I have to admit though, it’s hard for people to deny State means anything in basketball when, after we lost to ya’ll last year, much of campus was in a dismal malaise the next day. “How was your weekend?” “Terrible! I had so much work, my computer broke down, we lost to State…”

In summary: Go Heels!

Bangladesh, and I’m sure other countries, have public universities which not only are cultural centers, but are the center of history too. Well, since I only now about Bangladesh, I’ll tell you more…

Dhaka University is the centerpoint of Bangladesh’s history. You knew about the riots which happened in August which kept me in the US longer than expected, but this history of rioting goes back a long way.
One of the most important events in Bangladesh’s history was February 21, 1952. On that day, DU students protested on the streets against West Pakistan’s decree that only “Urdu and Urdu” will be the national language of West and East Pakistan, despite the majority of the split country speaking Bengali as their native language. On that day, called National Language Day, students protested and were honored to be martyrs for their language as many were brutally shot by police. The students’ names who led the protest are well known to all here. The university’s canteen is just as famous of a historical spot as any in the country, as it was over table’s in this canteen that all important decisions during Bangladesh’s history were made!

Over the next twenty years DU was the centerpoint of all protests and events. Many non-cooperation movements were spearheaded here. In 1971, when the Liberation War against Pakistan began, many students and teachers were at the forefront of the battle lines.

The university also has some of the country’s most famous landmarks. Kazi Nazrul Islam, the national poet of the country, is buried in a tomb on the campus. His image can be seen in many places over the country, a very famous figure. And, I can’t forget to mention the Central Shahid Minar, the most important monument in all of Bangladesh, right on DU’s campus. This monument celebrates the Bengali language, and all the people have fought for to speak it. Every year, on the 21st of February, at midnight and continuing through the day, people come to Shahid Minar barefooted, women wearing only black and white sharees, to adorn it with flowers. The day, due to the fight Bangladeshis have gone through to have their language, is now known as International Mother Language Day worldwide.

Still today, as evidenced by my delayed flight, and months earlier in January when students rioted for postponement of elections because of unfair process, DU plays a crucial role in what direction the nation will progress.

Oh, and DU is PUBLIC!

On the other hand, I don’t know a single NC State fan who would EVER pull for UNC. Most follow the old adage “ABC”–anybody BUT Carolina. It is very much a one-sided rivalry.