Opinion Archives - The AUMnibus

May

04

2026

Letter from the Editor

EditorialsAUM Warhawks, college, Editor, graduate, journalist, letter, photographer, staff

Dear AUM students, I am so thankful that I got to serve as the 2025-2026 Editor and Photographer of The AUMnibus. I’ve learned so much being a part of the student newspaper and it's guided me to know what I want to do with my degree. Seeing my progression from just a staff writer to becoming the editor two years later feels like such a crazy accomplishment that I was shocked to receive. I hope that I continue to hold the journalist ethics that I learned during my time as a student at AUM. I just wanna thank everyone who…

Apr

29

2026

By Patrick Eiland

Review: Full Moon BBQ is as good as it gets

Opinionbbq, eat, food, food review, Full Moon BBQ, opinion, Review

Shot of the front of the Full Moon building. (Photo courtesy of Patrick Eiland) Full Moon BBQ on 7660 Eastchase Pkwy in Montgomery is often called “The Best Little Pork House in Alabama” and it more than lives up to the name. Pictures of Alabama Crimson Tide memorabilia featuring Bart Starr and Julio Jones on the walls of the Full Moon BBQ. (Photo courtesy of Patrick Eiland) When you first walk into the brightly decorated restaurant, you’re greeted by sights and memories of this state’s biggest prides, the Alabama Crimson Tide and the Auburn Tigers. On one side of the…

Apr

13

2026

By Aumnibus Staff

“The Drama:” A bang or a whimper?

Opinion2026 movie, conflict, couple, engage, fear, impulsive, marriage, mature audience, Movie, movie review, opinion, rejection, Review, Robert Patterson, The Drama, wedding, Zendaya

Photo courtesy of Jimmy Chan on pexels.com By Mackenzie Powell “The Drama” (2026), directed by Kristoffer Borgli and starring Zendaya and Robert Pattinson, deftly portrays the intricacies of human connection and balances a darkly comic tone. Zendaya and Pattinson seamlessly disappear into their roles as engaged couple Emma and Charlie, despite their major movie star statuses. The Drama official movie poster. (Credits to A24 Films) The film follows the lead up to the fiancés’ wedding after a revelation takes them through an unforeseen series of events. Alana Haim and Hailey Benton Gates shine in supporting parts and Zoë Winters and…

Mar

10

2026

By Sofia Cerebuch

Opinion: Going Back Home Doesn’t Always Mean Going Back to Yourself

Opinionhome, homesick, international, life, mental, personal, traveling, well being

designed from Veli Rehanne from Canva. For those who leave and return, it feels like meeting a stranger, the person who left is no longer there and the place just another unfamiliar stop along the way. At a certain point in the life of a person who has built a reality abroad, a realization comes that is like a crash. It doesn't happen the moment she steps off the plane, or when she starts using a language she knows again; it can happen all of a sudden or grow slowly. It happened to her in a bar, one of those…

Mar

08

2026

By Sofia Cerebuch

Opinion: Artificial intelligence in the newsroom: Tool or threat?

OpinionAI, AP, artificial intelligence, Associated Press, benefits, ChatGPT, jobs, journalism, Kendra Love, media, opinion, Students, study, Technology, think

Photo courtesy of Tera Windstead on Pexels.com If artificial intelligence can fully replace journalists, then journalism has already failed. AI can become an asset to newsrooms, but it cannot take on the human role without compromising the credibility on which the industry itself is based. AI is already part of the most important newsrooms. In 2014, The Associated Press introduced Automated Insights into its newsroom to produce more than 3,000 earnings reports, bringing the world of journalism into contact with that of artificial intelligence. Before the introduction of artificial support, The Associated Press was able to produce about 300 reports…

Mar

05

2026

By Patrick Eiland

Opinion: Let me pay in cash

OpinionAUM Bookstore, card, cash, credit card, debit card, finance, money, payment, Students

photo courtesy of Patrick Eiland When I returned to Auburn University at Montgomery in the fall of 2024 the school had changed a lot since I graduated in 2015. The way you pay now for everything on campus is the one thing that drives me crazy. I’m someone who never liked dealing with credit cards. The hassle you must go through to set one up, how there was a middleman, and the stolen credit card scare. I was never a fan. Handing someone a few bills was simple, and I knew they got my money. So when I came back…

Mar

03

2026

By Shaniece McGhee

Lactose intolerant but craving cheese? Mellow Mushroom offers a dairy free option

Opinioncheese, dairy, dairy free, food, lactose intolerant, Mellow Mushroom, opinion, pizza

photo courtesy Alexas Fotos from pexels.com MONTGOMERY, Ala. — For anyone diagnosed with lactose intolerance, finding pizza that satisfies the classic cheese taste without discomfort is hard to come by. After confirming my own intolerance to lactose with a doctor and trying lactaid pills, I finally had to make a life changing decision to give up cheese. That choice was not easy. Cheese is found in many foods and giving it up meant changing my everyday eating habits. Ultimately, it came down to choosing a better quality of life versus having cramps, and painful stomach aches. Even after making that…

Feb

23

2026

By Shaniece McGhee

Movie review: The sci-fi film ‘Mercy’ encourages viewers to sympathize with AI

OpinionAI, artificial intelligence, dystopian, film, Mercy, Movie, movies review, opinion, Review

photo courtesy of ThisIsEngineering on pexels.com MONTGOMERY, Ala. — Released Jan.23, 2026, “Mercy” is a science-fiction action thriller that places artificial intelligence at the center of the justice system poses a controversial question: Can an AI judge be more trustworthy than human judgment? While the film succeeds as an engaging and immersive thriller, its final message raises concerns about whether the film ultimately encourages audiences to sympathize with artificial intelligence more than it should. Set in a dystopian Los Angeles in 2029, the story follows Detective Chris Raven (Chris Pratt), who must prove his innocence in the murder of his…

Feb

12

2026

By Shaniece McGhee

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

Opinionblack love, Kelly Rowland, Method Man, movie review, opinion, Relationship Goals, Review, romance, Valentines

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…

Feb

03

2026

By Aumnibus Staff

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

Opinionfood review, foodie, fries, Fry & Fork, Korean, Korean restaurant, restaurant, Review, wings

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…

Jul

15

2025

By Christa Burns

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

OpinionMichael B. Jordan, Movie, Review, Sinners

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…

Apr

24

2025

By Kate Lindsey-Hunter

Opinion: Music shouldn’t be forced into a genre

Opinioncountry, genre, hiphop, Music, music artists, op-ed, opinion, rap, rnb, rock

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…

Dec

09

2024

By Aumnibus Staff

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

Campus, Opinionopinion

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…

Dec

09

2024

By Christa Burns

Opinion: Make Montgomery better for pedestrians

Opinionopinion, Safety, sidewalk

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…

Nov

21

2024

By Aumnibus Staff

Opinion: The truth about melatonin

Opinionmelatonin, opinion

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…

Nov

14

2024

By Sofia Cerebuch

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

Editorials, Sportseditoral, student athlete, Volleyball

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,…

Nov

14

2024

By Jordan White

Opinion: Suppression in America

Opinionopinion, suppression

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…

Nov

14

2024

By Jordan White

Opinion: AUM needs recycling bins

Opinionopinion, recycling

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…

Nov

14

2024

By Aumnibus Staff

Opinion: Expanding online degree programs at AUM

Opinionopinion

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…

Sep

28

2024

By Aumnibus Staff

Libraries and liberty

Opinionbanned books week, censorship, libraries

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)…