Students take the 'Plunge' at the Auburn Rec

About 70 students piled around the Auburn Recreation and Wellness Center pool, waiting for the countdown to start. Aubie took his place on the diving board, leading the crowd in a "Bodda Getta" cheer. Three, two, one and the students plunged into the frigid water, taking the polar plunge at the Auburn Rec and Wellness Center on Tuesday night.

Peter Sullivan, sophomore in pre-building science, said he decided to jump into the pool because all of his "Auburn buddies" were jumping with him.

"That was incredibly freezing but worth it," Sullivan said. "I wouldn’t have done it without all my friends there."

Sullivan said this was a last-minute decision to go, but he's glad he jumped.

"I think if I had thought ahead too much, I probably wouldn’t have come and done this," Sullivan said.

David Tice, sophomore in psychology, said tradition is what brought him back to this year's event. Tice and his friend Nathan Pass, junior in sociology, both plunged at last year's event.

"Running back between the hot tub and the really cold water is always fun," Tice said.

Pass said he thinks the event is "sort of a publicity stunt" that he and Tice do.

"[We do it for] tradition, and it’s a pretty good time," Pass said. "And we kind of hate ourselves."

David Smith, senior in Spanish, said this is his first year taking the polar plunge.

"We saw on Instagram that they were going to have one, so we figured why not go," Smith said. "We’ve got nothing to lose."

Smith said the free T-shirt was a bonus for taking the plunge, but said the event was something "you’ve got to do once in your lifetime" and for other students to just go for it if they decide to do the event next year.

"As cold as it was, we got a bunch of idiots around us so they had the same idea as us, but it’s fun," Smith said. "Everyone here is pretty cool." 

Amanda Zitzer, graduate student in athletic training/kinesiology, said she didn't expect the pool to be as cold as it was. Zitzer, originally from Wisconsin, said she decided to take the plunge to do a cold weather activity.

"I had to prove to my mom that I have not changed since I got here," Zitzer said. "I think everyone should do it."

Zitzer said she finally took a picture with Aubie after one year of being a student at Auburn.

"There’s nothing better than an American flag swimsuit and a picture with Aubie," Zitzer said.

Nicholas Head, coordinator for campus recreation marketing, said this is just a fraction of what students can expect in upcoming events this semester. 

Leanne Greene, assistant director of campus recreation marketing, said attendance had tripled compared to last year's event.

"Last year, we had 26 jumpers, and this year, we had almost 70," Greene said. "Everybody seems to be having a lovely time, and we can’t wait to do it again next year."