Rubbing elbows

Click here to see a slideshow of the event.

Holden Thorp smiled for a picture early morning July 1, sandwiched between grinning basketball player Marcus Ginyard and Carolina Athletic Association President Andrew Coonin. So began his first day as Chancellor Thorp.

The new chancellor went to breakfast at 7:30 a.m. with a room full of some of his toughest critics, UNC students and news cameras, in a meet-and-greet with student leaders from various groups to kick off his new administration.

He said the meeting with students was meant to be a way to set a tone of approachability for the coming year.

"We'll be doing various experiments to figure out the best way to interact with students," Thorp said. "Getting out of my office is going to be number one."

The University's 10th chancellor chatted with about 40 students over biscuits and quiche in the Campus Y, receiving well-wishes and mingling among students of every stripe.

The event, put together by student government and the chancellor's office, brought student researchers, group leaders and UNC athletes together.

"One thing I've really been trying to do is to increase the chancellor's exposure to students who wouldn't normally get to meet him," Student Body President J.J. Raynor said, adding that she also worked with Graduate and Professional Student Federation President Cindy Spurlock to bring a diverse cross-section of graduate and undergraduate students to the event.

"It is a good chance to get used to that diversity and to start recognizing it," Raynor said.

Students got a chance to greet Thorp and talk about various issues they are interested in or concerned about. Transit came up as an issue for graduate students, some of whom also expressed their interest in the UNC School of Law's move to Carolina North, the research and graduate campus planned for north of the UNC main campus.

But Thorp chatted as much as he listened, the former chemistry professor at home even in a large group of unfamiliar faces.

He also didn't miss the chance to publicize his high school band's reunion performance tonight at the Carrboro ArtsCenter, though he said they won't be playing any more Van Halen covers.

Themes that Thorp said are emerging as issues his administration will have to deal with soon include negotiating relationships with the town, improving circumstances for students and brushing up on his faculty and staff relations.

Thorp went on to admit his own relative inexperience in dealing with the affairs of the University as a whole.

"Everything that goes on outside the College (of Arts and Sciences) I'm not all that conversant in," Thorp said, adding that he recognized his function representing the entire University.

"And I can't do that until I'm the world's expert on Carolina," he said.

Even after more than 25 years at UNC, Thorp said he's committed to learning more about the University and is eager to get started as its new leader.

While Tuesday was his first day with the title, Thorp will be installed as chancellor on University Day, Oct. 12.

Contact the University Editor at udesk@unc.edu.