Auburn ActionStyle & Design

Fall 2010

Take a Break and Make a Difference pg 8

Roll with the Burn City Rollers pg 6

Honor the Arts with a Kite pg 12

Auburn Action is a fictional newsletter created for my style and design class to

demonstrate my knowledge of InDesign. I wrote each story during the course of

the fall 2010 semester for either Auburn Family Network, Auburn University’s social network, or The Corner News, Auburn’s entertainment newspaper.

Photo left: Burn City Rollers is Auburn’s Roller Derby team. BCR’s Babe E. Quacks rounds the competition for points.

Auburn ActionFall 2010 edition

Bringing Gospel to the Plains ... 4

Couture for the Cure ... 5

Burn City Rollers Fresh Meat ... 6

Beyond the Classsroom .. 11

Flying Kites for the Arts ... 12

Making Waves on the Plains ... 14

More Than Just Tackling ... 15

Cover Story:Alternative Student Breaks

page 8

Photo left: Burn City Rollers is Auburn’s Roller Derby team. BCR’s Babe E. Quacks rounds the competition for points.

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Every semester Auburn offers a variety of classes for students to

take, but only one offers music and a worship experience for a grade—the Auburn University Gospel Choir. The Gospel Choir is compiled of 60 students, including singers and dancers, who meet twice a week to explore, rehearse and perform gospel music and related musical genres. Dr. William Powell, director, said, “From a music department stand point, we aim to provide an experience that allows students to explore and get to know music from the African American gospel tradition. In addition to other genres and styles that are attached to the gospel music genre, such as African American spiritual, this is the form that precedes gospel music.” Although the genre of music sung by the choir sets it apart from other Auburn choirs, this choir provides students with more than an opportunity to sing. Students also get a worship experience and create a family within the Auburn family. Tiffany Williams, a seventh semester gospel choir member, said, “I have been a part of other choral groups at Auburn, women’s chorus and concert choir, but again I think the difference is the worship experience. Everyone’s heart is in it more so than other choirs, not necessarily that other choir’s hearts aren’t in it, but our hearts are in it and we’re doing it for the uplifting of God’s name.” Williams also said gospel choir members pray for each other and

there is a chaplain for members to talk to whenever they need to. “We pray for each other,” Williams said, “So we’re there for each other.” Gabbii Ward, a second year member, said, “I really love when both Powells [Dr. William Powell and Dr. Rosephanye Powell] just sit down and

really talk to us. Singing is important, and I really enjoy that, but my favorite part is when they take the time to really minister to us and just talk to us about our techniques and our facial expressions. They have a word to give to students.”

Another aspect of the gospel choir that sets it apart from other university classes is the students’ background. Powell said, “The other thing that sets this group apart is that we have the highest population of African American students in one class—that is not to say that every student in the Gospel Choir is African American. We do have other students from other backgrounds, but, for the students that are African American at a predominately white institution, this choir gives them a place to be.” The Gospel Choir will hold its first performance on Oct. 2 at the Worship Conference at The City Church in Auburn. They will also be performing at the Sounds of Auburn Concert on Nov. 11.

Bringing Gospel to the PlainsThe Auburn University Gospel Choir gives a new style to the Plains.

The Gospel Choir meets twice a week to rehearse.

I think the difference is the worship

experience.~Tiffany Williams~

Appeared on Auburn Family Network

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Couture for the Cure

Auburn University Modeling Board is bringing fashion for the cure.

On Oct. 28, the Modeling Board is hosting its inaugural “Couture for the Cure” fashion to raise money for East Alabama Medical Center Breast Health Program’s Mammogram Fund, which helps fund free mammogram screenings for those in need in the community. “This year we decided that we would do a philanthropy event,” said Beth McDonald, AU Modeling Board assistant fashion show coordinator.“I came up with the idea to have an event that all the proceeds would go to breast cancer.” McDonald said the idea came to her because of her personal experience with her mother having breast cancer. “My mom had breast cancer, so it’s a big part of my life, so I pitched the idea to the Modeling Board,” McDonald said. “All the members liked it and wanted to do it. Our adviser really encouraged us to keep the money raised here in the community, so that way Auburn University could pay back the community for letting us be a part of it.” The Modeling Board’s “Couture for the Cure” is truly a community event. The Board has received many donations from area businesses to make the event become reality.

“It’s really exciting to see how people are willing to donate their services,” McDonald said. “We talked

to all the boutiques downtown, who donated the clothes we will

model. Local food vendors have donated food.” The evening will include food, a fashion show

and entertainment. “The evening is going

to be exciting,” McDonald said. “We have live music

by Auburn student Sam Rutledge. We’ll have a fashion show that will

include the models of Auburn University,

as well as, women in the community who have breast cancer or have had breast cancer. We’re hoping for a great atmosphere with a lot of people with a variety of age groups.”

McDonaldd added that the board is also hoping to hold a silent auction. “Couture for the Cure” is on Thursday, Oct. 28, from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Event Center Downtown in Opelika. Tickets for the event are $12 in advance and are available for purchase at Therapy, Ellie, Private Gallery, the Locker Room and by contacting the Modeling Board members. Tickets will also be available at the door for $15. All proceeds go to the East Alabama Medical Center Breast Health Program. “It’s going to be an evening of fashion, food and live entertainment,” McDonald said. “So it’s going to be a fun evening. We hope everyone can join us.”

AU Modeling Board holds fashion show for charity.Appeared in The Corner News

Beth McDonald is organizing the AU Modeling Board’s Couture for Cure fashion show.

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The Burn City Rollers are looking to hit the track with some new Auburn roller derby talent. On Oct. 6, the BCR will be hosting its monthly Fresh Meat Recruitment night at 8:30 p.m. at

the Skate Center in Auburn. The BCR is an amateur flat-track roller derby league for the women of east Alabama and west Georgia. The league was started in 2008 and is in its second competitive season. The BCR competes against other leagues from across the Southeast. Fresh meat is a term used to describe new members to a league.

9LB Hammer –also known as Suzanne Samples and BCR league member—said that they call it fresh meat because that’s what they call the new girls. “It’s just kind of a fun term that has been used in roller derby since it started,” she said. Fresh Meat Recruitment is held every first Wednesday of the month at 8:30 p.m. No previous experience is needed to try out with the BCR. “We welcome anyone willing to put on a pair of skates, work hard and be dedicated to learning,” 9LB Hammer said.

Fresh Meat RecruitmentAuburn’s Burn City Rollers are looking for new skaters.

Appeared in The Corner News

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She added that it’s not even necessary to be that athletic. “I’ve never considered myself athletic, but they say that skating is the great equalizer, so anybody can put on a pair of skates and learn how to do it,” she said. “Learning to stay up on your skates is the hardest part after that. Everything else just comes naturally.” A typical BCR Fresh Meat Recruitment night starts with introduction and making sure all participants have the proper equipment. Skates are available for rental at the Skate Center. After introductions, the participants stretch and run some basic skating drills. Then the evening becomes more like a typical BCR’s practice, which includes scrimmaging and more drills to help the fresh meat to practice their new skills. “As long as you’re willing to try and willing to put on a pair of skates then you’re good to go,” 9LB Hammer said. “Some people pick it up more quickly than others do, but still it’s one of those things you can definitely learn if you don’t know how to do it.” In addition to skating with the BCR, the Fresh Meat Recruitment night allows the potential new skaters a chance to meet the current skaters and see if BCR is the place for them. “It really will boost yourself confidence,” 9LB Hammer said. “It will be really fun. It’s a way to take out aggression, if you have a lot of aggression that you don’t know what to do with. It’s really, honestly, a great way to make new friends. Everyone on the team is really nice and outgoing. It’s a really great way to bond with some girls in Auburn.” For more information on Fresh Meat Recruitment or the Burn City Rollers, visit www.burncityrollers.com

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Alternative

Student

Breaks

Students make a difference during semester breaks

Appeared on the cover of The Corner News

9

Auburn University’s Alternative Student Break invited all Auburn students to apply for the chance to spend the academic breaks throughout the 2010-2011 school year making

a difference in someone else’s life.

“Alternative Student Break is a program for Auburn University students to apply to do community service during the academic breaks,” said Haley Fitzgerald, ASB assistant director of publicity and a ASB participant. ASB is offered by the Office of Community Service aimed at engaging students in service projects that promote a better understanding of the world’s social issues and an opportunity to grow as an individual. It began two years ago as the Alternative Spring Break. Its first trip was spring break 2009 to Charleston, S.C., where 19 Auburn students worked with Habitat for Humanity. In 2010, Alternative Spring Break held three service trips during the 2010 spring break. To encompass its growth, ASB chose to change its name to Alternative Student Breaks. “Auburn students should apply to this because it has been my favorite experience ever,” said Fitzgerald. “Everyone

that I have gone with the past two years has said the same thing. It is just amazing to see the work you can do in people’s lives who are less fortunate than you and also just to spend time with people who want to do that too.” Poojit Ravikumar, 2010 ASB participant, said that it was such a fun and rewarding experience. “[At the end of the trip] we didn’t want to leave,” he said. Ravikumar attended the 2010 Ocala, Fla., spring break trip with 14 other Auburn students and worked with Habitat for Humanity. “We worked on putting up dry wall, building fences and digging ditches,” Ravikumar said. Ravikumar said one rewarding part of the trip was on the Wednesday during the trip everyone was tired, so the family that the house was being built for came and cooked dinner for them. “It really gave us encouragement to keep going,” he said. “They were just so happy.” Fitzgerald attended the 2009 spring break trip to Charleston, S.C., where she and 18 other Auburn students worked with Habitat for Humanity, and the 2010 spring break trip to Spartanburg, S.C., where she again worked with Habitat for Humanity. This year, ASB has expanded to include trips during the Thanksgiving, winter (Dec. 11-19), Martin Luther King Day (Jan. 12-17), spring (March 12-20) and summer ( May 7-15) breaks. ASB even offers three international service

Mary Gray DeMetz served on the March 2010 spring break trip to the Lighthouse Learning Center in Orange Park, Fla.

Hamp Price (left) and Walker Glasgow went with ASB to Spartanburg, S.C., in March 2010 and worked with Habitat for Humanity.

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opportunities during the winter, spring and summer breaks. The winter break team will serve in Ecuador. The spring break team will go to the Dominican Republic, and the summer team will serve in Ghana, Africa. This year’s trip projects includes more opportunities with Habitat for Humanity, animal rehabilitation, housing restoration, working with special needs children and adults. The trips are coordinated to work with volunteer organizations. Each project focuses on building relationships between the students and the people they are serving. Fitzgerald said one of her favorite memories was going to a soup kitchen during her Spartanburg, S.C., trip. “We went to a soup kitchen and the city of Spartanburg was so welcoming to us,” she said. “I was expecting to help serve, but it was so humbling that people were serving us the food. It was just a random lunch break from our Habitat group and just seeing the community and everyone appreciate our service was just really humbling.” Ravikumar is serving as a site leader on the 2011 summer ASB trip to Ghana from May 7 to 15. “I have no idea what to expect,” he said. “It’ll be something totally different. We’ll be working with kids.” In addition to the service the students provide to the community to which they travel, the students develop a special bond with their fellow Auburn students

on the trip and get to partake in some of the traditional break activities. “It is just so amazing to get to know a random group of people that you probably never would have met,” said Fitzgerald. “You just become so close with them. It’s really an Auburn family because some of the sites that we go to do community service, have other universities there, and you’re all a unit.” Ravikumar said that the students get to know one another well at night when they get some down time. After finishing work each day they get to choose how they spend the evening. “We went to the University of Florida, went to the beach,” he said. “Sometimes, we would just stay at [the lodge we stayed at], and we went to a place that had go-karts. All the times we had together,

going to the beach and go-carting, and even the car rides were fun.” The cost of each of the ASB service trip varies. The Martin Luther King trip is $150. The

Thanksgiving, winter and spring break domestic trips are $300, and the international trips are $1,200. The application process can either be completed online or by paper copy. The process does not include an interview, but requires applicants to answer short essay questions. “The main part of the deciding factor is the essays,” Fitzgerald said. “There are just some short essays to describe your culture, why you want to go on this trip or what do you hope to learn from the experience.” To apply online or for more information, visit auburn.edu/impact/asb. To apply by paper copy, visit office 3130 in the Auburn University Student Center.

Devin Hudson (left) and Daniel McClendon worked with Habitat for Humanity on the March 2010 ASB trip to Spartanburg, S.C.

The 2009 spring break ASB team served in Orange Park, Fla., at the Lighthouse Learning Center.

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Beyond the ClassroomAuburn University gives real meaning to classroom assignments.

Appeared on Auburn Family Network

More than 200 classes on Auburn University’s campus are engaging

in learning outside of the classroom and in a real world setting, making a difference for the local community. During the last few years, Auburn started an initiative for service learning that takes students out of the typical classroom setting and gives them the opportunity to serve and learn in community activities directed by their professors. According to Joyce Thomas-Vinson, the coordinator of the student engagement and service learning in the Office of Public Service, service learning allows students to take what they have learned in class and apply it to a real life situation for local community members, who are in need of expertise and help from the Auburn campus. Although it is not required for every major at Auburn, service learning is highly encouraged among Auburn’s faculty. “At one point, we actually considered having service learning be required for all students in their curriculum,” Thomas-Vinson said, “But rather than doing that, we have encouraged more faculty members to include service learning as a component in their courses. Our ultimate goal is for every student to have the opportunity to do some service learning activities.” Nan Fairley, associate professor in the department of communication journalism, has incorporated service learning into her classes for the last five years. Her spring 2010 community

journalism project resulted in a 32-page special edition newspaper in honor of the 30th anniversary of the city of Valley, Ala. The project has received regional and national recognition.

“Basically the reason why I do it is because I believe in the benefits,” Fairley said. “The projects that my journalism students do really benefit the student in numerous ways. For example, our work in Loachapoka to Valley, Ala., gets them off campus and working in a real world environment, which is very important for journalists.

Also, you can learn many lessons by being off campus and in communities, anything from diversity lessons to economic lessons, so that’s very important to our future journalists.” Thomas-Vinson, who previously worked with the program Project Uplift, said, “I think it’s a great opportunity for all students. I worked with Project Uplift for ten years. I had the first hand opportunity to see Auburn University students who were engaged in making a difference in the community. They grew so much. They learned so much. They were exposed to a side of life that many of them don’t see in their everyday walk. I could leave every day feeling like I had made a difference and that job just really made me interested in service learning on a larger scale because I think it really adds to the students’ learning experience.” Fairley said, “A majority of students always say they’re glad for the experience after it’s over becauseit has real consequences.” Auburn currently has 128 community partners that range from

the Lee County Humane Society to the Lee County Youth Development Center. To become a community partner, the potential partners can

join the Auburn Serves network and list information about their organization. For more information on service learning or to join the Auburn Serves network, visit www.auburnserves.com.

The newspaper created by AU journalism students in Nan Fairley’s community journalism class.

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A Celebration of National Arts and Humanities MonthAppeared in The Corner News

During the month of October, Auburn University’s College of Liberal Arts invites the Auburn-Opelika community and surrounding areas to join in the celebration of National Arts

and Humanities Month. NAHM is a nationwide celebration of American culture that is coordinated by Americans for the Arts and is one of the largest annual celebrations of the arts and humanities in the nation that recognizes the importance of art and culture in daily life. Although this is the inaugural celebration for Auburn, the Caroline Marshall

Draughon Center for the Arts & Humanities has created a master calendar of all the arts and humanities events happening this month in Auburn. “We like to say that we celebrate the arts and humanities everyday anyway,” Jay Lamar,

director of the Caroline Marshall Draughon Center, said. “But this month gives us the chance to really showcase the departments in the College of Liberal Arts and all the creative and wonderful things students and faculty are doing. “The center has 25 different events for community members and students to attend to help celebrate NAHM.

Flying Kites for the Arts

It’s a celebration really of all things we think the arts and humanities do, which are to inspire, enlighten, envision,

enrich, elevate, challenge.~Jay Lamar~

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“There’s not a day in the month of October that you can’t see a play, hear a poetry reading, join in a discussion about history or literature or hear a guest speaker,” Lamar said. “I think the idea is just bringing those things together and putting them in one place, so that people can really see how much we have to offer.” On Oct. 15 from noon to 2 p.m., the Center with Auburn’s Department of Art invites the public to join them in celebrating the arts and humanities by flying a kite on Cater Hall Lawn on Auburn’s campus. The event includes free food. “It’s a celebration really of all the things we think the arts and humanities do, which are to inspire, enlighten, envision, enrich, elevate, challenge, among other things,” Lamar said. “So you’ll be able to take a kite and write on it the things that the arts and humanities mean to you or one of these words or a quote, a poem or draw a picture. Then, you’ll hoist the kite into the air. It’ll be a great celebration.” In addition to celebrating the arts and humanities, Lamar said one of the main goals of NAHM for Auburn is to bring greater attention to how much is going on at Auburn University, as well as the Auburn community in terms of the arts and humanities.

“I think a lot of people like to think the arts and humanities are something you do when you are not doing something else,” Lamar said, “But really, they are the foundation for everything you do. An eye for detail, problem solving, creativity and innovation, those are all things that spring from the arts and humanities and are the things that we use every day in our work, personal lives and in our civic lives.” For a full list of events or for more information on National Arts and Humanities Month, visit www.clacelebrates.org.

Flying Kites for the Arts

Students were invited to decorate kites to represent the arts.

Participants hoisted their kites above Cater Lawn.

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Making Waves on the PlainsAuburn University physics professor explores dusty plasmas.

Appeared on Auburn Family Network

One Auburn University professor is making waves in the

physics world. Dr. Edward Thomas, a professor in the College of Sciences and Mathematics Physics Department, recently received a grant from NASA for his work on the project “PLASMALAB: Measurements.” PLASMALAB is an international microgravity plasma physics experiment that studies the behavior and structural properties of complex or dusty plasma. The project is based in the Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics in Garching, Germany. “This is a large international collaboration,” Thomas said. “[This grant] supports some of our basic experiments in the dusty plasma area, and, in particular, it gives us funds so we can make regular travel to the Max Planck Institute in Germany.” The U.S. PLASMALAB project team is made up of Thomas and two other U.S. scientists, one from the University of Iowa and one from the University of California – San Diego. Being an international project, there are also teams based in Russia, Italy, France and Japan. Each team has a different contribution. “Our contribution to this work,” Thomas said, “is that we have developed a set of technologies in our laboratory that over the last 10 or 15 years or so that allows us to track the behavior, velocity and motion of these particles in the plasma.”

A dusty or complex plasma is a one that contains “micron-sized particulates” or dust grains that are about half the width of a human hair. Theses grains are suspended in the plasma.

“One of the main features of [dusty plasma] is that you can actually see the micro particles in the plasma,” Thomas said. “You can actually see them individually as they’re in the plasmas, so as a plasma physicist who studies waves and instabilities and all sorts of things in plasmas, you can

actually see things that you normally can’t see with a naked eye.” Thomas, who completed his doctorate at Auburn in 1996, has been studying the dusty or complex plasma for almost 15 years. He has worked with the Max Planck Institute for the last seven years. The PLASMALAB marks his second microgravity project with the Institute, where he travels every year to work on each project. In addition to being on faculty at Auburn and working with the Max Planck Institute, he also serves on the U.S. Department of Energy - Fusion Energy Sciences Advisory Committee and the Executive Committee of the University Fusion Association. For more information on Thomas’ research, visit http://psl.physics.auburn.edu/.

Dr. Thomas created the high-tech dusty plasma lab in Auburn’s Leach Science Center.

Our contribution to this work is that we

have developed a set of technologies.

~Dr. Edward Thomas~

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More Than Just TacklingAuburn’s Women Rugby team competes in its first official season.

Appeared on Auburn Family Network

In the west corner of campus, Auburn University has a new

tradition forming on the pitch. This year marks the first official season of Auburn’s newest club sport, the Women’s Rugby team. Last year, the team competed on provisional status and finished its season 3 – 2. The Auburn Women’s Rugby team was formed when three girls playing with the Auburn men’s rugby team decided to start a women’s team and get more women at Auburn playing the sport. Women’s rugby is currently one of the fastest growing sports in America, according to the U.S. Women’s Rugby Foundation. “[Rugby] is the ultimate team sport,” said Jolene Glenn, Auburn University masters student and member of AU Women’s Rugby team. “It’s a lot more fluid and continuous than most American sports.” Kelly McMullen, senior in English and member of the AU Women’s Rugby team, said, “The whole idea is to pass backwards, run forwards.” Rugby is played in two 40 minute halves with 15 members of each team on the field. Each team is aiming to get “tries” or points. Every player plays offense and defense, so each must be willing to take a hit and give one. Every player is allowed to throw or kick the ball at any time. “It does have a lot of aspects of football,” said McMullen, “in that when you

score you get six points. Except in rugby, you don’t just have to run into the end zone, you have to actually set the ball on the ground, and it’s called a try, instead of a touchdown.” For the Auburn team, rugby is more than just throwing a tackle, it’s about the team. Jennifer Richards, AU Women’s Rugby team president, said, “I like the contact, I’m not going to lie, but also I like being a team because there is a

camaraderie with rugby you don’t get with any other sport.” Glenn said, “The best part of rugby is the friendship because you have to trust each other that they’re going to be there to make the tackle – you’re throwing backwards, so you have to trust they’re going to be there. Through all that trust, you build some lifelong friendships.” McMullen said, “I love the team atmosphere because it is a team sport obviously, but it becomes more

than just a team because you’re always with these people. You practice with these people. You travel with these people, and you really become best friends and a family essentially.” The Auburn Women’s Rugby team plays its first game as an official AU club team on Oct. 1 at Clemson University, South Carolina.

AU Women’s Rugby team practices twice a week.

Auburn Action

Auburn Action by Rebecca Lakin

www.rebeccalakin.com