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(07/28/14 8:00pm)
The Assistive Technology Collaborative Project is a studio involving the department of special education, rehabilitation and counseling and the department of industrial design.
The project consists of teams that include of two industrial design undergraduate students, a rehabilitation graduate student and a handicapped veteran.
Trevor Johnson and Amelia Wilson, seniors in industrial design, and Brooke Molnar, recent graduate with a master's degree in collaborative special education, worked together with client Wesley Self, a veteran suffering from retinitis pigmentosa.
"Retinitis pigmentosa is a degenerative disease that does damage to the retina," Johnson said. "He has no peripheral vision, and his wife says it's like looking through a straw. As a result, he also has night blindness."
Molnar did research about the eye disease, being mainly involved at the beginning of the studio.
"My main role was to interact with the veteran and help facilitate the conversation about difficulties he may have and wants he may have," Molnar said.
Johnson and Wilson created a new cane to assist Self's eye condition.
"For the handle, we made a lanyard that went around your wrist that had a magnet," Johnson said. "If the cane was to get knocked off, it would snap away, kind of like the connectors for Apple. We had that magnetic release lanyard."
In addition to the lanyard, the duo made updates to the cane tip and created a special vibrating handle.
"The tip of the cane can roll in all directions," Johnson said. "It has a tiny sensor that can determine the distance to an object and relay that to a micro-processor. It essentially can be used like a metal detector except it senses objects, walls and obstacles for people who can't see."
The process from beginning to end involved sketches and three 3D printed prototypes, according to Johnson.
Other students in the studio tested the prototypes.
"They just kind of closed their eyes and walked up stairs," Johnson said. "One of these [tests], I just put stuff out in the hallway."
Leslie Dickson, senior in industrial design, also has limited vision due to a birth defect. She was also part of the studio and tested the cane.
"Leslie, she actually does have really limited vision," Johnson said. "She was in our studio. It worked out [for her]. It was actually really cool to see it work out."
It worked out for Self as well, which was a very gratifying feeling, according to Wilson.
"My favorite part of the project was presenting prototypes to our client," Wilson said. "It was awesome to see what features he got excited about and the process of figuring out how to improve them was challenging, but fun. It was super gratifying seeing how much our client liked our functioning prototype."
Molnar agreed, saying that presenting the final product to the veteran was the most rewarding part of the experience for her.
Part of the studio assignment is to put in a patent for the final product.
The project is not completely done, however. Johnson is working with Jerrod Windham, assistant professor of industrial design and one of the leaders of the project, to fix some of the issues with the cane to make it able to be manufactured.
"The way the cane connects isn't perfect," Johnson said. "We had problems with the connections because 3D printing is a little finicky. You can get pieces that snap off or don't fit right, so we need to fix how it all fits together. The model needs to be fixed to where you could actually mass produce it, and right now there are some issues with that."
While Self has the final project from the semester, Johnson plans to give him the final, reworked cane.
"I think we're probably going to give him the one we redo because it had those connection problems and it's hard to change the battery and stuff," Johnson said. "That's one thing I'm working on is getting a way for the battery to fit in easier, so you don't have to open the whole cane."
Johnson said he hoped the cane will be finished by the end of the summer.
(07/11/14 10:01pm)
Dressing up like a cow has some special perks on Chick-fil-A's Cow Appreciation Day.
Nationwide, Chick-fil-A restaurants celebrate Cow Appreciation Day by offering free meals to customers who dress up like a cow "head to hoof," according to the restaurant's website.
However, even partial costumes are rewarded.
"Partial costumes get a free entree," said Brittney Dobbs, marketing director at Auburn's Chick-fil-A.
"But, most of the time people dress head-to-toe so they get a free Chick-fil-A meal."
Auburn's restaurant doesn't just offer free food. The employees also decorate the dining area with balloons and cow-printed tablecloths.
Throughout the day, an employee is dressed in a full cow mascot uniform. The cow is available to take pictures with customers, usually dressed in cow attire, and also roams the dining room.
Amy Thorington, senior in math education, heard about Cow Appreciation Day via social media.
"I saw it [Cow Appreciation Day] on Twitter," Thorington said. "I saw it earlier this week. It made me think about when I made this [cow] costume with a friend."
Thorington was wearing a white sweatshirt with black spots and a headband with ears attached.
"There are more pieces to it," Thorington said.
Chick-fil-As nationwide see up to one million cow costumes, according to Bob McFadden, one of the general managers at Auburn's Chick-fil-A.
Locally, Auburn's restaurant sees 200 to 300 customers dressed in some sort of cow costume.
"We've been super busy," Dobbs said. "It kind of ranks up there with football."
Tiffany Sorrells, Auburn Chick-fil-A employee, echoed these sentiments.
"Between [today] and football season, it will be our busy," Sorrells said. "Cow Appreciation Day is hectic. It's when all of our employees have to work."
The employees said, even with the business, they still enjoy the day.
"This is my eighth [Cow Appreciation Day]," Sorrells said. "I love it. I love all the kids. The little kids are my favorite. They all get creative, and it's fun for them."
Dobbs agreed.
"I'm having such a good time with it," Dobbs said. "The little kids are loving the cow being here. They come up to you and show you [and say], 'Look what I made!' and they show you the spots. It's so cute."
However, the restaurant's website offers a printable cow costume as well.
Meghan Dooley, Auburn alumna, took advantage of the website's costume.
"I just went online and downloaded it and printed it," Dooley said. "That's why everyone has the same spots as me."
The download has black spots, a nose and a tail.
"I wasn't man enough to wear the tail and the face, just the spots," Dooley said.
The spots were still enough to receive a free entree though.
"I got chicken nuggets and lemonade," Dooley said. "I had to pay for the lemonade, but it was totally worth it."
(07/05/14 12:00pm)
Swing dancing is an old-school hobby coming back to life on campus.
The Auburn University Swing Dancing Association (AUSDA) is creating an atmosphere where students can learn about swing dancing and its different styles, such as Lindy Hop.
Kathryn Hoerlin, senior in industrial and systems engineering, is the current president.
Hoerlin started attending AUSDA meetings as a high school student and, only a year after attending meetings, she began instructing.
"It's something my friends and I saw when we were in high school, and we thought, 'Oh, that sounds like fun,'" Hoerlin said. "Our parents were like, 'Sure, swing dancing sounds great. You can't really go wrong with that.'"
In the upcoming school year, AUSDA will receive funding from the Auburn University Commissions Board for a new dance floor, which will allow them to dance on campus.
"It's a really nice floor," Hoerlin said. "The kind we got is semi-floating, which means it gives when you dance on it, so it reduces knee injuries and it's better to dance on than carpet or concrete with carpet over it. My two years of presidency was working toward getting (the floor), so I'm really excited."
With the new floor, the group plans to have monthly dances in the Student Center Ballroom on Saturday nights.
"The idea is to do an hour lesson where people can just drop in and to have a three or four-hour dance after," Hoerlin said. "Those will probably be $5-10, depending on if we get a band. We really want to get a band."
Hoerlin said she hopes the dances in the Student Center will make swing dancing more accessible, especially to on-campus freshmen.
"It's hard to explain we're not actually on campus, but that we're at Jan Dempsey Arts Center, which is close to campus, but is not really walking distance, especially at night," Hoerlin said. "Sometimes we drive freshmen to our dances and drive them back. If they join our Facebook group and say, 'Hey, I want to go to the dance tonight! Can someone drive me?' Someone always volunteers. It's still not as inviting as if we did something on campus to get people interested."
Hoerlin also said she thinks the monthly dances will be popular for date nights.
Ian Kirkconnell, junior in electrical engineering, said he enjoys the swing dancing AUSDA offers.
"I really like going to them because I enjoy swing dancing, seeing friends, dancing with new people and, of course, dancing is always a good excuse to bring a date along," Kirkconnell said.
Sarah Hurt, veterinary student, said swing dancing helps her express herself.
"Swing dancing is a very important part of my life," Hurt said. "It provides a way to escape the stress of life and school. Naturally I am shy, but while dancing I can express myself, not through words, but through movement."
Katie McCutcheon, sophomore in chemical engineering, said swing dancing helps her find peace.
"When I swing dance, I forget about everything else," McCutcheon said. "I let the lead tell me what to do and stop struggling to control everything. Swing lets me relax. I swing every chance I get."
According to Hoerlin, the reason she swing dances is simple: it makes her happy.
"I'm probably the happiest I ever am when I'm dancing," Hoerlin said. "I kind of enjoy instructing, and I kind of enjoy leading things, but I think mostly, I just really enjoy dancing and going to events. I just want to make everyone else learn about it too and be as happy as I am."
(06/27/14 4:30pm)
What comes to your mind when you first think of a feminist?
Let me guess: a woman with long, unruly hair or a close crop, no makeup, burning bras, hating every housewife and man, and seeing everything as demeaning women?
Well, it turns out, we're not all like that.
I identify as a feminist. I think women are treated unfairly in most areas of life.
At the same time, I'm a firm believer in the bra, and I enjoy wearing makeup. Perhaps most surprising of all, I don't hate all men. Who would have thought?
Obviously, the radical feminists have extreme views. Frankly, they're just giving the rest of us a bad name. Their behavior is extreme, off-putting and keeps the misinformed from diving any deeper.
Not all feminists hate men. Not all feminists are lesbians. I happen to have a lot of male friends, and I'm not a lesbian.
What I do hate, however, is when men expect things to be handed to them just because they have a Y chromosome.
An example of this is what I call the "nice guy card."
This happens when a guy is nice to a woman then expects to have sex with her at the end of the night simply because he was a decent human being.
What's worse is when the man gets angry about being rejected. Women experience this a lot, unfortunately.
When's the last time a guy told you about a girl yelling after him because he didn't go home with her?
One of the stigmas that lights my fire is the idea all feminists hate the typical housewife role.
I don't care if you want to be a housewife. Just don't force me into that box.
On the flip side, there are feminists that do hate the role and the fact that women choose to fill it, which makes me incredibly angry.
Feminism is about empowering women and men to choose their own way, whether it be fulfilling stereotypical gender roles or breaking them.
Another thing is the idea we don't wear makeup, take care of our hair or our bodies or generally not care about our appearances. I love makeup, and I take care of my hair and body.
The difference is, I do this because I want to be happy and do this for myself, not for the benefit of others.
Some women feel pressured to wear makeup, diet and fry their hair to fit into society's robotic view of what beauty is.
All women are beautiful, no matter their size, their hair or their eyelash length.
Women are taught from birth their appearances are what's most important. Men are not. It's just a fact.
I am a feminist because I want equality for all. I want women to be able to choose their own path, whether it be as a housewife or as the CEO of a corporation.
I want women to be able to turn down a man's advances without having the nice guy card played, or worse.
I want women to know their appearances are not what are most important; it's their minds.
I am a feminist because I want women to be recognized as people, not as objects.
When all is said and done, it isn't quite bra burning, is it?
(06/26/14 4:00pm)
Style is often used as an expression of who someone is, but is often subject to others' judgment.
"I loathe Chacos," said Seth McCollough, senior in vocal performance. "They're ugly, dirty and smelly; especially when people don't know how to clean them. They are not cute and definitely a fad that needs to die."
Chacos are a type of sandal made for hiking, though they are worn by many people on Auburn's campus. This means they are also subject to students' scrutiny, such as James Coker, senior in media studies.
"I don't know why you would wear Chacos on campus," Coker said. "I get the fact that people want to hike and stuff, but it's weird to see them on campus. You can have on shoes or flip flops."
Savannah Vaughn, senior in social work, disagreed, saying Chacos were perfect for both recreational activities and wearing on campus.
"The people who don't like Chacos probably don't do any of the activities that you need Chacos for," Vaughn said. "People who don't like them, I think, have never tried them. I tried them, and now I can't not wear them."
Coker also does not appreciate the trend of Nike athletic shorts or large t-shirts.
"[I don't like] the Nike shorts and the 2XL T-shirts," Coker said. "I think girls wear it way too much. I like when girls don't look like they're coming straight from the gym."
Esteban Porres, recent Auburn alumnus, agreed.
"I don't hate them, but I think it's dumb to wear them every day," Porres said.
However, Chloe Worthy, senior in social work, disagreed.
"When I came to college I wanted the full experience, and in order to get the full experience I needed to look the part," Worthy said. "A legit college student wears Nike shorts, t-shirts and Chacos, period."
Worthy also pointed out college is one of the only times students will not be expected to worry about their appearance.
"I don't want to get up any earlier than necessary to dress cute," Worthy said. "We'll have to get up, look cute and wear professional clothes when we have jobs. I'm trying to be lazy while I can."
High-waist shorts are another clothing choice over which students have expressed negative opinions.
"Those acid washed [denim] high-waist shorts need to stay behind in the 80s," said Sami Bustos, senior in molecular biology. "I think that's a trend that isn't flattering on anyone and should never come back in style."
Rebecca Koch, graduate student in biology, is from California, and said she noticed a lot of different trends from the ones in her home state.
"When I first got here I was blown away by how different everything was," Koch said. "[The] first thing I noticed was the girls with the Nike shorts and the big t-shirts, which I've never seen before. You wore that if you were a jock back home. If you were in a sorority [in California] you were wearing perfect, really expensive clothes. It was totally different, but the guys are maybe just as different."
Koch said she neither hates nor likes the Nike shorts and T-shirt trend.
"I wouldn't say I hate it or despise the style, but I just can't take anybody seriously with visors," Koch said. "I didn't know that was a cool thing, but I see them everywhere."
She pointed out she didn't hate any of the trends she might have described.
"None of this really bothers me; I just think it's kind of funny," Koch said. "I think 'style,' if you call it that, is just ridiculous anyway."
David Marsh, sophomore in pre-music education, said comfort was the most important thing in his assessment of style on the other sex.
"Well, I think that the most important thing is that a girl is comfortable in what she's wearing," Marsh said. "If she isn't, it can be pretty obvious. What's the point of trying to look good if you feel miserable in the process?"
At the end of the day, it's a person's choice to decide what they want to wear, a sentiment expressed by Melissa Hutchins, senior in social work.
"You can't hate people for wearing what they want," Hutchins said. "Everyone wants to be accepted. They want to feel like they're a part of something."
(06/18/14 4:00pm)
If you go into Au Bon Pain, chances are you've seen the man with all of the buttons on his apron. His name is Terrence Bradley.
Bradley started working in Au Bon Pain in November of 2013 and has quickly become popular on campus.
"He's pretty friendly and helpful, and he jokes around," said Jordan Molineux, sophomore in creative writing. "He asks how you're doing, and he's always smiling. He's one of my favorite staff to run into."
Bradley knows the power of small moments during someone's day.
"The little things have a huge potential to impact someone's life and someone's day," Bradley said.
However, Bradley also acknowledges he has not always been like this. He began to study and practice Buddhism around five years ago which helped to lead him to a place of positivity.
"It's our prime purpose in life to help and serve one another," Bradley said. "If you can't help and serve, then choose to not hurt anyone."
Bradley used Buddhist concepts to explain this cycle.
"So as long as you don't do negative or as long as you don't do bad, you don't have to worry about [bad] karma rearing its ugly little head," Bradley said. "As long as you keep doing good, good is going to keep presenting itself in your life."
He said he believes that all righteous paths are correct.
"If you tell me that your way is the only way to the mountain top, that's pure hypocrisy," Bradley said. "All righteous roads are an expression of one righteous destination. So, if there's more than one path, find yours."
Bradley had a winding path before he landed in Auburn. A New Orleans native, he was once was he calls a "road warrior," living out of his car while managing Cold Stone Creamery stores in New Orleans, Denver, Seattle, Atlanta, Miami and Orlando, Florida. This is how he found his way to Auburn, originally working with the Cold Stone Creamery once located in downtown Auburn.
He also was here with a girlfriend, planning to settle down and perhaps start a family. However, things did not work out.
"That was a struggle the first year, but it's definitely gotten a lot easier," Bradley said. "My family is huge now."
He refers to the friends he has made as sisters and brothers. He can remember them all, talking about his sisters by name.
"I call all my sisters my hearts, because you all have a special place in my heart for a reason or another," Bradley said. "Like Meredith, she's my very first heart. She comes in, not to buy anything, [and says,] 'Hey Mr. Terrence! How are you doing?' She'll do that three or four times a day, just walking by, and I love her to pieces."
He said he feels a connection to everyone.
"We all have a connection with one another, from the very beginning to the end," Bradley said.
This connection is how he started his iconic button collection. It started when he worked at the Chik-Fil-A in the Student Center during a football game.
"It started with a seven-year-old," Bradley said. "She came up to the register, and I said, 'I really like that button. Can I have it?'"
While the 7-year-old originally said no to giving away her sister's pin, by halftime, Bradley and the girl had traded the Alpha Delta Pi button for his name tag.
As girls saw his button, they would express surprise when they saw he wasn't wearing one of their own. He never turned down a button, however, and his collection grew along with the connections he made.
The connection he feels for everyone, faculty and staff alike, is felt by both groups.
"He was constantly cheerleading and always upbeat," said Ellen Dowdell, Auburn alumna. "I was working almost nonstop the whole final month of classes, and he'd encourage me whenever I went in for meals or snacks, to take a break or enjoy myself. He seemed like a manager who cared about the people in his line very actively and personally, and it was really cool to be someone he knew."
Bradley said the most rewarding part of living on campus was working for the students.
"Why do I show up every day?" Bradley said. "[It's] for you guys, for the students. If I make someone's day or I help someone out, that's why I show up."
(06/16/14 10:38pm)
Sugar causes diabetes! Diet Coke causes brain cancer! Splenda causes more cancer!
The media shouts these messages at us with every medical spotlight on the news or in a magazine. What do you choose when every choice is going to disease you?
"I started using Splenda right when it hit shelves, so any studies showing negative long-term effects in rats hadn't come out yet," said Elizabeth Segarra, Auburn alumna. "Now sometimes I see studies that Splenda might lead to cancer or leukemia. No one really knows yet. It might seem scary, but compare that to the effects of consuming sugar. Not only does sugar have calories, but it spikes your blood sugar, and it could lead to diabetes. Maybe I will get cancer from Splenda one day. Who knows?"
It's hard to ignore the reported possibility of disease from Splenda use, or any other artificial sweeteners. Leonard Bell, professor in poultry science who has done research on artificial sweeteners, also known as high intensity sweeteners, does recall how previous artificial sweeteners have shown health concerns.
"In the mid-1960s we had two high intensity sweeteners," Bell said. "We had cyclamate and we had saccharin. There's a segment of the population whose intestinal microflora can convert cyclamate into a potential carcinogen, so the government got rid of cyclamate based on that segment of the population."
Bell is confident the modern artificial sweeteners are safe.
"Sugar substitutes need to go through safety testing before they hit the market, so they have undergone various safety tests for the Food and Drug Administration," Bell said.
For the most part, Bell is supportive of artificial sweeteners, particularly in beverages. He says diet drinks are beneficial during meals, when calories will already be consumed via the food.
He does admit, however, there is a chance the calorie-free beverages could make people crave sweets.
According to Bell, the body expects calories when it ingests something sweet, so when someone chooses to drink a diet soda over a sugar-sweetened one, the body sends impulses signaling it needs calories. These signals are known as cravings.
"You know, we have to remember, if we're thirsty in the middle of the day, we could always go with water," Bell said.
Rachael Mesner, program coordinator of Health Promotion for Auburn University's Health Promotion and Wellness Services, encourages drinking water instead of added sugar. If taste is desired, fruit infused water is an option she promotes.
Both Bell and Mesner agree mindful eating is important, whether consuming sugar or alternative sweeteners. Mesner suggests students read nutrition labels, saying they are better labeled than ever. In being mindful, she said students should listen to their cravings, not restrict, but be mindful of their food selections overall.
Terri Sollie, senior in vocal performance, has decided to stop using Splenda due to a side effect.
"If I'm cooking, then I only use real sugar," Sollie said. "I used to use Splenda, but it made me really forgetful. My mom did some research and found out that Splenda causes serious memory and concentration problems for some people."
Bell says people may believe artificial sweeteners are harmful because of many reasons, from misunderstanding to poorly designed studies. He says there are some people who may be jumping to conclusions about their bodies' reactions to artificial sweeteners.
"I think that there are some people who may try a new food product and may end up with a headache or with a stomachache," Bell said. "They look at the product and say it must have been the high intensity sweetener that was in there [causing the headache or stomachache] because they've never had it before."
Although there are people who misunderstand their bodies' cues, there are also people like Sollie who do experience side effects from the artificial sweeteners.
"I think there are some people who are sensitive, but I don't think that justifies removing it from the marketplace," Bell said. "As far as a global ban of high intensity sweeteners, I think that's too extreme. There are many segments of the population that benefit from them."
Diabetics benefit from artificial sweeteners, who are now able to consume sweet foods without sugar.
In addition to artificial sweeteners, there are natural alternative sweeteners such as honey, agave nectar and Stevia. However, Bell cautions against believing the natural "hype" surrounding natural sweeteners such as honey and agave nectar.
"Sugar is derived from sugar cane and sugar beets, so that's derived from natural sources," Bell said. "Honey [is] really the same thing. It's still a sugar source; it's still going to give you the calories. So honey versus granulated sugar, I don't see a big advantage [with] one or the other. [It's the] same thing with agave nectar. If the sugars are there, the sugars are there."
The only advantage, Bell stated, was marketing.
"There's this general perception that 'natural' is better," Bell said. "The thing we have to remember is there are lots of natural substances that aren't good for us. Simply the word 'natural' doesn't mean that it's good for us."
If the sugar from honey and granulated sugar affect the body in the same manner, should we be concerned with Segarra's belief that sugar causes diabetes?
"The sugar's not going to cause diabetes unless you have a lot of weight gain which then triggers, indirectly, the diabetes," Bell said. "There's not been anything that's suggested [Splenda] is cancer-causing. There's probably going to be a higher risk of being in an automobile accident than cancer associated with high intensity sweeteners."
The next time you decide to choose Splenda over sugar, don't panic. In the end, the choice is really up to you. You don't have to decide cancer or diabetes; you just have to choose whether taste or calories matter more.
(06/11/14 8:00pm)
For years, "paleo" simply referred to the Paleolithic era.
The Paleo Diet is named after the Paleolithic era, and the foods allowed on the diet are intended to mimic what cavemen ate during this period.
The foods allowed on the diet are grass-fed and pasture-raised meats, eggs, vegetables, fruits and nuts.
Excluded foods include anything thought to be an agricultural product: grains, legumes, dairy, potatoes, refined sugar, salt and processed oils.
The diet was first popularized in the 1970s, but it has lost much of its acclaim.
Recently, the diet has gained the attention of alternative health professionals and dieters alike, and has even found its way to the Plains.
"I did the Paleo Diet for about a month," said Darby Stanton, recent Auburn graduate. "Alcohol was my one exception."
Kelly Tsaltas, Auburn alumna, and Matt Villarrubia, senior in software engineering, are both taking on the diet for 30 days.
"(Matt and I) needed the structure and rigidity of a strict healthy diet to get ourselves started [on the diet]," Tsaltas said.
The diet is restrictive, as Stanton, Tsaltas and Villarrubia have attested, but for Villarrubia, this aspect was appealing.
"The diet made me focus and deal with less food," Villarrubia said.
However, when asked about the most difficult part of the diet, Villarrubia listed the lack of dairy, beans, rice and bread as major issues.
Stanton said she finds the lack of Paleo choices at restaurants difficult.
"I found Paleo to be extremely limiting in today's society," Stanton said. "If you go out to eat, what are you going to order? Spinach leaves in olive oil?"
Stanton also points out the expenses and said being on the Paleo diet can be expensive when someone is on a college budget.
Although there are people who praise the benefits of Paleo dieting, there are those who do not find the diet logical.
"The underlying premise behind the Paleo diet is that the ills of modern human health can be traced back to the Agriculture Revolution," said Alexander Roberson, Auburn agriculture alumnus. "But man existed for millennia after the Agriculture Revolution with grains and dairy in their diet just fine."
Roberson said the real problem with modern society's health is the increased consumption of sugar and the decrease in physical activity.
"It's a health-food fad that is quick to demonize," Roberson said. "While it is tempting to trace back our eating habits to a time before obesity, it is important to remember we left the Paleolithic age for a reason."
Despite the drawbacks, Villarrubia said there were definite advantages to the diet.
"I lost about 15 pounds and was more energetic for sure," Villarrubia said.
Tsaltas said she is going to continue to carry on some of her lessons from the experience.
"I added in [to my Paleo Diet] dairy, bread, that doesn't have preservatives that I get from the farmers market, and macaroni and cheese," Tsaltas said. "That's it."
Stanton does not agree with this sentiment.
"I just really love eating and some of the things I couldn't eat were pretty outrageous," Stanton said. "I stick to about an 80 percent Paleo diet now, so I don't absolutely loathe myself if I eat the mac and cheese at The Hound."
(06/05/14 7:10pm)
Tinder, along with applications, such as OkCupid are becoming more popular as college students begin online dating.
Online dating at Auburn seems to be a quiet affair, however.
"I haven't heard about a lot of online dating in Auburn," said Sarah Hooper, senior in biomedical sciences. "Mostly I've heard about Tinder."
Tinder is an application available for most smartphones where you are given a few pictures, a 500-character "about" section, mutual friends you have through Facebook and shared interests between users.
Users swipe right if they are interested in a profile, or left if they are not.
"Tinder can be used as a dating app, although a lot just want to use it for hookups," said Cassie Tuggle, senior in anthropology.
Other students said they do not find Tinder or other dating apps to be a viable option to look for lasting relationships.
"Apps, in my opinion, are too casual and less personal than other methods of meeting people," said Shuji Miller, senior in secondary education mathematics. "I feel like many people use apps out of boredom or for hookups."
Although Miller said he thinks apps are too casual to start a lasting relationship, he has had success with them.
"I had my first significant relationship through it," Miller said. "It was not only my first real relationship, it was my first online dating relationship, [and] my first long distance relationship. We were together for nearly two years. Websites allow you to develop more of your character, goals, personality and ideals in your profile that really allows you to have the initial connection with someone."
Some students said the amount of personal information requested on websites can be daunting.
"I guess I'm the type of person to keep my personal life private, and for OkCupid, you're forced to be public and straightforward," Tuggle said. "That can be kind of scary."
Others are skeptical of online dating.
"I guess I have a negative opinion of it because I'm skeptical that it will really help you form a relationship beyond just looking at pictures of people," said Zoe Tucker, sophomore in mechanical engineering.
There are a lot of differing opinions about online dating, but no one can deny its presence.
There are profiles that say, "We can lie about where we met" on Tinder and there are people who hide their online dating profiles from their "real life" friends.
"I think a lot of people see online dating as something only the socially awkward need," Hooper said. "It's assumed that 'normal' people can just meet someone in person. I don't think that's the case."
Another stigma attached to online dating is the possible danger that can ensue.
"I never really had guys make blatantly sexual statements to my face before," said Kristen Keeter, Auburn alumna. "But for some reason they do it over the Internet."
Miller said there are also some interesting things that can occur from meeting in person with someone you've met online.
"One time, I met someone through online dating that didn't have a picture up," Miller said. "We decided to meet each other for lunch one day on campus, and when I walked into where we were supposed to meet, it was actually one of my good friends that was too afraid to ask me out in person."
Miller gives advice to those wanting to try online dating.
"Be completely honest on your profile," Miller said. "Always meet someone in public. Put yourself out there to grab people's attention."
(05/29/14 12:00pm)
Pho Lee is a cozy restaurant, tucked between Big Dog Running Co. and Chappy's Deli on Glenn Avenue.
Owner Lee Pham received a degree in electrical engineering from Auburn University, but he decided to follow a different passion.
"I love serving, and I enjoy cooking," Pham said. "That's one of the reasons I opened a Vietnamese restaurant."
Pham also opened the restaurant due to the increasing diversity in the community.
"In Auburn, [there are] a number of Asian people, especially Korean," Pham said when asked about his customers. "The majority of our customers are American. People love to try new things."
Pham uses his restaurant to bring Vietnamese culture to people who otherwise might not experience it. The restaurant is decorated intricately, with Vietnamese instruments hung on the walls. Vietnamese music plays in the background.
A bicycle is the only thing that looks out of place, hung to replace the double "O" in the "You Have a Good Day!" wall art, but it adds a quirky sense of charm that is also evident in Pham.
Pham lived in Vietnam before moving to Auburn in 1996. His sisters also live here and helped him start-up the business. His nephews, who are currently in high school, work for Pham after school.
"He's definitely a family man," said Jessica Evans, a server at Pho Lee. "They all care about each other."
In fact, the recipes Pham uses come from his mother, who used to cook pho, or noodle soup, for him.
The ingredients used at Pho Lee are fresh, including the beef broth that is made in house. All of the food is MSG-free. There are different options on the menu, which include many gluten free and vegetarian options.
"[We have a] very varied menu [with] a lot of choice for everyone," Pham said.
The restaurant's motto is "Eat Healthy, Live Longer," which is a motto that Pham had in mind for years.
"[If] you eat healthy, it makes you feel better," he said.
Along with the motto is Pho Lee's logo, which was designed to look like Pham himself. The restaurant was in the planning stage for nearly two years, during which Pham did a lot of research.
"It's a high risk business," Pham said. "Even now, sometimes I think about it, [and I ask], 'Did I make the right decision?'"
However, with the restaurant's six month anniversary quickly approaching, it is looking like the restaurant is here to stay. Six months can make or break a restaurant, according to Pham, and he is happy his restaurant has done well, even though he is a new restaurateur.
"I went when it first opened, so they were still working out some kinks service wise," said Katelyn Judd, senior in interdisciplinary studies. "But, for a new place they were great. The food is really amazing."
(05/24/14 12:00pm)
Any Thursday afternoon during the summer, white tents are clustered at the corner of Lem Morrison and Donahue drives.
This corner is where The Market takes place.
The Market is open every Thursday this summer from 3-6 p.m. at the corner of Lem Morrison and Donahue Drive.
Underneath these tents are fruits of labor and love: locally grown produce, honey, cheeses, preserves, baked goods, soaps, eggs and meat.
"I've been trying to buy more local produce," said Katherine Whitehead, senior in Nutrition Science. "I'm glad I can do that in Auburn."
One of the farmers who has been providing for The Market since its inception in 2005 is Al Hooks, owner of Al Hooks Produce.
Hooks' farm is located in Shorter, Alabama, located approximately 35 minutes west of Auburn.
"He had some wonderful looking greens," said Jill Hill, regular customer at The Market.
Hooks has been farming for over 50 years.
"Well, I'm 66, and I grew up on the same farm that I work on now," Hooks said.
Hooks said the best part about farming is how it affects others.
"To be at a market like this and see people buy something that's going to be good for their body is a joy," Hooks said.
However, Hooks said the past growing season has been a thorn in his side.
"It really affected our strawberries," Hooks said. "We're not going to pick a 10th of what we harvested last year. Normally, we run until July, but this year we won't pick enough berries to pay the plant bill."
Hooks' farm also included a logging business and cattle farm, but he had to scale back after his wife suffered a massive stroke and he was injured from a logging accident.
"There's just something about farming," Hooks said.
Hooks' farm harvests between 25-30 different crops each year. These range from Southern staples like tomatoes and peppers, to the exotic, like bok choy.
Hooks said collard greens are a big seller for him.
Hooks supplies them at three Jim 'N Nicks restaurants, including the Auburn location.
Hooks also supplies black eyed peas and squash at these restaurants, as well as the restaurant in Birmingham Brick and Tin.
Hooks has a calm demeanor when he points out the different types of greens to customers.
"My favorite thing?" Hooks said, then grinned. "Collards."