed on Recycled Paper
foremost, but he has turned into our best ambassador,” said Shug’s owner, John Harrell, who also owns Big Blue. “We have alumni from across Alabama that will come to the store and the first thing they will ask is ‘Where is the dog?’” Big Blue has become well-known among Auburn students and fans as “the store with the dog.” “We had students coming in during book rush and we would overhear student’s saying ‘Yeah, this is the store with the dog,’” Harrell said with a laugh. Shug has been raised in the store since he was a just a puppy, becoming the de facto mascot for the bookstore. “He goes home with me at night and he is back with me in the
morning,” Harrell said. “So this is home for Shug.” Before Shug came along, his parents, Paige and Ben, roamed the store. “We lost Ben last March, but luckily we had a pup, so Shug has taken his place,” Harrell said. “A lot of people still think that Shug is Ben.” The golden retrievers—Paige and Ben—belonged to Harrell’s son Wes, who first started bringing the dogs into his father’s store. “At first I think my dad was kind of wondering if customers would be terrified of the dog and run out the store,” Harrell said. “But it ended up being a big hit and every> Turn to PETS, C2
INTRIGUE, C2
PETS
>From C1
body loved the dogs.” When Wes gave Shug to his father as a puppy, he started bringing him into the store with him too. “Shug is only a year and three months, but he has acted like he was 10 ever since he was born,” said Wes Harrell. “He is wellmannered and doesn’t bother anybody.” Shug was named after the legendary Auburn
Thursday, September 17, 2009 football Coach Ralph “Shug” Jordan, adding historical significance and making him even that much more special to Auburn students and fans. “We have just been amazed at how positive people react to him— students, little kids, older alumni,” Harrell said. “He really just has friends all over Alabama.” Customers who visit the bookstore are accustomed to stopping in and seeing Shug.
“I love going into Big Blue and seeing the dog in the store,” said Amy Holiday, a senior in landscape horticulture. “I have a golden retriever at home named Walker, so I really like Shug. He reminds me of my dog.” Shug is truly a mascot for the Big Blue Bookstore decked out with an orange and blue Auburn bandana around his neck in place of a collar. “People love our mascot,” Harrell said “People will come in the store
and go find him.” During Camp War Eagle this past summer, Big Blue decided to use Shug as a way of advertisement. They put Shug’s picture on the back of the T-shirts given out to incoming freshman students, hoping to attract dog-loving students. “I think by using Shug in our advertising campaigns it helps people to know we are down-toearth folks here,” Harrell said. “They all love Shug.”
Joe Random
BAND >From C1
“Sometimes we read e-mails from alumni and community members who are supportive of the band so we remind ourselves what we mean to the atmosphere and the game.” Before every gameday, the band links arms and sings the Alma Mater. Afterward they always play the fight song followed by the whole band delivering a hearty war eagle. “That’s pretty special to us and of course at the end of every game no matter the results we lock arms with students and fans and sing the
alma mater again,” Spurlin said. Spurlin said less than 15 percent of the students in the band receive scholarships and only perhaps 15 percent are music majors. “Most of the students that participate in the band are not music majors,” Spurlin said. “We have 106 Engineering majors that are in the band, but they participate because they love the university and they want to provide a service to the university and use their talents.” The Auburn University Marching Band has been igniting Auburn spirit for more than 100 years. M. Thomas Fuller founded the marching band in 1897.
Jane Random
ROB SMOLA senior in biomedical sciences
RALEIGH RHEUBY junior in physical education
ABOUT JOE:
ABOUT JANE:
Age: 22
Age: 21
Hometown: Eufaula
Hometown: Hueytown
Availability: In a relationship
Availability: Single
Greatest fear: The unknown
Greatest fear: Getting bit by a dog
Hobbies: Soccer and snow skiing
Hobbies: Working out
Chevy or Ford: Chevy
Callie Garrett / ASSISTANT INTRIGUE EDITOR
Rob Smola predicts Auburn will beat West Virginia in the football game this weekend.
What is your prediction of the football game this weekend? Auburn - 45, West Virginia - 24 When you’re on a date, do you order a cheap or expensive meal? Cheap Do you prefer to drink out of a straw? No What was the last text message you received? “Are you going out tonight?”
Full House or Saved by the Bell? Saved by the Bell Favorite addition to campus? The new Tiger Transit pavilion area.
Callie Garrett / ASSISTANT INTRIGUE EDITOR
Raleigh Rheuby would buy a house if she won the lottery and the give the rest to her family.
What is your prediction of the football game this weekend? Auburn will win.
Momma G’s or Niffer’s? Niffer’s
When you’re on a date, do you order a cheap or expensive meal? Usually cheap, but sometimes in the middle.
Do you pace yourself when you eat or scarf ? Definitely scarf.
Do you prefer to drink out of a straw? Yes
If you won the lottery what would be the first thing you would buy? I would pay for med school.
What was the last text message you received? I do not have text messaging.
If you had $20 left for two weeks, would you go to the bar or grocery store? Bar
Chevy or Ford: Ford
Do you pace yourself when you eat or scarf ? Scarf
If you had $20 left for two weeks, would you go to the bar or grocery store? The grocery store for sure. Full House or Saved by the Bell? Saved by the Bell Favorite addition to campus? The Student Center. Momma G’s or Niffer’s? Momma G’s If you won the lottery what would be the first thing you would buy? A house and then give the rest to my family.
Campus Rants ● Sept. 17- UPC Tailgating on the Plains ● Sept. 17- Kiesel Park, Sundown Concert Series ● Sept. 17- Yoga of Breath. The Art of Living Yoga Club of Auburn University will host a free Yoga Breath workshop at 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. ● Sept. 18: Football, Fans & Feathers ● Sept. 18- Fisheries Seminar: Jeb Byers (UGA) ● Sept. 18- Forest Friends at the Louise Kreher Forest Preserve ● Sept. 18- UPC Tiger Nights ● Sept. 19- Journey at VZW amphitheater ● Sept. 21- Tech Tours: An Educational Series ● Sept. 22- UPC Outdoor Movie: The Taking of Pelham 123 ● Sept. 22- Disney College Program Informational Sessions ● Sept. 22- ET York Distinguished Lecture Series: Global Environmental Issues
● I got home from the bar one night very intoxicated and I was locked outside of my house so I decided to pee in the bushes. Then all of the sudden I saw the guy I had a crush on while I am peeing next to my front door and his dog was with him. The dog came up behind me and started sniffing my butt while going to the bathroom. ● I went to go study and exchange notes with a girl I had a crush on in one of my classes, thinking this was the night to ask her out on a date. When I got to her house a guy answered the door and I thought maybe it was her roommate, and it ended up being her boyfriend. ● It was my 21st birthday and needless to say I was very inebriated. Walking home from the bar, I ran into one of the Auburn cops on patrol, who I happened to know as an acquaintance. Of course, I thought it was a great idea to start chatting with him and even began to put my arm around him. I didn’t stop the conversation even as he attempted to give out an MIP to other students with my arm around him the whole time, because I wouldn’t leave. I nearly became arrested myself until a friend pulled me away and apologized to the cop. ● I was dancing at SkyBar with a guy I had just met during the week, when an extremely fat, sweaty guy kept stomping on my feet as he danced. I put my hands up a few times to keep him from damaging my feet and getting his sweat all over me, but he didn’t get the hint. Finally, I gave him a hard push to get him off of me. It worked, but he thought it was the guy I was dancing with and began to drunkenly yell at us.
To submit your anonymous campus rants e-mail them to intrigue@theplainsman.com
The Auburn Plainsman
Thursday, September 17, 2009
Intrigue, C3
Phones buzz with mosquito ringtone Have an event you New ringtone want us to cover? meant for those under 25, allows students to hear calls in class By MAX DAVIS Staff Writer
A new ringtone comes with an odd caution. Warning: not to be used by those over the age of 25 or hard of hearing. The mosquito ringtone plays at such a high frequency that only a younger age group can hear the ringing. Andrew Golden, a junior in zoology, said he used the mosquito ringtone when he was in high school. He said it actually worked. His teacher didn’t even budge when his phone went off in the middle of math class. “I thought it was freaking hilarious,” Golden said. “All of my classmates were laughing so hard, my teacher had to calm us down.” Move over Soulja Boy and Green Day, because the mosquito ringtone is sucking up all the ringtone business. According to streetdirectory.com, the
mosquito ringtone, or Teen Buzz, is the new ringtone craze for the teens. The mosquito ringtone uses high frequencies of 17 kHz, meaning people over the age of 25 wouldn’t be able to hear the ringer. According to thefuntimesguide.com, this is due to a condition called presbycusis, or aging ear, which means the majority of people cannot hear sounds over 13 or 14 kHz. Teens finally had a way to be notified if they were receiving a text message or a phone call without their teachers knowing phones were going off during class, therefore avoiding disciplinary action. This ringtone is a hit for teens, but would college students use it? Laura Thomas, a junior in communication disorders, said she heard friends conversing about the anti-adult ringtone. Her friends told her it actually does work, but Thomas still would not use the ringer. “I like hearing my favorite songs going off on my phone,” Thomas said. “I would rather hear a soothing song than some irritating beep. I’m already up in age and eventually I wouldn’t be able to hear my own cell phone go off. That wouldn’t be a good thing.” Some students may be skeptical of the ringtone, but it has been proven to work. Although it would be a pain to find a
professor can hear the quiet ringtone, rest assured the science is correct. “I know for a fact that the mosquito ringer works, because I took an audiology course and we talked about different types of frequencies that some elderly people couldn’t hear,” said Claire Debellis, a junior in communication disorders. Although she knows the ringtone is accurate, the mosquito ringtone is not what she prefers. “Personally I wouldn’t use the mosquito ringtone,” Debellis said. “I’m used to using music as ringtones, and if I’m in class I would just put my phone on vibrate. There is no need to alert the entire class if I have a phone call.” After reading the students thoughts on the mosquito ringtone, one would think it’s not for the college students. For students curious about the ringtone and testing their hearing online visit youtube.com, which has videos demonstrating the sound. Simply search for “mosquito ringtone.” Students can test their hearing capabilities. They can also decide if the ringtone is worth the trouble of downloading to their cell phones, in order to catch calls in class. Professors can also test their hearing and find out if their students are really getting away with phone shenanigans during class.
Philosophy club ponders its own existence By OLIVIA MARTIN Associate Intrigue Editor
Kant, Nietzche and Locke may sound familiar to students, but how about Wittgenstein? No idea? Just ask the philosophy club, whose members not only expound on famous philosophers, but offer opinions on topics such as analytical philosophy, emotions and the concept of beauty. “It’s the one place where ways of studying philosophy and thinking about the world actually get to interact with the things we are concerned about in ordinary life,” said Ben Pierce, a senior in philosophy and treasurer of the organization. The club works with the Auburn chapter of Phi Sigma Tau, a philosophy honors society, and meets to discuss philosophy topics guided by speakers or students. They also sponsor an ongoing film and philosophy series, where club members and their guests watch provoking films and discuss them. “Recently, we just began philosophy club at the Gnu’s
Room. This is an informal The philosophy club gets meeting in which a few stu- the exclusive opportunity to dents and professors discuss meet with these speakers bedifferent fore the pretopics,” said sentation to Amanda go over the Hale,cobackground I certainly president information haven’t earned the and Auburn and discuss privilege to discuss alumna. the topic at Professors those things with a hand. and GTAs, Hale exboth from Ph.D. It’s an experiplained how Auburn and ence I never thought these meetother uniings and inI’d get to have.” versities, teractions are involved with student Ben Pierce, with the orand faculty senior in philosophy ganization build a close as well. community “The access we get to pro- in the philosophy departfessors in our department ment. and from other universities “I enjoy how involved in meet with us and explain the club many of the students what they’re up to,” Pierce and faculty in the philosophy said. “I certainly haven’t department are,” Hale said. earned the privilege to dis- “In the past, we have gone on cuss those things with a trips together, had parties at Ph.D. It’s an experience I nev- professors’ homes, and eaten er thought I’d get to have.” countless dinners together. The philosophy depart- During my time involved with ment brings in professors the club over the past couple from other universities or of years, I have learned nearly has one of Auburn’s own pro- as much about philosophy as fessors deliver a speech on I did inside the classroom.” various philosophical topics Rob Wallis, co-president several times a month. and a senior in philosophy
“
and economics, also cited the close community as an important aspect of the organization, but said they are also working on reaching Auburn and the community at large. “This semester we’ve been working on outreach, like going to high schools to run critical thinking workshops,” Wallis said. Wallis also encouraged students outside of the philosophy department to attend meetings and participate in club activities. “You don’t have to be a philosophy major to be involved, many students aren’t,” Wallis said. The club meets every other week either to watch a film, interact with a speaker or informally discuss current and hot-button issues about which students are concerned. The next event will be Friday, Sept. 18 with Michael Watkins, an Auburn professor lecturing on “Optimism and the Casual Theory of Properties.” For more information visit http://media.cla.auburn. edu/philosophy/club.cfm.
Want to hang out with the Three Musketeers?
Contact the Multimedia Team at multimedia@theplainsman.com or call 844-9109.
The Auburn Plainsman
Intrigue, C4
Thursday, September 17, 2009
iPhone Apps become new student obsession By SCOTT FENTON Staff Writer
Apple has made it clear over the past couple of years there is almost always “an app for that” on the iPhone. Apple’s revolutionary mobile phone has been available for more than two years. Apple’s Vice President Phil Schiller reported in a press release this past June that more than 50,000 applications are available for download on the App Store. The vast number of applications provide a variety of purposes from academic support to simple, addicting games. Jim Garrett, CEO of Kudzu Interactive Inc., has an insider’s view of what goes into creating an iPhone application. Garrett’s company has developed a Web site and a corresponding application known as Snapfinger that allows users to order food at participating restaurants wirelessly. “The actual process for creating the native portion of the iPhone app is relatively easy,” Garrett said. The Snapfinger application employs breakthrough technology allowing iPhone users to contact participating restaurants via point of sales (POS) systems. Garrett feels this technology is “monumental,” and with advancements constantly developing, it is impossible to predict what kind of apps will be available in the future.
According to Apple.com, many applications can be useful when taking a trip, whether it be in town or far away. Urbanspoon allows the iPhone user to shake the device for restaurant recommendations and directions. SnapTell can compare a product’s prices across a wide spectrum of businesses when shopping. Yelp offers business reviews when one is traveling. A particularly useful application for college students is GPark, which saves the location of one’s parking spot and directs the person back to it. With Auburn parking, this application could help save a secret spot. There are also plenty of applications that can be used around the house (or in the dorm). Pandora Radio breaks the silence with a slew of artists that fit musical tastes. AP Mobile can keep users up to date on worldwide events. The DirecTV app allows users to program their DVRs wirelessly. However, the most fascinating applications are the ones that defy genres and fill specific niches. The Shakespeare app allows for portable reading of the Bard’s plays—useful for an English major on the go. Recommended by the Apple.com staff, Gas Cubby tracks a user’s gas usage. Another unique idea, the Oblique app offers creative strategies to get the user out of a dilemma. Shazam can identify songs,
give the user information on the song and allow the user to buy the track and share with friends. Class time usually does not include the use of an iPhone, but some applications may be exceptions to that rule. Corey Smith, a freshman in business, said he uses a graphing calculator application for his calculus course. Cleartune could be used in music classes and ensembles for musicians to tune instruments. iTranslate could prove useful for students in foreign language classes, and eTextbooks can be used in lieu of paper textbooks. With so many applications available, many students are becoming obsessed with iPhone usage. “When I’m bored I use my apps a lot,” Smith said. Social networking applications like Facebook and MySpace do little to alleviate the obsession. Pricing of applications varies greatly. Many apps are free. Some, however, carry a price tag, like the TomTom GPS application that is priced at $99.99. Garrett provided insight as to why his company’s — and probably many — application is free. “The app is free because the restaurants pay us a transaction fee for every order they receive from the app,” Garrett said. So whether looking for directions, craving coffee or interested in buying a car, rest assured, there is an app for that.
Kate Davis / GRAPHICS EDITOR
iPhone applications provide a variety of service for cell phone users with over 50,000 apps.
Cook a Healthy Dinner Recipe: Blackened Tilapia Contributed by Alex McCall, junior in nursing Cook Time: 20 minutes Skill Level: Medium Serves: 4
Ingredients 4-6 Tilapia Fillets 2 Tbsp. Paprika 2 tsp. Salt 2 tsp. Lemon Pepper 1 1/2 tsp. Garlic Powder
1 1/2 tsp. Dried Basil 1 tsp. Onion Powder 1 tsp. Dried Thyme 1 cup unsalted butter, melted
Directions 1) Heat medium-sized skillet on high for 5 minutes.
3) Dip fillets in melted butter and coat with seasonings on both sides.
2) Mix all seasonings in a bowl.
4) Place fillets in hot skillet and cook 2 minutes on each side or until lightly browned.
Thursday, September 17, 2009
How
Estab Good lish Credi t
To By OLIVIA MARTIN Associate Intrigue Editor
The Auburn Plainsman
Intrigue, C5
or buyential to receiving a loan Having good credit is ess credit in rn how to establish good ing a house. Read and lea college. David it and have a plan,” said “Make a budget, stick to lending. e president of mortgage Reaves, Auburn Bank’s vic t having a I can’t say enough abou “Get on a written budget, . If you have y it is plus and minuses budget because basicall you have a than you have coming in, more (money) going out problem.” d for nt to only use a credit car Reaves said it is importa y groceries card is being used to bu emergencies. If a credit , there is a problem. and every day expenses ht out want to be paying for a nig “Ask yourself if you really college,” Reaves said. in Auburn five years after ounts. Having Take care of existing acc good standactive bank accounts in Step #1 r is not a credit ing can prove the owne nts already risk. Reaves advises stude rt-time job feeling in debt to get a pa credit card and start paying off the now. n.com, a hisAccording to financialpla job improves tory of holding a steady Step #2 approved, the likelihood of getting who is often as opposed to someone unemployed. w often a perLenders will also see ho the property son moves and whether this can be Step #3 is rented or owned. Since nt, just make difficult as a college stude nancialplan. fi sure to pay rent on time, com suggests. getting utiliEven if students do rent, #4 d paying the Step ties under their names an lish a credit bills on time won’t estab rst time borscore, but can help out fi rowers.
Step #5
nt to around “Limit your credit amou credit score $600, to maximize your 30 percent and keeping it at below credit is,” ble ila ava ur of whatever yo Reaves said.
The Auburn Plainsman
Intrigue, C6
Thursday, September 17, 2009
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
POP Week’s Band Lineup CULTURE Thursday COMMENTARY Kayne West stirs emotions when he steals winners spotlight at the 2009 VMAs By MARTIN MORROW Opinions Staff
Being black and living in Alabama the majority of my life, I’ve seen and heard the worst of racism throughout my years. I’ve been harassed by the police; I’ve been unable to date girls of races outside of my own; and yes, I’ve even been called the sinister “n-word.” But it wasn’t until I watched the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards that I came to realize why racism still exists in society today. The brilliantly talented singer/ songwriter Taylor Swift won the award for Best Female Video besting the likes of the popularly insane Lady Gaga and the insanely popular Beyoncé. The crowd applauded such a victory because Swift was truly the underdog and out of the blue came none other than the nefarious Kanye West. We all understand he is a great rapper and producer in addition to one of the biggest egos the world over. So for Kanye to jump on stage, steal the microphone from Swift, and proceed to bark about how Beyoncé’s video was one of the best videos of all time just seemed a little over the top, even for Kanye. For most, there is a breaking point and trust me, I have tried to allow Kanye to save face for me despite that it almost cracked when Kanye started a trend of wearing sunglasses that: 1) Don’t protect against the sun. 2) You can’t see out of. I still allowed Kanye a pass, but not after this stunt. So now the question is asked as to how West provided an OK for such a horrible thing as racism. Now, while I don’t condone racism, I find it to be understandable once you see things like Kanye West jumping on stage to tell Taylor Swift she isn’t worthy of an award. Something about the ignorance of West makes you angry. It makes you so angry the only
thing you can possibly blurt out is how much you hate him and anyone like him. At this point, you can’t tell who or what you should be angry toward following Beyoncé allowing Swift to do her acceptance speech when Beyoncé won Video of the Year. This should make Kanye feel even dumber. Beyoncé was obviously embarassed by Kanye’s reaction to her loss of the Best Female Video category. As you found yourself calmed and enjoying the music of Jay-Z and Alicia Keys, out of left field for NO APPARENT REASON AT ALL, Lil’ Mama jumps on stage as they end the song. If you, like many people are not familiar with who she is, Lil’ Mama is famous for making a marginal hit song about lip balm. Lil’ Mama is also a judge on a dancing show despite that she is not much of a dancer, seeing as I have yet to witness her commit to a back flip or pop lock. Therefore she has no business being on stage with Jay-Z or Alicia Keys, who probably had no clue who she was or what she was doing there. At this point, you’ve thrown down your remote and gone to register for the Klan. The ignorance of one projects upon us all, especially when that person is at the level of Kanye West. It’s why other countries hate America. You provide an ego and become the face that others can hate, and sure enough they’ll hate you and then some. Although the situation was disgusting and a strong cause for hatred toward Kanye West, a small part of me believes it was all a ruse planned by MTV. Maybe in the end, we shouldn’t hate other races based on the stupid stunts of one person, but hate the platform in which the stunts were portrayed. I’m looking at you, MTV. I’m looking at you.
Supper Club- Fallback Strutting Duck- Bingo Troubadors Flip Flops- $3 mimosa and wine spritzer daiquaris, all you can eat wings 5 p.m.- 9 p.m. for $8.99, Happy Hour till 9 p.m.
Friday Saturday Sunday
Flip Flops- $4 Jager and Vegas bombs, $5 chicken quesadilla, happy hour till 9 p.m.
SkyBar- Trotline Flip Flops- $4 Jager and Vegas bombs, $9.99 pork chop dinner with two sides, Happy Hour till 9 p.m.
Flip Flops- Fun in the Sunday, $4 Jager and Vegas bombs, $2 tall boys
REEL REVIEW
‘Whiteout points out the obvious’ thinking feel-good Disney flick, but we’re met with a terrible murder thriller set in Antarctica, of all places. At the beginning of the movie we’re open with a title card that dares insult the intelligence of the viewer by displaying an image of Antarctica and telling us under it that the place is very cold because apparently seeing the snow didn’t do enough justice. Another issue with this film is the way it tries to sell the obvious by having a character point out something and then show what the character pointed out in a crazy, long-drawn out fashion that just gives it a lame feeling. If a character mentions blood being in the snow, they really want
The summer is winding down and with that comes a wide assortment of movies from the heavily advertised to the films you probably had no clue existed, and I find it only right to indicate a few of the hits and misses of the past few weeks. I’d like to give a special thanks to the Trussville Regal Cinemas 16 in Trussville, Ala., for allowing me to watch these movies for free. Remember how I mentioned movies that most people probably didn’t know were coming out? Well sometimes that happens with good reason and such is the case of Whiteout. For starters, the title almost feels like we’re in store for a movie about a snow storm that cancels school so instantly you’re
to drive the point home that there is blood in the snow by showing you the blood in the snow, and it ends up being more cheesy than thrilling. You might jump a few
times, but the biggest jump will be from your seat to the parking lot after sitting through this.
-Review by Andrew Sims
‘Whiteout’ Rating R ★ ★ STARS HOW WE RATE:
★ - Dismal ★★ - Bearable ★★★ - Average ★★★★ - Good ★★★★★- Excellent
REEL REVIEW ‘9’ Rating R ★ ★ STARS HOW WE RATE:
★ - Dismal ★★ - Bearable ★★★ - Average ★★★★ - Good ★★★★★- Excellent
‘Dont shell out $9 to see 9’ 9, the movie, is unfortunately $9 I will never get back. Don't get me wrong, the previews were fantastic. I remember the first time I saw the trailer with the song, "Welcome Home" by Coheed and Cambria, I was like “this movie will definitely be legit.” Boy, was I wrong. The movie began abruptly in the middle of a post-apocalyptic Earth where machines have taken over and killed off all the humans, appar-
ently. I say “apparently” because the audience is thrust into the plot having no idea what's going on besides what they saw in the trailer, which again gave all the indications that the movie was going to be good. The "puppet person", 9, played by Elijah Wood, wakes up, and off we go stumbling blindly through the chaos to meet other puppet people. About 30 minutes into the movie I looked over to a friend sitting next
to me and asked them if they had any idea what was happening. I mean, I consider myself skilled in watching movies and figuring out deeper meanings, metaphors and all that kind of stuff. In this case, I was lost. We eventually were allowed a glimpse at a bit of background and we saw the robots were created by this seemingly Nazi- or Stalin- type military regime looking to use the machines for war. The machines then rebel
against the humans and off we went into another man vs. machines movie. Now I know I have been negative so I will try and be nice for a second. The visual effects were well done. The transitions in the scenes and the animation of the characters and the machines were, as I said before, legit. It's interesting to note, and I just recently learned, this is a review done by the New Jersey Star- Ledger, but director Shane Acker also has a
background in architecture, which I think came out in the machine designs and other building elements. This is definitely not something I would recommend spending money on in the theaters. We college students have enough on which to throw money away. Wait until this comes out in stores and watch it then. Get yourself some popcorn with the money you save. -Review by Andrew Sims
The Auburn Plainsman
Thursday, September 17, 2009
Intrigue, C7
Bottled water: It’s all the same, or is it? By ADAM SMITH
long, sleek bottle designed by Glacéau—the same French company that came Whoever said water is free up with Vitamin Water. was a liar. Successful as the bottled Although it may cost only water industry is today, a fraction of a penny to pour there must be more than a glass of water from the meets the eye. kitchen sink, the expense is Are people simply paying much greater to purchase a a high price for convenience, bottle of waor are other ter from the motives grocery store operating or the StuDasani and behind the dent Center. Smartwater don’t scenes? The tap All the vs. bottle de- really taste like water. b i g - t i m e bate some- They taste like their water comtimes comes panies— down to con- own drink.” Smartwater, venience. Dasani, Fiji, Blake Harris, “I will not sophomore in education Evian — use drink (botadvertisetled water) unless I’m going ments that appeal to the hiking and there’s obviously younger generation. no faucet,” said Blake HarSmartwater recently ris, a sophomore in educa- sponsored Jennifer Aniston tion. “If I know there’s a good and Tom Brady to highlight waterfall, I will drink from the importance of Smartthat. Dasani and Smartwa- water among today’s young ter don’t really taste like wa- culture. ter. They taste like (they) are On Smartwater’s Web site, their own drink.” sexy photos of Tom Brady Need to make a quick stop working out advertise the for water? One Dasani at the significance of added elecgas station usually goes for trolytes in Smartwater. A 79 cents, and that’s about as photo of Jennifer Aniston cheap as it gets. surrounded by a smiling “I prefer Dasani because it group of girls advertises just tastes pure,” said Sarah Smartwater’s new proacKatheryn Heinss, a junior tive goal: “Action for Healthy in psychology. “It’s more ex- Kids,” a nonprofit organizapensive, but I think it tastes tion to combat obesity. better.” No one can forget Evian, Fiji? That’ll be 99 cents — another French bottled waplus tax. There goes two per- ter company which adverfectly fine $1 bills. tises to young people. Smartwater from the StuBut Evian takes its adverdent Center goes for $1.99, tising a step further, putwhich might not be as ridic- ting precocious babies on ulous as it sounds, given the roller skates, jamming out to Staff Writer
“
boom boxes and performing other physical feats that babies definitely can’t do. “We have consumers of all ages,” said a spokeswoman for Dasani. “We do not target any particular age.” However, the Dasani Web site features background music by “Cool Young” and “Beautiful,” plugging the overarching themes of youthfulness, crispness and purity. Dasani said its water implements the purest filtration process according to the FDA called reverse osmosis. Reverse osmosis is supposed to remove impurities so thoroughly that less than 10 parts per million of dissolved solids are left behind. On the other side, Smartwater’s Web site claims it takes premium water to an entirely new level. According to glaceau. com, using a unique combination of vapor distillation plus electrolytes results in a pure, crisp tasting water that works harder for the body. Most bottled water company claims to benefit the environment in some way. Among other things, Dasani is trying to conserve several critical freshwater river basins. Fiji has devoted an entire sub-department to its environmental efforts called Fiji Green. Fiji Green promises to be more carbon negative, to help save the rainforest and to recycle more — all under the slogan “Every drop is green.”
Gnu’s Room holds open mic night for local artists Gnu’s Room gives Auburn opportunity to see local performing art. By DAVID CRAYTON Staff Writer
In Auburn, there are plenty of places people can go to have fun and be care free. For those who just want to relax, there’s the Gnu’s Room. The Gnu’s Room on South Gay Street hosted its monthly Expressions Café, which featured special guest Doc Waller, Friday, Sept. 4. Tina Tatum, co-owner and managing partner of the Gnu’s Room, said the Expressions Café event is a monthly event occurring every first Friday. “We have an open mic night once a month,” Tatum said. “It’s the first Friday of every month. We encourage local musicians, poets, writers, actors, any kind of performer to come and participate in that event.” Although the Gnu’s Room holds its Expressions Café
event every first Friday, this particular day was the only time Doc Waller could perform at the bookstore. “Normally on the first Friday night of every month, we do have an open mic,” Tatum said. “But, this was the only night he had available.” Tatum said Doc Waller has been a familiar face around the bookstore for two years. “Well, actually, he found us about two years ago,” Tatum said. “He had a performance called Love Langston. He tries to come here as often as he can.” Tatum explains Doc Waller’s performance has a purpose behind it, which is aimed toward exposing people to art. “The whole purpose of it is to promote the arts and all forms here in Lee County,” Tatum said. “So he’s really working on introducing people to different art forms.” Sara Lee Ann Barnett, a barista at the Gnu’s Room, explained how Waller not only wanted to promote the arts, but he also wanted to promote his work. “He’s recording an open word CD,” Barnett said. “He’s also doing a book release.” According to Doc Waller’s Web site, Waller has worked with a lot of companies over his career, including the Paul Taylor Dance Theater and
the Boys and Girls Club. Currently, he serves as the executive artistic director and founder of the Layman Group, a new arts organization based in the Lee County area. Tatum said the events held at the bookstore serve to expose local talent; therefore, most of the events are free. “Almost everything we do here is free,” Tatum said. “We want to expose people to all the local we have.” Josh Peterson, a biology graduate student, is a regular customer at the bookstore along with his family. He thinks the community feel is a key aspect of the Gnu’s Room. “We come in three, four times a week,” Peterson said. “It really is like a community atmosphere.” Barnett describes the bookstore as a place of love and serenity. “During the day time, it’s like walking into someone’s living room,” Barnett said. “There’s nothing but love in this café at all time. It’s kind of like one of those things you would never expect to see here. This place is full of loving people who care about each other.” Tatum said the Gnu’s Room has been open for 15 years. The business began as a fax copying center.
The Auburn Plainsman INTRIGUE STAFF
Helen northcutt Editor Olivia Martin Associate Editor
Callie garrett Assistant Editor
To reach the staff, call 334-844-9109.
The Environmental Working Group gives Fiji a “B” rating because it list its water sources.
Four of every five bottled waters do not publish results of water quality testing.
Bottled water can cost up to 1,900 times more than tap water.
The Environmental Working Group gives Dasani a “C” rating because it does not list its water source.
30 percent of bottled waters provide no information on water source whatsoever.
All information courtesy of ewg.org
Intrigue, C8
The Auburn Plainsman
Thursday, September 17, 2009
Wasting Time Weekly Horoscopes Aries (March 21 - April 19): The week ahead may encourage feelings of insecurity, but also offers the chance of a fresh start. Friday is perfect for beginning a new fitness routine.
Taurus (April 20 - May 20): Your friends may have a few surprises for you this week. They are gradually encouraging you to open up to new ideas and helping you overcome a fear of change. Be brave and jump.
Virgo (Aug. 23 - Sept. 22): Life is certainly not going to be boring this week. It is not only your lover who is full of surprises, but also other people in your life seem to be acting out of character.
Gemini (May 21- June 20): This is an intense week with a lot of activity taking place at home. Your career goals may be instrumental in any of the above. Don’t buy or sell just yet - wait until after Sept. 29.
Scorpio (Oct. 23 - Nov. 21): You may be bored with the groups or friends you are linked to, finding their ideas and ideals too narrow. You don’t want to be too bound to any group no matter how free and enlightened they are.
Libra (Sept. 23 - Oct. 23): Be careful if you need to sign documents or commit to projects or schedules. If you have no option, keep all your paperwork and be prepared for changes to your original plan.
Leo (July 23 - Aug. 22): You are learning that money is energy and the more deeply you explore this issue the more you get to realize that you have access to infinite abundance.
Cancer (June 21 - July 22): If you have tied yourself in knots, you may find yourself catapulted into a new situation. A gradual change in your belief system that has a profound effect on your world will change.
Sagittarius (Nov. 22 - Dec. 21): Job and career issues continue to be of real importance. You have been under pressure for some time. This week an undercurrent of change will gradually assert itself.
Aquarius (Jan. 20 - Feb. 18): You may be actively seeking a way out that also enables you to become financially independent. If you are traveling abroad, be ready for detours.
Pisces (Feb. 19 - March 20): Partnership issues dominate this week. Relationships of all kinds may seem a little shaky as you seek to bring about changes that are long overdue.
Capricorn (Dec. 22 - Jan. 19): Don’t be led astray on Tuesday and encouraged to part with your money without knowing what you are getting yourself into. It could save you a lot of trouble.
OCTO Instructions Place the numbers 1 to 8 in each of the octagons such that the numbers are not repeated in any row, column or diagonal. The numbers along the edges, top, and bottom are the sums for the numbers in the diagonal that begins or ends at that number. The number in each diamond is the sum of the numbers of each of the four faces that border that diamond. The numbers that border the diamonds do not have to be unique. Number of numbers provided = 64 For more OCTOs, go to home.comcast.net/ ~douglasdgardner/site
ACROSS 1 Pie baker 5 Relocate 10 Frigid area 12 Showed the way 13 Mariachi way 14 Alludes to 15 Mail a letter 16 Wood ash product 18 Fleming or Woosnam 19 Philatelist’s item 21 Big occasion 25 Satisfy 29 List price 31 Had poison ivy 33 Lure 34 That is to say 35 Made conversation 37 Charter 38 Mop the deck 40 Fish eggs 43 Yvette’s date 44 Poker stake 48 More unyield-
ing 50 Triplets 52 Suffused 53 Lampoon 54 Painter’s ground 55 Chatty pet DOWN 1 Sandwich cookie 2 Playback machines 3 Iowa, to Jacques 4 Touch of frost 5 Take legal action 6 Stereo (hyph.) 7 Project starter 8 Frond producer 9 NFL scores 10 Copperhead relative 11 Stonehenge builder 12 Mischevious one 17 Puppy noise 19 Boonies
20 Flower parts 21 Sooner than anon 22 Let off steam 23 Jazzy - James 24 Makeshift coat hanger 26 Zenith 27 Baseball stadium 28 Ocean dwellers 30 Away from the wind 32 Apply henna 36 Obstruction 39 Morsels 40 Icy crystals 41 Poet’s eyes 42 Ostrich kin 44 Bohemian 45 No, on the Rhine 46 Prefix for “trillion” 47 Compass pt. 48 Fruit-bearing tree 49 Want ad letters 51 Deli order
For answers visit www.theplainsman.com
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Coach’s Corner ABCs of Auburn Football Editor’s Picks AU Club Rugby
SPORTS
D
Thursday, September 17, 2009
WVU makes first trip to The Plains Patrick Dever sports@theplainsman.com
By NICK VAN DER LINDEN Associate Sports Editor
Tigers play 3 quarters, enough for W Auburn’s victory over Mississippi State answers some of the questions from the Louisiana Tech game, but also opens up new questions. The running game is amazing. Two straight weeks with two backs rushing for more than 100 yards each is incredible. Senior running back Ben Tate didn’t even play in the first quarter and still finished the game with 159 yards. With that said, there is no reason Tate and freshman running back Onterio McCalebb shouldn’t continue this trend into the next two games. Auburn is currently lead> Turn to DEVER, D2
Auburn will host the West Virginia Mountaineers (2-0, 1-0 Big East) who will make their first ever visit to The Plains this Saturday. The Tigers are coming off a win against conference foe Mississippi State, defeating them 49-24 while racking up an impressive 589 yards of total offense. Auburn currently ranks second in the nation in rushing offense (345.5) and fourth nationally in total offense (572.5). Head Coach Gene Chizik said after Saturday’s game the final numbers show that the offense was effective in a number of ways, although there was still a lot of room for improvement, something they would look at closely in preparation for Saturday’s game against West Virginia. Junior wide receiver/ quarterback Kodi Burns accounted for four of Auburn’s touchdowns in Saturday’s
Previous Game Stats
vs. Miss. State
vs. East Carolina
OFFENSE
OFFENSE
First Downs: 29 Rushing Attempts: 59 Rushing Yds.: 390 Passing Attempts: 24 Passes Completed: 11 Passing Yds.: 199 Total Yds.: 589 Penalties-Yds.: 5-40
First Downs: 25 Rushing Attempts: 37 Rushing Yds.: 175 Passing Attempts: 31 Passes Completed: 24 Passing Yds.: 334 Total Yds.: 509 Penalties-Yds.: 11-104
DEFENSE
DEFENSE
Interceptions: 2 Fumbles caused: 0 Touchdowns: 1 Total Yds. against: 297
Interceptions: 1 Fumbles caused: 0 Touchdowns: 0 Total Yds. against: 237
game against Mississippi State, throwing for one and running for three. Burns now has 12 career rushing touchdowns, four this season.
The Tiger’s running game was solid as they put up 390 yards in last week’s game, becoming the only team in > Turn to FOOTBALL, D2
Tigers: 49 Bulldogs: 24
Rod Gujardo / PHOTO EDITOR
Junior Kodi Burns scores one of his three touchdowns against Mississippi State Saturday. The Tigers won 49-24.
Rod Guajardo / PHOTO EDITOR
Freshman running back Onterio McCalebb hurdles a defender during Saturday’s win over the Bulldogs.
McCalebb wins conference award By CRYSTAL COLE Staff Writer
Freshman running back Onterio McCalebb has shot out of the gate and into Auburn history books after the conference opener Saturday. McCalebb became the first freshman in Auburn history to rush for more than 100 yards in his first two career games. He rushed for 157 yards on 16 carries against Mississippi State with an additional 81 yards on kick returns. In his debut against Louisiana Tech, he rushed for 148 yards on 22 carries and was named SEC Freshman of the Week. He was the first Auburn freshman to rush for more than 100 yards in a season opener since Bo Jackson in 1982. McCalebb was also able to get a 48-yard touchdown run against Mississippi State, which was the longest single run of the night. “I give all the credit to the offensive line,” McCalebb said. “If it wasn’t for them, I wouldn’t be able to get a single yard. They hit all their blocks for me, and I was able to get down the field.” After the 37-13 win over Louisiana Tech, Head Coach Gene Chizik said he was proud of McCalebb, and he thinks he has a chance to
be a great football player at Auburn. McCalebb’s stepmother and younger brother were in the stands to see him score his first Auburn touchdown. It hasn’t always been football and smiles; his early years were anything but easy. Growing up in Fort Meade, Fla., McCalebb said he remembers living in a trailer and periods without electricity and times where his mother couldn’t afford food for he and his brothers. He was taken from his mother in fourth grade because of her drug addiction and went back and forth between his grandmother and father. McCalebb said he made a promise to himself that he would never do drugs. He said he didn’t want to end up like some of the kids at his high school who were good football players, but ended up on the streets after graduation. That’s why he turned down offers from schools in Florida. McCalebb said he has dedicated his life to his mother since coming to Auburn, and he hopes to one day be able to provide for her. “Without her, I wouldn’t be doing this at all,” Mc> Turn to McCALEBB, D2
Soccer battles Duke Blue Devils on Friday By AUBRIE DAVIS Staff Writer
A full week of uninterrupted practice will prepare the women’s soccer team for the upcoming game against Duke. The team travels to Durham, N.C., Friday to battle Duke and the University of North Carolina Sunday. “We’re really excited,” said Head Coach Karen Hoppa. “Duke is one of the top soccer programs in the country, so this is a great opportunity for us to play at a really high level of competition.”
Last season Duke had a 156-3 record and a 4-3-3 finish in the ACC. They were was ranked No. 14 in the Soccer America Poll and No. 16 in the NSCAA preseason ranking. Thus far, Duke has had five wins and three losses. The team is currently ranked 10 out of 11 in the ACC. “I’m very excited for the challenge,” said senior forward Becca Howell. “I know a couple players from Duke, and I think it’s going to be a really exciting game.” The entire team shares that excitement.
“We’re all looking forward to it, and we’re really excited to be able to show that we can play competitively in the ACC,” said junior defender and captain Sammy Towne. Towne thinks the team has nothing to worry about, and the Tigers will pull out a win. “If we keep defending the way we have been, we’re going to be perfectly OK,” Towne said. Hoppa said the team will not prepare any differently for Duke than it does for any other opponent. “We will watch films, get a
scouting report and prepare accordingly,” Hoppa said. Howell said she likes to visualize herself scoring goals. She said she will go to keeper training every day this week to shoot an extra 100 goals before practice. “When it comes time to score during a game, it will be somewhat of a habit,” Howell said. As a team, preparation for games goes differently. “We’ll do scouting, figure out their formations, how to > Turn to SOCCER, D6
Printed on Recycled Paper
Rod Guajardo / PHOTO EDITOR
Senior forward Stephanie Fransoso boots the ball past a Texas Tech defender during Sunday’s 3-2 win.
The Auburn Plainsman
Sports, D2
McCALEBB Calebb said. Before coming to Auburn, he spent a semester in Hargrove Military Academy in Virginia. He entered Auburn in January 2009 and began spring workouts. McCalebb said Chizik sat down and talked with him about his hardships. He said since coming to Auburn things have settled down. Sophomore wide receiver Darvin Adams said McCalebb is focused on football and works hard for a lot of different reasons. “He’s only, like, 140 pounds, but he has the biggest heart a person can have,” Adams said. “He’s got his head on right.” McCalebb and senior quar-
terback Chris Todd have the chance to work together in the back field, and Todd said McCalebb has really stepped up for a freshman. “He’s brought a different wrinkle to our offense and we are able to do different things with him,” Todd said. “It’s really hard for a freshman to come in and make that big of an impact.” Auburn Athletic Director Jay Jacobs said he thinks McCalebb’s accomplishments on the field are second to none. “It was his first game and obviously he is a phenomenal athlete,” Jacobs said. “Just look for bigger and better things from him.” McCalebb has credited his success to a reliable offensive line. On his breakaway 48-yard
touchdown run, the key block came from junior wide receiver Kodi Burns. Burns said McCalebb is a special young player and is doing a good job staying humble. “He’s really hungry and wants to get on the field, learn more and has done a good job thus far,” Burns said. Fellow freshman, tight end Philip Lutzenkirchen said he understands the pressure McCalebb is going through with all the limits on his time, but said McCalebb deserves all the attention he has been getting. “Whenever he gets the ball he is always a threat to score, and he works really hard,” Lutzenkirchen said, who caught his first Auburn touchdown against Mississippi State.
McCalebb rose out of a difficult childhood and has emerged as a player who has the second most rushing yards in the SEC after his first two career games. He said he just wants to play ball to the best of his abilities. McCalebb said he is proud of his accomplishments on the field, but his favorite moment here at Auburn didn’t come from a game. He said what he has enjoyed most were the team functions before the school year and season kickoff. Chizik took the whole team and all of the coaches to the movies and a water park. “It was just like having a family, and I didn’t really have a family growing up,” McCalebb said. “It meant a lot to me.”
Senior quarterback Chris “There were some good Todd was 10-of-23 for 186 things, and some things that yards and no interceptions, we’re going to have to get betwhile sophomore wide re- ter at,” Roof said. “Anytime ceiver Darvin you get a deAdams had fensive score, you’re really his first caAnytime you excited about reer 100-yard r e c e i v i n g get a defensive score, that. I thought game with a we played total of 116 you’re really excited well, but we yards. were a couple about that.” Followof plays away ing Sunday really Ted Roof from night’s pracbeing good. defensive coordinator tice, defenWe’ve got to get some missive coordinator Ted Roof said that after takes cleaned up this week reviewing the film of the vic- on the practice field, and tory over Mississippi State, we’re going to do that.” As the Mountaineers come he felt the Tigers played well, but there was room for im- to The Plains, they bring with provement. them a unique 3-3-5 defense
and an offense led by fifthyear senior quarterback Jarrett Brown. Brown was 24-of-31 for 334 yards and four touchdowns passing while also running 10 times for 73 yards in last week’s 35-20 win over East Carolina University. Brown’s 407 yards of total offense tied Mike Sherwood (University of Pittsburgh, 1968) for the third-best single-game performance in school history. The senior is now averaging 359.5 yards of total offense per game. On the defensive side of the ball, West Virginia’s linebackers Reed Williams and Scooter Berry are in for treatment, and Head Coach Bill Stewart
said he would know more on their status after practice. The Mountaineer defense will bring pressure from all angles, and they were able to shut down Auburn’s attempt to pound it up the middle in their 34-17 win last year. This year, Auburn has a new offense with a new coordinator which is not only physical, but also has the ability to use motion and misdirection to get the defense flowing the wrong way. “(The wildcat) is dynamic because you have to prepare for it, and it takes away from actual preparation,” Stewart said in Sunday’s teleconference. “If you’re at Auburn, and you put Chris Todd in there, and all of the sudden
Kodi Burns comes in, as a defense you have to switch gears. Remember, Kodi can pass the ball as well.” West Virginia was 2-3 on the road last year accounting for three of its four losses, and the atmosphere at JordanHare will play a big factor. “We’re going into one of the toughest arenas in the country this Saturday,” Stewart said, “and I think our guys know that and they are ready to play. They (Auburn) will be waiting for us, just like we have waited for people that have beaten us in the past. It’s going to be a fun game in a great arena.” Saturday’s game will be televised by ESPN2 and will kick off at 6:45 p.m. CDT.
>From D1
Rod Guajardo / PHOTO EDITOR
Freshman running back Onterio McCalebb carries the ball during Auburn’s 49-24 victory over Mississippi State Saturday.
FOOTBALL >From D1
the country with two players averaging more than 100 yards rushing per game, making Auburn the only school in the country with two rushers averaging 100 yards per game Senior running back Ben Tate leads the SEC, ranking seventh nationally in rushing (137.0) and 10th in school history with 2,233 career yards. Joining him is freshman running back Onterio McCalebb who leads the SEC in all-purpose yards (196.0) and is the first freshman in Auburn history to rush for more than 100 yards in the first two games of his career.
Thursday, September 17, 2009
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Volleyball opens SEC play with Miss. State By JENNA MORAN Staff Writer
The Auburn volleyball team will travel to Starkville, Miss., to begin Southeastern Conference play against the Mississippi State Bulldogs tomorrow at 7 p.m. The Tigers overall record is currently 8-3. Auburn most recently participated in the Bash in the Boro Tournament at Georgia Southern. The Tigers competed against Coastal Carolina, Wake Forest and the hosting team, Georgia Southern. “It was good to play a match to five at a high level against Georgia Southern,” said Head Coach Wade Benson. “That match will help us prepare for the upcoming weekend when we start conference play.” The first day of the tournament, Auburn defeated Coastal Carolina 3-0. After the second and final day of the tournament, Auburn added two more wins to its season with wins against both Wake Forest 3-0 and Georgia Southern 3-2. By the end of the tournament the Tigers not only came out with three outstanding victories, but also had two players named to the all-tournament team. Freshman outside hitter Sarah Bullock and junior defensive specialist Liz Crouch were both named to the all-tournament team. Freshman outside hitter Katherine Culwell was named to SEC’s Freshman of the Week for the second time this season. Culwell was awarded the Bash in the Boro Most Valuable Player. She finished with 15 kills against Coastal Carolina and 12 kills against Georgia Southern. After an excellent finish to the Georgia Southern ‘Bash in the Boro’ tournament, the Tigers prepare for SEC play with their first opponent, Mississippi State.
“I think for us it’s not necessarily about the opponent as much as we just need to take care of our side of the court,” Crouch said. “Winning our first SEC match will be a great confidence boost for our team especially going into Alabama on Sunday.” The Mississippi State Lady Bulldogs are currently 4-7 after their final tournament in the regular season. They most recently played against Arkansas State, Northwestern State and Eastern Michigan at the Mississippi State Bulldog Invitational this weekend. Mississippi State went 2-1 in the weekend tournament, losing to Arkansas State last Friday, the first day of the tournament. The Bulldogs then went on to defeat both Northwestern State and Eastern Michigan last Saturday on the final day of the tournament. Mississippi State’s volleyball team is coached by Jenny Hazelwood, who began coaching the Lady Bulldogs this year. The team is led by junior middle blocker Ashley Newsome and senior outside blocker Ioana Demian, who combined for 38 kills against Eastern Michigan and were both named to the MSU Bulldog Invitational alltournament team. Demian finished Saturday night’s match against Eastern Michigan with a career-high 20 kills and a hitting percentage of .450. Newsome completed the match with 18 kills and 15 digs and a careerbest 19 kills against Northwestern State. The Bulldog Invitational marked the end of six straight home matches for Mississippi State. Auburn’s No. 1 priority still remains playing as a team. “Our biggest goal going into this weekend is to play together,” Crouch said. “We need to have a united team effort in order to compete with anyone in the SEC.”
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ing the SEC in rushing. Tate and McCalebb are leading the SEC in individual rush yards respectively. McCalebb is also the league leader in all-purpose yards by a margin of 104 total yards, 108 yards ahead of Tate. Yards are one thing, but if the team can’t put it in the endzone they mean nothing, and junior wide receiver/quarterback Kodi Burns comes in to play when those touchdowns are needed. Burns has four rushing touchdowns in two games and is tied for first in the SEC for most points scored. All the credit for the offensive production this year should go to the offensive line. There is no way so many rushing yards could be accumulated without their hard work in the trenches. Their pass protection has been excellent this year too. They haven’t given up a sack yet. Speaking of passing, there
were many passes that should have been caught Saturday that were dropped. Auburn had 589 total yards of offense and only 199 came from the passing game. If those dropped passes would have been caught, the offense would have eclipsed the 600 yard mark. On the other side of the ball, Auburn played solid defense. It wasn’t the best showing, but it got the job done. The first quarter was terrific; Mississippi State couldn’t get anything going. Senior defensive end Antonio Coleman recorded the first interception of his career and ran it back for the second touchdown of his career. The first 10 minutes of the second quarter were awful though. Players missed tackles and Coleman was called for a face mask penalty that led to the Bulldog’s first touchdown. The offense picked up their play in the last five minutes of the half and was able to score two touchdowns and take an 11-point lead into the half.
To reiterate what I said last week, the coaches earned their paychecks during halftime. The defense came out of the half and shut down Mississippi State’s offense. A small slip up at the start of fourth quarter that led to a touchdown was the only blemish of the second half. Kickoff coverage wasn’t anything to be proud of Saturday. Mississippi State averaged 26.6 yards on kickoff returns. With Auburn’s average kickoff of 67.9 yards, that puts the Bulldogs average starting field position at the 28.7 yard line. In a game of inches, that is unacceptable. Changes are going to have to be made in order to beat West Virginia. West Virginia’s defense is stout against the run, but is susceptible to the passing game. In order to beat the Mountaineers, Auburn is going to have to make the right adjustments to the passing game and be able to corral junior running back Noel Devine.
The Auburn Plainsman SPORTS STAFF
ABBY ALBRIGHT Editor
9/18 vs. Southern Methodist University @ 10 a.m.
NICK VAN DER LINDEN Associate Editor
PATRICK DEVER Assistant Editor
9/18 vs. Texas Christian University @ 3 p.m. 9/19 vs. West Virginia University @ 6:45 p.m.
To reach the staff, call 334-844-9109.
Follow us on Twitter! @plainsmansports
The Auburn Plainsman
Thursday, September 17, 2009
Sports, D3
Follow the sports section on Twitter! @plainsmansports
Horsing around with Williams By MICHAEL HANSBERRY
lucky to have a job like this.” Williams said winning naStaff Writer tional championships is a dream and to have accomplished that Equestrian Head Coach Greg is a satisfying feeling that makes Williams describes himself as him want to keep going. Prior to becoming head competitor who loves to win. coach, the ParaHe measures gould, Ark., native his success in the was a horse trainer achievements of and manager of the the girls he trains. horse center. Williams is the A typical day for first and only head Williams begins at coach of the wom5:30 a.m. with team en’s equestrian workouts and then, team. while the girls are He established in class, he attends the charter team WILLIAMS staff meetings until 15 years ago in the afternoon when practice 1996, and it became recognized starts at 12:30 p.m., which noras a varsity sport six years later mally runs for four hours. in 2002. He said the best part of his job Before Williams, Auburn is working with students, and didn’t have an equestrian team the most challenging is overof any type. coming obstacles. “I’ve always been in the horse He is back in school working business, and I love working with students,” Williams said, on his master’s degree thanks “And there was a group of girls to the late Virgil Starks who inthat wanted to start an intercol- spired him. legiate equestrian team. This “I was talking to him about sport has evolved so much. It’s academics and the girls and a completely different animal working on motivating them,” now than it was when we start- Williams said. “He kept listened.” ing and nodding and said ‘When Williams also started a rodeo are you getting your master’s, team around the same time, but coach?’ And that afternoon he because of the girls’ success and had me signed up for classes.” work ethic on the equestrian The first meet of the year is team, he decided to end the ro- Sept. 18 against Texas Christian deo team and pursue the eques- University, which he said is one trian team. of the strongest western teams The team is comprised of 40 in the country. female athletes and 35 fourLater that afternoon, the girls legged athletes. will play Southern Methodist “They made you want to work University, which he said they for them because they put so beat last year, but it will be inmuch into it,” Williams said. “To teresting to see what they’ve see the girls have success in and done with their recruits and out of the arena makes me feel coaching changes.
Getting to know Williams 1. What is your favorite TV show? I used to love West Wing, but it’s off now.
2. What do you do during your free time? I used to love to hunt and fish, but I never really make time for that anymore. My wife and I just recently took up diving. So that might be my newest hobby.
3. What is your favorite Auburn Tradition? My favorite tradition is the eagle flying.
4. What’s your favorite word? My favorite two words are ‘We Won.’
5. BlackBerry or iPhone? I seem to live on my BlackBerry.
6. What do you think about Ellen taking over Paula Abdul’s place on American Idol? I hope her wit can kick Simon’s butt.
7. Your biggest pet peeve? Not taking responsibility.
8. Who is your favorite musician? Hank Williams Sr.
9. What is the best concert you ever attended? My favorite is Kid Rock and Rev. Run.
10. How would you describe success? How the girls turn out in 10 years.
Fans show support with gameday buttons By BRIAN DESARRO Staff Writer
From Tiger Walk to rolling Toomer’s Corner, Auburn fans can always find time for gameday traditions. For more than 20 years, the Auburn University Bookstore has added to these traditions by giving fans a different way to show their spirit. Gameday buttons, free to fans in the Auburn University Bookstore every home game, feature slogans about the day’s game and are prized possessions of both students and alumni. “Auburn loves tradition and this has been one that is mostly good-spirited and fun,” said Katie Lee, bookstore director. “You can show your Auburn spirit right there on your shirt.” Saturday’s game against Mississippi State had students and alumni wearing buttons declaring a “State of Confusion.” The tradition began in 1987 with Bob Ritenbaugh as a way to bring customers into the store, Lee said. And bring customers into the store it did. The buttons go out each Saturday morning and are on a first come, first serve basis for fans. “There are quite a few fans
ROD GUAJARDO / PHOTO EDITOR
Fans can submit phrases to be put on gameday buttons. This button was from the Auburn vs. Louisiana State game, Sept. 5.
and alumni who come in and make a beeline for the store to get their game buttons,” Lee said. “Later on in the day, when it gets closer to kick-off, we’re way out.” To accommodate for the high demand, the bookstore varies the number of buttons ordered every game. For traditional opponents, like Florida or Alabama, 5,000 to 6,000 are made. For less traditional opponents, like Ball State and Louisiana Tech, as few as 3,500 are made. “We get extremely, extremely busy three to four hours before kick-off and everyone is looking for the buttons,” said Scott Saavedra, a senior in history. “You get some really disappointed
people when we run out.” Alumni see the buttons as an integral part of any home game and don’t feel the same if they miss out on any. “I don’t really dress up for games, but I have to have a button,” said alumna Jessica Battles, class of 2009. “I consider the gameday button part of gameday attire, and I get very upset when they run out.” Alumna Christie Baker, also class of 2009, collected buttons from every game while she was a student. “It’s neat to see them through the years and have keepsakes for all the games,” Baker said. However, she was unable to get one at the opening game against Louisiana Tech.
“I was frustrated because I wanted to continue my collection when I got out of Auburn, but I wasn’t able to get one,” Baker said. Many people who collect the buttons remember favorite slogans from years past. Lee said she has two favorites: “Easy Like Sunday Morning” from a Vanderbilt game and “Taste Like Chicken” from a Florida game. Some alumni, however, have a harder time picking a favorite. “I probably have about 30 buttons, and I don’t think I could pick just one,” Battles said. “I really like all of them.” If you are unable to make it to campus on gameday, the bookstore does pass out buttons to different departments the Friday before for pre-distribution. However, Lee said she likes to keep a majority of the rights to distribution in the store for individual fan use. Otherwise, Lee said fans are out of luck if looking to score one after the game is over. “We used to try and keep one of every game button in shadowboxes, but there is usually one person who still needs one late in the day,” Lee said. “So to make customers happy, I have had to sacrifice having a complete set.”
The Auburn Plainsman
Sports, D4
Thursday, September 17, 2009
The ABCs of Auburn B
Aubie: Auburn’s award-winning
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Tiger mascot. Aubie has won a record six national championships, more than any other mascot in the U.S. Aubie was among the first three college mascots inducted to the Hall of Fame. He was inducted Aug. 15, 2006. Aubie is the goodwill ambassador for Auburn University. You will see him at every football game and around campus giving people hugs.
Bodda-Getta: Bodda-Getta Bodda-Getta Bodda-Betta Bah Rah Rah Rah Sis Boom Bah Weagle Weagle War Damn Eagle Kick ‘em in the Butt Big Blue! Hey!
Chizik: Gene Chizik is in his first year as Auburn head coach after serving as Auburn’s defensive coordinator from 2002-2004 where he helped guide the Tigers to a 13-0 record in the 2004 season while earning the Frank Broyles Award as the nation’s top assistant coach.
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Rod Guajardo / PHOTO EDITOR
Rod Guajardo / PHOTO EDITOR
Defense:
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The Tigers rank 19th nationally in pass defense (139.5), 26th in pass efficiency defense (98.21) and 39th in total defense (271.0), holding each of their first two opponents under 300 yards of total offense. All of this while Auburn has been without several projected starters.
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Georgia :
The Auburn - Georgia game, also known as The Deep South’s Oldest Rivalry, was first played Feb. 20, 1892, at Piedmont Park in Atlanta, Ga., with Auburn winning 10-0. The only things preventing the two teams from playing every year since 1898 were both World Wars.
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Entrance:
The Auburn team began a new tradition in 2000, entering the field from the middle of the south end zone through a cloud of smoke, led by Aubie and the Auburn Cheerleaders.
Fans:
Rod Guajardo / PHOTO EDITOR
Heisman: The John W. Heisman Memorial trophy is given each year to the outstanding college football player of the year. Two Auburn players have won the trophy since its inception: quarterback Pat Sullivan in 1971 and running back Bo Jackson in 1985. Auburn is the only school out of the 9 where John Heisman coached that has produced a Heisman Trophy winner. Heisman coached at Auburn from 1895-1899. In his five years at Auburn his record was 12-4-2.
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JordanHare Stadium is the fifth largest CONTRIBUTED city in Alabama on football Saturdays, and Auburn fans love to tailgate. Here to help this season are the Tailgate guys who look to provide a fun and convenient way of tailgating on gameday.
Iron Bowl: The Iron Bowl is the name given for the annual college football game between Auburn and Alabama. The series is considered one of the best and most hard-fought rivalries in all of college football. The game is played at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa every evennumbered year and at Jordan-Hare Stadium in Auburn every oddnumbered year.
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PLAINSMAN ARCHIVES
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JordanHare Stadium: Jordan-
Hare Stadium is the nation’s 10th-l argest on-campus stadium with a capacity of 87,451 and is entering its 70th year as home to the Auburn Tigers. Auburn has a winning percentage of nearly 80 percent in Jordan-Hare since 1939.
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KickOff:
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Right before every kickoff at football games the fans will wave their shakers and yell WAR EAGLE until the kicker kicks the ball.
Lovelace Museum: Auburn’s
Lovelace Museum, opened in April 1996, shows the University’s rich athletic history featuring displays that take visitors from the training table to the Olympic Games with Auburn athletes past and present. The museum is located off the lobby area of the Auburn Athletic Complex and is open during regular business hours.
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M i c Ma n :
Daniel Friday is this year’s Mic Man. He will lead the students in the cheers during sporting events and pep rallies.
Blakeley Sisk / ASSISTANT CAMPUS EDITOR
Night Games: Auburn is a tough team to beat in Jordan-Hare at night. The Tigers have a record of 17-3 since the 2000 season in home games starting past 6 p.m. or later, which now includes wins over Louisiana Tech and Mississippi State. Auburn holds a 4-1 record when it comes to ranked opponents in these games, with wins over No. 1 Florida in 2001, No. 2 Florida in 2006, No. 7 Tennessee in 2003 and No. 14 Georgia in 2000.
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Offense: With new offensive
Pat Dye Field: Pat Dye
Field at Jordan-Hare Stadium is named after former legendary Auburn football coach and athletics director Pat Dye. Dye was head coach and athletics director at Auburn from 1981-1992, leading the Tigers to four Southeastern Conference Championships, a 84-22-3 record and a .784 winning percentage, the third best in the country during that time.
coordinator Gus Malzahn, the Tigers rank second in the nation in rushing offense (345.5) and fourth nationally in total offense (572.5). Senior running back Ben Tate leads the SEC and ranks seventh nationally in rushing (137.0) with help from a solid offensive line who have not given up a sack this season, making Auburn one of just seven schools nationally to do so. Blakeley Sisk / ASSISTANT PHOTO EDITOR
The Auburn Plainsman
Thursday, SEptember 17, 2009
sports , d5
University Football Senior quarterback Chris Todd is off to his best start yet. Todd had completed 27 of his 49 pass attempts for 441 yards, averaging 16.3 yards per completion. He threw for a career high 255 yards and two scores in the season opener against Louisiana Tech, surpassing his previous career high of 250 yards against LSU last season. He also has not thrown an interception this season.
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Rolling To om er ’s:
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Quarterback:
Auburn fans come together after every significant sports victory to roll the trees at Toomer’s Corner with toilet paper. Celebrations go on for hours, and a snow storm looks as if it passed through Auburn.
Spirit: One of Auburn’s eagles that circles the field before every home game landing at midfield. Nova is currently War Eagle VII, earning that title before the Georgia game in 2006. Tiger, or War Eagle VI, was retired in 2008.
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PLAINSMAN ARCHIVES
Blakeley Sisk / ASSISTANT PHOTO EDITOR
Tiger Walk: One of Auburn’s most popular traditions is the Tiger Walk, in which fans gather two hours before football games to cheer on the players as they walk into Jordan-Hare Stadium. The tradition began in the early ’60s when Auburn players would walk from Sewell Hall to the football stadium and fans would line Donahue Drive to wish them well.
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Undefeated: All together
Auburn University has had six undefeated seasons in football although only one of those was awarded with a national title. The most recent undefeated season came in 2004 which will be forever known as Auburn’s perfect season. During this season Auburn beat four top 10 teams, won its sixth Southeastern Conference Championship, third straight bowl win and a No. 2 finish; its highest since the No. 1 finish in 1957.
Xylophone:
The Auburn University Marching band has been a big part of the Auburn traditions throughout the years. The enthusiasm, dedication and class have created a special place in the hearts of Auburn men and women. In Rod Guajardo / PHOTO EDITOR 2004, under Dr. Rick Good’s leadership, the marching band received the Sudler Intercollegiate Marching Band Trophy, the nation’s highest and most coveted award for college and university marching bands.
Victory:
Throughout the years, Auburn has had monumental victories against some of its toughest rivals. Such games include the four blocked punts in the famous 17-16 win against Alabama and five interceptions in a 30-26 win against LSU in 1994. Another game is the 1896 Wreck Tech game in which some Auburn Cadets greased the tracks to sabotage the train of the Tech players. The train slid past the station and the Tech players had to walk five miles back to Auburn and ended up losing 45-0.
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Yards: Senior running
back Ben Tate ranks 10th in school history with 2,233 career rushing yards while freshman running back Onterio McCalebb leads the SEC in all-purpose yards (196) and is the first freshman in Auburn history to rush for more than 100 yards in the first two games of a season. The Tigers recorded back-to-back games of more than 500 yards of offense for the first time since 1970 and the first back-to-back 300-yard rushing games since 1985.
Auburn Miami California Arkansas Notre Dame Florida BYU Vanderbilt Kentucky Clemson
Auburn Georgia Tech California Arkansas Notre Dame Florida BYU Vanderbilt Kentucky Clemson
ZERO: Head Coach Gene Chizik has not lost in his last 18 games as a coach at Auburn. He was the defensive coordinator from 2002-2004. The winning streak started with the 2003 Iron Bowl Victory when the Tigers beat the Tide 28-23.
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Lindsey Davidson Editor 13-7
Cliff McCollum Opinions Editor 13-7
Abby Albright Sports Editor 13-7
Auburn Georgia Tech Minnesota UGA Michigan State Florida FSU Mississippi State Kentucky Clemson
Auburn Georgia Tech California UGA Notre Dame Florida BYU Vanderbilt Kentucky Clemson
Auburn Miami California UGA Michigan State Florida BYU Mississippi State Kentucky Clemson
Auburn Georgia Tech Minnesota UGA Notre Dame Tennessee BYU Vanderbilt Kentucky Boston College
Auburn Georgia Tech California UGA Notre Dame Florida FSU Vanderbilt Kentucky Boston College
Eagle is A u b u r n’s battle cry, not to be confused with Tigers, the only nickname for Auburn athletic teams. There are many different stories behind the legend of War Eagle. To symbolize this legend, one of Auburn’s eagles circles the field before every home game.
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Helen Northcutt Intrigue Editor 15-5
Ben Bartley Copy Editor 15-5
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Natalie Wade Managing Editor 12-8 Rod Guajardo Photo Editor 12-8
Auburn Georgia Tech Minnesota Arkansas Michigan State Tennessee FSU Vanderbilt Kentucky Clemson Kevin Saucier Multimedia Editor 11-9
Auburn Georgia Tech California Arkansas Notre Dame Florida BYU Vanderbilt Kentucky Boston College Andrew Sims Online Editor 12-8
War Eagle: War
Auburn Georgia Tech Minnesota Arkansas Notre Dame Florida FSU Mississippi State Louisville Clemson
Auburn Georgia Tech California UGA Notre Dame Florida FSU Vanderbilt Kentucky Clemson
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Ellison Langford News Editor 12-8
Brittany Cosby Campus Editor 12-8
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. Week 2 Auburn vs. West Virginia Miami (Fla.) vs. Georgia Tech California vs. Minnesota Arkansas vs. UGA Notre Dame vs. Michigan State
Florida vs. Tennessee BYU vs. FSU Vanderbilt vs. Mississippi State Kentucky vs. Louisville Clemson vs. Boston College
The Auburn Plainsman
Sports, D6
Thursday, September 17, 2009
Olympian, AU alum Kirsty Coventry returns to The Plains By CRYSTAL COLE Staff Writer
With full stomachs and open ears, about 300 women listened to Kirsty Coventry urge them to give back to their communities at the Women’s Philanthropy Board fall luncheon Friday. The event, held at The Hotel at Auburn University, was centered on “maximizing your philanthropic footprint.” Coventry was a swimmer at Auburn University and helped win national championships in 2003 and 2004. She has won seven medals in the past two Olympic Games and has started to give back to her home country of Zimbabwe. Coventry took to the podium after the guests ate and listened to an welcome and introduction from June Henton, dean of the College of Human Sciences and WPB
Benefactor member. The Olympian had never been to America before coming to Auburn. She said she was sure about coming to Auburn when being recruited by David Marsh, Auburn men’s and women’s swimming and diving coach. “I am from a small town and that’s how he got me,” Coventry said. “He told me Auburn was a small community and everyone supports each other and I said ‘I am there!’” Her journey as a philanthropist was sparked after the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, Greece. She won Zimbabwe’s first medal in 20 years, and her parents told her that everyone back home was excited for her and were even in the streets with signs. “I mean, I was excited and proud of what I had done,” Coventry said. “But that had been my lifelong goal, and I
Blakeley Sisk / ASSISTANT PHOTO EDITOR
Kirsty Coventry spoke at the Women’s Philanthropy Board fall luncheon Friday, urging women to give back to their community.
couldn’t really understand how that could impact people at home.” Coventry spoke about the political unrest and economic hard times in her country. She said the life expectancy is 37 years old for men and 34 years old for women, and 1-in-6 people live with HIV.
“I wanted to make sure that the media knew what was going on because a lot of things you weren’t allowed to say and there really wasn’t freedom of speech,” Coventry said. “A lot of athletes from Zimbabwe decided to stand up against that and let (Zimbabwe) use us as a way
to promote the country in a positive way.” One charity Coventry works for passes out lap desks to students in South Africa and soon to Zimbabwe. Coventry told the crowd there was an estimated 4 million children without desks to work on and that 1.75 million of the lap desks had already been distributed. She also gives money to cancer foundations since both her mother and grandmother went through battles with the disease. Coventry said she wouldn’t have come to this point in her life without coming to Auburn. She went on to say that Africa has seen many hardships, but she is optimistic. “I truly do believe that things are going to become right,” Coventry said. The audience gave the swimmer a prolonged stand-
ing ovation after her speech. After closing remarks from Henton, the women lined up to say a few words to the Auburn alumna. Most attendees spoke of how inspirational Coventry’s speech was. “I thought it was inspirational, and I really liked how she talked about being accountable to other people and how Auburn has really grown that in her,” said WPB Benefactor member Sid James. “Now she’s giving back to her community and her country. That’s the way I feel about Auburn, too.” Auburn University Athletic Director Jay Jacobs said Coventry is the kind of role model to which his children can look up. “She’s achieved greatness by overcoming some truly great challenges,” Jacobs said. “She’s a world-class athlete, but more importantly a world-class person.”
Spikettes raise awareness about track and field accomplishments By EMILY BECKETT Staff Writer
Uniforms are on. Shoe laces are tied. Hair is secured. And the sun is shining down on the Hutsell-Rosen Track; everyone seems to be in position for the day’s track meet. Everyone on the AU Spikettes, that is. As the official hostesses for the Auburn University track and field and cross country teams, the Spikettes are not strangers to the relaxed, but exciting atmosphere at track meets. “(Meets) are all-day affairs,” said Caitlin Gelal, a sophomore in international business and the Spikettes’
Web master. “There’s work involved, but they are usually pretty low-key.” Gelal said the Spikettes’ primary responsibilities at meets are to register additional runners and to cheer for Auburn runners as they approach the finish line. “Since the track team doesn’t have as big a fan base as other sports teams, we’re considered its ‘special fans,’” Gelal said. “(The athletes) really like it when we stand by the track and cheer for them.” Gelal said the Spikettes do anything that needs to be done during meets. “We are kind of the coaches’ little helpers,” Gelal said. “Some girls are asked to put
hurdles out before races, (and) it can be intense because you have to know when and where to place them on the track.” It’s the Spikettes’ job to distribute T-shirts to the winners of each race during the meet, as well as help with the presentation of trophies and medals at the awards ceremonies. “No one really knows how awesome the track team is,” said Maggie Messinger, president of the Spikettes. Messinger said the Spikettes hope to change this by expanding the organization. “One thing that stands out about the Spikettes is you really get to know runners on
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defend against them and how to utilize our offense against their defense,” Towne said. “Then we’ll play small-sided games. Hopefully that will be enough for us to get the job done.” Auburn has not played Duke in more than 10 years, so the team does not know exactly what to expect. More than half of Duke’s starters are returning, so Hoppa and the team expect their opponent to be strong. “Katy (Frierson) will have to be on offensively in order for us to click, and our back line has to be on top of things the whole time,” Hoppa said. Hoppa said the team has to “play to win” in order to be successful. “We’ve got to play our game,” Howell said. “We can’t
Rod Guajardo / PHOTO EDITOR
Freshman forward Mary Coffed kicks the ball between the legs of a Texas Tech defender as she drives down the field Sunday.
change to play somebody. We have to play our possessionoriented game. If we do that, we’ll do well.” Howell expects Duke to be a strong defensive team. Towne’s advice to the team was, “Play hard. Play 110 percent for the whole 90 minutes.”
Towne said it will be important for the Auburn team to stay confident. “We just need to remember that we’re a good team,” Towne said. Auburn takes on Duke at 7:30 p.m. EST Friday and UNC on Sunday at noon in Durham.
a personal basis,” Messinger said. “They are fun, outgoing and great people.” In addition to working at the home meets, which normally occurs twice each spring, the Spikettes provide dinners and encouraging messages for the teams throughout the season. “We made a pasta dinner for them one night after practice,” said Margaret Anne McGuire, a senior in accounting. “We also had a barbecue dinner for them out by the track after one of their practices.” Gelal said another way the Spikettes get to know the runners is through “Track Pals.” “All the Spikettes are paired up with a runner before a
meet,” Gelal said. “We put notes in the runners’ goodie bags to say ‘good luck.’” Gelal said the pairings for Track Pals are different each week. “We do as much as we can to encourage them,” Messinger said. The Spikettes organization not only serves the track and field and cross country teams, but it also supports itself with fall fundraisers. “We have restaurant nights where we go to certain restaurants and sign the back of our receipts,” Gelal said. “All the proceeds from those nights go to the Spikettes.” Messinger said they also hold an annual bake sale on
the Concourse. Gelal, Messinger and McGuire said they were excited about girls interested in trying out for the Spikettes. “We had 35 Spikettes last year, but we’re looking to expand this year,” Gelal said. McGuire said she chose to try out for Spikettes because she wanted to stay involved with running, but did not have enough time to be on the team. “I’ve been a runner since seventh grade on the varsity team, but I knew it would take up a lot of time,” McGuire said. “(The Spikettes) has been a good way to be part of the Auburn community.”