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Residents have placed signs around Opelika that state their opposition to a quarry being built near the city.
‘Gravely concerned’ A quarry could be built on the outskirts of Opelika; many residents are fighting to keep that from happening By CORY BLACKMON Community Writer community@theplainsman.com
With the resolve to protect their city painted on their faces, over 70 citizens packed into the Lee County Commission Chamber to voice their opposition to the purposed quarry in Opelika, and the Lee County Commission heard them. “All of these folks live in Lee County, too. They may live in Opelika, they may live in Auburn or Beauregard, but they are Lee County citizens,” said Opelika Mayor Gary Fuller. “The people of Opelika and Auburn and Lee County have banded together to oppose this.”
The Lee County Commission unanimously decided to vote in favor of drafting a resolution to oppose the building of the proposed quarry and to submit a letter to the Alabama Department of Environmental Management requesting a public hearing. In January, Creekwood Resources applied for an Air Permit, which would authorize the construction and operation of a granite-crushing, screening and conveying operation, according to a statement by the City of Opelika. Creekwood Resources also applied for insurance of a National Pollutant Discharge VIA CITY OF OPELIKA
» See QUARRY, 6
CAMPUS
Football player granted American citizenship By DESTINI AMBUS Campus Writer campus@theplainsman.com
Prince Michael Sammons finds strength through God and comfort in family. Sammons, an offensive linemen for the Auburn Tigers and native of Nigeria, received his American citizenship earlier this semester. It was a long process for Sammons to get to America, but it was even longer for him
to gain his citizenship. In order to obtain citizenship, you must be a permanent resident of the U.S. for at least five years, complete an application, attend an interview and pass an English and a civics test, according to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Sammons said he is no stranger to hard work and had a lot of support in studying for and taking the test. “My mom says, ‘If it is God’s
Auburn announced that general ticket holders can purchase alcohol at home games. Page 9
CAMPUS
Climate expert relates science, religion By TRICE BROWN
willing for it to happen, it will,’” he said. This statement has carried Sammons more than 6,000 miles away from his home of Lagos, Nigeria to Auburn, Alabama. At the age of 15, he left Africa to pursue a better life through basketball and ended up a linebacker for the Auburn Tigers. “We grew up financially not strong,” Sammons said. “We
TRICE BROWN / CAMPUS EDITOR
» See SAMMONS, 2
Katharine Hayhoe is a leading climate scientist and recently spoke at Auburn.
SPORTS Plainsman Park will sell alcohol to the public during the 2020 season
The gray area in the map indicates Opelika’s city limits.
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For many Americans, religion and science are thought to be pitted against each other in a cultural war of attrition, as courts have battled for decades over where to draw the line in the sand of what is acceptable for pub-
lic education and what isn’t. For Katharine Hayhoe, an evangelical Christian and world-renowned climate scientist, such a juxtaposition doesn’t exist. Her father was a missionary and a science educator, so she grew up seeing them as intrinsically intertwined. » See CLIMATE, 2
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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2020
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Prince Michael Sammons speaks to The Plainsman on Friday, Feb. 7, 2020, in Auburn, Ala.
SAMMONS » From 1
managed.” He grew up in a small, one-bedroom house, with just enough room for a bed, a TV, a couch and a sleeping area for him and his brothers. However, that didn’t stop his mother from instilling positivity, hard work and generosity in him and his eight siblings. While his brothers found jobs, he grew up playing soccer. “I didn’t want to get a job. I wanted to play sports,” Sammons said. “That’s the gift God gave to me.” At one particular soccer tournament, the stakes were high for Sammons. The winning team would take home a cash prize. It was enough to feed his family for “a long time,” he said, enough for his mother to be at ease for a few weeks. But Sammons’ team lost. He wept when the final whistle blew. It wasn’t the actual loss that drove him to tears — it was knowing he had failed his chance to feed his family. He was only 12 years old. As he walked off the field, a stranger that Sammons now calls his “guardian angel” approached him.
CLIMATE » From 1
“I grew up with the idea that if you believe that the same God who wrote the Bible is the same God who made the universe, which most people believe if they believe the Bible, then how could anything you learn about the universe contradict the Bible if they are written by the same person?” she said in a sit-down interview with The Plainsman. Hayhoe spoke to Auburn students about the intersection between faith and science on Feb. 6, 2020, at The Hotel at Auburn University. Hayhoe was named a 2019 United Nations Champion of the Earth. Climate change is often framed as a religion, she said. An earth-worshipping religion, a pagan religion, a religion that you believe in instead of God. “When most of us have a belief that we are okay with … we are not looking for a new one,” Hayhoe said. “So framing climate change as a religion is a way to actually get a lot of people to reject it.” The science, however, is clear that the climate is changing, she said; even when deniers try to call it a religion. The evidence is abundant, even with just things we can personally observe. “So if it really is a conspiracy, somehow that conspiracy is not only faking temperature data going back to the 1600s, it is also somehow forcing every tree to bloom earlier,” she said. “It’s forcing glaciers to somehow melt. It’s forcing animals to somehow move.” Most objections to the science behind climate change declare that humans aren’t at fault. Some peo-
“What’s wrong with you?” Sammons recalled the man asking him. He told the man his story. The man counted some of the award money and handed it to Sammons. “I can’t take it,” he recalled saying. “Take it,” the man told him. Sammons accepted it and thanked him. The man suggested he play basketball. “God opened a door for you to bless your family,” the man told Sammons. So Sammons went to the courts. He said he wasn’t good at first and didn’t know how to dribble or shoot, much to the amusement of those on the court. “Girls are laughing at me; boys are laughing at me,” Sammons said. “But that doesn’t stop me, because I never give up.” Six months later, after instruction from a coach and member of the basketball team, he was invited to travel and play with a team. After one game, another stranger came up to him to offer a scholarship — but only if he could dunk the ball. “I kind of paused a minute,” Sammons said. “I said, ‘You’ll give me a scholarship if I can dunk?’ And he says ‘I’ll give you a scholarship right now if you can dunk.’” That night, he stayed up trying to dunk. But as much as he tried, he couldn’t do it. “When I went home, my friends were hyp-
ple say it’s just a natural cycle, or the sun’s energy is becoming stronger or blame orbital cycles and olcanoes. These things can affect the climate in various ways, but they don’t explain the current issue we are facing, Hayhoe said. The root cause of the warming that has increased the global temperature since the Industrial Revolution is clear: The burning of fossil fuels like coal, oil and natural gas, and the impacts are serious. Hayhoe is a lead author of the Fourth National Climate Assessment, which assesses the science and impacts of climate change in the United States. According to Hayhoe, Alabama has already seen increased heavy rainfall, more heatwaves, less cold waves and warmer nights due to the impacts of climate change. Sea level rise is not only increasing, it’s accelerating along U.S. coastlines. Hurricanes are becoming more dangerous as ocean temperature rises. They are stronger, bigger and slower. Hayhoe said it is estimated that almost 40% of the rain that fell during Hurricane Harvey would not have fallen if the same hurricane had happened a hundred years ago. “The bottom line is this: Climate change is loading the weather dice against us,” Hayhoe said. “We always have a chance of rolling a double six … but as the planet warms, decade by decade, it is like it’s sneaking in and taking that three and replacing it with another six.” When the evidence is immediately visible and overwhelming, what reason do climate change deniers have to deny the science? Hayhoe said the reasons for climate change denial have nothing to
ing me up, and they said all you gotta do is go up, jump higher and dunk the ball,” Sammons said. The next day, he did just that. “I was so happy — I was expecting the scholarship to come to me right away, in that moment, but it didn’t,” Sammons said. “I go home to tell my mom the whole story, and she was just laughing at me and says, ‘One thing about you, you don’t give up.” She told him that if it’s God’s willing, it’ll happen. And it did. Two weeks later, Sammons got a call from an American asking if he had a passport because a school in Maryland was offering him a scholarship for basketball. He said his family didn’t have enough money for an international passport, so he dropped out of school to start working odd jobs and helping his mother at her fruit stand, in order to save up enough money. One day, Sammons said a woman saw him working and told him to go back to school so that he could be someone and make money in the future. Later, he said the same woman came back and bought the entire fruit stand, giving him enough money for a passport: the key to receiving his scholarship. Weeks later, a stranger came to his house and gave him an envelope. The contents promised four years of school in
do with theology and everything to do with political ideology. “We have rewritten our statement of faith so that it reads more like the position statement of a political party than something that comes from the Bible,” she said. “Basically, there’s nothing inherently unchristian about saying the climate is changing and humans are responsible.” That doesn’t stop many Christians from wondering what the Bible has to say about climate change. In her Global Weirding YouTube series, her most-watched video discusses what the Bible says about climate change. In Genesis 1, God created man and gave him dominion over the earth. A responsibility to care for it. “If you believe what the Bible says, you would believe that we do have the ability to affect the planet,” Hayhoe said. Even still, she gets hate mail. When she first started talking with others about her faith and her belief in climate change, Hayhoe was nervous the scientific community would be unwelcoming. They might ask her if she “checked her brain at the door.” However, she found many of her colleagues to be religious themselves or supportive of her religious views. She didn’t expect Christians to react with such hostility. “The amount of hate mail I get from Christians is shocking,” Hayhoe said. She estimated that 200 Christians sent her hate mail — connecting climate action with one-world government or the antichrist — for every scientist that said her faith conflicts with her career. Hayhoe believes the connection made by her critics between policy
America. All he had to do was get his visa. After getting through tedious requirements and paperwork, Sammons was finally handed it at the U.S. embassy. He was so afraid of losing the visa, he said, so afraid of the dream disappearing, that when he gripped the envelope in his hands he left the building as quickly as he could, thinking they might say it was a mistake. Soon after leaving the building, Sammons received a call from his brother, who told him to come home. His mother was in critical condition. When he finally got back, his mother had already passed away. He laid right beside her. “I didn’t know when you died, you get so cold,” he said. “I just put a blanket over her.” With the death of his mother, his original plan began to crumble. A basketball coach from Wisconsin, however, agreed to pay for his flight to America and housed him until he found a school to attend. A few months later, he learned his father had died back home in Nigeria. By that time, Sammons had been out of school for a year, but he finally found a school and basketball program that would accept him. Betsy and Brandon Sammons, who taught at Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy, decided to legally adopt Sammons. He had a home and was finally attending an American school. Once there, Sammons said both the football and basketball coaches were clamoring to get him on either the field or the court. However, he didn’t even know what football was. He spent the first year on the team as their water boy. As Sammons picked up on the game and began playing, a number of colleges started offering him scholarships. “All of a sudden, Auburn offered me a scholarship, like two days before signing day,” Sammons said. “So I took an official visit, and when I came, [Prince Tega Wanogho, who I used to play basketball with in Africa, said, ‘Hey, this school would really be a good fit for you.’” Sammons said he felt a family starting to build around him at Auburn. It’s the real reason he chose Auburn. “Having someone from the same place I’m from kind of helped, and so that’s why I came here,” he said. Even though football allowed him to be here, and even while having hopes of playing in the NFL, Sammons said it’s all second to his education. “I truly wanted to come here to get a better education, so I could become a role model to my brothers,” Sammons said. In the future, he wants to work for a non-profit business so he can help people and give back to his country. Getting his citizenship was just one step in the process. “I was trying to seize me being here permanently ... so that I would have the privilege to stay here ... and become someone in life,” he said. Sammons said he is ready to continue his journey in the states. And as his mother used to say, if it’s Gods willing, he said, he will become someone and use his gifts for good.
and paganism is the epicenter of climate denial. People don’t want to care about issues that conflict with their personal identity and beliefs. On Tangier Island, rising sea levels swallow more and more of the island every year. Hayhoe said the people living there are conservative and don’t believe in climate change. When asked why they think their home is shrinking, their answer, over and over again, is erosion. When people think the only solution to climate change is something horrible, the natural defense mechanism is to reject the reality of the problem, Hayhoe said. It’s a solution aversion. If someone were to accept the reality that climate change will disproportionately impact the most vulnerable people, but didn’t want to fix the problem, they would be a bad person, Hayhoe said. Since no one wants to be a bad person, the psychological reaction is to deny the problem. “People can be reached by showing how they already care, they just didn’t realize it,” Hayhoe said. “So often we feel like we have to be a different person, like we have to turn into an environmentalist or turn into a liberal or we have to turn into something to care, but if you show people that who they already are is the perfect person to care, that’s how we can connect the dots. Nobody really wants to be somebody different. We are usually pretty okay with who we are.” Hayhoe said when hunters understand that climate change affects the populations of the animals they hunt, they care about climate change. “Connect the dots right to what they care about, rather than trying to
make them care about what you care about,” she said. One of Hayhoe’s colleagues is a cognitive psychologist who created a website that factually responds to climate-change-denying arguments. It wasn’t enough for his own father, though. But then, the rural area where his father lived had a rebate on solar panels. His father’s identity was a shrewd, fiscal conservative who saved money and made smart business decisions. So he crunched the numbers. He saw how much money he would save. Then he bought the solar panels. “He got so excited about all the money he was saving that he would email his son every month when the bill arrived,” Hayhoe said. He bragged to his son about how low his power bills were. A year later, the two were having dinner. The father told his son it was obvious the climate was changing and that everyone knew. The son nearly fell out of his chair. It wasn’t his son or the research his son did that changed his mind, Hayhoe said. It was the fact that he found a practical solution related to climate change. “We always think that we have to be a certain type of person to care, but we don’t,” Hayhoe said. “All we have to be is a human. Every single one of us needs air to breathe and water to drink and food to eat and a safe place to live and materials to make everything that we use. All of that comes from this planet, so if the planet can’t supply that for us anymore, we are the ones who are going to suffer.”
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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2020
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OPINION
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Community members speak out against quarry
By Paul Willis
Contributor
I am Paul Willis, president of the Board of Storybook Farm and a proud resident of Lee County, Alabama. I am writing this letter as a call to action. Storybook Farm faces one of the biggest challenges threatening its mission and perhaps its future. If you are unfamiliar with Storybook, allow me a moment to share the impactful mission of changing childhoods. For the past 18 years, Storybook Farm has bridged the gap between hope and hardship for over 10,000 children by invoking the restorative bond between animals and humans. Storybook Farm’s founder, Dena Little, and her team provide therapy for kids who face immense challenges resulting from mental health, grief, congenital disease, terminal diagnoses, abuse and poverty. It was established for the thousands of kids who are emotionally and medically fragile who carry burdens too heavy to bear alone. At the farm, the horses and dogs, along with other companion animals, help kids learn, grow and overcome. There is something divine about the way a child connects with an animal. Often, healing happens without a word being spoken. With animals as teachers and without judgment, a child builds self-esteem, lives in the moment, gains responsibility and experiences compassion. Fear is replaced with courage, and defeat is replaced with accomplishment. The things this organization has accomplished are immense and the impact immeasurable; through this organization and these kids’ eyes, we are blessed to capture a glimpse of God’s love. At any given point in the year, we have the same, if not more, number of children interacting with the farm than most schools.
You may or may not know the farm sits, 1000 yards away from the site of a proposed quarry. That proximity and the particle discharge that results from the blasting and crushing of granite could have a long-term, devastating impact on the already-fragile children. I can go on and on listing the issues and their potential impact on the organization and its mission, but I will leave you with a final scenario, one that paints a vivid picture in my head and moves me the most. Imagine a child coming to the farm for therapy, smiling while riding a horse and interacting with the programming Dena Little put together. Now imagine a round of dynamite exploding in the background. The horse gets spooked and bucks that child off. I won’t go any further than that, nor should I have to. As I write this letter, I never in a lifetime imagined this could be a possibility, but it is a reality if this quarry happens. Here is what you can do now to help save the farm; go to the Storybook Farm’s website, hopeonhorseback.org, and download a template letter you can send to Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM )to voice your concerns. The letter is focused on the impacts on air and water, since that is the scope of ADEM’s review, but most importantly, it requests a public hearing. Hearings are not always a given unless there is a volume of requests from community citizens. Help get us to that volume; take the time to print, sign and send the letter. Everything you need, including the mailing address, is on the website. All letters must be received before Feb. 20 and by 5 p.m. that day, so act now. There are very few times that actions that are so simple can have such a significant impact. Be intentional; get involved; send a letter and help save the farm.
By Kathryn James Contributor
We, as Lee County citizens, have so much to be proud of. We have outstanding state, county, city and civic leadership. We see booming economic development. We are blessed with outstanding universities, colleges and public schools. We enjoy numerous retail and recreational opportunities. We are experiencing tremendous residential growth and are fortunate to have excellent stateof-the -art medical facilities. Auburn, Opelika and Lee County together have become one of the fastest-growing areas in our state because of the high quality of life in the entire Lee County area. We should be very proud to call this area our home. We must continue to work together to keep our communities safe, secure, healthy and expanding. However, you may have read recently about a proposed Opelika granite quarry plan that has been applied to the state by Creekwood Resources, a company based in Florence, Alabama. This company has applied to state officials for air and discharge permits for a granite quarry to be located on County Road 168, just off U.S. 431, north of Opelika, near Saugahatchee Lake and close to local schools. Mayor Gary Fuller, along with city, county and state officials and the Opelika City school representatives are voicing strong oppositions to the proposed quarry. Hundreds of Opelika, Lee County and Auburn residents have written letters to Alabama’s Department of Environmental Management (ADEM) expressing their strong opposition to this granite quarry proposal. While many have voiced their opposition, we need many, many more letters to be written by citizens of this area to strongly voice their opposition to this detrimental quarry proposal. The proposed quarry could be very harmful to Saugahatchee Lake, the primary source of Opelika’s drinking water. The traffic and noise from on-site blasting could become an issue, along with adversely affecting the air quality.
Potential carcinogens that would be released in the air around nearby schools, colleges and neighborhoods could be hazardous. There are many nearby businesses and real estate holdings that could be adversely affected, such as Auburn-Opelika Grand National and National Village. Nonprofits such as Storybook Farm may possibly have to close if the quarry is located nearby. Numerous homes close by could be impacted by contamination of local wells and aquifers. This is not just a problem just for Lee County residents or Opelika residents. This is a potential problem for the entire East Alabama area. The Opelika City Council has adopted a resolution opposing the quarry, and the Auburn City Council will be taking up a similar proposal at its Feb. 18 council meeting. Individual citizens also must voice their strong concerns about this proposal. Won’t you please take a few minutes and write a letter expressing your concerns to state officials? Mayor Fuller’s office has created a fact sheet detailing the situations that can be read at their website. The fact sheet points out that discharge from the quarry will run into Saugahatchee Lake. This will impact local wells and aquifers and could possibly reach many areas even outside of Opelika, as well as causing significant air quality damage. If you choose to write a letter, please do so no later than Feb. 20. Time is of the essence. Address your letter to: Russell A. Kelley, Chief Permits & Services Division Alabama Department of Environmental Management P.O. Box 301463 Montgomery, Alabama, AL 36130-1463 Subject information Proposed Quarry NPDES Permit Number: A10084018 Air Permit Facility Number: 206-0050 Your response is vitally important. Thank you for your consideration to write a letter. Let’s work together to keep all of Lee County healthy, growing and clean for all of our residents now and into the future. Thank you.
COLUMN
‘Parasite’s’ Oscars win marks a turn for the Academy By Bryce Johnson Opinion Editor
I jumped out of my seat the second the word left Jane Fonda’s lips. There’s no way. An immediate feeling of joy coursed through my veins. Here I was in my friend’s living room, screaming my heart out and repeatedly slapping high-fives because of a movie. Not just because of the movie, though, but because of what this moment means. “Parasite” won the Oscar. Since I was a kid, I’ve been a fan of movies. Yes, that sounds pretentious, but for me, it’s a little obsessive. Movies are not only the family business; they’re what I do for inspiration, they’re my preferred method of self-care, they’re how I see the world. That is why the Academy Awards means so much to me. We can go back a decade, and I’ve probably only missed five movies nominated for best picture. I can rattle winners from each significant category off the top of my head, adding to the list of useless party tricks I possess. As arbitrary and dumb as the Academy Awards are, they’re the
ones who tell the history of movies. It defines the year in film, while also reflecting what the country and pop culture are like at the time. Lately though, the selection committee has gotten worse at accurately charting which films mean the most at the time. Every year, I huddle around the TV and get predictably mad over what the Academy selects. I’m not the one to advocate for Marvel movies or other generic blockbusters to win the biggest award. The Oscars shouldn’t be a popularity contest. Still, there is a clear message sent for every best-picture winner. The Academy’s tone-deaf behavior led to the creation of the term “Oscar movie.” For the last decade, this meant that whichever movie had either an actor playing a historic white guy, a white guy solving racism or a white guy who makes movies in it would probably win. “The Shape of Water,” “Moonlight” and “12 Years a Slave” were the only exceptions to this rule. The Academy tried to step out of its comfort zone in 2017 when they chose “The Shape of Water,” direc-
tor Guillermo Del Toro’s rendition of “Beauty and the Beast,’’ but caused one of the biggest snubs in its 92year history. The movie they overlooked was “Get Out,” a film adored by both critics and viewers that accurately represented what was on the nation’s mind that year. Instead, anonymous voters came out and said they had refused to even watch the movie because it being a horror movie would taint the honor of best picture. We’re accustomed to the hashtag #Oscarssowhite, and while that is true, the biggest problem with the Oscars is in the capacity they reward people of color. This is where “12 Years,” the first best picture winner with a black lead since 1989, comes into play. For black viewers, though, it’s hard to celebrate a win for a movie that depicts such trauma. Winning for “Moonlight” should’ve had that celebration feeling, but an all-time flub of announcing the wrong film squandered that moment. Representation isn’t always the Oscars’ strong suit. Last year’s “Green Book” selection felt like a slap in the face not only because it
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last. Instead, it kept winning. Coming into Sunday, it looked like no movie would unseat “1917,” the British war epic that had “Oscars movie” written all over it. By no means is “1917” a bad movie. Any other year I would’ve been content with it winning because of its achievement in movie making. But it wasn’t anything new. There have been dozens of war epics that went on to win best picture, and there has even been another “one-shot” style movie that won. “1917” is a movie that doesn’t add to the discourse of important films. So, when Jane Fonda had that envelope in her hand and announced “Parasite” as the winner, there’s a reason why the Dolby Theater exploded into an excitement rarely ever heard at this type of awards show. For once, the Oscars actually got it right. This win lays out the possibility for any movie to win. An entirely Korean cast took down some of the biggest names in Hollywood and showed that a movie about minorities could be about more than just racism.
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was a mediocre movie but because of the harsh criticisms from black critics who pointed out the regressive nature of relying on stereotypes to cure racism. Going forward, it felt like the Academy gave up on getting things right. So this year, when “Parasite” got nominated, it felt like the biggest joy was just the movie being recognized. For most people, including myself, it was the best movie in a year of great nominees. Director Bong Joon-Ho took viewers on an exhilarating ride with a style that resembled Alfred Hitchcock, all to tell a story about the pitfalls of capitalism and social hierarchy. The only problem was that the movie is in Korean. No foreign-language film had ever won the highest honor in cinema. Last year’s “Roma” was the prohibitive favorite to be the first but ultimately fell short. It seemed like “Parasite” would follow the same fate. Bong himself didn’t think his movie had a shot at winning. There are plenty of memes of him soaking up every award the movie earned because each easily could’ve been the
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Senators wrap up final term session By COLLINS KEITH Campus Reporter
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The University is using 160 Ross as affiliated housing so it can get students “out of the Hill,” Bobby Woodard said.
Trustees approve 160 Ross to be used as Auburn-affiliated housing By EDUARDO MEDINA Editor-in-chief
The Board of Trustees approved a deal to place students in 160 Ross for the 2020-21 school year and to use the entire apartment complex as affiliated housing for students in the 2021-22 school year. Senior Vice President for Student Affairs Bobby Woodard told The Plainsman that the contract with 160 Ross will likely be finalized in the coming week. 160 Ross will lease 320 spaces to the University this fall, and Woodard said that as of Friday morning, 257 of those spaces are filled by upperclassmen. The University is using 160 Ross as affiliated housing so it can get students “out of the Hill,” Woodard said. The plan is for students to be completely out of the Hill by 2025 or 2026,
Woodard said. Construction of new academic buildings will likely take place then and be built where the Hill is currently located, according to Woodard. New dorms are also being planned to account for the tearing down of the Hill. The cost of living in the off-campus complex will be about the same as living in the Village. Trustees approved the following rates: $4,780-a-semester cost for a four-bedroom, four-bath apartment and a $5,000-a-semester cost for a two-bedroom, two-bath apartment. Kevin Hoult, director of University housing and student life, previously told The Plainsman that instead of living in 160 Ross, some upperclassmen students will have two options of living in traditional University dorms: South Donahue and Harper Hall. South Donahue is able to house 200
students, and Harper Hall can house 80 students, according to Hoult. “We think that this partnership opens the opportunity for residents to have that off-campus living experience … while maintaining those conveniences of campus housing,” Hoult said in an email. Those “conveniences” include resident assistants, who work in dorms and assist on-campus students. 160 Ross has its own version of RAs called community assistants. The CAs work the front desk, plan community events and serve residents the way RAs do, Hoult said. He added that there are other conveniences they’re implementing. “We plan to have a Tiger Transit bus perform a direct route to and from the community and campus,” Hoult said. “Additionally, we will offer residents the option of purchasing an on-campus or off-campus meal plan.”
SGA Senate wrapped up their final session of the previous year on Feb. 10, 2020. All of the new senators were in attendance in anticipation of settling into their roles at the first session of next term. Many senators gave thanks for the time and effort their fellow senators had put in this past term and encouraged the incoming senators to go above and beyond in their job to serve Auburn. Julianne Lyn, SGA executive vice president of initiatives, reminded senators to encourage students to give money to the Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner Program on Feb. 19 during Tiger Giving Day. This program is entirely student-funded. Around $21,000 remains to be raised in order to keep the program self-sustaining. After reports from officers and colleges, Sadok Aounallah, SGA housing liaison, announced a tentative plan for student housing over the next four to five years. “As a lot of folks know, we leased half of 160 Ross, and hopefully by next year, we will be leasing the whole complex,” Aounallah said. “The price will be the same price as the Village.” Aounallah discussed Auburn Housing’s future plans for the renovation of the Hill, Cambridge and the Quad. “Around summer 2021
to spring 2022, three more buildings in the Hill will be closing … leaving only Knapp, Sasnett and Boyd,” Aounallah said. Aounallah said that in the summer of 2023, Cambridge will be torn down. He said that Auburn Housing also plans to tear down the Early Learning Center, the Marriage & Family Therapy Center and the Center for Health Ecology and Equity Research. These three buildings, located across from the Student Center, will be replaced with new, state-of-the-art Quad dormitories. Following this announcement, Ada Ruth Huntley, senator for the College of Human Sciences and SGA president-elect, presented a change in the way a senator gets credit for his or her office hours, requiring a set time, date and location to be determined for each senator, which was subsequently passed. Sam Nunn, at-large senator, introduced a Program Expansion Fund for SGA, which would allocate $8,320.44 to the Harrison School of Pharmacy’s Schools Council budget for the following year. This was also passed by the Senate. After all of the current orders of business, the new senators and executive officers took their positions and oaths, marking the end of the past year’s senate term and the beginning of next year’s term.
ADMINISTRATION
Board removes interim from Gogue’s title By TIM NAIL Assistant Campus Editor
The Board of Trustees approved a proposal to remove the interim designation of Jay Gogue’s title at its Feb. 7 meeting on the Auburn Uni-
versity at Montgomery campus. The motion comes following discussion from board members at a Nov. 22, 2019, meeting in which the proposal was raised by Charles McCrary, chair of the trustees’
executive committee. The title change means Gogue is now the 20th president of the University after having served as 18th president from 2007 to 2017. Brian Keeter, executive director of public affairs, said “a
timetable has not yet been determined” for selecting a new president. “A national presidential search is typically a 9- to 12-month process from the date that it begins,” Keeter said in an email statement.
MARIE LIPSKI / PHOTO EDITOR
Auburn Housing plans to tear down the Marriage & Therapy Family Center to use the space for new Quad dormitories.
TRADITION
‘On to vic’try’: marching band students show spirit through song By KARA MAUTZ Lifestyle Writer
The Auburn University Marching Band has been marching on Auburn’s football field for over a century. The award-winning band has approximately 380 members who work throughout the year in preparation for the shows they perform. Each year, the AUMB focuses on a specific theme for their halftime performance. This past season, the theme centered around “Strike Up the Band,” lyrics from the Auburn fight song, “War Eagle.” Peyton Flowers, senior in music education, has been a part of AUMB since his freshman year at Auburn. He said the theme really embodies the spirit of the University. “‘Strike Up the Band’ is a part of the fight song, part of the tradition,” Flowers said. “It means our band is a strong part of the Auburn tradition, and our band is always going to be there in support of the University, no matter the outcome of
games.” Flowers has been going to Auburn football games since he was a child and said he has always looked up to the band, which inspired him to join when he started college. “I was inspired by the AUMB and the atmosphere and energy they brought to games,” he said. “That is what interested me in music initially. It is what inspired me to major in music education at Auburn.” Will Ebbert, senior in geology, is also a member of AUMB. The theme of the band was created to include everyone in the Auburn Family. There was no clear meaning behind the theme, “Strike Up the Band.” Members were to decide for themselves what it means. “‘Strike Up the Band’ is not only a rally cry for us in the band, but for fans and students as well,” Ebbert said. “It is the start of game day and a sign that something exciting is about to happen.” Ebbert also grew up going to Auburn games, look-
ing up to the marching band and wanted to join when he was a student at Auburn himself. Both Flowers and Ebbert started in the AUMB as freshmen and agreed that being in the AUMB positively influenced their college experience, giving them most of their friends and their best college memories. Ebbert said that winning the Iron Bowl and traveling to Dallas for the opening game of the football season were some of his favorite memories from his time in the AUMB. Both Flowers and Ebbert agreed that the Iron Bowl is a special game for AUMB members because of the excitement and energy in Jordan-Hare from the students and fans. “Marching band played a big part in my college experience,” Flowers said. “This program has taught me so many life lessons and given me so many friends that I will have for the rest of my life. I don’t know what I would be doing if I had not joined the AUMB. I am definitely proud of it.”
IRELAND DODD / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
This past season, the AUMB halftime performances were centered around “Strike Up the Band.”
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2020
The Auburn Plainsman
the jay and susie gogue performing arts center at auburn university
Tickets available now! 334.844.TIXS (8497) GOGUECENTER.AUBURN.EDU
PAGE 5
community THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2020
6 THEPLAINSMAN.COM
COMMUNITY
SUSTAINABILITY
City examines residents’ recycling bins By CHARLIE RAMO Community Reporter
To fight problems in the community’s recycling system, the City of Auburn is putting feet on the street to monitor recycling contamination. The Feet on the Street campaign is a month-long campaign during which the City will examine residents’ recycling cans for contaminants, said Environmental Services Director Catrina Cook. The program is a part of an effort to increase recycling and decrease contamination in the recycling system. “The Feet on the Street campaign helps us with our education and outreach,” Cook said. “It’s just making sure everyone is [recycling] the right way.” This program is one part of Auburn’s recent efforts to improve recycling. Plastic bags and glass are common contaminants found in Auburn recycling cans, Cook said. The single-stream facility in Columbus, Georgia, that Auburn uses cannot handle them. However, glass, plastic bags and other recyclables are accepted at Auburn’s recycling center, where items have to be dropped off to be recycled. The Feet on the Street campaign acts as an auditing system to make sure homeowners understand what can be recycled through the City’s single-stream service and why, Cook said. The workers inspecting residents’ bins will leave tags that read “Oops” on contaminated cans to let homeowners know what they need to remove. Homes without a bin
will receive recycling information on their garbage cans. Cook said looking into recycling cans is not unusual. Other cities worldwide look for contaminants in street-side bins, she said. Contaminated cans will then be turned around, and the recycling trucks will not empty them, Cook said. The homeowners will have to remove the contamination to avoid contaminating the whole recycling truck’s load with non-recyclables. “[The tags] serve a dual purpose,” Cook said. “One is contaminants, and the other is taking notice of those who don’t have a [recycling] cart curbside.” Out of about 16,700 households receiving garbage collection from the City, 13,500 recycle, Cook said. In the first week of the Feet on the Street campaign, about 400
of the cans checked had some sort of contamination. Feet on the Street is funded in part by a $175,000 grant from The Recycling Partnership Auburn received in 2019 to increase recycling and educate the public on recycling. The Recycling Partnership works with both municipalities and corporations to provide recycling solutions, said Alita Kane, community program coCONTRIBUTED BY THE CITY OF AUBURN
Plastic bags and glass shards are some of the most common contaminants in Auburn’s recycling system.
ordinator with The Recycling Partnership. “[Auburn’s campaign] is the first time we’ve been able to work with a community to get this campaign launched so quickly,” Kane said. “This Feet on the Street program is something we’ve been doing in communities across the nation [such as] Atlanta, Georgia.” Four employees were hired to perform the can inspections, Kane said. They previously worked on a similar project in Atlanta. Kane pointed out that cans left curbside for collection are legally property of the City. Still, employees do not dig through the cart’s contents, but only open the lid and look in. Through this program and education efforts, Auburn is projected for a 25% reduction in contamination levels, which will be measured by the number of “oops” tags placed on recycling cans, Kane said. “The Feet on the Street program is the Cadillac of recycling programs out there,” Kane said. The program is one of the most intensive programs a City can implement, Kane noted. “It is the most hands-on. It takes a serious commitment from a community to do this work, so we’re really proud of the City of Auburn for stepping up to the plate,” Kane said. In the past, the City had a solid waste enforcement officer who would look into recycling cans, but the Feet on the Street campaign allows for more City coverage, Cook said. Auburn also created an app that informs residents of where items can be disposed, whether in blue curbside bins, at the recycling center or thrown in a trash can.
RETAIL
Auburn students react to Earth Fare’s nationwide closing By MY LY Community Writer
Auburn’s short relationship with the organic supermarket Earth Fare is coming to a sudden end, as the company began its liquidation process last week. The company confirmed that they were closing all of their locations with an announcement on Feb. 3, 2020. With the loss of this market, some are wondering where shoppers, especially students, who seek organic options will turn to in order to seek out what they’ve lost. Alejandra Sanchez is a senior at Auburn University and the president of the vegan interest club Plant Based Plainsman. She was a regular shopper at Earth Fare. She said she went every Tuesday because the company offered a discount to students that day. “I liked that everything that was there that could have been locally sourced, was,” Sanchez said. “It was the easiest way to support the local economy, farmers and food producers. The workers at Earth Fare were by far the most helpful when it came to helping out a vegan customer.” Sanchez feels that there is not an im-
QUARRY » From 1
Elimination System permit, which is used for the discharge of treated drainage from a wet and dry preparation granite quarry to groundwater. Creekwood Resources did not respond to a request for an interview and issued no statement. In the time since the applications were filed, Fuller has been leading the fight against the proposed quarry and gathering support from all over Lee County. “I’ve seen our communities come together on many occasions,” Fuller said. “I think we have another example here.” One of the primary concerns brought forward by those who oppose the quarry is the impact it will have on the Saugahatchee Lake, which is located less than two miles away from the proposed quarry site. According to Guy Gunter, the Opelika city attorney, Saugahatchee is the primary source for the City of Opelika and serves as a backup water supply
mediate replacement for what Earth Fare provided to the community. She said other stores that offer vegan options do not contribute as much as Earth Fare did to local farmers and sustainability. Other students who have looked for similar organic options said they felt the same way about the loss of Earth Fare. Amanda Wenzel, senior in natural resources, was a frequent shopper at Earth Fare. She said she agrees that there is not a similar market in Auburn for students seeking organic and sustainable options. “I probably visited Earth Fare once a week to buy all of my groceries,” Wenzel said. “It offers more for the environment than any other grocery store, and I like how it strove to limit its plastic use in [its] packaging and bagging of [its] items.” Part of the issue for Wenzel is the fact that the store has no clear successor. “There’s nothing similar to Earth Fare in town,” Wenzel said. “When I first came to Auburn, there was a grocery store called Daysprings Natural, but it has since closed.” Wenzel also said she does not believe many students will care about this sudden closure of Earth Fare. “I think that college students are more
for every community in the Lee County area. “All of the rural water authorities depend on this source of water for a backup, in case something happens to their wells or other sources of water,” Gunter said. “A loss of Saugahatchee Lake would be of enormous consequence to all the citizens of Lee County, Alabama.” Gunter also noted the detriment this quarry would pose to residents of Lee County, noting noise and air pollution among his concerns. “To construct a quarry in the midst of all this residential development, there will be a lot of impact — not only noise and dust,” Gunter said. “The dust can also contain silica, which is a carcinogen.” The Opelika School Board previously voted to write a resolution opposing the approval of the quarry because of the pollution concerns. Members of the school board voiced concern for their students because of the possible danger of contaminated drinking water and polluting the air quality with harmful sediments and exhaust fumes.
likely to choose where they shop based on location,” Wenzel said. “Specifically, how close it is to them, and also the store’s affordability creates a difficult market for these more expensive and sustainable organic stores.” While some Earth Fare shoppers feel the impact of this loss, other students feel most of the supermarket’s goods can be found elsewhere. Evan Boykin, senior in political science, shopped at Earth Fare for brands that the store exclusively had, such as shampoos and skin care items. “I went to Earth Fare once in a while,” Boykin said. “There is this particular brand that was exclusive to Earth Fare only, and I would buy those products. I really enjoyed not having to order those products online.” Boykin said he’ll have to adjust his shopping habits following the closure. “I won’t be able to buy certain hair and skin products from Earth Fare-exclusive lines now, but I guess I will just have to order them online or stock up when I go back home.” Although Boykin enjoyed these certain products, he typically shopped at other stores. “They did have a great range of or-
“I wonder why is it they are concerned about which direction the wind is going to be blowing,” said Banks Herndon, a lawyer based in Opelika. “Is the reason that there will be something in the air that will be harmful to the citizens of Lee County, something like the carcinogens?” During the Lee County Commission meeting, Herndon discussed a “publication” from Creekwood Resources that states some of the “nonnegotiable conditions” that must be met before establishing a site. “Here is one of those paramount and non-negotiable factors: that the quarry must be located downwind, not upwind, from the nearest metropolitan area,” Herndon said. The City of Auburn also voiced their support for Opelika at the last City Council meeting and plans to draft its own resolution to oppose the quarry. Mayor Ron Anders said the resolution draft will be included in the next City Council meeting packet and anticipates it will be approved. Anders said his primary concern about the quarry is the po-
IRELAND DODD / PHOTOGRAPHER
Earth Fare announced this month that it will be closing all of its locations.
ganic foods that I really liked, but other stores here in Auburn do provide great options as well,” Boykin said. “I didn’t do much of my grocery shopping at Earth Fare. I mainly shopped at Publix, which offers great organic products.” Boykin said he will miss some parts of
tential impact on Saugahatchee, as it is a “secondary source of water for Auburn citizens.” “It will also be built right next to Storybook Farm, which is an outstanding nonprofit in our community,” Anders said. “There is a potential danger to our water source, there is a ministry out there that blesses our family that could be interested, and the people of Lee County are concerned, and I want to be supportive of their concern.” For Dena Little, founder of Storybook Farm, a nonprofit that helps children who are abused, living in poverty or experiencing mental health issues, the stakes are simple: If the quarry is built, Storybook Farm will no longer exist. The quarry is slated for an area that is 1,000 yards away from the nonprofit that helps around 1,500 children each year, Little said. “I do not feel like I could provide an environment that is 100% safe for these children if this quarry gets through,” Little said. “We’re gravely concerned right now.” Storybook Farm provides equine therapy, nature explo-
the store, like its rotisserie chicken and giant cookies. The organic supermarket is expected to have its doors fully closed by the end of February. Until then, the store is hosting various sales.
rations and canine companionship to children all across the state. Little said that families who visit are often impressed by how quiet and peaceful the place is. If the quarry is built, however, the noise pollution is going to jeopardize all of that tranquility, she said. “There’s simply no possible way Storybook Farm survives if this quarry happens — it’s that simple,” Little said. “We need everyone to start signing letters.” Haley Steele is the donor relations coordinator for Storybook Farm and received her masters in communication from Auburn University in 2018. She said students who care about Storybook Farm’s survival need to help through their activism. “A quarry going here is going to have insurmountable effects on who this community is and the fabric of who Auburn and Opelika are,” Steele said. “Getting everyone on-board on campus is going to make a huge difference. ... This is a ride or die moment for us.” Steele said she encourages
students who have volunteered before to help. On their website, hopeonhorses.org, there is a template letter that people can sign to support Storybook Farm. Members of the Lee County Commission shared their own experiences fighting other quarries in the past and offered advice to the citizens who attended the meeting. “I’d like to encourage each and every citizen here to submit a letter or a written request for a public hearing to ADEM,” said Richard LaGrand, District 4 committee member. “No later than 9 o’clock, Feb. 20.” Johnny Lawrence said he also had experience dealing with ADEM in 2007 as a new commissioner. He advised that citizens make sure to focus on the air and water quality in their letters. “When you write your letters, emotion is okay, but we have to stay on the facts,” Lawrence said. “There is nothing simple about rock quarries. If they have got their heart set on this spot, then it will be hard to forgo this operation unless we’re diligent.”
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2020
The Auburn Plainsman
ELECTION 2020
PAGE 7 TRANSPORTATION
Cities address roadways By MY LY Community Writer
GRAPHIC BY ELIZABETH HURLEY / COMMUNITY EDITOR
How to register vote in Auburn By ELIZABETH HURLEY Community Editor
With just over two weeks until Super Tuesday on March 3, Alabama residents are gearing up for the presidential primary. With that comes voter registration. Any Alabama resident who is a citizen of the U.S., is at least 18 years old on or before election day, does not have a felony conviction that prevents them from voting and has not been declared mentally incompetent by a court is eligible to vote. There are several ways to register to vote in Alabama. All voter registrations must be received on or by Feb. 17, which is 14 days before the primary election, in order to be eligible to vote in the primary. Residents can register online at alabamavotes.gov by clicking “Voter Registration” halfway down the page. There are printable versions of the voter registration application that residents can print and mail to a local Board of Registrar’s Office.
Residents can request that a paper version of the voter registration application be mailed to them so it can be filled out and mailed back to the Registrar’s Office. All mailed voter registrations must be postmarked by Feb. 15 in order to be registered in time to vote in the March primary, according to the Alabama Secretary of State’s website. Other ways to register to vote include through the Vote for Alabama app, when applying for an Alabama driver’s license or non-driver identification card and when applying for or recertifying aid for children such as SNAP and WIC and several other locations. Residents of Lee County can visit the Board of Registrar’s Office at the Bennie G. Adkins Meeting Center at 205 S. 10th St. in Opelika, Alabama. For residents who are unsure of their voter registration status, visit myinfo.alabamavotes.gov. There, voters can enter their information under “registration information” to check their voter registration status.
On the same webpage, voters can find their polling place for the upcoming election. Polling stations in Auburn include the Farmville Volunteer Fire Department, the Boykin Center gym, the Frank Brown Recreation Center, the Dean Road Recreation Center and the Clarion Inn. As of June 2014, voters in Alabama are required to have a specific photo ID in order to vote on election day. Accepted forms of valid photo ID include a driver’s license, non-driver ID, photo voter ID, state issued ID, federal issued ID, U.S. Passport, employee ID from a government entity including the federal, state, county or municipality, student or employee ID from a college in Alabama including postgraduate technical and professional schools, military ID or Tribal ID, according to the Alabama Secretary of State’s website. Polls will be open on March 3, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Alabama is one of 14 states hosting the presidential primary election on March 3.
Under the Lee-Russell Council of Governments, the Auburn-Opelika Metropolitan Planning Organization is in the process of developing a 25-year plan in order to tackle issues regarding Auburn’s transportation and infrastructure. The AOMPO will make the decisions along with Alabama Department of Transportation on what transportation projects should be funded with the available local, state and federal dollars. The 25-year plan, also called the 2045 Long Range Transportation Plan, is a roadmap that will address the region’s transportation needs over the next 25 years. It aims to provide reliable transportation options, improve safety and maintain and maximize the transportation system in Auburn. The AOMPO is now working with Neel-Shaffer, a management firm that specializes in engineering, construction and planning, to create the plan. Vijay Kunada, the vice president and engineering manager of Neel-Shaffer, discussed the necessity of the plan during an open house for the plan on Tuesday, Feb. 4. “First of all, it is good to have a plan,” Kunada said. “But the main thing is that it’s a federal requirement. If you do want to receive any kind of federal funds to support the transportation system in this area, you need to have a plan.” The AOMPO open house also provided staff members working on the plan the opportunity to hear from members of the public and gather data and input. Kunada explained where the plan is heading and outlined their
most vital focuses to visitors. “We have taken into account the rate of household growth and job growth in the Auburn area in order to predict the needs for the next 25 years,” Kunada said. “Once we know the growth, we can look at the needs — things such as roadways, bike paths, pedestrians, public transit and freight.” He continued by specifying one of the main focuses of the plan. “Certain areas in Auburn are much more congested than other areas, and that can cause a lot of danger and inconsistency,” Kunada said. “We can use our funds to do things in that area, such as widening the roads, adding turning lanes or adding a new roadway.” Kunada said there is a need for a public transit system in the Auburn area. “In Auburn, there is no public transit,” Kunada said. “There is Tiger Transit, but that is limited to students, and in Opelika, we actually do have public transportation, but not many people know about it. It’s called Dial-A-Ride, and how it works is you call the number and you will be picked up. But there is no set route, like a bus, so we are working towards establishing that.” With the plan implemented, Kunada said that by 2045, the extra time congested roads add to residents’ commutes will decrease by about 15%. “Our main goal of the plan in regards to the roadways is to maximize all of our assets,” Kunada said. “With the $190 million grant, we want to be able to do the most with that amount. We want to establish a consistent commute with drivers and also improve citizens’ desire for transportation and safety.”
sports
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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2020
THEPLAINSMAN.COM
SPORTS
BASEBALL
SHANNA LOCKWOOD / AUBURN ATHLETICS
Auburn baseball pitching coach Tim Hudson during preseason practice in January.
‘I’m just thrilled to death’ Auburn, MLB great Tim Hudson on returning home By HARRISON TARR Sports Writer
Last month, the Auburn baseball fanbase received word that fifth-year head coach Butch Thompson would be adding a familiar face to his staff for the Tigers’ 2020 campaign: Auburn alumnus and four-time MLB All-Star pitcher Tim Hudson. There’s little doubt that the 44-year-old former pitcher is eager to get to work. “It’s exciting to see the success they’ve had since Butch has been here and the direction that he’s taken the program,” Hudson said. “... I was thrilled that Butch though enough of me to offer me that position, and I was excited to be a part of it.” Hudson mentioned that Thompson’s of-
fering of the position on staff came rather unexpectedly to him. “It was something I wasn’t really expecting at this point, but I’m very happy for the chance,” Hudson said. Despite having played an active role within the program since his departure to the MLB in 1997, the Auburn alum expressed his passion and excitement for taking an onfield role with the Tigers. “I just enjoy being able to help the boys, trying to help them get better, both on and off the field,” he said. “I’ve always been a big supporter of Auburn baseball and everything that we’ve had going on here since I left in ‘97, and I’m just thrilled to death in the direction that Butch has taken the program.” Hudson also took time to acknowledge
that — despite his experience with major-league pitching and his excitement for being a first-time coach in the bullpen — his lack of experience in the position will present a definite learning curve. He also is looking forward to getting to know the 2020 Tigers better. “Obviously this is a new thing for me,” Hudson said. “I can’t say I have a lot of experience as a pitching coach, but I think I know my way around the mound a little bit ... the challenging part was getting to know the boys ... the night before I came on campus I was looking at pictures on the internet and names and trying to match them up.” Although Hudson does have some concerns regarding how ready he is to take on the upcoming season, the pitching coach
does find reassurance in mentoring from his skipper. “I’m going to have Butch to lean on a lot; he has a lot of years with a pitching background,” Hudson said. Hudson said he’s not sure a bunch of students around Auburn know his name. He knows fans of years past do, however, and he hopes these Tigers will make a name for themselves with a successful 2020 campaign. “The work is just about to start with the season just around the corner,” Hudson said. “I’m not going to lie, I’m a little more nervous right now than when I was playing. When I was playing, I knew what to expect from myself and how to prepare, but this is a new area for me. I’m looking forward to it, and I’m excited for the opportunity.”
FOOTBALL
AU board approves statues of Dye, Hare, Jordan By SUMNER MARTIN Assistant Sports Editor
The Auburn Board of Trustees unanimously approved a request last Friday from Auburn Athletics to commission statues of Auburn greats Cliff Hare, Ralph “Shug” Jordan and Pat Dye. The location and project schedule are not yet determined. “We are appreciative of the Board of Trustees’ approval to recognize and honor the greatness of Cliff Hare, Shug Jordan and Pat Dye,” Auburn athletic director Allen Greene said. “Each made immeasurable and endless contributions that have made Auburn such a special place, and we look forward to honoring them.” Hare was a member of Auburn’s first football team and was also involved in policymaking at Alabama Polytechnic Institute for a half century. Hare served as the first president of the Southern Athletic Conference in 1932, served as Chairman of API’s Faculty Athletic Committee for numerous years and was named Dean of the School of Chemistry and Pharmacy
in 1932. Ralph “Shug” Jordan served as the head football coach at Auburn from 1951-1975. Jordan was also the head men’s basketball coach at Auburn from 1933-42 and 194546, and served as an assistant coach for the football team. Jordan is the winningest football coach in Auburn’s history, and led the 1957 team to the school’s first national championship win. He is Auburn’s all-time leader with 176 wins, and his 25 years mark the longest tenure of any Auburn football head coach. “Auburn football was a wasteland, a desert, when Coach Jordan came back as head coach in 1951,” said David Housel, longtime Auburn athletics administrator. “An Auburn man, he gave Auburn people the greatest thing that could ever be given: hope. And he delivered. Whatever Auburn football is today, whatever it may become in years to come will be due in no small measure to Coach Jordan and his many contributions to his alma mater.” Jordan led Auburn to 19 winning seasons, 12 bowl
games and 13 appearances in the final Associated Press poll, including seven top-10 finishes. During his tenure as Tigers’ head coach, he had 25 All-Americans, eight Academic All-Americans and the program’s first Heisman Trophy winner in Pat Sullivan. He was named the AP SEC Coach of the Year twice — in 1957 and in 1972 — and is the seventh winningest coach in conference history. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame as a coach in 1982. Dye served as head football coach at Auburn from 1981-92 and was Auburn’s athletic director from 1981-91. Under Dye’s leadership, the Tigers won four SEC championships in 1983, 1987, 1988 and 1989. Dye became the fourth coach in SEC history to win three straight titles in 1987, 1988 and 1989. He received SEC Coach of the Year honors in 1983, 1987 and 1988, and also coached 1985 Heisman Trophy winner Bo Jackson, as well as Tracy Rocker, winner of both the Outland Trophy and the Lombardi Award
in 1988. “Coach Dye returned Auburn to national relevance in the 1980s and helped make it the tradition-rich program that it is today,” Jackson said. One of Dye’s most important achievements as Auburn’s athletic director was the permanent move of Auburn’s home games against Alabama to Jordan-Hare Stadium. The first time Auburn hosted Alabama in Jordan-Hare Stadium was on December 2, 1989, the first time in 41 years that the Iron Bowl had not been played at Birmingham’s Legion Field. “He helped bring the Iron Bowl to Auburn and, most importantly, helped shape the lives of hundreds of men that played for him,” Jackson said. In 2005, Dye was inducted into the National Football Foundation College Football Hall of Fame. The football stadium was named Cliff Hare Stadium in his honor in 1949, before becoming Jordan-Hare Stadium in 1973. The playing field at Jordan-Hare Stadium was named “Pat Dye Field” in 2005.
FILE PHOTO
Pat Dye greets fans before Auburn football vs Vanderbilt in 2016.
AUBURN UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES
Clifford Leroy Hare via Auburn University libraries and archives.
AUBURN ATHLETICS
Shug Jordan on the sideline during the 1963 Orange Bowl.
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2020
The Auburn Plainsman
BASEBALL
PAGE 9
FOOTBALL
AU serving alcohol at baseball games By RYAN METCALF Sports Writer
Wednesday morning, Auburn Athletics announced changes to the fan experience at Plainsman Park for home baseball games. The Plainsman Patio returns on the firstbase side, the Tiger Terrace will now provide alcohol, and Auburn baseball announced a partnership with Tailgate Guys for the 2020 season. The Tiger Terrace, located down the left-field line, will open alcohol sales to the public for the 2020 season. The area will be open to all fans with a ticket for the game. Beer and wine will be sold in the Tiger Terrace but fans will not be permitted to leave the area with their alcohol. No food or beverage not purchase in area will be allowed in, either. Seating in the Tiger Terrace is limited with picnic tables and high tops, so Auburn encourages fans to bring their own chairs
for the terrace. Alcohol sales will conclude at the top of the seventh inning during each game. Previously, alcohol was available in Plainsman Park only to premium ticket holders. Auburn’s partnership with Tailgate Guys will include two private cabanas available to rent during Auburn’s SEC schedule on the Plainsman Patio and opportunities to tailgate outside of the stadium. The information for tailgating will be released in the coming weeks by Tailgate Guys for SEC games exclusively. A kid zone will also be introduced on street level down the first-base line. The area will include inflatables, games and wall-ball graphics. For select games Auburn will have cartoonists, balloon artists and face painters for the kids to enjoy. The Tigers have 23 straight home games in 33 days to start the season. Conference play begins March 13 vs. Texas A&M.
WEST VIRGINIA ATHLETICS
Assistant vacancy filled
FOOTBALL
By SUMNER MARTIN Assistant Sports Editor
JOSHUA FISHER / PHOTOGRAPHER
Seth Williams (18) and Bo Nix (10) celebrate a touchdown during the 2019 Iron Bowl vs. Alabama on Saturday, Nov. 30, 2019, in Auburn, Ala.
Offense getting ‘fresh start’ under Morris By SUMNER MARTIN Assistant Sports Editor
In recent years, critics of Gus Malzahn’s offense have questioned aspects of the passing game, as well as the lack of use from the tight end position. Malzahn is now handing the play-calling duties over to Chad Morris, who was key in helping land 4-star tight end Brandon Frazier. Frazier was one of three recruits who signed his letter of intent last Wednesday. “A lot of our fan base says, ‘When are we going to throw to the tight end?’ Well, it’s here,” Malzahn said. “The frustration of not throwing to the tight end enough, I think we’ve got two guys that can really help change that.” Although Morris didn’t utilize his tight ends much in his time at SMU, his offenses at Arkansas incorporated them more than almost any other team in the country. Cheyenne O’ Grady, who was Morris’ starting tight end in 201819, earned two Pro Football Focus SEC Team of the Week honors in backto-back games versus Texas A&M and No. 1 Alabama. O’ Grady led the team in receptions (30) and receiving touchdowns (six) totaling 400 yards on an average of 13.3 per catch during his junior season. “Really, if you look at what Coach Morris did the last two years, I think they targeted the tight end the most or the second most in all of college football. So that’s really a big priority for Coach Morris,” Malzahn said. “Brandon knows that,
too. I think the closest thing physically to him is C.J. Uzomah — he may be a little bigger at this point but, he’s has great range.” Along with Frazier, the Tigers added another 4-star tight end J.J. Pegues out of the state of Mississippi over Alabama and Ole Miss. Malzahn expects Morris to focus on utilizing Frazier and Pegues in new ways this next season. “Both of them are big, strong guys and have those NFL-type bodies,” Malzahn said. “So yeah, you’ll definitely see more targets towards the tight ends than what you’ve seen in recent history with Chad running the offense.” Malzahn announced in the days after Morris’ hiring that his longtime friend would be taking over the play-calling duties. This isn’t the first time that Malzahn has said this either. When Auburn brought on Chip Lindsey as offensive coordinator almost four years ago, Malzahn gave way to let him control the offense before taking the duties back over when Lindsey departed. Malzahn was asked why he is handing the offense over to Morris, after the first experiment didn’t work. “Well, I just hired, in my opinion, the best offensive coordinator in college football,” Malzahn said. “You get an opportunity to hire a guy like Chad Morris … I love calling plays — I’ve said that numerous times — but when you get a chance to hire Chad Morris, he’s not just good, he’s special good in my opinion and I’m so excited he’s here.”
For an offense that was the focal point of harsh criticism at points during last season, Malzahn is hoping that bringing in Morris will signal a new beginning. “I think, more than anything, a fresh start and fresh eyes,” Malzahn said. “We’re from the same family and foundation but he’s different. I know him and Bo (Nix) and Cord (Sandberg) have spent a lot of time together just talking about the new things we’re going to do.” Morris was the main orchestrator, in his time on staff at Clemson, that revolutionized Deshaun Watson and an offense that went on to win two national championships and four straight conference titles. Malzahn is hoping to see the same strides in a passing attack at Auburn that has been a question mark at times over the past few years. Along with Pegues and Frazier, Morris will have four new wide receiver signees to work with, all of them above 6 feet tall. Kobe Hudson, J.J. Evans and Ze’Vian Capers are all 4-star prospects and Elijah Canion is a 3-star signee. Both Morris and returning starting quarterback Bo Nix will be hoping the 2020 class helps add more of a vertical threat to the Tigers’ offense. “I know our receivers are excited about it,” Malzahn said. “I’d say there’s a good chance we could throw it more than we did last year and build around Bo’s strengths. I think more than anything, the newness, fresh eyes, and a fresh start — and a guy that has been ultra-successful doing it.”
Gus Malzahn has found Marcus Woodson’s replacement on the defensive staff. Auburn has hired West Virginia’s assistant and outside linebackers coach Al Pogue to fill the void Woodson left on the defense when he followed Mike Norvell to Florida State, Malzahn announced last Friday. Pogue is returning to Auburn after spending three seasons as an off-the-field administrator for Malzahn from 2011-2014. Pogue, like Woodson, is known for his recruiting prowess in the south because of his hometown ties. He was in charge of high school relations, as well as offensive and special teams quality control in his time at Auburn. “I’m so excited to be returning to Auburn. It’s a homecoming of sorts for me,” Pogue said. “Auburn is the school that gave me my first collegiate job in this great profession and I can’t thank Coach Malzahn enough for this opportunity. I’m looking forward to rolling up my sleeves and getting to work, doing whatever I can to help this program continue to achieve greatness.” While Pogue was with the Tigers, Auburn
played in the 2013 BCS National Championship game, won the 2013 SEC Championship and won the 2011 Chick-fil-A Bowl. Pogue then went on to spend four seasons coaching cornerbacks at Troy from 2014-2018 under head coach Neal Brown, whom he followed to West Virginia last January. From 2016-18 under Pogue’s guidance, Troy’s defense allowed 20.8 points per game, ranking No. 4 nationally among non-power 5 schools. And from 2015-18, the Trojans were No. 2 nationally among FBS schools in takeaways (106) and tied for No. 7 nationally with 63 interceptions. One of Pogue’s defensive backs, Blace Brown, registered 12 interceptions over the last three years, tying for No. 3 nationally for active career interceptions. “We’re very excited to bring Al back to Auburn,” Malzahn said. “He has been a very successful coach on and off the field during his career. He has spent a lot of time coaching in the state of Alabama and has great ties and is well respected. Al is a great fit with our staff and will bring tremendous value as a coach and a recruiter.” Pogue’s specific positional title on Auburn’s staff is not known yet.
Algernon Sydney Sullivan Award
NOMINATIONS
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Each year, Auburn University recognizes the efforts of three individuals who represent our institution through their humanitarian leadership and contributions to the community. Recipients of the Algernon Sydney Sullivan Award include one male and one female student from the 2020 graduating class as well as one non-student member of the campus community. Faculty, students, staff, alumni and friends of the University are encouraged to nominate individuals they believe are deserving of this prestigious honor. Visit for more information.
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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2020
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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2020
THEPLAINSMAN.COM
LIFESTYLE
VALENTINE’S DAY
Love on the Plains
Campus Kitchens to couple By LYDIA MCMULLEN Lifestyle Writer
ABBY SCHMIDT / GRAPHIC DESIGNER
When Michael Erwin, senior in biomedical sciences, broke into Jordan-Hare Stadium during the snowfall of 2018, he didn’t realize his punishment would lead him to his future wife. “I had the great idea of going inside Jordan-Hare Stadium because I wanted to see what it looked like covered in snow,” Erwin said. After 45 minutes of playing in the stadium snow, the Auburn Police Department caught Erwin and his friend and issued the duo a citation for 12 hours of community service. Erwin decided to serve his hours with Campus Kitchens. During his last hour of service, his shift leader was Arielle Fay, senior in wildlife ecology and management.
“During that shift we hit it off, and I wooed her,” he said. Fay found Erwin’s contact information from their volunteer website and texted Erwin, asking if he had left a black jacket. “I thought I was being sly,” Fay said. “There’s actually no black jacket ...” “... And then of course I asked her out, and two years later I asked her to marry me on Oct. 25, 2019, in the Campus Kitchen,” Erwin said. Erwin invited friends and family into town and popped the question to Fay in the Campus Kitchen, which he decorated with 2,000 rose petals and 500 candles. He now serves as the president of Campus Kitchens, and Fay is the vice president of special programs. “I think the big thing that makes us unique is how supportive we are of each other’s goals and how we’re both willing to sacrifice just to make sure the other one is happy,” he said.
Long-distance love By ABIGAIL MURPHY Lifestyle Writer
Morgan Kull, senior in political science, said she grew up a block away from her boyfriend. She said they went to the same high school, and he started having a crush on her during sophomore year, but she had a crush on him since seventh grade. “He was the cute, smart boy that did track and was really good at it,” Kull said. Their junior year, Kull
said they were part of the same friend group, and then they went to prom together senior year. It wasn’t until after prom that they started dating. Since then, they have been long distance for most of their relationship. “That’s where we both knew each other, and he went to school in Wisconsin, and I went to school all the way down in Alabama,” Kull said. Her boyfriend, Jake Schweizer, is a junior in biomedical engineering at Marquette University.
She said they considered going to the same school, but they had different paths. “Since I went for volleyball, it was kind of a different route,” she said. “I didn’t really want to stay in the Midwest, so I was only considering a school in New York, and then Auburn, and I ended up at Auburn because it’s great.” Although it is long distance, Kull said they do get to see each other on breaks and try to find time to meet up throughout the semester.
ABBY SCHMIDT / GRAPHIC DESIGNER
Keeping with tradition By MAGGIE HORTON Lifestyle Writer
ABBY SCHMIDT / GRAPHIC DESIGNER
Dr. Macy Finck, professor of microeconomics and sports economics at Auburn, has a unique Valentine’s Day tradition with his wife Emily, and an endearing Auburn love story. They started dating in January 2005 when they were both living in Auburn. Finck was working on his Ph.D. in economics at Au-
burn at the time. The couple’s first Valentine’s Day together was about a month after the two started dating, so they wanted to keep the night pretty low key. “I’m too much of an economist to pay double for flowers or wait an hour for a table, so we had Taco Bell and Natural Light at her place,” Finck said. The concept seemed like a suitable choice for the young couple, and by the time Valentine’s Day
All the way from Capitol Hill By LYDIA MCMULLEN Lifestyle Writer
Three and a half years ago, in the midst of his graduate school studies at the University of Georgia, Ryan Williamson met his future girlfriend Shelby Hall. Both halves of the couple are now employed at Auburn — Williamson as an associate professor of political science, and Hall on the floor beneath him. “The very first time I saw her, I was like, ‘Oh wow, this is a very charming, attractive woman, and I would like to talk to her’,” Williamson said. The couple were friends for several years before Williamson worked up
the courage to confess his feelings. “She immediately caught my eye; it just took a little time to blossom from there,” he said. In the days before Williamson was set to leave Athens, Georgia, for a job at The Hill in Washington D.C., he confessed his feelings to Hall. “I told her, ‘I actually really like you,’ and she was like ‘how terribly inconvenient of you to confess that to me right before you move ten hours away, but the good news is, I very much like you, too.’” Williamson and Hall dated long-distance for a year. “We developed a routine where even though we were hours apart, we
would find time to do stuff together, whether that just be chat or walk our dogs at the same time or watch the same show on Netflix,” Williamson said. “Anything to bridge that distance.” Eventually the couple both received job offers from Auburn University. Williamson is a first generation college graduate. He said he appreciates how Hall understands his goals and the challenges of his job. “It’s great to be in the same environment,” he said. “I’ve always felt uniquely myself with her as opposed to feeling like I need to put on a facade.” Since moving to Auburn, there is
of 2006 rolled around, they were engaged. The couple decided they wanted to celebrate their engagement and the beginning of their journey together, so they decided to go back to where it all began and have Taco Bell and Natty again. This became a special tradition for the two, and even now in 2020, Finck said they “will share Taco Bell and Natural Light for the 16th Valentine’s in a row.”
ABBY SCHMIDT / GRAPHIC DESIGNER
less activity than in Washington D.C., but Williamson said he enjoys how comfortable they are with each other. “Some days we are just sitting in silence enjoying each other’s company and our dogs,” Williamson said. “I don’t feel compelled to do or say anything beyond just appreciating that moment.” For anyone in a similar position as he was in, Williamson emphasized the importance of having a lot of patience. “Always be patient, with love, with yourself, with life in general,” he said. “Just because things aren’t going exactly as you planned them, doesn’t mean things aren’t going exactly how they should be.”
The Auburn Plainsman
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2020
PAGE 12
BUSINESS
JACK WEST / MANAGING EDITOR
The owner of Good Karma puts a community board inside the restaurant to help those in need.
Good Karma owner works to combat food insecurity By CAROLINE RICE Lifestyle Writer
Good Karma, a local restaurant serving Indian cuisine, has created a new way of helping those in need in the Auburn area. Sunny Merchant, 23, grew up in Auburn and graduated this past May with a psychology degree from Ohio State University. “My parents own Philly Connection, which is another food truck on campus,” Merchant said. “I wanted to do my own thing for college and wanted to grow on my own. But I had to come back because you just can’t stay away from Auburn for too long.” After returning to Auburn, Merchant opened his own food truck — Good Karma. Good Karma has had a food truck on Auburn’s campus since fall 2019 and opened a
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store location on South College Street in October 2019. On the second day of the storefront’s opening, Good Karma displayed a community board where people who were food insecure could get a free meal. “There are pins on the board, and people can pull out a pin and redeem it for free rice and a drink,” Merchant said. “The staff had agreed to put 100% of the tip proceeds toward funding this community board. Customers can also donate $10 to pay for one pin on the board.” Creating a community board was Merchant’s idea. The idea came after he saw something similar while visiting New York, he said. “I saw an article about a place in New York that has a similar thing going,” Merchant said. “I wanted to give people something fulfilling and sustainable and thought
to myself, ‘Why don’t we do this with our rice bowls?’” Merchant said the community board is now a permanent part of the restaurant. Good Karma’s community board is only at the storefront, however Merchant hopes to change this in the near future. “I would love to take the community board concept to the food truck,” he said. “I just would have to talk to the people in charge of the food trucks on campus because we have contracts with them. I definitely will talk to them.” Since it was placed, more customers have taken pins from the community board each week, but still not as many as he would like. Currently, one person takes a pin from the board each shift. “I want to have at least 10–15 redemptions of our community board every day,” Mer-
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chant said. Caleb Hunt, senior in international studies, has been working at the Good Karma storefront since January. He also said the first few weeks of the board were slow, but it has been picking up as time goes on. “During the first few weeks of work, only a few people took a pin off of the board to redeem a meal,” Hunt said. “Now, usually one or two people take a pin each shift. It’s generally different people that take the pins off of the board. Not many people come regularly to use the community board.” Merchant says that he wants people to understand Good Karma is a safe space that welcomes people from all walks of life. “I started with Good Karma to bring people together and build community,” Merchant said. “That is the whole goal behind the restaurant.”
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FOR RELEASE FEBRUARY 8, 2020
Los Angeles Times Daily Crossword Puzzle Edited by Rich Norris and Joyce Lewis
ACROSS 1 “We’re done here” 11 Wit 14 Lead-in for an old saw 16 Bio lab preparation 17 Star associated with Venus 18 It may be taken before a vote 19 Reality 23 __ Stadium, home to the 49ers 24 Wild fruit is a feature of it 27 Unadon fish 28 Manufacturing statistic 30 Either co-author of Curious George books 31 Ward of “FBI” 32 Clubs for Cubs 34 Movementcontrolling pedal 37 Decides when 40 Aphrodite’s love child 42 Fill up again 44 Opposite of original 46 Baseball’s Maglie and Bando 47 TurboTax pros 49 Tequila sources 51 Short-legged lizard 52 Song title line after “once, twice” 57 Basements, to Realtors 58 Sources of sprays
2/8/20
By Ed Sessa
7 Sí, across the Pyrenees 8 Figs. with two dashes 9 Tannenbaum topper 10 Master’s award 11 Depth-of-field setting 12 To any extent 13 Declining in later years 14 Slithery danger 15 Back-talking 19 Bit of deception 20 Marketing fees 21 “El Cantar de mío __”: Castilian epic poem 22 Minor league game? DOWN 25 Farm animals 1 Andorra’s only that sound like official language trees 2 Victim of Paris 26 Sports news 3 Understood highlights 4 “Men in Black” gp. 29 Hockey Hall of 5 “Men in black” Famer Mikita gp., some say 33 Exacting sort 6 Myrna who 34 Try to say played Nora 35 Correctly Charles
Friday’s Puzzle Solved
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36 Like a June day, to Lowell 38 Where many get manis 39 Observations 41 The U.S. Naval Academy is situated at its mouth 43 Piano duet quartet 45 Caterpillar rival
2/8/20
48 Word with box or dome 50 Whack 51 Act with a rainy day in mind? 53 Hosp. area with few visitors 54 “AGT” judge __ B 55 Singer in the Whiffenpoofs, e.g. 56 Slangy states?