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A SPIRIT THAT IS NOT AFRAID ThePlainsman.com
Thursday, October 24, 2013
Student passes away after battle with leukemia
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CAMPUS
A3
Student overcomes paralysis Resumes favorite recreational pastime through class at Auburn
COMMUNITY
B5
CONTRIBUTED BY KIM NORTHINGTON
Jordan Northington was a junior at Auburn.
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INDEX A2 A6 A7 B1 B5
Sickness, illness and weakness are not words friends and family use to remember 20-year-old Jordan Northington’s battle against leukemia — peacefulness, gentleness and constant inspiration are. Northington, junior in nursing at was first diagnosed with leukemia seven years ago. On Friday, Oct. 18, she passed away after contracting a flu virus her body was unable to fight off. “She battled with leukemia three times and never gave up,” said Kim Northington, Jordan’s mother. “She was a fighter, and she had great courage.” Katie Cargo, junior in education and Jordan’s sorority sister, said she always used her fight with cancer to serve a higher purpose. “I loved how she took what was going on in her life and tried to make it into something positive,” Cargo
said. “She wanted to raise awareness and help other people. I thought it was so inspiring she didn’t just wallow in self-pity, but (said instead), ‘Yeah I have it and it stinks, but let’s raise awareness; let’s do something about it.’” Though her illness may have caused physical suffering, her spirit remained strong throughout her battle against leukemia. “She was one of the most positive people,” said Lexi Loving, junior in nursing and Jordan’s sorority sister. “(Jordan) going through this cancer, you never knew how bad it was because she would always say, ‘I’m doing great, always better than the last day,’ and [she was] just so positive about it. (She) never wanted anybody to realize how much she pain she was in.” Kim said it was Jordan’s resilience and continuous positivity that taught her friends and family about the value of life.
“I think a lot of us learned from her how to live your life to the fullest, and to make the best of things,” Kim said. “Through all of Jordan’s struggles throughout the years, she never once complained.” Jordan served as a role model to many within her community, especially to the women of Chi Omega sorority, of which she was a valued member. She not only provided the chapter with an example of fortitude, but also played a part in unifying her pledge class, her sorority sisters said. “If there was one person who everybody knew and everybody loved, it was Jordan,” Loving said. “That part was really cool — to have something that seemed so bad, but she also did a lot of good through her sickness. I don’t even think she knows half the stuff she did that was so good just by bringing so many people together.” Though Jordan may have passed
» See LEUKEMIA, A2
Future of Haley Center still up for discussion Derek Herscovici CAMPUS WRITER
Campus Opinion Community Sports Intrigue
Vol. 120, Issue 22, 24 Pages
Some of Auburn’s rumors about the future of the Haley Center were discussed at the third Student Government Association HeAUrd That! event Tuesday, Oct. 22. The future of the Haley Center was a question many in the audience voiced to the speakers, but despite recent planning discussions, they said nothing yet is concrete. “No decision has been made at this point in time about which direction we should go,” said Dan King, associate vice president of facilities. “I’ll tell you two years ago that we were leaning very strongly about tearing it down, but the pendu-
lum has swung a little bit and we’re considering some reuse options that are not a bad way ahead. Maybe taking out the tower or gutting the building but leaving the courtyard.” King said options to move the pharmacy school off campus, implement an unused corner of the school or building on top of the old Haley Center were all being considered, but no plans have been set in stone yet. Additionally, students questioned the administrative speakers about the academic requirements for in-state and out-of-state scholarships at Auburn, as well as the amount
» See HALEY, A2
Non-custodial parents no longer required to pay tuition, Court says Annie faulk COMMUNITY REPORTER
A recent Alabama Supreme Court decision could change the way divorced parents pay for their children’s college education. On Friday, Oct. 4, the Alabama Supreme Court ruled 6-2 in Christopher v. Christopher that non-custodial parents will no longer be required to financially assist in their child’s educational expenses. After the Court’s decision, children of divorced parents
must rely on voluntary support from the non-custodial parent for their college expenses, just as children with non-divorced parents rely on their parents’ voluntary financial support as well. Christopher v. Christopher originated in Limestone County in 2010 when a divorced father asked his former wife to pay for their child’s post-minority college expenses. “Mom appealed to the court
» See DIVORCE, A2
RACHEL SUHS
Stuck in the middle
Recent Recreation Center mishap raises questions about status of graduate students Ben Hohenstatt CAMPUS REPORTER
Graduate students who normally have access to the Recreation and Wellness Center were denied use of the facilities. David Adams, graduate school senator and GTA in political science, said he received calls about the incident right away. “I heard about it from a number of graduate students,” Adams said. “I want to make sure we’re not overcwharged or underserved.” Nicholas Head, Campus Recreation’s marketing coordinator, said the incident was not the fault of the Recreation and Wellness Center and it has a simple explanation. “The only thing we know is we got sent a file which updated the system.” Head said. “No one at the facility was responsible for the error.” Head said he did not know the specifics of the glitch beyond its link to the update. Repeated attempts to reach Jennifer Jarvis, director for Campus Recreation, were unsuccessful. Adams said some graduate students felt
the 12-hour lapse in access was indicative of things to come. “From what I gather, the Wellness Center asked for a full list of graduate students on assistantships,” Adams said. “A computer glitch is a computer glitch, but when you ask for a list of names it seems targeted.” Michael Reynolds, executive director of Student Financial Services, said the Recreation and Wellness Center did ask for a list of students who were and were not assessed the wellness fee. “The Wellness Center is who it originated from, but it is not uncommon to see where money is being distributed from,” Reynolds said. Reynolds also said $598 fees, including a $200 wellness fee, are built into tuition. “A regular graduate student, just like a regular undergraduate student pays these fees,” Reynolds said. Reynolds said these fees can be waived in the case of scholarship for undergraduates
» See GRADUATE, A2