The Auburn Plainsman Thursday, June 2, 2011
A Spirit That Is Not Afraid www.theplainsman.com
Learning to fight fire Students train to be firefighters in exchange for tuition Writer
Photo Illustration by Alex Sager
Student smokers may now have farther to walk for their dose of nicotine now that a student request for a smoke-free campus is being considered by the SGA.
Alex Sager / PHOTO EDITOR
An Auburn student firefighter dons the fire suit in preparation for a call. Students in the Student Firefighter Program are reimbursed for tuition while they work with the fire department. er said. “There’s no other way I could have gotten my school paid for. It gave me a full-time job, and it gives me something to be proud of while I go to college.” Brewer started his secondary education at Southern Union, re-
ceiving a degree in two years in industrial electronics. He quickly realized he didn’t want to work in an industry. That decision brought Brewer to Auburn University where he pursued a degree in forestry.
“I love being outside,” Brewer said. “There was also a guy I grew up with that said, ‘Hey, I think you need to go into forestry.’” While continuing to excel in the classroom, Brewer said he » See Firefighter, A2
Common Book author involved in controversy University paid author now accused of fraud $28,000 to speak at event Raye Hendrix Associate News Editor
“It’s a beautiful story, and it’s a lie,” Jon Krakauer said on CBS’s “60 Minutes” on Sunday, April 17. Krakauer, bestselling author of “Into Thin Air” was referring to Greg Mortensen’s book, “Three Cups of Tea.” The New York Times bestseller, published in 2006, is a retelling of Mortensen’s adventures and experiences in Afghanistan and Pakistan, and CBS and “60 Minutes” recently aired exposés claiming that much of the book is a lie. The controversy surrounding the book reached Auburn University, as it was the selected reading for Auburn’s Common Book program in the fall of 2010.
Trustee Update A bill passed May 31 by the Alabama State Senate will allow Alabamians to vote on a plan to revise the makeup of the Auburn University Board of Trustees. The board currently consists of 14 members and would increase to 15 with the plan. Senate Bill 510 would change the number of atlarge seats from three to five. It would decrease the amount of district seats from nine to seven, which would reflect the current district lines. One member from Lee County, the governor and the immediate past president of the Auburn Alumni Association would round out the proposed board makeup. An additional change would put a two-term limit on board members. Terms last seven years.
Brandon Miller Greg Brewer, 31, takes great pride in his job at the Auburn Fire Department. While Brewer is busy doing everything he can to better serve his hometown, his journey to becoming a career team leader is not as simple as it may seem. After several years serving the fire department, the Auburn native decided he wanted to move into the forestry industry. Two years later, Brewer realized he made a big mistake leaving the career his heart never left. “When I was a senior (in high school), I had really no direction to go,” Brewer said. “I walked into my house one day and my mom said, ‘Greg, you should be a fireman.’” At the time, Brewer thought it was nothing more than a random comment. He looked into the idea and talked to a family friend who was the fire chief. Brewer decided to participate in the Student Firefighter Program at Auburn University. The program is for college students who want to work for the fire department. Once an application period is over, the department has interviews and takes about 10 to 15 applicants a session, according to Auburn Fire Chief Lee Lamar. If an applicant is accepted, training begins in June and goes through early November. After training is completed, the applicant becomes a licensed firefighter. “It was one of the worst summers in certain ways,” Brewer said. “It worked me to the bone.” A huge benefit from the program is the AFD reimburses instate tuition to students that maintain a 2.5 GPA, while at the same time, the students gain experience working for the department. “It paid for my school,” Brew-
Vol. 117, Issue 30, 8 Pages
The program’s purpose is to promote a shared academic experience among students, especially incoming freshmen, according to the Auburn’s website. The Ralph Brown Draughon Library carried copies of the book, according to Jayson Hill, marketing and communications for the Auburn Libraries. In addition, the library held a two-day reading of the book, held by Auburn University Provost Mary Ellen Mazey. The University also paid Mortensen $28,000 to speak at a function organized by the Division of Student Affairs October 26. “The payment was a joint effort on behalf of the Division of Student Affairs and the Office of Academic Affairs,” said Keri Anne Davis, coordinator of special events for the Division of Student Affairs. Local bookstores, including the Auburn University Bookstore carried “Three Cups of Tea.” “We sold so many copies,” said
“
People believed him, and he was lying.... He’s just a scumbag.” —Kristina Escobar Senior
AU Bookstore employee and senior Ben McCullough. “I don’t even know how many.” More than 1,200 books were sold for $12 new and $8 used at the bookstore last year. That number includes both textbook copies, or required course readings, and general book copies. In the book, Mortensen is on a mountain-hiking adventure when a member of his party becomes endangered, and the path strays to accommodate the climber. Mortensen claims to have been separated from the group and accidentally stumbled across a small farming village called Korphe, where he was tak-
Inside Campus » A3 | Classifieds » B4 | Opinions » A4 | Intrigue » B1 | Sports » B3
en to the chief elder. It was in Korphe that Mortensen vowed to build schools for the Pakistani people. Mortensen also co-founded the Central Asia Institute, a charity dedicated to erecting schools throughout the Middle East. Krakauer, once a supporter of Mortensen and his work, now has an e-book dedicated to revealing the alleged lies within the pages of “Three Cups of Tea.” An investigation by CBS news revealed that Mortensen’s CAI charity spent more on ads for the book in the New York Times than it did on actual school construction. CBS also paid a visit to thirty of the claimed 141 schools that CAI was supposed to have built, only to find half of them being used for storage or completely empty and falling into ruin. Aside from the spending issues with the charity, sources have come out claiming that many, if not all, of the stories in » See Controversy, A2
Smoking ban vote set for June Andrew McCaslin Writer
Smoking on Auburn’s campus may be coming to an end. Requests have been sent to Auburn University President Jay Gogue in hopes of changing health regulations to rid campus of smoke. Eric Smith, director of Health Promotions and Wellness Services, responded to the issue brought up by Gogue after receiving a letter requesting a smoke-free campus by an anonymous student. Soon after, Smith was asked by Vice President of Student Affairs Ainsley Kerry to investigate student interest in a smoke-free environment. Smith, newly appointed Auburn employee, is a supporter of the ban. “Four hundred and sixty-six campuses are currently smokefree, and hopefully Auburn will follow this pattern,” Smith said. “New York City recently went smoke free as a city, and many colleges are following the same pattern.” Some smokers have voiced concern that the ban would limit their efficiency, especially during finals. The proposed ban would not allow smoking near the dorms, but the specifics have yet to be determined. Smith understands that University residents will be affected » See Ban, A2 Recycled paper
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May 28 — North Donahue Drive Stolen LG Android. May 29 — Opelika Road Theft of article from vehicle. Money, purse, wallet, blue leather bag and Burberry purse. May 29 — South College Avenue First degree arson–merchandise. — Reports provided by Auburn Department of Public Safety
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Thursday, June 2, 2011
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DUI Arrests in the City of Auburn May 26 – May 29, 2011 ■ Richard Hunter McCloud, 19 South Donahue Drive May 28, 2:36 a.m. ■ Benjamin Russel Jones, 26 North Gay Street May 29, 12:03 a.m. ■ Ashliegh Nicole Weaver, 20 East Glenn Avenue and North College Street May 29, 2:22 a.m.
Controversy » From A1
Mortensen’s book are untrue. “I have spoken to one of his companions, a close friend, who hiked out from K2 with him and this companion said, ‘Greg never heard of Korphe until a year later,’” Krakauer said on “60 Minutes.” He went on to say that Mortensen did eventually build a school in Korphe, but it’s immediately noticeable that the first few chapters of “Three Cups of Tea” are a lie. There is another debate over a different claim Mortensen makes. In one of the many stories in “Three Cups of Tea,” Mortensen relates the tale of his kidnapping in 1996 by the Taliban, and published a photo of the kidnappers in a different book titled “Stones into Schools.” The reporters of “60 Minutes” managed to contact three of the men in the photograph,
and all said they were Mortensen’s tour guides and protectors, not abductors. “There were close to two dozen classes in which the book was used,” said Rusty Weldon, textbook manager at the AU Bookstore. “From English classes to political science to social work classes, many instructors chose to have the book be part of their classes this year.” McCullough said that for every Camp War Eagle session last Summer, hundreds of copies were sold. “I remember my professors coming to class talking about how good it was,” said Michael Behel, senior and AU Bookstore employee. Since the book is no longer the Common Book, no instructor has required the text for the summer or fall semesters. “He might have made a difference,” said Kristina Escobar, senior. “People believed him, and he was lying. Instead, he’s just a scumbag.”
firefighter
» From A1 was getting extremely interested in things he was doing with the fire department. However, there were some scenes that emotionally shook Brewer and made him question if he wanted to continue working with the fire department. “There were several calls that I went to toward the end of my student career that really bothered me,” Brewer said. “I had a hard time getting over it. I really got down on the fire service.” In the spring of 2004, as Brewer approached graduation, he said he decided to leave the fire department. After graduating with a bachelor’s degree in forestry and an associate’s degree in applied science in business, Brewer got married and got a job in his field. Brewer’s new employer was Baseline Forest Services in Wetumpka, which is partially owned by his father-in-law. Brewer was the compa-
Ban
» From A1 by the ban, but he emphasized that most of the residents in the dorm are 18 years old and unable to buy cigarettes. Smith also cited a survey by Bacchus and Gama that discovered that smoking policies had no negative effect on resident life. They found that enrollment actually increased. The SGA argued that if the policy is passed, it would be implemented at the beginning of an academic year. Since then, the bill has come under revisions, including an agreement that the ban would not be implemented until the start of the 2012 academic year.
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There were several calls that I went to toward the end of my student career that really bothered me.” —Greg Brewer Graduate of Student Firefighter Program
ny’s procurement forester. This job includes surveying land for possible trees, buying the trees, getting someone to cut them down and selling them to a lumber company. Brewer also worked at a saw mill and ran a wood yard in West Point, Ga. However, Brewer said he wasn’t happy with his new profession. He began speaking with Lamar about coming back to the fire department, but there were several complications. No one had ever left AFD and returned. Brewer had been in forestry for two
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The ban would make school more stressful. I need a cigarette before and after tests.” —Martin Donaldson Sophomore, pre-business
It is the job of the SGA to guide discussions and collect student opinion about a potential ban. The SGA, led by Kirby Turnage, uploaded an online survey two weeks before the vote where students could raise concerns and voice their opinions. The results were decisively in favor of a smoke-free campus.
years. With that said, Lamar didn’t know if Brewer’s certifications were good. After looking into the situation, Lamar discovered all Brewer had to do was pass a challenge test to be recertified. When Brewer quit his jobs in the forestry industry, he began working at the Co-op in Notasulga. If things weren’t already stressful enough trying to get back with AFD, on the last day at Baseline, Brewer’s wife informed him she was pregnant. With a lot weighing on Brewer’s interview with the department, it was a happy moment in the Brewer household on Jan. 8, 2007, when he was officially back on the team. “Even in those two years, the fire department changed a lot,” Brewer said. One major change was the fire department started taking calls of every kind. Prior to Brewer’s departure, they only went to fires and bad car wrecks. Now, they respond to any call that comes in, includ-
ing fires, call wrecks and medical issues. Brewer had no experience with medical calls, so he decided to train to become an EMT basic and paramedic. It took about two years to complete both programs, but he was reimbursed for tuition despite having to take leave to go to class. Brewer has also taken every class offered by the department to further his skills. Last year, Brewer’s accomplishments earned him a spot on the Urban Search and Rescue team out of Columbus, Ga., along with five others at AFD. Members of the USAR put 400 hours of training in for any situation in which rescue would be needed, other than in water. Anytime there is a natural disaster and people are missing, the USAR is called to help find victims. Auburn is trying to get USAR station, Brewer said. “I want to be the best that I can be for me, those guys and the citizens of Auburn,” Brewer said.
“(It’s) good in some ways. My neighbor smokes and I feel affected by his smoke,” said Madhukarl Lohani, PhD student in biomedical science who supports the ban. “I feel like smokers take away my right to breathe fresh air.” According to the online surveys, 88% of students said they were not smokers and 12% replied that they did currently smoke. In the same survey, 51% of students strongly agree to a smoking ban, 22% strongly disagree, 10% disagree, 13% agree and 4% replied apathetically. “(It’s) just another school policy, it won’t be implemented for another year,” said SGA Vice President Vanessa Tarpos. “They’ll (current dormitory resi-
dents) probably move out of the dorms, so it won’t affect them.” Skipworth said there is an overwhelming majority in favor of a smoke free campus. Such a drastic measure to eradicate smoking on campus does not come without concerns, he said. “The ban would make school more stressful,” said Martin Donaldson, sophomore in pre-business. “I need a cigarette before and after tests.” The final vote on the ban will happen in June when the Auburn Staff Council assembles to make a final decision. The results from that assembly will be sent to the president to make a settlement.
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A Campus English Bibles on display in RBD www.theplainsman.com
Thursday, June 2, 2011
Page A3
Alex Harper Staff Writer
The King James Bible is celebrating its 400th anniversary this year, and to commemorate it, the Special Collections office is displaying some of history’s oldest collections of Bibles. Although the King James Bible exhibit is not permanent, it will be on display until late in the fall, around November or December, and it will remain available to anyone who wishes to come back and request to take a Bible off the shelf and examine at it. Because these Bibles and manuscripts all belong to Auburn University, they will be here for anyone to look at whenever they please. “The Coming of the King James Gospels: A Collection of the Translator’s Work in Progress,” a book written by former Auburn professor Ward S. Allen and co-author Edward C. Jacobs, is included in the collection. Even though these books were not initially appraised, Auburn doesn’t plan on getting rid of them any time soon. Certain books, like the 1611 King James Bible, are currently selling for $160,000 online. The Bible featured in Special Collections is just a facsimile or exact replica of the actual text. Among the Bibles on display, many, like the Book of Isaiah’s illuminated manuscript, date back to as early as A.D. 1300. Students even have the chance
Alex Sager / Photo Editor
Marlise Thomas carefully examines one of the Bibles in the Special Collections exhibit. to flip the pages of one of these Bibles themselves, and although the books’ bindings have been rebound, the pages and text are all authentic. Although many people frequent the library everyday, most of them walk right over thousands and thousands of years of history that Auburn has put on display for
their enjoyment. This “secret department” is located in the back corner of the bottom floor, and many students may be surprised with what they find down there. Dwayne Cox, head of Special Collections and archives, Greg Schmidt, librarian and preservation officer, and Todd Shipman, li-
brarian, are willing to talk to and help anyone. Those is interested in visiting the Special Collections office can walk right in, register at the front desk and access any one item or article they like. “Todd Shipman is who organized and suggested that the display in Special Collection be
changed,” Schmidt said. “And we often look for anniversaries and significant dates to commemorate, so the 400th anniversary of the King James Bible seemed like a good idea.” With all the excitement about the 400th anniversary of the King James Bible, students should remember that other collections from hundreds of other time periods are available in the office. From the Civil War diaries and memoirs, to World War I documents, there are hundreds of timeless collections laying in the library basement. “We have lot of good stuff, like arrowheads and other pre-Columbian artifacts, but some of the more historical books and artifacts require the person observing them to wear gloves, which we provide here,” Schmidt said. Schmidt and Shipman are knowledgable about all of the collections available at RBD. “We’re chock full of old Auburn photographs that are sixty years old,” Shipman said. Don’t plan on taking any home. “These books aren’t allowed to be rented or circulated,” Schmidt said. Preservation is the goal for all the collections and Schmidt said he is most concerned with keeping the archives the way they were found. “Just be sure to leave your backpack and your pen at the door,” said Schmidt.
Samford Lawn opens as new wedding venue Kristen Ferrell Campus Editor
For any bride or groom that is looking for a unique place to say “I do,” they now have one more option available. Auburn University has recently opened Samford Lawn for business as a wedding venue. “As Auburn University, we are very proud to be able to offer yet another thing to make this experience special,” said Teresa Whitman-McCall, director of campus and community events. Although the lawn is a public park, the University has previously not allowed weddings because there was not a committee to oversee it. Whitman-McCall said the University really started to look into allowing weddings after Auburn won the National Championship. Since then, Whitman-McCall’s office has received a record number of requests. Whitman-McCall isn’t sure what the correlation between football and wanting to get married on the lawn is, but she said she couldn’t ignore the growing interest. Once the University decided to take the next step and allow weddings to take place, they began creating ads. After only a couple months of work, Whitman-McCall said news began travelling fast, mainly by word of mouth. “We sat down with the hotel and decided they would handle the booking and packages,” Whitman-McCall said. “They know our rules and regulations. They do the set up and the clean up.” Whitman-McCall said there is a portion of the rental fee offered by the hotel that goes directly to the University for grounds maintenance and also a scholarship fund for students. Terri Lynn Beasley, sales manager for the hotel, said the first scheduled wedding complete with chairs and arrangement will take place this August. Beasley said the couple is extremely excited and plans on completing the wedding day with a reception at the hotel. Hans Van Der Reijden, managing director of the Auburn Hotel, said the trusted partnership between the University and the hotel made the handoff of responsibilities seamless. “We have the resources and all the
software,” Van Der Reijden said. “We are handling inquiries from the University and starting to book now.” If you are a frantic bride and have heard rumors that the lawn has already been booked for the next three years, you can take a big sigh of relief. Van Der Reijden said the lawn is currently booked through the spring and summer of next year. The hotel is currently working on creating a complete list of packages deals. These packages range from just renting the space to having the hotel provide chairs, music, flowers and light drinks. Prices of the packages range from $1,000 to $2,500 and vary depending on the number of guests. Van Der Reijden said the hotel’s aim is to offer one-stop shopping to couples. Having the reception at the hotel is not included in the package deals but Van Der Reijden said the convenience is something they will emphasize to couples when they book a date on the lawn. There are just a few rules couples have to follow if they want their special day to take place on Samford lawn. Whitman-McCall said no tents or food are allowed. Also, if you are thinking about having your wedding on a game day, it’s just not going to happen. Other than when the University has planned events out on the lawn, game days are the only times that are currently blocked off from booking weddings. All those worries aside, the only aspect the hotel has no control over is the weather, but sleep easy knowing that back-up space is available if mother nature decides to butt in and causes you to change your plans on your big day. Van Der Reijden said that the hotel as well as the chapel are available if the weather conditions prevent the wedding from taking place on the lawn, so there is no need for the bride and groom to worry. Any bride or groom who wants their special day to take place on the lawn should also not forget that Samford lawn is a public park. The University can not tell anyone to leave, even during a wedding. “More than anything, it is the ambience, but brides have to know there may be a few guys throwing a Frisbee around them,” Whitman-McCall said.
Alex Sager / photo editor
Chippewa Thomas will serve as the director of faculty engagement.
Thomas newly appointed faculty director for University Outreach Ariana Diaz staff writer
After serving six years as an associate professor in the College of Education, Chippewa Thomas has been appointed director of faculty engagement in the office of the Vice President for University Outreach. Thomas said her role as director of faculty engagement is to have an awareness of outreach initiatives already in place on campus and, when presented with new ideas, help find the resources needed to make the outreach project possible for faculty. “I think it’s necessary for us, as a land-grant institution, to have someone like this to head up faculty engagement and to make sure our faculty members understand pressing issues outside the state of Alabama,” said Royrickers Cook, assistant vice president for University Outreach. Thomas said although others have accomplished a great deal with her new position in the past, she wants to take things even further. She would like to see the creation of an Outreach Scholarship Symposium,
where faculty get together to discuss outreach projects and have refereed conference proceeding, giving faculty the opportunity to submit work for evaluation and possible publication. Thomas also wants to create a faculty outreach scholarship or scholar fellowship program, which will provide funds to help faculty establish outreach programs. “I’d love to engage in community-based participatory and action research with community-based organizations to find out where the needs are,” Thomas said. “I think research could then inform our outcomes or where we can make rather improvements.” Thomas has participated in a number of teaching or instruction-related activities, as well as research projects related to social justice, multicultural or cultural competence development and outreach activities. “I have a very strong commitment to using the research that I’ve conducted to inform my teaching and teaching to inform my research.” Thomas said. “An extension of that is an ongoing service to outreach, which
really lead me to want to apply for this job.” In the past five years, she has been dedicated to the outreach program KEMET Academy (knowledge, excellence, mathematics, equilibrium and technology), which focuses on African American students in low-income areas in Alabama to improve academic success and encourage higher education. “She’s of a mind of social justice, and she wants to do outreach, and she’s been very facilitated with outreach kinds of projects,” said Everett Martin, special education, rehabilitation and counseling department head. “I expect to see that she’ll continue that same vein and I think it’s something that’s very needed.” Thomas considers volunteering at the domestic violence intervention center in Opelika as a very important part of her life. “I see the director of faculty engagement under the University Outreach as real outreach opportunity to benefit faculty and then also to benefit community that’s not just local community, but state, regional, national and international,” Thomas said.
Opinions
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Thursday, June 2, 2011
Campus
Our View
Does loving Alabama football make me crazy? Harvey Updyke chose to waive his arraignment in Lee County Circuit Court May 26 and by doing so entered a plea of not guilty. The prosecution petitioned for a gag order in the case and also asked for another psychological evaluation on his client. While we don’t doubt the man is off his rocker, we also don’t believe he should be allowed to use this defense. Updyke had to make the effort to find a store that sold the herbicide Spike 80DF, drive the 30 minutes to Auburn from Dadeville and sneakily apply the substance to the historic trees. This act was not done in a fit of rage after a game, it was a thought-out, malicious act of vandalism aimed at a sacred tradition of our school. Updyke is currently out on bond and has done several interviews since his release. One article, written by ESPN staffer Wright Thompson, highlights Updyke’s obsession with the University of Alabama’s football program. During the interview, Up-
dyke flows back and forth between Al from Dadeville, who has no problem taking the blame for the crime and actually wanted to get caught, and Harvey Updyke, a man in poor health who would rather kill himself than go to prison. Honestly, the whole thing seems like an act. We believe him when he says he didn’t think what he was doing was a felony, but he knew what he was doing was wrong. As most of us learned from a young age, if you have to sneak around to do something, it probably means you shouldn’t be doing it. It is high time for the Dr. Jekyll/ Mr. Hyde charade to end and for the real Harvey Updyke to please stand up. Updyke is 62 years old and was a state trooper for Texas. He needs to be setting a better example for his grandchildren and take responsibility for his actions. Playing mind games with a reporter and having a self-contradictory story about getting assaulted at a gas station is
“
I actually wanted to get caught. I wanted them to know it was me… I thought it’d be a $500-$600 fine.” —Harvey Updyke accused toomer’s oak poisoner
no way to win public favor or sympathy. We may not agree with or condone what he did by any means, but we would respect him more if he took a guilty plea and ended this process quickly. Giving some form of closure to the Auburn family is the least he could do after what he has allegedly done. The trees he poisoned were not just pillars welcoming fans fresh off the road, they were a symbol of the unity our fans share. By ranting on with both sides of his personality in the media, he is making a mock-
ery of the whole situation. Our children, God willing they be Auburn fans, will be greeted by smaller, younger trees after a win because of this man. And yet, he feels as though he can do a few incomprehensible interviews, fail a psych screening and walk away as though nothing ever happened. We’re not asking for him to be strung up by his toenails in the middle of the Quad, but someone needs to be held responsible for this and give some form of retribution to the fans. This is not something to take lightly, and the water system that services thousands of residents could have been tainted if measures weren’t taken to prevent such a disaster. Whether he realized it or not, he could have harmed a lot of innocent people. All we are asking is that he, who carelessly took from what should be a happy time for our University, be an adult and not take the easy way out.
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Musicians offer fans Student says views about meaningful message foreign policy not practical Darcie Dyer copy@theplainsman. com
Last semester I saw two artists perform in concert, Lady Gaga and Widespread Panic, neither of which was by choice. In all seriousness, I went to Lady Gaga at the request of my mother, celebrating her 53rd birthday in style. Attending the Widespread Panic concert was a result of choosing to cover Widespread Panic fan culture for one of my classes. I walked away from these two very different experiences with a new perspective on what artists I will choose to support in the future. As the age-old saying goes, we are a product of our environment. And let’s face it, our generation’s environment is greatly influenced by pop culture. With stars carrying such tremendous potential for influencing an entire generation, I think it’s time we start considering what message our idols project. After attending Lady Gaga’s concert, I walked away with a tremendous value of the experience. The reciprocal outpouring of love between Gaga and her fans was unlike anything I had ever seen. Though I wasn’t originally a diehard fan, I left as a converted and self-proclaimed “Little Monster.” The experience I had at Widespread Panic was quite different with the only comraderie I found being that of fans enjoying being —either alcohol or drug induced— completely out of their element. Maybe my assumptions were wrong, but either way, I left with a pounding headache, frustrated and in tears. I could expand on my negative experience at Widespread Panic, but as a cock-eyed optimist, I’d rather showcase the immense potential I see in Lady Gaga’s rise to stardom and what her fame means for our generation. Sure, she’s a tad over the top, and she’s certainly had her fair share of criticism for trying ‘too hard’ to
be different. But, if everyone could take a second aside from the instinct to be superficial in our judgments, we’d find that there’s a lot more to the “Mother Monster” than just meat dresses and stunts, like arriving at the Grammy’s in a fullblown, human-size egg. In all actuality, Lady Gaga is even more than just a great singer/songwriter. She’s a masterful inspiration to us all – or those of us willing to support diversity and the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender (LGBT) community, anyway. Lady Gaga has used her celebrity to fight for the LGBT community in more ways than one and to encourage her fans to be fearless in the face of adversity. This past year, Lady Gaga, whose real name is Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta, campaigned diligently to have “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” repealed. She is also the face and spokesperson of MAC’s makeup line, Viva Glam, which raises HIV/AIDS awareness and gives all profits to people living with HIV/AIDS. These are just two examples of how she has given voice to the LGBT community, and her voice is being heard. “Little Monsters” across the globe are putting their paws up, rising up against prejudice and bullying, and Lady Gaga has been the star face behind them the whole way. I have to beg the question; isn’t this the part of her fame that should be recognized rather than her outrageous choices of clothing? And when we think about celebrities like Lady Gaga who are making impacts surpassing just their musical talents, it provides a contrasting view of celebrities who don’t utilize their fame to make a proactive impact. So, sure, you can stand around in a crowd of people in complete ecstasy (literally) and that can be great fun. Or, you can choose who you idolize, support, and pay high ticket prices to see, based on more important premises. The choice is yours, put your paws up!
TO THE EDITOR: I recently read, with rapt interest, Crystal Cole’s critique of President Obama’s domestic and foreign policy. Allow me to apply Ms. Cole’s isolationist perspective to historical instances. But first, let me explain that I believe Ms. Cole’s perspective to be isolationist based on her statements, “we can’t try to help others until we help ourselves,” and “I believe in democracy for all and will do what I can to show my support for those fighting for it. I also believe in finishing one project before jumping headfirst into another one.” Before we being refusing financial and military assistance to rebels in any “civil war,” let us remember America would not have won our own revolution if not for the aid of France. Flash forward 228 years and it is June 2009. Iran is experiencing what is being called the Green Revolution. For the first time since the Shah was overthrown in 1979 and Iran became an Islamic Republic, the Iranian people have a real chance at overcoming the oppression of Ahmadinejad and creating a true democracy in their homeland. The revolution fails. President Barack Obama did nothing to support the Green Revolution. Ahmadinejad is still President of Iran, and that country remains a serious threat to stability in the region. The reasoning behind why the stability of the Near East and the Middle East is critical to American and international foreign policy is obvious. There are unconfirmed nuclear arms in Israel, Iran is pursuing nuclear power and both Pakistan and India are confirmed to be in possession of nuclear weapons. That doesn’t account for the nuclear materials left in Kazakhstan after the collapse of the Soviet Union, waiting to fall into terrorist hands.
A stable, democratically elected government in the Near and Middle East is vital to the security of all nations. Stability in the Near and Middle East also has a profound effect on the price of gasoline in America, and with an increase in the price of gasoline comes an increase in transportation costs for American businesses trying to ship goods from the production site to the costumer. Oil, that dirty word of foreign policy, is still black gold in American domestic and economic policy, and will continue as such until we develop a green infrastructure. An economic recovery is slowed by an increase in the price per gallon. Foreign and domestic policies are intricately linked. But Ms. Cole, it appears, likes to look at foreign policy not as a nuanced science but as a simple black and white. Either we do it or we don’t. And if we do, America had better be in perfect condition beforehand. In September 1939, the unemployment rate still rested around an uncomfortable 15 percent. At this time, Hitler invaded Poland and sparked the World War II. It was not long after that the very idea of democracy in Western Europe came under siege. France soon fell, and the Battle of Britain was raging. President Roosevelt explained to Americans that when your neighbor’s house is on fire, you don’t try to sell them your hose, you just lend it to them. He signed the Lend-Lease Act and Britain was able to survive the Nazi onslaught. A perfect example of the nuances of foreign policy is President Carter. Carter’s failed attempt at rescuing our hostages cost him the election in 1980. Carter did, however, negotiate the Camp David Accords, which to use Ms. Cole’s logic, would be “now infa-
mous.” Why? Because the major concession Israel made when they agreed to the Camp David Accords was partial return to the pre-1967 borders. This is the same request President Obama is making. In the late 1970s, Israel returned the Sinai Peninsula to Egypt, and Egypt agreed to a peace treaty with Israel. Egyptian President Anwar Sadat was widely criticized in the Arab world for this agreement. He was later assassinated for it. But Egypt and Israel have not been to war since. Ms. Cole is correct when she states we have a “duty to harbor the world’s hurting souls,” but she appears to believe the President and the American people are capable of only so much, of helping only ourselves or everyone else, but not both at the same time. I disagree with Ms. Cole’s assertion that Americans are not capable of doing multiple great things at the same time. Theodore Roosevelt busted trusts, founded the National Park system, improved the working condition for the miners, passed the Meat and Inspection Act and the Pure Food and Drug Act, and invited Booker T. Washington to dinner at the White House and slapped the face of American racists. He still found time to negotiate the end of the Russo-Japanese war and win the Noble Peace Prize for it. President Roosevelt was capable of beginning one project before he finished the other, and we’re a better nation for it. If Ms. Cole must live in a world where foreign policy is taboo and we must focus on one project at a time, then she might do well to remember, to paraphrase President Kennedy, that Americans accept challenges not because they are easy, but because they are hard. —Alexander B. Roberson College Democrats President Emeritus
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Intrigue Thursday, June 2, 2011
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Local entrepeneur expands franchise Courtney Smith Intrigue Editor
When Stacy Brown first came up with the idea to sell homemade chicken salad from home, she had no idea what a massive hit it would be. In fewer than three years, her home business would bloom into The Chicken Salad Chick, easily one of Auburn’s most popular and fastest-growing restaurants. Brown said she initially started the business as a means for survival. “It was after a divorce where I had been a stay-at-home mom, and I realized that I was either going to have to take a 9 to 5 job or try to figure out something I could do from my house to still be with my kids,” Brown said. The worst thing that could happen to her children, she said, was having not only their family split up, but also having the mother they knew disappear as well. Brown said she was desperate to figure out a way to make money at home to avoid changing her children’s lives as much as possible. She then started playing around in the kitchen to figure out something that would sell. Like with all other great ideas, her invention was born from neccessity. “Chicken salad is something that a lot of people like, but nobody wants to make,” Brown said. “It takes a lot of time to make chicken salad.” It was something that people could appreciate because they would not have to make it themselves, and it would still be homemade, Brown said. Using her friends and neighbors as taste-testers and a paper menu printed off from her computer, she started going door to door to spread the word about her take on a classic product. Her current husband, then family friend, Kevin Brown, helped her figure how much she needed to sell to make ends meet. Then one day she had the idea to set a bowl of her chicken salad in the teachers’ lounge at Ogletree Elementary School. It was a hit with the teachers, she said, and once word got out about Stacy Brown’s chicken salad, she started taking more orders for it. That single act of publicity proved to be key in her eventual success, and soon she was selling lightning in a bottle, or in this case, chicken salad in a tub. “It was really growing extremely fast,” Brown said. “We had all this interest in the course of only six weeks. Kevin and I started talking about how this could possibly be a restaurant, but that would be crazy, because it would only sell chicken salad.” All good things must come to an end, however, and a call from the health department ended her days of door to door sales. It was illegal to cook something
maria iampietro / Copy editor
Stacy Brown has seen The Chicken Salad Chick evolve from a home-based business to an upcoming franchise in fewer than three years. in her home and sell it for profit, they said, so she would have to close shop. After she was shut down, it was back to square one. Either she had to find another job to support her family, or she could try to turn her expertise into a restaurant. Ultimately, she and Kevin decided it was worth a shot, and they found a small building with a drive-through window on Opelika Road. The Chicken Salad Chick opened Jan. 7, 2008, and the rest was history. Kelsey Smith, junior in communication disorders and Spanish, has worked at the original location since March and discovered the restaurant when she was a freshman. “With Stacy and Kevin, we know exactly what they expect of us all the time, and we hold each other accountable,” Smith said. “I absolutely love it. I’ve had a lot of jobs and this is definitely my favorite.” Jessica Klaussen, junior in psychology, has worked at the same location since February and said she agrees with Smith. All of her co-workers are friends, she said, and she hangs out with many of them outside of work. “It’s really upbeat, and I’ve just never met a group of people that can work together so well,” Klaussen said. “Everyone works together, everyone picks up the slack and they’re all so nice. Kevin and Stacy are incredible.” With new customers rolling in every day, they decided to open an express drive-through on South College Street to help alle-
viate some of the traffic, Brown said. However, a second location wouldn’t be enough to satisfy all of their hungry customers. A third restaurant is scheduled to open in Opelika the first week in July. It will be located on Frederick Road in the Shoppes of Midtown shopping district. Even though managing the restaurant has evolved into a fulltime job, Brown said she never has to worry about missing out on time spent with her children. Knowing how important it was to her that she not disappear from their lives, her husband Kevin tackles the longer business hours so she can spend time with them. “In my kids’ eyes, I’m still a stayat-home mom,” Brown said. “I’m able to put them on the bus in the morning and see them when they get home in the afternoon.” He’s a wonderful business manager, she said, and in the meantime she manages the creative process of running the restaurant. “Neither of us could do this by ourselves,” Brown said. “Each one of our strengths complements the other, and the business really benefits from that.” Because the restaurant is unique to Auburn, people who live here introduce it to visitors from out of town, which led to multiple requests by customers to franchise across the state and beyond. Brown and her husband have received requests to start the restaurant in Birmingham, Montgomery and Tuscaloosa, as well as Athens, Ga., Columbus, Ga., Atlanta and various cities along the
maria iampietro / copy editor
Manager Margaret Schmear and cashier Andrea Riddle prepare for the lunch-time customers at The Chicken Salad Chick. beach. They even had requests to extend the franchise as far as Ohio to Texas to Little Rock, Ark., but Brown said she wanted to concentrate on branching out in the Southeast and grow outward. “I think it’s neat that we’ve been in business long enough that Auburn students are now on the list
to expand the franchise across the country,” Brown said. Each major step that’s happened to the restaurant along the way, Brown said, was simply their response to serve a demand. “We’ve been so excited that we’ve been received so well,” Brown said.
Sunless tanning offers safer alternative Sarah Layne Writer
maria iampietro / copy editor
Sonya Hildreth, co-owner and manager of Create A Spa, gives a customer an organic, hand-crafted spray tan.
As students spend their summers traveling to beaches, relaxing by the pool or simply using the convenience of a tanning bed to gain a summer glow, it is important to remember the dangers that may result from these activities. Sara Lynch, senior in exercise science, is one student who is cautious about her exposure to the sun. “Melanoma runs in my family,” Lynch said. “My mom and grandma both had it.” Lynch said she tries to apply sunscreen every two hours, as recommended by her dermatologist, Dr. Roger Stroud. Stroud advised for people to plan their outdoor activities to avoid the sun’s strongest rays, which are typically between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. He also recommended wearing sunglasses that provide 100 percent UV ray protection and applying sun protection factor (SPF) of 15 or greater every two hours.
“I don’t go to tanning beds either, because that increases my chances of getting melanoma by at least 30 percent,” Lynch said. “I still have fun being in the sun, but I just take precautions.” Although vitamin D is necessary to maintain good health, according to the American Academy of Dermatology, only a small amount of sunlight is needed for our body to produce it. There are still ways to achieve a tan without the help from the sun, said Lindsey Faerber, senior in nutrition and dietetics who works at Renew Medical Spa in Auburn. “We are a spa that offers various services such as facials, massages and spray tans as well as many other services,” Faerber said. Renew Medical Spa, located off Moore’s Mill Road, is in tune with the effects the sun has on skin and is eager to help people prevent skin cancer. “At the spa we have a special machine that can spot where skin cancer may start to form, and when people try it, they become
very aware of what can happen to their skin,” Faerber said. “Almost immediately, they will begin to wean themselves off the tanning beds and take better care of their skin, because no one wants to look 50 years old when you’re only 28 or 30 years old.” Students interested in sunless tanning through spray-on tans can receive one at this spa for $30. The spa also offers numerous skin creams, as well as massages, facials and skin exfoliations. Faerber said after working at the spa, she has become even more cautious about the effects of tanning. “I have really been cautious about taking care of my skin, and even though I’m young, I really notice a difference,” Faerber said. “The silliest things can really damage the skin. Use sunscreen, and be aware of what effects sun exposure can have on you in the future.” Another local spa, Create a Spa, located on North College Street » See Tanning, B2
Intrigue B2
The Auburn Plainsman
Thursday, June 2, 2011
AT&T acquires T-Mobile, both prepare for merger Jake Winfry Writer
AT&T and Deutsche Telekom recently announced they have entered an agreement that will allow AT&T to acquire T-Mobile USA for approximately $39 billion. Of that amount, $25 billion will be paid in cash, while the rest will be stock. The merger will serve as an opportunity to improve both networks’ quality in the short term, while preparing to meet what has and will continue to be a rapid growth in mobile broadband, according to AT&T’s website.
With this potential merger, AT&T is expecting to provide around 55 million additional people with 4G LTE coverage, according to its website. Though the merger has been eagerly anticipated by both sides, the entire merger could still end up being nixed by the Obama administration. A merger this size could potentially create a monopoly, which could cause a restraint of trade. In other words, it would force other competitors from the market, while limiting overall choices for the consumer. By combining both net-
works, AT&T’s 96 million customers and T-Mobile’s 34 million customers can expect better coverage and faster service. AT&T will also surpass Verizon Wireless as the world’s largest carrier. Combining both networks will also reduce the number of major wireless carriers to three: AT&T, Verizon Wireless and Sprint Mobile. Customers of both AT&T and T-Mobile will likely see several service improvements, most notably voice quality, as a result of increased cell tower density and an $8 billion expenditure on network infra-
structure, according to the AT&T website. There will be some changes for T-Mobile subscribers. For example, TMobile users will be unable to get the iPhone right away and they will also lose their unlimited data plans. However, they will be privy to other features like better phones and rollover minutes. Even though the merger has been agreed to, no customer can expect changes right away. There is still a long way to go, and both companies expect the merger could take up to 12 months to complete.
Walking out of class, down the aisle Nicole Singleton Sports Editor
Textbooks, notepads, pens, pencils, scantrons and… a bridal gown? It may not be what every student has on their “toget” list during their college years. But for Melody Reaves and Cory Alverson it is. Between attending classes, studying at the library and taking tests, the pair became engaged. “I will be in the middle of doing homework for something, and then I’m thinking about going onto the Internet and looking at dresses I want,” said Reaves, junior in English education. Reaves and her fiancé are planning their wedding now, but her father told Alverson they weren’t getting married until they both graduate college in June 2013. They were both content with that stipulation.
Alverson said that they wanted to get married earlier, if possible. However, the couple decided to wait two years before heading to the altar because of financial situations, Reaves said. As all students know, college tends to suck your bank account dry. Imagine topping that off with planning a wedding. “You have to go ahead and start thinking about the money situation,” Reaves said, “Especially coming right out of college.” Reaves and Alverson also had time management to keep on their minds. For Reaves and Alverson to have the wedding they truly want, they have to take that into consideration. “I’m one of those people that likes to plan ahead of time,” Reaves said. “For my wedding, I want to have it
close to perfect.” Jennifer Thompson, assistant manager for The Clothes Rack, an Auburn bridal boutique, said 60 percent of her clients are students. Thompson said she doesn’t see much difference in attitudes between students and other couples, and if they are feeling any pressure from finanical matters, they don’t show it. “Most at that age, their parents are helping,” she said. Thompson said that usually anything goes when it comes to picking the gown. “They seem to be more concerned with the tuxedo prices than they do with the wedding gown,” she said. Having the perfect gown seems to trump a stressful financial situation for most women, especially since the image of the beautiful, blushing bride has become
so ingrained in our culture. “We have plenty of customers that come in and will be like, ‘I don’t want to spend more than $500,’ and they will end up spending eight or nine on a dress because they find the one they want,” Thompson said. Thompson said a lot of couples get married right after they graduate, just like Reaves and Alverson. “We just had a couple a couple of weeks ago. They both graduated like the Monday before and got married the Saturday afterward,” Thompson said. “We’ve got two major lifechanging events right there together.” Despite the difficulties that go along with planning a wedding, Reaves remains positive. “When you find the right person it’s ok. You can manage all of that,” Reaves said.
The merger could have good effects on the surrounding Auburn area. Customers should be able to expect better coverage in rural areas, while also maintaining their 3G and 4G speeds in more populous areas of the city. For some Auburn students, this could come as a pleasant surprise. Andrew Kinney, junior in history education, said that he has lived in Auburn for more than a year and has frequently experienced service issues with AT&T. “It’s OK at times, but mostly it goes in and out,” said Kinney, who owns an
iPhone 3GS. “I live just off Thach, and for the most part my 3G is pretty spotty. Hopefully this merger will improve our service.” Whether this merger goes through remains to be seen, but if it does, big changes for both AT&T and T-Mobile can be expected. T-Mobile users should be able to get some of AT&T’s better features, while AT&T customers should be able to enjoy the more stable service that could follow with this merger. More information about the merger is available on AT&T’s official website.
Top 5 Ways to Stay Fit 1. Walking places will burn calories and save on gas. 2. Groceries can make good weights when shopping. 3. Working with a group of friends can make things fun. 4. Playing interactive games can work your whole body. 5. Having a busy schedule will keep your mind off food.
Tanning » From B1
also offers a $25 airbrush tan. A tan technician applies the tan manually, rather than the usual sunless-tan machine. According to Create a Spa co-owner and manager Sonya Hildreth, the sunless tans are all natural, containing vitamins A, C, E and K, and last five to 10 days. The spa’s airbrush tans are safe for all skin types, as well as pregnant and nursing moms. Other sunless tanning techniques can be found through at-home body lo-
tions. Skin products like Jergens Natural Glow, Neutrogena Build-a-Tan and Coppertone Sunless Gradual Tanning Lotion can be found at local stores like Walgreens and Wal-Mart for under $10. Most dermatologists recommend to inspect your skin each month for any changes you may find. Lynch also said sun-lovers should routinely visit a dermatologist for a complete skin examination. “If you’re going to catch skin cancer, you want to catch it early,” Lynch said. “You have to protect your body.”
Come try our new 125-flavor Coke machine! MOE’S is the first in Alabama to have one.
TigerTown
Sports Thursday, June 2, 2011
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Track and field advances to the NCAA Championships Jade Currid Associate Sports Editor
Nineteen athletes from Auburn men’s and women’s track and field teams competed in the NCAA East Region Preliminary Round Competition May 26-28 in Bloomington, Ind. The Tigers earned 16 qualifying marks for the NCAA Outdoor Championships, which will be held June 8-11 in Des Moines, Iowa. “I’m really, really pleased with our efforts,” head coach Ralph Spry said. “We really had a great meet on both sides. I think that everybody that was supposed to get through and advance to the NCAA Championships did that.” The team still has room for improvement after a mishap in the women’s 4x100-meter relay led to a disqualification. “That’s going to really hurt us because I think our women’s team could have a top five finish. We will have to overcome that and find a way to make those points up. We had a lot of freshmen really step it up this weekend like the throwers and the sprinters.” Five athletes from the men’s team qualified for six events, and seven athletes and a relay from the No. 12 women’s team qualified for nine events. Athletes and relay teams who finished in the top 12 during the preliminary round competition secured a spot at the Championships. “I think we are performing well at the right time, and now it’s just a matter of staying sharp for the next couple of weeks before we head out to Des Moines.” Spry said. “It should be a good competition for us.” Clocking in at 23.22 seconds,
Maria Iampietro / copy editor
DJ Smith qualified for the NCAA Championships in the high jump by clearing 2.17 meters. Sheniqua Ferguson led Auburn in the women’s 200-meter dash. Three of the 12 athletes who qualified for the women’s 200-meter dash ran for Auburn. Ferguson also qualified in the 100 and 400 meters. Junior Nivea Smith qualified for nationals for the 200-meter dash with a time of 23.25 and a fourth place finish, and sophomore Kai Selvon qualified with a time of 23.44 seconds and a seventh place finish.
Redshirt freshman Stephen Saenz and freshman Marcus Popenfoose both qualified for the Championships in shot put and discus. With a mark of 55.21 meters, Saenz took the 8th qualifying spot in discus. In shot put, Saenz said he reached a personal record of 19.82 m. “I improved on my distance, which was what I wanted to do in shot put,” Saenz said.
Saenz said he and his coach had been working on some technical aspects of his event before the meet, and he had been searching for his rhythm. He said he wants to place in the top three at nationals and earn All-American honors. “I don’t want to get too excited right now, but if I keep working on things technically, I can have a really good chance of winning,” Saenz said. Saenz said that so many fresh-
men qualifying for nationals this year is a good sign for the future of the team. With a distance of 54.27 meters (178-1), Popenfoose earned the 12th qualifying spot in the men’s shot put. “Going into the weekend, there weren’t too many high expectations set out for me, so I just had to step in and do my best and hope for the best, and that’s what I did that got me through to nationals,” Popenfoose said. Popenfoose said he is aiming to set a personal best at the Championships. Ben Cheruivot, two-time SEC champion in the men’s 5,000-meter run, qualified for nationals with a time of 14:08.08. With a season-best time of 3:31.50, the women’s 4x400-meter relay team of junior CeCe Williams, senior Joanna Atkins, senior Cache Armbrister and sophomore Kai Selvon placed first overall and qualified for nationals. In the 400-meter dash, Atkins placed third overall. She said she was not happy with her individual performance, but was thankful to qualify for the Championships. “The upside is I made it to nationals, and it gives me a new fire and determination to do really good at nationals,” Atkins said. Williams also qualified in the 400 -meter dash. Other athletes who qualified for the Championships at the regional meet include DJ Smith in the high jump, Holly Knight in the 10,000-meter run, Maya Pressley in high jump and Keenan Brock in the 100-meter dash. For more information and updates on the NCAA Championships, visit http://auburntigers. cstv.com.
AU men’s doubles team defeated by Texas A&M in NCAA Championship Jade Currid Associate Sports Editor
tODD vAN emst / media relations
Puetz and Cochrane entered the Championship ranked at No. 12.
Auburn’s No. 12 doubles team of Tim Puetz, recent economics graduate, and Daniel Cochrane, freshman in business, fell to Texas A&M’s No. 3 team of Jeff Dadamo and Austin Krajicekin, 3-6, 6-1, 6-2 in the second round of the NCAA Doubles Championship at the Taube Family Tennis Stadium on Stanford University’s campus. “They played very well the first set,” said head coach Eric Shore. “They raised their level. “We had a couple of loose games in the second and third— that was probably the difference, but they played well and that team is still going in the tournament up to this point that I’m aware of.”
The Tigers took an early lead, and won the first set 6-3. The Aggies bounced back in the second set with a 6-1 win. In the third set, Auburn lost 6-2. “The team we played is very good,” Puetz said. “They are very solid. “They played really well so we didn’t have many chances on their serve. Those two, three games we played in the second and third set—all the serves cost us. We didn’t necessarily play bad.” Auburn’s No. 1 men’s doubles team finished their season with a 15-8 record. During the season, the pair consistently played at the top and took four wins over top-50 opponents.
While at Auburn, Puetz earned the second-most doubles victories in Auburn history with 89. He also ranks third overall in the school’s history for singles victories with 93 and second in combined victories with 182. In the following season, Cochrane will play for the team as a sophomore. He said he is happy with his freshman year and singles performance this season, and he loves it at Auburn University. “I’ve had so many good memories here at Auburn,” Puetz said in a press release. “The four years here were the best years of my life. “It has been great. It didn’t end the way I wanted it to end, but I had a great season.”
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Happy 1st Birthday to my precious Gabe. Grammie & Papa love you.
Thursday, June 2, 2011
Track and field athletes set records Kelley Rouse Writer
Auburn track and field athletes Holly Knight and Stephen Saenz were awarded SEC Honors last week for their exceptional contributions to SEC track and field. This year has been a record-setting one for the track and field duo. Knight qualifed for the 10,000 meters, and Saenz qualified for the shot put and discus throw in the 2011 NCAA Outdoor Championships. Knight, a senior, was awarded the SEC Co-Scholar Athlete of the Year award for the outdoor season. She has a 4.0 GPA and just finished her second degree in human development. Knight’s first degree is in psychology. “I didn’t actually know till we were on the bus to regionals,” Knight said. “Yeah, it was kind of a shock. I was excited.” Knight runs numerous events in track and field. “I run anywhere from the 1,500 to the 10,000,” Knight said. “My favorite is the 5,000, but I’ve been training more for the 10,000 this year. It’s not the most fun, but it’s really good when you do well in it.” Knight has been a leader on the track and field team since she first came to Auburn from her hometown, Devon, England. She was named NCAA Outdoor All-American in the 5,000meter race and NCAA AllAmerican in cross country in 2008. Knight was also named to the All-SEC first team in 2009. Knight holds various records in Women’s AllTime Top Outdoor Marks for the Auburn Tigers. She holds the Auburn record
for the 5,000-meter run, with a time of 16:06.25, the third-highest time for the 10,000-meter run with 34:10.98, the fourth-highest time in the 3,000-meter run with 9:25.01 and the seventh-highest time in the 1,500-meter run with 4:26.68. Knight is a true warrior on the track. “She’s been solid all year long,” said Ralph Spry, head coach of the track and field team. “She’s already been All-American. She’s been solid and consistent. I look forward to that in the Championship.” Saenz, freshman thrower, was awarded the SEC Freshman Field Athlete of the Year for the outdoor season. “I was definitely pretty excited,” Saenz said. “I got the award for indoors also, so to get it twice was pretty cool.” The red-shirted athlete competes in the shot put, discus and hammer throw events. “The shot put is definitely my favorite,” Saenz said. “I have a better touch for that one. I usually enjoy throwing the metal ball more.” Saenz has proved to be an invaluable track and field competitor for the Auburn Tigers. He is currently ranked second in the NCAA overall. He is ranked first in shot put and 10th in the discus throw for the East Region. Saenz is also ranked in the Men’s All-Time Outdoor Marks for the Auburn Tigers for all three of the events in which he competes. He has the thirdhighest distance in Auburn history in the shot put throw, with 64-3, the fifthhighest distance in the discus throw, with 183-5 and the tenth-highest distance
in the hammer throw, with 185-0. “Stephen is one of the top SEC athletes,” Spry said. “As a freshman, he’s just been really phenomenal. “We’ve been very fortunate. I was very excited because it’s a very difficult award to win, both as a student and as an athlete as an SEC student.” They’re both role models. They’re the kind of athletes that make our job easy. They’re both team players and unselfish. It’s not a surprise that they got those awards,” Spry said. This past weekend, the Auburn track and field team competed in the first round of the NCAA Championships in Bloomington, Ind. “You have to do well here to get to the NCAA Championships, so it’s very important,” Spry said. Saenz and Knight both performed some of their personal bests in the first round of the NCAA Championships. Saenz set a new personal record in the shot put on Thursday. He hit 19.82 meters, which is a little over 65 feet. “I’ve been working some stuff out technique-wise,” Saenz said. “I’m much more balanced. This is the point in the year you want to peak and I think I’m doing a really good job.” Knight also set a new personal record in the 10,000-meter run. “I ran a 33 minutes and 51 seconds for the 10,000,” Knight said. “It was like a 20 second PR.” Coach Spry said he is impressed by Knight and Saenz’s leadership. “They have been solid all year, and they’re just role models to us,” Spry said.