# UT Austin’s motto, colors and mascot

The Latin motto and what it means, the tagline, burnt orange and white, Bevo and Hook ’Em

**Disciplina Praesidium Civitatis** UT’s official motto, in Latin, approved in 1905

It’s a Latin rendering of Mirabeau B. Lamar’s saying: “Cultivated mind is the guardian genius of democracy.”

“What starts here changes the world” is UT’s tagline, not its motto.

[Read UT’s style guide](https://umac.utexas.edu/resources/editorial-style-guide/)

## UT’s colors and mascots

Orange and white became UT’s official colors in 1900.

- Burnt orange · Pantone 159. RGB 191, 87, 0**#bf5700**
- White · RGB 255, 255, 255**#ffffff**
- Bevo · The live longhorn mascot, first on the field at halftime**1916**
- Hook ’Em · The costumed mascot**CostumeCan my club use the Longhorn logo? Only with UT’s written approval.**

Any use of a UT mark on merchandise needs prior written approval from the Office of Brand, Trademarks and Licensing, and a vendor on UT’s approved list has to make it.

[UT logo and seal rules](https://utaustin.guide/ut/logo-and-seal)

**Who takes care of Bevo? The Silver Spurs.**

The Silver Spurs student organization handles Bevo. UT has had more than a dozen Bevos since 1916.

[Bevo and UT’s other traditions](https://utaustin.guide/ut/traditions)

**Sources UT’s Editorial Style Guide, Brand Center and Longhorn Traditions**

Checked November 12, 2026. The motto, tagline and mascot names come from UT’s Editorial Style Guide. The colors come from the Brand Center.

- [UT Editorial Style Guide: Tagline, Motto, Core Purpose and Mission; Hook ’em](https://umac.utexas.edu/resources/editorial-style-guide/)
- [The University of Texas at Austin: Longhorn Traditions](https://www.utexas.edu/about/longhorn-traditions)
- [UT Brand Center: Colors](https://umac.utexas.edu/brand-center/visual-identity/colors/)
- [UT Brand, Trademarks and Licensing: Student organizations](https://trademarks.utexas.edu/student-organizations)
- [Texas Athletics: Traditions, Bevo](https://texaslonghorns.com/sports/2013/7/28/traditions_0728135205)

[UT traditions](https://utaustin.guide/ut/traditions)[UT logo and seal](https://utaustin.guide/ut/logo-and-seal)[When UT was founded](https://utaustin.guide/ut/about)

By [Sulayman Bowles](https://sulayman-bowles.dev/about) · Checked Nov 12, 2026

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Source: https://utaustin.guide/ut/motto-colors-mascot · Checked 2026-11-12 · Field Guide: UT Austin