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(12/03/14 4:00pm)
With final exams approaching, Auburn students' knowledge is not the only thing being tested. Bliss Bailey, chief information officer of the Office of Information Technology, said finals week is a major test for the campus Wi-Fi network.
"We know finals are a busy time for us," Bailey said. "We've made big upgrades in that area."
According to Bailey, maintaining a University-wide Wi-Fi network, especially during finals week, is a challenge.
The period before final exams is particularly stressful for OIT because of all the students who come on campus to study. The increased number of people concentrated in one place, such as the library, slows down or stops AU WiFi.
"If you come here over the Christmas holidays when no one is around, we've got great coverage," Bailey said. "You can go to many places and get signal, and it's not a problem. The problem comes with those periods of time where we see really heavy, heavy usage, and those locations where we see really heavy usage."
The way Bailey put it, wireless coverage can be understood in terms of coverage and density. Coverage is measured in feet and miles. It determines where on campus a device can connect to AU WiFi. Density is measured in how many devices in that area can connect to the network simultaneously.
Bailey said coverage density becomes important in places such as the Student Center and RBD Library, where students cluster to study.
OIT has been working on improving AU WiFi's coverage around campus, especially in the library.
Bailey said AU WiFi is built to handle 75,000 computers, phones or tablets at once. On an average day, 25,000 of those devices will connect to the network. He said OIT is planning to increase AU WiFi's capacity to 100,000 devices.
"We don't quite have the demand yet, but it'll get there," Bailey said.
Increased demand is another factor contributing to Wi-Fi slowdowns. OIT Help Desk manager Paula Dale said Wi-Fi is in more demand than ever with the increase in smartphone, tablet and laptop usage.
"The wireless network we have is several years old, and it was developed more for casual network use than the devices," Dale said.
Bailey said OIT modernizes AU WiFi by upgrading its servers and adding access points.
Servers are large computers OIT keeps in its headquarters and other locations around campus to run AU WiFi.
"They're like your desktop computer on steroids," Bailey said.
As OIT upgrades older servers, the network quality improves. However, it can only upgrade so many servers at a time within its budget.
Bailey said OIT also adds Wi-Fi access points around campus in high-density areas. However, with issues such as co-channel interference , placing these access points can be difficult.
"Access points don't like to be close to each other," Bailey said.
(11/28/14 5:00pm)
What would someone tell his friends if none of them knew he said it?
Secret, a new social network, answers that question. It has spread worldwide from Silicon Valley, earning more than $1.5 million in investments as reported by Forbes.
Secret allows its users to post text over an image anonymously. The app uses their contact list to find friends who also use Secret. Users see their friends' posts without any names.
The app also allows strangers to view and comment on users' posts.
There are no friends lists or messages on Secret. Posts are not deleted.
"Sometimes I pretend I'm OK because I don't want to annoy people with my problems," one user posted anonymously from Missouri. "I just don't have a friend I can trust with my secrets."
Secret's co-founders have said they want to help users connect without worrying about what their friends will think.
"I want to see more people being open and connecting around real sentiments," said Secret co-founder Chrys Bader to The San Francisco Chronicle. "Secret is an app for the introvert in you. All these other social networks are for the extrovert."
Bader, 30, and David Byttow, 32, released Secret on Jan. 30, 2014. They did not respond to requests for comment.
Bader and Byttow wrote a blog post explaining that they designed Secret to encourage more open and honest social networking.
"As social networking has become universal, we've become increasingly sensitive to what we share online," they wrote. "Speaking on a stage in front of a mixed audience of family, friends, and acquaintances makes it hard for us to be our most authentic selves. As a result, we tend to share only our proudest moments in an attempt to portray our best selves. We filter too much, and with that, lose real human connection."
James Neer, senior in electrical engineering, said he was skeptical of posting such personal information online.
"I still feel like that's kinda wrong to post things like that," Neer said. "I think it's better to do it in private than make it open to the world where anybody can see it."
Other students expressed doubts about using another social network in addition to popular services such as Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
"I just don't have the time for that," said Ford Galin, junior in business. "It's not the type of thing that would interest me."
Victoria Sexton, sophomore in nursing, said she did not want to spend more time using her phone.
"I'm trying to stay away from my phone as much as possible, trying to be more social," Sexton said.
Neer said he also preferred to spend time with people in person.
"I feel like you waste a lot of time always on the apps," Neer said. "You could spend a lot of time doing that versus actually sitting down and grabbing lunch and talking to people."
Secret is available for Android and iPhone.
(11/20/14 4:15am)
On tonight's Hell's Kitchen episode, Auburn Chef Fernando Cruz survives to another round.
Chef Gordon Ramsay and guest chef Sundar Bains challenged the contestants to a competition involving making Indian cuisine. Teams of competing chefs had to put together four Indian meals. Indian good is especially close to Ramsay's heart, as he said he fell in love with it.
The first round, cooking lamb, went to the red team. The second, chicken, put the blue team ahead after a very poor performance from red. Both teams performed abysmally cooking cod. The last dish, pork, put the red team just slightly ahead.
As per usual in Hell's Kitchen, there is a good bit of interpersonal drama when the results are announced. There's yelling, shouting and fighting. Everything you'd expect from quality reality television.
The important part is that Cruz is still on the show. Fellow contestant Aaron Lhamon decided to leave Hell's Kitchen to become a better chef, leaving Auburn's favorite chef in the running.
(11/13/14 1:00pm)
Quixotes was packed Nov. 8, even though it was the Saturday night after Auburn lost to Texas A&M 41-38.
After the game, fans of both teams found their way to the bars. The line outside Quixotes stretched to the doors of the Gap next door.
For Austin Smith, bouncer at Quixotes and junior in finance, "game days are crazy."
Smith sat on a wooden chair outside the door to the left of the bar's main entrance. He wore a camo baseball cap and neon yellow hoodie.
Smith directed patrons to the front, where fellow bouncer Brooks Spraetz, senior in supply chain management, was checking IDs and giving out brown wristbands for 21-and-over customers.
During weekday mornings, Smith goes to class.
During nights and Saturdays, Smith works as a bouncer.
"Your main job is to be protection for people," Smith said. "If anything happens, you're expected to deal with it. There will be fights. It's what you expect in a bar."
Smith said he was excited when he first took the job during Christmas break 2013.
"I thought I was the coolest kid," Smith said. "I get to work late at night, hang around with a bunch of girls and throw people out of a bar."
Though he said he still likes his job, Smith said the novelty of throwing people out of the bar has worn off.
"I'm tired of doing it," Smith said. "It just gets [to be] a pain, and it's just unnecessary. People need to leave on their own."
Christopher Cotton, another Quixotes bouncer, said the number of people he has to physically eject varies.
"In a week, you might throw out two to three people," Cotton said. "Most people, if you ask them to leave, they will leave."
Smith said his first option is to ask an unruly customer's friends to remove the person. If he or she becomes physically aggressive, Smith wraps them in a bear hug and carries them to the street.
"We're not allowed to hit anyone," Smith said. "The idea is to get them outside the door in the safest way possible."
Smith said he has even had to eject people he knows when they become unruly.
"I've thrown some of my best friends out of here," Smith said.
Cotton said an average night involves a lot of standing around and watching the crowd.
"Every now and then, you get something that's out of hand, and you have to handle the situation, but most of the time, you just watch people," Cotton said. "You have to answer a lot of stupid questions, but that's pretty much the gist of it."
Smith said the work becomes difficult on weekends, when he functions on as little as two hours of sleep.
"I've been on my feet since 9 o'clock this morning, and I've been sitting down since 8 (p.m.), and it's glorious," Smith said.
Smith said he appreciates the work and having the chance to work so many hours. In another job, he might not have the chance to earn as much.
"I love this job," Smith said.
(11/10/14 5:30pm)
Auburn is home to a small group of Turkish immigrants. They are teachers and students, often moving to Alabama for Auburn's academics.
Members of Auburn's Turkish community gathered to celebrate Republic Day on Oct. 29 in the Student Center Ballroom. The holiday commemorates the founding of the current incarnation of Turkey. There were speeches remembering miners trapped in a coal mine in southern Turkey, and Turkish food was served after the Turkish national anthem.
Red and white Turkish flags adorned the front and back of the room. Small children ran around the room playing.
Eren Sakinc, Turkish expatriate and fourth-year industrial and systems engineering Ph.D student, said he came to the University despite the small surrounding town.
Sakinc, who grew up in Ankara, Turkey's capital, said Auburn surprised him after living in Ankara and Philadelphia. He said he prefers large cities to small college towns, such as Auburn.
"I don't really like Auburn," Sakinc said. "I'm not really an Auburn hater, but I don't really like it."
Sakinc said the town's size has some advantages.
"The good part is there is nothing to do here, so the only thing to do is study," Sakinc said.
Another Turkish student, Polat Kayrak, second-year master's student in electrical engineering, said he likes living in a smaller town.
"People are really nice to me," Kayrak said. "I love it. It feels like a family."
Kayrak said he loved Auburn after a year of adjusting. After living his entire life in Istanbul, Turkey, moving to Alabama was a major change.
The Turkish immigrant said he struggled with different norms, such as driving. He said Turkish traffic laws are more flexible than American ones.
"When I first came here, I was driving like a Turkish guy," Kayrak said. "My American friends freaked out."
When a police officer stops a driver in Turkey, it's acceptable to get out of the car, according to Kayrak. He learned this is not acceptable in America after an Auburn police officer ordered him back into his car during a traffic stop.
Kayrak also found out Turkish fashion norms can differ from American ones.
"I used to put on tight clothes," Kayrak said. "That's what I used to wear in Turkey. When I went out here, a couple of girls asked me if I was homosexual. That's when I realized maybe I should change my clothing style in Auburn."
Menekse Salar, Turkish industrial and systems engineering GTA, said she had little trouble adjusting to life in the United States after visiting several times growing up.
However, according to Salar, Turkish students face some challenges. New transfers often arrive confused about things, such as finding furniture, rides to Atlanta and halal meat.
Until the new food truck, Ceci, opened, there were no options for Muslim students to find meat prepared according to their religious requirements.
Salar said she enjoys living in other countries, especially the United States.
"I love Auburn," Salar said. "There's a really good friendship here. Even if you don't know someone, you say, 'Hi' all the time."
Salar said she has lived in Turkey, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, Denmark and Italy. Speaking to President Jay Gogue at a college fair in Turkey convinced her to come to Auburn.
"I just love the United States," Salar said. "I would like to be a faculty member. There's more opportunities in the United States."
(10/22/14 3:00pm)
The way Calvin Wagner tells it, cars of the future won't run primarily on gas. They'll mostly be hybrids or entirely electric.
Wagner, senior in electrical engineering, is captain of Auburn's Formula Society of Automotive Engineers Electric Car Team. The Formula SAE Electric Team is a group of 20 students, mostly engineers, who are building Auburn's first student-made electric drag racing car.
The program is one of two in the SEC, according to Peter Jones, Woltosz War Eagle Motor Sports professor.
The club began with preliminary meetings in December 2013. David Sweet, team member and senior in mechanical engineering, said the first official meeting was not until January.
(10/16/14 4:00pm)
Nathan Coker, senior in fine arts, strummed his guitar as music blasted from the amplifier behind him.
Without a word, Ryan Blackwell, junior in mechanical engineering, joined in playing trumpet. Blackwell wore a sweater with a black bow tie and four-color socks. He rocked back and forth slightly as he played.
Corey Spicer, senior in interdisciplinary studies, joined in on drums. Spicer had just put on a green shirt, covering the tattoo on his chest of the Greek word "agape."
One by one, the band's other members began playing as well. Their sounds came together in one unified rhythm.
The music filled the room all the way to its green-painted walls and slanted wooden roof. It bounced between the unused piano and the four-foot pedals Coker had daisy-chained to his guitar, only to run around the dozen-odd instrument cases strewn on the floor.
The band's playing intensified as the song drew to a close. There was a half-beat of silence, then every member played to accompany a long blast from Blackwell's trumpet.
Once the music stopped, temporary bassist Mitch McKoy took a swig from his Corona Light. Spicer's dog Chessie wandered between the instruments.
"That's hot," Coker said, pleased with the music. "H-A-W-T."
Coker is the namesake of The Nathan Coker Band, a local music group. Though the band has been together for less than a year, its members want to see where the band goes.
"We'll probably get some more recording time in, put the demo out there and see where it goes," Blackwell said.
The way Spicer tells it, The Nathan Coker Band began after Spicer and original bassist Jimi Greene saw Coker play and were impressed with his talent.
"We got together and jammed, and started writing some drum and base parts to his acoustic songs," Spicer said.
Coker said he began learning guitar at 19 after being inspired listening to John Mayer.
"(It's) really funny, because I listened to a lot of hip-hop growing up," Coker said. "Gucci Mayne was a huge influence on me."
Despite his roots in hip-hop, Coker described the band's music as soul.
"Soul music is a broad term, so I try not to limit myself with restrictive genre names," Coker said. "The music I'm trying to make is sincere, and when I think of sincere music I think of a lot of soul artists."
Jayson Perry, senior in mechanical engineering, called their music "free-form fusion."
"We don't have anything written down," Perry said. "We just kinda feel it."
Perry, who plays saxophone, said Nathan Coker Band members enjoy improvising riffs during performances.
"We improve a lot of our licks," Perry said. "We try to add stuff, but not be too crazy about it."
Perry said after enough live shows, everyone in the band is used to each others' styles enough to handle the improvisation.
According to Blackwell, The Nathan Coker Band plays two or three shows per month, with practices clustered before performances.
One of the best shows so far, according to Coker, was a friend's house party where they played for only 20 people.
"Everybody got on their feet and was right there," Coker said. "The pressure of having to perform for a certain budget wasn't there, and it was all fun."
Blackwell said there are opportunities for new groups in what Spicer called a "growing music scene."
"Anybody who's looking to start a band in Auburn, just have the passion to do it and the wherewithal to sit there and practice because it takes a while," Blackwell said. "It's about putting yourself out there."
(10/10/14 2:45am)
Robyn Ochs, author and bisexual activist, explained the spectrum of sexuality to Auburn students.
Ochs, author of "Getting Bi: Voices of Bisexuals Around the World," said sexual orientation is a spectrum of different identities -- not just straight or gay.
She also said she hopes different gender identities and sexual orientations will become so accepted that they won't even merit discussing.
"I want sexual orientation to change in the same way where it becomes boring and not a big deal, like being left-handed," Ochs said. "I want to get to where sexual orientation is not seen as toxic or dangerous or a threat to the family, just as something that you are."
Ochs spoke on Oct. 9 in Lowder Hall to a group of students.
The activist said in her 38 years of being "out," American society and even LBGT culture has radically changed.
"When I first came out... there was a really strong, rigid code of behavior, and that has changed so much," Ochs said. "I like that."
Ochs said she likes watching the spread of different labels and ways of thinking about sexuality that break from the mold of gay or straight.
"People are a lot more comfortable with the idea of identity being not as fixed," Ochs said.
She applauded the growing diversity of ideas within the LBGT community and increasing acceptance of LBGT issues within the nation at large.
"When I woke up Monday morning and got on a plane to Detroit, this country had marriage equality in 19 states," Ochs said. "When I got off the plane two hours later, it was legal in 24."
Brandy Smith, diversity coordinator of Student Counseling Services, said she attended the talk to see how it could help improve diversity on campus.
"I think it helps by even having the talk on campus because with regards to sexual orientation and gender identity, we still have a ways to go on our campus," Smith said. "It will help people be more aware."
Megan Reynolds, senior in French, said the event was important to her as a bisexual and member of Spectrum, Auburn's LBGT rights group.
"(Bisexuality) is an identity that's erased more than lesbian and gay identities," Reynolds said. "Gay people and lesbian people are often not accepted, but (their identities) are not words that people misunderstand in the same way people misunderstand bisexuality."
Reynolds said she has encountered people who confuse bisexuality, sexual attraction to men and women, with polyamory. Polyamory is the practice of having multiple sexual partners, all of which consent to the arrangement.
"When I came out to my mother, who's incredibly tolerant and incredibly understanding, she could not process the idea of being bisexual as something that was separate from a polyamorous identity," Reynolds said. "Since then I've experienced it other times, but that was the most striking because it came from a person who had otherwise been so understanding."
Ochs is a bisexual who celebrated Massachusett's legalization of gay marriage by marrying her wife within an hour of the law taking effect.
Ochs ended her speech by asking audience members to help spread awareness and understanding of LBGT issues.
"I want to call on every LBGT person, as well as all the straight people in this room to make that happen," Ochs said. "I really want all of us to come together."
(10/09/14 6:00pm)
The artificial lighting from a single set of floodlights threw long shadows around the cadets as they walked onto the field. They lined up in four rows in the pre-dawn darkness at 6 a.m. Oct. 1.
The Army Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) cadets stretched their legs. Some did practice pushups. All wore black shorts, tennis shoes, a neon yellow weight belt and a gray Army shirt.
This is the beginning of a day in the life of an ROTC cadet.
The cadets gathered at the old track to take their physical fitness test. This one was a diagnostic test, according to Walter Austin, senior military science instructor. The test would tell the cadets how they were progressing physically.
Forty-two sophomores and four seniors lined up as an officer read them the rules of the test. They had two minutes to do the Army minimum number of pushups (42 for men and 19 for women).
Once they heard the rules, the cadets broke into groups of six. One person assumed the pushup position while the group faced away.
Austin said he didn't know why Army regulations require the cadets to face away while one person from each group does pushups.
"There's plenty of things we do in the Army where someone says, 'Why do we do that?' and the answer is 'Because we've always done it that way,'" Austin said.
Austin, former member of the Georgia National Guard, served tours in Iraq and Kosovo.
The cadets did their pushups quickly. In the last 30 seconds, many bore pained expressions as they struggled to finish.
Rachael Blaz, Army ROTC cadet and junior in nursing, said despite the stringent physical requirements, she likes "being able to give back where (she) can and serve where (she) can" in the Army ROTC.
"I think everyone has the capability of serving," Blaz said. "This is my way of serving."
Blaz said she is on track to graduate and receive a commission as a second lieutenant in 2016. She will either serve as an active-duty officer or in the reserves as a nurse.
The cadets moved on to their second test -- sit-ups. Each person had two minutes to complete at least 53 sit-ups with a partner.
By the time each cadet finished doing sit-ups, the sun had risen.
The cadets took a short break before starting their two-mile run.
Evan Cadotte, Army ROTC cadet and junior in hotel and restaurant management, said he didn't know why he wanted to join the Army.
"I don't really have a good answer for it," Cadotte said. "I just wanted to be in the Army."
Cadotte said he didn't want a simple desk job.
"I want to be doing something while I'm young and still can," Cadotte said.
(10/01/14 6:00pm)
Cole Swindell is riding high off a number-one single, "Hope You Get Lonely." The Georgia native is touring with Luke Bryan's 2014 Farm Tour. He opens for Bryan Oct. 2 at Ingram Farms.
Did you always want to be a musician?
Nah, I always played sports growing up. I just loved sports, and I always loved music too. I didn't even know I could sing until I got to college at Georgia Southern University. It's kinda crazy how that happened for me. I loved music, but I didn't really know what I wanted to do until I was in college.
Why did you start singing?
I was a big fan of music. I was around some friends at a party. Somebody was playing a guitar and I was singing along. Somebody heard and said, 'Man, you're pretty good.' I never really sang in front of people. I just started singing more. Met up with a guy that played guitar in college and me and him played all through college together. By then I already knew what I wanted to do.
What inspires you when you write?
Everything. It depends on what kinda song I'm writing. Sometimes it's the title that you have, it's an idea and you have to come up with a title, sometimes it's just a melody. Sometimes you don't have anything. It all depends on the day. There's not really a set formula for writing a song. I'd say everything inspires me. You have to watch what's around you, listen to what's around you. You never know when a song idea or title might pop out.
What inspired "Hope You Get Lonely"?
I'm sure we've all been in the situation, but it was mainly the title of it. My producer Michael Carter and Bryan Kelly from Florida Georgia Line actually had that title, he asked if we wanted to write it, and we did. It's crazy to think today, talking to you, it's the number one song in the country.
What are your favorite and least favorite parts opening for Luke Bryan?
Favorite is that we're buddies and being out there with your friends is a big [advantage]. Being out there in front of all those people every night, it's huge for my career, but just to be out there sharing those memories with your buddies, it's pretty special.
The least favorite part is that it's going to have to end. There's not a least favorite part for me. I'm a new artist and anybody would kill to be in my situation. If anything, it might be that some of the shows are so big and I might feel a little nervous. Other than that, I just hate that it's going to end.
Who are some of your influences?
'90s country music as a whole. Tim McGraw was the big one from when I was a child. When I was in my college years, he really made me want to write songs and move to Nashville where guys like Dierks, Luke Bryan and Eric Church were. They were some of my favorites when I was coming up, just starting to play.
What are your goals for the future?
I want to be playing the biggest venues I can. I want to reach everybody I can. Hopefully I'll be playing NFL football stadiums, like I've had the opportunity to do this year, but I was the first act and opening for Luke Bryan. That's about as big as it gets right now. Until I can get where I'm headlining those, I've got a long way to go and I'm here to work hard.
Have you played in Auburn before?
I have. My first year out there I played some fraternity parties there. I haven't played there a lot, but it's always exciting. It's always been one of my favorite towns.
Hope the Auburn folks are ready for us. I'm excited to be there.
(09/29/14 12:00pm)
The Mises Institute is located in a small, two-story building next to the Village parking lot. It sits between the Donahue Drive Momma Goldberg's and the Sigma Alpha Epsilon house. Only a small sign at the front advertises an institute is there at all.
"We are sort of a school, we're sort of a website, we're sort of a library and a book repository and we're sort of a think tank," said Jeff Deist, president of the Institute. "We have a pretty broad mission, but first and foremost we are about keeping the legacy and the current elements of the Austrian school of economics alive and healthy."
Deist said Mises scholars publish academic research on the Institute's website to explain Austrian economics to the public.
Professor of economics Henry Thompson said the Austrian school of economics is a way of thinking about the economy that focuses on historical and theoretical information rather than empirical data.
While recognized in academics, Thompson said most mainstream economists would not call themselves Austrian economists.
The Mises Institute also breaks from the mainstream because of its location. Many famous think tanks, such as the Cato Institute and the Brookings Institution, operate in major cities, such as Washington, D.C., according to their websites.
"It really is almost an accident of fate that we came to be here at Auburn," Deist said.
Deist attributed the Institute's founding in Auburn to help from Auburn University board members, such as John Denson, and a friendly academic climate.
The founders were also drawn to Auburn because the University rented space to them in the Harbert College of Business.
Mark Thornton, senior fellow at the Mises Institute, said the economics faculty in 1982 was unusually friendly to debating different ideas about economics.
"Most economics programs at the time did not have the same kind of open-mindedness," Thornton said.
Thornton said the Austrian school of economics has an unconventional way of thinking about economic issues.
"We're free market (economists), which is an alternative," Thornton said. "Some would say it's a radical alternative."
Deist said Carl Menger and Ludwig von Mises, the Mises Institute's namesake, created a school of thought focusing on minimal government and private sector investment. The nationality of von Mises and Menger, both Austrian, became the collective banner for their theories.
Work done by Mises scholars has drawn support from famous libertarians, such as Ron Paul and Andrew Napolitano, both of whom, Deist said, have spoken at the Mises Institute.
Thompson said the thinking presented by the Austrian scholars breaks from academic convention in economics.
"The economics here at Auburn is more theoretical and empirical," Thompson said. "The mode of thought over there [at Mises] is a little different. It's more historical. The techniques aren't what you find in most economics journals."
Thompson said Austrian economics, while less popular than other schools of thought, still has influenced debate over the last century.
"I think it has a place," Thompson said. "It's hard to say what percentage of economists [are Austrian economists], but it's not trivial and everybody is at least aware of the ideas and give (them) some credence."
Thornton said educating the public, not influencing government policy, is the Mises Institute's purpose.
"The Mises Institute is not a traditional think tank," Thornton said. "Its purpose is to promote economics education."
Mises scholars educate people through publishing on the website, Mises.org, writing academic papers and open seminars.
Deist said the Mises Institute works mainly through its website, but holds several seminars a year open to Auburn students. One in the summer, Mises U, targets undergraduates.
"The Auburn community is a part of just about everything we do," Thornton said.
While Deist and Thompson said there are no official ties between the University and the Mises Institute, both departments maintain what Deist called "a good working relationship."
"I'm personal friends with three or four of the people there, but I see them more on a social basis," Thompson said.
John Sophocleus, adjunct economics instructor, said he appreciated having other scholars to contribute to academic debate, regardless of their school of thought.
"I think they're great," Sophocleus said. "I think if you're in the debate, you're doing something. That's really what education is supposed to be."
(09/20/14 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."
(09/10/14 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.
(09/08/14 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.
(08/24/14 1:30pm)
For at least one afternoon, it was easy being green.
Students gathered in the Davis Arboretum Thursday, Aug. 14 before classes to learn about sustainable growth and environmentalism at the Sustainability Picnic.
Students gathered in a clearing by the pond, sitting on the grass in clumps and listening to a three-piece cover band. They talked among themselves and giggled as Aubie danced along to the music and climbed a tree.
In the back, environmentally focused student groups set up their tables with information for the attendees.
Garrett Kizer, president of the Environmental Awareness Organization, said the event helps such groups to recruit.
"It's also a really cool environment to see people that might be interested in our organization without standing on the concourse and yelling at them and throwing things at them," Kizer said. "Here it's a little bit more relaxed. We have a band that's playing, we have food [and] people that just kinda go from table to table and talk to you."
The students wandered between the tables and free food: whole wheat couscous pilaf, baked sweet potato salad and roasted garlic hummus. They ate off of upside-down Frisbees with wooden sporks.
"The free food is definitely a good way to help people, especially when you're trying to get incoming freshmen," Kizer said. "I remember when I was a freshman, everything I did [during] Welcome Week was trying to find free food."
James Elrod, freshman in forestry, said he came mostly for the food. However, he said one organization's table caught his interest.
"I haven't really looked through too many of the tables, but I like the recycling one," Elrod said. "I hate throwing stuff away."
Elrod said if not for previous commitments, he would consider joining an organization related to his interest in the environment.
"Boy Scouts is real oriented to [recycling], plus my major. It all kind of ties together," Elrod said.
Nathan McWhirter, junior in mechanical engineering and sustainability studies and secretary of Auburn Real Food Challenge, said he hoped his group could find more members from the students gathered at the picnic.
"Our group is pretty small right now this year," McWhirter said. "We had two people that were supposed to be officers, [who] actually got other commitments this semester, so we're just down to three officers. So we're really looking to grow our group this semester and this school year."
McWhirter said he also hopes to help educate students on the merits of environmentalism and sustainable food.
"We're working to get more local, community-based, ecologically sound, fair and humane foods on campus," McWhirter said.
These efforts are working, producing changes, such as the Village bulk food bins and reusable silverware in campus dining halls.
AU Dining is also running a program with Chartwells, which runs Auburn's dining program, and SuperGrow, an organic food grower, to serve more organic, locally grown food to students. It aims to make 20 percent of its food local and organic by fall 2015.
McWhirter said Auburn could see more environmentally friendly changes if there is demand from the students.
"Auburn is responsive to its students," McWhirter said. "If people are interested in this, it's going to happen on campus."
(08/27/14 12:00pm)
The kitten was so small it could have lived in a shoebox with room to spare. Its matte black fur, which clung to its body, wound around its new owner's fingers. Its determined effort to jump several feet to the floor ended with a quick grab.
"I have a one-bedroom apartment and I wanted a companion because I was just a little bit lonely, so I thought why not get a kitten?" said Brittany Taylor as her new cat mewled loudly.
Taylor was one of a dozen people who visited the Lee County Humane Society on Aug. 16 to look at prospective pets.
Taylor said she did not know why she came to the Humane Society instead of a breeder.
"It's the most humane thing to do," Taylor said.
Paige LaPointe, animal care technician at the Humane Society and Auburn animal science graduate, recommended adopting a pet from the shelter before buying one from a breeder.
"Don't breed or buy while shelter pets die," LaPointe said. "There's no point in breeding a special breed when beautiful, loving, wonderful animals here are having to be euthanized."
She used her own dog as an example. Although it is an unidentifiable mix of breeds, LaPointe said her dog has been a loyal companion.
LaPointe said buying purebred animals supports a harmful practice.
"(Purebred animals) have so much wrong with them genetically that we can't really fix all of the problems," LaPointe said.
When breeders make new dog breeds, they mate them with close relatives who share the characteristics the breeder wants.
"When you're trying to make a purebred dog, you a lot of times are going to have to inbreed," LaPointe said. "You're going to have to breed a dog back to its parents or its siblings or its first cousins."
This process can hurt the animals, according to LaPointe.
Breeders often favor genes, which, while aesthetically appealing, carry defects.
"It's all convoluted and very interconnected," LaPointe said. "So [if] you're selecting for, say, long ears and a short nose, but at the same time you select for a long back, that causes to the dog to be more predisposed to intervertebral disk disease, ear infections and maybe allergies."
Scientists have tracked this trend. The Veterinary Journal published a study in 2009 of purebred British dogs.
It found that each of the top 50 breeds in the U.K. Kennel Club has a trait predisposing it to a physical disorder.
"Large German Shepherds are predisposed to hip displasia and degenerative malopothy, which is when the spine tissue starts degenerating," LaPointe said. "Great Danes are really prone to heart conditions or bone cancers."
LaPointe said she would prefer prospective pet owners adopt an animal instead of buying one from a breeder.
"Adopting from the Humane Society is not going to guarantee that you're going to get a generally sound animal," LaPointe said. "There's no way to guarantee that beforehand, but it does put you in a lot better position if you're adopting a mutt; you're getting, a lot of times, the best of both worlds."
(01/17/14 9:50pm)
Everyone who walks onto Auburn University's campus must leave behind all shotguns, revolvers, swords, crossbows, brass knuckles, fireworks and anything else that shoots, stabs or explodes.
"Traditionally, Auburn University has not allowed anyone other than law enforcement to have weapons on campus until this year," said Lieutenant Keith Walton of the University's Department of Public Safety and Security.
"The state legislature has passed a new gun law, and when they implement the new law it requires that you can have a weapon in your vehicle at all times, as long as you got a permit to carry the gun."
The law Walton refers to, Senate Bill 286, took effect in Alabama on Aug. 1, clarifying and expanding firearms laws.
Employees may now keep properly secured weapons inside their car at their workplace, although employers may still prohibit firearms within the business itself.
Auburn University plans to comply by the new rules, but has also exercised its right to prohibit all weapons within its buildings.
"So, if you notice all the signs on all the buildings outside when you walk in that are affixed to the buildings, that's what those signs are for," Walton said.
The Department of Public Safety and Security's second response to the new law is a room-sized gun locker for students to store their firearms while on campus.
The locker, which should be completed by January, will require photo identification for use and will be monitored at all times.
Although the new rules allow gun owners more leeway, groups like Auburn University Students for Concealed Carry on Campus are still working for students right to carry firearms everywhere else at Auburn University.
"I think it's important that we not lose our right to protect ourselves when we come on campus," said Stephen Gulley, research assistant and faculty adviser for the group.
"As the rules are now, any student or faculty who come on campus with a firearm can be fired or expelled."
David Shamp, president of Auburn Students for Concealed Carry, said he wants to keep his weapon with him for similar reasons.
"I feel [concealed carry] is really important because Auburn is obviously a very safe campus overall, but there's no guarantee of student safety," Shamp said.
"To think that a sticker on a door is going to stop someone from coming and committing violence... just doesn't make sense."
Branches of Students for Concealed Carry on Campus have been working to change university policies across the nation since the Virginia Tech shootings in 2007.
Despite its efforts, the group's Auburn chapter has made little progress with the University.
"Nothing's really going to change," Shamp said.
"The administration has been very good about contacting and connecting with us, but changing policy is probably gonna have to be at the state level."
Shamp's group is working with Alabama Gun Rights, a Second Amendment advocacy group. It is also looking for more partners.
"It's kinda hard to get a law passed for something that's already legal," Shamp said.
John Merrill, a Republican state representative from Tuscaloosa who voted for the new gun law, did not express support for bringing guns onto college campuses.
"If people are leaving their personal property in their personal vehicles, there shouldn't be a problem with that," he said.
"It's another thing when you start to remove that... any time you're introducing a weapon in that capacity that could be a problem."
He suggested students look to alternative, legal security measures, such as the Auburn police.
"This is a great institution," Merrill said. "It's not like you've got a lot of incidences of violence where people feel like they're threatened just walking to class or going home."
The representative said he would be open to changing the law if Alabamians wanted.
"And when the law needs to be changed, people let us know," Merrill said. "People always let us know."
Opinion varies on allowing guns on campus.
"If you just went down the concourse and asked every other person, I would say two out of three would support the idea, but you know there are people who are very adamantly against it," Shamp said.
Auburn College Democrats president Sergio Gallardo disagrees.
"I think it comes ultimately down to the kind of environment we want to produce, and I'm satisfied with the environment we have here," Gallardo said.
"I would say the vast majority of students are."
Gallorado said instead of using guns for self-defense, Auburn students should focus on solving problems that would cause a crime.
"I think in the long term that would go a long way more than allowing every kid to carry a gun to class," Gallardo said.
In either case, the University isn't budging on the issue.
"President Gouge has made clear that he wants to keep this a gun-free campus and to use appropriate measures where they are fit," Gallardo said.
The University is keeping guns off campus and addressing changing laws with Public Safety's new locker.
Shamp, however, said he won't use it.
"That's definitely a step closer to the direction of firearms on campus, but definitely not something that Students for Concealed Carry on Campus would support since that's still restricting our individual capacity to defend ourselves," Shamp said.
"That's just one more piece of red tape you'd have to go through."