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THE PENDULUM
Wednesday, April 14, 2021 Volume 50, Edition 25 Elon, North Carolina
ASIAN BUSINESSES, RESIDENTS GRAPPLE WITH
PANDEMIC DISCRIMINATION
Elon sees increase in applicants, admissions, despite
Changes to the admissions included test optional applications and a decrease in touring families Sara Merullo
Elon News Network
SAMANTHA HESS | STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Aaron Tom’s business, Shanghai Restaurant, had to alter the way it operates and faces changes in the perspective of the Asian-American community during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Asian-owned businesses in Alamance County seek balance amid concerns of racial discrimination Samantha Hess Elon News Network
A
ARON TOM WIPES HIS forehead as he stands over the steaming grill at the back of Shanghai Restaurant while making his family’s lo mein recipe. He moves instinctually, having made this dish for years, creating his livelihood by serving
others. Tom’s routine working hours are spent facilitating every aspect of his business, whether that’s attending to customers or helping in the kitchen. Tom said the restaurant industry is a stable and predictable line of work for him — one that never made him worry about possible failure. But recently, that’s changed. The coronavirus pandemic has drastically changed the way many local businesses operate. In a study conducted by Business Wire in October 2020, 43% of small to mid-sized businesses in the United
States reported significant or severe impact since the beginning of the virus, resulting in layoffs and closures. For Asian businesses the economic hardships of the pandemic has an added layer. “The pandemic has changed a lot of people’s perspectives on the Asian community, and it makes me nervous sometimes going to new places around town,” Tom said.
See BUSINESS | pg. 3
The pandemic-altered years of 2020 and 2021 have amplified the difficulty of the college application process. This year’s class of high school seniors will be making decisions on where to continue their education with COVID-19 regulations augmenting their campus visits, and the deadline of May 1 to commit to most schools is fast approaching. Nearly 18,000 students applied to Elon University this year, and 13,841 students have been accepted for the 2021-22 academic year. This is an increase in both size and acceptance rate compared to last year, in which about 15,300 students applied and 10,975 were accepted, according to the University factbook. The university remains open with active tours running on campus. However, fewer families are visiting this year because of the pandemic. Virtual visits are allowing Elon to connect with a wide range of students, but the experience is not the same as an in-person visit, according to Greg Zaiser, vice president for enrollment. BY THE NUMBERS
13,841
students have been accepted for the 2021-22 academic year thus far.
Geese police organization works to relocate geese Two North Carolina bird control services help Elon’s geese relocate during nesting season Ellis Chandler
Social Media Coordinator | @ellis__chandler
Elon has a goose problem. It’s not that the fowl act overly foul, but take a gander around the university and you’ll see — and possibly smell and step in — their presence at the various campus lakes. Enter the Geese Police, an organization that began working on campus two months ago to remove the geese who have taken up residence at both Lake Mary Nell and Lake Verona. Goose nesting season takes place from the end of February through May, but the Geese Police come to campus
year-round because their work is similar to a landscaping service. “This is a very busy season. They get very stubborn when it’s nesting season because their brain tells them, ‘I nested here last year, this is where I’m going to nest this year,’” Geese Police dog handler Mary Beth Soto said. Director of landscaping and grounds Scott Stevens said Canada geese can also be rude, noisy, bold and sometimes aggressive around community members, especially if they have baby goslings. He said the geese have become a nuisance on campus over the past decade, and the university began using contractors who rely on border collies for Canada geese removal in 2003.
See GEESE | pg. 6
Canada geese are nicknamed “guilty suspects” by the Geese Police.
ELLIS CHANDLER | SOCIAL MEDIA COORDINATOR
NEWS • PAGE 6
LIFESTYLE • PAGE 10
LIFESTYLE• PAGE 11
Small businesses
Local florist industy is
Performing arts
look for better future
blooming
takes on “Macbeth”