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A spirit that is not afraid

Identities

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Danyelle Hillman: Auburn's first African American cheerleader

When Auburn University marketing alumna Danyelle Hillman decided to try out for the Auburn University Cheerleading Team in 1995, she did not initially realize the lasting impact her role would have on the University. 30 years after becoming Auburn’s first African American female cheerleader, Hillman, now an instructional technology specialist for Muscle Shoals City Schools, reflects on how she has carried the spirit of Auburn with her throughout her career in business and education.


Seven individuals stand in a row against a brick wall, wearing formal attire and name tags.

Auburn BSU earns multiple honors at regional leadership conference

The Auburn University Black Student Union (BSU) was recognized with multiple awards at the Southwestern Black Student Leadership Conference hosted by Texas A&M from Jan. 17 to Jan. 20, showcasing a significant moment for the student organization and its leadership. During the conference, Auburn’s BSU earned three major awards, including a selection for an advanced leadership institute that brings together the top student leaders from across the area.


Reverend Dale Braxton at a workshop in Hale County, Alabama, for the "Sew Their Names" project.

The Jule Art Museum hosts Auburn Forum for Southern Art and Culture

The Jule Collins Smith Museum of Fine Arts hosted the 2026 Auburn Forum for Southern Art and Culture as an all-day event on Feb. 7. The event ran from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., featuring a series of exhibitions, speakers and other explorations of art originating from or inspired by the South, alongside its usual art displays. Entry to the event was free and various artists and speakers came to further explain their work.

Thom Gossom Jr. and Sam Heys sign books and converse with attendants after book talk at The Hotel at Auburn University on Friday, Feb. 6, 2026.

Book talk reveals James Owens' impact on integration at Auburn

On Friday, Feb. 6, The Hotel at Auburn University held a public book talk and signing of Thom Gossom Jr.'s and Sam Heys’ biography, “Just Follow Me: James Owens and the Integration of Southeastern Conference Football.” The novel chronicles the story of James Owens, Auburn’s first Black football player who battled racism and harsh criticisms during his career as a talented running back from 1968 to 1972.

Venerable Monk Bhikkhu Pannakara leads the group of monks to Collins Farm in Cusseta, Ala. for their lunch stop after walking from Opelika, Ala. on Dec. 26, 2025.

Buddhist monks stop in Opelika on peace walk across the United States

On Dec. 25, 2025, roughly two dozen Buddhist monks passed through Auburn and Opelika on their 2,300-mile peace walk across the United States. Foundry Opelika Church housed the group on Dec. 25, while community members volunteered and prayed with the monks throughout the day and into the night. On Dec. 26, the group began their trek from Opelika to Cusseta, Alabama, where over 100 onlookers greeted them. Supporters are able to keep track of the monks through a live map found on their social media.

Brain with gears in background.

BrainSTEM guides neurodivergent students to success

College is a notoriously difficult transitional period for young adults because of a mix of increased responsibilities, rigorous studies and a sense of newfound independence. BrainSTEM is a new student organization at Auburn University that seeks to assist all neurodivergent students, who may especially struggle during this transition, with achieving their goals, while providing a community consisting of other self-identifying neurodivergent students.

The Jule Museum displays a painting by Joan Brown titled "Noel at Table with Vegetables" in their Women Artists in Ascendance exhibit on Nov. 14, 2025.

Redefining American art through untold stories at the Jule

On Aug. 19, 2025, the Jule Collins Smith Museum of Fine Arts opened its exhibit "Women Artists in Ascendance" to the public. The exhibit showcases artwork from notable women artists of the 20th century whose contributions have largely gone overlooked. The exhibit is one of four on display, exploring the idea of American art and who gets to define what that means.

A group of people is gathered at night, holding signs with various political messages, while some are chanting.

'You can't be a family if you hate half of your population': Group protests TPUSA event

In lieu of a Turning Point USA event, protesters gathered at the intersection of Thach Concourse and South Donahue at 5 p.m. while the TPUSA event started at 6:30 p.m. The protest was peaceful and unaffiliated with any student organizations. The protesters expressed their frustration with Auburn University and their perceived lack of concern for minority issues.

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Outreach Global to host upcoming Global Community Day Festival

The Outreach Global Office at Auburn University will host its fourth annual Global Community Day Festival on April 5 on Cater Lawn. Free to anyone in the Lee County community, the event will feature arts and crafts, food trucks and a fashion exhibition. 

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How BSU and NPHC build community on campus

When students flock to Auburn for their studies, they may be moving hundreds of miles away from the friends, family, community and customs that they know as home. For Black students who make up only a small fraction of the student body, this culture shock may be especially challenging. Black Student Union and the National Pan-Hellenic Council offer a space for Black students to simultaneously build community bonds, excel academically and develop professionally at Auburn. 

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Pride on the Plains: Building a found family in Auburn

Pride on the Plains is an organization that supports the LGBTQ+ community in the Auburn-Opelika area. Through events like the annual Pride Parade and Festival, as well as community-building activities, Pride on the Plains fosters a more inclusive and accepting atmosphere for all.

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BSU Celebrates 40 Years at Auburn

Saturday, Feb. 17, the Black Student Union celebrated its 40th anniversary at Auburn University. The organization was founded in 1984, 20 years after Harold A. Franklin became the first Black student to enroll at the university. To this day, BSU continues its mission to further the interests of Black students across Auburn's campus.