Time: Wednesday, November 16 · 6:00pm – 9:00pm

Place: J26 Lounge area

So we’ve made you experience BBQ, dragged you out dancin at a “Rodeo”, took on fried food in Dallas, got you dressin up for Halloween, and you went World Cup-Style at Beer Olympics.

But Ladies and Gentleman, the BEST holiday of the year is just upon us!

Welcome to THANKGIVING
This happy holiday is a reminder of a great many things about America:
*Watching a parade
*Watching football
*Continuing to sit on your butt watching something while waiting for…
*FOOD
*All the while being thankful for Parades, Football, FOOD, (plus friends, family, sharing, caring, Native Americans and Pilgrims, Pocahontas and John Smith…??!?)

So international PL-style, we are making our Thanksgiving feast a bit early (because we’re just so excited!)
Potluck means that each person brings food to contribute to the sharing and caring! Americans, lets bring out the stops and show Internationals the greatness that is traditional Thanksgiving food. International students, bring a food to showcase something from your home country that you love!

THE DEALIO:
The Red River Rivalry takes place every year (for over 100 years…) in Dallas between Texas Longhorns and the Oklahoma Sooners (booo!). The football rivalry is a huge, epic battle, where all football spirit you thought you knew is 1000x greater. AND as if the football madness wasn’t enough, the stadium is on the grounds of the Texas State Fair, where you can try just about anything in the world… fried. This is one of the most prized Texas Traditions, and for the first time ever, PL is taking you there.

THE PLAN:
We will have 12 drivers coordinated to take you to Dallas on Friday, October 7, and returning to Austin on Sunday, October 9. We will also have a bus that takes you from the hotel to the game on Saturday, and back.

We have a block of 15 rooms that can each fit 4 people. That leaves room for 60 people (minus 12 designated drivers), so there are 48 spots left for this big adventure.

**Since it is more difficult/limited time for international students to attend this event, we ask that locals who want to join be paid members.

THE PRICE:
For transportation and 2 nights in the hotel, the price is only $100!
Because of limited space, we are only collecting money in-person. In addition to collection times, you can contact any of our officers, and we will be happy to find time to meet you.

Whether you go to the game or just the State Fair, its going to be Pretty Legendary (PL? get it? )

For those of you non-native Texans (aka all of you), floating the river is a little slice of heaven. You get to kick back all day on a big ‘ol Texas-sized tube with your drink of choice and let the Comal River cool you off. The water will be cool, the accents will be thick and that’s all you need to know! So, grab your sun screen, tanning oil, glasses, less than appropriate swim-wear and meet us on September 11th (Sunday) for so much fun you won’t know what to do with it. Here’s the Plan: -We are all meeting at J26 at 11:30 A.M. and plan on getting back around 7 (ish) so we’ll float the river for about three hours. -The cost will be $20, which covers the cost for transportation and tube rental. -There are 116 spots and they will fill up quick so act swiftly! You can either pay online at www.planetlonghorn.net and click the “donate” button OR You can meet an officer on campus and give them your cash. Our President, Lauren Brandewie will be collecting money this Thursday from 4:00-6:00 P.M. at Starbucks off 24th and San Antonio Zach Caballero will be collecting money in the Union first floor from 10:00 to 12:00 a.m. Any questions, please let us know! As always, Hook ‘Em, Peace, Love, and Planet Longhorn.

Alright study-abroaders…it’s time to see Austin night-life from a whole new perspective! Join us for *Planet Longhorn’s Pub(erty) Crawl on Friday, September 2nd…and we’ll show you some new watering holes where you can move your oh-so-mature study-abroad shenanigans to!

We’ll start off by meeting at the E-bus stop at 26th & Rio Grande (in front of Jefferson 26) at 9 p.m. Once we get downtown, we’ll start our pub crawl!! Officers will pass out wristbands, which will get you the drink specials at the bars we’re heading to.

BAR SCHEDULE:

[9.45 - 10.30] BETSY’S BAR (301 West 6th Street): $2 beers & shot specials

[10.30 - 11.30] LANAI (422 Congress Avenue): $2 beers, $3 wells & margs

[11.30 - 1.00] TROPHY CLUB (310 East 6th St): 50% off drinks & 1 free bull ride for anyone that wants one

[1.00 - 3.00] SWAN DIVE/BARBARELLA: check back later b/c we still have to work out details on this

If you can’t meet us at 9:00pm, no problem! Just use the schedule we’ll post to meet up with us later!! And remember, the times we expect to be at the bars are just an approximation and given our group size (and the nature of our activities) we might end up being slightly off schedule.

See you Friday!

Every Wednesday night, a glorious event occurs. This event is Spazmatics. They are an 80s cover band who will play your favorite renditions from Wham! to “Land Down Under” (which the Aussies ought to get excited for). The band plays outside on 4th street at Cedar Street courtyard, and the crowd usually consists of a good amount of older people who actually lived in the 80s, and then us cool college kids. Its FUN.

Since this Wednesday is the first day of school, there ought to be no assignments yet, and if you are falling asleep or hungover in your first Thursday class, its really not a big deal

**Cedar Street is 21 and up (bring your ID!) and costs $8 (bring your $!)

The show starts at 9:30pm and goes til 1am, with a few breaks.
We can meet at the bus stop on Guadalupe in front of the University Co-op at 9pm to head down together. If you can’t meet then, don’t worry! Any 1L/1M bus that leaves from the co-op will take you to 4th and Congress, where you can then walk to Cedar Street.

The bus stops running at midnight, but we can walk, carpool, or get a taxi back to campus.

Hey y’all! Welcome to Texas!

Of course in Texas the best way to welcome someone is through food, and we’ve got you covered on a Texan tradition. Join Planet Longhorn and in eating tons of BBQ and dancing the night away at Midnight Rodeo. You’ll see REAL LIVE cowboys (okay, at least people in hats and boots), try some 2-stepping, and meet some of your best friends (Americans and internationals alike)!

It’s gonna be HUGE, so don’t …miss… it!

Our BBQ starts at 6:30pm at the Union patio on campus, and around 9pm we will have buses to take you to Midnight Rodeo, and can take you back to campus at 1 or 1:30am. If you want to ride the bus, be sure to pay ahead of time so we can make sure you have a seat!

Prices
$10 Just BBQ
$20 BBQ + transportation**
$25 BBQ + transportation (paying at the door)

**You can pay ahead of time at planetlonghorn.net and clicking “donate”and enter in the amount. Reserve your spot by midnight on August 15! Contact an officer if you have troubles using the website

Keep a lookout for more awesome Planet Longhorn events throughout the semester!

————————–​————————–​————————–​————-
So what is all the ruckus about this Midnight Rodeo? It’s a notorious country dance club with lots of “cowboys” and cheap drinks ($1.00 Miller Lite Draft, $1.25 Blue Moon Draft, $1.50 Wells, $2.00 for most longnecks!!…need I say more??)

Entry fee for Midnight Rodeo:
Ladies 21+ are FREE all night!
Ladies 18-20 FREE before 10pm, then $5
Men 21+ $5 & men 18-20 pay $10

For more info on Midnight Rodeo, check out:

http://midnightrodeoaustin​.com/

Planet Longhorn is kicking off this fall picking yall up from the airport! Lots of people signed up for pickups and we can’t wait to meet you! Airport pickup requests are now closed, but there are still lots of other ways to get to your destination in Austin, via the airport shuttle or taxi. When you arrive in Austin, be sure to utilize our Planet Longhorn facebook group to see what everyone is up to, and check out our table at the International Orientation on August 12. We are excited to meet and greet and show you how amazing Austin is. Keep your eyes peeled for our events this fall!

The April 2011 newsletter is here! If you are not receiving this by email and would like to, send us an email at members@planetlonghorn.net!

In our newsletter this month:

Photo: Tim Sharp

• The PL Classy Masquerade was once again a hit with masks ranging from classic Mardi Gras to Spongebob to Brad-Rich (aka Bich) faces…scary.
• PL Pubcrawled again! But this time…on a 15-man bike imported from Amsterdam where these “PubCrawlers” are apparently widespread! The trip started with the comment “Best. Idea. Ever.”
• PL decided to do Pot Luck French Style with massive amounts of crepes…which people filled with everything from chocolate cake to guacamole. That’s called a TexMex Crepe.
• A couple of our lovely PL girls participated in Condom Couture where Maria sported a dress made completely from condoms to support Face Aids in Africa!
• Alumni of the Month: Amanda Ruiten. Home Country: The Netherlands. When asked where she will be in ten years, Amanda wasn’t sure but she knew one thing, “I guess the only thing that’s certain is that OU will still suck, but that goes without saying of course.”

Thanks for reading! Click the link below (or right click to save-as) for the Newsletter PDF*:

April 2011

*The newsletter requires Adobe Reader, or a similar program, to read. You can download it here.

Who’s on a boat?!? Why that’s you my friend!! Planet Longhorn is finally throwing our awesomely awesome-tastic boat party! This is the last official event of the year so come enjoy some drinks and some sun out on the lake and take in the best of Austin while you still can.

We might not have a beach here, but for those who haven’t gotten to go see it yet Lake Travis is a whole new kind of awesome. Scientists have concluded that party barges are the coolest things ever. That’s right. EVER. And you have to believe them, because they’re scientists*.

Bring your swimsuit and sunscreen, and make sure you don’t lose your sunglasses!

** $25 gets you a trip out to the lake, 4 hours out on the boat, and drinks and snacks while you’re swimming and water-sliding and enjoying some of Austin’s best weather! We’ll be meeting at Littlefield Fountain at 11:30am on Tuesday to get on the buses and leaving around noon so don’t be late!

Come pay us at STARBUCKS on 24th & San Antonio St. on Friday May 7th between 2-4pm. You can also pay online.

**THIS EVENT IS LIMITED TO THE FIRST 70 PEOPLE TO PAY so come early! In case of conflict, priority will be given to people who have attended events in the past since it’s kind of a farewell party so come out on Friday!

*This is not a lie. Real live scientists definitely said that.

The sun is out (what a surprise!) and classes are finishing so we should take advantage before we all lock ourselves in coffee shops and the PCL come final exam time….well at least those of us not on pass/fail!

Join 4 of UT’s self-proclaimed awesomest (it’s a word..) student organizations, Planet Longhorn, PALS, StufSa, and BSA for an end-of-the-semester International BBQ out at Zilker Park! There will be football, volleyball, soccer, tanning (take advantage while you can all you northern Europeans!), and lots of delicious BBQ.
Feel free to bring more sports balls or other activities out: frisbees, aussie rules footy balls, rugby balls, beach towels, etc. Zilker is probably the best park in Austin and a definite must-hit afternoon spot during spring time. It’s also where the oh-so-famous ACL music festival takes place every year!

Bus Routes: 5 or 1L/1M South, switch to 30-Barton Creek Sq
Use this site to plan your trip: http://www.capmetro.org/planner/

*The BBQ is open to current and prospective members! If you are interested at all in language exchange, study abroad, culture, or becoming more involved in the international community at UT, feel free to come out and see what we are all about!

Already depressed that your Texas days are numbered?! Well, here’s something to look forward to–the Double Whammy Birthday Texas SWAGGER PL River Float!! Because we want you to end your semester in style, we’ll be floating the Comal on Saturday the 30th (which happens to be Katie Chapman’s BIRTHDAYYYYY AND “KONINGINNEDAG”–the celebration of the Dutch queen’s birthday YEAHHHH). So wear your TEXAS SWAG, YOUR BIRTHDAY GEAR (or s…uit?!) and/or ORANGE and get ready to have a great time!

We are meeting at Jefferson 26 (leaving at 1 pm!!) and taking buses to the river to go “tubing.” This basically involves you laying back in a tire (your tube) for a few hours and doing nothing but enjoying the cool river (really, it’s cold) and cool people all around you.

Cost of awesomeness?
$25/person – This is a set fee charged per person by Texas Tubes for bus transportation to/from and tube rental fees.

Please try to pay online by Monday at midnight! We need to know whether to tell them 1 or 2 buses and so we can guarantee you a spot on the bus!
Collection times: Monday, 2-4pm at Starbucks on 24th

**You are welcome to bring food and drinks for the bus AND while you float on, so BYOB (just no glass!)** We’ll be gone for about 5 hours! You won’t need a cooler! Mesh bag + cold water = cooler.

PARTYYYYYYY!!!

♥ PL

The March 2011 newsletter is here! If you are not receiving this by email and would like to, send us an email at members@planetlonghorn.net!

In our newsletter this month:

Photo: Madeline Keulen

• Swimming, smores, machetes, campfires, grilling – PL camps Krause Springs once again!
• Mardi Gras Party was a success, raising $108 for NZ Relief, while some of our PLers spent real Mardi Gras in NOLA!
• Spring Break sent PLers in every direction: Cali, Padre, Mexico, and more but almost all made it back for the amazingness that is SXSW.
• Alumni of the Month: Jess Foran. While we all miss her infamous birthday cakes, Jess tells us what she misses about Austin, including queso, plaid shirts, and the 1st Amendment.

Thanks for reading! Click the link below (or right click to save-as) for the Newsletter PDF*:

March 2011

*The newsletter requires Adobe Reader, or a similar program, to read. You can download it here.

Planet Longhorn’s founders have too much money. Combined they probably have close to -$30,000.

Yep, they just graduated.

Luckily neither of them studied finance at UT, so they’re going to be giving out FREEEE MONEYYZZ this year to a lucky member of Planet Longhorn! All YOU have to do is fill out the Distinguished Visionary Scholarship application over on the Distinguished Visionary Scholarship page. With this scholarship, Planet Longhorn looks to honor members who have expanded the organization in some unique way, or has a great idea about how to push the club forward in the future. We will be accepting applications through April 1st!

Also… we have just created a new section of our website to honor our past winners! We’ve only had one, Vanda Taupradist, so go check out her winners’ page and see what we looking for in a visionary.

We look forward to reading your applications!

Doug + Paul

The February 2011 newsletter is here! If you are not receiving this by email and would like to, send us an email at members@planetlonghorn.net!

In our newsletter this month:

Photo: Michael Heyne

• Heart-shaped notes were spread and hands were in the air at the Valentine’s Party – Thanks to our co-host, the Co-op!
• PL headed out to somewhere other than Shakespeares (SHOCK!) for the Not-Your-Usual-Downtown-Shenanigans Pub Crawl.
• Our very own self-proclaimed “Lord” of Business Relations, Jacob Crumrine, turned 21! He celebrated in “style” on 6th.. as you do.
• Alumni of the Month: Bogdan Bradila. Finishing up his degree in Vienna, Bogdan reminisces about his study abroad in Austin: “I only needed one day to learn how to wear burnt orange with pride! Hook’em Horns!”

Thanks for reading! Click the link below (or right click to save-as) for the Newsletter PDF*:

February 2011

*The newsletter requires Adobe Reader, or a similar program, to read. You can download it here.

So you’ve figured out Tuesday night, you’ve figured out Thursday night, and well.. Friday and Saturday are a given. But what about Wednesday?!

We have the solution. Planet Longhorn is heading down to Cedar Street (4th and Lavaca) this Wednesday, Feb 23, to see the one and only SPAZMATICS. Essentially Spazmatics are a must-see 80s cover band that plays every Wednesday. The show is known for it’s amazing 80s covers that everyone kn…ows the words to, the ridiculous outfits/dancing of the band, and the 40yr old+ cougars on the prowl (http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=cougar).

If you need more convincing, just ask anyone from last semester. Best Wednesday Ever.

http://www.thespazmatics.net/

Cedar Street is 21+ and there is a cover charge of $8 but trust us, it’s worth it. The band goes on 9:45. And you can take 1L/1M south from anywhere on Guadalupe and get off at 4th and Congress, then head right towards Lavaca.

Cedar Street
208 West 4th Street
Austin, TX 78701

Looking for a pre-cains adventure TUESDAY night?! Want to check out something different? Come check out Poetry Slam with us at 8pm (Slam starts at 8:30) at:

Spiderhouse Ballroom, 2906 Fruth Street – Right by Trudys!

http://www.facebook.com/#!/event.php?eid=194231527261799

Poetry Slam is live competitive poetry. There’s drinks, DJ, and more! It’s pretty freakin entertaining…and makes you feel pretty inadequate for not being a poet. We will be walking over right after the meeting!

The November/December 2010 newsletter is here! If you are not receiving this by email and would like to, send us an email at members@planetlonghorn.net!

In our newsletter this month:

Photo: Maria Whelan

• Food was out in full force at the PL Potluck, a main feature being toast and vegemite! Yummm…not.
• PL End of the Year Holiday Party at the Rooftop on Guad included nothing less than queso and giant candy canes.
• A tribute to alum exchange students that been lucky enough to visit this semester, our alumni that are off to more exciting things abroad, and UT PLer’s tossing those graduation caps.
• Alumni of the Month: María Victoria Fernández Maestre. Back in Spain now, her advice to exchange students: “There will be always something going on, and the only thing to really be worried about is to be bored for more than 10 seconds!”

Thanks for reading! Click the link below (or right click to save-as) for the Newsletter PDF*:

November/December 2010

*The newsletter requires Adobe Reader, or a similar program, to read. You can download it here.

The October 2010 newsletter is here! If you are not receiving this by email and would like to, send us an email at members@planetlonghorn.net!

In our newsletter this month:

Photo: Rachel Walker

• Planet Longhorners rocked up in their most ridiculous costumes for the big Halloween party. We saw everything (sometimes too much..) from scantily clad Village People, transformers, franzia boxes, obnoxious Aussie rules players, to zombie sorority girls.
• PL found out that nothing is too serious, not even a power drill, for Pumpkin Carving!
• Camping went down with over 17 tents and 3 noise complaints.
• Alumni of the Month: Rachel Taylor, one of our favorite Texan Kiwis. Her advice to current exchange students? “Post exchange life is going to be unavoidable lamer, so live it up while you’re there, and worry about the credit card bill later!”

Thanks for reading! Click the link below (or right click to save-as) for the Newsletter PDF*:

October 2010

*The newsletter requires Adobe Reader, or a similar program, to read. You can download it here.

Shakespeare’s, The Blind Pig, Pure, Malaia, The Library…we’re sure that by now you’ve probably discovered many of the gems that 6th Street has to offer, and frequented them more than once–but we’re here to take you out of your element and show you all that Austin has to offer! So join us Saturday, January 29th for Planet Longhorn’s Not-Your-Usual-Downtown-Shenanigans Pub Crawl!!

We’ll start off by meeting at the E-bus stop at… 26th & Rio Grande (in front of Jefferson 26) at 9:30 p.m. Once we get downtown, we estimate to be at the following bars at the following times:

1) Speakeasy ~ 10
2) Mugshots ~ 11
3) Beauty Bar ~ 11:45
4) Barbarella ~ 12:30
5) Peckerheads ~ 1:15

We hope you’ve enjoyed your first few days of classes and that Texas is treating you well and keeping you warm!!

This Saturday, January 22nd starting at 5:30 pm, Planet Longhorn will be holding an American Movie Night on the rooftop of The Block between 28th and 29th. In true American spirit, we’ll be watching the ultimate classic college party movie: Animal House.
…
Have these been questions in your life (if not, they should be):
Ever wonder where the “COLLEGE” shirts came from?
Or where the toga themed parties started?

Well now you are about to find out. Before you can fully enjoy that house party or that night out on 6th, you have to go back and find your American roots. It’s basically an essential for acceptance to any major American university. So come on out and appreciate the movie that started it all: the frats, the beer, the parties, the overall shenanigans that define American college life. Otherwise, we could probably revoke your visa… (jokes!..but seriously).

Also, bring any snacks/drinks (but no glass bottles please!) you like, and coats or blankets to snuggle up, and we’ll provide the entertainment. There could be Animal House drinking games…

Hope to see you there!!

Hey y’all! Welcome to Texas!

Of course in Texas the best way to welcome someone is through food, and we’ve got you covered on a Texan tradition. Join Planet Longhorn and StudyAbroadSupport.com in eating tons of BBQ and dancing the night away at Midnight Rodeo. You’ll see REAL LIVE cowboys (okay, at least people in hats and boots), try some 2-stepping, and meet some of your best friends (Americans and internationals alike)! Feel f…ree to bring your own six-pack and throw back a few cold ones with your BBQ, in true Texan fashion.

It’s gonna be HUGE, so don’t miss… it!

The event is $12 a person and includes the fantastic feast and transportation to Midnight Rodeo*. Plus, priceless memories…You can either pay at collection time on MONDAY, JANUARY 10TH 2-5pm at the Starbucks on 24th St OR online at planetlonghorn.net. (Just click on the paypal link and specify that you’re paying for the BBQ.)

*We will have drivers to Midnight Rodeo, but you can also call a cab at 512-452-9999 if something comes up or you want to leave at a different time.

So what is all the ruckus about this Midnight Rodeo? It’s a notorious country dance club with lots of “cowboys” and cheap drinks ($1.00 Miller Lite Draft, $1.25 Dos Equis & Blue Moon Draft, $1.50 Wells, $2.00 for most longnecks!!…need I say more??)

Entry fee for Midnight Rodeo:
Ladies 21+ are FREE all night!
Ladies 18-20 FREE before 11pm, then $5
Men 21+ $5 & men 18-20 pay $10

For more info on Midnight Rodeo, check out:
http://midnightrodeoaustin.com/

Keep a lookout for more awesome Planet Longhorn events throughout the semester!

Calling all incoming exchange students Spring 2011! Don’t forget to sign up for your FREE Airport Pick-up at http://planetlonghorn.net/for-internationals/airport-pickup/. Simply submit all your information at least 3 days before your flight, receive your confirmation email, and then we will send a follow-up email with detailed information regarding your arrival and your driver! It’s an opportunity to be picked up by one of our very own Planet Longhorn members and a fellow UT student. If you’re lucky and get Jacob, you’ll be picked up in a real Texan truck the size of a small submarine. See you at the airport!

With Thanksgiving around the corner, we figured what better way to show what we are thankful for than by giving back a little to those less fortunate. Orange Santa is run every year to help collect presents to underprivileged families around Austin. http://www.utexas.edu/events/orangesanta/index.htm

We know it may be difficult and more costly for you to get out and buy presents. So, if you’re interested, we are asking for simple donations of $1-$5 until Monday, Nov. 29. With the collected donations, Planet Longhorn will be able to contribute a number of toys and gifts for our Austin children.

If you want to, you can also purchase your own gifts to donate! Otherwise, you can bring the donations to the meetings, PL collection times, or make online donations through PayPal at www.planetlonghorn.net. Make sure to specify “Orange Santa”.

Love coming to PL events? Interested in working behind the scenes to provide the very best experience for our incoming international students? You’re in luck: we’re recruiting officers for our Spring 2011 semester!

The following positions are up for election:

• Director of Events (2)
  • There are 2 Directors of Social Events who will work together to figure out the details of what is needed to put together our amazing events, both formal and informal. As events are the biggest thing we do, all officers and members will be available to help out with coming up with event ideas and running the events. The two Directors will carry out and schedule all of the necessary items for events.
• Director of Student Affairs
  • The Director of Student Affairs’ main responsibility is recruiting new members through such things as tabling events, study abroad fairs, Forty Acres Fest, and more! Director of Student Affairs must be outgoing, creative, and willing to talk to new people! The Director of Student Affairs will work with the Director of Public Affairs often, as their job roles often coincide.
• Director of Public Affairs
  • The Director of Public Affairs is responsible for connecting Planet Longhorn with other organizations, causes, and activities at UT and within the Austin community. This includes activities such as IM sports, volunteer opportunities (i.e. Dance Marathon, Race for the Cure, etc), and creating Planet Longhorn teams to participate in charity fundraising events hosted by other organizations. The Director of Public Affairs will work with the Director of Student Affairs often, as their job roles often coincide.
• Director of Business Relations
  • The Director of Business Relations is responsible for securing advertising deals, sponsorship agreements, referral/commission programs with local businesses. This includes selling space on the housing page or housing document, setting up referral programs with local apartments and realty agencies, and coming up with new and creative ways for Planet Longhorn to raise funds from local businesses such as sponsoring T-shirts or events. This is a great, especially for advertising majors, to get experience in sales, marketing, and business for your resume! And it’s quantitative, you can tell employers how much you raised!
• Treasurer
  • The Treasurer is responsible for keeping track of expenses and revenue and writing reimbursements. The treasurer is also responsible for documenting these numbers to see how much we lost/made on any particular event so that we know where our finances stand. You are also here to encourage fiscal responsibility among all members and come up with new and creative ways for PL to cut costs!
• Historian
  • The Historian documents the Planet Longhorn semester through photographic evidence and text. You are encouraged to get creative and find new, fun ways to provide American and Exchange students with ways to remember their semester in Austin with PL whether that be DVD video/slideshows, group photos, etc.
• Webmaster
  • Webmaster keeps the Planet Longhorn website up to date for anyone that views it. They are available to make appropriate changes throughout the semester when needed. The webmaster should also come up with new ways to improve the website.

Once your application is reviewed at the end of the semester, you will be expected to give a 2-3 minute speech outlining why you think you’d be a magnificent leader for Planet Longhorn.

You can download the form here: Planet Longhorn Officer Application. Email the completed application to president@planetlonghorn.net.

The deadline is Friday, November 19th. Elections are Tuesday, November 23rd in our general meeting (7 p.m. in CBA 4.324).

Since Austin finally decided to get out of 100 degree weather, it’s time to truly enjoy the great outdoors. You’re cool, fun, and rugged, so we’re taking you camping! (No flannel shirt required)

We’ll be heading to Krause springs on Saturday October 16th, where we’ll swim all day, spend the night (sleeping also not required), and come back on Sunday the 17th. There will be very American and get cozy around abonfire and make smores too. Mmmm.

$25 gets you transportation, entrance to the camp grounds, and of course, yummy food. We encourage BYOB, just no glass

To reserve a spot, you MUST pay ahead of time via PayPal on www.PlanetLonghorn.net or by coming to one of our collection times. We’ll be at the Starbucks on 24th on:

-Monday October 4 from 2-4pm and
-Wednesday October 6 from 4-6pm

**Remember you can sitll pay online to reserve your spot if you can’t make it to a collection time!

Pay no later than Sunday, October 11th so we can reserve drivers, food, and campgrounds for all y’all!

-link for Krause Springs: http://www.krausesprings.net/

The September 2010 newsletter is here! If you are not receiving this by email and would like to, send us an email at members@planetlonghorn.net!

In our newsletter this month:

Photo: Michael Heyne

• Planet Longhorn hosted the first annual PL Beer Pong Tournament, which featured 32 comically-clad teams vying for internationally-recognized beer pong bragging rights. When the dust-and-beer haze cleared, Team “El Taco!” had taken the top spot.
• Vanda turned 21. Who knew.
• Alumni of the Month: John Burns, who will be back in Austin for a visit this November.  On where he’ll be in 10 years: “No idea, but I do hope it involves a strong bourbon and coke.” At least we’ll be sure he’s 21 before handing him the Old Crow.

Thanks for reading! Click the link below (or right click to save-as) for the Newsletter PDF*:

September 2010

*The newsletter requires Adobe Reader, or a similar program, to read. You can download it here.

Hey guys! So Fall 2010 is here! A new semester, new students, and new events. Let’s go!

Meetings!!! Meetings this fall will be Tuesdays at 7pm in CBA 4.324. Can’t wait to see all of you out there!

To clarify, meetings are typically for local students to plan/create events, practice our fake accents, and reminisce about the weekend’s (and weekdays’) shenanigans. However, exchange students are always welcome as well if you would like to be more involved behind the scenes of PL =). Also, please join the facebook group “Planet Longhorn” for event invites and messages about events/happenings around Austin!

The BBQ and Midnight Rodeo were a great success with about 300 people stuffing their face with delicious Rudy’s BBQ, cream corn, potato salad, and BBQ sauce. Midnight Rodeo featured lots of country dancing (or at least we copied the guys in the boots and cowboy hats) and an incredibly classy (?) bikini contest.

Floating the River also brought close to 100 students out into the Texas heat to enjoy tubing, cool water, warm beer, and about 15 laps around the whirlpool before successfully escaping. All in all, a great time!

Be ready for more big events this semester like pub crawl, tailgates, and Halloween as well as our smaller get togethers for unique Austin activities! Also look for us at the UT and McCombs Study Abroad Fairs September 8th, 10-3pm and the PALS Orientation September 9th.

Please email us at members@planetlonghorn.com with any questions/comments!

See you all this semester!

Happy Summer everyone!

First off, thank you to all the newbies who have registered for the buddy program, signed up for airport pickup, or stalked down Planet Longhorn members via email/facebook prior to your arrival to Texas! Keep it up! We are so excited about the semester…so you should be too! And thanks to the oldies who have been filling out the brochure questionnaire! It’s a world of help.

Hopefully everyone is having a eventful, awesome, exciting summer. Just a few updates on some of your lovely Planet Longhorners this summer:

Liana Depew- Currently studying in Barcelona, staying up too late, and learning about Spanish “culture.”  She is set to terrorize the rest of Europe in a few weeks time.

Katie Chapman- Currently crushing her soul in the corporate world during a 10 week internship in Dallas..noooooo. Good news is that when she gets back to Austin, she will be rich and ready to have a good time.

Vanda Taupradist- Living the dream in South Africa interning at the World Cup! No .. seriously. She even worked security at one game when normal security went on strike. If you know Vanda, you know why this is hilarious/completely absurd.

Dana Yu- Running around Europe eating reindeer and harassing Norwegians. Don’t worry, she’ll get to you too!

James Chiang – Somewhere shirtless and shoeless in California trying to figure out how to turn an accounting degree into a life on the beach.

Natalia Urbanowicz- Also running around Europe getting back to her roots in Poland and enjoying graduated life.

John Michael – Tagging along on Natalia’s trip.

Doug Yacek - Drinking hefeweizen in Germany planning a grand scheme on how never to leave.

Paul McCloud - Working as an indentured servant on an apparent “exchange” in Mexico and helping to turn a farm into a microbrewery! Planet Longhorn Lager? I think so.

We’ve got a huge semester ahead of us so keep checking back for more updates! And feel free to email us with any questions/concerns/general chat/anecdotes/World Cup trash talk.

The March 2010 newsletter is here! If you are not receiving this by email and would like to, send us an email at members@planetlonghorn.net!

In our newsletter this month:

Fun at the beach!... ok its not a beach, but Pease Park is as close as we've got!

• Planet Longhorn boasted yet another great success in hosting their second annual Masquerade Ball in the beginning of March. It was a chance for everyone to dress up in their best clothes, look even better than before, and have a classy evening out on the town.
• The plan was to have a massive barbeque in Pease Park on a beautiful Sunday afternoon and follow it up with a huge game of kickball. Everything was organized, the food (and new grill) were bought, and the people were hiking their way through West Campus… but there were problems awaiting…
• Alumni of the Month: Karen Mulhardt – “To all the Fall 08 Internationals, I miss you all and I hope we meet again. To the current internationals, get involved in as many things as you can and make sure you enjoy every moment, cause it goes by really fast.”

Thanks for reading! Click the link below (or right click to save-as) for the Newsletter PDF*:

March 2010 Newsletter

*The newsletter requires Adobe Reader, or a similar program, to read. You can download it here.

The February 2010 newsletter is here! If you are not receiving this by email and would like to, send us an email at members@planetlonghorn.net!

PL's ultra-classy Valentine's Day photo-op!

• Creating a new tradition out of last year’s hit, PL invited all their favorite people to come celebrate cupid at the House of Guys. PL assigned everyone a number and a corresponding bag for people to write valentines notes to. We had an awesome turnout with well over 300 attendees!
• Planet Longhorn participated in Dance Marathon this month. Dance Marathon is a charity event put on by The Dance Marathon Executive Team (organization of UT students) to benefit the Dell Children’s Hospital in Austin. PL raised over $300 for the charity!
• Alumni of the Month: Michael “The Mitch” Nobis – “I miss y’all so much I can’t even tell. I think of you EVERY day and tell people stories about the best time I had in my life!”

Thanks for reading! Click the link below (or right click to save-as) for the Newsletter PDF*:

February 2010 Newsletter

*The newsletter requires Adobe Reader, or a similar program, to read. You can download it here.

The January 2010 newsletter is here! If you are not receiving this by email and would like to, send us an email at members@planetlonghorn.net!

Su-Yin Chan (Queensland), Carl Burnham (University of Melbourne) partying down at the Midnight Rodeo!

In our newsletter this month:

• Planet Longhorn has its (in)famous Welcome BBQ for all the new exchange students. It was catered by Rudy’s and held in the Block Games Room on the Thursday before school started.
• Planet Longhorn planned a festive birthday celebration on the Block rooftop for Dr. King, complete with home-made cakes and all. In response to the disaster in Haiti, we requested a donation of $2 per attendee. We had a huge turnout, easily topping 250 guests and raised well over $400!!
• Alumni of the Month: Anne Claire Blok – “I had the time of my life in Austin, met the coolest people and I definitely miss it when I think back on all of the good times we had! Props to Planet Longhorn for making it such a success Looking forward to hear from you all and I’d love to see y’all again, even if it’s for a quick visit.”

Thanks for reading! Click the link below (or right click to save-as) for the Newsletter PDF*:

January 2010 Newsletter

*The newsletter requires Adobe Reader, or a similar program, to read. You can download it here.

Finally, Planet Longhorn is throwing our awesomely awesome-tastic boat party! This is the last official event of the year so come enjoy some drinks and some sun out on the lake and take in the best of Austin while you still can.

We might not have a beach here, but for those who haven’t gotten to go see it yet Lake Travis is a whole new kind of awesome. Scientists have concluded that party barges are the coolest things ever. That’s right. EVER. And you have to believe them, because they’re scientists*.

Bring your swimsuit and sunscreen, and make sure you don’t lose your sunglasses!

** $25 gets you a trip out to the lake, 4 hours out on the boat, and drinks and snacks while you’re swimming and water-sliding and enjoying some of Austin’s best weather!

** Come pay us at STARBUCKS on 24th & San Antonio St. on Friday May 7th between 5-7 PM.

THIS EVENT IS LIMITED TO THE FIRST 70 PEOPLE TO PAY so come early! In case of conflict, priority will be given to people who have attended events in the past since it’s kind of a farewell party so come out on Friday!

*This is not a lie. Real live scientists definitely said that.

What’s the only thing more awesome than camping? Planet Longhorn. And now Planet Longhorn is going camping… Holy. Crap. Prepare for the best night EVER. Well that is… unless we encounter something much less awesome than Planet Longhorn or camping….

Ahhhhhh!

We’ll be spending a day and night at beautiful Krause Springs in Spicewood, TX. Check out the website for photos and more:

http://www.krausesprings.net/

Yeaaaaaaaaaa!

Come pay at the Starbucks on 24th this Wednesday, May 5 from 5-7pm to reserve your spot, or just head over to our website: www.planetlonghorn.com/events and pay with a credit card on PayPal!

We’ll leave at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, May 8th and have lunch at a BBQ place just outside of Krause Springs. Then we have a full day and night to enjoy the natural springs, make a sweet bonfire, and enjoy the great Texas outdoors! We’ll have dinner with S’mores for dessert, the ultimate American camping snack! We will head back to campus Sunday morning and plan on being back before 1pm.

Things to bring camping:

- blankets and pillows, or you can rent a sleeping bag from the UT Outdoor Recreation Center:

http://www.utrecsports.org/outdoor/rentalcenter/rentalrates.php

- swimsuits
- money for BBQ lunch
- towels
- alcohol (NO GLASS ALLOWED)
- sunscreen
- extra snacks
- flashlights and ghost stories
- guns and knives for wildlife protection: bears, wolves, etc. (just kidding)
- anddd… drinks if you want them. But not in glass containers.

Change up your typical weekend plans with a beautiful, Texas country setting and some good friends!

******Due to the intense planning required for this event if you DO NOT come to collection times or pay us on PayPal you will NOT be able to come to the event**** and we want you to come so please PLEASE come to collection times! =)

Cost of the event will be $25. This will cover the $10 admission price to the camping site, tent rentals, transportation, dinner on Saturday, and breakfast on Sunday morning. This event is open to all ages!

*********************************************************************************

See y’all on the campground – it’s gonna be AWESOME!

Around this time of year Texas starts to get hot. Very, very hot. Visitors often think this means Texas hates you and doesn’t want you to be happy.

UNTRUE

Planet Longhorn wants you to know why we Texans love the heat. It’s not just because we’re crazy. Well some of the hobos are. But we’re pretty sure we’re not.  It’s hard to explain what exactly makes floating the river so fun but TRUST US, you will NOT be sorry.

As our founding fathers would say: It’s gonna be huge.

Oh and for everyone asking what you “do” on the river: wade. chat. drink. look at people who have bad tattoos. love your life.

*** Things to bring: Sunscreen, drinks if you want, an ID if you are drinking. Towel is optional, you dry pretty quickly when it’s 238423520983209683 degrees outside.

Come join us on May 1st on the Comal!! We’re meeting for the bus at 26th and Rio Grande at 12:30.

*****************************************************
Come pay on Wednesday, April 28th from 5-7 PM, we’ll be hanging out on the patio at Starbuck’s on 24th St. near Guadalupe. Or just come hang out!

Cost: $20 if you pay on Wednesday, $25 if you pay on Saturday. This gets you transportation to the river and back, a rental tube. BYOB if you want a couple of brews to pass the time. We’ll be back by 7!

We need to order buses and/or cars so we need to know how many people will come!
*****************************************************

Planet Longhorn has rented out an entire skating rink and is throwing an awesomely American 80’s themed roller skating party (because you haven’t seen enough neon!)

We’ll have a fantastic soundtrack with some classic 80’s music hits; all you need to do is come along and dress up in ridiculous 80’s gear! See the photos for ideas and examples.

It costs $10 to get in, that includes admission and rental skates. COME PAY US at one of the collection times at the Starbucks patio on 24th St. on:

Friday, April 16th, 1:30-3:30 PM
Tuesday, April 20th, 1-2 PM

We’ll be meeting at 6 PM at 26th St. and Rio Grande on April 22nd to head over there and be back before 10!

If you want to bring drinks, the rink only allows beer in cans (no bottles, no liquor). If not no worries, but roller skating and screaming along to Bon Jovi can definitely get easier with a couple of brews!

Hey Guys! Planet Longhorn… in its infinite awesomeness… has just developed a questionnaire designed to be filled out by our study abroad student members. Basically, with our international student members’ help Planet Longhorn hopes to create a pool of information (which admittedly is not as exciting as a real pool) for UT students thinking about studying abroad. All the information in the questionnaire will go into a brochure, which will be made available on this website and to students interested in studying abroad at organization fairs like 40 Acres Fest. If you’re an international student, the information in this questionnaire is basically all the information you wish you’d had before you came abroad to Texas, and as a result, your input will be a direct step towards promoting study-abroad at UT and at your school.

You can download the questionnaire here Brochure Questionnaire Final… if you don’t know an answer to a question, feel free to just leave it blank, we’ll take anything we can get!

What does everyone love more than food? Food you didn’t have to make yourself! We’re not going to cook for all of you because that would be freaking impossible. But that’s what a potluck is for!

A potluck is where everyone brings a dish so you end up with a billion different foods to try out. Come join us at Jefferson 26 (J26) on 26th St. between Rio Grande and Nueces St on April 8th at 10PM! If you can, it’d be cool if you brought a food that represents your country, but if you can’t just bring a food that you’re good at making to share with everyone! Or if you are a terrible cook, grab a bag of chips or some drinks to share. I hope some of y’all are good cooks because I am not having a mountain of Doritos, HEB brand cakes, cokes, and beer for dinner. Actually that doesn’t sound that bad. Nevermind, that actually sounds horrible.

We’ll be in the event room by the pool if they let us use it, or just out by the pool if they don’t. The pool is right in the middle of the complex so it’s easy to find! Come in the door on 26th street closest to Nueces, it’s never locked, and call one of us if you have trouble!

Eat, drink and be merry!

James: 972-697-6965

Mom said don’t eat food and then play sports, PL says why not do both at the same time?! Especially when it’s BBQ and kickball!!
Come out and grill and getch’yo game on (with your feet):

• When: Sunday March 28th 2010

• Where: Pease Park (off Lamar)

• Time: 1:00 pm

• Sport Description: An intense mix of soccer and baseball… don’t worry we’ll teach you how to play!

Some people will be driving so meet at 26th and Rio Grande, otherwise get some exercise and walk!!

Our first softball game starts at 5:00 at the IM Fields on Field 5 so come out and cheer us on afterwards!

What’s a hullabaloo? Don’t worry about it. It’s gonna be huge.

See you there!

Hey Everyone!

Doug and Paul here to remind everyone that the Distinguished Visionary Scholarship applications are due on April 1st! I know we’ve been a little disorganized with having the applications available, so we’ll actually accept applications all the way through this Sunday… as Maria said today… its your typical Planet Longhorn deadline… not a deadline at all! But yaa just email the file below to Paul and I by Sunday night by 11PM, and it will be no problem. The finished file should be sent to yacek.d@gmail.com and paul.mccloud@gmail.com.

Remember… you don’t NEED to have been a major contributor to the organization already, but you should plan to be of course! We’re looking forward to reading the apps and getting some great ideas about PL in the future!

Here is a link to the file: Scholarship Application Form

Here’s to free money!

Doug + Paul

Extra points if you dress as crazy as Lady Gaga. Seriously that girl is insane

We know you’re beautiful. You know you’re beautiful. All these poor Texans walking around 6th St. in their old t-shirts and jeans just don’t stand a chance. That’s why Planet Longhorn is throwing a masquerade ball, a chance for everyone to dress up in their best clothes, look even better than before, and have a classy evening out on the town… at least until the party ends, then the classiness is up to you. But since you’re already so good looking, we’re making it a masquerade ball so everyone else on 6th St. doesn’t get sad about how bad they look and go home early.

We’ve rented out the entire second level at Aces Lounge on 6th St. for the ball! It starts at 8:15 PM SHARP and will go until 10:30 PM or whenever you want to leave! Prices are as follows:

Over 21: $25, includes food, cover, and 4 drink tickets to be used before 10:30

Age 18-20: $15, includes food, cover, and unlimited nonalcoholic drinks

PLEASE RSVP and pay ahead of time so we can make sure to have enough food! We will be collecting money at the Starbucks on 24th and San Antonio (near the Castilian) on:

Sunday, Feb. 28 from 2-5:00 pm

Lucy in Disguise down on South Congress (A really fun Austin-y shopping area to go to anyways) has a great collection of masks, decorate your own, or have an artistic friend paint one on with facepaint!

We look forward to seeing you! Even if we don’t recognize you behind your mask, we’ll still pretend we recognize you until like 20 minutes later when we finally figure it out!

Time to get acquainted with the many beautiful, historical buildings in Austin… And by that we mean getting acquainted with sixth street! Come out and enjoy the $2 wells at Peckerheads and $2.50 wells at Blind Pig, just to name a few.

We are meeting on Friday, January 22 at the E-bus stop on 26th and Rio Grand at 9 PM, make sure you are on time so we can start the party because if you’re late you’ll just have to meet us downtown. The party will not wait for you!

Here is our schedule. Write it down!

1. Beauty Bar (9:30-10:15)
2. Creekside Lounge (10:15-11)
3. Blind Pig (11:15-12)
4. Peckerheads (12-1)
5. Malaia (1 until the end of the night!)

Time to get acquainted with the many beautiful, historical buildings in Austin… And by that we mean getting acquainted with sixth street! Come out and enjoy the $2 wells at Peckerheads and $2.50 wells at Blind Pig, just to name a few.

We are meeting on Friday, January 22 at the E-bus stop on 26th and Rio Grand at 9 PM, make sure you are on time so we can start the party because if you’re late you’ll just have to meet us downtown. The party will not wait for you!

Here is our schedule. Write it down!

1. Beauty Bar (9:30-10:15)
2. Creekside Lounge (10:15-11)
3. Blind Pig (11:15-12)
4. Peckerheads (12-1)
5. Malaia (1 until the end of the night!)

Jessie Foran (U. Melbourne) sports her brand new PL t-shirt at the final UT home footballgame’s tailgate. Photo Credit: Rachel Taylor

The December 2009 Newsletter is ready.

In our newsletter this month:

• Planet Longhorn had its first annual Thanksgiving dinner in the Jefferson 26 Games Room. Everyone brought a dish unique to their country, and we all enjoyed an international dinner.
• Planet Longhorn collected 135 cans of food, 131 pounds of food, at their Rooftop Party. Everything was donated to the Austin Food Bank.
• Alumni of the Month: Hanan Townshend of Victoria University, Wellington: “Studying in Austin has been the most rewarding experience of my life thus far! It would not have happened the same without Planet Longhorn.”

Thanks for reading! Click the link below (or right click to save-as) for the Newsletter PDF*:

December 2009 Newsletter

*The newsletter requires Adobe Reader, or a similar program, to read. You can download it here.

Oskar Schmidt (Wirtschaftsuniversität Wien), Vanda Taupradist (UT), Michael Tatschl (WU Wien), Ragheb (American University of Beirut), Michael Nobis (WU Wien) Photo Credits: Vanda Taupradist

The November 2009 Newsletter is ready.

In our newsletter this month:

• Planet Longhorn held its traditional Fall Cocktail Party at Aces Lounge on Sixth Street on the evening of Oct 9! Aces Lounge is a burlesque- themed lounge and night club featuring live music on the first floor.
• Over thirteen countries were represented in Planet Longhorn’s International Pumpkin Carving Competition. Each participating country received a pumpkin and a pack of carving utensils on the Orange Tree Patio. When the dust cleared, the French team rose victorious.
• Alumni of the Month: Mariale Colin Betancourt, of Universidad Pontifica de Comillas, Madrid.

Thanks for reading! Click the link below (or right click to save-as) for the Newsletter PDF*:

November 2009 Newsletter

*The newsletter requires Adobe Reader, or a similar program, to read. You can download it here.

To properly end a truly epic year, one must celebrate with epic proportion. It has been an amazing year/semester, and we are going to finish this thing off right… the TEXAS way!

What is the Texas way to end an epic year?… I will tell you my friend… to rent out an insanely large boat on Lake Travis, to consume insane amounts of beverages, to swim in the insanely temperate water, to get insanely sunburned, and to get the insanely awesome Planet Longhorn family together one more time. We are going to miss you guys… and we are going to make this a day/night to remember!!

So here are the details…

We have the boat rented out from 3PM – 7PM on Monday, May 11th, which means we are picking you guys up on a big yellow school bus at 1PM. The pickup location is going to be at 25th Street and Whitis (map below) on campus. We can swim off the boat, so bring yourself a towel, swimsuit, sunscreen, indie shades, whatever you think you need!

We will be providing all the beverages your little heart desires (assuming your little heart desires really cheap beer and liquor).

Make sure to come out to a collection time early… this event will sell out fast, and we only have 70 spots! We do have to be strict this time on the collections, so really make sure you come out!

* Tuesday, May 5th: 3-4PM
* Wednesday, May 6th:10-11PM
*Thursday, May 7th: 12-2PM

Like I said… The bus will be leaving at 1PM sharp on Monday the 11th, and we should be back around 8:30PM-ish that night.

Cost: $30 per person. – This gets you the trip to and from, your ticket onto the boat, unlimited beverages, and the love and affection of Planet Longhorn!

See you guys out there!

Gonna. Be. Huge.

Hey everyone!!!

Unfortunately because of weird weather, we weren’t able to go tubing =( But on a happier note, we are planning the PARTY BARGE END OF THE YEAR PARTYYY! It’s going down May 11!

Good luck with exams and end of the semester craziness, n dont forget to get pumped for the party barge ! Collection times are up on Facebook!

~May

We’ll be adding content on this magnificent (if I do say so myself) website constantly for the next few months. If you need help with anything or have any questions as your time at Texas quickly approaches then feel free to check out our Member section and get a hold of one of us! A couple more months and you’ll be an official LONGHORN!

For those of you wanting to come the the TEXAS SIZED Welcome BBQ and MIDNIGHT Rodeo, make sure you send me an email and join the facebook group. You wont want to miss this extravaganza of food, entertainment, dancing, and food (I’m trying to say there will be a lot of food). Come out and meet some UT students and your fellow exchangers. For all the details and updates check out our Events section.

Hey yall! Well our website is finally up and running, so we will be utilizing this page now for updates for events, important goings on around Austin, and anything random we think you should know!