Skip to Content, Navigation, or Footer.
A spirit that is not afraid

Columns

The State Press

House Reviews Casino Amnesty Bill

The House Tourism and Travel Committee approved a bill Jan. 20 which would provide casinos amnesty from all taxes, criminal prosecution and civil lawsuits. The bill would also allow casinos to be operated anywhere in Alabama.


The State Press

SGA Wraps Up Academic Integrity Week

In light of Academic Integrity Week, the Student Government Association welcomed Donald McCabe, professor of management and global business from Rutgers University, to speak in the Student Center Ballroom last Wednesday.McCabe has done extensive research on college cheating, surveying more than175,000 students in the last 19 years.


The Auburn Plainsman

Women's Basketball Loses Close Game to No. 21 Vanderbilt 61-60.

Vanderbilt University senior guard Lauren Lueders nailed a 3-pointer to break a 53-53 second-half tie and the No. 21 Commodores (14-5, 3-3 SEC) held off the Auburn Tigers (11-8, 2-4 SEC) in the final seconds to pull out a 61-60 victory in front of a crowd of 2,658 at Beard-Eaves Memorial Coliseum Thursday night.Auburn junior guard Alli Smalley had a game-high 19 points in the losing effort while sophomore guard Parrisha Simmons chipped in with nine points and eight rebounds.Auburn head coach Nell Fortner spoke on the disappointing loss after the game.

The Auburn Plainsman

New Meal Plans Offer Students Options

With the new year comes new decisions. Papa John's or Au Bon Pain? Salsarita's or Chick-fil-A?Around campus, choosing a meal has become increasingly difficult.

Auburn senior center Brendon Knox (30) tips the ball over LSU sophomore guard Garrett Green (3) on Jan. 20 during Auburn's 84-80 win against LSU in the PMAC in Baton Rouge, La.

Men's Basketball Gets First SEC Win Against LSU

The Auburn Tigers stepped up to defeat the LSU Tigers 84-80, giving Auburn its first SEC win.Along with senior guard DeWayne Reed's 21 points and sophomore guard Frankie Sullivans's 15 points, senior forward Lucas Hargrove, senior guard Tay Waller and senior center Brendon Knox all broke double figures in Baton Rouge, La."It keeps the defense thrown off," Sullivan said.

The Auburn Plainsman

Dora, How Are You Going to Explore in a Dress?

When Mattel Toy Company and Nickelodeon released a joint statement earlier this year announcing a new tweenage version of Dora the Explorer, an uproar arose from soccer moms across the nation the likes of which hadn't been seen since the Tickle Me Elmo Scandal of 1996.And really, who can blame them?

The Auburn Plainsman

Sex Sells, So Let It Do Its Job

People have sex.It doesn't matter what your beliefs, practices or daily routines consist of, individuals engage in intercourse.It is part of human nature.Now, some people like to spice it up with outside objects from the bedroom.In Alabama, some people see this is a crime.

The Auburn Plainsman

Theme Park Vacations No Longer Just For Kids

Universal Studios is probably one of the most under-rated places ever.It's not its fault Disney World is as attention hogging as its princesses, and people tend to forget about good old Universal Studios.This past weekend I ventured to Orlando to visit Universal Studios and Disney World.I never made it to Disney because I refused to be torn away from Universal and all it had to offer.First of all, I highly recommend seeing the Blue Man Group.

The Auburn Plainsman

Backstreet's Back With 'This is Us'

Backstreet's back with a new genre of pop music with its newly released album, "This is Us," after working with legendary producers such as T-Pain, Max Martin, RedOne and Ryan Tedder.Working with various artists, Backstreet Boys are moving back to their original roots, a pop genre.Many people have been skeptical of their seventh album released because of the genre change, but I believe they did it right this time.

The Auburn Plainsman

iPod Nano Offers New Built-in Video Camera

The new iPod Nano, introduced Sept. 9, offers a new built-in video camera and mic allowing music lovers to shoot video wherever they may be.The iPod Nano is available in nine vibrant colors, with a 2.2-inch screen allowing users to view their videos more clearly.It also includes a live FM radio, voice recorder, voice over--which speaks the names of the songs and artists, the Nike pedometer to count every step you take and many other advanced features.The most impressive thing to me is the video camera built into this extremely slender piece of technology.

The Auburn Plainsman

We All Need to Stay Behind Todd

Senior quarterback Chris Todd has been catching some flak the past two weeks for his less than stellar play against the University of Arkansas and the University of Kentucky.It's almost like the first five games of the season, when he blew up the stat book, don't even matter anymore.He has thrown 12 touchdowns compared to his two interceptions.Seven games with only two interceptions is amazing, especially in a conference and division that prides itself with good defense.There is a resemblance to the former No.

The Auburn Plainsman

Reel Review: ''Pandorum Monsters are monstrosity'

When I think of awful movies, I start at the top and work my way down. From now on, however, I will start and end with Pandorum.This movie, if I had any control, would be renamed and marketed as PanBorum.I am ashamed to admit it, but I still lay awake at night wondering what exactly happened in that movie.Granted I missed the first 20 minutes because I was in the lobby attempting to accurately figure out the best popcorn-to-seasoning salt ratio. In the end it honest to god did not even matter.

The Auburn Plainsman

Premature Prize for the President

President Barack Obama, winner of the 2009 Nobel Peace prize, was awarded for the things he might one day accomplish.He might find a peaceful solution in Afghanistan; he might successfully halt Iran's uranium enrichment program; he might reverse global climate change (since apparently that is criteria as Al Gore was co-winner of the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize).I am sickened the committee would give the award in anticipation of what he might accomplish.

The Auburn Plainsman

Small Investments a Key to Bigger Successes

The small things in life are the most rewarding.When someone smiles on campus as I pass by, when a cashier at Chik-fil-A says "My pleasure" or when a teacher puts "Good job" at the top of an assignment, these gestures make my day.It may not seem like it, but small things can make a big difference.I hope the small things I do will make a difference later in life when I am searching for a career.Two years ago, I saw an advertisement for Teen Vogue Fashion University in New York City.The weekend-long conference would be open to anyone interested in fashion, meeting designers and learning from the magazine editors how to get a foot in the door of the fashion/magazine world.Boy, was I interested.Of course, I applied.But my first thoughts were, "Why would a magazine in New York City accept someone from Podunk, Ala., (actually Holly Pond, but just as bad) who will probably never have a chance in the fashion world?""Will the proper, up-scale designers and editors laugh my Southern accent back home?"These doubts made me try even harder.Much to my surprise, I was accepted, Southern accent and all.The next month I boarded a plane for the first time in my life and was on my way to arguably the greatest city in the world.I would soon stand in the presence of figures in fashion that I have only been able to see on the glossy pages of the magazine, much less ask questions and be in the same room with.While in New York, I attended seminars by Vera Wang, Tommy Hilfiger, Tim Gunn, Redken hairstylists, Maybelline New York make-up artists and all of the editors at Teen Vogue, and then saw all the sights and shopped till I dropped.It was jaw dropping being surrounded by so many people at one time and looking up and not being able to see the tops of buildings.Where I live, I can drive to the top of the tallest building (a parking deck).Standing on top of the Empire State Building, overlooking the buildings probably four times taller than the lowly parking deck I am used to, was life changing.In two weeks I get to go back to the Big Apple for the fourth annual Fashion University.

The Auburn Plainsman

Sharps and Flats: Pete Yorn Album Sticks

After spending a career opening for more well-known acts (this summer it was Coldplay), Pete Yorn doesn't enjoy much commercial popularity.His case is only further hampered by the Swedish band with a similar namesake -- Peter, Bjorn and John -- who struck melodic gold with their whistlin' hit, "Young Folks" in 2006.However, the New Jersey-born singer-songwriter is also talented in his ability to create whistle-worthy melodies.What prevents Yorn from joining the ranks of other great American singer-songwriters, like Jeff Tweedy, Conor Oberst and Ben Gibbard, is his inability to pen life-altering lyrics.While Yorn's verses are an improvement from the teenage angst drivel that personifies high school radio stations, they are only a minor improvement that could perhaps be safely dubbed a liquor-induced college whine."Back & Fourth" is Yorn's fourth studio LP and follows the melodic traditions of his other albums.

The Auburn Plainsman

Reel Review: 'Rule #1: Cardio, Rule #2: Double tap'

If you're purchasing a ticket for a movie with a title like "Zombieland," you can expect a film that doesn't take itself too seriously, provides some good laughs and sprinkles in the appropriate amount of zombie violence.Well, with director Ruben Fleischer's outrageous, post-apocalyptic comedy, what you expect is what you get.For a mix of comedy and horror, it certainly isn't Shaun of the Dead (to be honest, what is?), but "Zombieland" provides laughs through subtle, witty remarks as well as physical, energetic comedy.It probably won't have you burying your head in your chest like the twins in "The Shining" will do to you, but there are enough surprise scares and buck shot exploding zombies to warrant the horror sub-genre.The flick begins following loner college kid Columbus (Jesse Eisenberg) on his trek through a desolate, zombie-infested country to Columbus, Ohio.The quiet, methodical character credits surviving this long to not ever being tied down to close friends or family, but more importantly, his 31-point list of survival rules.Columbus' humorous, yet effective list includes items like "3.

The Auburn Plainsman

The Routine of Parental Visits

When the parents come to visit their young, aspiring offspring during the grueling years at college, there are always three things that happen.One: you clean.Laundry gets done for the first time in weeks.The floors are swept and vacuumed.