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(01/01/15 5:00pm)
When it comes to the New Year, losing weight, being less stressed, trying something new and saving money seem to stay at the top of the things most people want to accomplish.
But those also tend to be the things that we give up on after a month or so. As the year goes on and life throws more at us, we tend to lose sight of the things that we really want to do. We fall back in tune with the rest of society -- procrastinating, complaining about how we have no free time and eventually completely overlooking our goals.
So I would like to propose an idea -- why wait?
Why wait until the New Year rolls around to start exercising? Or to start saving money? Or to set time aside to do things we enjoy rather than letting work or school consume our schedules?
Instead of planning a strict exercise routine that consists of intense cardio and strength training seven days a week, plan out a more reasonable workout schedule that fits your already busy enough schedule, but will still make a difference. And instead of starting hot and heavy on the first day of the New Year, start today. Start small and build up your workout. Allow your mind and body to get used to such an important lifestyle change and you will be less likely to end your exercising routine before it really even gets started.
Rather than leaving the stress to Jan. 1, start now. Organize your busy days. Maybe buy a planner for the first time. Exercise helps reduce stress -- try relaxing by working out. Starting this process of learning to organize your life -- including down time -- during the holiday season will prove to be effective as life goes back to normal during the first of the year.
Along with organizing your days, plan times to try new things. Whether it is something as simple as driving the long way home to enjoy different scenery or something extreme like bungee jumping or skydiving for the first time, don't wait until Jan. 1 to try new things. Someone once told me to never order just vanilla ice cream, but to always try different flavors to keep life interesting in the smallest of ways. The same principle applies when it comes to trying new things. By making yourself get out of your comfort zone, you will not only learn more about the world around you, but you will learn new things about yourself. When you learn to love new things, you will gain confidence to carry out different goals in your life that you would have given up on before. This process is too important to wait until the New Year.
Also consider taking economic steps to avoid a rude awakening in January. Set back money now and make a budget strictly for the holiday season. While money can't buy happiness, it is a tool that buys opportunities. If it is handled wisely, it can make New Year's that much better. Again, this process should begin well before the holidays, not just on New Year's Day.
No matter what your goals are, your fresh start is today. Instead of procrastinating our goals until the first of 2015, let's make changes now.
(12/24/14 6:30pm)
Many different Christmas traditions are found on the plains. What Christmas traditions do you have?
(12/15/14 5:00pm)
As the days become shorter and colder and classes become more difficult, the number of students in the gym drops.
Summer Myrick, senior in communication disorders and Spanish, works as a group fitness instructor at the Recreation and Wellness Center. She teaches a U-Jam and a butts and guts group fitness class.
Myrick said she thinks less students spend time at the gym as the semester plays out because of reasons such as colder weather, the sun setting faster and stress from school.
"When it's cold outside you drink all of those hot drinks that are filled with sugar and it makes you want to cuddle up," Myrick said. "It's not as motivating as when it's hot outside and you are going to the pool all the time."
Myrick said she sees a decline in the number of students that attend her classes, but she puts in extra effort to encourage them to come back as the semester progresses.
"I try to build a relationship with them so that they will want to come back because they are my friends, not just another number," Myrick said.
According to Myrick, she tends to slack off on her own workout routine toward the end of the semester, but still works out a few times a week. Instead of spending an hour at the rec, Myrick said she does 10-minute YouTube workouts in between tasks that make up her busy schedule.
Myrick said she encourages students to participate in group fitness classes because "it keeps you accountable and someone else is making the workout for you."
"Don't beat yourself up if you get out of your routine," Myrick said. "Find ways to move your body."
Kindala Owens, group fitness graduate assistant for the Recreation and Wellness Center and graduate student in exercise science, said she also sees a decline in the number of students in group fitness classes toward the end of the fall semesters.
Owens said the number of students who attend group fitness classes is measured by using the IMLeagues online enrollment system. Students reserve their spot in the group fitness class through the website and then check in with the instructor when they arrive. The instructor then puts the data into the system.
"We generate our reports off of that," Owens said.
She attributes the decline to factors similar with Myrick's, including the weather.
"If it's raining, people won't come out," Owens said.
Owens said she also realizes with the New Year comes an increase in the number of students spending time at the gym because they want to get healthier or lose weight.
"It's a part of our culture, I think," Owens said.
Camille Huang, personal trainer graduate assistant for the Recreation and Wellness Center and graduate student in physical activity and health, said she attributes the lack of students working out to finals and the two-week break between Thanksgiving and Christmas break.
"The facility as a whole is less crowded, especially around the December month," said Huang.
However, she said she agrees with Owens that the number of students at the gym increases after New Year's because of goals to be healthier.
"I think people just have it on their mind," Huang said. "New year, new you."
(11/29/14 2:30pm)
After Chris Davis' memorable 109-yard touchdown in the 2013 Iron Bowl, students, alumni and fans alike celebrated with approximately 80,000 of their closest friends.
"I will never forget it," said Allie Deyton, junior in marine biology.
According to Deyton, she was one of the first to rush Pat Dye Field after Auburn's 34-28 victory over Alabama on Nov. 30, 2013.
At Auburn home games, Deyton can be found in the front row of the student section behind the south end zone covered head to toe in orange and blue paint.
Deyton said before the game that will forever be remembered, her and a group of other students who paint up for every home game were joking about rushing the field if Auburn won.
"Everything happened so fast," Deyton said. "Everyone went all at once because we were hyped up. Everyone started pouring in and it was awesome."
Deyton said she had no resistance from the guards, who moved to the goalpost as fans poured onto the field.
"It was crowded, but no one cared," Deyton said. "I know it's against the rules, but it showed how much we love the team and how much spirit we have."
According to Deyton, she has grown up a passionate Auburn fan and was thankful to share the experience with her fellow students and her family, who was also at the game.
Ric Smith, lecturer in the School of Communication and Journalism, had a different experience for the Kick Six game.
Serving his ninth season as the announcer for Jordan-Hare Stadium, Smith said he thoroughly enjoyed the celebration.
"It was an amazing night and moment," Smith said. "Time sort of ran together because it was one long wonderful moment."
From his seat above the field, Smith said he suppressed his excitement long enough to say, "Chris Davis returns the field goal for an Auburn touchdown" before celebrating.
"My first emotion was to announce the play," Smith said. "Once I turned the microphone off, I was jumping up and down and celebrating."
According to Smith, he stayed after the game and took in the sight of fans celebrating the victory.
"I think everyone was just caught up in the moment and were elated," Smith said. "It was pure joy and still is."
Taylor Littleton, junior in biosystems engineering, was painted up with Deyton for the Iron Bowl.
"It all happened so loudly and so quickly," Littleton said. "The stadium was loud and very emotional."
Littleton said after Chris Davis scored the touchdown, "the next thing I knew I was past the guards and on the field."
"It meant a lot not just to (the players) but to us," Littleton said. "That's definitely something I'll be telling my kids and grandkids about."
While Calley Craton, junior in agriculture economics, was not painted from head to toe, she said she will always remember rushing the field.
"I think that is the most epic things I have ever been a part of," Craton said.
According to Craton, she was sitting with her brother on the fourth row in fraternity block seating on the 30-yard line.
After the final touchdown she said her brother started shouting, "rush the field!"
"We were on the field in less than five minutes," Craton said. "I ended up landing in a bush."
During her time on the field, Craton said she didn't pay much attention to the crowd.
"I was so overwhelmed with joy," Craton said. "Nobody was a stranger. I even spanked Bo Jackson without thinking."
Craton said she is thankful she got to experience that night with her brother.
"That was the biggest interpretation of the Auburn Family I have ever felt," Craton said. "That's gonna be in football history for a long time."
(11/27/14 5:00pm)
An Auburn student and an Alabama student are pitting their universities against each other, but not on the gridiron.
Kayla Perry, freshman in nursing at Auburn University, and Corbyn Wile, sophomore in environmental sciences at the University of Alabama, are starting a competition between Auburn and Alabama fans to see which fan base can raise the most money for finding a cure for childhood cancer.
Wile said the competition will be launched next week. There will be a place on Perry's website, OHOH.org, where fans can donate and claim whether they are an Auburn or Alabama fan. Results from the competition will be announced Dec. 7.
Although the competition is based off of rivalry, Perry and Wile said they are hopeful fans will see the big picture.
"It shows everyone that there's more out there than football, and we can all come together for a common cause," Wile said.
Wile and Perry's common cause is curing childhood cancer and are both battling against forms of childhood cancer.
The two met through Facebook before spending time together this summer in the clinic of Children's Hospital of Alabama. They formed a relationship aimed at solving childhood cancer.
Perry has neuroblastoma, which most often occurs in children under the age of 5.
Diagnosed May 6, 2013, Perry said her journey with cancer has been full of ups and downs, including her doctors telling her they could not cure her cancer.
After receiving the news Aug. 14, Perry decided to pursue her college degree at Auburn.
Wile shares a story similar to Perry's.
Diagnosed with rhabdomyosarcoma in February 2011 at 16, Wile went through a year of chemotherapy and radiation treatments. She was told she was cancer free October 2012.
However, in November 2013, Wile relapsed and underwent through more chemo and radiation treatments up to October 2014, when she stopped any kind of treatment.
"They just told me there was really nothing else they could do," Wile said.
After receiving the news, Wile said she made the same decision as Perry. She chose to pursue her college degree.
Similar to Perry, Wile's cancer is usually found in children under the age of 10.
According to Wile, it is a soft-tissue cancer that can develop practically anywhere in the body.
"It is very aggressive with no known cure," Wile said.
Wile said she is thankful for Perry and the fact that their stories are so similar.
"We understand each other and it has helped me," Wile said.
According to Perry, it is encouraging to have someone who is walking the same path.
While Perry said she is thankful for all of the support she and Wile are receiving, having someone who understands her journey is nice.
"People are so understanding, but they do not understand," Perry said.
Mitch Goodwin, sophomore in nursing at the University of Alabama, is a childhood friend of Wile's.
"In elementary school she changed schools, but we both came to Bama and reconnected," Goodwin said.
Throughout Wile's journey with cancer while she has been in college, Goodwin said he has visited her in the hospital and enjoys her friendship.
"Corbyn is me in a girl form," Goodwin said. "We never fight, and if you were to look up the definition of best friend, that's what Corbyn is to me."
Goodwin said he is thankful Wile has a friend like Perry as well.
"I think it's really good for Corbyn to have her going through the same things," Goodwin said. "They understand on a more personal level."
Although Perry and Wile are battling cancer, the two have teamed up with Perry's Open Hands, Overflowing Hearts campaign to raise money to fund research on childhood cancer.
Goodwin said he is also taking part in the competition and shares the same hope as Perry and Wile.
"It is for a great cause," Goodwin said. "It hits home for both schools and puts rivalry aside."
More information on Perry's story and the Auburn versus Alabama competition can be viewed at OHOH.org.
(11/21/14 1:00pm)
Although college is a place known for finding yourself, finding friends and finding your soul mate, for some it is a place where the professional and personal worlds meet.
Doctors William Powell, director of choral activity, and Rosephanye Powell, professor of voice, bring their marriage into their work here at Auburn.
"It's a real joy working with my husband," Rosephanye said.
The Powells said they met during their time as undergraduates at Alabama State University where they were both music majors. While pursuing their master's degrees, the two began dating and were engaged shortly after completing their degrees. Married in 1988, the couple has been together for 26 years.
The couple moved to Auburn in 2001 from Philander Smith College in Little Rock, Arkansas, when they learned Auburn was looking for the two positions the couple currently holds.
"They were available at the exact same time," Rosephanye said. "We both interviewed and got them."
According to William, he and Rosephanye work separately on some things but also work together on others at Auburn.
"We get to compare notes," William said. "She'll tell me what's not working or pat me on the back."
"He is my ears to hear how I sing," Rosephanye said. "I go to him for guidance."
Having worked together during college, the Powells said they do not think there is a bad part about working together as a married couple.
"We've worked together all of our relationship so not working together would be strange," Rosephanye said.
The couple said there is no separation of professional and personal life between the two.
"They are all one," William said. "We see so much of the benefits of being together and working together."
According to the Powells, they are grateful to work together at Auburn for a number of reasons.
"Getting hired at Auburn allows is to work together," Rosephanye said. "It took a journey and it's still a journey."
The Powells said they are also grateful for the relationships they form with students that would not be as strong if they did not work together.
"Music majors would say that us being a team shows them how a couple can work together," Rosephanye said. "I think our students appreciate our balance."
Dale Coleman, associate professor in the department of animal sciences, and Elaine Coleman, associate professor in the vet school in anatomy physiology and pharmacology, have worked together at Auburn since 1984.
"We met in calculus class," Dale said. "There was this cute blonde girl in the front answering all of the teacher's questions."
According to the Colemans, they met in graduate school at the University of West Virginia before having a long distance marriage for two years while Elaine finished her degree.
"We lived in two different states when we got married," Dale said.
The couple said they both moved to Auburn when a position opened up for Dale to teach while Elaine got opportunities to do an internship, do a residency, get her PHD and teach at both Tuskegee and Auburn.
"She has a lot of degrees," Dale said.
Although they do not work together, the couple said they teach the same group of students a lot.
"It is neat to be in a college town," Elaine said. "And we both love to teach."
According to Dale, the couple loves working together at Auburn, but also faces some challenges.
"Our schedules do not always match up that well," Dale said. "The times that we can both get away are very special."
(11/17/14 2:30pm)
Cooking in college can be a challenge. Whether it is because of a lack of funds, time, resources or space, cooking edible and satisfying food is much easier said than done.
However, utilizing the wonder that is the cast-iron skillet to create meals gives students no excuse to go hungry or waste time complaining about on-campus food choices. A skillet is practical and versatile.
If you are craving Mexican food, but do not have the means to create a five-star burrito or a heaping plate of cheesy nachos, throwing a few ingredients into a skillet, including store-bought Mexican cornbread mix, will give you an easy Mexican cornbread dish.
Coat the skillet with approximately two tablespoons of peanut oil.
Layer the skillet with half of the Mexican cornbread mix, browned ground beef chuck, cheese and top it off with the rest of the mix. Add water or milk as required by your mix recipe.
Bake the dish in the oven for approximately 20 minutes at 400 degrees.
If you are looking for a healthier option, olive oil can be used in place of peanut oil and ground turkey can be used instead of ground chuck.
This dish, which is delicious and requires little effort, can be eaten all at once or portioned and saved for leftovers.
After Mexican cornbread, sometimes you just have to satisfy your sweet tooth.
Instead of binging on generic candy bought from the on-campus stores, you can satisfy your sweet cravings by cooking indoor s'mores in a cast-iron skillet.
No, it doesn't require a fire or complex culinary skills.
Only taking 10 minutes to make, indoor s'mores are made by covering the bottom of a skillet with chocolate chips and topping it off with halved marshmallows.
After baking for nine minutes at 450 degrees, the delicious combination can be dipped and enjoyed with graham crackers.
Let me caution you, though. While the indoor s'mores will melt in your mouth, if you indulge too soon, the heat will melt your mouth with one bite.
Unlike cast-iron skillet Mexican cornbread, there are no healthy substitutions to be made here. Sometimes you just have to enjoy good food.
These are two examples of many delicious dishes that can be prepared using a cast-iron skillet.
The lack of effort required may come as a surprise, but the end results will blow your mind and your taste buds.
Not only will a cast-iron skillet allow you to create tasty food, but it is also easy to clean. After letting the skillet cool, simply empty it of any crumbs and wipe it out with a dry paper towel.
Each recipe can be altered to fit your skillet's size. So whether you are seriously hungry, making a meal for four or making a meal for just yourself, each recipe will satisfy whatever expectation you set.
(11/12/14 4:45pm)
Jumping from Trick or Treat to Merry Christmas, stores are putting out Christmas products earlier than ever.
Dan Padgett, associate professor in the department of marketing, said he personally does not have interest in the Christmas products being displayed early.
"I don't think it has the financial impact that they think it would have," Padgett said.
According to Padgett, there are two types of people when it comes to early Christmas products: those who do not see the point, and those who think Christmas is the best time of year.
"Christmas is a prime selling season," Padgett said. "They are just trying to extend their selling season."
Padgett said talking to local store owners makes him believe stores see more sales in Christmas products closer to Thanksgiving.
Sarah Brown, co-owner of Wrapsody, said Christmas is a big season for her store.
"People have asked us for Christmas giftwrap in September," Brown said.
According to Brown, Wrapsody puts out Christmas products in response to customer demand and game day scheduling.
"We have so many [customers] from out of town who are ready to shop our Christmas stuff," Brown said. "We sell thousands of ornaments each year."
Being one of the store's two locations, Brown said the Auburn Wrapsody sees many customers from out of town who want Christmas products to be out when they are in Auburn for a game weekend.
Kasey Benson, sophomore in marketing, works at Wrapsody in downtown Auburn.
"We decorated [for Christmas] at the beginning of October," Benson said.
According to Benson, during the fall, Wrapsody sets up their Christmas decorations and products at the back of the store, leaving the Thanksgiving products at the front.
"We leave the trees at the back," Benson said. "So it transitions to Christmas."
Benson said the store always displays Christmas products early for several reasons.
"I think it just gets people excited for Christmas early," Benson said. "And I think it helps people prepare for Christmas."
From an employee's perspective, Benson said some people get excited about the Christmas products being out so early and some do not.
Alex Davis, senior in marketing, said he thinks stores having Christmas products out early is a good thing.
"The whole point of marketing is to give people what they want, when they want it, where they want it," Davis said.
According to Davis, a store showing products early is the same idea as radio stations playing Christmas music early. He said that whichever radio station plays the Christmas music first is typically the one that an audience listens to the most.
"It is about competition between stores," Davis said. "It's about whoever has it available first."
Davis said stores do not put out early Christmas products without factual data.
"They won't do it unless data shows it is effective," Davis said.
Davis also said that even though stores display products early, the store does not determine a customer's decision whether to buy something.
According to Davis, many customers will buy products that are put out early, consume them and buy the same products again. He said the same thing happens with Halloween and Easter.
(10/30/14 7:30pm)
Auburn's head chef has found a way to eat healthy and make delicious meals in a microwave.
"This is a new thing to me, as I have not professionally cooked in a microwave for 25 years," said Emil Topel, senior executive chef of Chartwells.
Chartwells is the food service contractor at Auburn, where Topel uses his culinary skills to leave his mark on campus.
Raised in England, Topel attended culinary school in London before moving to the United States at age 19.
Topel has experience in many restaurants and hotels, owned a gourmet market, produced his own gourmet sauces and wrote and published his own Auburn cookbook.
Currently, Topel oversees every culinary operation on campus and is the brains behind the Plains to Plate dining venue, which has brought sustainable and locally grown foods to campus.
Topel partnered with the Office of Sustainability to teach students to cook meals with microwaves through the Microwave Meals in Minutes event Wednesday, Oct. 22.
"With the dorms on campus and limited cooking equipment, this is a good class to teach so students can create quick, easy meals," Topel said.
Topel said he would use a variety of ingredients, including a store-bought rotisserie chicken, to teach students some basics of cooking and offer simple culinary solutions.
"Speed is a benefit of cooking in a microwave," Topel said. "And in a dorm room with limited equipment, it is a good alternative that can lower expenses and provide healthy meals."
Topel said he loves cooking because it allows him to be creative, loves watching his guests enjoy what he produces.
Mike Kelser, director of the Office of Sustainability, said he admires Topel and is glad he participated in the event.
Kesler said the purpose of the Microwave Meals in Minutes event is to provide students with ideas to eat healthier in dorms.
Topel instructed students on how to cook microwave meals, sustainability when it comes to food, ways to support the local economy and how to eat healthier.
"He has a passion for creating fresh and nutritious food," Kelser said.
According to Kelser, Topel makes a special effort to teach students how to eat well and fresh.
"That's his mission in life," Kelser said. "He's a real asset to Auburn."
Hallie Nelson, sophomore in biosystems engineering, serves as an event-planning intern for the Office of Sustainability.
Nelson said she worked alongside fellow intern Nathan McWhirter, junior in mechanical engineering, to plan the Microwave Meals in Minutes events and chose Topel as the instructor because of his advanced culinary skills.
According to Nelson, Topel has participated in culinary events before, but never using a microwave.
"I think he did a great job coming up with recipes that the students will love," Nelson said.
Nelson said she is thankful Topel is passionate about combining sustainability with food.
Amy Strickland, program manager for the Office of Sustainability, said she agrees with Kelser that Topel is a valuable part of the Auburn Family.
Strickland said Topel will be successful at encouraging students to make better microwavable culinary choices, "which does not include ramen noodles."
(10/16/14 11:00pm)
If you have ever said "Do I look fat in this" or "I feel fat today," listen up. The Auburn University Body Image Education and Eating Disorder Awareness (Aubie EDA) organization is raising awareness of the use of "fat talk" by hosting Fat Talk Free Week on October 20-24.
Fat Talk Free Week is an international campaign whose purpose is to bring awareness to body image issues and eating disorders. The event focuses on damaging affect of an ideal woman (or man) that the media displays.
Each day of the week will challenge Auburn students -- men and women -- to end the use of fat talk and make a positive impact on campus. With themed days including Friends Don't Let Friends Fat Talk, To Love the Skin You're In, Operation Beautiful, Wear the Hashtag #FTFW and Fat Talk Free Friday, Aubie EDA will have different activities and events for students to participate in on the concourse.
Meg McGuffin, senior in media studies, serves as the president of Aubie EDA.
"The purpose of the event is to educate people on what exactly 'fat talk' is," McGuffin said. "You don't even realize that you do it."
According to McGuffin, fat talk is talking about your own or someone else's body or looks in a negative manner.
"I think most people say something negative about their bodies at least once a day," McGuffin said.
She said she encourages students to not only stop using it, but to provide accountability to their peers who use fat talk.
"Honestly I have just always felt very strongly about the way the media portrays women's bodies," McGuffin said. "We should be viewed as beautiful because of our accomplishments and the ways we serve others, not the way we look."
She said she grew up as a dancer and was always in front of mirrors where she and her friends were "constantly comparing ourselves to each other."
While McGuffin said she has never struggled with an eating disorder, she said she has watched multiple of her friends suffer.
This is the second year that Aubie EDA has hosted Auburn's Fat Talk Free Week and it is hoped that students will understand ways to better avoid using fat talk, according to McGuffin.
"It has definitely established an awareness of fat talk," McGuffin said. "People look forward to it."
She said she realizes that students who struggle with an eating disorder feel alone, but she encourages them to seek help.
"The reason they feel alone is because we don't openly discuss it," McGuffin said.
Kate, an Auburn student who preferred not to use her real name because of her disorder, said that she is guilty of using fat talk against herself.
"I think that seeing other girls who struggle with this and want to combat it," Kate said. "It's a successful movement for sure."
Kate's battle with anorexia began when she was a sophomore in high school.
"I guess I realized that I gained a lot of weight and was not a certain size," Kate said.
She said that she became obsessed with comparison and counting calories, even to the extent of researching restaurant menus hours before going to eat.
"I could probably tell you all about the calories in meals from chain restaurants," Kate said. "It definitely affected me mentally and physically."
Kate said she has overcome the disorder, but that she still struggles with body image.
"It has been a process," Kate said. "It still haunts me."
Kate said she now realizes how much the use of fat talk affects people and is hopeful that the Fat Talk Free Week will raise awareness.
"I hope it will raise understanding that whenever you say things, words affect you," Kate said. "And whenever you change the way you look at others, you change the way you look at yourself."
Being someone who is on the other side of an eating disorder, Kate said she encourages students to realize that "we are fearfully and wonderfully made." She said she understands that not everyone shares her beliefs, but she knows that everyone wants to believe they have a purpose.
"You harming your body does nothing to reach that potential," Kate said. "Surround yourself with life-giving people who will support you and hold you accountable for how you treat your body."
Kate said she thinks Fat Talk Free Week is a "great tool and it makes me proud of my school that we can come together and support this."
Dr. Annette Kluck, associate professor in counseling psychology, trains psychology students and researches the risk factors of eating disorders.
"They have really devastating effects," Kluck said. "It causes students to miss out on the college experience."
According to Kluck, she has never personally struggled with an eating disorder, but she is well aware of the effects of fat talk.
"I think it's important that we raise awareness about the effects of fat talk," Kluck said. "Fat talk makes weight and size seem like the most important things."
Kluck said that it is not uncommon for people to hear fat talk and then begin using against themselves, but that she is hopeful that the event will shed light on this.
"These events are designed to be a first step," Kluck said.
For more information on Fat Talk Free Week, visit here.
(10/14/14 6:00pm)
What was a hipster move has turned into a mainstream trend. Contrary to popular belief, the hipster style is more than flannel, flower crowns and high-waist shorts.
"I would define a hipster as someone that makes it a personal goal not to be the norm," said Sarah Hagale, senior in graphic design.
She said she believes the stereotypical hipster style includes statement pieces such as thick-rimmed glasses, flannel, skinny jeans and graphic tees.
"I think some people think that it's trying too hard," Hagale said. "I really think it's just people expressing themselves."
Hagale said she would not consider herself a hipster, and that her closet consists of a limited color palette of black, blue, white and grey.
"I appreciate a good hipster," Hagale said, "but I don't think any hipster would call themselves a hipster."
Hagal said she recognizes the hipster trend is one that has recently become popular and goes against what she would define as a hipster. Hagale encourages students to be themselves.
"I would encourage other students to dress the way they feel comfortable," Hagale said. "You shouldn't be so affected by a trend that you think about it more than important things."
Chandler Roberds, senior in human development and family studies, works at Wake Up Coffee Company.
"I see a lot of the weird haircuts and facial hair like rugged and unkempt beards and mustaches," Roberds said.
According to Roberds, a hipster is "an individual that is wanting to be ahead of the mainstream." He describes the hipster style as trendy, independent, cutting edge and going against the grain.
In addition to the haircuts and facial hair, Roberds said he sees a lot of thrift-store bought clothing and skinny jeans, which he believes to be part of the hipster trend.
Although he said he is definitely not a hipster, Roberds said he recognizes it is a current trend.
"Maybe it's because it's new and we tend to gravitate toward new styles and clothes," Roberds said. "And it's cheaper."
Pamela Ulrich, professor in consumer and design sciences, teaches fashion from the 1910s to the present.
"I would think (hipster) is a word that has been used in different ways over time," Ulrich said.
According to Ulrich, in the 1940s, musicians' style was described as being hipster. In the 60s, popular hip-hugging pants defined hipster style. Recently, the hipster style is related to urban lifestyle and associated with young people, according to Ulrich.
"Fashion is a style that is accepted at some point in time by a group of people," Ulrich said.
After researching what the modern hipster style consists of, Ulrich said, the trend looks like hipsters are trying to be anti-fashion.
She said she doesn't see her students dressed in what she believes to be their personal fashion.
As a professor, Ulrich said she does not influence what students wear.
"Nobody in our program encourages people to dress in a certain way," Ulrich said. "Our job is to analyze it."
Whether it fits into a trend or goes against the norm in true hipster fashion, individual style serves as another way for students to express themselves.
(10/09/14 9:00pm)
To some, fashion blogging is a foreign idea, but to others, it is a way of life.
Katie Knell, junior in apparel merchandising, shows her love for life and fashion on her blog, "Lady K."
"Part of it was a calling to do it," Knell said. "To combine the fashion world and the Lord."
Knell said she started the blog Jan. 1, and used her high school nickname as the title.
She said she was inspired by her grandmother's love for accessories and thankful for how her mother educated her about fashion.
"I am a very organized person and there were months of prep work behind it," Knell said.
On her blog, Knell shares outfits complete with stylish accessories and hairstyles, but she also uses her blog to influence the fashion world.
"It can be such a materialistic place, but it really is an extension of who (God) is and his creation," Knell said.
Knell said she wants "Lady K" to be "a place that is a vulnerable approach to life and fashion."
While she uses her external influence from her blog, she said it has caused her to look inward.
"I think it has brought out a lot of the sin I was avoiding before," Knell said.
According to Knell, her blog keeps her "continually evolving" and creatively flowing. However, she said juggling life as a student and blogger is challenging at times.
"There are weeks when I am so creatively stimulated, but logistically, your schedule won't allow it," Knell said. "I try to stay ahead of the game."
Knell said she believes her hard work will benefit her in the future. For instance, Knell said she has made a number of connections through "Lady K" with photographers and company Like To Know It, which connects bloggers to professional retail.
"I am trying to apply what I am learning in a tangible way," Knell said. "I hope it shows that I took initiative even as a student."
Knell said she hopes to monetize her blogging in order to travel and expand her resources in order to improve "Lady K."
Knell said she represents Auburn in her blog by "reflecting the Auburn community by applying what (she) is learning" as a student.
She said she encourages people to go above and beyond their limits and to be bold with fashion.
According to Knell, her perfect outfit is "anything that's all black with some killer shoes."
Karla Teel, associate professor in the department of consumer and design sciences, said she loves the "Lady K" blog, as well as Knell's outfit choices.
"I think it's very simple, but very visual," Teel said. "She does a really good job of pulling it all together and creating a cohesive look."
According to Teel, Knell's work exemplifies the program's hopes for students.
Teel said she tries to produce well-rounded students familiar with the industry.
"We encourage students to do whatever they are comfortable with," Teel said. "It shows employers that our students have knowledge and are good at it."
Teel said she is proud of students, such as Knell, who represent Auburn and work hard to achieve their dreams.
"Not everyone takes it upon themselves to do extra work," Teel said. "She has taken it upon herself to go above and beyond."
(10/04/14 12:00pm)
According to Patty Kyzar, her husband Allan Kyzar never rolled Toomer's Corner, but participating in the tradition was on his bucket list.
Although Patty is an Alabama football fan, she and her son, Will Kyzar, decided to honor Allan by rolling a large oak tree in the front yard of their home in Pace, Florida. Friday, Sept. 19, marked one year since Allan passed.
"He just never did it," Patty said. "I just thank God he lived long enough to see them win a national championship."
Diagnosed in 2005 with stage four prostate cancer, the doctors gave Allan approximately 18 months to live, according to Patty. However, he lived until September 2013.
"We got more time with him than we expected," Patty said. "He was a fighter, and he never gave up."
Allan did not attend Auburn because he received a full golf scholarship to Jacksonville State, but his family history with Auburn fueled his love for the University.
"It was me and Will, God, country and Auburn," Patty said.
After Auburn's win against Kansas State, Patty and Will rolled their tree Thursday night and again Friday morning.
"I left packs of toilet paper on our porch and put it on Facebook to invite people over," Patty said.
Throughout the day, friends, family and neighbors stopped by the Kyzar's home to celebrate Allan and his love for Auburn.
"My husband loved to have people over," Patty said. "People came over to celebrate his life."
Approximately 400 rolls of toilet paper were thrown into the tree, according to Patty.
Patty said more than 50 people took part in the celebration, including a family on the way to Tuscaloosa for the Alabama game.
"LSU, FSU, Bama, AU, everyone did it because of Allan," Patty said.
Patty said she enjoyed the day and said Will was "very happy and very pleased."
Will, 11, chose to be an Auburn fan and shared many Auburn memories with Allan. He spoke at the funeral and shared those memories.
"It was something they shared together and tormented me with," Patty said.
Patty said Will has been to 13 Auburn games with his father since he was 3 years old.
Will said he chose to be an Auburn fan because Allan was an Auburn fan.
Will said his favorite Auburn memory with his dad is "probably the Auburn-Clemson game in Atlanta, even though (Auburn) lost."
"It always made (Will) feel really proud that his dad was an Auburn fan," said Sunny Moulder, who lives next door to the Kyzars.
Moulder participated in the celebration with her two sons.
"Allan was the world's biggest Auburn fan," Moulder said. "A lot of their life revolved around Auburn."
According to Moulder, she helped spread the word about what the Kyzars were doing to honor Allan and people came all day long.
"It was really a happy, celebratory mood," Moulder said.
Moulder said she and her family love Auburn and believe Allan would have loved the celebration.
"He would have never wanted people to mope around and be sad," Moulder said. "He would have done that every year if he could have gotten away with it."
Patty and Will said they plan to make the celebration a tradition.
"Once the yard is clean," Patty said. "That's our plan."
They said they are thankful so many people came to celebrate Allan and said he would have loved it.
"I have always had good feelings toward Auburn," Patty said. "And they have just been incredible."
(09/27/14 4:00pm)
The eagle's pregame flight is one of the many traditions upon which Auburn is built.
Jessica Smith, junior in physical activity and health and member of the Auburn marching band, said she does not know how the tradition started.
"A friend actually asked me [last summer], and I didn't know, so I looked it up," Smith said.
According to Smith, she read a man had an eagle that flew around and out of Auburn's stadium, and because the man was a Civil War veteran, fans yelled "War eagle."
"I think that's a theory of how it started," Smith said.
Smith said she gets chills as she watches the eagle fly at every home game.
"I think it unifies the Auburn Family as a spirit that is unafraid," Smith said. "Because whenever you go somewhere and tell someone 'war eagle,' they say it back."
Although it is a young tradition, fans stand and yell every time the eagle circles Jordan-Hare Stadium.
"I always make sure I'm there in time to see Nova or Spirit fly," said Timothy Boosinger, provost and vice president of academic affairs.
Boosinger served as the dean of the College of Veterinary Medicine when the tradition began in 2000.
According to Boosinger, employees of the Southeastern Raptor Center came up with the idea and wanted to train the birds to fly around the stadium.
"(The eagles) train like every other athlete," Boosinger said.
The birds are trained by first being released to fly around the lower decks of the stadium and then being released higher and higher into the upper levels, according to Boosinger.
Boosinger said he met with David Housel, former Auburn athletic director, on the field before the tradition began to discuss the possibility of using eagles in the games.
"I thought it was a great opportunity for the veterinary school to support Auburn and the athletic department," Boosinger said.
Other than supporting the idea from when it was originally proposed, Boosinger said he has no other ties to the origination of the tradition.
However, he said it is one of his favorite traditions.
"It is something everybody gets excited about," Boosinger said.
Boosinger said he has even met fans who say they come to Auburn games to see the eagle fly and then leave to watch the games on television.
Since the death of Tiger, the first eagle to fly before the game, two eagles named Nova and Spirit have circled Jordan-Hare before kickoff, according to Boosinger.
Marianne Hudson, assistant director of raptor training and education at the Southeastern Raptor Center, experiences the tradition from a different perspective than most.
Hudson is responsible for the educational programs at the Raptor Center, training the birds to fly in programs and to fly in the stadium.
"It's always a good feeling when the eagle has gotten excited and landed on its mark," Hudson said.
Hudson said she enjoys working with the birds because she "[loves] to give people the opportunity to see these birds up close."
"The flight of the war eagle gets you excited for the Auburn community and our team," Hudson said. "It feels great to be a part of the Auburn Family and see the spirit come alive."
According to Hudson, the tradition embodies the Auburn spirit because the eagles are symbolic of the Auburn battle cry war eagle.
(09/21/14 12:00pm)
It started with nosebleeds.
Kayla Perry said she thought nothing of them at first. The 18-year-old Birmingham native was too busy working as a missionary in Nairobi, Kenya with the Christian group Youth With A Mission in the spring of 2013.
It was a month after her 18th birthday and she was enjoying herself by helping other missionaries build orphanages and teach in schools.
"Sometimes I would wake up to a nosebleed," Kayla said.
Kayla attributed the frequent nosebleeds, fatigue and strange bruises to her persistent cold.
The symptoms didn't stop, though.
Kayla said she returned to America early to get tested at Brookwood Medical Center in Birmingham. She said her doctor told her on a Thursday he'd contact her the next day if her bone marrow biopsy came back with bad news.
At 5 p.m. Friday, the doctor hadn't called. Kayla; her mother, Christen; her father, Rob; her brother, Andrew; and her sister, Morgan, went for ice cream to celebrate.
Kayla said she was enjoying a chocolate sorbet when the doctor called.
The family drove to Brookwood at 7:30 p.m., where the doctor explained Kayla had cancer cells in her bone marrow.
Kayla was diagnosed May 6, 2013, with high-risk stage IV neuroblastoma, a cancer primarily affecting children.
"It just did not seem like it was real at all," Kayla said. "I was overwhelmed."
Kayla, who was already accepted into Auburn for the fall 2014 semester on a presidential scholarship, had to stay home and spend a year in treatment.
Kayla said she transferred to Children's of Alabama to undergo chemotherapy, immunotherapy and a bone marrow transplant.
"She is very independent," Christen, said. "From the first day, she has been the one to make decisions on treatment and next steps."
Kayla said on Aug. 14, 2014, the doctors told her they could not cure her cancer. They still do not know how much time she has left to live.
"The cancer wasn't gone as much as they wanted it to be," Christen said.
Kayla said the new goal of her treatments is to stop the cancer from moving or growing. She won't know if the new treatments are working until the results from her next round of treatments come back in three weeks.
Christen said her daughter chose to pursue an education at Auburn University after hearing this news from her doctors. Kayla said it was the only school she applied to.
She lives in Auburn, but has treatment in Atlanta every third week of the month. During treatment, Kayla's parents stay in Auburn and drive her to and from Atlanta.
Kayla takes classes in the morning and rides to Atlanta in the afternoon.
"Her dream is to stay in school," Christen said. "I'm committed to doing whatever I can to help her achieve her dreams."
Kayla said the treatments have cured neuroblastoma before.
"It's a very, very small number of people that are cured not from the original protocol," Kayla said.
In addition to her treatments and studying nursing, Kayla started the charity Open Hands, Overflowing Hearts (OHOH) to raise money for pediatric cancer research.
Participants are encouraged to raise money however they want.
After launching the campaign Sept. 1, Kayla said it has raised more than $30,000 in seven days, which can fund up to four months of research.
"It's been amazing," Kayla said. "People are aware now, and something needs to be done to find the cure."
Adjunct finance professor Amanda Harrelson is participating in the OHOH campaign with her students.
Harrelson said she learned about the campaign from talking with the Perry family and reading Kayla's blog since her time spent in Africa.
"Obviously, Kayla's story has touched my heart," Harrelson said.
According to Harrelson, she is raising awareness of Kayla's campaign by having her students take a picture in their favorite spot in Auburn with a caption or sign saying, "I will do anything to end childhood cancer. What will you do?"
If the students put the picture online with the hashtags #OHOH, #100Days100Ways, #AUSupportsKayla and #HarrelsonFinance, Harrelson said she will donate to Kayla's campaign and give bonus points to her students.
"I can't ask my class for money," Harrelson said. "For everyone that does it, I am donating."
Harrelson described Kayla as selfless, among other characteristics.
"I think of the word spunky," Harrelson said. "She is so strong in her faith that she doesn't look at her situation as devastating."
Lexi Bice, childhood friend of Kayla and sophomore at Southeastern Bible College, said she shares the same admiration as Harrelson for Kayla.
"She's brave, a lot braver than I am," Bice said. "She has challenged me in my walk with Christ.
Harrelson said she applauds Kayla's focus on helping others.
"I love that she is focusing on research so other people don't have to go through this," Harrelson said.
Kayla said she hopes her efforts can help find a cure for neuroblastoma.
"Say I have 10 years left, and during those 10 years, somebody finds a cure -- then my 10 years are no longer a limit," Kayla said. "That's all we can do, buy time."
Kayla's father, Rob Perry, said he is both proud of and blown away by Kayla.
"Kayla is always just solid," Rob said. "She's that person that is just focused. She blows my mind."
The Perry family has big plans for the next five years, according to Rob.
"I believe her story is powerful enough to cast a worldwide vision," Rob said. "If the people caught hold of Kayla's vision, they would get involved."
The current phase of the OHOH campaign, 100 Days 100 Ways, ends Dec. 7 with a celebration at Regions Park in Birmingham, according to Christen.
The event will celebrate the money raised and honor Kayla.
"(Kayla's) got big goals and obviously I'm super proud of her," Christen said. "I don't know a stronger person."
Both Rob and Christen said they believe Kayla's story will change lives.
"Without awareness, there's no funding, without funding, there's no research and without research, there is no cure," Christen said.
Christen encourages Auburn students to get involved by following @OHOHKayla on Twitter.
Though fighting cancer has been difficult, Kayla said she focuses on not giving up.
"You just put one foot in front of the other," Kayla said. "Sometimes, you don't have an option to not do it. Sometimes, all you can do is push forward."
(09/18/14 3:00pm)
The tradition of rolling Toomer's Corner is one that seems to have been a part of Auburn's history from the beginning.
"My first game I went to [in 1969], no one was throwing toilet paper," said John Varner, reference assistant for the University.
Varner, who grew up an avid Auburn fan, had many years of experience with the tradition of rolling Toomer's Corner.
"There are different stories as to how it all got started," Varner said.
According to Varner, one story of the start of the tradition originated from the "Punt Bama Punt" Iron Bowl in 1972.
The trees and power lines were supposedly rolled with toilet paper after the win because of tailback Terry Hanley's comment Auburn was going to beat the "number two" out of the Crimson Tide.
At the time, Auburn was ranked No. 6 and Alabama was ranked No. 2 in the nation.
Varner said fans continued to roll the power lines along Magnolia until Alabama Power moved the lines underground in the 1980s. It was not until the 1990s fans were allegedly encouraged to roll the Toomer's Oaks.
Another origin story of the tradition claims receipt paper would be hung over the telegraph wire around Toomer's Corner to indicate an Auburn victory, according to Varner.
Jeremy Henderson, editor of the War Eagle Reader, shared views with Varner about how the tradition originated.
"There are a bunch of theories that are more like urban legends," Henderson said.
Henderson, who has studied the tradition, said the Oaks were approximately 80 years old and no telegraph wire rolling was used to indicate a victory.
"There will be people who tell you that the trees were 130 years old," Henderson said. "It started with high school and college kids going wild."
According to Henderson, the youth of Auburn would celebrate victories by painting cars, vandalizing the city, drinking alcohol and rolling the town with toilet paper.
As the trend of crazy celebration faded, rolling the town carried on, according to Henderson.
"It wasn't one conscious decision," Henderson said. "It was the one element from that era that carried on."
Henderson said he addresses the "Punt Bama Punt" legend as the largest post-game celebration since the tradition began, not the start of the Toomer's tradition. He attributes the success of the tradition to a number of factors.
"It's seemingly unique and something you can see," Henderson said. "It is something everyone can be a part of."
Although there is much speculation on how the tradition began, Henderson said one thing was, and continues to be, a fact: the bigger the rolling, the bigger the game.
Katie Oliver, sophomore in elementary education, rolled Toomer's Corner after last year's A-Day game, and said she does not know how the the long-standing tradition of rolling Toomer's Oaks started.
"I just know that the Oaks had been there for a really long time," Oliver said.
According to Oliver, the unity the tradition brings about is what has caused it to last for so many years. Oliver said she believes learning more about the traditions behind Auburn will help her to better appreciate it.
"I feel like if I knew more about it, I could pass it on," Oliver said.
(09/16/14 4:00pm)
Moe's Southwest Grill and Chipotle are two dining options in Auburn. Although they offer similar cuisines, each restaurant has its own elements that make it different.
Anne Penrose, licensed dietician and graduate assistant, said she has never been to Moe's Southwest Grill and has eaten at Chipotle only a few times.
After dining at Chipotle, Penrose formed an opinion of her own.
"It's fast and convenient and it tastes good, to be honest," Penrose said. "It's a fast food version of a sit-down meal."
Although she said she enjoys Chipotle, Penrose said healthy options are available at both restaurants.
"They offer kind of the same things, but it's all about moderation," Penrose said. "In terms of the plate you could build, they are similar."
After researching the two restaurants, Penrose said she learned Chipotle tries to get ingredients locally when possible, and Moe's tries to get hormone-free meat.
However, she said even though the restaurants share similar dining options, they have their differences.
"I think their overall atmospheres are different," Penrose said. "They are different from when you walk in one to another."
Penrose said no matter where students choose to dine, "it's about knowing the smart choices to make."
Courtney Cox, junior in nursing, said she prefers Moe's rather than Chipotle.
"I like their chicken and queso better," Cox said.
According to Cox, her favorite thing on the Moe's menu is their quesadillas.
However, she attributes the success of Chipotle in Auburn to its advertisement of fresh and local ingredients.
"I feel like it gets promoted on college campuses," Cox said. "Especially ours because of our agriculture program."
Cox said she appreciates Moe's for reasons other than their quesadillas.
"It's really good Tex-Mex, and it's fast," Cox said.
Andrea Tuttolomondo, sophomore in communication disorders, said she likes Chipotle and Moe's.
"I don't think one is better than the other," Tuttolomondo said.
According to Tuttolomondo, she has eaten at both restaurants, and they share one thing in common.
"They're both kind of overwhelming," Tuttolomondo said.
Tuttolomondo said she thinks more people prefer Chipotle.
"I think Chipotle has fresher ingredients," Tuttolomondo said. "I guess it's just personal preference."
Tuttolomondo also considers one thing to be a downfall of Chipotle.
"The cilantro," Tuttolomondo said. "That's why a lot of people don't like Chipotle."
Unlike Tuttolomondo, Trent Boyd, senior in information systems management, said he loves Chipotle.
"It is always fresh and consistently good food," Boyd said.
Boyd said his favorite meal from Chipotle is a burrito with brown rice, black beans, chicken, salsa, corn, cheese and sour cream.
"It's enough food to always fill me up," Boyd said.
Boyd said he attributes the success of Chipotle to its organic, homegrown, fresh food.
"People prefer Chipotle and are willing to stand behind Chipotle because Chipotle stands for strong things," Boyd said.
However, Boyd said he realizes that strong stance may be the reason for people disliking Chipotle.
"You don't have people who are on the fence about Chipotle," Boyd said. "You have people who love Chipotle or hate it."
While the two dining options in Auburn offer similar cuisines in different ways, customers can enjoy healthy choices at each.
(09/09/14 6:00pm)
Although fitness classes are said to be beneficial, some men said they do not want to participate in them.
However, the rec center is aiming to redefine the idea of typical group fitness class.
Hal Davis, junior in fitness conditioning and performance, has attended three group fitness classes for class credit and said he would not plan on attending any more for a number of reasons.
"Mainly for a convenience of schedule and because I don't know them," Davis said.
Davis works out on his own schedule, where he does weight training and cardio. When he works out with men, he weight trains, but when he works out with his wife, he focuses on cardio. He is one of many men who avoid group fitness classes.
"I picture a bunch of girls doing Zumba," Davis said.
According to Davis, most men avoid group fitness classes because of their pride.
"They don't want to do anything girly," Davis said. "They don't want to be shown up by anyone in the class."
Davis said if there were more weight training classes offered at different times, more men would participate.
Unlike Davis, Blake Amerson, junior in electrical engineering, has never attended a group fitness class.
"I think they are more of an aerobics class," Amerson said. "I am looking to strictly lift weights."
Amerson said he recognizes some group fitness classes are more suitable for women, but believes certain classes should be geared toward men with a focus on building strength.
Susannah Taylor, coordinator of fitness with campus recreation, said the rec center has a lot to offer for both women and men.
"The ratio [of men to women] is definitely evening out this semester," Taylor said.
Adding to the increase in male participation, some group fitness classes are being led by men. Taylor added yoga classes are seeing more male participation.
According to Taylor, group fitness classes, such as Total Resistance eXercise, strength training, boot camp, Insanity and a variety of aqua classes are being offered, as well as some classes taking place on the intramural fields.
"People think of group fitness as aerobics," Taylor said. "But the formats have broadened."
With new full-body workouts and equipment not available on the rec center floor, Taylor encourages students, especially men, to take advantage of the group fitness classes.
"We have so many great classes to offer for everyone," Taylor said.
Other gender-neutral fitness classes offered include cycling, athletic conditioning, rowing essentials and glide and ride.
Taylor said she and the rest of the rec center team, which includes three professional staff members who train instructors to organize their own workouts, are working to provide students with as many class options as possible with numerous variations of exercise.
(08/28/14 3:00pm)
Auburn car tags show Tiger pride while also providing education funding for the school's students. However, a portion of the profit made from the tags assists in funding freshman scholarships.
The License to Learn program has provided scholarship funds for Auburn University and Auburn University at Montgomery since 1998.
Through the program, the University receives $46-47 from each non-personalized tag and $35-36 from the purchase of a personalized tag.
The University has received more than $35.7 million since the beginning of the License to Learn program, which continues to increase education opportunities for scholarship-worthy students.
More than 1,000 scholarships were awarded last school year from the $1,931,000 in Auburn's License to Learn fund.
According to Velda Rooker, director of University Scholarships, the scholarships funded by the License to Learn program go to freshman with average test scores rather than the highest scoring students.
"I think more people would support the program if they knew it was raising support for the more average student," Rooker said.
Rooker sports her own Auburn tag in support of the Auburn Family and the scholarship funding program.
"I just think it's another way that the Auburn Family supports each other," Rooker said. "Whether you're in Georgia or Florida or further away than that, you see an Auburn tag and immediately recognize it and see that connection."
Rooker said she is confident the program will continue to be successful and provide an education to many Auburn students in the future.
Mariah King, senior in early childhood education, received a freshman scholarship that continues to fund her schooling.
Before learning about the License to Learn program, King said she thought her scholarship, and many others, came from donations.
"It's nice to know they were looking out for me before I even went there," King said.
According to King, her scholarship supports a large amount of her education at Auburn. King said she is thankful to be a part of the Auburn Family.
"I would love to (buy a tag) to give back," King said. "I think it's a cool way to give back to Auburn."
One purchaser, 82-year-old James Fleming, said he believes in Auburn and has helped fund freshman scholarships.
"I am a die-hard Auburn fan," Fleming said.
Fleming shows his love for Auburn by sporting his tag on his family's RV and plans on purchasing another for his car.
For Fleming, buying a car tag was a way to support the students instead of just cheering for the football team.
"When they started letting us buy tags, it was advertised that a good portion of that money went directly to the schools for scholarships," Fleming said. "It felt very good."
Some proceeds from the car tags program go to student scholarships whether they are personalized or not.
Visit auburn.edu/scholarship for more information on purchasing Auburn tags.
(08/27/14 3:00pm)
The new black box theater and dance studio offer state-of-the-art facilities and new opportunities for the Auburn department of theatre.
The two-story addition department consists of a production space, which holds up to 150 patrons, and a new dance studio that will also serve as an event space.
The 10,471-square foot space cost $3.9 million.
Robin Jaffe serves as an associate professor of theatre for design and technology.
"This is one of the most exciting things for the department in a long time," Jaffe said. "We can do anything in a black box theater."
According to Jaffe, the department made do with the old space. The black box adds solid black walls, a tension grid and a larger dance studio, which is as big as the main stage of the Telfair Peet Theatre.
The department can seat people in any location throughout the room, actors can perform in any place in the room and the tension grid allows for lights to be hung in a variety of ways for the best performance experience possible.
"It just lets your imagination flow," Jaffe said.
Jaffe compared the new theater and dance studio to the lab of a biologist or scientist.
"That is where we do our work," Jaffe said. "It gives us space to work in both directions and not have to do everything in one space."
Jaffe said he believes the new space will better prepare and educate students for the real world.
"I am excited beyond belief," Jaffe said. "This is something we have been waiting for a long time."
Nora Brown, junior in theatre performance, shared Jaffe's excitement for the new theater and dance studio.
"It is so nice and has got so many cool things," Brown said. "It's nice to know they invested in this resource with us."
Brown said she realizes the effect this new facility will have on her education and is excited for the future.
"It is great especially for student productions," Brown said.
Brown said she believes the new theater and dance studio will add to the diversity of what Auburn theater students can do and the performances the department can hold.
Brown also said she is excited for the opportunities the new space will provide.
"Before, we had to make a big deal about reserving a ticket, but now we don't have to," Brown said.
According to the chair of the department of theater Scott Phillips, the additions improve the department's facilities.
"We made do with what was supposed to be a costume shop," Phillips said. "If we taught ballet in there, we could not do lifts."
The new space solves that problem, according to Phillips.
"It's wonderful," Phillips said. "One of the things about a black box space is that it is so flexible."
Phillips said he is confident the new space will enable the faculty to successfully train actors, designers and technicians, as well as draw in new students.
"Our majors are thrilled about it," Phillips said. "I think there is widespread excitement all the way around."
The theater department will utilize the new space in its October production of the musical comedy "Nunsense." The department hopes to bring in crowds with a popular play.
The department encourages students to attend productions, which are free with identification.