The Auburn Plainsman 2.9.17

SGA 2017 Election Coverage

The Auburn Plainsman A SPIRIT THAT IS NOT AFRAID

Thursday, February 9, 2017 Vol. 124, Issue 20, 12 Pages

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

ELECTIONS

MADISON OGLETREE / PHOTO EDITOR

MADISON OGLETREE / PHOTO EDITOR

Jacqueline Keck, SGA presidential candidate, poses for a picture during SGA Callouts 2017 on Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2017 in Auburn, Ala. Keck received 3,834 votes on SGA Election Day.

Brock Hendon, SGA presidential candidate, celebrates during SGA Callouts 2017 on Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2017 in Auburn, Ala. Hendon received 3,328 votes on SGA Election Day.

The race for the runoff

Jacqueline Keck and Brock Hendon face off again to determine SGA president Claire Tully CAMPUS EDITOR

After a close race, SGA presidential candidates Brock Hendon and Jacqueline Keck will go head-to-head in a runoff vote.

To win the SGA election, any of the four candidates needed to secure 40 percent of the overall vote. Keck received 3,834 votes earning her 37.81 percent, and Hendon received 3,328 votes earning him 32.83 percent.

Brock Hendon, SGA presidential candidate, promoted his "Brock Solid" platform throughout the campaign week, which he said puts emphasis on the student experience from student access to student success.

Jacqueline Keck is Hendon's opponent in the runoff vote. She

spent the week promoting her "We Can With Keck" campaign.

“All three candidates I ran against were awesome,” Keck said. “I kind of expected a runoff. I think my team walked in with the understanding that that was a very strong possibility. Brock is awesome, I have a lot of respect for him and his campaign. They did a great job.”

After a week of campaigning, Hendon said he is excited to be considered for the role of SGA president.

"Obviously I'm really excited to have this opportunity to get going and it's been a fun week so far meeting students and hearing from students what we can do for them and how we can make their life better," Hendon said. "I'm really proud of the way campaign week went from top to bottom. I thought it was very clean and ev-

This issue was printed on Wednesday, Feb. 8. For live coverage of the runoff on Thursday, Feb. 9, visit ThePlainsman.com and follow @TheAUPlainsman on Twitter. eryone campaigned well."

Hendon said he and his team's focus will not shift in the days following the announcement of the runoff. He said he plans to contin-

» See RUNOFF, 2

Smith clinches VP, McEwen wins treasurer Claire Tully CAMPUS EDITOR

MADISON OGLETREE / PHOTO EDITOR

Moates wins the most votes Ashley Moates celebrates with her sister, Anna Moates, after winning Miss Auburn on Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2017 in Auburn,Ala.

‘Dream big with Ashley’ Moates named Miss Auburn 2017 Claire Tully CAMPUS EDITOR

Ashley Moates was elected Miss Auburn 2017 as she promoted her platform "Dream Big With Ashley," which focus-

es on making dreams come true for people with disabilities.

Moates, junior in communication disorders, said her platform was inspired by her younger sister.

"Whether it’s leading a cheer with Auburn cheerleaders, riding a horse alongside an Auburn equestrian or per-

» See MISS AUBURN, 2

Though the SGA presidential race is headed into a runoff set for Thursday, Feb. 9, the newest SGA vice president and treasurer were announced during Callouts on Tuesday, Feb. 7 on Cater Lawn.

Justin Smith, newly elected SGA vice president, won 48.39 percent with 4,647 votes in his favor to defeat Griffin Osborne and Sarah Beth Cape. Griffin received 3,136 votes earning him 32.66 percent, while Cape received 1,820 votes earning her 18.95 percent.

Smith said he wasn't sure he'd won because he couldn't clearly hear his name being called.

"Initially, I didn't even hear my name," Smith said. "I just saw a bunch of people cheering around me, and I thought 'oh my goodness, maybe I won.'"

Having met so many different students throughout the campaign process, Smith said he feels lucky to have made several new friends.

"The best part of this week has been meeting all of these people," Smith said. "I literally

feel like I've increased the size of my friend group by a million percent. It's just been a lot of fun."

Smith said his first order of business as he takes on his new role in SGA is to work alongside current SGA Vice President Brandon Honeywell to implement the senator orientation training he'd promoted in his platform.

"On my platform I said I wanted to do a new senator orientation and all the new senators have already been elected, so that's something I have to immediately start on," Smith said.

Griffin Osborne said despite his loss, he's proud of his campaign team.

"I just enjoyed the experience completely," Osborne said. "I just put my faith in God and all the effort my team put in."

Newly elected SGA Treasurer Frank McEwen said he was thankful for the team working behind him throughout his campaign.

"Literally none of this could have happened without all of these incredible people surrounding me," McEwen said.

News 2

ELECTIONS

Students vote ‘no’ on referendum Claire Tully CAMPUS EDITOR

Students ultimately voted “no” — 5,900 votes to 3,977 votes — on the referendum to increase the Student Activity Fee on election day.

Current SGA Treasurer James Beauchaine gave a presentation on a referendum proposing the increase earlier this week at the SGA debate.

The Student Activity Fee is currently at $45 the proposal suggested a $9 increase for the 2017-18 school year,

Thursday, February 9, 2017

The Auburn Plainsman

“with an additional increase of $3 per school year until the new fee of $69 is reached.”

“The Student Activity Fee serves to fund the various Student Activity Portfolios and Projects, providing funds and opportunities to over 500 organizations across campus,” Beauchaine said.

Beauchaine said at the debate he hoped students would consider voting “yes” on the referendum.

“In 2006 the fee was raised from $19 to $29, with an additional $2 also as-

sessed for the next nine years,” Beauchaine said.

“Since that time, Auburn students have seen no change in the Student Activity Fee, yet tuition has risen by 114 percent for residents and 92 percent for non-residents, Beauchaine said.

“Inflation has risen by 20 percent and other student fees have increased to fund the transit systems and the wellness center.”

This story will be updated on ThePlainsman.com.

RUNOFF » From 1

This week in review Your weekly roundup for state, national and international news State • On Tuesday, Gov. Robert Bentley called for new prisons, increased mental health spending, more appropriations for the state’s pre-K system and more efforts to mitigate the opioid epidemic in Alabama. Bentley’s calls were part of his Great State 2019 plan, which aims at bettering the lives of Alabamians through improvements to infrastructure, education, health care and criminal justice. Read more on page 6.

• (AL.com) The Democratic Caucus in the Alabama Senate will support legislation for a lottery and casinos as well as one to close “corporate tax loopholes” during the legislation session.

The caucus has released its agenda for the 2017 session, which starts Tuesday. Senate Democrats would need Republican support to pass any of their proposals because Democrats hold only eight seats in the 35-seat Senate.

• (AL.com) The Alabama Senate Republican Caucus will support changes in state income tax deductions that would cut taxes for 180,000 Alabamians, the caucus announced in a press release. The caucus, which holds 26 seats in the 35-member Senate, released its agenda for the 2017 session, which starts Tuesday. The caucus will also support a bill to eliminate the requirement for a permit to carry a concealed handgun.

ue pursuing his vision for the University.

“I’m really proud of each candidate just for showing so much character through their campaigns and really focusing on their platform and vision,” Hendon said. “That’s something that we’ll continue to do for the next couple of days. Just focusing on our vision for Auburn and our vision for students and how we can benefit them this next school year.”

Keck said she’s focusing on rallying her team and getting students to vote.

“We’re just going to keep doing what we’ve been doing on the concourse and really pushing platform points, so people don’t just hear my name, but know what I stand for,” Keck said. “We called around yesterday to get more people on the team and grew our staff some last night, which was awesome.”

Hendon said he regards Keck as a capable leader who he is excited to be running against.

“Jacqueline is a close friend and a great person, as well,” Hendon said. “She’s a great leader and a great Auburn woman. It’s

exciting to get to run against her.”

Keck said it’s easy to run against Hendon as they’ve known each other so long.

“It’s really easy, honestly,” Keck said.

“It’s nice because you know their intentions, you know their character. It’s nice to be able to pick up the phone and call them and there’s not a whole lot of tension there, so it’s just good.”

No matter the outcome, Hendon said he is hopeful for Auburn’s future moving forward.

“Auburn’s going to be fine,” Hendon said. “We’ve done well with so many different candidates this week, and I want to congratulate the candidates that have won.

I’m really excited to work with them if given the opportunity. I hope the student body puts their faith behind me on Thursday.”

Hendon said he was proud of his fellow presidential candidates for running good campaigns.

“Obviously hats off to David,” Hendon said. “He ran a fantastic campaign.”

David Facteau, junior in psychology, received 2,749 votes, putting him in third

place.

“This week has been the most incredible experience of my life,” Facteau said. “It has been such an honor to stand by my friends, family and brothers through this process.”

Caleb Marshall, senior in mathematics, received 229 votes.

“Everybody goes around finding new paths and adventures, but it’s not everyday that you get to go ahead and just do exactly what everyone’s already been far ready accomplishing and building,” Marshall said.

“These times in which we live are too accessible and overreaching to expect a G.O.A.T. candidate to actually win the SGA president spot.”

Facteau said he hopes every student votes, as he’s sure both candidates are fit to serve.

“I am excited for two extremely qualified candidates, Jacqueline Keck and Brock Hendon, to have the opportunity to share their vision with Auburn University over the next two days,” Facteau said. “I will forever be thankful for all of the support that I received this week. Auburn is in good hands.”

National • (Associated Press) The Senate on Tuesday confirmed school choice advocate Betsy DeVos as education secretary by the narrowest of margins, with Vice President Mike Pence breaking a 50-50 tie in a historic vote. Two Republicans joined Democrats in the unsuccessful effort to derail the nomination of the wealthy Republican donor. Alabama Republicans Richard Shelby and Jeff Sessions, who is nominated to serve as U.S. attorney general, voted along with 48 other Republicans to confirm DeVos. • (WaPo)The deputy secretary of the Army will grant the final permit needed for completion of the Dakota Access Pipeline, the Army declared in a court filing Tuesday, clearing the final bureaucratic hurdle standing in the way of the massive infrastructure project. The Army’s intention to grant a 30-year easement under Lake Oahe, which came in a court filing over an ongoing federal environmental review of the controversial project, was immediately hailed by congressional Republicans and decried by members of the Standing Rock Sioux tribe and other opponents of the pipeline.

• (CNN) Members of the conservative House Freedom Caucus are developing their own legislation to repeal and replace Obamacare and plan to unveil it as early as next week.Rep. Mark Meadows, R-North Carolina told reporters the proposal currently being drafted takes much of the language from a 2015 GOP measure to dismantle the health care law that Congress passed but was vetoed by then-President Barack Obama.

MISS AUBURN

and that their disability is only a characteristic of who they are, not a definition," Moates said. "What better way to encourage this awareness than by increasing the frequency of interactions with these beautiful people right here on Auburn’s campus."

In total, 12,571 students voted for Miss Auburn.

Moates won with 25.52 percent of the vote.

Sarah Patrick came in second with 21.52 percent.

Katelyn Simpkins received 20.87 percent of the vote, Faith Webb received 18.79 percent and Abby Agnew received 13.3 percent.

"Ultimately, I want to develop a collegiate program here at Auburn University for people with disabilities that will give them a college experience as wonderful as ours, thriving under a tailored curriculum," Moates said. "My dream is that my intelligent, talented, sassy sister Anna, and others like her will have the opportunity to achieve their ultimate Auburn dreams."

International • (CNN) Thousands of people have been hanged at a Syrian prison in a secret crackdown on dissent by the regime of Bashar al-Assad, a report by Amnesty International alleges. The human rights group says as many as 13,000 people have been executed at Saydnaya prison, north of the capital Damascus in a “hidden” campaign authorized by senior regime figures.

• (ABC) Romania’s president told lawmakers Tuesday that the country is in a “fully-fledged” political crisis, after hundreds of thousands demonstrated against a government measure that would weaken the country’s anti-corruption drive.

In an address to Parliament, President Klaus Iohannis, a critic of the two-month-old government, said the majority of Romanians now believed the country was going in the wrong direction.

» From 1

forming alongside the Auburn University Singers, my goal is to discover their passions and make their Auburn dreams come true," Moates said. "I’ve had a passion for people with disabilities since my younger sister, Anna, was born with Down syndrome, which has drastically impacted my life in the best way."

"I want students to realize that people with disabilities are just like you and me

Breaking down the votes 12,571 votes cast for Miss Auburn 10,140 votes cast for SGA president 9,603 votes cast for vice president 9,486 votes cast for treasurer Visit ThePlainsman.com for complete voting results, including major and minor positions.

Page 3

Page 6

CAMPUS CRIME LOG Date Reported

Type of Incident

General Location

02/06/2017

Leaving Scene of Accident

600 Block of Biggio Dr

02/06/2017

Public Lewdness

Vil-lage View Lane @ War Eagle Way

02/06/2017

Theft of Property First Degree

200 Block of W Thach Av

02/06/2017

Leaving Scene of Accident

300 Block of P O Davis Dr

02/06/2017

Driving Under the Influence - Alcohol

Shug Jor-dan Pkwy @ S College St

02/05/2017

Drug Call

200 Block of Roosevelt Conc

02/03/2017

Harassing Communications

200 Block of Wire Rd

02/03/2017

Police Investigation/Unlawful Conduct

600 Block of Biggio Dr

02/02/2017

Theft of Property Fourth Degree

600 Block of Heisman Dr

02/02/2017

Criminal Mischief Third Degree

200 Block of Roosevelt Conc

02/01/2017

Criminal Mischief-Damage to Private Property

600 Block of DeKalb St

Page 10

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INDEX Campus

3

Opinion

5

Community 6

Peaceful protest on campus

Bentley address coverage

Column: Tigers remain on bubble

Get to know DJ Ben Bruud

Sports

8

Lifestyle

11

Campus

3

Thursday, February 9, 2017

ThePlainsman.com

Campus

POLITICS

Students exercise right to protest in peaceful march Claire Tully CAMPUS EDITOR

Lily Jackson LIFESTYLE EDITOR

Holding a sign saying, “I am banned from seeing my family,” adorned with a photo of painted, conjoined hands, Saba Mortazavi, graduate student in landscape architecture, marched with her family and future in mind.

Mortazavi is originally from Iran. She was seen marching up and down the Haley Concourse on Thursday, Feb. 2, 2017 for her right to stay in the United States.

“We are students here, and we are banned from going back to our country, and our family can not come here to visit us,” Mortazavi said. “It’s difficult. I wish they would make a better decision or make it better.”

Screaming “Love trumps hate,” Amanda Dukes, senior, marched with sign in hand protesting what she felt was an unconstitutional ban on immigration. Referring to the banned countries as “our brothers and sisters,” Dukes said it was important to march on campus in order to stand for the immigrant students currently attending Auburn University.

“The potential of the wall and continuing to keep immigrants out of country, we believe is the opposite of what America stands for in its inclusiveness, its industry and its habit of moving forward,” Dukes said.

Sarah Grace Kirkendall, sophomore in exercise science, said the main take away from the protest was the desire for peace.

“It has nothing to do with race or religion,” Kirkendall said. “It’s about withholding American values about being a melting pot.”

Carter Neighbors, senior, said he believes the march was a complete waste of time. Neighbors interpreted the executive order as a terrorism prevention mechanism, not a Muslim ban. Neighbors said he supports immigration reform and the executive order wholly. “[The protest] doesn’t really do anything but delay us from getting to class and wasting our time,” Neighbors said.

Christian Hummel, freshman in media studies, said it would be hard for protesters on Auburn’s campus to get their message across because of the University’s historically conservative ties.

“I understand why they’re upset,” Hummel said. “I get that, but doing it here on a conservative campus is not going to get a message across. You see Berkley, a big left-wing area, and it’s very understandable.”

Though the group of protesters represents a campus “minority,” Hummel said he has no problem with them voicing their beliefs.

“I respect that,” Hummel said. “What they’re doing here isn’t bad.

They can get their point across, and I’m not going to go in and try to rile them up.”

Mortazavi said she was alright with the protest, but in the end, she wants there to be love in America.

MADISON OGLETREE / PHOTO EDITOR

TOP LEFT: Protestor carries a sign that reads,“Did I stutter?”

BOTTOM LEFT: Saba Mortazavi (middle) and friends carry a sign that reads,“I am banned from seeing my family.”

RIGHT: Protestors lead a march down the Haley Concourse amidst SGA and Miss Auburn campaigns.

“We come here to see a greater country than what we have, but now I don’t know,” Mortazavi said.

Mortazavi said she wishes people wouldn’t rely mainly on Fox News. She said her people are like any other and should be treated as so.

“You should see the picture of my country,” Mortazavi said. “I don’t know, people should find the right information and that will be justice for my country.”

Kirkendall said she saw former classmates she’d attended a conservative high school with. When asked if they’d be surprised to see her protesting, she said no.

“My opinions have always been out there,” Kirkendall said. “I’ve always been more progressive than the people I was around. They know. They know that I would do this kind of thing.”

The protest took place during SGA and Miss Auburn campaigns.

Kirkendall said before the candidates realized they were beginning a protest, they tried handing out campaign push cards.

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“Honestly, they’re more likely to get my vote if the people out here supporting them are chanting with us,” Kirkendall said. “I’m more likely to think they’re a candidate with better ideals.”

Hummel sported a “Make America Great Again” hat and said growing up in a military family opened his eyes to social and political differences abroad.

“I do support the ban, yes,” Hummel said. “I grew up in a military family. I know what it’s like to be overseas and what goes on overseas.”

The ban is meant to put American citizens’ safety first, Hummel said, and he believes the president is correct in doing so.

“I don’t see an issue with not letting people in until we realize the safety of our citizens is what comes first,” Hummel said. “I understand that we’re a country that goes out, and we help people. We’re the ones that have to be a safety net for people, but I believe that Trump believes the safety of our citizens is the priority, and I respect that. I believe that’s what it should be also.”

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SAMUEL GINN COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING | SCHOOL O FORESTRY AND WILDLIFE SCIENCES | SCHOOL OF NURSIN HARRISON SCHOOL OF PHARMACY | COLLEGE OF SCIENCE AND MATHEMATICS | COLLEGE OF VETERINARY MEDICIN JULE COLLINS SMITH MUSEUM OF FINE ART | HONOR COLLEGE | GRADUATE SCHOOL | ALUMNI AFFAIRS | COLLEG OF LIBERAL ARTS | AUBURN UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES DIVISION OF STUDENT AFFAIRS | UNIVERSITY OUTREAC | COLLEGE OF ARCHITECTURE, DESIGN & CONSTRUCTIO COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE | RAYMOND J. HARBER COLLEGE OF BUSINESS | OFFICE OF THE VICE PRESIDEN FOR RESEARCH & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT | COLLEGE O EDUCATION | SAMUEL GINN COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING Campus 4

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Opinion Thursday, February 9, 2017

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Opinion

Bathroom bill should not pass OUR VIEW

SPRING 2017 EDITORIAL BOARD

During this upcoming legislative session, the Alabama Legislature will vote on a bill known as the Alabama Privacy Act. Like the bill passed in North Carolina last year, which prompted a national frenzy over transgender bathroom use, this upcoming bill has come under scrutiny from LGBT advocates for being unnecessary and for targeting the transgender community.

Republican Sen. Phil Williams introduced the bill, claiming it to be a response to Target allowing people to use the bathroom of their gender identity.

In a poor attempt to deflect criticism directed at the bill, Williams offered up a paltry defense: He claimed the bill had been misinterpreted.

He correctly points out that the bill’s language does not designate an attendant hanging around in bathrooms, checking patrons before they use the facility.

However, the bill’s language does call for an attendant to be stationed right outside of the bathroom doors, in some cases.

Specifically, the bill calls for any restroom, bathroom or changing facilities available to the public to be constrained in any one of three

ways.

First, they can be designed to be used by one person at a time.

Second, if establishments don’t want to opt for the sometimes costly single-use bathrooms, they can be designed to be used by multiple

cerns posed by users is present right outside the door.

Establishments that do not conform to any of these three constrains will be fined at least $2,000 for their first violation and at least $3,500 for each subsequent violation.

One of the biggest issues with this bill is that it does not specify what gender is.

Since gender isn’t defined, it could be up to the attendants to decide how to interpret the bill, thus leaving open a wide window for discrimination against the transgender community.

Additionally, the bill risks hurting Alabama economically.

As we saw with North Carolina’s bill, which depleted its state’s budget of millions of dollars in tax revenue, progressive businesses don’t stand for oppression.

If history is any guide, a similar result FILE could happen to Alabama’s already stressed budget and have real-life consequences for people of the same gender. our state’s inhabitants.

Or as a final option, they can be designed In order to prevent such a potential for disto be used by multiple people, irrespective of crimination and economic harm, we believe the their gender, so long as an attendant whose Alabama Privacy Act in its current form should duty is to monitor “appropriate use” of the re- be voted down, especially in view of the lack stroom and to answer any questions or con- of documented cases of bathroom assaults.

HER VIEW

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Don’t think Greek

A ‘Muslim ban’ would violate our Constitutional values In recent weeks, religious discrimination has once again come to the political forefront.

This is because many have described President Trump’s decision to suspend travel from seven Muslim-majority countries as a “Muslim ban.”

Some, including White House officials, have pushed back on that characterization.

Fair enough. I don’t buy their argument, but it’s not crazy.

More disturbingly, however, some have argued that a “Muslim ban” would be perfectly all right. That’s an argument no American should stomach.

Religious discrimination runs against the principles embodied in three constitutional provisions. Contra the Establishment Clause, religious discrimination creates official religious preferences. Such preferences are very much like those that underlie a full-blown state church.

Contra the Free Exercise Clause, it makes it more difficult for individuals and groups to live out their faith. And contra the Equal Protection Clause, it fails to treat equally situated persons equally.

At this point, some readers might object to my statement that Muslims and those who follow other religious traditions are “equally situated.” Predictably, they will cite certain socalled “sword verses” in the Quran.

Because the Quran teaches violence, the argument goes, Muslims can be treated differently in the interest of national security. But Muslims debate whether the Quran actually commands violence.

The vast majority of Muslims believe that Islam is peaceful — that the “sword verses” have been taken out of context by those who

would commit acts of violence. Thus, what Islam actually teaches is a religious question.

But no government has the authority to answer religious questions. Multiple Supreme Court cases have made this clear. The Court wrote in Thomas v. Review Board (1981) that “Courts are not arbiters of scriptural interpretation.”

In Presbyterian Church v. Hull Church (1969), it stated that courts could not resolve “controversies over religious doctrine and practice.” And in Watson v. Jones (1872), it noted that judges were utterly incompetent on questions of “ecclesiastical law and religious faith.”

This prohibition against answering religious questions is rooted in both the Establishment Clause and the Free Exercise Clause, and what is true for courts must certainly be true for the executive branch.

As a result, no federal, state or local government body can determine whether Islam is a “religion of violence” or a “religion of peace.”

Accordingly, no such body can base immigration decisions on a Muslim’s religious identity.

Does this leave America open to attack? By no means. The government has a responsibility to protect the public’s safety. It is therefore both necessary and appropriate to deny entry to those individuals with violent intentions. But this is true whether those intentions are religious or secular in nature. What should matter is motive, not religion.

This individualized inquiry accords with the constitutional principle of not answering doctrinal questions. It also makes intuitive sense.

Claire Tully CAMPUS

Madison Ogletree PHOTO

Dakota Sumpter MANAGING EDITOR

Chip Brownlee COMMUNITY

Anne Dawson SOCIAL MEDIA

Jessica Ballard COPY

Kris Martins INVESTIGATIONS

Parker Aultman MULTIMEDIA

Weston Sims OPINION

Jack Winchester

Lily Jackson LIFESTYLE

SPORTS

LIFESTYLE EDITOR

Just consider the following example: The Bible teaches Christians to love their neighbors as they love themselves (Mark 12:31).

Yet far too many (so-called) “Christians” twist Scripture to justify violence and racism instead of peace and love.

Yet, despite the fact that they would both self-identify as “Christian,” it is possible to distinguish Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., from a Klansman. That we can distinguish between Christians shows that we can distinguish between Muslims.

As a Christian myself, I know that King was the one faithfully handling Biblical passages and that violence and racism are both morally repugnant. But importantly, we as a nation were able to make progress toward civil rights without the government resolving who had the better hermeneutic.The same agnosticism should apply in immigration decisions.

As far as the government is concerned, what Islam teaches is irrelevant — it is a question the government cannot answer. What matters is whether a particular individual has violent intentions — not whether that individual is a Muslim, Christian, Sikh, Jew, Hindu, Zoroastrian or anything else.

Simply put, religious liberty is for everyone. It means that religious nondiscrimination is a fundamental principle of our Constitution. It means that the government cannot answer religious questions. And it means that a “Muslim ban” is contrary to our constitutional values.

Elected officials work to represent each individual to the best of their ability, no matter the scale of the election. Most people would’ve never allowed someone the right to force their vote one way or the other in the past presidential election.

SGA elections shouldn’t stray from this trend, and yet, Greek organizations have been known to vote in blocks based on individual fraternities and sororities’ choice of candidate.

Overheard in the echo-prone halls of tbe Haley Center was a conversation between two females pledges, discussing their forced campaign responsibilities. Their affiliation with said candidate? Sorority endorsement.

Although it is beneficial to candidates that these herds of unconcerned voters pledge their allegiance and concourse voices to the crowd, I’d make the assumption that deep down they stand for individuality and personal choice.

Almost every candidate conveyed a desire to hear from students while standing behind carpeted podiums at the final debate Monday night.

Hearing one voice in the name of hundreds doesn’t seem like what they had in mind.

If your organization encourages you to vote for the platform and candidate that you resonate with the most, good on them.

If you were one in a zombie-like crowd of Comfort Color tees screaming a catchy slogan for a required time slot, consider your campus.

Find individuality, personal interests and a cause that you identify with and fight for it.

Our voting habits begin on a level as local as a collegiate election. I urge all students to take hold of their voice and refuse to be muzzled.

Caleb C. Wolanek is a student at Harvard Law School and a graduate of Auburn University.

For the full column, visit The Plainsman.com.

The Auburn Plainsman

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STATE POLITICS

DAKOTA SUMPTER / MANAGING EDITOR

Gov. Robert Bentley speaks during the annual State of the State Address at the Capitol on Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2017, in Montgomery,Ala.

Bentley says Alabama will ‘finish the race’ in annual speech

Chip Brownlee COMMUNITY EDITOR

MONTGOMERY — In 1992, sprinter Derek Redmond qualified for the Olympics with the fastest time in his heat. But when he was close to finishing up his race, Redmond tore his hamstring.

But he didn’t quit the race. In one of the most memorable Olympic moments in history, Redmond hobbled to the finish line.

Gov. Robert Bentley, in his annual State of the State Address on Tuesday night, said Alabama can be like Redmond.

“We will finish the race,” Bentley said, after using Redmond’s race and other athletic events as metaphors throughout his speech.

Despite setbacks, he said, Alabama can become an even greater state.

On Tuesday, Bentley called for new prisons, increased mental health spending, more appropriations for the state’s pre-K system and more efforts to mitigate the opioid epidemic in Alabama.

Bentley’s calls were part of his Great State 2019 plan, which aims at bettering the lives of Alabamians through improvements to infrastructure, education, health care and criminal justice.

Many of his plans were not new, though.

Last year, Bentley first introduced his plan to build four new “mega prisons” financed with an $800 million bond.

The prisons would replace 14 of Alabama’s 17 aging correctional facilities. Three of the prisons would hold upward of 3,500 male inmates. The fourth prison would be a smaller women’s prison, which would replace the Julia Tutwiler correctional facility.

“Alabama is about to embark on a complete transformation of the state’s prison system,” Bentley said Tuesday, which was also the start of the 2017 Regular Legislative Session. “The Alabama Prison Transformation Initiative transforms Alabama’s prison system into a national model for the 21st century.”

The prisons are needed, Bentley said, because the State’s current prisons are “crumbling” and the extreme costs associated with maintaining them are preventing the state from funding rehabilitation programs to reduce recidivism rates.

In addition to the prisons’ bad shape, they’re also overcrowded. Alabama’s prisons are holding near twice their capacity. Many are at 190 percent capacity.

Bentley’s plan, which would cost a total of $1.5 billion after interest payments, would only alleviate a small portion of the overcrowding.

He hopes to reduce the overcrowding to 120 percent of capacity.

“We cannot afford to wait any longer to solve this lingering, difficult and deadly problem,” Bentley said after citing the death of Corrections Officer Kenneth Bettis, who was killed in a stabbing last summer at Holman Correctional Facility in Atmore, as a prime example of the “boiling” tensions and understaffing in Alabama’s prisons.

A bill that would authorize the plan failed during last year’s legislative session, but a new version of the bill was filed Tuesday by Sen. Cam Ward.

Ward and Department of Corrections Commission Jeff Dunn, who originally designed the plan, believe the new prisons will reduce costs and overcrowding and create a safer environment for both prison workers and prisoners alike.

“If Alabama can put man on the moon, we can build new prisons,” Bentley said.

The Senate Judiciary Committee, chaired by Ward, will address the prison reform bill next week and then it will head to the full Senate and then the House.

In addition to the prison bill, which is at the top of the governor’s agenda, Bentley also proposed a new infusion of $20 million into the state’s pre-kindergarten initiative.

The new money, Bentley hopes, will allow for the continued success of the program,

which he said is a model across the nation.

“In study after study, a 4-year-old enrolled in one of our high-quality, first-class pre-K programs misses fewer school days,” he said.

“They are much less likely to be retained or held back in higher grades and, most importantly, they are ready for kindergarten.”

Rep. Joe Lovvorn, R-Auburn, said the program has been beneficial for Auburn and hopes that the Legislature can find the funds to give the program more money.

“I’m eager to see more of the plan,” Lovvorn said. “It is something that is on the priority list.

We do have a lot of asks for appropriations coming into the session. I look forward to setting priorities and improving the program any way we can.”

Bentley’s speech ranged from touting the state’s success in recruiting new business like Airbus and General Electric to addressing concerns about the possible repeal of the Affordable Care Act and its effects on the state.

It was Bentley’s longest State of the State Address to date, lasting over an hour. He will give one more address next year before his term ends in 2019.

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Thursday, February 9, 2017

Community 7

The Auburn Plainsman

CITY

Council mulls $4 million purchase of land for parks Sam Willoughby COMMUNITY WRITER

The grass soon could be greener for Auburn if the City Council votes to approve the purchase of 160 acres of recreational space from the Auburn City Board of Education.

The land is part of a bigger 272-acre plot located off of Richland Road, purchased by the school board in July 2016.

The school board adopted a master plan for some of the land that includes the construction of a new elementary school and a new high school.

At their regular meeting Tuesday night, the City Council discussed a contract to buy the remaining land from the school board for close to $4 million.

If purchased, the land would be incorporated as part of the Parks and Recreation Master Plan being developed by the city.

Parks and Recreation Director Rebecca Richardson said the plan should be completed by late April or early May.

The primary use of the land, City Manager Charlie Duggan said, would likely be a large multi-purpose field, similar to the University’s intramural fields, which local teams could use for games or practice.

The plot includes a lake that Duggan said could be a central feature for scenic walking trails. He also said there was enough space for a recreation center if the Parks and Recreation Department wanted to include one in their master plan.

Duggan said the city intends to connect Richland Road with Martin Luther King Drive to the south with a road that passes through the land.

Ward 3 City Councilwoman Beth Witten and Ward 5 Councilwoman Lynda Tremaine said they aren’t opposed to the purchase but would like to learn more about the land before they vote on the multimillion-dollar contract.

“The school board closed on this property in July,” Witten said. “And this is the first time this body, collectively, has dis-

cussed this, and that’s really where my concern lies.”

Ward 2 City Councilman Ron Anders said he understood their issues with the process but thinks the city should act on the purchase as soon as they can.

“This is an opportunity for us to answer a need for our community for generations upon generations,” Anders said.

“Is four million dollars a lot of money?” he continued.

“You’re dadgum right it’s a lot of money ... but it’s also an opportunity to identify a piece that we could build out our parks and rec needs for our citizens, our children [and] their parents for years and years and years to come.”

The Council agreed to table the vote on the purchase until their next meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 21.

In the meantime, Anders and Mayor Bill Ham suggested the council take a “field trip” out to the plot to see it for themselves.

“Get your hiking boots on,” Ham quipped.

COUNTY

District attorney proposes 5 percent increase to county liquor sales tax Alex Hosey

COMMUNITY WRITER

The Lee County District Attorney’s Office has proposed a 5 percent increase to the sales tax of liquor.

If passed, 80 percent of the money gained from the tax would benefit the district attorney’s office, while the remaining 20 percent would benefit the Lee County Circuit Clerk’s Office.

Even though the District Attorney’s office is a state agency, it does not get the majority of its funding from the state. This year, the state of Alabama is only providing 17 percent of the Lee County district attorney’s budget. The other 83 percent, said Lee County District Attorney Brandon Hughes, has to be raised by the DA’s office itself.

Hughes said the tax increase would help offset the lack of state funding they receive, which has been cut by $94,000 over the past five years.

Funding from the state that the district attorney’s office does receive is limited to paying for employee salaries and benefits, but according to Hughes, it isn’t even enough for that.

“The $275,000 we’re getting from the state of Alabama this year, that’s not even close to what we need to even make payroll,” Hughes said. “To keep our child support unit running, to

CATHERINE WOFFORD / PHOTOGRAPHER

A proposal by the Lee County District Attorney’s office would increase the liquor sales tax by 5 percent.

keep our restitution recovery unit running, these are the kinds of things that would be helped by being funded by this liquor tax.”

Much of their funding now comes from court costs, bail bonds, restitution collection and other fees that fluctuate from year to year. Hughes considers the 5 percent increase on liquor to be a more reliable source of revenue.

In order to be passed, the proposition must first be advertised in the local area before going to a committee in the Legislature. If it passes there, it will then go to the Senate floor and the House floor, a process that could allow the tax to go into effect as early as this summer.

“No one likes taxes,” Hughes said. “I don’t care to pay taxes, but I’m in a tough spot where

I’m having to fund an office that is a necessary function of government. I believe that public safety is a function that government is entrusted to do, and we are an arm of that, and it’s keeping people safe, and we’re not getting adequate funding to do that. We’re asking for a tax on a voluntary thing that will fund a very necessary entity.”

STATE

Lovvorn sworn in as session begins Chip B rownlee COMMUNITY EDITOR

M O N T G O M E RY — Speaker of the House Mac McCutcheon has sworn Rep. Joe Lovvorn, R-Auburn, in as a new member of the Alabama House. Lovvorn is set to begin his first partial term as Auburn’s representative in the State House.

L o v v o r n ’s w i f e h e l d his personal bible as he recited the oath of office in front of the other members of the Alabama House.

Lovvorn was also joined on the floor by his two children and several friends, including Auburn Planning Commissioner Charles Pick, who was his campaign manager.

“It’s an honor for me to be here today,” Lovvorn said.

“[God] gave me a path to follow each day that created a light for me to be able to serve my community and my state in many ways.”

The House and Senate convened Tuesday for the start of the 2017 Regular Session. The House and Senate passed the necessary resolutions to formally convene the session. After another swearing in and moments of silence to honor legislators who have passed recently, the House adjourned until the State of the State, which was Tuesday night.

During the upcoming session, Lovvorn will sit on the House Education Ways and Means Committee, which is responsible for allocating about $6 billion in funding to Alabama’s public

K-12 schools, two-year and four-year public universities.

Lovvorn was elected in September in a special election for House District 79, which includes Auburn and portions of Opelika.

Lovvorn replaced former House Speaker Mike Hubbard, who was removed from office in June after being convicted of 12 felonies.

With his district including Auburn University, Lovvorn has said since the election that he would ask to be on the education budget committee in the House. With the s p e a k e r ’s a p p o i n t m e n t , Lovvorn will now get to help write the state’s education budgets, including whether to give a 20 percent funding increase to the State’s pre-K program.

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Black History Celebration

CARDBOARD

Where: Cross Road Baptist Church, Auburn Alabama. 695 Lee Road 10 (Beehive Road), Auburn, AL 36830 Time: The Program is from 11-12, during the morning worship service.

The guest speaker is the Honorable Eddie Lowe, Mayor of Phenix City Program Theme: “Lest We Forget” The guest speaker for the program is the Honorable Eddie Lowe, Mayor of Phenix City.

Mayor Lowe is a Phenix City native and former football player at the University of Alabama under Coach Paul “Bear” Bryant, and was named the permanent captain of Coach Bryant’s last football team. Mayor Lowe graduated from the University of Alabama in 1983 with a degree in Finance. He played pro football for the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the Canadian Football League, and in 1994 he was inducted into the Saskatchewan Plaza of Honor. He is presently the Senior Vice President of CB&T of East Alabama.

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Sports

8

Tigers eye postseason

Thursday, February 9, 2017

ThePlainsman.com

Sports

MATTHEW BISHOP / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Bryce Brown (2) takes a shot during the second half of the Auburn vs Mississippi State basketball on Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2017, in Auburn, Ala.

Will Sahlie

ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR

It has become a constant theme for Auburn lately: Build a big lead, let it slip away slowly, but hold on to win.

The theme stayed true Tuesday night in Auburn Arena, as Auburn watched a 20-point halftime lead slowly slip away but held on to defeat Mississippi State 98-92.

Auburn’s 98 points were the most scored by a Tigers team since 1999 when Auburn defeated Alabama 102-61.

“That was a good home SEC win,” Auburn head coach Bruce Pearl said. “Beautiful basketball in the first half. I thought we were really prepared. We shared the ball. 22 assists, 32 baskets, it was very good.”

“In the second half, we didn’t shoot as well at the three, but we still shot 55 percent and scored 50 points, but to give up 64, there’s just no excuse for that.”

Bryce Brown scored 18 points to lead Auburn, as the sophomore knocked down 5-of-8 shots from the field. The sophomore guard also knocked down four of his five three-point attempts.

He also grabbed five rebounds to go along with two assists and three steals. Brown has now knocked down 8-of-10 threepoint attempts in the last two games, victories over Alabama and Mississippi State.

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He is averaging 15 points per game in the two wins.

“I’ve been in the gym working every day with the coaches and my dad,” Brown said. “My mom even helped me. I told her I would give her a shout-out if she helped me on the court sometimes.”

“I felt like they were sagging off,” Brown said about his three-point outburst. “I felt like that was a little disrespectful, and we took advantage of it.”

Mustapha Heron scored 15 of his 17 points in the second half, finishing 6-of-13 from the floor. The standout freshman grabbed six rebounds to go along with four assists.

The Tigers shot 48.5 percent (16-of-33) in the first half including 8-of-15 from three-point range en route to a 48-28 halftime lead.

Bryce Brown and TJ Lang knocked down seven of their nine three-point attempts in the first half, as the Tigers bench scored 29 points in the first half.

In a second half filled with fouls, Mississippi State slowly crept back into the game, cutting the lead all the way to five points with under a minute to play.

Auburn was able to hang on at the free-throw line, knocking down 25 of its 38 attempts from the charity stripe.

The two teams combined for 32 second-half fouls and 50 sec-

ond-half free-throw attempts. The teams also combined for 114 second-half points, 64 scored by the Bulldogs.

Auburn finished 32-of-62 (51.6 percent) from the field, knocking down 9-of-22 (40.9 percent) attempts from threepoint range. Auburn out-rebounded Mississippi State 38-33.

Austin Wiley scored 14 points to go along with five rebounds to lead the Tigers inside. Ronnie Johnson scored six points off the bench to go along with a season-high eight assists.

T.J. Dunans scored 11 points to go along with six rebounds, three assists and one block. TJ Lang added nine points off the bench.

“It was a good win for us against a team that was ahead of us in the conference,” Pearl said.

Mississippi State (14-9, 5-6) was led by Quinndary Weatherspoon who scored 25 points and grabbed nine rebounds. Freshman Lamar Peters scored 23 points and dished out seven assists for the Bulldogs.

With the win, Auburn moved to 16-8, 5-6 in the SEC. The Tigers’ 16 wins are the most wins for Auburn since 2008-09.

Auburn will head to Oxford, Mississippi on Saturday to take on Ole Miss.

Tip-off between the Tigers and the Rebels is set for 5 p.m.

CST. The game will be televised by the SEC Network.

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Thursday, February 9, 2017

Sports 9

The Auburn Plainsman

FOOTBALL

TRACK AND FIELD

Five Tigers finish with personal bests at Husker Invitational Jake Wright SPORTS WRITER

Auburn track and field recorded five new personal bests and netted two top-five finishes on the last day of the 42nd annual Frank Sevigne Husker Invitational on Saturday.

Khalil Henderson finished second in the men’s 200-meter with a personal best 21.26.

Randall Census followed Henderson with a fifth place finish and a time of 21.45.

Mark Rubalcaba finished third in the men’s triple jump which was his second third place finish of the meet. He jumped 49-10.5/15.20m on his second jump of the day. He now ranks ninth in the SEC with a mark of 50-2.75/15.31m.

“I am proud of how hard we competed over-

Welcome to the family

AUBURN ATHLETICS

Auburn football adds 23 signees

Will sahlie

ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR

National Signing Day 2017 has come and gone on The Plains with Auburn head coach Gus Malzahn and his staff adding 23 players to the program.

“We are very excited about this class,” said Malzahn.

“When you look at the overall class, it is very well-rounded. There wasn’t a whole lot of drama today, and I think that says a lot about the signees’ loyalty. I think it also says a lot about our staff, who did an awesome job of building relationships. Everything went as planned today, which is a blessing.”

Here is a player-by-player breakdown on who Auburn has added to its program: Jarrett Stidham: Stidham is the prize of this class as the former Baylor quarterback will likely be counted on to rescue the sometimes dismal Auburn offense. Stidham was ranked the No. 1 JUCO prospect in the country. The former five-star recruit completed 75of-109 passes for 1,265 yards and 12 touchdowns as a true freshman at Baylor.

Calvin Ashley: Ashley is also a huge part of this recruiting class for Auburn, as the Washington, D.C. native remained committed to Auburn for nearly two years. The fivestar offensive tackle is ranked the No. 6 offensive tackle in the country and No. 27 overall by 247 Sports. The 6-foot-7, 330-pound lineman will compete for early playing time this fall.

T.D. Moultry: Moultry, of Jackson-Olin High School in Birmingham, Alabama, was named to the Class 6A all-state first team his senior season.

The four-star linebacker was ranked the No. 3 linebacker in the country by 247 Sports.

Rivals ranked him the No. 3 player in the state of Alabama.

K.J. Britt: Britt joins Moultry as the most important defensive signees by the Tigers this year. Britt, of Oxford, Alabama, recorded 124 tackles in his senior season to go along with 17 tackles for loss, five sacks and one interception. He was ranked the No. 5 player in Alabama by Rivals.

The four-star linebacker will compete for early playing time along with fellow freshman T.D. Moultry.

Malcolm Askew: Askew was one of Auburn’s early enrollees who is already taking classes at Auburn. The fourstar athlete was also 2016 first team all-state. Askew threw for 1,536 yards and 17 touchdowns as a senior at McAdory High School. He ranked as the No. 7 prospect in Alabama

by Rivals.

Devan Barrett: The fourstar running back is another key piece of the offensive class. The Tampa, Florida native ran for 1,271 yards and 11 touchdowns as a senior. He accounted for 44 career touch-

downs to along with more than 4,000 total career yards.

Nick Brahms: The four-star offensive guard also enrolled at Auburn in January. Brahms missed his entire senior season because of a broken leg. The 6-foot-4, 280-pound guard will look to continue to rebuild his strength in his first semester at Auburn.

Big Cat Bryant: The 6-foot-4, four-star defensive end of Crisp County High School in Cordele, Georgia, won Georgia Class 3A defensive player of the year. He recorded 102 tackles, 36.5 for a loss and 15.5 sacks as a senior. He is a consensus top 15 player from Georgia. He is the cousin of former Auburn defensive lineman Montravious Adams.

Sal Cannella: Cannella ranked as a three-star JUCO tight end who is more of a pass catcher than run blocker.

He had 29 receptions for 449 yards and seven touchdowns at Scottsdale (Arizona) Community College. He was ranked as the No. 1 JUCO tight end by ESPN. Anders Carlson: If you think the name looks familiar, then you are not wrong. Carlson is the younger brother of Auburn senior kicker Daniel Carlson. He is rated as the nation’s best prep kicker. The Colorado Springs, Colorado native will likely take over kicking duties after his brother’s graduation after next season.

Carlito Gonzalez: The three-star defensive back ranked in the top 50 players in Georgia. The Decatur, Georgia native is known as a physical, hard-hitter.

Noah Igbinoghene: The Trussville, Alabama native had more than 1,700 all-purpose yards and 18 touchdowns as a senior. He was named to the Class 7A all-state first team.

He is a consensus top 15 player in Alabama. Both of his parents were Olympic track athletes.

Alec Jackson: The Montgomery, Alabama native and Jeff Davis High School graduate recorded 60 tackles, nine for a loss and six sacks during his senior season. The three-star defensive tackle finished his career with 138 tackles, 13.5 sacks and three fumble recoveries. He was rated as a top 75 defensive lineman by 247 Sports.

Travion Leonard: Leonard ranks as just a two-star defensive back out of West Palm Beach, Florida; however he snagged 10 career interceptions at Oxbridge Academy.

He finished second team allstate his senior season.

Jordyn Peters: Peters ranks as a three-star defensive back from Muscle Shoals, Alabama.

He earned Class 6A all-state second team honors in his senior season. Scout ranked him as the No. 4 safety in Alabama.

John Samuel Shenk-

er: Shenker comes to Auburn from Colqiutt County High School in Moultrie, Georgia. The three-star tight end snagged 30 catches for 451 yards and two touchdowns during his final high school season. He also earned first team all-state honors during his senior season. Scout ranked him as the No. 3 tight end in Georgia.

Bill Taylor: The 6-foot-4, Tuscaloosa, Alabama native ranked as the No. 2 long snapper in the country. His father played long snapper and linebacker at Alabama.

Austin Troxell: The fourstar offensive lineman earned first team all-state honors at Madison Academy his senior season. The 6-foot-7, 315-pound lineman was a consensus top 25 offensive tackle in the country. ESPN and Rivals ranked him as a top 15 player in Alabama. He is the third Madison Academy player to sign with Auburn in the last three years, joining Kerryon Johnson and Malik Miller.

Tyrone Truesdell: The three-star defensive tackle recorded 39 tackles, seven for a loss and 2.5 sacks in his senior season at Lucy Laney High School in Augusta, Georgia.

He was ranked in the top 40 at his position by 247 Sports, Rivals and ESPN. JaTarvious Whitlow: Whitlow was Auburn’s final commitment and came as a bit of a surprise on National Signing Day. He won Class 2A back of the year at LaFayette High School as he threw for 2,292 yards and 29 touchdowns in his senior season. He also ran for 2,147 yards and 30 touchdowns. 247 Sports ranked him as a top 25 prospect in Alabama. He was also all-state in basketball and a finalist for 2A player of the year in his junior season.

Alaric Williams: The fourstar athlete is also a big get for the Tigers offense. Williams played just four games his senior season but gained 550 yards and seven touchdowns. He was named to the 6A second team all-state. He is ranked as a top 10 player from Alabama by Rivals.

Malik Willis: Willis was an early enrollee, joining the Auburn program in January. The three-star athlete threw for 2,562 yards and ran for 1,033, accounting for 37 touchdowns as a senior at Roswell High School in Roswell, Georgia.

He was named Class 7A offensive player of the year by the Atlanta Journal Constitution along with being named first team all-state. His uncle, James Anderson, played 11 seasons in the NFL. Chandler Wooten: Wooten, a three-star linebacker from Acworth, Georgia registered 124 tackles, 15 for a loss in his senior season at North Cobb High School. He was named Class 7A all-state in Georgia.

all on the weekend,” said Auburn head coach Ralph Spry.

We didn’t get all of the marks that we wanted today, but we showed some improvement across the board. Now we just need to keep improving for next weekend at Clemson.”

Auburn will be back in action this weekend as the team splits for the Iowa State Classic and the Clemson Tiger Paw Invitational. This is the last tune up for the Tigers before the SEC Indoor Championships. The distance runners will be in Ames, Iowa for the meet on Feb. 10-11.

The meet will be broadcasted live on FloTrack. com. The rest of the team will travel to Clemson, South Carolina, for a meet on Friday and Saturday.

BASKETBALL

Harper earns SEC honor

MATTHEW BISHOP / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Jared Harper (1) dribbles down the court during a basketball game, Monday, Nov. 14, 2016, in Auburn, Ala.

Jack Winchester SPORTS EDITOR

Auburn guard Jared Harper was named the SEC’s freshman of the week on Monday. This marks the second time the freshman has been recognized as the freshman of the week this season.

The point guard averaged 17.5 points and hit 70 percent of his shots behind the arc last week in a loss to Tennessee and a win at Alabama.

Harper shot 52.6 percent overall on the court.

He scored 14, including 11 in the second half, in Auburn’s 82-77 victory at Alabama.

The 165-pound point guard hit five three pointers on his way to 21 total points against Tennessee.

Auburn (15-8, 4-6 SEC) returns to action Tuesday against Ole Miss in Oxford. Tip-off is set for 5 p.m. CST, and action can be seen on the SEC Network.

STUDENT AFFAIRS S P OT L I G H T

Film Festival • February 24 • 6 to 10 p.m.

Climbing Competition • February 25 • Registration at 7 a.m Stop by the Recreation and Wellness Center for this jampacked festival! Join us in the pool Friday night for the Vancouver International Mountain Film Festival, and on Saturday, test yourself against other climbers from across the Southeast in bouldering and top rope style competitions. All Auburn students and non-climbers are welcome. $20 for members • $35 for non-members For more information, visit www.auburnascent.com.

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Sports 10

Thursday, February 9, 2017

The Auburn Plainsman

COLUMN

Men’s basketball remains on bubble Sumner Martin SPORTS@ THEPLAINSMAN.COM

The Auburn Tigers men’s basketball team is in unfamiliar territory, one win away from securing a winning record for the season. If the young squad can finish down the stretch in SEC play, it would be the first time since 2008-09 that they have done so. And ironically enough, the 200809 season was the last time the Tigers reached any sort of postseason play.

For a program that has always been overshadowed by football, it has been a struggle. The Auburn basketball program is in the middle of an eight-year postseason drought. The Tigers have not appeared in the NIT since the 2008-09 season when Jeff Lebo was at the helm, and more importantly have not qualified for the big dance since the 2002-03 season when Marquis Daniels was leading the Tigers.

However, basketball on The Plains has a bright future ahead. In his third year as head coach at Auburn, Bruce Pearl has the Tigers contending for postseason basketball. Pearl has built a solid foundation for success.

He has energized recruiting by signing five-star phenoms like Mustapha Heron and Austin Wiley who have both been integral pieces in the Tigers success so far.

Heron leads the team in scoring averaging just over 15 points a game. Wiley has been a force inside, contributing 10 points and 5 rebounds a game since graduating from high school early to come play for Auburn.

This team is young, but full of talent.

Pearl has brought excitement back to the basketball program, selling out season tickets year after year. And above all, this season more than his first two, he is starting to win.

It has been a roller coaster season so far for the Tigers, a season that includes five true road wins as well as three SEC home losses. Just last week, the young squad dismantled TCU on the road, a tournament team right now according to ESPN’s Joe Lunardi, for arguably the biggest win of the season.

Following the TCU upset, the Tigers suffered a disappointing ten-point loss at home to Tennessee, which was then succeeded by a huge road win at Alabama on Saturday, sweeping the series against the in-state rival for the first time since 2009.

With the Mississippi State win, Auburn now sits at 16-8 overall, and the last time the Tigers started a season 16-8 or better was 2002-03, the last time the they made the NCAA tournament.

Auburn has won two straight and is back on the bubble. Not only are the Tigers beginning to get key wins, players are starting to heat up and the team is starting to play together as a cohesive unit.

Bryce Brown has been shooting lights

out the past few games, while the resurgence of Danjel Purifoy, who had not looked like himself since he went out with an ankle injury against Ole Miss in early January, has given the team a much needed boost. But, consistency is the key for Auburn.

It seems like every time the Tigers get on the postseason bubble, they fall right back off. The story of the season has been inconsistency, but wins at Alabama and at home against Mississippi State have Auburn back in the postseason conversation again. Nonetheless, they’ll need to keep winning if they want to keep their postseason hopes alive moving forward.

The Tigers travel to Oxford, Mississippi on Saturday for a crucial matchup with the Rebels, and then return home to host the nationally ranked Florida Gators, which could end up being the biggest game of the year.

If they pick up a few more key victories, the Tigers could put the selection committee in a tough spot come March and, as history shows, SEC teams get more credit from the committee than most would think.

Vanderbilt snuck in the NCAA tournament last year as an 11 seed with an overall record of 19-14 despite sitting on the outside of the bubble conversation for most of the season.

If Auburn can avoid inconsistency, and close the season out strong, anything can happen.

MADISON OGLETREE/ PHOTO EDITOR

WOMEN’S TENNIS

EMILY SHOFFIT / AUBURN ATHLETICS

Alizee Michaud plays against Fresno State on Saturday, Jan. 28.

Unbeaten Tigers ready for championship run Jack Winchester SPORTS EDITOR

Auburn women’s tennis defeated Michigan State 4-3 on Sunday afternoon in Michigan.

The win gave the 14th ranked Tigers their seventh win, and their first 7-0 start in program history.

“This was a tough road trip against two solid BIG 10 teams that are tough to play indoors,” saidAuburn head coach Lauren Spencer. “Having such a young team, it’s good to give them these experiences to help us get mentally tougher and ready for SEC play. It was not out best tennis, but we battled and got the wins. I am proud of our two freshman for stepping up this weekend and clinching matches for us.”

Auburn continued to be brilliant in doubles, winning the doubles point for the seventh-straight match.

No. 25 Alizee Michaud and Taylor Russo were first off the court with a 6-2 victory over Erin Faulkner and Aslina Chua of the Spartans.

Andie Dikosavljevic and

Alannah Griffin clinched the doubles point for Auburn with a 6-2 victory over Emily Metcalf and Davinna Nguyen. Dikosavljevic and Griffin improved to 22-3 overall and 7-0 on the season.

Freshman Taylor Russo defeated Aslina Chua in straight sets, 6-3, 6-1. Russo is now 4-0 in dual matches this season.

No. 13 Alizee Michaud continued her strong start to the dual-match season with a 7-6, 6-1 victory. Michaud leads the Tigers with 17 singles victories.

With the match tied 3-3 after falling on courts six, three and four, Georgie Axon came through for Auburn to clinch the match with a hard fought, 7-5, 7-5 victory over Michigan State’s Lexi Baylis on court five.

The freshman is second on the team with 15 singles wins on the season.

The Tigers next challenge will be at the ITA Women’s Team Indoor Championships, hosted by Yale University. Matches will begin on Feb. 10.

Lifestyle

11

Thursday, February 9, 2017 ThePlainsman.com

Lifestyle

ENTERTAINMENT

Ben Bruud breaks it down daily Lily Jackson LIFESTYLE EDITOR

You may not know the name Ben Neuffer, but if you are an Auburn student that enjoys the occasional bar hop, you know who Ben Bruud is.

After almost being sued for his first stage name, DJ Catalyst, he decided to keep his first name and tweak his middle name, Bruce. Nueff e r ’s g r a n d f a ther is German, so keeping

with the theme, Ben Bruud was born.

As a local DJ, N e u ff e r s t a r t e d with small house party venues and eventually worked his way to consistent gigs with Quixote’s Bar and Grill and 17-16.

Neuffer is 26 years old and has played around the state and the Southeast.

Being a transplant from Birmingham in Auburn hasn’t affected his work, as he has found success in the small college town.

DJing wasn’t the initial draw for Neuffer. He started with break-dancing.

Initially, he hosted house parties to show off his moves, challenge others in a dance-off and enjoy a good shindig with friends.

It all started with a handstand and a challenge to see what else he could do.

A f -

Ben Neuffer, local DJ that goes by Ben Bruud, has been in the business for five years.

ter a back injury, the dancing slowed and his interest in music increased.

Neuffer does not dance nearly as much today, as he is wary of injuries.

“I used to coordinate all the music at these parties, and people always told me I should DJ because I had an ear for what people wanted to hear,” Neuffer said.

After investing in the necessary gear, Neuffer continued to host house parties, but from a different angle.

He continued to practice and happened upon an online DJ competition based on social media presence and support.

Neuffer won second place in the Schaeffer Eye Crawfish Boil competition and played his first live set.

“Winning that drove me to pursue it more because I had succeeded finally,” Neuffer said.

Soon after, Neuffer packed everything up and moved to Auburn, where he got a gig working at Chameleon Bar and Night Club.

“I was just visiting for the summer, and I met the manager,” Neuffer said. “I kind of faked it a little bit and told him I was a DJ, even though I had only had one show.”

Neuffer said most of the other bars downtown didn’t have DJs at the time, so Chameleon seemed like the place to go.

He started working on the back patio and was eventually moved inside where the second stage was.

He played at Chameleon for a few months, giving him time to learn and get accustomed to the environment.

“The whole time I was there, there was another DJ, and he kind of took me under his wing and taught me what I didn’t know,” Neuffer said. “Most of what I knew came from reading on the internet.”

CONTRIBUTED BY DAVE MEALL At the age of 26, Neuffer

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has been DJingsince he was 21.

His most frequent spots to play are Quixote’s and 17-16. The partnership with Quixote’s and 17-16 began with a booking on Halloween. After a successful show, the gigs didn’t stop.

Before Neuffer, there weren’t many DJ’s booked for these bars. Around this time, producers and DJs were becoming more popular and something bars wanted to book.

“My style is more Top 40/Open Format,” Neuffer said. “Open Format means you play all types of music. I can play country, house music, trap, hip-hop — pretty much any genre.”

Neuffer said he tries to play something for everyone, including some international music for the international students in Auburn.

“A lot of DJs would be scared to implement international music because you are playing for mostly Americans, but there is great music across all divides,” Neuffer said.

Neuffer said his favorite feeling while on stage is that of the adrenaline rush that hits at the beginning of a set.

It’s my job to make sure the crowd has a good night, Neuffer said.

He said it’s easy to let himself think the crowd is there for him, but in the end, they are there to have a good time.

“It’s a great feeling to be the feel-good drug of the night,” Neuffer said. “I have to make sure they have a good night. When you realize why they are there, you realize it’s not as much about you and more about making sure people have a good time.”

When he is not playing music, listening to music or talking about music, Neuffer plays Magic: The Gathering.

When off the stage, Neuffer continues to immerse himself in music, as his friend group is made up of producers and fellow DJs.

Lifestyle 12

Thursday, February 9, 2017

The Auburn Plainsman

COLUMN

Surviving Valentine’s Day JESSICA BALLARD COPY EDITOR

It’s February, and that means it is once again time for chocolate, pink hearts and love to be shoved down our throats.

There are plenty of angles of disapproval when it comes to Valentine’s Day. There’s the commercialization of love and the “it’s just a way for the greeting card, candy and flower industries to exploit us” approach.

There’s the ever-so-bitter “true love isn’t real and everyone leaves” approach, familiar to most who have endured a crushing breakup.

Most commonly though, is the “I’m single and don’t want to be, so I’m going to employ unhealthy coping mechanisms and hope I’m in love next year” approach.

Valentine’s Day is one of the most predictable holidays of them all.

If you’re in a long-term relationship, an underwhelming “Happy Valentine’s Day” text and another night of coexisting in a room while both of you are on your phones is most likely in your future.

If you’re in a new relationship, Valentine’s Day is full of excitement and romance; treasure it while it lasts.

If you’re single and unhappy about it, there are a few things that are vital to your mental stability during this time of obnoxious public displays of love.

Regardless of your chosen form of cynicism when it comes to the holiday, Feb. 14 is unavoidable, and your shield of bitterness is only so thick.

First, plan as many things with your friends as humanly possible because we all know refusing to think about and acknowledge our feelings is our first instinct.

If you don’t have time to think about how long you’ve been single, everything will be fine. Right?

Wrong. Soon enough the neglected feelings will abruptly surface to the forefront of your thoughts, and you will be left a sobbing mess on the floor unless you have

a planned coping mechanism.

For this stage of the process I suggest a journal. Word vomit all of your negative thoughts and feelings on to a page. Write about how you don’t think you’ll ever find anyone who will embrace your weird habits or accept the fact that you’re just “a little too high maintenance” like your ex said.

Extracting all of these pent-up emotions will, at the very least, make you feel a little lighter. It’ll get some of it off your chest.

Next, I suggest making a grocery store run. This isn’t your typical Sunday “restock the fridge” grocery shopping though.

Your baby spinach that makes you feel like you’re really getting in shape has no place in your cart this time.

Buy your guilty pleasures.

Get back on track and be healthy after all of this Valentine’s Day stuff blows over. Get the double-stuffed Oreos.

Buy the extra large bag of Cheetos.

You’re worth it.

You deserve this.

My last piece of advice is the hardest of them all to follow through with.

On Valentine’s Day, and maybe even a day or two after, do not, under any circumstances, open Instagram. You do not want to see all the smitten couples bragging about the giant teddy bears they got or the fancy dinner they went to together.

It will only add to the self-pity.

If you are weak and break down to look, like most of us will, just remember that these couples will probably break up eventually despite their beautiful Valentine’s Day spent together kissing in a park and adorably sharing a milkshake with two straws in it.

In all seriousness, we are all capable of happy, fulfilling lives without the romantic love of another person.

Fill your life with dependable friends.

Spend your time doing the things you’re passionate about. Practice self-love.

Enjoy your time being single, and pinpoint exactly who you are and what you want for yourself.

There’s no “other half” to you; you’re whole on your own.

Cherish that.

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PLAINSMAN PICKS PLAYLIST:

this week, the plainsman editors chose their favorite valentine songs. listen to their picks and follow the auburn plainsman at spotify.com/the_auburnplainsman.

“Lily” by Benjamin Gibbard Lily Jackson, lifestyle editor “Can’t think of a better love song than one about me. ”

“Lovebug” by The Jonas Brothers Weston Sims, opinion editor “The lovebug is the only bug I want to catch this month.”

“Lost Stars” by Adam Levine Claire Tully, campus editor “Listen to the acoustic version, then thank me later.”

“Feeling Single, Seeing Double” by Emmy Lou Harris Corey Willaims, editor-in-chief “If you don’t like Emmy Lou, I don’t want to be friends with you.”

“You and I” by Ingrid Michealson Anne Dawson, social media editor “Because a nice sweater is almost better than a significant other.”

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MADISON OGLETREE / PHOTO EDITOR

Starboy, an unadopted cat at Lee County Humane Society on Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2017 in Auburn, Ala.

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RELEASE DATE– Friday, February 3, 2017

Los Angeles Times Daily Crossword Puzzle Edited by Rich Norris and Joyce Nichols Lewis

ACROSS 1 Suggests, with “of” 7 Cashbox feature 11 Wagner’s “__ Rheingold” 14 Uses Blue Apron, say 15 Baseball family name 16 Space bar neighbor 17 “Epic fail!”

20 Lady Gaga’s “__ It Happens to You” 21 Presidential nickname 22 Makeup remover 23 Put out 25 Like some cheddar 28 “Ghostbusters” actor 30 Shanghai-born ex-NBA center 31 German : Kopf :: French : __ 32 Does really well 34 U.S. intelligence org.

36 “I don’t believe a word!” ... or, the truth about this puzzle’s circles 42 Deborah’s “The King and I” co-star 43 Clearly presented 45 Removed 49 Nation SE of Cyprus 51 Item on a chain, perhaps 52 Electrical backup supplies 55 One may be broken 56 Afghanistan’s national airline 57 Northwest Passage explorer 59 Word with hole or holder 60 Two of the three founders of the Distilleria Nazionale di Spirito di Vino 64 Bridge action 65 Brown family shade 66 “I’m on board” 67 Década division 68 Food buyers’ concerns 69 Scary flier

DOWN 1 English hunters 2 Polynesian catch 3 Unable to increase 4 Mo. hours 5 Christchurch native 6 Common animal kingdom tattoo subject 7 Bowler, e.g.

8 Cakes go-with 9 In a way, in a way 10 One unlikely to experiment 11 Uses a 22-Across on, as tears 12 Come-hither quality 13 Dear 18 Hot 19 “__ serious?”

24 Pantry stack 26 Picks a fight (with) 27 Civil rights icon Parks 29 Red __ 33 Calculating 35 Chip shot path 37 Ripsnorter 38 Bit of Christmas morning detritus

39 Thickening agent 40 Flip 41 Goes around 44 SEC powerhouse, familiarly 45 Runner’s woe 46 Shag, e.g.

47 Part of Q.E.D. 48 Like some court motions 50 “Feel the __”: 2016 campaign slogan

52 Iconic Rio carnival activity 53 Like 54 Nasser’s successor 58 Physics units 61 Fight cause 62 Mozart’s birthplace, now: Abbr.

63 Natural resource

ANSWER TO PREVIOUS PUZZLE:

xwordeditor@aol.com

By Jeffrey Wechsler ©2017 Tribune Content Agency, LLC

02/03/17

02/03/17