This Day in the History of the
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Five University students died in a fire that gutted the Phi Gamma Delta fraternity house on West Cameron Avenue.

A fire broke out in the chemical storage room in Venable Hall, damaging the building and equipment.

Adolphus Williamson Mangum died in Chapel Hill. A Methodist minister and graduate of Randolph-Macon College in Virginia, Mangum came to the newly reopened University in 1875 as professor of mental and moral science, history, and English language and literature.

Morehead Planetarium welcomed its one-millionth visitor.

Marvin Hendrix Stacy was born in Rutherford College, North Carolina. After President Edward Kidder Graham died of influenza in 1918, Stacy was appointed as faculty chairman, serving until he also died of influenza on January 21, 1919.

The inaugural Tar Heel Bus Tour left Chapel Hill for a five-day outing around North Carolina. The program gives new faculty members a head start on learning about the state in which they work.

The University’s baseball team completed a three-game sweep of Duke University’s team. With the wins and resulting points, the Tar Heels won their first Carlyle Cup competition.

University students and Chapel Hill residents met in Emerson Stadium for a rally against United States Senator Joseph McCarthy. State representative John Umstead and University professor E. J. Woodhouse spoke at the “Joe Must Go!” event, and McCarthy was hanged in effigy on campus.

Edwin Anderson Alderman, University president from 1896 to 1900, was born in Wilmington.

Geneticist Francis Collins spoke at the University's 192nd commencement, which marked the official end to the University's bicentennial celebration.

Although virtually unenforceable for twenty-seven years, the Speaker Ban Law was finally repealed by the General Assembly.

Comedian Bill Cosby delivered the commencement address at Kenan Memorial Stadium. During the speech, he stated, "I want to tell you how much we all love you. And I want to tell you right now, Class of 2003, whatever is outside I want you to go inside, inside and discover something that you may have been running away from up until today. And that is your own integrity. It takes a lot of work to go in and get it. It takes a lot of honesty to go in and get it, touch it, feel it, smell it, and be it."