The university's Torch Night, a welcoming ceremony for incoming freshmen, will take place on Wednesday, Sept. 9 at 6 p.m. in Thompson-Boling Arena. The new member convocation for Greek freshmen will precede the ceremony at 5:15 p.m. at Humanities Amphitheatre.  

Lindsay Lucas, the Panhellenic vice president of Chapter Relations and Judicial Affairs, said the ceremony and new member convocation is a long time tradition that sets the tone for a great first-year experience at the university.

It is important that freshmen, Greek or non-Greek, realize that they have something to offer and understand their place on UT's campus. Lindsay Lucas, Panhellenic vice president of Chapter Relations and Judicial Affairs"Directly before the torch ceremony we will have the new member convocation for all the new pledge classes on campus for both sororities and fraternities," Lucas said.

JJ Brown, Assistant Dean of Students, will speak at the convocation to new members of each pledge class, explaining what Greek life is all about and the wide range of opportunities they have on campus. He will also be sharing some academic advice.

At the torch ceremony, the freshman will hear a message from the keynote speaker, Allan Houston, a UT Knoxville alumnus.

Initiated as the Freshman Pledge Ceremony on Oct. 9, 1925, the event was renamed Torch Night in 1929.

Torch Night is one part of Light the Torch: The First-Year Experience at UT, an ongoing effort by the university to provide assistance to the new class through learning, social support and academic advising.

Lucas said the torch night ceremony symbolizes the passing of "The Torch of Preparation" from the senior class to the freshmen class.

"It is important that the freshmen, Greek or non-Greek, realize they have something to offer and understand their place on UT's campus," she said.