The Edge: Elon Entrepreneurs by The Pendulum

edge the

VOL. 4 | EDITION 1 SPRING 2013 ELON, N.C.

ELON ENTREPRENEURS:

GAINING AN EDUCATION, BUILDING A BUSINESS p. 10

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

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In the year since its inception, The Edge has developed into a magazine that incorporates campus stories students care about in an entertaining and educational form. This edition covers a wide range of topics, from what to wear, and where to eat, to what to listen to. It has a story for everyone!

On the cover of this edition’s magazine, we highlight five extraordinary students who have taken firm hold of their futures and are pursuing business ventures with great passions. I was incredibly inspired by their stories and hope you experience the same motivational lift I did after reading the article. In everyone who has contributed to this edition, I’ve noticed a similar drive and passion in their work, which has made my first time being Editor-in-Chief an exceptionally rewarding experience. It is humbling being surrounded by people who share a similar desire to create and provide Elon with an engaging and entertaining magazine. Lastly, I want to acknowledge the vision of the former Editor-inChief, Kate Riley, for The Edge to be Elon’s premier student-life magazine. I hope you agree with me that this edition moves a step further in that direction. Happy reading!

Alison Ryncarz | Editor of The Edge

IN THIS ISSUE

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Painted shoes pave the way to Africa MLB Preview Spring fashion hit list Spring cleaning your exercise plan Confessions of our celebrity obsessions Mylo Xyloto makes its mark

THE EDGE

The Edge is Elon Universityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s only general-interest magazine, published quarterly by The Pendulum student news organization. Students of all years and majors are encouraged to contribute.

Editor of The Edge Alison Ryncarz Design Editor Madison Margeson Features Editor Katie Kolls

Entertainment & Travel Editor Lindsey Lanquist

Fashion Editor Katie Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Han

Health & Wellness Editor Kathleen Harper

Opinions Editor Erin Valentine Sports Editor Rajat Agarwal

Photo Editor Katy Canada

PHOTO BY STEFAN FORTMANN

Check out all the exclusive Edge content online at elonpendulum.com/edge

Contributing Writers Molly Boyce Eliza Brinkley Mary Kate Brogan Frankie Campisano Amanda Garrity Alex Jakaitis Katie Kolls Teresa Kuhns Tatum Pederson Karina Pepe Caitlin Phelan Lauren Phillips Megan Porter Marika Rafte Nathan Smith Jordan Spritzer

Kaitlyn Stahl Katy Steele

Photographers Katy Canada Stefan Fortmann Ruth Gray Alison Ryncarz Katy Steele

Editor-in-Chief of The Pendulum Rebecca Iannucci

Cover (from left to right): Kaitlin Briley, Chris Welch, Yasmine Arrington, Kevin Ridge and Elizabeth Greenberg were photographed by Katy Canada in Elon, N.C.

Managing Editor of The Pendulum Jonathan Black

ho e sp

h t e e w v a a

AFRICA

e t Pain

Katy Steele JOURNALISM

hen a friend asked sophomore Cate LeSourd if she would help lead a fundraising campaign in support of a summer service trip to Africa, Cate immediately thought, “Man, I wish I could go with her.” Four months later, and she is. On the surface, LeSourd fits the mold of your typical, enthusiastic Elon student—assuredly overcommitted, yet wildly successful. As a double major in Human Services and Strategic Communications and a leader in Greek life, Cate LeSourd was the ideal candidate for sophomore Hannah Wilson’s request. Wilson was just looking for someone to partner with who was media savvy, had connections and could lead a marketing campaign to sell painted canvas shoes in hopes of paying for her trip to Africa. LeSourd agreed to help, but it didn’t take long for her offer to become something more. The two realized the cards were falling into place when they were assigned to the same car to ride in for more than three hours together for a weekend retreat. It was there Wilson talked about her study abroad trip to South Africa this spring, and LeSourd shared her passion for the country after a service trip she had taken years back. “We started rattling,” LeSourd said. “This is when she laughed and said, ‘Cate here’s a crazy idea, would you want to come visit me in South Africa?’ My gut reaction was yes, absolutely.” From there the two began dreaming. LeSourd had been considering apply-

ing for the Lumen prize, a $15,000 award to fund juniors and seniors completing ambitious, intellectual projects, as she wanted to fund research on nonprofits in Africa. LeSourd, whose faith is an integral part of her life, had specifically prayed for a partner and a connection to Africa. “Everything just seemed to be falling into place,” LeSourd said. Ultimately, the girls’ goal is for LeSourd to meet Wilson in Cape Town, where they would like to serve for three weeks at a local orphanage. The next leg of the journey involves flying to Uganda to join a group of volunteers from Wilson’s home church whose youth group raised $10,000 in 2008 to build a well in Pugwini, Uganda. For two weeks, LeSourd and Wilson will build relationships with the villagers, see first-hand how water has transformed the community, and build a new well to provide more clean water—a crucial need across Africa. “We take for granted having clean water at our fingertips, but not having water changes everything,” LeSourd said. And she’s right. Water is scarce across Africa. Many times it is left to women and children to walk miles just to transport water back to their village, a task that leaves them vulnerable and puts them in danger. People in Africa spend 40 billion hours every year just walking to get water, according to the non-profit Charity Water, which works to bring safe water to developing nations. Even so, the water available is often contaminated and causes disease. Overall, providing access to safe drinking water helps create a sustainable and

healthy community. For example, when children don’t have to spend time collecting water, they have the opportunity to use that time to receive an education. “It’s all about community empowerment,” LeSourd said. Despite the girls’ big dreams and desire to make a difference, there have been challenges. To overcome the financial barrier that comes with flying internationally, the girls began a project called Walk in Love. They have five customizable designs they paint on canvas shoes and sell for $25 each. The girls have sold more than 30 pairs so far, and hope to keep selling more. “It’s funny to meet people outside of my apartment and they give me money and I give them shoes,” LeSourd said. “I feel like I’m running a business. But it’s

PHOTOS BY KATY STEELE

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Everything just seemed to be falling into place.” great to see all the support we’ve gotten.” Shoes can be ordered online at www. wewalkinlove.wordpress.com. As the girls chase after this big endeavor, LeSourd says the most important thing is being proactive. “Everyone has a big dream of what they would love to see happen,” she said, “but it’s the people that take charge and start to do something that really make a difference—do something, don’t just think about it.”

RETURN TO THE RUT

PHOTO BY STEFAN FORTMANN

Eliza Brinkley

FRENCH & ENGLISH LITERATURE

he cold January wind whips through your lungs as you lift a night table from the trunk of your old Volvo station wagon and turn to face the door of your unfamiliar West End apartment—your new home for the spring semester since having returned to Elon from studying abroad. You’re excited to be back at school, excited to see your friends and excited at the prospect of driving to Cook Out every night for the next three weeks of Winter Term (for some reason, you never saw one Cook Out in Copenhagen, Geneva, Istanbul or wherever you were. Not one.) The way you feel right now about being home again—that happy, giddy, thank-the-Lord-I’mback-in-the-land-of-the-free thing? Well, that might not last forever. The Elon Study Abroad webpage calls the initial reaction many undergraduate students experience upon arriving home or back at school the “Honeymoon” phase. It’s when you can’t wait to be reunited with friends and family you haven’t seen in months, and when they can’t wait to have you tell them all about your travels. Unfortunately, the “Honeymoon” doesn’t last very long, and soon you might find yourself in what the Study Abroad office calls the “Alienation” phase. Claire Mayo, a Junior at Elon from Knoxville, Tennessee and a double major in French and History writes in her essay “Reverse Culture Shock” about her own “Alienation” phase after returning to school from being abroad in Montpellier, a city on the southern coast of France: “Because of the differences between France and America, I find reentering the ‘bubble’ of an American university more difficult than I had anticipated… For instance, the ethnocentricity of the United States shocks me. My peers are more interested in relationship drama rather than the suffering humanity in Somalia or Syria. I find myself seeking out individuals who can hold

intellectual conversations, and the few results from my campaign are hardly encouraging.” Wesley Anne Barden, a junior from Jacksonville, Florida and double major in International Studies and Political Science, experienced similarly resentful feelings upon returning to school, but noticed differences between Elon and her place of study in Cape Town, South Africa that were particular to her personal transition back to life at college. “My living situation was so different and I lived in a city …it was Cape Town, which is nice, but there are bad parts and I didn’t live in a luxurious part. There are homeless people on the side of the road as you walk down the street, and you had to be careful because you could get mugged… Just coming from that and then (being) here (at Elon)… my surroundings were just such an intense part of my experience and here they’re not as much.” Barden also commented on how much she missed the people she had met in Cape Town upon arriving back to school. “I wasn’t with Elon students, I was with other students from other schools, and when you’re out of your comfort zone like that for so long, you get to know people a lot better more quickly. We got to be really close. Those people (I met) live on the West Coast, but then also I made friends in Kenya and Zambia who, chances are, I’ll never see again. When you see them every day, and you talk to them throughout the day and then suddenly they’re gone…it was really hard.” Many students who have just re-entered the country or returned to college find themselves grappling with the wide disparities between their American universities and the foreign cities they lost themselves in for four long months. Everything seems less exciting, and everyone else’s perspectives on things seem narrower. You start to feel as if none of your friends or family can ever

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The Elon Study Abroad webpage calls the initial reaction many undergraduate students experience upon arriving home or back at school the ‘Honeymoon’ phase.” truly understand your experiences abroad; like they don’t even really care. You feel like you’ve left something behind, like you’re in some weird time warp. Luckily, it gets better. At least for Mayo and Barden, it has. Mayo concludes at the end of her essay that she has found “home” in several different places, including Elon and Montpellier: “There are people whom I love in each place, and in each location, I have a place where I can settle and construct a very comfortable, happy life.” She goes on to admit that she “can never call a single place ‘home.’ Instead, (she maintains) the viewpoint of a sojourner, who can pick up and move throughout the world with confidence and security.” Barden says it’s her fellow Elon travelers who have ultimately helped her to get back into the swing of things. “I think I’ve readjusted…It was a little weird at first coming into Elon just because of how different it is, but it helps having a friend here who went with me…she kind of went through the same thing. A lot of my other friends studied abroad too in other places and still had that same amazing experience. It’s tough to adjust at first, but having people who are experiencing the same emotions makes it a little easier.”

N.C. State University senior Andrew Branch shows his disapproval of the NHL lockout during Friday's N.C. State vs. UNC Asheville basketball game in Raleigh, North Carolina on November 23, 2012. PHOTO COURTESY OF MCTCAMPUS

NHL lockout is over!

fans return excited yet hurt Kaitlyn Stahl ENGLISH

IT TOOK

119 days, but the National Hockey League (NHL) lockout did eventually end. Once the collective bargaining agreement (CBA) had expired, franchise owners and NHL commissioner Gary Bettman argued with the National Hockey League Players’ Association (NHLPA) over financial issues. Both sides were stubborn in holding their stance, dragging out the lockout and preventing the start of the season. Players went overseas and fans turned to other sports. Once a tentative deal for a new CBA was made, hockey fans rejoiced. Twitter blew up with fans’ snapshots of players who were spotted at airports as they returned to the USA. Arenas were packed before the season even began for team practices. There had been questions of whether fans would return, but their clear enthusiasm quieted some of these qualms. This year’s season will continue for 48

games instead of the full 82 games. The last lockout for the 2004-2005 season shut down the league for the full season. So to look on the bright side, at least this year the NHL did not lose its entire season. Fans are still disappointed and some are angry. This is because the fans and local businesses were the real victims of the lockout. Businesses in many hockey-heavy towns lost business because of the season’s postponement, especially in Canada. Events that brought in hockey fans also had to be cancelled. The 2013 Winter Classic was cancelled due to the lockout, which affected entire communities. Local Michigan business owners lost the money they spent in preparation for the event that would have catered to over 115,000 hockey fans and also a week of booming commerce. Even the players knew it was the fans that they hurt. The Columbus Blue Jackets donned jerseys with “Thank You Fans” across their

backs during warm-ups. Some hockey players, such as the Montreal Canadiens’ Josh Gorges, organized pickup games with fans in order to remind everyone why they play: for the love of the game. The NHL tried to rectify the situation with a formal apology and by offering free concessions and discounts. However, once these short-term perks disappear, will fans still be as devoted to the franchise that shunned them for so long? Die-hard hockey fans will remain, but once this new agreement expires, it won’t be long before their faith is shattered again. The NHL needs to take stronger, specific action in order to repair the relationship that they damaged. A “Thank You Fans” campaign, while a nice gesture, will require more sincerity from the league in order to maintain the fan base. Fans are essential to the existence of the league and allow the game to continue being played at its highest level.

MLB w e i v e r P 2013 Jordan Spritzer

COMMUNICATION SCIENCE

he marathon that is the Major League Baseball season is about to begin, with spring training camps opening up across Florida and Arizona. This aspect is no different from any other season. However, what is different this time is the installment of year-round inter-league play. With the Houston Astros switching leagues, there are now 15 teams in each league, thus creating the need for an inter-league matchup to occur at all times. Since its inception in 2007, inter-league play normally occurred over the course of a two-week period in June or July. Now, it will occur from April to September. Many oppose this scheduling change, as teams will be playing fewer games between divisional and league rivals, which in many cases have playoff implications. Inter-league play has always been about the fans, though. Attendance is always higher during the games and it allows fans to see teams and players that they otherwise wouldn’t get to see. Then again, a Yankee fan would much rather see Justin Verlander, Prince Fielder and

the Tigers come to town than Chase Headley and the Padres. With a new season comes a new hope for all 30 teams. In particular, the two Los Angeles teams, the Dodgers and Angels, have high expectations for the 2013 season. The Angels spent big last off-season, acquiring Albert Pujols and CJ Wilson. However, landing two of the best available free agents was not enough to get the Angels into the playoffs. The Moneyball-esque Oakland Athletics and the Texas Rangers each finished above the Angels and both made the playoffs. So the Angels once again landed the top free agent prize in signing former Texas Rangers outfielder Josh Hamilton. Despite struggling at the end of the 2012 campaign, the Angels still shelled out $125 million dollars over five years for Hamilton. With an estimated payroll well over $200 million, missing the playoffs is not an option for the Halos. The Dodgers have also been racking up the high-price stars over the last few months. On the trade deadline in 2012, the Dodgers traded for

several key Red Sox stars, including Carl Crawford, Josh Becket and Adrian Gonzalez. The Dodgers also traded for Miami Marlins star Hanley Ramirez. However, like the Angels, the Dodgers also failed to make the playoffs in 2012. In 2013, the Dodgers have shelled out big money once again; however, this time not on star players. The Dodgers gave reliever Brandon Lyons $22.5 million and gave $36 million to Hyun-jin Ryu, who signed from Japan. The Dodgers’ opening day payroll will also exceed the $200 million mark, coming in at around $233 million. A team north of the border has also made a splash during the winter. The Toronto Blue Jays traded for last season’s National League CY Award winner, RA Dickey. Toronto also completed a trade with the Miami Marlins, acquiring pitchers Mark Buehrle, Josh Johnson, catcher John Buck, outfielder Emilio Bonifacio and shortstop Jose Reyes. With all of the hype around the Angels, Dodgers and Blue Jays, it’s easy to forget about the two teams that were actually in the World Series

PHOTOS COURTESY OF MCTCAMPUS

Far left: Andy Pettitte pitches against the Baltimore Sun during Game 2 of the American League Division Series. Middle: Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Carl Crawford during spring training. Right: Los Angeles Angels owner Arte Moreno applauds at the news conference introducing free-agent signee Josh Hamilton.

last year: the Detroit Tigers and San Francisco Giants. The defending champion Giants have done very little to build on their championship roster. Instead, the Giants looked to resign key members of their 2012 team, including infielder Marco Scutaro, center fielder Angel Pagan and relief pitcher Jeremy Affeldt to a combined 10 years, $78 million. The Dodgers may have gone for broke in 2013, but the Giants are still the champions and will compete for another divisional title and perhaps a third World Series in four years. The Tigers have made little noise in the offseason. They signed veteran outfielder Tori Hunter and allowed Delmon Young to depart for Philadelphia. However, one of the biggest additions to the Tigers comes from a player who has already been on the roster. Catcher Victor Martinez missed all of last season due to injury; however, the catcher/designated hitter/ first baseman is poised for a return in 2013. Martinez, in his first season with Detroit in 2011, had 103 RBIs and hit 3. 30. It is difficult to expect that Martinez will pick up where he left off two seasons ago; however, his presence on and off the field will be a huge boost for the Tigers. The New York Yankees have been extremely quiet during this offseason. The Yankees signed Kevin Youkilis to fill the third-base spot while Alex Rodriguez is out recovering from surgery. They also resigned pitcher Andy

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With a new season comes a new hope for all 30 teams.” Pettite and outfielder Ichiro Suzuki. However, the puzzling part is how the Yankees allowed so many players to leave for free agency. Veterans Rafael Soriano, Andruw Jones, Nick Swisher, Eric Chavez, Russell Martin and post-season hero Raul Ibanez have all signed elsewhere. The Yankees, who are notoriously big spenders, were unwilling to spend big money to resign any of these players. As hard as it is to believe, the lowly Pittsburgh Pirates were willing to spend more on Russell Martin than the Yankees. And the Washington Nationals outbid the Yankees on reliever Rafael Soriano. The Yankees are getting old fast. And when players like Mark Texiera come out and say they are overpaid, there is definitely a cause for concern. An old roster and a lack of a starting catcher can be a real problem, especially in the extremely competitive American League East. Elsewhere around the MLB, there are a few more interesting storylines. The Kansas City Royals are trying to post a winning record for the first time in quite a while. The Royals traded for Tampa Bay Rays pitcher James

Shields, who came off an impressive season of 15 wins and an ERA of 3.52. Also in the trade, the Royals picked up Wade Davis. The Royals’ quest for starting pitching continued with the acquisition of Ervin Santana from the Angels. Considering the Royals are playing in the meek American League Central, the Royals should be able to compete with the Tigers well into the summer. With the expansion of the postseason to include an extra wild-card team in each league, the 2012 season was extremely exciting, with several teams playing meaningful games late into the season. The 2013 season looks to be no different, with over a dozen teams feeling like this could be their year. The Washington Nationals will have Steven Strasburg and Bryce Harper for a full season. The Cardinals, who were one win away from a second straight World Series appearance, can continue to prove they don’t need Albert Pujols. The surprising Baltimore Orioles will try to prove they have staying power. As far as predictions go, many “experts” will lean toward the sexy picks of the Angels, Dodgers or even the Toronto Blue Jays. However, in the past few seasons, the same teams end up playing deep into October. That being said, I like the Yankees over the Tigers to win the American League and the Giants over the Dodgers in the National League. I don’t see the Giants repeating, as the Yankees will beat the Giants in 6 games.

Pave your own path Katie Kolls

MEDIA ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

lizabeth Greenberg had no idea the origami flowers she sent to her friend in the hospital would turn her into a business owner, but they did. Similarly, Yasmine Arrington didn’t realize her idea for a social service presentation would become a reality in the form of a nonprofit, but it did. We all know Elon is a place full of motivated people. Every day students on this campus are doing amazing things with the resources available to them. Some have even already started their own business ventures and are looking to build a future upon them or to improve the lives of others. Elon offers several helpful tools for students interested in entrepreneurship, including the Entrepreneurship major and the Doherty Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership. The Center works with students and alumni to help them succeed in economic and social progress on a global scale. So who has the ability to be an entrepreneur? You don’t need to be a business major to be an entrepreneur, as several Elon students have already proven. All you need is a good idea and the motivation to make it grow. According to Professor Laura Zavelson, who teaches entrepreneurship classes within the Love School of Business, many students outside of the school have been taking introductory level entrepreneurship classes. “We really enjoy when people outside the School of Business take [entrepreneurship classes],” Zavelson said, “because it shows that entrepreneurship reaches across academic disciplines.” Bringing fresh ideas to the web

Zavelson says that in her time at Elon, she’s seen a wide range of student business ventures. One of those ventures is that of Kevin Ridge, a senior Media Arts and Entertainment major. “What I’m trying to do is start a music aggregate that would be like the IMDb for music,” Ridge said. The other part to Ridge’s online creation would include allowing up and coming artists to subscribe to his company’s web promotion services rather than hiring someone else to create a website for them. He says he already has a few phone numbers of artists he would like to work with, including Mike Posner.

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I never thought that it would actually work and that it would last.” -YASMINE ARRINGTON, ScholarCHIPS There are naturally a lot of difficulties that come with trying to start a business at any time, and especially as a student. Ridge says his greatest challenge so far has been finding the right people to help him, but like other entrepreneurs on this campus, he realized that fellow Elon students are a great resource to turn to. “I’ve currently got two really promising Elon students helping me to develop the site,” he said. Ridge has also found a helpful faculty mentor in Professor Zavelson, who originally encouraged him to pursue the idea and would encourage any student to do the same regardless of their hesitations. “It doesn’t matter how old you are,” Zavelson said. “Surround yourself with good advisors and try to make your idea a reality while managing risks.” Turning a solution to a problem into a business Junior Entrepreneurship major Elizabeth Greenberg turned her idea for an origami flower arrangement business into a reality with the help of her mother. Greenberg came up with the idea after learning she could not send her friend and fellow Elon student Andrew Genova live flowers while he was in the hospital. Instead, she went to the craft store and created paper flowers with a unique twist. “We made very basic origami flowers with quotes from The Hangover and Seinfeld and some inspirational things, but more so funny things,” Greenberg said. Greenberg’s origami arrangement attracted attention from nurses at the hospital, as well as other visitors wondering where they could order something similar. From there, Greenberg’s mother encouraged her to pursue her entrepreneurship skills and turn her craft into a business. Over the past year she started the venture,

Clockwise from right: Chris Welch, Kaitlin Briley, Yasmine Arrington, Kevin Ridge and Elizabeth Greenberg

STUDENT ENTREPRENEURS TAKE THEIR SKILLS TO THE NEXT LEVEL

MOST SUCCESSFUL COLLEGE ENTREPRENEURS

INFORMATION COURTESY OF THE HUFFINGTON POST

Mark Zuckerberg Facebook Harvard University Bill Gates Microsoft Harvard University Michael Dell Dell, Inc. University of Texas Jerry Yang & David Filo Yahoo! Stanford University Steve Wozniack Co-founder of Apple, Inc. University of California, Berkeley Larry Page & Sergey Brin Google, Inc. Stanford University Frederick W. Smith FedEx Yale University Steve Huffman & Alexis Ohanian Reddit University of Virginia

aptly named Non-Scents Flowers. Greenberg has made 71 sales and invested about $20,000 in start-up costs. Like with any start-up, she has experienced some roadblocks as plans fell through, but didn’t let that stop her. Originally, Greenberg hoped to work with a group home for at-risk kids, having them help create the arrangements. Unfortunately the home closed, but Greenberg considers working with the kids one of the highlights of her business so far. “Being able to help them and have that relationship was just awesome,” she said. Greenberg considers her positive business relationships to be one of her greatest successes so far. “We have great relationships with the people who purchase flowers and the hospitals,” she said. As for one of her greatest challenges thus far, Greenberg can relate to Kevin Ridge in that finding the people to help has been difficult to say the least. “The hardest part has been finding the right people who are really committed to the company and passionate about what we’re doing,” she said. Greenberg compares how she would have done things differently had she started the venture later in her college career, going back to the notion that Elon can be one of the greatest resources a student entrepreneur has. “I definitely would have used Elon and the students here and pulled them in to get ideas.” Greenberg knows that she can utilize her fellow students in helping with various aspects of her business such as communications. “Right now I’m doing all of the social media, blogging and website management,” she said. “I can do it to an extent, but I know there’s someone else who can do it better than I can.” When it comes down to her present most vital tools for running a business as a college student, Greenberg’s answer is simple. “The internet, and my mom.” Entrepreneurship from afar Senior Chris Welch took a different approach to entrepreneurship. Rather than starting up a business locally or online, Welch partnered with a small Mayan village in Mexico called Tinum in the hopes of helping improve their way of life through exporting the honey they produced. Welch first came across the village during a Business Fellows trip his freshman year, and after learning about their problems with getting the honey exported, returned the following year with friend Kyle Cassaday. The pair hoped that by creating a market for the honey in the United States, they could help with the village’s poor employment situation. “We wanted to help provide a new avenue that they could pursue inside the village for employment, while creating a market here for this really high quality organic honey that we thought would do well,” Welch said. Welch described the steps he and Cassaday took on the return trip to Tinum in order to make their vision a reality. “We looked for shipping companies, export

brokers and import brokers, and established a relationship with the co-op in the village.” Welch cites his greatest challenges in the beginning as finding the necessary funding and stores willing to carry the product. He began by talking with a contact at Weaver Street Market. “He wasn’t really willing to meet with us at first, but I finally got through to him and went in, and he was really impressed because we had already done a lot of the footwork,” Welch said. According to Welch, once they had managed to secure one major vendor in North Carolina, talks with other stores became easier. Their break with the first vendor is a perfect example of how persistence in any venture can get you where you want to go. Turning your passion into a career Senior Kaitlin Briley has had to practice persistence as well with her vintage furniture rental business, Simply Put Vintage Rentals. Briley states that although it has been a challenge, she knows her business is what she’s passionate about. “Starting a business is high risk, and the first couple years are a ton of work, but it pays off,” Briley said. She also indicated that another significant challenge has been trying to balance managing a business and finishing school. “I want to finish my time at Elon well,” she said, “but at the same time I want to give my business the time it needs in order for it to grow and become a source of income when I graduate.” Despite the challenges she faced while getting her business off its feet, the art major now has the opportunity to do what she enjoys most – design weddings and other spaces using vintage furniture, and work with people. She says her family and friends have been instrumental as her support system. “Sometimes it is easy to get discouraged or overwhelmed, but they won’t let me quit!” The non-profit side of entrepreneurship Family and helpful friends can certainly make or break a business. When Yasmine Arrington decided to start a non-profit in high school, she leaned on her grandmother and the supportive adults around her. Now a sophomore at Elon, Arrington began ScholarCHIPS (CHIPS stands for Children of Incarcerated Parents) while she was only a junior in high school. The organization provides college scholarships for high school students who, like Arrington at the time, have incarcerated parents. “My grandmother and I were looking at scholarships to apply for, and she said ‘You know Yasmine, I don’t really see any for teens with parents in prison’,” Arrington said. Although she didn’t think much of it at first, after doing some research on how many children have incarcerated parents, Arrington realized it was a significant issue. The project started out as just that – a proj-

ect. Arrington presented her idea as her social service project for the program LearnServe International. She presented her idea along with a logo, mission statement, and potential budget to a panel of professionals who liked it so much that they granted her $1,000 to start it. After that Arrington was featured in the Washington Post and things took off from there. “I never thought it would actually work and that it would last,” she said. But it certainly has worked. Between last year and this year, ScholarCHIPS has raised $26,000. This year alone has brought in $14,000. Arrington’s foundation continues to grow. Her executive board has increased from its original three members to now seven, with her serving as founder and executive director. “Sometimes it’s difficult to manage adults who are volunteering their time,” Arrington said of the challenges she faces by working with adults. She also said sometimes she isn’t taken seriously, although that is more rare. Arrington appreciates the legal and business advice she receives from her adult advisors, but also believes there are other benefits to working with students instead. “I find that working with students can sometimes be a lot faster,” she said. Arrington is currently working with fellow Elon students to put on a benefit concert in April. Also in the realm of nonprofits is Sarah Harrs, a junior who started the national organization Heart for People after traveling around Uganda in summer 2011. She was conducting research on the effectiveness of government versus grassroots organizations, and saw firsthand how many Africans have started organizations in order to help their own communities. “I started Heart for People to support them,” she said. “[It] is a nonprofit organization that connects schools in the United States directly with nonprofit organizations in Uganda to help Africans help themselves.” According to Harrs, American organizations provide direct aid and talk with the Ugandan program director about what kinds of projects they wish to support in order to help eradicate poverty. Heart for People is working on continuing to install chapters in elementary, middle, and high schools, as well as universities, along the east coast. Unfortunately Harrs has faced troubles that any long-standing business would take a serious hit from, much less a student-run nonprofit still in its early stages. Heart for People fell victim to a criminal organization in the spring of 2012 that stole over $10,000. “Recovering from that theft challenged our beliefs and our vision,” Harrs said, “but we raised enough money to pay it back in full.” Harrs is currently studying abroad in Tanzania, and will travel again to Uganda to work with schools there before returning home. Here in America, Harrs hopes Heart for People will help increase awareness and activism in young people. Like Welch, she is hoping to bring positive change to another part of the

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The hardest part has been finding the right people who are really committed and passionate about what we’re doing.” -ELIZABETH GREENBERG, Non-Scents Flowers world. “One of the greatest aspects of Heart for People is in the ability for participants to see the tangible difference they are making in a country hallway around the world,” she said. Persistence is key These Elon students have proven that youth or inexperience do not have to be limiting factors when starting a business. Each one of them has said that with the right mindset and the right people to help you, it’s perfectly possible. Kaitlyn Wintson, who graduated Elon last year, serves as one of many student success stories. Her photography business that was already quite successful during her time as a student has continued to flourish out in the “real world.” Like virtually any student entrepreneur, Kaitlyn has had to turn for help at times. “I have absolutely no background in business or finances so I had to really outsource for some assistance in the battlefield,” she said. But that didn’t stop her from pursuing her passion for photography. Since graduating, Kaitlyn has become exclusively a wedding and portrait photographer with steady bookings. As for students considering trying to start businesses of their own, Kaitlyn offers advice from her personal experience. “Don’t be afraid to ask for help!” she said. “ Other entrepreneurs at Elon would agree when Wintson insists that the faculty here can be a vital tool. “I went to professors constantly asking for advice on how to improve my work and get started in the industry, “she said, “they are a huge resource available while you are still in school.” These students are following in the footsteps of some of the greatest business personalities our country has seen, such as Mark Zuckerberg and Bill Gates. They haven’t let age or school work or roadblocks keep them from achieving their goals. For any students contemplating their own attempt at what these student have done, listen to Elizabeth Greenberg. “…Elon has a lot more entrepreneurial students than the students [themselves] realize. There are a lot of resources and a lot of people have great ideas that they don’t go for,” she said. “It’s definitely not the wrong time to start something, but don’t do it alone.”

HIGH WAIS T B OTTOM S

NEON HUE S

NAUTICA L

Bathing suits we’re crazy for

Marika Rafte

STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS

OC EA N

C OLOR

s spring break draws closer, the hunt for the perfect bathing suit begins. Figuring out what the hottest trends are for suits is always tough. However, this year, I’ve picked out a few of the best styles that are sure to be seen on the beach. For women, starts looking for high-waist bottoms and ruffles because they are coming back full swing this spring. To compliment this look, wear oversized sunglasses to add an extra touch of vintage. This is great for women whose body shape is curvy; the high-waisted bottoms will give your body tightened curves and the ruffles will draw attention up. The ruffles are also great for small-chested women, as they create a fuller effect on the bust area. Also, start your swimsuit season off bright with color blocking and neon hues similar to trends from the 80’s. This style is great for petite woman. With color blocking, it creates an effect that

lengthens the body. Aquatic motifs and ocean-inspired colors will also be a big hit this season. Of course, any body type can pull off this trend! With any of these trends a great oversized tote, large brim hat, or cute piece of jewelry is always the perfect added touch to any beach look. The Americana style will be a big hit for men’s bathing suit fashion. So fire up the grill and bring out the hot dogs and your American pride as you don your red, white and blue-colored swimsuits this season. Men will also be taking bold steps in a new direction with neon swim trunks. However, if vibrant colors and Americana aren’t exactly the look you were going for, the go-to style for men’s bathing suits are board shorts, which are a reoccurring piece spotted on the beach every year. With any of these looks flip flops, cool shades, and a light beach tank are great additions.

B OA RD

SHOR T

NAUTICA L PHOTOS BY KATY CANADA

Bright Pastel Pant In the summer, pastel pants can be worn during the day or night. This pop of color will make you stand out among the crowd. All eyes will be on you!

Fun Sunglasses Sunglasses are one of the most important accessories when packing for spring break. From lying on the beach to shopping on the boardwalk, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s important to wear loud sunglasses in creative styles and bright colors.

PHOTOS BY KATY CANADA

The Maxi Jumper Maxi jumpers are one of the hottest clothing items for spring break. Maxi jumpers are chic and trendy, especially when they have amazing patterns that spice them up. But remember to go for small patterns, they are easier on the eyes when itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a head-to-toe print!

The Perfect Bikini Swimsuits are must-haves for any trip involving fun in the sun! Try bringing a couple of suits that include different styles and colors so you can mix and match.

Light and Comfy Cover-Up Whether you are lounging on the beach or cooling down at the snack shack, cover-ups are essential to a beach day. Cover-ups should be comfortable, easy and breezy!

spring break ESSENTIALS Tatum Pederson JOURNALISM

Staple Sweater After the sun goes down and your sunburn starts setting in, everyone needs a cute and comfy sweater to finish off a cute outfit with a bright color or fun pattern.

Sheer Scarf Sheer and airy scarves work great for the spring. Scarves can add a pop of color or pattern to any outfit.

LADIES GO BOLD OR GO HOME. Make a statement this spring with bright, fun jewelry. They are a great way to spice up a dull outfit with some unexpected color and texture.

HOW LOW CAN YOU GO? Ladies, you will be pleased to know your feet can rest easy this spring. No need to trip over bricks on campus, because low heels and ballet flats are back in style. Try a simple nude pair for a classic look or go bright to make an outfit pop.

PEEK-A-BOO The “Peek-A-Boo” style makes a simple dress a bit more scandalous. These dresses have the backs or sides cut out in fun patterns to show just a little more skin while still keeping it classy.

SPRING Teresa Kuhns

STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS

I’m sure many of us are ready for warm walks across campus and lunch breaks on the patio. But the real question is: Is your closet? Put away your winter parkas and fuzzy boots, and break out the credit card. I’m here to give you the low down on this spring’s fashion must haves.

GENTLEMEN NO SOCKS ALLOWED Let your feet breathe a little this spring. Classic brown loafers will always be a staple item, but give them a spring vibe with khakis or a pair of light-wash denim.

MASTER THE LAYER The art of layering in the spring can be a tricky one, but if done correctly, it works perfectly. The key is keeping the colors bright and the pieces light. Pairing a button-down with a cardigan is the perfect outfit for a cool spring evening.

TICK-TOCK Give your wrist the time of day this spring. Literally. Menâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s watches are a great addition to any wardrobe. Keep it simple with a brown or black leather watch for a clean-cut look.

fashion 2013

HIT LIST PHOTOS BY KATY CANADA

WARDROBE TRANSITION:

winter to spring

It’s always a challenge to fit wardrobes from every season into a small dorm-room closet. This encourages some serious creativity to use pieces year-round. The key pieces that transcend the seasons can help save your wallet as we transition from winter to spring.

Karina Pepe

JOURNALISM & SPANISH

scarves

There’s no doubt that scarves are traditionally a winter accessory, but recent trends have them as an ideal piece in layering for the spring. Instead of packing up your scarves when the warm weather comes around, incorporate them into spring outfits. They are a great alternative to a necklace paired with a spring dress, or can be worn on a chilly night with a light jacket and pair of shorts.

boots

Just because spring is approaching doesn’t mean you have to ban all boots from your wardrobe. Winter boots you’ve been wearing all season work just as well with cutoff shorts or a loose skirt to create a casual vibe.

blazers

There are very few things that ruin a warm-weather outfit faster than a parka. Since spring is finally here, ditch the heavy coat and sport the fitted blazer that has been hidden by all the winter layers. A blazer can accent a dressy or casual outfit and can be worn as a neutral tone or a pop of color.

PHOTOS BY KATY CANADA

LOSE THE UNHEALTHY EATING HABITS,

GAIN HUGE HEALTH BENEFITS

“

id those homemade desserts this holiday season tempt you into letting your diet slip? Or maybe you’ve started to hear talk about spring break beach plans, and the thought of bikinis and beaches sound terrifying. Or perhaps you just made a New Year’s resolution to get healthier. Whatever your reason may be to get in shape, you’re in luck. With the new dining options on campus, making a few easy healthy diet changes have never been easier for Elon students! It’s never a bad idea to be more conscious of what you are putting into your body, especially as a college student with a demanding schedule. Between classes, logging long hours in Club Belk, and juggling extracurricular activities, it’s all too tempting to satisfy your hunger pangs with dining hall pizza again. But fortunately Elon dining options make it easy to be both busy and healthy. A healthy diet can make a huge difference in how you feel, your energy level, and how well you perform in class. With the multitude of delicious options on campus, making nutritious choices should never mean sacriﬁcing taste and variety. You’ve most likely heard this before, but combatting the dreaded “Freshman Fifteen” begins with a healthy breakfast. Making time for a balanced and ﬁlling breakfast helps jumpstart your metabolism, improve cognitive and memory function, and plays a crucial role in preventing weight gain by stopping cravings later in the day. Freshii, the new retail location located in the middle of campus in Moseley Center, aims to provide students with quick and energizing meal options

Alex Jakaitis

STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS

Nutritional information sheets are posted next to every food option in all of the dining halls. Keep an eye out for fat and sodium content, not just calorie count.”

PHOTO BY KATY CANADA

on-the-go. For just one retail swipe, you can have a variety of fresh breakfast options, as well as a drink and a side. Check out their house-made oatmeal with nuts and fruit on top – it’s ﬁlling, delicious, and low-cal, and is therefore the perfect way to prepare for an early class. Freshii however is by no means only great for breakfast – their lunch and dinner menu is full of intriguing salads, wraps, noodle bowls, and soup, and is all made with high-quality and fresh ingredients. There is great news for

every Elon student looking to improve their eating habits: nutritional information on nearly everything is readily available. Nutritional information sheets are posted next to every food option in all of the dining halls. Keep an eye out for fat and sodium content, not just calorie count – the lower, the better! But even if you’re craving a cupcake off the overﬂowing dessert bar, or a burger and fries is calling your name, try to enjoy them in moderation. Making a few easy modiﬁcations can change

a greasy meal into a nutritious dinner. For example, try an open-faced burger or sandwich by just taking off one of the pieces of bread, and save yourself the carbs and about 60 calories. Substitute fries for a salad with your favorite vegetables and light dressing, and you’ll stay fuller for longer as well as help meet your daily vitamin quota. Also, saying no to soda, both diet and regular, is always a good idea. Do yourself a favor, grab a glass of water instead and you will cut a great deal of sugar out of your daily intake. Stay away from the sneaky things that can add a lot of excess calories and fat to your diet: condiments, extra cheese, fatty dressings, and salt. Snacking throughout the day is a necessity for most college students to stay energized. But don’t sabotage your health by bee-lining to a vending machine. A free and easy way to combat mid-day hunger is grabbing a piece of fruit on your way out of the dining hall. When your eyes are blurring from tiny textbook print, and you need an energy boost, you’ll be glad you did. Staying healthy on a college campus doesn’t mean spending hours in the gym or eating nothing but salad. Making a few simple changes, and you will notice an improvement in your body and your brain. For more helpful tips and information about nutrition at Elon, check out the CampusDish website.

SPRING CLEANING-UP YOUR EXERCISE PLAN Mary Kate Brogan JOURNALISM

Spring is that time of year for new beginnings and revitalization, and if youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re like me, nothing needs more revitalization than my fitness routine. Fortunately, staying in shape is now easier than ever thanks to the plethora of fitness apps that are readily available at your fingertips, complete with on-the-go access. So go ahead, give your fitness and health-related goals a 21st-century makeover and get started right away on the new and improved you! For your convenience, Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve reviewed some of the hottest fitness apps and sites on the market to help you get on track and stay there when it comes to your fitness aspirations. These apps track exercise habits, count calories, manage weight, educate you about health and help you work toward becoming a healthier, happier you! With spring break just around the corner, these apps are a must for every busy college student.

PHOTO BY KATY CANADA

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Exercise Tracke

Gorilla Workout: 99¢

Nike + Running: Free

Fitocracy: Free

Gorilla Workout is an app for getting in shape “on a tight budget,” according to its website. You can start at one of four levels, depending on how many push-ups you can do, and the exercises get gradually more difficult every day. The app gives descriptions and video demonstrations of each exercise as well, to ensure that you’re doing the exercise right. Level 1’s exercises generally don’t take more than 10 minutes to complete, so if you’re creating a fitness plan for the first time, this is a great way to get started.

This app is great for runners because it tracks your distance even on wooded trails; something other running apps are generally not accurate with. If you connect it with your Facebook account, when you start a run and make it public, every “Like” you receive on social media is translated into a real life cheer during your run. The app also tracks your personal bests, which is great for competitive runners who want to reach a certain goal or are looking for a time or distance to beat.

Fitocracy turns fitness into a game and tracks all kinds of exercise with extreme accuracy. The layout is encouraging (you can get points and “props” every time you work out), and you can do fun activities like Quests to challenge yourself. There is also a social networking component to this app, where you can connect with others and comment on their workouts as well as join specific interest groups. If you want to get in shape, this app is really worthwhile.

gorillaworkoutapp.com Rating: 7/10

HealthTap: Free HealthTap.com Rating: 6/10

Digital

NikePlus.com Rating: 7/10

Doctor

HealthTap is similar to WebMd, with the exception that you are able to ask real doctors your health questions. There is also a New Year’s Resolutions feature, which includes sections such as, “drink in moderation,” “eat healthier” and “exercise more,” and you can receive advice from real doctors on how to keep those healthy habits alive. It’s not super useful, but it is an interesting app to have in your repertoire if you’re concerned with health.

ZocDoc: Free zocdoc.com Rating: 4/10

The purpose of ZocDoc is to help you find a local doctor and make an appointment. While I can see this benefitting someone who is graduating in the next few months and is moving to a new city, the app is relatively useless to anyone living in the Elon area or in a rural area because few doctors are registered on the site. In order to sign up, you must sign up online (not on the app).

fitocracy.com Rating: 9/10

Calorie Counter MyFitnessPal: Free myfitnesspal.com Rating: 7/10 MyFitnessPal tracks it all: everything you eat, every exercise you do, even how much water you drink, which is incredibly helpful if you’re trying to lose, gain or maintain your weight. While the exercise tracker leaves something to be desired in terms of accuracy, the app has a more extensive food catalog than its competitors. This works as a food journal, except there’s no need for a pen and paper. As long as you have the patience to input everything you’ve eaten during the day, it’s a really helpful app.

Lose It!: Free loseit.com Rating: 4/10 This app is essentially the same as MyFitnessPal, except with a less extensive exercise tracker. The food catalog, however, includes restaurant food and popular grocery store brands, so finding what you just ate is relatively easy, ensuring accuracy.

SAY GOODBYE TO T H E B OX:

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Why we need to be ambassadors for faith acceptance in the world

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o one likes to be put in a box. Northerner. Southerner. Athlete. Nerd. Fraternity brother. Independent. While there are plenty of labels people wear with pride, labels can be easily turned on their heads. This is especially true when it comes to religion. If I told you to imagine a typical Christian, Muslim or Jewish person, maybe you’d think of people you know who exemplify each of those faiths. But for some people, stereotypes of those faiths are the first things that come to mind. But what is a typical person in any faith? If every person is different, how can we define someone as typical? Most importantly, why do some people continue to put others in a box, stick a label on them and move on without even getting to know them first? Because religion is such a heated topic in today’s society, some people just avoid the subject completely, but cer-

tainly, many people still have stereotypes of what they think is typical behavior for someone of a certain faith. I was raised Catholic, but, even though I spent eight years in Catholic school, I’m still cautious about mentioning my faith when I’m meeting someone new because I know people are prone to make assumptions about me. Once people know I’m Catholic, I know they see me differently, whether they admit it to me (or to themselves) or not. Unfortunately, I’ve noticed people think a lot of things that aren’t necessarily true from learning that one thing about me. One of my friends doesn’t like to say “I’m Catholic” and leave it at that but instead says: “Here’s what I believe; let me explain it to you.” Faith means different things to different people so you can’t assume you know someone just because you can put them in a box labeled with their faith. One identifier does not define someone’s whole life.

While I think universities nationwide are becoming more accepting for people of different faiths, I also think students need to step outside the our respective college bubbles for a minute and think about the world that, in a few short years, we’ll be fully engulfed in. Not everyone in our country has had the chance to learn about different faiths as we have had the opportunity to do, and not every nation has religious freedom enough that students can explore other religions. As students, we need to be ambassadors to the world in terms of acceptance. We have a chance to make a difference out there, because, truth be told, the real world isn’t as PC as college is. We can make the world better. We can make it more accepting. We can leave our stereotypes behind and push others to do so as well. But it all starts with us. So be the best global citizen you can be. It’s time to step out of the box.

Mary Kate Brogan PRINT/ONLINE JOURNALISM

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CONFESSIONS OF OUR CELEBRITY OBSESSIONS T

his morning, I woke up, got dressed and went to breakfast. I had a bagel and a cup of coffee, walked to class with my roommate, and went to the gym for an hour. For dinner I had— …Oh wait, you don’t care? I’m not surprised. I don’t think anyone, not even my mom, would want to know the intimate details of my day because, honestly, they’re boring. Yet, when Justin Bieber (@justinbieber) tweets, “Time for the workout,” he gets retweeted 38,849 times. Enough people to populate a small city thought Justin’s comment was worth being shared. Why? What is so special about Justin Bieber that his daily life is so worthy of our attention? Why do we follow celebrities and exclaim over their most mundane and tedious actions? Celebrities lead lives that us “mortals” can only dream of. They star in movies with multi-million dollar budgets, buy extravagant mansions and walk red carpets in lavish ball gowns made exclusively for them by the world’s top designers. Admiring those aspects of an A-Lister’s life is understandable; who wouldn’t want that kind of existence? Unfortunately, our society’s current preoccupation with celebrities goes beyond simple admiration. We obsess over celebrities. There are hundreds, if not thousands, of magazines and websites solely dedicated to following celebrities’ every move. Us Weekly, People, and OK! magazines, TMZ and E! News—the list goes on and on. With the invention of social media sites like Facebook and Twitter, we can follow a celebrity’s every move. If they stop tweeting, there are paparazzi to photograph them, just so fans don’t lose track of their idol for a single second. It’s a little creepy. If someone with a camera followed me around and took pictures of me all day, I’d call the police. For celebri-

“

Our society’s current preoccupation with celebrities goes beyond simple admiration.” ties like Liam Hemsworth or Selena Gomez, it’s just another day in the life of a celebrity. I understand watching celebrities on the red carpet and admiring their elegant clothing. I have no problem watching a movie three times in a row just because my favorite actor is in it. That’s healthy, harmless fun. But when I see pictures of celebrities with their families in the park, trying to have a fun family day, I just don’t understand. Celebrities are people. They want a day off just like the rest of us. Besides the invasion of privacy, our obsession with celebrities has negative consequences for our society as a whole. Pop culture revolves around celebrities. Our favorite authors, actors and artists are regarded with awe and raised to a status the rest of us can only dream of reaching.Celebrity obsession starts at a young age. Impressionable children base their moral standards on celebrity behavior. When those same celebrities mess up and make bad choices, as humans are known to do from time to time, their mistakes are broadcast to the world and mimicked by the children (even adults) who worship them. When stars like Lindsay Lohan go to prison, what are children learning? Celebrity idolization may have started innocently enough, but over the last two decades it has exploded into an extremely lucrative industry that will do anything necessary to get a good picture or a juicy story. This industry is bad for everyone—celebrities and their fans—and it will only get worse.

Lauren Phillips ENGLISH PHOTO BY RUTH GRAY

BEST BOOKS for BREAK the

Whether you are jet setting to a tropical destination or spending your week relaxing in the comfort of your home, taking a break to enjoy an excellent book is necessary after a taxing start to the semester. The following books will fulfill your every need and allow you to come to back to campus relaxed and focused.

Amanda Garrity

STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS

In need of inspiration

The sentimental novel, The Language of Flowers, by Vanessa Diffenbaugh describes the acts of betrayal, bewilderment and love. Through Diffenbaugh’s exemplary writing, the life of Victoria, a young woman raised in the foster care system, is told in an emotionally captivating manner. Victoria has been subjected to disturbing abuses in her upbringing and as a result, her social skills never advanced. The easiest way for Victoria to communicate is through the language of flowers. While the novel weaves between the hardship faced in Victoria’s past and the freedom granted in present day, the prevalence of flowers remains. The meanings she deciphers from the various types of flowers allows her voice to speak even louder and in turn, make new friendships, loves and opportunities blossom.

PHOTO BY RUTH GRAY

Looking for something profound Little Bee by Chris Cleave is an insightful novel that explores the importance of humanity and the weight of ethical decisions. Through the meeting of Little Bee, a Nigerian refugee who escaped from the British Immigration Center, and Sarah, an affluent British woman who is trying to mend her broken marriage, the strength of humanity is displayed. Both Little Bee and Sarah share their pasts and attempt to recover for the future. Their ability to forgive demonstrates their profound strength, making this novel an example for the power of the compassion of humankind.

In need of a good laugh

After struggling with a stressful first half of the semester, a hilarious and heartwarming book is the perfect remedy. Tina Fey’s New York Times bestseller, Bossypants, can give you just what you are looking for. In this book, Fey describes her outlandish adventures as an ambitious young girl who had a dream to pursue comedy. Her ridiculous stories about her nerdy tendencies in high school, her mother’s strange eating habits and her failed relationships prove to be “LOL” worthy. An exceptional standout is her Note to God that she wrote following the birth of her daughter. Tina Fey effortlessly reveals all of her secrets and ends on a high note by stating that you are truly considered to be a no one until you are proven to be bossy.

Seeking adventure

Jack Kerouac’s famed novel, On the Road, takes you on an intrepid journey through picturesque America in the 1950’s. Sal Paradise, the protagonist, goes on an adventure traveling throughout the country to cities such as New York, Chicago, Denver and San Francisco. During his expedition, Sal is always searching for something or someone but, luckily, he has his new friend, Dean Moriarity, by his side to ease his worries and dissatisfactions. These two new friends are continuously on the move, seeking purpose and perspective. Although they appear to live in alternate worlds with varying problems, the two men soon learn that they are more similar than they ever imagined.

On the edge of your seat Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn is a thrilling novel that contains murder, love and infidelity. Upon the arrival of their fifth wedding anniversary, Amy, the wife of small-town golden boy Nick Dunne, is murdered. As questioning begins surrounding the identity of the murderer, all fingers are pointing at Nick. With twists and turns on every page, this psychological thriller will certainly have you sitting on the edge of your seat. Rumor has it that Reese Witherspoon is turning this critically acclaimed novel into a movie, so get ahead of the game and start reading!

Discover Burlington

Company Shops Market

in a New Light

Whether you’re a fan of organic cuisine or just looking to spice up your dinner plate, add Company Shops Market to your menu. Not only is Company Shops Market an organic grocery store that specializes in locally grown and sustainable food, it’s also a café that features a hot and cold bar and live music every Friday. Company Shops Market is conveniently located in the heart of downtown Burlington. Visit www. companyshopmarket. coop or call 336-2230390 for details.

North Carolina Ballooning

Want to do something that will have all your friends talking? Take a ride in a hot air balloon courtesy of North Carolina Ballooning. They offer flights for groups as big as 16, and there are special packages if you’re looking to take a special someone on a romantic flight. Hot air balloon rides are unforgettable, creative, fun and a great time. Call 1-800-318-7285 for details.

Every college town has its staple activities, and by the time the second semester rolls around, these scheduled novelties are wearing thin. If you’re going to the same parties every weekend and considering the local shopping centers to be “a night on the town,” you may be resigned to the thought that you’ve done everything there is to do in the local area. Never fear: We’ve compiled 10 lesser-known locations in and around Burlington to breathe life into your old routine.

Frankie Campisano Nathan Smith MEDIA ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

David L. Maynard, Sr. Aquatic Center

If you’re looking for a more traditional tourist experience in the area, the Maynard Aquatic Center is open yearround and offers discounted admission prices to residents of the Burlington area. If you want to swim or relax by the water off campus, the Maynard Aquatic Center is your best bet. For more information visit burlingtonnc. gov, keyword “aquatics.”

JOURNALISM

Burlington Outlet Village

Is shopping more your forte? Burlington Outlet Village offers an incredibly diverse selection to browse. Ranging from high quality thrift stores to more recognizable brand names, the Burlington Outlet Village has something for everyone. If you want to expand your wardrobe in a new way, this is the place for you. Visit www. burlingtonoutletvillage.com for a complete list of stores, upcoming events and sales.

Ella’s Coffee House

Cedarock Park and Historical Farm

PHOTOS BY ALISON RYNCARZ

If you’re more of an outdoorsy type, the Cedarock Park and Historical Farm is a creative way to get in touch with nature and the forefathers of North Carolina. Cedarock Park includes nature trails, lakes for fishing and leisurely activities, a waterfall and multiple disc golf courses. Visit www.alamancenc.com, keyword “Cedarock” for more information.

It’s not open for business yet, but Ella’s Coffee House in downtown Burlington has all the makings of a hotspot for college students. Featuring an expansive library for patrons to browse, live music, local entertainment and fresh brewed coffee, Ella’s will be the place everyone is talking about when it officially opens its doors in spring 2013.

MYLO XYLOTO MAKES ITS MARK COLDPLAY 2012 U.S. TOUR REVIEW Teresa Kuhns

STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS

Unforgettable. Electric. Mind blowing. These are just some of the many adjectives that come to mind when I think about Coldplay’s recent tour. This year I was fortunate enough to see the British band not once, not twice, but three times. And it goes without saying that each time was even more memorable than the last. Lead singer Chris Martin puts on quite the show, and I have never been in the presence of a band that possesses such energy and passion on stage.

LADY GAGA Mon., Mar. 18 Greensboro Coliseum $192 at Ticketmaster.com

The international pop sensation known for her theatrical performances and racy costumes will be making a stop in Greensboro. While her concert may be on the pricier side, it could be worth the once-in-a-lifetime experience.

ALICIA KEYS w/ MIGUEL Sat., Mar. 30 Greensboro Coliseum $116 at Ticketmaster.com

With her chart-topping new single, “Girl on Fire,” and recent album release, Alicia Keys teams up with fellow soul singer Miguel. Miguel released his album, “Kaleidoscope Dream,” in late 2012, including the single “Adorn.”

The band’s previous albums “Rush of Blood to the Head” and “Parachutes” received criticism for having the same sound and lacking any real energy (although, if you ask me, their lyrics are always beautiful and downright chilling). However, the band’s most recent CD “Mylo Xyloto” has appeared to prove critics wrong. The fresh, new sound has left loyal fans in awe and sparked an interest in many who were beginning to doubt the British group. Say goodbye to entire albums full of heartbreak and depressing love songs; “Mylo Xyloto” is packed with life and color. The 2012 Mylo Xyloto Tour will forever be one to remember. For each concert, all audience members are given wrist bands called “Xylobands” that light up in various colors in sync with the album’s biggest hits like “Hurts Like Heaven” and “Paradise.” The effect is indescribable—an entire arena full of technicolor glowing (or ‘glowing technicolor’) lights while Chris, Johnny, Guy and Will jam out on stage. Lasers flash while confetti blasts upward from all sides of the stage, tleaving the audience surrounded by vibrant butterflies and hearts. It’s perfection. There is nothing like a crowd full of people singing the “woah-oh

AWOLNATION

PHOTO COURTESY OF MCTCAMPUS

-oh-oh’s” to the band’s popular “Viva la Vida.” And of course, old classics are still a major part of the show. “Yellow” is always a crowd favorite, and when Chris sings it acoustically, jaws drop. But let’s be honest, anyone who has seen this band live knows what I’m talking about. It’s hard to pick the single best part because the entire concert is pure genius. I could go on and on, but you must see it firsthand to truly understand. I promise there’s nothing like it. Now, go listen to Coldplay’s new album, and find out what I’m talking about.

GEORGE STRAIT

w/ BLONDFIRE & MOTHER MOTHER

w/ MARTINA McBRIDE

Tues., Mar. 19 Lincoln Theatre, Raleigh $22 at eTix.com

Sat., Mar. 23 Greensboro Coliseum $108 at Ticketmaster.com

While alternative Awolnation’s album was released in March 2010, it continues to gain popularity. “Sail” has grown to be one of their identifying singles. Blondfire’s EP, “Where the Kids Are,” was released in November 2012 by the siblings Bruce and Erica Driscoll. The third band featured, Mother Mother, has not emerged largely on the music scene; their latest album, “Eureka,” was released in 2011.

For you country fans, George Strait and Martina McBride have paired up for their latest tour. Strait has been producing music for decades, and he released his latest single, “Give It All We Got Tonight” in 2012.

MATT COSTA Sat., Apr. 20 Cat’s Cradle, Raleigh $15 at Venue Website

Alternative singer Matt Costa released his latest self-titled album on February 12, 2013. Past singles that he has been known for have included “Mr. Pitiful” and “Good Times.”

JASON ALDEAN

CONCERTS to look for Molly Boyce

STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS

w/ JAKE OWEN & THOMAS RHETT Sat., May 18 Greensboro Coliseum $68 at Ticketmaster.com

Jason Aldean, Jake Owen and Thomas Rhett usher in the southern-summer country concert circuit in mid-May. Aldean, best known for singles such as “Dirt Road Anthem” and “My Kind Party,” released his fifth album last October. Between Owen, best known for “Barefoot Blue Jean Night,” and the young Thomas Rhett with the single “Beer with Jesus,” this group should be the perfect way to kick off the summer.

As the new semester bursts with classes, professors, activities and responsibilities, the calendar seems to shift quickly from the ease and escape of fake break to the frenzy of spring. Check out some of the concerts coming to local venues in the North Carolina triad area and get ready to mark up your calendar.

So maybe you’re planning a trip to the beach or maybe you’re just trying to get through midterms alive. No matter who you are or where you’re going, we all need a few tunes to get us to and get us through spring break.

Mary Kate Brogan JOURNALISM

“Va Va Voom” – Nicki Minaj There’s nothing like a poppy Nicki Minaj tune to kick off your break. “Va Va Voom” is great for pumping you up to push through the last page of your midterm paper or for rocking out once you’re finished with midterms.

“Are You Ready? - Kate MillerHeidke & Keir Nuttall “Are You Ready?” is slightly off-beat but it’s a great beat. This song basically chronicles how much [effort it takes for girls to get ready for a night out,] goes into girls going out for a night but in a satirical, catchy way.

“It’s Time” - Imagine Dragons After all that time asking if you’re ready to go with Kate Miller-Heidke, it’s finally time to begin! Maybe it’s getting old for some of you, but it’s still a great upbeat song to sing along to with your pals.

“Bittersweet Donald” - The White Panda Mac Miller and The White Panda both graced us with their presence at last year’s SUB Spring Show, and now The White Panda is bringing them together again. Even if you can’t stand Mac or The Verve, you have to admit, it’s a pretty great mash-up.

“Hey Ya!” - OutKast An absolute classic. You know all the words (if you don’t, what rock were you living under 10 years ago?), and sometimes you just need a reminder from Andre 3000 that it’s okay to shake it like a Polaroid picture.

“Up and Away” (feat June) Can’t Stop Won’t Stop I’ve been known to give rap a bad rap. I prefer rappers with clever lyrics to those who rap about the same ol’, same ol’, and “Can’t Stop Won’t Stop” keeps it “fresh to death like I’m drowning in Febreze.” The puns in this brassy jam both can’t stop and won’t stop, and it’s just a fantastic tune.

SPRING BREAK PLAYLIST 7

“Bounce” - Calvin Harris & Kelis Calvin Harris has produced so many great spring break-worthy hits, it was hard to choose between them all. But this song shines because it’s both supercatchy and sung by Kelis, master song craftswoman of our middle school years [see: “Bossy” and “Milkshake”]. Considering I thought “Bossy” was actually Bouncy, this song is certainly appropriate.

8 9

“Island in the Sun” - Weezer A magnificently mellow 90’s tune, “Island in the Sun” is probably the world’s best song to just chill out to on a beach to. “Second Chance” - Peter Bjorn and John You may have heard this on a commercial for Sobe Lifewater (or maybe you didn’t), but this is the ultimate YOLO anthem (besides Drake’s “The Motto,” which actually coined the term). “You can’t, can’t count on a second chance” – spot on, so go out and grab your spring break by the reins.

“Just Haven’t Met You Yet” - Twisted Measure Surprised? Come on, this is an Elon Spring Break playlist. You really didn’t think there wouldn’t be a nod to at least one of our fabulous a cappella groups, did you? It was tough to pick one from all of our great groups, but I just adore this cover and thought you might too.

“One Week” - Barenaked Ladies Spring break is only one week, and the Barenaked Ladies are here with their fast-paced lyrics to make it the best one week of your spring term. Try to keep up.

“Thrift Shop” (feat. Wanz) Macklemore & Ryan Lewis My first task over spring break is heading to the Goodwill for some new (to me) clothes (to myself), thanks to Macklemore’s inspiration. Yeah, maybe “Thrift Shop” has been overdone, but then again, there’s a lot of truth behind looking fly when you’re rocking other people’s grandpa’s clothes. So jam out. No shame. Happy spring break.

PHOTO BY STEFAN FORTMANN

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