It's really hard to pick out a most popular organization on campus since I think we have over 500. But the Carolina Union Activities Board hosts a lot of special events and speakers, so it's name is mentioned a lot.
I'm involved in Alpha Phi Omega, which is a co-ed service fraternity. Each member is required to do at least 25 hours of community service each semester, but we also have lots of social events too. There are about 150 active members in it right now.
Dorm life here is very social. I leave my dorm room door open most of the time when I'm in it and not sleeping. Some of my best friends lived in my dorm suite last year and I'm also really close with my suite mates this year.
Athletic events are extremely popular, especially both mens and womens basketball. Most of our teams have excellent programs, which also draw a lot of spectators. Although our football team isn't very good, their games are a huge deal too.
We have many guest speakers here on campus. I'm actually seeing Will Ferrell in the Dean Dome tonight! Lewis Black was here last weekend. There are also many special academic speakers that come here too promoting their books and projects. All of these events I've been too have been intriguing and I encourage others to go to them.
I've never been to see any plays here on campus, but many of my friends do. However, I go to see a lot of musical artists on campus and in the Chapel Hill area. I just bought a ticket to see Iron & Wine at Memorial Hall on campus yesterday. Many of the bars and clubs around campus host music artists, like the Local 506, and Cat's Cradle. I've been to several shows at Cat's Cradle. It's in Carrboro, but it's just a 20-minute walk down Franklin St.
The dating scene isn't fantastic here. The male to female ratio isn't in girls' favor.
I've met some of my closest friends through dorm life, my smaller classes and APO.
If I'm awake at 2am on a Tuesday, I'm probably watching a movie with my roommate or doing homework. However, if I'm awake at 2am on a Friday, Saturday or Sunday I'm probably out at a party or bar, and heading towards a restaurant on Franklin St.
Late Night with Roy happens every year to celebrate the beginning of basketball season. It's always on a Friday night in the Dean Dome and gets everyone excited for the basketball season. The mens' and women's basketball teams dance and put on skits for the crowd. It's a lot of fun for everyone. If our men's basketball team beats Duke (either at home or at Duke) students rush Franklin St. and light bonfires to celebrate. The town shuts off Franklin St. to traffic in anticipation of this and news helicopters shoot live footage from overhead. It's a big deal. The last day of spring semester classes are also a big deal. Everyone goes out to celebrate. Last year I was in small frat court and some guys were shooting off fireworks.
Last weekend I went out both Friday and Saturday night. I went to an APO party Friday night to celebrate the pledge initiation. Saturday night, I went to a friend's party at her town house in honor of Britney Spears' sixth time in rehab. I love dressing up and going to theme parties. I go to them quite frequently actually. Thursday night is also a big night for partying here.
Fraternities and sororities are important here if you're in one. If you're not then you either hate them or just go to frat parties to drink their alcohol for free. A lot of frats have hall crawls at the beginning of the semester to gather interest for their organization and these are very popular. On any given weekend night you can walk by frat court or little frat court and find a party to go to.
On Saturday nights, CUAB hosts events in the Union like free movies. There are always a lot of concerts going on in the area too. Campus organizations that are geared away from drinking have a lot of events to cater to this crowd on weekends. There's always something to do here that doesn't involve drinking.
I go off campus to eat, shop, and go to concerts. There are lots of places to go to in the town, and nearby Raleigh and Durham.