The Auburn Plainsman 02.26.15

Diver wins SEC gold medal / A11

The Auburn Plainsman

A Spirit That Is Not Afraid

Thursday, February 26, 2015, Vol. 121, Issue 30, 12 Pages

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

upc

Online

‘The party don’t stop’ at AU

ThePlainsman.com Check out the new website

Kesha and Nelly to headline UPC Auburn Airwaves

“It

will be outside, so it wilhave that festival feel,” Hurite said. “The public will be there, and there’s an entertainment district downtown, so there will be open container laws, and the roads will be blocked off. It’s just going to be a really fun Toomer’s Corner party.”

Hurite said she is happy with the student response.

“Kesha’s big,”Hurite said. “She’s a lot of dance and a lot of fun, but Nelly’s also awesome because he’s a throwback. Everyone knows his songs and everyone loves them. I think people are going to be really excited.”

The concert is not just for students, according to Hurite.

“It will be right after A-Day, so there will be a lot of families that come down,” Hurite said. “And it’s on a Saturday night this year, so the students are going to be ready to go and excited about it. I’m really looking forward to seeing everyone show up.”

Corey Williams Campus Editor

inside campus

Page A3

59-year-old checks off bucket list

Kesha and Nelly will perform at Toomer’s Corner on Saturday, April 18, during the University’s Corner Block Party.

Auburn’s University Program Council announced the lineup for the 2015 Auburn Airwaves concert Feb. 25 in the Student Center.

UPC hosted an Auburn Airwaves announcement party that featured performances by Jessica Williams, DJ Ben Bruud and AU Rhythm.

Amanda Hurite, UPC president and senior in industrial engineering, said the atmosphere at Auburn Airwaves will be different this year.

football

Lutzenkirchen’s father preserves son’s legacy

community

David McKinney

Assistant Sports Editor

Page A6

New train tracks will cause traffic delays intrigue

Page A8

Families settle down in dorm rooms sports

On June 30, 2014, former standout Auburn tight end and fan favorite Philip Lutzenkirchen made a decision.

After a night of drinking, Philip got into the backseat of a Chevrolet Tahoe that was being driven by Joseph Ian Davis.

Neither Davis nor Philip made it out alive after Davis failed to stop at a stop sign. The vehicle hit a ditch and eventually skid into a church driveway, then struck a fence and flipped several times.

Philip, not wearing a seatbelt at the time of the crash, was ejected through the back windshield and died at the scene.

Lutzenkirchen was a beloved and popular athlete, and built up quite a following during his time at Auburn.

Philip’s father Mike said that after Philip was killed, he realized there was an opportunity in front of him to not only carry on his son’s legacy, but also to teach student athletes the important lesson that came from his son’s tragic death, and so began the Lutzie 43 foundation.

“The girls [Mike’s three daughters Amy, Abby and Ann] said, ‘Dad, we

“

greek life

Philip was pretty incredible when it came to his strong character and strong faith.”

—Mike Lutzenkirchen

Philip Lutzenkirchen’s father

should do a foundation,’” Mike said. “Philip was pretty incredible when it came to his strong character and strong faith. (He had) an unbelievable faith with God at such a young age. His community service and giving back, paying it forward to others, was phenomenal, and then we realized there are lessons to learn from what took his life.”

Those lessons, Mike said, are about making the right decisions, hence the foundation’s moniker, “Live like Lutz, Love like Lutz and Learn from Lutz.”

Through the foundation, Mike has spoken to high schools and colleges across the country, and on March 11, Phil-

ip’s story will come full circle.

At 7 p.m. that day, Mike will host a speaking engagement titled “Lessons from Lutz: An Evening with Mike Lutzenkirchen in the Auburn Arena.”

The event will be open to the public, and seating will be firstcome, first-served.

In his speeches, Mike urges students to avoid dangerous situations, such as the one that took his 23-year-old son from him summer 2014.

“I really hit home on the four things that contributed to Philip not being here,” Mike said.

“He abused alcohol that day.

His blood alcohol was released six weeks after he passed and

» See lutzenkirchen a2

Page A10

Athlete scoring despite father’s condition index Campus Opinions Community Intrigue Sports

Sagar Leva, UPC director of major entertainment and senior in finance, said the performers were chosen carefully.

“We sent out a student survey,” Leva said. “We got the feedback and students wanted a pop/hip-hop/dance concert.

Who’s more pop than Kesha?”

According to Leva, a large turnout is expected.

“Last year, we sold out the arena which is capped at about 5,000 students,” Leva said. “This year, we’re expecting 25,000-30,000 people. It’s the pop/hip-hop concert everyone wanted.”

Leva said UPC will not be selling tickets since the concert will be in an open area.

“We want students to just come out and enjoy themselves,” Leva said.

Priya Patel, freshman in pharmacy, was excited about the artist choice and said she will attend the concert.

“I’m totally excited for it to be at Toomer’s,” Patel said. “I was there when they planted the new trees. I’m really excited to go because I love Kesha.”

A1 A5 A6 A8 A10

contributed by mike lutzenkirchen

LEFT TO RIGHT: Mary,Amy, Philip,Ann, Mike and Abby Lutzenkirchen celebrate the National Championship.

emily enfinger / photo editor

Phi Delta Theta will not return to campus for two years.

Fraternity removed Hazing and alcohol violations cause Phi Delta Theta suspension Kris Martins

Campus Reporter

Phi Delta Theta’s suspension officially took effect Friday, Feb. 20, according to Chris Lucas, Auburn University Interfraternity Council adviser. He said the fraternity received two alcohol violations and a hazing violation in the same semester in conjunction with a prior alcohol violation in the fall of 2013.

“The suspension for Phi Delta Theta means that the chapter is no longer recognized by the University and cannot participate in Interfraternity Council proceedings or activities,” Lucas said.

“Phi Delta Theta also cannot use University facilities, which includes their chapter house, and cannot operate as a fraternity nor represent itself as Phi Delta Theta.”

Matthew White, junior in supply chain management and president of Phi Delta Theta, said the fraternity is naturally disappointed by the decision of the IFC and the Office of Student Affairs.

“It was the result of a very lengthy investigation by the University and the Phi Delta Theta headquarters,” White said. “This was the course of action the University deemed appropriate. I’m just disappointed. I was looking forward for a long and productive term as the president of the chapter.”

According to White, the Phi Delta Theta members will return to their current house on Lem Morrison Drive in January 2017.

Attempts to contact the fraternity headquarters by deadline was unsuccessful.

Monogrammed Necklace Sterling Silver S.Donahue & S.College Street Next to Kinnucan's 334-502-9999 • www.marquirettes.com

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Campus A2

The Auburn Plainsman

Thursday, February 26, 2015

Lutzenkirchen

DUI reports

» From A1

The following were arrested and charged with driving under the influence by the Auburn Police Division from Feb.17-22: Feb. 17 -Phani Sekhar Nimmala, 23 W. Glenn Avenue, 2:47 a.m.

-Monica M. Fritter, 59 Opelika Road, 9:40 p.m.

Feb. 18: Christopher Holden Katechis, 21 S. Gay Street, 2:29 a.m.

Feb. 19: -Alejandro Gallegos Aguillon, 39 Lee Road 137, 7:53 p.m.

Feb. 21: -Jessie Leigh Place, 21 W. Glenn Avenue, 2:09 a.m.

Feb. 22: -Laneka Latranto Griffin, 32 N. Donahue Drive at Yarbrough Farms Boulevard, 12:38 a.m.

-49-year-old male from Auburn Name not given because the case is still under investigation, but the driver has not been arrested at this time.

S. College Street, 8:20 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

GRAPHIC

DESIGNERS WANTED For more info contact: editor@plainsman.com

was an astounding number, and they made a decision to go out at 2:30 in the morning for something as silly as one of the guys wanted to get a can of dip. They were speeding, going 78 in a 55 on a rural road with no lights, no shoulders and they didn’t wear seatbelts.”

A family member’s death is a private matter for most families, but Mike said he isn’t hesitant to talk about the decisions that led to Philip’s passing.

“I’m not shy about sharing that,” Mike said. “When we first started the foundation, it was ‘Live like Lutz, Love like Lutz, Lead like Lutz,’ and when that report came out, it shut our family down for 48 hours, to the point of ‘Who are we to do a foundation?

Who are we to get up front and talk?’”

But, even with the report of Philip’s BAC, like Philip, his father kept his faith in God, who he said convinced him to keep the foundation alive.

“God works in mysterious ways,” Mike said. “I had a clear signal. (God) looked at me, and (God) said,‘So, I love what you’re doing, but you’re missing something. I’ve made it public now, so now what are you going to do with that?’”

That’s when the message of Lutzenkirchen’s foundation changed its last sentence.

“To me, the Lord’s signal was, ‘You need to incorporate this,’” Mike said. “So that’s how we’ve come to ‘Live like Lutz, Love like Lutz and Learn from Lutz.’ In retrospect, it’s a stronger message.”

During his time at Auburn, Philip built up a reputation as a stand-up student, athlete and person on and off the field.

Mike said it was a surprise to him to see how much of a celebrity his son had become. “(It was touching), but also crazy that a kid could grow the fame he grew because of being a football player,” Mike said. “A unique last name, made some plays, on the national championship team.”

Those are a few of the contributing factors that turned Philip into the Auburn celebrity he was, but his father said he believes most of the fan adoration came from the way Philip chose to act, both on the gridiron and in life.

“I think a lot of it was how he played the game,” Mike said. “He didn’t showboat. He was the ultimate team player, so the way he carried himself on and off the field, that’s why so many people were touched by it.”

contributed by Mike Lutzenkirchen

Mike Lutzenkirchen speaks to athletes in Naperville, Illinois.

contributed by

Mike Lutzenkirchen speaks in front of Statesboro High School in Statesboro, Georgia, Philip Lutzenkirchen’s high school.

Even with all the love and adoration for being the person he was, Mike said Philip’s death is an example of how a few bad decisions can end up costing the ultimate price for someone.

“When you do the right things in life, but you make bad decisions at any given time, there’s a combination of bad decisions that can just show you how quick you can be gone,” Mike said.

Former teammates of Philip’s echoed his father’s sentiments.

“He was a very caring person,” said Niel Caudle, Philip’s college roommate and former Auburn quarterback. “He was always thoughtful and worried about others more than himself. If anyone was ever not having

a good day, he would do whatever it took to put a smile on their face.”

Another former Auburn player and friend of Philip’s, Cole Cubelic, who works as a college football analyst for the SEC Network, said it was Philip’s humble nature that made him the man he was.

“A lot of his guys that had his name or notoriety wouldn’t necessarily care to pull their weight in a friendship,” Cubelic said.

“Philip always looked to go the extra mile to make sure you stayed friends.”

The passing of a family member is tragic for everyone involved, but in the case of Philip Lutzenkirchen, a tragedy has transformed into a legacy that won’t soon be forgotten.

py Retirement, p a H

Deborah!

We’ll miss you!

Thursday, February 26, 2015

Campus A3

The Auburn Plainsman

student government

One step closer to building student memorial Nicole Fulkerson Campus Reporter

A student memorial is becoming more of a reality as the SGA student senate passed resolutions to initiate building a student memorial on campus.

At its meeting Feb. 19, the senate passed two resolutions that will allow SGA to take the next steps in the project.

“We want a tranquil place that all members of the Auburn Family can appreciate the ones we have lost,” said Walker Byrd, SGA presidentelect.

According to Jackson Pruett, vice president of initiatives and senior in political science, the first resolution said SGA senate supports the project.

“As SGA executives, we can say this project is a priority,” Pruett said. “When the senate comes through and says this is a resolution, it means something that carries a lot of weight to administrators and the people outside of SGA.”

“

There is a memorial at Samford Hall, as well as in the Student Center, but we wanted one space that all members of the Auburn Family can appreciate.”

—Jack Wagster

assistant vice president of facilities

The second resolution is a financial pledge that would put aside $300,000 for the project and would come from the student activities reserve fund. The money would be put aside and used only for this project.

“Until we’re ready to move dirt, the money is not going to be spent,” Pruett said. “It’s really to help us to kind of garner other financial support.”

The memorial will replace the existing Garden of Memory at the corner of Samford Ave-

nue and Mell Street across from the President’s Mansion.

According to Jack Wagster, assistant vice president of facilities and sophomore in business, the memorial will be 4.25 acres, the landscaping and pond will be updated and a new staircase will be added.

Seven pillars will line the park, called the Path of Remembrance, and each pillar represents a different part of the Auburn Creed.

“We thought about this for a long time,” Wag-

ster said. “We thought this would be the best way to honor everyone equally.”

According to Pruett, students, staff and faculty will have a way to look back on the lives of someone they lost by visiting the different pillars.

“If someone knows someone who’s passed away while overseas, they can go to the pillar that represents serving our country,” Pruett said.

“If someone wanted to appreciate an athlete, they can go to the pillar about sports.”

Pruett said several student memorials are already on campus, but not everyone who has passed is included.

“There is a memorial at Samford Hall, as well as in the Student Center, but we wanted one space that all members of the Auburn Family can appreciate,” Pruett said.

The next step is for the SGA to take the project to the University senate and the Board of Trustees in April.

student spotlight

59-year-old student fulfills his list of dreams

Rebecca Oliver Campus Writer

Fifty-nine-year-old Tommy “Pink” Pinkard, who is earning his second degree in undeclared liberal arts, was sitting in a mall contemplating retirement when he decided to take his first ride on a carousel.

Pinkard said it was time to start doing the things he always wanted to do, so he made a bucket list.

“One of the things I wanted to do, believe it or not, was to ride a carousel,” Pinkard said. “That day in the mall, I stood up from where I had been sitting and walked over to the carousel operator to ask if an old man could ride a carousel. She said I could. The next day I put on my signature pink hat and went back to ride the carousel for my first time.”

The ride was the first check off Pinkard’s postretirement bucket list. The next item to check off was to attend his lifelong dream school, Auburn University.

“I realized that the main reason I hadn’t done more of the things I wanted to do in my life was because someone told me I couldn’t,” Pinkard said. “That’s what made me decide to finally come to Auburn.”

According to Pinkard, his love affair with Auburn began when he was a boy. However, Pinkard said when he first enrolled in college, AfricanAmericans did not attend Auburn.

Pinkard instead attended Jefferson Davis State Community College on a basketball scholarship until an injury suffered on a construction job left him unable to play.

Pinkard completed his master’s degree in counseling at Jacksonville State University and worked as a counselor for troubled teens at the

Social Programming for Achievement Network for 33 years.

According to Pinkard, his narrow view of female teens, as opposed to male teens, as a counselor contributed to his decision to study women’s studies at Auburn.

“With troubled girls, you worry about them getting pregnant, rolling their eyes or flipping their hair,” Pinkard said. “Guys are more criminal, and I didn’t see the girls as criminals. I could deal with the criminal mind, but the female mind has always intrigued me.”

Suzie Krueger, Pinkard’s former co-worker, said Pinkard didn’t give himself enough credit as a counselor.

“He gave a rational perspective to girls who had Cinderella-world perspectives,” Krueger said.

Pinkard said his knowledge of the female mind broadened during his time at Auburn, along with his perspective on life, in part from his education, but also from his observation of how the current generation of college students regard its future.

“I see the kids always on their phones and so forth,” Pinkard said. “It seems like they’re always distracted and not taking things seriously. If I could give any advice to them, it would be to not waste the best time of their lives.”

Aside from attending Auburn, Pinkard said he intends to fulfill other wishes on his bucket list, such as dressing like Frederick Douglass at a Civil War re-enactment and continuing to enjoy his photography work.

Pinkard’s sister, Peggy Gooden, said she admires her brother.

“Most people wouldn’t go back to college after retirement, but it’s always been his desire to be a member of the Auburn Family,” Gooden said.

student government

Emily Enfinger / photo editor

Tommy Pinkard’s list includes attending Auburn, riding a carousel and participating in a Civil War re-enactment.

scholarships

PLUS program gains support from alumni Tracy Awino

Campus Reporter

Emily Enfinger / photo editor

SGA’s free textbook proposal will go to the faculty to be reviewed.

Textbook proposal moves to next stage Haley Lanigan Campus Writer

The members of SGA met for their last senate meeting of the 2014-15 executive council term Feb. 23.

Walker Byrd, senator for academic affairs and SGA president-elect, provided a followup presentation of his previously discussed proposal for open resources, including textbooks.

According to Byrd, the online textbooks’ quality is equivalent to the textbooks currently used by Auburn students.

The proposal of using open resources at the University was passed as a resolution and will go to the faculty to be reviewed.

“We’re supporting the faculty looking into this and every-

“

The whole goal behind this is to get it in front of professors to open their eyes to how corrupted the market for textbooks is.”

—Walker Byrd

senatoR for academic affairs

thing that it is,” Byrd said.

Byrd said the idea behind open resources is to provide students with inexpensive access to online textbooks.

Professors will be able to access these textbooks and delete

information they are not planning to use.

“The whole goal behind this is to get it in front of professors to open their eyes to how corrupted the market for textbooks is,” Byrd said.

In other senate news: • Voted and passed a resolution to provide SGA with $4,000 to use toward events such as the homecoming parade • Voted and passed the resolution making all final election scores, including Miss Auburn and Miss Homecoming, available to the public “As a senator, I’m not doing my job if I have to tell people I don’t know why this information isn’t released,” said Jeremy Wiley, senator for diversity and multicultural affairs.

The Auburn Alumni Association recently increased its commitment to the funding of the Provost Leadership Undergraduate Scholarship, according to Steve Inabinet, coordinator of scholarship programs at the Office of Alumni Affairs.

According to Overtoun Jenda, associate provost for diversity and multicultural affairs, the PLUS program provides scholarships to promote diversity on campus.

Jenda said the scholarship is an all-inclusive scholarship for first-generation and lowincome students.

The PLUS scholarship program assists participants by providing them with a $2,000 scholarship per academic year, renewable up to four years, and supports them academically and socially to ensure students succeed at the University, according to the Office of Diversity and Multicultural Affairs website.

Inabinet said the Alumni Association increased the funding from four recipients to nine recipients.

There is a difference between the Alumni Association PLUS and the ODMA PLUS, according to Inabinet.

“The basic difference between the two is how they are funded,” Inabinet said. “The one for the Auburn Alumni Association, PLUS, is funded separately than the ones from the ODMA.” Inabinet said ODMA still selects the recipients and determines if the scholarships are renewable.

“We are doing additional fundraising through events that will be held in the future to continue improving the quantity of scholarship awards and, of course, the funding,” Inabinet said.

According to Inabinet, there is a need for scholarships to be added to the University because of the price of tuition, and the Alumni Association comes up with ways for funding scholarships.

“We issue a lot more scholarships that students deserve and need that could be, and can and are awarded to persons that meet the PLUS scholarship qualification,” Inabinet said.

Jenda said there are currently 137 scholarship recipients, compared to the 40 recipients they began with in 2006.

“The goal is to increase this number, and that’s where

we rely on donations from alumni and corporations and friends to help us save money to provide scholarships,” Jenda said.

Jenda said the PLUS scholarship has a retention program to ensure students do well while they are recipients of the scholarship.

Jess Choi, recipient of the PLUS scholarship and junior in integrative biology, said the retention program activities have helped her with leadership and networking.

Choi said the program helped her connect with people in her major.

Binh Nguyen, recipient of the PLUS scholarship and freshman in public relations, said she will eventually donate to the PLUS scholarship.

“It’s nice to be a part of something, and in the future, I can look back and donate as an alumnus,” Nguyen said.

Barbara Wallace-Edwards, coordinator of alumni engagement, said by providing the scholarship, diversity continues to increase at the University.

“We want to help increase minority enrollment in Auburn University, and one way we can do that is by awarding PLUS scholarships,” Wallace-Edwards said.

Campus A4

Thursday, February 26, 2015

The Auburn Plainsman

Graphic design student’s student spotlight

work is Judge’s Choice H aley Lanigan Campus Writer

Sara Hagale, senior in graphic design, won the Judge’s Choice Award at the American Institute of Graphic Arts’ Atlanta Student Pin-Up show, where several Auburn graphic design students showcased their work Jan. 24.

Twelve Auburn students in the graphic design program attended the show with Courtney Windham, assistant professor of graphic design, as their supervisor.

Windham said this was her first time going to the event, and it was an artistic space similar to a gallery opening.

“It was a big photography studio, so there was lots of loft space,” Windham said. “The students could just put up their artwork with pushpins on the wall. It was a great experience for them to meet other graphic design students from the Atlanta area.”

Windham said approximately 10 other schools were represented.

Because of the large amount of competition, Hagale’s win represent-

ed Auburn’s graphic design program well, according to Windham.

“I think it definitely reflects well on us,” Windham said. “She is very talented, and we’re very glad that she’s part of our program.”

Hagale said she spent three weeks working on the project, which was constructed for her intro to design class, taught by Robert Finkel, assistant professor of graphic design.

According to Hagale, the assignment was to design a set of chocolate bars and packing that would appeal to a particular audience of the student’s choosing.

“We were told to make a specific audience for our chocolate bars, so I did a widowed woman that was obsessed with connecting with the spirit world to contact her dead husband,” Hagale said.

According to Hagale, Auburn’s graphic design professors are always trying to get their students to submit their artwork to competitions such as AIGA Atlanta Student Pin-Up. Hagale said she was originally not

planning on going, but decided to go at the last minute.

“This was my first time at this event,” Hagale said. “I’ve actually never been to a graphic design event like it before. There were about 10 other schools, and it was very casual.”

Since the event was somewhat impromptu, Hagale said the award caught her off guard.

“I was pleasantly surprised,” Hagale said.

Finkel said he was impressed with his student’s work.

“The conceptual side is that you have to tell a story with these projects,” Finkel said. “We were trying to capture the idea of visual storytelling.”

Finkel said he was not surprised by his student’s victory.

“All of her work is really outstanding,” Finkel said. “She’s really pushed some boundaries in terms of the kind of design aesthetics, as well as the kind of conceptual thinking behind it.

It works very nicely as a conceptual project piece.”

upcoming events

Dates to Remember: Thursday, Feb. 26 •National Eating Disorder Screening Day • “Beyond the Skin: to the content of Our Character” lecture from 6-8 p.m. in the Foy Hall auditorium • Italian Cooking Workshop in Spidle Hall Room 238 at 5:30 p.m.

Saturday, Feb. 28 • What a Drag Show from 8-11 p.m. in the Student Center Ballroom • Tiger Eye audition clinic from 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. at the Student Activity Center

Monday, March 2 • Sustainability in Business Symposium from 6-7:30 p.m. in Lowder Hall Room 113

Tuesday, March 3 • Heisman Drive closures begin and will last until Aug. 31 • “The Shape of the Civil War” from 4-5 p.m. in Lowder 113A • UPC’s Red Barn Series in the The Red Barn at 7 p.m.

Contributed by Sara Hagale

Are you a campus or non-profit organization? Send your events to campus@theplainsman.com to be featured online and in the paper.

Hagale said she designed her work to resemble tarot cards.

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Opinion

a5

Thursday, February 26, 2015

ThePlainsman.com

Opinion

our view

Women need equal pay for equal work SOCIAL MEDIA ON THE PLAINS

Topic:

Alabama is one of the worst states for the

male-to-female pay ratio

Viewpoint:

alabama needs to regulate pay so there is more oppurtunity for equal pay

Responses to “Parker Hall and Allison Laboratory will be replaced with new academic complex”

The Oscars aired throughout the U.S. on Sunday, Feb. 22. Amonst the typical glitz and glamour of Hollywood, there were speeches given that highlighted ongoing struggles throughout the country.

Patricia Arquette, who won best actress in a supporting role, spoke out on gender pay equality.

“To every woman who gave birth, to every taxpayer and citizen of this nation, we have fought for everybody else’s equal rights,” Arquette said in her speech. “It is our time to have wage equality once and for all and equal rights for women in the United States of America.”

Her words sparked controversy, but in the state of Alabama, they hit home.

According to AL.com, Alabama women make 76 cents for every dollar a man makes, which puts Alabama at 40th in the nation when it comes to pay equality.

The University follows a similar trend.

In the study “Regard Gender: Eight SEC Doctoral Granting Land Grant Institutions,” by the Women’s Leadership Institute at Auburn, the University was among the worst of the SEC schools regarding pay disparities at the professor level, excluding associate and assistant professors.

In 2007, female professors were paid, on average, 7 percent less than their male counterparts. By 2013, that increased to 12 percent.

This means the pay disparity in Auburn has increased over the years as attention to

Kelley Black “Parker and Saunders were in disrepair when I was there over 30 years ago.”

Becca Cary McVey “That bldg was the “hallway” from The Hill dorms to Haley Center..”

Cassidy A. Kulhanek “At least we can still get our Asbestos fix at Haley.” kelsey gainer / graphic designer

the gender pay gap has increased.

Female assistant professors, on average, were paid 11 percent less than their male counterparts in 2013. Similar to female professors, the pay gap has increased from nine percent in 2001. The average associate professors had less of a pay gap, with women being paid an eight percent difference in 2013. The gap also remained largely the same from 2002-13.

Auburn University has a non-discriminatory policy that declares it has no tolerance against discriminations based upon sex, yet the pay gap remains.

Payment equality is not a novelty.

We have come a long way from women not being able to vote and jobs being listed by gender. In the U.S., women enjoy the freedom to climb the ranks to CEO, live independently, vote, get divorced and choose to pursue any job they desire, yet throughout all of this social progress, a disparity in pay remains.

The citizens and companies of Alabama, especially Auburn University, need to address their gender pay gap inequalities.

question of the week: Do you think gender pay equality should be a top priority in the U.S.?

Yes, it’s time to end the pay gap No, it’s not a big deal I don’t have a job, so I don’t care

Vote online at ThePlainsman.com It is the 21st century and well past time for a change.

Women should not still be earning less than their male counterparts. They have fought for their rights and now work as equals among their male co-workers. It is time for their payment to reflect that.

her view

We need a weekend transit system tracy awino campus@theplainsman. com

It’s Saturday morning, and I couldn’t be happier that the weekend is finally here. I would love to go visit my friend who lives off campus for maybe a movie day, catch up on how our weeks went, laugh a little about our awkward college experiences, but wait. I don’t have a car and neither does she.

What a bummer.

Obviously, we could just call each other maybe even Skype, but the Auburn Creed mentions human touch as well.

The Creed says, “I believe in the human touch, which cultivates sympathy with my fellow men and mutual helpfulness and brings happiness for all.” In this case, human touch is being in the physical presence of my friend, so if you and I are both reading that last part right, I’m sure we all want and crave happiness. Seeing my friend in person would make me happy if I could get to her place on a weekend.

Living on or off campus without a private means of transportation is manageable during the weekday, but when it comes to the weekend, students without private transportation are essentially stuck.

According to the Tiger Transit website, the transits run from 7 a.m.-6 p.m. MondayFriday, then the night transit takes over from 6:15-10 p.m.

There is a security shuttle that runs from 6 p.m.-7 a.m. seven days per week, but only on campus.

When it comes to transportation, Auburn is generous in ensuring students have a way to get where they need to be going during the weekdays. On-campus students can easily get from point A to point B within the campus during late hours of the night.

What about the weekends for students who would like to utilize campus resources, such as the Ralph Brown Draughon Library, or those who have majors that require them to be on campus after school hours to work on their projects?

The addition of a transit that runs during the weekends would not only be a beneficial addition for students who don’t have cars, but also an attractive feature for future stu-

dents who come from different countries or out of state and are worried about how they could get by over the weekends.

Perhaps a student only has friends who live off campus and they don’t have cars.

They would be stuck on campus, possibly bored to tears, because they cannot visit their friends.

Students may have friends who have cars, but they may not have the same schedule. Also, constantly asking for rides can make students feel needy.

It may be impossible to have as many transits running during the week for the weekend transit, so if a survey can be sent to students to find out which locations are considered the most desirable to have a transit to over the weekend, then the transport system would be taking a step in the right direction.

A weekend transit system might as well just save us all the awkward car rides with people you barely know, who may not have the same music taste as you.

Tracy Awino is a campus reporter for The Plainsman. She can be reached at campus@theplainsman.com.

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Seth Mc Collough “They could solve everyone’s problem if they would build more parking decks! I’m glad Garcia is fighting for the student body!

They could also solve problems by not overselling each lot.”

Becky Schumaker “I think if A zone is complaining that they don’t have guaranteed parking, then perhaps they should section off A zone parking (A1, A2, A3, etc) and lottery it out the same way they did PC parking.

Also, students rarely get an actual say in parking changes. We get to vote for which new Mell Street restaurant we get, but we can’t vote for whether we want new parking garages?”

Eric Bauer “Lol. yes safer and more efficient, definitely their goal. Not revenue. Right, got it.”

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Community Thursday, February 26, 2015

A6 ThePlainsman.com

Community

Fire Division Chief Lamar remembered

City

Kailey Miller

Community Reporter

Auburn Fire Chief Lee Lamar passed away Feb. 18, but his legacy and memory will not be forgotten.

Through his 33 years of service to Auburn, Lamar impacted the lives of his fellow firefighters, whether he knew them for 20 years or two years.

Matthew Jordan, battalion chief at the Auburn Fire Division, had known and worked with Lamar for 19 and a half years.

“I believe to a very great extent that the fire department, to him, was an extension of his family, so he really took it very seriously and was involved in a way that’s much more in depth than it just being a job or a career for him,” Jordan said.

“He took this home with him. It was his life.”

Lamar passed away peacefully in the morning surrounded by family and friends after battling for an extended period with cancer.

A memorial service was held for Lamar at Holy Trinity Episcopal Church on Feb. 21.

“I was extremely proud of our fire division for what they did to bring honor to Chief Lamar in the process of the memorial service,” said Mayor Bill Ham Jr. “[There was a] turnout from current firefighters and retired firefighters, and firefighters really from all over the Southeast that knew Chief Lamar, and many of those that had come through our student firefighter program here.”

Lamar started his career from the ground up as a firefighter in 1980, Jordan said, and worked his way to fire chief in 2008.

Jordan said one of the leading legacies that Lamar will leave behind is his belief in education among firefighters and the community in areas such as fire prevention and hazardous material.

“One of the foundations for him was the belief in education and the belief that firefighters don’t need to just know about putting water on a fire, but becoming educated in this profession,” Jor-

dan said. “He really facilitated that to a large extent, and it trickled down to those that he served with.”

His impact on fellow firefighters will continue through those he taught as they began their careers the academy.

Jordan said many of the people who attended his memorial service Saturday, Feb. 21, were those he had taught, whether as an entry-level firefighter or through fire science courses at local universities.

“He was probably one of the most genuinely caring people I’d ever met,” said Carson Stroud, student firefighter and senior in aviation management. “He always had a smile on his face. He was always happy to see you and knew you by name.”

Stroud said he had known Lamar for almost two years, and in that time Lamar taught him to be compassionate and caring toward people.

Stroud said Lamar showed him to care about every task he had no matter how many times he had to do it.

“It’s somber losing a chief that’s been with the department for 33 years,” Stroud said. “I think the department will continue to move forward.

He set us up in a really good position to continue to improve in all aspects.”

Jordan said Lamar’s legacy will be one of dedication to the Fire Division he left in a better state than he found it in, because of the value he put on education.

“Lee was certainly a great family man, a caring individual that cared about all of the citizens that he served, including all of Auburn University and the entire area,” Ham said.

Jordan said that his thoughts and prayers are with Lamar’s wife, son and the rest of his family.

“The fire department was his calling,” Jordan said. “Something that he didn’t just choose to do, it chose him.”

citizens

Contributed by the city of Auburn

Lee Lamar served the Auburn Fire Division for 33 years, starting as a firefighter and working his way up to chief.

Lady and the Stamp

Get to know Anabell the Stamp dog Rachael Taylor Community Writer

amelia johannes / photographer

Anabell, also known as the “Stamp Dog,” is a basset hound and blue heeler mix. She is 8 years old.

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Downtown Auburn is home to many well-known traditions such as, Samford Hall and Toomer’s Corner. But there are also some smaller traditions, such as Anabell the “Stamp Dog.” Stamp is a T-shirt store in downtown Auburn owned by Eric Stamp.

Stamp brings his dog Anabell to work with him every day.

Anabell, a basset hound and blue heeler mix, is known for sitting outside the store greeting students and visitors of Auburn.

“She likes to be here,” Stamp said. “She likes the action. She likes meeting all of the people.”

While Anabell has a bed inside the store, she is often found lounging in the monkey grass outside of the store or greeting customers by the door.

“She just is naturally good,” Stamp said.

Stamp said she has occasionally gone missing for short periods of time, but she has always found her way back.

“The first two weeks she came to the store, even though the door was open, she didn’t go outside,” Stamp said.

Anabell now spends a lot of time outside, according to Stamp.

Anabell is occasionally dressed up in costumes, including a Wonder Woman costume.

“Some people will come just to see her,” Stamp said.

Anabell also frequently goes on walks around campus and is recognized by students.

Many dog owners bring their dogs to see Anabell, according to Stamp.

“She is 98 percent good,” Stamp said, adding that he rarely has a problem with Anabell getting along with other dogs

who may walk by.

Anabell is featured on products at Stamp, including Tshirts and free buttons.

“She likes to go to Five Guys and try to beg people for fries,” said Forest Warren, a former Auburn student who works at Stamp store.

Warren said if Anabell is sitting outside and someone tells her to “go to work,” she will run inside the store.

Anabell, who is 8 years old, frequently visits the shops of downtown Auburn, including Gap and Campus Barber.

Jeanette Weldon, a barber at Campus Barber downtown, has a setup for Anabell in a corner of the barbershop that includes a bed where Anabell comes to eat treats.

Weldon said people often check Anabell’s collar to make sure she isn’t a lost dog.

“Anabell is the queen of North College,” Weldon said.

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Thursday, February 26, 2015

The Auburn Plainsman

Community A7

Arts

Amelia Johannes / photographer

New mural depicting Auburn to travel to Portugal

Fifteen art students painted the mural as a collaborative painting class project between fall 2014 and spring 2015. The mural will be on display at Balcony Bar until it is shipped off to the Azores Islands in Portugal in March.

Kendyl Hollingsworth Community Writer

After weeks of hard work bringing their vision to life, Auburn art students unveiled their finished mural at Balcony Bar on Saturday, Feb. 21. The mural will be sent off in March as part of an international project.

The mural was a collaborative project between 15 painting students from the fall 2014 and spring 2015 painting classes as part of the Small World Big Picture Project. The students wanted to take a few concepts that make Auburn special and translate that vision to their painting so it can be seen by people around the world.

The students in the fall semester’s intoduction to painting class brainstormed ideas for the mural for a few days, then spent two weeks bringing that vision to life. Students in this semester’s advanced painting class picked up where the others left off and completed the 16-by-5-foot masterpiece in approximately one week.

“The mural celebrates who and what Auburn is,” said Wendy DesChene, associate art professor. “When this mural is shipped overseas to the

project to be displayed with other murals from around the world, Auburn will be represented proudly from those that live here.”

The mural features several of Auburn’s most iconic features, including a golden eagle, a large oak tree and students interacting. It even includes some Tiger Transit routes.

Adrienne Hames, junior in fine arts, helped paint the tree in the mural in homage to Toomer’s Oaks.

“We tried bringing in things that Auburn people love, so we want the town to be able to enjoy it too,” Hames said.

According to the project’s website, the Small World Big Picture Project is the brainchild of American artist Kim Howard, former Auburn resident and Auburn University alumna.

Howard began the project in 2013 when she painted the first “Big Picture,” which measured 65.5-by-4.9 feet. She then cut a 3.3-by-4.9-foot section off of each end, which she calls cornerstones, and sent them to two other artists.

Those two artists then created their own Big Pictures based on the cornerstone they received

city

and sent the cornerstones from their works to other artists. This process will continue connecting the work of every artist involved in an effort to create the longest ongoing painting in the world.

The goal of the project is to bring people of all cultures closer together, and anyone is welcome to participate, according to Howard.

Though Howard could not attend the unveiling, her mother, Helga Wilmoth, was there to see the students’ work and congratulate them.

Wilmoth also shared some of her daughter’s story and passion for art while growing up in Auburn.

“One could tell from the beginning that she was talented,” Wilmoth said. “It was no doubt.

She was a swimmer on the swim team, she was a strong basketball player at Auburn High School, but art was her favorite.”

Wilmoth also touched on Howard’s goals with the project and Howard’s message that art should be integrated in people’s daily lives.

“She had this idea that art should be for more than just those who go to museums,” Wilmoth said. “Art should be for the people.”

Traffic problems expected as railroad replaces train tracks Jim Little

Community Editor

emily enfinger / photo editor

Three railroad crossing will be closed down until Wednesday, March 4, to allow crews to replace rails.

cOUNTY

Commission turns down gas tax increase, approves Sheriff’s raise Kailey Miller

Community Reporter

The Lee County Commission decided whether six requests for items would be drafted, advertised and sent through the legislative approval process to the Lee County Legislative Delegation on Feb. 23.

A tax on gasoline was not approved, along with a tax exemption for eligible citizens and a voter identification expansion.

The gasoline tax, or the “pay-as-you-go road tax,” would have raised tax on gasoline by $0.05 per gallon for up to five years, said Robert Ham, District 4 commissioner.

Ham said this has been brought before the legislature in previous years.

“It was going to go to specific road and bridge projects, meaning that we would put it on the ballot that it was a specific bridge that would be replaced, for example, and the citizens would be able to look at it and decide yes or no whether they wanted that specific project,” Ham said.

The tax was discussed with the local legislature delegation, and majority of the members

Wilmoth said Howard hopes the project will promote greater acceptance of people from other nations, which she believes is crucial in this generation and those to follow.

The project was a great opportunity for her students to gain collaborative experience, according to DesChene.

“So many projects in a university are independent tasks, but when students leave and work in the real world, much of what they will be doing will be collaborative,” DesChene said. “This type of project where students work together on a mutual goal allows them to experience that.”

The mural will remain at Balcony Bar, located above Moe’s Southwest Grill on West Magnolia Avenue, until it is shipped in March to the project’s headquarters in the Azores Islands off the coast of Portugal.

“As it’s a mural that celebrates the town of Auburn, it’s super cool to exhibit it in a local business that is in the heart of Auburn before we share it with the larger world,” DesChene said.

To keep up with the project or learn how to get involved, visit SmallWorld-BigPicture.org.

said they felt it was not a good time for the proposal because of a statewide effort to look at additional funding for infrastructure, which would include funding for counties, according to county documents.

Ham said the current and previous commissioners have believed citizens would like better roads, but commissioners will do what they can with the money they have rather than raise taxes.

“We’d rather have lower taxes than pristine roads,” Ham said. “We know there’s so much improvement that needs to be done there, but we’ve listened to the citizens year after year, and they’ve told us we do not want those taxes raised, so we left them alone.”

John Harris, District 5 commissioner, said he thought the commissioners should not move forward on anything because the county and the state did not need to spend any more money.

“We should get our house in order where we can get financially stable,” Harris said.

“The state of Alabama is in bad shape.”

Johnny Lawrence, commis-

sioner for District 2, disagreed with Harris’ statement.

“We have worked on this for several meetings, and we have interacted not only amongst ourselves, we have interacted with state legislators,” Lawrence said. “The state of Alabama’s issues, while they are certainly significant, is not what we’re talking about here.

We’re talking about our legislative package for our local delegation.”

A salary increase to Lee County Sheriff Jay Jones, a Sheriff Administrative Fee and subdivision speed limits were all passed.

The salary raise for Jones, which the state legislature must approve, will bring his salary up to $100,700. Jones has not had a salary increase since 2008.

“His salary is not comparable to the salary of other sheriffs in the state or surrounding area and especially of a county this size,” Ham said. “He is so good the FBI would love to have him, the state agency would love to hire him, and we have fought tooth and nail for years to make sure we keep him.”

Train frieght company CSX Corp. began laying out new rails at multiple railroad crossings in Auburn on Monday, Feb. 23.

CSX crews will return Thursday Feb. 26 at 7 a.m. to finish the work on the crossings at North College, North Gay and North Ross Streets.

The crossings may be closed at the same time, according to David Dorton, director of Public Affairs for the City of Auburn.

“We’ll work with them as best we can on traffic flow,” Dorton said.

The crews will be replacing the steel rails on the track, according to Kristin Seay, media relations with CSX. CSX may take until Wednesday, March 4, to complete the work. Traffic delays can be expected.

The construction will move west, so other crossing could be closed at a later date, such as the East University Drive crossing, according to Dorton.

Dorton said cities have no control over which crossing are closed because railroads fall under federal control.

Intrigue Thursday, February 26, 2015

A8 ThePlainsman.com

Intrigue

student spotlight

Not your ‘dormal’ marriage Married couples settle into life in oncampus dorm rooms in the Village

Anne Dawson Intrigue writer

Some couples have found homes in Auburn, but not in houses. They’ve chosen to settle down alongside students in the residence halls.

Kimberly Dixon, graduate area coordinator for Village South, lives in Willow Hall in the Village with her husband, Brandon Dixon, and their 11-month-old son Luke Dixon.

Kimberly and her family have lived in Willow Hall since August 2014.

“The Village is the best place for our little family,” Kimberly said.

Kimberly said friends and family wondered how she and her husband would make the space work with an infant.

“Everyone thought we were nuts,” Kimberly said.

According to Kimberly, chapter rooms on first floor of the residence hall surround her family, which is quieter than being next to residents.

Their room in the Village has a dishwasher and is close to the laundry room, which Kimberly said is convenient.

Kimberly said her family also enjoys the convenience of having their own parking spaces—when no one is in them.

The best part of living in the dorms, according to Kimberly, is she works with the resident assistants and is involved in the growth of the community.

Kimberly said she believes if students live in a solid community, they are more likely to stay in college.

However, there are issues with living in a dorm. Kimberly said is it is difficult for her son to avoid germs and rain.

“When (Luke) gets awoken from a nap because someone is screaming, it’s frustrating,” Kimberly said.

Another issue they face is space.

Kimberly said she and her husband were already minimalists before they moved into the dorm. They make the small space work by utilizing every part of the closets.

“There are moments when I think, ‘I wish I didn’t have to deal with this,’” Kimberly said.

“

The Village is the best place for our little family.”

—Kimberly Dixon graduate area coordinator for village south

Kimberly said she and her husband do not regret living in a dorm.

Anouther couple living in the dorms, Jay and Rachel Skipworth, have been married for nine years.

They went from living in their own home to a residence hall. They have lived in Plainsman Hall in the Village for almost six years.

Jay, assistant director of student employment, said living in the dorms is a great way to connect with students.

“It’s a way to extend services to students in a nontraditional way,” Jay said.

According to the couple, liv- Kimberly Dixon lives in Willow Hall with her husband, Brandon, and son Luke. ing in a dorm after a house requires adjusting.

“It has its ups and downs, but it’s fun,” Rachel said.

Jay and Rachel said they have made the small space work by using storage units and narrowing down to what they need.

Rachel said they lived in the dorm when it was all boys, coed and now all girls.

“The best part is getting to know the students and seeing them outside of class,” Rachel said.

They have also lived with the basketball team, swim team and track team.

“There’s never a dull moment,” Rachel said. “If you get bored, you can just look out the window.”

Jay said though living in a dorm has challenges, it also has benefits.

“It’s taught us that we don’t need a lot to be happy and survive,” Jay said.

photos by Emily enfinger / photo editor

academics

The pluses and minuses of Auburn University’s grading scale Andria Moore Intrigue Writer

Auburn University is notorious for being one of the most difficult schools in which to receive an A, according to CBS News, which listed it as the toughest grader in the South.

The grading system at Auburn was established long ago as one that does not include pluses and minuses.

However, there are some who feel the University’s grading system is strange.

Constance Relihan, associate provost for undergraduate studies and English professor, said she believes if Auburn implemented a plus and minus grading scale, concentrating in class would become difficult.

“Do you want to be focused on learning the material, or worrying about whether your grade is going to be a B or a B plus?” Relihan said. “It’s naïve to think that students are never going to worry about grades, but I’d rather students focus on material rather than worrying about their plus or minus on a grade.”

For some professors, the grading system here does not accurately reflect a student’s potential.

“A student who gets a 79.5 in my class has the same grade on the transcript as a student who gets an 89.4,” said Liliana Stern, assistant professor of economics. “But that’s a 10-point difference.”

Liliana said she feels by having a “finer grading system,” professors are able to better represent a student’s abilities.

“If you are looking for a job and someone sees A pluses across the board, then they know you are an outstanding student,” Liliana said. “Be-

cause an A plus is a 4.3, whereas a 4.0 just means you were an A student, not the top of your class.”

Michael Stern, associate professor of economics and department chair, said he agrees with Liliana because he feels Auburn needs to catch up with other universities.

“Auburn needs to stay current with its peers,” Michael said. “With so many of its peers having pluses and minuses for a long, long time, it too needs to make them an option.”

While the views on the grading system vary, many Auburn staff and students said they have no idea when or why it was established this way.

“I’ve been here since 1990, and we didn’t have pluses and minuses back then either,” Relihan said. “If the University wanted to change the grading system, someone would have to develop a formal proposal. It would then go through a committee of University senate, a full senate and then the press for approval.”

Although Michael said he favors reforming the system, he admits if Auburn decided to implement a plus and minus system, the damage would be severe for graduate students.

“Our graduate school has a 3.0 requirement or they will suspend you,” Michael said.

Michael said in the current grading system Auburn has, graduate students benefit because their high C’s show up as a B on their transcript, whereas in a plus and minus system, a high C will show up exactly as it is.

Relihan said there has been “some thought” put into determining whether pluses and minuses should be implemented only at the graduate level.

However, she said she feels there are

kelsey gainer / graphic designer

Logos are filled proportionately to the percentage of students at other schools who receive A or A+ grades.

other factors to be considered.

“We also have to think what would adding those pluses and minuses do?”

Relihan said. “How many more complaints would we get in the future?”

Relihan works for the grievances office and said she has received no specific complaints about the grading system, but students often complain about the grades they receive.

Liliana and Michael said they feel

it is difficult for them to deal with so many end-of-the-year complaints about grades, as well as not accurately reflecting a student’s work on their transcript.

“It’s hard for professors to say that someone who got a 50 should receive the same grade as someone who got a 70, who should receive the same grade as someone who got a 90,” Michael said.

Liliana said she feels, the amount of complaints she receives at the end of the semester from students begging to raise their grade has greatly increased in her time at Auburn.

“If we did have a pluses and minuses system, professors would receive benefits because you would not have all of the students begging at the end of the semester for one-tenth of a point,” Liliana said.

Thursday, February 26, 2015

Intrigue A9

The Auburn Plainsman

local

Where Auburn gets its water Anne Dawson Intrigue Writer

Kelsey Gainer / graphic designer

Water for the city of Auburn and Auburn University is controlled by the Department of Water Resource Management.

Auburn University uses one million gallons of water per day, while the city uses 6.1 million gallons per day, according to Eric Carson, director of the water resource management department of Auburn.

This averages 100 gallons per person each day, city- and campuswide, which is on par with national averages of what a person consumes, Carson said.

Carson said students often do not think about the work required for safe and clean water, as well as working sewage services.

“It’s one of those things you don’t think about until there’s a problem and you don’t have those services anymore,” said Matt Dunn, assistant director of water resource management for all of Auburn.

Water resource management oversees water treatment and distribution, as well as sewer collection and treatment for the citizens of Auburn, according to Carson.

Carson said they are also in charge of the Watershed Protection Program, which helps manage the quality of storm water runoff into streams and creeks.

Carson and Dunn, both Auburn graduates, are two of approximately 50 people who help deliver clean water to the city every day.

Both Carson and Dunn said their jobs vary from day to day.

Carson said his job is to oversee all three of the divisions the department works with.

One major part of Carson’s job is

to oversee development of projects and stay ahead of problems. Another aspect of his job is to meet with the public and work with customers who are having problems with high water bills, sediment runoff and sewer odors.

Carson said once he had a complaint from a customer claiming their hot water had not been turned on, only their cold water.

Carson said he has worked in the department for 18 years, so he has had plenty of experience solving customers’ problems.

Dunn said his job involves overseeing field operations and project management. He also responds to citizens’ calls and complaints.

Carson and Dunn oversee the water quality for all of Auburn, including on campus, and said because both use the same pipes, the water on campus and in the community should essentially be the same.

“Since the water is centrally located, it stays pretty fresh,” Carson said.

Because he works with both the city and the campus, Carson said his job is always interesting.

“When I was first hired, my first boss told me, ‘There is one thing I can guarantee and that’s that you’ll never be bored,’ and he was right,” Carson said.

Carson said the many projects the department has worked on has kept his job interesting.

Carson said water resource management has worked on countless projects to benefit the community, such as building a pump station at Lake Ogletree and an emergency repair on a sewer line in the parking lot of Hickory Dickory Park.

“

You don’t think about it until there’s a problem.”

—Matt Dunn

assistant director of water resource management

Regardless of the numerous projects, Carson and Dunn both said students generally do not think about the work the department does.

“What we do kind of goes unseen because people expect to turn on their faucet and have water or to flush a commode and have services,” Dunn said.

Dunn said although students are often unaware of what they do, students have started to become more aware because of environmental issues and water conservation.

“It is so easy to forget how lucky we are to have such an abundance of clean water,” said Megan Hood, member of advocacy group Auburn for Water, an organization fighting the water crisis in developing countries, and sophomore in undeclared science and math.

To help educate the community on water issues and the department’s work, Dunn said they offer targeted tours to groups or classes and enjoy explaining how everything in the plant works.

Carson and Dunn said they care about the people of Auburn and enjoy being able to give back to the community and make an impact by keeping the water and sewage safe and functioning.

“I hope I bring confidence to the people that the water they drink is safe, and when they flush the toilet that things are going to work properly,” Carson said.

app of the week

Threes! is addictive, fun and quick Kyle Nazario intrigue@

theplainsman.com

Threes! may be the unluckiest app of 2014. Developers Asher Vollmer and Greg Wohlwend spent almost a year and a half developing the mechanics of their addictive swipe-and-combine gameplay. However, its gameplay was copied within six days of release on iOS by free clones that quickly outsold Threes!, which costs $1.99 to download. The first clone, 1024, advertised itself with the line “No need to pay for Threes!”

That is a shame because Threes! is a great mobile game. The time and care the developers put into the game shines through in its simple, charming animations and enjoyable gameplay.

Threes! gives the player a grid of blank spaces. Every turn, a new number tile appears. Swiping up, down, left or right moves all the tiles on the board one space

in that direction. Tiles collide when one bumps against the wall or another tile.

The graphics are surprisingly inviting for a game about combining numbers. Different types of number tiles have tiny faces on the bottom and different “personalities.”

I enjoyed creating higher-level tiles if only to read the funny descriptions about how the 48 tile is a born aristocrat who loves swimming pools.

The player makes larger tiles by moving two matching tiles over top each other. I put together many tiles with a 1, 2 and 3 into a 192 tile before running out of moves and losing in my first game.

Threes! is enjoyable because it presents a good level of difficulty. Players can enjoy it and move numbers around the board with ease, but only the best players can advance to the highest levels. It’s simple to learn, hard to master.

Finding the most efficient way to move tiles around the board and score the highest tile is fascinating. I often found myself opening Threes! whenever I had a moment to spare and had pulled out my phone. It’s easy to play in short bursts.

Threes! is also worth playing over free clones because it’s better balanced. Other versions of the game are too hard (1024) or far too easy (2048).

Threes! is available to download on Android and iPhone for $1.99.

Kyle Nazario is the intrigue editor for The Plainsman. He can be reached at intrigue@theplainsman.com.

photos by Kyle Nazario / intrigue editor

In Threes! you combine 1 and 2 tiles, and duplicates for 3 and up.

foodie corner

this isn’t your mama’s lasagna Maria McIlwain copy@

theplainsman. com

Dessert lasagna is not your typical lasagna. There are no noodles, no tomato sauce and it doesn’t need to be baked. This lasagna is easy to whip up with just a few simple ingredients and will satisfy your chocolate craving for days.

You don’t need a bunch of fancy kitchen appliances, though they do make it easier.

It is great for potlucks or cooking for a group of people because it yields a big serving.

It is simple to make, and it took me approximately 30 minutes to make. It is also relatively inexpensive, and I had several of the ingredients on hand.

Now my roommates won’t stop eating it.

Crush all of the Oreos into fine crumbs. I used a food processor, but you can easily do it by hand. Mix the crumbs with

6 tablespoons of melted butter and spread across a 9x13-inch pan. Put the pan in the refrigerator to cool.

Mix the cream cheese until light and fluffy. I recommend using an electric mixer.

Add in sugar, 2 tablespoons of milk and mix. Stir in 1 cup of whipped topping. You can use more if you want, especially if you don’t want the cream cheese to dominate the flavor.

Spread this over the crust.

In a bowl, mix the chocolate pudding mix with the remaining 3 ¼ cups of milk until it starts to thicken. Spread this over the dessert. Let sit for five minutes.

Spread the remaining whipped topping on top of the chocolate. I had some extra on hand, so I used that too. Sprinkle the chocolate chips on top.

Freeze for one hour or refrigerate for four hours, then serve.

Enjoy the delicious chocolate.

Maria McIlwain is an assistant copy editor for The Plainsman. She can be reached at copy@theplainsman.com.

Cream cheese

Whipped topping

Melted butter

Oreos

Ingredients •

Sugar

Milk

Chocolate pudding

Chocolate chips

• • • • • • •

KENNY MOSS / ASSISTANT PHOTO EDitor

Chocolate lasagna, pictured above, is great for anyone craving chocolate.

1 pack of Oreos (just regular, not Double Stuf or flavored) — $4.09 6 tablespoons of butter, melted — $2.99 1 8-ounce tub of whipped topping — $1.79 1 8-ounce package of cream cheese — $2.49 ¼ cup of sugar 2 tablespoons of milk (plus 3 ¼ cups for pudding) — 1.89 2 3.9 ounce packages of chocolate pudding mix — $1.98 1 package of chocolate chips — $2.69

Total: $17.92

Sports Thursday, February 26, 2015

scoreboard Men’s basketball (12-15, 4-10)

A10 ThePlainsman.com

Sports

Playing with his father in mind MEN’S BASKETBALL

Mason continues to play through father’s ailments Eric Wallace Sports Editor

LAST WEEK Loss vs. LSU, 84-75 Loss at Kentucky, 110--75 UPCOMING Feb. 28 at Texas A&M March 3 at Missouri

Women’s basketball (10-17, 1-13)

LAST WEEK Win at Georgia, 44-26 Loss vs. Ole Miss, 51-46 UPCOMING Feb. 26 at Vanderbilt March 1 vs. Alabama

Gymnastics (4-3) Inset Photo via @Antoine_Mason & KENNY MOSS / ASSISTANT photo EDITOR

Antoine Mason drives to the basket during a game at Alabama this season. INSET: Mason, pictured as a child with his father Anthony, has visited his father throughout the season.

Things have not gone as planned for Antoine Mason in his first season on the Plains.

The nation’s leading returning scorer after averaging 25.6 points per game at Niagara last season, Mason sprained an ankle in his first game as a Tiger, forcing him to miss the next six games.

Once he was able to play, Mason wasn’t at full speed. Then the worst news came: his father, Anthony, suffered a heart attack and was battling heart failure.

“You do not ever want to see any family member or any friend, nobody like that,” Mason said.

Mason traveled to visit his father in New York immediately upon hearing the news, and his status for a road game at Georgia on Feb. 14 was unclear. Mason said his father made his wishes clear in the situation.

“I know the one thing he wants me to do is focus on the season,” Mason said. “That is what I have been trying to do and try to find a joy.”

The senior guard would score nine points against the Bulldogs, helping the Tigers to a 69-68 road victory.

Mason’s father remains in critical condition in New York, but Antoine said he’s still inspiring him from 1,000 miles away.

“The cool thing is, certain games, if I mess up or doing something, I can picture him and his facial expressions, and I will start laughing

and get into a comfort zone,” Mason said. “We have a deep connection. He does not have to be here for me to know that he is watching me and listening to me.”

Even with his father’s condition and a recovering ankle, Mason’s performance has improved throughout conference play.

That improvement culminated in his best showing of the season; a 29-point game in Rupp Arena against No. 1 Kentucky.

“For Antoine to put up 29 points at Kentucky, that is the highest scoring from anybody and that might even be the highest scoring all year long at Kentucky,” said coach Bruce Pearl. “He owns that.

That is a neat accomplishment.”

The late-season improvement has been fueled by a rising confidence level and a healing ankle, according to Mason.

“It sounds like a cliché, but the extra work I have put in is making me more confident,” Mason said. “I am just starting to get healthy. My ankle was bothering me. It is getting stronger. I am getting more comfortable.”

Mason may be finding joy in his rejuvenated play, but there’s likely little that will bring him more joy than a rejuvenated father to cheer him on.

“I actually spoke to him today,” Mason said. “He cannot talk yet, but he can hear things and respond by blinking and shaking his head and things like that. When I talked to my mom and him, they told me he was getting better.”

RECENT Win at Missouri 196.875-195.850 UPCOMING Feb. 27 vs. Georgia March 6 at Kentucky

Baseball (7-2)

RECENT (M/W) Win vs. Georgia Tech, 7-1 UPCOMING Feb. 26 vs. Alabama A&M Feb. 27 vs. Jacksonville State Feb. 28 vs. Oklahoma State March 1 vs. Jacksonville State

KENNY MOSS / ASSISTANT photo EDITOR

Arena’s average attendance increases in 2015 The Auburn student section celebrates during a home loss to LSU on Tuesday, Feb. 24. Auburn Arena is averaging 85.7 percent capacity in the 2014-15 season.

David McKinney

Assistant Sports Editor

softball (17-1)

RECENT USF Tournament Champions 4-1 record in five games UPCOMING Wilson/Demarini Classic Feb. 26-March 1 Jane B. Moore Field

Excited was not a word commonly used to describe the crowd inside Auburn Arena when Tony Barbee was at the helm of Auburn’s basketball program.

Save for games featuring highlyranked opponents, lines to enter the student section never saw the length they do now, and the parking lots surrounding the Arena never met capacity with two and a half hours until tipoff.

That changed when a new head coach came to town.

Since coach Bruce Pearl’s arrival, excitement surrounding the basketball program has reached heights fans haven’t seen in years.

“It’s just night and day differences,” said Clint Richardson, member of the leadership team for the Auburn basketball student section and junior in marketing. “People are actually excited. There’s a nice atmosphere. There were so many people last year, and the

year before that just came because they had nothing else to do on a Wednesday night.”

As of Monday, Feb. 23, the Auburn Arena saw 85.7 percent average capacity for the 2014-15 season, good enough for third in the SEC. While the team has certainly improved in a short time under Pearl, the former Tennessee coach said his squad might not be deserving of the crowd support they’ve received.

“We have to keep doing something to deserve the support we are receiving,” Pearl said. “The support we are receiving is way more than we deserve based on the outcomes.”

Richardson said it’s not the crowd that deserves a good performance from the team, but the team who deserves that performance from the crowd.

“I don’t feel like they’re performing for us,” Richardson said. “We are an asset for the players themselves. It’s our job to make the Jungle and the whole Auburn Arena that people don’t want to

come to.”

While opposing teams may fear a matchup inside Auburn Arena, fans certainly don’t.

At least, not anymore.

This year, for the first time since 1999, Auburn’s allotment of season tickets sold out.

Tickets for the first game of the Pearl era, an exhibition against West Alabama, also sold out before tip. Multiple other games have sold out this season.

Richardson said the crowd is there to help the team to victory, and over the course of the season, senior guard KT Harrell said he has noticed the change and said it definitely adds that much more pressure onto the opposing team.

“That’s probably the loudest it’s been since I’ve been here,” Harrell said after the team’s close home win against South Carolina. “When you have that type of atmosphere, that type of crowd, it makes you feel like you can’t lose, and it makes you play much harder.”

However, since that win over the

Gamecocks, Auburn has failed to win a home game, dropping five straight at Auburn Arena, including a 79-68 loss to Alabama.

“Alabama’s fans wanted Alabama to win this game, and they wouldn’t have been happy about it if they didn’t win this game,” Pearl said after the loss to Alabama. “Our fans should have the same expectations. I feel bad for the great support we have, and I’m as disappointed as anybody.”

Most Auburn fans expect things to continuously improve over the next several years under Pearl, and Richardson said he expects the same from the student section.

For that to happen, Richardson said, he and the rest of the leadership team will have to work in the offseason.

“We’re committed to contacting other student sections around the country,” Richardson said. “Just to see how they do it. How they promote it, how they get people involved and how they get their creativity up.”

Thursday, February 26, 2015

Sports A11

The Auburn Plainsman

swimming and diving

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‘All gold everything’ Auburn athletics & kenny moss / assistant photo editor

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Fraser McKean celebrates his gold medal on the podium at the SEC Championships. INSET: McKean dives from the platform earlier in the season.

McKean’s dive a season in the making Derek Thompson sports Reporter

Fraser McKean held a strong handstand for approximately four seconds before he pushed off the platform and fell into the acrobatic flips that earned him the men’s title in platform diving at the 2015 SEC Swimming and Diving Championships.

Earlier that day, before he was holding himself upside down with both hands on the 33-foot tower that extended above the deep blue water, McKean said he told himself he was going to crush the dive.

“I’ve been working on that dive all year,” McKean said. “It came down to the last round, just like last year. I was thankful that I was able to pull it out

and get the win this time.”

McKean said winning the gold medal in the event meant more to him this year because it was his last competition dive at home and because he finished second last year, behind Texas A&M’s Ford McLiney.

McKean’s last competition dive in James E. Martin Aquatics Center also made him the second Auburn diver to win the platform title in the last three years, as he outscored LSU’s Daniel Helm 451.95-416.8.

“I knew it was going to be a special moment,” McKean said. “So I told myself going into it, ‘No matter what happens, it’s going to be a good dive.’ I just knew it.”

McKean said he had to push through an injury to accom-

plish his goal, instead of letting it hold him back.

Not long before this year’s SECs, he said he couldn’t train for a week because he had a jammed and swollen thumb.

All it took was some medical tape to get Auburn’s top diver back on the tower, according to McKean.

“He’s one of those kids that deals with injury, and just takes it so well,” said coach Brett Hawke. “Outstanding performance in front of the home crowd.”

Not only did his platform dive give the Tigers their first individual win, McKean’s performance pumped up the men’s 400 freestyle relay that followed his event.

Auburn’s men were the de-

fending champions in the 400 freestyle relay, and up to that point in the competition, the Tigers were yet to finish first in a relay event.

McKean’s win gave the men’s squad some extra motivation as the 400 freestyle relay team swam past upstart Alabama in the final event of the meet for another gold medal, and recorded the nation’s fastest time this season in the race.

“It was huge for us,” said sophomore Kyle Darmody.

“We haven’t won a relay all week. We hadn’t won an individual award since platform right before, so it was huge for us to get a win, especially because we are the defending national champions in that event.”

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Sports A12

The Auburn Plainsman

Thursday, February 26, 2015

emily enfinger / photo editor

The Auburn baseball team storms the field after Daniel Robert’s game-winning hit against Radford on Saturday, Feb. 21. The Tigers swept Radford in the three-game series.

This Week in Auburn Sports

Gymnastics

SAMFORD

Earn your graduate degree in education Samford offers NCATE-accredited graduate programs in education that blend theoretical concepts with practical, hands-on experience.

Samford has traditional master's degree programs as well as flexible schedules for working professionals. Our postgraduation employment rate is nearly 100%.

For the sixth consecutive week, Auburn gymnastics ascended in the national rankings, moving up one spot to No. 7 following a win at Missouri where they scored the highest away point total in program history.

The No. 7 ranking is the second-highest ranking ever for the Auburn program.

In the first week of regional qualifying scores, the Tigers check in with a team total of 196.610, the highest score in program history.

Regional qualifying scores are determined by the team’s average of its home meets, along with its three highest away meets, with its lowest score dropped.

For instance, Auburn’s RQS includes meets against Arkansas, Air Force, at Florida, at Alabama and at Missouri.

For the rest of the season, rankings will be determined based on each team’s RQS. Auburn’s next meet is Friday, Feb. 27, at 7 p.m. against No. 9 Georgia at Auburn Arena.

Baseball

The Auburn baseball team picked up their seventh win of the season 7-1 over No. 27 Georgia Tech behind a stellar performance from sophomore pitcher Keegan Thompson.

Thompson went seven innings, had nine strikeouts, no walks, six hits and gave up one earned run while the Tigers plated seven.

“Today I located a fastball,” Thompson said. “That’s what I’ve been struggling with the last two outings, and I had it today.”

Coach Sunny Golloway said he agreed Thompson’s fastball was key, as well as hits that came at the right moment.

“Keegan’s fastball control makes our program better,” Golloway said. “And then we had timely hits tonight. We’ve had guys in scoring position a lot—there was one game against Radford where we sacrifice bunted four times, got guys in scoring positon and didn’t score any of them.”

Thompson also spoke on the team’s ability to get hits when they needed them.

“We got timely hits today,” Thompson said. “Somebody got on base, we got them in.”

Golloway said confidence is as important as anything for his team.

“We tell our guys all the time that this game is built on believing in yourself,” Golloway said. “Don’t lose confidence for the wrong reasons.”

The win moves the Tigers up to 7-2, heading into a matchup with Alabama A&M on Thurs-

day, Feb. 26.

This weekend, Auburn will take on Jacksonville State on Friday, Feb. 27, and Sunday, March 1, with a game against No. 10 Oklahoma State on Saturday, Feb. 28, at 3 p.m.

Women’s Basketball

The losing streak is finally over for Auburn women’s basketball.

The Tigers topped the Georgia Bulldogs 44-26 Sunday, Feb. 22 in Athens, Georgia, to pick up their first win of 2015 and snap a 14-game losing streak.

The Tigers (10-17, 1-13 SEC) smothered the Bulldogs’ (17-10, 5-9 SEC) offense, limiting them to 24 percent shooting from the field.

Brandy Montgomery led the way for Auburn with 21 points on 10-of-18 shooting. Katie Frerking contributed seven points.

Auburn will look to build on their first win in SEC play Thursday, Feb. 26, when they travel to Nashville, Tennessee, to take on Vanderbilt (15-12, 5-8 SEC). Tipoff is scheduled for 8 p.m.

Compiled by Eric Wallace, Andrew Monson and David McKinney

Degrees Offered M.S.E., Elementary Education M.S.E., Gifted Certification M.S.E., Instructional Leadership M.S.E., Educational Leadership: Policy, Organizations and Leadership 5th-year Alternative Graduate Program in Early Childhood/Elementary Education 5th-year Nontraditional Master's in Secondary Education Ed.S., Teacher Leader Ed.S., Instructional Leader Ed.D., Educational Leadership

samford.edu/go/education-AU

kenny moss / assistant photo editor

Abby Milliet completes a routine on the balance beam during a meet against LSU. The Tigers moved up to No. 7 in the national rankings after a road victory over the Missouri Tigers.