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COLUMN | Alabama the Backward

By William Speigner | Legal Reporter | January 20

48 states honor the transformative legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. Yet, Alabama and Mississippi will instead celebrate Robert E. Lee, a symbol of the confederacy and its fight to maintain slavery. Deeming MLK Day a "cultural issue" while celebrating a confederate leader and looking past it should not be normalized.

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR | Shoring fragments of truth against our ruins

By Sami Grace Donnelly | Editor-in-Chief | January 13

There’s not much The Plainsman hasn't done. However, when I sit here and wonder what I can do to contribute to this organization, I realize there is something we need more of: we need more people’s perspectives. Whether breaking news or treasured memories, we need to bring these genuine, human stories to the forefront of the media. 

COLUMN | Shift to a grateful mindset

By Lizzie McGlynn | Culture Writer | January 1

Gratitude is not just a fleeting emotion, it's a mindset, a practice and a choice. Being grateful for a kind word, a sunny day or a warm meal reduces stress and increases overall happiness because it keeps you present.

Plainsman's Pointers | How do I deal with the holiday blues?

By Brychelle Brooks | Newsletter Editor | December 30

Dealing with sadness this time of year is unfortunately common for people around the world. Being around people you love during this season is always meaningful, even if someone is missing. 

COLUMN | Recognizing Indigenous Land

By Gabriel Fox | Columnist | November 28

November is Native American Heritage Month, dedicated to remembering and acknowledging Indigenous American history and recognizing past wrongdoings against Indigenous and Native communities. A way to effectively discuss their issues is to listen to Native and Indigenous people themselves to decentralize our own experiential worldview when educating ourselves on them. This month offers opportunities to become educated and honor their history while working to protect their future. 

Plainsman's Pointers | What to do when it's all hitting

By Chase Morgese | Opinion Editor | November 22

We all have the necessary resolve to persist through the worst of college, when one’s workload is unbearable. Yet when this load is different from those commonly faced or completely unknown, it's hard to navigate. What do I do?

Letter to the Editor | Diversity and inclusion in the classroom

By Livi Welch | November 20

This past year, there has been a lot of uncertainty around diversity and inclusion in the classroom. Here’s what’s at stake: we teach students to question only within boundaries we give them. Read from guest writer Livi Welch. 

Letter to the Editor | Help save the bald eagles

By Alexander Sabatino | November 19

As a school Auburn University has adopted the cheer “War Eagle!” since 1892 and has flown our Eagles through the football stadium since 2000. Now in 2024, after we have proudly displayed these beautiful birds as a symbol of our University for over 131 years, they need our help. Read from guest writer Alexander Sabatino. 

COLUMN | Year of the woman

By Brychelle Brooks | Newsletter Editor | November 19

This year, women have been embracing power and making their mark on male dominated spheres. They’ve pushed against the glass ceiling in this “man’s world," which is truly inspiring to me. These are the women I thank, along with many more for inspiring not only myself, but the little girl I used to be.

COLUMN | Understanding parasocial relationships

By Lucy Rachels | Columnist | November 14

Does being in the public eye mean celebrities have a social duty to interact with people respectfully despite how normal citizens may act? Celebrities sharing anecdotes online is not an invitation for harassment or commentary, and social media blurring these lines doesn’t change the principles of basic human decency.

COLUMN | America's Blue Belt

By Gabriel Fox | Columnist | November 12

For the second time since 1988, the Republican Party won both the electoral and popular vote — claiming all seven swing states. In such a divisive landscape, how do we decipher election results and what they tell us about the values of American minorities? 

COLUMN | A plight with the Auburn Family

By Michaela Yielding | News Editor | November 7

Anger, for me, does not often lead to physical outbursts or impassioned screeches. Yet as I open my mouth to speak, words fail me, and smoke rises. Though I love Auburn deeply, the veil of ignorance lifted off my eyes after seeing how quickly hate can overpower the town. Auburn walks a tightrope of love and rage when it comes to differences, and the lack of solidarity and absolute vile hatred man has for his own brothers is what formulates my exasperation. 

COLUMN | Auburn's unique pace in a fast moving world

By Lucy Rachels | Columnist | November 5

In the U.S., the idea of "living fast" is synonymous to efficiency and productivity which has became the foreground to daily life. Auburn has a strong sense of community and a slower, more thoughtful, family-oriented pace of life. This way of life creates an experience that impacts students and alumni long after they leave. 

COLUMN | The pros and cons to selling alcohol in the student section

By Lucy Rachels | Columnist | November 2

Auburn recently became the last SEC school to offer alcohol at sports events this previous spring.  Perhaps the biggest concern that comes with selling alcohol to students is the increased rowdiness that often accompanies it. Of course, only students above 21 can buy, but the question remains: should Auburn be selling alcohol in the student section?  

COLUMN | The Weight of Weight-Loss Drugs

By Zach Prien | Columnist | October 31

Over the last few years, the medical world has seen a revolution in the treatment of diabetes and weight loss. This attention has surged demand for these drugs for cosmetic purposes, creating strain on the accessibility of these prescriptions. Accessibility should be easier for those who truly need these drugs, instead of those who want it for cosmetic reasons.

COLUMN | The lost art in horror adaptations

By Zach Prien | Columnist | October 31

Numerous Gothic and horror literature classics have been adapted for the screen, often simplifying or changing the original stories in ways that affect how audiences see them. These changes raise some important questions. Two of the most important being: are modern audiences too focused on the gore and monsters found in horror films to pay attention to the deeper meaning in the media they are consuming? How does turning literature into film change a story's meaning? 

EDITORIAL | University growth isn't sustainable for the city of Auburn or its residents

By Brychelle Brooks | Newsletter Editor , Editorial Board | Fall 2024 and Sami Grace Donnelly | Editor-in-Chief | October 30

Auburn University has reported a record number of students admitted and enrolled in the university for three consecutive years, but it comes at a cost. Ironically, the growth that Auburn is experiencing, not only as a university but also as a city, isn’t sustainable for the people who live here right now. 

COLUMN | We need to bring mindfulness to rural rhetoric

By Gabriel Fox | Columnist | October 28

Living in the South is a complex reality, fraught with stereotypes and cultural distinction. The aftermath of Hurricane Helene is shedding light on a region of the U.S. which is usually not focused on; and the way the rest of the nation views it needs to have more perspective.