Auburn is a special place. Especially for those of you who were born with a love for this campus, but it’s also special to guys like me, who fairly recently were introduced to the people and traditions that make it so unique.

There were so many things about Auburn that impressed me from the first moment I stepped on campus. And I have to say that one thing that really sets Auburn apart is the students. Together, your contributions to our campus are exceptional. Each of you brings your own unique talents and skills, and each of you has a commitment to making not just yourselves better people, but a commitment to making Auburn a better place than you found it.

We also all chose Auburn as the place where we wanted to spend the next season of our lives. There are probably several reasons you made the very important—and I think, very wise—decision to move to the loveliest village on the Plains.

How many of you came to Auburn because you want to be a leader? Well, you’re in luck, because Auburn is a place where leaders are made. We have a distinguished tradition of guiding young men like you into accomplished graduates who go on to engage, influence and lead in their communities and in the world around them throughout their entire lives.

You’re here tonight because you’re an engaged member of our campus community. And whether you realize it or not, each of you holds a considerable amount of influence among your peers. And you’re here because you want to become a stronger leader, someone people follow because they can count on you to make smart decisions.

And that brings me to one of the things I love most about Auburn—The Creed. While having a creed or a set of shared beliefs isn’t unique to Auburn, the concept of the Creed and what it means to all of us here most certainly is.

The Creed defines what it means to be an Auburn man or woman. If you apply the principles and the guidelines laid out in George Petrie’s wise words, you will be the manifestation of everything our institution has aspired to be since 1856. Simply put, living the Creed means you are embodying the essence of the

Auburn Spirit. It defines who you are and what is expected of you as an Auburn man.

I think this is a timely topic, because this year we are celebrating the 75th anniversary of the Auburn Creed. Isn’t it amazing that words and ideals put on paper nearly a century ago still resonate so strongly with the Auburn Family? It’s just as applicable to you as a freshman as it is to me as a university president.

But the Creed is more than just words on paper—it’s words to live by. There are three themes in the Creed that I think are especially applicable to you during your time at Auburn. And they encompass these three things: culture, actions and accountability.

First, let’s talk about culture. And by this, I am referring to the culture that you create around you. This is the one with which you identify. This is your ability to walk into a room and add value through your ideas, your comments and your presence. In every situation, it should be your goal to create a culture defined by engagement, kindness and responsibility.

The culture with which you wish to surround yourself is evidenced in all aspects of your life. The values your parents instilled in you from a young age, the values of your fraternity, the values of your friends. I strongly encourage you to use your college experience as a time of reflection and discovery. Figure out who you really are as an individual. Determine what matters to you. Discover the things that unleash your curiosity and ignite your determination. Once you create and define your own culture, it will be easier to remain true to who you are. 

And that leads us to action. Now that you’ve discovered the things that make you who you are and determined the type of character you want to have, you must put this into action. How are you going to shape yourself into a person who will leave a legacy that will make you proud? You can start by examining those around you, those who want to be around you, those you want to be around. Do they align with the leader you’re trying to become? You must be prepared to put action behind your values, and stand by it.

And after action comes accountability. How do you hold yourself and others accountable? Do you shrink away from those who don’t align with your values, or do you stand up for what you believe? Talking the talk means nothing if you’re not prepared to walk the walk. And sometimes, this is hard to do. Going against the grain is never easy. It requires courage and the belief in something bigger than yourself. I challenge you to dig deep to find this in yourself. I promise you that it will serve you well throughout your life.

I’ve heard it said that there are two types of leaders. The first kind of leader is transactional. It’s the most common type of leader. They have respect from those around them because of the status they’ve attained or the level of education they’ve accomplished. And there’s nothing wrong with being a transactional leader. You’re surrounded by them every day in your classes and even in your fraternities. But they’re transactional because they’re easily replaced and most often forgettable.

But there’s another type of leader—the transformational leader. Transformational leaders understand the influence they have and the great responsibility that comes along with it. They’ve worked hard to get where they are. They’re rarely satisfied with the status quo, and they have the respect of their peers that enables them to change things for the better. They’re not just focused on the authority they have or the perks they’ve received as a leader. Instead, transformational leaders are focused on serving the greater good. Empowering those around them to be better. They recognize that the loudest voices aren’t always the most important ones. They have a vision that is grounded by tradition, but they always keep their eyes focused on the future. And they’re determined to make the future better than the present, because they have learned lessons from their past.

I challenge each of you to strive to be transformational leaders. To remember the hard work put in by those who came before you, but to recognize that there are some who have made sacrifices that you could never understand. And I want you to pull those people up. I want you to give all of those who follow in your footsteps as Auburn men something to aspire to. I challenge you to not just abide by the Creed, but to define it by your actions on campus, off campus, in your careers, with your family and friends, in every aspect of your life.

I’d like to close with a story from 75 years ago. After more than 50 years of service to Auburn, George Petrie was ill and grieving the loss of his beloved wife. He realized the time had come to retire from the university he helped shape—the university he loved dearly. Those around him feared his spirit was broken.

An old friend who had been Petrie’s teaching assistant many years before, A.B. Moore, would often write to Petrie. And in 1943, Moore wrote a letter that some think sparked Petrie to write down his personal philosophy—a set of guiding principles that we now know as the Auburn Creed.
In that letter, Moore said to Petrie:

“Men make institutions. The character and traditions of every institution are largely determined by a few stalwarts who give their all to it. … Your name will always be associated with its success and its best traditions.”

I challenge you all to consider Moore’s words. Your choices and actions will shape what Auburn is and what it stands to become. Stay true to your values. Act according to those values, and hold yourself accountable in all aspects of your life. If you do those things, you will forever be a part of our traditions and our success. You will be Auburn men.

Thank you all for inviting me to speak to your group. I wish you the best of luck during your time here at Auburn, and I look forward to hearing reports of your success.

War Eagle!