the auburn plainsman

The Auburn PlainsmanA SPIRIT THAT IS NOT AFRAID

INDEX

SEC showdown » PAGE D1

� e Tigers prepare to face the Game-cocks in the Dome.

Supernatural solace

» PAGE C1

Sister Lee practices in Auburn-Opelika.

‘Tis the season » PAGE B1

Samford lawn gets illuminated with holiday cheer

� ursday, December 2, 2010 www.theplainsman.com Vol. 117, Issue 14, 24 Pages

News » A3 | Commentary » A5 | Campus » B1 | Intrigue » C1 | Wasting Time » C5 | Sports » D1

Auburn cans Bama in food drive

Apartment complex raises Christmas cheer standard

Eric AustinCampus Editor

While the revelry of the dismantling come-back against the University of Alabama in the Iron Bowl last week is still soaking in, the Uni-versity has another reason to showcase its su-premacy over its rival.

For the � rst time in three years, Auburn has won the Beat Bama food drive.

“� e food bank called me and told me we had won,” said Melanie Smith, sophomore in human development and family studies and the SGA director of the Beat Bama food drive. “I was just jumping up and down excited. I started crying because there’s been a lot of hard work and e� ort put in since April, and to � nd out we had won was just amazing.”

Smith said Auburn raised about 250,000 pounds of food this year for the East Alabama Food Bank, easily surpassing its previous re-cord of 212,000.

Alabama football team’s shortcoming in the competition was more than the one point that decided the Iron Bowl. � e “Beat Auburn, Beat Hunger” drive in Tuscaloosa managed 218,510 pounds for the West Alabama Food Bank.

Despite the loss, Charlotte Brown, co-di-rector of the Beat Auburn, Beat Hunger Food Drive and junior in marketing, was pleased with the overall results.

“Both schools were able to signi� cantly in-crease numbers from last year,” Brown said.

Smith said the East Alabama Food Bank was able to feed 30,000 families on � anksgiv-ing because of the donations.

“While we’re truly happy to have beat Bama by collecting the most food in the competi-tion, we know the real winners are the people in Alabama who need help with providing food for themselves and their families,” said Karla Debrunner, o¤ ce manager at the food bank.

Smith said she and her team of assistants focused this year on � nding the best way to donate to the drive for students. For the � rst time, students were able to text “Beat Bama” from their cell phones and make a $10 dona-tion that was added to their phone bill.

She also said they saw a spike in online do-nations.

“I felt like those really catered to the student body who is walking around on our phones texting,” Smith said. “It was a generation gap we really needed to cater to by texting.”

In addition to the technological revolution the food drive underwent, Smith said publicity was also a major push for her and her team. � ey put together an advertisement on the Jumbotron in Jordan-Hare Stadium.

“We may not have gotten the results we wanted from that,” Smith said. “But the more people that hear Beat Bama food drive and get that stuck in their head, the more they’re

Emily AdamsPhoto Editor

‘Tis the season for decorations, and one apartment complex is serious about lighting up.

University Corner, near West Glenn Avenue, is shining bright, with Christ-mas lights on nearly every apartment.

Alix Whitaker, senior in early child-hood education, said the decorations are about sharing the spirit.

“We just love Christmas,” Whitaker said. “People add on more and more lights every day. We want to keep mak-ing it brighter.”

Whitaker, whose decorations include a ® ying pig, Snoopy Christmas count-down, two light-up snowmen and 13 light strands, said she and her room-mates put lights up last year and were surprised to see others followed suit.

“We like to think we started it,” Whitaker said. “� is year, it’s been fun seeing who can put up the most lights,

but we’re not really competing. We just like to encourage others and spread the cheer.”

First Realty, which owns University Corner, does not encourage or discour-age the decorations, according to Abbey Reeves, leasing agent.

“We haven’t been by to see them at night,” Reeves said, “but we don’t have a problem with it.”

Nike Vita, senior in international business, said he is taking his decora-tions to another level.

“We just went all out this year,” Vita said. “We have over 2,000 lights, and we’re not done yet. It’s turned into more of a competition this year, but really, we’re just all about Christmas here.”

Vita said he and his roommates looked for the cheapest, tackiest deco-rations.

“I think it’s cool that our apartment does this,” Vita said. “I wouldn’t mind if

Crystal ColeSports Editor

Alabama fans who purchased “SCAM Newton” T-shirts should start looking for their receipts.

In a release made Wednesday, the NCAA ruled junior quarter-back Cam Newton immedi-ately eligible to play for Au-burn.

Newton remains eligible for the SEC Championship game Saturday and has been cleared without any condi-tions.

� e NCAA concluded Mon-day that a violation against Newton’s amateur status oc-curred during his recruitment by Missis-sippi State.

Auburn declared Newton ineligible Tuesday and then requested his eligibil-ity be reinstated.

According to facts agreed upon by both

Auburn University and NCAA enforce-ment sta� , Cecil Newton, Cam’s father, worked with a scouting service during his son’s recruitment by the Bulldogs.

Cecil, along with the scout service, ac-tively sought payment for his son’s com-mitment to attend college and play foot-

ball.Auburn has since limited

the access Newton’s father has to the athletic depart-ment.

Mississippi State has cut ties with the individual in-volved, former quarterback Kenny Rogers.

“We are pleased that the NCAA has agreed with our position that Cam Newton

has been and continues to be eligible to play football at Auburn University,” Au-burn University Director of Athletics Jay Jacobs said. “We appreciate the diligence

» Turn to BEAT BAMA, A2


Virginia Davis, professor in the depart-ment of chemical engineering, will head to Washington Dec. 13 to be recognized by President Barack Obama for her work in her early academic career.

Davis has been chosen by the National Science Fund to receive the Presiden-tial Faculty Early Development CAREER award.

“I was stunned,” Davis said, “really, re-ally stunned. It’s very humbling because the letter that came from the O¤ ce of Science and Technology in the White

House put all these great accolades and hopes into it, and it’s a lot to live up to.”

If her work thus far is any indication, she will have no trouble ful� lling those expectations.

University Provost Mary Ellen Mazey had nothing but high praise for Davis.

“We are very proud of Dr. Davis and know she will continue to bring recogni-tion to Auburn University for her ground-breaking research and discoveries,” Mazey said.

Davis’ work focuses on the science of “nanomaterials,” tiny particles that are

Professor to receive presidential award

Newton deemed eligible

NEWTONEmily Adams / PHOTO EDITOR

A fl ying pig and a snowman adorn the brightly-lit apartment 26 at University Corner.

» Turn to CHRISTMAS, A2» Turn to CAREER, A2

» Turn to NEWTON, A2

News A2 The Auburn Plainsman Thursday, December 2, 2010

The Auburn Plainsman

A SPIRIT THAT IS NOT AFRAID

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For Event In

formation:

www.auburn.edu/UPC

or 844-4788

UPC & sga

Holiday Celebration

TonightDec. 2nd

6:30 pm on Samford Lawn

proudly sponsor the annual

DUI Arrests in the City of Auburn Nov. 19– Dec. 2, 2010

Cynthia L. Heidepriem, 27, of OpelikaSouth College StreetNov. 20, 12:33 a.m.

Brian W. Moyer, 21, of Pensacola, Fla.Armstrong StreetNov. 20, 2:30 a.m.

Royce D. Carver, 22, of HuntsvilleSouth College StreetNov. 21, 1:50 a.m.

Melissa R. Lemaitre, 28, of MobileSouth College StreetNov. 24, 1:11 a.m.

Jeffrey L. Scroggins, 37Pepperell ParkwayNov. 21, 9:38 p.m.

Horye G. Flowers, 52, of TuskegeeEast University DriveNov. 27, 12:42 a.m.

Joseph R. Olko, 25, of ValleyI-85 North, Exit 51Nov. 27, 3:03 a.m.

Crime Reports for Nov. 19 – Dec. 2, 2010Nov. 19 — South Gay StreetBurglary of residence and theft of property reported. One E-Ma-chines desktop computer, one Xbox, one Phillips 19-inch LCD TV, one Ibanez electric guitar.

Nov. 19 — West Magnolia AvenueTheft of property reported. One Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity crest.

Nov. 19 — East University DriveTheft of property reported. Four pairs of Joe Boxer socks, one Conair headband, one bottle of Zantac, one bottle of Bayer back and body.

Nov. 19 — Interstate 85 NorthAuto theft reported. One silver Cadillac DTS.

Nov. 20 — Jack Hampton DriveBreaking and entering a vehicle and theft reported. One Auburn vs. Alabama ticket.

Nov. 20 — Shug Jordan Park-wayBurglary and theft reported. One Dale Earnhardt racing jacket, one Lowe’s racing jacket, one suede Dickie racing jacket.

Nov. 20 — Village DriveBreaking and entering of a vehicle and theft reported. One Remington model 1100 20-gauge shotgun, one .22-cali-ber long barrel rifle bolt action.

Nov. 21 — Dean Road Breaking and entering of a vehicle and theft reported. One

Tom-Tom GPS, one T-Mobile cell phone charger, one Fox 40 whistle, one stopwatch.

Nov. 22 — Oak Meadow LaneTheft of a firearm reported. One Smith and Wesson 9 mm semi-automatic pistol.

Nov. 23 — Darden AvenueBurglary and theft reported. One pair of Air Jordan Retro 8 shoes.

Nov. 28 — Drew LaneBurglary and theft reported. One Vizio 42-inch LCD TV, one Apple laptop computer.

—�Reports�provided�by�AuburnDepartment�of�Public�Safety�

used as building blocks to construct more complex pieces of technology.

She will receive a $400,000 grant, along with the award, to continue her research.

“We didn’t know about nanomaterials until fairly recently because we didn’t have the tools to see them and control them,” Davis said.

While the research com-ponent of her work is be-ing honored, the award also recognizes her work outside the lab.

Davis works with local middle school children to spur interest in science and math.

She has also started a chapter of the Society of Hispanic Engineers at Auburn to help the Uni-versity’s small, but grow-ing Hispanic population network and search for professional and graduate opportunities.

“The Society of Hispanic Engineers is an amazing organization for profes-sional development,” Da-vis said. “It’s not just for engineers, it’s for anyone who is majoring in sci-ence, technology, engi-neering, math.”

While the organization carries “Hispanic” in the name, Davis stresses it is not a restrictive organiza-tion.

“There are a lot of non- Hispanic students who go

into it because it’s one of the best career develop-ment organizations out there,” Davis said. “We’ve never had a chapter at Auburn for some reason. I decided it was one of the things I wanted to do.”

Davis’ passion for cre-ating opportunities for underrepresented groups stems from her back-ground.

Because she is of Cuban and Irish descent, Davis said she hopes she can be an example of what is pos-sible to young Hispanics interested in science and math.

“I think that it’s re-moti-vating, re-energizing,” Da-vis said. “Sometimes you wonder if you’re really do-ing something good.

“And I feel kind of arro-gant saying I see myself as a role model, but I guess that’s what it’s about.”

Mazey said she points to Davis’ award as just an-other example of recogni-tion for what she called the “innovative research” Auburn continues to carry out.

Davis said she hopes the award will help her con-tinue her work to inspire the next generation of engineers, scientists and mathematicians.

“It’s nice for someone to notice,” she said. “Es-pecially the White House, that you’re doing these things, saying ‘hey, this is a good thing to teach eighth graders about nanotech-nology.’”

going to remember it and get sick of it and want to donate.”

A silent auction was also incorporated into their ef-forts, and Smith said the event raised $7,000.

While Smith does not consider herself prone to

superstition, she does see some correlation in Au-burn’s victory in the food drive and the Iron Bowl.

“I said, ‘mom and dad, it’s all going to be my fault if we lose this food drive and we lose the football game,’” Smith said. “And then when we won the game, I said, ‘see, I told you.’”

and professionalism of the NCAA and its handling of this matter. “

ESPN.com reported Nov. 4, Rogers called for-mer Mississippi State teammate John Bond and said he represented the Newtons.

Bond said Rogers re-quested a six-figure pay-ment to secure the quar-terback’s signature on a national letter of intent.

“The conduct of Cam Newton’s father and the involved individual is un-acceptable and has no place in the SEC or in in-tercollegiate athletics,” said Mike Slive, the SEC commissioner Wednes-day. “The actions taken by Auburn University and Mississippi State Universi-ty make it clear this behav-ior will not be tolerated in the SEC.”

Rogers is set to meet with representatives from the Mississippi Secretary

of State’s office Dec. 9 to discuss Newton’s colle-giate recruitment.

NCAA staff review each reinstatement case based on the specific facts on its own merits.

Decisions are made based on a number of factors, including any cir-cumstances presented by the university and guide-lines established by Divi-sion I NCAA Committee on Student-Athlete Rein-statement.

These decisions are

separate from NCAA en-forcement and are usually made once facts about a student-athlete’s actions are determined.

An attorney represent-ing the Newton family, George Lawson, told WSB-TV of Atlanta Nov. 18 he was “one million percent” sure Cam Newton took no money.

“No money has been offered to Cam Newton,” Lawson told WSB-TV. “Cam Newton [hasn’t] asked for any money.

you could see Auburn from space.”

Others are not interest-ed in competing, but want to be part of the fun.

“We don’t compete, but some people get serious about it,” said Justin Lut-trell, sophomore in aero-space engineering. “We just felt the need to be fes-tive.”

Mark Norton,

sophomore in mechani-cal engineering, said he planned to decorate be-fore he realized the rest of the complex would too.

“We already wanted to, and when we came back from Thanksgiving and saw other people with lights up, we knew we had to,” Norton said. “It’s nice to live in a place that’s in the Christmas spirit.”

Luttrell said he has got-ten questions about the complex’s light show.

“We’ve actually had friends drive by and ask us what kind of competition we have going on,” Luttrell said. “They ask if we get some kind of reward, but we don’t. We just wanted to be cheerful. We’re just being kids.”

Decorating also serves as a stress reliever before finals, according to Caro-lin Cordle, senior in spe-cial education.

“It’s fun to drive around and look at people’s

decorations,” Cordle said, “and what makes this special is that it’s a col-lege apartment complex, where you wouldn’t ex-pect to see many decora-tions.”

Cordle said complex residents would love other apartments to join in.

“We love seeing the decorations,” Cordle said. “You can’t help but smile looking at it, and we want to spread that around Au-burn.”

ChriSTmAS» From A1

CArEEr» From A1

bEAT bAmA» From A1

NEwToN» From A1

� ursday, December 2, 2010 www.theplainsman.com Page A3

ANews Mr. Penny » PAGE A6

Christmas railroad

» PAGE A4

Katie BrownWriter

Auburn and LSU have put their ath-letic rivalry aside to team up on the coasts of Alabama and Louisiana to create a new technique in oyster farm-ing.

With the new technique, oysters are grown o� the bottom of the ocean while suspended in water columns.

Previously, they have been harvest-ed in reefs at the bottom of the water.

“� e current methods of producing oysters are too unpredictable and un-reliable,” said John Supan, Louisiana Sea Grant and LSU AgCenter oyster specialist. “� e oyster � shery is very cyclical—some years boom, some years bust. Intensive oyster culture, or o� -bottom, of hatchery-produced oyster seed can provide a more con-sistent livelihood.”

Bill Walton, aquaculture and � sh-eries specialist at Auburn, has been working on the project at the Au-burn University Shell� sh Laboratory on Dauphin Island in hopes of using

this technique to better the � nancial situation for the people who live on Alabama’s coast and in other coastal communities.

“When I look at coastal � shing communities throughout the U.S., I see communities that are very chal-lenged,” Walton said. “� ey are com-munities that are often economically depressed.

Anything we can do to keep that tra-ditional � shing community there and thriving is something that we should be exploring.”

While this task may seem easy to achieve with the new research being conducted, there are still obstacles.

“One of the main challenges for oyster farms in our area is how to do it pro� tably,” Walton said. “You want to reduce the labor, but the other end is getting as much revenue as possible for what you produce.”

While � nding the most pro� table way to produce oysters is an issue, the research also considers how it will af-fect the economy and surrounding culture.

“I think we still have more econom-ic work to do to make sure this tech-nique is possible,” said LaDon Swann, director at the Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant Consortium.

While the outcome of this new re-search can be bene� cial to those liv-ing on the coast, without proper fund-ing and the collaboration between Auburn and LSU, this may not be pos-sible.

“When Dr. Bill Walton came to Au-burn two years ago, he received Sea Grant funding to evaluate di� erent ¡ oating o� -bottom culture systems for use in Alabama,” Supan said. “Since our o� -bottom culture evaluations were focused on longline culture, it was a logical choice to approach our research/extension e� orts regionally, to be more e£ cient in the use of our research funding and to continue our close-working relationships.”

Because the Deep Water Horizon oil spill a� ected so much of the gulf coast seafood industry, new technology is highly anticipated and recognized.

However, the oil spill didn’t a� ect

the oyster industry as much as oth-er disasters such as hurricanes and droughts normally do, Walton said.

“We were very fortunate in coast waters in Alabama,” Walton said. “We didn’t see any oil in there. � e site was not impacted, and the oysters were safe to eat.”

While it may have caused worry among oyster farmers, Walton insists that Alabama oyster cultures were left unharmed for the most part.

“� e oil spill has de� nitely made farming less sustainable,” Swann said.

� e biggest obstacle after the oil spill was marketing because of the fear associated with eating seafood that could have been contaminated with oil.

While strides have been made in the research, there is still more to come.

“Whenever one starts something new, there is always learning,” Supan said. “We are now moving towards demonstration and commercializa-tion, which is more di£ cult than re-search, especially evaluation. It is an ongoing process.”

Auburn researches new method of oyster farming

Mary GillmanWriter

Over the river and through the woods, through downtown Auburn we go.

� e annual Auburn Chamber of Com-merce Christmas Parade has been moved to 10 a.m. Dec. 11 to allow the focus to be on the Auburn Tigers Dec. 4 in the SEC Championship game.

“It’s open to the public, so anybody who wants to participate in our pa-rade is welcome to,” said Lolly Steiner, president of the Au-burn Chamber of Commerce.

Steiner said the amount of participants has to be cut o� at a certain number because the parade can only last so long.

“We have probably about 75 to 80 ¡ oats each year, and it starts right there at the gates of Samford Hall, right there on � ach,” Steiner said.

� e only thing di� erent about the parade this year is that it is in the morning and on the weekend.

“It goes down College, down-town, down the hill through Toomer’s, takes a right on Glenn and then takes the next right on Gay and then comes back and takes a right back onto � ach and comes back in the gates on the same route,” Steiner said.

Steiner said people looking for the best spot to experience the parade should stand on Toomer’s Corner or anywhere on College Street because those areas are well-lit.

Local high school marching bands will be belting out Christmas tunes, and there will also be appearances from beauty queens and Aubie.

“We’ll have lots of nonpro� t organiza-tions put ¡ oats together and come out and lots of dance studios bring their chil-dren out, which they love,” Steiner said.

Santa Claus will be riding at the end of the line in a � re truck, while throwing out candy to everyone watching the parade.

Steiner said the parade should only last an hour, but if drivers need a detour, they should use Mell Street o� of College Street. She does not believe the parade will cause much inconvenience at its scheduled time.

“� at’s when merchants have lots of sales and activities going on post-parade,” Steiner said. “Like they’ll have Santa Claus down there for photo op, and they’ll have lots of sales and promotions. We

want to encourage people to stay in downtown Auburn and � nish up their Christmas shopping or begin their Christ-mas shopping.”

Peggy Ann Hall, manager of Wrapsody, said this will be the � rst year the stores downtown will have somewhat of an open house.

Many of the stores will have specials for customers after the parade has ended.

“Our store in particular, we’re going to have elves here so the kids can have their pictures made with the elves, and I think the photo is free, but you have to come back into the store later and pick up your photo,” Hall said.

Santa Claus will also be around for pic-tures, and merchants may have craft ta-bles for kids outside their stores, Hall said.

“So we’re really hoping for kind of like a longer event than just the Christmas Pa-rade,” Hall said.

Hall said for people concerned about parking, the streets will be open as soon as the parade is over, and most people park outside of the square track in which the parade follows.

For more information on the Chamber of Commerce Christmas Parade, visit au-burnchamber.com.

Mary Gillman

Over the river and through the woods, through downtown Auburn we go.

� e annual Auburn Chamber of Com-merce Christmas Parade has been moved to 10 a.m. Dec. 11 to allow the focus to be on the Auburn Tigers Dec. 4 in the SEC

“It’s open to the public, so anybody who wants to participate in our pa-rade is welcome to,” said Lolly Steiner, president of the Au-burn Chamber of Commerce.

Steiner said the amount of participants has to be cut

� e only thing di� erent about the parade this year is that it is in the morning and

“It goes down College, down-town, down the hill through

SEC Championship causes delay of parade

Photo Illustration by Jillian Clair / ASSOCIATE NEWS EDITOR

Burglaries increase when students leave for long breaks. Trailer parks, apartment com-plexes and other areas where large groups of students live are often targeted.

Jillian ClairAssociate News Editor

It’s that time of year again—time for cold weather, Christmas trees, shopping and, of course, break-ins while students are away.

Preventing burglaries is a joint e� ort between citizens and the Auburn Police Department, said Capt. Tom Stofer of the Auburn Police Depart-ment.

Students leaving town for the holidays can pre-pare their homes by per-forming several tasks.

“Make sure that you lock and secure all win-dows and doors,” Stofer said. “A lot of times break-ins—it’s kind of a crime of opportunity.

“� e burglar will take the path of least resis-tance, so if they can � nd a window or a door un-locked or open, that’s the way they’ll enter the resi-dence.”

Stofer said it is also important to make a resi-dence look lived-in during an absence.

“My suggestion to do is to put a small radio and some lights on tim-ers that come on periodi-cally throughout the day and the night that would give the appearance of

someone being home,” Stofer said.

Leaving a car parked in front of the residence and having mail forwarded are other ways people can protect their homes.

� ose staying in town can help prevent burglar-ies as well.

“For those people that are going to stay here and aren’t gonna travel during the holidays, it’s especially important that those people report any suspicious activity to us,” Stofer said. “So if you’re a neighbor keeping an eye on your neighbor’s apart-ment unit and you see

something at that apart-ment unit that looks sus-picious, please give us a call. It’s not an inconve-nience—that’s our job.”

� e patrol division in-creases its presence in vacated residential areas.

Students can call the APD at 334-844-3150 dur-ing business hours and 334-844-3100 after busi-ness hours to ask an of-� cer to check their home several times during their absence.

It is also important for people to remove valu-ables from their homes.

■ Lock doors and windows.

■ Put lights and a radio on a schedule to turn on and off during the evening.

■ Take commonly stolen items with you.

■ Ask a neighbor monitor the residence.

■ Ask the Auburn Police De-partment to monitor the residence.

■ Close blinds.

Ways to protect your home

Police strive to prevent thefts during winter break

» Turn to THEFT, A4

News A4 The Auburn Plainsman � ursday, December 2, 2010

Daniel ChesserNews Editor

With the recent death of Dean Marie Wooten, pe-destrian safety remains a concern.

Since several pedestri-ans have been struck on campus in the past year, the need for awareness has gone up despite measures taken by the city and Uni-versity to improve safety.

Temporary lighting and stop signs in the cross-walks on West Magnolia Avenue were some of the � rst steps taken toward making campus safer for pedestrians.

“(Permanent lights) were installed this sum-mer,” said Charles Dug-gan, city manager. “Since the signs were put up, the number of accidents has decreased, and I believe the lighting has improved the area.”

� e lights were installed on the south side of the road, which is on campus.

“� e University stepped up and took the lead on that project even though Magnolia is a city street,” said Cathy Love, the Uni-versity’s master plan im-plementation engineer. “We did that with stimulus money.”

� e project cost $300,000, and the Univer-sity has since turned the ownership and mainte-nance of the lights over to

the city of Auburn, Love said.

� e change in season and time means Alabama experiences more dark hours than light.

“One of the things I think that is important to note this time of year is the need to wear re� ective c l o t h i n g and lights at night, especially if you’re a cyclist or a walker,” said Bran-dy Ezelle, t r a f f i c engineer and co-c o o r d i -nator of T r a v e l with Care.

T h e T r a v e l with Care campaign pro-motes unplugging iPods and not talking or texting while driving to increase driver awareness.

“A vehicle’s headlights il-luminate someone in the road only a certain dis-tance away,” Ezelle said. “� at distance (155 feet) is about equal to the distance it takes a person to stop at the speed of 25 mph.”

A vehicle traveling faster than that is unlikely to see an obstruction in the road-way with su¤ cient time to stop if the pedestrian is not wearing anything

re� ective, Ezelle said.“� ose re� ective materi-

als are visible at 500 feet, which gives a vehicle the opportunity to stop even at 45 or 50 mph,” Ezelle said.

A city ordinance re-quires re� ective material for cyclists, walkers and drivers.

“Every-body that is either d r i v i n g , w a l k -ing, run-ning or bicycling needs to be aware of each other on the road and move defensive-ly,” said Bill James, p u b l i c

safety director.Raised crosswalks on

Samford Avenue and signs on the 100 block of South College Street are other ar-eas where measures were taken to decrease inci-dents, James said.

“It is something we re-view at least quarterly with the University,” James said. “You have to be extremely careful regardless of your mode of transportation.

“If you are a driver, be aware of the crosswalks and be aware of the pedes-trians entering the cross-walks.”

Despite e© orts, pedestrian, tra¤ c safety still a concern

Darcie DyerWriter

Christmas tradition in Opelika is going strong as the town prepares to celebrate its 16th annual Christmas in a Railroad Town.

� e event will transform the streets of downtown Opelika into a Christmas wonderland Dec. 10 from 6 to 9 p.m.

From live music to arts and crafts, Friday eve-ning’s events promise to have something for people of all ages.

Valinda Wheeles, direc-tor of Opelika Main Street, said a large crowd is ex-pected.

“It’s hard to gauge the crowd size, but we’ll have at least a couple thousand, maybe more,” Wheeles said. “� is is our 16th year, so we’re pretty big.

“We’ve got a lot of people that come in from out of town, so it’s not just local

people. For a lot of people, it’s a family tradition.”

Auburn native Drew Young said he remembers going to the event as a child.

“I de� nitely think it’s grown, though,” Young said.

Mr. and Mrs. Claus will make an appearance for photographs on the cor-ner of 8th and Railroad avenues.

In addition to visiting with the Clauses, children can prepare for Christmas’ arrival by making reindeer food and writing letters to Santa.

Rockytop Railroad rides, as well as pony rides, will be o© ered to children throughout the night.

Other entertainment for children will include an in-� atable playground and a Christmas village.

“� is year’s event is very similar to what we’ve done in the past,” Wheeles said. “We try to add something

new each year, too.”Wheeles said they are

currently scheduling the local entertainment for the night.

“We’ll have di© erent school choirs and choral groups,” Wheeles said. “I’m trying to con� rm the rest of the entertainment, but scheduling will be posted.”

Christmas in a Railroad Town also bene� ts local commerce.

“Restaurants will be open, and there will be late-night shopping,” Wheeles said. “� e stores are open until 9 o’clock.”

� e Historic Downtown District is hosting this event in conjunction with the town’s four-day Vic-torian Front Porch Tour, which will host lighted driving tours Dec. 8-12 from 5 to 10 p.m.

Families can complete the evening with a wagon or trolley ride through the Victorian Front Porch Christmas Tour.

Christmas spirit rolls into the railroad town of Opelika

Photo Illustration by Jillian Clair / ASSOCIATE NEWS EDITOR

One of the most important preparations to take when leaving town is locking dead bolts and windows.

“� ey’re after jewelry, guns, any type of electron-ic equipment—a popular thing right now is � at-screen televisions—any-thing that they can sell on the street somewhere to make a dollar,” Stofer said.

Management sta© of residential properties of-ten take extra precautions to protect students while they are gone.

“We provide security each time students are away, and then we have gates and cameras,” said Tanya Grooms, o¤ ce man-ager at Ridgewood Village, a mobile home community on Webster Road.

Grooms said Ridgewood had no break-ins during � anksgiving break.

“(� e security guard) sits at the front entrance, and he checks to make sure everyone that comes in is a resident, and if they’re not, then he � nds out who they’re here to see,” Grooms said.

Prestige sends out no-tices to its renters remind-ing them about holiday precautions that are often overlooked, said Mark Jones, owner/broker of Prestige Properties.

Jones said many people forget to lock their dead bolts before they leave, making their homes easy targets for break-ins.

“ T r a d i t i o n a l l y ,

everybody just goes in and out and locks their door-k n o b , ” Jones said. “I would say a high m a j o r i ty of people f o r g e t to lock their dead bolts.”

Anoth-er over-sight of many resi-dents is renter’s insurance, he said.

“It is so cheap—$15, $20 a month or whatever—but it’s just so valuable in a situation like that,” Jones said.

Renter’s insurance

reimburses a resident af-ter a burglary and can be

obtained indepen-dently or t h r o u g h an exten-sion of a p a r e n t ’s h o m -eowner’s i n s u r -ance.

S t o f e r said that although b r e a k -

ins are more common in student housing dur-ing school breaks, people should take precautions year-round—burglaries can happen anywhere, anytime.

THEFT» From A3

“ Everybody that is either

driving, walking, running or bicycling needs to be aware of each other on the road and move defensively.”

Bill James, Public Safety Director

“ I would say a high

majority of people forget to lock their dead bolts.”

Mark Jones, Owner/broker of Prestige

Properties

A5� ursday, December 2, 2010 www.theplainsman.com News

The Auburn Plainsman Editorial Board

Commentary

OUR POLICY � e opinions of � e Auburn Plainsman sta are restricted to these pages. � ese unsigned editorials are the majority opinion of the 9-member editorial board and are the o� cial opinion of the newspaper. � e opin-ions expressed in columns and letters represent the views and opinions of their individual authors and do not necessarily re� ect the Auburn University student body, faculty, administration or Board of Trustees.

� e Auburn Plainsman welcomes letters from students as well as from faculty, administrators, alumni and those not af-� liated with the University. Letters must be submitted before 4:30 p.m. on the Monday for publication. Letters must include the author’s name, address and phone number for veri� ca-tion, though the name of the author may be withheld upon re-quest. Submission may be edited for grammar and/or length.

Mailing AddressAuburn Student Center

Suite 1111HAuburn, AL 36849

Phone: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .334–844–4130Email: . . . [email protected]

Emily CleverCopy Editor

Ben BartleyOpinions Editor

Brian DesarroIntrigue Editor



Daniel ChesserNews Editor

Laura MaxwellManaging Editor

Rod GuajardoEditor

Adam BulgatzDesign Editor

HOW TO CONTACT US

Our View

Last week’s question:Should the student section keep ‘throwing it out’?

61%

14%No

Totally classless

This week’s question: Should students get several reading days for � nals?

❍ Yes ❍ No

Vote atwww.theplainsman.comwww.theplainsman.comwww.theplainsman.com

“� at diploma is a $40,000 piece of paper. I’m going to charge an admission fee just for people to come and look at it.”

Taylor LeGette, senior, psychology

“First class to graduate in arena,” B1

25%

Yes

Has it all been a dream? Could all this really be hap-

pening? For an entire half last Fri-

day, it all seemed to be crash-ing down.

It seemed we were about to be awakened from the eupho-ria we’ve been sharing since early September.

Our small orange-and-blue section seemed to be drown-ing in a crimson tidal wave.

Just when it seemed we could hold our breath no lon-ger, we broke the surface.

Cam hit Emory for six, and the comeback was on.

When the clock hit zero, we were still dreaming. Still believing. We were still, un-equivocally, All In.

It would be impossible for anyone to deny that some-thing special has happened in Auburn this year.

Few at the beginning of the season said we would be sit-ting in this position.

And yet, here we are—60

minutes away from the most glorious stage in the game of college football.

We have climbed every hur-dle, de� ed every odd and si-lenced every speculation with an on-� eld performance even � ayer Evans cannot deny.

We have been great.While the country may be-

lieve we only have a one man team, we know that this is simply not so.

Controversy or not, Cam is the best player in college foot-ball. � ere is no denying it.

Without him, a convincing argument could be made that a few tallies would have been added to the loss column. But for the naysayers who shout this argument, the counterar-gument is simple. Even if he is the entire team, he is on our team. We have him, you wish you had him, and now we’re going to beat you for o½ end-ing our sensibilities.

Of course, for those of us who have watched this team

week after week, we know that Cam is only one piece of this larger puzzle of great-ness.

Without an outstanding front � ve, he would not have the holes to explode through. Without Dyer, Onterio and Mario, crucial plays would never have come to be. With-out a receiving core who could snatch a shooting star out of the air, he would have no one to throw to. And for all of their faults, coach Roof ’s defense has come up with ev-ery stop it’s needed when the game was on the line.

� e 11 men on either side of the ball are not the only ones who play the game of football.

� e game is played every day, every hour, every second, in the hearts and minds of this campus, this family.

While the team has played great, the community has upheld its highest standards as well. We’ve showed up

earlier, screamed louder, and celebrated longer and harder than we ever have before.

� rough it all, this is what we have become now more than ever—a family.

We’ve leaned on each other when we were not strong.

We’ve slapped high � ves when we were the strongest.

Saturday, we will undoubt-edly do both.

If the past 12 games have been any indication, there will be perilous moments.

It is in these moments, however, when we will lean.

We will lean on one anoth-er and see it through.

And when the clock strikes zero, we will once again emerge victorious and pre-pare for a journey west to show the country exactly how high a War Eagle can ¾ y, how loud a Tiger can roar.

Saturday we will once again show we are here to conquer.

Yielding never crossed our minds.

“I wanted a perfect ending. Now I’ve learned, the hard way, that some

poems don’t rhyme, and some stories don’t have a clear beginning, middle and end. Life is about not knowing, having to change, taking the mo-ment and making the best of it, without knowing what’s going to happen next.”

– Gilda Radner.I am graduating Dec. 13

and saying farewell to the collegiate lifestyle I have grown accustomed to over

the past few years.It has not all been rays

of sunshine on my jour-ney to this point, but I like to think I have bene� ted from each experience, as I grow older and wiser in the ways of the world.

Some things are still a mystery to me, but I know I will always cherish my tenure at � e Auburn Plainsman.

No matter how my day was going I could rely on a

co-worker to lift my spirits with a joke or a word of en-couragement and support.

� e sense of community in the oÁ ce is great, even with all the stress of dead-lines and schoolwork.

It is a group of people in the same position working toward the same goal, and on � ursdays we all get to see our hard work pay o½ in print.

I would like to thank some previous Plainsman

folk, including Lindsey Davidson for pushing me to participate more, espe-cially in New York and New Orleans.

I want to thank Ellison Langford for guiding me on my journey to becom-ing the news editor.

Cli½ McCollum gains my praise for continuing to be a friend to turn to when I am in a funk.

I thank Rod Guajardo for being such a great lead-

er and letting me be myself in my work.

Jillian Clair will soon take over my position, and trust me when I say her hard work and posi-tive attitude will make � e Plainsman an even better publication than I could have imagined.

She is awesome.I wish all current and

future sta½ ers the best as I depart.

War Eagle.

Let my diploma serve as my sail in the wind

Daniel Chessernews@theplainsman.

com

I don’t think anyone out-side those being addressed enjoy reading farewell col-umns.

So if you glance over the last half of this page, I totally understand. � is most likely isn’t for you.

Here goes: Goodbye � e Auburn Plainsman. You’ve been a good friend, a con-stant in a period of ex-treme but exciting change.

You gave as much as you took. And you taught me more than I realize, I’m sure.

You’ve introduced me to lifelong friends and as-sorted interesting people.

� ese friends and ac-quaintances, more than I can or will list (taking the easy way out), helped me

establish my place at Au-burn.

I always felt I was part of two unique groups—Au-burn student and Plains-man sta½ member.

Being a part of � e Plainsman is impossible to describe or understand until you’ve actually been a Plainsman sta½ member.

It’s a strange world un-like anything else I’ve ex-perienced on campus.

And I’m glad I got to in-habit that world for a pe-riod of time, even if I can’t really remember how long for various reasons.

(I do, however, remem-ber certain trips to certain places involving setting � re to certain sensitive areas of certain members of a certain disreputable profession. � at was inter-esting and made for a good story, one which I prob-ably told too many times.)

Any of you still reading not a part of � e Plains-man sta½ interested in journalistic or non� ction writing should join as soon as possible.

I learned more about

writing and journalism working at � e Plainsman than I did in all my classes I took during my four-and-a-half years at Auburn combined.

Classes are all about earning arbitrary grades—grades which mean noth-ing in postgraduation to the nongrad school ap-plicant—and less about hands-on (or actual, for that matter) learning.

Sure, � e Plainsman looks good on a résumé, but it’s really about be-ing passionate and taking pride in your work.

I will miss it. But it won’t miss me, not for long any-way.

A new group will heed the call, as always.

Legacies don’t last long here. Nor should they. � e Plainsman is about per-petual renewal.

A piece of advice that you should at least con-sider even if I am only 22: Don’t take college or your-self too seriously.

And practice selective hearing in, and out, of class.

Ben Bartleyopinion@theplainsman.

com

You don’t even know, man

Sixty minutes to glory

Farewell to four and a half years of school, fare-well to all the trailer park rules.

I won’t miss sitting through that stupid class, but maybe just a little of that Plainsman sass.

I said my few words and I made some friends.

Now, you could say, I see the world through a new lens.

Time went by slow, then time went by fast. I went with the ¾ ow and I’m at the end at last.

I don’t have a job, I still have to pack, but at least I know I will always have my kitties, Tucker and Max.

Brian Desarrointrigue@theplainsman.

com

Feline fancier’s farewell

News A6 The Auburn Plainsman � ursday, December 2, 2010

What: Informational SessionWho: Seniors and recent grads interested in traveling abroad. Parents welcome too!When: 5:30 p.m. Jan. 21Where: Auburn Alumni Center

Let this be your year for adventurePizza provided by AESU Inc.

War Eagle Travelers’ Classic European Graduation Tour

Join your Auburn Alumni Association staff and travel operators for a brief presentation (with free pizza!) about our annual 17-day War Eagle Travelers’ Classic European Graduation Tour designed just for our newest alumni. From the pomp and pag-eantry of London to the glamour of Paris, from ancient Roman ruins to the majesty of the Greek isles, Europe’s most famous cities and fabulous beaches provide the setting for a journey

that celebrates and educates.

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WE WANT YOUR GENTLY USED COUCHES, TABLES, SHOES,

CLOTHES, AND ANY OTHER ITEMS.

WE WILL COME TO YOU FOR PICKUP.Call 334•705•8858

MOVING?2510 Pepperell Pkwy - Opelika AL

Auburn Weekly Gas MonitorWeek of Dec. 2

Location Reg Mid Prem

Shell — Glenn and Gay $2.729 $2.849 $2.969

Circle K — Glenn and Gay $2.739 $2.879 $3.019

Shell — Wire $2.759 $2.899 $3.039

Walmart — South College $2.759 $2.879 $2.999

Chevron — South College $2.799 $2.999 $3.019

Exxon — Wire $2.899 $2.999 $3.149

Chevron — Wire $2.899 $3.049 $3.199

Chevron — University $2.899 $2.999 $3.099

BP — Samford and Gay $2.899 $2.999 $3.279

Chevron — Glenn $2.899 $3.059 $3.199

Average $2.828 $2.961 $3.097

CALENDAR: THURSDAY, DEC. 2 – SATURDAY, DEC. 11

SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY2

Holiday Tree Lighting @ Samford Lawn, 6:30 p.m.

3Last day of classes

4SEC Cham-pionship vs. South Caro-lina, 3 p.m.

5“No Child Left Behind and Student Performance in Alabama County Schools” @ Comer Hall Room 207, 2 p.m.

6WISE and Shine Cof-fee Break @ Women’s Resource Center, Room 311 Mary Martin Hall, 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.

7High Tea at Fountainview Mansion, 2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.

8 9Joy of the Season Luncheon @ Fountainview Mansion, 11: 30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

10Christmas in a Railroad Town @ Downtown Opelika, 6 p.m.

11Opelika Victorian Front Porch Christmas Walking Tour @ Downtown Opelika, 5 p.m.

Emily AdamsPhoto Editor

He may be known as Mr. Penny, but Johnny Rich-mond’s value to the Au-burn community is price-less.

Richmond, a lifelong Auburn resident, can be found many Saturdays do-ing push-ups behind the goal line in Jordan-Hare Stadium.

Richmond said he sup-ports Auburn in every way.

“Everything I do is to support Auburn,” Rich-mond said. “If you go to my house, everything is

painted orange and blue —my truck, my yard, my weight room, everything.”

Richmond said he got his famous nickname at a picnic before he was born.

“My mother said I was pinching her,” Rich-mond said, “but everyone thought she said I was ‘penny,’ and that’s what I’ve been called ever since.”

Richmond, who works out « ve times a week, said he does 25 push-ups after every Auburn score, an idea that resulted from a vision he had approxi-mately eight years ago.

“It was around four in the morning, and I heard this noise say ‘push-up,’” Richmond said. “I looked around, and I thought I was dreaming. About the time I closed my eyes, I heard it again.

“I realized then that push-ups would be great motivation for Auburn.”

Richmond said he at-tends as many football games as possible.

He always arrives an hour late.

“If the game starts at

2:30, I get there at 3:30, so when I get there the fans are all excited for me to walk in,” Richmond said. “When we were behind at Clemson, I got there and everybody said, ‘We need you, where have you been?’ So I did my push-ups, and the players saw me on the screen, and it motivated them. It’s not a show—it’s motivation.”

Richmond said he never expected to become such a recognizable « gure.

“I didn’t think about any of that,” Richmond said. “� e only thing I was thinking of was supporting Auburn and motivating the players.”

Richmond said he is ex-cited about Auburn’s 12-0 season, especially the Iron Bowl win.

“Everybody was say-ing Alabama was going to beat us,” Richmond said. “But I knew we were going to go there and shut down 101,000 fans. � at was our game.”

He said he never doubt-ed Auburn would win, even when they were

down by 24 points in the « rst half.

When he’s not watching football, Richmond works as a custodian at Dean Road Middle School and as a crossing guard for Au-burn City Schools.

Richmond said working with children changed his life.

“When I « rst came here, I was young and hostile,” Richmond said, “but when you look down and see their smiling faces, it’s im-possible to be angry, and I realized they need to see somebody doing some-thing positive.”

Richmond said he tries to inspire college students as well.

“� ese kids come here from near and far, and they’re away from their parents,” Richmond said. “So I try to be a role model and a positive example on campus.”

Richmond said his love for people has made him successful.

“I’m just a people per-son,” Richmond said. “� at’s what happens

when you put God « rst. You can’t go wrong.”

� e main message of his Mr. Penny persona is to love everyone, he said.

“Have a positive

attitude,” Richmond said. “Remember that life is a fun thing. I don’t have hate in my heart for no one. It’s all about love and caring and sharing.”

Mr. Penny shares love, push-ups,

inspiration with Auburn

Contributed

Lifelong Auburn resident Johnny Richmond, also known as Mr. Penny, does 25 push-ups every time Auburn scores.

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� ursday, December 2, 2010 www.theplainsman.com Page B1

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Rachel ShireyWriter

As graduation approach-es, students are scrambling to tie loose ends and prepare

themselves for the real world.“� e graduation ceremony is

a long-lived and important Au-burn tradition for students and their families,” according to the graduation website (www.au-

burn.edu/graduation). “We hear from them

that it is a mean-ingful event.”

� e graduation ceremony will be taking place in the Auburn Arena Dec. 13.

“I think it’s a pretty good idea to do it in December because I feel that the graduating class would be smaller, so they can get a handle on it,” said Amy Bohan, graduating senior in animal sci-ence and pre-vet. “So starting it for the smaller graduating class allows them to maybe prepare and � x things for the bigger graduating class in the spring.”

Students are not limited to the number of guests they can invite.

Taylor LeGette, graduating senior in psychology, said she plans to invite 12 family mem-bers to the ceremony because she is the � rst person in her fam-ily to graduate from college.

Bohan, on the other hand, in-vited close family and her boy-friend.

Students are expected to ar-rive at the arena 45 minutes be-fore their ceremony and sit with their college.

� is system allows for more organization and gives every stu-dent their earned recognition.

Auburn will host two gradu-ation ceremonies for select col-leges. � e � rst is at 10 a.m., and the second is at 2 p.m. � e web-site says the ceremony won’t be longer than two hours.

“� e end of the ceremony is when new bachelor degree re-cipients switch their tassels, sing the alma mater and, after the stage guests and faculty recess, celebrate in unison,” said the

gradation committee.� e University wants to pro-

mote an atmosphere of pride, dignity and safety.

“I’m pretty excited about it,” LeGette said. “Auburn is a pretty awesome school, and we are ranked pretty high. Not just in football, but for academics as well, so I think graduating in something that’s new, modern and nice would be rather appro-priate for a graduation class of Auburn University.”

However, LeGette said pre-paring for graduation on top of � nals and the Graduate Record Examination is stressful, but worth it.

� e graduation website

‘TIS THE SEASONDerek Lacey

Associate Campus Editor

� is year, the Auburn family rings in the most wonderful time of the year with the annual Holiday Celebration � ursday at 6:30 p.m.

Co-sponsored by the Student Govern-ment Association and University Pro-gram Council, the Holiday Celebration takes place on Samford Lawn following the Auburn Chamber of Commerce’s Christmas Parade and features carols, the lighting of the tree and a speech by Shakeer Abdullah, director of the AU Multicultural Center.

� e celebration also includes a pre-sentation by Toys for Tots, which will be collecting toys at the event; the lighting of unity candles, led by SGA president Kurt Sasser and UPC president Victoria Dominic; and � nally, the lighting of the tree by mayor Bill Ham.

And nothing says it is that time of year like hot chocolate, apple cider, cookies and a visit from Aubie.

Miss Auburn and Miss Auburn Uni-versity will lead a children’s moment at the event, and music will be supplied by the AU Dean’s Brass Quintet and the Au-burn University Chamber Choir.

Rebecca Hart, junior in communica-tion disorders and director of the Holi-day Celebration, � rst participated in the event through Tiger Tuesdays and was assistant director for last year’s cel-ebration.

“I enjoy Holiday Celebration because it brings Auburn University and the Au-burn community together to celebrate

the holiday season, as well as give back to the community,” Hart said.

Planning for this year’s celebration was no easy task, taking months of co-operation and management.

“We started o ̄ with brainstorming our goals for Holiday Celebration and then how we would accomplish those goals,” said Julianne Willis, senior in biomedical sciences and UPC vice pres-ident. “One thing we wanted to do this year is unify the spirit of the holiday season.”

Planners are responsible for securing all speakers and groups that participate in the celebration, including Ainsley Carry, vice president of student a ̄airs, who will give the welcoming address.

“From the catering, to choosing and contacting speakers, to ensuring that the invitations are sent out on time, to planning out all of the logistics and the agenda, a lot of people are involved in this process,” said Olivia Hutchinson, undeclared sophomore in liberal arts and assistant director for the Holiday Celebration.

� e planning committee began think-ing of ideas and making time lines as far back as April, but actual planning did not begin until mid-September, accord-ing to Hutchinson.

� e Holiday Celebration does not focus on one particular religion’s tra-dition, but is intended to celebrate all holidays occurring this time of year.

“� e celebration is truly about unit-ing the Auburn family in the spirit of such a wonderful season,” Hutchinson said.

AU Holiday Celebration

When: � ursday, 6:30 p.m.

Where: Samford Lawn

What: SGA and UPC will host an evening of yuletide cheer as the Auburn family celebrates the lighting of the

University Christmas tree

Who: Special guests will include the AU Dean’s Brass Quintet, AU Chamber Choir and Aubie

*� e Auburn Chamber of Commerce Christmas Parade has been moved to Dec. 11th at 10 a.m.

Samford Lawn will once again be illuminated with holiday cheer

First class set to graduate in new arena

» Turn to GRAD, B2

PLAINSMAN ARCHIVES

Charlie Timberlake / ASSISTANT PHOTO EDITOR

Helen Northcutt / GRAPHICS EDITOR

Campus B2 The Auburn Plainsman � ursday, December 2, 2010

explained students start-ed preparing for the com-mencement months ago. Students ordered caps and gowns in October.

“It’s an honorable rec-ognition and a little cele-bration for our hard work and dedication, not only to the University, but to what we are going to be able to contribute to the world and to society af-terwards,” LeGette said.

LeGette will be graduating earlier than planned with the

academic distinction of magna cum laude. She said she “kicked butt” to be where she is now.

Bohan said the cere-mony will be memorable.

“It’s just the ending of one chapter and the beginning of something else,” Bohan said.

After the ceremony, students will pick up di-plomas at the Student Activities Center.

“� at diploma is a $40,000 piece of paper,” LeGette said. “I’m go-ing to charge an admis-sion fee just for people to come and look at it.”

GRAD» From B1

Abby TownsonWriter

With the holidays begin-ning, most students are packing their bags and preparing to head home. For international students, however, going home for the break is not always an option.

Vaishali Sharda, gradu-ate student in biochemical engineering and president of the International Stu-dent Organization, said a large percentage of the international students do not have anywhere to go for the holidays.

Sharda said about 900 international students at-tend Auburn.

“Most of them stay in town, if not visiting their home countries or taking a vacation, and celebrate with local churches/fami-lies,” Sharda said.

Originally from India, Sharda came to Auburn in January 2007.

Sharda last visited India in the summer of 2008 and is going again in Decem-ber. She normally visits friends during the holi-days.

For international

students unable to leave school for the break, Shar-da said there are events hosted by the University.

“� ere is a � anksgiv-ing dinner every year that the O ̈ ce of Multicultural A© airs hosts and many internationals attend it,” Sharda said. “As far as ISO is concerned, we meet ev-ery Friday, and whenever there is a holiday, we try to go with the theme.”

Yebeen Lee, freshman in architecture, came to Auburn in the summer of 2009 from South Korea.

“I don’t live by myself here,” Lee said. “I live with my family. My father is working for Mando, which is one of the Korean com-panies at Opelika, so all my family is here, and my home is here.”

Lee said her situation as an international student is special, though not un-common in Auburn.

“Many international students in Auburn have a family in Auburn,” Lee said. “It’s di© erent with other international stu-dents of out of this state or other countries’ students.”

� ough her family lives in Auburn, Lee said she

has many friends back home whom she misses.

Unable to go back to South Korea for the holi-days until next year, Lee often travels during school breaks. She went to North Carolina in the summer of 2009 and New York in the summer of 2010.

“If we are not going, we are usually going to other states, like New York, Cali-fornia, Washington, D.C., or other famous places,” Lee said.

Lee said she planned to study and hang out with friends for � anksgiving break.

Suresh Sharma, Ph.D. student in civil engineer-ing with water resources and water quality, came to the United States from Ne-pal in fall 2008. He has not returned home since.

“I do not have (that) problem that much,” Shar-ma said of homesickness. “I communicate through phone.”

He said being away from home did not deter him from coming to Auburn.

“I thought, ‘� is is the good place to live and good place to study,’” Shar-ma said.

Break turns campus into ghost town

As most students head home for the holidays, international students � nd alternatives

Chelsea HarveySta Writer

Although most Univer-sity services shut down during � anksgiving break and winter break, some departments such as the bookstore and li-brary remain open for at least some of the break, but often with new hours.

� e bookstore, for in-stance, is generally open several days after classes end.

According to Candace Saunders, senior in early childhood education and bookstore employee, the store did not close for � anksgiving break until last Wednesday.

She said the bookstore will probably be closed for about two weeks over winter break.

Dorms, dining services and most o ̈ ces on cam-pus close during Univer-sity breaks.

According to Jayson Hill, director of commu-nications and marketing for the library, the library shortens its hours, but all regular services are still available.

“Everything will be

operating as normal,” Hill said. “You can pretty much take advantage of anything you want to during that time period.”

However, some of the library’s partners, such as the Miller Writing Cen-ter and the Study Part-ners program, will not be open.

According to Trey Lightner of human re-sources, other services that function over breaks include Auburn Universi-ty facilities and the small animal veterinary clinic.

Both operate on a lim-ited basis.

“� e facilities divi-sion—part of them will be working. � ey keep things working on cam-pus,” Lightner said. “It’ll be a very small amount of people working.”

He added that the vet clinic would probably be open on an emergency basis only.

Although many em-ployees do not work over breaks, they do not go without compensation.

According to Lightner, all regular employees of the University continue to receive normal pay

over breaks, even if they are not working.

“For not working, it’s just considered regular time,” Lightner said.

� is means if an em-ployee usually works eight hours a day, he or she will receive pay for eight hours every day he or she is not permitted to work over break.

� e same rule applies to both full-time and part-time regular em-ployees.

Lightner said the amount of paid leave granted to University em-ployees is determined by the president.

All employees are given a schedule detailing their time o© .

Saunders said the ben-e· t of paid breaks does not apply to student em-ployees.

During winter break, Saunders will not be working, but she will also not be getting paid.

“� e money part does kind of cut in,” she said, “but I’m happy about the break.

“It’s about the only break I get during the school year.”

Christen Harned / ASSISTANT PHOTO EDITOR

Student workers like Levi Westbrook, junior in wireless software, see a break in their usual paychecks. Student workers do not work or receive pay for the winter holiday.

Campus workers adjust to a student environment without students

Maria Iampietro / ASSOCIATE PHOTO EDITOR

Kannika Hanel, head of the food line at Chef’s Table, has become a friendly addition to the popular Student Center restaurant.

Serving food with smiles on the sideAnna Claire

ConradWriter

Kannika Hanel’s jour-ney around the world has landed her behind the counter of the on-campus dining hot spot, Chef ’s Table.

Originally from Bang-kok, � ailand, Hanel moved to Montgomery with her · rst husband.

In 2009, a friend in-formed Hanel about a job opening at the restaurant.

Hanel said cooking has always been her passion, so she quickly acted on the tip and was fortunate to receive the position.

“Kannika is amazing,”

said Robert Pocase, fresh-man in computer science. “She’s really nice…She even gave me a free bowl of pasta once. � ey were just closing down on a free re-· lls day, so she said it was ‘on the house.’”

Pocase’s praise comes from the interaction he has had with Hanel each time he chooses to eat at Chef ’s Table.

Hanel works as the front serving supervisor at Chef ’s Table. It is her responsibility to keep the line » owing, the platters stocked with the day’s menu items and the other employees working in an orderly fashion.

“A lot of my friends were talking about how nice

a woman who works at Chef ’s Table is. I · gured, why not check it out?” said Amy Gomez, freshman in biomedical science. “To my surprise, the food and the service were superb. Kannika was extremely friendly. I’ve been going back ever since.”

Hanel’s personality is immediately apparent through her excellent ser-vice and friendly demean-or. However, a trip through the line is also character-ized by what Hanel said she prides herself most on: her work ethic.

“I come to the restau-rant and work hard every day,” Hanel said. “I do my best.”

Chef ’s Table opens each

morning at 7, and barring unforeseen circumstanc-es, Hanel is there for every one of them.

Regardless of the early hour, Hanel does not let the moods of her morning customers a© ect her day.

“Sometimes people just get up on the wrong side of the bed,” Hanel said. “I just smile at them and tell them to have a good day.”

Hanel said she sees her positive attitude through until the restaurant closes at 3 p.m.

As Hanel continues to impress the patrons of Chef ’s Table, her friendly presence in the line is be-coming as much a part of the restaurant as the dish-es she serves.

Elaine Busby / ASSISTANT PHOTO EDITOR

Unable to return to their home of Sao Paulo, Brazil, Marina Iwashita, a veterinary graduate student, and Ivan Nakandakave, graduate student in animal science, will celebrate Christmas in the United States. The couple plans to take a trip to Disney World for the holiday.

� ursday, December 2, 2010 The Auburn Plainsman Campus B3

Respect the sauce: class of the weekJeremy Gerrard

Writer

While some students may uno� cially major in beverage appreciation while at college, Auburn o� ers an actual class in the subject.

� e class meets on Fri-days at the Auburn Hotel and Conference Center, where about 30 students learn the ins and outs of tasting � ne wines, beers, spirits and other nonalco-holic beverages, like cof-fee.

� e class currently has only one section, but pro-fessor Kyle Townsend said they are looking to expand to up to four sections if they can get the word out around campus.

While it should come as no surprise, the class is closed to anyone under 21 and requires a $75 course fee to pay for all the bev-erages served during the course.

“� ere is a small fee,” Townsend said. “But with that you get to taste over 50 wines, a dozen beers, all types of liquor and even Cristal, so I think it’s a

pretty good deal.”Townsend also said

while there is course structure, he often plays around with the schedule to accommodate the vari-ous vendors coming in to present beverages.

“It’s interesting to hear about the variety of jobs in the beverage i n d u s t r y and to get firsthand accounts about the practical a p p l i c a -tions of what we learn in l e c t u r e ,” said Andy R a m s e y, senior in hotel and restau-rant management.

� is semester, students heard from vendors at Sam Adams and Hennessy, among other presenters who came in to discuss topics like brewing beer at home and food pairing.

� e class is not all fun and games.

It requires consistent

e� ort on tests, interviews and papers, which are required to make a good grade in the course.

“It’s a little di� erent than just a couple of us kicking back and having a glass of whiskey,” said Jack Pilkington, second-degree

student in hotel and r e s t a u -rant man-agement. “ Y o u learn to really ap-p r e c i a t e the pro-cess and u n d e r -stand the © avors in the bever-age, like being able

to pick out an old leather taste on the barrel from which it was stored.”

Students are challenged to taste all the di� erent beverages made available, even if they don’t think they will enjoy them, since it is a valuable exercise in the tasting experience.

Students learn how to identify quality indicators

in a beverage and what food to serve with the drink.

According to Townsend, this is often di� cult for students, but the pre-senters make it simple by bringing in items like Skit-tles to pair with the bever-ages.

One of the most exciting challenges for students is the blind taste test at the end of the semester.

Townsend will put out four di� erent wines and three di� erent beers for the students to identify using the tasting method learned in class.

Students are not re-quired to know the actual brands of beverages, but they will have to make ac-curate assessments on the drink’s aroma, color and taste using the various buzz words associated with tasting.

Some buzz words in-clude woodsy, fruity, pep-pery, oaky and roasted.

“It takes a while to learn what you’re dealing with,” Townsend said. “Nobody knows what they are look-ing for the � rst few times they taste.”


Students in the beverage appreciation class must learn to identify different styles of beverages in a blind taste test.


Whiskeys and rums will be tasted by the class at the AU Hotel and Conference Center.


An array of fi ne vodkas awaits the class, with tasting glasses ready and laid out for the class.

“ It’s a little di� erent

than a couple of us kicking back and having a glass of whiskey.”

Jack Pilkington, second-degree student

in hotel and restaurant management

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Undefeated season cures economic woes

Venue makes all the di� erence: study spotsWith exams less than a week away, make sure you are conquering

your ADD by choosing the right location to hit the books. Photos by Elaine Busby

Brent GodwinAssistant Campus Editor

Local stores have found a cure for poor sales in a weak economy—an unde-feated season.

“We’ve seen a lot of peo-ple buying despite the bad economic times,” said Trey Johnston of J&M book-store.

Johnston said the store has seen an increase in jer-sey sales, speci� cally the No. 2 jersey worn by Cam Newton.

“Anything we have that has the number 2 on it sells extremely well,” said Katie Lee, director at Au-burn University Bookstore.

Lee said in addition to jerseys, children’s clothing and jewelry have also sold better.

“� e thing we haven’t sold many of is the Auburn Snuggie,” Lee said.

Johnston said that in more than 30 years in busi-ness, the store has hardly seen anything quite like this season.

Most of the sales are driven by Heisman hope-ful Cam Newton and Au-burn’s spotless record.

Johnston said he ex-pects the store will get more business if the Tigers win against South Caro-lina Saturday.

“People want those T-shirts or other items that say ‘SEC champions’ on it,” Johnston said.

Johnston said J&M has sold about 1,000 Cam Newton jerseys this sea-son.

“It has been a fantastic

season,” Johnston said. “Buying Auburn gear is a way that fans can show support for Auburn and for Cam.”

Big Blue Bookstore saw a jump in sales after the controversy surrounding Cam Newton emerged, according to John Harrell, 1977 graduate and owner of Big Blue Bookstore.

Harrell said the nega-tive stories about Newton caused Auburn fans to buy even more No. 2-related merchandise.

“One thing is for sure: It’s de� nitely about family,” Harrell said. “If someone attacks your family mem-bers, you’re going to form ranks and stand up for them. � at’s just what the Auburn family has done.”

Showing support for the

quarterback also means helping the economy.

“Everybody wants to support,” Johnston said. “It feels like us against the world.”

A few weeks ago, J&M put a poster in the front window of its store on Col-lege Street that reads, “We stand with Cam.”

“We’re Auburn football fans, too,” Johnston said. “We root for our Tigers and hope to see them do well just as much as every-one else.”

Lee said the AU book-store has seen an increase in sales of Auburn mer-chandise over the last few years, even before the 2010 season.

� e AU bookstore’s sales are largely a® ected by the kicko® time of the game.

“We have less tra ̄ c coming through the store when there is an early kicko® ,” Lee said. “But we have seen fans come in even after losses in previ-ous seasons to buy Auburn merchandise.”

Lee said in her 13 years at the bookstore she has learned that Auburn fans support the team no mat-ter what.

“� ere’s no question that Auburn fans are some of the most loyal,” said Harrell.

Harrell also serves as the president of the Cham-ber of Commerce this year, so he said he has a bigger perspective on the eco-nomic impact of a success-ful football season.

“� is season sure has a special feel to it,” Harrell

said. “I think the enthu-siasm and level of energy of the team from the very � rst weeks of the season was contagious.”

Harrell said he has been going to Auburn football games since the 1960s, but he has never seen support from fans at such a high level as in 2010.

“People just can’t get enough,” Harrell said.

Harrell said he thinks people’s attitudes about the economy have also changed this year. A more positive attitude in addi-tion to the successful foot-ball season has produced a large jump in the sales of merchandise.

“People need their or-ange and blue gear,” Lee said. “And we are here to give it to them.”

Maria Iampetro / ASSOCIATE PHOTO EDITOR

Eager students pack the Auburn University Bookstore Tuesday night for a special shopping event. The store has reported higher sales presumably because of the football team’s success.

� ursday, December 2, 2010 The Auburn Plainsman Campus B5

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� ink you know an Auburn woman who has what it takes to be the Loveliest Lady on the Plains? Send submissions, with

names and contact information, to [email protected]

SARAH MURIS, 22From Cuernavaca, Mexico, this week’s Loveliest is

pu� ing a li� le spice in our lives despite the wet weather. As a senior residence assistant, she says she’s really enjoyed bringing community involvement

opportunities to her residents. Spreading knowledge is her passion, and this Spanish major

hopes to one day be a professor. “I don’t want to lose my native tongue,” she says.

We’re sure you won’t Sarah, but you can speak to us in whatever language you like. Lovely is universal.

On the ConcourseBesides being undefeated, what was your favorite part of football season?

“Watching Fairley destroy people. And beating Bama.”

–Jared Elliot, sophomore, building science

“� is has been the best senior football season ever.”

–Nicole Gue, senior, accounting

“Singing ‘Rammer Jammer’ as the Alabama fans � led out of Bryant-Denny stadium.”

–Zachary Zito, sophomore, hotel and restaurant management

“Constantly proving everyone wrong when they doubted us.”

–Stephanie Williams, junior, elementary education

“Watching Cam Newton do work.”

–Robert Ho� man, freshman, electrical engineering

“� e spirit of the fans and how much support there was.”

–Kristen Gue, sophomore, pre-med

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� ursday, December 2, 2010 www.theplainsman.com Page C1

CIntrigue

Alison McFerrinSta� Writer

� e future is shrouded in mystery and uncertainty for most people, but for Sister Lee, a psychic reader in Ope-lika, it is open and revealed, waiting to be read.

“I don’t play the act of God,” Lee said. “It’s not like I have all the answers to all life’s questions, but I do have a lot of them, and I can help.”

Lee said she comes from a family of psychics—her mother, grandmother and great-aunt all have psychic abili-ties. But out of � ve children, Lee was the only one among her siblings to exhibit psychic tendencies.

“I didn’t want to be a psychic be-cause I kind of grew up watch-ing my mother do it, and it was not what I wanted to do,” Lee said.

Lee said as she got older, her visions and feelings be-came stron-ger.

“� en some-thing happened where I sensed something for one of my friends at school when I was like 13 or 14, and I was quiet about it,” Lee said. “I didn’t say what I’d felt and what I’d seen, and it was like a tragedy. Ever since then, I made

a promise to always be and say what I feel, whatever visions come to me, be-cause it’s a gift, and it’s not something that I should ignore.”

Lee has been in business in Opelika for nearly 18 years, and she says people come to her with all sorts of questions.

“Some people are more troubled about certain things that are going on in their lives, such as family or health problems, or certain job options or questions that they can’t or don’t want to decide on their own,” Lee said. “Love and relationships and work and busi-ness are de� nitely the top two things of

people’s concerns.”Lee is active in

most types of psychic readings. She of-fers aura readings using crystals, palms and tarot cards, each of which reveal di� erent things about a person.

“I could tell you everything about your life,” Lee said. “I could tell you things that you already know about your character, about your spouse, about your past, things that you feel a stranger would have never have known. � en I begin to tell you things about what I foresee for you in your future, and it’s always very accurate.”

Lee said her preference is tarot card readings because they are more pre-cise. Palm readings, in comparison, are usually more

general—more like getting your daily horoscope, Lee said.

On average, it takes about 30 to 45 minutes for someone to have a psychic reading done.

“We feel it’s like therapy,” Lee said. “Everyone gets to a point in their life where they’re confused and they won-der where their path is going, or what’s their purpose or what is the meaning of what they’re going through in life.”

Not everyone comes to ask about the future.

“Sometimes it’s just a need to know what’s going on now and just to have an outsider’s perspective on how they see it,” Lee said.

Lee o� ers a special for college students, who constitute a sub-

stantial portion of her clien-tele.

“A lot of their questions are if they’re in the right

path in what they’re going to school in,” Lee said. “So many people are learning and majoring and taking classes in things they’re not passionate about.”

Lee said palms and tarot cards can give insight on what types of things connect to

each person’s spirit.She does some psy-

chic readings over the phone, but she said the

majority of her sessions are in person.Sister Lee’s is located

at 1704 Columbus Parkway and is open from 9 a.m. to 9

p.m. Monday through Friday, and 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Satur-

day and Sunday.

Athletic counselor Troy Smith

» PAGE C6

Inside the AuburnChristmas parade

» PAGE C4

Palm Reading 101 according to pksarna.com

Darcie DyerWriter

Atlanta’s world-class sports arena, the Georgia Dome, has hosted some of sports’ most electrifying events, from NFL football games to the 1996 Olympic Games.

� e Dome will open its gates Dec. 4 to a © ood of orange and blue and gar-net and black for one of the premier events in col-lege football, the 2010 SEC Championship game.

For lucky ticket hold-ers and tailgaters, parking near the Dome is vital.

“All the pregame action is going to be by the sta-dium, even for people who aren’t planning on going in to the game,” said Jamison Codner, Atlanta native and senior in business admin-istration.

Georgia World Congress Center Authority parking lots are available to the public dur-ing non-Falcons games. � ese in-clude the conve-niently located and color-coded lots nearby: Green ($8), Blue ($8), Brown ($10), Orange ($10) and Yellow ($8).

All lots open 4 hours prior to the event.

� e Georgia Dome’s tailgating policy will have Auburn fans tailgating in a di� erent fashion from campus game days.

In order to keep lanes open, tailgaters are per-mitted only in the grassy areas behind parking spaces, and no single tail-gate can exceed a 9-by-12 foot space.

“I’ve tailgated for Fal-cons games, but I can’t even imagine how out of control it’s going to be for this game,” Codner said.

For food and beverage or just a spot to watch the game, there are plenty of restaurants or sports bars in Atlanta.

� e Bucket Shop Café in the heart of Buckhead, ap-proximately 9 miles from the stadium, prides itself

on be-ing the

viewing home of the Auburn fam-

ily and the Atlanta-Auburn Club.

With eight big-screen televisions and a full menu, the Bucket Shop will de� nitely be one of the hottest spots for Auburn fans Saturday.

Another game-day spot is the Diesel Filling Sta-tion, also sponsored by Atlanta-Auburn Club as a home for Auburn spirit.

Located approximately 4 miles from the sta-

dium, the Filling Sta-tion has a full menu, drinks and a great atmosphere for watching the game.

“I know a lot of students didn’t get

tickets, so it works out well that there are so many restaurants and bars in walking distance,” Codner said.

No Mas! Hacienda and Cantina, Max’s Coal Oven Pizzeria and Jamal’s Bu� a-lo Wings are among some of the highly-rated restau-rants near the stadium.

Tyler Pearson, an Atlan-ta public relations special-ist, said several city attrac-tions are having special discounts.

Fans who want to do some sight seeing on their trip can purchase an

Atlanta CityPASS that will allow discounted price and no-line access to the Georgia Aquarium, World of Coca-Cola, Inside CNN Atlanta Studio tour and Zoo Atlanta.

For fans who want to stick around the Georgia Dome area, Pearson said they are in luck too.

“� ere are several res-taurant deals going on too. One big thing for fans is the proximity of the Geor-gia dome to downtown. A lot is just in walking dis-tance,” Pearson said.

Either way, Auburn fans will � nd they have plenty to do on game day.

“It’s almost like Auburn has the home-� eld advan-tage in this game,” said Mary Baker Maund, senior in marketing. “I feel like Atlanta is very much an Auburn hub.”

Atlanta guide to the SEC Championship

($10), Orange ($10) on be-

ing the viewing home

Located approximately 4 miles from the sta-

dium, the Filling Sta-

students didn’t get tickets, so it works out

well that there are so many restaurants and bars in walking distance,” Codner said.

Seeking solace in the supernaturalSister Lee, a third-generation psychic reader, has served the Auburn-Opelika area for more than

18 years, reading palms, tarot cards and crystals to see the future and reveal auras

and relationships and work and busi-ness are de� nitely the top two things of

Lee is active in

Lee said her preference is tarot card readings because they are more pre-cise. Palm readings, in comparison, are usually more

“Sometimes it’s just a need to know what’s going on now and just to have an outsider’s perspective on how they see it,” Lee said.

Lee o� ers a special for college students, who constitute a sub-

stantial portion of her clien-tele.

“A lot of their questions are if they’re in the right

path in what they’re going to school in,” Lee said. “So many people are learning and majoring and taking classes in things they’re not passionate about.”

Lee said palms and tarot cards can give insight on what types of things connect to

each person’s spirit.She does some psy-

chic readings over the phone, but she said the

majority of her sessions are in person.Sister Lee’s is located

at 1704 Columbus Parkway and is open from 9 a.m. to 9

p.m. Monday through Friday, and 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Satur-

day and Sunday.

Life

Mar

s

Intuition

Relationship

Lines

Sun/Apollo

Head

Hea

rt Fate

Health

and great-aunt all have psychic abili-ties. But out of � ve children, Lee was the only one among her siblings to exhibit psychic tendencies.

“I didn’t want to be a psychic be-cause I kind of grew up watch-ing my mother do it, and it was not what I wanted to do,” Lee said.

Lee said as she got older, her visions and feelings be-came stron-

“� en some-thing happened where I sensed something for one of my friends at school when I was like 13 or 14, and I was quiet about it,” Lee said. “I didn’t say what I’d felt and what I’d seen, and it was like a tragedy. Ever since then, I made

ness are de� nitely the top two things of people’s concerns.”

Lee is active in

ness are de� nitely the top two things of people’s concerns.”

Lee is active in

Love

Logic

Will

Finger of Jupiter

Finger of Saturn

Finger of the Sun

Finger of Mercury

Hand linesHeart line - One of the most important lines on your hand, this one manages emo-tions and matters of the heart. � e deeper the line, the deeper your emotions run.

Head line - � is line is central to managing your beliefs, mentality, and intelligence.

Fate line - While not everyone has one of these, the amount of changes in the line indicates the amount of changes in your life. Other aspects of the line correlate to your ambitions and aspirations.

Life line - Commonly thought to indicate the length of your life, this line actually indicates the quality of your life. A strong and solid life line is ideal for balancing your energies and passions.

Health line - � is line indicates the material well being as much as the physical and the period in your life major health problems will occur.

Fingers� umb - � e thumb must be read � rst, before any of the other � ngers. It consists of two phalanges and a base, representing the will power of a person, the logic of a person and the love of a person.

Finger of Mercury - � is � nger determines the communication skills and the busi-ness acumen of an individual.

Finger of the Sun - � is � nger determines the desire for fame and fortune and can decide whether a person is a leader or follower.

Finger of Saturn - � is � nger determines the sense of responsibility and discipline. � e shape and size of it denote each quality in relation to the other.

Finger of Jupiter - � is � nger determines the need for recognition and ego of a per-son. It can be correlated to the amount of fortune one will amass and their career.

Intrigue C2 The Auburn Plainsman � ursday, December 2, 2010

Split PeaSoup

Kerry’s recipe of the week

Ingredients:1 (16 oz.) package of dried green split peas1 tablespoon canola oil3 ribs of celery, sliced3 carrots, sliced1 large onion, chopped2 dried bay leavessalt and pepper, to taste1 lb. Virginia ham, cut into ½-inch pieces 1 (32 oz.) container chicken stock2 cups water

Directions:� oroughly rinse the dried green peas in a strainer and set aside. In a large pot over medi-um-high heat, add the canola oil, celery, carrots, onion, bay leaves, salt and pepper. Sauté for 5-10 minutes. Add the green peas, ham, chicken stock and water. Bring soup to a boil and then reduce to medium-low. Simmer for 2 hours, stir-ring occasionally. Peas will split, and soup will thicken. Adjust seasonings if necessary. Remove the bay leaves and serve hot.

Tip: Purchase the Virginia ham from the deli counter and ask for it as one large piece, rather than thinly sliced.

Serves: 8

Contributed by Kerry Fannon

What tip would you give to people studying for exams?Unplug the computer, and don’t get on Facebook.

What are you looking forward to about the SEC Championship?Beating South Carolina again and going to the national championship.

What do you want for Christmas?Tickets to the national cham-pionship and a car would be pretty good.

What is your dream job?I think I’d like to work on Wall Street.

If you could go anywhere for New Year’s Eve, where would you go?New York to see the ball drop. I always watch it on TV, but it would be cool to see in person.

Are you looking forward to seeing any new movies over the break?“Tron”

What is your favorite holiday treat?Pumpkin pie

Which football game was your favorite this season?Probably the Georgia game because it was the last home game of the season. And that moment with Mike Dyer and Bo Jackson was great.

Were you able to register for all the classes you need next semester?Yeah, I did all right.

Where is your favorite place to eat in the Student Cen-ter?Chick-fi l-A because it’s open latest.

Favorite place in Auburn?Cheeburger Cheeburger is pretty good. I love those giant burgers.

Who is your favorite Harry Potter character?Professor Lupin

What is the best parade you’ve ever been to?None really stand out.

Age: 18Hometown: Poolsville, Md.

Greatest fear: Cam Newton playing for any other team than Auburn

Hobbies: video games and watching sports

Random fact: I have two cats. One weighs about 26 pounds, and the other one is dia-betic.

Availability: Single

Philip Panzersophomore, economics

Question & Answer

Books“Decision Points”George W. Bush

Released Nov. 9, 2010

“Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival,

Resilience, and Redemption”

Laura HillenbrandReleased Nov. 16, 2010

“Life”Keith Richards

Released Oct. 26, 2010

“Decoded”Jay-Z


“Cleopatra: A Life”Stacy Schi«


Video Games“Tron Evolution”

PS3, Xbox 360, PC, PSPTo be released Dec. 7,

2010

“World of Warcraft: Cataclysm”

Mac, PCTo be released Dec. 7,

2010

“Assasin’s Creed: Brotherhood”

Xbox 360, PS3, PCReleased Nov. 16, 2010

“Call of Duty: Black Ops”Xbox 360, PC, DS, PS3,

WiiReleased Nov. 9, 2010

“Gran Turismo 5”PS3


DVDs“� e Twilight Saga:

Eclipse”Kristen Stewart, Robert

Pattinson, Taylor LautnerTo be released Dec. 4,

2010

“Eat Pray Love”Julia Roberts


“Inception”Leonardo DiCaprio and

Joseph Gordon-Levitt To be released Dec. 7,

2010

“� e Town”Ben A ́ eck and Rebecca

HallTo be released Dec. 17,

2010

Music“My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy”

Kanye WestReleased Nov. 22, 2010

“No Mercy”T.I.

To be released Dec. 7, 2010

“Merry Christmas II You”

Mariah CareyReleased Nov. 2, 2010

“Number One Hits”Tim McGraw


“Wonders of the Younger”

Plain White T’sTo be released Dec. 7,

2010

Movies“Black Swan”

Natalie Portman, Mila Kunis and Vincent

CasselOpens Dec. 3, 2010

“Tron: Legacy”Je« Bridges, Garrett Hedlund and Olivia

WildeOpens Dec. 17, 2010

“� e Tourist”Johnny Depp and

Angelina JolieOpens Dec. 10, 2010

“Chronicles of Narnia: � e Voyage of the Dawn

Treader”Ben Barnes, Skandar Keynes and Georgie

HenleyOpens Dec. 10, 2010

Essential holiday survival guide: 2010 editionFrom movies to music, here are the latest and greatest releases of the 2010 holiday season to

keep you from sitting on your couch all break wondering what to do with yourself

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Thursday, December 2, 2010 The Auburn Plainsman Intrigue C3


Go to review sessions. Utilize any and all extra help or o� ce-hour review sessions. Most profes-sors or teaching assistants will o� er some type of review session. Sometimes this includes working through di� cult problems or going over speci� c topics for the � nal. It is up to you to attend, though.

Set time goals. Create a block schedule for studying, and stick with it. Schedule speci� c times to study for each class. Try using intervals of two hours for study-ing and 30 minutes for a break. � is will help ensure that you get to everything and have all your bases covered.

Create study breaks. Studying is hard work, so take short breaks periodically to allow your brain time to absorb the information. Grab a cup of co� ee or allow yourself 10 minutes to surf the Internet. Once break time is over, do a quick review of what you already studied, and then start on new material.

Make � ashcards. � ese may take a long time to make, but can be vital to any last-minute memoriza-tion. Besides having to rewrite notes in the process of creating them, they are easily studied on the go and can � t in your back pocket. If you don’t have pre-made � ashcards, cut them from computer paper.

Use mnemonics—a device meant to help your mem-ory. An example is ROY G. BIV (red, orange, yellow, blue, green, indigo, violet). Mnemonics can utilize everything from music and rhymes to drawings and spellings to help stick those tricky formulas or phras-es in your head.

Control your stress. When facing a seemingly insur-mountable quantity of studying, don’t go into panic mode. � e obvious way to lessen stress is to avoid pro-crastinating, but since it is already too late for that, get a good night’s sleep, try some physical activity and eat healthy. Try to avoid all-night cram sessions and load-ing up on ca� eine.

Get supplemental notes. Missed a day here or there? Supplemental notes, like UNotes, can help reinforce your lecture notes, � lling in holes on days you may have not felt like getting out of bed. If you don’t � nd UNotes helpful, ask a classmate if you can borrow his or her notes.

Study with buddies. For most topics, studying in groups is always easier. Try to set up a prearranged meeting time to collaborate and answer any questions you or your classmates may have. Plus, it gives you a chance to bounce new ideas o� your group. You aren’t the only one feeling completely lost!

Rewrite lecture notes. While it may not seem like the best use of your study time, rewriting lecture notes from class will help pound the material into your head. While rewriting, try highlighting the really important stu� that you didn’t think to highlight the � rst time around.

Limit distractions. Choosing a quiet place to study, free from time-consuming distractions like televisions and the Internet, can make or break your study ses-sion. Avoid the obligatory hour on Facebook by elimi-nating it from the start. If music helps you focus, try putting on your headphones. 1 6.

7.8.9.10.

1.2.3.4.5.

Preparing for � nals can be a trying time, espe-

cially with rowdy library goers and the allure of

Facebook.Ward o� these devious

distractions by following these 10 tips to success-fully studying for � nals.

You may even ace all your exams and have extra time for needed rest and relax-ation before the holiday

season starts.

tips forsuccessfully

studying for

fi nals

Brian Desarro / INTRIGUE EDITOR

Chelsea HarveySta� Writer

� ere is more to the an-nual Auburn Chamber of Commerce Christmas pa-rade than throwing candy and smiling at those pass-ing by.

Lolly Steiner, president of the Auburn Chamber of Commerce, said the pa-rade is a cooperative e� ort between several groups of people.

Organization is accom-plished largely by volun-teers.

“� ere are some mem-bers of our chamber who serve the chamber only during the Christmas parade,” Steiner said. “� ey’ve always been a part of that committee, and they enjoy it very much.”

� e City of Auburn is an-other integral part of the process.

“We partner with the City of Auburn, of course,” Steiner said. “We could not close the streets and protect the viewers and so forth on the sidewalk without the Public Safety’s assistance.”

Capt. Tom Stofer of the Auburn Police Depart-ment said the parade does not usually present a prob-lem for the Department of Public Safety.

“Normally, we don’t have any problems during the Christmas parade,” Stofer said. “Everybody’s in the Christmas spirit and just come out to have a good time.”

However, according to Stofer, the DPS does take certain precautions just in case.

O� cers lead the parade on motorcycles while oth-ers are stationed at inter-sections to direct tra� c.

According to Steiner, the organization process begins once a date is set for the parade.

In the past, the parade has been held on a week-night.

� is year, the date was moved to Saturday, Dec. 11, at the request of some merchants in downtown Auburn.

“� e downtown mer-chants came to us and

said, ‘We’d like to move it to a Saturday. We feel that it would be more ben-e� cial to us as merchants. Since the parade takes place right here in our front door, we’d like to try it on a Saturday.’ So we met and agreed that we would try,” Steiner said.

Once the date is set, any orga-nization or individual wishing to participate in the pa-rade can � ll out an ap-plication.

T h e C h a m b e r has a list of past participants to which it sends applications, al-though anyone else is wel-come to apply.

� ere is no charge to participate.

Steiner said regular participants include local churches, dance studios, Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, cheerleaders and often Aubie.

� e parade is limited to 100 participants; however, Steiner said the limit does not usually present a prob-lem.

“Really, there’s been very few years in my 15 or so years with the Chamber that we have had to turn anybody away,” Steiner

said. “So w e ’ v e b e e n very for-tunate.”

Stein-er said t h e r e are two m a i n rules for partici-pants in the pa-

rade.“� e only � oat or per-

son that can throw candy is Santa Claus,” she said. “� at’s to keep the chil-dren safe and so forth.

“And then the second rule is that we don’t al-low horses. We have some wagons being pulled by horses, and we will allow those occasionally, but just

horses and riders is a little too dangerous.”

Steiner said the parade lasts about an hour, and the route generally stays the same from year to year.

Steiner said her advice to anyone wishing to orga-nize a parade would be to start by organizing a group of volunteers to help with the event.

Next, she advised check-ing the city ordinances to determine if a permit is necessary and how one can be obtained.

“� e City of Auburn has an ordinance,” Steiner said, “that when you want to have a parade, you have to have a permit.

“So that’s another part of the behind the scenes that people don’t think about—you know, that we have to do all the legalities that are involved with that.”

Finally, Steiner suggest-ed taking as many safety precautions as necessary for the area.

“It’s paramount of any parade like that, with that many people gathered in one place,” she said.

A peek into parade magic

PLAINSMAN ARCHIVE

Many area organizations participate in the Chamber of Commerce Christmas parade. In last year’s parade, Opelika High School cheerleaders showed Christmas spirit atop a fi re engine.

“ Everybody’s in the

Christmas spirit and just come to have a good time.”

Capt. Tom StoferAuburn Police

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� ursday, December 2, 2010 www.theplainsman.com Intrigue

C5Wasting TimeWasting TimeWasting TimeWasting Time

ACROSS 1. Hunter’s post 6. Turn white 10. PC photo format 14. “Balcony scene” swain 15. Heavy hydrogen discoverer 16. Eurasian range 17. Dancer’s rattler 19. Minute amount 20. Commotion 21. Feel anxiety 22. Pinnacles 23. Bird enclosure 24. Synthetic fabrics 25. Obstruct 28. Roman foe 30. Sifts through 31. Relaxes (2 wds.) 35. Cypress feature 36. Hardens 37. Giant-screen technology 39. Sabatini of the courts 41. Alpine moppet 42. In addition 43. Rum drink (2 wds.) 44. Purchased 48. Fountain toss-in 49. Oil jobs 50. Bravery 52. Chem. or bio. 55. Like __ __ of bricks 56. Early astronomer 58. Unruly kid 59. Leaning tower site 60. Please greatly 61. Perm follow-ups 62. Skunk’s defense 63. Rigid

DOWN 1. Baja Ms. 2. Warty critter 3. GI supply 4. Beak of a bird 5. Baubles 6. Blender button 7. Diva’s solo 8. Grant a mortgage 9. Iris locale 10. Ripe, as a pear 11. Ad 12. Gobbled up 13. Mirror material 18. Press 22. Sighs of relief 23. Media star 24. 66 or I-80 25. Gross! 26. Bean for sprouting 27. Earnest request 28. California winery 29. Tex. neighbor 31. Casual wear 32. Connection (hyph.) 33. Give o� light 34. Zilch 36. Forsake a lover 38. Noon, to Caesar 40. Gridiron shouts 41. Cafeteria wear (2 wds.) 43. Health 44. Blurts out 45. Unconventional 46. “Das Boot” craft (hyph.) 47. Well-bred ones 48. Unambiguous 50. No longer in force 51. Lhasa __ 52. Read a bar code 53. Prunes back 54. Uh-huh (2 wds.) 56. Navy noncom 57. Dot in the Seine

Instructions

1. Place the numbers 1 to 8 in each of the octagons such that the numbers are not re-peated in any row, column or diagonal.

2. � e numbers along the edg-es, top and bottom are the sums for the numbers in the diagonal that begins or ends at that number.

3. � e number in each dia-mond is the sum of the num-bers of each of the four faces that border that diamond. � e numbers that border the diamonds do not have to be unique.

4. Number of numbers provid-ed in this Octo = 55

Check www.theplainsman.com for the answersFor more OCTOs, go to octo_puzzle.com

© 2009, Doug Gardner — Patent Pending

Fold

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HOROSCOPES Written byBen Bartley / OPINIONS EDITOR

Leo: Today is the day. Proudly walk into your job and tell your boss you’re not going to lick mayonnaise o� the ¦ oor anymore.

Pisces: If it’s worth doing, it’s worth doing half-assed.

Scorpio: Dr. Pepper is the nectar of the gods. Remember that.

Taurus: Take the weekend o� . Drive to Reno. Do something crazy.

Aquarius: BLOOD ON THE GROUND IS BETTER THAN BLOOD ON THE HAND.

Cancer: � e tallest blade of grass is the surest to be cut.

Libra: Our greatest fears lie in anticipation. – A Dead Frenchman

Capricorn: Ugly people have great sex, too.

Aries: Living well is living slow.

Sagittarius: Being alive is by far your greatest achievement.

Gemini: Control is an illusion.

Virgo: � ese horoscopes brought to you in large part by “� e Underachiever’s Manifesto.”

CHRISTMAS SCRAMBLER

Clue 1: T R A W H E Clue 4: G O C S O E R

Clue 2: S N E E T R P Clue 5: B O N R B I

Clue 3: N E I T L S Bonus: Use circles to solve

Sudoku

Sudoku

CROSSWORD PUZZLE


Sarah HansenWriter

After careful consid-eration, Patricia Smith donated three pieces of artwork to the Jule Col-lins Smith Museum of Fine Art in memory of her daughter, Kathryn Patter-son Smith Bracken, 1982 Auburn graduate.

Smith gave the JCSM two pieces by Clark Walk-er and one piece by Anne Goldthwaite.

“We are grateful to Mrs. Smith and her fam-ily for these gifts,” said Marilyn Laufer, JCSM di-rector. “She is only one of many who keep alive the legacy of building the museum collection as an

educational resource for the University and com-munity.”

Laufer said the pieces acquired from the S m i t h f a m -ily are a part of the JCSM P e r m a -nent Col-lection.

“ W e carefully consider each gift o f f e r , m a k i n g sure it is a quality work representative of the art-ist and appropriate to the mission of this museum,”

Laufer said. All three works are

landscape oil paintings on canvas.

“ T h e Jule Col-l i n s S m i t h Museum of Art has received a gener-ous gift,” said John Wagnon, c l o s e friend of Wa l k e r . “ T h e p a i n t -

ings by Clark Walker and by Anne Goldthwaite represent links in an un-broken chain of teachers

and friends that stretches back to Paris in the 1920s.”

Once the Admission Board approved the art-works, the deed of gift was signed December 2009.

� e works were then sent to Marietta, Ga., for restorative work and cleaning.

“JCSM is a world-class museum, and mom’s wishes are to assist in helping share Alabama’s talented cultural heri-tage,” said Will Smith, son of JCSM donator Patricia Smith.

Goldthwaite’s paintings are displayed in the Met-ropolitan Museum of Art and Smithsonian Ameri-can Art Museum, among other museums.

JCSM receives gift from Auburn alumna

Athletes inspired by mentor Troy Smith

Brent GodwinAssistant Campus Editor

Troy Smith uses his ex-perience as a former col-lege and pro football play-er to inspire the student athletes he works with every day.

“Our job is to provide academic support for all the student athletes at Auburn University,” Smith said. “We monitor and track with them all the way through to graduation.”

Smith explained fresh-man student athletes are assigned a mentor to help them stay on track with their plan of study.

“Being a student athlete is a lot like a full-time job,” Smith said. “We want to see these individuals excel in every part of their life—personally, academically, as well as athletically.”

Smith and the other counselors work with the a t h l e t e s and their coaches, as well as p r o f e s -sors, to e n s u r e that they meet the standards set by the N C A A and the SEC.

“Troy is the epitome of the phrase ‘putting others ahead of yourself,’” said Jim Rost, associate ath-letic director. “His primary mission is to help these players become the best people they can be. He’s a great, positive presence in the oª ce.”

Individual tutoring and group study sessions are provided for athletes to help them keep up with their schoolwork.

“� e academic require-ments are consistent with every athlete in every sport,” Smith said.

Auburn was ranked in the 83rd percentile in athlete graduation rates in 2009 and consistent-ly stays among the top schools in the SEC and the NCAA Bowl Subdivision.

“We take a proactive ap-proach,” Smith said. “We have certain objectives for the players to meet, and we act as their coaches in helping them along the way and ensuring that they improve.”

Auburn’s football team includes 12 players who have already earned their degrees, and four more will graduate in December.

“Any time you see a suc-cessful student athlete, the guys playing that already have their diplomas—that’s a winner,” Smith said.

Smith, a south Florida native, played college foot-ball at Jacksonville State University and was drafted by the Bu® alo Bills in 1988.

After a year in the pros, Smith turned to his self-proclaimed “zeal for work-ing with young people,” to earn a living.

He began working at Au-burn 16 years ago, under coach Terry Bowden.

“� e phrase that comes to mind for Troy is ‘lead-er,’” said Courtney Brend-kus, academic counselor. “He is an inspiration to our student athletes. � ey

can really relate to him be-c a u s e he’s been t h e r e and done that, and he went to the next lev-el.”

S m i t h said ev-

erything at the athletic ac-ademic oª ce is done with integrity.

� e stereotype of college players earning degrees just by being athletes does not hold true at Auburn.

“A lot of players receive the opportunity to go to college based on foot-ball, not their academ-ics,” Smith said. “We work closely with those at-risk individuals to make sure they can do more than play football when they leave this place.”

Smith said he doesn’t care if the player is Cam Newton or a walk-on—they will be treated the same way, and the aca-demic success of every player is the most impor-tant goal.

“� is is what I enjoy do-ing: watching young peo-ple become educated and getting to empower them,” Smith said. “It’s gotten to where I almost look for-ward to coming into work every day. It’s a rewarding job in every aspect.”

“ His primary mission is

to help these players become the best people they can be.”

Jim Rost, associate athletic director

Elaine Busby / ASSISTANT PHOTO EDITOR

Troy Smith advises Antonio Goodwin, undeclared freshman and wide receiver for the football team.

“ “JCSM is a world-class

museum, and mom’s wishes are to assist in helping share Alabama’s talented cultural heritage.”

Will Smith, son of Patricia Smith

D0327-Auburn PlAinsmAn-6.5x15-4C-12.2

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� ursday, December 2, 2010 www.theplainsman.com Page D1

DSports Voice of Auburn

» PAGE D5

Ultimate frisbee

» PAGE D6

SEC Championship 2010

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AU’S SEC CHAMPIONSHIP APPEARANCES

Todd Van Emst / AUBURN MEDIA RELATIONS

Auburn players celebrate with fans after winning the school’s fi rst conference championship game in 2004.

Auburn and South Carolina head to Atlanta for the 19th annual SEC Championship game. Auburn looks to remain undefeated and keep national championship hopes

alive, while South Carolina makes its � rst championship appearance


With East and West di-vision winners decided weeks ago, tension has been building on the road to Atlanta and the SEC Championship.

Auburn will make its fourth appearance in the Championship since it be-gan in 1992, while South Carolina will make its � rst appearance.

South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier coached at Florida in 1992 and went to the � rst SEC Champion-ship game.

Spurrier said although several coaches didn’t sup-port a conference champi-onship, he thinks it helps more teams than it hurts.

“If we had one loss dur-ing the regular season and then you’re able to win the SEC Championship game, that will certainly put you in the national champi-onship game as long as there’s not a bunch of un-defeated teams out,” Spur-rier said. “But to me, this is a playo� system here.”

Saturday’s game will be a rematch of the Sept. 25 game played in Auburn.

� e Tigers won the game 35-27.

In � ve previous SEC Championship games where the game was a re-match, the winner of the previous game won again four times.

Coach Gene Chizik said even though his team has defeated the Gamecocks

this season, he isn’t taking the game lightly.

“I think they’ve steadily improved, week by week, since we played last,” C h i z i k said. “We have our work cut out for us. We’re go-ing to face a much-improved t e a m , there’s no question.”

Auburn has had several close calls this season, coming from behind in eight of its 12 wins, four of those being double-digit de� cits.

Senior o� ensive line-man Lee Ziemba said he is

amazed at his team’s resil-iency.

“We don’t think about how long this can go on, we just think about how

b l e s s e d we are to be in the p o s i t i o n we’re in,” Z i e m b a s a i d . “ W e ’ r e just go-ing to im-prove this week and try to get

better and see if we can’t win it.”

O� ensively, both teams have break-out players this season.

� e Gamecocks’ fresh-man tailback Marcus

Lattimore has scored 19 touchdowns this season, just one shy from the SEC freshman scoring record.

Senior safety Zac Ether-idge said it is tough to de-fend Lattimore.

“I think with our defense on the line and our front seven, stopping the run is our main focus on de-fense,” Etheridge said. “If he gets it started, then they have a balanced attack at running and throwing the ball, so we’ve got to � nd a way to make the team one-dimensional.”

Leading the o� ense for Auburn is junior quarter-back Cam Newton.

Newton has accumulat-ed 43 touchdowns this sea-son, which is more than 69 FBS schools have scored

this season.Newton also leads the

SEC in rushing and is the only player in the country with � ve 170-yard rushing games this season.

South Carolina defen-sive tackle Travian Rob-ertson said having played against Newton before will be an advantage as long as the Gamecock defense doesn’t make too many mistakes.

“We see him, and we have � lm, and we’ve seen him play,” Robertson said. “We just have to take care of our part as far as stop-ping him and doing the best we can to get him down every chance we can, and just making up the mistakes we had the � rst game.”

“ We’re going to face a

much improved team, there’s no question.”

Gene Chizik, football coach

Sports D2 The Auburn Plainsman � ursday, December 2, 2010

Abby TownsonWriter

Auburn athletes have di� erent ways of getting their minds in the game.

Some gain focus by lis-tening to music, some with rest and some through practice.

Other athletes do it with luck.

Superstition, ritual, rou-tine—no matter what it is called—for some athletes, it is the best way to prepare for a game.

L e w i s B a r k e r , psycholo-gy professor who teach-es a sports p s y c h o l o g y class, said there are positive and neg-ative superstitions, and both have the ability to af-fect athletic performance.

“� ere’s a whole litera-ture on how these positive attitudes lead to better performance,” Barker said.

Barker said one reason he thinks most supersti-tions appear to be random or unfounded is because they have nothing to do with the physical perfor-mance of an athlete, ex-cept to make them feel more positive about their performance.

Barker said supersti-tions seem eccentric be-cause they re� ect the unique experience of the individual.

“Whatever you do that makes you feel better about yourself and in-creases your self-e� cacy/self-con� dence,” Barker said. “Whatever it is, that’s going to have you perform better.”

Auburn soccer player Julie King has multiple pregame superstitions.

“Pretty much through-out my life of playing sports, I’ve always had little quirks that I would do, especially before a big game,” King said.

Every year since she was a freshman, King gets a new good-luck charm for some pregame luck.

“At the beginning of

each season, I’ve changed it,” King said, “basically because we haven’t com-pletely met the goal that we wanted to reach in the season.

“I guess if we won a na-tional championship, then I’d probably keep the same charm.”

� is year’s model is a Gumby � gurine adorned with an eagle charm neck-lace that King’s sister gave her.

“I can’t for-get to kiss

h i m , ” King said, d e s c r i b -ing her r o u t i n e . “ R i g h t

b e f o r e the game, at

some point I have to touch its

feet.”Gumby is only the be-

ginning of King’s game-day ritual.

“During our warm-up, with three other girls, Monica Afanador, Lydia Townsend and Sammy Towne, we have to line up in a certain order during our warm-up,” King said.

King said right before the game she does a hand-shake with one of her coaches, Amy Berbary.

Another routine developed after King scored a goal against A l a b a m a at the end of the year, pushing the game into overtime in the last 17 seconds.

“Right be-fore that happened,” King said, “I guess it was maybe at halftime, Chris Cahill, one of our coaches, gave me a piece of gum, and I kind of made a joke, like ‘� is is the game changer’ or something like that, and I ended up scoring.

“So then from then on I had to get a piece of gum from him.”

Despite participation from other teammates, King said her rituals do not go unmentioned.

“People make fun of me a little bit,” King said.

King said she is not reli-ant on her superstitions, but they help keep her fo-cused.

“I think, overall, it’s just a matter of getting my-self concentrated for the game,” King said. “If I don’t touch the � gurine, I’m not like, ‘Oh, we’re going to lose the game,’ but I do think that it helps me get my mind in the right place for the game.”

Senior Mike Berry, of-fensive lineman for the football team, not only said he does not have any sports superstitions, but that he thinks they can interfere with an athlete’s focus.

“In sports, especially, people get superstitions, especially when you’re winning and stu� like that,” Berry said. “If one thing’s been working for them, they don’t want to get away from it.

“I learned early that it really doesn’t matter to me. It’s just one of those things that if you practice hard and you prepare for life, you’ll be � ne.”

Berry said the e� ect su-perstitions have on ath-letes is mental.

“Going into games, you’ve got to have your

right mind-set,” Berry said. “By having a super-stition, you’re not able to do that or do the same thing you’ve been do-ing. It kind of hurts you men-tally, and then

it hurts you in the game.”

Auburn linebacker Josh Bynes’ pregame rituals range from listening to his iPod to eating sun� ower seeds. � ough other play-ers on the football team like to sleep before a game, Bynes said he never lets himself sleep.

Bynes said every player follows his own routine to keep focused.

“Whatever we’re used to before a game, we like to stick to it,” Bynes said.

Athletes try to force lady luck

Many Auburn athletes have pregame routines and good luck rituals they

believe bring them success

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� ursday, December 2, 2010 The Auburn Plainsman Sports D3

Alverson shines in class and on courtSara Weeks

Writer

Scoring points on the basketball court is one of Blanche Alverson’s most recognizable talents, but according to her coaches and teammates, it is not the only thing she is good at doing.

“She has everything go-ing for her, and she bal-ances it all so well,” said Kerry Cremeans, associate women’s basketball coach. “When I think of Blanche, I think of her bubbly, en-thusiastic personality.

“She is full of life and is just a pleasure to be around every day.”

� e 6-foot-3 sophomore, originally from Andalusia, is the starting forward for the team.

She was ranked the No. 45 prospect in the country when she was recruited to play at Auburn her senior year at Buford High School in Buford, Ga.

“I’ve always been an Au-burn fan, and the coach-ing sta� was awesome during the recruiting process,” Alverson said. “I knew I wanted to come here when I was getting recruited, and I compared

everything back to Au-burn.”

Alverson is a fourth-generation Auburn stu-dent, and although she looked at other schools during her college hunt, she said she knew Auburn is where she wanted to be.

“She grew up coming to basket-ball camps at Auburn, so we spent a long time g e t t i n g to know Blanche and her family,” C r e m e a n s said. “We’re so thankful she chose Auburn to fur-ther her academic and athletic career.”

Alverson and her coach-es both agree that her con-� dence has increased as a player.

“She has expanded her game to being an aggres-sive, hungry player,” Cre-means said. “You have to play with physicality when you play in the SEC, and she has done so to help us be a better basketball team.”

Alverson’s childhood friend, teammate and

current roommate, Mor-gan Toles, also said Alver-son’s rebounding has im-proved while at Auburn.

Since being at Auburn, Alverson has taken every opportunity to get the most out of her college experience. Although bas-

ketball takes up a lot of her time, she has gotten involved in a number of organizations on campus, in-cluding honor societies and a social sorority.

“I’m involved in a lot of dif-

ferent things,” Alverson said, “so it’s been good just to see the di� erent things Auburn has and to get to know di� erent people on campus.

Alverson and Toles both said Alverson studies a lot, but � nds times for study breaks to enjoy her favor-ite study snack—popcorn and organic chocolate milk.

Alverson, sophomore in biomedical sciences, said she plans to attend medi-cal school after graduat-ing.

“I use to want to be an

orthopedic surgeon, but now I want to go into pe-diatrics,” she said.

With the season under-way, the Tigers still � nd time to have fun as a team.

After practices they have been “jamming out to old-school Britney Spears,” Toles said.

Although they have had a few losses this season, Alverson and the team are excited for the season, es-pecially playing in the Au-burn Arena.

“I think we’ve grown a lot as a team these past few weeks,” Alverson said. “We have realized that if we come out and play hard, we can compete with anyone in the coun-try.”

Although Alverson is not as widely known as Cam Newton, she has been compared to him.

“Someone made the comment that Blanche Alverson ranks right up there with Cam Newton in popularity on campus,” Cremeans said. “She is well-known in the athletic side, social and academic realms, and if you add that to her bubbly, fun person-ality, that is what makes her so special.”

Clayton leads with precisionBlake Hamilton

Associate Sports Editor

If there’s one thing Jerry Clayton knows, it’s colle-giate athletics.

As the assistant track coach prepares to enter his 28th year of training � eld-event athletes, Au-burn throwers say his ex-pertise in the subject is im-mediately evident.

“(Clayton is) very me-ticulous with technique,” said Stephen Saenz, red-shirt freshman in throws. “In our event, there’s a lot of technical things in terms of what positions your body has to be in, in the circle. I think he has mastered those things, so for every throw we take, there’s always very speci� c feedback.”

Clayton began his ath-letic career at Northern Il-linois University, where he competed as a thrower.

He then transferred to the University of Illinois, where he was a multiple NCAA Championship quali� er.

“I graduated from the University of Illinois and became an assistant at the

University of Illinois for nine years,” Clayton said. “From there, I was head coach at Southwest Texas State University. After that I was an assistant at the University of Florida, and then I came to Auburn. I came here in 1998 and have been here ever since.”

As head coach at S o u t h w e s t Texas State, Clayton led his team to four Southland C o n f e r e n c e C h a m p i o n -ships.

At Florida, he produced 13 NCAA quali� ers and eight All-Americans.

Since arriving at Au-burn, Clayton led the women’s team to a nation-al championship in 2006 and has coached 10 indi-vidual NCAA champions.

Despite his coaching success, Clayton said his favorite part of the job is working with athletes on an individual basis.

“It’s nice when they win the championships and things,” Clayton said. “But

I enjoy the journey of de-veloping them and getting them to that level and get-ting them to be able to per-form at the highest level meets.”

For Clayton, athletics runs in the family.

His wife, Becky, was a three-time All-American

in college as a sprinter and long jumper.

His oldest son is Zach Clayton, se-nior defensive lineman for the football team, while his youngest son is in his

second year at the United States Air Force Academy.

Clayton said his fam-ily is now � rmly rooted in Auburn, and he doesn’t an-ticipate another coaching move.

“We’ve been here going on 13 years,” Clayton said. “Both of my sons have been through the high schools here. With the success and facilities, I’m comfortable right here.

“It’s a really good admin-istration to work for here,

a good academic universi-ty, and we really like living in this part of the country.”

Senior thrower Eric Wer-skey said Clayton pushes his athletes to succeed in all aspects of college life.

“He wants us to succeed at a high level, so what we do isn’t easy,” Werskey said. “He always backs you up, whether it’s train-ing, schooling or throwing. He’s very knowledgeable about the collegiate sys-tem, and he’s a great guy to learn from. A lot of people have come back through the system to work with him trying to accomplish Olympic-type dreams.”

Clayton said he’s opti-mistic about the upcom-ing season, with athletes like Saenz and Werskey anchoring a solid � eld corps.

“We’ve had pretty good throwers in the years since I’ve been here,” Clayton said. “We try to get where we can score in two or three events at the confer-ence level and then hope-fully perform and score at the national level. Hope-fully we’ll have another top-10 � nish.”

CLAYTON

■ What’s your favorite movie?“Gladiator”

■ Who’s your favorite musical artist?Probably now it’d be Kenny G, but if I went back to when I was in college, I’d have to go with Jimi Hendrix.

■ What’s your favorite sport besides track?Probably football

■ What’s your favorite food?Since we lived in Texas I love Tex-mex. I can cook it, too.

■ What’s your favorite restaurant in Auburn?Laredo’s. Without question.

■ Do you have any personal heroes?I guess it’d be the thrower Al Feuerbach. He was a former world-record holder.

■ Do you have any pets?We have two dogs, a pit bull and a weimaraner. We also have a macaw that talks. He’s got “War Eagle” down.

Quizzing Clayton

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Thursday, December 2, 2010 The Auburn Plainsman Sports D5

This Saturday, the Au-burn Tigers will make its fourth appearance in the Southeastern Conference Championship game, fac-ing Steve Spurrier and the South Carolina Game-cocks.

The game will be a re-match of the Sept. 25 game that Auburn won 35-27 with the help of four fourth quarter turnovers.

Auburn and South Carolina have played just nine times during their histories, including only five meetings since South Carolina joined the SEC before the 1992 season.

Auburn leads the series 7-1-1 and has won all five SEC games between the schools.

Since the teams played each other during the regular season, this cham-pionship game will mark the sixth time since the inception of the SEC title game in 1992 that there is a rematch.

The team that won the first game also won the ti-tle game in four of the five previous rematches.

The Gamecocks have won three straight games with help from talented players, such as Marcus Lattimore and Alshon Jef-fery, to finish the regular season 9-3.

Running back Marcus Lattimore has proven why he was one of the nation’s top recruits.

Lattimore ranks second nationally among fresh-men in rushing, averaging 101.3 yards per game and is tied with Cameron New-ton for 19 touchdowns scored.

South Carolina is mak-ing its first ever appear-ance in the SEC champi-onship game, so Tigers’ defensive coordinator Ted Roof needs to be ready for some trick plays.

Spurrier hasn’t had to dig deep into the play-book over the last several games, and the Game-cocks have nothing to lose.

Also expect South Caro-lina to throw the ball.

Although South Caro-lina’s primary strength lies with the run, no team has been successful running the ball against Auburn’s defensive line.

Because of this, look

for Gamecock receiver Alshon Jeffery to have an-other big game against the Tigers.

Jeffery, a Biletnikoff fi-nalist, had eight catches for 192 yards and two touchdowns in the first game against the Tigers.

Jeffery ranks fifth na-tionally, averaging 112.6 yards receiving per game.

Make sure Jeffery is cov-ered at all times, bring pressure from the front four, and Auburn is look-ing at its first conference championship since 2004 and its first ever trip to the BCS national champion-ship game.

Although scenarios have presented themselves in the past, the chances of Auburn making it to the national championship scene with a loss this Sat-urday are slim to none.

Going back to 2007, LSU and Ohio State com-peted in a championship matchup with three losses between the two teams.

With losses to Kentucky and archrival Arkansas, the LSU Tigers were still able to win the West, se-curing a spot in the SEC championship game.

The Tigers beat Tennes-see to set up a game with Ohio State, which had one regular season loss.

The Buckeyes were stunned at home by an un-ranked Illinois team, but were able to climb back in the rankings, benefiting from late losses of other teams.

The chance that Auburn will receive the same love from voters is doubtful, especially with an unde-feated TCU team waiting to get a shot.

Because of this, Satur-day is a must win if the Ti-gers want a shot at its first national title since 1957.

According to ESPN.com, there is a good chance we will see Cameron Newton in interviews following Saturday’s game since the Southeastern Conference could fine Auburn for not making Newton available for postgame interviews following the conference title game.

Conference Commis-sioner Mike Slive could fine a school for violating this rule, but has never had to do so.

Even if the Tigers lose the championship game and earn a bid to a BCS bowl game, Auburn should consider this year a great success.

The Tigers have accom-plished a feat by going undefeated in regular sea-son play and have proven themselves to be one of the best in the nation’s best conference.

This Saturday we’ll see if the Tigers can go out there and do it again for the first time since 2004.

Patrick DeverWriter

Concussions in the sporting world are not a new occurrence.

Athletes in contact sports have always suf-fered from concussions, but since it’s happening to NFL players more often this season, discussions on how to prevent them have become common-place on TV shows like “Sportscenter.”

“Concussions are a big deal around here,” said Peter Lennarson, assis-tant professor in the de-partment of surgery/neu-rological surgery at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. “I think you’re starting to see it a lot more in the regular press.”

But it is not just dur-ing football that athletes must be wary of concus-sions.

“There was some con-troversy over heading being allowed in soccer,” Lennarson said. “Stud-ies showed that heading the ball wasn’t really a big deal, but two players hitting heads could be a problem.”

While the nation is hearing about NFL con-cussions, this is not the first time football has drawn attention for being a violent sport.

According to Steve Wulf, ESPN The Magazine

writer, in 1905 there were 19 fatalities due to violent hits in football.

“Teddy Roosevelt invit-ed coaches and sports ad-ministrators to the White House for a summit,” Wulf said.

A concussion is defined as a complex pathophysi-ological process a f fe c t -ing the b r a i n , i n -d u c e d by trau-m a t i c biome-c h a n i -c a l forces , accord-ing to the 3rd C o n -s en su s S t a t e -ment on Concussion in Sport.

“There are many residu-al effects associated with concussions,” Lennarson said. “We know very well at this point what prob-lems they can cause.”

He said a student ath-lete may be affected by a concussion in the class-room and while doing other off-the-field activi-ties.

“ P o s t - c o n c u s s i o n symptoms can involve not only somatic complaints like headache and things like that,” Lennarson said,

“but also having trouble with concentration and trouble with simple calcu-lations in your head with memory and all sorts of things.”

Lennarson also said that a lot of neurological testing and screening goes on during preseason and

through-out the season.

T h e b i g g e s t issue now f a c i n g a t h l e t i c t r a i n e r s and doc-tors is not the diag-nosing of a concus-sion.

“ L e t ’ s say you’ve d e c i d e d someone

has had a concussion,” Lennarson said. “When can they go back to play-ing?”

When dealing with an athlete who has sustained a concussion, there is a lot of screening that goes on, whether it be on the side-line or at the hospital.

“They have these com-puter-based tests now that they have to score a certain score on for it to be over,” Lennarson said.

Doctors recommend an athlete be over all symp-toms before returning to play.

“It gets a little fuzzy, when talking about the NFL, when you’re talking about a person’s liveli-hood,” Lennarson said. “Certainly at the college level, there’s really a rec-ommendation for a step-wise return to play.”

The stepwise return means the athletes would wait at least a week after the symptoms have re-solved before going back to play.

The approach to deal-ing with concussions on the sideline has changed drastically.

“It used to be that some-one came off the field for a few minutes because they got their bell rung,” Len-narson said.

Athletes would come off the field feeling dizzy or uncoordinated, gather themselves for a few min-utes and return to the game after a coach asked if they were OK.

“It’s been shown to be quite detrimental to peo-ple, especially long-term,” Lennarson said. “So a second concussion be-fore you’ve fully recovered from the initial one seems to be much more detri-mental than two spaced out in time.”

In the long run, if the brain does not fully re-cover from a concussion, there is an increased risk for developing a trau-matic encephalopathy, or brain disease.

Concussions causing concerns

Getting to know the voice of AuburnNick Van Der

LindenAssistant Sports Editor

Every university has its voice, and Auburn found its own in Rod Bramblett.

Bramblett is now enter-ing his seventh season as the voice for Tiger foot-ball and basketball.

Bramblett, who grew up 30 minutes from Auburn in a small town called Val-ley, knew at an early age sports broadcasting was the field for him.

“I was never really that good at sports, but en-joyed sports and enjoyed listening to the radio,” Bramblett said.

Since a lot of his fam-ily members were Georgia Bulldogs fans, Bramblett said all the way through high school, the Universi-ty of Georgia was his first choice, but tuition costs made him look elsewhere.

“I started Auburn and told myself I was going to stay a Georgia fan, but it took all of one football game to get me to come to

the good side,” Bramblett said. “I’ve been an Auburn fan ever since.”

Bramblett spent four years working in radio before getting a job at WAUD and doing his first play-by-play at Lee Scott Academy in 1990.

“All the b r o a d c a s t s were tape-delayed back then,” Bram-blett said. “I had to sit there with a tape record-er, and I’ll never forget what happened.

“The first game was against Chambers Acad-emy, and they just put me on top of the press box, stacked a bunch of Coke crates on top of one an-other and said, ‘Here’s your table. It’s the only space we have for you.’ That’s the first play-by-play I had.”

Bramblett briefly an-nounced for Auburn High School before getting the

chance to do play-by-play for Auburn University baseball in 1993 and get-ting hired full time by the Auburn Sports Network in 1996.

Bramblett said it is a t re m e n d o u s honor to have g r a d u a t e d from Auburn and announce for Auburn a t h l e t i c s , calling it his dream job.

“ P e o p l e have asked what my next step is going

to be, and I say I’ve got it made,” Bramblett said. “I don’t know if there is an-other step. As long as they want me to keep doing it, this is a dream job.”

The breathtaking plays have piled up over the years, giving Bramblett plenty of memorable mo-ments.

“It’s impossible to nar-row it down to one mo-ment or game,” Bramblett said. “It really is.”

Although Bramblett

believes this year cannot yet be thrown in the mix until everything is said and done, the moment that stands out most is the Georgia game.

“The game was over, Auburn won and the people from AU HD put together a composite of this entire season all the way through the Georgia game with our radio calls over the video,” Bramblett said.

Bramblett said the reac-tion from the student sec-tion after his comments is something he would never forget.

“That right there is a great example of what we do here really matters to the people that listen,” Bramblett said.

Bramblett lives in Au-burn with his wife Paula and two children.

“They’re the best be-cause they are the ones who allow me to do what I do,” Bramblett said. “They are basically my free time, and whenever they let me, I’ll get out and play a little bit of golf.”

“ Let’s say you’ve

decided someone has had a concussion. When can they go back to playing?”

Peter Lennarson, assistant professor,

departmnet of surgery/neurological surgery

BramBlett

Nick Van Der Lin-den

[email protected]

Let’s do it again


Courtney SmithWriter

Frisbee just got a lot more competitive at Au-burn.

Brad Smith, president and captain of the men’s Ultimate Frisbee team, said he wants to clear up the misconception that Ultimate Frisbee is a “hip-pie sport.”

“I’ve seen countless ath-letes make jaw-dropping layouts and D’s right in front of my eyes,” Smith said. “If you think Ultimate is for hippies, think again.”

Smith, senior in com-puter science and software engineering, has played for Auburn for three years.

Smith said he started playing pickup games of Ultimate his senior year in high school and continued playing his freshman year.

“I’ve always been very competitive,” Smith said. “After seeing what com-petitive Ultimate was like, I was hooked.”

Mary DeCastra, presi-dent of the women’s team and senior in nutrition and food sciences, said she also got involved with

the club through a pickup game one day after her freshman year.

“I came out to practice that August, and I’ve loved it since day one,” DeCastra said.

James McCracken, grad-uate student in computer science and software en-gineering, said he has played pickup games for about seven years, but was introduced to the com-petitive side of the sport a few years ago by his room-mate.

“Ultimate is a very unique sport,” McCracken said. “Everyone is a receiv-er, thrower and defender all at the same time.”

� e teams practice throughout the fall and may participate in a few tournaments.

� e season doesn’t usu-ally begin until the spring semester, DeCastra said.

Starting in January, the teams will compete against other universities’ teams all across the South-east.

“Ultimate is a pretty awesome sport, and every-one should come check it out,” DeCastra said. “We

are a very laid-back crowd, but love to have fun.”

� e best part about playing on the team, Mc-Cracken said, is the op-portunity to compete at tournaments against oth-er universities across the nation.

“Besides playing the actual game itself, the friends and relationships you develop playing with the team are irreplace-able,” McCracken said.

Both teams practice from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. at the Intramural Fields on Mondays, Tuesdays and � ursdays.

� e club mainly recruits people through word of mouth and through local pickup games on campus, Smith said.

� ey also set up tables on O-Days to help raise awareness for the sport.

Ninety percent of the team every year has not played Ultimate before college, Smith said.

“No experience is neces-sary to play,” Smith said. “As long as you can run and you want to get better, we can teach you every-thing else.”

Chelsea HarveySta� Writer

� e Auburn Wrestling Club is a small, but tightly knit community.

According to Will Grif-§ n, president of the club, the group is so close that even former members who have graduated con-tinue to come to prac-tices.

“� ey can’t compete, but we get a lot of support, especially from wrestlers that graduated in the past couple of years,” he said. “� ey’re all still really g o o d friends, s o t h e y ’ l l come to tourna-m e n t s , a n d t h e y ’ l l come to practic-es if they h a v e t i m e a n d t h e y ’r e still around. A few of them have been gracious enough to pledge dona-tions, so it’s all very good.”

Gri ̈ n said the club has a core group of about 10 participants who come to practices and compete in tournaments on a regular basis, but 20 to 30 guys come out maybe every other week.

Clay Wester, vice presi-dent, said most partici-pants have had prior ex-perience in wrestling.

However, this is not al-ways the case.

“Really, we pull from mostly prior-experience kids,” he said. “But there have been a few that have been interested in just coming and trying out.

“In the past we’ve had two or three people that had never even done it before that just picked it up.”

Gri ̈ n said experience is not a requirement to join the club.

“We’re open to all skill levels, so even if you have no prior experience, you’re more than wel-come to come,” he said.

A s a club s p o r t , w r e s -tling at Auburn d o e s n o t h a v e m a n -d ator y p r a c -tices.

How-e v e r , t h e

club does hold option-al practices Monday through � ursday from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. in the Student Activities Center for anyone interested in attending.

“We’re far more relaxed about training,” Gri ̈ n said. “If you want to come in and work real hard and work a lot, then we can accommodate you. If you want to just come in and roll around on the mats, there are guys there who are more than happy to just wrestle guys for 35

minutes or an hour and then call it,” Gri ̈ n said.

� e club participates in several tournaments throughout the year.

According to Kimmy Broome, co-vice presi-dent of the Mat Cats, most of the larger tourna-ments, such as Nationals and the SEC, are held in the spring.

Smaller tournaments are held during the fall.

“We typically have good results,” Broome said. “� is year we have a lot of new talent. � ere’s a lot of promising guys —couple freshmen came out that did surprisingly well.”

� e Mat Cats accom-pany the wrestlers when they attend tournaments.

“� ey help us out when we go to tournaments,” Wester said, “and they’re actually very active at the various competitions we attend, with time scores and helping out the refs and o ̈ cials at the di ̄er-ent competitions we at-tend.

“� ey help keep track of our equipment and pretty much just help us out wherever we need it.”

� e last tournament in which the club partici-pated was held at Mercer University Oct. 30.

“We took 11 guys that wrestled, and we had sev-eral second place—we had two second-place § nishes, three third-place § nishes, and four fourth-place § nishes,” Gri ̈ n said.

� e club will go to the SEC Tournament in Feb-ruary.

Wrestling Tigers pin to win

CONTRIBUTED

Last year’s captain Gamble Ruff makes a play against the opposing team, William and Mary.

Frisbee prepares for spring

“ We’re open to all skill levels, so even

if you have no prior experience, you’re more than welcome to come.”

Will Grif� n, club president

the auburn plainsman

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