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(10/13/14 3:00pm)
The list below isn't required reading. It isn't for a grade, and you don't have to write an essay. In the rat race of college, in the scramble to please everyone else, you may find yourself a bit lost one day. When you are feeling particularly befuddled, take a moment to read. The stories listed where chosen because they have all resonated with me, made me laugh and helped me find my footing at Auburn.
(09/15/14 6:00pm)
Saturday at noon in Seale, Alabama, greeted me with the heady scent of red Alabama dirt, the singing of cicadas and the dry tickle of September grass. The sun pressed close and beads of moisture clung to my upper lip. Never had I felt so romantically Southern.
A Harper Lee quote danced in my head: "Ladies bathed before noon, after their three o'clock naps, and by nightfall were like soft teacakes with frostings of sweat and sweet talcum."
The Museum of Wonder is 45 minutes away from Auburn on AL-169 S. I pass it every time I visit family in Dothan. My boyfriend and I had finally taken a pre-game mini road trip so I could honor my curiosity.
Four shipping containers by the side of the road serve as the world's first drive-thru art and antique gallery museum -- Seale Cultural Center and Butch Anthony's creative vehicle.
The opened containers display Anthony's collection of found and repurposed objects, folk art and taxidermy.
Each piece evokes the entwined past of Anthony and his hometown, like a box of jumbled items in their collective attic. Trophies, photographs, portraits and scrawled phrases fit together to create shrine-like structures.
Each item is given meaning. The profound, sarcastic, comic and heartbreaking all blend into a single expression of a collaborative history.
Walking among buried treasure in a near-sacred space stirred my mind.
Our life experiences, the moments we give meaning, homogenized like a potion we drink daily that determines how we continue to interpret the world.
My potion is the color of the Carolina foothills where I grew up. It has steely blue and sage in spring. It sloshes in my throat and thrusts forth images, sounds and phantom smells, my own museum of wonder.
There is a mote of dust floating in a sunbeam; a beating from a man other than my father; a cry, "Olly olly oxen-free," to end flashlight tag; a rush of poetry after midnight and the scramble for my sparkly purple pen; the tiny whistle of air as I fly over the balance beam upside down; applause, accolades, critiques and ear-popping laughter.
There are snatches of quotes from great books and lyrics from all the songs I've ever heard. There are movie stills and paintings and faces and buildings -- Versailles, Harold and Maude, The Clash and Jane Eyre are all on equal footing.
There are skylines from Buenos Aires to Seoul, from New York to London. There are sunsets and sunrises and cotton fields. There are stories in my grandmother's genteel Dothan dialect and witticisms penned in my aunt's handwriting. There is an encouraging glance and a hand on my shoulder. There are bedtime stories and fairy tales and corny dad-jokes.
There are 7 billion museums of wonder. Each is unique. Each is valuable. They evolve daily as we turn over new meaning in our lives -- as we put the pieces together and time carries us further from the most painful memories.
Human capacity to translate and record life is essential for survival. We make art. We reach out. We accomplish wonders.
(04/16/14 3:31am)
UPDATE: April 16, 2014 at 4:01 p.m.
(04/15/14 1:00pm)
Parallel universes, dream worlds and creation are some of the themes explored in this year's Bachelor of Fine Arts Candidates Senior Art Exhibition, "Parallel Parallel," opening April 14.
"We were trying to draw parallels between all of our works," said Alex Lazzari, senior in BFA fine art. "There's influence of landscape, there's influence of nature and the human nature. I would venture to say there's a good bit of spirituality and philosophy mixed in too."
Lazzari has been working with pen and ink stippling to develop his seven-piece series representing creation.
"'I am nothing; I see all; the currents of the Universal Being circulate through me; I am part or particle of God,'" Lazzari said, quoting Ralph Waldo Emerson's "Nature."
He explained how the quote has influenced his artistic growth since he read it last year.
The process of stippling, creating a pattern using small dots or brushstrokes, is a meditative one, according to Lazzari.
"By dabbling the surface of the paper with dots, each dot of ink placed is brought to life by every dot surrounding it," Lazzari said. "In each work there are areas of intensity and disparity, depth and flatness, tension and disruption, calm and chaos. Represented in the works are space and time, atmospheric and celestial bodies and earthly landscapes that contain life."
Aspiring conceptual artist, Cyndi Flint, senior in BFA fine art, will be presenting her surreal landscape paintings at "Parallel Parallel."
Flint said she began dreaming of other worlds in fifth grade after reading The Hobbit. Her works are also influenced by the Grimms' fairy tales and Marvel Comics illustration.
"We have our reality and then it's a parallel reality," Flint said. "It's a place where I can go to and just think about and immerse myself in, but at the same time it has connections to our world."
Flint compared her pieces to a storyboard representing travel through her ethereal world.
"Because I aspire to be a concept artist--a visual developer--basically I'm trying to bring a world that I've constantly been to in my dreams, or in my mind, trying to form one so I can show it as a portfolio," Flint said. "To bring it into a visual context, I'm kind of to give it a narrative, but at the same time I'm not because there are no figures, so it's not obvious."
Flint is not the only artist whose works at "Parallel Parallel" began as a dream.
"In my dream I saw the project at its finished point," said Rachel Little, senior in BFA fine art. "It was the idea of me designing humans as a creator type."
Little said she expanded her original idea to focus on the studio space a creator of humans might inhabit.
"In the middle of the gallery, I'm going to have a room built and on the inside of the walls will be something similar to this tracing paper medley here, just more filled up," Little said. "Like, from floor to ceiling."
Using ephemera, found objects like leaves, ticket stubs and tissue paper, Little has begun to decorate walls of the free-standing structure that represents the studio.
She said she wants the ephemera to remind viewers of parts of the human body. Little has worked chicken wire, branches and torn bits of paper into structures hinting at skeletal systems and muscular structures.
"Parallel Parallel" will be free and open to the public April 14-25 at Biggin Gallery. A reception is scheduled 4-6 p.m. on April 14.
(04/15/14 10:45pm)
When McCall Dempsey came forward as writer of the eating disorder recovery blog "Loving Imperfection," she had no idea her life would change drastically.
"On the outside, I was this girl who had it all together," Dempsey said, recalling her bout with restrictive eating, binging, purging and diet pill addiction. "I struggled with an eating disorder for 15 years, and I struggled in silence. No one knew because I became an expert at hiding all the symptoms."
After receiving treatment for an eating disorder not otherwise specified (EDNOS) at Carolina House in 2011 and sharing the blog with her best friend, the Ole Miss grad said she knew she had to shine light on the devastating illness.
"No one is talking about the eating disorder that is happening every day to the person right next to you or even yourself," Dempsey said. "It breaks my heart because nobody's talking about it, and there are so many people that are really struggling and living and dying and having their worth defined by what size they are, or a number on a scale and how many miles they can run and what their grades are."
Dempsey began speaking to small groups of young women and then came up with the idea of smashing scales with sledgehammers. The first organized scale smash was November 16, 2012, on Baton Rouge Beach, La.
Dempsey developed the event into a nonprofit organization called Southern Smash, which tours universities spreading positive body image and eating disorder awareness.
The Student Center concourse will hold Southern Smash on Wednesday, April 16, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Events include Let It Go Balloons, Dare to Love Yourself Cards, a Be(YOU)tiful Photo Booth and the Southern Smash Scale Graveyard. Smash Talk, a panel discussion, will conclude the event in Student Center Room 2223 from 7-8:15 p.m.
Panel members include: Nicole Siegfried, Ph.D, CEDS, clinical director, Castlewood at the Highlands; Jennifer Jordan, MS, RD, LD, dietitian, Castlewood at the Highlands; Jessie Alexander, LPC, NCC, clinical coordinator of women's services, Ridgeview Institute; Jessica-Lauren Newby, MA, RD, LD, IBCLC registered dietitian, clinical instructor, Auburn University; Peach Dumars, owner YogaFLY Studio and author of "Diary of an Exercise Addict"; and McCall Dempsey, founder, Southern Smash.
"We're hoping that through Southern Smash, women will feel empowered in a way to really embrace the body that they've been given and the person that they are," said Katie Miles, senior nutrition dietetics and member of AubieEDA. "It's a symbol of smashing what the world says you are and smashing that number and destroying the concept that that number defines you."
All students, faculty and visitors are welcome to participate. Miles said Southern Smash is open to anyone who is struggling with eating or body image concerns and those that want to show support and spread awareness.
"I think eating disorder awareness and body image is something that people tip-toe around talking about and it has such a negative connotation," said Meg McGuffin, junior in radio, television and film and president of AubieEDA.
McGuffin explained that beginning to talk about issues is the first step toward finding a solution.
"Auburn men and women are going to be really empowered by this event," McGuffin said. "This is just an awesome opportunity for women and men on Auburn's campus to take a stand against what scales teach us to believe about our bodies."
Dempsey explained that Southern Smash also encourages students and community members to become Southern Smash ambassadors. Ambassadors aid in the promotion and execution of Smash events through social media, grassroots and other efforts.
An application for ambassadorship and other information about Southern Smash may be found at http://www.southernsmash.org/home.html
(04/06/14 4:45pm)
Allie Reid can remember the moment she became best friends with Shanae Heard.
"She said, 'Hey, do you want to go to Atlanta,'" Reid said. "I thought, 'Why not go on this trip and see what comes of it,' and wham-bam--we were best friends."
Reid said she was struck by Heard's independent spirit and wanted to help her, even though Heard's wheelchair wouldn't easily fit in the car.
"She took tires off because it would not fit in her car," Heard, Auburn resident and psychology major at Troy University, said. "We laugh about it now."
Heard's determination developed early and carried her through the challenges that came with her cerebral palsy diagnosis at age 3.
Part of her education included physical therapy during school.
"I felt like I was being singled out because I was always being pulled out of class," Heard said. "At that point, when I got in the school system, people thought, 'Oh, she'll just get a certificate. She won't really get a diploma,' and I wanted to prove people wrong."
Heard graduated from Auburn High School in 2007 and will graduate from Southern Union in May.
She has continued to challenge the odds and picked up CrossFit training in September.
"I just try to do things that most people wouldn't dream that most people with disabilities would do," Heard said.
Reid nominated Heard in the National Mobility Equipment Dealership Association Local Hero Contest in March. Winning contestants are awarded with a handicap accessible van in May.
"I'm taking for granted the fact that I can hop in my car and go wherever I want," Reid said.
Heard's friends and family have started a social media campaign to drum up votes for the contest. Auburn football players Philip Lutzenkirchen and Wes Byrum have supported the effort by voting and tweeting.
"What we see as a 30 second walk outside is a ten to 15-minute process for her," said Chris Horn, junior in psychology. "We really need to work together as a community to give her that opportunity because otherwise she might not get it."
Heard takes public transportation on the LRPT (Lee-Russell Public Transit) bus system, but said the bus is frequently late and bus drivers are not properly trained to secure wheelchairs. Also, according to Heard, public transportation is also expensive, at $15 for 10 round-trip rides or $2 per one-way ticket.
Ultimately, Heard's goal is to give back to Auburn.
"If I don't have transportation, it's kind of hard to get out in the community and volunteer," Heard said. "If I win the van, it will be a life-changer because I'll be able to help other people in the process. That's always been my life goal. At the end of the day, I just want to help someone else."
In addition to volunteering, Heard said she would be able to go to college on Troy's campus and get a job.
Heard's mother, Tonja Holmes, said finding transportation for her daughter has been difficult.
"You have to know that the Lord's not going to put you through no more than you can bear," Holmes said. "This would be a blessing. It would change her world."
Votes can be cast daily at http://www.mobilityawarenessmonth.com/entrant/shanae-heard-auburn-al/ through May 9, and a voting tutorial can be found at https://www.facebook.com/VoteForShanaeHeard .
(04/02/14 2:15pm)
Auburn students signing up for healthcare this year have the option to choose Auburn's injury and sickness plan supported by UnitedHealthcare.
The plan has undergone major revisions in the past two years and will be updated in the coming years. In 2012, the plan was catastrophic and did not recognize preexisting conditions. Because of the Affordable Care Act, graduate, international and undergraduate students now have the opportunity to search for the best plan that fits their needs.
"You're required to have the insurance if you're an international student or a graduate student with an assistantship," said Sarah Razavi, UnitedHealthcare liaison. "You're automatically enrolled, but you can opt out if you have insurance that is equal to or better than what we offer."
According to Razavi, the UnitedHealthcare plan is optimal for unmarried students without children who are working as graduate teaching assistants.
"There are a lot of options for plans where the deductible is like, $6,000 or higher," said Razavi. "We don't want you to go and buy a plan like that. And honestly, you are doing yourself a disservice because the plan we offer is so much better if you have an assistantship. If you have a wife and three children, ours is not as good. You could probably find a much cheaper plan."
The deductible for UnitedHealthcare's plan is $200 for in-network, or preferred providers, and $500 for out-of-network providers. Preferred providers include East Alabama Medical Center and United HealthCare Choice Plus, according to the plan. Lists of preferred providers can be found on United HealthCare's website.
An individual plan is $884 for six months with a $250 subsidy, which means students will pay a total of $634 for their insurance for six months. The plan does not include vision or dental.
The bill may be paid online from the student's eBill and can be covered with surplus financial aid or scholarship money.
"There are a few little quirks, like if you are injured or ill in a way that's not an emergency, the primary care place is the Auburn University Medical Clinic," Razavi said. "So, if they're open then you have to go there. If they happen to be closed, there are other places."
If a student only ever visited the Auburn University Medical Clinic for doctor's appointments, the $200 in-network deductible would not apply and they would never have to pay a deductible, Razavi explained. However, if a student is 50 miles away or more, or if it's an emergency, they are not required to go to the Auburn University Medical Clinic.
The Auburn student insurance plan does not have an open-enrollment plan. As soon as a student turns 26, they may opt in for the insurance rather than wait for a specified period and risk being uninsured after coming off their parents' plan. Students may also terminate their plan at any time.
Dr. George Flowers, dean of Auburn's graduate school, was instrumental in developing the student healthcare plan.
"Certainly those of us that are involved in the student insurance are interested in feedback from the students both on the cost and the benefits that they receive on the plan," Flowers said.
He explained that one downside to the plan was the spike in the price of healthcare premiums, the amount paid, often on a monthly basis, for health insurance.
"The cost keeps increasing," Flowers said. "The premiums have gone up substantially since we started the program. We've tried to keep the coverage as consistent as possible, and with the escalation in the healthcare cost, it's gone up significantly. It's gone up from approximately $1,200 a year total cost to now about $1,800 a year."
According to Flowers, part of the premium cost increase last year was tied to concerns across the board of the health insurance industry over what would happen when the Affordable Care Act (ACA) was finally implemented.
Frank Sturm, president of the graduate student council and Ph. D student in mathematics, said it would be interesting to see which plans students would choose with the options provided by the new healthcare reform.
"Students have more competitive options with ObamaCare," Sturm said. "The premiums do continue to increase. It's going to be interesting to see if students decide to remain on the University's healthcare plan."
The graduate student council will be meeting to discuss contract options in the coming months to implement changes to the student healthcare plan, Sturm said.
"There are some other issues that are kind of hard to address, like making sure the UnitedHealthcare Network is large enough," Flowers said. "There are some doctors here that are not in the network and we have been working with UnitedHealthcare to try and expand their network and try to bring some of these doctors in."
Flowers and Sturm said they wanted students to be aware that the healthcare plan is open to critique with the aim of providing more effective coverage to a greater number of students.
Modifications to the plan have already been implemented, such as a $250,000 increase in maximum coverage per injury or sickness. Clauses in the plan have been removed, including the condition that beneficiaries may only see one doctor per day.
"We're doing our best, but feedback from the students helps us identify problems with the system that hopefully we can correct at some point," Flowers said.
(03/28/14 6:30pm)
The 13-year-old flicked on his grandmother's gas stove. He held a piece of a straightened wire clothes hanger over the flame. He waited with an ice pack on his bicep until the piece of metal glowed red.
Then, he touched the hot wire to his skin, branding his arm with his initials, a peace sign and a heart.
"I thought it was awesome," said Mark Horton, tattoo artist at Shenanigan's. "And you know, when you're in junior high school on the way to high school--all that peer pressure--trend-setters are, like, the 'shiznit.'"
Horton said he was involved in an after-school outreach project with Auburn University's chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha when he saw fraternity letters branded on a brother's arm and decided to try branding himself.
"It could've been bad," Horton said laughing. "Yeah, that's one of the stupidest things I ever did."
Fraternity branding is a trend received with mixed emotions.
For brothers who participate in branding, it is an honor to have the Greek letters permanently emblazoned on their bodies, but the decision is left up to fraternity members whether they receive a brand or not.
"As a kid, growing up, my father always had them on his body and I'd touch them and I always wanted to get one myself," said Cameron Gray, 2013 Auburn graduate and Omega Psi Phi brother. "After I joined the same fraternity he was in, I was granted the opportunity to get one. I did it. There was no question about what I wanted and where I wanted to get it."
Gray sports three brands, all representing his fraternity.
Branding is a choice for any brother after initiation and shouldn't be considered hazing, according to Gray. He explained he was one of few fraternity brothers to receive the brand.
"I'm very proud of my letters and have a lifelong bond with my brothers and my fraternity," Gray said. "It's like a coat of arms that I can forever wear on my body."
Gray compared scarification, the technical term for branding, to self-inflicted wounds performed by African tribes.
"It's almost like a shift back to Africa where people would scar themselves to show their manhood and, in that kind of sense, it's kind of in the same realm," said Gray. "Branding and tattoos and all of that stuff is just like expressing yourself through body art and body modification."
Devante Brown, junior in mechanical engineering, president of Auburn's National Pan-Hellenic Council and member of Auburn's chapter of Omega Psi Phi, said branding isn't directly connected to fraternity functions nor is it a practice that prevents a fraternity brother from moving up in rank.
"I actually don't have brands myself, and I'm still an Omega," Brown said. "It's just a way of expressing yourself. It's the same exact principle as getting a tattoo."
Branding has been common among fraternities for decades, but the growth of fraternities like Omega Psi Phi has brought the practice of branding into the public eye, according to Brown.
Jeremy Wiley, senior in chemical engineering and president of the Omicron Kappa Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, said branding has become rarer in his fraternity since Horton's experience in the early '90s.
"It's up to the member's discretion to do it, but we don't really do branding at all," Wiley said. "It's not recommended, nor is it discouraged. If you want to get one, you can get one, but it's not forced upon you."
Wiley said branding was popular among Omega Psi Phi brothers.
"A lot of their members usually get brands," said Wiley. "But for my fraternity, it's not common at all."
Branding among fraternities is not limited to Auburn University.
Curtis Harris, 2005 graduate of Stillman College in Tuscaloosa also received a brand on each arm from his Phi Beta Sigma brothers.
"Don't ever let anybody tell you it's required," Harris said. "You don't have to get it."
Harris said a fraternity brand unites the initiated members and is representative of what they've experienced as a group.
"It means something to you," Harris said. "It's a special moment and a special time in your life. You really earned it. You don't have to get it, but they look at is as a symbol of loyalty, [like,] 'He's in it for life, and he'll represent our fraternity with honor for life.'"
Other fraternities on Auburn's campus discourage branding.
"A brand just seems crude and not tasteful to me," said Collin Carnahan, fifth-year senior in professional flight management and a member of Delta Tau Delta. "I'd don't think I'd let a pledge get a brand or a tattoo because, as a freshman, I didn't know what fraternity I wanted to commit to or drop. Even now, I wouldn't get one."
Voodoo Neetle is one of a few Auburn tattoo shops that brands professionally.
"It's like a controlled third degree burn," said tattoo artist and branding specialist, Henry Key. "It's pretty gnarly when it comes out."
Key said he uses a cauterizing tool to seal the skin and create a scarring effect.
"I've done a couple fraternity brands," Key said. "It's still the same, but they usually do it in chapter, and they do strike branding instead of cauterizing."
A shaped coat hanger heated over a stove or an open flame only reaches 700-800 degrees, which causes large keloid scaring, Key explained.
"It's not hot enough to cook the skin thoroughly," Key said. "That's when you get the big, bubbled up brands."
During professional scarification, there is little risk for infection, according to Key.
"It burns and kills the bacteria when it touches. It completely seals the wound immediately," said Key. "No more danger than just extreme pain."
(03/28/14 1:30pm)
"Venus in Fur" is a bold choice for a student director. The play wrestles with the complex power struggle between the sexes. It challenges the audience with sadomasochistic themes and strong language.
"It's a sexy, scary, thrilling game of cat and mouse, where you never know who's calling the shots," said Keary Watts, director and senior in history.
In the 90-minute, two-person play, Thomas is in the process of casting a show based on the novel "Venus in Furs" by Leopold von Sacher-Masoch when he meets Vanda, an unforgettable beauty who is gunning for the lead role. Vanda defies Thomas's intellectual pride and physical boundaries while vying for her dream role.
Watts, a member of Auburn's Mosaic Theatre Company, has also directed productions of Suzan-Lori Parks's "F***ing A-" and Marie Jones's "Stones in his Pockets." He said he wants audiences to focus on the message of the "Venus in Fur" rather than the S&M implications.
"I want people to think about their apathy," Watts said. "People tend to be mired in their apathy. [The play] forces you to confront what you find funny, or what you find sexy or kinky, or what turns you on and it really makes you confront how you treat other people as well."
Theater faculty advisers supported Watts's choice in material, despite its complicated subject. Watts said rehearsal began with research and cast discussions on how imagery is used in the media to portray power.
The actors cast as Thomas and Vanda spent two months preparing for their roles.
"We did a lot of personal work with each other before we could really delve into more than that," said Chelsea Allen, senior in business management and theatre, who plays Vanda. "I don't think two strangers could do this play."
Allen and her co-star Michael Sanders, freshman in theatre, said they were able to define their characters in the midst of the suggestive content throughout the play.
"I'm more willing to kind of listen, where Thomas is very aware that he is a very smart person and that can be a dangerous thing," Sanders said.
"Vanda stands up for women in a way," said Allen. "She does all these things to make him realize and to change him from this chauvinistic guy."
Allen explained that the discomfort some audience members may feel was an important feature to the performance.
"I think it's important for them to feel uncomfortable at some points," Allen said. "I want them to find the comedic aspects in it but also the serious aspects. I feel like they need that so they can grow just like Thomas does."
(03/26/14 1:00pm)
The club formerly known as the Super Smash Brothers Club has reinvented itself into the more inclusive Button Mashers Anonymous. The video-game club meets every Friday from 6-11 p.m.in the Student Center game room to show off expertise and hone new moves on console, online and handheld video games.
"Last year, we decided to no longer just focus on Super Smash Brothers and try to expand into other games," said Button Mashers President Ben Stewart, senior in business administration. "That way we don't get bored of Smash all the time and just do other stuff and get more people in the club."
Button Mashers meetings begin with hanging out over Chick-fil-a and Papa John's. Brief announcements are made and then the real fun begins.
Gamers grab their controllers for multiplayer or solo action. Laptops flip open for online gaming. The game room becomes a pool of tip-swapping and game-based socialization.
"It's literally couch-gaming the way it used to be," said Button Mashers Treasurer Jay Whaley, sophomore in software engineering. "It's not the online stuff where you're in your house all alone on a headset. You're actually beside somebody playing games, the way it used to be."
Members are encouraged to bring their own consoles and games to meetings. Fans of classic Nintendo games such as Mario Kart, Pokemon and The Legend of Zelda, as well as popular online RPGs such as League of Legends and Dark Souls, have flocked to join the club.
"If you play video games, come," Whaley said. "You will make friends."
Lauren Moore, freshman in professional flight management, hopes Button Mashers' expansion will encourage more female gamers to join in.
"It's really fun to play games you've never played before," Moore said. "I know a lot of people on campus play games, but I don't think they know club is happening or maybe they'd come by here, but if they were to know this club was happening, maybe they'd come by here there'd be more females."
Moore is one of the Button Mashers competing Saturday in AUSOM 10: The Banishment of Ganondorf. The gaming tournament has been presented every semester for the past five years by the video-game aficionados of Auburn University.
This semester, gamers from across the southeast will contend in a variety of multiplayer games including Super Smash Brothers: Melee, Brawl and the popular fan-made hack, Super Smash Brothers: Project M.
"[Project M] is basically taking Brawl and making it more like Melee, taking the cast of Brawl but a lot of the little nuances of the game have been changed," said Whaley. "It's more technical."
Intra-club tournaments have helped prepare the Button Mashers for the upcoming AUSOM 10.
Other main events at AUSOM 10 are Pokemon X and Y, Street Fighter IV, and Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom. The competition begins at 10 a.m. and is open to nonstudents as well as students. There is a $10 fee per event. Inquiries about AUSOM 10 and Button Mashers Anonymous may be directed to Ben Stewart at bes0012@tigermail.auburn.edu.
(03/22/14 4:45pm)
In Bytha Faye Allen Bein's apartment at Morningside Assisted Living, you will find a crowd of birdhouses atop the refrigerator, a herd of elephant figurines stampeding across a table, photographs fanned out on the coffee table and shelves of cookbooks.
A small oval portrait of her parents hangs next to her bed.
"If any man ever did have his head on straight, it was my father," Bein said.
Bein, 87, grew up in Apache, Okla., in the midst of the Dust Bowl.
"I knew there was a lot of dust," Bein said laughing. "I didn't know that's what it was at the time I was living there, but I've since learned that it's called the Dust Bowl."
While much of the country was suffering through the Great Depression and Okies were fleeing their barren state, the Allens were successfully making ends meet. Bein's father, a teacher and principal, handled the family's finances and her mother tended a garden.
Bein ran her hands over a quilt at the end of her bed. Her fingers traced the yellow thread, spelling out "Florence." She explained that her mother stitched the bright autumn trees and sewed the names of Bein's 17 aunts into the trunks.
Bein said she inherited a yen for cooking from her mother. The cookbooks in her kitchen were prizes for winning cooking competitions in Brookhaven, Miss.
A Bible propped open on an ornate bookstand belonged to her husband, Theodore Joseph Bein.
"Many folks said it would never last because we were so totally different and from two different worlds," Bein said. "But I believed in the very depths of my heart that you take these vows before God: ''Til death do us part.'"
Bein met Ted while both were freshmen at the University of Oklahoma.
Being said she was a country girl from Oklahoma raised as a Baptist and Ted Bein was a city boy from New Orleans raised in Reformed Judaism.The couple surmounted their differences and began traveling the country for Ted's military career after World War II.
A framed American flag above the kitchen cabinets is a reminder of Bein's employment in the Air Force as a secretary, but she said her most important job was as a mother to three sons.
"Those children took first place in my life, I have to admit," Bein said. "Well, I did a good job of it. They're three fine men now."
After Ted's death in 2009, Bein moved into Morningside. She said the staff is attentive and compassionate.
The staff, in turn, said they have enjoyed Bein's personable presence at the assisted living facility.
"She's so sweet, and she loves to talk about her past," said Ryan McFerrin, interim director of Morningside.
Leighanne Temple, marketing director of Morningside, said Bein loves meeting newcomers and loves to be involved.
"She's a joy," Temple said. "I wish I had 40 more just like her."
(03/20/14 8:30pm)
I can't afford to pay my rent anymore.
It was a shocking discovery. It has been humbling and humiliating. And the hardest part of it all is that this is the best roommate situation I've ever been in. I had to call a roommate meeting like a diplomat and break the news to two of the nicest, coolest people I have ever met.
"Break the news" is a solid phrase. "Breaking news!" It's like someone took a sledgehammer and smashed the words into bits.
Deepening the lines around my mouth that fossilize the frowns and the sighs I had been wrestling. Breaking like the breaking of a home. Like a home-wrecker. Broken-up, like a spoiled love.
And then I felt selfish. Like I should be able to handle it. Magically pull time and energy and money out of the air, as if no one had thought to do that before. Conjure the groceries I need and the medicine to keep me going. My heart castigated itself for making my friends worry and for tearing apart our perfect balance of dishes-garbage-dishes, because girls do dishes and boys haul trash.
Hauling the trash from my brain, I wanted to scream, "This is not my choice!" I wanted to yell, "Never mind!"
I wanted to shout and break the numb silence that swirled around our living room, freezing the spiraling paisleys of my busy rug, wilting the stiff roses in her vases on the counter.
I don't want to go. I don't want to fill my gallery room with an anonymous sub-leaser and risk vacuuming months of Himalayan cat fur blotting out all evidence of my being there.
I don't want a more intrepid or wealthier tenant to sequel my presence and win my friends with late night confessions in front of a muted television and baked goods--because I can't cook at all, it's embarrassing. I don't want them to like her more. I don't want her to light Anthropologie candles or quote The Lord of the Rings or beat everyone at Cranium. Because that's my job.
And I know I'll still be in the same town, within the same circle of acquaintances, but when you live together, you are a clan. You are united and any sociology book could tell you that you form a special bond. Any psychology book could tell you that breaking up the family core cause stress and trauma and vast amounts of uncomfortable adjustments.
And now, what is there to do except to swallow my pride? Swallow my 4.0-gpa-with-two-part-time-jobs-and-a-killer-apartment arrogance and move on and move out? Because to live here, I have to work more. To work more, I have to study less. To study less, is to scrape by. To scrape by is to lose momentum. To lose momentum is to miss out. To miss out is to fall behind. To fall behind is to fail, and failing is swallowing my pride anyway.
Maybe it's okay to be selfish? Maybe I shouldn't call it selfish at all. What do you call it? Self-preservation?
(03/21/14 1:15pm)
Step into the actors' dressing room in the Telfair Peet Theatre on a Monday morning and you'll find blood, gore and latex--just some of the tools used by costume designer Tracy Oleinick's advanced stage makeup class.
Oleinick said since the success of competition shows such as FX's "Face Off" and gnarly dramas like "CSI," interest in working in makeup has grown.
"Several students have been able to go on to Hollywood and have been able to audition with other makeup artists and get to be either into the advanced makeup schools or in with effects artists because there's a lot of [gore] in 'CSI'--they have that need for accident victims and body parts," Oleinick said. "That's really big right now--and zombies."
Oleinick pointed out that Atlanta--the location on AMC's "The Walking Dead"--is a nearby market for talent in makeup arts.
As part of the advanced stage makeup class, students learn how transform themselves into zombies using latex molds for gruesome wounds and rotting flesh.
"We start with sculpting masks," Oleinick said. "A lot of kids have never had a chance to take an advanced art class where they even got to sculpt in clay...Then we begin casting their own faces. The plaster cast of your face is a wonderful surface to sculpt on so everything fits exactly."
After the face cast has been set, more clay is sculpted on top to exaggerate features, such as a nose or chin. Oleinick explained that the new mold is next cast in plaster, then in latex fortified with cheesecloth. The latex nose can be removed and fit perfectly to the wearer.
"All of that blood and gore and guts stuff is very popular right now, so it's gotten a lot of people through the door," Oleinick said. "They have the skills, now they just need to meet the people that will give them the job. It's very marketable right now."
After graduation, a student interested in pursuing a makeup career may go to graduate school or enter the job market in theater or film, according to Oleinick.
"You have to have a cosmetology license to work on movie sets," said Alison Hora, junior in theater. "It's going to allow me to be head of hair and wig department. Very soon, I'll be going to cosmetology school because that license is really going to push me forward and give me that extra experience and just open up a whole new spectrum of opportunities for me."
Hora, who took advanced stage makeup as a freshman, has lent her talents to Auburn theater productions, including "9 to 5: The Musical." She said her desire to work in makeup started when she was a child.
"I would spend hours in my room doing the craziest makeup on my face that I could possibly do and my hair and take pictures of myself acting like a diva," Hora said.
Meghan McCarthy, senior in theater, said she enjoys the practical approach of Oleinick's course.
"I feel like I'm actually learning skills that I want to use outside of class," McCarthy said.
The course is open to all majors and artistic expertise is not a requirement.
"I'd recommend it to anyone, even if they're not theater majors," McCarthy said. "Mrs. Tracy teaches you step by step how to do the different techniques."
Oleinick pointed out that with technological advances, the world of makeup artists is more accessible than ever before, whether or not someone is naturally artistic.
Advanced stage makeup students work actively behind the scenes of Auburn University theater productions by applying old-age makeup, mustaches or more grotesque scars and wounds.
McCarthy and her peers also work to educate actors in applying their own makeup--a valuable skill for a newly graduated acting student, according to Oleinick.
For both actors and makeup artists, the world of theater and film is always about collaboration, Hora said.
"Everyone respects each other and we all work together to make everyone else look good," Hora said.
Whether they're creating zombies or ingenues, the makeup crew's job is to bring the audience into the fantasy.
"Most people don't stay and watch the credits," Oleinick said. "There are about 10 actors, and then there's a list of 100 people. Behind the scenes--that's where the jobs are."
(03/17/14 6:51pm)
Three of Auburn’s most fashion-savvy gentlemen shared their distinct style, tips and tricks with The Plainsman.1. Find Your Signature Style:“Your clothes define you at first glance,” said Alex Lazzari, senior in fine arts. Lazzari has gauges and an inclination toward laid-back, West Coast fashion.“I get called hipster and artsy a lot because I’m hip and I understand what’s modern, trending and fashionable because I’m an artist,” Lazzari said.An internship with Alexander Wang in New York City honed fashion design grad Telvin Florence’s cosmopolitan punk look. “It’s so deeply ingrained in people to conform,” Florence, who is unabashed about his love for the color black and clean lines in design, said.2. Fit is Everything:Charlie Scott, senior industrial design, has learned that fit is crucial. He said he buys most of his wardrobe online at Gap and Urban Outfitters for his 6’5” frame. “I went through some awkward periods in high school,” Scott said. “I guess that’s pretty typical.”Scott navigated the world of style and discovered a love for modern European fashion: tailored jackets and slim-fitting pants.For Lazzari, a slimmer cut is all about showing off the human form and is another way of revealing who you are. He suggested choosing pieces that fit closer to the body and aren’t so baggy and loose.3. Footwear for Dummies:It’s all about boots, guys. Florence, Lazzari and Scott gravitate toward boots of every variety. Whether they are Timberlands, moto boots or dressier lace-up boots, this acceptable trend takes a pair of jeans to the next level. Find the right pair, and you have comfort and quality for years.4. Find Your Style Icons:“Use James Dean as a template,” Florence said. Noting Dean’s effortless cool factor, Florence suggested implementing black jeans or a leather jacket. Other influences for Florence include Lenny Kravitz, Kurt Cobain and Pharrell Williams.Lazzari said he uses Instagram to follow models Luke Ditella and Joel Alexander, both of whom sport beards and piercings.Observing menswear on a trip to France inspired Scott to keep up with fashion and urban design.5. Budget-Friendly Shopping:Smart shopping is a must on a college budget.For Florence, this means shopping online at reasonably-priced retailers, such as Zara, Oak, ASOS and H&M. Lazzari’s closet is comprised of thrift store finds plus outfits from Target, TJ-Maxx and Ross.Scott’s philosophy is all about quality over quantity.“My take on it is [that] I’m going to buy selective things, and they may cost a little extra, but I’ll be happy with them, and I’ll feel confident in myself, but I may not have as many clothes,” Scott said. 6. Staple Pieces Every Guy Should Own:Levi’s are huge right now, according to Scott and Lazzari. Scott’s said his favorite jeans are Levi’s 511 or 510. Florence is a motorcycle jacket advocate, while Scott leans more toward a classic pea coat. Lazzari said some of his favorite pieces are flannel shirts and solid t-shirts.7. Remember: Style Always Beats Trendy:“Trends are very sporadic,” Florence said. “They don’t last long at all. There’s nothing substantial about them. Whereas style is you. It’s your individual take on who you are as a person.”Invest in classic pieces that fit well to highlight your individuality and to reinvent into different outfits.
(03/05/14 5:45pm)
The most stable career paths in theatre and film are often behind the scenes. From design and production to company management and promotion, it takes a team of talented individuals to get a show up and running.
For 2011 theatre graduate, Fred T. Paul, studying theatre production management at Auburn prepared him in many ways for his job at Olney Theatre Center in Olney, Md.
While at Auburn, Paul served as a stage manager and assistant stage manager for several shows.
Paul said one of the most memorable productions was "Little Shop of Horrors," where he was frequently a stand-in during rehearsals.
"'Little Shop' was fun," Paul said, laughing. "I had to learn all the choreography, including the Ronettes' dances, because someone was sick every night."
As an associate production manager, Paul books artists' travel, contracts designers and directors and coordinates production meetings for the Olney Theatre Center.
Paul said the friendships he made as a student have led to job opportunities in the theatre.
"This field is all about networking," Paul said. "Make friends. Talk to people. The people you work with now will like you and promote you."
Stewart Ives graduated from Auburn in 2010 with a degree in theatre design and technology. As a student, Ives also worked on productions as a sound or lighting designer. Most recently, Ives was a guest sound designer for "9 to 5: The Musical."
Ives reflected on lessons he picked up while working with former Auburn University Theatre technical director Pip Gordon.
"She was a really good instructor who taught me how to resolve problems and that it's really important to know how to talk to people, to understand and communicate," Ives said.
After working at Center Stage as multimedia coordinator for a couple years, Ives accepted a position as technical specialist for Activate the Space, a visual technology company in Baltimore, Md.
"I really miss theatre," Ives said. "Theatre's more of a challenge. It's a lot of collaboration on a grand scale and trying to figure out what someone is thinking when they give you a note."
At Center Stage, Ives worked with casts of talented actors from on-and-off Broadway.
Center Stage produces up to seven plays and musicals annually, and Ives said he enjoyed the fast-paced, changing environment of professional theatre.
Another Auburn theatre design and technology alumnus is Drew Holden.
Holden works for Atlanta Rigging Systems, an entertainment rigging company serving the touring, film and corporate event industry, where he designs structures that support sets for film and television.
In Atlanta, Holden has been part of production teams for "Anchor Man 2," "Family Feud," "The Fast and the Furious" franchise, and "X-Men: First Class," among others. Last year, he toured with the Zac Brown Band as a tour rigger and automation technician.
Besides design and construction, Holden learned leadership skills while studying and working at the Auburn theatre department.
"I definitely learned how to manage people and manage myself around people, various personalities and how they mix," Holden said.
Holden explained that the Atlanta film market is strong for those looking for jobs in production, event planning and entertainment.
Like Ives, Holden misses aspects of working in a theatre environment.
"Occasionally [rigging] involves some artistic element, but more often than not, I am supporting someone else's work," Holden said. "Whether that's providing a truss hanging from motors to support lighting, or a massive ground supported truss structure to support backings for film, or designing support structures for six-sided video gears."
In his free time, Holden said he is exploring outlets to express his creativity with dancers, acrobats, circus performers and other designers in Atlanta.
"Right now I'm using my job as an opportunity to support side projects," Holden said. "I'm getting back into some performance like Lyra and aerial work."
Paul, Ives and Holden promoted networking, communication and creativity as some tools for success in a production career.
For graduates in technical theatre, prospects appear to be boundless.
(03/05/14 2:00pm)
On Saturday morning, Oct. 24, 1994, fourth grader Earnest Webb was playing backyard football when he felt extreme thirst and exhaustion.
The 8-year-old went inside, drank two Pepsi's and then slept for six hours. When he awoke at 7 p.m., shaking and ashen-lipped, his parents rushed him to the emergency room where he slipped into a diabetic coma.
Webb remembered waking up attached to tubes and wires. A nurse gave him a painful shot in the stomach--his first dose of insulin.
After receiving his diagnosis, Webb did not fully understand his condition.
"I was craving an orange soda the whole time during the ER," Webb said. "They gave me a Diet Minute Maid Orange, and I'm lookin' like, 'What is a Diet Minute Maid Orange? I want a real orange soda. This is a nasty, nasty soda.'"
Webb, senior in physical activity and health, laughed about his youthful ignorance about Type 1 diabetes.
However, Webb said he wasn't discouraged, even while his siblings enjoyed their Halloween candy the day after coming home from the hospital.
"I said, 'Lord, whatever you have for me I'm going to take it,' and I just went with it," said Webb.
Webb grew up as the fifth child in a family of eight, in the neighborhood of East Park in Auburn. He was the first of his family to attend college and works as an assistant basketball coach at Auburn High School and an assistant football coach at Lanett High School.
Webb also works as a corrections officer at the Lee County Youth Development Center (LCYDC).
When he was a freshman in high school, Webb hit a rebellious streak that put his health at risk.
"When I turned 13 or 14, I started eating whatever I wanted, and I quit pricking my finger," Webb said. "Ninth grade came, and I got kind of crazy, going down the wrong path--smoking, drinking, didn't listen, didn't care."
Coach Frank Tolbert recruited the ninth-grade Webb to be the manager of Auburn High School's basketball team.
At first, Webb was intimidated by Tolbert's disciplined style of coaching and tough love.
"He brought me to his office and said, 'Hey, you need to change,'" Webb said. "He chewed me out. He blistered me, and he blistered me, and he blistered me, and I changed."
Tolbert encouraged Webb to take the Alabama High School Graduation Exam and to continue pursuing his goals through college.
Tolbert held Webb accountable for his mistakes and taught him to be disciplined in taking his insulin and healthy eating.
"Earnest really wants to be a coach," Tolbert said. "The kind of person he is, you don't find those very often--nowadays, you can't find those kinds of kids."
After many years coaching together, Tolbert said Webb is like a son to him.
"He not only saw potential in me, but saw how I could benefit from this community and also benefit the people around this community," Webb said.
The principles he learned from Tolbert carried over to helping troubled youth at the LCYDC as a corrections officer.
Webb said he passes time getting to know the children by playing cards and other games.
"It's been an inspiration," Webb said. "We have kids there now who just don't understand, but if I keep putting some good seed in them, speaking God over them, praying for them, eventually some good has to come out of this."
Webb teaches the children and teens at the LCYDC about the power of perseverance. Webb said he believes the older teenagers must make a choice in changing their behavior when they arrive which determines whether or not they will return to a detention facility for the rest of their lives.
According to Webb, the most fulfilling part of his job at the LCYDC is seeing the teens succeed after leaving the facility.
"It's amazing just to see them say, 'I'm never going back there. You taught me a lot,'" Webb said. "That's what makes my job what it is. That's what makes me proud. That's what makes me happy. If I just see one say, 'Hey, I changed for the better,' [then] I've done my job."
Laura Cooper, executive director of the LCYDC, is another long-time friend and supporter of Webb.
"Our life experiences really inform us, and I've seen some people that were propelled by what they saw to be a difference-maker and some that have succumbed to it," Cooper said. "The fact that he didn't succumb to the circumstances that he was around, that he transcended them--I think that makes him want to have other children transcend those circumstances."
Cooper explained that there are real challenges facing children in some areas of Auburn.
Cooper said the best thing an adult can do for troubled youth is to show that they care, and Webb has consistently gotten on a personal level with the children in the LCYDC and invested in their success.
"There are lots of heroes among us, and we certainly read about our gridiron heroes and our basketball heroes and all those people are noteworthy, as well," Cooper said. "However, I think the real heroes are those that are doing things behind the scenes and doing things to quietly change the world, one child or one circumstance at a time, and I think Earnest is one of those people."
As a student, Webb said he feels a true sense of family at the University.
Auburn Tigers running back, Corey Grant, played against Webb's Auburn High basketball team for Opelika, but the two became friends in college.
"It is a rivalry there, but we're still friends because of the University," Grant said. "He loves working with the kids and is always trying to help change some lives."
Webb said he plans to coach at the high school or college level after graduating and, ultimately, he wants to give back to the Auburn community.
Webb acknowledged teachers, coaches, family members and employers who continue to encourage him to achieve his goals.
"I think if you wanted to illustrate the word 'perseverance,' you'd put a picture of Earnest," Cooper said. "You can knock him down, but he won't be knocked out. You can bend him, but he won't break. In life, we all need to have that resilience."
(03/02/14 6:30pm)
When people are dancing in the audience, you know you've put on a good show.
The cast of Auburn University Theatre's "9 to 5: The Musical" beamed as the house lights came up to a standing ovation Feb. 21.
"9 to 5" follows three plucky female employees who take a stand against their slime ball of a boss, Franklin Hart, and challenge women's rights in the workplace. The energetic musical is based on the film starring Dolly Parton and features Parton's original music and lyrics.
Jake Heflin, junior in theatre, portrayed the heartless Hart and filled out a larger than life character audiences love to hate.
For Heflin, it was a stretch to play a "sexist, egotistical, lying, hypocritical bigot," as Hart is described by the musical's heroines, Violet, Judy and Doralee.
"He's special in his own villainous and rotten way," Heflin said. "I'm not that kind of person, so having to play the exact opposite of who you are is really harder than you'd think."
In the Act 1 show-stopping number, "Here For You," as Hart, Heflin oozes chauvinism as he gyrates on top of his desk, fearlessly laughable and surrounded by thrusting pinstriped male co-workers openly lusting after the bombshell Doralee, played by Daley Browning, junior in musical theatre.
Doralee, the "backwoods Barbie," takes on Hart's office harassment with a quick wit, a sharp tongue and a concealed weapon.
"It's a character I've never really played before," Browning said. "Being able to kind of let loose and be a little bit more wild and a little bit more sassy was a lot of fun."
Browning was at the top of her game and showed off her vocal chops in songs written for one of the most recognizable country music stars.
Auburn Theatre veteran Anna Claire Walker, senior in musical theatre, took the stage as Doralee's compatriot, Violet. The harried single mother of a teenage son, Violet has her sights set on a managerial position at the office.
With impressive comedic timing, Walker once again proved to be an invaluable member of the cast and an astute character actress.
"She's got a very dry humor and isn't afraid of standing up to Hart," Walker said.
According to Walker, the play uses comedy to approach issues of women's equality.
"It definitely unveils some questions that are still very relevant today," Walker said.
Rachel Pair, senior in musical theatre, filled out the trio as the simultaneously poignant and hilarious Judy.
Nursing a broken heart, Judy joins the staff of Consolidated Companies and is clearly in over her head before befriending Violet and Doralee.
Pair nailed the sugary-sweet depiction of Judy and clearly defined her transition into fierce independence with the power ballad, "Get Out and Stay Out."
"Every girl's been hurt before and it's kind of cool to have that redeeming story," Pair said.
Orchestrating much of the tech-heavy performance from behind the scenes was stage manager Taylor Dyleski, senior in theatre.
"It's something that can relate to everyone even if you've never worked in an office," Dyleski said. "The audience is cheering for someone."
One of Dyleski's responsibilities was coordinating a 46-second quick change of 22 actors.
"That's the kind of thing we had to think through from the very beginning," Dyleski said. "It was a long tech process but it all came together really well."
Dyleski spoke out for some of the unsung heroes of the production, including the male ensemble performers and theatre office administrator, Kimberly Ford.
The 24 student performers - many of whom had little or no dance experience - directed by Chase Bringardner, brought Dolly Parton's music and lyrics to life on a1970s office set.
Rolling desks, chairs and office equipment made way for Jeri Dickey's toe-tapping choreography. Projections lit up the bare walls on set to define time and place as designed by Matt Kizer.
Theatre costume designer Tracy Olenick showed impressive range from neutral, period-specific office wear to fantasy-scene, fairytale princess gowns.
The story swept along at a clip accompanied by a live orchestra. Lively and comedic, the theme of the story was not lost on the audience. Facts and figures printed in the program reminded patrons that women are paid approximately $12,000 less annually than men even today.
"Women still have to fight more to move up in rankings and the actors have portrayed that in a comical way," said Alyssa Armstrong, freshman in elementary education.
"9 to 5: The Musical" is a rallying cry for pencil pushers and underdogs everywhere.
The show is playing in the Telfair Peet Theatre until March 2.
(02/26/14 2:00pm)
Community and sustainability are certainly buzzwords these days. For beekeepers like T. Scott Robinson, maintaining a healthy colony of bees is a daily lesson in community involvement and sustainable production.
"It all plays a part and everything is connected," said Robinson, leaning against his green pick-up truck. "Every bee has a job to do, just like a community."
According to Robinson, working with bees gave him a different perspective.
"That's one thing that I've felt overwhelmed by. Once you start dealing things with in nature--God's creation--you start to realize how interconnected things are. It's a blessing," Robinson said.
Tall and lean with electric blue eyes, Robinson is soft-spoken and prone to marvel at the simplistic genius of nature.
Robinson rolled up his right sleeve to reveal deep purple bruising and explained his wincing handshake.
"I'm kinda gimpy with this right arm all jacked up," Robinson said.
The pain from a recent skiing accident, which will require surgery, did not prevent Robinson from climbing on top of a raised platform to extract a frame from a stack of wooden boxes called "supers" that encased a hive of bees.
The colony was one of the very first Robinson extracted from a church in Uchee, Ala., seven years ago and relocated.
"Yeah, y'all probably want to back up and we'll see how they react," Robinson said through the netting of his protective veil.
Bees hummed around Robinson's head as he produced the frame, which was crawling with more honey bees.
"They're not aggressive as long as you respect them," Robinson said, pointing a gloved finger at a bee furiously stabbing his veil. "Like this one. This one is aggravated."
Robinson replaced the frame with a soft "Alright, girls," as if soothing fussy children.
According to Robinson, honey bees are mild-mannered compared to their Africanized honey-bee relatives, better known as killer bees, and are selective about stinging.
Robinson explained bees serve an important function in sustainable farming and that beekeepers are often called to facilitate pollination in orchards or farms.
"My part in all this is I'm trying to promoting beekeeping and understanding, so that when people see a bee, it's not an enemy," Robinson said. "It's actually so important to our economy."
After picking up beekeeping as a hobby, Robinson began giving demonstrations for 4-H clubs, the Boy Scouts and local elementary schools.
Annually, Robinson shares his knowledge at The Great Grown-Up Spelling Bee, held by the East Alabama Chapter of the Public Relations Council of Alabama at the Saugahatchee Country Club in July, and which benefits the Lee County Literacy Coalition.
Not only are bees important for pollination, the honey they produce is a natural allergy remedy.
According to Robinson and fellow beekeeper Mike Ellenberger, who befriended Robinson during a Saugahatchee Beekeepers Association meeting, local honey exposes the immune system to allergens in the area capable of preventing or easing the agony of seasonal allergies.
"It's amazing," Robinson said. "But I've already noticed three different types of pollen: one is a bright orange, one is a grey and one is yellow. Already this early in the season, we have things in bloom and that's why people are noticing their allergies."
Auburn coffee shop, Wake Up Coffee Company, stands by local beekeepers.
Recognizing both the health benefits and the community support local honey provides, owner Wade Preston is always on the look-out for nearby apiaries.
"We want to source local products and local honey's great," Preston said. "We currently source honey out of Odenville, but we're looking to get some that's even more local."
Despite their reputation for stinging, Ellenberger said bees provide numerous perks to the community.
"They're very much beneficial insects," Ellenberger said. "There are other benefits that people don't think about. There's pollen production and wax production for candle-making."
As winter retreats, the coming months will prove to be a test of the hives' strength.
"It's a fine dance between a good honey-producing season and a bad one," Robinson said. "It's really contingent on what Mother Nature is giving us."
However, Robinson is confident in his hive.
A good bloodline is as important in a colony of bees as it is in a monarchy and he has spent years cultivating this particular group.
Those inspired to try their hand at beekeeping or learn more about the profession can contact the Opelika Extension Agency or the Saugahatchee Beekeepers Association.
According to Robinson and Ellenberger, the lessons learned from beekeeping could be valuable for positive civic and personal growth.
"In the short period of time that I've spent with this one insect, I've learned about community, self-awareness, and respect to nature," Robinson said.
(02/19/14 4:05pm)
Ready to feel great about yourself? Special K is here to help.
The sugary-sweet pressed corn cereal has been running The Special K Challenge commercials since 2008, promising women they'll drop six pounds or one jean size in two weeks.
Peppy music swells--a terrible cover of Nappy Roots' "Good Day." A brunette scans a Gap-like department store for her jean size. Many know the annoyance of trying jeans on in-store, hoping vanity-sizing hasn't transfigured your usual size. For our heroine, it must have come as a shock to discover that her denim provider swapped numbered sizes for uplifting phrases to better entice shoppers and stroke egos: "Radiant," "Confident," "Oooh-La-La," and the coveted size "Sassy."
After eight seconds, a cheerful disembodied voice shares this kernel of wisdom: "Wouldn't it be nice if we focused less on the number and more on the way the fit makes us feel?" Not a bad concept. Yet.
A chorus of children butchers Nappy's "And all my homies gonna ride today," into "And all my ladies got pride today." The incorporeal voice interrupts to answer her own rhetorical question: "Take the Special K Challenge. Drop a jean size in just two weeks and slip into size 'Sassy.'"
Fast-forward to two weeks from the original shopping trip. Our heroine swallows her mouthful of Special K Redberries then spins to show us her rear where "Sassy" is printed on the label of her jeans. The all-knowing Voice, which has followed her home a la Paranormal Activity, points out that there are lots of delicious ways to lose weight and finally fit into size "Sassy."
There is even a website you can visit and an online community to support "positive change." You may create a meal plan that fits you--as long as it includes at least four Special K products a day. The Voice leaves us to ponder, "What will you gain when you lose?"
Another commercial gives us a view of nervous, pedicured toes--130 toes to be exact--as approximately 13 women approach their bathroom scales. The format of the commercial is basically the same as the last, but they take it a step further.
Hopefully, hitting a nerve with women everyone, the scales flash redeeming qualities and fuzzy feelings instead of numbers: pep, shine, joy, nerve, pride, hope, calm, freedom, laughter. While this is a baffling situation, when the camera pans up we are shown three orgasmic faces.
The women are thrilled to weigh in at "Spirit." They finally made it. "Thanks, Special K! Couldn't have done it without you," the ladies practically shout.
The Voice returns with the unfortunately all-too-familiar catchphrase: "What will you gain when you lose?"
Here's what's wrong, in case you've missed the blatant contradiction. First, Special K is masquerading as a company that supports healthy lifestyles for women and believes in female empowerment.
They claim to be the emancipation from a life of being a slave to the scale. They say numbers don't matter, except to Special K, numbers matter quite a bit. They are promoting quick-fix dieting while lining their pockets with the cash women cough up once they've bought into the scheme.
Because some women think the Special K Challenge is all they need to jump-start a healthy diet, they will return again and again. Not to mention the sugar addiction the artificial sweeteners in the products undoubtedly trigger.
More distressing, though, Special K is telling us that once we lose those last six (or eight or 12 or 20) pounds, we'll finally feel good about ourselves. We shed the weight and gain confidence and happiness. We slip into a smaller size and throw off shyness and dissatisfaction.
Everything Special K promotes is external. Everything is wrapped up in how much you weigh. Instead of nurturing women and showing them how to accept themselves, The Special K Challenge demands alterations. They don't put a cap on it either--they don't say, "some people shouldn't lose any more weight." Instead it's a blanket statement: "everyone could stand to lose at least six pounds."
And then what? When a girl is exposed to messages like this--and there are thousands, I'm just picking on Special K for fun--she is set up for disaster. Arguments start in her brain and she wants to make the changes and feel the feelings like the women in the commercial, like the juice-fasting celebrity in the magazine, like the Adderall-abusing roommate. Because she's been taught that these are gateways to happiness. She doesn't see the frustration and the downward spiral that lies in wait.
If you're looking to feel sassy, confident and free, skip the Special K Challenge. You already have it inside you, I promise, and it's not too late to uncover it if you think you've lost it. Take a deep breath, have a bubble bath, go to Restorative Yoga on Friday nights, be kind to others, and speak gently to yourself. Invest in your healthier life, starting from the inside out.
(02/19/14 1:54am)
What-A-Drag!, Spectrum's annual drag show charity event, will be held on Saturday, Feb. 22, in the Student Center Ballroom from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. What-A-Drag! is open to the public for a $5 admission fee, which supports LGBT organizations and Auburn's Gay-Straight Alliance.
According to Darcy Corbitt, senior in psychology and Spectrum's director of social affairs, proceeds from What-A-Drag! will be donated to either The Trevor Project, Equality Alabama or The Transgender Law Center.
In a new competition-style performance, the winning charity will be chosen by the drag king or queen who receives the largest amount of tips throughout the performance. Audience members are encouraged to bring $1 tips for performers representing each of the charities.
"A drag show is a sort of symbol for the LGBT community, and it normalizes the trouble people could have with gendered performance by making it ridiculous--by making it extreme," said Ellen Dowdell, senior in sociology and English Literature and director of event planning for What-A-Drag! and Spectrum. "There's like an energy that comes from being together and being free to stand out."
The event is comprised of both amateur and professional drag performances and will be emceed by Daisy Pukes and Femma Nazi.
What-A-Drag! is Spectrum's major outreach event for the academic year, with members of both the University and local community in attendance.
Hayden Harris, senior in business management and assistant director of social affairs for Spectrum, said last year's What-A-Drag! event raised more than $1,000 for charity.
"For the most part, response has always been positive to What-A-Drag! People seem to enjoy it whenever they go," Harris said.
Harris said the event promised to be a lively one that appealed to a wide audience, whether they are active in Spectrum or not.
Dowdell pointed out that while Spectrum has roughly 100 members, What-A-Drag! has recorded close to 300 spectators in recent years.
"People who have never been keep comparing it to a fashion show, but it's not like that," Dowdell said, "It's more like a concert. Everybody's close and gathered in and excited about what's going on onstage. There's no sitting back, it's all forward motion, forward interaction with the performer."
Spectrum representatives and drag performers will present the charities they've chosen to support and share the Gay-Straight Alliance's message.
While the show ultimately spreads a deeper message about equality, What-A-Drag! steers away from too much gravity.
"In some ways it's a more positive, freeing, optimistic event because it's celebrating," Dowdell said. "It's exuberant. It's loud and unapologetic."
Auburn's Spectrum has teamed up again with Spectrum Troy, who will be sending performers and working behind the scenes.
"Members of other Gay-Straight Alliances state-wide have also been invited to contribute to this event, and Spectrum Troy has been very instrumental in this event's success in the past," Corbitt said.
For those who have never attended a drag performance, Dowdell explained that there is a difference between performing in drag and being a transgendered individual.
"It is important to note that drag is a performance, it is a gendered performance," Dowdell said. "People do it once a year. If they do it professionally they may do it several times a year, but it is different from being a transgendered individual, so no one should assume anything about gender based on what they see."