Video: Cameron Crazies celebrate victory with burning benches

Despite single-digit temperatures Wednesday night, Cameron Crazies did not have to worry about the cold.

Students partook in the longstanding tradition of bench-burning to celebrate the men's basketball victory over the University of North Carolina. As sparks flew and benches went up in flames, students cheered and embraced, snapping pictures and reveling in the glory of the overtime victory.

Procuring benches proved to be a bit of a challenge this year, however. As of Monday morning, no groups had signed up to donate their benches to be burned—leading Duke Student Government President Lavanya Sunder, a junior, to call for bench donations on Facebook. Though the situation was soon resolved, the winter weather made transporting benches from Central Campus and Edens Quadrangle impossible, requiring another call for bench donations the morning of the game.

With enough benches to burn, the Crazies went at it Wednesday night, continuing a tradition that has lasted nearly 30 years.

According to the Duke University Police Department records, the first bench burning came in 1986—not in celebration, but in anger. After watching Duke lose to Louisville in the NCAA championship on a large screen on the main quad, students rioted, and benches fell victim to their fury. Despite its origins in unorganized commotion, however, bench burning has since evolved into a well-regulated practice. The University obtains a city bonfire permit in advance, and marks boundaries to contain the fire—but even though the rules have changed, the passion for Duke basketball remains the same.