As is tradition, hundreds of UNC students lined up at the Old Well on Cameron Avenue throughout Monday to celebrate the start of the new academic year.

Just hours before, however, the famous fountain’s bowl was reportedly used more like a toilet bowl.

An Instagram post from the account @tarheelbarstool on Tuesday afternoon shared a photo supposedly taken in the early morning hours on Monday. The image showed defecation or mud in the bowl of the water fountain with the caption: “Rip to everyone that drank from the well after 6am yesterday…wish I was kidding.”

The university confirmed to Chapelboro that Monday morning, before classes began, there was a report of vandalism at the Old Well. UNC said the campus symbol was “immediately cleaned and completely sanitized prior to the first scheduled class.”

The annual tradition of taking drinks from the well continued uninterrupted through the day. UNC Chancellor Kevin Guskiewicz, College of Arts and Sciences Dean James White and others joined the students as they took their sips with wishes of 4.0 GPAs.

Monday’s vandalism is not the first time the fountain was defaced with feces. The university shut down the Old Well for a day in November 2018 after excrement was found in its fountain bowl by a CBS 17 reporter hoping to get a lucky sip of water.

The Old Well was constructed on UNC’s campus in the late 1790s, just a few years after the university had opened. Initially used by students, faculty and staff for drinking and bathing water, the well’s current was designed in 1897 and most recently updated with studier materials in 1954. The drinking fountain at the university symbol was reportedly installed in 1925.

 

Photo via UNC Barstool.

Chapelboro.com does not charge subscription fees, and you can directly support our efforts in local journalism here. Want more of what you see on Chapelboro? Let us bring free local news and community information to you by signing up for our biweekly newsletter.

 

Related Stories
‹
UNC Police: Old Well Damaged by Vandals, Photo of Suspects Shared
The iconic landmark of the UNC campus in Chapel Hill has been vandalized, according to university police. The UNC Police Department shared an alert on Monday, saying the Old Well on East Cameron Avenue suffered damage after part of the historic structure was pushed over. Police said the vandalism occurred between late Saturday night and […]
LOOK: UNC's Old Well Reopens After Construction of Permanent Accessibility Ramp
Just one day before thousands of students would line up to take a sip from the Old Well on UNC’s campus, a smaller group gathered to celebrate its reopening with a new, inclusionary feature. Chancellor Kevin Guskiewicz, UNC Trustee John Preyer, and Vice Chancellor for Finance and Operations Nathan Knuffman welcomed wheelchair users and others […]
UNC: 'Walk Out' Protest for Palestine Leads to 'Significant Damage' of Buildings
UNC Students for Justice in Palestine held a demonstration on campus Thursday, which led to the vandalism of several university buildings.
UNC Trustees Talk Affirmative Action, Accessibility at First Meeting of 2023-24
UNC Board of Trustees officially barred use of 'race, sex, color or ethnicity' in admissions, complying with Supreme Court case decision.
UNC's Old Well to Undergo Renovations, Add Accessibility Ramp
The Old Well on the UNC campus will be renovated this summer to improve accessibility at the local landmark, the school announced Wednesday. The project will include the installation of a sloped granite walkway which connects surrounding brick pavers with the well’s upper platform, replacing a temporary ramp added in recent years. Renovations are expected […]
Alpine Bagel Cafe Set to Close in UNC's Student Union
Alpine Bagel Cafe, located within UNC's student union, shared a message with customers claiming it would permanently close on Friday, May 9.
Pro-Palestine Activists Hold Event Marking Anniversary of UNC Encampment, Clash with Police
On April 29, 2024, hundreds of UNC community members and protesters sat on the Chapel Hill campus’ Polk Place, entering their 72nd consecutive hour on the quad in protest of Israel’s military action in Gaza and the university’s administration’s unwillingness to take a stand as well. One day later, the scenes were much more charged […]
After ICE Reversal, UNC Chancellor Says 5 International Students' Status Restored
The U.S. government's ongoing scrutiny of international university students recently led to the termination of six UNC students' visas.
UNC Trustees Pass Resolution Affirming Free Speech, Campus Safety in Wake of 2024 Clashes
The UNC Board of Trustees approved a resolution at its latest meeting meant to strengthen its "zero-tolerance" approach the disruption of operations and violence while affirming free speech principles.
Imperfect Political Parties Drive Youth Voters to Register Unaffiliated
Half of youth voters identify as independent in North Carolina, leading to questions about why they do and how to best reach them.
›