The Auburn Plainsman 09.24.15 issue

See Game Day tab inside

The Auburn Plainsman A Spirit That Is Not Afraid Thursday, September 24, 2015 Vol. 123, Issue 6, 24 Pages

First copy is free. Additional copies 50 cents per issue.

Sports

CAMPUS

Raising the white flag

Sean White to start against Mississippi State S am Butler Sports Editor

Preseason articles, talking heads on ESPN and analysts across the nation were all saying the same thing prior to Auburn’s season opener.

Jeremy Johnson was going to be a star.

He had only really played in mop-up duty and in one half against Arkansas in 2014, but the flashes of brilliance he exuded during those opportunities had all the promise in the world.

Yet, somehow, he’s been nearly the opposite in the three games he’s started this season.

Johnson has been plagued by atrocious decisions in the pocket, choosing to ignore blanketed coverages on his receivers, or he’s just plain not seeing them.

He has the appearence of constantly looking flustered under pressure, dancing around the pocket instead of trusting his instincts.

Johnson’s six interceptions through three games are tied for the most in the nation with Austin Appleby of Purdue, a team that has been and will be sitting in the cellar of the Big Ten conference for the foreseeable future.

Johnson was anointed the starter after A-Day in April, and coach Gus Malzahn didn’t shy away from his decision

» See White 2

Emily enfinger / photo editor

Drones take flight over Auburn

to keep Johnson as the starter — for a while.

Then, following Auburn’s 45-21 loss to LSU, in which Johnson committed two more turnovers, Malzahn stunned everyone and announced Johnson wouldn’t be starting this week.

Enter Sean White.

The 6-foot redshirt freshman out of Hollywood, Florida, will be making his first collegiate start, and taking his first snap, against the Mississippi State Bulldogs after overtaking Johnson as the starting quarterback.

“Sean White is a guy that has gotten a lot of reps,” Malzahn said. “He has responded very well in practices and in scrimmages. We feel like he needs a shot right now and we have a lot of confidence in him. He is our starting quarterback going into this game; we are going to get behind him, and I know his teammates will also. He is a talented young guy and we are excited to see what he can do.”

DGI Phantom 2 Plus at Auburn University’s RV field.

Andria Moore Campus Reporter

Auburn University has officially launched its first Unmanned Aircraft Systems Flight School.

“The intent of this course is to offer a training program for those who want to start a business,” said Director of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles operations Phil Owen. “We give them a detailed overview of Federal Aviation Administration policies and regulations.”

Auburn University and the Auburn Airport have been teaming up for the past year to

File

Sean White throws a pass at A-Day 2015.

construct this class. The Federal Aviation Administration requires proper documentation for anyone wishing to fly UAVs. Owen said students have to complete a final test on FAA procedure in order to pass the class, and to register to be certified.

“This class gives people a good knowledge of how to apply for documentation,” Owen said.

Although the class is available for anyone, currently

» See drones 2

SGA

Student Government’s new block seating program off to rocky start

Claire Tully Campus Writer

This football season, SGA’s Organizational Seating Program introduced a new block seating system in Jordan-Hare Stadium.

It is a “competitive, academic incentive-based system used to promote and determine reserved organizational seating at football games,” according to Brock Hendon, co-director of Organizational Seating Program.

John Headlee, co-director of Organizational Seating Program, said he is happy with the results of block seating following the first game.

“We are very pleased with how block seating is operating so far,” said Headlee.

“We feel as though we have found a system that best benefits the student body and student organizations.”

Hendon said he encourages all Auburn University organizations to participate in the competition.

For this academic year, the competition is based solely on organizational GPAs, and the GPAs will be averaged and used for ranking purposes for the fall 2016 football season, according to Hendon.

“In order to apply for block seating, organizations submit a list of members and their GPAs from fall and spring semester,” Headlee said. “Once all the grades are in, organizations are ranked by highest GPA.” Headlee said, to determine how many rows an organization receives, they take the number of members that applied and multiply that number by 1.5. That number will be how many rows that organization receives.

The block seating system, however, has received mixed reviews among students.

Christopher Houseman, Delta Sigma Pi chapter president, said he was disappointed that the fraternity lost its block seating following the first game.

“We lost our blocking seating this week due to not having all of our seats filled one hour before the kickoff,” said Houseman, “In my opinion, that is absurd. It was an 11 a.m. game, and many of our members had family in town and could not arrive one hour before kickoff.”

SGA’s Organizational Seating Program will contin-

christy stipe / Photographer

Students sing the Alma Mater after the Jacksonville State game on Sept. 12, 2015.

ue with its policies laid out in the block seating contract.

“As far as keeping the rows, organizations must fill the block an hour before the game and maintain the block

throughout the game,” Headlee said. “This is also outlined in the contract.”

After an organization loses its seating, the organization with the next highest GPA

that signed the block seating contract for the football season gets that spot, according to Hendon.

Despite these policies, Houseman still disagreed.

LIMITED TIME OFFER!!!

$299.00 Per Eye

334-826-8778

1100 S. College St. Ste. 108 Auburn, AL

Appointments Limited!

Includes 1 year, no charge, enhancements.

Now doing multifocal for distance and near on both eyes.

Valid with Student ID from a College, University, Tech School and Military

$399.00 per eye if you are under 43 years of age

“We did have every single spot filled when the game started,” Houseman said.

“I see no benefit in having

» See seating 2

Over 165,000 Procedures Done

Good only with this ad!

Financing Available

News 2

The Auburn Plainsman

Thursday, September 24, 2015

Senate approves course catalog sga

DUI reports The following were arrested and charged with driving under the influence by the Auburn Police Division from Sept. 15-21: Sept. 15 - Ellis Devon Crosby, 23 Opelika Road at Dekalb Street at 10:06 p.m.

Sept. 18 - Daniel Louis Flowers, 25 South College Street at Devall Drive at 12:23 a.m.

- Noelle Kinsey Horton, 21 Wright Street at 3:15 a.m.

Sept. 19 - Abel Domingo-Perez, 33 East Drake Avenue at 1:38 a.m.

- Sarah Ann Graham, 22 West Magnolia Avenue at North College Street at 2:15 a.m.

- Ashley McCall Sessions, 24 North College Street at 2:44 a.m.

- Sylvester La Vell Williams, 41 McKinley Avenue at South Dean Road at 10:12 p.m.

Claire Tully Campus Writer

SGA held their weekly senate Monday, Sept. 21, where they continued discussions on the course catalog resolution.

The resolution was presented last week

by Benjamin Arnberg, graduate school senator; Peyton Hanson, COSAM senator; and Jacqueline Keck, liberal arts senator and academic affairs committee chair.

This resolution will recommend the creation of a course catalog so when students go to register, they can make informed decisions.

The senate voted on the resolution and the bill passed after several senators voiced their support for it.

“I also support this … I think we should vote yes because I think it’s really an awesome opportunity,” said Trey Fields, liberal arts senator and student affairs com-

mittee chair.

Graham Schmidt, business senator, also voiced his support and urged fellow senators to approve the bill.

“I would also agree with all these guys in saying that there’s not really a downside to passing this,” Schmidt said. “If anything it’s just gonna be able to help students."

Now that the senate has passed this resolution, it will be presented to Provost’s office and the Registrar for approval.

SGA resolutions on academic policy can’t be implemented without approval from administration, according to Benjamin Arnberg.

India Way, business senator and budget and finance committee chair, reported to the senate to let them know that after three hours of discussion last week, the budget hearings will continue Tuesday, Sept. 22.

Fields also reported on behalf of his committee.

The “It’s On Us” campaign, a program that raises awareness on sexual assault, will be publicized by SGA next month along with Green Dot as a supplementary program.

“We’re going to have a huge publicity push toward the end of October” Fields said.

The senate concluded with Justin Mathews’, SGA Vice President, address.

Mathews reminded senators that Walker Byrd, SGA President, will be giving a State of the Student Body Address on Tuesday, Sept. 29 at 7 p.m. in the Student Center Ballroom.

According to Mathews, the event will be partnered with Auburn UPC and Ben Baker, director of governmental relations, will also be speaking.

Campus

Sept. 20 - Christopher Neal Brown, 21 Alabama Street at 12:27 a.m.

Sept. 21 - Katherine Clement Alexander, 19 North Gay Street at 11:11 p.m.

Naming opportunity for Oak descendants

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

drones » From 1

there are no University students enrolled. Auburn Airport Director and Aviation Center Director Bill Hutto said they may consider altering the timing of the course to make it more convenient for students’ schedules.

“It gives an opportunity for college students to get additional training and an opportunity to train the general public,” Hutto said.

John Sweatman, a student in the new UAV course, makes a living through his advertising and marketing business.

“I’ve been requesting drone footage for several years,” Sweatman said. “This is the perfect place for me as a business owner because I can not only protect properties, but also follow regulations and set my business apart.”

Owens said the students take what they want from the class and apply it to best fit their needs.

“There are different systems and applications,” Owen said.

“Some (drones) are good for photography, and some for real estate. You choose the right aircraft to accomplish what your goal is.”

Monty Mims said he took the class to improve his real estate business.

“I’m a real estate bro-

seating » From 1

every spot filled one hour before the game as long as they are in fact filled and every wristband is utilized.”

Hendon said in order to participate in the competition, the contract, available on SGA’s website, must be signed and submitted to SGA’s office.

“An organization must submit an Excel spreadsheet roster listing the first name, last name, email address and student ID number for all

white » From 1

White was a four-star recruit out of University School of Nova South in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

He was named the Most Valuable Player of the 2014 Under Armour All-America Game, as well as the MVP of the 2013 Elite 11 camp, where only the top quarterback prospects in the nation are invited to compete.

In his senior year of high

ker and I’m hoping this class will help me improve my listings,” Mims said. “I’ll be able to show a client what the land surrounding a house looks like- if it’s hilly or flat.”

Deputy Director for military research programs and UAS program manager Earle Thompson said it is important for people to understand the strict regulations the FAA puts on flying aircrafts.

“The FAA is concerned about people flying them in city parks and public areas,” Thompson said. “This class allows them to understand the different ways you can legally fly a UAS, whether you are doing it for personal use or pleasure.”

In the future, Owen said hehopes the course will be improved to offer more variety.

“In the near future we will develop more courses in more detail,” Owen said. “Courses in precision agriculture, and possibly offering courses yearround.”

The airport has been teaching aviation and aerospace for more than 80 years and manflight for 75 so the initiation of a UAV school was a “natural extension.”

“There are many applications ranging from journalism, to engineering, to building sciences, to precision agriculture,” Hutto said. “Really the only limit is the imagination.” members in the organization who want to participate in organizational seating,” Hendon said.

Following the JSU game, six organizations lost their block seating for failing to fulfill the rules expressed in the contract, according to Hendon.

Houseman said he hopes there are changes to next year’s contract.

“My experience: terrible,” Houseman said. “This contract needs to be re-written next year, because now we have no block seating.” school, White threw for 2,239 yards and 29 touchdowns, while only throwing a total of six interceptions — the same amount that newlybenched quarterback Jeremy Johnson currently has this season through only three games.

All the eyes of the Auburn fanbase and college sports media will be on White now, and it’s up to him to make sure the pressure and hype that seemed to have got inside Johnson’s head doesn’t get inside his.

contributed by scott enebak

Descendants of the original oak trees on Toomer’s Corner.

Kris Martins Campus Writer

Out in a field in North Auburn, 43 descendants of the original Auburn Oaks have been growing for 15 years. And in February 2016, Samford Park will welcome 21 of them to line the new walkway running from Toomer’s Corner to Samford Hall.

The School of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences, in conjunction with the Office of Development, has allowed donors to “name” the descendants in honor of their $50,000 philanthropic contribution to the University.

“The funds that are going to be generated from these naming opportunities are going to go into an endowed fund for excellence,” said Heather Crozier, development officer.

Because of the expected interest in this opportunity, potential donors had to register online by Sept. 15 to be put into a lottery. The 21 donors selected will be notified the week of Sept. 21.

The School of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences began collecting and growing the acorns of the Auburn Oaks in 2000 after someone set fire to the trees, according to Scott Enebak, forest pathology professor and director of the Southern Forest Nursery Management Coop-

erative.

Enebak said the president asked the forestry department what it could do in case the Oaks died unexpectedly, and Enebak suggested collecting and growing the acorns so the Oaks could be replaced 20 years later if needed.

The School of Forestry initially planted 50 acorns in a field, of which seven have died over the years, and then annually collected acorns from the Oaks to sell to the public, with proceeds going to scholarships.

“It was a two-pronged approach: let’s collect some acorns and have replacement trees ready in case something happens to the trees in the Corner, and let’s collect them every year and sell them to alumni,” Enebak said.

Each year the Wildlife and Forestry Clubs grew approximately 700 seedlings and generated about $250,000 for undergraduate scholarships, according to Enebak.

“What we didn’t expect was a poisoning 10 years later,” Enebak said.

The Oaks’ descendants weren’t big enough to replace them on the corner in 2010, and they lost the annual scholarship money produced by selling seedlings.

However, this past winter, Facilities

Management decided to include the 21 descendants to the Samford Park redevelopment project, according to Crozier.

“While we lost the sales of the Oaks, I think this will make up for everything that they lost,” Enebak said.

Facilities Management will execute the replanting of the trees in February, and in the last year, Facilities and the School of Forestry have been preparing the trees for the transplant by pruning their branches and roots.

The descendants, now approximately 20-25 feet tall, will have barriers like the Oaks on the corner, according to Ben Burmester, campus planner with Facilities Management.

“We will likely work in coordination with the Office of Communication and Marketing to do a PR campaign to try and protect these trees (from rolling),” Burmester said.

A few of the remaining descendants will serve as back-up trees for the 21, and the rest are not repurposed yet.

“A lot of what we do—at least in forestry—we plant things for the next generation, and we use things from a previous generation,” Enebak said.

The descendants will be dedicated ADay weekend, which is set to be April 6, 2016.

Research

Payday loans not tied to political parties Kris Martins Campus Writer

An Auburn University study found there is no connection between a state’s leniency on payday lending regulation and the political party that controls the state.

According to research, the costs and benefits of payday lending is a controversy at the state and federal level. This prompted research into how political parties in charge of both the state governorship and legislature regulate the payday lending industry.

“Next year will be the year of politics,” said James Barth, Lowder Eminent Scholar in Finance. “Democrats typically, one might think, are the sort of individuals that if they control governorship and control the legislature … are going to want to impose more restrictions on payday lending. Maybe Republicans, some people might believe, are more business-oriented. So Republicans might say let payday lenders thrive and let the market be free to determine how many there are and where they’re located.”

Yet the study shows no support for this perspective.

Thirty states have either Republicans

or Democrats in control of both governorship and legislation. Of the 30, seven are Democratic and 23 are Republican.

Only five states of the 30 prohibit payday lending. Republicans control four of those five states.

Of the remaining 25 states where payday lending is legal, 19 are under Republican control.

“I think this is generally a very hot topic right now,” said Jitka Hilliard, assistant professor of finance. “When President Obama was in Montgomery earlier this year, he talked about payday lenders.

He said we have four times more payday lenders than McDonalds. I was calculating it and yeah, that’s pretty close. It’s a little bit more than four times, actually.”

Payday loans require borrowers to repay the amount taken along with fees when they receive their next paycheck. It is common for interest rates on these loans to be several hundred percent, according to the study.

In the legal states, regulation laws focus on the maximum annualized percentage rate (APR) for a 14-day $100 loan, a maximum loan amount, a maximum number of outstanding loans at one time and a

maximum number of rollovers or renewals of loans.

The researchers compiled an index based on the four focal points, with higher values indicating more leniency. The top four states shared the same value. Of the four, three were Republican, yet the bottom three values were also Republican states California, a Democrat-controlled state, has the second-most payday lenders of the 25 Democrat- and Republican-controlled states. Delaware, also a blue state, has no limit for APR for a 14-day $100 loan.

Data of the 25 states also show there are more Republican-controlled states that prohibit rollovers and renewals than Democrat-controlled states.

With fluctuations in leniency across states of both parties, the research concludes there isn’t a correlation between regulation and political party.

According to Barth, the study is the first of its kind.

“With this official regulatory data, we had a data set no one had ever looked at before,” Barth said. “My goal is to do research that somehow can improve the lives of people around the world.”

Campus Thursday, September 24, 2015

3 ThePlainsman.com

Campus

New courses promote prevention health and wellness

Freshmen must now complete alcohol abuse and sexual assault prevention courses Amanda Myles Intrigue Writer

Auburn University is now requiring all new students, including transfer students, to complete Alcohol Edu and Haven courses.

The Alcohol Edu and Haven courses deal with alcohol abuse prevention and sexual assault prevention, respectively. Part one of this program opened on July 20 and was due Aug. 14. Part two opens up 45 days after completing Part one.

These courses are under Auburn’s health promotion and wellness services of the division of student affairs.

Eric Smith, director of health promotion and wellness services, said he is a strong advocate of these courses.

“The power of the online thing is you can take this course … and we can get it in your hands before you actually get to campus,” Smith said.

The University has partnered with EverFi, an online education company, to build a comprehensive prevention program.

The process of implementing this program started with Auburn’s student leaders, according to Smith.

“Our SGA was a big proponent of this about three years ago, so it was really our student leaders who said they think this is something valuable that they think all students should take,” Smith said.

“Then, last year, we got the programs and we piloted them … with the UNIV courses, the first year experience program and seminar classes. We just kind of wanted to see how it went, see what came out of it, and we rolled it out that way.”

Smith said he is proud of the University for implementing these courses.

He said he is confident they will have a positive effect.

“It’s a good product together,” Smith said.

“I think on the whole, the program just does a really good job of kind of setting that stan-

dard and its baseline knowledge. We know everyone is at least starting out from this same place when it comes to Alcohol Edu and Haven. We’ve gotten a lot of positive feedback from students about how the course is run, how the content is delivered, and I think that’s really important.”

There are no statistics that indicate anything about the effectiveness of the courses.

“The program is still open, so I don’t quite have a handle on the completion and all that kind of stuff yet,” Smith said. “We get that information in February or March, and at that time we’ll be able to make a much more conclusive statement. The only real reason we’re doing this program is for students in particular and that the desire to do the program came from other students who recognized and saw a need. It’s recognized as one of the few things we can do out there to have a positive impact on individuals’ behavior.”

However, length is an area of concern, according to Smith.

“We do get a complaint here or there about the length of the program, and that it can be a little daunting,” Smith said.

Jordan Mangat, freshman in undeclared science and math, said he thinks it is an inefficient use of time.

“There are too many sections for it … and I think most people would agree with me that it’s too much time, and we already know this stuff,” Mangat said.

Christian Reagan, transfer student and sophomore in undeclared science and mathematics, said he believes the courses are important, despite how long they take to complete.

“It did feel a little redundant at times, but then again it is kind of necessary to get the point across with how serious some of these issues are, and it’s all pretty important topics, especially when you’re dealing with peoples’ lives,” Reagan said. “I think it was important to understand a lot of the things it had to say. I

If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted...

Tell someone.

• Call 911 or the Auburn Police at 334-501-3100.

• Call Safe Harbor at 334-844-7233. An advocate will be there to answer your call, 24 hours a day and seven days a week.

If you or someone you know is struggling with alcohol addiction...

Get help.

The Campus Group of AA meets every Tuesday at 6 p.m. in the Foy Hall Faculty Lounge (Room 105).

You can email recovery@auburn.edu for information about all the programs and services available to people who are struggling with alcohol and drug-related issues. cOREY wILLIAMS / CAMPUS EDITOR

All information can be found at cws.auburn.edu/studentaffairs/healthandwellness.com.

think that it conveyed the message that needs to be said to college students.”

Reagan said some students might not care or put much effort into the courses, but he doesn’t think that takes away from the program’s effectiveness.

“I think whether or not they cared about it, it’s still good to know, and a lot of the facts that were presented I didn’t even know,” Reagan said. “I didn’t realize a lot of the things that happened actually happened like that, so

I definitely learned something from it.”

Michael Lovell, director of marketing of higher ed for EverFi, said these courses are designed to get students thinking about important issues.

“We are asking questions, because they could help guide prevention strategies,” Lovell said. “There’s a lot of rationale and reasoning behind why the questions are the way that they are and why the scenario and courses are the way that they are.”

Campus 4

Thursday, September 24, 2015

The Auburn Plainsman

Walker Byrd stands up for inclusion diversity

Corey Williams Campus Editor

The University of Missouri’s SGA president recently became the subject of national attention after he responded to a racist incident with a Facebook status.

Payton Head, Missouri’s openly gay, AfricanAmerican SGA president, said he was walking through campus when a group of men in a pickup truck repeatedly yelled racial slurs at him.

Head posted a response on Facebook.

“I really just want to know why my simple existence is such a threat to society,” Head wrote.

“For those of you who wonder why I’m always talking about the importance of inclusion and respect, it’s because I’ve experienced moments like this multiple times at THIS university, making me not feel included here.”

Head signed the post, “Your N----r/F----t Missouri Students Association President, Payton Head.”

Walker Byrd, Auburn’s SGA president, met Head this summer at the National Campus Leadership Summit.

“It’s tough when you see something like that happen to a peer,” Byrd said. “Payton Head is

“

I think (diversity) is something Auburn could work on, and I think it’s something the student body could do a better job of embracing.

When you come to college, you kind of find your niche or you bubble, and we probably don’t always do a great job of pushing that bubble.”

-Walker Byrd

SGA PRESIDENT

somebody I think very highly of. He’s done an incredible job at Missouri. For him to have the courage to be vulnerable like that, in such a public forum, is a testament to him and his leadership.”

Byrd said he hopes a similar incident never happens at Auburn, but he would be naive to think it couldn’t.

“I think (diversity) is something Auburn could work on, and I think it’s something the student body could do a better job of embracing,” Byrd said. “When you come to college, you kind of find your niche or your bubble, and we probably don’t always do a great job of pushing that bubble.”

When students engage with people different

from themselves, they are preparing for life after college, Byrd said.

“Sometimes we don’t interact with people who don’t look like you, think like you, talk like you or believe like you,” Byrd said. “But if you’re going to be an effective, efficient member of society after you graduate, you need to have those experiences at Auburn. More than likely, in whatever field you go into, you’re going to work with a wide array of people.”

Max Zinner, Spectrum president, said Byrd makes himself available to Spectrum, formerly called the Auburn Gay and Lesbian Association.

“I don’t know everything he believes, but he really seems to be making an effort,” Zinner said.

“He has talked about how diversity is one of the main goals of the University. In my mind, he seems to be at least somewhat dedicated to that.”

Zinner said the University has come a long way since the club was formed 25 years ago.

“The Auburn Gay and Lesbian Association had to fight just to be a group,” Zinner said. “Now, SGA members are happy to come talk to Spectrum. We’ve had the president of the University come speak to our group. As a whole, I think there’s still some way to go, but the University climate has changed so much.”

Erica Rutledge, Black Student Union president, said she applauds Byrd for standing up for Missouri’s president.

Rutledge said Auburn still has a long way to go before she can call it a completely inclusive campus, but there is a simple way for students to promote diversity everyday.

“The first step is talking to people in your classes,” Rutledge said. “We are put on this campus with so many different people. Take the opportunity to get to know somebody who is different from you.”

To read Payton Head’s full Facebook post, visit www.theplainsman.com.

tiger dining

AU Smokehouse finds new home in the Quad Rachel S prouse Campus Writer

The AU Smokehouse did not lose its flavor when it moved from Foy Dining Hall to Lupton Hall over the summer.

Lupton Deli, which used to be located in Lupton Hall, is now a food truck.

Glenn Loughridge, the director of campus dining, said the move was focused around the idea of “rebranding” the Smokehouse.

“Sometimes things need to completely change; sometimes they just need a refresh,” Loughridge said. “In this case ... we wanted it a little bit closer to the Student Center.”

Loughridge said the move also occurred because Ceci needed to be moved into Foy. “We wanted to put Ceci in Foy, because we needed a segregated kitchen space for it,” Loughridge said.

Although the new location no longer serves breakfast, fried catfish or okra, the quality of the meat and the taste have not changed.

“We know if we get anything from the meat lab, it’s going to be top quality,” said Dickie Johnson, a chef at AU

Smokehouse. “I’ve never had anything look bad.”

According to Johnson, the Smokehouse receives two deliveries of pork per week from the Auburn Meat Lab. Johnson said the Smokehouse uses the Meat Lab not just because it’s cheaper, but because it is better.

“It’s better quality, and you have the reassurance that you know exactly where it comes from,” Johnson said.

“You don’t have to guesstimate.”

Gwen Ward, administrative support for Tiger Dining, said the food travels less than one mile before it is reaches the Quad.

“We know where our meat comes from, and you’re not going to get it any fresher,” Ward said. “Fresh is better, isn’t it?”

Because the meat comes directly from the Auburn Meat Lab, it is always fresh, according to Johnson.

Johnson said if the meat has a “slimy feel to it” or a “white, kind of green residue” to it, then the meat is getting old and should probably not be cooked.

Johnson, who prepares the meat himself, said it usually takes about eight and

a half to nine hours to properly smoke the pork.

He said he “load[s] up the smoker, put[s] wood chips in it and rub[s] down the pork shoulders” to properly prepare the pork for the next day.

Loughridge said Tiger Dining has received “good reactions” to the changes so far.

“It’s been a steady climb as folks find it and try it,” Loughridge said. “We’ve seen sales go up pretty much every week. So from the beginning of the semester to now, sales probably doubled.”

Loughridge said the AU Smokehouse goes through about 350 pounds of pork per week.

“Obviously, for us, it’s this great piece where we’re able to support both the growing of the pigs here on campus [and] the processing,” Loughridge said.

“And then obviously we want students to have the best products available.”

Loughridge said the quality is “not going to be any better than getting it right down the street” from the Auburn Meat Lab. AU Smokehouse is open every weekday from 10 a.m.-3 p.m.

STUDENT LEADER SPOTLIGHT

Eddie Seay Interfraternity Council President Senior in wireless engineering

ellen jackson / PHOTOGRAPHER

AU Smokehouse goes through about 350 pounds of pork per week.

Calendar

Dates to Remember Thursday, Sept. 24 • Public dedication ceremony for marker that will commemorate the University’s1964 desegregation at 10 a.m. on the Mary Martin Hall greenspace • “Playhouse Creatures” opening night at 7:30 p.m. in the Telfair Peet Theatre

Friday, Sept. 25 • All-Star Lecture series featuring Rod Bramblett at 3 p.m. in the Auburn Alumni Association

Tuesday, Sept. 29 • Engineering and Technical Career Expo from 3-7 p.m. in the AU Hotel and Dixon Conference Center • State of the Student Body Address at 7 p.m. in the Student Center Ballroom

Why did you decide to attend Auburn?

Greek life: photo of the week

“The people here were welcoming, and the combination of all the opportunities that Auburn had to offer was impossible to pass up.”

What do you think is the greatest thing you’ve accomplished in your time with IFC? “Improving the open line of communication between the individual chapter presidents. No matter what issues someone may be having at their own house, there is a good chance that out of 28 total active chapters on campus, someone else has dealt with it before.”

If you could bring any restaurant to Auburn’s campus, what would it be?

“If we could somehow set up a deal where we could swipe our TigerCards across the street at Chipotle, I think there’d be more people than just me who would be pretty happy.”

Ellen Jackson / photographer

Alpha Gamma Delta members Hannah Creech, Logan McCabe,Teressa Duong, Sara Beth Nolan and Mallory Marcus raise money for the Alpha Gamma Delta Foundation at “Alpha Gam’s Wing Jam” at Sky Bar Tuesday, Sept. 22.

Opinion

5

Thursday, September 24, 2015

ThePlainsman.com

Opinion

our view SOCIAL MEDIA ON THE PLAINS

Response to “VIDEO: Students Views: What do you think of Donald Trump?”

Rivers Langley “What, were there no women or minorities on campus the day you filmed this?”

Response to “Auburn comes out flat, gets steamrolled

by LSU, 45-21” Alan Lee “Over-the-top preseason hype and under-acheiving players who can’t keep their big mouths shut during the week. We got what we deserved.”

Emily Enfinger / photo editor

Auburn’s marching band watches the game from the stands. Auburn vs LSU at the Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, on Sept. 19.

Overhyping leads to higher expectations Auburn’s football program was supposed to be mind-blowing this year.

Before the season started, we hired a new defensive coordinator, Will Muschamp, and until this past Tuesday, Sept. 23, when it was announced Sean White would be the starting quarterback for this weekend’s game against Mississippi State, our starting quarterback, Jeremy Johnson, was projected to be a star.

However, with three games already behind us, many Auburn football fans seem pretty let down regarding the team’s success.

We won the first two games against Louisville and Jacksonville State, but neither were easy wins, even going in to overtime with Jacksonville State.

Unfortunately, with two more turnovers by Johnson and 45 points given up by our defense, Auburn wasn’t able to pull out another win in last weekend’s game against LSU, and many

believe it will all go down from there.

While we aren’t exactly thrilled about this year’s season so far, we can’t help but to believe people are let down because there was so much hype surrounding our football program before the season ever began.

Multiple sports analysts from ESPN and AL.com talked us up.

In addition, Johnson was showered with praise. He was named to the Davey O’Brien and Maxwell Award preseason watch lists, given to the best quarterback in the nation and the best overall player in the nation, respectively, and even had 12 to 1 odds to win the Heisman Trophy, which was third best in the nation.

This hype was manufactured almost solely by outside sources, and we and the fans bought into it. The term GUSCHAMP 2015 was used, even by The Auburn Plainsman.

Response to “Kenny Chesney to perform at first concert held in Jordan-Hare Stadium”

It led to high, possibly unrealistic, expectations, particularly for the first few games.

There’s definitely room for improvement, but after all, we are still 2-1 and ranked No. 25 in the coaches’ poll.

While there are obviously additional factors to keep in mind, it is important to remember Auburn’s 2013 football season, in which we lost to LSU as well, but still went on to play in the BCS National Championship Game.

Concerning the remainder of the season, we think it’s important to support our team and players, but without overhyping them. Not only can this go to players’ heads, but as we’ve said before, it leads to unrealistic expectations.

With the recent announcement of Sean White starting the game this weekend, we think this is especially important to keep in mind.

Leigh Ann Gailes “And every hotel room is already booked!”

Response to “New sushi restaurant to open in Auburn” Adam Foutz “‘Great parking?’ Not so much.”

Responses to “WHAT DO YOU THINK? Was there too much hype surrounding Auburn’s football team this year? Did this hype lead to unrealistic expectations?”

his view

Growth brings many changes, not all are for Auburn Dakota sumpter senior photographer

In 2011, I moved from Boston to be closer to family who had relocated to Auburn.

I really didn’t know much about the University, except it had a big football program, and I heard it couldn’t make up its mind about a mascot.

When my stepfather took me on a drive around town, I was stunned at the size of the facilities, campus and stadium.

Both him and my stepgrandparents had attended Auburn, so I was given some great perspective as to what the campus previously looked like.

The small size of the town, yet large size of the campus was completely opposite of my previous college experience.

My former institution was roughly 700 students but situated in Kenmore Square,

right near Fenway Park (home to the greatest baseball team).

Over the past four years of living here, this town has changed drastically.

Being here full-time, I’ve been able to see the growth the city makes every semester.

This change is certainly inevitable as the University keeps posting higher enrollment rates than before.

Media outlets from CNNMoney to Forbes, and numerous internet listicles expressing the loveliness of Auburn, attract former students, families and retirees to come and plant roots.

I think some of this rapid change and growth has shocked many people who have lived here for years, and many don’t know how to react.

As with any subject, there are both pros and cons.

It must be understood that Auburn is primarily a college town.

As a city that grew up along with the establishment of the

East Alabama Male College, the city and University have a symbiotic relationship.

As enrollment grows, people from all over the globe come to attend Auburn.

From cities across the United States, to countries in the opposite hemisphere, Auburn is becoming a multicultural and diverse institution.

With a growing population, the city has had to find ways to accommodate, and newer housing complexes are being built.

Some argue that these structures are causing Auburn to lose some of its small-town charm.

I find it hard to believe that any of the current or future apartment complexes will be an eye-sore to the campus.

Many of the places that have been replaced by the new apartments were falling into a sorry state or were very dated.

The rapid expansion and increase in population has forced many roads to be worked on,

often making areas look better.

The Opelika Road corridor has been spruced up, with a more efficient turn signal at the intersection of Ross Street, better sidewalks and safer crosswalks.

Toomer’s Corner and the redevelopment of downtown has been a great addition to the city as well.

With a more pedestrianfriendly walking area, improvements to the alleys and a new brick intersection with an obligatory tiger paw, Auburn feels more lovely than before.

I hope as the city continues to grow, issues are addressed and compromises are made.

It is essential that Auburn continues to make strides to keep the city up to date, but yet retain its charm that attracts many people back.

For those that wish to see the town stay small forever, those days are long gone.

Dakota Sumpter can be reached at photo@ ThePlainsman.com

Jordan Hays Managing Editor Caitlyn Miller Copy Elizabeth Tiller Online

Corey Williams campus Maria McIlwain community Sam Butler Sports

AUOPCD “Thanks for sharing this event. Cool photo!”

Response to “Kris Frost (17) takes down LSU’s Fournette in the first half. Auburn vs LSU at Tiger Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 19, 2015 in Baton Rouge, LA. (Adam Sparks | Senior Photographer) Gallery at ThePlainsman.com #AUvsLSU #tigersvstigers” jenpatr “I want to see the hard physical fighting AU Tigers once again...it has been over a year since it seems Auburn really fights to win!”

Editor-in-Chief - Jim Little

Emily Enfinger Photo Kris Sims multimedia Emily Esleck Intrigue

Submissions

Policy

The Auburn Plainsman welcomes letters from students, as well as faculty, administrators, alumni and those not affiliated with the University.

The opinions of The Auburn Plainsman staff are restricted to these pages.

Letters must include the author’s name, address and phone number for verification, though the name of the author may be withheld upon request. Submission may be edited for grammar and/or length. Please submit no more than 400 words.

Response to “Auburn Public Library to host used book sale on Sept. 19”

255 Heisman Drive, Suite 1111, Au Student Center Auburn, AL 36849 Newsroom - (334) 844-9108 Advertising - (334) 844-4130

Allison Phillips Opinion

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.

Managing Editor - Jordan Hays

NEwSrOOM CAMPuS Editor - Corey williams reporter - Andria Moore writer - Claire Tully writer - Ameera Steward writer - rachel Sprouse writer - Kris Martins

COMMuNITY

Letters must be submitted before 4:30 p.m. on Monday for publication.

“Yes. We always play better when we are the underdogs.”

The Auburn Plainsman

The Editorial Board Jim Little Editor-in-Chief

DrDebDVM

Editor - Maria McIlwain reporter - Anne Dawson writer - Liz Maddux writer - Chip Brownlee writer - Ashlie Pincince writer - Alex wilkerson

SPOrTS Editor - Sam Butler Asst. Editor - Evan McCullers Reporter - Emily Shoffit writer - Meredith Brito writer - Nathan Deal writer - Bailey rogers

ADvErTISING INTrIGuE Editor - Emily Esleck writer - Hannah Fuqua writer - Marissa Luckie writer - Amanda Myles

OPINION

ADvErTISING AND MArKETING ADvISEr Elizabeth Snider (334) 844-4130 admanager@theplainsman.com

Editor - Allison Phillips

COPY DESK

Editor - Caitlyn Miller

ADvErTISING rEPrESENTATIvES

PHOTO AND GrAPHICS

Caitlin Griffith Lacey Gossett

Photo Editor - Emily Enfinger Sr. Photographer - Dakota Sumpter Sr. Photographer - Adam Sparks Photographer - David Topper Photographer - Ellen Jackson Photographer - Christy Stipe Photographer - Megan Endt

MuLTIMEDIA

Editor - Kris Sims

ONLINE

Editor - Elizabeth Tiller

EDITOrIAL ADvISEr Alec Harvey adviser@theplainsman.com

DESIGNErS Grant Peterson Caroline Johnson Montana Cole

DISTrIBuTION Dakota Sumpter Austin James Zack Clark

Community Thursday, September 24, 2015

6 ThePlainsman.com

events

Community courts

Prosecution releases

more Hubbard emails Jim Little

Editor-in-Chief

dakota sumpter / senior photographer

Come home to the corner will be held every Friday night before home football games.

Come home to the home team Anne Dawson

community reporter

The City of Auburn recently implemented the idea of a continuous Come Home to the Corner celebration.

The original event, which took place Aug. 21, was a night honoring the reopening of Toomer’s Corner downtown after months of construction.

The opening was such a hit that the celebration will continue every Friday night before a home football game.

On these nights, the downtown area will become an entertainment district, allowing residents to walk around with alcohol and listen to live music, said the City of Auburn’s public relations intern Haley Haas.

Haas said the original event was held to get more people involved downtown, and because of the success, it was a perfect idea to keep it going.

Aside from the music, stores and restaurants keep their businesses open later, which helps them make up for the business they lost over the summer because of the construction.

Scott Dean, manager of Little Italy Pizzeria, said his restaurant was lucky enough to be right at the edge of the construction.

Because of this, the work downtown did not really affect the restaurant’s business.

Dean said Come Home to the Corner has, however, helped boost his dinner rush.

Renee Hamby, manager of Wrapsody, said Come Home to the Corner has brought in a new variety of customers.

“Business has been great,” Hamby said.

“I do wish that they would close the streets,

Aubie greets people at the original Come Home to the Corner event.

though, so that more families and kids would come, and it would be a little safer.”

Debbie Smith, owner of the Pink Room, said the construction did affect the amount of customers over the summer, but not as much as she had thought.

Smith said the events have helped make up for the slight lack of customers over the summer.

However, she said she was most excited about the new look of Toomer’s Corner bringing people together.

Haas said by having businesses open later on these Friday nights, more people will be walking around downtown.

“We just want to get the Auburn Family out mingling,” Haas said.

Lawyers in the ethics trial of Alabama Speaker Mike Hubbard, R-Auburn, are engaged in a dialogue of pretrial motions.

Hubbard is facing 23 felony counts of violating Alabama’s ethics laws by using his position as Speaker of the Alabama House of Representatives and head of the Alabama Republican Party in 2010 to benefit his private business.

Defense attorneys filed two motions, one claiming the prosecution of Hubbard was selective and vindictive, and another one claiming the ethics law is unconstitutional because it violated the First Amendment, in August.

Prosecutors filed replies to the two motions this week with additional emails seized from Hubbard’s account. The emails included in the filings had email addresses and phone numbers redacted.

The ethics law Hubbard is being charged under was passed when Republicans took control of the state legislature under Hubbard’s leadership.

“Instead of infringing on those [free speech] rights, the laws placed legitimate restrictions on public servants to prevent corruption or its appearance by forbidding legislators from taking money from lobbyists or becoming legislator lobbyists themselves,” said special prosecutor Matt Hart in the filing.

Emails between Hubbard and former Gov. Bob Riley reveal Hubbard threatened he’d have to resign his position as speaker unless he could find more income.

Hubbard asked Riley to have Will Brooke, a Birmingham businessman and former congressional candidate, search

for a position on a corporate board.

“I know that some of my fellow speakers [in other states] serve on corporate boards that pay them,” Hubbard wrote to Riley in a 2012 email. “I know those things are tough to get on, but wonder if that may be a possibility for me. Surely there are some companies that would like to see me be in a position to continue to serve. Maybe Will will have some ideas.”

Defense lawyers issued a statement calling the email release a smear campaign.

“This abuse of the legal process is no surprise, coming from prosecutors whose stated intention is to ruin Mr. Hubbard politically, even if they cannot convict him in a court of law,” said defense attorney Augusta Down in the statement.

Some of the charges against Hubbard, according to prosecutors, relate to Hubbard’s media company’s contract, the Auburn Network, with the IMG network to broadcast Auburn football games on the radio.

The IMG contract expired in 2012 and was not renewed.

In a 2011 email, Riley asked Hubbard if the contract was going to be renewed.

“I sure hope so,” Hubbard wrote in reply to Riley.

“I guess I am going to have to ask [Auburn President Jay] Gogue to press them.

It’s been 5 months of radio silence.”

Other emails involve Hubbard seeking a $150,000 investment in his printing company, Craftmaster, from Auburn Board of Trustees member and president of Great Southern Wood company, Jimmy Rane.

An evidentiary hearing is set for Oct. 19, and his trial is set for March 2016.

Local artist Joseph Young performed at the first Come Home to the Corner event.

business

Local childrens’ art on display at Jan Dempsey Liz Maddux

community writer

The Jan Dempsey Performing Arts Center hosted the annual Adventures in Art event held by the City of Auburn last week.

Adventures in Art is a community-based art education program for fifth grade students at all Auburn City Schools. The event focuses on a different concept each year, this year’s being Alabama craft and industrialization.

The event hosted two guests.

Walter Howell, an award winning blacksmith artist from Henagar, spoke to the students about craft and industrialization in Alabama. Alabama was the only state in the United States that already had everything it needed to produce iron and steel.

The Steel City Jug Slammers from Birmingham was also in attendance. The group taught students about the origins of jug band music and how it came about and influenced other art movements across the nation. The students were allowed to play various instruments provided by the band such as the washtub base, the jugs and the kazoo.

“We were honored that we were chosen to teach over 600 kids about the joy that is jug band music,” said Steel City Jug Slammers member Zac Peoples. “We had a truly amazing time.”

This year, Cari Cleckler, art education specialist, created faux forged leaf hooks. The students made these leaf hooks during the Adventures in Art event.

“We usually do a tailor-made project each year, but this year I really wanted to play off of Walter and his metalwork, so I created a project called Faux Forged Leaf Hooks,” Cleckler said. “Basically we replicated what Walter made with tin foil and cardboard. We hung them all together in the exhibit ...

650 leaves are hanging in there right now.”

The students’ art is on display until Thursday, Sept. 24 at the Jan Dempsey Performing Arts Center in Gallery 2.

“It was really great to watch the kids be really interested in what the blacksmith was doing and then see them make art of their very own,” said Evvie Walker, public relations intern at Jan Dempsey Performing Arts Center. “Just having

david topper / photographer

Hubbard arrives at court with his wife, Susan, on April 15.

emily enfinger / photo editor

Faux Forged Leaf Hooks created by Yarbrough Elementary students are on display at Jan Dempsey Community Arts Center until Sept. 24.

all the kids be really excited and watching them ask a lot of questions really made the event seem special, because they were all so involved and interested.”

Adventures in Art was partially funded by the Alabama State Council on the Arts, and this year marked the 16th annu-

al Adventures in Art event.

“Really, to me the important thing is to have new, innovative things that kids and teachers are excited about,” Cleckler said. “As long as this remains a program where students are excited about some facet of the arts when they leave, then I am so pleased with this program.”

MAKE A DIFFERENCE ABROAD Apply by October 1 for hundreds of Peace Corps Volunteer openings departing by next summer.

Info session: September 25 | 12 to 1 p.m.

Comer Hall 307

peacecorps.gov/openings

Thursday, September 24, 2015

Community 7

The Auburn Plainsman

Proposal reignites minimum wage debate state

Chip Brownlee

community writer

While most legislators were proposing and debating plans to mend Alabama’s budget shortfall, some legislators had other ideas.

During last month’s special legislative session, a bill that would ban local minimum wage hikes was approved by a committee in the Alabama House of Representatives. The bill would ban any locality – city or county – in the state of Alabama from increasing its minimum wage.

Alabama currently has no law on the books to alter the national minimum wage. The City of Auburn currently adheres to the federal minimum wage of $7.25 per hour. Bill Ham Jr., mayor of Auburn, said it is unlikely Auburn will raise its minimum wage in the near future.

“There’s been no discussion by the council to single out the minimum wage and take action like that,” Ham said. “I really don’t see it ever happening [in Auburn], but that would just be another area with the state government telling us what to do.”

The bill was tabled for the next session before a vote was taken so legislators could focus on the budget. Any bill proposed during a special session must relate to the purpose of the session. If the bill doesn’t meet that standard, it requires a two-thirds majority vote to pass.

While the bill was tabled, it is likely the bill will be reintroduced in the next session by its

sponsor, Rep. David Faulkner – a Republican from the Birmingham suburb of Mountain Brook. The bill’s sponsors said dozens of different minimum wages would make business in Alabama difficult.

Faulkner proposed the bill in response to a city of Birmingham ordinance that is set to raise its minimum wage gradually to $10.10 per hour by July 2017. The ordinance was passed by the Birmingham City Council on Aug. 18. The bill proposed in the Alabama House of Representatives would reverse Birmingham’s minimum wage increase.

“There’s no question what needs to be done today,” said Lashunda Robert-Scales, a Birmingham City Councilwoman during the meeting on Aug. 18. “Nobody can live off $15,000 a year. If that’s what the citizens are living off of, we might as well tell all of our citizens to depend on the federal government – and everybody knows what those programs consist of.”

Supporters of a minimum wage increase claim it is impossible to live on the current federal minimum wage without additional support. According to the Pew Research Center, 74 percent of the United States supports raising the minimum wage to $10.10 an hour.

Opponents of an increase in the minimum wage say raising wages could force small businesses to close, lay off employees or reduce employees’ hours. Others say most minimum wage

adam sparks / senior photographer

Some fast food workers make the federal minimum wage of $7.25 per hour.

workers are teenagers and college students working their first job.

With costs rising for college students and their families, a minimum wage increase could be an immense help, according to Gabe Bridges, freshman in marine biology.

“Being a full-time college student, I can’t

work a lot,” Bridges said. “I can work some afternoons, but I still have school work to do. My average pay check is $150. After putting gas in your truck and buying groceries, you’re left with practically nothing. $2 or $3 doesn’t seem like a lot, but when you’re making that every hour, it can make or break you.”

Debate over statewide lottery ensues

business

Chip Brownlee

community writer

file

Taylor Hatchett opened Boozer Farms in 2012 with her father.

Local farm provides produce to community Anne Dawson

community reporter

When Taylor Hatchett was 8 years old, she fell in love with selling produce when she and her dad would load up a truck of peaches.

In 2003, while attending Auburn, Hatchett wanted to find a way to make money during the summer. Realizing there were not any local farmers markets, she looked back on her passion for marketing and had the idea to sell peaches to the community.

Hatchett found a local grower who would allow her to haul peaches to Auburn, and she set up a stand in the now-demolished Heart of Auburn Hotel parking lot.

Hatchett started her own peach orchard in 2005. In the same year, Auburn began sponsoring The Market at Ag Heritage Park, which she participated in.

All of this paved the way for Hatchett and her father, Bobby Boozer, to open Boozer Farms, a full-time farm, in 2012.

To this day, they focus on selling fresh produce to as many people as possible.

Hatchett said the produce, grown either by the farm or

other local growers and sold at farmers markets, promotes healthy eating and gives people access to fresh produce.

“A tomato picked under-ripe in California and shipped to Alabama will never taste as good as a fresh local vine-ripened one,” Hatchett said.

Rebecca Laatsch, volunteer at the farm and the markets, said the produce small farms provide is a gift.

“It tastes better and is often produced in healthier and safer ways,” said Laatsch.

Laatsch said Boozer Farms has recently started bringing produce directly to corporations. Their farm stands allow them to provide produce to professionals who struggle to find time to shop for fresh foods.

Aside from just providing food, Hatchett said she is concerned with informing the public. She educates the community and promotes agriculture to help people understand what goes into their food.

“My dad once told me as a teenager that one of the most important things a person can have is a good name,” Boozer said. “He would be proud of Taylor and her operation, Boozer Farms.”

Alabama’s budget problems are once again triggering heated debate over the possibility of establishing a state-run lottery.

The state of Alabama is one of only six states that has not established a government-operated lottery system. During last month’s budget crisis in Montgomery, several legislators opposed new tax increases without offering long-term plans to fix Alabama’s reccurring budgeting problem – plans that have often included a lottery and casino gambling.

Forty-four states currently manage lottery systems, a form of gambling which provides funding for state services without raising taxes. In 2010, the United States Census Bureau reported that states sold $53 billion in lottery tickets. From the sales, $18 billion was used by states to fund services – typically education.

That same year, Florida appropriated more than $1.2 billion in lottery proceeds, and Georgia appropriated $885 million.

In both of these neighboring states, lottery proceeds are used to fund public education, school construction and higher education. Florida appropriated $219 million to public universities in 2008-09 solely from lottery proceeds.

Tracy Moore, an Auburn freshman from Georgia studying journalism, said she supports the Georgia lottery because it funds the Helping Outstanding Pupils Educationally (HOPE) Scholarship – a statewide scholarship program that provides assistance to students who demonstrate academic success.

The scholarship program often pays for the majority of a student’s tuition at public universities in Georgia, if he or she achieves a 3.0 GPA during high school and meets performance criteria once he or she is in college.

“I think it sends a lot more kids to college than would be able to go to without it,” Moore said.

Moore added that the HOPE Scholarship affected her friend’s college choice.

“I was very fortunate, I got a large scholarship from Auburn,” Moore said.

“However, I have a friend back home who got into an Ivy League school, but decided to go to UGA [because of the HOPE scholarship]. She didn’t think she

emily enfinger / photo editor

Lottery revenue is used to fund education in several states across the South.

had enough money in her college fund to even consider an out-of-state or private school.”

The Georgia Lottery supports over 1.6 million HOPE Scholarship recipients, funds the state’s voluntary Pre-K program and provides grants to train teachers in the use of technology in the class.

“I think the state lottery is a fun and effective way to raise money for scholarships,” said Ellie Klarl, freshman in business administration at Georgia Tech.

Klarl received a full-tuition Zell Miller Scholarship, another scholarship funded by the Georgia Lottery.

“Having the Zell Miller [scholarship] made it possible for me to attend such a prestigious institute. My family is adamant about me not taking out student loans, so the Zell Miller is necessary.

Without the Zell Miller, there would be no way for me to go to Georgia Tech without taking out student loans and risking stu-

Sushi restaurant coming to Auburn Liz Maddux

community writer

Michael Jackson, Van Halen and KISS all have something in common. They are all types of sushi rolls served by Rock ‘N’ Roll Sushi.

Rock ‘N’ Roll Sushi has started building their new location, and the restaurant will be taking over the old location of Stir on Glenn Avenue.

Despite the opening of Rock ‘N’ Roll sushi, people working at other sushi places in Auburn said they feel confident it will not affect their businesses.

“We have been here for eight years and we have never done any advertisement,” sais Richard Du, kitchen manager at Fuji Sushi Bar. “We never mark down our food.

Our food is always fresh. If it is no good, we do not mark it down or do a buy one get one free; we are just here to serve good

fresh food, and our customers know that.”

Mijung Shin, owner of Arigato Sushi Boutique, said he is also not worried about competition coming to town.

“Our concept is very different; we have a lot of variation in our rolls,” Shin said.

“We are not worried about having competition, because we have a great price, great parking and fresh food available to our customers.”

Sushi restaurants in Auburn have been popular with some students.

“I am very excited to see a new sushi place in Auburn,” said Joanna Hudgins, senior in hotel and restaurant management. “I do not think it will really affect the business coming into other sushi places, because I feel like everyone already has their favorite picked out. I look forward to trying Rock ‘N’ Roll Sushi, but I probably won’t change my usual sushi spot.”

dent debt,” Klarl said.

Supporters of an Alabama education lottery estimate that in the first year, the state could collect close to $330 million in proceeds that could be used to support the public school system, community colleges, universities and scholarship programs.

State lottery systems often provide revenue to fund education, according to William Franko, assistant professor of political science. However, Franko said the lottery isn’t the sole remedy for a broken education system.

“The basic conclusion is that while state lotteries do provide additional government revenue, overall levels of education funding do not really improve,” Franko said. “Instead, states with lotteries simply replace existing funding with the revenue from lotteries, and shift the additional funding elsewhere. In my view, the larger problem in Alabama is that existing levels of education spending are too low.”

FAB FINDS at

ANGEL’S

Coca-Cola Memorabilia

We Don’t Do Just Antiques

Open Everyday 10-7 • Sundays 1-5 www.angelsantiqueandfleamall.com 900 COLUMBUS PKWY. • OPELIKA, AL 36801 adam sparks / senior photographer

Rock ‘N’ Roll Sushi will be on Glenn Avenue.

334-745-3221

Sports

8

Thursday, September 24, 2015

SCOREBOARD Soccer (8-1, 1-1)

ThePlainsman.com

Sports

Adding on to the foundation

ATHLETICS

File Photo

Last Week at Tennessee (W, 3-1) THIS WEEK Sept. 25 vs. LSU (7 p.m.)

Sept. 27 vs. Florida (1 p.m.)

UPCOMING Oct. 1 at Alabama (6 p.m.)

Volleyball (8-4)

Ellen JAckson / photographer File Photo

LAST WEEK vs. Penn State (L, 3-0) vs. USF (W, 3-0) vs. St. John’s (L, 3-2) Tournament in Tampa, Florida THIS WEEK Sept. 25 vs. Tennessee (7 p.m.)

UPCOMING Sept. 30 vs. Texas A&M (8 p.m.)

Men’s Tennis

auburn athletics

LAST WEEK Duke Bonk Invitational All Day event Meet in Cary, North Carolina

Women’s golf

The first of a 3-part series where Auburn Athletic Director Jay Jacobs sat down with The Plainsman Sports Editor Sam Butler to discuss a range of topics in Auburn Athletics The sun is shining, the band is playing, and the buzz in Jordan-Hare Stadium is palpable. On Sept.

12, the Auburn faithful packed the stadium to the brim, not only to see their Tigers play Jacksonville State, but to witness the grand unveiling of the largest scoreboard in college football.

As the first image of Auburn’s campus at sunset shot across the 190-foot-by-87-foot screen, a crystal-clear sound system boomed throughout the stadium and across the Plains, racing to the ears of people miles away.

One of the biggest pieces of technology in the world was officially operational — in a small town in east Alabama.

And none of it would be possible without Jay Jacobs.

“It couldn’t have gone better,” Jacobs said. “I have five goals here at the department, and one of those five is the best game day experience in the nation. … It was really cool. I just appreciate so much from the team, the way they worked so hard up to and during (the unveiling). I think it made a lot of Auburn people — the Auburn Family — proud.”

Jacobs made the call in the spring of this year, and over the course of a few months, it was in place and ready to go.

Game day in Baton Rouge is worth the trip sports reporter

LAST WEEK Mason Rudolph Invitational 8th overall Tournament at The Vanderbilt Legends Club in Franklin, Tennessee

Jacobs is shooting for.

“What we’re going to do is make it where students want to continue to come to games,” Jacobs said. “We have to make it to where when you graduate from here, you want to come back and hang out and be social. We want to start creating those new traditions for our early graduates.”

The colossal video board is just one of the many ways Jacobs plans to construct an atmosphere at Auburn that prides itself on being the best.

Time and time again, Jacobs reiterated that he’s not looking for easy ways to increase numbers; he’s aiming to set the standard for what it means to have a game day experience.

“We’re not looking to add a lot of seats to the north end zone, if any,” Jacobs said. “We just want it to be the best it can possibly be.”

Back in February, when Jacobs gave the green light on proposing the video board project, he knew it would be an enormous undertaking, but he prides himself on being one thing, something his grand vision for Auburn’s upgrades reinforces: the best.

“It’s what makes Auburn, Auburn,” Jacobs said.

“It’s just Auburn being Auburn, and nobody’s more Auburn than me, and that’s why we’ll be the best.”

OPINION

Emily Shoffit

Auburn athletics

With such a massive accomplishment— no pun intended— under his belt, Jacobs could’ve been content to sit back in his office, kick his feet up and call it a day. But that’s not how he operates.

Jacobs already has his sights set on the next phase of upgrades for Jordan-Hare Stadium.

The norm these days seems to be a by-the-numbers seat expansion for football stadiums.

Universities like to have more people in seats, because more people in seats equals more people buying tickets.

Jacobs, though, prefers to think outside the box.

“The north end zone is the next thing I have my eyes on, and that is because we need to continue to find ways to increase that game day experience and to keep achieving that goal and exceeding that goal of being the best in the nation for a game day experience,” Jacobs said. “One thing that could happen is after the 2016 season, is that we tear down the north end zone and rebuild it, so that we have some different seating options there for people.”

Premium seating options — such as a field-level lounge where people could watch the game from the end zone while enjoying concessions, or a clublevel seat where specialized areas for Auburn fans to mingle and socialize — are the type of upgrades

Three days, 14 hours of travel and four hours of game time.

A win would have been nice. Actually, seeing the better team not play as poorly as they did would have been nice.

Considering every trip has its ups and downs, here is why you should go to Baton Rouge at least once.

Being the owner of an incredibly weak tongue, I'm not a fan of anything remotely spicy. However, I’m willing to try anything at least once, and when in Louisiana, you should be, too.

Hog head cheese, voodoo shrimp, gumbo, andouille sausage, cajun boiled peanuts, boudin … I could keep going but I’m not trying to make your mouth water all over this page.

A variety of delicious foods were offered to us at several different tailgates because of the friendliness we experienced from the SEC’s other Tiger fans.

Not a minute after arriving at the Parade Grounds on campus, friends and I were welcomed and wished a good day by multiple fans and tailgates.

Some wished us luck; some invited us to mingle before, during and after the game.

We stopped on a corner to decide on a game plan when one fan who went by BB stopped to ask if anyone had spoken to us yet. He invited us to follow him to his tailgate, where we met a group of fans welcoming us to food, beverage and shade.

We spent the rest of the day with BB and family members, tailgating and having a great time before entering the stadium. We browsed around campus and were welcomed to other tailgates and varieties of friends and food.

BB mentioned to me that even though were in the SEC, and it’s a rivalry, “it’s more than just a football game. Friends and family are what it’s all about.”

I haven’t heard truer words spoken in my SEC

travels.

LSU’s campus was hot, humid and incredibly beautiful.

The Parade Grounds are the perfect place to tailgate. LSU has roughly 5,000 more students and 300 more acres of campus than Auburn.

The familiar scene of tents right next to each other and people cramming on to campus is slightly different at LSU. The memorial clock tower and Mike the Tiger are definitely must-sees when on campus, along with Tiger Stadium.

Auburn fans travel well. I’ve seen the thousands in Tampa for New Year’s, the thousands in California, Arizona and so on.

The six-hour trip to Baton Rouge is worth taking at least once.

A special thank you to BB, Cuckoo, Lippy, Stacy, Gary, Zane and the rest of the Krew of Kouyans who welcomed us behind enemy lines.

We can’t wait to show y’all the hospitality of Auburn next year.

Emily can be reached at sports@theplainsman.com.

* Auburns Best Kept Secret * 334-821-5367

M-F 10-7 , Saturday 9-6, Sunday 1-5

Thursday, September 24, 2015

Sports 9

The Auburn Plainsman

Men’s Tennis

Senior duo looks to end on the right foot Emily Shoffit Sports Reporter

The Auburn men's tennis team is looking to make a drive to the Sweet 16 this season, led by seniors Marko Krickovic and Joseph Van Dooren.

The two are excited to complete their final season and put the team back on its feet following a disappointing 2014.

"The last season is always an exciting one, but I think we're going to realize halfway through that it's almost over," Krickovic said.

"Right now we're more excited than sad."

Van Dooren and Krickovic have accepted the leadership position for this season, drawing their focus away from personal goals and working on improving the team overall.

Personal success didn't prove anything last season according to Krickovic, and getting as many teammates as possible into the NCAA Tournament should be what the team strives for.

"A personal win is good, but it's not enough," Van Dooren said.

Krickovic, originally from Germany, transferred to Auburn from Baylor in August of last year for the 2014 season, finishing 13-6 in dual match play at No. 2 and No. 3 and qualifying for the NCAA Championships in doubles with former partner Lukas Ollert.

With Ollert, Krickovic was 5-1 in SEC play in doubles, and the two were runners-up in the fall Intercollegiate Tennis Association Southern Regional Championship.

"Marko is our senior captain this year and has a lot of experience, and we're looking for some good things from him,” said coach Eric Shore. “He leads by example. He's a very positive guy for the most part, and we're trying to get him to bring these other guys along with that."

Van Dooren came to Auburn from Hamme, Belgium, in 2012. Last season he had a dual

match record of 7-12 playing at No. 4 or No. 5.

He went 6-4 in doubles when paired with Ollert and 7-5 when paired with Maxime Hinnisdaels.

"Joe has been a big part of the time for three years, and this is his last season," Shore said. "I know he's looking forward to a good season, and we're looking for good things from him also."

The two are undecided about pursuing a tennis career following the close of the season, but will most likely stay in Auburn to pursue master’s degrees.

"We'll see how the year goes and then decide after that," Krickovic said.

As the season begins, Krickovic especially has something to look forward to.

He entered the season as the No. 76-ranked men’s singles player in the nation and is at the forefront of an Auburn tennis team that

recently competed in the Duke Bonk Invitational on Sept. 18-20.

He also was ranked in the preseason as one half of the No. 35-ranked doubles pair in the nation, along with junior Conner Huertas Del Pino.

He and Del Pino brought that ranking into the Duke Bonk Invitational, where the pair claimed a win in the consolation tournament final over Old Dominion.

Krikovic was slated to compete in the singles’ third-place match, but was forced to withdraw because of cramps.

Van Dooren did not compete in the Duke Bonk Invitational, however.

Krickovic and Van Dooren hold the distinction of being in the college ranks for the longest times on the team, and they’ll need that experience to translate to more success on the court if they want to improve upon the 2014 season.

Left: File Photo / Right: Contributed by Auburn Athletics

LEFT: Marko Krickovic prepares to return a serve during the Duke Bonk Invitational. Krikovic was held out of the third-place match because of cramps. Right: Joseph Van Dooren plays a ball during a match in March.

Sports 10

The Auburn Pl Plainsman

Contributed by Auburn Athletics

Marko Krickovic turned in a solid showing at the Duke Bonk Invitational.

Thursday, September 24, 2015

Contributed by Tennessee AthLetics

Casie Ramsier (24) and Ellie Leek (13) play a header during Auburn’s win against Tennessee.

This Week in Auburn Sports Soccer Sept. 20

The 14th-ranked Auburn women's soccer team returned to SEC play Sunday in Knoxville, Tennessee, where it defeated the Vols 3-1.

The win pulls the Tigers' conference record even at 1-1 and adds to the win column overall to put Auburn at 8-1-0.

The win was Auburn's first over Tennessee since 2011 and marked the 100th SEC victory in program history.

A strong midfield was the key to the Tigers’ triumphant win, with Brooke and Casie Ramsier and Courtney Schell playing a full 90 minutes for the second time this season.

The three kept Auburn on the offensive, with Brooke totaling her career-high in assists in a game with three.

"Credit to our midfield, our possession was great," said coach Karen Hoppa. "Our entire midfield was the MVP of this game."

Senior Sophie Simantel was able to score

her first goal of the season in the 21st minute before Tennessee responded in the 32nd minute, tying the match.

Auburn retook the lead in the 36th minute when freshman Charlotte Van Ishoven scored her second goal of the year.

Kristen Dodson extended the Auburn lead with another goal in the 62nd minute.

"We knew we had to rebound from Missouri today. We knew we had to be conservative in the back and keep the ball as well as we could," Simantel said. "This was a good win for us and we just want to keep going."

The Tigers scored three times on a team that had only given up one goal this season entering Sunday's match.

Auburn controlled the shot opportunities 1513, with redshirt freshman Sarah Le Beau recording four saves.

"It was a great total team effort today," Hoppa said. "They had a great mentality because we know every single one of these SEC games are going to be tough."

Auburn will return home this weekend to

face LSU on Friday, Sept. 25 and Florida on Sunday, Sept. 27 at the Auburn Soccer Complex.

Men’s Tennis Sept. 18-20

The Auburn men’s tennis team went to Cary, North Carolina, this weekend to kick off its fall season at the Duke Bonk Invitational.

The Tigers competed against 12 teams in the tournament and captured two titles.

Auburn’s doubles team of Max Hinnisdaels and Dante Saleh took the Blue bracket doubles championship Saturday.

The two defeated North Carolina’s Blaine Boyden and Anudeep Kodali, 8-6.

“I’m pleased with how our guys played and competed,” said assistant coach Martin Stiegwardt. “It’s our first tournament of the fall, and we’re not sharp yet, but it was good to see them raise their levels in competition.”

Senior Marko Krickovic and junior Conner Huertas del Pino took the consolation final Sat-

urday over Old Dominion’s Adam Moundir and Michael Weindl with an 8-4 victory.

On Sunday, Hinnisdaels took the singles title in the finals of the Black bracket, claiming the title with four straight singles wins during the invitational. The junior had a 6-4, 6-1 win over North Carolina’s Kodali in the finals.

Saleh took fifth place in the White bracket, winning 6-3, 6-4 over Duke’s Adrian Chamdani.

Huertas del Pino finished fifth in the Blue bracket in a three-set match of Philip Mobius of VCU. Krickovic was treated for cramps after Saturday’s play and did not compete in his thirdplace match.

“Our guys all improved and showed that they’re getting closer to the competition level that we expect at Auburn,” Stiegwardt said. “We played 21 matches and won 17, so it was a successful weekend.”

Auburn continues fall play in Atlanta Friday, Sept. 25 in the Georgia Tech Tournament.

Compiled by Emily Shoffit

Intrigue Thursday, September 24, 2015

outreach

11 ThePlainsman.com

Intrigue

Shopping on wheels

contributed by blake melnick

Top left: BigHouse Foundation will transform a school bus into a mobile closet.

Top right: A rendering of the finished bus can be seen.

Emily enfinger / photo editor

Bottom left: Lauren Still, senior in human development and family studies, tags clothes at the BigHouse Foundation Bottom right: Allison Bendall, intern at BigHouse Foundation, sorts jeans in the Clothes Closet.

Local ministry plans to transform bus into closet for foster families Hannah Fuqua intrigue writer

More than 6,000 children are currently in foster care in Alabama.

Foster families receive a stipend equal to less than $14 per day per child.

Micah Melnick and her husband, Blake Melnick, who received his Ph.D. in aerospace engineering from Auburn, are working to help these families through their organization, BigHouse Foundation.

Micah and Blake work with a small crew, including Susannah Steele who has worked with the organization for five years.

Susannah and her husband Ben Steele foster two boys.

Allison Bendall, senior in human development and family studies, interns at BigHouse Foundation.

Bendall said she receives 12 credit hours for interning, which all seniors in her major must do.

“My favorite part is picking out clothes for referrals,” Bendall said. “They will give you a

name and size, and I get to choose their clothes.”

BigHouse Foundation is a privately funded organization, with about 75 percent of their support coming from individuals in the community.

The organization started in 2009 when Micah said her parents began fostering children, which was Micah’s first encounter with children in foster care.

Micah’s parents started with a group of five siblings, since Micah said there is a large need for taking siblings into foster homes together.

BigHouse Foundation works with 40-45 local families to provide clothing for children in foster care in the community. The organization’s Clothes Closet is its longest-running program and is located at the headquarters in Opelika.

The closet is free for any foster families in need and relies on donations from the community.

However, BigHouse Foundation recently started a new campaign which will be an extension of the Clothes Closet.

An old school bus donated from another local

“

That’s the goal, with having it gutted out, redesigned and painted with graphics on the side, so that when it pulls in it’s not like going on a school bus. ” -Micah Melnick

BigHouse foundation

mission is being transformed into a Clothes Closet on wheels.

The program’s goal is to travel to communities that have no other resources and provide attire to foster families.

“We’re able to pull into town, [the clothes closet] is already set up, the family can shop and we can pull out,” Micah said. “It really streamlines our process.”

Before the mobile program, planning a week-

end and recruiting enough volunteers was a big undertaking for the BigHouse staff.

“It enables us to have only two staff go, instead of 10 or 15 volunteers,” Micah said.

Micah said she envisioned the bus to not only provide an important service, but also be a cool, relaxed place for visitors.

“That’s the goal, with having it gutted out, redesigned and painted with graphics on the side, so that when it pulls in it’s not like going on a school bus,” Micah said. “It’s like, ‘What is this cool mobile store?’”

BigHouse Foundation launched a Kickstarter which raised more than $22,000 for its bus campaign. The organization staff hopes to have the project completed and ready to ride by February 2016.

BigHouse also has other events throughout the year.

In December a Santa’s workshop will be held for children in foster care to pick out and wrap gifts for their families.

To find out more visit OurBigHouse.com.

Entertainment

“

Nashville singer-songwriter moves to the Plains and performs at local events Amanda Myles Intrigue Writer

Mark True, singer-songwriter from Nashville, Tennessee, recently moved to Auburn and has enjoyed performing at local events.

True said he has always been passionate about music.

“I started singing at an early age,” True said. “I started writing songs in the seventh grade.”

True said he did not grow up in a musical family, however, he said his family has great rhetoric.

“My dad is sort of a writer and a speaker and good with words,” True said. “So, writing … or wordsmithing … was kind of natural in my family.”

True was in numerous bands throughout his childhood and later years.

“Throughout high school I played in a little trio, and we were just booked all the time,” True said. “I found out early it was a great way to make a good amount of money without having to bag groceries or flip burgers or do all the things that all of my other friends were doing.”

While attending the University of Tennessee on a music scholarship, he played in the Pride of the Southland Band. He also was cast in Opryland, which is what took him to Nashville and led to his transfer to Belmont University to major in music business.

When he was 18 years old, he signed to ABC/Dot Records as a staff

I had a really good nine-to10-year run in Nashville where I was walking Music Row as one of the top writers, and it was a great time to be in Nashville.”

-Mark True

Singer-songwriter

writer.

“I spent a couple years there just sort of meeting people, learning my craft,” True said. “I got to meet Jimmy Buffett. We were signed on the same day, actually. That was pretty cool. I met a lot of musicians, other writers, and I learned the business.”

Later, he was signed as staff writer at a publishing company called Picka-Lick.

“It became the hottest publishing company in town,” True said.

The company had 11 No. 1 hits in two years, and True had his first No. 1 with Crystal Gayle, titled “Why Have You Left the One You Left Me For.” It was No. 1 in country and adult contemporary and No. 14 in pop.

“That’s been my biggest song to date,” True said.

Gayle recorded another one of True’s songs, “Too Many Lovers,” which had worldwide chart success.

megan endt / photographer

Mark True performs for Crepe Myrtle Cafe at Blooming Colors.

“Then I had a song recorded by Don Williams, which is really my favorite recording to date, which is ‘Don’t Stop Loving Me Now,’” True said. “I had a really good nine-to-10-year run in Nashville where I was walking Music Row as one of the top writers, and it was a great time to be in Nashville.”

True also works for Auburn Audio Visual, where he does system design and sales. As for the future, True said he has no intentions of stopping his music pursuits.

“I’m still pitching songs and still getting heard by artists, and every now and then, I’m getting some songs recorded,” True said.

True has performed at Blooming Colors events to prepare for the Frank Brown International Songwriters Festival, where he will be performing along the coast from Fairhope to Pensacola, Florida, starting Thursday, Nov. 5.

“It’s a really big thing and only big writers get to go down there,” True said. “I haven’t played in a while, so I was just trying to find a place to slip in under the radar and start playing a little bit and get used to it before I had to go play that larger, important show.”

He also said he wants to continue performing at smaller events in the future.

“I really enjoy Blooming Colors,” True said. “It’s a great little venue, and it reminds me sort of like a French cafe, outdoors sort of thing, where people just come and go.”

Kay McCartney, Blooming Colors customer, said True drew her to attend the Sundown at Blooming Colors event.

“We decided we could come over and hear the music and have dinner while we were here,” McCartney said.

True said his singer-songwriter style varies in music genres, and said he likes his lyrics to be easily understood.

“Something about me is you don’t have to try to figure out what I’m writing about,” True said. “My songs are meant for singers that have melodies and that have beginnings, middles and ends.”

He also said he is a strong believer in the power of music and its effect on people.

“I’ve always said everybody should play something, and if you write something, whether you keep a journal, write poetry or just little stories, it kind of keeps you out of therapy,” True said.

Penny McCoy, who has known True for about 29 years, said she is a huge supporter of his music.

“He’s so talented,” McCoy said. “I feel sure that he’s going to be a No. 1 hit again.”

True will be playing at Blooming Colors Friday, Sept. 25, from 6-9 p.m.

Intrigue 12

Thursday, September 24, 2015

The Auburn Plainsman

Featured app

Improve safety by walking safely with Companion Marissa Luckie Intrigue Writer

Despite warnings from concerned mothers and public safety officials against walking alone, sometimes students will find themselves with somewhere to go but nobody to go with.

In these cases the new app, Companion, could be useful.

Companion is a free app created by five University of Michigan students, which allows users to plug in a destination and invite friends, or companions, to virtually accompany them.

The companion doesn’t have to download the app to participate.

As the user walks toward their destination, the app will track them and use the phone’s built-in motion sensors to detect different signs indicating the user might be in danger, such as if the user’s headphones are ripped out, if they start to run, if they stray off their path or if they fall.

If any of these things happen, a button pops up asking the user if they are OK. The user has 15 seconds to confirm they are OK before the app alerts their companion, starts emitting a siren-like sound and displays a button to call the police.

The companion watches the user via virtual map and is alerted if the user pushes the “I Feel Nervous” button, which is readily available on

the home screen of the app in case the user feels unsafe.

In the event of an emergency, the companion even has the option to call the police for the user.

However, if nothing goes wrong while the user is en route to their destination, the companion will simply receive an alert letting them know the user made it to the desired location safely.

Police Lt. Keith Walton, member of Auburn University’s department of public safety and instructor of the campus’ Rape Aggression Defense program, said the app could be a useful tool.

“I think it could work … it could us help us out at public safety,” Walton said. “It could help students feel a little safer.”

Companion partnered with the University of Michigan bringing it data gathered anonymously.

This data informs the University of Michigan of places where students press the “I Feel Nervous” button and shows them the routes students take.

Companion is currently in the process of creating partnerships with other universities as well.

Susan McCallister, associate director of information and education in Auburn University’s department of public safety, said a partnership with the app might be something Auburn University would consider.

“I think we are definitely looking for more

marissa luckie / intrigue writer

Companion tracks the user’s progress on a virtual map and offers help at the touch of a button.

feedback from students and would be willing to consider looking at this,” McCallister said.

However, Melvin Owens, executive director of security and public safety in Auburn University’s department of public safety, warns against relying on the app to get users home safely.

“What we’ve said is that we don’t want you to

walk alone, first of all,” Owens said. “Secondly, we provide on-campus transportation from one location to another, and we’ve asked students to use the transportation provided rather than being out walking alone. We don’t suggest walking alone whether you have the Companion app or any other app.”

Lifestyle

Professor emeritus writes first fiction novel, ‘The Black Angels’ Emily Esleck Intrigue Editor

On a dark, rainy night, psychiatric ward nurses dressed in black raincoats and boots arrive at a murder scene where the daughter of a judge is suspected for her father’s murder.

This scene sets the tone for Cal Clark, professor emeritus in political science and former master’s of public administration director, who recently authored his first fiction novel, “The Black Angels.”

“You know, Carol, maybe the storm is appropriate,” Cal said while reading an excerpt from his book. “It turned us into black angels. We’re giving someone help, or at least a chance not to ride ole sparky [the electric chair], but un-

like real angels, we’re certainly not taking her to a good place.”

“The Black Angels,” a murder mystery set in the Midwest in a psychiatric hospital during the 1950s, was published by All Things That Matter Press, a small publisher in Maine, according to Cal. Although this is Cal’s first fiction novel, he said he has edited and written 25 academic works. In fall 2012, Cal decided to write “The Black Angels” because he thought writing fiction would be more fun.

Evelyn Clark, Cal’s daughter who is a professor of sociology at the State University of New York at Oswego, said her father has always been a writer.

To Place an Ad, Call 334-844-4130 or E-mail admanager@theplainsman.com

billysharp2@gmail.com

payment is $400 weekly.

4 pm - Close $2.50 / Glass $8 Bottles

“The good old days were not so good,” Cal said.

He said most of the nurses are giving good treatments, however, the nurses are treated badly by the doctors.

“Here on the one hand, you have people who are really doing skilled, professional jobs that takes a lot of commitment and care, and on the other hand, they’re being treated like dirt,” Cal said.

Evelyn said she feels her father’s writing is accessible.

“Academically, he dealt with different cultures and very complicated economic and political processes, and I have always felt that his nonfiction read very well,” Evelyn said. “It felt like you could understand it. So I

Tigermarket

A Nanny/ House Keeper is needed to take care of a 70 year old grandma.

Main duties are assisting in few household chores. Forward all applications to

Wine Night Wednesday

“It’s been intimidating my whole life how prolific he’s been his whole life,” Evelyn said.

She also said she enjoyed “The Black Angels.”

In his fiction novel, Cal said the movers and the shakers of the community decide the daughter should be committed to a psychiatric ward rather than imprisoned, and while in the hospital, the nursing director suspects the daughter may be innocent, so she investigates the case.

Throughout the mystery, Cal said he describes the environment of wards in the ‘50s and psychiatric treatments such as shock therapy, straitjackets, continuous tubs and packing patients with cold, wet sheets.

ALMOST ANYTHING BUY . SELL . TRADE -Retro Video Games -Vinyl Records -Comics, Collectibles - Magic Cards -Posters &Art -Phones, IPads & Laptops (we buy broken phones/laptops)

334 - 741 - 0808 221 S. 9TH ST. OPELIKA, AL 36801 NEXT TO LEE COUNT Y COURTHOUSE

guess the jump to fiction wasn’t all that surprising to me, but it was very fun.”

Evelyn said Cal has been writing academic works in Taiwan for most of his career and her work took her to Chile. Together, Cal and Evelyn, wrote the academic book, “Challenging Neoliberalism: Globalization and the Economic Miracles in Chile and Taiwan,” which will be published in February 2016.

Cal said he is in the process of writing a sequel to “The Black Angels,” entitled “A Strait Jacket for Sarah,” which he said he hopes will be published by next summer.

“The Black Angels” can be purchased on Amazon for $16.46 and on Kindle for $5.99.

Print Deadline Noon three business days prior to publication