The Auburn Plainsman 9.22.16 Issue

Auburn vs. LSU game day section inside

The Auburn Plainsman A SPIRIT THAT IS NOT AFRAID

Thursday, September 22, 2016 Vol. 124, Issue 6, 12 Pages

COMMUNITY

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

A Momma’s legacy

Momma Goldberg’s founder reflects on the deli’s 40 years in business Corey Williams EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

History is written on the wooden walls of the building that sits at 500 West Magnolia Ave. Momma Goldberg’s Deli has left its mark on countless patrons and they’ve left their marks on it. Scribbles– names of couples written next to the booth where they met, “for a good time call” phone numbers, unforgettable football scores – cover every corner of the building, telling its 40-year story.

The beginning Don DeMent said he has always been keenly aware of changing trends. That’s why he started having doubts about the future of the Locker Room, his successful clothing store in downtown Auburn, in 1976.

Students used to dress up for class, Don said. But the styles made popular by the children of the Vietnam-era counterculture – the long hair, the blue jeans, the sandals – hit Auburn in the mid-1970s.

There just wasn’t a market for the Locker Room’s suits and

ties anymore.

“In the ‘70s everybody was having a big time, dressing in tank tops and flip flops,” Don said. “I wasn’t going to sell that.”

Don and his wife, Betty, could’ve sold the building, he said, but the location was just too good to give up.

He decided to close the Locker Room and open a sandwich shop in its place.

The name Don’s first job after college was with Pizitz, a major regional department store chain, in 1963. He worked as an assistant buyer in the furniture department at the chain’s flagship location in Birmingham.

Chester Goldberg was his boss.

“You get a background in school but you really learn business in practice,” Don said. “[Goldberg] was my mentor. I admired his hard work ethic, but mostly he was a kind, kind man.”

When it came time to name the restaurant, Don said it only

seemed right to honor the man who taught him everything he knows about business.

The Goldberg name meant something special and, Don said, it created a Jewish-feel for his kosher-style deli.

But there were few Jewish students on campus at the time and deli-style sandwiches weren’t yet mainstream. Don wanted a cozy, home-style name that appealed to as many people as possible.

“Who are students going to call when they’re in trouble?

They ain’t gonna call Daddy,” Don said. “They’re calling Mama.”

Mike DeMent, a graphic designer and Don’s brother, was tasked with creating the sign. Don told him the restaurant’s name – “Mama Goldberg’s” – but never spelled it out for him.

A misspelled sign arrived a few days before the grand opening.

“Well, there wasn’t much we could do at that point,” Don

» See MOMMA, 2

MATTHEW BISHOP / PHOTOGRAPHER

SPORTS

CAMPUS

Report: Rice repeatedly apologized to woman who accused him of rape Sam Butler

ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR

Corey Williams EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

MADISON OGLETREE / PHOTO EDITOR

Auburn University President Jay Gogue announced his plans to retire at today’s Board of Trustee’s meeting.

AU names search committee following retirement announcement

Corey Williams EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Trustee Raymond Harbert will chair the University’s presidential search committee follwing Gogue’s retirement announcement last week. In addition to Harbert, the Auburn presidential search advisory committee is composed of the following: Beau Byrd II, president-elect, Auburn Alumni Association; Mike DeMaioribus, member, Auburn Board of Trustees; Deacue

Page 3

Fields, chair and professor, Department of Agricultural Economics; Thom Gossom, chair, Auburn University Foundation; Sharon Haynes, county coordinator, Alabama Cooperative Extension System; Rhea Ingram, dean, College of Business at Auburn University at Montgomery; Timothy Jones, chair, Auburn Administrative & Professional Assembly; Sarah B. Newton, member, Auburn Board of Trustees; Laura Plexico, associate professor, Department of Communication Disorders; Chris Roberts, dean, Samuel Ginn College

Page 6

of Engineering; Althea Tate, chair, Auburn Staff Council; Larry Teeter, professor, School of Forestry & Wildlife Sciences; and Jesse Westerhouse, president, Student Government Association.

Auburn University President Jay Gogue, 69, has officially announced his intention to retire at the the Board of at the Friday, Sept. 16.

“They [the Board] asked when is the time to begin the new search,” Gogue said to the

» See GOGUE, 2 Page 9

Former tight-end Landon Rice repeatedly apologized in a series of text messages to the woman who accused him of rape, according to documents released by the accuser’s attorney on Wednesday.

The accuser — whose identity is being protected by AL.com, the outlet that broke the story, and the Columbus Ledger-Enquirer — started a text conversation with Rice at 9 p.m. April 18, six days after she later told Auburn police she was raped.

“I said no to having sex,” the woman, who is a student at Auburn University, wrote Rice. “I didn’t say it just to hear my own voice, I said it because I meant it. So the fact that you didn’t respect me enough to listen really really hurts. I know you knew better than that. I’m saying this because I want you to know that what you did was wrong.

Whether it was 5 seconds or

Page 11

it was 20 minutes, it was still wrong.

“So I’m texting you about this for two reasons. One because the next time you are in that position, listen and do not make another girl feel disrespected like I do. Two because I want you you to just leave me alone from now on.”

Rice responded in a series of texts that included the word “sorry” five times, AL.com reported.

“Yes I knew it was wrong and I am sorry,” Rice reportedly wrote. “There is nothing I can do to make it right. I am really sorry. I should have never put you in that position, I was just in the moment. That is not the person kind of person I am. (Accuser’s name) I am really sorry.”

The accuser responded by saying she wanted Rice to leave her alone and he again apologized.

“Can we just put this behind us and don’t tell anyone.

I’ll leave you alone,” Rice reportedly wrote. “Once again

» See SEE RICE, 2 INDEX Campus

3

Opinion

5

Community 6

Clowns on campus

Vape shops face new regulations

Women’s basketball schedule

A day in the life of a band member

Sports

8

Intrigue

11

News 2

MOMMA » From 1

said. “I thought about it and I liked the way it sounded.”

Thus, Momma Goldberg’s was born.

The shop The restaurant started seeing success after several strategically worded ads in The Plainsman, Don said. Business really started booming, however, after an Alabama law prohibiting the sale of alcohol within one mile of a university campus was declared unconstitutional. Momma Goldberg’s was among the first restaurants in the area to receive a beer license.

There was no menu when the restaurant first opened, Don said. Each sandwich was custom made. They had to come up with a faster system, though, because some customers took their time ordering.

“Marijuana got to be real popular back then.

Kids would come in stoned at 10 or 11 o’clock at night and just stand there looking at that menu for 30 minutes,” Don said as he laughed. “I had to come up with pre-made sandwiches to speed the line up.”

“A Momma’s Love” – roast beef, ham, hickory smoked turkey breast with muenster cheese served on a seeded hoagie bun – was one of the first staples on the menu.

Don welcomed everyone into his shop with open arms and tended to his customers’ specific needs. The ROTC students could cool off after practice with a half-priced tea. Pi Chis (sorority members who led potential new members through recruitment) could unwind after a long day’s work with a free sandwich, provided they brought in their rush group.

The sense of camaraderie set Momma Goldberg’s apart. The students knew they could count on Don and Don knew he could count on them.

The memories Soon, the restaurant started to attract some big names. Sportscaster Brent Musburger stopped by for a meal when he was in town for a game.

Musburger was so impressed with his sandwich, he said he would come back and feature Momma Goldberg’s on primetime.

Don rallied all the regulars he knew. They showed up to support the little deli – people were elbow-to-elbow when Musburger was scheduled to arrive at 4 p.m.

“People were drinking, having a good time,” Don said. “Four o’clock came and went. Then 4:30 [p.m.] came and went.”

Musburger never came. At 11 p.m., though, “they were still running around asking ‘When’s ole Brent going to get here?’”

No night at Momma Goldberg’s stands out to Don quite like the one during the blizzard of ‘93, though. People came to the restaurant and made “fun out of disaster.”

Campus and most businesses were closed, but he decided to keep the shop open. They sliced the meat by hand and poured beer by candlelight.

“I poured more beer that day than any other day,” Don remembered. “They shot pool by candlelight until probably 3 o’clock in the morning.”

Don made 14 more years of memories at the restaurant before he decided it was time to retire.

The first Momma Goldberg’s franchise opened in 2007 in Homewood, Alabama. Don stayed with the company until 2014, through eight more franchise openings.

“It just got to be more work than I could do so I sold the franchise,” Don said. “It was pretty tearful cleaning out my office, but I haven’t really looked back.

He passed the torch to Auburn graduate Nick Davis, who now owns and operates all the Momma Goldberg’s locations in Alabama.

“Don and Betty created a place that’s not just great food, a great atmosphere, but also an Auburn icon,” Davis said when Don announced his retirement. “There is a core group of customers who are extremely loyal to the brand.”

The legacy Momma Goldberg’s is turning 40 years old this year and Auburn is celebrating its oldest independently-owned restaurant as hard as it can.

Mayor Bill Ham, Opelika Mayor Gary Fuller and Sen. Tom Whatley have proclaimed Sept.

22, 2016 as “Momma Goldberg’s Day.” “Don and I have been friends since the ‘70s,” Ham said. “Seeing a homegrown business expand and franchise is really a great thing. I’m very proud of Don and Betty and I’m glad Momma Goldberg’s continues to do well.”

The celebration will coincide with the release of “Momma’s Love,” a book by local author Mary Ellen Hendrix.

Hendrix, a longtime friend of the DeMents, said the restaurant is a “home away from home” to members of the Auburn community, near and far.

Don created an atmosphere that is still unique to Momma Goldberg’s, Hendrix said. He is the reason people come back with their children, decades after they graduate from Auburn. Hendrix called the restaurant “both a rite of passage and a pilgrimage destination.”

“He provided students a safe space,” Hendrix said. “He was giving and forgiving of their antics, and they’ve loved him and Momma’s because of it.”

CONTRIBUTED BY MARY ELLEN HENDRIX

Don DeMent and his wife, Betty, founded Momma Goldberg’s in 1976.

DAKOTA SUMPTER / MANAGING EDITOR

Visitors of the original Momma Goldberg’s on West Magnolia leave messages on the walls. Portions have been edited due to vulgarities.

CAMPUS

RICE

COMMUNITY

Gas stations see fuel shortages

» From 1 I am really sorry and I feel terrible about it.”

The accuser responded, “Just don’t do it again.”

The April 18 texts end with Rice writing, “I’m not. I’m really sorry.”

The 19-year-old woman filed a protective order against Rice on Sept. 12. The hearing for the order will be held Oct. 4.

Mike Mastin, a defense attorney based in Albertville, is representing Rice with lawyers Augusta Dowd and Kelly Brennan.

Rice’s defense team issued a statement Tuesday, Sept. 20 — before the texts were released — in response to allegations.

“Landon was projected to start as tight end for the Auburn Tigers, but two days before their opening game against Clemson, false accusations and fundamental unfairness combined to prevent that from happening,” the statement issued by Dowd reads. “For the past several days, Landon and his family have been subjected to prejudicial and incorrect commentary in an environment that has not permitted them a full opportunity to be heard.

Landon has not been charged with any criminal offense. When the true facts are revealed, those who made false accusations and vilified Landon will be held accountable.”

The details about this story were emerging at the time of publication. Check ThePlainsman.com for up-to-date information.

GOGUE » From 1

Board. “You guys can begin the search process for a new president.”

The Board approved the extension of Gogue’s contract through 2020 in September 2015.

Gogue, the University’s 18th president, earned a bachelor’s degree in horticulture from Auburn in 1969 and a master’s de-

Thursday, September 22, 2016

The Auburn Plainsman

Chip Brownlee COMMUNITY EDITOR

CHIP BROWNLEE / COMMUNITY EDITOR

Students were evacuated and classes delayed after a fire alarm Tuesday in the Haley Center.

Haley Center evacuated after fire alarm Claire Tully CAMPUS EDITOR

The Haley Center fire alarm went off at approximately 2:30 p.m.Tuesday, Sept. 20, resulting in an evacuation of the building.

The Auburn Fire Department arrived at the scene and investigated the second floor following a report that someone had been smoking

gree in 1971. He received a PhD in horticulture from Michigan State University in 1973.

In 1986, he was appointed Clemson University’s associate director of the Office of University Research. He served as President of New Mexico State University from 2000 to 2003.

He served as chancellor of the University of Houston System and president of the University of Houston from 2003 to 2007.

Since 2007, Gogue has been

there.

John Lankford, AFD chief, said their investigation showed no evidence of smoke in the building.

“Once we check the scene, we don’t do anything else unless the University needs our help with something,” Lankford said.

The cause of the false alarm is currently unknown.

the president of Auburn University.

“Susie and I have had a blast at Auburn the past 10 years,” said Gogue. “We’re not going anywhere, but we decided it’s time to step down as president next year and begin the next phase of our lives.”

Gogue made headlines in 2013 when The Chronicle of Higher Education reported his salary was $2.5 million, making him the second-highest

paid president of a public college in America. The $2.5 million in 2013 was actually the sum of Gogue’s base salary, $482,070, and his deferred salary, $1,809,145.

He was paid the deferred salary after serving the full term in his original five-year contract.

It is not yet clear exactly when Gogue will retire, but he implied it would be within the next year.

Claire Tully, campus editor, contributed to this report.

Commuters with empty tanks may find plastic bags over gas pumps in Auburn.

Gas prices have been rising across the state and stations have been running dry in the area following the detection of a leak in a major pipeline that prompted Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley to declare a state emergency.

The pipeline is a main artery responsible for delivering gasoline to the Southeast and the East Coast, providing as much as 40 percent of the regions gasoline.

Colonial Pipeline, the owner, has estimated that as much as 8,000 barrels of fuel leaked before the pipeline was closed down.

The leak was found two weeks ago on Sept. 9.

Since then, gas prices across the Southeast have been rising.

Bentley’s state of emergency eased transportation regulations to make delivering gasoline easier for providers.

In Alabama, the average price of retail gasoline rose 7.3 cents per gallon from last week, according to price tracking site GasBuddy.

“While gasoline prices have drifted lower in parts of the country, it’s impossible to ignore the elephant in the room:

one of the largest gasoline pipelines in the country is out of service and a Band-Aid is not going to fix the problems in the Southeast as a result,” said Patrick DeHaan, senior petroleum analyst for GasBuddy.

Some stations in the Auburn-Opelika area have increased their prices as much as 20 cents.

Colonial Pipeline said the pipeline would resume carrying fuel after a go-around pipe was built and tested earlier this week.

It was scheduled to begin operating Wednesday, Sept.

21.

Regardless, DeHann said prices will continue to rise for a while and more shortages can be expected.

“Colonial Pipeline Co. has suggested it is working on a go-around pipeline while it fixes the main pipeline, but there is no easy way to fix the pipeline and immediately restore gasoline deliveries,” he said. “This is among the largest outages of fuel since Superstorm Sandy in 2012.

But Alabama won’t be the most affected state. To reach an alternative fuel source, tankers providing fuel stations in states like Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina have to travel much farther than tankers in Alabama.

CAMPUS

First openly gay NFL player to speak on campus in October Corey Williams EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Michael Sam, NFL free agent and the first openly gay player to be drafted in any major American sport, is set to speak on campus next month.

The Cross Cultural Center for Excellence, formerly known as the Multicultural Center, is collaborating with

Spectrum, the University’s gay and straight alliance organization, to coordinate the event.

“Mr. Sam made history when he came out as gay ahead of the NFL draft, making him the first openly-LGBTQI+ player to be drafted in any major American sport,” Allen Sutton

director for the Cross-Cultural Center for Excellence, said in an email.

“Since his announcement, through scrutiny, criticism and admiration, he has become an icon and pioneer for the LGBTQI+ community. The Cross-Cultural Center felt that bringing Mr. Sam to Auburn to tell his inspiring story was a

great way to begin celebrating LGBTQI+ History Month.”

“From Hitchcock High to the NFL: I am Michael Sam” is set for Oct. 7 at 6 p.m. in the Foy Auditorium — two days before conservative commentator Milo Yiannopoulos will speak in the same auditorium.

Check ThePlainsman.com for more details.

CHIP BROWNLEE / COMMUNITY EDITOR

Gas stations across the Auburn-Opelika area are seeing fuel shortages.

Campus

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Thursday, September 22, 2016

ThePlainsman.com

Campus

MENTAL HEALTH

Student counseling hosts QPR training marathon

Emmy Leberte CAMPUS REPORTER

Student Counseling Services and Health Promotion and Wellness Services hosted a suicide prevention training day to help students and Auburn Family members recognize the signs of suicidal thoughts in others on Wedneday, Sept. 21.

The groups provided Question, Persuade, Refer (QPR) training every hour from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. in the Student Center and it was open to all students, faculty and staff members.

“The goal is to teach, what we call, Gatekeepers so that they are aware of what things people might say or how they might behave or act that might indicate that there is some kind of suicidal thoughts going on,” said Doug Hankes, a psychologist at the Student Counseling Center.

Hankes said QPR is the mental health equivalent to CPR. “We wanted to make it more campus wide so we brought in a master trainer,” Hankes said.

“Her name is Mary Chandler Bolin and she is

“

QPR is based on the philosophy of hope and hope is the anecdote of suicide.Through QPR you can give somebody just a little bit of hope to get through tomorrow.”

—Eric Smith DIRECTOR OF HEALTH PROMOTION AND WELLNESS

the Counseling Center director of [University of] Kentucky and we identified specific individuals in colleges, departments and units all across campus with the idea that if we train them they will go back to their home and train the gatekeepers.”

Hankes said the Student Counseling Center will go out to train QPR by request at any time, but the marathon was a chance to train a large amount of people in one day.

The goal of the event was to help people pay better attention to the signs of suicide, help peo-

PUBLIC SAFETY

‘Clown sightings’ reported Staff Report

The Auburn Police Division has received reports of people dressed in clown costumes on campus, according to an Auburn University Public Safety notice.

Reports of clowns scaring members of the public have spread across the United States and clowns have recently been spotted in towns around Alabama. The phenomenon has led to multiple school closures.

Students are “walking around looking for people dressed as clowns,” according to the notice.

“For your safety, we strongly encourage you to leave this job to Auburn Police,” the release states. “Please use good judgment and avoid wearing clown masks, as it could be perceived as a hazard or threat to others.”

The notice in full: On Monday evening the university and Auburn Police Division received a few reports of people dressed in clown costumes on campus.

There were also several social media posts that suggested the same. We have seen similar reports of clown sightings at other universities and towns across the State of Alabama and the Southeast.

Auburn Police officers were on patrol and immediately responded to the areas reported but were unable to locate anyone. Auburn Police will continue to patrol our campus and investigate any suspicious activity. We are not aware of any danger or threat to our campus community.

We also had a report of students walking around looking for people dressed as clowns. For your safety, we strongly encourage you to leave

this job to Auburn Police. Please use good judgment and avoid wearing clown masks, as it could be perceived as a hazard or threat to others.

We urge our campus community to be vigilant and always report anything suspicious by dialing 911. If you have information or questions, you can call the Auburn Police Division’s non-emergency number at 334-501-3100.

Another resource that is available to students is the free Rave Guardian app. Features of this app include the ability to send tips and photos to Auburn Police or set a safety timer to allow friends and family to help look out for your safety.

We would also like to take this opportunity to remind you about the Night Security Shuttle which provides safe on-campus transportation and operates from 6:00 p.m. – 7:00 a.m. (while the Tiger Transit is not running). To request a ride on the security shuttle, please call 334-8447400. This on-campus service is free to our campus community.

The safety of our students, employees and visitors is our priority and we will continue to do everything possible to keep our campus safe.

Reports of potential clown-related threats have occurred in North Carolina, Georgia and other Alabama cities, according to AL.com.

According to foxnews.com, three individuals were arrested in Flomaton, Alabama, where a stream of cryptic threats were posted to the “Flomo Clown” Facebook page.

The social media posts caused two schools in South Alabama to go on lockdown on Thursday, Sept. 15.

ple to not be scared and know how to respond to the situation, Hankes said.

“It is teaching people what are the signs and symptoms to look for, some background and dispelling myths that are surrounding suicide,” Hankes said.

Hankes said QPR is just one more opportunity to help people through an uncomfortable conversation about suicide and know how to handle it properly.

Eric Smith, director of Health Promotion and

Wellness Services, said there is an estimated one million lost-survivors, or people who have been impacted by suicide.

“The goal is to train as many people as possible,” Smith said.

Smith said Student Counseling Services had QPR training for the Greek life chapters as well as individual training for the presidents of each sorority and fraternity.

“QPR is based on the philosophy of hope and hope is the anecdote of suicide,” Smith said.

“Through QPR you can give somebody just a little bit of hope to get through today and maybe get through tomorrow and if we can start building on that then we can get you through next week, next month, next year and keep you alive.”

According to the QPR Institute website, the goal of QPR is to save lives and reduce suicidal behaviors by applying this training to individuals in the hope that the quality education is empowering people to make a difference in someone’s life.

COMING NEXT WEEK

MISS HOMECOMING Check next week’s issue for information about each of the candidates and their platforms.

STUDENT AFFAIRS S P OT L I G H T Student Government Association

EVENTS

ELLEN JACKSON / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Jackie Cruz addresses a crowd of students in Foy Hall Auditorium.

OITNB star kicks off Hispanic Heritage Month Romy Iannuzzi CAMPUS WRITER

Actress and singer Jackie Cruz, best known for her role as Marisol “Flaca” Gonzalez on the Netflix series “Orange is the New Black,” made an appearance at Foy Hall Auditorium for a stop on her “CRUZing Through Adversity” tour.

Cruz told stories about the trials and tribulations she has experienced in her life, starting when her mother, 15 at the time, gave birth to her.

Cruz said she aspired to sing and act as early as 7 years old.

“My mother really did believe in me, because she left her whole life behind to take me to Hollywood,” Cruz said.

Cruz also told the story of a life-changing car accident she was involved in at age 16.

“I had a blood clot in my

brain, a kidney contusion, a collapsed lung,” Cruz said.

“I woke up, and my head was shaved.”

Cruz said she had no idea how severe her injuries were at the time.

“When I stood up, I was dizzy because I had been in that hospital bed for two weeks,” Cruz said.

The incident changed her and inspired her in her career, Cruz said.

“I’m a miracle,” Cruz said.

“I was in a coma for 72 hours.”

Cruz said the severity of the accident had loved ones questioning if she would survive.

“They literally sent a priest to my mother to say goodbye to me,” Cruz said.

Cruz said in the aftermath of her accident she was encouraged to pursue her dreams.

“My mother told me, ‘you have to make it now even more,’” Cruz said.

Cruz said her accident was a pivotal time when she became determined to breakthrough in the entertainmen industry.

“Look at me,” Cruz said. “I can walk, talk, I can do everything. What’s stopping me?’”

One of her mother’s dreams for her was to be an inspiration to others, Cruz said.

“I’m actually doing what my mother said I needed to do, I’m inspiring people,” Cruz said.

“Don’t put a time limit on your dreams, either.”

Cruz said she is determined to continue striving for success in the acting business.

“I may end up winning an Oscar when I’m ninety, but I’m gonna win an Oscar no matter what,” Cruz said.

H E Y D AY 2 0 1 6 Wednesday, October 5th | 8 a.m. — 2 p.m. | Student Center green space

Dating all the way back to World War II, Auburn University’s student body and members of the Student Government Association pushed for a day that would unite the Auburn Family and promote a friendly atmosphere known as HEY DAY. Each year we carry on this tradition of handing out name tags and encouraging students, faculty, and the rest of the Auburn Family to greet one another with the Auburn Spirit in an effort to bring all parts of Auburn closer together.

auburn.edu/StudentAffairs

@AuburnStudents

facebook.com/AuburnStudents

@AuburnStudents

Auburn Students

Campus 4

Thursday, September 22, 2016

The Auburn Plainsman

FACULTY

Professors keep political preferences private Claire Tully CAMPUS EDITOR

Emmy Leberte CAMPUS WRITER

Though there is constant skepticism regarding the political preferences of political science professors, most every professor comes under the scrutiny of students’ curiosity during election years.

Soren Jordan, assistant political science professor, said he personally doesn’t share his election preferences with students for two reasons.

“The first is that, no matter what my preferences are, students who do not share those preferences will begin to tune me out in lecture when they disagree with the material,” Jordan said. “The point of class is to reason based on fact and science, not to judge based on personal preferences.”

Listening to students’ different perspectives also helps him develop a more worldly view of politics, Jordan said.

“The second is that I am interested in the election as a political scientist,” Jordan said. “Political scientists seek to understand the world systematically, to understand why things happen.”

Jordan said sharing his personal political views would harm his students’ ability to have lecture discussions with him.

“It would polarize feelings about me, depending on if we’re on the same ‘side’,” Jordan said.

Subjectivity is inevitable when it comes to talking about personal beliefs, Jordan said.

“In a scientific world, we try to limit our subjectivity and keep our preferences from interfer-

STERLING WAITS / GRAPHICS EDITOR

ing with our observations,” Jordan said. “In that world, the way I want to talk about the election is still without my ‘personal stance’ and if I did ‘talk politics’ in class with my students, that’s how I think it would affect the relationship.”

Classroom conversations are most enjoyable and beneficial to students’ scholastic experience when the conversation remain factual, Jordan said.

CLUBS

“I think most professors, though, think of ourselves in the same way, which is why it is ‘controversial’ to talk politics with students,” Jordan said. “Most would agree that they love having factual, grounded conversations about political topics, as long as the conversations stay that way.”

Jordan said taking a factual approach to political discussions is a good life lesson for stu-

dents to develop critical thinking skills to be used throughout their lives. “[College is all about] learning how to think critically about the world around us, including elections,” Jordan said. “But personal opinion doesn’t have a place in those conversations, and it detracts away the value of the conversations we want to have.”

The recent growth of social media over the last few years has played a role in reinforcing people’s personal beliefs, Jordan said.

“The interesting thing about social media is that most research has demonstrated that it is an echo chamber,” Jordan said. “Meaning that when we go to our media, we hear our opinions voiced back to us, which reinforces our viewpoint.”

Jordan said although many people want to learn more about politics, their interest often stifles due to their desire to avoid exposure to counter-attitudinal information.

“My favorite piece of advice is to remember that there are more elections than simply the one for president and they will all be on the same ballot,” Jordan said. “We hear the most information about the presidential election, but in some states, that is the election in which your vote matters the least.”

Jordan said he encourages people to particpate in elections for the House of Representatives and the Senate, as well as smaller one’s for local school boards and propositions.

“Take the time to be informed about these ‘down ballot’ races,” Jordan said.

It’s essential to take full advantage of the opportunity to vote in every election, Jordan said.

GREEK LIFE

Social automotive club hits the road this fall Claire Tully CAMPUS EDITOR

Octane, a social automotive club, began years ago in Auburn as A-speed before changing names and adding car show trips to their agenda.

Grant Murphy, Octane president and senior in management, said the social club is a way for people who love cars to come together.

“Octane is a social organization focused around cars and anything automotive,” Murphy said.

Murphy said the best way to get involved is come out to a meeting and start talking to the other members.

“Typically at these meetings we bring our cars and talk about each other’s rides and really anything that comes up in conversation,” Murphy said.

The organization began under former president Joseph Pinson in 2011, Murphy said.

“Joseph was the one who got the organization officially a University approved organization back before I was even here,” Murphy said. “He said they used to be an unofficial

“

My favorite part of Octane is meeting new people who share a passion for cars the way I do.”

—Grant Murphy Octane President

organization called ‘A-Speed’ but when the organization was founded through the university, they changed the name to Octane.”

Murphy said Octane wants to bring people who love cars together so they can talk and work together.

“Our goal is to bring the Auburn area car-community together through social interaction in a safe environment to foster connections and assist each other in working on our cars,” Murphy said.

Traveling is a big part of the organization, as they attend different auto shows when they

can, Murphy said.

“We frequently make trips up to Atlanta’s Caffeine and Octane shows and also to some of the more local shows in Montgomery, Columbus and Opelika,” Murphy said.

Murphy said their trips to Atlanta have changed over time.

“A smaller group of us will meet up and drive there together, hang out and meet new people at those meets, discuss with them, and with each other, about their cars, then head back to Auburn together,” Murphy said. “In the past, we’ve met up at Caffeine and Octane in Atlanta, walked around looking at the wide range of cars they usually have there, left the show and had lunch after and road tripped back to Auburn in a group.”

Murphy said he enjoys being in a social club with people whom he shares interests with.

“My favorite part of Octane is meeting new people who share a passion for cars the way I do,” Murphy said. “People should join for the knowledge, camaraderie, and good times that we share in Octane.”

SENATE

SGA discusses game day and Lowder Hall Scantron machines Romy Iannuzzi CAMPUS WRITER

Senate met this week to discuss the new voter registration program, the return of Scantron machines to the newly restored Lowder Hall and Ring Week.

Treasurer James Beauchaine made the night’s first announcement with Ring Week.

“This week we have Ring Week, so if you have 75 credit hours or more on your transcript, go sign up and get a ring at the Student Center,” Beauchaine said. “There’s also a cool new Snapchat filter for it, so go check that out.”

EVP of Programs Hunter Gibson spoke to the senate regarding ongoing efforts to improve student seating arrangements during football games.

“Students are really learning what those yellow and orange lanes are, so we’re really pleased with that,” Gibson said. “We’re also really im-

pressed that the block-students are staying from an hour before the game to the alma mater, even when the rest of the stadium is empty.”

EVP of Initiatives Trey Fields reminded the senate about the voter registration program during executive announcements.

“For voter registration this year, we’re probably taking the most holistic approach we ever have to registering students,” Fields said. “We’re trying to register 1,001 students, since Alabama is trying to register 1,000.

Updates came from the colleges of Business, Engineering and Nursing.

Frank McEwen, College of Business senator, said he’s been in communication with his college about the return of Scantron machines.

“I’ve been talking with the College of Business presidents

about getting the [Scantron] machines back in Lowder.”

Taylor Jennings, College of Engineering senator, said she’s recently begun an endeavor with the College of Engineering heads.

“Yesterday we met with the Alabama Power Academic Excellence program,” Jennings said. “It’s a program for underprivileged engineering students, and we got to meet up with some of those kids and talk to them. It was really cool.”

Mason Easterling, School of Nursing senator, gave an update on progress on one of the department’s current undertakings.

“We’re working on the upcoming new nursing building that should hopefully be finished by Fall 2017,” Easterling said. “We’re still working on some of the embellishments and things it might have, but it’ll hopefully be ready soon.”

CONTRIBUTED BY BRAD PROSCH

Alpha Tau Omega offers therapy app to members

Alpha Tau Omega brothers and dates in the Jordan-Hare Student Section.

Emmy Leberte CAMPUS REPORTER

Alpha Tau Omega national fraternity is making steps to take mental health issues on campuses into their own hands.

The fraternity announced that they are offering their 10,000 members across the United States access to the free therapy app, Talkspace.

Talkspace is a way for people to connect to a therapist via text message 24 hours a day without making an appointment. Dealing with a wait can be done through the privacy of their personal phone.

Brad Prosch, the president of Alpha Tau Omega, said that the council presidents for IFC get together on a monthly basis to listen to various speakers.

“The guys from the Health and Wellness office are regular attendees at our meetings, so they are always giving us new information of QPR training, for suicide prevention or ways we can get information to our chapters so they can get the health that they need,” Prosch said.

Prosch said that sororities and fraternities need to continue to build relationships with Health Promotion and Wellness Services.

“

It is a sensitive subject and I feel like a lot of people in Greek life might be hesitant to go to the health and wellness office.”

—Brad Prosch Alpha Tau Omega President

“It is a sensitive subject and I feel like a lot of people in Greek life might be hesitant to go to the Health and Wellness office because it might spin that negative light on Greek Life, but if we continue to meet up and build that relationship we can see health and wellness become a big thing in the Greek community,” Prosch said.

Eric Smith, the director of Health Promotion and Wellness Services at Auburn University, said that their center has a team of outreach people who go out and give various talks about mental health issues to the Greek life community.

“One of the things to recognize, first and foremost, everybody has mental health and just being open to the fact that everyone’s mental health is

unique to them,” Smith said.

“On top of that, people may have mental illness that they may be working through and dealing with.”

Smith said people don’t often realize how many people struggle with mental illness every day.

“Many people experience anxiety, many people feel sad sometimes and people feel alone and isolated,” Smith said.

Smith said it’s important to recognize those feelings are normal and temporary for some people.

“Auburn University is considered one of the best places and happiest places so sometimes it can be tough for somebody who is not feeling as happy as everyone around them appears to be and just realizing it’s okay,” Smith said.

Opinion

5

Thursday, September 22, 2016

ThePlainsman.com

EDITORIAL

Opinion

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

SGA: Register to vote

STERLING WAITS / GRAPHICS EDITOR

Firing Malzahn is premature Fall Editorial Board 2016

With high expectations and Auburn football’s low performance comes calls to boot the easiest person to place the blame on: our head coach.

The deficit between fans’ expectations and the team’s performance raises discontentment and upsets donors.

But to do away with Gus Malzahn would be more detrimental for Auburn than beneficial, assuming the gamble wouldn’t amount to our school hiring a Nick Saban.

Malzahn’s contract with Auburn ends in 2020, and if he were fired today, Auburn would have to pay him his signed allotment of $13.7 million.

Add the high price it would take to hire a new and good coach and you’ve thrown quite a bit of money away.

The difficulty in hiring a new coach would

be exacerbated by Auburn’s unique history of throwing its coaches away after discontent fans start complaining.

Only six coaches in history have gotten Auburn into the postseason bowl games. Tommy Tuberville, Gene Chizik and Malzahn are three of them.

Tuberville resigned. Chizik was fired two seasons after he helped lead Auburn to a National Championship.

If Malzahn were fired, this would add to the impression that Auburn is quick to let go of its coaches. Job security is an important consideration for people looking for work, and coaches are no exception.

We should give Malzahn the rest of his contract to try and fulfill his duty to mold a successful institution out of Auburn Football.

Summer has finally come to an end but the election season is entering its home stretch. The candidates are 46 days away from the election, but there is still time for everyone to have their voice heard.

Auburn students are registering to vote in this year’s national election. “Voting is one of the best ways you can be involved,” said Ken Ward, Director of Political Projects for the Student Government Association. “SGA is committed to getting students involved in their communities.”

The Voter Registration Initiative, aimed at helping Auburn students become more politically educated and engaged, starts Friday, Sept. 23, and will continue through Monday, Oct. 24, which is the last day for Alabama residents to register to vote.

The University of Alabama’s SGA has a similar initiative.

Their goal is to register 1,000 voters. “Our goal at Auburn is to register at least 1,001 people to beat the University of Alabama’s registration goal,” Ward said.

Ward said, “This is not a partisan project, and we want all students’ voices to be heard.”

Auburn’s SGA does not support any one candidate but wants more Auburn students to participate in democracy.

“Decisions made by elected officials influence our lives on a daily basis,” Ward said. “From road repairs to student loan fees, these decisions have direct implications on the lives of college students.”

Auburn’s SGA intends to continue this initiative even in non-election years.

VIA WIKIPEDIA

The best way students can make an impact is by sharing the initiative on social media or by word of mouth.

“Students can encourage other students to register,” Ward said. “Additionally, students can visit the SGA website under the External Affairs section and find information about how to register in their state, file for an absentee ballot and links to the major candidates’ websites.”

SGA will host the registration events at all major campus events throughout the month in order to ensure everyone receives the opportunity to register.

This letter was sent by the Auburn SGA.

How to manage Milo Yiannopoulos’ movement COLUMN

Weston Sims OPINIONS EDITOR

Milo Yiannopoulos, the alt-right’s angel and perennial provocateur, is slated to speak at Auburn’s campus Oct. 7 and the University of Alabama Oct. 10.

Recently, a friend of mine wrote an eloquent opinion in The Crimson White, the University of Alabama’s newspaper, calling for UA to disinvite Milo Yiannopoulos.

I couldn’t disagree with his stance more.

While I disavow Milo Yiannopoulos and his views, attempts to suppress his voice are not the way to go about stopping his movement.

Instead of hiding his voice away, we should engage with it. And no, it’s not the equivalent of engaging with a sixth-grader who makes “your mom” and “women belong in the kitchen” jokes.

While Milo and a misogynistic sixth-grader are equally ridiculous, the two are importantly dissimilar in the fact that Milo’s rhetoric actually carries weight in shaping peoples’ minds. To conflate Milo with a sixth-grader is absurd; the two must be treated differently.

If the goal is to untangle alt-righters from Milo’s ideology and prevent it from spreading to more minds, disinviting him from speaking is an impractical, even if well-intentioned, means to that end.

Paradoxically, disinvitations lend his ideas more credence in the eyes of his followers and paint Milo as a freedom fighter for free speech, thus potentially pushing the undecided toward him.

This disengagement inadvertently gives off the impression that ideas like multiculturalism and

Black Lives Matter are weak or ill-founded.

Milo thrives off the left’s penchant to censor and end discussion, while thinking that by ending discussion, it has miraculously solved or mitigated the deep-seated issues our people face.

From the mouth of Milo himself, “The bigger of a taboo you make something, the more attractive it is for young pranksters.”

The left’s work in shifting social paradigms has been important and beneficial for humanity.

More people than ever acknowledge microaggressions are real, gender roles are arbitrary and belittling, racism is rampant and homophobia is awful.

But the methodology many on the left opt for has its excesses. Silencing those who spew racist, misogynistic or homophobic ideas may seem preferential and more comfortable in the short run, but it ends up spreading and maintaining the disease it’s meant to cure.

Creating a religion out of censoring speech does not destroy bad ideas, and it’s especially unsurprising it doesn’t work in a country like the United States, where freedom of speech and the free exchange of ideas is an integral part of our national identity.

To those who are already sucked in by the alt-right movement, this sort of censorship screams cowardice and to others, sometimes folks who haven’t been swayed one way or another, it stinks of elitism and pure laziness.

Like it or not, image is central with regards to whether a movement will be successful or not. We have to operate within that reality and try not to come off as elitist, lazy or cowardly.

Instead of disallowing Milo from speaking on campus, it would be more beneficial with respect to furthering discussion if campuses let Milo speak and students invited speakers who disagree with Milo to come speak as well.

This way, people who are susceptible to Milo or already following him would be more willing to lis-

The Editorial Board Corey Williams EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Claire Tully CAMPUS

Madison Ogletree PHOTO

Dakota Sumpter MANAGING EDITOR

Chip Brownlee COMMUNITY

Anne Dawson SOCIAL MEDIA

Shannon Powell COPY

Emily Shoffit

Parker Aultman MULTIMEDIA

Weston Sims OPINION

Emily Esleck

SPORTS DESIGN

Lily Jackson INTRIGUE

Submissions

Policy

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

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

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

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

This editorial is the majority opinion of the Editorial Board and is the official opinion of the newspaper.

The opinions expressed in columns and letters represent the views and opinions of their individual authors.

These opinions do not necessarily reflect the Auburn University student body, faculty, administration or Board of Trustees.

ten to arguments against Milo.

You can’t expect this sort of open-mindedness if you disallow them from having their opinion showcased on campus. And of course, there will still be folks on both sides who simply aren’t interested in listening to the opposing side at all.

Nevertheless, we should still choose the course of action that will lead to the most people being open to anti-Milo ideas.

An important component to consider is that universities allowing speakers who are invited by students to speak at universities is not any more an endorsement of that speaker or their beliefs than my writing a defense for their right to speak is.

This non-endorsement shouldn’t be confused with something like a university hiring a professor to teach things like homeopathy or astrology, which unlike the student-invited speaker case, involves the university directly selecting and paying an individual, which amounts to an endorsement of sorts. The two are importantly different.

Universities aren’t compromising their integrity by merely allowing people to state their opinion, even if the opinion shared is misguided or immoral when put into practice.

So long as speakers aren’t openly advocating riots, theft or physical harm, universities should feel comfortable allowing opinions should be freely exchanged and debated.

Furthermore, speakership should not be contingent upon the speaker’s values being in line with those of the prospective university they plan to speak at.

If this were the litmus test by which speakership were determined, would Bobby Kennedy have able to speak at the University of Alabama before it was desegregated in 1963, a time when the University’s values clearly weren’t aligned with the values of any integrationist? No. Obviously, to say the worldviews of Milo Yi-

annopoulos and Bobby Kennedy were congruent would be a terrible lie.

But their presence on the fringes of a debate is exactly alike. It is the ideas which reside out on those fringes which need special protection, lest we forget all of those in the past who brought forth contrarian and, at the time, seemingly immoral ideas such as the earth not being the center of the universe, the divine right of kings being a sham or in the Deep South, slavery being a vile institution.

None of Milo’s ideas are commensurate with the aforementioned ideas, but the principle we need to hold is that contrarian ideas must be protected. Even if it means bad ones are brought before the public sometimes.

If a university’s values were to instill fear and hatred into folks (a silly, but a useful example) would falling back on the justification “so-and-so’s values don’t align with the university’s” seem as good an idea? It wouldn’t.

This intuition shows that a university having values doesn’t inherently mean those are the only values which should be expressed or shown just by virtue of them being the university’s values.

Having Milo on campus is a great opportunity to advertise and push forward the ideas which run against his worldview.

It’s a great opportunity for people with better ideas to put their ideas directly against his. Instead of hiding Milo from the student body, the student body should attend his event, ask him tough questions and have a countering event of their own that showcases beliefs which differ from Milo’s.

Perpetuating the partisan echo chamber does a greater disservice to the American body politic than a provocateur ever could.

Weston Sims is the Opinions editor for The Plainsman. He can be reached at opinion@ThePlainsman.com.

Community Thursday, September 22, 2016

6 ThePlainsman.com

Community

BUSINESS

COURTS

Judge quietly ends Hubbard’s Lee County trial Chip Brownlee

COMMUNITY EDITOR

After more than two years of investigations, pre-trial hearings, a month-long trial and post-trial appeals, former House Speaker Mike Hubbard’s days in Lee County Circuit Judge Jacob Walker’s courtroom are done.

Hubbard’s lead defense attorney Bill Baxley said his defense team is now operating under the assumption that a post-trial motion filed by the defense in early August requesting a new trial was automatically denied Tuesday, Sept. 6.

Walker had only 60 days from Hubbard’s date of sentencing, which was July 8, to rule on his motion for a new trial. He let the 60 days lapse, effectively ending Hubbard’s trial in Lee County.

“No motion for a new trial or motion ... shall remain pending in the trial court for more than 60 days after the pronouncement of sentence,” according to the Alabama Rules of Criminal Procedure.

“By our count, the 60 days ran the Tuesday after Labor Day,” Baxley said.

The automatic denial last week, which was first reported by the Alabama Political Reporter, began a 42-day countdown for the former House speaker and Auburn Republican to file a request for appeal with the Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals.

Now, Baxley said, his defense team is preparing for the appeal.

“It happens,” Baxley said about the denial. “We’re looking forward to our appeal. We feel super confident that Mike’s going to be vindicated completely. ... We think we’re pretty strong that he didn’t get a fair trial and some er-

ADAM SPARKS / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Vape shops fear regulations Tiger Vapor employee David Hill (right) answers a customer’s questions about a vape device.

Sam Willoughby COMMUNITY WRITER

There are five vape shops in the Auburn-Opelika area that specialize in electronic cigarettes, and many in the industry fear for their survival with new U.S. Food and Drug Administration regulations looming.

E-cigarettes are devices used to vaporize an “e-juice” comprised of propylene glycol, vegetable glycerin, flavorings and varying levels of nicotine.

E-cigarettes have become popular over the past few years, partly because of the belief of some consumers that e-cigarettes are not as dangerous as regular cigarettes.

An FDA rule, issued on May 10, deemed e-cigarettes and e-juice as tobacco products and therefore subject to FDA control under the 2009 Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act. Most e-juices contain nicotine derived from tobacco, but none contain any actual tobacco.

The rules also classify e-juice that contains no nicotine or synthetically derived nicotine as a tobacco product.

Initially, employees at vape shops can no longer assemble or repair e-cigarettes without being registered as a tobacco manufacturer. They also cannot make any statements about potential health benefits of e-cigarettes, make a

sale to anyone without age verification or provide free samples of e-juice.

As a result, the winner of a competition held by Vapor Craft of Auburn was not able to fully collect on his free year’s worth of e-juice.

Stores such as Vapor Craft have adjusted to the first round of regulations that went into effect Aug. 8, though manager Ryan Lipson said customer service has taken a hit without employees being able to help new e-cigarette users like they have in the past.

American Vaping Association President Gregory Conley said the real test for the industry will be after Aug. 8.

By this date, manufacturers must have FDA approval for e-cigarette products introduced after Feb. 15, 2007, a process that costs anywhere from $117,000 to $466,000 per product, including e-juices.

The problem with this, Conley said, is there was almost no e-cigarette products on the market on Feb. 15.

“Every single product on the market today must go through retroactive premarket approval,” Conley said, “and the cost of that is far out of the range of these small-to-medium-sized businesses.”

While the FDA has said its regulations are intended to protect minors from nicotine addiction, Conley con-

tended that they will mostly harm recovering smokers.

“No one disagrees that more research would be helpful,” Conley said. “We know based off the existing evidence that vapor products are, almost without a doubt, less hazardous than inhaling burning smoke into the lungs.”

The American Vaping Association and other e-cigarette advocates are currently battling with the FDA in court on a number of issues, including the constitutionality of the regulations.

A hearing has been set in the case for Oct. 19. In addition to the case, a proposed amendment to the 2017 Agricultural Appropriations bill in the U.S. House of Representatives would change the grandfather date of Feb. 15, 2007 to Aug. 8, 2016.

With the fate of those efforts still up in the air, many small brick-and-mortar shops like Vapor Craft fear that they will be forced out of business in two years when the regulations go into full effect.

Lipson said he worries about the employees of the shops losing their jobs as well as the consumers. He believes the lack of local shops may lead to the creation of an online black market with no oversight and could turn going to the store for a pack of cigarettes into the only option for nicotine consumption.

rors were committed.”

The deadline for the defense to file their appeal will be in early October. If Sept. 6 was the official date of denial, as Baxley and others have suggested, Hubbard’s defense team must file its appeal

by Oct. 18.

Hubbard was found guilty in early June of 12 felony violations of state ethics law. He led the effort to pass, during his first special session as speaker in December 2010, the same ethics law he was found guilty of violating.

The jury ruled that Hubbard illegally obtained “consulting” contracts with several trade organizations and businesses. He was also found guilty of voting on a state General Fund budget despite a conflict of interest — the conflict being his contract with the American Pharmacy Cooperative Inc. Three of the guilty counts, 16– 19, found that Hubbard illegally solicited investments from several prominent Alabama businessmen, who were also principals (people who hire lobbyists), including Jimmy Rane, the state’s richest man and CEO of Great Southern Wood.

Hubbard was also found guilty of illegally obtaining contracts with, and then lobbying for, CV Holdings and the company’s CEO Bobby Abrams.

The former speaker, who still has a boulevard in Auburn and a building on Auburn’s campus named after him, was sentenced in July to four years in prison.

However, Walker granted an appeal bond, allowing him to stay free until the conclusion of the appeal.

Hubbard maintains his innocence and has said all of the contracts and investments were legal.

EDUCATION

New high school on track for completion, elementary in the works Kris Martins

COMMUNITY REPORTER

Construction for the new Auburn City Schools high school is on schedule with less than one year until it fills with students, and ACS recently voted to accelerate plans for a new elementary school.

The new $71.6 million high school, which is more than halfway built, is on track to be complete by late April 2017 and open for the 2017-18 school year, and the construction of a new elementary school off Richland Road will now be pushed up a year. Both projects are part of a system-wide plan to address overcapacity as enrollment has climbed over the years.

“For the first time in Auburn City School history, we are over 8,500 students system-wide,” said Daniel Chesser, ACS public relations specialist. “That is the highest enrollment that we’ve had in the history of our school system, and we are the fastestgrowing school system [in the state] in the past five years.”

On average, ACS enrollment has grown by about 400 students per year over the past four years and is over capacity at four of 11 campuses and reaching capacity at three others. This year, the school system has grown by more than 260 students.

The new 247,000-square-foot Auburn High School on East Samford Avenue will be able to hold 2,200 students and will occupy nearly half of about 101 acres of campus land, with the remaining acreage dedicated to

MADISON OGLETREE / PHOTO EDITOR

A new high school, located on East Samford Ave., in Auburn, Ala., is currently under construction.

future expansion.

Auburn High currently holds 1,800–2,000 students, Chesser said, and the goal is to have about 1,800 students in the upcoming school.

“The class sizes should be smaller than they would be if the current high school was to accommodate 2,200 students,” said ACS Superintendent Karen DeLano. “This allows teachers to better meet the needs of individual students.”

The new building will have a three-story main academic wing,

a career tech-focused wing that connects to a gymnasium and a performing arts center.

The campus will also have three entrances — East University Drive, East Samford Avenue and Glenn Avenue — which would separate bus, student and visitor traffic.

Funding for the schools comes from the city’s General Fund appropriation for ACS as well as funds from the 5-mill fund, or city taxes funneled to special projects such as recreation and infrastructure devel-

opment.

Construction of the high school will bring shifts in student distribution and class structure.

The new building will house grades 10-12, converting the old high school to an 8th- and 9thgrade junior high school. Auburn Junior High School will then become a 7th-grade school and Drake Middle School will become a 6th-grade school.

The school system has budgeted $6 million for the renovations of the three schools.

The new high school will also

come equipped with new technology and strive to reflect a college class structure.

“We’re going to have a floating system, which will allow us to get the maximum use out of the building,” Chesser said. “So teachers will have their own offices, just like professors have their own offices, and they’ll teach in a kind of rotating class system.”

Sixty percent of Auburn High’s 2016 graduates went to a four-year college, Chesser said, and 33 percent went to a two-

year college.

“We live in such a diverse community with so many different walks of life and needs and interests that we try to be proactive with our students and prepare them for the real world,” he said.

Though the new Auburn High would help alleviate growing numbers at the secondary level, the school system is also focusing on the same issue in the elementary schools.

The ACS Facility Plan 2024, a 10-year plan of which the new school construction is a part, outlines plans for a new $13.9 million elementary school, which would be completed in 2018 instead of 2019 as initially planned.

The school system purchased about 275 acres of land behind and across from the Yarborough Tennis Center on Richland Road for the upcoming 600-student school.

The layout would most likely reflect that of existing elementary school campuses, Chesser said, with a front office, lobby, library and four branches of classrooms with a multipurpose area in the back.

Expediting the construction process because of overcrowding, ACS hopes to break ground next summer and foresee the school housing grades 3-5, pairing it with a K-2 Richland Elementary.

“Those plans are still very fluid just because we’re talking about a year or two down the road,” Chesser said.

Thursday, September 22, 2016

Community 7

The Auburn Plainsman

CITY

ENTERTAINMENT

Council passes budget Kris Martins

COMMUNITY REPORTER

MADISON OGLETREE / PHOTO EDITOR

Bruce Yandle sings and plays the guitar at the first concert of this year’s fall concert series at Kiesel Park.

Parks and Recreation launches annual fall concert series Tiara Bond

COMMUNITY WRITER

The Auburn Parks and Recreation Department kicked off its fall sundown concert series late last week.

The free series will continue every Thursday in September and October from 6–7:30 p.m. at Kiesel Park with a new band playing every event. Attendees are advised to bring a blanket or chairs to sit on and encouraged to bring their pets as long as they are on leashes.

This is the 18th year of the concert

series, with the exception of last year.

Dana Stewart, special program coordinator for the series, said she received multiple emails and phone calls about last year’s gap.

“Lots of people called and emailed asking why the concerts had been canceled and if they were coming back,” Stewart said. “So as long as there is in interest in the concert series, they will continue. There's nothing like a concert in the park before a home game.

"It’s also important to provide citizens in Auburn free, family-oriented

outdoor events.”

She said roughly 100–200 people are usually in attendance, with the crowd ranging from college students, to the elderly, to full families, all listening to a local band play.

Soul Co., a mixed genre band, played at the Sept. 15 event.

Stewart said she expected a larger turnout for this date, since the band has a sizeable following.

The bands booked for the concerts have usually played previous dates before that, or contacted Stewart di-

rectly if they want to be booked.

Other bands booked for future concert dates include Trace Pridgen, Tony Brook Band, Black Berry Possum, Alabama Avenue, Rexton Lee and Electric Rangers. The bands cover multiple genres of music so there is “something for everyone,” Stewart said.

All concerts are weather permitting.

The full list of concert dates as well the bands playing every week can be found on the Auburn Parks and Rec-

The Auburn City Council Tuesday night approved the city’s biennial budget for the 2017 and 2018 fiscal years, which will create several new full-time public safety positions designated specifically for the campus of Auburn University.

The $82.25 million general fund budget for 2017 shows a 6-percent decrease from the $87.63 million budget for fiscal year 2016. But the 2018 budget is set to surpass 2017 by about $1.5 million. The 2017 fiscal year will begin Oct. 1.

Over the two-year period, the budget proposes 31 new full-time jobs, 24 of which will be in the Auburn Police Division. Of those 24, 16 will be designated for the University campus.

The new campus positions will include nine officers, two detectives, three lieutenants, a sergeant and an administrative secretary. They are a part of the city’s planned on-campus precinct to be staffed by 39 sworn officers.

CRIME

Third suspect arrested in connection with fraternity house auto burglary Staff Report

Police arrested a third suspect in Montgomery last week in connection with a July auto burglary and theft of property at a fraternity house, police said.

The Auburn Police Division, along with the Auburn University at Montgomery Police Department, arrested Rotrez Jones, 18, from Auburn, on Wednesday, Sept. 14, on charges of unlawful break-

ing and entering of a motor vehicle and 4th-degree theft of property, police said.

On July 22, Auburn police arrested Jaken Dowdell, 19, in connection with the same case.

They also arrested Dowdell on

7730 AL HIGHWAY 51 OPELIKA

charges of possession of a controlled substance in addition to the two other charges of breaking and entering and theft.

On July 24, Tyrin Giddens, 18, was also arrested in connection with the auto burglary.

The men were arrested in connection with an auto burglary that took place, according to police, on July 20 in the parking lot of a fraternity house along the 500 block of West Magnolia Avenue. An inves-

tigation, including video surveillance, led to the arrest of Dowdell, Giddens and Rotrez.

Jones, who was found in Montgomery by the AUMPD, is being held at the Lee County Jail on a $4,000 bond.

Sports

8

Thursday, September 22, 2016

ThePlainsman.com

Sports

Gamecocks coop Tigers South Carolina 1, Auburn 0

CONTRIBUTED BY AUBURN ATHLETICS

Taylor Troutman (17) takes one of her two shots during the game against South Carolina at the Auburn Soccer Complex on Sunday, Sept. 18, 2016.

Emily Shoffit SPORTS EDITOR

A five game homestand ended in a loss for the Auburn soccer team. It was the Tigers (5-4-0, 1-10 SEC) fourth loss of the season – each loss has been taken at home.

Auburn led rival No. 14 South Carolina in both shots and corner kicks, but was still handed its first conference defeat this season on Sept. 18.

Ten shots were taken but the Tigers couldn’t send anything past opposing keeper Mikayla Krezeczowski,who saved all three of Auburn’s shots on goal from scoring.

“We’re frustrated,” said Auburn head coach Karen Hoppa. “I thought we outplayed them in the second half and our players did everything we asked them to do, except for finish. I’m proud of our

fight and I’m proud of our battle, but at the end of the day we’ve got to get it done in the box.”

Bri Folds led the way with four shots, while Casie Ramsier and Taylor Troutman each had two. Haley Gerken also contributed to the attack with an attempt on frame.

Opposite of Krezeczowski, Sarah Le Beau went a full 90 minutes with three saves in Auburn’s net.

The Tigers nearly took the lead twice in the opening 10 minutes of play as Folds had a shot that was ultimately deflected off of Krezeczowski, while Ramsier sent in a curling effort that just missed the far post.

South Carolina (8-0-1, 2-0-0) converted in the 29th minute as forward Savannah McCaskill headed the lone goal to make the score 1-0 in favor of the Game-

cocks. The score remained the same at the intermission.

Auburn came out in the second half with five corner kicks in the opening 17 minutes but couldn’t finish the job.

The Gamecocks defense held on to their slim lead to deal Auburn another loss at home.

The Tigers take on a two-match road trip beginning at No. 12 Florida on Sept. 22 at 5 p.m. CST. Auburn’s match against South Carolina marked the beginning of non-stop conference play until the end of the regular season.

Last year, Auburn defeated Florida in the regular season 3-2 but then fell to the Gators in the SEC Tournament semifinals 2-0.

The Tigers will conclude their road trip at Georgia on Sept. 25 before returning home to face Missouri.

SEC Rankings

CONTRIBUTED BY SEC

Game 1 | Aug. 19 vs Clemson L, 2-0

Game 2 | Aug. 21 at South Alabama W, 1-0 (2 OT)

Game 3 | Aug. 26 vs Cal State Fullerton W, 2-0

Game 4 | Aug. 28 at Samford W, 4-3

Game 5 | Sept. 2 vs Iowa State L, 1-0

Game 6 | Sept. 4 vs USC L, 2-0

Game 7 | Sept. 9 vs Vanderbilt W, 2-1

Game 8 | Sept.19 vs Baylor W, 1-0

Game 9 | Sept.18 vs South Carolina L, 1-0

Game 10 | Sept. 22 at Florida 5 p.m. | SEC Network+

Game 11 | Sept. 25 at Georiga 1 p.m. | SEC Network+

Game 12 | Sept. 30 vs Missouri 7 p.m. | SEC Network+

Game 13 | Oct. 6 at Kentucky 6:30 p.m. | SEC Network+

Game 14 | Oct. 9 vs Mississippi State 2 p.m. | SEC Network+

Game 15 | Oct. 14 vs Arkansas 7 p.m. | SEC Network+

Game 16 | Oct. 20 at LSU 6 p.m. | SEC Network

Game 17 | Oct. 23 at Texas A&M 5 p.m. | SEC Network

Game 18 | Oct. 27 vs Tennessee 7 p.m. | SEC Network+

Thursday, September 22, 2016

MEN’S GOLF

The Auburn Plainsman

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

2016-17 schedule released

Will Sahlie SPORTS WRITER

CONTRIBUTED BY AUBURN ATHLETICS

Matt Gilchrest watches his drive during a tournament in Opelika, Alabama.

Tigers tee up win in Ohio

Emily Shoffit SPORTS EDITOR

Sports 9

The No. 11 Auburn men’s golf team won the Inverness Intercollegiate on Sept. 20, carding a 2-under 282 for a final 9-under 843 at the Inverness Club in Toledo, Ohio.

The Tigers (280-281-282—843) defeated No. 23 Duke (277-281-288—846) by three strokes.

“The team played great and our seniors led the way,” Auburn head coach Nick Clinard said. “It is their time, and they are proving that they belong. It was a major championship golf course and indeed a true test of patience all week.”

Senior Will Long finished third at 3-under 73-68-69— 210, one stroke behind co-medalists Nick Carlson of Michigan (69-73-67—209) and Jake Shuman of Duke (70-7168—209).

The Gastonia, North Carolina, native had four birdies on the back nine in the final round on Nos. 13, 15, 17 and 18.

Seniors Matt Gilchrest and Ryan Benton were part of a 5-way tie for fourth a shot back at 2-under. Gilchrest (6472-75—211) held the lead the first two rounds after carding the second-lowest round in school history with his opening round 64.

Benton (69-72-70—211), a native of Dothan, Alabama, closed out his tournament with a 1-under 70 final round with birdies on Nos. 5, 6, 13 and 18.

Sophomore Jacob Solomon played as an individual and tied for 16th at 2-over 72-70-73—215. A PING All-Southeastern Region, Solomon had four birdies on Nos. 3, 8, 10 and 11 in the final round.

All-American junior Ben Schlottman (77-71-69—217) t-23rd and sophomore Trace Crowe (74-70-74—218) t26th.

“We are 11 strong as we have great players competing this week at Inverness and at home,” Clinard said. “I’m impressed with our skill set, work ethic and most importantly, our positive attitudes daily. This team of 11 is fun to coach for both associate head coach Corey Maggard and myself.”

Michigan finished third at 10-over 270—862 followed

by Michigan State (288—865), Penn State (285—866), Minnesota (290—873), No. 21 Virginia (284—873), Bowling Green (291—876), Saint Mary’s (California) (284— 876) and host Toledo (297—887).

Ball State finished 11th at 292—888 followed by Miami (OH) (291—904) and Austin Peay (311—917).

The Tigers return to action Oct. 3-4 at the Jerry Pate National at Old Overton in Vestavia Hills, Alabama.

The SEC released the women’s basketball conference schedule on Tuesday, Sept. 20.

Auburn will host five NCAA tournament teams from last year.

The Tigers will have eight nationally televised games as well as home contests against Alabama, Tennessee, Georgia and defending SEC champion South Carolina.

The conference season begins on New Year’s Day and concludes Sunday, Feb. 26.

Each team will play 16 SEC games – eight at home and eight on the road. This is the eighth year of a 16-game conference schedule in the SEC. Auburn will face three teams on a home-and-home basis in 2017 - Alabama, South Carolina and Ole Miss. The Tigers have home games with Georgia, Kentucky, LSU, Mississippi State and Tennessee, making road trips to Arkansas, Florida, Missouri, Texas A&M and Vanderbilt.

The Tigers appear on television nine times during the season – once during the non-conference and eight times in SEC play – all on the SEC Network.

Auburn’s home game with Indiana on Nov. 27 will be the lone non-conference national broadcast, set for a noon tipoff.

During SEC play, Auburn’s home games with Ole Miss, Kentucky, Mississippi State and Alabama will be televised, and road games at Alabama, Texas A&M, Ole Miss and Arkansas are set for SEC Network broadcasts.

The league schedule tips off Sunday, Jan. 1, as Auburn travels to Gainesville to face Florida. The Tigers return home for a pair of conference tilts,

hosting 2016 NCAA Tournament No. 1 seed South Carolina (Jan. 5) and Ole Miss (Jan. 8) before hitting the road to Vanderbilt (Jan. 11).

After a Sunday off, the Tigers return home to host Tennessee (Jan. 19) and Kentucky (Jan. 22) before finishing off the month with road trips to Missouri (Jan. 25) and Tuscaloosa to face archrival Alabama (Jan. 29).

February begins with the Tigers hosting Mississippi State (Feb. 2) before back-toback road games versus Texas A&M (Feb. 5) and South Carolina (Feb. 9). Three of the next four are at home with Georgia (Feb. 12), Alabama (Feb. 20) and LSU (Feb. 23) surrounding a road game at Ole Miss (Feb. 16).

The regular season concludes Sunday, Feb. 26, in Fayetteville at Arkansas.

Two non-conference start times were announced as well on Tuesday.

Auburn’s season-opener against Troy on Friday, Nov. 11 will tip at 5:30 p.m. as part of a doubleheader with the Auburn men’s team as the men take on North Florida at 8 p.m. CST. The Tigers home game with Virginia Tech on Sunday, Dec. 18, is set for a 6 p.m. start; the Auburn men face Mercer earlier that day at noon.

Auburn is coming off a 2013 season in 2015-16 and earned its 19th NCAA Tournament berth, falling to No. 1 seed Baylor in the second round.

The Tigers return four starters and eight total letter-winners from last year’s squad as coach Terri Williams-Flournoy begins her fifth season at Auburn. This year also marks Williams-Flournoy’s 25th season as a head coach.

DAKOTA SUMPTER / MANAGING EDITOR

Auburn guard Brandy Montgomery (10) shoots for two during a game against the George Mason Patriots at the Auburn Arena.

GRAPHIC BY EMILY SHOFFIT

Sports 10

The Auburn Plainsman

Thursday, September 22, 2016

CAMPUS

Students reflect on five-game homestand

MATTHEW BISHOP / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Painted students prior the Auburn vs.Texas A&M football game at Jordan-Hare Stadium on Saturday, Sept 17, 2016.

Nathan King SPORTS WRITER

If you happen to find yourself on the campus of Auburn University between Aug. 29 and Oct. 1, you’ll most likely feel it – the electric atmosphere of a game-week for Auburn football.

The season opening five-game homestand brings a multitude of priceless memories that shape The Plains into holy ground for students and alumni. These memories are accompanied by an extensive number of tents, tailgates, blocked roads and congested walkways.

All the congestion within campus is directly proportional to how a student will decide to spend their game day.

Opening a season by spending five weeks at home is a rare commodity for any college football program. For the Tigers, it’s the longest strand of subsequent home games since the 1992 season, when a Pat Dye led squad began the regular season with six straight games at home. Auburn finished that stretch at a 5-1 record with their only loss being to the then No. 8 Nebraska Cornhuskers.

The Tigers defeated Wake Forest, Southern Mississippi, Tennessee, Kentucky and Georgia Tech to kick off the season.

A game day at Auburn is often viewed as stressful and tiring, in the most positive of ways, regardless of the circumstances. However, five of these such Saturdays have been measured as relentless.

“I think it’s really cool and really exciting, but also really busy,” said Pate Brunner, freshman in economics and music performance.

“When I found out about [the homestand], I figured it would be demanding for the first five weeks, since I’m in the band, but it is a lot of fun to start the year off.”

Starting the Monday before a home game, the tailgating preparation begins. By Tuesday or Wednesday, tents begin to sprout. Friday starts the hectic routine by parking and event staff.

Rinse and repeat for five consecutive weeks and you have a schedule that turns out to be stressful and problematic for some students.

“I guess my perspective is a little more negative,” said Taylor Jacobs, junior in biomedical sciences. “The first game is very exciting, everyone’s getting back into college football, everyone has a great time. It was great to have the first one at home, especially against Clemson. So that kind of gets the year started well. But

as the season goes on with the five home games we have, it kind of gets tiring almost having the same thing every weekend. It’s always nice to have the break of an away game.”

The abrupt explosion of school spirit that accompanies the home games is infectious. Even after a loss, campus still bustles with excitement. However, some students can’t afford to spend all of their time on Saturdays tailgating, especially considering test weeks aren’t being diminished for football’s sake.

“As far as student life goes, it makes it very difficult to be productive on the weekends, with classwork and studies,” said Jacobs.

“Sometimes the home games make it a little tough to have study time, because you want to go out and enjoy the experience, and that usually wastes the day in terms of doing anything productive.”

Auburn has two games remaining on the home stand, with losses to Clemson and Texas A&M, and a victory against Gus Malzahn’s former team Arkansas State already in the books. Auburn fans hope that the team can head on the road to Starkville, Mississippi for the first road game with a winning record, which would require a victory over the No. 18 LSU Tigers this Saturday at Jordan-Hare Stadium.

Intrigue Thursday, September 22, 2016

11 ThePlainsman.com

Intrigue

A DAY IN THE LIFE

‘ONCE A BAND KID...’

Lily Jackson INTRIGUE EDITOR

As a light mist fell from the 8 a.m. sky in Auburn, a swarm of students in matching uniforms trickled onto the J.W. and Nell Birchfield Practice Field from every part of campus, armed with bulky uniform sacks and their instrument of trade.

“It’s game day and we’re going to be the loudest ones out there,” said Ryan LaGrone, senior in chemical engineering, during a trumpet section pep-talk.

Ryan Blackwell, trumpet section leader and senior in mechanical engineering, stood at the far end of the field surrounded by his section made up of more than 70 musicians. Blackwell has been a member of the marching band for four years and is hoping to march another season.

Depending on how early the game is, the band usually watches the sun rise as they line up for pre-game rehearsal. Blackwell said band members can be expected to be on the field warming up as early as 3 or 4 a.m.

Each section, separated and spread evenly across the field, competes with sound as each member tunes their instrument preparing for the day ahead. Blackwell and others in command critique the postures of those in formation, as the group ran through stand-tunes and cheers.

“These section rehearsals are about polishing everything up,” Blackwell said. “Our section is pretty close, and we spend a lot of time together.”

Blackwell said the experiences and friends gained from the band program make Auburn a place everyone comes back to.

“Those people in your section and your band, they are your bridesmaids, your groomsmen, your girlfriend and boyfriend, your family,” Blackwell said.

Marching Band Director Corey Spurlin said the band practices one hour and 20 minutes, four days a week, including weekly sectional practices.

Each member must be adaptable and resilient, Blackwell said, as the day’s schedule is always subject to change.

“Something most people don’t know is that we just don’t march holes,” Blackwell said. “If someone is sick, some bands will march their show with that spot empty. We don’t do that here. We have people on reserve. Sometimes we have people learn the entire pre-game routine or half-time show the day of the game. They nail it every time,

“

The band is the difference between those who come to the game and those that sit at home and watch it on TV.”

too.”

Blackwell said members of the band are expected to be precise with their marching by even a fraction of a step.

“It’s all about accountability,” Blackwell said.

“We expect you to have your music memorized and your drill precise. You have to go home and practice this like you would for any other class.”

Once the band has addressed and practiced their performances, they congregate around a ladder in the center of the field. Spurlin overlooks the band from the top rung of the ladder and hummes the first pitch of the alma mater.

Locking arms, the student musicians, dancers and auxiliary sang and swayed to the University’s lyrical motto. This tradition is Blackwell’s favorite.

“Looking around the circle, seeing everyone together, there’s something about that camaraderie,” Blackwell said. “We all have the same talent and we are using it for a common goal. At the end of the day it’s music and performance, there’s some heart to it.”

After a two-hour practice, the band members collect their things and are free to roam around campus until the next call time. Blackwell said early games mean very little break time for those who march the “Four Corners” pep rally and Tiger Walk.

While Tiger Walk for fans means a high-five from Sean White, Tiger Walk for the band is two separate miniature pep-rallies stationed along South Donahue Drive.

The band stands amongst hundreds of screaming fans on the packed streets of Auburn’s campus. Children stop and stare in awe of the swift moving horns and exuberant drummers. Fans young and old pose for pictures with the Tiger Eyes, the Auburn University Marching Band’s visual ensembles.

Tiger Walk comes to a close and Spirit March begins. Blackwell said Spirit March is the stretch of marching between the Tiger Walk locations and

—Corey Spurlin

BAND DIRECTOR

the start of the “Four Corner” pep-rally. The band is separated into four smaller ensembles until they conjoin to play at the crossroads of South Donahue Drive and Heisman Drive.

“Some people don’t get to see the band up close because they may sit on the other side of the stadium, so these pep-rallies and marches give them a one-on-one experience with us,” Blackwell said.

Blackwell said he sees lots of wide-eyes and dropped jaws through the day, especially during the time spent out of the stadium amongst the fans.

“The band is the difference between those that come to the game and those that sit home and watch it on TV,” Spurlin said.

As for the time in the stadium, the “March Around” is the first performance in the stadium for the marching band. With a short break of less than 30 minutes, it’s time for the ensemble to take the field once more for their pregame performance.

“Stepping onto that field for pregame is electric,” Blackwell said. “There’s no way to really describe it and make it truly stick.”

The marching band immediately transitions to the stands after pregame for stand-tunes and cheers.

Blackwell said the band tries to keep their music current and upbeat to ensure that the crowd stays involved. This year the band added crowd favorites like, “Cake by the Ocean,” “Can’t Stop the Feeling” and “Confident.”

Blackwell’s favorite tunes are “Sweet Caroline” and “Holiday.”

The football team runs off the field at the close of the second quarter as the band sets up to take the field.

Each member hustles to his or her spot on the sideline and the drum majors call the band to attention. Blackwell said performing halftime is exhilarating and exciting, but each member has a job and a purpose to focus on.

“Most of the time we zone out during perfor-

mance,” Blackwell said. “We have to go straight to focusing and doing the job that has to be done.

When you start running off the field, that’s when the exhilaration really hits you.”

After a performance in front of over 87,000 people and two quarters of stand-tunes, the marching band closes out the game with the alma mater despite win or loss.

Blackwell said at the end of the day the hardest element of it all is the time and effort put into the massive production.

“It’s an endurance thing,” Blackwell said.

“You’re up early in the morning, you’re playing all day, you’re on your feet the entire day.

We don’t sit down unless someone is injured.

We stand all day. Game days are physically taxing. Most people go home, after rolling Toomer’s hopefully, and knock-out pretty quick.”

Blackwell said with marching band being as physically taxing as it is, it makes the day and the work rewarding. Everything you worked toward during camp and weekday practices comes to fruition on Saturdays, Blackwell said. “[Students] learn how to be accountable, how to be a team player and how what they do affects others,” Spurlin said. “They learn that it takes consistent effort to be great at what they do. They learn how to take on a perfectionist attitude and to be consistent, which helps them in whatever profession they choose later on.”

Without the direction of Spurlin, the band would not have the continued success it does, Blackwell said.

“You can see [Spurlin’s] passion at all times,” Blackwell said. “You can tell he’s here for the music, but also to pour into all of our lives, and he does just that. When people come back, they sit by the band. When people come back, you know they are looking for Dr. Spurlin. That’s because [Spurlin] does an amazing job of making sure that the skills and experiences you have with the band carry over into other areas on your life.”

The fact that people come back for the band and to see the band shows the impact it had on their lives while apart of the ensemble, Blackwell said.

“Once a band kid, always a band kid,” Blackwell said.

Editor’s note: Lily Jackson was a member of the Auburn University Marching Band during the 2015-2016 season. She is no longer a member of the ensemble.

MADISON OGLETREE / PHOTO EDITOR

LEFT: Ryan Blackwell, tumpet section leader, looks up from the tunnel as the band prepares for their pregame performance on Sep. 17, 2016. MIDDLE: Blackwell leads the trumpet section during Auburn University Marching Band morning practice. RIGHT: J.T. Edmonson, trombone player and senior in chemical engineering, cheers at the game. BOTTOM: Members of the marching band link arms to sing the Alma Mater at the end of morning practice.

Intrigue 12

The Auburn Plainsman

Thursday, September 22, 2016

MONEY

7 realistic ways to earn, save money in college Tiara Bond COMMUNITY WRITER

Everyone seems scared when they first start college – leaving home for an unfamiliar environment, not knowing what the semester will throw at you and of course, student debt.

According to U.S. News, the average student debt is a whopping $30,000. With figures like that it’s easy to see why so many students already feel sore in their finances before they even start classes.

To combat and even fend off the debt while at Auburn, here are some easy ways to earn and save money while you hit the books.

1. Do the math on where you live.

The lure of a fancy new apartment and a space to call one’s own can be especially enticing to new students. Dorms can also provide a sense of community with easy access to campus and short walks to class.

The trick is to pick the option that’s the least expensive with the most bang for your buck. Take the money you would spend on your dorm for the semester, this includes a meal plan, and divide it by the months in a semester. That is the amount you pay to live on campus per month for approximately nine months.

Now compare that to the cost of rent, utilities, groceries, and transportation that come with living in an apartment and spring for the most feasible option. Getting an apartment you pay for with a part time job could reduce the amount of borrowing you’d have to do for college, but keep in mind that some scholarships may require you to live on campus.

2. Get a part time job.

This may seem like an obvious way to earn extra cash – as it should be. Auburn has loads of available jobs for students and holds career, internship as well as part-time job fairs that could boost your chances of employment.

Living in a college town means there are tons of opportunities in retail and restaurants. If you’re worried about lack of experience the Auburn Career Center can help you build your resume.

3. Tutor.

Tutoring your peers is also a great way to earn cash. If you tutor independently, it gives you the flexibility to set your own prices and hours. According to PayScale.com, the average earning for student tutors is about $20 per hour. You can also be hired to tutor for Auburn Athletics or Study Partners.

4. Sell your notes.

There are sites willing to pay you for writing notes. There are websites designed to allow students to upload their class notes to sell to their fellow classmates.

5. Shop wisely for textbooks.

Make sure you look around for the best deal; don’t be stuck buying $300 books when you can rent them for a reduced price at online retailers.

6. Borrow only what you need.

When applying for student loans, remember to only accept what you actually need.

Borrowing more than you need leads to excess debt in the future.

Exhaust all other resources for funds – scholarships, grants, savings, etc – before turning to loans.

Also: Don’t spend money on things that aren’t school related. If you have extra left over go ahead and refund it back. If the money sits in your bank account you might be tempted to spend it.

7. Learn how to budget.

With the burden of new adulthood comes new responsibilities and one of those responsibilities is learning to budget. Going out every night to celebrate your new found freedom is fun, but it becomes less alluring when you’ve blown through your allowance or paycheck in a week.

Learning to budget will save you from the panic of wondering if you’ll be able to eat for the rest of the month. There are budgeting apps to help keep you accountable.

Tiara Bond can be reached at community@theplainsman.com.

PLAINSMAN PICKS PLAYLIST: this week, the plainsman editors chose their favorite cover songs. listen to their picks and follow the auburn plainsman at spotify.com/the_auburnplainsman.

“Bennie and The Jets” covered by T.J. Wilkins Claire Tully, campus editor “It’s a classic with a new twist.”

“In The End” covered by Kidz Bop 3 Weston Sims, opinions editor “I come from a broken home.”

“I Won’t Back Down” covered by Johnny Cash Dakota Sumpter, managing editor “It’s my morning anthem.”

“Wichita Lineman” covered by Johnny Cash Corey Williams, editor-in-chief “Cash’s covers are so good he has to be on here twice.”

“I Wanna Dance with Somebody”covered by Ben Rector Anne Dawson, online and social media editor “Perfect for windows-down weather.”

“Look What They’ve Done to My Song” covered by Miley Cyrus Lily Jackson, intrigue editor “Such a good song to sing in the shower.”

Auburn dog of the week

MADISON OGLETREE / PHOTO EDITOR

Miller Pope at a tailgate before the Auburn vs.Texas A&M game on Friday, Sept. 16 in Auburn.