Sunday, September 11, 2011

#494: September 11th Memorial Flags in the Quad

Every year, College Republicans (CRs) place hundreds of American flags in the Quad in front of Wilson Library to commemorate September 11th.  Though the sight is always both beautiful and reflective, this year it is especially so.  To make this year extra special, CRs are leaving the flags in the Quad for three days (the 11th-13th).

On a related note, the flags they are using this year are brand new.  The flags used in previous years were passed out to students in Davis Library last spring when the campus heard that Osama bin Laden had been killed.


If you have any questions please comment below or email me at nething@email.unc.edu!

Tuesday, September 6, 2011

#495: FallFest

FallFest is an event during Week of Welcome that occurs on South Road (the road is closed for the event) the Sunday night before school starts.  It starts at 9 PM and ends at around 2 AM, and believe me there is plenty to do for all five hours.  Every organization on campus (including clubs, intramural teams, official campus organizations such as Campus Health, etc.) has a booth that provides information about the group.  FallFest is where you sign up for list-servs, find out when information meetings are, watch student groups perform (such as the Clef Hangers, dance groups, etc.), and, most importantly, accumulate loads of free stuff.  This year there was free food from Panera, Ben and Jerry's, Locopops, a local Indian restaurant, Domino's, Pepsi, and various groups gave out popcorn, snow cones, etc.  Also, if you scout out the booths well you can get free UNC shirts (last year Campus Health gave away shirts that said "Watch Your BAC"), cups, pens, koozies, etc.  Meanwhile, on the soccer fields there are inflatable playground slides and obstacle courses and areas to play football and other sports.  FallFest allows first-year students to learn about getting involved on campus, upperclassmen to refine their "niche" at UNC, and everyone to have a blast as they get ready for the new year.


If you have any questions, please comment below or email me at nething@email.unc.edu!

Monday, September 5, 2011

#496: Sunset Serenade


Sunset Serenade is an event during Week of Welcome that occurs the night before classes begin.  Every year, hundreds of students sit in the grass in the Quad facing Wilson Library, where various a cappella groups perform.  Everyone scrunches together on beach towels and blankets, first-year students bonding with new friends while upperclassmen reuniting with old ones.  All of the major groups perform, such as the Clef Hangers, Lorelais, Cadence, Achordants, and many more (although one of my personal favorite groups, the Tarpeggios, has yet to make their Sunset Serenade debut).  This is the first time of the year where students experience the majority of the a cappella groups (it's difficult to catch them all at FallFest).  It's the first time of the year where students will hear the Clef Hangers sing "Carolina In My Mind", the theme of everyone's summer.  And it's the first time of the year where you truly feel like a Tar Heel, as you stand arm in arm with friends and strangers alike, singing "Hark the Sound" (the alma mater).  Sunset Serenade is a timeless tradition for every student from first-years to seniors, and it is the perfect way to start out the year at Carolina.
If you have any questions, please leave a comment below or email me at nething@email.unc.edu!