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(09/20/14 8:20pm)
Three things Alabamians have traditionally loved throughout time came together in support of the local art community Friday. The Art, Music and Moonshine Art Show at Perch Jewelry Studio presented the local art community two new artists to tweet about.
The studio held its second art show in their jewelry studio, where on a day to day basis their primary focus is giving people an opportunity to express themselves through unique jewelry hand made by consumers or staff at the studio. The proprietors at the studio recently took on showcasing local art, starting last month with a show of Mary Ann Casey's art.
Mary Ann Casey is a dear friend of and works closely with Barbara Birdsong, the owner of Perch Jewelry Studio. Casey said she believes the event is all about elevating new artists.
"It's not about age or gender," Casey said. "It's all about a coming together of ages. It's about communicating artistically and empowering people to be all that they can be and embracing their gifts. It's about inspiring creativity, plants, architecture and things in all forms and about community coming together to do it."
The art community gathered at the jewelry studio and its shabby chic back lot to hear the sounds of singer Nathan Coker and explore the artwork of Alex Lazzari and ceramic artist Po Wiese.
Lazzari is an Auburn University graduate and native of Fairhope, Ala. His collection of stippling art titled "Nothing and All" was featured at Art, Music and Moonshine. Lazzari said the collection was inspired by his surroundings, music and spirituality.
Lazzari lived across the street from Perch during his time at Auburn, where he said he became familiar with the small strip of businesses and became friends with the Birdsong family through seeing them in the community.
"It has a lot to do with the music by Sleeping at Last," Lazzari said. "I listened to it the whole time I did this project. This was my senior thesis. It's what I was inspired to do because I thought that it was really deeply connected to who I am and how I came up."
Po Wiese was the featured ceramics artist in the showcase. He was introduced to ceramics as a child when his mother taught ceramics at the mental health center in Lee County.
"The newest stuff was inspired by one single bowl from 10th century Iran," Wiese said. "I'm just inspired by so many things. I'm inspired by things I can't afford so I just make them myself." His showcased ceramics collection featured a blue, turquoise and brown color scheme. "Blue is an underglaze and it flows, and that's what I like," Weise said. "For some reason it runs more and I like the fact that it runs because it's more painterly and it's more unpredictable. They're more fun like that."
Many of the pieces are functional art spanning from vases to bowls, smaller trinkets, plates and more.
The ceramics and artwork from this show will be on display for the rest of the month. The Birdsongs and their supporters said they are surprised at the successful turnouts of the past two showings and hope to potentially make this a regular occurring.
(09/20/14 8:00pm)
Out of all my time here at Auburn, one of my favorite experiences was the time I wrote a spectacularly bad story.
It was sophomore year, and I had just moved into Aubie Hall. I met all kinds of cool people, including Matt Diaz, then a junior who worked for The Circle.
If you've never heard of The Circle, well, you're not alone. The Circle is one of Auburn University's best-kept secrets. A group of English majors, photographers and other creative people spend each semester working on a huge magazine of poetry, fiction, nonfiction and photography.
You might have seen them handing it out on the concourse at the end of each semester. It's cool, and more people should come to their semester-end gatherings.
Diaz and my roommate Matthew Pollock both worked for The Circle. Pollock told me they were running into the same problem. They needed more stories to fill the space in the magazine.
I immediately turned to another roommate, Abraham Schnake, and challenged him to a contest.
We would each try to write the worst story possible and submit it to The Circle. The winner was the person who got their worst story published.
I was thrilled with the challenge. After spending my life trying to write quality work, it would be fun to cut loose and produce the worst piece of fiction anyone had ever read.
It took only an hour in the library to create my monstrosity. It had everything a good bad story needs: epic battles, evil clones and overwritten drama.
I loved it.
The protagonist was a thinly disguised version of Schnake. Writing bad fiction about my own roommate was too amusing to pass up.
I was proud of my efforts. One of the more exciting passages read something like:
"Schnake swung his sword upward and deflected every missile up into the sky. Instead of hitting the rebels, the missiles instead hit the evil empire's ships in orbit. Brilliant!"
That's the level that I was writing at.
Imagine a 10-year-old hyped on Mountain Dew after sitting through a nonstop showing of the old "Star Trek" films and you'd have a good idea of my state of mind while writing this
story.
We submitted our stories to The Circle.
We waited eagerly to hear back from the editors, to see if either one of us had somehow passed the editorial gauntlet and gotten into the paper.
Of course the answer was no. They rejected our stories immediately.
The Circle may have been having trouble getting submissions, but it still had standards.
That wasn't the point of the joke, though. The real fun was taking an existing Auburn institution, like The Circle, and tweaking it by sending in God-awful stories. The best part was writing the stories and sharing them with our friends.
I got a laugh from talking to Diaz after he read our stories. He wasn't a fan.
Diaz was even less of a fan when we did the same thing the next year and wrote him into the story.
You can find enjoyment out of unexpected things, like writing silly stories for The Circle. This week, try doing something new -- something out of your comfort zone. I did, and it proved to be one of the better experiences I've had at Auburn.
If you're stuck for ideas, don't worry about it. The Circle will be accepting submissions in January.
(09/21/14 12:00pm)
It started with nosebleeds.
Kayla Perry said she thought nothing of them at first. The 18-year-old Birmingham native was too busy working as a missionary in Nairobi, Kenya with the Christian group Youth With A Mission in the spring of 2013.
It was a month after her 18th birthday and she was enjoying herself by helping other missionaries build orphanages and teach in schools.
"Sometimes I would wake up to a nosebleed," Kayla said.
Kayla attributed the frequent nosebleeds, fatigue and strange bruises to her persistent cold.
The symptoms didn't stop, though.
Kayla said she returned to America early to get tested at Brookwood Medical Center in Birmingham. She said her doctor told her on a Thursday he'd contact her the next day if her bone marrow biopsy came back with bad news.
At 5 p.m. Friday, the doctor hadn't called. Kayla; her mother, Christen; her father, Rob; her brother, Andrew; and her sister, Morgan, went for ice cream to celebrate.
Kayla said she was enjoying a chocolate sorbet when the doctor called.
The family drove to Brookwood at 7:30 p.m., where the doctor explained Kayla had cancer cells in her bone marrow.
Kayla was diagnosed May 6, 2013, with high-risk stage IV neuroblastoma, a cancer primarily affecting children.
"It just did not seem like it was real at all," Kayla said. "I was overwhelmed."
Kayla, who was already accepted into Auburn for the fall 2014 semester on a presidential scholarship, had to stay home and spend a year in treatment.
Kayla said she transferred to Children's of Alabama to undergo chemotherapy, immunotherapy and a bone marrow transplant.
"She is very independent," Christen, said. "From the first day, she has been the one to make decisions on treatment and next steps."
Kayla said on Aug. 14, 2014, the doctors told her they could not cure her cancer. They still do not know how much time she has left to live.
"The cancer wasn't gone as much as they wanted it to be," Christen said.
Kayla said the new goal of her treatments is to stop the cancer from moving or growing. She won't know if the new treatments are working until the results from her next round of treatments come back in three weeks.
Christen said her daughter chose to pursue an education at Auburn University after hearing this news from her doctors. Kayla said it was the only school she applied to.
She lives in Auburn, but has treatment in Atlanta every third week of the month. During treatment, Kayla's parents stay in Auburn and drive her to and from Atlanta.
Kayla takes classes in the morning and rides to Atlanta in the afternoon.
"Her dream is to stay in school," Christen said. "I'm committed to doing whatever I can to help her achieve her dreams."
Kayla said the treatments have cured neuroblastoma before.
"It's a very, very small number of people that are cured not from the original protocol," Kayla said.
In addition to her treatments and studying nursing, Kayla started the charity Open Hands, Overflowing Hearts (OHOH) to raise money for pediatric cancer research.
Participants are encouraged to raise money however they want.
After launching the campaign Sept. 1, Kayla said it has raised more than $30,000 in seven days, which can fund up to four months of research.
"It's been amazing," Kayla said. "People are aware now, and something needs to be done to find the cure."
Adjunct finance professor Amanda Harrelson is participating in the OHOH campaign with her students.
Harrelson said she learned about the campaign from talking with the Perry family and reading Kayla's blog since her time spent in Africa.
"Obviously, Kayla's story has touched my heart," Harrelson said.
According to Harrelson, she is raising awareness of Kayla's campaign by having her students take a picture in their favorite spot in Auburn with a caption or sign saying, "I will do anything to end childhood cancer. What will you do?"
If the students put the picture online with the hashtags #OHOH, #100Days100Ways, #AUSupportsKayla and #HarrelsonFinance, Harrelson said she will donate to Kayla's campaign and give bonus points to her students.
"I can't ask my class for money," Harrelson said. "For everyone that does it, I am donating."
Harrelson described Kayla as selfless, among other characteristics.
"I think of the word spunky," Harrelson said. "She is so strong in her faith that she doesn't look at her situation as devastating."
Lexi Bice, childhood friend of Kayla and sophomore at Southeastern Bible College, said she shares the same admiration as Harrelson for Kayla.
"She's brave, a lot braver than I am," Bice said. "She has challenged me in my walk with Christ.
Harrelson said she applauds Kayla's focus on helping others.
"I love that she is focusing on research so other people don't have to go through this," Harrelson said.
Kayla said she hopes her efforts can help find a cure for neuroblastoma.
"Say I have 10 years left, and during those 10 years, somebody finds a cure -- then my 10 years are no longer a limit," Kayla said. "That's all we can do, buy time."
Kayla's father, Rob Perry, said he is both proud of and blown away by Kayla.
"Kayla is always just solid," Rob said. "She's that person that is just focused. She blows my mind."
The Perry family has big plans for the next five years, according to Rob.
"I believe her story is powerful enough to cast a worldwide vision," Rob said. "If the people caught hold of Kayla's vision, they would get involved."
The current phase of the OHOH campaign, 100 Days 100 Ways, ends Dec. 7 with a celebration at Regions Park in Birmingham, according to Christen.
The event will celebrate the money raised and honor Kayla.
"(Kayla's) got big goals and obviously I'm super proud of her," Christen said. "I don't know a stronger person."
Both Rob and Christen said they believe Kayla's story will change lives.
"Without awareness, there's no funding, without funding, there's no research and without research, there is no cure," Christen said.
Christen encourages Auburn students to get involved by following @OHOHKayla on Twitter.
Though fighting cancer has been difficult, Kayla said she focuses on not giving up.
"You just put one foot in front of the other," Kayla said. "Sometimes, you don't have an option to not do it. Sometimes, all you can do is push forward."
(09/20/14 12:00pm)
When Fernando Cruz was finishing high school in Ponce, Puerto Rico, he was assigned a final project. While other students struggled with ideas for weeks, Cruz said he knew what he was doing in a heartbeat.
On the day of his presentation, Cruz walked to his senior classroom with a smile on his face -- portable gas stove in tow.
Cruz said his peers watched in awe as he effortlessly seared a skirt steak, mixed an Argentine chimichurri sauce and whipped mashed potatoes.
Ten years later, Cruz is the executive chef at the Hotel at Auburn University and Dixon Conference Center and a recent competitor on season 13 of FOX's hit show "Hell's Kitchen."
"I didn't just wake up one day and say, 'I'm going to cook,'" Cruz said. "It just grew into me and became a part of me. From there, I set my goals high."
In 2003, Cruz left Puerto Rico to attend the Culinary Institute of America (CIA) in Hyde Park, New York, and graduated with a bachelor's degree in hospitality and hotel and restaurant management in 2007.
The 29-year-old chef said his accomplishments are the product of hard work.
"My family didn't have any money, and the CIA was incredibly expensive," Cruz said. "But I went, and I told myself, 'I'll pay for it later.' I'm a very independent person and I've paid for everything myself. Even with all the loans, I could never regret my education."
Roy Khoo, culinary director at the Cancer Treatment Center of America in Newnan, Georgia, hired Cruz fresh out of culinary school.
"Fernando was young and he was green, but I hired him because he had an indescribable drive for success," Khoo said. "As I talked to him, I saw this passion in his eye and knew he had a keen dedication for what he does, and that he'd make it in this business."
After working with Cruz for five years, Khoo drove more than an hour to attend the "Hell's Kitchen" premiere watch party at the Hotel at Auburn University Sept. 10.
"The trip was worth it because I got to see Cruz's great performance on the show while being there with him," Khoo said. "This will give his career a boost, and he deserves it. People will know his name, and people will see the same passion I've seen in him for years."
Cruz said Khoo has been a mentor throughout his career, and Cruz wouldn't be as successful without him.
"Roy's the person who taught me how to be a leader," Cruz said. "When he hired me, I knew how to cook, but he was a mentor to me for so much more. He taught me something very special. I won't stop for someone in the kitchen, but I will always slow down for them and teach them like Roy did for me. I have so much respect for Roy and his teachings."
After cooking in different regions around the country with Khoo, Cruz said his experience made him an ideal contestant for "Hell's Kitchen," but that's not what led him to apply.
"I remember watching the show while I was at the CIA and thinking, 'These people are crazy, I would never,'" Cruz said. "I don't know what came over me. I wanted to see how I compared to other cooks across the nation and when the opportunity knocked at my door, I answered it."
While Cruz finished his culinary training years ago, the executive chef said "Hell's Kitchen" was an extension of his schooling.
"Gordon Ramsay is one of the greatest chefs I've ever met," Cruz said. "What you see on TV is what you get. The audience usually sees him stressed and angry, but his mentoring side is the side you don't see. He truly wants to help you grow and become a better chef. I couldn't have asked for a better teacher."
Maria Gomez, Cruz's wife, said she was concerned about his decision to participate in a reality television show, even with the opportunity he would receive if he won the competition.
"I rarely watched the show to begin with because it stressed me out," Gomez said with a laugh. "I just don't care for reality TV. Sometimes people are portrayed how they're not. From the Kardashians to 'Hell's Kitchen,' the producers can make something out of nothing, and I was worried about how Fernando would be portrayed."
To keep her husband grounded, she gave him a piece of advice before he left for filming.
"'Don't lose yourself,' I told him," Gomez said. "We have three kids under the age of 5, and he has an entire professional career at stake, but he never lost himself or his values. He didn't change, and I'm so proud of him."
Gomez, who also attended the CIA, met Cruz while pursuing her bachelor's degree in culinary arts.
"We've been successful, but we're not making filet mignon at home," Gomez said. "We are very simple, and we aren't food snobs. We'll feed anything to our family if it's fresh, good and done right. Simplicity is what it's all about."
Now, seeing her husband's success, Gomez said she's been able to put her concerns aside and enjoy the "Hell's Kitchen" experience with her children.
"We're all so happy and proud of him," Gomez said. "We're so young, and he's going to have such a long and successful career. We have a lot to look forward to."
Cruz said he's glad "Hell's Kitchen" shaped his culinary abilities and not his personality.
"I got a part on 'Hell's Kitchen' by being who I am," Cruz said. "The show didn't change that, and I couldn't be more proud of the way I handled everything."
The Hotel at Auburn University is hosting watch parties every Wednesday throughout Cruz's run on "Hell's Kitchen." The parties are free and open to the public.
"On TV or not, I'm still a part of this community," Cruz said. "I want everyone to come and enjoy this experience with me, young and old. I'll prepare the dishes on that night's show, and it will create great memories."
Cruz said he's grateful he set his sights high, and advises other young people to do the same.
"Don't let anything stop you," Cruz said. "Set your goals as high as you can. You won't be able to achieve them tomorrow, but that's why you work on them. If you have a goal and fight for it, but are able to remember who you are, someday you'll achieve more than you ever thought possible."
(09/19/14 7:30pm)
Victoria's Secret in the Village Mall released a new style of pants, joggers, approximately two months ago.
Joggers come in different materials and can be intended for a fancy event or a casual outing. In this case, they are made for working out or lounging. However, Victoria's Secret isn't the only brand to start selling joggers.
This style of pants resembles what MC Hammer wore.
They have a drawstring at the top, are baggier in the center and come in around the calf or ankles, depending on the length of the pants.
Paige Hawke, sophomore in apparel merchandising, said she has seen brands, such as Neiman Marcus and Joie, selling them online and and at Forever 21 in Atlanta.
"I know at Forever 21 they have a lot of patterned ones," Hawke said. "The ones I saw on Neiman Marcus were a solid, darker navy color and those looked like you could probably dress them up more."
Anna Abernethy, sophomore in apparel design, is familiar with joggers because she has seen them outside of Auburn.
"I'm from North Carolina, and some of my friends at home started wearing them toward the end of summer," Abernethy said. "My friends go to school all over, so they are in different places."
While the style of the pants is the same, the look can vary.
Hawke said they can be worn to lounge in or to dress up.
"L.A. wears them in the lounge way, like out to lunch," Hawke said. "In New York, they would dress them up with the wedge and a nice top and then maybe belt it."
The pants can be seen in different places all over the country.
Bronte Taylor, senior in marketing, has worked at Victoria's Secret for a year and a half.
Taylor said they have been selling joggers for about two months now.
"They're just really comfy," Taylor said. "I don't see them becoming a fashion trend because they're not very flattering."
Taylor said she thinks leggings are more flattering and more popular than joggers right now.
When talking about the people who might be seen wearing joggers, Hawke said the funky look of the pants attracts a certain style of people to wear them.
"I would say hipsters, people in a big city and a lot of New York fashion people wear them," Hawke said.
(09/18/14 3:00pm)
The tradition of rolling Toomer's Corner is one that seems to have been a part of Auburn's history from the beginning.
"My first game I went to [in 1969], no one was throwing toilet paper," said John Varner, reference assistant for the University.
Varner, who grew up an avid Auburn fan, had many years of experience with the tradition of rolling Toomer's Corner.
"There are different stories as to how it all got started," Varner said.
According to Varner, one story of the start of the tradition originated from the "Punt Bama Punt" Iron Bowl in 1972.
The trees and power lines were supposedly rolled with toilet paper after the win because of tailback Terry Hanley's comment Auburn was going to beat the "number two" out of the Crimson Tide.
At the time, Auburn was ranked No. 6 and Alabama was ranked No. 2 in the nation.
Varner said fans continued to roll the power lines along Magnolia until Alabama Power moved the lines underground in the 1980s. It was not until the 1990s fans were allegedly encouraged to roll the Toomer's Oaks.
Another origin story of the tradition claims receipt paper would be hung over the telegraph wire around Toomer's Corner to indicate an Auburn victory, according to Varner.
Jeremy Henderson, editor of the War Eagle Reader, shared views with Varner about how the tradition originated.
"There are a bunch of theories that are more like urban legends," Henderson said.
Henderson, who has studied the tradition, said the Oaks were approximately 80 years old and no telegraph wire rolling was used to indicate a victory.
"There will be people who tell you that the trees were 130 years old," Henderson said. "It started with high school and college kids going wild."
According to Henderson, the youth of Auburn would celebrate victories by painting cars, vandalizing the city, drinking alcohol and rolling the town with toilet paper.
As the trend of crazy celebration faded, rolling the town carried on, according to Henderson.
"It wasn't one conscious decision," Henderson said. "It was the one element from that era that carried on."
Henderson said he addresses the "Punt Bama Punt" legend as the largest post-game celebration since the tradition began, not the start of the Toomer's tradition. He attributes the success of the tradition to a number of factors.
"It's seemingly unique and something you can see," Henderson said. "It is something everyone can be a part of."
Although there is much speculation on how the tradition began, Henderson said one thing was, and continues to be, a fact: the bigger the rolling, the bigger the game.
Katie Oliver, sophomore in elementary education, rolled Toomer's Corner after last year's A-Day game, and said she does not know how the the long-standing tradition of rolling Toomer's Oaks started.
"I just know that the Oaks had been there for a really long time," Oliver said.
According to Oliver, the unity the tradition brings about is what has caused it to last for so many years. Oliver said she believes learning more about the traditions behind Auburn will help her to better appreciate it.
"I feel like if I knew more about it, I could pass it on," Oliver said.
(09/17/14 9:00pm)
The Auburn Cricket Club has been chirping. Established in 2010 by Auburn graduate Naveenan Thiagarajan, this once small, social sports club placed second in the 2014 American College Cricket National Championship Finals on ESPN, which was the first time cricket had been televised on the channel.
Aditya Agarwal, graduate student in mechanical engineering, played occasionally in his youth at school and in recreational leagues. Currently the team captain, Agarwal said he was surprised at his team's success.
"Most of the universities didn't expect us to reach the finals, but we played really well," Agarwal said. "It was unexpected, but we also seem to have a love for the game. We've won trophies and medals, but to be on national television was far-reaching for our small organization."
Vignesh Venkatasubramanian, graduate student in chemical engineering and current president of the Auburn Cricket Club, joined the team in 2011. Venkatasubramanian is looking forward to the upcoming season and has high expectations.
"We were kind of underdogs, but we beat last year's champions Penn State," Venkatasubramanian said. "So, it's pretty much similar to the football story. You wouldn't expect a relatively smaller population, such as Auburn compared to New York and Texas, to have such a pool of people to pick from, but we are able to compete on a national level."
The team is hosting their sixth Tiger Cup tournament next weekend on the intermural fields.
"We invite teams like Alabama, Georgia Tech, South Alabama, Mobile and even Memphis," Venkatasubramanian said. "Memphis, who we'd consider our friendly rivals, travels the furthest."
Robin Muthukumar, graduate student in industrial engineering and webpage coordinator of the club, attributed their success to a wide group of people in the community who also cherish the game.
"The Indian population is thoroughly adequate in Auburn," Muthukumar said. "But we also have many Americans who join us. Our club membership has expanded over the last four years, providing for our ability to host and travel for matches. We had over 50 participants in the last Tiger Cup tournament. Not to mention, we are constantly supported by our team alumni."
With Memphis winning the Tiger Cup 2011-2013, the team still has areas to improve. The University of South Florida, who they lost to in the televised national championship, has been another constant competitor.
"We played (South Florida) not only in the national competition, but also in the SEC Conference," Venkatasubramanian said. "It was painful. They won by one run."
Agarwal said their team has been good at bowling and fielding, but needed batsmen.
"Since the inception of our club, the small amounts of batsmen we've had have been graduating," Agarwal said. "So, that's what we've been focusing on in our practices."
Agarwal, Venkatasubramanian and Muthukumar practice in the MLK park every other weekend at 4-6:30 p.m. for hard tennis ball sessions, battling for runs and training for the upcoming season.
Venakatasubramanian said he insists on newcomers to the game.
"What we say to our members and new recruits: just practice with us to see your skill level," Venkatasubramanian said. "Perhaps you'll make our team, but more importantly, just come enjoy cricket and meet some great people.
(09/15/14 8:00pm)
Spandex, bell-bottoms, Afros and big glasses are all trends that have come and gone and come again over the past century. One fashion trend back in the U.S., and more specifically on campus, is Birkenstocks.
Birkenstock is a German company that manufactures shoes for men and women. Birkenstocks are receiving high praise from various patrons of the comfortable, yet stylish sandals.
Lilly Woodruff, senior in apparel design, is intrigued by the brand and their appeal to such a wide demographic.
"People in Europe haven't stopped wearing them because they are the most comfortable shoe," Woodruff said. "Fashion over there is a lot earlier than the U.S., especially a place like Auburn."
Woodruff said the trend hasn't gone away overseas and people in the U.S. have started catching the trend again.
"Someone may be wearing them for practical purposes and then someone else sees them as something they can throw on with anything, and before you know it, everybody's wearing them again," Woodruff said.
Della Smith, junior at Lipscomb University, lives in Nashville, Tennessee. She has noticed the return of the Birkenstocks.
"At first, I thought other people were trying to bring them back," Smith said. "Then, I realized more and more people wearing them around campus and just out. They really are in style now. I might get myself a pair."
Birkenstocks certainly have made their way back into the wardrobes of students all over campus.
The practicality and style are what lure the students in according to Woodruff.
"I think the comfort in big, trendy places like Italy and New York, where people walk everywhere, a shoe like a Birkenstock makes sense," Woodruff said. "Then, you see them as cute and take an interest in the style."
She also praised the company for diversifying their look over the years.
"Birkenstock as a brand has done a great job of expanding their appeal," Woodruff said. "Last year, they came out with a gladiator style. I have been shocked at the number of compliments I receive every single time I wear mine."
Margaret Manifold, junior in public relations, is skeptical about fads, but she thinks Birkenstocks are a trend that should stick around for a while.
"I think trends are always being recycled, and you can either go right or wrong," Manifold said. "I know I want to order a pair, and I like that they have different styles."
For a shoe that is known for its comfort, they are now a fashion statement. Patrons of the sandals may show others that they appreciate being comfortable and practical in their wardrobe choices.
People who wear Birkenstocks are also into what is in style and know how to stay hip, yet casual, in the world of fashion and shoes.
(09/16/14 6:00pm)
After last year's miracles in Jordan-Hare, it seems impossible the Auburn Tigers could play a better season.
But it's time for a new year, new members of the Auburn Family and a new team to make memories with.
It's time for football season, and though they go head to head on the field, it's a tradition many Southeastern schools share.
Stephen Reynolds, senior in political science, said his favorite Auburn tradition is gathering in Jordan-Hare.
"I couldn't wait to get back into the stadium where we experienced those miracle catches," Reynolds said. "The unpredictability of Auburn football is what makes it so great."
Game day in Auburn is special because Auburn fans have a sense of community when they gather to cheer their team on, Reynolds said.
"Thousands of people getting together for the same cause and supporting the same people is an amazing experience," Reynolds said. "You couldn't start the semester off on a better note."
Reynolds, a senior, cheered at his last first football game Saturday. Even so, he said it isn't something to grieve.
"I don't feel like I have much left on the table during my final year here," Reynolds said. "No matter what happens, I've already ended on a good note because of the great memories I've made in Jordan-Hare."
While fans enjoy tailgating, rolling Toomer's and other Auburn traditions, some feel the fellowship of Auburn fans is what sets the Tigers' game day apart from the rest.
"I love to see the city of Auburn busy with alumni, fans and other members of the Auburn Family excited about the game," said Chance Nowell, junior in apparel merchandising, design and production management.
Jordan Jemison, junior in apparel merchandising, design and production management, said the best part of game day wasn't the Auburn spirit itself, but what it does for the Tigers.
"It's seeing the underdog story played out time and time again, and realizing that anything is possible," Jemison said. "There's nothing like proving the predictions wrong, and showing what we're really made of. We did it once, and we can do it again."
Students were more than eager to return to Jordan-Hare on Saturday, but it was the determination of the alumni who watched from afar that made the Tigers roar.
Alumna Hannah Jimmerson, who graduated in May with a degree in physics, said while she couldn't attend the game in person, she was there in spirit.
"It hurts to not be at the game in person, but I was so excited to see my boys play," Jimmerson said. "It was great to return home to cheer my team on with my family. I wasn't with thousands of members of the Auburn Family, but I was with them just the same."
Jimmerson said she hopes to attend at least one home game this season, and witness the traditions in person.
"I can't wait to watch the eagle fly as we shout our battle cry," Jimmerson said. "I fell in love with Auburn because I knew it was where I was meant to start my career, and where I was meant to be. On game day and on any day, it's home."
(09/16/14 4:00pm)
Moe's Southwest Grill and Chipotle are two dining options in Auburn. Although they offer similar cuisines, each restaurant has its own elements that make it different.
Anne Penrose, licensed dietician and graduate assistant, said she has never been to Moe's Southwest Grill and has eaten at Chipotle only a few times.
After dining at Chipotle, Penrose formed an opinion of her own.
"It's fast and convenient and it tastes good, to be honest," Penrose said. "It's a fast food version of a sit-down meal."
Although she said she enjoys Chipotle, Penrose said healthy options are available at both restaurants.
"They offer kind of the same things, but it's all about moderation," Penrose said. "In terms of the plate you could build, they are similar."
After researching the two restaurants, Penrose said she learned Chipotle tries to get ingredients locally when possible, and Moe's tries to get hormone-free meat.
However, she said even though the restaurants share similar dining options, they have their differences.
"I think their overall atmospheres are different," Penrose said. "They are different from when you walk in one to another."
Penrose said no matter where students choose to dine, "it's about knowing the smart choices to make."
Courtney Cox, junior in nursing, said she prefers Moe's rather than Chipotle.
"I like their chicken and queso better," Cox said.
According to Cox, her favorite thing on the Moe's menu is their quesadillas.
However, she attributes the success of Chipotle in Auburn to its advertisement of fresh and local ingredients.
"I feel like it gets promoted on college campuses," Cox said. "Especially ours because of our agriculture program."
Cox said she appreciates Moe's for reasons other than their quesadillas.
"It's really good Tex-Mex, and it's fast," Cox said.
Andrea Tuttolomondo, sophomore in communication disorders, said she likes Chipotle and Moe's.
"I don't think one is better than the other," Tuttolomondo said.
According to Tuttolomondo, she has eaten at both restaurants, and they share one thing in common.
"They're both kind of overwhelming," Tuttolomondo said.
Tuttolomondo said she thinks more people prefer Chipotle.
"I think Chipotle has fresher ingredients," Tuttolomondo said. "I guess it's just personal preference."
Tuttolomondo also considers one thing to be a downfall of Chipotle.
"The cilantro," Tuttolomondo said. "That's why a lot of people don't like Chipotle."
Unlike Tuttolomondo, Trent Boyd, senior in information systems management, said he loves Chipotle.
"It is always fresh and consistently good food," Boyd said.
Boyd said his favorite meal from Chipotle is a burrito with brown rice, black beans, chicken, salsa, corn, cheese and sour cream.
"It's enough food to always fill me up," Boyd said.
Boyd said he attributes the success of Chipotle to its organic, homegrown, fresh food.
"People prefer Chipotle and are willing to stand behind Chipotle because Chipotle stands for strong things," Boyd said.
However, Boyd said he realizes that strong stance may be the reason for people disliking Chipotle.
"You don't have people who are on the fence about Chipotle," Boyd said. "You have people who love Chipotle or hate it."
While the two dining options in Auburn offer similar cuisines in different ways, customers can enjoy healthy choices at each.
(09/16/14 12:00pm)
Not every college student has the same experience at school.
Some students don't have time to truly enjoy their college experience with night shifts, loans and no days off. Some Auburn students who hold part-time or full-time jobs for experience or economic support are learning these truths.
Tori Rivers, senior in public relations, learned about these financial realities. An associate trainer at Panera Bread and an intern at the Office of Communication and Marketing, Rivers took on a part-time job just to enroll at Auburn.
"Being from Georgia, my parents told me I would have to transfer schools because tuition was too expensive," Rivers said. "I took a year off from school, did a little research at the Office of the Registrar and established Alabama residency. To establish that residency, I had to make $10,000 [per year] with Alabama state taxes taken out."
Rivers found a position at Panera Bread. After three years of working there, Rivers started an internship at the Office of Communication and Marketing. Rivers recalled many of her friends relishing their freshmen experience while she was working night shifts.
"It was hard seeing all of my friends transitioning into their sophomore years, finding leadership positions in clubs and organizations while I was in the real world," Rivers said. "At 19 years old, I had to wake up at 6 a.m. to work 40-hour weeks, and it kind of sucked growing up that fast."
But Rivers said she doesn't regret her sudden maturation; in fact, she said she believes it molded her for the better.
"Panera has been really good to me," Rivers said. "I've met a lot of networking opportunities and it honed my communication skills. They understand student workers, but I have to work there and do a good job."
Rivers' position allows her to work and train people in all areas, a responsibility she holds with pride.
Alexis McMillan, junior in fitness conditioning and performance, is another out-of-state student who works to pay for school.
Working at AV Tech and Anders Bookstore, McMillan said she also feels the financial stress of college.
"It's a lot to manage everything, tuition, rent and social life," McMillan said. "When I first got here, I immediately started working two jobs and immediately got overwhelmed. I get burned out some days and don't want to do anything, but I know I still have to."
McMillan said she often feels like she's working herself to death.
"My pastor told me if I keep working myself like this, I wouldn't be young for long," McMillan said. "But my options aren't that open. It's kind of like work or go home."
Both of McMillan's parents graduated from Auburn and are real estate agents who instilled her with the importance of independence.
"I feel like at 18, you have to start managing your own affairs and become independent," McMillan said. "My parents' work ethic made me realize I had to go get it. I've learned more from outside the classroom and I have my work experience to thank for that. But as far as my classes go, Auburn has been great as far as preparing me for my career."
McMillan said she is taking a class that teaches her how to interact with clients.
Matthew Webb, senior in information and systems management, works at the Office of Management as an office aide.
Webb also said he believes his experience in Auburn has prepared him for the work force and the real world.
"I just started working there because I needed the money to shoulder expenses," Webb said. "Most companies hire by two things: performance and experience. Even a history with retail jobs tells companies 'I can work with other people,' but internships offer those first glimpses of your potential career."
(09/15/14 6:00pm)
Saturday at noon in Seale, Alabama, greeted me with the heady scent of red Alabama dirt, the singing of cicadas and the dry tickle of September grass. The sun pressed close and beads of moisture clung to my upper lip. Never had I felt so romantically Southern.
A Harper Lee quote danced in my head: "Ladies bathed before noon, after their three o'clock naps, and by nightfall were like soft teacakes with frostings of sweat and sweet talcum."
The Museum of Wonder is 45 minutes away from Auburn on AL-169 S. I pass it every time I visit family in Dothan. My boyfriend and I had finally taken a pre-game mini road trip so I could honor my curiosity.
Four shipping containers by the side of the road serve as the world's first drive-thru art and antique gallery museum -- Seale Cultural Center and Butch Anthony's creative vehicle.
The opened containers display Anthony's collection of found and repurposed objects, folk art and taxidermy.
Each piece evokes the entwined past of Anthony and his hometown, like a box of jumbled items in their collective attic. Trophies, photographs, portraits and scrawled phrases fit together to create shrine-like structures.
Each item is given meaning. The profound, sarcastic, comic and heartbreaking all blend into a single expression of a collaborative history.
Walking among buried treasure in a near-sacred space stirred my mind.
Our life experiences, the moments we give meaning, homogenized like a potion we drink daily that determines how we continue to interpret the world.
My potion is the color of the Carolina foothills where I grew up. It has steely blue and sage in spring. It sloshes in my throat and thrusts forth images, sounds and phantom smells, my own museum of wonder.
There is a mote of dust floating in a sunbeam; a beating from a man other than my father; a cry, "Olly olly oxen-free," to end flashlight tag; a rush of poetry after midnight and the scramble for my sparkly purple pen; the tiny whistle of air as I fly over the balance beam upside down; applause, accolades, critiques and ear-popping laughter.
There are snatches of quotes from great books and lyrics from all the songs I've ever heard. There are movie stills and paintings and faces and buildings -- Versailles, Harold and Maude, The Clash and Jane Eyre are all on equal footing.
There are skylines from Buenos Aires to Seoul, from New York to London. There are sunsets and sunrises and cotton fields. There are stories in my grandmother's genteel Dothan dialect and witticisms penned in my aunt's handwriting. There is an encouraging glance and a hand on my shoulder. There are bedtime stories and fairy tales and corny dad-jokes.
There are 7 billion museums of wonder. Each is unique. Each is valuable. They evolve daily as we turn over new meaning in our lives -- as we put the pieces together and time carries us further from the most painful memories.
Human capacity to translate and record life is essential for survival. We make art. We reach out. We accomplish wonders.
(09/15/14 4:00pm)
Dozens of flags line the inside of the student center to represent students from around the globe, and now for the first time, Tiger Dining is representing them too.
Tiger Dining has introduced a new food truck, Ceci, which excited students across the cultural spectrum when it opened Monday.
The newest campus dining option features Middle Eastern cuisine with a menu that's "From the Near East to Far East," but that's not all that makes it distinctive.
The food truck introduced Halal meat to campus to accommodate Muslim students. It also does not serve beef, which makes it Hindu-friendly.
A Halal diet is a religious requirement for Muslims, and is comparable to Jews consuming Kosher foods, said Naved Siddiqui, fifth-year doctoral student in materials engineering.
"In the Halal belief, animals are bled to death during slaughter so the blood does not coagulate and contaminate the meat," Siddiqui said. "Like Jews, we also don't eat pork."
Ellexia Taylor, senior in interdisciplinary studies and president of the Muslim Students' Association, brought the need for Halal meat to Tiger Dining's attention.
"The Muslim students on campus didn't have access to Halal meat and, until now, only had the option of being vegetarian," Taylor said. "Auburn's Muslim population is steadily growing, and Ceci gives them the best options to stay healthy and well nourished."
Taylor presented the issue to Tiger Dining in the spring, and was impressed with how quickly the solution came about.
"It shows that Auburn University takes pride in ensuring that no group is left out," Taylor said.
Director of Campus Dining Glenn Loughridge said he made Ceci a priority throughout the summer.
"The Auburn Family is known for being 'All In,' so we wanted to be all inclusive," Loughridge said. "We want to serve all students regardless of how much or how little they make up Auburn's population."
Bill Sallustro, resident district manager for Chartwells, Auburn's food contractor, said he wants students to know that if there's a need for a particular food on campus, Chartwells and Auburn will work together to meet it.
"Ceci will not only appeal to Muslim students, but Hindu, Jewish and vegan students as well," Sallustro said. "It's exciting."
Ceci's menu features an array of Middle Eastern dishes including lamb, chicken, salads, desserts and other vegan options.
Entrees include hummus, grilled vegetable falafel, curried lentil patties, spice roasted chicken and lamb and mushroom kofta, a dish that Siddiqui grew up with in Saudi Arabia.
"I can't wait to feel at home," Siddiqui said.
Siddiqui said he's very excited to enjoy Ceci's food.
Loughridge said that the truck will help expose students to new food.
"It will open Auburn students to a different culture and diet, but it's not so far off that Alabama folks won't find something to enjoy there," Loughridge said. "Ceci is for everyone."
The food truck will first be located near the engineering buildings, but will move toward central campus as it gains popularity, Taylor said.
Siddiqui and Taylor said they are grateful to Tiger Dining for listening to their request.
"Offering this kind of meat is certainly not common, even in other parts of the U.S.," Siddiqui said. "Tiger Dining Services was so forthcoming, and serving such a small group on campus isn't a sustainable thing to do from an economic standpoint. The fact they did it anyway says a lot. I can't say thank you enough."
Loughridge said in the Auburn Family, everyone gets a seat at the dinner table.
"We need to be able to feed everybody, Loughridge said. "We were happy to take a step toward accomplishing that."
Loughridge advised students to check the Auburn App, or the dining services' Twitter @tigerdining where locations will be posted weekly.
(09/06/14 9:15pm)
In the South, football is a religion, and when you go to church to watch the boys play, there's no question about it. You dress up.
While the rest of the country sports jerseys, sweatshirts and jeans to show support for a team, the Southeast kicks its spirit up a classy notch, and Auburn is no different.
On game day, Jordan-Hare Stadium is filled with shades of orange and blue dresses, bowties, skirts and cowgirl boots.
Men and women dress to the nines to shout "War Eagle," but it's the game day dress that has women shopping several weeks before kickoff.
"The game day dress wasn't something I grew up with in Memphis," said Darby Dowdell, senior in apparel merchandising. "When I heard about it, I was so excited. I just thought, 'Oh wow, this is me! I really like this.'"
With dreams of owning a fashion boutique one day, Dowdell puts her heart and soul into her game day dresses.
The fashionista shops for game day attire all summer long and purchases a new dress for each home game.
"I prefer not to wear the same dress twice," Dowdell said. "It's a passion that's important to me. I love how I can combine my love for fashion and football together."
Pamela Ulrich, graduate program officer of the department of consumer and design sciences, said the game day dress is specific to the South for a reason.
"The concept of the game day dress is a relatively new category of attire," Ulrich said. "Numerous football games in the South are played in hot weather, and it's great to see fans in dresses that are fashionable and cool at the same time."
Ulrich said the focus on wearing team colors is also newer in football dressing traditions.
"I think fans became aware of their appearance when they were shown cheering in the stadium on television," Ulrich said. "That's when it seems the wearing of team colors increased. Now, decades old, it's a wonderful statement of color and commitment to one's school spirit."
Dowdell, who went to Ole Miss for her first year of college, said both schools participate in the SEC tradition of dressing up for game day, but Auburn's traditions are different.
"Auburn games are more in-tune with the Auburn spirit," Dowdell said. "It's definitely about wearing orange and blue because that's your team, not because it's Versace. At Auburn, game day is an event for everyone to get involved in."
Therapy, a boutique located next to 17-16 on East Magnolia Avenue, sells a wide range of game day dresses, jewelry and accessories.
McLaurine Klinger, senior in political science, is a sales clerk at Therapy and said game day styles are evolving each season.
"Girls are starting to get out of the dress a bit," Klinger said. "Dresses are still popular, but they've started looking for rompers, shirts and tops to change things up."
Many women worry about shopping at local stores and wearing the same dress as 100 others in the stands, but Klinger said one can get around that by accessorizing an outfit.
"Jewelry is a great way to make a dress your own," Klinger said. "Put your personal style into the outfit."
Dressing up for the game is an expected tradition, but Dowdell said it's more important to look nice for yourself.
"Shop for game day dresses wherever and whenever," Dowdell said. "You don't have to be in Auburn or even a Southern state to find a classy orange and blue dress. That way, you can show your spirit the way you like, and it's uniquely yours."
Dowdell said showing spirit with style isn't about what other people do.
"Everyone's different, and even though we're all told to wear similar things on game day, we should highlight that," Dowdell said. "It all comes down to how you want to present yourself."
(09/10/14 12:00pm)
Travis may be the most unusual resident of Auburn. Standing 6-foot-6, he towers over most visitors.
Travis is a 6-year-old dromedary camel. His long, tan neck holds his head even higher than his hump.
Travis is the tallest member of Farmer Brown's Party Animals, a petting zoo based out of the Auburn area.
Travis lives on Pat Starr Sr.'s farm.
Pat Sr. said the farm has so many animals, he does not know exactly how many he owns.
Pat Sr. owns a camel, a zebra, a kangaroo, fainting goats, alpacas, bulls, South American coatis, a South Asian zebu, a bull, a donkey and 15-20 horses.
"My son wanted to get some stuff you just don't normally find around here," Pat Sr. said. "He just started getting one or two there. Rather than have birthday parties or something [which] people are paying to do at places up town, skating centers and places like that, I figured we just might be able to host a party out here, let people come out and see some stuff they've never seen before."
Patrick Starr Jr., senior at Lee-Scott Academy, has collected exotic animals for five years.
"I've hung around animals all my life," Patrick Jr. said. "I like showing animals to people, so I started back in 2009 and I bought my first llama. I bought three llamas, and it's just gone from there."
Patrick Jr. said he adds animals to his collection based on how exotic they are and how easy they are to care for.
"I don't like showing them off as much, but I like to watch the animals and educate people about them," Patrick Jr. said.
Patrick Jr. shows off his animals at birthday parties and church picnics.
Pat Sr. said churches have even used Travis for Nativity scenes.
The Starrs said they favor certain animals for showing to children. Travis is a favorite because he is unusual and even-tempered.
"He's really very docile compared to a horse," said Stephanie Johndrow, friend of the Starrs. "At least, this one is. He doesn't spook."
Johndrow said Travis's calm nature helps when he is around children.
"The little-bitty kids come up and feed him," Johndrow said. "He's just as gentle out of their little hands. He doesn't bite them, and they don't scare him."
Pat Sr. said he prefers to have visitors feed alpacas, llamas and camels. Their teeth are structured so that anyone feeding the animals is less likely to be bitten.
Pat Sr. said he supports Patrick Jr.'s interest in animals, because it gives his son something to do that won't cause any trouble.
"I know what he's doing on the weekends," Pat Sr. said. "This is something good."
Patrick Jr. said he wants to follow his passion for animals by becoming a veterinarian.
Patrick Jr. also said he hopes to own an elephant and open a safari park.
Pat Sr. said he supports his son's efforts, even though opening a safari park could take 30 years.
"You gotta dream," Pat Sr. said.
(09/09/14 6:00pm)
Although fitness classes are said to be beneficial, some men said they do not want to participate in them.
However, the rec center is aiming to redefine the idea of typical group fitness class.
Hal Davis, junior in fitness conditioning and performance, has attended three group fitness classes for class credit and said he would not plan on attending any more for a number of reasons.
"Mainly for a convenience of schedule and because I don't know them," Davis said.
Davis works out on his own schedule, where he does weight training and cardio. When he works out with men, he weight trains, but when he works out with his wife, he focuses on cardio. He is one of many men who avoid group fitness classes.
"I picture a bunch of girls doing Zumba," Davis said.
According to Davis, most men avoid group fitness classes because of their pride.
"They don't want to do anything girly," Davis said. "They don't want to be shown up by anyone in the class."
Davis said if there were more weight training classes offered at different times, more men would participate.
Unlike Davis, Blake Amerson, junior in electrical engineering, has never attended a group fitness class.
"I think they are more of an aerobics class," Amerson said. "I am looking to strictly lift weights."
Amerson said he recognizes some group fitness classes are more suitable for women, but believes certain classes should be geared toward men with a focus on building strength.
Susannah Taylor, coordinator of fitness with campus recreation, said the rec center has a lot to offer for both women and men.
"The ratio [of men to women] is definitely evening out this semester," Taylor said.
Adding to the increase in male participation, some group fitness classes are being led by men. Taylor added yoga classes are seeing more male participation.
According to Taylor, group fitness classes, such as Total Resistance eXercise, strength training, boot camp, Insanity and a variety of aqua classes are being offered, as well as some classes taking place on the intramural fields.
"People think of group fitness as aerobics," Taylor said. "But the formats have broadened."
With new full-body workouts and equipment not available on the rec center floor, Taylor encourages students, especially men, to take advantage of the group fitness classes.
"We have so many great classes to offer for everyone," Taylor said.
Other gender-neutral fitness classes offered include cycling, athletic conditioning, rowing essentials and glide and ride.
Taylor said she and the rest of the rec center team, which includes three professional staff members who train instructors to organize their own workouts, are working to provide students with as many class options as possible with numerous variations of exercise.
(09/08/14 7:30pm)
Ben Coffin couldn't keep his glasses on his face. Every time he looked down, his thick-frame lenses would slide down the bridge of his nose.
He had to wait for a break in the music to push them back up and keep playing bass guitar at The Southern Revelry.
"It was about 2,000 degrees on stage," Coffin said. "I don't think any of us have sweated more."
Coffin, senior in wireless engineering, plays bass guitar for The Roof Runners, a five-person band in the Auburn-Opelika area.
The band began in 2010 when Coffin met Paul Cook, guitar player who lived in the same dorm.
Cook, senior in electrical engineering, said the two shared an interest in playing music.
"We always had tried to form some kind of two-man band around bass and guitar," Cook said. "We had a pretty steady (foundation) already, and Sarah came on."
Once Coffin and Cook met Sarah Citrin, sophomore in English, in January 2014, they formed The Roof Runners.
Citrin would sing. Coffin's boss James Fukai, 40, longtime musician, would play guitar.
Coffin's friend Cory Fica, senior in music education, would drive from the University of South Carolina to play drums.
"As soon as we started playing together, it just immediately clicked," Coffin said. "We just started writing stuff really quickly."
The group gravitated toward indie rock and folk music, the kind which Coffin calls "Americana."
The Roof Runners played Aug. 9, at Overall Coffee Company, which Cook called their favorite show.
The band's members spent the previous three days practicing for The Southern Revelry, a music festival at The Overall Company. Despite putting in long hours, Coffin said they still enjoyed the experience.
"It very easily could have been miserable, because it's all we did all day, but we had a blast," Coffin said. "I don't know the last time I had that much fun."
The band practices by putting together songs.
Coffin said The Roof Runners has ten finished songs, with more in progress.
Coffin describes their creative process as collaborative. The group, often Fukai, make changes to what each person contributes.
"Sometimes I'll give it some different directions that I can see it doing," Fukai said.
Each member brings a diverse set of influences to the band for its songwriting.
Citrin cites Ella Fitzgerald an influence. Cook and Coffin said they share an appreciation for White Denim and Kings of Leon. Fukai said he enjoys metal.
Coffin said The Roof Runners members are focusing on producing enough original content for an extended play (EP) or a full album.
Meanwhile, Coffin said the band plans to play shows for anyone who will let them.
"We would love to play in Auburn anywhere," Coffin said. "Ideally, the goal is to get the University students to listen to us."
Fukai said he hopes students will listen to and like their music.
Coffin said he hopes to take The Roof Runners as far as it can go.
"I want to put out music that we're proud of," Coffin said.
(09/09/14 3:30pm)
There is a new currency gaining popularity in today's market. Bitcoin is a virtual currency that uses peer-to-peer technology to operate.
Bitcoin has no government regulations or middlemen, such as banks, unlike traditional method of payments.
According to CNN Money, Bitcoin was created in 2009 by an unknown individual using the alias Satoshi Nakamoto.
It provides consumers means to purchase goods anonymously. The currency is held in a digital wallet in a cloud or user computer.
Bitcoins can be bought from other users or mined by running certain computer programs. These programs require large amounts of storage space to be able to run and operate.
"For small items, people will trade one-tenth of a thousandth of Bitcoins for maybe $5," said PJ Robin, freshman in computer engineering. "There are applications called Bitcoin miners, where you run an application on your computer and you literally create Bitcoins, but the data are so massively large, if I tried to mine it on my computer, I could make maybe five one-millionths of a Bitcoin per day."
The current exchange rate for the Bitcoin is at $509.70 per Bitcoin.
Although Bitcoin was originally predicted to vanish on its own, Reuters reports Overstock.com and Expedia accept it.
"It's accepted in a lot of places that aren't heavily commercial, like video game websites, some trading websites, such as illegal ones, like Silk Road, and websites that are accessed through TOR client," Robin said.
Jeremy Frasher, sophomore in electrical engineering, also said a con of bitcoins is the energy it takes to mine them.
"You can't just build a super computer and run it and expect to make money off of it," Frasher said. "What will happen is, at universities, like here, TAs, professors or people who have access to labs will have a computer with it and run it, leave it sitting there mining and they won't get a power bill."
Frasher and Robin added they would make little money even in this scenario.
Bitcoins aren't federally insured like dollars, and have even been banned in some countries because of their lack of regulation.
"I'm not a technology person, and I prefer my bank, so I don't think Bitcoins are a better alternative for me," said Erin Ledford, senior in mathematics. "I just don't think I can put much stock in money I can't see, even if anonymity has its perks."
(09/07/14 9:30pm)
Those who eat at Foy Dining Hall have likely come across Ann Finlen, 49. She has been a loyal part of the Auburn Family since she was a child, but has since grown to be a loyal worker for the family here on the Plains as part of the maintenance staff.
Finlen is in charge of ensuring all dining necessities are met. She has replaced cutlery and napkins four days per week for the last 10 years.
That is, however, just a piece of what she does daily for Auburn students.
Finlen has a happy spirit her co-workers said they admire. She likes to greet students in Foy with a cheerful "Hello" and a smile.
Finlen said she loves working at Auburn.
"All the students that come in [Foy] brighten my every day, and most even know me by my first name," Finlen said. "Some of them are even my best friends."
Finlen was born prematurely in Birmingham, where she spent time in the hospital and was diagnosed with Down syndrome.
Finlen is one of seven siblings, twin brothers and five sisters.
Her mother raised her as a dedicated Tiger fan. Finlen has always had a passion for Auburn football.
"I see all the football players and they autograph my hat for me," Finlen said. "Cam Newton is my favorite player of all and I'm also a big fan of Bo Jackson."
Finlen said she plans to attend this year's Iron Bowl game.
The sports fan said she loves sports so much, she won gold medals in golf and basketball at the 2010 Special Olympics USA Games, while also participating in bowling.
Finlen said she credits her brothers Steve and Mike Finlen for her skill at golf. Steve and Mike help her train for the Special Olympics every year.
Outside of work and sports, Finlen is an avid member of Auburn University Best Buddies (BB), a nonprofit organization that provides friendship and employment opportunities for people with intellectual disabilities.
Apart from her friends at BB, Finlen has a good friend waiting at her home in Birmingham: her dog, Sandy.
She is also friends with her co-workers.
"Miss Ann is so sweet and I enjoy working with her," said Tameika Jenkins, Finlen's co-worker. "She's always so happy. I can say that about Miss Ann, she is just always happy."
Finlen's supervisor Sharon Cargile, director of dining, had nothing but praise for Finlen.
"She is the biggest Auburn fan in the entire world," Cargile said. "The fact that she gets to work on this campus, to her, means she has the best job in the world. She's my most loyal, my most dependable and my most reliable employee."
(09/08/14 6:00pm)
On Monday, Aug. 26, Michael Brown was laid to rest. Since then, Ferguson, Missouri has been quiet.
Although media attention has started to shift from the troubled town, the wounds caused by Brown's death and the subsequent riots are still fresh. As a nation, we haven't even begun to process what happened.
Because Officer Darren Wilson, the police officer who allegedly shot Brown, will not face a grand jury until October, there will be no sign of closure for Brown's family, Ferguson or the rest of America for quite some time.
But it's never too soon to start talking about all the issues this tragedy has forced to the surface.
The events in Ferguson have busted the national conversation on race wide open. The relationship between police and minorities has come under extreme scrutiny. We are at tipping a point, on the crest of a wave about to break into what could be peace or catastrophe.
Brown's death is only one of the more recent examples of a law enforcement officer killing an unarmed suspect. Unfortunately, this trend of brutality has been mostly focused on the black community.
While anyone can be the victim of excessive force, it would be a great disservice to the memory of Brown and those who died before him to not acknowledge the role race plays in this ongoing dilemma.
Of course, this is a problem with roots stretching back to the birth of our country, and to use our limited space to suggest a quick fix is foolhardy at best. We could call for peace and understanding, but our calls would not rise above the din of anger and confusion.
Although we do not condone riots or violence against anyone, we believe this anger is justified. For too long, people of all races have been victimized by an increasingly aggressive police force.
We don't feel like the police are a part of the community anymore. They have become a fringe element that we fear and do not trust.
For many, the police represent a failed ideal, a damaged part of the American dream.
However, this doesn't mean we have to give up.
After all, the police are not space aliens we can't communicate with.
They are humans.
We have to hold them accountable for their actions. We have to use our power as citizens to break through the walls of secrecy and corruption. We have to demand better.
By knowing our rights and standing up for them, we can stem the tide of violence that has become synonymous with law enforcement.
Although it's hard to think about that now, there are lessons to be learned from Ferguson. Like the L.A. riots in 1992 and the Watts riots in 1965, this horror has a purpose.
The mistakes that led to Ferguson belong to all Americans, and we have to learn from them if we expect anything to change.
