Flash Waves in libraries at the onset of final examinations began at the University of North Carolina with such an event on December 9, 2008. UT’s first flash wave was in the Jack E. Reese Galleria of Hodges Library on May 7, 2009, complete with thousands of students, loud music, cheers, dancing and jumping around, crowd surfing, beach balls, and a few glow sticks. Flash waves generally last about 10 minutes, and the crowd then quickly disperses.