The Report Card

Traditionally the only reason for Tar Heels to rush Franklin Street is when our basketball team sweeps the NCAA tournament.

Tuesday night, Barack Obama's victory brought hundreds of students streaming into the street, showing that, yes, something equals some students' love for basketball.

Chapel Hill police pushed the throngs of students back onto the sidewalks as cars drove by honking. Some rolled down their windows and gave high-fives to the students. Others waved Obama signs out the windows.

People on the sidewalks belted out The Star Spangled Banner and chanted "yes we can," "yes we did" and "U-S-A."

On my way back to my dorm 30 minutes later, excited groups of people still pushed past me on the sidewalks.

"It means that this country is going to be able to move," UNC-CH Young Democrat LaTasha Hill said. "Now we are actually living up to all the things we stand for."

Hundreds of students put in hours for Obama's campaign and other local campaigns. Charlie Sellow, a Young Democrat leader, estimates that UNC students dedicated more than 8,000 hours to the campaigns.

"This campaign is showing that young voters can be a decisive voice in an election," Sellow said.

Now the campaign volunteers will be left wondering how to fill their free time.

"I'll probably do the school work I haven't been doing lately," Young Democrat Jordan Warshauer said.

And soon there will also be basketball games to attend. Maybe you'll see Ashley Judd in our student section.