An adrenaline rush is a vast understatement of what I experienced the night of Feb. 8. I rushed Franklin Street with thousands of my closest friends for the first time–celebrating the victorious accomplishment of beating Carolina’s biggest basketball rival: DOOK.
As a first-year at UNC-CH, I’d only imagined what rushing Franklin felt like until last Thursday. The energy throughout the crowds of fans was palpable as countless fans rejoiced at the same historic intersection of North Columbia and Franklin Street, harmoniously chanting the alma mater and various explicit references to our neighboring university under a sky of fireworks. Representing a prideful moment where everyone in the Carolina community unified as one, the the dash to Franklin is an unimaginable experience and one that I wanted to ask first-years about.
Q: In your words, how would you describe your first Franklin Street rush experience?
“Actually kind of crazy," Disha Ratra said. "I was sick that whole day and almost passed out in the Dean Dome, so running a mile to Franklin was quite a task. I even ended up tripping over a wall and skinning my knee on the way. In the end, it was definitely worth it because my adrenaline was PUMPING. Also, I lost my voice from screaming at the game/on Franklin. It has been three days since the game and I still don’t have my voice back."
“I was watching the game in the Union, and everyone screamed and started rushing out the doors," Hope Conn said. "About halfway to Franklin, I could feel my lungs in my throat, but I didn’t care. Pushing on we flung ourselves into the crowd. We joined in the cheers, I put my friend on my shoulders, and the smile never left my face. Rushing Franklin made me so proud to be a part of something bigger than myself.”
“Unimaginable," Amy Chau said. "Prior to this, I've seen videos and pictures of others rushing Franklin, but you never fully realize how crazy it is ‘til you're in the crowd, headed towards the fire or on someone's shoulder. It was a night for the books.”
“Such a rush," Sarah Mueller said. "I’ve never felt closer to my fellow Tar Heels and I’ve also never felt more love for UNC. I’ve heard many people describe the feeling of rushing Franklin, and there really is nothing quite like it. It’s something you have to experience for yourself.”
Q: How do you think rushing Franklin Street demonstrates the passion for sports and school pride?
“I’ve never felt school pride," Lang Duong said. "I was never a fan of my high school so I didn’t really care whether or not we won a game in football or basketball. I just remember running towards Franklin basically gasping for breath, but I didn’t care because I was so happy to be feeling what I was feeling for this school. Being able to see everyone there all feeling the same thing was truly something I had never felt before.”
“I think rushing shows how devoted we are to our school and how much we love to celebrate a win for our school," Ojesvii Sethi said. "We pride ourselves in several things but basketball is definitely something that brings the student body together.”
“Sounds cheesy, but it gave a sense of school spirit I’ve never felt anywhere else before," Aaruba Ayesha said.
“It shows that we will do anything to show our love for our school and our hatred for the school down the road," Olivia Williams said.
“Honestly, it is very inspirational and shows how close the UNC family is," Sienna Zico said. "We were all bumping around each other, but it didn't matter because everyone just wanted to celebrate. I had never felt so much school pride before.”
Q: What advice would you give to someone who has never rushed Franklin Street before and is planning on attending the next Franklin Street rush?
“Make sure to wear decent shoes, someone lost one and it ended up getting thrown into the fire," Nikki Kelleher said. "Also, don't bring anything you would be upset about losing or is likely to get lost. The amount of Facebook posts in UNC groups about ‘if you found this on Franklin...’ was pretty sad.”
“Try to be on Franklin Street for the game, but if you get tickets, it’s worth the mile run," Hayley Hayes said. "Wear shoes you don't mind getting dirty, leave all valuables at home, hydrate beforehand, and be prepared to fight other Chapel Hill students to reach a fire!”
“Do it," Christopher Cataldo said. "Don’t think about doing it and then say ‘it’s not for me,’ or ‘I’ll do it next time,’ do it now and every time after. You won’t regret it.”
While swamped in homework, projects, exams and other hurdle life throws at us Tar Heels, it's great to hear words of admiration for such a classic Carolina tradition as first-years strive to participate in all Chapel Hill has to offer, such as the basketball craze. Over the roars of triumph among the crowds exists a unified sense of pride for our school that truly never goes away, basketball season or not. The of advice I would give to potential Franklin Street rushers is to run, chant, laugh, join the celebration and soak it all in.