By Sgt. James David with Matt Bertram
Hello and welcome to Carolina. My name is Sergeant James David, and I serve with the UNC Police Department here at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. As a proud Carolina alum, I’m especially excited to welcome you to this incredible campus and community. You’re beginning a journey that will challenge and reward you in countless ways, and I want you to know that your safety is our number one priority. At UNC Police, we believe in two things above all else when it comes to keeping our campus safe: communication and empowerment. Our goal is to make sure every student knows how to access the safety tools and support systems that are available to them from the very first day.
One of the most important things you should know is that we operate a dedicated 911 Emergency Communications Center right here on campus. That means if you ever call 911 from your cell phone or from any campus phone while you’re on university grounds, the call goes directly to trained UNC Police telecommunicators who are familiar with the campus layout and can dispatch help quickly and effectively. This campus-specific 911 center is a critical first line of communication and ensures a faster and more informed emergency response.
Another major resource I encourage you to take advantage of is the Carolina Ready Safety App. This mobile app brings a wide range of safety tools right to your fingertips. You can report suspicious activity, receive emergency notifications, and access support services all from your phone. It also connects you directly with our SafeWalk program, which is run by pairs of trained UNC students who can accompany you anywhere on campus or even into the nearby Chapel Hill area if you’re walking late at night. Whether you’re leaving the library, a study group, or a social event, SafeWalk is a smart and supportive way to get home safely.
When it comes to your residence hall, security is a top priority. All of our on-campus housing buildings are access-controlled 24 hours a day, seven days a week. That means the exterior doors are locked at all times, and entry is only granted through an electronic key fob issued to each resident. Only those who live in the building or who are approved staff members such as Resident Advisors, Community Directors, and UNC Police personnel can enter. This system helps protect your personal space and ensures that only those with a legitimate reason to be there can access the building.
As you walk around campus, you may notice security cameras installed in various locations, especially inside residence halls and public spaces. These cameras are not there to monitor your day-to-day life but are instead intended to give our department an extra set of eyes in case we ever need to review footage as part of an investigation. Their presence helps support the overall safety of our community and can serve as a valuable tool when something needs to be looked into further.
You’ll also see emergency blue light call boxes located across campus, often near residence halls and academic buildings. These tall poles have an emergency button and an intercom system that connects you directly to our UNC 911 Center. Once activated, one of our telecommunicators will speak with you through the intercom while dispatching an officer to your exact location to assist with whatever situation you may be experiencing. These call boxes are always available and offer another way for you to quickly get help if needed.
At the UNC Police Department, we view every student as part of our community. We are here not just to respond in emergencies but to build relationships, offer guidance, and ensure that you feel supported throughout your time at Carolina. This is a place where you will grow academically, personally, and socially, and we want you to feel confident every step of the way. If you ever have a question, concern, or simply want to learn more about how we serve the campus, please do not hesitate to reach out. You are never alone here. We’re proud to be part of your Carolina experience, and we’re honored to help keep you safe.
Welcome to the Tar Heel community. I know you’re going to make the most of your time here, and I’m glad you’re with us.
– Sgt. James David UNC Police Department
Click here to continue to Episode 9: What Your Service Desk Can Do for You
June 3, 2025, marks the 230th anniversary of UNC’s very first student organization, The Dialectic and Philanthropic Societies. DiPhi is a literary and debate student organization that was established in 1795 (the same year as UNC!) that focuses on supporting clear thinking, celebrating the arts, and sharing ideas freely, all while learning about the history of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
I had the absolute honor to tour the organization’s chamber and get an introduction to all of the amazing alumni who were a part of DiPhi during their time at UNC. Some notable DiPhi alumni include James K. Polk (a U.S. President) William R. King (a U.S. Vice President) Thomas Wolfe, and Paul Green, (both Pulitzer Prize Winners).
Not only did I get to see the beautiful chamber up close and learn more about the alumni of the organization, but I learned some incredible facts about DiPhi’s impact on the university as a whole.
During my tour of DiPhi, I learned that they had a huge impact on the origins of the iconic Carolina blue and white school colors. Since there are two societies within DiPhi, the Dialectic society and Philanthropic society, members of each society were recognized by a ribbon on their diploma. Dialectic society members had a blue ribbon on their diploma, representing agricultural excellence and symbolizing the blue skies of North Carolina. Members of the Philanthropic society had white ribbons, representing the light of liberty or the light of virtue. In the 1880s when the collegiate football team was formed, the colors for UNC were a bit of a mismatch. Since a lot of the players were members of either the Dialectic or Philanthropic society, they decided to use white and blue as the team's colors. Thus, leading us to today with the iconic Carolina blue and white UNC is known for.
If you’re interested in learning more about this incredible organization, listen to our newest podcast episode featuring Cormac Lynch and Maddux Vernon from the societies or head to their website!
Hey Carolina Housing! My name is Haedyn Mills! I am one of the Spring 2025 Marketing Interns and a sophomore here at UNC. As my time on the Carolina Housing team is coming to an end, I wanted to share why I have chosen to live on campus all four years here at Carolina.
Here’s a little bit of background on my on-campus living experiences and how these have influenced my decision to stay on campus.
My Time in Hinton James Residence Hall
I participated in a program called Carolina Global Launch where I spent my first semester abroad at the University of Stirling in Scotland! This was an amazing experience where I got to explore the world around me, but I was really nervous about coming back to Carolina halfway through the year.
I always knew that I had wanted to come to UNC and was excited about living in a building with all freshmen. In one of my journals in middle school, I had drawn out the floor plan of the rooms based on one of the South Campus residence halls here and had decorated it on the page how I wanted it. So, when it came to figuring out where I wanted to stay, I knew I wanted to live on South Campus. My housing application process was very different from most students’ here at UNC as I had to do it halfway through the year, but I ended up exactly where I wanted to be!
When I got to UNC me and one of the other girls in my study abroad cohort were able to be suitemates, and I got matched randomly with my roommate. We immediately clicked and became extremely close friends and my friend from study abroad and I were able to bring in my new roommate to our friend group.
My time in Hinton James was one of exciting experiences, adventures and side quests. I 100% recommend living in Hinton James as a freshman because you are so close to so many other people who want to make friends with you and who are in the same stage of life here in Carolina that you are.
My Time in Teague Residence Hall
I am currently living in Teague Residence Hall which is located Mid Campus near the
Kenan Football Stadium. As a sophomore, this is the perfect location for campus because it’s near everything.
I knew I wanted to live in this area of campus, and my friends and I ended up all getting placed here but spread out throughout the building. As someone who had experienced having a random roommate before, I was not worried about this in the slightest! My current roommate and I are very close friends so I knew I would be able to make a new friend with my random roommate and still have a solid support system.
My favorite part of living in this area is that I am close to all of the sports games. As a big sports fan and Carolina Fever point collector, this has been the perfect space. I can walk out to my “backyard” which is essentially Dorrance Soccer Field and collect the points. With living so close and getting points I was able to be in the top 200 people in the school who went to the most sporting events and was able to be second row at the Duke v. UNC basketball game.
My time living here has been full of so many fun sporting events and memories with my friends. This side of campus means I am only ever a short walk from just about everything, and it is in between both of the gyms and dining halls.
My Future in Rams Village Apartments
Next year I am so excited to be living with my friends, one of which was my random roommate freshman year in one of the Rams Village Apartments. We are all looking forward to the location right next to the Dean Smith Center for attending basketball games, and of course the unique lifestyle living in an on-campus apartment will provide.
My roommates and I plan on renewing our rooms for our senior year too because we love living on campus.
I also feel like you don’t need this because freshmen are required to live on campus. Living on campus allows you to get involved and go to events like sports games and club meetings without driving or walking far distances. For a lot of people, undergrad is the only time they will have the opportunity to live on campus.
I highly recommend taking advantage of the opportunity to live on campus and enjoy your time here. College is usually only four years of your life. Why not spend it with the Carolina Housing community; it has truly felt like family! Go Heels!
Are you looking for a meaningful way to give back to your community? Carolina Housing invites you to participate in Blueprints for Change: Carolina Housing Builds a Home on April 12, 2025. This event provides an opportunity to make a lasting impact while developing leadership and teamwork skills as a Carolina Housing Student Leader. Together, we will contribute to the creation of safe and affordable housing for local families.
The event will take place on Saturday, April 12, 2025, at Weavers Grove Drive in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Volunteers can choose between two time slots, from 8:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. or from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. To participate, please complete the Blueprints for Change: Carolina Housing Builds a Home Volunteer Form by March 5 at 5:00 p.m. Space is limited, so early registration is encouraged.
Volunteers under 18 must submit a completed youth waiver. Additional details, including what to bring and what to expect, will be shared upon registration. We hope you will join us in making a lasting impact on our community.
On Sunday, the Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles are going head-to-head in the big game. Whether you are watching sports, commercials, the halftime show or Taylor Swift sightings, here’s some tips on how to have the best watch party possible!
First, you need a way to watch the game! Tubi is streaming the game for free so if you and your friends have a laptop, TV or phone you can stream it through there! You could also stream it on a computer in the library or go to a watch party. The International Student and Scholar Services office here at UNC is having a watch party in the Nelson Mandela Auditorium at FedEx Global Education Center!
Once you have a place to watch the game, you are free to stock up on all your favorite snacks and get ready for a fun night! You and your roommates could make guesses on how long the halftime show will be, what songs will be played and if there are any surprise guests. Even if you aren’t a big sports fan, there will be plenty of awesome commercials to see and vote on your favorites.
With these tips, hopefully you can have a super fun time viewing the big game without breaking the bank!
Hey Tar Heels!
Spring is almost here, bringing warm weather and awakening insects from their winter hibernation. Even though insects are a natural part of life, we can take these simple steps to help minimize their presence in shared spaces like residence halls!
Here are some helpful tips to prevent pests from entering or infesting your living area:
Reduce clutter: A tidy space is less attractive to pests. Remove empty boxes, eliminate piles of clothes, and make sure everything has its own space and can breathe
Take out trash and recycling regularly: Food scraps and sugary drinks are major attractants, so empty your bins when they’re full. If these items are not removed, it prevents natural pest control measures from working because insects continue to have a food source.
Keep your space clean: Regularly dust and vacuum to eliminate crumbs and debris.
By following these steps, we can all contribute to a cleaner, more comfortable living environment for everyone. Thank you for doing your part to keep our residence hall pest-free!
If you have any concerns or notice pest activity, don’t hesitate to submit a fix-my-room request!
Hey Parents and Guardians!
Valentine’s Day is quickly approaching and the Residence Hall Association (RHA) wants you to know that you can send your student a care package to let them know that you are thinking of them!
These packages have been designed to appeal to a variety of tastes in order to help celebrate this special occasion. You also have the option to purchase a package plan for the remainder of the academic year, surprising your student for Valentine’s Day, Spring Finals and a Spring Surprise!
Not only are you able to choose from an array of different package options, but you also have the option to write your student a note when placing the order. This note will be the first thing they see when they open their care package!
Act now! The deadline to order is Monday, January 27th.
Please note: Packages will be made available by Wednesday, February 12th. They might be available earlier, but definitely by the 12th. Upon arrival, your student will be given pickup instructions. You will also be notified of the arrival of the package as well.
Order your package through this link: https://swaku-2.com/unc-cp-home
RHA thanks you for your support!
By: Anna Gedevani, Marketing Intern 2021-2022
As the North Carolina transitions into the fall weather, now is the perfect time to explore the outdoors and spend some time in nature. Here are some of my favorite trails close to campus.
OEC Trails are about a 10-minute walk from campus and features a wide range of multi-use nature trails. The OEC also features an 18-hole disc golf course, volleyball and tennis courts, a bouldering wall, and a challenge course. The trails are open for hiking, trail running, mountain biking, and dog walking.
Open dusk to dawn 365 days a year. Leashed pets are welcome. The Arboretum is right on campus at the corner of Cameron Ave and Raleigh St, and a great place to take a quick stroll under the changing fall leaves.
About a 10-minute drive from campus and features a variety of trails! Conveniently located near the NC Botanical Garden, which offers outdoor restorative yoga classes as well.
A paved woodland trail (0.85 miles) that connects to Merritt’s Pasture, a great open space for picnicking with friends. Merritt’s Pasture is one of my favorite spots to hang out once the weather gets cooler.
Great fall views as the leaves are changing through the forest. Features a 0.8-mile trail with a pass by Meeting-of-the-Waters Creek. Starts on campus by Ridge Rd and heads towards the Botanical Gardens.
Hope you all enjoy this amazing weather with family and friends!