guns up

 

Since the beginning of Texas Technological College in 1923 and its first use by the football coach, the Double T has been the symbol of TTU.  Another, newer tradition is "Guns Up".  Started as counter to the hand sign used by a state university to the south, Guns Up emulates Raider Red with his upraised pistols.  It is widely used by students and alumni alike as a greeting and victory sign.  In fact, at the outdoor wedding I attended last weekend in Dallas, the bride and groom used the Red Raider Fight Song for the recessional and members of the crowd cheered them on with "guns up!"

 

Texas Tech University

Lubbock, Texas

hog pen

 

When Texas Tech was established in 1923, the College of Agriculture was one of the four schools.  Today while doing a site visit at the former Animal Sciences building, built about 1951,  I discovered something I never knew existed.  Behind the building, known now as the Annex, still remain animal pens.  The juxtaposition of the pens with the tower of the English building show how far the university has come.  What's sad it that these artifacts of Tech's history may soon be lost.

 

CASNR Annex (College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources)

Texas Tech University

Lubbock, Texas

balustrade

In 1923, the Spanish Renaissance style of architecture became the blueprint for almost every building on campus on the Texas Tech campus.  The English Building, built in 2002, was the first academic building erected since 1976.  It retains the the essence of the architectural style.

English Building
Texas Tech University
Lubbock, Texas