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A SPIRIT THAT IS NOT AFRAID • NEWS SINCE 1893
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Women battle sexism in STEM
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By SAMANTHA STRUNK Campus Writer campus@theplainsman.com
The pioneering faces of computer science are men. Steve Jobs, Bill Gates, Mark Zuckerberg and other male figures are often looked to as the creative minds behind the screens. Raylyn Paschen, sophomore in software engineering, said many people see this and form a certain preconception: “Oh, coding is a guy thing.” The lack of women in computer science has prompted discussions across the nation. Seventy-nine percent of degrees awarded in computer science in 2016 were earned by men, according to Data USA, a platform for public U.S. government data. Using data gathered from the Auburn University Office of Institutional Research, women earned only about 15 percent of degrees in computer science, software engineering and wireless software engineering during the 2017–2018 academic year. Last March, Reshma Saujani, founder of the nonprofit organization Girls Who Code, spoke at Auburn on International Women’s Day about the gender gap in coding. During her presentation, Saujani presented the idea that girls often are afraid to code because they are afraid to fail. She argued that young women are taught perfection rather than bravery as opposed to young men, who are taught that it is acceptable to be a risk-taker.
JOSHUA FISHER / PHOTOGRAPHER
Auburn coach Gus Malzahn walks during Auburn Football vs. Ole Miss on Saturday, Oct. 20, 2018, in Oxford, Miss.
‘It gave us goosebumps’ By NATHAN KING Sports Editor
OXFORD, Miss. — The Auburn fans clustered near the south end zone inside Vaught-Hemingway Stadium cheered as Gus Malzahn and Auburn players happily strolled toward their locker room — a 31-16 bounce-back win over conference foe Ole Miss added to their back pockets just minutes prior. The volume of those cheers rose particularly high when Malzahn raised a hand toward the fans, cracking a smile as he did so. Malzahn was just as happy to see those fans as they were to see their recently embattled coach snag a victory. “I’d like to start out by just thanking the Auburn fans that traveled here,” Malzahn told reporters minutes later. “They were a big factor today — really
» See STEM, 2
CAMPUS
An Auburn Family calls for help By JACK WEST Lifestyle Writer lifestyle@theplainsman.com
When Sloan Kiechel, a computer science major, was 3 years old, her mom, Susan Kiechel, was diagnosed with Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy. This is a genetic, autoimmune disease similar to MS, which can be debilitating but is only life-threatening in 5 to 10 percent of patients. Susan Kiechel is in that 5 to 10 percent. Her disease is life threatening. Susan is also an Auburn graduate who, in 1993, fought and forced the school to adequately fund women’s sports on campus. Now she is fighting to stay alive, and her family needs help. Before she turned 17, Susan Kiechel had already lost two friends to suicide. Her response was to develop and run a program in high school that focused on teaching kids about suicide prevention.
» See KIECHEL, 4
What Auburn fans who traveled to Oxford, Mississippi, Saturday probably didn’t realize was that they had witnessed something somewhat notable on Jerry Hollingsworth Field: Malzahn more fired up than any other moment his players could remember.
appreciate them being here.” Those clad in orange and blue in Oxford — the farthest destination the Tigers will travel this season for a road game — knew the importance of Auburn’s (5-3, 2-3 SEC) second conference win. They knew the 269 rushing yards — a season-high for Auburn against an FBS team — were a crucial building block going forward for a struggling offense. What they probably didn’t realize was that they had witnessed something notable on Jerry Hollingsworth Field that day: Malzahn more fired up than any other moment his players could remember. “That was the first time I’ve ever seen Coach Malzahn just get that upset in a
game for us,” said Auburn defensive end Marlon Davidson. “I mean, it was incredible. That gave us drive. When you see your coach fighting for you, you want to fight for your coach.” A holding penalty in the fourth quarter tipped the sixth-year coach off the deep end. On a big run from tailback Malik Miller, reserve guard Austin Troxell was flagged, negating a gain of 20-plus yards. Malzahn was red-faced and livid, yelling at the referee across the field. Strength and conditioning coach Ryan Russell attempted to hold Malzahn back by his belt. The head coach didn’t quit and was eventually flagged himself for a 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty.
» See MALZAHN, 2
CAMPUS
More than a pageant: Miss Auburn University Lauren Bradford wants to make sure everyone knows that Miss AU is a team, not just her. By MIKAYLA BURNS Lifestyle Editor lifestyle@theplainsman.com
Lauren Bradford stood in a line of Auburn women on stage, excited to be there and taking the day as practice for future pageants, but when her name was called, she could not hide her surprise. Shocked, humbled and excited
were just a few emotions that Lauren Bradford said she felt when she heard her name called as Miss Auburn University 2019 on Oct. 7, 2018. From Gulf Shores, Alabama, Lauren Bradford, freshman in finance, has experience in pageants, coming off her run as Miss Outstanding Teen Alabama 2018. Many look up to Miss AU, and
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Lauren Bradford said she plans to make it her mission to connect with people. Her platform relates to the overuse of technology. She has found a passion in encouraging people of all ages to put down their phones and computers and make connections. Though technology in education is inevitable and needed in some ways, Lauren Bradford encourages teachers to limit their use of technology. “Technology is so much in education, but a lot of times, teachers don’t realize how much time
they are letting their kids use their [computers] and wasting time,” Lauren Bradford said. “A lot that I focused on was personal overuse of technology, though.” Lauren Bradford advocates for face-to-face communication and teaching, rather than using screens to connect with others. Only a freshman, Lauren Bradford never thought that she would be the next Miss AU. She went into the pageant relaxed, thinking
» See MISS AU, 2
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STEM » From 1
“We [women] are taught to smile pretty, play it safe,” Saujani said in March. “Get all A’s. Don’t get your dress too dirty. And our boys are taught to crawl to the top of the monkey bars and jump off.” Annette Kluck, assistant provost for women’s initiatives, said the pressure of needing to be perfect can lend itself to creating a difficult environment in an area that primarily works through trial and error. “In that field [computer science], it becomes part of how to be successful,” Kluck said. “It’s being able to try something, fail and tweak it until it succeeds.” Jacqueline Hundley, senior lecturer in computer science and software engineering, said many female students are harder on themselves than their male peers. “Girls tend to drop earlier than boys because they start doubting themselves earlier,” Hundley said. “They don’t always get that you can still graduate and be successful without a 4.0.” Hundley, an Auburn alumna, had only one woman professor in her six years of Auburn math and engineering classes. Hundley is a member of 100 Women Strong, a group organized through the College of Engineering and comprised of 167 female Auburn engineering graduates. The group’s members focus on retaining, rewarding and mentoring current Auburn female engineering students. “We’ve all been there as the only girl in the class,” Hundley said. Hundley said being one of few is always intimidating, but the young woman’s ability to handle it is what determines her success. In her experience, being the only girl in a class challenged her to work even harder. “That’s just the way it was,” Hundley said. “It was, ‘I’m going to do this.’”
MALZAHN » From 1
“Well, I’m going to fight for our players,” Malzahn said of the flag. “That’s what happened.” Auburn players and fans ate it up. The Auburn sideline laughed and smiled at Malzahn, while the players
100 Women Strong and other on-campus organizations and initiatives are in place to make it easier to do that. In research she conducted roughly a decade ago, Hundley found that female students generally prefer solving problems with solutions that are more helpful and beneficial to society. “Girls are usually interested in doing things that make a difference in society,” Hundley said. “Whether you’re writing code or building something, we tend to think about what our contribution is going to be.” According to a study conducted by Microsoft, 72 percent of women surveyed in grades five through 12, and 66 percent of women surveyed between the ages of 18 and 30 would describe themselves with the statement, “Having a job that helps the world is important to me.” Kluck said when girls are raised with messages that they are expected to help other people and these values are internalized, it is important to consider how careers enable them to achieve high-reaching goals. “We have to talk about the work in a way that helps girls realize they’re making people’s lives better,” Kluck said. “If we have biases about what women do, we’ll rule out careers that we don’t think are for women.” Kluck also thinks it’s important to consider what children see from young ages and how it translates into what they view as possible or appropriate. She cited “Big Bang Theory” as an example. “It’s a funny show,” Kluck said. “It does have some women scientists in it, but the ones who are in physics are all men.” Saujani spoke to this, too, in her presentation. “We have a Barbie doll who says, ‘I hate math, let’s go shopping instead,’” Saujani said. “I can walk into a Forever 21 and buy a T-shirt that says I’m allergic to algebra. All of you have watched Mean Girls, which I’ve watched on repeat, and you know the scene where she gets an A on a math test, and she crosses it out to a D,
NEWS
just to get the affection of a boy.” Alexicia Richardson, a graduate assistant in computer science and software engineering, believes involving more young women in computer science fields begins with exposing them to coding in elementary, middle and high school. “Obviously, the stereotype is that there are more men in engineering,” Richardson said. “I feel introducing coding to girls early would definitely increase the amount of females in the major.” Dana Davis, freshman in computer science, said though it can be intimidating, her high school STEM experiences prepared her for life in the minority. “My high school robotics class, junior year – I was the only girl,” Davis said. “I know what it’s like.” Davis began coding her senior year of high school in an AP computer science class. “In that class, I just kind of accepted that this is going to be a very male-heavy major,” Davis said. Data published by the National Center for Education Statistics indicates that in 2015, only 22 percent of the approximately 55,000 students who took the AP computer science exam were female. In the same year, there were three states in which no girl took the exam. Paschen, too, began her coding career with a class in high school. “If I hadn’t taken that class and had walked in [college] the first day to see I was the only girl, I think I would have walked back out the door,” Paschen said. Paschen said she’s noted the lack of female classmates since her first coding class at Auburn. She said the overwhelming male majority can leave her with a subconscious feeling that she knows less than those surrounding her. “When I get stuck, I’ll feel like I’m the only one hung up,” Paschen said. “I know logically
there’s probably a lot of other people struggling with it too, but there’s this irrational fear I’m the only one who can’t figure it out.” Paschen finds herself hesitant to actively participate in class-group chats dominated by young men or ask questions in class at risk of being seen as “the dumb girl.” She doesn’t feel treatment in her classes has been or is different for men and women. Her fears are generally not caused by external aggressors so much as internal questions, Paschen said. “You see you’re one of the only girls and you think, ‘Did I not get the memo?’” Paschen said. Paschen said she does not have any female friends in her area of study with whom she can discuss these thoughts. She thinks in time, though, girls in coding will become less out of the ordinary. “Once more girls get into it,” Paschen said, “girls won’t be doubted.” Richardson said that since she first arrived as a wireless software undergraduate student in 2013, she’s begun to see an increasing number of young women entering the majors. “I’m a TA now, and I can see the margin slowly decreasing,” Richardson said. Richardson said many men in the program are inclusive, and classwork is the same regardless of gender. She didn’t truly notice the impact the gap could have on students until she began working in group projects — groups where she was the only girl. “Every now and then, my voice wouldn’t be heard,” Richardson said. Richardson said when she is in a group full of boys and they don’t listen to her input, the automatic first assumption is it’s because she’s a girl. Richardson said not all men ignore her feedback, but the ones who do need to realize she is equally as capable as them. “The fact that you’re a guy, and I’m a girl, doesn’t make me any less of a programmer than you,” Richardson said.
PRO G R AM
on the field got equally as fired up as That tone shift from the Tigers may currence. Davis added that Malzahn’s but he’s a different guy, I can tell you their coach, emphatically pumping up have been a week in the making. Af- ability to “look in the mirror” and make that.” the crowd as the ball was being placed ter a devastating home loss to Tennes- adjustments inspired players to do the Malzahn said Auburn’s bye week 15 yards back. see last Saturday, Auburn changed the same. couldn’t have come at a better time, “You see the emotion, man,” said vibe in practice, said senior linebacker “I appreciate it,” Davis said. “I love with injuries aplenty for the Tigers on Auburn safety Daniel Thomas. “Coach Deshaun Davis. seeing the drive. You could tell, I don’t both sides of the ball. The coach adMalzahn really loves us, and he cares Davis said Malzahn was more in- know what he’s talking to himself dressed the offense, kicking game and about this team. To see that — it gave volved in practices the following about, but he has a different swagger penalties as spots to improve on before us goosebumps. ... It showed tough- week, and a newfound loose demean- about himself. I don’t know if it’s be- the team returns to action against Texness.” A L T E R N A T I V E S T U D E N orTfrom theE coach cause in... Nov. B R A K Swas an “all week” ocAUB U R we’re N U in N Ithe V Eposition R S I T we’re Y DA N C Eas A&M M A Ron AT H O3.N {S ERV I C E
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MIKAYLA BURNS / LIFESTYLE EDITOR
Lauren Bradford, freshman in finance, is the new Miss Auburn University.
MISS AU » From 1
that she had no chance of winning so young, and that it would be great practice for future preliminary pageants. “When you look at pictures, you can see that I was so shocked,” Lauren Bradford said. She has been in love with Auburn since she was young and knew that Auburn was the place for her. More than that, she knew that Miss AU was a title that she wanted to compete for. “Never in a million years did I think I would get this title as a freshman,” she said. “It was really empowering to know that. I definitely did not see myself capable of being Miss Auburn University, but the Lord gave me that title. Even though I never imagined it by myself.” Lauren Bradford is humbled to be representing Auburn. “Representing Auburn is to be representing something that is full of love,” she said. Though Miss Alabama is next, Lauren Bradford is more focused on what she can do for the University currently. “Miss Auburn University isn’t just a road to Miss Alabama,” she said. “Right now, I’m really trying to envision what I want to do in my year as Miss Auburn University and how I want to impact our campus and incorporate my platform. I’m just taking it one step
at a time.” ford said. However, Lauren Brad-A U I NNow, Lauren Bradford has a VOLV E ford cannot explain { S T how U D EexN T bigger O R G team A N I behind Z A T I her. O N With S } cited she is for the Miss Ala- the title of Miss AU, a team bama pageant. It was some- of directors and others are asthing that she has always been signed to help Lauren Bradstriving for but not something ford learn what it is to be Miss she thought would be in such AU and help her along her close reach. journey, empowering her. Lauren Bradford was not Caroline Shea is the student raised in the pageant world, director of Miss AU and is exand it surprised her moth- cited to work alongside Lauren er when she opened up about Bradford this upcoming year. getting involved with them. “Lauren is such an accom“My mom has just poured plished Auburn woman also much into me from the get- ready,” Shea said. “She has go,” she said. “It was definitely many insights to share with a learning experience for both the community and student of us. It’s been such a journey, body, and both will benefit not just of my own but with greatly from her service.” her.” Mindy Street, co-director of Lisa Bradford never thought Miss AU, is ready to positiveher daughter would be a pagly impact the Auburn campus B LOOD D R IV E S eant girl, but she has sup{ S never E R V I Cwith E PLauren R O G Bradford R A M S and } been prouder of her and what port her along the way. she has accomplished after get“Regardless of what Miss ting involved with pageants. America 2.0 may bring, we At first, the competitions will make sure Lauren has a were about scholarship oppor- memorable and exciting year tunity, but it has turned into as Miss Auburn University,” more than that. Street said. “I’m really just there as a Lauren Bradford wants to sounding board, a friend and a make sure everyone knows mom, of course,” Lisa Bradford that Miss AU is a team, not just said. “We never knew it would her. Thanks to the team betake her further than we could hind her, she knows that she have imagined.” will have a great year. Lisa Bradford was her travAs Miss AU, Lauren Bradel buddy and biggest support- ford knows that she will be iner, gifting her with construc- fluencing and impacting young tive criticism and uplifting women and girls around the love. She is proud of every- state. thing that her daughter has acShe takes it as her responsicomplished. bility to empower young girls “It just proves to me that and make sure that they know RG A N I Ztheir A T Iworth. ON S B OA R D hard work pays off,”O Lisa Brad{S T U D E N T
OR GA N Z ATI ON S }
Beat Bama! B E AT B A M A FO O D D R I V E { S ERV I C E P R O G R A M S }
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opinion THURSDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2018
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OPINION
OUR VIEW
Ivey, Rogers won’t debate, but do voters care? By EDITORIAL BOARD Fall 2018
Voting is one of American’s greatest rights — a right many Americans had to fight to receive. So when candidates running for office do anything that might devalue the institution of voting, it calls into question how much these candidates truly care about the Americans within their constituencies. As election day approaches, it is becoming increasingly apparent that there are some candidates who are willingly choosing to spit on the process that leads up to election day — the process that forms and protects the institution of voting. Voting is not just a one-day event that involves one person casting a ballot. It is a months- or years-long process. A process that involves informing voters and holding candidates accountable through public forums. There are some candidates running for office in Alabama who have chosen to skirt their constituents and avoid any public debate. They’ve removed themselves from the public deliberative process and are relying solely on their incumbency and the Rs beside their names. Both Gov. Kay Ivey and Rep. Mike Rogers have refused to debate their fellow candidates running for office. Debating is sacred to the institution of voting; it tests the candidates’ platforms and gives constituents an opportunity to compare the candidates face-to-face. Perhaps more importantly, it gives voters a chance to see how the candidates perform under pressure and how deep their knowledge of policy truly is.
For incumbents like Ivey and Rogers, debating may even be more important than it is for new candidates. These debates allow constituents to test incumbents, to ask them about their records and to hold them accountable for past decisions. It might not be politically strategic for them to debate. In such a red state, they’re likely going to win anyway. A debate, at best, would do nothing for their campaign. At worst, it could decrease the margin by which they lead their opponents. Candidates should value principle and transparency over political expediency and wider polling margins. This apparent lack of respect for the democratic process simultaneously shows a lack of respect for the voters in Ivey’s and Rogers’ constituencies. They seem to be entirely too comfortable with the offices they hold. The exact point of an election is to make incumbents uncomfortable. They should be uncomfortable. An uncomfortable incumbent will do more for their constituency than a comfortable, complacent one. The more comfortable incumbents become, the less incentive they have to stay true to the beliefs, wants and needs of the people they should be serving. How comfortable Ivey and Rogers are should be making voters nervous. With complacency comes a lack of transparency. And a lack of transparency may lead to corruption. Remember former Gov. Robert Bentley? How about former Chief Justice Roy Moore? Bentley and Moore are cautionary tales of
FILE PHOTO
Gov. Kay Ivey delivers the State of the State Address in January 2018.
what happens when voters allow candidates to become comfortable in office. This is not to say that Ivey and Rogers will act corruptly while in office, but this is not to say they won’t either. It is every voter’s job to hold candidates accountable. But, when candidates do not afford constit-
uents an opportunity to judge them on their merits in a public forum, voters cannot hold them accountable. But until voters decide this behavior is unacceptable, it is likely to continue. Election day is Nov. 6. Visit alabamavotes.gov to find your polling place.
COLUMN
A new argument for why congressional interns should be paid By JORDAN KRAMER Contributing Columnist
I love Nancy Pelosi. Her passion, patriotism and perm are all worthy of aspiration. So, I was ecstatic to learn in March that I had been selected for an internship in her office. But it was unpaid, and I couldn’t afford it this summer. The United States Senate recently appropriated $5 million for internship compensation, and the United States House of Representatives should do the same. Robust arguments surrounding fairness, equity and opportunity for traditionally disenfranchised communities have grown stale, so here’s a fresh case for internship compensation. When interns are paid, the House always wins. The Congressional Accountability Act of 1995 applied several civil, labor, health and safety protections in the private sector to the United States Congress and its employees. One of those was the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938, which established the minimum wage
among other workplace regulations. However, the Congressional Accountability Act explicitly excluded interns from protections in the Fair Labor Standards Act, defining an intern as “an individual performing services in an office as a part of an educational plan.” Acknowledging an internship’s educational merit gives Congress the cover to accept free labor, but this misguided emphasis on an intern’s education, instead of their contribution, has relegated congressional internship to more of a constituent service, pleasantry or babysitting operation than an opportunity for tangible work experience. I’ve completed two House internships; I know the routine. We write memos that no one reads. We join legislative meetings without opening our mouths. We answer phone calls before directing them to the appropriate personnel. These futile exercises enervate far more than they educate. House interns are talented, intelli-
gent, driven individuals who are more than capable of doing real work in a congressional office. By paying House interns and eliminating the faulty guise of educational compensation, offices can legally expect much more of their interns without investing a salary or benefits. And that’s what we want, too. This isn’t about greedy, know-it-all college kids looking for more beer money. It’s about the nation’s sharpest and savviest young people and their highest calling to public service. It’s about the opportunity to take part in meaningful, substantive work. And it’s about a young person’s recognition that the elected official they so deeply admire trusts and values their agency. Internship compensation’s worthy investment isn’t theoretical; I saw it this summer. This summer, I had the opportunity to complete a paid government affairs internship with The Trevor Project, the leading national organization providing crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and questioning youth.
I joined an amazing corps of interns that worked longer and harder than any I’d ever seen. We advocated against conversion therapy in 16 states. We conducted landmark research into suicide prevention policies within California schools. We contributed to a collective publication with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, National Association of School Psychologists and American School Counselor Association. We redesigned our department’s website, and we spoke for The Trevor Project in numerous meetings and conference calls. The organization paid us, valued us and expected a lot from us. We loved every second of it. Nancy Pelosi was a congressional intern in 1963. Ten years later, the House started paying its interns, though the Senate did not. Since then, the tables have turned, and it’s time for the House to follow suit. Jordan Kramer is a junior in political science and the Auburn SGA’s executive vice president of outreach.
FROM THE EDITOR
It’s time for young people to step up to the plate and vote By CHIP BROWNLEE Editor-in-Chief
As this time of year rolls around — with another election is on our doorstep — I also feel obligated to encourage others my age to get out and vote, too. I’ve heard all of the common responses. Elections are rigged. My vote doesn’t matter. It takes too long. I forgot. All of those reasons, and others like them, are just petty excuses for being too lazy to take 20 minutes to go vote.
Elections are important. Yes, we’re all minuscule pistons in a bigger machine. But every vote matters, and if every young person went out and voted, we would have a near monopoly on shaping the future of the political landscape in this country. The vast majority of registered voters today are younger. Fifty-nine percent of registered voters are Gen Xers, Millennials or “post-millennials.” That number is shocking if you think about the way elections usually shape up. Despite the fact that we, as young adults, are the clear majority of the voting-eligible population, we, for some reason, allow our grandparents and
great-grandparents decide our futures. We are the ones who will have to live the rest of our lives with decisions that are made today. No matter how you view politics, there are long-term, structural issues that need to be confronted today so that we still have an amazing country to grow old in. You should have a say in those issues. We are the ones who will have to face the dire realities of a changing climate. We are the ones who will have to pay off a now$21.6 trillion debt. We are the ones who will have to deal with a society crippled by student-loan debt. We are the ones who may face an insolvent So-
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cial Security system unable to care for us when we’re old. You may not be the most politically engaged person on the planet. None of us are. But you can easily take 30 minutes to research the candidates on November’s ballot. You may have a lot of things going on, and you may think you have other important things to do. But there’s nothing more important than our collective future. Go vote. If you haven’t moved your registration, you can request an absentee ballot up to 5 days before election day. More information is available at vote.org.
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FILE PHOTO
Historian Wayne Flint, left; Joan Harrell, center; and Rev. Dr. Otis Moss, right, speak at the Becoming the Beloved Community event at the Jule Collins Smith Museum of Fine Art in Auburn, Ala., on Thursday, April 5, 2018.
Joan Harrell named first diversity coordinator By KAYLA KELLY Campus Writer
With four university degrees and a successful past in the world of media, Joan Harrell has been chosen as Auburn University’s first diversity coordinator, serving the School of Communication and Journalism. She was offered the title from the director of the School of Communication and Journalism, Jennifer Adams, and began fulfilling the position this year. As an already well-known lecturer who teaches one class in the fall and two classes in the spring, Harrell wanted to do something more. When she was offered this title, Harrell was honored. “My first thought was just, ‘wow,’” Harrell said. “I was literally without words because within the political and social economic landscape of our country and our world, when one speaks to the need for having a diversity coordinator, well, to say that I have a crucial respon-
KIECHEL » From 1
After graduating high school in 1988, Kiechel “fell in love” with Auburn. Being from North Carolina, she didn’t have any familial connections here on the Plains, but after one visit, she had made up her mind. While studying secondary English here at Auburn she continued to run her suicide prevention program, worked as an RA in Helen Keller Hall and played club soccer as the University did not have a varsity team then. That soccer team and the University’s refusal to adequately fund it became a defining part of Kiechel’s time here. For years Kiechel’s club team played and occasionally beat other college teams in “scrimmages.” They practiced and played on the field across from the TKE house. The field was only three-fourths regulation size and in such bad condition that the team was forced to rent a different field in town for games because college-funded teams refused to play there. Kiechel’s senior year she stepped in a hole at practice and broke her ankle. After that, she approached the Athletics Department with two requests for the future women’s soccer teams: 1) Fix the current field or build a new one, and 2) Fund the team adequately. Pat Dye was both the athletic director and head football coach at the time, and there were not any women in administrative roles in the Athletics Department. This was the climate Kiechel waded into to demand justice. According to Kiechel, women’s sports at that time received roughly 12 percent of the Athletics Department’s budget, a clear Title IX violation. Kiechel remembers Joe Dean, an administrator in the Athletics Department, telling her that “Title IX has been on the books for 20 years, if you want us to do something about it, you’re going to have to sue us.” Eventually, she did. First, Kiechel continued to try to solve the problems through official channels on campus. She filed a Title IX complaint, started a petition
sibility is an understatement.” Harrell said because of her past work with broadcast news and freelance writing, she know what it means to be the only person of color and to be the only woman in a space. “I humbly say I did not take the responsibility lightly when I was offered this position by Jennifer Adams, nor am I taking this position lightly because of the reality of the lack of diversity and voices in media and in the world,” Harrell said. With big plans for her first year as the diversity coordinator, Harrell hopes to enhance the academic culture for the School of Communication and Journalism by bringing in guest lecturers that represent several diverse communities. She also hopes to increase the number of students and faculty of color within the program. Harrell was raised as an army child in Washington, D.C.’s Georgetown neighborhood. After graduating from Stephens College with a degree in communications media, she worked in the media business for 10 years before going back to school.
which garnered over 1,300 signatures from women on campus and recorded women on campus expressing their support for a women’s soccer team. Kiechel waited five hours to show this recording to the Athletics Director who promptly “snuck out the back door.” Seeing no change on the horizon, Kiechel and her supporters sued. Kiechel remembers being told that she would never win this case. She also remembers that “they were shocked at how stubborn [she] was.” Kiechel won the case, but then the University announced that they would appeal the decision. “We didn’t want to spend years in appeal,” Kiechel said, “So I chose to settle in May with the stipulation that they had to fund a full team that August.” They also forced the Athletics Department to offer the full number of NCAA scholarships for women’s soccer every year. The settlement also forbade Auburn from defunding other women’s sports like softball or basketball to pay for these additions. The national attention Kiechel’s case drew led her to testify in front of the U.S. Congress in June of 1993, and she also gave presentations at Duke Law School and women’s athletic events. “It was not a battle I wanted,” Kiechel said, “but it was one I had.” Since the lawsuit was settled some 20 years ago, Kiechel and Auburn have made amends. Three years ago, Auburn’s SGA gave Kiechel an accommodation, which means they recognized that she met the standards of the Auburn Creed when she took these actions. Then, in December of 2000, as an activist, an athlete and a mother of three, Susan Kiechel was 30-yearsold and was diagnosed with severe CIDP. She was given three years to live. But Susan Kiechel has never taken that kind of answer as fact. “I’ve got three kids, and I’m a mom, and you’re not going to tell me what I can’t do,” Kiechel said. Over the next four months, Kiechel went from chasing kids in her backyard to using leg braces, fore-arm crutches and a fourwheeled walker. “A lot of stuff changed very quickly,” Kiechel said, “but I had to fight
Harrell then went back to school at Columbia University, a dream she had always worked toward. She decided to spend her time there learning how to produce documentaries. Harrell submitted a proposal for a documentary on the impact of HIV and AIDS on faith communities. She teamed up with two other students, Keith Brown, who is now the senior vice president of programming for CNN Headline News, and Suzanne Malveaux, who is now a national correspondent for CNN, to produce a piece about the different faith communities in the New York City area. Richard Coltuck, a famed producer for CBS News, shared their work with the AIDS Quarterly for PBS National, and the documentary went on to be aired nationally following the team’s graduation from Columbia. After graduating with a master’s in journalism from Columbia, Harrell went on to work with Bill Moyers as a correspondent and producer. She has also worked as an assignment editor for CBS News Bureau and CSPAN in Washington, D.C., a fill producer for ABC
News Bureau in London and a freelance writer for Essence Magazine and the Huffington Post. Harrell has a masters degree in divinity from the Interdenominational Theological Center, making her an ordained American Baptist Minister. She also has a doctorate of ministry with an emphasis in public theology from the Chicago Theological Seminary. Harrell is currently writing for two separate textbooks on narrative ethics that involve Eunice Rivers, an American nurse, and her time spent on the Tuskegee syphilis experiment. She is also working on publishing a book by spring 2020 called “The Untold Story of Eunice Rivers Laurie.” Beginning in spring 2019, Harrell will be teaching a new course called “Diversity and Democracy” that will be offered on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 4 p.m. “I encourage everyone to engage with people that are different from you in conversation,” Harrell said. “Let a person talk and sit back to listen. There are commonalities between everyone.”
CONTRIBUTED BY SUSAN KIECHEL
Sloan Kiechel, left, poses for a photo with her mom, Susan Kiechel, right.
because I had to raise my kids.” Her long-term goal was to live until Sloan, her youngest daughter, turned ten so that she would remember her mom. Kiechel began receiving monthly treatments of IVIG which required her to be in the hospital for five days every month and made her sick for another three. This kind of treatment saved her life but threatened to kill her at the same time. Too large or too small of a dose would be fatal. That was this family of five’s normal for 17 years. “Every few years there would be some kind of crisis where Mom got extra sick and we thought she was going to die,” Sloan said, “but we always made it through.” Susan Kiechel remembers each of her kids recognizing the pain she was in and separately telling her that she didn’t have to suffer for them anymore. “Obviously they didn’t want me to die, but they were old enough to recognize that I had done it all these years for them,” Kiechel said, “but that’s what I’m supposed to do, I’m a mom, I don’t get a gold star.” But Susan Kiechel continued to
live. She watched her daughter turn ten and she watched all of her children graduate high school. Kiechel has now gotten to the point where she spends most of her time in the hospital. Last year she spent 208 days there and is often at home for fewer than ten days at a time. The IVIG treatment which she receives now gives her aseptic meningitis every month. “Normally you would just stop whatever is causing that, but this is what keeps me alive,” Kiechel said. For the past two years though, the Kiechel family has had a different reason to keep fighting. Stem cell treatments (SCT) could potentially cure Kiechel. She wouldn’t need monthly hospital visits; she wouldn’t live under the threat of an infection ending her life. “The last two years my fight has been to stay alive long enough to receive SCT which will solve the problem permanently,” Kiechel said. In July of 2018, Kiechel was approved to receive this treatment, but complications with insurance have prevented her from being able to get it. Instead, the hospital is requiring
her family to pay $160,000 upfront to cover the cost of the treatment. This family has strength, support and love, but not $160,000. Ever the activist and fighter, Susan Kiechel said, “If I had three more months to make a formal fight with United Healthcare, I would probably win that fight. But my body doesn’t have three more months of IVIG.” “I just want to scream,” Susan said, “damnit, I’m going to die when I’m this close, and it’s because of money.” Once the family realized that the insurance would not pay for this treatment, they turned to GoFundMe. As of the publication of this article, $27,952 has been raised, but there is a long way to go. For $140,000 Susan Kiechel’s life can be saved. She is a mother, a wife, an activist, a fighter and an Auburn Tiger. She is the reason that female athletes here on campus are given equal opportunity to compete and succeed and excel. Susan Kiechel needs your help. Her family needs your help. https://www.gofundme.com/lifesaving-treatment-for-susan
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2018
The Auburn Plainsman
PAGE 5
ORGANIZATIONS
Ukulele club strums its way back to campus By MEGAN FERINGA Campus Writer
After a few months without it, the Ukulele Club has strummed its way back onto campus, and this time, it’s here to stay. With the club once again being officially recognized, President James Acord, senior in biology, intends on reigniting the student passion that created the club in the first goaround, so it can return the club back to its former glory. “When it first started, it was a really small group, then it grew into a pretty large group with [number around] 20 active members, doing events,” Acord said. “Now we’re back down to a small group, and we’re trying to pull everyone in whether they have experience or they just want to learn how to play.” The Ukulele Club has resided on campus since 2012. Early in the mornings, club members could be heard strumming chords as they sat cross-legged on the black-iron benches outside of Haley Center. On colder nights, the musicians performed together on Samford lawn or on the downtown street corners, taking song requests from the night owls and bar patrons or playing songs of their own choice. The club even held events at local retirement homes and the Early Learning Center on campus — teaching songs and performing their own for eager audiences. Yet with drops in leadership and an inability to meet other club requirements such as finding a faculty advisor for sponsorship, the Ukulele Club fell through the cracks of campus in the last year. “I was really sad when everything dropped off, and we weren’t really a club anymore,” Acord said. “If you looked us up on Auburn’s website, you couldn’t find anything about it, and I just wanted to make sure we were back to the status it was when I joined.” Taking on leadership this year,
FILE PHOTO
Acord approached multiple faculty members for sponsorship. Yet he found they had limited time to assume another obligation like the clubs. That was until Acord approached his biology professor, James Richard Owens. Despite no connection to the instrument, Owens felt compelled to ensure the club remained at the University after seeing the other club members’ passion. With a faculty advisor and Acord in leadership, the Ukulele Club is back with 10 active members and full intention of finding more individuals who hold a passion for music and amity. “There is a community there, and we’re just trying to reunite everyone who is at the University,” Acord said. “We offer a platform for people to have fun and make the club whatever they want to make it and also a platform for people to perform, which is not something that everyone has or
can have.” Students don’t need any prior experience nor do they need to own their own ukulele to join the club, as they have loaners for beginner members. Accord said half the members who join have never picked up the instrument before, but by the third practice, they’re able to play the song they learned at the first meeting. Members also aren’t required to play the ukulele. Acord keeps practices and events open for all musical endeavors, evoking a garage-band ambiance. Some members have brought bassoons, violins, saxophones, melodicas and even their own voices to sing over the songs. If the musicians know the song and how to score it, Acord said they’re more than welcome. For Acord and the members, the Ukulele Club is more than just an opportunity to learn an instrument. “It’s more of a way for people to take a step back from how stressful
their schedules are,” Acord said. Only one club member is majoring in music. The other members are majoring in engineering, chemistry, micro-biology, applied mathematics, liberal arts and forestry. With the club’s array of majors, Acord said most time away is spent studying, but designating just two hours on Wednesday evenings makes all the difference. “I kind of want to call it a morale boost, but at the same time, most people have a really great time when they’re there, so it’s more something to do and have fun and spend time with friends,” Acord said. “I would say that most of the people in the group are pretty tightly knit now.” The club meets every Wednesday in Haley Center from 7–9 p.m. A typical meeting begins with introductions for any new members and an ice breaker followed by an opportunity for what the club calls a “uke-off,” in which club members are given a top-
ic of any sort and must perform a song on the spot about the topic in a competition with another member. “As funny as it sounds, we like to push people out of their comfort zones, not in an uncomfortable fashion, but when I first joined, I never thought about writing a song or anything like that,” Acord said. Acord owes this empowerment to the club’s intimacy and focus on the group’s desires for companionship rather than to simply learn a song and adjourn until the following week. “Whether you just want to get involved, or maybe you feel like you haven’t hit a stride or hit a point where you thought you’d be introduced to new people and you haven’t met them, come out,” Acord said. “We’re a really accepting group of people. We’re a group from all different backgrounds with a love for all different things coming together and playing and having a good time.”
POLITICS
CAMERON BRASHER / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
The College Democrats, Young Americans for Liberty and College Republicans representatives debate issues during The Great Debate on Tuesday, Oct. 23, 2018, in Auburn, Ala.
Campus political groups host ‘Great Debate’ ahead of midterm elections By STEPHEN LANZI Campus Editor
Students gathered Tuesday evening in Dudley Hall to watch student-run political groups debate local and national issues as they represented the views of the parties they affiliate with. This semester’s installment of The Great Debate saw Michael King and Ian Dudar represent the College Republicans, Cassidy Arnold and Brandon Stephens represent the College Democrats and Spencer Cadavero and Logan McCollum represent the Young Americans for Liberty. “They all had some pretty good points,” said Will Bowen, freshman in mechanical engineering. “They definitely came more prepared than I expected from some college students. I’m not goint to lie.”
VOTE
The participants answered and had exchanges on a variety of questions from co-moderators Chip Brownlee, editor-in-chief of The Plainsman, and Ken Ward, station manager of Eagle Eye TV. “I usually don’t like to mess with politics, but this was more the stuff that I actually care about,” Bowen said. “All groups did fairly well. I think the Republicans had a little bit better responses than most of them.” Topics of discussion included recent news of the Supreme Court Associate Justice Brett Kavanaugh’s nomination to the high court and local accusations of purging voter rolls as well as perpetual points of contention of healthcare, the economy, gun control and education. The participants in the debate toed party lines on most issues, aligning themselves with the values traditionally held with the party
they identify with. “As usual, they did exactly as I thought they were, which was stick to those mainstream topics and such,” said Vee-I Mills, junior in industrial engineering. However, Stephens told a surprised crowd that he is a pro-life Democrat, which elicited the largest applause of the debate. But Stephens said he still does not believe in criminalizing abortion, arguing that there are many factors in a woman making the decision. Mills said she wished there was more diversity in the demographic makeup of the participants. Because the participants have similar demographics, she said they have similar experiences and outlooks. “I was disappointed with the lack of representation,” Mills said. “They all seemed like the had a similar background. That was pretty typical.”
The participants were able to find common ground in being critical of the character of President Donald Trump, but they disagreed on the actual implementation of his policies. With slight variation in practice, they also agreed on voter identification laws. “Some areas I felt like should have been covered a little bit more,” Mills said. “But they did a good job of covering things at the very topical level. I do think they could have gone a little more in-depth. I think it was because of their age or experience or what not.” The debate concluded with a series of questions from the audience that ranged from accountability in government to the treatment of victims of sexual assault. “It was actually a positive experience,” Mills said. “It was respectful, and it actually did bring up some things that needed to be discussed.”
EXERCISE YOUR RIGHT VOTE
VOTE IN THE ELECTION ON NOV. 6 You can check your polling place and registration status at alabamavotes.gov
community THURSDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2018
6 THEPLAINSMAN.COM
COMMUNITY
DOGS
Pups on The Plains continues growth after first year By ELIZABETH HURLEY Community Editor
There is often a perception that dogs from animal control and other types of shelters are there because they have done something wrong. The president of Pups on the Plains said that is often far from the truth, and she has examples to prove it. “A lot of people have this perception that dogs in shelters — that there’s a reason they’re there,” said Shelby Stephens, president of Pups on the Plains. “Maybe they’re badly behaved or whatnot. That could not be further from the truth.” Camo had every reason to be a bad dog, but he wasn’t, Stephens said. “He came from a bad situation in Columbus,” Shelby said. “He was about 50 pounds when he came in to me, and now he’s about 80. He came to be house trained. He loved other dogs. He never ate anything. He was just the coolest dog.” Stephens fostered Camo through the organization and was unsure what state he would be in when she picked him up from the shelter. She would take Camo around downtown Auburn, and people would recognize him, sometimes even yelling out of their car window. Stephens did not foster Camo for long. He was adopted out of the organization. She chalks that up to POP’s social media presence and popularity. They created their organization and Facebook page over a year ago. Since then, they have fostered approximately 40 dogs, most
of which have been adopted either by their short-term foster or through their Facebook page, which currently has six fosters. Stephens and a few of her friends created POP on a whim after she learned that several animals were going to be euthanized at Columbus Animal Control unless several were adopted or fostered out. “There’s six dogs at this animal control that are about to be euthanized,” Stephens said. “[Stephen’s friend] emailed the vet school email list and said ‘if anyone else wants to help, please help.’ We ended up getting two more fosters, so we ended up pulling six that day.” They were in over their heads, Stephens said, and they needed help. Shelter volunteers and other community members from Columbus and Auburn pooled together resources for the young students and their new foster dogs. And so Pups on the Plains, POP for short, was born as a Facebook page in September 2017 that was meant to find forever homes for the animals they rescued from animal control in Columbus and Phenix City and were now fostering. “We take these dogs out of situations where they are close to being euthanized, so either they’re at the top of the list or it’s very overcrowded,” Stephens said. “We pull them out of there and get them into these homes where they can learn to be a dog.” Their Facebook page grew much larger than they ever could have imagined. People from all over the United States were liking and commenting on the photos of the dogs, and they were all quickly adopted. Stephens got with her friends, and they decided since it was so successful the first time
CONTRIBUTED BY PUPS ON THE PLAINS
Students with their foster dog sit on the Green Space.
ELIZABETH HURLEY / COMMUNITY EDITOR
An Auburn student brings her foster dog, Zoey, to the concourse to promote POP.
they fostered the dogs, they would continue to foster. The more dogs they fostered, the more support they gained on social media, which meant even more dogs they could foster. They decided to remain an off-campus organization for Auburn students and community members and began to organize their group. They created officer positions and named Stephens the president, a role she still serves in a year later. As their organization continues to expand, they are making connections throughout the Auburn community. Holly Goodwin, the vet liaison for POP, helped the organization form a relationship with veterinarian Kim West at All Creatures Veterinary Clinic. Goodwin takes all of the foster animals to West, who provides the medical care for POP’s foster animals for a reduced fee. “We’re dealing with a lot of different issues, because they are coming out of shelters,” Goodwin said. “It helps having one person who is familiar with these different issues.” POP often pulls from the same few shelters, so the animals often have the same types of issues and illnesses. This makes rescuing the animals easier for POP fosters because they know what issues their animal will have, and they know West will be able to help them, Goodwin said. “We can help a lot more animals,” Goodwin said. “We were terrified to take in puppies because we knew they would have parvo. Parvo costs anywhere from $500-$1000 to treat.” West has taught the POP team a lot about animal health. They now all feel more capable of taking care of the sicker animals they rescue and are even able to rescue more animals,
Goodwin said. “Dr. West really set us on the right path,” Goodwin said. “She’s helped guide us about making sure our adoption forms are good. We have spay and neuter agreements since we started doing puppies and kittens.” Goodwin was able to form this relationship with All Creatures and West because she was a volunteer at All Creatures. West provides medical care for other fostering organizations and decided to get involved with POP. “We do this for several organizations, organizations that benefit our community,” West said. “So it’s giving back to the community.” West added that Pups on the Plains has excelled in the work they do. “They are very easy to support,” West said. “They are a really good group.” POP is looking to grow even more after their first year. The group hopes to open an indoor dog park geared toward college-student pet owners. “We plan to open up a facility soon that will be an indoor dog park, doggy daycare, boarding, and, of course, there’s going to be some rescue element,” Holly said. “Once you know that’s there, you just can’t stop. I need to help.” They are looking at places close to campus and plan to have study areas so students can come play with their dogs and get some studying done too. POP is always looking for more students and community members to foster dogs so POP can continue to rescue dogs. “It’s really great to know that I helped save a dog,” said Alyssa Parfrey, junior in exercise science and POP foster. “It’s just really fulfilling.”
BUSINESS
Auburn Young Professionals encourage the youth By ABBY DRIGGERS Community Writer
When Anna Hovey graduated from Auburn in 2001, she and her husband felt as though they need to move away to find jobs in their fields. Fast forward to now, and opportunities have arisen for young professionals to make The Plains their home — notably the Auburn Young Professionals program Hovey helps oversee as director of business development and special events for the Auburn Chamber. Auburn Young Professionals is a program of the Auburn Chamber of Commerce created in 2017. It’s designed to engage area professionals from ages 21 to 40 who are employed by an Auburn Chamber member. Auburn Young Professionals creates opportunities to mutually benefit the employer and employee. “We want to encourage employers with our hope to help engage these people, so they will feel rooted in our community, which helps with job retention,” Hovey said. A member directory of all the businesses that are a part of the Chamber of Commerce can be found of the Auburn Chamber’s website. The program, which realizes the importance of meeting other young local professionals, provides opportunities throughout the year for professional development, for community engagement and, of course, a social component, Hovey said. In its inaugural year, Auburn Young Professionals enrolled 275 members. They were hoping to enroll 100. The interest did not stop there. Auburn Young Professionals expected to offer about six events in their first year. They ended up with more than double their original plan, Hovey said. “Not only did the program participants encourage us to host more events, but we had so many interested sponsors of the program who wanted to host events for the group too,” Hovey said. The program is continuing to plan multiple
events in its second year. “As we planned for the second year, we decided to be a little more deliberate in our scheduling of events and inclusive of different times to offer events, so that we added breakfast meetings to the existing lunch meetings and happy hour event times,” Hovey said. “A natural sort of spinoff occurred where members of the planning committee host unofficial events during the year to encourage members to attend and bring a friend who is interested in joining the group.” Of the hosted events, Find Your Place, a lunch offered in the middle of the first year, was a member favorite. “My favorite event last year was the Find Your Place lunch,” said Auburn Young Professionals committee member, Kristi Phillips of Tigers Unlimited. “I love seeing people come together to discover ways to give back to Auburn.” The event allowed Auburn Young Professionals to provide information about the various nonprofit groups in the Auburn area, how to get involved in the city’s many committees and boards and encouraged the attendees to find their place of service to the community, Hovey said. The Auburn Young Professionals also hosted a service week in the week before Thanksgiving last November. Hovey said the members of Auburn Young Professionals contributed to the community through collections for organizations including United Way, the Lee County Humane Society and the Woman’s Hope Medical Clinic. This year, with growing membership, Auburn Young Professionals has added quarterly hands-on service projects to their agenda, as well as more events for members to attend. The program has stuffed backpacks for the Jason Dufner Foundation’s Backpack program which focuses on ending childhood hunger in Lee County, Alabama, according to the Dufner Foundation. Auburn Young Professionals helped sort previously collected items for Backpack International’s backpack project for students in
CONTRIBUTED BY AUBURN YOUNG PROFESSIONALS
Auburn Young Professionals is a program created in 2017.
Guyana while sorting and boxing food at the Food Bank of East Alabama. Auburn Young Professionals plans to help with the Beat Bama Food Drive this year, as well as host another week of service. The program is still determining which organizations they will support through their week of service, Hovey said. Auburn Young Professionals’ members were provided an opportunity to attend a meet-and-greet event with the Auburn municipal election candidates. “Almost every candidate attended the event, and it was wonderful for our members to interact with the future leaders of our community,” Hovey said. “While we as a chamber don’t endorse candidates, we certainly want to provide as much information and encourage as much engagement as possible.” To become a member of Auburn Young
Professionals, check out their website for an application and contact information. “We allow people to join anytime through the year, so that people who move to town, or change jobs or hear about the program after our January kickoff event will feel comfortable to join and not wait a year to get involved. We realize that our members have all different types of schedules and are able to participate at different levels, so we try hard to make each event stand alone so no one misses out or feels like they missed something if they have to miss a previous event,” Hovey said. Kristi Phillips, director of stewardship and committee member of Auburn Young Professionals, praises Auburn Young Professionals for its role in the community. “Auburn Young Professionals has given me an incredible opportunity to be involved in the community,” Phillips said.
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2018
The Auburn Plainsman
PAGE 7
EDUCATION
Auburn City Schools earns high grade for security By TIM NAIL
Community Writer
Auburn City Schools received positive remarks on its safety measures after completion of two campus security assessments in the spring and early summer during the previous academic year. One of the evaluations included 30 commendations, and according to Daniel Chesser, public relations specialist for the system’s head office, the school’s review was “above and beyond” other districts around the country. The assessments were carried out by the Department of Homeland Security and the National School Safety and Security Services, a consultant based in Ohio that was recommended by the Auburn Police Division. The consultants reviewed each school and questioned principals and teachers. “One of the missions of Auburn City Schools is not only to have safe schools but for our students, staff and faculty to feel safe while they’re at school,” Chesser said. “[We were] looking at what was happening across the nation and not necessarily reactive to that but being proactive.” The school system was seeking a third party to determine what was satisfactory and what needed improvement with heightened tension surrounding threats and attacks on campuses in the last several years. Other practices prior to the inspections were information seminars for parents organized by schools regarding social media warning signs and suicide awareness prevention. The school board considers one of its highest points to be the school resource officers it employs. At the end of May, Gov. Kay Ivey
passed the Sentry Act, which outlines optional procedures to arm staff in public schools. However, Auburn City Schools did not follow the act because of the officers already staffed in the schools. Chesser said the officers act as trusting adults students can depend on and share their day with. “They’re people that run our DARE program when our kids get to middle school,” said Chesser of the officers. “They run our football games, and they’re at all our athletic events. It’s more than just a security aspect at the front door, they’re part of the school system and they’re involved in just about every aspect with it.” Chesser said administrators often receive the first word about potential concerns from officers rather than other faculty or parents. The daily presence of the police allows students to become more comfortable and familiar with them instead of seeing them as figures feared, he said. Another centerpiece of the evaluations was the attention Auburn City Schools gives toward the mental health of students. An inhouse social service worker trains counselors to provide wholesome guidance to kids, and through a partnership with East Alabama Mental Health Center, the system ensures care is provided for students and families. Regarding the school shootings that have occurred across the country, Chesser said Auburn City Schools is doing what it can to make sure that doesn’t happen in Auburn. “There were red flags that indicated that a child or student might do something dangerous, but they went ignored, and I think Auburn City Schools does a great job of identifying issues with kids whether it be in the classroom,
DOWNTOWN
FILE PHOTO
Auburn High School on Sunday, Feb. 4, 2018, in Auburn, Ala.
home or community and working with those kids,” Chesser said. The close proximity of all schools within the City of Auburn means that if something dangerous were to happen, emergency dispatch could have law enforcement on site at a campus between 90 seconds and two minutes, according to Chesser. This estimate is additionally helped by the relative ease of access for squad cars, firetrucks and ambulances and a “working relationship,” as Chesser put it, with Auburn’s police and fire departments and Lee County Emergency Management Agency the system maintains. A new key card system has been implement-
ed at Auburn High School where each of its near 1,900 students has an ID badge that must be swiped to pass through doors. The central office intends to establish a fulltime safety coordinator position in lieu of a member presently employed who serves the position only part-time. Requirements of the job include holding meetings with assistant principals, hosting professional development tabletop activities for faculty and setting up and managing drills. “Just because you do have everything made available to you doesn’t mean a tragedy couldn’t happen, but you can be proactive and be prepared to prevent things like that,” Chesser said.
FOOD
Downtown businesses will now validate parking By ELIZABETH HURLEY Community Editor
Several members of the Auburn Downtown Merchants Association will now validate customer parking, the association announced Tuesday. “We have been working to get this in place for about a week,” said Jessica Kohn, downtown coordinator for the Downtown Merchants. The decision to begin validating parking came after parking rates were raised from 25 cents an hour to $1 an hour, and a two-hour limit was placed on all downtown spots, Kohn said. “This past August, parking went up,” Kohn said. “It was a pretty significant increase. We did get some feedback form patrons who come downtown who said that they were a little disappointed with the price increase.” To get parking validation, drivers must park in one of the numbered spaces downtown. These spaces use the kiosks for payment. Drivers then enter their space number into the kiosk and pay for their parking. They must request a receipt from the kiosk.
Then drivers can shop and dine downtown. If they make a purchase at a participating business that falls within the business’ parking validation guidelines, the driver can present their parking receipt to the business who will then validate the parking and keep the receipt. “We are working on getting some window clings designed so that way people will know when they walk into the business, they’ll see it on the window that the business validates parking,” Kohn said. In total, 12 downtown businesses are participating in the validation program with different rates for each business. The downtown merchants are hoping to add more businesses in the coming months, which will be noted on their website. “I think it’s just a great thing that the downtown stores are going to be doing because it helps with their relationships with their customers so that they want to come back to the store, too, because they are getting a few dollars off every time they come to the store,” said Ellie Killough, manager at Behind the Glass. Metered parking is enforced 8 a.m.–6 p.m Monday through Friday and is free on weekends and after 6 p.m. on weekdays.
PARTICIPATING BUSINESSES • Auburn Popcorn Company: Will validate $1 for $10 purchase & $2 for $20 purchase. • Beachfitters Sunglasses: Will validate up to $2 with purchase of a pair of sunglasses. • Behind the Glass: Will validate up to $2 with any purchase. • Cellairis: Will validate up to $2 with $20 purchase or more. • Charming Oaks: Up to $2 with $15 purchase or more. • Elisabet Boutique: Will validate up to $2 with $20 purchase or more. • fab’rik: Will validate up to $2 with $20 purchase or more. • Freeze Yogurt: Will validate up to $2 with $20 purchase or more. • Frutta Bowls: Validate $1 for $10 purchase & $2 for $20 purchase. • STAMP: Will validate up to $2 with $10 purchase or more. • Ware Jewelers: Will validate up to $2 with any purchase • Wrapsody: Will validate up to $2 with a $25 purchase or more.
CONTRIBUTED BY TASTE OF ASIA
Sushi plate offered at Taste of Asia.
A Taste of Asia in Auburn By CORY BLACKMON Community Writer
Most Auburn residents know that when trying to cook authentic Asian cuisine, the Asian Supermarket off Opelika Road is the perfect destination. But most people don’t know that it holds another surprise. The Taste of Asia restaurant is a fully functional restaurant located in the Asian Supermarket that first opened in July 2015. Cherry Zou, the manager of Taste of Asia, described the menu as a mix of authentic Chinese and American-Chinese food. “When we first came here, we noticed that there were a lot of Chinese restaurants in town,” Zou said. “But none of them were authentic, so we decided to have a Chinese restaurant here.” As for how authentic the food is, Zou said the cooks come from all over the world and each specializes in a specific style of cooking. “For specialty dishes, we hire specialty chefs,” Zou said. “We have a specialty Sichuan chef who
is originally from Sichuan, and a Cantonese chef who is from Hong Kong.” Jake Masic, senior in marketing, described it as a quiet place to get good food. “Not many people know about it from what I gather,” Masic said. “It’s really got a hole-in-thewall feel, too.” Another Auburn senior in chemical engineering, Grace Hanlon, said she originally found the restaurant because she was looking for the Asian Supermarket for cooking supplies with her mom. Hanlon described the restaurant as authentic and budget friendly because a large serving of food goes for under $15. “I originally would go in and order one foreign item for dinner with friends to try something new,” Hanlon said. “Now, I go for the hot pot with my friends.” Hanlon thinks the hot pot and the boba tea are the best items there. “You definitely get the best experience that way,” Hanlon said.
sports
8
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2018
FOOTBALL
THEPLAINSMAN.COM
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Top-15 Tigers
JOSHUA FISHER / PHOTOGRAPHER
JaTarvious Whitlow (28) runs the ball during Auburn football vs. Ole Miss on Oct. 20, 2018, in Oxford, Miss.
‘That’s just Boobee’ JOSHUA FISHER / PHOTOGRAPHER
Whitlow fights through injury, over Ole Miss
Nick Coe (91) attempts to block a field goal during Auburn football vs. Ole Miss on Oct. 20, 2018, in Oxford, Miss.
Coe named Player of the Week
By NATHAN KING Sports Editor
OXFORD, Miss. — Thanks to a porous Ole Miss defense and JaTarvious Whitlow, Auburn’s offense is back on track. Behind Whitlow’s career-high 170 yards on the ground, Auburn’s offense scored 30 points on an FBS opponent for this first time this year as the Tigers beat Ole Miss on Saturday in Oxford, 31-16. Whitlow (shoulder) was questionable before the game after Gus Malzahn called him “day-to-day” this week. He claimed the lead back role from the opening drive, racking up 208 yards from scrimmage and an opening-drive receiving touchdown on the day. “Great day,” Auburn running back Malik Miller said of Whitlow’s performance. “A great day, same day you saw, man. Just, you know, his will to not be taken down. Even playing through the pain and everything, he’s just being a beast out there.” The outing was Whitlow’s third 100-yard game of the season. The redshirt freshman’s rushing total is up to 626 for the season, breathing life back into’s Auburn’s hopes of boasting a 10th straight 1,000-yard rusher. Collectively, Auburn’s 269 yards on the ground were its most against an FBS foe this season and the highest mark against a Power 5 opponent since last season’s home victory over Louisiana-Monroe. “It was an emphasis on running the ball effectively this week,” Miller said. “They challenged us and we answered the call. I can’t be more proud of the guys in my room, the O-line is stepping — up the whole team, the whole unit. I just couldn’t be more proud of those guys.” After a productive week of practice for the running back room, Miller said the unit knew a performance like this could be in store. So they stuck to a mantra. “As running backs, the running back group, we had a slogan this week,” Miller said. “We said ‘empty the tank.’ Go out there, and whatever you got in you, leave it on the field. You know? I’m going to sleep good on this ride going back home because the tank is empty.” Returning from injury for the third straight week, Whitlow most notably embodied that slogan, consistently seeking contact and weaving through the second level of the Ole Miss defense. “It gives us all motivation because it’s a next-man-up mentality,” Miller said of Whitlow playing through injury. “We see one hurting, we step up and be there for him. Just to see
By NATHAN KING Sports Editor
FILE PHOTO
For the best pass-rushing performance by an Auburn defensive lineman in 12 years, sophomore Nick Coe is getting some conference recognition. Coe recorded 3.5 sacks in Auburn’s 31-16 win over Ole Miss on his way to SEC Defensive Lineman of the Week honors. The 3.5 sacks are the most by a Tiger since the late Quentin Groves sacked the Florida Gators three times in 2006. All of Coe’s tackles were on third or fourth down, setting the tone for Auburn’s defensive performance for the day. The Tigers consistently allowed big plays to get the Rebels across midfield, but Kevin Steele’s defense put the clamps down from there, holding Ole Miss to three field goals until a touchdown late in the fourth quarter. Auburn also stopped the Rebels on a pair of fourth-and-short tries in Tigers territory. The 57:36 of game time was the longest it took Ole Miss to score a touchdown in a game since failing to reach the end zone in a 66-3 loss at Alabama last season. “If they get 80 yards, get to the red zone and they don’t score, that’s a win for us,” Auburn linebacker Deshaun Davis said after the win. The recognition is the first for an Auburn player on defense since Coe and linebacker Darrell Williams were named Players of the Week after their season-opening victory over Washington.
Bryce Brown (2) makes a pass during Auburn basketball vs. Florida on Feb. 24, 2018, in Gainesville, Fla.
Auburn earns first preseason ranking since 2000 in AP Poll By TYLER ROUSH Assistant Sports Editor
Auburn will start the season ranked No. 11 following the release of AP’s preseason poll Monday morning. With its highest and most recent preseason ranking since starting the season at No. 4 in 2000, Auburn will be returning six of its nine-man rotation. It also marks the program’s fifth preseason ranking. The Tigers trail No. 2 Kentucky and No. 6 Tennessee as the third-highest team in the SEC. This follows Auburn being picked to finish third in the conference last week. After finishing the season with its first regular season championship since that 2000 season, head coach Bruce Pearl holds the mantra of “unfinished business” with losses in the conference and NCAA tournaments. “I think it’s phenomenal that we’re a preseason top-10 or top-15 team,” Pearl said in late September. “I think it’s great. I used to spend my whole career fighting to get on the cover of Street and Smith’s, or have Blue Ribbon Basketball pick us any place but the bottom.” Auburn will open the season at home
against South Alabama on Nov. 6. The game will be aired on the SEC Network starting at 8 p.m. CST.
FULL TOP 25 (Oct. 22) 1. KANSAS 2. KENTUCKY 3. GONZAGA 4. DUKE 5. VIRGINIA 6. TENNESSEE 7. NEVADA 8. NORTH CAROLINA 9. VILLANOVA 10. MICHIGAN STATE 11. AUBURN 12. KANSAS STATE 13. WEST VIRGINIA 14. OREGON 15. VA TECH 16. SYRACUSE 17. FLORIDA ST 18. MISS. ST 19. MICHIGAN 20. TCU 21. UCLA 22. CLEMSON 23. LSU 24. PURDUE 25. WASHINGTON
» See WHITLOW, 9
Tigers looking to finale vs. Alabama after loss
SOCCER
By BRYCE JOHNSON Sports Writer
Auburn goalkeeper Sarah Le Beau broke the SEC consecutive start record, but the Tigers couldn’t break the Razorbacks in a 3-1 loss against Arkansas on Sunday afternoon in Fayetteville. This game went down as the 84th straight start for Le Beau, a redshirt senior. It was a conference record for goalkeepers. Down two scores after the half, the Tigers looked to chip their way into the Razorback lead. In the 61st minute, Angeline Daly was able to get her team on the board. However, the joy
AUBURN ATHLETICS
Sarah Le Beau (14) set a conference record last Sunday with her 84th straight start at goalie.
was short lived, as Arkansas came back down two minutes later and scored the final goal of the game. “We just started out slow,” head coach Karen Hoppa said. “We need to be better at the beginning of the game. We need to be ready to go. We had a much better effort in the second half, but it was too little, too late.” Auburn’s final game of the regular season is the Iron Bowl against Alabama this Thursday at home. If they qualify by earning a 10-seed or higher in the final conference standings, the Tigers will begin the SEC Tournament in Orange Beach, Alabama, on Sunday, Oct. 28.
Thursday, Oct. 25 Auburn Soccer Complex 8 p.m. CST
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2018
The Auburn Plainsman
FOOTBALL
PAGE 9 FOOTBALL
Malzahn: Carlson will ‘finish strong’ By JAKE WEESE Sports Writer
Despite a return-to-form win for Auburn’s offense and defense last Saturday against Ole Miss, the Tigers’ struggles in the kicking game arose again. Starting kicker Anders Carlson is now 11 for 21 on the season heading into Auburn’s bye week after a 1-for3 mark in the Ole Miss victory. Auburn’s offense has been stalling out on drives this season, forcing Carlson into plenty of long kicks from 40 and 50-plus yards. Of Carlson’s 21 attempts, 12 have been from 40-plus. His 52.4 percent clip this season is third-worst among FBS kickers, but he’s just one of five kickers to attempt 20 or more field goals. “I really think putting him in a situation that we ask him to do so many long field goals didn’t help,” Malzahn said. “Being a kicker is a lot about confidence and he’s a very talented kicker.” Malzahn said Carlson is Auburn’s kicker going forward and he has no plans to look at anyone else. Carlson will have a week off to get some extra reps in practice as Auburn has a bye this week before Auburn faces No. 16 Texas A&M in Jordan-Hare next Saturday. “It will be good to have a week to really refocus and there’s no doubt in my mind that he won’t finish the season strong,” Malzahn said.
JOSHUA FISHER / PHOTOGRAPHER
Marlon Davidson (3) prepares to rush the passer during Auburn football vs. Ole Miss on Oct. 20, 2018, in Oxford, Miss.
D-linemen Marlon Davidson, Nick Coe feast on Ole Miss By JAKE WEESE Sports Writer
OXFORD, Miss. — Auburn’s stellar, lockdown defense and Ole Miss’ fast-paced, high-scoring offense looked to be the marquee matchup of this SEC showdown. Auburn’s defense, which struggled the week before against Tennessee, prompted many to believe that the Ole Miss offense might be too much. Defensive linemen Nick Coe and Marlon Davidson’s big days put an end to the questions in a 31-16 win over Ole Miss in Oxford. Coe had a career day with three sacks — the first player to do
JOSHUA FISHER / PHOTOGRAPHER
Marlon Davidson (3) sacks Jordan Ta’amu during Auburn vs. Ole Miss on Oct. 20, 2018, in Oxford, Miss.
so for Auburn since the late Quentin Groves in 2006. Davidson had himself a day with his third blocked field goal of the season in his third straight game. Davidson, who was a game time decision due to the ankle injury he suffered against Tennessee, arrived in a walking boot and also left in the boot, but said it was just from playing hard. Davidson spoke highly of his pass-rushing running mate after the game. “Nick Coe, man, he’d been having this,” Davidson said. “He just was hiding it. That’s why I always want him as my backup or starting beside me. It’s a great feeling that I’ve got a guy on the other side helping me with the quarterback, too.” Davidson also had praise for the whole defense, which only allowed one touchdown the entire game — during garbage time of the fourth quarter. “Man, I’m really proud,” Davidson said. “It’s crazy, man, the way that we fight. With the adversity that we’re going through with the team, we just keep fighting for Auburn. We have that much pride for ourselves, to not lay down. I’m just proud of my defense. I’m proud of Deshaun, too. He got the record today. He beat Coach T-Will, and that’s a great accomplishment.” Deshaun Davis led the team in tackles with 13, eight of which were for loss. Davis also passed his linebackers coach Travis Williams on the tackles list with 214. The freshmen defensive backs stepped up in place of Jeremiah Dinson, who was ejected last game against Tennessee for a targeting call and could not play the first half of this game. “They did a good job,” Dinson said. “Tutt did a good job, Sherwood and Smoke. They did a good job when I was out and they stood up to the challenge. Like I said, the guys over there, the receivers over there, they’re real deal receivers.” Dinson said he spent the first half in the locker room watching the game on an iPad. “It is pretty weird but it kinda helped me, too,” Dinson said. “Extra two quarters of film for me. I’m in there writing different concepts they’re doing down, so when I get back on the field in the third quarter, I was kinda knew what they were doing.” The defense held up all game, but really showed up in the third quarter, allowing only 78 yards and three points to Ole Miss’ offense. In the third quarter, Ole Miss averaged 4.1 yards a play and totaled -9 rushing yards. Auburn has a bye this week to heal up and prepare before No. 17 Texas A&M travels to Auburn and Jordan-Hare Stadium on Nov. 3.
JOSHUA FISHER / PHOTOGRAPHER
Anders Carlson (26) prepares to attempt a field goal during Auburn football vs. Ole Miss on Oct. 20, 2018, in Oxford, Miss.
FOOTBALL
AUBURN ATHLETICS
Jarrett Stidham (8) throws a pass during Auburn vs. Texas A&M on Nov. 4, 2017, in College Station, Texas.
Tentative kick time set for AU vs. Texas A&M
WHITLOW » From 8
By NATHAN KING
him be that tough and be that guy and tough it out, it’s always like, hey man, he’s fighting for this team; we all need to rally behind and fight for him and fight with him. “You see it so much. That’s just Boobee. That’s what he does.” For all the glamour for Whitlow in the best showing of his young Auburn career, a glaring fault reared its turnover-prone head again. Like the team’s last trip to Mississippi — a 23-9 loss to Mississippi State two weeks ago — Whitlow fumbled just outside the goal-line on a long touchdown run. Whitlow burst through the line of scrimmage untouched on a draw in the third quarter. He broke a tackle in the secondary before being grabbed inside the 5-yard line. He then fumbled into the end zone. But unlike the loss to Miss State, Auburn scored anyway, as freshman receiver Anthony Schwartz leaped on the loose pigskin for his third rushing touchdown of the season. “I thought it was one of the big plays in the game,” Auburn head coach Gus Malzahn said of the run. “I know we fumbled going in, but Schwartz was pretty opportunistic right there jumping on that.”
JOSHUA FISHER / PHOTOGRAPHER
» See WHITLOW, 10
JaTarvious Whitlow (28) is approached by teammates after his fumble during Auburn vs. Ole Miss on Oct. 20, 2018, in Oxford, Miss.
Sports Editor
Auburn will be looking to break the home-team curse in two weeks. Since Texas A&M’s induction into the SEC in 2012, the home team has never won in the series between Auburn and the Aggies. The teams will kick at either 11 a.m. or 3 p.m. CST in Week 10 (Nov. 3), with the broadcast set for ESPN or SEC Network. The exact network and time will be set after the conclusion of Week 9 games. Auburn will first enjoy its bye week in Week 9 after a 31-16 over Ole Miss last Saturday. In the road victory, the Tigers rushed for 269 yards — their most against an FBS opponent this season. No. 16 Texas A&M rested during its bye week in Week 8. Jimbo Fisher’s squad will host Mississippi State in Week 9 before traveling to The Plains. The Aggies’ only losses this season are to No. 1 Alabama and No. 2 Clemson, while Auburn is undefeated (5-0) after bye weeks under Gus Malzahn. As SEC foes, Auburn and A&M are tied in the series, 3-3. In the all-time series, Texas A&M has two more wins in the 1900s, giving it a 5-3 advantage.
The Auburn Plainsman
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2018
PLAINSMAN PICK ‘EM Florida-UGA
Iowa-Penn St
TAMU-Miss St
Wazzou-Stan
App St - GaSo
Nathan King (21-14) Sports Editor
Tyler Roush (18-17) Asst. Sports Editor
PAGE 10
WHITLOW » From 8
Whitlow’s day was cut short in the third quarter, however. After a 27-yard run, Whitlow pulled up on the Auburn sideline and was attended to by trainers. He didn’t re-enter. “You know, I really don’t know the details yet,” Malzahn said of the injury. “I saw him in the locker room. We’ll find out more.” Against a run defense that entered the game ranked No. 111 nationally, Auburn’s backfield was able to flesh out some of its recent kinks and begun to sort through a more organized pecking order. As Malzahn promised this past week, true freshman back Shaun Shivers was given more touches — 10 for 45 yards, to be exact. Former starter Kam Martin only entered the game well into the fourth quarter. The offense continued to utilize Schwartz in the speed-sweep game for one 16-yard burst. And Miller, the team’s apparent No. 3 back who had been all but written off as a backfield contender in the preseason after an injury-prone career, saw his first two carries of the game both go for short touchdowns. “It means a lot,” Miller said of his increased role. “You work hard, and it’s good. You go through life and you put a lot of work into something you want — you see the fruits of your labor. That’s always something that’s a great feeling.”
Zach Tantillo (26-9) Sports Reporter
Jake Wright (20-15) Sports Writer
Sumner Martin (24-11) Sports Writer
Bennett Page (21-14) Sports Writer
JOSHUA FISHER / PHOTOGRAPHER
Malik Miller (32) and Darius Slayton (81) celebrate Miller’s touchdown during Auburn football vs. Ole Miss on Oct. 20, 2018, in Oxford, Miss.
Cole McCauley (25-10) Sports Writer
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lifestyle
11
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2018
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LIFESTYLE
SOCIAL MEDIA
The psychological effects of social media By MALLORY PITTS and JACK SCOTT Lifestyle Writers
Upon walking into an Auburn classroom, it is rare to find a set of eyes that isn’t glued to a screen prior to the beginning of a lecture. University students check their phones — more specifically, their social media. Around 3.7 billion people use some kind of social media service. According to a survey conducted by Nielson Ratings, the total time spent on social media by United States citizens has eclipsed 121 billion minutes. That’s nearly 230,000 years that we’ve spent scrolling through sites and apps like Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. Having spent such a disproportionately large amount of time on the sites, many users would admit this use has affected their mental state in some capacity. Recently, debate has flared up about social media’s ability to affect people from a psychological perspective, influencing the way people see others and the way they see themselves. Unsurprisingly, most mental health experts would agree that students’ habit of spending so much time tethered to sites that quantify relationships and popularity can have an affect on in-person relationships, school work, stress levels and emotions, among other things. At the surface, social media provides people with a larger network. However, the broader implications of staying connected online can be slightly more complicated. Dr. Doug Hankes, director of Student Counseling and Psycho-
logical Services at Auburn, highlighted some of the drawbacks of students having an online presence. Hankes believes that one major catch-22 of the whole social media concept is its creation of pseudo-intimacy. “All of it feels more intimate than it actually is in a face-to-face connection,” Hankes said, describing the sensation of pseudo-intimacy. “I think it feels like the connection is intimate, but a lot of times it’s not so much.” This feeling can be deceiving and ultimately disappointing for those looking to build meaningful relationships. Among other drawbacks of being on social media, Hankes mentioned the time wasting aspect of it and the lack of real human connection. Dr. Peter Chen, professor of psychology and department head, brought to light some of the less direct detrimental effects social media can have on students. He pointed out the envy and social comparison that leads many users to believe those on their feed are consistently happy and having fun. He added that spending too much time on our phones takes away opportunities to engage with those around us. However, Chen was quick to point out that we shouldn’t be too hasty when it comes to making these generalizations. Chen believes that social media, when used in certain ways, can help students to engage and therefore feel more integrated on campus. Because most organizations at Auburn advertise opportunities
ABBY SCMIDT / GRAPHIC DESIGNER
for attending events and getting involved via the Facebook events feature, the site can help students become better members of the community. Hankes pointed out another major perk associated with social media use. Social media allows users an inflow of infinite amounts of information. By following and keeping up with credible news sources on these platforms, people can ultimately become more informed. Both Hankes and Chen conclud-
ed that there are healthy ways to participate in social media while minimizing its harmful effects. The doctors ultimately encourage students to be mindful of time spent on social media and to use it in moderation. Hankes likes to unplug from technology every so often and feels the practice can also help others be more in tune with their surroundings. Chen proposed a similar concept for those less willing to take
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extended breaks. Setting aside allotted time for social media use each day rather than checking one’s phone constantly can help keep the negative effects at bay, according to Chen. Ultimately, these platforms can help students achieve goals and broaden their networks when used appropriately. Chen urges students to learn “how to really use the device as a tool rather than becoming a slave of the device.”
HALLOWEEN
Do you know the muffle girl? By LAUREN PIEPER Lifestyle Writer
Ever heard of a muffle? The name may make it seem foreign; however, it is simply the combination of muffin mix put in a waffle maker. Allison Beason, a sophomore in accounting, is the muffle girl on Auburn’s campus. She came up with the idea out of curiosity and has made them popular among her friends and others who they have shared it with. “My mom bought muffin mix from the store, and she came home and was telling us about it,” Beason said. “We were having waffles, and she got tongue tied and said ‘muffles.’ We
laughed at her and said they aren’t a thing. Then I thought, ‘This could be a thing that could thrive’.” She said all she did was make the mix and put it in the waffle maker, and her family loved it. Ironically, Beason is not known for her cooking. “I’m a terrible cook, nobody at home let’s me cook anything,” she said. Despite her lack of cooking talent, the majority of people love when she makes her muffles. She said they are the only food she is allowed to make. This unconventional baked good has created and helped build a community. “Everyone where I live comes for
CONTRIBUTED BY ALLISON BEASON
muffle night on Sunday 6:15 p.m.,” she said. It has come to the point where people will see her and joke around asking her when she’s making the muffles again, asking when they can have some, Beason said. Beason encourages others to try to make them and said it is very easy, and there are a variety of flavors to pick from. “Any muffin mix will work,” she said. “All you have to do is make the mix by doing what the package says, and then just pop it in the waffle maker.” Some fan favorites are chocolate muffles and lemon poppyseed muffles, Beason said. The lemon poppyseed muffle with lemon glaze is her latest new creation. “It’s like a dessert muffle,” she said. The creation came from Beason finding the mix in the store and thinking it would taste great. She claims this mix requires a bit more work, but bakes in the waffle maker for only a minute to a minute and a half. She enjoys experimenting and trying new recipes. “I definitely sit around and think ‘What flavor can I make next?’” Beason said. Her next experiments are going to be adding different mixes in the waffle maker like cookie dough, brownie mix, cake batter and cinnamon rolls. She claims these are a few mixes she has always wanted to try since coming up with the idea of a muffle. Although there are many flavors and varieties, she does make the classic mixes like strawberry, mixed berry and blueberry muffle. “My favorite is blueberry because that’s what we started with, it’s like a staple at this point,” she said. She continues to make muffles a part of her life and wants to spread the recipes to others. “I have gotten in the habit of bringing muffles to people instead of cookies or other baked goods,” she said. The overall message Beason has for her muffles is they taste great and are easy to make for all people. “They are really convenient because if you don’t have an oven where you live, you can just use the waffle maker to make stuff, and it takes the fraction of the time,” she said.
FILE PHOTO
Brandon Stoker and John-Mark Poe, tour guides for the Haunted Auburn Walking Tour, on Oct. 22, 2017, in Auburn, Ala.
Auburn’s haunted tours By AARON KIRKLAND Lifestyle Writer
In the past few autumns, passersby on Toomer’s Corner may have noticed something alongside the usual spooks, ghouls, ghosts, haunts and spirits that lurk around the streets of Auburn. This addendum to Auburn’s spooky season is, of course, the Haunted Auburn Walking Tour. For the past six Octobers, Brandon Stoker and John Poe have led walking tours free of charge on Friday and Saturday evenings at 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. that take eager crowds on a circuit of Auburn’s most haunted spots. “We met in a cemetery,” said the storyteller Stoker at the beginning of the Friday night 8 p.m. tour, when telling the anecdote of how he met his tour partner, Poe. The two guides, regional historians and experts in the paranormal, meet with tour groups “by the eagles” at Toomer’s Corner and lead the tourists around some of the most noted hot spots and haunts of Auburn’s resident spirits. The tour winds around from the tale of Hargis Hall’s “Lady in White” to the Civil War-era ghosts that haunt Auburn’s Samford Hall on the site of the Old Main, the
shifting books of Ralph B. Draughon Library and the bumps in the night at the Haley Center. The group then leaves the campus property for a short trek to historic antebellum Pine Hill Cemetery, a ground zero for paranormal activity in Auburn, where a ghost cat, a black shadow and a “Lady in Grey” have all set up shop. The graveyard holds some special resonance for Poe and Stoker, as it is where the two met. The tour continues on to the ghost of a little girl said to hang around Eagle’s Nest Apartments across from Pine Hill to the more sordid history behind The Hotel at Auburn University and finally concludes at the Auburn Chapel, where the tourists are regaled with the story of Sidney, the Auburn theater Department’s personal ghost. The two guides spin Southern-fried tales of hauntings at the University to captive audiences that almost always end with the words, “And there was nobody there.” The season’s last regular tours take place on Oct. 26 and 27 at 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. as per usual. The final tour of the season will occur on Halloween night, Oct. 31, and participants are encouraged to dress up.
The Auburn Plainsman
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2018 SPIRIT
PAGE 12
FOOD
No more Tex-Mex By STEPHANIE TUNNELL Lifestyle Writer
CAMERON BRASHER / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Aubie pumps up the crowd during Auburn Football vs. Tennessee on Saturday, Oct. 13, 2018, in Auburn, Ala..
Behind Aubie’s stripes By ABIGAIL SCHMIDT Lifestyle Writer
The loveable orange and striped face we see everywhere, who never fails to put a smile on people’s face is of course Aubie, but a lot goes into everything Aubie does. Mike Reynolds, the faculty advisor to Aubie, said Aubie appears at roughly 1,200 events each year. However, these events cover more than just Auburn Athletics. Reynolds sees Aubie as an ambassador of Auburn University because Aubie not only does sport-related events, but he also goes to festivities around campus and the community, nursing rooms, hospitals and schools. For those who wish to request Aubie, a request link can be found on the Student Government Association’s webpage under the Aubie link. Ella Cunningham, a director of Aubie for SGA, explained Aubie can be requested to do something at the event, usually that involves taking pictures or dancing. Aubie does not charge to make an appearance unless to pay for
travel expenses if it’s out of town. Unless that event is visiting a sick child, then the program covers those travel funds. Reynolds recalled a particular visit to a sick child that Aubie did. A man requested Aubie to come to see his 3 or 4-year-old niece who just had open-heart surgery and hadn’t spoken since the surgery. He remarks that as soon as Aubie walked into see her, the girl spoke, saying “War Eagle.” “If Aubie could talk he would tell you that the appearance that most effective have nothing to do with athletics,” Reynolds said. “It has to do with bringing happiness to a family, a child.” Both Reynolds and Cunningham emphasize that Aubie is about bringing happiness to Auburn and the Auburn Family. “I think Aubie really ties everything that is Auburn together,” said Cunningham. “He brings the family aspect into it as well as the university.” When Aubie came into the picture, it all started with Phil Neel. Reynolds said Aubie’s began with Neel drawing a picture of a cartoon tiger on the football pro-
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grams in 1958. From there, James Lloyd, the director of spirit at the time, gathered funds to make the image of Aubie a reality. Aubie made his first debut at the Women’s SEC Basketball Tournament in 1979, and now, the program to support Aubie has expanded and progressed ever since. Currently within the program, there are four friends of Aubie and three directors. Within the three directors, there is one that focuses on scheduling, one for marketing and one that heads the committee. The committee is made up of volunteers who help make the props Aubie uses during the games. With all that goes into the program, there’s always one Aubie. In the end, all his hard work is worth it in order to bring the special sort of happiness he carries with him. “He brings a happiness that’s hard for me to describe,” said Reynolds. “Generally, I could see him every day if I wanted, and every day it’s still the same feeling of excitement even with me seeing him all the time.”
Durango Taqueria y Carniceria, off of North Dean Road, brings the taste and flavors of Mexico to the heart of Auburn. Open since 2010, this family-owned and family-friendly restaurant serves authentic Mexican dishes such as torta cubana, camarones and culetas ahumadas. Connected to the restaurant is a carniceria mercado, a meat shop and market, which offers freshly cut meats, fresh produce and baked goods. Jesús Santillanes, owner and chef of the Durango Taqueria y Carniceria, learned to cook from his mother and from having worked at other restaurants. He was born in Durango, Mexico, hence the name of the restaurant, and he has brought a piece of his home to Auburn. At the restaurant, each dish on the menu is in Spanish but includes an English translation of ingredients and what the dish includes. Santillanes’ favorite dish on the menu is carne asada, which is grilled steak with fresh onions, tomatoes and bell peppers and is served with rice, beans and flour tor-
tillas. At home, Santillanes said that he cooks what he serves in the restaurant. Spanish professor and senior lecturer at Auburn University, Kerri Muñoz said, “It is the most authentic food that my family has found in Auburn.” She recommends the tacos carnitas. Santillanes thinks Americanized Mexican food, or Tex-Mex, is wrong. “I think they are wrong because they try to sell fake food,” said Santillanes. “It is not real Mexican food.” He wants to create an understanding of what is authentic and culturally correct. “The thing to do is to sell the real stuff,” Santillanes said. “People go to Mexico for vacation and order hardshell tacos with ground beef and cheese, and they are surprised when that is not offered.” Santillanes has noticed Auburn students at his restaurant, and he encourages patrons to try new things. “People are scared to try some items on the menu, but people continue to come back,” Santillanes said. But do not be afraid, chicken and cheese quesadillas are still a hot-commodity at Durango Taqueria y Carniceria.
MARIE LIPSKI / PHOTOGRAPHER
Durango Taqueria y Carcineria is an authentic Mexican restaurant and market off of Dean Road. JOSHUA FISHER / PHOTOGRAPHER
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Abbigail Hickey, Auburn Universitys campusPrint dietitian speaks with The PlainsDeadline: man on Thursday, Aug. 23, 2018 in Auburn, NoonAla. three business days
prior to publication.
Release Date: Thursday, October 25, 2018
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Los Angeles Times Daily Crossword Puzzle Edited by Rich Norris and Joyce Nichols Lewis
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