The Auburn Plainsman 8.18.16

The Auburn Plainsman A SPIRIT THAT IS NOT AFRAID

Thursday, August 18, 2016 Vol. 124, Issue 1, 12 Pages

First copy is free. Additional copies 50 cents per issue.

FOOTBALL

UBER

Ride-hailing returns to Auburn this week Chip Brownlee COMMUNITY EDITOR

FILE PHOTOS

FROM LEFT: John Franklin III, Sean White and Jeremy Johnson are in the running for quarterback.

Up in the air

Weeks before season opener, Auburn hasn’t named a quarterback Sam Butler

ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR

Fall camp has wrapped up and Auburn head coach Gus Malzahn still has yet to tab a starting quarterback for the Tigers’ season opener against Clemson, which is now just a few weeks away.

The competition has been between the same three men since early in the spring.

Senior Jeremy Johnson entered the 2015 season with heaps of unfounded expectations, and ultimately succumbed to the pressure early on. Redshirt sophomore Sean White took over for an ineffective Johnson and performed adequately before suffering a knee injury, throwing the quarterback position into uncertainty. Junior college transfer John Franklin III, a star of the Netflix series “Last Chance U” and former Florida State Seminole, entered the competition upon his arrival in January.

Johnson won the job last year immedi-

ately following A-Day. He was pegged as a prototypical NFL-style quarterback — a towering frame with a rocket for an arm and a decent set of wheels to boot. He had dazzled in spot duty behind Nick Marshall in 2013 and 2014, most notably against Arkansas in 2014, where Johnson started the season opener for a suspended Marshall.

Johnson rolled through the Razorbacks in one half of action to the tune of 243 yards and a pair of touchdows. Prior to the 2015 season, he was popping up all over preseason award watch lists; most notably, Johnson’s odds for the Heisman climbed as high as 12/1. For reference, Alabama’s Derrick Henry, who ended up winning the award, was slotted at 25/1.

And how it ended up is well-known to everyone. Johnson threw six interceptions in his first three games and got benched for White, who managed the next few games well. An injury to White’s knee forced

Johnson to take the snaps against Texas A&M — and Auburn won. A mishmash of the two QBs followed for the rest of the season, culminating in a dominant win over Memphis in the Birmingham Bowl. But entering this year, it was clear that Malzahn’s pro-style experiment didn’t pan out the way it did while he was the offensive coordinator at Tulsa. The success he found in the first two years at Auburn resulted from a quarterback who was decidedly a dualthreat signal caller.

Franklin can do that, but he’s yet to separate himself from the others. At Florida State, he “was” Marshall on the Seminoles’ scout team offense leading up to the 2014 BCS National Championship. Franklin’s speed is top-flight, but his passing needs work. At East Mississippi Community College, he threw for 733 yards and seven scores while completing just 58.2 percent

» See QUARTERBACK, 2

After months of negotiations and more than a year and a half of absence, the ride-hailing service Uber will return to the streets of Auburn as early as Thursday.

According to David Dorton, the city's director of public affairs, Uber will launch Thursday, Aug. 14.

Uber's swift return follows an ordinance amendment passed by the City Council Tuesday, Aug. 2.

The ordinance dubbed Uber a transportation networking company and regulates the company much like a traditional taxi service.

Auburn's ordinance closely resembles one passed in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, early last month with nearly identical language.

According to Dorton, city staff worked closely with counterparts in Tuscaloosa and officials within the Uber corporation to develop language agreeable to both the city and the company.

Uber will be required to display proper signage, obtain commercial liability insurance, pay a permit fee with the city and perform background checks on their drivers.

The background checks can be audited by the city up to twice a year.

Uber drivers will also be required to obtain business drivers licenses with the city. City staff will keep filed information on all Uber drivers.

However, Jeff Steiger of KGM Taxi Services and other officials within Auburn's taxi industry, have spoken candidly about the effects it could have on business.

"If you take away 50 percent of our business, how do we pay the bills," Steiger said. "How do we cover the costs of our insurance? We'll be unable to pay our bills and taxis will go away."

Council members Tommy Dawson and Lynda Tremaine voted against the ordinance. Dawson said he was afraid Uber drivers could be dangerous for Auburn's "young ladies."

“I feel like there’s a good chance for a predator to come to Auburn and do some harm to one of our young ladies,” Dawson said. “In good conscience, I cannot support this ordinance the way it is written.”

The city council "created a permanent home for Uber in Auburn," Uber Spokeswoman Evangeline George said in a statement.

"We look forward to bringing safe, affordable transportation options and flexible work opportunities to the community," George said. "Access to a reliable ride at the push of a button will help empower students, residents and visitors alike to make safe choices at the end of a night out."

Uber's return comes only a few weeks ahead of a highprofile home football game between Auburn and Clemson University that will attract tens of thousands of visitors to Auburn.

Corey Williams, editor-in-chief, contributed to this report.

GOVERNMENT

Alabama Legislature convenes for special lottery session Chip Brownlee COMMUNITY EDITOR

Gov. Robert Bentley formally called a special session of the Alabama Legislature to lay the groundwork for a state-run lottery this week.

Members of the House began the session Monday afternoon in Montgomery by electing a new speaker, Rep. Mac McCutcheon.

Someone who has been present in Montgomery since 1998 will be absent in this year's special session. Former Speaker Mike Hubbard won't be leading the House from the speaker's chair for the first time since he assumed the highest position for his first special session in December 2010 nearly six years ago.

Before the Legislature can discuss a lottery, the House had to elect a speaker to replace Hubbard. The House Republican caucus, which holds a super majority with 70 of 103 seats, met more than two weeks ago and chose McCutcheon, a Republican from Monrovia, as their nominee for speaker.

The nomination in itself almost assured McCutcheon would clench the title, but Monday the entire House confirmed him as their speaker. According to reports, 68 members of the House voted for McCutcheon.

"I am not my predecessor," McCutcheon said during his first speech as speaker of the House.

"The days of the imperial speakership are over.

I will work every day, every hour, every minute and every second to be the people's speaker."

McCutcheon will now lead the House through the special session called by the governor. With his election, he will assume the vacated speaker's seat following the conviction of the former speaker, Auburn Republican Mike Hubbard.

Hubbard, who owns Auburn Network Inc. and

several other businesses in Auburn, was convicted of 12 felony ethics charges by a Lee County jury in June. He was later sentenced to four years in prison in July.

The governor's call includes two main orders of business: the passage of an amendment allowing for the state-run lottery and legislation to provide funding for the state's ailing medicaid system, infrastructure investment and debt repayment.

“This call is designed for the Alabama Legislature to address adequate support of essential state services including children, the elderly, people with mental illness and support for men and women in law enforcement,” Bentley said. “A primary focus of this special session is for legislators to allow the people within their district the right to vote on a statewide lottery. I am looking forward to working with lawmakers over the next few days as we address legislation that is simple, clean and transparent.”

This year, the Legislature appropriated the state's Medicaid agency about $85 million less than what Bentley said the organization needed.

Bentley has warned that the shortfall may affect the agency's ability to provide healthcare coverage to hundreds of thousands of low-income enrollees.

"The time has come for us to find a permanent solution," Bentley said last month in a video released explaining the lottery. "This solution will provide funding that we can count on, year after year, without ever having to raise your taxes or put one more band-aid on our state's money problems. We must have a solution."

For years the Alabama Legislature has refused to raise taxes, citing a lack of public support. With an increase in expenditures and stag-

FILE PHOTO

The legislature will have until Aug. 24 to make a decision about a lottery.

nant revenue, the current shortfall follows one of nearly $200 million last year, which was resolved with an $80 raid of the Education Trust Fund and an increase in several sin taxes.

A state-run lottery — a topic Alabamians have argued over for more than a decade — will be the focal point of the remainder of the session.

Bentley's plan will need super-majority support to pass both houses, and the Legislature will only have until Aug. 24 to make a decision for the lot-

tery to appear on November's general election ballot for a public referendum.

Bentley wants the lottery to help solve the increasingly common shortfalls in the state's budget by providing a revenue supplement to the state's General Fund, which funds the state's prisons, Medicaid and other essential services.

Surrounding state's, including Florida and

» See LOTTERY, 2

Campus 2

The Auburn Plainsman

QUARTERBACK » From 1

of his passes, and nine touchdowns, good for the fourth-most on the team.

Malzahn has named a quarterback in roughly mid-to-late August every year he’s been in charge

LOTTERY » From 1

Georgia, use their state-run lotteries solely to benefit education. None of Bentley’s lottery money would benefit the state’s Education Trust Fund directly.

“Despite what Gov. Bentley says, a lottery is not a permanent solution,” said State Auditor Jim Zeigler. “If the cost increases in Medicaid continue on their current pace, then by the time the state realizes any revenue from the lottery, it will already be spent and more needed.”

If they quickly pass the needed legislation by the Aug. 24 deadline, the lottery still won’t provide the needed funding to solve the $85-million shortfall in the budget approved by the Legislature this year for the 2017 fiscal year.

“Passing a lottery during this special session will not have any impact on the current, approximately $85 million Medicaid shortfall in next year’s budget,” Zeigler said. “The administration will still have to find ways to cut Medicaid expenses or find money for next year’s shortfall in time for the October 1 start of the fiscal year.”

State Sen. Tom Whatley, R-Auburn, said he was hopeful the citizens of Alabama could eventually vote on a state-run lottery.

“I think the people of Alabama deserve an opportunity to vote,” Whatley told The Plainsman.

But he wasn’t particularly hopeful a plan could be put together in time to go on the ballot in November.

of the Auburn offense outside of two years: last year with Johnson and 2010 with Cam Newton, both of whom were given the nod after A-Day. It’s telling that he can’t decide yet. If any one quarterback had proven themselves the easy choice to start, it would’ve happened by now.

“I’m not ready to name a starter right now,” Malzahn said Monday, according to Brandon

Marcello of AuburnUndercover. “Possibly in the near future that could happen but we’re not ready right now as of the end of fall camp. That’s not a bad thing at all. As a matter of fact, it’s a real positive thing that we’ve got a fierce competition going on. Our guys are battling. They’re much improved from the spring, and that’s exciting for me.”

“The governor here has brought us to special session and is trying to get us to solve an issue in about nine days that people have been talking about for 19 years. Three weeks ago he determined there is a tremendous emergency. ... So far the special session hasn’t delineated out into a real plan up until [Monday], nor has he laid our where he wants the money to go or where he wants it to be spent.”

Whatley said he couldn’t see himself voting for a piece of thrown-together legislation, and he was concerned about the make-up of the gaming commission, which would run the lottery. Two other concerns — what power the commission would have in determining the final home of any new revenue and whether or not they could expand the definition of gaming to fantasy sports and “church bingo” — also topped Whatley’s concerns.

“These are all question that have to be answered, have to be ironed out into a bill, and to ask us to do that in eight or nine days may be asking for a little bit more than can be accomplished, especially with the House having to elect a new speaker,” Whatley said. “I’m not sure how they’re going to be able to maneuver through their issues.”

The House and Senate will also discuss how to spend new money acquired from a settlement with oil giant BP as a result of the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill along the coast. In total, the state’s general fund will receive more than $850 million in new revenue from the settlement over 17 years.

“I hope that we can address the BP money issue in this time frame,” Whatley said.

State Sen. Tom Whatley, R-Auburn, said he was hopeful the citizens of Alabama could eventually vote on a staterun lottery.

COMMUNITY

Dean Road Kroger finishes renovations Emmy Leberte CAMPUS REPORTER

The Dean Road Kroger grocery store celebrated its re-grand opening following months of renovations.

The store expanded by 29,000 square feet, increasing the store's total square footage to nearly 80,000 square feet. The re-grand opening ceremony was Aug. 3, 2016.

John Moore, the store manager, said the Kroger will employ more than 180 associates and the expansion added an estimated 80 new jobs to the Auburn community.

The new renovations feature a new Starbucks kiosk, Nature Market, expanded beer and wine departments with a wine steward station and a floral shop.

The store will also feature sandwiches, bowls, wraps, hot chicken and barbecue stations, garden and sushi bars, a bistro with chef prepared hot and cold meals, an expanded deli, bakery, new frozen foods and more.

Thursday, August 18, 2016

“It will provide a better shopping experience for our customers,” Moore said. “More variety and selection particularly in our perishable departments.”

As part of a commitment to organizations that serve the community, the grocer presented $500 Kroger gift cards to the Food Bank of East Alabama and Auburn United Methodist Church Food Pantry.

Kroger also donated $500 to partner schools Auburn High School, Auburn Junior High School and Dean Road Elementary School.

“We are thrilled to provide our customers with many new amenities and lower prices that will enhance their shopping experience,” said Glynn Jenkins, the public relations director of Kroger.

Kroger will be participating in the Special Olympic event called Cops on Top, the fall semester Welcome Week, Can Hunger and Beat Bama Food Drive and various donation drives with the Humane Society.

It could happen soon, but if there’s improvement to be had in 2016, Malzahn and co. will need to make sure they’ve got the right man. And with Clemson coming to town first, the incorrect choice could spell instant disaster against Deshaun Watson, who will have his sights set on a championship after falling just short against Alabama.

FILE PHOTO

PHOTO OF THE WEEK

DAKOTA SUMPTER / MANAGING EDITOR

Baret Steed, a Phi Mu sorority member, cheers during Bid Day Saturday,Aug. 13, 2016 in Auburn,Ala. Check out our special Greek Life tab next week for more information about Bid Day 2016.

COMMUNITY

SGA

Bailey resigns as first

executive VP of outreach Corey Williams EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

MADISON OGLETREE / PHOTO EDITOR

Construction on Moore’s Mill Road on Tuesday, July 19, 2016 in Auburn,Ala.

Construction continues on Moore’s Mill Bridge Chip Brownlee COMMUNITY EDITOR

New apartment complexes aren't the only things being built in Auburn these days. As students return for the fall semester, construction on the new, fivelane Moore's Mill Bridge continues in South Auburn.

Construction on the bridge began in late April when construction crews began work on the new foundations and preparing

the ground to build abutments to hold the bridge. Crews are currently building the abutments.

Moore's Mill Road crosses Interstate 85 in South Auburn and connects the city's core to its southern neighborhoods including Ogletree and Grove Hill. Thousands live across the aging bridge, which is limited currently to two lanes.

The bridge replacement is intended to alleviate bum-

per-to-bumper traffic for all of the residents who live in those neighborhoods.

The Alabama Department of Transportation will continue to limit left-turn access near the construction site along both East University Drive and Moore's Mill Road, according to Director of Public Works Jeff Ramsey. The city advises commuters to use alternative routes through the area when they're

available.

Ward 5 Councilwoman Lynda Tremaine, whose ward is affected by the construction, said she supports the project because the existing two-lane bridge is just too small to serve as a main artery for travel into the city. However, Tremaine wants to the city to focus more heavily on better-planned development to alleviate the need to drive.

Harlan Bailey, junior in agricultural business, has resigned from his position as SGA’s executive vice president of outreach He announced his resignation through an email to SGA members. Bailey cited a need to improve his academics as the reason for his departure.

It has not been made clear if the position will be filled for the remainder of the year.

The position was created last semester by executive officers to ensure Auburn students’ voices are heard, according to SGA members. Bailey was the first person to hold the position.

Efforts to reach Bailey and SGAPresident Jesse Westerhouse about this article in time for publication have not been successful.

Read the full email below: Dear SGA Friends, It is with a heavy heart that I am emailing you to inform you all that I have chosen to resign as the Executive Vice President of Outreach effective immediately. I’ve

HARLAN BAILEY

spent a long time thinking about this decision and I believe that I need to focus my time and attention on improving my academics.

This has been extremely difficult because I truly believe in the mission of not only Student Government, but the newly created Outreach Branch itself. Outreach will continue to thrive under the existing SGA Exec and I will work diligently to transition my responsibilities seamlessly to existing officers within SGA. If you have any questions or need anything over the next few weeks, please don’t hesitate to contact me. I wish you all the best of luck this year!

War Eagle!

Harlan Bailey II

Campus

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Thursday, August 18, 2016

ThePlainsman.com

Campus

ORGANIZATIONS

Welcome Week returns to campus for fall semester Emmy Leberte CAMPUS REPORTER

This week the University is hosting its annual weeklong event to welcome new and returning students to campus.

Zach Marshall, external relations team member, said Welcome Week has a series of events that take place all week long hosted by various businesses, clubs and organizations on campus.

“The purpose for Welcome Week is to create connections,” Marshall said. “Whether it be making new friends, beginning an interest with a certain Auburn University club or even just finding new places to eat, it is very enjoyable for everyone who attends.”

Monday morning between 8 a.m. and 10 a.m., Bobby Woodard, vice president of academic affairs, will be on the Student Center green space with free waffles, hash browns and bacon from Waffle House.

There will be various events throughout the day from free popsicles and pizza for freshman only to a campus wide scavenger hunt with prizes like Apple Watches and various gift cards, accord-

ing to Marshall.

Marshall said on Tuesday, Victoria Secret’s PINK will be set up on the concourse from noon to 4 p.m. handing out gifts and promotional items.

There is a long list of events that take place on Wednesday but, from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m., there will be a War Eagle Welcome Dinner for all students that will have a question and answer session with a panel of former football players, a visit from Aubie and a free Italian dinner, according to Marshall.

Marshall also said that on Thursday, between 10 a.m. and noon, there will be an exotic petting zoo set up on the Student Center green space. That night, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., there will be a Welcome Week race with free food, a giant game of twister, a photo booth, a dance marathon with DJ Connor Moore and a special appearance by Aubie.

A block party to learn about different student organizations will be hosted on Friday night, from 5 p.m. to midnight, with free pizza and a special performance by Judan & the Lion, according to

Marshall.

According to Marshall, the school of Kinesiology will be hosting an after dark Neon Vibe 5K fun run on Saturday from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Marshall said on Sunday you can join the White Water Rafting club on the Chattahoochee River for $25.

Margaret Ferguson, executive director of Welcome Week, said she thinks the week will get students excited about the upcoming school year.

“Welcome Week is a time for organizations to showcase what opportunities they can bring to students,” Ferguson said. “Auburn has so much to offer and I think this is the time that students really get to see it all in one week.”

Marshall said he believes Welcome Week will help show students a very diverse and unique set of paths they could take during their time as Auburn students.

“There is a home for everyone here at Auburn and I believe it is our job as Welcome Week to help them find it,” Marshall said.

FOOTBALL

Jordan-Hare prepares for ticketing changes Romy ianuzzi CAMPUS WRITER

In an effort to get more students and organizations involved in Auburn football, the Student Government Association and the Department of Athletics have introduced revised systems for student block seating and ticketing at Jordan-Hare.

Block seating will remain mostly the same this season as in previous years; however, reserved blocks will be opened up to all organizations at Auburn this year on the condition that each organization arrives at their assigned block one hour early.

According to James Harris, SGA assistant vice president of athletics, if students fail to make it to their assigned seating on time, their organization will lose its blocking privileges and have its seating block opened up to the public.

“We’re really trying to show people that this program isn’t just for sororities and fraternities,” Harris said. “We want all organizations and groups of students involved.”

More changes are coming to the ticketing system this year; students with no previous credit hours at Auburn must sign up for a ticket lottery to get their season tickets with the student discount, Harris said.

Harris said this year lottery entries will be for two groups of six and one group of four, rather than a full season, a four ticket and a two ticket package.

“In previous years, students would sign up for the lottery, and almost every single one would win the two ticket package,” Harris said. “This new way, the people who win will get to see at least two SEC games in the season.”

SGA is also undertaking changes to prevent

“This program isn’t just for sororities and fraternities.”

James Harris SGA ASSISTANT VICE PRESIDENT OF ATHLETICS

upperclassmen from scalping tickets.

According to Harris, starting this year each student will have a limit of four ticket transfers per season.

Harris said should a student attempt to transfer more than four tickets in one season, they will lose ticket privileges in the following season.

Harris also said students will be asked for ID before entering games to ensure that the correct student is presenting the ticket.

“When I was a freshman, I wasn’t able to get any tickets, and upperclassmen would try and sell them to me for as high as $500,” Harris said.

“We’re mainly just trying to make sure that every student who wants to see the games has the opportunity to buy tickets before trying to buy them from an upperclassman.”

SGA will instead be implementing a new approach to guest ticketing.

According to Harris, students who get a ticket to a game will be able to upgrade their ticket to a guest pass for a fee, allowing them to bring another student who may not have won or purchased a ticket.

Harris said fees will vary by the significance of the game; for example, to upgrade a ticket for the kickoff against Clemson is $90 and for Arkansas State it’s $15.

The Department of Athletics and the SGA hope to bring Auburn Football to as many students and clubs as possible, according to Harris.

CHRISTY STIPE / PHOTOGRAPHER

Auburn fans celebrate in Jordan-Hare Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 12, 2015.

STUDENT AFFAIRS S P OT L I G H T

Here’s what’s happening in the Office of Greek Life:

IFC Interfraternity Council Formal Recruitment August 29 – September 1 | 6 – 8 p.m. each day

Formal Recruitment week is a time for new & returning students to learn more about Auburn’s 27 IFC fraternities, the opportunities that

CAREER CENTER

Career Center presents Handshake at Chill Out Whitney Zeigler CAMPUS WRITER

Chill Out with the Career Center brought out crowds of Auburn students for free snow cones from Kona Ice while informing them of a resource on Auburn’s campus on Tuesday, August 16.

Kaela Jimenez, career center graduate assistant, said one of their goals was to make sure students knew what the Career Center is.

“Most students don’t know what the Career Center does,” Jimenez said. “The Career Center is in place to help students in any stage of the career process.”

Alex Williamson, career center marketing and communications specialist, said, the Career Center is in place as a resource for students’ professional success before and after graduation.

“The Career Center is one of those hidden resources on campus,” Williamson said. “we can help students throughout their time at Auburn, as well as after they graduate.”

The Career Center receives visits from students who are unsure of what career or major they should pursue.

The Career Center also hosts mock job interviews and numerous workshops to prepare college students for the professional field.

Students are sometimes lead to believe that workshops hosted by certain majors are only held for that particular major, Addye Buckley-Burnell, assistant director of career development said.

“Students are welcome to attend any career event on campus,” Buckley-Burnell said “the purpose of hosting Chill Out with the Career Center this year was to inform students of the changes.”

they offer, and to pursue fraternity membership. Formal recruitment will be held in the Student Center and at the fraternity houses on West Magnolia and Lem Morrison Drive.

NPHC National Pan-Hellenic Council Unity Yard Show September 1 | 7 p.m.

The NPHC Unity Yard Show is a performance that includes stepping and is intended to promote unity amongst the Black Greek Lettered Organizations and the Auburn student body. The event will be held on the steps of the Student Center, and is free and open to the community.

MADISON OGLETREE / PHOTO EDITOR

Student makes a snow cone on the Haley Concourse.

Buckley-Burnell said Handshake will replace Tiger Recruiting Link.

“In the past, students used Tiger Recruiting Link to access job opportunities and internships, but Handshake will function as the updated link between student workers and employers,” Buckley-Burnell said.

Williamson said students will update their Handshake by the end of the month.

“Although Handshake contains some information stored on Tiger Recruiting Link, students will need to transfer their resumes and other important documents to Handshake by August 31st,” Williamson said.

Buckley-Burnell said people in the career Center are willing to meet visitors in an accessible location.

“The Career Center is a resource that students should actively use,” Buckley-Burnell said.

Congratulations!

Panhellenic Council Bid Day Congratulations to all of the new members who accepted a bid to one of Auburn's Panhellenic sororities on Saturday, August 13.

auburn.edu/StudentAffairs

@AuburnStudents

facebook.com/AuburnStudents

@AuburnStudents

Auburn Students

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Thursday, August 18, 2016

The Auburn Plainsman

ACADEMICS

Plainsman Prep teaches calculus to incoming freshmen Romy Ianuzzi CAMPUS WRITER

Each year, hundreds of incoming freshmen sign up for pre-engineering or another one of Auburn’s STEM degree programs.

This summer, the Office of Academic Support introduced Plainsman Prep, a program which teaches basic calculus concepts to incoming freshmen before they start engineering-level calculus courses such as MATH 1610.

Dana Jablonski, director of the office of academic support, said students in Plainsman Prep must take a week of classes where they learn the core concepts of calculus: limits, derivatives and integrals. These culminate into a final exam, which will determine their math placement on their schedule for the term.

“The schedule is designed to mimic a similar schedule to what students may experience during their time here at Auburn,” Jablonski said. “It is a rigorous schedule, but helps them get used to resources available to them during the academic year.”

According to Jablonski, students receive homework assignments as well as personal study time and “SI,” or Supplemental Instruction, a

unique approach to reinforcing concepts in which student group leaders more experienced with college-level math lead study sessions with Plainsman Prep students.

In addition to learning math concepts, Jablonski said prep students also take workshops that teach them study skills applicable to any college course—time management, academic resources, notetaking and other skills not necessarily taught in high school level coursework.

According to Jablonski, between lectures and study sessions, students have plenty of fun activities to do, such as a scavenger hunt, a movie night, a game night and a soccer game.

Students also have the opportunity to be exposed to Auburn culture and meet plenty of new friends before starting their Auburn experience, Jablonski said.

Clay Hodges, pre-computer science major, said he enjoyed being a student in Plainsman Prep.

“Plainsman Prep helped me refresh prior knowledge, and prepare for advanced topics.

[The] staff at Plainsman Prep was well trained, accommodating, and above all else, friendly,” Hodges said. “I would recommend Plainsman

AUSTIN NELSON / PHOTOGRPAHER

Incoming Auburn freshman on campus during the Summer.

Prep to all incoming freshmen preparing to join calculus. Refreshing the foundation to your calculus knowledge is vitally important to passing your future classes.”

Jablonski said the program has been a positive

experience for students.

“I would say it has been successful,” Jablonski said. “Many students commented on how they feel more adjusted to the university, have made friends and are ready for calculus in the fall.”

CONSTRUCTION

Lowder’s post-fire preparation for the fall semester K ressie K ornis CAMPUS WRITER

Lowder Hall and its Starbucks have been fully accessible since Monday, August 15.

Bill Hardgrave, College of Business dean, said the building is ready for students and staff for the fall semester.

“All classrooms in Lowder Hall are ready for the fall semester,” Hardgrave said. “All areas of the building have been replaced, repaired or cleaned.”

Hardgrave also said that the building has passed inspections following the fire this summer.

“Also, all classrooms have passed stringent air quality tests conducted by an independent company,” Hardgrave said.

The business building experienced an electrical fire on the morning of June 27 by late afternoon the fire was contained.

The fire originated on the first floor and appears to have occurred from a light and ballast, a device designed to limit currents in an electrical circuit.

The Auburn Fire Department contained it in that area; however, the rest of the building was damaged by smoke and soot.

Russell Fountain, of Belfor Restoration, said Lowder had around 250 people working on restoration on a daily basis at the height of their schedule.

The crew was working 24 hours a day, with two 12 hour shifts, according to Fountain.

The business building has two large auditoriums, one with 300 seats and another with 500 seats.

Fountain said construction crews had to scaffold those two classrooms completely so the ceiling systems could be replaced.

“The safety and comfort of our students is of upmost importance ans we have been very thorough in our efforts to achieve both”

Bill Hardgrave

COLLEGE OF BUSINESS DEAN

According to the Office of Communications and Marketing, there are still a few items that remain to be completed such as painting in hallways and some carpet installation.

Hardgrave said Lowder is now in good condition.

“This building has been cleaned from top to bottom,” Hardgrave said. “Every classroom has been tested; air quality test came back and everything looks great.”

Hardgrave said he is impressed with everyone’s response to the fire.

“It was incredible how everyone came together,” Hardgrave said.

The Univeristy was dedicted to restoring Lowder and creating a safe environment for students, Hardgrave said.

“The safety and comfort of our students is of upmost importance and we have been very thorough in our efforts to achieve both,” Hardgrave said.

CONTRIBUTED BY COLLEGE OF BUSINESS

Aftermath of the June 27, 2016, Lowder Hall fire.

FACULTY

FACULTY

Bret Smith named director of interdisciplinary studies Kressie Kornis CAMPUS WRITER

Bret Smith, the new director of Interdisciplinary Studies and associate director of the University College, is replacing Kathryn Flynn, who served as the director beginning in Fall 2010.

Smith said he is looking forward to getting to know all the students in the program.

“The students I met during my interview and so far this semester have been engaging, enthusiastic and welcoming,” Smith said. “I look forward to working with them to build on the strong foundation that my predecessor, Kathryn Flynn established.”

Interdisciplinary Studies (IDSC) is a program that allows students to plan a focused course of study that best meets indi-

vidual career interests.

Smith said one challenge facing him is the task of informing people about the program.

“One of the biggest challenges is getting the word out about the interdisciplinary studies major, what it is, how it works and how students can determine if it is a good fit for them,” Smith said.

Smith said he has prepared for this new role in many ways.

“In some ways, I have been preparing for this job my entire life,” Smith said. “As a student at Purdue, I earned three different degrees from three different schools within the university.”

Smith said his experience post-graduation has been both multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary.

“As a product designer, I have always worked with a wide

range of disciplines to effectively solve problems,” Smith said. “As a faculty member, I have a deep commitment to the students at Auburn University.”

He’s done much preparation in his time at Auburn as well, Smith said.

“As industrial design program chair, and most recently as an interim associate dean I have gained experience in building programs and developing effective frameworks for students, staff and faculty.”

Each of these roles have played a part in his preparation, Smith said.

“All of these experiences have helped to prepare me for this position,” Smith said.

By receiving a bachelor of science degree in Interdisciplinary University Studies, a student

CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

may obtain a broader education and acquire a diverse set of skills unique to the profession they desire.

Smith has served on the Auburn faculty since 1985 and previously assisted as interim associate dean of the College of Architecture, Design and Construction.

Smith is a tenured

professor of industrial design in the College of Architecture, Design, and Construction and is also a graduate of Purdue University with a bachelor of science in Industrial Education and Industrial Technology (magna cum laude), a master of arts in English and a master of arts in Industrial Design.

Curator of the Donald E. Davis Arboretum named STAFF REPORT

Morgan Beadles has been named the new curator of the Donald E. Davis Arboretum, according to a University release. An Auburn native, Beadles began her tenure at the arboretum on July 1.

“I always tell people that you can’t get more Auburn than I am,” Beadles said.

“For my 14th birthday, my father got me a job as a student worker for Dr. Charles Gillam at the Patterson Greenhouses. I continued to work there through both high school and college as I earned my undergraduate degree at Auburn in horticulture. After graduation, I was accepted into the landscape architecture program at Auburn where I would go on to earn my master’s.”

Following graduate school, Beadles lived in Hawaii, where she worked for architecture firm Phillips, Brandt, Reddick and Associates as a junior landscape architect, the release states.

She returned to Auburn in 2009 and began working for Creative Habitats Landscaping as a residential designer.

“When the curator po-

sition at the arboretum became available I jumped at the chance to apply,” Beadles said. “I knew that being in the private sector for so long made me a long shot for the position, but I also knew that I would be the biggest cheerleader and champion of the arboretum if given the chance.

To be given this opportunity is a true honor and a dream come true for me. I have loved the arboretum since I was a child. To be in a position to share my love of this place, and hopefully expose it to a much broader audience, is exciting. My goal at the Davis Arboretum is to accent its beauty as the showpiece of Auburn’s campus that I know it to be, while still protecting its integrity as an outdoor classroom and educational tool for students and the surrounding community across many disciplines, and encouraging continued research of our native species within the arboretum. I would love to see more collaboration across campus and more people in here daily enjoying its serene beauty.”

Opinion

5

Thursday, August 18, 2016

ThePlainsman.com

Opinion

Brains over Band-aids, Bentley OUR VIEW

Funds raised through a state-run lottery should go to education, not the General Fund

STERLING WAITS / GRAPHICS EDITOR

Fall Editorial Board 2016

In 2015, Governor Robert Bentley proposed a series of tax increases which would generate $541 million in revenue for Alabama.

Most of these tax hikes didn’t make it past the state legislature, thus Alabama sunk deeper

into its fiscal crisis.

Alabama is unable to pay for its essential services. Important government services like Medicaid, prisons, courts and the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency are underfunded. Bentley is desperate to raise money that isn’t dependent

on Republicans allowing tax increases.

He believes he has found a way: creating a state lottery.

Despite his history of speaking against gambling, once comparing state lotteries to the antiquated practice of wearing leisure suits, Bentley now believes a state lottery is a viable way to get extra money into Alabama’s General Fund.

If the lottery bill is approved by three-fifths of Alabama’s legislators, and approved by Alabama’s voters in a state-wide referendum, Bentley will appoint seven people to run an Alabama State Lottery Commission.

We agree that running a state lottery is a good way to generate revenue for Alabama, but we believe that revenue should go toward the Education Trust Fund instead of the General Fund.

While we agree the General Fund needs more money, we believe using a lottery to fund it is not the way to procure the needed funds.

Lottery revenues can be unpredictable. Ticket sales fluctuate with the economy, which could present challenges to budgeting for vital services..

Furthermore, the Band-aid from this unpredictable source of revenue would provide a disincentive for Alabama’s government officials to craft a stable solution, such as tax increases or accepting Federal government aid by expanding Medicaid.

Putting more money toward education would allow schools to give students a more solid foundation for success.

Education can bring families out of generations of poverty.

Lottery-sponsored scholarships, such as the Georgia HOPE Scholarship, have paved the way to prosperity for many individuals.

In 2010 - 2011, lottery scholarship programs in Tennessee, Georgia and Florida served a total of 404,116 students.

There’s no reason a similar program couldn’t offer similar effects here in Alabama. Instead of funding scholarships in other states, Alabamians ought to fund their own state scholarships.

Education affects adults in their dietary habits and other health-related aspects.

For instance, data from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health show that in 20092010, 35 percent of adults who did not graduate high school were smokers, 30 percent of high school graduates were smokers and only 13 percent of college graduates were smokers.

Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System data indicates 61 percent of adults with less than a graduate degree, 68 percent of adults with a high school degree and 85 percent of adults with a college degree said they exercised in the past 30 days.

The combined effects of a stronger educational system can offset the costs of programs such as Medicaid and the issue of prison overcrowding.

A healthier population requires less money to take care of.

Less people being imprisoned means less of a burden on Alabama’s reluctant taxpayers.

By funding education through a state-run lottery, we attack the root of many of our state’s problems: education funding. If more money is placed there, essential services won’t cost so much.

How bureaucracy took my scholarship LETTER TO THE EDITOR

If you are a student at Auburn University, you have probably at one time or another had an issue with changing your major, class requirements or scholarship funds.

It is likely that you have bounced from one administrative office to another, each time hoping that this next person will be able to help you overcome the necessary bureaucratic hurdles.

Often, the process is frustrating and tedious, though not usually harmful.

But in my case, Auburn’s bureaucracy cost me more than $3,000 in scholarships.

In April, while I was completing my fourth year at Auburn and planning out my remaining two semesters (I am graduating in December), I received word that I had been awarded a scholarship I applied for a month earlier.

As I logged onto AUAccess to click accept, I saw that the scholarships would be distributed over both the Fall and Spring semesters.

I wasn’t concerned.

I figured that someone would consider the fact that I was graduating in December and shift the scholarship to that semester to accommodate for my situation.

The donors and the University already determined I was both eligible and deserving to receive the award.

Surely they wouldn’t take it away from me on a minor technicality.

So I decided to seek out a real human being I could speak to about my problem. That was more difficult than expected.

I went from the College of Liberal Arts, where nobody was available that day, to the Financial Aid Office, who told me this was out of their jurisdiction.

Then I went to the Scholarship Office, who said they weren’t actually the ones who had awarded it to me.

The next day I went back to the College of Liberal Arts, where again there was nobody available.

I finally made it to the Honors College where I was politely told that I would not be receiving half of the scholarship I was awarded.

Many of my friends have reported similar experiences where an unjustified, bureaucratic decision had significantly impacted their educational experience here at Auburn.

One told me how Auburn had taken back a scholarship they awarded him because they didn’t receive an “official” response in the mail.

Another friend told me about being forced to take a lower level class even though it was a prerequisite for many of the other classes she had taken.

One person even mentioned having to delay graduation and pay for an extra semester because of an advising error.

The Editorial Board Corey Williams EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Dakota Sumpter MANAGING EDITOR Shannon Powell COPY Weston Sims OPINION

Claire Tully CAMPUS Chip Brownlee COMMUNITY Emily Shoffit SPORTS

Madison Ogletree PHOTO Anne Dawson SOCIAL MEDIA Parker Aultman MULTIMEDIA Lily Jackson INTRIGUE

Submissions

Policy

The Auburn Plainsman welcomes letters from students, as well as faculty, administrators, alumni and those not affiliated with the University.

The opinions of The Auburn Plainsman staff are restricted to these pages.

Letters must be submitted before 4:30 p.m. on 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. Please submit no more than 400 words.

This editorial is the majority opinion of the Editorial Board and is the official opinion of the newspaper.

The opinions expressed in columns and letters represent the views and opinions of their individual authors.

These opinions do not necessarily reflect the Auburn University student body, faculty, administration or Board of Trustees.

These incidents show how difficult it is for students at Auburn to receive the educational services they need.

Why have offices become decentralized enough to where staff in one office can’t answer questions about the basic functions of another?

Why are some advisers not available to see a student at all without an appointment?

By not providing adequate support to our staff and faculty, Auburn University is failing to meet the basic expectations of its students.

These bureaucratic policies reveal a more insidious truth about the profit-oriented nature of our school.

Note how all of the incidents above resulted in the student having to throw more time and money into the University.

When you compare the multi-million dollar salaries of University elites like Coach Malzahn and President Gouge with the poverty-level wages that a significant portion of Auburn employees live on, the profit motive becomes even more clear.

The University is meant to be a center of knowledge and openness where students can develop and grow.

The adulteration of that concept results in a school where advisers, tenured professors and counselors are severely undervalued and underpaid, while there is always money in the cof-

fers to pay for a $16-million jumbotron or a $50-million recreation center.

When I was pleading with the Honors College not to take away my funding, the bureaucrat I was speaking with told me an anecdote of another student who had lost half of his scholarship because he had decided to co-op for an extra semester, as if the consistency in injustice somehow made it “fair.”

At the end she told me “it’s not personal,” and she was right. There was nothing personal in that entire interaction.

This was not a discussion between an adviser trying to understand the situation that a student was placed in and responding appropriately to it.

I was just a banner-ID number, and she was simply following the business rules that had been decided from above.

I look forward to the day at Auburn when “it’s not personal” is seen as a problem rather than an excuse.

Dannial Budhwani is a senior in Philosophy and Wireless Software Engineering. The opinions expressed in this letter are solely those of the author, not of this paper. Send your own letter to the editor by emailing opinion@theplainsman.com

Community Thursday, August 18, 2016

6 ThePlainsman.com

Community

Sit down with a House candidate ELECTIONS

C hip B rownlee COMMUNITY EDITOR

As a 33-year-old father, local attorney and businessman, Brett Smith said he was surprised when he discovered his assigned generation class. He didn’t realize that his birth year wasn’t Generation X or Y, but the often talked-about “millennial.”

Young adults today, millennials, are sometimes called lazy, phoneobsessed and politically illiterate.

But Brett said he views his generation, the largest generation since the Baby Boomers, through a different lens.

“I’m proud to be a part of that class because instead of accepting the politics of the past and the way the system works, we’re actually flipping things on its head and trying to make a difference — saying we’re not going to accept what we’ve done in the past,” Brett said in an interview with The Auburn Plainsman.

Millennials are the next generation of leaders in this country, he said, and he’s proud to be a part of the class. Now, he’s ready to take the new ideas of the millennial class to the Statehouse.

Brett announced his candidacy as a Republican for the vacant Alabama District 79 House seat in late June, touting a promise to bring an alternative to Montgomery’s “tired and bland” politicians. When he announced, Brett said he would be running on a platform of job creation and investment in education.

To get to Montgomery to enact the change he said he wants, Brett must first beat out the three other men running for the Republican nomination. Then he has to win in a general election against Libertarian candidate Gage Fenwick to get the House seat formerly held by former Alabama Speaker and Auburn Republican Mike Hubbard.

But a challenge never bothered him, he said.

When he graduated from Middle

MADISON OLGETREE / PHOTO EDITOR

Brett Smith is running for the vacant House District 79 seat.

Tennessee State University in 2005, Brett said he wanted to pursue a career in journalism but ended up falling in love with public service and law when he worked in Tennessee’s public retirement system.

“I know public employees sometimes get a bad rep, but they do a necessary job,” Brett said. “I learned a lot because the local people — our firefighters, our police departments, people in local government — they’re the ones who are keeping our communities together.”

He ditched the journalism track and decided to get a master’s degree in public administration from Tennessee State and then went on to obtain his law degree from Faulkner’s Jones School of Law and a master’s

of law from the University of Alabama School of Law. When he met his wife, Haley, Brett said his life changed. They met at Jones and fell in love. When they finished their degrees, he decided to move to Auburn with her, and together they founded a law practice in the Loveliest Village, Huff Smith Law Firm, which specializes in real estate, small business and family law.

Now, Brett wants to help restore faith in Alabama’s scandalridden government, but he said he knows he’ll need students’ help to get there. He doesn’t want Auburn students to stay at home and allow a couple thousand die-hard voters determine who will represent them in Montgomery.

“That’s not a good example of this district,” Brett said. “I think people in college ... they’re more politically active. They want to be involved in the process. They want to have a voice, because they’re tired of sitting on the sidelines. For me as a candidate, I just want to present myself and let people know who I am, what’s important to me and what issues are important to me.”

The Republican primary is set for Sept. 13. Three other candidates, including Auburn businessman Sandy Toomer, real estate broker Joe Lovvorn and real estate broker Jay Conner, are also running for the position.

The special election for the House seat was called earlier this

LOCAL BUSINESS

summer by Gov. Robert Bentley after Hubbard was found guilty of 12 felony corruption charges. Hubbard was immediately removed from the House seat and will face four years in prison, barring appeal.

According to recent campaign finance filings, Brett is behind Lovvorn in fundraising, with Lovvorn’s campaign sitting on about $52,000 in funds as of the last report, and Brett’s campaign stashing only about $6,500 in available funding.

In total, Brett’s campaign has raised about $8,000, and Lovvorn’s has raised about $60,000.

New campaign finance reports will be released next week.

For an extended article including a conversation with Brett about police, visit ThePlainsman.com

BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT

Local bakers compete on ‘Cake Wars’ Kris Martins

COMMUNITY REPORTER

MADISON OGLETREE / PHOTO EDITOR

Shoppers visit the new Charming Oaks boutique on North College Street on Sunday, Aug. 14, 2016.

New boutique opens downtown Kris Martins

COMMUNITY REPORTER

A new boutique joined downtown Auburn last weekend as students began returning to The Plains.

Charming Oaks opened Aug. 12 on College Street in the former Gap location, with the goal of being a more affordable option for boutique shoppers of a range of ages and body types, said store manager Shelby Cohan.

“I think that girls these days see that perfect image on the magazine cover, and I want them to walk in here and realize that we’re all different shapes and sizes and colors,” Cohan said. “And we have something in this store that will fit and make you feel good

about yourself.”

Jacqueline Redd, senior in marketing, said the size range and prices caught her attention when she decided to browse the store after breakfast with friends.

“I definitely wasn’t expecting to buy something and then I fell in love with the dress,” Redd said of her first purchase.

She initially thought the dress would be too expensive.

The store also had a “classy” feel, she said.

“It’s very well put-together,” Redd said.

Clothing and accessories come from Los Angeles, Las Vegas and Atlanta, Cohan said. She studies trend reports and monitors fashion hubs, such as New York and Dal-

las, to determine future clothing orders.

The boutique focuses more on college students because of the downtown location, employing and catering to young women. The pricing, specifically, is what Cohan hopes will bring returning customers.

The prices convinced Lauren Ballard, junior in architecture, to purchase a skirt over the weekend.

“This is actually the first boutique in Auburn I’ve bought something at,” Ballard said.

And she said she’s likely to return too.

“More than I want to,” Ballard said.

Cohan said she’s pleased

with the location, something that caught owner Bill Wakefield’s attention in February.

Because the space was previously a retail location, it made it a good fit for the boutique, Cohan said.

“I love that we have the big windows, the natural light, where you can see all the people,” Cohan said, adding that being near restaurants helps attract people into the stores after a meal.

The Toomers Oaks inspired the name of the store, Cohan said. “(Wakefield) wanted something to be representative of Auburn,” she said. “I think he wanted something that was kind of rustic, and ‘charming’ just kind of went with it.”

Two Auburn bakers will appear on an episode of the Food Network’s “Cake Wars” next week.

Cakeitecture owner Carie Tindill and assistant Kelly Oslick will compete against three other teams in a themed challenge to win a $10,000 prize. The episode airs Monday, Aug. 22, at 8 p.m.

The competitors will battle to create a cake for a party for the 90th birthday of Paddington Bear creator, Michael Bond. Paddington Bear illustrator, R.W. Alley, will help decide who wins the prize.

The two bakers’ journey began with a phone call in February, requesting to have them on the show.

“I said, ‘That sounds like fun!’ And by the middle of March, they had flown us out to Los Angeles to film the show,” Tindill said.

She said she had never planned to be on TV and had only watched the competition a couple times before.

But being a part of the “Cake Wars” experience introduced her to bakers from across the U.S. “I loved watching the techniques some of the other bakers used,” Tindill said. “It has been really nice forming relationships with them because in this business, competing bakeries aren’t always friendly. It’s great having baker friends.”

An Auburn alumna, Tindill opened Cakeitecture on Magnolia Avenue last fall, becoming Auburn’s first

University-licensed bakery, meaning she has permission to replicate Auburn trademarks and logos on her baked goods.

She and Oslick use architecture techniques and software — which, in part, inspired the bakery’s name — to craft customized pastries.

Oslick said her favorite part of being a competitor on the Food Network show was networking with others in her field too. “[Competiting alongside the other bakers was] inspirational and terrifying in equal parts,” Oslick said, adding that the other competitors were experienced but genuine and friendly.

Both Tindill and Oslick agreed that the atmosphere of the show was most challenging.

“Most of it was outside what was normal for us,” Oslick said, adding that the equipment was different from what they’re accustomed to.

But the pressure also came from the countdown clock.

“The most challenging part is the time restriction, especially in an environment that you are not used to working in,” Tindill said.

The two will watch the completed episode for the first time with the rest of the nation’s viewers, and if they are announced the winners Monday night, Tindill said she would put the funds back into improving the business.

“There are some big changes I would do to our shop,” she said.

Thursday, August 18, 2016

Community 7

The Auburn Plainsman

LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Meet Auburn City Manager Charles Duggan Kris Martins

COMMUNITY REPORTER

Most citizens and students can see City Manager Charles Duggan sitting to the side of the council members at the Auburn City Council meetings each month, but Duggan’s over 10 years’ experience in city government began with his days as a student.

“I have an interest in how things work in general,” Duggan said.

Duggan, named city manager by the council in 2006, supervises the different city departments and is charged with carrying out the policies of the city council.

“I’m the bridge between the administration and the policy arms of the government,” Duggan said.

Though Duggan graduated from Auburn with a bachelor’s degree in applied physics in 1990, his interest in government came soon after, while he was in graduate school.

At the University, he took some public administration courses, and he joined the city’s parks and recreation department in 1991, his first step to becoming city manager nearly 15 years later.

He transferred into the information technology department in 1998, becoming assistant city manager in 2005 before taking over the city manager position the following year.

MADISON OGLETREE / PHOTO EDITOR

City Manager Charlie Duggan guides a meeting of the Auburn City Council on Aug. 16, 2016.

Mayor Bill Ham, who has known Duggan for about 20 years, said he remembers Duggan approaching him about 12 years ago with an interest in learning about the city manager position if an opportunity ever surfaced.

“He ended up being city manager,” Ham said, adding that Duggan’s work ethic made him a good fit for the position. “He’s always willing to expand his horizons and continue to learn more.”

A major part of Duggan’s job, Ham said, involves problem-

solving, which means working with people and funding as well as advising the City Council.

Aside from participating in each month’s council meetings, Duggan said other days of the month come with meetings, emails and time for future planning.

“It’s definitely not a job for someone who likes a lot of routine,” he said. “You need to be very flexible in this position.”

And being the city manager of a college town, Duggan said, presents its own challenges with

the “great big influx of brand new adults” that other city managers don’t have to consider each year.

The city has to work with the University schedule, which means planning city development during the summers, ensuring Auburn is a safe place for game-day visitors and seeing that businesses thrive even when students leave for breaks.

“But I can say that, in many ways, I have one of the best college town jobs in the nation because the college administration is so great to work with. The City

Council is so great to work with,” Duggan said.

As a college town, the city strives to include student input as it makes future plans, Duggan said.

He and the mayor meet with the SGA president and other students periodically, he said, and a student representative has an allotted time at the council meetings to update council members about University happenings.

Duggan cited the council’s decision to bring Uber back to Auburn as a recent example of con-

sidering students’ perspective in making city decisions. The process to reinstate the ride-hailing service in Auburn, he said, would have been slower if the council had not heard students’ desire for the service.

But meeting students’ needs and nonstudent citizens’ wishes can be challenge sometimes, he said.

“It’s constantly trying to strike balance,” Duggan said. “Not everyone is going to agree, but that’s one of the cornerstones of our democracy: Everyone gets a say…”

In a college town, a city manager needs to be consistent to be successful, Ward 2 City Councilman Ron Anders said.

“Charlie, he’s the city manager because he’s done things consistent his whole life,” Anders said, adding that Duggan takes his job seriously and methodically. “He’s paid attention to detail.”

And in the end, Duggan said, solving problems and making a visible impact on the community is his favorite part of the job.

“Being able to focus on what’s best and not just problems,” he said.

Duggan also welcomed students to get involved in the city and community.

“Our council meetings are open to everyone, and really our office doors are open to everyone,” Duggan said.

COURTS

Prosecutors file a response to Hubbard’s request for acquittal or new trial Chip Brownlee

COMMUNITY EDITOR

Prosecutors filed a response Monday to a motion

by Hubbard’s defense team requesting a new trial or an aquittal.

Hubbard was found guilty of 12 felony ethics violations in June by a Lee County jury.

Hubbard’s lawyers requested a new trial last week in a formal motion to

Lee County Circuit Judge Jacob Walker.

Bill Baxley, lead defense attorney for Hubbard, said the trial was unfair because one of the state’s witnesses, former Ethics Co-

mission Executive Director Jim Sumner, improperly influenced the jury.

In a motion filed Monday, Aug. 15, prosecutors from the state attorney general’s office called Hub-

bard’s attorney’s claims baseless.

Prosecutors responded to each of Hubbard’s claims in a 33-page brief.

“The Court can look to the verdict — which in-

cluded 11 acquittals — and determine that the jury reached its verdict free of undue influence and bias,” the filing read.

The new brief joins another filed Aug. 6 by pros-

ecutors that requested Walker make Hubbard pay $1.125 million in restitution to the state.

Walker will hold a hearing on the motions Sept. 2, in Opelika.

Sports

Thursday, August 18, 2016

GAMES TO WATCH

8 ThePlainsman.com

Sports

AWARDS

NO. 12 SOCCER (0-0)

FILE PHOTO

THIS WEEK Aug. 19 vs No. 14 Clemson Auburn Soccer Complex 7 p.m. CST NEXT WEEK Aug. 21 at South Alabama Mobile 6 p.m. CST

MADISON OGLETREE / PHOTO EDITOR

The first-place car in wiggins hall machine shop at auburn university on monday, June 27, 2016.

First-place car historic for Formula SAE

VOLLEYBALL (0-0)

Emily shoffit SPORTS EDITOR

FILE PHOTO

WAR EAGLE INVITATIONAL Aug. 26 vs Georgia Tech Auburn Area 6 p.m. CST Aug. 27 vs Furman Auburn Arena 12 p.m. CST Aug. 27 vs Pacific Auburn Arena 7:30 p.m. CST

WHAT YOU MISSED SOCCER EXHIBITION

FILE PHOTO

IRON BOWL vs. Alabama T, 2-2 The Tigers played their first preseason match against rival Alabama at the Auburn soccer complex on Aug. 11. Auburn scored twice in a 2-2 stalemate with the Tide, with both goals contributed

by Ellie Leek and Taylor Troutman.

Auburn totaled eight shots on goal, with Leek placing two shots on target.

The Crimson Tide got on the board in the eighth minute thanks to a header from a corner kick finding the back of the net. The Tigers responded in the opening minute of the second half thanks to Troutman assissted by Casie Ramsier and Dani Solaru for 1-1 match.

Eleven minutes later, Alabama regained the lead on a counter-attack to take a 2-1 lead.

Kristen Dodson was then taken down in the box in the 79th minute to earn a penalty for Auburn.

Leek delivered a draw shot to the right side of the frame for a 2-2 contest.

Both teams attacked but settled on a tie.

Jubilant conversation echoes off the walls as colleagues gather in the downstairs workshop of Wiggins Hall. They, a team comprised of about 40 students, have just dispersed following a celebration recognizing their achievement in Auburn history.

SpaceX, Bosch, Boeing and Lockheed Martin are just a few names you can find on the carbon fiber chassis of the Auburn Formula Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) team’s first place car. It’s the first time, since the group’s foundation in 1996, the team has ever placed first in competition.

“We were sitting in the paddock calculating best and worst case scenarios in where we were placing,” said Nick Boehm, a junior in finance that serves as a driver and business director for the team. “We calculated down to like two tenths of a point and it ended up being half a point out of 1000 (to win the competition).”

Each competition has four events in which students are tested; acceleration, skidpad, autocross and endurance. Acceleration consists of 0 to 75 meter sprint.

Skidpad tests the sideways grip of the car through two right circles and two left circles. Autocross is a single timed lap from a still start. Endurance is a 20 lap event that includes a driver change midway through the contest.

The competition also includes static events; a business presentation, a cost report and fuel efficiency which is tested in the endurance round. The teams simulate selling the car to amateur drivers during the business presentation. The cost report measures every nut and bolt of the car and is put into a report consisting of about 400-500 pages. Fuel efficiency is scored how much fuel is used and on engine displacement.

Auburn took first place in a field of 80 collegiate entries at Formula SAE Lincoln, a national competition held annually in Lincoln, Nebraska.

However that first place victory was short-lived for Auburn’s formula team as the design for next season’s car began the day after the final summer competition, Germany, ends.

“We design in the fall and then we have a design freeze in October, then we start manufacturing and building the car throughout the winter,” Boehm said.

“We have it done by late February and then we test and tune it and we’re competition ready by May that’s when we have our first competition.”

The SAE team’s season typically consists of two competitions. This year, for the second time in program history, they competed in three. The first, Formula SAE Michigan, is where the team placed 15th because of inclement weather during the endurance round. The second, Lincoln, is where a first place finish made team history. The third, Formula Student Germany, wrapped up Aug. 14.

The amount of members attending events varies.

Twenty-two frequented the Lincoln competition and 34 members attended the Michigan competition. Auburn’s trip to the Germany competition consists of a team of 16, since members pay for the trip out of pocket. The Tigers placed 22nd out of 111 teams in Germany this year, the highest it ever has.

“Generally the main designers go to competition,” said Payson Williams, a senior in mechanical engineering and the group’s project manager. “We want to keep it small. Germany is the best in the world for an SAE competition.”

The car is built almost entirely in the team’s shop on campus. About 80 percent of the car is built in the machine shop which remains open to the team roundthe-clock.

“In the winter, machines are running almost constantly - we’re really fortunate to have our own machine shop,” Boehm said. “Some teams have shop hours where they can only work 8 -5 or 8-8 and I don’t know how those teams get by. This [shop] is full everyday all day until the car is finished.”

The chassis, comprised of mostly carbon fiber, is laid out in the composite room. Bigger pieces like the rear wing and the monocoque are designed and sent off to GKN Aerospace. GKN uses their autoclave to create the parts because the on campus machines aren’t big enough.

Parts take several months to complete. For example, the monocoque from start to finish is uncertain because the team must design it, make the molds and send it to GKN to get cured.

The cars are created in Computer-Aided Design (CAD). Different programs are used to test various aspects of the car. The team can test different parts that may fail if too much force is applied. In CAD, they can apply forces in certain ways to find out how structurally sound the car is entirely on computers. Most of the testing is done in computer simulation before the team begins to make the parts.

The designs and simulation data that the team uses to build the car are used in design presentations at competitions. They are judged on how well they went from starting testing, building it and implementing the design.

That same design goes into the business presentation, headed by Boehm and the team’s business division. Like their car, the Formula SAE team is comprised of many different parts - not just those majoring in engineering.

“It’s not just mechanical engineering, it’s not just electrical engineering - we welcome anyone from any major..,” Boehm said. “We had an english major just graduate. We have a couple marketing majors, a supply chain management major, aerospace engineers.. we look for people who just love cars and really want to help make this the best car that it can be.”

Auburn’s program is one of few that is not solely focused on senior design, so incoming freshman and new team members can learn through their peers. The program’s inclusiveness gives them an edge over the competition, Boehm noted.

Teammates aren’t limited to having one role on the squad, either. Boehm doubles as head of the business team and a driver. In December, evaluations begin so that drivers can earn more seat time. The stage is also used for drivers to give designers feedback on the car’s feel and limits. Evaluations continue in the spring semester where the team chooses the four fastest to drive in competitions. Once chosen, drivers are broken off into two competition events; autocross and endurance or skidpad and acceleration.

“Nothing handles like it, nothing accelerates like it,” said Boehm. “It does 0 to 60 in 2.7 seconds. It’s faster than almost any road car and it grips more than almost any road car.”

For now, designing and besting a first place car isn’t the only thing the team has set its sights on. The biggest thing, according to Williams, is recruiting new designers.

“The design process with the new leadership is taking all the freshman who have never CAD-ed anything into a computer, who have never really built any intricate parts, and actually getting them to make a design and have it work,” Williams said. “You’re going to have to learn about certain parts. This is a team that works 365 days a year, there’s not a lot of holidays a lot of us do stay behind at Christmas, Thanksgiving, Spring Break to get the car done on time. Getting people who are committed is a challenge but you can see who’s really committed as soon as you meet them.”

Some members spend 40 hours a week in the shop, some five. The team asks for an individual’s investment of time in making their design work - not just for a group fee. Alumni of the Formula SAE team have landed internships and jobs with major businesses, including the names found canvasing the body of the first place car.

On weekends you can find members in the shop that break from their co-ops in nearby cities just to work on the car.

“We’ve got a lot of dedicated team members.. people work in Birmingham and come in over the weekend, people work in Atlanta and come in over the weekend and stay Friday through Sunday night and then drive back for work,” said Williams. “There’s a lot of passion on the team. That’s the biggest thing I could be proud of is that these guys are really people who are going to be leading the next big engineering firm, the next big thing, because they’re passionate.”

The hype of a first place car no longer fills the workshop. Classes have returned and pressure of manufacturing another champion auto has set in, but it has not

CONTRIBUTED BY NICK BOEHM

CONTRIBUTED BY NICK BOEHM

Madison Ogletree/Photo Editor

dimmed the passion of the Formula SAE team. A new year brings new opportunities and another chance to make school history.

Students who participated in the Formula SAE Lincoln event include: Nathan Baker Michael Bassie Nick Boehm Drew Campbell Xiang Chen Stuart Coats Trey Danks Jeff Dejax Davis Edwards Bryan Golden Steven Hough Daniel Maddux Andrew McCooey Preston McGurn Michael Moritz Isabel Perry Ryan Reeves Mark Stepnowski Gerrett Vickery Hunter Wilkinson Payson Williams

Thursday, August 18, 2016

Sports 9

The Auburn Plainsman

Malzahn, Tigers satisfied at close of fall camp

FOOTBALL

Jack winchester SPORTS REPORTER

Head coach Gus Malzahn announced on Monday that the 2016 edition of fall camp has come to a close for the Auburn football team. Malzahn said he was pleased with the recent progression and intensity of the team, which allowed him to let the players take the night off before the first day of classes on Tuesday.

Here is a look at what we learned from fall camp: Three quarterbacks still “competing their guts off” The close of camp left no answer to who will lead Auburn from the pocket, or a timetable on when that decision will be made. All three quarterbacks split reps evenly with the ones and twos in the first scrimmage of fall camp. Coaches saw good things from all three and offensive coordinator Rhett Lashlee explained that the three signal callers were making it a “tough decision.” In the Tigers second scrimmage on Saturday, Jeremy Johnson was held out because of a minor hand injury, which allowed coaches to closely evaluate Sean White and John Franklin III. Malzahn said he needs a “100 percent feel” before he names a starter.

“I’m not ready to name a starter right now. Possibly in the near future that could happen but we’re not ready right now as of the end of fall camp,” Malzahn said. “That’s not a bad thing at all. As a matter of fact, it’s a real positive thing that we’ve got a fierce competition going on. Our guys are battling. They’re much improved from the spring, and that’s exciting for me.”

While Malzahn may not be ready to name a starter, he says its “definitely the plan” for the race to be narrowed from three to two in the near future.

“Our quarterback has to be more of a runner this year, we’ve talked about that,” Malzahn said. “I don’t care who it is.”

Talented young defensive linemen will have a chance to play Auburn’s defensive line depth is what Malzahn believes

is the best “since I’ve been here.” Coming into fall camp, Tiger players and coaches knew that a combination of a Montravious Adams, Devroe Lawrence and a healthy Carl Lawson would be dangerous. What they didn’t expect is the impression that Auburn’s newest linemen would leave them with in fall camp. Freshman defensive tackles Marlon Davidson and Derrick Brown have caught most of the attention, but veterans like Adams believe that freshman Antwaun Jackson Jr. will also make a splash early.

“He’s doing pretty good,” said Adams, a senior defensive tackle. “Really, his thing is kind of similar to mine and that’s just keep working on hands and pad level and just the little things of being a good defensive lineman.”

Adams also commented on the growth of defensive end Byron Cowart. Cowart, the No. 1 overall recruit in the nation in 2015, expects to be at the top of the conference in production this season. After fall camp, Adams believes that the “sky is the limit” for the sophomore.

Daniel Thomas is turning heads The Tigers suffered a blow in the second scrimmage of camp when they lost defensive back Jamel Dean to a knee injury.

Dean, was competing for the starting job opposite Carlton Davis and was expected to be a big part of the Tiger defense. While the loss of Dean is not good for Kevin Steele’s defense, it will not break it. Incoming freshman cornerback Daniel Thomas has had an incredible fall camp and will not only make the active roster for the Clemson game, but has a very good chance to be in the defensive back rotation.

“We scrimmaged and he went into the stadium for the first time, and it was not too big for him,”said Steele after the first scrimmage. “I use that as an example, but it’s kind of what we’re looking for in those young guys that have not played a whole lot is that when they get into those situations, particularly over at the stadium, it’s not too big for him.”

A 100 percent healthy Tray Matthews will also be beneficial for the the Tiger defensive backs.

Offense will have two primary running backs Even with the loss of the Tigers top three running backs from 2015, the Auburn running game looks to be in good shape after fall camp. Sophomore tailback Kerryon Johnson is projected to be the starter, while former H-back Kamryn Pettway will fall behind Johnson in the rotation. Pettway also received the most carries in last Saturday’s scrimmage. The sophomore duo at tailback will lead incoming freshman running backs Kam Martin and Malik Miller, who will have an opportunity to provide depth at the positon.

Eli Stove and other young receivers will have a chance to play immediately.

Tony Stevens and Marcus Davis have an unbelievable trio of freshman receivers to lead and expect them to provide great depth. Stove, Kyle Davis and Nate Craig-Meyers will have many opportunities to contribute immediately for Malzahn’s offense.

Offensive coordinator Lashlee noted that stove “has done some really good things that say, ‘We need to keep working with this guy. He needs to be able to help us this year’ … He’s done enough that says, ‘Hey, he’s going to be ready to help us.’

In what capacity? I don’t know. But we’re going to keep pushing him, and he’s got a bright future.”

Notables • Stevens, a senior wideout, was seen on crutches at Auburn’s fan day on Sunday, but Malzahn expects him to be healthy for the beginning of the season.

• Malzahn also expects Kyle Davis to be healthy again soon.

• Sophomore linebacker Darrell Williams has also made strides in his second fall camp and is grabbing the attention of his coaches and teammates. Williams will be lead by junior linebacker Tre’ Williams, who has not practiced since Aug. 6, but is ‘close’ to being healthy, according to Malzahn.

COLUMN

Temper expectations for 2016 football season

SAM BUTLER

ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR

‘Curiosity killed the cat,’ as the saying goes. Well, in 2015, expectations killed the Tigers.

If you paid any attention to literally any sort of college media before the 2015 season, then hearing about how Auburn was going to run away with the SEC was a given.

It was pegged to win the conference at Media Days in July and the quarterback, Jeremy Johnson, was given strong odds in the preseason to take home the Heisman.

But things didn’t end up quite so well. The Tigers got off to a 2-0 start, but you could

see the cracks start to form in the foundation. Johnson was overthinking his progressions, the defense wasn’t exactly what was envisioned when Will Muschamp was hired as the defensive coordinator, and it culminated with a thrashing in Baton Rouge, where Leonard Fournette and LSU brought Auburn crashing back down to earth. When the dust cleared on the season, the Tigers finished at 7-6, and plenty of question marks for 2016.

Now, they’re flying under the radar, with a battle at quarterback and a new starting running back in Kerryon Johnson, complemented by another top-10 recruiting class.

The expectations won’t be anywhere close to the level they were at in 2015, and that’s for the better. If you set yourself up to think ‘championship or bust,’ anything less is bound to be an incredible disappointment.

With a brutal schedule, headlined with a visit from reigning national runner-up

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Clemson on opening weekend, it’s going to be tough sledding for Auburn early on. It’ll need to make some significant strides on offense compared to 2015, and finding the right quarterback is imperative.

There’s no guarantee the Tigers will be any better than last year, and there’s no guar-

antee they won’t. But setting unrealistic expectations for yourself won’t do you any favors.

So, just enjoy the season. You’re only in school for a couple of years, and disappointing yourself during your years as a student at football games isn’t fun.

Sports 10

The Auburn Plainsman

Thursday, August 18, 2016

FOOTBALL

Auburn Football recruiting update

Pearce Miller SPORTS WRITER

Before the close of the spring semester, Auburn only had one commitment for the 2017 class. Now, the Tigers enter the fall semester with 13 commits for the 2017 season.

Gus Malzahn’s summer recruitment success is still rolling, with Jordyn Peters, a 3-star ranked safety by 247sports Composite, recently ranked Auburn in his top six. The safety from Muscle Shoals, Al is also considering Ole Miss, Mississippi State, Virginia Tech, Louisville, and Duke.

Auburn also continues to pursue Jaymest Williams, a 4-star cornerback from Logansville, Georgia. Williams is ranked 57th in 247sports Composite top 100 player rankings.

Here are the current commits for the 2017 recruiting class:

OT Calvin Ashley Washington, D.C. ««««« St. John’s College HS Committed: May 30

OT Austin troxell Madison, AL

«««« Madison Academy Committed: June 18

ATH Tray Bishop Dawson, GA «««« Terrell County High School Committed: July 25

OG Nick Brahms Navarre, FL «««« Navarre High School Committed: July 9

ATH Alaric Williams Gadsden, AL «««« Southside High School Committed: July 25

OLB Chandler Wooten ILB Tadarian Moultry Birmingham, AL «««« P.D. Jackson-Olin High School Committed: May 6

ATH Malcolm Askew McCalla, AL

«««« McAdory High School Committed: June 4

RB Devan Barrett Tampa, FL «««« Tampa Catholic High School Committed: July 21

S Carlito Gonzalez Stone Mountain, GA ««« Stephenson High School Committed: August 8

Kennesaw, GA ««« North Cobb High School Committed: May 13

ATH Octavius Matthews Fulton, MS ««« Itawamba Community College Committed: June 5

OT Austin troxell Madison, AL

«««« Madison Academy Committed: June 18

LS Bill Taylor

Tuscaloosa, AL «« American Christian Academy Committed: June 13

K Anders Carlson

Pike National Forest, CO «« The Classical Academy Committed: June 25

CONTRIBUTED BY WADE RICKELY - AUBURN ATHLETICS

OLYMPICS

Former Auburn Tigers compete in Rio de Janeiro Emily Shoffit SPORTS EDITOR

More than 20 Auburn coaches and athletes set off for the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The event captured the eyes of the world when it began Aug. 5. Here is how some of the former Tigers have been performing: Marcelo Chierighini The Auburn alumnus, making his second Olympics appearance for Brazil, swam the final leg for his team in the 4x100 medley relay on Saturday night, helping capture a sixth-place finish for his home country in the final swimming event of the Olympics.

Cheirighini anchored in 48.50 seconds, swimming a 100m freestyle for the seventh time during the games. He had previously swam the individual 100 freestyle, finishing eighth overall. He also swam the leadoff leg during the preliminaries and finals of the 4x100 freestyle relay, as well as anchoring the 4x100 medley relay during prelims.

Kristy Coventry Auburn’s most decorated Olympian, Coventry captured sixth place in the finals of the women’s 200m backstroke.

In lane 7, the Zimbabwe native swam a 1:03.25 first 100 and finished in 2:08.80. A veteran of five Olympics, it marked the fourth time she competed in the finals of the 200m backstroke, winning the gold medal in 2004 (Athens, Greece) and 2008 (Beijing, China) and placing sixth in 2012 (London, England).

Her 2016 time bested her 2004 gold medal-winning time of 2:09.19.

Coventry swam at Auburn from 2002-05 and will retire

following the games in Rio. She is also the most decorated Olympian from the African continent. A seven-time medalist, she won a complete set of medals in the 2004 games (Gold – 200m backstroke, Silver – 100m backstroke, Bronze – 200m IM) and then captured four in 2008 (Gold – 200m backstroke, Silver – 100m backstroke and 200m IM, Bronze – 400m IM).

Arianna Vanderpool-Wallace Also swimming on Friday night was three-time Olympian Arianna Vanderpool-Wallace of the Bahamas. Swimming in heat one of the 50m free, she finished fourth in 24.60 which placed her ninth overall, .07 seconds out of the top 8.

Vanderpool-Wallace finished in a three-way tie for 13th in prelims of the 50m free, clocking a 24.77. The Bahamian record holder (24.31), she swam at Auburn from 2009-12.

Julie Meyen A freshman on the Plains this season, Meyen established a new Luxembourg 50m free record, touching in 25.12 to break her own record of 25.55 set at the 2015 World Championships in Kazan, Russia. Her time was 26th-fastest out of 88 competitors, missing the top 16 by just .30 seconds.

Donald Thomas For the first time in his career, Donald Thomas qualified for the high jump finals after a jump of 2.29m/7-6.

Thomas was a two-time All-American and 2007 NCAA Indoor high jump champion during his time at Auburn. He also won the high jump World Championship in 2007 with a jump of 2.35m/7-8.5. His personal best came this year when

he posted a 2.37m/7-9.25 on July 18.

Thomas represented the Bahamas on Tuesday and tied for a seventh place finish with a 2.29m jump.

Stephanie Horner The former Tiger, who swam at Auburn from 2008-10, finished 23rd in Marathon Swimming event at on Monday morning.

Horner represented Canada and competed in the Olympic Open Water 10K for the first time. This Olympics marks her third ever. She completed the course in 1:59.22, hitting the 2.52km split in 30:55.7, the 5km split in 1:01.04 and the 7.48km split in 1:29.44. Sharon Van Rouwendall of the Netherlands won gold in 1:56.32, Rachele Bruni of Italy took silver in 1:56.49 and Brazil’s Poliana Okimoto won bronze in 1:56.51.

Horner debuted in the Olympics in 2008 in Beijing, swimming in the 200m freestyle (17th place), the 400m freestyle (11th), the 200m butterfly (20th) and on the 4x200m freestyle relay (10th). She returned for the London Olympics in 2012, finishing 21st in the 400 IM. Notable Brazilian Bruno Fratus, who trains at Auburn under head coach Brett Hawke, tied for sixth in the finals of the men’s 50m freestyle, touching in 21.79. Anthony Ervin (United States) won in 21.40, Florent Manaudou (France) took silver in 21.41 and Nathan Adrian (United States) won bronze (21.49).

After qualifying for his first Olympics with Puerto Rico, DJ Smith (2015) finished tied for 12th in the preliminaries with a jump of 2.26m.

Intrigue Thursday, August 18, 2016

11 ThePlainsman.com

Intrigue

COLUMN

PHOTO ILLISTRATION BY MADISON OGLETREE / PHOTO EDITOR

Jakob Geiger, sophomore in political science, Ashton Wells, sophomore in pre-elementary education and Garrett Johnson, sophomore in fine arts, burn time between classes at Auburn University.

How to beat boredom between classes If you are aware of a mega test coming up soon, one last cram session with fellow students could be beneficial. Gathering in the shadow of Auburn's magnificent Samford Hall is far better scenery than Haley's beige walls. For even more relaxation, grab some hammocks and blankets.

Lily Jackson INTRIGUE EDITOR

Having a multitude of classes in one day is typical for most students and going home between is not always the most desirable option. Likewise, ambling around campus for a couple hours can be tiresome and unenjoyable. Auburn's campus is full of time burning adventures. Here are ways to eliminate the boredom that comes along with popping a squat in one place for hours.

1. Host a study session and get some sun on Samford Lawn

Summer may be over, but sunny weather is sticking around. Taking advantage of the vitamin C by chilling out with buds will set a positive tone for the rest of the day. Encouraging your friends to bring a dish to share will save money and add some variety to your day.

2. Take a nap on the 3rd floor of the student center

4. Explore Toomer's Corner with your classmates

Who doesn't need the occasion recharge? The third floor is quiet and rarely occupied, making it the perfect place to catch some "Zs" before the next class. Finding a corner to yourself in a comfy chair is much more likely on the third floor than any other.

Auburn's charming downtown is welcoming and ever-changing. Whether you're feeling like ice cream, a cup of coffee or window shopping, getting to know downtown Auburn is a pleasant way to get to know the city while you wait for your next class.

3. Have a picnic on the green space

5. Check out The Auburn Plainsman for free events Auburn University is a happening school and finding free events, lectures and giveaways is not as hard as one may think. You never know, your favorite author or speaker could be the next esteemed Auburn guest. Free meals are always a possibility, as well.

6. Sign up for group fitness classes at the Recreation Center Getting in daily exercise can be difficult at times, but using that extra long break between classes to hit the gym is a simple way to make time fly. Invite some friends to join you and explore all that the Rec has to offer. Signing up for classes that interest you will make exercising more enjoyable.

Freshman advice from former freshmen Krista Grant INTRIGUE WRITER

Your first year of college is bound to be nerve-wracking.

In response, The Auburn Plainsman’s editorial staff offered their own advice for incoming freshmen.

Lily Jackson, intrigue editor, threw in her two cents.

“Leave behind everything from high school, start with a fresh mind set and get as involved as you can,” Jackson said.

College can be terrifying when you start, but a key thing to remember is that college is not high school. The dynam-

MUSIC

ic is very different. You’ll find yourself between a rock and a hard place if you cling to your high school experience and friends.

This is a new start, so take advantage of it. There are hundreds of things to do on and off campus, including organizations, get-togethers, parties and sports.

“Don’t worry if you don’t have a ton of friends on the first day. They’ll come,” said Chip Brownlee, community editor.

“And don’t betray yourself to try to fit in.”

Brownlee made a good point: You don’t need to make friends your first day.

You have plenty of time. More importantly, you shouldn’t compromise on who you are in hopes of fitting in.

Weston Sims, opinions editor, had some advice.

“Meet lots of people,” Sims said. “Es-

pecially people you wouldn’t normally envision yourself being friends with.”

You’ll find when you start college that the world is a bigger place than you imag-

“Don’t worry if you don’t have a ton of friends on the first day. They’ll come.”

Chip Brownlee COMMUNITY EDITOR

ined. With all the opportunities that Auburn offers, you can find people that you relate to and make friends for life.

Anne Dawson, online editor, said to get out of your comfort zone.

“Don’t be afraid to put yourself out there,” Dawson said. “Get involved and be outgoing--you won’t regret it.”

Important tip: Keep up with your schedule and know when events are. It’s easy to lose track of time or forget to go to a meeting, so keep a planner.

“If you’re worried about getting around campus and making it to classes on time, try to make your own routes,” Claire Tully, campus editor, said.

Plan ahead and know where you need to go and when. It’s always a good idea to figure out shortcuts for how to go through your schedule in the fastest amount of time possible. If possible, try to explore the campus. This will help with your confidence level.

PLAINSMAN PICKS PLAYLIST:

this week, the plainsman editors chose their favorite songs to study to.” listen to their picks, follow the auburn plainsman at spotify.com/ the plainsman

“Summer Friends” by Chance the Rapper Sam Butler, assistant sports editor “The best song off the best album of the summer. It’s a really easy listen and Chance’s flow is bouncy.”

“Banana Pancakes” by Jack Johnson

Claire Tully, campus editor “I like more soft acoustic music like this when I study because I don’t find it distracting.”

“Something About You” by Hayden James, ODESZA remix Emily Shoffit, sports editor “It’s calm, but upbeat so it keeps my stress levels down and keeps me awake.”

Sarah Partain, intrigue writer, said that college is anything you want it to be.

“You don’t have to fulfill this fouryears-and-graduate mold,” Partain said.

“You can switch colleges; you can graduate late or early. Don’t think you have to have a ‘typical’ four-year college experience.”

Feel free to try quirky classes for credit hours like Online Organic Gardening or Water Aerobics. Not every class you take needs to go toward your major, so make sure you enjoy your college experience by trying new and strange things that you had never considered.

These are some of the best years of your life. Don’t waste them and live them up.

The Auburn Plainsman staff wishes you a fantastic year.

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Intrigue 12

Thursday, August 18, 2016

The Auburn Plainsman

ACADEMICS

Boosting your GPA without the stress Catie Sergis INTRIGUE WRITER

As fall semester begins, many students are on the hunt for some GPA boosting classes. These classes are considered easier and can almost guarantee that “easy A” we all love.

One of the most talked about classes on Auburn’s campus is a physical education class called “Fitness Through Puppy Play.” The College of Veterinary Medicine and the School of Kinesiology have collaborated to bring this fit-

ness class to students. Students in this class train, socialize and exercise puppies who will grow up to become detection dogs. Like most GPA boosting classes, “Fitness Through Puppy Play” is worth two credit hours.

“Self-Defense for Women” is yet another physical education course offered numerous times each week. The course is designed to bring awareness and teach realistic self-defense methods to women. The class is made up of hands-on training and exercises. This class is sure to help your GPA and it has an interesting final exam.

Adison Nikolai, a senior in nursing science, said, “The self-defense final is a simulation.

There is a rush of adrenaline and I surprised myself with how quickly I reacted. Being able to

practice in real life situations made me feel more safe and ready to defend myself if I ever needed to.”

Bowling has recently become a popular class for Auburn students. Your grade is mostly influenced by attendance and the class is known for being stress free.

Chris Eagan, senior in business, took bowling and thoroughly enjoyed it he said.

“It’s a great class to take a load off from your work, learn the fundamentals of bowling and make new friends,” Eagan said.

Crossfit is another class offered as a physical education credit. According to past students, the class is a great way to stay in shape all semester long. Many find Crossfit to be challenging, but

students claim they came out of the class feeling stronger and more fit.

Amber Robinson, a junior in industrial design, was one of those students.

“Crossfit was pretty intense each class, but I felt like I really did get more in shape. I also got an “A” just by going to class,” Robinson said.

Crossfit class is three days a week and an hour long. Students are sure to build muscle and gain that “A”. However, the instructors enforce a strict attendance policy.

“It was a great class, but if you missed more than five classes throughout the semester, your grade would drop down to a ‘B’,” Robinson.

Auburn University is not the only school that offers these unique types of classes.

Rome and back home again: a student’s summer abroad STUDY ABROAD

Lily Jackson

INTRIGUE EDITOR

When in Rome, one must indulge in the sights, meander through art galleries galore and absorb the history that is all around.

That is exactly how Lane Gower, senior in fine art, spent her 2016 summer when she studied abroad in Rome for the university’s "Art in Rome" program.

Gower spent a little over a month in Rome, Italy taking classes and exploring the city.

Along with a small group of fellow Auburn students, Gower began to acclimate herself to what she said was a fairly different culture.

Gower had hoped to study abroad during her time at Auburn and as time inched closer to graduation she knew she "had to suck it up" and go for it.

"Since I graduate soon, this summer was my last chance

to study abroad," Gower said.

"When the time came for us to put down money for the trip, I was conflicted, but I went for it. At that moment, I couldn't turn back. I was going to Rome."

Gower spent most of her free time exploring the many attractions that Rome has to offer.

"It was funny, because I was far more active in Rome than I was at home," Gower said. "I transformed into a different person, because there was always something to go see or something to do and all of it required a lot of walking."

According to Gower, her school was two miles from their apartment. Every day they would leave thirty minutes before class and often show up late. Gower laughed and explained that many Italians are late which helped their case.

There were many cultural adjustments that Gower faced, start-

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ing with the lack of air conditioning and a clothing dryer. Negative cultural assumptions towards Americans created a few bumps along the way, but as time went on Gower and her classmates made connections that helped sway set opinions.

"The driving was crazy," Gower said. "That was something that surprised us all. They just squeeze wherever they can fit their car, no matter what direction they are facing."

Gower and her classmates made a point to make the most of their time in Italy by planning additional activities each day along with their courses. Although there were some days the group relaxed, Gower said it was often "get up and go".

Gower attended two courses, Art History and a studio course.

She thoroughly enjoyed the correlation between the classes she took and what the city had to offer.

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CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

Lane Gower poses for a photo in Rome, Italy during her summer study-

of the fear out of exploring a different country.

"I was always terrified of how different it would be and throwing myself into a totally different culture was not something I was comfortable with," Gower said. "I feel so much better now, because I know I can do it and I did do it."

Gower said that studying abroad helps you find out things

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"Instead of just seeing the art in a slide show presentation the teacher would say, 'Alright, let's go see it and talk about it there,'" Gower said. "We got to see some of our favorite paintings and I thought to myself how much I wanted this lifestyle forever."

Gower experienced internal difficulties when the time came for her to leave Rome, as she has grown to love the city. Although it was difficult to leave, Gower looked forward to returning home and missed the food while she was traveling.

"There were a lot of conscious changes that occurred during my time there," Gower said. "Mostly, I changed physically and became a more positive person."

After the summer of travel, Gower said she is more opened to taking jobs out of the country when she graduates. Gower enjoyed traveling and the trip with the university helped take some

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about yourself that would have never come to surface without being forced to adapt and make new decisions.

"You spend more time in your own mind thinking about issues you've never been faced with before," Gower said. "You learn more about yourself while you are learning about a totally different culture."

Print Deadline Noon three business days prior to publication

RELEASE DATE– Tuesday, August 16, 2016

Los Angeles Times Daily Crossword Puzzle Edited by Rich Norris and Joyce Nichols Lewis

ACROSS 1 Sherbet flavor 5 Exhalation of relief 9 Rumor, to a rumor mill 14 With 5-Down, “Spanglish” actor 15 Capital of Samoa 16 Vitality 17 Annual Time honoree 20 “__ who?!”

21 Throw in 22 Selection for a reading 23 Like LAX and JFK 25 __ colada 26 Plant, as seed 27 Nickname of a Nobel-winning novelist 31 Under the intended pitch 32 DVR button 33 Mogadishu is its cap.

34 “Shush!”

36 Concern for an orthodontist 38 NFLer again in 2016 42 Old tape initials 44 Detective Spade 46 Greek letter that would be last in English 47 Doesn’t get confused, as facts 50 “The Greatest” boxer 52 __-chic: hippieinfluenced fashion style 53 Knee-baring skirt 54 Letterman’s successor 56 Like a texter who types “:-(“ 57 Winter illness 60 Verbal nudge found in each set of puzzle circles 63 Trusty mount 64 Advertising award 65 Gradually withdraw 66 Makes by working 67 Green Hornet’s sidekick 68 Betting numbers

DOWN 1 Gym class punishment, perhaps 2 Cannes concept 3 Oft-molded almond confection 4 Ambulance letters 5 See 14-Across 6 Apple with earbuds 7 Picture file suffix 8 Something stuck in a bonnet 9 Misses military roll call, maybe 10 Rob __: cocktails 11 “Whatever works” 12 Wolfgang Puck’s restaurant 13 Pitched 18 Inaugural recitation 19 Puts on the museum wall 24 One born there 25 “Guernica” muralist Pablo 27 Rank below cpl.

28 __ française 29 “Family Guy” daughter 30 Like the ’69 N.Y. Mets

35 Diver’s sickness 37 Bit of butter 39 Found a new home for, as an unwanted present 40 Olympics entrant: Abbr.

41 Yoga class need 43 Baseball or golf 45 Nearsighted cartoon character 47 Off-__: askew

48 Cornball routine 49 Executive’s confidante 50 Make __ for: argue in favor of 51 Ton of, slangily 55 “It’s __ fun” 56 Foul mood 58 Set the pace 59 Coffee servers 61 Suffix with pay or Cray 62 Couple

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By Patti Varol ©2016 Tribune Content Agency, LLC

08/16/16

08/16/16