AUSTIN, TexasThe University of Texas at Austin has approved new guidelines for lighting the UT Tower.
President Larry R. Faulkner appointed an ad hoc Committee on Tower Guidelines on Feb. 2, 2001, and charged its members to specifically address:
- Should the Tower be lit for individual achievements, as well as “group” achievements?
- What should be the level of recognition?
- What should the lighting pattern be for each level of recognition?
- Should the Tower be lit for non-university events?
The committee recommended, and the president approved, the revised set of Tower lighting guidelines, based on the following philosophy:
- Lighting patterns should distinguish between academic and staff achievements and athletic victories
- Traditional Orange should be displayed for celebration of campus-wide events
- Darkened tower (UT Remembers) should be used only for solemn occasions
- Committee recommends two new lighting configurations:
- White top, Orange shaft
- Top split Orange and White with Orange shaft
- Other lighting options are available.
The new guidelines replace a lighting system devised by engineering Professor Carl J. Eckhardt Jr., in 1947. He created guidelines for using the orange lights to take advantage of the Tower’s commanding architecture to announce university achievements.
The new guidelines are as follows:
(click on thumbnail image for a larger version in a new window)
Standard Tower lighting
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Configuration: Tower entirely White
Academic and staff achievements
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Configuration: White top with Orange shaft
Faculty academic achievements (Academic Convocation)
Student academic achievements (Honors Day)
Staff achievements (Staff Recognition Day)
Academic team achievements with #1 displayed
Other events at the President’s discretion
Athletic achievements
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Configuration: Orange top with White shaft
Football regular season victories, except Texas AandM
Non-Bowl Championship Series (BCS) victories
Other events at the President’s discretion
Significant athletic victories
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Configuration: Tower entirely Orange
Football victories:
Texas AandM
Big 12 South
Big 12 Championship Game
Big 12 Regular Season Team Championships
Big 12 Tournament Championships
Student organization sports club national championships
Athletic championships
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Configuration: Tower entirely Orange with #1 displayed
Football Bowl Championship Series (BCS) 1 vs. 2 win
NCAA championships for all other sports
Campus-wide accolades
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Configuration: Tower entirely Orange
UT’s Birthday September 15
Commencement
Texas Independence Day March 2
Other campus-wide events at the President’s discretion
Solemn occasions
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Configuration: Darkened Tower with White cap and observation deckall other levels dark, including windows
UT Remembers (annual memorial service)
Tower Garden Dedication
Significant solemn occasions, for example, Texas AandM Bonfire Tragedy
Other occasions at the President’s discretion
Symbolic campus events
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Configuration: Top split Orange and White with Orange shaft
Gone to Texaswelcoming new students to campus
Other events at the President’s discretion
Special effects
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Configuration: Tower with special effects or numbering.
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