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(10/14/14 4:30pm)
Rent the Runway is a fashion company built on the principle of leasing designer dresses to ordinary women.
This way, customers can look and feel their best for any occasion, according to RentTheRunway.com.
RTR's shopping technique is designed to be easy to use. The four steps of buying, as described by the company, are to find the right dress, book it, wear it and return it.
With each purchase the customer may keep the dress for either a four -or eight-day period. Once the rental is up, the client puts the dress in a pre-paid envelope provided by the company for easy return.
Customers have more than 200 designers and 50,000 dresses and accessories to choose from. These designers vary from Vera Wang to Lilly Pulitzer, and accessories range from sunglasses to Spanx.
"It was the easiest process ever," said Breanna Ingram, freshman in media studies. "They sent me not only the dress I ordered, but also a dress one size up in case the one I got was too small."
Once the moment is over, each customer is encouraged to upload a photo of themselves in the rented dress onto the website to give other viewers a chance to see the dress before they rent it themselves.
"I used Rent the Runway to order my dress for my sorority's formal last year," said Lauren Lundy, junior in finance. "I felt amazing because I was wearing a dress that was worth over $800, but I didn't have to pay anything close to that."
According to RentTheRunway.com, as of February 2014, the company has grown to 4 million members worldwide while only being managed by a staff of 287 employees.
This extensive growth is the reason the company shut down its marketing internship campaigns on college campuses this past year. This includes the flagship on Auburn's campus, according to Brooke Josepher, senior in marketing.
"I was a campus representative for the company along with six other girls," Josepher said. "We put up a travel show during Hey Day this past year and made goody bags for potential customers on behalf of RTR."
The girls also gave out promotional codes to various students to redeem discounts on the website.
Josepher said the workers themselves also received large promotional discounts; this was her favorite part of working for the program.
RTR's business model is a new kind of e-commerce that is seen in other new companies, such as the online streaming business, Netflix.
In fact, The New York Times described the company as "A Netflix model for haute couture."
(10/05/14 8:00pm)
Makeup Genius by L'Oreal Paris is the ideal try-on app for anyone who misses playing dress-up.
Not only does the app provide users with a new, advanced way to try on cosmetics, but it's also delightfully entertaining to play with in your spare time.
Here's how it works. Download Makeup Genius in the iTunes app store - it's free. When you open the app, you'll be prompted to scan your face in a relaxed pose. Make sure you look natural. Avoid making weird duck faces or "this-is-my-go-to-photo-face" poses because Makeup Genius works in real time.
After the initial scan, you're given two options: try on a product or ready-to-wear looks. Click the first option and then "browse our products" to witness the magic I find so amusing.
Under products, you can choose actual products to try on, including eyeliner, eyeshadow, lipstick, gloss, lip liner and blush. Make sure you have decent lighting.
Add a few products and observe how your face is able to move around - to some extent - with the selected makeup intact.
I've played with this for hours. I'll even take a screenshot or selfie when I like a particular look or when I feel so ridiculous that someone else should see it.
Another fun trick to do once you've added dramatic makeup combinations. Move your phone in front of an unsuspecting friend. If you're in the same lighting and you line their face up the same way you originally scanned your face, the makeup will adapt and appear on your friend. It's sort of like a magic mirror.
I tried this trick with my boyfriend. He looked hilarious in cat-eye eyeliner and glossy red lips.
Reviews for Makeup Genius mentioned how the lighting affects how the colors appear.
For instance, in-store and white lighting will display differently than warmer, dimmer settings.
I've used Makeup Genius on an iPad and iPhone 5s. Using the iPad was especially great because the larger screen allows you to get a more realistically sized view instead of the smaller version on phones.
Overall, Makeup Genius is absolutely worth a try. It's free, fun and definitely a breakthrough for the cosmetics industry. The technology behind this try-on app can only mean great things for the future of fashion.
Cat Watson is the online editor for The Plainsman. She can be reached via email at online@theplainsman.com.
(10/08/14 10:36pm)
I've had someone tell me "Oh, you're so fashionable," or "Your style is awesome," more times than I can remember. It makes me wonder what qualifies as great fashion for men.
Is it simply choosing to look presentable while everyone else is dressed as if they were at home on the couch watching football on Saturday? Is it wearing colors that compliment each other well?
I don't mean I'm dressed up no matter what, because there are definitely times where Saturday football clothes are necessary.
I also started to think about the difference between someone fashionable and someone who doesn't put the amount of effort in to getting dressed.
When I look at my closet, I usually pick a pair of pants to wear first.
I tend to sway my decision away from jeans unless my other pants are in the laundry because jeans just seem heavy and restricting sometimes.
My favorites are my colored chinos, including yellow, red, blue, grey and some others.
Although since moving to Auburn from Washington, D.C., I've found wearing pants for the first half of fall semester is unthinkable. The heat is just way too harsh here in Alabama.
Once I've put some pants on, I grab a shirt and just look for a color that goes nicely with the pants I'm wearing, unless I've resorted to jeans, then any shirt will work.
White is one of my favorite colors for shirts, but I try to avoid it because life has shown me white shirts are not meant to stay clean.
After the shirt I'll grab a cardigan or a sweater if it's cold and some shoes to match.
I never wear free runs or tennis shoes with pants because I feel if I'm making the effort to get dressed, I'm gong to wear nice shoes to finish the outfit.
My advice to anyone who wants to dress a little better is to ditch the ever-so-common khaki shorts with a T-shirt from an event last year and work in some color.
I've got nothing against those who wear that combination, it's just very easy to blend in when wearing those clothes.
Fashion isn't my area of expertise, nor do I feel I have a better grip on it than anyone else.
However, I do feel by putting a bit more thought into getting dressed each morning you can trick people into thinking you have this much sought after fashion sense.
Kenny Moss is a photographer for The Plainsman. He can be reached via email at photo@theplainsman.com.
(10/11/14 4:00pm)
On any given Saturday in the South, you will find SEC schools coming together to cheer on their teams. Georgia in red, Vanderbilt in black and, most importantly, Auburn donning orange and blue. The Plains become filled with Tiger fans young and old sporting their team's colors from head to toe.
Although I am biased, I believe Auburn has some of the most loyal, supportive fans in the SEC. From waking up at 4 a.m. to save a tailgate spot to standing for the entire game, Auburn does it the best.
Something Auburn does better than anyone in the country is celebrating our team with orange and blue game day attire. In the stands, you will find pledges in a full coat and tie, parents rocking their favorite Auburn tee and, of course, game day dresses worn by ladies.
When I came to Camp War Eagle, I was told a dress was the appropriate attire for game days. Started in the Civil War, students would dress in their finest coats and dresses to go cheer on our veterans, and since then, this tradition has stayed the same.
Being from out of state, I was shocked to see what Auburn fans wore on game days. So the summer before my freshman year, I bought all the orange and blue dresses I could find. I was under the impression that if you didn't wear a dress, you would be judged.
After years of spending hours in the morning to get ready, I started thinking, "I don't have to wear a dress, do I?" As I entered my junior year I began to realize game day shouldn't be about the your clothes, but about supporting your team.
Many things come with becoming an upperclassman. More days are spent working rather than lounging and watching Netflix, and more nights are spent doing homework than at frat parties. Our real lives are starting, so we leave behind our freshman tendencies. In leaving these ways, we seem to put less effort into our game day attire.
I'm not saying that once you become a junior in college, you turn into a slob, but we just seem to care less about this status quo.
More crop tops, high-waisted shorts and jerseys are being worn. In fact, I would say the jersey is slowly becoming the new game day dress.
The SEC may have the best looking fans in the country, but we don't have to wear fancy dresses to prove our loyalty to our school.
Nicole Fulkerson is a campus writer for The Plainsman. She can be reached via email at campus@theplainsman.com.
(10/10/14 4:30am)
Autumn is in the air, and sweaters, cardigans and boots are once again making their appearance.
But as every college kid knows, we are all poor.
Yes, that's right. You really shouldn't buy those designer jeans or that ugly, oversized Christmas sweater we all know you really think is beautiful.
Yet the unyielding desire to have them still triumphs.
But never fear, there is an alternative to this shopping problem. It's the thrift store.
What was once known as a place exclusively for those in need is now an up-and-coming shopping trend.
Nowadays, young adults and teenagers visit thrift stores to find quality clothes other people have either grown out of or simply don't want anymore.
This trend reflects a sustainable mindset, as customers are now recycling clothes and contributing to charities or churches instead of discarding them.
It's important to be careful about checking clothes and be wary of their condition, but in my experience, most clothing is fine.
One of the most attractive aspects of the wonderful land that is the thrift store is you can find clothing for nearly half the price of its in-store value, though each store's pricing may vary.
Plus, a lot of it is name-brand apparel.
In my shopping experience, I have bought J. Crew, Abercrombie & Fitch, Ann Taylor Loft, Gap, Aeropostale, Coldwater Creek and several other quality brands from the thrift store in great condition for prices ranging from $1-6.
Sometimes the process of thrifting can be overwhelming, especially when testing the waters.
Here are a few suggestions that may be useful as you delve into this new form of shopping.
* Find a friend. Friends help make for a fun atmosphere.
* Know what you're looking for.This definitely shreds off the anxiety of thrift shopping, especially when entering a larger store.
Often, clothes aren't neatly arranged like in mall stores, so knowing what style or color of clothing you're looking for will help ease your search time.
* Be patient. Thrifting is a process. It is not always as simple as grab and go, depending on how large and organized the store is.
This means you may need to take some time to sift through the racks. Take your time looking; the more patient you are, the more likely you'll spot something.
* Be aware. Always inspect your potential purchases for quality. Know materials, manufacturing and return policy to ensure top-notch purchases.
* Don't worry. Have fun with it and keep an open mind. Some days you will find nothing that fits well or strikes your fancy, but other times you will be overwhelmed with great selections.
Thrift shopping is a great way to save money and get quality clothes you like.
Find your local thrift store and give it a try, keeping some of these tips in mind.
Happy thrifting!
(10/14/14 12:00pm)
At 8 a.m., Sept. 24, Conner Robbins, senior in biomedical sciences, was studying for a 9 a.m. test. He attempted to stay focused while he took his test.
It was exceptionally difficult on this Wednesday morning, because by the time he would arrive at his 1 p.m. class, he would be engaged.
"Ring by spring" is a popular notion among college students. It implies the goal of students in a long-term relationship is to get a ring, or to become engaged, by the time spring semester rolls around.
Anna Beard, junior in international business, said she is constantly scrolling through pictures of happy brides, beaming couples after the question, and newly adorned hands with rings.
Robbins proposed to his girlfriend, Candace Aikens, in the middle of the day because he knew she did not want to see the proposal coming. He figured the best way to do that and keep it special was to go to Hickory Dickory Park, the location of their first date, for a mid-week lunch.
"I proposed around 12:15, and then I had class at 1," Robbins said. "I was supposed to have class at 12, but I decided to skip that day because I had more important stuff to do."
Robbins will graduate in May 2015, and attend optometry school at the University of Alabama in Birmingham starting next fall, while Aikens will graduate with her master's degree in communication in May.
"Getting engaged is not only great because I want to marry her, but great because it works out logistically, too," Robbins said. "I wouldn't want to ask her to move somewhere else without us getting married."
Paul Aukstolis, senior in finance, is in a relationship, but said he is not worried about getting a ring by spring.
"It shouldn't be a set thing," Aukstolis said. "I don't think it's weird if someone gets engaged when they're 18, or whatever. It's just a case-by-case thing."
Beard said social media has changed engagements.
"Over the years, social media has made it a competition," Beard said. "Not just in engagements, but just showing off your relationship online and making it seem perfect, when it's not, is normal now."
As a college student, important decisions that affect future careers and life in general are being made on a regular basis.
Robbins said it was easy to make his decision to propose to his girlfriend because he knew that no matter where he went or what he did, he would want her beside him.
That means when Robbins heads to Birmingham next fall to start optometry school, he will get to start the new and unknown post-grad journey with his wife.
Robbins has two important ceremonies to attend this May.
He will start with his graduation and then his wedding two weeks later.
(10/13/14 3:00pm)
The list below isn't required reading. It isn't for a grade, and you don't have to write an essay. In the rat race of college, in the scramble to please everyone else, you may find yourself a bit lost one day. When you are feeling particularly befuddled, take a moment to read. The stories listed where chosen because they have all resonated with me, made me laugh and helped me find my footing at Auburn.
(10/09/14 6:00pm)
The artificial lighting from a single set of floodlights threw long shadows around the cadets as they walked onto the field. They lined up in four rows in the pre-dawn darkness at 6 a.m. Oct. 1.
The Army Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) cadets stretched their legs. Some did practice pushups. All wore black shorts, tennis shoes, a neon yellow weight belt and a gray Army shirt.
This is the beginning of a day in the life of an ROTC cadet.
The cadets gathered at the old track to take their physical fitness test. This one was a diagnostic test, according to Walter Austin, senior military science instructor. The test would tell the cadets how they were progressing physically.
Forty-two sophomores and four seniors lined up as an officer read them the rules of the test. They had two minutes to do the Army minimum number of pushups (42 for men and 19 for women).
Once they heard the rules, the cadets broke into groups of six. One person assumed the pushup position while the group faced away.
Austin said he didn't know why Army regulations require the cadets to face away while one person from each group does pushups.
"There's plenty of things we do in the Army where someone says, 'Why do we do that?' and the answer is 'Because we've always done it that way,'" Austin said.
Austin, former member of the Georgia National Guard, served tours in Iraq and Kosovo.
The cadets did their pushups quickly. In the last 30 seconds, many bore pained expressions as they struggled to finish.
Rachael Blaz, Army ROTC cadet and junior in nursing, said despite the stringent physical requirements, she likes "being able to give back where (she) can and serve where (she) can" in the Army ROTC.
"I think everyone has the capability of serving," Blaz said. "This is my way of serving."
Blaz said she is on track to graduate and receive a commission as a second lieutenant in 2016. She will either serve as an active-duty officer or in the reserves as a nurse.
The cadets moved on to their second test -- sit-ups. Each person had two minutes to complete at least 53 sit-ups with a partner.
By the time each cadet finished doing sit-ups, the sun had risen.
The cadets took a short break before starting their two-mile run.
Evan Cadotte, Army ROTC cadet and junior in hotel and restaurant management, said he didn't know why he wanted to join the Army.
"I don't really have a good answer for it," Cadotte said. "I just wanted to be in the Army."
Cadotte said he didn't want a simple desk job.
"I want to be doing something while I'm young and still can," Cadotte said.
(10/08/14 9:51pm)
A local hero called to serve in the Vietnam War received the Medal of Honor on Sept. 15. Command Sgt. Maj. Bennie G. Adkins, 80, retired from the military in the Auburn-Opelika area, where he later worked and developed businesses.
Adkins was a student at Cameron College, now known as Cameron University, in Lawton, Ohio, at the time.
"I was a college student, and not doing real well in college, so I elected to drop out of college for a while," Adkins said. "In that period of time, if you dropped out of college you went to the top of the draft list. So I was drafted in the military."
After the draft, Adkins said he continued his military career for 22 years. His career encompassed three tours of duty in Vietnam, where he served as a Green Beret or Special Forces. A battle in his second tour earned him recommendation for the Medal of Honor.
"There was a big battle lasting 38 hours and then we were ordered to evade this area and escape into the jungle," Adkins said. "There were two days of escape and evasion after that."
Adkins said the battle took place in 1966, the same year his recommendation was offered, but it didn't go through.
He instead received the Distinguished Service Cross, which he has worn for 48 years.
"The President of the United States called and told me that he had approved the Medal of Honor for me based on the recommendations of the Secretary of Defense," Adkins said. "He said what created this was some additional evidence that had turned up on this. Two eyewitnesses that were in the battle that did not make statements on the initial investigation made statements."
Adkins said there have been approximately 28-30 million people who served in the military honorably.
"Of those 28-30 million, I was told that I am only the 78th living recipient of the Medal of Honor," Adkins said. "This is such a humbling experience for me to be a number of that elite group. I wear this medal for the other 16 American soldiers that were in the battle with me. All 17 of us were wounded, some with multiple wounds, and all were decorated for valor. Unfortunately, five paid the ultimate price, and that's the people that deserve the medal -- not me."
Adkins retired from the military and pursued his education, eventually opening an accounting and tax consulting business to pay for his children's education.
He received two associate degrees in the military and later a bachelor's and two master's degrees in management and education from Troy University.
Barbara and James Birdsong, both retired military, crossed paths with Adkins when they opened their business in Auburn, in the same place Adkins and his family decided to retire.
"I think our relationship is definitely one that parallels, because my husband and I are also retired military and we returned to Auburn," Barbara said. "I started a business in the very spot he started a business. He is always generous with his time and he's just a good person."
Barbara said Adkins' most notable traits are his integrity, perseverance and his love for his family.
"I would say the thing he is most proud of is his family," Barbara said. "He is such a family man, and the devotion and love to one another they have is amazing. I just think perseverance is the whole thing. He just wanted to be the best at what he does and it's something that has traveled with him throughout his entire life. It is evident in how he raised his children, how he runs his business and how he does business with us. He's a legend."
Adkins said he wants to continue instilling patriotism in people all ages through his speaking engagements.
"I've traveled to many countries in the world," Adkins said. "We have the greatest country in the world, and I want to see us keep it that way. Go vote, choose on every level of people to lead our country, support the people that are elected into elected positions and instill patriotism in all phases of life."
(10/04/14 12:00pm)
According to Patty Kyzar, her husband Allan Kyzar never rolled Toomer's Corner, but participating in the tradition was on his bucket list.
Although Patty is an Alabama football fan, she and her son, Will Kyzar, decided to honor Allan by rolling a large oak tree in the front yard of their home in Pace, Florida. Friday, Sept. 19, marked one year since Allan passed.
"He just never did it," Patty said. "I just thank God he lived long enough to see them win a national championship."
Diagnosed in 2005 with stage four prostate cancer, the doctors gave Allan approximately 18 months to live, according to Patty. However, he lived until September 2013.
"We got more time with him than we expected," Patty said. "He was a fighter, and he never gave up."
Allan did not attend Auburn because he received a full golf scholarship to Jacksonville State, but his family history with Auburn fueled his love for the University.
"It was me and Will, God, country and Auburn," Patty said.
After Auburn's win against Kansas State, Patty and Will rolled their tree Thursday night and again Friday morning.
"I left packs of toilet paper on our porch and put it on Facebook to invite people over," Patty said.
Throughout the day, friends, family and neighbors stopped by the Kyzar's home to celebrate Allan and his love for Auburn.
"My husband loved to have people over," Patty said. "People came over to celebrate his life."
Approximately 400 rolls of toilet paper were thrown into the tree, according to Patty.
Patty said more than 50 people took part in the celebration, including a family on the way to Tuscaloosa for the Alabama game.
"LSU, FSU, Bama, AU, everyone did it because of Allan," Patty said.
Patty said she enjoyed the day and said Will was "very happy and very pleased."
Will, 11, chose to be an Auburn fan and shared many Auburn memories with Allan. He spoke at the funeral and shared those memories.
"It was something they shared together and tormented me with," Patty said.
Patty said Will has been to 13 Auburn games with his father since he was 3 years old.
Will said he chose to be an Auburn fan because Allan was an Auburn fan.
Will said his favorite Auburn memory with his dad is "probably the Auburn-Clemson game in Atlanta, even though (Auburn) lost."
"It always made (Will) feel really proud that his dad was an Auburn fan," said Sunny Moulder, who lives next door to the Kyzars.
Moulder participated in the celebration with her two sons.
"Allan was the world's biggest Auburn fan," Moulder said. "A lot of their life revolved around Auburn."
According to Moulder, she helped spread the word about what the Kyzars were doing to honor Allan and people came all day long.
"It was really a happy, celebratory mood," Moulder said.
Moulder said she and her family love Auburn and believe Allan would have loved the celebration.
"He would have never wanted people to mope around and be sad," Moulder said. "He would have done that every year if he could have gotten away with it."
Patty and Will said they plan to make the celebration a tradition.
"Once the yard is clean," Patty said. "That's our plan."
They said they are thankful so many people came to celebrate Allan and said he would have loved it.
"I have always had good feelings toward Auburn," Patty said. "And they have just been incredible."
(10/07/14 12:00pm)
It all started with a summer spent playing Mario Kart.
At first, it was just a hobby; three months gathered around a television, mashing buttons and directing the joystick of a Nintendo 64 controller while screaming in laughter with friends.
Several years later, while shooting aliens on an Xbox 360, that hobby turned into a passion.
Chris Boling, senior in software engineering, grew up playing video games and now aspires to design them for a living.
"One day when I was playing Halo 3, I just sat there with my friends wondering how it was made," Boling said. "I wanted to know what it took, so I just decided to look into it. I thought it sounded like a lot of fun, and it is."
During his past four years at Auburn, Boling said he's taken advantage of the game design opportunities available to him.
As a member of the Association for Computing Machinery and the Auburn University Computer Gaming Club, Boling has met fellow gamers and programmers who helped him design two games over the past four years.
One game Boling designed, "Hectics," is available on Windows for download through the Windows Store.
"If you love gaming and have an idea, then you have the potential to create anything," Boling said. "Anyone can download the free programming software, Unity, and see for themselves."
Boling said his training through Auburn's software engineering program has been invaluable, but the hands-on experience is what has taught him the most.
"You can only get so much about the programming world from sitting inside a classroom," Boling said. "The best thing to do is just to Google things, research and do it for yourself, but more than anything, just go for it."
Daniel Justice, senior in physical activity and health, is president of the Auburn University Computer Gaming Club.
Justice grew up playing video games and still enjoys the hobby as an adult.
"It starts as a passion, and it turns into a hobby," Justice said. "After years of practice and time, it turns back into a passion, and that's where members of these gaming organizations are."
Justice said some of his favorite gaming experiences came from being a game tester.
"Game testing is really casual now," Justice said. "It used to be formal about 10 to 15 years ago, where designers would pay people to test out every little thing, but now everything is digital. Anyone can be a tester. You just sign up and get randomly selected to try out the game."
While becoming a tester isn't as selective as it used to be, Justice said it's a great way to contribute to the gaming world without being a designer.
"It's great to feel like you made an impact," Justice said. "Even so, it's important to make your suggestions constructive and not discouraging. Developers receive a lot of flak, and I wish fellow gamers understood the time and trouble they go through."
Though his major isn't related to gaming, Justice said it's still a passion of his, and he encourages other students to embrace their passions, too.
Justice said he wants to change people's misconceptions of gamers as a whole.
"When most people hear 'game designer,' they automatically stereotype them when they shouldn't," Justice said. "We're not antisocial nerds. We work hard, and our organizations revolve around that. Sure, we play games, but chances are, we socialize even more than you do. You go out to bars for a good time while we stay home and game with our friends."
Charles Palmer, associate professor of interactive media at Harrisburg University who said he has helped students find jobs as game developers, said the gaming industry has evolved in positive ways over the last decade.
"When you told someone you were going into making games 15 years ago, it evoked visions of living in mom's garage for the rest of your life," Palmer said. "In 2013, mobile, console and PC games made $15.4 billion in sales. There's more money made in gaming than in film, and that means there are jobs for just about anyone in the industry. That's nothing to judge."
Palmer said gaming's social stigma persists, but with time, he hopes people's eyes will be opened to the possibilities of the industry.
"Like Facebook, game play is a social activity," Palmer said. "It's a different way to form relationships, but they're still meaningful."
To get involved in game design, Palmer advised students to discover what they're good at.
"Find your passion, and then combine it with your passion for gaming," Palmer said. "Find out what you're interested in, and then become the best at it. That's how you'll get the job you've always wanted."
Boling said he aspires to work for Valve, a video game development company. In order to do that, Boling said he needs to expand his knowledge as a designer and push his boundaries as a programmer.
"When I look at a game and say, 'I made this,' it makes me keep going," Boling said. "When you make something yourself, it just ignites something inside you. It's the greatest feeling knowing that I grew up gaming, but now I'm contributing to the industry I know and love."
(10/01/14 9:00pm)
For Logan Pace, freshman in musical theatre, street performing is a practice that has added flair to his music. It's something he said he began on the Plains and has loved ever since.
"I've been a musician at a wedding where people have paid me to play there, or my aunt and uncle have paid me to come play at their restaurant," Pace said. "I had never been just sitting here with my case beside me and you tip me in front of me. I felt like that was kind of awkward at first to ask, or indirectly ask, for money like that."
Pace said his street musician lifestyle formed from his inability to have a job while going to school.
"Street music definitely evolved out of the struggling musician, but I think it's taken such a bigger evolution since that," Pace said. "I was trying to figure out a way to support myself a little bit, and I figured what better way to do it than doing something I love."
Pace said on a typical day, he goes downtown to play at approximately 6 or 6:30 p.m. until about 10 p.m. He takes no breaks and he just sings.
"It was kind of awkward for me at first to open my case and perform like that so directly," Pace said. "Over time, the reactions that I've gotten from people really kind of affirmed that people didn't care that I was doing that or they can see that it's not about the money for me."
Pace said he is not bothered when people can't afford to tip him.
"It's just about you listening to the music," Pace said. "At the end of the day, that's what it all boils down to -- are people listening?"
His musical career started when a microphone was placed in front of him while singing along with his dad at the church his father pastored.
"My music dates back to as far as I can remember," Pace said. "I was an only child growing up. I was always the smart kid and I was kind of bullied in elementary school, but I would come home and I could play guitar for hours on end."
Pace said he picked up the guitar for the first time at the age of 5, and began seriously learning to play guitar when he was 13 years old.
Pace's journey learning music in rural Covington County and Birmingham landed him in the musical theater program at Auburn University, and now as a street musician.
Keith Hibbs, director of the music department for Alabama Baptist State Board of Missions (ABSM) said he met Pace as a ninth grader aspiring to be a part of their band, RockSolid.
Hibbs said that is highly unusual since he normally recruits tenth grade students.
"Logan can play anything with a string on it," Hibbs said. "He's an unbelievable musician and can play in any style. Whether it bluegrass, hard rock, Christian, he is not only a musician that can play by ear but reads well, writes well, writes and arranges his own songs and is a very fine vocalist."
Pace toured with ABSM this past summer where he showcased his musical talents and spread his sound.
"I've never met anyone my age that is so much a prodigy like that," said Anna Claire Loftis, freshman in business and a bandmate of Pace. "Logan really just has a heart for music and he's very talented."
Loftis said Pace can play a variety of musical instruments. She also said he never just stops playing music.
"It's easy to reach your music climax, but Logan is always in search of anything," Loftis said. "He just wants to know more, and I think that makes him so good and to become the musician that he is."
When Pace brought his talents to the Auburn Family, he began playing outside the Student Center, lower Quad and green space, where he said he felt a warm reception. A peer suggested he play downtown at Toomer's Corner, where he met a Memphis street musician who introduced him to the idea of opening his case for tips -- something Pace said he initially felt uncomfortable doing.
"It's not about the money for me, but just the whole feel of the street music vibe is something that I really got into," Pace said. "Music is always that voice and that medium that makes me feel comfortable. Music has made me an extraverted person. I'm always willing to talk to people, especially about music. It's always something that has linked me up with other people and made me an outgoing person."
Pace said he believes people stereotype him as a kid playing and asking people for money.
"That's really not the point of my music," Pace said. "I'm not going to blame them for it because, at first glance, that's what it seems like."
Pace said although there are still people who will walk past him and not acknowledge he is there, he doesn't mind.
"I've found that for every one of those there are two people that are going to come by and actually give me a smile or tell me my playing is nice," Pace said. "I don't try to focus on the negative, it's the positive that makes it worth it."
(10/01/14 6:00pm)
Cole Swindell is riding high off a number-one single, "Hope You Get Lonely." The Georgia native is touring with Luke Bryan's 2014 Farm Tour. He opens for Bryan Oct. 2 at Ingram Farms.
Did you always want to be a musician?
Nah, I always played sports growing up. I just loved sports, and I always loved music too. I didn't even know I could sing until I got to college at Georgia Southern University. It's kinda crazy how that happened for me. I loved music, but I didn't really know what I wanted to do until I was in college.
Why did you start singing?
I was a big fan of music. I was around some friends at a party. Somebody was playing a guitar and I was singing along. Somebody heard and said, 'Man, you're pretty good.' I never really sang in front of people. I just started singing more. Met up with a guy that played guitar in college and me and him played all through college together. By then I already knew what I wanted to do.
What inspires you when you write?
Everything. It depends on what kinda song I'm writing. Sometimes it's the title that you have, it's an idea and you have to come up with a title, sometimes it's just a melody. Sometimes you don't have anything. It all depends on the day. There's not really a set formula for writing a song. I'd say everything inspires me. You have to watch what's around you, listen to what's around you. You never know when a song idea or title might pop out.
What inspired "Hope You Get Lonely"?
I'm sure we've all been in the situation, but it was mainly the title of it. My producer Michael Carter and Bryan Kelly from Florida Georgia Line actually had that title, he asked if we wanted to write it, and we did. It's crazy to think today, talking to you, it's the number one song in the country.
What are your favorite and least favorite parts opening for Luke Bryan?
Favorite is that we're buddies and being out there with your friends is a big [advantage]. Being out there in front of all those people every night, it's huge for my career, but just to be out there sharing those memories with your buddies, it's pretty special.
The least favorite part is that it's going to have to end. There's not a least favorite part for me. I'm a new artist and anybody would kill to be in my situation. If anything, it might be that some of the shows are so big and I might feel a little nervous. Other than that, I just hate that it's going to end.
Who are some of your influences?
'90s country music as a whole. Tim McGraw was the big one from when I was a child. When I was in my college years, he really made me want to write songs and move to Nashville where guys like Dierks, Luke Bryan and Eric Church were. They were some of my favorites when I was coming up, just starting to play.
What are your goals for the future?
I want to be playing the biggest venues I can. I want to reach everybody I can. Hopefully I'll be playing NFL football stadiums, like I've had the opportunity to do this year, but I was the first act and opening for Luke Bryan. That's about as big as it gets right now. Until I can get where I'm headlining those, I've got a long way to go and I'm here to work hard.
Have you played in Auburn before?
I have. My first year out there I played some fraternity parties there. I haven't played there a lot, but it's always exciting. It's always been one of my favorite towns.
Hope the Auburn folks are ready for us. I'm excited to be there.
(09/25/14 5:25pm)
In the latest episode of Hell's Kitchen, Fernando Cruz made it through another week still in the game.
The women were victorious in the first competition, winning the chance to meet Chef Dominique Chen.
During the dinner service, both teams struggled. Fernando was preparing fish, and was chastised because it was overdone and dry.
In the end, the losing team was the blue team because they finished with half of their team kicked out of the kitchen.
The men nominated JR to be kicked out and Steve goes up for elimination.
Chef Ramsay tells JR, "You cook like you've given up," before sending him on his way while Auburn's own, Fernando Cruz, stays in the competition.
(09/25/14 4:19am)
Auburn University's Kappa Chi chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha hosted a fashion show Thursday night. The show featured clothing lines made by Auburn students, graduates and local boutiques.
This was the first year the Kappa Chi's have hosted a fashion show. The show acted as a fundraiser for the sorority.
Denice Bailey, model in the show and junior in apparel and merchandise, said the show took about a month to plan.
Bailey said the show was originally supposed to be last semester, but the sorority was forced to reschedule.
"I enjoyed this, because it's my major and right up my alley," Bailey said.
Bailey said each model had about eight outfit changes.
Models displayed clothes from Ellie, MHD, Behind the Glass, Loveless, Yen Gang and three kingdoms of street style.
During intermission, hosts interacted with audience members and started dance competitions and mini-catwalks among attendees.
Tori Jones, senior in pre-medicine, organized the event and featured her own line of clothing, called Yen Gang, in the show.
"I think it came out fantastic," Jones said. "I'm really happy about the models and the hosts, they were really great. I think it was a really classy fun event, so I'm really excited and really happy."
Jones said the inspiration for her clothing line comes from her hometown of New Orleans.
"I like to be different," Jones said. "We're really eclectic and really fun with our dressing and I noticed when I came to Auburn people were like 'Oh my God' where did you get that from? So I said OK, I'm going to make my own line and I can provide those clothes that people ask me for."
The localized nature of the clothing lines drew in most of the crowd.
The Kappa Chi's said they hope to turn this event into an annual fundraiser for their chapter.
(09/25/14 3:02am)
The Paul Taylor Dance Company performed at the Opelika Center for the Performing Arts at 7:30p.m. on Sept. 24, 2014.
This was the opening night of the East Alabama Arts performance series season. Philip Preston, director of the program, has dubbed this season with a theme: The Stage is Set.
Prior to the performance, Preston sat at the edge of the stage and spoke to the audience on what he anticipates to be an exciting season.
"It takes a great community to have great arts," Preston said.
The performance soon began with a number called Arden Court. The focus of the stage for this portion was a large pink rose backdrop.
The performance began with six muscular men taking the stage in pastel speckled tights who were soon joined by female partners dressed in a similar fabric.
According to dancer, Michael Apuzzo, the athletic look is much of what attracted him to the company.
"I immediately fell in love with the athleticism and the artistry of the choreography," Apuzzo said.
This portion was largely couple-based and had a ballet emphasis.
Arden Court was followed by a break before the American Dreamer dancers took the stage.
This portion had a wider variety of styles of dance to offer. Dancers wore costumes of a similar loose-fitting style in neutral colors, but each were unique.
Props such as fans and bonnets were also used.
The music used in this number had lyrics, unlike Arden Court, which helped illustrate what was happening in each scene.
All songs were selected by Stephen Foster and sung by Thomas Hampton.
Finally, after intermission, came the part of the show named Company B.
This section was broken up into 10 distinct parts.
The first part was performed by the entire cast. The eight parts that followed kept only two or three dancers on stage at a time before the cast came back together for the last part, which was effectively the finale.
Every portion of Company B was meant to reflect the sentiments of Americans during World War II.
When dancer, Christina Lynch Markham, reflected on what made each dance so special. She points to Paul Taylor's artistry.
"It's the way that he plays with the music and uses the stage as his canvas that makes it a beautiful dance," Markham said.
(09/29/14 12:00pm)
The Mises Institute is located in a small, two-story building next to the Village parking lot. It sits between the Donahue Drive Momma Goldberg's and the Sigma Alpha Epsilon house. Only a small sign at the front advertises an institute is there at all.
"We are sort of a school, we're sort of a website, we're sort of a library and a book repository and we're sort of a think tank," said Jeff Deist, president of the Institute. "We have a pretty broad mission, but first and foremost we are about keeping the legacy and the current elements of the Austrian school of economics alive and healthy."
Deist said Mises scholars publish academic research on the Institute's website to explain Austrian economics to the public.
Professor of economics Henry Thompson said the Austrian school of economics is a way of thinking about the economy that focuses on historical and theoretical information rather than empirical data.
While recognized in academics, Thompson said most mainstream economists would not call themselves Austrian economists.
The Mises Institute also breaks from the mainstream because of its location. Many famous think tanks, such as the Cato Institute and the Brookings Institution, operate in major cities, such as Washington, D.C., according to their websites.
"It really is almost an accident of fate that we came to be here at Auburn," Deist said.
Deist attributed the Institute's founding in Auburn to help from Auburn University board members, such as John Denson, and a friendly academic climate.
The founders were also drawn to Auburn because the University rented space to them in the Harbert College of Business.
Mark Thornton, senior fellow at the Mises Institute, said the economics faculty in 1982 was unusually friendly to debating different ideas about economics.
"Most economics programs at the time did not have the same kind of open-mindedness," Thornton said.
Thornton said the Austrian school of economics has an unconventional way of thinking about economic issues.
"We're free market (economists), which is an alternative," Thornton said. "Some would say it's a radical alternative."
Deist said Carl Menger and Ludwig von Mises, the Mises Institute's namesake, created a school of thought focusing on minimal government and private sector investment. The nationality of von Mises and Menger, both Austrian, became the collective banner for their theories.
Work done by Mises scholars has drawn support from famous libertarians, such as Ron Paul and Andrew Napolitano, both of whom, Deist said, have spoken at the Mises Institute.
Thompson said the thinking presented by the Austrian scholars breaks from academic convention in economics.
"The economics here at Auburn is more theoretical and empirical," Thompson said. "The mode of thought over there [at Mises] is a little different. It's more historical. The techniques aren't what you find in most economics journals."
Thompson said Austrian economics, while less popular than other schools of thought, still has influenced debate over the last century.
"I think it has a place," Thompson said. "It's hard to say what percentage of economists [are Austrian economists], but it's not trivial and everybody is at least aware of the ideas and give (them) some credence."
Thornton said educating the public, not influencing government policy, is the Mises Institute's purpose.
"The Mises Institute is not a traditional think tank," Thornton said. "Its purpose is to promote economics education."
Mises scholars educate people through publishing on the website, Mises.org, writing academic papers and open seminars.
Deist said the Mises Institute works mainly through its website, but holds several seminars a year open to Auburn students. One in the summer, Mises U, targets undergraduates.
"The Auburn community is a part of just about everything we do," Thornton said.
While Deist and Thompson said there are no official ties between the University and the Mises Institute, both departments maintain what Deist called "a good working relationship."
"I'm personal friends with three or four of the people there, but I see them more on a social basis," Thompson said.
John Sophocleus, adjunct economics instructor, said he appreciated having other scholars to contribute to academic debate, regardless of their school of thought.
"I think they're great," Sophocleus said. "I think if you're in the debate, you're doing something. That's really what education is supposed to be."
(09/27/14 4:00pm)
The eagle's pregame flight is one of the many traditions upon which Auburn is built.
Jessica Smith, junior in physical activity and health and member of the Auburn marching band, said she does not know how the tradition started.
"A friend actually asked me [last summer], and I didn't know, so I looked it up," Smith said.
According to Smith, she read a man had an eagle that flew around and out of Auburn's stadium, and because the man was a Civil War veteran, fans yelled "War eagle."
"I think that's a theory of how it started," Smith said.
Smith said she gets chills as she watches the eagle fly at every home game.
"I think it unifies the Auburn Family as a spirit that is unafraid," Smith said. "Because whenever you go somewhere and tell someone 'war eagle,' they say it back."
Although it is a young tradition, fans stand and yell every time the eagle circles Jordan-Hare Stadium.
"I always make sure I'm there in time to see Nova or Spirit fly," said Timothy Boosinger, provost and vice president of academic affairs.
Boosinger served as the dean of the College of Veterinary Medicine when the tradition began in 2000.
According to Boosinger, employees of the Southeastern Raptor Center came up with the idea and wanted to train the birds to fly around the stadium.
"(The eagles) train like every other athlete," Boosinger said.
The birds are trained by first being released to fly around the lower decks of the stadium and then being released higher and higher into the upper levels, according to Boosinger.
Boosinger said he met with David Housel, former Auburn athletic director, on the field before the tradition began to discuss the possibility of using eagles in the games.
"I thought it was a great opportunity for the veterinary school to support Auburn and the athletic department," Boosinger said.
Other than supporting the idea from when it was originally proposed, Boosinger said he has no other ties to the origination of the tradition.
However, he said it is one of his favorite traditions.
"It is something everybody gets excited about," Boosinger said.
Boosinger said he has even met fans who say they come to Auburn games to see the eagle fly and then leave to watch the games on television.
Since the death of Tiger, the first eagle to fly before the game, two eagles named Nova and Spirit have circled Jordan-Hare before kickoff, according to Boosinger.
Marianne Hudson, assistant director of raptor training and education at the Southeastern Raptor Center, experiences the tradition from a different perspective than most.
Hudson is responsible for the educational programs at the Raptor Center, training the birds to fly in programs and to fly in the stadium.
"It's always a good feeling when the eagle has gotten excited and landed on its mark," Hudson said.
Hudson said she enjoys working with the birds because she "[loves] to give people the opportunity to see these birds up close."
"The flight of the war eagle gets you excited for the Auburn community and our team," Hudson said. "It feels great to be a part of the Auburn Family and see the spirit come alive."
According to Hudson, the tradition embodies the Auburn spirit because the eagles are symbolic of the Auburn battle cry war eagle.
(09/27/14 12:00pm)
For her talent, Kira Kanzantsev sang Pharrell Williams' "Happy" barefoot while sitting with her legs crossed on stage. As the contestant sang, she tapped a red plastic cup against the floor to the rhythm of her tune with a smile.
According to CBSnews.com, Kanzantsev said her performance was inspired by a scene from the film "Pitch Perfect," where the movie's protagonist, played by Anna Kendrick, auditions for an a capella group by banging a plastic cup in similar rhythmic fashion.
Kanzantsev's win marked the third consecutive year a contestant from New York took home the Miss America crown.
Since her win, Kanzantsev and the Miss America program have received criticism from thousands of viewers and fans.
"That's right, girls, wanna become Miss America?" wrote reader Marc Weissman on HuffingtonPost.com. "Forget those challenging classical piano lessons, throw out those opera CDs and blow off those modern dance classes because all you need to do is swipe a Slurpee cup from 7/11 and sing along to the latest ear-worm."
Another reader, Angela Watson, said Kanzantsev won because of her state title.
"Obviously you just have to win Miss New York to be a shoe-in," Watson said.
Jessica Dyk, junior in mechanical engineering, has competed in pageants for most of her life. Like the many naysayers online, the fellow pageant contestant also has strong feelings about this year's Miss America winner.
"Talent is a large part of your score, but it isn't everything," Dyk said. "It's about who will represent the program best. Miss New York stood out. She didn't have a talent that knocked you off your feet, but she did something different that was relatable to girls across the nation. That's just as important as the talent itself, if not more so."
Dyk has taken lessons to be a classical dancer for nearly two decades. Her talents helped her win Miss South Dakota's Outstanding Teen in 2009.
Dyk said she stands behind the judges' choice for Kazantsev winning Miss America 2015.
"A lot of people view the Miss America pageant as nothing but a superficial competition about beauty, but it's not," Dyk said. "So many mock it, and this was the program's way of re-branding what they're about -- to show the country what's most important."
Katie Willoughby, sophomore in communication disorders, is the director of the Miss Auburn University program.
Willoughby said she admires the way the New York native dared to be different.
"The talent portion of the pageant is about making it your own," Willoughby said. "Every girl is an individual and you should show that while you're on stage."
Willoughby said she thinks the plastic cup routine deserved its high marks, as well as the crown.
"There so much more to the competition that we don't get to see," Willoughby said. "What we do see is five minutes of the hours of preparation these women have done. I hope Americans know that the woman who won is an amazing person who deserved it. She's so versatile. She speaks three languages, is poised, intelligent and down-to-earth. What more could we want as a Miss America winner?"
While Willoughby said she has never judged a pageant, she said this year's outcome was a good representation of what all pageants should focus on.
"The fact that the girl who got up on stage and was herself and won is great," Willoughby said. "It was a great opportunity for the Miss America pageant to show what they want in a representative as a person, not just looks and abilities."
Alumna Emily Jordan, who was crowned Miss Auburn University in 2012, said she sees positive reinforcement behind the success of the plastic cup routine.
"It's less about what you can do, and more about how you do it," Jordan said.
While pageants such as the Miss America program receive a lot of flak for being materialistic and degrading, Jordan said the judges sent an important message with the woman they crowned this year.
"Our culture often tells us we have to be perfect in everything we do," Jordan said. "With this win, they're saying, 'You don't have to be perfect.'"
(09/25/14 4:30pm)
The world had seen chicken as both nuggets and fingers, but until 2005, no one had ever seen chicken in fry form. Then Burger King decided to change what it offered.
The initial release of the chicken fry increased Burger King's $280 million quarterly profit margin by 3 percent, according to Bloomberg.com.
When the company announced the return of the chicken fry in August, stock prices rose 1.34 percent overnight, according to TheStreet.com.
The original intention was to have a more adult way for people over the age of 10 to eat chicken nuggets, according to NBC News.
Soon after the chicken fry's unveiling, it was placed on Burger King's menu as a permanent item. However, with declining sales of the product and the addition of chicken strips to the Burger King menu in 2012, the item was removed, according to Zacks.com.
With years of public clamor over various forms of social media and multiple petitions for the fast food delicacy to come back into existence, Burger King decided to add the chicken fry back onto the menu for a limited time.
"Our fans have spoken, and we had to listen," said Eric Hirschhorn, chief marketing officer, North America, Burger King Corporation. "On peak days we've seen one tweet every 40 seconds about chicken fries, many of them directly petitioning, begging for us to bring them back. We want to do right by our guests by bringing them back for a limited time."
After being re-released Aug. 11, the chicken fry sold out in various Burger King locations around the United States within three days, according to BK.com.
The trending Twitter hashtag was then changed from #chickenfriesareback to #chickenfriesproblems.
Burger King is encouraging their customers to tweet the latter hashtag when a restaurant near them is out of the product.
One of the locations having shortage issues is the Burger King on South Gay Street.
Manager Danetta Thomas explained what happened when her store received their first batch of the fries.
"[Chicken fries] are so great," Thomas said. "We sold out the first two days in a row as soon as we started selling them again."
The chicken fries have proved popular among some adults.
"I like how easy it is to eat them," said Josh Hillyer, professor of film studies. "I had tried them the first time they were released, but because of the spectacle of it, I thought they were funny."
Chicken fries attract other audiences as well.
"They are pretty good," said Summer Hester, senior in communication disorders. "I had them the first time they came out because it was a neat concept."
Burger King has not said if chicken fries will stay for good.
