One year ago, I met the most hated man in Auburn. I was nervous, inexperienced and had just begun my first semester as community news editor for The Plainsman. He was on trial, unhealthy and understandably miserable. Despite all of this, Harvey Updyke was nothing short of polite. We spoke for a time about a variety of topics. I learned we’re both Louisiana residents. In fact, he and his wife, Elva, have a house about 45 minutes west of my parents’. I also learned he and an unnamed accomplice did, indeed, poison the Toomer’s oak trees. Even so, we smiled, shook hands and Elva and I exchanged contact information to do a feature on Updyke in the future. None of us knew we would never speak again. None of us understood the price of being honest. Much has changed since June 19, 2012, when Updyke confessed his guilt to me during his own jury selection, and most who care know the rest of the story. I published an article detailing the confession and was subsequently subpoenaed and placed under a gag order. After Updyke’s attorney called me a liar, my name was apparently changed to “student journalist” and The Plainsman then became “Auburn’s student-run newspaper.” Under the gag order, I was defenseless. But that’s not the issue. Updyke has now served his sentence, the trees have been removed and I can now speak and write freely once more. A year removed, I will say this: I imagined the day going much differently before I spoke to Updyke. I saw Updyke for the first time earlier that day. Judge Jacob Walker read the charges against Updyke, and with each word, Updyke’s eyelids drooped lower and his breathing became more labored. After tweeting the observation and having it questioned, I went to the source. The Updykes stood by themselves outside the elevator at the Lee County Justice Center. I had left everything but my cell phone in my bag. Not wanting to miss the opportunity, I settled for texting quotes and notes to myself. Updyke confirmed that he felt ready to “pass out” all morning, and the two were more than candid about Updyke’s somewhat publicized health issues. The numbers alone were staggering: 62 pounds lost since his arrest, 18 different medications in his system and thousands of Auburn fans clamoring for him to end his days in a cell. Numerous stories portraying his mistakes had poured from the media outlets (including The Plainsman) almost daily. But part of journalism is occasionally advocating for the devil, and I wanted Auburn to know the man being demonized. The father whose daughter would no longer speak to him. The Alabama fan whose beloved university banned him from its campus, stadiums included. To me, it was only fair. The chance for a sympathetic piece passed by when his candor spread to the crime he had pleaded innocent of. When he admitted he was involved in the incident, he said that was all he would say about the matter. And yet the question came to my lips anyway as a sort of due diligence, anticipating a “no comment.” “So, what happened that night?” In this case, the former Texas state trooper was a straight shooter: “Did I do it? Yes.” Harvey and Elva watched as I took notes on my phone. Even so, we said farewell amicably and left on good terms. I had just met with the most despised man on The Plains, and I left with sympathy for the devil. Not to mention an obligation to create more mayhem in an already difficult situation. Maybe it was all an orchestrated plot to change the venue or add credibility to his insanity defense. Perhaps Updyke truly had given up. Whatever the reason, as a journalist, his confession was breaking news, immeasurably more important than any softer feature story. As an Auburn man, the destruction of the historic oaks was deserving of punitive measures. And yet, I couldn’t help but feel sorry for the man. I still do. Had I never spoken to Harvey Updyke, the biased Tiger in me would most likely still loathe him. Updyke still has an elephant’s share of lawsuits to deal with, but one year later, I can only hope he’s beginning to get his life back together.

The men’s basketball team signed Malcolm Canada, a junior college transfer from Ellsworth Community College in Iowa Wednesday, June 19. Canada originally said he would sign with Tulane University, but was unable to enroll because of academic issues. Canada is a 6-foot-3 guard, averaging 20.2 points, 5.8 rebounds, 5.2 assists and 1.6 assists per game last season at Ellsworth Community College. He was also a third-team Junior College Athletic Association All-American. His signing comes at a good time for the Tigers after transfer point guard Jerome Seagears decided to return to Rutgers after spending less than one month on campus. Canada is originally from Austin, Texas and will have two years of eligibility left. He will be competing for playing time next season against freshman Tahj Shamsid-Deen.

Auburn recently lost a family member with the death of Sam Lowther, alumnus and senior analyst in Auburn’s Office of Institutional Research and Assessment June 11. Lowther died suddenly while on vacation with his family in Florida. Sam is survived by his wife, two stepsons and their three children. “He was exactly where he wanted to be when it happened,” said Janis Lowther, Sam’s wife. “We were with my son, his wife and his little son who’s 5. (Sam) had played with him all morning in the water.” A 1974 graduate and a full-time employee of Auburn since 1978, Sam spent the majority of his adult life serving the University. “He loved Auburn through and through. He loved his job,” Janis said. “I’d been trying to get him to retire because he’d been there for 33 years, but he would say, ‘As long as they’re good to me, I like my work, and I’d rather just stay for a while.’ “I think he will be missed over there because he did love it, and he did his best and wasn’t ready to leave,” Janis said. According to the Office of Institutional Research and Assessment, Sam was a trusted source of factual information about Auburn and its operating environment. “I remember when I first met him people telling me if I ever needed to know anything to ask Sam Lowther,” Janis said. “And I learned over the years that they were right.” Sam’s achievements don’t end with him being a wealth of knowledge within his profession. He was a founding member of the Alabama Association for Institutional Research and was elected by his peers as president of both this association and the Southern Association for Institutional Research. For more than 15 years, Sam served each of these organizations and in 2000 was awarded ALAIR’s Joseph T. Sutton Leadership Award for his years of service to the profession, according to the Office of Institutional Research and Assessment. Aside from his services to Auburn within the University, Sam was a devoted Tigers baseball fan. “He loved Auburn baseball,” Janis said. “He always had season tickets and sat at a certain spot.” The funeral for Sam was held Saturday, June 15 where loved ones filled the church to remember him. “Our sanctuary is huge, and it was packed. But if you would have told him it was going to be that way he wouldn’t have believed it,” Janis said. “He’s so humble. He thought he was just another person over there. He never thought he was better than anybody else or knew something that somebody else knew. As a husband, stepfather and grandfather, Tigers fan and loyal staff member at the University, Sam’s memory will live through the legacy he left at Auburn and within his family. “He’ll always live with me,” Janis said.