A Day is Auburn University’s annual spring football game! It is a time for fans near and far to come and get a glimpse of what the next season may look like.
A Day ticket prices are typically around $5 for the general public allowing anyone and everyone to come and take part in the fun day.
Sticking with tradition on this day our players still enter the stadium through Tiger Walk, the eagle will do its traditional pre-game flight, and Aubie and the cheerleaders are on the sidelines getting the crowd fired up.
After the game, the grounds crew works quickly to line the field with tables where just about every sports team on campus will sit to sign autographs and take pictures with fans!
Fans are all allowed to bring one item in to get signed and are able to get up close and personal with their favorite team members.
It really is such a special day for Auburn athletes and fans to come together and experience a fun Auburn tradition together!
“And because Auburn men and women believe in these things, I believe in Auburn and love it.”
Auburn, Alabama and Auburn University were not even on my radar until the end of my junior year of high school. I was looking at schools outside of Texas, but not in Alabama. My parents graciously took me on a college road trip after picking me up from summer camp before senior year. It was evening when we reached Auburn, and the sun had almost set. I vividly remember the moments I saw the Welcome to Auburn sign and then the library off of College Street. Something inside me stirred.
The next morning, we woke up and headed to campus for a tour. The tour confirmed what I had already started to feel the night before. Auburn was where I was meant to be. I felt it. I knew it in my heart. I was 100% certain. I didn’t say anything to my parents until after the tour, but once it was over I let them know that this was the school for me. I think they were shocked that I was so certain. We had visited over 10 schools during my high school years. My search was finally over.
I met my best friends at Auburn. I grew up. I learned what it was like to be far away from home and not feel homesick, but at the same time develop a greater appreciation for my family. The sense of community at Auburn is so strong and the bond created was so deep that I truly feel like a part of myself remains in Auburn. Auburn is a special place and what they say is true: “You never really leave Auburn, because Auburn never leaves you”.
Over the past seven months, some of our admissions advisors have shared the first seven stanzas of the Auburn Creed with you and what they mean to us. Let’s recap:
The Auburn Creed, handwritten in 1943 by George Petrie
George Petrie not only wrote the Auburn Creed but was also Auburn’s first football coach and a faculty member for almost 55 years. This creed, written in 1943, is timeless and truly embodies the Auburn spirit. Mr. Petrie believed in Auburn then and I believe in it today. I am proud to be a member of the Auburn family and will forever strive to carry the values of the creed with me wherever I go.
Located at 601 Heisman Drive, Auburn’s Recreation and Wellness Center (RWC) provides championship-level fitness and recreation activities for all University students, faculty, and staff. This space offers opportunities for Auburn’s 30,000+ students to live out the fourth line of The Auburn Creed each and every day: “I believe in a sound mind, in a sound body and a spirit that is not afraid, and in clean sports that develop these qualities.”
Since its opening in August 2013, the Recreation and Wellness Center has been a highlight of students’ experience here at Auburn. On a normal day, approximately 4,000 students, faculty, and staff visit the RWC. Students receive membership to the RWC at no additional cost during their undergraduate career at Auburn. Immediately upon entering the facility, guests are welcomed by a friendly staff and state-of-the-art design encompassing 240,000 square feet. The most striking feature you notice when arriving at the RWC is a 1/3-mile indoor track with a corkscrew design (the longest of its kind when constructed) available for walkers and runners alike. This, however, is just the beginning – fitness opportunities abound in every corner of the facility and beyond!
Regardless of the type of recreation and fitness activities you enjoy, there is truly something for everyone. Here are some of the highlights of the RWC:
130 pieces of cardio equipment
Weight training areas
Group fitness spaces for classes on yoga, cycling, barre, HIIT, Zumba, and many more!
Game room featuring foosball and table tennis
Personal Training Studio
Eight regulation-sized basketball courts
Multi-purpose courts for soccer, badminton, and volleyball
Racquetball courts
A wide array of workout equipment that is replaced every 4 years; each Auburn student will have brand new fitness equipment during their time on the Plains
PGA Tour Golf Simulator with 40+ courses from across the world (my favorite stop in the RWC!)
Outdoor leisure pool
A tiger-paw shaped hot tub
Club and intramural sports are also a great way to participate in competitive activities and meet students from across campus. Team sports include basketball, flag football, soccer, kickball, and volleyball. Golf, tennis, and swimming are offered as individual sports as well. No matter your skill level, all students are welcome to compete in intramural sports leagues! Auburn has over 20 club sports teams that compete against other colleges and schools across the country. Some club sports include ultimate Frisbee, rugby, and lacrosse. RWC Connect is a great way to learn about upcoming group fitness classes and events, as well as to join intramural and club sports teams: https://recreation.auburn.edu/.
Auburn’s brand new SportsPlex , which will re-open this fall, is an exciting new addition to the RWC. This project has been years in the making, and will serve over 10,000 students, faculty, and staff who participate in intramural and club sports each year. Check out a drone tour of the new facility below:
For those with a desire to explore the great outdoors, Auburn Outdoors is the place for you! Whether you are a seasoned adventurer or just beginning your journey, Auburn Outdoors provides ample opportunities for students to explore Auburn and surrounding areas. In the RWC, two 50-ft rock-climbing towers and a bouldering cave lets members develop their climbing skills without ever leaving campus. Auburn Outdoors also provides camping and water equipment rentals at daily, weekend, and weekly rates for students wanting to get gear for an affordable getaway. The Auburn Outdoor Bike Shop in the RWC is a one stop shop for all your bicycle rental and repair needs, as well as free resources to help you prepare for your next biking adventure!
With all these features and so much more, it is easy to see why Men’s Health named the RWC as one of the “Coolest College Recreation Centers in America.” Athletic Business has also recognized the center with its “Facilities of Merit Award.” In 2016 and 2017, Auburn’s RWC was named as the top recreation center in the entire country; back-to-back national championships, if you will. I have no doubt that once you visit the Recreation and Wellness Center for the first time, you will see why this location is one of the best of its kind in the entire country.
Interested in learning more? Make sure to follow the RWC on Instagram (@auburncampusrec) and like their page on Facebook (Auburn University Campus Recreation). Also make sure to check out their “Be Well” blog for more information on fitness, outdoor life, and wellness tips here: https://www.bewellauburn.com/.
While not currently open for in-person tours, the RWC staff has created a great virtual tour to allow you to get a better sense of all that the facility has to offer. They look forward to your visit this fall!
If you’re anything like me, coming to college is a little scary and outside of your comfort zone. Meeting new people, making friends, and navigating college classes are all things you hope to conquer during your freshman year. Luckily, Auburn offers Learning Communities which help create a smooth transition to college.
What is a Learning Community?
A Learning Community is a group of about 20 other Auburn freshmen who are grouped together based on either a common interest or major. The “A Sound Mind” Learning Community focuses on mental health and wellness. The “Global Ambassadors” Learning Community is designed for students who are interested in exploring other cultures. There are also Learning Communities specific to the different colleges/schools on campus such as the “Hello Harbert” for business majors and the “Engineered for Success” for our future engineers. You can view a full list of Learning Communities here.
Within your Learning Community, you’ll be placed into one First Year Seminar class based on the theme of your Learning Community. For example, the “A Sound Mind” Learning Community will take a class on how to manage stress and practice self-care. The major-specific Learning Communities will explore career options within their major and create connections with faculty, staff, and alumni within the program. In addition to the FYS class, you’ll also be placed into core classes with your Learning Community.
Why join a Learning Community?
Learning Communities are a great way to meet people! You’ll automatically have 3-4 classes with the people in your Learning Community during both semesters of your freshman year, so you will have at least 20 familiar faces in class. This is such a big benefit if you’re coming from out of state or just don’t know a lot of people at Auburn. I was in a Learning Community, and I became great friends with several of the students in my group. We were able to sit next to each other in class and study together outside of class.
You’re also going to be pre-registered for the core classes that are connected with your Learning Community. This is so helpful when you’re signing up for classes at Camp War Eagle because you’re able to build your schedule around the classes already on your schedule through your Learning Community. It takes away some of the stress of registering for classes for the first time!
Sign me up! Ready to join? Accepted students can fill out an application in AU Access. You can find more information on our website at this link.
Who wants to live on campus?! At Auburn University, about 4,800 students live on campus in 30 residence halls spread out in 5 different neighborhoods. Every dorm has at least 1 Resident Assistant, which is an upperclassman who helps create a warm, welcoming, and safe living environment. While it is optional for students, including freshmen, to living on campus, we always encourage students to live in the dorms their first year. We suggest this because it’s a great way to feel connected to campus, meet new people, and get involved! Living on campus as a freshman tends to be the culture at Auburn. As students become upperclassmen, they typically move off campus. That’s what I did and I’m so glad I got both experiences! I lived in the Quad my freshman year, and I lived in the Village my sophomore year. Below, I’ll detail the different on-campus neighborhoods where students can live.
The Hill and the Quad are very popular options for incoming freshmen. Rooms in both the Quad and the Hill are configured as suites with two double-occupancy rooms connected by a bathroom (4 people per bathroom). There are a limited number of single rooms available. Each room is furnished with an extra-long bunkable twin bed, desk and chair, and chest of drawers.
In the Quad, there are 2 all-female dorms with the rest being co-ed. In the Hill, there is 1 all-male dorm, 1 all-female dorm, and the rest are co-ed. The Quad houses about 1,000 and is located in the heart of campus. The Hill is home to about 730 students and is located off West Samford Avenue, which is about a 5-10 minute walk to the Student Center and main classroom buildings.
Little Hall in the Quad
The Hill
Cambridge Hall is a co-ed dorm and has 5 floors of double occupancy rooms with a shared bathroom and in-room sink. Each room is furnished with an extra-long (80″), bunkable twin bed, desk and chair, and chest of drawers for each resident. Located next to the Auburn University Hotel and Conference Center, Cambridge Hall is home to about 300 students. Similar to the Hill, Cambridge is also about a 10 minute walk to the Student Center and other buildings.
Cambridge Residence Hall
The Village and South Donahue are the apartment style living options on campus and are each about a 10–15-minute walk to the heart of campus. The Village is home to about 1,500 students and South Donahue houses about 400 students. While South Donahue is co-ed, the Village has 4 all-female dorms and 4 co-ed dorms. The Village is also where sorority housing is located and normally members have an opportunity to live on the hall their sophomore year. Most Village suites are configured with four single bedrooms, two bathrooms and a common living/dining area. There are a limited number of suites with three single bedrooms with a bathroom or two single bedrooms with a bathroom. Each bedroom is furnished with an extra-long (80″) twin bed, desk and chair, chest of drawers, and open closet. The living/dining areas are furnished with a sofa and side chair, dining table with two chairs, microwave, refrigerator, sink, and counter and cabinet space.
The Village
In South Donahue, most suites include two bedrooms with a private bathroom and a shared living room and kitchenette. There are also a limited number of one bedroom/one-bathroom suites and four bedroom/two bathroom suites. South Donahue is the newest residence hall and definitely the fanciest on-campus living option. Compared to a twin extra-long bunkbed, each bedroom is furnished with a queen-sized bed, desk and chair, chest of drawers, and open closet. The living room/common area is furnished with a sofa and side chair, entertainment unit, a wall-mounted 42” flat screen TV, and a quartz counter with two chairs (or a table and two chairs in ADA units). The kitchen area includes a microwave, refrigerator, sink, cabinet space, and a front-loading, high-efficiency washer and dryer unit.
South Donahue
To live on-campus, students must apply separately through University Housing. Also, students must be accepted for admissions before they can apply for on-campus housing. For that reason, we encourage students to apply for admissions early. Once accepted, students receive more information to their Tigermail (Auburn email) about applying for housing. For step-by-step instructions, please click here.
For information about rental rates, please click here.
University Housing is offering residence hall tours Monday-Friday. To register for a housing tour, please click here.
For more information about living on-campus, the housing application process, room selection, room dimensions, design inspiration and more, please visit www.auburn.edu/housing or contact University Housing at housing@auburn.edu or 334-844-4580. Also, follow University Housing on Instagram @ housingatau.
Opelika is the sweet town that connects to our beautiful Auburn, AL. The town is made up of more 30,000 residents who LOVE their town! From sweet treats at O-Town Ice Cream to the community traditions by the railroad tracks, this town has it all!
Here is my guide to OPELIKA!
The Eats
Café One Twenty Three
If you are looking for fine dining and southern cooking, Café One Twenty Three is for you! This restaurant is located in historic downtown Opelika and has a cozy, at-home atmosphere. Whether you are looking for a delicious pork chop, juicy steak, or lobster, shrimp and grits, you are going to leave full and happy!
Zazu is another fine dining experience with an eclectic, industrial feel. This restaurant is also located in historic downtown Opelika. They pride themselves on making everything from scratch and buying produce from local farms as best they can. Make sure you try the Korean BBQ Spring Rolls the next time you stop by!
Another historic downtown favorite has to be Irish Bread Pub. IBP has the classic Irish, English and American pub favorites on the menu to enjoy. My personal favorite is the Chicken & Chips! Not only is the food great, but the environment is even better. This is the place to just hangout and enjoy the community!
Now if you are looking for something sweet, you have to head over to O-Town Ice Cream. Located on 2nd Ave, O-Town has all sorts of sweets to satisfy your cravings. You can stop by in the morning and pick up one of their delicious biscuits or cinnamon rolls to start your day. Or you may choose to end it with a scoop of one of their homemade ice creams named after people and places in Opelika. Either way you cannot miss this Opelika favorite!
Now Side Track Coffee is a spot you can’t miss. This coffee shop has a cool, minimalist atmosphere where you can study, meet with friends, or just grab a quick cup of coffee when you’re on the go. The coffee is amazing and the service hospitable, but what makes this location so unique is you choose your price. You pay what you can pay.
Now we have talked about Mama Mocha’s on this blog before! Our coffee shop round up described the unique and eclectic feel of the Mama Mocha’s brand. Now the Opelika Mama Mocha’s shop and roastery located in downtown Opelika on 1st avenue has that same unique feel. This spot has amazing coffee, breakfast, and a welcome-to-all environment.
https://mamamocha.com/
The Traditions
Opelika Songwriters Festival
The Opelika Songwriters Festival is a new tradition here in Opelika, but it is a great one! This festival is co-produced by The Sound Wall and Russell Carter Artist Management and takes place all over town. Opelika venues and locations are transformed into music filled spaces. You are able to enjoy your favorite Opelika hotspot while experiencing local artists and artists from all over. Unfortunately the 2020 OSF was cancelled due to COVID, but here’s to 2021!
https://www.opelikasongwritersfestival.com/
On The Tracks
There is no better way to bring a community together except through food, live music and drinks! Opelika holds this biannual event to raise money and promote local businesses in the area. You able to walk through downtown while eating and drinking from Opelika favorites!
My personal favorite tradition held in Opelika has to be Christmas in a Railroad Town. This event is perfect for everyone! You can shop at the local businesses, try one of the holiday activities, enjoy the live music, say hi to Santa, and of course grab a sweet holiday treat. This event typically takes place right before Christmas Break, so make sure you stop by before heading home for the holidays!
“I believe in my Country, because it is a land of freedom and because it is my own home, and that I can best serve that country by “doing justly, loving mercy, and walking humbly with my God.”
Much like the fifth line of the Auburn Creed, the seventh line doesn’t always get as much attention as other parts. It is still an important piece of the Creed as it acknowledges our privileges and calls us to action.
In a time of social unrest, a pandemic, and perhaps the most contentious presidential election we’ve ever seen, I believe this section of the Auburn Creed is a call to those of us who love Auburn to be an example. We have so many freedoms in America and an opportunity to make things better for future generations. The way that we can do so is by “doing justly, loving mercy, and walking humbly with my God.” To me, this means doing the right thing.
The world looks a lot different than it did when George Petrie first penned the Auburn Creed, but there is still work to do. At Auburn, we’re doing all we can to help lead the charge.
You made it! You have graduated from the best university in the Nation (that’s what we believe, anyway) and you’re looking forward to life after Auburn. If you are anything like 18 year old me, you have planned the next four years of your life in college, and they will be epic, but after graduation you do not have that clear vision yet. That’s ok! I went ahead and talked to some Alumni for you. Here’s what their lives are like now and it sounds pretty sweet to me.
Explore
Lauren had two goals after she graduated: get into a great Physical Therapy Program and travel as much as possible. She knew that her studies would take much of her time, as they should, so she decided to take 2 semesters off and travel. Her bucket list included places from Yellowstone National Park to New York City, and everything in-between. She even had some dreams of roaming the streets in Paris and Rome. So 2 weeks after graduation, she packed her bags and headed to Hartsfield-Jackson Airport in Atlanta, Georgia and picked the first flight out of the South. She ended up in Jackson, Wyoming and enjoyed some fresh air before heading down to San Francisco. Being the true Auburn fan she is, always donning something AU, she would often hear a “War Eagle” in the airports. She said the strangest place she met an Auburn Alumni at was on a flight to London; their seats were next to each other.
Be Intentional
When you come through Camp War Eagle as a freshman, you will meet Melissa Dunn. I love sharing her story because she truly is an Auburn Woman. Melissa transferred to Auburn University as a junior and later graduated with an Elementary Education degree. She never pursed a teaching position, because her heart was with college students. She enrolled at Auburn for Graduate School and received her Master of Education (Higher Education Administration) the Summer of 2000. Before graduation, she was offered a full-time position in the Admission Office at Auburn as an Admissions Advisor. This was not Melissa’s first experience with this office, as she was a Student Recruiter during her Undergraduate studies.
Her path to her current position as Assistant Director of Orientation Programs is a unique one. Her former advisor when she was a student, Mark Armstrong, moved to First Year Experience (FYE) and had an opening in that office that he wanted Melissa in. She started working during the Summer with Freshman Orientation and, in August 2002, she was offered a full-time position in FYE and has made it her home ever since. March 1st will be 21 years working for Auburn as a Professional, and 25 years if you count her undergraduate years as a student worker. That is a quarter of a century serving the University that she loves. This is Melissa’s life after Auburn — more AUBURN!
*chef’s kiss*
Put in Hard Work
Luke is a COVID-19 graduate. He completed his senior year online and graduated in August of 2020. He’s the most recent graduate of Auburn in this post, and is giving some insight of what life looks like for someone who started his professional career during a global pandemic. In Spring 2019, Luke was offered a job with one of the world’s largest companies– AMAZON. He was going to be a district Shift Manager in Tampa, Florida, which happens to be one of the largest Amazon Fulfillment Centers in the United States. When graduation rolled around, he loaded up his U-Haul and headed to the Sunshine State. While he loves his job, it has really pushed him in ways he did not imagine. While at Auburn, one of his courses covered the topics of conflict management and accident prevention in the work place. On an average day, he manages 80+ employees, so the knowledge and training from that class has prepared him for his daily duties in being a manager in a shipping facility. One of his largest take-aways from attending Auburn University is the importance of community. Luke said, “Auburn values individuals. Freshman to Senior, Faculty to the President, each one of us was a working piece into keeping that institution alive. This mindset is what I live by everyday at work, because if one person falls behind, the entire facility falls behind.”
So, whether you are ready to jet off after graduation, find your dream job, or give back to the University you love, Auburn will always be that foundation for you. You’ll want to come back and enjoy those days in the stadium, sit on Samford Lawn, or grab lemonade downtown, because it’s who we are. We’re the Auburn Family and that’s life after Auburn.
There are many different reasons why Auburn is incredibly special, why so many people love Auburn to their core, and why people continue to discover this gem of a college town. There’s nothing quite like experiencing Auburn for yourself. What I wouldn’t give to experience Auburn for the very first time again! Whether it’s your first time in Auburn or you’ve grown up an Auburn fan, hopefully these hidden – and some not so hidden – gems will offer you something new to discover during your next trip to the Loveliest Village on the Plains.
Listen…
to the music.
Be sure to turn off your satellite radio and tune into WEGL 91.9 FM – Auburn’s student led radio station. You’ll hear a variety of music, sports, and talk radio from Auburn’s own student DJs.
While the Jule Collins Smith Museum of Fine Arts is not hidden, there are many hidden gems inside the museum walls. Be sure to check out the Auburn Oak Bowl by master wood turner Matt Moulthrop – a piece turned from the famous Toomer’s Oaks, the Audubon collection, and Out of the Box – an impressive outdoor sculpture exhibition.
Lovelace Hall of Honor – inspiring the avid Auburn fan and new visitors alike. If you’re hoping to understand why Auburn people love Auburn so much, the Lovelace Hall of Honor features exciting moments in Auburn sports history showcasing what it’s like to be part of the Auburn family.
Kreher Preserve and Nature Center offers six+ miles of hiking and trail running, butterfly and sensory gardens, and a nature playground for the kiddos.
We’ll have another post coming soon with even more information about getting outside and exploring Auburn and the surrounding area!
Eat…
to your heart’s content.
After all of your exploring, you may find yourself hungry. There are many articles about the top dishes and restaurants in town, but you may enjoy finding a treat off of the beaten path.
If you’re looking for a “taste of Auburn”, be sure to check out The Market at Ag Heritage Park – an open air farmer’s market with fresh, local fruits and vegetables, honey, soaps, and goat cheese galore.
For something more substantial, you may want to check out the Meats Lab Retail Sales Room. The Meats Lab offers a wide variety of fresh beef, pork, and sausages. The prices are pretty tasty too!
It is often said that women love him, children adore him, and men want to be him.
Meet our beloved mascot, Aubie the Tiger.
Aubie is a nine-time UCA National Champion, and the first mascot to be inducted into the Mascot Hall of Fame back in 2006. Aubie supports all Auburn University athletic teams and can be spotted on campus and in the community. Aubie is known for his charming good looks and bold antics, and is referred to as “the living spirit of Auburn”.
Photo by Robert Adams/The Birmingham News found in AL.com’s article here
Aubie actually started out as a cartoon character that first appeared on a football program cover on October 3, 1959. He appeared on programs over the years and came to life for the first time on February 28, 1979 at the SEC basketball tournament. You can learn more about the history of Aubie here.
Watch this highlight video from 2018-2019 to see Aubie in action:
Aubie 2018-2019 Highlights
Wondering what Aubie is up to today?! Follow Aubie on Instagram or Twitter: @AubietheTiger01
