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YOUR VIEW: Grad Student Takes Aim At 'Gay Animals' Article

By Austin Mercadante, Graduate Student | April 15

While I welcome any Plainsman article about science, nature or research, The Plainsman article "Can animals be gay?" (Intrigue, C1, 8 April 2010) was far too similar to the recent New York Times article "Can animals be gay?" (29 March 2010).Both articles discuss the Laysan Albatross (in The Plainsman article referred to as simply "albatross") in Oahu, using the same numbers and similar language (39 of 125 nests were female-female pairs, albatrosses live 60 to 70 years, 450 different species).It is clear that The Plainsman article is a summary of the New York Times article, but without citing or mentioning Jon Mooallem (the original author).I applaud The Plainsman for quoting Linda Wolfe (a scientist with research in the subject), but the quotation from veterinarian Ted Albert is both false and absurd."Everything animals do is instinctual" is obviously not true to anyone who has ever trained a pet or studied animal behavior.I am glad to see space devoted to current scientific research, but summarizing articles in prominent journals without citing original sources and quoting individuals without any relevant knowledge of the subject matter cannot be acceptable journalistic procedure.

YOUR VIEW: Alumna Raises Concerns With New Student Activity Center

By Rebecca Anthony / AU Alumna | April 8

I regret to inform you that my vote for the new Student Activity Center is in no way "yes." If there are so many students using the current Student Act at localized times of the day then may the authorities consider extending the operating hours.

OUR VIEW: Toughen 'Travel with Care'

April 8

When we first saw one of the "tickets" being handed out to pedestrians on Magnolia this week, we all had a good laugh.

YOUR VIEW: Student Describes Bad Night With 'Unwritten Rules'

By Heather McElwee / SENIOR IN POLITICAL SCIENCE | April 1

My roommate and I just got kicked out of a bar--one that is very popular here in downtown Auburn.

YOUR VIEW: Fascist Reminds All Of Meaning Of Easter Holiday, Jesus' Life

By Jackson Grimes | April 1

The Eucharist is a Christian sacrament or ordinance, generally considered to be a commemoration of the Last Supper, the final meal that Jesus Christ shared with his disciples before his arrest and eventual crucifixion.The consecration of bread and a cup within the rite recalls the moment at the Last Supper when Jesus gave his disciples bread, saying, "This is my body," and wine, saying, "This is my blood."To the Church at Corinth, St.

YOUR VIEW: Reader Pleased With Editorials About Drinking

By Shelly Aono / HISTOLOGY TECHNICIAN | April 1

I was glad to see the staff columns addressing under- age drinking, how to care for drunk people and drunk driving issues.Considering the number of Auburn students who have died, been injured or been arrested in alcohol related incidents I hope you will continue to address this issue.You will not reach the people who see nothing wrong with drinking so hard that they are losing more than their memories, but there is value in making your fellow students not feel so isolated or unusual if they choose to abstain from the drunken lifestyle.It's hard to think of alcoholics as anything other than old, fat, bald men with red noses, but many young, fit, men & women in the bars around town and on the bleachers on gamedays also fit the definition.I hope The Plainsman will continue to raise awareness of this problem in Auburn and the programs available to students with alcohol issues.

OUR VIEW: All Done In The Name Of Fun, Laughs

By Lindsey Davidson / Editor | April 1

In spirit of April Fools Day, we decided to run a special edition with satirical articles applicable to each section.

YOUR VIEW: Incorrect Facts In Editorial

By Adrian Carlson / SENIOR IN FINANCE | April 1

While I agree with your overall condemnation of the bill, I can not help but to point out the problems in the article that are simply untrue.

YOUR VIEW: Opting Out of The Third-Party System Will Save Doctor-Patient Relationship

By Dr. Richard Amerling / New York, NY | March 25

Now that the Senate version of ObamaCare is moments from becoming the law of the land, we need strategies to safeguard the doctor-patient relationship from government intrusion.The most effective approach is for both patients and physicians to opt out of the third party payment system.From the patients' perspective, opting out makes sense.

OUR VIEW: Health Care Bill Brings Hope For Years To Come

March 25

H.R. 4872 represents a monumental change for this country, a change some of us feel is much needed and long overdue.If implemented in its current form, the bill will allow 32 million more Americans to be able to afford health insurance, granting 95 percent of our citizenry health coverage.It's not perfect, but it's an admirable start.The legislation also makes way for children to stay on their parents' insurance policies until age 26-good news for students like us.By 2014, insurance companies will no longer to be able to bar individuals from receiving insurance due to pre-exisiting medical conditions.Being denied coverage for having illnesses as simple as asthma is an abhorrent practice, and we're happy to see the government helping to bring an end to it.With more citizens able to afford insurance, there will no doubt be an increase in the amount of patients seeking medical attention, as the poor and forgotten are finally able to come out ofthe shadows and seek treatment.

OUR VIEW: Blame and Responsibilities Must be Shared by All

March 4

Over the past year 12 citizens of Auburn have been involved in pedestrian accidents.When events like those occur, it is natural to want to point fingers and begin playing the "blame game," and every party responsible begins to look for a scapegoat.There is no one person or entity to blame for these incidents. There are a number of factors and issues that contributed to these accidents.

OUR VIEW: Meal plan not-so-bon pain for some students

By Editorial Board | February 25

Jonathan Reeves is one of many Americans who has to live with a gluten-free diet.As an incoming freshman, Reeves would have been required to purchase one of Auburn's meal plan options, even though the number of gluten-free choices available are not as plentiful as they should be.The weaknesses inherent in the meal plan's mandatory nature show when dealing with students who have different dietary needs, and that's just one crack in the facade.When students have legitimate, documented medical dietary issues, the University must make accommodations.We would hope they would act in such fashion out of the goodness of their hearts, but we're certain there is a legal obligation here as well.We understand why the meal plan exists.The campus restaurants would have difficulty staying financially viable without the money from those mandatory plans.However, shouldn't that tell us something?If it takes mandatory meal plans to help these restaurants make ends meet, then it seems obvious to us those restaurants are obviously not meeting the needs and demands of their customer base.It's capitalism in its purest and simplest form. The customers have demands that aren't being met, so they go elsewhere.

OUR VIEW: SGA Elections Do Matter, Take Pause Before You Vote

By Editorial Board | February 18

You have important choices to make today, students of Auburn, choices that will forever impact The Plains for you and the generations of Auburn family members who come after you.The Student Government Association elections are today, and the candidates for office represent a wide array of directions for Auburn's future growth and well-being.We worry you do not fully realize the power you have right now, and we want you to know what your vote really means this year.

I'm Sick of Getting Excuses

By Laura Maxwell / ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR | February 18

Sneezing.Coughing.Aching.Chills.You've got a cold. And there's no cure for it.

Bringing Food Brings Love

By Maxwell Newfield / ASSOCIATE CAMPUS EDITOR | February 18

My grandmother died recently.The doctors said her 90-year-old body couldn't handle the stress from the emergency brain surgery she had just undergone, but in reality it was just time for her to go.Before my grandmother, I had never lost a close family member.

People go crazy over a few beads and cups

By Lindsey Davidson / Editor | February 18

Beads.Costumes.And lots of shiny things.Honestly, what other toys are needed to keep anyone entertained for a weekend of craziness in New Orleans.The better half of my weekend was spent yelling "Cups!

OUR VIEW: Stop, look, listen: Why pedestrian safety matters

By Editorial Board | February 11

Occasionally, there comes a time when an issue of importance thrusts itself into the spotlight.After Haluk Yapicioglu was struck by a car while crossing Magnolia last week, pedestrian safety once again moved to the foreground, much as it did after Shou Ju Chen and Mary Hammett were similarly struck.Over the next four weeks, The Plainsman will be bringing you a series of articles about pedestrian safety on this campus.Please take note and pay attention.This is an issue that could easily effect each and every person on this campus.As journalists, we feel it is a vital necessity to cover all aspects of this issue to their fullest extent.It is only in diligently seeking the truth and reporting it that we will be able to understand and comprehend the problems facing us and the solutions we need.We will not take an editorial stance on this issue until that series of articles is finished.We will not make up our minds on the matter until we review all of the evidence, carefully weighing facts and figures along with anecdotes, personal tales and a plethora of opinions.However, we certainly invite and implore you to share your views and opinions with us.Send a letter to the editor if you have a strong opinion on the matter.Let us know if you or someone you know has had similar issues happen to them on campus.If there are places on campus you think could prove dangerous, bring them to our attention.We can only be fully effective in covering this campus with the help of you, our Auburn family.

OUR VIEW: War of the Words

By Editorial Board | February 11

We're all familiar with the old adage "Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me."Pardon our French, but bullshit.Whether we like it or not, certain words within our language are endowed with power beyond their original meanings.These taboo words, curse words and words like "faggot" and the N-word, are viewed by many as intensely negative.When people choose to use those words in a different meaning, in ways other than the widely-accepted negative meanings, conflict ensues.Censorship is the natural enemy of creativity, and provocateurs will always continue to push the boundaries in the name of freedom of speech and expression.Courtesy versus personal freedom.Where do we draw the line?Honestly, we're not entirely sure.A key to the problem of taboo words is situation.When we're with our friends, we use a different discourse than we would in a job interview.The lack of formality and the familiarity we have with our friends let us know where the boundaries are.