The Auburn Plainsman 11.13.14

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The Auburn Plainsman

A Spirit That Is Not Afraid

Thursday, November 13, 2014 Vol. 121, Issue 22, 12 Pages

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

Faking it won’t make it laws

Online

Police and local businesses crack down on fake ID laws ThePlainsman.com VIDEO: Bike lanes on concourse inside campus

Kate Seckinger Intrigue Reporter

Using a fake ID is a way for younger students to party like upperclassmen, but the Auburn Police Division and local businesses are cracking down on people using fake IDs. An employee of Z&Z Tobacco and Spirits on North College Street, who wishes to remain anonymous, said he knows many students possess and use a fake, and he and his fellow employees won’t put up with it.

“We just don’t allow under-

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Adopt-A-Spot comes to campus community

age drinking,” said the employee.

“There are signs up everywhere in our store telling you that ‘We ID everyone, every time.’”

The signs posted in Z&Z tell customers they’ll be carded when they walk in the door, but the employee said they are still surprised when they get up to the register and their identification is scanned.

“Even if we get a customer who’s a regular, we’ll look at his ID and scan it for verification,” the employee said. “If we run it and it comes back fake, there’s no sale and you lose possession of that ID.”

The employee said it may sound harsh, but in a college town, the precautions are critical.

“We scan them for our safety and yours,” the employee said. “We don’t mess around with that, and neither should anyone else. Using a fake ID isn’t something that should be taken lightly.”

Community Services Capt. Will Mathews said APD has never taken underage drinking lightly, and APD is cracking down harder than ever with the help of new grant funding.

» See ID a2

raye may / photo editor

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Renew Opelika Road project

student spotlight

Police

Autopsy performed on body found on I-85

sports

Jim Little

Community Reporter

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Takeaways from exhibition

photos by emily enfinger / assistant photo editor

Brooks Spraetz, senior in supply chain management, checks IDs outside of the Quixotes on South College Street.

Student bouncers secure bars

intrigue

Kyle Nazario Intrigue Editor

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Recipes to cook on the cast-iron skillet index Campus Opinion Community Sports Intrigue

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Quixotes was packed Nov. 8, even though it was the Saturday night after Auburn lost to Texas A&M 41-38.

After the game, fans of both teams found their way to the bars. The line outside Quixotes stretched to the doors of the Gap next door.

For Austin Smith, bouncer at Quixotes and junior in finance, “game days are crazy.”

Smith sat on a wooden chair outside the door to the left of the bar’s main entrance. He wore a camo baseball cap and neon yellow hoodie.

Smith directed patrons to the front, where fellow bouncer

Brooks Spraetz, senior in supply chain management, was checking IDs and giving out brown wristbands for 21-andover customers.

During weekday mornings, Smith goes to class.

During nights and Saturdays, Smith works as a bouncer.

“Your main job is to be protection for people,” Smith said.

“If anything happens, you’re expected to deal with it. There will be fights. It’s what you expect in a bar.”

Smith said he was excited when he first took the job during Christmas break 2013.

“I thought I was the coolest

» See bouncer a2

A man was found dead under the bridge at the South College Street exit along Interstate 85, Saturday, Nov. 8, according to the Auburn Police Division.

Lee County Coroner Bill Harris pronounced the man dead at the scene at 12:15 p.m. after police and paramedics responded to a report of someone lying beside I-85 at 11:45 a.m.

According to Capt. Will Mathews with the APD, no identification was present on the man, who was white and appeared to be in his 50s, but authorities are working to

identify him.

“There doesn’t appear to be any foul play,” Mathews said.

Mathews said he believes the man may have been homeless and living under the bridge.

Authorities have taken the body to the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences in Montgomery to determine the cause of death.

An autopsy was performed Monday, Nov. 10, and the man’s identification will be announced pending notification of next of kin, according to Lt. Clarence Stewart with the APD. Check ThePlainsman.com for updates.

miss auburn

top five candidates catherine taylor lauren jones dae jackson caroline beauchaine mi’a callens Austin Smith, junior in finance, stands guard outside of Quixotes.

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The Auburn Plainsman

Thursday, November 13, 2014

Bars

» From A1

kid,” Smith said. “I get to work late at night, hang around with a bunch of girls and throw people out of a bar.”

Though he said he still likes his job, Smith said the novelty of throwing people out of the bar has worn off.

“I’m tired of doing it,” Smith said. “It just gets [to be] a pain, and it’s just unnecessary. People need to leave on their own.”

Christopher Cotton, another Quixotes bouncer, said the number of people he has to physically eject varies.

“In a week, you might throw out two to three people,” Cotton said. “Most people, if you ask them to leave, they will leave.”

Smith said his first option is to ask an unruly customer’s friends to remove the person. If he or she becomes physically aggressive, Smith wraps them in a bear hug and carries them to the street.

“We’re not allowed to hit anyone,” Smith said. “The idea is to get them outside the door in the safest way possible.”

Smith said he has even had to eject people he knows when they become unruly.

“I’ve thrown some of my

ID

» From A1

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Recently, the division partnered with the East Alabama Mental Health Center. The partnership required funding to provide education about underage drinking and enforce laws preventing the illegal consumption of alcohol.

The funds allowed APD to place more officers downtown to look for underage drinking violations.

The extra officers patrol the downtown bar scene Wednesday through Saturday nights, and have been active since mid-October. Mathews said APD plans to extend the support as long as the grant funds are available.

Mathews said officers were eager to increase presence downtown on heavier partying nights.

“Underage drinking violations aren’t more important to us now than (they were) six months or a year ago,” Mathews said. “We’ve just been given the opportunity to work more and have the slots for officers to do it.”

Mathews said the Auburn officers perform foot patrols on downtown sidewalks and the bars or businesses selling alcohol.

Mathews said this extra presence is to ensure the safety of students around Auburn.

“Officers will go in different bars from time to time to walk through and see if something gives them reasonable suspicion a crime is being committed,” Mathews said. “If a student is visibly intoxicated and is causing a disruption, it’s procedure to check his or her ID.” Mathews said an officer

emily enfinger / assistant photo editor

A Quixotes bouncer stands watch inside the bar at the dance floor.

best friends out of here,” Smith said.

Cotton said an average night involves a lot of standing around and watching the crowd.

“Every now and then, you get something that’s out of hand, and you have to handle the situation, but most of the time, you just watch people,” Cotton said. “You have to answer a lot of stupid questions, but that’s pretty much the gist of it.”

“

Underage drinking violations aren’t more important to us now than (they were) six months ago. We’ve just been given the opportunity to work more and have the slots for officers to do it.”

—Will Mathews community services APD captain

needs probable cause to check identification, but wants to remind students simply possessing a fake ID is illegal.

“You can be charged with a misdemeanor offense for having that fake in your possession and not even using it,” Mathews said. “If you take it to the next step and present yourself as someone or an age you’re not, you’re looking at even bigger fines and a court date.”

Mathews said he wants to remind students the legal drinking age is set at 21 for a scientific purpose.

“We realize this is a college town and students want to experiment, but it often turns into a tragedy,” Mathews said. “We want to prevent that, and part of the way we can do it is being present downtown on the nights those tragedies tend to happen.”

Ben McNeese, bouncer at The Bank Vault on South College Street, said Auburn police officers have definitely in-

Smith said the work becomes difficult on weekends, when he functions on as little as two hours of sleep.

“I’ve been on my feet since 9 o’clock this morning, and I’ve been sitting down since 8 (p.m.), and it’s glorious,” Smith said.

Smith said he appreciates the work and having the chance to work so many hours. In another job, he might not have the chance to earn as much.

“I love this job,” Smith said. creased their presence.

“It’s not a bad thing like students may think it is,” McNeese said. “They’re trying to take care of people. I can see it from both sides, obviously, but they congregate right here and I’ve talked to them. They mean well, and when they say that, they’re telling the truth.”

McNeese said while other businesses might turn a blind eye to using fake IDs, The Bank Vault does not.

“We follow the rules,” McNeese said. “We have nothing to hide.”

McNeese said he didn’t go out and drink at bars until he was 21 because it’s better that way.

“Taking that risk just wasn’t worth it to me,” McNeese said.

“There’s no point in wanting to have a good time, but having to be worried the whole time.

I didn’t want to be paranoid. I know it’s unlikely for them to listen, but I advise students to do the same. Taking the chance of having a charge on your record isn’t worth one night.”

Mathews said he wants students to know the police aren’t downtown to ruin students’ nights.

“We realize most students are on their own for the first time amd they’re testing the boundaries,” Mathews said.

“We’re sensitive to that, but at the same time, we have an obligation to the community to protect people who might not be thinking with the clearest mind.

You hear about the dangers of consuming too much alcohol or driving under the influence, but using a fake ID has the same consequences. We have to protect them from themselves and protect them from hurting someone else.”

Sorority dress-up

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Proceeds benefit the Auburn University Bands In memory of Sarah Anderson

Thursday, November 13, 2014

Campus A3

The Auburn Plainsman

alumni

Accomplished alumna returns to the Plains Patricia Green Campus Writer

Maria Baugh, managing editor of Food Network Magazine, spoke to Auburn University students during Journalism Day on Nov. 7, 2014.

“The University is so happy to have Maria Baugh here,” said Jennifer Adams, director of the School of Communication and Journalism. “She has worked at many magazines, such as InStyle, Glamour, Teen People, House and Garden and more.”

Baugh graduated from Auburn University’s College of Liberal Arts with degrees in pre-law and journalism.

Baugh said magazines were something she always loved.

Baugh said she began reading an issue of Reader’s Digest she found at her grandparents’ house when she was young.

“I fell in love with that magazine,” Baugh said. “They got a subscription when I was around 9 or 10. It was something that I couldn’t

“

Take a chance. You need two out of three things: you need to like where you are, like the people you are with and have a job that you love. If you have two of those, you will be fine.”

—Maria Baugh

managing editor at food network

get enough of.”

According to Baugh, she and one of her best friends started their own magazine when they were 13 years old.

“We called our magazine The Enlightenment,” Baugh said. “I have no idea where we got that name from, but it was the ’70s, and my friend and I thought it was cool. Unfortunately, the magazine folded after one issue because

Baugh said she took a quarter off to decide what to do.

She decided to come back to Auburn and pursue a degree in journalism.

Baugh graduated with her second degree and landed an internship at The Gulf Shores Islander and then with Covington News.

There, she met a fellow Auburn graduate who encouraged her to come to New York City.

From changing jobs and weaving through positions in New York, Baugh said she knew that she was going to have to move around in the industry to move up.

Baugh also said taking a job that you don’t know how to do is completely acceptable, because that is where she found her success as a managing editor.

“Take a chance,” Baugh said. “You need two out of three things: you need to like where you are, like the people you are with and have a job that you love. If you have two of those, you will be fine.”

we had bad circulation and no ads.”

When it was time for Baugh to start deciding what she wanted to do in college, she said she knew she loved writing, but her family wanted her to pursue a degree that would be more practical.

“My family is very linear and very literal,” Baugh said. “Basically, that translated into asking how are you going to make money, and making money meant law school.”

Baugh came to Auburn and finished her first degree. However, she said the day she graduated in pre-law, she knew she made a big mistake.

After going with one of her classmates to pick up her diploma, she said she had a revelation and realized what she wanted to do with her life.

“I literally passed a sign in the Haley Center with the word journalism printed on it,” Baugh said. “It was like, ‘That’s it, that’s what I should have done. I’ve blown it.’”

After going home following graduation,

elections

Miss Auburn 2015 top 5 candidates announced Nicole Fulkerson Campus Writer

The top five candidates for Miss Auburn 2015 were announced Tuesday, Nov. 11 on Cater Lawn.

The 2015 candidates are Catherine Taylor, Lauren Jones, Dae Jackson, Caroline Beauchaine and Mi’a Calllens.

Students and friends cheered as the candidates were announced.

“It really is an honor to be chosen with just so many amazing women that were nominated,” said Dae Jackson, Miss Auburn 2015 candidate and junior in journalism. “It’s an honor to have my name seen next to theirs.”

The top 20 candidates were interviewed by a panel of judges to determine the top five.

Candidates were asked a series of questions and scored based on a point system.

“We covered everything from why we accepted our nomination, different ways we viewed Auburn, how we have seen Auburn grow and change during our time here and then of course we talk a little bit about our platform too,” said Caroline Beauchaine, Miss Auburn 2015 candidate and junior in public relations.

During her term, Miss Auburn works with the Freshman Leadership Program.

Beauchaine said FLP would help her put her platform into action.

“Miss Auburn is run on a platform, so a cause she wants Auburn students to get in-

“

I am going to sleep tonight and then take it one day at a time. I’m excited to see where it takes me.”

—Catherine Taylor Miss Auburn candidATE

volved in as well,” said Sloane Bell, director of elections. “She gets her own [program] and they get to help her implement her platform on Auburn’s campus.”

During her term, Miss Auburn will take on several other roles, including serving alongside the SGA and being a member or the War Eagle Girls and Plainsmen.

The candidates will now prepare for their campaigns in February.

“They basically become oriented on how the elections process works and spend their time preparing their materials, staffs and plans for the week of,” Bell said.

Catherine Taylor, Miss Auburn 2015 candidate and junior in Spanish, said she is excited, but looking forward to a good nights sleep.

“I am going to sleep tonight and then take it one day at a time,” Taylor said. “I’m excited to see where it takes me.”

Campaign week will begin Feb. 4, 2015, ending with voting day on Feb. 10, 2015.

Kenny MOSS / PHOTOGRAPHER

LEFT TO RIGHT: Catherine Taylor, M’ia Callens, Dae Jackson, Caroline Beauchaine and Lauren Jones are the Miss Auburn 2015 candidates.

Senior Airman

RYAN HOLLEY

alumni

Film tells story of Auburn’s first African-American football player Brian Stultz Campus Writer

Racial barriers were everywhere in James Owens’ life growing up, but instead of accepting them, he decided to break them down.

Owens broke the college football color barrier in the state of Alabama when he enrolled at Auburn University in 1969, becoming Auburn’s first African-American scholarship player.

“God chose me as the one that could overcome,” Owens said.

The movie “Quiet Courage” tells Owens’ story of struggle, athletic accomplishment and courage.

“It was a great, wonderful journey,” Owens said. “It didn’t start off like you would have wanted, but God, being God, allowed us to get through it. There were some lonely days and scary days, but we are just thankful.”

Owens was a highly recruited player out of high school, with up to 63 schools wanting him to come play for them.

He not only excelled in football, but was All State in basketball and track and field as well.

Being the first AfricanAmerican football player in not only Alabama, but Mississippi, Georgia and South Carolina.

The nation watched to see how both Auburn and Owens

would handle the situation.

Owens played running back for the Tigers from 1970-72, playing alongside Auburn legends Pat Sullivan and Terry Beasley.

Drafted by the New Orleans Saints, Owens was injured before the season and never played a game in the NFL. The Fairfield, Alabama native returned home and to his job at U.S. Steel.

Thom Gossom Jr., Owens’ roommate and author of “Walk On,” a book about Owens’ journey to integration at Auburn, is the producer of “Quiet Courage.”

“The story basically speaks for itself,” Gossom said. “It’s a story of his courage, but courage is exhibited in a lot of different ways. The University definitely exhibited courage in signing James because they were first and they could have done like a lot of the other schools did and waited until someone else took that step.”

The film features Owens’ teammates and friends telling stories of his courage and kindness.

His doctor, who is also in the film, speaks of his failing heart.

In 2012, it was announced that Owens needed a new heart. He spent weeks at the University of Alabama-Birmingham hospital, but because of medical conditions, he was taken off of the heart transplant list.

Owens said he is a deeply religious man and served as a pastor for 11 years at Pleasant Ridge Baptist Church in Dadeville. He said his faith has helped him during rough times.

“The first thing is to put your trust in God,” Owens said. “We need to get back to serving. We need to appreciate what he has given us.”

In 2012, Auburn honored Owens by awarding him the first James Owens Courage Award.

According to Auburn’s website, the award will be presented annually to a current or former Auburn football player who has displayed courage in the face of adversity, distinguishing himself while contributing to the betterment of Auburn University.

Gossom said Owens is a happy person despite facing adversity.

Athletic director Jay Jacobs spoke about the award in 2012.

“James Owens is an Auburn icon and one of the most important figures in the storied history of Auburn football,” Jacobs said. “It is only fitting that he is the first recipient of this new award named in his honor.”

“At 18 years old, to carry that weight around, I think you are very lucky to end up whole and a person that doesn’t harbor bitterness, which James doesn’t,” Gossom said.

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Thursday, November 13, 2014

The Auburn Plainsman

Adopt-A-Spot keeps campus beautiful SUSTAINABILITY

Kris Martins Campus Writer

Named the greenest college campus in Alabama by The Princeton Review’s 2014 Guide to Green Colleges earlier this semester, Auburn University is known for implementing sustainable practices and resources, such as Weagle Water, on-campus recycling and the removal of Styrofoam products. Auburn extended its sustainability efforts to include more specific campus areas through the Adopt-A-Spot program.

The program involves certain locations around campus individuals or groups can adopt and maintain. Since the program’s launch in October, 16 groups and seven individuals have adopted a spot on campus.

According to the Adopt-A-Spot official website, the program is a collaborative effort between the Office of Sustainability, Landscape Services, the Waste Reduction and Recycling Department, the Administrative and Professional Assembly Welfare Committee, Staff Council, SGA and Graduate Student Council.

Amy Strickland, Adopt-A-Spot committee member from the Office of Sustainability, contributed to the initial logistics of the program.

“We hope to see it help to kindle a sense of community among different groups on campus,” Strickland said. “Overall, I believe the program helps build that culture of sustainability at Auburn.”

James Smith, junior in electrical engineering and vice president of Auburn for Water, maintains the upper quad with his organization.

“Although it is upsetting to see how much litter is casually tossed around our campus, it excites me to see both our group and other campus groups take the initiative to help keep our campus clean,” Smith said. “Seeing students clean up after one another really solidifies the idea of the Auburn Family.”

Michael Freeman, chair of staff council for Adopt-A-Spot, adopted the Auburn Research Park area and along South College Street with Environmental Management and the Water Resources Institute.

“It gives us a chance to get out of our normal routine and improve teamwork and interaction while helping keep out campus free of litter,” Freeman said.

Interested parties can request a spot by following the guidelines on the Adopt-A-Spot website.

CHARLOTTE KELLY / GRAPHICS EDITOR

All information can be found on cws.auburn.edu/adoptaspot.

student government

SGA passes new unisex restroom bill Ben Ruffin

Campus Reporter

One week after the Student Government Association senate tabled a bill favoring the implementation of unisex restrooms in future buildings on campus, the senate revisited the matter Monday, Nov. 10 at its weekly meeting.

The bill passed.

India Napier, senator for the College of Veterinary Medicine, who sponsored the bill, said unisex bathrooms could benefit a variety of people including families and transgender people in last week’s Nov. 3 meeting.

At this senate meeting, a number of students and faculty showed up to

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voice their concerns about the need for unisex restrooms.

“This bill will not affect a majority of the student body,” said Elizabeth Beasley, sophomore in forestry.

“If anything, for the people it would affect, it is probably very important to actually have these be implemented across campus. Most of the unisex restrooms are not available to the students, or if they are, they are extremely out of the way.”

The bill will make it University protocol to implement unisex restrooms in newly constructed buildings across campus.

Last week, Jeremy Wiley, director of the Diversity and Multicultural Affairs Committee, said the Univer-

sity had 178 unisex restrooms. However, Wiley’s numbers were corrected

by Elizabeth Moody, senator at-large, whose research showed the University actually has 235 unisex restrooms, 178 of which are available to students and visitors.

The numbers did not change how senators voted as the bill passed with less discussion than was held the week before.

Napier, who said she was not pleased with last week’s results, said the bill being tabled was the best thing that could have happened because it gave senators the opportunity to hear the student body.

“What’s a slap in the face to you is another moment to triumph, that’s

how I see it,” Napier said. “We had a lot of people show up this time and had more voices to support the bill, which is better than what we did last week. (The bill) being tabled was actually the best thing that could have happened.”

Although Napier said she is happy the bill finally passed, she expressed concern about her fellow SGA senators after they voted to remove Max Zinner, political director of Spectrum, Auburn’s LGBT community, from the bill.

“I am so happy that it passed and that’s all that matters, but I am disappointed with the modifications that were made,” Napier said. “It was clear that the modifications, such as

the lack of the gender identity line and the removal of the individual, Max Zinner, really indicates that there is a discomfort in regard to gender identity with senators in SGA, and that’s something that they’re going to have to deal with, not me.”

In other SGA news: - The senate passed two carryover requests.

- SGA currently holds $138,513.23 from last academic year, which was approved to be carried over to the 2014 academic year.

- The University Program Council currently holds $23,506.16 from last academic year, which was approved to be carried over to the 2014 academic year.

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Opinion

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Thursday, November 13, 2014

ThePlainsman.com

Opinion

Our view

Leave Lady Luck out of Auburn football SOCIAL MEDIA ON THE PLAINS

Topic: some claim auburn’s luck has run out after the loss to Texas a&m Viewpoint: calling it luck is unfair to auburn’s football players and coaching staff

Responses to “Student organization addresses offensive Halloween costume”

Since Auburn’s unexpected loss to Texas A&M, it seems the majority of national coverage is declaring our luck has run out.

“Auburn’s luck runs out versus Texas A&M,” an ESPN headline announced.

“It’s as if karma has caught up to No. 3 Auburn after the prayer at Jordan-Hare,” said Jon Solomon, national college football writer.

“The string of victories was already unnatural,” wrote Dan Wolken with USA Today wrote.

The word luck has become closely associated with Auburn football over the past few years.

There have been moments of luck, such as last year’s game against Georgia.

It was lucky the ball deflected into the hands of Ricardo Louis, allowing him to score the game-winning touchdown.

Even then, the team trained for long passes and that training paid off after the deflecion.

However, saying every close game Auburn has won is the result of luck is a disservice to the team and coaching staff.

In the 2013 Iron Bowl, Chris Davis returned a missed field goal to win the game.

While the play was difficult to achieve, it was practiced. Coach Gus Malzahn even called a timeout before the play to put Davis, the team’s usual punt returner, in as the return man instead of defensive back Ryan Smith.

Auburn’s coaching staff has put in hard work to get the team to where it is now. It’s important to remember that two years ago, in the 2012 season, the Tigers were 3-9. In a single year under Malzahn, we were SEC champions.

Taylor Cardoza “How is it not offensive that Ms. Shannon Arthur says, “I think African American students don’t need to feel like the red-headed stepchild anymore.” How is that not offensive to people who fall under the category of red headed or being a stepchild...”

Nancy Horner Watson “Poor choice of words she used. Using stereotypes to condemn other sterotypes!”” charlotte kelly / graphics editor

This year, we’ve lost twice already, yet we’re still in the top 10 and are the highest ranked two-loss team in the nation.

Luck plays no part in Auburn having one of the best offensive lines in the country.

Luck didn’t give Cameron Artis-Payne 1,190 rushing yards on 208 carries, making him the top rusher in the conference.

Luck didn’t make Auburn the top rushing offense nationally in 2013, and it certainly wasn’t what put Tre Mason in New York City for the Heisman Trophy ceremony.

This year the media seems to be on the edge of their seats, watching anxiously for Auburn to lose and break this unnatural string of miracles.

We have lost, twice, and each time because of mistakes that could have easily been avoided.

Wolken claimed a majority of Auburn fans will say we lost the Texas A&M game because our luck ended, when most fans have said we lost because our defense couldn’t tackle and gave up too many points to recover from.

Any good team in the top level of college football is going to need a bit of luck to be champions.

A fumble recovery is lucky. Two seasons

question of the week: Does luck play a large part in Auburn football?

Yes- have you seen our football games?

Kind of, depending on the game No, luck has nothing to do with it

Mallory Cleary “As a redhead who is also a stepchild, it’s offensive, but surely not as offensive as blackfacing.”

Gray Lane “The student in quesion is an African American.... Which is what most people are missing in this story. Given that fact, and the fact it happened off campus... Who gives a s---?”

Charles Henagan “Gray an African American student dressed as a hung slave?

Thats a difficult one to accept ie believe. If you wish to explain, factually, how you know this then we will, using your phrasing, “give a s---” what you have to say”

Responses to “Taxi drivers still disgruntled with Uber operating in city” Adam Foutz “Sounds like someone can’t compete with clean vehicles that don’t smell like puke and bad decisions.”

Alexander Burke Roberson “How about the taxis charge fair prices then, and be more available. The app, online payment, and cleanliness of Uber’s services are what is more appealing.”

Vote online at ThePlainsman.com of remaining in the top 10, despite losses, is not luck. It’s hard work and dedication.

It’s long days of practice over scorching summers and nights of film study after hard defeats.

It’s our players and our coaches that have determined their place in college football, not Lady Luck.

Responses to the picture “Ole Miss wide receiver tweets prayers for Duke Williams” @kfoun10 “Mad respect!” @magruver “Very impressive. Great sportsmanship.”

letter to the editor

When you don’t choose to be homeless In the Oct. 30 edition of The Plainsman, Becky Hardy, editor-in-chief, profiled Patton Chambers, a student who is “homeless by choice.”

From my understanding of the article, Chambers relies entirely on University facilities for typical activities of daily living; he sleeps in the library nightly, he eats minimal meals like oatmeal and peanuts and he carries his belongings in a heavy-duty backpack.

“I just want to experience something,” Chambers said when discussing his motivation for choosing to be homeless.

Chambers’ minimal lifestyle shouldn’t be condemned, as many notable figures took similar paths on their searches for enlightenment.

However, I want to challenge this image of homelessness by asserting that Chambers’ story is not representative of the stories of most individuals who are experiencing homelessness, including people in Auburn.

What Chambers fails to acknowledge

is an overwhelming majority of situations of homelessness are not sparked by the desire to explore life, nor are they thoroughly planned.

Life crises like poverty, a sudden job loss, domestic violence, insurmountable medical bills and even a family unaccepting of a LGBTQ relative can lead people to the streets.

The National Coalition for the Homeless speculates almost a quarter of the homeless are United States veterans, unable to reintegrate into society.

Homelessness is not, as Chambers would have readers believe, “an endless vacation.” In fact, those who are homeless are susceptible to high rates of violence, substance abuse and mental health issues. Furthermore, being homeless can impede access to quality medical care.

Chambers said if he got an intense illness or something happened in his family, he would quit his homeless lifestyle.

For most individuals experiencing homelessness, quitting is not an option.

On Saturday, Nov. 8, as Auburn’s campus buzzed in anticipation of the game against Texas A&M, Auburn police responded to reports of the body of an older adult man lying lifeless under the bridge of the South College interstate exit.

The appearance of the body and lack of identification suggest the man may have been homeless.

When we choose to concentrate on stories like Chambers’ and ignore the stories of those who did not choose to be homeless, we don’t seek to understand the underlying causes of homelessness, and thus don’t work toward reducing homelessness in our own communities.

To find out how you can advocate for those who are homeless, go to the Alabama Alliance to End Homelessness’s website at http://www.alaeh.org/.

Ashley Edwards is a senior in social work at Auburn. She can be reached at ale0014@auburn.edu.

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Community

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Thursday, November 13, 2014

ThePlainsman.com

Community

Construction

Phase 1 of Renew Opelika Road Project approved Jim Little

Community Reporter

Opelika Road will be getting a facelift.

The Auburn City Council approved Phase 1 of the Renew Opelika Road Project on Nov. 4.

Assistant City Manager Kevin Cowper said two years of planning went into the project.

Upgrades including new crosswalks, traffic signals, medians and sidewalks will be added to Opelika Road in three phases.

Phase 1, which will start in early 2015, costs $1.5 million and will focus on Opelika Road between Gay and Ross Streets.

“We think it’s important to maintain (Opelika Road) as a healthy economic corridor,” Cowper said. “I guess, through the years, you’ve seen it decline as a result of new shopping centers being built elsewhere.”

A tax incentive program has already rebated $3 million to businesses along Opelika Road.

The program has resulted in $11 million being spent on renovations to business. Zoning regulations have also been changed to make the area friendlier to businesses. “(The new zoning regulations) have generally made it easier to develop and a little bit quicker to get through the development process,” Cowper said.

Opelika Road was formerly a state highway, but has since been turned over to city control.

Cowper said the lanes were widened and speeds

service

Contributed by the City of Auburn

The Auburn City Council approved Phase 1 of the Renew Opelika Road Project on Nov. 4.

increased during its time as a state highway.

“So if you’re in a commercial area and traffic is speeding all the way through, it’s not really conducive to stop there and going shopping,” Cowper said.

Narrowing lanes and the addition of bike lanes

and medians will slow traffic and boost the commercial appeal of the area, according to Cowper.

David Dorton, director of public affairs for the city of Auburn, said other ideas were studied, such as burying power lines, but were deemed too expensive.

However, new landscaping and trees along Opelika Road will be added.

Mayor Bill Ham said he is in favor of the project.

“I think Opelika Road, generally, looks really bad,” Ham said. “It needs help.”

The intersection of East University Drive and Opelika Road has one of the highest traffic counts in Lee County, according to Ham. Phase 2, which will focus on the East University intersection, is also expected to begin at the same time, but certain aspects of the second phase have not yet been funded. Phase three will concentrate on the Dean Road intersection once it is approved by the Council.

“We’re taking a pay-as-you-go approach to these projects,” Cowper said. “We’re opting to do the project in phases as we get money in so we’re not having to borrow.”

Cowper said state grants are providing part of the funding for Phase 2 of the project, but the city is still trying to come up with a way to fund the rest.

“It’s a long-term project,” Ham said. “It will probably take a minimum of 10 years, probably 20 years, to fully implement it. But if we don’t start something, we’re never going to see anything happen.”

The road will remain open during construction, but some lane closures and traffic delays may occur, according to Cowper.

music

“

Giving back during the holiday season Kailey Miller

Community Writer

As the temperatures drop, costs, such as heating bills start to rise, and not everyone in the community are able to keep up.

For some local families, groceries end up taking a back seat to other necessities during the holiday season.

The community has many places to help those in need, but they are always looking for more volunteers.

Lakeview Baptist Church, the Food Bank of East Alabama and Auburn United Methodist Church are some of the places accepting food donations, especially around Thanksgiving.

“It is something that is necessary, unfortunately, in our community,” said Pamela Baginski, volunteer food pantry director at Lakeview Baptist Church. “We have a lot of need here, and this is one way to actually meet the need and also to show people that have not ever been to a church that it’s what we stand for.”

Lakeview Baptist Church food pantry is open Monday mornings from 9-11 a.m.

Families of four or fewer recieve one box, and families of five or more recieve a bigger box.

They fill the boxes with groceries from the Food Bank of East Alabama, different grocery stores and donations from church members and the public.

“Our job is to gather together the best supply of donated food that we can, and then we make that available to churches and nonprofit organizations that have some kind of outreach to the community in need,” said Martha Henk, executive director of the Food Bank of East Alabama.

“Winter is an issue for people that are living very close to the bones. A lot of times, winter puts a particular strain on budgets.”

Henk said the best way for people to volunteer is to call the Food Bank, or go online to find information on how to help.

Henk said a lot of the agencies they work with are working hard to gather Thanksgiving food before the holiday.

“One year we were able to provide the turkey and the fixings and she said, ‘Oh, now I can invite my family home for a meal,” Henk said about a woman they were able to help one year.

Our job is to gather together the best supply of donated food that we can, and then we make that available to churches and nonprofit organizations that have some kind of outreach to the community in need. Winter is an issue for people that are living very close to the bones.

A lot of times winter puts a particular strain on budgets. ” —Martha Henk

Executive director at the food

bank of east Alabama

“‘Now I’ll have something to feed them.’ I can certainly understand those of us that are looking forward to a nice Thanksgiving and Christmas meal. We really understand that there are others in the community that also would like to have that same blessing.”

The AUMC food pantry relies mostly on donations for their pantry, but they get some of their food from the Food Bank of East Alabama as well.

Volunteers prepare their boxes Thursdays and serve Fridays. Some of the boxes have staple foods, such as peanut butter, while other boxes have cold products, such as milk.

“They are allowed the opportunity when we call their names to go through the line of the other goods and pick some of their personal preferences,” said Dianne Hill, volunteer with the AUMC food pantry.

For Thanksgiving, guests pre-register and are able to go through a drive-thru where the boxes are given to them, according to Hill.

For more information on how to volunteer at any of these places, go to foodbankofeastalabama.com/donate/volunteer, aumc.net/Ministries/CommunityOutreach/AUMCFoodPantry or lakeviewbaptist.org.

Charlotte kelley / Graphics Editor

Food pantries rely mostly on donations, but recieve some food from the Food Bank of East Alabama.

Contributed by Tricia Oliver

Singer Liam McGlynn performs alongside Aubie during one of his Amplify Auburn shows.

Local woman forms musical nonprofit for youth Rachel Davis

Community writer

Nia Denham has a passion for music — specifically, to help young musicians find places toperform.

For the past five years, Niahas helped young musicians in the Auburn-Opelika area find places to perform.

This year, she decided to form Amplify Auburn, a nonprofit group helping young musicians find performance venues and make music connections in the area.

Amplify Auburn is connected to Amplify OA Youth, and works with musicians younger than 18.

Nia said it’s hard for young musicians to find gigs when they approach venues alone.

“If one person goes to a restaurant with no musical press kit and says, ‘I want to play,’ they’re like, ‘Oh, yeah, like that’s happening,’” Nia said.

“But if I can get six kids together and say, ‘I can bring 50 people in,’ they’re thrilled to have us.”

The venture began when her son, Logan Denham, formed a band with some of his friends five years ago.

“They wanted gigs, and we were like, ‘Oh my God, how do you get gigs for 10-and 11year-olds?’” Nia said. “So the first thing we realized was that we needed a sound system. We started buying different sound equipment, and then I started looking for gigs that were suitable for the kids. Then, we found them, so they started performing around Opelika and Auburn.”

Since then, Nia and Logan found more young musicians who wanted gigs. As they grew older, they still wanted to perform.

Some Auburn students

worked with Nia in the past, including Nathan Coker, senior in studio and fine arts.

Coker won UPC’s Battle of the Bands earlier this semester.

“I worked with Nia a couple of years ago when I first started playing professionally, and she helped me get connected with Beef O’ Brady’s and a few other music venues in the area,” Coker said. “She’s very sweet and easy to work with.”

While they do not work together as often as they did in past years, Coker said Nia still helps him with performances from time to time.

“We’re still acquainted and she helps me out whenever she can, but it’s not as frequent as in the past years, since I’ve started to make my own connections,” Coker said. “In my personal experience, she helped connect me with different venue owners and introduced me to some solid music connections when I had first started playing music and had no idea what to do.”

Nia has placed musicians at several of venues, ranging from restaurants, such as Beef O’Brady’s, to bars such as Eighth and Rail, to Monarch Estates, a retirement home.

Nia said she understands people may think of the free entertainment they offer as low quality.

“These are not bad musicians. I will tell you, honestly, we do have some beginners who want a gig, but we have places that are appropriate for them, and we have students who are almost professional-level,” Nia said. “We know how to place people for whatever the goal is there.”

The quality of the sound equipment Amplify uses with their musicians is not lacking either, according to Nia. “We have a huge, huge

sound system,” Nia said. “For example, we did the sound for Earthfest this year. They had four stages. We ran two and Spicer’s ran the other two. We can provide sound comfortably for about 3,000 people.”

One of the bands that worked with Nia found success in the music industry.

Jule Vera performed in a Battle of the Bands in Valley, Alabama, where a Grammynominated singer, Mitch Dane, judged. The singer liked one of the band’s original songs and asked for the 13- and 14-yearolds to work with him. Last February, they signed a publishing contract with Sony Music, and are now touring nationwide.

“For people who think it doesn’t happen or it doesn’t happen where we are or anything like that, it can happen, and it does,” Nia said.

Amplify also works with students who have never performed on stage.

“We can start (the student) out and let them do one song, and typically for their first song, their shoulders are pulled in and they’ll look at the floor and they won’t look at the audience,” Nia said.

“Over the course of maybe a year, they’ll expand from one song to three songs to 10 minutes and 20 minutes, then all of a sudden this person is doing a 30 minute gig, smiling and laughing and having a great time, and they have just blossomed.”

Nia said it is nice to see students’ self-confidence grow.

“A lot of what we do is for the people who aren’t planning to be professional musicians,” Nia said.

To learn more about Amplify Auburn, visit their website at amplifyOAyouth.com.

Thursday, November 13, 2014

Local Government

DUI reports The following were arrested and charged with driving under the influence by the Auburn Police Division from Nov. 6-9: Nov. 6 -Miranda Swindle Langford, 33 Wire Road and Webster Road

Apartment moratorium public hearing scheduled Jim Little

Community Reporter

Nov. 7 - Alvin C. Hester, 49 Talebert Drive at Grant Avenue Nov. 8 - 17-year-old juvenile South College Street

crime reports The following crimes were reported by the Auburn Police Division from Nov. 6-9.

Nov. 6 - Theft of property was reported at the 300 block of North Gay Street at 2:13 p.m.

- Unlawful breaking and entering of a vehicle was reported at the 200 block of West Longleaf Drive at 11:50 a.m.

- Third-degree criminal trespass was reported at the 1700 block of South College Street at 5:45 p.m.

Nov. 7 - Second-degree criminal mischief was reported at the 100 block of Wright Street at 2:07 a.m.

- Damage to business property was reported at the 1600 block of East University Drive at 8 p.m.

Auburn is considering instituting a moratorium that would entail a delay or suspension of the construction of new apartment buildings.

A public hearing on the issue is scheduled to take place at the Auburn Chamber of Commerce at 714 E. Glenn Ave. on Monday, Nov. 17 at 6:30 p.m.

Mayor Bill Ham said at the Auburn City Council meeting Nov. 4., new apartment growth was getting out of control.

“I don’t like the m-word; I don’t like moratoriums on anything,” Ham said. “I’m not proposing that we do something for a long period of time, and I don’t know whether it needs to be 90 days or six months or whatever, but we need to call a timeout for just a little bit.”

Auburn studied how much apartment growth the city could sustain each year, 300 beds per year, according to Ham. “Since 2011, we’ve had about 2,200 new beds to date, and we have over 2,000 already approved, passed by the Plan-

ning Commission and the (city) council currently,” Ham said.

“That exceeds 300 per year by a long shot.”

Ham said at three times the suggested rate, it would not be long until Auburn was inundated with vacant units.

“It’s no secret what happens,” Ham said. “Our Auburn University students move to the newest stuff and they leave in their wake the older stuff.”

Ham said the issue becomes a health, safety and welfare problem as the older buildings start to deteriorate.

“I think there are strong feelings on both sides of the argument and the city council has made it clear that they want to hear from people so they can make an informed decision about it,” said Kevin Cowper, assistant city manager.

American Campus Communities, the company building the new 160 Ross apartments, as well as Serendipit Consulting, the marketing company for 319 Bragg, Auburn Reality and Northcutt Reality did not return calls by deadline.

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Nov. 8 - Reckless endangerment and harassment was reported at the 2000 block of South College Street at 6:35 p.m.

- Third-degree burglary was reported at the 100 block of Green Street

Stylists

Nov. 9 - Third-degree criminial mischief was reported at the 700 block of Aspen Heights Lane at 3:15 a.m.

–Reports provided by the Auburn Department of Public Safety 1

FAB FINDS at

S er vices:

- Shoplifting was reported at the 1700 block of South College Street at 1:43 p.m.

BRAGG014 9.54x9.75 Newspaper Ad A FINAL.pdf

Community A7

The Auburn Plainsman

10/20/14

6:43 PM

Emily enfinger / assistant photo editor

Mayor Bill Ham said new apartment growth is getting out of hand.

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Sports

A8

Thursday, November 13, 2014

scoreboard Soccer (11-6-3, 5-3-3)

ThePlainsman.com

Sports

opinion

Fumbled Away Texas A&M puts Auburn’s CFP hopes on life support night by an inferior offense.

David McKinney LAST WEEK SEC Tournament Loss vs. Kentucky, 2-0 UPCOMING NCAA Tournament Nov. 15 vs. Florida Gulf Coast

Volleyball (11-14, 3-9)

LAST WEEK Loss vs. Arkansas, 3-0 Win vs. Tennessee, 3-1 Nov. 12 at Florida, 6 p.m.

UPCOMING Nov. 16 at South Carolina Nov. 21 at Alabama

Men’s Basketball

RECENT Win vs. W. Alabama, 94-58 Exhibition UPCOMING Nov. 14 vs. Milwaukee Regular season opener Nov. 18 at Colorado

Women’s Basketball

2. No Pass Rush Part of the reason a true freshman was able to come into Jordan-Hare Stadium and embarrass this defense in the first half was because he had roughly an hour to throw every pass.

Save for the Ole Miss game, when Bo Wallace was sacked four times, the Auburn pass rush has been essentially nonexistent in 2014.

With a secondary that struggles mightily to get the ball carrier down, the defensive line is going to have to step up and pressure Hutson Mason in Athens. Mason may not be the best quarterback in the league, but then again, neither is Kyle Allen.

Sports@ theplainsman. com

Several things went wrong for Gus Malzahn and Auburn against Texas A&M, not the least of which were the two fumbles by the offense inside the 30-yard line within the last three minutes of the game.

But, if we’re being honest, the then third-ranked Tigers never should have been in that situation against an unranked Aggie team in the first place.

Here are five things the Tigers did poorly Saturday.

1. Tackling It seems pretty simple. If you don’t tackle the opposing player, you aren’t going to win a football game. Against Texas A&M, Auburn’s tackling was atrocious.

The Aggies racked up 453 total yards with a true freshman starting quarterback. Against Louisiana-Monroe, TAMU only gained 243 total yards.

That game was in College Station, Texas.

In Jordan-Hare Stadium, Kyle Allen and the Aggie offense screened and slanted the Auburn defense to death, and there were very few times when an Aggie player went down after the first defensive contact.

Defensive coordinator Ellis Johnson estimated the Aggies racked up 114 yards after contact. Somewhere in Athens, Georgia, a guy named Todd Gurley was watching this game, chomping at the bit to get back on the field, against a defense that got gashed all

3. Divided Play The first half against Texas A&M couldn’t have gone much worse for the Tigers. Kyle Allen and the Aggies shredded the Auburn defense for four touchdowns, and the offense, fast as it is, just couldn’t keep up.

Then, in the second half, the defense held the Aggies to only six points, and the offense came within three points of tying the game.

Then the offense fumbled twice inside its own 30-yard line in the last three minutes of the game.

If Auburn wants to beat Georgia, the offense and the defense are going to have to play well at the same time, and, save for the LSU game and the second half of the Arkansas game, they haven’t done that much this season in conference play.

4. Stupid Mistakes Ninety-nine percent of the time, if you give your running

emily enfinger / assistant photo editor

Auburn head coach Gus Malzahn grimaces on the sideline during the Tigers’ 41-38 loss to unranked Texas A&M. (Inset) Wide receiver D’haquille Williams is helped off the field after injuring his knee.

back the ball on the two-yard line twice in a row, he’ll get the ball into the end zone.

I know there have been plenty of times near the goal line when Nick Marshall has kept the ball and ran around the corner to the pylon, but that close to the end zone, there isn’t really much of a decision to be made. Auburn also had eight penalties for 65 yards. That’s an improvement from the Ole

Miss game, but still, 65 yards is a hefty chunk of yardage.

5. Overlooking Opponents I expected a win for the Tigers in this game. Almost everyone in the college football world expected a win. The Tigers were a 21-point favorite over a Texas A&M team in the midst of a season that looked all but lost.

Looming in the upcoming

weeks are games against Todd Gurley’s Georgia between the hedges and the Iron Bowl in Tuscaloosa.

It’s not all that crazy to think Auburn had other opponents in mind when the Aggies rolled into town.

David McKinney is a sports reporter for The Plainsman. He can be reached at sports@theplainsman.com.

How auburn can make the college football playoff auburn

alabama

has to beat georgia, samford and alabama

has to beat mississippi state

Ole Miss

mississippi state

has to beat mississippi state

has to lose to both alabama and ole miss

Four-way tie at 6-2 sends AU to ATlanta via SEC Rulebook With MSU over vandy & OM over Arkansas

raye may / photo editor

men’s basketball

Walk-on looks to provide point guard depth Patrick Lucas Sports Writer

UPCOMING Regular season opener Nov. 14 vs. Troy Nov. 17 vs. Grambling State Nov. 20 vs. Florida Gulf Coast Nov. 23 at Virginia Nov. 29 at Winthrop Dec. 2 vs. Marquette

Equestrian (2-1, 1-1)

RECENT Win vs. No. 9 Texas A&M 11-9 UPCOMING - Nov. 14 Georgia University of Georgia Equestrian Complex

Friday, Nov. 7 marked the beginning of the Bruce Pearl era of Auburn basketball as the team took on West Alabama.

The team, despite lacking depth in some areas, is looking to improve on last year’s 14-16 record.

One of the positions Pearl has tried to fill is point guard, often manned by former leading scorer Chris Denson and Tahj Shamsid-Deen, a player Pearl said he would like to see off the ball more often.

Patrick Keim, true freshman and preferred walk-on for the Tigers, will be one of the players vying for the open position.

In high school, Keim was a two-time 6A state champion, three-time team captain and is the winningest player in Birmingham’s Mountain Brook High School history, among other awards.

When asked about his game, Keim was very upfront about his skills and what he believes he can provide the team with.

“You know, if anything, I believe I bring a competitive mentality on defense,”

“

That’s the thing that he’ll always be able to bring: instant defense. What a steal for a place like Auburn, because even if he’s not the starting point guard, he’ll be giving their point guard a lot better look in practice because he’ll actually be able to guard him.”

—Bucky McMillan

Mountain brook high school head coach

Keim said. “In high school, we played a press defense, so I believe I can bring some sort of knowledge and experience, at least, to practice.”

Mountain Brook High School head coach Bucky McMillan coached Keim from 9th-12th grade, and said Keim’s defense will set him apart from the rest of the competition.

“What I think separates Patrick is that he can go in there and guard SEC guards right now,” McMillan said.

“That’s the thing that most freshmen can’t do.”

McMillan, former Division I basketball player at Birmingham Southern, also said despite Keim being a freshman and possibly not getting much playing time, his defense will be one of the

most valuable assets he can bring to the team.

“That’s the thing that he’ll always be able to bring: instant defense,” McMillan said. “What a steal for a place like Auburn, because even if he’s not the starting point guard, he’ll be giving their point guard a lot better look in practice because he’ll actually be able to guard him.”

Keim said the transition from high school to college athletics was difficult like he expected.

“There’s a lot less room for error,” Keim said. “You can get away with reaching in or taking a few bad shots in high school, but now it’s a lot more disciplined. There were a lot of things that once I started to play, I saw that I needed to improve.”

raye may / photo editor

Preferred walk-on freshman Patrick Keim protects the ball in his first Auburn appearance in an exhibition victory over West Alabama.

Thursday, November 13, 2014

Sports A9

The Auburn Plainsman

raye may / photo EDITOR

The Auburn soccer team celebrates their selection to the 2014 NCAA Tournament.

kenny moss / photographer

The volleyball team huddles in the Auburn Arena before a match against Florida A&M earlier this season.

This Week in Auburn Sports Soccer

After finishing the regular season 11-6-3, the Auburn women’s soccer team anxiously watched the NCAA Selection Show, waiting for its name to be called out.

Finally, Auburn heard its name in the last bracket of the announcement, and the team erupted with joy, especially after failing to make the NCAA Tournament last season.

“We were watching last year, and we were disappointed we didn’t see our names on it,” said junior defender Kala Faulkner. “We came into this season with our theme being focusing on each game, and seeing our hard work payoff is really nice.”

The Tigers will take on the Florida Gulf Coast Eagles on Saturday, Nov. 15 at 4:30 p.m. in Fort Myers, Florida. The Eagles ended the season 17-3 and are champions of the Atlantic Sun Conference.

Auburn ended the season on a hot streak, winning the final four regular-season games before falling to Kentucky in the SEC Tournament.

Head coach Karen Hoppa said she thinks her team is hitting stride at the right time.

“We’ve improved every weekend,” Hoppa said. “I think that has been a key to our season.

Obviously, our late season results are what solidified our NCAA bid, so it’s been our goal with this young group to get better from game in, game out. I think we’re playing our best soccer right now.”

If the Tigers hope to keep the momentum going, Hoppa said they are going to have to rely on their veteran players to guide the young team.

“The post-season experience is critical,” Hoppa said. “We only have eight players on our roster that have been to the NCAA Tournament before, so we’re really going to rely on that group for their experience.”

Volleyball

Auburn wrapped up the home weekend with a 3-1 (26-28, 25-14, 25-22, 25-15) win over Tennessee Sunday, Nov. 9, at 1:30 p.m. at the Auburn Arena for its third conference win of the season.

The Tigers (11-14, 3-9 SEC) came back focused after dropping three sets to Arkansas on Friday, Nov. 7.

Sophomores Stephanie Campbell and Emily

Klitzke led the way with 14 blocks apiece, while freshman Macy Reece chipped in 12. Campbell has recorded double-digit kills in five of Auburn’s last six matches.

Alexa Filley recorded 48 assists against the Lady Vols. The freshman ranks second in Auburn single-season history with 948 assists, and only needs 48 more for first place in the record book.

“It doesn’t really cross my mind,” Filley said.

“During the game, I’m not thinking about any of it. I’m thinking about winning.”

The Tigers struggled in the first set. A backand-forth battle late in the set got the crowd into what could have been a come-from-behind win for the Tigers, but Tennessee grabbed the final two points to take the opening set.

“Even though we lost that game just barely, we were on a high and kept pushing with that energy,” Campbell said. “Even though that game was a loss, we still benefitted from it.”

Auburn came out firing on all cylinders in the second stanza, hitting .357. They took an early 4-9 lead and rolled with it. Strong play at the net from Auburn overwhelmed Tennessee’s defense as the Tigers jumped out to a 19-8 lead.

Men’s basketball

A big kill from Klitzke, who posted four kills on nine swings in the set, capitalized the Tigers’ 25-14 win to tie it 1-1 going into the locker room.

“I thought the first game we were pretty tentative when we were hitting,” said head coach Rick Nold. “We did a good job passing, we just weren’t taking advantage of the situation. The (second stanza) we just made adjustments and really started putting pressure on them with our offense.”

Auburn jumped out to an early lead in the third set, but Tennessee tied things up 12-12. Auburn used a 6-0 run to regain the lead and eventually take the third set. Reece had six kills and the team had six blocks in the set, four coming from Campbell.

A fast start from Auburn helped them claim the final set. The Tigers lead their opponents 15-10 at the fourth set media timeout. Campbell tied her career-high with eight blocks and then collected an ace for the Tigers. Sophomore Breanna Barksdale sealed the deal with a kill to win it.

opinion

Hardwood tales from the end of the bench C.J. Holmes Sports@ theplainsman.com

raye may / photo editor

Early exhibition impressions Bruce Pearl screams instructions to his team during the Tigers’ exhibition victory over West Alabama.

David McKinney Sports@ theplainsman. com

From the moment Bruce Pearl was hired last spring, speculation surrounding Auburn basketball has been at an all-time high.

On Friday, Nov. 14, that speculation will finally come to a tipping point as Auburn will begin regular season play against Milwaukee.

However, the Tigers have already played an exhibition game, a 94-58 win against West Alabama in front of a sold-out Auburn Arena crowd.

Here are five things we learned from seeing Pearl’s first Tiger team in action for the first time.

1. There are going to be a lot of threes shot. A lot.

Against West Alabama, Auburn attempted 32 three pointers.

They sank 11 of them, which puts them just under 40 percent.

They can shoot, but shooting that much and making so many extra passes suggests there may be a problem in the paint for the Tigers.

2. Under-the-basket presence is lacking.

After the game, Pearl expressed his frustration with the post play.

Compiled by Eric Wallace, Andrew Monson and Derek Thompson

“We are thin; we are small,” Pearl said. “I thought we got pushed around on the inside. I thought we got big boyed, and we’re going to play much bigger, much more physical teams than that.”

To make matters worse, center Matthew Atewe went down with a leg injury late in the game, the same leg he suffered a stress fracture in last season..

Atewe is expected to miss a good bit of time, so the post-play will be completely up to newcomer Cinmeon Bowers.

3. Cinmeon Bowers isn’t your average big man.

Bowers is a threat under the basket for Auburn, as long as he wants to be. Bowers looks to be a center with a guard mentality, shooting threes and going coast-to-coast on more than one occasion.

The only problem was, he didn’t make any threes or finish any coastto-coast runs.

“When Cin’ made the solid plays, he was really effective,” Pearl said.

“I let him go coast-to-coast sometimes, and he took advantage of it tonight, and he looked bad doing it, and I don’t want him to look bad.

He could also draw the defense. He could also kick it to some shooters.”

Bowers is big and incredibly athletic for his positionn and size. His play under the basket will be a huge asset to a Tiger team that lacks size in the frontcourt.

Antoine Mason throws down a dunk in Auburn’s 94-58 exhibition victory over West Alabama.

4. Harrell and Mason are going to be a heck of a duo.

It may have just been an exhibition against a much lesser opponent, but Antoine Mason and KT Harrell both looked like they are going be able to score big all season.

Mason led all scorers with 22 points, with Harrell right behind him with 21.

5. The defense will attack.

Auburn forced 29 turnovers against West Alabama and converted those turnovers into 36 points. There was constant pressure on the ball hand and West Alabama’s offense.

David McKinney is a sports reporter for The Plainsman. He can be reached at sports@theplainsman.com

The game was Auburn against Jacksonville State.

We were unstoppable that night in the Auburn Arena. We built a huge lead behind the strong play of Chris Denson and KT Harrell, aka The Bearded One. The outcome of the contest was all but decided, and when most people saw a blowout win, I saw an opportunity.

Coach Barbee glared down the bench and looked at me and my teammate, Devin Waddell. He said a quick prayer, and then called our names to check in. Next thing I knew, I was dribbling the ball up the floor, frantically trying to get my team into an offensive set with thousands of screaming Tiger fans in attendance.

Considering the fact I got a grand total of zero reps in practice that week, I was somewhat nervous.

As a walk-on, you never really know when it’s going to be your time to shine.

However, that night, on that floor, my moment came.

The ball was in my hands with 50 seconds left in the game. Jacksonville State did a great job defending the play Barbee called because I didn’t run it correctly.

With the 35-second shot clock running down, I had no choice but to improvise.

Attempting my best Tahj ShamsidDeen impersonation, I called for a high ball-screen and used it to beat my defender into the paint.

I attacked the rim with the ferocity of a Miniature Pinscher. Jacksonville State’s center slid perfectly into help position from the weak-side, but that night, I would not be denied. I didn’t back the ball out, and I didn’t look for an open teammate.

I went full Kobe mode on the Gamecocks.

Ignoring a wide-open Devin in the corner, put my head down, dipped my shoulder into my defender and blindly floated the ball up toward the glass with the grace of Derrick Rose.

As the ball drifted through the air, I had a shortness of breath, mostly because I was out of oxygen because of

“

I’m not the biggest, or the strongest. I’m not the fastest, or the most skilled, but somehow, day after day, I make it work. I have embraced the role of Mr. Irrelevant, and for a kid who wasn’t supposed to accomplish anything, I’ve done pretty well for myself.”

—C.J. Holmes

men’s basketball walk-on

my chronic asthma.

It was my first career shot attempt, and although my skill level may have appeared to be that of a redshirt senior, I was under a lot more pressure than people realized.

All of that pressure subsided when cheers from the crowd confirmed my eyes weren’t playing tricks on me.

The ball went through the net.

It finally happened. I scored. I recorded my first career points as an Auburn Tiger.

During my victory trot down the court, I had the biggest smile on my face. It communicated the phrase, shove it, to everyone who said I couldn’t do it.

I came to Auburn as a basketball manager, and even when I was added to the roster two weeks later, I was still expected to fail living in the shadow of the scholarship players.

I’m not the biggest, or the strongest.

I’m not the fastest, or the most skilled, but somehow, day after day, I make it work. I have embraced the role of Mr. Irrelevant, and for a kid who wasn’t supposed to accomplish anything, I’ve done pretty well for myself.

As these thoughts were going through my head, I quickly realized my celebration was a bit premature.

The four-foot-zero point guard I was guarding launched a three in my face and drained it as time expired.

Gotta love college basketball.

CJ Holmes is a sports writter for The Plainsman. He can be reached at sports@theplainsman.

Sports A10

Thursday, November 13, 2014

The Auburn Plainsman

Georgia vs.

Auburn

Wisconsin vs.

Nebraska

PLAINSMAN PICKS Alabama vs.

Mississippi State

Florida vs. South Carolina

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Tweet your picks @TheAUPlainsman #PlainsmanPicks

Georgia vs.

Auburn

Wisconsin vs.

Nebraska

Alabama vs.

Mississippi State

Florida vs. South Carolina

Auburn

Nebraska

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Wisconsin

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EQUESTRIAN

Building shelter from the storm Equestrian welcomes new arena

Pierce Quinn SPORTS WRITER

Auburn University’s equestrian team has been successful for the better part of two decades, including winning three national championships.

However, they had never competed at home under a covered arena.

“The problem in the past was if you had bad weather, such as rain, the team had to either reschedule for a later time or they had to ride in wet, muddy lots,” said Tim Boosinger, provost for the University.

That changed this year, as the team celebrated the official

opening of a new covered facility Friday, Nov. 7, with a ribbon cutting before a match against Texas A&M. “We’re making our mission to be the best athletic experience that a student athlete can have here at Auburn,” said equestrian head coach Gregg Williams. “We want this to be the best equestrian experience that a horse and rider can ever have at any university.”

Sponsored by the College of Agriculture, the covered arena had a budget of $1 million that came from private gifts from donors who support the team.

The new facility was built in

Two Medium 2 Topping Pizzas, 3-Cheezer Bread with Dipping Sauce and a 2-liter

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$

RAYE MAY / PHOTO EDITOR

Caterers set up tables at the opening of the new equestrian facility.

phases starting in 2006.

Both Williams and Boosinger said they believe the new facility will help recruit more riders to make the program even better than it is now.

Wayne Greene, head of the department of animal sciences, also said more changes would be in store for the equestrian program.

“This arena will be what it

is for now, but we will add additional things out here as we go on,” Greene said. “It’s a big step forward for our horse program here at Auburn University, but it won’t be the end of our dream.”

Greene said his dream for the equestrian program included new locker rooms, dressing rooms and eventually an indoor facility.

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A11

Thursday, November 13, 2014

ThePlainsman.com

Intrigue

art

Student’s artwork featured in ‘Southern Humanities Review’

Kate Seckinger Intrigue Reporter

When Laura Mitchell was 2 years old, she couldn’t write her name, but she could color inside the lines. Even as a toddler, art came naturally to her.

Now a senior in studio arts, Mitchell said she is using her talent to pursue a career in the arts, and her hard work is paying off.

In April, Mitchell submitted her selfportrait to Auburn’s research exhibition. It was accepted, and during a Research Week event, Aaron Alford, managing editor of Southern Humanities Review, spotted the piece and chose it for the magazine’s cover.

“Laura’s been so excited about it, which is so refreshing,” Alford said. “A student’s work has never been on the cover since the journal was founded in 1967. We usually went for the work of professional artists, but this was a homegrown artist who’s still in school. It’s with great pride that we get to showcase her work and developing talent.”

Last fall, Mitchell read “Heartbreak Hotel” by Auburn alumna Anne Rivers Siddons for an advanced drawing class.

After reading the novel, professor of art Barb Bondy asked her students to find something in the novel to use as an analogy for their artistic voices and create a piece.

“I saw myself in Maggie, the main character,” Mitchell said. “She was bound by expectations from her parents, friends and society, and she experienced this inner struggle of who she was supposed to be.”

Mitchell said she identified with Maggie’s struggle and used it to create “To Be Good: Self Portrait,” a self-portrait done in a paint-by-number style with a legend at the bottom. The legend contains each color used in the drawing and a characteristic to accompany each shade.

“The characteristics I chose were ones I

“

In the piece, I break away from what’s expected of me and become who I want to be.”

—Laura Mitchell senior in studio arts

felt would make me a good person,” Mitchell said. “In the piece, I break away from what’s expected of me and become who I want to be. As a college student, I could relate to the anxiety of change and expectation. I’m not a child or a full-fledged adult.

This composition helped me grow as an artist and a person.”

Alford attended the Research Week events to see students’ work from the College of Liberal Arts.

“I didn’t go there looking for a new cover,” Alford said. “It was immediate. Laura’s piece was there, and it was such a striking image that hit me like lightning. When I got closer to it and saw the concept of it, I just had to know more about it.”

Alford said while he wasn’t looking for a cover for the newest edition of Southern Humanities Review, it was exactly what the journal needed.

Mitchell’s self-portrait was featured on the most recent issue of the quarterly journal with the legend explaining her characteristics on the back cover.

Bondy, the professor who worked with Mitchell as she created her piece, said she is excited for her talented student.

“This would even be major for a professional, so this is an extremely big deal for a student,” Bondy said. “She worked hard

and used a technique she wasn’t familiar with. She pushed herself and now here she is.”

Mitchell said Bondy has been her biggest encouragement and greatest influence while studying at Auburn.

“Dr. Bondy was able to challenge my ideas and refine them in a way I’ve never experienced before,” Mitchell said. “She pushed me to think deeper and more uniquely, and even when I create great, she’s taught me that it all can’t be good.”

Bondy said Mitchell’s determination reminds her why she loves her job.

“As a professor, you hope a student will latch onto your advice or teachings, and that’s what Laura did,” Bondy said. “She put herself out there.”

Mitchell said she loves being an artist, but is eager to teach others about her passion.

“Art has given me the greatest view of the world and the greatest joy,” Mitchell said. “I want to spread that joy and I hope my artwork speaks to people.”

The most recent issue of Southern Humanities Review with Mitchell’s cover can be picked up for free in room 9088 of the Haley Center.

Contributed by Laura Mitchell

christmas

From ‘Boo’ to ‘Brrr’: why stores put Christmas products out after Halloween Lindsey Raygan Intrigue Writer

Raye may / photo editor

Dan Padgett, associate professor of marketing, said stores begin setting out Christmas decorations early to extend their sales.

Jumping from Trick or Treat to Merry Christmas, stores are putting out Christmas products earlier than ever.

Dan Padgett, associate professor in the department of marketing, said he personally does not have interest in the Christmas products being displayed early.

“I don’t think it has the financial impact that they think it would have,” Padgett said.

According to Padgett, there are two types of people when it comes to early Christmas products: those who do not see the point, and those who think Christmas is the best time of year.

“Christmas is a prime selling season,” Padgett said. “They are just trying to extend their selling season.”

Padgett said talking to local store owners makes him believe stores see more sales in Christmas products closer to Thanksgiving.

Sarah Brown, co-owner of Wrapsody, said Christmas is a

“

I don’t think it has the financial impact that they think it would have.”

—Dan Padgett

associate professor of marketing

big season for her store.

“People have asked us for Christmas giftwrap in September,” Brown said.

According to Brown, Wrapsody puts out Christmas products in response to customer demand and game day scheduling.

Being one of the store’s two locations, Brown said the Auburn Wrapsody sees many customers from out of town who want Christmas products to be out when they are in Auburn for a game weekend.

“We have so many [customers] from out of town who are ready to shop our Christmas stuff,” Brown said. “We sell thousands of ornaments each

year.”

Kasey Benson, sophomore in marketing, works at Wrapsody in downtown Auburn.

“We decorated [for Christmas] at the beginning of October,” Benson said.

According to Benson, during the fall, Wrapsody sets up their Christmas decorations and products at the back of the store, leaving the Thanksgiving products at the front.

“We leave the trees at the back,” Benson said. “So it transitions to Christmas.”

Benson said the store always displays Christmas products early for several reasons.

“I think it just gets people excited for Christmas early,” Benson said. “I think it helps people prepare for Christmas.”

From an employee’s perspective, Benson said some people get excited about the Christmas products being out so early and some do not.

Alex Davis, senior in marketing, said he thinks stores having Christmas products out early is a good thing.

“The whole point of market-

ing is to give people what they want, when they want it, where they want it,” Davis said.

According to Davis, a store showing products early is the same idea as radio stations playing Christmas music early.

He said whichever radio station plays the Christmas music first is typically the station an audience listens to the most.

“It is about competition between stores,” Davis said. “It’s about whoever has it available first.”

According to Davis, many customers will buy products that are put out early, consume them and buy the same products again. He said the same thing happens with Halloween and Easter.

Davis said even though stores display products early, the store does not determine a customer’s decision whether to buy something.

Davis said stores do not put out early Christmas products without factual data.

“They won’t do it unless data shows it is effective,” Davis said.

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Intrigue A12

Thursday, November 13, 2014

The Auburn Plainsman

food

Cooking with an iron fist — or skillet

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Lindsey Raygan

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The chocolate chips on the bottom of the skillet add flavor to the top layer of marshmallow.

Cooking in college can be a challenge. Whether it is because of a lack of funds, time, resources or space, cooking edible and satisfying food is much easier said than done.

However, utilizing the wonder that is the cast-iron skillet to create meals gives students no excuse to go hungry or waste time complaining about on-campus food choices. A skillet is practical and versatile.

If you are craving Mexican food, but do not have the means to create a five-star burrito or a heaping plate of cheesy nachos, throwing a few ingredients into a skillet, including store-bought Mexican cornbread mix, will give you an easy Mexican cornbread dish.

Coat the skillet with approximately two tablespoons of peanut oil.

Layer the skillet with half of the Mexican cornbread mix, browned ground beef chuck, cheese and top it off with the rest of the mix. Add water or milk as required by your mix recipe.

Bake the dish in the oven for approximately 20 minutes at 400 degrees.

If you are looking for a healthier option, olive oil can be used in place of peanut oil and ground turkey can be used instead of ground chuck.

This dish, which is delicious and requires little effort, can be eaten all at once or portioned and saved for leftovers.

After Mexican cornbread, sometimes you just have to satisfy your sweet tooth.

Instead of binging on gener-

ic candy bought from the oncampus stores, you can satisfy your sweet cravings by cooking indoor s’mores in a castiron skillet.

No, it doesn’t require a fire or complex culinary skills.

Only taking 10 minutes to make, indoor s’mores are made by covering the bottom of a skillet with chocolate chips and topping it off with halved marshmallows.

After baking for nine minutes at 450 degrees, the delicious combination can be dipped and enjoyed with graham crackers.

Let me caution you, though.

While the indoor s’mores will melt in your mouth, if you indulge too soon, the heat will melt your mouth with one bite.

Unlike cast-iron skillet Mexican cornbread, there are no healthy substitutions to be made here. Sometimes you just have to enjoy good food.

These are two examples of many delicious dishes that can be prepared using a cast-iron skillet.

The lack of effort required may come as a surprise, but the end results will blow your mind and your taste buds.

Not only will a cast-iron skillet allow you to create tasty food, but it is also easy to clean.

After letting the skillet cool, simply empty it of any crumbs and wipe it out with a dry paper towel.

Each recipe can be altered to fit your skillet’s size. So whether you are seriously hungry, making a meal for four or making a meal for just yourself, each recipe will satisfy whatever expectation you set.

Lindsey Raygan is an Intrigue writer for The Plainsman. She can be reached at intrigue@theplainsman.com.

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