Her Campus UNC got the opportunity to get up close and personal with this week’s Campus Cutie, Taylor Pardue. You might recognize him as one of the senior members of UNC’s oldest a cappella group, the Clef Hangers. Read on to find out more about Taylor’s taste in girls, world travels and love for UNC! Also, keep an eye out for tickets to see him perform at their annual spring concert in Carmichael Arena on April 13th.
Name: Taylor Pardue
Hometown: Raleigh, N.C.
Year: Senior
Major: Business
Relationship Status: Single
Favorite food: Cosmic Cantina, does that count?
Favorite spot on campus: Top floor of Davis, it’s quiet and collegiate
Favorite TV series: The Wire
Favorite band: Coldplay
Favorite movie: Forrest Gump
Fun Fact: I lived in Australia for six months at the end of fifth grade
Motto: “Our students are talking about the future and asking smart questions instead of wasting time sitting in a tent.” – Chancellor Thorp
HC: What is your ideal girl like?
TP: Obviously physical attraction is nice, but from a personality standpoint the two big ones are self-confidence and being intellectually interesting. I enjoy having some debate on the intellectual level. Being well-rounded is important too. I’m into stuff like music, sports and politics, so I like a girl who is interested in those things too. Or can at least pretend.
HC: What are your biggest turn-offs in a girl?
TP: Being too forward and over-the-top can be awkward and annoying. I still like the idea of a more chivalrous interaction, but maybe that’s just survival of the fittest on this campus.
HC: What is the most romantic thing you’ve ever done?
TP: I was dating a girl two years ago and I had morning practice for crew. I was done by 7:30 a.m. and it was Valentine’s Day. I went to Fresh Market, bought her flowers, broke into her house and left them there for her with a card for when she woke up.
HC: Describe your ideal first date.
TP: I’ve had my fair share of bad ones… but a first date should definitely be low stress with a low commitment level so maybe it’s just watching a game and hanging out or going to grab coffee. The time period has to be long enough so you can feel like you’re getting to know them and you’re having real conversation, but short enough so that it’s not awkward because you don’t know them that well.
HC: Favorite pickup line?
TP: This is probably only funny to me, but… Hi, my name is Jeff Popkin.
HC: What are you involved with on campus?
TP: I have been on the crew team for four years and in the Clef Hangers for the last three. Between those and school, I have a pretty full life.
HC: What are your plans after college?
TP: I am going to be working in DC for Capital One in their credit card division. At some point, I want to go back to grad school and get a JD/MBA and then take over the world.
HC: What do you love most about UNC?
TP: The student body is uniquely intellectual, engaged in social issues and simultaneously a lot of fun. You don’t find that in many places in the country. Kids care about what they want to do and also realize they are 21 – they don’t take themselves too seriously. At UNC, there are opportunities to do things like singing and rowing that I’ll never do again in this setting.
HC: Where is the most interesting place you’ve traveled?
TP: I’ve traveled to some cool places. I had the opportunity to study abroad in Rome through UNC and lived a couple minutes away from Vatican, and I also went with the business school to India. The summer before that, my sister was studying abroad in Cape Town, South Africa during the World Cup. I got to go to a couple of games and it was by far the craziest atmosphere I’ve ever been in.
HC: What’s your most embarrassing moment?
TP: I was performing a rap song at Fall Fest and forgot all the words. I stepped back from the mic, pretended it was broken, mumbled something until the song finished and ended with “Duke Sucks!”
All photos taken from Taylor’s Facebook page with permission.