Uncategorized – Student Government Association

Farewell 2023-24 Term Newsletter

Dear Auburn Family,

Our 2023-2024 SGA term has come to an end. Projects were completed, initiatives came to fulfillment and relationships have deepened. We can confidently say that we worked hard to leave Auburn better than we found it. We have been honored to spend the past year intentionally serving our campus and we are eager for what is to come within the next term. Given the amount of achievements, the monthly newsletter looks a little different. This month, we aimed to compile our overarching updates over the full term.

Cabinet:

● Throughout the past year, SGA’s cabinet consisted of four branches that serve the student body in various ways: Chief of Staff, Initiatives, Outreach, and Finance.

● Cabinet has worked with various departments across campus during this term such as Athletics, Dining, Financial Services, Academics, and more to push initiatives that enhance the Auburn experience.

● To find more data about specific projects like Hey Day and Safety Walk, navigate to past newsletters here.

Senate:

● Senate created SGA’s International Student Liaison for students from around the globe to have a voice within student government.

Executive Student Council:

● In total, the 13 Councils hosted over 100 events in the past year.

● Student Council is the most local SGA contact. Each college has a President and a Student Council to advocate for students to the Dean and faculty. If you encounter any issues, reach out to your council.

Lobby Board:

● Members were each partnered with a state senator and representative to correspond with throughout the term. Each member has worked to stay up to date on all events concerning Auburn in order to advocate effectively for an increase in state appropriations for our university.

● Hosted “Learning to Lobby Day,” an event where the members of Lobby Board have the opportunity to hear from a panel of key legislators and influential governmental relations professionals in Alabama. They are able to ask them questions about their lives and careers as well as issues facing our state.

● Will soon be attending Higher Education Day in Montgomery where the team will represent the Auburn University student body to members of the Alabama Legislature.

Freshman Forum:

● Received over 500 applications from first-year students which broke the previous application record. From there, the team narrowed down the group to 54 highly qualified and incredible students who serve, promote and unify the freshman class.

● Provided professional development opportunities through True Colors, Enneagram and professional communication. These initiatives set our students up for success as they continue their Auburn journey and beyond.

● Currently working on the SPU (serve, promote and unify) project where the team hopes to gain feedback from first-year students so that information can be sent to administrators to enact positive change on our campus.

Elections:

● Implemented “I Voted” stickers for students during the 2023 Miss Homecoming election and Spring 2024 SGA elections.

● Produced a promotional video to be played at two home basketball games this spring as well as passing out gimmicks to encourage voter turnout.

Miss Auburn:

● Bridged the gap between different branches of the Auburn family through fostering conversations and promoting inclusivity

● Give Thanks Initiative: Students all over Auburn’s campus helped to write 1000+ thank you notes to Auburn staff

We conclude this final newsletter from the ‘23-’24 Communications and Marketing team with a farewell letter from SGA ‘23-’24 President John David Jones.

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Auburn Students,

As my term as SGA President comes to an end, I am left with many reflective thoughts, best described by former Auburn Athletics Director David Housel. Housel described his experience at Auburn: “Unless you have experienced it, you will never know what is, you will never understand it. Once you have experienced you will never be the same. A part of you will, forevermore, be an Auburn man or an Auburn woman.” Auburn is truly a special place, and giving your time to serve it will never lead to regret.

Following last spring’s election, I was overcome with passion and emotion as I entered my term. Our SGA Executive team set lofty goals – goals that we thought could leave meaningful impacts on the Auburn student experience. As we solidified our team, and began to work, I began to experience Auburn in more unique ways. I soon recognized that it was not the accomplishment of completing your goals, but the experiences with people around you that would leave a lasting impression on our beloved Auburn. Truthfully, it is not the buildings that are built, or the programs implemented, but the human touch of the Auburn family that creates the experience that David Housel describes.

Through these relationships, SGA worked to accomplish numerous goals: We sought to provide an improved gameday experience across all sports. We have secured the resources for an interactive campus map and a campus-wide app platform that encapsulates your Auburn experience. We will soon oversee the installation of the Aubie statue outside of the Melton Student Center. We have advocated to provide more space for students across campus amidst recent growth. We have strived to consolidate resources, pushing for a syllabus bank and a more standardized Canvas page. We looked forward, advocating for financial wellness across campus. We were able to add a Mental Health Tab to your Canvas page to connect students to the resources they need. Fortunately, this list is just a start. One thing I have realized is that accomplishing any project comes on the other side of having the right people in the right places. Without these people, my term would have seen very little success.

As Auburn continues to reach new heights, I am consistently reminded of my thoughts and feelings from my freshman year. I undersold what I thought Auburn would do for me. I knew it would give me a competitive degree, but upon my graduation this May, it will have given me more than I could have dreamed. I have experienced Auburn in a plethora of ways, been exposed to life-changing experiences, and encountered mentors, friends, and family. As I leave The Plains, I am challenged to remind others that it is those relationships that will accomplish any goal you set. I have been blessed to experience Auburn, and I too will never be the same.

John David Jones

SGA President 2023-2024

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We thank you for the privilege of serving you.

Sincerely,

SGA

November 2023

Dear Auburn Family,

As we continue into this holiday season, we hope that you find joy and rest. SGA worked diligently throughout November and we are pleased to share with you what we have accomplished.

In this newsletter, we will cover Safety Walk, Better Relations Day with The University of Alabama, Breaking Barriers Event, Mental Health Awareness Tab and Concoursing, the beginning of Spring Elections and Ring Night.

We kicked off the month by participating in the Safety Walk on Nov. 7. Looking for poorly lit areas, damaged sidewalks, and re-evaluating blue light placements are just a few ways we ensured safety for all. We are committed to making our campus as safe as possible for all and are thankful to Campus Safety, Auburn Police Department, and Auburn Communications for their partnership.

This year, we had the honor of hosting the University of Alabama’s SGA during our annual Better Relations Day on Thursday, Nov. 9. In hopes of fostering relationships and learning from each other, both SGA’s exchange visiting each other’s campuses traditionally. This event featured representatives from all branches of Cabinet, Senate, Judicial, Elections, Miss Auburn’s committee, Miss Homecoming, and Miss UA. In total, 88 SGA members attended.

It was a day of rich conversations. Several SGA members led breakout sessions on topics including: Upholding Traditions, Better Relations within Student Government, Communication and Programming, Ensuring the Individual Student’s Voice is Heard and Enhancing the Student Experience.

We concluded the day with Auburn’s SGA President, John David Jones, and Alabama’s SGA President, Collier Dobbs, signing the 2023 agreement in honor of uniting the universities. We would like to extend our deepest gratitude to every individual who played a part in this day.

The following week, SGA members participated in the annual Breaking Barriers Event on Nov. 14. The collective governance groups, BSU, ISO and SGA came together to discuss topics over ice cream. Building relationships and furthering unity are at the core of this event. The groups conversed about community, belonging, housing, mental health, recruitment, retention, affordability, safety, and our organization’s outreach across campus.

Brand new to Canvas, our SGA Executive Team launched a mental health tab for students, staff and faculty on Tuesday, Nov. 16. Including information regarding Auburn Cares, the Student Counseling and Psychological Services (SCPS) and mental health emergencies, this tab ensures quick availability to various mental health resources offered on campus.

To promote the Canvas tab, SCPS collaborated with SGA on the Haley Concourse the afternoon of the launch. We had the privilege of hosting the SCPS therapy dogs, a portion of the SCPS counseling team and handed out promotional items to students. It is an honor to be working with our mental health services on campus and taking steps to make mental health care more accessible at Auburn.

The beginnings of Spring elections occurred this month as the Top 5 candidates for Miss Auburn were selected. Nominated by various organizations, Eligible women were chosen to interview on Monday, Nov. 27. After the first round, the Top 20 were announced that night. The individuals then completed a second round of interviews with the Top 5 being announced on Tuesday, Nov. 28. In no particular order, this year’s Top 5 include: Grace Crim, Alexxia Carter, Lily Pounders, Claire Congo and Abbie Starr. Please keep your eye out for these candidates on the concourse for campaign week Jan. 30 – Feb. 2.

As the month came to a close, SGA hosted our fall Ring Night for students receiving their class ring on Nov. 30. Ring Night welcomed Aubie and other special guests to bring spirit to beloved traditions.

Lastly, we hope that you will join us as SGA hosts Up All Night. This finals week event treats students with late-night snacks and appearances from a few of Auburn’s special guests. The event will take place in the Ralph Brown Draughon library Dec. 3 – Dec. 7.

To the student body, we wish you all the best during finals week.

Thank you for the honor and privilege of serving you, Auburn.

October 2023

Dear Auburn Family,

We can’t believe that our fall semester is halfway over and the holidays are right around the corner. October has been a special month for SGA, and we are eager to share with you what all that we have accomplished.

Following Miss Homecoming, SGA’s Elections branch with the Aubie Committee, Auburn University Dance Marathon, and the student body at large, hosted a T-shirt drive. SGA collected over 300 t-shirts that were donated to Big House Opelika, a non-profit organization that supports the foster care system in Lee County. We count it as a privilege to work with the Lee County community to upcycle campaign and organization shirts to give back to those in need.

Beginning in late September and extending into early October, SGA hosted Ring Week. This was a week-long campaign for students and alumni to purchase their Auburn ring and resulted in 615 sales – one of the highest results in history. To discover more about this beloved tradition and ceremony, please visit this link.

Upon the completion of Ring Week, our Civic Engagement team hosted a two-day event to promote voter registration. With many brand new voters coming into Auburn, the opportunity to register is of great importance. With the promotion days, SGA assisted 245 students complete their registration. This satisfied an initiative successfully as our team saw a drastic rise in registrations compared to previous drives.

Moving into a staple of October, SGA celebrated and executed one of our most cherished traditions: Hey Day. Dating all the way back to 1947, students devoted a day to greet strangers by name and cultivate a culture of belonging following a difficult season in our country. To dive deeper into the rich history of this day, please follow this link.

This year, we hosted Hey Day on October 18th. SGA distributed 10,300 name tags across the nine stations with one larger station on the campus green. This larger station offered bagged lunches with pulled pork sandwiches, chips, and cookies all provided by Tiger Dining. Going the extra mile, SGA linked arms with every individual college, 12 downtown businesses, and 18 campus partners, supplying each with name tags and gimmicks such as stickers, buttons, and keychains.

SGA hosted The Auburn Cheerleaders, The Tiger Paws, Miss Auburn University 2023 Karoline Copeland, The War Eagle Girls and Plainsmen, Miss Auburn Kate Preston, along with the Auburn Women’s Basketball team and coach Johnnie Harris. Auburn’s radio station, WEGL 91.1 FM offered lively music, and Auburn’s Yearbook, the Glomerata, staff created and captured content throughout the day.

The next day, our Campus Life branch hosted the first-ever War Damn Wellness event. Learning all about healthy lifestyles and habits, our student body explored further the resources that the University’s Medical Clinic and Recreational Center has to offer. The concoursing event on October 19th had the goal of advocating for, promoting, and collecting productive feedback about existing campus health resources. Additionally, these teams aimed to promote the spread of healthy lifestyles and habits.

Lastly, with the ambition of assisting Auburn students financially, our Financial Projects Branch has been at work. Within their term, they have collected resources to inform students of ways to receive aid from local businesses and partners. One resource provided by SGA and the Auburn Chamber of Commerce is the AU10 initiative, which allows students to save 10% on their purchase at participating businesses. To the student body, you may discover more financial aid resources available here.

SGA exists for the individual student – for you. We thank you for the honor of serving you.

Student Government Association

Serving and promoting the individual student; unifying all that is Auburn.

The Student Government Association will reach out, actively listen to, and advocate for all students in an effort to connect the Auburn family and enact lasting positive change.

Auburn Answers Week 2017

Remember the last time you were complaining about something? Did you do anything about it? No? Why? The next time you see something that should be changed on Auburn’s campus, let SGA know!

Auburn Answers is designed to streamline your issues to be forwarded to the appropriate authorities. Our team reviews every message submitted and will respond with information and make sure that your issue is addressed. Auburn Answers is happy to take on any problem you have and accepts feedback of every kind; Joey Wirtes, SGA’s Assistant Vice President of Outreach Feedback, said, “Our team’s role within SGA is often behind the scenes, yet we all find gratification by being able to personally help students and see our hard work lead to positive effects seen all over Auburn.”

Information collected through Auburn Answers has led to changes in dining, student ticketing, and facilities across campus, just to name a few. This feedback is a unique way for SGA to be connected with the student body at all times.

Whether you have an idea for dining to improve or want to say how much you appreciate everything facilities does to keep our campus looking pristine, Auburn Answers is there for you. This week is Auburn Answers week and we will be out on the concourse gathering feedback and would love for you to come see us.

By Jacob Sparks

Director of Print Media, SGA

AUBURN, Al.

Campaign Week | Miss Homecoming 2017

Sunglasses on, earbuds in, phone in hand — you are ready to take on the Haley Concourse. This staple package screams “Please don’t talk to me,” but those dedicated souls on the concourse just will not listen. Most people know to avoid the concourse at all cost, but some still choose to make the trek. There’s no time on the concourse more intimidating than election weeks.

Candidates and their supporters put everything they have into securing your vote. Sometimes, it’s excessive, but I implore you the next time you’re forced down the Haley Concourse, remember that those people are giving everything they have to try to get your vote. Every person, and their Instagram followers, knows what their candidate stands for and what makes them special, so stop to hear what they have to say. As an Auburn student we are all entitled to have our voice heard in elections like Miss Homecoming, so why wouldn’t you utilize that privilege?

If you can’t make it down the concourse for the free merchandise and a good time, you can find information about every Miss Homecoming candidate here. Don’t forget to make your voice heard in the Miss Homecoming elections this Friday, September 15, from 7 A.M. – 7 P.M. on the My Campus tab of AU Access at aub.ie/sgavote . Conquer your fears and face the concourse, social interaction with a stranger will not kill you, and do your part to make a mark on Auburn University by electing your Miss Homecoming.

Jacob Sparks

Director of Print Media

Auburn Ring Tradition

The Auburn Ring is one of the most powerful testimonies of true Auburn spirit. Wearing the icon of the place that holds a special place in their heart is something that no true Auburn man or woman should miss out on. The ring not only carries with it your own memories embraced between the interlocking “AU,” but the power of this iconic institution in your journey through life. Auburn’s ring tradition is not limited by the precious metal circlet, it is accompanied by a story that starts at one of the university’s oldest buildings.

Langdon Hall has served a variety of purposes on Auburn’s campus since it was erected in 1883. Today, it is primarily used as an auditorium and office space, but outside lurks the root of one of Auburn’s most-fabled tales. Stepping on the seal in front of Langdon Hall is an Auburn student’s worst nightmare. Legend says that any student that steps on the seal will suffer a few consequences: not graduating in four years, leaving the Plains without the love of their life, and cursing their family with seven generations of Alabama fans. For any unfortunate person who accidentally steps on the seal, fear not, there are many ways to reverse the curse. Most popularly, the cursed individual could jump into the President’s fountain at midnight on leap day of a leap year. Not too hard, right? Wrong. A cursed person’s next opportunity to escape their fate will not come until 2020, and even then, jumping into the President’s fountain is technically trespassing.

Ring Night is a way for students to be a part of an Auburn legend and not have to worry about missing graduation or the love of a true Auburn man or woman. At the end of the Fall and Spring semesters, graduating seniors have the opportunity to have their official Auburn rings “cursed” by being placed upon the seal at 6:56 PM, the year of Auburn’s founding on the twenty-four hour clock. The rings remain on the seal until the current year appears on the twenty-four hour clock. The time the rings spend on the sacred seal is to symbolize the continuous Auburn spirit that has prevailed since the institution’s founding one-hundred sixty-one years ago.

A few days later at the Ring Ceremony, the curse is lifted when the student dips their ring in water from the President’s fountain; removing the curse, but leaving the Auburn spirit to live on in the ring and the heart of its owner forevermore. The traditional ring, emblazoned with eagles facing towards the past and future, is adorned with an interlocking AU and four bands symbolizing the pillars of the Auburn family: students, administration, faculty, and alumni. Ring recipients conclude the traditional ceremony by placing the cleansed ring on their finger with the words “Auburn University” facing inward, and then after graduation, the new alumni flip the ring to show the world that they are proud to be a member of the Auburn family.

“Of course, wouldn’t it have been easier for us to just not curse the rings in the first place?” said Dr. Macy Finck in the spring 2017 Ring Ceremony, “Of course, but your rings received more than a curse on Thursday night. For many years, the seal in front of Langdon Hall has been collecting stories: the stories of those unlucky enough to step on it, of those who narrowly missed it, and perhaps even those who consciously and carefully gave it a wide, respectful berth… the events of this week have been about more than cursing and cleansing. It’s about tradition, history, and creating a deeper connection with your Auburn family — past, present, and even future, as the seal now knows your story as well.”

This mark of connection not only is not only binding to Auburn University, but something much greater – the Auburn family. After four (or five… maybe six) years, we all move on from our time on the Plains to new adventures in life. This summer I was walking down the streets of London, 4,305 miles from the Plains, when I saw one of the most beautiful symbols on a man’s shirt – the AU. Amidst a busy intersection in the West End, I screamed “War Eagle,” I think it was the loudest and proudest I have ever projected the fabled words. The man looked around and without hesitation, or ever seeing who it was, yelled “War Eagle.” That spirit never leaves a person, even on the other side of the world, and that is what is encapsulated inside an Auburn ring.

Auburn would not be the same without our plethora of traditions. From callouts on Cater Lawn to the eagle circling the stadium, every true Auburn man and woman has a tradition that they hold dear to their heart. We hope you will embrace the Auburn spirit when your time comes to leave the Plains and advance into your next adventure by purchasing your Auburn ring and participating in Ring Night & Ceremony at the end of fall or spring semester. This ring will remind you of your roots, no matter how far you grow, and will connect you to a family, one-hundred sixty-one years in the making, no matter where you go.

By Jacob Sparks

Director of Print Media, SGA

September Family Fridays

With over 27,000 students, being a part of Auburn’s campus can sometimes be overwhelming. Working to make this overflowing campus feel like home, is a communal effort that is usually summarized as the Auburn family. Everyone always talks about this atmosphere that makes the Plains feel like home to so many, but what actually makes the Auburn family special? Some say it is just a fan base, others say it is nothing more than a marketing campaign, but any true Auburn man or woman knows it is the spirit inside every Tiger’s heart. It is the drive to help their fellow man and the drive to live the best life they possibly can. The Auburn family is undoubtedly there for one another in the good times and in the bad. Sophomore Hannah Robertson described it as, “A sense of belonging… no matter where you come from, we’re all there for one another, it’s a safe place to be amidst such a chaotic time like college.”

SGA strives to support the Auburn family in all things we do, so this semester we have reinvented our program, Family Fridays. This program is designed to bring students together to strengthen their bonds with one another and with the university as a whole. This Friday, we have partnered with Emerge to unite freshmen with their classmates and older peers. From 11 AM – 1 PM on Friday, September 1, SGA will have blankets, games, and music, courtesy of WEGL 91.1, on Cater Lawn for students to enjoy. Bring your lunch, grab a friend, and take part in an event that aims to build on the most unique part of our university—the Auburn family.

By Jacob Sparks
Director of Print Media, SGA
AUBURN, AL

Up All Night with Aubie

Ever wondered what everyone’s favorite tiger does during finals week? I personally have never seen Aubie hitting the books, but in the late night hours of April 30th, I did spot him in the library. Aubie took to the Ralph Brown Draughon Library to help pass out doughnuts, orange juice, and scantrons during SGA’s annual week-long finals event, Up All Night.

The Tiger skipped through the line greeting people and snapping a few selfies with students who were taking a break from studying. Shortly after midnight, Aubie welcomed everyone anxiously awaiting the free Krispy Kreme doughnuts and juice that was promised to them. Students, some draped in blankets and others in slippers, filed through receiving well-wishes from SGA members on their impending physics, geography, and biology exams. A hug from Aubie awaited many at the door, but everyone knows he does not have the longest attention span. He soon tried to take over the job of handing out napkins from SGA Executive Director of Elections Catherine Milling, but after not excelling at the task, Milling interjected, “Aubie you’re holding up the line, boo.” He decided he had had enough and took a quick catnap in the middle of the room.

After his nap, Aubie and some of his friends took to the nooks and crannies of RBD to make sure that everyone got a doughnut. Most seemed more intrigued when they saw that SGA had gotten more than just original glazed; many opted for a chocolate-covered cream-filled or even a mint chocolate chip doughnut. On the fourth floor, Aubie put a ring, or at least a doughnut, on a few people’s hands. Classic late-night study delirium set in as Aubie made his way out with an empty box on his head and even flashing a few unsuspecting students from the elevator.

Though he may not be taking any finals, Aubie the Tiger could not miss hanging out with some of his friends as the semester comes to a close. When asked if he liked the event, Aubie simply shook his head approvingly and gave a quick thumbs-up. With the Aubie stamp of approval, we hope you will take a break from studying and join us at midnight, Sunday through Thursday of finals week in the Student Center and library for free doughnuts and orange juice. You never know who you will get to meet or the memories you will make when you are Up All Night with SGA.

By Jacob Sparks

Director of Print Media, SGA