Group question: How do the signs and symbols in the Pit change throughout the course of the day?

On September 19, 2007 our group observed the area of campus known as the Pit. Each group member was designated 2-hour long time slots such that we observed the Pit from 10am-9pm. We took photographs of different locations surrounding the Pit such as Lenior and Student Stores to document the activities that occurred throughout the day. Each group member also posted his or her observations concerning the signs and symbols of the Pit.

Final Paper

After conducting our research, we consolidated our observations into a paper. Click
here to read about our findings!

Map and Flow Diagrams of the Pit

The four maps and flow diagrams of the Pit were consolidated into a PowerPoint presentation. Click here to view!

Observations from 7pm-9pm

-There was much activity around Lenoir because of dinner, and in front of the Student Union, but not much activity elsewhere.
-Besides a few people sitting around the actual Pit waiting for people, there was no activity going on in the actual Pit except for people walking through it.
-Besides people stopping to meet and talk directly in front of Lenoir or the Student Union, there was little to no interaction between those who were passing through the Pit at that time.
-Student Stores was still open for most of this time, so there was limited activity around its door, and also a small line in front of the Wachovia Bank Teller.
-The tables set up alongside the actual Pit during the day were gone, meaning there was no congregation of people in that area.
-A few people were seated outside of Lenoir at the tables near the door, but far fewer than the amount of people who sit there during the day.

Textual Signs:
-Food Ads (Subway for example) standing outside of Lenoir
-"Daniels Student Stores" and "Frank Porter Graham Student Union" signs
-Paint Ads of student organizations in front of the Student Union

Non-Textual Symbols:
-"The Wall" in front of Lenoir
-The actual Pit
-Cups left on the ground

Observations from 12-2 p.m.

• busiest times of day were class changes- 12:50 and 1:50 p.m.
• not as busy at noon as had been expected, but it began to drizzle a little earlier in the morning
• two big ballooons were up in the pit because the GAA had a tent set up for alumni packet distribution
• Hunger Lunch was being sponsored- guys were walking along pathway in front of Lenoir trying to advertise the lunch
• Organization tables were set up- sorority was there and a cappella groups
• people were busily walking in and out of Lenoir- prime lunch time
• people gathered in front of Lenoir and at the tables in groups, however, people were mostly sitting by themselves at a table in front of the Union either reading or studying
• constant line was visible at the Wachovia ATM throughout the time period
• people sit on ledge (rock wall) in front of Lenoir tables as another area to gather
• very inviting atmosphere because of leges, walls everywhere- people can plan to gather and sit
• more tables were empty after 1 p.m.
• more people in outer edges of the Pit than actually inside Pit- (in front of Lenoir, Union, Student Stores)
• basketball players hung out in front of Lenoir

Textual: signs are located at the side of Lenoir that groups can paint to advertise an event or organization

ICEE sign and Subway sign in front of Lenoir advertising businesses inside

signs on tables being advertised by certain organizations that had signed up for a time slot in the Pit area

Non-textual: brick steps leading into the actual Pit

two trees located in the actual Pit in front of Student Stores

tables outside Lenoir show that it is a place to dine

Pictures:

Observations from 10am-12pm

Some general observations:

• "Pit sitting" does not necessarily entail sitting inside the pit. The tables that the majority of organizations use are located at the top of the steps (in front of the Student Union) and not actually in the middle of the pit.
• Some organizations such as the GAA were allowed to set up inside the pit. Others such as the sorority Phi Mu were not.
• A hunger lunch began at 10:30am and thus food was being served inside of the pit.
• General places of congregation were outside of the Union, Lenior, and the Daily Grind (where the tables were located) and in to the left of Lenior on the brick wall (diagonally from the UL entrance)
• Pit traffic significantly increased around 11:50am as well as people entering Lenior and the Union- this increased the volume of people surrouding the pit and well as the noise level

Textual Signs:

• The wooden signs located outside of the Union that different organizations paint. On our observation day there were a variety of events/organizations being advertised.
• "Shag Goodbye to Summer with the Craig Woolard Band at Bob's"
• "Carolina Conversations: Justice for all?" sponsered by the UNC Young Democrats
• Teach for America
• Starworkz: Community Theater- acting, helping the community, making kids smile

• Other physical signs included restuarant advertisements such as "Get and ICE inside of Lenior" and Chick-fil-A. These signs are mobile and can be moved around the pit. Another sign was the "Master Plan of Development" sign located in front of Lenior (closer to Davis) and was permanantly inside of the ground.

• Wachovia ATM- it is interesting to note that the pit is a center for banking but only for Wachovia customers

Non textual Signs:

• Where people congregate (outside of certain buildings such as Lenior and the Union but not actually inside of the pit)
• People use the pit stairs not only for entering/leaving the actual pit area but also for sitting/reading
• The pit area is not only an area of congregation but also an area in which many people study/do homework

Pictures

Observations from 5-7 p.m.

Some general observations

• People gathered around the trash cans, the front door of Lenior, and on the stone walls
• No one actually gathers in the Pit, only around it (i.e. the steps and elevated part)
• Around 5:30 p.m. only half of the tables were occupied outside the Daily Grind and the Union
• At the tables that were occupied, everyone was sitting by themselves
• Two people painted the large signs outside of the Union at around 5:15 p.m.
• Majority of bike riders walk their bike through the Pit
• All people sitting on the steps of the Pit are reading
• People gather in groups of 3-7
• Majority of people still have backpacks on
• Two people handing out fliers in front of Lenior (trying to catch dinner rush)
• Starting at 5:50 p.m. the area was the busiest, dying down by 6:10 p.m.
• Around 6 p.m. the number of people at the tables tripled
• Busier at 5:30-6 p.m. than from 5-5:30 p.m.
• A lot of people get food to go (from Alpine, Daily Grind, Subway, etc.)

Textual signs

• Lenior food ads (ICEE, Chik-fil-a, Subway)
• UL, Student Stores, Union, Lenior signs
• Sporting event advertisement
• Big painted signs (no one really stops to read them because you can see them from far away)

Non-textual signs

• Brick walls – people sit on them because they see other people sitting
• Deep depression in the ground
• Napkins and trash on the ground show that people have been hanging out the Pit
• Stains on tables outside Lenior show the area is used
• Fliers on the ground
• A point to incorporate nature into the mainly brick area seen by the planted flowers etc.
• Lights turned on at 6:30 p.m. – makes it “safer,” makes the Pit a 24-hour meeting place, or at least an after dark place to meet

Pictures:

Observations from 3-5 p.m.

Observations:

• The pit was relatively empty between 3-5 p.m.
• Few students within the pit itself
• Most occupants were seated outside the Daily Grind, Student Union, or Lenoir Dining Hall
• At the Daily Grind, customers were in conversation with others
• Outside the Union and Lenoir, the majority of students were seated by themselves with textbooks and other school materials.
• Constant flow of students walking through the Pit on their way to class or some other destination.
• Occasionally, students would stop and talk with someone they recognized, these conversations were generally less than five minutes in length.
• Highest traffic around 3:50 and 4:50 when students got out of class.
• No organizations were set up during this time period.

Textual Signs:

• ICEE and Subway signs outside Lenoir
• Posters in the Student Store windows
  

Non-textual Signs

• Tables located around Lenoir, Student Union, and the Daily Grind
• Stacked up chairs in the middle of the Pit representing the fact that campus organizations could not participate in "pit sitting" during these hours.
  

Pictures

Pit Interview Questions

We interviewed students in the pit throughout the day to gain insight about their perceptions of the pit.

Q: What is your year in school?
A: Freshman (6); Sophomore (8); Junior (11); Senior (8)

Q: How does your perception of the Pit change at night?
A: The Pit is definitely more quiet. It remains as a place to meet up, but not to hang out. Has a more serious feel to it than during the day.

Q: What two hour time period do you think is busiest in the Pit during the day?
A: 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Q: If you were to look at a picture of the Pit, how would you know it was the Pit?
A: Bricked area with steps leading down into it. Two trees in the middle.

Q: What does the Pit symbolize to you?
A: The central hub and hangout spot on campus. Great place to meet up with friends, study, take a study break, or grab a bite to eat. The Pit is also the home of campus organizations "pit sitting" on a daily basis.

Q: How do the interactions of people in the Pit change throughout the course of the day.
A: In the morning, people seem to be in a rush to get to classes, and have little time to stop and chat. By lunchtime, the Pit is bustling with people meeting up and just hanging out. Later in the afternoon, the Pit is still the location of meetings and conversations, but these are usually more school related meetings rather than social meetings.

Note: There were no distinguishing differences between the answers given by the different class years. The Pit seems to be the center of social gathering during the day no matter how long you have been at UNC.

Related blogs

Other Urban Social Geography student group projects:

Perceptions of the Pit:
http://ssaul.livejournal.com/

Imaginations/ Perceptions of a coffee shop:
http://msfcoffee.blogspot.com

Demographics of Restaurants:
http://www.myspace.com/msdevonne


Other websites related to our project:

Carolina Union Services and Facilities Blog:
http://carolinaunion.unc.edu/services/pit.html

UNC PitCam:
http://its.unc.edu/resnet/webcams/pitcam/

Interactive Campus Map:
http://www.maps.unc.edu/MapBook/Index.asp

Group member information

Group member names:
Nicole Lukosius (blogger)- lukosius@email.unc.edu
Meghan McCann (blackboarder)- memccann@email.unc.edu
Allison Gee (communicator)- gialliso@email.unc.edu
Nathan Scott (research coordinator)- ntscott@email.unc.edu
Rob Yancy (cartographer)- yancy@email.unc.edu