A sad time at UNC

The atmosphere of the campus at the moment is so somber.

Beneath Carolina blue skies, the UNC community mourns the loss of Jason Ray, one of the lucky few who got to portray Rameses at Carolina sporting events. I never knew him personally, but he did touch all of our lives just by being Rameses and by loving Carolina so much. It always saddens me to hear about the deaths of young people with so much potential in life, because I ache for those lives cut short. I really wanted for Jason to be able to experience graduation from UNC, and to go on and enjoy all of the things that he had going for him. Sadly, things like this do happen to good people, and all we can do is grieve, remember, and go on with our memories to guide us in our lives.

This is a very touching story from Tarheelblue.com, the official athletics website of Carolina.

And this is the rewritten text of a poem that expresses Jason's importance to the University. The original author is unknown.

"Do not stand at my grave and weep,
I am not there, I do not sleep.

I am the grass beneath the cleats;
I am the court beneath the feet.

I am the walls of the beloved Dome
Which I so proudly called my home.

I am in the crowd's passionate cheers,
which cannot be dampened by human tears.

I will always be around in spirit.
Listen for my voice, and you will hear it.

When you think of UNC,
That is where I will always be.

Do not stand at my grave and cry,
for I am not there,
I did not die."