Auburn Housing special section inside
The Auburn Plainsman A Spirit That Is Not Afraid
Thursday, January 29, 2015 Vol. 122, Issue 26, 34 Pages
First copy is free. Additional copies 50 cents per issue.
Online
politics
ThePlainsman.com VIDEO: This Week on the Plains
Students respond to stay on same-sex marriage ban
Time will tell Kris Martins Campus Writer
On Sunday, Jan. 25 U.S. District Judge Callie V.S. Granade, who struck down the same-sex marriage ban, put the ruling on a 14-day hold for Alabama’s attorney general to make their case to an appeals court. According to NBC News, if the appeals court doesn’t ex-
inside campus
tend or lift the stay by the end of the 14 days, the ruling will take effect Feb. 9. According to Time Inc., Alabama is the most conservative state in the union. In 2006, 81 percent of Alabamians voted for a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage, an amendment struck down by Granade on Friday, Jan. 23, for being unconstitu-
tional. Alicia Valenti, president of Auburn University College Democrats and senior in public administration, said she believes the decision was long overdue. “I think that everyone should be able to marry who they love, and I would hope
» See marriage a2
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Page A8
Parks and Rec hosts empty bowls event
raye may / contributing designer
Information in the graphic above is from freedomtomarry.org and williamsinstitute.law.ucla.edu.
sports
Page A9
Women’s basketball team losing streak
ellen jackson / photohrapher
Danielle Long, member of the equestrian team, is also the team photographer.
Athlete jumps over hurdles Equestrian rider combines art and athletics Derek Thompson Sports Reporter
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Student earns fame through coffee index Campus Opinion Community Sports Intrigue
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And the Emmy award goes to...
Former Plainsman editor wins for NBC coverage Campus Writer
community
intrigue
contributed by auburn.edu
David Ingram, Auburn alum, now works for NBC News.
Kris Martins
Miss Auburn University Pageant Preview
sports
alumni
At just about any Auburn equestrian event this year, there is a brunette running back and forth between the rings or crouching under a fence trying to capture a good angle of the competitors with her camera. She is wearing the same tall boots and uniform of the Western riders. Her name is Danielle Long, and she wears the boots and attire because she is an Auburn equestrian rider as well as the team’s photographer.
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One of my favorite things is to see people be happy about something I took and noticed about them.” —Danielle Long
equestrian rider
Long took on the extra role of taking her teammates’ pictures her sophomore year, and the only time she puts the
camera down is when it is her turn to compete for the Western team. Long found her passion in art and photography approximately the same time she got her first quarter horse when she was 8 years old. Growing up around the equestrian industry in Alaska, Long said she knows what to look for in her photos, which will eventually make their way to the team’s Facebook page or the Auburn athletics website.
» See athlete a2
When two pressure-cooker bombs exploded at the finish line of the Boston Marathon in April 2013, the FBI and media investigated to find the individuals responsible. Behind one team of media investigators was Auburn alum David Ingram working as a producer for NBC News. According to Ingram, when the FBI released photographs of the two suspects, his team was assigned to remain on standby in case new reports from Boston surfaced. While on the 24-hour staff, Ingram said the team heard of police activity related to the suspects in Watertown, Massachusetts. They planned to go on air for a couple of minutes, but remained on television for several hours. With new information flowing in every 10-15 minutes, Ingram said he and his team worked until the “Today Show” started, leaving work after one suspect was shot and killed and the other arrested. “My team and I left work that morning thinking that we had put another day in, and we really didn’t think about much because, for me, as a television producer, when I go into work every day, my thinking is not, ‘I’m going to go into work today with the sole purpose of getting some kind of recognition for my work,’” Ingram said. “I go in and do the best job that I can with the best information, the most accurate type of storytelling and then if someone wants to recognize it later, that’s great.” In July 2014, the NBC News team joined the list of Emmy nominees for the Boston Marathon bombing coverage, and the following September they won. “I had no idea that this was the type of coverage that was outstanding and exemplary, mainly just because it all moved so fast that evening,” Ingram said. “It wasn’t something we had planned out. We were doing it on the fly and doing the best job that we could, and, if anything, I think it reminds you of why you’re in journalism be-
“
I think it reminds you why you’re in journalism becasue it can be a very trying occupation and field to be in, and when you get recognized for doing great work, it re-emphasizes why you did this business in the first place.” —David Ingram
Producer for NBC News
cause it can be a very trying occupation and field to be in, and when you get recognized for doing great work, it re-emphasizes why you did this business in the first place.” Ingram said he decided to major in journalism after receiving positive feedback on an English paper. His English professor suggested he try writing for The Plainsman. During his senior year, Ingram became editor-in-chief of The Plainsman. Ed Williams, journalism professor emeritus and The Plainsman adviser in 2008, said Ingram was mature, and his staff looked up to him. “He was a good leader, and he was a good editor,” Williams said. “Even as a student, his dream was to live and work in New York City, and he’s obviously very successful at it because he’s been a part of an award-winning team, and he’s only been out of college seven years.” Ingram said The Plainsman taught him skills he still uses every day. “It may sound elementary, but you have to get stories right,” Ingram said. “You have to make sure things are correct and to spell things correctly, you have to double check and triple check your sources to make sure that you have all
» See emmy a2
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Campus A2
The Auburn Plainsman
Thursday, January 29, 2015
emmy
DUI reports
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» From A1
The following were arrested and charged with driving under the influence by the Auburn Police Division from Jan. 20-25: Jan. 22 - Maloree Jordan Donaldson, 22 E. Glenn Avenue at Alice Street at 3:38 a.m. Jan. 23 - Jared Luke Jones, 25 S. College Street at 1:32 a.m. - Bernabe Rolando Ambrocio-Perez, 22 Opelika Road at 11:33 p.m. Jan. 24 - Brent Ray Goodson, 29 S. College Street at 11:28 p.m.
—David Ingram
Prodcuer for NBC News
Jan. 25 - Turner Douglas Griffin, 21 E. Samford Avenue at 12:43 a.m. A full crime report provided by the Auburn Department of Public Safety is available online at ThePlainsman.com. –Reports provided by the Auburn Department of Public Safety
The Auburn Plainsman Happy Birtday to Plainsman adviser Austin phillips! “Somebody’s gotta do it.”
marriage » From A1
that it would encourage more people to live here rather than move out of the state,” Valenti said. Valenti said she also hopes the change will attract greater diversity to Auburn’s student population. “We are, overall, a very conservative campus and pretty homogenous in terms of demographics,” Valenti said. “I hope that this ban may make Alabama more of a forwardthinking state, and we’d be able to have a more diverse student body and maybe not see so much of the same ideas propagated around campus.” Carson Sprayberry, chairman of Auburn University College of Republicans and junior in polymer & fiber engineering, said though he does not agree with the decision, it was not unexpected. “With the trend that’s been going all around the U.S., it really came as no surprise that another federal judge would strike down a very traditional state’s ban on same-sex marriage,” Sprayberry said. “In my personal opinion, I don’t believe that the striking down by a federal judge constitutes as a reasonable decision when just eight years ago, 81 percent of Alabamians opposed same-sex marriage in the state.” Reed Dudley, president of Alabama College Democrats and junior in anthropology, said she sees the decision as a
It may sound elementary, but you have to get stories right.You have to make sure things are correct and to spell things correctly. You have to double check and triple check your sources to make sure that you have all your ducks in a row.”
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I think that everyone should be able to marry who they love.” —Alicia Valenti
President of AUburn college democrats
great historic moment in Alabama’s history and as a historic moment in the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community. “It’s always great to see equality win, especially in the South, because Alabama isn’t exactly known as being progressive,” Dudley said. “It just shows that Alabama continues to lead in helping the lives of others.” Beth Slagle, vice chairman of Auburn University College Republicans and junior in business, said she’s disappointed in the outcome. Slagle said she believes the divide between people will deepen if the ruling stands. “As a conservative and a Christian, I do believe marriage is defined as between a man and a woman, and it’s disappointing to me to see the federal government try to get involved in a state issue because marriage is a state issue,” Slagle said. “I do have faith in Luther Strange and Governor Bentley that they will do the right thing by Alabama and take care of it and appeal the decision and stand up for our state.”
Has your father (or father-like figure) ever physically hurt your mother? We’re doing a research project about young adults in this situation.
your ducks in a row. If you don’t have those foundations, you are not going to be provident at your job.” Kendra Carter, 2008 Auburn alumna, worked on The Plainsman staff with Ingram. According to Carter, a student was murdered the day before the paper’s weekly print deadline. Ingram faced the choice of discarding the prepared front page of The Plainsman and placing the breaking news story in its place.
athlete » From A1
“Her photos are great,” said head coach Greg Williams. “My wife says she could take a hundred photos of the same thing (Danielle) takes one of, and (Danielle’s) is always better. Not just the quality, but (Danielle) has a way of always seeing an angle, a light, something different. It’s just the eye of a photographer.” Long said her passion for photography stems from a condition called autism spectrum disorder. ASD is classified as a neurodevelopmental disorder, which impairs the growth and development of the brain or central nervous system. People with ASD can have a wide range of symptoms, which include deficits in social communication and repetitive patterns of behavior. People are usually diagnosed with ASD in their early childhood. The senior majoring in fine arts was diagnosed with ASD her freshman year after extensive tests were performed through Auburn’s psychology department. Many people who have ASD use their creative abilities as a means of communication and find it to be therapeutic, according to Long. “It is a very meditative and stress-relieving thing for me,” Long said. “I look for certain things. I love just being able to capture these random moments.” Jennifer Delman of the hunt seat team said her teammates try to get in Long’s photographs. “It just kind of brings us all together,” Delman said. “That’s kind of a role that no one before her had and she kind of created it on her own
Contributed by David Ingram
David Ingram won an Emmy award for his coverage of the Boston Marathon bombing in 2013.
“I think David’s decision to throw out that front page we already had and rally the staff together to cover this big news stories that had a big impact on campus started a shift of moving The Plainsman from strictly a weekly paper into a more responsive paper,” Carter said. Carter said there are parallels to In-
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gram’s response to The Plainsman experience and his response to real life, on-thejob situations. “As long as I’ve known him, he’s had this incredible drive,” Carter said. “He wants to get to the bottom of the story. He wants to tell the story well. He has this drive and motivation that gets him there.”
(Long’s photos) just kind of bring us all together.” —Jennifer Delman
Equestrian team member
and took initiative. It’s something we really enjoy.” Delman said she fills in as the photographer when it is Long’s turn to ride in the events. “We always have a joke about how when she puts pictures up on Facebook, you can always tell which ones I took and which ones she took because hers are always so much better,” Delman said. “I know after meets I’ll keep checking Facebook to see when (Danielle) is going to put the pictures up because they are so nice to look at.” Long said her favorite equestrian moment was taking photographs when Auburn equestrian won the national championship in 2013. Long was taking photographs at the other end of the arena in Waco, Texas, when former teammate Cheyenne Cracraft sealed the championship against Georgia in a rideoff competition. Long said candid is her favorite type of photography. She said she enjoys it because people have no idea she is shooting them. “One of my favorite things is to see people be happy about something I took and noticed about them,” Long said. Whether this season ends in another national championship or doesn’t go the way the Tigers want it to, the Auburn equestrian team will have Long’s photographs to look forward to at the end of the meets.
photos by ellen jackson / photographer
Danielle Long photographs her teammates at competitions.
Long said she uses her photography as a stree reliever..
PARTICIPATE IN A STUDY ON YOUNG ADULTS Participants must be young adults between the ages of 19 and 25 years old.
Your Privacy and Confidentiality Will Be Protected. Participants will receive $25.
If you might be interested in participating, contact us for more information: Young Adult’s Live and Learn (Y’ALL) Project AUyallproject@gmail.com, or 334-844-4173 Principal Investigator: Dr. Megan Haselschwerdt Department of Human Development and Family Studies Auburn University
Thursday, January 29, 2015
Campus A3
The Auburn Plainsman
SGA Senate holds first meeting of 2015 Student government
Nicole Fulkerson Campus Reporter
The SGA Senate held their first meeting of 2015 on Monday, Jan. 26, at 7:30 p.m. Treasurer Richmond Gunter introduced a plan for future SGA cabinet members to spend the $1.3 million in the student involvement reserve fund throughout the next 4-5 years. “The reserve fund is where student activity money goes that has not been spent by Student Activity Projects during the course of the year,” Gunter said. “The problem is there has not been a lot of vision or planning to spend this down in a way that benefits the student body and also has an affect that lasts several years.”
According to Gunter, the SGA cabinet has put together a plan to spend the money in ways that would benefit future SGA members as well as the entire Auburn student body. “We wanted to be the group that sat down and put together a bold vision for the future,” Gunter said. Spending would include improvements to the Student Involvement Office, creating a student memorial, transforming the Student Activities Center into a functional auditorium and improvements to the Student Center. SGA would especially like to see expansions to the Student Center, according to Gunter. “Auburn’s Student Center is currently smaller
rankings
Online grad programs among best in the U.S. A nna Claire Terry Campus Writer
Auburn University online graduate programs were ranked among the best in the nation by U.S. News and World Report. Auburn tied with the University of Wisconsin for the No. 10 spot. Programs that received recognition were the Raymond J. Harbert College of Business, the College of Education and the Samuel Ginn College of Engineering. Eric Brooks, lead data research analyst for the U.S. News and World Report 2015 rankings, said each group was computed separately. According to Brooks, the rankings are determined using metrics and by reputation among other schools. “A good thing about Auburn’s online programs is that the teachers have the same credentials that you would expect campus teachers to have,” Brooks said. Brooks said Auburn’s high number of teachers with Ph.D.s and tenure is a reason it was ranked so high. Brooks also said Auburn’s admissions process for the online programs is selective. There were five categories from which the final rankings came: admissions, peer reputation, faculty credentials and training, student services and technology, and student engagement. Jim Parish, director of MBA Admissions and Operations for the College of Business, said 2015 marks Auburn business school’s third year of being highly ranked. According to Parish, there are currently 280-300 students enrolled completely in online classes.
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A good thing about Auburn’s online programs is that teachers have the same credentials that you would expect campus teachers to have.” —Eric Brooks
LEAD DATA RESEARCH ANALYST
Parish said he credits the success of the online program to the availability of the teaching staff. Parish said the online curriculum is the exact same thing students receive on campus. Parish also said the comparative price point for online classes is good. “We’re very excited, not only by the ranking, but by the longevity and the history we have of being ranked so high,” Parish said. Greg Ruff, director of outreach for the College of Engineering, said he credits the high rankings to attention paid to the convenience of students. “We work very hard to take care of details, with students particularly,” Ruff said. Ruff said it is a goal of the engineering program to work with the students as well as possible. Ruff said the staff does its best to present course content in a clean and non-distracting manner. “We always want to make this as close to the classroom experience as possible,” Ruff said.
than Georgia State’s,” Gunter said. “I think this current space underserves the students, and it will only get worse.” In other Senate news: • The SGA Senate introduced three proposals to be voted on next week. • The first proposal, introduced by Sen. Natalie Thomley, is a proposal for SGA to add a referendum to the Spring election ballot for candidates for the 2015 Final Lecture. “The Final Lecture is given by a professor who has made extraordinary contributions to Auburn University,” Thomley said. • The second proposal is a request to change an SGA Constitutional amendment, which will
faculty
contributed by samia spencer
Samia Spencer, who has worked with the French government since 1972, receiving her award.
Professor honored by France Tracy Awino
Campus Reporter
Samia Spencer, French professor emerita, was recently inducted into the National Order of Merit. “I am honored and humbled to be recognized by the government of France for services to the French nation, its people and its language and culture,” Spencer said in her acceptance speech. Spencer said her first title was as Knight in the Order of Academic Palms. Since then, she was recognized as an honorary consul and, most recently, she received her highest honor. “I have had other awards from the French government coming from the Ministry of Education, and it is a gift to recognize people in the field of education that contribute a lot,” Spencer said. Spencer said she has worked with the French government since she started work at Auburn University in 1972. “I deal a lot with French teachers and, through this work, I was an honorary,” Spencer said. “Most honorary consuls are French nationals, and I am not a French national, so it was a great honor.” Spencer said by being able to work as an honorary consul and arrange tours for French offi-
faculty
Liberal Arts Breeden Scholar announced S arah Robinson Campus Writer The Jule Collins Smith Museum of Fine Art hosted Auburn University’s 2015 Breeden Scholar recipient, Rick Lowe, as he gave his talk, “Social Community Engaged Art: The Genuine and the Artificial,” on Thursday, Jan. 22. Lowe discussed his past experiences and future plans involving Auburn University. Lowe said he first encountered Auburn University when Wendy DesChene, associate professor of art, met Lowe in 2011. At that time, Lowe was the master artist-in-residence for the Atlantic Center for the Arts in New Smyrna Beach, Florida. President Barack Obama appointed Lowe to the National Council on the Arts. Lowe is also a MacArthur Fellow, a prize awarded annually to people who show promise in their field. “Every success that Rick gets is a success for artists who are pushing the boundaries and the boxes of what art is and how it fits in,” DesChene said. “Rick has taken those boxes and turned them into houses.” Lowe is an Alabama native and began his work as a painter. Lowe said he would typically design pieces that addressed social issues in the world. Lowe said he had a life-altering experience in 1990 while he was teaching high school students about art in his studio. “(A high school student) came up to me and said, ‘Mr. Lowe, your paintings and sculptures show what happens in our communities, but that’s not what we need,’” Lowe said. “‘We don’t need to be told what the issues are; we know what they are. If you’re an artist and
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Persons named to the Breeden Eminent Chair are nationally recognized in their field with outstanding credentials in arts or humanities. (Chair holders) are expected to contribute a unique quality to the teaching and learning objectives of the College of Liberal Arts, such as Rick Lowe’s arts-driven community building projects.” —Maiben Beard
Outreach associate for the caroline marshall draughon center for the arts and humanities
you’re creative, then why can’t you create a solution?’” Lowe said this caused him to begin to change his perception of art and his role in finding the solutions to the problems in communities. Lowe said he then became engaged as both an artist and community activist within communties. Lowe said one community especially gained his attention. Lowe’s first major project stands in Houston’s 3rd Ward. A series of houses were deemed dangerous and ill fit for human residency by the city. Lowe rallied community members together to renovate the houses to serve as a community art piece. Each house holds a different art or history presentation about the 3rd Ward community. The series of houses eventually be-
be voted on by the student body. In order for a change, 25 percent of the student body must vote with approval from 2/3 of the student body. Presented by Sen. Abby Lemons, the amendment would change the GPA requirement for joining SGA. “This amendment will propose a GPA requirement from a 2.25 to a 2.5,” Lemons said. • The last proposal to be voted on next week is to recognize Auburn as a Styrofoam-free campus. “This is a resolution that recognizes all the hard work put in by Tiger Dining and the Office of Sustainability to make our campus a little more environmentally friendly,” said Luke Carlson, senator for sustainability.
came known as “Project Row Houses.” “Project Row Houses” also serves as non-profit organization working to improve the local community. Lowe said the houses will draw attention to the area and make people not only want to visit, but also become involved with the community. The group successfully renovated 22 houses. According to Lowe, only 15 of the houses were displayed to the public. The remaining seven houses were used as transitional homes for struggling single mothers. Lowe said “Project Row Houses” sparked many other undertakings in his career, but this accomplishment is the one he is most credited for and one of the reasons he is Auburn University’s 2015 Breeden Scholar. “Persons named to the Breeden Eminent Chair are nationally recognized in their field with outstanding credentials in arts or humanities,” said Maiben Beard, outreach associate for the Caroline Marshall Draughon Center for the Arts & Humanities. Beard said Lowe’s creativity will bring a special quality to the College of Liberal Arts. “(Chair holders) are expected to contribute a unique quality to the teaching and learning objectives of the College of Liberal Arts, such as Rick Lowe’s arts-driven community building projects,” Beard said. Lowe said he will be co-instructing a course this spring with DesChene on Auburn’s campus entitled “Special Topics: Social and Community Engaged Practice.” During the course, Lowe said he hopes he will construct a community art project in Auburn just as he has done in other places around North America.
cials, she has been able to learn more about the French government, the French culture and the state of Alabama. Viviane Koua, French lecturer at Auburn University, said Spencer is passionate about her job. “Dr. Spencer is a lady who loves what she does,” Koua said. “She loves French and she loves everything about French. She likes to see a student perform and master the language.” Evelyne M. Bornier, assistant professor of French, said she has known Spencer since she began teaching in Auburn approximately two and a half years ago. “Dr. Spencer has been a great colleague, and she has done a lot for the French language at Auburn, and the honor that was bestowed on her is huge and it is really going to shine some light on our program,” Bornier said. Bornier said Spencer’s achievement will raise awareness for the French department. Spencer will become more well-known and people’s interest in her will continue to expand, according to Koua. “The award that she got will encourage people to come and learn French and also encourage a young professor like me to follow her steps because this is something that I should follow for my career and for my students,” Koua said.
upcoming events
Dates to remember: Thursday, Jan. 29
• Special Lecture - “Quebec, Canada and the United States: the Ties that Bind” in Student Center rooms 22222223 at 3:30 p.m.
Friday, Jan. 30
• UPC’s Girls’ Night Out in the Student Center Ballroom at 7 p.m.
Saturday, Jan. 31
• Miss Auburn University Scholarship Pageant at Auburn High School at 7 p.m.
Wednesday, Feb. 4
• African-American History Month Kickoff Event: “Building Community in an Hour of Chaos: progress in Age of Obama” in Student Center Ballroom B at 5 p.m. • SGA campaign week begins
Campus A4
Thursday, January 29, 2015
The Auburn Plainsman
Greek life
Theta Chi competes for cause
The Webster House of Auburn
Tracy Awino
2484 AL Hwy 14 W. Auburn, Al 36830 (334) 524-7656 www. websterhouseofauburn.com
Campus Reporter
Welcome Sororities! now with 30’ x 71’ pavilion for your special events:
• Sorority Events •Wedding •Receptions •Reunions • •Social Groups •Private Parties •
Lemans Square
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MANAGED BY: DELVIEW PROPERTIES LLC
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Auburn University and the University of Alabama’s Theta Chi chapters are competing to raise money for United Service Organizations, according to Thomas Miller, Auburn’s Theta Chi president and junior in accounting. Miller said Theta Chi’s national organization formed a partnership with USO to support the troops. “We figured that we can take a rivalry and twist it into something that can be competitive and for a good cause,” Miller said. Miller said the former presidents of the University of Alabama and Auburn University Theta Chi chapters met to discuss how they can improve their philanthropic efforts. They decided to form the fundraising competition. William Ball, former Auburn Theta Chi president and senior in building science, said the chapters have come together. “We all decided it would be better for us to give back to the community since our national organization has partnered with USO,” Ball said. “We combined that and wanted our chapters to be better and show
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We figured that we can take a rival and twist it into something that can be competitive and for a good cause.” —Thomas Miller
Auburn Theta CHI PRESIDENT
that they are from the great state of Alabama.” Ball said the goal for both chapters is $10,000. The Auburn chapter has raised $440 since the fundraiser started Jan. 9. Those supporting Auburn should text USO TIGERS to 80888 to donate $5. The money will be charged to the person’s monthly phone bill, according to Ball. Ball said Theta Chi chose to use texting as a means of donation because it was convenient and easy for everyone who had access to a phone. The idea to use texting as a means of donating originated from a Red Cross advertisement the University of Alabama’s
former Theta Chi president saw, according to Clayton Williams, Theta Chi president at Alabama and junior in accounting. Ball said he hopes to get in touch with a local Veterans of Foreign Wars organization to partner up with them and spread the word about the fundraiser. The Theta Chi chapter at the University of Alabama is looking into partnering up with other fraternities and sororities or have a concert to spread awareness of the fundraiser, according to Williams. The fundraiser is expected to occur every fall semester around the time of the Iron Bowl so both chapters can enjoy the Iron Bowl while also raising money, Williams said. “What is the biggest thing that happens in the state of Alabama, most likely bigger than the elections of the actual government of the state and U.S. state?” Ball said. “It’s the Iron Bowl, so we figured if we could harness that competition between Auburn University and the University of Alabama and get more people from the outside, then we have a real chance of being able to make some money and give it to USO.” According to Ball, the competition will last until early March.
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So far, Theta Chi at Auburn has raised $440 for the competition that will last until early March.
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Thursday, January 29, 2015
Campus A5
The Auburn Plainsman
dining
events
Miss Auburn University to be crowned Saturday Nicole Fulkerson Campus Reporter
Ellen JACKSON / PHOTOGRAPHER
Chicken Salad Chick to open in Foy Feb. 10 Chicken Salad Chick is set to open in Foy Hall on Feb. 10, according to Glenn Loughridge.
Nicole Fulkerson Campus reporter
Chicken Salad Chick will hold its grand opening Feb. 10 in Foy Hall after several months of construction delays. According to Ali Rauch, director of marketing at Chicken Salad Chick, a ribbon-cutting ceremony will take place the morning of opening day. “We expect it to be a very strong turnout, and we are planning accordingly,” Rauch said. “We are preparing ourselves to be able to handle a rush of students.” The new restaurant plans on bringing in at least 800 students per day, according to Will Sallustro, district manager of Tiger Dining’s partner, Chartwells. The restaurant will be the first Chicken Salad Chick to open on a college campus. Stacy Brown, Chicken Salad Chick founder, said she is excited the restaurant is one-of-akind, and she was glad to have been able to help in the design process. “We came from Auburn, so we hope the students are proud that it is the only Chicken Salad Chick to be on a college campus,” Brown said. “The University has been just great to work with.” According to Glenn Loughridge, director of Tiger Dining, Campus Dining is excited to partner with a brand that is so important to Auburn. “We love the idea that this is an Auburn
brand,” Loughridge said. “They are really dedicated to giving back to the University throughout their growth.” The restaurant will be open from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. and feature 10 of Chicken Salad Chick’s 15 flavors. The restaurant will feature three custom-order stations, as well as an open-air refrigerator that will offer single sides, scoops and pounds of chicken salad. “Students will be able to grab and go if they please,” Rauch said. “They don’t have to wait to get a sandwich made, but if you do order a sandwich, we expect to be able to have your plate to you while you are still at the counter.” According to Loughridge, the restaurant was supposed to open by the end of 2014, but poor weather and difficult scheduling set back the construction process. “Many times, building projects on campus go so differently than what you except to have,” Loughridge said. “There was an expectation that a lot of work would get done over the winter break, but the rain really set us back.” Loughridge said construction was mostly done in the evenings, when there are fewer students on campus. “We have to be respectful of students,” Loughridge said. “The first concern is their safety.” The restaurant will have 50 seats inside, as well as an outdoor patio area when construction is complete.
There will be a new Miss Auburn University on Saturday, Jan. 31. “Miss Auburn University is the female equivalent of Aubie here on campus,” said Katie Willoughby, director of Miss AU. “She is our figurehead that represents Auburn women,” Willoughby. Miss AU serves the University and community throughout the year by attending events such as Dance Marathon and being a role model for Auburn women, according to Willoughby. Once crowned, Miss AU will advocate for her chosen platform throughout the year. “Each Miss AU gets to bring exactly what she wants to the table during her year of service,” said Meg McGuffin, Miss AU 2014. “She needs to be somebody who has a heart for service and who is a role model for other Auburn women.” Morgan Gunter, contestant and junior in early childhood education, said she has been working to balance school with pageant preparation. “It’s been a little crazy, but it’s also been fun,” Gunter said. “When I’m in school it takes away the stress I may have about the pageant, and when I’m in practice I can totally take my mind off school.” Willoughby said the pageant will consist of a group opening dance number, an onstage question, swimsuit competition, talent competition and an evening wear catego-
File photo
Meg McGuffin will pass down her crown Saturday, Jan. 31.
ry. The contestants will also complete an interview. Ann Marie Leonard, contestant and freshman in journalism, said she is excited the pageant is almost here. “I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t nervous, but I’m more excited than anything,” Leonard said. The winner of Miss AU will receive a year’s worth of tuition valued at $7,900 for Alabama residents and 2/3 tu-
ition, valued at $14,908. The second runner-up will receive a $4,000 scholarship, the third runner-up will receive $2,000 and the fourth runner-up will receive $500. Winners of the talent competition and swimsuit categories will each receive $100. The pageant will be Saturday, Jan. 31 at 7 p.m. at Auburn High School. Tickets will be sold at the door and are $5.
Opinion
a6
Thursday, January 29, 2015
ThePlainsman.com
Opinion
our view
War Equal makes its way to Alabama Topic: Same-sex
SOCIAL MEDIA ON THE PLAINS
marriage may soon be legal in Alabama
Viewpoint: THe courts should uphold its legalization
Responses to “Bank vault shutting down in May”
U.S. District Court Judge Callie V.S. Granade ruled Alabama’s same-sex marriage ban was unconstitutional Friday, Jan. 23. Granade issued a two-week stay on her decision to allow for appeals, but if no further delays come into effect by Feb. 9, same-sex couples will be able to marry in the state as soon as that day. Luther Strange, Alabama Attorney General, also appealed to the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals, seeking a longer delay to allow for the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling later this year. We applaud Granade on her decision and urge the courts to uphold this ruling. The current laws banning same-sex marriage are blatantly unconstitutional and the courts should rule under previous precedents, such as Brown v. Board of Education and the due process and equal protection clauses of the 14th amendment, established by the Supreme Court and government, which leave room for no other ruling than the support of same-sex marriage. Some may argue in the defense of banning same-sex marriage under the premise that civil unions are just as good as marriages, so same-sex couples should settle with being allowed to have civil unions. According to Merriam-Webster.com, a civil union is defined as a legal relationship between two people of the same sex that gives them some of the same rights and responsibilities that married people have. Some of the same rights, not all. In the Brown v. Board of Education Supreme Court decision, the courts decided separate but equal laws were unconstitutional, declaring segregated schools un-
Cassidy A. Kulhanek “This is a taco travesty” Jamie Culver “Reopen Bodega!”
emily enfinger / photo editor
equal. This precedent has established that separate but equal laws are unconstitutional in the eyes of the federal court system. This ruling should be welcomed by Auburn’s LGBT community and equal-rights supporters on and off campus. However, as Auburn was declared the most conservative public university, according to a Time Inc. list, there are bound to be a number of students and professors who are against same-sex marriage legalization. While we agree freedom of speech allows one to be against same-sex marriage, we disagree such opinions have merit in federal court. Mike Hubbard, Speaker of the Alabama House of Representatives, spoke out against the decision and urged the courts to uphold the “Christian conservative values that make Alabama a special place to live.” Hubbard’s opinion, which he has a right to express, is simply an opinion. The Constitution overrules state laws and unifies the country in the most basic values and freedoms that make the United States so different. Under the Constitution, we the people are granted freedom of religion. This country is not legally a conservative-Christian nation. The United States does not support one major religion, thus defending the ban on same-sex marriage by saying it goes against Christian values holds no merit in court.
question of the week: Should the federal courts be able to make a decision about the legalization of same-sex marriage in individual states?
sports@theplainsman. com
College football fans are not the most rational group of people in the world, and that’s OK in most cases. From meaningless superstitions to screaming at your team through a television, being a fan spawns a number of completely irrational actions that, for the most part, are harmless and fun. Unfortunately, it’s during this barren time of the year, when football recruiting efforts hit a peak before National Signing Day on Feb. 4, that the most aggressive fan actions becomes far too common: tweeting at recruits. I shouldn’t have to explain that harassing 17- and 18-year-old high school students is a bad idea, but this is a new era we’re living in. The anonymous masses have never had direct lines of communi-
Vote online at ThePlainsman. According to CNN.com, the Mormon church, previously one of the biggest opponents to same-sex marriage, agreed to stop arguments against same-sex marriage as long as religious establishments would not be required to marry same-sex couples. Alabama should not drag out this decision. It is time to show the rest of the U.S. Alabama has shucked its stereotypical role of being one of the last to embrace social change and is becoming a forward-thinking state.
don’t do it. Recruits read what is tweeted and written about them. It’s impossible for them not to when their mentions are full of fans and articles are written about them daily. Even if it’s only a vocal minority that is causing the problem, that minority can shape how recruits view an entire fanbase. Just take a look at Nebraska quarterback Tommy Armstrong Jr.’s Twitter page. The Cornhuskers’ quarterback has never shied away from critical tweets he receives from angry fans. He has been quick to admit the flack he receives from fans does shape the potential recruits’ perceptions about the program. So if you truly desire to make an impact on the future of a high school athlete, maybe your best course of action, to quote Walter White, would be to tread lightly. Eric Wallace is the sports editor at The Plainsman. He can be reached at sports@ theplainsman.com.
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Responses to “Chicken Salad Chick to open in Foy Feb. 10”
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No, the states should decide themsevles
Tweeting high school athletes is not needed cation with recruits quite like they do in social media today. All the most coveted recruits in America, from No. 1 Trent Thompson to No. 247 Zack Bailey, are just a few clicks — or tweets — away at any given moment. With modern recruiting coverage providing up-to-the-minute information on your favorite high school athletes’ preferences, recruits are no longer a mystery to fans. They’re full-blown celebrities, which is an entirely different issue to tackle. So it shouldn’t be a surprise when the most aggressive fans abuse their newfound platform to try and influence kids in whatever way possible. It’s natural, considering how powerless fans often are in deciding a game’s outcome. I’m in no way excluded from having a few of my own irrational superstitions. But too many fans take it too far, expressing their anger and disapproval in public forums from behind the comfort of their own keyboard. There are few solutions to this problem other than the most obvious one: Just
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Community Thursday, January 29, 2015
A7 ThePlainsman.com
Community
Events
Contributed by Sue Edge
Teaching adults to read between the wines
Kathie Wilson (left), who recieved her GED after tutoring with the Lee County Literacy Coalition, reviews material with her tutor, Jenna Morgan (right). Between the Wines event is aimed at raising money for tutoring adult students.
Rachael Taylor Community Writer
The Lee County Literacy Coalition is hosting its third annual “Reading Between the Wines” fundraiser Thursday, Feb. 26 at 6 p.m. The event will take place at the Event Center Downtown in Opelika. There will be dinner and a wine tasting, and author Rhonda Rich will speak. There will also be music provided by The Mary Slaton Trio. Rich, who was once a sports writer, is now known for her best-selling books, such as My Life in The Pits, a book about her time as a reporter covering NASCAR, according to her website. “It’s a good time for a great cause, and this year will be no exception,” said Chris Warren, board member of the Lee County Literacy Coalition. Warren is helping plan the event and said he
thought Rich would be a good fit for the fundraiser after he saw her speak at a Rotary event. Warren said the Lee County Literacy Coalition often brings in authors to speak about literacy issues. Warren said community involvement is necessary for the event. “The event wouldn’t be possible without support of the community,” Warren said. Warren also said there is “no particular goal” for how much money they hope to raise from the event. However, they hope for at least 100 attendees. Warren said the Lee County Literacy Coalition is always looking for volunteers. According to Warren, much of the money raised from the event will go toward purchasing teaching materials and GED software. “The main expense we have is supplies,” said
Bill Walsh, former president and secretary of the Lee County Literacy Coalition. Walsh was a tutor with the coalition for 10 years. Walsh said he originally worked in textile engineering, but heard about the Lee County Literacy Coalition through friends from his church. Walsh said he once tutored a man who had a learning disability and had to drop out of school at a young age. Walsh said the man memorized the book of Genesis in the Bible and referenced it to learn the words. “I worked with that man for almost 10 years and enjoyed every bit of it,” Walsh said. Walsh said the event is primarily a fundraiser, but it brings great visibility for the organization. Walsh said students could help with “The Deliverance,” an after school program the Lee
County Literacy Coalition works with. “This is our 25th anniversary this year,” said Sue Edge, executive director of the Lee County Literacy Coalition. Edge said the mission of the Lee County Literacy Coalition is to reach out to the community to assist people by offering tutoring and GED classes. In 2013, the program helped 113 youth and 94 adults, and 36 percent of people who took classes to earn a GED earned one, according to Edge. Edge said there are Auburn students who tutor and intern with the Lee County Literacy Coalition. Auburn students looking to get involved with the organization can call Edge at (334) 705-0001. Tickets are on sale at Behind the Glass, the Event Center Downtown in Opelika and Spicer’s Music in Auburn. Tickets are $50 per person.
business
Parking problems at Heart of Auburn shopping center Rachael Taylor Community Writer
Many students flock to the Heart of Auburn shopping center off College Street. It hosts popular student eateries such as Tazikis and Burger Fi. When Auburn University students returned from winter break, they found the dirt lot in the shopping center was under construction. While one of the lots under construction is going to be a parking lot, the other is going to be a Newk’s Eatery, according to city documents. Newk’s will be on the north side and there will be more parking on the south side, according to Forrest Cotten, director of planning for the city
of Auburn. Because of the popularity of the complex, the area is often very crowded. It is not a rare sight to see cars parked in nonparking areas. “A lot of that space in that multi-tenant building up front was dedicated to restaurants, which have one of the more stringent parking requirements,” Cotten said. Cotten said when the plan for the CVS at the Heart of Auburn was released, it was not clear what the extra lots would be used for. According to Cotten, there have been issues with dirt being tracked into the road from the dirt lot. Cotten said since the dirt lot
that was used as parking overflow is now under construction, there is less parking available than ever. According to Deputy Economic Development Director Megan McGowen, the additions to the complex will create 80 new spots. Josh Wilson, sophomore in physical education, said he is going to walk to the shopping center from his apartment complex to avoid having to find a parking spot. Developers of the Heart of Auburn wanted the development to be tied to the campus, according to McGowen. “The hope was that some people would walk to the development,” McGowen said.
Emily enfinger / photo editor
Construction begins for additional parking spaces and a Newk’s Eatery at the Heart of Auburn shopping center.
City
Public Works seeks bids for Moores Mill bridge expansion Rachel King
Community Writer
Emily Enfinger / photo editor
The city will fund 20 percent of the construction, and Alabama Department of Transportation will fund the rest.
Auburn Public Works has taken the first steps to begin widening Moores Mill Bridge, which spans over Interstate 85. The construction is expected to begin in late April or early May and will add three lanes to the two-lane bridge. A center lane will be included, allowing traffic to turn left onto East University Drive. Construction is expected to last 12-18 months, and costs are estimated to be between $810 million, according to Jeffery Ramsey, director of Public Works with the city of Auburn. Ramsey said the city will be responsible for 20 percent of the costs, while the remaining 80 percent has been acquired through Alabama Transportation Rehabilitation and Im-
provement Program funds. Bids for the project are due March 27. Contractors will present their ideas, and whoever has the cheapest plan gets the job, according to Alison Frazier, engineering manager for the city of Auburn. “This project is all about alleviating congestion and working to increase traffic capacity in the most cost-effective way,” Frazier said. During construction, traffic flow is not expected to be an issue and no alternate routes will be offered. However, drivers can choose to take Ogletree Road or Hamilton Road. Moores Mill Road, along with Moores Mill Creek and Dean Road, will also be widened to five lanes, offering more traffic capacity in two directions.
In addition to added lanes, the bridge will also include a railed-off pedestrian crossing. “Traffic in that area has been backed up over a mile during mornings and afternoons,” Ramsey said. “It’s time to make a change, and these renovations will help prevent that.” More lanes will offer more routes into town once traffic is over the bridge, and it can then be split into two directions, according to Ramsey. Grove Hill Road will have the addition of dual left-turn lanes coming out and a left turn lane going in. “The project has a simple objective,” said Haley Ansley, media relations official for the project. “The city wants to increase traffic capacity and make the passages safer for drivers.”
Community A8
Thursday, January 29, 2015
The Auburn Plainsman
Events
Contributed by Cari cleckler
Auburn Parks and Recreation’s ceramics studio members work to create handmade ceramic bowls for the Second Annual Empty Bowls dinner to raise money for the Food Bank of East Alabama.Tickets can be purchased for $20.
Empty bowls to help fill empty stomachs
Auburn Parks and Recreation Department to co-host fundraiser for food bank
Kailey Miller
Community Reporter
A neighbor, co-worker or stranger on the street — any one of these people may be suffering from food insecurities and worrying about when their next meal will be. Local organizations are raising awareness about hunger issues in Auburn with the Second Annual Empty Bowls Event on Feb. 7. The event will be from 5-7 p.m. at the Jan Dempsey Community Arts Center. Auburn Parks and Recreation’s Dean Road Ceramics Studio and Opelika Parks and Recreation’s Denson Drive Recreation Center will host the event, which is sponsored by the Auburn Arts Association. “We’re going to have a beautiful array of different styles, different kinds of bowls and peo-
ple come and they select the bowl they want,” said Amy Kaiser, independent studio member at Dean Road Ceramics Studio and one of the artists for the event. “We fill it with soup, they sit down and eat (the soup) and then the bowls will be wiped out and they’ll carry them home as a reminder that there are empty bowls all over town that need to be filled. It’s a reminder that there are hungry people in this very town.” Tickets to the event are $20 and proceeds will go to the Food Bank of East Alabama. Cari Cleckler, art education specialist at Dean Road Ceramics Studio, said she wants to sell 300 tickets this year. The event was hosted in Opelika last year, and organizers plan to change the venue between Auburn and Opelika each year. “Last year, it was a walk-in and walk-out event
sort of thing, where it was like a reception style,” Cleckler said. “This year, we’re actually treating it like a banquet dinner because we want to make sure ... both events are very different so that we can always entertain the crowd.” This year’s event will have a silent auction with wood items, ceramics, candles and other work from local and regional artists. There will also be live music and a skit preformed by the Auburn Area Community Theater. “You get soup and bread to symbolize what poor people eat, and during that time, the lady from the food bank will be doing a talk and telling where the money that we collected will go for feeding the hungry,” said Sherie Spain, pottery director at the Opelika Parks and Recreation Department.
Chick-fil-A, Niffer’s Place, Jim ‘N Nick’s BBQ Restaurant, Irish Bred Pub and Restaurant, Village Cookery and Panera Bread are donating soup for the event. “Because we live in such a wonderful community like Auburn, it’s easy to forget that there are really truly people who are suffering from food insecurities,” Cleckler said. “We are so fortunate that we always do not think, necessarily, about the people who definitely do not know where their next meal will come from.” Students, professors, potters and people, such as Kaiser, are some of the artists donating their time and skills to creating the ceramic bowls. “It’s such a great collaborative effort between Auburn and Opelika,” Cleckler said. “Everybody is donating and giving of their talents.”
City
Auburn to take part in tax holiday for severe weather items Rachel King
Community Writer
Spring is just around the corner, and in Alabama that means severe weather. Those looking to prepare for the severe weather season will have their chance during the 2015 Severe Weather Tax holiday the weekend of Feb. 20-22. Although the state legislature created the tax holiday for severe weather, cities are not required to participate. The Auburn City Council met Jan. 6 and officially exempted select items from the city tax. The law that created the tax holiday was originally sponsored by Tuscaloosca’s state Rep. Bill Poole of District 63 out of a desire to prepare citizens for severe storms, such as the one that struck Tuscaloosa in 2011, according to Speaker Mike Hubbard.
Hubbard said he hopes the holiday will benefit local businesses by increasing revenue. “The back-to-school program is very similar to this one,” Hubbard said. “Some were uncommitted to that program in the beginning, and it’s been a huge success, and I expect to see the same benefits with this program.” According to Hubbard, Alabama will benefit from the holiday by helping citizens be prepared for natural disasters. The program is aimed at items such as self-contained first aid, artificial ice, gas containers, weather radios and other items that may be needed during severe weather events. Auburn can target severe weather preparation by keeping the focus on these items, according to David Dorton, director of public affairs for the city of Auburn.
“This program is really worth it, and it gives residents a chance to save some money while making sure they are prepared for whatever comes,” Dorton said. The hope is citizens will prepare themselves for anything the weather might bring, and that preparation can not be stressed enough, according to Sen. Tom Whatley. “What I would say to people is get whatever you think you are going to need: blankets, batteries, flashlights,” Whatley said. “Severe weather can come at any time.” Though in its first year, Whatley said he hopes to see the program continue in years to come. “Tuscaloosa really reminded us of the devastation severe weather can bring,” Dorton said. “This is to help residents be as ready as they can.”
Jim Little / Community Editor
State officials said they hope removing sales tax on these items will allow Alabamians prepare for severe weather.
02 . 06 . 2015
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* WITH VALID STUDENT ID
Sports
A9
Thursday, January 29, 2015
scoreboard
ThePlainsman.com
Sports
Women’s basketball
Wheelchair basketball
Rivals face off in annual Iron Roll
M. basketball (10-10, 2-5)
Lauren Christopher Sports Writer
LAST WEEK Loss vs. Texas A&M, 71--61 Loss vs. Alabama, 57--55 UPCOMING Jan. 31 at Tennessee Feb. 5 at LSU
W. basketball (9-11, 0-7)
‘Can’t give up’ kenny moss / assistant photo editor
Freshman Neydja Petithomme reacts to a foul during a 59-48 loss to Mississippi State.
LAST WEEK Loss vs. Miss. State 59-48 Loss at Alabama, 51-50 UPCOMING Jan. 29 at Arkansas Feb. 1 at Texas A&M Feb. 5 vs. LSU
Gymnastics (2-1)
RECENT Win vs. Arkansas 197.075-196.250 UPCOMING Jan. 30 vs. Air Force Feb. 6 at Alabama
Swimming and diving
RECENT (M/W) Loss vs. Florida (158-142 / 152-148) UPCOMING Jan. 29 at Missouri Feb. 17 SEC Championships
Tigers mired in historic streak C.J. Holmes Sports Writer
Since starting the season 9-4 and undefeated at home, the Auburn women’s basketball team has opened SEC play 0-7 following their 5948 loss to Mississippi State in Auburn Arena on Monday, Jan. 26, extending the team’s worst conference start in school history. During their hot start, the Tigers’ (9-11, 0-7 SEC) best offense was their defense. The key to Auburn’s early success was taking care of the ball on offense and forcing turnovers on defense, which led to fast break points, high percentage shots at the rim and fouls in transition. The Tigers showed flashes of that style of play against the Bulldogs midway through the first half. However, once the Bulldogs settled on offense, their halfcourt defense was enough to hold Auburn to 40 percent shooting for the game. “We had a lack of proper screening and not cutting hard,” said head coach Terri Williams-Flournoy. “A lot of that was the issue. They just have to be better at that. We just can’t be denied on the wings and not run our offense. That puts too much pressure on your freshman point guard.” Mississippi State be-
file photo
Head coach Terri Williams-Flournoy argues a call against Auburn in a game on Jan. 12, 2014.
gan playing Auburn’s usual brand of basketball, and when they stole the ball, they made the Tigers pay. “I think we are just continually repeating ourselves over and over again,” Williams-Flournoy said. “We can’t turn the ball over 23 times, which gave them 25 points, and give up 17 offensive rebounds. It’s hard to win a basketball game with those types of numbers.” The Tigers have shot less than 40 percent in all but one conference game this season, and if the team can’t put the ball in the basket, it makes it difficult for them to set up their full court press. Auburn advanced to the postseason each of the past two seasons. That streak might be in
RECENT Loss vs. Fresno State 9-8 UPCOMING Jan. 30 vs. SMU Auburn University Horse Center
jeopardy unless WilliamsFlournoy’s squad can find consistency and wins down the stretch run of the SEC season. “It is something that we need to take care of,” Williams-Flournoy said. “We want to win. I don’t think it’s a lack of effort from my young ladies. They’re not trying to go out there and lose. They’re playing hard.” Although the team is fairly young, they are talented and have the veteran leadership that could help turn things around quickly. “We’ve just got to keep fighting until we get that win,” Williams-Flournoy said. “It can’t stress us out. We can’t give up. We can’t quit. We just have to keep going until we get that win.”
contributed by james rhyne
Joshua Gess attempts a shot against an Alabama defender. Gess said the sport has been a stress outlet for him.
His View
Powell plays it right Eric Wallace
Equestrian (3-3, 1-2)
Auburn’s wheelchair basketball team played Alabama in a double header in Beard-Eaves Memorial Coliseum on Saturday, Jan. 24. The Tigers were unsuccessful in stopping Bama’s dominant offense in both games, losing the women’s game 3454 and the men’s 30-59. After the first loss of the double header, head coach Jared Rehm said the team has some work to do. “Our weakness is we don’t know enough about the game yet, we’re a really new program,” Rehm said. “Most of our players have only been playing since the program started. And we’re playing against teams that have been playing their whole life.” Rehm said one of the team’s strengths is its persistence. “We don’t give up,” Rehm said. Rehm said he hopes the team provides people with disabilities a nearby place to play, because Auburn’s team is the only wheelchair basketball program offered in east Alabama. Tate Hall, junior in rehabilitation services, works with the team. She said the program is a good way to bring awareness to the wheelchair community. “Not a lot of people know about how to deal with people with disabilities,” Hall said.
“They don’t want to be awkward. I think that seeing them still capable of so many things. It’s really cool to show [students] that they shouldn’t be afraid to hang out with them or talk to them. They’re just like us, they just have to work a little harder sometimes to do things.” Joshua Gess, parapalegic and graduate student in mechanical engineering, said the program gives him cardio and an outlet for stress. “It’s pretty physical,” Gess said. “That part I enjoy.” Gess said another perk of being on the team is the companionship from other players. “You get to really love these guys,” Gess said. “They get to be your brothers. It’s powerful from that perspective.” The team was developed through the School of Kinesiology and the Office of Accessibility. Rehm jumpstarted the Paralympic Sport Club program alongside Nathan Waters in 2009, when the kinesiology department helped to bring in funding to buy the equipment needed to play through an online adaptive sports class. The team will continue to improve as they prepare for their next match in February on their way to the National Wheelchair Basketball Association National Championship in Louisville, Kentucky in April.
sports@ theplainsman.com
The Iron Bowl has developed a number of traditions since the Tigers and Tide first faced off in 1893. Some traditions, such as Alabama’s preference of a neutral site matchup at Legion Field in Birmingham, have been replaced by better, more modern features. Other traditions, such as the presentation of the Foy-ODK Sportsmanship Trophy at halftime of the Iron Bowl of basketball, have prospered for more than 60 years. Established in 1948, the Foy-ODK Sportsmanship Trophy is named after James E. Foy V, who served as dean at both universities, and the Omicron Delta Kappa (ODK) National Leadership Honor Society.
The trophy is traditionally presented to the winning side during halftime of the home basketball game between the two schools. During the presentation, the losing side’s SGA president has traditionally given a concession speech and sung the opposing school’s fight song to the glee of the home crowd. In a rivalry that is fiercely passionate, the presentation of the Foy-ODK Sportsmanship Trophy has long been a classy show of good will between the two schools. That tradition experienced its first hiccup, however, in 2013, when University of Alabama SGA President Jimmy Taylor did not attend the presentation ceremony in the Auburn Arena. Taylor cited icy roads, which caused the cancellation of classes at both schools for several days, as the reason for his absence. Auburn fans did not approve. The Alabama basketball team made the drive, and media outlets from around the state attended despite the weather.
kenny moss / assistant photo editor
Auburn SGA President Logan Powell (with microphone) sings the Alabama fight song in front of Nick Saban as part of the Foy-ODK Sportsmanship Trophy presentation.
Whether Taylor’s absence was legitimately because of the weather or merely sour grapes over the Kick Six finish of 2013 may never be known. Regardless, the tradition was put in a precarious position following his absence, with many saying current Auburn SGA President Logan Powell should no-show to return the favor. But Powell showed up Saturday, Jan.
24, and did his part in keeping an Iron Bowl tradition alive. The Iron Bowl has had its dark moments off the field in recent years, but Powell’s fulfillment of the tradition was a bright moment for both schools. Eric Wallace is the sports editor at The Plainsman. He can be reached at sports@theplainsman.com.
Sports A10
Thursday, January 29, 2015
The Auburn Plainsman
emily enfinger / photo editor
Junior Kait Kluz attempts to grab the bar during her routine against the Arkansas Razorbacks on Friday, Jan. 23. Kluz and teammate Caitlin Atkinson recorded scores of 9.925 to lead Auburn to a program-record 49.525 on bars.
This Week in Auburn Sports Gymnastics
Auburn gymnastics jumped seven spots to No. 12 after defeating then No. 12 Arkansas 197.075196.250 Friday, Jan. 23, in Auburn Arena. Its current ranking is the highest this season for the Tigers since they were ranked No. 12 in the preseason. Auburn’s 197.075 last Friday was its highest score this season and the third highest in program history. Auburn also broke the all-time program bar record in that meet, scoring a 49.525. Caitlin Atkinson and Kait Kluz led the Tigers with scores of 9.925. Next, the Tigers will face Air Force on Friday, Jan. 30, at 7 p.m. in Auburn Arena.
Women’s Tennis
The Auburn women’s tennis team finished its ITA Kick-Off Weekend tournament on Sunday, Jan. 25, against Georgia. Their first match against Wake Forest saw the Tigers win 4-0. In the first match against the Demon Deacons, the Tigers won all three doubles matches and either won or were winning all matches in session at the time when the match was called. Senior Emily Flickinger won her match by a score of 6-2, 3-6, 6-3. Flickinger and her doubles partner Pleun Burgmans won their doubles match 6-4. Freshman Andie Dikosavljevic won her singles match 6-1, 6-1. In the Tigers’ second match against Georgia, Auburn lost by a score of 4-0 to the No. 10 ranked Bulldogs. The third ranked doubles team of Flickinger and Burgmans fell by score of 6-4 to Georgia’s pair of Lauren Herring and Ellen Perez.
The Tigers had three singles matches require a third set. Flickinger lost to UGA’s Perez 6-3, 6-7, 6-3. Sophomore Reka Muller also lost in three sets at the three spot in singles by a score of 6-4, 3-6, 6-2. Although Dikosavljevic was unable to finish her match, before stepping off the court, her score was 0-6, 7-6, 4-4. The Tigers’ next matchup will be against Texas Tech on Saturday, Jan. 31, in Lubbock, Texas.
Men’s Tennis
The Auburn men’s tennis team entered this weekend’s ITA Kick-Off Weekend ranked 39th nationally looking to get quality wins in their section which included No. 5 Ohio State, No. 41 Tulsa and No. 47 Purdue. The Tigers lost their first match against the Ohio State Buckeyes 4-1. Despite winning no matches, senior Lukas Ollert managed to take his singles match to three sets and was winning before the match was called. The score at the time of the stoppage was 7-5, 4-6. Sophomore Maxime Hinnisdaels also made it to three sets before play was stopped with a score was 6-2, 4-6, 3-1. Despite the loss to the Buckeyes, Auburn bounced back to win their second match against Purdue 4-1. The only Tiger loss went to sophomore Petar Tomic by a score of 6-1, 6-3. Victories went to Auburn’s Ollert, junior Marko Krickovic and sophomore Donte Saleh. The Tigers’ next match will be Saturday, Jan. 31, as they take on Mercer in a double header at home.
Swimming and Diving
The Auburn swimming and diving team dropped a close one in its last home dual meet of the regular season Saturday, Jan. 24 at James E. Martin Aquatic Center. Strong swimming came from both top-ranked teams, but the Florida Gators defeated Auburn’s men (3-4) 158-142. The women’s team (6-2-1) fell 152-148. “I think both teams are pretty balanced and they got their strengths and weaknesses just like we do,” said head coach Brett Hawke. “It was a great battle today between two Top-10 teams.” The Tigers were focused on improving from their last meet against Texas, according to Hawke. The women’s side won six events in a heartbreaker. “It’s just another dual meet,” said senior Megan Fonteno. “It’s important, but at the same time, win or lose, we still have SECs, which is more important. Dual meets are fun, don’t get me wrong, but losing does not define who we are as a team.” A disappointing loss in the 400 freestyle relay made the difference between winning and losing for the women. The Gators finished less than a second faster than Auburn’s Fonteno, junior Alex Merritt, sophomore Allyx Purcell and freshman Valerie Hull. “Obviously, Florida is a great team, and its good to compare yourself to your competitors, but it is only a dual meet, and a lot can change between here and SECs,” Fonteno said. Sara Peterson put her blinders on and swam to first-place in the 200 fly. The senior recorded a season best 1:58.70, Auburn’s fastest time of the
year in the event. The women’s team also picked up individual wins from Purcell in the 50 free (22.54), sophomore Natasha Lloyd in the 100 breast (1:01.76), junior Annie Lazor in the 200 breast (2:13.93) and sophomore Maddie Martin in the 100 fly (54.18). Fraser McKean and Joe Patching put the men’s team on their backs as the Tigers relay team swept Florida in both races. McKean led the way with two wins in diving as Auburn took a big lead to start the day. McKean had a clean performance as the senior set a season best in the men’s 1-meter springboard event. Leaving little splash, he recorded a 383.35. It was a momentum shift for Auburn as Joe Patching found enough speed to get to the wall first in the 100 back. The crowd erupted as the sophomore touched in at 47.84. Patching came up big for the Tigers once again in the 200 back later in the meet, touching in at 1:43.77. Michael Duderstadt stood out on the men’s side as well. The senior earned his secondstraight win in the 100 breast, clocking a 53.64. “We were right up against Florida, and we are as good as they are,” Hawke said. “I think the kids are going to be really encouraged by this.” Auburn closes out its regular season slate Thursday against Missouri in Columbia, Missouri. It will be the first ever dual between Auburn and Missouri on the women’s side while the men are 1-0 all-time against their SEC opponent. Compiled by Eric Wallace, Andrew Monson, Derek Thompson and Patrick Lucas
Men’s basketball
With a little help from friends Small Tigers hope to complement Harrell, Bowers
David McKinney
assistant Sports editor
kenny moss / assistant photo editor
Head coach Bruce Pearl is looking for extra scoring from players such as KC Ross-Miller (bottom) to support leading scorer KT Harrell (top).
It’s been said all year. This Auburn basketball team is small. When Auburn struggles to crash the boards and nab rebounds, the result is usually an Auburn loss, especially if that game is being played on the road. “There have been a couple games where we have been bothered by size,” said head coach Bruce Pearl. “At Colorado, where we made some of their power forwards, who are good players, look like great players. Certainly, we hung in there in the boards against Alabama, but we did not rebound the ball late. You could say that a couple of offensive rebounds late were major factors in costing us that opportunity.” In what was only Auburn’s second home loss, the Tigers were out rebounded by Mississippi State 44-33, and gave up 20 second chance points to the Bulldogs. After the game, Pearl talked about the impact a lack of rebounding can have on his team. “Defense and rebounding are things that we can control,” Pearl said. “When we defend and rebound, we can beat just about anybody in this league. When we don’t defend and rebound, we can’t beat anybody in this league. There’s not enough talent in there to beat anybody in this league if we don’t defend and rebound and play with our
identity. We can’t beat anybody if we play like that.” Pearl said once an opposing team makes its way to the low post, their chances of scoring greatly increase. “In the halfcourt, the closer these teams get to the basket the better they look,” Pearl said. “If you let a team handle the ball close to the rim, if you let a team get in there easily and don’t double them down when they get in their tight, that’s what we have had to do.” Pearl’s tallest player, freshman center Trayvon Reed, has shown flashes of great play on defense, but Pearl said Reed’s progression into a great player will take time. “Trayvon has not improved as much in games as we would like and as people would expect,” Pearl said. “But he has improved a lot as far as his preparation, and as far as his habits, training, work in the weight room, his diet and just his attention to being consistent on a schedule. We are going to have to be patient with Trayvon. Trayvon is going to have to be patient. He didn’t come here to average one point and two rebounds. He came here to play a more dominant role. He physically isn’t ready for that at 7-foot-2, 225 lbs. as a freshman. He didn’t have that same off-season that all of our guys had in the weight room and running stairs. He didn’t have that and it shows. I don’t know how much more we
will see from Trayvon as the season progresses.” Senior guard KT Harrell agreed that he thinks Reed will get better as time goes on. “He’s young, he’s inexperienced, but Trayvon’s going to be really good,” Pearl said. “He’s got to get stronger but I think the most important thing for him is just to go out there and play as hard as he can and just leave it all out there.” Another problem Pearl said he has seen begin to take shape on his team is lack of distribution in scoring. In Auburn’s 57-55 loss at Alabama, Cinmeon Bowers, Harrell and Antoine Mason combined for 49 of the Tigers’ 55 points, with 13, 22 and 14 respectively. K.C. Ross-Miller, Malcolm Canada and Tahj Shamsid-Deen each had two points, while Jordon Granger, Alex Thompson and Trayvon Reed all had zero. “I look at this two ways,” Pearl said. “One, you go on the road and you want to make sure your best players are getting the looks, and they certainly did. Antoine, KT and Cinmeon got the majority of the looks and carried the load scoring-wise. The other guys who don’t play as dominant of a role in the offense, have consistently played better at home than they have on the road. We play best when everyone is contributing. When everyone isn’t contributing and we go on the road we haven’t won.”
Thursday, January 29, 2015
Sports A11
The Auburn Plainsman
swimming and diving
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Senior swimmer Alex Hancock swims butterfly in a dual meet against Florida. He and seven other Tigers closed out their home careers against Florida on Saturday, Jan. 24, at the James E. Martin Aquatics Center in Auburn.
Eight seniors close out home careers
Derek Thompson Sports Writer
Auburn honored eight seniors in the Tigers’ final home dual meet of the regular season Saturday, Jan. 24, at James E. Martin Aquatics Center. It was emotional for the seniors after the meet, but not because the women dropped, 152-148, or the men fell short, 158-142, in a tough loss to conference rivals Florida. Hanging with one of the nation’s best swimming and diving programs gave the Tigers confidence they can compete against any other program, said head coach Brett Hawke. The emotions sparked from four years of hard work and building close relationships, a journey that will come to an end for eight seniors. Four from the men’s side: Allen Browning, Alex Hancock, Fraser McKean and Tommy McKee; and four from the women’s side: Cinzia Calabretta, Megan Fonteno, Sarah Peterson and Shanna Schuelein; were recognized before the start of the competition.
Fonteno, who swam in the final relay where Auburn was just short of touching before the Gators, said her teammates will have everlasting impressions on her. “When you come to college, you don’t realize the impact these people are going to have on you, and these girls will never know the impact they have had on me and my life,” Fonteno said. “I can’t thank them enough. They haven’t just helped me become a better swimmer, but a person too.” McKean, who closed out his last home meet with a pair of wins in diving and set a season-best in the men’s 1-meter springboard, said he is going to miss the team atmosphere. “We’ve been together, especially the senior group, four years now,” McKean said. “We’re always there for each other, yelling for each other, cheering for each other. It’s just a lot of fun.” The senior said his last regular-season dual meet had to be up there with one of his best memories inside James E. Martin Aquatics Center because his father was able to make the trip to Auburn all the way
from Victoria, British Columbia. “He doesn’t really come down that often,” McKean said. “It’s a long way from home. It’s really special to have him here with me tonight.” For Fonteno, the end of the meet was sad, but more exciting. “I couldn’t have asked for a better way to finish,” Fonteno said. “Winning would have been nice, but you could really tell that everyone gave 110 percent today. There is no one I would rather share it with than these girls.” Hawke said he was proud of his seniors and their years of dedication to the team. “They really give their heart and souls, so it’s always nice when you can finish off the season really strong,” Hawke said. McKean said it was a day of “good energy” and “good events” where everything came together. The regular-season dual meets are finished, but Auburn’s seniors look to race alongside their teammates one more time at home when the Tigers host the SEC Championships starting Feb. 14.
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Intrigue Thursday, January 29, 2015
A12 ThePlainsman.com
Intrigue
student spotlight
The highs and lows of owning a business in college Andria Moore Intrigue Writer
For many students, their daily routine consists of attending class, spending time with friends and doing homework. Some students do all of that while also operating a business. on a normal day, Ashley Kickliter, senior in graphic design, goes to class while simultaneously answering calls and scheduling appointments. When she returns home, not only is homework looming over her head, but also the photographs from countless weddings, engagements and senior portraits she has to edit. “The first three years of college, I feel like I missed out on a lot,” Kickliter said. “(But) I don’t feel like I was meant for a typical college experience anyway.” Kickliter said she has been photographing her friends since high school — going into backyards, dressed in fashionable clothing, pretending they were “ready for Vogue.” It wasn’t until the end of high school that Kickliter said she realized maybe photography was something she was meant to do for the rest of her life. “Those moments when people tell me, ‘You made me feel beautiful,’ that’s when I’m reminded this is what I was meant to do,” Kickliter said. Deli Wayn Robertson, senior in printmaking, said she too feels the rewards of owning her own business. “My friend I’m making a Jedi robe for, he’s just so excited about it,” Robertson said. “Helping somebody else fulfill a personal goal is really fulfilling for me.” Robertson said she didn’t start her printmaking business for the money; she started because she loved the craft, which transformed into sharing her passion with others. Robertson said she enjoys branching out and using her skills to further her business in other areas, such as jewelry, costumes and accessories. “I really enjoy building friendships with people I’m working with,” Robertson said. “I sometimes sell stuff to complete strangers, and it’s validating in a way that people are interested enough
“
My best friend approached me and said, ‘Let’s start a business,’ and I was like, ‘Why not?’” —Rose Sweet Senior in studio art
in what I’m making to give me money for it.” Rose Sweet, senior in studio art, said the pressure of managing a business is not as bad when she is selling items she already had to make for class. “My best friend approached me and said, ‘Let’s start a business,’” Sweet said. “I was like, ‘Why not?’” Sweet said she thought ceramics was the last class she would enjoy, but it ended up being her favorite thing in the world. “I love ceramics because it’s a functional art, it has a purpose,” Sweet said. “It’s not just something that hangs on your wall.” Robertson said she knows the clash between school and owning a business. Robertson said it is hard to find the time for everything when some projects require weeks of research. “Take my paper dolls, for example,” Robertson said. “They are related to extensive research because I research who the person is and what part of themselves they want to share.” Finding time for extracurriculars or homework is challenging for someone spending more than an hour in the studio for a single image. Kickliter said many students tend to misunderstand the demanding nature of a photography business. “There’s also all of the editing, packaging, delivering and answering emails and phone calls,” Kickliter said. However, when all of the hard work is over, Kickliter said there’s nothing comparable to the feeling she has when she gets to know her clients and their stories and they are completely over-
photos by emily enfinger / photo editor
Deli Wayn Robertson, pictured here, said she plans to include watercolors on her Etsy.
joyed at her work. “I had a lady call me once, almost in tears, begging me to redo her wedding photos because the photographer they hired hadn’t done them how she wanted,” Kickliter said. “She is the one who wrote me a letter when she got the photos back and told me she had never felt more beautiful in her life.” A month after receiving the letter, Kickliter said she found out the couple she photographed had both just gotten out of cancer remission without relapsing. “That hit my heart even further when I realized why she may have had such a hard time with her self-image,” Kickliter said. Kickliter said it is the moments like those that make all of the work and struggle of owning a business in school worth it.
contributed by ashley kickliter
Ashley Kickliter owns a photography business.
Robertson said she appreciates others are willing to pay for her artwork.
Contributed by rose sweet
Rose Sweet sells projects she makes for her art classes.
Robertson paints a reproduction of a tattooed pig’s foot in a jar next to a doll’s head. She keeps the model doll’s head on her desk for reference.
student spotlight
Keurig Girl gets a latte attention for carrying coffee machine
Anne Dawson Intrigue writer
Madison Collins, freshman in biomedical sciences, has earned a nickname around campus. “One night, I knew I was going to be at the library really late, so I was like, ‘Oh, I’ll bring my coffee machine,’” Collins said. Since then, students have started to refer to her as “Keurig Girl.” “It didn’t really catch on until finals week when I started to bring the Keurig every day,” Collins said. Collins said the price of other coffee providers and the long lines are less convenient than carrying the Keurig. “I’m just a normal girl who carries around a coffee machine,” Collins said. Collins said when she returned from winter break, her resident assistant
helped her meet people. She said peoput a name tag on her dorm that said ple walk up to her and ask for coffee “Keurig Girl.” when she is in the library, where she “She’s basically a celebrity,” said spends most of her time. Claire Dortch, freshman in elementaCollins said she spends enough ry education and friend of Collins. time there that other students have Students who know Collins said begun relying on her for late-night the fame came on quickly. caffeine. “It all just randomly hap“One night, I was studying pened,” said Zach Blomeley, jufor finals and I couldn’t stay nior in accounting. “It was someawake, so I texted her and thing people found funny so she found where she was and got kept doing it.” some coffee to help me stay Collins said only her awake,” Blomeley said. friends knew about the Students use social media Keurig at first, but word to keep up with Keurig girl eventually got out, and othand find where she is, accorders started to ask her for coffee. ing to Collins. “I get coffee from her all the Collins said she lends mugs time,” said Alex Thrasher, sophomore to students who do not have in biomedical sciences. ellen jackson / photographer their own with them. Collins said she has not charged Collins said they usually students for coffee, though it has Madison Collins carries her Keurig to save money.
wash them out and return them once they’re done. Dortch said on some nights, Collins is “handing out coffee and mugs to people left and right.” “I think it’s hilarious and great,” said Erin Rooney, freshman in pharmacy. Blomeley, Collins’ friend of five years, said he did not think people treated her differently after she became known. “People think it’s funny, and she’s always been fun and funny,” Blomeley said. Blomeley said his and Collins’ friends joke about how Collins became famous just by carrying her coffee machine with her to avoid high coffee prices. “I didn’t intend for any of this to happen,” Collins said.
Thursday, January 29, 2015
Intrigue A13
The Auburn Plainsman
technology
‘Very punk rock’ Instructor writes 2-D action game about rebel ninja battling Elvis impersonators Kyle Nazario Intrigue Editor
Many people play video games, but Auburn University communication and journalism instructor Joshua Hillyer is helping make one. “I think it’s one of the most exciting forms of media,” Hillyer said. “Video games are an area that I want to affect positively.” Hillyer said he is aiming to affect video games with a two-dimensional action game “Neon the Ninja.” The game follows a renegade ninja as he rebels against his clan. “He’s very punk rock,” Hillyer said. Hillyer said players traverse a two-dimensional world, fighting enemies and hunting down eight different bosses like in the classic Mega Man games. The game’s website advertises it as a “Quentin Tarantinov.-Saturday-morning-cartoon take on video games.” “It definitely has a comedic tone,” Hillyer said.
Stuart Phelps, the game’s programmer, artist and original creator, said he got the idea from an episode of “Samurai Jack” where the main character hides within a neon billboard. Hillyer joined Phelps and soundtrack composer Chris Sinnott in July 2013. Phelps had been developing “Neon the Ninja” for approximately one year. Sinnott said Phelps found him through a forum. “I was pretty much onboard immediately because it looked so promising,” Sinnott said. Phelps said he found Hillyer through Facebook while he was posting about a new game he wanted to make. The two knew each other from playing in the same punk rock scene 10 years previously. “He’s a really cool guy, and his band was cool people,”
Phelps said. Phelps originally hired Hillyer as a writer to write the ingame story, dialogue and promotional materials, but Hillyer has since become involved with design decisions as well. Hillyer said he places nonplayer characters within the game and writes cutscenes to convey the plot. “I’d like to make a game that feels great to play, has a story that makes people laugh, but [the story] doesn’t get in the way,” Hillyer said. Although he writes the plot, Hillyer said he writes content for games with a light touch, adding cutscenes and other story elements that take away gameplay time only when necessary. Hillyer said his favorite part of writing “Neon the Ninja” is creating each boss. “Villains have always in-
Ellen jackson / photographer
Between writing games, Joshua Hillyer is a communication and journalism instructor who teaches intro-level classes, such as screenwriting and public speaking.
terested me,” Hillyer said. “They’re all so bizarre and yet understandable. One (villain) is a deranged Elvis impersonator. Though he is a crime lord, you see how his life could have turned out differently.” Hillyer said his least favorite part is the sheer amount of time involved in creating a video game. Phelps, who has been working on “Neon the Ninja” since fall 2012, said finding time to
do the work has been the hardest part of development for him as well. Phelps said it can be difficult to choose between spending time working on his main job as a web designer, finding freelance work on the side, spending time with his girlfriend and working on the game. Hillyer said writing comes after his day job as well. “I’ve always looked at my role as a writer as a secondary
thing,” Hillyer said. “There’s not a lot of work for indie game writers.” Hillyer said he, Phelps and Sinnott plan to fundraise for “Neon the Ninja” on Kickstarter in late 2016 to early 2017 for release on Steam and Wii U. The funding they receive will determine the final version of the game’s complexity. “I have a lot of great plans for this game, but we’ll see,” Phelps said.
contributed by stuart phelps
“Neon the Ninja” is a two-dimensional action game involving killing Yakuza minions and eight bosses.
Intrigue A14
Thursday, January 29, 2015
The Auburn Plainsman
foodie corner
Two for $8: making two meals out of spaghetti and stir fry complete with different types of sauces. The box of noodles itself is only a couple dollars, and the sauce is even cheaper. Wal-mart sells a 15-ounce bottle of soy sauce for $2.08 you can reuse. The rest of the ingredients depend on personal preference, but if you want vegetarian stir-fry, the stores in the Village and Terrell both sell raw produce, or you can buy a bag of frozen veggies from Wal-Mart for $1.50. As for the cooking, I started by boiling the pasta and heating up the sauce to pour on the noodles for some delicious spaghetti. I made sure to only use half of the noodles and save the rest for the next day. The second night, I sautéed some vegetables in the soy sauce, poured them over the leftover noodles and voila! I created two delicious meals for just more than $8.
Andria Moore intrigue@
theplainsman. com
Cooking in college can be tough for multiple reasons. There’s planning to consider, money to buy the ingredients and, of course, time to actually cook. But it turns out finding cheap, easy-to-make meals for just more than $8 is possible and can be fun. I started with the notion that I wanted to make two meals for the price of one. There are multiple directions you could take with this idea, depending on what type of food you like the best. While oatmeal works for most breakfast meals, if you wanted to make lunch and dinner foods, then what I’ve found is extremely useful. At Outtakes in the Student Center, I found most of the ingredients I needed for spaghetti and soy-and-vegetable pasta. There is a pasta section
photos b y ellen jackson / photographer
Andria Moore is an intrigue writer for The Plainsman. She can be reached at intrigue@theplainsman.com.
Tomato Sauce $1.89
Pasta $1.99
Vegetables $1.50
Soy Sauce $2.08
app of the week
photos b y Kyle Nazario / intrigue editor
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Best Professors Princeton Review (Fall 2014)
I am a forgetful person. If I don’t write something down within a few minutes of hearing it, it’s as good as gone. Thankfully, Evernote has alleviated a lifelong habit of scribbling notes on whatever paper is at hand. Evernote is a better way to take notes. Users sign up for a free account and download the app, which is available for iOS, Android, Windows, Mac and web browser. After that, creating notes is easy, just open a new note and start writing. The use of Evernote lies in its organization and universality. I can write myself notes from my iPhone to check later on my MacBook, or bring them to meetings on my An-
droid tablet. It also means I can’t possibly lose my notes, barring a natural disaster destroying Evernote’s servers. Users can file everything into separate notebooks and add tags within the notes for further organization. For example, I added an “ideas” tag to my note of story ideas for The Plainsman and my note listing blog post ideas. Evernote is also smart enough to recognize contexts and offer related notes. When I start composing a note listing movies on Netflix I still need to watch, it starts suggesting my note of movies I plan to watch with friends. With all this, Evernote can become a catch-all productivity tool. I can compose stories for The Plainsman on my laptop in Evernote and not worry about hard drive crashes since everything is synced to the cloud. I can also keep checklists of items within notes, making it even easier to keep track of
sources to contact and interviews to pursue. I also like that Evernote is free. Users can upgrade to a premium account for $5 per month for storing large files in notes, annotating PDFs and searching within scanned images, but most users won’t need those features. They seem mainly aimed at corporate clients. Evernote has a lot of useful features, but sometimes it veers into unnecessary complexity. Options such as locationtagged notes are a bit much for users who just want a way to jot down notes on the go. For someone who wants a simpler note-taking app, Apple’s built-in Notes app (iOS, Mac) or Google Keep (Android, Chrome) are faster and easier to understand. Kyle Nazario is the intrigue editor for The Plainsman. He can be reached at intrigue@ theplainsman.com.