Bid Day 2015 on page 4
The Auburn Plainsman A Spirit That Is Not Afraid
The Corner’s comeback takes shape
Thursday, August 20, 2015 Vol. 122, Issue 1, 12 Pages
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After 3 months, multiple events held to mark reopening of Toomer’s Corner
Maria McIlwain Community Editor
The wait is finally over. The intersection of College Street and Magnolia Avenue, known as Toomer’s Corner, opened up to traffic at noon, Saturday, Aug. 15. Four representatives of downtown churches blessed the corner and gave thanks for the end of construction. Wells Warren, priest at St. Dunstan’s Episcopal Church; Tripp Martin, pastor of Auburn First Baptist Church; Rachel Winter, associate pastor and campus minister of First Presbyterian Church of Auburn; and Charles Cummings, associate minister of Auburn Unit-
ed Methodist Church, bestowed a blessing on the corner. “We ask your blessing upon this corner, that it will be for many, many years to come a sign and a symbol of the Loveliest Village, a place of friendship and of eagerness and excitement, a place where we know that we’re all a part of the Auburn Family,” Warren said. Warren said it has been a long summer. His church has been downtown since 1923. “[The construction] didn’t help attendance at St. Dunstan’s any,” Warren said. “But it’s a wonderful thing, and I think it’s well worth the wait.” A few days later, Come Home to the Corner will
commemorate the reopening and mark the end of a long, hard summer for downtown merchants, according to Ann Bergman, public relations specialist for the city of Auburn parks and recreation department. Bergman said many of the stores downtown will stay open later for the event. She said there will be live acoustic music provided by Joseph Young. The main attraction will be a poker run, where people collect playing cards from participating downtown businesses to try to have the best poker hand. People will bring their best hand forward at 8:15 p.m., and there will be multiple
» See Toomer’s 2
Emily ENfinger / Photo Editor
Toomer’s Corner reopened on Saturday,August 15 at noon.
Citizens divided over apartment construction Maria McIlwain Community Editor
Jim Little / Editor-in-chief
Speaker Mike Hubbard at an election event in 2014.
Hubbard trial delayed 6 months Jim Little
Editor-in-Chief
A trial for indicted Speaker Mike Hubbard’s has been delayed until March 2016. Judge Jacob A. Walker granted the motion for continuance during a motions hearing Monday morning, Aug. 17, but he also agreed to hear the defense present evidence of prosecutorial misconduct on Oct. 19, the original trial date. Hubbard, R-Auburn, was indicted by a Lee
» See Hubbard 2
Residents of Auburn are still divided about apartment construction downtown. The moratorium on building apartments in the eastern portion of downtown Auburn was put in place by the City Council in February and was extended for four months at the last council meeting Aug. 4. There was a proposal to expand the moratorium’s coverage, but it was removed from the last meeting’s agenda. Kelley Griswold, member of Keep Auburn Lovely, a grassroots organization designed to influence the public opinion and city government’s decision about development, spoke at the City Council meeting Tuesday, Aug. 18. “We want to protect the downtown flavor of Auburn,” Griswold said. “The Loveliest Village flavor of Auburn.” Griswold said the group is in favor of smart growth, which means protecting downtown and re-developing older properties outside of the downtown area, especially west of College Street. “We are not a group that is opposed to development, as some have tried to portray us,” Griswold said. “In fact, we want Auburn to develop and prosper. But we’re just concerned about
Contributed by the city of auburn
An artist rendering of the new development on Wright Street and Glenn Avenue.
how that will happen.” Griswold said there are other options rather than tearing down older structures and replacing them with high-rises, and he wants to ensure all citizens’ voices are heard before a decision about further development in Auburn is
made. “We’ve heard radio interviews that say decisions won’t be made without other input, yet the moratorium extension was removed from
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The Auburn Plainsman
Thursday, August 20, 2015
Toomer’s
DUI reports
» From 1
Aug. 9 - Christina L. Rodriguez, 27 South College Street at East Magnolia Avenue at 3:24 a.m.
winners, according to Bergman. Cost to play is $5 per hand. Bergman said downtown will be an entertainment district for the night, meaning open containers will be allowed. She said she hopes people purchase beverages while they browse the downtown shops and participate in the poker run. Eric Stamp, owner of the downtown Tshirt shop, Stamp, said he is happy construction is over. “I’m personally satisfied, and everybody I’ve talked to has been pretty impressed,” Stamp said. Stamp will keep his business open for the poker run. He said he is excited to show off the new downtown area and expects a good turnout. “It’s a good weekend for something,” Stamp said. “The students being back, the corner just being open for a week, there’s a lot of interest in coming down here and doing something social. Everybody enjoys an entertainment district event, to walk around with your cocktail.” Stamp said the poker run is designed so people will go into a variety of businesses, and the idea was a collaborative effort. “We had considered doing a scavenger hunt or some other event to keep people moving around from end to end downtown,” Stamp said. “We have eight to 10 businesses participating for you to pick up cards, and they are at all ends of the downtown, so people should be going to the furthest reaches.”
- Jawad Ayman Sayegh, 21 Wire Road at 2:52 a.m.
Council
The following were arrested and charged with driving under the influence by the Auburn Police Division from July 28-August 17: July 28 - Ubeen Kim, 39 South College Street at 9:51 p.m. July 31 - Ik Seop Lee, 58 Opelika Road at East University Drive at 1:01 a.m. Aug. 1 - Bruce Edward Reid, 46 Gidden Street at 12:59 a.m. Aug. 2 - Joseph Frances Petry, 24 Webster Road at 2:49 a.m. - Bradford Walker McDaniel, 19 Lem Morrison Drive at Biggio Drive at 4:17 a.m. Aug. 4 - Derek Wayne Ridley, 34 Lem Morrison Drive at 3:41 p.m. Aug. 6 - Cara M.Wood, 26 Opelika Road at 1:23 a.m. Aug. 7 - Thomas Russell Parten, 24 Maple Street at 10:12 p.m.
» From 1
A full crime report provided by the Auburn Department of Public Safety is available online at ThePlainsman.com. –Reports provided by the Auburn Department of Public Safety
Students receive public safety alert Corey Williams Campus Editor
Students received an alert from Auburn University Public Safety and Security at approximately 6 p.m. on Aug. 18. According to the alert, a campus security authority received a report of a female who may have been administered a drug against her will at an on-campus party Monday, Aug. 17. The alert said Auburn University Public Safety and Security encourages all victims of crime to report crimes to the police, but the victim has chosen not to come forward at this time. Susan McCallister, associate director of public safety information and education, said drugging someone without their consent is considered aggravated assault. “It would definitely be a student discipline issue if a student was involved,” McCallister said. “Someone could be prosecuted under the law because it’s a felony.” McCallister said students should trust their instincts.
“
Someone could be prosecuted under the law because it’s a felony.” -Susan McCallister
Associate Director of Public Safety Information and Education
“If something doesn’t seem right, maybe you’re in a situation where your drink looks or smells funny, don’t drink it,” McCallister said. If a student suspects they have been drugged, they should immediately seek medical attention and report the suspected assault to the police, according to McCallister. McCallister said Auburn University Public Safety and Security monitors social media after situations like this. “There was a lot of conversation about this student just getting drunk,” McCallister said. “And that’s possible, but people need to make sure they’re taking these things seriously.”
the agenda last week prior to the citizens’ communication part of the agenda,” Griswold said. Griswold said he is discouraged by the way the council has handled the situation. “I urge you all to take a step back and listen to those who want smart development,” Griswold said. Nick Hayes, another Auburn citizen, is in favor of development. “We really threaten our economy as well as our reputation as a city by discouraging development, especially in a public fashion,” Hayes said. “This development across the street [160 Ross], which I think by any objective point of view is arguably the nic-
Hubbard » From 1
County grand jury on Oct. 20, 2014. Prosecutors claim Hubbard used his office as head of the Alabama Republican Party and Speaker of the Alabama House of Representatives to illegally benefit his businesses Craftmaster Printers and the Auburn Network. Defense attorneys argued at the Monday hearing the 2.5 million electronic files turned over to them by the prosecution was a data dump designed to obstruct the defense from finding evidence, and it would be until early in the summer of 2016 until they were ready. “The goal [of the prosecution] seems to be to make it as burdensome as possible, and as expensive as possible for this citizen, Mr. Hubbard,” said defense attorney Augusta Dowd. As an example of the junk files the defense said they received, defense attorneys played a clip of a pornographic
Emily ENfinger / Photo Editor
Aubie attempts to remove a barrier on College Street that blocked traffic during construction.
Stamp said summer was difficult for his business, as the construction prevented people from parking and visiting downtown. “It was devastating,” Stamp said. “I’m sure our retail part of our sales was off 7080 percent. Fortunately for us, we do custom printing out of the back of our shop and we had one of the best summers ever for that sort of thing.” Stamp said the new downtown will help his business rebound from the losses it suffered over the summer. He said the event will help kickstart the sales and said there will be a sidewalk sale, as well as games and giveaways at his location.
Ham expressed his appreciation to the downtown merchants, and said they were the “life blood” of downtown, as well as Bailey Harris construction company, which remodeled the corner. “I can’t tell you the number of people in calls, emails and letters that I received that said, ‘Y’all are crazy. This will never happen on time,’” Ham said. Ham said the blessing is a culmination of the summer’s efforts. “I think it just brings the community together for this purpose and says, ‘Hey, it’s done, we’re finished, we’re proud of it,’ and we want everybody to come together and support the efforts,” Ham said.
est apartment complex in town, has been ridiculed in a very distasteful way.” The property is collecting significantly more revenue as 160 Ross, according to Hayes. Hayes said Auburn is a changing city, and people need to recognize and appreciate that. “I do think that we need to grow in a smart way,” Hayes said. “However, I think a lot of the people who are in support of this issue ... when projects come up, and are actually being proposed, they don’t like any of them.” Hayes said people must be accepting of people of all backgrounds, regardless of economic status. Stone Ray, freshman in architecture, lives at 160 Ross. He said he likes living at
160 Ross because it is close to campus and he can walk almost anywhere. Ray said he is in favor of the new building on Wright Street. “As of now, I do not have a single reason to walk on that block, and if it was built, I would,” Ray said. “It would replace some old apartments that are not urban at all … the apartments do not add to Auburn’s character … they are not lovely.” Mayor Bill Ham Jr. said he hopes there can be a compromise so generations to come can enjoy Auburn. “I don’t expect every one of you to be dancing in the street at Toomer’s Corner and be happy, because somebody’s not going to be perfectly happy,” Ham said. “But middle ground is I think what we’re looking for.”
movie that showed two women dancing. “What you’ve seen is just one of the things like this given to us,” Dowd said. Prosecutors said the defense has had at least 6 months to review the evidence. “We’re running into the farcical,” said special prosecutor Matt Hart. Both sides agree to have a neutral technical specialist be appointed to mediate the dispute over the amount of data turned over. Defense attorneys have claimed since April that the acting Attorney General Van Davis and Hart have mishandled the prosecution of the case and prejudiced the grand jury that indicted Hubbard. Walker set a hearing on Oct. 19 to hear testimony from witnesses that the defense said will show evidence of mishandling of the grand jury’s investigation. However, Walker said the testimony would be limited to what happened in presence of the grand jury.
Emily ENfinger / Photo Editor
Mike Hubbard and his wife, Susan, walk into court Monday,August 17.
Defense attorneys hinted they want former Deputy Attorney General Sonny Reagan, who was fired by Attorney General Luther Strange for leaking information to Hubbard’s defense team, to testify at the October hearing. “(Hart) said the correct way to handle Hubbard was to, ‘Bring him in, show him the drafted indictment and tie the noose around his f**king neck,’” Reagan said describing a conversation with Hart
that allegedly happened in the attorney general’s office, according court documents filed in April. “‘Then cinch it down until he is grasping for f**king air. Then give him an option to plead guilty and resign.’” Defense attorney Mark White said the case should be thrown out if Hart made similar comments in front of a grand jury. “You can hear in the voice of Mr. Hart; the venom he has for my client,” White said.
Merchants reflect on corner construction Rachael Taylor Community Writer
The Toomer’s Corner intersection has opened, ending the summer of construction. The construction blocked parking in front of the stores, and while there was free parking in the Gay Street parking deck, the construction made it more difficult for people to visit downtown Auburn. It seems that the construction affected business in different ways. ”Yes, greatly ... I would say retail was off 75-80 percent,” said Eric Stamp, owner of Stamp, a T-shirt store that has been located downtown for 17 years. “I didn’t expect it to be quite as bad and wasn’t as nervous as some of the other businesses.” He thinks a cause of decreased sales numbers could be that fewer Camp War Eagle families came through downtown.
“It was a direct reflection on how many people were walking around,” Stamp said. He said there would be days where it felt like no one walked into the store. Stamp only had to close one day for sidewalk construction in front of the shop. Annabelle, Stamp’s dog, was very curious about the construction, according to Stamp. “She will hang out right wherever the guys are working and doing whatever they’re doing,” Stamp said. “She likes to be where they are and inspect their work.” While the construction may have affected his business, Stamp said he had nothing but good things to say about the construction staff. “The staff has definitely worked with us and we have gotten to know some of them,” Stamp said. “The workers themselves ... They put in a lot of long weeks and late nights
and Sunday nights.” Stamp is president of the Downtown Merchants Association; the association did lots of promoting downtown Auburn through advertising. Wrapsody, also located in downtown Auburn, was affected differently by the construction. “You know it really hasn’t, we have such a great loyal customer base,” said Kristen Taylor, assistant manager of Wrapsody. “We were actually up for the month of June.” She said that the store’s merchandise may be why their sales were not affected. Like Stamp, Wrapsody did not have many issues with closing for construction. “It would be loud every now and then but …we are able to close our doors,” Taylor said. She said the experience was better than she thought it would be, and she thought the construction was finished quickly.
Taylor said the customers would mention the construction. “They said they would have some problems kind of walking around, but we let them out our back door if they needed to just get through,” Taylor said. The construction did not affect the Wrapsody staff parking because they parked in the Gay Street parking deck. Sarah Brown also works at Wrapsody. She is the treasurer for the Downtown Merchants Association, and said the merchants were happy with the construction company. She said there was a monthly meeting to address their concerns. On Aug. 21, Come Home to the Corner will take place in downtown Auburn. There will be a poker run with stops in many of the downtown stores and there will be live music on the corner. Wrapsody and Stamp will be stops on the poker run.
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Semester Dates to Remember 20 22 26
August
Multicultural Center Welcome Social Tails & Trails 5K Run Multicultural Center Organizationn Orientation Women’s Equality Day Celebration
September
4 4-6 7 11 12-15 16 18 22 23 24 29 30
15th class day. Last day to drop from course with no grade assignment. Last day for potential tuition refund for dropped classes. THATCamp Alabama Labor Day AuburnServes Fall Volunteer Fair Sustained Dialogue Inclusive Leadership Conference Study Abroad Fair Hispanic Heritage Month Opening Ceremony Football, Fans and Feathers Raptor Educational Program Distinguished Graduate Faculty Lecture Pathway to Success: The Hispanic Journey “Playhouse Creatures” opening night Early Alert/Mid-term grade deadline This is Research: Faculty Symposium
2 4 5 6 10 12 15-16 22 24 25 28
Homecoming parade and concert Opening Reception of the National Italian Heritage Month LGBT Student Panel 36th class day. Last day to withdraw from course with no grade penalty. Miss Auburn University Scholarship Program 41st Class Day. Student deadline for request to move finals to Associate Deans Fall Break Spectrum @ 25: More Yet to DO Panel Spectrum @ 25: Fall Formal (Under the LGBTQI -Sea) “Puttin’ On the Hits” opening night Closing reception of the National Italian American Heritage Month Film Festival MCC Diversity Educational Series: Criminalization of Poverty in the Deep South
1 4 11 23-27
Fall Choral Concert Native American Heritage Month Opening Performance: Medicine Tail Singers “The Glass Menagerie” opening night Thanksgiving Break
4 7-11 12
October
November
Classes end Final exam period Graduation
December
Campus 3
organizations
Easing the transition Camp War Eagle helps students make the change from high school to college Andria Moore Campus Reporter
Starting freshman year of college can be intimidating no matter how far you travel to get there. Programs like Camp War Eagle are created to make the transition from high school to college easier for freshmen. “I was so nervous because I’m from Chicago, and I’ve never been to things like an SEC game before,” said Marina Schroeder, freshman in business. “But Camp War Eagle has definitely made me feel more confident in my decision in Auburn.” This year’s Camp War Eagle staff consisted of 20 parent counselors, 36 camp counselors and four head counselors. The head counselors are chosen out of the best camp counselors from the previous year. Head camp counselor Will Gibson, senior in industrial systems engineering, said everyone involved with Camp War Eagle works incredibly hard to make certain it improves each year. “I think my general overview going into preparation had been how can we make it the best and most informative,” Gibson said. “We wanted to make it exciting for everyone and figure out a way to cater to each individual.” According to Gibson, the Camp War Eagle staff works hard to prepare students for life at Auburn and things they will see on a “dayto-day” basis. “We try to give students an overview of what attending Auburn University will be like for the next four to five years, and for a day and a half camp that’s impressive,” Gibson said. Thomas McCauley, freshman in psychology, said he assumed Camp War Eagle would be boring for someone who is from Auburn, but he was surprised. “Going into camp I had a big head and didn’t think I would need to listen to anything,” McCauley said. “I didn’t expect to make personal connections.” This year’s Camp War Eagle was the biggest yet, with a total of 4,849 students in attendance. Gibson said it took extensive planning to
not only improve upon last year’s camp, but to also work around all of the construction that was happening downtown. “We had to change certain routes and weren’t sure if we would be able to use Mell Street or not,” Gibson said. “We really wanted to find a way to make sure things like Ice Cream at Dark were still possible.” One of the biggest changes this year was moving the overnight stay from the Quad to the Village. “Because there was so much maintenance that needed to be done on the Quad, we were asked if we would be able to house the students in the Village, and I think it worked out great,” Gibson said. The pros and cons of Camp War Eagle vary from freshman to freshman, but making new friends seems to be a common pro. McCauley said he considers his camp counselor a friend. “I felt like I could ask my camp counselor anything,” McCauley said. “She really broke the barrier between upperclassmen and freshmen.” Schroeder said she too enjoyed making friends with people, but the only downside of camp was the food. “Personally, I didn’t love the food choices,” Schroeder said. “It would have been cool if there could have been maybe more eating at restaurants.” Nicole Moss, junior in physical activity and health, and Camp War Eagle counselor, said she wishes they would have placed more emphasis on the different clubs and getting involved when she was a camper. “As a freshman, I thought that I should wait until I was older to get involved with any clubs,” Moss said. “Which is why I made sure to really emphasize to my campers the importance of getting involved as soon as you can.” She said one of the best parts of Camp War Eagle is the welcoming, family aspect. “Camp War Eagle is a great way to see that there are so many people that care about you and your success and really want you to succeed,” Moss said. “It really is an Auburn Family.”
Campus 4
Thursday, August 20, 2015
The Auburn Plainsman
GREEK LIFE
Bid Day 2015 breaks records
More than 1,400 women, the most in Auburn history, accepted bids on the last day of sorority recruitment on Friday, Aug. 14
David tOPPER / Photographer
Chandler Austin, Tasha Lavish, Madison Rolling, Ariel Lavish and Taylor Whitworth of Kappa Delta celebrate after selection on Bid Day.
Dakota Sumpter / senior Photographer
Sorority sisters from Sigma Kappa welcome new members.
David Topper / Photographer
Tori Warren, Lydia Hafer and Josie Oldham wait to enter the Auburn Arena on Bid Day.
Emily Enfinger / photo editor
New sorority members rush out of the Auburn Arena to find their new sisters.
outreach
Chicago second-graders to visit Auburn M aria M c I lwain Community Editor
The second-graders who stole the hearts of the Auburn Family will now have a chance to see the Plains they learned so much about. Quinlan Matthew’s and Vanesa Goodar’s classes will fly from Chicago to spend a few days on campus and have their first taste of college. Marcia Boosinger, librarian and associate dean of libraries, said Ralph Brown Draughon Library will serve as the location for the academic part of the visit. She said the children will have a lesson on the children’s book, “The Spirit of Toomer’s Corner.” Boosinger said the book emphasizes values such as positive thinking. After a picnic lunch from Moe’s, each child will receive a copy of the book, presented by Auburn Libraries. Boosinger said the lesson will be taught by college students. “It’s important for them to see college students,” Boosinger said. The College of Education, will put on programs for them and Vicky Cardullo, assistant professor in the department of curriculum and teaching in the College of Education helped put together a lesson plan for the children. She was helped by three interns in the College of Education; Brianna Niven, senior in elementary education; Kenslei Senn, senior in elementary education; and Callie Bargani-
“
It was one of the most emotional and inspirational things I have ever done.These scholars have a passion for learning.”
er, senior in elementary education. Cardullo said the team wanted to integrate technology, language arts and Auburn culture into one lesson. “The lesson that came out of it derived from the academic needs of the school,” Cardullo said. Cardullo said the lesson is about the importance of positive communication. “In the book, it talks about how the tree was destroyed because of a lack of positive communication,” Cardullo said. “And so we kind of turned that around, so that way students would develop key words, basically, for communication.” Cardullo said the children will divide up into three small groups to read the book. Then they will use iPads to draw their own Toomer’s Oak with positive words on it. They will then come back and choose the words to put onto their class tree. Lastly, they will “roll” their tree with the positive words. “One of the reasons we chose to have small groups is that way, they will all be involved in it,” Cardullo said. “In a large group, we were worried that all students would not have
-Jay Jacobs
Athletics director
that active engagement because it’s such a short period of time. And so by dividing into three small groups, we’re hoping that each group would have active, hands-on involvement, because it is critical.” Cardullo said she hopes the children bring the lessons back to their classrooms and develop an interest in technology. Cardullo said her favorite part is how the lesson ties in with Auburn culture. “That was really the whole impact of their production was the culture of Auburn. I think my favorite part is that they’ll actually walk out, see the trees, see Toomer’s Corner and enjoy and make those connections as to, ‘Oh, we just did this lesson, we just talked about this tree,’” Cardullo said. According to Jay Jacobs, athletics director, the students will learn about more than just reading. He said everything, from flying on the plane to staying at the Auburn Hotel and Dixon Conference Center, will be a fun learning experience. “Every component of it is educational,” Jacobs said.
Jacobs said the students will have a tour of the athletics facilities on Sept. 10, as well as a tour of the fisheries facilities and RBD Library. They will also go to Toomer’s Corner before attending the Jacksonville State football game Sept. 12. Jacobs said he believes the children deserve “every bit” of the treatment they will receive in Auburn. “We want people to know there are fruits for your labor,” Jacobs said. Jacobs was one of a delegation that surprised the students in Chicago in July. “It was one of the most emotional and inspirational things I have ever done,” Jacobs said. “These scholars have a passion for learning.” He said the students will meet many people, from coaches to teachers to student athletes. “People from all walks of life can go to college if they want to,” Jacobs said. Boosinger said the library will buy more books for the students, as well as their school library, and she said she hopes this inspires the children to attend college. “[I hope] they see this as a goal that they would want to set,” Boosinger said. Jacobs said he hopes some of the students attend Auburn one day, but regardless, he hopes to inspire the children. “The more important thing is . . . regardless of what they do, we want to inspire them to be great,” Jacobs said.
Opinion
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Thursday, August 20, 2015
ThePlainsman.com
Opinion
our view SOCIAL MEDIA ON THE PLAINS
Response to “WHAT DO YOU THINK? What are your thoughts about negative stereotypes concerning Greek life at Auburn?” Tiger Pawala “Frat / Sor’s have much work to do to overcome mistakes of the past but I know many people that built lifelong friendships ‘attending Greek-U’ & I think that should continue...”
Response to “Toomer’s Corner to re-open at noon tomorrow”
Greek Life stereotypes can be harmful Gurden Smith / illustrator
At Auburn University, there are currently 32 fraternities and 19 sororities. According to Auburn University’s website, almost 6,000 of over 25,000 students were Greek in 2011 alone. These statistics help to explain how big of a role Greek Life is at Auburn. In addition, Friday, Aug. 14, was Auburn’s bid day for sorority recruitment for the 17 National Panhellenic Council sororities. Record-breaking numbers of new members were recorded. Being a part of Greek Life, at Auburn and in general, requires much more from its members than what many people realize. Individuals are expected to maintain certain grade point averages, participate in and contribute to their organization’s philanthropy, attend community service events and be involved with other clubs and activities. While this may seem overwhelming, being a part of Greek Life has many benefits as well. In addition to helping students build and maintain lifelong friendships and a strong support system, which can be particularly helpful for students many hours away from
home, Greek Life can also serve as a résumé booster and provide networking contacts. However, we must not ignore the many negative stereotypes associated with Greek Life. Twitter accounts, websites and movies, such as TotalFratMove.com and “American Pie,” often portray sorority and fraternity members as shallow people who are only concerned with drinking, partying and having fun with their friends. This week, Alpha Phi, a sorority at the University of Alabama, has gained national attention for a recruitment video it posted. The video included girls in swimsuits blowing kisses to the camera, holding glitter and laughing with friends. We do not necessarily agree or disagree that the video lacked diversity or was as objectifying as many criticized it to be, but we do believe the video represented the sorority exactly how many negative stereotypes would portray. The video showed us nothing about the sorority’s philanthropy, accomplishments of its members, the sorority’s history or how the
group has helped to improve the community. While the video may only depict Alpha Phi in a negative way, the lack of substance has the potential to hurt Greek Life in general by giving in to negative stereotypes. Concerning Greek Life on Auburn’s campus, sororities and fraternities shouldn’t be overly concerned with negative stereotypes, but they should be aware they exist and make sure not to feed them, even when they are not necessarily true. We believe it is also important to note that these perceptions of Greek Life can be misleading for potential new members. Students may be unaware of what is required and expected of them once they decide to join a fraternity or sorority. For Greek organizations to be viewed more favorably, it is important not to advertise themselves in a way that confirms negative stereotypes. While enjoying yourself with friends can be a positive aspect of joining a Greek organization, failing to communicate anything other than this can be perceived as shallow, giving in to popular stereotypes.
her view
Louise Fall “Glad it will be open before classes. I had to go around the world last week since I didn’t turn soon enough. But I did see the Jumbotron - gigantic!”
Responses to “Duke Williams returns to practice” Suzanne E. Chapman “Sets a bad precedence to allow him back on. If the rumors of fighting and disrespecting his coaches are true, he should have been kicks off the team.” Darryl Spence “Bla, bla, bla”
Responses to “Residents displaced by 160 Ross Fire to be housed at Tiger Lodge” Joseph Antoine “They developers don’t win in this situation. Per their contract they have to put their tenants up on their own dime or reimburse. If the citizens of Auburn would settle down about progress, these contractors wouldn’t be in such a rush, but it almost every case they have to start late to deal with citizens that think they are smarter than the people that perform the due diligence for a living. The reason most of the contractors are from out of town, is because it’s rare a local company wants to deal with the fight that you have here and not other cities.”
The importance of learning to say no Rachel Sprouse intrigue writer
With the start of the new school year comes the promise of a fresh start. Expectations and grades start out high, plans are left open and the average student’s stress level is low. But as classes move past syllabus week, planners that were empty at the beginning of the week are filled up by the following Monday. Before August has ended, club sign-up days come to campus. Students are drawn to various booths, imagining the opportunities they’ll have with each organization. Students scrawl their emails onto lists, requesting more
information about future meetings and activities. Some walk the concourse knowing which booths to stop at. Others walk from booth to booth, signing up to try almost everything. Before the end of the day, some students will have overscheduled themselves, taking on more than their academic load and schedule can handle. Though many want too be involved in the organizations Auburn has to offer, they should take into account their course load and schedule before spreading themselves too thin. Finding the balance between school and extracurricular activities prevents students from feeling overwhelmed. I’ve struggled with this problem since I came to Auburn. When I was a freshman, I signed up for more activities than I had time to attend.
I tried rearranging my schedule to fit other organizations’ events in, sacrificing time that I could have used for sleep or to take a mental break. It took me a while to learn how to find the balance between work and school. Learn to say no every once in a while. Many students have a fear of missing out at the beginning of the year, and often want to be a part of everything. This is why they often over schedule themselves, running around campus from one event to another. Not wanting to waste time waiting to try out a few organizations, some students sign up for everything and try to organize their schedules to fit all of the extra events, but end up running around campus from one event to another. On the other hand, by selecting a few organizations to try out in the beginning of the year, students
learn to balance their schedule and can add more activities later on. Prioritizing also helps to alleviate stress and overbooking your schedule. By selecting a small group of organizations that you are committed to, the ones that you would hate to give up, and removing the ones you can go without, your schedule is easier to balance. Rather than weigh yourself down with a heavy workload of extra activities and assignments, find a small number of organizations to get involved with. It’s better to dedicate more time and effort only to a few activities or organizations than five minutes to several.
Jordan Hays Managing Editor Caitlyn Miller Copy Elizabeth Tiller Online
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Community Thursday, August 20, 2015
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Community
charity
‘Let’s Jog Their Memory’
14-year-old Auburn resident organizes a run to benefit Alzheimer’s disease research Anne Dawson
community reporter
In December 2014, 14-year-old Laurel Ramey and her family were told her grandmother, Sherry Ramos, had been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease seven months earlier. After receiving the news, Laurel took a sudden interest in the disease. “Alzheimer’s impairs senses and makes daily tasks harder, and not many people know about it,” said Kristi Ramey, Laurel’s mother. Laurel, who was involved in Hal Moore Leadership Academy at Auburn Junior High School, decided she would give back to the community by hosting a run for Alzheimer’s support, called Let’s Jog Their Memory, because she wanted to participate in community service. Laurel said she discovered Alzheimer’s was the sixth-leading cause of death in the United States. She also said she learned there are no cures or known treatments, and it is the least-funded of the top 10 leading causes of death in the United States. Kristi said once Laurel had done her research and had gotten a permit from the city, she began to talk to businesses and stores to find sponsors. At first, Kristi said Laurel did not receive much feedback. However, more and more people became aware of the event and were willing to help once Laurel got the word out. Kristi said she was proud of how dedicated and willing her daughter was to not give up because of all the work and effort Laurel has put into the event. Her hope for the event, Laurel said, is to raise awareness for the disease while also raising a hopeful $5,000 to help with research funding. Aside from the 5K and fun run, Laurel and Kristi plan to help raise awareness by including a Virtual Dementia Tour at the event to show people what it is like to live with Alzheimer’s. The tour will do this by putting participants in situations with impaired senses to simulate what dementia can be like. The event will be held Sept. 5 at Town Creek Park. Registration will start at 7 a.m., with the 5K at 8 a.m. and fun run at 8:45 a.m.
dakota sumpter / senior photographer
See for yourself why 9 out of 10 students who go digital don’t go back.
Ramos was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in 2014.
Text GETDIGITAL to 80565 to find out why!
Go Digital. Get Ahead. The run will take place Sept. 5 at Town Creek Park.
construction
Back to school and back to traffic for Auburn drivers Anne Dawson
community reporter
As students begin to arrive back to campus and school starts, traffic increases. Each year, Auburn residents are forced to return to the swing of bumper-to-bumper traffic after a summer of being able to go wherever, whenever. Traffic in Auburn during the summer is a lot easier to get around in, according to City Engineer Jeff Ramsey. “[The citizens of Auburn] definitely notice when students come back,” Ramsey said. According to Ramsey, while the traffic does drastically change, Auburn residents quickly catch on to the consistent cycles that form. “The first week of fall semester you learn not to try to get to Wal-Mart because everyone else is there, too, getting school supplies,” Ramsey said. Ramsey also said residents learn the patterns of football traffic. He said it is easy to realize the difficulty of getting out before and after football games and the ease of getting anywhere on campus during the games. Traffic patterns were different this summer, Ramsey said, because of construction at key intersections such as Opelika Road and Toomer’s
Corner. “It’s definitely tried everyone’s patience,” Ramsey said. Ramsey said the construction only worsened the traffic, but the reopening of downtown made it better. Auburn citizen Robert Goodwin said Auburn becomes a different town when students return for the fall. Goodwin said the usually empty parking lots become filled with U-Haul trucks, trailers and anxious students and parents. Goodwin also said he agrees the construction has a negative impact on traffic. “In the nine years I’ve been in Auburn, the town has grown exponentially,” Goodwin said. “That type of growth does come with the inconvenience of construction.” On the other hand, Scott Cummings, consulting engineer and Auburn resident, said he does not think Auburn traffic is a problem. “I hear people in Auburn complain about the traffic, but after living in Atlanta or driving U.S. Highway 280 as often as I have, Auburn does not have a traffic problem,” Cummings said. However, Cummings said he has observed a couple of issues with the traffic in Auburn.
emily enfinger / photo editor
East Samford Avenue is congested with back-to-school traffic.
He said there is traffic buildup around the school buildings and downtown during certain hours, but the traffic lights are synchronized well enough for patient people to go where they need to be. Another problem Cummings said he has no-
ticed is those who drive their cars instead of walking half of a mile to their destination. “If the weather permits, walking is good for you,” Cummings said. “And if more are walking or on bikes, there will be less stressed drivers texting and running over cyclists.”
outreach
Tails and Trails 5K race to take place Saturday, Aug. 22 Rachael Taylor community writer
The Student Chapter of the American Veterinary Medical Association will host its first Tails and Trails 5K and fun run Aug. 22 at Town Creek Park. The 5K will begin at 7:30 a.m., and the 1 mile fun run will start at 7:40 a.m. The registration fee for the race is $25 after Aug. 17 along with a $2.50 registration fee. A sign-up is online. Dogs can run with their owners,
and there will be a technician from a vet hospital checking weight and health. SCAVMA at the Auburn Vet School has over 400 members, which is about 95 percent of the vet school students, according to Rachel Maloney, president of the Auburn SCAVMA. There is a SCAVMA in every vet school in the United States, Canada and the Caribbean. The Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine is the oldest in
the South, and the seventh-oldest in the nation, according to Janet McCoy, communications and marketing specialist for the College of Veterinary Medicine. “We try to do some different community service events as well as fundraisers for our chapter, so this event is going to serve for both,” Maloney said. This is the first time the event has been held, but Maloney said she hopes to do it annually. “We would like a pretty good turn-
out this year, probably 100-250 runners, and we would like people to really enjoy it so that they are looking forward to coming back next year as well,” Maloney said. Last year SCAVMA raised money for breast cancer. Money from Tails and Trails will be donated to the Walk to End Alzheimer’s, which will take place in Auburn in October. SCAVMA will partner with Omega Tau Sigma, a veterinary fraternity, for the walk.
According to Kylye Roberts, community service chair for both SCAVMA and Omega Tau Sigma, the organization likes to focus on causes that are not as widely known. Roberts said that she got the idea for SCAVMA to do events benefitting Alzheimer’s when her friend’s grandparent passed away from the disease. The organizations would like to have about 20 people on its joint team and is planning to discuss reaching out to the community in its next meeting.
Thursday, August 20, 2015
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Community 7
The Auburn University Core Curriculum Program in Rome, Italy, offers students an opportunity to complete two Core Curriculum courses over five weeks in a beautiful international setting! June 22 - July 22 2016 (dates subject to slight change) Visit the program website for more information.
Program Cost: -With 30 students $5,200 + Auburn Abroad Fee -With 40 students $4,650 + Auburn Abroad Fee Courses Offered (select 2 of 4): -COMM 1000 - Public Speaking (3 credits) -GEOL 1100 - Dynamic Earth (4 credits) -MATH 1680 - Calculus with Business Applications (4 credits) -POLI 1050 - Global Politics and Issues (3 credits)
*Program located at the University of Arkansas Rome Center in the heart of Rome. International Airfare not included.
Sports
8
Thursday, August 20, 2015
SCOREBOARD Soccer (1-1)
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Sports
Barber is tired of waiting FOOTBALL
Sophomore running back will have his shot after two years on the bench Sam Butler Sports Editor
Last Week At Kennesaw State (W, 5-0) Vs. Mercer (L, 2-1) THIS WEEK Aug. 21 at UC Irvine (2 p.m.) Aug. 23 at Long Beach State (1 p.m.)
Volleyball
Upcoming War Eagle Invitational Aug. 28 -- Stephen F. Austin Aug. 29 -- Jacksonville/Samford Sept. 1 -- Florida A&M
Games in Auburn Arena
Peyton Barber has been sitting. Sitting on the bench for two years, while Tre Mason and Cameron ArtisPayne ran roughshod over defenses, burying him on the depth chart. Sitting on an injury table after hurting his ankle on his first carry of the 2014 A-Day game. And in a few weeks, he will be sitting in the locker room, waiting to take the field in the Georgia Dome, potentially as the starting running back. As a three-star recruit out of Milton High School in Georgia, Barber ran for over 1,700 yards and 22 touchdowns as a senior. But even then, he was overshadowedby fellow Auburn commit and five-star defensive end Carl Lawson. When he arrived on campus, Barber had aspirations of playing as a freshman. Then Tre Mason erupted. Barber was slapped with a redshirt, and forced to sit out the season. The next year, Barber’s dreams were ground to a screeching halt when he suffered a high ankle sprain on his first touch of the 2014 A-Day game. Barber would recover, but the time spent on the sidelines opened the gates for Artis-Payne to claim a stranglehold on the starting job,
with Corey Grant settling in behind him. As a result, Barber only recorded 10 carries during 2014, all of which came in garbage time in games that had already been won or games that Auburn was never in danger of losing. Now, with two years of experience under Gus Malzahn’s running attack, Barber suddenly finds himself the old head of a running back group that includes sophomore Roc Thomas, junior transfer Jovon Robinson and freshman Kerryon Johnson. And Barber is ready to finally earn what is his. “Now it’s his time,” offensive coordinator Rhett Lashlee said. “He’s been patient, but also it’s been a really good process for him because he’s ready.” Part of what makes Barber so easy to root for is that his attitude never wavered when he was forced to take a backseat to other running backs. He never complained to the coaches, never talked behind his teammates’ backs and never stopped working. “If you don’t like Peyton Barber, you’re the problem,” running backs coach Tim Horton said. “I trust Peyton Barber, and you’re gonna see Peyton Barber play; his time’s now.” Barber’s season got off to a good start: in the 2015 A-Day game, he ran
File photo
Barber runs toward Rudy Ford (23) during A-Day.
nine times for 46 yards, the secondmost on the team behind Thomas’ seven carries for 69 yards. Now a few weeks into fall camp, Barber has been making the most of his time in practice with the starters. “I think [he’s taking advantage] of his time in camp,” Malzahn said. “He’s got more experience than any of the tailbacks that are here. He’s getting to be a guy that we can really count on.” Following Auburn’s second scrim-
mage on Saturday, Aug. 15, in which he reportedly made a few spectacular plays, Barber visited the media room to answer questions. As he sat and talked to reporters, he looked to be a mixture of calm, antsy, and confident. But after a while, all the players were escorted out, so Barber got up and walked out, determined to get back to work. Peyton Barber has had enough sitting-and he plans to keep it that way.
Lutzie Field dedicated in Marietta, Georgia Evan McCullers Sports Reporter
Emily Enfinger / photo editor
Top: A video tribute to Philip plays. Right: Lassiter High students attend the dedication. Left: Mike Lutzenkirchen speaks at the dedication ceremony.
Lassiter High School, the late Philip Lutzenkirchen’s alma mater, held a ceremony to dedicate Lutzie Field on Friday, Aug. 14. The new artificial turf field was installed June 29, exactly one year after Lutzenkirchen’s death. The tragedy prompted the creation of Lutzie 43, a foundation designed to highlight the positive aspects of Philip’s life while creating awareness of the negative decisions that led to Philip’s death. The project was organized by Lassiter High School, the Cobb County Board of Education and
Lutzie 43. Hundreds of people, including Philip’s family, friends and former teammates, were in attendance to celebrate the legacy Philip left. “It's a great honor to Philip,” said Mike Lutzenkirchen, Philip’s father. “I think he’d be embarrassed by all the publicity, but I think he would fully understand that there's a purpose to it and a meaning.” The family was overwhelmed by the turnout for the dedication. “It says a lot about who he was, but more importantly it tells you what this community is like,” Mike said. “They all respected Philip
and knew that he was humble and loved this place.” In addition to the field dedication, the ceremony also included the presentation of the Lutzie Leader Award, an honor given to a Lassiter player each season who exhibits academic and athletic excellence along with character. The award was given to Brent Penter, who will wear Philip’s No. 13 this season. Philip was also posthumously inducted into the Lassiter High Hall of Fame during the ceremony. The Lutzie 43 Foundation also hosted a 5K run at Lassiter High on Saturday, Aug. 15.
Maria McIlwain / Community Editor
Emily Enfinger / photo editor
MEN’S GOLF
Auburn golfers set to take on U.S. Amateur FAB FINDS at ANGEL’S Evan McCullers Sports Reporter
Senior Michael Johnson, junior Will Long and incoming freshman Jacob Solomon will join Auburn graduate Dan Stringfellow in the U.S. Amateur at Olympia Fields Country Club from Monday, Aug. 17 through Sunday, Aug. 23. Johnson, a Birmingham
native, posted a stroke average of 71.35 and was named a second-team All-SEC player in the spring of 2015. He also won the Tiger Invitational Presented by Jason Dufner, carding a score of 8-under -par for the tournament. Long, who is from Gastonia, North Carolina, averaged 72.68 in the 2015 season, fir-
ing 14 rounds under par. He also had a strong performance at the Tiger Invitational, finishing in a tie for third at 6-under-par. Solomon comes to Auburn from Dublin, California, where he was the No. 24-ranked prospect in the class of 2015. Stringfellow, who graduat-
ed in May, played in the 2014 U.S. Amateur, where he advanced to the match play portion of the tournament. The competitors played two rounds of stroke play on Monday, Aug. 17 and Tuesday, Aug. 18. The top 64 players in the two rounds will move on to match play.
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Contributed by Auburn Athletics
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Michael Johnson sizes up his next putt.
Will Long chips a shot.
Thursday, August 20, 2015
Sports 9
The Auburn Plainsman
Football
Barber and Thomas emerging in backfield race Evan McCullers Sports Reporter
Two running backs are beginning to separate themselves from the pack in the battle for the starting running back position. Sophomores Roc Thomas and Peyton Barber have been impressive in fall camp, according to running backs coach Tim Horton. “(Thomas and Barber) have earned the right to play,” Horton said on Friday, Aug. 14. “How much one is going to play and the other, that still remains to be seen. But I really like what Peyton and Roc are doing.” Earlier in fall camp, coach Gus Malzahn said all four candidates at running back were being given equal reps. “We’re hoping somebody will really raise up, especially in the scrimmages when they're getting tackled,” Malzahn said. Auburn scrimmaged on Monday, Aug. 10, and had their second scrimmage on Saturday, Aug. 15. Horton had high praise for freshman Ker-
ryon Johnson, despite the fact that Johnson has been “a little bit banged up,” according to Malzahn. “I'm really impressed with KJ’s maturity,” Horton said. “I don't know that we've got a player on our offense that is as honed in and focused.” The fourth man in the competition, Jovon Robinson, got off to a slow start in camp but has improved. “There's a standard that we expect, on the field and off,” Horton said. “Early in camp, Jovon didn't perform to that standard. When you don't, there's ramifications. Somebody moves up the depth chart. We’re real pleased with how he's done the last two or three days, but he didn't get off to a real good start.” While Thomas and Barber will likely get most of the carries, Horton expects all four to see the field when Auburn opens its season against Louisville in the Georgia Dome on Sept. 5. “I would be surprised if all four don't get
“
I would be surprised if all four don’t get snaps in Atlanta. Right now, I’d have to say Peyton and Roc are the two that will get the most reps.” —Tim Horton
Running Backs Coach
snaps in Atlanta,” Horton said. “Right now, I'd have to say Peyton and Roc are the two that will get the most reps.” Regardless of who wins the starting job, Malzahn is comfortable having multiple backs that can run the offense. “We've got guys we feel good about,” Malzahn said. “I think that's the best thing. You can never have enough running back depth.”
File photo
Peyton Barber is one of two leaders in the running back race.
Contributed by Auburn Athletics
Despite big expectations, Jovon Robinson has fallen behind in the running back race.
file Photo
Roc Thomas is one of two tailbacks with the best chance to start.
Basketball
Auburn lands five-star guard Sam Butler Sports Editor
Bruce Pearl's second recruiting class at Auburn got stronger Sunday, Aug. 16, as five-star guard Mustapha Heron committed to the Tigers while on an unofficial visit to the school. Heron, the No. 23 player in the class of 2016, also had offers from traditional basketball powerhouses such as Kentucky, Kansas, Connecticut and Marquette. The 6-foot-5 shooting guard out of Wa-
terbury, Connecticut, did not plan on committing to Pearl and the Tigers, but “I got a vibe here that I didn’t get at any other schools that I visited,” Heron told Evan Daniels of Scout.com. “It was a family-oriented thing.” Heron joins four-star point guard Jared Harper and three-star power forward Anfernee McLemore in Auburn’s 2016 recruiting class, which vaulted up to seventh in the nation following Heron’s commitment, per 247sports.com.
David Topper / Photographer
Auburn scored early, but fell to Mercer in the team’s final exhibition game on Saturday, Aug. 15.
This Week in Auburn Sports Soccer A goal in the final minute gave the Mercer Bears a 2-1 victory over Auburn in their final exhibition game on Saturday, Aug. 15. The Tigers created 22 shot opportunities, but only sophomore Courtney Schell was able to capitalize in the 28th minute. Mercer tied the match in the 36th minute and went on to snag the win in the 90th minute. “Mercer’s a great team, we knew that,” said coach Karen Hoppa. “They had an excellent game plan and they executed it really, really well so it presented a lot of great challenges for us. We have tons to work on from this game.” The Tiger defense tried to
translate its successful opening exhibition game against Kennesaw State, whom they did not allow to score, by limiting Mercer to four shots. “Unfortunately they got in two goals, but we’re just trying to build from this game and work on things we didn’t do as well,” said senior defender Kala Faulkner. “Moving on to California, we’re focusing on that game, focusing on practice and just trying to get better as a team.” Auburn’s 10 shots on goal were encouraging for junior offensive captain Casie Ramsier. “It’s promising that we have a lot of shots, unfortunately we didn’t get the ones we needed to win,” Ramsier said. Translating those opportu-
nities into the start of the season is, according to Ramsier, “the most important thing, because we can work with that.” The Tigers will open the 2015 season at UC Irvine on Aug. 21 and will close their West Coast business trip at Long Beach State on Aug. 23. “We’re excited about this trip,” Hoppa said. “We’ve got a lot of California girls and it’s always great to get those girls the opportunity to play in their home state. Irvine and Long Beach State are two great teams that have both been to Sweet 16 before. They play a good quality level of soccer and we’re just excited to get the season kicked off.” Compiled by Emily Shoffit
Jim Shannon / Republican-American
Bruce Pearl has the seventh-ranked class in the nation after the commitment of Mustapha Heron.
Sports 10
The Auburn Plainsman
Thursday, August 20, 2015
Austin Golson content with transfer to Auburn Football
Evan McCullers Sports Reporter
The road to Auburn has been a long one for Austin Golson, but the new anchor of the offensive line has no regrets about his journey. Golson was highly recruited out of high school as a four-star prospect, and he committed to Ole Miss. He was recruited as a tackle, but got most of his experience at guard during his 12 games played as a freshman at Mississippi. Golson, a Prattville native, transferred to Auburn in May 2014 in order to be closer to his grandparents, who were experiencing health issues. After sitting out in 2014 per NCAA transfer rules, Golson is expected to be Auburn’s starting center in 2015. Because he had already mastered the other four positions on the offensive line, Golson said he was not worried when the coaches approached him about a position change at the end of last season. “I was confident that I could do it, I just had
“
I want to be the leader. All the past centers here have been leaders and I would like to be a leader, but we need all five of us [on the offensive line].” —Austin Golson
Center
to learn to snap and get the communication right,” Golson said. “I watched (former Auburn center Reese Dismukes). He’s one of the best that’s played here, and I learned a lot from him. I thought that [watching] helped me a pretty good bit.” Dismukes was a Rimington Trophy winner as a senior, but Golson is not trying to be a copy of the All-SEC center.
“Reese is Reese, and I’m Austin,” Golson said. “A lot of people try to compare me to him, but I try to just do the best I can, and I hope that’s good enough.” Golson has not played a game at Auburn yet, but he has already impressed his teammates on the offensive line. Alex Kozan, an All-SEC guard in 2013, has been pleased with Golson’s progress since his move to center. “Austin’s a really athletic kid, and he’s smart too,” Kozan said. “He’s going to make a great center for us. The more reps we get together, the better we’re going to be together.” After working at center in spring practice, Golson was able to perfect his snap during voluntary summer workouts. “I think it was probably the most important two months of the year besides fall camp,” Golson said. “I’m very comfortable now. During the spring it was a little iffy, but I tried to snap at least 50 snaps every day this whole summer. I feel completely confident in the way that I snap now.”
The sophomore suffered a minor lower-body injury early in fall camp that caused him to miss several practices and a scrimmage, but coach Gus Malzahn said Golson is back in action. “It was just very minor,” Malzahn said. “It was just something that we just need to make sure to take care of and we did. He’s back.” As the season draws near, Golson is attempting to step up as a leader despite being one of the least experienced starters on a veteran offensive line. “I want to be the leader,” Golson said. “All the past centers here have been leaders, and I would like to be a leader, but we need all five of us.” Although his path to Auburn was a winding one, Golson said he wouldn’t change a thing about his past. “The way I look at it is that God always has a plan for me, and I just need to trust in Him,” Golson said. “I feel like he had a reason for me to go there and live out my goals, play as a true freshman. I’m happy with the way it worked out. I don’t regret anything.”
Offensive line starters still not set in stone Evan McCullers Sports Reporter
With approximately two weeks left until kickoff between Auburn and Louisville, the Tigers' coaching staff is still deliberating on starters at several offensive line positions. Sophomore Austin Golson and senior Xavier Dampeer are battling at center, a position key to any offense, but especially coach Gus Malzahn’s up-tempo spread attack. ”Our center, like I’ve said before, is just as important as our quarterback in our system because he [identifies] things,” Malzahn said. “It really starts with him. The snap’s got to be a good snap to operate our timing passing game, our read-type runs.” Malzahn is comfortable with both centers and views the competition as a positive aspect of fall camp. “We’ve got two guys we feel good about,” Malzahn said. “I’m really looking at it as a positive compared to other years. Xavier had a very good spring and he’s had a good fall camp. Both those guys are very solid guys and so that makes you feel very good going into the season.” There is also a tight competition at left guard, as junior Alex Kozan is battling senior Devonte Danzey for the starting job. “They’re both still getting equal reps,” Malzahn said. “As we get closer, probably a week out, hopefully we’ll have some more answers. … The good thing is, we’ve
got two guys at that position that have started numerous games. It will be whoever the best is.” Kozan was on the Freshman All-SEC team in 2013, but he sat out all of last 2014 with a back injury. Danzey stepped up as Kozan’s replacement and is making the former starter work to regain his spot. “Alex Kozan, he’s a great player,” said Avery Young, Auburn’s starting right tackle. “He came from a lot with the injury situation he had, but it’s football. There’s nothing handed to you, regardless of who you are.” Malzahn said the competitions across the offensive line are a good sign as the Tigers head into the season. “You can’t have enough depth on the offensive line,” Malzahn said. “I’d say, and I think I’ve said this before, I think we probably have as much depth, maybe more, than the five previous seasons I’ve been here. At least going into the season, we’re in a good spot.” Despite the competitions, Young said the offensive line is united by its common goal of winning a championship. “Everybody has that edge right now,” Young said. “Everybody got a fire under them to make sure everything is perfect. … Everybody understands what it takes now. There’s a lot of people that’s been in big games here on this team and we all know what it takes.”
File PHoto
The offensive line engages in a drill during fall practice.
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Intrigue
11
Thursday, August 20, 2015
ThePlainsman.com
Bartenders mixin’ it up
Lifestyle
Intrigue
featured app
Rachel Sprouse / Intrigue Writer
emily enfinger / photo editor
Top: Jeff Myers, representing Longhorn Steakhouse, makes a drink during the Bartender of the Year 2015 competition. Bottom: Beau Burns, representing Cigar and Fine Spirits, burns an orange peel for his signature drink, the Smoked Americano.
Shopkick rewards points to users that can be redeemed as gift cards.
Rack up deals with shopkick Rachel Sprouse Intrigue Writer
Bartender of the Year Competition 2015 held Hannah Fuqua Intrigue Writer
On a rainy Tuesday evening, Aug. 18, three local bartenders gathered at the Hotel at Auburn University and Dixon Conference Center to display their drink-making talents in the Alabama Bartender of the Year Regional Competition. Brittany Pollard of Tuscaloosa, Beau Burns of Auburn and Jeff Myers of Fort Rucker are all first time competitors. Each bartender made four drinks that were tasted by a panel of three judges. The contestants were judged on speed, accuracy, flair and a test given before the competition. Old Forester Bourbon sponsored the event. The bartenders made three classic drinks and one signature drink including Old Forester. DJ Ben Bruud entertained the audience while the contestants prepared. Pollard, third-year pharmacy school student, represented Bob’s Victory Grille. Pollard’s drinks included the Black Raspberry Forest, the Old Forester Sidecar and the Old Forester Old-Fashioned. Her signature drink was a mix of Old For-
ester, peach schnapps, lemon juice, ginger ale and mint. Pollard called this drink the Fall Forest. Pollard asked Old Forester trivia questions while she mixed her drinks. “Can anybody tell me what ailment bitters cure?” Pollard said. “Bitters and water mixed helps cure hiccups.” Up next was Burns, who represented Cigar and Fine Spirits, but started his bartending career at Acre restaurant. Jonathan Meadar, Burns’ general manager, was there for support during the competition. “Cigar bar is a unique destination in Auburn,” Meadar said. “We grow all of our own herbs used in our drinks.” Burns concocted an Old Fashioned, Kentucky Bourbon Apple and a Chambord Bourbon Berry. He said his signature beverage was the Smoked Americano. For this, brown sugar cubes and pecan wood chips are smoked for 20 minutes and sealed for three hours to establish the flavors. This mixture is added to the rim of the glass using orange, lime and lemon juice. Burns also makes his own smoked sim-
ple syrup to add to the recipe. Campari, sweet vermouth, falernum and Old Forester were also included. The last contestant was Myers who hails from Longhorn Steakhouse. Myers wowed the judges with his Old Forester Mint Julep, Old Forester Manhattan and Old Forester John Collins which is similar to a gin-based Tom Collins. Myers’ signature drink, The Jeff, was spontaneously made the day of the competition. It includes Old Forester bourbon, apricot, ginger and sour mix. Host Adam Keeshan, director of food and beverage at the hotel, read the results after the judges, Phill Boissel, Bret Eddins and flair master Matt Anderson deliberated. Myers took first place with a prize of $400, Burns placed second with $200 and Pollard won third with a $100 prize. The state competition sponsored by the Alabama Restaurant and Hospitality Alliance will be held in Birmingham on Sept. 28. Other events sponsored by the hotel this semester include Oktoberfest on Oct. 10, and Pork and Cork on Oct. 26.
campus
Jane & Joe Random Sophomore
Junior
Nursing
Aerospace Engineering
Describe a smell you
Describe a smell you
have fond memories
have fond memories
of.
of.
“My mom makes really good
“That fertilizer smell on base-
Why did you pick your major?
homemade
chip
ball fields. That just hits me be-
Why did you pick your major?
“My mom was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2002.
cookies, and she’ll send them
cause I played baseball when I
“I am an aerospace engineer ... Since we lived on an
She’s fine now — over 10 years clean. So, basically, I was
to me from time to time. Smell-
was kid, and then I kind of grew
Air Force base, it was very, very common there. It
5 or 6, and the nurses always made sure I knew what
ing those, I can see her in my
out of it because I got hit one
played a big part, having jets fly over your house.You’d
was going on and let me help push her medicine in when
kitchen.”
year. But I have remembered
think I’d go away from it, but I guess I’m going for it.”
Emilee Dutton
she was going through chemo. And that’s why I wanted to get started in nursing. I got to help my mom fight off cancer.”
chocolate
that smell since I was about six.”
thomas mcCall
If you’ve ever wanted to be rewarded for shopping, this is the app you’ve been waiting for. Shopkick is an easy-to-use phone application that rewards users with points for entering stores, scanning barcodes and making purchases. Additional points can be earned by opening the app each day, scrolling through lists of products and inviting friends. For every 500 points earned, about $2 is rewarded as a gift card of the user’s choice, and points can be redeemed at any time. The gift card can be scanned by showing the barcode on the phone. Gift card options vary from Target to Starbucks, with Best Buy, Sephora and Tory Burch in the higher point range. For most stores such as Kroger and Publix, points are given to users for walking in. In order to successfully use the app, have it active as you walk into a store. As long as the user has his or her Wi-Fi or mobile data on, the app will automatically locate the phone and instantly reward points. Usually, no purchase is necessary. Points can also be earned
through scans. When entering a store, open the app and find the store’s logo. Click on the logo to see if the store awards points for scanning certain items. Some items will be 15-25 points, while others will be above 100. The point value typically goes up if the store is having a sale. Another feature is the deals page. Users can scroll through the tiles and see what sales are in their area. Points are not normally awarded for scrolling through the deals page, but the user can see all sales in stores and save them to view later. The points do not disappear and there is no time limit forcing users to redeem their points each month. This allows users to accumulate points for a larger gift card value. Personally, I’ve had great success with this app. I’ve had it for one month and have earned a $10 gift card to Starbucks. What I like is that I don’t have to connect a credit card to earn rewards. All you need is a smartphone with an Internet connection to earn rewards for the shopping you’re already doing. Rachel Sprouse is an intrigue writer for The Plainsman. She can be reached at intrigue@theplainsman.com
Intrigue 12
The Auburn Plainsman
Thursday, August 20, 2015
COME HOME TO
THE CORNER! The renovation is complete and the entire community is invited to celebrate with us!
Friday, August 21 I 6-9 pm p o ke r r u n w i t h p r i z e s I l i v e m u s i c entertainment district I merchant specials #comehometothecorner
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