What makes Auburn, Auburn
Auburn students have congregated in this small southern town from all over the world. Of course, students share the university, but Auburn has unique qualities that separate it from the rest. There are plenty of academic reasons Auburn is the number one university in Alabama, according to Forbes, but the traditions students practice are what genuinely make Auburn -- Auburn. Sharing these traditions with fellow Auburn students makes for a more inclusive and passionate environment that so many call home.
Auburn has many traditions that date back to the beginning of the university. Many of these traditions students learn at Camp War Eagle as incoming freshmen, and later get to experience it themselves as Auburn students. When asked about their favorite Auburn tradition, Harrison Tarr, a freshman majoring in Journalism says, “I love the pre-game eagle flight.” This notorious flight has been associated with Auburn University’s football program for more than a century. In this Auburn tradition, the Auburn eagle flies around Jordan-Hare Stadium while fans yell a long drawn out “War Eagle, HEY!” It is one of Auburn’s most cherished traditions, and Harrison agrees, “The pregame flight will give chills every time.”
Tiger Walk is one of Auburn’s most coveted game day traditions. The Auburn family continues a tradition that started in the 1960’s to create a game day atmosphere unlike any other. Thousands of Auburn fans line up two hours before a game anticipating the chance to cheer on the team in hopes for a win inside Jordan-Hare. After the beloved Tiger Walk, you can catch Auburn fans enjoying a delicious cup of the infamous Toomer’s Lemonade. Toomer’s Corner is one of the most iconic street fronts in the south and the only place to get the mouthwatering taste of one of Auburn’s more tasteful traditions. After the game, Auburn will celebrate a victory in such a way that has turned heads since its origin. Sheldon Toomer was most notably the owner of Toomer’s Drugstore, but also the only telegraph in the city. When the transmitter would receive a victorious result from the away game, Toomer would run to the oak trees in the town and scatter the news in their branches. This is the beginning of Auburn’s most glorious, and arguably famous tradition -- rolling the trees at Toomer’s Corner. After a gameday triumph, the town is painted in white disguised as a winter wonderland to celebrate an Auburn victory.
Other traditions include the old lathe, which origins all the way back to the Civil War. The legend states whether or not a student will find their true love at Auburn. The tradition is that Auburn couples kiss beside the lathe to test if the wheel turns. If the wheel turns, the relationship is not meant to be. However, because Auburn men and women are always true and faithful, the lathe has remained still since its arrival to the Plains. Another tradition many students do not tip-toe around is the seal in front of Langdon Hall. The seal is not taken lightly and no matter the busy rush between classes, you will never catch an Auburn student stepping on the Auburn monument. Maddie Joiner, a freshman, says “I love the idea of the seal. It’s a fun tradition that everyone who is a student at Auburn follows.” The myth that goes with the tradition states that whoever steps on it will not graduate and will be cursed to seven generations of Alabama fans. Joiner says, “It’s a way to unite all students, and it’s also an incentive to graduate so you can finally come back to Auburn and step on the seal.”
Among these Auburn traditions, Auburn people will substitute a more common greeting “hello” with the unique phrase “War Eagle” to one another. This is Auburn’s most commonly practiced tradition. Justin Fung, majoring in Civil Engineering says, “I think that Auburn’s traditions are a very neat piece of history.” These traditions bring together Auburn students, faculty, and alumni around Auburn. Harrison goes on to say, “Everyone here at Auburn seems to be genuinely happy and welcoming. I love the small town feel despite being a big school, and it’s traditions that come along with it. War Eagle!”