The Auburn Plainsman 04.30.15

Graduation special section inside

The Auburn Plainsman A Spirit That Is Not Afraid Thursday, April 30, 2015 Vol. 121, Issue 38, 36 Pages

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

labor

Online

Unionized ThePlainsman.com GALLERY: Auburn softball sweeps Arkansas 10-2 inside campus

Kris sims / multimedia editor

Tiger Transit drivers made the first step toward forming a union.

Tiger Transit drivers vote to join International Teamsters Union

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Cater Hall to undergo changes community

Page A6

Addiction facility helps with faith

Haley Lanigan Campus Writer

The Tiger Transit drivers of Auburn University have voted to unionize in attempt to get more affordable health care, higher wages and respect in the workplace.

Transit drivers voted April 10, 74 in favor of unionizing, and 22 opposed.

The workers will be joining the International Brotherhood of Teamsters at the 612 location in Birmingham. According to George Yarbrough, business agent with Teamsters in Birmingham, the company represents drivers all over Alabama and has been hearing from the bus drivers of Auburn for more than a year.

“We had started getting calls from

“

Basically, some of their concerns were health care and wanting a good healthcare program that was less expensive, and of course, their wages and respect in their workplace.”

—George Yarbrough

business agent with teamsters in birmingham

these employees when they were working for Groome Transportation several years ago, then, when they made the switch to First Transit, we started getting calls again that they were wanting to organize and form a union in their workplace,” Yarbrough said.

Yarbrough was present for the vote

that decided whether the Tiger Transit workers would unionize and said a large amount of the workers were in favor.

“I went to meetings with them to see how much of the board was there, and there was quite a bit ... it was an overwhelming majority of them wanting to form a union,” Yarbrough said.

Yarbrough discussed the reasons behind why these Tiger Transit drivers felt the need to form a union.

“Basically, some of their concerns were health care and wanting a good health care program that was less expensive, and, of course, their wages and respect in their workplace,” Yarbrough said.

Rex Huffman, manager of Tiger Transit of Auburn University, said the contract will be worked out with First Transit, the company that hires the drivers and negotiates their pay.

“The drivers don’t work for the University, they work for First Transit,” Huffman said. “If and when they do

» See Union a2

Construction

sports

New performing arts center planned for campus Haley Lanigan Campus Writer

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Meet the Helmet Guy intrigue

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Pageants from a male’s perspective index Campus Opinion Community Sports Intrigue

A1 A5 A6 A8 A11

Auburn University received the largest donation it has ever had in its 160year history.

John and Rosemary Brown, both graduates of the University, announced their $57 million donation April 17. Of the donation, $30 million will go toward a student achievement center in the Samuel Ginn College of Engineering and $25 million will go toward a performing arts center. It has not been determined where the remaining $2 million will go.

Jane DiFolco Parker, vice president of development, said this donation has been a long process and the Browns chose carefully what they wanted to give.

“We had several opportunities to present different ideas to them about priority needs at the University,” Parker said. “The student achievement center and the performing arts center were the ideas that most resonated with them.”

Parker explained the motives behind building a new performing arts center.

“All great universities have a performing arts center, and we don’t have one, and a part of the educational experience for students in higher education is for students to not only focus on their

Are you moving to Birmingham?

Ellen Jackson / Photographer

A new performing arts center will allow the department of music to have a larger storage and performance space.

discipline, but also to learn more about the world around them,” Parker said.

Sara Lynn Baird, chair of the department of music, said additional funds would be needed to complete the performing arts center, but this seed donation will get the ball rolling.

Crowne at Grandview

“The plan is to continue raising money to increase the fund, but the importance of a seed gift like that to spur others to give to the same project is extraordinary,” Baird said.

According to Baird, the music department has been short on space for their

Crowne on 10th

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Crowne at Overton Village

Crowne at Cahaba River

performances and has been anticipating a new performing arts center for many years.

“We’ve been talking about it for quite a while,” Baird said. “I’ve been here

» See Arts a2

Campus A2

The Auburn Plainsman

Thursday, April 30, 2015

community

DUI reports The following were arrested and charged with driving under the influence by the Auburn Police Division from April 20-26: April 20 - Melissa Wiley Askew, 44 North Dean Road, 2:36 a.m.

April 23 - Blake Christopher Penter, 19 Wire Road, 2:04 a.m.

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

–Reports provided by the Auburn Department of Public Safety

union » From A1

organize, their contract would be with First Transit.”

Yarbrough said Teamsters and the workers are in the process of organizing a meeting to discuss a new contract.

“We will be setting up meetings to meet with First Transit to try to negotiate a contract with them,” Yarbrough said.

Yarbrough said he believed the Tiger Transit drivers de-

ARTS

» From A1 since 2009. Prior to that time, I think there were some preliminary plans or sketches, but nothing has planned definitively. This is long and coming, but very welcomed by all of the faculty and students.”

Baird said the community has been helpful in accommodating the music students when they were short on space and she was excited to give back to them.

“I think the vision is that this will serve not just the University, but the community,” Baird said.

The performing arts center is currently planned on being located across from the Jule Collins Smith Museum of Fine Art, according to Parker.

“The plan right now is to locate it on South College across from the Jule Collins Smith Museum,” Parker said.

James Killian, director of communications and marketing in the Samuel Ginn College of Engineering, said the new student achievement center would expand many student programmatic support services within the College of Engineering.

served better than what they were currently getting in their occupation.

“These men and women are hardworking individuals and work long hours and provide a service to the students of Auburn, and I’m sure Auburn would want their employees treated with respect and want their wages to be competitive,” Yarbrough said.

The general manager of First Transit in Auburn declined to comment for this story.

“The first order of importance is to enhance our student support activities,” Killian said. “We want to attract the best students from the region and nation to get them to come to Auburn.”

The Student Achievement Center will tentatively house and create space for student recruiting, curriculum advising, career mentoring, tutoring, student projects, an international experience office, a leadership and professional development center, an industrial relations center and a career placement office.

“We have professional organizations and student societies that are always looking for places to meet,” Killian said. “A lot of them meet in departmental areas, which is good, but some of them work across all the disciplines, so we’re trying to find a place where they can meet.”

This donation will contribute to the “Because This is Auburn” campaign that aims to raise $1 billion for Auburn University by 2017. Parker said this is to benefit the student body.

“The entire campaign is about the students,” Parker said.

ellen jackson / photographer

Instruments sitting in storage may be played in a new concert hall.

Voters approve bond issue for new high school Jim Little

Community Editor

A new Auburn High School became one step closer to reality after votes approved a $78 million bond issue from Auburn’s 5-mill fund Tuesday, April 28.

Voters approved the bond issue by an 85 percent margin with the vote total 2,427 in favor and 428 against.

The voter turnout was higher than the turnout for the last two 5-mill referendums in 2009 and 2012.

A 2009 vote to use the 5-mill fund for infrastructure and fire protection improvements had 612 voters total, and a 2012 vote for the construction of Harris Center and renovations to the Frank Brown Center and Gay Street parking lot had 1,274, according to David Dorton, director of Public Affairs for Auburn.

Tuesday’s vote brought out 2,675 voters to the polls.

Auburn City Schools Superintendent Karen DeLano said she was excited about the results.

“We’re very thankful that the City Council would reallocate these funds for this purpose,” DeLano said. “It’s just extra special that the citizens have overwhelmingly given their approval for the project.”

Mayor Bill Ham said his initial reaction to the vote was “very happy.”

“We’ve been talking about this for a long time, and the need for a new high school, repairs to the other schools,” Ham said.

Ham said he was concerned with the fact the 5-mill fund was not a new tax would not translate to voters, but the results of the vote put those concerns to rest.

“Obviously, people understood the need and understood what this 5-mill fund was going to be used for,” Ham said. “It represents currently about $3.8 million annually that will be one piece of the puzzle that will go to reducing the indebtedness borrowed from the schools.”

DeLano said she was also pleased with the high turnout for the special election.

“We intend to be good stewards of this money, and we’ll continue to put things in the paper, and on our website and other types of media to make sure that (the public) will see that we’re being truthful and honest.”

Ham said turnout is always a concern on a single-issue referendum, but he thanked the voters for coming out to support the schools.

“The 5-mill tax, traditionally, has had very good success, but this is the first time we’ve ever asked the voters to utilize it for educational purposes,” Ham said.

DeLano said the next step is to allow

TOP: Contributed by Auburn City Schools bottom: Jim Little / community Editor

Top: The current site plan for the new high school. BOTTOM: School board member Tracie West (Left) and Superintendent Karen DeLano await the voting results in the Auburn City Hall.

contractors to bid for the construction of the new school to allow construction to begin in this summer.

“We’re on a very tight timeline to get in

by August of 2017, so it’s very important that we make all of our timelines,” DeLano said.

The current high school will become the junior high school, and the current junior high will become a single grade school for seventh graders, according to Ham. The new high school will be located in a lot between East University Drive, Glenn

and Samford Avenues.

“I’m happy most of all for the youth of our community,” Ham said. “They’re going to have a place to continue to excel and learn, a new high school and some rehab to our other schools. So a great day for our community.”

Ham said the new school is an absolute necessity for Auburn.

“We can all draw a sigh of relief that the voters have spoken, and we can continue to move forward and get ready to build this new high school,” Ham said

student government

‘It’s On Us’ sexual assault prevention resolution passed Ben Ruffin

Campus Writer

The “It’s On Us” Sexual Assault Prevention resolution was passed at the SGA’s Monday, April 20, meeting.

The resolution will join Auburn’s name with 200 other universities across the United States, six of which are in the SEC, in an effort to educate about and stop sexual assault.

Trey Fields, senator for the College of Liberal Arts, promoted the bill and discussed the goals of the campaign as well as the bill.

“This bill aims to instill a shared responsibility to prevent sexual assault and to provide resources for individuals to recognize and pre-empt the pattern of sexual violence,” Fields said.

The White House and The Center for American Progress launched the campaign in September of 2014.

According to The White House Blog, “studies estimate that one in five women is sexually assaulted while in college. Most often, the act occurs in her freshman or sophomore year, usually by someone she knows. And only 13 percent of rape survivors report their assault. The culture of violence and silence at our college campuses contradicts everything we stand for as a country.”

Fields also discussed the amount of support he had received in the week leading up to the senate vote from his peers and the opportunity this presents for Auburn and the students who take the pledge.

“I know there are a lot of people who are passionate about this and seeing it come to fruition at Auburn and getting the conversation started here,” Fields said. “I think we have a great opportunity to be some of the people who are going to blaze this trail.”

The campaign encourages students to sign a petition and take a pledge promising not be a bystander to sexual violence, but, instead, be a part of the solution.

In addition to the campaign, this bill allows for the establishment of the Green Dot Strategy. According to the Green Dot campaign website, “the model targets all community members as potential bystand-

“

courtsey of white house photographer pete Souza

President Barack Obama speaking in September 2014 during the launch of the “It’s On Us” campaign.

Only 13 percent of rape survivors report their assault.”

—The White House Blog

ers, and seeks to engage them, through awareness, education and skills-practice, in proactive behaviors that establish intolerance of violence as the norm, as well as reactive interventions in high-risk situations- resulting in the ultimate reduction of violence.”

Eric Smith, director of Health Promotion and Wellness Initiatives, said the Green Dot strategy has helped reduce sexual violence drastically at universities that it has been implemented at.

“The Green Dot campaign has actually shown to reduce sexual violence by up to 50 percent on some campuses,” Smith said.

“So imagine if you, yourself or a friend of yours took a survey what that number would be. Now imagine if we could

eliminate that by 50 percent.”

When the Green Dot campaign launched at Auburn a few months ago, Smith said he realized at an implementation group many of the people in the Auburn community had experienced some form of sexual violence.

“When we asked people in the group using iClickers if they had experienced some sort of sexual violence, over 70 percent clicked that they had,” Smith said. “We could reduce that by 50 percent with this campaign.”

Smith said he often reads the conversation on Yik Yak after the University sends out an email notification about a rape or sexual assault to understand what students are thinking.

“It turns into this ‘he said, she said’ battle,” Smith said. “The Green Dot is about acknowledging a third character in that story because, in pretty much every one of the sexual assaults that I’m aware of that have occurred on the campus, there is always a friend nearby who could have pulled somebody out or prevented that from happening.”

Thursday, April 30, 2015

Campus A3

The Auburn Plainsman

HISTORY

Reflecting on an Auburn icon

Cater Hall renovations approved as it nears its 100th birthday C orey W illiams Campus Editor

As Katharine Cooper Cater Hall nears its 100th anniversary, plans for its renovations are underway.

The Auburn University Board of Trustees approved renovations for Cater Hall at its April 17 meeting.

Don King, assistant vice president for facilities management, presented the project to the board.

“Quite honestly, we’ve had some deterioration in the building,” King said.

Jim Carroll, University architect, said the project will be completed in two phases.

“The first phase is primarily exterior work,” Carroll said. “We plan to remove the current aluminum siding from the house.

We’ll be either repairing or replacing the siding, we’ll be replacing windows in the exterior and we’ll build some ramps on the side of the building that is facing the green space.”

Carroll said the first phase is expected to end around the time the fall semester begins and will cost approximately $900,000.

The second phase will focus primarily on the inside of the building, according to Carroll.

“The interior work will mainly be in the wings of the building,” Carroll said. “We

“

Buildings are named for the persons whose lives exemplify the purpose of the building. Katharine Cater’s love and compassion for individuals, her nourishment and support of women, her gaiety and wit permeate every room here.”

—Morris Savage

dedicated katharine cooper cater hall in 1980

won’t be changing a lot in the central area of the building. We will work on the second phase throughout the year or next summer.”

Cater Hall, which now houses the Honors College, Interdisciplinary Studies Degree and Academic Counseling and Advising Center, was built in 1915 by Joseph Hudnut for $17,000.

It served as Auburn University’s original President’s Mansion until the current President’s Mansion was built in 1938.

Dwayne Cox, head of RBD special collections and archives, said the building housed several prominent people.

“It was occupied by several presidents of the University,” Cox said. “President Thach, President Dowell, President Knapp and President Duncan, who was the first president to occupy the new president’s home, all lived there.”

After the transition, it became known as the “Social Center,” and it served as the office and residence for the deans of women.

Cox said the building, which is on the National Register of Historic Places, is named after one of its most notable occupants.

“At some point, the dean of women’s office was put in what is now called Cater Hall,” Cox said. “It was named after Katharine Cooper Cater, who was the dean of women here beginning shortly after World War II.” Cater served as dean of women, social director and dean of student life during her 34 years at Auburn University.

Cater died in 1980, but was inducted into the Alabama Women’s Hall of Fame (AWHF) in 1988.

Cater’s ideas were ahead of her time, according to her AWHF nomination form.

“Dean Cater perceived the worth of each individual and saw women in changing roles,” the form reads. “She urged women to finish their educations. She encouraged women to prepare for careers, to be active politically and to see themselves as equal members of a society that was ever-expanding, exciting and bursting with opportunities.”

Cater, who worked at Auburn University during the feminist movement of the 1960s and 1970s, said she saw changes in the overall mindset of her students in “Cater spends life with students,” a 1977 article written by Martha Tamblyn for The Auburn Plainsman.

“Some years ago, when I first arrived, women didn’t seem so concerned about getting a degree,” Cater said in the article.

“Now women are much more career-oriented. This is what pleases me most about the changes I see in women students at Auburn.”

Former Auburn Trustee Morris Savage dedicated Cater Hall in 1980.

“Buildings are named for persons whose lives exemplify the purpose of the building,” Savage said at the dedication. “Katharine Cater’s love and compassion for individuals, her nourishment and support of women, her gaiety and wit permeate every

CONTRIBUTED BY RBD SPECIAL COLLECTIONS AND ARCHIVES & David Topper / photographer

LEFT: Cater Hall when it was first built in 1915.

RIGHT: Cater Hall as it is in 2015.

Contributed by rbd special collections and archives

TOP: Katharine Cooper Cater rides a tandem bike with James E. Foy, former dean of Student Affairs, in 1967.

BOTTOM: A fire that caused $2,000 worth of smoke and water damage hit Cater Hall in 1975.

Contributed by rbd special colections and archives

Katharine Cooper Cater was inducted into the Alabama Women’s Hall of Fame in 1988.

Campus A4

Thursday, April 30, 2015

The Auburn Plainsman

FAB FINDS at

sustainability

ANGEL’S Auburn named ‘green college’ Sewing Machine Table We Don’t Do Just Antiques

Open Everyday 10-7 • Sundays 1-5 www.angelsantiqueandfleamall.com 900 COLUMBUS PKWY. • OPELIKA, AL 36801

334-745-3221

Rebecca Oliver Campus Writer

Auburn University was named to The Princeton Review’s Guide to 353 Green Colleges.

Auburn was the only university in the state to be included in the list, according to Mike Kensler, director of the Office of Sustainability.

More than 2,000 schools were considered for the guide before the 353 featured schools were selected, according to Kensler.

Kensler said the schools were chosen based on the criteria in a survey compiled by The Princeton Review, which determines the level of focus the universities put on fostering a green environment on their campus, including energy conservation plans, food waste, sustainability academic programs, public transportation efficiency and presence of Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) buildings.

LEED building criteria include energy efficiency, water efficiency, building health-responsible construction, design and management, according to Kensler.

Kensler said buildings are inspected to make sure the building is built to LEED standards. If the building meets those requirements it is designated as either a gold, silver or bronze LEED building.

Director of Academic Sustainability Programs Nannette Chadwick said it is the goal of Academic Sustainability Programs to educate students on sustainability.

“It is our ultimate goal to expose every student to sustainability,” Chadwick said.

The Princeton Review’s naming of Auburn to the 2015 Green Colleges Guide shows excellence in academics,

FILE photo

Auburn University was the only school in Alabama that made the list.

according to Chadwick.

“I think this is wonderful recognition of our sustainability programs,” Chadwick said.

Office of Sustainability communications and outreach manager Jennifer Morse said she feels perspective students considering Auburn, who are concerned with their schools involvement in green initiatives, will be impressed with Auburn’s inclusion in the Guide to Green Colleges.

“If, for example, a student is looking at school in Alabama and Georgia,” Morse said. “They can get the degree they want at the following colleges, but, if they see that Auburn is listed in the Green Guide, they maybe more likely to choose Auburn.”

According to Morse, new projects, such as the Gotcha Bike program and Auburn’s recent application to become a part of a program that designates campuses as bike friendly, are examples of how Auburn is furthering its commitment to sustainable practices.

“Within the next year, these will add to the list of initiatives at Auburn,” Morse said.

Kensler said, in looking ahead to the future years for consideration to The Princeton Review Guide to Green Colleges, Auburn would continue to pursue goals of maintaining its place as one of the greenest colleges in the nation.

“We would like to see enhanced use of green infrastructure and increase our use of renewable energy,” Kensler said.

photo of the week

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Classes begin May 21.

Emily Enfinger / photo editor

Aubie dances with Kappa Alpha Psi members on Haley Concourse during Crush Finals on Monday, April 27.

upcoming events

Friday, May 1

• Classes end • Economics Club features speaker on the Greek Economic Crisis in 215 Tichenor Hall at 3 p.m.

• Retirement reception for Mark Burns in the Hotel at Auburn University and Dixon Conference Center at 5 p.m.

• Bo Bikes Bama silent auction The Hotel at Auburn University and Dixon Conference Center from 6:30 p.m.-9:30 p.m.

Saturday, May 2

Good luck with finals!

• “Color My College” 5k run starts on the Greenspace at 10 a.m.

• AU Singers Spring Concert in Telfair Peet Theatre at 2:30 p.m.

• Bo Bikes Bama will begin at the Auburn Arena at 8 a.m.

Monday, May 4

• NEH Challenge Grant Roundtable Meeting in the Student Center at 11 a.m.

• Final exams begin Are you a campus organization? Send your events to calendar@ThePlainsman.com or submit them to The Plainsman’s online calendar at ThePlainsman.com/calendar to be featured online or in the paper.

Opinion

a5

Thursday, April 30, 2015

ThePlainsman.com

Opinion

our view

Keep the change, Auburn dorms Topic:

Residence halls were scheduled to close on May 8 during finals; university announced change april 29

SOCIAL MEDIA ON THE PLAINS

Responses to “Vice President of Student Affairs writes letter to community about Auburn Airwaves” Brody Roberts “This has been blown way out of proportion. Parents, be responsible and know what band you’re taking your child to see.”

Viewpoint:

keep the later move out date students should not have to worry about finals and moving

Brian Collins

Auburn University’s week of finals begin at 8 a.m. on Monday, May 4, and end Friday, May 8 at 6:30 p.m.

Individual students’ final exam dates are determined by class day and times.

The first residence hall move-out schedule announced halls would close their doors for the semester at 5 p.m. on May 8, meaning all students and their belongings would have to be completely moved out of the dorm rooms by that time.

Graduating students were allowed to stay until May 11 at 9 a.m.

The University sent out an email Wednesday, April 29, announcing a policy change, extending all students’ final checkouts to May 11.

We commend the University for their last-minute change of policy and encourage them to make this policy permanent in future move-out schedules.

Students are required to also clean the rooms and have an inspection. If students fail to do all that is expected of them for their move-out procedure, they could be fined.

It would have been unreasonable to expect students to be packing their belongings, organizing moving trucks and visiting storage units during the times they are supposed to be studying for exams.

Final exams are stressful enough without outside obligations.

Some students have back-to-back exams in one day, others have exams worth 50 percent of their grade and others have exams that determine whether they will be graduating.

The University should continue this wider range of move-out dates in the future to better cater to students who have late finals.

Understandably, many resident advisers (RA) are graduating and they, too, are

“If the contract stipulated PG-13, artists should respect the community, their audience and their contract.”

Albert Vickers “I agree that individuals that chose these artists need to make better choices, but I also believe there needs to be more responsibility placed on the parents. There’s no way that ANYONE that has EVER listened to these artists would be shocked by vulgarity or sexual themes. If you’re not okay with your child going to such a show..... DON’T LET THEM. I understand it’s a “free” event, but as a parent (and presumably an adult), you should be intelligent enough to look into the artist, even if you’ve never heard of them. That’s included in Parenting 101.”

Cal Tinsley kelsey gainer / graphic designer

concerned with their own exams, as well as preparing for graduation, to assist with checkouts during this period.

Graduation also complicates move-out dates because Auburn is filled to the brim with happy parents and families, causing traffic and crowding the campus on Saturday and Sunday.

However, not all RAs are graduating and there should be an acceptable number of staff to assist students who must check out later because of exams.

Likewise, increased traffic should not be a reason to disturb students during their studies.

Students who have final exams on Friday should always be allowed to move out later in the week. They could be required to submit a copy of their exam schedule to prove they need the extra time.

Non-graduating residents could assist with the move out.

The University should continue to do everything within its power to encourage students to perform to the very best of their potential on their final exams and in their classes.

Now, without the pressure to move out

question of the week: Do you think students should have had to move out on May 8?

Yes, Auburn can’t handle students moving out and graduation No, students should focus on finals then moving out I don’t care, I don’t live on campus

Vote online at ThePlainsman.com while studying, students will be able to give their entire focus towards doing the best they can in their classes.

Keep the change, Auburn. Finals are stressful enough on their own. Make final move out after final exams and let students worry about their finals first.

“‘More due diligence, caution and judgement should have been exercised by the parents who chose to bring their children to see musical acts that produce content akin to an R rated move.’ Fixed that up a little bit.”

Response to “LETTER TO THE EDITOR: Response to ‘Left Wondering’” Samantha Nicole Lee “Honestly, I didn’t think a trigger warning was necessary since the title made it pretty clear (at least to me) what the article would discuss. Though I do think the photo on the front cover was kind of tacky, tbh. Also, yes, “survivor” is almost always used instead of “victim” unless the person themselves says otherwise. Another thing: I found it interesting that the accused remained anonymous but Ms. Wright did not. She consented to having her name printed, right? If so, most new outlets specifically state that they are naming the survivor because she (or he) consented to it.

Otherwise, you always keep her (or him) anonymous. This isn’t really something that you HAVE to do, but it might save you some trouble later if readers think you “outed” a survivor without permission.

Finally, why was there no statement as to what happened to Ms. Wright other than a professor “made her feel uncomfortable”? What did he allegedly say or do? You can print that information if you aren’t naming the alleged harasser without having to worry about committing libel. If it’s because you can’t print anything about an ongoing case or because Ms. Wright didn’t feel comfortable releasing that information, next time you might want to mention that as well.”

Responses to “Auburn named ‘green college,’ only University in the state” Miriam Long Elliott “Just another reason to yell, ‘War Eagle’!”

her view

Letter to the Editor: Response to ‘Left Wondering’ article from the 4/23 issue The treatment of the article you wrote about Wright’s sexual harassment case was completely inappropriate.

It is evident that you have not had any training or education in the correct way to discuss and approach the extremely sensitive subject of sexual harassment, assault or misconduct.

First of all, you featured a nearly halfpage photograph depicting an uncomfortable scene of unbalanced power between a man and woman on the front page of the paper.

Not only did you have no regard for how this may affect or trigger survivors of any type of sexual misconduct, but within your title of the article itself you listed no trigger warning for the topics you

discussed.

Additionally, the language you chose to use in your article was condescending and nearly accusatory where it needed to be supportive and accepting.

The correct term to use is not victim, but survivor, as it is our jobs as humans and advocates for the respectful treatment of other humans to empower those who have survived such intense mistreatment.

Additionally, you referred to the perpetrator of sexual misconduct crimes as simply the student.

I cannot wholly blame you for your ignorance on the subject, as Auburn University and the community of Auburn as a whole extremely uneducated and misinformed about many of the issues,

misnomers and stigmas concerning sexual assault.

I do blame you for not doing proper research before publishing this article.

You may have unknowingly caused survivors to be triggered back to their experiences.

I strongly encourage you, your staff and the rest of the Auburn community to get informed about being a more survivorsupportive campus and community.

I also urge the students at Auburn to reject rape culture and the stigmas and stereotypes that surround it.

Chloe Chaudhury is a senior in biochemistry at Auburn University.

Ashtyne Cole

Editor-in-Chief

Jim Little

Maddie Yerant

community

Kris Sims

Managing Editor

Eric Wallace

multimedia

Emily Esleck

Sports

Online

Megan Barkdull

Corey Williams

Opinion

copy

Emily Enfinger Photo

campus

Submissions

Policy

The Auburn Plainsman welcomes letters from students, as well as faculty, administrators, alumni and those not affiliated with the University.

The opinions of The Auburn Plainsman staff are restricted to these pages.

Letters must be submitted before 4:30 p.m. on Monday for publication.

Letters must include the author’s name, address and phone number for verification, though the name of the author may be withheld upon request. Submission may be edited for grammar and/or length. Please submit no more than 400 words.

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.

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Editor-in-Chief - Becky Hardy

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Community Thursday, April 30, 2015

A6 ThePlainsman.com

Community

city

Corner construction affects downtown businesses Rachael Taylor Community Writer

In the summer months, many visitors of Auburn drive through downtown to discover the shops and restaurants. However, this summer will be different.

May 11, the Monday after spring graduation takes place, construction of the downtown plan will start on College Street.

The intersection of Toomer’s Corner will be closed, and, at some point, there will be limited sidewalk space.

This will affect businesses not only on College Street, but businesses on Magnolia Avenue as well.

But, if all goes to plan, downtown Auburn will be transformed when the three-month period of construction is over in August.

“We knew it was going to be done since the trees were dying and they were going to redo the University corner,” said Eric Stamp, owner of Stamp.

Stamp said he understood the goal was to make the new trees and the downtown renovation look like one project.

However, Stamp said it was not until 2-3 months ago he learned the road will be closed and the sidewalks will have limited access.

“As far as I understand it, there will be no driving,” Stamp said.

According to Stamp, the fence blocking off the road will run 5 feet from the shop entrances.

“You have to make a mess to make it good,” said Sarah Brown, owner of Wrapsody.

There will be people who will not be aware of the construction changes, but Brown said actions such as a billboard off of the interstate will help inform people.

Brown said Wrapsody will combat the construction by utilizing their back doors when the front of the store is not accessible.

“We are definitely excited about the final product,” said Cliff Hare, owner of Auburn Art. Hare was on a committee that worked on drawings of the layout of the new downtown plan.

“We have enough info,” Hare said about how informed he is on the changes that will come with the construction.

The Chamber of Commerce will have monthly

“

contributed by the city of auburn

The downtown master plan for summer 2015 will begin construction in the beginning of May and continue until the end of summer.

Fortunately, downtown is thriving. It’s busy, there is not a good time to cram in three months worth of construction.”

—Eric Stamp

owner of downtown auburn business, stamp

meetings with the merchants during construction.

“Downtown Auburn is open,” said Lolly Steiner, president of the Auburn Chamber of Commerce.

Steiner said the Chamber of Commerce has tried to be positive to ensure there are as few possible adverse effects from the construction.

“We’ve had several meetings where they have given everybody … an opportunity to come,” Stamp said.

Stamp said he has seen most of the merchants of downtown Auburn at the Chamber of Com-

merce meetings.

“Fortunately, downtown is thriving,” Stamp said. “It’s busy, there is not a good time to cram in three months worth of construction.”

Stamp said now is a good time because there is money set aside for the project.

Stamp said he will have ads, billboards and a Twitter account to keep people informed about the construction. He and his employees are considering putting yard signs in front of their houses to help promote the store.

The hashtag #CornerConstruction has up-to-

date information on the construction.

While parking in downtown Auburn has always been a concern, ideas are being thrown around to free up parking, as well as ideas to have a shuttle to transport downtown employees to work.

The construction work is being done by Bailey Harris Construction, a local contracting company, according to Stamp.

“That definitely helps to have somebody that knows how important it is to the community and … realizes the impact that it is going to have if things go slowly,” Stamp said.

While there are fewer students in Auburn over the summer, it is still a busy time for downtown Auburn with people coming in for Camp War Eagle and athletic camps.

Many businesses expressed excitement about the final result, even though construction could cause potential problems for them in the near future.

programs

photos by emily enfinger / photo editor

The men hang out at the main facility in Opelika during the day and some sleep at the farm 20 mintues away during the night.The men in the program volunteer at Harvest Thrift Store during the day.

His Place leads men to recovery from addiction through faith Becky Hardy Editor-in-Chief

Located on a busy street, where temptation disguised as a liquor store resides a couple blocks away, sits His Place, a free home and faith-based rehabilitation center that has been treating drug addicts and alcoholics for 34 years.

“We provide a safe place for people to grow,” said Marc MacIntire, director of His Place, who has a master’s in pastoral counseling.

Currently providing services for 28 men, ranging from ages 18 to mid-60s, His Place has a goal beyond recovery.

“Our goal is not just to turn out guys who stop getting high and drunk,” MacIntire said. “My goal is for men to leave as Godly fathers, as Godly husbands and as Godly men and leaders.”

The main location for the men, during the day, is at His Place’s headquarters in Opelika. The men attend classes to learn about faith, as well as CPR and other technical skills.

Many members sleep at the farm location, approximately 20 minutes away, where there are 20 extra beds.

A member of His Place for two months said he has found how to stay sober through faith.

As tears welled up in his eyes, the member said he remembers what made him overcome his addiction in the first place: his sons, who are 6 and 3 years old.

“I love them, and they’re in a good place,” the member said. “Since I’ve come here, I learned that if I put God first, that everything will just fall into line.”

“

Some of these men have been through five programs, and this is just another program to them, but not to me.

This is the last program.”

—Marc MacIntire director of his place

His Place bases most of the programs on faith.

The rehabilitation program also allows people to find jobs their last three months of the program to earn money instead of volunteering.

Overflowing with heartache from missing his sons, the member said he went straight back to His Place after working at Harvest Thrift Store and asked MacIntire if he could call his sons.

MacIntire went back and forth with the member, but ultimately let him call.

No answer.

“I think it’s best I don’t call right now, and I truly thought in my flesh that I needed to talk to my son,” the member said. “The Lord put it on me not to call. If I would have heard his voice, he could have said anything. It could have been bad.”

The member said he prayed for strength after attempting to call his sons.

“The very next day, I went to an autism [charity] event, and it was what I needed,” the member

His Place holds year-long programs for recovering drug and alcohol addicts.

said, while wiping tears from his stubble-covered cheeks. “Most of the time, (the Lord) has been talking to me. It’s through the men here.”

Charles Darwin’s quote parallels the rehabilitation process at His Place, according to Barbara Keller, MacIntire’s cousin.

“It’s not the strongest of the species, nor the most intelligent that survives,” Keller said. “It’s the most responsive to change. So if you don’t change that whole environment that they’ve come from and have been a part of, that’s a hard transition sometimes to maintain unless the accountability and the follow-up is there.”

So far, the capacity for His Place is 30 people, but more men continue to sign up for the pro-

gram.

Fifty men are waiting to get into the rehabiliation program now, but His Place doesn’t have the space to accommodate them, according to MacIntire.

In the garage, also home to the men’s gym equipment, construction is in progress to build extra lodging space.

MacIntire said he wants His Place to be different from other rehabilitation programs across the country.

“Some of the men have been through five programs, and this is just another program to them, but not to me,” MacIntire said. “This is the last program.”

Thursday, April 30, 2015

The Auburn Plainsman

Community A7

books

Best-selling author discusses writing approach CONGRATULATIONS Newly Selected 2015-2016 COSAM Leaders

Kendyl Hollingsworth Community Writer

Best-selling author Lydia Netzer shared her approach to writing and discussed her book, “Shine Shine Shine,” at the Auburn Public Library on Thursday, April 23, as the conclusion to the second annual One Book, One Village community reading program.

Netzer was raised by her grandmother, who encouraged her to read mostly classic literature as a child. She discovered her love of more modern fiction from authors such as Judy Blume after befriending the librarian at a local library when she was young.

Netzer said, as someone with an abnormal upbringing, she enjoyed stories about normal people who lived charming lives, which was one of her main inspirations as a budding writer.

“I filled notebooks up with these stories about really the most normal family ever,” Netzer said. “I just wrote reams upon reams of the most boring material you could ever imagine because I wanted to live in that world.”

With so much emphasis placed on books while she was young, Netzer decided to pursue a degree related to writing in college and graduate school. Netzer said she became sure of herself and what she wanted out of life during this time in her life, but came to the realization it doesn’t always work out the way one intends, but can still be “absolutely perfect.”

Netzer went through several drafts for her first novel, “Shine Shine Shine,” which she spent more than 10 years writing. She said she has never had a schedule she follows when it comes to her writing. She realized the only person pushing her to finish books was herself, and everyone else was going to be supportive along the way.

Netzer said experiences with married life, raising a son with Asperger’s syndrome and losing her grandmother to cancer provided inspiration for several characters and plotlines in her stories.

“Shine Shine Shine” features autistic characters, and Netzer said it was important to her to represent these characters as much more than being autistic.

ellen jackson / photographer

Lydia Netzer speaks to an audience of students and community members at Auburn Library.

“A lot of what I wanted to do in the book was represent autistic people as not just autistic people,” Netzer said. “This is a person with a whole life and a functional mind and heart and a full range of relationships.”

The majority of the audience agreed they loved that Netzer’s novel was interesting and kept them guessing, and audience member Carol Whatley said she loved Netzer’s talk.

“She was very animated and so easy to listen to,” Whatley said. “My instincts about what was going on [in “Shine Shine Shine”] were generally right, and it’s always fun to hear you were thinking with the author.”

Chris Warren, director of the Auburn Public Library, said One Book, One Village strives to bring the community together by choosing books that inspire conversation and spark dialogue.

“The thing about reading is that it’s pretty much always a very solitary act, it’s something you do on your own,” Warren said. “But every now and then, something is so good, so insightful, so fantastic, that you recommend the book to other people, you’re reading passages out loud that really struck you for whatever reason, and that’s what One Book, One Village is all about.”

Originally from Detroit, Netzer now resides in Norfolk, Virginia, with her husband and two children.

When Netzer is not writing, she teaches literature at a homeschool co-op, travels and plays the electric guitar.

Her other novels include “Everybody’s Baby: A Novella” and “How to Tell Toledo from the Night Sky,” both published in 2014. The New York Times named her debut novel, “Shine Shine Shine,” one of the 100 Notable Books of 2012.

Kristen Beaufait Alisha Chauhan Emily Cragon Holton Deatherage Will Gibson Sally Harrison Hannah Hashimi Caroline Hubbard Ryan Leonard David Loveless Michael Matthews James Pate Alex Plagenhoef Alexis Thrasher Claire Walker Taylor Young

COLLEGE OF SCIENCES A N D M AT H E M AT I C S

Sports Thursday, April 30, 2015

scoreboard Baseball (29-16, 10-11)

A8 ThePlainsman.com

Baseball

The play is at home

RIGHT: Anfernee Grier rounds third base and heads for home in a game earlier this season.

BELOW: Grier hits a double. The sophomore leads the SEC in doubles and hits. (Kenny Moss / Assistant Photo Editor)

Phenix City native leads surging Tigers

RECENT April 29 vs. Kennesaw State Win vs. Georgia, 4-1 Win vs. Georgia, 5-1 Win vs. Georgia, 4-2 UPCOMING May 1-3 at South Carolina

Sam Butler Sports Writer

No. 8 softball (44-8, 16-5)

RECENT Win vs. Arkansas, 10-2 Win vs. Arkansas, 9-1 Win vs. Arkansas, 9-1 UPCOMING May 1-3 at No. 6 LSU

Women’s golf

RECENT SEC Championships 9th UPCOMING NCAA Regional San Antonio, Texas May 7-9

Corrections Last week’s issue stated Auburn equestrian defeated No. 1 Georgia 10-6.

The correct result was a 10-6 victory for Georgia.

Sports

Grier’s SEC ranks .363 Batting Average - 6th 66 Hits - 1st 19 Doubles - 1st .445 On Base % - 11th 92 Total Bases - 12th *Statistics as of April 26

Sitting 30 minutes to the east of Auburn, Phenix City is known for being a blip on the road to Columbus.

But in a few years, it has the potential to be known for something — rather, someone — else.

Growing up, sophomore center fielder Anfernee Grier visited Auburn plenty of times.

“My mom actually went to Auburn, so I grew up an Auburn fan,” Grier said. “I came to a few football games growing up, so I’ve loved Auburn since I was a kid.”

As the son of a former professional baseball player, Grier always had lofty expectations to live up to on the diamond. As he grew older, Grier said he realized he might have the potential to play the game he loves at the school he’s always dreamt of.

Grier said he knew he had the ability to keep playing baseball at a further level “when I was about 16,” and that ability started being demonstrated in high school.

At Russell County High School, Grier began using his plus speed and power to separate himself from other players in the county, the state and even the nation. He led the Warriors to the Alabama High School Athletic Association State Semifinals his senior year, batting .404 along the way. Perfect Game USA named him the No. 1 prospect in Alabama, and the No. 55 player in the nation. He was named to several national AllAmerican teams, and colleges took notice.

“I started getting offers from schools and Auburn finally gave me an offer,” Grier said. “I was like, ‘Well, I’ll go play for the school I’ve always wanted to, the one I’ve always supported.’”

Despite offers from more traditional baseball schools, Grier insisted the choice to come to Auburn was never a hard one.

“It wasn’t real hard, actually,” Grier said. “(Auburn) probably wasn’t my best offer, so I guess it was just meant to be. I don’t live too far away, so that helps. And you know, my mom coming to Auburn, me being an Auburn fan

growing up. It was just a perfect fit for me.”

To top it all off, the Detroit Tigers drafted Grier in the 39th round of the 2013 First-Year Player Draft. Despite numerous opportunities to leave home, Grier never wavered on his intentions to play at Auburn.

“It wasn’t that hard [not to sign with the Tigers],” Grier said. “I got drafted kind of late, so I knew I’d be coming to college to attend this wonderful university.”

Now in his second year at Auburn under coach Sunny Golloway, Grier has established himself as a consistent threat on the field, possessing power most speedy centerfielders don’t have. He batted close to .400 for much of the season, and his teammates and coaches have done nothing but sing the praises of their most consistent player.

“He just means so much to us,” Golloway said. “If I’m the opposing team’s coach, their head coach, pitching coach or the opposing pitcher, I’m concerned with a lot of things. You want to throw strikes, but he can hurt you in so many ways.”

As of April 26, Grier sits at or near the top of several offensive categories. He leads the SEC in hits, with 66, and in doubles, with 19. His Tigers find themselves sitting in the thick of the SEC West race, and they are currently projected to make the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2010.

Despite his talent, Grier said he doesn’t let all of the accolades go to his head. He prefers to let his skills do the talking, but, when he does say something, the team takes notes.

“He’s really the quarterback out there for us,” said outfielder Sam Gillikin. “He’s a pretty quiet guy, but when he does say something it means something.”

Grier said he will stick around Auburn for a few more years to hone his skills, but he is likely on to bigger things if he can continue producing at such a torrid pace.

This time around, Grier might not have to wait until the 39th round to hear his name called in the draft.

Thursday, April 30, 2015

Sports A9

The Auburn Plainsman

Fans

Meet the Helmet Guy Alum adds spirit to softball, baseball Lauren Christopher Sports Writer

Some of Auburn’s greatest heroes in sports aren’t necessarily the athletes.

For anyone who regularly attends baseball or softball games, they know the Helmet Guy is ever-present, leading cheers from the bleachers.

What they probably don’t know is the Helmet Guy is actually a 1974 industrial design Auburn graduate named Mike Cooper.

When Plainsman Park was rebuilt in 1996, Cooper and his wife, Nancy, were invited to a couple of games by the owner of Ander’s Book Store, Ronny Anders, whom he worked for throughout his time at school.

After enjoying watching baseball, the Coopers invested in season tickets.

At the games, sponsors would throw small prizes into the crowd as they do now, and, in 2001, one of those giveaways was a baseball helmet — the same one Cooper wears today.

“Me and another guy started wearing the helmets and then we got excited,” Cooper said. “I started getting up and leading cheers and getting people involved in baseball.”

A member of the Auburn Lion’s Club, Andy White said he knows the Helmet Guy through working mostly baseball games for seven years.

“He gets out there and stands up and starts doing the cheers, and everybody follows him,” White said. “He’s been doing it for years. He kind of took it on himself and everyone knows him for bringing more to the games.”

Back then, the two were called the “Helmet Mafia,” and the tradition stuck, until the other fan decided he no longer wanted to lead cheers.

“He got kind of embarrassed about it,” Cooper said. “So I just kept wearing the helmet, and I would just get excited about different parts of the game.”

Cooper said a good play would happen occasionally while he was doing cheers, so the fans started to think he was magic.

“I don’t know if it looked like I had done something because I had not done anything,” Cooper said. “People would come up to me and say, ‘Man, you got them all excited about (the game). Boy, that helped out.’”

To Cooper, cheering at baseball games and bringing excitement to the field as a 67-year-old makes him feel younger, especially at sports he loves.

Unfortunately, the Helmet Guy runs into issues attending softball because baseball often plays at the same time.

“We kinda stole him from baseball,” said Sydne Waldrop, outfielder for the softball team. “Baseball games are quiet, but ours are loud and intense.”

Waldrop also holds the position of “Head Weagle” for leading her team’s cheers in the dugout, and said the Helmet Guy helps her out a lot by pushing the crowd to join in.

“It’s always good to have extra cheerleaders,” Waldrop said. “He’s definitely a great aspect if we can keep him around.”

Cooper and his wife were able to catch the tail end of the Tennessee series April 2-4, and although he admits his wife gets embarrassed of him, she couldn’t help jumping up and leading a cheer.

“I just jumped up and started hollering, ‘War Eagle,’” Cooper said. “The girls were on base, so I hollered out, ‘Auburn,’ and the crowd hollered back,

‘Tigers,’ and the next thing I knew, I was back into cheering again.”

He recently earned his 15 seconds of fame on ESPN on April 18 in the Alabama series, when he decided to pump up the crowd in the eighth inning for the Tigers by taking his talents to the top of the home dugout.

“I was afraid I would get in trouble, but the usher said, ‘You just get up there and do your thing,’” Cooper said.

This incident isn’t his only claim to fame. In 1974, Cooper was photographed during a streaking raid in The War Eagle Reader. Although he wasn’t naked, he is in plain sight in front of a naked female running through Auburn.

“I’m the one with Auburn across my chest with his eyes big,” Cooper said.

Cooper has recently retired from 35 years at EPSCom Signing Group and said he hopes he can make it to more baseball and softball games with his new free time. He also serves on Clinton County’s Auburn alumni board, where he participates in a campaign called “Unsung Hero,” which will be honoring Malcolm Canada on April 28.

Cooper said he even designed the trophy for Canada.

Cooper looks to continue his tradition through his creation of different cheers when he eventually decides to call it quits. One he said has recently caught on is fans putting their arms up to form an “A” and then a “U” while shouting “AU” at the same time.

Cooper said he wants Auburn to increase the cheers for baseball and softball, including chants for specific plays to make the experience more special. “(I want people to say) that’s Auburn, that’s the Auburn Family,” Cooper said.

adam sparks / photographer & contributed by Mike Cooper

Mike Cooper leads chants during a softball game between Auburn and Arkansas. INSET: Cooper designed the “Unsung Hero” trophy as part of the Clinton County Auburn alumni award.This year’s trophy will go to Malcolm Canada.

1888 Ogletree Rd. Auburn 826-1207

1017 Columbus Parkway Opelika 749-3528

600 Webster Rd. Auburn 821-9996

2300 Gateway Drive 1599 S. College Street 1791 Shug Jordan Parkway Opelika 749-2309 Auburn 826-1716 Auburn 887-7460 1650 Opelika Rd. Auburn 821-7835

334 W. Magnolia Avenue Auburn 826-2476

Sports A10

Thursday, April 30, 2015

The Auburn Plainsman

Kenny Moss / assistant photo editor & Adam sparks / photographer

LEFT: Blake Logan tags out an Arkansas runner at home plate. RIGHT: Rachael Walters throws a pitch against an Alabama batter during a game April 18.

This Week in Auburn Sports Baseball

Auburn baseball clinched the series sweep against an SEC team for the first time since 2012 against the Georgia Bulldogs (21-23, 6-14 SEC) with a 4-1 victory Saturday, April 25, at Plainsman Park.

Auburn pitcher Dalton Rentz picked up the win after allowing four hits, no runs, two walks and striking out four batters through 4.2 innings.

“We weren’t sure if we were going to get one inning out of him, two or three or what,” said coach Sunny Golloway. “It’s kind of hard to get loose and then shut down because of the lightning and then get the start. (Rentz) gave us a lot more than we expected.”

The Tigers (29-16, 10-11 SEC) plated runs in the first and sixth innings to give their bullpen the cushion it needed to pull off the sweep in front of 3,358 fans.

After a 41-minute lightning delay in the first inning, Daniel Robert drove in Kyler Deese to put the Tigers on the board first.

Auburn got its bats working again in the bottom of the sixth to extend its lead by three more runs.

Melvin Gray took advantage of the Bulldogs first in the inning as the junior scored the Tigers’ second run on a wild pitch.

A bunt-single from Robert and a couple singles from Gray and Anfernee Grier loaded the bases for the Tigers before a sac fly from Blake Logan brought Grier home to make it 3-0.

Bo Decker stepped in to pinch-hit for Jordan Ebert in the sixth. The junior hit an RBI double to plate Robert for the second time and improve Auburn’s lead to 4-0.

The Bulldogs managed to score their only run in the top of the eighth after Auburn reliever Jacob Milliman walked in a run with the bases loaded.

“It’s the first sweep we’ve had since I’ve been here, and, hopefully, we will have a couple more the next couple weeks,” Robert said. “Honestly, we needed a sweep. We needed to pick a game up, and I’m glad we did.”

A couple big plays by the Tigers’ defense played part in the victory.

Damon Haecker picked up his second outfield assist in the first inning as the sophomore gunned down Georgia left-fielder Keegan McGovern at the plate after a shot to right field from Jared Walsh.

Deese made a tough play at third base with a diving grab to keep the Bulldogs scoreless through five innings.

“It’s a really good feeling to know your team is

Baseball

there to back you up,” Rentz said.

Auburn will look to add some more wins to its résumé in a midweek game against Kennesaw State on Wednesday, April 29, at 6 p.m. at Plainsman Park.

that it was on Senior Day kind of made me smile a little bit bigger.”

The Tigers brought in another run off an Emily Carosone double in the third to make it 3-1, then opened the floodgates in the fourth.

A Morgan Estell single made it 5-2, followed by a double from Haley Fagan to push it to 6-2.

Estell got home on a wild pitch, and then Jenna Abbott made it 9-2 with her second homer of the year.

With the bases loaded, Kasey Cooper got hit by a pitch to give Auburn the 8-run lead. After Arkansas failed to score in their half the fifth, the run rule was enforced and the game was called.

On the mound for Auburn was Rachael Walters, who went the full game, allowing six hits and two runs while walking two and striking out three.

The win ups the Tigers to 44-8 overall, with a 16-5 mark in SEC play.

Next is a trip to Baton Rouge, Louisiana, on Friday, May 1, for a season finale series with LSU. The Tigers will stay in Baton Rouge for the SEC Tournament the following week, Wednesday, May 6.

Softball

Have mercy.

That’s what Arkansas needed all weekend at Jane B. Moore Field, as Auburn softball’s offense kept their foot on the gas, as they have all season, and continued to pour on the runs.

Sunday, April 26, the Tigers finished the sweep of the Razorbacks by way of a 10-2 win, mercy ruling the Hogs in every game of the series.

Coach Clint Myers was understandably pleased with his team’s performance in their final home series of 2015.

“I thought it was a great weekend,” Myers said. “We’re finishing up that second third of the season that was really important.”

It was Senior Day at Moore Field and senior Branndi Melero made sure to make a memory at her final home game at Auburn.

In the bottom of the first inning, Melero put one over the fence to give Auburn a 2-1 advantage. The lead wouldn’t change again.

“I couldn’t be happier,” Melero said. “The fact

Compiled by Eric Wallace, Derek Thompson and David McKinney

Softball

Adam sparks / photographer & Missouri Athletics

LEFT: Haley Fagan, left, hugs sister Kasey before Senior Day. RIGHT: Sami applies a tag agiainst Auburn.

Sisters split across SEC kenny moss / assistant photo editor

Cole Lipscomb throws a pitch during a game early in the 2015 season.

Pitcher earns honors after Tommy John bounceback Derek Thompson Sports Reporter

After a long and grueling road to recovery, Auburn pitcher Cole Lipscomb was finally in the spotlight after he recorded his first career complete game against Ole Miss on Friday, April 17.

The Prattville native’s outstanding performance included a career-high 10 strikeouts in Auburn’s 3-1 victory over the Rebels, and earned the him the honor of being named SEC Pitcher of the Week on Monday, April 20.

“It’s a huge honor,” Lipscomb said. “I was really excited when I got the news yesterday, especially with the arms in this league. There are some big-time pitchers. As good as I pitched Friday, I think that is just a testament to our defense and just how well we played overall Friday.”

Before dominating batters this season as the Tigers’ “Friday night guy,” Lipscomb had to sit out the 2013 season to rehabilitate from Tommy John surgery and made two appearances in 2014 before he returned to his previous level of ability.

The surgery, which involves grafting a tendon to replace the Ulnar Collateral Ligament in the injured elbow, can sometimes require two years for a full recovery..

“I was still a little hurt last year coming back from Tommy John surgery, so I knew I probably wasn’t going to pitch much last year,” Lipscomb said. “I was just trying to get back from surgery and get better. This year, I was 100 percent.”

Lipscomb said he knew little, but had success in baseball when he signed with Auburn, his father’s alma mater, after helping Elmore County’s Edgewood Academy to four straight state titles.

After nearly two years of elbow strengthening exercises and learning how to pitch again, Lipscomb leads Auburn’s pitching staff with 61 strikeouts and has a 6-1 record.

Earlier in the season, coach Sunny Golloway compared the sophomore right-hander’s toughness and makeup to former Tigers’ workhorse Friday starter Dillon Ortman.

“We’ve seen him getting better and better,” Golloway said. “Every outing he seems to just get a little bit better and a little bit deeper.”

After his surgery, Lipscomb said he had to throw a different changeup because the changeup he was throwing was bad for his elbow.

“I had to relearn my changeup and just work on fastball command,” Lipscomb said. “It’s really hard coming back from surgery, so I just had to get my pitches to be sharp and work on my offspeed pitches.”

Lipscomb said he is going to keep doing what he’s been doing since the start of the season as the Tigers continue to fight to reach the postseason. “(Pitching) coach (Tom) Holliday has been great with us,” Lipscomb said. “Our defense has been great. I’m just going to go out there and keep throwing strikes. Our defense has been playing great and I hope we just keep playing well.”

Lauren Christopher Sports Writer

Shortstop and sometimes third base player Haley Fagan has a family tree planted in the game of softball, as her older sister, Sami, currently plays for the Missouri Tigers and her eldest sister, Kasey, plays for the Arkansas Razorbacks.

Growing up with two brothers and another sister, the Fagan sisters played for Dunnellon High School in Florida and were coached by their father, Kevin, who played football for the San Francisco 49ers in the 1980s. “(My dad) wanted boys,” Haley said. “He grew up with all boys. When he had three girls in a row, he didn’t know what to do, but he knew he wanted us to play sports. He basically taught himself the game (of softball) and got us all into it.”

All three were then drafted to play college ball; however, not all of them started in the SEC. Kasey was the first and played at the University of Florida for two seasons until her transfer to Arkansas her junior year.

Sami also played at Florida before transferring to Missouri in 2013. However, Haley first played for the University of South Alabama before making the switch into the SEC with Auburn.

According to Haley, her decision to transfer was not because of her sisters’ placements in the conference.

“It was cool that I had the opportunity to play in the same conference as my sisters,” Haley said. “But it kind of just worked out that way.”

When the Fagan family gets together during vacation times, softball is the main topic of conversation.

“The most fun part about it is comparing all of our coaches’ strategies,” Sami said. “We all

play for pretty good coaches, so just to hear what they do differently and the same.”

Haley agreed.

“It’s all softball,” Haley said. “Over the summer, we practice together, we work out together, we go to the pool together. When we’re home, we’re really close. They’re my best friends.”

This year, Haley, Sami and Kasey were all able to play each other for the first time at a collegiate level.

“This is the first year we’ve played each other,” Sami said. “It was really weird. When I went home over summer, (Haley) kept talking trash, saying the only reason we won is because she wasn’t playing. So, this year, when we got to play, it was just fun.”

Kasey was also able to play Sami when Arkansas took on Mizzou from April 17-19. Kasey said as Sami was up at bat, she found herself cheering for Sami, and had to catch herself when she realized she was cheering for the other team.

“She was up to bat, and she took a pitch and I said, ‘Good take,’” Kasey said.

April 24-26 made it a two-week sister series for Kasey, as she traveled to Auburn to play the Tigers and Haley.

“I have always loved being able to see my sisters anytime that I can,” Kasey said. “Our coaches give us family time, so I’ll definitely have some time to catch up with Haley this weekend.”

Haley said the support they give to each other helps with improvements in softball.

“I listen to (my sisters) more than anyone else because I know they have my back and they’re not going to try to hurt me,” Haley said.

“To have them be as good as they are and to know what they’re talking about is like having yourself on the other side watching and being able to coach you.”

Intrigue Thursday, April 30, 2015

A11 ThePlainsman.com

Intrigue

campus

Emily Enfinger / Photo editor

The participants of Big Man on Campus dressed in their country best to raise money for breast cancer awareness.

Testosterone and Tiaras: guys’ perspectives on pageants

Andria Moore Intrigue writer

The pageant world is often seen as all glitz, glamour and looking pretty on a stage. However, the recent Big Man on Campus event caused some male competitors to rethink their views on the pageant industry.

“Now I think of beauty pageants like any other competition,” said David Mitchell, junior in undeclared science and math. “Someone puts forth an effort and competes.”

Zachary St. Clair, senior in political science and the second runner-up of Big Man on Campus, said the event was more stressful than nerveracking.

“I wasn’t nervous at all until right before I went on stage,” St. Clair said. “Then I was sweating bullets.”

This year’s Big Man on Campus had the theme “Fight Like a Girl,” and the funds were used to promote the fight against breast cancer.

There were 15 contestants who represented a different sorority.

Zachary Blomeley, junior in accounting, was the representative for Delta Delta Delta and won first runner-up.

“My favorite part of the experience was getting to work with some of the other Camp War Eagle counselors,” Blomeley said. “It was a great chance to bond before training and build friendships.”

“

For me, personally, it was an eyeopening experience. I think it was great at promoting girl power because the whole theme was Fight like a Girl, and it motivates people to realize that fight like a girl isn’t a diss.”

—Zachary St. Clair second runner-up of Big Man on Campus and senior in political science

The contestants were part of a group dance in the beginning, as well as a beauty and talent portion.

Blomeley said he believes pageants can teach valuable skills.

“I think it’s a great way for girls to develop confidence, earn scholarships and learn to represent themselves,” Blomeley said. “But I also think they are taken much too seriously in the pageant world.”

Mitchell also said he thought the event was a great way to remind everyone pageants should be fun.

“Obviously, ours was much more lightheart-

ed, as opposed to being so serious and heavy,” Mitchell said. “In the pageant world, people are analyzing every aspect of you.”

St. Clair said the entire experience required lots of rehearsing and coordination.

“When you have more than two guys in a room at a time, it can be hard to focus,” St. Clair said.

The contestants began learning routines and choreography in February, then practiced once per week beginning in March.

St. Clair said Big Man on Campus made him look at pageant girls in a new way.

“For me, personally, it was an eye-opening experience,” St. Clair said. “I think it was great at promoting girl power because the whole theme was Fight like a Girl, and it motivates people to realize that fight like a girl isn’t a diss.”

Blomeley, Mitchell and St. Clair said they were all happy to be part of such a successful fundraising event.

“It was really fun to raise money for such a great cause,” Blomeley said.

Mitchell said if he had a daughter he would allow her to compete in pageants as long as it was something she wanted for herself.

“I would let her do it if that’s what she wanted to do,” Mitchell said. “As long as she didn’t feel like she needed to do it, or obsess over her looks.”

St. Clair said he believes his part was easy compared to what actual pageant contestants have to go through.

Emily Enfinger / photo editor

John O’Neil represented Chi Omega.

campus

Popular ways to study during finals season explained

“

Codie Smith Intrigue writer

With finals around the corner, students across campus are studying for the last tests of the year.

But what is the best way for students to study?

“The biggest problem we really see is people starting too late when studying for finals,” said Daniel Fry, academic coach for the Office of Undergraduate Studies. “Really, finals studying should start at the beginning of the semester, but most people wait until a few days before finals.”

Additionally, Fry said many students think they can improve their grades by simply studying harder. Instead, Fry said students must change the way they study.

“For instance, if the student just read over their notes and just skimmed the chapters to get ready for the earlier tests and they say, ‘OK, maybe I just didn’t try hard enough when I was skimming the chapter,’” Fry said. “‘Maybe I just didn’t try hard enough when I was reading my notes.’ It isn’t going to be as helpful as it could be if they did something like meet with a tutor.”

Students can also meet with professors, attend supplemental instruction sessions and create practice tests as ways to improve their studying.

Additionally, it can be helpful for students find the method through which they learn best.

The biggest problem we really see is people starting too late when studying for finals.”

Kelsey Gainer / graphic designer

Accordinging to the Office of Undergraduate Studies, short study breaks are important for success.

“If you learn best visually, when you take notes, you may want to add doodles on the side or something that is going to strike your memory,” said Tess Gibson, Success Strategies teacher.

“You can go, ‘Oh yeah, I remember what this is because of that little drawing.’”

One of the most important things for students to remember while studying is to take short, fre-

—Daniel Fry Academic Coach for the Office of Undergraduate Studies

quent study breaks.

The Office of Undergraduate Studies recommends a 5-minute study break for every 30 minutes spent studying. Additionally, students should make sure they get adequate rest each night, especially before testing, according to the Office of Undergraduate Studies.

“There has been research where they did brain scans on people who had less than six hours of sleep,” Fry said. “They put their brain scans next to people’s who had concussions and people who were on drugs and they looked exactly the same.

And then they put those brain scans next to people who had had adequate sleep, so at least eight hours, and they looked completely different. And that even was while they were engaging in some sort of learning activity.”

Intrigue A12

Thursday, April 30, 2015

The Auburn Plainsman

Trends

photos by jordan Hays / copy editor

Splash of trend on campus with multiple color runs

Left: Aubie participates in the Color Me Auburn 5k. Right: Several participats run through a shower of orange and blue powder.

Anne Dawson Intrigue writer

As part of a trend, a unique type of run is picking up steam. Participants run while having colored powder thrown or squirted at them. The goal is to have as many colors on a person as possible.

This event, popularly known as a color run, has begun to grow and has become better known throughout the world as a fun alternative to normal runs.

According to its website, TheColorRun.com, the first color run was held in March 2011, and worked to promote healthiness and happiness.

Since the original color run, many different organizations have started their own versions of the tour.

One organization that has joined in is Kappa Kappa Gamma.

Kappa Kappa Gamma hosted a color run on campus, year being the third time.

“It’s a fun way to exercise and do something good for your body,” said Adair Broome, color run participant and sophomore in industrial engineering.

During the event, participants run or walk their

“

It’s a fun way to promote healthy living, and you dont have to worry about trying to get a certain time.”

race as normal, but Kappa Kappa Gamma sisters threw colored powder at them and encouraged them to keep going at each kilometer.

“As a rookie color runner, I was a bit surprised at how the powder got all in my eyes and face,” Broome said.

Some might hear of this fad and wonder why others would want to have powder thrown in their face and on their bodies, and the answer is simple — to have fun.

The difference between a color run and a normal 5k, according to Sarah Shute, Kappa Kappa Gamma philanthropy chairman and junior in microbiology, is the atmosphere.

Shute said color runs are not timed, giving the race a more relaxed feel.

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Shute also said with the help of music and cheering, runners feel they can have fun and not feel pressured.

“It’s not about who’s the fastest,” said Ellie Porter, color run participant and freshman in communication disorders. “You just start out with a white T-shirt and see how many colors you can get.”

Broome and Porter both said because the run is not timed, it gives the event a more social aspect because one can walk with family or friends.

“It’s a fun way to promote healthy living, and you don’t have to worry about trying to get a certain time,” Porter said.

Broome and Porter said color runs are different than normal races because even those who put on

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—Ellie Porter

color run participant and Freshman in communication disorders

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the event are involved.

“Everyone was involved,” Broome said.

“Even if they weren’t running, they were squirting us with color and cheering for us,” Another reason color runs seemed to be an instant hit is because of the pictures participants can take.

“The social media aspect definitely plays a role,” Shute said. “You take such good pictures when you’re covered in paint.”

Porter and Broome agreed and said one of the reasons they chose to participate was because of the pictures they had seen others post.

“The Instagram opportunity is hard to pass up,” Porter said.

One drawback to color runs, Shute said, is the price.

Because of the materials the event requires, Shute said color runs tend to cost more than $50 per person, which could make them less appealing to some.

Regardless of the price, color runs are held in more than 50 countries, and the presence of bright colors and the extraordinary aspect attract people from all over.

Print Deadline Noon three business days prior to publication