UNC-CH International Student's
Southern History and Culture Exploration Program

Purpose:

To deepen international students' and visiting foreign scholars understanding of and participation in the life of the region, SHCEP proposes to provide lectures, interactions with various populations and tours. The program will help participants look behind simplistic stereotypes of the South, to consider the region's complex cultures, development, and human relations.

In order to help international students at UNC-CH develop a more discerning and sensible understanding of their host state and Southern region, the University Center for International Studies (UCIS), the Center for the Study of the American South and the International Center have joined forces in developing SHCEP. This program will provide immersion sessions about the American South and the following main educational themes are proposed:

1) Varied South, Local Culture, Food and Craft. 2) Economic Development, From Rural Agricultural History to High-Tech Research Triangle Park. 3) Relations between different populations in North Carolina. 4) The role that African-Americans have in Southern History.

Program Accomplishments

Please follow link to ACTIVITIES COMPLETED:

Please follow link to see FINAL REPORT submitted to NAFSA on June 16, 1998:


Participating students will need to fill out an application and participate in the initial on-campus introductory workshop during which a campus historical tour will be held and a brief knowledge test on the American South be administered.
Click on Email List to contact foreign students that signed up for the 1998/99 program.

For an on-line application please click on:

SHCEP Application

Initial funding for this project has been provided by the USIA United States Information Agency, through a grant from the Cooperative Grants Program of NAFSA Association of International Educators and was used in 1997/98 to offset program and travel costs. The University Center for International Studies at UNC-CH will support the program for1998/99. Participants may be expected to share costs in the weekend travel to distant NC Historical Sites and take care of their food requirements.


If you are an International Student or a Visiting Foreign Scholar at UNC-CH ask yourself the following question: How much do I know about North Carolina and the Southern region that I will be spending a number of years in and why is NC called the Tar Heel State.

Nickname, The Old North State or The Tar Heel State

In 1629, King Charles I of England "erected into a province," all the land from Albemarle Soundon the north to the St. John's River on the south, which he directed should be called Carolina. The word Carolina is from the word Carolus, the Latin form of Charles. When Carolina was divided in 1710, the southern part was called South Carolina and the northern, older settlement, North Carolina. From this came the nickname the "Old North State." Historians have recorded that the principle products during the early history of North Carolina were "tar, pitch, and turpentine." It was during one of the fiercest battles of the War Between the States, so the story goes, that the column supporting the North Carolina troops was driven from the field. After the battle the North Carolinians, who had successfully fought it out alone, were greeted from the passing derelict regiment with the question: "Any more tar down in the Old North State, boys?" Quick as a flash came the answer: "No, not a bit, old Jeff's bought it all up." "Is that so; what is he going to do with it?" was asked. "He's going to put on you-un's heels to make you stick better in the next fight." Creecy relates that General Lee, upon hearing of the incident, said: "God bless the Tar Heel boys," and from that they took their name. (-Adapted from Grandfather Tales of North Carolina by R.B. Creecy and Histories of North Carolina Regiments, Vol. III, by Walter Clark)

Additional Information on North Carolina:

Dedicated to helping the citizens and businesses of North Carolina to compete in the global marketplace and to develop strong cultural interactions THE NORTH CAROLINA GLOBAL GATEWAY
For a great guide to North Carolina Historic Sites and Heritage go to Preservation North Carolina
OK, all you FLATLANDERS, this is the guide to the North Carolina Mountains and appropriately titled: Flatlanders Guide to the North Carolina Mountains

 


A sample of planned SHCEP activities:

A number of southern cultural events and festivals that take place throughout the year would offer a unique perspective on this region. Many are held on the weekends, and SHCEP will offer funds to offset costs of travel and, if necessary, room and board as a special part of the program.

1. Background, history and sites in the Chapel Hill, Hillsborough, Research Triangle area. Starting point is the UNC-CH campus with visits to the Duke Homestead, Stagville Plantation, the State Capital and legislative buildings, and other historical sites. Mr. Wayne Martin and Ms. Beverly Patterson of the Folk Life section of Arts Council, Department of Cultural Resources will possibly provide a leadership role.

2. Rural North Carolina and what tobacco, cotton and hogs mean to the NC economy. Students visit Somerset Plantation in Washington County where they receive a complete introduction to historical plantation life and economy possibly by Ms. Patricia Sanford. A workshop on the Role of Slaves in Southern Economy will be held. Then they participate in visiting local farms and evaluate the impact of large scale farming, pesticide use and environmental damage from hog farm run-offs and compare them to agricultural techniques in their home countries. The program culminates with a visit to one of North Carolina's earliest communities, Edenton which is the home of many historic buildings including the first church built in North Carolina, St. Paul's. Edenton is also the site of the October 1774 "Tea Party" where 51 Edenton ladies pledged their support to the American cause in one of the first instances of political activity by American women.

3. Appalachia, its roots, rural history and impact on American view of poverty. Visit to Asheville and surrounding communities. AN immersion session on Mountain Life and Culture will be held at UNC-Ashville and local country farms visited. To highlight the disparities between immense wealth and surrounding regional poverty, the Biltmore Estate will also be visited. Time allowing the Indian Museum in Cherokee NC, which has the largest collection of artifacts of the Cherokee nation will be visited.

4. The South and American military history. Review of the Civil War and its impact on the South will include a tour of Bentonville, North Carolina where from the 19th through the 21st of March 1865, the largest Civil War land battle ever fought in North Carolina took place. Current role of military bases will also be explored with a visit to Fort Bragg in Fayetteville, and an immersion session at Fayeteville State University.

5. A visit to historical ports of commerce from which cotton flowed to Europe and beyond. Wilmington and the cotton exchange will be visited and an immersion session at UNC-Wilmington held.

6. Visit to Old Salem in Winston/Salem which will provide immersion into one aspect of Southern life during the colonial, and early antebellum periods.

Timeline:

In order to make the program accommodating to students, the major travel portions will be held during breaks between sessions, weekends and weekdays that are convenient to participants. Travel in the Triangle region that visits legislative offices, business groups and other buildings that are open during weekdays only will be scheduled accordingly.

SHCEP Program Coordinator:

Tony Young at the Center for the Study of the American South. Tel: (919)962-5665

Additional Contacts:

Bogdan T. Leja, Director Outreach Programs, UCIS 223 E. Franklin St., CB#5415 Chapel Hill, NC 27599-5145 Tel: (919)962-0299
Fax: (919)962-5375 Email:btl4@sunsite.unc.edu

James Leloudis, Interim Director, Center for the Study of the American South, 03A Manning Hall 026, CB# 2355, Chapel Hill NC 27599-2355 Tel: (919)962-5665
Fax:(919)962-4433 Email:leloudis.ham@mhs.unc.edu

Diana M. Levy, Program Coordinator, International Center, FPG Student Union 116, CB#5240, Chapel Hill NC 27599-5240
Tel: (919)962-5661 Email:dmlevy@email.unc.edu


More about North Carolina:

Dogwood

The North Carolina State Flower. To find out more about our great state follow the link to the North Carolina State Encyclopedia.

Toast, The Tar Heel Toast

The following toast was officially adopted as the State Toast of North Carolina by the General Assembly of 1957. (Session Laws, 1957, c. 777)

Here's to the land of the long leaf pine,
The summer land where the sun doth shine,
Where the weak grow strong and the strong grow great,
Here's to "Down Home," the Old North State!

Here's to the land of the cotton bloom white,
Where the scuppernong perfumes the breeze at night,
Where the soft southern moss and jessamine mate,
'Neath the murmuring pines of the Old North State!

Here's to the land where the galax grows,
Where the rhododendron's rosette glows,
Where soars Mount Mitchell's summit great,
In the "Land of the Sky," in the Old North State!

Here's to the land where maidens are fair,
Where friends are true and cold hearts rare,
The near land, the dear land, whatever fate,
The blest land, the best land, the Old North State!