King of the Hill: Hinton James

The UNC campus is consistently listed as one of the best in the nation — Forbes named it one of America’s Most Beautiful College Campuses.

But what’s the most beautiful place in the Southern part of heaven? We’re asking Swerve writers to write about their favorite places on campus. And we’re asking you, UNC students, to read their essays and to vote for your favorite place, bracket style, via the DTH Swerve Twitter account. This week: Campus Y vs. Hinton James.

Hinton James and I were an unlikely match — when applying for first-year housing, it was my last choice.

But the housing gods decided it was meant to be. So there I was, move-in day, waving goodbye to my parents from my fourth floor room.

Little did I know memories would blossom in those walls, and the people I met there over the course of the year would become my lifelong friends.

As awkward as I was on the first encounter, my suitemates soon learned I’m notorious for busting out the moves when any type of music is put on.

At 2 a.m. one late night, in a tired attempt to wake ourselves up to keep studying for finals, my roommate and I had a “High School Musical” dance-off with one of our suitemates acting as the judge.

Soon, we were throwing ourselves on the floor, worming it out. Before we knew it, we heard a knock at the door.

Turns out the guy underneath us didn’t appreciate the constant thumping and “High School Musical” tunes coming from above him when he needed to get up for an 8 a.m.

Another time, in celebration of finishing a hard week, the suite began bopping to old middle school tunes.

Things started getting loud, and I thought it would be a great idea to put the speaker in my baggy sweatpants.

Then, a knock came at the door. Lo and behold, an RA came in due to a complaint.

She walked in, saw the speakers in my pants, barely stifled a laugh and asked us to quiet down before she left.

When I came to HoJo, I only knew my roommate.

By the end of the year, the entire suite became some of my closest friends at college.

For reasons that I could never explain, we were brought together so we could be there for her when she needed a shoulder to cry on the most.

On a particularly stressful day, we were alone in the middle of her room eating Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups and drinking milk, taking turns ranting about life when all of a sudden she started sobbing.

Partially choking on the milk and partially triggered by being upset, she threw up on me while I was hugging her.

Instead of freaking out like I normally would, I just continued to hug her and told her everything was going to be OK.

If that doesn’t show how stressed out we were and how good of a bond we have, I don’t know what will.

Hundreds of great, sad and strange memories happened in the rooms of Hinton James that we will carry for the rest of our lives.

Hinton James and I were an unlikely match. But I will forever be grateful that the worst residence hall at UNC gave me some of my fondest memories.

@maggsmouat

swerve@dailytarheel.com