The Auburn Plainsman 01.15.15

What you missed during break on A3

The Auburn Plainsman A SPIRIT THAT IS NOT AFRAID

Thursday, January 15, 2015 Vol. 121,Issue 24, 12 Pages

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

GREEK LIFE

ONLINE

Sigma Chi fraternity suspension continued

ThePlainsman.com VIDEO: 2014 Year in Review INSIDE CAMPUS

Page A3

Alumna competes on ‘The Bachelor’

COMMUNITY

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AUPD purchases body cams SPORTS

COURTS

Nicole Fulkerson CAMPUS REPORTER

The Sigma Chi fraternity will not return to Auburn’s campus this semester as previously planned, according to Hank DeSanti, junior in accounting and chapter editor.

The International Fraternity’s charter was suspended in Nov. 2013 after hazing allegations reported by members of the community through the national hazing hotline.

DeSanti said the charter was to be suspended until Jan. 2015, but the chapter has collectively decided to not return until at least 2017.

According to DeSanti, the fraternity has been in contact with nationals since the charter was suspended.

“We met face-to-face one time, but I have been in contact with them a few times a month,” DeSanti said. “We would talk about what [national’s] process and plan to bring us back on campus was going to be.”

However, after several months of conversation, Auburn’s chapter of Sigma Chi declined national’s offer to return to campus.

“They were just trying to see how committed we were to it and make sure that we would be on board for the process (of coming back to campus),“ said Adam Betties, member of Sigma Chi and junior in business

KRIS SIMS / MULTIMEDIA EDITOR

The car Jakell Mitchell was riding in when shot by Markale Hart at Tiger Lodge apartments in December 2014.

New evidence revealed in Tiger Lodge shooting Jim Little

COMMUNITY EDITOR

KENNY MOSS / ASSISTANT PHOTO EDITOR

Sigma Chi fraternity has been suspended from campus since 2013.

administration.

“They were very nice about it, but we were on different pages of what we wanted to do and what they wanted to do.”

Nationals only offered 10 brothers to return to the fraternity.

» See FRATERNITY A2

The man accused of killing Jakell Mitchell will now face a grand jury for the charge of murder.

A preliminary hearing for Markale Hart was held in a Lee County courtroom Tuesday, Jan. 13.

Prosecutors presented enough evidence for Judge Steven T. Speakman to find probable cause to send the case to a grand jury as a murder charge.

Hart’s defense attorney argued the charge should be downgraded to manslaughter when it was revealed Mitchell might have also fired a weapon in the early morning hours of Dec. 14.

During Hart’s preliminary hearing, it was revealed

by Auburn police detective Dustin Holt that Mitchell likely fired a gun at Hart.

Holt said during a party at the Tiger Lodge apartment complex, Tyrone Rowe, who was at the party with Hart, got into an altercation with Mitchell. Hart then opened fire on Mitchell.

Police recovered a .45 caliber handgun from the scene.

» See HEARING A2

DINING

Campaign calls Au Bon Pain’s food into question Corey Williams CAMPUS EDITOR

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Five-star recruiting weekend

INTRIGUE

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Badminton club aims for success INDEX Campus Opinion Community Sports Intrigue

HART

A1 A5 A6 A8 A11

Au Bon Pain was recently named the healthiest food chain by Grellin, a website that determines which restaurants have the healthiest menus.

However, UNITE HERE, a labor union, has called Au Bon Pain’s nutritional value into question with their campaign No Bon Pain.

Diego Parra, communications specialist with UNITE HERE, said the campaign started in an unusual way.

“We started looking at Au Bon Pain because of a labor dispute in one shop at the Philadelphia Airport,” Parra said.

“What propelled us was the labor dispute. What is keeping us there now is customers have a right to know what they are eating. Especially when a company is telling them they’re providing something when perhaps they’re not.”

According to No Bon Pain’s website, nobonpain.info, many of Au Bon Pain’s lunch and dinner hot sandwiches contain more calories than a McDonald’s Big Mac and an Au Bon Pain turkey and Swiss sandwich contains 80 percent of the recommended daily value of saturated fat and more than 70 percent of Au Bon Pain’s full-size lunch and dinner sandwiches and wraps contain more sodium than a McDonald’s quarter pounder.

“Au Bon Pain’s brand promise is to provide ‘flavorful, healthful, fresh and distinctively delicious food and bev-

BRIANA HESS / GRAPHICS EDITOR

Comparison of food across campus in terms of calories in each meal.

erages,’” said a statement on No Bon Pain’s website. “It’s breaking its promise.”

Parra said he does not want to tell students to eat healthy, but provide them with the information they need.

“I don’t feel the right to ask anyone to do anything specific,” Parra said. “I just

want them to know what they are eating.”

Paula Doyle, vice president of marketing at Au Bon Pain, said the company is aware of the campaign.

“They’ve been really trying to disparage our food, but the whole thing really has nothing to do with food,” Doyle

said. “It has to do with a labor issue with one of our locations in Philadelphia.”

Doyle said she does not want to get involved with the issue.

“They’ve been trying to disparage us in order to influence people who they want to join their union,” Doyle said.

“That’s why we’re not really getting involved in a discussion with them.”

Glenn Loughridge, director of campus dining, said Au Bon Pain uses many healthy ingredients.

“I’m not saying what the campaign is saying is inaccurate — if you grabbed certain things off the Au Bon Pain menu and you grabbed a Big Mac, you’re probably looking at similar calories,” Loughridge said. “But, from a nutrient density standpoint, you’re probably better off with the Au Bon Pain sandwich.”

Loughridge said Au Bon Pain makes its calorie counts clear.

“You’ve got whole grain bread, lettuce and tomato, free-range meats,” Loughridge said. “Not everything is that way, but by-and-large, they are very transparent with calorie counts.”

According to Loughridge, Au Bon Pain provides a variety of foods.

“That’s why we have ABP in the first place; they provide a pretty wide selection,” Loughridge said. “You can have a breakfast sandwich made with egg whites, low-fat cheese and maybe turkey sausage on a skinny bagel, or you

» See CAMPAIGN A2

Campus A2

The Auburn Plainsman

Thursday, January 15, 2015

hearing

DUI reports

» From A1

The following were arrested and charged with driving under the influence by the Auburn Police Division from January 5-12: January 5 - Michael Gary Williams, 38 1700 S. College St. - Derek Lamar Baker, 49 1900 block of Rick Drive January 6 - James Christopher Kemp, 24 600 block of Dekalb Street January 9 - Edward Lee Daffin II, 24 Woodfield Drive at S. College Street –Reports provided by the Auburn Department of Public Safety

fraternity » From A1

Last fall, nationals conducted a review of all active brothers.

DeSanti said chapter members were unsure of the standards that were set in order to decide what brothers would return and who wouldn’t return to the fraternity.

“Everyone was judged pretty quickly,” Betties said.

“A bunch of good guys got left out. Looking at that information it was tough for us to do something that would inhibit us from being with our best friends.”

According to DeSanti, each brother underwent 15-minute interviews.

According to DeSanti, the chapter was unsure of the standards that were set in order to decide what brothers would return and who wouldn’t return.

“That’s only a 15 minute interview with each person, and I don’t know how they decided in those 15 minutes,“ DeSanti said. “There were some people who we looked at as very valuable assets, but they wouldn’t budge in us trying to get those people in.”

Sigma Chi nationals and Auburn Interfraternity Council did not comment on the matter.

As of now the fraternity plans to rent their house on Magnolia Avenue to another fraternity.

Hart’s defense attorney, Jerry Blevins, asked Holt who fired the .45 caliber handgun and after objections from Abercrombie, which Speakman overruled, Holt answered.

“I believe that Mr. Mitchell was in possession of that (.45 caliber) firearm,” Holt said.

Blevins said the police have withheld details to make Hart look bad.

“I’m appalled by how law enforcement has tried to manipulate details and hide [information] from the media,” Blevins said. “I’ve never known the Auburn PD to conduct themselves like this.”

Capt. Lorenza Dorsey of APD responded to Blevins.

“The Auburn Police Division’s only release of information regarding Markale Hart was the announcement of his arrest on December 14, 2014,” Dorsey said. “No specifics of Hart’s or Mr. Mitchell’s actions were released.”

Dorsey said all subsequent information the media has published has been the result of information revealed in public hearings and open court proceedings.

“We have handled this case just as we have any other,” Dorsey said.

Mitchell was the third Auburn football player killed at Tiger Lodge.

In 2012, Auburn football players Eric Christian and Ladarious Phillips, along with DeMario Pitts of Opelika, were killed in a shooting at Tiger Lodge, known then as University Heights.

Desmonte Leonard was found guilty of capital murder from the 2012 shooting and will be sentenced Jan. 20.

Tiger Lodge announced new security measures Dec. 18 and released a letter Dec. 29 about the formation of a resident task force to open lines of communication between residents and management.

For some residents, that is not enough.

Drake Ledet, sophomore in pre-med and a resident of Tiger Lodge, said he wants out of his lease.

campaign » From A1

Kenny Moss / assistant photo editor

Members of Sigma Chi said the fraternity may not come back until 2017.

can have an everything bagel toasted with cheddar cheese on a regular bagel, and that’s probably a lot more calories.”

Loughridge said Tiger Din-

kris sims / multimedia editor

Tiger Lodge announced new security measures would be put in place after the shooting.

Ledet said, before the shooting, he’d only seen the security guard once, sitting at the complex’s clubhouse.

Ledet said he had just gotten home from work and finished eating a late dinner on the night of the shooting.

According to Ledet there were two large parties happening near his building in Tiger Lodge that night.

“The shooting happened pretty quickly,” Ledet said. “I would say it was over within five or six seconds.”

Ledet said he went outside to see what happened.

“I ran to the back of the apartment toward the parking lot where the shooting took place and heard screams like I have never heard before — screams of terror,” Ledet said.

Ledet said recent events at Tiger Lodge had made him feel unsafe.

Ledet claimed neighbors would stand out on their balcony waving guns in the air and would walk around the pool area with guns.

Ledet said his neighbors were robbed two days before the shooting in their own apartment when a man climbed onto the balcony and forced his way in their apartment at gunpoint.

Capt. Lorenza Dorsey confirmed a burglary and robbery was reported at Tiger Lodge Dec. 12, but no more details could be released because the incident was un-

ing provides nutrition information for on-campus dining options.

“Utilize your resources,” Loughridge said. “When we created the campus dining app, it had lots of calorie information and ingredient lists. That’s

der investigation.

At Hart’s Dec. 15 arraignment, Lee County District Attorney Robert Treese said he would look into having Tiger Lodge declared a public nuisance.

“Enough is enough,” Treese said.

Ledet said when he went to the office with his roommates to ask about getting out of their lease Dec. 15, Aryne Linder, acting property manager, dismissed them out of hand.

“When we brought that up, she said, ‘This conversation is over,’” Ledet said.

However, Ledet said at the residents’ meeting that night, Tiger Lodge management would look at leases on a case-bycase basis.

In a letter posted on Tiger Lodge’s Facebook page Dec. 17, Linder said Tiger Lodge will be making changes to their security, including hiring a new security company.

“We know this has been a very difficult time for everyone, and we want to reassure you that we are moving quickly to address issues raised by you and other residents and parents,” Linder said in the letter.

Linder and Tiger Lodge did not return calls for comment.

Ledet said he is ready to move away.

“You try to keep yourself away from this stuff, but then it comes to you,” Ledet said.

something we insisted on. We want students to be well-informed about what they’re eating.”

According to Loughridge, students are responsible for choosing what they eat on campus.

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“I can’t mandate that you eat healthy,” Loughridge said.

“I can’t say, ‘There’s going to be nothing on campus except for the most healthy foods.’ We provide access to healthy options, but it’s up to students to decide what they eat.”

Thursday, January 15, 2015

Campus A3

The Auburn Plainsman

What you missed over the break month in review

Graduation

Auburn University’s fall graduation ceremonies were held at the Auburn Arena on Saturday, Dec. 13.

According to University President Jay Gogue, 1,497 graduating students were presented with doctorates, master’s and bachelor’s degrees during two ceremonies.

Former astronaut Jim Voss gave the commencement speech.

Voss, a 1972 Auburn graduate, spent six months on the International Space Station.

“Today, as you graduate, you leave one of the finest universities in the world,” Voss said. “It’s one that excels in many fields, in engineering, business, veterinary medicine and even the exploration of space.”

Carnell “Cadillac” Williams, former Auburn football player, was one of the graduates.

Williams left Auburn to enter the NFL draft and returned to finish his degree 10 years later.

Emily enfinger / photo editor

Graduates receive their diplomas Dec. 13.

file photo

Friends, family and fans gather for a candlelight vigil at the Lee County Courthouse Square.

Auburn mourns Jakell Mitchell Jakell Williams, freshman football player, was killed at the Tiger Lodge apartment complex Dec. 14.

According to Bill Harris, Lee County coroner, Mitchell died at East Alabama Medical Center after suffering multiple gunshot wounds.

Markale Hart, 22, of Camp Hill was arrested and charged with the murder the same day.

Desmonte Leonard killed three people at the same apartment complex in 2012.

Gus Malzahn, Auburn football coach, said in a statement he was grieving Mitchell.

“My thoughts and prayers are with Jakell’s family and friends, who are suffering through this senseless tragedy,” Malzahn said. “I know the Auburn Family is hurting, especially our players and coaches, and we are going to love and support them through this difficult time. We have lost a member of our family too young, too soon.”

Auburn loses the Outback Bowl The Tigers lost to Wisconsin at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida, on Jan. 1.

The score was 34-31 in overtime when Daniel Carlson missed a 45-yard field goal that ended the game.

Gus Malzahn, football head coach, said the

team was disappointed after the loss.

“We just didn’t make the plays at the end of the game and they did, so give them credit for that,” Malzahn said. “We have a lot of seniors, and, obviously, we’re disappointed we couldn’t get those guys out on a positive note.”

file photo

Aubie performs for the crowd at Jordan-Hare Stadium.

Aubie wins Capital One Mascot Challenge Aubie took first place in the 2014 Capital One Mascot Challenge.

The winner was announced Dec. 31 during the Capital One Bowl in Miami.

Auburn’s mascot program was awarded a $20,000 scholarship and each participating

school’s mascot program received a $5,000 scholarship.

While this is Aubie’s first Capital One Mascot Challenge win, he has won eight Universal Cheerleaders Association national titles, the most of any mascot.

file photo

Fans cheer on the Tigers.

Compiled by Corey Williams

UPCOMING EVENTS

NOTABLE GRADS

Alumna competes for ‘The Bachelor’ Kris Martins Campus Writer

Briana Hess / Graphics Editor

Being married is the highest honor in a relationship and all about commitment to 27-year-old Ashley Salter, 2012 Auburn alumna, according to her ABC profile.

Salter stars as a contestant on this season of ABC’s hit romance reality series, “The Bachelor.”

Salter will compete against 29 other bachelorettes for the heart of bachelor Chris Soules.

Chris Harrison, the show host, told People magazine in December Salter would be “the most talked-about girl on the show for quite some time.”

“Ashley’s the girl [that] when she comes out of the limo and the first couple of episodes, you’re going to feel like she has it all,” Harrison said. “She has the spirit, the good looks, the charm, but then the girls, especially, see another side.”

At Auburn, Salter received a degree in human development and family studies, according to The War Eagle Reader.

Salter was also a member of Alpha Chi Omega.

Salter now works in New York City as a hair stylist.

Carolina Ruiz, 2014 Auburn alumna, spent a semester with Salter as her roommate through the Joseph S. Bruno Auburn Abroad in Italy program.

According to Ruiz, Salter has always been energetic and outgoing.

“She could find the beauty in the smallest things,” Ruiz said. “She will tell you what she thinks and how she feels. Even though she is super pretty and always dressed up with perfect makeup on, she is actually really down to earth.”

Bobbi Williams, 2014 Auburn alumna, said she was close friends with Salter throughout college.

Williams said Salter is fun and always laughing.

“She’s very spiritual and would listen to anyone for as long as they would talk to her, and she would do anything to help,” Williams said. “I hope she [wins]. She deserves to find love.”

Hannah Marxen, senior in human development and family studies, has kept up with both “The Bachelor” and “The Bachelor-

contributed by The War eagle reader

Salter made national news when she compared people to onions in the first episode of the season.

ette” for nearly six years.

Marxen said she was surprised with the increased number of competitors in this season.

“It’s definitely not real life,” Marxen said.

“It’s not a normal setting of a relationship with 30 people. I don’t know if you can truly get to know someone when you’re trying to fight for them, so I don’t find it an accurate way for finding love like some people do.”

The 19th season of “The Bachelor” kicked off with its first episode Jan. 5, giving audiences several first impressions to digest.

“I won’t lie, [Ashley] did seem kind of crazy, especially when she climbed into the bushes to pick the pomegranate, but that’s one of her characteristics that makes her fun to be around,” Ruiz said. “It is hard to see who she really is just by the first show, especially since her first impression and who she actually is are different.”

Salter received a rose at the end of the first episode, signifying her advancement into the next stage of the show.

“She not there to make friends,” Marxen said. “She’s there for him. But she seemed kind of crazy with the whole onion thing.”

Campus A4

Thursday, January 15, 2015

The Auburn Plainsman

Fans show Auburn pride with new tags spirit

Emily A nn Clemons CaMpus Writer

Last year, almost 27,000 people bought a personalized car tag to show their school spirit.

The University released a new design for its collegiate license plate Jan. 5.

Auburn is required to change the design every five years.

All of the money raised from the sale of these license plates will go toward the Auburn University “License to Learn” Scholarship Endowment Fund.

This fund is a statewide program that raises money for freshman scholarships.

In 2012-13, approximately $1.9 million in scholarships was awarded to incoming freshmen.

Since the program began, more than $38

million has been raised to support academic scholarships.

According to the Alabama Department of Revenue, there were 37,084 Auburn University standard collegiate car tags and 26,993 personalized tags sold in 2014, raising almost $4 million in scholarship money.

The new design showcases the Auburn logo on the left side of the tag with a band of blue and Auburn written in white.

Along the bottom is a band of orange with Alabama written in blue.

“The Office of Communications, with the University, put together several choices,” said Debbie Shaw, vice president of Alumni Affairs.

“The winning design, really by significant measure, was the one chosen,” Shaw said.

“This is the first year that all in-state alumni have been asked to vote on the design.”

Shaw said she believes this design will be successful.

“We really believe that most people want the AU logo on their car,” Shaw said. “That’s the most important piece of this design and we kept the AU logo on it in a way that can be clearly seen. We made sure that the AU was positioned in the design so that it was significant, because that’s what people want to see.”

Toby Atkinson, 1990 Auburn graduate and veterinarian in Andalusia, said he likes to get creative with his Auburn tag.

“I’ve had a custom tag since 1995,” Atkinson said. “It says K9DOC.” Jim Evans, 1967 Auburn graduate, said he wants to display his Auburn loyalty.

“The big reason is that I know it does help Auburn, and it does show my loyalty to the University and that I’m an Auburn fan,” Evans said, “And I like the tag.”

Evans said times have changed since he graduated from college.

“When I first graduated from Auburn, I wanted everyone to know I was an Auburn graduate, so I had these window decals that I’d use,” Evans said. “We’d have them in our back car window and they used to say ‘Auburn’ or ‘War Eagle.’ I’ll probably keep an Auburn tag on my car for as long as I can drive.”

Alabama offers 25 collegiate plates for people who want to show their school spirit.

The newly redesigned Auburn tag still features six characters.

Drivers can order the tag for $50 plus the regular state vehicle fee of $24.25 from local tag offices throughout the state.

There is no extra cost to personalize the tag.

For more information about tags, visit: http://revenue.alabama.gov/motorvehicle/

contributed by Debbie Shaw

HEALTH

Med Clinic introduces new record-keeping system Rebecca Oliver Campus Writer

The Auburn University Medical Clinic will put into effect a new digital system of immunization record keeping that will be fully operable in the fall 2015 semester, according to John Adams, practice manager.

“We’re trying to make the system of record keeping more efficient,” Adams said. “The current system involves the transferring of paper and handwritten documentation that can lead to errors. The new system not only will decrease errors but will also allow students to log on to their online account to access their records should they need a copy at any time.”

According to Adams, the new software is encrypted with codes that prevent the input of incorrect information.

“For example, in fields where alpha characters belong, the system will block users from entering

“

The majority of universities are currently not using a system like this. We always want to be on the cutting edge of technology. The new software is more user-friendly and customer-focused with its ability to eliminate steps in the transfer of student information.”

—Fred Kam

medical director

numerical data,” Adams said.

Adams said the new system will be available this spring 2015 semester; however, the system will not be completely functional for student use until fall 2015.

“We’re going to start out slow and then we’ll be in full swing by fall 2015,” Adams said.

The digital system is a product of a healthcare software company called Med-Pass that special-

izes in and is equipped to guard the privacy of students with firewalls and other features including confirmation texts, according to Adams.

“One of the first questions we were asked when we proposed the new system was how well the system would protect the privacy of students’ records,” Adams said. “People will probably think this system is too safe.”

Med-Pass representatives were unable to offer

any information on the product the Medical Clinic will be using.

Magan Hamner, marketing coordinator for the Med Clinic, said the implementation of the new system would come at no cost to students.

“The Medical Clinic bills students for the services they use during visits directly,” Hamner said. “Funding for projects, such as this come from the Medical Clinic’s independent budget.”

According to Adams and Hamner, incoming fall 2015 student immunization records will be processed free of the old paper transfer system.

Fred Kam, medical director, said the system is innovative.

“The majority of universities are currently not using a system like this,” Kam said. “We always want to be on the cutting edge of technology. The new software is more user-friendly and customer-focused with its ability to eliminate steps in the transfer of student information.”

student government

Two proposals introduced at first 2015 University senate meeting N icole F ulkerson Campus reporter

Two new proposals were introduced at the first University senate meeting of 2015, Jan. 13, at 3:30 p.m. in Broun Hall Auditorium.

Constance Relihan, assistant provost for undergraduate studies, presented the proposals.

The first is concerned with limiting the number of allowable course repeats with grades of D or F. “Approximately six percent of our students had taken a non-repeatable course three or more times, and I have seen student transcripts of students who have repeated a course up to seven times,” Relihan said.

The classes that are being repeated most often are lower-level prerequisite courses, such as calculus II, English and differential equations.

Currently, students who receive a D or an F in a course are able to retake the course as many times as they like.

The policy change would only allow students to repeat a course

twice.

Upon the third attempt to take the class, students are encouraged to seek academic counseling and must receive written permission from an academic dean.

“This policy would make sure a conversation occurs so that the student can have the unpleasant or difficult conversation with someone about whether they really have what it takes at this point in their life to succeed in whatever the major is,” Relihan said.

The second proposal is a change in wording of the capacity policy, regarding students transferring majors.

The current policy requires a student to be in good standing, meaning a GPA of 2.0 or higher, with the University in order to transfer majors if the major does not fall under the CAP policy.

Majors that fall under the CAP policy have a maximum number of students allowed in that major because of limited number of studio spaces, specific accreditation stan-

“

This policy would make sure a conversation occurs so that the student can have the unpleasant or difficult conversation with someone about whether they really have what it takes at this point in their life to succeed in whatever the major is.”

—Constance Relihan

assistant provost for

undergraduate studies

dards or limited physical space on campus for students.

However, if there is no CAP policy on a major, any student in good standing is able to transfer.

The new policy would change the wording of the preamble to the CAP policy and only require students to be currently enrolled in the University.

Relihan said the policy will help students who want to explore other majors.

“The goal here is not to alter the current approved enrollment limitation policies for majors that have good and legitimate reasons for it,” Relihan said. “It is to make sure students who are currently enrolled are able to transfer into any other major that is an open-enrollment major.”

According to Relihan, this change could benefit students who have less than a 2.0 and believe their skill set would better fit a different major.

The Academic Standards Committee introduced the proposals as Pending Action Items.

The proposals will be voted on at the next University senate meeting Jan. 22.

Other University senate news: • Two proposals introduced in the November University Senate meeting were voted on during the meeting.

• The first proposal regarded the

revision of the Conflict of Interest policy within the research department to make the policy as clear and effective as possible.

“Employees [conducting research] must report any conflicts held by themselves or their immediate family which relate to the employees institutional responsibility,” said Art Chappelka, Faculty Research Council chair.

The proposal was voted on and passed with 87 percent.

• The second proposal voted on during the meeting was adding a library representative to the Graduate Council.

George Flowers, dean of the graduate school, re-introduced the proposal.

“We are looking to add a standing member of the graduate council to represent the libraries,” Flowers said. “We are asking for a representative to review curriculum and other items within the graduate council.”

This proposal was voted on and passed with 97 percent.

Opinion

a5

Thursday, January 15, 2015

ThePlainsman.com

Opinion

Our view

Smile, Auburn PD could have you on camera Topic:

SOCIAL MEDIA ON THE PLAINS

Auburn Police

officers now have the option to wear body cameras while on duty

Responses to “Auburn alumna receives rose on ‘The Bachelor’ premiere”

Viewpoint:

body cameras are a good step, but should be mandatory to wear

The Auburn Police Division may be introducing additional body cameras to their patrol officers.

As part of a new federal program initiative increased government funding has been put aside for police forces to use toward outfitting their officers with body cameras.

According to Capt. Will Mathews, the Auburn Police Division is looking into the program and may purchase more body cameras for patrol officers. Bicycle officers around campus have already been wearing body cameras for the past six years. Officers are not required to keep the cameras on.

Purchasing more body cameras and having some cameras already in use shows wonderful initiative and our officers should be commended for looking into the program and wearing the cameras.

Keeping the cameras on, however, should be encouraged.

In California, the Police Foundation conducted a randomized, controlled study, entitled “Self awareness to being watched and socially desirable behavior: a field experiment on the effect of body-worn cameras on police use-of-force,” for 12 months to study the effects of wearing the cameras.

All officers of the Rialto California Police Department were required to keep their cameras on during the study. According to their research, officers’ use-of-force fell by 60 percent and complaints against officers dropped 88 percent.

The United Kingdom has introduced body cameras to their forces as well. Ac-

Brian W. Goodman “Seriously, do we even really care. I’m kinda disappointed that an Auburn woman would do something so desperate. This show is the worst thing on TV and demeans relationships in our society today!!”

Keeley Marie Porter “Is she the onion/pomegranate girl?”

Wayne Partridge “How embarrassing for the Auburn family.” emily enfinger / photo editor

cording to the Hampshire, UK, police website, some officers began trials of wearing body cameras during patrols in 2006, and their departments have also found decreased complaints and use-of-force.

The findings from trials on the effects of the cameras are encouraging. The cameras act as an independent, third-party witness, supporting incident reports filed by police that can be used in trials as definitive proof of what happened.

These cameras can cut down on paperwork needed to be filed during officers’ reports, allowing for more time for officers to respond to a greater number of emergency calls.

Wrongful incident reports filed against officers can be easily dismissed by watching a few minutes of footage.

The cameras the police force have been using cost approximately $800.

The investment is entirely justified, but if that much money is going to be spent on them, they should be used as much as possible.

Members of the public already closely scrutinize police officers, and using the cameras could increase public trust and decrease regular public scrutiny.

question of the week: Should the Auburn police force be required to keep their cameras on?

campus@theplainsman. com

The average bachelor’s degree requires 120 hours to graduate, which is approximately 15 hours per semester. So why did the majority of freshmen I know signed up to take 16 or more hours last semester?

I blame it on the lack of personal attention given to each incoming student as they registered for classes during their Camp War Eagle session over the summer. Instead of getting to know inividual learning styles and routines, students were scared into overloading their schedules.

When I arrived at CWE, I was a bundle of nerves, as most freshmen are. For the most part, counselors do an excellent job of calming concerns and explaining how daily life will be as a college student, everything from where to park to where to eat.

Jamie Burnett “Is this another Wal-Mart?”

Vote online at ThePlainsman.com As a condition of using the cameras, the footage should be taken seriously and not be used for petty incidents that don’t constitute crimes.

We applaud the APD for their initiative on using body cameras during patrols. Now we encourage them to take another step forward and require officers to keep the cameras on.

tions when registering. A majority of these entry level classes are weed out classes as well. I see the evidence in my friend, an engineering major taking 16 hours who is barely able to keep their head above water.

Their adviser paid little regard to the student’s concerns when they were registering for classes and stacked their schedule with only math and science courses. That person’s scholarship is at risk in a mere semester of college because of an Auburn adviser’s neglect of concern for their abilities and wants.

I realize Auburn only accepts students they believe can succeed in these types of class schedules, and there are many avenues of student help available on campus. However, it should be recognized that class, social lives, sleep and homesickness can affect students’ freshman year. Advisers should take this into account.

Sarah Robinson is a campus writer at The Plainsman. She can be reached at campus@theplainsman.com

Becky Hardy Editor-in-Chief

Corey Williams campus

Emily Enfinger Photo

Maddie Yerant Managing Editor

Jim Little community

Kris Sims multimedia

Jordan Hays Copy

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megan barkdull Opinion

Kyle Nazario Intrigue

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

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.

Lee Woodsmall “Ah yes, just what auburn needs...another gas station, cheap shopping center, and especially a fast food restaurant.”

I don’t care, I don’t get into that kind of trouble

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

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.

Coaches and teammates respond to the shooting death of Auburn football player Jakell Mitchell @jayjacobsauad “The Auburn Family is grieving the loss of a teammate & friend Jakell Mitchell. We are praying for his family.” @Trew30_ “Can’t be happening... That’s like my brother man..can’t be true” @AlexKozan “My heart breaks for Jakell Mitchell and his family, please pray for them #RIP31” @SeanWhiteAU “13 to 31... We said were going to hear those numbers at Jordanhare more times than people could count..To have it all taken away from him...” @rhettlashlee “I am devastated and crushed. Lost a young man too soon with so much promise. Please Pray for Jakell’s family & the Auburn Family. No words.”

Responses to “Toomer’s Oaks returning to Auburn Feb. 14” @apatterson_2 “Is it bad that my first thought was ‘how many people are gunno get engaged?’ “@TheAUPlainsman: Toomer’s Oaks returning to Auburn Feb. 14”” @lxa2556 ““@TheAUPlainsman: Toomer’s Oaks returning to Auburn Feb. 14” Im starting the official betting pool for engagements. Over/ under set at 20”” @WarBlogle “I love this. Get it? WE @TheAUPlainsman: Toomer’s Oaks returning to Aibirm Feb. 14” @WarRoomEagle “This guy is good w a calendar MT @WarBlogle: I love this. Get it? WE @TheAUPlainsman: Toomer’s Oaks returning Feb. 14” @carliecave “Happy Valentines Day AU fam! “@TheAUPlainsman: Toomer’s Oaks returning to Auburn Feb. 14”

The Auburn Plainsman

The Editorial Board

Submissions

Responses to “City Council approves resolution allowing grocery store development”

No, it should be the officer’s choice

A schedule for me, made by them Sarah Robinson

John David “The crazy one!”

Lisa Wilton “Way to go, City of Auburn!!! Hey...why don’t you just go ahead and eradicate every pesky tree and blade of grass in this town??!! I mean...we taxpayers don’t really want any green space or parks or bike lanes or any of those crappy things that make a city livable.

All we want to do is SHOP, SHOP, SHOP!!! Please keep building this crap we don’t need!!!”

Yes, it helps to keep incident reports clear

her view

From my own experiences so far, everything I learned from that weekend was correct — ­except for class loads. The climax of CWE is registration. You learn everything you can about life as a student first, and, the afternoon of your departure from camp, you finally get to do what you came for: register for classes. Neither the CWE counselors nor the advisers for the sessions directly help you with registration.

One would think they would advise each student on a personal level to ensure they are not put into a class load too difficult for their first semester. Going from high school courses to college courses is one the most frightening transitions to make.

So why would you thrust a student in 16 hours of classes or more their first semester of college? That equates to one hour above what is needed to graduate on time.

I know one hour is not hurting anyone. The problem is not that one hour. The problem is the other 15. The CWE advisers recommend you take the harder class op-

Liz Hall “I can’t wait to see the “other side” Chris Harrison is talking about. She already seems crazy. It’s embarrassing.”

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Community Thursday, January 15, 2015

A6 ThePlainsman.com

Community

city

Auburn police purchasing more body-worn cameras

Jim Little

Community Editor

Body-worn video cameras may become a common sight on the uniforms of Auburn police officers.

As protests against the deaths of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri, and Eric Garner in New York City continue across the country, many protesters have called for police to be required to wear body cameras.

President Barack Obama announced in December 2014 the government would spend $75 million to help local police departments purchase the cameras.

According to Capt. Will Mathews, the Auburn Police Division has been using body-worn cameras for its bike patrol for at least the past six years.

The APD began purchasing body-worn cameras that came bundled with in-car cameras October 2014 for its patrol officers.

Bill James, director of public safety for Auburn, said his office was looking into the requirements of the federal program.

“We are going to look at it to see if we qualify,” James said. “It’s something we’d be interested in pursuing.”

Mathews said patrol officers are not required to wear the cameras; rather, it’s up to the officer to decide.

“It’s more of just teaching the officer that the camera works in his benefit most of the time,” Mathews said. “It’s beneficial to use it as much

as you can.”

Mathews said officers wearing the camera are not required to record every interaction with the public.

“We do give them some guidelines of what you should and shouldn’t try to capture,” Mathews said. “I would never want to go into an interview of a sexual assault victim or something like that and have someone expect me to have a video camera running.”

Auburn Police Chief Paul Register told The Plainsman in September APD would be increasing the number of body-worn cameras.

“They do a very good job in diffusing complaints and (it) makes the officers feel good,” Register said. “They like having the cameras because it gives us the ability to review the complaints. More than anything, it’s been a help to justify what the officers have done.”

The cameras, which are purchased from a law enforcement supply company called Digital Ally, use the same video management software as the in-car cameras.

James Buston, assistant city manager and chief information officer for Auburn, said the software compatibility of the two systems has made it easy to integrate it into the current system.

“There are always challenges with any technology,” Buston said.

Buston said the biggest problem was storage capacity.

“It’s fortunate that space is cheap these days,” Buston said. “As we need capacity, we can add

Contributed by the Auburn Police Division

An Auburn police officer wears a body-worn camera bought from law enforcement supply company Digital Ally.

space.”

Mathews said most of the officers love having the cameras.

“It’s just another tool on our tool belt,” Mathews said. “It’s not the perfect answer to ev-

ery problem.”

Mathews said a video recording is just one perspective.

“The thing people have to remember is that a lot of stuff happens off frame,” Mathews said.

Events

Bridal Expo coming to Opelika-Auburn area Rachel King

Community Writer

Opelika-Auburn News will host the annual Bridal Expo on Sunday, Jan. 18 at the Auburn Mariott Opelika Hotel & Conference Center from 1-4 p.m.

Shelia Haydel, advertising director for OA News, has been

part of the expo for the past seven years.

“This is a great way for brides to see what services are offered in the area,” Haydel said.

Katie May, honeymoon specialist at Luxury Honeymoon Designers in Birminham, has

been part of the expo for two years.

“The best part is that all of our services at the bridal expo will be complimentary,” May said.

Mike’s Mobile DJ will be the emcee at the event.

“I’m looking forward to be-

ing a part of the this year’s Bridal Expo,” Jones said.

All proceeds go to benefit the Newspaper in Education Program.

Tickets can be purchased in advance for $8 by calling OA News at 334-749-6271 or $10 at the event.

Contributed by Opelika-Auburn News

A bridal model shows off a dress at the 2014 Opelika-Auburn Bridal Expo.

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Monterey Chicken Melt

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Thursday, January 15, 2015

Community A7

The Auburn Plainsman

Local government

Affordable housing public hearing held Kailey Miller

FAB FINDS at

Burlap Ottoman

Community Reporter

The Community Development Block Grant, or CDBG, had their action plan hearing Wednesday, Jan. 14 at 10 a.m.

Members of the community voiced their opinions on what they thought the grant should be allocated to.

The funds given by the block grant are used for projects that help to develop and preserve the community, primarily in regards to those that benefit low-or moderate-income residents.

Todd White, director of community development, led the hearing.

Those attending the meeting had a wide variety of opinions on where they thought the money should be allocated.

“My mother, that’s who I speak for,” said L.B. Jackson, resident of Auburn.

“She’s an elderly person that’s on a fixed income that has a couple of properties that could be brought up to a certain standard, which the city is requiring.”

Jackson said there is a need for the grant in the community for landlords of both residential and commercial properties.

“I’ve heard it addressed in the council meetings that Auburn has grown and developed quite prosperously all over and throughout with the exception of the western side of town,” Jackson said.

Lisa Liddy, employee for Surge Staffing, said one of the community’s needs is transportation for people to get to work.

“These guys are making $8-9 an hour, they can’t keep a car rolling, you know, on $8-9 an hour,” Liddy said.

Liddy asked for more buses to solve this issue.

“These managers at these places will

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334-745-3221 Emiily Enfinger / Photo editor

Todd White, director of community development for Auburn, explains CDBG funding to the public.

end their assignment in a minute, and then they’re on the street again,” Liddy said.

“It’s a real need.”

Others at the meeting were concerned about the homeless people of Auburn, more lighting for their streets, the Boykin Senior Center and mobile home renovation.

The CDBG funds may be used for things, such as relocation and demolition, rehabilitation of residential and non-residential structures, public services, construction and improvements of public facilities, energy conservation, businesses that are willing to carry out economic develop-

ment and help to create jobs and retention activities.

White said they have one action plan meeting annually and an approval meeting about a month later.

“I thought it was good,” White said. “We had good attendance, we had good input.

We will prioritize and create a strategy plan and write a document that is for approval at City Council.”

The application for CDBG funding is due Jan. 30, 2015. There will be a second public hearing at the Boykin Community Center at 5 p.m. on March 11.

City Council approves new grocery store Jim Little

Community Editor

A new grocery store development is coming to the corner of Shug Jordan Parkway and North Donahue Drive.

The Auburn City Council voted 6-3 for a resolution allowing the property to be developed on the condition the developer build a fence around a retaining pond and back property line at the City Council meeting Tuesday, Jan. 6.

The proposed development plans call for a 40,000-squarefoot retail space, a gas station and a fast-food restaurant.

Residents of the Cary Woods neighborhood showed up to the meeting to voice their opposi-

tion to the development.

Mark Tippins, real-estate attorney and Cary Woods resident, said he thought residents could accept the development if the landowners, Owens Family Partnership LLC, would guarantee a 400-foot nature buffer between the development and the neighborhood.

“It’s just a dog piece of property,” Tippens said. “It’d be a good dog park,” Tippens said he wanted the City Council to table the resolution so he could attempt to talk to landowners into creating a conservation easement of 400 feet adjacent to Cary Woods.

Real estate agent Brent Gladden speaking on behalf of

the Owens Family Partnership said the family was open to creating a conservation easement, but only after the development deal was finalized.

According to the website of Land Trust Alliance, a national conservation organization, a conservation easement is a legal agreement between a property owner and a land trust or government that permanently limits the use of the land.

The Auburn Planning Commission unanimously recommended approval of the resolution at their Dec. 11 meeting.

The resolution then went to the City Council on Dec. 16 and was tabled until Jan. 6.

Cary Woods resident Ash-

Business

Tesla builds charging station at Auburn Mall for electric cars Rachael Taylor Community Writer

Electric car drivers needing a boost now have a new place to juice up.

Electric car company Tesla installed a new charging station at the Auburn Mall in December 2014.

Tesla, headquartered in Palo Alto, California, has introduced Superchargers to allow Tesla drivers to quickly charge their cars.

According to the Tesla website, there are more than 150 Superchargers in the United States and 184 in Europe and Asia. Superchargers are usually placed near commercial centers.

Telsa’s website claims the Supercharger can charge cars “16x faster than most public charging stations.” The charging stations are free for any equipped Model S owners, and the stations are open 24/7, according to the website.

The Supercharger can only charge Tesla Model S cars right now.

Alexis Georgeson, communications manager at Tesla, said the Model S is currently the only car that can handle the Supercharger power output.

Georgeson said the Supercharger is the fastest charger ever created.

“Auburn is the perfect place for the Supercharger,” Georgeson said.

Georgeson said the addition

ANGEL’S

Emily Enfinger / Photo Editor

Tesla hopes to spur sales of electric cars with new Supercharging stations.

of a charging station in Auburn will be good for travel from Alabama to the east coast or Florida.

Superchargers are designed to allow Telsa drivers to travel three hours, then take a 30 minute break to charge their car up, according to a Tesla media release about the Supercharger being built in Auburn.

Forrest Cotten, director of planning for the Auburn City Departments said the idea of the Supercharger worked because the mall had more parking than needed.

Cotten also said Tesla “specifically sought out the mall site.”

The location at Auburn Mall would help accomplish Tesla’s goal to have a “national net-

work” and make traveling easy for Tesla owners.

Coles Doyle, marketing director of Hull Property Group, the group that owns Auburn Mall, said the partnership is a good opportunity for the mall.

“We are excited for the new Tesla charging station at the Auburn Mall,” Doyle said. “It’s a new venture for us, but the partnership made a lot of sense, as drivers can come in and shop or grab a bite to eat while charging their car.”

Doyle also said the mall has recently been rebranded with new signage, new interior upgrades and new stores.

The new charging station is almost finished and should be ready for service in the next few weeks.

ley Aston said the timing of the meetings have made it difficult to get more residents to come out.

“All we’re asking for here is a few more weeks,” Aston said.

“I just feel like (the Council) can work with us on that.”

Council members Beth Witten, Lynda Tremaine and Ron Anders voted no on the resolution.

“I do believe that this developer is a good developer, and I’m proud they’ve chosen Auburn to come and do a development,” Anders said. “But I can’t in good conscious vote for this knowing how unsettled my ward is about it, so I’ll be voting no.”

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Sports Thursday, January 15, 2015

scoreboard M. basketball (9-6, 1-1)

A8 ThePlainsman.com

Sports

Big Boom Weekend Football

Tigers look to reload with top-level recruits Andrew Monson LAST WEEK Win vs. Missouri, 85-79 Loss at Vanderbilt, 64-52 UPCOMING Jan. 15 at Florida Jan. 17 vs. South Carolina

W. basketball (9-8, 0-4)

Sports Writer

The Feb. 4 National Signing Day, the first day football recruits can officially sign with their schools, is quickly approaching.

But first, schools and prospects must make it through the wildest month of the recruiting season.

January is when last-minute visits are taken by recruits across the nation.

As for Auburn, this week-

end is as big as it gets, with potential stars on campus getting to know the new defensive staff and the lifestyle at Auburn.

Most of the current Auburn commits will be on campus, but listed below are several prospects expected in Auburn this weekend that the coaches will be trying to sway.

Byron Cowart, the No. 1 overall defensive end, will be joined by several other highprofile recruits.

contributed by Wade rackley / auburn athletics

Head coach Gus Malzahn celebrates during the Tigers’ victory over Arkansas.

Byron Cowart

Cece jefferson

Seffner, Florida 6’4”, 250 pounds 5 Stars No. 1 Defensive End Overall

Glen St. Mary, Florida 6’2”, 275 pounds 5 Stars No. 3 Defensive End Overall

Contending schools:

Contending schools:

AU, Florida, FSU

AU, Florida, FSU, Ole Miss, Alabama

Terry beckner Jr.

Jeffrey Holland

East St. Louis, Illinois 6’4”, 293 pounds 5 Stars No. 3 Defensive Tackle Overall

Jacksonville, Florida 6’4”, 230 pounds 4 Stars No. 8 Outside Linebacker Overall

Contending schools:

Contending schools:

AU, FSU, Ole Miss, Missouri

AU, Florida, UCLA

Terry Godwin

Preston Williams

RECENT Win at North Carolina 194.150-193.750

Hogansville, Georgia 6’0”, 168 pounds 5 Stars No. 1 Athlete Overall

Hampton, Georgia 6’4”, 191 pounds 5 Stars No. 5 Wide Receiver Overall

UPCOMING Jan. 16 at Florida Jan. 23 vs. Arkansas Jan. 30 vs. Air Force

Contending schools:

Contending schools:

UGA commit, AU and Alabama in mix

Tennessee commit, AU and UGA in mix

Torrance Gibson

Ryan Davis

Fort Lauderdale, Florida 6’4”, 204 pounds 4 Stars No. 5 Athlete Overall

St. Petersburg, Florida 5’10”, 167 pounds 4 Stars No. 22 Wide Receiver Overall

Contending schools:

Contending schools:

Ohio State commit, AU and LSU in mix

AU, Florida, FSU

LAST WEEK Loss vs. Georgia, 57-52 Loss at Kentucky, 78-57 UPCOMING Jan. 15 vs. Tennessee Jan. 22 at Alabama Jan. 26 vs. Mississippi State

Gymnastics (1-0)

Swimming and diving

RECENT (M/W) Loss vs. Texas (156-135 / 174-126) UPCOMING Ralph Crocker Invitational Jan. 16-18 Auburn, Alabama

Design by Eric Wallace / Sports Editor

Men’s basketball

SEC improved in Pearl’s eyes Eric Wallace Sports Editor

Equestrian (3-3, 1-2)

RECENT Loss vs. Fresno State 9-8 UPCOMING Jan. 30 vs. SMU Auburn University Horse Center Auburn, Alabama

All Info and mugshots contributed by 247Sports

There’s no question football is king in the SEC. The gridiron has long outshined the hardwood in the SEC, and the conference’s recently ended run of football championships did little to change a perception that the SEC is a football conference.

But early results from conference play, such as the struggles of No. 1 Kentucky, have led Auburn head coach Bruce Pearl to point out improvements in the SEC’s basketball performances. “(Kentucky’s performance) really speaks to the overall strength of the conference,” Pearl said. “The conference, to me, looks stronger top to bottom than any time I have been in this league.”

The improvements are beginning to show in the math of college basketball as well.

The SEC currently has 12 teams with RPIs inside of 100, with Pearl’s Tigers sitting at 87 as of Monday, Jan. 12.

Arkansas and Alabama, teams that historically struggled to win on the road, found early conference road wins.

In addition to the numbers, Pearl said he believes the SEC is now passing the eye test too.

“The eye test is Kentucky beating everybody by 40, and then they go to overtime against Texas A&M and Ole Miss,” Pearl said. “Call it what you want. Kentucky isn’t point shaving. They’re trying to dominate opponents, and they couldn’t dominate two middle-of-the-league teams.”

Senior point guard KC

Ross-Miller, who transferred to Auburn after three seasons at the Western Athletic Conference’s New Mexico State, said the conference has been a step up in competition.

“I knew it was a tough conference from the start,” RossMiller said. “I’m aware of it.

I’m excited about playing the teams we have coming forward, and I’m just looking for the challenge.”

Pearl said the most important aspect of changing national perception of the conference would be in out of conference scheduling, an area the league’s coaches focused on in the offseason.

Games against traditional powers, such as Kansas, North Carolina and UCLA highlighted a number of those changes.

Kenny Moss / assistant PHOTO EDITOR

Auburn head coach Bruce Pearl shouts instructions to the team during a game early in the 2014-15 season.

Thursday, January 15, 2015

Sports A9

The Auburn Plainsman

contributed by zach bland / auburn athletics

Point guard KC Ross-Miller drives to the basket against Missouri’s Tramaine Isbell during Auburn’s 85-79 victory Saturday, Jan. 10.

This Week in Auburn Sports Gymnastics

No. 12 Auburn gymnastics opened its 2015 season Friday, Jan. 9, with a 194.150-193.750 victory over North Carolina in Chapel Hill.

The Tigers (1-0) trailed at the halfway point of the meet, but rallied to defeat the Tar Heels in the second rotation on the beam and floor.

Senior Megan Walker was a strong early performer on the bars, notching a 9.8 score in the first rotation.

Auburn finished the night with a 48.650 on the beam to secure the season-opening victory.

Head coach Jeff Graba’s team will return to Auburn Arena on Friday, Jan. 16 to take on No. 1 Florida. The Gators are two-time defending national champions.

The meet will be televised by the SEC Network.

Men’s Basketball

Cinmeon Bowers posted his ninth double-double of the season with 20 points and 14 rebounds as Auburn defeated Missouri 85-79 to secure the first SEC victory of the Bruce Pearl era.

Bowers’ points came despite a tough night

from the floor, where he went just 4-of-13.

However, Bowers made 11 of 18 free-throw attempts, an area the junior said he worked with assistant coach Chuck Person on improving this week. “(Bowers) had a different mindset at the foul line, trying to make them all rather than looking at himself,” Pearl said. “I just wanted him to look at himself more as a forward rather than an undersized center. Forwards guard, make free throws and take threes and make them.”

Bowers had help from others in securing the Tigers’ first conference victory.

Four other Tigers scored in double digits, including 14 points from leading scorer KT Harrell and 13 from point guard KC Ross-Miller.

The balanced scoring was critical for Auburn’s success, according to guard Tahj Shamsid-Deen.

“We got out on transition when we were playing defense, and that’s when we are the most dangerous,” Shamsid-Deen said.

Auburn led for much of the first half, and took a 41-40 lead into the break. Missouri then broke out to start the second half, taking a 49-41 lead following Keith Shamburger’s fifth 3-pointer.

The Tigers would clamp down on the senior to close out the game and rode strong play from Antoine Mason and Shamsid-Deen during a 10-0 run to take the lead for good.

The performance of Shamsid-Deen was a bright spot according to Pearl, who said he felt the sophomore needed to begin making more contributions as conference play begins.

“It was great to see Tahj step up and make some baskets and score,” Pearl said. “He has not been rewarded much with many numbers.”

Auburn outshot Missouri from the field, 48 to 44 percent, and sizzled from behind the arc, finishing 10-of-19 (53 percent).

“I think the identity of this team has to be on the defensive end,” Pearl said. “Tonight, we made 10 threes, and we had to because 2 pointers are tough to come by.”

Malcolm Canada and Shamsid-Deen finished with 10 points in the victory.

Shamburger led Missouri with 21 points, while Wes Clark contributed 16 points.

Auburn will head on the road to take on Florida (9-6, 2-0 SEC) Thursday, Jan. 15. Tipoff is scheduled for 6 p.m. CT.

Women’s Basketball

The Auburn women’s basketball team dropped its fifth consecutive game to No. 20 Georgia 5752 Sunday, Jan. 17 in the Auburn Arena.

The Tigers (9-8, 0-4) outshot, outrebounded and handed out more assists than the Bulldogs, eventually stretching out an 11-point lead in the first half.

But the Bulldogs (15-2, 3-1 SEC) endured, converting 24 of 31 free throw attempts.

Senior Hasina Muhammad recorded her second career double-double in the loss, finishing with 18 points and 10 rebounds.

The Bulldogs were led by Tiaria Griffin’s 16 points.

The Tigers have lost their fourth consecutive conference game to open SEC play after starting the season 9-3.

Auburn returns to action in the Auburn Arena Thursday, Jan. 15, when they’ll host the No. 7 Tennessee Volunteers (14-2, 4-0 SEC).

Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. CT. Compiled by Eric Wallace

Back to the grind

men’s basketball

Thompson’s return to action provides Tiger frontcourt depth David McKinney

Assistant Sports Editor

Alex Thompson is back on the Plains and back on the hardwood for Auburn.

Thompson, a walk-on who was awarded a scholarship by former head coach Tony Barbee, took a semester off in the fall for personal reasons, but has seen significant playing time since returning to school in December 2014.

“We’re glad that he’s back,” said basketball head coach Bruce Pearl when Thompson’s return was announced. “I’m looking forward to getting to know him.”

Thompson’s return not only meant the return of a familiar face, but an extra body for a thin Auburn team.

“Now, with 11 scholarship players, we’re not as far behind the eight ball,” Pearl said.

Coming off the bench last year, Thompson averaged 7.8 minutes per game, one point per game and 1.5 rebounds per game.

So far this season, Thompson has seen time in seven games, with his best performance coming in a win against Winthrop when he scored eight points and added six rebounds. As of the Tigers’ last game, a home win against Missouri, Thompson’s average has moved up to three points per game.

Senior guard and leading scorer KT Harrell said the team is happy to have Thompson back.

“Alex being here, it’s going to help us a lot,” Harrell said. “Alex can stretch the floor a little bit so that’s going to help us out a lot.”

Pearl has stressed before how appreciative he is of athletic director Jay Jacobs for giving him his second chance,

and Pearl said he hopes Thompson will appreciate it.

“Whether or not Alex takes advantage of this, it’s what we do,” Pearl said. “As long as you’re in this business, as long as you’re in this profession, you get to a situation where nothing surprises you, but you still get disappointed, and the time ever comes when you stop getting disappointed when you’ve given someone a second or third chance and they don’t take advantage of it, you need to do something else.”

Pearl said he would be disappointed if Thompson and freshman Trayvon Reed, who joined the team in December after being unable to enroll at Maryland, his first college choice, don’t take advantage of their second chances.

“So I will be disappointed if these guys [Thompson and freshman center Trayvon Reed] don’t take full advantage of this opportunity, but nothing surprises you when you’re dealing with young people.”

Senior guard Malcolm Canada said Thompson’s return has also boosted the team’s chemistry.

“With Antoine (Mason) back, it is not like we have missed a beat because we had him through the offseason,” Canada said. “Same thing with Alex (Thompson).

We knew him already. We knew what he could bring to the table. The only new person to the family is Trayvon (Reed). It has been working out easier than what we had thought, because he fits in.”

Thompson and the Tigers currently boast a 9-6 record, with a 1-1 mark in SEC play. Next up for Auburn is a road trip to Gainesville, Florida, on Thursday, Jan. 15, to take on Billy Donovan and Florida.

file photo

Alex Thompson defends in an exhibition against Victory University before the 2013-14 season.

Sports A10

Thursday, January 15, 2015

The Auburn Plainsman

Opinion

Opinion

Impressions from Auburn’s non-conference schedule Andrew Monson Sports@ theplainsman. com

This basketball season has been the most anticipated season at Auburn in many years with Bruce Pearl at the helm.

His prior success and his enthusiasm have energized the program, and many fans have watched the Tigers’ early nonconference games closer than in previous years.

Now that the SEC schedule is in swing, we look back at the things we learned from the first half of the season. file photo

Auburn running back Roc Thomas grabs the facemask of Ole Miss’ Cody Prewitt. The Tigers ranked worst in the SEC in penalty yards in 2014.

Discipline key to 2015 improvement Brian Stultz Sports@ theplainsman.com

In a letter to captains during the Revolutionary War, George Washington wrote, “Discipline is the soul of an army.”

If he had been writing that to the 2014 Auburn defense, we would still be using the pound as currency and singing “God Save the Queen” here in America.

To say discipline was a problem in 2014 would be an understatement. Key drives by opponents were kept alive by foolish penalties. It seemed a weekly occurrence ex-defensive coordinator Ellis Johnson would talk about cleaning up play.

It never happened. On Wisconsin’s game-tying drive to send the Outback Bowl into overtime, the Badgers benefited from a late hit out of bounds. We know how the game ended.

Now enters Will Muschamp who, if history is any indication, won’t accept these transgressions.

Muschamp, now in his second tenure as defensive coordinator at Auburn, is in charge of bringing back the fearsome defense the Tigers had during his first time here in 2006-07.

The 2006 Auburn defense, led by Quentin Groves and Sen’Derrick Marks, allowed just 13.9 points per game, good for seventh in the nation. The next year, Muschamp’s defense finished sixth in the nation by allowing 16.9 points per game.

Many times this past year, opponents exceeded those numbers in the middle of the second quarter.

One major way Muschamp differs from Johnson is where they coach from.

Muschamp, one of the fiercest guys in college football, loves to coach from the sidelines. Johnson was up in the coaches’ box. If you have ever seen Muschamp upset, you know you don’t want to be on the other end of his fury.

I guarantee any player who has to face Muschamp after committing a dumb penalty will do his best not to do it again.

But where else can the defense improve? Muschamp said it is the line of scrimmage.

“You’ve got to create the line of scrimmage,” Muschamp said during his introductory press conference. “In our league and our division, you better win the line of scrimmage or you will not have a chance.”

For Tigers fans, it is about stopping those killer penalties that let opponents have second or third chances.

“Nothing can be more hurtful to the service, than the neglect of discipline; for that discipline, more than numbers, gives one army the superiority over another.”

George Washington also wrote that.

Let’s hope coach Muschamp and the 2015 Tigers heed his words.

Brian Stultz is a sports writer for The Plainsman. He can be reached at sports@ theplainsman.com.

1. The team inherited Pearl’s fight and attitude Pearl has said winning is an attitude.

He inherited a roster of players who have not been very successful on the court, so it was going to take time and some wins for the whole team to buy into that mindset.

After watching the Tigers pull out come from behind wins in games against Xavier and Texas Southern, games previous Auburn teams probably would have lost, I think Pearl has gotten his team to share his attitude.

2. Bowers will be the key Junior forward Cinmeon Bowers, averaging 13.7 points and 11.3 rebounds per game, is one of only five players in the Power Five conferences (SEC, ACC, Big 12, Big Ten and Pac12) to average a double-double per game.

If that is not important enough, the only other true post

player is true freshman Trayvon Reed, who joined the Tigers a few weeks ago.

If Auburn hopes to make noise in the SEC, Bowers must stay out of foul trouble and continue to produce on a consistent basis.

3. The backcourt must produce In Auburn’s losses, and even in some of its wins, the Tigers have had trouble putting the ball in the basket and have gone on huge droughts without scoring a field goal.

The Tigers have scorers in the backcourt, with KT Harrell and Antoine Mason averaging 17 and 14.6 points, respectively.

But when the duo go cold, the rest of the team struggles.

Those two must find ways to score consistently, or Auburn will find themselves in some ugly games.

4. Free throws could cost the Tigers Through the first 15 games of the season, Auburn ranks 324th out of 351 Division I teams in free throw percentage at 62.9 percent.

That is not going to cut it if the Tigers hope to win close games in the SEC. In many tight games, the team that shoots the best from the stripe will come away with the victory.

If Auburn’s shooting woes continue, it will be on the wrong side of some of those games.

Andrew Monson is a sports writer for The Plainsman. He can be reached at sports@theplainsman.com.

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Intrigue

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Thursday, January 15, 2015

ThePlainsman.com

Intrigue

student spotlight

Sing out: a day in the life of a chamber choir member Anne Dawson Intrigue Writer

Choir students raise their voices in different ways every day, according to those participating in the program.

Chamber choir president Seth McCollough, senior in instrumental and vocal music education, is involved in conductors’ chorus, men’s chorus, chamber choir and gospel choir.

McCollough studies with a vocal coach and takes instrumental classes. Each choir class lasts 50 minutes. He also participates in concerts on select Sundays, which last an hour and half to two hours.

“Each day is different,” McCollough said.

William Powell, director of choral activity, said the days start with a warm-up, which changes depending on the class’ goal.

Some days, choir members focus on balance in their warm ups by making sure one section does not stick out from the rest, according to Powell.

Powell said other days they will focus on blending by making sure no one is standing out within the section.

The rest of the day consists of learning new

songs or mastering just one. Chamber choir often focuses on one piece per day.

“Just like an actor with a script, we have to be true to the composer and the style of the piece,” Powell said.

Alumnus Taylor Vogl was in chamber choir, men’s chorus and opera workshop. He also taught singing technique.

Vogl said he only spent two choir-related hours per day, and two and a half to three hours per day practicing.

Powell or another music major lead the warmups, according to Vogl.

Vogl said most of the chamber choir’s rehearsal was focused on phrasing words in the music, not necessarily just the notes. The choirs sometimes break into sections to practice.

“Dr. Powell was good at helping us see what a piece was trying to tell us,” Vogl said. “That is what made us one of the best choirs in the region.”

Vogl said Powell gives students a good feel for the style of each piece.

Amanda Anderson, senior in music education and vocal performance, is involved in chamber

Academics

contributed by taylor vogl

The chamber choir practices under William Powell, director of choral activity.

choir and AU Singers.

Anderson said she spends two to three hours in class, and two to three hours practicing per day.

Anderson also described her day in chamber choir as varying from day to day. After the

10-minute warm-up, Powell and the choir discuss what they’re working on.

“We come to a collected, understood and agreed upon meaning for what the composer is saying,” Powell said.

clubs

Taking the bad out of badminton

Badminton Club aims for successful year Ankil Patel Intrigue Writer

kenny moss / assistant photo editor

Ashlie Lauderdale (center) said she would major in dance if Auburn offered it as an option.

There’s a degree for that

Students in the smallest degrees speak up

Andria Moore Intrigue Writer

Auburn University offers hundreds of degrees to suit different areas of interest. Three of the least-common minors and majors at Auburn are botany, dance and interdisciplinary studies.

When Auburn was first founded in 1856, it was primarily a school for agriculture and engineering. Since then, the school has grown in other disciplines, but there are some areas, such as dance, that are only offered as a minor.

“If there was a [dance] major, I’d be one,” said Ashlie Lauderdale, junior in biomedical sciences with a minor in dance.

After doing what they love for most of their life, many dancers at Auburn said they aspire to dance professionally, according to Lauderdale.

Lauderdale said there are often misconceptions about what is actually involved in the curriculum with majors or minors such as dance. She said if there was one thing she could make people understand about dance as a minor, it would be that it is a serious subject.

“People tend to think it’s an extracurricular-type deal, like it’s not actually hard when it

is,” Lauderdale said. “It’s a three-credit class.”

Another uncommon major at Auburn is botany, the scientific study of plants. There are only three students majoring in botany.

“Botany is an extremely diverse field with lots of disciplines under the title,” said Evan Kilburn, junior in botany.

“I’d say it’s misunderstood due to a lack of knowledge about it.”

Kilburn said botany has an intense College of Science and Mathematics curriculum.

“I am often asked, ‘What are you going to do with that?’ because many are unaware of the different, exciting careers open to someone with a botany degree,” Kilburn said.

Kilburn said botany is not just a boring, basic study of plants, there is a wide array of career fields open to botany majors.

Kilburn said he is excited that he may one day be “fighting invasive species around the globe, finding new cures or even working in research and development” because of all the options botany offers.

Samuel Price, junior in interdisciplinary studies, said one of the most confusing majors to attempt to explain is interdisci-

plinary studies.

“I think many more people would choose to do it if they knew how easy it is to customize your own major,” Price said.

Interdisciplinary studies is designed so students with a specific career goal in mind can design their own curriculum based upon classes they think they will need to accomplish their dream.

“This semester, I am teaching Indian music to children in India that haven’t really had exposure to it, which is definitely something I’d probably want to continue doing,” Price said.

Price said if there was one thing he could clarify about his major, it would be his major has good career prospects.

“People think it will be hard for those of us majoring in IDSC to find jobs, when really we are more equipped to find a job because our major is so specific for what we want to do,” Price said.

Students in majors as uncommon as these wish for people to learn about what their major entails before disregarding or judging it as lesser, according to Kilburn.

“It’s always good for people to know more about something you love,” Kilburn said.

According to Dmitry Glotov, associate professor of math and science, Auburn University’s Badminton Club was created with one purpose in mind: enabling all people interested in badminton to come together and play, regardless of skill level. Established in 2007, the club has approximately 25 members this year.

Glotov is the coach and a player for the club. He said the main goal of the club is to help players of any skill level and interest to learn more about the sport of badminton in a friendly, competitive environment.

Glotov said he enjoys the competitive nature of the sport. Additionally, Glotov said badminton is a very dynamic sport, so he is able to exercise many different muscles, resulting in an efficient and fun workout. Since a typical badminton court is smaller than a tennis court, the game moves very fast.

Glotov said a shuttlecock initially travels faster than a

tennis ball when hit. In addition to higher initial speeds, a shuttlecock has air drag, which results in a steep angle of travel, so players must react quickly and be alert at all times.

Hao Zhang, president of the badminton club and graduate student in mechanical engineering, serves as team captain and is in charge of communications for the club. Hao said his favorite part about playing badminton is the opportunity to make new friends.

Glotov and Hao also said badminton is a good way to increase flexibility and general health.

As president and team captain of the club, Hao said he has learned important managing and operating skills. He also realized it is necessary to be patient with new players to familiarize them with the rules and language of badminton.

The club welcomes players of all skill levels, and current members range from novice to advanced players.

The club usually only competes in internal tournaments; however, some of the more

skilled players have attended the Emory Open Tournament in the past.

Lei Zhang, graduate student in food science, has been playing badminton for two years and joined the club last semester. Lei said she has enjoyed being able to meet new friends and exercise in a more interesting way.

“I enjoy badminton,” Lei said. “It is more interesting than just working out, and I can meet some good friends.”

Hao said the club has not competed because it lacked funds to participate in tournaments.

“We do not have any tournaments right now,” Lei said.

“We are playing for fun.”

Glotov said all students interested in playing badminton are welcome to join the club for practice.

Rackets are not provided but, shuttlecocks are.

The club practices Fridays from 6-8 p.m. and Sundays from 2-4 p.m. on the multipurpose court at the Recreational and Wellness Center.

The current club fee is $5 per season.

Contributed by hao zhang

The Badminton Club practices on the Wellness Center courts twice per week.

app of the week

Swype brings faster one-handed typing, custom themes to iPhone Kyle Nazario intrigue@theplainsman. com

I finally updated my phone to iOS 8 to get rid of that annoying notification badge on the Settings app. iPhones now supports a cool feature no one is talking about — custom keyboards. iOS 8 opened the door to different keyboard apps, something Android us-

ers have enjoyed for years.

The best third-party iOS keyboard to try is Swype, which pioneered gesturebased typing. Instead of rapidly tapping letters on your virtual keyboard, the user can finger between letters to form words.

Swipe typing seems pointless until you try it. Then it becomes amazing.

Drawing words feels faster and more efficient than hunting and pecking on the regular Apple iPhone keyboard.

The app feels like a natural fit for the small iPhones (5S and older). You can

hold the phone in one hand and type far easier with Swype than with the basic Apple keyboard.

The app also supports everything one would expect from a keyboard app.

There is text prediction based on what the user has typed before and a personal dictionary that learns a user’s words.

There is also a small collection of themes for the keyboard. Think it’s too white? Swype is happy to sell you a dark theme for another $0.99.

One catch is Swype’s performance.

Whether the culprit is Swype for making a bad app or Apple for a buggy version of iOS, Swype performs poorly. The keyboard often doesn’t appear when you tap a text field. It seems less responsive than the Apple keyboard.

To try it, download Swype from the App Store for $0.99. Switch to it using the globe key on the normal keyboard.

Kyle Nazario is the intrigue editor for The Plainsman. He can be reached at intrigue@theplainsman.com.

kyle nazario / INTRIGUE EDITOR

Swype replaces your keyboard.

Intrigue A12

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Thursday, January 15, 2015

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