The Edge, Edition 2

going global

Letter from the editor

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t’s odd to think that this year has come and gone so quickly, especially for those of you graduating in just a matter of weeks.

It’s impossible to realize now what is ahead of you in the near future, but I know you will accomplish much and make Elon proud. For four seniors profiled in this edition of The Edge, their dreams span past the confines of the United States — their jobs will bring them to places such as Egypt, Japan, Italy and Moldova.

But for some of us, we will return to Elon next year after a summer full of adventures — whether it’s through work, play or an internship. I hope this edition of The Edge helps you make the most of your summer, whether through how to dress for your internship or for a day on the beach. Make this summer count by keeping up with national and international issues and watching the 2012 Summer Olympics in London.

I hope you find this a break to the daily stresses during exams — just take a moment to relax every once in a while. And to all the seniors, good luck after graduation. We are all looking forward to hearing about your amazing adventures and successes!

Kate Riley | Editor of The Edge

table of contents Page 5 Page 6

Page 8

Page 10 Page 26

“Hunger Games” tourism

Album and movie reviews

Life lessons from Disney

Best places to live after graduation

Summer 2012 Olympics

Page 14 Page 18 Page 20 Page 22 Page 28 Cover: Elon seniors Summer staples get international jobs Features

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Table of Contents

How to look your best for your internship

Coast to coast drama in sports

Opinion: Bill O’Reilly

THE EDGE

Editor of The Edge Kate Riley

Design

Kristen Case Madison Margeson Kyra Gemberling

Features Editor Kyra Gemberling

Entertainment&Travel Editor Stephanie Petrich

Fashion/Health&Wellness Editor Addie Haney

Opinions Editor Ian Luther

Sports Editor Matt Dowdle

Photo Editor Merissa Blitz

Contributing Writers Mary Kate Brogan Kassondra Cloos Matt Dowdle Ashley Fahey Kyra Gemberling Rebecca Iannucci Katie Kolls Todd Leonard Chelsea Lindsay Alessandra Losa Tanza Loudenback Ian Luther Kyle Maher Julia Miller Caitlin O’Donnell Katie O’Han Megan Porter Kate Riley Dan Quackenbush Rebecca Wickel Christine Williams Andrew Wilson

Photographers

The Edge is Elon University’s only general-interest magazine, published quarterly by The Pendulum student news organization.

Students of all years and majors are encouraged to contribute.

Merissa Blitz Stephanie Butzer Claire Esparros Eleanore Kohorn Julia Miller Stephanie Petrich Tracy Raetz

Editor-in-Chief of The Pendulum Caitlin O’Donnell

Managing Editor of The Pendulum Natalie Allison

View more content at elonpendulum.com/edge

Features Staff list

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Photos by Stephanie Petrich

Exploring Asheville A venture out west

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sheville is a vibrant town that hosts a variety of things to do and places to see when visiting. You can hike the Big Fork Ridge Trail, visit the Black Mountain College Museum and Arts Center and see a concert at the Grey Eagle Tavern and Music Hall all in the same day.

“Asheville has a really artsy vibe,” said junior Kaitlin Briley. “And on the outskirts of Asheville, there are cool consignment and antique stores.”

The arts are certainly an important part of the culture in Asheville. Plenty of arts districts are scattered about the town, promoting artists’ work that hopefully makes its way to museums, such as the Asheville Art Museum and beyond. Artist exhibitions and various live performances occur frequently in

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Asheville, and you can check out everything going on at livewireasheville.com.

For lovers of the outdoors, Asheville has a lot in store, as there are many parks and trails to visit. One of the many parks in the area is Chimney Rock State Park.

“The hiking trails there Biltmore Estate (top) and the Biltmore’s Green House were great, and they even had some rock climbing lesGarage give the town character and sons there,” said sophomore Chandler provide it with a vibrant nightlife.

Machemehl. “The view at the top of If you and your friends ever have the the mountain after hiking was amazing, urge to get out of Elon for a weekend, too.” think about heading to Asheville. There There are several pubs, clubs and fun is always something going on, and there spots that bolster Asheville’s nightlife, are a lot of fun experiences waiting to and make it something special. Popube had. Check out exploreasheville.com lar locations such as the Biltmore Park for more information.

Town Square, The Orange Peel and The

Todd Leonard

Media Arts & Entertainment - Cinema

Experiencing “The Hunger Games” in real life

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he Hunger Games” is one of the most successful book and film franchises of the decade, entertaining critics and fans alike in addition to breaking several box-office records. The fantasy sci-fi story of Katniss and Peeta’s struggle to survive in a death match set up by their totalitarian government has captured the eyes and hearts of millions.

Given the fantastic nature of the plot, one could assume the whole film was shot in front of a green screen. But true fans know the majority of the movie was filmed in North Carolina, and with a bit of ingenuity, it’s easy to retrace the footsteps of “The Hunger Games’” silverscreen stars.

One of the more interesting sites that “The Hunger Games” used was the city of Concord.

The stars spent their working hours filming at various locations around the town, then relaxed during their off-time doing yoga or walking their dogs in the community. Set designers of the film even raided local antique shops, spending tens of thousands of dollars for pieces that would sell the look of the film.

Posh town life soon gave way to the grubby underbrush of Asheville. Picked for its assortment of tall pines, this area was used to shoot the scenes set in District 12 and the battle arena. Fake trees were planted among their forest counterparts, loaded with explosives, and blown up during a few intense scenes.

Shooting also took place at the Henry River Mill Village, an abandoned mine town that was used as the desolate setting of

District 12. Real train tracks and Games” for a day or weekend. broken-down buildings were “The Hunger Games” fan tour incorporated into the design of also offers trips to shooting the sets, giving a more authentic locations, food from the books feel to the poverty of Katniss’ and archery and other survival community. training. You can showcase your Of course, for the ultimate skills by competing in a Gamesfan, a description isn’t enough. esque competition. You can’t Moviegoers who want to see get any closer to the action than the set locations up close and that! personal have a variety of ways So, whether you’re a to get their hands on some die-hard fan or just breezing “Hunger Games” action. through these towns on a long North Carolina’s Division road trip, take a minute and of Tourism has set up a selfexplore the amazing sights and guided tour that hits many sounds of the locations that locations from the film, including made “The Hunger Games” the a warehouse where the main phenomenon it is today. And characters were interviewed as keep your eyes peeled — with part of their on-screen roles. shooting about to begin for the If that doesn’t sate your thirst movie’s sequel, you may spot for adventure, try an overnight a mockingjay among the trees, stay and zip-line tour through although those odds aren’t the movie’s famous woods. entirely in your favor.

Check out the thrills, spills FeaturesChelsea Lindsay and waterfalls of “The Hunger Theatre Studies

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e c a l P t s e B e h t s e i t i C Are Big nt College Grads? for Rece Tanza Loudenback Print & Online Journalism

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raduation is nearing once again and seniors must find jobs and a new place to call home. The choices graduates make about where to live fresh out of Elon University shape their careers — and lives — as they are tossed into corporate America. The once–promising career is now riding on the continually changing workforce and decreasing number of jobs, thanks to modern technology and difficult economic times.

While the numbers are gradually improving, the reality of today’s job market frightens many graduates. The aftermath of mild responsibility, partying and living essentially rent-free in college has boomeranged many students back to the comfort of their hometowns as moving back into parents’ houses has become a trend during the last few years.

According to a recent survey by The Atlantic, nearly 85 percent of grads are head-

ing home straight out of college. Elon senior Rachael Berman plans to move back to her hometown of Baltimore after graduation in preparation for her new job in August. Moving back home is more and more common, and it can act as the perfect springboard for grads to find their places in the working world.

But some grads refuse to return to the nest. Instead, they look for a new place to inhabit that has the perfect combination of job opportunities, potential mates, nightlife and comfort. Forbes recently ranked Boston and Baltimore as its top places to live after graduation. These cities seem to offer a recipe for success.

Washington, D.C., which was also at the top of the Forbes list, continues to be a melting pot for recent graduates — especially Elon grads. Washington, D.C., offers a solid job market that ranges from steady government jobs — which tend to be recession– proof — to Fortune 500 company positions

Boston, Mass.

, D.C.

ngton Washi

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Baltimore, Md.

to creative communication careers. Sara Kaplan, Class of 2011, moved to Washington, D.C. shortly after graduation.

“It’s the perfect combination of the North and South,” Berman said. “I feel like the experience and exposure I am getting in D.C. is exactly what I need to start my career [in politics].”

Locally, the Raleigh-Durham area is also climbing to the top of the rankings for best cities. This area offers low unemployment rates and a comforting small-town feel.

“I love this city — it’s vibrant, beautiful and fun,” said Mary Catherine Cornick, Class of 2011.

Cornick moved back to her hometown of Raleigh to work at a software company.

Ultimately, the success of graduates is based on how motivated and determined they are. And that can start with finding the right city to set up camp, as the dynamic of the real world is sure to challenge the ease of college life. The adventures to finding career stability, and a place to call home, starts now.

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REVIEWS “Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded” by Nicki Minaj ALBUM REVIEW

Release Date: Apr. 3, 2012 If you like: Kanye West, Rihanna Notable songs: Starships, Pound the Alarm, Marilyn Monroe Nicki Minaj has been a star for quite some time, getting “50k for a verse, no album out” in Nov. 2010. With the release of her second album, “Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded,” Minaj is reeling in even more money and with (mostly) good reason. The album seems to be divided into three parts: part one — Nicki being scary with her hard core rapping as Roman. If you liked her Roman personality on the first album, you’ll like this part, otherwise, skip it. The rest of the album is a little more bearable. Part two — Nicki being lively. This section starts with “Right by my Side,” a song that is much more soulful and far less scary than all her previous material on the album. She has several songs with good dance beats and some dubstep, including “Starships” and “Pound the Alarm,” both of which are strong songs for Minaj. Part three — Nicki being sappy. This starts with “Marilyn Monroe,” which is also strong and a little more personal for Minaj, but the album gets a little sappier from there. Overall, the more solid tracks on Minaj’s album balance out the bizarre and annoying qualities of part one and the overly sentimental and overdone nature of part three.

Mary Kate Brogan

Journalism & Computer Science

UPCOMING MOVIE BLOCKBUSTER

“The Five-Year Engagement” “The Five-Year Engagement” is an R-rated comedy directed by “Forgetting Sarah Marshall’s” Nicholas Stroller and produced by the “40 Year Old Virgin’s” Judd Apatow and “Get Him to the Greek’s” Rodney Rotham. The movie stars Jason Segal and Emily Blunt. The film follows an engaged couple and their ups and downs as they try to make their wedding a reality.

In theaters April 27.

Megan Porter

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Entertainment

Strategic Communications

UPCOMING MOVIE BLOCKBUSTER

“The Avengers” Marvel’s “The Avengers” is what director Joss Whedon calls an “old fashioned” and “bigger than life” summer movie. An international peacekeeping agency travels the globe to recruit super humans to save the world from disaster. The classic science fiction team of superheroes includes stars such as Samuel L. Jackson, Scarlett Johansson and Robert Downey Jr. In theaters May 4.

Megan Porter

Strategic Communications

“Some Nights” by Fun. ALBUM REVIEW

Release Date: Feb. 21, 2012 If you like: Mika, Queen, Glee Notable songs: We Are Young (feat. Janelle Monae), Some Nights, Carry On, Out on the Town (bonus track) I doubt there is a person on Elon’s campus that hasn’t heard “We Are Young” in some capacity. But if you haven’t, both “We Are Young” and the album built around it are surprisingly profound and obviously cheery — after all, the band’s name is Fun. The band’s sophomore album, “Some Nights,” may be a little too obnoxiously pop-y at points and it has its lulls, but most of the songs are incredibly catchy with meaningful and occasionally pretty personal lyrics. The album crosses genres between pop, alternative and rock, but it pretty consistently sounds like Glee, except with original lyrics and a little more autotuning.

One lyric from “Carry On” is particularly representative of Fun: “No one’s ever gonna stop us now.” No one’s stopping them in their rise to glory. Check out the album, and be on the lookout: I would definitely expect some more fun from Fun.

Mary Kate Brogan Journalism & Computer Science

O V E R R AT E D

MPPA determines our movie habits more than it should

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hen I saw “Titanic” for the first time, my mom covered my eyes.

Sex scenes were not OK in my household until I was in junior high, which is fair. Violence was equally frowned upon, and I distinctly remember putting a pillow in front of my face when my family watched “Gremlins” one night.

Naturally, nobody was fond of curse words. But an official rating isn’t what determined what I did and did not see. It was the sex, violence and language itself – and the value they offered—that kept me from watching “Borat” until I was 19.

My parents were strict, I’ll admit. But if I were a child when “Bully” came to theaters, they would have made sure I saw it, despite its rating.

The MPAA rates movies in a backward, ineffective and crippling ways. It is designed to benefit the business interests of

the big six Hollywood studios, and hardly serves to educate the general public. There are several disparities in ratings, especially between male and female sexuality, homosexuality and heterosexuality and violence and sex. Ever watched the documentary “This Film is Not Yet Rated?” Take a peek.

So when the MPAA slapped an R on “Bully,” the first film to ever offer insight into the lives of bullied children, who was it protecting and why? I’m a skeptic when it comes to this organization.

“The King’s Speech” got an R, alongside “Saw 3D.” Notice the culture value inconsistency.

If ratings can be so ambiguous, they cannot dictate what we deem appropriate, especially not now. Bullying is an issue that cannot be ignored by children, as the MPAA is indirectly suggesting. More than 13 million American kids will be bullied this year, making it the most common form of violence for young people. If

current forms of intervention and education aren’t working, then “Bully” is a great way to bring the message home. Witnessing what goes into the suffering of bullying victims could instill change in current offenders. Is that something we’re willing to give up because of an R rating?

I’m not a parent, so I can’t speak about the desire to keep my children from hearing foul language. It is every mother or father’s right to decide what their child is exposed to. Fine. But as a fact of life, they’ll hear those expletives anyway — at school on TV or in plenty of others films that scraped by without an R rating.

To hear these cruel and damaging words associated with the act of bullying and being bullied could be a force of change.

We cannot take stock in MPAA ratings. They cannot determine the future of American children or the end of bullying.

Rebecca Wickel Print & Online Journalism

Entertainment Opinion

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4 Life Lessons We Learned from

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Walt Disney

Rebecca Iannucci Print & Online Journalism

ere’s a social experiment. Next time you’re in your dorm with suitemates, or taking a road trip with friends, grab your iPod and play “I’ll Make a Man Out of You.” As Donny Osmond’s silky-smooth voice filters through the speakers, take note of how many people can recite the song without missing a single lyric (some may even add animated gestures while they sing). As long as you’re singing with fellow college students, I’m willing to bet at least half of your group will complete the song seamlessly.

Disney movies like “Mulan,” which graced us with the song in question, have been a cornerstone of our lives since we were old enough to walk. But it isn’t until our college years that we have been able to appreciate the many life lessons those movies taught us. Here are four important messages brought to us courtesy of Walt Disney, which are more applicable now than ever.

Friendship is everything

Stay childish

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s children, we may have overlooked such important sidekicks as Timon and Pumbaa, Sebastian or Abu. At the time, they seemed to be there for not much more than comic relief. But regardless of the various animal forms in which they appear, these sidekicks are more than just funny companions. They are the wise ones, the ones with sound advice, the ones who are tough on you when you need it most.

Sure, they might be able to cheer you up when you’re down. But the most durable friendships are formed during life crises, and the ones who stick by your side are the ones you can count on most. They might even give you cool life philosophies. I still live by “hakuna matata,” and I know some of you do, too.

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s we moved through the school system and packed up our things for college, so did Andy and his beloved group of childhood toys. I know I’m not the only one who had to hold back full-on sobs in the theater during “Toy Story 3,” but not because my childhood was coming to a proverbial end. Rather, I understood the true importance of being a kid. Never hesitate to watch a few reruns of “Full House” or look up tamagotchis on eBay instead of studying. It’s those moments that keep us young at heart, and prevent us from cracking under the pressure of the real world.

Don’t be afraid to try new things

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ave you ever heard the wolf cry to the blue-corned moon? Or asked the grinning bobcat why he grinned? One of Pocahontas’ best messages was being unafraid to try new things. Being at college is what you make of it. Sure, it might take some time for you to break out of your comfort zone. But once you do, make sure you never take any opportunities for granted. Look around and realize where you are. You can study anything you want, travel to different continents and meet people from around the globe. Don’t just dream about doing it. Get out there and live the dream.

Ignore the pessimists

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f we’re going by life lessons that “Mulan” taught us, the most obvious lesson is that women are stronger than men (which, in my biased opinion, I must say is a wonderful message). But the real overarching theme is you must tune out the naysayers. Mulan fought all kinds of uphill battles — quite literally, in some cases — but ended up bringing glory to her country because she didn’t listen to those determined to bring her down. Even if your major is still undecided, or you’re not doing so well in a class, it’s OK. There will be circumstances every day that try to keep you down. All you need to do is focus on the goal ahead, and enjoy the looks on everyone’s faces when you achieve it.

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Features Photo Illustration by Stephanie Butzer and Merissa Blitz

Photo Illustration by Merissa Blitz

Elon’s Own

Traumarama Spread inspired by Seventeen magazine’s Traumarama

To see more embarrassing stories, go online to elonpendulum.com/edge

Small Expectations

My friends and I were going to West End for a night of tomfoolery last spring and consumed a few substances of questionable legality, which lead to me making some interesting decisions.

I’m not tall, but I seemed to have attracted the attentions of a young man who was even shorter than I (I’m talking chest level), whom I started dancing with. When my friends looked over, they couldn’t see my short new friend standing in front of me and thought they were witnessing me dancing with myself – an odd sight indeed. The poor boy has forever since been referred to as “The Midget,” and my friends never miss an opportunity to relive this moment.

Everyone has a bad day, or sometimes just a really bad moment. These anonymous, embarrassing stories are enough make even the most dignified college student’s skin crawl.

To submit a story for the next edition of The Edge, email kgemberling@elon.edu

Peep Show

I’ve been dating my boyfriend for a few years now, but I was really nervous when I first met his parents. I spent a long time getting ready, and went to the bakery to buy what my guy said was his dad’s favorite dessert. It all went great, and after dinner I brought the pie over from the kitchen to the dining room table, and cut his father a piece while I stood next to him. I put it on his plate, thinking I had just officially won him over, and I realized my top had come unbuttoned...really unbuttoned. I was mortified!

I’ve never talked to him about it, but whenever I see my boyfriend’s dad, I have flashbacks to that time I basically flashed him within an hour of meeting him.

Sweaty and Ready

My roommate last year had an unfortunate problem - she tends to wet the bed when she drinks. One weekend we were out having fun at a party, and I called a guy friend to come pick us up, so we decided to sleep over at his house. After giving my roommate and I his bed while he slept on the couch, I woke up first the next morning - and discovered that my roomie had peed herself all over his bed! Our guy friend eventually saw and asked me what happened, so I lied for my roommate and said that she just “sweats a lot” when she drinks too much. Fortunately he believed me, and to this day he still thinks that my roomie “sweat” his bed.

One morning, after a particularly bad hookup, I was walkof-shaming it back to my dorm in a very short dress I’d worn the night before with a pair of the guy’s basketball shorts underneath and my high heels in my hand. Not only did I look like a total hot mess, but then I realized it was parents’ weekend. Even though it was only 9 a.m., I walked past at least five families who were visiting campus. Glad I could show them what their kids are really doing at college.

Walk of Shame Fame

Features

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an Mason

Photos by Ry

Balancing & art

e c n scie

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Graduate student finds passion in photography

or third year doctor of physical therapy student Ryan Mason, photography is a way to not only make some extra money, but to do something completely outside of the science world, just for himself.

“What started off as something that was just kind of fun on the side became almost a necessity for me to have a break from (school),” Mason said. “It basically got to the point where I was like ‘No, I need this.

I need this break. I need something that’s non-scientific where I have complete control and can do whatever I want and there aren’t all of these regulations.”

Regulation-free, Mason has been taking pictures with his Pentax camera and equipment of any kind of subject imaginable: from portraits to Spanish landscapes to pictures around Elon University. He cites his dad, who is a firefighter, as his initial inspiration to getting into photography.

“My dad used to photograph all of the fires that he used to go to, so I got my first influence from him,” he said. “And it happened to really perfectly coincide with a study abroad I was doing as an undergrad to Spain. Everything over there can be pho-

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tographed and everything is so picturesque.

I think that was probably the biggest leap, where I went from casually shooting to ‘I must photograph everything I can see.’”

While he was abroad, Mason shot all over Europe and even ventured into northern Africa, specifically Morocco, a trip he was initially reluctant to take. But what started out as a last-minute, halfhearted decision to go to Morocco ended up being one of his best life experiences.

“I will say that that was probably the single most exciting part, especially because I was so against going, and I ended up having the time of my life,” Mason said. “A lot of people go on these experiences and maybe they bring a camera, maybe they don’t, but I’m just so glad I had mine with me because it’s just so cool to relive those memories one shot at a time.”

Once Mason returned back to UNC Asheville, his undergraduate school, he was invited by an adviser to display his photographs from abroad in an exhibition hall.

“It was so cool for me to have this passion of mine, but also being able to share that with everyone else,” he said. “Everybody had a different favorite photograph and everybody wanted to know the story.

My favorite thing was telling people the

stories behind the photographs.”

An important element to Mason’s photography is the type of equipment he uses.

He favors Pentax cameras and lenses, an unusual variant on the more popular Canon and Nikon brands, because Pentax provides something other brands cannot, he said.

“I’m actually kind of proud of using (the Pentax) system because no one else does,” he said. “With Pentax cameras, (shake reduction is) built into the camera body whereas with the Nikon and Canon ones, it’s built into the lenses, so I get the shake reduction benefit with these 30-year-old tanks.”

Even though Mason doesn’t plan on pursuing photography as a full-time career following graduation, he hopes to continue what he is currently doing – shooting portraits in his free time while earning an additional income to his primary job, which he said is too important to him not to do.

“Being able to help people on a regular basis doing physical therapy is also a pretty big plus. I think even though (photography is) my passion, there’s just something about going home at the end of each day and having improved at least one person’s life that day.”

Ashley Fahey

Print & Online Journalism Major

s e i n n u b d n a s t a c ,

Dogs

oh my!

Animal lovers enjoy perks of having pets off-campus Kyra Gemberling Print & Online Journalism Major

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t’s common knowledge that animal lovers at Elon are typically disappointed to know that on-campus housing only allows the keeping of fish as

pets.

But for some students, off-campus housing is a prime opportunity to enjoy all the comfort that a home offers, including the chance to have various types of pets.

“Having an animal is great because you know there’s always something there that depends on you and will love you unconditionally,” said sophomore Kristi Oristian, who lives off-campus with her rabbit, Lumpy (both pictured above).

Oristian received Lumpy as a present for her 18th birthday before she came to college. Her mother took care of the rabbit for her during her freshman year, but Oristian decided to bring her pet to live with her as soon as she got her own living space.

Though she said taking care of Lumpy on top of being in school can be hard work, Oristian sees it as a small price to pay. “[Doing the work] is natural for me because I’ve grown up with animals, so it feels like a joy rather than a responsibility,” she said.

“But you have to factor in that if I’m having a busy night, I still have to go to the store and get her food.

I have to make sure she’s

Photo by Claire Esparros

a priority.”

Students with pets tend to cite responsibility as the number one factor in determining whether or not to get an animal. Junior Lindsay Richards brought her 13-year-old yellow Labrador retriever, Casey, to live with her at school and has to check up on her periodically throughout the day to let her outside, feed her and give her medicine.

“It’s like having a part time job because having a pet makes you manage your time,” Richards said.

“You’re not just keeping yourself alive, you’re keeping another living being alive.

It teaches you to be a little more selfless and that you can’t just function on your own clock.”

Richards’ roommate, junior Roger Gant, also has a pet – a cat named Diesel, who he jokingly calls Ninja because of his black coat.

“I love having a cat because I like having something cuddly to pet,” Gant said. “He’ll even come and sit with me while I do homework.”

Diesel originally belonged to one of Gant’s former roommates from a different living situation who never took care of the cat, Gant said, which is why he believes knowing the responsibility associated with having a pet is extremely important.

“My roommate didn’t want to take responsibility

for this animal, and luckily I was there to (adopt) him,” Gant said. “I feel like the whole stray cat population at Elon is due to people not being able to take care of their pets.”

But Oristian said that as long as students understand what they’re getting themselves into, the right person having a pet can be a really positive experience.

“It’s a great stress relief,” she said.

“A pet won’t judge you and will always listen, and that’s something a lot of college students struggle with because they don’t always have an outlet for talking to someone.”

Plus, animal owners often build some of their fondest memories through fun times they’ve experienced with their pet, and Richards said she has plenty of memories with Casey.

“As a puppy, Casey used to love jumping up on our trampoline,” she said. “She would sit in the middle and she would bounce around like a kid as (my siblings and I) jumped around. She would get so excited.”

And for Richards, the loyal bond between her and Casey is the thing she treasures most of all.

“I once heard that the power of a dog’s jaw could break all the bones in your hand, but they choose not to do that,” she said. “They’re more powerful than us but they’re loyal friends, and I think that’s special.”

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Graduating the ‘Elon Bubble’ 4 seniors plan to go global, experience new culture after commencement

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igorous application processes. Waiting around for job offers. Making new living arrangements.

Ask any graduating senior at Elon and they will say they’ve dealt with all this and more when making plans for what they’re going to do after leaving college this May. But for four of these seniors, their postgraduation to-do list includes something substantially larger and even a bit frightening – preparing to move to another country all together.

“Right now, globalization is everywhere, so it’s good to find a job offer abroad,” said senior Hiroshi Wada, who will be working for Pfizer, a pharmaceutical

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company in Japan, after he graduates.

Not only are the economic aspects beneficial, but working internationally often entails doing something worthwhile to achieve the coveted status of “global citizen,” a term Elon promotes regularly through on-campus programs and lectures.

“My goal is to find something that I can be passionate about and bring it back over here (to the United States) in future endeavors,” said senior Gayla Carr, who will be moving to Italy to teach English to children.

And though they may have a general goal in mind for moving to a different country, these students can all agree on one thing: They have no idea what to expect.

Kyra Gemberling

Print & Online Journalism Major

Life decisions on a whim Brett Brawerman: Peace Corps in Moldova As the creator of his own independent major, sports and health business, senior Brett Brawerman always thought he would be working in sports marketing after he graduated.

When he heard that a friend of his had applied for the Peace Corps, Brawerman didn’t think much of it. But after doing some research, he found that the program suited him perfectly, and he was accepted into the Peace Corps after a difficult ninemonth application process.

“I found that (post-graduation) would probably be the perfect time to get away and do something completely different from normal,” he said.

Brawerman will be stationed in Moldova, an Eastern European state located between Ukraine and Romania, as a volunteer with the Youth & Community Development sector. He leaves on June 6, only two weeks after he graduates college.

“I’m anxious and scared because it’s so different,” he said. “I don’t know if I’ll have running water, and I definitely know I won’t have a cell phone, which stinks because I love my cell phone.”

Brawerman’s specific role will be a health promotion and community specialist, which means he’ll be teaching health classes in Romania, giving presentations to community clinics and promoting all-round healthier decisions.

But his job will probably include much more.

“The best thing about the Peace Corps is I’ll most likely be doing a little bit of everything, but I really don’t know exactly what I’ll be doing,” he said.

Gayla Carr: LanguageWorks in Italy Gayla Carr had a similar luck-of-the-draw experience with her job decision. Her teaching position in Italy was the result of applying on a whim to LanguageWorks, Inc., an international company that aims to promote global

communication through education.

She’d also been offered a position with Teach Charlotte in her home state of North Carolina at the time she was hired by LanguageWorks, so Carr was faced with a choice.

“I had to make a huge decision between whether I wanted to stay in North Carolina or move to a whole new country,” Carr said. “It was a really big step. But the people I talked to (at LanguageWorks) were so nice and reassuring. They send me helpful information nonstop, so they definitely made the process a lot easier.”

Like Brawerman, Carr will move abroad immediately after graduation so she can start classes to become certified to teach English anywhere in the world. And though she knows what her position entails, Carr has never been to another country before, so she’s open to new experiences.

“I chose to go to Italy because I thought it would be less of a culture shock than going to Asia or Latin America,” she said.

“I don’t know what kind of opportunities I’ll have until I get there, which is exciting and kind of scary.”

Achievement through concrete plans Cedric Pulliam: Various programs in Europe and Africa While Brawerman and Carr’s decisions were partially based on chance, senior Cedric Pulliam’s post-graduation plans were strategically planned, as Pulliam will be traveling around the world nonstop for a year and a half.

Pulliam has not only been offered a summer internship to teach English to students in Barcelona, Spain, he’s also received a full fellowship to attend a one-year graduate school program in Budapest, Hungary to study international relations and European studies.

But his plans don’t stop there. After he graduates the program in June 2013, he’ll be pursuing a research grant funded through the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. This means Pulliam will be conducting research in nations all over Europe and Africa, including Egypt, Tanzania, Ethiopia and

more.

“It’s going to be an empowering experience for me,” he said. “I want to focus on the empowerment of refugees because I believe their rights are not being upheld. I want to dispel my scholarship so that justice can be served, and that’s why I’m pursuing these great opportunities.”

Still, deciding on these opportunities didn’t come easily to Pulliam, who got into 16 of 17 graduate schools he applied to as well as four of six fellowship programs.

He said he couldn’t have made such tough decisions without the help of his family, friends and mentors at Elon, and he wants to be sure to give back everything he’s learned from them during his travels.

“I’m grateful that I’ve been bestowed with selfless knowledge through these benefactors,” he said. “All of the knowledge, the networks, the contacts – I want to share the wealth of knowledge to others. I want to be there to help them do what I did and do better.”

Hiroshi Wada: Pfizer in Japan Hiroshi Wada also has unique opportunities coming up for him, especially since he’ll be graduating from two universities at once before beginning his work at Pfizer.

Originally from Japan, Wada enrolled at Kansai Gaidai University in 2008 as a foreign language major and finished the four-year program in two years. As a result, he was able to study abroad at Elon as a marketing major for two years and finish up his four years in college with enough credits for both programs, so he’ll be receiving a degree from each university.

Additionally, Wada’s experience in the United States will come in handy for working at Pfizer, since not many people in Japan can speak English, he said. He also said that spending time in other countries in general can be really helpful, particularly for Elon students.

“International experiences are huge, especially since Elon doesn’t have that much diversity,” he said. “I worked for the

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15

Chinese government this past summer, and when I told Pfizer about that, I was automatically hired. Just one experience can help you significantly.”

In the meantime, Wada is excited to use the business skills he’s learned at Elon to work in sales and negotiations at Pfizer.

He’ll not only be doing work related to his major, but he’ll also be working with medical professionals in his ideal type of work atmosphere.

“You actually see people, since sales involves meeting people every day,” Wada said. “I wanted to do something professional and more upscale, and Pfizer is allowing me to do that.”

Preparing for a new experience Though these seniors are more than excited to be living abroad, that doesn’t mean they’re completely comfortable with the idea yet, especially due to inevitable language barriers.

“I’ll be completely lost at first because of the language barrier (in Moldova),” Brawerman said. “But my favorite thing about myself is that I just can’t feel awkwardness, so I won’t be afraid to talk to

Where do you

see yourself in

10 years?

people, even though I may not speak their language.”

Not only is language a potential issue, but also the fact that most of the students are moving to countries they’ve never visited before. Luckily for Pulliam, he’s been to Spain and knows what to expect if he decides to accept the internship in Barcelona. But going to graduate school in Hungary will be a whole new experience.

“I’ve never been to Budapest, but I know it will be cold, so I’ll definitely be purchasing a new winter coat,” Pulliam said. “I’m going to take advantage of everything I can – even though I’ll be very cold.”

Though Carr’s move to Italy will serve as her first time abroad, she has family members who recently moved to Malaysia, and their smooth transition into living in a different country has helped calm her nerves.

“They’ve adjusted really well and have nice neighbors, so I guess seeing people I’ve known my whole life get accustomed to the culture so well has put me at ease,” Carr said. “I mean, I came to Elon not knowing anyone, so I figured if I can do it for college then I can do it for the real world.”

As far as making plans for entering

hope “I’ll fu in beca the Unitlly be livin to gouse that’sed Kingd g Plus for gra where om , and I visited duate sc I want it’s a ho En food nice cogland onol. is ho untry ce can rrible, . The man age. but I ”

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man

Cedric Pulliam

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Features

“I would love to see myself in my second tour as a diplomat for the U.S. State Department.”

the ‘real world,’ Carr thinks it’s not always mandatory to have concrete plans, nor do you have to do what you originally intended to do when you came to Elon. Carr said she always thought she was going to major in political science and go to law school, but she ended up majoring in psychology and accepting the teaching position in Italy instead.

“I wanted to take time off from school to slow down and enjoy being in my early 20s and living,” she said. “And sometimes you can find something in the least expected ways. I never expected to be moving abroad, so I think you can find something that suits you in the end.”

And for Brawerman, he believes students sometimes put too much emphasis on having a plan and end up accepting jobs they don’t truly want. His biggest piece of advice for ensuring happiness after graduation is to never settle, and to make sure to do something only if you’re guaranteed to be completely content with it.

“Just because our four years are coming to an end and just because we’ve worked hard for four years, why stop now?” he said.

“We should continue to have fun and work hard no matter what we’re doing.”

“It’s hard to say. The ball is in my court to pic and choose where I go k Italy, and I like that my after options are open. If I wind up bac North Carolina, I’d like k in to go to graduate school or continue working with children.”

Gayla Carr

Beat stress before it beats you Tips for end-of-the-year stress relief

I A

t’s that time of year — finals will soon be here, meaning that students will probably spend their last weeks of school studying and facing a heavy load of anxiety.

Not taking an occasional de-stress break from studying can actually hinder your ability to stay focused. Fortunately, there are several ways to relieve stress without slacking off.

few common methods many Elon students suggested include taking a walk or nap, going to the gym or watching television. There are also several specific places on campus where students like to go when they are in need of relaxation in a quiet place.

“I like to sit by the business fountain and listen to the water to relax,” said freshman Kathleen McCarthy.

She said she also finds Lindner Hall’s Inman Reading Room, commonly known as the “Hogwarts” room, to be a nice, quiet place to study. If you’re looking for a peaceful place to relax or change your studying scene, try sitting on the benches surrounding Lake Mary Nell or on one of the grassy quads on campus.

These places are calm enough to allow you to work, but also nice areas to simply sit and have time to yourself.

Photo by Claire Esparros

W

hen you’re ready for a study break and want something to do, go outside and enjoy the spring weather by playing volleyball or basketball on the courts by Sloan and HBB residence halls, especially because sunlight is a natural de-stressor for your body. If you’ve been studying late at night, do what sophomore Michele Guthrie — and probably many other Elon students — would suggest: “go for a 2 a.m. Cook-Out run.”

O

ther stress-relieving activities students may not normally think of are baking, journaling, breathing exercises or playing with pets. Take 30 minutes and write about your day, borrow your friend’s oven and bake cookies. Or try volunteering for an afternoon at a local animal shelter and allow your stress to drain while you do something you can’t normally do at college — play with animals.

B

ut the most important things to remember to do during finals are sleep, eat well (minus the occasional Cook-Out binge) and take breaks. There are plenty of ways to relax and have fun both on campus and in the Burlington area, such as going for a run, shopping or just sitting by a fountain for a little while. Giving your mind time to relax will ultimately improve your studying ability and overall exam performance.

Katie Kolls Print & Online Journalism

Health & Wellness

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Summer Staples Katie O’Han

at H ed

Strategic Communications

m

im r b e

summer, Widleave theThis baseball caps

at home. When packing for a trip to the beach, it’s essential to bring your wide brimmed-hat. While you are searching for the perfect hat, remember: the bigger the better! Make sure your hat has the following essentials: long, round, floppy brims, a straw texture and more solid, neutral colors.

These hats provide the perfect shade on a hot summer’s day in a fashionable and fun way!

Tote Bags

Photo by Eleanore Kohorn

This summer, trends are stepping away from the reliable neutral aviators and Ray bands to more retro shapes. The 60’s are making a come back with an array of sunglasses in strange shapes and bold colors. Expect to see cat-eye, round and gradient lenses paired with bold, solid colors or, if you dare, contrasting neon.

These cool sunglasses will add a flashy and fun tone to any beach outfit.

Sungla

sses

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Fashion

Straw, prints and neon: OH MY! It seems that prints for this summer are trending toward more simple, structured designs and lines. However, colors are going to the extremes: Anything from neon and bright to soft and subtle colors are sure to be seen on the beach. If you want to go all out, getting a straw, textured bag or one with rope handles is the perfect added touch to any summer beach tote.

E xe r c i s e & R e laxation

Megan Porter

Strategic Communications

When thinking about a relaxing vacation, exercise might not be the first thing to come to mind. It can be difficult to find motivation to keep active on vacation or continue to exercise in an unfamiliar environment. Here are some ways you can get quality exercise during your break while still enjoying yourself.

Take a hike

Hiking a nature trail or mountain burns about

400 calories per

hour, the equivalent of two Krispy Kreme donuts.

Adding elevation and a quick yet steady pace will provide maximum calorie burning and increase endurance and leg strength.

340 calories per hour burns about

g n i k a Kay

ng i p p o h S

170 calories burns

per hour

Walking through museums, stores and neighborhoods for hours can add up to a large amount of miles. Carrying decent-sized, full shopping bags and backpacks will also help with arm strength.

...that’s equal to a Starbucks Mud Pie Ice Cream Bar

h Beac e wildsee som to y a w t ic activis a grea his aerob T r. te Kayaking a w gth in from the ck stren a ts b h ig d s n a fe li , abs ves arm ability. ity impro vascular io rd a c to addition Walking, running and playing on the sand is easier on foot and burns more calories. Volleyball helps with leg and arm strength.

e d i R

...or the equivalent to one large bag of Nerds

ke i b a

ll a b y volle

470

han more t ur burns per ho

calories

500 calories ...or the equivalent to burns

per hour

latively cheap cessible and re ac k, ic qu a is also now Biking city. Most cities a nd ou ar l ve way to tra system and bike ient bike rental en nv co a ve ha ut the city. paths througho

a McDonalds Quarter Pounder with cheese

Features Health & Wellness

17

Photo by Merissa Blitz

Internship success from head to toe Rebecca Wickel

Print & Online Journalism

Hair:

If you’re busy sweeping your bangs out of your face or pushing strays behind your ears, you aren’t focused on knocking the socks of your boss. Avoid hair that might distract you by pulling it into a neat ponytail or using bobby pins to tackle fly-aways. There’s nothing wrong with wearing it down, as long as it isn’t in your way.

Makeup:

Natural is best. You should be getting attention in your interview for your skills — not your eyeshadow. Swap sticky lip-gloss for Chapstick and try and stick to neutral colors.

The same goes for nails.

Beige, pink, French manicure — you know the drill. When you’re not wearing polish, make sure your nails clean and shaped.

Outfit:

Jewelry:

Now is not the time to be trying out the latest trend in feathers, leopard print, patent leather or anything else that might be in style for the week. Keep it simple with studs.

But it’s important to also show your creative side, so consider wearing a cool bangle or long charm necklace that matches your outfit.

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Fashion

There’s one rule for what you’re wearing: When in doubt, it’s out. You shouldn’t have to wonder if your interview ensemble is too anything — casual, trendy, sexy.

There’s no substitute for the classic suit, so go for a jacket and skirt or slacks in black, blue or gray.

From there, a blouse in white or light blue should do the trick. Remember to secure those buttons!

Shoes:

No toes, ever.

Peep toe heels are fun, but leave them in the closet this time. Consider a solid black shoe with a medium heel.

Pretend you’ll be doing a lot of walking and choose from there.

How to be a great summer intern 1

Kate Riley Print & Online Journalism

Be professional in your communication

When talking with colleagues, bosses, clients via email, make sure that you’re always very professional.

Make sure to double-check everything before you email it – this will come with practice. There is an “art” to communicating professionally, according to Ross Wade.

Be eager Make sure to show interest in learning new things! It’s important to be curious, proactive and to want to help out your employer. If you enjoy learning, people will be eager to work with you. It’s important to be enthusiastic, but make sure you aren’t over the top. And when you’re trying to learn, ask questions if you don’t know how to do something.

Your boss wants to work with someone who has a great attitude and wants to learn.

2

Soak up as much information as possible

3

Not only will you become better versed in whatever you’re internship is, but you will also get to know the ins and outs of the people you work with. Talk to them about what they’re doing, how they got to where they are and why they wanted to do it. What do they hope for their future? Not only is this a great educational tool, but it’s also great for networking.

Work hard This may seem obvious, but it’s one of the most important things an intern can do when starting out in a new place. “I’ve always heard, if you’re on time, you’re late,” Wade said. So make sure be the first person at your internship every day, and make sure that you’re the last person to leave.

Don’t just do something at an adequate level – make sure to go that extra mile to prove yourself.

4

Tips brought to you by Ross Wade, Assistant Director of Career Services for the School of Communications

5

Stay connected At the end of the summer, don’t forget about the people you’ve met and the things you’ve done – it’s important to stay in contact! Build up those relationships. Get connected on LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter. Check in with your boss and colleagues every few months and grow that relationship. Then, when it’s time to graduate college, your odds of getting a job have more than likely increased.

Features

21

COAST TOCOAST Los Angeles Matt Dowdle

Media Arts & Entertainment

No one can deny that Los Angeles is full of stars and is arguably the place to be on the West Coast. A beautiful location on the coast of California, L.A. is desirable to almost everyone for someone reason or another. But as spectacular as L.A. is, the drama that is found in L.A. cannot be overlooked. The L.A. sports teams are no exception to the rule as the Lakers, Clippers and Angels have all had drama thus far through 2012.

Los Angeles Clippers The Clippers have become largely known this season for two reasons — they are actually winning games and are in contention to be out the Lakers for the better record by the end of the season. In fact, the two times have formed a rather strong rivalry over the course of this single season. The bigger piece of drama though is over Blake Griffin’s monster slams and the reaction by certain teams. Blake’s dunks are nothing short of earth shattering considering the force that goes into all of them, but some question whether his tough dunks are fouls. On another note, his dunks have earned the reputation as the most feared dunker in the NBA. With that title, Blake has been subject to a number of “hard” fouls that could be mistaken for signs of assault. Between being hit in the face by the Suns’ Robin Lopez or blindsided by the Hornets’ Jason Smith, Griffin has taken some ridiculous hits that are dangerous to both his body and the reputation of the NBA.

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Sports

Los Angeles Angels The Angels acquired arguably the best player in baseball this offseason by signing for St. Louis Cardinal first baseman Albert Pujols. Pujols is renowned for his strong bat, solid fielding skills and his ability to consistently get on base. A lifetime .328 batter with a tendency to land near 40 homers per season, the 9-time all-star and 3-time NL MVP will certainly make an impact on his new team.

Not to mention the team all signed star lefty, C.J. Wilson, who should make an immediate difference on the team’s pitching rotation. With these two expensive signings, the Angels hope to climb up from the 80-82 finish the posted last year and would like to make a run for first in the division. Expectations are high this year for the Angels, lets see if they can reach them or fall and spend the next few years wondering what could have been.

D

DRAMA New York

Kyle Maher

Print & Online Journalism

No place in the world has drama like the New York City. The city has the most famous sports teams in the world and the most passionate fans in the country, bar none. Here are a few stories that have caused the most drama in the Big Apple.

New York Knicks The New York Knicks like to pay their stars — a lot.

The Knicks are arguably New York City’s favorite sport franchise. When the Knicks are relevant, the city is buzzing with anticipation and excitement, hoping that year is the year the Knicks will finally contend for an NBA championship. The Knicks front office must think Carmelo Anthony and Amare Stoudemire can lead them to the promised land, because both were rewarded with truly outrageous contracts luring them to the bright lights of New York. Thus far, both superstars have yet to lead their team to anything other than sneaking into the playoffs as this year’s Eastern Conference’s eighth seed. Notorious for injuries that keep him out for long stretches of the season, Stoudemire was nevertheless signed a five year, one hundred million dollar contract with the Knicks. Soon after, Carmelo Anthony was traded to New York from Denver, creating the tandem Knicks fans thought would lead them to multiple titles.

Instead, the Knicks struggled to find the chemistry necessary to be one of the Eastern Conference’s top teams. They were disposed of in the first round of the playoffs by the Celtics and looked to be on their way to another disheartening season this year before Jeremy Lin came out of nowhere to inject life into the team. Perhaps it would’ve been smarter for the Knicks front office to wait until serious progress was made before they overpaid their superstars.

Sports

23

Ever since he was traded to the Mets prior to the 2008 season, Johan Santana has dipped off the radar due to a multitude of injuries, but this year is different. Santana says he’s healthier than he’s been in a long time.

Watching him early this season, you wouldn’t even know he missed a whole season. If he can stay healthy, he should return to the ace he was prior to shoulder problems and Santana could definitely be a sleeper for the National League’s Cy Young award.

s ’ l l a b Basek!

Bac

Major League Baseball is back, and not a moment too soon.

There have been a lot of headlines in the offseason surrounding star players, but what about the star players that are coming back from serious injuries that kept them off the field for most of, if not all of last season? These guys could be the difference between playoff baseball or not for their respective teams.

Angels designated hitter Kendrys Morales will come back from one of the most bizarre injuries baseball has ever seen. In May 2010, Morales hit a walk-off grand slam against the Seattle Mariners.

As he leapt into a crowd of teammates around home plate, Morales landed awkwardly and dislocated his ankle. After a year and a half and multiple surgeries, Morales returns to provide protection batting behind newly acquired slugger Albert Pujols.

Defending champion St. Louis gets ace Adam Wainwright back from Tommy John surgery as well. This could prove to be huge for the Cards chances at repeating their World Series run considering last years ace, Chris Carpenter, went down in spring training with severe neck problems and their offense is nowhere near last season’s form due to the loss of Albert Pujols.

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Sports

Andrew Wilson

Print & Online Journalism Major

The kid who could become the face of baseball just a short time from now, Stephen Strasburg, returns from Tommy John surgery for the Washington Nationals. Looking for his first full season in the majors, Strasburg has the stuff to attract even the casual fan to the ballpark wherever the team goes.

His fastball approaches 100 mph, and his curveball and changeup come in nearly 20 mph slower.

He’s a perfect game waiting to happen. It’s only a matter of time.

All of these stars are finally healthy again, and each looks to be to pre-injury form. While each of their respective teams gets a boost, it’s a great thing for baseball that all these guys are back healthy and ready to treat fans to another great season!

COAST TOCOAST Los Angeles Matt Dowdle

Print & Online Journalism

DRAMA continued from page 22 & 23

New York Kyle Maher

Print & Online Journalism

Los Angeles Lakers

Darelle Revis doesn’t like Coach Belichick

When legendary coach Phil Jackson retired as head coach of the Lakers, any basketball fan could predict that any new coach would face difficulties in their first season as the Lakers new head coach. With that said, no one could expect the drama that has surrounded the Lakers under new head coach Mike Brown.

First though, let’s establish that Coach Brown has the Lakers sitting as one of the top four teams in the West heading into the playoffs, which is not bad considering the competition. As a whole, Coach Brown has done an ok job as head coach. The drama falls on his decision to bench superstar Kobe Bryant during a loss to the Memphis Grizzlies and Andrew Bynum a few days later against the Warriors after he took a three-pointer during the game.

While some may say Brown crossed lines in his decisions to bench the two stars, I say congratulations. In a season where he is being scrutinized by fans and his organization alike, Brown needs to take control of what he is meant to have control of, his players. So long as he holds strong onto the reigns of the team, then he has a chance to make it in L.A., but Brown has a difficult path ahead of him in earning the team’s respect.

Speaking of the Jets, one of their players managed to make headlines this offseason by having some pretty strong comments about Bill Belichick, the coach for the rival New England Patriots. Jets cornerback Darelle Revis, appearing on SportsCenter with Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski, was playing a word association game when he was asked what word best described Belichick.

Revis responded by calling Belichick a “jerk”. When asked why he would use that word, he said it was a result of “Just some of the comments he says about the Jets.” Gronkowski, sitting next to Revis and looking highly uncomfortable, responded by saying he “wasn’t expecting that one.” This isn’t the first time, nor will it be the last, time a Jet or a Patriot has had an unkind work for one other, but these comments seemed to be an unnecessary dig at New England. Not only was Revis sitting next to a member of the Patriots when he called Belichick a “jerk”, he was naïve to think his comments wouldn’t draw headlines and be the subject of much debate. Revis’ comments were out of line, but the Patriots have the chance to exact revenge during the upcoming season, when they play Revis and the Jets twice. No matter how it plays out, Revis’ comments will undoubtedly add fuel to the fire of this storied rivalry.

Time Tebow hits the Big Apple Tim Tebow, the unorthodox quarterback that led the Denver Broncos on their improbable run that included a first round playoff upset of the Pittsburg Steelers, was traded to the Jets this past off-season. As if the New York needed more drama, the city is now the home of the most polarizing athlete in the world, which seems fitting. Tebow, whose friendly smile and stout religious beliefs are the subject of much criticism and praise, will add another zealous personality to the circus that is already the New York Jets football team. The real question is why the Jets brought in Tebow when they already have what they thought would be a franchise quarterback in Mark Sanchez. Obviously, the Jets have about run out of patience with the mistake-prone Sanchez, and, although they have denied it, they’ve brought in Tebow to compete with Sanchez for the starting quarterback position.

Although the Jets insist they brought Tebow on board to run the “wildcat” offense for fifteen to twenty plays a game, it’s very possible Tebow could be the starting quarterback at some point in the coming season.

Sports

25

LONDON Setting new standards in Olympic planning Julia Miller

Print & Online Journalism

S

ustainability. Legacy. Rejuvenation.

These form the backbone of London 2012 planning, all tying together in a comprehensive package.

Once completed, the Olympic Stadium will be the most sustainable ever built, using less steel, low-carbon concrete and even building the top ring of the stadium with gas pipes left over from a previous project. Many of the other buildings are temporary and others are to be repurposed after the games, although not all have a concrete future yet.

To control carbon emissions, only media personnel will be allowed to drive to the stadium, with the sole car park being constructed next to the International Broadcast Centre/Main Press Centre. All others will take public transport, like the

26

Sports

Tube or buses.

Planners placed the stadium in Stratford, East London, an industrial area in need of renewal. Not only will the businesses and tourists coming for the games bring money, but also some of the surrounding area was converted to green space, including The Greenway, a pedestrian and cycling path running through the area.

These all link with the legacy plans, as planners hope the new park and businesses, including a large mall, will bring money and visitors to the area even after the games end. Also, some of the buildings will be turned into apartments and office space, another way of bringing resources to the area.

Not everyone is sanguine about the complete success of these plans, including Eric Hall, an Elon professor currently teaching a course on sustainability in the

London study abroad program.

“I think that the original plan was very ambitious and I would not be surprised if they don’t reach all of the goals, but I hope that they continue to work toward them,” he said. “I know that it hasn’t gone exactly as planned, but I still think that the core values related to sustainability are present and I hope that this continues as it gets closer.”

The stadium plans didn’t benefit all the area residents, as some businesses were evicted to clear space for the stadium and park. For some, the compensation didn’t cover the costs of relocating, and they lost their livelihoods, but despite such setbacks, the plans for these Olympics will likely set a new precedent for Olympic planning and in the future, all potential hosts will focus on sustainable building as part of the bidding process.

2012

Some Like It Some Like It

A

sk most any college student which they like better, winter or summer, and a lot would say summer. Summer means vacation, sun and the beach. But every four years, summer also means the greatest athletic talent in the world competing for the ultimate prize: Olympic gold.

But summer isn’t the only season that is full of athletic competition. While the Winter Olympics are newer in terms of history, they bring just as much action, drama and suspense. Which leads to the big question: Which Olympics is better? Summer or Winter?

The Summer Games have more sports in number (26 versus Winter’s 15), and they tend to have more that appeal to the average fan. You get about a week of swimming competitions and then about a week of track and field events that fill in the downtime between sports like gymnastics, volleyball, tennis and basketball. You see

, Christine Williams

Media Arts & Entertainment

heroes like Michael Phelps, Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh, and Shawn Johnson emerge. And you get to see NBA All-Stars come together on one team and actually play defense.

But the Summer Olympics took a dive for me when they erased softball and baseball from the itinerary and basically replaced them with golf. No disrespect to golf, but how can you remove a sport as demanding as baseball and replace it with a sport where the athletes walk around in khakis and call penalties on themselves?

The Winter Games may not have the same type of high profile sports, with potentially the exception of hockey, but once every four years, they draw our attention to some of the most interesting and dangerous sports around. Take skeleton for example.

How often are you at home flipping through the channels and decide to watch, or even find, a skeleton competition? But if you’re like me, you watch it when it’s in the Olym-

pics, and find out this is a sport that’s insane but totally captivating. People flying down a sheet of ice headfirst at 90 miles per hour?

Crazy.

You see people shooting down mountains, flipping in air and gliding on ice in some picturesque location. You find yourself cheering for Nordic combined, curling and bobsled; rooting for Shaun White, Ryan Miller, Evan Lysacek, Lindsay Vonn and Apolo Anton Ohno, people you may have never heard of before.

Ultimately, the Olympics are about patriotism, unity, and sportsmanship. This is evident in every Games, be it under the glaring sun or a crisp snowfall. Each Games is unique, with the host countries always doing something special and memorable. In the end, I can’t put one ahead of the other.

The Games are not about summer or winter; they are about the stories, the moments, the heroes. You can find those no matter what the season is.

Sports Photo by Julia Miller

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T

Same standards apply, no matter what

he ‘other’ throughout American history is generally easy to spot. Look for a catastrophic event or significant movement O’Reilly’s coverage of Breivik shows lack of cultural understanding that propels them into the national Caitlin O’Donnell spotlight. Look for media coverage Print & Online Journalism and History that is biased, deceiving, even inciting government buildings and a camp for violence. Look for Americans reacting to young people. the press with a call to arms. but repeats within two sentences? But And on July 26, 2011, conservaNearly every era of American history heaven forbid a Christian be targeted for tive Fox News pundit Bill O’Reilly took is defined by negative attention leveled involvement in a comparable act. The to the airwaves to blast other media against a particular group of people. For groups correctly identifying Breivik as a standard, the norm, what is expected the Native Americans, it came as they in his mind - that simply cannot be at“Christian terrorist,” claiming they were were being forcibly evicted from their tacked. attempting to place a negative spin on homeland and herded onto reservations. the religion.

If O’Reilly insists on generalizing a For Japanese Americans, it came in the people group based on the actions of Actually, Bill, I think it’s the other way form of internment camps launched just around. an individual, so be it. The same prejuthree months after the attacks of Pearl dicial standards he applies to Muslim You see, it’s alright for O’Reilly and Harbor. For Muslim Americans, hateful Americans can’t be negated because other conservative hosts to base their discrimination erupted within days of the perception of an entire people group on an individual falls within his understandattacks on Sept. 11, 2001. ing of the status quo. one singular event. A group of terrorThese groups, just three of many But it’s high time for a person to ists following an extreme form of Islam examples of the darker corners of be judged for their actions, not their immediately means all Muslims are American history, all have one thing in creed; for their personal beliefs, not their bent on jihad and planting their religion common - they represent the unknown. public professions. Christians should throughout the world.

They are outside of the norm. And, at no more be judged for Breivik’s actions “The primary threat to this world least at the time, they are perceived as than Muslims should be for the small comes from Islamic terrorism,” O’Reilly a threat. railed in the same broadcast. “And Mus- group of extremists who carry out acts But rarely, if ever, has the target of terrorism. No more than a lim suicide bombers blow innocent of these prejudicial practices been a Japanese American should people up almost every day.” blond-haired, blue-eyed Christian male. be interned just for the acSee the connection On July 22, 2011, the people of Nortions of the government between the reway experienced unimaginable terror of their home ligion of Islam when Anders Behring Breivik, a selfcountry. and the act of identified Christian aligning with the farterrorism that right, killed a total of 69 people, mostly O’Reilly not teenagers, in coordinated attacks on only makes,

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GOP candidates wage w Dan Quakenbush

Media Arts & Entertainment

C

ontraception. National debt. Same-sex marriage. Religion.

Healthcare. Just words, right?

These words have been the weapons that each GOP primary candidate has brandished vehemently for the last several months. Candidates like Ron Paul, Mitt Romney, Newt Gingrich and Rick Santorum have gone to war on public television over these words, fighting hand, tooth and nail to slander each other’s opinions about the current state of American society.

But what kind of war have the Republicans been waging against one another? A religious war? A class war?

An industrial war? No, it’s something much more trivial.

It’s a war of words. A war of words, a war where Merriam Webster is the world’s biggest arms dealer, providing endless ammo to candidates who take every opportunity to continue blasting away at one another. Now you may be asking yourself: Who could win this “war of words”, if their only weapon is a polished vernacular? The answer is simple: nobody.

This is the kind of war that has no victor, that ensures no change occur when all is said and done. The kind of war where combatants subscribe to one rule: accusing one side of failing to uphold justice whilst ignoring the fact that the other side has done nothing

f arow s d or

to help. Meanwhile, everybody claims to represent the “moral, enlightened, American” side: the people’s side, determined to overthrow the power of overly-privileged elitist snobs…oh wait, freedom is calling, I have to take this.

However, these GOP primary candidates have discarded the previous rulebook and amended it to include as a prerequisite attacking those in their own party. The front-running candidates have taken it upon themselves to debase and delegitimize every argument made by their conservative counterparts, while making little effort to alleviate issues that require attention within our society.

Perhaps one of the most distinguishing characteristics of this primary has been the constant presence of the religion card in the primary deck. But perhaps no candidate has played the “God“ card more in recent history than the recently resigned Rick Santorum.

For the majority of his political career, Santorum has trademarked a new uncompromising and unrepentant brand of social conservatism that many journalists are referring to as “Santorumania.” There are, from my perspective, two ingredients to Santorumania: a belief system based on selective interpretation of apocalyptic Bible verses, and a healthy dose of Penicillin. You have to figure he makes himself sick occasionally.

With his staunch opposition toward

gay rights and women’s rights to abortions under most circumstances, Santorum has reinvented the practice of mudslinging to include college students, minorities, liberals, soccer moms: All are fair game.

However, the biggest problem with this race is what’s receiving the least attention. Is this what politics amounts to now? Griping, backstabbing, slandering and scheming are now the preferred methods used to uphold justice. The fault cannot lie solely with the GOP, despite their considerable contributions to this trend. The fault truly lies in the American public’s apathy toward its level of importance in matters of state.

We represent the constituency that empowers those who wield power in such grandiose displays of partisanship.

We must realize the scope of the power we hold, and this election is a perfect time. Don’t allow yourself to become a casualty to this war of words. The American masses are currently the hostages in this bureaucratic blood-fest.

Gore Vidal said “a democracy is a place where numerous elections are held at great cost, without issues and with interchangeable candidates.” Take a look at America’s current amusement, the GOP traveling circus, and you’ll see that when it comes to politics, words are the real weapons, and when all is said and done, that more is always said than done.

Opinions

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Responsible opposition, every time?

Ian Luther

Broadcast & New Media

O

n Monday, April 23, Congress voted on CISPA, the Cyber Intelligence Sharing and Intelligence Act, and not surprisingly, it passed easily. There were no blackouts, no social media status bombing and no protests.

But why not? It has largely the same effects of the Stop Online Piracy Act, which practically blew up the Internet this past January with protests from outraged Internet users. Even worse, CISPA operates under the guise of National Security, which should send a chill down the spine of anyone familiar with United States politics since September 11.

ACTA, the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement, came and went about a month ago, another law that would have had largely the same effects as SOPA. That one, fortunately, handled itself when international support for the bill crumbled, but the fact remains that we made very little effort to do anything about it.

I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the Kony 2012 movement, though. That was another rare moment where our generation, catalyzed by a particularly well put together video, united as one in the face of a larger opponent.

I’ll gloss over the problems with the whole Kony 2012 campaign, and why the issue was blown immensely out of proportion. Those are worth noting, but they’re not the point here. The point is that for one, maybe two days, Kony 2012 was everywhere. I probably saw the video posted on Facebook 20 times, and it was a trending topic on Twitter. It swept through

30

Opinions

Elon, and the country, like wildfire.

And then it disappeared. Almost instantaneously, there were no more status updates, no more tweets, no evidence of any sort of change. And yet the hysteria had died down nonetheless, with no evidence of the change except a few discarded hashtags.

My point in all this is not to make anyone angry, and certainly not to criticize our handlings of these recent events. I simply want people to consider what we can do, and what we have a responsibility to do.

On January 18, we proved, as a nation and as a generation, that we could change things. We proved that we were still able to come together and unify for a cause that we all believed in, and for once, we got something done. We stopped the passing of a potentially catastrophic piece of legislature, SOPA. In an era of unprecedented connectivity and unrestricted access to the largest stores of knowledge in human history, we have the means to cause genuine social change. We’ve proven that. But we need to act on it.

CISPA has passed. It shouldn’t have, but it did. But it should remind us all of what happens when we forget to do our civic duty, to make sure we use the immense resources at our disposal for good, for our own protection, and for the protection of those who can’t protect themselves.

So stay informed. Know what’s going on in the world so you can be ready to speak out against it if necessary. Because we’ve proven that we can make a change, we just need step out of our apathy and actually decide to.

Vote against Amendment for no One Article 14.

Sec. 6. Marriage.

Marriage between one man and one woman is the only domestic legal union that shall be valid or recognized in this State. This section does not prohibit a private party from entering into contracts with another private party; nor does this section prohibit courts from adjudicating the rights of private parties pursuant to such contracts.

I

t’s not for families, it’s certainly not for the LGBTQ community and it’s not even beneficial for Bible Belt Christians. If passed, Amendment One, which would add a definition of marriage to the North Carolina state constitution as between one man and one woman, could hurt all North Carolina residents.

Although it is marketed as a way to keep gays and lesbians from getting married, ending same-sex marriage is practically the only thing this bill doesn’t do.

It would prevent same-sex marriage from being legalized in the future, but because it is already illegal in the state of North Carolina, the bill’s perceived purpose is redundant. North Carolina is the most open, welcoming and progressive southern state, but passing this bill means we alienate the countless people here who are part of the LGBTQ community or are strong allies.

As the 11th hour approaches, if you are against same-sex marriage and think you are doing God’s will by voting for Amendment One, think again. North Carolina’s current atmosphere is one that attracts open-minded employers and employees who are for gay rights, and they’ve already spoken out to make it clear they’re not interested in this kind of legislation. If you think the economy is bad now, it could get even worse if Amendment One is passed and companies take their busi-

ness elsewhere. The exact repercussions of the bill are unknown, which is terrifying.

The consequences could be devastating.

Voting yes on Amendment One does not change marriage or marriage rights in any way. But in an unexpected and largely unknown twist, Amendment One could also do severe damage to everyone in domestic partnerships, same-sex or not. Domestic legal unions have never been defined by the

state, so delegitimizing them in favor of matrimony could hurt all couples, including possibly impacting child custody for divorced and unmarried couples.

This is an untested law, and state representatives are doing their constituents a major disservice by subjecting them to unknown ramifications.

In Ohio, a similar law meant some domestic violence cases were not prosecuted because they occurred between two unmarried people.

In the United States, the recent trend has been for couples to get married older rather than younger, and we have seen domestic partnerships and cohabitation increase significantly. Elon University is one of many private institutions or compa-

nies that offers benefits for domestic partners, which is a step in the right direction, and a step in pace with society. But public and government organizations in North Carolina that offer such benefits would likely be prevented from doing so should the state vote in favor of discrimination.

Both samesex and straight couples would be affected.

Conservative evangelicals have been pushing Amendment One, but amending a constitution is not a conservative move, according to Equality North Carolina, an equal rights organization.

Constitutions should protect our rights rather than take them away, and we should not allow the majority to make decisions about rights for a minority. If the bill is passed and severe consequences are realized, it will be impossible to undo the emotional, social and economic damage that is done, and almost as hard to amend the amendment.

So think, North Carolina. A vote against Amendment One is a vote against a slew of messy problems. It’s a vote for a more open and welcoming state and it’s a vote against discrimination. Go early, head to the polls on May 8 or fill out your absentee ballots—whatever floats your vote. Just make sure it’s a vote against ignorance.

Kassondra Cloos

Print & Online Journalism

Opinions

31

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Elon University’s chapter of Phi Kappa Phi would like to congratulate the following new initiates who were selected to membership from the top 7.5% of the junior class and top 10% of the senior and graduate classes.

These students were recognized at an induction ceremony on April 23rd for their achievements. Chapter President Robin Straka gave the opening remarks and Dr. Nancy Midgette delivered the keynote address.

Jessica Anderson

Lauren Merritt Deeley

Leslie Celeste Johnson

Wesley I. Rose

Kaitlyn Rose Antonelli

Lauren Agatina DiFiglia

Alyse Keim

Ursula Saelzler

Kathryn Scott Arbuckle

Colette Marie Dong

Elizabeth Klein

Julia Schast

Robert Argue

Mary Dougherty

Melinda Renee Kunze

Staci Ruth Scott

Angelique Nicole Austin

Sara Beth Dufour

Pamela Lawrence

Suzanne Marie Scott

Heather Kay Babb

Sara Katherine Edwards

Samantha Brooke Lawrence

Christopher Ryan Shill

Brianna M. Bailey

Caitlyn Elinoff

Christine Layton

Cameron Shirley

Katherine Rose Bain

Jessica Elizondo

Kimberly Ann Lilienthal

Bari Sisson

Emily Banks

Andrew Fredrick Fischer

Molly Lomenzo

Baron Alexander Smith

Daniel M Baquet

Alyssa Flashburg

Katelyn Erin Massey

Noah Sohne

Brett E. Barkley

Sara Christine Fleming

Claire Lillian Mayo

Brandy Stearns

Sarah Beacham

David Gagne

Kristina Nicole Mazzola

Andrew Titus Stevenson

Alexa Leigh Behar

Sara E. Galligan

Jennifer Ann McAllister

Elizabeth Rose Stillerman

Suzanne Bell

Kendall Gardiner

Cara McClain

Christine Swanson

Randall S. Borror

Kyle William Gay

K. Lindsay McCollum

Lindsay Swenson

Kelly Lynne Brand

Maria Penelope Georgiadis

Christopher W. McLain

Jessica Torrez-Riley

Brandon James Christian Brown

Brett Alexandria Gladish

Erin Mellett

Christian True

Alexander W. Bruch

Caitlin Glosser

Ariel Elizabeth Miller

Carly Rae Tustin

Will Brummett

Mathew Ryan Goldberg

Allison Norell

Nicholas Unkovic

Ashley Brooke Bunting

Becca Leah Goldstein

Claire M. O'Keeffe

Nicole VanWagenen

Caitlin G. Campbell

David Conley Goltz

Julia Elise Okada

Katie Lynn Vitiello

Jill Capotosto

Kathryn Ann Goulah

Ashley A. Oke

Justin L. Wanner

Bridget Cashen

James Ryan Grant

Jill Padfield

Arielle Weil

Savannah Chaisson

Jordan Greene

Lisa Meglen Picklesimer

Sandra J. Weiss

Casey-Marie Claude

Gwen Marie Hambright

Jasper Lynd Rajesh

George Anthony Wentz

Jessica Clinch

Adrianne Tasia Hanson

Wendy M. Redmond

Kyle Whitaker

Clea Anastasia Colangelo

Laura Antoinette Hashem

Katie Ann Reynolds

Danielle White

Anna Lee Crenshaw

Chelsea Helms

Austin Michael Rhoads

David S. Williams, Jr.

Alexander Cuculici

Kathryn Hjalmarson

John P. Riley, Jr.

Lindsey B. Wolson

Michelle Cusack

Kirsten Stacy Holland

Kaila Robertson

Mark Keith York

Cleo Louise Caroline Dan

Leigh Iler

Julia Corbett Ronecker Org.Elon.Edu/PhiKappaPhi

Congratulations LSB Seniors for graduating from a top 50 business school!

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