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The Auburn Plainsman A SPIRIT THAT IS NOT AFRAID Thursday, September 10, 2015 Vol. 123, Issue 4, 24 Pages
ADMISSIONS
Record breaking enrollment
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COMMUNITY
Staff Report
It’s a little bit more crowded on campus. Auburn University announced on Tuesday, Sept. 8, its highest enrollment numbers in its history. The official headcount for the fall is 27,287, which is 1,375 higher than last year’s enrollment number. The University Board of Trustee’s adopted a policy in 1989 to keep the University’s enrollment numbers at approximately 25,000 full-time, on-campus students, according to Wayne Alderman, dean of Enrollment Services. The 27,287 figure includes all students enrolled in any class. This year’s freshman class is made up of 4,902 students, 310 more than last year, and has an average ACT score of 27.3, according to the Office of Communication and Marketing. “Auburn University’s outstanding academic programs, faculty and student body continue to attract record numbers of prospective students to our campus,” said Cindy Singley, director of University Recruitment. “Combined with the spirit of the Auburn Family and the Auburn community, they want to be a part of it, too.” Residents have spoken out against what they say is uncontrolled growth and want the city to regulate apartment construction. City Manager Charles Duggan said the city is prepared for the growth. “We are confident that we can handle the extra students and welcome them to our community,” Duggan said.
EMILY ENFINGER / PHOTO EDITOR
Budget cuts could affect driver’s license offices across the state.
Budget cuts threatens government services Chip Brownlee
COMMUNITY WRITER
Expected budget cuts will lead to the closing of all but four driver’s license offices in the state, according to the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, adding to a long list caused by Alabama’s budget woes. The state of Alabama is facing a severe budget deficit of $200 million. According to Cpl. Jess Thornton, public information officer with ALEA, budget cuts facing Alabama’s public safety agency could range anywhere between 22-47 percent. “If we get cut that deep, we’re not going to
be able to maintain the offices,” Thornton said. “Basically, (the closures) will be a cost-saving measure. We have 75 driver’s license offices, but with that much of a deficit, we’re not going to be able to maintain costs.” Thirty-three field offices will close Oct. 1. Additional closures will follow Jan. 1, 2016, and the third and final round of closures will take place March 1, 2016. The Opelika driver’s license office is currently Auburn students’ closest option and will likely be closed during the third round of closures. Mac Francis, who recently moved to Alabama from Georgia, was in the Opelika office waiting
to transfer his license. “At the least, it would be frustrating to have to drive all the way to Montgomery and then sit and wait,” Francis said. “If I would have had to do that, I probably would have just kept my Georgia license.” Once the budget cuts and closures are finished, the four offices to remain open will be Birmingham, Montgomery, Mobile and Huntsville, according to ALEA. Following the closures, the Montgomery office will be students’ nearest option, increasing the commute time by nearly 45
» See BUDGET 2
GREEK LIFE
Chief Keef sued for no show Corey Williams CAMPUS EDITOR Chicago rapper Chief Keef, whose real name is Keith Cozart, is being sued for more than $175,000 after he did not perform as scheduled at Auburn’s chapter of Sigma Phi Epsilon. Cozart was scheduled to perform at the Sigma Phi Epsilon’s annual “Waikiki” party on April 25. He never showed up, according to Seamus Hill, Sigma Phi Epsilon president. Hill told The Plainsman the fraternity only communicated
with Cozart through his agent. “They assured us he was coming and then that night they were like ‘I guess he’s not. He’s not on the plane,’” Hill said. The lawsuit was filed by The Booking Collective, an organization that organizes shows at fraternities all over the U.S., according to the Chicago-Sun Times. Nate Majer, Sigma Phi Epsilon’s vice president of finance, said the fraternity gave $19,750 to The Booking Collective to organize the performance.
After Chief Keef did not show up, Sigma Phi Epsilon sued the company for more than $70,000. “At the end of the day, they processed us something and they didn’t deliver,” Majer said. Majer said $12,000 of the $19,750 was given to Chief Keef and the rest of the money went to The Booking Collective. That money has not been returned to Sigma Phi Epsilon, according to Majer.
» See CHIEF 2
DAKOTA SUMPTER / SENIOR PHOTOGRAPHER
Sigma Phi Epsilon hostes the WaiKiki event every spring.
CAMPUS
Public administration defends its worth after Wall Street Journal article Andria Moore CAMPUS REPORTER
The recent Wall Street Journal article, “At Auburn, Athletics and Academics Collide,” claimed the public administration major is useless and offered merely so athletes can pass classes. The public administration faculty and students of Auburn responded with different opinion. “That article all of a sudden demeaned a whole list of alumni and the hard work they
have done,” said Mary Afton Day, graduate assistant in the master’s program of public administration. Public administration is described as a public service major by those within it. Almost any subject or area of government involves some sort of leadership and administrative system. Public administration majors train to work in these fields. “To me, it means working toward the betterment of other people’s lives,” said
Anna Richardson, senior in public administration. Joseph Vonasek, assistant professor of political science and adviser in the masters program of public administration, said he believes one of the most important things about the major is the life skills students learn. “I’ve learned from teaching budgeting
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There is truly no limit to the kinds of jobs that are open to to students with an undergraduate degree in public administration.
» See PUBLIC 2
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The Auburn Plainsman
DUI reports The following were arrested and charged with driving under the influence by the Auburn Police Division on Sept. 1-9: Sept. 2 - Alyssa Bre’ Lang, 22 South College Street Sept. 3 - Lauren Elizabeth Saunders, 19 West Glenn Avenue at Wright Street - John Tristen Mitchell, 19 South Gay Street Sept. 4 - Dijon Trevon Ramses Woodfin, 20 North College Street at Tichnor Avenue 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
chief » From 1
The rapper is facing several lawsuits right now, according to Majer, so the fraternity decided to sue the agency. “We looked into suing Chief Keef, but we had to get in line,” Majer said. “It would’ve been like a 10 year process.” Majer said the fraternity was looking for a unique artist to perform at their annual show, but the members regret their decision. “He was in our price range and we wanted to get someone who had not been to Auburn before,” Majer said. “Clearly it was not the best selection.” The Booking Collective has since filed a $175,000 lawsuit against the rapper. The agency claims it also spent more than $5,000 in preparation for Chief Keef’s arrival, according to The Chicago Sun-Times. “Supporting documents attached to the lawsuit show that, as part of the contract to perform at Sigma Phi Epsilon, Chief Keef required numerous items backstage: 10 bottles of water; one bottle each of pineapple, orange and cranberry juice; four cans of Red Bull energy drink; one bottle of Remy Martin co-
New sorority comes to Auburn University Andria Moore Campus Reporter
Auburn University announced that Tri Sigma sorority will be adding a chapter at Auburn, increasing the total number of sororities from 17 to 18. The increasing number of women participating in recruitment was part of the reason why Auburn decided to extend in January of this year, according to Jill Moore, director of Greek Life. “The growth in interest in sorority membership here has outpaced our growth in chapters,” Moore said. Since 2002, the number of sororities on campus has grown, as well as the total number of women participating in recruitment. A record breaking 1,615 women participated in recruitment this year alone and 1,489 were given bids. The number of members in each sorority increased from 192 to 255 in the last decade. Moore said smaller sororities can give members a more meaningful experience. “The ability to know one another more closely, and more internal leadership opportunities,” Moore said. “We want to achieve that by having more chapters, not by reducing the number of people who can join.” Kaye Schendel, national Tri Sigma president, said she is beyond excited about starting a chapter at Auburn. “The most exciting thing about starting at Auburn University is that we are joining a very value oriented, healthy, vibrant Panhellenic community with an already rich history,” Schendel said. “And we hope we can contribute to that and offer our own unique brand.”
public » From 1
wikimedia commons via swimfinfan
Tri Sigma will be adding a chapter to Auburn.
gnac; two bottles of Ciroc vodka; two bottles of Moet Rose champagne; and 50 chicken wings, chicken fingers, french fries and assorted dipping sauces,” the article said. The agency alleges breach of contract and violation of the Illinois Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act. The Booking Collective, Chief Keef and his representatives have not responded to The Plainsman’s request for comments at this time.
Thursday, September 10, 2015
and finance that a lot of undergraduates don’t know how to budget,” Vonasek said. “It gives you an overall perspective on how to budget in the future for an organization to meet its goals and objectives.” Along with budget and financing, Vonasek also teaches many undergraduate seminars in public administration as well as organization and theory, a class Vonasek said is challenging to many students. “We do a lot of comparing investments,” Vonasek said. “If you have two alternative programs that require cash finances, you can compare which one will cost less, and it teaches students the value of time in money.” Day herself said she had never heard of the major until she walked into her adviser’s office sophomore year. “I knew I loved people, and I could talk to a brick wall,” Day said. “Judy Sanders asked me, ‘So pretty much you want to mix communication, public relations, non-profit, and government and city management?’ and I said, ‘Yeah, that sounds perfect.’” After the Wall Street Journal article, the question arose as to what jobs are even available to those with a degree in public administration. Kelly Krawczyk, assistant professor of political science, has a masters in public administration and is an expert in the non-profit sector. She said the non-prof-
ΣΣΣ
Tri Sigma will be adding a chapter to Auburn.
Chris Lucas, inter-fraternity adviser, said he is excited for the opportunities that will be available to more women. “Having another sorority with a total set membership of 242 means there are 242 more spots for women to join,” Lucas said. Two sororities were running for the new spot on campus: Delta Phi Epsilon and Sigma Sigma Sigma. Tri Sigma was chosen after completing an extensive process prescribed by the National Panhellenic Council and presenting in front of the Extension Committee. “A notice was sent to every NPC sorority without a chapter here,” Moore said. “It talked about who we are and outlined the things that we would want to know from a sorority that wants to be here.” Tri Sigma believes in five core values: faith, hope, love, wisdom, and power. According to Schendel, the sorority’s mission is to empower women to change the world. “We hope to bring relevant, innovative leadership programs that are rooted in empowerment,” Schendel said. “We are committed to making sure the programs offered are designed with lifelong learning experience in mind.”
it section of public administration offers a wide variety of jobs and valuable volunteer work. “The non-profit sector is a major economic engine for our state, providing jobs for more than 235,000 Alabamians and delivering vital social services to its residents,” Krawczyk said. According to Krawczyk, the first classes in public administration were offered in the 1930s, but it can be dated back as early as 1887. In 1887, Woodrow Wilson published an article titled, “The Study of Administration.” The major was then created when a need to professionalize public servants became necessary. “Today, public administration is a thriving undergraduate major, as well as a vital and popular graduate program of study,” Krawczyk said. For those who enjoy working for the betterment of other’s lives, non-profit seems to be the right path for a public administration major. “I plan to work for a non-profit as an executive director, while going to grad school to obtain an MBA,” Richardson said. “Helping people has always been very important to me, and I found a degree that mirrors that value.” Richardson said she chose public administration as her major because of its diverse curriculum and versatility in the workplace. “This degree can be used in the public or private sector as well as in profit-
able companies or non-profits,” Richardson said. “Also in PA you are taught communication skills, as well as verbal skills, leadership qualities, management principles and more.” The majority of those in the field of public administration admire the diverse range of careers that are capable with such a major. Associate professor of political science and the director of the masters program of public administration Kathleen Hale said this is a great major for those who want to make a difference. “There is truly no limit to the the kinds of jobs that are open to students with an undergraduate degree in public administration,” Hale said. “Students go on to become city managers, program officers for non-profit, community outreach directors and public information officers.” Vonasek said one of the most attractive aspects of the major is that you can basically work in any subject area you are interested in. “Have an interest in agronomy?” Vonasek asked. “There are many organizations in state government that deal with farms and natural resources.” According to Vonasek, those in administrative government for the next 20 or 30 years will be his students. “Pick a field,” Vonasek said. “When you think about what government does … anything that you have an interest in, you can become involved with in a public sector of an organization.”
Budget
“I would have to leave my classes early, or not even go to a class entirely,” said Charles DeVenny, freshman in chemical engineering. “I wouldn’t have the chance to go after my classes.” Since 2011, valid photo ID cards – which are often provided by driver’s license offices – have been required to vote in the state of Alabama. In addition to administering drivers’ tests, the Opelika license office also renews licenses, administers and renews commercial driver’s licenses, performs out-of-state license transfers and issues non-driver identification cards and voter identification cards, according to the Opelika office. “We would love to get level funding so that we wouldn’t have to take these drastic measures,” Thornton said. Thornton also said he is unable to confirm at this time whether or not the employees at the Opelika office will be laid off.
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Jim Little / editor-in-chief
Gov. Robert Bentley speaking at Higher Ed Day on April 9, 2015. He called the legislature into special session to pass a budget.
calendar
minutes. With the budget cuts that are anticipated, wait times at driver’s license offices could be even longer. “It could be weeks before people could get an appointment at an office,” Thornton said. Some wait times at offices are already upwards of 30 minutes or an hour. Those wait times will only increase as the four remaining offices attempt to absorb the tens of thousands of Alabama residents who will funnel in throughout the year. Offices are open only on weekdays from 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. With a combined commute time from campus of nearly two hours and unpredictable wait times of up to an hour, if not more, it could be difficult for full-time Auburn students to find a manageable time to visit an office when needed.
greek Life: photo of the week
Dates to Remember Thursday, Sept. 10 • Lunch-N-Learn with Liberal Arts alumni at 11:45 a.m. in Tichenor Hall, Room 310 • Music Faculty Showcase at 7:30 p.m. in Goodwin Hall
Friday, Sept. 11 • AuburnServes Fall Volunteer Fair at 10 a.m. in the Student Center
Wednesday, Sept. 16 • Women Student Veterans Meeting at 11 a.m. in the Student Center, Room 2225 • Hispanic Heritage Month Opening Ceremony at 6 p.m. in Student Center Ballroom A Christy stipe / photographer
Members of Tri Delta raise money for cancer research on the concourse Wednesday, Sept. 9.
Campus Thursday, September 10, 2015
3 ThePlainsman.com
academics
Cheers to the class of 2015
Auburn graduates its first class in its new brewing sciences and operations program Claire Tully Campus Writer
Auburn has just graduated its first class from the new brewing sciences and operations program. Dave Ketchen, department of management professor, said he is happy to see this program come to life after all of the faculty’s hard work. “The faculty spent a long time creating course materials and filming our online videos, so our first graduation was a landmark day along a rewarding journey,” Ketchen said. Martin O’Neill, head of department of nutrition, dietetics and hospitality management, said the concept for the program first came from a visible increase in interest in the brewing industry. “We were looking at the boom in craft brewing and saw that, most obviously, there wasn’t a corresponding increase in education,” O’Neill said. O’Neill said he is also pleased to see his first graduating class go on to use the skills they have fostered in the program. “Our approach is to crawl before you walk before you run and then finally to see your first class sort of walk is very gratifying … It’s also very gratifying when you spend a year interacting with these people,” O’Neill said. Robert E. Lee, Omaha Brewing Company marketing director, was among the recent graduates, and said the skills he learned helped him with his daily tasks at work. “I would watch the lectures and I would be able to go to the brewery the next day and be like, ‘Oh, I saw that in the lecture,’” Lee said. “Everything that I learned in the program goes hand-in-hand with what I do everyday on the job.” O’Neill said the program touches on many different areas of the brewing industry, and he said he believes that’s what makes it special. “It’s a very unique program,” O’Neill said. “It’s unique because it is very focused not only on science, but on the business of brewing. It’s business, it’s agriculture, it’s science, it’s brewing, it’s operations. It’s all of that.” Lee, a former editor for The Auburn Plainsman, said he didn’t forsee himself entering this business at first; after graduating with a journalism degree,
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Campus
STUDENT LEADER SPOTLIGHT
Brett Walton SGA Treasurer Senior in marketing
We were looking at the boom in craft brewing and saw that, most obviously, there wasn’t a corresponding increase in education.” -Martin O’Neill
head of the department of nutrition, dietetics and hospitality management
he went to work for his family’s brewery for six months. “When I graduated Auburn in journalism, I had no idea I was going to be making beer,” Lee said. “It was an opportunity that arose that was the right place at the right time.” Lee said he is happy to be able to use both the journalism and brewing skills he learned at Auburn. “I also do the social media and any marketing we’re doing right now,” Lee said. “I’m doing all of that kind of stuff, so I still get to use my degree from Auburn to some extent.” The program involves valuable brewing collaborations that will continue to allow the program to grow, according to Ketchen. “We want to have the premier program for training brewers and brewery owners in the country,” Ketchen said. “The help we are receiving from Oskar Blues has us well-positioned to reach that goal.” Lee said he enjoyed his time at Auburn, particularly in the brewing sciences and operations program. He said he would recommend applying to anyone with an interest in working in a brewery, opening a brewery or who works at a brewery now. Ketchen sees a hopeful future for current and future graduates. “I am most excited to see several of our graduates opening breweries around the country in the near future,” Ketchen said. “One of them might even be built in Auburn.”
Why did you decide to attend Auburn? “Auburn is definitely blessed with a beautiful campus, but there is also a feeling of inclusiveness here that I did not find at other schools.”
What has been your greatest accomplishment with SGA? “I would probably have to say that sponsoring the bill to earmark $300,000 from the Student Reserve Fund for the use of work on the Auburn Memorial project is my greatest accomplishment.”
If you could bring any restaurant to campus, what would it be? “I would definitely bring Zaxby’s to campus. “
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Thursday, September 10, 2015
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Thursday, September 10, 2015
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Responses to “GALLERY: Student night in JordanHare with new video board | 9.3.2015” Joshua Jergins “I wish I could drive back this weekend ! War Damn Eagle!” Cristie Otwell Wiley “Love it!!WDE”
Modernizing is not the only way
Gurden Smith / illustrator
It is no secret the city of Auburn has been undergoing some changes recently. Several new apartment complexes, major transformations to Auburn’s downtown area including Toomer’s Corner renovations and upgrades to Opelika Road are only a few examples of how Auburn is changing to help suit the needs of its growing community. However, many residents are concerned these new developments will take away from Auburn’s charm and loveliness, and therefore are opposed to such changes. In fact, some opponents have even created a campaign titled Keep Auburn Lovely. According to its website, “Keep Auburn Lovely” wants the city to grow and develop in a way that is still reflective of it’s charm and heritage. While we do not necessarily disagree with the recent and upcoming changes around Auburn, we do believe there are ways to
upgrade our city without taking away from its charm. Auburn is growing. Without upgrades and maintenance, any city can easily become rundown. Also, we don’t have a problem with taller buildings, particularly when used for student housing. Victorian style homes add to Auburn’s charm, but we understand there is simply not enough surface area for every student to live in this type of residence, especially for those who want to live closer to campus. However, we also don’t believe these types of homes should be torn down to make room for more complexes. In addition, taller buildings that can house more individuals do not necessarily have to be overly modernized. One way in which this problem could be solved is if the city of Auburn were to implement a design review committee, its main
purpose being to set standards for the design of the city and enforcing those standards. The committee should represent all members of the community and also seek advice from experts in the field of architecture. We feel as though this would be the most effective way to not only communicate, but also strive toward and uphold a particular model for how the city should look. Another way to better meet the desires of Auburn’s citizens concerning this would be by restructuring older, existing buildings instead of tearing them down to replace them completely. As we have already stated, we understand it is imperative to respond to the city’s growth with upgrades in order to best benefit its residents. But new developments do not have to undermine the existing charm and culture of The Loveliest Village on the Plains.
his view
Conspiracy theories aren’t cool or funny Jim Little Editor-in-chief
New conspiracy theories fill the pages of the Internet every day. New batches of theories have popped up surround the senseless murders of two journalists live on WDBJ-TV in Virginia. These theories claim that the deaths of Allison Parker and Adam Ward were staged in an effort pass gun control legislation. It should go without saying the idea that any reasonable person taking this theory seriously is absurd. But I have seen people in my social network who I thought were reasonable buy into the disgusting theory. Perhaps it’s a lesson to be more careful about who I add on Facebook. However, the terrible event in Virginia is not the first time a tragedy has captured the deluded whims of conspiracy theorists. The original theory is, of course, the assignations of President John F. Kennedy, but there are others also in more modern times, such as those who claim Sept.
11, 2001 was a “inside job,” and people alleging the Boston bomber was framed. Lizard people living under the Denver International Airport can be amusing to some, but it’s a gateway theory to ignorance. Those claiming that someone could fake the murder of two people on live television are living an imaginary world – a world where moon landings and terrorist attacks are orchestrated by an evil government bent on controlling the world, a world where free markets and competition between media companies doesn’t exist. Conspiracies happen everyday, but the truth is, the people conspiring are average people trying to game an insurance company or prank their roommate. Conspiracies that involve huge institutions and massive amounts of people just aren’t possible. There isn’t a secret plan United Nations’ plan to invade Texas, there are no FEMA concentration camps and Obama wasn’t born in Kenya. Skepticism of authority is a healthy trait of a democracy, but don’t be so skeptic that you lose your ability to think critically the context of the information you’re receiving. Remember what your mother told you
and don’t believe everything you read, but if it’s the largest national news story and there are literally thousands of journalists over turning every rock and crevasse for an angle, it’s probably ok to go ahead and trust the majority of what you’re hearing. Online forms bristle with “theorists” thinking of new conspiracies from everything from Ford pickup trucks to the Iran Nuclear Deal. Many people in these subreddits and shallow pools of the dark web comment new ideas out of fun or a sense of irony. But real harm can be done to people out of touch with reality. So when you see a friend sharing something crazy on Facebook, or get that weird forwarded email from your crazy uncle, say something. End the ignorance. There will always be conspiracy theorist and theories, but if you take one step to have that awkward conversation with your acquaintance, friend of family member, then, perhaps, you could make a dent in the crazy in the world. And less crazy in the world is always a good thing. Besides if they decide not to listen, there’s always the block button.
Jordan Hays Managing Editor Caitlyn Miller Copy Elizabeth Tiller Online
Corey Williams campus Maria McIlwain community Sam Butler Sports
Responses to “WHAT DO YOU THINK? Tell us your thoughts concerning the recent changes to the city of Auburn.” tony cope “gotta do away with the carousel lights.” College & Magnolia “The new lights at Toomer’s Corner. Awful. Everything else was beautifully done, but the color-changing lights are BAD”
Melanie Bankhead “Love all the brick the lighted benches are HIDEOUS !”
Response to “GALLERY: Fans celebrate Auburn’s win over Louisville at Toomer’s Corner” Orlando...
“Congrats to my AUTigers. WarEagle from Puerto Rico with AULove.”
Response to “Trey Matthews (28) celebrates as Justin Garrett (26) returns a Louisville fumble 82 yards for a touchdown. (Adam Sparks | senior photographer) #auburn #football
dalerenee “Loved that little strut he snuck in there.. Very brief”
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Response to “‘My time is up, and I thank you for yours’”
This editorial is the majority opinion of the Editorial Board and is the official opinion of the newspaper. The opinions expressed in columns and letters represent the views and opinions of their individual authors. These opinions do not necessarily reflect the Auburn University student body, faculty, administration or Board of Trustees.
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Community Thursday, September 10, 2015
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Community
outreach
Vet school helps child with illness celebrate birthday Liz Maddux
community writer
Shortly after Sara and Michael Heatherly learned about GM1 Gangliosidosis and the effect it would have on their then-4-month-old son, Porter Heatherly, they immediately started to celebrate Porter’s birthdays by the months. Sara and Michael said they did not know if Porter would live to be 14 months or 20 months because there was just no way to tell. Porter was diagnosed with a rare genetic disease called GM1 Gangliosidosis on Feb. 5, 2013. From that day forward, Sara and Michael have devoted their lives to be being the strongest parents for their son and to helping Douglas Martin, associate professor of anatomy, physiology and pharmacology in the College of Veterinary Medicine, find a cure for GM1. GM1 Gangliosidosis is a lysosomal storage disease that progressively kills cells in the spinal cord and brain. Symptoms begin to show around 9 months, and life expectancy is only about 2436 months. The Heatherlys will celebrate Porter’s 36-month birthday at the Auburn University Club on Saturday, Sept. 12. One hundred percent of the proceeds from the event will go directly to the Cure GM1 Foundation, which was started by Christine Waggoner, whose daugh-
ter, Iris, has juvenile GM1 Gangliosidosis. The Cure GM1 Foundation seeks to raise money for the research that is being done by Martin at Auburn University. “Ultimately to have this fundraiser on an annual basis long after Porter’s gone is our ultimate goal,” Michael said. “Just to have something that is Porter’s legacy and something that stands for what his life meant to us and to carry it on is more important to us than just to raise money.” Sara and Michael met Martin after the 8 a.m. service at Auburn United Methodist Church. Martin had been conducting research on GM1, and trying to find a cure since the early ‘90s. “It was just crazy that out of all the places in the country Auburn University and University of Massachusetts are basically leading the research in this disease, and not only does our son live in the community, but Dr. Martin goes to our church, to the 8 o’clock service, and he lives five minutes down the road from us,” Michael said. “It is just amazing that all of those things could come together, and so at that point, we realized that there was more to this than just the fact our son has this disease, and we are trying to take care of him. We thought, let’s let him being in this community try and help push this research and help it jump-start and get going be-
cause it is so hard; and the funding is so limited. So that is where we want to keep things going and work with other families just to make sure people are aware of what GM1 is.” Now that “the technology of gene therapy has caught up to the idea of gene therapy,” according to Martin, he and his team have made advancements in their research. Martin has been injecting GM1-infected cats with a modified virus that stops the replication of the disease. If everything goes as planned, Martin said he could see clinical trials starting late 2017. “The untreated animals would only live to be about 8 months of age, but the treated animals are out over five years now, and many of them are virtually symptom-free,” Martin said. “They have some slight weakness in their hind limbs, but other than that, if I put them in a room with 10 normal cats, I do not think you could pick out the treated animals from the normal ones; it is pretty amazing.” The Heatherlys said they receive supportive messages all the time from all over the world. “Porter’s never spoken one word in his entire life and for him to make this much of an impact through this community and in his Facebook presence, it is just truly amazing to us,” Sara said. “He has motivated us to do things that we never would have before and for that we are
liz maddux / community writer
The Heatherlys will celebrate Porter’s birthday Sept. 12 at the Auburn University Club.
truly thankful.” Purchase tickets to Porter’s third birthday party at www.EventBrite.com.Tickets cost $25 for entry and $50 for entry with food.
local events
Family Fun Day coming to
Kreher Preserve and Nature Center Chip Brownlee
community writer
Summer is quickly coming to a close, and with autumn brimming on the horizon, students and local families will be searching for more outdoor activities to occupy the cooler fall afternoons. On Saturday, Sept. 19, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., the Louise Kreher Forest Ecology Preserve and Nature Center will have its second annual Fall Family Fun Day to usher in the harvest season. Jennifer Lolley, the preserve outreach administrator, said the event will be hosted with no admission cost and is intended to publicize the preserve. “Last year we had about 500 people,” Lolley said. “It’s just a great way to get people out here to have a good time and kind of celebrate fall. It’s also to increase awareness about the preserve and what we do out here. A lot of people just don’t realize what all is out here.” Fall Family Fun Day will be a great day to introduce the preserve to college students who have never visited, according to Ann Bergman, public relations specialist and one of the event organizers with the City of Auburn Parks and Recreation. “It’s just great because it’s going to reach all ages,” Bergman said. “We’re going to have things like face painting, but we’re also going to have Fake Snake Hikes, which will be cool even for older college kids. It’s a great day to visit if you’ve never been to the preserve before.” The Fall Family Fun Day will look to entertain both students and local families with music, crafts and nature hikes. Activities will be family-friendly and fallthemed, including hay bale decorating and storytelling by the Auburn Public Library System. Several food trucks will be on hand to quench thirsts and fill hungry stomachs.
jim little / editor-in-chief
Many of the crimes on game days are alcohol-related, according to police.
Police prepare for football Maria McIlwain community editor
emily enfinger / photo editor
Family Fun Day will have activities for people of all ages.
The preserve, located about four miles north of Toomer’s Corner, is a 120-acre tract of land home to dozens of ponds and lakes, butterfly and vegetable gardens, a nature playground for kids, a waterfall and over six miles of nature and wildflower trails. Staff naturalists will be leading discovery hikes which will feature plant and wildlife fun facts throughout the day. The preserve isn’t just for kids and parents, according to Lolley. “It’s a great place for college students to hike and hang their hammocks,” Lolley said. Soraya Gun is a sophomore in animal
sciences and Kreher Preserve volunteer. “I wanted to get some experience with more exotic animals,” Gun said “I thought it would be a great opportunity to start off with something exotic, but small. I just learned to love it.” Gun teaches informational presentations on the wildlife in the Preserve. “I’m pre-vet, so I have a lot of really hard classes,” said Gun. “It just requires a lot of studying. I get to take a break, go outside, play with the animals and meet new people (when at the Preserve). It calms me down a lot. When I have to come back and study, I feel a lot better.”
On game days, Auburn erupts in a sea of orange and blue, cheering on the Tigers. But some people clad in navy blue are not cheering. They are the Auburn Police Division officers, and members of other agencies such as the Lee County Sheriff’s Office. “We become one of the largest cities by population in the state,” said APD Police Chief Paul Register. According to Register, 1516 agencies come together on game days. He said officers are assigned to many points, including on the field, along Tiger Walk and in the student section. “We plan for all these things based on past experience,” Register said. Register said every APD officer works on game day in some capacity, whether on regular duty or at the game. Register said many of the incidents are alcohol-related, such as disorderly conduct, public intoxication and DUI. However, he said thefts are also prevalent, in parked vehicles and from tailgating spots. Register said APD works
closely with the University on game days. He said if a student is caught bringing alcohol into Jordan-Hare Stadium, they are kicked out of the stadium, but not arrested. He said they notify the Division of Student Affairs so they can take further action. If the student is “a danger to themselves or others,” Register said they have no choice but to arrest them. Susan McCallister, director of public safety information and education, said violent crime is rare and often alcohol-fueled. She said many of the incidents are public intoxication and minor in possession of alcohol, with some thefts on campus. “[Theft is] usually a crime of opportunity, so when there’s people tailgating and drinking, it does lead to more thefts,” McCallister said. Register said high-intensity games between rivals can lead to more fights. However, he said the Iron Bowl is generally peaceful. “The Iron Bowl is one of our better games,” Register said. “People are very well-behaved. People have families with Auburn and the University of Alabama in the family.”
education
Auburn City Schools is growing up at a rapid pace
Anne Dawson
community reporter
Over the last five years, Auburn City Schools has been the fastest growing school system in Alabama, averaging 350-400 new students each year. According to Karen DeLano, the superintendent of Auburn City Schools, the average elementary school has 400500 kids, the equivalent of adding another elementary school worth of students to the system. In order to satisfy the demand of more students, the school system will be growing, adding a new high school projected to open in fall of 2017. The new high school, which will be located on East Samford Avenue, will become grades
10-12, making the current high school grades eight-nine, the junior high grade seven and the middle school grade six. DeLano said the need for the new high school did not have to do with actual high school population. She said the most crowded grades tend to be the junior high and middle school grades, and the new high school will allow for each congested grade to have its own building. Andrew Cummings, Auburn High School graduate and sophomore in building science, said he felt the new high school will open up much-needed room in the jam-packed junior high and high schools. Cummings also said he thought the new location of the
school would allow traffic to be spread out, as opposed to in one spot. He also said it would bring the high school closer to the school’s football stadium. DeLano said the school receives funding from both state and local support. “We don’t control our funding, just how we use it,” DeLano said. Every year, the school system receives a number of how many kids are enrolled and receives money from the state based on the previous year’s number, DeLano said. For a school system growing as fast as Auburn City Schools, DeLano said this becomes a problem. Last year, the school system
emily enfinger / photo editor
Auburn City Schools has been growing rapidly and is expected to have 1,000 children per grade level soon.
had 300 new students, but did not receive any additional money for those students because its funding was based on the year before. To help with this issue, DeLano said the city of Auburn provides some of the millage tax to
the city schools, helping pay for the increase in students. “This community has always been supportive of education,” DeLano said. Auburn City Schools is estimated to have 1,000 kids per grade level in the next
6-8 years. DeLano said in the chance that this happens, the school board is prepared to build a second high school in 2024. “Our success comes from trying to find the right fit for all of our children,” DeLano said.
Thursday, September 10, 2015
Community 7
The Auburn Plainsman
business
Farmers plant the seed for a year-round market Ashlie Pincince community writer
While The Market at Ag Heritage Park has been around for 10 years, it is only open from late spring to early fall, just as most students are beginning or ending their semesters of study. The market’s seasonal selling period has some of its participating farmers curious about the possibility of maintaining a year-long market with the University’s assistance. George Rogers, owner of Pecan Point Farm, highlighted the opportunities the market would provide for Auburn students to “meet with producers of local food,” gain the “lifetime experience of buying local produce” and even to participate in the market as producers themselves. Another vendor who has frequented the farmer’s market since its establishment is Boozer Farms. Taylor Hatchet, from Boozer Farms, said he would be happy if the market was year-round. “Extending the market is a wonderful thing,” Hatchet said. Additionally, Gene Thornton of Sneaky Crow Farm said the farm grows crops yearround and has experienced a higher demand for local produce.
“An extended period of time would be something we can benefit from,” Thornton said. If the Auburn University’s farmer’s market was extended, farmers would have the opportunity to sell food they are already producing during those months. Pecan Point already produces pecans in the fall, and Rogers said he thinks other farmers produce goods year-round. “I can’t help but think there are other farmers like us,” Rogers said. Hatchet said the potential to sell Brussels sprouts, carrots and greens would open with an extended market. Thornton said a year-round market would allow for the sale of kale, collards, spinach, sweet potatoes, onions and winter squash. Even when the seasons are in a transition period and there is a shortage in available crops for sale, there is still potential for benefit, Rogers said. “Farmers can be more creative with their products and sell value-added products,” Rogers said. Rogers said jams, pickles, dried fruit and pies are examples of value-added products. There are several obstacles perceived by some vendors, for themselves and the Uni-
versity, which must be overcome to allow for the transition from a seasonal market to a year-round market. Hatchet said some challenges are logistical, such as space constraints. “Competition with football season [for facilities and parking],” Hatchet said. Rogers said the University would need to provide a designated, shady and accessible venue for it to be possible to maintain a year-long market. From the farmer’s perspective, Hatchet said there are also some details to work out. “Knowing in time, so we can have seeds and planting dates,” Hatchet said. Rogers, Thornton and Hatchet said there is a growing popular interest in locally grown produce. Rogers said if there was the opportunity to sell in the winter, “farmers would plant more.” Rogers said the establishment of a yearlong market is a “chicken and egg” dilemma. He identified both the needs for an increased student awareness of the market for local produce and for the University to facilitate its growth, but questioned which need must be met first. “I don’t know if we are ready yet,” Rogers said.
emily enfinger / photo editor
The Market at Ag Heritage Park is every Thursday in the summer. file photo
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Sports
8
Thursday, September 10, 2015
SCOREBOARD Soccer (6-0)
ThePlainsman.com
Sports
FOOTBALL
Improvements ‘big and small’ make their way to JHS Nathan Deal Sports Writer
File Photo
Last Week vs. Samford (W, 2-0) vs. Old Dominion (W, 1-0) THIS WEEK Sept. 11 at Missouri (6:30 p.m.) Sept. 13 vs. South Alabama (6 p.m.)
Volleyball (4-2)
Many would say Auburn University has one of the best game day atmospheres in college football, but for athletics director Jay Jacobs, that still wasn’t enough. Using data collected from a fan survey, Auburn set out to transform the football gameday experience with numerous improvements and renovations, including, most notably, a new 190-foot-by-57-foot video board. The new video board, which is the largest in college football, has received a bulk of the attention, but fans might be pleased by the other improvements to the game day experience, such as a state-of-the-art sound system. The new sound system, designed by audio-visual systems company Daktronics, is completely digital, unlike the stadium’s prior sound system. Acoording to the company, sound will no longer bounce off the stadium’s glass windows, which sometimes resulted in distortion. David Sturzenbecher, Daktronics project engineer for sound, said Jordan-Hare Stadium’s new sound system “is in the top 10 percent, output wise, our company has ever designed.” Internet connectivity, another fan concern, will also be improved for the 2015 season. The addition of several Verizon connectivity towers on campus and infrastructure in the upper levels of the stadium will increase the strength of Jordan-Hare Stadium’s Wi-Fi service. These improvements are also expected to bolster the Wi-Fi service for fans tailgating outside of the stadium. Not all improvements are technological, however.
Dakota Sumpter / Senior PHotographer
Students watch North Carolina and South Carolina play on Auburn’s new video board, one of many improvements.
According to a press release from the University, new concession stands on the lower west side will reduce the wait times for fans, and the concession stand options are more efficient and diverse than in previous seasons. The prices of water and hot dogs have been reduced, BBQ pork sandwiches will be sold at all stands and funnel cakes will be sold at 12 locations inside the stadium. According to the survey, one of fans’ biggest complaints about the game day experience was the quality of the stadium’s bathrooms. All of the bathrooms in Jordan-Hare Stadium have
been newly painted, and restroom attendants will help keep the bathrooms clean and prevent long wait times. “Auburn has one of the best game day experiences in college football, but we never stop looking for ways to get better,” Jacobs said in a press release. “We are committed to doing everything we can to improve how our fans feel about their time on campus. When our fans tell us what’s important to them, we listen and we take action. Our fans will see improvements big and small when they come to Jordan-Hare Stadium on game day.”
File Photo
LAST WEEK vs. Florida A&M (W, 3-0) vs. Syracuse (L, 3-2) vs. Georgia Tech (L, 3-1) THIS WEEK Sept. 11 vs. Arkansas-Little Rock (12 p.m.) Sept. 11 vs. Memphis (7 p.m.) Sept. 12 vs. Tennessee Tech (4 p.m.) Tournament at the University of Memphis
Cross-Country
auburn athletics
LAST WEEK Auburn Invitational vs. Samford/Alabama Sept. 1 (M-1st/W-1st) Meet in Birmingham THIS WEEK Furman Classic vs. Furman Greenville, South Carolina
EQUESTRIAN
File photo
This week Sept. 11 - Orange and Blue Scrimmage (3 p.m.) Event at Auburn University Horse Center
Contributed by Auburn Athletics
Kristen Dodson (35) fights for possession of the ball in Auburn’s 1-0 win against Old Dominion.
This Week in Auburn Sports Soccer Sept. 4
The 11th-ranked Auburn soccer team continued its undefeated streak with a 2-0 win against Samford on Friday, Sept. 4. Auburn coach Karen Hoppa knew the adversity the Tigers were facing coming into the match, and how badly they wanted to win. The in-state rivals held each other scoreless for nearly the entire first half until sophomore Kristen Dodson lit up the scoreboard for the Tigers with 14 seconds left on the clock. It was the forward’s first goal of 2015. Auburn had a total of 20 shots in the match, continuing to cultivate an offense full of opportunity. Senior Logan Beal capitalized in the 50th minute, scoring the second and final goal of the match for the Tigers. Redshirt freshman Sarah Le Beau had another eventful night with two saves on shots from Samford forward Ella Baggett.
Sept. 6 Scores of Auburn fans made their way to the Auburn Soccer Complex Sunday afternoon to witness their No. 11 ranked Tigers extend their un-
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defeated streak to six, as Auburn took the fourth game of its home stand with a 1-0 win over the Old Dominion Monarchs. The one day of rest following an exhausting but victorious Friday night win over an aggressive Samford Bulldog team gave the Tigers (6-00) the rejuvenation they needed to continue their win streak. Defense owned the match in the first half with five shots for Auburn and one save. The Tigers held Old Dominion to two shots until play was suspended in the 28th minute by a lightning delay. In the 29th minute, one minute after play resumed, midfielder Courtney Schell headed the ball off an assist from Brooke Ramsier to give Auburn a 1-0 lead over the Monarchs. The lone goal for the Tigers was Schell’s first in her 2015 campaign. Auburn will open up SEC play this weekend when the team travels to Missouri on Friday, Sept. 11, for a showdown between the two Tiger teams. Auburn defeated Missouri last season, which is heading into this weekend with a 1-3-1 overall record.
Volleyball Sept. 6
The Auburn volleyball team lost its second match in a row Sunday afternoon as the Tigers dropped a match to the host Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets in four sets, (16-25, 19-25, 25-19, 21-25) to fall to 4-2 on the season. The Tigers struggled for the first few sets, but came roaring back in the third to pull within one set. However, the potent Georgia Tech offense barely eclipsed Auburn in a tightly contested fourth set to win the match. Sophomore Alexa Filley continued her strong presence in the middle for Auburn, as she registered 35 assists and 12 kills on the day for her fourth double-double of the year. The Tigers were also led by Emily Klitzke, who had 11 kills, CiCi Silva, who had 10, and Breanna Barksdale and Courtney Crable, who added nine a piece. Auburn returns to action next weekend when the team travels to Memphis, Tennessee, for the Memphis Invitational. The Tigers’ weekend slate includes Arkansas-Little Rock and Memphis on Friday and Tennessee Tech on Saturday. Compiled by Sam Butler and Emily Shoffit
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Thursday, September 10, 2015
Sports 9
The Auburn Plainsman
Swimming and Diving
Swim and dive looking for its 24th SEC Championship Meredith Brito Sports Writer
Sam Butler Sports Editor
Contributed by Auburn Athletics
Annie Lazor is one of the most experienced swimmers for the Auburn women’s swim team.
The Auburn swim and dive team is looking for a strong season in 2015 after falling short last year. “We want to win an SEC championship again,” said coach Brett Hawke. “We want to get back to hanging championship banners.This year I feel like we have great leadership and added some depth on both sides, men and women.” Auburn has a strong legacy in the swimming and diving programs, capturing 23 conference championships, as well as a combined 13 NCAA Championships, in its 83-year history. Last year, the Tigers finished ninth overall on the men’s side and 18th on the women’s at the NCAA National
Championships. Auburn returns a host of its top swimmers this year: sophomore Hugo Morris and juniors Joe Patching, Kyle Darmody and Michael Duderstadt will lead the men's team, while junior Allyx Purcell and senior Annie Lazor will be tasked with setting the tone for the women. The Tigers also have added depth to the team through a stellar recruiting haul. Bailey Nero, the No. 26 swimmer in the country, according to CollegeSwimming.com, headlines the class of 2015. Sam Stewart, the No. 48 swimmer, and Aly Tetzloff, the No. 31 swimmer, round it out. “Our freshman class is only, like, seven girls, but each of them bring something to the table that we need or are going to bring our team to a whole oth-
er level,” Lazor, who snagged a bronze medal at this year's Pan-Am Games, said. "This is the best team I’ve been on in my four years of swimming.” One swimmer Hawke is looking to return to form is sophomore Grant Schenk. Schenk missed part of last year from tonsillitis but came back to finish 11th in the SEC Championships in the 1650 free with a time of 15:07:50, which set a personal best. The Tigers have the talent and coaching to capture another conference championship, which Auburn hasn’t claimed in either men’s or women’s since 2012. They just have to put it all together. If they do, the rest of the SEC will take notice. The Auburn swim and dive team kicks off its season Friday, Oct. 9 in Tuscaloosa at 2 p.m.
Auburn Athletics
Arthur Mendes (left), Kyle Darmody (center) and Michael Duderstadt (right) will look to lead the men’s team to its 18th SEC Championship, and possibly its fifth National Championship.
Sports 10
Thursday, September 10, 2015
The Auburn Plainsman
Photos from Auburn’s win over Louisville
Dakota Sumpter / Senior Photographer
The Tigers run out of the tunnel in the Georgia Dome before the Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game on Saturday, Sept. 5.
Jonathan Wallace dons the leather helmet following Auburn’s win.
Adam Sparks / Senior Photographer
Quarterback Jeremy Johnson fires a pass through the Louisville defense.
Running back Peyton Barber (25) bursts through a hole created by the offensive line.
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Intrigue
11
Thursday, September 10, 2015
ThePlainsman.com
Intrigue
From the Plains to Miss America 2016 alumni
Contributed by eve Newell-gray
Meg McGuffin dances during the talent portion of the 2015 Miss Alabama pageant.
Meg McGuffin’s journey to prepare for final competition in New Jersey Marissa Luckie intrigue writer
Meg McGuffin, 2015 graduate in media studies, is competing in the 2016 Miss America Competition as the current titleholder of Miss Alabama. Meg entered the preliminary competition stage, which started with the interview segment Monday, Sept. 7. The main event will be Sunday, Sept. 13, in Atlantic City, New Jersey. The contestants were questioned by the judges for 10 minutes on topics including the contestant’s platform statements, the contestant’s resumes and social and political issues. Meg’s platform is Healthy is the New Skinny. She said growing up without body-positive role models was “detrimental” to her self-esteem and self-worth. “As Miss America, I want to be that-body positive role model that young girls need,” Meg said. “If I had the opportunity to be that person and to share this message, I think that young girls would benefit from that and not fall prey to the pressures of society like I did.” Although it may sound daunting, Meg said she enjoys the interview portion of preliminary competition. “What you do most as Miss America and as a titleholder is communicate with other people and build relationships, and so your interview is your opportunity to show the judges that you can do that,” Meg said. Meg performed a contemporary dance routine
Miss Alabama 2014, Caitlin Brunell, crowns Meg McGuffin as Miss Alabama 2015.
using pointe shoes for the talent portion Tuesday, Sept. 8. The evening wear and swimsuit preliminary competitions were held Thursday, Sept. 10. As the main competition approaches, the contestants have been spending long days in rehearsals learning everything from opening numbers to different walks for each portion of the competition. Despite long days, Meg said the past three months have been the hardest part.
She said she worked with a personal trainer three to four times per week, practiced mock interviews, put her wardrobe together and had fittings. “You work your tail off, and then when you get here you reap the awards,” Meg said. “You are allowed to just build relationships and have a blast.” Meg emphasized the friendships she has formed with her fellow contestants, shattering
health
Kroger Shopping Center 300 N. Dean Rd (334) 826-8828
Say goodbye to the freshman 15 Rachel Sprouse Intrigue writer
Losing weight is a struggle many college students encounter at some point in their college career. For some, it’s losing the freshman 15. But many students struggle with finding a healthy way to lose weight even after their freshman year. Many count calories or turn to fad diets to achieve their goals but find little success. Jessica Newby, registered dietitian-nutritionist at the Auburn University Recreation and Wellness Center, said to eat only when hungry, rather than counting calories. “In our practice, we tend not to encourage calorie counting, because calories can be made up of a lot of different things,” Newby said. “If they’re eating all the food groups, it tends to balance your calories naturally.” Newby said it’s not really the freshman 15 students gain their first year. “We try to educate them about the fact that it’s not really about the freshman 15,” Newby said. “On average, it’s [more] like the freshman 5.25 or something of that nature.” Newby said they encourage their clients to focus on hav-
ing a balanced plate, or a plate with protein, grain, dairy, fruit or vegetable presence. “We want as many food groups as possible present at each meal,” Newby said. “That’s how we judge the balance.” Anne Penrose, graduate in exercise science and nutritionist at the Recreation and Wellness Center, said the hardest thing for freshmen is adjusting to college life. “Often times, they’re coming in from an environment where meals are already made for them,” Penrose said. “Mom and Dad tend to help a lot more, so sometimes it’s the knowledge base [that] is not there.” Newby said having a space to prepare meals for yourself gives students the chance to control what they eat. She said this can help them lose weight. “They can learn how to prepare their own foods and become responsible for the foods they take in,” Newby said. According to Newby, students with food allergies and food intolerances are able to cater their meals to their preferences by preparing their own meals. Penrose said students often struggle with deciding whether to eat out or make food at
the stereotypical image of catty girls attempting to trip each other onstage. “I’ve laughed harder than I’ve ever laughed before in my life with these girls,” Meg said. “We all know exactly the amount of hard work each of us has put into this journey, so now we can laugh about it and poke fun at one another and just have the time of our lives.” Meg showed no signs of nerves, something her mom, Lisa McGuffin, recognizes as completely normal. “We are more nervous than she is,” Lisa said. “She never gets nervous.” Meg said her grandparents and her mother are her biggest supporters and will be in the audience Sunday, Sept. 13. Lisa said she would love if Meg ended the night with a crown on her head. “It goes back to her just being 100 percent authentic,” Lisa said. “She is such a genuine person, and she is so passionate about her platform.” Lacey Gossey, one of Meg’s sisters in Phi Mu at Auburn, said Meg’s passion for her platform made her a great choice for Miss America 2016. “She has a great platform … which she worked a lot on at Auburn and shared with our chapter a lot,” Gossey said. Gossey also said she thinks Meg has done a great job as Miss Alabama 2015. “She pretty much embodies everything the Miss America organization is,” Gossey said. The Miss America 2016 competition will air on ABC on Sunday, Sept. 13 at 8 p.m.
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rachel sprouse / intrigue writer
A balanced meal should have as many food groups present as possible.
home, which adds to the challenge of balancing their plate. “There’s so much freedom [in college], which is a good thing, but I think just navigating toward how to build that balanced plate ... while allowing room for enjoying the foods you really enjoy [helps],” Penrose said. “Keeping that in there, keeping it balanced, I think, is the biggest obstacle.” Newby said one problem students have is a lack of variety. Many students fall into the pattern of eating within a certain radius of where they live. “I have students that, it’s
their senior year, and they don’t even know what’s at Foy,” Newby said. “They’ve never ventured out of the Village, or whatever their general area is.” Newby also said if students forget to eat a meal at their regular time, they shouldn’t rush to find the first snack available. She said students will grab whatever’s there instead of making a balanced plate. “It’s kind of lackadaisical or an afterthought,” Newby said. “It’s not intentional on a daily basis.” By making small changes in your diet, long term success in weight loss can be achieved.
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Intrigue 12
The Auburn Plainsman
Thursday, September 10, 2015
alumni
Time travel with‘The Time Opener: 1692’ Physics graduate to release novel, book signing to be held in Octobor at Hastings Emily Esleck Intrigue Editor
James L. Tracy Jr., 2010 graduate in physics, said he wondered what it would be like if major figures from the past such as Abraham Lincoln or George Washington came to the present. This led him to write “The Time Opener: 1692,” a novel set in the Salem Witch Trials of 1692, which involves main characters, Aaron and Cyrus, who accidentally uncover a magical item while traveling to Salem, according to the book’s website, www.TheTimeOpener.com. “I put them in the present, and then I build a story around that, and then I end up getting everybody back in the past and putting a couple people on trial, and there’s the story,” James said. James has been attending Mississippi State University since 2012, working to obtain his Ph.D. in nuclear physics where he wants to research and teach. He said he disliked writing in college, but when he graduated from Auburn, he wanted to write a novel. James’s wife, Jordyn Tracy, graduated from Auburn in 2010 with a bachelor’s in building science. She said James had been researching for five years. Jordyn said she met James in a physics society at Auburn. “We met going to the society meetings,” Jordyn said. “Just a couple of nerds.” Jordyn said she helped James with the way the female character reacted throughout the book. “Mostly because men don’t understand how women can feel 14 different emotions at the same time,” Jordyn said. “So I had some input on how the one female character was affected by going back in time and experiencing all of the stuff that they put her through.” James said it took him a year to write and one month to edit, a short time period for a novel. He said Tate Publishing approached him, and said they would publish his book for free, so his editing process went quickly. James also said he is writing a sequel,
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which is set in 1970 and tells the story of an African-American man who was convicted of a burgarly that caused a death and was put on death row. Then in 1972, the Supreme Court overturned the death penalty, and he receives a life sentence, according to James. James said after a few years he earns parole and builds a life outside of prison, where he hears of the time opener device. “He concocts a plan to go back in time and save the life of a person whose death he caused,” James said. “He’s going to try to right that wrong, but he’s got to confront theft, breaking and entering, kidnapping, all these other heinous decisions, and it becomes when do the ends justify the means.” James said he thinks anyone who likes time travel has a fascination with history. “We’re so aware of what we know about and the current environment in life ... and sometimes it’s really difficult to sit down and say, ‘Well, what did people think about 100 years ago, 200 years ago?’” James said. James said there is a lot of insight one can get into in looking at what people were like. He also said he drew the illustration on the cover of his book. “I think it’s definitely enriching to pursue at least one hobby with the same ... thoroughness, power, intrigue, joy, as you do with what you’re going to do to make money in your life,” James said. Jim Hanson, professor and chair of the physics department, taught James and said James was an enthusiastic, hardworking student. “It’s wonderful that he’s able to write a book,” Hanson said. “I haven’t read it yet, but I’m looking forward to doing so, and I hope his book sells well.” The book will be released Tuesday, Sept. 15 and will be sold for $16.92. There will be a book signing at Hastings on Glenn Avenue on Saturday, Oct. 10. “The Time Opener: 1692” can be purchased on Amazon.
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emily enfinger / photo editor
James L.Tracy Jr. holds his book,“The Time Opener: 1692.”
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