WHAT’S INSIDE BIG EVENT
2018
welcome back published by The
Pete Davidson is coming to campus to speak for Welcome Week
Auburn Plainsman
page 24 EXTRAS
Students get Adobe Creative Cloud for free from now on
page 21 UNIVERSITY
Meet the new associate VP of Student Living
page 13 LIFE
Looking for a fun night? Drag shows are moving to downtown Opelika
page 18 CULTURE
Embrace diversity: The chief officer of diversity has a message for you
page 26
WELCOME BACK
CONTENTS CAMPUS
COMMUNITY
6 | PRESIDENT LEATH’S FIRST YEAR
22 | DOWNTOWN PARKING CHANGES
President Steven Leath survived the first year of his term.
Parking tickets are a pain. Avoid them and get informed of the changes starting Aug. 20.
11 | A MESSAGE FROM SGA
27 | SYLLABUS WEEK BAR SCHEDULE
President Dane Block wants to welcome you to campus. Turn to page 23 to read about what SGA has planned for the semester.
Jarrett Stidham smiles during an interview at SEC Media Days in the College Football Hall of Fame on Thursday, July 19, 2018, in Atlanta, Ga.
Are you 21 and ready to bring in the new semester with friends? We have you covered.
Fall means football.
25 | NEW FOOD TRUCKS The trend that never strops giving. Auburn is getting a Starbucks, Steak & Shake and Crepe Mytle truck.
Pages 8-9 | ZACH TANTILLO and NATHAN KING It’s football season, y’all. Whip that phone out and start scanning to read about star players taking the field on Sept. 1. Sports editor Nathan King and reporter Zach Tantillo have laid it out plain and simple.
EXTRAS 16 | SGA ADVISER OF THE YEAR Brad Smith was awarded SGA adviser of the year. See how he got here.
‘welcome home’
a letter from vp of student engagement By LADY COX Assistant VP for Student Engagement
Welcome home! It’s great to have you back. I always prefer seeing campus filled with students enjoying the shade on Samford Lawn, passing out flyers on Haley Concourse or grabbing a quick bite to eat in the Student Center. As part of our mission to ensure you have an exceptional student experience, there are many new opportunities for students this fall. We want to make certain every year you spend at Auburn offers new experiences. Foy Dining Hall has been completely renovated. The new space is modern and open. Rath-
er than dine and dash, it’s a place where you will want to sit and hang out with your friends. In the Student Center, there will be new venues, too. At Wicked Eats by Cat Cora, students can enjoy Mediterranean meals inspired by foods found in Greece, Morocco and Spain. The menu features items including pita wraps, couscous bowls, topped fries and salad bowls. Saladworks will provide creative salads that are made to order, chopped on-location and assembled right in front of you. We will also have some great new food trucks on campus this fall so grab a cup of coffee at the Starbucks truck or a burger at Steak ‘n Shake. Welcome Week is going to be better than ever
this year. The University Program Council (often called UPC) is now managing Welcome Week, which means that you’ll have over 100 incredible events and programs to enjoy. They have created some new experiences and a bigname comedian you won’t want to miss (they just won’t let me share the name as of press time). Some of our favorite Welcome Week events like Convocation will return. You should meet University President Steven Leath at Pizza and Popsicles with the President or Bobby Woodard, senior vice president for Student Affairs, at Waffles with Woodard. To make certain you don’t miss a thing, download the 2018 Welcome Week guide on Auburn Guides.
The First 56 is a new initiative for this fall that promotes student engagement, healthy decision making and academic achievement. The First 56 launches at Convocation on Aug. 19 and continues through fall break. It is an opportunity for us to help each other make smart and healthy decisions during the first 56 days of the semester. The First 56 recognizes Auburn University’s founding in 1856 and extends our commitment to your success and the values outlined in the Auburn Creed. It’s a great time to be at Auburn University. Enjoy all of these new experiences and our old traditions, too. There are so many reasons why I believe in Auburn and love it!
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The Auburn Plainsman: Welcome Back
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STUDENT GOVERNMENT ASSOCIATION The Student Government Association is the official governing body of Auburn students, serving as the voice for the 29,000+ students on campus. Upon enrollment, every Auburn University student becomes a member of SGA. Visit auburn.edu/sga for more information on how to get involved.
Auburn Answers is SGA’s primary feedback system. Any student, faculty member, or campus administrator can submit a question, comment, or concern and expect a response within 48 hours. Voice your concerns through an Auburn Answers submission at auburnanswers.org.
Freshman Forum is a group of approximately 45 freshmen that will serve as the voice of the freshman class in SGA. In addition to representing the freshman class, members will gain applicable, hands-on experience through working with a mentor currently serving in SGA. The group also seeks to build a community that challenges and encourages one another to explore their leadership potential.
Applications are available May 24th on AU Involve.
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The Auburn Plainsman: Welcome Back
AUBIE EXHIBIT By BRYCE JOHNSON Sports Writer
To celebrate the 40 year anniversary of the award-winning Auburn mascot, Aubie, the Ralph Brown Draughton Library is hosting an exhibit chronicling the life of the Auburn University staple. The installation is located on the first floor and will be prominently displayed throughout the year. Lisa Glasscock, lifetime Auburn fan, was in charge of putting together the installation as a member of the Special Collections and Archives Department. “This exhibit is personal to me, especially with the 40 year anniversary coming up this year,” Glasscock said. “I think it’s important for students to understand the history of Aubie.” According to Auburn University’s website, Aubie first started appearing on game programs during the legendary Ralph “Shug” Jordan coaching days. Coach Jordan saw Aubie as a good luck charm realizing that his team was victorious the first nine times Aubie appeared on game programs. However, Aubie did not become a physical mascot until 1979 by the vision of then Auburn Spirit Director James Lloyd. Today, Aubie is one of the most recognizable mascots in the country, having won the Mascot of the Year award 10 times. He
Aug. 16, 2018
IN RBD IS OPEN was also one of the first inductees into the Mascot Hall of Fame, which only includes six other collegiate mascots. The exhibit includes drawings by Phil Neele, a cartoonist for the Birmingham Post-Herald, who was the originator of Aubie in 1959 in addition to designs for the first Aubie costume. One photo that stood out to Glasscock in particular was one of a bass drum taken in 1941. She described it as one of the first symbols associating Auburn to the tiger moniker. “I checked our records and it was the furthest back photo I could find with the tiger in it, ” Glasscock said. “As a mother with little Aubie fans now, it’s neat to be able to teach them more about him.” Auburn students and Aubie lovers alike can all visit the display until the end of the year.
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COME MEET THE PLAINSMAN STAFF, HAVE A SNACK AND ENJOY AUBURN’S BEST VIEWPOINT. GO TO THE 9TH FLOOR OF THE HALEY CENTER AND FOLLOW THE SIGNS.
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PRESIDENT STEVEN LEATH REFLECTS ON HIS FIRST YEAR
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The Auburn Plainsman: Welcome Back
Aug. 16, 2018
By ELIZABETH HURLEY Community Editor
With over 29,000 students, it’s a daunting task to meet each one. Auburn University President Steven Leath was determined to meet as many as he could during his first year as president. “I’m pretty accessible,” Leath said. “Anytime students see me, whether it’s eating in Foy or walking across campus or anything like that, they should always feel free to stop me and let me know what’s on their mind.” He said he has a vision for Auburn, and his vision became public knowledge in March. STUDENT EXPERIENCE
Leath said his biggest priority is to continue to improve the student experience, which includes meeting with students to learn what they want. Students have made it clear they want more dining options, he said. Leath was happy to work with Tiger Dining to bring students exactly what they wanted and is excited for students to see it this fall. “We’re renovating Foy right now,” Leath said. “Whether it’s names they know like Panera like in Mell or a whole new look in Foy, I think they’re going to see some really neat things student experience-wise.” Leath said his next plans are to renovate and build new housing. Those plans are being developed now as he works with students and Student Affairs, which recently took University Housing under its umbrella as part of Leath’s restructuring plan. He is excited to unveil those plans this fall, he said. “Student’s are going to have a big role in what this all looks like,” Leath said. “That’s going to be something you only do every so often. So it’s going to have a huge impact on student
life if we overhaul dining like we just did and then overhaul the residence halls.” RESEARCH Improving the student experience isn’t all he wants to accomplish this year. Leath laid out an entire plan to “inspire, transform and innovate” Auburn during his installation. He also announced plans to improve Auburn research facilities and the amount of research. By the beginning of the fall semester, 71 tenure-track faculty members in a wide range of departments will begin their careers at Auburn. The amount of time each of these faculty members will devote to research varies. Seven non-tenure track assistant research professors have also been hired since January. “We wanted to grow research and impact and solve more problems,” Leath said. “We didn’t want to in any way decrease the undergraduate experience. So how can you have more faculty doing research without taking them out of the classroom? The answer to that is you need more faculty.” EXPANSION As Leath increases the research base of the University, he said he wants to form partnerships with well-known companies. Leath’s prime example is the University’s recent partnership with Boeing. This summer, Auburn students interned for Boeing at Auburn’s research center in Huntsville, Alabama. “Boeing is providing money to Auburn, and we’re hiring interns,” Leath said. “Auburn students are getting paid by Auburn, but they’re interning at Boeing. The neat part of that is when they finish this summer and come back to campus they can continue to work on those projects
» See LEATH, 18
Aug. 16, 2018
The Auburn Plainsman: Welcome Back
IN COORDINATION WITH THE FIRST 56 TH PROGRAM
AUGUST 21 10:00 AM—2:00 PM CAMPUS GREEN SPACE
FRE E FOODS , I N FL ATA B L ES, A N D P R I Z E S
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The Auburn Plainsman: Welcome Back
sports
Aug. 16, 2018
PLAYER PREVIEWS JaTarvious Whitlow brings ‘Madden’-like athleticism to Auburn backfield
‘Unique’ talent Devan Barrett is newest wild card in Auburn offense
‘Defensive coordinator’ Deshaun Davis returns to LB corps as leading tackler
Igbinoghene’s position swap charges Auburn secondary with speed
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The Auburn Plainsman: Welcome Back
SCAN CODE FOR MORE Jarrett Stidham set to take care of ‘unfinished buisness’
How Dontavius Russell’s monstrous impact flies under the radar
Jamel Dean ready to step up as No. 1 Auburn corner
Australian Arryn Siposs here to end Tigers’ punting woes
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AUBURN UNIVERSITY Core Curriculum Program
BARCELONA S PA I N
May 15-June 15, 2019 COURSES OFFERED COMM 1000/1007 – Public Speaking POLI 1050/1057 – Global Politics and Issues NATR 2050/2057 – People and the Environment ARCH 2600/2607 – The Art of Architecture, Place, and Culture *All courses can be completed as Honors courses.
auburn.edu/studyabroad/core
Aug. 16, 2018
FEB. 1 5 APPLI , 2019 CATIO N DEAD LINE
Aug. 16, 2018
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s
u camp
a message from your SGA pres
By DANE BLOCK Student Government Association President
War Eagle! For those of you joining us on campus for the first time, we could not be more excited to have you here. To the Auburn students returning, welcome back home. Whether you have spent the summer traveling, studying, working or sleeping in until noon, I hope you are well-rested and recharged for the upcoming semester. The Student Government Association is here to serve, promote and unify all that is Auburn.
Over the course of the summer, we have worked hard to see that your student experience is the best it can be. We believe this year will be the best yet and are excited to serve you throughout. Please utilize AuburnAnswers to let us know your feedback on what is going on around campus. You can find Auburn Answers iPads located around campus as well as the website AuburnAnswers.org. With the new semester of classes beginning and football season just around the corner, I encourage you all to seek new challenges, make the most of every opportunity and lead with a spirit that is not afraid. We are here for you every step of the
FILE PHOTO
Mayor Bill Ham and Dane Block speak at the end of the SGA Town Hall on Tuesday, March 27, 2018, in Auburn, Ala.
DANE BLOCK FILE PHOTO
SGA President Dane Block hands toilet paper to the stars of “The Life of the Party” ahead of the movie’s premiere in Auburn, Ala., on Monday, April 30, 2018.
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The Auburn Plainsman: Welcome Back
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The Auburn Plainsman: Welcome Back
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us
camp
living, dining changes to come with new admin
By LILY JACKSON Managing Editor
Organizational shifts in the University have moved housing and dining under Student Affairs. With that change, more delegation was necessary. Cue Bryan Rush. Rush, now associate vice president of student living, will work under Vice President of Student Affairs Bobby Woodard. In his new role, he will work hand-in-hand with all aspects of student living from dining to housing and property management. Rush is originally from South Carolina and has spent the majority of his life and career in the Southeast. “Having heard so much from friends who had attended here and worked here, I thought, ‘Well, that looks like a great opportunity,’” Rush said. Rush said he is happy to be in a college town once again because he enjoys the community and “eclectic lifestyle.” The new position will lead Tiger Dining, Residence Life and Property Management. Rush will also work with strategic management. He said his biggest priority is for students to feel at home while they are on campus. “My vision for the areas that I work with is for us to be the premier, the preeminent — folks are going to look at us,” Rush said. He said over the next few semes-
ters, the “tastes” of campus will be changing. Not only food but the look and feel of on-campus housing. Rush said he couldn’t go into specifics yet on the topic of campus living and changes to existing dorms, but that they would be one of his charges going forward. In his first few days, there has already been the conversation about transitioning campus living. Rush said he prioritized the student voice and individual feedback above all other and welcomes students to come to him. He has an open-door policy and wants to learn about the needs, wants and ethos of Auburn’s campus. “I want to make sure people are heard, and we can incorporate as much as we can,” Rush said. “I believe strongly in transparency. I want to make sure the decision making that takes place is transparent as it can be.” Rush’s office is in Burton Hall on The Hill. He said he is a big coffee drinker and would love to hear from students over a cup of joe on campus. He said he is very excited about the Starbucks food truck coming to campus this fall. “I think it is an exciting time to be here,” Rush said. “Dr. Leath has spoken about growth and that it is something he is committed to. I think you are going to see some building take place as it relates to resident life and housing.”
CONTRIBUTED BY BRYAN RUSH
New Associate Vice President for Student Living Bryan Rush poses with his family.
CURRENT AND UPCOMING EXHIBITIONS
S TA F F P L AY L I S T Aug 11—Sept 16
S E L ECT E D WORK S F ROM A DVA NCI NG A M E RI CA N A RT Aug 11—Sept 16
T H E I NWA RD E Y E
Prints by Rauschenberg, Nevelson, Anuszkiewicz, and Other Recent Gifts of Hugh Latta Sept 1—Oct 28
T H E T H I RD P OE T RY The Transcendent Art of Walter Inglis Anderson Oct 27—Jan 27
901 SOUTH COLLEGE STREET JCSM.AUBURN.EDU
Walter Inglis Anderson, Fall Woods, ca. 1940, watercolor on paper.
VISIT. JOIN. SUPPORT.
@JCSMAUBURN
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Aug. 16, 2018
The Auburn Plainsman: Welcome Back
dining
new program to assist students with nutrition needs By JESSICA BALLARD Standards Editor
A new program to assist students with specific dietary restrictions may be coming to Auburn’s campus in the fall. The program hopes to enlist the help of nutrition students, referred to as dining nutrition ambassadors, to provide information about which on-campus dining options fit any student’s specific nutrition needs. Ada Ruth Huntley, sophomore in nutrition and pre-dietetics, has been recruited by Tiger Dining staff members, including Director of Tiger Dining Glenn Roughridge, to assist in jump-starting the program. The program’s goal, according to Huntley, is to help Auburn students live their best life through food. As far as more complex eating issues, if students were to come to the dining nutrition ambassadors with any sort of eating disorder or more complex problem,
photo
the student would be referred to a dietitian. The nutrition ambassadors’ role is focused on providing students with nutrition information and which on-campus food options fit their nutrition needs. “For example, let’s say a student comes in and says, ‘Hey, I’ve decided I want to go vegan. What are my options on campus?’ That group of students, the dining nutrition ambassadors, they will be able to assist those students.” The group of students will also be hosting different events to inform students about various health and wellness topics. Events could cover anything from the benefits of more plant-based diets to good sources of calcium, Huntley said. Huntley is working with dietitians from Aramark, the food services company partnered with Tiger Dining, and the Health Promotion and Wellness office to create a more solid plan to move forward with the program. They are working to bring a presenta-
tion to The Organizations Board soon, and from there, Huntely hopes to recruit more nutrition students to become dining nutrition amabassadors. Students from any of the three nutrition programs who have made a good grade in NTRI 2000 are welcome to become dining nutrition ambassadors. The program will be based out of the Tiger Dining office on the bottom floor of the Student Center.
SHOTS FROM THE SUMMER
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from refusing to say ‘War Eagle’
By STEPHEN LANZI Campus Editor
If someone had told a young Brad Smith that he would spend not just his academic career, but his professional career in Auburn, he would’ve thought they were crazy. “I was always the kid that wanted to be different than the rest of my Birmingham peers and go somewhere other than Auburn or Alabama,” Smith said. Vanderbilt was his number one choice for schools, but the decision came down to spending $40,000 a year or taking advantage of a hefty scholarship. “I decided to come to Auburn, and I was actually really bitter about it for the first couple weeks I was here because my heart had been set on going to Vanderbilt,” Smith said. But that sentiment didn’t last long. “I walked into my first football game and fell in love pretty quickly.” Smith’s resentment for Auburn took a sharp turn and became a passion for the place he now calls home. Nearly 10 years later, Smith tries to have what he calls an “exponential eternal effect” on the students he interacts with as SGA adviser. This mentality recently led him to receiving the advisor of the year award at the annual conference of all SEC student government associations. “I went from being the kid bitter about being in Auburn and refusing to say ‘War Eagle’ at Camp War Eagle to being the person working here years and years later and loving it,” Smith said. Smith’s time as a student became synonymous with student involvement. During his time as a a stuent his long list of involvement included member of Farmhouse, project coordinator for Impact, assistant director for Big Event, president of Cardinal Key Honors Society, vice president of ODK and senior adviser to the president of SGA. Although his involvement was rewarding, it also caused him to question whether he actually wanted to end up going to medical school, which had always been the plan.
“My desire to be a doctor revolved more around pride than it did passion,” Smith said. “I realized what I loved about being a doctor was the taking care of and developing of people and that there were a lot of other opportunities to do that.” Reconsidering his vocational goals, after graduation, Smith took advantage of an opportunity with Teach for America, an organization that places graduates in public-school systems for a minimum of two years. He was assigned to teach math to seventh graders in Denver, Colorado, in a school that was 85 percent Mexican-American. “That was a really neat opportunity for me to live and work somewhere very different than my hometown and alma mater,” Smith said. Smith said Teach for America sometimes receives criticism because it is an appealing option for students who are just trying to find a buffer between graduation and the job they eventually want to end up in. Smith said he did go into the job with some of that selfish perspective, but it was quickly absolved. “All of a sudden, you have 30 seventh graders sitting in desks in front of you, and you can’t help but lose any selfish motives that you have because you have 30 kids in front of you that need you there for them,” Smith said. Smith found his time at the middle school rewarding and meaningful, and he decided to stay an extra year. It also affirmed his desire to develop young people through education.But, he also had an itch to go to graduate school, and he realized he always would if he didn’t pursue it. He came back to Auburn to pursue a master’s degree in higher education administration while also serving as graduate assistant to SGA. “It’s a fun environment to be in because it allows you to really just champion the projects that the students are interested in and to see them develop over the course of the year,” Smith said. After earning his master’s, Smith applied for and became the full-time SGA ad-
BRAD SMITH viser and spent nearly five years in the position before being named assistant director for student involvement. In his new position, Smith will work closely with SGA as well as UPC. “It’s not necessarily my job to make decisions for what the student body wants,” Smith said. “I help equip our SGA student leaders to do that effectively.” Smith’s time as SGA adviser culminated with the award for adviser of the year, which was the first time the award was given at the conferences. “It’s the result of many years of other staff pouring into me and getting to work with some really incredible students,” Smith said. “The credit goes to a lot of different people.” With so much turnover each year in SGA, Smith said a key to maintaining success is guidance from one SGA to the next during the transition, especially because many projects and initiatives take many
years to achieve. “Over time, I track their development as individuals, rather than just looking at whether we’ve completed this or that project,” Smith said. “What’s important to me is that they’re able to identify what are the things they want to develop about themselves and their leadership.” “It’s extremely rewarding to get to see them finish their term and look at more than just what are the platform points that they achieved,” he added. Including his time as a middle school math teacher, Smith has spent over a decade doing what he loves and sees as his life purpose. “If I’m able to develop the students who come through the office of student involvement here at Auburn to go out and serve communities like the one I got to serve while in Denver, then I’m having an exponential eternal effect,” Smith said. “And that is what is incredibly meaningful to me.”
to winning SGA adviser of the year
d awar
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LEATH » From 6
even while they’re here.” Leath wants to bring more visibility to Auburn. He said he thinks these partnerships will help do just that because as Auburn gains partnerships, it gains visibility, which brings more partnerships. The increased visibility and the prestige that would come along with it would benefit not only current students but graduates who already hold a degree, as well. “It makes degrees for our students more valuable,” Leath said. “The more people know about Auburn — its programs, its students — the more inclined they are to hire them. I want, when you finish, somebody will go, ‘They went to Auburn, that’s a big plus.’” BEST FIRST MOMENTS Leath said it was a tough choice to come
to Auburn, leaving behind many friends, but he is grateful for the opportunity and is loving every minute of it. A smile beams from his face any time he gets to brag about Auburn. He is most proud of the Critical Conversations speaker series. “We actually went out and proactively did something positive and useful,” Leath said. “It was really well-received, well-attended.” His favorite moment from his first year was the Women’s Equestrian National Championship win. Leath was on the road quite often the past year with visits to donors and Auburn clubs throughout the nation. It was a year of many firsts, but Leath said he is excited to get the next semester started and kick off his second year as president. President Steven Leath is approaching his second term as president.
MADISON OGLETREE / PHOTO EDITOR
life
drag shows are moving to downtown opelika
By ELIZABETH HURLEY Community Editor
The queens from Fierce Fridays at Derailed Bar and Grill have moved their show to Irish Bred Pub in Opelika, Alabama. The members of ROY G BIV, the group of queens that performed most Fierce Fridays, began looking for a new home after Derailed was closed for several nights in a row in July. “Our community needs a place to go,” said Chad Peacock, manager of ROY G BIV. “It’s important that we have somewhere that we can go and be ourselves and be safe.”
Derailed closed for weeks with a sign on the door that said they were not opened at the time. ROY G BIV will now be featured as the Clovers every Thursday night and the last Saturday night of each month in the upstairs bar at Irish Bred Pub at 833 S. Railroad Ave. The stage is upstairs. To enter the venue, go to the right side of Irish Bred Pub and take the stairs all the way up. “It’ll be basically the same set up as before but at Irish Bred Pub,” Peacock said. “We’re really excited about it. The venue is amazing, and we’re excited to bring something to downtown Opelika.”
ROY G BIV performed their first show as the Clovers of Irish Bread Pub Thursday, Aug. 2. Peacock said he and the rest of ROY G BIV are excited to bring the show to Opelika. “There’s a great outdoor patio that people can go out on,” Peacock said. “There’s more of a stage with a lighting set up. It’ll definitely add some production value to what we do.” Everyone from ROY G BIV participated in the move and is now featured at Irish Bred Pub. The group does not currently have plans to bring ROY G BIV back to Derailed for Fierce Fridays.
The Auburn University Red Cross Club welcomes you to an exciting Fall 2018 semester! Join us for pizza and more at our information session on Wednesday 22nd August 2018 in the Student Center Room 2107. See you there!!!
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mone
where to find student discounts By NICOLE SCOTT Staff Writer
Being in college can be stressful, and sometimes retail therapy is the only solution. But after looking at prices, shopping can be stressful as well. Worry no more. Here’s a list of companies that offer a student discount: LOFT Women, this is your perfect chance to score that perfect business professional outfit for cheap. Just show your TigerID and save 15 percent. OLD NAVY Who doesn’t love to save money on those summer basics? Show your TigerID and save 10 percent.
FRANCESCA’S Stay on trend without breaking the budget. Any items that are not on promotional are 10 percent off with your TigerID. DRESS UP Enjoy some downtown Auburn shopping and save 10 percent every day with your TigerID. AMF BOWLING LANES Who can say no to unlimited bowling? On Thursday after 9 p.m. unlimited bowling is only $7. Best part: shoes are included. SPOTIFY What better way to overcome that boring walk to
class than music? For only $5.99 a month you can enjoy endless streaming of music. All you have to do is sign up with your Auburn email, and Spotify will even give you a Hulu account for free. AMAZON PRIME Wait until the last minute to get books? Amazon Prime will ship it to your house for free in two days for only $6.49 a month. Just make sure to sign up for the exclusive sixmonth free trial for students. VEGGIES TO GO Let your parents know you are getting your daily dose of vegetables and save money at the same time. Students receive a free drink with a purchase of a meal.
DEPARTMENT OF
CAMPUS SAFETY & SECURITY We are all responsible for campus safety and security. Here are some things you can do to promote a safe campus: PRACTICE GOOD PERSONAL SAFETY MEASURES
KNOW WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES
EDUCATE YOURSELF
• Walk with others, not alone.
• Trust your instincts.
• Review emergency guidelines.
• Use the night security shuttle – Call 334-844-7400 between 6:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. to get a ride on campus.
• Report suspicious behavior and other concerns. • Dial 911 for emergencies • Dial 334-501-3100 for non-emergencies
• Know where to seek shelter and how to evacuate buildings.
• RAD Self-Defense Class for Women – email aurad@auburn.edu
• Be aware of your surroundings.
• Look out for each other.
• Register your cell phone with AU ALERT and your emergency and missing person contacts on the Campus Life tab in AU Access.
• Emergency Preparedness & Active Shooter Response – Aub.ie/SafetyTrain • Annual Security & Fire Safety Report – Aub.ie/SecurityReport • Travel With Care – Travelwithcareauburn.com
Together, we can keep Auburn safe! 2018AU Public Safety and Security Ad.indd 1
auburn.edu/safety
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BY ISAAC BREKKEN
Bryan Lamkin, EVP and GM, Digital Media speaks during Adobe MAX 2017 Wednesday, Oct. 18, 2017, in Las Vegas. (Isaac Brekken/AP Images for Adobe)
By CHIP BROWNLEE Editor-in-Chief
Adobe and Auburn will be partnering to offer the full collection of Creative Cloud software to all students beginning this month, making Auburn the SEC’s first Creative Campus. The Creative Cloud family of applications includes Photoshop, Illustrator, Premiere, among more than a dozen others. A Creative Cloud subscription costs the average consumer $53 a month, though students could get a license for $19 or $29 per month. Now, Auburn students will get it for free. Kevin Watson, the information technology manager in the Provost’s Office, said the new partnership between the University and Adobe will increase digital literacy while saving students money. “It’s the standard creative tool in journalism, communications, marketing and even business has a lot of footprint with it,” Watson said. “Once you add all of that up you realize the community is spending a great amount on it.” The cost students often have to pay for the software
in order to use it in University curricula was one of the main driving points. “We kind of had to back away from ‘What is the University paying currently?’ and ‘How much is this going to cost us?’ and instead look at ‘What is this costing the whole community,’” Watson said. “Our students are out there paying $250 a year or $300 a year.” Licenses for faculty and staff are also offered at a substantial discount to departments. The University of Kentucky, another SEC school, provides students licenses to Creative Cloud software, but it is financed using student fees, Watson said. Auburn is also the first SEC school to centrally fund Adobe software licenses for its students without the use of student fees. “We’re basically paying the same amount the community is currently paying, but we’re going to be able to license everybody instead of only 10 percent,” Watson said. “What that does is create a standard across the University for a toolset. And from there, our faculty know that that’s out there, and we can work that into our curriculum.” Adobe Creative Campuses have popped up across
the country at a number of top-tier institutions in recent years. The University of Miami, the University of Southern California, Clemson and Berkley are among the Creative Campuses. Students can already start signing up at adobe. auburn.edu. If you already have an Adobe Creative Cloud subscription, you can merge your current assets into your Auburn University account. Accounts use a federated login system. Like AUInvolve, Outlook and Canvas, students and faculty sign in using their Auburn email and password. Watson said it was important that the software was available before classes begin in the fall. That way, faculty can work the software into their syllabi, and students know they won’t have to pay for the software. “Instead of trying to envision how everyone can and should use it, we realized we can’t,” Watson said. “We just want to make it available and let everyone else come up with cool ways to work.” As part of the Creative Campus initiative, a pop-up Adobe studio will be coming to the Mell Building. Students will be able to collaborate together on Adobe applications and share their work on screens.
TECHNOLOGY & CAMPUS
Auburn students will get Adobe Creative Cloud for free
22
The Auburn Plainsman: Welcome Back
Aug. 16, 2018
city
downtown parking changes for fall By ELIZABETH HURLEY Community Editor
• Free parking during Auburn University semester breaks. • All metered parking will be limited to two hours. • All metered parking will increase to $1 per hour. • Parking meter enforcement hours will expand to Monday through Friday 8 a.m.– 6 p.m. • Parking violation fines will be raised $10 each for the first, second and third violations. • These changes will go into effect the first day of classes Aug. 20.
The City Council voted unanimously Tuesday night to implement several changes to downtown parking. These are the changes that will go into effect Aug. 20, 2018. At Tuesday night’s meeting, the Council voted to amend the original ordinance that would have changed downtown parking. The original ordinance contained bigger changes such as longer enforcement hours, more enforcement days and on-street parking rates of $1 for the first hour and $2 for the second hour and several others. A concern among councilmembers was the number of University students that park downtown for class. One of the goals with changing the parking regulations downtown is to reduce the number of students that park downtown for class. The Council wanted to ensure efforts would be made to let residents know, especially students, about the changes to downtown parking. City Manager Jim Buston assured the Council he will work with SGA and other University channels to get the message out to students about the changes. “It’s important we let students know what’s going on,” said Ron Anders, Ward 2 councilman. “It’s
also important we let the students know that we love them and want them to stay downtown. It’s just a situation where we need to bring some relief and get some traffic flow down there and free those parking spaces up.” Councilmembers also said they do not want to keep students from going downtown, they just don’t want them to park there for class. They want students, and all other residents of Auburn, to park downtown and visit the downtown shops and restaurants. During the July 24 City Council meeting, councilmembers held a lengthy discussion about the downtown parking changes. The Council agreed a public hearing before the final vote on the changes would be helpful. During the public hearing for the parking changes, Eric Stamp from the Downtown Merchants Association spoke to thank the Council for their collaborative efforts with the Downtown Merchants Association to create parking changes for the city and the downtown businesses. “As far as the Downtown Merchants go, we would like to thank you guys for all of the effort over the past 10 years or so that we have started meeting and talking about it,” Stamp said. “There’s a lot of things happening lately. The changes we discussed work out best for the merchants, and we appreciate all of your effort.”
YOUR LOCAL RECORD SHOP IS 7 MILES EAST.
FILE PHOTO
Aug. 16, 2018
The Auburn Plainsman: Welcome Back
23
What does SGA have planned? Changes to come from student leadership By PAUL BROCK Campus Writer The goal of the Auburn’s Student Government Association is to represent “the Auburn student body to the University administration and the community.” SGA carries out this goal through the work of numerous programs, initiatives and positions, and this year, under the leadership of the new SGA President Dane Block, several changes are coming to SGA. One new project is Fall Feast, and this will be a massive Thanksgiving dinner that will be held on campus during the fall break. Hand said many international students don’t have places to go over the break. “It’s basically a way for us to connect with the international student population on campus,” said Bailey Hand, SGA executive vice president of communications and marketing, “[SGA] makes sure they know they are a part of the Auburn Family whenever they come on campus.” SGA will also be adding textbook reserves to the library that students can borrow to study for graduate school exams like the GRE, and Hand said this is part of SGA’s goal this year to focus on “student success and empowering students.” Hand said another way SGA will be support-
ing student success will be through the personal finance course FINC 2400. This class has been a part of the curriculum for many students in the Harbert College of Business, but now, the class is available for all Auburn students. “It’s just a great way for students to have a financial foundation going into their years after college and beyond,” Hand said. There is currently one section of FINC 2400 available to students, and the 150 seats in the class are all taken. Hand said another contribution that SGA has helped with is the new dining options that will be available to students this fall. New dining options, including Steak ‘n Shake, will be coming to campus with the new dining service Aramark. One reason for this change is the work of the SGA Dining Task Force. The task force first spent several months collecting feedback from students on how they felt about Auburn’s dining, and they then presented their results to campus dining. Glenn Loughridge, director of campus dining, said the new additions were inspired directly by the SGA Dining Task Force. “I think the first [town hall] is going to be on dining, which we’re really excited about with all of the new changes,” Hand said.
Hand said one of her personal goals will be to promote Auburn Answers because it’s a great way for SGA to receive student feedback and for students to bring about change. “It’s basically a way for students to give feedback on anything on campus,” Hand said. “They can ask questions about anything that’s going on, and they’ll get a response from the person who oversees that initiative whether it’s the director of parking or dining.” Auburn Answers will also be moving onto the concourse. Hand said SGA officials will be on the concourse gathering feedback from students at least once a week. “If a student doesn’t know necessarily what website they can go to, or they don’t know that it’s there, then we will be able to help them right there,” Hand said. Hand said student safety is another one of SGA’s focuses this year. “We’re looking into research for nighttime riding services and things of that nature because I know that that’s been a concern for students in the past,” Hand said. Hand said if anyone is interested in getting involved with SGA, there will be several SGA programs accepting applications this fall including Lobby Board, Freshman Forum and Aubie Committee. Hand said Hey Day volunteers are also needed.
The Auburn University Red Cross Club welcomes you to an exciting Fall 2018 semester! Join us for pizza and more at our information session on Wednesday, August 22, 2018, in the Student Center, Room 2107. See you there!!
24
The Auburn Plainsman: Welcome Back
Aug. 16, 2018
By LILY JACKSON Managing Editor The dimly lit atmosphere of Auburn’s new downtown restaurant, Fusion, offers a different feel than the surrounding hangout places. Snuggled between Little Italy’s iconic walls and Taco Mama’s bustling lines, Fusion has begun drawing attention after only a few weeks of business. The restaurant features an accommodating selection of Vietnamese and Thai dishes. The service was spotty at times, but far from dismal. The food made up for the untimely refill, though. Plates of pad thai, lemongrass grilled
chicken, traditional Vietnamese pho and a salmon poke bowl were served in decent time after ordering. The owner politely instructed us on how she would dress the food, adding to the experience overall. The portions were not stingy and the appetizer, crab rangoons, came out in a timely manner. The rangoons were crunchy and filled with a creamy mixture of crabby goodness. A sweet, subtle dipping sauce was served on the side and soaked up as much as possible. The lemongrass grilled chicken has a tangy aftertaste that works well with the perfectly steamed rice. The pho, traditional Vietnamese noodle soup, was crisp and
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event
pete davidson is coming
By LILY JACKSON Managing Editor Pete Davidson, comedian known for his work on Saturday Night Live, will be speaking on campus during Welcome Week. The event will be held in the Auburn University Student Center Ball-
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calming. It was not at the peak of quality but passed the test. The food selection was wide, but not overwhelming. The restaurant also features a full, prominent bar that serves a selection of cocktails. Fusion would be a good place for a nice dinner out with friends or family. The lighting and decor strike up feelings of date night or occasion. But, overall, the dress of those dining was casual. The restaurant fills a much-needed void for more sit-down, swankier places in downtown Auburn. And with the growing international population, the restaurant should do well in the prime piece of real estate it sits on.
FOOD & DRINK
New downtown restaurant fills a void in Asian cuisine
room on Aug. 23, at 6 p.m. University Program Council will be hosting Davidson’s Tiger Talk. His session will focus on mental health issues followed with a question and answer session. “Mental health and mental health awareness have been a widely discussed topic in America over the past few years, and Pete Davidson has a
unique way of expressing his condition through comedy that we think will resonate with college students,” said Caroline Scott, director of major entertainment for UPC. “We always discuss names as a team, but when Pete’s name was brought up, it was a unanimous yes from everyone at the table,” Scott said.
Aug. 16, 2018
The Auburn Plainsman: Welcome Back
25
g
dinin
ride or die: the new food trucks
By ELIZABETH HURLEY Campus Editor Students can expect to see 10 food trucks spread throughout campus. Students will be able to find food trucks in all of the same locations as previous semesters as well as two new food truck spots on the Mell Concourse this fall, said Director of Tiger Dining Glenn Loughridge. Of those 10 trucks, there are seven that have been featured as campus food trucks in the past and three new trucks. CREPE MYRTLE Crepe Myrtle Cafe closed its doors March 11 and will now have a home for its new food truck. “With Crepe Myrtle Cafe moving, there was this great opportunity to fill the void,” Loughridge said. “We knew this was a favorite of students. That’s always a great starting place. If
we know students already like something, that’s an easy decision.” The Crepe Myrtle truck is one of the eight rotating trucks. The truck plans to serve a menu that will include breakfast crepes on weekdays from 10 a.m.–4 p.m. in various spots around campus. King Braswell, owner of Crepe Myrtle, approached Loughridge with the idea of a Crepe Myrtle Cafe food truck, and it seemed like a perfect fit to Loughridge’s plan to add more food variety on campus, he said. Braswell plans to bring as much of the same menu from the restaurant to the truck. The menu isn’t the only thing students may recognize, many of the staff that will work on the truck worked in the restaurant on Donahue Drive. “I know we will be able to have the same atmosphere because it’s going to be created with
the same love that I created the other with,” Braswell said. “I know that what we do is we provide an experience for people that lasts a long time.” STEAK ‘N SHAKE While Steak ‘n Shake’s permanent location on the second floor of the Student Center is under construction, the restaurant will have a food truck located on the corner of Thach and Haley Concourse next to Tichenor Hall. The truck is temporary and will go away once the Student Center location opens. “We knew the construction was going to be a little more extensive than we hoped given the time frame,” Loughridge said. Loughridge said he plans to open the Student Center location at the beginning of the spring 2019 semester, Loughridge said. STARBUCKS
Tiger Dining is adding a Starbucks truck to its growing list of food trucks. “We don’t have a coffee program in that area,” Loughridge said. The Starbucks truck will now be a permanent feature among the food trucks. Tiger Dining has purchased the truck, Loughridge said. “We felt like this is something students use every day,” Loughridge said. “It’s very expensive to build a building. The Starbucks truck was probably less than 10 percent of what it would have cost to build a location that could do the same type of volume.” Loughridge said one of the perks behind the Starbucks truck is it can be moved so as Tiger Dining continues to evolve, the truck can be moved as needed. The truck will feature much of the same menu that can be found at regular locations, including a selection of pastries, coffees and signature Star-
26
The Auburn Plainsman: Welcome Back
Aug. 16, 2018
letter
embrace diversity
By TAFFYE BENSON CLAYTON VP, Associate Provost, Chief Diversity Officer
“Welcome” first-year students and “welcome back” returning students to Auburn University. The Auburn Family represents a diverse community brought together by a shared commitment to create and advance knowledge. Our campus prides itself on creating an environment that is welcoming and supportive for every person here. We are a University with strong academic programs, a culture of student involvement and great campus traditions. Auburn offers a quality education to talented and motivated undergraduate and graduate students from throughout the state of Alabama, the nation and the world. While it is the place you will spend considerable time learning in classrooms, labs and co-curricular spaces, it is also a campus community that you will call home for the next few years of your lives. Your journey as an undergraduate student marks an important point in your developmental cycle as a human being. The time you spend at Auburn pursuing your academic endeavors will play an important part in your future career trajectory. The energy you invest in building friendships, engaging with campus organizations and forging relationships with your peers, your professors and leaders across campus will influence your life trajectory. Auburn University will serve as a developmental incubator providing you with an array of experiences that will further shape your character, influence your leadership and prepare you as a critical thinker, a problem solver and a culturally competent individual with knowledge and practical skills to contribute to communities locally and globally.
Auburn will also be a launch pad to propel you into the world to accomplish your personal and professional aspirations and have meaningful impact. The opportunity to attend a university should be a cherished one and what you choose to make of it will determine what it can make of you. As you explore the campus during this academic year, open yourself to learning about and understanding the experiences of those around you. A university setting is one of a few spaces where students and faculty from a variety of different backgrounds, countries, cultures, interests and lived experiences are assembled together in a commonplace toward the common purpose of learning. It’s part of what makes universities so special. Expect to encounter people who are different from you. Expect to be exposed to new ideas and ways of thinking. Feel empowered to engage these new ideas by sharing your own ideas and thoughts with others as well. Recognize that we often “learn the most from those with whom we have the least in common.” Embrace diversity as an important aspect of your opportunities for learning at Auburn. Also, recognize that in the midst of our rich diversity lies meaning in the common bond that connects us as part of the Auburn Family. Auburn is proud of its public, land-grant mission, which commits us to being a university with global impact, while also serving the needs of this state. Please know that you, as Auburn students, are our greatest asset. My hope is that, as you begin this semester, you will engage in opportunities that fully prepare you to successfully navigate our increasingly diverse society and global economy. Welcome to Auburn and best wishes for an outstanding, impactful academic year.
COMPLETE THE CHALLENGE AUG. 20 through OCT. 17
#FIRST56 @AUB.IE/56
First56@auburn.edu
Aug. 16, 2018
The Auburn Plainsman: Welcome Back
27
social
syllabus week bar crawls Quixotes:
Quixotes:
$5 pitchers, $3 32 oz. draft beer
17-16: $2 20 oz. wells 7-9 p.m., $3 20 oz. wells from 9-10 p.m. and $2 craft beer from 7-10 p.m.
Moe’s Original BBQ: $1 Budweiser drafts
monday #AUNightlife
$6 liquor pitchers
$2.50 Mexican beers & $3 20 oz. margaritas
Quixotes:
Bourbon Street: $3 32 oz. wells, $3.25 16-ounce beer
17-16: $3 20 oz. Margs, $2 tall boys, $3 tequila shots and $2 craft beer from 7-10 p.m.
17-16:
$1 16 oz. wells 6-7 p.m., $2 7-9 p.m., $4 Vegas bombs 6-9 p.m., $2 tall boys 6-9 and $2 craft beer 6-9 p.m.
Bourbon Street: $2 wells, $2 shots, $2 beer
Moe’s Original BBQ:
Moe’s Original BBQ:
$5 bottles of wine, $4 Four Loko, $3 Four Loko bombs
tuesday
thursday Quixotes: $2.50 wells, $2 draft beer
17-16: $6 bottle of wine, $2 tall boys, $3 20 oz. wells and $2 craft beer
Bourbon Street: $5 buckets
Moe’s Original BBQ: $3 32 oz. wells from 4-9 p.m.
Bar specials, Aug. 20-25 21+ only
$1 Natural Light and Busch Light tall boys
wednesday
friday Quixotes: $2.50 20 oz. wells
Bourbon Street: 32 oz. wells
17-16: $2 tall boys, $3 Vegas bombs, $2 craft beer and $3 32 oz. wells
saturday Quixotes: $5 32 oz. buckets
17-16: $2 tall boys, $3 20 oz. wells and $2 craft beer
Bourbon Street: $2.50 wells
Moe’s Original BBQ: $3 Bushwackers 4-9 p.m.
All summer, Auburn’s downtown bars have been anticipating the arrival of students who love the nightlife with a multitude of drink specials. Photo by Jez Timms on Unsplash
T h i s
i s
y o u r
s t u d y
b r e a k .
C H E W A C L A
S T A T E
M e e t t h e c o o l e s t c o l l e g e t o w n i n t h e S o u t h . A n d h i s h i p o l d e r s i s t e r. aotourism.com
P A R K