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THE PENDULUM
Wednesday, May 5, 2021 Volume 50, Edition 28 Elon, North Carolina
‘UNLEARN’ CAPTURES RACIAL TENSIONS IN ALAMANCE COUNTY
Women’s lacrosse looks ahead to CAA tournament The Phoenix are looking to clinch their first NCAA Tournament bid since 2017 Jacob Kisamore
Elon News Network | @jacob_kisamore
With the regular season now complete, the Elon women’s lacrosse team is turning its attention to this week’s Colonial Athletic Association women’s lacrosse tournament. The Phoenix are the No. 4 seed in the CAA Tournament and will play No. 5 seed Towson University on Wednesday, May 5 in the quarterfinals. Head Coach Josh Hexter believes the team can compete well against any team in the conference and said he expects his players to fight hard in every game they play in the tournament. “Regardless of who we’re matched up against, the expectation is we’re going to compete like crazy and have some fun,” Hexter said. NYAH PHENGSITTHY | DESIGN CHIEF
See LACROSSE | pg.16
The “Unlearn” documentary team interviews Rev. Donna Vanhook ‘07 on her experience with racism in the Black Community Room in Moseley Center.
The independent film in the making captures the fight for racial justice in Alamance County through stories from Black voices Nyah Phengsitthy | Design Chief | @nyahphengsitthy
T
ONI AUTRY WAS SEVEN years old in 1992 when she realized that the color of skin would be an issue for her as a resident in Alamance County. She was uninvited from her friend’s birthday party because she was Black. Fast forward to 2021, and the issue of her skin color still exists. In the wake of George Floyd’s murder by a white police officer last May, Autry used her social media platforms to create the film “Unlearn: The Consequences of Racism.” In partnership with co-director Martin Buchanan and producer Alex Klein, the film aims to capture the fight for racial justice in Alamance County through interviews with county residents and activists. “We are trying to show through human experience that racism does exist, and that it can be unlearned because what you are taught is not true, and what you are doing is affecting other humans,” Autry said. “It took a man being murdered by police officers on national television to make people open up their eyes and see that Black people are not just speaking out of nowhere. There’s a blatant difference in how Black people
are treated by the police.” A string of local and national incidents following Floyd’s murder are also connected to the creation of the short film, according to Autry.
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ALL OF THESE THINGS LEAD UP TO THIS UNDERLYING RACISM THAT HAS BEEN IN THIS SPECIFIC SPACE, IN THIS SMALL TOWN MENTALITY, IT REALLY TAKES OVER. TONI AUTRY “UNLEARN” CO-DIRECTOR
These occurrences include months of protests and rallies in front of the Graham Confederate monument, the riot at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6 and fatal police shootings involving Black people like Andrew Brown Jr., who was shot by a deputy sheriff in
Elizabeth City, North Carolina on April 21. Autry and her team’s initial plan for the documentary was to create a short video that would then be shared to social media platforms. But as more local residents began to speak up about the racial issues they experienced in Alamance County since childhood, the interviews began to shape into a longform documentary. The film crew realized that not only did racism go unrecognized in the area, but that some local stories were never told. “We knew we had to keep going, and it wasn’t just going to be something we would throw on Facebook. There are some deep issues as we targeted people around where I’m from,” Autry said. “All of these things lead up to this underlying racism that has been in this specific space, in this small town mentality, that really takes over.” Interviews in the documentary had to keep up with the numerous incidents in North Carolina and the nation of racial injustice where Black people were the victims.
See UNLEARN | pg. 4
Explaining impostor syndrome The phenomenon, first looked at in high achieving women, leaves people with feelings of doubt and inadequacy Kyra O’Connor
Enterprise Story Coordinator | @ ko_reports
As a first generation college student and female professor in a male dominated field, Kelsey Bitting, professor of environmental science, said she often experiences feelings of doubt and insecurities. These feelings are impostor syndrome, and they aren’t exclusive to Bitting. Professor of psychology CJ Fleming said she faces uncertainty and self-doubt all the time, especially when she is in a room with people who she perceives are more qualified than she is. Professor of philosophy Shannon Lundeen saw it in her female colleagues just before they accepted a promotion. Director of Elon 101 Brandy Propst saw it in herself in college and now in the lives of the students she teaches, particularly those with marginalized identities.
See SYNDROME | pg. 5
NEWS • PAGE 7
LIFESTYLE • PAGE 10
SPORTS • PAGE 16
U.S. Census data gives North
Lavender Graduation to honor
Elon alumn recognized for
Carolina 14th House seat
LGBTQIA+ seniors
sports accomplishments
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Wednesday may 5, 2021
THE PENDULUM MACKENZIE WILKES A PUBLICATION OF
GRACE TERRY JACK NORCROSS ELLIS CHANDLER
Established 1974 Volume 50, Edition 28 Elon News Network is a daily news organization that includes a newspaper, website, broadcasts and podcasts. Letters to the editor are welcome and should be typed, signed and emailed to enn@elon.edu as Word documents. ENN reserves the right to edit obscene and potentially libelous material. Lengthy letters may be trimmed to fit. All submissions become the property of ENN and will not be returned.
Executive Director of Elon News Network Managing Editor of The Pendulum
News Director of Elon Local News
Social Media Coordinator
MADALYN HOWARD
Chief Copy Editor
AVA GIRARDI
New Member Coordinator
NYAH PHENGSITTHY
Design Chief
CLARE GRANT
Photo Editor
KIERAN UNGEMACH
Politics Editor
MIRANDA FERRANTE
Lifestyle Editor
KYRA O’CONNOR
Enterprise Story Coordinator
BEN MUSE
Analytics Coordinator
ANNEMARIE BONNER
Sports Director
WHEN WE PUBLISH: The Pendulum publishes weekly on Wednesdays
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ENN Radio Podcast CORRECTIONS POLICY:
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Jacob Kisamore, Ted Thomas, Andrew Zagari, Henry Zinn, Emma Farrell Caroline Bunder, and Livy Smith contributed to the design of this edition. Amelia Acaro-Burbridge, Miranda Ferrante, Molly Jenks, Kyra O’Connor, Olivia Romano and Sophie Rosenthal contributed to the copy editing of this edition.
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games
Corrections In the April 21 edition of the Pendulum, Lindley Sytz Rickert’s name was mispelled. In the April 21 edition of the Pendulum, Jimmy Riddle’s graduation year was mistated. Riddle graduated
EDITORIAL POLICY: ENN seeks to inspire, entertain and inform the Elon community by providing a voice for students and faculty, as well as serve as a forum for the meaningful exchange of ideas.
from Elon in 1980. Elon News Network regrets these errors.
How to Play: Guess the missing word in the five clues, then find them in the word search below. Words can be found backwards, diagonal, etc. 1. Toni Autry, Martin Buchanan and _____ Avril Klein created the documentary “Unlearn: The consequences of Racism”. See Page 1 for answer. 2. North Carolina gained 9.5% more _____ from 2010 to 2020 and gained a 14th seat in the U.S. House of Representatives. See Page 7 for answer. 3. The _____ Scholars are awarded a $20,000 grant for their undergraduate research projects. See Pages 8 and 9 for answer. 4. Sophomore Kayla Spalding spends on average 10 hours a week in _____ classes . See Page 12 for answer. 5. _____ Michel, program coordinator at the Burlington Animal Services, said the shelter has “ran out of dogs”. See Page 13 for answer.
Comic
SCAN FOR MORE COVERAGE FROM ELON NEWS NETWORK OR VISIT ELONNEWSNETWORK.COM
1. Open your phone camera 2. Focus on the QR code 3. Click the pop-up link
extras
| PHOTOS OF THE WEEK |
Wednesday May 5, 2021
Redshirt senior and second baseman Jarret Pico tags a College of Charleston player to prevent a stolen base. The Phoenix would go on to beat the Cougars 14-5 on April 30.
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LUCAS CASEL | STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
LUCAS CASEL | STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
KYRA O’CONNOR | ENTERPRISE STORY COORDINATOR
Faith Cook (right), an activist in Graham, demonstrates in front of a citizen who filmed parts of the protest on her cellphone at Wyatt Outlaw Park in downtown Graham on April 28.
Freshman Cole Reynolds walks to load the bases for redshirt freshman Parker Haskin on April 30. Elon would go on to beat the College of Charleston 14-5.
Redshirt sophomore Jasmine Bryant moves the ball upfield for Elon on April 28. The Phoenix would lose to University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee 0-1 in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
LUCAS CASEL | STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
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Wednesday may 5, 2021
‘UNLEARN’ DOCUMENTARY GRAPPLES WITH RACISM, SHARES LOCAL BLACK VOICES UNLEARN | from cover Sherea Burnett, alumnae of Elon University School of Law, started doing interviews discussing topics like the march to the polls rally in Graham where law enforcement pepper-sprayed peaceful voters and protesters. “Things keep happening at a rapid pace in our society,” Burnett said. “Some people would prefer that we be quiet about it, and I think they think that if we are quiet about it, it will eventually go away. But we’ve been quiet about it for a long time in Alamance County, and it’s not going anywhere. It’s still very much here.” Burnette attended middle and high school in Graham with Autry and said she saw similar systemic issues growing up in the county. “I saw things from ninth to 12th grade that I thought had long since dissipated,” Burnett said. “I didn’t think that this was still around. You would think, 2021, it’s over, but any given day anywhere, they’re having a whole rally moment in the [Confederate monument] corner. I’m 35 now, and you guys are still doing this. This is still happening. This is crazy to me because it has never stopped.” Through each interview and every story told, Autry hopes the personal experiences shared will raise awareness that racism can be unlearned. “The interviews are very candid,” Autry said. “They’re not rehearsed, they’re not scripted. It’s just a conversation. I want them to share what first comes to mind. If you want to have a film showing human emotion and want people to know it’s based on human experience, then you have to show their raw emotion and give the space for the world to be able to see truly how racism affects people.”
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SOME PEOPLE WOULD PREFER THAT WE BE QUIET ABOUT IT, AND I THINK THEY THINK THAT IF WE ARE QUIET ABOUT IT, IT WILL EVENTUALLY GO AWAY. BUT WE’VE BEEN QUIET ABOUT IT FOR A LONG TIME IN ALAMANCE COUNTY, AND IT’S NOT GOING ANYWHERE. IT’S STILL VERY MUCH HERE. SHEREA BURNETT INTERVIEWEE
The filming of “Unlearn” also recognizes that visually capturing the racial injustices occurring today are just as important vocally telling stories throughout the county. Anthony Crider, professor of astrophysics at Elon, has been photographing protests since 2017. Many of the photos Crider has taken have been used in the production of “Unlearn.” In his photojournalist career, he has attended and photographed around 70 Graham protests. Behind each protest photo, he said, there is a story to tell. “Photos are data. Every pixel is data. Every pixel is telling you something. I was
Co-directors Martin Buchanan (left) and Toni Autry (right) prepare for an interview with Rev. Donna Vanhook ’07 on May 4.
trying to capture those pixels,” Crider said. Crider and his wife Megan Squire, professor of computer science at Elon, were photographing demonstrators at the Confederate monument in Graham on June 21, 2020, when both of them were assaulted by two supporters of the monument. Crider said his photos document what happens at protests in Alamance County and other states. “There are huge disagreements in our country. There’s a lot of racism built into it, [and] into the county as well,” Crider said. “It’s difficult, but through shooting these photos, especially the close-ups, they’re all human. Trying to understand why people are doing what they are doing is helpful, and photography can get you a part way there.” Sophomore Nyjah Rollins grew up in Elon where she said she has experienced multiple accounts of racism as a Black woman. “One time when I was walking through Elon when I was in high school, some trucks drove by and yelled mean things to me, like racial slurs,” Rollins said. “In history books, we’re not taught the actual history… By not knowing the whole history of what Black people in America have gone through, it enables racism.” Rollins said the incidents that have happened in the Graham in the past can be difficult to understand when trying to view the opinions in support of the Confederate monument. “It’s just insane that the statue is still there after all of the protests,” Rollins said. “I try to understand the other side, and it’s their heritage and history, but it’s also our history too where bad things were happening to Black people because of something you all are idolizing.” While “Unlearn” focuses on the issues in Alamance County, sophomore Raheem Murphy, a resident from Guilford County, recognized these racial issues in the area a couple towns over. He grew up in North Philadelphia and said he did not recognize the color of his skin could potentially cause problems for him until he moved to North Carolina. Murphy said that racism is taught and it’s something that people can become aware of. “There is an issue,” Murphy said. “I’m not sure how to fix it, but there definitely is an issue, not only in Alamance County,
NYAH PHENGSITTHY | DESIGN CHIEF
NYAH PHENGSITTHY | DESIGN CHIEF
Co-director Martin Buchanan and producer Alex Klein set up the lights and cameras for a documentary interview.
but in a lot of counties in North Carolina. There’s widespread problems throughout the state.” “Unlearn” recognizes the removal of Confederate statues in other parts of the south, such as the Jefferson Davis statue in Richmond, Virginia, the John C. Calhoun statue in Charleston, South Carolina and the Robert E. Lee Monument in New Orleans, to juxtapose the preservation of Graham’s monument. The documentary also discusses the history of Wyatt Outlaw, a Black councilman in Graham who was lynched by members of the White Brotherhood, a Ku Klux Klan-like organization, in 1870 at the site where the Confederate monument would be erected. “We’re trying to get people to change history in the sense of their head, change what they have been taught and be an empathetic person that can contribute to society in a way that won’t hurt people,” Autry said. The team plans on finishing and releasing the film by the end of 2021. As they continue to find local and national stories to tell, Autry said the main message at the end is for the audience is to understand that racism can be unlearned when said stories are heard. “So often when we talk about racism the conversation just stops with the problem,”
Burnett said. “I think it’s because we don’t always know the solution, but that doesn’t mean that we can’t still be hopeful and solution based in all of these conversations. I know that the documentary is a lot, and I know that seeing it in one sitting can take you to a place you’re not ready for, but at the end of it, there’s still hope.”
SCAN TO LEARN MORE ABOUT ‘UNLEARN’ OR VISIT UNLEARNDOC.COM
1. Open your phone camera 2. Focus on the QR code 3. Click the pop-up link
5 Compounding impostor syndrome and marginalized identities can impact people personally and in the workforce NEWS
SYNDROME | from cover “It is experiencing doubts about one’s own validity or whether or not they deserve to be in a particular space or position or doing a particular sort of work, whether they have what it takes,” Bitting said. “We tend to feel as though we’re faking it a bit when we have impostor syndrome and maybe doubt whether we should be faking it.” Impostor syndrome, or the impostor phenomenon, was first introduced by clinical psychologists Pauline Rose Clance and Suzanne Imes, who originally researched the concept in high achieving women in the 1970s. Since then, impostor syndrome has been identified in men and women, as well as people with marginalized identities. Those who experience impostor syndrome often have many external achievements but do not feel worthy of those achievements internally and worry they will be found out as a fraud. Lundeen said she first heard about impostor syndrome in her job at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio. As director of the women’s center at Case Western, she would often hear female colleagues express feelings of doubt as they moved “up the ranks” in their careers. “This kind of shared sentiments of feeling like somebody was going to find them out, that they weren’t actually good enough, they weren’t actually qualified to do the duties or positions,” Lundeen said.
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THIS KIND OF SHARED SENTIMENTS OF FEELING LIKE SOMEBODY WAS GOING TO FIND THEM OUT, THAT THEY WEREN’T ACTUALLY GOOD ENOUGH, THEY WEREN’T ACTUALLY QUALIFIED TO DO THE DUTIES OR POSITIONS. SHANNON LUNDEEN PROFESSOR OF PHILOSPHY
For Propst, impostor syndrome is something she remembers working through personally in college. Propst said she credits her mother for giving her the mindset that helped her overcome impostor syndrome. While working on a resume in college, Propst decided to write down all of the things she did in her life that got her to where she was at the time. This is the moment she recalls when thinking about overcoming impostor syndrome. “I remember thinking, I’ve done a lot of work, I put a lot of work in in this very short amount of time, and I remember thinking I should be proud of this,” Propst said. “While I was in college, I recognized that … as I was doing those things that it was paying off. The more time and effort that I put into learning these things, the more opportunities that are available to me.” People do not normally seek out therapy for impostor syndrome specifically, as it is not a diagnosis
Wednesday may 5, 2021
and is not a recognized psychiatric disorder by the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual. Fleming said by naming the common experience many people face impostor syndrome can help people talk and learn more about the phenomenon. But she hopes that using the term syndrome and normalizing the experience does not make it more common. “In some ways I think we want to normalize impostor syndrome … in the sense that if we talk about it and we put it out there, hopefully less people feel that way, or feel less alone,” Fleming said. “On the other hand, I don’t entirely want to normalize it, because I want to change the culture, so that we don’t develop impostor syndrome.” Lundeen said the term syndrome also puts the responsibility for “fixing” the problem back on those experiencing it, which, in the case of impostor syndrome, is only working on the feelings at the individual level. “Once we think about it as an individual thing that individual women need to work on, we’re not actually getting to the root of the problem,” Lundeen said. “And when we call it a syndrome we’re pathologizing the woman, rather than pathologizing the social order, which is really what deserves to be diagnosed with a disorder, rather than the individual.” The term syndrome also eliminates the intersecting cultural issues that can impact impostor syndrome, such as the experience of being a woman in a male dominated field, or being the only person of color in a space. According to a review by the Journal of General Internal Medicine in 2019, impostor syndrome is prevalent among African American, Asian American and Latinx students. “Impostor syndrome, the rhetoric and the discourse around impostor syndrome, comes from a white supremacist ideology,” Propst said. “There’s a discourse that has been fueled by white supremacy in terms of telling marginalized communities that you do not belong here, or that you do not belong in the space.” There are several ways to combat the different impostor syndrome experiences. Bitting said she addresses these feelings at a personal level, by reminding herself of her own qualifications. In the workplace, Lundeen said she believes workplace training on gender bias could help eliminate impostor syndrome. One way Fleming said she combats this is to use a strategy often used in cognitive behavioral therapy called checking the evidence. “We basically kind of put your thoughts to the test, so let’s say you’re having a thought that other people are going to realize that I’m not qualified for this,” Fleming said. “OK, well, let’s take a step back. ‘Are you qualified for this? Let’s evaluate that. What are your qualifications? What do you have to contribute?’” While Propst said she has overcome feelings of impostor syndrome personally, she does question eradicating the feeling in society as a whole. “I think as long as white supremacy exists, and I think as long as power and privilege and those types of things exist, I think that the idea that discourse and rhetoric around impostor syndrome is always going to exist,” Propst said. “I think as a whole in society … I’d be really surprised if the terminology goes away. And if it does go away, I think it’s because it’s only going to be replaced with something else that’s similar.”
Impostor syndrome, feelings of doubt and insecurity, can impact anyone, particularly marginalized communities.
CAROLINE BUNDER | DESIGNER
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Wednesday may 5, 2021
SGA Acorn Fund supports student business on campus
Senior Matthew Mitten sells his Climate Change Apparel merchandise outside of the Koury Business Center on March 30. Mitten’s business received $2,000 from the Acorn Fund this year.
Nine student-run businesses were selected to receive funds totaling $9,000 from the SGA initiative Andrew Zagari Elon News Network
This year, the Acorn Fund awarded nine student-run businesses a total of $9,000. The fund received 14 applications from students in the Martha & Spencer Love School of Business, the College of Arts and Sciences and the School of Communications. The Acorn Fund was created in 2014 by the Student Government Association to financially support original, innovative and feasible student-run projects that have the potential for a positive impact beyond the classroom. In 2014, the fund was given an endowment of $200,000, and since then it has helped student entrepreneurs of all majors, handing out approximately $9,000 annually. Last year, the Acorn Fund gave over $12,725 to undergraduate entrepreneurs who presented their projects to the committee. There were a total of eight submissions presented to the committee; six of those submissions were accepted. The businesses chosen must attend mandatory Acorn Fund workshops and attend monthly committee meetings. Elon sophomore and chair of the Acorn Fund Kate Wirth said she is excited to continue working with SGA to further develop the fund this year. “It’s amazing that these people are 19 to 22 years old, and they already have such a clear idea and are so passionate about certain topics,” Wirth said. When reviewing the 2021 applicants, Wirth said it has been fun to learn about what they’re doing and how to support them, especially for students who don’t have jobs and just need a little bit of help. “We’re excited to hear back from those applicants and get to know more about their businesses and get to support them on their journey,” Wirth said. The businesses are allocated different amounts of funding based on their applications and the committee’s review. She Can Lead — a business focused on empowering women through leadership education — was awarded $1,250, which
covered the costs of a conference dedicated to closing the gender representation gap in leadership on college campuses. Vidya — a software services and consulting company providing technology training courses — was given a grant of $4,500, which went towards a patent, marketing and logo development. For those who want to apply to the fund, applicants must attend an Acorn Fund workshop, submit an application, give a presentation about their venture and complete a spreadsheet of a budget sheet that specifies the exact costs of the applicant’s venture and how they plan to use the funds.
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IT’S AMAZING THAT THESE PEOPLE ARE LIKE, 19 TO LIKE 22 YEARS OLD AND THEY ALREADY HAVE SUCH A CLEAR IDEA AND ARE LIKE SO PASSIONATE ABOUT CERTAIN TOPICS. KATE WIRTH ELON SOPHOMORE
The Acorn Fund Committee reviews the application to decide if the ventures are realistic and to disperse funds based on how much was requested as well as other criteria. Senior Steve Hawthorne is the chief financial officer of apparel company Good To See You, and last year, Hawthorne was able to receive an investment of $600 as well as a trademark. “Through the connections with the Acorn Fund, they matched us up with the Elon Law School [Small Business & Entrepreneurship] Clinic, and they provided all the guidance and the resources to actually get the trademark done at a reasonable price for us,” Hawthorne said. “I don’t think we would have had access if
we weren’t students.” Through this, Hawthorne’s company received a second sum of money for the fund, totaling $1,100 this year. Hawthorne plans to invest the money into areas he wasn’t able to prior to receiving the funds, such as a marketing program. “I think some of that is going to incorporate Google Analytics, Facebook ads, we also need to hire a graphic designer to do our next summer line,” Hawthorne said. “Now that we’re graduating, we don’t have access to cameras. Typically we just would rent stuff from media services, so we put that in our budget, and that got awarded.” Elon senior and CFO Matthew Mitten’s clothing company Climate Change Apparel received $2,000 this year, and said he looks forward to expanding his presence as well. “I have it kind of going into three different buckets: One of them is for the online store, another one is for in-person selling and the third is for sustainable products, which is something that is really important to me,” Mitten said. “I can buy things that I didn’t have enough profits for before, but I was hoping to do, and so now it kind of gives me a little cushion, a little leeway to experiment.” Hawthorne said he is grateful for the help that the Acorn Fund has provided for his company and the progress that has been made within the past year at Elon. “It has surpassed my wildest dreams. You know, when we started this, … we didn’t set out to create a business,” Hawthorne said. “We just wanted to put [Good To See You] on the shirts, because we thought it was cool. And after getting compliments on it, we thought, ‘Hey, maybe we could turn it into something.’” BY THE NUMBERS
$200K
endowment was given to the fund in 2014.
~$9K
is given out annually to student-run businesses from the fund.
PHOTO COURTESY OF MATTHEW MITTEN
ACORN FUND APPLICATION PROCESS • Meet the eligibility requirements • Attend an Acorn Fund Workshop • Complete and submit an Acorn Fund Application to the Acorn Fund Committee • Give a presentation about their venture • Complete a budget sheet that specifies the exact costs of the applicant’s venture
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U.S. Census data gives North Carolina 14th House seat In the first round of data, the United States Census Bureau released state population data Kyra O’Connor
Enterprise Story Coordinator | @ElonNewsNetwork
Data from the 2020 Census determined that North Carolina gained 9.5% more residents from 2010 to 2020 and a 14th seat in the U.S. House of Representatives. While the national data is available, redistricting data will not be available until August, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Seats in the U.S. House of Representatives are apportioned by population. In 2020, Florida, Montana, Colorado and Oregon also gained one seat in the House and Texas gained two, while Ohio, Michigan, Illinois, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, New York and California all lost one seat. While adding a seat in the House for North Carolina makes the state a “bigger player” in politics, Elon Town Manager Richard Roedner said it is too early to say what this data could mean for the town. “When it comes to political clout, ours just went up a little bit, so there’s that benefit,” Roedner said. “Issues that pertain to North Carolina … will be talked about a little bit more perhaps, so again, that could benefit us when it comes to federal programs, or how they design things. North Carolina as a whole would have a better ability to shape programs.” Roedner said he is looking forward to seeing how the town’s population growth compares to the state and the county. Depending on how the town of Elon compares to other towns in the county can impact the distribution of sales tax revenue, which college towns like Elon depend on. “If Alamance grew 20% and Elon
The state of North Carolina gained a 14th seat in the U.S. House of Representatives thanks to a 9.5% increase in population from 2010 to 2020.
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WHEN IT COMES TO POLITICAL CLOUT, OURS JUST WENT UP A LITTLE BIT, SO THERE’S THAT BENEFIT. RICHARD ROEDNER ELON TOWN MANAGER
only grew 5%, that tells me we’ve lost our position within Alamance County when it comes to county distribution of resources is declining. Compared to other communities in that field, that’s not a good thing,” Roedner said. Alderman Quinn Ray said looking at the population growth is important for infrastructure, schools and roads, but he is also interested in seeing the demographic data from the Census. If the town of Elon median age were to change, for example, that steers the vision of the town, Ray said. “Is the community moving from median age of 55 to a median age of 45? That would be a drastic jump. Those numbers are hypothetical, but what that would show me is, if it’s getting younger, that means we’re getting younger families,” Ray said. “Now we’re going to have to become more of that family-oriented style.”
JACOB KISAMORE | DESIGNER
STATES GAINING SEATS: Colorado +1 Florida +1 Montana +1 North Carolina +1 Oregon +1 Texas +2
STATES LOSING SEATS: California -1 Illinois -1 Michigan -1 New York -1 Ohio -1 Pennsylvania -1 West Virginia -1
Ready & Resilient committee offers recommendations for summer, fall 2021 The recommendations offer guidance for both low-risk and high-risk conditions, including plans to return to fully in-person classes Kyra O’Connor
Enterprise Story Coordinator | @ko_reports
The Ready & Resilient committee released recommendations for the summer and fall of 2021, looking to ease many COVID-19 pandemic restrictions and return to in-person classes following the traditional academic calendar. There are recommendations for low-risk scenarios as the spread of COVID-19 continues to slow and vaccination rates increase, as well as high-risk scenarios if conditions were to worsen before the summer and fall semesters. Jeff Stein, chair of the Ready & Resilient committee, wrote in an email to Elon News Network that the university anticipates returning to in-person learning only in the fall. “We expect that vaccinations and other public health measures will allow for face-toface classroom experience in [f]all 2021 that includes masking and reduced distancing per WHO and other health guidelines,” Stein wrote. According to the 2021-22 academic calendar, the fall semester will have both fall break, from Oct. 13 through 18, and Thanksgiving break, which will take place from Nov. 19 through 29. The recommendations also include revisiting and updating the attendance policy. The current attendance policy states that attendance policies are created individually by schools, faculty and departments. Junior Katie Murphy said part of why she loves Elon is seeing and working with other people on hands-on projects, and she hopes returning to the classroom next semester will allow her to do that.
The Ready & Resilient committee released recommendations for the university to consider in the summer, fall 2021.
“I’m much less worried about COVID after everyone has been vaccinated, so honestly, I don’t see any concerns with going back to in person,” Murphy said. “I just missed seeing my friends and seeing people in classes.” According to the recommendations, arrival testing will continue for all faculty, staff and students, as well as testing for all who are not vaccinated, who have symptoms or who are close personal contacts. The university will
continue to encourage students, faculty and staff to get vaccinated, which could be in the form of a student vaccination requirement, according to the recommendations. If the university decides to require students to receive the vaccine before the fall semester, it will join four other institutions in the state of North Carolina to do so as of May 4, according to a survey by the Chronicle of Higher Education. Only 209 campuses across
CLARE GRANT | PHOTO EDITOR
the country so far are requiring students to be vaccinated. The recommendations also state that physical distancing and mask policies will be guided by public health guidelines. Apartments and residence halls will return to full capacity, and events such as orientation, Family Weekend, convocation and athletic and cultural events will also begin to take place in person.
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NEWS
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“We’re using states like North Carolina and California and how they contrast with other states like Louisiana and Illinois to see not only how identity has been weaponized or acknowledged within the policy making process, but how those policies reflect the lived experiences or lack thereof in the policy outcomes.”
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“Big picture, my research is really about understanding the way that we as humans interact with the world around us. And along the way of understanding that, I’m going to be developing computational tools and pushing methodological boundaries that exist in biology, and so my research aim is to understand how vibrational road noise affects an insect that uses vibrations to communicate.”
“There’s really been very little research done into the amount of metals in a smoked cigarette butt and how those can enter the environment, which can cause water quality issues or other environmental problems.”
MEET THE LUMEN SCHOLARS Profiles on the 2021 Lumen Scholars
Frances O’Connor & Naomi Washington | Elon News Network
E
ACH YEAR, ELON UNIVERSITY selects a cohort of 15 rising juniors as recipients of the Numen Lumen prize, the university’s top undergraduate research award. The $20,000 grant is awarded to aid students in their undergraduate research projects.
“Being a person of color in STEM — like a Black female doing cancer research — is something that you don’t see very often, so it’s a great opportunity that I’m very excited for.”
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“My current career goal is to design and engineer sports equipment and to be able to tie it to my life too. And to have something that correlates with what I love most about school and academics and what I love most about my hobbies is really special to me, and I hope that this can create a pathway to foster general equality in sports.”
“I’m really excited that I get to combine my interests of the environment and conserving the environment, as well as my love to build. I love hands-on, I love the design process, and I get to bring in my passion for service and serving the community.”
NEWS
Wednesday may 5, 2021
“I want to see how we use technology within those classrooms to benefit the students. Over the past year, a lot of us have been online classes, and a lot of our professors and high school teachers and even elementary teachers weren’t taught how to use resources like technology appropriately for their classes because it wasn’t expected in any way.”
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“My research might be a step in the right direction for me in the sense that I’ve always been interested in documenting health disparities and inequities. In public health, we have this history that we’re trying to shift away from simply documenting disparities to actually see what we can apply to these interventions so that they are not only helpful but sustainable, and I’m really excited to just contribute to that body of literature.”
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“I think that completing this research project, specifically in my travels to Egypt, a region that I’ve never been to, will help me gain independence and open my eyes to global citizenship and what it means to exist in different parts of the world.”
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“Lumen is an indication of what the university thinks is important research, and I think my research is really important and exciting, so I’m excited to have the university stamp of approval.”
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“This project was really the one that gave me the best opportunity to combine my interest in journalism and public health and also be able to do community based participatory research, which is my specific interest within public health.”
“Lumen is going to help me go super in-depth with this project I’m interested in, and it’s going to help me share it with other people, so that’s one of the things I’m really excited about.”
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“The queer community will change, and the values of the queer community will change, and so it’s just exciting to see those two main goals of loving queer history and then wanting to produce and showcase works by marginalized people just kind of come together.”
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“My end goal for this project is to raise awareness for mental health in undergraduate students. Throughout all my literature analysis, and, I mean, mental health is definitely a major issue, but it’s more so the fact that people aren’t willing to reach out for help.”
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“[Dr. Train] was very kind to sit there and figure out how to bring it to life with me, and so I’m definitely excited because it gives me the opportunity to develop my own project that I have a connection to and be like the main person who’s investigating it, and working on it, and writing about it. It’s just going to take me further in my experience and, hopefully, prepare me for the career that I want.”
FRANCES O’CONNOR AND NAOMI WASHINGTON COURTESY FROM ONS BOUALI, ALANA EVORA AND AMAYA GAINES
Wednesday, may 5, 2021 | page 10
LIFESTYLE
FRANCES O’CONNOR | STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Rainbow flags drape a table at the Pride Fest celebration in April hosted by Elon’s Gender and LGBTQIA+ Center.
Lavender Graduation honors graduating LGBTQIA+ students The ceremony provides Elon’s LGBTQIA+ community an opportunity to gather and celebrate 2021 graduates’ accomplishments in person Cate McCahill
Elon News Network | @CMcCahill21
After over a year of limited opportunities for Elon’s LGBTQIA+ community to gather in person, Lavender Graduation is scheduled for Friday, May 7 at 5:00 p.m. in McKinnon Hall. Unlike previous years, only lavender graduates, professional staff and the staff of Elon’s Gender and LGBTQIA+ Center will be in attendance. Lavender Graduation is a ceremony that honors graduating LGBTQIA+ students and recognizes their achievements as well as their contributions to the university, according to the GLC’s website. The ceremony is held at over 100 campuses across the nation. Director of the GLC Luis Garay said the ceremony is an opportunity for lavender graduates to gather and reflect on their time at Elon. “For these graduates, though they might’ve spent the last year and a half [during] COVID, they started their Elon journey building connections with folks in person,” Garay said. “Lavender Graduation is an opportunity for those graduates to be in community, see each other in person and conclude their time at Elon in the way that they started it, trying to make it as much full-circle as possible.” Because of limited in-person attendance, the ceremony will also be livestreamed.
However, the link will not be available to the entire Elon community, according to Garay. “We’re only going to be sharing the livestream with the graduates and LGBTQIA+ faculty and staff, but we’re really going to leave it up to the graduates that they can decide whom that they want to invite and share that live-streaming link with,’’ Garay said. Garay said it is especially important to have Lavender Graduation in person this year, as the LGBTQIA+ community has had limited opportunities to gather in person since the pandemic began. “I think Lavender Graduation is going to be an important time, if not the first time that the LGBTQIA+ graduating class has gathered in-person and seen each other. It’s exciting,” Garay said. Garay said the GLC had to get “creative” to plan Lavender Graduation so the community could safely gather together while adhering the university’s COVID protocols and guidelines. To limit physical contact during the event, lavender graduates will receive their lavender cap, stoles and tassels ahead of time in reusable tote bags. In lieu of the prepandemic sit-down dinner, there will be an outdoor reception following the ceremony at the Center for the Arts tent with to-go meals provided. During the event, four Lavender Graduation awards will be given out: Outstanding Graduate, Employee of the Year, Event or Initiative of the Year and Research Project of the Year. Elon senior Riley Bradford, a member of the LGBTQIA+ community and a nominee for the Outstanding Graduate award, said he’s been looking forward to Lavender Graduation
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EVERYONE WHO [GOES] TO LAVENDER GRAD HAD THE COURAGE AT SOME POINT, AND MAYBE THEY HAVEN’T YET, BUT WILL HAVE HAD THE COURAGE TO SAY, AT LEAST TO THEMSELVES, ‘I AM THIS, AND I AM PROUDLY THIS, AND THIS IS WHO I AM’ AND CLAIM AN IDENTITY. RILEY BRADFORD SENIOR
and “secretly wished” for the distinguished honor since his first year at Elon. Bradford also said Lavender Graduation acknowledges the differences that come with identities and celebrates the accomplishments and shared life experiences of the LGBTQIA+ community. “Everyone who [goes] to Lavender Grad had the courage at some point, and maybe they haven’t yet, but will have had the courage to say, at least to themselves, ‘I am this, and I am proudly this, and this is who I am’ and claim an identity,” Bradford said. “I think being able to do that and then stand alongside other people that have had the struggle of doing that too, I think is really empowering.” Compared to Elon’s collective commencement ceremonies, Bradford believes Lavender Graduation is more personal, as it signifies growth in identity during his time at the university. “Lavender Grad, that’s a ceremony that’s just for me,” Bradford said. “I think that’s the difference is it lets me and so many people specifically reflect on, ‘Hey, look at your four years here, look at where you were when you began and look at where you are now.’ That’s kind of amazing.” Garay said they are excited to provide LGBTQIA+ students with a Lavender Graduation ceremony that celebrates their four-year journey. “I hope that we’re doing well by their graduates and giving them a space to celebrate and be in community with one another,” Garay said. “I’m looking forward to just seeing them in that excitement, celebrating and being in spaces together. I think any space that has trans people, LGBTQIA+ students is really powerful.”
lifestyle
Wednesday may 5, 2021
11
HORSE PROGRAM PROMOTES CONFIDENCE IN KIDS
MACKENZIE WILKES | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Elon senior Katie Zinke teaches Xavier how to trot Rosie the horse at JoyRide Equestrian on April 29. Zinke started an after-school horse program in partnership with Positive Attitude Youth Center and JoyRide Equestrian.
A love for horses drove senior Katie Zinke to start her passion project, a youth program at a local horse ranch Miranda Ferrante
Lifestyle Editor | @ferrantemiranda
Elon University senior Katie Zinke’s first love was horses. Now, an after-school horseback riding program for low-income students in Burlington has turned into her passion project. “I get such joy seeing the faces of the kids when they can be around the horses,” Zinke said. “Especially those who have never been around horses or who may have this deep passion that they never knew about.” Zinke contacted both the Positive Attitude Youth Center, a Burlington-based non-profit serving children and young adults, and JoyRide Equestrian in Pittsboro last spring
to propose a partnership. The pilot program launched last fall — fulfilling a long-time dream of Zinke’s. The program runs every Thursday after school for five weeks. Zinke is already running her third session. She said most of the children who come to PAYC are from areas where resources like after-school programs may not be easily accessible to them. “They’re coming from families where maybe the option of being around horses wasn’t ever one that they could have had,” Zinke said. “Different extracurriculars may not have been able to be participated in because of money or something like that.” Zinke said the program provides children with a new experience — one they may have never been exposed to before. Two biggest learning opportunities for children in the program, Zinke said, are the ability to emphasize non-verbal communication and gain confidence. “I think they become better communicators
honestly,” Zinke said. “Horses communicate with nonverbal language, and you’re not talking to somebody, but your body language matters. How you carry yourself matters.” Elle Kimsey, an instructor at JoyRide Equestrian, said the partnership has been equally as rewarding for her as it is from the children. “I’ve always wanted to do something that gave back to the community,” Kimsey said. “When Katie approached me about this specific idea of partnering with this foundation, it was an easy yes.” Like Zinke, Kimsey said the children leave the program with more self-confidence after weeks of interacting with new animals. “My favorite part is watching the kids change,” Kimsey said. “Usually they’re a little nervous at first or a little fearful of the horses. To change from that to being able to handle them on their own and sort of see the confidence come up for them.” Zinke said, for her, horses and the barn
have always been a safe place, and she wanted to create something that would do the same for other children. “For me, the horses definitely have been a purpose or just something I could control in my life,” Zinke said. Kimsey and Zinke have raised more than $5,000 to keep the program running, and Kimsey said she hopes the partnership and its Elon affiliation will continue. Zinke, who is just weeks away from graduating, said she’ll do everything she can to continue the program, even if it means not being there in person. “I personally would love to be able to continue this,” Zinke said. “I just love Alamance County, and I really just want to be involved in the future of Alamance County, which is honestly these kids.” — Maeve Ashbrook contributed to the reporting of this story.
MACKENZIE WILKES | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
MACKENZIE WILKES | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Elle Kimsey, owner of JoyRide Equestrian, teaches Xavier, a student at Positive Attitude Youth Center, how to do circles with Millie the horse.
Aniyah, a student with the Positive Attitude Youth Center, pets Cookie after completing a trotting lesson at JoyRide Equestrian on April 29. PAYC and JoyRide Equestrian partner together for an after-school program that teaches kids about horsemanship.
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lifestyle
Wednesday may 5, 2021
Peforming arts students look to university for more support Students in the nationally recognized department say it lacks funding Miranda Ferrante
Lifestyle Editor | @ferrantemiranda
Elon University students are quick to find their spots — a place where they, unintentionally or otherwise, will spend most of their time over the course of four years. Sophomore Kayla Spalding’s spot is the Center for the Arts. She spends 10 hours a week on average in dance classes, and the CFA has become a place of motivation, holding some of her favorite memories. Spalding applied to a number of college dance programs across North Carolina, but Elon felt like home. Now, she is pursuing a BFA in dance performance and choreography and believes the support from the faculty is special. “Our dance faculty is just so supportive, consistently,” Spalding said. “If there’s an issue, they want to make it work the best way they can. And if there’s not, they’ll hint at alternatives or initiatives you can take to figure something out.” Spalding and sophomore Eileena Boyce are two of several performing arts students who expressed their gratitude for Elon and its programs, but they also believe the university can provide more financial resources and emotional support for students studying across all performing arts disciplines. Boyce said throughout her time at Elon, she formed close bonds with not only other dance majors but the faculty as well. She said she doesn’t cross paths with the other performing arts students as much as she would like. “It’s sad because we don’t all interact,” Boyce said. “We don’t even all know each other, and when it comes to even our shows, we don’t all support each other. It’s sad because it’s a performing arts [department] so we should, but there’s a weird gap.”
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I LOOK AT THE NEW TECHNOLOGY THAT IS BEING POURED INTO THE COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT, THEY HAVE STATE OF THE ART SUPPLIES, AND WE HAD TO RECYCLE THE SET FROM THE SPRING DANCE CONCERT FOR THE WINTER MUSICAL. KELLY BELARMINO MUSIC THEATER MAJOR
Boyce said though she is thankful for the opportunities Elon and the performing arts department have provided her with, that doesn’t mean there aren’t areas that could benefit from change. “I don’t want to make it seem like I’m not grateful for all the experiences and everything, because I definitely am,” Boyce said. “I’m so thankful for Elon, just everything as a whole, but sometimes I feel like certain parts of the performing arts aren’t valued as highly.” Junior Alex Nemfakos, a theatrical design and technology major, said the nature of each performing arts program varies, which means opportunities differ too. But she believes some programs receive more attention than others. “By the wider university, we’re not paid attention to,” Nemfakos said. “We’re a pretty small major — we’re just a BA, we’re not a BFA program — but the performing arts department needs us, otherwise, their shows wouldn’t really run.” Nemfakos feels supported within her
Sophomore Kayla Spalding dances in the spring 2021 dance concert. She said feels supported by her immediate dance faculty.
specific major and believes a majority of the faculty has their students’ best interest. Sophomore Tommy Truitt, an acting major, feels similarly supported by his major’s faculty and said has been given opportunities for professional growth, but he believes students could benefit from interdisciplinary support across the performing arts department and updated facilities. “For a program that is so big and part of the reason Elon is on the map, it would be nice to receive more funding towards renovation of our building and things like that,” Truitt said. “The SPDC has recently started to provide more programming tailored towards performing arts majors, and that has been nice to know I have that as a resource.” The Boldly Elon strategic plan for 2030 primarily emphasizes STEM focused initiatives but outlines the university’s plans to create spaces for Elon’s nationally recognized theatre, music, dance, design and music theatre programs. The plan does not elaborate on the proposed creation of new facilities, nor does it reference renovations to existing facilities. Sophomore music theatre major Kelly Belarmino said immediate changes she would like to see include more scholarship opportunities for incoming music theatre students, renovations to the CFA and financial support for the annual senior casting director series. “I look at the new technology that is being poured into the communications department, they have state of the art supplies,” Belarmino said. “And we had to recycle the set from the spring dance concert for the winter musical.” Belarmino said despite the need for change, she feels a sense of support from faculty like Julio Augustin Matos, associate professor of performing arts and music theatre director. Matos, a recent addition to Elon’s faculty, said he wants to listen to students and hopes to prepare them to not only enter the performing arts industry but also transform it. “I recognize that there’s frustration and students need to be heard,” Matos said. “When I interviewed, I said, ‘I want to know what’s working, and I want to know what isn’t working.’” Matos said students have cited mental health and wellness support, in addition to the need for more scholarship money as some of their primary concerns. He said he wants to ensure a safe and inclusive environment for all students to train and grow in their craft. “All of this is important for me to hear,” Matos said. “To create steps with the faculty and staff and say, ‘This is what we’re doing this year. We’re listening.” Matos said he believes the university is supportive of the performing arts department’s vision. He referenced the university’s hiring of a more diverse group of faculty, who he hopes will aid him in creating an environment where all students feel not
just emotionally and financially supported, but represented by the faculty who teach them. The music theatre department recently hired two field experts, according to Matos, who are also women of color. “Everything that I do refers back to the why behind what it is that we are doing,” Matos said. The foundation is where we begin. And we’re going to deconstruct the foundation.” Matos wants students to be a part of the process by involving them directly as active
COURTESY OF KAYLA SPALDING
members in the Seasons Selection Committee or Inclusive Action Plan, or indirectly through the Student Advisor Council to the director of music theatre. “We are creating a culture of transparency and greater communication,” Matos said. “If you’re not strong, if your foundation isn’t inclusive, isn’t equitable, isn’t diverse, then you’ve got to have conversations. I’m training our students to enter the profession that exists, but we’re also training them to change the industry.”
lifestyle
Wednesday may 5, 2021
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Study finds pandemic causes increase in body image issues In the past year, some people have suffered from increased pressure to have a so-called “summer body” Ashlyn DeLoughy
Elon News Network | @ashlyndeloughy
While the coronavirus pandemic has threatened peoples’ physical health worldwide, a new study from the “Personality and Individual Differences” scientific journal found that pandemic-induced stress may also be linked to increased mental health issues among men and women regarding body image.
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THERE SEEMS TO BE AN ASSOCIATION BETWEEN EXPOSURE TO ESPECIALLY IMAGEBASED BEHAVIORS AND CONTENT ON SOCIAL MEDIA AND, AT LEAST, NEGATIVE OUTCOMES FOR BODY IMAGE. ILYSSA SALOMON ASSISTANT PROFESSOR OF PSYCHOLOGY
Anxiety has risen in adults throughout the past year due to physical isolation and change in routines, according to the study, which claims stressors are also triggering mental health issues such as body dysmorphia and negative body image. According to the study, women desire being thinner, and men desire being more muscular. Assistant professor of
THE ELON BITE
The “Quarantine 15,” referencing weight gained during lockdown, trended during the peak of the pandemic in March and April 2020.
psychology Ilyssa Salomon said the pandemic adds more pressure for people to look a certain way. “People are kind of saying, ‘Oh, well, you should have utilized this time to make yourself more acceptable,’” Salomon said. “It probably can have a negative impact on people’s self esteem and body image.” Body image describes both the way one sees themselves when they look in the mirror and the way one pictures themselves in their mind. This encompasses what someone believes about their own appearance, how they sense and control their body as they move and how they feel about their body height, shape and weight. Salomon said some of that negative mindset can come from our phones, especially as screen
time has likely increased this year due to the pandemic. “There seems to be an association between exposure to especially image-based behaviors and content on social media and, at least, negative outcomes for body image,” she said. Having a healthy body image is an integral part of mental wellbeing and eating disorder prevention. According to the National Eating Disorders Association, people with negative body image have a greater likelihood of developing an eating disorder. They are also more likely to suffer from feelings of depression, isolation, low self-esteem and obsession with weight loss. Elon senior Taylor Cruz has struggled with body image since middle school. She said it’s something she’s still working through as
ASHLYN DELOUGHY | STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
she prepares for another summer during the pandemic. “Even in the past few weeks I’ve definitely struggled with body image a lot,” Cruz said. “I’m not sure if it’s something that I’ll ever fully get over, but it’s something that I’ve definitely learned to work through.” When Cruz struggles with body image issues, she said she leans into the people who support her most. “It’s never, ever a bad thing to reach out to a therapist, or a counselor, or your mom, or dad or an older brother or sister,” Cruz said. “I think that that is so much better than keeping it inside.” For professional Eating Disorder resources or support, contact Elon Counseling Services at 336-278-7280.
THE ELON BITE IS A COLUMN THAT REVIEWS RESTAURANTS AND FOOD VENDORS IN THE LOCAL AREA
Jack Chambers’ Food Column: One Final Review
Jack Chambers
Senior
Over the past six months, I have tried food from all around Elon and the surrounding communities. In that time, I have been lucky enough to eat some truly delicious food. Today, for my final review, I want to revisit the best restaurants and meals I have had the pleasure of tasting in that time. It feels fitting to end where I began — with the Golden Taco truck at the Exxon Mobil on South Church St. Perfect for a quick, cheap bite when you are on the go, the food delivers incredible flavor for a very low cost. Every time I travel back to the truck I remember how outstandingly juicy and spicy it was the first time, and how it is unmatched every time I go back. I award the Golden Taco my Best OnThe-Go Food Award. On the other hand, when you’re in need of a more upscale location to sit down and impress someone with, I can’t recommend Print Works Bistro enough. The food was high end, fresh and carefully prepared so that every aspect of the dining experience from the service to the food was perfect for the customer. Print Works is great for a nice date night or celebrating a special occasion. For that, I award Print Works my Best Dining Experience Award. For a more family-style meal, that will not run up a massive bill, Smokehouse at Steve’s is the place to go. Worth the 20-minute drive from campus, the lively atmosphere and smoky aroma of Smokehouse at Steve’s make it attractive as a dinner option, but the food takes it to the premier league of barbecue I have tasted in
four years at Elon. Because of the combination of great food and lively ambience, I give my award for Best Local Restaurant to Smokehouse at Steve’s. Lastly, because of the coronavirus pandemic, it has been difficult to access everyone’s favorite restaurants, and delivery has been a huge game changer for the way we eat out. It is good to know what restaurants serve the best food that holds through the long delivery process, and no one’s delivery food is quite as good as Sal’s Italian Restaurant. Whether it is a warm chicken parmesan with pasta on a cold winter night or a cheeseburger on a summer evening, Sal’s delivery always has hot food worth paying the extra fees to Grubhub and DoorDash for. Because of this, I give my award for best delivery to Sal’s Italian Restaurant. I also want to include a few honorable mentions that I did not think qualified for an award but were also excellent meals. Dashi Ramen, a wonderful Japanese restaurant in Durham, serves great noodles and soup. Il Centro Alimentari in Burlington has the best Italian deli sandwiches around. And finally, Taaza Bistro makes an excellent curry, and I recommend it highly as well. As this is my last column before graduation, I want to say a heartfelt thank you to the readers. I hope this has helped you discover delicious cuisine nearby and increase your curiosity about different types of food and flavors.
JACK CHAMBERS | STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
(Left to right) Golden Taco, Print Works Bistro, Smokehouse Steve’s and Sal’s Italian were considered for “Best of” in Chambers’ final food colmun review.
Wednesday, may 5, 2021 | page 14
OPINIONS
AUSTRALIANS HAVE ENDED MASS KILLINGS,
SO WHY CAN’T AMERICANS?
CAMPUS VOICES
Alysha Camm
Freshman
April 2021 saw a surge of mass shootings across the United States — 52, to be exact — though that number comprises only 30% of the 178 total mass shootings that have occurred in 2021 thus far. Who can keep count anymore of the mass shootings in this country? No one, of course, could forget Sandy Hook, the elementary school in Connecticut where 20 small children and six teachers were mowed down with an assault-style rifle in 2012. Or Virginia Tech, where 33 were killed. Or Las Vegas in 2017. That one claimed 61. Or Aurora, Colorado — twice. Or Parkland, Florida. Or Orlando. Mass shootings have become so numerous, so routine, in the United States that they often are forgotten days later, when they are supplanted in the news cycle by the next gunman and his victims. The ritualistic call for “thoughts and prayers” grows more empty, more hollow. Thoughts and prayers —– but never action. Now and then, though, one hears calls for an Australian-style response. Australia rounded up all but a few of its guns 22 years ago. Why can’t the United States? Indeed, Australia, my home country, did introduced a comprehensive gun control regimen after the Port Arthur massacre in Tasmania in 1996. Since then, mass shootings in Australia have since dropped to almost zero. Many consider Australia’s the most effective gun control system in the world. The Australian model, though, doesn’t neatly apply to the United States. Here’s why: We Australians have a profoundly different relationship with weapons. Americans love their guns. We’re afraid of them. This difference explains why, between 1996 and 1997, our government – led by a Conservative prime minister — was able to confiscate some 650,000 privately-owned firearms and ban semiautomatic weapons without a single reported act of violence. Not only that, but 28-day waiting periods were introduced for firearm purchases. All gun buyers were required to have a legitimate reason to qualify
CAROLINE BUNDER | DESIGNER
Mass shootings have become so routine in the United Sates. Alysha Camm says she can’t keep track of them all.
for a license. A national gun registry was created. Australians, on the whole, were happy to hand over their guns and accept the new restrictions. We understood that semiautomatic guns, which reload themselves each time they are fired, exponentially increase exponentially the lethality of a firearm. No mass raid movement existed to articulate an opposing view. The sport-shooting organizations, which might have fought the changes, were apolitical. The elected representatives of rural communities where guns were most common were co-opted by the government’s urbandominated leadership and used only for legitimatized purposes. When explaining how Australia accomplished such a big change so quickly, analysts and commentators note the traumatic effect of what is known as the Port Arthur Massacre, in which 35 people were shot dead in and near a historic township in Tasmania. But deeper historical reasons of both countries, such as revolutions, explain why worse
mass killings in the United States don’t trigger similar changes in gun laws. Australians’ and Americans’ different relationships with firearms stems from the role that armed struggle played in their histories. Both sides of the modern gun debate in America tend to neglect some parts of history that may not fit their traditional narratives. The Ku Klux Klan, Ronald Reagan, and, for most of its history, the National Rifle Association all worked to control guns. Most states and municipalities had militias, and most people in the late 1700s owned guns for hunting and safety. And no group has more fiercely advocated the right to bear loaded weapons in public than the Black Panthers – the true pioneers of the modern pro-gun movement – in the turbulent 60s. In the battle over gun rights in America, both sides have distorted history and the law, and there is no reason to expect that to change. It is different in Australia. We never had a revolution; we never fought foreign troops on our soil;
there was no antipodean civil war. From the moment James Cook’s HMS Endeavor arrived in Botany Bay in 1788 in Sydney, security was provided through the British Army. The indigenous population was displaced by force of arms, disease and appropriation of land, crimes for which many Australians still feel guilty. Prosperity, universal health care and unemployment benefits helped suppress crime. The few race riots that occurred did not involve shooting. Australia’s founders unified six colonies without mentioning guns in the Constitution. They were not worried about government oppression. Over time, we Australians have come to view firearms with suspicion. Most Australians have never held one, myself included. Recreational shooting is regarded as a fringe sport. Unlike some Americans, who might proudly show off their latest pistol or rifle, Australians who own and enjoy using firearms, attempt to be discreet. This ingrown cultural wariness toward firearms explains why there was no fear and only isolated anger at the government,
BY THE NUMBERS
45
mass shootings occurred in the month of April 2021 alone.
even among owners, when it took away peoples’ guns in 1996. In the United States, even if political opposition could be overcome, such widespread appropriation of private property and limits on personal liberties would be met with fierce, even physical, resistance. Australian political leaders are rightly proud of our tight gun laws, which have additionally reduced criminal homicides and suicides. Even so, Australia’s sharp shift in direction presents a contrast that should give Americans much pause, if not shame. But the politics and the cultures of two countries, seemingly so similar are starkly different. Australia deserves to be seen as a model, but it would be naïve to think the United States could emulate it. And that, for Americans, is the great pity.
Opinions
Wednesday may 5, 2021
15
POPPING THE ELON BUBBLE
CLARE GRANT | PHOTO EDITOR
President Connie Book passes out Easter eggs on Young Commons in March 2021. Kottcamp believes that through initiating conversations, students can burst the Elon bubble.
CAMPUS VOICES
Lauren Kottcamp Senior
A hallmark of our university has always been to create global citizens. It is why I, and so many of us, chose to attend Elon University in the first place. Prior to studying abroad, which in 2019, 85.3% of us did, we are prepared with a multitude of informational sessions to equip us with the tools necessary to live in and experience the culture of another country. As a previous expatriate I am no stranger to culture shock, however, it doesn’t take four years or a Winter Term to experience the effects of culture shock. It is here, on our campus, where students from New England to the West Coast experience leaving home for the first time. There is no one story for how students have arrived at Elon, but for many, Elon is the culture shock of leaving the place they were raised for the first time, and there is adjustment in that too. I have wondered why we have been prepared to be citizens of a global world, but not next door neighbors in our own community. I sat down with the Assistant
Director of the Moseley Center Barb Carlton (or, more accurately, I sat in my living room while I zoomed into her living room) to have a conversation around our shared passion for community engagement. As both a longtime resident of the Elon community and a member of the university, I was curious to understand her perspective on the matter and what advice she could offer to the student body. Both Carlton and I agree that building a stronger community, one that includes both the university and the surrounding residence, must happen naturally. And truthfully, because that’s the only way authentic relationships can be built. I asked Carlton what small steps students could be taking to have a bigger impact on the relationship with the community. “The million dollar answer,” she said, isn’t an answer at all. “These are people you get to know by asking questions.” The key, Carlton said, is when students are out in the community, to start having conversations. “Get to know the waitstaff. That’s the simple thing.” Carlton said. Carlton suggested a few of her favorite conversation starters. “‘Hey, do you live in Elon? Oh, you’re from Mebane, where is that? Where is your favorite place to eat on the weekend?’” Carlton said. “It all starts with getting to know the simple things about the people serving you.” Another favorite she added: “‘Where do you get your car fixed when it’s broken?’” A piece of advice Carlton said she shares with her own children that are now grown and becoming members of their own
communities. Although small, conversations with your waitress at Pandora’s or cashier at Harris Teeters is the best place to start. “It helps to establish a relationship with people, and then you can start to get to know a bit about them,” Carlton said, “and then there’s connection, and then you realize the community is better and bigger, and we probably all have some of the same concerns.” Recent and very important events like the Black Lives Matter Movement and the 2020 Presidential Election have revealed that there is a lot of room for our community to grow. “I know this community has got issues, social justice issues that are horrible, but I still love this community. Warts and all,” Carlton continues, “And we’ve got to be able to talk about the warts and all.” I believe that if we started from this middle ground, from the basis that we all love our community and love living here, we can use that shared space to reach across the aisle. If we took that shared appreciation for where we live, we could try and understand one another better. Because, to Carlton’s point, there are so many things that we as a university and a community need to be doing better. But it takes all of us together to decide we care about this place and we want to make it somewhere we love living. The gap between us and the community isn’t new and bandaid approaches won’t fix the things that have been manifesting for years. “As a university, we have a lot of responsibility in this,” Carlton said. “The people that live in this area know the issues, and may
have already started trying to work on those issues. They know the problems, they just may not have the tools or the people to help. You find those linchpins, you find those people, and you ask the questions.”
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I KNOW THIS COMMUNITY HAS GOT ISSUES, SOCIAL JUSTICE ISSUES THAT ARE HORRIBLE, BUT I STILL LOVE THIS COMMUNITY. WARTS AND ALL. AND WE’VE GOT TO BE ABLE TO TALK ABOUT THE WARTS AND ALL. BARB CARLTON ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF THE MOSELEY CENTER
And where do those conversations start? “With relationships.” Carlton said. “That’s the sticking point.” And Carlton is right. The community has a lot of the answers for how to build a better relationship and enact positive change that benefits us all. We just have to ask the questions. Because truly how meaningful are initiatives like the new Greenway path that connects campus to downtown Burlington if we don’t truly understand the meaning of connection? Carlton also reminds me
that we are young. As a student body, we have a lot of learning to do and responsibility to take on, but a lot of it comes back to awareness and just willingness to engage in conversation with those around us. And that work starts local. As part of the Isabella Cannon Leadership Fellows program, my cohort and I are often reminded to “think globally and act locally.” I think it is important for us as a university to remember that. We must be citizens of our community before we prepare to be citizens abroad. “It is a tall ask,” Carlton said, “but it starts with the little things.” To be a local and global citizen in four years is a lot of stretching. We are all shifting from all sorts of backgrounds and experiences when we arrive on Elon’s campus our first year. But just as Carlton has said, it all starts with talking and listening. “Start by asking the maintenance in your residence hall about themselves or how their week has been,” Carlton said. “Find out the things you have in common with the people around you.” So many of the things we talk about here at Elon University are not just an Elon problem. Elon is a mirror to our larger society, and this disconnect in our relationship with the larger community is not isolated to our town limits. Our country right now is suffering a lack of connection. We don’t know how to talk with one another and how to connect. But it starts here, at Elon. It starts with our university and our community, because these are lessons that can be taken anywhere and seen everywhere.
Wednesday, may 5, 2021| page 16
SPORTS
Women’s lacrosse aims to win CAA tournament, advance to NCAA LACROSSE | from cover The Phoenix finished its regular season with a 9-2 overall record, including a 3-1 mark in conference play. After an 8-0 start to the season, the team lost two consecutive games to Virginia Tech and James Madison University before finishing strong with a 16-6 victory against The College of William & Mary on Sunday. Despite Elon’s win over the Tribe, Hexter said he was unhappy with the team’s execution. Going into the CAA tournament, he wants players to work on staying focused from the beginning to end of games, as he said there have been lapses at times this season when the team is up by multiple goals. “We did well enough to win, but I think we left probably five or six goals out there that we should have scored because we weren’t fully focused and aware,” Hexter said. “Going into CAA’s, the focus is going to be, can we really stay dialed in regardless of score?” The Phoenix have an experienced roster with six senior starters, including the two top scoring attackmen Mae McGlynn and Sara Bouwman. Hexter said he is grateful for the senior class and hopes their leadership can propel the team
to a successful tournament run and then to the NCAA tournament. “This is a very special senior class,” Hexter said. “Their work ethic and their commitment for four years here has been pretty unmatched.” Bouwman, an attacker whose 30 goals led the team this season, thinks the team can execute better offensively in the CAA tournament than it has in the regular season. “Some things we need to work on are being patient on the clear and on attack,” Bouwman said. “Overall, we’re just taking it day-by-day, game-by-game.” Bouwman said the team’s goal is to win the CAA tournament and advance to the NCAA Tournament. “I think we’re all really excited,” Bouwman said. “We have had a good season this year, and with COVID and everything, we’re just really grateful.” The tournament will take place in Harrisonburg, Virginia with a limited number of fans in attendance. To watch a livestream of all tournament games, visit www.caa.tv. Elon has never won the CAA Women’s Lacrosse tournament and has not been to the NCAA Women’s Lacrosse Tournament since 2017, when the Phoenix qualified for the field with an at-large bid.
No rest for women’s track and field after CAA championship win The women’s track and field team aiming to improve for the Nationalsqualifying Regional meet Caleigh Lawlor
Elon News Network | @caleighlawlor
The women’s track and field team is on a high after the team’s 17.5-point victory at the Colonial Athletic Association championship win this past weekend. The championship win, the Phoenix’s third of the past seven seasons, will now give some members of the team the opportunity to continue into the postseason. Senior distance runner Melissa Anastasakis said being a CAA champion again is especially rewarding after additional challenges athletes have dealt with due to the COVID-19 pandemic. “I think more than anything it was relief just to know that like all this hard work had paid off, especially for some of the younger girls who I think haven’t experienced a track championship before,” Anastasakis said. With select members of the team moving forward to the Liberty Twilight Qualifiers, Head Coach Mike Elliston is proud of the team and the continuous effort all the athletes put in to improve themselves as athletes over the past season. “Everyone did so great. I’m so, so proud of all of them. They worked hard, we could really see their heart out there on the track and in their events,” Elliston said. Despite being tired and worn out due to running multiple races a day for multiple days, the team never seemed to give up until the title of CAA champions was theirs, according to Elliston. The girls pushed past anything that could be bothering them, physically or mentally, to help their team. “They were physically exhausted, continuing to go again, another hour or two later. Or even the next day, having to race again or jump again or whatever it was, throw again. And so they knew what was at stake, and they ignored the pain, they ignored the tired legs, and they worked through all of that to continue to score points for their team,” he said. “And that’s what was a really, really neat thing to see.”
Sophomore distance runner Maria Ahm, the winner of the 5,000-meter run with a time of 16:52.48, rose to the challenge. The Denmark native is one of the team members who will be continuing her season. She’s looking forward to running in her strongest event at the preliminary tournament in Florida May 28, with the goal of making it to the national tournament in Oregon in June. “As it is right now, I really want to get ready for that and be as ready as possible,” she said. “Right now we are taking a little bit of recovery, but after that, the training is just going on and then trying to get in as good of a shape to Nationals.”
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EVERYONE DID SO GREAT. I’M SO, SO PROUD OF ALL OF THEM. THEY WORKED HARD, WE COULD REALLY SEE THEIR HEART OUT THERE ON THE TRACK AND IN THEIR EVENTS. MIKE ELLISTON HEAD COACH As Ahm and some of the athletes prepare for the preliminary tournament, regional and other qualifying meets, Elliston offered some words of advice for the team as a whole, looking toward more potential tournament appearances this year and in future seasons. “If they didn’t do as well as they’d hoped individually, that they would kinda just do a self-examination and work hard, continue to do the things they need to do to get better,” Elliston said. “But other than that, just continue to stay positive, keep working, and we’ll see, it’s always hard to repeat but we would like to repeat these, you know championship meets next year in the fall.” Members of the Phoenix will compete at the Liberty Twilight Qualifier for the opportunity to advance and qualify to the National Collegiate Athletic Association east preliminaries on Wednesday, May 5.
LUCAS CASEL | STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Mae McGlynn beats Virginia Commonwealth University defender Destiny Colon to set up her first goal of the game. The Phoenix would go on to beat VCU 19-3 on May 2.
Elon alumnus recognized for sports accomplishments Ryan Keur cited Elon as a key contributor to his success Alexander George Elon News Network
A sport and event management major at Elon, Ryan Keur ‘12 said one of the most influential experiences he had while in college was learning how to be a leader. Keur was 24 years old when he was named the youngest general manager in professional baseball. Now, he is the owner of the Burlington Sock Puppets, a newly rebranded team out of the Appalachian Baseball league, which operates in regions including North Carolina. Keur, a Elon University graduate, said Elon has helped him advance his career in the professional sports industry. “Understanding different types of leadership and adapting to different situations really helped me in this industry,” Keur said. “Elon did a really nice job of providing me with real world opportunities and experiences, along with utilizing industry connections and the ‘pay it forward’ mentality.” Keur currently owns two baseball teams with his wife — the Danville Otterbots and the Burlington Sock Puppets, the latter of which is named after the textile history in Burlington. He currently fulfills the role of managing partner for Knuckleball Entertainment. Not only is he a baseball owner, but he is also a husband, dad and a dog owner. He currently lives in Raleigh, just an hour away from Burlington Athletics Stadium. In April 2020, Keur was named one of Elon’s Young Top 10 Alumni, recognizing his appointment to general manager of the Burlington Royals just one year after graduation. He was also named the Appalachian League Executive of the Year in 2014, 2015 and 2016, which led to him buying the Burlington Royals in 2020. Before his time in Burlington, Keur was recruited by the Daytona Tortugas, an affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds in the Appalachian League. After his first season with the Tortugas, Keur was recognized nationally by Ballpark Digest as the overall Minor League Baseball Executive in 2017. During his time with the Tortugas, the team tallied 498 runs that year.
COURTESY OF TODAY AT ELON
Ryan Keur ’12 is now the owner of the Burlington Sock Puppets, a newly rebranded baseball team.
Anderson Rathbun, the current general manager for the Sock Puppets, has worked closely with Keur since 2015, when he interned with the Burlington Royals while Keur was general manager in 2013. Rathbun said that working with Keur was a positive experience overall. He also wasn’t surprised when he found out Keur was one of the recipients for Elon’s 2020 Top 10 Under 10 Alumni Award. “For what he’s done by the age of 31 for minor league baseball is remarkable,” Rathbun said. Rathbun said that Keur’s mentality is what has made him successful in the industry. “He’s very competitive,” Rathbun said. “He wants to be the best version of himself in all aspects of life. Whether it’s the best sports manager or best father, he’s non-stop.” Keur’s biggest piece of advice to Elon students entering the job market is to “identify companies that have potential growth opportunities” from the COVID-19 pandemic. “Be flexible and persistent, this is uncharted territory for the job market,” Keur said. Both Keur and Rathbun are looking forward to the upcoming season and are excited to have celebrations and events once COVID-19 safety restrictions loosen. The first game of Burlington Royals season is scheduled for June 3 against the Princeton Whistlepigs in the Burlington Athletic Stadium.