#tbt: What was happening on the Hill this time last year?

A lot can change in a year. Here’s a glimpse of what life on the Hill looked like at the start of last year: 

Marquise Williams entered the 2015 season with confidence

In his junior year, Williams set 18 school records in football. He arrived on campus last year ready to work, and hopes were set high going into the 2015 season. The Tar Heels wrapped up last season with 11 wins and a trip to the Russell Athletic Bowl, proving that Marquise’s confidence was rightly placed. 

The Heels hope to come back this year just as strong. UNC will kickoff against the University of Georgia on Saturday, Sep. 3 .

HBO came to UNC

Fans of HBO’s “Game of Thrones” are likely to remember the highlight of last year’s Fallfest. HBO, a sponsor of the event, brought the Iron Throne used in the show to campus. Although we didn’t get to keep the throne, HBO is still free for any UNC student living on campus. 

Crepe Traditions rebranded for grand opening

Franklin Street’s only restaurant dedicated to crepes changed its name from “Crepe Culture” to “Crepe Traditions” after the original name was met with backlash. One year after its opening, Crepe Traditions is a campus favorite.

Summer reading brought first-years together

Last year, Bryan Stevenson’s book “Just Mercy” brought students together by sparking conversations about the criminal justice system and racism in modern day America.  

This year’s book, “Being Mortal” by Atul Gawande, was chosen with the hope of being just as successful in inspiring discussion and connections.

Protestors fought against Silent Sam statue

The Silent Sam statue in McCorkle Place was spray-painted with the words “Who is Sandra Bland?” It had been vandalized earlier in the summer with phrases such as “Black Lives Matter” and “KKK”. The statue is a memorial to the 321 North Carolina soldiers that died fighting for the confederacy during the Civil War. Many have argued that a statue which idolizes those who fought for slavery has no place on UNC’s campus. The Real Silent Sam Coalition, a student group trying to relocate or remove the monument, was formed in 2011. 

At the national level

Donald Trump made his first proposal for a wall to keep immigrants out of the United States in late June of 2015, but the topic remained at the forefront of public discussion through last August. 

The U.S. flag was raised over the American embassy in Cuba for the first time since the 60s, marking the first significant signs of diplomacy since the Cold War. 

A plane crash in Indonesia left no survivors, and "Straight Outta Compton" was a box office hit.

arts@dailytarheel.com