Opinion

Saying Goodbye is Hard

By Natalie Wade/Editor | July 2

My roommate of three years is becoming a grown up. By that I mean she's taken a job offer five and a half hours away from Auburn and nine hours from her parents house.

State Gun Safety Stats Seem Vague and Skewed by VPC Agenda

| July 2

While the editorial board's June 18th article, "State Must Take Stand Against Gun Violence" was certainly well-intentioned, its arguments were fueled by skewed, agenda-driven statistics.

Alabama Alum Remembers 'War Eagle' Airplane

July 2

Editor, The Auburn PlainsmanWhile I was in Auburn this past weekend for daughter Katherine Gay Zito's MBA extravaganza, I spoke to the Plainsman's own Kim concerning an item of historical interest, and perhaps, of interest to your readers.Some years ago, Hollywood made an adventure picture about a mythical nuclear submarine named the "Crimson Tide." The good people in Tuscaloosa made much of this bit of fiction!In July 1944, myself and my crew were assigned to a brand new B-17 Flying Fortress, No.

Wasting Excess Time Online

By Christian Becraft / Staff Writer | June 26

I don't have many hobbies, but when it comes to procrastination, and with the Internet as my guide, you can just call me an expert.The Internet is a helpful tool for procrastination, one that everyone tinkers with.

Chivalry is Not Dead in the South

By Anna Schierholz/Associate Sports Editor | June 26

Before my enrollment at Auburn, the South was mysterious, uncharted territory for this city girl.

Thank You Social Media

By Natalie Wade/Editor | June 26

Social media has now taken a step in the right direction to become a more credible and informative tool.Sadly this step is at the cost of people's lives and freedom.In the last week the whole world has seen the few glimpses being spread about the riots in Iran over the recent disputed election process.As a journalist I hold a strong belief in the ability to share knowledge with the public.

Communication is The Key

By Andrew Sims/Online Editor | June 4

We have all been told that communication can make or break a relationship right? Ask any couple and they will tell you that a relationship without communication can quickly go to relation sh... you get it.Let's step outside the realm of dating relationships and into our relationships with friends and peers.

Work ethic: Do you have it?

By Natalie Wade/Editor | June 4

Work ethic is a good thing. But sometimes it can be a person's downfall.Take for example how often I find myself with more than one job.My plans for this summer started out as carefree and jobless.And I was thrilled.Then along the way I picked up chaperoning for a workshop, being the editor at this here paper, working the register at the AU Bookstore, babysitting a few kids and writing for the Opelika Observer.Sadly this isn't a new symptom of my Type A personality.I was the kid in high school who was the president of every club and all around know-it-all.Hopefully I've grown out of the know-it-all stage, I'll ask my friends later, but I'm still too often overexerting myself.How do other students seem to find themselves with an afternoon available to lay by the pool or take vacations?In no way am I complaining about any of my responsibilities, because I love them all, but I think I have a problem.I'm not comfortable until I'm booked solid, until I can't find time to eat lunch.As I type this my half eaten Chick-fil-A meal is sitting beside me.

This is my generation's 'Tonight Show'

By Kevin Saucier | June 4

Why do I suddenly feel like an adult? A case could be made that while I still rely quite heavily on my extremely gracious parents, I have plenty of reasons to feel like one.I voted in a presidential election last year, I'm a little over a month away from being able to buy alcohol, and I'm not too far off from graduating.But adulthood, or at least a conscious awareness of it, didn't click for me until Monday night when I saw Conan O'Brien become the host of "The Tonight Show."My sense of humor, the things myself and many more in my generation find funny, just got kicked a little closer to the mainstream.Jokes that might require a little bit of discomfort or silliness might no longer be relegated to cable or late-night hours, after my parents have gone to bed.This is my "Tonight Show."The absence of Conan between his last "Late Night" episode in February and his return to television on Monday made me realize how under-represented my comedic sensibilities were when it came to nightly talk shows and how glad I am to have him back.An odd feeling came with watching Conan's first episode the other night.

Our View: The Plainsman Should Be Next in Line to Get Digitized

June 4

Recently the Auburn University Libraries decided to digitize over one hundred years of Auburn tradition by making the Glomerata open to online, public access.As of now, yearbooks as old as 1897 are available for viewing, and those from that year through 2003 are also available.

Summer in Auburn Means Construction Woes

June 1

For more than the past two months, construction has plagued not only Magnolia Avenue and Duncan Drive, but the beautiful image of Auburn's campus.

Our View: Hops Freed, Time to Buy Gourmet

June 1

After a four-year campaign, Free the Hops finally saw Gov. Riley sign the Gourmet Beer Bill into law.Some Alabamians will join the grass-roots organization in celebration of the max alcohol by volume increase from 6 to 13.9 percent in beer available statewide, while others doubt the bill's necessity.We believe a toast is in order to commend the governor's decision to finally "free the hops" with the signing of this bill.However, in contrast to the stereotypes of drunken college students, our excitement stems more from the level-headed, respectful decision of our state than it does from the availability of Russian Imperial Stouts.Certainly gourmet beers are nothing to shake a stick at, but it's nice to see a decision develop that treats Alabamians like adults.

Spending Summer in Auburn Worth It

By Natalie Nettles/Intrigue Editor | June 1

Ah, sweet summertime on The Plains.Though many students prefer to get out of Auburn for the summer, I am not one of them.In fact, I've stayed in Auburn every summer since I've been enrolled here.Yes, it's empty and there is not as much going on as during the fall and spring semesters.However, there are many things one can take advantage of by spending a summer in Auburn.Not that Auburn has a plethora of traffic anyway (except on football game days), but there is significantly less traffic during the summer months.You are guaranteed a parking spot on campus no matter what time of day you have class.No more driving aimlessly around C-Zone praying to God, or whichever deity you choose, that someone leaves within the next three minutes so you can make it to class on time.You are also guaranteed to find a guest spot at any of the various apartment complexes.Say a temporary good-bye to parking a mile way or risking the wrath of a tow truck.Summer classes at Auburn are shorter and generally smaller.

Back Again, Ready to Give Opinions

By Natalie Wade/Editor | June 1

I'm back. Yes, Comm Board allowed me to be editor again this summer. So nice of them.Since I've been here and done all of this before, you shouldn't worry much about how informative the paper will be this summer.We are going to fill your minds with as much information as possible.