News
sports
intrigue index
Page 3
Page 5
VCOM students ready to begin class in new building
Page 6
Women’s basketball holds Family Fun Day event
News Opinion Sports Intrigue
1 4 5 6
Red Clay Brewing Company hosts concert
The Auburn Plainsman A Spirit That Is Not Afraid Thursday, July 30, 2015 Vol. 123 Issue 11, 6 Pages
First copy is free. Additional copies 50 cents per issue.
Alumni
Sailing from the sea to the screen
Graduate qualifies for finals of American Ninja Warrior Emily Esleck Editor-in-Chief
Lt. Deon Graham, or “The Destroyer,” qualified for the season seven American Ninja Warrior finals during the July 6 episode, where he competed next to the U.S.S. Truman in San Pedro, California. “A bulldog with a fireplug of a body,” as the announcers said of Graham, who graduated in May 2009 from Auburn with a civil engineering degree and is stationed in Norfolk, Virginia, as a nuclear trained surface warfare officer in the Navy. Graham said he has watched the show for the past six seasons and decided to “go for it.” He said he submitted a three-minute video showcasing his athletic skills in January. “I’ve never really had the time to train and to do any preparation to go on the show until the past year that I’ve been on short duty with the Navy,” Graham said. He said he received a call saying he got the
spot on the show the last week in April. Graham said he flew to California the first week in June to train on the competition course and film interviews for the show. “It was definitely something different,” Graham said. “I had never been involved in TV production, and just seeing behind the scenes and how everything worked was definitely exciting. I’ve gotten very comfortable in front of the camera.” Graham said he changed his training routine to accommodate the activities he would be performing. “I’m always in the gym, usually between three and five days a week,” Graham said. “I moved more toward body weight exercises, pull ups, muscle ups. I took some elements from cross fit workouts.” Graham enlisted in the Navy after graduating high school and was selected for the
» See Ninja, 2
contributed by deon graham
Deon Graham competes in the qualifying episode of American Ninja Warrior.
Graduate, pilot dies in Alaska plane crash Emily Esleck Editor-in-Chief
Fariah Peterson, 45-yearold Auburn alumna, passed away Friday, July 17, in a plane crash where she was the pilot, according to Alaska State Troopers. Cary Curtiss, administrative assistant in the registrar’s office, said Peterson graduated Dec. 13, 1991, with a bachelor of science degree in business administration with a concentration in finance. The case report stated the Cessna 207, a Wings of Alaska plane, crashed during a scheduled flight from Juneau to Hoonah, Alaska. Ketchikan Dispatch received a 911 call from one of the five passengers aboard the plane. According to reports, the U.S. Coast Guard, an Alaska Wildlife Patrol Vessel Sentry and Juneau Mountain Rescue responded to the the area. Reports state there were four injured in the crash — Humberto Hernandez Aponte, 57, and his wife, Sandra Herrera Lopez, 60, both of Juneau, Alaska; Jose Vazquez, 15, of Puerto Rico; and Ernestine Hanlon-Abel, 64-year-old
Hoonah resident. Beth Ipsen, books person for Alaska State Troopers, said initially victims were taken to Bartlett Hospital in Juneau. She said Hanlon-Abel and Lopez were then flown to a hospital in Seattle. Ipsen said Peterson was found dead on the scene when responders arrived. She also said the National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the cause of the crash. Clint Johnson, chief of the NTSB Regional Office in Anchorage, said they will be releasing a preliminary report Thursday, July 30, or Friday, July 31, concerning the cause of the accident. He said Chris Shaver, the NTSB investigator on the case, arrived in Juneau during late afternoon July 17. Johnson said Shaver was able to get on site the following day with the help of the U.S. Coast Guard. After finishing the on-site inspection, the plane was carried by helicopter to Juneau and was placed in a hangar. “The investigative team documented everything to great detail,” Johnson said.
campus
“
The investigative team documented everything to great detail. What we’re in the process of doing right now is looking at the engines ... so no conclusions have been drawn.” —Clint Johnson
Chief of NTSB office in anchorage
“What we’re in the process of doing right now is looking at the engines, some other components in the airplane that was removed, but right now we are definitely in the preliminary stages of this investigation, so no conclusions have been drawn at this point right now. We still have a lot to do.” Johnson said the plane was found on a mountainside at a 1,200-foot elevation surrounded by fjords. He also said the damage to
» See pilot, 2
Dakota Sumpter / photo editor
Brown leaves visible on the newly planted oak at Toomer’s Corner.
Magnolia Oak thriving despite broken shoots
Emily Esleck Editor-in-Chief
The new Magnolia Oak, which was planted Wednesday, July 8, is undergoing stress from the transplantation, resulting in a few brown leaves. Gary Keever, professor of horticulture, said there is little change in appearance of the oak. He said by looking closely,
one can see the discoloration of the leaves are because of broken shoots, which probably occurred when the oak was dug, transported or transplanted. Keever also said Landscape Services is irrigating it frequently and closely monitoring the oak by watering it and applying light amounts of fertilizer. Ben Burmester, campus
planner, said the university is not as concerned about the brown leaves since they think it’s mainly from the transport. “We knew there was going to be some damage to the leaves just from the literal operations needed to sinch up that tree and get it so it could be fit on a truck and delivered here,”
» See oak, 2
News 2
The Auburn Plainsman
ninja
DUI reports
» From 1
The following were arrested and charged with driving under the influence by the Auburn Police Division from July 21-27: July 24 - Earsley Autry Lyons II, 35 East Longleaf Drive at South College Street, 9:23 p.m. July 25 - Sydney Chase Ruos, 19 Wright Street at Glenn Avenue, 1:26 a.m. - Jamarius Nathaniel Taylor, 21 Wire Road, 3:26 a.m. - Lunday Elizabeth McClendon, 21 East Glenn Avenue, 3:38 a.m. - Jameca Lynn Love, 30 East University Drive at North Dean Road, 7:06 p.m. - Luis Armando, 29 Opelika Road, 10:34 p.m. July 26 - Kent Noble Black, 24 North Gay Street at Mitcham Avenue, 3:04 a.m. A full crime report provided by the Auburn Police Division is available online at ThePlainsman.com. –Reports provided by the Auburn Police Division
Pilot » From 1
the plane was substantial. She also said plane crashes are not uncommon in Alaska. “The thing about Alaska is that there’s a large portion of the state that doesn’t have, that’s not on the road system,” Ipsen said. “You have to fly, well actually, flying is probably the best form of transportation in Alaska. Even our capital, you can only get there by boat or by plane.” Norman Godwin, associate
“
nuclear propulsion program. He said he spent two years on active duty while he attended an operator school. He found himself in Auburn after finishing in the top of his class. He said he went through a commissioning program called Seaman to Admiral-21 program where he stayed on active duty, but his primary goal was obtaining a degree. He also said he worked with the ROTC program at the university. Graham is now a commissioned officer and supervisor, where he said he supervises the maintenance and operation of reactive plants on aircraft carriers. He said he also works for a training and assessing command, where he facilitates ship certification. Graham said he came out to the military 18 months ago and is now openly gay. “I don’t think it had too much impact on them choosing me for the show,” Graham said. “The producers didn’t know I was gay until we were doing an interview after I had already been selected, so that kind of came out of the blue for them.” Graham said there wasn’t much publicity on the show about his sexual preferences. “That’s not really the most important
Oak » From 1
We are saddened to lose a member of the Auburn Family.” —Norman Godwin
associate dean in the college of business
dean in the college of business, gave his condolences. “We are saddened to lose a member of the Auburn Family so unexpectedly,” Godwin said.
Burmester said. Burmester said the key is making sure the oak has the right amount of water in the heat. “We want to make sure we’re giving it plenty, but we’re also not wanting to give it too much,” Burmester said. “So we’re trying to give it that balance of just the right amount, so that’s just kind of our main focus right now.” Some concerns have been raised over if the oak will need to be replaced. “Let’s hope not,” Keever said. “No, there’s nothing to suggest that. I would expect the tree to undergo a certain amount of stress.”
Thursday, July 30, 2015
thing about me,” Graham said. “The way I carry myself is, I mean everyone is who they are, and if it comes up in conversation, I can talk about it, but it’s not the first thing that comes out of my mouth when I meet someone.” Larry Crowley, associate professor in civil engineering, said Graham was in his surveying class and always sat in the front row. “That’s always good,” Crowley said. “That’s a very telling position in the classroom.” Graham said Crowley was one of the most influential professors he had at Auburn. “(Graham has) had challenges, and he’s a survivor,” Crowley said. “Auburn has a great reputation at the undergraduate level of investing in their students and their students thriving.” Graham said he’s anxious for everyone to see how he does in the finals episode airing on NBC on Monday, Aug. 17, at 7 p.m. “Going around town, people who’ve seen the other episode, I get pats on the back and thumbs-up, it’s an overwhelming feeling of support,” Graham said. “I’m kind of anxious to not let everybody down or disappoint anybody, so that’s kind of one of the things that runs through my head.”
He said a lot of the other competitors didn’t know he was gay until the episode aired, but everyone involved with the show was great and there were “no conflicts, no issues.” Crowley said Graham is building his testimony from a “long-term challenge” Graham has said he faces. “It’s a complicated issue,” Crowley said. “Things are seldom black and white, that’s not a race thing, but he’s living his life. We all fall short in all kinds of different ways. It’s wonderful we live in a world where God loves us regardless.” Graham also said there weren’t any problems in the workplace concerning his sexual orientation. “There’s no being judged on who you are, it’s the quality of work you do that speaks volumes about the kind of person you are,” Graham said. In the wake of the legalization of samesex marriage Graham said one day he would like to get married. “I think it’s great,” Graham said. “It shows that we as a country, are becoming more progressive and accepting, and I believe everyone deserves the same rights in the eyes of the law. Everyone’s entitled to their beliefs and opinions, that’s why I serve, so people are able to have their own beliefs and opinions and we all can share this country.”
Keever said he would expect this because during the transplantation the nylon mesh wrapped around the root ball was ripped off. He said the workers were using shovels to remove the mesh that was put on the oak when it was dug a year and a half ago. The mesh retained the new roots formed during that period. “The roots had grown through that mesh and that material didn’t come off easily, so in essence, it tore a lot of the roots at the peripheral of the [root] ball,” Keever said. He said this was similar to root pruning, where roots are deliberately cut to stimulate new growth. Keever said he spoke with Landscape Services on Wednesday morning, July 29,
and said the next time Tim Thoms, tree consultant, came on site, he would like to look at the root growth outside the root ball. “We’ve done that before, where we just excavate a small hole right at the boundary, between the root ball and the new soil to see if there’s new roots growing into it,” Keever said. “That’s a good indication of how the tree’s responding to being moved.” Keever said there isn’t any wilting or leaf drop. “There’s nothing to indicate that the tree is stressed,” Keever said. Burmester said the university feels good about the oak’s condition so far and plans to continue to monitor it.
community
City planning recommends extending apartment freeze Rachael Taylor writer
In February, a six-month halt to building apartments was put in place for the University Service East District of Auburn. During this time, city planning did research to decide what to do once the moratorium ended. On July 27, city planning met with City Council to present their recommendations on the matter. The moratorium will also be discussed at the next City Council meeting, Aug. 4. City planning recommended that the moratorium be extended for seven months. Forrest Cotten, director of planning for the city of Auburn, showed other college towns such as Oxford, Mississippi, and Clemson, South Carolina, as an example. “We really tried to focus in on colleges that have a fairly similar geographic layout, close proximity to campus, very close [downtown] relationship,” Cotten said. Cotten said he found there was not a lot of consistency between the towns, but Auburn was in the middle of the statistics. “The college town experience is very unique, so we find more often than not the issues that the
Contributed by the city of auburn
A rendering shows the area affected by the moratorium.
college towns are experiencing are very much akin to ours,” Cotten said. Cotten has been working on the report since the moratorium first began in February. “The report, some of it came down to the wire … we did start early,” Cotten said. He said some parts came together at the last
minute. The meeting gave City Council members a chance to familiarize themselves with the suggestions before the City Council meeting Tuesday, Aug. 4. “It doesn’t mean they have to approve it, it doesn’t mean that they have to act on it that night,
but I believe they will be able to act on it if they choose,” Cotten said. Recommendations are likely to change as details of the matter are discussed. There was not a formal time for citizens to ask questions, but they will be able to at the City Council meeting.
calendar of events
thursday, july 30 -wednesday, August 5 Thursday
friday
saturday
sunday
monday
tuesday
wednesday
What: 80’s Party in the Park Who: Auburn Parks and Recreation Where:Town Creek Park When: 6-9 p.m.
What: Buddy Mondlock in Concert at Sundilla Where: Auburn Unitarian Universalist Fellowship When: 7:30 p.m.
What: Auburn University Graduation Who: Auburn University Where: Auburn Arena When: 10 a.m. & 2 p.m.
What: Mimosa specials Who/where:The Hound & Island Wing Company When: Noon
What: Fall quarter registration begins Who:Auburn Parks and Recreation Where: The Harris Center
What: Bingo/ trivia Where: Quixotes When: 7 p.m.
What: Drink specials Where: Downtown Auburn bars When: 7-9 p.m.
Thursday, July 30, 2015
News 3
The Auburn Plainsman
student spotlight
Taking the Auburn Family to the next level Maria McIlwain news editor
Many Auburn students have family ties to the university. However, the Ahmed family is deeply rooted in Auburn; with all four of them attended or taught at the university at the same time, according to Nighet Ahmed, graduate student in adult education. Nighet said her family would run into each other on campus sometimes. “We would see each other on campus more than we would see each other at the house,” Nighet said. Nighet homeschooled her sons, Azeem and Aleem Ahmed, and said she emphasized writing. Azeem, who graduated in finance, said he would come to campus for lectures as part of his homeschool curriculum. He said coming to Auburn was a natural choice for him after dual-enrolling during his senior year of high school. “I thought it was really special,” Azeem said. “I loved it.” Azeem said his family was at Auburn at the same time last year. He said they would grab lunch or coffee together. “That was really cool ... it was pretty nice that happened my senior year,” Azeem said. Azeem said he didn’t see his family too often, and their activities were spread across campus. “Our circles were kind of different,” Azeem said. Aleem, senior in aerospace engineering, said he did not always want to come to Auburn, how-
anwar ahmed
nighet ahmed
azeem ahmed Maria MCilwain / news editor
ever, it has been convenient and cheap. “Most people, when they go to college, it’s when they get out of the nest,” Aleem said. “Going to school that’s in the town you’ve grown up in, and also where your father works and is a faculty member and then your mom starts the Ph.D. program, it’s just kind of hard to do that.” Aleem said his interests are in different areas than Azeem’s.
“My hard work goes in different directions, not necessarily toward scholarships, but toward other things I enjoy, like work and research,” Aleem said. Aleem said his family is involved throughout Auburn. “It’s kind of weird, because everywhere you go, people know your mom or your dad or your brother,” Aleem said, “so in a lot of ways, they’ve
campus
VCOM students ready to start class
built up a good reputation.” Anwar Ahmed, Azeem and Aleem’s father and Nighet’s husband, is a professor of aerospace engineering. “Both my mom and my brother are very humanitarian-oriented,” Aleem said. “My dad and I, we’re very research, goal-oriented in that regard.” Nighet is currently studying Arabic in California as a winner of the Boren Fellowship. “Azeem and Aleem inspired me,” Nighet said. “My husband was like a rock.” Nighet said she was interested in Arabic because of her Muslim faith, and she said she wants to help immigrant women adjust to American society. “I could serve them and build those bridges,” Nighet said. Nighet said she was surprised to win the fellowship, and it was “very exciting and humbling.” Azeem said he won prestigious scholarships, such as the Clinton Hunger Leadership Award, to help others. “I want to take my work to the next level,” Azeem said. Azeem said his family is a “chase your dreams family,” and he did not apply just to win awards. “[We] never believed in chasing awards,” Azeem said. Azeem said his family has developed a community in Auburn. “We are really an Auburn family,” Azeem said.
lifestyle
Maria McIlwain news editor
A group of first-year students is coming to Auburn, anxiously awaiting their first day of class. However, these are not freshmen; they have already graduated college. These students are the inaugural class of the Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine, Auburn Campus, and they are set to begin classes Thursday, July 30. According to the VCOM website, doctors with degrees in osteopathic medicine often become primary care physicians in rural areas. Doctors of osteopathic medicine are licensed in every state to practice “the full scope of medicine.” The college has two other campuses in Blacksburg, Virginia, and Spartanburg, South Carolina. According to Danny Kibler, member of the first class of students, there are approximately 162 students. He said they come from across the country. Kibler said he is excited to start learning and meet new people. A group of 10 students recently went on a beach trip to begin forming a community, according to Kibler. Kibler said he is nervous about the coursework and said it is a “step up” from undergraduate classes. “It’s definitely a change of lifestyle,” Kibler said. Kibler said he liked the emphasis on sports medicine and the possibility of working with elite SEC athletes. “I really like the tie they had to (Auburn),” Kibler said. Ben Pare, originally from Massachu-
dakota sumpter / photo editor
Guthrie’s will celebrate its 50th anniversary Friday, July 31.
Guthrie’s turns 50 Maria McIlwain news editor
dakota sumpter / photo editor
The VCOM campus is set to open Thursday, July 30.
setts, said he liked Auburn’s environment and the proximity to rural areas, which is where he is interested in working. Pare said he does not know any of his classmates yet. “I’m just really excited to get started,” Pare said. Bill Hamrick, who graduated from the University of Montevallo, is no stranger to Auburn, as most of his family attended the university. He said he is excited to experience Auburn traditions firsthand, though he does not technically attend Auburn. “It’s a great opportunity to get back down here,” Hamrick said. Hamrick said he is excited to be part of the first VCOM Auburn class. “It’s going to be whatever we make it,” Hamrick said.
However, he said he is nervous because there are no upperclassmen to guide the new students. Hamrick said medical school is a big undertaking, with two years of classroom instruction before two years at clinical sites, mostly locally. Hamrick said he does not anticipate any major issues with the new facilities. “Just going to have to hit the ground running,” Hamrick said. Kibler said he expects everything to go smoothly at the new campus because VCOM is already an established school for osteopathic medicine. Pare said the new campus will draw attention to Auburn and help attract highly educated people from all over the country who can help provide care to people who live in rural areas.
Almost 50 years ago, the first Guthrie’s opened in Haleyville. The chicken finger chain will celebrate its 50th birthday Friday, July 31. “We’re very blessed to have made it 50 years in the restaurant business,” said Joe Kelly Guthrie, franchising owner of Guthrie’s. They will celebrate with a party at the Haleyville location, and Gov. Bentley is expected to attend, according to Guthrie. Guthrie said there will also be giveaways at every location. Guthrie said the chain has been a family business since it started. Guthrie said his father, Hal Guthrie Sr. and mother, Melissa Guthrie started the business. Hal came up with the recipie for their chicken fingers. His brother Hal “Hud” Guthrie Jr. created the sauce when he was
10 years old. “My dad came back later, basically immediately saw the sauce my brother had come up with, tasted it, and without trying any others, said, ‘That’s it,’” Guthrie said. Matthew Myers, director of operations for Guthrie’s, said he is excited for expansion. “There’s so much more territory out there that we can reach,” Myers said. Guthrie said he is excited to espand across the country. “We’re in a pretty aggressive growth mode,” Guthrie said. Myers said the Guthrie family is like family to him. “It’s like home,” Myers said. Guthrie said it is the first ever chicken finger restaurant. Myers said Guthrie’s started the chicken finger industry. “We’re in the chicken finger capital of the world, right now, and it’s all because of Guthrie’s,” Myers said.
Move-in days for on-campus residents are right around the corner Maria McIlwain news editor
Fall semester is closing in, and with that comes on-campus moving. According to Kelsey Prather, communication and marketing specialist with Auxiliary Services, they will move in approximately 5,000 students over four days. “[We] try and facilitate the parents, make them feel good about their kids moving in,” Prather said. She said volunteers are needed during two of the dates, Aug. 7 and Aug. 13, from 6:45 a.m. to noon for Move-In Mania. Since both of those days are during the work week, she said they will be relying on student and faculty volunteers. “We’ve had a lot of groups wanting to participate, like Project Uplift, NPHC [and] Greek Life,” Prather said. Prather said they will be providing snacks, Chik-fil-A breakfast, water and a free Tshirt to volunteers. Prather said it’s good for student groups to have their mem-
bers volunteer because it gives the group good exposure. “Groups like Project Uplift, SGA, they can all say, ‘Well have you thought about this, have you thought about that,’ make those connections early on,” Prather said. Resident assistants will have training the week before movein, and housing is trying to place students until the day before to ensure the moving process goes smoothly, according to Prather. “We hope that there’s no issue with keys, we hope that the RAs are positioned with all their paperwork, they’re familiar with it, they know all the procedures, doors are unlocking, no unforeseen surprises,” Prather said. “Ideally, it will be a well-oiled machine.” Prather said freshmen should not stress too much and be sure to put as much of their belongings in boxes as possible to move quickly. “I know that it’s hot, there’s a lot of cars on campus, there’s a lot of moving pieces and parts, and we have done our best to
make it the [least] stressful environment as possible,” Prather said. Bryan Cotney, interim director of University Housing, said they began planning this year’s Move-In Mania as soon as last year’s was over. He said they changed how traffic will flow because Mell Street will be closed. He said people should arrive early and prepared, and stick to the allotted 15 minutes for parking. “Somebody’s going to deal with bags, get them to the room, and somebody’s going to deal with the car,” Cotney said. Cotney said they accept volunteers from everywhere, including businesses, but do not allow solicitation or vendors during moving because that would slow down the process. “It’s really to help the students out,” Cotney said. “The moving in process is not the main focus.” Don Andrae, manager of Parking Services, said Parking Services coordinates registration for move-in spots. Students are eligible for cer-
contributed by kelsey prather
Volunteers help students move into residence halls.
tain zones to park and unload their belongings based on their residence hall. They register for time slots, and can come park and unload during that slot. Andrae said his office worked to determine locations close to residence halls where people could park. “We make a determination of how many vehicles can fit at one time,” Andrae said. This system has been in place for three years, and will be expanded to include Cam-
bridge residence hall this year. Andrae said this system helps make the process move more smoothly because it is more spread out. “What we used to have is everybody at one time,” Andrae said. Andrae said the time slots cut off at 12:30 p.m. because of the heat. He also said they will change move-in days if there is rain. Andrae said other events, such as Successfully Orient-
ing Students and Panhellenic recruitment, as well as the regular work week, complicates moving. “We hope that faculty and staff will be understanding,” Andrae said. Move-In Mania is a collaboration between several departments, including Residence Life, Housing and Parking Services, according to Andrae. “It’s all of us working together, coming up with a plan,” Andrae said.
Opinion
4
Thursday, July 30, 2015
ThePlainsman.com
Opinion
our view In case you missed it: “krispy kreme coming to auburn”
Brittany Nail “Announced only DAYS after I moved away from the Plains! As if moving away from the best city wasn’t already hard!”
Learn to agree to disagree Gurden Smith / Contributing Designer
There have been several controversial issues consuming the citizens of our country over the past few months. The controversy of the Confederate flag, the legalization of same-sex marriage, gun control and police brutality are only a few examples. Another popular issue which has been highly disputed lately is Caitlyn Jenner, formerly known as Bruce. Many people argue if it is right for Jenner to transition into a female. In addition, she won the Arthur Ashe Courage Award at the EPSY Awards, presented by ESPN, which sparked more controversy. It has been speculated Jenner’s winning of the Arthur Ashe Courage Award was the result of a public relations deal. If these rumors are true, this complicates the debate even further, leading many to believe Jenner has come out solely for publicity. However, regardless of our stance for or against such issues, and also regardless of others’ stance, we believe everyone should be more accepting of others’ opinions. To many, this may seem like a simple, obvious
task. Unfortunately, it seems common for some, whether this be an individual or group of people, to be unaccepting of others’ viewpoints on certain topics. If for no other reason aside from showing respect toward another, be accepting of other people’s rights to different viewpoints, regardless if you accept something or not. Concerning Jenner’s decision to become a woman, we are not all going to have the same opinion. However, everyone is entitled to his or her own opinion, and we need to be respectful toward each other. In the case of Caitlyn Jenner, it seems the people who are advocating the most for acceptance of her decisions and the LGBT community as a whole are often the same people who are not accepting or understanding when one is not able to accept Jenner’s lifestyle choices. It feels like we are being told to accept everyone, until someone disagrees with you. Being in the South, and the Bible Belt in particular, Auburn tends to be conservative.
In fact, Auburn University was said to be the most conservative school in the nation by The Princeton Review in 2013. With many religious and conservativeminded people here in the South, it seems more likely for someone such as Jenner to be looked down upon. However, in many cases, it seems the people who are not conservative tend to be less accepting. We believe everyone should respect and accept other’s opinions, even when we do not necessarily agree with them. We shouldn’t judge someone because they don’t agree with us. There are so many controversial issues going on in our nation currently, and if we do not learn to respect other people, then we will never make any progress moving forward. As a country, there is already division between us because of controversial issues. Instead of allowing these issues to divide us further, we should instead focus on agreeing to disagree and stand together, especially within the Auburn Family.
Lacy Day Wingard “I’ve been saying for years to that I couldn’t believe there wasn’t one & that I wanted to put one there cause I know it will do fantastic!” Candace Spencer “oh boy! They will be in sugar heaven now! War Eagle Baby!” Cindy LouWho Campbell “I just heard angels sing” Susan Richardson Caton “Another fabulous reason I want to live in Auburn!!” Tiger Pawala “It is about time. Hope there is a drive through....”
Dr. Bobby Woodard “I am so happy with this news!!!
her view
Women deserve a safer world raye may Managing editor
When women are assaulted, society says we’re asking for it. If we wear too much, we’re prudes. If we wear too little, we’re sluts. We’re constantly shamed for showing our bodies, or for not showing them. While men are absolutely victims of sexual assault and harassment, there is no doubt the female sex gets the worst of it. A man sleeps with a lot of women and he gets a high-five from his bros. A woman sleeps with a few men and she’s easy. It doesn’t feel good to be catcalled in the street. It doesn’t feel good to be whistled at. Women are not objects in a store window waiting to be ap-
praised. We’re people. That might sound like common sense, but there’s a reason I’m afraid to walk home alone at night. There’s a reason every time I go on a trip alone, my mother and father worry about my car breaking down on the side of the road for more than just mechanical reasons. It’s because as a female, no matter my weight, height, outfit or level of intoxication, I am a target. Last month I was getting coffee with a male friend. We decided to meet up later to go downtown with some friends for Wednesday night drink specials and agreed on 8:30 p.m. He didn’t understand why I was angry when he didn’t arrive with our friends until after 9 p.m. I was alone in a place for nearly an hour where I’ve heard stories for years of women being drugged. He was shocked it was some-
thing I even felt I had to worry about. For most women, I’d wager the feeling isn’t so foreign. Here’s an easy test: a girl comes to you and says she was raped. What’s the first thing that comes to your mind? If it’s her attire, her inebriation or anything other than asking if she’s all right, you’re part of the problem. It’s called victim blaming and it’s not OK. It’s one of the reasons so many cases of sexual assault go unreported. Women are taught to feel shame that someone else wanted to rape us. When we’re molested, we feel guilty that we let our bodies be a temptation. How does that make any sense? Why is it I’m taught to feel ashamed of my body because I grew breasts? Where does this logic fit in our modern society? All over the country women and girls are subjected to ridiculous dress code standards
that do not apply to men. Simply Googling the words female dress code brings up a host of articles about young women being asked to leave school because of what they were wearing. Instead of teaching women to be ashamed of their bodies, shouldn’t we be teaching young men that women aren’t just made for ogling? Rather than insisting women cover up so they aren’t distracting, shouldn’t we be teaching our boys respect? When we place these expectations on women, we not only create a culture of shame and hypersexualization of the female body, but also one of men who feel entitled to take what they desire from women, whether that’s her physical body or her personal comfort walking down a city street.
Raye May
Lauren Christopher
Maria McIlwain
Allison Phillips
Dakota Sumpter
Ashley Harris
Editor-in-Chief
Managing Editor
opinion
Online
Sports
Photo
design
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.
“YASSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS BEST BIRTHDAY PRESENT EVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!” Hazel Miller “Yea will be great to finish off a win with hot donuts” David Toole “Gotta keep that BMI up”
Erin Massey “why couldn’t this happen when I was there. Coming for a visit.” Bazonis “War Damn Doughnut!”
255 Heisman Drive, Suite 1111, AU Student Center Auburn, AL 36849
multimedia
news
Ans
The Auburn Plainsman
Kris Sims
Elizabeth Tiller
“My dreams are finally coming true!”
Raye May is the managing editor of The Plainsman. She can be reached at managing.editor@ThePlainsman.com.
The Editorial Board Emily Esleck
Andrew Hopkins
Newsroom - (334) 844-9108
Editor-in-Chief - Emily Esleck
Advertising - (334) 844-4130
Managing Editor - Raye May
NEWSROOM NEWS
ONLINE
Editor - Maria McIlwain Writer - Sommer Henry Writer - Rachael Taylor
Editor - Elizabeth Tiller
SPORTS
DESIGN
Editor - Lauren Christopher Reporter - Emily Shoffit Reporter - Evan McCullers
Editor - Ashley Harris
ADMIN SUPPORT ASSOCIATE II Keeley Streetman Marrs (334) 844-4057 bakerka@auburn.edu
NETWORK MANAGER Wes Coker
MULTIMEDIA PHOTO Editor - Dakota Sumpter Senior - David Topper Photographer - Adam Sparks
Editor - Kris Sims
EDITORIAL ADVISER
OPINION
Austin Phillips (334) 844-9104 adviser@ThePlainsman.com
Editor - Allison Phillips
Sports
5
Thursday, July 30, 2015 ThePlainsman.com
Sports
Athletic camps provide a summer of fun
summer camps
Lauren Christopher Sports Editor
During the regular school year, Auburn’s campus is buzzing with students and Tiger fans gearing up for fall and spring sports. Although the summer is a quieter time for the community, sports never stop, especially with all the camps offered for young athletes. Between the spring and fall semesters, Auburn provides camps from swimming and diving all the way to cheer and dance, looping back around to band camp. This summer, Auburn’s soccer camp is concluding its 17th year on the Plains. According to women’s soccer coach Karen Hoppa, joining soccer camp is a good way to hone young athlete’s skills. “Our goal of camp is to make the campers better soccer players,” Hoppa said. “Hopefully, they learn something new and improve their game by attending.” This soccer camp offered by the university was open for any young athlete to join, and ran either three or four days, depending on if the child joined the residential or elite camp. There were three different camps that correspond to age group and level of play, which expand from age 6-18. Hoppa said the administration tried to reduce the cost as much as they could to help more locals join. “We keep a close eye on the soccer camp market in the Southeast to make sure our prices are on the lower end to try to help families send their kids to Auburn Soccer Camp,” Hoppa said. Even the current Auburn players pitch in to help. “We employ several of our current players as camp counselors,” Hoppa said. “And they are the ones that make the camp experience special for kids.” On the other end of the camp scene, the basketball program held its first summer of Bruce Pearl Basketball Camp. Chad Prewett, special assistant to Pearl, said the program held approximately seven camps in June, including a father-son camp. “We were really excited about that,” Prewett said. “There were around 100 fathers and sons there, and they got to spend time together on that special day.” In addition to father-son camp, the basketball program offered overnight fundamentals camp, day camp, team camp and Chuck Person’s shooting camp.
“Chuck Person was Auburn’s all-time leading scorer,” Prewett said, “and he’s on our staff, so that’s been kind of a hit for us the last couple of years to have such a great shooter and an Auburn legacy to come back and help kids improve their shooting skills.” Prewett said the camp is designed to help young players learn more than just basketball skills. “We try to teach them the value of hard work,” Prewett said. “We try to teach young people to get started early and work on their game. And then just learning how to play together, how to interact with other young men trying to play the same game, and at the same time, being able to have them on Auburn’s campus and us talk about the love we have for Auburn, the traditions for Auburn. For us it’s kind of a win-win. It’s not just about the skills, it’s about the experience.” When it came to Pearl’s involvement in the camp, Prewett said his frequent participation is something that doesn’t come often in large school settings. “Generally, the head coach at the camps will be there the first day and the last day of camp and they’ll kind of disappear throughout the camp,” Prewett said. “Coach Pearl is very involved in our camps, and he speaks to them each and every day and does station work with them. He goes above and beyond what the normal head coach at an SEC school would do.” The demographics of the camp consisted mainly of local athletes, but some traveled from all across the state. If the kids had to stay overnight, the housing department worked with the camp to provide housing in the residence halls on campus. “The dorm is actually a part of the experience, which I think is pretty cool,” Prewett said. Prewett said kids should join the camp as early as they can. “We believe the earlier the better,” Prewett said. “We believe that we can teach skills at a young age, and we can develop them over the coming years. This is only our second year, but we’ve had a ton of kids that came last year, and we’re getting a lot of those guys back this year, so we feel like we’re providing a great experience for the families and them as individuals.” One of the most popular camps this summer was Auburn’s cheer and dance camp. However, this camp didn’t involve Auburn althetics as much as the others. Although it takes place on campus, it was run by the Universal Cheerleaders Association.
David topper / senior photogrpaher
A UCA team leader provides a demonstration of a new cheer in the Auburn Arena.
CONTRIBUTED BY AUBURN ATHLETICS
Bruce Pearl practices drills with basketball campers.
“That’s the beauty of client camps,” cheer and dance camp manager Brooke Barrows said. “They have a schedule, and they bring in their staff, so our job as the Auburn Youth Program is to make sure that they have everything that they need.” In a normal day of cheer camp, each high school is paired with a UCA staff member who holds individual classes to practice the basics of cheerleading, including stunting, jumping, cheers and dances. When the individual sessions were done, the schools came together for a group session, then head back to more private lessons later on in the day. An attribute to UCA’s cheer camp is the scheudled meeting time between the high school coaches and the UCA staff. “It’s really neat, I think,” Barrows said. “It’s training the coaches on how to do the right thing,
[such as] safety and stunting.” According to Barrows, the demographics of the camp aren’t necessarily all local high schools. “There are local schools that come,” Barrows said. “But there are several camps from Montgomery that come every year. Also, we’ve had Georgia and parts of Florida because UCA is such a well-known organization.” Barrows said UCA camp is a great way to bring positive publicity to Auburn. “People love coming to Auburn, just because of the facilites ... It’s great for the university, that’s why we love it,” Barrows said. “It’s great exposure for Auburn, and a bunch of these girls have never been on a college campus, especially on the inside, since they stay in the dorms, it’s pretty neat. It’s a great way to showcase what we do in the office and Auburn University in general.”
Women’s basketball
Women’s basketball team plays it forward
Tigers team up with Expressions of a Brave Heart for family fun day
Maria McIlwain News Editor
The Auburn women’s basketball team opened the doors of the Auburn Arena to the children and young adults of Expressions of a Brave Heart on Saturday, July 25, for a family fun day. The members of Brave Hearts shot hoops with the team and took a tour of the locker room. According to Danilea Werner, assistant professor of social work and co-director of the program, Brave Hearts provides music, art and dance programs to adolescents ages 11-21 with special needs. They are sponsored by Auburn’s social work program and the Opelika Sportsplex, and typical-
ly meet at the sportsplex. “It’s really a program that’s for them, about them, to give them something special to do, because there’s not really a lot of opportunity for special needs adolescents in the area of arts in the community,” Werner said. Werner said they decided to have an event with the women’s basketball team because many participants are big Auburn fans, so they enjoy having events with various sports teams. Senior forward Tra’Cee Tanner said there was a big turnout at the event. She said she has been working with children with special needs since she was in elementary school.
“These are just great kids, and we just love to have them out today,” Tanner said. “They definitely come out to our games and support us, and we wanted to do something to give back to them.” Stephanie Follett, special assistant to coach Terri Williams-Flournoy, said they have been working with Expressions of a Brave Heart for approximately three years. “They really do enjoy spending time with our team, and I think being able to give back to them is rewarding in of itself,” Follett said. Angie Colvin Burque, associate clinical professor of social work co-director and creator of Brave Hearts, said they want to build a commu-
nity between Auburn students, faculty, community members, children with special needs and their families. She said families came from as far away as Valley to the event. “You see a mix of all different types of people,” Burque said. “Everyone is all here, and all being able to have fun together.” Burque said there is also a benefit to Auburn students. “The flip benefit for Auburn students is that they get to understand that people who they may not have had any interaction with in high school or junior high are easy to deal with and approach and make friends with and have relationships with,” Burque said.
DAVID TOPPER / SENIOR PHOTOGRPAHER
Top: Brandy Montgomery plays alongside volunteers from Expressions of a Brave Heart. Bottom Left: The women’s basketball team poses for a team picture. Right: Brother and sister Haleigh and Wyatt Jinright take a picture after shooting hoops.
Intrigue
6
Thursday, July 30, 2015
ThePlainsman.com Intrigue
Entertainment
Red Clay Brewery hosts local musical talent Maria McIlwain News Editor
Occasional flashes of lightning did not deter people from listening to Grace Albritton, Andrew Combs and B.B. Palmer & Kudzu at the railyard next to John Emerald Distilling Company and Red Clay Brewing Company on Friday, July 24. The concert, hosted by Red Clay, went well, according to Richard Patton, event organizer. He said he was happy the weather cooperated. “Atmosphere is good, we like to have people that like to have a good time, but they also pay attention to the music, and are respectful of the musicians,” Patton said. Grace Albritton, senior in English, creative writing, kicked off the night. She has played in Auburn and Opelika before, and is currently on tour. “I’m a little bit tired, but it was really fun and I had a really good time,” Albritton said. She said her favorite song was “Welcome
Here,” the third song of her set, because she wrote it for a friend, and it has a special meaning to her. “That’s just what we’re all about, making people feel welcomed and loved,” Albritton said. Jimmy Sharp, owner of John Emerald Distilling Company, said the concert was great because it also gave his business some exposure. “It’s a win on all fronts,” Sharp said. Sharp said he was excited to have the concert next door to him. “We’re excited just to have access to some great music, to hear it, from a personal level, then on a business level, to see some new faces in the distillery,” Sharp said. Lisa Harry attended the concert. She said the venue was “a gift.” “It is a beautiful place to hear live music,” Harry said. “It is such a positive venue.” Patton said the next concert will be Friday, Aug. 28.
raye may/ managing editor
Grace Albritton sings to the crowd at the Red Clay Brewing Company in downtown Opelika.
opinion
10 books better than the movie 1. “The Virgin Suicides” by Jeffrey Eugenides Book: 1993 Movie: 1999 Summary: A group of teenage boys reflect on their obsession with their neighbors, the mysterious Lisbon girls, who all meet tragic ends. 2. “Pride and Prejudice” by Jane Austen Book: 1813 Movie: 2005 Summary: A middle-class, unmarried young woman falls for a rich man she previously loathed.
4. “The Lord of the Rings” trilogy by J.R.R.Tolkien Books: 1954-55 Movies: 2001-03 Summary: Frodo and Sam, two Hobbits, embark on a quest to destroy the last of the great rings of power in Middle Earth.
6. “Cold Mountain” by Charles Frazier Book: 1997 Movie: 2003 Summary: Confederate Army deserter W.P. Inman spends months walking to return to his lover, Ada Monroe.
3. “The Hobbit” by J.R.R.Tolkien Book:1937 Movies: 2012-14 Summary: The Hobbit Bilbo Baggins goes on adventures with a company of dwarves.
5. “The Last of the Mohicans” by James Fenimore Cooper Book: 1826 Movie: 1992 Summary: In the midst of the French and Indian War, three trappers escort and protect a British colonel’s daughters.
7. “Jurassic Park” by Michael Chrichton Book: 1990 Movie: 1993 Summary: Scientists and businessmen debut their theme park filled with genetically bred and modified dinosaurs.
8. “The Road” by Cormac McCarthy Book: 2006 Movie: 2009 Summary: A father and son fight for survival in a tumultuous and unforgiving post-apocalyptic world devoid of nearly all life. 9. “Legends of the Fall” by Jim Harrison Book: 1979 Movie: 1994 Summary: Three brothers and their father navigate life, love and war in early 1900s frontier America. 10. “Les Miserables” by Victor Hugo Book: 1862 Movie: 2012 Summary: The life of ex-convict Jean Valjean is explored against the backdrop of the French Revolution.
Compiled by Raye May, managing editor
campus
J oe & J ane R andom Beth Byers
Trent Coleman
Senior
Senior
Chemical Engineering
Science Education
Where are you from? “Huntsville.” What’s the coolest vacation you’ve ever taken? “Going to Hawaii with my family. We went snorkeling on the North Shore.” What’s your favorite color? “Blue.” What is your favorite food? “Anything with gluten. Like, anything with carbs.” What is something you hate? “Any of the, like, ‘Real Housewives’ shows that just make America look stupid.”
Where are you from? “Pinson.” What’s the coolest vacation you’ve ever taken? “I had the opportunity in eighth grade to go to Italy and Greece. I got to tour Rome, Athens, Pompeii, Delphi and a bunch of other really cool places you always read about in your textbooks.” What’s your favorite color? “Fire truck red.” What is your favorite food? “Steak or buffalo wings.” What is something you hate? “Broccoli or asparagus. ” Compiled by Raye May, managing editor