Student Recruiters is an organization made up of 60 student volunteers, providing walking campus tours three times a day to potential students.
Cristiana Shipma, senior in communications, is a second year student recruiter.
“I love to walk people around campus and tell them why I love Auburn, and that’s worth it, no matter how my day is going," Shipma said. "It always brightens my spirit to give a tour, and I absolutely love that about it."
Shipma said she enjoys answering personal questions as well as Auburn-related questions.
“You just kind of walk them around campus answer any questions that they may have," Shipma said. "Afterwards, it's really fun because they ask you more personal questions that they were afraid to ask in front of other people."
Student recruiters wear orange polos tucked into khaki shorts on the days they give tours, Shipma said.
“It’s kind of funny being in your uniform all day, because you look very different from everyone else," Shipma said. "The first couple times I wore it, I was kind of self-conscious, but now it's nice that I don't have to think about what I'm going to wear on those days anymore.”
Shipma said most of the campus tour is explaining popular stories and Auburn traditions, such as the legend of the cow in the tower, the Auburn Creed and the origins of rolling Toomer’s Corner.
Shipma said one of her favorite traditions to explain to the prospective students is the origin of Auburn’s battle cry, War Eagle.
“I really enjoy telling the war eagle story, because a lot of people are confused about it," Shipma said. "I’ll ask the group, ‘How many mascots does Auburn have?’ And I’ll get anywhere from like three to five."
Auburn's many traditions tend to cause confusion to prospective students prior to campus tours, Shipma said.
“People are really confused and they’ll say to me, ‘You say the Tigers, but you’re also the Plainsman, but you say war eagle, so are you the war eagles or something?'" Shipma said.
Giving tours has also allowed Shipma to share with prospective students the organizations she's passionate about.
“I really love it when I get to talk to people about the more Christian ministry side of things, and I’ll tell them about the Oak’s Retreat and RUF, which is what I'm involved in," Shipma said. "That's really fun to get to talk about, because it's a very great connection to make with people. When they know that I'm involved in a Christian ministry, they open up to me so much more."
Shipma said on her first tour last year, she took her group up the wrong side of Haley on the way to the Eagle’s Nest.
“You can only access it from that side of Haley, so I panicked," Shipma said. "It was my first tour ever and I was so nervous and embarrassed, but finally I got it figured out.”
Now going to the Eagle’s Nest is one of her favorite stops on the tour, Shipma said.
“Getting up and going to the eagle's nest every single tour is such a treat," Shipma said. "I get to take everyone's pictures with Samford in the background and everyone loves it, so I think those are my favorite times, being up there.”
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