SOURCE: The Daily Tar Heel
POSTED BY: Cristina Rodriguez on Thursday, Nov. 7, 2013.
Former Chancellor Holden Thorp on the differences between getting involved at UNC and Washington University in St. Louis (10/31/13).
SOURCE: The Daily Tar Heel POSTED BY: Cristina Rodriguez on Thursday, Nov. 7, 2013.
27 Comments
11/8/2013 03:26:13 am
Former Chancellor Thorpe's quote here because UNC prides itself on its diversity of students. Students are involved in tons of different sports, clubs, internships, and passions. It's exciting to meet new people every day who are all completely different. UNC attracts everyone, from chemists discovering new compounds to musicians with aspirations to play in top symphonies around the world. UNC is not a stereotype or one particular fit. But, what brings all these diverse students together is sports games, when we all dress in the beloved Carolina blue and cheer on the Tar Heels.
Caroline Stephens
11/11/2013 01:56:31 am
I find this to be a very interesting quote. I am from St. Louis and have grown up next to Washington University. I think that Thorpe is completely correct about what he has to say about the UNC experience what compared with a mid sized private university like Wash U. When you attend a state university with a thriving college town like Chapel Hill, you are a member of a student body that is largely representative of the country as a whole. There is financial diversity, ethnic diversity and the college town gives all of these individuals there own niche to get involved in. I am curious to hear more from Thorp as he spends more time at Wash U.
Bailey Mathais
11/11/2013 09:31:57 am
I find this quote to be very interesting. Every university likes to pride itself on diversity of some sort and the different ways people can fit in at that specific university. Former Chancellor Thorpe is right though- we do pride ourselves on the southern college town, football weekends and everyone wearing Carolina blue here at UNC. I'm sure every university can same something similar- but there is something definitely unique about Carolina and it has a lot to do with the students that make up the campus.
Zachary Russell
11/12/2013 09:47:42 am
The portion of this quote about UNC students all wearing Carolina blue all the time immediately stands out to me as somewhat ironic since the quote also points out UNC's diversity. Initially, I thought that this really does not match up with the idea of diversity, but then I thought about it a bit more and decided it actually is a perfect example of why this university is so great. There are all types of people on this campus with no way that everyone will agree on topics such as religion, ethnicity, politics, etc. Despite this, everyone (save the few outliers who may have grown up State or Duke fans) can agree on the beauty of putting their arm around another student wearing Carolina blue in Kenan Stadium and singing along to the alma mater after a UNC victory.
Lauren Gil
11/12/2013 02:14:16 pm
Though this quote is very interesting and poignant in itself, the most capturing aspect of it is the man who made it - former Chancellor Holden Thorp. I read the quote and initially thought it was a pretty generic statement I could hear any UNC student saying, but the fact that it was said by the former chancellor who dealt with a wide spectrum of pressing issues on campus, not to mention one that resigned, is extremely powerful. He is also currently working at one of the top universities in the country, so his ongoing affinity with the "Carolina experience" is unique and compelling.
Sarah DeWeese
11/12/2013 02:29:07 pm
Getting involved is monumentally important, but Chancellor Thorp put it very eloquently when he said that we have a variety of ways of fitting in at UNC. It isn't about blending into the sea of Carolina blue by simply putting on a school T-shirt though. It is about finding that one thing that you are truly passionate about and interacting with people who love it just as much. Once you find your passion at Carolina, there are hundreds of opportunities that open up to you thanks to the highly connected and intelligent network of staff. So everyone can find their own place to belong while here at Carolina and still expand their horizons once they graduate.
Anna Elkins
11/12/2013 11:07:23 pm
I find this quote to be true. As a transfer from Elon University, only an hour down the road, I felt that my experience there has been a completely different experience because more people who attend Elon are from the north. We didn't wear Elon University clothing with pride, instead, we would wear our Greek letters. However, UNC has taught me to have pride in my school and my student body. It has also has made me want to participate more in the activities such as football games to show my classmates that I want to support them.
Amy Lazo
11/12/2013 11:23:54 pm
I love this quote because it is completely true. I have often tried to express to friends that go to other colleges how great Carolina is but its something only a Tar Heel can really understand. It not just that our school gorgeous or that our colors are great or even that our sports teams are consistently top-ranked (although all those things definitely help) but the thing that truly makes this school great is the fact that Carolina finds that perfect balance between growing students as intellectuals and growing students as people and as citizens.
George Brown
11/12/2013 11:42:01 pm
Chancellor Thorp hit the nail on the head in his quote when he was describing what makes UNC great. The diversity we have at our school is an awesome aspect that makes it a comfortable environment for all people involved with the university.
Christina Boodee
11/13/2013 04:17:59 am
I find this quote most interesting because of its author--Chancellor Emeritus Holden Thorp. Since the quote is taken out of context, Thorp's intentions are unclear to me. I have read about Thorp's transition away from the highly publicized scandals at UNC to his low-key life at the lesser-known Washington University in St. Louis, and he appears to be more than grateful to be taken out of the spotlight. I was under the impression that Thorp harbored negative feelings towards his alma mater and former employer--but this quote suggests otherwise. I'm glad that Thorp's love and appreciation for our great university was not tarnished by the many scandals of the past few years.
Mary Harakas
11/18/2013 11:13:11 am
Former Chancellor Thorp accurately described the atmosphere at UNC-Chapel Hill. College students who do not attend UNC know that this is a great university and are in awe about the unique college culture that is different from their own schools. Only a Tar Heel student and those involved with the university know how to accurately describe UNC-Chapel Hill: it is a place where regardless of your background or opinions, the Carolina blue and white colors symbolize all the greatness of UNC.
Meghan C
11/24/2013 11:18:49 am
While reading former Chancellor Thorp's quote about the atmosphere at UNC, I couldn't help but picture my own experience with each instance he described. I know we hold a high a place amongst a long list of respectable universities, but only a true Tar Heel student or alumnus understands that a morning in a southern town means a breakfast at Suttons, or that the best part of every football game is the beginning of the fourth quarter. People walk our campus and wonder why they see so much blue. It's because we want to wear it. We are proud of it for so many different reasons.
Chase Fowler
11/24/2013 08:46:11 pm
I completely agree with Former Chancellor Thorpe. None of my other college choices would have provided me with as much of a southern experience as Carolina. All my new friends are very different and the Carolina culture makes you want to get involved with as much as you can.
Ana Jones
2/18/2014 05:44:10 am
I could not agree more with Thorp's message. I came into UNC not knowing if I would be able to find my place, but the opportunities, extracurriculars, clubs, and arts on this campus are endless. A day never goes by (be it 100 degrees or freezing cold) that I don't see people promoting new and exciting events in the pit. Something is always going on and we truly do attend a diverse university. As a sophomore, I feel that the UNC experience is unlike any other that students at universities elsewhere will encounter. Today in particular reminded me of this. It was the first warm day since the snow storm and everyone was outside enjoying the Carolina blue sky in the quads. It's a beautiful campus with a student body and staff full of ambitious, intelligent individuals. I could not be more grateful for my place at UNC.
Conor Fry
2/18/2014 06:55:51 am
Truer words could not have been spoken. I completely agree with Chancellor Thorpe and his stance on why Carolina is much more than just a school, but instead the complete college experience. Whether its walking down Franklin Street on a saturday morning and getting something to eat at Suttons Diner or walking through campus and lounging on the quad, the experience here at Carolina is unlike any other. Not to mention game day in Kenan Stadium, walking around from tailgate to tailgate with your fellow tar heels and alumni, getting excited for the big game. Chancellor Thorpe hit the nail on the head, describing the college experience at Carolina.
Katie Cauthen
2/18/2014 11:41:35 am
I find this quote to be quite interesting. Reflecting on my UNC experience, I completely agree with Former Chancellor Thorpe. Carolina has given me the best of both worlds. It has all the aspects of a typical Southern university - picture fall tailgates, cheering on the Heels as they score a game winning touchdown, and incomparable school spirit. But at the same time, UNC is a hub for diversity. Just walk through the Pit on any afternoon and you will see organizations for almost any interest. Something is always going on and there is a place for everyone to fit in.
Meredith Babb
2/18/2014 01:11:40 pm
I appreciate Thorp's words about the university because to me they are the essence of an enjoyable college experience. I love the spirit of our student body during football season, I love how Carolina blue looks good on everybody, and I love the idea that any person who enrolls at this school has endless opportunities to get involved. College is the time for a person to find himself or herself, and this university is a perfect environment to do just that.
Lauren
2/18/2014 10:50:27 pm
Former Chancellor Holden Thorp summarizes the Carolina experience well in this quote. I couldn't imagine attending any other school, and it is the college town charm that drew my attention to this University to begin with. There is a sense of community here at UNC and an evident proudness present in the student body. Carolina students are proud to attend this University, and we reflect that in our actions and our dress (our Carolina blue t-shirts), among other things. Even though the campus is home to thousands of undergraduates we manage to come together as a family, and there is a strong sense of unity among us. I have thoroughly enjoyed my first semester at Carolina, and I'm looking forward to the next three years.
Noelle Hayward
2/20/2014 06:14:00 am
I agree with former Chancellor Holden Thorpe. This quote epitomizes the Carolina culture. When I was visiting Carolina and trying to make my decision about where to attend college, one thing that I noticed right away was the unique culture and the deep sense of community that is present here. Though every university no doubt has its own unique culture, Carolina seems to be one of a kind. I am so thankful to be a part of such a wonderful community!
Kathryn Child
2/22/2014 07:15:09 am
I think that Former Chancellor Holden Thorp's view of Carolina's college experience is spot on. As a transfer student, I was blown away by the strength of school spirit that unites all students. It is also a school that is strongly connected to traditions and family. My Grandad went to Carolina and always wanted me to attend, too, to carry on the "Carolina legacy." Alumni often tailgate alongside students-- it has a rich history that creates a lot of pride.
Lauren Edwards
2/25/2014 05:39:32 am
If you were to go back in time to 2012 and ask me as a high school senior what I was looking for in a prospective university, this is what I would have said, word for word. When I first visited here, I was a freshman attending high school back home in Florida, and I hadn't even heard of UNC. In fact, UNC is the one school I visited where I didn't even take a tour, but it's also the one school I fell absolutely in love with. Several students stopped my parents and me as we wandered around campus to ask if we needed help and to tell us how much they enjoyed their Carolina experience. I was hooked on the Southern hospitality and charm so ingrained in our friendly little college town. I wanted that overwhelming sense of school pride and unity, but more than anything, I wanted a sense of belonging. In just an hour or so of exploring Carolina, I'd found all of that, and now I couldn't be happier with my choice to attend. My time at Carolina has certainly been the "comprehensive collegiate experience" that former Chancellor Thorpe describes.
Meredith Morrow
2/25/2014 09:44:08 am
I love that Chancellor Thorp recognizes some of my favorite parts of UNC. When I was still looking at colleges in high school, I knew I wanted to go to a school that was large enough to create a strong sense of school pride and have strong athletics, but also diverse enough to have tons of ways to get involved. I have definitely found that great environment here at Carolina. I think Chancellor Thorp summed up what most of us love here at Carolina and why we can feel like such a diverse school at times, while feeling united as Tar Heels at the same time.
Kyle Conroy
2/25/2014 11:54:34 am
Thorp's comment shows the pride UNC takes in its diversity beyond academics. The school is known for being a top-tier academic university, but the real treasure of UNC lies in its expansive society and culture beyond the classroom. The student life is filled with events, groups, and activities as diverse and the student body themselves. Thorp's comment shows that the value of UNC lies in its ability to encompass the collegiate experience beyond the classroom.
Annie Goessling
2/27/2014 04:56:15 am
I identify with this quote because one of the first things I noticed when I visited UNC with my mom my junior year of high school was the amount of people who were out in the quad doing fun activities. I saw people playing Frisbee, tanning, holding meetings etc. UNC is a highly active campus, and i think that is what makes it so appealing to so many students. Additionally everyone has a ton of pride for Carolina, and lots of people wear the school colors any opportunity given. I think this is due to the strong athletic programs at UNC. Because sports teams are regularly competing for an ACC or NCAA championship, students are more inclined to show their school pride.
Shelby Bass
2/27/2014 07:56:49 am
I'll be honest: UNC wasn't my first choice. By the time I visited, I had already been accepted to Yale and was intent on going - until I saw the price tag. I felt lied to - wasn't the Ivy league supposed to be the best in everything, including funding? Didn't a student who was good enough to get in deserve to actually be able to go?
Cameron James
4/13/2014 11:21:31 pm
Former Chancellor Thorp's comment explores the meaning of what it means to be a Tar Heel. Here at UNC everybody is encouraged to find their own place and be their own person. Also, it shows how UNC students take pride in their diversity beyond just academic diversity. I've seen how students at UNC Chapel Hill welcome all kinds of different people with open arms and I think that is something we can take pride in.
Gray Dorsett
4/15/2014 04:39:00 am
I completely agree with Former Chancellor Thorp's statement and is the reason why I came here. Carolina offers the perfect college experience. Few other colleges do you find impressive academics combined with such a fun and vibrant student experience. You get a great degree and the best four years of your life. You can have fun going to parties and Franklin bars or participate in the myriad of other activities going on throughout campus. There really is something for everyone. This all comes at a great price too for in-state students. There's a reason why UNC is consistently ranked as one of, if not the top deal college in the country. Leave a Reply. |