If you were in Auburn this past weekend, you probably saw a few more pick-up trucks, a few more students in their redneck best and a few more cases of beer (in the morning hours, at that!). I’m sure you wondered what had gotten into these students? Oh, they were just participating in what The Huffington Post calls one of the craziest college parties in the country– the Alpha Psi Rodeo.
Photo used from Auburn Family social media network.
I’m sure you thought that your generation of Auburn students knew how to have the most fun, but these days Auburn students are pulling out all the stops. And getting nationally recognized for it, at that!
Alpha Psi, a veterinary fraternity on campus, puts on the event each Spring with traditional rodeo events during the day and a concert at night. This year’s headlining acts were Eric Church and Easton Corbin. Held since 1967, the Rodeo has transformed into the largest fundraising event organized by students. Last year, the men donated $20,000 to Storybook Farm Inc., as well as $15,000 to other local charities. A large portion also goes to Auburn’s College of Veterinary Medicine.
An estimated 30,000 students attended the event this year, with the $39 tickets selling out 10 days before the event took place. Students from all over the SEC flock to Auburn for the debauchery Rodeo, which probably boosts its national recognition.
Now I’ll stay in the dark on whether I’ve ever attended (three out of our five student assistants have), but people tell me it’s actually a lot of fun! With all of the mingling, good food and good music, it’s more of a down-home, country-boy version of tailgating. It’s a unique tradition here on the Plains and one that has not gone unnoticed.
When you imagined your classes at Auburn, you probably thought about the lectures you sat through, the notes you took (and didn’t take) and the guy next to you who never failed to start snoring halfway through the class.
One thing that probably doesn’t come to mind is Legos.
But, the Samuel Ginn College of engineering is changing all of that.
Legos are now being used to design and build vehicles, at a rate of 70 cars per hour. In the new automotive manufacturing systems laboratory on the ground floor of Shelby Center, students are now learning the ins and outs of manufacturing. This process is meant to teach students about the manufacturing systems, requiring them to learn the interdependence of all elements, from material receipt to delivery.
Three different Lego vehicles are produced in the lab: a 278-piece speedster, a 254-piece SUV and a 231-piece Baja Car. It takes 18 students to run the lab, 15 for assembly and 3 for material delivery.
Through this process, students can predict maintenance that might be required, along with learning preventative methods for manufacturing. They are also taught to determine optimal inventory requirements, work in process and final assembly for the production line. Error-proofing strategies, as well as training and safety plans, can be learned through the lab as well.
So basically, students are encouraged to go and build Lego cars, while learning the intricacies of automotive manufacturing. Now that’s my kind of assignment.
Which do I prefer—an Auburn Saturday in the fall or spring? After four years in Auburn, I’ve failed to come up with a solid decision.
Saturdays in the fall mean one thing: football. Everyone knows the football spirit in Auburn is palpable. Campus is brimming with excitement, fans and tailgating smells. Jordan-Hare erupts with every run, pass and tackle. The band extends liveliness with the fight song and nostalgia with the alma mater. And at the end of the night, we all pray to see a sea of toilet paper at the corner of College and Magnolia.
But Saturdays in the spring are a completely experience. A sense of relaxation is in the air. Campus is brimming with frisbees, hammocks and picnics (Toomer’s lemonade and a TigerMelt from Big Blue Bagel is my personal choice).The sidewalks erupt with friends walking and talking and running off some steam. The flora and fauna extend liveliness in every azalea bloom with a simultaneous nostalgia of spring times past. And, yes, we are still praying for a sea of white with a W from the baseball team over at Plainsman Park.
So which do you prefer? Can you manage a choice, unlike myself?
Or, do you ever wish you could combine the two?
I think this Saturday is your chance. Spring practices are almost on the books, and the Tigers are ready to show off the new spring in their step.
It’s A-Day, y’all.
It’s the one Saturday per year where you can enjoy the Azaleas and Jordan-Hare both bursting with excitement, the relaxation and the palpable Auburn spirit. Gene and the boys are promising an Auburn victory, and, as icing on the cake, they didn’t even invite any opposing fans to ridicule you with their cowbells or shouts of “Tiger bait!” It’s all Auburn fans in the house this weekend.
Why would you want to miss out?
Exactly. You wouldn’t. So pack up the minivan and head back to your good ole alma mater for some springtime football. I can’t think of any better Saturday in Auburn.
Here are your need-to-know details:
Our Heisman Trophy winners—Pat, Bo and Cam—will be immortalized in the form of three bronze statues on the east side of the stadium. The ceremony starts at 10 a.m. You can also view the festivities on the jumbotron inside the stadium (enter for free at gates 1, 8U, 12 or 17) or within the Arena. But don’t get your hopes up for autographs from the three, but they will be available for pictures—well, their statues will at least.
Kickoff is at 2p.m., and tickets can be bought ahead of time for $5 (best deal I’ve heard of) at the Auburn Ticket Office at Auburn Arena or at your local bookstores. They’ll still be $5 on game day, but be prepared to stand in a long(er) line outside the stadium or the arena to grab ‘em last minute.
The Auburn University bookstore will be open all day, ready to sell you your newest Auburn gear. Downtown Auburn businesses and restaurants will also be in the spirit. Show these guys some love, and support our local businesses.
The Iron Bowl of women’s tennis will be served up at 5 p.m. on Saturday. Just incase you needed your fix of rowdy fans, you can find some from the U of A at the Yarbrough Tennis Center. The first 100 fans in attendance will receive AU Tennis T-shirts and free pizza will be served at intermission.
The annual A-Day plant sale is also back with a wide selection of trees, shrubs vegetables and other plants available at the corner of South College St. and Samford Ave. The sale will be held 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday and Saturday and noon to 6 p.m. Sunday. Proceeds from the sale benefit PLANET, an Auburn University student landscape horticulture club, and will be used to fund scholarships and travel to national competitions for its members. Cash, checks, donations and select credit cards will be accepted.
Do you find yourself missing the Plains as you sit in your office, ride the bus or run errands? Have a smart phone and an Instagram account? If not, here is just another great reason to get one.
You can now take a little bit of Auburn with you, no matter where you are- as long as you have cell phone service, that is.
For all you IPhone users (and soon to be Android users) Instagram may be a familiar application. It enables users to take photos, edit and post them online, all from a smart phone.
There is now an Auburn Alumni Instagram account, where pictures of Auburn will be posted, for the enjoyment of alumni.
Whether you are reminiscing about kicking the soccer ball on Samford Lawn, or taking a walk through the Arboretum, pictures will be at the touch of your fingers.
Sign up today to start receiving stunning images, while conjuring up memories of your time at Auburn.
So, if you find yourself wishing that you were sitting on Samford Lawn on a cool spring day, instead of sitting in the board room- you are now offered the next best thing. So sit back, relax and enjoy some of the best parts about the University you love some much.
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