Celebrating Texas Independence Day Friday, UT students and
Austinites paid little attention to the cold and rainy
weather.
A celebration on South Mall lasted 10 minutes, beginning
at 11:50 a.m., when the Texas Cowboys fired "Smokey" the
cannon. UT President Larry Faulkner spoke about the
emphasis Texas founders placed on education.
"All of us are part of the realized dream of being a
university of the first class," he said at the ceremony.
"We must renew the commitment to transform lives for the
benefit of society."
Following his talk, Faulkner and about 100 students raised
their tea glasses in a toast to "the great state of Texas
and the continued excellence of the University of Texas."
Rafael Aguilar, an undeclared sophomore who attended the
celebration, said the day brings Texans together.
"It shows that Texans have an identity and shows the
friendliness and pride of this place, and the quality of
its people," he said.
The March 2 celebration began at the University in 1897 to
increase student awareness of Texas heritage. Friday was
the 165th anniversary of Texas' independence.