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(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."
(11/28/14 1:00pm)
When Kyungmin Park, professor of art, asked her students to do a human form ceramics piece, she told them to pay special attention to the eyes.
It was a small detail of the form the students were creating, but Park said the smallest details are what make art come to life.
"We spent an entire day on making the eye look realistic and studying how to carve the details around it," said Lesley Foote, sophomore in graphic design. "Park directed us how each part of a face has specific details -- the ear, the nose, the lips. They turned out looking real."
Park, who grew up in South Korea before coming to the United States, first took ceramics classes in high school.
She developed a passion for art and ceramics at a young age, but her background in the Korean education system taught her that the details were just as important as the big picture.
"Art classes in Korea were all about your skills and technique," Park said. "It was fine, but everyone used the same clay and strict technique. It got incredibly boring."
After attending college for a year in Korea, Park transferred to Alfred University, a small liberal arts college in upstate New York known for its ceramics program.
"I love making art because I want to make things that I can see," Park said. "When you play music, it disappears into the air, but when you make art, there's something to show for it. There's a final result that you put your time into, and I've always been fascinated by that."
Now, Park is trying to instill that fascination and love for detail into her students.
Kelsey Gainer, senior in fine arts, said having Park as a professor has shaped the level of dedication she puts into her work.
"She pushes hard and expects everyone's best," Gainer said. "Yet she understand each person's ability in the subject she's teaching."
Park assigns her Ceramics I and II students to make dozens of the same cup to get the basics down.
"You have to make 20 cups to have 10 good ones," Park said. "You have to make 100 to 200 cups to make one perfect one."
Foote said Park wants her students to do their best work even if it takes extra time.
"We might not appreciate how hard she pushes us at first, but all that work leads us to appreciate it more in the end," Foote said. "It's like she incorporated the best of both worlds into her teaching style -- the drive and dedication from the Korean culture and the creativity and understanding of here."
Park said she enjoys learning and teaching in the United States because it's easier to share her ideas.
"Here in America, my teachers were my mentors, but at the same time, I knew I could do what they did," Park said. "There was no distance between us. That's the kind of teacher I want to be, and I couldn't be that kind of teacher in Korea."
Park said she enjoys instructing her students and working hard with them, but that she loves getting to know them personally.
"With art, you need to break down that barrier to teach your skills and knowledge," Park said. "It's so hands-on that you can't have a wall up. My experiences with different cultures have helped me break this wall down."
Park said she wants every student to expand their knowledge by experiencing other ways of life.
"Going somewhere new was one of the best things I ever did," Park said. "It taught me so much about my work and about life."
Park said traveling and experiencing culture shock shaped her as a person and as an artist.
"It may seem intimidating at first, but trust in yourself and just go," Park said. "Find out who you are by finding out who other people are. You'll find a little piece of home where you go, just like I did here in Auburn."
(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.
(11/28/14 5:00pm)
What would someone tell his friends if none of them knew he said it?
Secret, a new social network, answers that question. It has spread worldwide from Silicon Valley, earning more than $1.5 million in investments as reported by Forbes.
Secret allows its users to post text over an image anonymously. The app uses their contact list to find friends who also use Secret. Users see their friends' posts without any names.
The app also allows strangers to view and comment on users' posts.
There are no friends lists or messages on Secret. Posts are not deleted.
"Sometimes I pretend I'm OK because I don't want to annoy people with my problems," one user posted anonymously from Missouri. "I just don't have a friend I can trust with my secrets."
Secret's co-founders have said they want to help users connect without worrying about what their friends will think.
"I want to see more people being open and connecting around real sentiments," said Secret co-founder Chrys Bader to The San Francisco Chronicle. "Secret is an app for the introvert in you. All these other social networks are for the extrovert."
Bader, 30, and David Byttow, 32, released Secret on Jan. 30, 2014. They did not respond to requests for comment.
Bader and Byttow wrote a blog post explaining that they designed Secret to encourage more open and honest social networking.
"As social networking has become universal, we've become increasingly sensitive to what we share online," they wrote. "Speaking on a stage in front of a mixed audience of family, friends, and acquaintances makes it hard for us to be our most authentic selves. As a result, we tend to share only our proudest moments in an attempt to portray our best selves. We filter too much, and with that, lose real human connection."
James Neer, senior in electrical engineering, said he was skeptical of posting such personal information online.
"I still feel like that's kinda wrong to post things like that," Neer said. "I think it's better to do it in private than make it open to the world where anybody can see it."
Other students expressed doubts about using another social network in addition to popular services such as Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
"I just don't have the time for that," said Ford Galin, junior in business. "It's not the type of thing that would interest me."
Victoria Sexton, sophomore in nursing, said she did not want to spend more time using her phone.
"I'm trying to stay away from my phone as much as possible, trying to be more social," Sexton said.
Neer said he also preferred to spend time with people in person.
"I feel like you waste a lot of time always on the apps," Neer said. "You could spend a lot of time doing that versus actually sitting down and grabbing lunch and talking to people."
Secret is available for Android and iPhone.
(11/20/14 4:15am)
On tonight's Hell's Kitchen episode, Auburn Chef Fernando Cruz survives to another round.
Chef Gordon Ramsay and guest chef Sundar Bains challenged the contestants to a competition involving making Indian cuisine. Teams of competing chefs had to put together four Indian meals. Indian good is especially close to Ramsay's heart, as he said he fell in love with it.
The first round, cooking lamb, went to the red team. The second, chicken, put the blue team ahead after a very poor performance from red. Both teams performed abysmally cooking cod. The last dish, pork, put the red team just slightly ahead.
As per usual in Hell's Kitchen, there is a good bit of interpersonal drama when the results are announced. There's yelling, shouting and fighting. Everything you'd expect from quality reality television.
The important part is that Cruz is still on the show. Fellow contestant Aaron Lhamon decided to leave Hell's Kitchen to become a better chef, leaving Auburn's favorite chef in the running.
(11/20/14 5:30pm)
One day, Barry Fleming, associate professor of art, was doing raku, a Korean technique in firing ceramics, and nothing was going to stop him.
In the middle of working, Fleming accidentally pushed through the thin window in the studio and cut his wrist.
The cut was so deep he would need a dozen stitches, but even so, he pressed on.
The artist took several brown paper towels and made a makeshift cast with masking tape, and did firings for several hours before stopping at the emergency room on his way home.
"I knew I needed to be sewn up, but the pottery was hot in the kiln," Fleming said. "I was going to need to get those 15 stitches anyway, but to interrupt my raku when I was having such a good time? I didn't see the need."
After teaching for 27 years, Fleming holds a similar attitude in the classroom.
"I enjoy creating somewhat of an uncomfortable atmosphere in my classes, and keeping students on their toes," Fleming said. "Keeping people a bit uncomfortable is ideal because comfort is the enemy of art."
While he's changed his teaching style since the 80s, Fleming said he enjoys remembering how he used to keep his students uncomfortable.
Once, Fleming assigned his students to create a drawing to depict an intense image without being cliche.
"This one student drew a lighter by itself, which is the exact opposite of what I asked," Fleming said. "So I had a lighter in my pocket and took advantage of it."
Fleming ignited the bottom of the drawing, unpinned it from the wall and stamped it out -- the ashes creating tone and shape variation.
"I hung it back on the wall and said, 'Now that's intense,'" Fleming said. "I wanted to improve it, so I did."
Fleming said he enjoys incorporating what he calls a Zen shock moment into his lessons, such as the experience with the lighter.
"There are certain times to explore the possibilities of what the student might choose for expressive means," Fleming said. "All I want is to help them see things a different way, and shed light on order that doesn't have to be there."
Carol Hartsell, former senior comedy editor at the Huffington Post, is a former student of Fleming's.
Hartsell said she was greatly inspired by Fleming's attitude toward art.
"He quickly became one of my favorite professors because he let art be important without being precious," Hartsell said. "To this day, he is the most unpretentious serious artist I've ever met."
Hartsell said one of the greatest ways Fleming influenced her as a person was the way he dealt with losing a finger.Back in the mid-90s when Hartsell was a student, Fleming almost sliced his finger off during at a shop accident.
"He later told me he had a choice and that he could have had his finger reattached, but he wouldn't be able to move it," Hartsell said. "His attitude was, 'Well, if I can't move it, it'll just be in the way, so take it off.' That blew my mind. I want to be that unfazed by troubles and stay focused on what I have to do."
Fleming said he's enjoyed teaching because he's learned as much as his students.
"I love giving students a different perspective from what they already have," Fleming said. "I've learned tremendous amounts from students in return including how to communicate the most effectively and create the most excitement."
Jessica Sabo, another former student of Fleming's, had similar experiences with him.
"He openly appreciates equally the sacred and the bizarre," Sabo said. "He taught me to find inspiration and wisdom in the places I might least expect to find them -- both within myself and in the world."
Five years after graduation, Sabo said she's still telling heartwarming stories about her former professor.
"Fleming's the kind of person that sticks with you like cat head biscuits and gravy," Sabo said. "His authenticity as a person and heart as an artist continue to impact and inspire me in my own life journey."
Fleming has developed his talent as an artist over several decades and said he realized his passion for art when he was a freshman at Western Kentucky University.
"My first art professor, Fae Hardy, asked us, 'Why do you [want to] be an artist?'" Fleming said with a smile. "After a series of wrong answers from 'to become famous,' or 'make money,' she said, 'You make art because you have to make art!'"
In that moment, Fleming said a transformation took place inside of him.
"A part of me acknowledged that I didn't have to make art, but then a voice inside said, 'No, I think you do,'" Fleming said. "I surely had to, and I want to pass that 'had to' on to as many students as I can."
Hartsell said more than anything, Fleming showed her how to have a critical eye and remain true to herself at the same time.
"As an artist, you get so caught up in proving yourself that you forget who you are, but Barry makes you remember," Hartsell said. "Frankly, if I had college to do over again, I'd spend as much time hanging out with professor Fleming as I could because it would make me a better and more informed person overall."
(11/19/14 5:50pm)
A singer turned Fulbright Scholar, Ramjie Odin traveled from the island Mindanao in the Philippines to embark on a five year program toward his Ph.D in fisheries and allied aquacultures.
Odin said although he is adjusting academically and culturally, he has had a lot of firsts in America from failing an exam to performing at UPC's Open Mic Night.
Odin said he learned singing from his dad when he was young, taking a break after his father passed away.
Odin said he picked singing in high school at weddings, hosting events and anything that could get his voice box ringing.
He even auditioned for X-Factor in the Philippines, making it to the fifth round. One round before meeting the judges, he was hospitalized with kidney injuries.
"I was like, 'OK, it's not for me,'" Odin said.
Odin's classmate Guyu Qin is a master's student in fisheries. She befriended Odin and invited him to the open mic night to display the talent she saw.
"He showed us pictures from when he was in the Philippines, and he hosted many events and took part in some singing competitions and had good results," Qin said. "During that he also sung to us, so we knew he had talent. He's humorous, nice and talented."
Qin also said she thinks Odin is very friendly and easy to talk to.
"He's really nice because when I arrived at America I was not good at English, but when I talk to Ramjie when I don't know how to explain my mind, he's understanding," Qin said. "It's amazing. He understands what I am trying to say, and he never hurries up to stop my talking and he knows to wait for me."
Odin said he arrived in the United States less than three months ago to attend his first-choice university as a Fulbright Scholar.
Odin said in his research for placement in the Fulbright program, his search through teachers all led him back to Auburn graduates, increasing his hopes of attending Auburn University.
The Filipino student said he thinks applying to be a Fulbright Scholar at Auburn was the best way he could serve his country.
"Even before, I've been hearing a lot about Auburn University when it comes to fisheries and agriculture," Odin said. "When I was in my undergrad and even in my master's, all the books' authors were from here, so that was how influential Auburn University was for me."
Odin is in his first year of his Ph.D program, and over the course of the next five years he says he looks forward to auditioning for the Auburn Singers and working to be able to serve his country.
Odin works in the fisheries program alongside some of the very same top professors that inspired him to come to Auburn University.
"He's been here a short time so he's in an international learning phase," said Odin's adviser, Rex Dunham. "He's hardworking and seems to be very friendly, dedicated and settling into the student life here. He's always responsive and seems to work well with others."
Odin said after finishing his degree he will have to return to work for his country.
"Right now, I'm thinking of coming up with a project that will involve my university in the Philippines and Auburn and somehow they will consider my university as an extension," Odin said. "That's one of my dreams from this."
Odin identifies as a Filipino Muslim. Mindanao, or the Food Basket, is where many of Filipino Muslims reside.
"In the Philippines I come from a place that is deprived of opportunities," Odin said. "I'm representing a sector that is deprived of opportunities. It's like now that I'm here, I'm trying to represent these people, Filipino Muslims, and to fulfill their dreams, because I know I'm living and fulfilling the dreams of my constituents who are not able to fulfill theirs."
(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."
(11/13/14 7:45pm)
You could always find me with my nose in a book when I was younger. Through these books, I learned about so many different worlds, cultures and ways of thinking. I can honestly say the concepts I learned from books have shaped me into the person I am today.
Because of this, my heart breaks when I hear about books being banned in many schools and libraries.
We should be fostering the desire to read in children, not discouraging it.
The Office for Intellectual Freedom reported 307 challenges to remove books from libraries in 2013, but many challenges go unreported.
Recently, The New York Times bestseller for seven consecutive weeks, "The Fault in Our Stars," was banned by a district in California because of its inclusion of mortality and sexual material.
When informed of the books removal, author John Green wrote a response on his Tumblr stating, "I am happy because apparently young people in Riverside, California will never witness or experience mortality since they won't be reading my book, which is great for them. I am also sad because I was really hoping I would be able to introduce the idea that human beings die to the children of Riverside, California and thereby crush their dreams of immortality."
Banning books does not prevent young people from having to experience things such as violence, mortality and sex. It prevents young people from learning about those issues from a safe distance and how to cope with such things.
A teenager questioning their sexuality may be able to learn more about it through books including characters in a similar situation. But if books containing homosexuality were banned from their school, that resource has been taken away from them.
Beyond that, the removal of books is a form of censorship, which has no place in public institutions.
All it takes is just one person to disagree with the views in a book to challenge and ban it, therefore denying that content to many other people who may be interested and have no other way of obtaining those books.
No one should have the ability to deny others access to literature.
There are several ways help fight against the banning of books.
You can attend school board meetings and defend books that are being challenged, or visit your local library and find out how you can be involved in the challenged book process.
In order to stop censorship and the excessive sheltering of our peers and younger generations, it is essential to speak out and defend the rights of readers.
(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.
(11/14/14 1:00pm)
When Laura Mitchell was 2 years old, she couldn't write her name, but she could color inside the lines. Even as a toddler, art came naturally to her.
Now a senior in studio arts, Mitchell said she is using her talent to pursue a career in the arts, and her hard work is paying off.
In April, Mitchell submitted her self-portrait to Auburn's research exhibition. It was accepted, and during a Research Week event, Aaron Alford, managing editor of Southern Humanities Review, spotted the piece and chose it for the magazine's cover.
"Laura's been so excited about it, which is so refreshing," Alford said. "A student's work has never been on the cover since the journal was founded in 1967. We usually went for the work of professional artists, but this was a homegrown artist who's still in school. It's with great pride that we get to showcase her work and developing talent."
Last fall, Mitchell read "Heartbreak Hotel" by Auburn alumna Anne Rivers Siddons for an advanced drawing class.
After reading the novel, professor of art Barb Bondy asked her students to find something in the novel to use as an analogy for their artistic voices and create a piece.
"I saw myself in Maggie, the main character," Mitchell said. "She was bound by expectations from her parents, friends and society, and she experienced this inner struggle of who she was supposed to be."
Mitchell said she identified with Maggie's struggle and used it to create "To Be Good: Self Portrait," a self-portrait done in a paint-by-number style with a legend at the bottom. The legend contains each color used in the drawing and a characteristic to accompany each shade.
"The characteristics I chose were ones I felt would make me a good person," Mitchell said. "In the piece, I break away from what's expected of me and become who I want to be. As a college student, I could relate to the anxiety of change and expectation. I'm not a child or a full-fledged adult. This composition helped me grow as an artist and a person."
Alford attended the Research Week events to see students' work from the College of Liberal Arts.
"I didn't go there looking for a new cover," Alford said. "It was immediate. Laura's piece was there, and it was such a striking image that hit me like lightning. When I got closer to it and saw the concept of it, I just had to know more about it."
Alford said while he wasn't looking for a cover for the newest edition of Southern Humanities Review, it was exactly what the journal needed.
Mitchell's self-portrait was featured on the most recent issue of the quarterly journal with the legend explaining her characteristics on the back cover.
Bondy, the professor who worked with Mitchell as she created her piece, said she is excited for her talented student.
"This would even be major for a professional, so this is an extremely big deal for a student," Bondy said. "She worked hard and used a technique she wasn't familiar with. She pushed herself and now here she is."
Mitchell said Bondy has been her biggest encouragement and greatest influence while studying at Auburn.
"Dr. Bondy was able to challenge my ideas and refine them in a way I've never experienced before," Mitchell said. "She pushed me to think deeper and more uniquely, and even when I create great, she's taught me that it all can't be good."
Bondy said Mitchell's determination reminds her why she loves her job.
"As a professor, you hope a student will latch onto your advice or teachings, and that's what Laura did," Bondy said. "She put herself out there."
Mitchell said she loves being an artist, but is eager to teach others about her passion.
"Art has given me the greatest view of the world and the greatest joy," Mitchell said. "I want to spread that joy and I hope my artwork speaks to people."
The most recent issue of Southern Humanities Review with Mitchell's cover can be picked up for $5 per copy in room 9088 of the Haley Center.
(11/18/14 7:00pm)
After the spook and magic of Halloween has passed, the season dedicated to thankfulness and charity presents itself.
November and December are holidays sacred to the American spirit. Thanksgiving provides a time for everyone to come together and realize how much there is to be thankful for. Christmas fills the streets with joyous carols and special gifts, and knick-knacks are bought to show loved ones how much they mean to them.
But what about those who are not as fortunate?
There are 610,042 people living homeless on a single night in the United States.
In 2009, the percentage of Lee County residents living in poverty was 21.7. In the state it was 17.5 percent.
There are at least four homeless shelters around Lee County that are available as day shelters, emergency homeless shelters and halfway houses. These facilities serve to help those in need. The holiday season brings forth volunteers hoping to aid theses facilities and some churches by providing meals, blankets and even presents to help during the season of giving.
Two pastors and a 90-year-old man were arrested in Florida on Nov. 5 for feeding the homeless. According to USA Today, one of the many news sources that picked up the story, the men could face up to 60 days in jail and hundreds of dollars in fines.
The arrests stemmed from a recent ban in Ft. Lauderdale dictating "feeding sites cannot be within 500 feet of each other, that only one is allowed in any given city block and that any site would have to be at least 500 feet away from residential properties."
This allows the homeless to be pushed out of the public eye, in an effort to try and conceal the amount of homeless living in the city.
A CBS station, WFOR-TV, based out of Ft. Lauderdale, reported the city had been looking for ways to solve its homeless problem for years and have also been trying to find a way to clean up a park in the city that is usually a haven for homeless men and women.
The station also reported "the city believes the sight of the homeless is affecting tourism, nearby businesses and tarnishing the city image."
In an attempt to try and hide the city's undesirables, the city is destroying what the holiday season encompasses.
While I hope those in Ft. Lauderdale try to challenge the ban, I encourage those living in Auburn to give back during this holiday season. Volunteering at soup kitchens and participating in Christmas charity drives in Auburn can help more people than can be seen.
Hiding the homeless is the problem. Understanding and actually seeing the problem of homelessness during this holiday season, and year round, is a step toward finding a solution.
(11/04/14 10:00pm)
In the Oct. 30 edition of The Plainsman, Becky Hardy, editor-in-chief, profiled Patton Chambers, a student who is "homeless by choice."
From my understanding of the article, Chambers relies entirely on University facilities for typical activities of daily living; he sleeps in the library nightly, he eats minimal meals like oatmeal and peanuts and he carries his belongings in a heavy-duty backpack.
"I just want to experience something," Chambers said when discussing his motivation for choosing to be homeless.
Chambers' minimal lifestyle shouldn't be condemned, as many notable figures took similar paths on their searches for enlightenment.
However, I want to challenge this image of homelessness by asserting that Chambers' story is not representative of the stories of most individuals who are experiencing homelessness, including people in Auburn.
What Chambers fails to acknowledge is an overwhelming majority of situations of homelessness are not sparked by the desire to explore life, nor are they thoroughly planned.
Life crises like poverty, a sudden job loss, domestic violence, insurmountable medical bills and even a family unaccepting of a LGBTQ relative can lead people to the streets.
The National Coalition for the Homeless speculates almost a quarter of the homeless are United States veterans, unable to reintegrate into society.
Homelessness is not, as Chambers would have readers believe, "an endless vacation." In fact, those who are homeless are susceptible to high rates of violence, substance abuse and mental health issues. Furthermore, being homeless can impede access to quality medical care.
Chambers said if he got an intense illness or something happened in his family, he would quit his homeless lifestyle.
For most individuals experiencing homelessness, quitting is not an option.
On Saturday, Nov. 8, as Auburn's campus buzzed in anticipation of the game against Texas A&M, Auburn police responded to reports of the body of an older adult man lying lifeless under the bridge of the South College interstate exit.
The appearance of the body and lack of identification suggest the man may have been homeless.
When we choose to concentrate on stories like Chambers' and ignore the stories of those who did not choose to be homeless, we don't seek to understand the underlying causes of homelessness, and thus don't work toward reducing homelessness in our own communities.
To find out how you can advocate for those who are homeless, go to the Alabama Alliance to End Homelessness's website at http://www.alaeh.org/.
(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.
(11/10/14 4:30pm)
It was 3 a.m., and like most college professors, Paul Harris, associate director for national prestigious scholarships and associate professor in political science, was asleep.
When his phone rang, he woke with a start and rubbed his eyes as he turned on the light.
The name Ashton Richardson flashed across the screen as the phone rang loudly.
It was the middle of the night, but one of his students needed him, and he wasn't going to let him down.
"Harris was always able to calm me down and get me to believe in myself again," said Richardson, 2012 graduate summa cum laude in veterinary medicine. "He's not just your average teacher; he's more like a parent. It was the little things like that that are a testimony to the type of person and teacher he is."
Harris helps dozens of students apply for prestigious awards each year.
Harris mentors students applying for scholarships, such as the Rhodes, Marshall, Fulbright, Truman, Mitchell, Goldwater and Gates-Cambridge.
As an Auburn alumnus and recipient of the Fulbright Scholarship, Harris said he feels fortunate to help students see their potential.
"I had such a positive experience as a Fulbright Scholar," Harris said. "I want everyone at Auburn to have that chance."
Harris was a doctoral student at Auburn when he was awarded the Fulbright Scholarship in 1994. When he applied, Harris said Kathie Mattox, now his colleague, was one of his mentors.
Mattox, associate director for the Honors College, said she has loved seeing Harris grow.
"Dr. Harris has this incredible passion for living," Mattox said. "I saw him as a great student, and now he's a great friend."
Richardson said Auburn's prestigious scholarship success can be attributed to Harris.
"I know it sounds like a crazy thing to say someone has changed your life, but Dr. Harris has changed mine beyond the shadow of a doubt," Richardson said. "I thought I was just going to be a football player and maybe a large animal vet down the road until he showed me all I can do."
Richardson was a finalist for the Muenster Scholarship and the Rhodes Scholarship twice while he was enrolled at Auburn. Now, the graduate has been chosen as a finalist for the Marshall Scholarship.
If awarded, Richardson will pursue a doctorate of philosophy in international development at Oxford University in the United Kingdom.
When applying for these prestigious opportunities, Richardson said he recalls the time he spent with Harris.
"I think back to when he would talk with me about fighting the world's fight," Richardson said. "He's helped me realize that you're not just on this earth to live for yourself."
Since Harris became the associate director for national prestigious scholarships in 2008, the number of Auburn students who have become finalists or recipients of the awards have skyrocketed.
Four Auburn students were selected to receive a Fulbright scholarship from 1994 to 2009. Since 2009, Auburn has had 10 Fulbright scholars.
"I knew Auburn students could do it, and they can do it," Harris said. "Auburn students can compete with the top students in the country. How do you know if you don't try? Believe in yourself."
Harris received a Fulbright, but said he wasn't always a stellar student.
When Harris graduated high school, he attended Georgia Southern and failed his junior year with a 1.9 GPA.
"All I cared about was hunting and fishing," Harris said. "I just didn't give a damn."
Harris said though he was a terrible student, he wasn't a bad person - just lazy.
Once he grew up a few years later, Harris received his bachelor's degree, went on to get his master's and was accepted to Auburn's doctoral program.
"Auburn University took a chance on me, and I'm so grateful for that," Harris said. "I'm going to do everything I can to give back to this University and the wonderful students that go here."
Harris said he wants students to speak with him and find out what scholarships are right for them.
"Just come talk to me no matter where you are in your academic walk," Harris said. "I'm proof that you can turn yourself around and achieve things you never thought possible if you put your mind to it."
Harris said while he works in the Honors College, he's not limited to honors students.
"I'm here to serve all Auburn students," Harris said. "The Auburn Family is a real thing, and I'm here to help anyone in it."
Mattox said students shouldn't feel nervous about meeting with Harris.
"Dr. Harris is very approachable," Mattox said. "He wants to know your story, he's that kind of guy. Different scholarships are better for different students, and he wants to help you figure which one is right for you."
To contact Harris about scholarship opportunities or to get academic advice, send him a message at paul.harris@auburn.edu.
Harris said his job can be emotionally draining, but he knows it's what he's called to do.
"My wife and I were never able to have children," Harris said. "When I work with my students, they're the kids I never had. I celebrate when they win, and I'm sad for them when they don't. No matter what happens."
(11/10/14 5:30pm)
Auburn is home to a small group of Turkish immigrants. They are teachers and students, often moving to Alabama for Auburn's academics.
Members of Auburn's Turkish community gathered to celebrate Republic Day on Oct. 29 in the Student Center Ballroom. The holiday commemorates the founding of the current incarnation of Turkey. There were speeches remembering miners trapped in a coal mine in southern Turkey, and Turkish food was served after the Turkish national anthem.
Red and white Turkish flags adorned the front and back of the room. Small children ran around the room playing.
Eren Sakinc, Turkish expatriate and fourth-year industrial and systems engineering Ph.D student, said he came to the University despite the small surrounding town.
Sakinc, who grew up in Ankara, Turkey's capital, said Auburn surprised him after living in Ankara and Philadelphia. He said he prefers large cities to small college towns, such as Auburn.
"I don't really like Auburn," Sakinc said. "I'm not really an Auburn hater, but I don't really like it."
Sakinc said the town's size has some advantages.
"The good part is there is nothing to do here, so the only thing to do is study," Sakinc said.
Another Turkish student, Polat Kayrak, second-year master's student in electrical engineering, said he likes living in a smaller town.
"People are really nice to me," Kayrak said. "I love it. It feels like a family."
Kayrak said he loved Auburn after a year of adjusting. After living his entire life in Istanbul, Turkey, moving to Alabama was a major change.
The Turkish immigrant said he struggled with different norms, such as driving. He said Turkish traffic laws are more flexible than American ones.
"When I first came here, I was driving like a Turkish guy," Kayrak said. "My American friends freaked out."
When a police officer stops a driver in Turkey, it's acceptable to get out of the car, according to Kayrak. He learned this is not acceptable in America after an Auburn police officer ordered him back into his car during a traffic stop.
Kayrak also found out Turkish fashion norms can differ from American ones.
"I used to put on tight clothes," Kayrak said. "That's what I used to wear in Turkey. When I went out here, a couple of girls asked me if I was homosexual. That's when I realized maybe I should change my clothing style in Auburn."
Menekse Salar, Turkish industrial and systems engineering GTA, said she had little trouble adjusting to life in the United States after visiting several times growing up.
However, according to Salar, Turkish students face some challenges. New transfers often arrive confused about things, such as finding furniture, rides to Atlanta and halal meat.
Until the new food truck, Ceci, opened, there were no options for Muslim students to find meat prepared according to their religious requirements.
Salar said she enjoys living in other countries, especially the United States.
"I love Auburn," Salar said. "There's a really good friendship here. Even if you don't know someone, you say, 'Hi' all the time."
Salar said she has lived in Turkey, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, Denmark and Italy. Speaking to President Jay Gogue at a college fair in Turkey convinced her to come to Auburn.
"I just love the United States," Salar said. "I would like to be a faculty member. There's more opportunities in the United States."
(11/11/14 4:00pm)
In a dark room in Goodwin Hall at 2 p.m. on a Wednesday, people may hear a student belting out opera or the sounds of a trumpet sonata.
Nearly every Wednesday, approximately five music students perform a piece for peers and teachers. This is just one of the zero credit-hour activities required for all music students according to Sarah Shearer, senior in vocal performance.
It's known as Convocation, and other than the second Wednesday of each month, it happens weekly. Music students are required to attend all except two, and they must perform in it once per semester. Anyone is welcome to attend Convocation, but it is usually just students and faculty from the music department according to Christopher Schiller, junior in vocal performance.
Convocation is one of the many requirements of the music program many other students are not aware of. Schiller said most music majors take more than 18 hours per semester.
"A lot of times, for music classes, you go for four hours a week, but you only get one hour of credit," Shearer said.
Tyler Pilz, junior in music liberal arts, said he spends more than 26 hours per week working for class from rehearsals to Convocation to actual class time, even though he officially receives credit for 18 hours.
Singers can only practice for approximately one hour at a time, according Schiller.
"Our voice gets tired, so it's hard to budget practicing outside of rehearsal," Schiller said. "Piano majors practice a lot longer than anybody else. On average, they probably practice 3-4 hours a day in addition [to time in class]."
Students focusing on vocal performance or another instrument said piano majors practice a great deal.
"They have to learn their music and then everyone else's music as well because they accompany [other performers]," said Jonathan Wilson, senior in music education.
Piano students practice approximately six hours per day in total, according to Yae Chong, junior in music liberal arts.
"After classes, you do extra," Chong said. "Between classes you might want to get a little practice in, like 15 or 20 minutes."
Other reasons piano students receive so much praise from fellow classmates is because they memorize their pieces along with those of the other students they accompany.
"We pay them $40 a month to learn all of our pieces and go with us to performance and studio while they go to all of their performances," Schiller said. "My accompanist has a boy repertoire, a girl repertoire, a bassoon player and she is learning her own stuff."
As much credit as the piano students receive from classmates, singers and other instrumentalists put in long hours for rehearsal as well.
Shearer said she is taking 21 hours and an overloaded schedule every semester.
"Because I'm a dual degree, I have to have 52 extra hours in addition to a normal major," Shearer said. "It's doable. It's just a lot of work."
According to Shearer, Auburn does not have a performing arts center, a big deterrent for prospective music students
Choirs have to rent out the theater from the theater department or use Auburn High School's performing arts center for concerts.
Despite the lack of resources in some areas, students are optimistic about the future of music at Auburn.
"Auburn music is on the rise," Schiller said. "(One) of the biggest pluses is we're getting one-on-one instruction."
At another school, many music students would likely be taking lessons from a doctoral student, but the Schiller said music students at Auburn have the opportunity to learn directly from professors.
"This is a more well-rounded experience," Schiller said. "We get to major in music at a state school that's big and does football and has tons of things going on. At a music school, I wouldn't be able to get that same experience."
Students are able to show off some of their hard work through shows throughout the semester. In November and December, there are 16 concerts put on by AU Singers, faculty, Tiger Strings and Jazz Band.
Auburn.edu/music has the complete list of concert dates and locations.
(11/11/14 2:30am)
As kids, playing house was a game that seemed to be popular among my generation. We struggled to impersonate adults and exaggerated the idea of children. We would play as we waited for our real parents to come around, so we could go back to being real children. Dragonball Z, Pokemon, Barbies, whatever the preference, allowed us real children to drift back into the world of make-believe as we became our toys and favorite TV show characters.
Halloween is similar to a trip back to that make-believe world, except we get to see what everyone else's make believe world is like too. This past Halloween, I partied with Luigi, a scarecrow, Poseidon, and two Twinkies.
These costumes attract fans of such things. When I saw students dressed up walking around campus for Halloween, I was really excited to see a few who were dressed as my childhood cartoon hero, Goku from Dragonball Z. As I looked at Goku as a person in real life, I thought, "next time I'm bored, I might as well be a real life cartoon for a few hours."
There is a short documentary, that I have recently seen, about a guy who dresses like his hero. Then he walks around town in hopes of spreading joy to those who have the same hero as him. Not just on Halloween either. Adults and kids, alike, would have their day made when they saw him.
Aubie the Tiger is a great example of a hero who can put a smile on the faces of adults and children at any given moment.
I was at the Auburn versus Texas A&M game. Watching the game was very stressful after the first few quarters, as an Auburn fan. Then, all of a sudden, I looked over at a breakdancing Aubie, who was dressed up like a mixture of Gus Malzahn and MC Hammer... My stress was immediately relieved.
Truthfully, I use to write people off who dress up like it's Halloween when it isn't. Upon understanding why they dress up like they do, I have learned that they are just unique individuals who would rather people smile at them as they represent a character that they relate to, even if it is a cartoon.
Kris Sims is the multimedia editor at The Plainsman. He can be reached at online@theplainsman.com
(10/30/14 6:00pm)
When Joshua Bell, senior in animal sciences pre-vet, and Jared Vaughn, senior in biomedical sciences, became assistant directors of UPC Special Projects, they asked themselves how they could reach a wider audience. Their answer was "Super Smash Bros. Brawl."
Bell said almost every man has played the "Super Smash Bros." series at one point or another, so Special Projects set up their "Super Smash Bros." Tournament on Thursday, Oct. 23 in the Student Center Game Room.
"We're supposed to be about the entire student body, but the people who normally come [to UPC events] are normally freshmen or people who are on campus," Bell said. "We don't really branch out too much."
For the past few years, the Special Projects committee positions were held exclusively by women, according to Bell.
He said this led to many events which many men found unappealing, such as jewelry workshops and Girls' Night Out, an event that gives makeup advice.
"We want some testosterone in the system, if that's OK," Bell said.
That's not to say the Special Projects committee didn't put on events appealing to men as well.
An event by last year's all-female Special Projects committee inspired Bell to join UPC.
The event was dart art, which is when darts are thrown at paint-filled balloons mounted on a canvas.
"A lot of girls are more creative than a lot of the guys, myself included -- very much so," Bell said. "They can come up with these brilliant events. So it's nice to see that creative side and try and do my best to be as creative as I can."
This was UPC's first attempt at a video game tournament.
Bell said he expected to have approximately 20 people show up, but more than 40 people came to compete in the tournament.
UPC received additional support from Button Mashers Anonymous when Kyle Jordan, president of Button Mashers Anonymous and graduate student in biological sciences, extended a helping hand after hearing about the event. "Thank the good Lord that they did," Bell said. "Praise Jesus for Button Mashers Anonymous, that's all I've got to say."
Jordan kept track of the bracket and directed players to the proper station.
Some contestants gave aliases, so Jordan was heard approximately every five minutes yelling names ranging from "Pig Norton," to "Nice One," to "Johnny Donut."
"They definitely publicized this event very well," Jordan said. "I saw a lot of new faces and lot of people I didn't know but were still very good. That was really exciting. New competition is always great."
Button Mashers Anonymous provided three of the five Wii systems and extra copies of the game used at the event.
Bell said he originally planned to have a four-person free-for-all for each round. However, Jordan explained to Bell that these types of rounds lend themselves toward bad sportsmanship.
In a free-for-all match, every player is pitted against each other, so three players can team up and immediately knock out the best player from the match.
"We decided that one-on-one would keep the sportsmanship alive while keeping the competition flowing," Jordan said.
In a tournament to decide the best player, free-for-all matches could prevent the best player from winning. That player was Philip McDaniel, senior in geography.
"I beat a lot of people who weren't really good at the game, just to put it bluntly," McDaniel said.
McDaniel is also a member of Button Mashers Anonymous, and he said he plays a lot of "Super Smash Bros."
He has been playing "Super Smash Bros." since its original release in 1999 for the Nintendo 64.
McDaniel said he was impressed overall by UPC's attempt at holding a video game tournament.
"I think it's pretty cool, and I wish they would host more game tournaments and maybe collaborate with the other gaming clubs here," McDaniel said. "I've been to one in the past and it seemed like it took a long time. But I really wish they would host more UPC tournaments."
(11/05/14 5:00pm)
Danielle Tadych has broken every bone in her body at least once, excluding her fingers and toes.
When she was born, she wailed like most babies, but hers was in pain from a broken arm she sustained in the womb.
When she was 6, playing on a trampoline quickly became agonizing. Weighing 20 pounds, Danielle bounced a foot in the air, causing her left arm to snap.
Danielle, junior in environmental science, was born with Osteogenesis Imperfecta type III (OI) or brittle bone disease -- a genetic birth defect that prevents bones from producing enough collagen, which makes them weak and easily breakable.
OI is an extremely rare disorder which affects one in 20,000 people.
"My situation could be better, but it could be a lot worse," Danielle said. "When I was younger, I used to think about what I wanted to do and would think, 'I can't,' but then I'd find a way to say, 'I can.' That's what I plan to keep on doing. If there's a will for me to do something, there's a way."
Danielle and her brother, Chris, senior in animal science, commute to Auburn from their home in Opelika every day. Both homeschooled and only one year apart, Chris and Danielle grew up spending most of their time together and share an extremely close bond.
"Danielle has an electric wheelchair now, but for most of our lives, she had one that you push," Chris said. "I spent most of my childhood pushing her in that chair to the point where it felt strange for me to walk without it. That kind of lifestyle seems different to everyone else, but it's the norm for us."
Danielle's physical disability has caused her bones to grow curved and her stature to remain small, which makes her the butt of jokes among her family and friends.
"We harass each other pretty well," Danielle said of her older brothers. "Short jokes always ensue when they're around. If you can't joke about it, what can you do?"
Danielle said she wishes people wouldn't worry so much about being politically correct around her.
"Nowadays you hear people say, 'You can't say handicapped,' because that's politically incorrect," Danielle said. "But it is handicapped. Call it what it is. It's not about what you say, it's how you say it and your intent behind it."
Weighing only 45 pounds at 20 years old, Danielle said she's sure people stare as she rides by, but she said she doesn't notice.
"I'm very comfortable with my disability," Danielle said. "A lot of people aren't, but I'm fine talking about it and answering questions anytime. It's not the elephant in the room that people need to tiptoe around."
Chris said every person defines his or her normal, and Danielle's disability is part of his.
"It's just reality," Chris said. "A lot of our outlook comes from the way our parents raised us and our faith. We know that God made me the way I am and Danielle the way she is for a reason. It's the way it is, and we've embraced it and made the best of it."
Chris and Danielle both plan to get their doctorates and go far with their careers. Because of that, Chris said he's realized he can't drive his sister around forever.
Though she's never stood on her feet, Danielle is learning to drive at Alabama Vocational Rehabilitation.
To meet her transportation needs, Danielle needs to learn to drive, but she also needs a wheelchair-accessible van that will cost approximately $40,000.
"The first time I drove, I was terrified, but it's really exciting," Danielle said. "I can't imagine what it will be like to be behind the wheel of a car that's made specifically for me. I feel blessed beyond measure in every sense of the phrase."
Over the past several months, Danielle has been a part of several fundraisers and a contest to purchase the special equipment she needs, but still needs to raise most of the funds.
Hope, Danielle's mother, said they didn't solicit any of the help or attention they've received to help her daughter.
"We just found ourselves in the middle of it," Hope said. "Because of that, we didn't have to wonder if it was what God wanted us to do -- it was clear. We're supposed to embrace the help and go forward with our fundraising efforts."
Chris said he's enjoyed being his sister's chauffeur over the years, but that it will be great for her to be able to go somewhere by herself in a handicap-accessible van.
"We're working really hard to get one of these vehicles for her," Chris said. "It will change her life."
Danielle and her family have created a Facebook page and fundraiser on GiveForward for the cause
Hope said while she is excited for the opportunity for Danielle to drive, the thought terrifies her like it would any mom.
"I admit I have mixed emotions and often take pause," Hope said "But we're in this for the long haul and we'll do whatever it takes to make sure she can do anything she puts her mind to."
Hope said she's been more than pleased with how kind and accommodating Auburn has been to Danielle, but she wants people to know they aren't waiting for handouts.
"We don't expect people to know about Danielle's disability," Hope said. "That's why we want to educate them that we're okay with it, so they can be, too."
Hope said she hopes people can talk to Danielle and see the person she is when they look at her -- not just the fact she's in a wheelchair.
"If you just talk to Danielle, you'll realize there's a big person inside that little bitty body," Hope said. "Danielle is just like you and the only thing different about her is that her bones grow differently."
Danielle said she has something to overcome everyday, but she's blessed because she has the support she needs to do it.
"Everyone has their own struggles to deal with," Danielle said. "This is mine. It's been mine for my entire life, and from driving to my career, I'm not going to let it stop me from going for the things I want to do."
To donate to Danielle's cause, visit giveforward.com/changedanielleslife and like her Facebook page, Change Danielle's Life.
