About Us

Welcome to the official web site of the Tar Heel Mac Users Group (THeMUG) at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (The Hill).

The MUG web site aims to be the definitive hub for Apple resources and information at UNC-CH. In addition to Apple info, this site also has information on people who comprise the group, what they do, and why they use Macs as their preferred operating system.

The mission of the MUG is to enable the faculty, staff, and students of UNC-CH to better integrate technology in the interest of improving education, communication, and collaboration.

The main objective of the organization is to help develop improved teaching, learning, and communication on campus through the utilization of technology.


What About Macs and UNC-CH's CCI?

What about Apple and UNC-CH's "Carolina Computing Initiative"? Basically, UNC-CH officially supports one platform of computer, but you can bring any computer you want to college (thousands of students and faculty do). For more information on Macs and UNC-CH's CCI, check out our CCI page.


Where are the Macs?

Macs have a presence in many of the schools, departments and institutes at UNC-CH, including:

Academic Technology Networks
Art
Athletics
Bioinformatics
Biology
Biochemistry and Biophysics
Biomedical Engineering
Business School (Kenan Flagler)
Cancer Center
Cell & Developmental Biology
Cell & Molecular Physiology
Center for Instructional Technology
Center for Teaching and Learning
Chemistry
Classics
Communication Studies
Computer Science
Cystic Fibrosis
Daily Tar Heel (school & regional newspaper)
Dentistry School
Dramatic Art
Education School
Engineering
English
Environmental Sciences and Engineering
FPG Child Development Institute
Gene Therapy Center
Genetics
Geology

Health Policy & Administration
History
Government School
Johnston Center for Undergraduate Excellence
Journalism and Mass Communication School
Marine Sciences
Mathematics
Medical Illustration & Photography
Medicine School
Microbiology and Immunology
Morehead Planetarium
Music
Neuroscience Center
Nursing School
Nutrition
Ophthalmology
Pharmacology
Physics and Astronomy
Political Science
Psychology
Public Health
RAM Shop (computer store)
Radiation Oncology
Religious Studies
Sociology
Surgery
Student Stores (bookstore)
University Libraries
University Gazette/Internal Communications and Design Services

Check out the Calendar page for upcoming MUG events!

Download a PDF about THeMUG at UNC-CH


About Our Mark

Our new mark is a combination of the Apple logo's leaf, donning the Old Well, which represents Carolina. Together, they represent how Carolina and Apple are integrated.

Our old Logo: The foot with a splash of tar on its heel, known as the Tar Heel mark, comes from North Carolina's reputation as a tar-producing state in the 19th century, where its citizens would often walk or work barefoot in the woods and return home with tar on their feet. During the Civil War, North Carolina soldiers became known by this name and it "stuck" ever since.

The Tar Heel - a foot with a splash of tar on the heel - is one of the icons of The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, the state's flagship university. The Mac Heel is our variation on this well-known icon, and replaces the splash of tar with the Apple icon.

We had to change our logo to meet UNC-Chapel Hill trademark guidelines, and can no longer display this mark.


People

Officers

Matt Davis - THeMUG President, Apple Rep, Tester
Peter Pope- Student VP.
Adam Shutes - News Coordinator, Tester
Matthew Carroll - Marketing Director, Webmaster & Site Architect, Tester
Bil Hays - Faculty Advisor, Mac-support Coordinator, Tester
Scott Ragland - Staff Officer
Damon Lambert - Student Officer
Preston Mitchell - Student Officer


Matt Davis - President, Apple Representative, Application Tester

  Matt is currently a sophomore at UNC and is majoring in Advertising and 'attempting' to minor in Business. He is the founder and president of Tar Heel MUG at UNC and has been using Macs since age six. He is an Apple Campus Representative, the consultant for his father’s orthodontic practice, a former Mac Specialist at Comp USA, and a former intern at Apple who studied the culture of the company. In his spare time he enjoys wake boarding, lacrosse, weight lifting, boating, and cars.

"Why I use a Mac"

I can bring my PowerBook to class, and it works. I bring it home, it works. I can do anything on it, anywhere, and yes... it still works. When I start a project on my Mac, I don't have to think about anything except the project itself. The OS lets me complete all my work without pestering me. I have a complete set of digital hub tools at my fingertips, with total integration, in addition to presentation software that goes unmatched on any other platform, yet remains totally compatible.

Peter Pope - Student VP

  I'm a sophomore from Raleigh. My major is Biomedical
Engineering. I am in Kappa Sigma. I enjoy playing soccer, outdoor sports like backpacking and climbing, and restoring my 1965 Land Rover.

"Why I use a Mac"

I use macs because I like the operating system better. To me, it is more logical and more attractive looking. Also, I like organizing my music on itunes and sharing it with others on my fraternity house's network. On a large campus dominated by CCI laptops, I enjoy being different from the average student.

Adam Shutes - News Coordinator, Application Tester

  Adam Shutes Bio.

"Why I use a Mac"

Adam Shutes reason for liking Macs.

Matthew Carroll- Marketing Director, Webmaster & Site Architect

  Matthew Carroll is a graduate student at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he is currently studying Information Science at the School of Information and Library Science at UNC-CH. He is presently studying system analysis and design, user interface design and system effectiveness, among other endeavors.

He did his undergraduate study at UNC-CH as well, graduating with a Bachelor of the Arts degree from the School of Journalism and Mass Communication. He concentrated on visual communication and design in his major and also had an outside concentration in social anthropology.

Among his current civic activities, Matthew Carroll teaches and tutors people on Web design and how to use sophisticated software applications, such as Adobe PhotoShop.

Matthew Carroll is also the President of ASIS&T at UNC-CH and the Vice-Chair of the Student Congress Information Technology Committee for the Executive Branch of Student Government.

"Why I use a Mac"

Quickly, I know better. In greater detail, Apple OSX allows me to do all my work without having to worry about something crashing and disrupting my physical work, my mental processes, and my general work flow. Things work on OSX, you just plug stuff in and you're off, so you never have to worry about getting drivers,or pulling your hardware apart. Things I know about but do not miss with my other systems. OSX just has to be experienced to be believed - its the best system you can use.

Bil Hays- Faculty Advisor

  Bil Hays works as the Network Manager at UNC CH's Department of Computer Science, where he also helps coordinate Mac support, and heads up development of Database projects. He's worked in the IT/IS field at UNC CH for departments such as CS, ATN and CTL for longer than he cares to admit, and is a strong proponent of cross platform environments. He got started on Apple ][+ and //e systems under DOS 3.3 and Pro DOS, then learned MS-DOS, Mac OS, and Windows (starting with Win286), and has administered Appleshare 3.x and Novell 3.x servers.

"Why I use a Mac"

I'm really a cross platform kind of guy. I use a powerbook G3, a 2x500 G4 and a Dell with Windows NT at work and an iMac DV SE and 486/33 at home. I prefer using a Mac for most of my work, and have for years.

Computers are a lot like cars; different folks have different needs, and having a choice is a good thing. After all, how much fun would it be if Henry Ford had had his way, and we all drove black LTDs?

Scott Ragland - Student Officer

  Scott Ragland is the Director of Internal Communications at Carolina and edits the University Gazette, UNC's faculty/staff newspaper.

"Why I use a Mac"

I did some stuff in DOS in the early days, and going to the
point-and-click elegance of the Mac in the mid-1980s was a revelation. Apple's "saving" me -- a right-brained English major -- from the command line is one of the reasons I've remained loyal to the company and its products ever since. The Mac has enabled me to do some amazing things over the years. I've
set up a home wireless network. I've made QuickTime movies of my kids and posted them on the Web. And I've done these things with just a few clicks of the mouse.

Damon Lambert - Student Officer

 

Damon Lambert from Cherokee NC, is a sophmore at UNC - Chapel Hill. He's majoring in geography with intentions to get a master's degree in City and Regional Planning. He is also an Member of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. He loves the outdoors, namely hiking, mountain biking, and camping, and he is a drummer as well. He likes Chapel Hill and participates in numerous clubs and activities, and like many people he loves Carolina basketball.

"Why I use a Mac"

I grew up using a Mac at home. As my education progressed I was forced to use Windows machines in high school, but I always seemed to be more productive when I went home to my wonderful Mac. Around 9th grade I got a 1st gen iBook, and instantly had the sexiest computer around, this assured my Mac faithfulness for years to come.

Upon entering college I was given a grant for a IBM machine, so of course I took it. I was planning on using it as my main computer, but after a comple months of dissorientation I had to shell out some hard earned cash and get anoter Mac. Ive been happy ever since!


Preston Mitchell - Student Officer

  Currently a sophomore at UNC-CH, Preston plans to major in either Business or Economics. He enjoys school here at Carolina and has been involved with Presbyterian Campus Ministries, Habitat for Humanity, intramural sports, and of course the Mac User Group.

In his spare time he enjoys hanging out with friends, going to concerts, hiking, skiing, listening to some great music in his iTunes collection and reviewing his digital camera pictures in iPhoto.

"Why I use a Mac"

Preston likes to consider himself powerful yet friendly, sexy, and sophisticated, and therefore the only computer for him is an Apple. Or maybe it was just his big ego enticing him to own the very best computer in the world. Who knows? :)


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