Lorelei Young | Lifestyle Writer - The Auburn Plainsman

Three men stand together, smiling and posing with a trophy in front of a colorful backdrop featuring the text "DALLAS DRIVE."

Lifestyle

Studying in the spotlight: An Auburn student’s experience with professional cheerleading

By Lorelei Young | Lifestyle Writer | May 3

On March 27, Aleks Slavich, senior in biomedical sciences, experienced a victory larger than he could ever imagine. Slavich competed on Dallas Drive, a professional cheerleading team, and helped bring home the win with his fellow teammates at the Professional Cheerleading Championship in Nashville, Tennessee. The team's triumph over Miami Metal brought the league their first championship title, but Slavich found himself on the championship-winning team by chance.

A collage illustration of a toilet roll, alongside of a tiger plushie, two people smilling with each other and a book with an A grade on it.

Lana Ha | Graphics Editor

Lifestyle

What does Auburn mean to students?

By Lorelei Young | Lifestyle Writer | March 3

For the past 170 years, Auburn University has provided countless students with higher education. Beginning as East Alabama Male College, Auburn’s history is rich and full of diversity. Auburn’s educational scene has shifted significantly from the beginning of its charter on Feb. 1, 1856. As of today, Auburn offers over 150 majors to undergraduate students. In addition to academics, students engage with Auburn through extracurricular clubs, school-sponsored programs, and sporting events. The student body is the defining factor of Auburn University. Engagement, enjoyment, and education are what students mean to Auburn. However, that invites one to question, what does Auburn mean to students?

Patrick Barnett and Kathryn Mims play Sweeney Todd and Mrs. Lovett respectively in "Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street" presented by the Auburn University Theatre Department. Contributed by Henry Eiland.

Lifestyle

Tunes and terror: Auburn University Theatre Department presents 'Sweeney Todd'

By Lorelei Young | Lifestyle Writer | February 26

From Feb. 19 through Feb. 28, Auburn University’s College of Liberal Arts is hosting a series of performances of the iconic literary and theatrical musical "Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street." The Department of Theatre and Dance is putting on a presentation of the musical, complete with singing, laughter and murderous fun.

An illustration of a gray figure flexing its biceps next to a calendar for the month of January.

Sophia Taylor | Graphics Artist

Lifestyle

Progress on the Plains: Do Auburn students make New Year's resolutions?

By Lorelei Young | Lifestyle Writer | January 30

Many see the new year as the perfect time to start over, as it represents the ability to leave what’s old in the past and start fresh. People from ages 18 to 29 are the most likely to create New Year’s resolutions. Most of Auburn’s student population falls within that age range. That leaves the question: How did Auburn students approach New Year's resolutions this year?

Shadow of two figures facing each other, inside a Christmas ornament with wings wrapped around.

Lana Ha | Graphics Editor

Lifestyle

Classical Christmas: A review of Capra’s ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’

By Lorelei Young | Lifestyle Writer | December 2

Frank Capra’s 1946 Christmas film ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’ covers the life of George Bailey (James Stewart) and the struggles that he faces between his family, his finances and missed opportunities. After facing financial ruin due to a bad relationship with the town’s richest man, Mr. Potter (Lionel Barrymore), and a bad night with his wife, Mary Hatch (Donna Reed), George plans to end his own life. Just before he carries out his plan, a guardian angel, Clarence (Henry Travers) visits George and helps him realize all of the good that he has put into the world around him.

Two cartoon turkeys, one black and one purple, joyfully dance beside large, bold red letters spelling "FREE BIRDS" against a light purple background.

Mia Stamey | Graphics Editor

Lifestyle

'We're taking turkey off the menu' — A review of 'Free Birds'

By Lorelei Young | Lifestyle Writer | November 27

The 2013 film “Free Birds,” details the adventures of two talking turkeys, Reggie (Owen Wilson) and Jake (Woody Harrelson) who travel back in time to the year 1621, with the goal of stopping turkey from being served at the first Thanksgiving feast. Reggie and Jake meet a slew of turkey friends when they travel back in time. Reggie also develops a crush on Jenny (Amy Poehler), a charming turkey from 1621. Reggie, Jake and the turkeys they meet in 1621 work to fight a group of colonists hunting them for the first Thanksgiving feast.

Santa Claus sits on a chair surrounded by poinsettias, with a campus backdrop and people walking by.

Denisen Justice | Former Staff Photographer

Lifestyle

Christmas countdown with Auburn's Letters to Santa program

By Lorelei Young | Lifestyle Writer | November 17

With the holidays rapidly approaching, excitement is ramping up for Auburn’s unique Christmas traditions that celebrate community and spread joy through various events. Among the most popular is Letters to Santa, a program that allows children from Auburn and surrounding areas to send letters to Santa Claus and receive a letter in return. For several years, the city of Auburn has sponsored this program for children every holiday season.

Graphic with question mark over a calendar in front of a Christmas tree with music notes, a record and headphones around it.

Kelsey Cox | Graphics Artist

Lifestyle

Noel in November: When Auburn students start listening to Christmas music

By Lorelei Young | Lifestyle Writer | November 12

The unique aspect about holidays is that every individual is able to celebrate them differently. While some people are persistent in beginning Christmas festivities only after Thanksgiving, others eagerly await the morning of Nov. 1 to bring on the holiday spirit. There is one major point of contention, though, for all of those who celebrate Christmas. When is the proper time to start playing Christmas music?

Mia Stamey | Graphics Editor

Lifestyle

Irving’s reinvention: A review of Tim Burton’s 'Sleepy Hollow'

By Lorelei Young | Lifestyle Writer | October 17

Tim Burton’s 1999 film “Sleepy Hollow” is a loose spin-off of Washington Irving’s 1820 short story, “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.” Burton’s film is a chilling piece that follows Constable Ichabod Crane (Johnny Depp) on his 1799 journey to Sleepy Hollow from New York City.

Movie title, year, and hotel building on a blue background.

Mia Stamey | Graphics Editor

Lifestyle

Friendly fright: A review of Alfred Hitchcock’s 'Psycho'

By Lorelei Young | Lifestyle Writer | October 14

The 1960 horror film “Psycho,” directed by Alfred Hitchcock, illustrates a slew of chilling events that take place over a weekend in Arizona and California. On a Friday afternoon, Marion Crane (Janet Leigh) commits a monetary crime that motivates her to go on the run. She stops at the Bates Motel and charms the man who runs the motel, Norman Bates (Anthony Perkins). At the Motel, Crane meets her mysterious end, and her sister, Lila Crane (Vera Miles) employs a private detective, Milton Arbogast (Martin Balsam), to search for her. When Arbogast stops responding with updates, Lila and Sam Loomis (John Gavin), Marion’s boyfriend, go to the Bates Motel themselves and discover a mortifying secret about the events that occurred there.