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(02/21/14 6:45pm)
Expensive. Not filling. Too far away.
These are terms occasionally used by Auburn's male population to voice their dissatisfaction with the assortment of boutique-like restaurants, food trucks and dining hall options offered on campus.
Though the University's job is to cater to both genders and all tastes, some of the guys are beginning to speak out.
"Other than, like, AU Smokehouse, there's really nothing we really want to eat," said Wesley Labarge, senior in chemical engineering. "That new greek place in the student center, I just don't eat that. I like the Hibachi [food truck] but it's the only one. I did the macaroni and cheese [food truck], too, but only a couple times."
Most men would agree that finding food on campus is not an issue for them, even if it's the same thing every week, Labarge said.
But given that every student at Auburn is required to have a minimum $300 meal plan, the plethora of eating options available and the rapid pace at which they change makes the idea of settling for something more and more frustrating, Labarge said.
"I like to eat healthy," said Dharshan Soundarrajan, senior in chemical engineering. "But I'd much rather have cafeteria food rather than going to a restaurant or a food truck."
When asked what their preferred alternatives were, Soundarrajan and Labarge responded with cheap, easily accessible foods and more options than a single-theme menu.
Specialized on-campus options or name-brand restaurants can charge higher prices for their products while still selling generic items like pizza, sandwiches and salads. - according to who?
The most widely used on-campus option, Chik Fil-A, sells more of the same three items to both genders than anything else on menu, server Shaquita Ford (not on People Finder) said.
"The guys usually order the spicy chicken or the chargrilled chicken sandwich," Ford said. "The girls usually order the chargrilled chicken or the nuggets."
When asked which gender frequented Chik Fil-A more, Ford said it was a no-contest.
"The guys definitely got the girls beat," Ford said.
For students who eat the majority of their meals on campus, having to pay upwards of $6 a meal can mean deciding between one menu item or another when neither is completely satisfying and both cost too much to buy together, Soundarrajan said.
"I'd really like to see a cafeteria-style place, where you can just pay like a flat fee and eat however much good food you want," said Jonathan Thornber, senior in chemical engineering. "Just one place where you can get a burger and chicken and fries or a salad, all in one place. A lot of other universities seem to have that."
The buffet-style option is only available at Terrell Hall in the Hill and at Tiger Zone in the Village and at different times.
Tiger Zone is open Monday through Thursday from 10:30 to 2 p.m. and 5:30 to 9 p.m. but closes by 2 p.m. on Fridays.
Terrell's buffet is open Monday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. but is closed after 2 p.m. on Friday and all day on Saturday.
Terrell is the only dining hall to offer a buffet on Sunday, from 5 p.m to 9 p.m.
"That's too far away to be worth it," Thornber said.
(02/15/14 5:20pm)
Local musician Trace Pridgen prides himself on providing a good time for all every time he steps onstage.
An Opelika native, Pridgen knows what the residents of Auburn, and the surrounding area, want to hear. He aims to condense his description of his music's style as "Southern rock-ish," but said he strives to not limit himself to one genre.
Pridgen began his music career at the piano keys and did so through high school.
"I quit playing for a while until my freshman year of college," Pridgen said. "I picked up a guitar, then after a while realized playing wasn't enough for me. I wanted more. I wanted to perform."
Prigden began performing at favorite local hangouts, including Toomer's Coffee and Shakey's Pizza. Pridgen said he begged to play in some places, learned the ropes of the industry and went from there.
"When you first start out in music, the word 'benefit' is thrown around a lot," Pridgen said. "'Will you play this benefit?' means 'I'm not gonna pay you.' As you go on, the less benefits you have to do."
As he advanced in his career playing weddings and fraternity parties, Pridgen began to make a name for himself in the community.
"Trace is very popular and has a big following," said Lisa Ditchkoff, owner of the Opelika Event Center. "A lot of people book him for their parties."
Pridgen performs Saturday, Feb. 15, at the Event Center's Winter Brewfest at 7 p.m.
At the event, Pridgen will perform with his usual band, but with a band comprised of locals Josh McKenzie, Cory Spicer and Jimmy Green.
Pridgen and the band perform at venues, such as Niffer's, and private parties. When Pridgen travels to Birmingham or Atlanta, he has a chance to perform original songs.
Pridgen dedicated his time to his first EP. Pridgen said he believes it will be produced and released on iTunes during the summer. The EP will feature three original songs and two covers.
As for a favorite song, Pridgen said "not Wagon Wheel." According to Pridgen, the band usually plays "weird" versions of older songs, such as a bluesy rendition of "Superstitious" by Stevie Wonder and a unique performance of "Come Together" by The Beatles.
"The Auburn area likes country music and are not too kind to original songs," Pridgen said. "Honestly, no one gives a crap about originals, so we stick to covers to make the crowd happy."
Pridgen said his favorite part of performing would be the immediate response of a song. Pridgen said playing a song that has been in the works for a while and seeing people dancing and singing along to the music matters more than standing on the stage and singing.
"I've known Trace for years," said Amanda Enloe, senior in English. "He's just a cool and 'real' guy."
In the upcoming months, Pridgen said he plans to perform at the Auburn Color Run, sponsored by Four Corner's Ministries at the end of March, and at a venue in Augusta, Ga.
(02/17/14 8:50pm)
The Curious Fox is as intriguing as its name suggests.
Tucked away in Downtown Opelika, walking into the intimates boutique is like stumbling upon a treasured secret. Hardwood floors creak as you walk in. Artisan jewelry and delicate lingerie are displayed on cream-colored walls like art hung in a museum. The aesthetic is minimalist and inviting. Eucalyptus and spearmint waft from a candle burning on the front desk.
The smiling brunette behind the counter is Saramia Arenas, an Auburn native who studied photography at Savannah College of Art and Design.
"When you think of a woman as a fox, it's a woman that's beautiful, confident, cool," said Arenas, who serves as manager, sales associate and buyer for The Curious Fox.
According to Arenas, intimate apparel plays an important role in boosting women's self-confidence. Taking the time to treat herself and feel attractive can change how a woman feels in and out of the bedroom.
"We aim to provide an experience that makes women feel empowered--a place where women can come to celebrate being a woman," Arenas said.
Pieces by Simone Perele, Mary Green and Montelle Intimates are laid out with simplistic visual merchandising.
The airy hues, handcrafted lace and China silk are presented to the shopper as delicate heirlooms--a far cry from flashy, overtly sexual designs found in major retailers.
"The idea from the beginning was to be the complete opposite," said Phil Moody, owner of The Curious Fox. "I just felt like we didn't want to give any kind of image to the women. I didn't want to project anything to them so they can just come and be whoever they wanted to be."
As a small business, The Curious Fox is a champion for shopping local. From pushing customers to sign up for credit cards to impersonal customer service, Moody explained that retail chains are treating shoppers like numbers.
"We as consumers are getting smarter and we're not falling for that as much," Moody said. "I think they've hit a tipping point where they don't deserve to be around. I think places like this deserve to be around, where knowledgeable staff will come help you and spend time with you."
Moody, a graphic designer from Lafayette, La., transformed the former office space in September 2013. While the boutique was his vision, Moody has handed the reins over to an all-female staff to ensure customer comfort and privacy.
"I want people to think of Saramia when they think of the Fox," Moody said.
In addition to promoting female empowerment and local business, The Curious Fox has a commitment to supporting local artists.
"People don't realize how important art is," Moody said. "Artists tend to be mini profits. They bring trends to the area because they see things and create things and if they're artists who are also business-minded, man, they can really do things."
After carrying Opelika-based artist Kate Manning's line of scarves and knitwear in December, The Curious Fox decided to seek out more homegrown artistic talent.
"We're a store, but we like to think of ourselves as very curated, similar to an art gallery," Arenas said. "We're always on the lookout for something cool and unique."
Arenas pointed out two fox paintings hanging on the wall by R.C. Hagans, an Opelika native. A curtain sewn and decorated by Jane Randall of Opelika's Jane Sweet Jane designates the dressing room area, and Oxford shirts designed by Moody's friends, Jonathan and Holly Powell, hang on a silver rack.
"I like the idea of investing in art and people, so I'll always have a piece of RC in here. I'll always have a piece of Jane. I'll always have a piece of Jonathan and Holly in here," Moody said.
Moody has also invested in the talent of Auburn University student, Ashley Kickliter. The junior in graphic design was recruited to produce editorial photography for The Curious Fox.
Kickliter said she was thrilled to be part of this small business.
"I'm a photographer and I've had a portrait business here since I was 16, but fashion photography is what I really want to do," Kickliter said. "They hired me to a shoot for them with models in their products and gorgeous sleep shirts."
The Curious Fox views their lingerie as an investment, and prices of apparel start at $20.
"Hopefully, the idea is that when people buy a piece, they love it, so it's almost like a piece of art that they've taken home," Moody said.
The Curious Fox also carries handcrafted luxury items from Freedom Soap Company and The Green Bottle Candle Company from Birmingham and artisan jewelry from Red Earth Trading Company.
Open only on weekends, The Curious Fox is located at 711 Avenue in Opelika, Ala.
(02/13/14 12:00pm)
Gloria Steinem, activist and author, came to Auburn to give a lecture in the seventies and is returning Feb. 18 to kick off the fifth annual Extraordinary Women Lecture series as part of Auburn University's Women's Studies Program.
"Gloria Steinem is probably the most influential woman in the United States," said Barbara Baker, executive editor of the Women's Leadership Institute. "She has been for my entire lifetime and I'm not young. Really, she is a key figure in a struggle for equality for all people. She has worked in every facet of all race, gender and every other kind of inequality you can think of for 50 to 60 years."
The lecture will take place at the Auburn Hotel in the Dixon Conference Center at 4 p.m. and is open to the general public.
The first woman to ever speak at Auburn's Extraordinary Women Lecture series, Leslie Kennedy, was an Auburn graduate and the first woman three-star general in the United States Air Force.
"Our lecture series has been a trajectory," Baker said.
Since then, Lily Ledbetter, woman's right activist who the Fair Pay Act is named after; Marie Wilson, founder and president of the White House Project; and Maya Angelou, renowned author and poet, have all come to Auburn to partake in the lecture series.
"This year our goal was to bring as many of the units across campus together, as we could," Baker said. "We wanted to see if we could get everybody on board together to get behind somebody. So we got somebody that really has a super indisputable reputation as a national icon and legendary figure."
Steinem is the co-founder of Ms. Magazine, the Women's Media Center, and the National Women's Political Caucus, among other foundations.
Steinem has also received numerous awards, such as the Presidential Medal of Freedom, and written five books, with As If Women Matter, being the latest.
"What I think the catch here is, you have the opportunity to be in the presence of an absolute legend, an icon, somebody that not everybody gets to be in the presence of everyday of the week," Baker said.
Mary Elizabeth Woodward, junior in hotel and restaurant management, serves as a mentee for the Women's Philanthropy board and attends similar lectures and luncheons offered by the Women's Studies Program.
"I think they're very beneficial," Woodward said. "It's really awesome that we have the opportunity, as students, to hear from all these really cool people who make a difference, through all these different programs that Auburn offers."
Students such as Lauren Romano, sophomore in elementary education, heard about the lecture series through her professor in in her human developmental life studies class.
According to Romano, most of her class will be attending the lecture.
"We how families and relationships work,"
(02/05/14 11:50pm)
Doritos, sauerkraut, ketchup, bacon, chili and pickles can all be found on one hot dog, if that is whatcha want.
Although the Whatchawant hot dog stand has only been on campus for approximately two weeks, Danny Daniels, founder of Whatchawant, has been creating connections with Auburn students since the 2013 football season.
"I really got my name out there with the students, and the students would ask me every night when I would be on campus," Daniels said. "[The business grew because of] the love from my fans, and all the students have really supported me. I love the University, and I love the students."
Daniels first got the idea of starting a hot dog cart when he visited New York City with his fiance, Sade Daniels, co-owner of Whatchawant.
"I saw a couple of carts and thought it would be something cool I could bring to Auburn," Danny said. "I've always been into food and wanted to started a couple of businesses when I graduated."
Danny is only selling his 100 percent beef dogs on campus now.
"Getting back out downtown now depends on working with the city, but game days would really be the time to park it outside the bars," Danny said.
Whatchawant gets new customers to their cart everyday.
"This is my first time [eating the hot dogs], but after this first bite, I'm coming back for many more," said Chris Denson, senior in business administration.
Danny said he recommends his Whatchawant hot dogs to the every day student and person on campus, including the Tiger Transit bus drivers.
"[The food] gets you away from the norm, on the way to class or a quick transit break," Danny said. "I don't like calling them hot dogs because they're not normal hot dogs. I recommend it for faculty, staff, students and open to everyone."
Danny said he does not compare his businesses to similar hot dog restaurants.
"[My business is] me providing an experience, and I'll give you exactly what you want," Danny said. "That's why it's called Whatchawant. I want you to be as creative as possible with the condiments on my cart. You come to buy an experience, not a place to buy a certain meal. Anything you're mind comes up with I'll make it for you."
Sade said their most popular selling hot dog is a chili cheese hot dog.
"We have basically any topping you want," Sade said. "It's not a normal hot dog."
Daniels said he takes pride in selling his 100 percent beef hot dogs.
"They're something you can't buy in the store," Daniels said. "I want to sell high-quality dogs, and I make my chili fresh every morning."
Denson said he is friends with the owners and recommends Whatchawant to everyone.
"I'm definitely going to spread the word for everyone to come here," Denson said. "They're great hot dogs."
The hot dog stand may be one of many in the near future.
"We're hoping to get another cart started on the other side of campus," Sade said. "By the end of the summer, hopefully we'll have one on the other side."
Whatchawant hot dog cart is open Monday-Friday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. next to the Student Center by the Tiger Transit stop.
"I want to let all my fans know that I love them and thank you for all their support," Daniels said. "Without the students, I wouldn't be here."
(02/04/14 11:00am)
In 2004, Justin Timberlake ripped off Janet Jackson's shirt, exposing her breast during the halftime show of Super Bowl XXXVIII; the United States lifted its travel-ban to Libya; Google released Gmail to the public and the American media released images of the U.S. military abusing Iraqi prisoners at Abu Ghraib.
Also in 2004, the Auburn Police Division merged with Auburn University in a contract naming the APD as the official police force of Auburn University.
That merger celebrates its 10-year anniversary in the coming months as 2014 rounds the corner.
"Here, this many years later, I think this merger works great," Auburn Police Chief Paul Register said. "We have a good relationship with the University. I think the satisfaction seems to be pretty good from the faculty."
The APD extended their police force to bike and foot officers who patrol daily.
"Just being a presence, being seen," said Antonio Fanning, an Auburn University on-campus bike officer. "Just trying to see who is all on campus, just making sure we know who is on campus and we can just make sure they're supposed to be on campus."
Fanning said patrols focus on high-density areas and dorms.
"Our main focus is to protect the kids and their property, just keeping them safe, the people of Auburn safe," Fanning said. "That sums it up."
When police forces are low, such as during late night to early morning shifts, many students rely on the 6-foot-tall emergency lights stationed around campus.
Distinguishable by the bright blue lights emitting from the top of the pole, these are machines directly connected to the APD communications department.
"The purpose of the blue lights would be to look at your campus geographically and place a mechanism in areas where persons who encounter emergency stations or may need assistance right away can move quickly to a point where they can notify emergency help," said Melvin Owens, executive director for the department of public safety and security for Auburn University.
When triggered, these mechanisms also tell the pan-tilt-zoom cameras stationed around campus to go off their touring and immediately focus on the subject.
These cameras are installed and monitored by another University contract with Allied Barton.
"There's not a lot of usage: there's even been a debate about their effectiveness," Owens said. "When we first put them here, there was not a prevalence of cellphones."
To Register, the emergency lights are just another means of communication to necessary services.
"It gives people remote locations on campus where they can just pick up that phone and it immediately calls 911," Register said. "It gives us the location of that call, where it's being made, the time and we get that information in real time."
Register said in the approximately 300 emergency phone calls made last year, all were answered within two minutes, including ones made from the emergency poles. Register said he had no way of determining how many calls were actually made with the emergency poles.
Auburn University's Student Government Association tests these lights annually at the Safety Walk. The response record still stands at two minutes.
"Most of them, if you look, are pretty visible. They're out in the open," Register said. "They're near things where people see them. They pass by them every day."
Register said he believes between the cameras, bike and foot officers, the APD does a good job of being able to see things going happening on campus.
Register said for security reasons, the APD doesn't release certain information, such as how many officers are on patrol or the shift schedule.
Fanning has served as part of APD's campus patrol since 2009 after he graduated from Auburn University in 2007. He followed with an attendance at Northeast Alabama Law Enforcement Academy in Jacksonville for three months then field training for four months.
Fanning said training never ends and intends to attend a five-day Rape Aggression and Defense training in following weeks.
Owens said on-campus officers must be certified by the Peace Officer Standard Training Commission, graduate from a police academy and receive standard on-the-job training.
Register said off- and on-campus officers receive the same training.
"I think that is one of the things that has improved since the merger," Register said. "Every officer that comes through now receives training in every facet of our agency. They get exposure to the patrol division, investigative division and do all the things that will help them be a successful officer."
Fanning said the biggest difference between his job and the city's officers are the exposure to people. Fanning said patrolling on bikes makes campus officers more immersed in the environment, while sometimes off-campus officers are usually only spotted in vehicles.
"Our presence does a lot to deter crime," Register said. "You see the officers riding around with yellow shirts on bicycles or in cars. They're black and white. They're very visible. We intend for that to be the case."
Register said educating the community on how to report suspicious activity is paramount to the APD's job. Register defined suspicious activity as anything abnormal in an environment.
"That's as large a part of our success, the feedback we get from the community," Register said. "Citizens and students who report crime to us, that's where we are successful. You want would-be criminals to not want to drive or walk through your town. We try to have the officers get out, go in businesses, talk with people and owners, learn the people in the city and be familiar with them. Then you'll know when something's unusual."
Fanning said suspicious activity can be anything out of the ordinary.
"We work campus all the time, so we know when something doesn't look like it supposed to look like, what it normally looks like," Fanning said. "We also rely on (students) to call in if they see something that is out of the ordinary."
Owens said he believes the success of safety on Auburn's campus comes from a unilateral commitment from administration, police services, emergency management and student associations, such as SGA's Safety Walk.
Fanning said working with students has been extremely rewarding and he sees them as younger siblings, so he doesn't mind keeping an eye out for their safety.
"You're a public servant," Fanning said. "You have a service heart. There are no off-days when you're a police officer."
(01/15/14 9:23pm)
It wasn't an award Alexa Filley was expecting to win.
"I was shocked," Filley said about being named Gatorade's National High School Volleyball Player of the Year.
Filley, a senior at Assumption High School, an all-girl Catholic School in Louisville, Ky., has committed to play on Auburn's volleyball team next season.
The award was recently presented to Filley at her high school.
"They came into my class and had this big trophy," Filley said.
The 5-foot-9 senior setter said she knew she wanted to play at Auburn after she visited campus.
"I just fell in love," Filley said. "The girls on the team are amazing."
Since receiving the award, Filley said her life has become more hectic than usual.
The school volleyball season ended in November with Assumption winning its fourth-straight state championship. Filley is currently playing club volleyball, and is also dealing with all the attention that comes with receiving the award.
"I've been doing interviews with all these different newspapers and magazines," Filley said.
The senior finished with 1,248 assists, 334 digs, 102 kills, 58 blocks and 41 service-aces during her final season at Assumption, in which the Rockets posted a 36-6 record.
"I try and be whatever my team needs me to be," Filley said. "I try to be the rock."
Filley's high school coach Ron Kordes said Filley's dedication and commitment to the game are a big part of what won her award.
"Even when she was in grade school, she was coming in at 6 a.m. to work with the trainer," Kordes said. "There's no place she'd rather be than in the gym."
The award was presented to Filley not only for athletic performance, but also for her off-the-court service and performance in the classroom.
According to Gatorade's website, "The Gatorade Player of the Year award is presented to high school student-athletes who have achieved athletic excellence in conjunction with high standards of academic achievement and exemplary character."
Filley is an assistant in a local second-grade class, donates time to feeding the hungry and has volunteered with the Special Olympics, all while maintaining a 3.91 grade point average.
She won the award in its 29th year of existence and is the first player from the state of Kentucky to win the award on a national level.
In December, Filley was named the Gatorade Player of the Year for the state of Kentucky, giving Assumption its eleventh winner.
Filley will become just the third Auburn athlete to have the national award on her resume, joining Andre Scott (Track and Field, 1994) and Stacy Martin (Track and Field, 1999), and will look to make an immediate impact when she joins the Tigers on the court for the first time next season.
Auburn finished its season in November with a 3-1 loss at Georgia, giving them an overall record of 19-11 with 10-8 finish in the Southeastern Conference.
In addition to winning the award, Filley is also now a finalist for the Gatorade National Female Athlete of the Year. The winner of that award will be recognized during an afternoon ceremony in Los Angeles on the day of the ESPY Awards in July.
Should she win, Filley would be the second volleyball player to receive the honor, the first being Cynthia Barboza of Long Beach, Calif., who won in 2005.
Filley will arrive at Auburn on June 23.
(12/23/13 5:49pm)
Since junior small forward KT Harrell transferred from the University of Virginia, Auburn fans have been looking for a breakthrough performance on the court from him.
On Sunday fans got what they wanted against Boston College and the Southeastern Conference took notice of his performance on Monday.
Harrell's career-high 29 points against the Eagles helped earn him SEC Men's Basketball Player of the Week honors.
Harrell averaged 21.5 points per game on 57.7 percent shooting from the field and 53.8 percent shooting from beyond the arc in leading the Tigers to wins against two ACC teams, Clemson and Boston College, last week.
Against Boston College he went 10-for-17 shooting, which included a career-high six 3-pointers, which tied for the most-ever 3-pointers made by an Auburn player under the direction of Coach Tony Barbee.
"KT was big," said head coach Tony Barbee after the Boston College game. "I've been waiting for a breakout. He's played well all year. Self-confidence is an issue sometimes with KT. I've been on him to keep fighting, keep pushing, keep being aggressive. (Against Boston College) he was that."
In the first half alone Harrell scored 16 points in 16 minutes of action, hitting 6-of-7 from the field and 4-for-5 from 3-point range.
"I was just aggressive," Harrell said after the Boston College game. "I hit like three in a row and I was just trying to be aggressive in the beginning."
He has now scored in double-figures in each of Auburn's first nine games.
Auburn will now take a break for the Christmas holidays, returning to the court on Dec. 30 against Arkansas-Pine Bluff at Auburn Arena.
(11/28/13 1:09am)
Nine years is a long drought, no matter what’s at stake. But for a winless streak in the Iron Bowl, chances are good that nine years may seem even longer. “It’s hard to imagine in this day and time, but Auburn was under Alabama oppression in those days,” said David Housel, Auburn University’s sports information director at the time. “We hadn’t won in nine years, couldn’t recruit; I mean, it was just awful.” The University of Alabama, under legendary head coach Paul William “Bear” Bryant, had beaten Auburn University from 1973-81, and if you asked fans of the Crimson Tide, there was no end to the streak in sight. Despite what the Tide thought, the momentum was about to change when a freshman running back by the name of Vincent Edward “Bo” Jackson came to The Plains in 1982. “He’s a once in a lifetime player,” said Pat Dye, who was in his second year of head coaching at Auburn at the time. “People who were around him, both in college and the pros, they knew because they saw what he could do everyday in practice.” However, ask Housel and he’ll tell you the attitude surrounding the Auburn football program began to change the year prior, in Dye’s first season as head coach. Housel recalled the meeting between Bryant and Dye, who had been an assistant to “The Bear” at the University of Alabama from 1965-73, at midfield prior to the 1981 Iron Bowl in Birmingham. “Coach Dye walked up to Coach Bryant and said, ‘Coach, I just want you to know, we’re coming after your ass,’” Housel said. The aura, the confidence around the Auburn football program was beginning to grow. Nonetheless, the play still implanted in the minds of Auburn fans of old didn’t occur until a year later – it will forever be known as “Bo over the top.” It was fourth-and-goal from the one yard-line with just over two minutes to play and Auburn trailing Alabama, 22-17. Jackson was lined up in the backfield behind quarterback Randy Campbell. Campbell took the snap, pivoted and handed the ball to Jackson. Next thing you know, Jackson’s leaping over the line of scrimmage. He’s hit at the apex, but his power carries him into the end zone. Auburn scores and takes the lead, 23-22. It turned out to be the game’s final decision. “It meant Auburn was back,” Dye said. At that moment, the sense of confidence Dye brought to the program a year before was not only instilled in his players, but also in the Auburn community. “Bo said no to all of that influence, that power, that affluence, and he chose to come to Auburn,” Housel said. “At that time, it was a little bit like David had slain Goliath. It was what defined Bo and what gave Auburn people hope that things were about to change.” Dye attributed his success to a familiarity with the territory. He had been on both sides of the rivalry, as well as played his college ball not far away at the University of Georgia, and was aware of what would be demanded of him. “I knew when I came to Auburn that to survive being the head football coach, you’ve got to beat Georgia and Alabama,” he said. “You don’t have to beat them every year, but you’ve got to be competitive with them.” And competitive he was. Dye won as many games as he lost against Alabama in his 12-year career as head coach at Auburn and one-upped the University of Georgia, winning seven of the 12 matchups in what is known as the Deep South’s Oldest Rivalry. However, his two head-to-head bouts with one of the greatest, if not the greatest, of all time in Bryant were what set his foundation as an Auburn legend. As it turned out, Auburn’s victory in the 1982 Iron Bowl over Alabama may have done more to Bryant than anyone ever imagined. He went on to announce his retirement prior to coaching his last game in the 1982 Liberty Bowl against Illinois. It was less than a month later, on Jan. 26, 1983, Bryant passed away, leaving behind a legacy matched only by few, if any, to this point. “I think Coach Bryant’s heart for football, it was what he loved doing. It was his life – his players were also a very big part of that – and he did it to a degree of excellence,” said Jeremiah Castille, a former defensive back for Bryant from 1979-82. “He put everything he had into it. That’s why I think, once he announced his retirement, what God had put him on the Earth to do, he was through doing it, and the Lord just called him on home.” The 1982 Iron Bowl happens to be one of the more influential and memorable games in the series’ history because it served to put Auburn back on the map and make the series competitive, but there are bound to be many more to come. And if not, the fans will do their best to make it seem that way, nonetheless. Football is a way of life in the South, and the Iron Bowl exemplifies that to the greatest extent. “Alabama’s a different state,” Dye said. “They talk about the Iron Bowl 365 days a year. Down here, it’s just part of the culture – you’re either an Auburn fan or you’re an Alabama fan. That’s just the way it is.”
(11/22/13 4:30pm)
It's March 2013 in Destin, Fla., and Trinidad James' "All Gold Everything" can be heard as the song plays continually.
"Popped a Molly, I'm sweating. Woo!"
It echoes out again. The song's music video has already amassed more than 10 million views on Youtube. It's most famous line is iconic among a certain demographic.
The lyrics reference MDMA, a drug sold in a crystalized powder form. It goes by Molly, and it is the active ingredient in Ecstasy, but Molly enjoys a breakout all of its own.
"I really just did some," giggles a young woman after shouting along to the song. "It's great."
She and many other beachgoers roll, the most common euphemism for being high on Molly, and they aren't shy about it.
The beach is dotted by young adults wearing tank tops with slogans such as, "Has anyone seen Molly?" and "Roll face, not tide." They have no desire to hide the recreational drug use.
"People take Molly to have fun," said one experienced Molly user, who estimated he had taken the drug more than 30 times. "It's the entire point of the drug."
This connoisseur said he thought MDMA's price and effect make it more cost-effective and fun than cocaine, marijuana or alcohol.
Bernie Olin, associate clinical professor and director for drug information at Auburn University, elaborated on what motivates MDMA use.
"It provides a small energy rush and euphoria," Olin said. "People take it for the psychedelic effects too."
Spending a day immersed in party culture, it seems Molly is becoming the Millennial Generation's party drug of choice reflected by MDMA's sudden prevalence in pop music lyrics.
The electronic dance music, or EDM, has surged in popularity recently with dance music producers and DJ's, topping the charts and having long been associated with Ecstasy and MDMA.
Recently, other genres of music reference Molly by name in songs, most notably in Hip-Hop.
Brandon "All Day" Bagaason, a rapper and hip-hop studies faculty member at McNally Smith College of Music, overtly confirmed the rise in Molly interest.
Bagaason said references to the drug by successful artists contribute to its sudden popularity.
"If (rappers) want to be on that level, to be on that playing field, they might think that they need to talk about it," said Bagaason, the Minnesota-based rapper.
He also said their influence extends to other people.
"If I'm a young person, and I hear that, and I want to rap I might think it's something to check into," Bagaason said.
He said the emergence of MDMA references in the genre could be part of racial identity in the U.S., and songs about taking or selling drugs are part of an expected narrative within black culture.
Bagaason also offered up the theory that Molly's sudden popularity is observable, but it might just be a trend.
"Not everyone who is talking about it is taking it," Bagaason said.
According to Olin, director for drug information at Auburn, Molly's spike in notoriety doesn't indicate an epidemic.
Olin's said Molly's popularity results from a rebranding and not an emergence.
"Chemically, MDMA is the same as Ecstasy," Olin said.
Olin said while Molly carries a reputation as being a purer form of Ecstasy, it could easily contain other substances.
A frequent user of Molly disagrees with this idea.
"You can tell, it's different," he said. "It's a cleaner high, and you don't grind your teeth as much as with Ecstasy."
Olin said actually getting pure MDMA is unlikely, and Molly drug dealers often cut the drug with caffeine to maximize profits.
"It's an illegal drug," Olin said. "The people that sell it are only motivated by profit, and it maximizes profit to make it less pure."
Olin said the characteristic distinguishing the two drugs is their form. Ecstasy is normally sold in a tablet or pill form, and MDMA, a white, crystalline powder.
He cited statistics from the Drug Abuse Warning Network, DAWN, as evidence that Molly's prevalence is overstated.
"It has grown considerably," Olin said. "However, it still makes up an extremely low percentage of recreational drug use."
Despite a reported increase to 22,498 emergency department visits from 21,836 MDMA accounts for less than two percent of DAWN's reported emergency department visits.
More than two thirds of these visits involved people younger than 25.
"MDMA has a relatively low chance of causing an overdose on its own," Olin said. "But people often mix Ecstasy with other drugs, especially alcohol."
Olin said MDMA raises the body's temperature. In combination with alcohol's dehydrating effect, this makes the two a potentially deadly combination.
"Alcohol is my favorite thing to mix with Molly," the MDMA enthusiast said .
Olin cautions against the possible long-term effects of using the drug because of potential problems with pathways in the brain burning out and potential depression.
Olin said the euphoric and psychedelic nature of the drug means it is usually taken sporadically, but if taken regularly; he said Molly could be habit-forming.
"The last two letters in MDMA stand for methyl amphetamine," Olin said. "Of course there could be potential for addiction."
Frequent users of Molly may not find they physically depend on the drug, but rely on it as a social crutch.
"I've heard of some people that roll a few days a week," the habitual Molly user said. "They have problems having fun without it."
(11/15/13 12:42am)
Their band, Great Peacock, will perform Friday, Nov. 15, at The Overall Company, and they advise those in attendance to expect a good time.
The band answered a few questions to give a little insight into their lives and their music, which are one in the same. If you're interested in the band, tickets are $10, and the concert begins at 8 p.m.
How did you both get started in the music industry?
Nelson: "We both got into music on a whim, and we've been performing and playing for so long. We have both played in bands together, and we've been through a lot. We first started out in our twenties, and we didn't know what we were doing. We did the whole playing-the-bar scene. It was really loud, and there was a lot of rock 'n' roll. Now that we're a little older, we decided we wanted to do something a little different, and that's just how Great Peacock kind of happened."
Floyd: "Well, I grew up playing in high school with a couple of bands, then I went to Auburn and played on my own. I left Auburn and went to an engineering school which led me to Nashville, and that's about it."
It's an interesting and striking name, where did you two come up with Great Peacock?
Nelson: "Well, it started off as joke sort of thing. We noticed a bunch of bands with animals in their names, and we thought that would be pretty funny. I have to admit, we were a little inebriated at the time and thought it would be a great idea. We were in a band that just ended and decided that if we were going to keep playing music, then let's just do it for fun. After that night, we started calling ourselves Great Peacock, wrote a song for our indie/folk/joke band, and that's how it all happened. After that, we wrote one song and our friends loved it and people kept wanting to hear it and it went on from there."
You've been in different bands and have seen bandmates come and go, what keeps you two together and still chasing the dream?
Nelson: "Blount and I pair very well together, in personality and musically. We've been best friends for a while, and we tend to know how to argue with each other. Whenever you're in a band and you're making music, it usually ends up in arguments. We tend to resolve conflicts really quick.
Musically, we both like and listen to the same types of music. Blount is a little more adventurous in the bands he listens to, and I'm more pop-minded. It creates a nice balance, and we get that artistic merit and commercial appeal that we want.
We also sing very well together. I can't sing harmony; I'm terrible at it. And Blount doesn't have a strong lead voice. When we're riding around listening to music, he never sings the melody; he naturally sings the harmony. So we're a perfect fit."
What's a typical day like for Great Peacock when you're on the road
performing?
Nelson: "These days, we tour off and on. At this stage, we don't have the ability to just tour all the time, so we just mainly hit the road on the weekends. We're going to be taking it easy after this weekend until around February. We'll be starting to record our first full length album during that time. We have not decided on a name yet.
In general, it's a lot of going back and forth, and it's not very exciting. It's hours in the car, a bunch of dude jokes and a lot of listening to music. We show up, do our thing, have a lot of waiting then get to play some music. We always stay up way too late and party way too much. "
How would you describe your sound?
Nelson: "It's more like a pop music/Americana vein. Very southern sounding though. For us, it's just trying to write and play a really catchy song. Like a lot of indie/folk bands, we use a lot more natural sounding instruments."
Where do you draw inspiration for your music?
Nelson: "I would have to say growing up in the South has a big impact on our music. We are also inspired by rhythm and sounds that we hear throughout our day.
Hearing these sounds leads to the beat in our songs, which leads to writing chords, and then there are the lyrics. It feels like a progression through life,
We also love nature and that factors in. It comes from fishing, being outdoors and traveling; it's all we ever do."
Floyd: "Well, it can be found in a lot of things. We're connected with the South. I grew up in Dothan, and Andrew grew up in Mississippi, Birmingham and Georgia; so he's all over the South. We try to incorporate the music we love, like old country, and have it be a little more modern and catchy. It's weird, a lot of our songs are about birds or death.
What's your favorite song that Great Peacock performs?
Nelson: "My favorite song we do changes night to night. Most likely it's what we play best that night or whatever the crowd responds most to. A crowd favorite is "Of the Mountain Crowd."
What can we expect from Great Peacock at the Overall Company on
Friday?
Nelson: "They can expect lots of fun. You're gonna want to sing along even if you've never heard it before. We want you to get your money's worth and have a different musical experience. You might not know what's going on, but you'll feel a part of it."
(11/13/13 9:48pm)
For years, Andrew Nelson and Blount Floyd's lives have been about music, and they've travelled far and wide spreading their "simple, poppy, infectious" tunes. Their band, Great Peacock, will be performing Friday, Nov. 15 at the Overall Company and they advise those in attendance to expect a good time.
The band answered a few questions to give a little insight into their lives and their music, which are one in the same. If you're interested in the band, tickets are $10 and the concert begins at 8 p.m.
Q: How did you both get started in the music industry?
A: Nelson: "We both got into music on a whim, and we've been performing and playing for so long. We have both played in bands together, and we've been through a lot. We first started out in our twenties, and we didn't know what we were doing. We did the whole playing the bar scene. It was really loud and there was a lot of rock and roll. Now that we're a little older, we decided we wanted to do something a little different. And that's just how Great Peacock kinda happened."
Floyd: "Well I grew up playing in high school with a couple of bands, then I went to Auburn and played on my own. I left Auburn and went to an Engineering school which led me to Nashville and that's about it."
Q: It's an interesting and striking name, where did you two come up with Great Peacock?
A: Nelson: "Well, it started off as joke sort of thing. We noticed a bunch of bands with animals in their names and we thought that would be pretty funny. I have to admit, we were a little inebriated at the time and thought it would be a great idea. We were in a band that just ended and decided that if we were going to keep playing music, then lets just do it for fun. After that night, we started calling ourselves Great Peacock, wrote a song for our indie/folk/joke band and that's how it al happened. After that we wrote one song and our friends loved it and people kept wanting to hear it and it went on from there."
Q: You've been in different bands and seen bandmates come and go, what keeps you two together and still chasing the dream?
A: Nelson: "Blount and I pair very well together, personality wise and musically. We've been best friends for a while and we tend to know how to argue with each other. Whenever you're in a band and you're making music, it usually ends up in arguments. We tend to resolve conflicts really quick.
Musically, we both like and listen to the same types of music. Blount is a little more adventurous in the bands he listens to, and I'm more pop-minded. It creates a nice balance, and we get that artistic merit and commercial appeal that we want.
We also sing very well together. I can't sing harmony, I'm terrible at it. And Blount doesn't have a strong lead voice. When we're riding around listening to music, he never sings the melody; he naturally sings the harmony. So we're a perfect fit."
Q: What's a typical day like for Great Peacock when you're on the road performing?
A: Nelson: "These days, we tour off and on. At this stage, we don't have the ability to just tour all the time so we just mainly hit the road on the weekends. We're going to betaking it easy after this weekend until around February. We'll be starting to record our first full length album during that time. We have not decided on a name yet.
In general, it's a lot of going back and forth and it's not very exciting. It's hours in the car, a bunch of dude jokes and a lot of listening to music. We show up, do our thing, have a lot of waiting then get to play some music. We always stay up way too late and party way too much. "
Q: How would you describe your sound?
A: Nelson: "It's more like a pop music/Americana vein. Very southern sounding though. For us, it's just trying to write and play a really catchy song. Like a lot of indie/folk bands, we use a lot more natural sounding instruments."
Floyd: "People usually tag us as "Americana." I mean what is Americana? It means we play a lot of pop songs with acoustic bass and it just falls into the folk category. We just try to write about what people like and connect with."
Q: Where do you draw inspiration for your music?
A: Nelson: "I would have to say growing up in the south has a big impact on our music. We are also inspired by rhythm and sounds that we hear throughout our day. Hearing these sounds leads to the beat in our song, which leads to writing cords, and then there are the lyrics. It feels like a progression through life,
We also love nature and that factors in. It comes from fishing, being outdoors and traveling; its all we ever do."
Floyd: "Well it can be found in a lot of things. We're connected with the south, I grew up in Dothan and Andrew grew up in Mississippi, Birmingham and Georgia so he's all over the south. We try to incorporate the music we love, like old country, and have it be a little more modern and catchy. It's weird, a lot of our songs are about birds or death.
Q: What's your favorite song that Great Peacock performs?
A: Nelson: " My favorite song we do changes night to night. Most likely it's what we play best that night or whatever the crowd responds most to. A crowd favorite is "Of the Mountain Crowd."
Floyd: "The newest songs are the ones you're always going to be the most excited about. "Arms" is one we haven't played yet since we've been here and it's a little more psychedelic, with a classic rock kind of sound to it. I'm really excited about that one and it's gotten great feedback."
Q: What can we expect from Great Peacock at the Overall Company on Friday?
A: Nelson: "They can expect lots of fun. You're gonna want to sing along even if you've never heard it before. We want you to get your moneys worth and have a different musical experience. You might not know what going on, but you feel a part of it."
Floyd: "You can expect to be thoroughly entertained by our energetic live show. We came from the world of rock and roll and we pride ourselves on keeping a crowd entertained and enthralled as the venue can allow.
I'm a big Auburn fan so I'm excited, it's been a really good spot for us."
(11/05/13 2:00pm)
I first heard of the end times and the coming eternal damnation on a sunny Wednesday afternoon outside the Ralph Brown Draughton Library.
A man in a plain blue polo shirt, round glasses and khaki pants stood outside the front steps handing pamphlets to people passing by.
The small black print on those narrow slips of paper labeled wars, rampant homosexuality, religious apostasy and AIDS as signs of a looming "Day of the Lord."
"You need to think about where you're going to spend eternity," said Brad Caldwell, member of Sand Hill Church.
Caldwell hails from Sand Hill Bible Church, just past Chewacla State Park in an unassuming one-story building at 4505 Sandhill Road.
Wednesday services take place in a small room with wood paneling and plush red chairs.
Forty six people sat in the room, scattered across the chairs. They prayed alone for the first 30 minutes.
A low buzz of speech filled the room, but most of the adults spoke in a language only they and God could allegedly understand.
They weren't crazy. They were praying.
Sand Hill members believe those who have been saved twice, (once as Christians and once by the Holy Spirit), can pray in tongues, similar to the apostles in the Bible.
Pastor Robert Freeman Jr., 58, related his first experience with the phenomenon when he was a young man.
"I was praying there at a big oak table and I prayed and asked the Lord to baptize me with the Holy Spirit and he did," Freeman said. "I began to speak in another language I've never learned before in my life. I have since then, any time I've wanted to, prayed in that language."
Eventually, Freeman stood behind a wooden podium on a small stage before the assembly.
In a room full of incandescent yellow can lights, a single pale fluorescent panel above the lectern made Freeman's white hair, beard and shirt glow.
He gripped the sides of the podium, leaned forward and emphasized God's love was like fire.
Freeman comes from what he called "the old school of preaching."
Conversations with Freeman reveal his encyclopedic knowledge of the Bible. He quotes chapter and verse from memory, even citing the original Greek and Hebrew words.
After the service, a half dozen members stayed behind to greet each other.
The people of Sand Hill Bible Church were welcoming and friendly. They looked me in the eye when they shook my hand.
Although Freeman describes the church as nondenominational Christian, the easiest comparison is the Amish with electricity.
Sand Hill Christians forgo sports, television and other activities they see as "unChristlike" in order to focus on "wholesome alternatives."
"My husband and I got rid of our television when our first child was a year old," said Judy Freeman, Robert's wife.
They also prefer to keep themselves separate from the world which they find immoral.
"We cannot wed the world and win Christ at the same time," reads another pamphlet.
Freeman knows the church's views stand against the world.
"Every person who becomes a disciple of Jesus Christ is going to encounter opposition from the world... that's inevitable," Freeman said.
Scott Roney, member of Sand Hill Church, brings the message to Auburn's campus.
Every Wednesday, he stands outside the library and preaches.
Roney exhorts students in a loud, gravelly voice to repent and serve Jesus.
I stood by Roney and watched the students pass.
Most ignored him.
A few stopped to talk to James Hartford, 54, Roney's companion. Hartford provided pamphlets and conversation to anyone interested in the church.
Freshmen Rachel Solorio stopped to talk to Hartford and left holding one of the church's tracts.
"I love that people are sharing who they believe Christ is," Solorio said. "I don't know if the yelling is the best possible way to go about that, you know?"
Roney said other Christians often disagree with his methods.
"We live in a lukewarm Christian culture," Roney said. "All I'm saying is with a loud voice that Jesus is coming."
The students treated the visitors from Sand Hill hesitantly.
"I do plan to read it," said Caitlin Thorn, a graduate student studying aerospace engineering, who held another pamphlet.
Solorio said she planned to come back to talk to the Sand Hill visitors once she understood more of their religious doctrine.
"The fact that people are willing to go out and proclaim the name of Jesus, that's cool to me," Solorio said.
(10/31/13 1:00pm)
On May 11, 2013, Darcy Corbitt was born at 21 years of age.
With her friends gone for the summer, Corbitt moved a couch, three bookshelves and more than 350 books into an apartment to start her new life.
She had $70 in her checking account. It was the day before her birthday.
The Auburn University senior no longer wanted to go by her birth name, David Hall. She wanted to start again as Darcy.
"When I was really little, 3, 4, I thought I was a girl," Corbitt said. "I went by a girl's name in my mind, but I never told anyone because I knew it was socially unacceptable."
Corbitt struggled with such feelings throughout her childhood and said despite being born biologically male, she never felt like a man.
"I tried to be that person for 18 years and it didn't fit me," Corbitt said.
With help from her friends, she began exploring the idea of living as a woman.
Bonnie Wilson in the Women's Initiatives Office said she recalled a poignant conversation about gender identity with Corbitt when she still went by David.
"I asked her, 'if there weren't any barriers, what would you be?'" Wilson said. "And (Corbitt) said, 'a woman.' And I said, 'then that's what you are.'"
Corbitt said she also credits Spectrum, Auburn's Gay-Straight Alliance, with helping her come to understand her identity.
"If I didn't have the GSA, I don't know what I would have done," Corbitt said. "I'd have probably killed myself."
When she still used the name David, Corbitt said she came within seconds of committing suicide after being outed as someone attracted to men.
"The only thing stopping me was I couldn't break the razor blade out of my razor," Corbitt said.
"I just kind of thought that was funny. I laughed, and I thought, 'I can't really kill myself. I've got so much I can do in the world.'"
Corbitt fully accepted being Darcy last May, on her 21st birthday.
The transition hasn't been easy. Some friends offered minimal support for her new public identity.
Corbitt said her best friend from high school, a girl who drove three hours from the University of Montevallo to see her during their freshman year, unfriended her on Facebook last summer.
"You post a lot of gay stuff," Corbitt said the friend told her.
Corbitt said she recently ran into her former best friend. When Corbitt tried to start a conversation, the friend showed little pleasure in seeing her.
Other groups have reacted differently to the news.
Corbitt sent an email to every professor she's worked with in the past to let them know about the change.
The faculty responded with immediate and
overwhelming support.
"The University was really classy about it," Corbitt said.
Today, Corbitt said she embraces her identity as a woman. She dresses in a women's suit with thick-frame glasses, a red-and-orange scarf and a purple shirt to match her purple wristwatch.
Silver eye shadow and lipstick adorn her face. Her fingernails bear pink Ballet Slippers nail polish, which she said she fidgets with when nervous.
Her friends admire the change, citing its positive effects.
"I saw how it truly made her happy to do that," said Alyssa Patterson, a junior who shared English classes with Corbitt. "She's so much more confident in who she is."
In conversation, Corbitt appears confident. She laughs easily and jokes about blasting "Dancing Queen" by ABBA, her favorite song, at annoying neighbors.
In her new life, the senior majoring in English and psychology serves as director of social affairs for Spectrum, an advocacy group for lesbian, bisexual, gay and transgender (LBGT) students.
Corbitt said she hopes to attend graduate school to become a therapist for LBGT teens.
Her friends spoke highly of her academic work.
"She's a good G--d--- student," said Kelly Tsaltas, senior in psychology.
Corbitt's peers said they also admire her intelligence.
"She's really smart and cognizant in how people think and feel and express themselves," Wilson said.
Corbitt said she would prefer to remain at Auburn for graduate school, but thinks she'll probably attend another institution.
Until she leaves, she also wants to stay close to her parents. They declined to comment for this story.
Corbitt said she understands her transition has been difficult for her mother and father, but she would have been unhappy any other way.
"My whole life, all the decisions I've ever made, I've made for love," Corbitt said. "I came out for myself, the second time because I wanted to be happy."
(10/24/13 1:00pm)
October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, a nationally recognized month in which events are held to raise awareness and prevent or reduce domestic violence.
Once again, Auburn has made it a point to try and raise awareness of domestic violence and its consequences.
On Tuesday, Oct. 15, Cater Lawn was the host of the Silent Witness Roll Call and Candlelight Vigil.
The event featured speakers such as Caitlin Woods, a survivor of domestic violence, Lisa-Jackson Stephenson, executive director of the Domestic Violence Intervention Center, and William Shallock, who took a stand against domestic violence and told stories of his experiences with it.
Afterward, the names of all victims who died during the past year in Alabama as a result of domestic violence were read aloud.
A purple balloon was released for each individual as his or her name was read. This was followed by a candlelight vigil for those individuals.
"This is the first time I have been to (the Silent Witness Roll Call.) It was a good experience because we got to hear people speak who had been through, and survived, domestic violence," said Natalie Adcock, sophomore in business. "I really appreciate them opening up their lives to complete strangers, because I'm sure it is not easy."
Also, in front of Cater Hall was a Silent Witness exhibit in which numerous wooden silhouette cutouts were spread out in representation of those who had been killed by their partners. Attached to the cutouts were stories of local individuals who lost their lives to domestic violence throughout the past year.
After the roll call of people who lost their lives from domestic violence, members of the Alpha Chi Omega sorority released balloons into the air, each with a name of a victim of Domestic Violence.
In the attempt to raise awareness of domestic violence, Auburn has launched a Zero Tolerance Campaign.
Signs across Auburn's campus, marked with a purple ribbon, help outline facts of domestic violence and how to get help for domestic violence issues.
"I think they would have more of an impact if they stuck out a little bit more," said Stanford Hornsby, undeclared sophomore. "It might grab people's attention and before they know it, they have learned something new."
On Saturday, Oct. 28, Auburn will conclude the Domestic Violence Awareness Month with an event called "Walk a Mile in Her Shoes."
The event will begin at 2 p.m. on the green space.
"Participants will walk a mile in a pair of high heels to benefit local survivors of domestic violence," said Bonnie Wilson, diversity intiatives coordinator. "Both men and women are encouraged to wear high heels because it's what makes the experience so eye opening. However, tennis shoes are allowed if participants would rather wear them."
Wilson said since both men and women are affected by domestic violence, they shoud both participate in all Domestic Violence Awareness Month events.
(10/23/13 2:54pm)
People can change their pictures or use someone else's, fake personal history and even create their own unique worlds with individual characters, like a drama played out over social media and mass communication, often without the other ever person realizing it.
(10/21/13 2:53am)
The Auburn Tigers defense has been no stranger to adversity in recent years.
Battling disciplinary issues, coaching changes and an ever growing list of injured players, the Tigers have looked back at the trials of the 2012 season for inspiration during the 2013 season.
"Everything we went through last year is showing its effect this year," senior defensive end Dee Ford said. "We look at each other like 'Our backs are against the wall, but we've been through worse.' That shows a lot of maturity and trust that we have on defense and offense."
Ford said there is a night and day difference in the defense's mentality compared to last season.
"We're the same players, but a different team from last year," Ford said. "It is a new day and we're not worried about last year. We expected this and we're going to keep moving from here."
A late injury to Joshua Holsey during Thursday's practice added another name to the long list of injured Tigers defenders and forced cornerback Ryan Smith to take over his position.
Combined with the offseason dismissal of safety Demetruce McNeal, defensive coordinator Ellis Johnson said the defense has been hampered by a lack of depth in the secondary.
"If we had them all healthy, I think you'd see a lot better things," Johnson said. "Even as proud as I am of them, when they get tired we don't have anybody to sub for them. In addition to that, some of these injuries are costing us some of our best special team players."
Despite the injuries, Johnson said the defense has rallied around each other and is finally settling into his defensive scheme.
"We're starting to find our personnel and what they do best," Johnson said. "We actually took a pretty simple game plan against Texas A&M and it actually helped because our players were able to play a little faster. I'm just really proud of how well the players have handled it."
Fatigue has been an issue for the Tigers against pacier offenses, but a tough offseason conditioning program has proven essential to the defense's longevity.
"It's what you train for in the summer," senior defensive back Ryan Smith said. "You don't think about being tired or needing a rest because you live for that moment and that's the spotlight you want to be in."
Auburn's 45-41 over then No. 7 Texas A&M has given the Tigers a renewed sense of confidence moving into the second half of the 2013 season.
"The sky is the limit," Ford said. "It's a great environment to play in when your team can trust in each other at pivotal times in the game. We're just trying to keep our composure and our focus so we can keep moving forward."
Ford said the Tigers have one goal in mind after their 6-1 start to the 2013 season.
"I think we can win it all," Ford said. "There's no reason to say that we can't. Why not win it all?"
(10/17/13 6:35pm)
October in Auburn is a beautiful time. Leaves change color, Halloween is coming and football games abound.
When you get up for your early class, at approximately 8 or 9 a.m., the air is cool and that fall nip is in the air.
That is, until about 11:30 a.m. and it's a sauna on campus again.
This makes it a little difficult to plan out what to wear since the weather is always changing this time of year.
I always seem to be opening my closet and trying to pick out a nice outfit for the night and can't even begin to decide.
Will it be too hot if I wear long sleeves? Will I freeze to death if I wear these shorts?
It's a never ending cycle.
I rarely let myself shop in the downtown boutiques because it's all the same and everyone will be wearing it.
Plus, I'm a college student living on a fixed budget. The solution: thrifting and consignment stores.
Most of the consignment boutiques in Auburn only accept name brands, such as Judith March, Lilly Pulitzer and Michael Kors, great name brands for great low prices.
I bought a skirt, a top and a necklace at Fringe for only $29.96.
The manager of the Auburn location, Lauren Hayden, helped me look around and answered all of the questions I had about consignment.
I had to cover the Auburn game Saturday, Oct. 12, and needed a professional looking skirt.
Those items are hard to find in Auburn, especially without draining my fragile bank account.
If is wasn't for consignment, I'd be broke and skirtless right about now.
Empire waisted and with pockets, I had to get this Nicola skirt.
It's black and white patterned and is made of the perfect material that can be worn during warmer days in the fall, or with tights in the winter.
Best part: it was only $5.50. I also picked up a taupe John H. half-sleeved top.
It's extremely soft and comfortable, perfect to wear with jeans to dress it up or throw it on with some leggings to go study or go to class.It's a great fit and was only $9.99.
I thought I was done until I saw all the jewelry decorating the counters.
I'm a fan of burnt orange and I absolutely love gold jewelry.
I found a great orange pendant necklace on a gold chain, the perfect statement piece.
I couldn't say no when I saw it was only $12.
I was honestly proud of myself for walking out of a store with a shirt and skirt for $15.
I was even more excited I could use these pieces for many outfits to come.
It's a great fall transition outfit, which we could all use this time of year.
If you're a little strapped for cash, selling your name brand clothes that are in good condition is the way to go.
Stores such as Fringe, Plato's Closet, New Leaf Consignment and Sydney's Consignment Boutique will buy back all of your clothes that need a new home.
Macklemore made thrifting for clothes and shopping on a budget super cool with his recent single "Thrift Shop."
After my experience at Fringe, I have to agree with him, even though that song still gets on my nerves.
(10/20/13 10:00pm)
Downtown Auburn was abuzz Wednesday night, Oct. 9, much more than the usual, all because Aaron Carter was in town.
Walking downtown past Bourbon Street Bar at 8 p.m., girls were lined up way past Quixote's, and excitement was the theme of the night. In the line, posters of Carter and his old CDs were waved around and chants of "Aaron, Aaron" rang through the air.
Names were asked at the door and the line continued inside, toward the dance floor downstairs, where all concerts at Bourbon are held.
Throughout the day and night, Carter tweeted from his personal account, retweeting and following as many fans as possible. Support poured in from fans, and pictures of fans holding signs wished Carter good luck with his comeback tour.
Before going on, he tweeted, "I hope I can make you all proud of me."
At Bourbon, the dance floor quickly became crowded. It was already full well before the first opening act, Brie Goldsobel.
She started off the night singing songs that were barely distinguishable over the cheers of impatient fans. Rapper Jayceon also performed, passing out free CDs.
Before Carter took the stage, Bourbon was so packed that people could hardly move.
Girls were shoving, some fell and were trampled and it was almost chaos. Carter came onstage a little after 11:45 p.m. and the crowd went wild.
He jumped on stage wearing camouflage cargo pants and a short-sleeved black tee that showed off the multiple tattoos decorating his arms.
He started off the show with a crowd favorite, "I Want Candy." He continued the show with other classics such as "That's How I Beat Shaq," in which he wore a Lakers jersey, and "Aaron's Party."
He also ventured into performing covers of popular songs such as "Blurred Lines," "Treasure," and "Get Lucky."
Leah Beard, junior in public relations and concert attendee, said she has been a fan of Aaron ever since she was a child.
"He's better than ever," Beard said. "He truly has made a comeback."
Carter put on an energetic act, infusing new and old songs to give the crowd a taste of the Aaron they used to know, and of the new Aaron his comeback is bringing.
Carter returned to his tour bus right after the concert where fans sat and waited, banging on the doors, waiting for him to come out.
When he did emerge, he took a few photos, snagged a kiss from a fan and ran through the back doors of Bourbon Street Bar for a meet-and-greet.
Outside the front doors of Bourbon Street Bar, his sister B.J. was loading tour gear onto the bus and stopped to talk to a few fans standing outside.
"Aaron is the thoughtful one," B.J. said. "No matter what he is doing, he's always going to look back and be like 'You ok? You still there?' He's a sweet kid."
It was $50 for the meet-and-greet with Carter, which lasted approximately 10-15 minutes. Blakesley Wilcox, junior in chemical engineering, boasted a picture of Carter kissing her on the cheek.
"He was so nice and super flirty," Wilcox said. "He gave me a kiss, then kissed me on the cheek just for a picture. It was great."
Carter left the bar at approximately 3:15 a.m. and met with some fans still waiting by his tour bus.
"It was a really fun concert," Carter said. "I hope my fans had as much fun as I did."
(10/21/13 2:00pm)
Many of the world's great ideas are born in high-rise offices of bustling cities or in the minds of scholars working away at research in institutional laboratories or technology campuses. For Stacy Brown, the founder of local restaurant success Chicken Salad Chick, the best ideas are simply born in the kitchen.
In 2012 the Auburn Chamber of Commerce named Brown, an energetic blonde from Rome, Ga., and Auburn alumna, because of her successful 63 Chicken Salad Chick franchises all over the South. Her recipe for success began with a modest plan and a bit of patience.
She began humbly: the mother of three, recently divorced and in need of a source of income.
"For their stability, I said, 'I've got to figure out something to do from the house,'" Brown said.
Limited to the confines of her home, Brown headed to the kitchen and was struck with an idea, or rather, a craving.
"I happened to be obsessed with chicken salad," she said. "I thought I was a connoisseur of chicken salad. I didn't make my own, I just tasted everybody's. I thought I was like a fine wine steward."
Brown started her "science experiment" in the kitchen, cooking pounds of chicken in trial and error batches of what eventually became the Classic Carol, her regular chicken salad sold in stores today.
Initially, Stacy passed around the tubs of her creation to friends, neighbors and her hairdresser. Word quickly spread about the chicken salad, and she recruited her current husband, Kevin Brown, for business advice. Kevin jumped on board, and the business was born.
Before she began to sell her creation, Brown customizing batches for friends by throwing in unique ingredients.
"This idea started to unfold and evolve. Everybody makes chicken salad differently because everyone likes it a different way," Brown said. "It's not just a one-recipe thing. Why not make one for everybody?"
Brown created four flavors, a logo and a name -- Chicken Salad Chick -- and set out door-to-door, with tubs of chicken salad in hand.
To name the flavors, Kevin suggested playing off the "chick" theme and naming them after special ladies in his and Stacy's lives. They made batches for their mothers: Stacy's mother, Nutty Nana and Kevin's, Mimi's Mix.
"Looking back, I think (the customers) thought I was pitiful," Brown said. "The important thing is, they bought it once, so whatever their reason was, I'm OK with that. They bought it again. I never felt sorry for myself and never felt pitiful. I thought I had a great idea, and I was going to go out there and sell it."
The turning point for the business came when she took a bowl of chicken salad to the teacher's lounge at Ogletree Elementary School, where her children attended. The teachers loved it, and that's when the phone began ringing off the hook with orders.
"How could you quicker get a word spread throughout a community than through the teachers, who are connected to every family?" Brown said.
Brown began making huge batches, sometimes more than 20 pounds at a time. Now, Brown said Auburn consumes an average of 500 pounds per day.
Despite that Chicken Salad Chick had a logo, Brown insists it was initially only supposed to be for a bumper sticker on her car with a phone number for people to call in orders.
Brown recalled a late-night grocery-store run when she received a phone call while sitting at a stoplight.
"It (was) someone in the car next to me, drunk as all get-out, saying, 'I want some chicken salad,' like I was Willie's Wings or something."
Suddenly, the health department called after an anonymous source revealed Brown's in-house chicken salad business. The department explained it was illegal for her to cook something in her home and sell it. Brown put production to a halt.
This fact didn't seem to deter hungry customers. Brown said people would call her, begging her to make them just one order.
"I felt like I was bootlegging chicken salad," Brown said. "It felt like a dirty thing in the back parking lot."
Despite the apparent success of her product, the health department shutdown left Brown deflated. After all her hard work and the option to stay home with the kids, she feared returning to a full-time job and disappearing from their daily lives.
Kevin, fortunately, had a plan. He figured there was enough success for them to open a small, inexpensive takeout-only location to cook and sell the chicken salad - a place that Brown, who had no business experience, could easily manage. They purchased a modest space on 555 Opelika Road - a location still open today.
After renovating the space themselves, Kevin was let go from his software-sales job.
"He has no income, I have no income," Brown said. "We both have families to support. We were scared. We had put every penny of our savings into this chicken-salad restaurant."
They powered through concerns and opened on Jan. 7, 2008, christening the new place with friends and family. No customers showed up.
"And I was like, they were right, this is stupid," Brown said. "I cannot believe I put all my money into this. Then, the first customer came."
Since that first customer, Brown said business has been nonstop.
They prepared 40 pounds of chicken salad for the first day and sold out in two hours. The second day, they made 80 pounds and sold out, again in two hours.
In November 2008, Brown and Kevin took their partnership a step further, parted for a few days from Chicken Salad Chick and flew to Jamaica to get married.
Much has changed since that year, but Brown said making food and serving customers has always been her top priority.
"The only thing we take seriously is the chicken salad and our service," Brown said. "We understand that we are a chick-y place, and we understand that the names are silly, and we understand that it makes people feel silly to say the names. People will come in giggling and saying, "I want the Fancy Nancy because I'm fancy.'"
Brown cites the support of her staff, which is quickly growing, and her husband, as major components in running the rapidly expanding company.
"The reason, internally, we're able to keep going like this, is every person in here has an absolute passion for their position," Brown said. "The momentum and the atmosphere in here are unbelievable, because nobody is in a position that they don't love. It feels good to come to work because everybody is happy."
Ali Rauch, the business' director of marketing, began working in December 2012 and praised the positive atmosphere Brown creates for employees.
"It's so much fun," Rauch said. "I say fun a lot, but it is. She's a very fun-loving person, and I think she realizes how blessed and lucky she is to be where she is, because it didn't start like this. It's all taken on a life of its own, and she's just along for the ride. This is where her passion is, and she didn't even realize that until five years ago."
Jessica Claussen, who graduated from Auburn in May 2013 with a degree in psychology, has worked for Chicken Salad Chick since her sophomore year. When applying for graduate school, she asked Kevin if he would write her a letter of recommendation, but Kevin had another idea. Instead of going off to school, the Browns wanted to keep Claussen on staff to work as a corporate trainer. She accepted, and said the family-like atmosphere is one of the reasons she wanted to stay on.
"It's such a team effort," Claussen said. "I've worked for them for years, and they're two of the most hardworking and best people who deserve absolutely every bit of success that they're having."
As for working with her husband, Brown said their polar opposite personalities are what keep the business and family running. Brown said Kevin is efficient, organized and business-oriented, while she is focused on the creative side.
Brown said the two constantly talk about work at home, bringing their different viewpoints to one. She likens their owning a business together like having a child - an attachment so dear that it can't be understood until it actually happens to you.
"There's nobody else I could talk to about this that would understand it and have the same feelings about it that I have as Kevin. It's a great thing."
Ultimately, Brown said Chicken Salad Chick has come to be less about food service and more about serving others.
"In the beginning, we thought it was chicken salad, because in the beginning, I just had to pay the power bill," Brown said. "It was supposed to be a car magnet. That's all. I think because of that, how it's all happened, it helps Kevin and I keep it all in perspective. Because it was so clearly not our plan, we want to be good stewards of what the plan actually is. We are just very grateful for every day."
