UNC Campus Connections

Complete coverage of North Carolina Tar Heels Campus Connections.

Parts of Chapel Hill return to business. Others remain in limbo after Chantal

Remnants of Tropical Storm Chantal left many stores and restaurants in Chapel Hill submerged in 5 feet of water. Eastgate Crossing and Mariakakis Plaza were the hardest hit, suffering a total loss. Chapel Hill Mayor Jessica Anderson toured the damage Monday and checked in with business owners midweek to learn more, she said. (MSN.com)

Excellence Unveiled: Karsen Kitchen

In the sixth installment of Excellence Unveiled, listen to Karsen Kitchen, class of 2025, discuss her 20-minute journey aboard a Blue Origin rocket and her organization Orbitelle, which hopes to help and support more women finding careers in the space industry. "Last August, I had the chance of becoming the youngest woman to go to space." (Chapelboro.com)

Coker Arboretum provides tranquility, history

At the intersection of East Cameron Avenue and Raleigh Street lies the Coker Arboretum, a lush green escape from the rest of UNC’s bustling campus. This five-acre patch of land is maintained by the North Carolina Botanical Garden. The garden features a variety of plants native to regions such as the United States, Europe, China and Japan. (Daily Tar Heel)

UNC ranked No. 3 best value public university by Princeton Review

UNC-Chapel Hill is ranked the No. 3 best value public university in the nation in The Princeton Review’s list of Best Value Colleges for 2025, up from No. 4 last year. Carolina is also ranked the top public school for financial aid. The ranking underscores UNC's commitment to academic excellence, affordability, and strong career outcomes for graduates. (UNC.edu)

Orange County Hit Hard by Tropical Storm Chantal

More than 10 inches of rain fell in a matter of hours and rivers and creeks surged. In Chapel Hill, Morgan Creek exceeded flood stage near the NC Botanical Gardens. Eastgate Shopping Center flooded, leaving stores including the Great Outdoor Provision Co. and Trader Joe’s in disarray, as well as University Place and businesses along Franklin Street. (Indy Week)

UNC opens new Down syndrome clinic, serves patients of all ages

For UNC pediatrician Dr. Kate Westmoreland, one of the hardest years of her life came after the birth of her daughter Izabel, who was born with Down syndrome. “Navigating the medical system was really hard,” she said. On March 17, Westmoreland cut the ribbon at the inauguration for the new UNC Down Syndrome Clinic, surrounded by colleagues, friends and family. (Daily Tar Heel)

Chapel Hill-Carrboro Openings, Closings and Updates in April-June 2025

As part of demolition to make way for an expanded Refuel gas station at 1950 U.S. Highway 15-501 North, the Dean Smith mural painted by Scott Nurkin was gradually broken apart through mid-April. Nurkin said beforehand he’s looking to paint a new version of the mural somewhere else, but has yet to have any business or space come forward. (Chapelboro.com)

Hollywood Internship Program prepares UNC students for careers in entertainment

Every summer, a select group of UNC students trade Chapel Hill for Hollywood, diving headfirst into the entertainment industry through the University’s competitive and career-shaping Hollywood Internship Program. Since its founding in 1992, the Hollywood Internship Program has connected more than 1,000 students with top-tier internships. (Daily Tar Heel)

5 Chapel Hill restaurants that have stood the test of time

In a town where new restaurants come and go, a few places have managed to stick around for generations. The following five Chapel Hill staples all opened in 1990 or earlier and are still open today and two have been serving the local community for more than a century. 1. Carolina Coffee Shop, Opened: 1922. 2. Sutton’s Drug Store, Opened: 1923. (Daily Tar Heel)

The Astonishingly Successful Presidency of UNC Alum James K. Polk

In 1845, James K. Polk, newly elected to the presidency by a whisker-thin margin, confided to his friend George Bancroft the four goals of his four years in the White House. 1. Acquire Oregon from Great Britain. 2. Acquire California from Mexico. 3. Reduce the tariff. 4. Establish an independent treasury. Four years later, he’d done all this and more. (The Ringer)

Next >