The Auburn Plainsman 02.27.14 issue by The Auburn Plainsman

Spectrum’s What a Drag raises $200 more than previous best at drag show in Student Center Page A3

Local beekeeper T. Scott Robinson talks benefits bees have on community Page A13

Student rapper Kenny Nevermind and the Loveless Crew create beats in Auburn Page A4

The Auburn Plainsman A SPIRIT THAT IS NOT AFRAID Thursday, February 27, 2014 Vol. 120, Issue 35, 14 Pages

AU president highlights upcoming major changes

Staff Report

President Jay Gogue gave his second annual State of the University address Thursday, Feb. 20 at Langdon Hall. The event was sponsored by Omicron Delta Kappa, the National Leadership Honor Society. Gogue covered an array of topics, such as the Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine, rumors surrounding the expansion of Jordan-Hare Stadium, the Tigers’ SEC championship season and the upcoming arrival of Chicken Salad Chick on campus next fall. However, the facts given are ones that stood out as most impacting to students. All statistics listed here were gathered from Gogue’s speech. To read more extensive coverage of the address, visit ThePlainsman.com.

Percentage rise in freshmen applications from fall 2012fall 2013

“Athletics have a very positive impact on the University. When you do well, one of the things that happens is your number of students that want to come to your institution go up. They all begin to come in in the latter part of the fall. So we know there’s some relationship there.”

Options for the space that is currently Beard Eaves Coliseum after its destruction: a major parking deck or grassy area for tailgating and other activities “The plan is for it to come down. Neither option has been presented to the Board [of Trustees].“

68-69 200 Percentage of students who graduate from Auburn University within six years

“We’ve made some progress, and it takes a while to change the culture. But [there’s] a strong effort to try to look at how can we work with students, provide the support services necessary to get more students finished in four and five years.”

Number of students the University Wellness Kitchen being built near Beard Eaves Coliseum will seat

Locations for new central classrooms that will take place of the Haley Center: Near Allison physics lab and in front of the library

“We’ve got students every year that have some sort of food-related issue. It’s a serious issue we need to address. It’s hard to do that in the normal food venues on campus.”

“The central classroom [will be] in two places, which is kind of strange. It’s been approved by the Board [of Trustees]. It’s out for schematic drawings for both [buildings.]”

‘Dynamic Duo’ tops SEC scoring charts Eric Wallace SPORTS REPORTER

JON HARRISON / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Students to open first brewery in Auburn-Opelika Kerry McGinnis pours a home-brewed red wheat saison.

Ashtyne Cole

COMMUNITY REPORTER

Red Clay Brewing Company started out as a homemade hobby. Now, it will be Auburn and Opelika’s sole beer manufacturer. Kerry McGinnis and John Corbin have been home-brewing beers for years. McGinnis’ father brewed his whole life, and McGinnis found a brewing partner in his brother-in-law. McGinnis and Corbin have been brewing together for approximately five years. After traveling around the country, visiting breweries and wineries, the two became “alcotourists.” They decided it was time to bring the different beers of America to Auburn and Opelika. “This area doesn’t have a local beer or even a local beer supplier,” McGinnis said. “I think a lot of the commercialized beers

out there are just mass produced junk. We want to bring back a local beer and identify with people here.” Red Clay Brewing Company will be in the newly renovated Lebanon Art District, which consists of two blocks of converted warehouses that date back to the 1800’s. “They’re old cotton warehouses in Opelika that we’re converting into an art district where different businesses, such as coffee shops and music venues can open Chandler Jones, who has been working to develop the Lebanon Arts District, said. McGinnis and Corbin are just beginning to raise money, and Jones said they have multiple investors who believe in the company. Red Clay Brewing Company is projected to open in the next

» See BREWERY A2

There have been times this season when Chris Denson and KT Harrell have made averaging 20 and 18 points per game look easy. The combination of Denson’s speed and Harrell’s shooting prowess has allowed the pair to lead Auburn in scoring every game this season. “I think it’s one of those things where he brings one dynamic to the table, with his speed and getting to the rim, and then I bring another where I can get to the rack, but I can shoot the ball as well,” Harrell said. “We mesh well together.” Those different dynamics have led Denson to fondly refer to the pair as the “Dynamic Duo” in recent weeks. Though they’ve become a dynamic duo on the court, neither Harrell nor Denson have followed the most predictable path to leading the Southeastern Conference in scoring. For Denson, it was always a choice between the Bulldogs and the Crimson Tide growing up in Columbus, Ga. It took a coaching change for Auburn to even be in the discussion. “I grew up with Georgia fans, like any Georgia person, and my mom went to and graduated from Alabama,” Denson said. “Georgia and Alabama didn’t recruit me, but Coach Barbee was actually recruiting me when he was at Texas-El Paso before he came here. When he got the job here he was the first person I talked to, and it all went from there.” Despite averaging 24.3 points per game and earning first team all-Georgia honors in his senior season at Shaw High School, the 6-foot-2 Denson was overlooked by a number of his top school choices. That feeling of being overlooked still drives Denson to this day. “Every time I go out it’s always in the back of my mind that I was only rated three stars, so I always go out there with something to prove,” Denson said. A solid sophomore season at Auburn poised Denson to receive more playing time in his junior year, but academic ineligibility kept him off the court for the first seven games of the season. “That was a very low point in my life

CONTRIBUTED BY ZACH BLAND

Above: KT Harrell dunking in Auburn’s win against Alabama. Below: Chris Denson goes in for a layup against Kentucky.

because I’d disappointed so many people,” Denson said. “That was part of me growing up, and I just wasn’t thinking clearly at the time. I kind of lost sight of how blessed I am and where I’m sup-

posed to be.” With the help of family and friends, the senior guard now says the

» See SEC A2

Campus A2

The Auburn Plainsman

DUI ARRESTS FOR FEB. 19–25, 2014

POLICE REPORTS FOR FEB. 19–25, 2014

Himali Patel Feb. 19, Moore’s Mill Road and I-85

Feb. 19, 2:33 p.m., 500 Block of Webster Third-degree theft of property

Sergei Sviridov, 24 Feb. 20, South College Street and Duvall Drive

Feb. 19, 4:55 p.m., 400 Block of South Dean Road Third-degree theft of property

–Reports provided by Auburn Department of Public Safety

Thursday, February 27, 2014

Feb. 24, 7:45 a.m., 800 Block of North Donahue Criminal mischief damage to private property

Feb. 24, 5:51 p.m., 1100 Block of Northlake Drive Third-degree criminal mischief

Feb. 24, 8:19 a.m., Drake Middle School Harassment

Feb. 25, 10:41 a.m., 300 Block of North Gay Street Second-degree theft of property

Feb. 19, 11:25 p.m., 500 Block of North Gay Street Third-degree criminal mischief

Feb. 24, 12:10 p.m., 1700 Block of South College Street Third-degree theft of property

Feb. 20, 3:09 p.m.,Wrights Mill Road and Shell Toomer Parkway Unlawful breaking and entering a vehicle

Feb. 24, 1:10 p.m., 2000 Block of South College Street Third-degree theft of services

Feb. 20, 3:20 p.m.,Wrights Mill Road and Shell Toomer Parkway Unlawful breaking and entering a vehicle

Feb. 24, 12:45 p.m., 1900 Block of Webster Road Harassment

Feb. 20, 7:25 p.m., 2100 Block of South College Street Third-degree criminal trespass

Feb. 24, 2:55 p.m., 1900 Block of Opelika Road Third-degree theft of property

Feb. 24, 7:34 a.m., 100 Block of Wright Street Third-degree criminal mischief

Feb. 25, 6:58 p.m., 1500 Block of East University Drive Third-degree theft of property Feb. 25, 10:27 p.m., 400 Block of North Dean Road Third-degree theft of property

Feb. 24, 3:35 p.m., 1700 Block of South College Street Harassment

Yik Yak app provides forum for anonymous hate speech Ben Ruffin

were able to see it. The alternative way for a user to get a post Yik Yak, the newest social media app, has removed would be by taking a snapshot of taken Auburn by storm over the past few the Yik Yak the user wishes to be removed weeks. and emailing it to the Yik Yak team, which The mobile phone app gives users an would then remove the post from the page. anonymous live feed of what people are sayWith many reviews bashing Yik Yak and ing and doing around them without actually the immature forum it offers students, the having to know them. Yik Yak founders ask that people give it time The app, which was created by two Fur- to develop, believing the longer a communiman University stuty is around the app, dents in October 2013, the more mature and requires no sign up, constructive it beprofile or password. When it comes down to it, I comes. Yik Yak is completeHowever, Dylan think the app will disappear Powers, junior in inly community driven, with users creating dustrial design, said in a month or so with the all the content, which he believes the app exception of the individuals will disappear before could be a major probwho try to keep it going. lem. the posts get better. Yik Yak was creat“When it comes Until then, I’d recommend ed for the sole purpose down to it, I think deleting the app because of griping about things, the app will disappeople, places, classes pear in a month or so from what I have seen, it or anything else on a cannot do anything positive with the exception of college campus. the individuals who for someone’s life.” “[Yik Yak] has been try to keep it going,” mostly about fraterni—Dylan Powers Powers said. “Until ties and sororities and then, I’d recommend SOPHOMORE IN INDSTRIAL DESIGN about individuals evdeleting the app beery now and then,” cause from what I said Rachel Tourne, a sophomore in pre-ear- have seen, it cannot do anything positive for ly childhood education. “I don’t see anything someone’s life.” positive coming from it, but I can also see On Feb. 21, two minors in Mobile, a 14 why people would be so intrigued by it.” and a 16 year old, were arrested for posting In its first three months, Yik Yak gained potential school shootings on the application 100,000 users across five campuses, includ- and now face charges of terroristic threats, ing the University of Georgia, Ole Miss, rendering the anonymous tag on the app a Clemson, the University of Virginia and void one. Wake Forest, averaging nearly 15,000 mesYik Yak developers helped officials track sages each day. down the school shooting users by releasing The creators of Yik Yak meant the app to the cell phone information and tracking it to be used by college students only but have an address. done little to prevent the spread into high Anyone who considers using the Yik Yak schools and middle schools, causing a num- app to make threats should realize authoriber of problems to arise. ties have the ability to pinpoint their location. The obvious problem with Yik Yak is that The app, which was originally created for it provides an open forum for cyber bullying, use by college students, requires users veriwhich has been cited as the cause of many fy they are over the age of 17 prior to downteen suicides in the U.S. and has little or no loading the app. way of preventing such bullying. Although the app is community driven, The only bullying prevention tool the app Yik Yak could stand to make some changes contains is a two dislike and then disappear to ensure the safety of high school student as system, which still allows for people to view well as college students is at the highest posthe post prior to it going away. sible level. Until then, the Yik Yak guidelines If a user posts something to Yik Yak and will read: the post gains two dislikes then it automat“We rely on our communities to do the ically disappears but not before some users right thing. You have the power.” CAMPUS WRITER

“

SEC

» From A1 adversity of academic ineligibility has been a learning experience, both off and on the court. “Whenever adversity hits in a game, I can just remember where I was at when Coach [Barbee] told me I was ineligible, and I might have to transfer,” Denson said. “I overcame that, and I’m still here so every time adversity hits I always know how to handle it.” For the other half of “The Dynamic Duo,” Auburn was never one of his top schools, despite going to school in Montgomery. “I always wanted to play in the ACC,” Harrell said. “I always watched North Carolina, Duke and all them, so I didn’t really think that I’d be playing ball around my hometown area.” Following his senior season at Brewbaker Technology Magnet High School, where he averaged 27.8 points and earned the 2010 Gatorade Alabama Boys Basketball Player of the Year award, Harrell accomplished his dream when he signed with the University of Virginia. Harrell managed to earn playing time in his first two seasons in Charlottesville, but the long distance between his family forced him to make a tough decision. “I wasn’t mentally strong enough to deal with being homesick and not playing as well as I wanted to play,” Harrell said. “When you’re that young you’re not as mentally strong as you should be, and when things don’t go your way, you just want to leave.“

“

We’re really good friends, and last year we talked about coming in here and being aggressive to help this team offensively. For me and Chris to use our talents and abilities to help win games has been a wonderful opportunity.” —KT Harrell JUNIOR GUARD

Transferring to Auburn gave Harrell a chance to play in front of his family more often, but the junior guard also said it gave him a much needed chip on his shoulder. “People try to say, ‘Oh, he won’t do anything when he comes back,’” Harrell said. “It hurts having to sit out, but as far as your work ethic, it takes it to another level. It made me a better player and a better man.” Auburn may sit at just 12-13 for the season, but leading the conference in scoring with a good friend has made it fun for the Duo. “We’re really good friends, and last year, we talked about coming in here and being aggressive to help this team offensively,” Harrell said. “For me and Chris to use our talents and abilities to help win games has been a wonderful opportunity.”

JON HARRISON / PHOTOGRAPHER

Kerry McGinnis sanitizes the bottles to be used for Red Clay brewery.

BREWERY » From A1

four to eight months. McGinnis is a senior in biosystems engineering, and Corbin graduated last year in hotel restaurant management. They have been working on a few beers, such as a scotch ale, a stout, an IPA and their own cider. Until their brewery opens, they will continue brewing at home. In Alabama, there are 22 brew pubs, which serve food with local beer and some of the brewery’s beer. McGinnis and Corbin want to be a brewery that only serves beer manufactured at their brewery. There will be a tap room in the brewery with 10 different taps so people can sample the beer. “We’re going to have a huge chalk board wall where people can come in and write down their thoughts and ideas that they have on the beer,” McGinnis said. “That’s going to be our data col-

lection.” Corbin is excited about the beers they have already planned on releasing. “Each beer is based on the south and specific places in Alabama,” Corbin said. “That way people can relate to their local beer.” Their Rye IPA has tons of hops, and the rye adds a certain amount of spice to it. Although it is a California style IPA, it will be called Hop Jubilee. The brewery will also feature a Saison, a french Belgium farmhouse beer. It is a lighter beer with a peppercorn flavor. It will be called Woodshed Saison, after all the different backroad woodsheds Alabama has. Their Oatmeal Stout, Big Swamp Stout, refers to Opelika, since it is in the middle of the swamp. Red Clay set a goal to exclusively feature their own manufactured beer and become the region’s choice of beer. They are bringing experience from all over the country to create a signature flavor for the area.

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Thursday, February 27, 2014

The Auburn Plainsman

Campus A3

What A Drag goes glam for a good cause Derek Herscovici CAMPUS REPORTER

The kings and queens of Auburn’s drag scene brought glam to the AUSC ballroom stage Saturday, Feb. 22, and raised $1,043 in cash donations through tips garnered during stage performances. “Since we’re the most conservative campus in America, it’s very weird that we’re having this, and it’s been going on strong for six years,” said Daisy Pukes, otherwise known as Ryan Anthony, senior in building sciences. There were 12 performers, both returning and first-time, from Auburn University and Southern Union..Their personas and costumes varied with the song choices accompanying their acts. Ms. Jo Ann Peachtree, who asked to remain anonymous, said he had been to What A Drag in the past and attends Spectrum meetings, but this is his first time performing. “I feel like a lot of the time with events like these, this is sort of a reverse of how things are,” Peachtree said. “This community is sort of secretive or underground or cautious, but here everyone can just sort of let loose and be themselves.” Setting the stage and living up to the pressure

“

This community is sort of secretive or underground or cautious, but here everyone can just sort of let loose and be themselves.” —Ms. Jo Ann peachtree senior at auburn

can help strengthen your performance said Femma Nazi, otherwise known as Joey Falcon, senior in psychology Nazi was recognized as the highest earning drag queen that night. “There’s a lot of powerful women that I think are in complete control of their sexuality, and it’s not even about being attracted to men,” Nazi said. “It’s about being attracted to yourself.” Past What A Drag shows served a dual purpose by giving money to charity and raising awareness for the petition to change the anti-discrimination

clause in the University’s constitution. Nazi said since the constitution has been amended, the event is strictly for charity. Performers were split between the three charities to compete for donations. At the end of the night the highest-raising charity won everything in a surprise donation to that organization. Representing Equality Alabama was Nazi, Boricua, Joan and Izzy Woody. Representing TransLegal was Julian Salvatore, Andrew D.K., Ms. Jo Anne Peachtree and Sativa. Pukes, Polly Anna Peker and the Phantom of the Opera, featuring Ms. Christine Daae, represented the Trevor Project. “Don’t be afraid or nervous to not fit anyone’s standards of what you’re supposed to be doing,” Nazi said. “ It’s all about us being silly and putting on a costume. So, you might as well throw on a costume that you like.” The experience of coming out is worth all the stage fright that comes before, said first-time performer and Auburn freshman Sativa. “It feels like I’m in the right place,” Sativa said.

emily enfinger / photographer

Ms. Jo Anne Peachtree during her performance at What a Drag.

Auburn museum raises hope with new art exhibit Corey Williams Campus Reporter

A new exhibit, “Jerome Myers: Raising Hope in the New World,” opened Saturday, Feb. 8 at Auburn University’s Jule Collins Smith Museum of Fine Art. The exhibit will feature drawings, prints and paintings by Jerome Myers, an artist known for his romantic depictions of urban landscapes in the early 20th century. Marilyn Laufer is the director of Jule Collins Smith Museum of Fine Art. “The most important thing about this exhibition is [that] we are introducing an artist that has been historically underrated,” Laufer said. “Students, at first, might think it is kind of old fashioned because all of the artwork [was] done before 1940. If they spend some time with it, though, I think they will see his skill as an artist. I hope

they will start to see that the subject matter is a very interesting way of looking at the people who lived in the early 20th century.” Myers spent most of his life in New York City’s Lower East Side. He was inspired by the huge influx of immigrants New York experienced during his lifetime. “All my life, I had lived, worked and played in the poorest streets of American cities,” Myers said in The Survey in 1923. “Others saw ugliness and degradation there. I saw poetry and beauty, so I came back to them.” Despite his unique style and subject matter, Myers never achieved the level of fame many of his contemporaries did. The exhibit focuses on Myers’ portrayal of children. Alison Warth, freshman in art history, said youthfulness is

sarah may / assistant photo editor

The new exhibit in the museum features works of art from Jerome Myers.

an important theme in much of Myers’ artwork. “His work seems to focus on the positive and lightheartedness of children and the working class in New York during his lifetime,” Warth said. “He used media that a child would use.”

According to Warth, Myers’ art is meant to leave an impression on its viewers. “The nostalgic undertone within his artwork reminds its audience of the harsh reality that nothing lasts, and should be enjoyed in the moment,” Warth said.

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Thursday, February 27, 2014

Discover Your World! Celebrate Peace Corps Week with currently serving Volunteers. February 27, 2014 | 3:30 p.m. Auburn University Comer 109 Auburn, AL 36849 The best way to learn about Peace Corps is to chat LIVE with those who are serving. You are invited to attend this special Peace Corps event to video-chat with Auburn alumnus Andrew Jenkins who is currently serving overseas in Panama.

er lunte s Vo Corp nama. ace a in P d Pe s an group u n alum youth uburn s with to: A Jenkin Pho

Help celebrate Peace Corps Week during February 23rd March 1st. The Peace Corps community will honor all the ways Volunteers make a difference at home and abroad and renews its commitment to service.

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And

Slick reborn: Kenny Nevermind and the LoveLess production label Auburn student builds a record label for music and fashion

Submit an online application by March 1st to be considered for programs departing before March 2015! www.peacecorps.gov/apply For more info contact Emily Whitfield at ewhitfield@peacecorps.gov | (404) 562-3454

Derek Herscovici Campus Reporter

It’s mid-afternoon on a Saturday, and there are strange electronic beats coming from the basement. Singer, rapper, dancer and fashion designer Kenny Nevermind, otherwise known as Ken Upshaw Jr., junior in international business, is hunched over a keyboard less than a foot from his bed, rhythmically tapping at low-end notes with two fingers until he settles on a pattern he said he likes. He pushes delete. “For everything new that I make, I don’t want it to be in

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the same category,” Nevermind said. “All that stuff that you might’ve heard, that might have been electro for that time; but now I’m in this whole neosoul pop thing. After that, it might be Western music, and after that, I might start working on Techno or whatever inspires me at the time.” Nevermind changes concepts and ideas like he changes his limitless wardrobe: as often and however he feels. The mastermind behind the music and fashion label LoveLess, Nevermind hopes to cultivate an artistic renaissance within Auburn, beginning with himself.

“At first, I didn’t think it was gonna work,” Nevermind said. “A rapper-singer-dancer-producer? Nobody’s doing it. But I’m just being myself and that’s the best way to be.” A blend of Prince, Michael Jackson and Kanye West with influences as diverse as Bobby Brown and G-Dragon rub shoulders in songs such as “3624-36” and “Hello.” The simmering, funk-rap “Not My Lady” has all the sinister emotions of a Prince song but the wisecracking self-defense of Jay-Z. “I let my emotions out through music,” Nevermind

said. “You probably won’t see me get too mad or too sad or anything. Everything I’m feeling, I make sure I sit down at a piano and play it out.” Nevermind said endless traveling across the Midwest he and his family did when he was young is the inspiration for his album “Eternal Travels.” “Travels” is the next level of the neo-soul hip hop Nevermind has been building. You can hear Nevermind’s past collaborations as KMNZ on Nevermind’s self-titled SoundCloud page. To read the full article, visit ThePlainsman.com.

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zach bland / assistant Photo editor

LEFT: Kenny Nevermind said he hopes to cultivate an artistic renaissance within Auburn, beginning with himself. RIGHT: CLOCKWISE FROM FAR LEFT: Kr3te, Madlock Zay, Baby Charles and Kenny Nevermind make up KMNZ.

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RELEASE DATE– Friday, January 25, 2013

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

ACROSS 1 Fair share, maybe 5 Polite denial 11 Pro-__ 14 Arch type 15 Commensurate (with) 16 Soaked 17 Cry from a duped investor? 19 Brother 20 “I” strain? 21 Where to find Ducks and Penguins: Abbr. 22 Eyes 24 Cry just before dozing off? 28 Eschewed the backup group 31 Mrs. Gorbachev 32 Influence 33 Took in 37 Lab medium 38 Thinking out loud, in a way 40 Farm father 41 Anthem fortifications 43 Cupid’s boss 44 Free 45 Dog named for the bird it hunted, familiarly 46 Cry from a superfan? 50 Hose 51 Dig in 52 John, Paul and George, but not Ringo: Abbr. 55 Electees 56 Cry from a Jeddah native? 61 Iron __ 62 Troubled state 63 Vronsky’s lover, in Tolstoy 64 “Balderdash!” 65 Some aces 66 Kid DOWN 1 Clinton’s birthplace 2 Bug-eyed 3 Jay related to a peacock?

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4 Casbah headgear 5 Had a little something 6 Frère de la mère 7 Dent, say 8 Big lug 9 Travel org. since 1902 10 “Captain Kangaroo” character who told knock-knock jokes 11 Really bad 12 Haggard of country music 13 Flight part 18 Ocean-bay connector 23 Someone to admire 24 Grouch 25 Sung approval? 26 Prison area 27 Bring on board 28 Injury reminder 29 ’70s Olympics name 30 Good earth 34 Pixie dust leaver, to Peter 35 Deco designer

36 Beloved 38 Uffizi hangings 39 Hubbub 42 Pays to play 43 Into a state of decline 45 Ocean borders 46 Patch plant 47 Rock’s __ Boingo 48 Start 49 One may follow a casing

52 Trig function 53 XXX, at times 54 Three-handed game 57 Singer DiFranco 58 Bookmarked item nowadays 59 “Gloria in Excelsis __” 60 British rule in colonial India

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Opinion

Thursday, February 27, 2014

Social Media on The Plains In response to our post, “Foy Desk overwhelmed with local and international calls”

Marissa Fernández-Stevens: “So now I am curious, how many marshmallows would it take to fill JordanHare?”

Nora Bahr: “How is this news? The Foy desks exists to answer these questions!” In response to our post, “Golloway announces three departures from baseball team”

Grant Moon: “I’m not sure calling boys ‘cancer’ is an appropriate thing for a coach to say.”

Patrick Nelson: “Wow nice way to talk about your players. That sure will help our recruiting.”

ThePlainsman.com

Opinion

Gogue spares students from statistics Our View

It’s easy to see when someone isn’t being transparent. Auburn President Jay Gogue gave his second annual State of the University address Thursday, Feb. 20. According to Gogue, the Auburn University Board of Trustees moved to adopt the new five-year Strategic Plan to improve Auburn University last June. Gogue highlighted in his speech the plan’s goal to increase the graduation rate of Auburn students who obtain their degree in six years from 68 percent to 78 percent by 2018. This statistic doesn’t look terrible. However, most students aim to graduate in four years. When Gogue nonchalantly pointed out the six-year graduation rate and not the four-year graduation rate, our ears perked up. The four-year graduation rate stands at 42 percent, according to the University’s Strategic Plan Metrics, which can be found on the University’s website. This statistic shatters the perception obtaining a degree in four years as normal, at least at Auburn University. It’s no surprise Gogue decided to cite the six-year graduation rate rather than the four-year graduation rate at the State of the University address. The four-year rate is embarrassingly low. We cannot call Gogue a liar for not citing the four-year rate, but

Emily Brett / Graphics Editor

we can say he was misleading. Gogue cited better looking statistic, trying to sweep more relevant information under the rug. Additionally, Gouge referred to the federal government’s “sixyear method,” which is used “when we look at schools.” This vague reference is hardly justification to focus on a six-year graduation statistic rather than a fouryear statistic. Students are intent on graduating in four years, so Gogue’s references to a six year graduation track lacks relevancy to the student body. Spending six years at college

is not financially realistic for students. With the high cost of tuition, many students lack the income necessary to do this. Tight budgets, loans or strict four-year deadlines from parents’ result in students failing to graduate or taking on massive debt. The current system at times inhibits students from graduating on a four-year track. Changing majors often results in a loss of hours. As a result, changing majors as early as sophomore year can be enough to set them behind a year in studies, a year students might not be able to afford.

We’re not saying Gogue or the University is completely to blame for this cringe-worthy statistic. We commend Gogue and the Board of Trustees for trying to rework the system to help students graduate on time by enacting this five-year plan. It outlines the obstacles the University faces and the ideas they intend to implement to fix these issues. However, the plan uses vague language and lacks direct solutions. We want answers, not bureaucratic lingo intended to appease alumni. For example, point C of the Strategic Plan reads: Review existing academic policies and develop new ones that will encourage students to complete their degree requirements within a reasonable period of time. This does not sound like a plan. Much of the Strategic Plan reads similar to a series of observation. A plan requires a solution, and we see none here. The information made available is not sufficient in convincing us the University can increase the four-year graduation rate. We would like to see more concrete ideas outlined in the University’s Strategic Plan on how to reach these goals. The University knows what to do; we would like to know how they intend to do it.

Her View

In response to our tweet “Rise of online test banks bail students out of studying”

50 years of The Beatles: Has music peaked? Corey Williams

@Pacman333: “@TheAUPlainsman Professors should change their tests. Old tests are great for learning a professor’s testing method as well as practice.”

@Erica_Bruington: “@TheAUPlainsman shhhhhhhhhhh”

Current poll question: How long will it take you to graduate? • Less than four years • Four years • Five years • Six years • I’ve stopped keeping track Vote at ThePlainsman.com

Campus Reporter

On Feb. 9, 1964, The Beatles exploded into American homes with a two-and-a-half-minute performance of “I Want to Hold Your Hand” on The Ed Sullivan Show. That night changed the way we would listen to music forever. The Beatles transcend time. My parents listened to them, I listen to them and I’m willing to bet my children will listen to them too. Growing up in a generation of Beliebers and Directioners, it can be hard to imagine another band having such a profound effect on a culture. It has been 50 years

since that performance, and the world hasn’t seen anything like it since. This anniversary begs the question: Is music past its prime? One look at the current Top 40 would be enough to dishearten even the most optimistic rock ‘n’ roll fan. Grown-up Disney stars adorn the covers of every magazine, and choruses consist of only one word, repeated endlessly. The amount of auto-tune on the radio at any given time would be enough to make Janis Joplin roll over in her grave. On the surface, the future of popular music looks bleak. However, perspective is key. What makes music “good” is relative. A song that impacted a teenager in the sixties could have a completely different effect on a listener today. Times have changed, whether we like it or not. Record produc-

same time. Bands such as Mumford and Sons and The Avett Brothers evoke folk artists from the 60s and 70s such as Bob Dylan or Neil Young. Florence Welch of Florence and the Machine lists Grace Slick as one of her influences. And those are just the ones you hear about. Great bands like Shovels and Rope, Hurray for the Riff Raff and Neutral Milk Hotel fly under the radar all the time, just a Pandora click away. Of course, it is doubtful any artist will change music the way The Beatles have. The impact they had on our culture is almost unthinkable, and they set an impossibly high standard for any artist that dared to come after them. Nevertheless, music with substance is still happening. You just have to know where to look.

Her View

Last poll results: What is your favorite Winter Olypic Sport?

Tiger Ten should be changed to Tiger Eight Becky Hardy

39% Figure skating

Campus Editor

26% Snowboarding

22% Curling

13% Hockey

The Plainsman wants to hear your voice! Send us your tweets, photos, Facebook posts and letters to the editor. We want to know what you think about the issues. Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter @TheAUPlainsman.

Living in a college town, it’s common to hear stories about your fellow students not remembering exactly how they got home last night. Sometimes those nights involve drunk driving. According to Mothers Against Drunk Driving, in 2012 approximately 250 people died in drunk driving accidents in Alabama. That number should be lower. I am not saying those drunken Saturday nights, hanging out with friends and having a good time should be condemned. I just believe there are things the University could expand on to

make those wild nights safer for students and, ultimately, the Auburn community. The Tiger Ten transits run from 10:30 p.m.–3:30 a.m. on Friday and Saturday. And, yet, drink specials start at 7 p.m. Coming from a poor college student who likes to have fun, drink specials are the only way I can afford to go out. The problem with going to drink specials, especially for people who don’t live close to downtown, is leaving your car overnight. If the Tiger Ten transits started running at 8 p.m., fewer people would be inclined to drink and drive just so they don’t have to pay a ticket for leaving their car parked downtown for too long the next morning. I understand adding two ex-

The Editorial Board Kelsey Davis Editor-in-Chief

Cat Watson Online

Emily Brett Design

Elizabeth Wieck Managing Editor

Becky Hardy Campus

Chandler Jones Community

Jordan Hays Opinion

Justin Ferguson Sports

Kristofer Sims Multimedia

Anna Claire Conrad Anna Grafton Copy Photo

ers know their audience, and people just aren’t buying meaningful music anymore. However, fans of antiquated music shouldn’t lose hope just yet. In recent years, there has been a massive resurgence of classic rock that does not seem to be going anywhere anytime soon. It has become trendy to embrace the culture of past generations. Vinyl record sales are through the roof. Instant cameras are back. And, you would be more likely to find affluent teenagers in a thrift store than in a shopping mall. Ten years ago it would’ve been considered strange to wear your parent’s ratty Grateful Dead t-shirt. Now, it’s become a popular trend. This vintage revival has led to a slew of new artists who are developing styles of their own while paying homage to the greats at the

Maddie Yerant Intrigue

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

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

tra hours to a transit driver’s shift can cost the University more money, but by adding those two extra hours lives could be saved. The University can distribute the money it receives into departments that benefit lots of students and look out for student’s safety. Also, the night transit canceled Wednesday night operations this academic year, as well. Wednesday nights in Auburn are usually the craziest nights downtown. Giving yourself a break in the middle of the week is sometimes exactly what keeps you from ripping all of your hair out. So with tons of people drinking downtown on Wednesday nights, I don’t understand why it would make sense for the University to cancel Wednesday night operations. I know it’s not the University’s

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

responsibility to make sure that students get home safe, especially while students are not on campus, however having a Wednesday night transit available and then taking it away is the equivalent to a friend ditching you at the bar. In addition to extending Tiger Ten hours, the University should add at least Wednesday nights to their weekly schedule. Yes, I understand I may be speculating because people who continuously drink and drive probably don’t care about transits at all, but for people like me who worry about how they’re going to get downtown and back home safely, this option could open up a lot of doors for me and other students like me. Adding two hours and one extra day to Tiger Ten could make Auburn a safer place to live for everyone.

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

Community Thursday, February 27, 2014

A6 ThePlainsman.com

Community

From Southie to Southern, a history of woman behind Opelika’s Event Center

Nick Hines

Community Writer

File Photo

TOP: A bike leans against a tree outside trail in Tuskegee National Forest. BOTTOM: Russel Cave entrance is hidden behind brush.

Forest beauty, 26 miles away

Pierce Ostwalt Community Writer

Many Auburn students know the beauty of Chewacla State Park, located just nine minutes from Auburn. However, a similar location, also not too far away, provides the same beauty and even more activities. In 1959, President Dwight D. Eisenhower established the Tuskegee National Forest, only 26 minutes from Auburn’s campus. This year, the United States National Forest Service will bring together all the national forests to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Wilderness Act. This event will celebrate 50 years of wilderness preservation. Tuskegee’s founding was comparatively late to some of the other national forests in Alabama such as Bankhead National Forest which was founded in 1918 and Talledega National Forest in 1936. “The only thing I would want to express to patrons is that Tuskegee National Forest is not for offroading vehicles,” said Thurmond, “There are off road trails at Bankhead and Talledega, but not Tuskegee.” National Resource Conservation Service took over management of Tuskegee National Forest in an effort to save one of the most abused and eroded wastelands in Alabama, according to Dagmar Thurmond, district ranger for the forest. Also according to Thurmond, Tuskegee’s forest currently ranks as the smallest in the Alabama National Forest System. While Tuskegee’s Forest spans only 11,000 acres, it

seems relatively small when compared to the average size of 150,000 acres, Thurmond said. The park, despite it’s size, Thurmond said, still offers many activities for the park’s patrons to enjoy. Some of the many on-site opportunities include hunting and fishing areas, hiking and horseback riding trails and the Uchee Shooting Range. The small, dedicated staff works to preserve the forest and watch over the activities patrons participate in. Two of the most used locations are the William Bartram National Recreation Trail and the shooting range. “The William Bartram National Recreation Trail is one of our most popular trails, attracting one the highest rates of visitors last year,” Thurmond said. The Bartram Recreational Forest runs eight and a half miles “passing through various types of forest wildlife habitat,” according to the Tuskegee National Forest website. The Uchee Shooting Range is a unique part of the Tuskegee National Forest, allowing firearm owners to use their weapons in a safe and monitored environment. Passes for the shooting range are available at the Torch 85 Auto/ Truck Plaza, Money Mizar Pawn and Jewelry and Firing Pins. Passes can be purchased for both daily and annual use. Tuskegee National Forest has also recently participated in a program used by the US Forest Service called the National Visitor Use Monitoring Program which is a survey that counts how many people use the park daily and annually.

Irish boxing legend Tommy Connors had a reputation of being tough both inside and outside of the ring in South Boston’s “Southie” region. It was a necessary character trait in a neighborhood dominated by Irish mafia, and one his daughter proved to have inherited as she fought adversity to start a business in Opelika. Lisa Ditchkoff spent her childhood on the run. Shortly after Ditchkoff’s mother, Judy Connors, divorced Tommy, and while she began dating another man, black flowers were laid on their doorstep with an ominous note that read, “Just a warning. Keep Judy away from that biker.” Judy knew how life worked in Southie. She knew if a hit was placed on her and her new boyfriend, she did not have long to escape. Judy moved her family to Tulsa, Okla. She was constantly looking over her shoulder for any hitmen that might have followed her family halfway across the country. Ditchkoff has moved far from her childhood, now. After having her first child at 15, Ditchkoff turned her life around. On her 40th birthday in 2010, she opened the Event Center Downtown in Opelika, following her dream to own a unique venue. In the heart of downtown, the center holds Wine Down Wednesdays. This weekly event is part of Ditchkoff’s plan to make a place for the community where everyone has a friend. “It is quiet, relaxed and intimate,” said Clemon “Bird man” Byrd, director of entertainment. “It’s a wine-down time.” Ditchkoff, an entrepreneur, author, mother of two and self-described “service person,” capitalized on the struggles of her past to make a gathering place for locals to share their own life stories over $5 glasses of wine. For the regular patrons of Wine Down Wednesday, the ambiance provides the unique experience that Ditchkoff was aiming for.

Nick Hines / Community Writer

Lisa Ditchkoff and Clemon “Bird man” Byrd stand behind the bar at the Event Center Downtown.

“It’s a different atmosphere that you can’t get at the bars in downtown Auburn,” said Dave Herbert, a frequent patron. Wine Down Wednesday is one of three weekly events at the Event Center Downtown. All Songwriters Night with Marc Kenney is held every Tuesday at 7 p.m., and Byrd plays the saxophone with his band, Satin Soul, on the first Friday of every month at 9 p.m. Byrd said he has seen first-hand the transformation of the old Coca-Cola bottling building into a local hang out and event center. “It used to look like walking into a big attic,” Herbert said. The upstairs room of the event center looks far from an attic today. Wood floors and a full bar have replaced the storage boxes and old machinery. A patio over looking scenic downtown Opelika is used during the warmer months, complete with the backdrop of small-town city lights and elaborate church rooftops. First-time visitors get to sample Ditchkoff’s signature martini, the Caterpillar ‘Tini, which draws its name from her autobiography, “The Girl With the Caterpillar Eyebrows.”

Ditchkoff’s Wine Down Wednesday attracts a wide variety of patrons. “We have a very diverse group of people that come,” Ditchkoff said. “From a woman who carries her walker up the stairs to 21-year-old students.” The diversity of people isn’t the only quality that makes Wednesday nights in the Event Center Downtown unique. Each customer knows Ditchkoff by name, and new visitors quickly realize this isn’t a place to be shy. “Lisa, I see you dancing,” one patron yells as the song changes. “Come here and take a picture with us. You always have to be the one behind the camera.” As the night nears 8 p.m., and people begin to file out, each person says their goodbyes to friends, old and new. Ditchkoff personally walks each customer out and ends the night in a warm embrace. An embrace carrying with it a feeling of closure. In 2004, after 27 years of hiding, Ditchkoff reunited with her father. Tommy was still tough despite being retired from his old life, but Ditchkoff instantly reconnected with him. They continue to see each other, and Ditchkoff said she visits him in Southie.

Regional artists hip hop to Auburn

“

Ashtyne Cole

Community Reporter

Auburn was hopping to the beats of Yamin Semali and Boog Brown Saturday, Feb. 22, at Stir Auburn’s “Hip Hop on the Plains.” Stir’s hip-hop night featured regional and local artists. “It is a positive, high quality, authentic, musical experience with no cover charge,” said Lee Bradberry, music coordinator. “It’s presented by and for people who love the hip-hop music and culture.” Semali creates a unique infusion of soul and hip-hop while harmonizing with intricate wordplay. Semali said he has a “layered production style,” offering more than just a simple beat and a few fast words; he treats it as an artistic statement. Semali is a jack of all musical trades, he said. He produces, DJ’s and works as an emcee. He introduces himself as a student turned practitioner. Semali studied electrical engineering while pursuing a career in the music industry. He works with and produces for multiple artists in the Atlanta area. In 2007, Semali’s single “Plan B” was the number one single on the Rap Attack Charts. In 2012, the Georgia Music Awards awarded his group, Rawkus 50 Campaign with the Georgia’s Best Hip-Hop Group award.

It is a positive, high quality, authentic musical experience. It’s presented by and for people who love the hip-hop music and culture.” —Lee Bradberry

Contributed by Lee Bradberry

Semali and Brown shared their skills at Stir.

While Auburn offers a different scene than Atlanta, Semali came to perform and spread his “professional artistry.” The following artist is Brown. Brown categorizes herself as a late bloomer. Brown said she did not start rapping or free-styling until she was 23, and she did not know what she wanted to do with her life until that point. “I don’t mind being a late bloomer,” Brown said. “It came so late in my life, but I wouldn’t trade it for anything.” Brown takes her time when making her albums and songs. Brown would rather have quality than quantity when it comes to her work. Brown’s music has an older, melodic sound to it, and the way she performs sound like a poet rather than a hip-hop artist. She strives for her music to be relatable. Brown was in the Poetry Society at East Michigan University when she be-

Music Coordinator

gan honing her freestyle abilities. Through “crunch time,” Brown and members of the group would write as much as they could about a specific topic and those soon became songs. Brown studied different artists in Detroit to help understand free-styling and performing hip-hop. When she moved to Atlanta in 2007, she had to start over. Brown was unemployed and homeless. Then she met Illustrate, an artist and producer who helped her learn how to perform onstage. As a northern rapper from Detroit, Brown came to the South to expand her sound. Brown has been featured on BET’s My Mic Sounds Nice and won Best Female Emcee from Atlanta’s Heart of The Hood Awards. “The show was fun and very intimate,” Semali said. “We definitely want to come back again.”

Auburn Activities Friday

Thursday 27

Reading Between the Wines Gala. 6 p.m. Saugahatchee County Club. Call Sue Edge at (334) 705-0001 for more information

The East Alabama Chapter National Wild Turkey Federation Banquet. 6 – 10 p.m. Event Center Downtown in Opelika. Call Grant Fountain at (334) 319-6461 for more information

Sunday

Saturday March 1

Keep Opelika Beautiful Citywide Cleanup. Gloves & lunch provided. Register with Keep Opelika Beautiful 2nd Annual 80’s Party. 7 p.m. War Eagle Supper Club

2 The Other Brothers. 8 p.m. War Eagle Supper Club David Bazan. 7 p.m. Standard Delux

Monday 3

Halftime Heroes Premiere. 6 p.m. Caroline Marshall Draughon Center for the Arts and Humanities

Tuesday

Wednesday

Auburn Christian Fellowship Meeting. 6 p.m. 315 S. Gay St. Call (404) 788-9885 for more information

Bridge Walkers and DJ Rainer. 7 p.m. $3 32oz Wells. SkyBar Cafe

Fatt Tuesday Party. 6 p.m. SkyBar Cafe

Thursday, February 27, 2014

The Auburn Plainsman

Community A7

ConTributed by Jessie King

RIGHT: Kids, teens and adults begin sprinting in the 1-mile heat at the Love Your Heart Run. LEFT: Bicyclists pedal from the from the starting line of the Crank Your Heart Ride.

Run and Ride supports special-needs children’s activities Ashtyne Cole

Community Reporter

Volunteers with Lee County Special Olympics stand ready to jump at the Feb. 1 Polar Plunge.

In the Auburn-Opelika area, multiple organizations have dedicated missions: to improve the lives of special-needs residents. Saturday, Feb. 22, these groups banded together to advance their cause with Auburn’s 25th annual Love Your Heart Run and Crank Your Heart Ride. The beneficiaries were Auburn University’s Best Buddies, the Special Olympics of Lee County and the Auburn Parks and Recreation Summer Therapeutic Camp. The Exceptional Outreach Organization and the city of Auburn sponsored the run and ride, with all proceeds going to the aforementioned organizations. Mayor Bill Ham began the race by announcing Saturday as Love Your Heart Run Day. “We were excited about the great weather, which would mean a great turnout,” said Jessie King, createTWO director of communications. Lauren Swindle, senior in special education and last year’s president of Best Buddies, was involved with Best Buddies for her entire four years at Auburn. As one of the larger chapters in the country, the Auburn University Best Buddies serves people with physical and developmental disabilities.

Crime Time

Police reports syndicated by the city of Auburn

ConTributed by Alison Hall

Compiled by Community staff

Monday, Feb. 24, the Auburn Police Division arrested Nathan Childers, 29, of Auburn, on warrants of first-degree rape, first-degree sodomy and incest, according to a Feb. 24 APD news release. The arrest stems from an investigation dated Feb. 23 when officers received information that Childers had previously been engaged in inappropriate and illegal sexual contact with a female relative under the age of 12 years old. The incident was reported to

have occurred while the child was in Childer’s care at his residence, in the 300 block of Webster Road. The APD immediately initiated an investigation and also informed the Lee County Department of Human Resources. Arrest warrants were subsequently obtained on Childers, and he was taken into custody at his residence. The victim was placed into foster care by DHR until the investigation is complete. Childers was transported to

Tuesday, Feb. 25, the Auburn Police Division arrested Justin Gold, 19, and Justin Clark, 20, both of Auburn, on warrants charging them each with second-degree burglary, second-degree robbery and third-degree assault, according to a Feb. 25 APD news release. At approximately 3:35 a.m., Feb. 25, police responded to a report of glass breaking near a residence in the 400 block of N. Dean Road. When officers arrived on the scene they were met by the victim and informed that unknown suspect(s) broke a window at his residence, after which they entered his home where he was asleep inside. One of the suspects assaulted him, while others rummaged

through the residence. The suspects fled before retrieving any property, and the resident received minor injuries. The APD discovered at least one of the suspects possibly cut themselves at the scene. Gold and Clark were later located by officers at East Alabama Medical Center. Further investigation by police determined that both Gold and Clark were involved in the burglary, robbery and assault of the victim at which point they were taken into custody. The investigation remains ongoing and additional arrests and charges are expected. Both Gold and Clark were transported to the Lee County Detention Facility where their bonds were set at $130,000.

This year, 85 buddies were matched with Auburn University students to achieve a one-on-one friendship. “My buddy, Ms. Anne, is 49 and has Down syndrome, but she’s a ball of energy,” Swindle said. “She has given me such a clear definition of loving another person. She will be at my wedding one day, at my graduation and all through my life. That’s what Best Buddies is all about.” Best Buddies attempts to provide friendship and inclusion for everyone involved. Swindle said her presidential duties allowed her to communicate with the college students, the buddies and their families to make sure everything went smoothly and everyone got the care and attention they needed. Best Buddies uses the money to help with run their various events, such as their Valentine’s Day Dance. This year, more than 500 people attended, according to Dana Stewart, special programs coordinator of the Summer Therapeutic Day Camp. The Summer Therapeutic Day Camp caters to children with Down syndrome, Autism and other mental and physical disabilities. The camp lasts for seven weeks during the summer and takes the children on field trips, lets them swim and even go to the

bowling alley. “We took the kids to the University Vet School and taught them about taking care of the horses,” Stewart said. “We took them to the Blue Bell factory, since it has to do with dairy and cows and they got to see a horse show in Montgomery.” Lee County Special Olympics has been around since the 1960s when Special Olympics organizations formed across the country, according to Alison Hall, community and special programs director for the Parks and Recreation Department. LCSP currently has 250 active athletes in aquatics, track and field, basketball, bowling, flag-football, golf, power lifting and volleyball, according to Hall. Hall said the group plans to add softball this spring. Feb. 1, the LCSP raised $10,000 at the Polar Plunge. With this money and the money raised at the run and ride, Hall said they are sending 20 coaches and athletes to the national games in Princeton, N. J. Hall can be reached at the Parks and Recreation Department and that all volunteer coaches are welcome. You don’t have to be a professional, Hall said. “You just need some passion.” Visit Auburnalabama.org/parks/ or Auburn.collegiatelink.net/organization/bestbuddies for more information.

childers the Lee County Detention Facility where his bond was set at $150,000. The investigation is ongoing, and additional charges are expected in the case.

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Missing Person Report In an ongoing investigation, the Auburn Police Division asks for the public’s assistance in locating a missing person, according to a Feb. 21 APD news release. Monday, Feb. 17, officers received a report that Reginald Woodall, 55, of Auburn, was missing and not seen since Jan. 30.

He is described as a African American male, 5’-8” tall, 175 pounds, brown eyes and black hair. No foul play is suspected. Woodall was last seen by family members leaving his residence in the 600 block of Spring Street, driving a 2008, green, two-door Hyundai Accent. The vehicle should display an Alabama license plate with tag number 43D87K5. Anyone with information

- Application and document deadline is April 4, 2014

Learn more: http://www.kennesaw.edu/summer Office of Undergraduate Admissions • 770.423.6300 Woodall on the case or Mr. Woodall’s whereabouts is encouraged to call the APD Detective Section at 501-3140 .

Sports

Thursday, February 27, 2014

scoreboard men’s basketball

The Auburn Plainsman

football

Former Tigers turning heads at NFL Combine Justin Ferguson Sports Editor

12-13 (4-10 SEC) LAST WEEK Loss at Florida, 71-66 Loss vs. Vanderbilt, 67-59 THIS WEEK March 1 at Alabama (11-16)

women’s basketball

15-12 (6-8 SEC) LAST WEEK Loss at Tennessee, 93-63 Win vs. Georgia, 67-59 THIS WEEK Feb. 27 vs. Alabama (13-14) March 2 at Ole Miss (10-18)

baseball

Sports

After leading a resurgence from the bottom of the SEC to a berth in the BCS National Championship Game, several former Tigers are seeing their NFL draft stocks rise as quickly as Auburn did in the polls last season. Several draft analysts called former Auburn left tackle Greg Robinson the biggest winner of this year’s NFL Scouting Combine, a weeklong showcase of the top prospects heading into this year’s draft. The Louisiana native impressed scouts with his strength by bench-pressing 225 pounds 32 times, but his official time in the 40-yard dash created an instant buzz on social media. Robinson ran 40 yards in 4.92 seconds, which put him ahead of most tight ends and several quarterbacks on the overall time charts. “Auburn OT Greg Robinson — 332-pound [offensive lineman] shouldn't move like that,” ESPN Director of College Scouting Todd McShay posted on Twitter. “If you've actually done his tape, how do you not see top OL in this class?” Robinson’s performance in the physical tests of the combine drew comparisons to South Carolina defensive end Jadeveon Clowney, who is projected to be the No. 1 overall pick by several media outlets. However, some analysts believe Robinson may have pulled ahead of Clowney with his workout in Indianapolis. “It's hard to find 332-pound offensive linemen with light feet and swivel hips, which is why[the NFL Combine] has been buzzing since Robinson

stepped on the turf,” said NFL.com’s Bucky Brooks. “Robinson moved like a dancing bear on the turf, alleviating any concerns about his ability to take on elite pass rushers off the edge. “Overall, the stellar workout in front of hundreds of scouts and coaches will not only send Robinson's draft stock soaring, it could make him enter discussion as the draft's top overall prospect.” Clowney was a subject of conversation for Robinson’s teammate Dee Ford, who is also projected to be a first-round pick in the upcoming draft. Although the NFL Combine medical staff would not let him participate in drills due to an old herniated disc injury suffered in 2011, Ford still made waves during a interview with SiriusXM NFL Radio. "I'm better [than Clowney],” Ford said. “People like to talk about size all the time. Size is pretty much overrated in my eyes. People are just looking at the fact that he's a physical specimen. Honestly, if you watch the film, he plays like a blind dog in a meat market, basically." Ford later said there were no hard feelings between him and Clowney, telling the NFL Network he was using a phrase he learned from former Auburn defensive coordinator Brian Van Gorder, who is now at Notre Dame. "We're not saying that the dog can't run,” Ford said when asked about Clowney’s speed. "That wasn't a personal shot at him at all. That's my guy; you know what I'm saying? It's competition, and I want everyone to understand that.” Although Ford was ruled out of participating in the NFL Scouting Combine, he said he would do “everything” at Auburn’s Pro Day workout March 4. Chris Davis also did not participate in

nfl.com

NFL Network analyst Warren Sapp meets with former Auburn defensive end Dee Ford..

any field drills in Indianapolis due to injury. The hero of the 2013 Iron Bowl suffered a hamstring injury before arriving at the NFL Scouting Combine and was only measured in bench press. "They just told me don't run here, just wait until pro day," Davis who is projected to be a later pick in the sevenround draft, told AL.com. In addition to former Auburn punter Steven Clark, who showed scouts a modified form of his Australian football style, another former Tiger looked to show teams something new in Indianapolis — running back Tre Mason. The Heisman finalist ran a 4.5 in the

40-yard dash, which was slightly slower than his best unofficial time of 4.44. While he was listed as a 5-foot-10 running back at Auburn, Mason measured as 5-foot-8 at the Combine. The slightly disappointing measurements in speed and height did not faze Mason, who continued to focus on proving doubters wrong like he did on the Plains. "I'm not sure what I've got to prove,” Mason said. “I believe that numbers don't lie. I put up a lot of numbers this year, and it should be able to speak for itself. "I've been doubted all of my life. I just love proving people wrong."

BASEBALL

Golloway shakes up roster after rough home stand

Three veteran players leave the team as Auburn tries to overcome early-season offensive struggles Kyle Van Fechtmann LAST WEEK Loss vs. Alabama State, 9-3 Win vs. UAPB, 2-1 Loss vs. California, 5-0 Loss vs. ETSU, 3-2 Win vs. Alabama A&M, 7-3 THIS WEEK Feb. 28-March 2 vs. Presbyterian

softball

LAST WEEK Win vs. Jacksonville St., 6-5 Win vs. Samford, 3-0 Win vs. Jacksonville St., 13-3 Win vs. Purdue, 8-0 THIS WEEK Diamond 9 Citrus Classic in Kissimmee, Fla. Feb. 28-March 1 vs. Oregon, Illinois State, Syracuse, Maryland and Radford

Sports Reporter

After a preseason filled with many high expectations based on making it to Omaha for the College World Series, Auburn’s first four home games of 2014 did not go as planned. The Tigers went 1-3 in their opening week at Plainsman Park. They suffered a 9-3 loss to Alabama State, who Auburn was previously 7-0 against; a 5-0 shutout loss to California, where the team left 13 runners on base; and a 3-2 extrainnings loss to East Tennessee State filled with missed scoring opportunities. Shortly after the loss to East Tennessee State, Auburn head coach Sunny Golloway announced the departures of three veteran players from the team. Golloway announced Monday, Feb. 24, that seniors Hunter Kelley and Patrick Savage and junior Chase Williamson are no longer on the team. Philip Marshall from AuburnTigers.com reported that Kelley was dismissed from the team hours after the ETSU game and then Savage and Williamson left the team. “If we’re going to end up having some cancer in our clubhouse, we’re going to end

contributed by zach bland

Sunny Golloway and Terrance Dedrick watch from the dugout as Damon Haecker runs to home plate.

up having to cut that out and move forward,” Golloway said after the loss to ETSU. Auburn’s lack of offensive production is hurting their starting pitchers, who have not gotten enough run support but have pitched well. “Our lack of offense puts a tremendous amount of pressure on our pitching staff,” Golloway said after the Tigers’ loss

to California. Auburn began to get more hits in the last two games of the Tiger Classic, but still seemed to be having trouble driving those runners in. “We’re definitely not having any clutch hits, and that has hurt us,” Golloway said. “There’s a reason why we haven’t been able to come from behind to win ballgames.”

There have also been situations so far when the other team has made errors to put Auburn runners in scoring position and others when Auburn has failed to lay down the sacrifice bunt. “When [the other team] makes an error, and you get guys on first and second, you’ve got to try and keep the inning going,” Golloway said.

“We had several returning guys hit deep fly balls, come to the dugout and I’m seeing them smiling in the dugout. I’ve never seen that and I’ve never allowed it.” After the shutout against California, Golloway shook up the lineup and put in “guys with new blood that don’t have bad habits or don’t have losing ways.” Blake Austin moved to third base, freshman Blake Logan went in at catcher and freshman J.J. Shaffer started in left field. Despite the loss in the game with lineup changes, Golloway was impressed with Logan’s two-hit, two-RBI performance and Austin’s work at third base, an unfamiliar position for him. While Auburn has 11 seniors on the roster, the majority of starters are freshmen because Golloway has been impressed with not only their talent, but also their attitude and effort. Luckily for Auburn, it’s a long season, and Golloway said he believes they’ll be able to turn it around. “We’ll be a work in progress, [and] we’ll get it fixed,” Golloway said. “It’s going to take a lot of hard work and sleepless nights, but we play a long, 56-game schedule.”

Thursday, February 27, 2014

The Auburn Plainsman

Sports A9

opinion

No huddle, no chance Justin Ferguson sports editor

jenna burgess / photographer

Tyrese Tanner goes for a layup over a Mississippi State player in a game earlier this month.

contributed by anthony hall

Katy Frerking drives to the basket against Georgia.

women’s basketball

Tigers learning from SEC miscues as they push for a spot in the postseason David McKinney Sports Writer

It has been a season full of potential wins without finishes for the Auburn women’s basketball team. Whether it was being cold in the first half, surging back and coming up just short in the second, or playing lights out in the first, and then completely falling apart in the second, the Tigers have left more than a few potential victories out of the win column this season. On Jan. 12, against then-No.10 South Carolina, Auburn led by as many as 12 in the first half, but saw that lead slowly slip away, as the Gamecocks snuck out of Auburn Arena with a 72-66 win. In that game, similar to many other games for the Tigers, Auburn’s key players had trouble staying on the floor, committing enough fouls to give South Carolina 23 points from the freethrow line. “That’s a lot of points,” said Auburn head coach Terri Williams-Fluornoy. “We out rebounded them. We turned them over 20 times. The difference is at the free-throw line.” Just a week later, Auburn would once again mount a double-digit first-half home lead over

the No. 10 team in the country, only to see it surmounted. This time around, it was the Kentucky Wildcats that handed the Tigers the crushing defeat. Auburn led by as many as 13 against the Wildcats and had a chance for a winning basket on the game’s final possession, but was unable to get a shot off before the buzzer. “It should have never come to that,” said senior center Peyton Davis. That loss was the first in what would become a four-game losing streak that included a 18-point loss to Florida in Gainesville and a 7154 home loss to Texas A&M. The Tigers played what was perhaps their worst half of the season in the first 20 minutes against Missouri on Feb. 16, scoring only 14 points and allowing 42. Led by senior forward Tyrese Tanner, the Tigers made a valiant effort at a comeback that ultimately fell short, losing to Missouri by a final of 68-58. These what-could-have-been losses have the Tigers two games under .500 in the Southeastern Conference with two games left to go. But the Tigers rebounded from their close losses on Senior Day, Sunday, Feb. 23, by de-

feating rival Georgia with solid free-throw shooting and defense down the stretch. “Defensive always wins games, and we can convert it to our offense,” Tanner said. “If we don’t play defensively then we can’t play offensively. In this game, we really stepped it up with our steals, our press and our forcing them to turn it over. We just attacked the basket and went hard in the second half.” Auburn will now face Alabama, who it beat earlier in the season by a score of 61-39, on Feb. 27, and finish off the season with a trip to Oxford to face Ole Miss, a team that currently boasts a league-worst 1-13 record in conference play. The Tigers need to win these two games and would likely need to win the SEC Tournament to receive a bid to the Women’s NCAA Tournament. If they cannot win the conference tournament, they will probably need a strong showing to make it back to the Women’s NIT. “We’ve got two more games to win,” Williams-Flournoy said. “It started with three with Georgia, now we are down to two. Then we will worry about [the postseason].” The SEC Tournament will be held in Duluth, Ga., on March 5-9.

football

‘Roc’ ready to be a solid back at Auburn Taylor Jones Sports Writer

Several schools in NCAA football, from Southern California to Alabama, lay claim to the title of “Tailback U.” After Signing Day 2014, Racean “Roc” Thomas will be looking to add his name to the list of great Auburn Tiger running backs such as Bo Jackson, Cadillac Williams and Tre Mason, who have given Auburn a valid claim to the title. While the competition at running back will be stiff on the Plains with Thomas battling Peyton Barber, Corey Grant, Cameron Artis-Payne and Johnathan Ford, the incoming freshman will look to utilize what can only be described as freakish talent. “[Thomas] was the top running back on our guys’ board,” said Auburn head coach Gus Malzahn. “Our offensive staff identified him early. They recruited him extremely hard. He was very loyal to us. He could have gone anywhere, but he chose to not go anywhere and stay with us. We really feel like he has the ability to come in immediately and make a huge impact.” In his three years playing for the 6A Oxford Yellow Jackets, Thomas accumulated 5,515 total yards and 76 touchdowns. In his senior year, Thomas led the Yellow Jackets to a 9-3 season, totaling 2,211 yards and 32 touchdowns on the year. Even though Auburn changed coaching staffs after a 3-9 season, Thomas committed to play on the Plains and never wavered in his decision. “Everybody doubted me,” Thomas told The Anniston Star

al.com

Auburn signee Racean “Roc” Thomas carries the ball for the Oxford Yellow Jackets against Spain Park High School.

last month. “Everybody was, ‘Why are you choosing Auburn right now? They had a terrible season, a terrible staff.’ “But you know, it’s good, because I can just rub it in everybody’s face now. They went all the way to the championship.” Coach Ryan Herring took over for the Yellow Jackets in 2013 during Thomas’ senior year, but an instant impression was set when he began the season. “When (Thomas) had the football, he was the ultimate gamebreaker,” Herring said. “At any time he can break a run and either win the game or keep the game close and give you a chance to win it.” After such a dominating high school career, Thomas was ranked

a 5-star recruit and was ranked as the No. 2 running back in the nation by Rivals.com, while Scout. com listed him as the No. 3 back. Among some of his accolades, Thomas was named as a first-team all-state selection as a junior. In 2013, Thomas was named the Alabama Gatorade Player of the Year, the Class 6A Back of the Year by the state’s sportswriters and the state’s Mr. Football. “This is really just the beginning of it all,” Thomas said. “This is a great award, but I want to win more. “I want to win Heismans [Trophies]. Jameis Winston won it, so I’m hoping I’m next.” Thomas was also selected for both the 2014 U.S. Army AllAmerican Bowl and the 2014 Un-

der Armour All-American Game. One of Thomas’s most valuable qualities is his breakaway speed. Clocking a 4.48 40-yard dash time, once Thomas sees open field ahead, defenders have a hard time catching him. “He’s almost like Bo Jackson how he could finish a run,” Herring said. “You thought for sure he’d be caught, but he’d end up in front of someone who had a great angle on him.” While Thomas will battle a stable full of talented backs for the starting job on the Plains, his high school coach is already certain he can make it big. “Athletically and potentialwise, he’s a freak,” Herring said. “If he dedicates himself, he can definitely play in the NFL.”

Let’s not kid ourselves. Pace of play in college football is a real problem. Well it’s a real problem in the eyes of Nick Saban and Bret Bielema. But that, in turn, is the real problem with the problem — two highly paid head coaches are trying to change the rules in order to send a message to the up-tempo offenses that gives them headaches. The men who are ultimately in charge of the SEC West’s two slowest offenses are behind a proposal that will force offenses to let at least 10 seconds run off the play clock before snapping the ball. It wouldn’t be a problem to Alabama and Arkansas, and it wouldn’t even be a problem with Auburn and Texas A&M, two high-octane offensive attacks that have given Saban grief in recent years. Every type of offense gave Bielema’s Arkansas team grief last season. Even with Gus Malzahn, the godfather of the hurry-up, no-huddle style, Auburn rarely snapped the ball with 30 or more seconds left on the play clock. The Tigers did it twice in the BCS National Championship Game against Florida State. By the way, Bret, they only did it twice against your Arkansas Razorbacks in Fayetteville last season. You know, the game when you were more worried about Auburn’s game tape not showing a brief second of an extra-point audible and Anthony Swain “faking” an injury. But the proposed rule change wouldn’t make a drastic difference to most hurry-up offenses. It’s the principle. The up-tempo offense was not a problem a decade ago when Malzahn and those who coached like him were running things at schools like Tulsa, Hawaii and Houston. But now, these schemes are at some of college football’s powerhouses, even those in Saban’s backyard. Look who has beaten Saban’s Alabama teams in the last few years: Malzahn’s Auburn offense in 2010 and 2013, Texas A&M in 2012, Oklahoma in the 2014 Sugar Bowl. These fast-paced offenses are changing the landscape of college football, but should the rules change because Nick Saban wants them to change? The front for this proposition is player safety, but it looks thin without the presence of hard evidence. "Once again, I don't think we need to lose sight of the fact that the only way you can change a rule [this year] is the health and safety of our players," Malzahn said last week. "And it's got to be documented, and there's got to be proof. And there's not." NCAA Rules Committee member Troy Calhoun, who runs a traditional triple-option offense as head coach of Air Force, even admitted the rules would not be changed unless there was evidence of the offenses being a threat to safety. Calhoun was an original supporter of the rule change, but he started backtracking shortly after Malzahn and other head coaches spoke out on the proposition. South Carolina head coach Steve Spurrier, never one to mince his words, called the rule like he saw it: “The Saban Rule.” Never change, Ol’ Ball Coach. But the backlash from coaches and fans has not stopped the side favoring the change, which will stop at nothing to make it happen. Bielema showed how low he could go last week, when he cited the tragic death of California player Ted Agu as a reason to slow down the offenses. “Player safety,” Bielema called it, motioning to “death certificates” as if they are nothing more than a talking point to promote his agenda. Agu’s cause of death is still unknown, but let’s make one thing clear: he died after collapsing during an off-season conditioning session. (Sickle cell trait is rumored to have played a part, but nothing is official at the moment.) This tragedy has nothing to do with how fast an opposing offense is going, no matter how much the struggling Arkansas head coach wants to spin it. But the war of words will continue to rage. I personally do not believe the rules will be changed. There isn’t any evidence to make a move in the name of player safety, and that rises above the influence of any coach, no matter how many championships he has won. But until it is officially shut down, I’m with the head coach here on the Plains. "I would like to think that it wouldn't [pass]," Malzahn said. "I'm just going to do everything in my power the right way to stand up." Justin Ferguson is the sports editor at The Auburn Plainsman. He can be contacted on Twitter @JFergusonAU or by email at jdf0014@ auburn.edu.

Sports A10

The Auburn Plainsman

Thursday, February 27, 2014

emily enfinger / staff photographer

Caitlin Atkinson leaps off the balance beam during the home meet against Georgia.

Contributed by zach bland

Marcy Harper pitches in a home game earlier this season against Winthrop.

This Week in Auburn Sports Gymnastics

After a close loss to Alabama last weekend pushed the Tigers to No. 10 in the country, the Auburn gymnastics team was unable to keep the momentum going Friday night, Feb. 21, in a 196.875-196.100 loss to No. 6 Georgia at Auburn Arena. “I don’t think we were the same team until we got to floor tonight,” said Auburn head coach Jeff Graba. “(The Tigers) were good, and there were some real bright spots, but it seemed like the energy wasn’t the same...I’m excited that we could score a 196 with a fall and a bad bar set.” Caitlin Atkinson led the way in scoring for the Tigers, posting an all-around score of 39.525. The sophomore scored a 9.9 in both uneven bars and balance beam. “It felt good to get back to normal tonight,” Atkinson said. “I felt a little off last week. Obviously, there were some things I could improve on, but settling down and being myself on beam felt really good.” The rival Gym Dogs led for the entire Flip For a Cure Meet after they defended their No. 1 overall ranking in uneven bars with a score of 49.5. Megan Walker led Auburn with a 9.9 on the vault in the first rotation. Auburn hung close with Georgia until the third rotation, when a pair of falls from Lexus

Demers and MJ Rott allowed Georgia to extend its lead to almost an entire point. “The mistakes came from veterans tonight,” Graba said. “I believe there was something going on in the psyche. The people we asked to do new things did a really good job for us, and that’s encouraging.” The Tigers rebounded to score a season-high 49.450 on floor, their first rotation at the event since junior Bri Guy’s season-ending Achilles injury against Alabama. Kait Kluz, Caryn Kadous and Brittany Webster all tied their respective career highs on the floor, while Demers set a new career-high score with a 9.925 to finish the meet. Auburn travels to face the unranked Kentucky Wildcats next Friday, Feb. 28, in Lexington, Ky. The Tigers will return to Auburn Arena the following week, March 7, to host Missouri in their home finale.

Softball

The Auburn softball team is showing no signs of slowing down its dominant run through the non-conference schedule. The Tigers posted their 10th straight victory Sunday, a 8-0 win against Purdue to wrap up an unbeaten sweep of the Wilson/DeMarini Classic

at Jane B. Moore Field. “It doesn’t matter who you play, it’s how you play,” said Auburn head coach Clint Myers. “We have to go out and play good defense, get good pitching and have timely hitting. We have to work on the consistency of all three of those.” Sophomore pitcher Lexi Davis earned her seventh win of the season with five complete innings of shutout softball. Davis struck out three batters and walked only one Boilermaker. Freshman Kasey Cooper led the way for the Auburn offense as she knocked in four RBI, including a two-run homer in the fourth inning to set up the early victory. Auburn scored three runs in both the first and second innings. The top four of Auburn starting lineup — Emily Carosone, Morgan Estell, Cooper and Branndi Melero — went a combined 8-for-9 hitting against Purdue to keep the Tigers’ hot offense going. The win was Auburn’s eighth run-rule victory of the season as the game was called after the fifth inning. “We’re getting better,” Myers said. “We’re getting to the part of the schedule where it’s going to be a little tougher and we have to get ourselves ready to play with conference starting in two weeks.”

Equestrian

The third-ranked Auburn equestrian team dropped an 11-8 decision at No. 7 Georgia on Saturday, Feb. 22, at the UGA Equestrian Complex in Bishop, Ga., to fall to 8-3 overall and 3-2 in the SEC. “Georgia did a tremendous job riding today, especially in areas where we had the least mistakes, they capitalized,” head coach Greg Williams said. “I’m not discouraged with the way the girls rode. We will work on our mistakes, and address the issues we need to. I’m still extremely pleased with this team.” Elizabeth Benson and Demi Stiegler were both double winners, accounting for four of the Tigers six wins on the English side. Benson was named Most Outstanding Player for flat with her score of 85. Other winners in hunt seat were Quincy Hayes for fences and Christina Lin in the flat. Auburn was only able to pick up two wins on the western side, one each in horsemanship and reining. Lucy Igoe won in horsemanship and Stephanie Rucci in reining. The Tigers return to action next weekend for another road meet, this time at No. 1 South Carolina. With a win at South Carolina, Auburn could still wrap up the No. 1 seed for the SEC Championships. Compiled by Justin Ferguson

contributed by auburn athletics

Junior shotput thrower Valentina Muzaric competes in a meet against at the Iowa State Classic.

track and field

Tigers heading to College Station for the SEC Indoor Tournament Staff Report

The Auburn track and field team will begin Southeastern Conference indoor tournament competition on Thursday. Several Tigers have been moving up the Auburn record board in past weeks leading up to the championships. Last weekend, junior thrower Valentina Muzaric recorded the third longest throw in school history, posting a throw 55-7.5/16.95 meters. Freshman Teray Smith currently owns the fifth-fastest 200-meter time by a freshman in the league. During the Iowa City Classic on the weekend of Feb. 14, German senior Niklas Buhner ran a 4:04.35 mile, good enough to put him in fourth place for the fastest mile in Auburn’s program history. “Overall, it was a solid effort all the way around by our kids,” said Auburn head coach Ralph Spry. Heading into this season’s tournament, the unranked Auburn men are looking to get their fifth tournament win, and first since 1980, while the also unranked women are aiming to claim their first ever conference title. The competition is stiff on both the men’s and women’s side of things in the SEC. The SEC has six men’s teams in the top 25,

including No.1 Arkansas and No. 2 Florida. On the Women’s side, the SEC has eight teams in the rankings with Florida at No. 2 and Arkansas at No. 4. Arkansas won both the men’s and women’s tournaments last year. The tournament will be held from Feb. 27-March 1 in College Station, Texas. Two weeks later, NCAA Nationals will be held in Albuquerque, N.M. According to the U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association website, each men’s and women’s individual event contested, including the heptathlon, the top 16 declared student-athletes will be accepted into the competition. For each relay event contested, the top 12 declared relay teams will be accepted into the competition. After the conclusion of the national tournament on March 15, the Tigers will have less than two weeks before the start of the outdoor track and field season. Auburn’s outdoor season begins with the Texas Relays on March 27 in Austin, Texas. The Tigers will continue its outdoor season through April and May, when the SEC Outdoor Tournament will begin at the University of Kentucky in Lexington.

Thursday, February 27, 2014

The Auburn Plainsman

Sports A11

Fresh and familiar faces heading to the Plains football

Malzahn reloads support staff with high school legend Bentley and former linebacker Williams Kyle Van Fechtmann Sports Reporter

contributed by chief photographer alex hicks / goupstate.com

New Auburn offensive analyst Bobby Bentley celebrates a play as head coach of Byrnes (S.C.) High School.

contributed by auburn athletics

New Auburn defensive analyst Travis Williams drops back in coverage during his time as a Tigers linebacker.

After several of his former assistants left their analyst jobs to take larger responsbilities at other schools, Gus Malzahn is reloading his support staff for a potential SEC title defense. For one of the vacant spots left on the football coaching staff, Malzahn turned to hiring a successful high school coach, Bobby Bentley, to be the new offensive analyst working strictly with quarterbacks. Malzahn also hired Travis Williams, former Auburn linebacker and graduate assistant, to become a defensive analyst on Tuesday, Feb. 25. Williams will reportedly have an off-field role focusing on defensive analysis. Williams is from Columbia, S.C. and played linebacker at Auburn from 2001-2005. “I’m excited to be back,” Williams told AL.com. “Coming back home and being on a great coaching staff is something I couldn’t turn down.” Many Auburn fans may be familiar with his 80-tackle campaign during the undefeated 2004 season, which earned him a spot on the All-SEC first team. Other fans will remember him for the multiple rap songs he wrote while on the Plains, including “Tiger Walk,” which has been a favorite at Jordan-Hare Stadium in recent seasons. After his collegiate playing days, Williams went on to play in the NFL from 2006-2008 and appeared in six games for the Atlanta Falcons. After his short career in the NFL came to a close, Williams returned to the Plains as a defensive graduate assistant under former head coach Gene Chizik. Williams was still an assistant during the 2010 National Championship season, but moved on from Auburn in the spring of 2012 to become a linebackers coach at Northern Iowa. Malzahn filled another support staff spot on the other side of the ball this week, with the hiring of quarterbacks offensive analyst Bentley. “It will be an honor to work with the SEC champions and work alongside Coach Gus Malzahn,” Bentley said to the Spartanburg Herald Journal. Bentley was the Byrnes High School (S.C.) football coach and assistant athletic director last season, and he led his team to a 12-2 record, a regional title and a state semifinal berth. Bentley also modeled his high school’s offense last season after Malzahn’s hurry-up no-

huddle offense. After taking over in 2013 for Chris Miller, who won three state titles as head coach at Byrnes and then took a different coaching job in South Carolina, Bentley moved from offensive coordinator to head coach. Bentley’s son, Jake, is a rising sophomore in high school and was offered a football scholarship to play at Auburn University in June of 2013 before his freshman year. Jake, a 6-foot-4, 207-pound quarterback, was expected to be the starting quarterback at Byrnes for his last three seasons and already has other scholarship offers from schools, including Clemson University. Bentley was the Byrnes head coach from 1995-2006 with an overall record of 107-52. From 2002-2005, Byrnes won four consecutive state championships, and Bentley led them to a 57-2 record during that time period. Bentley was also the head coach at Presbyterian College from 2007-2008 and was 10-13 in those two seasons. He then returned to coaching at the high school level at Byrnes. Bentley spent 22 years coaching and teaching at Byrnes High School. “I had no intentions of leaving Byrnes once I came back [from Presbyterian College],” Bentley said. “We had been to a college, and it is a little different. What happens is you meet a guy like Gus Malzahn and, you say, if you get the chance to work with him, then you do it. “My wife is excited about it, and anytime your wife is excited it’s usually a good sign.” According to GoUpstate.com, Bentley broke the news that he was taking the job at Auburn University to his high school team on Monday Feb. 24. “I think the older ones could see it all fall into place,” Bentley said. “We went to Auburn’s 7-on-7, and they knew I was friends with Gus Malzahn. I think it’s harder on the younger guys.” Bentley has known Malzahn for many years and turned down an offer to join Malzahn’s Auburn coaching staff prior to last year’s SEC Championship season, the Spartanburg Herald Journal reported. “I think it’s very important the fact that I’ve been a high school coach, and I got this opportunity to try to give other people more opportunities,” Malzahn said. “Hopefully that’ll be a trend in the future.”

club sports

Men’s rugby pulls off its own ‘Kick Six’ against Alabama Taylor Jones Sports Writer

sarah may / assistant photo editor

Auburn wrestler, Greg Artalona (left) takes on an opponent from Marion Military Institute at the Student Rec and Wellness Center.

club sports

Wrestling club grapples for a cause

Graham Brooks

Contributing Writer

Wrestling might not be a varsity-sanctioned sport at Auburn University, but that’s not stopping several grapplers across campus. The Auburn University Wrestling Club offers students a chance to be a part of a unique experience where they can hone their skills and compete against other teams across the Southeast. The club features 20-25 members and approximately 15 compete in the meets. On Friday, Feb. 21, Auburn held its only home meet of the season, a dual meet against the University of Alabama and Marion Military Institute. But the meet was more about giving Auburn’s wrestlers a chance to compete in front of their classmates. Admission to the meet was free, but donations were encouraged, as proceeds would go to the Children’s Hope Orphanage in Haiti and The Wounded Warrior Project.

“We just wanted to give back to the community in someway, so we figured we can get our name out here,” said team captain Dylan Howard. “That way, people that are coming in can donate towards the charities and help us out by helping them out.” T-shirts and other items were available for sale at the meet to go toward donations as well. Howard explained how Auburn used to have an official NCAA wrestling program, but it got cut as a varsity sport in the 1980s. Howard said there are certain challenges that come with being a club sport as opposed to a fully funded varsity sport through the NCAA at Auburn. “It’s hard getting the name out,” Howard said. “A lot of people don’t realize we do have a wrestling club. We’ve been trying to hand stuff out on the concourse but it’s hard getting the name out on the concourse because a lot of people are just like, ‘Uh, whatever.’

“But we’ve been trying to get publicity out. It’s pretty difficult to get people to come out to events.” The wrestling meet was held in Auburn’s new Student Recreation and Wellness Center that opened last semester.Auburn had split results in the meet. The club defeated the University of Alabama 34-24, but later dropped the match against Marion Military Institute 27-31. The Auburn Wrestling Club’s season begins late fall semester and runs through the spring semester. Howard said Auburn will prepare for the SEC Conference meets next week, which will be followed by Nationals two weeks after. For more information about the wrestling club, visit the Auburn Wrestling Club Facebook page or contact them at wrestling.club@auburn.edu through Auburn University’s Campus Recreation webpage. The club is open to all interested Auburn University students.

The Auburn Men’s Rugby Club has gotten its season off to a good start, including a last-second thriller against Alabama. After defeating Troy in their preseason match by a large margin, the Tigers dropped their first match against Alabama, 36-17. Auburn rallied with a blowout victory over Ole Miss, defeating the Rebels, 55-10. In its most recent match, Auburn faced Alabama in an attempt to exact revenge from the Tigers’ first loss of the season. The Tigers also needed a victory to secure a position in the league tournament. Both teams played very defensively, and the game came down to the final seconds with rookie Cameron Porter scoring on the last play to beat Alabama, 12-8. Captain Sebastien Kamyab described the crazy ending as something comparable to the “Kick Six” play. “At the very last second, we made a miracle play, almost like the Iron Bowl, and put up five points on the board to make it 12-8,” Kamyab said. Junior Patrick Klatte said he was sore after the game, but was definitely pleased with the outcome. “It was 80 minutes of do-ordie, straight-up, hard-nosed, smash-mouth rugby, and we pulled out the win,” Klatte said. “Knowing what could’ve happened, and knowing that we took another big step towards the [rugby league] Championship, made all the scrapes and

bruises hurt a little less after the game.” The Tigers have been led in scoring by Ben Winiarczyk, who was selected as a 2013 SCRC All-Conference First Team member in the 2013 7’s league. Kamyab also gives credit where credit is due to the players in the shadows. “We’ve had a lot of guys stepping up to the plate and working hard,” Kamyab said. “Just because some haven’t scored doesn’t mean they haven’t contributed to the team.” Senior Michael Pietkiewicz said he thinks the win against Alabama had to do with one outside factor: facial hair. “The last time we played Alabama, the equation was not balanced because they had a player with a mustache,” Pietkiewicz said. “In the threeweek span [between games against Alabama] our fearless leader, Sebastien Kamyab, grew a mustache that was vastly superior to their mustache, and the outcome was an Auburn victory.” The Tigers face struggling Mississippi State this weekend in Starkville, in a game that the Tigers are heavy favorites in. “We’re pretty confident going against Miss State,” Kamyab said. “They don’t have a win yet, and they’ve gotten kind of run over.” The Tigers follow the Mississippi State road trip by heading to Florida to face the Gators. The Tigers host their final game of the regular season at home against LSU.

Intrigue

A12

Thursday, February 27, 2014

ThePlainsman.com

Intrigue

CONTRIBUTED BY MICHAEL WHELAN

Artist RC Hagan displayed and produced his art at Covers for a Cause, a benefit concert that occurred in Opelika earlier this month.

RC Hagans fights to relay artistic vision Kane Grimster

Contributing Writer

With a punch from Michael “The Machine” Phillips, blood poured from RC Hagans’ broken nose into his black moustache. Hagans didn’t quit, though. It’s not in his nature. He struggled on until the referee stopped the fight and the crowd at Sammy T’s Music Hall in Huntsville rose to applaud both men. For Opelika resident Hagans, 27, fighting isn’t his true love; art is. However, the way Hagans works as a contemporary artist resembles a fighter more than a typical artist. “I want to outwork everybody,” Hagans said. “It’s a competition thing. You see the work other street artists are doing, and you’re like, ‘I got to keep working.’” That value of work ethic has been ingrained in Hagans since he was young. For this, Hagans credits two aspects of his life in particular: his father and wrestling. Hagans said traveling with his father, a southern minister, to as many as eight services a week showed him the

effort needed to succeed in life. Wrestling, a sport Hagans began at age 8, taught him a similar lesson. “Wrestling teaches you how to 100 percent devote yourself to something,” Hagans said. “That’s a big part of my work ethic.” As a restless 5-year-old in church, Hagans searched for a way to combat his desire to crawl under the pews, an action that resulted in a pinch from his mother. Then, one day, his friend showed him there were always pencils and envelopes at church, and if you unfolded the envelope, you had plenty of space to draw. Drawing captivated Hagans, and the cheekiness of putting the envelopes back with drawings hidden inside for others to find amused him. However, it wasn’t until high school that Hagans’ passion for art blossomed. Under the guidance of Auburn High School art teacher, Joe Dyer, Hagans began to realize his passion for art while exploring every form of art he could. “When I was at Auburn High School, the art budget went through the roof because [Dyer] would show

me something, and I’d just work until there [were] no supplies left,” Hagans said. That desire to compulsively work remains with Hagans and motivates him to compete with the other artists. “You look at the guys doing things on a worldwide scale and you’re like, ‘I need to put in some more hours today,’” Hagans said. “It’s the ticking -clock mentality. You only have 80 years on this planet, so why not make the most radical thing you can every second of every day?” Leatherwork artist Michael Stricklin shares a studio with Hagans and witnesses his work ethic on a daily basis. “He’s an artist 100 percent of the time,” Stricklin said. “He’s the epitome of working hard and that’s how you make things happen for yourself. You just keep doing it and don’t quit and good things start to happen.” Hagans’ goal is to leave a legacy people appreciate for years after he’s gone. However, Hagans said he still has a lot work to do to get there. “I don’t think I have anything yet

THE PLAINSMAN PICKS PLAYLIST:

this week, our staff members chose

their favorite spring break songs. to listen to our picks, visit spotify.com and follow “the auburn plainsman.”

“BORN TO BE WILD” by steppenwolf maddie yerant, intrigue editor

a classic. if you’re headed for a crazy spring break, this song will put you in the mood for any upcoming shenanigans.

“UNDER COVER OF DARKNESS” by the strokes becky sheehan, intrigue reporter

this song is flirtatious and energetic. late nights and sunny days and road trips. i usually have this on repeat through spring and summer.

“KOKOMO” by the the beach boys kailey miller, intrigue reporter

a classic song that will get you in the spring break mood. its light tropical instruments will whisk you away to a hot beach sipping on a piña colada, even if you’re going somewhere cold or have less-thanstellar plans for this year’s break.

“PARTY IN THE USA” by miley cyrus janiee rush, contributing writer

i know it’s old school miley, but i can’t help but get in the spring break mood whenever i hear this song. it’s just a feel-good,upbeat type of song, and i still like it. i’m not ashamed.

that’s worth leaving behind, but I’m working my butt off,” Hagans said. “I think eventually I’ll step back and think, ‘You know what, when I’m gone, this is going to be here,’ and that’s something I’m going to be proud for people to look at and say, ‘That’s RC Hagans.’” Brad Guice, a family friend of the Hagans’ and photographer in New York City, encouraged Hagans to commit to his passion for art. “I saw that RC had that passion and I challenged him a few years ago to make it a career choice,” Guice said. “He went away and did it on his own. He really just lives, breathes, sleeps and dreams art.” However, art didn’t come easy to Hagans. He learned through hard work and believes anyone can do the same. “Someone told me that if I want to be a good painter, I’d have to do 500 to 1,000 bad paintings first, and that’s what stops most people from doing it,” Hagans said. “Anyone can do what I do, you just have to put in the hours.” Hagans said he has failed many times on his path to being a success-

ful artist, but that his failings have not discouraged him. Instead, he follows the mantra of Thomas Edison, who said, “I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.” Hagans said he believes his hard work has only strengthened his passion for art and has allowed him to reach a level he wouldn’t have achieved had he been a naturally-gifted artist. “I feel like if you do something that you don’t have to work for, it’s a love you’re willing to let go of and sweep under the carpet,” Hagans said. “But if you have to labor for or fight for it every single day, then you’ll make stuff that can be around forever.” Despite his interest in wrestling and mixed martial arts, Hagans is content with giving up fighting to focus on his art. However, every morning he is reminded of his encounter with “The Machine” as he looks in the mirror at his crooked nose, a permanent reminder that hard work and fighting will be what allows him to leave a lasting legacy. RC Hagans’ artwork can be seen on his website, www.rchagans.com.

Students make a change in education achievement gap Janiee Rush

Contributing Writer

Having your voice heard and making a difference in your community involves having a vision, being determined and creating a plan of action. Dillon Nettles, junior in political science, did this when he helped found Students for Education Reform. According to Nettles, SFER is an on-campus organization that focuses on bridging the education achievement gap throughout state and local schools, such as Auburn High School and Loachapoka High School. SFER has chapters in schools and communities across the nation. Nettles, along with the help of Teach For America Campus Coordinator Caroline Hiskey, said he decided he wanted to form a chapter at Auburn University after accepting the Rising Leaders Fellowship with Teach for America. “Part of my fellowship was to actually develop a blueprint, and kind of enact some type of plan that could be carried out over the next year while I was completing the fellowship,” Nettles said. “We realized that in Alabama we have no Students for Education Reform chapter anywhere. So, it was something we decided that we wanted to do and something that was really going to be helpful with me carrying out my fellowship.” The organization works to inform and engage Auburn students and people in the com-

munity about the issues, such as socioeconomics and race, which currently exist within the state education system and are affecting students in different schools. To discuss the current concerns within the system, SFER plans conferences and events that strive to educate others about the issues. Because February is Black History Month, the organization recently partnered with the NAACP to co-host a meeting about how race plays a role in education. Nicole Moneyham, junior in communication and director of programming for SFER, is in charge of making sure the group’s bi-weekly meetings come together. “We like to create programs and events that students can attend that are fun and sociable,” Moneyham said. “We have been to many different conferences and have had several events and partnered with other organizations to raise money for other organizations. I think just seeing how far we’ve come for this being our first year as an organization is something to be proud of.” Nettles said SFER receives a lot of support from advisers in many different colleges and departments across campus, which helps the organization with its mission. “We should be taking advantage of our time here at Auburn since we have the resources provided to carry through with the things that we’re passionate about,” Nettles said. “I know

“

We should be taking advantage of our time here at Auburn since we have the resources provided to carry through with the things we’re passionate about. —Dillon nettles

Junior in political science

that a lot of young people feel like they’re not really heard as much as the professionals, representatives and senators, but that’s just simply not the case.” SFER adviser Brad Smith said being part of the organization also helps to develop leadership skills and career preparedness. “As aspiring teachers, many of which are pursuing the Teach For America program, SFER allows its members the opportunity to begin advocating for their students before they even reach the classroom,” Smith said. According to Nettles, the group meets bi-weekly. Due to an event February 25, their regular schedule will resume March 4. Students who are interested in getting involved with SFER should visit auburn.edu/auinvolve and search for Students for Education Reform, or go to its Facebook page.

Thursday, February 27, 2014

The Auburn Plainsman

Intrigue A13

EMILY ENFINGER / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

T. Scott Robinson has multiple beehives throughout Auburn and Opelika. According to Robinson, bees provide countless benefits to the community, including honey, pollen production and wax production.

Hive mind: lessons in community and sustainability Becky Sheehan Intrigue Reporter

EMILY ENFINGER / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

T. Scott Robinson, holding a smoker, explains how it distracts the bees more than it actually calms them.

Community and sustainability are certainly buzzwords these days. For beekeepers like T. Scott Robinson, maintaining a healthy colony of bees is a daily lesson in community involvement and sustainable production. “It all plays a part and everything is connected,” said Robinson, leaning against his green pick-up truck. “Every bee has a job to do, just like a community.” According to Robinson, working with bees gave him a different perspective. “That’s one thing that I’ve felt overwhelmed by,” Robinson said. “Once you start dealing things with in nature—God’s creation—you start to realize how interconnected things are. It’s a blessing.” Tall and lean with electric blue eyes, Robinson is soft-spoken and prone to marvel at the simplistic genius of nature. Robinson rolled up his right sleeve to reveal deep purple bruising and explained his wincing handshake. “I’m kinda gimpy with this right arm all jacked up,” Robinson said. The pain from a recent skiing accident, which will require surgery, did not prevent Robinson from climbing on top of a raised platform to extract a frame from a stack of wooden boxes called “supers” that encased a hive of bees. The colony was one of the very first Robinson extracted from a church in Uchee seven years ago and relocated to Opelika. “Yeah, y’all [will] probably want to back up and we’ll see how they react,” Robinson said through the netting of his protective veil. Bees hummed around Robinson’s head as he produced the frame, which was crawling with more honey bees. “They’re not aggressive as long as you respect them,” Robinson said, pointing a

gloved finger at a bee furiously stabbing his veil. “Like this one. This one is aggravated.” Robinson replaced the frame with a soft “Alright, girls,” as if soothing fussy children. According to Robinson, honey bees are mild-mannered compared to their Africanized honey bee relatives, better known as killer bees, and are selective about stinging. Robinson explained bees serve an important function in sustainable farming and that beekeepers are often called to facilitate pollination in orchards or farms. “My part in all this is I’m trying to promote beekeeping and understanding, so that when people see a bee, it’s not an enemy,” Robinson said. “It’s actually so important to our economy.” After picking up beekeeping as a hobby, Robinson began giving demonstrations for 4-H clubs, the Boy Scouts and local elementary schools. Annually, Robinson shares his knowledge at The Great Grown-Up Spelling Bee, held by the East Alabama Chapter of the Public Relations Council of Alabama at the Saugahatchee Country Club in July, which benefits the Lee County Literacy Coalition. Not only are bees important for pollination, but the honey they produce is a natural allergy remedy. According to Robinson and fellow beekeeper Mike Ellenberger, who befriended Robinson during a Saugahatchee Beekeepers Association meeting, local honey exposes the immune system to allergens in the area capable of preventing or easing the agony of seasonal allergies. “It’s amazing,” Robinson said. “But I’ve already noticed three different types of pollen: one is a bright orange, one is a grey and one is yellow. Already this early in the season, we have things in bloom and that’s why people are noticing their allergies.”

Recovery Record app helps AU students overcome eating disorders Kailey Miller

Intrigue Reporter

Auburn University clinicians, dieticians and directors are all working together to help students who are suffering from eating disorders. They are using an app called Recovery Record to aid their treatment of the patients. “Recovery Record allows them to track what they’re eating, but also the thoughts that they’re having [and] feelings that they’re having,” said Ann Marie DelSignore, senior staff clinician at the Auburn University Student Counseling Services and coordinator of the eating disorder treatment team. The app provides a variety of services to the user. On the Recovery Record home page, there is a link to log thoughts, meals and feelings. “For me, the most helpful part is the thoughts and the feelings that they’re having that they record in relation to either their food or their body image, or whatever it might be,” DelSignore said. “I really think that they prefer to use an app than to actually write down, you know, a paper journal.” Jessica-Lauren Newby, registered dietitian at Campus Recreation, said she uses Recovery Record to monitor food intake, thoughts, feelings and eating disorder behaviors in her eating disorder clients. The app provides a charts section that highlights insights, trends and progress. “The beauty of Recovery Record [...] is it allows tracking down and data collection from a provider’s perspective without the triggering effect of something like My Fitness Pal…or the other types of apps that are geared more toward weight loss and calorie counting,” Newby said. “It was designed by an individual who lost a best friend to

an eating disorder, and she wanted to provide something that individuals could use on a smart phone or device to aid in their recovery.” Newby said the app can help with any type of eating disorder, and that it is designed with significant emphasis on positive reinforcement and motivation. Part of the positive reinforcement aspect of the app is the rewards component, where users can collect puzzle pieces for logging meals and earn hidden rewards when they finish the puzzle. A scrapbook feature enables users to save their favorite quotes, encouraging words or images they find motivating. “I think it’s something that can be very helpful, especially in the beginning of a recovery when they are trying to really figure out what are my triggers, when do I do well with eating, when do I struggle and when do I need more accountability,” Newby said. “It’s really helped with reflecting and gathering data about yourself.” Users can log both their goals and goals set by clinicians. They can also plan their meals with the meal planner and keep a list of coping tactics. Psychologists and dieticians use the information from the app to learn when the patients are eating. They then relay the information to Suzanne Graham-Hooker, the assistant director of medical education at the Auburn University Medical Clinic. “If there’s something serious that goes on, like if the patient is having suicidal problems or if they’re cutting, or if they’re having things that need immediate adjustment before the time they come in for their appointments with me, then they will call me,” Graham-Hooker said.

Auburn coffee shop, Wake Up Coffee Company, stands by local beekeepers. Recognizing both the health benefits and the community support local honey provides, owner Wade Preston is always on the look-out for nearby apiaries, the technical term for beehives. “We want to source local products and local honey’s great,” Preston said. “We currently source honey out of Odenville, but we’re looking to get some that’s even more local.” Despite their reputation for stinging, Ellenberger said bees provide numerous perks to the community. “They’re very much beneficial insects,” Ellenberger said. “There are other benefits that people don’t think about. There’s pollen production and wax production for candle-making.” As winter retreats, the coming months will prove to be a test of the hives’ strength. “It’s a fine dance between a good honeyproducing season and a bad one,” Robinson said. “It’s really contingent on what mother nature is giving us.” However, Robinson is confident in his hive. A good bloodline is as important in a colony of bees as it is in a monarchy and he has spent years cultivating this particular group. Those inspired to try their hand at beekeeping or want to learn more about the profession can contact the Opelika Extension Agency or the Saugahatchee Beekeepers Association. According to Robinson and Ellenberger, the lessons learned from beekeeping could be valuable for positive civic and personal growth. “In the short period of time that I’ve spent with this one insect, I’ve learned about community, self-awareness, and respect to nature,” Robinson said.

Cash for Clothes! 2 locations to shop...

2436 E University 334-209-1155 Downtown Opelika 334-705-6727 KAILEY MILLER / INTRIGUE REPORTER

Recovery Record logs meals and snacks for eating disorder patients.

Users can also pair up with other users on the app anonymously to send each other messages of encouragement. A helpline, initiated through Recovery Record, has professionals working the line if users want to call to talk. DelSignore said she might tell patients at a particular point, such as those who excessively count calories, not to use Recovery Road, as they would not benefit at that stage of their treatment, but should first speak with a professional. “I think it’s really important that if you do see yourself as someone who could benefit from the Recovery Record app, that it’s also important that you link up with a physician and a dietician and a psychologist,” Newby said.

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Intrigue A14

The Auburn Plainsman

Thursday, February 27, 2014

CONTRIBUTED BY JEFF ETHERIDGE

‘9 to 5’ musical shows crowd a good time Left: Jake Heflin as Franklin Hart and Daley Browning as Doralee sing “Here for You” with the musical’s ensemble. Right: Daley Browning, Rachel Pair and Anna Claire Walker laugh during a scene in “9 to 5:The Musical.”

Becky Sheehan intrigue@theplainsman. com

When people are dancing in the audience, you know you’ve put on a good show. The cast of Auburn University Theatre’s “9 to 5: The Musical” beamed as the house lights came up to a standing ovation February 21. “9 to 5” follows three plucky female employees who take a stand against their slime ball of a boss, Franklin Hart, and challenge women’s rights in the workplace. The energetic musical is based on the film starring Dolly Parton and features Parton’s original music and lyrics. Jake Heflin, junior in theatre, portrayed the heartless Hart and filled out a larger than life character audiences love to hate. For Heflin, it was a stretch to play a “sexist, egotistical, lying, hypocritical bigot,” as Hart is described by the musical’s heroines, Violet, Judy and Doralee. “He’s special in his ownNewspaper villainousAdand rotten1 319 9.888x10.0 J.pdf way,” Heflin said. “I’m not that kind of person, so

having to play the exact opposite of who you are is really harder than you’d think.” In the Act 1 show-stopping number, “Here For You,” as Hart, Heflin oozes chauvinism as he gyrates on top of his desk, fearlessly laughable and surrounded by thrusting pinstriped male coworkers openly lusting after the bombshell Doralee, played by Daley Browning, junior in musical theatre. Doralee, the “backwoods Barbie,” takes on Hart’s office harassment with a quick wit, a sharp tongue and a concealed weapon. “It’s a character I’ve never really played before,” Browning said. “Being able to kind of let loose and be a little bit more wild and a little bit more sassy was a lot of fun.” Browning was at the top of her game and showed off her vocal chops in songs written for one of the most recognizable country music stars. Auburn Theatre veteran Anna Claire Walker, senior in musical theatre, took the stage as Doralee’s compatriot, Violet. The harried single mother of a teenage son, Violet has her sights set on a managerial position at the office. With impressive comedic timing, Walker once again proved to be an invaluable member of the cast and an astute character actress. “She’s got a very 2/10/14 2:01 PM dry humor and isn’t afraid of standing up to Hart,” Walker said.

According to Walker, the play uses comedy to approach issues of women’s equality. “It definitely unveils some questions that are still very relevant today,” Walker said. Rachel Pair, senior in musical theatre, filled out the trio as the simultaneously poignant and hilarious Judy. Nursing a broken heart, Judy joins the staff of Consolidated Companies and is clearly in over her head before befriending Violet and Doralee. Pair nailed the sugary-sweet depiction of Judy and clearly defined her transition into fierce independence with the power ballad, “Get Out and Stay Out.” “Every girl’s been hurt before and it’s kind of cool to have that redeeming story,” Pair said. Orchestrating much of the tech-heavy performance from behind the scenes was stage manager Taylor Dyleski, senior in theatre. “It’s something that can relate to everyone even if you’ve never worked in an office,” Dyleski said. “The audience is cheering for someone.” One of Dyleski’s responsibilities was coordinating a 46-second quick change of 22 actors. “That’s the kind of thing we had to think through from the very beginning,” Dyleski said. “It was a long tech process but it all came together really well.” Dyleski spoke out for some of the unsung he-

roes of the production, including the male ensemble performers and theatre office administrator, Kimberly Ford. The 24 student performers - many of whom had little or no dance experience - directed by Chase Bringardner, brought Dolly Parton’s music and lyrics to life on a1970s office set. Rolling desks, chairs and office equipment made way for Jeri Dickey’s toe-tapping choreography. Projections lit up the bare walls on set to define time and place as designed by Matt Kizer. Theatre costume designer Tracy Olenick showed impressive range from neutral, periodspecific office wear to fantasy-scene, fairytale princess gowns. The story swept along at a clip accompanied by a live orchestra. Lively and comedic, the theme of the story was not lost on the audience. Facts and figures printed in the program reminded patrons that women are paid approximately $12,000 less annually than men even today. “Women still have to fight more to move up in rankings and the actors have portrayed that in a comical way,” said Alyssa Armstrong, freshman in elementary education. “9 to 5: The Musical” is a rallying cry for pencil pushers and underdogs everywhere. The show is playing in the Telfair Peet Theatre until March 2.