Thursday, May 9

Opinion

Cookin’ on the Coosa MacDown: The cheesiest cook-off of the year
News, Opinion

Cookin’ on the Coosa MacDown: The cheesiest cook-off of the year

Cookin' on the Coosa MacDown event poster featuring a mac and cheese noodle in sunglasses. Listed on the poster are the sponsors of the event including some contestants in the competition. A mac and cheese lover’s dream  By: Makenzie Martin WETUMPKA, Ala. — More than 300 mac and cheese enthusiasts were found in Merchants Alley in Wetumpka this Saturday tasting and judging Mac and Cheese cook-off entries. The Three Noodles Team, Team Joseph and Coosa Cleaver took home the mac and cheese champion title.  The MacDown judging informational poster explaining each step to voting for a contestant. The Cookin’ on the Coosa event was hosted by the Family Sunshine Center (FSC) to raise proceeds for domestic violence and sexual assault victims. According to Christy Crus...
“Lipstick on a pig”
Opinion

“Lipstick on a pig”

The social media beauty standard and how we can reject it By: Alexis Stafford The phrase “lipstick on a pig” has been inescapable on social media. The meaning behind it is disheartening, especially when so many young people’s self-esteem takes a major hit due to impossible beauty standards.   President Barack Obama used the phrase in 2008 at one of his campaign events by saying, “You can put lipstick on a pig but it’s still a pig.” The idiom is used to refer to trying to embellish something in an attempt to hide what’s really behind it. Even though he was using it in reference to politics, a lot of people have a more personable relationship with the expression.   I’ve seen countless posts on social media about how young women often feel dispirited when doing their ma...
Op-Ed: Mistreatment of those with mental disabilities 
Opinion

Op-Ed: Mistreatment of those with mental disabilities 

By: Jordan White People with mental disabilities face harsher realities than those who are able-bodied. Within the media white voices and experiences are pushed as more important than people of color. It is clear that both circumstances play into racial prejudice against people of color with mental disabilities   A story that sheds light on racial prejudice against a person of color with a mental disability is the tragic incident of Jordan Neely. According to the New York Times, on May 1 Neely was on a New York subway where he was loudly shouting at passengers, but he was not physically causing harm to anyone. The Left Voice reported that he was a homeless man having a mental health crisis. A white man on the subway with Neely took this as an opportunity to put Neely in a ...
AUM men’s soccer defender: Tasker Wheeler
Opinion, Sports

AUM men’s soccer defender: Tasker Wheeler

Photo Courtesy of AUM Athletics Attackers in the Gulf South Conference should be worried this season By: Lex Wedgworth AUM Audio · AUM men's soccer defender Tasker Wheeler in the GCS MONTGOMERY, Ala. − Tasker Wheeler is a soccer defender for the Auburn University at Montgomery (AUM) Warhawks men’s soccer team and ready to make a statement this season.   To catch students up on what is currently going on regarding the team, Wheeler humbly answered some questions about the team and himself. It is Wheeler’s first season here at AUM and he could not be more ready to go in there and shake attackers in the Gulf South Conference (GSC) up. The Warhawks are currently undefeated earning two wins, zero losses, and three ties so far bringing in a lot of confidence for th...
Spiking success
Opinion, Sports

Spiking success

Photo Courtesy of AUM Athletics Choosing the thrilling world of college volleyball By: Deshala Wilkins AUM Audio · AUM COMM student Deshala Wilkins interviews Giulia Santuari about her love for volleyball MONTGOMERY, Ala. — What is the true motivation of a college athlete? In an interview, Auburn University at Montgomery (AUM) athlete Giulia Santuari said her love for volleyball struck her at the age of nine, but it was not always her first choice.   The 6-foot-1 senior psychology major from Italy started off playing basketball but did not like the physical contact. “I realized I didn’t like contact sports, so I tried volleyball and it stuck with me,” she said. Volleyball seemed to be a great alternative to basketball for Santuari, It is a national trend to leave...
Aiming high and scoring goals
Opinion, Sports

Aiming high and scoring goals

Photo Courtesy of AUM Athletics Inspired by her role models, Emma Webster finds a way to balance her studies and soccer By: Gracie Keith AUM Audio · Aiming High and Scoring Goals: How Emma Webster Balances Studies and Soccer MONTGOMERY, Ala. — Growing up did you have an inspirational role model? Maybe this was a famous athlete, celebrity or a family member. The choice could be who is the coolest, or has the most money or medals. But for some, there is so much more to a role model. Emma Webster, a sophomore on the Auburn University Montgomery Women’s Soccer team, said her inspiration comes from Alex Morgan, a professional soccer player, and her parents.   In a recent interview, Webster talked about how her parents were her biggest inspiration. She said, “My paren...
AUM women’s soccer welcomes new goalkeeper
Opinion, Sports

AUM women’s soccer welcomes new goalkeeper

Photo Courtesy of AUM Athletics By: Rachel Moore AUM Audio · AUM Women’s Soccer welcomes new goalkeeper MONTGOMERY, Ala. – The prospect of a new player to a team can bring excitement and anticipation in the world of collegiate sports. Transfer sophomore and goalkeeper for Auburn University at Montgomery women’s soccer, Karla Guzmano-Ortiz, has promised to be a beneficial addition to the team. Hailing from her home of Puerto Rico, the confidence surrounding soccer exudes from Guzman-Ortiz when sitting across from her. Donned in a pink uniform, she shared her journey from budding high school player in Puerto Rico to international collegiate athlete. She describes how she ended up in the United States after the COVID-19 pandemic halted the sport at home. After spending her jun...
AUM record breaking XC runner from Kenya
Opinion, Sports

AUM record breaking XC runner from Kenya

Photo Courtesy of AUM Athletics Basil Koech, anything that the mind thinks or wants, it is something that is achievable. By: Zoe McWilliams AUM Audio · AUM record-breaking XC runner from Kenya MONTGOMERY, Ala. – Basil Koech runs cross country for Auburn University at Montgomery and being a freshman, he has some great things going for him now and in his future.   Basil’s recent finish of 15:39.60 led to the success of AUM being in second place, and a new record at the meet held at Jacksonville State University. According to the Cross-Country roster on the AUM Athletics website, Basil is named an All-Region runner in the 3K at St. Johns High School. The computer science major was also named Warhawk of the Week in September. Basil also placed eighth place in the mee...
Attitude and improvement
Opinion, Sports

Attitude and improvement

Photo Courtsey of AUM Athletics How an AUM women’s soccer player hopes to change team culture  By: Dalton Kimbro AUM Audio · AUM COMM major Dalton Kimbro interviews soccer player Whitley Watwood MONTGOMERY, Ala. – Auburn University at Montgomery (AUM) junior women’s soccer player Whitley Watwood is no stranger to change.   From a six-hour move from her hometown in Kentucky to a switch in her lifelong position on the field, Watwood, a special education major, has navigated her circumstances en route to a significant amount of playing time this season for the Warhawks. I sat down with Watwood to discuss her journey to Montgomery, goals for this year and leadership as an upperclassman.   A native of Benton, Kentucky, Watwood began playing soccer a...
A freshman’s rewarding transition to college volleyball
Opinion, Sports

A freshman’s rewarding transition to college volleyball

Photo Courtesy by AUM Athletics By: Keturah Stone AUM Audio · COMM major Keturah Stone interviews Warhawk volleyball player Taylor Lewis MONTGOMERY, Ala. − Transitioning from high school to college is difficult. For Auburn University at Montgomery freshman volleyball player Taylor Lewis, it’s a dream come true, but with growing pains.   Lewis, who is from Alpharetta, Georgia, spoke with me about her experience playing volleyball in high school for Providence Christian Academy.  But she’s been playing volleyball since age 11 when she started competitive travel ball. At her high school, she was awarded 2019 Rookie of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year for three consecutive years. Lewis impressively holds the single match kills record, single match aces per ...