The UNC alma mater played at Duke? How Durham campus is standing with its rival
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UNC Shooting
UNC professor Zijie Yan was fatally shot Aug. 28, 2023, in Chapel Hill, NC,, prompting an hourslong lockdown and questions about campus security. Yan’s graduate student has been charged with his murder. Here is ongoing News & Observer coverage about the killing, the campus response and the aftermath.
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Decades of intense rivalry fell away Tuesday night as the Duke University carillon struck the opening notes of “Hark the Sound,” a gesture of solidarity for its grieving neighbor just 9 miles away.
On a normal day, playing the UNC-Chapel Hill alma mater from the most sacred symbol of Blue Devilry would be as unthinkable as painting the Durham campus Tar Heel blue.
But after a gunman fatally shot a UNC physics professor in the middle of a science building, and a campus of nearly 30,000 students huddled in terrified lockdown, normal days have passed.
“Our hearts are heavy today as we grieve alongside our UNC colleagues and friends,” wrote Duke Chancellor Vincent Price. “The Carolina community has the full support of everyone at Duke.”
Written in 1897, the UNC song gets sung — often tearfully — at the end of sports events, win or lose. Duke carillonneur Mitchell Eithun researched the score and presented it for colleague Aaron Colston’s recital.
Sadly, Eithun, a Michigan State University graduate, played his own school’s alma mater after a mass shooting killed students there in February.
Meanwhile, UNC drew online words of support from across the country, and notably around North Carolina, including:
▪ North Carolina A&T: “We stand in support of our UNC-Chapel Hill family and all those affected by yesterday’s senseless act. Our communities are bonded. We will continue to keep you in our thoughts, prayers and unifying strength.”
▪ UNC-Charlotte: “Niner Nation is behind you, UNC. Together, we are all one Carolina.”
▪ NC State University: “When one of us experiences tragedy, we all grieve together, and we come together to support one another.”
▪ UNC-Wilmington: “Standing strong as one today with UNC. The Seahawk family is with you.”
▪ Elon University: “Everyone at Elon University is keeping UNC in our thoughts and prayers this evening after what we know was a terrifying and exhausting day.”
This story was originally published August 30, 2023 at 11:32 AM with the headline "The UNC alma mater played at Duke? How Durham campus is standing with its rival."
