Starting Jan. 26, the Student Government Association (SGA) of Auburn is in the process of launching a new “Angel Shots” initiative. The plan aims to enhance the safety and security of students who visit numerous off-campus bars and restaurants, including Skybar Café, 17-16 and Southeastern.
An “Angel Shot” is not an actual alcoholic beverage, but a secret code that someone can use at a bar or restaurant that signals to the staff that they feel unsafe or are possibly in danger. The staff member will then try to help the customer with the specific situation they are in.
The origin of “Angel Shots” stems from a 2016 UK campaign called “Ask for Angela.” The campaign was created by Hayley Child, a sexual abuse strategy coordinator for Lincolnshire County Council. In 2012, Angela Crompton, a friend of one of Child’s closest peers, was killed by her husband of three months. After hearing about this story years after the Crompton’s death, Child decided to use “Angela” as the code name for her new project.
From there, the campaign grew nationally and globally due to a widely reposted photo of a poster Crompton created on X (formerly Twitter). In a 2017 article in Time Magazine, Child notes that Crompton is now saving other women from violence. As the phenomenon expanded and reached the U.S., bartenders and patrons alike began to learn of the concept of an “Angel Shot.” The faux drink can be ordered neat, signaling you need an escort to your car. If ordered on the rocks, a bartender is notified that you need an Uber, or when ordered with lime, staff will know you are in serious danger.
SGA is currently uploading relevant “Angel Shots” documentation to their website.
"The Angel Shot is a recent SGA initiative that seeks to increase the safety of Auburn students in downtown establishments. Ordering an Angel Shot allows for the Auburn family to help and care for its own," said Vera Smith T, Executive Vice President of SGA's Outreach branch. "If a student is feeling threatened, unsafe to drive home or obtain transportation, is in a medical emergency, or is facing any crisis, they are free to walk up to the bar and order an Angel Shot. The bartender will then seek to help the student through either personally assisting or obtaining another staff member to help. SGA sincerely hopes that the Angel Shot will help students to feel safe at all times and in all establishments.”
Smith T also says that the SGA can confirm the following locations are taking part in the program:
- SkyBar Café
- 17-16
- Southeastern
- Moe’s BBQ
- Sessions Cocktails
- Bunkers
- Tacorita
- Tavern on the Trax
- Hamilton’s on Magnolia
This initiative comes in the wake of a video, recently removed from X with 15 million views as of Jan. 21, that appeared to depict a possible incident of sexual violence involving a female student at Southeastern Bar. Despite its possible connection, SGA has been working on the "Angel Shots" initiative since June 2025. They hope that with its rapid adoption, "Angel Shots" will be able to increase the safety of all students who may find themselves in a dangerous situation in downtown Auburn.
Auburn’s Title IX Sexual Harassment Policy defines “Sexual Harassment” as “conduct based on sex that constitutes Quid Pro Quo Sexual Harassment, Hostile Environment Sexual Harassment, Sexual Assault, Domestic Violence, Dating Violence or Stalking."
If you are anyone who you may know has seen or experienced sexual harassment, they can report it to Auburn’s Title IX office using their website, or can also remain confidential using a number of resources that Auburn University provides to its students.
“Any person may report Sexual Harassment to the Title IX Coordinator. Reports may be made in person, by regular mail, telephone, electronic mail, or by any other means that results in the Title IX Coordinator receiving the person’s verbal or written report,” said the Auburn Title IX policy resource.
Auburn’s Title IX Coordinator is Elexandria Reese, her email is epr0020@auburn.edu.
Students or faculty who may be unsure whether to report sexual harassment or other abusive conduct, or who are seeking counseling in addition to or instead of making a report to the university, have access to the following: Safe Harbour, a campus organization that focuses on confidentiality and support for survivors of sexual harassment, Auburn University Student Counseling & Psychological Services (SCPS), a department within Student Affairs that is required by law to provide confidential brief counseling and psychiatric services to students and the Employee Assistance Program, a confidential counseling program for employees that can offer up to six free visits per year.
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