Categories
Community

The Return of the Magnificent Thousands

This is the time of year I used to describe as the annual U-Haul Rodeo, a time when throughout the Carrboro-Chapel Hill metroplex there is a serious influx of vehicles brimming with stuff driven by individuals unfamiliar with the local terrain.

The recommendation from anyone knowledgeable of this annual occurrence is to avoid certain areas at all costs.

Though the differences between times when UNC is in session and out are not as drastic, this area is still heavily influenced by the cycles of academia. Someone studying the annual migration of the peoples of Carolina might note that in early August the many UNC off-campus residents — mainly those in the upper classes, grad students and post-docs — return from vacations, summers off and internships to reclaim their dwellings. Upon securing their belongings, they head almost immediately to the local watering holes to greet other nomads returning to herd life.
In mid-month, the great dwelling places on campus open up and into them flow thousands of the bright young minds of this generation. Each year, nearly 4,000 students, most of them the youngest of the gathering, are new to this area. Traffic on these weekends is bewildering and unless you’re carting in a young ‘un or delivering food, the dormitory areas are to be avoided at all costs.

Toward the end of the month, the worlds of higher education and K-12 converge as local schools open and university classes gear up. It is also custom at this time for street repairs on one or two main arteries to suddenly become necessary, a fact that we’re sure has nothing to do with the high percentage of State and Clemson grads charged with overseeing DOT projects.

Whether you are among the new members to our community or a fixture, August is one of the best months of the year to explore what we have to offer in music and the arts.

Welcome back.

— Kirk Ross