Opelika Police Chief surprised by early retirement
Opelika's police chief for 22 years, Thomas Mangham, is retiring at the behest of Opelika Mayor Gary Fuller.
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Opelika's police chief for 22 years, Thomas Mangham, is retiring at the behest of Opelika Mayor Gary Fuller.
Twenty-four graduate students have been selected as the recipients of two prestigious annual awards. Twenty graduate students have been chosen as this year's Outstanding Graduate Students, and four doctoral students are the recipients of the Merriwether Fellowship.
Auburn UPC's most recent Tiger Nights event, Cirque d' Auburn, entranced audiences and raised the standard for student events to new heights. The Cirque du Soleil inspired circus and carnival event took place Friday, April 12 at the student center from 7:00 p.m.-midnight.
Flyerbug, an online grocery service that lets you compare prices before you shop, has expanded to include the Auburn area. The service was founded in March 2013 by Raul Sukraj, who wanted to provide a way for people to combat rising food costs.
Running for Brews, a new running organization in Auburn, encourages participants to down a cold beer with new friends after running a 5K each week. Quixote's hosts the organization each week, offering $1 beer specials to participants. Running for Brews was founded in Dunedin, Fla. in 2010 by co-founders Kevin Bupp and John McMahan. Since then, they have added four locations in Florida, as well as locations in Chattanooga, Tenn. and Boulder, Colo. Auburn marks Running for Brews' first location in Alabama. "We wanted to create an experience for runners that was unique, fun and fulfilling," Bupp said. For McMahan, it's about meeting new people and networking. "Week in and week out, we have met thousands of individuals who have our same interests in mind," McMahan said. Running for Brews' vision is to grow a nationwide group of social running clubs that will benefit communities everywhere. "Running for Brews connects with local communities and charities to bring people together," Bupp said. Adam Pugh, manager of Big Dog Running Company in Auburn, said Running for Brews scouted Auburn for people willing to help get the program on the ground and running. Lesley Benning, employee at HealthPlus Fitness Center, was approached in a similar manner. "I thought it sounded pretty cool and it would force me to get out on a Saturday night," Benning said. Benning agreed to lead the Auburn location for Running for Brews. She said 30 people signed in for the inaugural Running for Brews run and they ran a distance of 3.4 miles, just more than a 5K. "We're going to try and change up the route each week, or every couple weeks," Benning said. "We'll try to go through 3-4 different routes on a loop." Running for Brews offers a friendly atmosphere for a variety of athletic ability. Some people treated the 5K as a race, while others chose to walk and just complete the event. "Drinking and running are two of my passions," said Philip Smith, Auburn alumni. "I like that there is something new and different coming to Auburn." Smith said he found out about Running for Brews through his friends on Facebook. Others saw Quixote's advertising the run and decided to participate. "I'm a frequent flyer at Quixote's and so when I found out they were having a 5K I decided to run it," said Blake Burgess, senior in theater. "I just got done playing football for Auburn and I was looking for a way to stay healthy and get active." Burgess finished the run in first, rewarding himself with a cold beer to rehydrate. "I feel fantastic," Burgess said. "I ran around Auburn, got to meet a couple I didn't know and it was a lot of fun." Benning said that she hoped Running for Brews would turn into something big during the summer and engage participants of all ages, not just college students. "We're going to try and have some fun nights like costumes nights," Benning said. "Or, maybe mini-marathons where we sprint from Quixote's to Toomer's and then snag some beers; fun things like that." Charitable races are also an integral part of Running for Brews as a way to add a level of purpose to the runs in addition to promoting a healthy lifestyle. "I like that about it," Smith said. "I know that they're trying to get communities together to have a good time, run a little bit and also drink some good beers for good causes." Whether running or walking, Running for Brews is aiming to build healthy lifestyles. "The brews are just a bonus to building new relationships and creating a unique community of runners and walkers," McMahan said.
Mud Mania, a boot camp style 5K run embedded with 23 obstacles, occurred Saturday, March 23. The race was located at Fad J Farm, nine miles outside of Auburn's campus. Participants ran in 30-minute heats of 300 participants for a total of more than 1,400 participants. Obstacles throughout the 5K race included creek runs, hay bales, climbing walls, mud pits and even a muddy Slip 'n Slide. Registration for the event was $45, which included a T-shirt and access to candid photos taken during the event. Proceeds went to the Hudson Family Foundation, an organization whose mission is to make an impact in the lives of children with a genuine need for assistance. The 5K's first obstacle was a stretch of ankle-deep mud, removing all illusions that participants could finish Mud Mania without getting dirty. Still, guys and girls alike tried to skirt the mud, only to face other obstacles later that forced them to get muddy. Others embraced the dirtiness, finishing the race caked in mud. "We were just trying to finish as muddy as possible," said Morgan Hall, senior in graphic design. Mud Mania provided wash stations for participants who did not feel at home covered in mud, but Gabe Gotthelf, event coordinator, encouraged participants to remember it was only mud. "You can go home and take a shower, and then you're clean again," Gotthelf said. In the 9 a.m. heat, conditions for Mud Mania were cold and rainy, but participants said the conditions set the mood. "I was psyched up," said Will Frye, doctoral student in clinical psychology. "It set the atmosphere for the mud run. You have all these wild dudes running shirtless and it amps you up." Frye had the fastest time for this year's Mud Mania at 18:18, beating last year's time of 24:06 by Nathan Rouse. Frye said he looked up times from last year and set his expectations around them, training for Mud Mania like any other race. "I just did my normal stuff. I ran and worked out," Frye said. "I went to a sorority formal last night and didn't get a ton of sleep; that may be the training trick." Mud Mania is different from other mud runs because the event is tailored to a wide range of athleticism. While other mud runs are designed to test, or even break participants physically, Mud Mania is designed to be challenging, but not impossible. "The long treks through the mud were hard because of slippery mud, and running up the river in waist-deep water because it was so cold," said Abby Carr, senior in graphic design. Harper Power, participant of the race, duct-taped his shoes so the mud would not pull them off. The final obstacles of the race were a 15-foot climbing wall and the deepest mud pit of the event. "You're tired at the end and you've gotta climb that," Frye said. "That and running through the last mud pit; it was waist-high deep and you had to crawl through it." Costumes were a major part of what made Mud Mania so fun to watch. James Bradley and Garrett Hyatt, participants of the race, were part of a group that dressed like the Avengers. They had about 19 in their group. Bradley dressed and painted himself like the Hulk, and Hyatt dressed as Batman. Members of their group also included Robin, Wonder Woman and Superman. Other costumes included tutus, business attire and even six people dressed as William Wallace. Melina Sevlever, doctoral student in clinical psychology, said the biggest challenge was the smell. "The mud kind of smelled like manure if I'm being honest," Sevlever said. For people who wanted to stay mud-free but still have a good time, there was a spectator area that overlooked some of the muddier obstacles of the race. The event staff said planning for the event was an arduous and involved process. "It takes six months of planning for one day of racing," Gotthelf said. Gotthelf said the event went much better than last year's Mud Mania. "Last year was a nightmare," Gotthelf said. "We learned so much that contributed to the success of this year." Participants and staff alike are looking forward to next year's Mud Mania. "Next year I'll be ready," Hyatt said. "I'm going to show that mud who's boss."
The 14th annual Flapjack Fest and Silent Auction took place Thursday, March 7 at the Foy Hall Food Court from 6-8 p.m. Tickets were $5 and all proceeds went toward the Ryan F. Chandler Memorial Scholarship Endowment Fund. Five dollars provided attendees with all you can eat pancakes, bacon and sausage. The purpose of the fundraiser was to ensure that the scholarship is self-sustaining for years to come. Sodexo and Chartwells, a private food company, donated all of the food for the event. Ryan Chandler was an Auburn University camp counselor in 1995, the first year that Camp War Eagle was the orientation program on campus. Chandler died four years later in the summer of 1999. His family set up the endowment fund in his honor after his death. The scholarship fund is awarded to a student in the college of science and mathematics. "We are here to raise money for the scholarships, and keep Ryan's name and his memory alive," said Mark Armstrong, director of First Year Experience. "We kind of tagged on and said we need to do something as a program to honor his memory." First Year Experience is involved in many areas of orientation including Camp War Eagle, SOS, first year university seminar courses and the learning community program. In the spring of 2000, First Year Experience created the Flapjack Fest and Silent Auction. Over the last 14 years, the event has raised more than $60,000 toward the scholarship fund. Armstrong said the goal was to keep growing the endowment fund so that more students can receive scholarships. The Foy Hall Food Court was so full that people were standing and eating their food because no more seats were available. "More than 600 tickets were pre-sold, or sold at the door," said Melissa Dunn, assistant director of First Year Experience, exceeding the original expectation of 400 tickets. Josh Huggins, head camp counselor and senior in music education, said that three rotations of staff were used during the event. "We've actually had counselors cooking the pancakes, bacon and sausage in the arena all afternoon," Huggins said. Sixty-two counselors participated in the preparation and management of the event, including 36 camp counselors, 20 parent counselors and six head counselors. "That's our whole staff that we'll use throughout the whole entire summer," Huggins said. George Merriam, junior in public relations, was the first student through the line to get pancakes. "I'm thinking of going back and getting some more flappies," Merriam said. "I've only had 10." Merriam said he stayed away from the sausage because it would take up too much space in his stomach and attributes his consumption quantity to his friends helping him keep pace. The silent auction offered an alternative way for participants to show their support of the event. "The silent auction is going on and it's all stuff that has either been made or donated, ranging from personal paintings to a football signed by Pat Dye," Huggins said. The camp counselors were responsible for getting together most of the items that would be auctioned off. Some of this year's contributions included a panorama photograph of Jordan-Hare Stadium, paintings done by faculty, hand-made jewelry and numerous Auburn memorabilia items. The photograph of Jordan-Hare Stadium was the highest-grossing item at $70. Dunn estimated that more than $3,000 was raised by the Flapjack Fest and Silent Auction in support of the scholarship fund. "I'm grateful for anyone who comes out and takes part in it," Armstrong said.
In the March 7 issue of The Auburn Plainsman, I wrote a column about eating dog at a village outside of Chiang Rai, Thailand. That experience, along with subsequent columns in this series, will discuss things that students encountered during travels around the world. This column will serve as an introduction of sorts for forthcoming articles.
The natives of Thailand are known for eating almost anything. "Is that your dog?" our translator Mind asked. When we responded yes, she simply said, "I'd eat it." While she was trying to be funny, it became apparent that if it was put in front of her, she probably would have eaten it. Thailand had the most eclectic food options of any country that I have been to, with a similar variation in people who prepared them. In Chiang Rai, we lived at the epicenter of the clash between tourism and nativism. While tourism was a major source of income for the people of Chiang Rai, our local contact told us that behind the facade of friendliness, the majority of the people wanted tourists to get whatever they came for - whether sex, exotic foods or seeing the sights and leave. In short, the natives believed tourists were interfering with the tradition of Thailand, or even destroying it. A local night market served some of the most unusual foods I have ever seen. We ate grubs, locusts, crickets, unidentifiable meats and insects and the more common pad Thai. Twenty-four hour Internet cafes, equipped with computers and an Internet connection that could be comparable to Auburn's labs, were a common occurrence in a country that is one of the poorest in Asia. We were taken 20 miles outside of Chiang Rai to a small village whose people elected to live in the hills instead of the city. Their houses were made from wood with grass roofs that offered a modicum of protection from the rain. The materials provided almost no insolation in a country that could get surprisingly cold at night. The people of the hill tribes were more welcoming than the people of the city. It could have been because somewhere in those 20 miles of travel we shirked our tourist titles and transitioned into something more acceptable. Some of the children had never seen a white person, and we were told later that their fear of us was inspired by childhood tales that naughtiness would make the "white people come punish them." We connected with the people of the tribe almost immediately in a way that transcended language. We were forced to make a connection that did because our understanding of Thai was limited, and their understanding of English was non-existent. Like other places in Thailand, pregnant dogs and puppies littered the dusty ground, chasing chickens and cautiously antagonizing the larger, more aggressive roosters. Our favorite puppy, Skip, loosely resembled the famous Jack Russell Terrier from "My Dog Skip," and bravely barked at the roosters and wrestled with other puppies. We played a game with similar rules of shuffleboard, where a marker would be placed and each team member would take turns throwing a ball as close to the marker as possible. We ate rice that had been wrapped in bamboo and placed over the fire to cook. After peeling back the bamboo, the result was a gooey paste that had a sweet taste to it. In addition, because the village wanted to honor their visitors, we were offered meat that was almost inedible because of its toughness, but we graciously accepted so we would not offend them. Afterward, the men and women separated. While we could not understand much of it, we did learn something that we elected not to tell the women until nearly a month later. We attempted to sleep on bamboo slats that would have made the makers of the Sleep Number Bed cringe. In the morning, we said our goodbyes and thanked them for their hospitality, spending extra time saying farewell to the people we connected with. "Has anyone seen Skip? I wanted to hug him goodbye," said one of our female team members.
The 14th annual Flapjack Fest and Silent Auction took place Thursday, March 7 at the Foy Hall Food Court from 6-8 p.m. Tickets were $5, and all proceeds went toward the Ryan Chandler Memorial Scholarship Endowment Fund. Five dollars provided attendees with all-you-can-eat pancakes, bacon and sausage. Sodexo and Chartwells, a private food company, donated all of the food for the event. Ryan Chandler was an Auburn University camp counselor during the first Camp War Eagle orientation program in 1995, but died four years later in the summer of 1999. Chandler's family set up the endowment fund in his honor after his death. "We are here to raise money for the scholarships and keep Ryan's name and his memory alive," said Mark Armstrong, director of the First Year Experience. "We kind of tagged on and said, 'We need to do something as a program to honor his memory.'" First Year Experience is involved in many areas of orientation, including Camp War Eagle, SOS, first year University seminar courses and the learning community program. In the spring of 2000, the First Year Experience created the Flapjack Fest and Silent Auction. During the last 14 years, the event has raised more than $60,000 toward the scholarship fund. Armstrong anticipated selling approximately 400 tickets for the Flapjack Fest event.He said the goal was to keep growing the endowment fund so more and more students can receive scholarships. Josh Huggins, head camp counselor and senior in music education, said three rotations of staff were used during the event. "We've actually had counselors cooking the pancakes, bacon and sausage in the arena all afternoon," Huggins said. Sixty-two counselors participated in the preparation and management of the event, including 36 camp counselors, 20 parent counselors and six head counselors. "That's our whole staff that we'll use throughout the whole entire summer," Huggins said. George Merriam, junior in public relations, was the first student through the line to get pancakes. "I'm thinking of going back and getting some more flappies," Merriam said. "I've only had 10." Merriam said he stayed away from the sausage because it would take up too much space in his stomach and attributes his consumption quantity to his friends helping him keep pace. The silent auction offered an alternative way for participants to show their support of the event. "The silent auction is going on, and it's all stuff that has either been made or donated, ranging from personal paintings to a football signed by Pat Dye," Huggins said. In addition, a panorama picture of Jordan-Hare Stadium was one of the items being auctioned off. The counselors hoped the picture would fetch more than $100. It's important to note that camp counselors are different than student recruiters; however, both groups work together to make students and parents feel at ease. "For the parents, it's about giving them a lot of comfort," said Meagan Campbell, parent counselor and sophomore in business. Safety was cited as the biggest concern of all parents, who want to be reassured that their children are safe at Auburn University. In addition, the camp counselors ensure that parents have a level of familiarity with Auburn's campus. "They're introduced to some of the offices around campus and things that they need to know," said Brett Findley, head parent counselor and sophomore in organismal biology. Camp counselors have similar goals for incoming freshmen. "Our main goal is to make sure students come here their freshman year completely prepared and not lost," said Taylor Akers, camp counselor and sophomore in pre-communication. "They know where they should be going and hopefully where some of their classes will be located." The camp counselors said they enjoyed what they do, and loved being able to give back by supporting a great cause. "I'm grateful for anyone who comes out and takes part in it," Armstrong said. "We're happy to feed part of the Auburn family."
In celebration of Pi Day, the chemistry faculty is placing their fate, and their faces, in the hands of their students. Auburn University Chemistry Graduate Student Association is hosting its first Pi Day, which includes a contest to pie your professor. Students can purchase a vote for $1 and choose the professor they want to be pied. Students will be selected at random from the votes cast to see who receives the opportunity to pie the winner. Jessica Crumbley, Walter Casper and Nick Klann serve as presidents for CGSA. Crumbley said the money will go into the CGSA fund to sponsor future events and compensate the winning faculty with gift cards. The eligible faculty members are Eduardus Duin, Christopher Easley, Holly Ellis, John Gorden, Peter Livant, Howard McLean, Konrad Patkowski, Michael Squillacote and Stephen Swann. Voting ends Thursday, March 7. Crumbley said that the number of faculty members pied would be contingent on the number of votes. If the votes are spread among a few faculty members, each might receive multiple pies to the face, or if there is a clear front runner that faculty member might be the sole victim of the barrage. The predicted winners for the contest are reported as Livant, Squillacote, or Swann. Livant and Squillacote, teach freshmen and sophomore level classes and have a large amount of exposure, with students who either love, or loathe them. "Squillacote may be up there," Casper said. "Though this isn't for some sort of revenge." Crumbley said the faculty volunteered and the competition is purely for fun, though some students are enjoying the opportunity to get back at their professors. "I've voted for Squillacote and I'm sure he'll win," said Billy McCann, graduate student in computational organic chemistry. "He's the bane of any organic chemistry student's life. He shall receive justice." Swann, lab coordinator for freshman chemistry, is considered the dark horse in the competition. "I would guess Swann because he has so many students that have gone through his labs," Crumbley said. "Even though some students are in different general chemistry labs, they all see Swann." Some students are showing their support for CGSA in other ways. "I'm going to vote for all of them because it's for a good cause," said Haley Medlen, junior in biomedical sciences. CGSA also organizes tailgate cookouts for football games and has had fundraisers such as Deck the Halls for a Cause . The Pi Day Contest is an effort to expand and increase their presence on campus. "I think Pi Day is a great idea," Medlen said. "CGSA has really made an impressive effort to get more student involvement." Another candidate, John Gorden, said fun activities such Pi Day are an effort to facilitate relationships between faculty and students. "Students are used to us standing up in front of them telling them what's important, but it's not always fun," Gorden said. Gorden said approximately 1,900 students take freshmen chemistry during the spring semester. "It's not so much a competition between us as a way to get students to interact with us outside of the classroom," Gorden said. Pi Day is celebrated annually Thursday, March 14. Because that falls during spring break, CGSA's contest results will be revealed March 8 at 3:14 p.m. at the chemistry building lawn.
The Graphic Design Student Show, an event which showcases the work of students in the graphic design program, is scheduled for Monday, Feb. 25 through Wednesday, March 6.
The No. 14 women's gymnastics team scored a school record of 197.175 points against No. 6 LSU, who put up 196.975 points Friday, Feb. 22. The previous record was 197.00 against Florida in 2004. Trailing 147.725 to 148.075 after the third rotation, Auburn snatched victory from LSU's jaws in the final rotation. "I'm excited," Auburn Coach Jeff Graba said. "This is what we expect to see every night. It still wasn't a perfect night for us, but it's as close as we've gotten all year. I'm really proud of the team." On vault, Auburn gymnast Brianna Guy and LSU's Randi Lau, Maliah Mathis and Britney Taylor tied for first with a score of 9.925; on bars Auburn's Petrina Yokay and LSU's Sarie Morrison tied for first with a score of 9.950; on the beam, Auburn's Megan Walker took first with a score of 9.875; and Auburn's Caitlin Atkinson and Brianna Guy took first on the floor with a score of 9.925. "You have to get to the last rotation and be within striking distance and we were able to do that," Graba said. "On top of it, you've got to do your thing. We left everything out on the table." Atkinson, Toi Garcia, Brittany Webster and Yokay each notched career bests on floor exercise, while Caryn Kadous posted a season high in the event. In the all-around, Atkinson won her third all-around title of the season and set a career best with a score of 39.550. Yokay set a career high with 39.325 and Guy tied her career best with a score of 39.475. "I feel like this team has been capable of this," Graba said. "I feel like this was in the mix all year and it's just a matter of us hitting. I'm absolutely excited about it." LSU suffered a few stumbles on the beam in their final rotation. "They had an error on beam, and I would say we weren't real clean on bars," Graba said. Graba said the team was going work on cleaning up the little things. "We left a few tenths out on the floor tonight," Graba said. "Bars and beam are two areas, and then we didn't stick many vaults. We've got improvements to make." Graba said that the gymnastics team was trying to solidify some lineups and make sure everyone was competing fit. "A lot of it is getting our girls healthy," Graba said. "We're as healthy as we've been since January." Auburn Gymnasty, a group that paints themselves in support of the Gymnastics team, showed as much spirit as Aubie. "I've been coming to meets for five years, and this is the best meet I've ever seen," said Manny Winston, Auburn Gymnasty member. "Our girls are setting records and beating our opponents. I'm really proud." Auburn competed in front of a crowd of 4,448 as fans packed in to show their support. "This was my first time with Gymnasty," said Brandon Way, sophomore in molecular biology. "I'm proud of our girls beating a higher ranked team and I can't wait to support them at the next home meet." Graba attributed hard work ethic to Auburn's victory. "We're extremely young, but they keep their heads down and keep plugging away and that pays off," Graba said. The Auburn Tigers' next meet is against Maryland Friday, March 1, at home.
Elsie Reynolds was known for her exemplary character, her love and loyalty to her friends and family and her ready smile. Reynolds, a treasured member of the Auburn University department of journalism for 30 years, passed away at her home in Auburn Jan. 28, 2013. Reynolds was 71. Reynolds, a resident of Auburn for the past 36 years, retired from her administrative assistant position in 2005. "Let me make something perfectly clear: the world is run by administrative assistants," said Margaret Fitch-Hauser, chair of the department of communication and journalism. "The rest of us are expendable." Reynolds worked as a part-time secretary for both the religion and journalism departments before becoming secretary of the journalism department in 1981. "She was always more than a secretary," said Jerry Brown, head of the journalism department from 1992-1999. "She was a secretary, receptionist, chief budget officer, personnel director and more." Brown said he nicknamed Reynolds "Radar O'Reynolds" because of her efficiency and her ability to anticipate what was needed. "Elsie was such a dependable, efficient person at the office," said Ed Williams, professor of journalism. "Whenever I asked her about something, it had already been done. She was a step ahead of me." Reynolds not only streamlined processes within an office environment, but was able to garner trust from students with a variety of concerns. "Elsie was the first listening ear," said John Carvalho, associate professor of journalism. "She had not only a courtesy, but a warmth that I think would make any student feel welcome." Carvalho served as director of the journalism department from 2004-2009. "She made my job easier," Carvalho said. "It takes a special person to do what she did, and I think her character filled it well." Reynolds worked to facilitate the merger that occurred between the departments of journalism and communication. "For many of us, Elsie was the continuity between the journalism department, between the chairs and the way we did things," Fitch-Hauser said. "She was the glue that held the journalism department together." Faculty members were moved as they recalled their memories of Reynolds. "Elsie was the constant," Fitch-Hauser said. "She was always there, always with a smile and a kind word." Reynolds was a pivotal player in the process to receive full accreditation of the journalism department. "That was sort of the heyday for Elsie when we got that national notice," Brown said. "She was instrumental in making all the arrangements that were involved, taking care of the accreditation team, filing the reports and making certain everything was on deadline." Reynolds was renown for her organization of the department. "She kept everything organized, which was an underrated job," Carvalho said. "For us, that meant state and federal laws, accrediting agencies, and all the other things that went into the department." Beyond her work ethic, Reynolds was renowned for her character and personality. "She knew everyone by name and their hometowns," Fitch-Hauser said. "May her family know the peace she always seemed to exude." Reynolds genuinely cared for students and faculty. "I'll never forget her gentle laugh," Carvalho said. "When a student would tell us something horrifying, she would have a momentary look of surprise and laugh softly." Reynolds was an active member of Parkway Baptist Church and served as church clerk, as well as other capacities, over the years. "I don't think saints ever advertise themselves as future saints, but I think if there is such a thing Elsie Reynolds is one," Brown said. "She showed it in every aspect of her life." Reynolds was also praised for her uncommon loyalty to the journalism department, electing to remain administrative assistant for the duration of her time at the university. "I get the greatest satisfaction in my job when I am challenged," Reynolds said in the July 1996 issue of AU Report, "Also, I delight in working on campus during fall quarter when excitement is in the air, there are students to meet, friends to welcome back and endless things to do." Reynolds' funeral was held Thursday, Jan. 31 at Jeffcoat-Trant Chapel in Opelika. More than 150 were in attendance. "She loved people, and people naturally loved her back," Williams said. "That was just her nature: to love other people." "She was an incredible woman," said William White, instructor of journalism, "Everyone in the department loved her dearly."
Auburn University baseball has recently acquired Terrance Dedrick, a pitcher/outfielder and winner of the 2012 Alabama Junior College Player of the Year award. "I felt really honored. There is a lot of talent in Alabama and a lot of great players," Dedrick said. "I was really excited and my parents were the same. They have always supported me in everything I did." Shelton State Community College, under the direction of coach Bobby Sprowl, provided Dedrick with two years of experience prior to the start of his career at Auburn University. "It was a really good program," Dedrick said. "Our coach had been around the game for a long time and he knew what it took to get to the next level." Shelton State finished third at the JUCO World Series and won the Alabama Junior College State Championship in 2012. "The experience he got at the World Series playing in front of 10,000 people is going to help out," Sprowl said. "That's one thing you always worry about: how is a kid going to react playing at LSU on a Friday night?" Auburn began the process of recruiting Dedrick when he was still in high school, but was unsure how he would fit into the team.
For 37 years, Momma Goldberg's has been an inseparable part of the Auburn community, and continues to inspire traditions today. "Every time my boyfriend visits from out of town, we always have to go to Momma G's for our sandwich and nacho fix," said Will Duncan, junior in music. "The staff is always friendly and is consistently great at sandwich making." Don DeMent, founder of Momma Goldberg's, opened his first location on West Magnolia Avenue in 1976 after discovering that Auburn lacked variety with food. DeMent has cultivated a stellar reputation within the community, and garnered loyal customers who consider Momma Goldberg's an integral part of their Auburn experience. "Over the years, we've become a part of the Auburn legacy," said Keith Schilleci, president of the Momma Goldberg's franchise. "This is where mom and dad first dated, or where Johnny got his nose broken, or where Jimmy proposed to his girlfriend. This is where we carved our names into the booths and walls and can still see them today." Schilleci said that DeMent loved his customers and operated his business under the guidance of the golden rule, and attributes a loyal, generational customer base to that practice. "Windows have been broken, or the Momma Goldberg's sign has been stolen, but DeMent never called the police," Schilleci said. "And he has never towed a car that was left in the parking lot overnight." Schilleci said it made DeMent happy that Auburn students were not driving home irresponsibly after eating and drinking at the restaurant. "It's a great place to eat, socialize and make memories that last," said Jessica Walton, senior in biomedical sciences. "I love going there after a game or a night out." Momma Goldberg's has kept up with the times by staying open until 2 a.m. every night to cater to the lifestyles of Auburn students. "I like the friendly atmosphere, the nachos and the ice," said Nicki Mazaheri, senior in music. According to the Momma Goldberg's website, Momma's Nachos were created by two Auburn University students who worked at the original location. The nachos became so popular that DeMent decided to make them a permanent part of the menu. Nick Davis, current owner of the Momma Goldberg's restaurants located in Auburn and alumni of the university, bought them from DeMent three years ago. "We consider ourselves custodians of the successful brand that DeMent built over the years," Davis said. "We don't make any major changes, but we have our own take on how we own and operate." The Momma Goldberg's franchise has expanded to northern Alabama, Florida, Georgia and Louisiana in the last six years. "We try to bring the same elements of the original Momma Goldberg's into every store we open, but some things: the nostalgia, the history, you can't find anywhere but at the original," Davis said. "You won't have the same feeling walking into the Momma Goldberg's in Boaz." Schilleci said that the Momma Goldberg's brand has a passionate following from the Auburn family and a strong reputation on the college campus. The owners are all multi-generational Auburn alumni.
Unlike most fine art exhibitions, if one reached out to touch the upcoming pieces at the Jule Collins Smith Museum, they would not have to worry about a security guard tackling them. "Bauhaus twenty-21: An Ongoing Legacy," which features the work of photographer Gordon Watkinson, opens on Jan. 25, 2013. According to Watkinson's website, the Bauhaus architecture school began in Germany in 1919 and endeavored to provide solutions for design problems in urban planning, housing and utilitarian mass-production. Bauhaus, which means house for building, was an influential part of the modernism movement in architecture, and featured designs for buildings that embraced technology with limited ornamentation. "I try to connect the dots between the past and present, not only as an advocate of the Bauhaus and modernism, but to show how the legacy of well thought out design solutions can influence our everyday life," Watkinson said. Watkinson uses his photography as a mediator between the 20th-21st centuries. A unique feature of the exhibition is reproductions of lamps and furniture that the audience is expected to interact with and manipulate. "We'll have to train the guards that it's OK to touch, but they'll have to relearn to stop people once the exhibition is over," said Dennis Harper, curator of collections and exhibitions at the museum. Auburn University is the first venue in the United States to host the Bauhaus twenty-21 exhibition. More than eight countries have hosted the exhibition since its conception in 2009. "It was Auburn's architecture and design school's very fine tradition that drew Watkinson," said Charlotte Hendrix, print and digital media producer at JCSM. Marilyn Laufer, director of the Jule Collins Smith Museum, said she believed that the exhibition would be a good fit for the museum and for Auburn University. Harper hopes to engage faculty, students and the community in architecture and modern architecture with this exhibit. "Everything we buy and walk around and touch that is made didn't just spring out of the air, it is thought up and designed by artists, engineers and designers," Harper said. While the majority of the audience may be members of the architecture school, or the Rural Studio, any photographers, historians and anyone with an interest in strong design are encouraged to attend. "I already knew the work of the Rural Studio, so I was really keen that it worked out," Watkinson said. In an effort to replicate Polapan film, Watkinson's photography favors black, white and blue tones with large grain and texture that he uses software to help create. Polapan was a film that Polaroid discontinued after its file for bankruptcy in 2001. The museum will host an opening reception on Thursday, Jan. 24, followed by a workshop at 6 p.m. by Watkinson. "With digital cameras today, people think photography is all about moving your finger up and down," Watkinson said. "Hopefully this workshop will show them there's more to consider." The workshop will address how to tell stories visually through photography and discuss the story-telling tactics Watkinson uses in his own exhibitions. Harper recommends that those interested in the worship should RSVP through eventbrite as seating is limited. "My goal with 'Bauhaus twenty-21: An Ongoing Legacy' is to start a conversation about the meaning of good design and the legacy of modernism from between the world wars," Watkinson said.
She was startled when she noticed a crowd had formed around her. Inching forward, they began to chant in low tones. The crowded restaurant fell silent as the song took form with unmistakable clarity. "Happy birthday to you." YouFirst initiative was developed by Chartwells, the company that oversees Tiger Dining, to maintain quality standards at Auburn University. In January 2011, YouFirst also incorporated a program that recognizes the birthdays of Tiger Dining employees. Jenna Conaway, senior in English, said she remembers the co-workers singing "Happy Birthday" in January at Au Bon Pain in the Student Center. "It was pretty loud so we weren't sure what was happening," Conaway said. "But, the singing and the cupcakes finally gave it away." The program is entering its third month, and employees have responded well to the initiative, said Hudson Kus, director of dining services. "YouFirst is driven by our associates," said Gina Groome, marketing manager of Tiger Dining. "They help make our customers happy." Groome said the YouFirst team signs a card to give to each employee. "Every Wednesday YouFirst champions go to different on-campus restaurants and sing to employees with birthdays coming up," Kus said. The champions of YouFirst include Laquarius "Tank" Moore and Varonica Dowdell. Nique Rowe, an employee at Au Bon Pain, said she remembers her birthday recognition in February. "They came and surprised me," said Rowe. "They gave me a $10 gift card and some cupcakes. It was really nice." Employees also receive discounts at various locations on campus. "It's great to be remembered," Rowe said. "Especially on a day as special as my birthday." Marcus Daniels, employee at Papa John's, said his birthday celebration was one to remember. "I had actually forgotten it was my birthday," Daniels said. "I asked for their order, and they just started singing 'Happy Birthday.' It was awesome." Daniels, 31, said the celebration affected the way he worked. "When you have a boss who cares, it makes you want to do a better job," Daniels said. "So that's what I've done." Groome oversees the management of birthdays. "We have a master list with everyone's birthday for the month and get them a card," Kus said. "It includes the Student Center, Terrell, the Village, everywhere." Students have also noticed the positive effects of YouFirst. "The (employee) was so happy," Conaway said. "I think it's great they take a moment to appreciate their staff." YouFirst hosts "guest birthdays" the last Wednesday of every month to celebrate the birthdays of students and faculty from that month. "Students and faculty can bring their ID and get a free slice of cake," Kus said. "This month it's happening on the 30th." Participating locations include Chef's Table, Southern Grille, War Eagle Food Court and Evolutions. Jake Thompson, junior in business, said he is looking forward to his birthday. "I think it's a cool program," Thompson said. "My birthday's in April, only a month and a half to go." YouFirst will celebrate 26 birthdays in the month of March.
Auburn's required meal plan, implemented in 2008, has helped stimulate the on-campus economy, but it's instatement may have left some local businesses reeling. Because of the mandatory meal plan, fewer students use the previously popular Tiger Club account. The Tiger Club account is a fund separate from the required meal plan, allowing participants to use their TigerCard at on-campus restaurants and more than 47 off-campus restaurants and other types of businesses such as Best Tire and CVS Pharmacy. Joshua Wong, assistant manager of Shogun Japanese Steakhouse, a local hibachi grill on Opelika Road, said he thinks the restaurant's revenues have been negatively affected by the decreased number of Tiger Club account holders. "In many ways the TigerCards really helped business," Wong said. "You would see a dozen of those cards every week. Now you almost never see them." Wong said business is steady, but the absence of Tiger Club diners is something that was hard for him to overlook. Chili's on Opelika Road has also felt the effect of the transition to the required meal plan. "We used to get 6-10 of those cards a day, if not more," said Eric Wilson, general manager. "Now we maybe have six people a week, and sometimes we don't have any." Wilson said business had definitely gone down because of both the economy and the loss of Tiger Club business. "The TigerCards were something we had to balance every day," Wilson said. "So we can tell less people are buying them." Wilson said students have tried to use their required meal plan at Chili's. Panera Bread, one of the businesses farthest away from campus that still accepts the Tiger Club account, has different problems. "People didn't know they could use it here because we're so far away," said employee Rachel Hall. "We had to put out the (TigerCard) sign to let them know they could, but hardly anyone uses it anymore." Some students prefer the Tiger Club account rather than the mandatory meal plan. "I love Bizilia's sandwiches," said Mark Jacobs, freshman in history. "I hate that I feel obligated to go to Au Bon Pain because I have to spend almost $1,000 a semester." On-campus residents are required to purchase a $995 meal plan, and students living off campus must purchase a $300 plan. The amount is automatically applied at the beginning of the fall and spring semesters, and any funds remaining on the card at the end of the summer semester are lost. "I get sick of the locations available," said Michelle Daniels, sophomore in English. "Sure, we have a lot of options, but sometimes I want to eat at Mellow or Chili's without feeling like I'm wasting money." The required meal plan has 24 on-campus locations available. Each location is also accepted under the Tiger Club account. "I think an ideal fix is to merge the two accounts," Jacobs said. "Yes, some of the money is going to restaurants that are off campus, but a great majority is probably still going to be kept on campus, and it will help stimulate Auburn's economy."
On the heels of a close meet against the University of Florida, Auburn gymnastics prepares for Pittsburgh and looks to compete at full strength. In a season plagued by injuries, coach Jeff Graba is optimistic about this week. "I feel like (this) week we'll be pretty much as close to full strength as we can get," Graba said. One athlete who is using this week to recover is senior Rachel Innis, who has become a crowd favorite with her floor routine which features her striking the Heisman pose. Innis injured her shoulder Feb. 14 in a floor routine. She tweaked her shoulder again during her routine Friday against Florida and opted out of the beam to avoid the risk of further injury. Sophomore Toi Garcia said she is a bit nervous about facing a northern team; however, she is going to treat Pittsburgh like any other meet and focus on her individual performance. Pittsburgh (3-7) will have to handle the same pressures that Auburn did at Florida and Alabama, including loyal, loud fans and other obstacles that come with facing an SEC team. "It's going to be a breakout week next week," said junior Kylie Shields, "especially with our fans behind us." Shields said she expects big things next week, and the team is maintaining its normal goal to get better at one more thing throughout the week. A younger team, Pittsburgh offers surprising talent in freshmen Maya Ketner, Kori Macdonald and Katie O'Rourke. Pittsburgh has a total of nine freshmen and sophomores and only three seniors. Other strong competitors include sophomore Alyssa Adrian on the bars and senior Mallory Brewer on floor. With Auburn hopefully competing at full strength for the first time this semester, fans can anticipate great routines and better scores Friday. Last week, Auburn came up shy against No. 1 University of Florida in Gainesville with a final score of 196.850-194.950. Auburn trailed throughout the meet, falling short in the vault, bars and beam. "We did a really good job," Graba said. "We had some unfortunate things happen, but we were handling the pressure and the adversity well." More than 6,000 were in attendance for Florida's last home meet. "After Alabama, no fans could be as intimidating," Shields said. Florida's Marissa King won the vault with a score of 9.95, followed by Garcia with a 9.850 and junior Justine Foster with a score of 9.800. Team totals were 49.375 versus Auburn's 48.650. Shields tied for first on the beam against Florida's Caquatto with a score of 9.875. Florida scored 49.200 against Auburn's 48.400. Garcia shined in Gainesville, leading the Tigers on vault with a score of 9.850 and in floor with a score of 9.875, as well as winning the all-around with a score of 38.800. Despite injury, Innis scored a 9.850 on the floor. Auburn won floor with a score of 49.000 versus Florida's 48.975. With such a strong showing against No. 1 Florida, Auburn is excited for this week's meet against Pittsburgh.