Opinion

The just released “Relationship Goals” turns dating advice into a predictable, yet decent romantic story on screen

The just released “Relationship Goals” turns dating advice into a predictable, yet decent romantic story on screen

photo courtesy of Roman Friptuleac on pexels.com MONTGOMERY, Ala. — “Relationship Goals”, now streaming on Amazon Prime, is a romantic comedy inspired by Michael Todd’s 2020 bestselling book of the same name and features strong performances as a visual extension of the book. Starring Kelly Rowland and Clifford “Method Man” Smith, the film adaptation attempts to mix love, faith and career ambition. The film follows Leah Caldwell (Rowland), a driven television producer on the verge of becoming the first woman to run New York’s top morning show. Focused on her career, Leah has little interest in romance. However, when her…
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American classic meets Korean flavor at Fry & Fork, which offers the best shrimp in town

American classic meets Korean flavor at Fry & Fork, which offers the best shrimp in town

photo courtesy of Shaniece McGhee By Shaniece McGhee and Jennifer Tolbert First floor of Fry & Fork restaurant. (photo courtesy of Shaniece McGhee) MONTGOMERY, Ala. — Montgomery residents looking for authentic southern comfort food with a Korean twist can find it at Fry and Fork located at the Twin Oaks village shopping center. Fry and Fork, open daily from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. and on Sundays until 9 p.m., is  praised for their welcoming atmosphere and staff attentiveness. “The atmosphere was cozy and the employees had great customer service. They were enthusiastic about assisting me with my questions about…
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Movie review: Ryan Coogler’s “Sinners” leaves fans and critics speechless

Movie review: Ryan Coogler’s “Sinners” leaves fans and critics speechless

Image courtesy of Adrien Olichon through pexels.com. On Friday, April 18, the horror movie “Sinners” debuted in theatres around the country, and three months later, the vampire story is still going strong in theatres and is a hot topic of conversation amongst movie connoisseurs.  According to the official “Sinners” Movie website, “Sinners” is about twin brothers Smoke and Stack Moore, both played by Michael B. Jordan, who return to their hometown only to discover that an even greater evil is waiting to welcome them back.  “Sinners”, which takes place in Mississippi in 1932 during the Probation Act, effectively highlights the…
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Opinion: Music shouldn’t be forced into a genre

Opinion: Music shouldn’t be forced into a genre

photo courtesy of Blocks on unsplash.com When I released my first music single “LUVLOW” on Feburary 10, 2024, I thought the hardest part would be sharing something so personal with the world. However, it turned out that the most difficult part was something much more technical: choosing a genre. As a music artist, I have always loved exploring sounds beyond labels. While many of my listeners might naturally place me in the R&B category, I’ve never felt tied to just one style of music. I’ve experimented with a little of everything, and I hope to dive even deeper into genres…
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Opinion: AUM’s cafeteria should be open 7 days a week

Opinion: AUM’s cafeteria should be open 7 days a week

By: Victoria Salters MONTGOMERY, AL— Extending the cafeteria's hours is one way our campus could be made better. Here at AUM students’ weekend meal options are currently restricted because the cafeteria is closed on weekends. This is a problem for an institution that prides itself on helping its student body. Because of how this issue affects AUM students and staff, the school should extend the cafe hours to seven days a week.  AUM lags behind other colleges and institutions across the country that understand how important it is to have their cafeterias open seven days a week. Similar-sized schools and…
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Opinion: Make Montgomery better for pedestrians

Opinion: Make Montgomery better for pedestrians

MONTGOMERY, Ala. – If you drive in the city of Montgomery, then you probably have to move over to the right to make way for pedestrians to walk.  Throughout Montgomery bike lanes and sidewalks are very limited. Many sidewalks start at one end of the block and abruptly stop a block over. Most roads do not have bike lanes in the city either. The absence of bike lanes and sidewalks shows the city's lack of concern for cyclists and pedestrians.  In 2017, the Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT) issued a plan to support pedestrian safety in the state. According to…
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Opinion: The truth about melatonin

Opinion: The truth about melatonin

Safe for short term use but can cause sleep disorders By: Christa Burns Melatonin has been advertised to consumers as a drug free sleep aid that is safe for the whole family. The Sleep Foundation surveyed 1,270 adults in America. The results showed that 27.4% of adults take melatonin as a sleep aid and 38.6% take it every night. However, despite popularity, there are side effects to taking melatonin and it's not safe to take it every night.  Melatonin is a natural hormone that our bodies produce to help regulate our sleep-wake cycles. Many people have resulted in taking synthetic…
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When the game becomes life: The inner battle of an athlete

When the game becomes life: The inner battle of an athlete

Every human being in the course of his or her existence develops different “selves” that altogether make up the entire character, emotions, abilities–in short, the person himself or herself. When we begin to cultivate a passion, a side is born within us that comes out and lives independently whenever we do what we love. I love playing volleyball, and I know that I am split in half. there is one side, which is commanded by Sofia, a simple girl, who tries to survive in a demanding world of daily challenges; then there is other side, that of the Sofia athlete,…
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Opinion: Suppression in America

Opinion: Suppression in America

Freedom of speech is a cherished value many Americans believe is fundamental to democracy. It allows citizens to express their opinions without worrying about retaliation or suppression. In recent years, increasing efforts have been made to suppress citizens, which many believe undermines open discourse. Suppression limits freedom of speech because it silences specific viewpoints while others can prevail. Suppression can control public discourse, suppress individual expression and affect vulnerable communities. At the same time, others feel that a certain degree of suppression is needed to prevent misinformation and harmful content from being accessible to everyone. Allowing suppression in America will…
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Opinion: AUM needs recycling bins

Opinion: AUM needs recycling bins

Creating spaces that sustain the environment is pivotal to helping combat the ever-growing global waste issue. At Auburn University at Montgomery (AUM), a higher education institution, there are few recycling bins. Even though AUM is considered a top college in Alabama that offers different academic opportunities there is a lack of environmental awareness. The campus needs to improve in terms of being environmentally friendly and promoting sustainability while creating a lot of waste with its population. Since AUM creates a lot of waste, adding more recycling bins to the university campus would benefit the environment and encourage the students, faculty…
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Opinion: Expanding online degree programs at AUM

Opinion: Expanding online degree programs at AUM

By: Christian Stephens In a world that is changing faster than we can keep up, Auburn University at Montgomery(AUM) has an opportunity to create a significant effect by expanding its online degreeprograms. This change could help current and future students, alumni and the communityalike. Expanding online degrees would address crucial challenges by enhancing access toeducation, embracing new learning styles and increasing career growth opportunities. Expanding online degrees can greatly improve access to education. Many students,especially those working full-time, raising families, or living farther from campus, find ithard to attend in-person classes. Online programs give students the freedom to learn fromany…
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Libraries and liberty

Libraries and liberty

By: Dr. Darren Harris-Fain, Guest Columnist As a lifelong reader and user of libraries, I’m both saddened and appalled by recent challenges to library collections and to librarians themselves, including in my adopted home of Prattville. Both history and my professional life as a literary scholar, who has taught and written about novels like George Orwell’s Nineteen Eighty-Four (1949) and Ray Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451 (1953), lead me to agree with the saying that those who would ban or even destroy books are never the good guys. AUM English and Philosophy Research Professor, Dr. Harris-Fain (Photo Courtesy of the AUM website)…
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Reflections of an AUM senior

Reflections of an AUM senior

By: Alexis Stafford, AUMnibus editor & webmaster Starting a new semester can be exciting yet daunting, especially for incoming freshmen. As I am now a senior, I have done a lot of reflecting on my experience these last three years.  First, I want to extend a few words of encouragement to anyone who may be dealing with the agony of first-week jitters. I feel everyone often forgets that you are not the only one who is nervous. Everyone around you has to adjust to a new schedule, environment and sense of community. Even if you think other people are taking…
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Welcome back, Warhawks!

Welcome back, Warhawks!

Photo Courtesy of Frank Williams By: Alexis Stafford, AUMnibus editor & webmaster As this year’s editor of the school’s publication The AUMnibus, I wanted to welcome new and returning students. I hope that everyone is excited about this upcoming semester! Our talented student staff is dedicated to informing our audience on any pressing issues, events or stories involving AUM since its establishment in 1971, reporting on various topics including sports, campus life, art and more.  We are excited to begin this semester as we have been working diligently to extend our collaboration with other students outside the Communication and Theatre…
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Op-ed: It takes a village

Op-ed: It takes a village

Photo Courtesy of Frank C. Williams The life of an RA Auburn University at Montgomery is committed to being a positive and safe living environment for its residents and it takes a driven team to ensure those needs are met, according to an AUM housing associate.  The campus’s diverse and dynamic resident assistants (RAs) show that it does take a village. AUM’s campus has four separate dormitories: the Commons, Courtyards, Warhawk and P-40. Each dorm offers a variety of accommodations and options that can meet any resident's preference. In these campus communities, student residents have dedicated RAs on every floor…
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AUM’s safety measures: More than what meets the eye

AUM’s safety measures: More than what meets the eye

Photo Courtesy of Frank C. Williams Are “open” campuses an unsafe choice for college students? Auburn University at Montgomery prioritizes campus safety for students, faculty and staff, says the director of police operations on the campus.  The campus has been referred to as an “open campus” by students in comparison to others, but that is not the case. The openness of the campus is all about the perspective of what hard work goes into keeping the AUM campus safe.  In a recent interview, AUM’s Director of Police Operations Brenda Mitchell talked about the different ways that campus police advocate for…
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The Aumnibus – An AUM Story

The Aumnibus – An AUM Story

By: Victoria Salters Since 1971, The Aumnibus, a student-run newspaper at AUM, has been a cornerstone of campus culture, capturing the essence of student life and serving as a platform for voices to be heard. Originally known as The Aardvark, the publication underwent a significant transformationunder the two-year editorship of Kitty Miller from 1972 to 1974 according to “The AUM Story,” abook written by former history professor John D. Fair. Now, more than five decades later, thispublication's rich history continues to resonate on campus. The Aumnibus has stood the test of time, adapting to the evolving landscape of journalism whilestaying…
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Prominent businessman and broadcaster Shelley Stewart reflects on the legacy of Dr. King

Prominent businessman and broadcaster Shelley Stewart reflects on the legacy of Dr. King

By: Shataya Celestine MONTGOMERY, Ala.—Shelley Stewart, known as the best radio personality in Birmingham and one of America’s most prominent African American philanthropists, spoke about the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. at the recent MLK Reflections Breakfast at Auburn University at Montgomery.  At the morning event, Stewart took the time to sit down with staff and students and share in honor of King, whom he knew personally. Stewart talked about life growing up as a child in Birmingham seeing beautiful parks and places, but remembering the grocery stores and restrooms he wasn’t allowed to use. He said he…
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Op-ed: “Hey, do you have the link to the textbook?”

Op-ed: “Hey, do you have the link to the textbook?”

Photo Courtesy of the AUM bookstore The debate of purchasing textbooks By: Victoria Salters MONTGOMERY, Ala. — With complete transparency, as a college senior, I have avoided purchasing a textbook for the last few years. Every year I begin my semester with a similar routine. I make sure to register and I attend classes like usual. However, if I can make it through the first test without the textbook, I opt against purchasing it. If I do need the textbook, I always choose an eBook. This “course of action” is not one that was born out of rebellion but out…
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Struggling minds

Struggling minds

The silent epidemic taking over our colleges By: Victoria Salters MONTGOMERY, Ala. —The halls of our nation’s universities often bear a sad secret, the academic pursuit for many students is often plagued with the struggle of mental health. From balancing course work, pressure and expectations from family and trying to maintain a social life, the pressures can become overwhelming many college students.  According to the National Center on Safe Supportive Learning Environments annual survey conducted in the 2021-2022 school year, 44% of college students reported symptoms of depression; 37% said they experienced anxiety and 15% have seriously considered suicide. These…
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