JCSC Yearbook

Helpful Hints

Home | Programs at a Glance | Intro to Texas Hillel | Getting to Know Campus | Target Groups | Holidays and National Initiatives | Jewish Learning | Get a Life | Stories and Quotes | Getting Started | Hillel Staff | Engagement and Empowerment | Responsibilities and Supervision | Campus Contacts | Resources and Partners | First Year Students | Greeks-JIGLO | Helpful Hints | Graduate Students | Birthright Israel

The inside scoop.

Places around campus to be familiar with

 

The Drag Otherwise known as a section of Guadalupe Street that runs along the western edge of the University of Texas campus. Although more mainstream than earlier years it is traditionally home to underground bookstores, tattoo parlors, and other eclectic shops.   You can find coffee shops, restaurants, an open market, arcades, and of course people asking you to spare some change. 

 

West Mall The West Mall is the area directly west of the Main Building.  It is the home of several campus buildings including the Undergraduate Library and the Texas Union.  Most campus organizations use this area to table and you will often find students taking a break or eating lunch there.  Many groups perform on the West mall and on Wednesdays at noon, there is a man who plays the drums and has a little following.  

 

Main Mall This is the non-grassy area right in front (south) of the tower.  This is a high traffic area during the class day, a rallying space, and also where the university wide graduation is held.  If you stand in the Main Mall you can see the Capital Building, some people think that this place is inspirational and good luck before a test. 

 

South Mall The south mall is the grassy area south of the Main Mall and the Tower.  It is also known as the Six Pack because it has three campus buildings on each side, like a six-pack of soda/beer.  If it is a nice day outside, students usually sunbathe on the lawn.  During the fall semester they show movies and football games on the south mall.  It is a great place for a picnic.

 

Gregory Gym On the corner of 21st and Speedway, this newly remodeled gym is most popular to UT students.  It has an indoor track, a swimming pool, and two areas with many cardio machines.  There are sometimes special tabling fairs that occur outside Gregory Gym, and this high traffic area would also be a great place to have a table or an activity.  The volleyball Gym also serves as an auditorium to host speakers.  Note: there is another gym called the REC center that is farter away and less crowded. 

 

Texas Union The Texas Union is centrally located and has a variety of functions.  It has several rooms that can be reserved by campus organizations to have programs or meetings; it has a food court, a bowling alley and a theater.  The Cactus Café is a bar and a small venue for concerts that is attached to the Union.  Additionally, the union has a HUGE ballroom where our distinguished speaker usually lectures and also where we have our Shabbat 1000 in the spring. 

 

Dobie Mall On 21st street it is the only mall on campus, but it isnt a typical mall.  It mostly consists of a food court and a couple of non-traditional shops (a jewelry place, a florist, a salon and a manicurist).  Above it is the Dobie Residence, which is a private dormitory.

 

Jester Jester is a dorm, cafeteria, classroom, career center, and convenience store all in one.  It is the largest dormitory in the US and has its very own zip code.  There is a Jester East and a Jester West.   There is an area to table in Jester that becomes active around lunchtime from 11-2. 

 

West Campus West campus is not really considered campus because it is not directly connected the original 40 Acres.  It is the area on the west side of Guadalupe Street, which the Hillel building is on.  West campus is a very popular residential area and home to Castilian, Towers and most Greek Houses.   
 

The Tower

The 307-foot-tall University of Texas at Austin Tower was completed in 1937. If you are ever lost on campus, just look up!  The Tower, a.k.a. the Main Building, is one of the most recognizable symbols of the University of Texas at Austin.  Believe it or not, it is actually taller than the State Capitol Building!  The tower lights up orange when we win a game, for special events and graduation and orange with the #1 in lights when we win a national championship. 

 

Observation deck tours are available by reservation only through the Texas Union Information Center. For information on availability and the schedule of tours, call (512) 475-6633, or toll-free at 1-877-475-6633.

 

Hook Em Horns

 

This UT spirit gesture resembles the head of a longhorn.  It was introduced in 1955 by Head Yell Leader, Harley Clark, Jr.  Be careful with your horns when you go to Italy, because this hand symbol means your boyfriend cheated on your with your best friend.  Kind of an elaborate meaning for a simple hand gesture, dont you think? 

Texas Traditions

 

 

Gone to Texas

This is a special welcome celebration for new students the night before fall semester begins.  President Faulkner is there, local Austin bands play, and everyone learns The Eyes of Texas.  If you would like to start learning a bit about TEXAS culture, this is a great place to start!

 

Red River Shootout (TX-OU football game in Dallas) sometime in October (football schedule not released In time of posting)

This Red River Rivalry began in 1900 when the UT Longhorns played the OU Sooners.  The football game is played in Dallas, halfway between Norman, OK, and Austin, TX because the rivalry is so big.  It is also during the Texas State Fair so many students travel to Dallas for the whole weekend.  (If you plan on checking it out, be prepared for bumper to bumper traffic all the way there).  The Torchlight Parade marches down the Drag to the Tower for a pep rally that kicks off OU weekend dont miss it!

 

Parents Weekend

The perfect time to meet parents of students you know so well (and some you dont!).  This fall event gives friends and families a chance to get a taste of university life and see their students in their new environment.  During the weekend there is a football game, Greek activities (this upcoming year I think the Jewish houses are getting together to have a party check with the parents weekend chairs for more information), and the Hillel brunch! This past year we hosted Darrell Royal (a legendary former UT football coach) to speak at our event. 

 

Hex Rally and Texas vs. A&M

Since the first football game in 1894, the rivalry between UT and A&M has grown.  Madame Hipple, a local fortuneteller, suggested that UT Longhorns gather together and light red candles to hex the Aggies before the football game.  The Hex rally has been a sensitive event in the past few years following the bonfire tragedy at A&M in 1999.

 

Texas Revue Usually the second week of April

Where can you see great entertainment by students for free?  Texas Revue, a school-wide talent show, is the place to be!  This is a great event that will make you want to sing and dance!  I recommend the first performance it is outside on the Main Mall in front of the Tower it is less formal and more fun!  The UTLB Swing Out awards are announced at this event and this past year our a cappella group rhythm and Jews preformed. 

 

Forty Acres Fest End of April

This is a fun-filled festival created for and planned by the students.  Held each spring, this weekend of excitement is named after the original plot of land on which UT was established. There is live music all day long and student booth activities all around campus. Since it is on Shabbat, Hillel looks for a kosher way to participate we have displayed the Freedom Wall/ structure for the past few years.                            

Enter supporting content here