Her voice is barely audible over the boisterous voices of the young men sitting at the long rectangular tables of Auburn University’s FarmHouse fraternity. Not seeming to mind at all, Chef Adria Zelmer remains calm and content as she enjoys the fast-paced style of her nine-to-five job.

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Fast paced would be an understatement in describing the busy schedule of Zelmer’s average day of feeding the 98 members of the fraternity. Arriving at 9 a.m. to prep for lunch, she doesn’t come up to breathe until 1:30 p.m. after all the boys have eaten. She then takes a break and returns to the house at 4 p.m. to start preparing dinner.

“It’s definitely not a normal job,” said Zelmer.

According to Zelmer, the main reason for becoming chef of FarmHouse was to escape the normalcy and repetition of corporate life. Wearing jeans, a t-shirt and gravy-splashed tennis shoes, she said couldn’t ask for anything more.

“I never go home crying or feeling unimportant,” she said. “I am responsible for filling the bellies of some of the finest young men at Auburn.”

Although she doesn’t live at the house full time, she maintains a nurturing and personal relationship with every one of the brothers. She calls them all by name and has a good story to tell about everyone. Unfortunately for senior, Matt Layton, his story left him with singed bangs and eyebrows for a few weeks.

“I love when the boys help me out in the kitchen, but you can’t just go messin’ with the gas grill if you don’t know what you’re doing,” said Zelmer

“Oh well, boys will be boys,” she said.

This fact proves to be especially true around meal times at FarmHouse. Zelmer strives to prepare meals that are both delicious and healthy. According to the boys, she is quick to give them a hard time if they leave vegetables on their plate.

“I was almost late to class because I didn’t finish all of my green beans,” said senior, Brandon Becker. “I still love her though.”

“The hardest part about my job is trying to please everyone,” said Zelmer. “Of course everyone doesn’t love everything I make, but I do try to fix things that I know they will enjoy.”

Whether it is through compliments, empty plates or grimacing facial expressions, she knows what her boys like and dislike.

“You can’t get your feelings hurt,” she said. “I hate throwing away food, so I really try to make the house favorites as much as I can.”

The general consensus house favorites of the brothers include chicken parmesan, make-your-own pizza and steak.

Yes, she may make them finish the veggies on their plate, but there is no question that she can goof- off with her boys from time to time.

“I’m sort of like a crazy aunt,” said Zelmer. “I’m not their mother because I don’t clean up after them.”

The relationship between Zelmer and her boys is strong and it is shown through the laughter and conversations that can be heard during meal times at FarmHouse. She shows love and support for them, and they do the same for her.

“I remember a time last year when I was really upset about something,” said Zelmer. “The boys could tell that I had been crying and they were all trying to cheer me up. I’ll never forget when Dan went over to the piano and started playing some of my favorite songs. Before I knew it, we were all singing and dancing around the dining room like a bunch of idiots. I felt so much better knowing that they cared enough to perk me back up.”

Chef, mother, crazy aunt or friend, Zelmer has a special place in her heart for every member of FarmHouse.

“We all love her,” said Becker with outstretched arms. “This much.”

The third annual Kowaliga Idol Competition showcased the talents of 35 up and coming musicians from Alabama and surrounding states. Taking home the Kowaliga Idol title this year was Dylan Brabham of Union Springs.

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Beginning February 18, at the Lake Martin Oyster Bar in Dadeville, the judges eliminated 15 contestants leaving 20 to compete throughout the rest of the competition. Each week, contestants performed a song of their choice and a song from a decade chosen by the panel of three judges. Five contestants were eliminated each week until the finale.

The Competition’s Grand Finale was held March 18 and attracted more than 500 spectators to support the five finalists, Page Bentley, Joey Gettings, Baylie Kazziah, Blane Rudd and Dylan Brabham.

Brabham started playing the guitar at the age of 12, but his love for music was instilled long before then. With a blues pianist grandmother and songwriter father, Brabham’s earliest memories were accompanied by the rhythms and melodies of good quality music. Other musical inspirations for Brabham include Bob Dylan and Ryan Adams.

While Brabham’s voice was what won the judges’ vote, he has a true love for writing music.

“I like music that tells a story,” said Brabham. “I try to write songs that actually make you think about what the lyrics mean. A song that means one thing to me might mean something completely different for someone else; that’s the beauty of music.”

One of his favorites that will be featured on his new album is called “Lorraine”.

“Lorraine is not a real person,” he said. “She was just my way of taking every heartbreaker out there and combining them into one girl. It’s kind of a dark song, but it’s about all those familiar side effects of heart break.”

One of the prizes he won as part of the competition included a recording session at the Cypress Moon Studio in Muscle Shoals, AL. His self-titled album, which will be released within the next few months, includes 12 songs he’s been writing for the past five years. He describes his music style as a blend of folk and pop rock and is written about anything from love, heart break, hard times and everything in between.

Brabham not only won the Cypress Moon Studio recording session and the esteemed title of Kowaliga Idol 2011, but a Fender Stratocaster electric guitar, a three –night stay in Gatlinburg, TN, a photo shoot with David Dismukes Photography and a $200 gift certificate to The Body Shop in Alexander City, AL.

Now that he’s won the title of Kowaliga Idol 2011, he thinks that it will open a lot of doors for him in the future. Brabham plans to continue his music career in whatever way presents itself.

“All I know is that I want to stay in the music industry; whether that means performing on a stage or writing music for other people,” he said. “I love seeing other people in the spotlight singing my songs.”

Pizza, beer and Ramen Noodles are staples to the average college student’s diet. They’re cheap, easily accessible and most importantly—delicious. Although they aren’t the most healthy options in the grocery store, college students have grown accustomed to living off of these three food groups for the four-year duration of the in-the-moment bliss provided by the college lifestyle.



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For senior Andrew Underwood, those above food groups are on his tummy’s no-fly list. Four years ago, Underwood was diagnosed with Celiac disease, also known as gluten intolerance.

His body doesn’t process gluten the way it’s intended to. According to Underwood, it’s an immune system disease. When he eats gluten, his immune system tries to kill it, which harms his small intestines. Because his body tags the gluten as an undesirable foreign substance, his small intestines do not absorb the nutrients from food that his body needs. Over long periods of time, this can cause damage to his small intestines.

“The hardest part is not being able to pick up something for dinner really quick at the drive thru or out with friends,” said Underwood.

In order for him to consume any foods, he must first read the entire food label—which he said can be very time consuming. This used to be a big problem for not only Underwood, but the rest of the gluten intolerant population. Now, more grocery stores are aware of the “gluten free phenomenon” and are making an effort to provide more gluten free food options.

“Instead of having to spend tons of time reading the labels in regular grocery stores or ordering gluten free food online, I can drive to Earth Fare, walk to their ‘gluten free’ section and have lots of options to choose from,” said Underwood.

Instead of having a negative outlook on his disease, Underwood chooses to take the high road to his situation. He claims that he has become healthier and more aware of what he’s putting into his body.

Gluten is found in most preservatives, so his body won’t allow him to consume any foods with the harmful chemicals found in our food that make the shelf-life longer. Because gluten free foods do not have preservatives, most of them are made by all-natural or organic food companies.

While they are healthy, many of these products are a little on the pricey side. To adhere to his college budget, Underwood enjoys canned vegetables, frozen chicken breasts and fresh fruit on his frugal days. But when he wants to treat himself to a delicious gluten-free product, his favorites are EnviroKidz Organic Peanut Butter Panda Puffs, Glutino crackers and Amy’s microwavable meals.

“It really isn’t that bad,” said Underwood. “It definitely took a little getting used to, but now that I’ve got the hang of it, it’s really easy to eat safe

As part of Arbor Week 2011, the Donald E. Davis Arboretum hosted the “Cowboys and Aliens” wild west-themed clean-up on Saturday, Feb. 26, to rid the Wrights Mill Elementary School outdoor classroom and nature trail of non-native plant species.



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Alabama is the host to dozens of non-native invasive plant species that are overwhelming entire landscapes and taking over what is naturally found in wildlife. Kudzu, Tallowtree and Chinese Privet are just a few of the aliens that could find themselves in “jail” if they were found at the school.

“With them taking responsibility by being out here and making a difference, they’ll have a sense of ownership in this classroom that they don’t have in the building,” said Arboretum Specialist IV, Patrick Thompson.

Wrights Mill Elementary School children have taken part in the clean-up for a few years now and the fruits of their labor are enjoyed year round in their outdoor classroom and nature trail located in the woods around the perimeter of the school.

Fourth grade students, Maggie Tennant and Abby Walden participated in the clean-up representing the Venture Small Group at Wrights Mill. The main goal of the group is to encourage teachers to allow their students to use the outdoor classroom said Tennant. 

They have conducted surveys to see how many teachers use the facility and also have plans to paint the benches belonging to the outdoor classroom.

“Instead of learning about a habitat or plant by looking in a book, we can actually go outside and see it,” said Walden.

The reclaiming of the forest project began at the Arboretum on Auburn’s campus, but after the non-native plants were removed from that land, they decided to move out into the community said Thompson.

Non-native plant species aren’t as land-hungry and selfish as they may seem. Their overpopulation problem exists because of the circle of life phenomenon. Birds, bugs and other critters living in the Alabama habitats eat the plants that are naturally found in their home. This process keeps the plant’s growth at bay.

“The non-native plants don’t support our native wildlife the way that native plants do,” said Thompson. “They’re out-competing the native plant species.”

In addition to the 75 or more students, teachers and parents participating in the clean-up, members of the Alabama Invasive Plant Council were also in attendance.

“It’s very important that the kids realize that invasive species can take over the woods,” said executive director of ALIPC, Nancy Loewenstein. “These kids want to reclaim the woods so they can enjoy the natural beauty it has to offer.”

Everyone knows at least one of them—that kind of person who is always a little more concerned than normal with what, how much and when they eat. Even though that person’s friends or family have tried to confront them about it, the right thing to say or the right way to say it seems to always pass by.

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This week—right now actually, is the time to talk about it. Feb. 21-26 is National Eating Disorders Awareness week and what better time is there to say to that friend, “Let’s talk about it”?



As part of National Eating Disorders Awareness week, Student Counseling Services at Auburn are offering eating disorder screeners, free of charge, to students.



“At the initial screening, students can meet one of our counselors to talk about their concerns and determine if their eating patterns are characteristic of an eating disorder,” said Dr. Kristee Treadwell, counseling psychologist at Auburn University Student Counseling Services.



Not just this week, but any time during the year, students can visit the counseling center for individual counseling sessions. The brief therapy model offers enrolled students 10 counseling sessions per academic year.



“After the 10 sessions, the student and counselor can then decide if more sessions are necessary for their individual recovery,” said Treadwell. “If necessary, we will allow students to receive more treatment on a case-by-case basis.”



According to some students, being friends with someone struggling with an eating disorder is a common occurrence in the college world.



“Even though I don’t know anyone that has been diagnosed with an eating disorder, I can think of several of my friends who I am 100 percent certain they have some sort of problem that needs to be addressed,” said senior Brianna Henderson.



Caroline Pickett’s situation is a little different. She knows, firsthand, the negative consequences eating disorders can have on not just one person, but their family and friends. For about five years, her older sister has been struggling with anorexia.



“I didn’t know how to help her—no one did,” said Pickett. “We all talk about counting calories or watching our weight, but this consumed her.”



Auburn Student Counseling Services are available Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. by appointment. However, in emergency situations, walk-ins are welcome and seen by staff as needed if availability permits.

Boys, training bras, braces and periods should never ever belong in the same sentence. However, for a 13-year-old girl, those words are an all too common contribution to daily living.



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With morally questionable content all over the media, to whom are these girls supposed to confide for support during this awkward transition? Many young women, ages 12 and 13 to be exact, are turning to college women volunteers.

The Auburn University Women’s Resource Center recognized the need for positive influences for these young women last year and created the Young Women’s Leadership Program.

Thirteen college-aged women are paired with 12 seventh grade girls for a two-semester long weekly meeting time. At these meetings, which take place after the girls get out of school on Mondays, they are presented with topics about anything from relationships to drugs and alcohol.

“We can really talk about anything,” said YWLP volunteer, Marlye Armstrong. “I exchanged phone numbers with my little sister and she knows that she can call me at any time.”

Self image is one of the biggest trouble makers in the life of girls this age said Armstrong. While a lot of the exercises and discussions focus on everyday topics, the college women try to instill a confident self image into their little sister’s lives.

At one meeting, the girls were asked to describe, on a piece of paper, their worst day ever. After they finished writing, the girls exchanged secretly so that each girl’s identity was not given away. The members of the program were then asked to write down something helpful or encouraging for that particular situation.

Exercises like this one allow friendship and trust to form between the little and big sisters. Many of the relationships are so close that the pair will meet outside of the regular Monday meeting time.

After the big sisters receive consent from the parents, they are allowed to pick up their little sisters for fun outings like dinner or lunch trips.

“It is such a rewarding experience to know that someday down the road, I made a difference in the life of a girl who previously didn't know right from wrong and had no support system to encourage in furthering her education,” said YWLP volunteer, Hayley Faith.“ It definitely isn't always easy, but I know that the benefits of this program make it all worthwhile.”

YWLP is considered a service learning credit for Human Development and Family Studies students. However, any Auburn University female can be considered for a mentor position in the program.

Oh no, it’s not like a sign up at a meeting and be paired with a kid kind of thing. The responsibility to successfully cultivate a productive, positive relationship in a teenage girl’s life is complicated and detailed; and so is the application process.

The responsibility to successfully cultivate a productive, positive relationship in a teenage girl’s life is complicated and detailed; and so is the application process.

To obtain a position in the YWLP, the college student must fill out an application, interview with the junior high guidance counselor and get a recommendation letter from both a professor and a family friend.

After the leaders are accepted, they fill out a personality survey and then those are matched with a corresponding survey to fit the personality of a potential little sister.

“I’ve learned so much about myself and I’ve grown as a leader and as a woman,” said Armstrong.

After a long day, many Auburn women are hitting the barre for a relaxing and rewarding treat—No, not that kind of bar; this kind of barre does way more than just help to unwind its patrons.

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Pure Barre is a fitness fusion class that incorporates ballet, Pilates and weight training in a 55-minute session. This new fitness craze can now be found in more than 50 cities across the country—Auburn being one of the smallest towns to have a franchise.

Sisters and Auburn Alumna, Courtney Treater and Kelly Shuman opened up the Pure Barre studio on Moore’s Mill Road last Monday, Jan. 24, and several women have “hit the barre” already.

“We stress to our clients to forget about everything else during class,” said Treater. “There’s so much of a mind to body connection in this technique—it’s really time to focus on yourself.”

During the session, students perform exercises focusing on the areas that most women tend to struggle with the most—abs, hips, seat and arms. In the Pure Barre technique, there is no jumping around or putting any stress on pressure points. Instead, small movements and stretching are incorporated into a low-impact workout to tone and strengthen acute muscle groups.

The studio, which is located in the Hamilton Place shopping center is sleek and clean. A small reception area is located in the front where clients check in to class and can purchase Pure Barre workout clothing merchandise. Beyond the reception area is “the barre” with a spacious floor area—large enough to accommodate 25 mats.

Dedicated clients at “the barre” come in all ages and backgrounds. Whether its college students trying to get in shape for Spring Break, moms working off baby weight or women simply trying to stay fit and healthy.

Lorri Fuller, a 1991 Auburn graduate and certified group fitness instructor, has incorporated Pure Barre into her workout routine.

“As women age, it’s harder to work out the problem areas,” said Fuller. “I teach Body Pump and Yoga and I’m feeling the burn in areas that I haven’t been able to reach before—it’s very unique.”

Everything is provided for the clients, including a yoga mat, weights, resistance bands and even a cubby to store belongings. Clients are asked to arrive a few minutes before class to sign in, set up their mat and gather their weights, resistance bands and any other equipment to be incorporated into the workout.

Although the classes are geared toward women’s problem areas, the classes are open to anyone. In fact, Pure Barre is having a Valentine’s Day promotion giving women the chance to bring in their sweetie for free.

“We wanted to give our clients the chance to show their significant other what we’re all about, said Treater. “The men who come in sometimes think it’s going to be easy, but then they leave with their legs shaking like everyone else.”

Classes are offered at Pure Barre several times a day, seven days a week. Six fitness instructors, trained in the Pure Barre technique, lead the classes. A complete listing of the class times can be found by selecting the Auburn location on Pure Barre’s main website, www.purebarre.com.

Attending the first class costs $10. After that, they increase to $20 per class. The more classes purchased, the cheaper they cost. The best deal is $225 for one month unlimited. College students are offered a discounted monthly price at $150 for one month unlimited.

“When we teach the classes, we don’t just tell everyone what to do and then show them,” said Treater. “We actually explain to them what part of the body we’re working and walk around to make sure their form is correct so that they can get the most out of each workout.”

Khani Fravel, a freshmen studying exercise science at Åuburn University, has frequented “the barre” and is now a full-time client.

“I’m a personal trainer and I’m kind of a work out snob, but I have seen awesome results in just two weeks of attending classes,” said Fravel. “I really like that I’m not drenched in sweat, but still feel like I’ve had a really hard workout.”

The Treater sisters both played several sports throughout their youth and trained to be competitive gymnasts. Before opening Pure Barre, Kelly began her gymnastics career at age eight to eventually become a two-time national competitor and Courtney was a product sourcing manager for a home interiors company.

“We really support the Pure Barre technique and love what the company stands for,” said Treater.

When thinking about what it means to be sustainable, visions of recycling bins, reusable grocery bags and riding a bike might come to mind.

Sustainability is not a new term, but as people all over the world and in their own communities are starting to come to terms with the consequences of their daily actions, they don’t know where to start.


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Being a land grant University, Auburn is committed to educating the community through academic research. The University’s Office of Sustainability is the community’s very own resource for sustainable living education.

“It’s sort of a new way of thinking for most people,” said Matt Williams, program manager for the University’s Office of Sustainability. “But the idea is thinking about your actions and the actions of society and how they have connections to the rest of the planet and other people’s lives.”

Over the past few months, the Office of Sustainability has been going through a transition period. To begin the new phase, two new director’s positions will be added.

“Our major push up until now was letting people know what sustainability is and how it can improve their quality of life,” said Williams. “Now people have bought in to the idea and they are looking to us as a resource.”

One of the transitional goals for the Office of Sustainability is to support the community with different outreach projects.

Students from building science and interior design programs with sustainability minors are interested in starting a community project to assist low income housing residents. Applying their energy efficiency expertise, they want to help people find economic relief from high energy bills.

In addition to outreach projects, the Office of Sustainability welcomes all community members to any of their guest lectures, symposiums or open forums.

When trying to get people on board with living sustainable lifestyle, Williams said they ask them to consider five things. Where their water, food, shelter and energy come from are the first things to consider. And also, what transportation methods they use.

The community has made some good steps in the right direction according to Williams.

Ever tried one of Amsterdam Café’s delicious, seasonal salads? All of Chef David Bancroft’s lettuce comes from Oakview farms in Wetumpka. Being able to pinpoint the source of food is a fun way to be sustainable.

Using Toomer’s 10 bus service is a great way to cut down on fossil fuel emissions. Instead of cranking up the car to go downtown Friday night, hop on the bus and be dropped off curbside.

“It’s tough to get started,” said Williams. “But once you start making those questions about how your actions affect the world you want to see, that’s the first strong step in the right direction.”