On the first day of classes, the longest line on Carolina’s campus is to get a sip of water — from the Old Well, to be exact. Legend has it that sipping from the Old Well on the first day of classes grants a 4.0 GPA, but that’s not all students wish for.
University archivist Nicholas Graham asked alumni on Facebook about the legend. Alumni from the 1970s didn’t recall anything about the “first sip,” but alumni from the 1980s took a sip at the well before any big exam. The current tradition took root in the next decade, according to alumni from the 1990s. The tradition has only grown in popularity since then. Today, students participate in the tradition on the first day of classes for both semesters and even summer sessions for good measure.
“A lot of our traditions are adapted or borrowed from traditions at other universities,” said Graham. “I think it’s normal to want to do something ceremonial to start off your school year. There’s nothing more significant and iconic on our campus than the Old Well,”
While a 4.0 GPA is a common “wish” from the Old Well, The Well asked Tar Heels waiting in line for their first sip what their goals are this academic year.
