The Edge: Vol. 5 Ed. 3 by The Pendulum

ed ge th e

THE MAGAZINE OF THE PENDULUM

VOL. 5 | EDITION 3 FALL 2014 ELON, N.C.

SEXUAL VIOLENCE NOT A PROBLEM, OUR PROBLEM PAGE 17

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR 22 As fall semester comes to a close and crisp nights turn to frigid ones, we often find ourselves stuck in a rut. Whether that is with our wardrobe, our health or even with our daily routines. The transition from fall to winter can be rough, but with a few tricks and tips it doesn’t have to be. This issue will arm you with the necessary tools you need to ensure your transition into the colder months will be a smooth and successful one. Consider these pages your personal, no-fail guide to eliminating the winter blues while remaining stylish, healthy and well informed. Flip to page 21 for essential flu-fighting practices that will help you stay on your a-game during finals. Page 16 has you covered, literally, when it comes to selecting the perfect jacket for your lifestyle. Get a head start on your internship search and start narrowing down your options with our opinions story on page 25. It will help you decide what type of work environment is best for you. Our cover story explores the serious topic of sexual assault on college campuses and how this national crisis is being handled here at Elon. The article is a must-read for every member of Elon’s community. The piece reminds us that interpersonal violence needs to be talked about and that discussion needs to begin right here and right now in order to spark cultural change. Don’t forget to also check out our travel section and get a taste for what studying abroad is really like from two Elon students who are currently overseas. When it comes to winter survival look no further than this season’s issue of The Edge. Kicking your rut to the curb just got a whole lot easier. It’s as simple as lighting a fire, warming up some hot chocolate and learning something new. Enjoy!

Kathleen Harper Managing Editor of The Edge

2 | TABLE OF CONTENTS

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4 8 14 22 26 27

Discover the voices behind EDM

How Elon are you? Take our quiz to find out

The art of thrifting, revealed

Learn the truth behind Seasonal Affective Disorder

How does Elon’s party scene stack up?

Explore NC hotspots with our 10-hour guide

THE EDGE

Managing Editor Kathleen Harper Design Editor Madison Margeson

Check out all the exclusive Edge content online at elonpendulum.com/edge The Edge is Elon Universityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s only general-interest magazine, published bi-annually by The Pendulum student news organization. Students of all years and majors are encouraged to contribute.

Photo Editor Katie Klochany

Features, Travel Editor Caroline Fernandez

Fashion, Entertainment Editor Tori Howlett Health & Wellness, Opinions Editor Chris Mench Contributing Writers Rajat Agarwal Melina Casados Maddie Cleeff Bridget Creel Caroline Fernandez Brett Gubitosi Kathleen Harper Cameron Jackson Lindsey Lanquist Lindsay Lodge Tanza Loudenback Leigh Murphy Shayna Nash Emily Pensak Lauren Phillips Megan Porter Ana Preciado Rachel Shippee Diana Stancy Molly Stine Blythe Tokar Joe Del Vecchio

Contributing Designers Katy Bellotte MacKenzie Clarken Ingrid Frahm Kristina Lee Kristen Lilley Olivia Obregon Erin Turner Emily Wood Copy Editor Libby Gormley Discover the chicest warm-weather trends this season has to offer on page 11. Cover photo by Katie Klochany

Editor-in-Chief of The Pendulum Jonathan Black

TABLE OF CONTENTS | 3

electronic generation Maddie Cleeff

PRINT & ONLINE JOURNALISM

lectronic dance music, also known as EDM, has become a worldwide sensation. Its popularity spread from Europe to the Unites States, capturing the attention of many young people, especially Millennials. The EDM genre alone has an audience of more than 3.5 million people between the ages of 18 and 35. Artists like Zedd, Avicii and Calvin Harris have worked their way into mainstream culture. These are the names that many people are familiar with, but who are the vocals behind their music? Louisa Rose Allen, better known as Foxes, sings “Clarity” by Zedd, and Aloe Blacc is the voice for Avicii’s “Wake Me Up.” However, EDM isn’t just about the ability to produce music. Artists like Calvin Harris have used their own vocals to top the charts in songs such as “Feel so Close” and “Summer.” Whether or not the lyrics are sung by the artists themselves, the popularity of this genre continues to prevail. There are many students at Elon who are involved in the EDM scene. Junior Emilie Singer has been to six EDM concerts, her most recent one being Ultra Music Festival in Miami. “I have never seen such a wide range of people all gathered for the same event,” she said. Not only does EDM attract a diverse group of individuals, but the experience is one of a kind. “It’s hard to understand how being squished between strangers, dripping in sweat and dancing nonstop for eight hours could be fun,” Singer said. “But once you’re there it’s like nothing you’ve ever experi-

It’s hard to understand how being squished between strangers, dripping in sweat and dancing nonstop for eight hours could be fun, but once you’re there it’s like nothing you’ve ever experienced.”

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EMILIE SINGER JUNIOR enced.” The wardrobe of the fans and performers at these festivals are just as unique as the music. Many people are dressed in minimal clothing with a copious amount of accessories. Bandanas, faux fur hats and boots, and anything neon are visible among the crowds as well as face paint and glitter. “PLUR” bracelets cover the arms of spectators, standing for Peace, Love, Unity and Respect. Although the culture of EDM is what some people would call flamboyant, it is a place of acceptance that fully embodies and promotes the spirit of “PLUR.” Sophomore Devin Ryder attended Electric Daisy Carnival in New Jersey this past summer. “It’s very upbeat and positive,” she said of EDM music. “A lot of messages are happy and fast-paced, and they make you want to dance.” Many enthusiasts would agree that EDM isn’t necessarily about the lyrics in the songs, but rather the beats behind the music.

T N E R E F ADIF

E R N E G C I MUS

4 | ENTERTAINMENT

CABLE unplugged Melina Casados PRINT JOURNALISM

ost college advice is predictable. “Learn how to manage your time,” “Purchase the plus-seven meal plan,” “Get involved.” But one piece of modern college advice stands out from the rest: “You need a Netflix account. You will die without Netflix.” Netflix is convenient, entertaining and serves as a great date on a Friday night, but how essential is it to the viewing experience? What about cable? Doesn’t anyone use television sets anymore? The general consensus from Elon students can be summarized by the words of first-year student Stephanie Hayes: “Netflix is the best.” But what exactly is it about Netflix that’s driving everyone wild? Turns out it’s a lot of things. “Netflix has no commercials, which makes it better than live television,” Hayes said. Hayes has a point. We’ve arrived at an age that’s accompanied by an extreme sense of urgency. Who wants to sit through five minutes of ads for products they don’t need to buy? Thus, we resort to alternative platforms. “I usually watch online,” said first-year Breanna Coughlin when asked how she watches her favorite shows.

Breanna is following not only a student trend but also a modern trend in general. It’s more convenient for the show to wait on you than it is to abide by a scheduled airdate, which means that binge-watching has never been easier. “Binge-watching means that I have a lot of time to kill,” said first-year Rachel Freyre. She admitted that she hasn’t watched as much TV as she would like to watch since she became an Elon student. Hayes agreed. “I haven’t binge-watched lately because college is a lot of work.” Binge-watching TV shows is similar to sleeping with a skewed sleeping schedule. You don’t get enough on a regular basis, so you resort to indulging in excessive amounts over the weekend. That’s not to say that Netflix is essential. First-year Kaylyn Brock doesn’t have a Netflix account, which has benefited her in the long run. “I’ve done better things with my life now that I don’t have access to my regular TV,” she said. In fact, reduced access can be beneficial. Compare program consumption to sugar consumption—consuming it in large, daily amounts makes people crave it more. However, it is possible to consume it on a minimal basis, therefore increasing the availability of time

Not getting what we want, when we want, is an inconvenience.”

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and interest for other activities. (You know, like homework?) First-year David Nunamaker only watches two hours of TV a week. “I don’t really care much about it. If I do watch, it’s usually on in the background.” Not wanting to spend hours in front of a screen all day? Admirable. Even so, he agrees that using media platforms such as Netflix and TV network websites are his first instinct when he wants a dose of entertainment. As members of a fast-paced society, not getting what we want when we want it is an inconvenience. We want full seasons to look forward to. We want constant access, and we want that access through our mobile devices. Netflix and other platforms like Hulu Plus and Amazon Prime meet those qualifications for those of us who take the time to watch. Either way, cable loses. But that’s not to say we won’t one day find ourselves on a couch, surfing through some channels and come across a random television series that will keep us occupied for a few hours. Just like the good ol’ days.

PHOTO BY LEIGH MURPHY

ENTERTAINMENT | 5

senior spotlight

ROBYN DALINA

A MAJOR FORCE BEHIND ELON’S THEATER DEPARTMENT Brett Gubitosi

PRINT & ONLINE JOURNALISM

uring a typical, live theater performance, there’s more taking place than you think. No one knows that better than Robyn Dalina, an Elon University senior theater design and production major whose passion is stage-managing. This past April, LA Weekly published an article called “The Most Important, Invisible Person in the Theater: The Stage Manager.” This piece detailed the behind-thescenes work of the stage manager that the audience never sees: assuring actors recite lines to the syllable, confirming the props are in place and ensuring the cast attends practice on time. The list goes on. Dalina approaches these responsibilities as problem-solving challenges. “When the problems arrive, you’re loving it, because it’s a real test,” she said. In last year’s fall musical production, “Ragtime,” Dalina described a situation in which she had to swiftly instruct the movement of a full-sized Ford Model T while others simultaneously voiced multiple stage directions into her headset. “You have to love it to do it,” she said. “You can’t do the job on a whim.” Besides “Ragtime,” Dalina has participat-

ed in 19 other Elon productions, including stage-managing “The 25th Annual Putman County Spelling Bee,” costume designing “Penny Resolution” and running crew for “Much Ado about Nothing.” This semester she was costume designer for the fall productions, “Reckless” and “Frozen.” Dalina

February

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in the heights

6 | ENTERTAINMENT

PHOTO BY HELEN THOMPSON

started preparing for “Reckless” the first day of the semester, pulling costumes and hemming skirts and dresses. As costume designer, she is busy until the last show. “Ideally, in the real world, my job would be done at the premiere. But if a hem rips or anything happens, I take care of that,” she said. In the early spring, Dalina will be stage-managing “In the Heights.” To prepare, Dalina said she scans the script and vocal book, starts the prop list and the song cue list, and sets audition dates. “You essentially know everything about the show,” she said. “You’re there from day one.” “In the Heights” premiers February 12. After graduation, Dalina will be a counselor at Stagedoor Manor, a theater camp for pre-college students with an interest in acting, where she interned this past summer. She also said she hopes to make industry connections at the Southeastern Theater Conference. Although the theater is a major part of her life, Dalina said breaks are needed. “I separate myself as much as possible from my work when I’m with friends,” she said.

In the Heights tells the story of a community in New York’s Washington Heights neighborhood – a place where the coffee from the corner bodega is light and sweet, the windows are always open and the breeze carries the rhythm of three generations of music. It’s a community on the brink of change, full of hopes, dreams and pressures, where the biggest struggles can be deciding which traditions you take with you, and which ones you leave behind. Come see Elon’s production of In the Heights Februrary 12-15 in McCrary Theatre.

WHERE ARE THEY NOW?

Many Elon alumni move to metropolitan areas like New York City after graduation.

Rachel Shippee

PHOTOS BY CHRISTINA DANIELS-FREEMAN

ENGLISH & INTERNATIONAL STUDIES MAJOR

EVERY TIME

a new year begins, many Elon students feel a shift in the community dynamic as the senior class leaves and a new class steps on campus to begin their own journey from acorn to oak sapling. Each year, graduation creeps closer and closer to becoming reality for each of us and we begin to wonder, did I choose the right major? Will I find a job? Will I be able to handle life after college out on my own? In hopes of discovering more about the post-grad journey, we asked representatives of the Class of 2014 about their post-grad lives so far. Some students graduated and took their summers to prepare for furthering their degrees in graduate school. Alex Bruch is using his chemistry degree as a PhD candidate at Yale University in electrical engineering. Avery McGaha is combining his environmental studies degree with his love for writing and is now seeking an MA in journalism at the University of Colorado at Boulder. Sarah Yucha, who graduated with a religious studies degree, is finishing up her prerequisites before beginning her transition to Radford University for speech language pathology. For the graduates who sought

jobs, many of them made moves to bigger cities such as Raleigh, Boston, Washington D.C. and New York City. These entry-level jobs mean recent grads can pay the rent, have the ability to network and learn from the industry. One of the biggest struggles many of them found, besides acquiring the job itself, was finding a place to live. Krista Kuntz, a finance major, said once she found a good apartment, the adjustment wasn’t difficult. “Moving to a new area means you don’t know how far away anything is, or how safe it is,” she said. Kuntz sought advice from friends who knew the area better to help her in her search. Megan Larcher, a journalism major, decided to head to the Big Apple. “Moving to New York is a fulltime job in itself,” she said. “I spent three weeks intensely searching for housing with no luck. Finally, something fell into our laps. I was up in NYC signing the lease two days later.” Colleen Cooper, who graduated with a business management degree, acknowledged how thankful she was to have connections in D.C. with fellow Elon alumni and friends to help her land her cur-

rent job and find safe housing. The interviewed graduates were open to providing advice for future graduates of Elon, and often addressed how they felt Elon truly prepared them for this next big step. “I think my whole time at Elon really prepared me for the ‘real world’ – both academically and socially,” Cooper said. “At Elon I was given so many opportunities to hold leadership positions and to interact with all different types of people that it feels as though I have really been able to blossom here thanks to my experiences.” Emily Adams, a print and online journalism major, agreed. “It’s really rewarding to have come through college successfully and feel like I’m using the skills Elon equipped me with in my everyday life,” Adams said. Stephen Kae, a business management graduate, left his fellow Elon community with some sage words of advice. “Apply to as many jobs as you can and try visiting the places you apply to if you have the time. If a company wants to schedule an interview with you, just do it. The practice definitely helps,” Kae said. Applying to multiple jobs may mean a busy interviewing schedule.

Don’t be afraid to take risks, but make sure you have a back-up plan.”

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STEPHEN KAE BUSINESS GRADUATE ‘14 “I once had four in one week. Don’t be afraid to take risks, but make sure you have a back-up plan. I had a job offer right after graduation and did not take it. After two months, I was playing the waiting game and contemplating if I made the right decision or not. Looking back I most definitely did,” Kae said. One of the most important takeaways of listening to Elon alumni is that every person is going to take a different path, and that’s okay. There is no one way to finding an apartment, job or new life outside of Elon. It takes time and hard work. These may be the toughest challenges, particularly in the first year after college, but many 2014 graduates have said that the struggle has been worth it in the end. As graduate Ellen Fraser put it, “Life post-grad is hard, but it gets easier. You just have to be patient and positive.”

FEATURES | 7

How Elon are You? Joe Del Vecchio

MARKETING AND MEDIA ANALYTICS MAJOR

hen you think about it, Elon University is a pretty strange place. It’s a beautiful, high-tech campus filled with brick buildings, but drive just four minutes west, and suddenly you’re surrounded by farms. It’s a school clearly located in the South, but it’s hard not to find yourself in a room with at least two people from Boston. In the last few months, Elon has been named the No. 1 school in the South by US News & World Report and was also named the “frattiest” school in North Carolina. So what does it mean to be an Elon student? To try to find out, I went to – Qdoba. I asked students to take a break from gawking at burritos being wrapped to tell me, in just one word or phrase, who they thought a stereotypical Elon student was.

This is the first place I’ve ever taught a student wearing a bowtie.”

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BEN HANNAM PROFESSOR Apparently, Elon students have a good sense of style, as an overwhelming number of students mentioned some clothing item. According to these students, Ray Bans, Sperrys and Vineyard Vines attire is a necessity for any Elon student. I got the impression that Elon students are supposed to be very well-dressed, which is pretty easy to see walking around campus. A sunny, 85 degree day promises girls in sundresses and guys in salmon shorts and blue

Raleigh Burrell sports a flag embroidered navy polo. This freshman is sure to score high marks on the clothing section of the quiz. PHOTOS BY EMILY STONE

8 | FEATURES

dress shirts frolicking about. Communications professor, Ben Hannam, agreed with the idea that Elon students are welldressed. It’s his first year teaching here at Elon, and during one of his web design classes, he looked at his students and mentioned how well-dressed everyone was. “This is the first place I’ve ever taught a student wearing a bowtie,” Hannam said. “It’s pressure on me – I feel like I need to dress better to stay on par with my students.” Other than clothing, students mentioned that most of Elon is categorized by its Northeastern population. What is it about Elon, or as I like to think of it, the Connecticut of the South, that draws Northerners? Is it the weather, the education or maybe the hope that by going somewhere in the South and eating some biscuits and gravy they can call themselves cultured? Either way, Elon gets all the best from the North, like the beautiful Boston accents and the incredibly talented New Jersey drivers. Finally, students told me that they think Greek life is typical of an Elon student. This one surprised me a bit, because I know Greek life is popular at Elon, but I can never tell when a guy is in a fraternity or not. With sorority girls, it’s even harder - aside from the sorority pins, laptop stickers, car stickers, T-shirts for every day of the week, handbags, bows, cups, travel mugs and daily Instagram posts about loving their bigs, I would never know if a girl

was in a sorority or not. So Elon students are self-described stereotypical Northerners who dress to impress and live to be Greek. Has the student body always been this way? “Media History, Media Today” professor David Copeland, who has been teaching at Elon since 2001, says that there has always been a “superabundance” of Greek life gear, but overall dress has improved over the years. He noted that students “Used to wear pajamas to 8 a.m. classes more often.” However, he said the most noticeable change has been that students have become more tech-savvy, but at a cost to sociability. “People used to talk before and after class, now everyone is just glued to their phones.” Do you agree with this stereotype of the Elon student? And how well do you fit the mold of a Phoenix? Put down your phone, slip off your Sperrys and take our quiz to find out! Note: if you answer D to any of the following questions, you should probably start figuring out how to transfer.

quiz

“How Elon Are You”

_________ % of my Meal Dollars are spent on fancy coffee drinks at Acorn/Java City: a. 10-25% b. 25-40% c. 40 +% d. Wait, are meal dollars and Phoenix Cash the same thing? Or can I use swipes for that?

I go to football games _________ a. Every home game - I’m a dedicated fan! b. Strictly for the hopping tailgate scene. c. Because I enjoy disappointment. d. I thought football games were on Sunday!

My favorite Elonthemed Twitter account is _______ a. Gossip Squirrel, for the sarcasm (XOXO). b. Elon Local News, to find out who got arrested today. c. Elon Confessions, for the scandal. d. I don’t have a Twitter - it detracts from my studies.

Festivus is __________ a. Great because I don’t have to shower before! b. A chance to prove my manliness by tackling everyone I’ve ever met. c. The most fun way to get a compound fracture in your leg. d. A Seinfeld holiday.

I wear salmon shorts and dress shirts around campus every other day because _________ a. Everyone else is b. Everyone else is c. Everyone else is d. It looks so stylish!

I am in a fraternity/sorority because _______ a. Sisters are forever <3 b. Eating and sleeping are the only things less important than partying (Oh, and schoolwork) c. I really, really care about the community and philanthropy! d. Greek life? I LOVE Athens!

I am not in a sorority/fraternity because ___________ a. I enjoy the misguided and incorrect feeling of moral superiority of not “paying for friends.” b. I love being asked how many brothers I know. c. If I’m out actually doing things who will play my XBOX? d. I didn’t get a bid after I asked if my mom could come to bid night.

The best place for eats around campus is a. The Root, for the burgers, sandwiches, dips, and pretty much anything else. b. Pandora’s, for the freshlymade pizza and calzones and oh my god the garlic knots. c. Biscuitville, because sometimes your arteries need a good clogging d. Guys! Guys! Colonnades served me fully cooked food today!

I get around campus ________________ a. Via Bio-Bus, be cause living in Danieley is punishment enough

already. b. On a bike, so people will get out of my way whether they like it or not. c. By walking, because that’s the same thing as going to the gym, right? d. I brought my longboard from home, girls are gonna be so impressed.

I don’t own Vineyard Vines clothing because ___________ a. I like being a social outcast. b. My parents don’t love me. c. I like to wear sweatpants and tank-tops sarcastically. d. Vineyard Vines? I’m not much of a wine-drinker myself.

My acorn from convocation ________________ a. Could be literally anywhere. b. Was fed to a squirrel. c. Never even made it back to my dorm. d. Is packed away neatly, along with my first solo cup and every paper I’ve ever gotten an A on.

7 13 8 The go-to late night snack run is to _________ a. Cookout b. Steak ‘n’ Shake c. Krispy Kreme d. McDonald’s

My favorite Elon event is _____________ a. College coffee, because free food is free food. b. President Lambert’s Christmas party he’s gonna remember me this year I know it! c. Graduation, because I love to cry. d. Late night McEwen, quality food is so hard to find!

FEATURES | 9

KEY: If you answered mostly A’s, I have good news and bad news. The good news is that you are definitely an Elon student. The bad news...you just might be really basic. If you answered mostly B’s, you’re the Elon student who has to do things differently to try to add a little spice to the Elon life. If you answered mostly C’s, congratulations, you bleed maroon and gold and are the stereotypical Elon student – for better or worse! If you answered mostly D’s, just leave.

College Relationships:

ARE THEY WORTH IT?

Molly Stine

STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS

ophomore Lizzie Worrilow met her current boyfriend in middle school, and has been dating him on and off since the eighth grade.“We were great friends at the beginning, and every time we would date other people and break up with them, the other person would always be there to fall back on,” she said. But in today’s society of hookups, one-night stands and Tinder, college students tend to be skeptical of whether relationships like this are possible. “Relationships are possible under the right circumstances,” sophomore Kate Flinn said. “But I do believe hookup culture has made serious relationships harder to achieve.” Others believe that hookup culture does not have a correlating effect to relationship success. “Hookup culture is socially constructed, and it’s up to you whether you’re going to buy into that,” senior Emily Ackers said. “You have to decide what you’re looking for and position yourself so that you’re going to get it.” Sophomore Tyler Murphy benefitted from hookup culture by meeting his current girlfriend of a year, Emma Davidman. “It progressed really naturally,” he said. “We were hooking up for about a month and eventually decided we both wanted something exclusive.” Junior Liz Chmura however, thinks college students gain more from being single. “You get a lot more out of being single than you do in a relationship,” she said. “Especially since for the first few years, college really is about experimentation with yourself in all areas, and that includes relationships and your sex life.” Ackers understands the benefits of being single, but she believes there are downsides to it, too. “There is a big idea that being single offers you so many freedoms that are going to lead to more fun,” she said. “But it’s only fun for people that actually enjoy exercising their right to participate in

PHOTO BY ERIN VALENTINE

When something is meant to be, you know.”

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LIZZIE WORRILOW SOPHOMORE

PHOTO BY CHRISTINA DANIELS-FREEMAN

10 | FEATURES

those freedoms.” Sophomore Preston Dooley believes relationships can work in college, despite the stereotypes. “I believe students should not be in relationships in college unless they really think the person they are dating is someone they can see the relationship lasting long-term.” Sophomore Alexa Buontempo has been in a relationship with her boyfriend for four years, even while being long-distance for the past year. “Honestly, I didn’t think it would work,” she said. “But when he went to West Point freshman year of college, we got really serious and decided that we were going to try to stay together.” Worrilow think long distance is possible when the couple is right for each other. “Although we’re 700 miles apart, we both want to make it work because we know we’re supposed to be together,” she said. “Distance means so little when someone means so much.” Despite the popular belief that most boys are opposed to being in a relationship in college, sophomore Eason Warren decided it was worthwhile to have a girlfriend. “It gets to a point where you don’t really care about the expectations put on you, and you just do what makes you happy,” he said. Murphy feels the same way about his significant other. “I was always happier whenever I was around Emma, and I could not think of any real reason we should not be dating.” Emm, agreed that Tyler actually makes her college life less hectic, rather than the other way around as many assume. “It is hard because we are both so busy, but honestly I would be so stressed without him,” she said. “I would have a mental breakdown if he wasn’t here.” In the end, college students can choose for themselves to either take or leave relationships, all depending on what the individual wants. But Worrilow’s one piece of advice was this: “When something is meant to be, you know.”

discovering new fashion FRONTIERS

fall 2014

FASHION | 11

what to wear Kathleen Harper PRINT & ONLINE JOURNALISM

hen it comes to fall fashion, most people think three things: jeans, boots and sweaters. But while that no-fail combo is practical, it can also get repetitive, and frankly boring, very quickly. Fashion is supposed to be about self-exploration and creativity. Do you really want to be wearing what everyone else is wearing? To truly discover new fashion frontiers, you have to be adventurous and perhaps, dare we say, a risk taker. The following fall trends are just what your closet needs to help bump your style to that next level.

Photographed by Allegra Berger COMMUNICATION DESIGN

Bringin’ ponchos back Ah yes, it is now socially acceptable to wear a blanket out in public. We all thought rocking these in third grade was a good idea. But now this trend is back, and for good reason. Not only are ponchos comfortable, warm and have a forgiving shape, but they make getting dressed in the morning a cinch. Throw on a poncho over…well anything, and your outfit is made. Opt for one in a unique pattern or texture.

on jesse Ralph Lauren shirt; J.Crew pants; Sperry Topsiders.

on victor Haupt shirt; Steve Madden jacket; Alberto jeans; Timberland boots.

on tricia

HIS AND HEr flannels Due to its incredible versatility, this classic fall staple isn’t going out of style any time soon. Not only is flannel gender-neutral, but it can be worn multiple ways. Sport yours layered under a sweater, tied around your waist, as a shirt or even as a jacket. Any way you choose, you can’t go wrong in a flannel button-down.

on ellie Free People poncho, hat & statement necklace; Ariat boots.

12 | FASHION

Brandy Melville jeans & flannel; Topshop shirt; Converse shoes; Rayban aviators.

emerald shades This jewel tone is perfect for the holiday season. The rich hue compliments all skin tones and stands out best when paired with navy, burgundy or plum. Hint: emerald makes hazel eyes pop.

patterned dresses Tired of the LBD? We are too. Put some pizzazz back into your wardrobe with notso-boring frocks of every color and print. Printed dresses are fresh and vibrant and will really show off your personality. To avoid looking like wallpaper, choose a non-busy print with hues in the same color family.

on victor Steve Madden quilted jacket.

on megan

Free People dress; Nordstrom boots; Hue tights.

quilted outerwear The quilted jacket is versatile, waterproof and provides substantial warmth without the bulk. Ideal for layering, this style is seasonless and can be worn from fall to spring. If youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re looking for a jacket to invest in, this is a practical and stylish option.

FASHION | 13

ONLY GOT $20 IN YOUR POCKET? HERE’S HOW TO POP SOME TAGS Cameron Jackson

PATIENCE

STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS

f a tight budget has you wondering how you’ll be able to update your fall wardrobe, a solution is waiting for you right down the street. The thrifting movement has been taking place for the past few years, and it seems that it hasn’t lost steam yet. Thrifting is the perfect way to get a few great clothing pieces with your spare bucks. Sophomore Xernay Aniwar is an expert on the trend. “I’ve gotten all of my best clothes in my wardrobe for under 10 dollars,” Aniwar said.

I’ve gotten all my best clothes in my wardrobe for under 10 dollars.”

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XERNAY ANIWAR SOPHOMORE Not only can you save, but thrifting is also a social activity that you can do with a group of friends. Elon students are surrounded by numerous thrift stores and consignment shops in the Burlington area. A popular choice is the local Goodwill just a few minutes down South Church Street. Students also have easy access to U-Save Thrift Store on St. Marks Church Road and Sherry’s on Main located on West Main Street. Neoshia Howard, a sales associate at the Goodwill location, says that there

isn’t a day that goes by without the store receiving some sort of donation. When asked if there’s an art to thrifting, Howard said, “You should really just try on anything that catches your eye.” On your next thrifting trip, arrive armed with your closest friends, a patient mindset and a list full of creative ideas. You just might find your new favorite pair of jeans or a great chair for your apartment. Thrifting is an activity that takes a little bit of work, but it can produce great, unexpected rewards.

If the task of thrifting seems overwhelming, and you’re discouraged by the possibility of not finding anything, here are five simple tips to keep in mind during your next thrifting experience...

It’s obvious, but it’s easy to forget when you’re standing in a sea of grandpa sweaters. The best items won’t jump out at you when you first enter the store. It will take diligence and lots of patience to find a few great pieces.

Explore All Sections One of the worst thrifting mistakes you can make is only browsing sections that apply to you (i.e. women, men, etc.). Some of the most versatile and unique pieces can be found in the least expected places.

DONATE This is great for those of you who have buyer’s remorse because your closet is already swelling with clothes. If you come to a store with a mindset that you can only get as many pieces as you have donated, then you’ll feel much better about the purchase. Most thrift stores similar to Goodwill receive your unwanted clothing at the back of the building. You can drop anything off you don’t want in old shopping or garbage bags.

CALL AHEAD It’s disappointing to arrive at a thrift store that only offers a completely picked-over collection. Stores are constantly accepting donations, but they may have a designated day of the week when they stock the store with new merchandise. Call ahead for that information, and plan accordingly.

HAVE AN EYE FOR ADJUSTMENTS

PHOTOS BY KATIE KLOCHANY

14 | FASHION

Don’t judge an article of clothing by your first impression. A large T-shirt can become a cute crop top. Or, mom jeans can be transformed into high-waisted shorts with a little innovation.

PHOTO BY KATHLEEN HARPER

The History

behind the fabric

Ana Preciado

MARKETING AND INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS

f the name of the Burlington Industries founder – Spencer Love - sounds familiar to you, it is probably because you have heard of the Martha and Spencer Love School of Business here at Elon. As the Elon website indicates, “The School of Business acknowledges Love as a fierce and highly influential businessman of the 20th century.” More specifically, Love was the founder of Burlington Industries, a major textile company in North Carolina. As Gary N. Mock, author of multiple books on the textile industry, explained in his 2013 publication, Love started his enterprise in 1923 when he purchased the Gastonian Cotton Manufacturing Company. From then on, his company has been providing textile products for almost 100 years. Today, what is now called Burlington Industries forms part of the International Textile Group, and Burlington Labs continues making textile innovations through R&D in its North Carolina laboratories. According to Delores Sides, the director of corporate communications and human resources at International Textile Group, ITG has been successfully uniting major textile companies such as Cone Denim, Safety Components, Carlisle Finishing and more since its incorporation in 2004. In his article, “Burlington Industries, Burlington and Greensboro,” Mock explains that when Burlington Mills began, its products were cotton-based textiles such as flag cloth, cotton scrims, fabrics for curtains, dress fabrics, ‘birdseye’ cloth and more. However, manufacturing later shifted to rayon products such as bedspreads because the cotton-based fabrics were considered obsolete in the market. According to Sides, bedspreads became a big seller in the marketplace and within a

few years, Burlington was a national leader in rayon textiles. Since then, the company has been at the forefront of fashion design and innovation performance in textile. It was not long before the company started exploring even more options – this time with nylon. The “Burlington Mills Corp” publication, found at the 2012 Lehman Brothers Collection - Contemporary Business Archives, indicates that during World War II, the com-

Since then, the company has been at the forefront of fashion design and innovation performance in textile.”

“

pany used its laboratories to develop nylon parachute cloth for the military and continued to experiment with it after the turn of the century. According to Mock, the company later followed a strategy geared toward diversifying products. Because of this expansion, the company eventually changed its name to Burlington Industries. Looking back, it is hard to believe that such a large company was only comprised of one building in a cornfield and had a mere 200 workers at the beginning of its operations. Burlington Mills grew exponentially in later years, and new plants were built with a wooden wall that could be easily torn down if expansion was desired. According to Sides, the wooden wall became a signature mark of Burlington Mills and its history. Though plants are not being built with wooden walls anymore, Burlington Industries continues to grow and is still a strong influence in the North Carolina community.

FASHION | 15

STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS

With fall weather in full swing and winter chills just around the corner, it’s time to bulk up your wardrobe for the colder months ahead. These cool styles are sure to keep you hot until March.

LEATHER BIKER JACKET A leather biker jacket will never go out of style. For day, choose a brown or gray jacket and pair it with jeans and boots. At night, go for the classic black. A leather jacket adds a nice edge to any outfit and is the perfect, effortless way to add personality to a simple look.

MILITARY JACKET

The military-inspired jacket is one that has stayed in style throughout the years. The olive green shade is a staple color for fall. This jacket can be dressed up over a black dress or dressed down with jeans and combat boots, depending on the occasion. This is the perfect piece to wear in the fall because it is lightweight enough to throw on during those chilly mornings, and you can take it off and stick it in your backpack as it gets warmer throughout the day.

16 | FASHION

OUTERWEAR

NOW TRENDING: PHOTOS BY ALLEGRA BERGER

Emily Pensak

long robe coat

One of the biggest fall trends this year is the long robe coat. It’s a comfortable, elegant piece that provides a cinched waist effect that is flattering on everyone. Perfect for layering, this choice is sophisticated and polished from desk to dinner.

The faux shearling jacket is a favorite because of the comfy texture. Throw this on when the temperature drops, and all your friends will be asking you where you got such a soft and chic jacket. If you don’t want to invest in a full jacket, try a shearling

Downtown Field Jacket

faux shearling jacket

A staple for many Elon University girls is the Downtown Field Jacket from J.Crew. Made of a waxed cotton material, this piece is the perfect coat to wear all fall before you have to dig up a puffy jacket for the winter weather. Available in army green, black and navy, this coat has a simple look that will never go out of style.

Whether it’s from Forever 21 or Bloomingdales, fashion-lovers should keep their eyes out in stores for these fall trends. When you go home for Thanksgiving break, make sure to bring these key pieces back to Elon with you to stay covered this fall.

THE CONVERSATION STARTS Kathleen Harper & Caroline Fernandez PRINT & ONLINE JOURNALISM

WE’VE ALL SEEN IT.

HERE

YOU’RE AT A PARTY AND SEE TWO INTOXICATED PEOPLE BEGIN TO HOOK UP. YOU NOTICE SOME RESISTANCE FROM ONE PERSON BUT YOU DON’T KNOW IF IT’S BECAUSE THEY’RE DRUNK OR BECAUSE THEY’RE UNINTERESTED IN THEIR PURSUER. HOW DO YOU REACT? DO YOU INTERVENE? DO YOU TURN A BLIND EYE?

t’s been impossible to miss in the headlines, universities mishandling sexual assault cases across the country. It’s an epidemic that we’ve unfortunately become all too familiar with, and for the past year it’s consumed countless media outlets. From Time magazine’s May 2014 cover story to The Huffington Post’s continuous coverage of specific sexual assault scandals, rape, and other forms of sexual violence, is a major crisis in higher education that needs to be talked about. Institutions of higher education can no longer continue sweeping sexual assault incidents under the rug. Policies are changing and schools are being held responsible. Elon, in many ways, is ahead of that curve and has been for quite some time. Every fall, thousands of young women are immediately put at risk for sexual violence simply by entering college. A period of time known as the “red zone,” which occurs from Labor Day to Thanksgiving, is a time when first-years are most vulnerable to sexual assault. In fact, The 2007 Campus Sexual Assault Study discovered that more than 50 percent of college sexual assaults occur during the “red zone” time frame. Earlier this year a White House task force found that nearly 20 percent of female college students have been assaulted, but that only 12 percent of those cases

are reported. However, women aren’t the only ones affected by this epidemic; six percent of college males are survivors of either attempted or completed sexual assault. In May, the Obama administration released the names of 55 colleges and universities under investigation for their handling of sexual assault complaints. That list is even longer today. Colleges under investigation range from Ivy League institutions to public and private ones. One university in particular hits close to home. A UNC student filed a lawsuit in August and alleged that the school mishandled her sexual assault case. The accusation came soon after a federal investigation based on similar allegations made by other students. “Colleges and universities can no longer ignore the issue of sexual assault,” said Jana Lynn Patterson, dean of student health and wellness and Elon’s Title IX compliance officer. “What you’re seeing now is the aftermath of the Dear Colleague Letter because some universities didn’t make the appropriate adjustments to their policies when they were told to.”

Making Elon a ‘Gold Standard’ Title IX, which was instituted in 1972, stated that a university

cannot discriminate on the basis of sex. Initially Title IX was centered on sports programs, activities and admissions. However, in 2011 the Dear Colleague Letter clarified Title IX and stated that acts of sexual violence, including harassment and discrimination, are classified as sexual discrimination and recourse can be sought under the Office of Civil Rights. That was also the first time the government stepped in and tried to mandate how universities dealt with sexual assault. “Elon already had a long history of having programs and services in place and we were in good shape when the Dear Colleague Letter came out in 2011,” Patterson said. Last spring Title IX was updated once again, this time by the Campus Save Act. It gave colleges and universities a much greater list of things to do. Elon was already doing 90 percent of the things mentioned. “But we don’t want to get into a habit of thinking that we’re only going to be compliant and that we’re only going to be checking boxes off,” Patterson said. “It’s important to check boxes off but we want to move beyond that and empower our student groups. We want to encourage students because that’s where cultural changes are going to come from.” According to Ann Cahill, chair of The Sexual Assault and

Gender Issues Council (SAGIC), Elon has an impressive system in tact for dealing with sexual assault cases. Elon not only has a robust set of practices and policies centered on sexual violence, but the university is also very open to the expertise that is available on campus and using that to create strong policies. “Policies that are centered on the wellbeing of our students and that are not just about fulfilling federal legislation,” Cahill said. “If you focus only on making sure you’re not breaking the law, you’re not going to serve your students very well.” Part of what makes Elon a “gold standard,” as professor Cahill referred to it, is the fact that we have a full-time staff member who is always on call to respond to sexual assault cases, a good chunk of another full-time staff member and prevention and response teams have been separated. Students may seek assistance or file a report 24 hours per day, seven days a week, year round and in multiple ways. “This structure is really important and I think it’s much more developed and just a better organizational structure than the vast majority of schools our size,” Cahill said. “By giving oncall responders the weekend, we give our primary responder a little break, meaning she won’t get burnt out, which is crucial for everything.”

COVER STORY | 17

Elon’s unique structure allows students to seek assistance or file a report with a Violence Responder or Counselor who is on-call around the clock, through a confidential phone line, SAFEline, with the Student Life administrator on call or with Campus Safety and Police.

Learning From The Past Elon’s policies weren’t always as clear and organized as they are today. In 2004 a string of three high-profile cases of sexual violence on campus motivated Elon to reevaluate certain policies and procedures. One particular incident involved a student named Jeffrey Hire who had videotaped 30 women using a hidden camera placed in a bathroom. The women affected pressed charges and by the end of that afternoon Hire was no longer enrolled at Elon. “We really started to up our a-game after that,” Patterson said. “Now we have a much more sophisticated system.” After a three-year criminal process, Hire was found guilty on several felony accounts, but Elon dealt with him very quickly for violating the honor code. As a guideline the university tries to resolve incidents within 60 days. “There was a lot of energy around the university at that time,” Cahill said. As a result there was a committee put together to hire a full-time person who was available to survivors to give them immediate response and counseling. 2004 saw many changes to Elon’s sexual assault policy. Soon an integrated, holistic program took shape. Not only was the school’s first internal responder hired, SAGIC was also created. SAGIC provides support and guidance to staff members who have primary responsibilities with regard to both response to sexual violence and prevention. Cahill described SAGIC as a type of sounding board. “Occasionally the administration looks to us and asks for feedback on the sexual assault policy,” she said. “So we’re generally a resource that includes faculty, staff and students with expertise on gender issues and sexual violence.”

Separating Prevention and Response 18 COVER STORY

One of SAGIC’s first duties was to appoint two people for sexual violence prevention and response – one person to strictly handle prevention and one person to solely deal with the response aspect. Many universities still have not separated these responsibilities and only have one professional in charge of both prevention and response. This system becomes problematic because a responder should be on-call and available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. For example, if the responder is leading a workshop on how to prevent sexual assault to a class of freshmen, and he or she gets a call from a survivor, he or she has to respond to the survivor and leave the class without educating those students on sexual violence. This is when problems arise and jobs are neglected, thus causing vulnerability in the system.

As educators we’re not going to change the 4-7% but we can change the 80% of bystanders - people who may or may not know what is going on.”

“

BECCA BISHOPRIC PATTERSON COORDINATOR FOR HEALTH PROMOTION Coordinator of Health Promotion, Becca Bishopric Patterson, works with on-campus organizations such as SPARKS and EFFECT to spread awareness and educate Elon students, faculty and staff about the presence of sexual violence on campus. In addition to using oncampus groups to spread sexual assault awareness, Bishopric Patterson also uses her expertise to further educate people on this important issue and what to do as a bystander in a potential case of interpersonal violence. A 2002 study done by David Lee and Paul Miller, investigated the undetected rapist. Their work found that on a given college campus 4-7 percent of the population were committing rape, over and over again – not multiple people perpetrating once. Bishopric Patterson said this research changed the way educators approach this topic.

“As educators we’re not going to change the 4-7 percent but we can change the 80 percent of bystanders - people who may or may not know what is going on,” Bishopric Patterson said. “Sometimes we see that bystanders don’t have the basic knowledge of the issues.” The other part of the work that prevention teams do involves changing the language, culture and conversation surrounding sexual violence. Bishopric Patterson gave the example of, “I just raped that test.” “When people don’t stand up to that type of language, perpetrators see it as, ‘Oh that person is degrading that woman and being homophobic so they must do those awful things that I do too,’” Bishopric Patterson said. “That’s why it’s important to approach sexual violence in a way that says, ‘We live in this culture so how do we get active bystanders to understand?’” The other side of sexual violence and assault is the aftermath. What does a person do after surviving an incident of sexual assault? There are many myths surrounding this topic; people fear that if they come forward they will be forced to speak with campus police and investigators to tell their story. But that is not the case. Jessica Clark is the ‘other half’ of the umbrella of interpersonal violence prevention and response. Clark is the responder. She is always available through the week to respond to anyone who needs immediate assistance in regards to an incident of sexual violence or any form of personal identity based violence. Elon’s response system is a survivor-focused response system. If someone has experienced sexual violence and wants to come forward, the survivor is ensured that his or her situation will be handled in a confidential manner. “When I meet with survivors I want to give them the space to talk about their story,” Clark said. “They can tell me only what they want to. I see my primary role as something we can

all do – letting a survivor know that you believe them.” There are also on-call responders on the weekend who are available for immediate response to any person who has experienced interpersonal violence. These responders can get someone to be with the survivor, go to the hospital with them and go to law enforcement with them – if that’s what they want; it’s immediate in-person counseling. “We have hired people with very deep levels of expertise and who ask the deeper cultural questions,” Cahill said. “Therefore we have this incredibly deep bench in terms of scholarly understandings of interpersonal violence and how it relates to other forms of inequality and how our approaches to it have to recognize those intersections.” A few years ago when Cahill was asked to review Elon’s sexual harassment policies, she noticed something strange. The

Becoming Transparent policies didn’t make any sense. She discovered that there was a never-ending loop that could be used by a faculty member to never be held accountable for an act of sexual harassment. Cahill described it as a “Complete unintended consequence of our policies” and the problem was immediately fixed. Cahill’s committee began with the notion of transparency in order to create a clearer process that anyone could get ahold of. The team worked hard to make sure the process made sense and that it was available online – whereas before it was only available in hard copy in the Vice President’s for Student Life office. Cahill also wanted to make sure that the process respected all members involved – both the complainant and the respondent – and that both parties had clear and equal opportunities for appeals, which is not the case at some schools. Elon has also worked hard to

make sure that reports go to an expert, someone hired in human resources and somewhat outside the academic scene to ensure a fair evaluation. This individual also has expertise in how to investigate these issues and has a lot of experience with legislation concerning sexual harassment. “So we changed whom you report the process to and we changed the report process so that it was distinct from the other grievance procedures that faculty has access to,” Cahill said. “We also made sure that whatever opportunities different individuals had in a hearing process, both of them did.” Training is another essential element that Elon worked hard to perfect. According to Cahill, this is an area that various institutions struggle with, which is part of the reason why schools have gotten in so much trouble lately. “People who have been hearing sexual harassment cases at some other schools have not been trained in these areas,” Cahill said. “Therefore, they can perpetuate myths about rape, they can ask inappropriate questions and they can bias the proceedings in ways they’re not even aware that they are.” Elon makes sure that everyone who is in the position of being on a hearing board has gotten the requisite training so that they know the pitfalls that can occur and therefore can avoid them.

Raising The Bar Over the past 10 years Elon’s entire sexual assault procedure and policy has been revamped at least two or three times and is now quite stable and something that Cahill said she is proud of. What truly sets Elon’s process apart from other universities is its survivor-and-victim-centered philosophy that focuses on the agency and the autonomy of the person who has experienced interpersonal violence. According to Cahill, Elon’s philosophy is very much grounded in the understanding of interpersonal violence as an element and a symptom of structural injustice. “Sexual violence is based on gender inequality and has to be seen in that way,” Cahill said. Some universities are getting into trouble for their specific policies. However, more places are getting into trouble for how they apply them. Elon has made sure that there are no students involved in either the hearing of sexual violence cases or their appeals. According to Cahill that’s crucial. “It’s inappropriate for students to be involved in these kinds of affairs,” Cahill said. “Title IX basically prohibits that, but other universities do it and that’s a real problem.”

“WHO CAN I TURN TO?” Many times when a student experiences interpersonal violence the next step is unknown. There are myths surrounding who is confidental and who is a reporter. Follow this guide to be informed about this issue.

Safeline Faculty+Staff Law Enforcement Office of Student Conduct

336-278-3333

The Safeline is operated by a confidental responder. When you call you are not required to report anything. If you want to take action, though, the responder will be with you every step of the way.

Some faculty and staff are designated under Title IX by mandatory reporters. If a survivor speaks to a mandatory reporter, their story is required to be reported, wheter the survivor wants it to be or not. Reporting an incident of sexual assault to authorities involves speaking with the district attorney. The DA will then decide whether to persue and prosecute the case. In this situation, though, the survivor’s name will not be protected. The student conduct process requires a lower standard of evidence. When dealing with the Office of Student Conduct, identities are kept as confidential as possible.

Confidentiality is a huge factor when it comes to people reaching out for help after an incident of sexual violence. Unlike some institutions, Elon has clarified where students can enjoy complete confidentiality. There are universities who have designated that all employees are mandatory reporters and anyone who hears anything is required to report it to the Title IX officer. According to Cahill that is a mistake. “If a student goes to someone whom they don’t know is a mandatory reporter, and that person doesn’t say, ‘Be careful, whatever you tell me I have to report,’ that survivor can all of a sudden find themselves embroiled in a bureaucratic process that they had no interest or desire to be part of, and that can be really damaging,” Cahill said. Elon has thus designated specific people to be mandatory reporters but not every Elon faculty and staff member is. This ensures that survivors can talk to someone about their options with complete confidentiality. Sometimes the emphasis on avoiding fines and avoiding getting into trouble with the federal government can serve to create policies that are damaging. Cahill explained, “It seems to me that you could follow Title IX to the letter and not serve survivors of sexual violence well.”

Reporting TO The Police v. Reporting to Elon Deciding to press charges with the police entails speaking with the district attorney, the question of whether the DA is willing to prosecute and usually involves a lengthy court case. Conviction rates for sexual violence are also typically very low. While the court system abides to a very high standard of evidence – beyond a reasonable doubt, the university has a preponderance standard of evidence – is it more likely that it happened than it didn’t? “One reason you might go through the student conduct process rather than the courts is that one, you probably have a little bit more control, two it’ll probably be faster, three you’ll be dealing with a standard of evidence that’s lower,” Cahill said. “You might believe that the university process is more

fair and more humane and you might be less likely to be retraumatized by it – you might have less hostile questioning for example.” Another reason a survivor might prefer to go through the university’s process is that it’ll be less public. “Going through the court system, your identity wouldn’t be protected so everybody would know that you’ve accused someone of sexual violence, and in our culture that is not a pleasant experience,” Cahill said. “In student conduct however, that is kept as confidential as it possibly can be.” A survivor may also go the student conduct path because his or her primary goal is just to have their perpetrator kept away from them. When Elon finds someone responsible of sexual assault, they have not established that someone has committed a crime. Only the law can do that, but Elon is in the position of saying whether or not someone has violated its honor code, which means Elon has the authority to immediately remove any student who has violated its code of conduct. “But some will choose to go to the police. Some will say, “I don’t care about my university, this is a crime.” Cahill said. “And that’s great too. A student can also go to both the school and the police. It’s whatever the survivor feels most comfortable doing.” No matter what road a survivor wishes to take, Elon can help get them there. “I’m proud to say that we’ve never told someone, ‘There’s nothing we can do.’ There’s always something you can do,” Patterson said. “Where you’re hearing about colleges and universities getting into trouble; they either didn’t do anything or they violated the rights of the complainant. And we’re very conscious about making sure we don’t do that.” Compared to many universities in the country, Elon’s sexual assault policies and procedures have a modern perspective and are focused on helping survivors. “I have great confidence that Elon can keep the focus on what’s best for our students and also for our faculty and staff who experience violence and discrimination,” Cahill said. “I hope that other institutes of higher education will also keep that at the forefront and not just take compliance with the law as their goal.”

COVER STORY | 19

GET AMPT with Andrew Mitchell

PHOTOS BY LEIGH MURPHY

Leigh Murphy MUSIC THERAPY & COMMUNICATIONS

unior Andrew Mitchell is getting a head start on his career through the launch of his business, Andrew Mitchell Personal Training (AMPT). The Cincinnati, native majors in exercise science and wants to gain real world experience in the field before he graduates. In high school, he was highly involved in basketball and football. Mitchell’s interest in health and fitness comes from the several injuries he suffered while playing basketball. He has broken both arms, badly sprained his ankles and had a total of seven concussions. Mitchell has always wanted to be a trainer and a coach, and the personal trainers he had during physical therapy inspired him. Mitchell launched AMPT during summer 2013, when he realized he could turn his passion for fitness into a business. Mitchell trains clients here at Elon and back home in Cincinnati. He’s been certified by The American Council on Exercise to be a personal trainer, and through AMPT, he offers personalized workouts and individual training sessions. When asked about how the name AMPT came about, he said that one of his high school basketball teammates, Stuart Holt, gave him the title of Andrew Mitchell Personal Training and suggested that he could

20 HEALTH & WELLNESS

tell people to get “ampt” (amped). The AMPT Fitness Facebook page has more than 5300 likes, and Andrew hopes he can connect with other people and inspire them through AMPT’s social media. Chris Powell, a trainer and host on the TV show Extreme Makeover Weight Loss Edition, is an inspiration to Mitchell. He said he hopes to motivate people the same way Powell does — with motivational tips and original ideas. Mitchell said a big challenge of his business is connecting to other people. He hopes that through his work he can inspire others to enjoy fitness and exercise and be eager to live a healthy lifestyle. Mitchell aims to expand AMPT and keep on his path to meeting new trainers and new clients. “The only way for business to grow is if I learn more,” he said. “If I can learn something, and it hooks one person, that’s fantastic. The goal is to keep growing and keep learning and to make AMPT as big as it can get.” AMPT gets Mitchell closer to his aspiration of being a top trainer and being someone who comes to mind when people think of fitness. Make sure to check Andrew’s Facebook page, AMPT Fitness, to track his success and to see effective workout schedules and helpful motivational tips.

Healthy Tips

from Andrew

1. Eat balanced meals, and eat until you’re no longer hungry, not until you’re full. 2. Eat like it’s Christmas — make sure your plate has a lot of red and a lot of green. Some of the healthiest foods out there are one of those colors. 3. Six or seven smaller meals throughout the day are better than three or four large meals.

stay healthy this fall Lindsay Lodge

STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS

How would you rate your health? Are you finding yourself tired throughout the day, stressed out or getting sick more than usual? There are plenty of ways to incorporate new healthy habits into your life that can benefit both your physical and mental health.

EAT HEALTHY

EXERCISE REGULARLY

STAY HYDRATED

Sometimes it’s hard to make healthy choices in

According to the American College of Sports

Staying hydrated throughout the day is a great habit

college, especially when you are in a hurry and have the ability to make unhealthy choices with your mean plan. Hannah Bowe, junior biology major and

Medicine, regular exercise carries a host of benefits such as improving mood, managing weight, improving sleep quality and protecting against chronic

to get into. Water is in every cell, tissue and organ in our bodies, therefore we need to make sure we have enough for each of these to function properly.

president of the club swim team, makes healthy smoothies when she is rushed for time. “I use spinach, protein powder, ice, water and mixed fruit in my smoothies as a healthy meal replacement or snack.”

diseases. If you are new to exercise, don’t be afraid to start a program that’s right for you.

According to the Center for Disease Control, water helps to regulate body temperature, lubricate joints, protect the spinal cord and other sensitive tissues and eliminate waste. Student Body President Joseph

A study by Kaiser Permanente found that keeping a food diary can double a person’s weight loss and serves as an effective tool for managing weight and making better choices. There are also a variety of apps you can use on your smartphone to keep track of your food intake on the go, such as the following free apps: • Calorie Counter & Diet Tracker • My Diet Diary • MyPlate Calorie Tracker LITE Some good snack choices according to the American Heart Association are: • Veggies such as sliced peppers, celery, cucumbers and carrots • Fruits such as apples, bananas, grapes and strawberries • Cereals, bars and bread made from whole grains • Plain, low-fat or fat-free yogurt • Unsalted nuts and almonds

Some beginner tips are: • Engage in activities that put less stress on joints, such as walking, swimming and cycling • Make sure to warm up and cool down to manage your heart rate • Focus on increasing duration of exercise instead of intensity when first beginning a program • Make sure to stretch after any exercise

Incorvia says the most important aspect of being healthy is staying hydrated throughout the day. “It really makes a difference,” he said. Some easy ways to increase your water intake are: • Carrying a water bottle around with you to your classes • Making it a rule to drink 8 oz. of water for each caffeinated beverage consumed • Adding fresh lemon or lime juice to your water to add flavor

GET ENOUGH SLEEP Do you go back to bed as soon as you get out of class? Getting enough sleep at night is an essential part of staying healthy and maintaining high performance during the day. Sophomore class president, Kyle Porro, relies on getting enough sleep to keep him less stressed and able to function each day. “Sleeping is essentially the human equivalent of charging your phones,” he said. “So if a dead phone is practically useless, how can you expect to function at all without the right amount of sleep?” Sleeping well is essential for academic success. Research published by The American Academy of Sleep Medicine found that college students who slept for six hours or less each night for two weeks performed as poorly in class as students who had just stayed awake for 48 hours. According to the Center for Disease Control, college students should aim for approximately eight hours each night, but anywhere from seven to 10 is acceptable. PHOTO BY CHRISTINA DANIELS-FREEMAN

HEALTH & WELLNESS | 21

Beating seasonal affective disorder:

“SAD”

PHOTO BY ALLEGRA BERGER

A Bridget Creel

PRINT & ONLINE JOURNALISM

22 | HEALTH & WELLNESS

s the temperature drops, the sun hides behind the clouds and days are filled with drizzle, our moods seem to shift with the gloomy season. It happens every year, but people wonder why they start to feel a little off-kilter when the seasons start to change. It’s pretty obvious why this would happen, and yet some think there is something seriously wrong. After all, you will see far more cheery and enthusiastic people when it’s a warm, sunny day than during a blizzard. Luckily, there’s a label for why these feelings come about when days are dreary: it’s called Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). According to the Mayo Clinic, SAD is “A type of depression that’s related to changes in the seasons.” In other words, your body goes into a funk when your days switch from sunbathing to hiding in a coffee shop with a pumpkin spice latte. It’s perfectly normal to experience an increase in appetite and lack of energy during colder months. Other symptoms include irritability, a decrease in activity level and signs of depression. While some symptoms are more severe than others, any of them can have a noticeable effect on everyday activities. All of this is caused by less exposure

“

Your body goes into a funk when your days switch from sunbathing to hiding in a coffee shop with a pumpkin spice latte.” to light. Even if the sun is shining, it’s not always appealing to spend time outside during the bitter winter months. The good news is that once the weather warms up, you will usually start to feel like yourself again. In the meantime, remedies do exist to help alleviate some of the issues caused by SAD. If many of these symptoms apply to you, try getting more natural light from windows, or consider investing in a light therapy device, sometimes known as a “happy light.” With these, the bigger, the better. Just be sure to use it in the morning, as your body may be confused if you are exposed to bright light at night. If symptoms worsen, consider talking to your doctor about other options. Seasonal changes can be difficult, but knowing the facts can help you to prepare and combat the symptoms of Seasonal Affective Disorder.

In The

Shoes of a

Walk-

Jason Waterman joined the Elon men’s soccer team as a walk-on, but eventually earned himself a scholarship. PHOTO BY EMILY STONE

Rajat Agarwal

BROADCAST AND NEW MEDIA

he recruiting process for collegiate athletics is a long and complicated task over which coaches lose many hours of sleep. The process consists of finding the perfect players who possess the crucial athletic abilities as well as outstanding character off the field. This method is repeated until a complete roster is formed. However, for one select group of athletes, the path to playing college sports is much different. Walk-ons, or nonscholarship athletes, generally do not see much playing time during their collegiate careers but contribute many other traits that benefit the team. However, this doesn’t mean

what’s expected of them is any different from what’s expected of a recruited team member. “The first things we look for are, does the student athletes have the academic background to be successful at Elon University,” said men’s soccer head coach Chris Little. “Then we look at character.” Little returned to the field this year at Elon, but this time as head coach. Little was an assistant coach at Elon from 2010 to 2012 and was part of the staff when forward Jason Waterman first came to Elon. Waterman, who walked on to the team, is perhaps the greatest walk-on success story in the history of Elon. During

Jason has and continues to do terrific things for this program. He has tremendous character and works extremely hard to improve.”

“

CHRIS LITTLE ELON MEN’S SOCCER HEAD COACH the Phoenix’s first on-campus NCAA contest, Waterman stole the show with a game-winning penalty kick against Clemson University.

Walk-ons typically do not possess the same skill level as their teammates, but as long as their will to win is evident, the rest will come in time. Most coaches will recognize talent, but all of them will recognize determination and drive. “We feel there is only a certain type of player that will play here,” said Little. “A player that is hungry and a player that wants to develop their talent.” Being a walk-on can be difficult at times, especially when the majority of the season is spent on the bench. But as legendary women’s basketball coach Pat Summitt once said, “You’ve got to keep on, keeping on.”

SPORTS | 23

‘Girls’ l a i n n MIlle r e t t e b can do Diana Stancy POLITICAL SCIENCE & JOURNALISM

I’LL NEVER FORGET

the first time I watched the HBO show “Girls” one night with several friends. To say the least, I was a bit shocked. While I had heard great things about “Girls,” I personally was not impressed. For a little background info, “Girls” follows the lives of Hannah, Marnie, Shoshanna and Jessa, four young, millennial women living in Brooklyn. Lena Dunham, who is most notably remembered from an Obama campaign ad in 2012, produces and writes the show. Dunham is a die-hard feminist, yet the choices her characters make certainly don’t empower women. First of all, both Marnie and Hannah get back together with their ex-boyfriends. Nothing wrong with that, except it’s evident both the girls are desperate, bored, lack confidence and have lost their sense of personal identity and security without these men in their lives. For both women, they each return to their exes after receiving a few hard knocks in life, such as losing a job, going through financial difficulties or developing problems with friends. I would love to take these women to coffee and have an honest pep talk with them. These women appear hopeless, as if all their worth depends on these men. The sad thing is, these women are not portrayed as independent women, but rather women who are fearful of ending up alone. What kind of a message is this sending to young girls today? That you aren’t worth anything if you don’t have a man, even if he is negatively impacting your life? That your identity is solely based on whom you’re currently dating? It’s been said that “Girls” is an accurate representation of modern Millennial

24 OPINIONS

PHOTO BY KATIE KLOCHANY

Contrary to popular belief and depictions in the TV show “Girls,” today’s Millennials do not just sit around having coffee slowly losing all ties to their personal identity. Sophomores Molly Sweeney, Caroline Hoffman and Jennifer Gehrin fight the stereotypes by instead using that coffee’s caffeine to grab life by the horns and positively represent strong, independent women.

women. I sincerely hope that is not the case. Even so, I can see how many of the themes depict an honest reality for many Millennial women. I wish this show empowered young women. I wish this show demonstrated that even when things are tough, it gets better eventually. I wish this show accurately and genuinely presented what a strong and independent woman looks like. And I truly wish, above anything else, that this show exposed that happiness is not dependent upon your relationship status. To the Millennial girls out there, I encourage you to stand up for yourself and take charge of your life. If you don’t, who will?

To the true Millennial girls out there, I encourage you to stand up for yourself and take charge of your life. If you don’t, who will?”

“

sometimes smaller is

BETTER>>>>>>>>> Megan Porter

STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS

Google. ESPN. Edelman. GE Capital. What do these major corporations have in common? They all take on a huge amount of interns every fall, winter, spring and summer. Elon prides itself on being able to supply companies like these with smart and capable interns. Elon’s Student Professional Development Center broadcasts on its website that Elon students have completed internship at places such as: National Geographic, U.S. State Department, Walt Disney World, MTV, NBC, CollegeHumor and more. But during a time when internships are more competitive than ever, many students opt for internships at smaller, low-level companies. Is Elon sending the right message? This past summer junior Grace Ahlering interned at a small communications agency of about 30 employees. While it was quite different from somewhere like Walt Disney World, Grace still felt the company offered plenty of benefits. “There are so many pros that come to mind,” Alhering said. “Because the agency was small, I was the only intern there. Oftentimes that meant multiple people would come to me with many projects, and oftentimes these deadlines would overlap. The environment was small, so I felt comfortable speaking up and sharing my thoughts.” On the other hand, senior Kate Schefer interned with the Madison Square Boys & Girls Club while participating in the Elon in NYC program. The club currently serves more than 5,000 youths at seven sites throughout Brooklyn and the

There was a grand-scale feel in terms of publicity and coordination.”

“

KATE SCHAEFER SENIOR Bronx. As a member of the administration department in downtown Manhattan, Schefer says her duties included, “Putting together a daily newsletter so the rest of the office knew what was going on, reorganizing hard copies to digital files and creating spreadsheets.” Although she was not doing the work she exactly hopes to do after graduation, Schefer was still busy, especially at large events. “There was a huge amount of press. We were responsible for managing interviews and taking photosthere was a grand-scale feel in terms of publicity and coordination.” Schefer said that felt she had lots of opportunities and was trusted. Interns at places such as IBM or the White House may look good for Elon’s image as a university, but at the same time, Elon should not forget to emphasize the importance of internships at small companies. Successful internship stories of all kinds should be celebrated. So when you start searching for internships in the next few months, don’t only look for brand recognition, and don’t be afraid to apply to that little, no-name company that interests you.

PHOTO BY GRACE AHLERING

OPINIONS | 25

PHOTO BY EMILY STONE

The Elon Social Scene:

Right On

oint

Blythe Tokar

STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS

was recently trapped behind a slow-moving tour group walking around campus, and I couldn’t help but listen in on what the potential members of the class of 2019 wanted to know. This is when I heard one of the most telling questions that represents eager high school seniors and their parents:

“Is this a dry campus?”

Ah, the age-old way to ask about partying in front of your parents. I didn’t hear the tour guide’s response, but I can only guess that she gave a very professional answer, saying that bars and “social gatherings” do include drinking for students who are over 21. The rankings of the social life at a university can be one of the main factors that drive students to one college over another. Students want to come to Elon University knowing that once they enroll, more than long nights in the library await. Elon doesn’t disappoint when it comes to the social scene. As sophomore Freddy Suppes said,

26 | OPINIONS

“There is a place for nearly everyone to go throughout the week.” There are Greek events and fraternity parties for the men and women who are affiliated, and for those who are not involved in Greek life there are a number of things to do from house parties to karaoke night at the bar to trivia at The Fat Frogg. There truly is always something for everyone. This is a rarity among colleges, especially when it comes to bigger schools in the area. First-year student Victoria Arczynski recently went to Virginia Tech University and noticed how “It was harder to find parties because they were all pretty exclusive.” Elon’s welcoming atmosphere is one of the things that makes the social scene so desirable. Some ask if this constant stream of parties is detrimental to a school’s academics. The U.S. News and World Report ranked Elon the No. 1 School in the region, and the Princeton Review ranked it the No. 1 best-run school. Having an active social life should only add to Elon’s appeal. The majority of universities want a wellrounded campus, and that includes a solid social scene. As long as academics don’t get lost in the mix, having a good party scene is important for a happy and healthy campus. It seems to me like we have struck the right balance here at Elon.

Hours in Charlotte Tanza Loudenback PRINT & ONLINE JOURNALISM

ust shy of two hours south of Elon University, Charlotte is a growing metropolis of southern comfort with a dash of city slick. From live music shows and outdoor adventure to down-home fare, the “Queen City” is a dynamic place to spend a day.

far and wide so plan accordingly if you’re looking to partake in one of these weekend jaunts. Tip: Get to the center early, especially on Saturdays (open at 9 a.m. daily), for optimal adventure. The All Sport pass ($54) will allow you unlimited access to all park activities for the day.

11 a.m. BRUNCH

5 p.m. RELAX

Brunch is quite often the gateway to a great day. If you’ve got a daring sweet tooth, try Terrace Café’s red velvet waffles, topped with a cream cheese drizzle ($11) they’ll surprise you. Go southern with the shrimp and grits café specialty ($15). And don’t forget the libations. The Ballantyne location offers $2 domestic beers on Saturdays and $5 mimosas on Sundays. But head over to the Southpark spot for some delightful specialty brunch beverages including something called a Russian Nemo ($9). Bottom line: the menu here is unique and within the realm of a college student’s budget.

2 p.m. PLAYing

For the adventurous soul, head over to the U.S. National Whitewater Center and choose from a weatherpermitting schedule of land, water and air activities. The center also hosts a slew of food, drink and music festivals from March to early September drawing nature lovers and partygoers

Recuperate at the U.S. National Whitewater Center’s new Pump House Biergarten. Located on the park’s Belmont Abbey Island, the Pump House offers an impressive 20 beers on tap and a chalkboard menu food truck with bar-style snacks to replenish.

7 p.m. DINE

If you’re a fan of sushi and burgers (or anything in between) The Cowfish is your mecca. This fun fare joint just opened a new location in Raleigh, but their Charlotte, Southpark flagship is the real MVP. Order one of their outrageous burger combinations. Ever heard of a Jalapeño Popper Show Stopper ($13)? And if you’re in Charlotte looking for some down-home BBQ, Mac’s Speed Shop’s selection of ribs and wings, complete with 16 different choices of sides, will thrill you – as if the line-up of choppers outside won’t already. A vast beer menu and the occasional live music really rev up its Southend atmosphere.

9 p.m. SOCIALIZE

End the night with a drink, a laugh or a tune at the NC Music Factory in Charlotte’s Uptown neighborhood. A collection of bars, comedy clubs and live music venues, there’s always something happening. Uptown Amphitheatre is the Music Factory’s resident outdoor music venue that hosts a variety of performers from Grouplove to Ke$ha to Darius Rucker. If you’d prefer a taste of the local music scene, you’ll find The Evening Muse in NoDa (The North Davidson Street neighborhood) a pleasant setting. Cheap drinks and low cover charge come with excellent structural acoustics showcasing up-and-coming musicians at this eclectic bar.

11P.M. SNACK

Known for its around-the-clock fare (that’s right, it never closes), Amelie’s French Bakery serves up Charlotte’s favorite selection of French-inspired pastries from the salted caramel brownie ($2.50) to the perfectly pretty macaroons ($1.50). The NoDa location is worth a visit, if not for its adorably original atmosphere and family-like staff, then for its prices that are so reasonable you’ll probably end up with a sweet to-go bag. They also offer light breakfast, lunch and dinner menus.

PHOTO BY KATIE KLOCHANY

TRAVEL | 27

Bridget Creel PRINT & ONLINE JOURNALISM

o you want to slip away from Elon for a day. Where to? To the east, you have the ocean and to the west, you have the mountains. The beach requires sunscreen, a bathing suit and the hope for warm weather. The mountains require hiking gear, a map and tons of bug spray. Why not try something unique and the best of both? Traveling to Asheville, North Carolina will have you feeling refreshed and adventurous, and is an achievable day trip. For a little background on this eclectic town, Asheville is full of farm-totable restaurants, outdoor activities, live music and historical venues to explore.

9 a.m. Breakfast

Fuel your fire with a satisfying breakfast. Early Girl Eatery has a wide variety of healthy items, and there is something for everyone on the menu. Breakfast is served all day so no rush if you want to sleep in a bit!

10 a.m. Get Moving

Get moving and get going! Whether it’s a hiking path along the Blue Ridge Parkway or a three-and-a-half hour ziplining tour, Asheville is no place to stay inside. If you’re looking for a hike that is a bit more leisurely, the one-and-a-half mile Craggy Gardens may be the spot for you.

1:30 p.m. Lunch

An active day calls for adequate nourishment. Head to the popular White Duck Taco Shop for a quick bite before you take on the rest of the day. This bright spot is full of picnic tables and is great for getting quality food fast.

3 p.m. Walk

Although you may feel like it’s time for a siesta, the area surrounding the taco shop happens to be next to an art studio in the River Arts District. Take time to walk around and appreciate the beauty and talent of local artists.

5 p.m. Tour

Time for some history. The Biltmore Estate will take your breath away, and you can say you visited the largest private residence in the country, as the mansion has 250 rooms. Feel free to take a tour inside or rent bikes to explore the land. If you find yourself wanting to take a break, there are several restaurants and a winery that offers free tours.

7:30 p.m. Dinner

For dinner, head to Tupelo Honey Café. This special spot has real southern comfort food that is fresh and appealing to all diet preferences. If it happens to be a Friday, try to sit outside. You will be graced with the music from the Asheville Drum Circle.

PHOTOS BY CAROLINE HOFFMAN

10 Hours in Asheville

28 | TRAVEL

10 Hours in Raleigh PHOTOS BY INGRID FRAHM

Shayna Nash BUSINESS

lon is just a little more than an hour away from North Carolina’s state capital, Raleigh. Known for its arts, culture, museums, cuisine and nightlife, Raleigh is a great place to burst the “Elon bubble” this fall.

9:30 A.M. Down on the farm

Before heading downtown, enjoy a crisp autumn morning at the Historic Oak View County Park. The park offers hiking, fishing, picnic/ shelter areas, livestock, gardens, agricultural and cultural history, as well as numerous exhibits. Visitors can participate in a self-guided tour and see classic landmarks and both permanent and temporary exhibits, including a cotton gin, a farmhouse and a historic kitchen. The park even boasts goats that visitors are welcome to feed and play with. Visit wakegov.com for more information.

12 p.m. A Historic landmark

After a peaceful morning at the park, head into the heart of downtown Raleigh for lunch. Mecca is not only the oldest family-run restaurant in the area but is also a historical landmark. At this reasonably priced, old-fashioned lunch spot, you’ll feel like you’ve just stepped out of a time machine. Although the decor has barely changed since its establishment 84 years ago, the food is fresh. Offering everything from North Carolina barbecue to spaghetti and meat sauce, this luncheonette has a bite for everyone.

2 P.M. Not your average science lecture

After lunch, just walk a few blocks to the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences. According to the museum’s official webpage, the museum features an “array of permanent

and special exhibits, live programs and educational films that appeal to audiences of all ages and encourages visitors to explore the natural world and their connections to it.” Sophomore Audette Martins took her niece to the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences for her birthday. “She loved all of the activities for kids, and I enjoyed all of the interactive exhibits, and I’m not a science person!” she said. Visit naturalsciences.org for more information.

7 P.M. A trendy burger joint

After a long day of activities, a hearty dinner is a necessity. Located in the middle of the city, Chuck’s has a variety of unique burgers for an enthusiastic appetite. Unique is an understatement at Chuck’s, which servs burgers with exotic names and flavors. Be brave and try the “Last Word” with Sottocenere truffle cheese, shredded dinosaur kale and hazelnut vinaigrette. Go crazy and attempt “The Dirty South,” a smoked pork sandwich, or keep it simple with “Bear in Heaven,” the classic cheeseburger.

11 P.M. Nightlife

Downtown Raleigh is known for its eccentric street festivals. Check out the Nov. 2014 Calendar on godowntownraleigh.com to find a festival fit for your group. For those 21 and over, Raleigh has a great nightlife offering dance clubs, bars and pubs. Logan Rains, a 2014 graduate, recommends The Big Easy. Rains said, “The Big Easy is always a fun time for a party.” He also recommended The Raleigh Times, Capital Club 16, Busy Bee Cafe and The Flying Saucer. Senior Andrew Havens agrees The Big Easy along with The Raleigh Times are can’t-miss bars in downtown Raleigh.

TRAVEL | 29

Study abroad One of the major appeals of attending Elon University includes the wildly successful study abroad program. Students can study across the United States or choose a country like Italy to spend a semester in.

ABROAD FOMO

Lindsey Lanquist

Percent

PRINT & ONLINE JOURNALISM

Like many people our age, I suffer from a little thing called FOMO (otherwise known as the “Fear of Missing Out”). This fear is what drives me to sacrifice sleep to spend time with friends, binge-watch every show someone recommends to me on Netflix and attempt to check out handfuls of books every time I go the library — I want to experience it all. Perhaps it was this instinct that drove me to do Semester at Sea in the first place. 18 cities, 16 countries, 108 days. As a FOMO sufferer, it was an opportunity for growth and experience I simply couldn’t pass up. But the thing about FOMO is: you never have enough time to do everything you want to do. In the first two months of the voyage, I visited 11 countries. And when it came time to leave several of those countries, I had a hard time saying goodbye. Because Semester at Sea seeks to accomplish so much in the span of a semester, students only have a few days to spend in each port. In some places, this few days was enough. I felt like I saw and experienced everything I’d hoped to. But in many of these places, FOMO kicked in, and I yearned for just a day or two more to do that one thing I didn’t get the chance to. I left Russia without attending the ballet. I missed out on pierogies (a traditional dish) in Poland. I made the decision to stay with the ship and not to travel to Krakow or Auschwitz in Poland or to Berlin in Germany, and I missed the cultural experiences that would have accompanied those trips. I spent most of my time in France at Disneyland Paris, which was only a slightly regrettable choice, because I had a great

30 | TRAVEL

What’s important isn’t the amount of things you missed out on; it’s the amount of things you were able to do.”

“

time, but I also sacrificed an opportunity to see more of the country. Not to mention, I left France without tasting French bread. Though I’m sure you’ve figured this out by now, it can be hard attempting to immerse yourself in a country in only a few days. Each time I step into a new place, I remind myself: “You may never come back here again.” Sure, there are a couple places I loved and will hopefully return to one day. But the truth is, I may never get to experience ballet in Russia or taste pierogies in Poland, simply because I may never have the opportunity to return to those countries. And that’s the beauty of Semester at Sea, and of FOMO in general. No, you can’t experience everything you want to experience, because there just isn’t enough time. You’re bound to miss out on something. But what’s important isn’t the amount of things you’ve missed out on; it’s the amount of things you were able to do. Whether you’re reading one of the five books you checked out at the library or accomplishing only a few of the countless cultural experiences you’d hoped to have in a new country, you’re still experiencing something. You’re still learning something new and broadening your horizons in some way. And that’s what counts.

students study abroad at least once before

Graduation

abroad and appreciative Lauren Phillips ENGLISH

I’ve been in Florence, Italy for a little more than a month, and I already know that studying abroad is as great as everyone says it is. Anyone who has studied abroad— whether it’s for a semester, a year or a Winter Term— will agree: studying abroad is the experience of a lifetime. A few weeks ago, I went to Amsterdam for the weekend. The weekend before that, I saw “Swan Lake” at the Vienna State Opera House. I’m spending Thanksgiving in Venice. In September, I went horseback riding through Tuscany. The list of amazing adventures I’ve had is endless, and the semester isn’t even over.

There’s a pretty good chance I will never have an opportunity like this again. I have classes and accompanying homework and projects, but for the most part I have no responsibility. I don’t have to go to weekly meetings for the organizations I’m involved in at Elon University. I don’t have weekend obligations to attend charity events or visit family. I don’t even have to worry about filling my car’s gas tank. So there’s nothing stopping me from hopping on a train and spending Friday afternoon in Sicily or going to Paris for the weekend, and that’s kind of amazing. It’s easy to forget that some people— my grandparents, for example— have never had

an opportunity like this. It’s easy to forget that this is special and unique, and that most people go their entire lives without leaving their native countries. It’s easy to be annoyed by throngs of tourists, by not understanding the language or by not having Chinese takeout. But it’s so important to be thankful that I get to be here. I miss things like Netflix, my car and cellphone service. I miss Qdoba and the Burlington Co-op. I miss going to the gym. But I also walk past Il Duomo every day on my way to class. I can walk down the street and get fresh, homemade pasta. I can go to Amsterdam for the weekend. I know everyone

I know everyone says this, but Im finally taking it to heart - Be appreciative for what you have.”

“

says this, but I’m finally taking it to heart— Be appreciative for what you have. Because, even if tourists are stepping on my toes and I have to walk a mile to get to class, I’m living in Italy. I’m thankful for that.

It’s easy to forget that some people have never had an opportunity like this. It’s easy to forget that this is special and unique, and that most people go their entire lives without leaving their native countries.”

“

PHOTOS SUBMITTED BY ELIZABETH SCOTT AND BRIANNA PEPPERMAN

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