The Auburn Plainsman 11.07.13 issue

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The Auburn Plainsman Thursday, November 7, 2013

A Spirit That Is Not Afraid ThePlainsman.com

A new day with Tre

ONLINE

Junior Tre Mason leads revamped rushing attack

Football vs. Tenn. Check out ThePlainsman.com for game updates and photos Saturday, Nov. 9

CAMPUS

Eric Wallace Sports Writer

In the modern, pass-happy college football landscape, Tre Mason has proven that a workhorse running back can still be a game changer. Mason’s 32 carry, 168 yard and four touchdown performance against Arkansas was the best of his Auburn career and earned the junior SEC Offensive Player of the Week recognition. “Tre is a special guy in the backfield because he can just pop one at any time on any defense,” said quarterback Nick Marshall. “The offensive line opens up holes for him and he’s just able to gash them and make plays with his legs.” The 5-foot-10 junior from Palm Beach, Fla., has reached the end

A5

Fundamental Belief Reporter visits church that preaches repentance on campus

SPORTS

Vol. 120, Issue 24, 14 Pages

zone in six consecutive games and currently leads the SEC with 13 rushing touchdowns. Even head coach Gus Malzahn, who has produced NFL running backs such as Darren McFadden, Felix Jones and Peyton Hillis, said he is impressed by Mason’s gritty play this season. “The thing that really stands out about Tre this year is he’s getting very tough yards,” Malzahn said. “He’s breaking the first tackle numerous times, really, just playing hard, physical football. He’s definitely improving and he’s a big weapon for us.” Mason has been the workhorse out of Auburn’s trio of running backs, garnering 51 more touches than fellow backs Cameron Artis-Payne and Corey Grant combined. Despite 23.2 rushes per game in conference play, Mason said the offense doesn’t plan a specific number of touches for the running backs.

» See Mason A2

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Obamacare leaves some employees hurting Ben Hohenstatt

ployee benefits, said Auburn considers an employee full time if they work 40 hours or more per week. “Auburn’s definition of full-time status is based on working 40 hours per week,” McCormick said. “We want to see employees classified as either truly full-time, benefits eligible employees who are eligible for all benefit plans, or truly parttime.” McCormick said this has resulted in either reclassification or hiring of more than 130 part-time employees as full-time, benefit eligible employees. Mary Prather, manager for Temporary Employment Services, said the law has caused the creation of a limit on the number of hours a temporary employee can work. “There is a cap of 1,450 per year,” Prather said. “That’s less than 30 hours per week on average.” Prather also said some temporary employees must take a month after work. McCormick said this month off has always been required of temporary employees. She also said it protects employees drawing state benefits from retirement but working parttime.

Campus reporter

Running away with it The Tiger’s rushing attack continues to lead the SEC

INTRIGUE

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17-16 keeps tradition rolling Oaks planted in 17-16 courtyard let fans celebrate the old-fashioned way

READERS RESPOND

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INDEX Campus Opinion Community Sports Intrigue

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President Barrack Obama ran on a platform of change, and the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, PPACA, is causing plenty of that at Auburn. The healthcare reform also known as Obamacare, changes the health insurance policy employees are offered and the number of hours temporary employees can work. PPACA was signed into law March 23, 2010, and was upheld as constitutional by the Supreme Court of the United States June 28, 2012. The legislation requires employers to offer health insurance to full-time employees and contains a mandate defining a full-time employee as someone who works 30 hours per week. “The biggest change the Affordable Care Act is the one the president has put on hold: the Employer Mandate,” said Gary Ward, manager for employee benefits. Ward said the mandate would require Auburn to offer insurance to employees who work more than 30 hours per week because they would be considered full-time employees. Karla McCormick, executive director for payroll and em-

» See Obamacare A2

Campus MRI technology brings superpowers to life Jordan Hays MRI Research Center

The problem with superheroes is that they don’t exist. However, thanks to science and technology, we can make their super powers a reality. Xray vision and mind reading are only a couple of the powers the engineers at the MRI Research Center have, but more importantly, they have the power to save lives. Thomas Denney Jr., director of Auburn University’s MRI Research Center, has been researching the heart using magnetic resonance imaging for approximately 20 years. His re-

search involves how the heart changes shape and contraction patterns in response to disease. Auburn’s MRI Research Center is one of the most advanced imaging centers in the world in terms of the technology used. At a cost between $8–9 million, and with only 50 in existence, the MRI Center’s 7-Tesla MRI scanner has the magnetic power equivalent to the power necessary to pick up approximately seven cars, according to Nikhil Jha, a graduate student in electrical engineering.

» See mri A2

WAR EAGLE ON THE PLANES Page A5


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