Upcoming wellness kitchen provides healthy meals for athletes and students Page 3
Multimedia: Puppy training course offered to students through University for class credit Online
School record run ends in national semifinal loss for women’s tennis doubles Page 6
The Auburn Plainsman A Spirit That Is Not Afraid
Thursday, May 29, 2014 • Vol. 121, Issue 2, 8 Pages
campus
Foy construction more than just renovations
graphic illustration by raye may / photo and design editor
Marlee Moore News Writer
Renovations to Foy Hall are scheduled to begin at the end of this month and run through January 2015. Two phases of renovations are planned: one to the East Plaza, scheduled to be finished by the end of August, and two to increase Foy’s dining space to include a Chicken Salad Chick, scheduled to open January 2015. “The biggest ailment of the east side renovation is we did have some maintenance work we had to do out there,” said Jim Carroll, university architect with Facilities Management. Auburn’s Facilities Management looked at the east side of Foy as their next project because the
sidewalk needed replacement due to age and tree roots breaking through the pavement. Carroll said the area across Ross Square and Foy is a highly traveled part of campus. According to Carroll, the goal of this renovation is to better the exterior environment students frequent. “It’ll be a sort of a more open and inviting plaza for students, faculty, staff and really the Auburn Family,” Carroll said. The project at Ross Square was started in late February 2013. Some students have complained about more construction coming to campus, as other projects are being completed. “I think it’s a nice idea, but I will admit I’m a tad tired of construction work happening at Au-
burn,” said Lindsey Henson, senior in psychology. As a student recruiter, Henson struggles talking over loud construction and has to alter her tour routes because of it. “I think we have enough relaxation and courtyard areas that Auburn could wait until next spring to do renovations,” Henson said. The construction bid for the East Plaza renovations came in at about $150,000. This funding comes through general funds from the University, specifically a Facilities Management deferred maintenance account. “Our deferred maintenance fund is a fund that allows us to manage facilities throughout the campus,” Carroll said.
Auxiliary Services pursued the $2.2 million dining hall renovation, which the vice president of student affairs, as well as students and members of SGA have given feedback on. “It’s a great location because it’s going to be right on the Thach Concourse,” Carroll said, “What’s interesting about it is it will engage the students and activate the courtyard, as well.” Historically, the open brick courtyard has been a hot, unwelcoming corner of campus. Facilities Management’s solution to Foy’s unintentional sauna is to incorporate more landscaping and canopies in the courtyard. “We’re removing the relative discomfort back
» See foy, 2
campus
Three students awarded global Fulbright Scholarship Taylor Ennis News Writer
Each year, the Fulbright U.S. Student Program awards 1,900 grants for students and young professionals worldwide. This year, three Auburn students will partake in an educational and cultural experience of a lifetime under the program. Jamesa Stokes, recent physics graduate, will conduct research at the German Space Agency’s Institute of Structures in Design in Stuttgart, Germany. Carson Williford, junior with a double major in English and philosophy, will take part in the four-week Summer Institute program at the United Kingdom’s Nottingham Trent University. Lauren Waldroop, recent graduate who double majored in environmental design and German, will study at Rhine-Westphalian Technical University in Aachen, Germany. “We are excited for Jamesa, Carson and Lauren,” said Melissa Baumann, Auburn assistant provost and director of the Honors College. “Their hard work and accomplishments at Auburn have been extraordinary. They will do well in their overseas studies.” The Fulbright U.S. Student Program administered by the US Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs offers three types of grants. Prospective recipients can apply for a research grant, English teaching assistant grant and a travel grant.
» See fulbright, 2
contributed by charlotte hendrix
The story behind the bowl
Matt Moulthrop (left),Toomer’s bowl artist, created the bowl (right) entirely out of the Toomer’s Oaks.
Artist creates bowl out of Toomer’s Oaks
Taylor Ennis News Reporter
raye may / photo and design editor
Once media coverage extended across the nation that Auburn’s beloved Toomer’s oaks were poisoned, thirdgeneration wood sculptor, Matt Moulthrop, reached out to the Auburn family to commemorate the tree with a piece sculpted from tradition. The Moulthrop family’s sculptures are featured in museums throughout the nation, including the Smithsonian Institution, but the Jule Collins
Smith Museum of Fine Art holds the piece closest to the Auburn Family’s heart. “The sculpture is a way to continue to celebrate and honor the trees,” said Charlotte Hendrix, print and digital media producer for Jule Collins Smith Museum of Fine Art. “It was a very sad thing that happened and this is a way to turn it in to something positive,” said. “It reaffirms the belief in humanity that a celebrated artist would reach out and do this as a gift to the Uni-
versity. Plus, it is a form of creative expression.” The exhibition “Matt Moulthrop: Auburn Oak,” opened May 17 at the art museum. The exhibition features a sculptural bowl in front of a three-dimensional black-andwhite photograph of the tree. The sculpture was created from the large, Y-shaped section of one of the Toomer’s oaks, chosen by Moulthrop himself.
» See toomer’s, 2
News 2
The Auburn Plainsman
Thursday, May 29, 2014
foy
dui reports
» From 1
May 23 Chunwoo Shin, 38 4300 Block of Golf Club Drive May 24 Wesley Glenn, 26 200 Block of Gay Street May 24 Joseph Carleton Jr. , 24 Gay Street at Samford Avenue May 24 Shane Littleton, 28 200 Block of S. Gay Street
crime reports May 23 100 Block of Lee Road 869 Cruelty to animals May 23 1300 Block of Opelika Road Child abuse, aggravated family May 23 Arthur James Stinson was arrested and charged with disorderly conduct at the 500 Block of Southview Drive. May 24 1300 Block of Commerce Drive Criminal mischief and damage to private property May 24 Daniel Lee Adams was charged and arrested as a minor in possession of alcohol at the 100 Block of North Gay Street. May 24 Shambreal Pitts was arrested and charged with second-degree theft of property amounting between $500 to $2,500 at 141 North Ross Street. May 24 2900 Block of East University Drive Shoplifting May 25 1200 Block of South College Street Theft of a bicycle May 25 400 Block of Martin Avenue Runaway of a juvenile May 25 100 Block of South Ross Street Third-degree burglary
there because we’re taking away the large, open-masonry feel that was on the floor,” Carroll said. The new dining venue will extend into the courtyard. This new space will create different seating areas outside. Additional seating inside the new restaurant is also planned. “People have really supported the food venues in Foy over the years, and this one, in particular, should be pretty good,” Carroll said. Mitchell Kilpatrick, graduate student in communication, said he is excited about the renovations coming to Foy Hall in the near future. “It’s been there for a while, so I think it’s time for maybe a little upgrade,” Kilpatrick said. “I’ve spent more time in Foy recently than I have in the past, so it would be good to see those upgrades and see what they add to it.” Henson said although she would love a semester free from construction and she did not like the process of constuction, she liked the results the University is able to pull off. “Auburn never disappoints me in their renovations,” Henson said.
fulbright » From 1
Each type of scholarship offers a list of countries a scholarship recipient can choose to study abroad in. The scholarship requires applicants to provide a personal statement, proposal, transcripts and language evaluations. Applicants also need two letters of recommendation depending on the type of grant that they are applying for. “While you’re working on the application, it’s important to know what you want to do,” Stokes said. Strokes’ said her primary goal will be to research the behavior of fiber-oriented ceramics during hypersonic flight and develop better heat shields
contributed by the office of the university architect
ABOVE: Birdseye view of new Foy Hall renovations, including Chicken Salad Chick. BELOW: Chicken Salad Chick will be added to restaurants at Foy Hall in January 2015.
“
I thought Fulbright was perfect because I would still be able to go to Germany, as well as do research and learn.” —Jamesa Strokes
recent physics graduate
and thermal protection systems for spaceflight vehicles. Stokes will depart for Germany Aug. 3. “I studied for a semester in Germany fall 2012, and I really enjoyed my experience,” Stokes said. “I knew that after coming back I wanted another opportunity to go to Germany, and I wanted to do something for a year before I went in to a Ph. D program. I thought Fulbright was perfect because I would still be able to
go to Germany, as well as do research and learn.” Williford has maintained a 4.0 GPA and is co-creator and director of Student University, a student rendition of TED talks. Williford participates in several programs, such as the Miller Writing Center, the Auburn Connects book program and the Pine Hills Literacy Project. “My background leading up to the Fulbright Scholar-
ship consisted of working passionately toward what I want to do, which is read and write and learn about how other people live,” Williford said. “I’ve thrown myself into exactly what I want to do and have involved myself in whatever reasonable ways I’ve been able to.” Williford said the program also includes exclusive museum tours with a chance to meet local artists and tour their studios. “I expect to learn academically and personally,” Williford said. “I expect the experience to teach me so much about other people, other ways of living and other tastes won’t be able to come back unchanged. I expect to get a better understanding of life in the United States.”
toomer’s » From 1
May 25 100 Block of Bragg Avenue Third-degree criminal mischief May 25 A 19-year-old Auburn resident was arrested and charged with the second-degree possession of marijuana and a count of drug paraphernalia. May 26 Patrey Deveron Hardnett was arrested and charged with the Attempt to Commit Murder at the 800 Block of East Glenn Ave. May 26 300 Block of Boykin Street Discharging of firearm into unoccupied building or vehicle May 26 A 17-year-old juvenile was arrested and charged with thirddegree theft of property, valuing under $500 at 1700 Block of South College St. May 26 200 Block of West Longleaf Drive Third-degree criminal trespass –Reports provided by the Auburn Department of Public Safety
The chosen portion of the Toomer’s oak was sent to Moulthrop in Atlanta, after the April 2013 final roll. Once it was in his hands, Moulthrop allowed the chunk of wood to soften for several months by exposing it to the elements. Moulthrop then created a rough form of the sculpture before applying a treatment to prevent the wood from cracking. Following additional shaping with a sculpting device called a lathe, Moulthrop applied a specialized finish, originally invented by his grandfather, an acclaimed architect. “One of the things I intentionally did was to leave bark on both sides of the piece,” Moulthrop said. “I did this for two reasons: one, to maximize the size of the final bowl, but also for the Auburn family who knew the tree.” Moulthrop said there was a bark inclusion at the very top of the piece,which included where the two major limbs were reaching. “This detail is significant to the character and to the historical context of the piece,” Moulthrop said. According to Hendrix, Moulthrop’s consideration and attention to detail is a price-
contributed by charlotte hendrix
There are multiple wood art pieces on display along with the Toomer’s Oaks bowl.
less gift to the Auburn Family that will be on display until Aug. 31; the piece will then be moved to the museum’s growing permanent collection. Gary Keever, horticulture professor, who worked closely with the poisoned Toomer’s oaks, saw the sculpture and knew it was the ideal section of the tree. According to Hendrix, museum visitors
have been moved to tears. Members of the Auburn Family have also contacted Moulthrop in appreciation for his work. “It has been humbling, and as an artist I am proud of the sculpture,” Moulthrop said. “Hopefully it will be a positive outcome for something that was unspeakable and open a new tradition.”
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Thursday, May 29, 2014
The Auburn Plainsman
News 3
Community
Raye May / photo and design editor
State-of-the-art wellness kitchen making calories count The Wellness Kitchen will wrap up construction in July. Doors will open for students when classes begin in August.
Ashtyne Cole News Editor
When a majority of students return for the fall semester, they will have access to the University’s first health conscious Wellness Kitchen. Ground was broken in early fall of 2013 and the project will be completed in July, according to Glenn Loughridge, director of campus dining. “It’s going be where dining is going and where we want to go,” Loughridge said. “It’s an all-youchoose-to-eat facility so you can pick and choose how much, and what you want, to eat.” The building is located directly across the street from the South Donahue Residence Hall and was built by Bailey-Harris Construction of Auburn. According to Loughridge, the concept of the state-of-the-art kitchen has been in the works for the past few years. “We want to eliminate empty calories,” Loughridge said. “We’re cutting the Coke machine off at dinner and trying to help give stu-
“
We want to eliminate empty calories. We’re trying to give students the maximum nutritional benefit.” —Glenn Loughridge
Director of Campus Dining
dents the maximum nutritional benefit.” The building cost $6.6 million and includes multiple rooms designed to serve students and faculty alike. “I’m handling the oversight and the construction of the Wellness Kitchen, which involves figuring out the square footage, occupancy, seating floor plan and the overall budget for the project,”said Randy Byars, director of facility planning. According to Byars, the 10,000-square-foot facility will seat 214 people inside and include a deck that will accommodate approximately 80
more. The facility has a meeting room that seats 50 people and will be available for reservations from students or faculty. The University is still working on finalizing price points. It will offer all-you-choose-to-eat dining, featuring various action stations, a pizza oven, a carving station, a hot line with fresh meats and vegetables, a salad bar and a smoothie station. “We’re planning on having pasta night with homemade pasta prepared right in front of you,” Loughridge said. “Our high end pizza oven will
provide wheat crust pizza and the menus will be labeled so you know exactly what you’re getting.” Scott Sehnert, sports dietician for Auburn Athletics, has been working on the menu that will provide food choices specifically for student athletes, as well as the whole student body. According to Sehnert, there will also be a “training table” that serves a daily meal the athletic department can provide for student athletes. “It’s open for everyone, not just the student athletes,” Loughride said. “We want it to be one of those places students want to go and hang out at. We expect it to be a great place to be on Friday nights before football games.” Along with the action stations and event room, there will be a gluten-free preparation room to accomodate those with allergies. Meal options will change each day to maintain a wide range of food options. “We’re not here to count calories, but to make the calories count,” Loughridge said.
Promoting ability, not disability, through summer camp Marlee Moore News Writer
Auburn Parks and Recreation is celebrating the 15th anniversary of its Therapeutic Summer Day Camp, which serves children with special needs. Fifty-four children with special needs, all from the Lee County area, will start camp on Monday, June 2, according to Dana Stewart, special programs coordinator for Parks and Recreation. Campers this year range from ages 15 to 49 and have different types of disabilities, from autism to speech or hearing disabilities to Down syndrome. Students are at the camp for eight hours each day, which gives their parents time to run errands and go to work. The program, which is in conjunction with Auburn University’s special education practicum class, teaches basic daily life skills to the campers, such as hygiene, laundry and how to count money. “I’m a real big advocate of promoting their abilities, not their disabilities,” Stewart said. The Hood family benefited exponentially from the program. Lamar and Twynette Hood, who have been with the program since its inception, have four children with Down syndrome, Jennifer, 42; Amy Joy, 33; Anna, 31; and Jason, 26. “A group of parents actually cre-
ated a foundation which originally started, and then the city of Auburn donated the space,” Twynette said. In addition to classes, the campers swim,which the Hoods are fond of, and play basketball, kickball and volleyball. “The activity is so good for them,” Twynette said. “And the day camp always stresses nutrition, and that helps to have somebody back us up.” Stewart said Auburn’s practicum students get as much out of the program as the campers do because they get hands-on experience working with people with special needs of various ages. “Every year I hear [the practicum students] saying ‘I never would have learned from a book what I learned hands-on at that camp,’” Stewart said. The camp has classes that teach manners and social skills, which the campers then put into action every Friday when they go on field trips. Every year they go to Sylacauga to tour the Blue Bell creamery, which is met with great response from both students and Blue Bell. “They’re always calling me in the spring wanting to know if I’m bringing my campers back,” Stewart said. Trips to Pine Mountain, Atlanta Braves games and the movie theater are also scheduled each year. The Hood children are particularly excited to find out what movie they will be seeing. “The Amazing Spiderman,” and “X-Men: Days of Future
Contributed by dana stewart
Each year, the camp has a theme. Last year the campers dressed up as cowboys complete with cowboy hats and bandanas.
Past” are high on their wish list. “Anna has so many movies. It’s sort of an obsession with her,” Twynette said with a laugh. “It’s not sort of. It is!” For some children with special needs, these field trips are some of the only times they are in the public sector. As for the Hoods, she said they are out in the community often because all four children have jobs they go to a
couple of days a week. The city’s Love Your Heart Run/ Crank Your Heart Ride funds scholarships for the summer camp. “This includes everything: their swimming, their bowling, their field trips,” Stewart said. “It’s $150 for a whole summer.” Addison Combs, senior in collaborative special education, is involved with the day camp, for the first time. Combs said she thinks Auburn
does a great job supporting people with special needs in Auburn. “I think that it’s crucially important to have an inclusive family atmosphere,” Combs said. Twynette has seen the camp grow from 11 campers to the 54 they have today and is grateful her children are a part of this program, which they look forward to each year. “They love it,” Twynette said. “They absolutely love it.”
campus
Student competing in the upcoming Miss Alabama Competition Nicole Fulkerson News Writer
Miss Auburn University 2014, Meg McGuffin, will compete in the Miss Alabama Pageant Wednesday, June 4, in Birmingham. The pageant will kick off in the Wright Center at Samford University. McGuffin, senior in radio, television and film, plans to move into the Samford University dorms on Sunday, June 1, along with the other competitors. The following three days, McGuffin will attend dinners, make appearances and rehearse for the competition. “All the contestants will eat breathe and sleep Miss Ala-
bama,” McGuffin said. On Wednesday, June 4, the competition starts, and McGuffin will begin with a personal interview with the judges. Wednesday night is the swimwear competition and McGuffin plans to wear an aqua-colored bathing suit. For the evening gown competition and on-stage question on Thursday, June 5, McGuffin will wear an emerald green dress. Friday, June 6, is the talent portion. McGuffin plans to perform the same talent she did for the Miss Auburn University Pageant. She will be performing a contemporary dance to the
song, “Enigma.” “It’s a lot slower than a lot of pageant competition songs usually are,” McGuffin said. “Most pageant songs are upbeat and I didn’t think that fit my personality. I wanted something a little different.” If crowned Miss Alabama, McGuffin said she will immediately step into her position by taking a year off from school to conduct interviews, make appearances and represent the state. “Miss Alabama is a full-time job, but I would be more than prepared to take it on,” McGuffin said. If McGuffin wins, she said she plans to do philanthropy
work to benefit her Miss Auburn platform, “Healthy is the New Skinny,” which promotes a healthy lifestyle for girls. “We see these supermodels who are photoshopped, and that’s not how they actually look, but that’s how the media tells us they look,” McGuffin said. McGuffin said she is nervous, but she is looking forward to competing. As McGuffin grew older, she competed in pageants to earn scholarship money. “I’m the daughter of a single mom and I understood that if I wanted to go to college, I had to work really hard in school, and find some way to pay for my-
contributed by meg mcguffin
McGuffin volunteers at a Princess Camp held at an early learning center.
self,“ McGuffin said. “I wanted to put on the pretty dress and have my mom put
makeup on me,” McGuffin said. “I wanted to walk across stage and feel beautiful.”
News 4
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The School of Kinesiology is offering a course called cardiorespiratory fitness: physical activity through puppy play (PHED 1200) that will provide students with the opportunity to get exercise and to play with puppies for class credit. In this course, students will gain firsthand experience training black lab puppies that will one day be highly trained bomb dogs that could prevent disasters. According to Jeanne Brock, chief instructor of the breeding puppy development class, the purpose of the course is to acclimate the puppies to different environments, provide physical activity for students and develop detection skills in each puppy before they are sent to a specialized training school. Pam Haney is a veterinary research assistant and serves as the coordinator of the class. “These dogs live to work,” Haney said. The ages of the puppies range from six weeks to six months, and students are able to work with over 20 puppies at a time. This course requires no prerequisites and is being offered for the first time this summer. According to Taylor Holt, GTA for the course, students are usually reserved at the beginning of the class, but have no problem opening up, and even rolling around on the ground, once the puppies are introduced. After meeting once in a classroom setting to complete a brief online training session, students meet at a location on Webster Road to begin training and playing with the puppies. “Anyone can volunteer to work with the dogs too, not just students who are in the class,” Holt said. Tristan Madden, senior in exercise science, said he thoroughly enjoys the class and is one of the students working directly with the puppies. “I got to roll around and play with puppies for an hour,” Madden said. “It was the best hour of my life.” The instructors of the course said they enjoy it as much as the students. “My favorite part is watching how the students develop their puppy voices,” Brock
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ABOVE: Puppies have play time and interact with students and trainers during the class. BELOW: Pam Haney, veterinary research assistant, holds one of the course’s puppies in training.
said. According to Torre Vann, puppy developer who works with the class, the course is designed to prepare the puppies for their future. The course is also to teach current and future dog owners how to better care for their canines. The class allows the students and puppies to form a relationship. Students, as well as volunteers, are encouraged to offer their time at foster homes to help the puppies and the two mother labs that are
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involved with the program. The course will also be offered in the second mini-mester and again the in the fall 2014 semester. According to Haney, future plans are being made for the course with hopes that a large
number of students will enroll in the coming semesters. Because the class offers credit for spending hours playing with puppies that will one day save lives, Haney is hopeful that the course will succeed.
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RELEASE DATE– Monday, December 31, 2012
Los Angeles Times Daily Crossword Puzzle Edited by Rich Norris and Joyce Nichols Lewis
ACROSS 1 Elementary lessons 5 When Juliet drinks the potion 10 Sailing or whaling 14 “Sommersby” actor Richard 15 Thérèse’s thanks 16 Hot streak 17 Now and then 19 Ye __ Tea Shoppe 20 Ratio phrase 21 Quick look 23 Apt. coolers 24 Bumped into 27 One of 100 members of Cong. 28 Repairman’s initial fig. 29 Young socialite 30 Pre-med subj. 32 Game with sharp projectiles 34 Siouan speakers 36 Dutch Renaissance humanist 39 Lived in by the seller 43 One more 44 Botch 46 Dance movements 49 Fly in the ointment 51 Eclectic musician Brian 52 Like the Oz woodsman 53 Baseball arbiter 56 “Xanadu” rock gp. 57 Shares an email with 58 Vinaigrette dressing ingredient 61 After the buzzer 63 ’70s Russian gymnast Korbut 64 Presidential workplace 68 Emeralds and pearls 69 Delaware’s capital 70 “__ Almighty”: Steve Carell film 71 Part of Q.E.D. 72 Deer dads 73 Had a good cry
DOWN 1 In the past 2 Treat with courtesy 3 Medieval arrow shooter 4 Religious offshoot 5 GP’s gp. 6 These, to Thérèse 7 Duo plus one 8 Computer symbols 9 Immortal coach Lombardi 10 Buck suffix 11 Crossword fan 12 Sibling who usually baby-sits other siblings 13 Tips off 18 Unresponsive state 22 Ultimately become 23 Big fuss 25 Juan’s January 26 Mystic’s deck 31 RPM gauges 33 “I highly doubt that!” 35 Lose one’s cool
37 Play division 38 Picture on a ceiling 40 Happen next 41 Course that’s not required 42 Quaint headgear for a class clown 45 Red Sox home: Abbr. 46 Unwitting victim 47 Rudder control
48 Puzzle 50 Game with holes 54 Frames of mind 55 Turn on an axis 59 Seemingly endless 60 Volcanic flow 62 Some 65 Drumstick, e.g. 66 Surg. facilities 67 Tonsillitis M.D.
ANSWER TO PREVIOUS PUZZLE:
xwordeditor@aol.com
By Gail Grabowski and Bruce Venzke (c)2012 Tribune Media Services, Inc.
12/31/12
12/31/12
Opinion
5
Thursday, May 29, 2014
ThePlainsman.com
Opinion
cartoon
his view J-T Knodel ASSISTANT COPY editor
Why we’re really here at Auburn
his view
Please like my column on Facebook Jordan Hays copy editor
Facebook has set up a toxic atmosphere of co-dependence and narcissism. It has taught us, not to become reliant on Facebook, but to become reliant on others. It’s an environment where users are becoming excessively, and at times awkwardly, open about their lives with everyone on the internet at the risk of jeopardizing their own social well-being for individuals they may not even know. Facebook has entered the lime-
light of the Internet and, while its appeal is beginning to curb, it doesn’t seem to be going anywhere anytime soon. The appeal of Facebook is understandable. It’s a great way to keep up with friends, but also strangers. While having Facebook makes it easier to connect with anyone and everyone, it is actually slowly deteriorating how and who we communicate with. Individuals with over 500 friends, or even a thousand, are not uncommon on Facebook. It’s fascinating how one person can keep track of over 1,000 people. Working under the premise: friendship requires a relationship, users with over a thousand friends
Thanks to Dunbar’s Number, it is safe to assume that many of these people are complete strangers. Now, it’s not far-fetched to assume many of these users may actually know most of the people they are Facebook friends with, however it is questionable they might actually be close. Perhaps they may only be acquaintances, or someone they’ve only met once. It’s also not uncommon to see people become Facebook friends with strangers. Facebook is an environment that promotes users creating ambiguous connections with people, thus skewing the line between users’ actual friends and complete strangers.
must surely remember individual things about each person and, at the very least, their names. This would seem to be a tall task for any one person to handle; and as it turns out, most people cannot. In 2011, NPR’s Rachel Martin interviewed Robin Dunbar, a professor of evolutionary anthropology at the University of Oxford, to gain insight on his findings regarding human networking. As it turns out, the average person can only keep track of around 150 people. This is called Dunbar’s Number. With this information in mind, it would be rather absurd to think that one person could keep track of over 1,000 people.
SOCIAL MEDIA ON THE PLAINS LAST WEEK’S POLL RESULTS What are you doing this summer?
In response to our article, “The stories of the seal and the lathe”
Becky Montgomery
“Did you tell them about how to undo the curse?!? What is it.... Jump in the presidents pool at midnight during a full moon in a leap year?”
In response to Eric Wallace’s column “$200 summer rec fee a cash grab”
@Fishy_Hayes “Relevant to the #Opinion piece: The #Auburn Rec Center tried to ban graduate students in the middle of last semester.”
48% Working/Interning
35% Taking Classes 13% Relaxing
Which of these Auburn sports teams had the more disappointing 2013-14 season? Baseball Men’s Basketball
question of the week
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Many students believe the reason we come to college is to get good grades so we can finish our time here with a diploma in-hand and a silly-looking hat. However, a complete and full college education isn’t contingent on maintaining a certain GPA or even finishing with a degree. Too often we find ourselves worried about our grades in our classes, and many people lose sleep or even have anxiety attacks over them. We fail to realize that our grades aren’t an accurate indication of how well we are learning, and they are required by the University as a way to monitor the progress of teachers and students, as well as provide structure in the classroom. I’m sure there are many teachers who would do away with grading if it wasn’t required, and there are others who downplay the significance by scaling grades in the hope that their students will focus more on the content being taught. As students, we often will scan for a letter at the top of our papers and ignore the commentary our professors spend a great deal of time writing about our work. Their commentary is the only kind of grading that adequately describes how well we are doing in a class and explains what we can improve on. We retain less of what is important to learn during our time here and hinder our own learning experience when we tailor our learning to try to adhere to a grading system by cramming and other poor study habits. What is important is that we learn the necessary technical and social skills for our future endeavors, we learn how to collaborate with people of different nationalities and ideologies, and we, most importantly, find what we are passionate about. Every assignment a that professor gives us is designed to emphasize something we will be doing in the future, or that the professor thinks is an important skill for us to know for the future. They aren’t making us work together to check the “I promote teamwork” box and add another line to their resume. If we genuinely want to learn everything we can here, we have to stop worrying about our grades and realize what a small part of our learning experience they are. Not only will this lower the extremely high stress level on campus, but it will allow more students to see that our learning isn’t confined to a classroom and isn’t represented by a number, a letter or a diploma. Our time here is called the “Auburn Experience” for a reason. The clubs, speeches, concerts and events outside of the classroom, as well as the variety of interesting electives on campus are sponsored so that our learning can be an encapsulating experience. If our students leave the Plains having learned only what we need to obtain the almighty “A,” then we have missed out on receiving the education we all pay an arm and a leg for.
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Sports
6 ThePlainsman.com
Thursday, May 29, 2014
Sports
State of the program No. 15 baseball As the last of Auburn's sports teams wrap up their seasons, the sports staff at The Auburn Plainsman has put together power rankings of the 15 athletics teams at the University. These rankings reflect the team's performances over the 2013-2014 school year while taking into account recent seasons and future potential. Leading off at the bottom of our rankings is head coach Sunny Golloway and Auburn baseball. 2014 Record: 28-28 (10-20 SEC) 2013 Record: 33-23 (13-17 SEC) 5-year record: 164-129 (.559)
season review: First-year head coach Sunny Golloway made a lot of noise upon his arrival on the Plains with talk of an impending trip to Omaha, Nebraska and the College World Series. In the end, the Tigers fell well short of Omaha, Hoover and the SEC Tournament.
Key departures: Reliever Terrance Dedrick, starting second baseman Dan Glevenyak, starting pitcher Michael O'Neal, starting pitcher Dillon Ortman, starting center fielder Ryan Tella, starting infielder Damek Tomscha, reliever Jay Wade.
season low: The easy choice would be the road sweep at Ole Miss, where the Tigers allowed an extrainning walk-off home run while attempting an intentional walk. However, losing two out of three at home against last-place Missouri the week before, while still ranked, was the real beginning of Auburn's late-season slide down the SEC standings.
the future: The return of young players Keegan Thompson, Jordan Ebert and Anfernee Grier will help replace Auburn's graduating seniors. Golloway's track record at previous schools shows a history of winning, but the dismissal of upperclassmen and the program's worst season since 2008 leave the jury out as to whether he can turn around the program.
women’s Tennis
men’s golf
Tigers tumble at NCAAs
Auburn left with “a lot to learn” weather delays and a tumultuous final 27 holes Derek Thompson Sports Writer
Contributed by Zach bland / auburn athletics
Record-breaking run ends in NCAA semifinals loss Pleun Burgmans returns a shot against Georgia in the NCAA women’s tennis doubles semifinal.
Brian Stultz Sports Reporter
A school-record run in the NCAA Women’s Tennis Championships ended in the semifinals for Pleun Burgmans and Emily Flickinger after the pair was defeated in straight sets 6-4, 7-5 by Georgia’s Lauren Herring and Maho Kowase on Sunday, March 2 at the Dan Magill Tennis Complex in Athens, Georgia. The No. 15 Auburn duo finished the season with a 27-7 overall record, recording the most doubles wins by an Auburn team in the last three seasons. Their run to the semifinals was the deepest run in Auburn history by a doubles team. “It was an amazing run by
Pleun and Emily this weekend,” Auburn head coach Lauren Meisner told AuburnTigers.com. “I could not be more proud of what they have accomplished and the records they broke.” The No. 2 ranked Herring and Kowase took advantage of two break-point chances, converting both in the first set to take a one-set lead. “It is a tough loss, but an experience that we can build on for their future,” Meisner said. “Coming away with a Final Four appearance and the AllAmerica accolades are huge milestones for the Auburn tennis program.” To earn a spot in Sunday’s match, Burgmans and Flickinger, who were named All-
SEC this season and are Auburn’s first All-American selections since 2009, defeated No. 3 North Carolina’s Hayley Carter and Jamie Loeb 6-3, 2-6, 6-3, their first victory against a topfive team this season. In the first round of NCAA tournament play, Flickinger and Burgmans defeated No. 18-ranked Michigan’s Emina Bektas and Brooke Bolender 6-3, 6-3. The Tigers continued their momentum by eliminating No. 16-ranked Southern California’s Brynn Boren and Zoe Katx 7-5, 7-5. “We are going to take some time to relish this great experience and then get back to work for next year to push ourselves further,” Meisner said.
Auburn’s men’s golf team did not advance to match play in its 19th NCAA Championships after placing 23rd Monday at Prairie Dunes Country Club in Hutchinson, Kansas. “The first 27 holes, we played great,” said Auburn head coach Nick Clinard. “We were at nine-under par, and the last 27 – it hurts. It stings a little bit. It’s probably the worst 27 holes in my 13year coaching career.” The match on the first day at Prairie Dunes was suspended for the Tigers after three rain delays that totaled eight hours, 10 minutes and did not continue until Saturday morning. Auburn came out of the first round tied with Kennesaw State in ninth place. The Tigers were one of the 15 of 30 teams to get on the course Friday and finished the first round at 2-over. David Stringfellow was the only Auburn golfer to finish his first nine holes at 1-over and had two birdies. Jake Mondy, 2-over, and Will Long, even-par, both got through eight holes. Matt Gilchrest finished seven holes at even-par while Niclas Carlsson was oneover. Weather conditions improved Saturday and Gilchrest tied for second at the
end of his first round and finished at 3-under, 67. At the end of the first round Auburn was tied with Alabama for third place at 6-under par. Auburn finished the second round at 6-over in a tie for 11th place with Vanderbilt and Washington. Gilchrest sank a birdie putt on 18 to help Auburn stay in the top-15 and advance to Monday’s third round. Gilchrest (67-73–140) finished the second round 3-over, as did Carlsson (6873–141), Long (68-73–141) and Stringfellow (71-73– 144). Mondy (71-76–147) shot 6-over on the day. The Tigers finished the tournament at 20-over par and their best score came from Gilchrest who shot 6773-74–214 to tie for 57. “They have a lot to learn. They have a lot of growing up to do maturity-wise as people and as golfers,” Clinard said of his team that counted two freshmen (Gilchrest and Long) and a sophomore (Mondy) among its five players. Despite the poor finish, Clinard said the tournament was a good experience. “They get to realize what they have to work on and what they have to do to improve,” Clinard said. Carlsson (68-73-76—217) and Long (68-73-76—217)
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The first 27 holes, we played great. We were at nine-under par, and the last 27 - it hurts. It stings a little bit. It’s probably the worst 27 holes in my 13-year coaching career.” —Nick Clinard Men’s golf head coach
finished tied for 83rd and Mondy (71-76-74—221) and Stringfellow (71-73-77–221) tied for 113th at plus-11. The top eight teams advancing to match play to determine the 2014 champion are No. 3 Stanford (-13), No. 1 Alabama (-4), No. 16 LSU (-4), No. 2 Oklahoma State (E), No. 4 Georgia Tech (+1), No. 21 UCLA (+4), No. 28 SMU (+5) and No. 9 Illinois (+5). Georgia Tech’s Ollie Schniederjans and Stanford’s Cameron Wilson tied for the individual lead at minus-6. Wilson went on to defeat Schniederjans to win the individual title in a playoff matchup on Monday, May 26.
SEC schedules in need of ninth conference matchup Andrew Monson sports@ theplainsman.com
Last week, the SEC revealed the football non-divisional rotation for every year until 2025. They decided to keep the eightgame slate that consists of six divisional games and two non-divisional games, including one permanent nondivisional opponent. While that means the annual battle with Georgia will be kept intact for Auburn, many entertaining matchups will only happen a couple times every decade.
One of my favorite series, against Florida, will not be played again in the regular season until 2019. After producing moments like Damon Duval’s game-winning field goal and ensuing field-storming in 2001, Tre Smith returning a blocked punt for a touchdown in 2006 and Wes Byrum hitting the game-winning field goal twice in Gainesville in 2007; the Auburn-Florida series deserves to be played more often. Tennessee and South Carolina, two opponents that have given Auburn competitive games in recent history, will only be occasional foes. Following the Tennessee game last season and the South Carolina game this fall, the two teams will not play Auburn in the regular season again un-
til 2018 and 2021, respectively. Alternatives to the current schedule have been discussed. The two most logical alternatives are adding a ninth conference game and removing the permanent non-divisional opponent. I think the better solution is adding a ninth conference game, one that would be another rotating, non-divisional game. Doing so would immensely benefit three types of fans: the casual fan, the student and the season ticket holder. The casual fan wants to watch quality games with the best players, coaches and game day atmospheres. What better place to see such games than the SEC? Adding one more game would create another entertaining Sat-
urday on everyone’s schedule. College students are the most spirited, obnoxious and fun fans there are, and they come from around the country. It’s a shame that students from states such as Florida, Tennessee, or South Carolina may not be able to see Auburn play at their home state school while they are a student. As for the season ticket holders, they are the fans that spend money on tickets, gas, a place to stay and food every weekend during football season, even for the smaller games for the most part. With fans so dedicated, why not reward them by replacing a blowout, non-conference game with another competitive SEC game?
On top of fans, another conference game would economically benefit the schools significantly. In this age of high-definition TV and nationwide coverage of almost every game, it is getting more difficult to sell out every home game, especially the less competitive non-conference games. Replacing one game with a ninth conference game will increase ticket sales, attendance and increase profits pulled in by the universities. With the SEC recently announcing the new scheduling format, it seems that reform may not happen in the near future. When it does happen, a ninth conference game will be an attractive option.
Sports 7
The Auburn Plainsman
Thursday, May 29, 2014
contributed by auburn athletics
LEFT: Freshman Justin Carter throws the javelin at the SEC Outdoor Track and Field Championships. RIGHT: Kasey Cooper (13) comes home after hitting a home run against Alabama in the SEC Tournament.
This Week in Auburn Sports Track and Field
The Auburn track and field team accepted 25 entries (13 women and 12 men) into the NCAA East Preliminaries on May 29-31 at Hodges Stadium in Jacksonville, Florida. To be eligible for the NCAA prelims, an athlete must be ranked in the top 48 of the region, top 24 for relays, at the conclusion of the regular season. Senior Stephen Saenz is the third seed in the men’s shotput after recording the third-longest throw in school history at 66-9.25/20.35m at the Triton Invitational. Senior Marcus Popenfoose will also compete in the shotput as well as the discus. Freshman Justin Carter, who broke the school’s 18-year record in the javelin, will be the fourth seed with a qualifying mark of 2397/73.04m. Senior DJ Smith, the 2014 SEC runnerup in the high jump, will be the 10th seed at 7-1.75/2.18m. The 4x100 meter relay team is the fourth seed with a time of 39.17. In the 110m hurdles, sophomore Torrey Campbell enters the meet as the sixth seed with a time of 13.67, while Gary Ford qualified as the 27th seed with a time of 13.98. Three freshmen will be competing in the 200m: Teray Smith, Khalil Henderson and Michael Cheeks who qualified with times of 20.57, 20.78 and 20.82, respectively. On the women’s side, freshman Marshay
Ryan will be the fourth seed in the prelims with a seed mark of 43-3.75/13.20m. Junior Valentina Muzaric is the No. 6 seed at 56-0.5/17.08m while sophomore Rachel Dincoff is the 10th seed at 54-2/16.51m in the shotput. Dincoff will also be competing in the discus after qualifying with a mark of 165-11/50.58m. The 4x100 meter relay team is the sixth seed with a time of 44.29.
softball
Freshman third baseman Kasey Cooper has been named a Top-Three Finalist for the National Fastpitch Coaches’ Association’s inaugural Division I National Freshman of the Year Award. The award will be presented prior to the start of the 2014 NCAA Women’s College World Series in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Joining Cooper in the final three are Tennessee’s Annie Aldrete and Notre Dame’s Karley Wester. Cooper had one of the best seasons in Auburn history by not only a freshman, but any player that has come through its program. She finished first on the team in batting average (.418) and is one of only two Auburn players this season to finish with a batting average of .400 or higher. Kasey Cooper has led the team in multiple offensive categories throughout the course of
this season including average, hits, home runs, RBI, slugging and runs scored. The freshman etched her name into Auburn Tigers history last week at the NCAA Minneapolis Regional when she hit her 18th home run of the season, breaking the school’s all-time single-season record of 17 set by Holly Currie and Ashley Moore in the 2005 and 2002 seasons respectively. Cooper won two SEC Freshman of the Week awards this season, becoming the first Auburn Tiger to do so since 2007 and still has the highest batting average in the SEC among freshman. Cooper is seventh in the conference in average, tied for first in runs scored (70), third in total bases (137), fourth in slugging (.780), second in RBIs (77) and fourth in home runs (18). With her performance so far this season, Cooper has already set two Auburn freshman single-season records for home runs and RBIs. The record was last set by Tatiana Fernandez who had eight home runs and 41 RBI in the 2006 season. Cooper’s accomplishments haven’t gone unnoticed as she became the first Auburn Tiger to be named All-SEC (Second Team) and SEC All-Freshman in a season. Cooper stayed on pace all year and also broke the freshman record for batting average in a season, breaking the previous high of .389 set by Emily Carosone last season.
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Men’s Tennis
Auburn’s men’s tennis season came to an end Thursday as junior Lukas Ollert fell in the second round of the 2014 NCAA Men’s Tennis Championships at the Dan Magill Tennis Complex on the campus of the University of Georgia. Ollert, ranked 52nd in the nation, fell 3-6, 6-3, 3-6 to No. 12 Nic Scholtz of Ole Miss. The match was Ollert’s second straight three-setter. After dropping the first, Ollert rallied back in the second set, picking up a break and cruising to a 6-3 victory to force a deciding third set. Scholtz picked up an early break at 2-0 and took the lead for good to win the contest. “I thought (Lukas) played well at times and had chances. He got off to a low start in the third set and that cost him,” Auburn head coach Eric Shore said. “As the year has gone on, he’s realized that he belongs with the level of competition he has played against this season. He is an elite player in the SEC and will be for us next season. I was proud of how he and Dan (Cochrane) competed for us this year, especially at NCAAs.” Ollert finishes his junior campaign at Auburn with a 20-13 overall record and was an All-SEC second team selection with Cochrane during the 2013-14 season.
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Intrigue
8 ThePlainsman.com
Thursday, May 29, 2014
Intrigue
music
Local family creates ministry through music shop Reese Counts Intrigue Writer
Music stores don’t have to be places where Fender Stratocasters are locked away in glass cases on East University Drive. The Spicer family set out to create a different kind of music shop when they opened Spicer’s Music in December 2012. “We didn’t open with the mindset of being a retail store,” said Tim Spicer, co-owner of Spicer’s Music. “The retail was secondary.” Spicer’s Music opened to bring music to the community. The Spicer family said they wanted to use their love of music to help people. Tom Spicer, Tim’s father and co-owner of Spicer’s Music, shared his musical talents with his family. “There were always instruments around the house when my brother and I were growing up,” Tim said. “Growing up I picked up a bunch of different instruments.” Tim’s mother, Jean Spicer, works in the mental health field. “There is a big background – I guess it kind of runs in my blood – of working with others,” Jean said. “My method for that turned out to be music.” Seven years ago, the family started Spicer’s Garage Band Camp. This camp is held Monday through Friday during the summer where students ages 8–18 learn how to cover songs and eventually compose and perform an original piece. Spicer’s Music is the successor to that project. “Friday night is a concert with stage, lights, fog and guitar solos that started as a way to infuse music in the lives of kids and help them positively through that,” Tim said.
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We’re always trying to think of a different group of people we haven’t been able to touch or reach through music yet.” —Tim Spicer co-Onwer of Spicer’s music
Tim said he sees his store as more than just a music shop. “I think of it as a ministry,” Tim said. Tim graduated from Auburn with a degree in special education and said he wanted to combine his affection for music with what he learned at Auburn. “We really opened with the mindset of lessons, of summer camps, of doing some programs with kids and of doing some things in the community,” Tim said. The family focuses on teaching lessons to people of all ages. Tim said comfort is essential for students and parents when they come to the store for lessons. When Tim was taking lessons growing up, he said his mother was so uncomfortable waiting in the stores that she would sit in her car. “It seemed like there’s a consistent old-stale carpet, grey walls and a couple people sitting behind the counter that kind of look down their nose at you,” Tim said. Josh McKenzie, Spicer’s Music guitar technician, has been a friend of Tim for years. “We worked together at another store and played in bands together,” McKenzie said. “When I found he was opening the store I was
raye may / photo and design editor
BELOW: Tim Spicer, co-owner of Spicer’s Music, has been playing the guitar since he was a kid.
really excited because I knew his heart and vision.” McKenzie describes selling guitars as “matching someone up with the perfect girlfriend.” The Spicer family said they are working on a non-profit business that provides instruments and lessons to low-income familes and at-risk children. “We’re always trying to think of a different group of people we haven’t been able to touch or reach through music yet,” Tim said. The Spicer family furthers their community by going to local elementary schools to teach music lessons. “We have a lot of ideas on the drawing board,” Tim said. “One thing we don’t want to do is too many things at once and not do anything effectively.”
food
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Engineering alumnus pursues restaurant dream Rachel Davis Intrigue Writer
raye may / photo and design editor
Lee Pham said many customers compliment the bicycle sign in the restaurant.
Pho Lee is a cozy restaurant, tucked between Big Dog Running Co. and Chappy’s Deli on Glenn Avenue. Owner Lee Pham received a degree in electrical engineering from Auburn University, but he said he decided to follow a different passion. “I love serving, and I enjoy cooking,” Pham said. “That’s one of the reasons I opened a Vietnamese restaurant.” Pham also opened the restaurant due to the increasing diversity in the Auburn community. “In Auburn, [there are] a number of Asian people, especially Korean,” Pham said. “The majority of our customers are American. People love to try new things.” Pham said he uses his restaurant to bring Vietnamese culture to people who otherwise might not experience it. The restaurant is decorated, with Vietnamese instruments hung on the walls.
Come b a sweet y for treat!
Homemade cakes and treats for any occasion!
Delivery available~! 108 South 9th Street Opelika, AL 36801
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I love serving, and I enjoy cooking. That’s one of the reason’s why I opened a Vietamese restaurant.” —Lee Pham Owner of Pho Lee
Vietnamese music plays in the background. A bicycle is the only thing that looks out of place, hung to replace the double “O” in the “You Have a Good Day!” wall art, but it adds a quirky sense of charm that is also evident in Pham. Pham lived in Vietnam before moving to Auburn in 1996. His sisters also live here and helped him startup the business. His nephews, who are currently in high school, work for Pham after school. “He’s definitely a family man,” said Jessica Evans, server at Pho Lee. “They all care about each other.”
The recipes Pham uses come from his mother, who used to cook pho, or noodle soup. “We have a very varied menu [with] a lot of choice for everyone,” Pham said. The restaurant’s motto is “Eat Healthy, Live Longer,” which is a motto Pham had in mind for years. “If you eat healthy, it makes you feel better,” Pham said. Along with the motto is Pho Lee’s logo of a man holding a bowl of pho, which was designed to look like Pham himself. “It’s a high risk business,” Pham said. “Even now, sometimes I think about it, [and I ask], ‘Did I make the right de-
cision?’” Pham said he is happy his restaurant has done well, even though he is a new restaurateur. “I went when it first opened, so they were still working out some kinks service-wise,” said Katelyn Judd, senior in interdisciplinary studies. “But, for a new place they were great. The food is really amazing.” There have been some difficulties in weaving the authentic Vietnamese culture into an American restaurant. “It takes some getting used to,” Evans said. Pham said he wants to start serving Vietnamese hot wings and beer. “Our bar is small, but I want to have international beer for Americans to have something new and something diverse to try,” Pham said. Pham said he is optimistic about the future of the restaurant. “I love when young adult people come and try different things,” Pham said.