The Auburn Plainsman A Spirit That Is Not Afraid
July-August 2015 Vol. 123, Issue 8, 12 Pages
First copy is free. Additional copies 50 cents per issue.
campus
student spotlight
Oak replaced Emily Esleck Editor-in-Chief
After extensive care trying to save the original Magnolia Oak, it was replaced by another live oak Wednesday, July 8. Ben Burmester, design project lead in Facilities Management for the Toomer’s Corner project, said the transplant ran smoothly this morning, even with the Corner construction. Gary Keever, professor of horticulture, said the replacement tree was dug from a nursery in Lake City, Florida, 16 months ago. “The construction actually helped us,” Keever said. “Otherwise we would’ve had to close Magnolia Avenue for sure, and it worked out extremely well. We worked with the contractors, we worked with the city to have access to Magnolia
Contributed by Eddie carmona
The poster is part of Edgar Carmona’s final project.
Interactive design goes viral Emily Esleck Editor-in-Chief
» See oak, 3
Dakota Sumpter / photo editor
News
Page 4 Students and faculty react to polymer and fiber engineering closing
sports
When it comes to graphic design, there’s one student who has surpassed professors’ expectations. Edgar Carmona, senior in graphic design minoring in business, won three awards in a row in Spring 2015 – something rare to come by. He won the Juried Show Interactive Award for a video illustra-
Page 8 Former football player on the path to NFL despite hardship
tion project, the Studio Design Award, a performance-based award given for his work during the Spring 2014 semester, where he was working on two applications, and he was short-listed in the top 20 out of 200 submissions in the Typomania typography video festival in Russia. Coming to Auburn for its prestigious design program, Carmona said the department helped him pay to enter the university and
intrigue
College Designers Association Conference, but the results won’t be announced until Nov. 2015. If Carmona receives this award, his said his project will become part of the conference’s collection permanently. The Graphic Design USA magazine ranked Auburn University’s School of Industrial and Graphic Design third in the nation in 2015, and, according to Robert
» See design, 3
Page 10 Syrup Sopping Day in Loachapoka canceled indefinitely
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The Auburn Plainsman
July-August 2015
July-August 2015
design » From Page 1
Finkel, assistant professor of graphic design, Auburn is only one of two colleges in the state that offers a bachelor of fine arts degree in graphic design. Finkel said he had Carmona in three studio courses. “I think Eddie has a strong sense of entrepreneurship,” Finkel said. “I think he’s going to really be able to combine the fine art graphic design kind of skills with this kind of business acumen, and, you know, I wouldn’t be surprised if in a very short amount of time he’s working on his own with a very successful business.” Courtney Windham, assistant professor of graphic design, said she encouraged Carmona to submit his final project he completed in her Type in Motion class last spring. “He was a great example of just a student, who has a lot of professionalism, very responsible, very great ideas, just bringing an idea from the beginning to the end and kind of making it turn out to be a phenomenal project in the end,” Windham said. “Especially his final project, I mean it kind of blew us all away, it was pretty awesome.” According to Windham, the project was called From Print to Motion, and they had to pick an event to promote through print and video. “He did that really well, combining the two mediums together,” Windham said. Carmona chose to promote the RallyCross X Games in Las Vegas “I feel like their design language is kind of
Oak
» From Page 1 Avenue, and I don’t think it could have gone any smoother.” Keever said that time period allowed it to grow and develop roots that were captured when it was brought out of the ground earlier this week. “What I was most impressed with when the tree was unveiled was the amount of root systems that’s already there,” Keever said. In comparison, he said the College Street Oak was dug two months before it was planted. “This tree is going to establish
News 3
The Auburn Plainsman crude and not that great, so I saw it as a good opportunity to kind of come in and be like, even as an action sport, there’s still room for some sort of a design language that kind of elevates the sport and makes it more visually appealing in terms of commercials and trying to capture an audience,” Carmona said. He compiled a one minute, 10 second television commercial highlighting some of the drivers who are competing. Carmona said the X Games put GoPros on racing cars and they always break, so his concept in making the commercial was to glitch the typography and make it look like broken GoPro footage. For the printed piece, Carmona made a poster, and with an augmented reality application on a phone, the viewer can use the phone camera to look at the video. The application scans the poster when in high-quality and turns the poster into a video on the device, transitioning a print piece into an interactive piece. Carmona used Aurasma, a free application anyone can download. Carmona said he constantly worked on this project for four and a half weeks. He said he used 15 different videos he edited together from the X Games, and he likes challenging himself. “Everything I do is only as successful as my peers deem it to be,” Carmona said. “So any criticism that anybody has is only going to strengthen it. And I see it as a great opportunity to just constantly self improve and do things that you otherwise wouldn’t do.” According to Carmona, design is the art of communication and understanding what each
quicker, probably than (College Street Oak),” Keever said. Martha Koontz, communications and marketing specialist for Facilities Management, said the university is excited for the fall, as corner construction and Samford Park construction will be completed. “As far as our new tree goes, we’re still holding to the rolling of 2016, we haven’t moved that date back at this time, but we will watch the progress of the tree and make a determination later if that date needs to be moved back,” Koontz said. One month ago, Burmester said
element of design conveys to the viewer. Carmona, originially from Las Vegas, has an older brother and sister who attended Auburn. He said he first leaned toward architecture and industrial design, because his sister graduated in industrial design. “I was always left-brained, creative, doing stuff with music, so I knew it was going to be something in the creative field,” Carmona said. When he discovered web, app and interactive design, Carmona said he knew that’s where he needed to be. He started teaching himself how to use software better, code and create web templates, and said he realized when he got to class he was already one or two semesters ahead of his classmates. “I kind of took a break from going out with friends, and like, you know the typical college life after freshman year, and I really wanted to kind of focus in on what I wanted to do for the rest of my life, and, so I started doing research on web design, app design, interactive design, interactive advertising, and that’s really when it kind of took off for me,” Carmona said. Industrial design focuses on products and the manufacturing of goods and graphic design focuses more on the introduction and appeal of the product or service to people. Carmona said he focuses on user experience, which is what the user sees within the application, program or desktop software and the way they interact with it. “Basically my job is to facilitate the use of the product or the service through design language,” Carmona said. He also said industrial and graphic design
the university decided to replace the tree. “We coordinated a lot of that with a lot of our academic folks on campus, the tree preservation committee specifically, and made the decision,” Burmester said. According to Burmester, they tested the soil for poison when the oak started declining months ago, and it came back negative. He also said a specific soil mix, a drip irrigation system and Silva Cells, which help tree growth in urban areas, will be in place to ensure the viability of the new oak. Keever said Silva Cells are 4-inch-long, 2-inch-wide and 12-
overlap. “It’s very hard to find an industrial designer and not find a graphic designer and vice versa,” Carmona said. “Not that they’re interchangeable, but wherever you find one, you’re always going to find another one.” Carmona said he sees himself moving back to Las Vegas for at least one year. He has three job offers in interactive advertising and exhibit design, a field his sister works in. “Vegas is a hot spot for that, any time there’s any convention of any sort or, like, some sort of expo, all the booths and stuff at trade shows have to get designed, there’s a ton of money in that,” Carmona said. However, according to Carmona, he has multiple options. He said he may start his own business with his sister, Carmona LLC — a doit-all custom design company. Since his sister works in industrial design, he said they compliment each other perfectly — what she doesn’t know how to do, he does and vice versa. If the business is successful he said he may stay there or obtain his master’s degree in business at Harvard where he would have a full schloarship, since his brother is a professor there. Carmona is a member of the Delta Kappa Epsilon fraternity and is their go-to designer. He also said he is the chief design officer of a tech start-up including a website and application that Matt Stein, vice president of Delta Kappa Epsilon at Harvard, started. According to Carmona, the start-up is called Hive Technologies.
inch high boxes filled with top soil underground extending underneath the sidewalk and out toward the intersection. “It allows the roots to infiltrate that soil, so they’ve got a larger volume of soil to grow in, but they’re structurally sound so the sidewalk would still support whatever weight that was applied,” Keever said. Keever also said this was an ideal time to move the new oak because the foliage has matured. “It’s like you’re taking a nap, you run, run, run all day, and then you take a nap and you recover and so it’s a perfect time to
remove that one,” Keever said. “(The South College Oak) is behind that, that foliage is less mature, the leaves aren’t as large, and it indicates that the tree is still stressed from being dug and transplanted. It’s doing amazingly well, to have a canopy that dense.” Keever said since February he has had calls from people concerned about the well-being of the Magnolia Oak. “I think that the Auburn community is going to adopt this tree very quickly, and it’s going to become part of the Auburn Family,” Keever said.
News 4
The Auburn Plainsman
July-August 2015
campus
Looking to the future as engineering department closes Emily Esleck editor-in-chief
The department of polymer and fiber engineering department will close Aug. 15 after reviews presented by Christopher Roberts, dean of the College of Engineering, University President Jay Gogue, the university senate and other groups at the June 5 Board of Trustees meeting. Current polymer and fiber engineering students will be able to complete their degrees, and the college will also continue to maintain the graduate program in the field. “This move has been studied very carefully at all levels within the university, and is motivated by fundamental changes that have occurred within the College of Engineering, as well as in the regional industry base,” Roberts said. “Foremost among these is the continued diminishment of enrollments in the polymer and fiber program, and the need to align our resources with emerging enrollment trends.” There were 63 undergraduates in the program in fall 2014. Provost Timothy Boosinger said there is not enough demand for the program. Faculty will be assigned to other majors that have more enrollment so they can better serve students, according to Boosinger. According to Roberts, the program is still high-quality. “The quality of the program was never in question, it’s just relative distribution of our resources and the number of students that we have to serve,” Roberts said. “I’m certain the students that are enrolled will get a very good education if they choose to finish up the degree.” The College of Engineering will offer specialized coursework in the graduate program for polymer and fiber engineering with plans for an interdisciplinary Center for Polymer and Composite Engineering. Maria Auad, interim department chair and associate professor of polymer and fiber engineering, said the center will provide new opportunities for research. “We are closing the department chance to direct the funding through new avenues, which I think are going to be very important for the school of engineering and Auburn University,” Auad said.
Julia Freeman, academic adviser for polymer and fiber engineering, said she has dealt with students who have not been accepted into the major since its closing. “Oh yeah, I’ve been having that conversation,” Freeman said. She also said it was a slow process since the Board of Trustees vote came after the start of Camp War Eagle, so it affected incoming freshman. “We had students who didn’t read their email and didn’t know until they got here that they couldn’t major in this, and so basically what I have told them is that they should still be able to get a background in polymers ... and that this degree has been accredited as a materials engineering degree, so I see the logic in folding this background into materials engineering,” Freeman said. Students can also use the bachelor program to prepare for the graduate program if they want to specialize, according to Freeman. Auad also said this will “open opportunities for the continuation of research in polymer and composites” at Auburn. “They already have two specializations, one in polymers and one in fiber composites, so I’m telling the students that they can get this background, it just won’t be as a major,” Freeman said. She also said the university is adding content in polymer and composites to materials and chemical engineering courses as well as preparing to develop minors in polymers and composites. “There is some advantage to having a broader undergraduate degree such as materials, mechanical or chemical engineering, which are the ones who are the most closely aligned right now, basically materials and chemical, and then having a specialization in something like polymers and composites, and according to what they’re telling me that’s where the programs are headed,” Freeman said. Roy Broughton, professor emeritus in the department of polymer and fiber engineering, has taught at Auburn since 1976. “Given the ubiquitous nature of polymers, fibers and composites, and their industrial significance, dissolving the single department devoted to those areas is questionable,”
photos by dakota sumpter / photo editor
There will still be a graduate program in polymer and fiber engineering.
Broughton said. However, Freeman said there can be positives to the closing of the department. “I’m hopeful that that will serve the students, in the long run,” Freeman said. “Because when you’re job hunting, it’s not a bad thing to have a broad bachelor’s degree, and then you tend to specialize in a graduate program, but if you can specialize in a bachelor’s program with a minor or a specialization, that’s also good when you’re job hunting.” She also said small departments or colleges run the risk of closure because of lack of funding from the state. Broughton said the attempt to close small programs isn’t new at Auburn. According to Freeman, this is the third time since she’s been an adviser the university has considered closing the program. She said when polymer and fiber engineering was textile, they considered closing it since it was small. Going forward, they changed the program and it grew, but Freeman said it’s not the same because it doesn’t have 400 students like civil engineering. “You have to raise your own money through research and gifts, and it’s just hard to do when you’re a small department,” Freeman said. “You have fewer professors doing research, and so obviously that affects the bottom line.” Freeman said this transition was basically a re-aligning of programs within the College
The department is set to close Aug. 15.
of Engineering. “You know it’s hard when you close a department because a small department the students know each other and it’s just a different sort of feel, so that’s the hard part,” Freeman said. Freeman was asked to stay on as an adviser through the closing and remodeling of the building. “I think there are going to be a lot of opportunities for our alumni, our students and our faculty,” Auad said.
July-August 2015
News 5
The Auburn Plainsman
campus
Students react to the GHB case Stephen Howard, former lab technician in the department of polymer and fiber engineering, was arrested Friday, May 22, for distributing 1,4-butanediol, which becomes GHB, a date rape drug, when ingested. Howard resigned his position at the university June 2. Howard was arrested after he sold more than a gallon of the liquid to an undercover agent on two separate occasions. Howard was subsequently indicted on six counts, including three counts of possessing with intent to distribute 1,4-butanediol, two firearms charges and one count of possession of methamphetamine.
howard He plead not guilty at his arraignment on Tuesday, June 16, and was denied bail by U.S. Magistrate Judge Wallace Capel, Jr. Howard’s trial date is set for Jan. 4, 2016. If convicted, Howard will face up to 20 years in prison for possession of a controlled substance
#GHBguyatAU
and up to 32 years for possession of a firearm during a drug trafficking crime. Mike Clardy, interim assistant vice president for the Office of Communications and Marketing, said the university is looking into whether policy changes need to be made to prevent this type of situation from happening again. This high-profile case has caught the attention of several Auburn students. Some have said this scary experience has opened their eyes, and they have learned the importance of being responsible when they’re going out. Others commented on the way the university handled the situation.
@Rachel_Newton (senior, chemistry) “Auburn might be a safe campus compared to other campuses, but stuff still goes on that shouldn’t be going on.”
@Kate_Shorter (senior, chemistry) “That made me realize, no, this is a big university ... and so that, that scared me a little bit.”
@Kirby_Norrell (junior, speech pathology) “I think it’s unfortunate for everyone involved and I think that it was a good experience for us to be more aware of that situation on campus.”
Compiled by Emily Esleck and Maria McIlwain. Graphic by Ashley Harris.
Construction
Mell classroom construction starting in December Rachael Taylor writer
Construction will begin in December on the Mell Classroom Building. The building will be 65,000 square feet and will be located on the west end of the library. The building will contain two large lecture halls, and general classrooms that can hold from 20-30 students to 60-80 students, according to Sarah Smith, campus architect. Including the lecture halls, there will be 31 new classrooms in the building. She said that this building will replace older classrooms in Haley Center and other buildings on campus. “Consistent with the University’s Strategic Plan, this state-of-the-art classroom facility is designed to enhance student success and the undergraduate educational experience at Auburn University,” said Martha Koontz, communications and marketing specialist for Facilities Management. Smith said all of the classrooms will have
projection and white boards. Some rooms will have active learning capabilities for project-based learning. There will be no labs or offices in the building, and the building will be physically connected to the Ralph Brown Draughon Library. According to Smith, there will be collaborative learning stations, individual study rooms and a café. The Einstein’s Bagels students voted on in February is expected to be in the building. Auburn students had a lot to say about the addition of the restaurant on campus. “I don’t even know what Einstein’s is, but I hear it’s good,” said Jessie Johnson, junior in business. According to their website, Einstein’s serves coffee drinks and bagel sandwiches for breakfast and lunch. “I love Einstein’s,” said Shannon Guin, senior in biomedical sciences. There has previously been an Einstien’s location on campus.
dakota sumpter / photo editor
The Mell Street Classroom Building will be attached to RBD Library.
Smith said no parking will be added for this specific project, but the master plan for campus will include parking. The construction will begin in December and is estimated to take 16-18 months, so the
facility is expected to open in fall 2017. According to Smith, this building is included in the capital projects plan. Work for the plan started in 2010 but plans for this specific building started in 2011.
Opinion
July-August 2015
6 Opinion
ThePlainsman.com
our view
The effect a timeline can have on your lifetime
With technological advances and the prevalence of smartphones in today’s times, it is no secret social media is a huge part of our society, particularly in younger generations. Because of the popularity of social media, employers often use it as a method of looking into potential employees. In many cases, any inappropriate content an employer may find can be enough to reduce your chances of employment. As a result, we have more pressure on us than any previous generations to make sure our profiles, whether they are set as public or private, are clean and free of any material that could possibly shine a negative light on our image. Examples of questionable material include: photos, posts or references consisting of slang, hand gestures, alcohol, tobacco or drug usage. Before beginning a job search, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram are social media outlets many people would automatically clean for any suspicious activity or content. However, websites such as Pinterest have also been used by employers to scope out potential employees. Something as simple or innocent as pinning an alcoholic drink recipe, even if one is above the legal drinking age, could prevent one from obtaining a position for his or her dream job.
Gurden Smith / Contributing designer
Several on-campus organizations require their members to maintain clean social media accounts. Still, it is ill-advised to wait until one decides to join a certain organization or begins job searching to make his or her social media profiles clean. To prevent content found on social media from sabotaging a job opportunity, people will delete questionable material from their profiles. Another common method is to change the name that appears on their profiles so employers
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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.
cannot find them. However, even after deleting material from a person’s profile, particularly pictures, once that material has been posted online, it may never be completely removed. While changing one’s name on social media may make it more difficult for a potential employer to find him or her, it is still possible. The best way to avoid this is make sure inappropriate content is never placed, by you or a
friend, on your social media profile to begin with. The most effective way to ensure this is by prohibiting your picture being taken where you may be involved with or demonstrating any questionable behavior. Being respectable Auburn men and women, it is important to maintain a level of self-respect regardless of social media. If we don’t respect ourselves, then it becomes difficult for a potential employer to do so.
The Editorial Board Emily Esleck
Elizabeth Tiller
Raye May
Lauren Christopher
Maria McIlwain
Allison Phillips
Dakota Sumpter
Ashley Harris
This editorial is the majority opinion of the Editorial Board and is the official opinion of the newspaper.
Editor-in-Chief
The opinions expressed in columns and letters represent the views and opinions of their individual authors.
Managing Editor
These opinions do not necessarily reflect the Auburn University student body, faculty, administration or Board of Trustees.
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Sports
7
world cup
Locals bring the Women’s World Cup home Evan McCullers Sports reporter
On Sunday, July 5, the U.S. Women’s Soccer Team took the World Cup trophy after defeating Japan, 5-2. Although the finale aired all over the world, Auburn locals added their own flare to the event, bringing together fans for watch parties under the leadership of the American Outlaws. Austin Tidwell, secretary of the club, said the American Outlaws have chapters nationwide, starting in Nebraska. Auburn’s chapter formed last year, and was finalized as an official branch at the beginning of this summer. For Tidwell, the group means bringing the World Cup back to the Auburn community. “I think bringing it back to Auburn is beneficial, because we have a great university soccer program,” Tidwell said. “By meeting together, we’ve actually gotten to know the soccer team, the coaches and other people that work with the athletic department. Auburn’s a pretty good soccer town anyway, so we’ve been trying to bring the love of soccer back to the whole city.” Tidwell also said he believes bringing people together is a main goal of the World Cup. “In general, soccer is a sport that wins itself to be watched by groups of people instead of just sitting at home and watching it by yourself,” Tidwell said. “I think that’s what the World Cup is doing, bringing people who love soccer to a location to meet each other and then also hopefully taking that to other areas of our city and the United States as well.” With the Outlaws in place at Halftime in downtown Auburn, students and soccer fans packed in to enjoy U.S. Soccer. “I think this is just an American thing, when we get good at something, more people show up,” Tidwell said. “But it started out that most of the tables were full, but the women’s performance each game got progressively better, so more people came out for the next game. By the Women’s World Cup Final, we tried to get inside mostly, but there were a ton of people outside also. It got packed kind of early.” USA jumped out to an early lead by scoring four goals early in the first half, much to the
delight of viewers. Gary Thorne, senior in public administration, said the win over Japan was a great way to end the World Cup. “The U.S., in the opening stages of the World Cup, definitely underperformed,” Thorne said. “We struggled to find a sense of identity. But the (World Cup quarterfinal) China game gave us a little momentum. Once we played Germany [in the semifinals], we definitely found out what we needed to do to move forward, and that showed tonight. We beat Japan into the ground, and it was fantastic.” Jake Oldham, junior in economics, said he didn’t expect the game to go as it did, but he was happy about the outcome. “It was fun,” Oldham said. “The game was great. A little lopsided, which I really didn’t expect, but it was great to watch.” Martha Priester, senior in forest engineering, said living as an Auburn fan gave her the expectation that Japan would mount a comeback at some point. “Being an Auburn fan, it seems like we never get to enjoy an easy win,” Priester said. “After USA scored a couple of times, I thought Japan might make it close. We just kept scoring. It was nice to get to relax at the end of the game.” Morris Howard, senior in political science, said he was also surprised by the dominant performance from the USA. “It was incredible,” Howard said. “I thought we would win, but I didn’t think we would win the way we won. I didn’t think we would score four goals in the first 15 minutes. I thought we were better (than Japan). We were bigger, stronger and faster than they were. But I didn’t think we would score that many that fast. It happened so quickly. We scored the first goal in two minutes. After that the goals just kept coming. It was fun to watch.” Howard said payback for the women’s loss four years ago in the 2011 Women’s World Cup Final was an even sweeter reason to win. “We were out for revenge,” Howard said, “That’s what this game was all about.” Several fans said they hope to see the women’s run in the World Cup propel soccer in
adam sparks / photographer
Fans celebrate at Halftime Sports Bar after the U.S.Women’s Soccer Team defeated Japan 5-2 in the Women’s World Cup Finale.
raye may / managing editor
Richard Davis (left) and Chris Anthony (right), members of American Outlaws, watch the Women’s World Cup at one of the club’s watch parties.
America to new heights. “It’s awesome to see American soccer excel,” Thorne said. “I want the men's team to do the same thing. I want the men's team to step up to the plate. It’s a process, but we’re going to get there eventually. The support for the women's has been outstanding. When we get that same support for the men's team, it’s going to be a very special thing.” Howard agreed the win will help soccer’s
popularity in America. “[The win] can only help exponentially,” Howard said. “Soccer has been growing in popularity since the Men’s World Cup. Soccer is definitely a sport that is growing in the United States, and I think the women winning can only help that explosion.” Lauren Christopher contributed to this report.
July-August 2015
Sports 8
The Auburn Plainsman
July-August 2015
The Auburn Plainsman
Sports 9
football
Former Tiger turns losses to motivation Evan McCullers Sports Reporter
Many football players would be discouraged by obstacles getting in the way of their dream to play professionally, but former Auburn defensive tackle Jeff Whitaker is familiar with facing adversity. Whitaker has endured his fair share of hard times, beginning when his mom died of cancer when he was only 12 years old. Whitaker said he struggled with his mom’s death at first, but it eventually led him to pursue football. “I thought suicidal thoughts when my mom passed,” Whitaker said. “I lost hope at one point. That’s where, because of my faith and my belief in Christ, I believe (God) gave me football. I thought it was crazy to go out there and sweat and beat up on people. What changed that is the anger I had at one point at God, at family, I used that anger at football. So when I started playing football, I was mad. Because when I looked in the stands, I didn’t see my mom.” Whitaker also struggled with the loss of other family members throughout his life. “Another adversity is when I was battling my knee injury (in 2013), I lost both of my grandmothers within eight months of each other,” Whitaker said. “Even at the SEC Championship Game, I couldn’t be there for my teammates because I was at Piedmont Hospital, watching life leave my grandmother. Losing those two, that was huge. Since 2003, I’ve lost over a dozen close relatives. But if it weren’t for my struggles, I wouldn’t be who I am today.” Former Auburn defensive end Nosa Eguae, who was Whitaker’s teammate from 2010-13, said Whitaker is a great guy to have on a team because of his infectious joy. “He loves on everybody,” Eguae said. “If you’re having a bad day you can feed off of him. A lot of people are up one day, down the next. Jeff just has a certain consistency of joy and happiness.” Whitaker said he had many people help him at different points in his life. “I had a lot of people who helped me along the way,” Whitaker said. “When my mom died, [my dad] gave me a lot of encouraging words. My brother was the most important
person in the whole situation. He came to me and said, ‘Listen, mom’s gone, I’m going to have to be tough on you.’ For two years after my mom passed, it was me and my brother.” Whitaker said there were many people at Auburn who helped him move past the tough times he had endured in his personal life. “Tracy Rocker recruited me and was my biggest influence in coming to Auburn,” Whitaker said. “Auburn was the place I couldn’t say ‘no’ to. Still to this day, (going to Auburn) is the best decision I’ve made. My best friend is Nosa Eguae, who I met at Auburn. It was really everybody at Auburn. Coach Rodney Garner, Coach (Gus) Malzahn, all the guys on the defensive line. Everyone was great to me during my time at Auburn.” Whitaker said there are things he learned at Auburn that still stay with him today. “I learned that (Auburn) is a family,” Whitaker said. “I lost a lot of family, so to be in the Auburn Family, to have that second home, it’s great in my life. I think it taught me to love again and dream bigger. Auburn has changed my perspective in a lot of ways on life. I learned a lot at Auburn. Auburn is home.” Whitaker was highly recruited out of high school and experienced success during his first two years at Auburn. The defensive lineman appeared in every game in the 2010 season, which ended in a national championship for Auburn. He followed with a great individual season in 2011, starting
“
file photo
Defensive tackle Ben Bradley (#50) blocks Whitaker on Auburn’s first day of spring camp 2014.
“It was tough,” Whitaker said. “You’ve got your name on people’s radar, you’re rated [on draft boards], there was a possibility of leaving early, and then there were coaching chang-
There are going to be struggles, there are going to be people that you have to leave by the wayside and there is going to be adversity. But if you keep God first, you’ll never come in second.There’s a reason why you go through [adversity]. You owe it to yourself to not give up on your dream.” —Jeff Whitaker
former auburn football defensive tackle
all 13 games and totaling 25 tackles. After the promising start to his career, Whitaker was held back by injuries and coaching changes in each of his final three seasons at Auburn.
es and injuries. You have to deal with all that. When I looked back at my life and saw the other struggles that I overcame, I just looked at it as one more hurdle. It’s been a humbling experience, but I always kept faith. I always
kept a sound mind.” Eguae said Whitaker’s resiliency is one of his best attributes. “He came back in 2012 and faced injuries,” Eguae said. “In 2013, he had to get redshirted right before the season started. And to come back from that and have his senior year cut short from injuries as well, he’s an overcomer. You never see him ever get too low. That’s what makes it all so hard. He puts so much work in and so much effort, and you see it. He’s always about continuing the grind and continuing to get better and focusing on continuous growth.” Whitaker said graduating in December 2014 with a degree in communication is something he’s proud of. “It’s amazing because that was never my dream,” Whitaker said. “It was for my mom, because I know she would have been so proud of that.” Whitaker is now training near his hometown of Macon, Georgia, in hopes of being
raye may / managing editor
Whitaker signs an Auburn helmet at 2014 Fan Day.
signed as a free agent by an NFL team. “I’ve been doing a lot of stadium stairs, I’ve been flipping tires, a lot of bear crawls and just staying active,” Whitaker said. “I’m in the best shape I’ve ever been in. My body is the healthiest it’s ever been. I feel good.” Tim Reynolds is the owner of Tim’s Total Fitness in Byron, Georgia, where Whitaker has worked out since he was 15 years old. “Everybody is different,” Reynolds said. “Everybody trains differently and looks at taking care of themselves differently. Jeffrey’s got the motivation in him to train harder. Some people are just that way. Some people are content with the way they are and what they’re doing and don’t want any more out of life. Then you’ve got some people that want more, and they put in extra [work] to get it. Some people will put that much in because they know it takes that much to get what they want. I feel like Jeffrey is one of those people.” Reynolds said it is important that the young people in the community have someone such
dakota sumpter / photo editor
Whitaker keeps his fitness intact for the NFL.
as Whitaker to look up to. “For younger people to look at someone like Jeffrey, from a small town, and to see what he’s done, it’s a big influence.” Reynolds said. We need more people like Jeffrey. He’s got good character. Everyone that talks about him talks about how kind he is.” Eguae said Whitaker was always a great leader during his time at Auburn, even when he was not able to be on the field. “He didn’t play in 2013, but he was a leader on that team” Eguae said. “He was one of the heartbeats on that team and one of the heartbeats on our defensive line. He was there the whole way.” Whitaker said his passion for football has helped him continue to work hard and chase his dreams. “I love ball, I love it,” Whitaker said. “If I liked it, I wouldn’t be doing this [training] right now. I’m going to help my family and get to impact lives with that platform. I think [football] is just setting me up for something
else. It’s my hope and my dream, so I’m going to put everything into it. All of my eggs are in one basket.” Whitaker said he has many traits that make him an attractive piece for an NFL team. “What I bring to the locker room is leadership,” Whitaker said. “I’m someone who’s going to give it their all. I’m someone who loves football. I’m someone who is going to do his job. I’ll hold a double-team, stop the run or rush the passer. I think I’m NFL-bound and NFL-ready.” Eguae said Whitaker would bring just as much to an NFL team off the field as he will on the field. “Jeff is one of those guys who is just fun to be around,” Eguae said. “I know he’s going to get an opportunity. It’s tough when you go through and get a lot of injuries. But he’s healthy, and a healthy Jeff Whitaker is a baller on the football field. He’s a true nose tackle that can play in a 3-4 [defense] and that can legitimately close the middle for a defense. I
personally don’t think it gets much better than Jeff. A team is going to get a steal.” Whitaker said he still has goals to achieve in football and in life. “My main dream, as far as football, is to live it to the fullest and be happy,” Whitaker said. “In life, I just want to be an instrument and let God use me to help the youth and anyone I can with my story and my trials and tribulations. I want to let them know that they can come through anything and overcome it.” Whitaker said the biggest thing he has learned in life is to never give up on a dream, no matter how many obstacles stand in the way. “There are going to be struggles, there are going to be people that you have to leave by the wayside and there is going to be adversity,” Whitaker said. “But if you keep God first, you’ll never come in second. There’s a reason why you go through [adversity]. You owe it to yourself to not give up on your dream.”
Intrigue
10
July-August 2015 ThePlainsman.com
Intrigue
Entertainment
Syrup Sopping Day a thing of the past Maria McIlwain news editor
Loachapoka will be less sweet this October. The annual Syrup Sopping Day in Loachapoka will not happen this year, marking the first time in 42 years the town has not hosted the event. Mathan Holt, one of the organizers of Syrup Sopping, has been involved with the event since its inception. He said they are not having the event this year because some people said the citizens of Loachapoka did not receive benefits from the event. “I’ve heard comments from different members of the town council that they don’t see where they benefit from Syrup Sopping,” Holt said. “One of the rumblings that I’ve heard was, ‘Well since the town of Loachapoka has the lease on the property, we can stop them from having Syrup Sopping.’” The property where Syrup Sopping is held is leased from the railroad, so they can control what happens on it. Holt said a lot of work goes into planning the event, and he does not want to put in all of the work it takes if the town does not allow them to have the event. “We just all have to do whatever has to be done to make it a success,” Holt said. “We volunteer to do this because we love it ... this is part of who we are, we grew up doing this.” Holt said they have not publicized donation-giving because the organizers do not want to brag about their philanthropy. He said anyone who thinks they make a profit from the event is wrong. “We have been accused of putting the profits in our pocket, which is the furthest thing from the truth,” Holt said. “It’s even a lie.” He said the event was originally held to promote unity in the community. “Years ago, when it started, it was an event that promoted the community involvement and just developing a rapport between the citizens that we could all get together, do something to-
gether and work alongside each other together,” Holt said. Sheila Eckman, District 1 Lee County Commissioner, said organizers did not give an exact reason for canceling Syrup Sopping, but said she believes organizers canceled it so they wouldn’t have to report earnings from the event. “I don’t think they want to share their financial info,” Eckman said. Eckman said the organizers will not say if the event is for profit or nonprofit. However, Eckman said citizens are not aware of the benefits. Holt said “rumblings” about citizens not seeing the benefits of Syrup Sopping is not news to him. He said the organizers of Syrup Sopping have donated to several charities in Loachapoka for years, including Loachapoka High School and the volunteer fire department. He said they have even paid the water bill at the town hall. Holt said the event was started by the Loachapoka Ruritan Club and the Loachapoka Ladies Improvement Club. He said another major contribution from year to year is maintaining the area where the event is held. He said it used to be a mess, but they use funds to clean and maintain that space to look nice for the community. “We have, from the very beginning, we being the Syrup Sopping group, are the one and only group that has improved that property and maintained that property,” Holt said. “It takes a lot of money to do that.” Holt said he can prove the Syrup Sopping is a nonprofit event. “Beyond a shadow of a doubt,” Holt said. “Anybody that says different doesn’t know what they’re talking about.” Eckman said the event used to be a nonprofit corporation, and funds built things such as the community center in town. She said the club that originally ran the event disbanded 15 years ago, and since then it hasn’t been clear if the event is nonprofit or for profit.
Raye May / Managing editor
Previous years’ Syrup Sopping Days have typically drawn crowds of locals and out-of-towners alike.
She said she believes it is unethical to promote the event as a nonprofit if it is not one. “The people that are running the Syrup Sop are running it as a for-profit entity,” Eckman said. Eckman said the County Commission was not involved in the decision. They attempted to set up meetings with the organizers. She said the organizers canceled the first meeting and did not show up to the second one. “They just have been unwilling to come to the table,” Eckman said. Eckman said people in Loachapoka are relieved their town is not hosting the event.
“It’s a huge inconvenience for people that live in Loachapoka,” Eckman said. Holt said he respects all elected officials, from the local to the national level, even if he doesn’t agree with them. He said pointing fingers would be counterproductive to his goal. “My goal is the same goal that we had over 40 years ago. I want to present and try to put a unity together in the town of Loachapoka,” Holt said. “I want us all to appreciate each other, and work together and learn each other, even though we do have differences about things.” Holt said he doesn’t have plans to revive Syrup Sopping in future years.
July-August 2015
Intrigue 11
The Auburn Plainsman
lifestyle
What your Zodiac sign says about your drinking habits Capricorn Dec. 22-Jan. 19
j
Pisces Feb. 19-March 20
c Taurus April 21-May 21
b Cancer June 24-July 23
d
Virgo Aug. 24-Sept. 22
f
Scorpio Oct. 24-Nov. 22
h
Capricorns trend toward stability and wisdom in their daily lives, but give a goat a drink and a Capricorn may surprise you. These are your carefree, down for anything friends when the drinks start flowing.
Aquarius Jan. 20-Feb. 18
Those born under this star sign tend to be good at abstract thinking and can be accepting. However, when intoxicated an Aquarius’ personality can shift through a mood a minute, so don’t anger them.
Pisces are already incredibly emotional and generous people, and alcohol only intensifies it. These are your weepy drinkers; the ones who tend to get a little sappy and overly friendly with too much to drink.
Aries March 21-April 20
Aries are already known for their outgoing and energetic demeanor, and when intoxicated, an Aries will flit around, being friendly to everyone in the group and even those outside it.
Those born under the Taurus star sign tend to be reliable, practical and loyal to a fault. When you need a wingman or wingwoman, call a Taurus. But beware: too many drinks and they can be a bit stubborn.
Gemini May 22-June 23
Gemini, as their sign suggests, are known for their twin personalities. When drinking, a Gemini gets restless when plans aren’t concrete, but also doesn’t want to stay in one place for too long. Be ready to move.
Cancer star signs are the more family-oriented types. On a night out, these are either the ones mothering intoxicated friends or getting back in touch with their inner child, becoming upset at the drop of a hat.
Leo July 24-Aug. 23
Leos are warm and driven by the desire to be liked and in the spotlight. Get a few drinks into a Leo and they won’t stop talking, trying to steal the show or taking charge of the situation.
Those born beneath this star sign tend to be on the more introverted and thoughtful side. A Virgo is likely more comfortable in quiet, sparsely-populated bars, sipping on a drink, rather than partying hard.
Libra Sept. 23-Oct. 23
Libras are gentle, kind and value harmony and peace. In other words, they try to keep everyone happy. This makes them great to drink with because when out on the town, they’ll make sure you’re having fun.
Mysterious Scorpios don’t tend to offer up their opinions in daily life. However, give a scorpion a drink and prepare to hear it all. Beware, though: when they get going, they might not hold anything back, good or bad.
Sagittarius Nov. 23-Dec. 21
Those born beneath the Sagittarius star sign are the honest optimists and generally wonderful to be around. When drinking, though, that honesty can be brutal. If you don’t want a blunt answer, don’t ask.
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Compiled via Buzzfeed by Raye May, managing editor
July-August 2015
Intrigue 12
The Auburn Plainsman
lifestyle
Studying abroad creates life opportunities Emily Esleck editor-in-cheif
Students find many ways to occupy their time in college. Whether it’s never going back home and immersing themselves in the college life, or applying for internships to gain experience, studying abroad has been a popular college must for students to have on their checklist. Deborah Weiss, director of Auburn Abroad and exchange programs in the Office of International Programs, said traveling abroad became popular about six years ago because there was a desire and need that hadn’t been there before. “This generation is truly willing and able and interested in working in cross-cultural lines, number one,” Weiss said. “Number two, employers want flexible employees who can work across different cultural lines as well.” Weiss has been director of Au-
burn Abroad since 2004 and worked in marketing and public relations in Britain and Germany previously. Growing up, Weiss said she lived in Japan for three years because her father was in the Air Force. When she was in college, she said there weren’t as many programs; studying abroad was only available in language and architecture programs. However, Auburn currently has 91 study abroad programs encompassing all 12 colleges. Weiss said there are about 1,100 students who go abroad. There are faculty-led programs, service programs and exchange programs, among others. “The goal is to have every single department have a program, and there are just a few that don’t at this point, so we are 95 percent, 95 percent of our departments have programs for students, and we’re looking for more,” Weiss said.
“
This generation is truly willing and able and interested in working in cross-cultural lines.” —Deborah Weiss
director of Auburn abroad and exchange programs
Weiss said students in liberal arts and language majors tend to study abroad more than science, technology, engineering and mathematics students, so there is a push for more STEM students to study abroad. “STEM students are the least likely to go abroad and the most likely to work in an international group the day they graduate,” Weiss said. Technology innovation is not U.S.-bound anymore, according to Weiss, so STEM students work with students from all over the world. Laura Oudenaarden, senior in
mathematics, recently studied abroad with the Taormina, Sicily, Italy, summer program with Susie Pratt, senior in communication disorders. The program started May 24 and ended June 20, and Oudenaardan said they went on multiple excursions to the Valley of the Temples, churches in Catania and an active volcano on Mount Etna. She said she took an Italian class, geology class and two other classes at Babilonia University, and said she went on the trip to contribute to her Italian minor. Pratt said they were in a group of 22 students led by Rosetta Giuliani. “She became our mom, teacher and friend, and I think I speak for everyone when I say that the trip wouldn’t have been the same [or nearly as fun] without her,” Pratt said. According to Pratt, the last week of the program was the beginning of the 61st annual Taormina Film
Festival. She said students in the geology course were able to take field trips in addition to the excursions for more hands-on experience. “We got passes to watch movie premiers in the Greek Theater and attend press conferences of various celebrities if we wanted,” Pratt said. Overall, Weiss said studying abroad prepares students for work life through global innovation. Pratt said she feels students should try to broaden their horizons in life. “The Auburn program takes the Auburn Family feel with you, even when you’re 5,000 miles away from home,” Pratt said. “Having other Auburn students on the trip gave you a common bond in which to connect and build relationships from. There are several people in our group that I wouldn’t have met in Auburn if it weren’t for this program, but I am so thankful for the friendships and memories I made on this trip.”
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Students hold up an Auburn flag on Mount Etna in Italy during a study abroad program through the university.
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