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(02/11/14 3:30pm)
Auburn is home to nearly 1,000 international students.
One of those students, Edgar Diomande, junior in finance, said he did not originally want to attend Auburn University.
"I did not even want to come to the United States," Diomande said. "I hated my English classes in high school. I hardly ever went."
Diomande was born in Cote d'Ivoire, a country in West Africa. He lived with his father, a politician, his mother and his three siblings.
"My life was basically normal back home," Diomande said. "I went to a private middle and high school, and I lived with my family."
In December 2010, Diomande's life changed drastically. The Ivorian Crisis, a dispute over which candidate won a presidential election, sent his country into a tailspin.
"I used to be very interested in politics, but after that happened I lost a lot of my interest," Diomande said.
One day when Diomande was 18 years old, his father told him they needed to talk.
"He told me I had to go college in the United States," Diomande said. "I said 'How do you expect me to do that? I don't even know English.' He convinced me it would be the best thing for me, and for my education."
Diomande applied to a number of American schools, but eventually decided on Auburn.
"My father told me Auburn was the best choice in order for me to get the best education possible," Diomande said. "My dad's friend went to school here, so that made it easier. Also, we knew Auburn has a good ESL program."
According to Diomande, the transition to American life was difficult at first.
"I had never been so far from my family," Diomande said. "I wanted to make friends but people move so quickly, and sometimes I didn't know if they were making fun of me. It was frustrating at first. But then I said to myself 'If you want to do or learn something you can't care what people think about you. You just have to do it'."
For Diomande, though, the real struggle was learning a new language.
"When I got here, I couldn't even order at a restaurant," Diomande said. "I just had to point at what I wanted."
Diomande worked tirelessly with Auburn's English as a Second Language department to learn English as quickly as possible.
To complement his English classes, Diomande developed some of his own learning tools.
"I watched any English television show I could," Diomande said. "I would just watch random shows, or the news. I also listened to a lot of English music. I mostly listen to rap."
Diomande, who now speaks fluent English, credits the Assistant Director of International Education, Sue Ann Balch, with helping him during his adjustment period.
"Sue Ann Balch is like a mother to me," Diomande said. "She assisted me when I needed it, and she is such an angel."
Diomande said despite his initial worries, he thinks his decision to attend Auburn University was the right one.
"I like Auburn because it is a small, college town and there is nothing to distract me from my studies," Diomande said. "I have met people that have helped me with my learning, and I've made new friends."
(02/10/14 11:42pm)
Meet the Miss Auburn 2014 candidates: Kinsey Crow "Connecting cultures with Kinsey Crow"Kinsey Crow, junior in nursing, said she has always been interested in being a part of Auburn’s Student Government Association. “One of my friends is president of the College Kid’s Tailgate, which just became an official organization,” Crow said. “They told me they wanted to nominate me for Miss Auburn and asked if I wanted to do it. I have always wanted to be involved with SGA, so I was really excited and honored when they chose me.” According to Crow, however, winning is about more than just a position. If she wins, Crow said she hopes to promote interaction among cultures on Auburn’s campus. “I really want to encourage and facilitate friendships between international and American students,” Crow said. “The Auburn family is such a beautiful thing, and I want to see everybody included and welcomed into it with open arms.” With almost 1,000 international students representing more than 80 countries, Auburn University is home to a very diverse student body. “There is such a cultural richness on this campus,” Crow said. “That’s why I was very disheartened to find out that a majority of international students leave the United States without making even one American friend. I want to create a more openhearted and diverse Auburn family.” Crow said she believes lasting friendships between international and local students are possible, and she draws inspiration for her cause from a very well known text. “I really love the line in the Auburn Creed that reads, ‘I believe in the human touch, which cultivates sympathy with my fellow men and mutual helpfulness and brings happiness for all,’” Crow said. “That is what I would like to see happen at Auburn. I want to see connections between all the nations that are represented here.” Sloane Bell "Foster the future with Sloane"Sloane Bell, junior in finance, said she never thought she would make it to the top 5 in the Miss Auburn campaign. “I’ve just been going through the process, and I never expected to make it this far,” Bell said. During her campaign, Bell will be raising money for the Big House Foundation, an Opelika-based nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the lives of children in foster care. “A lot of foster children are moved around a lot, so there’s a lot of inconsistency there,” Bell said. “Big House exists to pour love onto them, and kind of make their lives a little more normal.” Bell said she felt a personal connection to this issue. “Over the summer I was introduced to the sweetest little boy, Caleb, who is in foster care right now,” Bell said. “The family he is with has to face the reality that this little boy might not be able to do some things a lot of us take for granted, like go to college.” With Caleb in mind, Bell decided she wanted to start a scholarship for teens in foster care as soon as the fall semester started. When she got back to Auburn, however, Bell said she learned the University was already working with the Big House Foundation. “When I got back, I found out Auburn was passionate about this issue, too,” Bell said. “They signed a contract with Big House for renewable scholarships for two foster teens who are old enough and able to come to Auburn.”Sloane said she hopes to raise enough money to cover the additional costs of college, like textbooks and meal plans. According to Bell, education is an important factor in a successful life. “Studies show only a very small amount of foster teens in the United States go on to higher education,” Bell said. “A good education can change the course of your life, and I want to help these people have a normal college experience.” Rebekah Davis "Reach out with Rebekah"Rebekah Davis, junior in accounting, originally had other plans for the upcoming school year. “When I looked at my senior year, I did not expect this at all,” Davis said. “I had other plans, and they ended up falling through. This all just happened, and it was so exciting.” According to Davis, she found Auburn University’s size a little daunting at first. “I come from a really small town, and I graduated with a really small class,” Davis said. “When I got to Auburn, I was kind of intimidated by how big it was. I really wanted to get involved, but one thing I never really got involved with was volunteering.” Davis said she hopes to make volunteering in the Auburn community easier for future students through her platform. “I want to create a class that is worth three credit hours, and that exposes people to the different volunteer opportunities on Auburn’s campus,” Davis said. “I think it will create a way for students to find what they are passionate about. I also want to revamp a branch within SGA that helps with the publicity of philanthropic events.” According to Davis, she wants to create a volunteer database will help raise student involvement. “I think there should be a way for the University to monitor all of our volunteer hours via our Ignited cards and hopefully post those annually,” Davis said. “It’s all about reaching out, and getting people involved.” Davis said she hopes to leave a positive impact on Auburn, no matter the outcome of her Miss Auburn campaign. “Nothing is for certain,” Davis said. “I just want to encourage people to get involved, no matter where they come from. I hope people will look at this platform and start volunteering their time, because it is really important.” Jazzmin Carr "A.I.M. with Jazzmin"Jazzmin Carr, junior in English literature and sociology, said she hopes to help children with life threatening conditions through her campaign. “When it came time for nominations, I thought it would be a really good way to get that out there to really try to form a movement for it,” Carr said. Carr said she hopes to create a partnership between Auburn University and children with terminal illnesses, disabilities or traumatic injuries. “We will be working with them to give them the college experience they may never live to see,” Carr said. “We will also do things like sending them birthdays in a box or sending them greeting cards. We just want to do lots of different things to uplift them during their surgeries or while they are in the hospital. Realistically, the experience that we all get to have here, they may never live to see or they may not have the physical ability to be able to come.” According to Carr, there is not another program like the one she has in mind. “The more and more I talk to the families of these disabled children, there is really not any other outlet for them to get that kind of experience,” Carr said. Most of all, though, Carr said she wants to send a powerful message to Auburn students. “I hope to make Auburn students more appreciative of the experiences and opportunities we are afforded with,” Carr said. “I want them to see how fortunate we are, and that life really is not promised. I hope they will embrace and experience everything they possibly can as college students, and I also want Auburn students to use all the talents they are given to really impact others outside of the Auburn campus.” Caroline Stephens "Spark a change with Stephens"For Caroline Stephens, junior in political science and psychology, the decision to run for Miss Auburn was not a difficult one to make. “I am an SGA senator at large right now,” Davis said. “I have really loved representing Auburn through that position, so this just kind of seemed like a natural step for me.” Stephens said she hopes her platform, random acts of kindness, will inspire people to change how they treat people. “I really hope to spark a change through my campaign,” Stephens said. “No matter what happens, I just hope we help Auburn students reach out to others.” During her campaign, Stephens will be encouraging Auburn students to perform random acts of kindness for each other. “I think everyone should know how to just be there for each other,” Stephens said. “It is so important to know how to serve other people. To me, that is something that you can’t really learn in a classroom.” According to Stephens, kindness is a trait that is often overlooked. “I think it is really important to do just simple things for other people,” Stephens said. “For anyone, whether you know them or not. During my campaign, I just really want to show Auburn students how important and how easy it is to just reach out and volunteer their time, their effort, their anything. The simplest thing you do for someone can really change their life.” Stephens said she hopes her campaign will make Auburn an even better place. “We already have the Auburn family, and I think that is such a great thing,” Stephens said. “I just hope we can help bring people even closer together, and show people how great and how simple it is just to be kind to each other.”
(02/07/14 10:55pm)
Auburn University's Animal Advocate Club is looking to change that.
The Animal Advocate Club's goals are to bring animal lovers together and to aid animals in need in anyway they can.
Lauren Chamberlain, junior in business administration and treasurer of the club, said she hopes to make a difference in the lives of abused and neglected animals.
"I joined because I wanted to help out the animals in Lee County that may not be getting the attention they deserve," Chamberlain said. "We just try to get the word out that there are animals right here in Auburn that have been abused or neglected, and they could really use our help."
However, the Animal Advocate Club does not limit its attention to local animals.
"As much as we can, we also like to do things for animals in other places," Chamberlain said. "We've been thinking about adopting a few tigers from Africa. It only costs about $25 to keep a wild animal protected."
Members of the organization take a hands-on approach to helping animals in need.
Cory Evans, senior in communications, is a member of the Animal Advocate Club.
"We mostly go to local animal shelters and donate our time and resources," Evans said.
Members raise money for animal shelters by having bake sales and organizing fundraisers. They collect canned goods, toys and other supplies for animals in need, as well.
Chelsea Heinen, senior in pre-veterinary, is the Animal Advocate Club's president. Heinen said she started the club to share her love of animals.
"I have always loved animals ever since I was a little kid," Heinen said. "When I graduate, I want to be a veterinarian. It's just a passion of mine. The main reason I started the club was to bring other animal lovers together."
According to Heinen, in addition to spending time with animals in need, the organization works to raise awareness about animal cruelty in the community and across the United States.
"My biggest focus, of course, is always going to be preventing animal abuse and neglect," Heinen said. "However, I also think it is really important for us to do everything in our power to educate people about what goes on right outside their front door, and how they can help put a stop to it. We sometimes put up posters around campus to try to get the word out."
The Animal Advocate Club received official approval for their club from the University in fall 2013.
"The club is very small right now," Heinen said. "I did get a really good response right after we were approved, though. I've had over 70 people email me about it, and it has really taken off by word of mouth. I just want to keep that growing, so it can hopefully grow to be a big club in the years to come."
(02/04/14 9:07pm)
Auburn University offers over 30 dining options to its students.
Recently, 50 Auburn students were asked which ones they prefer.
Go Greek was the clear favorite with 12 votes.
According to Hanna Shelley, freshman in liberal arts, the food cannot be beat.
"The Pi Pita Pizza is amazing," Shelley said. "The mac and cheese is really good, too."
Previously located in Lupton Hall in The Quad, Go Greek recently moved to the Student Center.
Christy Key, junior in journalism, said she is also a fan of the restaurant.
"I really like the food there," Key said. "There is no other restaurant in town that serves good Greek food."
The menu offers a variety of options for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Jenny Goldschmidt, freshman in marketing, said Go Greek's employees make going there worthwhile.
"When I go, I like to talk to the people who work there," Goldschmidt said. "They are always so nice and so helpful, and they are always very efficient."
Chick-Fil-A garnered a fair amount of votes, as well. Of the students asked, 10 said the fast food chain was their favorite place to eat on campus.
Anna Hudson, freshman in nursing, said the chicken sandwiches remind her of home.
"I like to eat there because it doesn't remind me of dorm food," Hudson said.
The Chick-Fil-A in the Student Center has frequently been ranked in the top 10 in sales volume among non company-owned Chick-fil-A locations in the Southeast.
Hopson Nance, freshman in business, said he enjoys the social atmosphere at Chick-Fil-A.
"I always see people I know when I go there," Nance said.
Despite being on campus for less than a semester, Plains to Plate came in third place with 8 votes.
Frank McDaniel, freshman in architecture, said the restaurant's healthy choices are much needed in Auburn.
"While the food is incredibly delicious, Plains to Plate is also providing locally grown, healthy food on a campus that desperately needs such a place," McDaniel said.
Plains to Plate recently filled Go Greek's place in Lupton Hall. The menu features locally grown and organic ingredients as much as possible.
Mizna Kanafani, freshman in biomedical sciences, said she frequents Plains to Plate, as well.
"The food is healthy, sustainable and it tastes good," Kanafani said. "Also, they have flavored water, which I think is a huge plus."
(02/02/14 8:05pm)
High school and college students from more than 150 schools around the country participate in Dance Marathon, a yearlong fundraiser for Children's Miracle Network Hospitals.
Students spend a year raising money and getting to know children's hospital patients and families. The year ends with a 12-hour event during which participants stay on their feet while dancing, playing games, and celebrating the total amount raised that year.
Dance Marathon's mission statement is simple: "We dance for those who can't."
Hayley Robinson, sophomore in public relations, is director of public relations for Auburn University Dance Marathon.
Robinson said she has a person connection to the cause.
"When I was three years old I was diagnosed with an autoimmune disease that is similar to rheumatoid arthritis," Robinson said. "I really love to see all these kids here, that are just like I was, and knowing I can help them."
Each event in entirely student run and 100% of the donations go to Children's Miracle Network Hospitals.
Sarah Kelly, junior in human development and family studies and Spanish, is vice president of outreach for Auburn University Dance Marathon.
According to Kelly, this event has been a great way to connect with people.
"Being a vice president has been an opportunity to serve not only the committees and the staff members, but also the patients and families that are involved with the program," Kelly said.
Lindsay Ryan, freshman in nutrition, is on the event management committee.
Ryan said her experience with Auburn Dance Marathon has been a good one, as well.
"My favorite part about being on staff is the friends I have made," Ryan said. "I've met so many people who, like me, are devoted to making a difference in the lives of these children."
Auburn University joined Dance Marathon in 2012, and raised over $200,000 for the organization in just 2 years.
According to Olivia Saunders, sophomore in history, participants are guaranteed to have a good time. However, they never lose sight of what they are dancing for.
"Throughout the day people are dancing and playing games," Saunders said. "We are having fun all day. While we are doing that, though, we are raising money for kids that really need it."
At the end of the night, it was announced that Auburn University Dance Marathon raised $176,589.65 for Children's Miracle Network Hospitals this year.
Shelby Segrest, freshman in special education, was a participant in the event.
"We danced a ton today," Segrest said. "It was so much fun. We played games, and learned a 9 and a \0xBD minute line dance. The best part was at the end of the night, when we had a rave. They did an incredible job of keeping us occupied for 12 hours."
According to Segrest, participating in Auburn Dance Marathon was a powerful experience.
"Some of the kids and their families from the hospitals came to talk to us. It gave me a lot of insight into what we were doing this for," Segrest said. "We weren't just dancing for fun, we were dancing for kids who can't."
(01/28/14 6:09pm)
Update, Jan. 30, noon:
(01/23/14 8:30pm)
Harold Franklin, 80, was Auburn University's first African-American graduate student. According to Franklin, however, Auburn was not his first choice. "Auburn was the last school in the world I ever looked at," Franklin said. "I had no interest in agriculture. When my daddy needed help in his garden, the first thing I did was hide." Franklin had another career in mind. "My ambition was to become a lawyer," Franklin said. "Thurgood Marshall was my idol." Franklin graduated from Alabama State University in 1962 with a degree in government and psychology. He planned to apply to law school at the University of Alabama, but civil rights attorney Fred Gray warned him his LSAT scores might not meet Alabama's standards for admission. After prompting by Gray, Franklin filled out an application to attend Auburn University. "My attorney told me I was an ideal candidate," Franklin said. "He said to me, 'We need people like you.'" Franklin was denied admittance to Auburn in 1963 because Alabama State University lacked accreditation. Gray and Franklin took that decision to court. ASU lost its accreditation two years earlier because it did not receive the funding white-only universities did. This, according to Gray, was discrimination. "He looked at me and said 'We just won our case,'" Franklin said. On Jan. 4, 1964, Franklin became the first African American to register for classes at Auburn University. Franklin met federal agents at Auburn United Methodist Church to prepare for his first day. "The FBI agents searched my bags," Franklin said. "One of them asked if I had a gun. I told them 'I'm not going hunting, I'm going to school!'" While he registered, onlookers asked Franklin repeatedly for identification, and demanded to know what he was doing. "They knew I couldn't show them my student ID. I had not even registered yet," Franklin said. "I told them, 'You all know exactly what I am doing. You all know exactly why I am here.'" After his first day, Franklin returned to his room in Magnolia Hall, which has since been demolished. "I had a whole wing of the dormitory to myself," Franklin said. Franklin left the school in 1966, before finishing his degree. He went on to earn a master's degree in history at the University of Denver. He taught at many institutions, including Alabama State University, North Carolina A&T University, Tuskegee Institute and Talladega College until he retired from education in 1991. Franklin received an Honorary Doctorate of Arts from Auburn University in 2001, 37 years after he left. According to Franklin, the best advice he can give his students is to make sure their voice is heard. "I always told my students two things," Franklin said. "First of all, register to vote. Second of all, cast your vote."Franklin said he hopes younger generations will not take what they have for granted. "I don't care what school they go to," Franklin said. "I just hope all young people will take advantage of their education."
(01/21/14 9:35pm)
At this point, most Auburn students have seen or heard the "Ukulele Guy" playing a song or two on the concourse between classes.
In fact, the Ukulele Guy has become such a fixture on campus that some people might find it hard to believe that Joc Rivera, freshman in computer sciences and vice president of AUke, has only been serenading the people of Auburn for one semester.
"I started playing when I first got to Auburn," Rivera said. "I found the whole college thing kind of nerve-wracking at first, and I figured other people probably felt the same way. I thought if my day wasn't going so well, and some weird guy walked past me playing a ukulele, I would instantly feel so much better. I like to make people happy, so I decided to give it a shot."
Auburn University United Ukulele Collaboration, also known as AUke, was born after a chance meeting between Rivera and Nolan Rodack, freshman in software engineering and president of AUke.
Rodack, also a musician, said he noticed Rivera's ukulele in an engineering orientation class. The two bonded over their shared love of the instrument, and decided to turn their passion into a club.
"We thought, there are thousands of people that go to Auburn," Rivera said. "There is bound to be at least one other person out there that plays the ukulele."
Rodack said he started putting his unique spin on the ukulele almost three years ago.
"My brother and I were watching TV and 'Bach and Friends' came on," Rodack said. "It showed a bunch of musicians playing Bach on all different kinds of instruments. Normally, you think of guys like Jason Mraz playing the ukulele, but then here are these guys playing classical music. I thought maybe I could do something like that, too."
AUke's motto is "Chill. Play. Ukulele." The purpose of the club is to help people relax, have fun, and express their creativity through the instrument.
"I think it kind of helps people come out of their shells," Rodack said. "We really hope that by coming here and hanging out with us, people will learn to let their guards down every now and then. We just want them to be themselves when they're here."
Members meet once a week in the Student Center to do just that.
"My favorite thing about this club is seeing how it softens people," Rivera said. "Our hearts have this way of getting so hard from stress or from being overworked. It's nice to see people come in here and have fun making music together, even if it is only for a couple of hours."
Michael Barren, senior in business administration, attends meetings every week. He said he had never picked up a ukulele before joining AUke.
According to Barren, it is easy to see what makes this club special.
"It's definitely the people," Barren said. "The good people and good times."
(01/14/14 8:19pm)
With almost 1,000 international students representing more than 80 countries, Auburn University is home to an incredibly diverse student body.
Cultural differences and language barriers, however, have made it difficult for some international students to find their place on campus.
Beth Anne Dawson, Administrative Support Associate for Auburn's English as a Second Language program, is the International Buddy Program's coordinator.
"After every term we give the international students a survey," Dawson said. "It's heartbreaking how many of them say they wish they had made just one American friend."
The International Buddy Program's goal is to help students bridge the gap between cultures by pairing an international student with a foreign student.
Before joining, participants are asked to fill out an application with basic personal information.
Buddies are then paired based on similar interests.
Katherine Williams, Auburn graduate in communications, is the International Buddy Program's president and co-advisor.
"I have been around international students for my whole life. I've always seen them around campus and in my classes," Williams said. "I guess I just saw a real need for these students to make a connection with other students."
According to Williams, all members of the organization are treated as equals.
"The last thing we want is for this to be a mentoring program," Williams said. "We just want people to develop genuine friendships with each other."
The program is meant to benefit international students by making the transition into American life a bit easier.
Interacting with and befriending local students is proven to motivate participants to become fluent in English and become more involved on campus and in the community.
While the international participants are exposed to the English language and American culture, their buddies are also gaining a valuable education.
Even though her buddy moved back to Japan a month ago, Jessica Terrell, junior in public relations, talks to her every day.
"It's really cool whenever you get to meet somebody that is new to everything American," Terrell said. "My buddy had never even cooked cupcakes before! I taught her how, and she taught me how to make Japanese food."
Each pair is expected to get together at least twice a month and remain in contact through email, phone calls or text.
However, most pairs choose to exceed that.
"One of my favorite memories with my buddy was when we went to the Montgomery fair together," Terrell said. "Her first time driving in America was that night, when she drove a go-cart."
Linda Wu, sophomore in human resource management, is originally from China.
A little over a year ago, she made the decision to attend Auburn University.
"I heard about the International Buddy Program in one of my classes. I joined because I just wanted to make more American friends," Wu said. "It has helped improve my English and I've also made a really good friend."
The International Buddy Program is accepting applications in Foy 316 until Jan. 27.
(01/13/14 7:13pm)
Auburn University's theatre program celebrates its 100th anniversary this year. To mark the occasion, the AU Players will host a reunion for past and present members.
The three-day event, scheduled for Feb. 28 through March 2, will feature a performance of 9-to-5: The Musical by the AU Players, as well as performances by the Mosaic Theatre Company and Radio Flyer Theatre.
Diana Freeberg, senior in theatre, said she hopes this event will attract a wide variety of people.
"Of course we want theatre majors to come, but we are also inviting anyone who minored, or just has an interest in theatre," Freeberg said. "Octavia Spencer, for example, was involved in a theatre production at Auburn, but she was never actually a theatre major."
Fifteen men and an English professor founded the AU Players, originally called "The AU Footlights", in 1913. The name was changed in 1919, when women were first introduced into the group.
Taylor Dyleski, senior in production management and president of the AU Players, did extensive research on the history of the theatre troupe to prepare for the centennial celebration.
"I first started my research this summer" Dyleski said. "We actually know quite a bit about the original AU Players because of the Glomeratas. We also have a lot of newspaper articles from back in the day."
The reunion will feature a walking tour of many historic landmarks with connections to the AU Players, including the Chapel, Langdon Hall, and Samford Hall.
"Since the AU Players are so old, they have a lot of really strong ties to a lot of historic buildings in Auburn" Dyleski said.
The AU Players current home, Telfair Peet Theatre, was not built until 1972.
"They even spent some time in the attic of Samford Hall. When you think of Auburn, you automatically think of Samford, so I think it is really interesting that this theatre organization has a tie to that," Dyleski said. "There was a really funny article written in the paper when they performed there. It said the actors had to stop the performances every so often so the bell could ring."
In addition to the performances and the walking tour of the theatre program's history, the reunion will also include a dinner banquet at Zazu Gastropub and a panel of Auburn scholars discussing how theatre continues to impact Auburn University.
Anna Claire Walker, senior in musical theatre, is vice president of the AU Players. She said she is most looking forward to meeting graduates of Auburn's theatre program.
"I am really excited to see all of the Alumni come together. Auburn has such a big network of people out there doing different things with their theatre educations," Walker said. "Especially since I am a senior, it can be very daunting to head out into the real world without really knowing what to expect. I think it's going to be very inspirational to see all these people who used Auburn's theatre program to help them do what they want to do."
(01/08/14 2:32am)
Go Greek, previously located on the bottom floor of Lupton Hall in The Quad, moved locations this semester.
Glenn Loughridge, Director of Dining Services at Auburn University, cleared up some misconceptions.
"Go Greek is not closing, it is just moving. It will now be located the student center" Loughridge said. "The student center is one of the most populous places on campus, and Go Greek is one of our most popular dining options."
Go Greek will take the place of Joanne's, on the first floor of the student center.
A new restaurant, Plains to Plate, has moved into the open venue in The Quad.
According to Loughridge, this new dining option will appeal to students and faculty who want to live a healthier lifestyle.
"Plains to Plate is taking Go Greek's place in The Quad. It will serve healthy meals, and locally grown and organic food will be used as much as possible" Loughridge said.
Plains to Plate's menu features a wide variety of low calorie choices, and includes vegetarian, vegan, dairy free and gluten free options for students with dietary restrictions.
Plains to Plate opened on January 8, and its hours are 8:00 AM-5:00 PM Mondays through Thursdays, and 8:00 AM-3:00 PM Fridays.
(12/06/13 4:40pm)
More than one million people are diagnosed with cancer each year, and it accounts for approximately 13 percent of deaths worldwide. Auburn University's Relay for Life Committee is looking to change that.
With the help of the American Cancer Society, the organization raises money to contribute to cancer research development and awareness. "Let's Rock Cancer: Battle of the Bands" will take place Thursday, Jan. 9, 2014, at SkyBar from 10 p.m.-2 p.m. the next day. Throughout the month of November, several bands and solo artists competed for a chance to perform at the event.
Audience members will vote for their favorites by text message, and the winner will receive a $500 paid gig at SkyBar. Additionally, the winner will perform at Relay for Life's largest event of the year at the end of the spring semester.
(11/22/13 7:00pm)
Human trafficking is a problem in other parts of the world, but many do not realize how close to home the issue hits.
Women are sold for sexual purposes right here in Auburn. With the recent invention of classified advertisement websites, exploitation has been made even easier.
Freedom 21, a faith-based, non-profit organization located in Auburn, work to raise community awareness and decrease the amount of people sold for their bodies.
According to its website, Freedom 21's mission is to wage war against the epidemic of human slavery in our nation, in our world, on our watch.
Alex Jay, sophomore in special education and member of Freedom 21, said what she thinks needs to be done to accomplish that goal.
"Obviously, what we really want to do is end trafficking altogether" Jay said. "To do that, we must eliminate the demand. If the johns (people who pay for sex) did not demand, then there would be no reason to supply. Until we can figure out how to do that, we just hope to help the victims as much as we possibly can."
Hope Kennamer, junior in communications, is also a member of the organization.
"Honestly, at this point, not much surprises me about human trafficking," Kennamer said. "What I've found is a lot of women, especially young women, look for acceptance from men. We want to help them, instead, find acceptance from God, The whole point of Freedom 21 is to help alleviate the problem with the help of the police force and prayer."
According to FreedomTwenty-One.org, just a two hour drive from Auburn, Atlanta is the No. 1 hub for human trafficking and child sex exploitation in the United States.
Lori Sewell, president of Freedom 21, started to help the cause by raising money for the larger organization, A21. At the time, she said she did not know how rampant human trafficking is in the area.
"At first, we just wanted to do a 5K to raise money for the A21 campaign," Sewell said. "We did the race and raised $7,000. Then, we started researching the issue and found out there was a major problem with sex trafficking here in Auburn. It happens in plain sight. No one seems to notice it happens here, so they don't know what to look for. That's why we decided we needed to get our stuff together and become our own public charity, and start work to abolish sex trafficking locally."
Currently, Freedom 21 works with local law enforcement and the FBI to identify and break up human trafficking rings in the Auburn-Opelika area.
Soon, the group would like to open a shelter for victims of sexual exploitation.
"We want to open a freedom house, and we are getting very close to doing that," Sewell said. "We will provide medical and psychological care to victims. We will also try to give them some sort of vocational training and job support. Of course, we will try to guide them spiritually as well."
(11/14/14 3:09pm)
Living in a dorm is a huge adjustment for most students. For residents of Helen Keller Hall in the Quad, the transition to college life is made easier by the cat that has made the dormitory its home.
The one-eyed stray, known simply as the "Keller Cat," is a cat-away-from-home for students such as Hayden Shelley, freshman in pre-pharmacy.
"I have two cats at home," Shelley said. "I love the Keller Cat. He always makes my day. I thought he would scare me since he only has one eye, but it doesn't bother me. I pet him every day."
Most students know about or have seen the Keller Cat, but many are not aware of the growing unowned cat issue that exists in the Auburn area.
Bobbi Yeo, executive director of Lee County Humane Society, explained how easily a cat population could get out of hand.
"It is thought that the population of unowned cats is equal to the population of owned cats. There are about 44,000 owned cats in Lee County, so you could estimate there are that many without homes," Yeo said. "They often will form colonies and start breeding. In this part of the country cats can have five to seven kittens at least three times a year. At that rate it can get out of control very easily."
According to Yeo, the stray cat problem is serious.
"There have been two rabid cats turned into Lee County Humane Society since I've been here," Yeo said. "If we still had a trap, neuter, return system in place they would have been vaccinated."
The system Yeo referred to was called Operation Cat Nap, and was implemented by Auburn University's College of Veterinary Medicine in 2000. With the help of director Brenda Griffin, the program captured, sterilized and vaccinated more than 150 cats on Auburn's campus. Before the cats were returned, the tips of their left ears were removed for identification purposes.
The program ended after Griffin left the University in 2006 because of budget cuts.
"New cats on campus made people think the system did not work," Griffin said. "You have to continue to watch for cats and trap and neuter new ones. It is like cleaning your house once and thinking it will stay that way, or cutting the grass on campus once and thinking you are done."
Yeo said since Operation Cat Nap ended, not much of an effort to control the rising cat population has existed.
Despite the current circumstances, Yeo said he believed there was a solution.
"If you want to help a colony of feral cats, you need to address at least 75 percent of the colony," Yeo said. "You have to trap, spay, neuter, vaccinate and return them before you're really able to make an impact on the population. Programs that really make a difference are often done by citizens and (the Lee County Humane Society) would be happy to facilitate one in any way we could."
Yeo said she hopes the Lee County Humane Society can have programs for community cats.
"Right now, we are just not in the position to do it," Yeo said.
(11/05/13 7:00pm)
Every day, many college students struggle silently with eating disorders and body image issues. Auburn Body Image Education Eating Disorder Awareness, AubieEDA, has made it their mission to promote healthy lifestyles on college campuses.
According to Samantha Nathan, senior in nutrition dietetics, AubieEDA's overall goal is attainable.
"We're just trying to encourage people to live healthy and not focus so much on size, but on health," Nathan said.
Nathan, former ballerina, said she has a personal connection to this issue.
"When I was a dancer, I saw a lot of my friends going through eating disorders and struggling with loving their bodies and loving themselves," Nathan said. "That's actually one of the reasons I became a nutrition dietetics major, so I could help people who are having trouble losing or gaining weight."
Nathan also said AubieEDA is trying to raise awareness and show people their avenues for help.
Oct. 21-25, the organization held "Fat Talk Free Week," five days during which students were encouraged to reduce their discussion about weigh-related topics and to maintain a healthy body image.
Brittany Hitson, senior in nutrition dietetics, said she understands the importance of keeping conversations fat-talk free.
"A group feeds off each other when they are talking about bad body image," Hitson said. "It's important to say nice things about yourself and others."
Members of AubieEDA were on the concourse throughout the week, promoting the cause with a different theme every day.
Monday, the event started with students signing a pledge to stop "fat talking," which is language that makes someone feel bad about their body and self image.
Tuesday, was "I love my..." Day.
Instead of focusing on the negative, students were asked to write down something they love about themselves on a whiteboard.
On Wednesday, members of AubieEDA left uplifting notes all across campus and invited others to leave uplifting notes as well. AubieEDA encouraged students to participate through social media on Thursday, by tweeting #FTFW (Fat Talk Free Week) and posting pictures with a sign AubieEDA members created on the concourse.
There were no events planned for Friday, but students were encouraged to continue to reduce their use of fat talk and to continue striving for a positive body image.
Meg McGuffin, AubieEDA's president and junior in radio, television and film, said she was optimistic about the week's impact.
"My hope is girls on Auburn's campus will realize they are beautiful regardless of what the scale says or what the media tells us is 'beautiful,'" McGuffin said. "It took me a long time to be comfortable in my own skin, and AubieEDA's mission is to help girls on Auburn's campus do the same and learn to love themselves for who they are and not what they see in the mirror."
AubieEDA's efforts to promote a healthy lifestyle are not limited to just the week of Oct. 21.
The organization will hold "Love the Skin You're In," in Alpha Gamma Delta's chapter room, Nov. 11.