Trending Now: #GonetoTexas, Fitbit, and Meatless Mondays

By Jordan Schraeder in 40 Acres, March | April 2014 on February 26, 2014 at 3:33 pm | No Comments

#gonetotexas

UT’s Admissions Office has found a way to get soon-to-be Longhorns actively involved with the University long before they ever set foot on the Forty Acres.  In addition to acceptance letters, members of UT’s Class of 2018 also received a burnt-orange banner adorned with the hashtag “#gonetotexas” in the mail. To share the news with friends and family, the happy new Horns have been posting photos of themselves holding the banner on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Even President Bill Powers got in on the fun to help kick off the campaign late last year.

Fitbit

It’s the ultimate support system: wireless and wearable, the watch-like Fitbit is the latest way Longhorns are staying focused on their fitness goals. The device tracks physical activity, calories, and even sleep patterns—all simply by wearing it around your wrist. Like a high-tech fitness diary, Fitbit syncs up to a computer or smartphone to track progress. And, luckily for arms all across the Forty Acres, Fitbit is teaming up with fashion designer Tory Burch to give the basic black bracelet a makeover this spring. Expect to see some trendy accessories hitting the market later this year.

Meatless Mondays

How do you get college students to eat their vegetables? The Division of Housing and Food Service has figured it out: Meatless Mondays. Beginning last spring, San Jacinto Residence Hall’s Cypress Bend Cafe began swapping meat for veggies—no small feat considering 90 percent of its daily offerings included meat. Due to its success, the initiative has now spread to all campus dining halls, including Jester City Limits and Kinsolving. DHFS cites nutrition, sustainability, and student demand as reasons for the change.

Tags: 40 acres, fitbit, gonetotexas, March | April 2014, meatlessmondays, trends