By Brennan Doherty, University Communications
The nation’s first public university, Carolina has many traditions spanning decades that help bind generations of Tar Heels together.
Here’s a look through the years at some of the customs and places key to the Carolina experience. In some cases, the more things change, the more they stay the same. In other instances, new traditions are born.
(Photo credits, left-to-right: Jock Lauterer; Jon Gardiner/UNC-Chapel Hill)
Drinking from the Old Well
The Old Well has long been the campus landmark most associated with Carolina. It’s also home to one of the University’s most popular traditions, First Sip, in which students brave long lines on the first day of classes to drink the well’s water for good luck and a perfect GPA.
While Tar Heels have long been drinking from the Old Well, the tradition as we know it is younger than you might think.
“Alums from the ’70s said that they didn’t remember it at all,” University archivist Nicholas Graham said. “Alums from the ’80s talked about the idea that drinking out of the Old Well was good luck, so sometimes they would do it before a big exam. And it’s really in the 1990s that this idea emerged that it was good luck to do it on the first day of class.”
(Photo credits, left-to-right: Dan Sears/UNC-Chapel Hill; Jon Gardiner/UNC-Chapel Hill)
Moving in at Carolina
Moving into college is a rite of passage for all students, including Tar Heels. As shown in these two photos taken a quarter century apart at Hinton James Residence Hall, it’s always a good idea to enlist the help of your family when you have lots to get into your dorm.
(Photo credits, left to right: North Carolina Collection Photographic Archives; Jon Gardiner/UNC-Chapel Hill)
Celebrating University Day
Did you know that Carolina’s birthday is Oct. 12? On that date, we celebrate University Day, which marks the laying of the cornerstone of Old East — the campus’ first building and the oldest state university building in the nation. The day is a celebration of our mission as the country’s first public university and our service to North Carolina, the nation and the world.
In 1978 actor and North Carolina native Andy Griffith (center) spoke at University Day and received the distinguished alumnus award.
(Photo credits, left-to-right: Peter Krogh/Yackety Yak; Johnny Andrews/UNC-Chapel Hill)
Rushing Franklin Street
When the Tar Heels beat Duke or win a national championship in men’s basketball, students take off for Franklin Street, downtown Chapel Hill’s main thoroughfare on the edge of campus. The street was even rushed in 1924 when Carolina won its first national title.
In 1982, the cause for celebration was a national championship victory (the first for legendary coach Dean Smith) over Georgetown powered by James Worthy and a big shot from a first-year named Michael Jordan. In 2022, students were overjoyed by nerve-wracking Final Four win over Duke, a game in which the stakes had never been higher.
(Photo credits: North Carolina Collection Photographic Archives; Jon Gardiner/UNC-Chapel Hill)
Carolina’s master bell ringers
The chimes of the Morehead-Patterson Bell Tower are the soundtrack to campus. Since opening in 1931, the Bell Tower has had students serve as master bell ringers. The role involves helping oversee the bell tower’s operations and ringing the bells on football game days and other special occasions. Many master bell ringers have played in Carolina’s band and were chosen for the role by the director of University Bands.
But you don’t have to be a master bell ringer to check out the inside of the Bell Tower. Since the early 2000s, students nearing graduation have participated in the Senior Bell Tower Climb.
(Photo credits: North Carolina Collection Photographic Archives; Jon Gardiner/UNC-Chapel Hill)
A live ram named Rameses
2024 marks the centennial of Rameses, Carolina’s live ram mascot. The first Rameses made his debut at a 1924 football game against Virginia Military Institute, a 3-0 Tar Heel victory. A century later, Rameses can still be spotted at football games — and he occasionally visits campus as well. It wasn’t until the late 1980s that Carolina added costumed Rameses.
(Photo credits: North Carolina Collection Photographic Archives; Johnny Andrews/UNC-Chapel Hill)
A popular poplar
The Davie Poplar tree that stands tall on McCorkle Place is older than the University itself and is another famous campus location steeped in tradition. The giant tulip poplar is named after William R. Davie, who won passage of the bill in the General Assembly that chartered the University and also laid the cornerstone for Carolina’s first building in 1793.
Over the years, the University has taken great measures to keep the Davie Poplar standing. The tree has survived hurricanes, and an irrigation plan helped it outlast a drought in the 1980s. There’s good reason to keep the tree upright: A legend says that if the Davie Poplar falls, so will the University.
(Photo credits: North Carolina Collection Photographic Archives; Johnny Andrews/UNC-Chapel Hill)
A Carolina Commencement
Commencement marks the end of students’ time at Carolina and is a celebration of their hard work as Tar Heels. No matter the decade, graduating from the University is still a feat worthy of pumping your fists over.