October 13, 2025 • 25 mins
Auburn’s Hey Day is more than just a campus tradition — it’s a timeless greeting that’s been passed down for generations.
“Hey Day is such a cool event,” said Owen Beaverstock, Auburn’s Student Government Association (SGA) president. “It’s the first thing I volunteered for when I was a freshman.”
The annual Hey Day event began in 1947 to welcome back World War II soldiers, when the SGA pushed for a day to unite campus. Nearly 80 years later, it has grown into a beloved custom of handing out nametags and encouraging everyone to say “hey” to each other.
“I love talking to strangers,” joked Parman. “You’re engaging in real conversation that reinforces the values of the Auburn Family."
The 78th Hey Day will be held on Wednesday, Oct. 15, and will include live music, food, t-shirts, and a Social at Hey Day Market.
Parham said it’s a simple concept that can have a big impact.
“You could be the only one who speaks to that person this week or asks how their day is going,” she said.
Both Beaverstock and Parman consider it an incredible privilege to serve the student body.
Parman, a global studies major in the College of Human Sciences, said her role as 2025-26 Miss Auburn is like having a full-time job, a tradition that dates back to 1934.
“We do the ‘Empower Her’ women's leadership dinner, read to kids in schools, combat food insecurity, and engage with civic leaders,” she said.
Already in her tenure, Parman started an endowed scholarship for future Miss Auburns, and made outreach visits to the Auburn Bee Center, E.W. Fisheries Center and AU Singers.
Like Parman, Beaverstock serves as an advocate for students, attending every Auburn Board of Trustees meeting as a non-voting member.
A double major in business and political science in the Harbert College of Business, Beaverstock was elected in February to lead SGA. Since then, funding has been secured for 10 new security shuttle drivers and 24/7 security on campus. He’s working with the City of Auburn to have a three-way traffic stop light installed at the crosswalk on Magnolia Avenue, between 320 West Mag apartments and the Ginn Concourse, to curb student pedestrian safety concerns. Most recently, trustees backed SGA’s concept to build a new, six-story, 680-bed dormitory on the Cambridge Hall property.
“We think that's a huge win for our students and a great spot, too,” he said.
Beaverstock said his advice to younger peers is to get plugged in — and early.
“One of the coolest things we do is the Expansion (EXP) Branch of SGA,” he said. “You can volunteer for Hey Day, CREED Day or football game shaker distribution. In the spring, we’ll have applications for year-round SGA roles.”
Just like their post-war era predecessors, both Beaverstock and Parman will be leading the charge this week at Hey Day — greeting all with a spirit that is not afraid.
“It just shows the human touch that makes Auburn so special,” said Parman.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:05):
Welcome into Everything Auburn podcast.
We get to speak to membersthe Auburn Family every single month.
I'm the chronically underdressed Carter,and thank you for joining me.
Today is a special daybecause we have not one,
but two members of Auburn familyand also two students here from Auburn.
We have Miss Auburn, Riley Parman,and SGA President Owen Beaverstock.
Welcome to the podcast, guys.
(00:26):
Thank youfor having all excited to be here.
Well, so you're a seasoned podcast proin a sense, for sure.
Okay. Very cryptic. And I'm a rookie.
This is my first time.
All right.
So all pressure is onfresh legs over here.
So we'll let Riley go first.
You learn. Okay, I'll watch that.
Watch and learn.
Absolutely. So, one to start. Just,Miss Auburn.
What does it mean? What is Miss Auburn?
(00:47):
Tell us all about it.
I have never been Miss Auburn,so I don't know much. Awesome.
So yes, Miss Auburn is a traditionthat started in 1934,
and she is technicallythe official hostess
of Auburn University.
But thankfully my friend Owen is here,so this example will make sense.
When I explained it to my relativesfrom Kansas City, Missouri,
who thought I was starting aroundin an evening gown,
which is a real positionMiss Auburn University,
(01:08):
but it is not totally a position.
Totally distinct.
Not similar names at all.
Not similar names at all.
One more difference.
But who's counting?
I explain it as if Auburn were England.
Okay, Owen would be the Prime Ministerand I would be serving
as the Queen of England.
So Owen's going to domore of the, like, policy
(01:29):
related things on campus.
He's going to perhapssit in more meetings than I am. Okay.
She makes the analogy ofshe's the Queen, right?
I happen to be in England.
But then I do more things.
That is like influencingthe culture of the student body.
So that can be through thingslike appearances,
that can be through initiatives.
We do empower her,which is a women's leadership dinner.
(01:50):
And then each Miss Auburn has a platformthat they also carry out
throughout their term,but they're also the face of Auburn to
the community.
So I'll do things like readto kids in schools.
I'm doing on Wednesday podcast,engaging with community members
and civic leaders, things like that.
So my days are very, very differentbecause the role can be pretty much
whatever the current person in officesays they want it to be,
(02:12):
but it's less awesome.
Wonderful. And then, Mr. Prime Minister.
Oh, and,walk me through your my side of it.
Absolutely.
So the SGA presidentor the equivalent for our student body
president is somethingthat's, elected
by the student bodyevery February
and the best way to describe it,I would say, is the advocate
for students within all decisionsthat are made
within our administration at Auburnand within every department
(02:33):
of, of our administration.
You should go and servewithin those meetings
as the student representationrepresentation and the student voice.
And also,I think one of the incredible privileges
of this position at Auburnthat's very unique to Auburn
compared to some of our peers,is that the president is a non-voting
member of our board of trusteesfor a year. Really? Absolutely.
Wow.
Which is an incredible opportunityto get to sit with the board
(02:54):
and and talk to them.
That was actually one thingI got to do over
the summer was travel and meet with themone on one and just talk to them
about the student experience,what's going on with students,
but that that is a great wayto describe it.
There rally ofyou are the advocate
and just going into meetingsand representing students
and in the student experience. Wonderful.
Well, so,it's a natural progression here.
Why did youI mean, you can rock,
(03:15):
paper, scissors on who goes first,which is my favorite way to determine it.
But why do you want to runfor your respective,
you know, QueenPrime minister position
which what you're dodirectly for scissors.
Yeah. We can do our previous year.
Oh this is great.
Oh my gosh.
There he is.
Okay, I'll go first.
There you go.
That's the first time I've seen oneand then chose.
(03:37):
I've said that so many times of thisand no one has actually ever done it.
But now we'll take you. Yep.
We're ready to go.
So, like Owen said,both of our positions
are elected in February.
But Miss Auburn's a little bit uniquein that you don't choose to run.
You're nominated to run.
So I was nominated by my sorority.
And then every organization on campushas the opportunity
to nominate one woman.
(03:57):
And then it goes througha two round interview process.
And then you run an all studentbody campaign,
which takes place in February.
But you start preparing for thatin November.
And for me,I'm a first generation Auburn
soon from Kansas City, Missouri,and I did not know what Miss Auburn was
when I came.
Charlotte, could you write?
So for me,it was less of a decision
(04:18):
to run and more of aafter I was nominated, I was like, wow,
this is a great opportunityto gain interview experience.
If I was given the opportunityto run a campaign,
that would be such a unique opportunityto love the Auburn student body well,
in the way that I chooseto engage with people
during a weekwhere I'll talk to more students
than I'll ever have the opportunity toas just an independent individual.
And it was less of a like,I don't think I started thinking about
(04:41):
what it would be like to be in the roleuntil after
I was elected, because it was just like,what is in front of me?
If the interviewwas in front of me, okay,
even if I don't get to top five,what can I bring to
the important peoplewho will be interviewing me
that will benefit them after the factduring the campaign?
Like how can I benefit the student bodythrough the mechanism of the campaign?
(05:03):
And then after I was elected,it was like, oh, how endearing.
How would I like to serve?
Oh, I actually have to makedo I have to do this now?
What is that going to look like?
So it's just interesting.
And I think that's kindof the nature of it. Nominated.
Yeah. Role. That makes sense.
I think the uniquething about this position
is that you choose to run for it.
So it is a little bit differentthan the Miss Auburn.
(05:23):
And I think my biggest thingin my story
of how I got to this point,it starts when I was a freshman and,
I did SGA in high schooland really enjoyed it,
but it wasn't reallyI wasn't really set on getting plugged
into it.
Coming into college,I didn't think that
that was going to be my path.
And then I actually had some older guys,that were around me my freshman year.
They got me pluggedin, encouraged me
to get plugged in with SGA, and I did,and it really was just
(05:43):
kind of my fun outlet forfor the first
to two years of collegewas just my community
that enjoyed getting to see.
It was kind of my thing on the side that,I just love doing,
and I was passionateabout what I was doing.
And then it really got real,going into the end of my sophomore year
when some of my friendswere just kind of encouraging
me and made me just think aboutwhat it would look like to run
for a position like this.
(06:03):
And it honestlyreally opened my eyes to it, cause
I wasn't really thinking about it.
And I feel likewith these kind of positions,
you never reallyyou never seek it out in the sense of
you think that you could do itbecause it's almost like an imposter
syndrome at first.
Like there's no waythat I could do something
as great as that.
But it's a big campus, too.
It's, oh my God,there's 34,000 students at Auburn.
Like,there's a, there's a huge, huge campus.
And but then just to seethe encouragement from people
(06:25):
and I think that'sone of the best things
about Auburn and the communitythat is the Auburn family is
that people can see the best parts of youthat you may not see,
and they'll buildyou up and encourage you
to see that for yourself as well.
That's awesome.
That's awesome.
Well,I got to know because, again,
I was a lowly film student,so I don't know what it's like
to be important on campus.
What are some, you know,favorite moments, anecdotes,
stories, weird situations, what have you.
(06:47):
I think you can call it busy.
Yeah.
Is the best way to say it,because it is a
it's almost like a full time jobin a lot of ways of what we get to do,
which is a huge blessingand an awesome opportunity
to serve and give back to Auburn,because it's given us a ton
trying to think ofwhat are some funny stories
I've just been put.
You find yourselftalking to adults a lot.
Like, I feel like I've become really goodat talking to adults,
which is awesome and a really fun thing,but a skill.
(07:10):
Like, as a college studentin my first three years,
I didn't think, likeI would really need to develop
at that point.
Yeah, now that makes sense.
I think a lot of the cool thingsthat we get to do
revolve around my platform,which was encouraging students
to leverage the resourcesthat Auburn University offers
to pair them with their passionsto better
serve our campus, our community,and the world in the way
that we chose to execute that passionor that platform was through
(07:31):
highlighting studentand organizations of the month,
which Miss Auburn has historically done,but has been really fun for us
to get to start this year.
So that means that we get to talk to,one, we try to focus on like
smaller organizationswho are doing more niche activities,
to show them as a pathwayfor other students to get involved
in that niche activitythat they may care about.
And that's put usat like the Auburn Bee Lab.
(07:53):
So that was cool, dude.
I was out therea few weeks ago, actually.
Very cool.
I got to hold like a frame of bees.
I also went to the fisheries,Fisheries and Aquaculture Center,
and I talked to so many studentswho are so passionate about fish.
I personally am deeplyafraid of touching fish.
So when I held a very large catfish,which you can see on our social medias,
(08:14):
I was so scared. It was terrifying.
But I did conquer my fear.
But a sweet storythat came from that last month.
Our organization of the monthwere the EU singers
and as soon as we got therewe were asked.
I am meeting them as casemy Director of media,
and she's awesomeand she's here in the back
just watching everyone. Yeah,we walked up and one of
the girls was like, it'sso nice to meet you, Riley.
(08:35):
Like you were the first SGA electionthat I ever voted in.
And now it's so cool that, like,you're highlighting my organization
because that's why I voted for you.
Because I thought that you caredabout people like me.
And I was like,oh my gosh, it's just oh my gosh.
And then they sang the alma materfor us, and Scott and I both cried.
It was beautiful.
And that was probably like topthree moments of my time at Auburn,
(09:01):
just because it was likesome weeks are like, oh, and was saying,
so busy and you're running from thingto thing to thing to thing
that it doesn't even feel likeyou have time
to remember the storiesin the moments from each of those things,
and then you'll have likethat could have been
that was a 35 minute video shoot.
And I think about itlike every time I walk
into doing something like thisor interacting with the student
because I was like, okay, this like,this does have weight.
(09:24):
It's not just movement.
Yeah, that makes sense.
So I'll give you two pieces here,which is one I've very unique
job where I get to do very similar.
I kind of go into this thing,I'm very invested it for a couple weeks
and I'm out and go in another group.
Yeah.
So I've getting to seeso many different elements.
Just a taste of campus,which is really, really incredible.
And I've had very similar experienceswhere like,
I was only with this personfor an hour and like,
(09:45):
I think about them all the time,you know, and it,
it just happens so very often.
The other thing I was going to give youis I'm not scared of fish to start.
I want to start. Okay. Yeah.
However, I do have an irrationaland pathological fear of frogs.
Really.
So so it's like adjacent to fish.
So I guess fish. So I get it.
I don't know whymy dad's terrified of frogs,
(10:06):
and I think it just imprinted on meas a child that he's scared of them.
So that's somethingyou should be scared of it now.
I'm terrified of them.
Hate them, don't like it,so I understand. That's fascinating.
Yeah, this is slimy things I don't,I don't.
The way they jumpthe sudden movements like,
are really hard for me as well.
They're very unpredictable. Yeah.
See mine is so booksand I was going to say what
your mine is bugsand really any like small creature
(10:27):
that flies around and so likeif you like when you were at the
the Bee Lab Yeah.
At the Bee Lab Yeah, yeah.
I'm when we saw those videos and picturesand like you're in the suit
like I'm like, I'm doing the thing. Yeah.
That would be that'swhere I see I was checking out the Bee
lab fisheries.
No. See, I love fisheries.
I think like you should go.
They would probably love to have you.
That's awesome.
It's athat's like one of the cool
the first swim.
(10:48):
And it's like we talked about itof like the cool part about this
and really all of this is that every dayyou get to find something new about.
Yeah.
Like you're learning a new thingthat you didn't know before
and like that's these aregreat examples
of of things that likejust the general student often
isn't aware of.
And you get to shine a lightand just learn something new and learn
how just broadand diverse Auburn as a campus
and as a university really is.
(11:08):
And that's a that's such a special thing.
Yeah, it'ssomething that I talk about,
I'm sure has heard mesay it before,
which is there's, you know,30 some odd plus thousand students here
plus thousand faculty, like,there's always there's so many interest
or you cannot walk in a roomand not find an interesting story. No.
Absolutely.
And this campus is so large,you can walk into some different places
to see thingsyou never even know existed.
Hundred percent whichwhich is so incredible.
(11:30):
So, we've heard all about Riley's goalsand her aspirations for for her platform.
Oh.
And what kind of directionyou're trying to take things.
I know you're about halfwaythrough your tenure here
as SGA president,so what's what's what's
kind of the goals, expectationsand what the future will hold?
There's a couplethat I'd love to talk about
because that's the the privilegeof getting to be halfway through.
(11:51):
We've honestly been ableto make a lot of progress
with a lot of great things,which is awesome.
The first one, I've got threethat I really want to talk about.
The first one is, revolvesaround campus security.
Because I know that we're in a, a timethat's just a lot of uncertainty.
And that's a big topic aroundcampus of people
just being concernedand wanting to be safe at Auburn.
And we're blessed to be on a campusthat feels so safe.
But what's what can we doas the university
to make sure that that we are. Yeah.
(12:13):
And so at the beginning of our term,a big part of one of our big initiatives,
our exact goalswas revolving around security.
And this past week,we were able to work with campus security
and get, people request,funded and approved,
to secure fundingfor additional security role drivers.
So we're going to have ten new securityshuttle drivers around campus two,
which is awesome.
And then we're alsogoing to have the funding
(12:34):
for a 24/7 security presence on campus.
So at night right now,there's security
specials that walk aroundand make sure everything's in order.
And now we have the fundingto employ them to do that
during the day as well.
So that's an amazing thing.
And those special staffcan be able to walk around.
That's going to change the feel of campusand to make it feel more safer.
But it's also going to allow usto have the certain things
that we have already on campusthat are making this place safe.
(12:56):
We're going tothose special screening, able
to make sure that those are up to dateand being used and enforced.
And that's just a great thingfor our campus.
The next thing, this is onethat I'm pretty excited about.
And this has to do with 320 crosswalkover by Chick-Fil-A.
And if you ask anyone right now,including the city of Auburn,
they'd say that's a huge pressurepoint in regards to our campus.
Just with student flowfrom crossing on and off campus,
(13:17):
and then traffic on Magnoliato students like going to Chick-Fil-A,
I don't know, I think it's safethat I've heard of this place.
I heard a couplepeople said they enjoy it.
But our big thing is, right now,with the way that traffic is flowing,
students can just walkas much as they want,
and that's good for a student.
But it's also a safety concernbecause you get students going
whenever they want.
And then that also allows driversto get a little impatient
(13:39):
because Magnolia shuts downwhenever it's lunchtime or class change.
So one thing that we've workedwith, Auburn University facilities
and Auburn, the city onis trying to find a way
that we can put a three stop,a three
stop traffic light up there on 320.
So instead of justa continuous crosswalk,
you're going to have a threestop traffic light.
And we've secured the fundingfor that already.
And we're in the planning process.
(13:59):
And hopefully we get it doneby the spring.
The spring academic term,this is going to allow students
to cross at one moment togetherso that they're not being inconvenienced,
but it's also going to allow trafficto flow
in the way that it needs to,just to to make Auburn operate
in the way that, as we all know,the traffic is, is crazy, right?
Oh, yeah.
Last oneI want to talk about my third one.
So one of the biggest issuesthat I heard during my campaign,
and I've heard fromstudents, is just the issue of housing
(14:21):
and finding affordablehousing around Auburn.
That's just a hugeit's like in the recent
years, just rent prices aroundAuburn have gone up, tremendously.
So, we've been workingwith our board of trustees,
and this past Friday,got the vote passed, to Cambridge.
So the Cambridge residencehall is offline right now,
but they're going to rebuilda new structure over there,
and it'sgoing to be a 680 bed residence
(14:42):
hall opposed to a 340 bed,which is what it was before.
So that's going to providemore beds for Auburn students
at a much more affordable rate,than what the current off
campus market is.
So we think that's a huge winfor our students,
and it's going to providea lot of great things, a great spot, too.
And you get to see the votebecause you're at the board of trustees.
Absolutely. Look at this.
What a, you know, full circle.
Well, some other excitingthings are going on at SGA
(15:03):
besides your particular, goals,which are truly incredible
is, as y'all have referred to it as,and I'll be using it as forever.
Now, the SGASuper Bowl of Heyday coming up,
which is truly one of the best Auburntraditions and events currently.
Walk me throughwhat you're excited about.
What makes you the most excited aboutHey Day?
Any experiences you had with Hey Day?
(15:25):
So this was an eventthat was started after World War two.
To welcome back our veteransto the Auburn community.
And just by bringing them back inand saying hello, it really took off.
And now is a huge Auburn traditionof just welcoming people around campus
and in the community.
It was the first thingthat I got
volunteered for was an SGAwhen I was a freshman,
was volunteering at heydayand being at a table,
just passing out name tags.
And it really is.
(15:45):
It's an amazing part of campus.
I love it, it and get so excited about itbecause I love talking to strangers.
Okay?
And on heyday,everyone is wearing a nametag
and if they're not wearing a nametag,you have the opportunity to identify
something about them,allowing them to then put on a nametag,
which to me is just like a lot of fun.
Like how oftenI love volunteering at heyday because,
I mean, everyone's walking by class,students, class, change costumes.
(16:06):
People are trying to getwhere they're going.
You know, we very head downlike they're on their way up and heyday.
You get to be like, oh, I love your bag.
Do you want a nametag? Like purple shirt?
I love that shirt. Do you want nametag?
Which it's likeyou're asking them to get a nametag,
but you're also, like engagingin a real conversation with them
and then approaching the table.
You see that touch point to be like,oh my gosh, it's so good to see you.
(16:26):
Like, I hope you have an awesome day.
I'm rooting for you.
Like go forth and make friends.
And it's justI think it opens up
more conversations in class too,because you see people
with their name tagson, and I get nervous
because I forget people'snames pretty often as well.
So hey, they also benefits mebecause if I forgot,
maybe the name of the personI sit next to you guys,
you could see their nametag.
(16:46):
But seriously, I do think itreally does reinforce
a lot of the values of the Auburn familyand bring us all together.
And it really issuch a simple it's a simple concept
when you think about it, just sayinghey to someone that you're walking by,
but it's so coolto see how something
so easy and simple and smalland just viewing
it can have such a big impact.
Like you couldyou can change someone's day
or week for the better,because you have no idea
(17:07):
what's going on in their life.
And that's that's the biggest thing.
And I think it just showsthe human touch of Auburn
that makes Auburn so special.
Is the fact that we just get out thereand say hi to each other.
I mean, it's so simple,but it really is so great.
And it, it,it defines the Auburn community.
So I remember Betsy Glenn,who's someone who used to be an SGA
and was in charge of Owen and Iwhen we were both in freshman
form together way back in the day.
(17:28):
Back in the day, way back in the day.
She had talked to usonce, and I remember this freshman year.
And then it came back to my mindwhen I was running a campaign,
was that you don't knowif that's the only person
who speaks to that person this week.
You don't know if you're the only personwho calls them by name this week.
You don't know if you'rethe only person
who asked them how their day is goingand sticks around
to hear the answer this week.
And that is like,I mean, it always makes you want to cry,
(17:49):
but it really is.
That could be the case.
You never know.
And hey,that I think is a cool opportunity
to meet the studentswherever they may be.
Yeah, it'sone of the more unique, traditions
I've ever heard of, which is really cool.
And it's so it isso simple, is so straightforward,
and it is the embodiment of,the southern hospitality.
And, you know,I do love the good creed reference.
You justgotta love a good Creed reference.
(18:12):
Slip that and, you know,it's always going to be in there.
Well, I do want to get tosome of the hard questions, if we will.
This is going to lock in here.
This is real tense.
All right.
So this is this is this.
So, this is really big stuff here.
I want to knowbecause it's my favorite thing to do.
I ask it to every single personon the podcast as every single person
I talk to that.
Besides, just like thehey from heyday, right?
(18:32):
Is, how did you get to Auburn?
So I would love to knowhow you managed to get here.
What made you come to Auburn?
Yeah, I can go first.
I've got a funny story.
Or I guess it's kind of funny.
It's just like I'm expecting to fall out.
I'm much here, okay? It's not.
It's not gonna make you laugh like that.
It's just like,What a it's a kind of a coincidence,
but not really.
So I was bornand raised in mobile, Alabama,
(18:53):
and so is my older brother,but my whole extended family
from Fox or Massachusetts.
So not from the South. Okay.
Not from down here.
So it didn't really have any tiesto Alabama.
And my dad was in the military,so he traveled around a lot
before I was born,with my wife or with his wife?
I don't have a wife.
Yeah, that was crazy. Breaking news.
Breaking news?
Oh, no.
My my mom and my dad,they traveled a lot. Before. That's,
(19:16):
they travel a ton.
And, so my dad really encouraged meto looking to go into the military,
after high school.
So I, I tried to go to West Point.
That was initiallywhere I wanted to go to senior year.
Yeah.
Went on two tours up there, got my,congressional recommendation to do it.
Applied.
And then at the end of my senioryear of high school,
ended up not getting in academically.
And that was a huge closed door for me.
And I didn't really knowwhat was next, for sure.
(19:37):
So the next school that I applied toand visited was Auburn,
and it was the first timeI had ever been to Auburn.
First time I stepped on campus heredidn't know
I knew a few people from high schoolthat went here, but besides,
that had no like family connection here.
And as soon as I didmy student recruiter tour
and walked around campus,I knew this is where I wanted to go
and I was the only other schoolI applied to. And so that was it.
That was it for me.
And that's just that's Auburnthat like you walk around,
(20:00):
you walk around this placeand you feel the community
and you feel that atmosphere ofjust like walk on the concourse on a ran.
I think I came on a Thursday,so I came back and played
a football game on Friday night,and we were up here on Thursday
and just walking around like,you can feel the atmosphere,
you can feel how welcoming it is.
And that is Auburnand that I knew right
then that's where I wanted to go.
Only other school up.
I do, you know, I love that.
That's great.
(20:20):
My story is like actually kindof similar.
Yours also differentbut similar ish
in that it was a coincidence.
I am from Kansas City, Missouri,first generation Auburn student.
My parentsboth went to Missouri State
University and are very involved.
But I knew thatI did not want to go to Missouri State.
Kansas City is also right on linebetween Missouri and Kansas,
and I was raised a Ku fan,which means that
I was not going to Mizzou.
(20:41):
So my parents knewpretty much from the get go
that I was going out of state.
It was more of a questionof where as opposed to if.
So, I had been looking at schoolsin the northeast area like Virginia
DC schools briefly, Wisconsin,just I was here and there and everywhere.
And November of my senior yearcame around.
And I'm stillconsidering these schools,
(21:01):
but out of state meritbased scholarships, in the DC
Virginia area are few and far between.
So my parents were pretty much lovinglysat me down and were like, Riley,
you're getting a liberal arts degree.
Maybe you shouldn'tgo into debt for this.
And they were correct.
So they then we'd been getting mailfrom the University of Alabama.
(21:22):
So we were like,all right, let's just go see Bama.
Why not?
I don't know anything about the school.
So we went to the University of Alabamaduring an Alabama LSU home
football game in Texas,probably a big game.
I personally had never beento a college football game before,
so heck,that's a heck of a first
introduction to the sport.
You can imagine my fear.
(21:42):
Walking through the streetsof Tuscaloosa, I'm like, mom,
we need to leave right now.
I'm not going to school here.
So we're thinking to ourselves,I wonder what else is
in the state of Alabama?
And my cousin had just gotten marriedto a girl who had graduated from Auburn,
and she was like,y'all have to come see Auburn.
You're breaking my heart.
So we were like, okay, fine.
We get in the car, we drive to Auburn,I set foot on campus.
I didn't go on an official tour.
It wasn'tlike we had thought about seeing Auburn,
(22:04):
but it wasn't like awe have to see Auburn.
So I setfoot on campus in Stillwater own.
I just walked around.
It was a Saturday.
I'm sure we had an away game.
Town was peaceful,birds were chirping, sun was shining.
All the things, all the things.
And I also knew immediatelyI was pretty much just like, oh,
I think I'm supposed togo to college here
and then applied on the way homeand committed as soon as I was accepted
(22:27):
and on the way home.
Look at that.
Wow, I thinkI applied before I even like,
I just come as a kid.
I was like,I'm always going to go to Auburn.
I don't think I only applied to Auburn.
And I'm like, damn,I might have applied to another school.
No, I think I maybe two other,but it was always Auburn forever.
I think that's such a cool thingabout Auburn too,
is that there'sthe multi-generational Auburn family.
Yeah, that love this place.
Grew up around this placegrew up coming to football games
(22:48):
and that's so amazing.
And then you got peoplethat just like
don't know anything about itall, stumble across
some almost across it,and then everyone can come together
and love this placeand be part of the family that it is.
I think I'd have to ask my dad,but I'm pretty sure
I'm the 26th person from my family.
Like cousins.
And that's so cool, everybody.
I think I'm 26 somewhere. I'm 26, 27.
(23:10):
So I'm like that, my sister right here.
But it goes all the way backto my grandmother's brother,
who they moved from New York to,I think they were living in New York
and they moved to Alabama.
And when they moved here,someone inevitably asked,
are you an Auburn fan or Alabama? Yeah.
And this guy was pretty obnoxious.
I said, well, he's an Alabama fan.
Well, if you'renow that fan that I'm Barbour fan,
and that's how he became an Auburn fan.
(23:31):
And then he ended up going to Auburn.
He was the first of that 26 or 27or however many came to Auburn
trickle down.
I think now it's in like the 30swith some of them.
That's awesome and stuff.
There's a lot of us that's cool.
Yeah, I think that's alsojust been in my blood, you know?
Oh yeah, that's how it is.
But as we're closing up on timehere, I did want to ask, as we kind of
are looking at whatthe future holds for the next people
to come through SGA.
What's a great examples or some chancesthat students
(23:53):
who are coming in to miss underclassmenget involved with SGA,
start to kind of get their foot inlike you guys did as you started.
What what are some great opportunitiesthey have for that? Definitely.
I think one of the coolest thingsthat we do, it's a year round program
for students to just get pluggedin at at their time,
whenever they want to,is called the Exp branch of SGA,
and that looks likejust one time sign ups for
(24:13):
for volunteeringfor events and participating in them.
And that goes from volunteeringfor things like hey day
coming up soon or CRE daythat's going to be going on
in the spring,or Shaker distribution
for football games on Fridays,just one time events like that.
You can join a group meetand get plugged in on our website
and find waysto get plugged into those things.
And then that's a great wayto just meet people and then understand
what's going on within SGA.
And in the spring,they'll be a huge application
(24:35):
window for people in cabinetthat want to get plugged
in, want to be servingin a full time, year
round role within SGA,which I think is an amazing thing. Yeah.
Absolutely wonderful.
Well, thank you guys, for coming. Riley.
You know, and I appreciateyou spend some time with us
here at the podcast and,looking forward
to seeing what you guys dothe next few months for you
starting your positions and,and making Auburn
(24:55):
a better place every single day.
Thank you so much for having it.
Thank you.
Appreciate it.
And thank you for listening as well.
We'll be back again next monthwith more members of the Auburn family
maybe don't we'll be backfrom a special assignment.
Who knows.
We'll see if we can findthat guy around this place.
But until then, War Eagle!War Eagle!
Welcome into Everything Auburn podcast.
We get to speak to membersthe Auburn Family every single month.
I'm the chronically underdressed Carter,and thank you for joining me.
Today is a special daybecause we have not one,
but two members of Auburn familyand also two students here from Auburn.
We have Miss Auburn, Riley Parman,and SGA President Owen Beaverstock.
Welcome to the podcast, guys.
(00:26):
Thank youfor having all excited to be here.
Well, so you're a seasoned podcast proin a sense, for sure.
Okay. Very cryptic. And I'm a rookie.
This is my first time.
All right.
So all pressure is onfresh legs over here.
So we'll let Riley go first.
You learn. Okay, I'll watch that.
Watch and learn.
Absolutely. So, one to start. Just,Miss Auburn.
What does it mean? What is Miss Auburn?
(00:47):
Tell us all about it.
I have never been Miss Auburn,so I don't know much. Awesome.
So yes, Miss Auburn is a traditionthat started in 1934,
and she is technicallythe official hostess
of Auburn University.
But thankfully my friend Owen is here,so this example will make sense.
When I explained it to my relativesfrom Kansas City, Missouri,
who thought I was starting aroundin an evening gown,
which is a real positionMiss Auburn University,
(01:08):
but it is not totally a position.
Totally distinct.
Not similar names at all.
Not similar names at all.
One more difference.
But who's counting?
I explain it as if Auburn were England.
Okay, Owen would be the Prime Ministerand I would be serving
as the Queen of England.
So Owen's going to domore of the, like, policy
(01:29):
related things on campus.
He's going to perhapssit in more meetings than I am. Okay.
She makes the analogy ofshe's the Queen, right?
I happen to be in England.
But then I do more things.
That is like influencingthe culture of the student body.
So that can be through thingslike appearances,
that can be through initiatives.
We do empower her,which is a women's leadership dinner.
(01:50):
And then each Miss Auburn has a platformthat they also carry out
throughout their term,but they're also the face of Auburn to
the community.
So I'll do things like readto kids in schools.
I'm doing on Wednesday podcast,engaging with community members
and civic leaders, things like that.
So my days are very, very differentbecause the role can be pretty much
whatever the current person in officesays they want it to be,
(02:12):
but it's less awesome.
Wonderful. And then, Mr. Prime Minister.
Oh, and,walk me through your my side of it.
Absolutely.
So the SGA presidentor the equivalent for our student body
president is somethingthat's, elected
by the student bodyevery February
and the best way to describe it,I would say, is the advocate
for students within all decisionsthat are made
within our administration at Auburnand within every department
(02:33):
of, of our administration.
You should go and servewithin those meetings
as the student representationrepresentation and the student voice.
And also,I think one of the incredible privileges
of this position at Auburnthat's very unique to Auburn
compared to some of our peers,is that the president is a non-voting
member of our board of trusteesfor a year. Really? Absolutely.
Wow.
Which is an incredible opportunityto get to sit with the board
(02:54):
and and talk to them.
That was actually one thingI got to do over
the summer was travel and meet with themone on one and just talk to them
about the student experience,what's going on with students,
but that that is a great wayto describe it.
There rally ofyou are the advocate
and just going into meetingsand representing students
and in the student experience. Wonderful.
Well, so,it's a natural progression here.
Why did youI mean, you can rock,
(03:15):
paper, scissors on who goes first,which is my favorite way to determine it.
But why do you want to runfor your respective,
you know, QueenPrime minister position
which what you're dodirectly for scissors.
Yeah. We can do our previous year.
Oh this is great.
Oh my gosh.
There he is.
Okay, I'll go first.
There you go.
That's the first time I've seen oneand then chose.
(03:37):
I've said that so many times of thisand no one has actually ever done it.
But now we'll take you. Yep.
We're ready to go.
So, like Owen said,both of our positions
are elected in February.
But Miss Auburn's a little bit uniquein that you don't choose to run.
You're nominated to run.
So I was nominated by my sorority.
And then every organization on campushas the opportunity
to nominate one woman.
(03:57):
And then it goes througha two round interview process.
And then you run an all studentbody campaign,
which takes place in February.
But you start preparing for thatin November.
And for me,I'm a first generation Auburn
soon from Kansas City, Missouri,and I did not know what Miss Auburn was
when I came.
Charlotte, could you write?
So for me,it was less of a decision
(04:18):
to run and more of aafter I was nominated, I was like, wow,
this is a great opportunityto gain interview experience.
If I was given the opportunityto run a campaign,
that would be such a unique opportunityto love the Auburn student body well,
in the way that I chooseto engage with people
during a weekwhere I'll talk to more students
than I'll ever have the opportunity toas just an independent individual.
And it was less of a like,I don't think I started thinking about
(04:41):
what it would be like to be in the roleuntil after
I was elected, because it was just like,what is in front of me?
If the interviewwas in front of me, okay,
even if I don't get to top five,what can I bring to
the important peoplewho will be interviewing me
that will benefit them after the factduring the campaign?
Like how can I benefit the student bodythrough the mechanism of the campaign?
(05:03):
And then after I was elected,it was like, oh, how endearing.
How would I like to serve?
Oh, I actually have to makedo I have to do this now?
What is that going to look like?
So it's just interesting.
And I think that's kindof the nature of it. Nominated.
Yeah. Role. That makes sense.
I think the uniquething about this position
is that you choose to run for it.
So it is a little bit differentthan the Miss Auburn.
(05:23):
And I think my biggest thingin my story
of how I got to this point,it starts when I was a freshman and,
I did SGA in high schooland really enjoyed it,
but it wasn't reallyI wasn't really set on getting plugged
into it.
Coming into college,I didn't think that
that was going to be my path.
And then I actually had some older guys,that were around me my freshman year.
They got me pluggedin, encouraged me
to get plugged in with SGA, and I did,and it really was just
(05:43):
kind of my fun outlet forfor the first
to two years of collegewas just my community
that enjoyed getting to see.
It was kind of my thing on the side that,I just love doing,
and I was passionateabout what I was doing.
And then it really got real,going into the end of my sophomore year
when some of my friendswere just kind of encouraging
me and made me just think aboutwhat it would look like to run
for a position like this.
(06:03):
And it honestlyreally opened my eyes to it, cause
I wasn't really thinking about it.
And I feel likewith these kind of positions,
you never reallyyou never seek it out in the sense of
you think that you could do itbecause it's almost like an imposter
syndrome at first.
Like there's no waythat I could do something
as great as that.
But it's a big campus, too.
It's, oh my God,there's 34,000 students at Auburn.
Like,there's a, there's a huge, huge campus.
And but then just to seethe encouragement from people
(06:25):
and I think that'sone of the best things
about Auburn and the communitythat is the Auburn family is
that people can see the best parts of youthat you may not see,
and they'll buildyou up and encourage you
to see that for yourself as well.
That's awesome.
That's awesome.
Well,I got to know because, again,
I was a lowly film student,so I don't know what it's like
to be important on campus.
What are some, you know,favorite moments, anecdotes,
stories, weird situations, what have you.
(06:47):
I think you can call it busy.
Yeah.
Is the best way to say it,because it is a
it's almost like a full time jobin a lot of ways of what we get to do,
which is a huge blessingand an awesome opportunity
to serve and give back to Auburn,because it's given us a ton
trying to think ofwhat are some funny stories
I've just been put.
You find yourselftalking to adults a lot.
Like, I feel like I've become really goodat talking to adults,
which is awesome and a really fun thing,but a skill.
(07:10):
Like, as a college studentin my first three years,
I didn't think, likeI would really need to develop
at that point.
Yeah, now that makes sense.
I think a lot of the cool thingsthat we get to do
revolve around my platform,which was encouraging students
to leverage the resourcesthat Auburn University offers
to pair them with their passionsto better
serve our campus, our community,and the world in the way
that we chose to execute that passionor that platform was through
(07:31):
highlighting studentand organizations of the month,
which Miss Auburn has historically done,but has been really fun for us
to get to start this year.
So that means that we get to talk to,one, we try to focus on like
smaller organizationswho are doing more niche activities,
to show them as a pathwayfor other students to get involved
in that niche activitythat they may care about.
And that's put usat like the Auburn Bee Lab.
(07:53):
So that was cool, dude.
I was out therea few weeks ago, actually.
Very cool.
I got to hold like a frame of bees.
I also went to the fisheries,Fisheries and Aquaculture Center,
and I talked to so many studentswho are so passionate about fish.
I personally am deeplyafraid of touching fish.
So when I held a very large catfish,which you can see on our social medias,
(08:14):
I was so scared. It was terrifying.
But I did conquer my fear.
But a sweet storythat came from that last month.
Our organization of the monthwere the EU singers
and as soon as we got therewe were asked.
I am meeting them as casemy Director of media,
and she's awesomeand she's here in the back
just watching everyone. Yeah,we walked up and one of
the girls was like, it'sso nice to meet you, Riley.
(08:35):
Like you were the first SGA electionthat I ever voted in.
And now it's so cool that, like,you're highlighting my organization
because that's why I voted for you.
Because I thought that you caredabout people like me.
And I was like,oh my gosh, it's just oh my gosh.
And then they sang the alma materfor us, and Scott and I both cried.
It was beautiful.
And that was probably like topthree moments of my time at Auburn,
(09:01):
just because it was likesome weeks are like, oh, and was saying,
so busy and you're running from thingto thing to thing to thing
that it doesn't even feel likeyou have time
to remember the storiesin the moments from each of those things,
and then you'll have likethat could have been
that was a 35 minute video shoot.
And I think about itlike every time I walk
into doing something like thisor interacting with the student
because I was like, okay, this like,this does have weight.
(09:24):
It's not just movement.
Yeah, that makes sense.
So I'll give you two pieces here,which is one I've very unique
job where I get to do very similar.
I kind of go into this thing,I'm very invested it for a couple weeks
and I'm out and go in another group.
Yeah.
So I've getting to seeso many different elements.
Just a taste of campus,which is really, really incredible.
And I've had very similar experienceswhere like,
I was only with this personfor an hour and like,
(09:45):
I think about them all the time,you know, and it,
it just happens so very often.
The other thing I was going to give youis I'm not scared of fish to start.
I want to start. Okay. Yeah.
However, I do have an irrationaland pathological fear of frogs.
Really.
So so it's like adjacent to fish.
So I guess fish. So I get it.
I don't know whymy dad's terrified of frogs,
(10:06):
and I think it just imprinted on meas a child that he's scared of them.
So that's somethingyou should be scared of it now.
I'm terrified of them.
Hate them, don't like it,so I understand. That's fascinating.
Yeah, this is slimy things I don't,I don't.
The way they jumpthe sudden movements like,
are really hard for me as well.
They're very unpredictable. Yeah.
See mine is so booksand I was going to say what
your mine is bugsand really any like small creature
(10:27):
that flies around and so likeif you like when you were at the
the Bee Lab Yeah.
At the Bee Lab Yeah, yeah.
I'm when we saw those videos and picturesand like you're in the suit
like I'm like, I'm doing the thing. Yeah.
That would be that'swhere I see I was checking out the Bee
lab fisheries.
No. See, I love fisheries.
I think like you should go.
They would probably love to have you.
That's awesome.
It's athat's like one of the cool
the first swim.
(10:48):
And it's like we talked about itof like the cool part about this
and really all of this is that every dayyou get to find something new about.
Yeah.
Like you're learning a new thingthat you didn't know before
and like that's these aregreat examples
of of things that likejust the general student often
isn't aware of.
And you get to shine a lightand just learn something new and learn
how just broadand diverse Auburn as a campus
and as a university really is.
(11:08):
And that's a that's such a special thing.
Yeah, it'ssomething that I talk about,
I'm sure has heard mesay it before,
which is there's, you know,30 some odd plus thousand students here
plus thousand faculty, like,there's always there's so many interest
or you cannot walk in a roomand not find an interesting story. No.
Absolutely.
And this campus is so large,you can walk into some different places
to see thingsyou never even know existed.
Hundred percent whichwhich is so incredible.
(11:30):
So, we've heard all about Riley's goalsand her aspirations for for her platform.
Oh.
And what kind of directionyou're trying to take things.
I know you're about halfwaythrough your tenure here
as SGA president,so what's what's what's
kind of the goals, expectationsand what the future will hold?
There's a couplethat I'd love to talk about
because that's the the privilegeof getting to be halfway through.
(11:51):
We've honestly been ableto make a lot of progress
with a lot of great things,which is awesome.
The first one, I've got threethat I really want to talk about.
The first one is, revolvesaround campus security.
Because I know that we're in a, a timethat's just a lot of uncertainty.
And that's a big topic aroundcampus of people
just being concernedand wanting to be safe at Auburn.
And we're blessed to be on a campusthat feels so safe.
But what's what can we doas the university
to make sure that that we are. Yeah.
(12:13):
And so at the beginning of our term,a big part of one of our big initiatives,
our exact goalswas revolving around security.
And this past week,we were able to work with campus security
and get, people request,funded and approved,
to secure fundingfor additional security role drivers.
So we're going to have ten new securityshuttle drivers around campus two,
which is awesome.
And then we're alsogoing to have the funding
(12:34):
for a 24/7 security presence on campus.
So at night right now,there's security
specials that walk aroundand make sure everything's in order.
And now we have the fundingto employ them to do that
during the day as well.
So that's an amazing thing.
And those special staffcan be able to walk around.
That's going to change the feel of campusand to make it feel more safer.
But it's also going to allow usto have the certain things
that we have already on campusthat are making this place safe.
(12:56):
We're going tothose special screening, able
to make sure that those are up to dateand being used and enforced.
And that's just a great thingfor our campus.
The next thing, this is onethat I'm pretty excited about.
And this has to do with 320 crosswalkover by Chick-Fil-A.
And if you ask anyone right now,including the city of Auburn,
they'd say that's a huge pressurepoint in regards to our campus.
Just with student flowfrom crossing on and off campus,
(13:17):
and then traffic on Magnoliato students like going to Chick-Fil-A,
I don't know, I think it's safethat I've heard of this place.
I heard a couplepeople said they enjoy it.
But our big thing is, right now,with the way that traffic is flowing,
students can just walkas much as they want,
and that's good for a student.
But it's also a safety concernbecause you get students going
whenever they want.
And then that also allows driversto get a little impatient
(13:39):
because Magnolia shuts downwhenever it's lunchtime or class change.
So one thing that we've workedwith, Auburn University facilities
and Auburn, the city onis trying to find a way
that we can put a three stop,a three
stop traffic light up there on 320.
So instead of justa continuous crosswalk,
you're going to have a threestop traffic light.
And we've secured the fundingfor that already.
And we're in the planning process.
(13:59):
And hopefully we get it doneby the spring.
The spring academic term,this is going to allow students
to cross at one moment togetherso that they're not being inconvenienced,
but it's also going to allow trafficto flow
in the way that it needs to,just to to make Auburn operate
in the way that, as we all know,the traffic is, is crazy, right?
Oh, yeah.
Last oneI want to talk about my third one.
So one of the biggest issuesthat I heard during my campaign,
and I've heard fromstudents, is just the issue of housing
(14:21):
and finding affordablehousing around Auburn.
That's just a hugeit's like in the recent
years, just rent prices aroundAuburn have gone up, tremendously.
So, we've been workingwith our board of trustees,
and this past Friday,got the vote passed, to Cambridge.
So the Cambridge residencehall is offline right now,
but they're going to rebuilda new structure over there,
and it'sgoing to be a 680 bed residence
(14:42):
hall opposed to a 340 bed,which is what it was before.
So that's going to providemore beds for Auburn students
at a much more affordable rate,than what the current off
campus market is.
So we think that's a huge winfor our students,
and it's going to providea lot of great things, a great spot, too.
And you get to see the votebecause you're at the board of trustees.
Absolutely. Look at this.
What a, you know, full circle.
Well, some other excitingthings are going on at SGA
(15:03):
besides your particular, goals,which are truly incredible
is, as y'all have referred to it as,and I'll be using it as forever.
Now, the SGASuper Bowl of Heyday coming up,
which is truly one of the best Auburntraditions and events currently.
Walk me throughwhat you're excited about.
What makes you the most excited aboutHey Day?
Any experiences you had with Hey Day?
(15:25):
So this was an eventthat was started after World War two.
To welcome back our veteransto the Auburn community.
And just by bringing them back inand saying hello, it really took off.
And now is a huge Auburn traditionof just welcoming people around campus
and in the community.
It was the first thingthat I got
volunteered for was an SGAwhen I was a freshman,
was volunteering at heydayand being at a table,
just passing out name tags.
And it really is.
(15:45):
It's an amazing part of campus.
I love it, it and get so excited about itbecause I love talking to strangers.
Okay?
And on heyday,everyone is wearing a nametag
and if they're not wearing a nametag,you have the opportunity to identify
something about them,allowing them to then put on a nametag,
which to me is just like a lot of fun.
Like how oftenI love volunteering at heyday because,
I mean, everyone's walking by class,students, class, change costumes.
(16:06):
People are trying to getwhere they're going.
You know, we very head downlike they're on their way up and heyday.
You get to be like, oh, I love your bag.
Do you want a nametag? Like purple shirt?
I love that shirt. Do you want nametag?
Which it's likeyou're asking them to get a nametag,
but you're also, like engagingin a real conversation with them
and then approaching the table.
You see that touch point to be like,oh my gosh, it's so good to see you.
(16:26):
Like, I hope you have an awesome day.
I'm rooting for you.
Like go forth and make friends.
And it's justI think it opens up
more conversations in class too,because you see people
with their name tagson, and I get nervous
because I forget people'snames pretty often as well.
So hey, they also benefits mebecause if I forgot,
maybe the name of the personI sit next to you guys,
you could see their nametag.
(16:46):
But seriously, I do think itreally does reinforce
a lot of the values of the Auburn familyand bring us all together.
And it really issuch a simple it's a simple concept
when you think about it, just sayinghey to someone that you're walking by,
but it's so coolto see how something
so easy and simple and smalland just viewing
it can have such a big impact.
Like you couldyou can change someone's day
or week for the better,because you have no idea
(17:07):
what's going on in their life.
And that's that's the biggest thing.
And I think it just showsthe human touch of Auburn
that makes Auburn so special.
Is the fact that we just get out thereand say hi to each other.
I mean, it's so simple,but it really is so great.
And it, it,it defines the Auburn community.
So I remember Betsy Glenn,who's someone who used to be an SGA
and was in charge of Owen and Iwhen we were both in freshman
form together way back in the day.
(17:28):
Back in the day, way back in the day.
She had talked to usonce, and I remember this freshman year.
And then it came back to my mindwhen I was running a campaign,
was that you don't knowif that's the only person
who speaks to that person this week.
You don't know if you're the only personwho calls them by name this week.
You don't know if you'rethe only person
who asked them how their day is goingand sticks around
to hear the answer this week.
And that is like,I mean, it always makes you want to cry,
(17:49):
but it really is.
That could be the case.
You never know.
And hey,that I think is a cool opportunity
to meet the studentswherever they may be.
Yeah, it'sone of the more unique, traditions
I've ever heard of, which is really cool.
And it's so it isso simple, is so straightforward,
and it is the embodiment of,the southern hospitality.
And, you know,I do love the good creed reference.
You justgotta love a good Creed reference.
(18:12):
Slip that and, you know,it's always going to be in there.
Well, I do want to get tosome of the hard questions, if we will.
This is going to lock in here.
This is real tense.
All right.
So this is this is this.
So, this is really big stuff here.
I want to knowbecause it's my favorite thing to do.
I ask it to every single personon the podcast as every single person
I talk to that.
Besides, just like thehey from heyday, right?
(18:32):
Is, how did you get to Auburn?
So I would love to knowhow you managed to get here.
What made you come to Auburn?
Yeah, I can go first.
I've got a funny story.
Or I guess it's kind of funny.
It's just like I'm expecting to fall out.
I'm much here, okay? It's not.
It's not gonna make you laugh like that.
It's just like,What a it's a kind of a coincidence,
but not really.
So I was bornand raised in mobile, Alabama,
(18:53):
and so is my older brother,but my whole extended family
from Fox or Massachusetts.
So not from the South. Okay.
Not from down here.
So it didn't really have any tiesto Alabama.
And my dad was in the military,so he traveled around a lot
before I was born,with my wife or with his wife?
I don't have a wife.
Yeah, that was crazy. Breaking news.
Breaking news?
Oh, no.
My my mom and my dad,they traveled a lot. Before. That's,
(19:16):
they travel a ton.
And, so my dad really encouraged meto looking to go into the military,
after high school.
So I, I tried to go to West Point.
That was initiallywhere I wanted to go to senior year.
Yeah.
Went on two tours up there, got my,congressional recommendation to do it.
Applied.
And then at the end of my senioryear of high school,
ended up not getting in academically.
And that was a huge closed door for me.
And I didn't really knowwhat was next, for sure.
(19:37):
So the next school that I applied toand visited was Auburn,
and it was the first timeI had ever been to Auburn.
First time I stepped on campus heredidn't know
I knew a few people from high schoolthat went here, but besides,
that had no like family connection here.
And as soon as I didmy student recruiter tour
and walked around campus,I knew this is where I wanted to go
and I was the only other schoolI applied to. And so that was it.
That was it for me.
And that's just that's Auburnthat like you walk around,
(20:00):
you walk around this placeand you feel the community
and you feel that atmosphere ofjust like walk on the concourse on a ran.
I think I came on a Thursday,so I came back and played
a football game on Friday night,and we were up here on Thursday
and just walking around like,you can feel the atmosphere,
you can feel how welcoming it is.
And that is Auburnand that I knew right
then that's where I wanted to go.
Only other school up.
I do, you know, I love that.
That's great.
(20:20):
My story is like actually kindof similar.
Yours also differentbut similar ish
in that it was a coincidence.
I am from Kansas City, Missouri,first generation Auburn student.
My parentsboth went to Missouri State
University and are very involved.
But I knew thatI did not want to go to Missouri State.
Kansas City is also right on linebetween Missouri and Kansas,
and I was raised a Ku fan,which means that
I was not going to Mizzou.
(20:41):
So my parents knewpretty much from the get go
that I was going out of state.
It was more of a questionof where as opposed to if.
So, I had been looking at schoolsin the northeast area like Virginia
DC schools briefly, Wisconsin,just I was here and there and everywhere.
And November of my senior yearcame around.
And I'm stillconsidering these schools,
(21:01):
but out of state meritbased scholarships, in the DC
Virginia area are few and far between.
So my parents were pretty much lovinglysat me down and were like, Riley,
you're getting a liberal arts degree.
Maybe you shouldn'tgo into debt for this.
And they were correct.
So they then we'd been getting mailfrom the University of Alabama.
(21:22):
So we were like,all right, let's just go see Bama.
Why not?
I don't know anything about the school.
So we went to the University of Alabamaduring an Alabama LSU home
football game in Texas,probably a big game.
I personally had never beento a college football game before,
so heck,that's a heck of a first
introduction to the sport.
You can imagine my fear.
(21:42):
Walking through the streetsof Tuscaloosa, I'm like, mom,
we need to leave right now.
I'm not going to school here.
So we're thinking to ourselves,I wonder what else is
in the state of Alabama?
And my cousin had just gotten marriedto a girl who had graduated from Auburn,
and she was like,y'all have to come see Auburn.
You're breaking my heart.
So we were like, okay, fine.
We get in the car, we drive to Auburn,I set foot on campus.
I didn't go on an official tour.
It wasn'tlike we had thought about seeing Auburn,
(22:04):
but it wasn't like awe have to see Auburn.
So I setfoot on campus in Stillwater own.
I just walked around.
It was a Saturday.
I'm sure we had an away game.
Town was peaceful,birds were chirping, sun was shining.
All the things, all the things.
And I also knew immediatelyI was pretty much just like, oh,
I think I'm supposed togo to college here
and then applied on the way homeand committed as soon as I was accepted
(22:27):
and on the way home.
Look at that.
Wow, I thinkI applied before I even like,
I just come as a kid.
I was like,I'm always going to go to Auburn.
I don't think I only applied to Auburn.
And I'm like, damn,I might have applied to another school.
No, I think I maybe two other,but it was always Auburn forever.
I think that's such a cool thingabout Auburn too,
is that there'sthe multi-generational Auburn family.
Yeah, that love this place.
Grew up around this placegrew up coming to football games
(22:48):
and that's so amazing.
And then you got peoplethat just like
don't know anything about itall, stumble across
some almost across it,and then everyone can come together
and love this placeand be part of the family that it is.
I think I'd have to ask my dad,but I'm pretty sure
I'm the 26th person from my family.
Like cousins.
And that's so cool, everybody.
I think I'm 26 somewhere. I'm 26, 27.
(23:10):
So I'm like that, my sister right here.
But it goes all the way backto my grandmother's brother,
who they moved from New York to,I think they were living in New York
and they moved to Alabama.
And when they moved here,someone inevitably asked,
are you an Auburn fan or Alabama? Yeah.
And this guy was pretty obnoxious.
I said, well, he's an Alabama fan.
Well, if you'renow that fan that I'm Barbour fan,
and that's how he became an Auburn fan.
(23:31):
And then he ended up going to Auburn.
He was the first of that 26 or 27or however many came to Auburn
trickle down.
I think now it's in like the 30swith some of them.
That's awesome and stuff.
There's a lot of us that's cool.
Yeah, I think that's alsojust been in my blood, you know?
Oh yeah, that's how it is.
But as we're closing up on timehere, I did want to ask, as we kind of
are looking at whatthe future holds for the next people
to come through SGA.
What's a great examples or some chancesthat students
(23:53):
who are coming in to miss underclassmenget involved with SGA,
start to kind of get their foot inlike you guys did as you started.
What what are some great opportunitiesthey have for that? Definitely.
I think one of the coolest thingsthat we do, it's a year round program
for students to just get pluggedin at at their time,
whenever they want to,is called the Exp branch of SGA,
and that looks likejust one time sign ups for
(24:13):
for volunteeringfor events and participating in them.
And that goes from volunteeringfor things like hey day
coming up soon or CRE daythat's going to be going on
in the spring,or Shaker distribution
for football games on Fridays,just one time events like that.
You can join a group meetand get plugged in on our website
and find waysto get plugged into those things.
And then that's a great wayto just meet people and then understand
what's going on within SGA.
And in the spring,they'll be a huge application
(24:35):
window for people in cabinetthat want to get plugged
in, want to be servingin a full time, year
round role within SGA,which I think is an amazing thing. Yeah.
Absolutely wonderful.
Well, thank you guys, for coming. Riley.
You know, and I appreciateyou spend some time with us
here at the podcast and,looking forward
to seeing what you guys dothe next few months for you
starting your positions and,and making Auburn
(24:55):
a better place every single day.
Thank you so much for having it.
Thank you.
Appreciate it.
And thank you for listening as well.
We'll be back again next monthwith more members of the Auburn family
maybe don't we'll be backfrom a special assignment.
Who knows.
We'll see if we can findthat guy around this place.
But until then, War Eagle!War Eagle!
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