The Auburn Plainsman 02.25.16 Issue

Political Guide Inside

The Auburn Plainsman A SPIRIT THAT IS NOT AFRAID

Thursday, February 25, 2016 Vol. 123, Issue 21, 28 Pages

COMMUNITY

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CONCERTS

‘Turn down for what?’

DAKOTA SUMPTER / PHOTO EDITOR

The suspect’s vehicle crahed into a white SUV on South Gay Street.

Police chase ends in apparent suicide Jim Little

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

An armed robbery ended in an apparent suicide after a high-speed police chase through Auburn.

Auburn Police Chief Paul Register said a man robbed a business at gunpoint at approximately 11:50 a.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 24, near the intersection Cox Road and West Longleaf Drive.

The suspect fled in a red Jeep Wrangler and the Auburn Police Division spotted the suspect’s vehicle approximately one minute later, according to Register.

Lee County sheriff’s deputies got involved in the chase.

“During the pursuit, the suspect in the situation did fire a shot at law enforcement,” Register said.

“A shot was returned by law enforcement.”

Register said the pursuit lasted several miles after the exchange of gunfire, until the suspect crashed into a white SUV after shooting himself near the intersection of South Gay Street and Brookside Drive.

“There was another vehicle that was hit, and those people have been transported [to the hospital] for minor injuries,” Register said.

Daniel Chesser, public relations specialist with Auburn City Schools, said Wrights Mill Road Elementary School, Auburn Junior High School, Auburn High School and Dean Road Elementary School were placed under a lockdown for approximately an hour, but were given the all clear by the APD. Traffic on South Gay Street was closed for several hours as police investigators from the APD and the Lee County Sheriff’s Office processed the crime scene.

Police are not releasing the name of the suspect at this time and said the investigation is continuing.

Maria McIlwain contributed to this report.

VIA WIKIPEDIA

Auburn Airwaves artists announced Lil Jon, Flo Rida and Natalie La Rose will perform at Auburn Airwaves on March 31.

Corey Williams CAMPUS EDITOR

University Program Council announced Flo Rida, Lil Jon and Natalie La Rose will perform at its annual Auburn Airwaves concert on March 31.

UPC took a tally of about 20 artists, analyzed the results, made lists, crunched the numbers and ended up with the artists, said Haley Horn, assistant director of major entertainment.

“I think it's going to be great,” Horn said.

“Flo Rida is definitely really popular among students, so we're hoping for a big turnout. Natalie La Rose and Lil Jon are going to be great too.”

The performance will be on the field by the Red Barn. Tickets are free for students and public prices will be announced soon, Horn said.

Last year's concert, which featured Kesha, Nelly and Nick Jonas, was fraught with controversy.

The Magnolia Avenue and College Street intersection was blocked off for the "Corner Block Party," and the city instituted a one-nightonly open container law for downtown.

Thousands turned out for the event, but many residents found the performances offensive.

Lori Fuller, Auburn resident and mother of two teenage children, was the first person to address the City Council during its first meeting after the concert. She was upset Auburn Airwaves fliers were sent home with Auburn City Schools students, and she demanded an apology from the city.

“Shock — complete shock to many [parents],” Fuller said. “There was no warning. This

was not a G or PG-rated family event. If you sent (a flier) to kindergarten or fifth grade, that naturally assumes the city had done their due diligence.”

Some City Council members were also disturbed by the concert, though the council approved the temporary entertainment districts before the acts were announced.

“I think it was totally inappropriate for downtown Auburn,” said Ward 8 Councilman Tommy Dawson. “I was disappointed in it. I don’t know how it happened, but I can promise you this, in the future, I’ll personally take more a role in reviewing these things we approve.”

Mayor Bill Ham said he had never heard of most of the performers, but the incident would

» See AIRWAVES, 2

STATE

Former professors remember connection with Harper Lee Maria McIlwain COMMUNITY EDITOR

The loss of famed author Harper Lee hit close to home for two former Auburn professors.

Lee, 89, died in her sleep in her hometown of Monroeville on Friday, Feb. 19.

Wayne Flynt, professor emeritus of history and author of several books about Alabama history and culture, was a friend of Lee's. They met through Lee's sister, Louise Connor. He said they would go to Georgia to eat soul food.

“My wife and I fell in love with (Lee), and she came to tolerate us," Flynt said.

Lee's 1960 book, “To Kill a Mockingbird,” won a Pulitzer Prize and became influential during and after the Civil Rights movement.

Flynt and Lee wrote letters back and forth through the years. They talked about a myriad of topics, from religion to state and national politics.

"We share a common revulsion at Roy Moore, for instance," Flynt said.

He said she loved author C.S. Lewis in particular and was a devout Christian who believed in civility and justice.

"Her style was to walk the walk," Flynt said.

Flynt spoke at Lee's funeral. He presented a speech he made for her 10 years earlier for the Birmingham Pledge Foundation Award for Ra-

cial Justice. He said the experience was "terrifying" because she specifically requested him to deliver that speech.

"She said, 'I don't want any other preacher there but you,'" Flynt said.

Over the years, Flynt would make public appearances for Lee. However, it was not because she was reclusive, according to Flynt, but she was a private person who "inhabited the world of mythology" since childhood.

"The world could worship her from afar; it didn't have to be up close," Flynt said.

Flynt said Lee didn't care what the public thought of her.

"The idea that she somehow depended on me was just not true," Flynt said.

Flynt said Lee was an avid Alabama fan, and one of her treasured memories was a lunch with legendary coach Bear Bryant.

"He was as impressed with her as she was with him," Flynt said.

Though Flynt accepted many awards on Lee's behalf, there was one she wanted to receive in person. A couple of years after her stroke, she accepted the Presidential Medal of Freedom from George W. Bush.

» See LEE, 2

CONTRIBUTED BY ERIC DRAPER / GEORGE W. BUSH PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

President George W. Bush with author Harper Lee on Nov. 5, 2007, prior to receiving the Medal of Freedom.

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The Auburn Plainsman

Thursday, February 25, 2016

STUDENT GOVERNMENT

DUI REPORTS The following were arrested and charged with driving under the influence by the Auburn Police Division from Feb.17-23:

Senators close their term in office Claire Tulley CAMPUS WRITER

Feb. 17 - Zachary Robert Taylor, 22 East Magnolia Avenue at 11:43 p.m.

- Thomas Grant Robinson, 19 South Dean Road at 1:13 a.m.

Feb. 20 - William Andrew Robinson, 21 Charleston Place at 1:09 a.m.

- Laura Kate Crowley, 21 South Ross Street at 12:02 a.m.

Feb. 21 - Benjamin Lloyd Bragdon, 33 East University Drive at 7:24 p.m.

A full crime report provided by the Auburn Department of Public Safety is available online at ThePlainsman.com.

–Reports provided by the Auburn Department of Public Safety

The 2015–16 SGA senators spoke at the final senate of their term Monday, Feb. 22, and installed the new senate members when the meeting finished.

Brandon Honeywell, pro tempore, acted as vice president in Justin Mathews’ absence and urged the current senate to help new senators transition into their positions.

“I would ask that you meet all the new people that will be taking your seats and get to know them,” Honeywell said. “Kind of let them know where you’re at with the projects in your college and committee.”

Drake Pooley, Diversity and Multicultural Affairs committee chair, presented the first ever SGA state of diversity report, which he said is to be made available on the SGA website.

LEE

» From 1 “On the arm if a fine young Marine, she walked for just about the only time since her stroke,” Flynt said.

Ed Williams, professor emeritus of journalism and faculty adviser of The Auburn Plainsman for 23 years, met Lee at the 2003 induction of the Alabama Acad-

Pooley said most of the evidence they found showed that SGA’s diversity was similar to that of Auburn’s student body, except for the data found on Greek life.

“Auburn as a whole is 25 percent Greek, whereas SGA is 72 percent Greek,” Pooley said.

Senators then discussed a resolution recommending enhancements to the student gameday experience.

Michael Waldrum, executive vice president of programs, said the intent of buying tickets should not be to make a profit.

“The end goal is for everyone to get those tickets the first time around,” Waldrum said.

Trey Fields, Student Affairs committee chair, said he believes the Auburn ticketing system is a broken one and needs to be fixed.

Before this resolution passed, Hunter

Gibson, senator at-large, said he supporting this resolution because it voices students’ concerns about game day.

“This year, a gameday experience committee was created in SGA specifically tasked with getting feedback,” Gibson said. “There is definitely data there, and there has been a lot of research and a lot of thought that’s gone into this.”

Following the meeting, seniors and other senators who wouldn’t be serving another term thanked their fellow senators and offered advice to those who entered office.

Paul Paratore, pharmacy senator, said he believes the senators are will always be leaders as they go off into the world.

“If I have the pleasure of bumping into you 20 or 30 years from now, don’t ask me where the leaders are,” Paratore said.

“You know where they are.”

emy of Honor. Williams grew up in Conecuh County, which neighbors Lee’s home in Monroe County.

“I respected her reclusive nature and that she wanted to be left alone,” Williams said in an email. “Just like Boo Radley.”

He said she was not the loner he expected, but friendly and outgoing and interested in his career as a journalist.

“She seemed amazed and thought it was funny when I told her that I clipped and saved articles about her and kept them in a box,” Williams said. “’You ought to burn them,’ she laughed.”

Flynt said Lee loved Alabama, and even wrote passages for his books about Alabama history and culture.

“We developed a beautiful end-of-life friendship,” Flynt said.

EVENTS

(334) 329-7777 2059 S College St, Auburn

FILE PHOTO

Rodeo organizers plan safety increase In previous years, guests were allowed to stay on site all day.This year, the gates won’t up until 11 a.m.

AIRWAVES » From 1

not stop the city from collaborating with the University in the future.

Bobby Woodard, associate provost and vice president of Student Affairs, issued a statement about the concert a few days later.

"The acts for the Auburn Airwaves event, which occurred after the Auburn Oaks dedication ceremony, were selected by the student leadership of the University Program Council (UPC)," Woodard wrote. "This experience is one of the ways that students have the opportunity to make decisions and take responsibility for those decisions as part of their growth and development. The feedback we receive following events is valuable.

We will share this feedback with UPC so that as they bring future performers to campus they will have a variety of perspectives. Hearing the concerns and opinions of others help us to ensure that future acts will appeal to more of our Auburn Family."

Sagar Leva, UPC’s director of major entertainment, emailed The Plainsman a statement about the concert.

“We did our research as every year when planning,” Leva said in the statement. “This year’s line up is very special because the students voted for their favorite artist in the fall and we worked for months to make sure we were able to bring some of the top voted artists.”

Jim Little contributed to this report.

A ndria M oore CAMPUS REPORTER

The annual Alpha Psi Rodeo is reinin’ it in.

As the event nears, Alpha Psi members are busy preparing for the added safety precautions and the headliner this year, Eli Young Band.

“It will be out on Ingram Farms again this year,” said Justin Gibson, Alpha Psi Rodeo co-chairman. “Just to ensure that traffic flow into and out of the event is as smooth as possible.”

The biggest change made this year is the start time of the rodeo.

“Rodeo won’t start until 1:30 p.m. this year, and the gates themselves won’t open until 11 a.m.,” said Bryan Murdock, co-chairman of Alpha Psi Rodeo. “In past years, gates and parking would open much sooner, and people would be on site for 12 plus hours.”

Murdock said the hope is that dehydration and over-heating will be less of a concern.

“In limiting the length of time guests

are on site, we are hoping to minimize these occurrences,” Murdock said. “We also encourage students to bring their own sandwiches and snacks.”

In past years, the rodeo has gained a reputation for heavy drinking, according to Opelika-Auburn News. Ambulances and emergency medics were often called to attend to unconscious guests. Gibson hopes added safety precautions will limit the amount of incidences.

“Another concern is binge drinking,” Gibson said. “Anyone trying to take things that support binge drinking [funnels, dizzy bats] into the event site will be confiscated.”

Gibson said safety precautions are not being taken lightly. Alpha Psi Rodeo has hired a private security firm to work alongside local law enforcement “to ensure a safe environment.”

“We are working with police and EMS services to make sure the areas are well-lit and safe,” Gibson said. “There will be more lights, and each will be numbered so it will be easier to locate

people.”

Parking changes have also been made to try and organize the flow of traffic.

Organizations will still be allowed to rent charter buses, but must do so before April 2 by emailing alphapsirodeo2016@gmail.com.

“Parking on site will be $10, cash only,” Murdock said. “Everyone inside the car must show their rodeo tickets before they are allowed to buy parking and enter the event area.”

Rides can also be acquired through Tiger Taxi, for those not wishing to park themselves.

Both Gibson and Murdock hope the added precautions will limit the amount of problems and create a better environment for all guests.

“We hope these changes will make the event safer and more fun for everyone involved,” Murdock said.

Tickets for Alpha Psi Rodeo are on sale now for $45 online at alphapsirodeo.com and at Anders Bookstore. After March 13, the price rises to $55.

STATE OF THE UNIVERSITY

President Gogue addresses progress, lack of diversity at State of the University Address Andria Moore CAMPUS REPORTER

MADISON OGLETREE / PHOTOGRAPHER

Aubie poses at the UPC Auburn Airwaves announcement Feb. 22.

President Jay Gogue gave the State of the University Address in Langdon Hall Thursday night, Feb. 18, at 6:30 p.m.

“The four major areas we look at when University people get together and talk about the quality of the University and state are education, cost, access and diversity,” Gogue said. “Those are the four big topics in education that every institution is fussing about and worrying about.”

The data in these four areas is compared to Auburn University’s peer schools. Louisiana State University, University of Georgia, University of Arkansas and the University of Alabama are

just a few.

“In terms of cost, our tuition is higher because we offer more money in scholarships than our peers,” Gogue said.

Auburn University has a graduation rate of about 74 percent in six years.

“The data looks at persistent rates and how many people persist from freshman to sophomore year,” Gogue said.

Auburn is behind in diversity compared to it’s peers, with 1/3 less international and Asian- American students than other schools. However, the AfricanAmerican ratio is equal to its peers.

“Diversity is something we have really been working on trying to improve,” Gogue said. “We have been talking to different minority groups on campus to try

and see how to improve those relations and make them feel comfortable.”

Gogue said improvements to campus go beyond building metaphorical bridges, but also building new facilities.

“The new Mell Street classroom is under construction,” Gogue said. “Nursing and pharmaceutical research buildings have been approved. A new performing arts building has been funded. We are also having a big discussion as to whether we should tear down the dorms in the Hill or renovate them.”

The comprehensive campaign was also touched upon briefly.

“The goal was to raise over a billion, and right now we are a little over 9 million,” Gogue said.

Campus

3

Thursday, February 25, 2016

ThePlainsman.com

Campus

policy

University cuts free speech demonstration short Corey Williams Campus Editor

Young Americans for Liberty members protested the University’s free speech policy on the Haley Concourse Thursday, Feb. 23, by inviting students to write thoughts on their shirts.

The event was cut short when a campus administrator, accompanied by a police officer, asked them to leave and come back with a permit.

“According to the Constitution, we have a First Amendment right to free speech,” said Gordon Miller, a Troy University student. “This being a public university, you should be able to say whatever you want, whenever you want, wherever you want. We feel like that’s being repressed here.”

Wesley Stone, YAL president and sophomore in pre-med, said the Mell Street construction has exacerbated the problem.

The University requires speakers to use the Open Air Forum, located on the steps of the Ralph Brown Draughon Library or other approved campus locations that have been deemed appropriate by the Division of Student Affairs, according to the University’s speech and demonstration policy.

“The rest have very limited student traffic, so your voice isn’t actually being heard,” Stone said.

“You’re not expressing what you need to express.

We don’t believe that limiting people’s constitutional rights to specific areas is justifiable. We want people to have their rights guaranteed to them.”

Students were invited to write things they don’t

Corey Williams / Campus Editor

Brett Hanson, Gordon Miller and Welsey Stone advocate for free speech Feb. 18.

like about the University, or anything else on their minds, on the members’ shirts.

A few people didn’t agree with their position, and one person even ripped a flier. But Brett Hanson, freshman in mechanical engineering, said he didn’t mind.

“It’s free speech,” Hanson said. “They can say it if they want.”

The students were asked to leave the concourse and return on Monday with a permit three minutes into The Auburn Plainsman’s conversation with the YAL members.

“Do you have your permit that you filled out through AU Involve?” asked Debbie Hood, who oversees Student Center reservations, concourse and banner permits and outdoor space for Student Affairs. “You’re supposed to have a permit anytime you’re out on the concourse. It takes 48 business hours, and you can be out here on Monday. We will have to ask you to leave today. Like, all these other people went through AU Involve, and we can’t really let y’all be out here and not go through the same process.”

“We’re out here talking about free speech,” Stone replied. “Are you telling me I have to have a permit to exercise my right to free speech?”

“Right now, that is the policy of Auburn University,” Hood said. “Everyone has to have a permit.”

“At what point does talking on campus turn into something you need a permit for?” Hanson asked.

“It’s not really talking; it’s just being out on the concourse itself,” Hood said. “It has to pass through the student organization office. Any student organization that wants to be out on the concourse has to have a permit to do so.”

The students said they didn’t want any trouble and agreed to leave.

They don’t know when, but they plan to return.

“We would love to come back and do more activism,” Stone said. “We may not be able to come back this Monday, but it’s very clear that there is still a lot of work to be done on campus.”

public safety

Wire Road robbery under investigation, according to AUPS Staff report

The Auburn Police Division is investigating a robbery that occurred Sunday, Feb. 21, at approximately 3 a.m., according to an Auburn University Public Safety announcement.

The victim reports he was walking along Wire Road between Lem Mor-

rison Drive and Shug Jordan Parkway when a small, light-color, four-door sedan carrying four subjects stopped near him. Two subjects got out, physically assaulted the victim and stole his wallet, while two subjects remained in the vehicle, the victim alleges. The victim describes all four subjects as black males,

but was unable to give a more detailed description, according to the release.

AUPS reminded students of the following: “Stay alert to your surroundings and walk with your friends, especially at night.

Use available means of transporta-

tion such as the Night Security Shuttle (available on campus at 334-844-7400 from 6 p.m.-7 a.m. while classes are in session) or a local taxi service.

Trust your instincts. If you do not feel comfortable in a place or situation, leave.

If you see suspicious activity or a

person behaving suspiciously, notify police at 911 (emergencies or crimes in progress), 334-501-3100 (non-emergencies) or 334-246-1391 (tip line - text or call).”

To report information about this incident, notify the Auburn Police Division using the tip line.

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Campus 4

The Auburn Plainsman

Thursday, February 25, 2016

tradition

Contributed by Dennis Schroeder

The eagles and three Southeastern Raptor Center staff members traveled to Colorado to participate in research to prevent bird strikes in wind turbines.

Spirit and Nova take flight in Colorado Andria Moore Campus Reporter

Spirit and Nova, Auburn University’s War Eagles, took a mini vacation to Colorado while simultaneously working on research to save the lives of their relatives.

The eagles, accompanied by three staff members from the Southeastern Raptor Center, braved the cold to participate in research to prevent bird strikes in wind turbines.

Marianne Hudson, assistant director of raptor training and education, said the National Renewable Energy Laboratory that partners with Laufer Wind contacted them.

“They saw that we have eagles that are trained to fly to handlers over large distances,” Hudson said. “This is the first large-scale research project our eagles have been involved in.”

The research was testing radar systems’ ca-

pabilities to detect birds. Although bird deaths by wind turbines are rare, eagles and other large birds are at an increased risk because of their size.

“Bird deaths by collision with wind turbines is just a small percentage of bird deaths annually,” said Andrew Hopkins, raptor specialist.

“However, this is still a worldwide problem, and if there is a way to protect these species, then we have the responsibility to do everything we can to make sure it doesn’t happen.”

The research was conducted by having the eagles fly on predetermined paths while wearing GPS tracking systems, the kind they wear while flying through Jordan-Hare Stadium.

“Marianne and I were both responsible for flying the eagles to designated points based off of angles the researchers wanted,” Hopkins said.

Releasing two eagles at anytime can be nerve-

research

wracking, but especially when released into the Colorado wilderness.

“I think we are always nervous when the birds fly,” Hudson said. “But they are always wearing their tracking devices in case they do decide to fly off.”

Hopkins said extra training measures were enacted before the trip to ensure the eagles’ safety.

“Before we left for Colorado, we had to keep training the eagles to fly to us for their reward,” Hopkins said. “Normally we strictly do this in the stadium so that they heavily associate the stadium with a positive reward. However, they weren’t going to be in a stadium in Colorado.”

Spirit and Nova were taken to Lake Guntersville, Birmingham, the field near the Jule Collins Smith Museum of Fine Art and other areas to practice flying in unfamiliar places.

“In the weeks prior to our trip, you could have

sUSTAINABILITY

University receives Tree Campus USA designation Jake LeGrone Campus Writer

tarantula via auburn university, cash via wikipedia

Johnny Cash’s legendary song “Folsom Prison Blues” inspired the new species’ name.

Tarantula in Black

Alumnus names species after Johnny Cash A meera S teward Campus Writer

A team of researchers, led

by Chris Hamilton, former doctoral student in the Department of Biological Sciences at the University, discovered a previously unknown species of tarantula near Folsom State Prison in California.

The team named the new species after singer-songwriter Johnny Cash.

People who collected Aphonopelma johnnycashi before thought they were a part of another species, Hamilton said.

According to Hamilton, the males are predominantly all black, which is different than some of the males of other species.

It is also what makes them unique.

Cash’s name is the perfect

seen us at different locations around Auburn and even across the state,” Hopkins said. “We wanted to make sure that the eagles knew they were supposed to come to us no matter where we were at.”

According to Hudson, the research will take several weeks to analyze, but will ultimately benefit wind turbines worldwide.

“This research has the potential to allow wind turbines to turn off when birds are coming,” Hudson said. “If the technology is implemented in wind farms worldwide, it has the potential to save lives.”

Hopkins said he and his team are always happy to help with life-saving research.

“Future generations of birds of prey will be protected from these wind turbines, and future generations of people will be allowed to continue to watch these powerful raptors,” Hopkins said.

“

I don’t know if there’s any other name you can give it.”

—chris hamilton

researcjer

name for the spider, Hamilton said.

“I don’t know if there is any other name you could give it,” Hamilton said. “Its males are black, dressed in all black like Johnny. It was almost an immediate that the name just popped in my head.”

Johnnycashi wasn’t the only species they found, according to Hamilton.

Hamilton said they found others, but this was the only

species named after a famous person.

Hamilton was a doctoral student at the time of the research and worked with Jason Bond, senior author and chair for the department of biology and Brent Hendrixson, Mississippi Millsaps College.

Hamilton and Hendrixon both said they enjoyed doing the research and finding jonnycashi.

“It’s a dream come true, it’s partly a relief, it’s a project that we’ve been working on for so long,” Hendrixson said. “The project itself was something that was born when I was an undergraduate, and to see something of this magnitude finally reach its conclusion was incredibly gratifying, and I’m happy that its done and ready to start something new.”

Auburn has received its seventh consecutive Tree Campus USA designation.

Five standards have to be passed in order to get the designation, according to the Arbor Day Foundation. A university must have a campus tree advisory committee, a campus tree care plan, a campus tree program with dedicated annual expenditures, Arbor Day observance and a service learning project.

The University has improved at growing and maintaining trees, according to Gary Keever, professor of horticulture and a Facilities Management landscape consultant.

“There are more expenditures than I was capturing in those early years, and I think that better reflects what the University is doing to try and protect and preserve our trees,” Keever said.

Keever said he is honored with the reward, but believes Auburn can do more.

“Don’t get me wrong, there are good things happening, but we’re just not there yet, where I would like us to be,” Keever said. “Sometimes priorities change and trees suffer.”

There is always new construction going on at Auburn, according to Keever.

“Much of the building has been within a relatively small core,” Keever said. “There’s only a finite amount of area within that core, and as we add buildings, we are displacing trees.”

“If you have any doubt, remember the trees that used to be in front of the library,” Keever said.

“Just move around the campus. The rec center is a footprint, the arena, the village, the parking deck and the new nursing school.”

Auburn needs to do a better job with its oncampus trees, Keever said.

He said the key areas are the planning process, scouting and monitoring for diseases and insects, protecting trees and planting more trees.

One area Auburn can improve is canopy cover, Keever said.

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service, canopy cover is “the percent of a fixed area covered by the crown of an individual plant species...”

A 2010 study by an Auburn graduate student, who inventoried all the managed trees on Auburn’s campus to research canopy cover, found that Auburn’s canopy coverage was 16 percent.

“If you check out some of the other schools, say, in the Atlanta area, Georgia Tech and Agnes Scott, you’re going to find their canopy cover is 50 percent,” Keever said. “It’s probably even lower now, with all the trees that have been taken out.”

Campus environment is an important part of recruiting, according to Keever.

“There has been some published studies that say high percentage of college students, when they are looking at college, consider the environment, and in particular, trees,” Keever said.

Jennifer Morse, Office of Sustainability communications coordinator, agrees.

“People are looking for that these days,” Morse said.

Auburn hired Alexander Hedgepath as Auburn’s first arborist to help care for Auburn’s trees.

Keever said he is excited about the move and believes it could allow for improvements on Auburn’s campus.

“Hiring of the new arborist is such a positive step,” Keever said. “He and I have worked closely together, and I think we are going to see big improvements in our campus trees over the next few years.”

Opinion

5

Thursday, February 25, 2016

ThePlainsman.com

Opinion

our view

University-sanctioned freedom of speech

SOCIAL MEDIA ON THE PLAINS

Spring 2016 Editorial Board

Auburn University’s speech and demonstration policy states that demonstrations, protests and speeches may only be conducted on the steps of Ralph Brown Draughon Library.

That is, unless you want to receive special authorization from the Division of Student Affairs, in which case you may or may not be granted a permit to carry out a protest at some alternate University-sanctioned location.

Some of these locations include the Graves Amphitheater, athletic department facilities or the Student Activities Center amphitheater.

Sound a little Orwellian to you? You’re not alone.

Last week, some members of the Young Americans for Liberty took to the concourse to peacefully protest the University’s freespeech policy. The protesters, led by YAL President Wesley Stone, went onto the concourse without a permit.

Soon after, they were told to leave by Debbie Hood, the campus administrator who oversees Student Center reservations.

The young lovers of liberty complied.

Both parties were civil, but nonetheless, there is something disconcerting with this scene.

The phrase “University-sanctioned freedom of speech” is worth deep consideration.

It’s seemingly an oxymoron.

It seems antithetical to American ideals.

Yet, it isn’t an entirely gross concept. We recognize that some measures must be taken to ensue safety and convenience for students. The concourse can’t be completely obstructed for the sake of protest. Students use it to get to class, and that ought to be respected.

There is, however, a precarious balance that must be reached in determining the ratio

Response to “COLUMN: Voting for Sanders is a huge mistake” John Bradford “Yeah America needes a candidate with realistic goals like forcing Mexico to pay $8 billion for a border wall and deporting 11 million immigrants!”

gurden smith / graphics editor

of protest efficacy and student convenience.

The University cannot always be trusted to allow the free exchange of ideas when it’s needed.

In 1961, Jim Bullington, former editor of The Auburn Plainsman, wrote a front-page article advocating integration.

Many in the student body were outraged, a cross was burned in front of the Bullington’s dorm and many linked The Plainsman to communism.

President Ralph Brown Draughon, fearing the campus would become a “cockpit for the extremists on both sides of the racial issue to fight in,” decided it would be best to stymie free press by placing Bullington on probation on the grounds that Bullington’s opinion did not match the opinion of the student body.

A year later, The Plainsman published another article advocating integration.

Draughon dismissed both the writer of the article and the editor of the paper and then

suspended publication of The Plainsman during the summer of 1962.

In an ideal world, the days when University administration officials would sacrifice the market of ideas to appease the general public are gone.

But we do not live in an ideal world. Protections must be in place to keep this exchange of ideas regular.

We believe the University’s speech and demonstration policy should be altered to enable protests on the concourse in front of Starbucks without permission from the University.

It’s a large, open space, so walking won’t be obstructed.

It’s in a heavily trafficked spot, so protest visibility will increase. People will be better able to voice their opinions to a wider audience.

We believe this change of policy would further ensure the progress of Auburn, even in the face of a dissenting majority.

his view

Donald Trump could do a 180 to get to 270 Chip Brownlee community reporter

Making political predictions this year is a losing game, and if analysts were betting money, they would all be broke. One thing has remained true this year, though: In American politics, anything is possible — so be prepared. Those possibilities include businessman Donald Trump being elected the next president of the United States.

One thing has remained constant among Democrats as well: their wish for Trump to become the Republican nominee.

Even according to most Republicans, there is no way Trump would ever win a general election.

I cannot say I have disagreed with them — until now.

If the insanity that has been this cycle is any indicator, Trump could win a general election. He has far more appeal than anyone would like to admit, except perhaps him.

Trump’s explosive rise to the top of Republican primary polling last summer, his historic stability at the top of those polls and his victories in New Hampshire, South Carolina and Nevada have utterly shocked much of the country.

Trump’s ability to change his positions every three weeks without appearing inconsistent is precisely his strength. He takes something on which he has changed his opinion, such as a single-payer insurance program, LGBTQ rights or pro-choice issues, and shifts them to his advantage.

He could easily use that ability to change positions simply to appeal to a broader voting base because many of his current supporters have little preference for policy.

You could easily paint him as a liberal, as many of his competitors have tried to do, but you would fail because no one cares about consistency anymore. They care about personality.

The United States has always had a tough persona. A large bloc of the country wants a president who matches that persona. They want Trump because his main strength is his strength. If Trump wins his party’s nomination, many blue-dog Democrats will look past Trump’s nativism and political incorrectness.

Trump will appeal to many progressive voters who despise international free-trade agreements, which they believe cause jobs to be shipped overseas. In his initial tax plan, he intended to raise taxes on those rich like him, something with which many progressives would agree.

His ability to shift positions and win over swaths of the voting populace will make

him a far more dangerous challenger for the Democratic nominee. He will be able to position himself as a moderate on policy once he wins the nomination, simply because of his ability to shift.

He’s able to appeal to people who believe the government is corrupted by big business and twisted politicians.

Trump appeals to people who want the government changed so it doesn’t benefit millionaires and billionaires — he constantly talks about how the government helps the powerful.

But he also appeals to people who don’t want to tax the rich, people who believe in the idea of American entrepreneurial strength and people who see the government as working against the average citizen’s best interests.

He’s the perceived billionaire capitalist savior riding in on a white horse to save the country from statesmen who make lousy deals, bureaucrats who make shoddy decisions and politicians who lie about backroom agreements and email servers, or so his followers believe.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying today’s Trump will win the 270 electoral delegates he will need to become president, but tomorrow’s might.

Emily Esleck Managing Editor Kris Martins Copy Weston Sims OpinioN

Corey Williams campus Maria McIlwain community Sam Butler Sports

Randy Edwin Brouillette “That picture looks like a cloning experiment gone horribly wrong... get back to class or your D&D game boys....”

Wesley Stone (in response to Randy Edwin Brouillette) “Hey Randy! This is Wes, the bad clone on the far right.

Yea I actually do like D&D. It’s a really fun game. I’m usually too busy with activism stuff to get a group together to play it though. And you’re absolutely right! It is your constitutional right to say we look like an abomination of science. By the American flag I can see you’re probably a pretty patriotic dude. Freedom is what our country was founded on, so you should come check out our meetings. If you can find the time though of course, we wouldn’t want you taking time out of your busy schedule putting strangers down on Facebook to attend. Have an awesome day friend!

Response to “UPC announces Flo Rida, Natalie La Rose and Lil Jon to perform March 31, at Auburn Airwaves.” @haydens_football_18 “First like and war eagle” @leemcwilliams “@itssarraaaa maybe the eastside boys will make an @annacampbell329 “@britt_brennan uhhhhhh can we go to this???.” @christian.tyler13 “So is this concert free??” @chase_b_roberts “free and on my b-day”

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Kelly O’Connor “As an Auburn graduate in Finance, I’m embarrassed that this kids unresearched fantasies made it into print. You might want to stop by the Business Building and chat with some Finance and Economics Profs, before you pretend to understand the Market. And you can walk over to the library and checkout Robert Reich’s book so you can better understand how economics and politics affect the Market.

Geesh... all those resources right on campus and you don’t bother to use them.”

Chip can be reached at community@ThePlainsman.com

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Community Thursday, February 25, 2016

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Community

local spotlight

For the love of basketball

Coach keeps mentoring high school athletes despite illness Maria McIlwain community editor

A casual bystander watching the varsity boys basketball team practice might think the blond guy wearing a pink polo is Auburn High School’s head basketball coach. He walks between the groups of players, offering suggestions and critiquing players.

That observer might not even notice the older African-American man folded into a wheelchair. He is quietly watching from the corners of the gym.

His name is Frank Tolbert, and he is the head basketball coach at Auburn High School. He has coached since 1969 — his first year out of college. Back then, he coached at Drake High School, but moved to Auburn High when the schools integrated.

“The first year I walked in the class, all the kids were white,” Tolbert said. “I about fainted.”

He only coached football the first couple of years, then coached girls basketball before returning to boys basketball. He has led the boys teams every year since then, except for 1994– 95, when he was diagnosed with Guillain-Barré syndrome, an immune disorder that attacks the nerves, eventually causing paralysis.

That’s why he’s confined to the wheelchair.

“Before I got sick, we went all over the country playing basketball in tournaments,” Tolbert said. “We went to Las Vegas twice, we went to Bristol, Tennessee, we went to Pensacola, all those places.”

Chris Brandt, the assistant coach in the pink polo, ran the team in those years and still serves as Tolbert’s second-in-command as Tolbert’s “feet.”

“I didn’t think twice about [coaching] because he’s done so much for me growing up,” Brandt said.

Tolbert has led many teams to success from his chair, including the 2005 state championship team. Photos of old teams line the walls, displaying impressive records. But it just isn’t the same, according to Brandt.

“He was a go-getter,” Brandt said. “He was the type that mopped the floor. He did the laundry.

He did everything. … It was hard for him to give up a lot of responsibilities.”

Brandt said he has taken up the slack, doing all

the little chores Tolbert used to do.

Over the years, Tolbert has coached community icons such as Ward 2 City Councilman Ron Anders, as well as Auburn University players, including Brandt.

“He’s taught kids’ grandparents and parents,” Brandt said. “Anybody that came through Auburn High School has had Coach Tolbert. So he knows a lot of people in the community, and they respect him and love him.”

Tolbert said coaching has changed from a discipline standpoint.

“Now you have all these other things kids can do now,” Tolbert said. “These cell phones, Google and all that stuff. … They don’t put into basketball what they should.”

Russell Leonard is a newcomer to Tolbert’s staff. This is his first year coaching at Auburn High, and he said it’s a fun learning experience.

“You really get (Tolbert’s) passion for the kids and passion for basketball,” Leonard said.

“Because he’s been working here for almost 50 years, and if he wanted to, he could retire. But he keeps coming to work every single day because he loves it. And that passion’s just contagious with the kids.”

Leonard said Tolbert is funny and cares about building each player’s character.

“It’s about building these boys into young men and building their character on and off the court,” Leonard said.

Brandt said Tolbert serves as a bridge between the teachers, parents and school.

“He wants them to succeed not just in basketball, but in life,” Brandt said. “The beauty about Coach is it doesn’t even have to be a basketball player. He’s helped other athletes or people who aren’t athletes who just need someone to look up to.”

Brandt said Tolbert is a father figure to him and other players, sometimes helping players find jobs after graduation.

“A lot of these kids don’t have fathers,” Brandt said. “For these kids that don’t, he’s there for them, and he helps them out in any kind of way.”

Brandt has helped Tolbert and the team adapt to their unusual situation.

When he first started being Tolbert’s feet, he carried a letter from the state so the referees would allow him to stand up and make calls like a

dakota sumpter / photo editor

Frank Tolbert has coached basketball for almost 50 years, despite being confined to a wheelchair since 1994.

head coach. He knows Tolbert’s system well because he played for him in the ‘80s.

“He knows what I know,” Tolbert said. “We just think alike.”

Tolbert said all the coaches teach similar tactics, such as a man-to-man defense, from seventh grade all the way up to varsity.

Brandt said Tolbert tells him what to work on, and Brandt implements the practice and game plans.

“It’s just like your hand fitting into a glove — I just fit right into the system, and I never left,” Brandt said.

Tolbert cares about more than just success on the court.

He said he stresses academics first.

“If a player acts up in class, whatever, [the teachers] are going to let me know,” Tolbert said.

He said players used to have to run when they earned bad grades.

“They can see me coming down the hall in the wheelchair, they’ll take off and go the other way if they’re skipping or something like that,” Tolbert said.

Tolbert still coaches, even though his wife has retired from teaching at Auburn High and his

daughter is grown with a family of her own. He is a Hall of Fame coach with more than 40 years under his belt, but he said the numbers aren’t important.

“I don’t keep up with [records],” Tolbert said.

“I couldn’t care less about that. As long as I can help a young man succeed in life.”

Tolbert said one of his favorite parts about coaching is when players return after graduating.

“We have a lot of alumni who will come back on Friday nights, and they’ll come talk to him again and be reunited with him and talk about the impact he’s had in his life and how great he is,” Leonard said. “That’s been really cool to see.”

Tolbert said he simply can’t leave coaching, even though he is 68 years old.

“I probably would have retired, but I can’t sit at home all the time, just sit there and not do anything,” Tolbert said. “I keep my mind fresh. I teach driver’s education, then I come back here and coach.”

Tolbert said he isn’t going to renew his teaching certificate, but hopes to continue coaching for a while.

“It’s something I love, and it’s hard to get out of,” Tolbert said.

politics

Debate becomes debacle as Senate candidates are evicted from venue Chip Brownlee

community reporter

Lily Jackson

community writer

The four Republicans challenging U.S. Sen. Richard Shelby, including Auburn alumnus and former SGA President Jonathan McConnell, met at Hoover Tactical Firearms Thursday night, Feb. 18, for a debate sponsored by a tea-party group, but they weren’t allowed to debate.

According to shop owner Gene Smith, Hoover Tactical Firearms had no knowledge until the day before that a debate had been scheduled on its property by the Rainy Day Patriots. The tea-party group holds regularly scheduled meetings at Hoover Tactical Firearms every Thursday.

According to Smith, a debate between U.S. Senate candidates does not fall under the purview of a normal meeting.

“Tonight’s gathering was never booked with Hoover Tactical,” Smith said. “We found out about it yesterday. This is very inappropriate for someone to come and take over someone’s property.”

Close to 100 members of the Rainy Day Patriots, supporters of the four candidates and locals packed into an auditorium at the firearm store and gun range, but they were forced to leave without a formal debate.

Smith met with Anne Eubank, an organizer with the Rainy Day Patriots, before the program began.

According to Smith, he and Eubank made an agreement that the candidates would not say anything negative about Shelby because he was not there.

Smith agreed to host the debate if the four candidates did not attack Shelby, but the crowd did not agree.

“He’s not here to defend himself,” Smith said. “Hey, y’all came to this property without permission of the company. I was trying to find a way for y’all to be here and talk, but it’s already been shown that you can’t do that.”

Shelby chose not to attend the debate because Alabamians are already familiar with his policies, according to an article on AL.com.

“I’m going to be upfront with you,” Smith said before the event was dis-

“

This is the Nazi Gestapo that Richard Shelby represents.

It’s that Machine at Alabama that runs politics in Alabama. It’s Shelby and his thugs that basically try to keep us from even talking about his record.

He doesn’t have a conservative record.”

—Jonathan McConnell

Republican U.S. Senate candidate

banded. “I’m a strong supporter of Sen. Shelby, but that doesn’t mean that we wouldn’t have allowed a contract. A contract was never asked for, and thus, it was never given.”

According to two of the challeng-

ers, former state Sen. Shadrack McGill and technology consultant and former Uber driver Marcus Bowman, the four candidates agreed in a private meeting before the event not to bash Shelby in the debate.

The crowd at the debate, including Rick Renshaw, campaign manager for McConnell, did not respond well to Smith’s rules.

Smith ordered the group to disburse after members of the audience began to shout back at him.

“Two of these gentlemen put their lives in uniform in defense of this country, and they didn’t do it to have the First Amendment walked all over,” Renshaw said in response to Smith. “We’re out of here.”

McConnell is a former Marine, and candidate John Martin served in the Army.

According to McGill and Bowman, they were prepared to stay positive, but McConnell’s campaign led to the shutdown of the debate. After members of the crowd chose to stay when they were ordered to disperse, four Hoover Police Department patrol cars arrived on the scene.

“That was McConnell’s campaign manager that ruined it for everyone,” McGill said. “I think it was intentional for publicity purposes. It’s very frustrating to drive 2 1/2 hours just to have one of the campaign managers ruin it. I don’t go negative.”

Renshaw and McGill swapped harsh words in a shouting altercation in the parking lot of the venue. McGill accused Renshaw of getting the other three candidates kicked out of the gun shop.

“This is the Nazi Gestapo that Richard Shelby represents,” McConnell said. “It’s that Machine at Alabama that runs politics in Alabama.

It’s Shelby and his thugs that basically try to keep us from even talking about his record. He doesn’t have a conservative record.”

McConnell, the focus of several attack ads and even an entire website dedicated to attacking him, paid for by Shelby’s campaign, did not respond well to the rules imposed by Smith.

“Richard Shelby is a liar,” McConnell said. “He is a coward because he isn’t here, and he’s a thug.”

Alabama House passes bills banning local minimum wage hikes Chip B rownlee

community reporter

The Alabama House of Representative passed a bill Tuesday, Feb. 16, that will ban municipalities from establishing local minimum wages higher than the federally mandated minimum wage of $7.25 per hour.

The bill was introduced

by Vestavia Hills Republican David Faulkner for the spring 2016 legislative session. It passed the House by a vote of 71-30.

Speaker Mike Hubbard, RAuburn, was a sponsor of the

bill, voting yea on the bill on Tuesday. Opelika Democrat George Bandy voted against the bill.

Faulkner first proposed a similar bill in last year’s second special session in response to a city of Birmingham ordinance that is set to raise its minimum wage gradually to $10.10 per hour by July 2017.

Birmingham passed an additional ordinance on Feb. 23, 2016 to immediately raise the city’s minimum wage to $8.50 per hour beginning on Feb. 24. The first step of the

incremental increase was initially scheduled for July of this year. It was moved by the council earlier this month to March 1, and now it has been moved up again to Wednesday.

Birmingham would not be the first large city to raise its minimum wage.

It would follow a host of other large metropolitan cities with higher minimum wages, including Seattle, San Francisco, Los Angeles and Louisville.

Faulkner is the representative for the area including the

city of Vestavia Hills, which neighbors Birmingham.

The ordinance to raise Birmingham’s minimum wage was passed by the city’s council on Aug. 18, 2015.

The bill proposed in the Alabama House of Representatives would reverse Birmingham’s minimum wage increase.

“There’s no question what needs to be done today,” said Lashunda Scales, a Birmingham city councilwoman during the meeting. “Nobody can live off $15,000 a year.

If that’s what the citizens

are living off of, we might as well tell all of our citizens to depend on the federal government — and everybody knows what those programs consist of.”

Alabama currently has no law on the books to alter the national minimum wage. The City of Auburn currently adheres to the federal minimum wage of $7.25 per hour. Bill Ham, mayor of Auburn, told The Plainsman in an interview last year it is unlikely Auburn will raise its minimum wage in the near future.

“There’s been no discus-

sion by the council to single out the minimum wage and take action like that,” Ham said. “I really don’t see it ever happening [in Auburn], but that would just be another area with the state government telling us what to do.”

The bill has attracted the attention of presidential candidates as well. Hillary Clinton posted a tweet early Wednesday morning, Feb. 17 criticizing state legislators.

Faulkner’s bill has been approved by committee in the Senate and will now head to the floor.

Thursday, February 25, 2016

Community 7

The Auburn Plainsman

construction

Construction continues along Glenn Avenue in Auburn and Opelika L iz M addux

community writer

The amount of bright orange signs and hard hats seen throughout the Opelika and Auburn area has been increasing over the past few months.

As both communities continue to expand and construct, community members endure traffic changes and wonder what is going on.

At the corner of West Glenn Avenue and Wright Street, construction on The Parker continues.

The Parker will be a six-story retail and residential development, and it is projected to be completed in 2017.

According to city documents, the development will have 7,500 square feet of retail space on the ground floor.

The other five floors will be used for housing.

“I have heard that this building will be the

tallest building located in downtown Auburn,” said Forrest Cotten, Auburn planning director.

West of Donahue Drive on West Glenn Avenue, the sidewalk project continues.

The project includes the resurfacing and restriping of West Glenn Avenue from Donahue Drive to Byrd Street and the relocation of the parking lane on West Glenn Avenue from the north side of the road to the south side of the road, adjacent to the several apartment complexes.

Tiger Transit bus stops will be included in the striping plan on the south side of the road and a sidewalk as part of the project to accommodate the many pedestrians in this area will be included as well.

“The West Glenn Avenue Sidewalk Project will improve traffic flow, parking and pedestrian conditions in that area,” said David Dorton, director of public affairs for the City

of Auburn. “The plan will improve traffic circulation and public safety while eliminating parking conflicts between students and nearby permanent residents.”

Closer to Tiger Town, on Frederick Road, construction on a new shopping center is underway. The new development will include various new restaurants and stores whose names have yet to be disclosed.

Closer to Tiger Town, on Frederick Road, construction on a new shopping center is underway.

The new development will include various new restaurants and stores.

“The construction going on on Frederick Road in Opelika will be a mixed-use development for retail and restaurants,” said Lori Huguley, director of Opelika economic development. “It is projected to be complete by spring 2016, but there has not been an announcement yet on what retailers will be oc-

cupying those spaces.”

Students and community members living in the surrounding areas have mixed feelings about the construction.

“I am honestly so tired of never knowing how long it is going to take me to get somewhere,” said Mary Giambrone, sophomore in public relations. “I feel like everywhere I go there is some kind of construction going on around Auburn and Opelika. I don’t know if they have filled these in, but on Glenn Avenue, near Tiger Town, there were massive pot holes in the road that could have easily destroyed someone’s car.”

Giambrone lives on Toomer Street and said the construction on the corner of Wright Street and Glenn Avenue can be annoyingly loud.

“Honestly, I am just ready for all of it to be completed,” Giambrone said. “I feel like it is just too much going on simultaneously.”

politics

Trump, Clinton win Nevada, South Carolina primaries Chip Brownlee

community reporter

Businessman Donald Trump rode a wave of momentum to win big in both South Carolina on Saturday, Feb. 20, and Nevada on Tuesday, Feb. 24. He took first place in both primary competitions by large margins. Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton won the Nevada Democratic caucus on Saturday by a somewhat thinner margin.

More recent polling leading up to the South Carolina Republican primary indicated a much tighter race, but Trump finished far ahead of Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, who took 23 percent compared to Trump’s 36 percent and Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, who finished at 22 percent. Cruz has struggled to gain traction in more politically diverse states after his first-place win in the Iowa caucuses.

In both Nevada and South Carolina, turnout was historic.

In Nevada, Trump won the Republican caucus by the largest vote margin in its short history. Trump took 46 percent of the vote, nearly a majority, and more Nevadan Republicans supported Trump in this caucus vote than voted at all in 2012.

Rubio took second place in both South Carolina and Nevada, and he must now continue battling Ohio Gov. John Kasich — who outperformed him in New Hampshire, but finished fifth in both South Carolina and Nevada — for the vote of the more moderate members of the party.

A Cuban-American, Rubio’s second place finish in South Carolina was powered by endorsements from Gov. Nicki Haley, South Carolina’s first Indian-American governor and Sen. Tim Scott, currently the

“

I am so, so thrilled and so grateful to all of my supporters out there. Some may have doubted us, but we never doubted each other.”

—Hillary Clinton

Presidential Candidate

GOP’s only African-American senator and the first from the state.

Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush announced he would be suspending his campaign following a fourth-place finish in the Palmetto State, where his brother, former President George W. Bush, has an approval rating upward of 70 percent.

Polling in Nevada was more scarce, but Clinton edged out Independent Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders by close to 5 percentage points, somewhat exceeding expectations of a tighter race as Sanders gained on her in the days leading up to the primaries.

Clinton’s campaign planned to fly to Texas ahead of the Super Tuesday primaries on March 1, downplaying expectations for Nevada, according to The New York Times.

However, Clinton did not appear surprised in her victory speech after she was projected the winner by the Associated Press.

“I am so, so thrilled and so grateful to all of my supporters out there,” Clinton said. “Some may have doubted us, but we never doubted each other.”

Clinton’s win was powered

by caucus-goers in the urban south of Nevada, in and around Las Vegas, according to county-by-county election results.

Sanders bested Clinton in the more rural northern areas of Nevada.

A large portion of her site victories occurred along the Las Vegas strip at caucus sites held inside many casinos, where culinary and hospitality workers make up a large voting bloc, according to the Wall Street Journal.

“I want to thank each and every one of you,” Clinton said in her speech. “You turned out in every corner of this state with determination and purpose — hotel and casino workers who never wavered.”

Despite polling that has shown Sanders as weaker among minority voters, entrance polling performed by CNN on Saturday indicated Sanders won the majority of the large Latino population’s vote in Nevada.

However, Clinton took the support of more than 70 percent of Nevada’s AfricanAmerican caucus-goers. Her lead among African-American voters is evidence of what has been regarded as a “firewall” going in to the Southern primaries, where African-Americans make up large portions of the Democratic voting bloc.

The next month of the nomination season will boast more than 20 primary contests across the country, beginning with the South Carolina Democratic primary on Saturday, Feb. 27.

Fourteen states and American Samoa will hold their primaries on Super Tuesday, March 1, now being dubbed the SEC Primary because of the large number of Southern states voting on that day — among them will be Alabama.

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Sports Thursday, February 25, 2016

SCOREBOARD Men’s Basketball (10-16, 4-10)

8 ThePlainsman.com

Sports

SOFTBALL

Jane B. Moore Field gets a facelift

FILE PHOTO

Last Week at Arkansas (W, 90-86) vs. Ole Miss (L, 69-59) THIS WEEK Feb. 24 vs. Georgia (6 p.m.)

Feb. 27 at Alabama (4 p.m.)

Women’s Basketball (18-9, 8-6) Adam Sparks / staff PHotographer

Jane B. Moore Field has undergone improvements to increase fan-friendliness, and more are on the way.

Nathan Deal Sports Writer

file photo

LAST WEEK vs. Missouri (L, 69-55) THIS WEEK Feb. 25 vs. Texas A&M (6:30 p.m.)

Feb. 28 at Florida (1 p.m.)

BASEBALL (1-2)

Thanks to a 56-win campaign that saw the Tigers go to the Women’s College World Series and finish the season No. 3 in the final rankings, Auburn’s softball program has achieved a new level of popularity on The Plains.

With more and more fans showing commitment to Auburn softball, the next step in the growth of the program was obvious for Auburn’s athletic department: renovating and expanding Jane B. Moore Field.

“We had to do something because we put our tickets on sale and in a matter of two days, we had sold 300 seats more than what we had capacity for,” said Auburn softball coach Clint Myers.

The most notable improvements to the stadium are new bleachers that will increase the stadium’s capacity by nearly 900. What makes the renovation of Jane B. Moore Field truly unique, however, is how involved the coaching staff, including Myers, have been throughout the process.

“We’re the ones who spend the most time here,” Myers said. “We’re here countless hours every single day. Nobody knows the stadium better than we do. We were involved in all the meetings. We sat in all the construction meetings. We sat in all the vendor meetings and discussed what we need.”

When Auburn hired the two-time national champion from Arizona State, he immediately made an impact.

During his first two seasons, he was directly involved with numerous changes made to the stadium, including a new video board, which at the time was the largest in the SEC, improved lighting that Myers calls “the best in the SEC and probably some of the best in the country” and graphics on the outfield wall.

After a record-breaking 2015 campaign and a rising demand for tickets, Myers and the Auburn athletic department worked together to plan out improvements for 2016 and beyond.

“It’s exciting that the fans have supported us so well by coming and making a need for these seats,” Myers said. “We’re the fourth-largest revenue producer in the athletic department, Auburn softball.

Three years ago, they didn’t even charge for softball.

It was free. You could just walk in. Now we charge, and we don’t charge much.”

It isn’t enough just to add more seats, however. Adding 900 seats to the stadium doesn’t matter if the fans aren’t happy, so Auburn made other improvements to the stadium.

“We’re going for the biggest bang for our buck, because with the addition of more people — roughly 900 more people — we had to do something about bathrooms and concessions,” Myers said. “So, we’ve taken the team shop area in the press box and made that into a second concession stand.”

There will be two or three food trucks stationed in the stadium at every game, according to Myers.

“Now, the bathroom situation, we’ve got really nice bathrooms,” Myers said. “We’ve got three trailers, which are really going to help eliminate congestion.

We put one for convenience down the right field line, and we’ve got two behind the bleachers in left field. It’s going to help.”

For families looking for a fun day at the park, Jane B. Moore Field will have inflatable bounce castles and areas for playing wiffle ball.

“Kids can come and play, and parents aren’t going to worry,” Myers said. “My kids growing up lived at the ball park.”

With Myers changing the culture of Auburn softball both on the field and in the stands, more changes will be coming in the future. Auburn will pave the parking lot next to the softball stadium during the summer, according to Myers.

Other improvements to parking will be made as well.

“We’ve got some additional areas now that are reserved for softball for additional parking,” Myers said.

“We’ve got the old track. We’re trying to work on those little six-passenger golf carts that will be able to shuttle people back and forth.”

Myers believes all of the changes at Jane B. Moore Field show just how committed Auburn is to having an elite softball program.

“Auburn has spent a lot of money trying to make this experience better by bringing in 900 more people that will have a seat,” Myers said. “We put chair backs in the whole lower bowl. Every single chair now is a seat.

It’s not a bench anymore. We’re one of the few stadiums that have that.”

The 2016 season is underway, but Myers is still looking to the future and which stadium upgrades should happen next.

“Our next goal is to really get into fundraising mode where we can put permanent bleachers in,” Myers said.

“We’ve got a great idea to reconstruct the batting cage area so we can put stuff on top of there. We’ve got areas in the outfield where we could put bleachers. We’ll have more tailgates. We want it to be more of a football frenzy before games.

“The bottom line is trying to give the fan, be it student or nonstudent, the best possible experience that we can. We’re trying hard to keep involved with every aspect.”

FILE PHOTO

LAST WEEK vs.Sacramento State (W, 10-5; L, 6-5; L, 7-6 (12)) THIS WEEK Feb. 23 vs. Kennesaw State (3 p.m.)

Feb. 24 vs. Florida A&M (3 p.m.)

Feb. 26-28 vs. Southern

SOFTBALL (10-1)

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LAST WEEK vs. USF (W, 6-0) vs. James Madison (L, 3-2) vs. DePaul (W, 18-0 (5)) vs. Fordham (W, 18-1 (5)) THIS WEEK Feb. 25-26 vs. Boston College Feb. 27 vs. St. John’s/Western Illinois (12:30 p.m./3 p.m.)

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

Tanner’s talents extend off the court C.j. Holmes

Sports Reporter

Auburn women’s basketball center Tra’Cee Tanner has earned herself a reputation as one of the most tenacious, experienced centers in the SEC over the past four years.

With graduation right around the corner, the 6-foot-3 senior is going to have some important decisions to make sooner rather than later.

The overseas professional game could be a good option for her, but she’s also considering another route — something a little less tenacious and a little more stylish. Tanner has always had a passion for fashion and design ­as an apparel merchandising major, and sometimes she doesn’t want to be the next DeWanna Bonner. Sometimes she wants to be the next Betsey Johnson. “(Johnson) has a carefree-type ego about her,” Tanner said. “She really doesn’t care about what other people think, and she has her own style. I also love the work of Christian Siriano, because he has his own label and his own line.

“Those two are definitely role models I really look up to, with Christian Siriano

Contributed by Auburn Athletics

Though she is skilled on the court,Tra’Cee Tanner is just as impressive off of it.

being so young in the industry and Betsey Johnson being so notable. Johnson’s tactics and techniques have been unique to her. They’ve worked for her, and she’s stuck with them. That kind of makes me feel like if I keep an innovative mindset and stick to what I really want to achieve, I can be just as successful.”

One day, Tanner hopes to establish a

brand of her own. Her teammates fully support her dreams and even volunteer to model her designs occasionally.

“They’ve helped me advance my talents,” Tanner said. “Some of them would let me style them for the AUSPY’s [Auburn’s award ceremony] and different events that we’ve had. I also do hair and makeup on the side. That’s

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something not a lot of people know about me.”

Tanner makes sure her hair, makeup and nails are done for every game, but don’t let that fool you. Beneath the beauty, lies a beast.

“When I’m on the court, I’m something completely different,” Tanner said.

“If somebody hits me, I’m going to hit them back. But regardless of how physical I play, I still try to keep that girly girl aspect of me.”

Tanner feels like there isn’t enough personality in women’s basketball, and that gender stereotypes are holding the game back.

“I think there’s a misconception about how female basketball players are viewed,” Tanner said. “They look at us like were so hardcore or trying to be guy-like. So, for us to be able to be females and also athletes, we always want to be able to have that balance. There are some girls that want to be more hardcore and be known on and off the court as that. But some of us want to let people know, “That’s not me. I’m a lady off the court. I’m a lady on the court as well, but I can still get down and dirty when I need to.”

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Thursday, February 25, 2016

Sports 9

The Auburn Plainsman

BASEBALL

Graphic by Gurden Smith / Graphics Editor

Information by Emily Shoffit / Sports reporter

BASKETBALL

Around the SEC:Texas A&M bounces back with marquee win C.J. Holmes sports@ThePlainsman.com

Crisis Control: Aggies win second straight after losing four in a row Final: Texas A&M 79, No. 14 Kentucky 77 A&M: Jalen Jones 24 pts, 8 reb, 2 stl It’s been awhile since Texas A&M has been able to string together consecutive wins, and thanks to Tyler Davis’ overtime heroics Saturday in College Station, the Aggies can now add a much-needed victory over No. 14 Kentucky to their postseason resume.

Jalen Jones led A&M (20-7, 9-5 SEC) with 24 points, but it was Davis who sealed the deal for the Aggies in dramatic fashion.

In the game’s final seconds, Davis was able to grab a missed Danuel House layup attempt in traffic and kiss it off the glass as time expired.

Davis finished with 15 points and a teamhigh 12 rebounds to earn his second SEC Freshman of the Week honor.

Texas A&M overcame 43 points between Tyler Ulis and Jamal Murray to end Kentucky’s (20-7, 10-4 SEC) four-game winning streak.

The Aggies had 20 offensive rebounds to Kentucky’s six, resulting in 22 second-chance points.

Despite four straight losses to Vanderbilt, South Carolina, Alabama and LSU, ESPN’s bracketology expert Joe Lunardi had the Aggies as a five seed in this week’s NCAA Tournament projections.

With back-to-back wins over Ole Miss Feb. 17 and the Wildcats this past weekend, A&M

now has the opportunity to head into the SEC Tournament on a high note and improve their case with three of their last four remaining games against sub-.500 teams.

One Step Forward, Two Steps Back: LSU’s roller coaster season continues Final: Tennessee 81, LSU 65 TEN: Robert Hubbs III 19 pts, 7 reb, 2 ast, 1 stl I think we would all love to see college basketball’s best player on the biggest stage, but the Tigers (16-11, 9-5 SEC) are now on the outside looking in after a 16-point loss to the Volunteers in Knoxville.

Ben Simmons, who came off the bench, and fellow freshman Antonio Blakeney weren’t the problem, however.

Simmons scored 21 points and Blakeney added 20, but the rest of LSU’s roster combined for only 24 — and that’s simply not enough production to get it done on the road in conference play.

Barring an improbable SEC Tournament run, the Vols (13-14, 6-8 SEC) won’t be heading to the big dance, but to their credit, they somehow managed to get a big win against a top-5 SEC team without their top scorer Kevin Punter Jr.— who watched Saturday’s game from the sideline with a walking boot on his right foot after fracturing it last Thursday against Kentucky.

Tennessee had five players in double figures and out-rebounded LSU, 42-35.

After playing their way to the top of the SEC standings, things have gone south for the Tigers as of late after losing three of their last four.

That combined with a weak RPI, a weaker nonconference schedule and the potential loss of guard Keith Hornsby for the rest of the sea-

Lawrence Smelser/ The Daily Battalion

Jalen Jones was instrumental in helping Texas A&M upset No. 14 Kentucky, recording 24 points and 8 rebounds.

son means this team has a lot of work to do — and possibly a miracle — to impress the selection committee heading into March.

We Love You Too, Mizzou: Don't count these guys out We have to show some love to the Missouri Tigers for their 72-67 win over South Carolina Feb. 16.

Although they won't be dancing either, this team continues to play hard, and it's important to point out that anything can happen in the SEC Tournament. Being an overlooked team playing great basketball at the right time can go a long way.

Just ask Bruce Pearl.

C.J. can be reached at sports@ThePlainsman.com

Sports 10

The Auburn Plainsman

Thursday, Febraury 25, 2016

Madison Ogletree / Photographer

LEFT: Brandy Montgomery rises up to shoot the basketball in Auburn’s 69-55 loss to Missouri on Sunday, Feb. 21. RIGHT: TJ Lang drives to the hoop during the Tigers’ 69-59 loss to Ole Miss on Saturday, Feb. 20.

This Week in Auburn Sports 17-8 in bench points but shot just 37 percent from the floor for the game.

Auburn’s final home game of the season before the SEC Tournament will be Thursday, Feb. 25 against Texas A&M.

Men’s Basketball Feb. 20 vs. Ole Miss L, 69-59

In the second half of Auburn’s 69-59 loss to Ole Miss on Saturday, Feb. 20, Cinmeon Bowers saw something change in his teammates.

Suddenly, players had their heads down and their shoulders slumped.

“I just felt like we gave up a little bit, [with] like 10 minutes left,” Bowers said. “We was only down like 6 or 7 points … I don’t know why. I think because we weren’t making shots so our shooters, they had their head down. I was trying to pick them up and get them shots, but they just weren’t going in tonight.”

Maybe the disappointment and frustration was the product of Auburn’s shooters missing open looks.

Or maybe, on a night when junior guard T.J. Dunans returned from injury after a 15-game absence, it was because Auburn lost yet another star to injury.

With 16:36 left in the second half, forward Tyler Harris went up for a layup, then crashed to the floor after taking an elbow to the jaw.

His teammates, some with hands on their hips, others simply shaking their heads, watched as Harris was carried off the floor by trainers, the latest victim on a long list of injuries this season.

“That affected us a lot,” Bowers said. “We needed Tyler.”

Dunans agreed.

“That was hard,” he said. “I think, if we had had him, I think we would have pulled this one out. That’s a big piece to our team.”

After the game, Auburn coach Bruce Pearl said Harris suffered a concussion, and it’s unclear how much time he will miss.

“The next 24 hours are very important as to whether or not it is something that is going to keep him out a while or whether it’s going to be something he is going to be able to bounce back from quicker,” Pearl said. “We just got to go through the protocol. But he was [knocked] out for a while.”

Despite missing most of the final half, Harris led Auburn in scoring with 13 points.

But even when Harris was in the game, Auburn's shots weren't falling.

After Auburn shot 15-of-23 from beyond the arc in an upset win at Arkansas last Wednesday, the Tigers made only six of their 24 3-point attempts against the Rebels.

Bryce Brown, who set an Auburn freshman record with nine 3-pointers against the Razorbacks, made just three of his nine attempts versus Ole Miss.

“We got the same looks," Bowers said. "We just missed a couple of shots today. [You] can’t be perfect every game.”

Auburn also struggled to handle Ole Miss’ full-court pressure.

The departure of Kareem Canty has left Auburn without a true scholarship point guard, and the Tigers were not able to get into any type of

Baseball

Feb. 21 vs. Sacramento State L, 7-6 (12 innings)

Jordan Hays / staff Photographer

Justin Camp fires a pitch during Auburn’s 6-5 loss to Sacramento State on Saturday, Feb. 20.

rhythm on offense with Bowers and Dunans sharing time at the point.

“I’m not disappointed in the effort, really disappointed in the execution,” Pearl said. “When you’re going up against a team that changes defense like Ole Miss does, you have to go from breaking pressure and attack mode to getting yourself organized and getting into some structure, and we didn’t as a team.”

Despite its offensive struggles, Auburn managed to hang around for most of the game.

An alley-oop from Dunans to Jordon Granger cut the Rebel lead to five with 6:31 remaining, but Auburn made just one field goal from that point on.

Even with Bowers’ third consecutive doubledouble (11 points and 18 rebounds), Harris’ loss proved too costly for the Tigers as they lost their eighth game out of the last nine. “(Harris) was having a good game,” Bowers said. “But that still don’t make it no excuse for us not to win.”

Women’s Basketball Feb. 21 vs. Missouri L, 69-55

Auburn women’s basketball fell to the Missouri Tigers, 69-55, Sunday afternoon, Feb. 21, in Auburn Arena, snapping the team’s impressive five-game conference winning streak.

After a slow start by both teams, Missouri (216, 8-6 SEC) made eight of its 11 shots in the second quarter to build a 36-27 halftime lead. Missouri’s lead stretched to 21 points with 2:57 to play in the final quarter and shot 52 percent for the game to go along with eight 3-pointers.

“Definitely not one of our better defensive days,” said Auburn coach Terri Williams-Flourn-

oy. “We knew we had to defend Missouri at the 3-point line, so to come out here and give them 17 attempts definitely was not good. We wanted to force them into turnovers, which we did. We forced them into 22 turnovers. We wanted to attack the basket and get to the free-throw line. We did everything that we were supposed to do and that we wanted to do through the game plan, except give up the three.”

Katie Frerking had to leave the game early in the first quarter with an elbow injury after a midair collision with Missouri guard Cierra Porter. Frerking walked off with help from the team trainer and returned in the second half to finish with 7 points. Frerking’s injury will require stitches, according to Williams-Flournoy.

Senior Cabriana Capers took advantage of Frerking’s absence, tying her career-high in scoring with 10 points in 20 minutes of action. Janiah McKay added 12 points and four assists. Auburn’s leading scorer Brandy Montgomery had a rough outing, finishing with zero points on 0-of9 shooting — her second scoreless game this season (0-of-11 vs. Towson on Dec. 20).

“I knew when Katie [Frerking] went down, I needed to step up for my team,” Capers said.

“I always do that for my team in practice and in games, so when Katie went down, I knew I had to step up and take her spot until she was able to come back.”

Sophie Cunningham led the way for Missouri with 24 points and 10 rebounds. Jordan Frericks contributed 18 points, eight rebounds and six assists.

“We’re going to bounce back,” Capers said.

“Everybody’s head is focused. This loss was just a turning point for us. We kind of got complacent after the wins, but now we know.”

Auburn (18-8, 8-6 SEC) outscored Missouri

Auburn dropped the rubber match of the threegame series against Sacramento State, 7-6 in 12 innings, Sunday, Feb. 21, and lost the opening series of the year in the process.

The game started fast as Sacramento State put two runs on the board in the top of the first inning.

Auburn was able to respond with three runs of its own in bottom of the first, all coming off a Niko Buentello home run, his second of the weekend.

The Tigers entered the second inning with a 3-2 lead, but that quickly dissipated as the Hornets put another two runs on the board. The next two runs of the game came from Auburn in the bottom of the third inning.

Both teams went scoreless until Auburn tacked on one more run in the bottom of the sixth to make it a 6-2 game.

Following the theme of Saturday’s game, the Tigers went cold in the seventh, and the Hornets got hot in the eighth. Sacramento State was able to hold Auburn to two hits in the final six innings of the game, while the Hornets brought in two runs in the eighth to tie it.

Following the eighth inning, neither team was able to pull in a run, eventually leading into extra innings. Sacramento State scored one run in the top of the twelfth, and the game ended as Kyler Deese hit a ground ball to second, leading to a double play.

This makes the second game in a row where the Tigers lost while holding a lead through the seventh inning. The Tigers only lost three in that same category all of last year.

Following the loss, Auburn coach Butch Thompson cited the lack of pitching depth as an issue.

“I felt like from the eighth inning and on we had our hands full,” Thompson said. “I felt that [pitchers Casey Mize and Ben Braymer] were going to get us close to finishing the ball game.

We still have five more games standing right in front of us this week, to allow us to keep unveiling our pitchers. Even [Octavio Rodriguez] did a decent job coming in there at the end because Casey was at 33 pitches, and we didn’t want to throw him anymore. I was really concerned, trying to put ourselves in the best position to win the ballgame today, and that is why I trotted them back out.”

Thompson also said he plans to “circle the wagons” this week to determine his rotation over the next five games.

Compiled by Evan McCullers, C.J. Holmes and Bailey Rogers

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11 ThePlainsman.com

Intrigue

Entertainment

And the award went to...

Contributed by Tim LonG / Academy of Motion Picture Arts and sciences

Auburn professor Nels Madsen (middle row, second from right) receives a Technical Achievement Award from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences on Feb. 12, 2005, in Pasadena, Calif.

Academy Award-winning professor reflects 11 years later Kris Martins Copy Editor

Nels Madsen’s wife understood his passion for motion-capture technology as she sipped her green appletini.

She sat at the pre-event party before her husband received an Academy Award at the 77th Scientific & Technical Awards, she herself always having enjoyed watching the Oscars from her home TV. But this time, she was thanking the Academy.

“When she got that appletini, she finally decided, man, this is good,” Madsen said with a smile. “I guess it was worth it that I had spent all those hours working on motion-capture-type stuff … And she still likes appletinis, so.”

Madsen received a Technical Achievement Award from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences on Feb. 12, 2005, for helping bring the “Lord of the Rings” trilogy’s Gollum to life.

And over a decade later, he still marries animation with life.

Madsen dedicated years to developing motion-capture technology outside of his job as an Auburn University engineering professor, but he never intended for it to have such an authority in filmmaking.

A love for learning Madsen said he didn’t have a solid plan for his life, though he laughs at how that’s probably not the best advice to give as a professor.

But he knew he loved to learn.

So in lieu of a detailed life plan, Madsen earned degree after degree until he came to a halt after his doctoral degree.

“But there weren’t any other degrees after that, or I’d probably still be in school if there were,” Madsen said. “So at that point, if I can’t be in school, what’s the next best thing?”

That’s when he applied to Auburn University, joining the Samuel Ginn College of Engineering faculty in 1978.

It was there Madsen met Tom McLaughlin, who shared his interest in sports biomechanics

and measuring human movement to display motion McLaughlin left the University and later jumpstarted Biomechanics Inc. — now known as Motion Reality Inc. — in 1984.

He invited Madsen to join him at Motion Reality, and together they combined computer graphics, desktop computing, image processing and cameras to create a system that captured golfers’ motions.

Through relationships in the golf industry, Motion Reality entered the video game business, which led to its first step into the entertainment industry.

It configured an on-site motion-capture studio to help configure Acclaim Entertainment’s 1995 “Frank Thomas Big Hurt Baseball” by capturing Thomas’ movements.

Using Motion Reality technology, Acclaim also simultaneously mapped two people in one scene in the early ‘90s, a major step forward in motion capture, which was still imperfect and underdeveloped.

Presence in the video game industry exposed Motion Reality’s system to special effects artist John Dykstra, who used it to capture Batman’s movements in “Batman Forever” in the late 1990s.

This cinematographic work captured director Peter Jackson’s attention, landing Madsen and the Motion Reality team into the world of hobbits and dwarves.

More specifically, Gollum’s world.

Capturing the fictional world Suited up in a full-body suit dotted with bright markers, actor Andy Serkis brought Gollum to life with his voice and body language, the latter of which Motion Reality tech — under licensee Giant Studios — mapped for the Gollum’s first appearance in the “Lord of the Rings” trilogy in the early 2000s.

Behind the scenes, Madsen secured the software capability and advised in creating specific effects.

“We had people that were over there working

with them on set, and I never did that,” Madsen said. “I wouldn’t want to have been there. That was a lot of pressure, as you can imagine.”

But the technology Madsen helped create didn’t just stay in “Lord of the Rings.” It helped animate Tom Hanks in “The Polar Express” and extended to other creatures besides Gollum.

“To this day, it’s still a popular tool out there,” Madsen said. “It was used in Avatar. They used our system for their animations and are continuing to use it for the upcoming (sequel).”

Today, Motion Reality has a system in Quantico, Virginia, that the FBI uses to train its agents in a virtual-reality environment.

“I certainly get a lot of satisfaction out of seeing how it’s been used in movies … but the engineer in me is always more excited about what we can do next,” Madsen said.

Beyond the big screen More than 10 years after emerging from Middle Earth, Madsen said his business experience as Motion Reality’s vice president for research and development has helped him grow as a professor.

“I understand the world that our students are walking into,” Madsen said. “It is a highly competitive environment. You need to be at the top of your game.”

Brian Windsor, 1994 Auburn engineering graduate, entered that world upon graduating, joining Acclaim, and later Giant Studios.

As a mechanical engineering senior, Windsor worked with Madsen throughout his senior design project, which focused on motion capture.

Windsor said he remembers Madsen’s class was difficult, but it paid off.

“You learned so much,” Windsor said. “He was one of those professors that … he wasn’t going to give you the easy way out. You were going to have to work in his class and get the answer, but when you did, you kind of knew what you were doing by that time.”

Windsor went on to work with motion capture in the entertainment industry until eight years ago.

technology

A modern relationship with space Rachel Williams Intrigue Writer

Space is no longer untouchable. What was once meant only for daring astronauts, huge rockets and space stations has opened up to endless possibility. Satellite technology is accessible now to a range of worldwide private companies and to Auburn University students.

Satellites orbit us every second of the day, traveling thousands of miles per hour.

Satellite technology is crucial for everyday tools and deep research.

SpaceX, one of the hottest names in tech, is making ripples in the way we think about space. Its knowledge and infrastructure to launch and land satellites exists without a government backbone. A new satellite launches this month, sending data back down to Earth once in orbit.

Space is actually close to the Auburn Family. The Auburn University Student Space Program is a unique opportunity for students to design, build and launch satellites, making a dream reality.

Teams of students design and build nanosatellites for launch, a task that takes them about four years. Large satellites take 10–20 years to build and face the burden of being behind current technology, making the small satellites’ quick build time appealing.

The students are currently working on two satellites planned for launch in 2018.

These will each be about the size of a shoebox, larger than the group’s 2011 AubieSat. Lightweight, they’re hardly the mammoth metal hunks we often envision. Twentyfirst century space is vastly different than Apollo-age space.

AUSSP is led by over 60 students who spend hours and years planning all the satellites’ systems before the final steps of building even begin. AUSSP partners with other universities and resources to work in the most efficient manner.

Students love the challenge, but also gain career skills. The faculty team attests that AUSSP members are extremely qualified to work in this crucial, modern field. A graduate of the program has even used his skills to secure a SpaceX internship.

Remembering that our society now looks out to space to manage so much of today, and potentially even our habitat tomorrow, it is easy to see the value of the unique training these students receive. Even if we can’t all be astronauts, we can proudly take Auburn into space through these creative students.

“If he hadn’t been involved in (motion-capture technology), there was no way at Auburn I would’ve gone down that road,” Windsor said.

He still remembers when Madsen won the Academy Award, and how people asked him about it, unsure if the Academy Award-winning Auburn professor was fact or fiction.

“That was my professor at Auburn,” Windsor said. “He was a heck of a professor, I’ll put it that way.”

“No magic to it” The first time Damon Rowe, junior in mechanical engineering, ever saw Madsen, he seemed quiet, but after attending his Mechanics of Materials class for about two months this semester, Rowe said the opposite.

“Pretty much every single day, he’ll crack a joke in class,” Rowe said. “It’s a terrible joke, but it’s worth the laugh just because it’s so quirky of a joke.”

And most of Madsen’s students remember one thing about his teaching style: Every question is a great question.

And sometimes simple yes or no questions may turn into an elaborate explanation.

“I would definitely say that’s what gives him his most charismatic trait,” Rowe said.

Day to day, Madsen helps students during and sometimes after his office hours.

“No magic to it,” he says to a group of students working through a homework problem.

“Just geometry.”

A clock with math equations sits behind him in his office, forcing you to take the square root of 4 to find that it’s 2 p.m., while photos of his family line his desk.

“One of the things that people don’t understand about teaching is it’s by far the best way to learn a subject,” Madsen said.

And to this day, Madsen said he still learns as he teaches. “(My wife and I) figured we’d only be here [Auburn] for a few years, but that was almost 38 years ago now, and we’re still here,” Madsen said. “We like it here very, very much.”

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Intrigue 12

The Auburn Plainsman

Thursday, February 25, 2016

Business

Students create parking management business

Amanda Myles Intrigue Writer

The days of endlessly driving around parking lots and streets looking for a parking spot may soon be over.

Jonathan Philip and Alex Wakefield, seniors in mechanical engineering, created a parking management business to fix this problem.

Their business, Parking Grid Technologies, is app-based and operates through sensors and data analytics to help drivers find the closest vacant parking spots.

Philip and Wakefield got their start last April when they won Auburn’s Tiger Cage, a competition for student entrepreneurs, which provided them with resources, including a grand prize of $10,000.

Wakefield, chief operating officer of Parking Grid Technologies, said winning the Tiger Cage competition helped launch their business.

“That’s really when the ball started rolling really fast for us,” Wakefield said.

After the competition, they added Brandon Eidson, visiting professor in electrical and computer engineering and chief technology officer of Parking Grid Technologies, to their team.

Philip said he has enjoyed seeing an idea he had freshman year turn into a real system, but it

has required each member of the team to step up to the plate.

“Every person on the team is required to wear multiple hats and become proficient in things that they may not have had any prior knowledge on,” Philip said.

Since January, Philip, Wakefield and Eidson have had a pilot program of one parking lot, the one by the McWhorter Center for Women’s Athletics, which has 69 spots.

They also created their own app, PGT SmartSpot, which is available for iOS devices in the App Store.

The app is devised to show drivers where available parking spots are located, but right now it is only being used for the pilot program, according to Wakefield.

In addition to the pilot program at Auburn, they are also expanding their business to other universities.

Wakefield said although now they are specifically targeting universities in the Southeast, he could see Parking Grid Technologies eventually expand to malls, retail areas and downtowns.

“We do have hopes and dreams of making this a much bigger thing than just here at Auburn,” Wakefield said.

For people with hopes of creating their own

Contributed by Alex Wakefield

Dr. Brandon Eidson, Jonathan Philip and Alex Wakefield have started Parking Grid Technologies.

businesses, Eidson said he would tell people not to give up, because college students have more freedom than they will the rest of their lives.

“You have the best chance to try to get something moving, to take the initial steps,” Eidson said. “The main thing you need in being a successful entrepreneur is being able to tolerate risk and to be able to delay gratification.”

Wakefield said he recommends people seek help locally.

“I think when other people think of entrepreneurships and cool startups, they think of Silicon Valley and out in San Francisco,” Wakefield said.

“But the thing that people, especially at Auburn, need to realize is there are lots of great resources here locally at Auburn and Opelika.”

Wakefield said he, Philip and Eidson are always open to visitors if they want to come to their office space in the Round House, which is a business startup incubator in Opelika.

Technology

​CliqBit App allows room for humor on social media Grayson Temple Intrigue Writer

As you’re scrolling through your newsfeed on Facebook, you notice something.

Either everyone is suddenly a model, just purchased a professional camera or just really wants more likes on that profile picture.

A likely reason, though, is that employers are studying Facebook profiles almost as much as résumés.

Facebook, then, is not the ideal place to be writing inside jokes with your friends or sharing goofy, unpro-

fessional articles.

Two college students from Wellesley College, a women’s college in Massachusetts, found a solution to this problem of wanting to share humor but not having an appropriate platform.

They created CliqBit, an app designed only for humor.

Like most social media apps, you can find your friends and share images with them.

You can share brief messages and funny images that you may have found or are your own.

Instagram is starting to look similar to Facebook too, in terms of its polished appearance.

While all posts are not professionally taken photos, teens and college

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students must remember to keep it tame, because if a form of social media might reflect a person in any negative way, people can see that. And though there are privacy settings, you just never know who is looking.

This could be anyone from parents of friends to potential employers.

Sometimes it’s hard to tell if a person is kidding in an Instagram caption, or if the comment left by a roommate is sarcastic or just plain rude.

However, as I have been scrolling lately, I’ve noticed another trend in those 2-by-2 squares as well.

This new trend usually involves pictures of thoughts, ideas or complaints that I relate to so much I wonder how an account with millions of follow-

ers entered my brain and articulated a thought I had just that morning.

Some of these accounts that share sentiments I swear are mine might also include ridiculous images.

No matter what, they’re humorous.

Once again, though, social media has become such a prevalent part of our society that we are forced to basically brand ourselves on our profiles.

It is hard to tell what might be perceived as acceptable or not.

Furthermore, there can be confusion when we combine humor and words on a screen.

CliqBit is exclusively for humor, so there is less room for confusion as to whether a post is serious or just a joke.

You also have the option of putting

Tigermarket

ALMOST ANYTHING

ADMINISTRATIVE

BUY . SELL . TRADE

Event &meeting planning

-Retro Video Games -Vinyl Records -Comics, Collectibles - Magic Cards -Posters &Art -Phones, IPads & Laptops (we buy broken phones/laptops)

ASSISTANT

Record Monitor expenses Moni Raise monthly invoice Must possess a valid driver’s license

334 - 741 - 0808 221 S. 9TH ST. OPELIKA, AL 36801

Send your cover letter & salary expectations to : d2kase@aol.com

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David Kasel

a picture up for only 24 hours before it disappears.

Utilize that however you like.

The app is a place for friends to be funny and not serious at all.

It is not another medium to advertise your life and brand yourself to get a job.

Social media was created for people to connect, and CliqBit is an app to help people connect through their humor.

It is free in the App Store, and you can follow your friends, comment on their pictures and post ridiculous images that made you laugh.

Grayson can be reached at intrigue@ThePlainsman.com

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