We’re still a great university

The first time I stepped onto this campus as an official Tar Heel, I knew this place was different. Maybe it was something about the way the Bell Tower sounded on the first day of class. Or maybe it was just knowing I was at one of the best universities in the country.

Whatever it was, I felt at home.

A lot has happened, both this summer and in years past, that have made me question things about UNC. I’ve questioned the integrity of our athletic department. I’ve questioned the transparency of our administrators.

But one thing I’ve never questioned is the passion and drive of this student body.

I’ve watched friends balance three majors, a job and a commitment to a student organization, and still graduate on time. I’ve watched us all come together in the Smith Center to cheer on our team. I’ve watched us excel time and time again in the face of hardship. And this time should be no different.

There’s no doubt that what happened in the Department of African and Afro-American Studies was wrong. And it’s tarnished UNC’s reputation. And we’re going to have to work to rebuild it.

More than once this summer, I’ve seen Facebook statuses that link to news stories with a comment that goes something like: “And this is the best university in the state? Yeah right.” I’ve encountered someone at a rival school who’s said, “So is that how you do it at UNC? You cheat?”

I tell them no. I tell them that this scandal doesn’t define who we are. We are more than our mistakes. We always have been.

This is the last issue of The Daily Tar Heel for the summer. We look now to the coming school year, which I’m sure will have more than its share of achievements, excitement and mistakes. We’ll try to catch each one and follow it as it develops into a story. That’s why we’re here — to tell the truth about what happens in and around our University.

But we’re student journalists, and we’re bound to make blunders this year, as we have before. Does that stop us? No. When we make a mistake, we come out and say that we were wrong. We work to correct it. And then we move forward.

While the mistakes made by UNC were far more grave, we should expect essentially the same thing from our University. All officials responsible should be held accountable, and we have to create better policies to ensure something like this — or something different, but equally as damaging — doesn’t happen again.

We must look toward renewing ourselves, to becoming a stronger and better school. Policies must be reviewed and reformed. Professors and students must pay more attention to what’s happening around them and be willing to speak out when they encounter something that doesn’t seem right. And we must all ask ourselves whether we’re willing to sacrifice our academic excellence at the expense of athletics.

But we can be better. Because regardless of past transgressions, we are still UNC. This is still our place.

We are still that passionate, driven student body. Let’s make this year a proud one.