Group calls for athletics chaplain to be removed Sports 8
The Auburn Plainsman A Spirit That Is Not Afraid Thursday, August 27, 2015 Vol. 123, Issue 2, 12 Pages
Student fees
First copy is free. Additional copies 50 cents per issue.
Where is your $808 going?
A comprehensive breakdown of what your student fees are paying for
Corey Williams Campus Editor
At the beginning of this year, each Auburn student paid an $808 student services fee in addition to his or her tuition.
Tuition rates vary according to a student’s major and whether a student is an Alabama resident. The student services fee, however, is the same for everyone. Walker Byrd, SGA president, said a small
amount of money per student adds up in the end. “When you think about 26,000 students who are paying for this, it comes out to a lot,” Byrd said. Byrd said SGA has the most say in the student activities portion of the fee. The student activities fee was originally $19, but it was increased to $45 in 2012. Roughly 39 percent of that $45 goes
to UPC, 21 percent goes to student media, 6 percent goes to community service, 6 percent goes to leadership and ethics, 8 percent goes to student organizations and welcome week, 5 percent for intercultural programming and 15 percent goes to SGA, according to Byrd. Byrd said any student organization can request money from the student activities fee. “We know based on enrollment and based on the $45 fee, we have a set amount we have to get
» See student fees 2
Source: Auburn University
Graphic by Emily Enfinger
University stands
Community
Campus
behind gun policy Andria Moore Campus Reporter
Dakota Sumpter / Senior Photographer
City’s growth stirs debate
Demolition on the Center Court apartments, located at the corner of West Glenn Avenue and Wright Street, started in August.
Maria McIlwain Community Editor
As demolition wraps up on the Center Court apartments, construction can begin on the new apartment and retail complex at the corner of Glenn Avenue and Wright Street. The building, called The Parker, is proposed to be six stories and 75 feet high. Retail will be on the bottom floor, with student housing above. The developers, CA Ventures, is headquartered in Chicago, and has de-
veloped properties all over the country, including several in the Southeast. Ray Huff, owner of Auburn Realty, said residents living at his properties near The Parker were not in favor of the development. “Every student I have living there is not happy about that big project going in next door,” Huff said. “From an aesthetic point of view, we could see see sunlight downtown, and now we’re not going to get any sunlight on that side of the property.” Anna Solomon, Keep Auburn
Lovely member and facilitator in the Harrison School of Pharmacy, said people are concerned new developments in Auburn will cause the city to lose its small town charm. “We think our town is a small town, it is a village, we have lots of people who live here though,” Solomon said. “The character that people like is to have a small, charming thing, and we don’t want to lose our views of Samford Hall, the church
» See City’s growth 2
Every college and university has its own policy on carrying weapons and firearms. Earlier this year, Alabama Attorney General Luther Strange launched an investigation into those laws. He was concerned about complaints that some university gun bans violate state gun laws. Melvin Owens, executive director of public safety and security, said decisions about Auburn’s gun policy are made based on establishing the safest atmosphere possible. “We believe that it is in the best interests of everyone to maintain a safe and orderly environment,” Owens said. The current weapons policy, which can be found under “University policies” on Auburn’s website, “prohibits the possession and use of any dangerous or potentially dangerous weapon or instrument(s) . . . on all University properties, with limited exceptions.” However, this policy only extends to campus. There is a slight variation for employees. The policy states that an employee may not carry a firearm on campus, either, but may keep one in his or her
personal vehicle. “An employee may not possess firearms on campus or while otherwise engaged in duties associated with their employment, except for a firearm properly maintained in a personal vehicle in a manner consistent with Alabama law.” There is a long history of debate on the subject of weapon possession that extends throughout the entire country. Auburn University College Democrat president Calvin Wilborn said he believes it is unnecessary for anyone to carry a weapon of any sort on campus. “I just don’t think period that weapons should be on campus,” Wilborn said. “Even if you’re trained to handle a gun.” According to Owens, the policy is put under periodic review whenever a new problem arises or something is brought to the board’s attention. “Each new age has weapons that you would have never thought of,” Owens said. “For example, Tasers.” There is a long process to undergo for policy revisions. “Depending upon the area, we would look at what the cause is, a
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» See gun policy 2
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The Auburn Plainsman
Student Fees
DUI reports
» From 1
The following were arrested and charged with driving under the influence by the Auburn Police Division from Aug. 18-24: Aug. 20 - Eddie Jean Hadoges, 67 I-85 mile marker 57, 2:07 a.m. - Skyler Donovan Dudley, 20 Shug Jordan Parkway, 6:17 a.m. Aug. 21 - Mark Coty Snoddy, 21 South College Street, 1:56 a.m. - Matthew Ryan Hollingsworth, 29 Wire Road, 3:10 p.m. Aug. 22 - Alexander Barton McArdie, 20 Wire Road, 12:34 a.m. James Wilson Corless, 28 North Ross Street, 2:18 a.m. A full crime report provided by the Auburn Department of Public Safety is available online at ThePlainsman.com. –Reports provided by the Auburn Department of Public Safety
contributed by the Auburn student investment fund
Students launch investment fund Timothy Ng, Ben Purinton, Ben McCooey and Shane Mulqueen, seniors in finance, are taking a big step for the Harbert College of Business by establishing a permanent student investment fund this fall; it will provide experience outside of the classroom for finance students as well as anyone with an interest in the field. This initiative was originally put into place by two graduated Auburn students; now Ng, Purinton, McCooey and Mulqueen are following through on that groundwork. The rising seniors, all previously members of the Auburn Investment Club, are working with the university to establish this investment fund with real money, currently slated to be between $500,000 and $1 million. The Investment Club is now being replaced by the Auburn Student Investment Fund (ASIF). “It’s a new organization. We’re trying to do a bit of rebranding. A lot of people are familiar with the Investment Club, or at least people within the College of Business,” said Ng. “The message we’re trying to get across is that the organization doesn’t exist anymore, and in it’s place is this new student investment fund, which is a permanent and, hopefully, long-standing institution for many years to come.” In combination with having a finance professor serving as its adviser, “ASIF has worked hard with the Harbert College of Business’s administration as well as Auburn’s Endowment Office to set the ball in motion for a permanent student investment fund,” said Purinton. The gains from the portfolio’s performance will also be given back to the College of Business. “We’re not going to base it on your major or a lot of the traditional factors, but we’re gonna be looking for general interest in finance and investing specifically, and we’re gonna go and cultivate that talent once
Emily Enfinger / photo editor
Students pay $200 a semester to fund the Stundent Recreation and Wellness Center.
it would cost to do what we wanted to do.” Trupp said SGA held a referendum in 2009 and 74 percent of students voted to increased the fee to $200.
they’re in,” said McCooey. ASIF is seeking applicants of all ages. Although the studetns are aware that some underclassmen may not have as much exposure to the investment industry as upperclassmen, they have the tools to train these students. “A problem we might encounter is if a freshman sees a flyer or something and says ‘Oh, this sounds really interesting, but I don’t have any investment experience. How am I going to compete with a junior or senior who’s had maybe a couple finance internships and finance classes?’” Purinton said. “You shouldn’t be intimidated to apply if you’ve never had any experience with investing. We just want to see people that are willing to work hard and have a passion for this.” According to University of the Pacific, 200 of the 9,000 business schools worldwide operate a student investment fund. This fact means Auburn will be among about 2 percent of schools that provide this kind of opportunity for its students. Participation in this type of organization can secure the future for students looking to break into the investment industry. “It’s something they’ll get meaningful benefits from year after year,” said Mulqueen. Students in participation with ASIF will utilize top research tools such as the Bloomberg terminal, Morningstar and FactSet. This is beneficial to a resume and is also a “staple” on Wall Street, according to Ng. Training new members and establishing a strong base for the future of the organization is the main goal of ASIF right now. “We have all the tools ready to make that happen educational-wise, so if we can get the right young students involved early on, we can have a very strong organization years ahead,” McCooey said. ASIF will be holding information sessions in Lowder Room 19 on Aug. 31 and Sept. 1 at 5:15 p.m., where the applications will be handed out.
The fee was increased $50 a year starting in 2009. It was capped at $200 in 2012. Trupp said there has been no fee increase since then.
Student Government
SGA holds first meeting of the year Campus Writer
The new Auburn Student Investment Fund’s logo.
Claire Tully
to,” Byrd said. “The requests often come in much higher than that.” Corey Edwards, SGA programs adviser, said the $45 student activity fee is assessed every year. “Those activities include everything we have over in our office of student involvement,” Edwards said. “It supports around 500 registered student organizations we have out there. Last year it came out to about $2.349 million. That money is allocated out to the groups.” The wellness center fee went from $100 to $150 in 2011, and then to $200 in 2012. Ted Trupp, associate director of recreation programs, said the increases financed the $72 million Auburn University Recreation and Wellness Center, which opened in 2013. SGA formed a wellness center committee in 2008, according to Trupp. “The idea was to come up with what we needed for the recreation center at Auburn University,” Trupp said. “The architects went to work to figure out how much
Claire Tully
finance
Campus Writer
Thursday, August 27, 2015
SGA held its first Senate meeting of the 2015 fall semester in the Student Center on Monday, Aug. 24. The meeting began by opening the floor to Lady Cox, interim assistant vice president for student affairs. Cox addressed the executives and the Cabinet about organizations to look out for this fall, such as AU Involve and the Green Dot. Next, the SGA executives made announcements to the cabinet members. Walker Byrd, SGA president, addressed the cabinet about issues such as the Mell Street facility and the special sessions being held in Montgomery by the Senate and the House to vote on a budget. Auburn Answers was also among Byrd’s announcements. “If you see it on social media, if you see on campus promote it . . . it’s our quickest, easiest, most efficient way to get feedback
Gun Policy » From 1
group would meet to discuss, then peer institutions, and then draft a position and send for review,” Owens said. Auburn has gone even farther to protect its students, faculty and staff than just maintaining a strict gun policy. Safety classes have also been offered to students since 2008. “We have an active shooter response training course,” Corbett said. “We like
City’s growth » From 1
from a large range of students,” Byrd said. Byrd also said Auburn Global did a great job recruiting international students. “We have about 250 new undergraduates and about 100 new graduate students,” Byrd said. “So if you see them, befriend them. You guys are campus leaders.” Olivia Tofani, SGA chief of staff, then spoke about the SGA retreat, safety training and Miss Homecoming. “SGA has the opportunity to a nominate Miss Homecoming representative,” Tofani said. After calling the cabinet to make any nominations for Miss Homecoming, all the other executives spoke about matters like changes in seat-saving in Jordan-Hare Stadium’s student section and utilizing the night transit from 8 p.m. to 3 a.m. The executive committee reports were next. The senators gave the cabinet their weekly meeting times. Senators also came forward to discuss
certain matters of business. Brock Hendon spoke about welcoming a group of second graders from Chicago to the first home football game of the season as a thank you for their contribution to Auburn. They filmed a video that included the children stating Auburn facts and singing the Auburn Creed. Hunter Gibson spoke on behalf of the Nursing School while Brandon Honeywell spoke about the SGA Boards and Committees Appointments. “We’re going to be able to get a lot of really cool things done there. One of the coolest parts will be bridging that gap between us and the cabinet,” said Justin Matthews, SGA vice president, about the upcoming retreat and semester. Before adjourning the meeting, Brad Smith, SGA adviser, encouraged SGA members not to sit on the sidelines and to take opportunities because they are a “group of do-ers.”
to say that it’s something people can take with them for the rest of their lives.” The department of public safety and security offers classes to the faculty as well, and the group has visited businesses and schools demonstrating safety precautions to take in cases of emergency. Corbett says the university does work with students who may feel differently about the strict policies and have a different agenda. “We do have a program for students that are from out of town or just like hunt-
ing,” Corbett said. “They have the ability to go to our office and check a weapon in and then check it back out.” Although Wilborn believes it isn’t safe to house weapons anywhere on campus, he hopes Auburn will continue improving safety regulations on campus weapons. “I don’t think at any point it would be necessary to carry a gun when we’ve spent so much time, energy and resources to make sure that the proper personnel will be at an emergency situation,” Wilborn said.
“
steeples, the things that made Auburn what it is today.” Huff said he interacts with students often because of his business, and wants to hear their opinions on development. “I haven’t had any of them look favorably on tearing downtown and putting student housing downtown,” Huff said. “I want to know what [students] want.” Huff said he thinks the height limit downtown should be limited to 35 feet and there should be no new student housing downtown. He also said he was concerned the streets would not be able to handle heavy car traffic. “My office is directly next to the property on Wright Street,” Huff said. “My property where my office is is a condominium property, so we’ve got 24 different owners. And every owner is concerned about visitors and illegal parking.” Huff said vacancies caused by overbuilding have been filled, but not by students, and he said having students and residents living in close proximity can create tension. “I was actually told this by an athlete who moved in with us last spring ... he said, ‘You just can’t have athletes and students and non-students living together,’ he said it just doesn’t work,’” Huff said. “‘There’s too much conflict created,’ he said, especially when you throw alcohol in the mix.” Solomon said she is worried the new large buildings won’t stand the test of time. “At what point are students going to say, ‘I don’t want to live in a dorm with all these students, I don’t want to have three roommates,’” Solomon said. Solomon also said parking is a potential issue at large “mega complexes.” She said the city’s infrastructure might not be prepared to handle crises at large complexes, especially on busy weekends. She cited the fire at 160 Ross, where all of
We’re not a small town, and there’s no indication that we’ll be a small town again.” -Forrest Cotten
Director of Auburn City Planning department
Auburn Fire Division and an Opelika Fire Department unit responded as an example of Auburn’s small resources. “What if [the fire at 160 Ross] had been when students were there?” Solomon said. “Is our city prepared?” Forrest Cotten, director of city planning for the city of Auburn, said the comprehensive plan for the city, Comp 2030, states downtown should be more dense. “Here, we believe where these projects are proposed and all the recent student housing development has been in the city’s core,” Cotten said. “And that’s consistent with what our current plans recommend. So, in effect, we’re following our plans.” Cotten said the number of beds to students will be more proportional in the long term because the University could keep growing past 25,000 students. “In the short term, we may have more beds than are necessary, but over the long term, we can absorb some more,” Cotten said. Cotten said there are few vacancies throughout the city. He said the management at 160 Ross had “a heck of a time” finding a place to house displaced students. Cotten said student apartments are allowed by right in two zoning districts, which amounts to less than one percent of the city’s land mass. He said the planning documents put forth by the city can be changed if there are issues, but the current Downtown Master Plan has been through several approval processes. “So while we have had a lot of recent
Contributed by Bailey Smith
160 Ross’ Building 4 burns on Aug. 3.
citizen input, it’s very important for people to understand that none of these issues are new,” Cotten said. “The 75 foot height requirement went into place in early 2010.” Cotten said people must put all of their issues in perspective, but he ultimately wants to serve the community. “We’re here to do what the community wants,” Cotten said. Cotten said building height requirement has changed three times since he began working in Auburn, from 60-75 feet. “Each one of those review processes were very deliberate, with a considerable amount of input,” Cotten said. “So we didn’t get to where we are today, from a regulatory standpoint, by accident or happenstance.” Cotten said redevelopment is necessary to keep Auburn growing. He said development provides an incentive for property owners to maintain their buildings. “We’re not a small town, and there’s no indication that we’ll be a small town again,” Cotten said.
Thursday, August 27, 2015
Campus 3
The Auburn Plainsman
You deserve a factual look at . . .
A Cheater’s Dream: Can’t Trust, Can’t Verify Lying is Iran’s diplomatic tool of choice. No wonder most Americans don’t believe the Obama Deal will stop Iran from cheating— or catch them when they do. Iran has cheated shamelessly on all its international nuclear agreements. Not only does President Obama’s Iran Deal fail as promised to halt Iran’s nuclear weapons program, its verification regime is so weak it will be impossible to catch most violations. But even if we catch them, we have little power to stop them. It adds up to a deadly dangerous deal.
What are the facts?
weapons program engenders profound distrust of Iran’s “agreement” to the Obama Iran Deal. Despite strict international sanctions and treaties, If we don’t trust, can we verify? If Iran wants the Iran has operated covert illegal nuclear facilities $150 billion in sanctions relief it is promised for since the mid-1980s. In 2002, Iranian dissidents adhering to this deal and if it has every intention of revealed to a surprised world that the Islamic complying, why would it refuse to allow the Republic was building a uranium enrichment plant at “anytime, anywhere” inspections promised by Natanz, as well as a heavy water plan at Arak, the likes President Obama? Yet the P5+1 abandoned strict of which is capable of producing plutonium for inspection protocols, including the ability to inspect nuclear bombs. In 2009, the U.S and other Western military sites, in exchange for a scheme by which Iran states discovered Iran constructing another secret can delay any request to enrichment plan—this inspect other secret one fortified deeply “Only if the U.S. Congress defeats the facilities for 24 days underground—known as Iran Deal can the international minimum (and possibly Fordow. Notwithstanding all evidence to the community avoid a nuclear-armed terror much longer) in a bureaucratic jungle— contrary, Iran has insisted state—and the near certainty of a war.” plenty of time to spirit its nuclear program is away all traces of peaceful. While Iran is a disallowed nuclear activity. signatory to the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), the What’s worse, astoundingly, neither the United International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) found States nor any of the P5+1 nations will be involved in back in 2003 that “Iran’s many failures and breaches inspecting Iranian nuclear sites. Instead, inspections of its obligations to comply with its NPT Safeguards will be administered by the IAEA, which has Agreement... constitute non-compliance.” negotiated secret terms for these protocols with Iran, Indeed, in 2003 then nuclear negotiator and now the wily sanctions evader, which we will never see. president Hassan Rouhani bragged that “While we But what if we actually do catch Iran cheating? were talking with the Europeans in Teheran” about Even if Iran is caught violating Iran Deal terms, the preventing Iran from enriching uranium, “we were P5+1 has tied its own hands. The only penalty the installing equipment in parts of the [uranium P5+1 can levy against Iran is a “snapback” return to conversion] facility at Isfahan.” the sanctions—which could take months of In just the past year during the P5+1 negotiations, negotiations among P5+1 partners. What’s more, at despite generous easing of international sanctions the instant sanctions are reinstituted, Iran has the offered as incentive, Iran has cheated at least three right to abandon the entire agreement, flip its times on related agreements. First, in violation of the centrifuge switches and return to full-speed nuclear Joint Plan of Action, which prohibited Iran from weapons development. By then it will have collected enriching uranium in new centrifuges, the IAEA in its $150-billion reward and have little left to lose, but November 2014 caught the Islamic Republic using a nuclear arsenal to gain. With such stakes, it’s advanced, high-powered IR-5 centrifuges. Second, in certain no Western nation will want to upend the February 2015, Iran was discovered to have about 300 agreement for the kind of small, consistent kilograms of banned, gaseous low-enriched uranium, incremental violations that have characterized so which can be used as reactor fuel. Third, Iran swore much of Iran’s cheating in the past. We can also be to the IAEA it would answer questions about the sure that once British, French, German and Russian Possible Military Dimensions (PMD) of its previous firms have lined up multi-billion-dollar oil and nuclear programs, but to date it has mocked this weapons contracts with Iran, they will be reluctant to commitment, revealing virtually nothing. kill those lucrative programs by reinstituting This consistent history of lying, cheating and sanctions. weaseling out of agreements to limit its nuclear In short, if Iranians are determined to cheat, as they surely are, this deal leaves U.S. allies no means to catch them or force them to comply. Only if the U.S. Congress defeats the Iran Deal can the international community avoid a nuclear-armed terror state—and the near certainty of a Middle East or world war. Call your Sentators and Representative to voice your opposition today: (202) 225-3121. This message has been published and paid for by
Facts and Logic About the Middle East P.O. Box 590359 ■ San Francisco, CA 94159 Gerardo Joffe, President James Sinkinson, Vice President
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Campus Thursday, August 27, 2015
4 ThePlainsman.com
Campus
University has roots in success
sustainability
Auburn has been awarded its sixth consecutive Tree Campus USA award Claire Tully Campus Writer
For the sixth year in a row, Auburn University has earned the Tree Campus USA designation from the Arbor Day Foundation. Auburn has received this honor from 2009-14 by promoting tree health and sustainability values to Auburn staff, students and community. Gary Keever, professor of horticulture and facilities management landscape consultant, said he isn’t surprised about this award. “Auburn University’s recognition as a Tree Campus USA since 2009 is a reflection of the University’s commitment to the health and long-term preservation of our trees,” Keever said. Auburn may apply again for this designation for 2015 in December. To earn this designation from the Arbor Day Foundation, annual expenditures must be presented with the application for Tree Campus USA and include proof of tree related projects that help educate the campus and community on having and preserving trees. Mallory Ferguson, senior in public relations, researched this topic for the University, Auburn’s 601 acres of land are home to over 8,000 trees. In 2014 alone, 179 new trees were
planted, according to Ferguson. “Trees can add value to your home, help cool your home and neighborhood, break the cold winds to lower your heating costs and provide food for wildlife,” according to the Arbor Day Foundation’s website on the benefits of trees in a community. There are five standards that must be met to be eligible for Tree Campus USA. According to the Arbor Day Foundation, these standards are, “Tree Advisory Committee, Campus Tree-Care Committee, Campus Tree Program with Dedicated Annual Expenditures, Arbor Day Observance and Service-Learning Project.” The Tree Advisory Committee must represent “the diverse audience of those with a stake in campus trees,” according to the Arbor Day Foundation. This “diverse audience” includes students, faculty, facility management and the Auburn community. The Campus Tree-Care Committee must have certain components. The committee must have goals and a clear purpose established as well as several resources. These resources include authorities to enforce the campus tree care plan, protection and presentation policies, tree damage assessments and communication strategies.
file photo
Auburn may apply for this designation again in December.
Tiger dining
Overall Company pops onto campus Ameera Steward Campus Writer
Emily enfinger / photo editor
Overall Company popsicles are located at the Village and Terrell Dining Halls.
calendar
Overall Popsicles, a popular popsicle company, will now be in campus stores. The Overall Company has been located in Opelika for years. The restaurant also serves coffee, sandwiches, beer and wine. According to Glen Loughridge, director of campus dining, the popsicles will be in Village Dining and Terrell Hall. Loughridge said he spoke with both the owners, Laura and Jay Pritchard, as well as a district manager, and they came up with an agreement to bring the popsicles to campus. He said they felt students would like it especially since there was a cart on campus, and now that it is an upgraded product, they wanted it to be in stores. According to Loughridge, it has been a success so far. Loughridge said he is excited the popsicles are coming to campus. “We want to place value on having local partners,” Loughridge said. “We want to support the community as much as possible, and it was an opportunity to pair up with a local business. I feel great about it.” According to Loughridge, the expansion wasn’t a surprise. “When they rebranded and wanted to put their product into the c-stores rather than operate the cart outside, it was a natural progression to the partnership,” Loughridge said. “Chartwells RDM, Bill Sallustro, has always been very willing to work with local vendors to provide variety when it makes sense.”
“
We want to place value on having local partners. We want to support the community as much as possible, and it was an opportunity to pair up with a local business. I feel great about it. ” -Glen Loughridge
director of campus dining
The owners of The Overall Company said they are also excited. According to Laura, they decided to become a part of Auburn’s campus because it represents their local community which they love. She also said she is an Auburn graduate as well as her parents, so everyone in her family is a fan of Auburn. According to Laura, this is their first summer launching their wholesale, and they want to connect with students and the Auburn community because they love it. She said their popsicles are made with natural products, and they also wanted to make their pops with the local farmers’ dairy and produce. “We celebrate local, handcrafted products like the Working Cow Dairy and SuperGrow produce through our pops,” Jay said. “They are fresh, locally sourced and handcrafted celebrating all things Southern.”
greek life: photo of the week
Dates to Remember Thursday, Aug. 27 • The Market at Ag Heritage Park from 3-6 p.m at the corner of Lem Morrison and South Donahue drives • Art Museum: Welcome Back Social from 5-8 p.m. at Jule Collins Smith Museum of Fine Art Friday, Aug. 28 • Graduate Assistant Orientation from 10 a.m.-2 p.m in AU Student Center Room 2222 Monday, Aug. 31 • O-Days begins and lasts all week on the Haley Center Concourse Tuesday, Sep. 2 • First Wednesdays at the Museum of Natural History from 4-6 p.m. in the Biodiversity Learning Center
Emily Enfinger / photo editor
Staff members in the Office of Greek Life pose in the new Greek Life office in the student involvement suite. TOP: Erin Kinney, junior panhellenic delegate; Edgar Reston Pritchett III, IFC graduate adviser and Anne Strickland, panhellenic gratuate adviser BOTTOM: Lauren Whatley, NPHC president and Lauren Cleveland, panhellenic president.
Opinion
a5
Thursday, August 27, 2015
ThePlainsman.com
Opinion
our view SOCIAL MEDIA ON THE PLAINS
Responses to “WHAT DO YOU THINK? What is your opinion on Auburn University having a team chaplain? Is it fair for the Freedom From Religion Foundation to request the removal of the team chaplain, Chette Williams, or is it unnecessary, even hypocritical?” Shelia Samples Worley “as long as no one is being forced to participate in any religious activity, there is nothing wrong with him or any other chaplain...if anyone doesnt want to pray or anything else, they can step aside , leave, etc....he is there for counseling , so if they dont want counseled, i supposed thats not an issue”
Hypocritically Intolerant
Gurden Smith / illustrator
Recently, the Freedom From Religion Foundation, or FFRF, wrote a letter to Auburn University requesting the removal of Chette Williams, Auburn’s team chaplain. Anders Seidel, FFRF’s attorney, said the Foundation had asked for records from Auburn but that Auburn never sent them, which is what resulted in the request to remove Williams. Seidel said that the records requested could be used to prove the unconstitutionality of Auburn’s having a team chaplain. Fourteen other universities were sent reports as well, many of which are part of the SEC. While there may be others as well, Seidel said the University of Alabama failed to send the requested documents. The FFRF’s website states the reports included a “model policy for universities to adopt,” such as “hiring a counselor with genuine training if student athletes are truly
in need.” Also according to their website, the FFRF’s purpose is “to promote the constitutional principle of separation of state and church, and to educate the public on matters relating to nontheism.” Merriam-Webster defines theism as “the belief that God exists or that many gods exist.” While we understand it is not right to force any particular religion on anyone, in this case, student athletes, we feel as though the request to remove Williams was completely unnecessary. For one, participation is voluntary. With this in mind, we also believe athletes should have the opportunity to access resources, such as a chaplain, representing other religions as well. We were unable to get in touch with the athletics department at Auburn about whether or not these types of services representing
other religions have already been made available or not. The FFRF’s request for the removal of Williams is not only unnecessary, it’s hypocritical. The FFRF promotes the separation of church and state, which is fine. We believe separation of church and state is important. But Williams is not paid by Auburn. Lastly, the FFRF argues that by Auburn having a team chaplain, there is the possibility of religion being imposed on players. But because participating in services the chaplain provides is voluntary, requiring Auburn to remove Williams would be violating freedom of religion, which is unconstitutional. Because of this, we find it hypocritical for the FFRF to ask us to remove our team chaplain on the grounds of unconstitutionality.
her view
Staying sane in an insane world Emily Esleck intrigue Editor
For many of us college students, we don’t necessarily know who we are yet. You would think 21 or 22 years would be enough for us to figure it out. It’s not. Societal pressures tell us we should have our lives together — that we should have the next 10 years mapped out. Sure, we know what jobs we want. School has trained us to think about work throughout our adolescent lives. But have we really experienced enough to know who we will be for the next 50 years? I don’t think there’s a set time for any of it. We are
constantly changing as people and throughout our lives, our surroundings change, too. So why do we feel the need to have it all figured out? We are all different. Everyone doesn’t need to be set to the same standard. What works for me might not work for you, and that’s OK. I would like to think I am close to becoming the person I will be for the rest of my life. I’m in my senior year with two majors and a minor. I know what kind of career I want to lead. I know I want to study abroad. But those are only a few details that will make me the person I am. Those things don’t define who I am. They might help lead me into the next few years, but in the grand scheme of things, a few years is a short time. I don’t think we ever stop learning, so we won’t ever stop
changing. The older we get, the more the learning process slows, and we become more set in our ways. It becomes harder to change. But who said we need to have every detail planned now? No one. You are the only person in control of who you are. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. Growing up, my dad always said, “You can do anything you put your mind to,” which has helped me this year. One year ago, I didn’t think I could do a lot of things. I just went along for the ride and thought I had to be confined to where I fit in. The truth is, you don’t have to be placed in a certain group or place. Be yourself, and the rest will come. Don’t be afraid to reach for the stars, cliché I know, but if you don’t try, you’ll never succeed.
Put yourself out there, and don’t be afraid to speak your mind. Stand up for yourself. These are all things I’ve recently learned. I have a lot more learning and figuring out to do, but don’t we all? Here’s a secret: The people who appear to have their life together probably don’t. So don’t let those people intimidate you into thinking you’re behind or you’re not good enough. You’ll get there one day, and the journey is the more important part. Don’t compare yourself to what somebody else’s idea of perfect is. Just do you, and it will all fall into place.
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“As long as he/she isn’t paid with state money, why should it be an issue?” Anslie Brant “are there any players with different religious beliefs or lack of beliefs that have a similar source? or is the option even presented to them?”
Responses to “Freedom From Religion Foundation calls for the removal of Auburn team chaplain” Tiger Pawala “Our Constitution guarantees “freedom OF religion” so if others don’t want to pray, they don’t have to, but I’m going to!” Greg Schmidt “If it helps Auburn win football games, I don’t care what superstitious nonsense is used for motivation.”
Response to “What’s next for downtown Auburn” Joshua Connelly “Thank goodness, the lack of trees felt a little bare”
Responses to “WHAT DO YOU THINK? What is your opinion about Auburn having a team chaplain? Is it fair for the FFRF to request his removal?” WarEaglePooh “None of their business #move on” John Burgess “perfectly fair to request his removal. Perfectly fair for us to tell them to shove it.” Brett Bretzman “NO” Limerocker “They need to mind their own business!!!”
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Community Thursday, August 27, 2015
6 ThePlainsman.com
Community
Meet your Auburn mayor, Bill Ham Jr. city government
Anne Dawson
community reporter
In the early 1930s, Bill Ham Sr. attended Auburn University and owned his own dry cleaning business, Bill Ham Cleaners. Ham also served on the Auburn City Council. Little did he know, in 1986 his son Bill Ham Jr. would follow in his father’s footsteps by being elected to City Council. After serving three four-year terms on City Council, he was elected mayor of Auburn. He is currently in his fifth four-year term. Ham said he did not always dream of becoming mayor of Auburn, but owning and running his own marina. However, when he graduated from Auburn with a degree in recreation management, interest rates were too high to start his own business. One day in 1985, Ham was approached in line at a bank by the mayor of the time, Jan Dempsey. Dempsey suggested he run for City Council, but he was unsure at the time. After returning to his office and receiving a few more calls suggesting the same thing, Ham decided he would run for City Council. “I said if I get elected for City Council that I would do it for one term, and that was 28 years ago,” Ham said. Ham said he realized he was making a positive once he became involved in City Council, difference, so he stayed on board. This eventually led him to run for mayor of Auburn. “I believe in trying to leave everything better than you found it,” Ham said. Ham said as mayor his goal is to improve the city of Auburn for all citizens and students.
As mayor, Ham stresses the importance and the value of students in the community. “I have a strong belief that Auburn University and the city of Auburn are really one together,” Ham said. “I think that one without the other, or a division of the two, is detrimental.” Ham said growing up with an involved father helped him realize the importance of Auburn students to the city of Auburn. Beth Witten, Ward 3 City Councilmember said Ham always keeps students in mind when he is making decisions. “The guy in charge is aware of how things will impact students,” Witten said. Charlie Duggan, city manager of Auburn, agreed, and said Ham considers Auburn students not only students, but also important citizens of Auburn. As mayor, Ham said he cannot always please everyone. He said that is his least favorite part of his job. “Somebody told me many years ago that the one of the hardest parts about this job is realizing that every time you vote, you’re going to make somebody happy and somebody mad,” Ham said. However, according to Duggan, he has a way of talking to people that is very comforting, even if it concerns a difficult issue. Ham’s wife Carol, son Forrest and daughter Ashley all graduated from Auburn University and share his deep love for the city and the school. “Anyone who says anything bad about (Ham) is either mistaken or lying,” Duggan said.
construction
dakota sumpter / senior photographer
Mayor Ham works at his desk. (Inset): Ham is serving his fifth four-year term as mayor of Auburn. He has been serving on City Council or as mayor for 28 years.
downtown
Coming home to the corner Anne Dawson
community reporter
dakota sumpter / senior photographer
Keep Auburn Lovely raises awareness for its group through yard signs throughout Auburn.
Auburn residents form group to help ‘Keep Auburn Lovely’
Maria McIlwain community editor
As Auburn grows, new student housing pops up all over town, including downtown Auburn. Some people are worried this new growth will change the small town feel of Auburn and transform it into something unrecognizable. Keep Auburn Lovely is a grassroots group of concerned citizens who are worried about the type of development in Auburn, especially downtown. The group formed when the first apartment moratorium was put in place in February. “It was just people who cared about the developments of student housing and the over-development of student housing,” said Anna Solomon, Keep Auburn Lovely member and facilitator in the Harrison School of Pharmacy. “We felt like we might make a difference if we could encourage people to get more information and be more informed. So we were supportive of the first multi-unit development moratorium.” According to Solomon, Keep Auburn Lovely advocates for smart development, which means remodeling and restoring older buildings, maintaining Auburn’s aesthetic and keeping it a welcoming place for everyone, not just students. “You can remodel and upgrade without tearing down and rebuilding,” said Ray Huff, owner
of Auburn Realty and member of Keep Auburn Lovely. Solomon said they are not against development, but want to make sure Auburn maintains its small, charming feel. Huff said the area the group is mostly concerned about is between Thach and Glenn avenues and Wright and Gay streets. “Those are the main areas that seem, for lack of a better word, under attack,” Huff said. However, Linda Dean, Auburn resident and Keep Auburn Lovely member, said the zone they are worried about could extend to Ross Street, to encompass the 160 Ross complex. Huff said the people developing large complexes are typically not local groups. “It’s not any local people doing these actions,” Huff said. “There are a few local people tied to them, but they’re all super large developers from all over the country coming in.” Solomon said more development along the Downtown West area, from Wright Street to Donahue Drive, would be good because it is close to campus. She said the group does not want a University-only feel downtown. “We need to be really careful with our downtown because that is our tourist attraction,” Solomon said.
Citizens of Auburn gathered together Aug. 21 to celebrate the reopening of Toomer’s Corner and the downtown area. The event, Come Home to the Corner, was free to all and invited everyone to come to downtown Auburn from 5-9 p.m. Shops opened their doors and extended their hours to welcome customers from all over to explore the new setting of downtown. Students and citizens filled the streets and stores, browsing merchandise with family and friends. “We are staying open tonight until 9 (p.m.), when we usually close at 7(p.m.),” said Abby Campbell, sales associate at Auburn Art. “It gives people a chance to walk around after dinner.” Madison Aulner, key holder manager of Wrapsody, said she enjoyed seeing members of the community celebrate the opening of the streets. She also said the event had more people than she thought, which has made up for the lack of customers this summer because of the construction. Aulner said this was one of the busiest events she has been a part of. Toomer’s Corner, which has been under construction all summer, has come back with a new road and new atmosphere. Beverly and Gary Sandberg have lived in Auburn for 10 and a half years. “It’s just so pleasant,” Beverly said. “It’s like a ‘Thank you for waiting all summer for the work to be done.’” Beverly said downtown had a relaxed, enjoyable atmosphere. Gary said he was impressed with the work the city of Auburn did this summer. Haley Haas, intern for downtown Auburn and senior in public relations, described the event as a grand opening and the beginning of a new chapter for downtown Auburn. “We’re just trying to get people walking around the small businesses and hang out at the new and improved Toomer’s Corner,” Haas said.
dakota sumpter / senior photographer
People crowd Toomer’s Corner at the event. (Below): People walk through Samford Park.
Aubie waves to the crowd at Toomer’s Corner.
What’s coming next at Toomer’s Corner and downtown downtown
Rachael Taylor community writer
The corner construction has ended and was celebrated with the Come Home to the Corner event, but there is more to come. According to David Dorton, director of public affairs for the city of Auburn, the landscape aspect of the project has not been completed. There are 11 tree wells that will be planted in October or November. The trees will not block the view
of the corner and will provide shade. Additionally, a marker will be added to show where the Auburn Art time capsule is located, Dorton said. Benches added during the construction contain LED lights. Recently the lights have changed through all of the colors, but eventually the lights will be programmed to change to certain colors during events, according to Jeff Ramsey, city engineer for the City of Auburn. Ramsey also said there should not
be any road closings for the rest of the construction process. “Most people won’t even notice [construction on the final projects],” Ramsey said. In the past, there have been webcams where Auburn fans and citizens could watch a live feed of downtown Auburn. The pole that held one of the cameras had to be moved during construction, so two cameras will be added in the next few weeks. One of the feeds will show south
on College Street and the other west on Magnolia, according to Dorton. Now that construction has wrapped up, events can once again take place downtown. The Indian SummerNight will take place Oct. 10, and will include showcases of arts and crafts. According to Dorton, the intersection has been closed for the event in the past. The downtown Auburn Trick or Treat will take place Oct. 29.
dakota sumpter / sr. photographer
People celebrate the opening of Toomer’s.
Thursday, August 27, 2015
Community 7
The Auburn Plainsman
Historic train depot to become eatery
business
Maria McIlwain
“[Cooking with wood] allows for some intense flavors,” Matt said. Scott Simpson, chef and co-owner, has traveled and cooked all over the world. He said he is excited to bring his influences, which range from his West Coast upbringing to Latin American, Indian and French. “It’s really tough to put a name on the style of cooking,” Simpson said. Simpson said he is excited to use different wood fires to creat different flavors. “There’s a certain intensity to it,” Simpson said. Matt said the core of the menu revolves around seafood from the Gulf area. He said the prices on some items would be priced in the mid to high $30s, because he wants to focus on sustainable, responsibly caught seafood. He said the atmosphere would be upscale, but still fun and relaxed.
community editor
People once took their first steps into Auburn through the train depot on Mitcham Avenue. Now, that building will house a seafood restaurant known simply as The Depot. “We will see this as an anchor [to downtown Auburn],” said Megan McGowen, deputy economic development director for the city of Auburn. According to McGowen, “demolition by neglect” led to needing renovations to the building, which had been vacant since 2003. Matt Porier, co-owner of The Hound in downtown Auburn, will open the restaurant with his wife and co-owner of The Hound, Jana Porier. Matt said the menu will be mostly seafoodbased, with many of the items being cooked with wood fires. He said they are buying a custombuilt grill and oven for the restaurant.
“It’s not fine dining,” Matt said. “There’s not going to be white tablecloths.” Simpson said the local, fresh seafood served will complement the trend of serving locallysourced food. “I think everyone is sort of doing farm-to-table, but this is fish-to-fire,” Simpson said. Parking will be limited at The Depot, with 26 spots on site. Porier said complimentary valet parking will also be offered. Matt said he is not worried about safety hazards near the train tracks because there will be ample pedestrian lighting and sidewalks. “If I was Skybar, where people are getting wasted, maybe, but we’re a restaurant first,” Matt said. He thinks there will be some collaboration with The Hound, his other restaurant. “We have two very distinct concepts, but a lot of the same core values,” Matt said.
ellen jackson / photographer
The Depot will feature sustainably-caught seafood.
lifestyle
Syrup Sopping Day to be rebranded as Pioneer Day Maria McIlwain community editor
file photo
contributed by charles mitchell
This year’s syrup will be made in Alabama.
Syrup Sopping Day was an annual event for 42 years.
There will be several activities for children at Pioneer Day.
The syrup will flow in Loachapoka this fall. The Lee County Historical Society will host Pioneer Day, an event combining the Syrup Sopping festival and the historical fair that used to be on the same day on different sides of the road. “It will all be one big happy event,” said Charles Mitchell, extension professor in the department of crop, soil and environmental sciences in the College of Agriculture and acting president of the Lee County Historical Society. “I think it will be a continuation of a tradition.” Deborah McCord, secretary for the Lee County Historical Society, said people didn’t realize there were two separate events in Loachapoka on the same day. She said they used to charge admission for the historical fair, but this year, both sides of the road will be free to the public. “The historical society met with the Syrup Sopping committee and the town of Loachapoka and decided to continue it,” McCord said. Mitchell said Pioneer Day will be similar to past events. “There will still be syrup for sopping, there will still be biscuits for sopping,” Mitchell said. Mitchell said the syrup sold at the event will be made by an Alabama farmer.
“It’s genuine Alabama-made sugarcane syrup,” Mitchell said. McCord said the event will be similar to the original events. There will be syrup-making demonstrations, arts and crafts, local music and Native American demonstrations. Mitchell said there will be several events for children, such as pressing apple cider, but he also said he hopes the event will bring back some nostalgia for others. “Especially those elderly adults that remember what it used to be like on the farm,” Mitchell said. Mitchell said he wants to recapture what life was like in east Alabama 100 years ago. “We try to look for heritage crafts like candle making and soap making,” McCord said. Loachapoka has become known for Syrup Sopping, according to McCord. “The community depends on it,” McCord said. Mitchell said Pioneer Day is evolving as times change. He said the town will earn money through selling syrup. All of the money made selling syrup will go to the town of Loachapoka, according to Mitchell. “The town council tells me last year they made $60 off the event,” Mitchell said.
FAB Ovarian cancer awareness comes to College Street FINDS at lifestyle
Jordan Hays
managing editor
Nan Galik was diagnosed with ovarian cancer 11 years ago. Now she is cancer-free, and although she is not dying from cancer, she said she is still living with it. “Once [a cancer patient has] been treated and told, ‘Your cancer is gone,’ I think they are always living with that possibility that it could come back,” said Lee Sharma, gynecologist at Gynecology & Wellness Center in Auburn. “It’s one of the reasons why I think these cancer survivors exhibit extreme bravery. They live every day with that knowledge that the diagnosis could come back.” Galik said she felt survivors of ovarian cancer needed a support group similar to support groups for survivors of breast cancer, such as Bosom Buddies at the East Alabama Medical Center. So in January 2013, Galik formed Teal Magnolias. Ovarian caner ranks as the fifth-leading cause of death among women. The American Cancer Society estimates there will be approximately 21,290 women who are diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2015, and approximately 14,180 women will die from ovarian cancer. To raise awareness of ovarian cancer, Teal Magnolias will be placing teal ribbons along College Street on Sunday, Sept. 6. Teal Magnolias meets the second Thursday of every third month at 6 p.m. at the East Alabama Medical Center’s Health Resource Center at 2027 Pepperell Parkway in Opelika. The next meeting will be on Thursday, Sept. 10, where Ronald Alvarez, professor in the Division of Gynecology Oncology at the University of Alabama Bir-
mingham, will speak about the progress that has been made in ovarian cancer research. In the 80s, doctors had a poor understanding of the origin, causes and effects of ovarian cancer, according to Alvarez. Doctors didn’t know there were groups at risk for ovarian cancer. Surgical efforts were “not so sophisticated,” and there were limited chemotherapy options for treatment. Since that time, researchers and doctors understand that certain people have a mutation in their genes that put them at risk for developing ovarian, breast and certain other cancers. The cause of 25 percent of ovarian cancers can be traced to this gene mutation. The most important thing, Alvarez said, is for people to know their family history. People with a strong history of ovarian cancer should speak to a physician about whether they should be tested for the gene mutation. Most ovarian cancer happens in patients who are postmenopausal and older, according to Alvarez, but people can still develop cancer much earlier if they have this gene mutation. Symptoms of ovarian cancer include abdominal pain, bloating, bladder urgency symptoms and a feeling of fullness. Alvarez said ovarian cancer used to be called a silent disease. That’s not to say it’s silent to the patient, but to the doctor the patient is talking to. “These symptoms, they’re kind of nonspecific symptoms,” Alvarez said. “Most of the time, people think those types of symptoms are associated with bile or bladder problems. And most of the time they are, but those kinds of symptoms, particularly if they persist
ANGEL’S
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Teal Magnolias hangs teal ribbons to raise awareness of ovarian cancer.
and get worse, could be the earliest harbingers of a patient developing ovarian cancer.” Because many of the symptoms seem vague, Sharma said people may go about with these symptoms and without seeking medical attention. She also said 60 percent of women who had later stages of ovarian cancer had these symptoms for six months before they are diagnosed. “The signs and symptoms of ovarian cancer are not things people typically think of as being female,” Sharma said. “Abdominal pain, abdominal bloating ... and feeling full faster or being able to eat a smaller amount of food and feel full are the three main early symptoms of ovarian cancer.” Alvarez said the best way to catch ovarian cancer early is to be aware of your family history and paying attention to the
signs and symptoms of ovarian cancer. “I encourage everybody to learn the symptoms and the tests that are needed to find it,” Galik said. “It’s important to find it in an early stage because it will save a life if it’s found early enough.” Ovarian cancer has four stages of development. If caught as early at Stage I, chances of survival after five years are approximately 90 percent, according to Sharma. If caught as late as Stage III, chances of survival after five years drop to approximately 40-50 percent. Galik was diagnosed at Stage III in 2004, and was told she had a 60 percent chance of survival after five years. “I’ve beat that so far,” Galik said. “It changed my outlook on life. I realize life is too short. You’re not guaranteed tomorrow, let alone the next second.”
Sports
8
Thursday, August 27, 2015
SCOREBOARD Soccer (2-0)
ThePlainsman.com
Sports
FOOTBALL
No ‘Prayer in Jordan-Hare’
File Photo
Last Week At UC Irvine (W, 1-0) At Long Beach State (W, 1-0) THIS WEEK Aug. 28 vs UAB (7 p.m.) Aug. 30 vs Furman (1 p.m.)
Volleyball
File Photo
THIS WEEK War Eagle Invitational Aug. 28 - Stephen F. Austin (7 p.m.) Aug.29 - Jacksonville/Samford (12 p.m. and 7 p.m.) Sept. 1 - Florida A&M (6 p.m.)
Games in Auburn Arena
Men’s Golf
File Photo
Upcoming Carpet Capital Collegiate Sept. 11 (All day)
Tournament held at The Farm in Dalton, Georgia
File photo
Rev. Chette Williams prays with the football team after a game in 2010.
National organization files request for Auburn chaplain to be removed
Emily Shoffit Sports Reporter
The Freedom From Religion Foundation, a national organization focused on the separation of church and state, has requested Auburn University “abolish the chaplaincy” working inside the athletics department. The FFRF filed a letter to Auburn University President Jay Gogue on Tuesday, Aug. 18, detailing its request, and calling the chaplain's presence unconstitutional. The letter concerns Rev. Chette Williams and states his presence within the football program fails to “properly protect your student athletes’ rights of conscience and pose(s) a high degree risk of discrimination” for those who fall outside of certain religious groups. The organization has sent similar letters in recent years to universities across the South, including Clemson, Alabama, Ole Miss, Georgia and
“
No student athlete should be baptized as part of a public university sports program, or be put in a position of feeling they have to pray to play.” —Annie Laurie Gaylor FFRF Co-President
Mississippi State. “No student athlete should be baptized as part of a public university sports program or be put in a position of feeling they have to pray to play,” said FFRF Co-President Annie Laurie Gaylor in a statement. “We find the lack of sunlight at Auburn disturbing.” Auburn released a statement Thursday, Aug. 20, in response to the
letter. “Chaplains are common in many public institutions, including the U.S. Congress,” the University said. “The football team chaplain isn't an Auburn employee, and participation in activities he leads are voluntary.” According to Andrew Seidel, staff attorney for the FFRF, the voluntary religious activities are not the problem. “If the team wants to worship, they want to get together on their own and have their own organized worship, that's totally fine,” Seidel said in an interview with AL.com. “We don't have any problem with that. We don't have any problem with them praying in whatever way they see fit, what we have a problem with is the top-down imposition of religion.” Williams, who played for the Tigers from 1982-84, was appointed chaplain by coach Tommy Tuberville in the fall of 1999. He is the campus director of the
Fellowship of Christian Athletes, and the group reportedly pays his salary. Because Auburn does not pay his salary, the University does not consider him a school employee. “It makes no difference if the chaplain is unofficial, not school-sponsored or a volunteer, because chaplains are given access to the team as a means for coaches to impose religion, usually Christianity, on their players,” the organization stated in its letter. “Under the circumstances the chaplain's actions are attributable to the University, and those actions are unconstitutional.” The Madison, Wisconsin, based organization operates “to promote the constitutional separation between state and church to educate the public on matters relating to nontheism.” The FFRF claims Auburn “refused to provide any records” and “ceased all contact” with the organization April 10.
WoMen’s Golf
CROSS COUNTRY
‘Red’ badge of leadership Evan McCullers Sports Reporter
auburn athletics
Upcoming Cougar Classic Sept. 13 (All day)
Event held at Yeaman’s Hall Club in Charleston, South Carolina
Cross-Country
auburn athletics
Upcoming Auburn Invitational Sept. 1 vs. Alabama/Samford (Time TBA)
Meet located in Birmingham
Contributed by Auburn Athletics
As the most experienced runner, “Red” Semeon leads by example.
As the only senior on Auburn’s cross-country team in 2015, Redatu Semeon is the leader by default, but despite being the natural choice for team leader, “Red” wants to lead with his legs, not with his mouth. “I kind of refrain from being a vocal leader,” Semeon said. “I’d rather lead by example. I know a bunch of the other guys just follow my lead. It’s kind of nice when you don’t have to constantly be vocal like, ‘Hey guys, do this, do that, do that.’ I have full faith in the guys to be accountable for themselves and have each other’s back.” Semeon spent his first two college years at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, an honors college approximately half an hour away from his hometown of Bowie, Maryland. After two successful years at UMBC, Semeon transferred to Auburn. He credits the transfer with helping him become a better runner. “When I was training in Maryland, I remember countless times I would start running and it would be like negative-18 degrees with wind chill,” Semeon said. “Having that consistent training through the winter, not having to resort to running indoors or on treadmills and still having access to the track during winter is so helpful.” The Thomas Stone High School product competed in six events in his first year on the Plains, including a runner-up finish at the South Alabama Opener. Semeon improved as the season went on, running a personalbest 8K of 25 minutes and one second at the Furman Classic and finishing 28th at the SEC Championship. “I had a pretty good year,” Semeon said. “I
“
He’s definitely one-of-akind. The energy he brings to practice is always so positive. We get the work done and have fun doing it.” —Mitchell Gomez Auburn Cross-Country runner
finished last year off pretty strong … It’s definitely pretty good when you set a personal best, because you just did what you didn’t think you could do before. It just opens up a whole door of more possibilities, new times to run and new competition.” Sophomore Mitchell Gomez, Semeon’s teammate, said Red has made a positive impact on and off the course since his arrival on the Plains. “He’s definitely one-of-a-kind,” Gomez said. “The energy he brings to practice is always so positive. We get the work done and we have fun doing it. He really makes good energy throughout the team and allows us to just get out there and want to compete hard and win.” Semeon followed his inaugural cross-country season at Auburn with strong performances in indoor and outdoor track, but he has ramped up his training this summer in hopes of taking his running to another level this fall. “I built up to about 100, 105 miles a week and I ran that for about seven weeks straight,” Semeon said. “I took a down week and right now I’m bringing my training back up to around 100 miles a week.”
» See RED a9
Thursday, August 27, 2015
Sports 9
The Auburn Plainsman MEN’S GOLF
Tigers set their sights on highest finish ever Evan McCullers Sports Reporter
Dakota Sumpter / Senior Photographer
Ben Schlottman is riding a hot streak into this season of Auburn golf.
After a strong 2014 season that ended with the fourth-best finish in program history at the NCAA Championships, the Auburn men’s golf team has high hopes as it enters fall play. “Our expectations are always high,” said coach Nick Clinard. “We have high expectations for our guys, and we have high demands as well, that they handle their business and do the right thing on and off the golf course. We’re looking for big things this year.” Auburn returns plenty of firepower from last year’s team, including several golfers who played in high-profile tournaments this summer. Ben Schlottman, the SEC Freshman of the Year this past spring, won the Palmetto Amateur and played in the local Barbasol Championship, a PGA Tour event. Incoming freshman Jacob Solomon, junior Will Long and senior Michael Johnson all earned invitations to the US Amateur. Johnson had a stroke average of 68.47 over the five summer tournaments he participated in, and is a player who Clinard said he thinks Tiger fans should keep an eye on this season. “Michael Johnson’s been a great player, but I think you’re going to see a different Michael Johnson this year,” Clinard said. “He’s in his fifth year now. I think he’s got something to prove. He wears
the Auburn logo with pride, and I think he’s going to put the team on his back.” Along with increased production on the course, Clinard expects Johnson and fellow senior Jake Mondy to become leaders off the course as well. “We’re looking for those guys to lead the way,” Clinard said. “Both are very talented young men. I think they can assume that role and help the younger guys out.” The Tigers lost only one contributor from last year’s team, All-Southeast Region player Dan Stringfellow. Despite Stringfellow’s departure, Clinard said he feels that this year’s team is talented enough to avoid a drop in production. “We’ve got a good core of players coming back,” Clinard said.“Then obviously with our freshmen coming in, depth-wise, I think this is probably one of the most talented teams I’ve ever coached.” The incoming freshman class is indeed a talented one, as Jacob Solomon, Greyson Huff and Mark Lawrence were ranked the 26th, 54th and 57th best high school players in the nation last year, respectively, according to the National Junior Golf Scoreboard. Rounding out the freshman class is Trace Crowe, who was the 3rd-ranked golfer out of South Carolina, according to the National Junior Golf Scoreboard. Despite the high level of talent among
the group, Clinard said the focus will be getting the young men acclimated to college life and improving their games as the season progresses. “It’s a whole new world for them,” Clinard said. “Just getting used to being away from home and all the stuff that goes along with that. After that just kind of adapting to my assistant Corey Maggard’s style and my style and then learning from us. Hopefully as the semester goes on and the year goes on, they continue to improve and get better.” One specific area Auburn will try to improve in this year is the short game. “That’s our area where we’re not as strong as we need to be, that 150-yards and in,” Clinard said. “We’re pretty good in that area, but we’re not great. That’s going to be the primary emphasis for Coach Maggard and myself this fall.” The ultimate goal for Clinard and his team is to use last year’s success as a springboard for even higher finishes this season. “We led the nation last year in team stroke average, so hopefully we can do that again,” Clinard said. “We’re just going to continue to see what we can do. We just continue trying to be better, trying to make ourselves better and not worry about everybody else.” The Tigers will begin their fall season Sept. 11 at the Carpet Capital Collegiate in Dalton, Georgia.
Wade Rackley / Auburn Athletics
Contributed by Auburn Athletics
Senior Michael Johnson looks to lead his team to new heights in 2015.
Will Long will be looked upon as one of the leaders for the Auburn men’s golf team this year.
RED
» From A8 Auburn cross-country coach Mark Carroll has taken notice of Red’s hard work and expects him to have a breakout season. “Redatu Semeon has been training hard all summer and really came on strong late in the outdoor track season,” Carroll said. “He will be our leader of the team, so I’m hoping he has a great year.” While Semeon has stepped up as the captain after the departures of team leaders such as Ty McCormack and Kane Grimster, Gomez said he has seen natural leadership in the senior since the two arrived on campus last summer. “He’s always been a leader, honestly,” Gomez said. “He’s
always been the guy that’s been out there working the hardest and doing what he has to do in the classroom and off the field. We’re glad to have him as a leader.” Semeon has all the pieces in place as he heads into his second and final season at Auburn, this time as the primary leader of a team that finished third in the SEC last season. “I’m confident in Coach Carroll’s coaching, and I’m pretty confident coming into this year of my capabilities,” Semeon said. “If you have faith in your coach, faith in yourself and faith in your training, those are the three things you need to be successful. I feel like I have all three.”
File Photo
Auburn downed UC Irvine, 1-0, in a rematch of last year’s game, before beating Long Beach State to remain undefeated.
This Week in Auburn Sports Soccer
Aug. 21 Auburn took the first game of the season with a header late in the first half by freshman Charlotte Van Ishoven, the only goal the Auburn squad needed Friday, Aug. 21, to claim a season opening victory over the UC Irvine Anteaters. “I was impressed with Irvine,” head coach Karen Hoppa. “We played them last year, and they’re a much improved team. For us, it was a great win. Anytime you can win on the road and grind out the result I’m really proud of our team. It’s a great start.” A solid Tiger defense stepped up to limit the Anteaters to just one shot on goal and four shots total. One shot came inside the box in the 68th minute, but was tipped
away by Sarah Le Beau. The shutout was the first of Le Beau’s career and her first time in action after redshirting in 2014. “Defense was unbelievable today,” Le Beau said. “Kala (Faulker) and Kiana (Clarke) really sorted out things that I couldn’t control from where I was.” “When the ball was played big, they always made sure they were dropping in and covering one another.” Aug. 23 Auburn soccer took a dramatic win from the Long Beach State 49ers in Long Beach, California, Sunday, Aug. 23, after a gamewinning goal from junior Brooke Ramsier in double-overtime. The Tigers and 49ers remained scoreless through 100 minutes, unable to
capitalize on multiple attempts. Auburn held a tight defense with redshirt freshman Sarah Le Beau making eight saves during the match, recording her second consecutive shutout of the season in the process. Junior Casie Ramsier crossed deep in the attacking zone to find her sister, Brooke, who hit the gamewinner in the 102nd minute. The win propelled Auburn’s season to a 2-0-0 record for the first time since 2012, and it was the third win the Tigers have had in California in program history. The Tigers will return to the Plains for their home opener against UAB on Friday, Aug. 28, at 7 p.m.
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Sports 10
Thursday, August 27, 2015
The Auburn Plainsman Soccer
Quartet of seniors leads soccer team Emily Shoffit Sports Reporter
File Photo
The fall of 2015 marks the beginning of Auburn soccer's third rebuilding season. A freshman class of 11 brought depth to the team in the offseason and will be led by a powerful group of four seniors this season. Kala Faulkner, Logan Beal, Haley Gerken and Sophie Simantel are beginning their bittersweet final season at Auburn, and according to coach Karen Hoppa, each will each bring something different to the table as a leadership group. “This is a great group of seniors and a group that I'm really excited about because all four of them are great players,” Hoppa said. “But more importantly they're great people.” In a consensus, each senior said they hope to leave the freshman with their “best effort and best attitude.” “We talk about having Auburn on our shirt and that you play for Auburn, and so all the traditions that we have on this team and the best attitude and the best effort just to go out every day at practice and think about you play for Auburn,” said Simantel. Simantel, an elementary education major from Orange Beach, played in
18 games in 2014, starting five at either the midfield or the back line. She played a career-high 665 minutes last season with one goal on five shots, with four of those shots being on goal. “We have it written in our locker room, ‘Best effort, Best attitude’, Faulkner, a defender from Alpharetta, Georgia, said. “Looking at that you know it's going to stay with you all four years that you're here.” Faulkner started all 22 games for the Tigers as the center back. She has over 6,000 career minutes, putting her among the top-10 for most minutes played in Auburn history. As part of the defense last year, Faulkner helped register 10 shutouts, which is the secondmost in a single season by any Auburn team. The team has an general end goal in mind: to perform and go farther than last season, but the seniors particularly want to make it to the program's firstever NCAA Sweet Sixteen. “I think we obviously want to make the Sweet Sixteen because no team has ever done that,” Simantel said. “But we're just taking it game by game thinking about what we can do without focusing too much on it.” Gerken, a Birmingham native ma-
joring in exercise science, said the biggest thing she'll carry on with her in life after Auburn is “the true meaning of family.” “We talk about the Auburn Family all the time, and that's truly what it is, all these girls are my sisters now,” Gerken said. “We all support each other 100 percent, and just going through life, I'll carry that with me, knowing that I'll have a support system behind me.” The seniors “learned a lot from being student athletes and managing our schedules and our time,” Simantel said. “Managing what we can and can't do and things we have to give up will help us a lot in our future.” None of the four plan to pursue a professional career in soccer. “This is our last run,” Beal, a Plano, Texas, native. said. Beal set a slew of career highs in 2014, including minutes played (897), goals (3), points (6), shots (13) and shots on goal (8). The forward played in 21 matches, starting seven. “We've got 11 freshmen so we need strong leadership, and they're balanced as leaders,” Hoppa said. “I am really excited to see where this group of seniors can take the team this year.”
Contributed By Auburn Athletics
File Photo
Clockwise from top left: Sophie Simantel (25), Kala Faulkner (4), Haley Gerken (33) and Logan Beal (22) look to lead Auburn to its first-ever Sweet Sixteen appearance. in their senior season.
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Intrigue
11
Thursday, August 27, 2015
ThePlainsman.com
Intrigue
Hitting all the right notes
student spotlight
Auburn University Marching Band member marches despite disability Corey Williams Campus Editor
Tripp Gulledge wasn’t always blind. He started losing his vision at 6 weeks old when his retinas detached. “They were able to save a little bit of vision in my right eye, and I kind of got by with that until I was 14 years old,” Gulledge, freshman in music, said. “That’s when my retina started to detach again.” Doctors were able to reattach his right retina, but they had to remove the lens. “Until I get that back, I won’t have any sight,” Gulledge said. Gulledge hasn’t let his disability hold him back. He discovered he had a talent for French horn when he was in middle school. He was drum major at Murphy High School in Mobile, and is now a member of the Auburn University Marching Band. Gulledge said most of his energy is devoted to marching band. “We work way faster [than in high school], and there’s a lot more expected of you,” Gulledge said. “Physically, it’s a lot more demanding.” Gulledge is currently learning to read Braille music. However, he said he learns most of the music by ear. “It’s very different, and it’s kind of been a slow process,” Gulledge said. “What’s actually worked the quickest is when I listen to the person immediately to my left or to my right. In marching band we do so many reps of the same thing, and a lot of people say, ‘Oh my God, we’re doing it again.’ But it works out well for me because I get so many chances to hear it.” He said navigating the field has been a challenge, but he’s getting the hang of it. Gulledge is currently shadowing another French horn player, Alex King, freshman in biosystems engineering. He holds King’s shoulder during practice and memorizes his steps.
King said Gulledge has incredible talent. “Being blind and doing something that requires you to move around on a field, in form with everybody else, is quite a task to do,” King said. “What Tripp has been able to do every day is quite incredible to watch, honestly.” Corey Spurlin, marching band director, said Gulledge inspires him every day. “It’s amazing what he’s been able to accomplish without having the benefit of sight,” Spurlin said. “In an activity like ours, that’s certainly a big challenge. We really value his membership, and he’s done an incredible job.” When Gulledge isn’t at band practice, he’s studying to be a music teacher. He gets to his classes with his cane and the help of his yellow Labrador retriever, Dakota. Gulledge adopted Dakota in June, but the two have already formed a strong bond. “Dakota is super cute,” Gulledge said. “Part of it is me becoming friendly with the campus myself, and the other part is getting him patterned to what my routes will be. He begins to anticipate where we’re going.” Gulledge said Dakota went through a rigorous training process before he received his guide dog certification. “He’s a great dog and he’s very obedient,” Gulledge said. Gulledge said he knew Auburn was right for him the second time he toured campus. “I started to observe that family atmosphere everyone talks about,” Gulledge said. “I recognized that sense of pride and tradition.” Gulledge has only been a student for several days, but he said he has loved his Auburn experience so far. “My professors are really, really good at what they do,” Gulledge said. “I want to teach when I get older, and I’ve seen a lot of people being the kind of teachers I want to be.”
Emily Enfinger / Photo Editor
Tripp Gulledge plays his French horn.
entertainment
Act of Congress plays in Auburn after world tour
Emily Esleck Intrigue Editor
Act of Congress, a Birmingham-based band, plays every other year in the Sundilla Concert Series, according to president Bailey Jones. This year, they performed two weeks after returning from a 10-day trip to Jordan, their fifth tour as U.S. cultural ambassadors. The acoustic, bluegrass band consists of four musicians: Chris Griffin on guitar, Connie Skellie playing violin, mandolin player Adam Wright and upright bass player Tim Carroll. Griffin said the band started 10 years ago when he and Wright met at the University of Montevallo, and they met Skellie and Carroll in recording studios. He also said they’ve been to Liberia, West Africa and the Middle East twice on tours. According to Griffin, they became amabassadors
after receiving a random email about a competition in St. Louis. He said they auditioned for a panel of judges and won, allowing them to tour southeast Asia for six weeks in 2012. Wright said on their recent tour they rode camels in Jordan. “It’s a beautiful place, very different than here,” Wright said. Griffin said Israel was outside their hotel in one of the cities, adding history to their trip. “It’s kind of the hotbed of what’s happening in the middle east right now, like Iraq and Syria are right on the border,” Griffin said. “Just to be so close to all the things that you hear about on the news, but the people were just so awesome and gracious to us.” Jones said Sundilla hopes to have them play again in the coming years.
Ellen jackson / Photographer
Connie Skellie, violinist and vocalist for Act of Congress, plays with Tim Carroll, upright bass player.
campus
Jane & Joe Random
Lindsay Ryan
If you could be a candy, what would you be and why? “I guess I would be a Sour Patch Kid, because it kind of has some different layers. It has the sour, the sweet and everything.”
Junior
Freshman
Nutrition-
Mechanical
Dietetics
Engineering
Why did you pick your
Why did you pick your
major?
major?
“I’ve always been really
“My father’s an engi-
passionate about health
neer and I do like math
and food, and it just kind
and science and espe-
of made sense.”
cially physics. Mechanical engineering is physics-based.”
josh gooch
If you could be a candy, what would you be and why? “I would probably be Reese’s Pieces, because there’s goodness on the outside and there’s goodness on the inside.”
Intrigue 12
The Auburn Plainsman
Thursday, August 27, 2015
Monday
Anna Garrel The Queue 12pm & Caroline Gamble The Fast Break Mathew Brown John Sarpkaya Jo Anna Peterman 6pm & Caleb list Layla Lambert
11am 1pm 3pm 4pm 5pm 7pm & and 8pm
Tuesday
Kaytlan Casares 11am Take Me to Church 12pm The Writers 1pm Daniel Bowden 3pm Otto Clark 4pm Auburn Underground 6pm Golden Oldies 7pm -& 8pm Ross Nelson, Austin Arias, & Austin Wells 9pm
Wednesday
Bailey Woelt jen 1pm Josh Jackson and Ryan Lavoie 3pm John Resha 4pm Jacob Murphy 5pm Curt Cramer 6pm 6 Caitlyn Kilianski 7pm
This weeks line up... Thursday
Take Me to Church 12pm Evan Blank 4pm Micah Toles 5pm George Perrine 6pm Cody Fee 7pm Ciara Cou Council & and Natasha Miles 8pm Adam Wolinski 9pm
Friday
80s Rewind 8am 80s Rewind 9:30am Sam Roberts 10am Jared Dillard 12pm Jacob Murphy, Micah Larson, Curt Cramer 2pm and 3pm 2 David Harris 4pm Kelsie Shipley 5pm