University officials explain campus-wide smoking ban, students react
AUBURN vs. arkansas State
Q&A with Auburn marching band’s four drum majors
See special section inside
Page A3
Page B6
The Auburn Plainsman Thursday, September 5, 2013
ONLINE
A Spirit That Is Not Afraid ThePlainsman.com
Vol. 120, Issue 15, 16 Pages
Harrison Mills
Amy Anne Olsen
President of SGA
Football vs. Arkansas State Stay posted for updates from the game Saturday, Sept. 7
COMMUNITY A7
Vice president of SGA
Harrison Mills’ campaign slogan, ‘Hey Harrison,’ will haunt him throughout the rest of his term, but he is OK with that. Mills said he will make sure to walk the concourse and answer any questions students have about policies and issues on campus.
Along with serving approximately 25,000 students as vice president, Amy Anne Olsen also has to watch over and lead 34 student senators. “It’s a challenging position, but it’s a lot of fun,” Olsen said. “I’m blessed to work with 34 of the best, most hard-working students at Auburn.”
SGA moves forward with new executive leaders See A2 for full stories
Chelsea Crooks
William McManus
Executive vice president of initiatives
Treasurer of SGA
Downtown Master Plan meeting held City of Auburn invited community to provide input on potential downtown renovations
William McManus is no stranger to the treasury business. Serving as UPC’s vice president of finance in the last school year, McManus said he is one of the only people in his position that has ever had such financial experience before being elected treasurer.
Have any idea or issue regarding students that you want heard? Chelsea Crooks is your go-to woman. “If [students] want to contact me personally, I check my email 600 times a day,” Crooks said. Graphic by emily brett and rachel suhs
SPORTS
B1
Changes in student organization seating goes into practice
Therezie wins awards Therezie earns two awards for his performance against Washingtion State
Ben Hohenstatt Campus Reporter
Emily enfinger / Photographer
READERS RESPOND
Auburn fans gathered after the win against Washington State to roll the new Toomer’s structure.
New traditions on The Plains Ashtyne Cole Intrigue Writer
Want your opinion heard? To be featured in our issue, chime in on Facebook, Twitter or ThePlainsman.com
INDEX Campus Opinion Community Sports Intrigue
A2 A6 A7 B1 B5
It’s that time of the year again. RV’s roll in on Thursday and people stand in staked-off areas in a field just to get their favorite spot. White tents start popping up all over campus and there is a tangible, lifted spirit in the air throughout town. Families come back to visit their favorite school, a little older and with kids in tow, sipping on Toomer’s lemonade. Students wear game day buttons and tailgate with friends all for one special reason: it’s game day at Auburn University. There is just one difference with this season: the Toomer’s Oaks will not be present for the first games. The tradition of rolling Toomer’s Corner will live on. The city of Auburn spent $5,000 on the installation of four wires across the College Street and Magnolia Avenue intersection downtown, according to Aubun officials. The wires will hold the place of the trees until more are able to be planted in spring of
2014. The wires are attached to three poles downtown, coming together and forming a “V” where the Oaks used to stand. They aim to give the Auburn Family a place to celebrate our victories and provide a sense of normalcy. The wires are adorned with big “AU” symbols to add to the festivities. They celebrated their first rolling with Auburn’s win against Washington State Saturday, Aug. 31. The wires come with a bit of mixed emotion and reaction. Nothing can take the place of the trees, which were removed in April after Harvey Updyke’s irreversible poisoning. The point is to give the Auburn family a place to come and celebrate, even though the trees are gone. June and Jerry Carpenter have been coming back to Auburn off and on since they graduated from the University in 1974.
» See traditions A2
Based on the noise generated by 87,451 rabid fans at Auburn home games, there isn’t a bad seat in Jordan-Hare Stadium. However, four sections of the best seats in the student section are reserved as part of the Organizational Seating Program well before game time. “Obviously, the Organizational Seating Program block has some pretty great seats,” said Brad Smith, Student Government Association graduate assistant. The seats are located in sections 24, 25, 26 and 27. Connor Graves, SGA assistant vice president of traditions, said the reserved seats can accommodate approximately 2,200 students. The Organizational Seating Program, better known as block seating, is rewarded to student organization members who regularly attend athletic events. “Block seating is entirely event attendance based,” said Anna Malloy, assistant director of marketing for Auburn Athletics. In recent years, block seat-
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We’re no longer on the spirit system. Starting last year, we opened organizational seating to all student organizations.” —Brad smith Student government association adviser
ing was only open to Greek organizations and was determined by a combination of philanthropic efforts and attending sporting events. “We’re no longer on the spirit system,” Smith said. “Starting last year, we opened organizational seating to all student organizations.” Organizational seating is also open to students with the most Auburn Ignited points. Smith said the change was prompted by disingenuous involvement from organizations.
» See stadium A2