Students' Favorite Places Around Campus
They say, “Everything is bigger in Texas.” Texas, the second largest state in the United States, has the largest and one of the most competitive university's in the U.S. in Austin, the capitol of Texas. The University of Texas at Austin (UT) is well-known for its high-quality and its exceptional level of education. Its huge campus is known for different historic and attractive places and sport complexes, where visitors or tourists could learn about Texas, U.S. and UT, to relax or to do sport activities.

Hassan, France

UT Tower

What is the most famous building or place UT? Many people probably would say that is UT Tower. This nice building uses for library and registration offices for students who want to join University of Texas at Austin. In addition it is a wonderful construction, it has considerable history of University of Texas, and it is the most tourist place in Austin.

Many people know Main building because it is located exactly in the middle of the University of Texas at Austin. You could see the right time almost from everywhere. Also, it is especially beautiful at the night after Longhorns win the game, because it has special lights which give the UT Tower orange color. The final thing that gives the main building unforgettable view is that it looks like an owl head from the corner. If you see it once the owl will be always remained you University of Texas at Austin.

On the other hand, many people this building for its tragic history. UT Tower has the worst building history at UT, or in all of Austin. Lots of people have jumped from this symbol of UT. However, the worst story had a place when Charles Whitman shot 16 people and wounded 32 others in 1966. After that it got terrible reputation which almost everyone knows in Austin, but is the Tower guilty for that?

Finally, many people like this building just it is good tourist place. Lots of students had gone or wish to go on the top of 302-foot tower since it opened again for tourist. From there you can get a bird's eye view of Austin. View from there is much more wonderful that UT Tower looks by itself. However, not only from the top you can see nice panorama, but also from steps of UT Tower you might see imposing and important in Texas – Capitol.

Thus, this tall construction is very famous building at UT. For the tragic history the Tower is and will be the most famous place at University of Texas at Austin. For the nice view and nice construction it always will be in students memory.

This unique building is surrounded by many other places such as, the Biology Pond.

Maxim Cabaniuc, Moldova

Mohammed Al-Naqbi, U.A.E.

The Biology Pond

Just behind the Main Building and Tower is the small, peaceful grassy area called the Biology Pond. There are many students lounging around the trees, studying or enjoying the sun, and others just sit cross-legged, thinking about their lives. Sometimes we have the chance to see families with their small children running around the pond and pointing to turtles that crowd together on the stones. When I saw the turtles for the first time, their numbers were small, but I think that turtle family is growing a little. In Korea, a turtle is the symbol of health, and we could usually see them only in an aquarium. However, I can easily find them in this pond.

One day, I had a bad experience. While I was sitting under the tree and enjoying chatting with my classmate, a dove dirtied my hair and shirt. Nevertheless, I like to visit and enjoy this natural spot.

Renata Andrade, Brazil

Jin Ok Jun, Korea

The Perry-Castaneda Library

In contrast to the tranquil Biology Pond with its turtles is the bustling intersection of 21st and Speedway, clearly a nerve center of the University of Texas. Several UT shuttlebuses disgorge students, all bearing backpacks. These book-laden scholars scurry across, bound for classes and activities in the four corners. Some head in the direction of Gregory Gym, others to the huge Jester Dormitory, still others to the business building or to the central library, Perry-Castaneda Library, or PCL, as everyone calls it.

At first sight, PCL is not architecturally interesting. It presents a plain, modern, white stone face to the world, but the interior is light, open, and spacious, with floor-to-ceiling windows on two sides. On the right, near the entrance is the reference section, where well-informed, patient librarians are pleased to help students find that essential piece of information they need for a presentation or research assignment. There is also a convenient information desk and a large area of on-line catalogs where researchers can search the entire UT collection.

Each of the four floors above the entrance is well-lighted, open space, furnished with sturdy, serviceable wooden tables and blue and brown chairs. Here students sit, surrounded by books, papers, and highlighters, poring over their notes to prepare for upcoming exams. Some review together in the group study rooms while other individuals hunch over their books in carrels designed to help them focus their attention. Many curl up in the comfortable lounge chairs; some sprawl out over large tables, napping over their work; and still others have been here too long and now stretch out on the sofas to nap. Each floor also has open stacks, seemingly endless rows of shelves in bright, primary colors where you feel free to browse to your heart's content. PCL is a truly comfortable, inviting, and efficient place to study.

Patricia Jobe, Instructor of W3

 

Dobie Mall

Dobie Mall is a place where you cam buy student's things, relax and eat. Dobie mall is located on 21st, close to U.T . And if you ask anyone, they will know and help you find it. There are different kinds of restaurants where hungry students eat their favorite foods such as sandwiches at the Subway, Italian spaghetti or pizza, and Korean food in Omas Kitchen. Also there are different shops such as beauty shop, flower shop, and book store. There is a theater where you can see three or four different movies per month, and there are many dormitory rooms that you can rent

KOOG JE CHO, Korea
   

Littlefield Fountain

The South Mall and Littlefield Fountain (fountain of tritons riding the seahorse), are located between 21th street and the Tower. From this relaxing place you have a beautiful view of the capitol with the Tower behind you. Several Classroom Office Halls (Parlin, Calhoun and Rainey on one side and Benedict, Mezes and Batts on other side) surround this nice place. It also characterized by the presence of many historic statues of some popular personalities in the United States such as George Washington, Robert E. Lee...etc.

The most popular area in this meeting place is the green grass mall, which is surrounded by a lot of trees with two benches under each one. Often, students come here to meet friends, to discuss, to study, to read books or newspapers or to relax. On the other hand, some stands of student associations are there in order to present or to explain their activities. In Spring-Summer periods, many students come to this splendid place because they can bronze under the pleasant sunshine. Others come to this place to picnic, to play Frisbee or to sleep on the green grass for a few minutes and some of them use the benches to lounge for rest.

Generally, the atmosphere in this wonderful place, where many students gather twelve and two o'clock, is both studious and relaxed.

Hassan Ait-Haddon, France

Texas Union

The Texas Union --- It is located right in front of the Architecture building, which is next to Guadeloupe Street. Most students know where it is, because this is the most common place to be, during the lunch break.

We can see the students there. They may starving after taking heavy classes, so one of their purposes is to go to 1st level is to go to the food court. The food court is the lively court with many people. They get food at “Wendy's”, ”Taco Bell” and other fast food shops. People always stand in line in every shop waiting for their turn to order. Once they get foods, they go to the big noisy Showroom or lively patio to enjoy the sunshine. In the Showroom, there are 50 tables but the room is always almost full. Some students are doing homework or reading books alone and the others are chatting with friends while eating or drinking. I do not think this busy room is suited for studying because it is dark and riotous. Sometimes I do not want to open my textbook on the greasy tables. However I prefer this room to library for some reasons. I can eat or drink so that I am more relaxed. If I get tired, I watch TV and nobody cares. I noticed that they also use this room as a popular meeting place. In fact this is easy to find so that people use it more than other rooms I think.

On the 1st level, there are not only fast food shops but also intimate, inviting present, jazzy and bluesy cafÈ called Cactus CafÈ. This is the place where people can hold party, listen to professional musicians or just get together with friends.

2nd floor, There is big, wide windows along a corridor and comfortable sofas in a passageway, where people assignments, and taking a nap. Nobody is talking loudly on this floor. Also, There are individual rooms where you can have a meeting by reservation. This floor has an atmosphere of comfort, silence and source of relaxation. Some students even squat on the carpet and read, if sofas are full, attracted by the quiet and comfort of this facility. There are more similar meeting rooms and wooden tables and chairs on the third floor.

Do you know the Texas Union underground is called the best place for recreation? It is that because the people can do many things like eating many kinds of food in convenient, fast food restaurants, bowling, playing pool and video games. The people in this place play and laugh a lot, so when they leave the Texas Union they are revitalized. Some of them however, get out the Texas Union drunk because there is bar in the underground where you can drink alcohol. Many people like the Texas Union and they spend a lot of time there having fun, relaxing, eating, playing, and sleeping some time.

Finally, students can do anything that they can do on the campus and want to do; bowling, shooting pool, sleeping, relaxing, discussing, playing instruments and even dancing. This is the one of facilities where you should go at least once on the campus.

Ali Al Darmaki, UAE

Yuriko Kanno, Japan

Heung Bae (Greg) Lee, Korea

Ryota imai, Japan

Megumi Kinoshita, Japan

Gregory Gym

If you want workout, Gregory gym is the very best place at UT, without question. The gym, which is so big, great, and well-equipped for various exercise is located at the intersection of Speedway and 21st street. Across from the gym, there is business building, called CBA, and the right side of CBA, across 21st street, there is PCL. In front of Gregory gym, first, you can find a small check-in desk and front desk you can reserve racquet ball court and also borrow some exercise equipment like balls and racquets. Across from the front desk, there is a small store which sells some food and drinks, and a lounge with many chairs, dining tables, and also four TVs. In that comfortable place, some students are eating breakfast, some of them are watching TV lying on a sofa. At all hours of the day, Gregory gym is full of lots of energy from the students who are training their bodies and making themselves healthier. Some of them are on the third floor running around the three lane track made of red tile. Some are swimming, and others are playing racquetball with their all strength. In another part, some are exercising by using tread mills or other workout equipment. Sweat flows from their faces onto their bodies, their shirts get wet, and their breathing gets rougher and rougher. You will like this hot energy, which happens when someone does something very hard. Watching these scenes, feel this energy, you will want to workout. Why don't you join these active students, and enjoy this wonderful place? Maybe you can be a healthier and stronger guy!!

Jinsoo Bae, Korea

Tennis and Football Complex

A place to practice your favorite sport in UT is the Intramural fields, when you can play tennis, football, baseball, etc.

The tennis courts and the football are located on Guadalupe St. This nice complex has twenty-five tennis courts and about four football fields and tree baseball fields. This place has all the things you need to practice your favorite sport and because the installations are new they are in very good condition.

Every Thursday, Friday and Sunday the UT tennis club gets together in the afternoons to play and to have fun. Also they have tournaments each month, when they give t-shirts and other things for free. The membership fee is not expensive just $20 per semester.

Mariano Rodoreda, Mexico

 
Finally, this huge, competitive university is very attractive for its different places where students can learn about many things such as, history, engineering, culture, business and art or just relax. This makes UT a great place to study. Come and join us .
 
 
Thank you for visiting our page. Email us with any comments at esl@www.utexas.edu. Come back again!
 

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