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THURSDAY, JANUARY 28, 2021
A SPIRIT THAT IS NOT AFRAID • NEWS SINCE 1893
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VOL. 128 • ISSUE 16 • FIRST COPY FREE THEN 50¢
FEATURE
‘That’s why I’m here’ Despite her far travels, Mrs. Z says Auburn feels like home By EMMA KIRKEMIER Reporter
ASHTON SCOTT | PHOTOGRAPHER
The future Whataburger will be in Tiger Town.
Whataburger to open in Opelika By EVAN MEALINS Managing Editor
Tuscaloosa has continually dominated Auburn in one way: its number of Whataburgers. However, things are starting to look up for the Loveliest Village on the Plains. A new Whataburger location is set to open soon near Tiger Town. Signs advertising the burger chain’s new location at 2501 Gateway Dr. say “Opening Soon,” and the company has plans for a summer 2021 opening. No firm opening date has been confirmed by the chain. “Whataburger is growing, and we’re planning to bring our iconic burgers and exceptional customer service to the Auburn-Opelika area this summer,” Whataburger Corporate Communications said in an email. The space was previously occupied by an O’Charley’s. The lot is currently undergoing demolition. Rumors of a new Whataburger had been circulating since a Whataburger job posting was found on the job-search website Indeed. There are 18 Whataburger locations throughout Alabama, including two in Tuscaloosa and two in Birmingham. “We’ll have more information to share in the future, but we have some great fans in Auburn-Opelika and we hope they’re as excited as we are,” the company said.
There are a few constants when navigating Auburn’s campus: It will rain — a lot. There will be people on the concourse trying to get your attention. The Chick-fil-A will be busy at lunchtime. When you walk into the Panda Express, Mrs. Z will be there to greet you. Zeynep Bilgili, affectionately known by her coworkers and regular guests simply as “Z,” has been a constant presence at the campus Panda Express since its 2010 opening. “I like to work in the campus because every day, I am seeing the same faces, and I know their orders most of the time,” Bilgili said. “I like to talk to them, and they know me too. It’s kind of fun when I see them every day. Bilgili moved from Turkey to the United States with her family when she was only 19 years old. She has lived in Auburn since then, and she said it was an adjustment to go from living in the big city of Istanbul to the Plains. However, Bilgili said she has come to enjoy living in such an “easy city,” where her commute to work takes only 20 minutes, rather than the three hours it would take in Istanbul traffic. “I really like to be in Auburn,” she said. “I don’t want to go to Atlanta, or to the big city. I am feeling that I am safe in Auburn.” Bilgili has a degree in tourism and hotel management, and she has worked in the food industry for over 15 years, both in and out of the U.S. She said that she has often worked two or three jobs at a time. Now Bilgili works primarily at the campus Panda Express, but she also works at the Opelika store on weekends. She said she occasionally also supports the Montgomery and Columbus, Georgia stores. “Last May I opened the Opelika store,” she said. “Opening is kind of hard because you have to order everything, and you have to find the new associate [manager] and the new cook. … But it was fun because it was my first opening for a store.”
Bilgili and her husband Ilker, or “Ike” for short, have two children — 10-year-old Lara and 7-year-old Maya. She said one of the reasons she enjoys her campus job is that it allows her more time with her family. The campus Panda Express often closes earlier than off-campus locations, and the University’s summer and winter breaks allow Bilgili time to travel with her family, sometimes to see her extended family in Turkey. “Before COVID, we traveled a lot, actually,” she said. “Every break or every holiday, we want to go somewhere. I’ve been to New York; I’ve been to Las Vegas; I’ve been to Florida. I also like
road trips.” The beaches in Turkey are beautiful in the summertime, she said. While she loves the freedom to travel, Bilgili said her favorite part of her job is forming connections with the students she sees every day. “I like to be with the students,” Bilgili said. “They are sharing with me everything, like, ‘Oh, I’m going to graduate this year,’ or, ‘My family is coming to town.’ I like to be part of them. If something good is happening in their life, they are telling me.”
BROOKE FUCITO | PHOTOGRAPHER
Zeynep Bilgili — Mrs. Z — has worked at the Panda Express in Foy Union Hall since it opened in 2010.
INVOLVEMENT
BASKETBALL
Tigers topple No. 12 Mizzou By JAKE WEESE Section Editor
CONTRIBUTED BY SGA
Rett Waggoner (left), Tyler Ward (middle) and Sloen Zieverink (right) are running for SGA president.
SGA elections kick off for 2021-22 By EMMA KIRKEMIER Reporter
Auburn’s Student Government Association begins its kickoff for campaign week for spring 2021 elections today through Monday, Feb. 1. Campaign kickoff begins at 3 p.m. today via Zoom, and SGA will hold a candidate debate tomorrow, Thursday, Jan. 28 viewable on Zoom at 6 p.m. Links to these events may be found in the “Elections” section on SGA’s website. Students will be able to vote for their
» See PANDA, 2
candidates of choice on Feb. 2 from 7 a.m.-7 p.m., and callouts will be held that night at 10 p.m. Below is a brief summary of this year’s candidates for president, vice president and treasurer as well as the candidates for Miss Auburn and their platforms. Candidates for President Rett Waggoner, junior in finance, is campaigning for “student empowerment, SGA usefulness and the individual student experience,” according to his platform. He plans to reform election
week and add another executive position to SGA: executive vice president of diversity, equity and inclusion. He also aims to increase funding for student veterans. Tyler Ward, junior in political science, plans to institute an SGA initiative tracker “to further increase our transparency and accountability with the student body,” according to his platform. He also plans to advocate for more printers and phone chargers in the Melton Student
GOVERNMENT Planning Commission recommends restricting short-term rentals After a hearing, the commission elected to suggest that the Council restrict short-term rentals. Page 6
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According to Chris Moore, when Charles Barkley comes to watch you play, “it’s a huge motivator.” On Tuesday, with Barkley in attendance, Auburn knocked off No. 12 Missouri 88 - 82 inside Auburn Arena. Sharife Cooper led Auburn with a team-high 28 points and seven assists in 28 minutes of playing time. “That is the best win of the year so far against a nationally ranked team,” said head coach Bruce Pearl. “A really, really good team in Missouri. A veteran team. A team we didn’t beat last year.” While Cooper may have led Auburn in both points and assists, the freshman point guard was in foul trouble for most of the game. He finished the day with four fouls but picked up three late in the first half. Auburn got off to a fast start
and led 21-9 with 11:20 left in the first half following an 8-0 scoring run by Moore. Moore finished the contest with a season-high 11 points and was 4-for-4 from the field and 3-for-3 from beyond the arc. “All my life, it’s been about confidence,” Moore said. “When I got here, I was shy of confidence, but the coaching staff has been getting on me all year about shooting my shot. That’s in our DNA. Me making shots and coming through for the team was really big. It felt good out there to make a lot of big shots.” Moore and the rest of Auburn’s bench were a key part of Auburn’s success against Missouri. The bench combined for 34 of Auburn’s 88 points in the win. With 5:06 left in the first half, Cooper picked up his third foul and headed to the bench with Auburn up 32-24. » See BASKETBALL, 9
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THURSDAY, JANUARY 28, 2021
THEPLAINSMAN.COM
NEWS
Auburn University COVID-19 data
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100 0
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78
109 53
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CORONAVIRUS
University reports decrease in cases amid low sentinel testing By EVAN MEALINS Managing Editor
A total of 78 new cases of COVID-19 were reported on Auburn’s campuses this week, marking a slight decrease from last week’s 113. All but one of the reported cases came from Auburn’s main campus for the week ending Jan. 24, while the other case was reported at the Auburn University Airport. Participation in sentinel testing, the University’s system of tracking the spread of the coronavirus among the campus community via random selection for testing, increased this week, while the percent of tests returning a positive result de-
PANDA » From 1
Her job at Panda Express has allowed her to connect with students with whom she has maintained friendships over the years, some of them also from Turkey. Getting to know her guests — and not just their orders, but their lives — is what makes Bilgili’s work rewarding. “That’s why I’m here,” she said. Karon Martin, Bilgili’s coworker at Panda and another familiar face to many students,
SGA
» From 1 Center and for free menstrual products in on-campus restrooms. Sloen Zieverink, junior in public relations, wants to combine Tiger Cards and Ignited Cards into a single card. She plans to either create or strengthen SGA Senate liaison positions for student organizations and, like Ward, plans to create an initiative tracker for SGA. Candidates for Vice President Cole Callahan, junior in biomedical sciences, aims to reform SGA office hours to be more accessible, according to his platform. Another initiative of his would advocate for a counselor on campus specialized in sexual assault and expand the Green Dot sexual assault awareness program from Greek life to being mandatory for all students. Andrew Dismukes, junior in finance, wants to increase the number of student senate seats to represent not only schools but student organizations, according to his platform. Dismukes, like Waggoner, wants to reform election week, citing in his platform that he wrote and passed legislation to do so al-
creased. Of 402 sentinel tests, two returned a positive result. Dr. Fred Kam, director of the AU Medical Clinic, said that participation in sentinel testing still needs to be higher. “We really need to be more than doubling [participation in sentinel testing], and the only way this is going to happen is if people take the opportunity and do your part,” Kam said. As of Jan. 22, the University has received 7000 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine and has administered 3967 of them. Three quarters of the vaccines the University has received are being used as first doses, and Kam is hopeful that more doses will come in the future that can be used as second doses. “Candidly, I don’t think sitting on the vaccine for more than two weeks waiting to give second doses was in the best inter-
has known her for almost five years. “She can remember so many people’s orders,” Martin said. “She’s personal with the guests.” Even when the Panda Express is busy, he said, the atmosphere that Bilgili provides is fun and even relaxed. He described her as funny as well, something her regulars and friends love about her. Bilgili and Martin expressed their thanks to both Panda Express and to Aramark, but more particularly to their guests. “We love Panda, and we love you,” Martin said, laughing.
ready this semester. Candidates for Treasurer Stephen Sadie, junior in finance, is hoping to harness SGA reserve fund and student activity fee money “so that any group can apply to have their event or initiative financially sponsored by SGA,” according to his platform. Another of his goals is to expand Auburn’s current financial literacy program — a partnership with Regions — into the classroom. Hannah Streitman, junior in finance, also plans to expand financial literacy programs with seminars and other events, as well as a budgeting app. Streitman wants to advocate for student loan assistance and promote AU10, a 10% discount provided by local businesses to Auburn students who show student ID. Candidates for Miss Auburn Mary Collins, junior in global studies, stated in her platform that she wants to promote the use of “the positive implications of using inclusive language” and not just speaking, but listening, in “critical conversations.” She also encouraged students to vote. Caroline Keim, junior in public relations, wants to promote Auburn’s counsel-
ing services and “break the stigma of counseling and cultivate honest conversations,” according to her platform. Her slogan, “Make Time with Kiem,” refers to her encouragement of students to look after their mental health. Elaine Shankute, junior in psychology, aims to “make campus involvement a more equitable process,” according to her platform. She also advocates for accommodations for students with anxiety disorders within recruitment processes of campus organizations. Abby Smith, junior in nutrition wellness, plans to use her Miss Auburn platform to raise awareness for the EAGLES program. One of her goals is to encourage student organizations to include EAGLES students, including with EAGLES-specific positions in organization leadership. Kathleen Sullivan, junior in supply chain management, plans to promote both a “sound mind” and a “sound body” by initiating conversations about mental health and advertising opportunities to be active on campus, according to her platform. She hopes to advocate for “those who need their voices heard” by partnering with campus organizations to understand student needs.
est of Auburn,” Kam said, explaining the decision to focus on administering first doses. Kam encouraged all students and faculty to get the vaccine if they are able to. “We expect that the general healthy student who is interested in getting the vaccine, you will be in phase two, and phase two will be determined by how quickly and how much vaccine we get,” Kam said. “If you had to push me on a date, I’d say probably somewhere along the third week of February.” An average of seven students were in isolation housing and an average of 11 were in quarantine housing during the week ending Jan. 24. Both of these represent an increase from the week ending Jan. 17.
opinion
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THURSDAY, JANUARY 28, 2021
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OPINION
EDITORIAL
We may all be sinking on S.S. Zoom By EDITORIAL BOARD Spring 2021
Last semester was rough. It goes without saying that the sum of all of the events that accumulated since the clock struck twelve on Jan. 1, 2020 made for a bad year, and an even worse semester. There’s no need to reiterate what happened last year, but in case you need a refresher, look around. Despite what many people think, we’re still in the middle of a pandemic with no foreseeable end. The inauguration of a new president has never managed to ease racial tensions, and the daily stressors of life, of being an adult and a college student, are still happening. Needless to say, we are all burnt out. A long semester with no break, during which the world continued to live through historical event after historical event, does not make for a productive student, or faculty member. Going back to school after a summer of being in quarantine seemed like dream, something to preoccupy the mind. Now, attempting to be productive after almost a year of pushing through despite all the terrible things that were happening leaves the nerves fraught. So, teacher-to-student, student-to-teacher: please, go easy on each other. We’re all in the same boat. All we need from the other is a bit of understanding. From student to teacher, that comes in
the form of acknowledging that professors are also burnt out. Despite this, they are still trying to come up with suitable lesson plans, trying their best to teach through this weird format, and comply with what the University expects of them. The professors at Auburn want their students to succeed, so open the lines of communication. They don’t know what you need from them unless you tell them. From teacher to students, this also comes in the form of acknowledging that students are overwhelmed, overstimulated and overworked. Students have several classes to focus on, jobs and whatever social life they are able to have at the moment — if any. In any other semester, all of those things would be manageable, a non-issue. Even if the effects of the pandemic and a tumultuous year aren’t visible, they are still there. We can still be touched by the things that are happening around us and find it hard to have any motivation in a world that, at the moment, looks bleak.
MORGAN TAYLOR | GRAPHICS EDITOR
We’ve been pushing through it for almost a year. Forgive us, if our feet are beginning to drag. This, though, goes both ways. It’s also important for students to remember that teachers aren’t trying to add on to your stress, they are doing what they can to make your education worthwhile, in the
best way they can. The boat is sinking, slowly filling up with water at our feet. The only thing we can do now, is grab on to each other and help keep the other afloat. Last semester was rough. Let’s do the best we can for each other to make this semester a little smoother.
COLUMN
Students can get past ‘pandemic fatigue’ By JONATHAN STUCKEY Columnist
One word that has come to mind for any student or instructor over the course of this year has been frustration. The type of frustration we’re all experiencing can stem from an array of things, whether it’s an overload of assigned independent work or general aggravation of studying and working from home. Joseph Bardeen, an associate professor of psychology, explained that what we’re experiencing is “pandemic fatigue.” The effects of this depends on one’s life situation. For many students and faculty, last year’s transition to online caused a major shock. For teachers, this required continuous adaptation of course curriculum to an online format. For students, it required a new sense of maturity, accountability and prioritization. This transition was especially hard for students, since these qualities aren’t usually required as much. “Online classes are difficult for many reasons — stress, worry and uncertainty, which leads to ‘pandemic fatigue,’” Bardeen said. “On top of that, you’re now having to shift into a new way of doing things and the way that online classes are set up, they require you to be more self-motivated, self-guided and to make sure you set up your environment in a way that allows you to be successful in an online aspect.” Without the urgency to return
to in-person classes and a continuing sense of complacency, the number of frustrated students will grow, which could later have effects on enrollment numbers as students find alternatives. Continuing with the status-quo mentality is beneficial to no one. While the administration and provost office have made strides to return to class, there have been hurtles along the way, one of which was a motion to vote no confidence — a silly motion given the circumstances. So, how can we improve from here? It seems like we’re inching towards the first day of normalcy, but a few online classes are still inevitable. Bardeen shared a few ways that we can improve our situations to better our learning experiences. The most impactful being taking into account the environment you’re working in. If you’re working from your bed — an object that our brains associate with sleeping — get up and try a new location. “Classrooms are designed for learning and minimizing distraction.” Bardeen said. In simple terms, locate yourself in an environment that will best suit your learning experience — a location with as few distractions as possible. For students who truly believe their education is being cut short or believe the course work is overbearing compared to an in-person class,
don’t be afraid to reach out to the in- valuable feedback. structors or advisors. There should be no shame in being Education requires an open-end- vocal about your experience. ed communication stream, and it’s If you’ve done everything in your imperative we give our instructors power to improve your education
MEGAN TURBYFILL | PHOTOGRAPHER
With remote learning, students spend hours a day doing online work.
THE EDITORIAL BOARD
OPINION PAGE POLICIES LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
COLUMNS & EDITORIALS
The Auburn Plainsman welcomes letters from students, as well as faculty, administrators, alumni and those not affiliated with the University.
The opinions of The Auburn Plainsman staff are restricted to these pages.
Letters must include the author’s name, address and phone number for verification. Submission may be edited for grammar, style and length. Please submit no more than 600 words.
This editorial is the majority opinion of the Editorial Board and is the official opinion of the newspaper. The opinions expressed in columns and letters represent the views and opinions of their individual authors. These opinions do not necessarily reflect the Auburn University student body, faculty, administration or Board of Trustees.
CONTACT
Letters must be submitted to editor@theplainsman.com before 4:30 p.m. on Friday for publication.
during the pandemic but haven’t seen improvement in the delivery, be vocal. Change doesn’t occur with complacency.
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NATALIE BECKERINK
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CAMPUS
ACADEMICS
Outdoor classes give students a breath of fresh air By KAYLA BHODOO Writer
Auburn University has adjusted some in-person courses to be delivered in outdoor classrooms rather than regular, indoor classrooms because of safety concerns during the COVID-19 pandemic as more students return to campus this semester. Asim Ali, executive director for the Biggio Center for the Enhancement of Teaching and Learning, said the Office of the Provost has been looking at different ways classes can be delivered while also keeping students as safe as possible. “In the summer, the provost’s office funded about $140,000 in proposals from faculty to buy technology equipment and creatively deliver learning virtually for labs and other classes that have hands-on learning,” Ali said. “Late fall, several faculty requested a way to teach outdoors, and the provost’s office and the Biggio Center worked with Facilities [Management] and the registrar’s office to identify ways to implement the request.” Each outdoor classroom is set up to allow students to attend classes in person while also maintaining social distancing recommendations. Ali said most outdoor classrooms
are set up for less than 40 students, so staying six feet apart should not be challenging. “Essentially the outdoor classroom is a 40’ x 60’ tent with 40 student seats at 6’ tables,” Ali said. “There is an instructor area that allows connecting a laptop to a larger display.” Matt Kearley, instructor in the college of science and mathematics’ department of biological sciences, is one faculty member making use of the outdoor classroom option. Kearley said he finds that most of his students are excited to be back to having in-person courses even though it is in an outdoor setting. “I think many students will enjoy this method of class delivery,” Kearley said. “Many students have told me that there are so many distractions in their apartments or dorm rooms that it is hard to concentrate in many cases.” Both Ali and Kearley said they agree students are leaning more towards having in-person classes even in an outdoor classroom setup. They find that most students benefit more learning in-person rather than online. “I taught three classes outside in the fall,” Kearley said. “Our department chair, Dr. [Scott] Santos, and our dean, Dr. [Nicholas] Giordano,
FOOD
ASHTON SCOTT | PHOTOGRAPHER
Outdoor classrooms have been offered since the fall semester.
have been extremely supportive of this idea of having students be able to meet in a safe environment.” The University is aware that weather conditions can get in the way of classes meeting outdoors, but professors have arranged different plans if classes cannot meet
in-person due to harsh weather. Kearley said he will be running his classes on Zoom in case the weather does not permit students to meet outdoors. “All assignments will be online,” Kearley said. “All the tests will be on Canvas to accommodate everyone.”
Ali and Kearley have both worked with the University to help students and find ways that they can best benefit from their classes during these hard times. “I think it gives students who learn in person better a great opportunity,” Kearley said.
INVOLVEMENT
Long waits, delayed openings plagued dining on campus By JILLIAN MINOR Writer
The return to classes at the beginning of the spring semester came with many frustrations among students as a result of long lines, closures, and slow service at dining locations across campus. Campus dining director Glenn Loughridge explained that the limited options introduced at the beginning of the semester were partially due to issues with employee availability at restaurants that have been overwhelmed by the number of orders received. “We try to put hours [in] when we feel like students are going to be here and be active on campus … based on what fall looked like … we were thinking it would be a slow ramp up with students coming back and that was clearly not the case, so we adjusted as quickly as possible,” according to Loughridge. The disparities between student activity in the fall semester and so far in the spring have caused Campus Dining to struggle to make scheduling decisions which led to overwhelming lines and wait times at popular dining options, most notably Chick-fil-A in the Student Center. “We were a little surprised by some of the numbers we got back. Last week Chick-fil-A, in particular, was overwhelming, especially with the new Grubhub system and so [Campus Dining] has tried to pivot quickly.” Specifically, the new Grubhub check-in system has contributed to abnormal wait times at Chickfil-A in the Student Center. Loughridge said that the system was implemented by Chick-fil-A, not Campus Dining, to provide the freshest food possible to students. Campus dining is currently in talks with Chick-
fil-A and Grubhub to reach a compromise between Chick-fil-A’s desire to put out quality, fresh food and Auburn’s need to get food to students promptly. Additionally, many students have wondered about the fate of dining options like Au Bon Pain and the Wellness Kitchen which have both been mostly closed since the fall semester. Loughridge stated that Wellness Kitchen will remain athletes only for a few weeks in response to possible spikes in COVID-19 cases. “We want students to eat where they want to eat but we are also trying to make sure that our student-athletes can compete,” Loughridge said. “[The closure of Au Bon Pain] was really about the rules from the CDC … so much of Au Bon Pain is grab-and-go and self-service ,so that made it very difficult to [run] safely,” according to Loughridge. “Au Bon Pain is coming back, we are hoping early February.” Currently, many options are open right now except for Au Bon Pain in the Student Center and the Wellness Kitchen. “Au Bon Pain is going to take a little bit longer because [it] was closed in the fall so we have to rehire staff, reestablish supplies, and those types of things,” Loughridge said. When asked about the complaints against campus dining, Loughridge said that the biggest mistake Campus Dining made was not being completely open the first day of the spring semester. “Clearly, we stumbled out of the gate, but [we] hope to make it up to students quickly,” he said. “I think you’ll see throughout the semester a much more normal campus as far as the options and hours … I think we are full speed ahead,” according to Loughridge.
JOSH FISHER | PHOTOGRAPHER
GPI has gone hiking, shopped downtown, held a bonfire and went bowling among other events.
Student org offers COVID-safe socializing By SARAH GIBSON Writer
The COVID-19 pandemic has made it difficult for some students to form social interactions, particularly freshmen. To combat this issue, Jordan Windham, a junior in political science, started an organization called Get Plugged In. GPI is centered around combatting isolation that the pandemic has caused many people to experience. “It all started when we came back in the fall,” Windham said. “My friends and I were expressing our concern for the new freshman class and how something needed to be done to help them find their community here at Auburn. Freshman year is hard enough already and they needed the opportunity to get connected to the Auburn Family.” Windham said that she did not originally come back to campus expecting to start an organization, but she started GPI when she said she saw that no similar club existed. She said she wanted freshmen to find their place at Auburn. “I had started a study group for freshmen in my class, and one girl walked in and said, ‘This is the first time I have left my dorm in three days,’” Windham said. “It was at that moment where I realized someone needed to do something, and I thought, ‘I guess it’s going to have to be me.’” Windham said she started calling her friends that
night to tell them that she was wanting to start something to address the problem of people not getting to meet others. She said she wanted to help Auburn address this issue, and she and her friends decided that starting an organization to help people connect to the Auburn community was a great way to fix it. “I was homeschooled, so I knew absolutely no one at Auburn when I came,” Windham said. “I was sensitive to the first-year experiences because they were so important to me since I did not have that network of people that I knew already when I was a freshman. It was really easy to empathize with these freshmen, and watching them go through this and struggle with it was something I just could not leave alone.” GPI started out by recruiting leaders from across campus to hold small group sessions, Windham said. The first thing the club did was read recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and campus guidelines so that the club was abiding by the rules and regulations set in place. “The small group counselors pitch a cool event to do in the Auburn and Opelika area, usually around campus,” Windham said. “This helps the group get to know different parts of Auburn while starting to feel like Auburn can be their new home.” The small group model helped people get to meet
in person while staying safe, socially distanced and wearing masks. “My freshman year was terrifying, even with all of the opportunities to go meet new people,” Windham said. “There were no shortage of opportunities [for] people to meet, but it was still terrifying. Seeing the campus shut down and all of the opportunities shut down with it, I thought that freshman year is already hard enough, yet this year it’s even harder.” Windham said there are always people who do not find their friend groups for the first couple of weeks, and she did not want people to fall through the cracks. So, she said she wanted to create opportunities for these people to make friends and get plugged in. “The Auburn Family welcomed us with open arms. I emailed professors I had that would shout out GPI in their Zoom classes,” Windham said. “The Honors College even put us in their newsletter. It was humbling to see the whole Auburn family from advisors to professors to peers get together to help build this organization.” All years and colleges are welcome to join GPI. The club now has over one hundred members, two staff advisors and a leadership team of 14 people. Since GPI has a wide range of people, the club accommodates this with a wide range of activities. The club has gone hiking, shopped downtown, held bonfires and gone bowling. “We have a Zoom group,
too, so that people who are quarantining, sick or are having to socially isolate can still have interaction,” Windham said. “We do trivia nights and some other fun activities to help them stay involved.” Small groups are made of ten people or less so that they can stay conscious of wearing masks and stay socially distanced. The club was created to exist in a COVID-19 friendly environment, so it hasn’t had problems adjusting throughout the year as regulations have constantly changed. Google Forms are sent out each week so that members can reserve a spot for the activity if they want to join. The club hosts about three to four events a week. Sometimes the club will do pop-up events which happen when another student organization is hosting an event. A counselor will text in the club’s GroupMe chat to see if anyone wants to go to the event as a group. Another example is when a counselor invites people to come study in the library with them. “I would like to say a big thank you to the Auburn Family, everyone has been so [respectful] of what we had to say and what we wanted to contribute. We are so grateful for your love and support,” Windham said. “The opportunity to pay forward the support and encouragement that Auburn has given us has been a humbling opportunity. We are so grateful to be a part of the Auburn Family.”
THURSDAY, JANUARY 28, 2021
The Auburn Plainsman
PAGE 5
DINING
BROOKE FUCITO | PHOTOGRAPHER
The nutrition research center will replace the existing area of Lupton Hall taken up by Fresh from the Plains and AU Smokehouse.
Lupton Hall to feature nutrition resource center By JILLIAN MINOR Writer
Students will soon have a place to go for all things nutrition and food security on campus following the creation of a nutrition research center. It will take the place of AU Smokehouse and Fresh on the Plains on the first floor of Lupton Hall in the Quad. The nutrition research center was first conceived by previous project coordinator Ada Ruth Huntley, senior in global studies and president of Auburn’s Student Government Association, in conjunction with Campus Dining as a means to raise awareness and provide aid for people struggling with food insecurity. Alayna Priebe, junior in business analytics, is the current project coordinator of the planned nutrition research center and is working in conjunction with Glenn Loughridge, director of Campus Dining, on the project. “It is a space to encapsulate all the things that are being done at Auburn in terms of
food security and show that food insecurity is … something that students are going through on a day-to-day basis and make sure that these programs are readily accessible to them,” Priebe said. Loughridge emphasized the need for a non-threatening environment that students can go to get advice or access to resources with no questions asked. “One of the biggest barriers is that people do not ask for help when it comes to food,” Loughridge said. “If we can be a place that any student at any point would [come to], that is a win, because now there is no telling who is in there for what. You can be someone that is in a position with absolutely no food on their table that night … to a student with a more temporary situation.” The current plan involves renovating the first floor of Lupton Hall into operational spaces for Campus Kitchens and Auburn Cares, two on-campus organizations that focus on food security. Campus Kitchens is an organization that focuses on reducing food waste on campus by
packing unserved food from dining halls into nutritious meals to give to community organizations and students in need. It will be moving from Toomer Hall at the Hill to the area in Lupton occupied by Fresh from the Plains. Auburn Cares, an organization currently located in the Melton Student Center that runs the Campus Food Pantry, will take the place of the AU Smokehouse. Loughridge emphasized the importance of the food pantry for at-risk groups including graduate students with families and international graduate students. “One of the biggest parts about this redesign process is also making it as optimal for those services that are going to be involved,” Priebe said. “For Auburn Cares [and Campus Kitchens] it is about making sure from a longterm standpoint that it suits exactly what their needs are going to be.” The services offered will range from providing food to educating students on food security and how it is an issue in the Auburn community. Loughridge says that food security is a more prevalent issue than many stu-
FASHION
dents realize and that even Auburn students can struggle to have the financial means to pay for food after the cost of college and emergency expenses. The nutrition research center will coordinate with the Nutrition and Dietetics Academy, the Office of Health and Wellness as well as Counseling Services to provide students with knowledge that will prepare them to make healthy choices and give back to others that are in need. Students can come for information on general nutrition, resources for those in need or for counseling on how to give back to the community through volunteering. Despite the nutritional guidance provided to students, Loughridge made the distinction that if students are looking for information specific to them, they should go to a registered dietician. “It is designed to be a full-scale integration of education, application and service,” he said. “It is going to be planting a flag in the center of campus saying that we really care about food security and want our students to know where to locate food when they need it.”
RECREATION
Greenway promotes active student lifestyle By CONNOR GAFFNEY Writer
LOGAN ELLISON | STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Members of the AU Modeling Board executive staff at tryouts on Jan. 21, 2020, in Auburn, Ala.
Modeling Board wraps up tryouts By SARAH GIBSON Writer
Arriving at Modeling Board auditions, the executive staff wasn’t hard to spot, all dressed distinctly in their own style. President Keoshia McGhee wore a cropped black windbreaker with matching leggings and mask. Communications director Lucile Duncan wore a patterned overall skirt. Members moved chairs and tables to create an open space in the Spidle Hall classroom where, in about 30 minutes, auditions would be held. Auburn University Modeling Board held its annual auditions this week, inviting new and returning members to come take their place in the organization. McGhee, senior in apparel design and AU Modeling Board president, has been a member of the board since her sophomore year. One of the organization’s key principles is that “confidence is key,” she said. “We are basically a student-run modeling agency,” McGhee said. “And even if you come into the organization without confidence, we help you get there.” McGhee explained that Modeling Board both stages its own photoshoots and helps connect its members with outside opportunities. “It helps you get to that next step, whether you want to be modeling or acting,” McGhee said. “I want to say the coolest thing that I’ve been a part of recently was that a company reached out to us for a commercial, and I got to be a part of that. We’ve been in music videos; we’ve been in movies;
we’ve been on TV shows. We’ve done a lot of different things.” Carson Vines, board vice president and junior in biosystems engineering, said he signed with a modeling agency in Atlanta through Modeling Board. Vines said that modeling is fun for him and that it has provided experiences and connections different than those his major could have given him. Part of the fun for Vines is meeting new people and seeing them flourish in modeling. “I like seeing other people succeed,” he said. McGhee cited the recent commercial as one of her favorite experiences, but she also praised the work of the board’s own creative crew. The Modeling Board creative crew consists of photographers, videographers, directors, stylists and makeup artists, McGhee said. This team orchestrates both photoshoots and live fashion shows. These photoshoots are also good practice for professional shoots, said Che Echols, event coordinator and senior in biomedical sciences. When Echols participated in his first professional photoshoot in Atlanta, he said the photographers could hardly believe he had never done it before. He called Modeling Board “one of the biggest blessings” in reference to acting and modeling opportunities he has had. Echols also said that he was able to meet new people he never would have met because of the diversity in Modeling Board. He and McGhee both said that the board’s members exemplified a variety of majors, ethnicities and
body types, which McGhee wanted to highlight in terms of inclusivity for modeling. “It doesn’t matter your height, your size, race, anything,” McGhee said. “We have short models; … we have petite models; we have plus-size models, curvy models.” Lucile Duncan, communications director and senior in apparel design, said that she grew up sewing with her grandmother. Duncan joined Modeling Board to help improve her business skills. Duncan helped plan Modeling Board’s annual Couture for the Cure event, a fashion show aimed at raising funds for East Alabama Medical Center’s Cancer Center. Although COVID-19 prevented the Modeling Board team from putting on a public fashion show this year, McGhee described the 2020 Couture for the Cure as a memorable one. She said Modeling Board held a private fashion show for their faculty advisor, Karla Teel, who is a cancer survivor herself. Students brought in Teel’s family to surprise her. “She’s just so deserving of it because she does so much for our organization and this University and for the apparel design students,” Duncan said. “It was just a huge honor to be able to do something for her and give her the thanks that she deserves.” Modeling Board’s auditions are over, but interested students will be able to audition for the organization next spring. Anyone looking to keep up with Modeling Board’s fashion shows and events can follow its social media, @AUModelingBoard, on Facebook and Instagram.
As the COVID-19 pandemic has pushed students to make adjustments to their day-to-day lives, some may have developed an interest in becoming more active. Students can do just that on a recently constructed greenway along Parkerson Mill Creek. The three-fifths of a mile stretch of path is traversable by bicycling or walking and serves as a connection from the James E. Martin Aquatics Center to the University’s Sportsplex completed in spring 2020. The lack of a mediary between Auburn University and the connecting area has been accounted for as an issue for almost two decades, said Benjamin Burmester, transportation and site engineer at the University. Burmester said the greenway was finally constructed with the help of Campus Recreation, with the construction of the Sportsplex being cited as the main reason that the greenway was finally prioritized. The greenway began construction in October 2019 and was completed in summer 2020. Burmester said construction was rel-
atively quick considering the task that was being undertaken, which he attributed to the “ample support of Campus Recreation.” Burmester also noted that the campus greenway could be connected to other such facilities around the city and state. He pointed out Chewacla State Park, specifically, as a site that could be connected to the greenway. Burmester described the greenway as a sprawling path that is open and ventilated. This means that, despite COVID, students should be safe along its bounds, provided that they are taking the appropriate precautions. “We hope that students will embrace the new facilities,” Burmester said. The intersection of Samford Avenue and Biggio Drive will be evaluated and changed to improve safety as issues present themselves based on student feedback to the University, according to Burmester. More details will be communicated in March on upcoming plans Campus Recreation has for the University as students look toward a more normal fall semester. “Things are in progress,” Burmester said.
SHELBY DUPREE | PHOTOGRAPHER
The greenway path was completed in summer 2020.
community THURSDAY, JANUARY 28, 2021
6 THEPLAINSMAN.COM
COMMUNITY
GOVERNMENT
City Comm. recommends short-term rental restrictions By ELISE SAPPINGTON Reporter
After extensive community expression and debate during Monday’s specially called meeting, the City of Auburn’s Planning Commission approved the motion of the short-term rental ordinance to carry on to the City Council for review on February 16. The ordinance allows for short-term rentals in zones which permit the housing of up to five unrelated occupants. Short-term rentals began to grow in popularity in Auburn in about 2013. VRBO, Airbnb and other vacation rental websites facilitate the use of these rentals. The City defines a short-term rental as a house that is rented fewer than 180 days per year. Many Auburn residents rent out their homes, particularly during football season, as a way to allow people from out of town to enjoy Auburn and earn themselves a small income. Although benefiting some, single-family homeowners have brought complaints to the City about trash, noise and parking issues caused by tenants of short-term rentals. Signs saying “Don’t hotel our neighborhoods” have popped up all across Auburn’s neighborhoods and petitions have been signed in protest of short-term rentals in recent years. Acting Planning Director Katherine Robison described how the City began to solve this issue by establishing that short-term rentals could be prohibited in certain zones and renters must pay extra occupancy taxes, but the City had issues with enforcement. In 2018, a Short-term Rental Task Force was created, consisting of individuals from the Planning Commission, City Council and community members. Over multiple work sessions and public hearings, the STR Task Force, Planning Commission and City Council revised and proposed a draft to solve the issue of short-term rentals. All of these factors led to the Jan. 25 public hearing with the Planning Commission. The proposal now moves to the City Council on Feb. 16. The two types of short-term rentals recognized by the City are homestays and short-term non-primary rentals. A homestay is the owner’s primary dwelling, or any part of it, which is hired out for lodging. Short-term non-primary rentals do not have to be a primary residence, but can only be leased by the owner to another party for 30 consecutive days or less. The amendments included in the proposed ordinance grant permission for short-term rentals within zones which permit the housing of up to five unrelated occupants. This does not include single family zones, Auburn University property or industrial zones. The proposal also includes consequences for non-compliance. Neighborhood conservation zones are restricted in the ordinance from engaging in either type of short-term rental. Rural zones are permitted to engage in short-term rental activity. When the virtual public hearing was opened by Commission member Phillip Chansler, many individuals spoke up. Community members mostly spoke about the inclusion of certain zones in the list of permitted short-term rental zones. “I want to know who my neighbors are,” said Bill Casky, resident of a neighborhood conservation zone. “I do not want itinerant renters passing through the house next door in what is supposed to be a family neighborhood. Protect the residential and family neighborhoods from the negatives of trash, noise, parking issues and safety for kids because you don’t know who the people are. Those people knew when they moved into these neighborhoods that it was against the rules.”
Some members of the community were in fact so against the recommendations of the ordinance that they brought up issues of the City’s past in their moment to be heard. “I would like to remind you that just a few years ago, the City of Auburn, along with the Creekwood Development and Ashton Park, were in court for two years pertaining to these exact issues,” said Donna Goodlet representative of the Creekwood Development Homeowner’s Association. “I do not think that any of us want to repeat that again.” Goodlet urged the City to prohibit short-term rentals in rural zones, claiming it is directly at odds with their covenant. “The people that don’t want Airbnb’s in their neighborhoods fear neighborhood degradation or that their neighborhood is being ‘hotel-ed out,’ but I think for short-term rentals, people take more pride in their property and it will stay a nicer property. It’s a lower risk I feel rather than being stuck with a neighbor who has leased there for a year who is not a good leaser,” said community member Josh Poole. “I think a fair compromise is to keep it for your private residents and ban it from developers.” Others did not have arguments to ban shortterm rentals but still shared their opinion and experience before the Commission. “I have a lovely home, I bought it to visit my family and to potentially retire there,” said community member Carolyn Smith. “I want the planning commission to please consider the NC exclu-
FILE PHOTO
Residents have placed signs opposing short-term rentals throughout Auburn.
Proposed Rental Rules: — rentals allowed — rentals banned — University property BY CHARLIE RAMO | SECTION EDITOR
The Planning Commission has recommended for some zones to allow short-term rentals.
sion. I do not want to lose my home. I count on that supplementary income to help make my payments. I love Auburn and I’d love to be able to stay here.” Some community members made the argument that not all rented properties attract undesirable tenants. “It’s counterproductive to allow your guests to disturb your neighbors, its counterproductive to rent to people who would destroy property, and its counterproductive to not vet your guests thoroughly for your safety and your neighbors’,” said community member Jamie Anderson. There is also a third party of people who stepped up seeking a compromise that might appease both sides of the issue. “There is a happy medium or compromise [to] allow people that have the space and the opportunity and have the gift of hospitality who want to extend their home and invite people into the community,” said community member David Ficken. “I would like to see some accommodation rather than a blanket statement that says, ‘you can’t have it.’” Chanslor presented the Commission with the opportunity to address questions proposed by the public. Clarification between the two types of short-term rentals was requested. The only difference between the two is that a homeowner must be present for at least 120 days for a homestay but can rent to a six-guest maximum for 360 days per year. STNP rental has no limitation on guests but they are only limited to 240 days of rentals. The zones are the same. One requires a zoning certificate and the other requires a homeowner present. The enforcement would be the same. The planning commission stated that they do not enforce restrictions for neighborhoods. This is true even if they are within the rights of the zoning ordinance, since they might be outside of their HOA. This could also apply to ‘split zone’ neighborhoods which would then default to the most restrictive form of residential occupancy covenants. Community members also inquired about violation consequence enforcements. The commission explained that if the City Council were to adopt something, there will be a short period before enacting consequences. If the ordinance gets passed, then there will be opportunities to revisit and discuss the ordinances as the public desires. An issue repeatedly raised by members of the community is the split between being for or against short-term rentals in Neighborhood Conservation zones which are listed in the ordinance as places where short-term rentals are prohibited. Commission member Warren McCord weighed in on the issue of including NC neighborhoods into the permitted short-term rental zones. “The single-family neighborhoods were not developed arbitrarily,” McCord said. “It was obvious that our citizens wanted zones where they can be protected from and where you can mitigate the
commercial activity and multiunit development. That is where Neighborhood Conservation came into play. We have concluded that NC areas are for families. But, the whole idea is that if we allow the short-term rentals in the single family-neighborhoods, then we are violating the definition of the single-family neighborhood.” It was suggested by Commission member Marcus Marshall that the limited number of overnight guests and need for the presence of the primary resident in a homestay is irrelevant with the new changes made to the ordinance. Other Commission members echoed the notion that limiting the number of guests allowed for homestay rentals is not regulated in any other sense when occupancy has still been determined so therefore should not have a limit. McCord motioned for the ordinance as advertised to be recommended the City Council for approval. Robert Ritenbaugh seconded. Chansler proposed the motion to remove the
“
I want to know who my neighbors are. I do not want itinerant renters passing through the house next door...”
— Bill Caskey
definition of Transient Occupancy from the ordinance. The Commission members unanimously agreed and the amendment carried. Marcus Marshall proposed an amendment to the regulations on home occupations, removing the paragraph limiting the homestay guests to six. Although McCord rejected the motion, all other members accepted and it was amended. The second amendment was unanimously approved. The motion to amend paragraph E to change the term ‘zoning certificate’ to ‘home occupation license’ was also proposed and unanimously agreed to. An amendment to remove the zoning destination of SCCD was unanimously agreed to as well. Bridges and Reese voted no on the newly amended motion while all other members voted yes. The Planning Commission ruled that the newly amended motion will be sent to the City Council for final approval.
The Auburn Plainsman
THURSDAY, JANUARY 28, 2021
PAGE 7
LAW
Shane Healey named new Opelika Police Chief By LANEY MAYFIELD Writer
Shane Healey was appointed Chief of Police for the City of Opelika on Jan. 15. Healey replaced John McEachern, who retired on Nov. 30 after serving eight years at the branch. Healey began working for the department in February 1991 as a paid informant and communications operator. Upon becoming a sworn officer, he worked in a series of divisions including traffic, patrol and detective. He credits those experiences for playing a significant role in shaping his career. Healey, a husband and father of five, said his family has been a reliable support system and is excited about the new transition. He said he hopes this new opportunity will prompt others to reach in their community and do what is right. Healey still serves as the captain of the community relations and special services division until the department finds a replacement. He said members in the department have “stepped up and taken on additional responsibilities” to adjust to the recent changes. Healey knew at an early age that he wanted to become a police officer. But he never thought that he would lead the department in the future. “I was interested in law enforcement since I was a kid,” Healey said. “When I first started policing, I never imagined one day I would become the Chief of the Opelika Police Department. I am honored to be chosen to lead some of the best men and women in law enforcement. I am looking forward to building on existing relationships, establishing new ones with all citizens and impacting young officers.” Healey learned valuable lessons under the tutelage of the previous police chief. Healey said the former department head “established the groundwork” and he plans to continue to “build on the foundation” that was created for him and future leaders. The well-being of the residents in his community is a priority Healey said.. He will re-
JOSH FISHER | PHOTOGRAPHER
Opelika Police Department has been operating out of their new headquarters since October 2019.
main committed to providing the best service to citizens in the city and beyond. “I have spent my law enforcement career working for the citizens of Opelika,” Healey said. “Since starting and working my way up the ranks within several divisions, I have been recognized as an expert in police policies and procedures, and provided several written opinions for federal court cases. I am passionate about Opelika and deeply committed to making our city the best that it can be.”
Healey said he made it his mission to “never give up” on serving his community despite the challenges he may face. Healey hopes to see a decrease in crime during his tenure as police chief. He said he is willing to provide the resources so changes can happen at once. He is actively setting up new community initiatives for citizens to provide the department with feedback on operations within Opelika. “We want to ensure our officers are effective and efficient, so it’s important for our of-
Scholarship Opportunities Are Waiting For You. ausom@auburn.edu
/AUScholarships
/AUScholarships
ficers to have the best teaching and training in order to be successful,” Healey said. “We are also committed to continuing to build community trust and establish genuine relationships with the citizens of Opelika. We are looking at better ways to connect with the public and improve upon the great things we are already doing. We are in the process of planning community conversations within the city to ask citizens, ‘If we were doing our best job, what would that look like to you?’”
Finding and applying for scholarships can be hard work. With the Auburn University Scholarship Opportunity Manager (AUSOM), it has never been easier. Through AUSOM, students view available scholarships for which they may be eligible, complete applications for consideration, accept scholarships awarded and more. Students must complete the scholarship application through AUSOM at auaccess.auburn.edu by 4:45 p.m. CST on the following dates: • February 1 for accepted incoming freshmen, transfer students and current students • June 1 for nursing or veterinary medicine students accepted into the professional program and pharmacy students enrolled in the professional program Students should complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)*, available at fafsa.ed.gov. Students selected for FAFSA verification will not be eligible for financial aid, including needbased scholarships, if that process is incomplete. The FAFSA and other requirements, if necessary, should be received by February 1 for priority consideration of all need-based scholarships. For more information on AUSOM and available scholarships, visit auburn.edu/scholarship. * The FAFSA is the only form a student is required to complete to be considered for
student assistance from any of the Title IV HEA programs, except for information needed to ensure the student’s eligibility for such assistance (e.g., information needed to complete verification or to demonstrate compliance with the student eligibility provisions of the HEA and the regulations). Additional information, if requested, will be listed on the student’s AU Access My Finances page after results of the FAFSA are received. For additional information, visit auburn.edu/finaid.
ausom@auburn.edu
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sports
8
THURSDAY, JANUARY 28, 2021
THEPLAINSMAN.COM
SPORTS
Auburn football 2021 schedule
Week Date
Opponent
1
9/4
Akron
2
9/11
Alabama State
3
9/18
at Penn State
4
9/25
Georgia State
5
10/2
at LSU
6
10/9
Georgia
7
10/16
at Arkansas
8
10/23
Bye Week
9
10/30
Ole Miss
10
11/6
at Texas A&M
11
11/13
Miss. State
12
11/20
at South Carolina
13
11/27
TODD VAN EMST | AU ATHLETICS Tank Bigsby celebrates a touchdown against Ole Miss.
Alabama
THURSDAY, JANUARY 28, 2021
The Auburn Plainsman
PAGE 9
BASEBALL
IAN LOGUE | PHOTOGRAPHER
Butch Thompson and the Auburn team stand during the national anthem against Alabama A&M on Feb. 26, 2020.
2021 Baseball preview: A look at the roster By DYLAN FOX Writer
After COVID-19 shut their 2020 season down, Butch Thompson’s squad is ready to get back on the field. With the season only a few weeks away, here’s a look on what to expect from the Tigers in 2021. One of the many changes that COVID-19 brought to baseball was a massive reduction in the amount of players drafted, dropping from 40 rounds to only five. Thus, the Tigers return the vast majority of starters, with only four players from the 2020 squad signing professional deals. “This is the deepest roster we’ve had since we’ve been here.” said Thompson during fall practice. “It’s going to be really neat, to try to get more people at-bats than we ever have.” The most glaring difference from last year’s team will be seen on the mound. Senior southpaw Jack Owen is the only returning starter from last year’s weekend rotation, as Tanner Burns and Bailey Horn were both
drafted into the AL Central. Owen holds a 2.91 ERA over the last two seasons. The second spot will be taken by converted closer Cody Greenhill. Despite not having a start, he has pitched 128.2 innings as a Tiger, and has shut-down pitches, as batters only hit .232 off of him. The third spot is technically up for grabs. Junior Richard Fitts is the most likely option, as his low 90’s sinker turned into a mid-to-high 90s four-seamer in 2020. He’s currently listed as the number 15 prospect for this year’s MLB draft on MLB Pipeline’s ranking. Sophomore Mason Barnett would be next in line to start, but he looks to be the replacement for Greenhill as closer. Barnett boasts a four pitch mix with great depth on his breaking balls. As for the bullpen, Thompson and pitching coach Tim Hudson will use a committee of Carson Skipper, Brooks Fuller, Seb Thomas and Blake Burkhalter to close out games. Skipper will see the most innings from this bunch, he posted a .89 WHIP in
9.0 innings last year. However, we may see a whole variety of relievers throughout the year, as COVID-19 concerns will continue to plague coaches throughout the season. Another change will take place behind the plate, as stalwart backstop Matt Scheffler signed a free agent deal with his hometown Mariners. Nate LaRue looks to start at the catcher’s spot this season, as he did catch a few mid-week games last year. While his defense was not entirely impressive in those stints, the coaching staff believes he can be an everyday catcher for this squad. Ryan Dyal, fresh off Tommy John surgery, may also catch a few innings, but might be relegated to a DH role. The entire 2020 outfield, made up of Judd Ward, Steven Williams, and Kason Howell, all return to Plainsman Park this season. Together, they had an average slash line of .316/.395/.523 in 2020. Look for Ward to become more consistent of a hitter this season, and his solid walk rate should help the Tigers score at the top of the order. Wil-
liams will return his great pop into the middle of the lineup. The infield returns Rankin Woley at the hot corner, Ryan Bliss at shortstop, and both Garrett Farquhar and Brody Moore at second. Moore appeared to have a great fall camp, so he appears to be the primary choice in the lineup, but that position battle may go on all season. Highly touted freshman Cole Foster will most likely also see some appearances this season. Thompson has a platoon of players to fill the first base and designated hitter roles, including two-sport athlete John Samuel Shenker, and JUCO transfer Bryson Ware. With this deep and experienced roster, along with the stream of new talent coming along, Tiger baseball fans have a lot to look forward to. They head in to the 2021 season ranked 23rd in the NCAA’s Top 25, and have eight SEC teams in front of them. Their first series starts on Feb. 19, as they host Presbyterian College.
GYMNASTICS
Gymnastics meet between Auburn and LSU postponed By EAMON SMITH Writer
Friday’s gymnastics meet between Auburn and LSU has been postponed because of contact tracing and COVID-19 protocols within the LSU program, the SEC announced on Tuesday. The two teams will continue to follow the SEC’s Medical Guidance Task Force requirements and evaluate the possibility of rescheduling the meet. Auburn’s next opportunity to compete will be
on Friday, Feb. 12th at 8 p.m. CST when the Tigers travel to Missouri. The meet will air on SEC Network. The next home meet will be against Georgia on Feb. 19th at 7 p.m. CST. On the season, Auburn gymnastics is winless with losses to Florida, Kentucky and Alabama. While LSU is the reason for the postponement, Auburn has dealt with COVID-19 issues itself and has forced the team to rely on its youth even more than anticipated before the season started.
PHOTO VIA ROGER CHAMPION
An Auburn gymnast goes through her routine during the meet against Alabama.
BASKETBALL
BASEBALL
» From 1
He did not return to the court for the remainder of the first half, and by halftime, Auburn held a slim 39-35 lead. Missouri opened up the second half on a 14-4 scoring run and led 45-41 with 17:07 left. Auburn called a timeout, and Cooper checked back in for Auburn. In the second half, Cooper took over, scoring 21 points down the stretch. He may have only been 4-of-8 from the field but was 13-of-14 on free throws in the second half. “That’s my favorite thing to do is close the game,” Cooper said. “Just making the right plays, making winning plays that affect the game tremendously – just by doing something little. That’s my favorite thing to do since I was a kid. My dad instilled that in me. We’re a young team, so just being able
to transfer that to college, it’s a great experience.” Auburn was able to tie the game up at 50all, and from then on, Missouri and Auburn battled back-and-forth for the lead. Cooper’s jumper with 7:34 left gave Auburn a 64-62 lead, and Auburn never looked back. Missouri got within five points following a dunk to make it a 76-71 game with 3:05 left, but Auburn’s free-throw shooting kept them out in front. Auburn was 27-of-30 from the freethrow line in the second half and was 36of-44 for the game. Auburn also finished the evening with 14 blocks, tying its season-high. Auburn improves to 10-7 overall and 4-5 in the SEC with the win. Auburn will be back in action on the road against No. 2 Baylor on Saturday at 3 p.m. CST with the game airing on ESPN.
MATTHEW SHANNON | AU ATHLETICS
Auburn pitcher Richard Fitts against Illinois-Chicago.
Richard Fitts named preseason All-American By JAKE GONZALEZ Writer
On Monday, Richard Fitts was named a preseason All-American by D1 Baseball. The junior pitcher earned second-team honors. Since coming to the Plains in 2019, Fitts has been a key piece of Auburn’s pitching staff. In 27 career appearances for Auburn, the junior has posted a 4.88 ERA with a 6-3 record.
In 2019, Fitts made appearances in the SEC Tournament, NCAA Regional, NCAA Super Regional and College World Series. Entering this season, Fitts has been ranked as a top 20 college prospect on Perfect Game, D1 Baseball, Baseball America, and MLB.com. His highest ranking was No. 8 by Perfect Game. Auburn is scheduled to start the 2021 season against Presbyterian on Feb. 19 at Plainsman Park.
SHANNA LOCKWOOD | AU ATHLETICS
Sharife Cooper celebrates the win over No. 12 Mizzou.
lifestyle THURSDAY, JANUARY, 28, 2021
10 THEPLAINSMAN.COM
LIFESTYLE
INCLUSION
Baseball creates opportunity for those with autism By EMERY LAY Writer
After exhibiting an array of speech, sensory and anxiety complications along with other developmental delays, Taylor Duncan was diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder at the age of 4. “It kept me out of being able to participate in the same traditional sports opportunities as everyone else,” he said. Despite his developmental delays, Duncan said social stigmas were the biggest obstacle in his search for opportunities. Duncan attributed his ability to overcome those obstacles to the help of his parents, teachers and mentors. “They taught me much more than what wins, losses and statistics could show,” he said. Duncan said their encouragement had an impact on how he approaches life. “They told me pretty much anything that I wanted to go out and try to achieve I was capable of achieving if I put enough hard work into it,” he said. “That’s pretty much my whole mentality for years … When somebody told me that I couldn’t do something, I’d work as hard as I possibly could, even if I had to work three times as hard as everybody else.” Duncan’s own positive experiences inspired him to begin creating a safe place for others, he said. His goal was to target those who are unable to put in the time and finances to travel far away and instead give them a community where they are. Duncan recalled many others like himself “don’t feel like they have anything in their area to their individual needs.” At the same time, Duncan wanted to raise awareness and erase the stigma around autism. Once people with special needs graduate high school, there are little to no services on the state level, he said.
Duncan said the services that do exist are vastly underfunded and fail to fulfill the needs of the whole spectrum. “The spectrum is so wide that it is impossible to cover all of it,” he said. Thus, Alternative Baseball was born. What began in 2016 in a small suburb of Cobb County, Georgia, soon spread across the country. By the end of their second year, they were able to fill two baseball teams. “I call it an experience rather than a league,” Duncan said. “It’s about building teamwork skills, building team chemistry, learning how to work together as a team … and it’s about building perseverance.” Major networks, such as ESPN, CNN and Sports Illustrated reached out to Duncan to do segments for their shows. “That’s when I realized,” he said. “When we got so much interest from across the country, it wasn’t just going to be a solution for the stigma, instead, it was going to provide an opportunity and outlet for those that wouldn’t otherwise have the outlet.” Alternative Baseball follows the traditional rules of Major League Baseball. They use the same bats, as well. The only adaptation is slightly larger and softer baseballs. Before the pandemic, the organization had 20 teams. Now, they have more than tripled that at 70 teams across the country, ranging from Hawaii to Maine. Currently, Duncan is also working on their trademark registration in Canada and is in contact with a group in Japan. Now, Alternative Baseball is coming to Auburn. Evan Crawford, retired pitcher for the Toronto Blue Jays, recently participated in one of their AllStar games where the Alternative Baseball players played against the pros. After seeing their team in action, Crawford wanted to bring the same thing to the Lee County area.
CONTRIBUTED BY TAYLOR DUNCAN
Beginning in 2016, Alternative Baseball has founded 70 teams across the country.
“Right now, we are trying to build the one in Auburn back up,” Duncan said. Though Crawford was planning to help, COVID has kept Duncan in his home since March 2020. In addition, their teams were not able to meet this past year due to the COVID-19 restric-
ENTERTAINMENT
tions. In Auburn and Opelika, Alternative Baseball is looking for more players and more volunteers. They are hoping to start back in the late spring or early summer with a sign-up form on their website.
ARTS
Potter molds her way into the business world By BECCA BENNER Writer
CONTRIBUTED BY REESE FLEMING
Fleming plans to release two singles during the spring 2021 semester.
AU student releases original songs By SOPHIE GOODWIN Writer
Recording his own music was never the plan for Reese Fleming, but after time spent playing for his friends and family, he was inspired to share his music with others. Fleming, senior in aerospace engineering, began his interest in music by playing the piano. “I took piano lessons in eighth grade for a couple of months, then I started teaching myself from YouTube,” he said. When his brother was given a keyboard for Christmas one year, Fleming said he was the one who ended up playing it. “I did the worship band at church in high school,” he said. “That was when I only played the piano and then I started learning guitar.” As he got older, his musical interests expanded to include guitar and songwriting. He said he originally started an Instagram account for his friends and family to listen to his music. “My friends had always listened to me play and they were a little upset that going to college would pull people away from each other,” Fleming said. “I made that account so my friends and family
could keep up with what I’ve been doing.” He most often posts on his Instagram account but also posts some of his songs on his Soundcloud and uploads most to Spotify and Apple Music. He said he hopes to put two singles out this semester. “I wrote a song back in May that I recorded over the break and I have another song that I recorded that I’m going to put out this semester,” Fleming said. “We’re recording the drums this weekend.” He also recorded acoustic sets for both of the singles with his friend who used a video camera to film him playing. “[My friend is] working on putting those videos together, so I have acoustic sets to promote the actual songs whenever that time comes around,” Fleming said. With an extended play called “You, the Magnificent Sun” out on Spotify and Apple Music, which is a recording of one of his other acoustic sets, Fleming is planning on adding his new singles to both platforms as well. On his Soundcloud, he has a song titled “We Buy Gold,” which Fleming described as a sarcastic song about people obsessing over money. “I kind of wrote that out of frustra-
tion [due to] a lot of my friends or family just never being satisfied with stuff they buy and I don’t really find any connection to money,” he said. Since the musician is also a graduating senior this semester, he expressed he will be focusing more on school this semester and hopefully returning to a focus on music after graduation. “After graduation, I’m going to have a lot more free time to be able to learn how to do music production on my computers,” he said. “I want to get into being able to produce any kind of music that I want to make whether that’s indie or jazz or some cool beats.” Fleming also expressed that he wants to continue to learn new instruments such as the bass. “I don’t think it’s ever too late to start music or picking up new hobbies,” he said. “I have a very wide range of interests from space to music to religion, and I am curious to see what I pick up next in the future.” Additionally, Fleming said throwing himself into music has helped him grow as a person. “The biggest thing for me was getting over the uncomfortableness of trying new things and that’s kind of taught me to not be afraid to not be okay at things,” he said.
Amy Briggs is an Auburn University alumna who has gone on to sell small-batch ceramics and recently became the general manager for Rock ‘n’ Roll pinball. She graduated in the fall of 2018 and moved to Asheville, North Carolina, in 2019. After graduation, she moved to Asheville to pursue her residency at Odyssey Clay Works where she taught kids how to make pottery as well as assisting the other residents for three months. This same company asked Briggs to continue to work with them as a studio assistant. During this time, she began looking for another job in ceramics to add to her income. Then, The Bright Angle offered her a job for the role of mold caster. This company specializes in 3D models and creates molds out of the models. “I was filling molds with porcelain slip and created thousands of pieces with them on a production scale,” Briggs said. However, she had to move back to Auburn once the pandemic erupted. Many artists were out of a job as she and her co-workers were not considered essential workers. “There were more important things going on than the production of ceramics,” she said. While the pandemic put her artist dreams on hold, Briggs said it did give her the opportunity to find an outlet of interest. Brigg’s father is an “avid pinball connoisseur.” Pinball machines have been a part of the Briggs family for the last 10 years. Her father introduced her to the owner of Rock ‘n’ Roll pinball, Ernie Rains. Rains asked Briggs to be an event coordinator for his business. Briggs started setting up “pinball pop-ups” for the company. At this time, Briggs was “throwing pots in [her] studio” and posting her work for sale
online. Many successful events and pop-ups throughout June to August resulted in Rock ‘n’ Roll pinball establishing a permanent location on Railroad Avenue in Opelika. Rains then offered her a job as general manager. “There wasn’t much time to create ceramics at that point,” Briggs said. However, she said she hasn’t completely given up on pottery. Briggs and her partner, Patrick Davis, commenced the purchasing process of a historical home from the 1900s. Davis is the owner and chef of the catering business Home Eats. The two decided to start their businesses within their new home; Briggs’ ceramics studio on one side and Davis’ catering business on the other. The couple will live on the second floor of the house. “The long term goal is to have a community ceramics studio equipped with wheels, kilns, clay and tools for the everyday potter,” she said. “I’d like to open my doors to the public and allow potters to have a special space to learn about the joys of ceramics.” Briggs said she acknowledges dreams and sacrifices go hand-in-hand. In order to purchase their dream home, Briggs accepted the general manager position at Rock ‘N’ Roll Pinball with the realization “that homes aren’t built off the salary of a potter…” “It has been an amazing experience watching and learning about small business,” she said. “There have been many ups and downs but I am proud to work for Ernie Rains and the entire RNRP team.” Briggs and Davis plan on making renovations on their home and pursuing the dream of Briggs’ own ceramics studio. Until then, she remains focused on the long-term dream. “All good things take time and I am excited to see where it takes me,” Briggs said.
The Auburn Plainsman
THURSDAY, JANUARY 28 2021
PAGE 11
ENTREPRENEURSHIP
Mother and daughter team sells custom masks By ABIGAIL WOODS Writer
Kim and Sherry Hammond, the mom and daughter duo behind Handmade by Hammond, have worked to create custom face masks, cowboy hats and, in due time, paintings. Kim Hammond is a senior in elementary education with a minor in studio art. She plans on graduating in the spring of 2022 and continuing on to graduate school to get a degree in studio art. When Kim is not in class, she can be found teaching art skills to kids at The Art Studio Auburn on Saturday mornings. Here she takes on the role of lead teacher, studio coordinator and social media coordinator. Kim said she enjoys painting, spending time with her cat, Giotto, and exploring local restaurants and small businesses with her friends. Originally from Jackson, New Jersey, Kim decided to attend Auburn University after touring eight other schools. “Auburn was the last school I visited as I only came to tour after I was accepted,” Kim said. “ As soon as I set foot on campus, I knew this was where I was meant to go.” Kim said she is able to show her creative side through her work for Handmade by Hammond. “I would describe myself as unique,
positive, creative and a dreamer,” she said. “I am always trying to come up with new things to create or find new places to explore.” Sherry Hammond, Kim’s mother, was born and raised in New Jersey and still resides there today. Sherry is a full-time bank manager. Sherry said she enjoys making masks and going to the lake or the beach. “Any vacation is a good vacation, especially if I get to spend time with my daughter and husband,” Sherry said. Kim and Sherry created Handmade by Hammond to produce unique products that are “fun and suit the needs of people today”. Kim said it started with her mom not wanting to wear the disposable masks people were wearing during the beginning of the pandemic. In an attempt to solve her own problem, Sherry ventured out to the craft stores to source materials for mask making. “At first it was masks for just my mom and I,” Kim said. “Then it turned into masks for friends, then coworkers and then expanded from there.” The two started out making plain black cotton masks and within the past year have expanded their designs by using different patterned fabric such as florals, camouflage and Auburn and Alabama themed material. The pair also makes masks for the different seasons and holidays includ-
ing Halloween, Valentine’s Day, the Fourth of July and Christmas. Sherry has done custom orders for wedding parties, masks for First Communion and neck gators. Recently they have been making a lot of satin masks for those who prefer a material other than cotton. Shifting away from mask making, the mom-daughter duo has expanded into making custom cowboy hats as well. Kim said the idea was inspired by a Tik Tok trend. “The hats are painted, glittered, feathered, and stoned for all occasions be it birthdays, bachelorettes, costumes or a big or little reveal,” Kim said. The idea to start a small business was a collaborative effort. Mask making was Sherry’s idea, while the idea to create an Instagram page in order to expand reach was Kim’s suggestion. “It was only natural for us to work as a team because we always have,” Kim said. “Our entire lives we have been an unstoppable mother-daughter duo.” Sherry is in charge of the sewing of the masks and Kim handles all things social media, custom hats and paintings. Custom orders are available on all pieces as long as they are given enough time to source the right supplies. “We absolutely love creating prodCONTRIBUTED BY KIM HAMMOND ucts that bring people some amount of excitement during these crazy times,” Kim Hammond set out to help her mother establish a face mask business during the early months of the pandemic. Sherry said.
CONTRIBUTED BY KIM HAMMOND
CONTRIBUTED BY KIM HAMMOND
Handmade by Hammond is branching out from custom mask to custom cowboy hats.
Sherry makes the mask while Kim manages social media and non-mask orders.
WELLNESS
Active Minds weighs in on mental health during COVID By EMERY LAY Writer
August of 2020 posed a new question for the nation on how students would attend school. Through a mixture of online courses, mask-wearing and social distancing, there is an emphasis on keeping physical health, but there also is a rise of mental health awareness. Student organizations such as Active Minds try to help students manage their mental health. Active Minds has over 500 chapters across the U.S. They are student-run and student-informed. “Active Minds… has the student try to be the bridge between the student body and mental health services on campus,” Markie Pasternak said, an adviser at Active Minds. Pasternak attended Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, as a psychology major where she was the president of their Active Minds chapter. Additionally,
she was the national president of Active Minds as a student. Later, she went to graduate school for student affairs, until Justin Johnson offered her a co-position in Auburn’s chapter. This year, Pasternak and the entirety of Active Minds has made some major adjustments to their program to accommodate COVID-19. Active Minds programmed events virtually last semester, as well as partnered with Auburn University Campus Recreation and Wellness Center to do socially-distanced Yoga on Cater Lawn. In addition, Active Minds was still able to put on their Mental Wealth week. Their main focus was partnering with the Interfraternity Council to do a social media series about men and mental health stigma. “They also have mental health struggles and mental health issues, just like anyone or any gender identity,” Pasternak said.
Organizing any other event besides virtual has proven to be a challenge, she said. “It can be really hard to balance,” Pasternak said. “On the one hand, you have your mental health and on the other, you have your physical health- staying away from COVID-19 and keeping yourself safe. We’ve been encouraging students to try to do things virtually as much as possible, just with other people. Just because you’re physically distanced doesn’t mean you have to be socially isolated.” Active Minds has been promoting friend-infused Zoom calls, or group Zoom game nights, as well as safe outdoor activities. However, quarantine can also put quite a strain on anyone’s mental health. In that case, Pasternak recommends telling a friend about your struggles. “Ask for what you need,” she said. “People aren’t mind-readers. Be vulnerable in that with your friends and family.”
Active Minds encourages a 3-step approach their members to use when someone comes to you with a mental health issue. The acronym is VAR, which stands for Validate, Appreciate, Refer. First, their feelings must be validated — not underestimated as something that is easy to overcome. The second is to appreciate that they came to you. “Say, ‘You’re taking a chance on trusting me right now and I appreciate that,’” Pasternak said. Finally, refer them to a person or activity that could be of service. Pasternak said that could be a walk or making an appointment at the counseling center, but whatever it is, do it together. Luke Sauls, junior in visual media, said with mental health, knowing someone has your back can make all the difference. “I feel like one of the most important [things] that a friend or family member can do when someone is struggling is to offer them
support,” he said. Between online school and being a freelance editor, Sauls said he understands the struggles of sitting at a computer all day. “I believe it is very difficult to focus on a task when I’m forced to use the same computer to learn that I procrastinate on,” he said. To combat stress and fatigue, Sauls said he spends his energy on de-stressing techniques. Some of his favorites include working out, meditating, finding a safe way to see friends or maybe going on a run, he said. Health Promotion & Wellness Services believes in the Nine Dimensions of Wholistic Wellness: Physical, Emotional, Intellectual, Spiritual, Social, Environmental, Occupational, Financial, and Cultural. “No dimension is isolated and no dimension makes up your entire wellness,” Pasternak said. “Your physical health and your mental health go hand-in-hand.”
CONTRIBUTED BY MARKIE PASTERNAK
Active Minds is a student led organization to help fellow students manage their mental health. This picture was taken prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Auburn Plainsman
THURSDAY, JANUARY 28, 2020
PAGE 12
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Los Angeles Times Daily Crossword Puzzle Edited by Rich Norris and Joyce Nichols Lewis
ACROSS 1 “Field of Dreams” state 5 Easing of govt. control 10 Snow glider 14 Iranian ruler ousted in 1979 15 Teaser ad 16 Buzzing colony 17 Energy-boosting munch 19 “Be it __ so humble ... ” 20 Former SeaWorld attraction 21 Meadowland 22 Convenience store inconvenience 23 Explosive container for muzzle-loading guns 27 Miss a birdie by one 31 Base runner’s undoing 32 Not fer 33 Qualifying race 36 Waterproof fishing boot 40 Period or comma 43 With regret 44 __ Ration: old dog food brand 45 Opera star Pinza 46 Covert __: secret missions 48 Lip applications 50 Escape from jail 55 __ Emu: insurance ad bird 56 Dublin’s land: Abbr. 57 Lauder of makeup 62 Seaweed gelatin 63 Shredded Southern barbecue dish that’s depicted in this puzzle’s circles 66 Buster Brown’s dog 67 Cybercommerce 68 Word after cutting or leading 69 Poetic tributes 70 Battle of the __ 71 Stack under a tarp
DOWN 1 Web access cos. 2 “I know! Call on me!” 3 Toddler’s drink 4 “Can I get a word in?” 5 Two-outs-in-asingle-AB stats 6 East end? 7 Author Dahl 8 Ceremony host 9 Low-riding, openwheel racer 10 Sleight-of-hand scams 11 Wife of Augustus 12 Odds opposite 13 Jeter elected to the Hall of Fame 18 Kentucky’s __ Arena 24 Island near Maui 25 Inflict, as havoc 26 Stag’s daughter 27 Weather report visual aids 28 Isla surrounder 29 “Be __: rewind”: old video rental reminder 30 Extras in an envelope 34 Didn’t fast
35 Hint of color 37 Häagen-__ 38 The “E” in the mnemonic HOMES 39 Bygone theaters 41 Keying-in error 42 Cantina crockery 47 “Blade” star Wesley 49 Gave the nod to 50 Student of Socrates
51 Stiff as a board 52 Public persona 53 “Et tu, __?” 54 “No reason to get all upset!” 58 Eject, as lava 59 Chore list heading 60 Hence, in logic 61 Barely made it, with “by” 64 Tell it like it isn’t 65 Golf’s “Big Easy” Ernie
ANSWER TO PREVIOUS PUZZLE:
By Bruce Venzke and Gail Grabowski ©2021 Tribune Content Agency, LLC
01/18/21
01/18/21