UT Austin welcomes new students at annual 'Gone to Texas' tradition

article

AUSTIN, Texas - About 10,000 new University of Texas students are expected to gather beneath the UT Tower for Gone to Texas, a campus tradition welcoming the university’s newest Longhorns.

A campus tradition under the UT Tower

What we know:

The setup for the event was well underway with stages in place and chairs stretching across campus for a night celebrating UT tradition.

Gone to Texas will bring together the Class of 2030, along with new transfer and graduate students.

University leaders, including President Jim Davis and head football coach Steve Sarkisian, are expected to speak. The Longhorn Band and Texas spirit squads will also make appearances. The evening will be capped off with the lighting of the UT Tower.

Freshmen react to college life and independence

What they're saying:

Some freshmen exploring campus ahead of the event said the excitement of starting college has been mixed with the realization that they are now on their own.

"Coming to this place and just being here and getting to know this awesome place with awesome people, awesome academics and just everything that we can be as sort of new people for the new year, it’s just a great thing to be, and I’m super excited for it," freshman Sreeram said.

Freshman Camila said the experience is beginning to sink in.

"It’s a little surreal because the last couple of days we’ve just been walking around," Camila said. "It’s like I’m actually alone, I’m independent, could do what I want now, so it’s definitely surreal, but starting to set in."

Bailey, another freshman, said campus still feels a little like a vacation.

"But once I think class starts, I think I’ll settle in like, ‘Wow, this is real,’" Bailey said.