SINCE 1893
125
The Auburn Plainsman Years
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THURSDAY, MARCH 28, 2019
A SPIRIT THAT IS NOT AFRAID • NEWS SINCE 1893
VOL. 126 • ISSUE 25 • FIRST COPY FREE THEN 50¢
SPORTS
Tigers headed to Sweet 16 By TYLER ROUSH Assistant Sports Editor sports@theplainsman.com
The locker room was quiet, and before heading out to the court to play for a spot in the Sweet 16, Bruce Pearl’s expression was anything but. “Our purpose is simply one thing: It’s to make history,” Pearl said. In Auburn’s 89-75 win over Kansas on Saturday, Auburn secured its first trip to the Sweet 16 since 2003. Bryce Brown fin-
ished with a game-high 25 points on 9-for-11 shooting. Pearl’s squad sprinted out of the locker room and continued to do so on the court, finishing with a program-high mark in the NCAA Tournament with 34 fast-break points. Auburn had 26 in the first half. “We were able to force them into turnovers and get rebounds and just run the floor on them, and they weren’t able to run with us and get back on defense,” Anfernee McLemore said. “That’s why we were able to get such a good lead because we were making so many points in transition, whether it was threes or layups. They had a hard time guarding us in transi-
tion.” Brown led an early offensive surge for the Tigers after making his first five shots, including four makes from beyond the arc. Jared Harper, who had 14 first-half points, combined with Brown’s 17 to build Auburn’s 51-25 lead going into halftime. The duo led Auburn’s shooting as the team combined to shoot 56 percent from the floor and 53 percent from beyond the arc. In comparison, Kansas had just eight made field goals to Auburn’s 20 while shooting just under 30 percent from the
» See SWEET 16, 2
COMMUNITY
TIM NAIL / COMMUNITY WRITER
Members of the Muslim community meet on Friday, March 22, 2019, in Auburn, Ala.
‘Am I safe going to pray Friday?’
Just weeks after gun attack on New Zealand mosque, Auburn Islamic leader speaks out By TIM NAIL Community Writer community@theplainsman.com
Two questions echoed in Asim Ali’s mind on the morning of March 15, following a massacre of 50 men, women and children at a mosque in Christchurch, New Zealand. “Is it part of some coordinated thing?” Ali asked. “Am I safe going to pray Friday?” The news sent shockwaves throughout a generally peaceful nation and to Muslim communities worldwide — including in Auburn.
“I saw the first news alert, and I didn’t think I would be affected by it because it’s something that happened in New Zealand,” Ali said. “As I started processing how it happened at a mosque, and while people were going in for their Friday prayer, it really made it personal.” Ali is acting director of Auburn Online for the University, but on a more individual level, his faith plays a fundamental role in his activities. As a member of the Islamic Center of Auburn and the faculty advisor for the Muslim Students Association, Ali was fearful of the fact that terrorism can happen at any time
and place. “To even be having these kinds of thoughts, living in America, just felt so wrong, because that’s not who we are,” Ali said. Ali said this wasn’t a feeling he wanted any American or human being to experience regardless of their background. He wanted to take his children, who were on spring break, to morning prayer service, but he was concerned for their safety. In the days following the tragedy, however, Auburn officials and residents have demonstrated a flood of appreciation for their Mus-
lim neighbors. On the same day, Mayor Ron Anders visited the Islamic Center to shake hands with members of its congregation, and within the next week, Ward 5 City Councilman Steven Dixon also stopped by. “There was a group of people in the community who came out to show their support and love and are worth recognizing [because of] the tremendous impact people like that create, in terms of having what we call a community,” Ali said.
» See MUSLIM COMMUNITY, 2
CAMPUS
International students worry ahead of e-bill credit card fee By TRICE BROWN Campus Reporter campus@theplainsman.com
Starting December 2019, students who use a credit card or debit card for e-bill payments will be charged a 2.85 percent convenience fee. The charge was initially scheduled for April 2019 but was delayed. Kelli Shomaker, chief financial officer for Auburn University, said
the University was the only school she saw paying the convenience fee for the student, which cost the University $3.4 million last year and $24 million over the last 10 years. If that money was reallocated, she said, it could be of better use for students. “As long as you are paying with an e-check, ... there is no charge to you to pay your tuition that way,” Shomaker said. “There is no charge to the student, and then there is no
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convenience fee that Auburn is having to charge.” An email sent from the University to Auburn students on March 21 stated that students still have other options for payment that don’t incur additional fees. These options include cash, check and e-check. Shomaker said a lot of students don’t take advantage of these options because they can use their credit cards to get rewards like cash-
back or “points.” Wei Yi, president of the Chinese Student Organization, said international students are uniquely affected by this change. According to Yi, international students choose to use credit or debit cards for e-bill payments to avoid fees involved with wire transactions — a flat $30 fee for each transaction with Flywire. They may also get cashback when using their cred-
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it card. He said he’s afraid students will turn to shady third parties in an attempt to avoid any fees. CSO is interested in making sure students are extremely careful when considering a third party. The Office of International Programs states on their website that international students are estimated
» See CREDIT CARD FEE, 2
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THURSDAY, MARCH 28, 2019
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NEWS
MUSLIM COMMUNITY Âť From 1
This included leaders of several faith groups who dropped by the center to pay their respects, such as Tripp Martin of Auburn First Baptist Church and those involved with the Beth Shalom synagogue. Surrounding homes and businesses delivered flowers. “Not only do we have a caring community, but we have a community that’s willing to rise to the challenge that’s presented,� Ali said. From the University side, the Office of Inclusion and Diversity’s associate provost and vice president Taffye Benson Clayton sent warm messages and shared counseling resources with affected Muslim students. With many Muslim students on campus being international, they have no true home to go to. They feel the University is their home, Ali said. “Having that message of comfort come from Dr. Clayton really means a lot knowing she has the support of President [Steven] Leath and Provost [Bill] Hardgrave,� Ali said. “When she sends that message it really speaks highly of the leadership that we have at the University.� Acknowledging that Muslims have been a visible group in Auburn for at least 60 to 70 years, Ali said, “We are a fabric of this community. Our responsibility is to be participants. Having an inclusive community means that everyone has a seat at the table, but if you have a seat, you should be there for others as well.� After the tornado outbreak earlier this month that leveled homes in Beauregard, Islamic Center members gave thanks for that seat by contributing to relief efforts the weekend prior to the Christchurch attacks. A small group of Muslim women in the area, the Auburn-Opelika Muslim Women Association, is also looking to pitch in with a fundraising picnic on April 14, supporting those with gaps in FEMA aid and their insurance. Its organizer, Nighet Ahmed, has lived in Auburn for nearly 30 years and said she hopes it will provide an opportunity for both Muslims and those outside the community to interact and bond over food. Regardless of what motives the gunman involved in the mass shootings may have possessed, “hate and that type of violence doesn’t have any kind of religious home at all,� Ali said. �These terrorist attacks that happen anywhere happen because people are after political ideologies. We have to recognize that we can’t vilify any one group as a result of that.� In this case, although the gunman was Australian, it doesn’t mean citizens of the country don’t get along with Muslims. He said this goes both ways when the perpetrator may claim to commit a crime in the name of Islam. “Just because somebody says that they’re Muslim and they do something heinous doesn’t mean that they’re representing all of Islam,� Ali said. “By its very nature, Islam says that can’t
SWEET 16 Âť From 1
field. To Brown, the offense was able to rush toward an early 23-9 lead because of the team’s effort on defense. “Typically when we start off hot on the defensive end, we start off hot on the offensive end,� Brown said. “We get out in transition, knock down shots. If we continue to do that, we’ll continue to win ball games and go even further.� Harper finished with 18 points on 6-for-14 shooting to go along with six assists. The 26-point deficit at halftime is the largest faced by Kansas in the program’s 155 tournament games. In addition, the 51 points tie Auburn’s largest tournament output in a half. The last time Auburn reached that mark was against Syracuse in the 2003 Sweet 16. Despite both teams opening the second half shooting a combined 71 percent from
TIM NAIL / COMMUNITY WRITER
Members of the Muslim community pose for a photo after meeting on Friday, March 22, 2019, in Auburn, Ala.
happen.� As the tradition of Ramadan appears on the horizon starting May 6, Ali highlighted the month of fasting as a great way for those who are not Muslim to interact with the Islamic community by reaching out to the Islamic Center, which holds dinner at sunset each evening during that period. “Those evening meals are open to anybody. If somebody wanted to find dinner for thirty days straight, that’s a heck of a way to do it,� Ali said with a laugh. At one Ramadan prayer service, sixteen different nationalities were represented of those who brought food, including Bangladesh, Pakistan and Sudan, allowing for a grand diversity of meals from around the world. As for students who want to reach out to the Muslim community at the University, the Muslim Students Association does not hold regular gathering-style meetings but does maintain active Facebook and AUInvolve pages, which can be used to contact the organization. Considering similar attacks of the past, Ali said he is re-
the f loor, Auburn continued to hold back runs by the Jayhawks. Kansas’ Dedric Lawson and Devon Dotson finished with 25 and 13 points, including 19 and 10 in the second half, respectively. Okeke continued to be an all-around threat, finishing with 12 points to complement five rebounds, four assists and four steals. McLemore added 11 points and five rebounds. McLemore’s double-digit output is his first since a win over Mississippi State at home on March 2. With his team now riding a 10-game winning streak, Pearl will look to prepare for an outing on Friday against 1-seed UNC. For Harper, the win over Kansas made history. “It feels great for us, being able to be a part of history, be able to make history here at Auburn,� Harper said. “It was a goal of ours to be able to come in and make history. That was the reason for coming to Auburn, to be able to do that. We played really well today and we’re ready to advance even further.�
“
Not only do we have a caring community, but we have a community that’s willing to rise to the challenge that’s presented.� — Asim Ali minded of how all in society are interconnected — no matter their identities. It’s up to the individual person on whether they want to expose themselves to unfamiliar groups. “You shouldn’t wait for something,� Ali said. “Any day is a good day to go meet your neighbor. Any day is a good day to invite someone over for lunch and have a conversation that may be different, a little bit out of your comfort zone.�
Auburn
University
VETERANS CLASSIC
Tuesday, April 16 The Veterans Classic Golf Tournament gives our student veterans the opportunity to make meaningful connections with the community as they pursue their education at Auburn University. Through the support of the Veterans Resource Center at Auburn University, we want to make the transition as easy as possible. Through your participation, you are directly contributing to the well-being of AU student veterans and their families. If you have any questions please contact
WADE RACKLEY / AUBURN ATHLETICS
Jared Harper (2) reaches for the ball during Auburn men’s basketball vs. Kansas during the second round of the NCAA Tournament on Saturday, March 23, 2019, in Salt Lake City, Utah.
CREDIT CARD FEE Âť From 1
to pay $44,448 per academic year to cover tuition and fees, living expenses and health insurance. If a student were to use a credit or debit card to pay off this cost, they would pay an
additional $1,267 in convenience fees. Mike Reynolds, executive director of student financial services, said students with a bank accounts from outside the United States still have the
option to use an e-check. Deferred payment plans exist to alleviate the financial burden, something that Reynolds said is popular with freshman parents. Reynolds said he estimates 50 percent of the student population chooses to pay e-bill statements with a credit or debit card.
Kim Evans, evanski@auburn.edu, 334-750-3732 Kyle Venable, kjv0007@auburn.edu, 337-258-2013 Register online at www.aub.ie/vetsgolf
From Auburn Student Affairs @AuburnStudents
StudentAffairs.auburn.edu
opinion
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THURSDAY, MARCH 28, 2019
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OPINION
OUR VIEW
State lottery could greatly benefit Alabama EDITORIAL BOARD Spring 2019
Alabama’s budget is sorely needing sources of funding. No longer can the state face more budget cuts, and Alabama’s politicians are unwilling to increase the state’s main tax sources. The only way left to increase funding is through new streams of revenue — streams of revenue like a state lottery. Sen. Jim McClendon, R-Springville, is proposing the state implement its own lottery, with 50 percent of revenue going to the state’s general fund, which supplies money for non-educational programs, and the other 50 percent going toward education. Forty-four other states have a lottery, and Mississippi will soon implement a lottery after passing legislation last year that allowed it. That means not only is Alabama one of the only states missing out on a stream of revenue that most states turn to, but pretty soon, all of Alabama’s neighbors will offer a lottery. In a state only 160 miles wide, no Alabamian is more than two hours from another state’s border. It seems unlikely that the number of Alabamians driving across state lines to buy lottery scratch-offs and tickets is not going to increase when Mississippi implements their lottery sometime this year. Let’s keep Alabamians’ money in Alabama. Tennessee, Georgia and Florida all have statewide merit-based college scholarship programs funded through their state lot-
tery systems. This means that each time a citizen crosses state lines to buy a scratch-off or a PowerBall ticket, they are paying for someone else’s kid to go to college, they are investing in the state next door’s future. That’s an awfully kind thing for Alabamians to do, but it’s an awful drain of Alabamians’ money. Those neighboring states are essentially siphoning away dollars from the state’s budget. Alabamians aren’t going to just stop buying lottery tickets. Almost everyone loves the thought of turning into an overnight millionaire or doubling your money on a scratch-off. That’s why it’s commonplace to see droves of cars with Alabama license plates at gas-stations right across state lines. Across state lines, there are gas stations with large booths to sell lottery tickets, tables where you can scratch off your ticket or pencil in your choice lotto numbers and long lines of Alabamians eagerly waiting, money in hand, to buy lottery tickets. These gas stations are designed to take Alabamians money, and we are letting them. There’s no way around this, the people of Alabama are spending their money on lotteries, and with the impending implementation of a Mississippi lottery increasing Western Alabama’s residents’ access to scratch-offs, the Alabama Legislature must act now. Alabama must implement a lottery. Lottery systems are billion-dollar industries that bring in necessary funds to a state budget. As students at a public institution of
higher education in Alabama, we believe it’s time for Alabama to implement the lottery as a much-needed way to funnel instrumental dollars into improving the state’s education system. Currently, only about 24 percent of Alabamians have a college degree — that’s 9 percent behind the national average. It is time for Alabama to make college more accessible for all. A lottery-funded college scholarship would allow for many in Alabama to afford college who otherwise could not. Or, those dollars could benefit lower-level education, helping to increase educational outcomes for Alabama’s students with earlier interventions. It’s no secret that Alabama’s public education system is lacking. This lottery can provide hope for change — hope that some of Alabama’s poorest could receive scholarships to attend school, or hope that Alabama’s worst performing schools can receive the funding necessary to increase their learning outcomes.
JOSIE
WITE
Whichever way Alabama chooses to spend its revenue earned from a state lottery, it has the potential to drastically impact Alabamians’ futures. A state lottery opens up the potential for Alabama to create a new educational program that will bolster the future of the entire state. A strong, lottery-funded education program will bring pride to the state. It’s a tangible benefit from a statewide program that Alabamians will fund themselves, in their own state, instead of driving across the border to fund some other state’s. It’s time for Alabama to implement a state lottery to bolster its revenue and fund much-needed education programs.
K / IL
LUST
RATO
R
HER VIEW
Alabama, the time for Medicaid expansion has come By BRYTNI EMISON Opinion Editor
Alabama’s healthcare system is floundering. In eight years, 13 of Alabama’s hospitals have closed. Seven of them were in rural areas. These hospitals simply do not have the funds to operate. These are hospitals serving some of those who have the greatest need for healthcare. These hospitals will continue to fail if nothing is done, preventing Alabama citizens, particularly rural citizens, from receiving the healthcare they deserve. Why are these hospitals failing? These hospitals were serving Alabama’s
poorest — meaning they count on state or federal dollars, through Medicaid, to compensate for the lack of funding from their patients. But Medicaid in Alabama is deficient. Currently, it only covers children, the elderly, disabled and adults with children who are making 18 percent of the poverty level. Adults without children do not qualify for Medicaid at all. Medicaid expansion in Alabama would qualify every adult in Alabama whose income falls within 138 percent of the poverty level. Expanding to those who receive other types of aid, like SNAP, is logical. Clearly these are the citizens who are experiencing the greatest need for aid in our state. This expansion, however, comes at an up-
front cost of $168 million to the state. But, this pales in comparison to the $2.7 billion benefit in annual economic activity brought to the state because of the expansion, as found by a UAB report. With a statewide lottery on the horizon, it seems like Medicaid expansion is possible. But, something has to be done right now. While the lottery could eventually fund this expansion, the implementation of the lottery would take at least three years before it likely saw a return great enough to front the cost of this expansion. Alabama lawmakers need to do something right now to fund rural healthcare and expand Medicaid before it’s too late.
If this pattern of hospital closures continues, Alabama will not be able to recover, and the lapse between health and those things related to health outcomes — such as education and income — will grow immeasurably. The poorest in Alabama will suffer drastically. This is an issue of urgency. Medicaid expansion cannot wait. The lottery bill cannot wait — it must pass now, before more programs and state-funded necessities fall to the wayside. Alabama lawmakers cannot wait — they must act now. Brytni Emison is a senior in political science and global studies.
HER VIEW
Political parties are more polarized than ever before By MAGGIE SMITH
Contributing Columnist
The idea of a “moderate” Democrat or Republican has been on the decline for several years now and is only getting worse. Think back to the 2016 presidential election. The now President Donald Trump raked in support from many voters considered to be on the far right, leaving many moderate Republicans stuck between a rock and a hard place — choosing to vote for their party’s candidate, who many believed wasn’t a good representative of the Republican Party, or for Hillary Clinton.
On the other side of the political aisle, Sen. Bernie Sanders, a self-proclaimed socialist, took the Democratic party by storm, and if it had not been for the Democratic National Committee’s establishment-preserving superdelegates, he very well could have won the Democratic primary. Now, fast forward to the 2018 primary election, and this party polarization has only gotten worse. The senatorial election between Roy Moore and Doug Jones is a prime example of this. After all of the accusations against Moore, there were still many people who chose to vote for
him for the sole reason that he is a Republican, and the Republican voters who chose not to vote for him were, in many cases, accused of not being “real Republicans.” And then, of course, there’s Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, the newly elected representative and Democratic superstar from New York. Her proposed Green New Deal is one of the most liberal legislation proposals our country has ever seen — so liberal, in fact, that many in her own party don’t even support it. And now, the Democrats that do not fully support the Green New Deal are deemed as being not a “real Democrat.”
OPINION PAGE POLICIES The Auburn Plainsman welcomes letters from students, as well as faculty, administrators, alumni and those not affiliated with the University. Letters must be submitted to editor@theplainsman.com before 4:30 p.m. on Friday for publication. Letters must include the author’s name, address and phone number for verification. Submission may be edited for grammar, style and length. Please submit no more than 600 words.
COLUMNS & EDITORIALS The opinions of The Auburn Plainsman staff are restricted to these pages. This editorial is the majority opinion of the Editorial Board and is the official opinion of the newspaper. The opinions expressed in columns and letters represent the views and opinions of their individual authors. These opinions do not necessarily reflect the Auburn University student body, faculty, administration or Board of Trustees.
I would be willing to bet that there are few people who believe abortion should be illegal in all cases or that abortion should have zero regulations. But, because both parties are continuing to move further to the right and left, it seems that only the more extreme opinions are acceptable for the parties. In order for candidates on both sides of the aisle to get elected, they must come to the realization that they must at least be accepting of the people who do not fully agree with all the principles of their parties. Maggie Smith is a junior in agricultural communications.
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CONTACT
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
These kinds of accusations of not being a true party member are very harmful for America. Even though it may benefit those who are on the far left or right, everyone in between is left out in the cold. Since when is it not OK to not fully agree with everything on a party platform? What if a person believes abortion should be legal but should be regulated after the first trimester? Well, he or she most likely won’t be accepted by either party. This sort of intolerance for opinions that are not entirely conservative nor liberal is toxic for both parties.
CHIP BROWNLEE
MIKAYLA BURNS
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CAMPUS
ACCESSIBILITY
FILE PHOTO
Accessibility signs outside of Tichenor Hall on Thursday, Jan. 11, 2018, in Auburn, Ala.
How Auburn meets accessibility needs By HANNAH LESTER Campus Writer
When students are walking from class to class, most won’t think about what type of door handle their classroom will have or if there will be an entrance they can use. Students who are in a wheelchair or have accessibility needs, however, must regularly think about these daily activities. Through the Americans with Disabilities Act, Auburn University is required to make campus accessible and accommodate the needs of all its students. However, in some buildings, such as Mary Martin Hall and Comer Hall, students are out of luck. Comer has no elevator to reach the second or third floors, and this presents issues for some students. In order to receive full accommodations, students must meet with the Office of Accessibility and determine what their individual needs are and how the office can help them. Barclay Bentley, assistant director for the Office of Accessibility, said most of the issues that arise are finding housing for students and making sure they have a way to get to campus. “If they are incoming as a freshman, and they’re going to live on campus, then we’re definitely going to work with housing and try to make sure they get their dorm set up like they need,” Bentley said. There are over 80 on-campus dorms scattered across the University that are accessible to all students. Additionally,
there are ways to help students who live off campus with transportation and navigation. “All Tiger Transit buses have an accessible lift on the back end, so if they notify Tiger Transit that they need a ride, the driver can get off the bus, let them up, get on the ramp, put them in the back of the bus, bring them to campus, drop them off, and they can go to class like everybody else,” Bentley said. Despite all of the improvements Auburn strives toward and the work that accessibility does, problems still arise. Zach Dickey, freshman in public administration, navigates campus using a manual wheelchair. Because of his spinal muscular atrophy, Dickey has been using his chair since he was 12 years old. Before moving to Auburn, Dickey met with the Office of Accessibility to go over what accommodations he needed to help him navigate campus and its difficulties. In order to make it easier to enter his building, Dickey asked to have an automatic door installed, but it took over half a semester to complete. Addressing the issue of buildings not accessible to students, such as Comer, Bentley said that the Office of Accessibility will work with the Office of the Registrar to see if they can get classes moved. “We’re not going to force a student to completely change their schedule if we don’t have to,” Bentley said. “If we can just move that whole group from one room to a different room and nothing else changes that’s an easy fix — because nobody has
to change their schedule — everybody just goes to a different building.” Dickey said he has not come across this problem personally and has not found buildings he cannot enter. “Often times, I just have to enter in a different way than other students,” Dickey said. “The best fix to this would be better signage toward accessible entrances.” Bentley said they work with students to meet their needs if the student will just approach them with their concerns. “I’ve seen the smallest athletic wheelchair whip through these different corners,” Bentley said. “I’ve seen somebody in a big power wheelchair with a sip and puff operating device navigate, as well. So if you fall somewhere between that range, you’re going to be able to navigate the campus.” Dickey is also a member of the Auburn Wheelchair Basketball team, which is connected with the Office of Accessibility. While Dickey believes Auburn has made great strides, there are still things he would like to see improved upon. Dickey said she would love to see additional funding set aside for a women’s wheelchair basketball team and in the future other adaptive sports. “Auburn is home to some amazing women wheelchair basketball players, but right now, they have to play on the men’s team instead of playing in the women’s division,” Dickey said. “Also, if Auburn added women’s wheelchair basketball and other adaptive sports, it would give us Tigers even more opportunities to beat Bama.”
AGRICULTURE
College of Agriculture to open new poultry science center By ABBY CUNNINGHAM Campus Writer
Auburn is continuing to solidify itself as a leader in the poultry industry. On April 10, the Charles C. Miller Jr. Poultry Education and Research Center will cut the ribbon for its fifth and newest building. The first building constructed for the Miller Center was the feed mill, which opened in 2012. Phase one officially began in 2016 with the construction of three additional buildings, which included two research buildings and the National Poultry Technology Center Building. “It’s a place where students can get experience working in all facets of the poultry industry,” said Paul Patterson, dean of the College of Agriculture. Auburn plays a prominent role in the rapidly growing field of poultry science in Alabama. According to Patterson, the poultry industry is the largest agricultural sector in Alabama, and Alabama ranks as the second-largest poultry producer in the nation. “We are training our students to be leaders in this industry,” said Donald Conner, head of the department of poultry science. “We are doing research to address key issues in the industry and continuing education to make sure that the people who work in the industry have the latest information and knowledge.” The new administration and education building strives to help students excel in the growing poultry industry. “These new buildings are very modern, state of the art,” Conner said. “They’re designed to enhance teaching. The pieces of equipment we will be working with are very accessible, and there’s extra space to enhance teaching. So, all of our facilities were designed with the student in mind.”
Patterson said there are many aspects of the new administration and education building that will help students learn all they can about the industry in Alabama. Firstly, the building is equipped with new classrooms and conference rooms by students for courses and industry workshops. The building also provides office space for the farm managers. According to Patterson, this building will serve as a gateway to the research farm. “Research with animals today is conducted in biosecure areas, so you have to go through a special access area to get to the entire farm,” Patterson said. “On our research farms, we give our students the opportunities to work on the farms so students will have to go through that biosecure area. There’s a place where students can gather and learn within the biosecure area as well.” The Miller Center has a lot planned for the next couple of years. “In the next two years, there will be a tremendous expansion of the center,” Conner said. “We’ve got five facilities now, so in the next two years we will build a very large processing plant and about 14 additional buildings.” Patterson said the Miller Center has broken ground on their processing plant and plans on building a hatchery, chamber facility, numerous support buildings, other research buildings where chickens will be reared for research and a laboratory where they can examine birds in student classes. “These facilities will be the best facilities in the nation, if not the world,” Patterson said. “It’s an opportunity for Auburn University to differentiate itself from other institutions. The poultry industry is the largest agricultural sector in Alabama, so this is the right project at the right time at the right place.”
CONTRIBUTED BY COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE
Students work in a poultry science lab at Auburn University.
THURSDAY, MARCH 28, 2019
The Auburn Plainsman
PAGE 5
SPOTLIGHT
Always part of the Auburn Family Honors adviser employed by the school she once attended By HANNAH LESTER Campus Writer
Yvette Stone sits in her office in Cater Hall with windows that look out over The Quad and the tours that leave the Quad Center. Students pass back and forth, and Stone reminisces about the years she was once in their shoes. Stone graduated from Auburn in 2009 with an undergraduate degree in history. Unlike many Auburn students, Stone did not apply to Auburn with the lifelong dream of being a Tiger. She initially did not want to attend a large school, but as she put it, “Somehow, Auburn pulls you in.” When Stone finished her undergraduate degree, her professors and advisers encouraged her to apply for a master’s degree. While she applied to a lot of schools, ultimately, Auburn was the final choice. While pursuing her master’s, Stone was an academic tutor in the athletic department and found she had a passion for working with students. Following the completion of her master’s, Stone decided to pursue a career as an academic adviser. With an offer on the table at South Alabama, Stone and her husband decided to move to the coast. “It was very different for me to go and work for another university, particular another university that was not part of the SEC,” Stone said. “And so, how much different the student body was, their perspective about things and, you know, that Auburn Family, like it becomes very apparent when you’re on a different campus.” After three-and-a-half years, in September 2018, Stone moved back to Auburn with her husband to be an academic adviser in the Honors College at the University she once attended. “The campus itself has changed dramatically,” Stone said. “I like to laugh because the Haley Center was my kind of zone for Liberal Arts, and that’s still the same. But the
rest of the campus is crazy, and I think just the growth of the University and then the campus as a whole and all of the construction that’s always going on, you can see, and it’s much more evident now that I’m coming back, like how much bigger Auburn is getting.” Working as an academic adviser gives Stone the opportunity to share what she learned as a student at Auburn. “I majored in something that I really loved to do, had no idea what I was going to do with that, but you figure that out as it goes,” Stone said. “And so working with students to go through that same process is really fun for me.” Part of her job, however, is knowing when not to intervene. Students have to make their own choices, and Stone said she is a sounding board and resource for students. “It can be frustrating because, especially coming from being an Auburn student myself, it’s like I want to give you all this knowledge that I had, but I got to step back a little bit,” Stone said. Stone said working for Auburn gives her pride because it was the school she attended. Because of this rare position, Stone can really relate to the students. Recently, Stone spoke to a history major who was taking one of the same professors that she had just a few years ago. Having graduated in 2009 and earned her master’s shortly thereafter, Stone’s love for The Loveliest Village on the Plains has not waned. “The parts about Auburn that I really, really loved when I was a student, it’s still the same,” Stone said. “So kind of the large-SEC-school feel with the small town kind of, that’s the fun part. And that’s ultimately why I chose Auburn because it is big, and you get all the fun stuff that comes with attending a large SEC school and all the cool stuff that comes with that, but you don’t feel overwhelmed by it.”
ORGANIZATIONS
CONTRIBUTED BY AUBURN UNIVERSITY
SCHOLARSHIPS
How AUSOM works By KAYLA KELLY Campus Writer
VIA SNAPCHAT
A screenshot shows fliers that were circulated, attacking Auburn’s Chinese Student Organization.
Fliers attack Chinese Student Org. By DREW DAWS Campus Writer
Fliers recently circulated around various parts of the community and campus suggest that Chinese students do not support the Chinese Student Organization. The fliers, which read, “All the Chinese Students Hate Chinese Student Organization,” were found at locations such as Tiger Transit stops and apartments including The Connection. The flier called for the CSO to leave the University. Wei Yi is the interim president of the CSO. He and other members of the organization are working to discover who created the fliers and why. “We all feel very shocked,” he said. “I think currently the University and the police [division] are conducting an investigation and trying to figure out what is going on. We have not received any further information from them.” Students within the organization have also felt shock and confusion caused by the fliers. “Some students asked, ‘We are trying to do something for the community; why are we getting such hate, or why (do) such hate signs happen?’” Yi said. Yuying “Valerie” Liu, sophomore in communications and assistant to the CSO, said the organization respects other people’s opinions. “From the Chinese student perspective, it is not good,” she said. “We respect others’ perspectives, but we want to resolve this and also decrease its influence.” While this is a serious issue, Liu does not want it to be a defining factor of the organization. “Chinese people continue to come to the University,” she said. ”A lot of the freshman are confused and wonder what is going on.” Carolyn Fitzgerald serves as the undergraduate adviser for Asian Studies, Chinese. She hopes the community can come together and be supportive and respectful of everyone on campus. “I really hope that people of all nationalities can get along with and respect one another,” she said. “CSO has made many efforts to support Chinese cultural events and education about Chinese culture on campus, and
their hard work is sincerely appreciated by many faculty and students.” There are multiple channels people can utilize to express their views, Yi said. Circulating fliers is one of the least effective. “If you have a problem or opinion, our organization is welcome to any feedback or suggestions,” he said. “We would like to be able to communicate to solve any problem.” The organization is working to decrease the pressure felt by its members, Yi added. He wants to encourage students to remember the real reason for being at the University. “We want everyone to stay calm and to remember that we are here to study,” he said. “We are just trying to make some type of contribution to the community.” In May 2017, The New York Times published an article regarding the influence the Chinese government holds over many Chinese student organizations in the U.S. However, Yi said that is not the case at Auburn. “We are a non-political organization,” he said. “We have never promoted any government agenda or attempted to curb or suppress any speeches as we fully support freedom of speech as well as freedom of academia.” Instead, the CSO works to bring diversity to campus and bring culture from the East to campus, he said. “We strive to build a bridge between the international students and local community, while also helping relieve students of the homesickness they may be experiencing,” Yi said. The CSO holds several events throughout the year to bring international and local students together, he said. For the most part, the Chinese community is supportive of the organization. “This semester is our Chinese New Year,” Yi said. “We actually brought in a new movie to the local AMC so students will be able to enjoy the same movies as their families overseas. In one weekend, they sold over 1,000 tickets for that movie. The students actually try to support our activities.” The CSO also holds an autumn and spring gala. Within a four-hour span, they sold 400 tickets for the spring gala, he said. “It is fact, they support us by their actions,” Yi said.
Each year, Auburn University opens the Auburn University Scholarship Opportunity Manager, also known as the AUSOM scholarship portal, to incoming and current students. These scholarships offer funds for all students and areas of interest, ranging from music and band, ROTC, athletics, veterans, inclusion and diversity and many others. The application is open to all current students as well as any prospective or incoming students. With deadlines on Dec. 1, 2018, for incoming students and Feb. 1, 2019, for current students, turning in all required documents needs to be completed to be a possible award recipient. With the application being completely online, supplemental essays, transcripts and a resume are all required materials needed to fulfill the application. “Criteria for consideration varies by scholarship, but academic achievement, financial need, geographic location, city, county or state of residence or high school or 2-year institution attended and academic major or program of study are the most common criteria,” said Velda Rooker, interim dean of the Office of Enrollment Services. “Leadership, student involvement, and work experience may also be considered.” Academic achievement and academic standards are determined by a combination of test scores and GPA. “A minimum test score is frequently included in the criteria within the scholarship agreement when incoming freshmen may receive consideration,” Rooker said. “A minimum GPA for consideration is also frequently stated in the agreement. When a minimum GPA is included, high school GPA is considered for incoming freshmen, cumulative transfer GPA is considered for incoming transfer students and cumulative, unadjusted Auburn GPA is considered for current Auburn students.” But minimum standards for test scores are not always required, and the alternative standards are generally determined by the selection committees. “When a minimum GPA is not stated, academic excellence, academic achievement or good aca-
demic standing as determined by the selection committee are used instead,” Rooker said. “The Office of University Scholarships works with the appropriate unit to determine what minimum GPA they define as academic excellence, academic achievement or good academic standing.” Through the process, students will see that everyone is allowed to submit a general scholarship application. This application asks questions about what the student is interested in participating in, if they are an athlete, veteran dependent and much more so that Auburn’s database can match other scholarships to the student in order of completion. These additional scholarships encompass students who are participating in study abroad programs, particular majors and colleges, hobbies, extracurricular activities, Greek Life, Alabama residents and more. “A higher percentage of scholarships are available to Alabama residents because many scholarship donors reside in Alabama and want to provide an opportunity for Alabama residents,” Rooker said. “A number of scholarships give equal consideration to residents and non-residents, and a number of scholarships give consideration exclusively to non-residents.” There is also a part of the scholarship application that features recommended opportunities. These are specific to individual scholarships, and additional information is generally required for further information. For current students enrolled at Auburn, it is important to note that the students’ high school grade-point average and standardized test scores are not reviewed for student scholarship consideration. However, when academic achievement is a criterion, the cumulative, unadjusted Auburn GPA through fall term of the current academic year is reviewed for current student scholarship consideration, Rooker said. On average, approximately 60 percent of freshmen are awarded a scholarship each year. For 2017-18, 2,785 of the 4,836 incoming freshmen who enrolled, 58 percent, received a scholarship. For the 2017-18 academic year, 9,182 total students were awarded on 1,963 scholarship accounts. Of those 1,963 scholarship accounts, 1,922 are donor funded.
community THURSDAY, MARCH 28, 2019
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COMMUNITY
SUSTAINABILITY
Man encourages renewable energy locally By CORY BLACKMON Community Reporter
Today, people all over the world are trying to find ways to be clean and sustainable. One Auburn citizen is doing his best to help the environment by relying on solar power as a source of renewable energy. Allen Smith, who received a doctorate in chemical engineering from Auburn in 2011, has been interested in renewable energy since he was a child and started to consider the possibility of installing solar panels onto his home about 10 years ago. “I looked into solar panels 10 years ago, and at that time, it was basically impossible to do it,” Smith said. “The way Alabama Power had it structured because they owned the grid, so the only way to use solar was to either have things stand alone connect to the panels or take yourself completely off the grid, and I didn’t want to do either of those things.” Smith let the idea sit in the back of his head for six more years while the technology for solar energy conversion became more readily available. Then, in the summer four years ago, his air conditioner units gave out, prompting him to once again look into re-
newable energy. “I needed to replace both my units, and one of the vendors, Lennox, offers their higher-end systems with some of the electronic hardware installed on them to connect the panels into your house,” Smith said. After talking with Lennox, Smith realized he needed to talk with Alabama Power and obtain a permit to allow him to use the panels on the grid as a separate source of power. “I contacted Alabama Power, and they said, ‘Oh, yeah you can do it,’” Smith said. “They sent me some documents I needed to fill out, so I filled out all the preliminary documents and sent them in.” Smith said after filling out the documents and sending them, he didn’t receive a response from
Alabama Power for about six months. “I kind of got the run around with them for a little bit, but eventually, I got all the permitting done,” Smith said. From that point on, Smith was certified as a separate source of power on the grid since he would be producing his own power from the panels. “They are treating me essentially as a competitor, wanting to use their grid,” Smith said. “From a business standpoint, I kind of understand that, but I wish they would see it as an opportunity to provide solar panels to people.” Once all the paperwork was completed, Smith had Lennox come out to install the new air conditioner units. With the new units, Smith also had a new En-
POLICE
phase router installed, which would enable him to monitor the output of power from the solar panels. The new router measures both the power Smith is buying from Alabama Power and the power he generates himself. All of the information can be viewed on his laptop, which sends the data directly from the panels to his computer. “I can access all the data since the day we turned it on,” Smith said. “Every 15 minutes it gets data so I can look and see how it’s doing.” Smith said he wasn’t expecting to make any money off of the panels, but he wanted to know more about how they worked and about the installation process. “My math said it would take 12 years to pay off the cost of the panels,” Smith said. “The expected life of the panels is somewhere around 20 years, so I’m not going to make money on those things.” Smith said he hopes his own panels will spark interest in the people around him about renewable energy. “In the U.S., the way that things work is that the market drives things,” Smith said. “If you buy something, you are encouraging the market to move in that direction.”
ACCESSIBILITY
Auburn committed to accessible sidewalks By TIM NAIL Community Writer
OLIVIA WILKES / VIDEOGRAPHER
Auburn Police Division arrives on the scene of an incident near campus.
How Auburn Police became campus police By TIM NAIL Community Writer
Distinguished by their black-andwhite colors and eagle-badge emblem on the sides, the City of Auburn police division patrol cars are a signature sight not only around town, but also around campus. Auburn University had its own police force until 2004 when the city took over operation. Many institutions around the country maintain college-contracted security teams to handle policing situations. Talks of combining the two entities began when the former University police and the city police observed conflicts when it came to responding to incidents on the border between the two groups. Citing similar systems that exist with colleges such as Stanford University and a number of institutions in Idaho, Paul Register, City of Auburn police chief, said the structure of Auburn’s policing is the glue that keeps the system together. “Nobody does it quite like we do it,” Register said. “I don’t think that in the other locations they’re as joined at the hip as our operations are. It’s by design that we work the way we do together. Our offices are side by side, the people are back and forth all day.” Auburn University Campus Safety and Security and the city police division work in tandem under one roof on West Magnolia Avenue to ensure the protection of students. With over 1,300 cameras, 39 officers on duty and numerous blue-light emergency call stations throughout campus, the two groups are able to handle situations that occur on the institution’s property or involve a student with maximum efficiency. One example of their cooperation is the AU Alert system. “We have associate directors and myself with cell phones, but there’s an oncall number for our associate directors,” said Campus Safety Executive Director Kelvin King. “It’s a 24 hours a day, seven days a week [number]. That call comes from the supervisor that was on the scene and the assistant chief. Sometimes it’s a conversation between my-
self and Chief Register. It all depends on what the situation is.” Recalling the attempted robbery that resulted in a wounded officer and a murder-suicide, King said police notified him within minutes of when the situation first began. The police division also has the ability to push AU Alert messages directly, such as the presence of an active shooter. In preparation for events on campus that are larger in size or the police and Campus Safety feel will have a more substantial impact, the offices have recruited assistance from external bodies, as well. This has streamlined the process acting as a single police division, Register said. “For game days, we have over a dozen agencies that come work with us, like Montgomery, Opelika and Lee County,” Register said. “I think that gives us consistency in service when we have a big event on campus. Any police department could probably do those things individually but collectively, doing it all from one aspect is the benefit.” Today’s leadership of both Campus Safety and the police division has changed in the 15 years since the two departments began working together closely and operating two police stations on campus in the Campus Safety building and a small substation outside the Student Center near the Tiger Transit office. The student population has also grown in the years since the merger. Register said the merger helped to handle that growth. “The size and scope of the job responds to the enrollment on campus,” Register said. “The enrollment on campus in 2004 is not what it is today. In that 2004 to 2008 window is when cameras first came online at the University. We’ve grown in ways that even the people that promoted the merger probably didn’t envision.” The extensive number of cameras, some of which are located in areas separate from the main campus such as E.W. Shell Fisheries Center and the University Regional Airport, are monitored by
security staff and police in a back room of the Campus Safety building. The cameras are also installed in the bluelight stations around campus. When a phone call is made using an emergency station, a 911 dispatcher answers and speaks from the other end. After hanging up, a security camera displays a live feed of the area surrounding the station that the call came from to Campus Safety and police division employees in the back room to determine who called and what danger they may be in. “If you’re there and you’re indeed in distress, the operator will have your voice on the enhanced 911 system, but we’ll also have camera footage running simultaneously,” King said. Both officials said the cooperation between their departments is not without flaws, but with the ability to share information more freely and quickly. The departments have benefited from the other’s assistance. Performing a welfare check on a student who failed to show up to a number of classes, investigating assaults that take place on or near campus and use of the SWAT team, narcotics division and federal task force agent associated with the police are just some of the resources the police division has to offer the University. “The City of Auburn and Auburn University have adopted this model, and it’s close to being perfect,” King said. “Everything can stand to be improved, but we work every day collectively to ensure that we provide the safest learning environment for the students, faculty and staff to exist in and for all those who visit. The fact that we do it every day with our city partners is what the administration at Auburn University is most proud of.” For Register, it’s about protecting all members of the Auburn community. “The University has given us a task,” Register said. “They’ve said, ‘The task is yours, do the task,’ and they allow us to do the task. I think there’s a lot of transparency there. The University does not tell us how to be the police, they just ask us to protect the students.”
For Auburn pedestrians, walking along city blocks is something most don’t usually think about when considering the paths they use. For pedestrians using assistive devices, such as wheelchairs, some sidewalks can pose challenges. Ensuring sidewalks stay accessible to everyone is part of the city’s commitment to making the community a welcoming environment to all, said David Dorton, director of public affairs for Auburn. Adherence to Americans with Disabilities Act’s protocol is an important city initiative that requires collaboration among several departments such as Public Works and Engineering Services, Dorton said. “On the ADA side, the city has been working over the last few years to evaluate public facilities and rights-of-way to evaluate and improve accessibility as measured by ADA standards,” Dorton said. “We do look at ADA compliance for any new construction, including sidewalks.” Among these standards that Auburn is mandated to support is the Public Rights of Way Accessibility Guidelines. Encompassing codes of both the ADA and Architectural Barriers Act of 1968, a predecessor to the ADA that dictates facilities funded by federal dollars, must include accommodations for the disabled. PROWAG is observed in any situation where a sidewalk must be improved. With the beginnings of some construction projects, sidewalk closures have been necessary to guarantee safety of passersby. Notable examples include the Public Safety Building in progress on North Ross Street and the South College Street Parking Deck. Contractors must notify the city of sidewalk closures for approval ahead of time, Dorton said. “Contractors are required to install signage in accordance with the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices if pedestrian access routes are impacted by construction,” he said. Once the city gives projects the green light to block off sidewalks, the city posts closures on its website, social media pages and eNotifier. Less impactful construction work, such as the renovations to the Thomas Building on the intersection of College Street and Magnolia Avenue results in walkway scaffolding above sidewalks to allow for travel below. Sidewalks act as a vital method of transportation for handicapped individuals. Possibilities of new sidewalks are taken into account as part of the City of Auburn’s master plan, which evaluates conditions of an area, such as school routes, suggestions from residents and missing connections from one active destination to another. “We prioritize sidewalk projects through the biennial budget process and our capital improvement plan,” Dorton said. Existing sidewalks are also included in the capital improvement plan in order to determine the need for repairs. Regularly scheduled inspections are also performed based on complaints submitted to city government. This procedure was added in the last few years as part of an ongoing goal to further updates to Auburn’s ADA transition plan, last fully updated in 2009. The city lists its current transition plan outline as well as the grievance procedure form on its website under “Accessibility” in the “Services” section.
DUBRAY MCNEAL / PHOTOGRAPHER
Sidewalk closed sign sits on South College Street in Auburn, Ala.
THURSDAY, MARCH 28, 2019 SPOTLIGHT
The Auburn Plainsman
PAGE 7
SPORTS
The man behind the curtain Meet Auburn’s newest public affairs employee in charge of neighborhood relations By JACK WEST Community Writer
The City of Auburn felt like it had a communication problem. While city employees were issuing press releases and trying to acclimate to social media, they were also learning that those methods for getting out information weren’t perfect. There was a dysfunction between the citizens of Auburn and their government, said David Dorton, director of public affairs for the city. “Across age groups, word of mouth is really how people tell us that they get their information,” Dorton said. That’s where AJ Harris, the city’s new public affairs neighborhood specialist, stepped in. “That kind of personal interaction that people seek was kind of missing,” Harris said. “So, that’s where I feel like I’m stepping in— to help bridge that gap.” Harris grew up in Auburn and started working with the city government at an early age. In high school, he was a team leader for the Parks and Recreation Department, and even though he had always wanted to be an engineer, he graduated from Auburn University with a degree in public administration in 2013. From there, he was hired by the utility billing office in Auburn, where he set up accounts for the water works board. But Harris was ambitious. He started regularly attending City Council meetings three years ago, just so he could be updated on what was going on in the city. “I was just trying to put my face out there, doing as much as I can on the front end,” Harris said. With that attitude, and a few big ideas for outreach programs, Harris caught the attention of Dorton, who was looking to fill a new position. Having only spent a few months in this position, Harris has already started making a difference in the city. When a new speed bump was recently installed on Carlyle Drive, Harris was knocking on doors in the area, informing people of the coming construction. “We have so much going on, so it’s hard for people to break away to take that time to do human interaction on a regular basis,” Harris said. “I went out there personally and knocked on each door.” While a speed bump being put in may not seem like a huge change, Harris brings a sense of sincerity to his outreach. His other two big ideas include a Citizens Academy and a series of neighborhood conferences. The academy, which is currently scheduled to take place this fall, will take citizens on tours of every department of their local government. “You will go through, touch every department, learn about how the city runs and get a better understanding of how the process works,” Harris said. He wants the neighborhood conferences to be a form of focus group, where councilmembers and city staff can test ideas before presenting them to the city. Harris is also currently working on a master’s degree in public administration at Auburn, which he hopes will help him further his career in public service. Looking ahead, Harris sees himself staying at the local government level. “When you’re dealing with local government, I think we have the most benefit out of any other level of government,” Harris said. “You actually get to see the change and the impact that you make ... I don’t really have the appeal to go to state government right now. I’m a homegrown kid. I love Auburn. I love the fact that when I’m out in the community I can see people that I know, see people that I can influence.” Harris said he didn’t have any current aspirations to work at a state or federal level. “I don’t really have the appeal to go to state government right now,” Harris said. “I’m a homegrown kid. I love Auburn. I love the fact that when I’m out in the community, I can see people that I know, see people that I can influence.” Though his plans are to remain local, He is quite ambitious within Auburn. “My ultimate goal would be (to become) city manager,” he said. He and Dorton are also very much aware of the problems the government is currently facing. Public distrust, a lack of engagement and a general apathy toward local leadership were a few examples Harris cited. “One of the biggest problems is disinformation,” Harris said. “People bring their own truth up as an issue, and my biggest thing is getting out there and educating people on how city government works.” Regardless of those disagreements, Harris remains committed to the idea of good local government. Not only that, but he calls on others to do the same. “If you want to make an impact, we need good, young innovative people in government right now,” Harris said. “If you value impacting your country, there are ways to serve in your community.”
ELIZABETH HURLEY / COMMUNITY EDITOR
The Auburn Raptors eighth grade boys team practices at Lee Scott Academy on March 26, 2019, in Auburn Ala.
Travel basketball picks up in Auburn By ELIZABETH HURLEY Community Editor
The plans for an Auburn-based travel basketball organization began on paper napkins at the table of a local restaurant among a small group of parents trying to give their kids more sports opportunities. One of those parents was Mayor Ron Anders. “What we found was there was an appetite for what we were doing,” Anders said. “Some people would look at that as nothing more than a travel basketball organization, but I looked at it as almost a ministry.” The organization started with few wins and little money, but there was a tremendous amount of support from the community and open hoops in high school gyms. Today, it serves both boys and girls and is the largest youth basketball organization in Alabama. Teams compete in games and tournaments in the spring and summer once recreation and high school games have ended, said AJ Harris, coach of the Raptor’s 6th grade boys team. “There were those kids, especially those kids who were talented and really had that desire to play basketball, that didn’t really have another outlet to kind of enhance their skills,” Harris said. The younger teams participate in the Youth Basketball of America circuit, traveling mostly to in-state games and tournaments. The high school aged teams participate in the Adidas Gauntlet
league where they travel to games and tournaments throughout the Southeast. Costs for these tournaments and other expenses associated with a travel basketball league can become quite costly. The organization charges its players a fee for the season, but costs often exceed that fee, Harris said. “Especially with the Adidas teams, with this being our second year on this circuit, we learned that our fees [don’t] really cover everything we need to do,” Harris said. “So, how can we supplement and not charge these kids thousands of dollars to play on these teams?” That’s why the Raptors will host Run for the Raptors, a 5K and 1-mile fun run, Saturday. They are partnering with a local running organization to put on the race at Dean Road Elementary. Community members can register on the Raptor’s website for $25 or at the event for $35. Aubie and other Auburn notables will be present along with giveaways. “We’re just a basketball organization looking to give some kids the opportunity to play basketball,” Harris said. The Raptors will also host a tournament with teams from around the Southeast April 5 through 7, as well as other fundraising events throughout their season. “I think of it kind of like a ministry,” Harris said. “I think of it as an opportunity to impact some of these young guys and hopefully prepare them to play school ball.”
Now Hiring Delivery Drivers at our Auburn and Opelika locations Must have good driving record and valid DL.
Apply at www.pjunited.info IRELAND DODD / PHOTOGRAPHER
AJ Harris speaks with The Plainsman on March 22, 2019, in Auburn Ala.
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THURSDAY, MARCH 28, 2019
THEPLAINSMAN.COM
MEN’S BASKETBALL
SHOOT YOUR SHOT Brown red hot from 3 heading into first Sweet 16 since ‘03 By JAKE WEESE Sports Writer
It was fitting that on late Saturday night, with most of the country watching, the best player during Auburn’s second-round win over Kansas was Bryce Brown — the same Brown that has helped set the foundation for Auburn to establish itself as a successful basketball program. Freshman year saw Auburn upset No.14 Kentucky at home, but this was a lone bright spot on the season. During his sophomore season, Brown witnessed the first winning record in school history since 2008-09. In the next two seasons, Auburn finished as conference champions — both regular season and tournament — not to mention back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances. And now, a Sweet 16 appearance for the first time since 2003. “I didn’t see myself being in the spotlight that I am in now,” Brown said. “Just like the rest of my teammates, this isn’t what we predicted coming out of high school. “We’ve worked so hard to put ourselves in a position like this, but you know, we just didn’t know that it was this close in the future.” Auburn and Brown proved the doubters wrong as the offense rolled in an 89-75 win over Kansas in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. Brown and the Tigers are ready for the challenge that awaits them in the Sweet 16. “The time is here, and I feel like we’re able to knock off anybody,” Brown said. “We’re as hot as any team in the country right now. We’re not going to stop.” For Brown, he finished with a game-high 25 points after going 7-for-11 from beyond the arc. Brown complemented his hot night with broken records as he set the program record for most 3-pointers in an NCAA Tournament game with seven makes from beyond the arc. Brown credited his successful shooting night on his touch and teammates. “I honestly felt it in warmups, the touch I had, nice soft touch, just releasing it,” Brown said. “My teammates, they hit me in unbelievable spots. They hit me at times that I wasn’t even open and they just really like when I catch and shoot the ball. And that’s what I did, and it just worked out in our favor.” Not only did Brown break the single-game record, but he also has set the record for most threes made by an Auburn player in the NCAA Tournament with nine through the first two rounds. Brown’s 372 career 3-pointers give him sole possession of second most all-time in the SEC. Auburn heads to Kansas City next Friday to play 1-seed UNC for a spot in the Elite Eight. Brown said he’ll continue to push in his final season in an Auburn uniform. “We just want to keep on keeping this thing going,” Brown said. “It’s my senior year. I’m going to give it my all every chance I get. I’m playing for the fans, I’m playing for my family, and I’m playing for Auburn.”
MEN’S BASKETBALL
UNC’s unique challenges By OLIVIA HUSKEY Sports Writer
Going into its first Sweet 16 match up since 2003, fifth-seeded Auburn knows it has a multitude of challenges to overcome if it hopes to seal a ticket to the Elite Eight. The Tigers face off against 1-seed North Carolina on Friday, a team that Auburn head coach Bruce Pearl knows is one of the toughest teams to beat. “Carolina is — They’ve been the No. 1 seed throughout the last four years and eight out of Roy (Williams’) 16 years at North Carolina,” Pearl said. “So they’re on a great run right now. They’ve been in the Final Four more than any other program. They’ve been to the Elite Eight, I believe, 28 times... That all said, North Carolina might be the best team left in the field.” Two of the biggest challenges the Tigers face are their struggles with second-half defense in the tournament thus far, and the height differences between the two teams. In Auburn’s last two tournament games they gave up a combined 98 points in the second half. In the SEC Championship, the Tigers allowed Tennessee to score 41 points in the second half. The Volunteers had scored only 23 points in the first half. Auburn’s game against Kansas caused more concern in that area after the Tigers went into halftime leading 51-25 but came back out in the second and allowed Kansas to score 50. Auburn came out with the 89-75 win, but that score does not match up with the dominance the Tigers showed during the first half of that game. “Our second-half defense was not good in Utah in both games, and that’s going to have to change,” Pearl said. “If we could give up 98 points in the second half against New Mexico State and Kansas, then North Carolina can score 70.” Auburn is well known as one of the smaller teams in the country. On the opposite end of the spectrum is North Carolina as one
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CHALLENGES,
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MADISON OGLETREE / PHOTO EDITOR
Bryce Brown (2) shoots during Auburn Men’s Basketball vs. Florida on Tuesday, Feb. 5, 2019, in Auburn, Ala.
SPORTS
The Auburn Plainsman
THURSDAY, MARCH 28, 2019
PAGE 9
FOOTBALL
WRs, D-line fiery with confidence in spring ball By BEN KEY Sports Writer
As pne of the anchors of a defensive line projected among the best in the nation after returning all starters from last season, Marlon Davidson’s confidence is at an all-time high. “We’re going to show people that we are the best,” Davidson said. “We’re gonna dominate every day like we’re the best. Auburn’s not nothing to play with.” Davidson said Kevin Steele’s unit still prides itself on playing “Stupid D,” a phrase coined by former Tigers defensive back Joshua Holsey. Ever since then, Davidson said, Auburn has been playing with a “different swagger.” That confidence led Auburn to a top-15 defense nationally last season, and with the success, many of its leaders picked up NFL Draft steam. Davidson, like fellow D-line companions Nick Coe and Derrick Brown, did contemplate leaving for the NFL. All three returned. “I came real close,” Davidson said. “I was one foot in and one foot out. But I said I want to ride for my brothers and I wanted to make
sure to finish my degree, because I knew I wasn’t going to come back and do it. I wanted one last dance with my boys, man. I really did. I want to make sure I cherish this one and make sure that this one is the fun one.” Davidson said the season looks as if it will be a fun one, especially with the changes players have noticed in Gus Malzahn. “I really do see a different coach Malzahn,” Davidson said. “It’s kind of hard to explain, because coach Malzahn is not the type of guy that y’all think he is. I seen him listen to Kodak Black one time. He’s really evolving. He’s a different coach.” The changes with Malzahn have also come in more serious matters. Davidson said Malzahn held a team meeting on the first day of spring camp and told both sides of the ball, “This crap is going to be different.” Davidson thinks that could change the culture at Auburn this season. “If you see your head coach show that fire you are always going to want to play for your head coach, no matter what. He has shown that now and we want to play for him. I really do see a new Coach Malzahn. It is kind of hard to explain...he is kind of evolving now. He is a different coach.”
By LOGAN GLOVER Sports Writer
Seth Williams is looking to dominate the SEC this season. The Tuscaloosa product finished his freshman season with 26 receptions for 534 yards for an average of 20.5 yards per catch — good for 10th in the nation and tops in the conference. “The spring is a grind,” Williams said Tuesday. “Fall camp was a grind, but spring, this four practices a week, this being my first spring, it’s a grind. You’ve got to get through it and get your mind right. Having a year under my belt, yeah. I have experience, but that doesn’t mean anything. I’ve got to come with it more. There’s no room for freshman mistakes anymore. I’ve got to be on my stuff at all times.” His work is far from over as Williams returned to practice Monday with the rest of the receiving corps. Williams and the rest of the receivers returning have big shoes to fill with Ryan Davis and Darius Slayton being gone. “It’s different knowing that we don’t have those veteran guys who constant-
ly made an impact three years, four years here,” Williams said. “But knowing we’ve got Eli (Stove), Sal (Cannella), Will (Hastings)... They’ve got words that can help us out, they’ve got experience that can help this group out as well.” With Auburn’s offense rotating quarterbacks Malik Willis, Joey Gatewood, Cord Sandberg and Bo Nix under center searching for its starter, Williams knows the receivers will be counted on to be a consistent and successful fixture of offensive coordinator Kenny Dillingham’s system. “We want to have more than just a run game, we know that our team is run heavy, but we want to have a passing game too,” Williams said. “We want to be like a wide receivers university. The Tigers certainly have the talent to earn that moniker with Williams, Sal Cannella, Eli Stove, Will Hastings, Anthony Schwartz, Shedrick Jackson and Matthew Hill on deck. “When the ball comes, jumping over people’s heads. Moss-ing them,” Williams said of the position group’s goals. “We’ve got the guys who can get up... Things like that, we can change it around here.”
FILE PHOTO
JOSHUA FISHER / PHOTOGRAPHER
Marlon Davidson (3) celebrates after a sack in the second half. Auburn vs Georgia Southern on Saturday, Sep. 2 in Auburn, Ala.
Seth Williams (18) jumps up to make a catch during Auburn Football Vs. Southern Miss Saturday, Sept. 29, in Auburn, Ala.
BASEBALL
Capital City Classic win streak snapped By SUMNER MARTIN Sports Writer
Coming into this season, No. 12 Auburn was 9-1 in its last 10 meetings against Alabama in Montgomery and had won four straight games against its in-state rival. Tuesday night, however, was a different story. The Crimson Tide scored three runs in the eighth inning off of three different Auburn pitchers to break the deadlock and pull away from the Tigers, 6-3, in the 11th annual Capital City Classic in front of a record crowd at Riverwalk Stadium. Tied 3-3 in the eighth, Alabama (20-6, 2-4 SEC) scored the go-ahead run on a Ryan Watson wild pitch, then padded its lead with two more runs on Joe Breaux’s RBI double to the gap in left center field.
“We don’t have (Elliott) Anderson, we don’t have (Cody) Greenhill and I’ve got to start protecting those guys. I can’t get them every night,” Auburn coach Butch Thompson said. “Even against your rival we’ve got to make sure we’re strong for the weekend. Somebody is going to have to start filling that gap and helping us to the finish line.” Freshman Garrett Wade got the start for Auburn but was pulled with a 2-1 deficit after loading the bases and walking a run home in the fourth. Wade, who earned a no decision, gave up four hits, two runs and five walks in 3.2 innings pitched. That gave way to Richard Fitts, who was the lone bright spot on the mound for the Tigers. The Helena, Alabama, native threw a career-high 3.2 scoreless innings and allowed
only three hits with one walk and one strikeout. Edouard Julien scored the first run of the game for the Tigers on an infield single from Conor Davis in the fourth inning to make it 2-1, advancing from second on an errant throw to first by Alabama shortstop Kolby Robinson. Fitts walked a run home with the first man he faced in the fourth inning, extending Alabama’s lead once again, but Rankin Woley’s RBI single in the top of the fifth cut the lead to 3-2. Two innings later, the Tigers came through with a runner in scoring position to tie the game for the second time. Will Holland drew a leadoff walk and stole his 11th base of the season to get into scoring position. With two outs, Edouard Julien then drove
in his 13th run in the last 10 games on a single back up the middle to tie the game, 3-3. Steven Williams and Davis each finished two hits apiece, while Woley and Julien were both 1-for-3 at the plate with one RBI. Fitts started the bottom of the eighth inning with a strikeout, but Alabama was able to get to a trio of fellow Auburn relievers to plate the eventual three runs in the frame. Kyle Gray (1-2) took the loss after facing only one batter, before giving way to Will Morrison and Watson. Auburn (20-5, 4-2 SEC) drops its first Capital City Classic since 2014, while second-year Alabama coach Brad Bohannon, who left Auburn’s staff in 2017 after serving as an assistant under Thompson, gets his first win against the Tigers.
The Auburn Plainsman
THURSDAY, MARCH 28, 2019
PAGE 10
FOOTBALL
Early enrollee entering transfer portal By JAKE WEESE Sports Writer
Freshman defensive back Cam’Ron Kelly announced his departure from Auburn this afternoon via his Twitter. The early enrollee will enter the transfer portal to be closer to home. The consensus four-star recruit from Virginia was one of 16 players to sign with Auburn’s 2019 class. In Kelly’s announcement on Twitter, he cited his mother and sister’s health issues as reasons for entering the transfer portal, saying he’d like to be closer to his family as a reason for the transfer. “As of late, this situation has been heavy on my heart to
the point of affecting my ability to focus and have a peace of mind,” Kelly wrote on Twitter. “Being so far away from my family which I hold so dear to my heart has not been easy, and as a result has been the heaviness on my heart.” “We think this guy is an outstanding athlete, player, a 4.0 student,” said Auburn head coach Gus Malzahn of Kelly on National Signing Day. Kelly went on in his tweet to thank his coaches and teammates. “To Coach Malzahn, I want to personally thank you for everything you have done for my family and I. Your one-on-one talks with me will be something I will never forget, and from
the bottom of my heart I love you and Mrs. Kristi. You guys have been amazing and it was nothing that you did wrong; I am doing what I know is right for my family and I. “To the rest of the staff, I want to thank you and I really appreciate you for everything. Thank you for helping me in ways I can’t explain. “To my teammates, this was one of the hardest decisions of my life, but I know in my heart it was the right decision. I deeply pray that you guys understand the love I have for you all, especially the 8 freshman classmates I came in with. You guys will be in my heart for the rest of my life. God Bless and War Eagle!”
CHALLENGES » From 8
JOSHUA FISHER / PHOTOGRAPHER
Bruce Pearl cheers as Auburn men’s basketball departs for Kansas City, Mo., on March 27, 2019, in Auburn, Ala.
Signature Wraps
of the largest teams. UNC is not just big, though; Williams’ Tar Heels can also keep pace with Pearl’s Tigers in the open floor. For the Tigers, who are known for their three point success, facing off against guards Coby White, who is 6-foot-5; Kenny Williams, 6-foot-4; and Cam Johnson at 6-foot-9 is a challenge for Jared Harper, who stands at 5-foot-11 and Bryce Brown at 6-foot-3. “Kenny Williams is an elite defender,” Pearl said. “He’s either going to have Jared or Bryce. He can’t guard them both, but he’ll have one of them. Great length. Does a great job of taking charges. They will contest shots. “That’s one of the things they do defensively very well because of their length. So yeah, it’ll be a great matchup of guards. Then you’ve got Cam Johnson at 6-9 who is a big guard, and he just shoots over the top of everybody.” Another area the Tar Heels might have an advantage at due to height is the rebound game. Despite the late-season resurgence of big man Austin Wiley, Auburn still struggles in that area, and the way UNC plays on the inside adds another level to that challenge. “They’re plus-10.5 rebound margin,” Pearl said. “We’re about minus-3.5 rebound margin, for a difference of 14. Rebounding has been a problem for us all year—or it’s at least been a challenge.” The Tigers know that changing their style is not the way to earn the win, however. “I don’t have anymore confidence doing it the way we do it other than the fact you have to be who you are,” Pearl said. “You know, we’re not going to go crazy trying to run, but we’re not gonna not play the way we play—because I know we can’t beat them that way. “Whether we can beat them the way we play them, I don’t know, and that’s why we’ll match up and see.”
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LIFESTYLE
FOOD
New cafe to open focuses on friendships, community By ABIGAIL MURPHY Lifestyle Writer
Coffee is a sort of uniting force in American culture, and Krystal Scott, owner of Eden Cafe and pastor of The Mount Church of the Nazarene, is working on using that force to uplift and unite the Auburn community. The restaurant will be located on 1655 South College St.
Eden Cafe is beginning its soft opening April 1 with coffee, muffins, bagels and kolaches. These are pastries usually fruit filled but also can be cheese or meat filled, Scott said. On April 1, the cafe will be giving out free T-shirts to the first 25 customers and later giving out free cups to get 99 cent refills on coffee. Scott said the cafe will slowly begin adding menu items throughout the months and plan for the grand opening to be Aug. 1. By the grand
opening, she is hoping to serve homemade soups and casseroles, carbonated juices, smoothies and focusing more on their organic and local foods. “We want to offer things you cannot find anywhere else in Auburn, that’s the goal,” Scott said. The cafe will be adding arcade games and setting up a game room and reading room as the opening continues. Scott said they have a stage and would like to host some live music as well.
MUSIC
She said they are looking to see what people like throughout the final touches and want to adjust to meet people’s needs and interests. “The whole purpose behind that is creating an environment where people can build friendships, make friends (and) be friends,” Scott said. “It’s a place for everyone in the community to come together.”
» See CAFE, 12
FASHION
High fashion with a lower impact
‘I knew this is what I wanted to do’
By CARRIE JOHNSON Lifestyle Writer
MADISON OGLETREE / PHOTO EDITOR
Ella Langley, sophomore in public relations, poses for a picture on Friday, March 22, 2019, in Auburn, Ala.
Student, singer pursues music professionally By LAUREN PIEPER Lifestyle Writer
Ella Langley’s music career began sitting at the piano singing notes with her grandparents before she could talk. As a college student, she has found success playing gigs in downtown Auburn after her sorority sisters encouraged her to give performing a shot. Now, with a manager, Langley, sophomore in public relations, is opening for recognizable country stars. This has been a dream of hers since she was a little girl. “When I was younger, everyone in my family would sing, especially my grandparents,” Langley said. “I pretty much grew up at their house, so I always played.” When Langley was in the seventh grade, her grandfather passed away, and she picked up his guitar. “I taught myself how to play, and I just practiced playing guitar throughout high school,” she said. “When I graduated high school, I knew this is what I wanted to do.” To get her career started, Langley went out on her own and found places she could perform. “My first gig was in Eclectic, Alabama,” she said. “It’s a really small town.” Langley has taken her small town dreams and turned them in the beginning of a successful career in the music industry. Langley said she always wanted to play
around Auburn, but it was the encouragement from the members of her sorority, Phi Mu, who really pushed her to get out in the community. “All of them were saying to get out and play somewhere,” Langley said. She listened to her sorority sisters’ advice and went downtown in search of gigs. “The very first night, I remember going down to Bourbon, and I had my business card in my back pocket,” Langley said. “I went up to Ryan, who owns Bourbon, and told him, ‘I am a musician, and I really want to play here.’” Langley waited two months before getting the gig at Bourbon Street Bar. “He texted me in April and said ‘Do you want to play this Wednesday?’” she said. “I said yes.” From this, she was able to get more gigs, specifically with 65 South. To date, Langley has performed all over Alabama and branched out to venues in Georgia and Florida. She has opened for Mike Ryan and the Wilson Brothers Band. Langley said she is friends with the Wilson’s Brother band and added it helps to have other musicians behind her to help her along the way. “Musicians who have already had their shot and made it want to take others along with them just because they know how hard this business is,” she said. Langley is expected to perform in a festival in Michigan this summer.
Less than a month ago, Langley said she was booking her own gigs and marketing herself alone. Recently, a manager reached out to her and is making a difference in her career. “My manager was the manager for Kane Brown for a while,” she said. “He reached out to me on Facebook and said, ‘You’re doing everything wrong.’” Langley has seen an increase in the number of people visiting her on social media since he has become her manage and said he has been a positive influence on her social media marketing. “Social media is hard,” she said. “Social media is all this business is.” Langley said her genre of singing is rock-country, and she writes her own songs. “I have a song coming out April 26,” she said. “It’s just a single, and we’ll keep doing singles until I get a bigger fan-base and until I figure out more of the exact direction I’m going to with my music.” Langley’s single will release on Spotify, iTunes and Apple Music. She said music is her career and the music industry is the lifestyle and future she wants for herself. Langley encouraged anyone who wants to be a musician to go for their dreams. “Just get out and do it,” she said. “You can’t be lazy. When you don’t want to, do it. This business is never promised to anyone. It’s hard.”
BUSINESS
Mobile man restores beloved Auburn staple By MADELINE MUSCAT Lifestyle Writer
Auburn’s infamous “shot bus” became a football fan’s passion project. The War Eagle Supper Club bar bus is currently being prepared for a reopening in Mobile, Alabama, by restaurant owner Jim Walker. The War Eagle Supper Club was known as an “Auburn tradition” from 1937 until its last call on Dec. 31, 2015. While he’s not sure when he will have the bus ready, Walker is currently working on the bus’ design with landscape architects that graduated from Auburn. “We’ve been trying to get it done forever,” Walker said. The co-owners of the War
Eagle Supper Club, John Brandt and Mark Cadenhead, known to Walker as Swede and Snapper respectively, have been friends for more than 30 years. Walker first purchased the bar bus from Brandt and Cadenhead for $300 in 1991 after they had told him about plans to scrap the bus entirely. Walker told his friends about the same plan he has today: to reopen it next to his restaurant in Mobile with a full-sized bar. “They looked like I had stolen their puppy,” Walker said. “I was like, ‘Why don’t y’all do it?’” So, the previous owners of the bus kept it and constructed the “Snapper Dome” stage outside of their existing bar and turned the bus into the
shot bus. After the well-known Auburn club closed, Walker bought the bus again in 2016 at an auction. “Everybody my age, which I’m 53, had ridden the bus to the campus,” Walker said. “Everybody down here (in Mobile) has ridden the bus.” The bus shuttled students to and from campus in its prime. People who have enjoyed the bus in the past have not forgotten it either, Walker said. “We’ll do special events and stuff on it,” Walker said. “It’s amazing how many people will ask about it.” The bus is planned to sit stationary in a lot with a cover over it for preservation. Walker wants to paint the building surrounding the area in Au-
burn’s orange and blue. The location of the bar bus will be in the same lot where it sits now, next to Walker’s popup bar, Pinky’s, which is the smallest bar in Alabama. The set up will likely be similar to the original War Eagle Supper Club’s outside area. “We are going to do all the ball games and do it all Auburn colors to try to reproduce the Supper Club feel as much as we can,” Walker said. With an expected capacity of approximately 80 to 100 people, only a limited number of people will be able to enjoy the bus each night. Walker said the bar bus is his passion project and devotees should expect its reopening in the future. “It’s something I’ve always wanted to do,” Walker said.
Rent the Runway, a rentable clothing subscription store, is making waves in the fashion market by offering monthly subscriptions that allow customers to regularly switch up and refresh their wardrobes with new, on-trend styles. Rent the Runway’s most recent goal is to enable its student customers to enjoy an up-to-date wardrobe without spending large amounts of money on individual pieces that will only be worn a handful of times. In an effort to reach that goal, Rent the Runway is currently offering an ongoing 25 percent off discount for all undergraduate and graduate students that will go live on March 28. The discount can be applied to the Update subscription option for Rent the Runway, which is one of two subscription options, and allows subscribers to choose four items from more than 200 top brands to keep and wear each month. At the end of the month, subscribers to the Update subscription can send their four clothing items back and choose new items or they can keep the items for another month. Paige Purvis, senior in apparel merchandising, is a campus coordinator at the University for Rent the Runway and an Update subscriber. “I personally have this subscription, and I love it because it lets me choose everyday items like jeans or a sweater, but also dressier items like a semi-formal dress or a nice handbag and try them out for the whole month,” Purvis said. Purvis said every month she chooses her rentals based on special events she has going on, and she also is able to select special items she would not normally buy, but has a chance to try out with no commitment. The other subscription option, Unlimited, allows subscribers to choose, receive and switch out an unlimited amount of rentals each month. For Rent the Runway, shipping both ways is included in the monthly subscription fee. When it is time for subscribers to return their rentals, they can change out the shipping labels for the pre-printed return labels that are included in the packages. The packages can then be dropped off at the local UPS store or the UPS drop box on Auburn’s campus. Purvis said Rent the Runway is able to make shipping quick and convenient for most of its 10 million subscribers, as it ships to 76 percent of United States zip codes. For many of those women, Rent the Runway has also proven to be a significant money saver. “Instead of paying for an expensive formal dress I will only wear once or a new outfit for a career fair, I can rent one for cheaper, while also being able to stay up-to-date with the latest trends,” Purvis said. “Their collection of designer clothes and accessories allows me to try trends and wild outfits without wasting money on an outfit I will only wear once.” According to Purvis, many fast-fashion companies lead to a significant amount of clothing waste every year. By renting clothes, Rent the Runway subscribers can decrease their impact on clothing waste.
» See RUNWAY, 12
CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
Paige Purvis, senior in apparel merchandising, poses in Rent the Runway gown in Auburn, Ala.
The Auburn Plainsman
THURSDAY, MARCH 28, 2019
CAFE
PAGE 12
RUNWAY
ACTIVITY
» From 11 Through the cafe, Scott said she wants to give back to the community. All of the cafe’s profit will go to supporting the community through a soup kitchen, homeless shelter and partnering with the food bank. The coffee served at the cafe is also with the intention of helping others, Scott said. Dirty Naked Coffee is the coffee served, and the beans are not washed before roasting to give a sweetness and a bolder cup. However, each bean has a story behind it — where it’s coming from and the grower who is being supported with the purchase of the coffee, she said. The name of the cafe alludes to the biblical garden of Eden, and the vision of the cafe was birthed from the church, but it’s for everyone, Scott said. Although right now it is tied to the church, Scott said, she wants to make it a separate entity where it’s a home away from home and a safe place for people to not feel pressured to be anything but who they are. “The purpose of the cafe is for people to build relationships out in the community,” she said. “Not talking about just the church building relationships but the whole community coming together as a people, as a community and building relationships with each other.” Scott said she moved back to Auburn from Florida to start this and bring to life the mission of the cafe. “Life is better when lived together,” she said. Scott said she just wants to create a welcoming and comfortable outlet for Auburn. “A place where you can detox from everyday life,” she said. In the end, it’s about creating a place for the community and giving back to help build up the community, she said. “We want to create an environment where it’s food, friends and fun and coffee,” Scott said.
» From 11
JOSIE WITEK / ILLUSTRATOR
Auburn offers versatility in biking By ABIGAIL MURPHY Lifestyle Writer
There are two main types of biking, said Chandler Purtle, department manager at Mountain High Outfitters, allowing bikers to choose the activity they want. The two types are road biking, which focuses on biking as a mode of transportation, and mountain biking, which focuses on biking as more of a sport or activity. Bill Perry is a cyclist instructor at the Auburn University Recreation and Wellness Center and got into biking after hurting his knees in track during high school. When his doctor told him it would benefit him to cross train, Perry started getting into biking. Once his kids got interested in biking, Perry started doing mountain biking more since he preferred them practicing on a trail rather than a road. “That became more of a hobby as well as just a great way to get outdoors and enjoy the active lifestyle,” Perry said. Perry said he, along with other volunteer coaches, work together to coach the mountain biking teams at Auburn High School, Opelika High School and Smith Station High School as well as a composite team of Lee County students. He said he enjoys his instructing and teaching work that encourages people to have that adventurous outdoor lifestyle. He also enjoys mountain biking races.
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Perry said he and his son recently enjoyed completing the Red Bull Defiance in New Zealand which involved mountain biking, kayaking, running, rappelling and skeet shooting. “Biking is freedom,” Perry said. As far as biking in college, Perry recommends using Auburn Outdoors for its bike rentals and cycling classes at the Rec. Perry said there is also an app called Strava that maps out some good routes around the area including some at Chewacla State Park. When first beginning to pick up biking, he said to try not to increase your activity more than 10 percent a week as a way to make sure not to overdo it. “I encourage everybody to get out and explore and have an adventurous spirit,” Perry said. Purtle also encouraged those interested to start biking and said anyone can get a starter bike and see how much they like it or have an affinity for it. He said when trying out biking, especially mountain biking, beware of the technique and of your surroundings. The hills of campus can also be an enjoyable ride, Purtle said. However, he said biking as a form of transportation can be an enjoyable way to get places. “I like it because you actually experience your commute more,” Purtle said. To get more out of the roadside biking experience, try different routes and don’t be afraid to take the longer one, Purtle said.
Purvis said Rent the Runway is transforming the way modern women get dressed and is disrupting the $1.7 trillion fashion industry by empowering women to rent rather than buy clothing. Subscribers are also utilizing the Unlimited subscription for everyday use, wearing Rent the Runway an average of more than 120 days each year. The average Unlimited subscriber also wears 15 different brands during the first 90 days of using Unlimited, and 98 percent of customers regularly try out brands they have never worn before, according to the website. Rent the Runway was founded in 2009 with a vision to build the “closet in the cloud,” intending for women everywhere to eventually have a subscription to fashion. The company aims to make apparel and accessories an indispensable utility, while also empowering women to feel their best every day. Rent the Runway carries apparel and accessories by more than 600 designer partners, a number that doubled over the past two years, with outfit options appropriate for work, weekends and special occasions. “Rent the Runway helps me feel confident for any event I have,” Purvis said. “Instead of spending hundreds of dollars keeping my wardrobe up to date, I can subscribe to Rent the Runway Update and try even nicer pieces than I would not normally buy.” Currently, Rent the Runway has 10 million members and 1,200 employees, a group primarily comprised of women with 73 percent of the employees being female. The company has built inhouse proprietary technology and a custom designed reverse logistics operation that is used to fuel the rapidly growing business and retail stores of the future. JOSHUA FISHER / PHOTOGRAPHER
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Los Angeles Times Daily Crossword Puzzle Edited by Rich Norris and Joyce Nichols Lewis
ACROSS 1 Ancient gathering place 5 Warm place to chill 11 “Waterfalls” pop trio 14 Medical breakthrough 15 Revolt 16 “That looks good!” 17 Dict. label 18 Not as nice 19 Sine __ non 20 Impressive vocal quality 22 Spew 24 Have a feeling 25 Reason for a warm eye compress 26 Race town near Windsor Castle 29 Information to process 32 “Sounds fair” 33 Berth place 36 Greek cross 37 ChapStick target 38 Partners of tails ... and what’s found in the answers to starred clues 39 Doctrine suffix 40 The Stratford, in TV’s “Newhart” 41 Pupil surrounder 42 Frost lines? 43 Flatters 45 Masculine 46 Cheats, with “off” 47 “__ always makes it better”: Anne Burrell 50 Throat dangler 52 Aboveboard 56 Solder component 57 Caviar source 59 Morsel on a shellfish platter 60 Anti-apartheid org. 61 Landfall for Noah 62 Word before and after sweet 63 Part of a snarky laugh 64 Approvals 65 Terminal info
DOWN 1 Emotional trauma consequence 2 Skin cream holder 3 Poetic spheres 4 Spray starch dispenser 5 Likely to err, eventually? 6 Hits theaters 7 Vestige 8 Spork prong 9 Finish, with “up” 10 *Italian pistols 11 *A skeptic’s wont 12 __-garou: werewolf 13 Facebook option 21 Safety feature at a trapeze school 23 Scandinavian rug 25 Seasonal visitor 26 Stage surprise 27 River with 37 bridges in Paris 28 *Quaker Oats cereal with a naval officer on the box 29 Retro phone part 30 Conference room stand 31 Tot’s ache source
33 Social customs 34 Imitates 35 Letter before sigma 38 *The Sunshine Skyway Bridge spans it 42 Grand style 44 Safflower __ 45 Cut grass 47 Gets fuzzy 48 Diet for some aquarium fish
49 Paint layers 50 Arches National Park state 51 Hollywood crosser 52 “Oh dear!” 53 Ink smudge 54 Revered Tibetan 55 Farm females 58 “Blood hath been shed __ now”: Macbeth
ANSWER TO PREVIOUS PUZZLE:
By Timothy Schenck ©2019 Tribune Content Agency, LLC
03/28/19
03/28/19