On Thursday, April 24, Auburn University’s Student Government Association hosted its spring Ring Night. Ring Night occurs twice a year, once in the fall and once in the spring, to celebrate those who purchased a ring and alumni by guiding them through the tradition of cursing and then uncursing their commemorative Auburn class ring.
“[This spring] is actually the biggest Ring Night that we’ve had so far. This is the most rings that we’ve sold — about 1,200 rings were sold,” Elle Hamer, SGA’s current Assistant Vice President of Auburn Rings, said.
Of those 1,200 rings sold, about 1,000 of them were expected to have been picked up in front of Langdon Hall during Ring Night. Others had the rings shipped to them or were alumni who bought them earlier in the semester.
Once Auburn students at spring Ring Night checked in and picked up their ring, they were directed into a line in front of Langdon Hall to curse their ring by touching it to the Auburn seal. This curse is threefold: The cursed person will not graduate on time, find their true love at Auburn and they will have seven generations of Alabama fans in their family.
Lucy Redden, SGA director of Auburn Rings spoke with a family about the ceremony's tradition. “To undo the curse, you will proceed up the steps of Langdon Hall and dip your ring in water from the President’s fountain. This removes the curse but leaves the Auburn spirit behind to live on in the ring.”
The water to uncurse this year’s rings was retrieved by Hamer a few days before Ring Night. She shared, “I went and got it on Monday. We brought a big water cooler over there [in front of Langdon Hall] and then they helped me get a bucket and fill it up. So [everyone at Ring Night] actually has water from the President’s fountain.”
After proceeding through these Auburn traditions, Ring Night participants took pictures posing in front of Samford Hall and around Toomer’s oaks. ZAP photographers were stationed around the event, offering to take pictures for Auburn students to purchase.
Just as Ring Night itself is an Auburn tradition, SGA also uses the same vendors every year, including Balfour, ZAP photographers, balloon artists and catering. Balfour rings come in four Auburn styles and can be either gold or silver, depending on preference. Event snacks, including cupcakes, cheesecake bites and lemonade, were catered by Tiger Dining.
Hailey Bergenthal, SGA treasurer, worked at the event alongside many other members of SGA, helping to check in students, direct them and their families into the right lines and answer questions about the traditions.
“I will be receiving my ring tonight as well as the rest of SGA Exec. I am excited to have a piece that I can wear always and present my love for Auburn always. I have heard so many stories of Auburn Alumni connecting just from noticing that the other was wearing an Auburn ring,” Bergenthal said.
SGA’s mission to serve, promote and unify was clearly seen in this spring’s Ring Night, as soon-to-be-graduates and alumni celebrated Auburn tradition with their friends. They solidified their relationships as members of the Auburn Family for years to come, connected by these rings.
“No matter their area of study, all students will receive the same ring and perform the same tradition. It is awesome to see friends across different colleges celebrate this milestone together and showcase their love for Auburn in such a unique way.” Bergenthal said.
Do you like this story? The Plainsman doesn't accept money from tuition or student fees, and we don't charge a subscription fee. But you can donate to support The Plainsman.
