The Auburn Plainsman 02.20.14 issue

The Auburn Plainsman A Spirit That Is Not Afraid Thursday, February 20, 2014 Vol. 120, Issue 34, 14 Pages

Online

testbankwebsite.com

www.auburntestbank.com

Test bank generation Tiger Baseball Classic See ThePlainsman.com and @TheAUPlainsman for updates Feb. 21-23

Rise of online test banks bail students out of studying Keely Shearer Campus Writer

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The general perception may be that utilizing online test banks are a form of cheating. The truth? As long as graded tests weren’t stolen and were handed back to students by professors, they’re completely legal.

In recent years, students are utilizing online test banks as a study tool, and, as a result, more websites are being created

for this purpose.

Bobby Douglass, senior in civil engineering, has played a central role in the making of one of these online test banks, auburntestbanks.com.

After talking the idea over with his brother-in-law, with whom he co-founded the website, they decided to implement an interactive software that allow students to take tests.

“I am in a fraternity, and my fraternity never had a test bank or anything like that,” Douglass said. “Through social networking, I would always try for some of the more major classes, like the History

testbankwebsite.com

» See testing A2

Clinton Hunger Leadership Award Student is recognized for his dedication to hunger studies

Community

a6 sarah may / assistant photo editor

SGA calls for student support at capitol rally

Indoor put-put lights up Doug Long plans to reinvigorate Scutters Putters and bring a new kind of night life

Sports

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Derek Herscovici Campus Reporter

Sarah may / assistant photo editor

Softball’s power surge leads to success Tigers win seven of first nine games of the 2014 season thanks to their new high-scoring offense

intrigue

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Foy desk goes viral The Foy Information Desk, known as the “orginal Google,” was established in the 1950s .

Janiee Rush

contributing writer

“How many marshmallows does it take to fill up Jordan-Hare Stadium?”

This is one of the many random questions re-

Student sees leather business spread Graduate student sells leather goods across the country

INDEX

Campus Opinion Community Sports Intrigue

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sarah may / assistant photo editor

Marc Luper, junior in electrical engineering.is an employee at the Foy Information Desk.

ceived daily on the Foy Information phone line, Auburn University’s free go-to service that attempts to answer any question that could possibly be asked.

Recently, there was an overwhelming spike in the amount of calls. It’s been a busy few weeks for those who answer the phones at the Foy Information Desk, located on the second floor of the Student Center.

On Jan. 22, a comment was posted on the “Today I Learned” section of Reddit.com, a social network site used to share information, comments and links about various categories such as news, technology and movies.

The statement reads, “TIL That when you call the number 1 (334) 844-4244, it calls Auburn University, and they will try to answer every single question you could ever ask.” This post created a snowball effect and spread nationally to websites such as Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Imgur, and iwastesomuchtime.com.

Megan Barnett, junior in communication disorders and Foy Information Desk employee, said they have been getting thousands of nonstop calls.

“When it first happened, we had to add

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Higher education in the state of Alabama is typically guaranteed at least a third of the state’s $5.8 billion education budget, but in recent years that number has shrunk to less than 26 percent.

On Thursday, Feb. 27, representatives from all 15 statefunded colleges across Alabama will descend on the state capitol in Montgomery to rally lobbyists and state legislators to return to the one-third funding compromise and increase state support for higher education.

“The primary goal is just to ensure that higher education institutions are getting their funding,” said Jackson Pruett, junior in political science and senator at large for the SGA. “They’re not asking for any more money than K-12 or any state institution that gets public funding We’re just asking for fair funding.”

Traditionally, the state has a general fund budget that covers areas such as the prison system, medicare and transportation.

However, a separate budget is set aside strictly for education.

State-funded elementary, middle and high schools typically receive the other twothirds of the education budget Over time, however, the funding has shifted, causing state and land-grant universities to look for funding elsewhere or tighten their own budgets, Pruett said.

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The primary goal is just to ensure that higher education institutions are getting their funding.”

—Jackson

pruett

junior in political science and senator at large for the sga

“For all the things that the state spends money on, nothing has a greater return on investment than higher education,” Pruett said. “For every dollar that the state invests in Auburn [University], Auburn returns seven dollars back into the state economy through research, enterprises, cooperative extension services and job creation here in Auburn.”

Higher Education Day has been a joint effort between the Alabama Partnership for Higher Education and the student governments of the 15 statefunded universities, since 2002.

Students will be transported near the state capitol building via buses provided by the partnership and will march around the statehouse before finishing in front of the Alabama House of Representatives.

“It’s like a big pep rally in front of the statehouse, pretty much,” said Caitlin Williams,

» See sga A2

Campus A2

The Auburn Plainsman

Thursday, February 20, 2014

Police reports for FEb. 12–17, 2014 Feb. 12, 6:20 a.m., 1200 Block of Opelika Road Third-degree burglary

Feb. 13, 12:25 a.m., 900 Block of North Donahue Harassment

Feb. 12, 11:41 a.m., 900 Block of Booker Street.

Third-degree criminal trespass

Feb. 13, 3 a.m., 100 Block of East Magnolia Third-degree theft of property

Feb. 12, 1:30 p.m., 1800 Block of Ogletree Road Third-degree criminal mischief

Feb. 13, 12:37 a.m., 600 Block of Westview Drive Third-degree theft of property

Feb. 12, 2:37 p.m., 100 Block of North Debardeleben Street Theft of bicycle

Feb. 14, 4:20 a.m., 200 Block of West Samford Avenue Third-degree criminal mischief and rendering false alarm

Feb. 12, 4:20 p.m., 1600 Block of Opelika Road Third-degree theft of property

Feb. 14, 9 a.m., 1700 Block of South College Second-degree theft of property

Feb. 12, 5:55 p.m., 400 Block of Harper Avenue Third-degree theft of property

Feb. 14, 10:30 a.m., East Samford Avenue Transmit obscene material to child and juvenile data

Feb. 12, 6:05 p.m., 400 Block of Opelika Road Theft of vehicle parts Feb. 12, 11:51 p.m., 200 Block of South Gay Street Simple assault of family

Feb. 14, 1:45 a.m., 300 Block of South Donahue Drive First-degree theft of property

Feb. 14, 5:41 p.m., 1700 Block of South College Street Third-degree theft of property Feb. 14, 6:17 p.m., 1600 Block of Opelika Road Third-degree theft of property Feb. 14, 10:34 p.m., 400 Block of Heisman Drive Criminal mischief damage to private property Feb. 15, 8:50 a.m., 1400 Block of South Gay Street Theft from residence Feb. 15, 12:13 a.m., 1200 Block of Aubie Drive Unlawful breaking and entering a vehicle

Feb. 16, 1:46 p.m., 200 Block of Mell Street Auburn Third-degree theft of property Feb. 16, 4 p.m., 1600 Block of Opelika Road Third-degree theft of property Feb. 17, 1:30 p.m., 600 Block of Webster Road Third-degree theft of property Feb. 17, 3 p.m., 600 Block of Webster Road Third-degree theft of property Feb. 17, 11:23 p.m., 1300 Block of Kent Drive First-degree criminal mischief

Feb. 15, 3:40 p.m., 300 Block of North Dean Road Third-degree criminal trespass and possessing stolen property Feb. 16, 3:53 a.m., 1200 Block of Amy Court Third-degree criminal mischief

–Reports provided by Auburn Department of Public Safety

Feminist activist Gloria Steinem speaks at lecture series Keely Shearer Campus writer

Gloria Steinem, renowned national activist, spoke at the Extraordinary Women's Lecture series Tuesday, Feb. 18, in the Auburn Hotel.

The Women’s Leadership Institute and the Women’s Studies Program present the Extraordinary Women’s Lecture series every year.

Steinem emphasized the importance of eliminating societies’ hierarchies and demolishing violence against women.

Steinem hoped listeners would leave feeling inspired to make a change.

“We think change comes from the top and not the bottom,” Steinem said. “Change is like a tree.

It does come from the bottom.”

Susana Morris, associate professor in English, said she believes there needs to be more events of this kind.

“I think that there is a hunger at Auburn University for this kind of programming, for this kind of scholarship and activism,” Morris said.

Eesha Pandit, feminist Auburn resident, has been to the Extraordinary Women Lecture series in the past and has participated in one before.

foy

» From A1 extra shifts in order to handle all the calls. Since then, it died down, but, apparently, resurfaced again,” Barnett said. “I have three-hour shifts, and I would say that each call can last anywhere from two seconds to five minutes, so it just depends on the call. In three hours you can answer a lot of calls.”

Alex Therrien, senior in architecture and Foy Information Desk operator for approximately two years, explained the amount of calls peaks every now and then, but said he has never seen it like it’s been lately.

“In recent times, this is definitely the most as far as the volume of calls,” Therrien said. “I think it’s just interesting to a lot of people because it’s a phone service. You’re talking to a real person, and it’s different than what you would get on the Internet.”

This occurrence isn’t the first time the Foy Information Desk has been swamped with calls. In the past, the phone number gained na-

sga

» From A1 Assistant Vice President of Political Affairs for the Auburn SGA. “I have actually been inside the statehouse while it was going on and I could hear [the rally] from the inside it was so loud. It has that much of a presence and it’s a very big event.”

Williams said the purpose of the event isn’t

There was a good turn out, according to Pandit.

“I was really surprised by how many students were in the audience and how many great diverse questions they had,” Pandit said. “There was a question about autism. There was a question about movement. There was a question about electoral politics.”

Students, such as Julia Meadows, junior in communications, were encouraged by their professors to attend Steinem’s lecture.

“I think that we are part of such a conservative campus, and I think that it is important for us to realize, not only different view points, but to further establish our own viewpoints,” Meadows said. “I think that by hearing people like her, who are revolutionary in the time period of women’s rights, it can only closer your own view.”

Meadows believes there is a special message to take away from Steinem’s lecture.

“I think that we’re the source of our own empowerment,” Meadows said. “We are the beginning of the end to the problems that we are facing. Once we take initiative, we can move forward.” tional attention from being featured in O, The Oprah Magazine as one of the top numbers to have in your phone. Matt Lauer also called the phone line live on NBC’s “The Today Show.”

The Foy Information Desk, known as the “original Google,” was established in the 1950s and was initially designed as a service for Auburn students who needed questions answered about campus and course information. Since then, it has grown tremendously in popularity and is not only used locally, but internationally as well.

“Mostly the international calls are from alumni because they are overseas and know about us,” Therrien said. “They’ll call and ask [questions] like, “What’s a good place to eat?” or, “What are the directions?” or, “What does this mean?”

Wherever callers may be or whatever they chose to ask about, they are sure to find this number useful.

“The first time [I called], I lost my phone and asked if anyone had turned it in, and the second time I asked when the next season of Nashville started,” said Katherine Justice, junior in marketing. “They were very helpful with both questions.” so much to find a solution to the state’s financial problems as it is to put a face on the importance of funding for higher education.

This isn’t just a rally for the present moment, it’s a rally for the future,” Williams said.

“Think about your future kids and how you want them to have a great college experience, but don’t want to break their future banks with all their student loans. It’s more than you, it’s a bigger picture than just here and now.”

testing » From A1

1010. I never had a golden test bank to go through and rely on or anything of that sort.”

Other students in fraternities and sororities often have access to another form of online test banks that allow them to view PDF files.

Tatum Brown, sophomore in pre-pharmacy, said she heard about a test bank website through her sorority and has used the test bank to prepare for some of her classes.

“I’ve had an exam that was similar in the format, but not really the same questions,” Brown said. “My biology teacher last year actually copied a lot of the same questions, so it was helpful to use an online test bank.”

While Brown found access to the online test banks helpful, some professors say the usage of these test aren’t always an accurate way of studying.

“To a great standard, it doesn’t help them that much if they have my old exams, but I don’t turn my exams loose anyway,” said Joseph Vonasek, assistant professor in political science.

“I’ll go over them with a student if they want to see how they did on a particular question,” Vonasek said. You can come to my office, and I will whip it out and show it to you and explain why you got graded the way you did.”

Kathryn Davidson, sophomore in nutrition and diabetics, also said the idea of test banks take away from the learning aspect of going to class.

“When I used it for biology I basically just memorized every question on it,” Davison said.

“So it’s more memorization, not really learn-

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Tiger Transit buses will not be running during the three Saturdays (Feb. 22, March 22 and April 26) that Auburn University has designated as make-up days due to severe winter weather. Ample parking will be available on campus those days. A makeup day will not be scheduled for the cancelation Thursday, Feb. 13.

The Auburn University Theatre in the College of Liberal Arts continues its 20132014 season with the smash Broadway hit “9 to 5: The Musical” directed by Chase Bringardner, opening Thursday, Feb. 20, on the main stage of the Telfair Peet Theatre and running through March 2.

The Donald E. Davis Arboretum will be hosting “Plant Invaders From Another World,” an invasive plant cleanup and workshop for nature lovers and environmental stewards Saturday, Feb. 22, from 8:30 a.m. to noon at the Donald. E. Davis Arboretum.

The Auburn University Psychological Services Center will be hosting free workshops on how to prevent, recognize and react responsibly to child sexual abuse for the Auburn University community. Upcoming on-campus trainings include: Monday, Feb. 24 from 1–3 p.m., Friday, Feb. 28 from 8:30–11:30 a.m., and Friday, March 7 from 9–11 a.m. Trainings will be held at the Human Resource Development Training Facility, room 1081 in the Beard-Eaves-Memorial Coliseum.

New York Times columnist and critically acclaimed science journalist and blogger Carl Zimmer will deliver the latest installment in the College of Agriculture’s E.T. York Distinguished Lecturer Series Tuesday, Feb. 25 at 4 p.m. in the Lowder Business Building, room 113-A. The Auburn University Psychological Services Center and Student Counseling Services will be co-hosting National Eating Disorder Awareness Screening Day on Wednesday, Feb. 26. Free screening and information relating to eating disordered behavior will be offered between 10 a.m.–2 p.m. at 101 Cary Hall.

I think it gives people a reason not to go to classes. I used to never go to biology because all you had to do was study the old tests, and you would make an A on the tests.”

—Tatum Brown

sophomore in pre-pharmacy

ing.”

Some students also assert that the availability of test banks encourage the tendency to skip classes.

“I think it gives people a reason not to go to classes,” Brown said. “I used to never go to biology because all you had to do was study the old tests and you would make an A on the tests.”

Culture among college-level students today demands more than generations in the past.

They’re expected not only to attain a 4.0 GPA, but also involve themselves in extracurricular activities while maintaining a social life.

The combination of these expectations may limit the time students have for studying, making test banks an appealing alternative to studying.However, Vonasek said test preparation should be one of the main objectives of attending college.

“I would insist that the objective of going to college at all is to get an education,” Vonasek said. “The [studying aspect of the] testing process is part of that.”

The Auburn Plainsman

Auburn at a glance •

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Emily enfinger / photographer

Gloria Steinem spoke to a full ballroom at the Hotel at Auburn University and Dixon Conference Center.

255 Heisman Drive, Suite 1111, AU Student Center Auburn, AL 36849 Newsroom - (334) 844-9108 Advertising - (334) 844-4130

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Thursday, February 20, 2014

Student receives Clinton Hunger Leadership Award

The Auburn Plainsman

Campus A3

Keely Shearer Campus Writer

Azeem Ahmed, senior in finance with a minor in sustainability, has dedicated the majority of his life to helping others.

This year, Ahmed was awarded the worldwide Clinton Hunger Leadership Award, which will be presented to him at the Universities Fighting World Hunger summit Feb.28 through March 2.

It all started when Ahmed volunteered at the food bank around the age of seven.

Before enrolling at Auburn University, Ahmed was active in organizations such as the Alabama 4-H Center.

Ahmed helped organize food drives, hunger banquets and even started mobile food pantries for residents of Lee County.

Ahmed said he believes hunger is a global issue that needs to be addressed.

“I feel like hunger is the core issue that can allow us to tackle other issues,” Ahmed said.

“If we take care of hunger, we can prevent things that directly affect other things like education, health care or income disparities all over the world. That was the realization that I came to. Plus, it is something that I have just been working on for so long that it’s become very close to my heart.”

Since he has been at Auburn, Ahmed has been involved with the Committee of 19, taken classes in hunger studies, helped restart the Campus Kitchen Project, and continued to volunteer at the local food bank.

Harriet Giles, managing director of the Hunger Solution Institute and director of external relations for the College of Human Sciences, has known Ahmed since he was a little boy.

“I think Azeem is a wonderful student and a wonderful human being,” Giles said. “He is someone who will go far with winning the Clinton award and the Truman fellowship. He’s just an outstanding student and

anna grafton / photo editor

The University will partner with the Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine to build a state-of-the-art research facility.

Ahmed man of character. He deserves everything that has come to him.”

Ahmed said a number of people urged him to apply for the Clinton Hunger Leadership Award.

“Growing up, my parents were really the ones that encouraged my brother and I to get involved in the community and spend time at the food bank,” Ahmed said. “Our dad would take us out to the community market, which is where we volunteered on Saturday mornings. It is something that we did for years and years. My parents really did instill that value in me.”

Paul Harris, associate director of national prestigious scholarships, recruited Ahmed to Auburn when he was a senior in high school and is one of his professors today.

“He’s grown a great deal,” Harris said. “Intellectually, he’s grown, but he’s also grown socially and emotionally. He’s matured a great deal.”

Harris said he believes there are many traits a student must have to win an award such as the Clinton Hunger Leadership Award.

“Someone who has solid grades, earnest and sustained commitment to alleviating hunger, and someone who has made it their life goal to help other people; that’s really what it is,” Harris said. “That is something you really can’t teach in a classroom.”

“As for a career, I am hoping to become a doctor,” Ahmed said. “I do believe that healthcare and hunger are closely tied,” Ahmed said.

Ahmed said he will continue service work post graduation.

SGA discusses funding for Montgomery rally at senate meeting Feb. 17 Derek Herscovici Campus Reporter

A call for student support for college funding at the Higher Education Rally in Montgomery went out Monday, Feb. 17, at the Student Government Association Senate Council meeting.

The rally, which will take place in front of the Alabama capitol building on Thursday, Feb. 27, is a public demonstration to show state legislature the importance of returning one-third of the state’s education budget to institutions of higher learning.

“K-12 [company that sells online schooling curriculum to state and local governments] usually gets about two-thirds of the funding, but I think right now they get about 83 percent,” said Abby Lemons, junior in marketing and senator for the College of Business.

“We would like to push it back to the actual two-thirds split [because] at the end of the day, if we want the state of Alabama to be better, then we need better colleges and more funding.”

Jackson Pruett, senior in political science and senator for the College of Business, called the rally a demonstration of what equal funding should look like in Alabama.

“One dollar that the state invests in Auburn, Auburn returns $7 back to the economy,”

Pruett said. “The big point of it all is we’re trying to return a better investment in education funding and that benefits Auburn students because it keeps tuition rates from going up.”

In addition to the call to arms for fiscally-minded students, there were several requests made to access funds from the SGA reserve bank.

The College of Business Student Council was granted $5,750 from a reserve fund to host a speaking engagement featuring Steve Forbes, former editor-in-chief of Forbes magazine, on March 21, 2014.

“It’s a small amount for a high-quality event,” said Richmond Gunter, junior in finance and senator in the College of Business.

A request by the graduate college for $4,600 to be used for digital timers for research competitions like Three Minute Thesis, Graduate Research Symposium and Research Week is up for approval next week.

A request for $16,403.15 to be added to the graduate assistant salary for the Center for Leadership and Ethics in the 2014-2015 academic year will also be up for approval next week.​ The Raymond J. Harbert College of Business will be assembling a syllabus bank accessible to all students in time

Breaking ground in the medical field Derek Herscovici Campus Reporter

Dreams of going to medical school in Auburn just became a reality.

Auburn University and the Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine (VCOM) officially broke ground on a brand new, state-of-the-art facility in the Auburn Research Park.

The research park will provide an immersive education for students at a graduate level.

“We’re looking to have our first class at Auburn in August of 2015,” said Dr. Jim Wolfe, president of VCOM. “One of the things coming to Auburn that was attractive to us and attractive to Auburn is that in Blacksburg, Va., and over in Spartanburg, we’re both up to speed, and by doing the same thing and using the same kind of model as them.”

VCOM’s Auburn campus will be the foundation’s third medical school in the southeast, having started at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg before moving to Spartanburg, S.C. An institution in the field of osteopathic medicine, nonprofit VCOM has educated college graduates on diagnosing and treat-

ing a wide variety of medical problems for more than 25 years.

Auburn approached VCOM in 2012 with an offer to bring the nonprofit medical school foundation to southeastern Alabama.

“We had been interested in the possibility of a new medical school to address the national need and regional need for a long time,” Wolfe said. “(We’re) interested in establishing a medical school and providing more doctors for people who really do need physicians.”

According to the Rural Policy Research Institute’s 2007 Community Information Resource Center, 61 of Alabama’s 67 counties were partially or completely short of primary care physicians, with the biggest disparity being in rural areas.

Cindy Rawlins, VCOM media relations director said the new 92,000-square-foot facility will be part-classroom and parthands-on training.

“There will be partnerships with different schools on campus due to the facilities we have,” Rawlins said. “We’re already getting ready to work on research projects in sports medicine, in the veterinary school and nursing school. We’ll also have

the Simulation Technology Center, which has simulated mannequins where people can learn to do procedures, from giving someone a shot to performing surgery.”

VCOM students from Auburn University will have the opportunity to partner with students from the Blacksburg and Spartanburg campuses to go on medical mission trips in Appalachia, Honduras, El Salvador and the Dominican Republic.

“We’re very excited about them coming and getting their medical school underway because we see having a medical school here on Auburn’s campus will attract other companies into the research park to help with our economic efforts,” said Dr. John Weete, executive director of Auburn Research and Technology Foundation.

Weete said the University is already in discussion to bring companies and focus groups to the research park, but it’s too early to discuss yet.

“We’re delighted, everybody has really been very gracious and helpful and we’ve tried to do the same for Auburn,” Wolfe said. “It’s a really terrific atmosphere, really a terrific place and I think it’s going to be a really terrific partnership.”

Delta Zeta dances to change community Corey Williams Campus Reporter

Auburn University’s Delta Zeta chapter will host “Delta Zeta Dance-A-Thon,” a fundraiser benefiting Starkey Hearing Foundation.

The event will take place at SkyBar Café on Thursday, Feb. 20, from 8 p.m.– 12 a.m. and costs $5 per person.

Participants will take part in a 1920sthemed swing dance competition, judged

by Auburn football wide receiver Sammie Coates and Tiger Eyes dancer Anslee Palmer.

The last couple standing will win two Visa giftcards worth $100 apiece.

Taylor Burton, sophomore in pre-business and member of Delta Zeta said the sorority will be raising money for such a great cause.

“Being a part of this really makes me think about how much we take hearing for granted,” Burton said.

According to the World Health Organization, at least 360 million people worldwide suffer from significant hearing loss.

Bethanee Smith, sophomore in industrial and systems engineering and member

of Delta Zeta, said she has a personal connection to the issue.

“I didn’t really know anyone who was affected by hearing loss until recently,” Smith said. “My grandfather just got a hearing aid, so it is starting to affect my family a little bit. It makes me think of how different my life would be if I weren’t able to hear. It gives you a really different perspective if you sit down and really try to think about it.”

The purpose of the Starkey Hearing Foundation is to provide hearing aids to children and adults around the world.

Starkey Hearing Foundation’s mission statement is simple: “So the world may hear.”

Taylor Joseph, director of communications and marketing at Starkey Hearing Foundation, said she volunteers with this cause because it is her passion.

“What we really do is use hearing as a vehicle to care for others and empower them to reach their full potential in life,” Joseph said.

According to Joseph, organizations such as Delta Zeta help the foundation reach its goals.

emily brett / graphics editor

“One of the great things they do is distribute Build-A-Bears that have hearing aids to children,” Joseph said. “They are an amazing partner, and they help us change lives around the world.”

Sigma Kappa Hold ‘ems tenth annual fundraiser Emma Mills

Contributing Writer

Sigma Kappa will host its 10th annual Sigma Hold ‘em poker tournament Monday, Feb. 24 and Tuesday, Feb. 25, at SkyBar Café in downtown Auburn.

The event is a two-day, no limits, Texas Hold ‘em-style poker tournament and will feature a women’s tournament as well as a regular tournament in which all attendees are welcome to play.

On Feb. 24, the women’s tournament will begin at 6:30 p.m., and the first round of the regular tournament will begin at 7 p.m.

On Feb. 25, the regular tournament will begin at 7 p.m. and run until 9 p.m.

The winners from the championship round will be awarded prizes.

The Sigma Hold ‘em event proceeds support two of Sigma Kappa’s organizations: the Sigma Kappa Foundation, which exists as the fundraising entity for the Sigma Kappa sorority, and the Alzheimer’s Foundation, whom Sigma Kappa has been partnered with since 1984.

The Alzheimer’s Foundation aims to improve the care and services provided for those experiencing Alzheimer’s, as well as provide comfort and counsel for family members.

“Alzheimer’s disease has affected my life in many ways,” said McCauley Alexiou, Sigma Kappa’s vice president of philanthropic services. “It is really important for all of the Sigma Kappa girls to give and support research into Alzheimer’s, be-

contributed by McCauley Alexiou

Taylor Walker, Jackie Gutman, Layla Norbash,Annie Walker, Neely Duffey, Bailey Hughes and Sarah Jo Crotts helped raise money for Sigma Kappa’s philanthropy at last year’s Sigma Hold’em.

cause we either have a close personal story, or we know someone who is affected with the disease.”

Last year, the event garnered more than $10,000, but through new public relations tactics, including increased publicity on the concourse and employing WEGL TV to provide announcers and DJs at the event, Sigma Kappa is hoping to raise approximately $12,000 this year.

“This year, we’re working really hard to let everyone know that even if they can’t participate in the event, they can still support us by buying a t-shirt or giving a donation,” said Jen Rudder, sophomore member of Sigma Kappa and co-chair of Sigma Hold ‘em. “We’ve worked incredibly hard to get ready for the 2014 Sigma

Hold ‘em and we’re hoping to blow our $12,000 fundraising goal out of the water.”

Sigma Kappa has also reached out to its southeastern alumnae, including women from Birmingham to Atlanta, to ask for their help and advice.

“It has been such an amazing experience to see my chapter come together to plan this event and raise money for such a great cause,” said Brianna Gorman, sophomore in communications and Sigma Hold’em co-chair. “We are so excited for this year’s Sigma Hold ‘em and hope to raise even more money than last year.”

The price of a ticket, $20, includes a tshirt and can be purchased from any Sigma Kappa member.

Campus A4

The Auburn Plainsman

Discover Your World!

Celebrate Peace Corps Week with currently serving Volunteers.

February 27, 2014 | 3:30 p.m.

Auburn University Comer 109 Auburn, AL 36849

Low price, no limit, all you can eat at Auburn

Male students express thoughts about on-campus dining options Derek Herscovici

The best way to learn about Peace Corps is to chat LIVE with those who are serving.

You are invited to attend this special Peace Corps event to video-chat with Auburn alumnus Andrew Jenkins who is currently serving overseas in Panama.

In

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te Volun orps ama. ce C Pea p in Pan and nus uth grou um n al with yo ubur s to: A Jenkin Pho

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Derek Herscovici Campus Reporter

Expensive. Not filling. Too far away.

These are reasons occasionally given by the University’s male population to voice their dissatisfaction with the assortment of boutique-like restaurants, food trucks and dining hall options offered on campus.

Though the University’s job is to cater to both genders and all tastes, some of the guys are beginning to speak out about their preferences.

“Other than AU Smokehouse, there’s really nothing we really want to eat,” said Wesley Labarge, senior in chemical engineering. “That new Greek place in the Student Center, I just don’t eat that. I like the Hibachi [food truck], but it’s the only one.

I did the macaroni and cheese [food truck] too, but only a couple times.”

Labarge said most men would agree that finding food on campus is not an issue for them, even if it’s the same thing every week.

Labarge also said given that every student at Auburn is required to have a minimum $300 meal plan, the plethora of eating options available and the rapid pace at which they change makes the idea of settling for something more and more frustrating.

“I like to eat healthy,” said Dharsan Soundarrajan, senior in chemical engineering. “But I’d much rather have cafeteria food rather than going to a restaurant or a food truck.”

When asked what their preferred alternatives were, Soundarrajan and Labarge responded with cheap, easily accessible foods and more options than a single-theme menu on campus.

Campus Dining offers specialized oncampus options or name-brand restaurants that charge higher prices for their products while still selling generic items like pizza, sandwiches and salads.

Shaquita Ford, server at Chick-fil-A, said the most widely used on-campus op-

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Scott Holk, junior in civil engineering, goes to Chick-fil-A often.

tion, Chick-fil-A, sells more of the same three items to both genders than anything else on menu.

“The guys usually order the spicy chicken or the chargrilled chicken sandwich,” Ford said. “The girls usually order the chargrilled chicken or the nuggets.”

Ford said the gender that frequented Chick-fil-A more throuhgout the week was obvious.

“The guys definitely got the girls beat,” Ford said.

For students who eat the majority of their meals on campus, having to pay upwards of $6 a meal can mean deciding between one menu item or another when neither is completely satisfying and both cost too much to buy together, Soundarrajan said.

“I’d really like to see a cafeteria-style place, where you can just pay like a flat fee and eat however much good food you want,” said Jonathan Thornber, senior in chemical engineering. “Just one place where you can get a burger and chicken and fries or a salad, all in one place. A lot of other universities seem to have that.”

The buffet-style option is available at Terrell Hall in the Hill and at Tiger Zone in the Village.

Kristen Harlin / assistant graphics editor

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Thursday, February 20, 2014

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RELEASE DATE– Thursday, January 24, 2013

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

ACROSS 1 Polynesian tongue 6 Early Democrat’s foe 10 Diary closer 14 Pump name 15 Premoistened cloth 16 Still-life subject 17 Luminous Spanish king?

19 Practitioner of meditation 20 Lassie’s “In a pig’s eye!”

21 Monopolize 22 Seed source of omega-3 23 Back-of-the-book items 27 Bloodhound’s 48-Across 29 Chart containing only threes?

31 Salt’s “Halt!”

35 Flat hat 36 Like a comics Pea? 37 Close tightly, as one’s hand 38 Groggy response 40 “Welcome to Maui!”

42 Seldom seen, to Seneca 43 Grinch portrayer 45 Myrna’s “Thin Man” role 47 KoKo or YumYum, in Lilian Jackson Braun mysteries 48 Plus 49 Turkish sty leader?

51 Bulldogs’ home 53 Seven-time MLB All-Star Soriano 54 Fair 57 Sighing sounds 59 Consume 60 Bee’s charge 61 Rock in actress Susan’s path, perhaps?

66 Hon 67 Lang of Smallville 68 “Monster” (2003) co-star 69 Like many LAX flights 70 First place?

71 Trap

DOWN 1 Large body of eau 2 Dismiss 3 Acne treatment brand 4 Longtime “60 Minutes” pundit 5 Babies 6 Teens conflict, briefly 7 Up in the air 8 Droid alternative 9 Day one, informally 10 Casual greeting craze?

11 One who might get caught off base 12 Company with a hedgehog mascot 13 __ fixe 18 Took out in handcuffs, say 23 1971 prison riot site 24 Works on stage 25 Expresses doubts 26 Biblical brother 28 ESPN reporter Paolantonio 30 Sierra __ 32 Analgesic brand

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37 Itinerant Yuletide singer 39 How owls know when mice are bluffing?

41 Georgetown player 44 LAX posting 46 Business matters 49 Execute, in old France

50 Deep-dish comfort food 52 Soup dispenser 54 Author Picoult 55 Supported by 56 Bank deposit 58 Last word on New Year’s Eve? 62 Brown in a bed 63 Loan no.

64 Old French coin 65 Upholsterer’s target

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By Michael Sharp (c)2013 Tribune Media Services, Inc.

01/24/13

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Opinion

A5

Thursday, February 20, 2014

Social Media on The Plains In response to our post, “Citizens concerned for the safety of local recruited by the Tide”

Alan Clemons: “Child? Please. He doesn’t deserve all the crap the mouth-breathing ‘fans’ are giving, but he’s not a child, either.”

Joe Johnson: “Every fan base has its idiots. AU is no different than UA, Tennessee, LSU and everybody else.”

Terry Rozum: “Drama mama, drama daddy, drama child--the play is over, let the curtain fall and let’s move on! War Eagle!”

Joshua Motley: “Lots of smoke but no fire. This town could care less about this. Most wouldn’t know him if they saw him walking down the sidewalk.”

ThePlainsman.com Our View

Tame your tweets, texts, emails, posts...

Stereotypical images of overweight, Cheeto-stained agoraphobes living in their mother’s basement are a thing of the past.

Cyberbullies are beginning to evolve into a more mobile, sunlit lifestyle thanks to smartphone apps.

Apps such as Hot or Not and Lulu allow for individuals to objectify complete strangers. A great confidence boost if you’re pretty; however, anyone less than a perfect 10 is likely to feel the lash of cyber mobs.

Yik Yak is an app that allows users to anonymously send and view posts to everyone within a 10-mile radius. However, Yik Yak became a problem in many school systems due to the ability to post hateful messages anonymously.

This anonymity gives cyberbullies power.

Apps such as these seem like harmless fun for many, but the implications of the actions taken on these apps, and apps like them, are real. It is not necessary to know who is declaring insults for feelings to get hurt.

Empathy is lost when faced with the cold glow of a computer screen. Subtle facial expressions we pick up on in order to communicate effectively, such as a

sudden twitch of the corner of the mouth or an upturned eyebrow, can’t be seen on social media.

These subtle cues serve as a filter and prevent us from intentionally hurting one another. Looking at a glass screen and becoming detached is far too easy.

Detachment opens a doorway to a cold, objective analysis that feels less than human. People become works of art presented to be critiqued and objectified in ways that would never be done in-person.

That’s not to say cyberbullies are not prominent on popular social media sites like Facebook or Twitter.

While incidents of cyberbullying that reach national attention generally involve middle and high school students, the scope with which cyberbullies can reach victims is ever increasing.

Threats against Auburn High School linebacker Rashaad Evans over signing with the University of Alabama is only the latest in a long list of cyberbully victims.

Though we were shocked, the decision was ultimately Evans’, and we respect him for it. Social media posts hoping for permanent injury displays fanaticism at its worst.

Kristen Harlin / Assistant Graphics Editor

Those who take part in intentional cyberbullying are cowards and are not worth the time it takes to explain to what they likely already know.

We fear devolution of interpersonal communication resulting from lack of experience. The immediacy of the Internet allows for people to respond with imme-

diate, knee-jerk reactions without thinking critically.

Take our advice: If you wouldn’t say it to someone’s face, don’t say it at all.

Cyberbullying turns a channel for communication into a wall for target practice. Those who stop to take aim need to go out and get a life.

His View

Stephen Horn: “Haha. Sounds like a manufactured story by one side. I think Auburn fans are pretty forgiving, someone talk to Corey Grant.”

Message to feminists, the time has come Adam Wolonski Intrigue Writer

In response to our tweet “App of the Week: Aroundme”

Tab Blair: “@TheAUPlainsman great app just downloaded.”

Current poll question: What’s your favorite Winter Olympics sport?

• Figure skating • Hockey • Curling • Snowboarding

I’m a feminist. I’m also a masculinist. Most accurately, I’m a peopleist.

I’m not the first person to coin the term “peopleism,” and I’m not the first to share its ideals, but it constantly surprises me how much we let gender get in the way of real things happening.

Feminists, like abolitionists, had a valid agenda at one point in time. There were rights and laws in America that didn’t let women do the same things as men. But those laws have since been overturned, and women in America have every right that men do. So, why are we still setting ourselves apart?

Men, on the other side of the coin, have even begun to blame the feminists and the feminist movement for taking their jobs and taking away their masculini-

ty. There is some truth to the belief that decreased sexism toward women has turned into increased sexism toward men, but I think it’s time for the blame game to end.

People need to start being appreciated for who they are and what they do, period.

It can be an awkward boat to be in when you consider yourself liberal-minded and you come across the idea of feminism.

“Yeah, wahoo! You go girl!

You’re great because you’re a girl, and you’re doing something worth noting.” Isn’t that much more sexist than simply saying, “Hey, you did something great.

Good job.” Why does a lack of the male sexual organs still mean so much?

It’s the same idea as the racism and sexuality debates: it’s over when we start acting like it’s over.

What if someone was coming to campus and giving lectures with names like these?

“Black men doing things worthwhile.”

“Gays are living and working

in your neighborhood.”

You would be right in being offended, but Gloria Steinem came to Auburn on Tuesday giving a lecture that she calls, “Extraordinary Women Lecture series.”

Why doesn’t that offend in the same way as the other hypothetical lecture series names?

By singling out women for doing extraordinary things, you’re insulting and belittling their achievements.

Steinem did a great deal in the early stages of the feminist movement and is hailed by many as the leader of it. She was a columnist for New York magazine and cofounded Ms. Magazine, but if she wants her hard work to come to fruition, she needs to do less.

Love and equality were promoted by Steinem, and it was often moving and practical. She talked about media, technology and natural empathy in eyeopening ways that people needed to hear. Then, in the next sentence, she said to be masculine is to not be human and that gender

doesn’t exist? If gender doesn’t exist, what are females, and what is feminism?

If Steinem could let go of the shocking one-liners that garner whoops and claps and stick to the promotion of actual equality, her movement would be much more appropriate.

This doesn’t mean everything has to be geared toward both sexes.

In fact, I think the opposite.

There is beauty in the differences between men and women, and it’s time we celebrate them instead of condemn them.

I’m constantly in awe of women. I’ve watched women nurture and understand, moving through life with a grace and beauty I could never achieve. I’m also constantly in awe of men, with undeniable strength and abilities unmatched by women.

Broad generalities are in no way conclusive, but my point is we’re different and we need each other. Isn’t it time to be on the same team?

His View

Last poll results: Who are you spending Valentine’s Day with?

Here’s the long and shorts of wacky weather Juan Price

31.4% My significant other

Campus Writer

36.4% Jack Daniels

16.5% Just some friends

15.7% Me, myself and chocolate

The Plainsman wants to hear your voice!

Send us your tweets, photos, Facebook posts and letters to the editor. We want to know what you think about the issues.

Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter @TheAUPlainsman.

In the last few weeks, it seems winter is flirting with spring. Students are confused as to whether they should wear shorts or pants, but when is it too soon to start wearing shorts?

Having lived most of my life in the South, I have experienced my fair share of severe weather and a few inches of snow, but I have never experienced the kind of back-and-forth weather that I have since coming to Auburn.

Kudos to those who are able to wear shorts in the middle of winter, even when people may think you look crazy.

I know I have had days where

I wear shorts, but I also have on a sweatshirt that transfers heat throughout my whole body.

For students who are cold and still choose to wear shorts in the middle of the winter for no reason, I do not know how you do it, but I can sympathize with you.

It is one thing if you are going on a run, or you are on your way to workout at the recreation center, but if you are wearing shorts just because you want to look hot, then you can’t complain when people are staring intently at the small waves coming from your body as you shiver with your arms crossed.

At that moment it should become obvious you should have put on more clothing.

When you are deciding what to wear, pull out your smartphone, or whatever type of phone you

The Editorial Board Kelsey Davis Editor-in-Chief

Cat Watson Online

Emily Brett Design

Elizabeth Wieck Managing Editor

Becky Hardy Campus

Chandler Jones Community

Jordan Hays Opinion

Justin Ferguson Sports

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Opinion

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Mailing Address Auburn Student Center Suite 1111H Auburn, AL 36849

Contact Phone 334–844–4130 Email opinion@theplainsman.com

have, and check the temperature for the day.

It doesn’t take long to check, and you can feel comfortable when you are walking around campus.

The good news is the temperatures seem to be getting higher, which means shorts season is upon us.

It is the time of the year to let your legs take a breath of fresh air. The same rules apply to pants in the spring as they do with shorts and the winter.

I am glad to be able to start wearing shorts again. It means I can go outside and walk around for a little bit and not feel chilly.

I can go play ultimate Frisbee or go on a run and not feel like I need to rush to go back to my room because I am cold.

This is all to say there are ap-

Submissions The Auburn Plainsman welcomes letters from students as well as from faculty, administrators, alumni and those not affiliated with the University. Letters must be submitted before 4:30 p.m. on the Monday for publication. Letters must include the author’s name, address and phone number for verification, though the name of the author may be withheld upon request. Submission may be edited for grammar and/or length. Please submit no more than 400 words.

propriate times to wear shorts.

Although students choose to wear shorts year-round, sometimes you have to know when it is too cold for shorts. I am sure a student from a colder region of the country would disagree with me, but for the rest of us, anything below 40 degrees seems to be too cold for shorts. For some, it’s even higher depending on where you live in the South.

Ultimately, it is not my decision to tell you when you can wear shorts or when you can wear pants. It is merely a suggestion.

I am cold-natured at times, so I usually cannot wear shorts at any temperature below 50 degrees, but that’s just me.

Get ready, Auburn students.

Shorts season is coming, and, hopefully, it will stay awhile.

Policy The opinions of The Auburn Plainsman staff are restricted to these pages. This editorial is the majority opinion of the 13-member editorial board and are the official opinion of the newspaper. The opinions expressed in columns and letters represent the views and opinions of their individual authors and do not necessarily reflect the Auburn University student body, faculty, administration or Board of Trustees.

A6 Community Putter up, the boy is back in town Thursday, February 20, 2014

ThPlainsman.com

Community

Nick Hines

Community Writer

Tucked away off of Exit 62, a puppeteer sits outside of his business chatting with a customer from the clothes outlet next door.

Dance music thumps from inside, punctuated by the dinging and roaring of arcade games lining the side wall around an 18-hole mini-golf course.

George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, Franklin Roosevelt and Teddy Roosevelt look over the American-themed course from their place on the miniature Mount Rushmore. Themed holes play off of landmarks such as the Washington Monument, the Gateway Arch and the Golden Gate Bridge.

Owner and puppeteer Doug Long purchased Scutter Putters, previously USA Mini Golf, June 1 of last year.

Since then, the business has seen new purple and glow-in-the-dark paint, a re-vamped party room and a wall of arcade games. These additions are only a piece of Long’s vision since deciding he wanted to take a break from the traveling life of a puppeteer performer.

Long is a self-taught puppeteer and ventriloquist. He worked at Disney World on the Lion King puppet show and with the Henson Company in New York. He toured the states east of the Mississippi River with the Granpa Cratchet Puppet Company for three years.

In 2006, Long started his own puppet show starring Rowdy Rooster. Long and Rowdy travel with fairs performing shows, but the Opelika native was ready for a change.

“I just got tired of the travel, pulling the trailer up and down the road,” Long said. “I figured I would like to stay home, but still wanted to stay

Nick Hines / Community Writer

Doug Long stands in his American-themed, 18-hole indoor mini-golf course.

in kid-related entertainment. That’s when I found this place.”

Learning that the previous owner was looking to sell, Long saw the potential.

“Back when I walked in here, I envisioned what it could be for kids all the way up to college-age and adults,” Long said.

Scutter Putters is the only completely indoor golf course in Alabama, according to Long. It has drawn not only locals to the store, but also families from Montgomery, Columbus, G.A. and Ft. Benning, G.A. Currently, Long is trying to break away from people’s impressions of the golf course before he became the owner.

“We’ve been really trying to reach the students [in Auburn],” Long said. “Because if you’re not in the party scene or club scene, you’re looking for somewhere to go besides that. Several students who have found that I’m out here come out Friday and Saturday nights.”

Friday and Saturday nights are black-light nights at Scutter Putters. Glow-in-the-dark balls and holes are used to light the course, and a mirror ball, fog machine and laser lights add to the atmosphere. Jacob Clemmensen, junior in biosystems engineering, said he did not know about Scutter Putters.

“If I was looking for something else to do in Auburn,” Clemmensen said. “I would definitely

consider going there.”

Long said The biggest struggle that he has faced is getting the name out there, but that heLong is looking forward to the potential the business has.

“I saw the potential right when I walked in,” Long said. “That is what I started working toward, the potential for what this place could be for the community, for all of Lee County. There’s a lot of people in Lee County that don’t even know it is here.”

Golf costs $7 for one round, or $10 for unlimited. Long also offers a $2 student discount with a student ID. Long has not stopped his career as a puppeteer throughout the process of making a new business. He will be doing more shows with Rowdy Rooster in fall, and is working on another show with a new character, Agnes Fitzgerald, who is a former performer from Las Vegas.

Eventually, Long said he believes the building could house both of his businesses.

“It’s not unfeasible to make a little theater in the back,” Long said. “Looking down the road, if I had to put it all together, I would have a puppet theater in the back where you could bring kids in on Saturday, then do a college or older themed show Saturday night.”

The 18-hole tour of America started as a dream, one of many Long has.

“You know, dreaming doesn’t cost anything,” Long said. “I don’t really look at myself as the entrepreneur. I just look at myself as a person who loves doing what I do. Entrepreneurs are the people with those big offices. I’m just a little person from here that just has dreams and always had dreams.”

Local chic-chick business owner thrives in cozy Auburn Ashtyne Cole

Community Reporter

Helping customers at the counter, Sarah Brown appears at home. In essence, she is.

Ten years ago, Brown met Terry Shea.

A friend of a friend, Brown and Shea were making small talk at a luncheon when Brown made an offhand comment.

Brown voiced an idea she had for years about opening up a trendy gift store in Birmingham. The two hit it off, and a year later, Wrapsody was born.

Brown grew up in Auburn. She went to school here, and it has always been home.

She went to Auburn University and met her husband here. She graduated in 1994 with a degree in health administration and political science. The Browns had three children and work moved them to Birmingham.

Five years after Wrapsody took off in Hoover, Brown’s family moved back to their home in Auburn.

In 2009, Heartstrings, a gift and home decor shop, decided to close its doors downtown. Brown worked at the store during college and maintained a close relationship with the owners, who were looking to retire and

“

We like companies who are passionate about their work, and are doing good things.”

—Sarah Brown

Owner of Wrapsody

close the business.

Brown and Shea decided to expand Wrapsody to Auburn, where Brown would manage the new store. They maintain contact via FaceTime and Skype, where she can be “walked” around the Hoover store and see all of the displays.

“It is difficult for two women to open and maintain a business because no one takes you seriously without money and experience,” Brown said. “It worked out well with me and Terry. She handles the operational aspects of the business while my passion is the visual and marketing.”

Brown has an eye for décor. She strives to be “funky and fun” at the same time, while

bringing an eclectic style to the store. She believes in an “ah-ha” moment and wants every customer to enter the store and have a moment that inspires them.

“We appreciate our customers, and we always try to give them something different and unique to buy when they come in the store,” Shea said.

Brown picks out every item inside the store, a tough job to do while raising three children and attending their baseball games.

She has one at Auburn High, one at Auburn Junior High and one at Drake Middle School.

“Shea and I go to different markets during the year and we like to pick out things with stories,” Brown said. “We like companies who are passionate about their work and are doing good things.”

Brown believes in companies that strive to improve their community and support local artists by featuring their work in the store.

Brown said she sees Auburn as a great community with good and genuine people.

Brown serves her community the best way she can by bringing in a breath of fresh air with her eclectic style and ever-changing gift shop.

Emily Enfinger / Photographer

Left, Sarah Brown and right,Terry Shea smile outside their Auburn store.

Hearts will run about town, bringing awarness Chandler Jones Community Editor

Contributed by Jessie King

TOP: 1982 Run for Love Your Heart Run BOTTOM: 2913 Crank Your Heart Ride

The 25th-annual Love Your Heart Run and 7th annual Crank Your Heart Ride will Be Saturday, Feb. 22, at Chewacla State Park.

Jessie King, director of communication for createTWO, the nonprofit behind the race, said she checked the weather, and she’s sure it will be a bright and beautiful day.

Runners may choose either a 1-mile or 10k race up and through Chewacla’s mountains while admiring spectacular views of the park.

The Love Your Heart Run began in 1989 as a race for heart patients at East Alabama Medical Center and works as Exceptional Outreach Organization’s single fundraiser.

Nine years ago, EAMC passed the race off to createTWO. Seven years ago, createTWO added the Crank Your Heart Ride as a way to broaden the reach of the Exceptional Outreach Organization’s fundraising efforts.

Cyclists can select a 3.5-, 11- or 22-mile route.

Commemorating the Love Your Heart Run’s 25th anniversary, a dedicated group of individuals who have been involved since the race’s inception will act as Grand Marshalls to start the race.

The race came the Chewalca because of safety reasons, King said.

King said the roads inside the Chewlca are condusive for runners and cyclists because Chewalca’s road’s never have traffic.

Traffic will be closed within the park.

“Chewacla is a spectacular location we are lucky to have in Auburn,” King said. “It has beautiful weather spring, summer, winter or fall.”

King said the race has, on average, approximtelyt 500 participants with a high of 680 people.

The race raises $15,000 a year for Best Buddies of Auburn, Special Plympics of Lee County and the summer theurapuitc camp The EOO supports children and adults with various intellectual and developmental disabilities through therapeutic programs.

Individuals gain important practical and social skills, experience new activities and make lifelong friends.

To register, visit Loveyourheartrun.com or email exceptionaloutreachorg@gmail. com.

Auburn Activities Sunday

Monday

23

24

Big Swamp Blues.

9 p.m.War Eagle Supper Club

City Meeting.

6 p.m. Pick Elemenatry Mayor Bill Ham urges citizens to attend meetings for the Auburn city schools.

Acoustic Mondays.

10 p.m. Quixote’s.

Sponsored by Spicer’s Music, Tito’s Vodka, and Budweiser.

Tuesday 25 City Meeting.

6 p.m. Ogletree Elementary Mayor Bill Ham urges citizens to attend meetings for the Auburn city schools.

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

26

27

28

1

Ryan Patrick Imming.

10 p.m. Bourbon Street Bar. 19 years and older.

Reading Between the Wines Gala.

6 p.m. Saugahatchee County Club. Call Sue Edge at 334.705.0001 for more information.

The East Alabama Chapter National Wild Turkey Federation Banquet.

6 – 10 p.m. Event Center Downtown in Opelika. Call Grant Fountain at 334.319.6461 for more information.

Keep Opelika Beautiful Citywide Cleanup. Various locations in Opelika.

Bags, gloves & lunch provided. Register with Keep Opelika Beautiful.

Thursday, February 20, 2014

The Auburn Plainsman

Community A7

Saving the habitat while savoring the hunt

East Alabama chatper of the National Wild Turkey Federation sets a new goal for the decade Ashtyne Cole

Throughout the next 10 years, the NWTF of East Alabama has a new goal: Save the Habitat, Save the Hunt. A portion of money raised will support this new statement.

The federation was founded in 1973 and then the number of wild turkeys had risen from 1.5 million to 7 million.

Today, populations have begun to decline, and that inspired the goal to save the habitat and the hunt.

Tyler Briggs, regional director for this chapter of the NWTF, helps put together approximately 31 different banquets annually. These events double as a good time and a fundraiser.

“In the spring before turkey season starts, we put on the banquets for different regions,” Briggs said. “These are opportunities to gain new members and raise some money for our cause.”

The money raised at each banquet is sent back to NWTF headquarters, where 20 percent of all revenue goes back into the state chapter’s “superfund.” A group of members then have the ability to decide where the money goes and what region

Community Reporter

For the majority of Auburn residents, hunting is life.

The East Alabama chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation has made it it’s mission to extend and preserve the life of this popular southern pastime.

The NWTF of East Alabama, exclusively comprised of volunteers, works toward the conservation of the environment and educating the youth.

It believes in the importance of gun safety and aims to give children a chance to learn how to hunt in a safe manner.

“We’re trying to promote family time, the good,old-fashion way, with hunting and conservation,” said Grant Fountain, member of the NWTF of East Alabama. “We teach kids how to hunt right and to preserve and respect the land and animals around them.”

While the Federation mainly focuses on the preservation of turkey hunting, it also raises money to help with other types of hunting in Alabama.

needs the extra money.

The NWTF of East Alabama’s annual banquet will be held at the Opelika Event Center Downtown on Saturday, Feb. 28.

“We hosted last year’s banquet as well,” said Lisa Ditchkoff, owner of the Opelika Event Center. “Last year, a ton of people showed up, about 550. I know they will be expecting the same or even more.”

The banquets include live, local entertainment, while businesses in and around Auburn donate items to be sold in multiple auctions and raffles as part of the event.

“We recognize our sponsors since they contribute so much to us,” Fountain said. “Most of them do it simply to just help us and help out in the cause since there are so many hunters and fishers in the community.”

Tickets cost $50 for a single ticket and $75 for a couple. Each ticket includes a meal, a raffle ticket and membership to the NWTF. Every child under the age of 16 who attends will receive free membership to the NWTF of

Citizens share concern about treatment of new recruit Ashtyne Cole

Community Reporter

Rashaan Evans caused an uproar when he picked the Tide instead of his hometown Tigers, but some Auburn citizens are allegedly picking football over one of their own.

As the No. 2 outside linebacker in the country, 18-year-old Evans was a top choice, and considered Alabama, Auburn and UCLA. Evans is 6-foot-3-inches tall, 217 pounds and packed quite a punch when he chose Auburn’s biggest rival.

The “betrayal” ran deep, many said.

On Tuesday, Feb.18, Auburn City Council heard from a citizen concerned about Evans’ safety in town.

Taylor said he came forward as a representative of the people of Auburn concerned with the behavior exhibited by some of the citizens.

“The child is only 18 years old, and people in this great town are wishing him injury and refusing to serve him,” Councilmember Arthur Dowdell said. “To me, that is just as bad as killing our trees.”

City Manager Charlie Duggan said no crimes against Evans have been reported.

“We can’t do anything unless a crime is reported,” Duggan said. “Refusing service is only illegal if based on race or gender.

I don’t think football preference is covered by law. I don’t see any business owners in Auburn refusing service to the young man.”

Auburn resident, Larry Taylor, came forward during citizens communication at the meeting and addressed issues he heard around town.

Taylor identified himself as the vice president of the Concerned Citizens of Equal Justice.

Taylor told the Council Evans and his family have suffered harassment and unfair treatment as a result of his choice in college.

“The family is very upset because there is talk about shutting down the family business, the Corner Market,” Taylor said.

“That it just ridiculous. A boy should have the right to make a choice of where he wants to go to school and not worry about it affecting his family and their livelihood.”

“

We’re trying to promote family time the good ole’ fashion way, with hunting and conservation. We teach kids how to hunt right and to preserve and respect the land and animals around them.”

—Grant Fountain

Member of NWTF

East Alabama as well.

Existing members are only charged for the meal that night, and corporate tables are available for reservation.

“The East Alabama banquet is one of the biggest in the state,” Briggs said. “They have about 275 sponsorships, and it is a huge fundraising opportunity for them.”

•

Councilmember Thomas Worden volunteered to work with Barbara Scott and the Hazard Mitigation Plan Update to deal with dangerous weather and prevention of death and injury in Lee County.

•

Mayor Bill Ham urged citizens to attend meetings for the Auburn City Schools next Monday at 6 p.m. at Pick Elementary and Tuesday at 6 p.m. at Ogletree. Ham said the meetings will offer information concerning the growth of the school system.

•

An alcoholic beverage license was approved for Chef Han’s Kitchen, located at 675 Opelika Road.

•

Advanced Disposal Services Al, LLC signed on for three years to remove solid waste from Auburn to Opelika for $24.82 per ton. According to Duggan, the new dump is closer to Auburn and is made of concrete, offering less wear on vehicles.

Crime Time

This week’s happenings in Auburn

From the desk of:

Ashtyne Cole

Forrest Cotten

Community Reporter

Opelika Police requested aid of Auburn Police Department in the pursuit of a man wanted for theft on Wednesday, Feb. 12.

APD received a call at 12:39 p.m. that Opelika police were pursuing a man accused of theft at the Best Buy in Tiger Town.

The suspect left the scene in a red Ford Crown Victoria.

“We got the request for help from Opelika P.D. to stop the vehicle as it was

Director of Planning for the city of Auburn • Forrest Cotten works in the planning department to facilitate projects of improvment and maintenance. As a whole, they innovate options for enhancement of the city.

• For the Renew Opelika Road Project, planning hopes to begin an inital round of work through Council-approved zoning oridnance amendments.

• The Downtown Master Plan will reconvene in the first coming weeks of March. “The plans is starting to take final form,” Cotton said.The Planning Commission will begin review in June

Police reports syndicated by the city of Auburn

driving toward Auburn,” APD Lt. Lorenza Dorsey said. “The vehicle in pursuit struck an uninvolved vehicle. There were minor damages and no injuries.”

Officers apprehended the vehicle on Opelika Road and North Gay Street after a multi-car chase through Auburn’s downtown.

The male driver was arrested after the stolen merchandise was removed from his car and taken into Opelika custody.

Neither entity has released idenification of the suspect.

Cotten said:

Forrest Cotten

“Everyone chooses their own goal, and we take them as a group.”

BE IRRESISTIBLE.

Cat Watson / Online Editor

APD with Opelika Police arrested a man after a car chasse through downtown Auburn.

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Sports

A8

Thursday, February 20, 2014

ThePlainsman.com

Sports

SCOREBOARD MEN’S BASKETBALL

12-11 (4-8 SEC) LAST WEEK Loss vs. Kentucky, 64-56 Win vs. Miss. State, 92-82 THIS WEEK Feb. 22 vs. Vanderbilt (14-10) SARAH MAY / ASSISTANT PHOTO EDITOR

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

LEFT: The Plainsman Park scoreboard shows fans talking to head coach Sunny Golloway during the team’s open house night Feb. 18.

TOP RIGHT: Fans tour the baseball team’s newly renovated locker rooms. BOTTOM RIGHT: The new batting cages are part of Golloway’s vision for player development at Auburn.

It’s a ‘New Day’ on the diamond BASEBALL

Tigers prepare for first home stand at newly renovated Plainsman Park 14-11 (5-7 SEC) LAST WEEK Win at Vanderbilt, 68-62 Loss vs. Missouri, 68-58 THIS WEEK Feb. 20 at Tennessee (20-5) Feb. 23 vs. Georgia (14-10)

BASEBALL

LAST WEEK Win vs. Indiana State*, 4-0 Loss vs. Ohio State*, 1-0 Win vs. Connecticut*, 7-3 *Snowbird Classic in Florida THIS WEEK Feb. 21-23 in Tiger Classic vs.

Arkansas-Pine Bluff, East Tennessee State, California

SOFTBALL

LAST WEEK Win vs. Marshall*, 19-5 Win vs. Loyola*, 11-2 Win vs. Neb.-Omaha*, 4-2 Win vs. Western Illinois*, 6-0 Win vs. Winthrop*, 16-0 *Tiger Invitational in Auburn THIS WEEK Wilson/DeMarini Classic: Feb. 21-23 vs. Jacksonville State, Samford and Purdue

GYMNASTICS

LAST WEEK Loss vs. No. 5 Alabama, 197.500-197.100 THIS WEEK Feb. 21 vs. No. 6 Georgia

Kyle Van Fechtmann

bies marked by each player’s number where they hold clean clothes for every practice and game, hot and cold hydrotherapy tubs, and a new room filled with everything the trainers need to keep the players healthy.

The Green Monster in left field added a hole, now bullpen pitchers will be able to watch the game as it’s going on.

“It’s really nice how we cleaned it up and made it more desirable to be in there,” Golloway said.

Students who were in attendance at the open house Tuesday, Feb. 18, toured the new facilities and are looking forward to this baseball season for multiple reasons.

“I think the new renovations will have a huge impact on the future of the program, especially with recruitment,” said Brad Hosking, sophomore in supply-chain management. “With the new

SPORTS REPORTER

Having a new head coach, higher expectations and adjusting to an unfamiliar system this season are not the only new aspects of this year’s Auburn baseball team.

Plainsman Park also underwent many new renovations before this season.

“We want to be the best player development facility in the country,” head coach Sunny Golloway said. “It’s all about development, and then we’ll have the best coaches to develop that talent.”

Auburn baseball recently unveiled the additions of a new bullpen, upgraded hitting facility and a new locker room that has several state-of-the-art features.

The locker room is completely renovated and feels like an MLB locker room with flat-screen televisions, cub-

coach and impressive additions to the park and roster, I think there is a lot more to be excited about for this season than last.”

Steven Benton, sophomore in aviation management, has been going to Auburn games at Plainsman Park since he was eight years old and is excited for what could be in store this season.

“I can see home attendance increasing this year since Auburn has a new coach who seems to have the same attitude as Gus Malzahn saying, ‘It’s a new day,’” Benton said. “This kind of mindset will bring baseball fans from around the state to catch a few ball games this season.”

Although the baseball facilities went through numerous renovations in the offseason, Golloway is ready for more additions in the future.

“Hopefully, if President Gogue will

stay hooked up with me and agree, we’re going to get us a practice field somewhere between [Hitchcock Field] and the new dorms,” Golloway said.

Golloway said he hopes to bring the seats all the way down to the field level and pull the dugouts out farther and make them deeper.

Golloway said he knows they need to build camera wells since they will be on television alot with the new SEC ESPN Network launching this summer.

Another future renovation that Gollway is considering is the addition of six rows of seats above the Green Monster in left field and refer to it as the “Eagle’s Nest.”

“We’d like to go ahead and get the seats above it just like Fenway,” Golloway said. “Those would be very desirable seats; six rows on top of the big Green Monster to watch the ballgame.”

SWIMMING AND DIVING

Tigers ready to reclaim SEC team title in Athens Graham Brooks

CONTRIBUTING WRITER

After a disappointing loss in the 2013 SEC Swimming and Diving Championships that ended a 16-year run of dominance, the Tigers are headed to Athens, Ga. this week in hopes of reclaiming the title.

Historically, Auburn has dominated these championships and the Tigers plan to be strong contenders again this year.

This is only the second year where the format was changed to a five-day format, and Auburn diving coach Jeff Shaffer thinks the change to this format has been a change for the better.

"Switching the format really helps the divers,” Shaffer said. “There is only one day where both groups compete on the same day, and then you get a day off. It helps for better recovery and better preparation for the next event. It allows them to really get involved in the team and help in that aspect.”

Auburn swimming head coach Brett Hawke gave some insight on training for the SEC Championships and what it takes to compete at the top.

"We decided this year to put a meet between the Florida meet and the SEC Championships,” Hawke said. “It really gave us a chance to hone our skills, and it gave our team a lot of confidence coming off Florida and then definitely getting a chance to improve

“

I think there is a lot of buzz around some of our young swimmers in their first SEC Championships.

They way they come together as a team is what I’m excited to see.”

—Brett Hawke

SWIMMING HEAD COACH

on their swims.”

Hawke said competing at Georgia’s Gabrielsen Natatorium, the host of the 2014 Championships, would also benefit the Tigers.

"It's always a fast pool,” Hawke said. “We've been going there every year now, and our swimmers are very familiar with it. It always produces fast swimming."

Dating back to 1994, Auburn has won the overall Swimming and Diving SEC team championships every year except for 1996 and 2013.

Auburn is looking to bounce back from last year’s defeat to Florida, as the loss snapped 16 consecutive years of Auburn winning the SEC Championships, dating back to 1997.

Both the men’s and women’s teams will be leaning on

senior leadership to get back to the top of the SEC. "We've got a great senior class on the men's side so anytime our seniors are up in a race,” Hawke said. “James Disney-May is swimming the backstroke for us this year.

Marcelo Chierighini [is] in the sprint freestyle and Zane Grothe in the middle distance races; plus, TJ Leon in some sprint events and relays. You can't forget about John Santeiu on the boards for us. I'm really looking forward to watching the seniors perform."

The women’s team will be counting on some young swimmers to step up big over the next few days in Athens.

"We've gotten great leadership from Emily Bos and Aubrey Peacock,” Hawke said.

“I think there is a lot of buzz around some of our young swimmers in their first SEC Championships. They way they come together as a team is what I'm excited to see."

Over the five days of the SEC Championships there will be ups and downs, but Shaffer said the key for the team is to stay poised and cut down on mistakes.

“Our goal is the same, in an any athletic event,” Shaffer said. “If you minimize the mistakes you have the opportunity to be successful. You know we're capable of putting people in the finals at night, we've just got to do well in the morning. We've got some knicks and dings, but we've got to be ready."

CONTRIBUTED BY ZACH BLAND

Auburn waits for Kasey Cooper to touch home after hitting a grand slam.

SOFTBALL

Power hitting surge leads Auburn to early success Taylor Jones SPORTS WRITER

When Auburn hired head coach Clint Myers, it was obvious wins were expected.

But what the Tigers’ softball team has done so far has taken fans by surprise.

With a 9-1-1 overall record, with only one loss to Notre Dame, the Tigers have made it clear they are a team to contend with thanks to their power hitting.

In 11 games, the Tigers have put up 103 runs on the board, outscoring their opponents by 76 runs and averaging 9.4 runs per game.

“For us to be successful this year, we’re going to have to swing the bats,” Myers said.

“It’s nice to see the bats working, one through nine. When we can score double-digits, that’s a good sign for us.”

Games are ended on account of mercy rule if a team is beating its opponent by eight runs after the fifth inning.

Out of their 11 games, the Tigers have ended games early because of the mercy rule five

times.

For comparison as to how hard the Tigers are hitting the ball, they have averaged more runs than No. 1 Florida, No. 2 Tennessee, No. 4 Michigan and No. 5 Arizona State.

However, Auburn’s red-hot bats aren’t only coming from a few players.

Eight different players on Auburn’s team have already hit home runs in their first 11 games, including freshmen Jenna Abbott and Kasey Cooper.

Both Abbott and Cooper have each hit two home runs.

The Tigers are led in the home run category by junior outfielder Brandi Melero. Melero has already hit four home runs, one being a grand slam against Marshall.

“We’re starting to understand the concept of consistency,” Myers said. “We have to become better at recognizing good strikes to hit and not just strikes.

“If we do things that we talk about daily, good things happen, and they’re starting to understand that.”

Thursday, February 20, 2014

The Auburn Plainsman

Sports A9

jenna burgess / photographer

LEFT: Brittany Webster leaps over the vault during the gymnastics meet against Alabama. RIGHT: Megan Walker jumps on the balance beam during the meet against Alabama.

gymnastics

Team taking positives from another close loss to Alabama Justin Ferguson sports editor

In sports, teams rarely get any real benefit from a loss.

Coaches and players may talk about the lessons learned from a defeat or the motivation that came from playing a close game with a team that was favored to win big, but losses still carry a negative connotation.

Unless you are Auburn gymnastics head coach Jeff Graba.

On Valentine’s Day, rival powerhouse Alabama entered Auburn Arena with its impressive No. 5 national ranking and left with its 108th consecutive victory against the Tigers’ gymnastics team.

But even though Auburn failed to record its first win against Alabama since the dawn of NCAA-sanctioned gymnastics, Graba was pleased with his team’s performance in the 197.5197.1 loss to the Crimson Tide.

“Actually, it was about as good as we could do,” Graba said after the first Iron Meet of the season. “We were hitting our landings and getting really sharp on some stuff. I was pretty impressed.”

Alabama’s 197.5 tied its second-best overall score forNewspaper the season 319 9.888x10.0 Ad against Auburn.

The Tide had the same score against fellow SEC power Georgia, who only scored a 196.825.

“We pushed Alabama to be at their best to beat us,” Graba said. “They did it, but we were pretty darn good, too.”

The Tigers set season-high scores in two separate events: uneven bars and balance beam. Auburn’s individual gymnasts set or tied 11 different personal records during the meet.

Caitlin Walker, who posted a 9.90 on the uneven bars to help shrink Alabama’s lead to .025 after the second rotation, said she would rather have a great performance in a loss than a win against anything less than the Crimson Tide’s best efforts.

“I wouldn’t want to see any of their gymnasts fall just to see us win, especially if we have to compare ourselves to that lower score,” Walker said. “In reality, this is how it’s going to be if we go up against them in regionals and nationals.

“Both schools have really great gymnastics teams, and we saw that tonight.”

The biggest negative Graba took away from the loss had nothing to do with Auburn’s final score or any individual 1event.

J.pdf 2/10/14 2:01 PM In the final performance of the eve-

“

We pushed Alabama to be at their best to beat us.They did it, but we were pretty darn good, too.”

—Jeff Graba

gymnastics head coach

ning, junior Bri Guy suffered a serious injury during her first run on the floor exercise, which has been her best event throughout the 2014 season.

According to Graba and Walker, Guy rolled her ankle before taking off on a back handspring.

She was not able to get enough amplitude on the move, causing her to crash headfirst on the mat.

Auburn Arena fell silent for several minutes as team physicians checked out Guy, who left the meet on a stretcher.

“It put a damper on a really good night, and it’s a concern of everybody here, obviously,” Graba said.

Graba confirmed Saturday morning via Twitter that Guy had suffered

a season-ending ankle injury.

Even with Guy’s fall at the end, Auburn lost by less than half a point to a top-5 program.

Graba took confidence in his team’s final score, saying he knew some fans would be disappointed by losing once again to the powerful Crimson Tide.

“I don’t look at streaks or anything like that,” Graba said. “I look at it like we were ranked 12th, and they were ranked fifth. If we have Bri at the end, I think we’re within a couple tenths of them. I think that says a lot about this team.

“I think this says we’re underranked. Yeah, we didn’t upend No. 5, but we take a lot of confidence from it.”

The Tigers received the bump in overall ranking Graba wanted thanks to their performance against Alabama.

Because NCAA rankings are based on average team score instead of overall record, Auburn returned to the Top 10 at the beginning of the following week.

Another welcome increase in numbers for Auburn came in the attendance for its first home Iron Meet since 2012.

A crowd of 7,123 watched the two rivals battle it out and became the sec-

ond-highest home attendance in Auburn gymnastics history.

“It’s amazing to see so many people here,” Walker said. “I mean, this is gymnastics — who thinks about that?

It’s like we’re kids on the playground, but people wanted to come see it.

We’re all eventually going to be done with gymnastics, and there’s never going to be over 7,000 people cheering for you and wanting you to succeed.”

Walker and her teammates are hoping for a similar home atmosphere Friday, Feb. 21, when they host another Top-10 SEC opponent.

The No. 6 Georgia Gym Dawgs will enter Auburn with an extra week off after their home meet against Missouri was canceled due to severe winter weather.

While Georgia will arrive on the Plains with extra rest, Graba is confident in his Auburn team coming off the performance against Alabama.

“I thought that we did well in all four events,” Graba said. “I think we did a good job in staying consistent with our lineups all night long.

“The only concern next week is that we might have to plug in four new routines, and hopefully we utilize what we’ve done in the last five weeks of getting people ready.”

Sports A10

The Auburn Plainsman

Thursday, February 20, 2014

contributed by halftime heroes

LEFT: Nykel Mitchell and Wade Thorne talk on the sidelines during a Beauregard High School football game. RIGHT: Mentor Rob Carter and mentee Alexxis Millner pose for a photograph in the Halftime Heroes documentary.

high school sports

Coaching beyond the X’s and O’s Chandler Jones community editor

Laney Payne, senior in psychology, grew up in St. Mary’s, Ga., with three sisters, a baby brother and their mother.

Payne watched as her brother grew older without a father.

Payne saw the impact the void left on her brother, but she also had the chance to see a hero emerge in her his life: his football coach.

“He raised him and taught him how to be a man,” Payne said.

The concept inspired Payne and made her wonder if this miracle could happen all the time.

For her senior thesis, Payne wrote about teaching life skills on and off the field through coaching.

Payne pursued a case study

in Beauregard and found three students who found solace with three coaches, similar to what her brother found in his coach.

Payne said she heard their stories and fell in love with them, and they inspired the concept behind Payne’s Halftime Heroes Project.

Payne couldn’t contain herself. She knew these stories had the potential to impact, so she sought resources for outreach.

That came in the form of Charles Harper, senior in radio, television and film.

Together, what began as a 5-minute infomercial of sorts became a full-fledged, 20-minute documentary, which will premiere at Pebble Hill Monday, March 3, at 6 p.m. with refreshments following.

Payne said all are invited to

attend.

“It started as my little family story,” Payne said. “Now I have a graphic designer and an RTVF student. It became a University-wide movement, which has been fun for me to watch.”

One of the three stories revolves around Alexxis Millner and Rob Carter. Payne said the two act more like siblings than the average mentee and mentor.

“They bicker,” Harper said.

Outside of that, Millner and Carter are important to each other. Millner goes to his family reunions. Carter can sign documents for her at school.

The second story is that of Stephen Drakeford and his mentee, Justin Greathouse.

Drakeford and Greathouse mimic each other and speak the same way, Payne said.

The last story focuses on mentee Nykel Mitchell and mentor Wade Thorne.

Payne said these two are the muscle.

On first appearance, Payne said, these two can be perceived as meatheads and difficult to communicate with, but they care for each other, enough to dress similarly.

“It’s hard for me to step away from this project,” Payne said. “Not a day goes by that one of them doesn’t text me.”

This work is her life’s work.

Harper said the documentary has the potential to be extremely empowering.

“Seeing how one person can be so passionate and turn something that’s impacted people and motivate them, she’s used her passion to give back to her community,” Harper said.

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Thursday, February 20, 2014

The Auburn Plainsman

Sports A11

Contributed by AUburn athletics

LEFT: Katsy Leeman competes in Western Reining during a home meet against Texas A&M. RIGHT: Casie Ramsier dribbles down the field during a game against Clemson in the Tigers’ fall season.

This Week in Auburn Sports Equestrian

The No. 3 Auburn equestrian team got clutch performances in its final two rides to pull out the 10-8 win over 10th-ranked Texas A&M, Saturday, Feb. 22, at the AU Horse Center.

“I am so proud at how well the girls rode, but even more proud of the way they stayed in there and fought it out,” said head coach Greg Williams. “The girls rode so well today, and they just weren’t getting the scores. It tears your heart out to watch them ride that well and not get rewarded for it.

“We had some mistakes that were very unfortunate with some good riders going off pattern, and that was pretty scary. But then we had two clutch rides in the end with Stephanie [Rucci] and Jennifer Delman, and they pulled it out.”

Tied 8-8 going into the final two points, reining rider Stephanie Rucci scored a 66.5 to defeat Sarah Kate Grider of Texas A&M and give Auburn the 9-8 lead.

But the Tigers still needed to win their last equitation in the flat point because the tiebreaker

was already determined to favor the Aggies.

Jennifer Delman took to the ring, needing to top a 73. She posted a 74, and Auburn picked up its third win in SEC play and eighth on the season.

The squad split equitation in the flat and reining with the Aggies, each taking four points in the two disciplines. Rucci and Katsy Leeman won in reining, and Rucci was named MOP. In addition to Delman’s win, Christina Lin picked up a victory for her second of the day. She was the only double winner.

To start the meet, Auburn swept all five points in equitation over fences, their strongest event.

Lin was named the MOP with a season-best ride, scoring an 88.

All five riders posted 80 or better, with Quincy Hayes scoring an 86, Jennifer Waxman an 84, Elizabeth Benson an 82 and Demi Stiegler an 81.

On the season, the fences lineup has gone 37-13 for a .740 win percentage.

Auburn added one horsemanship point to the team score as Danielle Long scored a 72.5. Af-

ter the first half of competition, Auburn lead 6-4.

The team returns to the road for a meet at No. 6 Georgia on Saturday, Feb. 22 in Athens, Ga.

Soccer

Freshman Brooke Ramsier scored two goals and sister Casie Ramsier scored once as the Auburn soccer team won its first spring game, 3-0, over Jacksonville State Saturday, Feb. 15, at the Auburn Soccer Complex.

Despite a scoreless first half, the Tigers continued to press high up the field and kept creating quality chances in the second half, something Auburn head coach Karen Hoppa was very pleased with.

“Overall, I was pleased with the day,” Hoppa said. “We only had a week of practice. The team really made some good improvements from the first half to the second half. I thought our second half was much better. We were sharper.

“Certainly scoring the three goals made a big difference. I thought we played much more dynamic in the second half.”

The breakthrough came in the 72nd minute, when Brooke hit a free kick from about 25 yards away that took a deflection and landed in the back of the net.

Hoppa was very pleased with the production she got from Brooke during the match.

“The way Brooke is striking the ball well, scoring two goals,” Hoppa said. “I thought she had an outstanding game.”

Casie scored seven minutes later from inside the box off of a well-placed pass by sophomore Logan Beal.

Not to be outdone by her sister, Brooke added the final goal for Auburn, scoring in the 89th minute after receiving a pass from junior Sophie Simantel off of a Samantha Solaru corner kick.

“I love when we both do well,” Casie said.

“When she does well, it motivates me to do well. It’s back and forth, a little competition to see who can score.”

The Tigers will play their next spring game at home against the Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles on March 1 at 1 p.m.

Covering all our bases opinion

David McKinney Sports Reporter

Before I did a lot of things in my life, I attended my first baseball game.

In fact, before I even spoke my first word, I had seen the Chicago Cubs play at Wrigley Field.

I marked that off of my bucket list before I even knew what a bucket list was.

Or a bucket.

Or a list.

I’m not one to encourage taking infants to public events such as a baseball game, nor are my parents, but I thank them for breaking that rule that day in Chicago.

Now that I do know what a bucket list is, I keep one mentally and it has a lot to do with baseball.

My father, brother and I are all on a mission to see a game in all 30 Major League Baseball stadiums.

I can’t give you an exact date on when this goal was set for all three of us, but I suppose you could say it was when my father fell in love for the first time. Not with my mother, but with the Houston Astros.

When he was a child, my dad visited the Astrodome for the first time with his father and brother.

From that moment forward, he became not only an Astros fan, but a diehard baseball fan.

So, from the time my father was young, he was hooked.

It took some convincing for me.

When I was young, my sports interest was small, but like anyone who has a big brother, I wanted to be just like mine, and still do.

Like my father, my brother has taught me an incredible amount in my life, not the least of which is a love for sports.

For all three of us, baseball is a bond that will never break.

As I said before, we’re all trying to get to all 30 MLB parks before we die.

But it’s not really a race. We aren’t in a rush.

We’re savoring every hot dog, smelling every blade of grass and screaming off baseball clichés one park at a time.

For as long as I can remember, when my mother would start pitching destinations for a family vacation, one of the three of us would immediately ask, “Is there a baseball park we haven’t been to nearby?”

My mother and sister both roll their eyes at this, but they secretly enjoy it.

All three of us have been to parks that the oth-

ers haven’t.

In fact, in the spring of 2009, the three of us and my mother had a trip planned to Boston for a week, during which we would attend Opening Day at Fenway Park.

My dad caught a terrible virus and wasn’t able to go.

It turned out to be one of my favorite ball parks I’ve visited, and one of my favorite vacations during my lifetime. But whenever I think about it, I regret so much that I wasn’t able to share it with my dad.

Fenway is a mecca of baseball, and I hope I can experience it with him one day.

My brother and I have both been to parks with friends, or with just my dad, but there’s nothing comparable to when all three of us are there together, crossing another one off the list.

The joy it brings my father to have both of us there with him shines vibrantly on his face, and is mirrored on both mine and my brother’s.

My dad called me a few days ago saying he had something to tell me.

Usually when a parent says that, it isn’t an exorbitantly jubilant phone call, but this time, exorbitantly jubilant would be an understatement.

He told me he is in the planning stages of a trip over the Fourth of July holiday weekend this summer, in which all three of us would knock three stadiums off the list; Cleveland, Detroit and Pittsburgh.

“I know you don’t know where you’ll be yet this summer, but I hope you can come,” he said, knowing it was a useless exercise of fatherly duty to plant the foolish idea in my head that whatever tedious job I’ll be doing this summer could keep me from going on a trip that’s been in development for years.

There is nothing in the world that could stop me from going on that trip. Nothing.

We all have different total numbers, but, like I said, it isn’t really a race.

None of us are rushing to finish before the two others.

We’ve often talked about the day when we’ll cross the turnstile of our final park.

Should that be at the same time for all of us, it will be indescribable feeling.

There will be thousands of people surrounding us, but I won’t see them.

I’ll see only my dad and brother, two men who have both taught me so much, handing in ticket number 30.

Should that moment come, I know I’ll never forget it, and one day, perhaps I’ll tell my son and his brother that story about our final turnstile crossing, as vividly and passionately as my father told my brother and I about his first.

Experience the

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Intrigue

a12

Thursday, February 20, 2014

ThePlainsman.com

Challenging Special K

Intrigue

Becky Sheehan intrigue@theplainsman. com

Ready to feel great about yourself? Special K is here to help.

The sugary-sweet pressed corn cereal has been running The Special K Challenge commercials since 2008, promising women they’ll drop six pounds or one jean size in two weeks.

Peppy music swells—a terrible cover of Nappy Roots’ “Good Day.” A brunette scans a Gap-like department store for her jean size. Many know the annoyance of trying jeans on in-store, hoping vanity-sizing hasn’t transfigured your usual size.

For our heroine, it must have come as a shock to discover that her denim provider swapped numbered sizes for uplifting phrases to better entice shoppers and stroke egos: “Radiant,” “Confident,” “Oooh-La-La,” and the coveted size “Sassy.”

After eight seconds, a cheerful disembodied voice shares this kernel of wisdom: “Wouldn’t it be nice if we focused less on the number and more on the way the fit makes us feel?” Not a bad concept. Yet. A chorus of children butchers Nappy’s “And all my homies gonna ride today,” into “And all my ladies got pride today.” The incorporeal voice interrupts to answer her own rhetorical question: “Take the Special K Challenge. Drop a jean size in just two weeks and slip into size ‘Sassy.’” Fast-forward to two weeks from the original shopping trip.

Our heroine swallows her mouthful of Special K Redberries then spins to show us her rear where “Sassy” is printed on the label of her jeans.

The all-knowing Voice, which has followed her home à la “Paranormal Activity”, points out that there are lots of delicious ways to lose weight and finally fit into size “Sassy.”

There is even a website you can visit and an online community to support “positive change.” You may create a meal plan that fits you—as long as it includes at least four Special K products a day.

The Voice leaves us to ponder, “What will you gain when you lose?”

Another commercial gives us a view of nervous, pedicured toes as approximately 13 women approach their bathroom scales. The format of the commercial is basically the same as the last, but they take it a step further.

Hopefully, hitting a nerve with women everyone, the scales flash redeeming qualities and fuzzy feelings instead of numbers: pep, shine, joy, nerve, pride, hope, calm, freedom, laughter. While this is a baffling situation, when the camera pans up we are shown three happy faces.

The women are thrilled to weigh in at “Spirit.”

They finally made it. “Thanks, Special K! Couldn’t have done it without you,” the ladies practically shout. The Voice returns with the unfortunately all-too-familiar catchphrase: “What will you gain when you lose?”

Here’s what’s wrong, in case you’ve missed it.

First, Special K is masquerading as a company that supports healthy lifestyles for women and believes in female empowerment. They claim to be the emancipation from a life of being a slave to the scale. They say numbers don’t matter, except to Special K, numbers matter quite a bit.

They are promoting quick-fix dieting while lining their pockets with the cash women cough up once they’ve bought into the scheme. Because some women think the Special K Challenge is all they need to jump-start a healthy diet, they will return again and again.

More distressing, though, Special K is telling us that once we lose those last six (or eight or 12 or 20) pounds, we’ll finally feel good about ourselves.

We shed the weight and gain confidence and happiness. We slip into a smaller size and throw off shyness and dissatisfaction.

Everything Special K promotes is external. Instead of nurturing women and showing them how to accept themselves, The Special K Challenge demands alterations.

They don’t put a cap on it either—they don’t say, “some people shouldn’t lose any more weight.” Instead it’s a blanket statement: “Everyone could stand to lose at least six pounds.”

And then what? When a girl is exposed to messages like this—and there are thousands, I’m just picking on Special K for fun—she is set up for disaster.

Arguments start in her brain and she wants to make the changes and feel the feelings like the women in the commercial, like the juice-fasting celebrity in the magazine, like the Adderall-abusing roommate. Because she’s been taught that these are gateways to happiness. She doesn’t see the frustration and the downward spiral that lies in wait.

If you’re looking to feel sassy, confident and free, skip the Special K Challenge. You already have it inside you, I promise, and it’s not too late to uncover it if you think you’ve lost it.

Take a deep breath, have a bubble bath, go to Restorative Yoga on Friday nights, be kind to others, and speak gently to yourself. Invest in your healthier life, starting from the inside out.

contributed by ANNA CAUDLE

Auburn Acrobats Anna Caudle, David Tourtellotte, Paula Bagley, Dylan Gouletas, Lindsey Dunn and Teddy Childers, perform at a women’s basketball game.

Auburn Acrobats learn to flip through campus Kailey Miller

Intrigue Reporter

Auburn is an ever-changing community that never ceases to keep its students on their toes.

Whether it’s by adding a fleet of food trucks to campus or spontaneous raves in the library, Auburn students are always experiencing new things on campus.

The Auburn University Acrobatics Club is one of these new things that has been added to Auburn’s campus.

Anna Caudle, junior in fine arts performance, had experience with acrobatics in high school and decided she wanted to do something similar at Auburn.

New this semester, the club already has approximately 25 members just from students who heard about it by word of mouth, Caudle said.

“It’s been even more successful than I thought it would be,” Caudle said.

The group only practices once a week, Fridays from 2-3:30 p.m., in the upstairs dance studio of the theater building.

Caudle said she leads the practices, starting off with some exercise.

“We start out each class with a 30-minute intensive workout because a lot of the stuff we do requires a lot of muscle and a lot of endurance,” Caudle said.

After that, they stretch and begin learning new tricks.

Most of the tricks they learn are done with partners, but juggling has recently been added to their skill set.

“We started out learning just basic moves, like little flips and stuff like that, and as we got a feel for who our best partner was, we’ve been able to move on to much more advanced tricks,” said Jordan Lunstead, sophomore in musical theater. “One of our dance professors is supposed to be getting certified in stilts this

contributed by ANNA CAUDLE

Auburn Acrobats Jenna Dickey and Jordan Lunstead perform at the women’s basketball game.

summer. So, hopefully, we will be having stilts classes next year.”

Teddy Childers, junior in biomedical sciences, said they usually learn three to four stunts a day.

Childers’ favorite stunt is called the fallen angel.

“I have a girl in front of me, and she jumps, and I am holding her by the small of her back over my head with one hand,” Childers said.

“That seems to be the most difficult.”

Lunstead described another trick, where one acrobat throws another into the air. The second acrobat does the splits and is caught by the first.

Caudle said she thinks the coolest move involves two people on the bottom as bases and one flyer, the person who gets thrown in the air.

The two bases then hold onto the hands and

feet of the flyer and flip them into a backbend in the air.

“It’s definitely a high level of intricacy,” Caudle said. “It looks incredible.”

According to Caudle, they have never had an injury at practice.

The members lay out gymnastics mats before they start practicing tricks.

“We only ever do partnering tricks one at a time so we can have people actively spotting the people that are doing the tricks in case anything goes wrong,” Lunstead said.

The group has already had a few performances, including women’s basketball games, and hopes to have more in the future.

Anyone who is interested in joining the club can contact Caudle at acc0027@tigermail.auburn.edu.

Ron White keeps the jokes coming

Adam Wolnski Intrigue Writer

Ron White has been one of the top three comedians in America for more than a decade; he’s dedicated to his craft and he’s not slowing down.

“I’ve done 11,000 shows,” White said. “I used to do nine shows a week, 50 weeks a year.”

With a thick “Texas accent,” as White called it, he commented on how performing in the south compared to performing in big cities in the north.

“Well it’s surprisingly similar, you know, because we all respond to the human condition that is pretty much the same,” White said.

According to White, the common denominator of his jokes spans the country.

“Even with Blue Collar, we always sold tickets in the north as well as we did in the south because it’s really geared toward people who have to get up and do something, you know, for a living.”

Blue Collar Comedy Tour was a widely popular comedy tour featuring Jeff Foxworthy, Bill Engvall, Larry the Cable Guy, and White.

White said he wouldn’t be where he is today without Foxworthy and the Blue Collar Comedy Tour.

He said he’s still known for many of the jokes he told on that tour.

“Most of my fans know that I won’t do old material,” White said. “There’s no such thing as

a hit joke. If you know the joke, you know the joke. So, we have to move on, and I have to tell you a new joke.”

White said the jokes he tells aren’t written in any notebooks or scribbled down on any napkins and he never sits down to write.

“It’s processed in my unstable brain and worked out on stage,” White said. “Jokes are kind of like puzzles, you know? If you find something that’s really funny you can build the puzzle around it.”

The way White processes and writes his jokes coincides with his comedic style, which is to be true to your nature.

White said for a long time his managers told him he needed to be more like other comics, corporate clean.

Despite this, White said he never changed.

“I’m gonna be myself,” White said. “The closer you get to who you really are onstage, the more people respond to it, for whatever reason.”

This thwarted rumors that White had given up drinking and only drank apple juice on stage as part of his act.

“I don’t know how that got started,” White laughed. “You can actually go on YouTube and see footage of me in a suit, cigar, scotch, diving in to a mermaid tank. So if that doesn’t scream I still drink, I don’t know what does.”

Number Juan is the tequila White drinks on stage, an award winning liquor he and his

“

I don’t know how [rumors of giving up drinking] got started.You can actually go on YouTube and see footage of me in a suit, cigar, scotch, diving into a mermaid tank.

So if that doesn’t scream I still drink, I don’t know what does.”

—Ron White Comedian

brother-in-law created.

A jack of all trades, White is an accomplished comedian, published author, actor and has owned multiple businesses.

White said he’s not opposed to branching out even more, but not if it compromises his tour.

“Once [tickets] are on sale, they’re on sale and I’m coming,” White said.

Tickets are on sale now to see White on Feb. 28 in Columbus, Ga., March 21 in Birmingham and March 22 in Montgomery.

For more information, visit http://tatersalad. com.

Thursday, February 20, 2014

The Auburn Plainsman

Intrigue A13

Angel’s Antique and flea mall Everyday 10 -7 and Sun 1 - 5

Adam Wolnski Intrigue Writer

Michael Stricklin, graduate student in integrated structure and design, has been making quality leather goods for more than two years and doesn’t plan on stopping.

His company, Loyal Stricklin, started small, but has grown and been noticed by so many people that it keeps him up most nights.

“I’m doing school every morning until pretty much noon, then I come out to Opelika and work until about midnight every night,” Stricklin said.

RC Hagan is an artist who rents out a studio in Opelika and works with Stricklin.

Hagan said he admires Stricklin’s approach to his art.

“He’s got a really great work ethic,” Hagan said. “So many times people are like, ‘Oh, let me come hang out and draw with you’ and they just wanna sit there and drink beer and gossip. But Michael is down to get down to work, and so am I. We motivate each other.”

With an undergraduate in Auburn’s acclaimed architecture department, it isn’t surprising that Stricklin’s parents want him to pursue a job as an architect.

However, Stricklin said the more he does with Loyal Stricklin, the less appealing the idea of being an architect seems to him.

“I’m getting tired of the late nights, so if I were to go and get a full-time job then that would just leave even less time for myself,”

KELSEY DAVIS / EDITOR-in-CHIEF

Stricklin designs and produces leather goods.

Stricklin said.

Stricklin has experimented and challenged himself with all the potential leather holds.

“I just tried to make a new design every week for a while until I found the ones that worked,” Stricklin said.

Stricklin has worked with different qualities of leather while trying various techniques and stitching. He has also collaborated and learned from other leather workers over the years he’s been in the business.

“If you’re doing it right, you’re doing a product unique enough and you shouldn’t feel threatened by anyone else [in the business],” Stricklin said.

According to Stricklin, an upcoming collaboration with an Alaskan artist will feature bear knuckles.

Stricklin said he has used social media and the Internet to successfully to promote Loyal Stricklin.Various prominent Instagram accounts have featured Stricklin, getting his name and product out to thousands of customers from multiple countries that may never have seen his products.

“The Internet makes it very possible to run a relatively small business but be doing very big things,” Stricklin said.

But before he started selling his product from Canada to California, Stricklin was picked up by local retailers, including The Overall Company in Opelika.

“He’s great,” said Ali Maloney, one of the founders of The Overall Company. “We bought some Christmas presents from him; I bought my husband a wallet, and my other business partners have his wallet. He’s got great stuff, and I love that he’s always coming out with new products.”

Follow Stricklin on Instagram at @loyalstricklin to see all of his latest products.

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Stricklin stays loyal to leather

Auburn graduate student Michael Stricklin has watched his leather goods company, which started in Opelika, expand across the country.

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CHECK US OUT ONLINE! & Get the latest news on Auburn!

Kailey Miller intrigue@ theplainsman.com

Instagram took over social media as the new place to share photos with friends, and then, later, with video. But unless users use an outside source to form a collage, they can only share one picture or video at a time.

The new app Momentage, sold to Apple July 2013, introduces a whole new way to share experiences.

“Momentage is a multimedia type app that allows you to share, capture and organize in the most elegant way possible,” said JoAnn Ippolito, co-founder and COO of Momentage. “It really brings everyday moments to life and makes it as engaging as possible with the community.”

According to Ippocito, through Momentage, users can take photos, videos and sound images and post them in one single post.

George Castineiras, founder and of Momentage, said they wanted to figure out how to modernize the way people around the world capture the most precious content they have, protect it and share it.

Castineiras said he wanted to find a better alternative to the way people have done it before, such as with digital cameras.

“We need a tool that helps people capture content with multiple media,” Castineiras said. “We want to make sure people can share it the way they want. We don’t want to define the user. We want the user to define, you know, the application.”

The app has a discovery page with a variety of Momentages from different users.

5.55 KAILEY MILLER / INTRIGUE REPORTER

Momentage allows users to create collages of photos.The app hopes to become the next Instagram.

You can scroll down to see Momentages, even from people you don’t follow.

Justin Bowen, chief technology officer at Momentage, said the discovery page is a place where they’re trying to define rich content.

“It’s kind of a blend of users that you should be following that have been on the app for a long time, and users that you should start following because they joined the app, and they have really rich content,” Bowen said.

According to Ippolito, the app is organized per moment.

For example, if a user goes to the beach all day, they can upload their photos, videos and sound images in one clip and continue to add to it throughout the day.

“You can constantly go back to your beach day and keep adding unlimitedly,”

Ippolito said. “If you decide that you want to organize it a little bit differently and capture, ‘ok, well now I’m actually heading to a boat, and I’m doing a little boat trip on top of the beach day,’ you can categorize that and then change that to a completely different moment. Then you can add specifically what you want regarding the beach day versus the boat day in two separate categories, or keep it all together.”

Castineiras said Instagram is a terrific app if all users are doing is communicating with their friends in a single post.

In terms of function, Castineiras compared Momentage to books and Instagram to dictionaries.

“What I mean by that is you’re going to get a much richer experience in observing and experiencing someone’s moment versus a single post,” Castineiras said.

Intrigue A14

The Auburn Plainsman

Thursday, February 20, 2014

Spectrum’s What-A-Drag! show won’t be a bore Becky Sheehan Intrigue Reporter

What-A-Drag!, Spectrum’s annual drag show charity event, will be held on Saturday, Feb. 22, in the Student Center Ballroom from 7 p.m. - 11 p.m.

What-A-Drag! is open to the public for a $5 admission fee, which supports LGBT organizations and Auburn’s Gay-Straight Alliance.

According to Darcy Corbitt, senior in psychology and Spectrum’s director of social affairs, proceeds from What-A-Drag! will be donated to either The Trevor Project, Equality Alabama or The Transgender Law Center.

In a new competition-style performance, the winning charity will be chosen by the drag king or queen who receives the largest amount of tips throughout the performance. Audience members are encouraged to bring $1 tips for performers representing each of the charities.

“A drag show is a sort of symbol for the LGBT community, and it normalizes the trouble people could have with gendered performance by making it ridiculous—by making it extreme,” said Ellen Dowdell, senior in sociology and English Literature and director of event planning for What-A-Drag! and Spectrum. “There’s an energy that comes from be-

ing together and being free to stand out.”

The event is comprised of both amateur and professional drag performances and will be emceed by Daisy Pukes and Femma Nazi.

What-A-Drag! is Spectrum’s major outreach event for the academic year, with members of both the University and local community in attendance.

Hayden Harris, senior in business management and assistant director of social affairs for Spectrum, said last year’s What-A-Drag! event raised more than $1,000 for charity.

“For the most part, response has always been positive to What-A-Drag!” Harris said.

“People seem to enjoy it whenever they go.”

Harris said the event promised to be a lively one that appeals to a wide audience, whether they are active in Spectrum or not.

Dowdell pointed out that while Spectrum has roughly 100 members, What-A-Drag! has recorded close to 300 spectators in recent years.

“People who have never been keep comparing it to a fashion show, but it’s not like that,” Dowdell said, “It’s more like a concert. Everybody’s close and gathered in and excited about what’s going on onstage. There’s no sitting back, it’s all forward motion, forward interaction with the performer.”

Spectrum representatives and drag performers will present the charities they’ve chosen to support and share the Gay-Straight Alliance’s message. While the show ultimately spreads a deeper message about equality, What-A-Drag! steers away from too much gravity.

“In some ways it’s a more positive, freeing, optimistic event because it’s celebrating,” Dowdell said. “It’s exuberant. It’s loud and unapologetic.”

Auburn’s Spectrum has teamed up again with Troy University, who will be sending performers and working behind the scenes.

“Members of other Gay-Straight Alliances state-wide have also been invited to contribute to this event, and Spectrum Troy has been very instrumental in this event’s success in the past,” Corbitt said.

For those who have never attended a drag performance, Dowdell explained that there is a difference between performing in drag and being a transgendered individual.

“It is important to note that drag is a performance, it is a gendered performance,” Dowdell said. “People do it once a year. If they do it professionally they may do it several times a year, but it is different from being a transgendered individual, so no one should assume anything about gender based on what they see.”

CONTRIBUTED BY ELLEN DOWDELL

Performers such as Femma Nazi, pictured above, will be featured in Spectrum’s What-a-Drag! show Saturday.

AU student becomes viral sensation with ‘Frozen’ cover Kane Grimster

Contributing Writer

More people have watched his video than live in the state of New Mexico, and it has only been three weeks.

Caleb Hyles, junior in radio, television and film, has more than 2.6 million views of his cover of “Let It Go” from the Disney movie Frozen.

Hyles has been making videos since 2003, but he has never had one of his videos gain the popularity of “Let It Go.” Hyles credits a lot of his cover’s success to the song.

“Every video I’ve seen of ‘Let It Go’ has become a thing,” Hyles said.

“I think people are so in love with this song, that if something comes along that is special, it’s going to take off.”

It was for this reason that Hyles wasn’t entirely shocked when the hits began to pile up.

“I’m partially shocked, but I’m not fully in shock because the nature of the

song is so poignant to a lot of people,” Hyles said. “I’m partially surprised that it happened to me just because I’ve been running a channel for several years now and that’s never happened to me.”

One person who helped share Hyles’ cover was Courtney Stringer, a friend of Hyles, who promoted the video via Facebook and Twitter.

Stringer said the video began to quickly gain hits after they created a fan page for Hyles and began asking people who’d commented on his video to like the page and spread the word about his talent.

Hyles said he chose “Let It Go” for both the personal connection and the musical challenge.

“As a singer, I love to try and stretch myself and do things I don’t think I can normally do, and that song is not in my range,” Hyles said. “The song is meant for women and a belting female

“

I think people are so in love with this song, that if something comes along that is special, it’s going to take off.”

—Caleb Hyles

junior in radio, television and film

vocalist, which is the complete opposite of me.”

Although not a song for men, Hyles’ cover has been well received and he contributes this to having kept his cover in the song’s original form.

“There’s a lot of male covers out there, but the only difference between mine and theirs is that mine is in the original key,” Hyles said.

Hyles said this allows people to remix his cover with other’s without having to edit the song. Fans have already inundated Hyles with duet versions of his cover.

“It’s such a gratifying feeling knowing you’ve inspired someone to be creative,” Hyles said.

Despite his recent YouTube fame, Hyles is yet to be approached to officially collaborate with someone. Hyles said ideally he’d love to work with James Hatfield of Metallica or Robert Lopez and Kristen Anderson-Lopez, who wrote the music for Frozen.

With Hyles’ only structured musical training coming in the form of a church choir, he resorted to an unusual method to receive feedback for his singing – a video game.

“I would attribute a lot of my vocal training to Rock Band because it scores you and [the video game] grades you,” Hyles said. “It has that

vocal training mood where it plays the tones and notes and it shows you how off you are, allowing you to adjust yourself on the fly.”

In addition to his YouTube channel, Hyles is also active in other musical areas.

“I’m in a fresh metal band called From The Dark,” Hyles said. “Also I would love to perform more, do musical theater, act, any kind of medium that involves me getting to express myself is something I want to pursue.”

“Caleb is not only a very talented singer, but also actor and drummer,” said Steve Badskey, Hyles’ church music director who has known him since he was a toddler. “He’s a great unknown talent. I could see him making it on Broadway now, he has that level of natural talent.”

For now, Hyles said he’s just trying to stay grounded and enjoy continuing to make music.

We know finding and applying for scholarships can be hard work, but with the new Auburn University Scholarship Opportunity Manager (AUSOM), it has never been easier.

Through AUSOM, you can view available scholarships you may be eligible to receive, complete scholarship applications, accept your awards, and much more.

Current Auburn students must apply through AUSOM

by March 1 to receive consideration for General and Departmental Scholarships. Nursing and Pharmacy students must apply through AUSOM by June 1 to receive Departmental Scholarship consideration.

To receive consideration for need-based scholarships, students should complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) at fafsa.ed.gov. The FAFSA should be received by Auburn University by March 1.

For more information on AUSOM and available scholarships, visit auburn.edu/scholarship.

THIS IS AUBURN. ausom@auburn.edu /AUScholarships /AUScholarships