Category: Auburn Creed

“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:

1. I believe that this is a practical world and that I can count only on what I earn. Therefore, I believe in work, hard work.
2. I believe in education, which gives me the knowledge to work wisely and trains my mind and my hands to work skillfully.
3. I believe in honesty and truthfulness, without which I cannot win the respect and confidence of my fellow men.
4. 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.
5. I believe in obedience to law because it protects the rights of all.
6. I believe in the human touch, which cultivates sympathy with my fellow men and mutual helpfulness and brings happiness for all.
7. 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.”

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.

“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.

“I believe in the human touch, which cultivates sympathy with my fellow men and mutual helpfulness and brings happiness for all.”

The Auburn Family has always believed in community, in supporting our fellow man, and in mutual helpfulness. “Human touch” is the way we approach everyone we face, it’s a friendly way of treating people, and it’s something that can be felt anytime you encounter the Auburn Family.

At some point we’ve all heard the quote:

“I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” – Maya Angelou

When I think about this line of our creed, this quote always comes to mind. When you’re a part of the Auburn family, you know what it means to reach out in support of your fellow man. It doesn’t always matter what you say or what you do, but how you treat people. When you offer sympathy and helpfulness, you’re treating people well. When you treat people well, you’re offering that human touch that’s so meaningful to our community.

Reading part six of the creed, it’s easy to read “human touch” as “physical touch” but it means so much more than that. Especially now when physical touch is something that is more scarce than usual. In 2020, human touch became more important than ever as our physical touch was limited. The way we treated each other required more intentionality as the world around us changed. 

When George Petrie wrote our Creed in 1943, he probably didn’t imagine a world where handshakes, hugs, high-fives, and physical touch would be put on hold for a while. He probably didn’t imagine not being able to gather in groups or attend events in full capacity. But even without these things, we watched as the Auburn Family lived this line of the creed. Through distance and quarantine, we saw people maintain sympathy and helpfulness. From the support of our frontline workers to students connecting with one another through Zoom, human touch was something that helped us through these times. We saw professors helping care for students in new ways. We witnessed first-hand the Auburn Family continue to show sympathy and helpfulness to their fellow man. We know that we can accomplish more together than we can apart, and we know that we are happier together.

Here’s to continuing to offer the human touch to our fellow man, however that looks in 2021 and beyond.

Here at Auburn, we love the Auburn Creed. It embodies the values we hold dear and describes who we strive to be. In Auburn, Alabama, we see the Creed everywhere. Classic lines such as “I believe in work, hard work” are worn on t-shirts, “I believe in the human touch” is commonly quoted, there are health and wellness classes at Auburn named after the line “I believe in a sound mind, in a sound body,” and hype videos at football games often contain the line “a spirit that is not afraid.” You can’t go far on campus without finding a trace of the creed. However, there’s one line that often goes unnoticed. 

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“I believe in obedience to law because it protects the rights of all.”

This is a line that we don’t often quote or think about, but it’s an important one. As Auburn men and women, we believe in the rights of all being protected. George Petrie wrote the Creed in 1943, and it’s evident that the values and ideas that he wrote about have transcended the test of time. Today in Auburn in 2021, this line holds just as much relevance and importance as it did in 1943.

As the Auburn family, we have a responsibility to adhere to the guidelines set in place for us for our own protection and safety. Obeying the law means not only doing so for ourselves but for the safety of those around us. We strive to do what is best to protect the rights for all the members of our family.

I’m not even sure I knew this line existed until the summer before my senior year of college. It was during Panhellenic Recruitment. I was driving through campus after a long day, and I was the only car in sight. As I turned right at a stop sign on campus, I was waved down by a police officer on a bicycle. That’s right- I was pulled over by a bike cop.

He approached my car and told me that he pulled me over because I didn’t come to a complete stop at the stop sign. He asked me what a stop sign indicated, and of course I answered, “to stop.”  However, his next question caught me off guard. “What’s the fifth line of the Auburn creed?”

I had no idea, and when I told him I wasn’t sure, all he said was “You might want to look into that. There’s some good stuff in there.”

Luckily, he didn’t give me a ticket. I returned home and looked up the creed to find out just how clever this police officer was. As funny as this incident is looking back, I’ve never forgotten the fifth line of the Auburn Creed.

Next time you’re driving around campus, don’t forget to stop at stop signs!

By Lenzy Borden

“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.”

The Auburn Creed embodies the Auburn Spirit in every way. In stanza 4, we see how it represents the importance of holistic health for our students, faculty, and staff. We, as the Auburn Family, believe that in order to be the best that you can be, you have to have a sound mind, sound body, and a spirit that is not afraid; so, I want to share with you a few opportunities offered at Auburn University to allow you to create yourself in the best way possible.

A Sound Mind – Student Counseling & Psychological Services

Student Affairs has brought to campus a way for students to feel supported through every step of the college experience. Through Student Counseling and Psychological Services, students are able to connect with Counseling professionals to better strengthen their mental health. These meetings can range from one-on-one, to group self-help goal oriented sessions. They are ready to discuss all steps of life, whether you are facing test anxiety, relationship issues, the adjustments to college, and many more. You can also get some time with our Therapy Dogs, Dr. Moose & Dr. Nessie.

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a sound body – recreation & wellness center and the AU Medical Clinic

Following the same theme, Auburn University has dedicated not one, but two, buildings on campus devoted to the physical health of our students. The Campus Recreation & Wellness Center (or “The Rec”), is our state of the art facility for all things fitness. Here, you can find everything under the sun when it comes to “working out”. We have a 1/4 mile indoor track, a pool, a hot tub, 2 rock climbing walls, fitness classes, basketball and volleyball courts, and all of the necessary equipment to workout. The membership cost is included in a student’s fees, so you can access the Rec as much as you would like during your time at Auburn.

The Medical Clinic is one of the best college health centers in the country. This building is home to some of the greatest medical staff, ready to perform a wide range of medical health services that you may need. The Med Clinic offers services in primary care, urgent care, women’s health, lab work, x-rays, and chiropractic care; just to name a few. Whether you moved 2 or 20 hours from home, the Medical Clinic on campus will provide you with a comfortable doctors visit to get you back on track.

A spirit that is not afraid – Challenge yourself to be involved

Are you ready to push yourself to new measure, redefine who you are, and make those everlasting connections? If so, you have over 500 student organizations to choose from. If you loved your time in your high school’s Student Government Association, you can join Auburn’s once you get here. Want to learn a Foreign Language? There are 6 to choose from; join one or join them all! You have the ability to be a part of some of the best student organizations in the country and with so many to choose from, you cannot go wrong. Our organizations are all built on the foundations of knowledge, skill, and connection through community. Want to learn more of what we have to offer? Click the picture above to check them out!

War Eagle!

By RahRah White

“I believe in honesty and truthfulness, without which I cannot
win the respect and confidence of my fellow men”

Being a part of the Auburn family is more than just saying it. Being part of the Auburn family is more than cheering student athletes on during sporting events. Being a part of the Auburn family is more than going to class. Being a part of the Auburn family is being honest and truthful not only with others, but with yourself as well. Being a part of the Auburn family is having the respect of my fellow men. At times it may be hard to stay truthful and honest, but at the end of the day you will be respected more for being truthful. These are a few things that Auburn is built on and we still stand firm on these beliefs today. When others have confidence in you, they can see something in you that you may or may not be able to see in yourself. Uplifting others and being truthful while doing so can be rewarding in many ways. That is one of the many reasons to be a part of the Auburn Family.

Welcome to the second part of The Auburn Creed series! As Jeremy so perfectly described in a previous post, the Creed is a set of ideals that we, in the Auburn Family, all try to live by. While I appreciate The Auburn Creed in its entirety, I connect most strongly to the second stanza:

“I believe in education, which gives me the knowledge to work wisely and trains my mind and my hands to work skillfully.”

Growing up, I was never the kid you would find running around on any athletic field winning MVP awards. True story: I was given the “Best Effort” award when I played little league soccer in the third grade. When I discovered this award in a childhood scrapbook many years later, I was: 1) mortified, and 2) entirely convinced that my coaches just scrambled to give me an award that year. “Best Effort” seems like a stretch considering you would most regularly find me, the goalie, daydreaming about doing literally anything other than exerting energy on the soccer field while the offense stayed busy on the other side of the field scoring points. I was what you would describe as an “indoorsy” kid (and now I’m just an “indoorsy” adult). I found solace in the classroom. It’s where I was most comfortable and where I put in my best effort. So from a very traditional sense, the in-class educational experience is where I thrived growing up.

Looking back on my time as an undergraduate student, I’m grateful that Auburn University provided with me endless opportunities to grow as a person and a life-long learner. I want to tell you about three of those opportunities now:

1. Member of the Auburn University Marching Band – I encourage you to check out a previous post about the Auburn University Marching Band written by my good friend and colleague, Andrew McGill. Andrew and I were both freshmen in the AUMB back in 2009. He does such a good job of describing the traditions, responsibilities, and magical moments that come with being in the AUMB. For me, this four-year experience taught me what it truly means to be a team player. I was one member of 380, but we could only perform at our best as a group if every single member put their best effort into every practice, every performance, every moment. It taught me the importance of being responsible and punctual: “If you’re early, you’re on time. If you’re on time, you’re late. If you’re late, we’ve got a problem.” It taught me how to enjoy the fruits of our labor and how to support the Auburn Tigers win, lose, or draw. What I wouldn’t give to run out of the tunnel for a pregame performance one more time…
2. Undergraduate Research Assistant at the Juvenile Delinquency Laboratory – For six semesters during my last two years as an undergraduate student, I was a research assistant in the Juvenile Delinquency Laboratory at the Mount Meigs campus. This opportunity gave me the hands-on experience to apply what I was learning as a psychology and sociology double major in a real-world setting. It was where I was introduced to working with and helping a population of young adults who had experienced trauma, violence, and victimization at young ages. It was where I began to learn about our judicial system, the systemic issues and inequities in our country, and my own (now deep-seated) commitment to social justice.
3. Peer Advisor in the Department of Psychology – Let me let you in on a little secret. I loved Auburn so much and was so unsure of what I wanted to do after graduation that I took what I like to call – a victory lap. Otherwise known as a fifth year. During this second senior year, I had the privilege of being a Peer Advisor for the Department of Psychology. Among other things, I got to work with our incoming freshmen during their academic advising sessions of Camp War Eagle one summer. This opportunity taught me that my love for Auburn and my love for helping others could come together as a career. This experience led me to a graduate assistantship in the Office of Undergraduate Admissions and now to my job as an Admissions Advisor. I continue to do what I love on a daily basis – connecting with prospective students and helping them learn about all of the opportunities available to them at Auburn so that they may grow and evolve as life-long learners themselves.

I am a two-time alumna of Auburn University and I’m back in school for a third round now. I don’t take any moment of learning and growth that I’ve had at Auburn for granted. A big reason why is because of my grandfather. He was born and raised on a dairy farm in a small farming community in South Carolina. He dropped out of school at a young age to work on the farm to help provide for his mother and many brothers and sisters after his father’s death. Though not formally educated, he was one of the most educated people I have ever known. He knew how to fix anything. He would lend a helping hand to those he loved without hesitation. He worked hard until the day he died my senior year at Auburn. He was the embodiment of the Auburn Creed. Every time we spoke on the phone from the time I was in kindergarten throughout college, he would always start off by asking, “How’s school going?” I got to have the formal education that he didn’t. His hard work and sacrifices and that of all others that came before me have provided me with the opportunity to experience Auburn University to its fullest.

So I challenge all of you reading this today to seek out a variety of educational experiences during your time at Auburn University. Don’t be like me as a third grade soccer player and instead earn that “Best Effort” award both inside and outside of the classroom. Don’t take any moment for granted. And be on the lookout for the next part of The Auburn Creed series coming soon!

George Petrie was a historian who was also a professor and administrator at Auburn. He also was the first football coach. After retiring from Auburn, he wrote the Auburn Creed. The Auburn Creed details what it means to truly be an Auburn Tiger. As members of the Auburn Family, we always strive to achieve these ideals.

“I believe that this is a practical world and that I can count only on what I earn. Therefore, I believe in work, hard work.”

The opening line of the Auburn Creed is my favorite part of the Creed. Petrie expressed the mindset that nothing is given and that you have to work for everything you get. This applies for both the grades we earn in the classroom and in our careers. Here at Auburn, we believe in holding each other accountable for our actions. We do this because the road to success is difficult and filled with obstacles. We can overcome these challenges by living this first part of the Creed and doing work, hard work.

War Eagle!

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