The Pendulum ‘CHANGE HAS COME’ ELON, NORTH CAROLINA
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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2008
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VOLUME 34, EDITION 29
www.elon.edu/pendulum
Students rally around campus
Hagan, Perdue win top seats
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Alamance County on Election Day PAGE 2
Photo by MCT Campus
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State & local results
America elects first black president, challenges ahead Alyse Knorr Design Editor Democratic Sen. Barack Obama won 359 electoral votes to Republican John McCain’s 163 Tuesday to become the 44th president of the United States. Obama won in Republican strongholds Colorado, Indiana and Virginia. Democrats have only won in Virginia once since 1948 and have only won in Indiana once since 1936. He also won key swing states Ohio and Pennsylvania, as well as Nevada, New Mexico, Iowa and Florida, all of which went to Republican President George Bush in 2004.
“I think that it was, in some ways, a bit surprising that his electoral victory was so decisive,” Associate Professor of political science Sharon Spray said. College Democrats President Daniel Shutt said the student reaction on campus has been overwhelming. “I’ve been able to communicate with quite a few students, and there’s not much range to their emotions,” Shutt said. “It’s mostly just pure elation at this point.” College Republicans President Nick Ochsner said that on election night, Republicans’ early hope quickly turned into disappointment.
“In the very early hours, it looked like McCain had a fighting chance, and of course that evaporated as the night went on,” Ochsner said. “Once you saw that key states were lost you pretty much knew.” Obama’s victory sets a number of precedents. He will be the first black president, the fifth youngest president in history at age 47 and the first president with foreign-born parents in almost 80 years. “It’s a magnificent moment in our country’s history,” Bacot said. “I think it will go down as one of the premiere presidential elections in the history of our country.”
WHAT’S NEXT | PAGE 5
Page 2 / Thursday, November 6, 2008
NEWS
The Pendulum
on the road to an Obama
VICTORY
Photos by Lindsay Fendt Asst. Photo Editor
Students and other residents of Alamance County made their mark in this historic election, casting their ballots and working the polls. Here is a look at some of the sights around Burlington and Elon on Nov. 4. LEFT: Elaine Byrd and Dave Turnage brave the rain outside the polls at Elon to hand out information about N.C. Democratic candidates.
LEFT: Students board buses sponsored by the National Campaign that took students to and from the polls.
Ossie Edwards and Liz Napoliello alphabetize voters’ names at the North Carolina Democratic headquarters in Greensboro.
Obama volunteer Dana Forrester takes a break in the Greensboro Democratic headquarters.
A pumpkin shows its support for the at the Obama campaign headquarters in Greensboro, N.C.
Two-year election yields surprisingly quick election results
Electoral votes state by state
After two years of intense campaigning, the United States presidential election is over — and it only took one day to determine. By 11 p.m. on Election Day, when the polls on the West Coast closed, Barack Obama had captured enough electoral votes to surpass the 270 needed to be elected president. Key losses for McCain came from Ohio and Pennsylvania, which went to Obama early in the night. At one point around 10 p.m. two McCain aids were reported to have said that they saw “no path to victory.”
*
349
Electoral Votes* * At press time Obama was winning North Carolina by 12,000 votes with 100 percent of precincts reporting. The state still needed to count all provisional ballots before the race can officially be determined.
52 percent 63,042,806 votes
163
Electoral Votes*
46 percent 55,821,644 votes
NEWS
The Pendulum
Thursday, November 6, 2008 / Page 3
Dems hold on to governor seat, pick up Senate spot Olivia Hubert-Allen Editor-in-Chief
Incumbent Dole defeated in negative N.C. Senate race One-term U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Dole was ousted from her seat by Democratic challenger Kay Hagan in one of the most vicious races in North Carolina history. Hagan tallied 53 percent of the vote while Dole carried only 44 percent. Dole watched her lead in the polls slip during the past six months, partly because of Hagan’s campaigning which called Dole ineffective and constantly tied her to President George W. Bush. Hagan’s campaign also raised concerns about the amount of time Dole had spent in North Carolina. Dole tried to rally support from party loyalists by returning with her own negative ads against Hagan, the most recent of which accused Hagan of being “godless.” The act, meant to rally the support of the religious sect, backfired when Democrats and Republicans alike criticized the attack as “desperate” and “astray from the issues.” In the final moments of a television advertisement, Dole’s campaign showed a photo of Hagan while a voice that was not Hagan’s, but sounded similar, said “There is no God.” “I’m not happy with the tone this race acquired,” Dole said. “But I must say I will never regret fighting as hard as I could for the privilege to continue to serve the people of my state.” Many say the “Godless” ad was the deciding factor in their vote for Hagan. “With the Godless ad you saw a lot of people judge Dole and judge Hagan and say that Hagan was the better candidate,” said Hunter Bacot, professor of political science and director of the Elon University Poll. “She had to do something. And the topic was there for the using. It was just poorly executed.” The race was marked by huge expenditures on behalf of both candidates, with dozens of ads appearing on television stations across the state. As the negative campaign came to an end, Hagan looked to smooth things over with her acceptance speech Tuesday night. “For those North Carolinians who didn’t vote for me, I am going to be working hard the next six years to earn your vote,” she said. “Standing up here tonight is not the end of the campaign. It is the beginning of our real fight to bring change to Washington.” Just a year ago, a Dole upset was hardly imaginable when several prominent North Carolina Democrats turned down the chance to run against her. Dole’s highly-recognizable name and level of experience at the national level made her a dominant force in the Senate seat. In her concession speech she thanked North Carolinians for allowing her to serve.
Ethan Hyman | MCT Campus
Kay Hagan defeated incumbent Sen. Elizabeth Dole to capture the North Carolina Senate seat. A year ago it was difficult for Democrats to come up with a challenger to run against powerhouse Dole, who has served under several presidents.
Elizabeth Dole
Pat McCrory
“It’s been the honor of my life to be elected the first female United States Senator in North Carolina history,” she said. Hagan said some of her first objectives in office are tax breaks that will create jobs and adopting a better energy policy that will reduce U.S. dependence on foreign oil. “The challenges we face are real and changing Washington is truly just a start,” Hagan said. “It will take all of us working together at all levels to create the lasting change we want to see in this country.”
Democrats keep governor seat, but McCrory cuts close Democrat and former Lt. Gov. Beverly Perdue narrowly defeated Charlotte's Republican Mayor Pat McCrory to win the gubernatorial race.
Chris Seward | MCT Campus
Lt. Gov. Beverly Perdue is embraced by current Gov. Mike Easley after his endorsement earlier this year. Perdue edged out Charlotte’s Republican Mayor Pat McCrory to keep the governor spot under Democratic control. She will be the first female governor of North Carolina. “I’m honored to have this opportunity to serve the people of this great state,” Perdue said in her acceptance speech. She beat McCrory by a slim 50 percent of the vote, while he hung close with 47 percent. The win keeps a Democrat in the governor seat after Democratic Gov. Mike Easley was prohibited to run for a third term due to term limits. All but three North Carolina governors have been Democrats since 1877. McCrory, who has served as governor to a city where Democrats
outnumber Republicans 3-1 for seven terms, ran one of the most competitive Republican campaigns in the state’s history. The gubernatorial candidates’ goals to run a clean, issue-oriented campaign was successful and McCrory said he was proud to be part of a positive campaign in his concession speech Tuesday night. “We were fighting the Obama wave here in North Carolina, especially in the metropolitan areas,” McCrory told reporters. “We just couldn’t catch up.”
Elon’s Mock Election showed strong favor for Obama/Biden ticket 2004: Student support is nearly tied between Kerry and Bush
2008: Students prefer Obama, faculty support is overwhelming
In 2004, Democrats John Kerry and John Edwards defeated Republicans George W. Bush and Dick Cheney in Elon’s mock presidential election. Kerry/Edwards polled 51 percent of the vote to Bush/Cheney’s 44 percent. The mock election was held online from Oct. 21 to Oct. 26 in 2004. A total of 2,347 students, faculty and staff cast ballots.
In 2008, Democrats Barack Obama and Joe Biden defeated Republicans John McCain and Sarah Palin in Elon’s mock presidential election. Obama/Biden polled 65 percent of the vote to McCain/Palin’s 32 percent. The mock election was held online from Oct. 31 to Nov. 3. A total of 1,695 students, faculty and staff cast ballots in this straw vote. This was not a scientific survey.
Who will you vote for in the 2004 election?
100
Faculty
Percentage
40 20
Students Faculty
80
Staff
60
0
100
Students
80 Percentage
Who will you vote for in the 2008 election?
Staff
60 40 20
Kerry/Edwards
Bush/Cheney
Other
0
Obama/Biden
McCain/Palin
Other Olivia Hubert-Allen | Graphics
Page 4 / Thursday, November 6, 2008
NEWS
The Pendulum
Students lead impromptu parade to honor Obama victory Andie Diemer News Editor Shortly after Sen. Barack Obama was confirmed as America's next president, hundreds of students rallied around Elon, snaking through campus and picking up more students along the way. As rain poured down, the mob filled the air with chants of “Obama!” “USA!” and “Change is here!” Obama-Biden signs were waved as others made O's with their arms above their heads. Sophomores Sarah Small and Meg D'Albora were watching the election results inside their dorm, Barney, when they heard the crowd outside. They followed the noise and joined the group as they made their way from North to South campus, but drew back from the pack. “We were with them earlier and they went crazy,” Small said. Chuck Gantos, director of campus safety and police, said he did not assign any more patrols on campus aside from the regular two security officers and two police officers on foot and T3s. As the mass of students circled campus, Campus Safety and Police Officer Sean Watkins was on patrol and said they were not planning to take any action with the group. “As long as they don't damage any property, we're fine with it,” he said. The parade culminated at Young
andie dieMer | news editor
obama supporteres swarmed campus late thursday night, cheering and chanting for President-elect barack obama. Commons in a large “O” where students sang the national anthem. After rushing into the middle, the group said “The Lord's Prayer.” “It was like nothing I'd ever seen before,” freshman Adam Lawson said. Small and D'Albora continued on their way, following slowly from behind the other students sprinting across
Visit www. elon.edu/ pendulum for video of the rally.
Reactions from the field
Students react
PHOENIX
Pro-McCain:
Kyle Gay Freshman
campus. But as the mob continued to circle around once again and headed back toward Small and D'Albora, it became clear to them what they wanted to do. “Come on, let's go join them,” Small said.
FOX 10 PHOENIX PHOTOGRAPHER JOE TILLMAN
“I was sad that Obama became president, but I don’t think it's terrible. I’m a little more worried that the Democrats won 25 more seats in Congress as well as they now have a majority in the Senate. I’m a little more worried about the checks and balances system, but hopefully we can work something out.” Pro-Obama:
“This election was important, especially to people in colleges everywhere. I feel like after eight years of a team of Bush, it’s time for change, it’s time for something Caroline different, it’s time for Walker some inspiration and Freshman I think Barack Obama can bring that to people everywhere. It’s time for Americans to all come together and I feel he’s capable of that. I’m excited for what he’s going to bring to the White House.”
A crowd gathered outside the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Phoenix to support the candidate who, by the end of the night, would not be president-elect. The emotional crowd in support of Sen. John McCain was divided into two sections, ticketed audience members on the lawn and others in the ballroom. “It was an extremely enthusiastic crowd,” said Joe Tillman, a photographer for Fox 10 Phoenix who was covering the event. “They’re an extremely patriotic crowd, but they’re not taking the loss well.” Early in the night, country music blared from speakers and monitors projected election results, but toward the end of the night, the crowd was not receiving up-to-date information, Tillman said. “The news crews were informed, but no one in the ballroom or on the lawn knew what was happening,” he explained. “But we knew something was up because they told everyone to go from the ballroom to the lawn.” The crowd was moved to the lawn for McCain’s concession speech. Tillman and his crew interviewed crowd members. One man said his first act will be to buy guns because guns will be the first thing to go, Tillman said. “Many people were actually crying,” Tillman said. “There were lots of strong emotions.”
– As related to Bethany Swanson, Managing Editor
CHICAGO
ELON ALUM SCOTT MOSHIER Living outside the city, I took a train in and arrived downtown shortly before 5 p.m. Even on the train, the people were buzzing with excitement ... [and] I first heard people talk about the historical aspect of the event. One woman said to another, “You’ll be able to tell your children and grandchildren about this day.” There was a positive energy throughout the entire event, even before Obama gained a lead in electoral votes and long before he was announced the victor. When I asked people why they came to the rally, their answers were all the same: History. The atmosphere of the event felt like a concert, albeit an enormous one. Shortly after 10 p.m. Central Standard Time, CNN announced Obama was projected to be the next president of the United States. A thunderous roar stretched across the streets of Chicago. To my right, a group of 20-year-old white men were jumping up and down and hugging each other. To my left, a middle-aged black couple embraced each other while the female sobbed. Behind me, a man in his late 50s pumped his fist and yelled in excitement. To me, that is the essence of Barack Obama and his campaign. Obama has shown this country that beyond race, gender, age, religion, sexual orientation and political affiliation lies a common humanity in which peace, hope, love and equality are ideals that can actually be lived out. He challenges us to care, inspires us to hope and empowers us to create positive change. Visit www.elon.edu/pendulum for his full account
McCain urges unity in concession speech Whitney Bossie News Editor Sen. John McCain conceded the presidential race to Sen. Barack Obama shortly after 11 p.m. Eastern Standard Time Tuesday night, congratulating the Democrat on his achievement. He addressed supporters from outside the Arizona Biltmore Hotel, urging them to move past their disappointment and join him in supporting Obama through the “difficult times” the country is facing. “I pledge to him tonight to do all in my power to help him lead us through the many challenges we face,” McCain said. The Republican senator conceded as polls closed on the West Coast, adding to Obama's electoral vote tally and
guaranteeing his victory. McCain stressed the historic significance of Obama's victory, noting the special significance that Obama’s victory holds for black Americans. Obama will become the 44th president of the United States and its first black leader. “Senator Obama has achieved a great thing for himself and for his country,” McCain said. McCain said Obama’s performance throughout “a contest as long and as difficult as this campaign has been” commanded respect. “My friends, we have come to end of a long journey. The American people have spoken, and they have spoken clearly,” he said. He thanked his family, friends and supporters, as well as his
running mate, Gov. Sarah Palin. Palin accompanied McCain on stage, but did not speak. Of his running mate, McCain said she is “one of the best campaigners I have ever seen and an impressive new voice in our party for reform and the principles that have always been our greatest strength.” As McCain commended Palin, TV cameras showed her with tears in her eyes. McCain expressed his gratitude for the “faith and friendship” of his supporters. “Though we fell short, the failure is mine, not yours,” he told the crowd, which erupted into chants of “John McCain.” The crowd of supporters booed at almost every mention of Obama or Joe Biden, but McCain urged them to unite
as Americans and support the future administration. “I urge all Americans who supported me to join me in not just congratulating him, but offering our next president our good will and earnest effort to find ways to come together to find the necessary compromises to bridge our differences and help restore our prosperity, defend our security in a dangerous world and leave our children and grandchildren a stronger, better country than we inherited.” Above all, McCain promised to remain faithful to his country. “Today, I was a candidate for the highest office in the country I love so much, and tonight, I remain her servant.”
NEWS
The Pendulum
Thursday, November 6, 2008 / Page 5
Obama faces tough term with faltering economy, war WHAT’S NEXT from page 1 There’s no doubt Obama has made history with his win, but how will history change during the four years after his inauguration? What comes next for President-Elect Obama? “I think he’s going to be tested early in the sense that he has a lot to face,” Bacot said. “He has a lot of things he’s got to turn around.” After a grueling year-and-a-halflong campaign race, the 44th president faces even more challenges ahead. “It would have been the same way had McCain been elected,” Bacot said. “This is one of those good news, bad news victories,” Bacot said. “The good news is you won, the bad news is you’ve got all this to face.” Pulling up the economy First on Obama’s to-do list is dealing with the economy. It’s a problem with a $10.5 trillion price tag that won’t be shrugged off easily—
economists are comparing the current recession to the Great Depression. The financial crisis that began in the skyscrapers of Wall Street has come crashing down to the pocketbooks and wallets on Main Street. Over the past month, the national debt has soared at a rate faster than ever before. On Sept. 30, the national debt reached $10 trillion for the first time in history. By the end of October, it had climbed to $10.5 trillion, meaning the debt increased by half a trillion dollars in just one month. To combat the economic crisis, Obama has presented a plan that focuses on creating jobs and providing relief for the middle class. Obama has stated he will provide tax cuts for working families and small businesses, invest in “green-collar jobs” and make government spending more accountable and efficient by ending wasteful spending and cutting pork barrel spending. “Right away, you’re going to see something that has to do with the financial bailout and some structure for implementing that proposal,” Bacot said. “You’re also going to see something done to address the mortgage situation. Those are going to be the first two items he has to move forward with.” Shutt said that while there is much outside of the president’s control in the short-term, he is confident that the economy will ultimately be revitalized. “I think that Obama gets it when it comes to thinking about how we create wealth and prosperity in this country,” Shutt said. Getting to the root of the problem At the heart of the country’s economic woes is the housing crisis, which recent research suggests is hitting the economy harder than any other factor. A recent UCLA study estimated that a 10 percent decrease in housing wealth would cause approximately a $105 billion decline in consumer spending.
Personal spending accounts for 70 percent of the country’s GDP. If this prediction holds true, it could spell trouble for the United States, where the national median existing-home price has dropped 9 percent from a year ago. Obama has proposed a 10 percent universal mortgage credit to fight the problem, and he has also pledged to ensure more accountability in the subprime mortgage industry. Fueling the country Another issue Obama faces is U.S. foreign energy dependence. More than 60 percent of America’s petroleum supply is imported from abroad, and, according to the State Energy Office, North Carolina imports nearly all of its fuel resources, costing the state about $6 billion each year. Over the past 40 years, energy consumption in North Carolina has increased more rapidly than the state’s population, but less rapidly than the state’s economy. Obama’s energy plan includes putting 1 million plug-in hybrid cars on the road by 2015 and ensuring that 25 percent of our electricity comes from renewable resources by 2025. “We can create a lot of jobs that can’t be outsourced simply by using some of our public funds to create more demand for renewable energy,” Shutt said. Keeping America healthy Then there’s the health care issue: according to the National Coalition on Health Care, nearly 47 million Americans, or 16 percent of the population, lacks health insurance, and that number has been rising since 2000. In North Carolina, the number of non-elderly uninsured citizens has risen over the last four years at a rate double that of the national increase. “You can’t build a strong economy without a strong health care system, and I think one of [Obama’s] top priorities is going to be changing the way we do health care in this country,” Shutt said. Obama’s health care plan is to provide affordable health care for all Americans by building on the existing system and existing providers. The plan requires all children to have health care coverage and expands eligibility for Medicaid.
Ending a war Another challenging aspect of Obama’s term will be that he faces all of these issues during a time of war. The War on Terror began seven years ago after the Sept. 11 attack, and has included a full-scale invasion of Iraq. According to a CNN/Opinion Research Poll conducted from Oct. 30 to Nov. 1, 64 percent of 1,017 respondents said they opposed the war, while 33 percent favored it. Obama, acting as commander in chief of the U.S. military, has pledged to responsibly remove troops from Iraq and encourage Iraq’s leaders to be accountable for their future. Under Obama’s plan, a residual force will remain in Iraq, but no permanent bases will remain. Bacot said Obama will have to tackle the problems on the domestic front first. “It’s going to be a difficult thing,” Shutt said. “It took us five years to get into this mess, and we’re not going to get out of it overnight.” Looking ahead Ochsner said he’s hopeful that the election will have positive effects for his party. “I honestly think that Obama’s election will be the change the Republican party needs,” Ochsner said. “I think you’re going to see a different Republican party emerge two years from now and we’re going to choose a nominee far different from John McCain in 2012.” Until then, Americans will have their eyes on Obama. “I do think that this country will judge Obama and the Democratic Party on its leadership, and they will have the opportunity to respond to this two years from now,” Ochsner said. “They will certainly give Obama his grade in four years,” Ochsner said. Bacot said Obama will most likely govern from a centrist position. “You’re not going to see him govern from the left,” Bacot said. “I think he’s going to govern in a very practical matter.” Spray said that the polarizing nature of the campaign means the country will need some time to heal before agendas are carried out. “The system is designed to move slowly,” Spray said. “We shouldn’t expect things to happen rapidly, because it’s designed not to.”
The results Results from the presidential, state and local races. President: Barack Obama (Dem.) John McCain (Rep.) Ralph Nader (Ind.)
Commissioner of Insurance: Wayne Goodwin (Dem.) John Odom (Rep.) Mark McMains (Lib.)
U.S. Senate: Kay Hagan (Dem.) Elizabeth Dole (Rep.) Christopher Cole (Lib.)
Commissioner of Labor: Mary Fant Donnan (Dem.) Cherie Berry (Rep.)
N.C. Supreme Court: Robert H. (Bob) Edmunds, Jr. Suzanne Reynolds U.S. Congress District 6: Teresa Sue Bratton (Dem.) Howard Coble (Rep.) Attorney General: Roy Cooper (Dem.) Bob Crumley (Rep.) Auditor: Beth Wood (Dem.) Leslie Merritt (Rep.) State Treasurer: Janet Cowell (Dem.) Bill Daughtridge (Rep.) Commissioner of Agriculture: Ronnie Ansley (Dem.) Steve Troxler (Rep.)
Governor: Bev Perdue (Dem.) Pat McCrory (Rep.) Mike Munger (Lib.) Lt. Governor: Walter Dalton (Dem.) Robert Pittenger (Rep.) Phillip Rhodes (Lib.)
State Reprsentative District 63: Alice Bordsen (Dem.) Celo Faucette (Rep.) State Representative District 64: Henry Vines (Dem.) Cary Dale Allred (Rep.) County Commissioner (pick 3): Eddie Boswell (Dem.) Joyce Glenda Bowman (Dem.) Linda Massey (Dem.) Dan W. Ingle (Rep.) William (Bill) Lashley (Rep.) Tom Manning (Rep.) Register of Deeds: Natalie R. Jones (Dem.) David Barber (Rep.)
Secretary of State: Elaine Marshall (Dem.) Jack Sawyer (Rep.) Superintendent of Public Instruction: June Atkinson (Dem.) Richard Morgan (Rep.) State Senator District 13: Brad Miller (Dem.) Hugh Webster (Rep.) State Senator District 24: Anthony (Tony) Foriest (Dem.) Richard W. (Rick) Gunn Jr. (Rep.)
Nonpartisan Offices also on the ballot: Supreme Court Associate Justice, Court of Appeals judges, District Court judges District 15A, Board of Education and Soil and Water Conservation District Supervisor. Visit the Times News' Web site at www.thetimesnews.com for a full list of election results.
Page 6 / Thursday, November 6, 2008
NEWS
The Pendulum
North Carolina posts late results, race too close to call Olivia Hubert-Allen Editor-in-Chief It may take a few days to determine the presidential race winner in North Carolina. At press time Obama lead McCain by a slim 12,000 votes and poll workers needed to count all provisional ballots to announce with certainty who won the toss-up state. Provisional ballots are cast by voters whose eligibility needs to be confirmed. In the 2004 presidential election, North Carolina tallied nearly 50,000 provisional ballots. Though the number of provisional ballots to be counted is not yet known, it is likely that number could nearly double for 2008 because of the large influx of new voters. The winner of North Carolina will earn the state's 15 electoral votes. No matter what the outcome in North Carolina is, the victory of Sen. Barack Obama has already been announced based on his key victories in other swing states. The State Board of Elections has unofficially reported that voter turnout in the state was at 68.4 percent. It is the highest turnout since the 1984 presidential race between Ronald Reagan and Walter Mondale when 69 percent of the state's eligible voters turned out to vote. Obama's ability to be competitive in a state that elected Bush by 12 percentage points in 2004 has signaled not only a renowned victory for the Obama camp, but also a changing
Bryce Little | Photographer
Sen. Barack Obama speaks to a crowd of supporters in Charlotte, N.C. on Election Day Eve. He put more time and energy into the state than Democrats have traditionally devoted in an effort to capture their 15 electoral votes. demographic in the state. The influx of young professionals to the Research Triangle Park and the banking industires in Charlotte has steered the state away from its historical red-state status. Retirees from the Northeast and
Florida have also made the Carolina coast and mountains their retirement homes. The Pendulum will post results as soon as they are released at www.elon. edu/pendulum.
North Carolina vote totals: Obama: 2,101,986 votes, 49.8% McCain: 2,089,826 votes, 49.6% Numbers as of press time
Despite massive turnout nationwide, some choose not to vote Daniel Temple Reporter Major news organizations are reporting voters turning out in the most unprecedented numbers since women were given the right to vote in 1920. At Elon, measures were taken to ensure that as many students possible voted. For weeks, flyers and signs were made visible to encourage students to get out and vote, and on Election Day free shuttles were provided to take students to and from the polls. There are still some who opted not to vote in this election, citing a number of reasons ranging from lack of interest to the inclement weather. “I’m registered in Massachusetts, which is predominantly pro-Obama,” sophomore Sarah Tucker said. “They’re more than likely going to vote for him so what does it matter if I send in my absentee ballot?” Knowing the Candidates: Another reason many Elon students kept themselves from voting was their lack of knowledge about the candidates on the ballot. Although freshman Mark Taylor said he wasn’t opposed to voting in general, he said he felt wrong casting a ballot for people and issues he knew very little about.
“My main reason for not voting was that I knew nothing about where each candidate stood on certain issues,” Taylor said. “I know it’s my fault for not doing any research, but I just don’t want to vote for the sake of voting.” For others, such as junior Currie Bell, it was after looking into each candidate that he decided not to vote. After reviewing each candidate’s plans and listening to what each person wanted to accomplish, Bell felt it was better to keep his vote to himself rather than pick a candidate he didn’t want. “To be honest, I just was not that enthusiastic about John McCain,” Bell said. “On the other hand I really detest Barack Obama and so I wasn’t about to vote for him either.” Confusing and Time-Consuming Voting Process: For some, it wasn’t the candidates or the election, but the voting process that kept them from participating. Some students said they were confused as how to approach the process of registering to vote and submitting absentee ballots. “The reason I didn’t vote was because I was unfamiliar with the process of absentee ballots,” junior Thomas Daddio said. “By the time I became aware of the situation and the steps I needed to
take, it was too late.” Because of the record voter turn out, unusually long lines formed outside polling stations across the United States. News of these lines and delays also played a part in keeping people from voting. “I understand how important it is to vote, I really do,” Elon resident Kathy Duvall said. “But I also know I’m going to have to stand in line for at least half an hour and between my kids and errands there just isn’t enough time.” What the Future Holds: But just because some people didn’t participate in this election doesn’t mean they won’t vote in the future. Many students, after seeing how the election process is such a major event, are excited about getting the chance to vote in future elections. “With the rain and the amount of work I have today it just feels like too much to go down and cast a single vote,” Taylor said. “But after seeing how important it is to so many people, I will definitely make more of an effort and certainly be a part of the 2012 election.” Daddio said since he is new to voting the process was confusing for him. “Voting is important, though,” Daddio said. “I’m disappointed I didn’t take part in this historical event.”
Annual haunted house shut down for violating fire code Lindsay Fendt Assistant Photo Editor A longtime Elon tradition came to an end Oct. 30 when the annual Smith dorm haunted house was shut down by the fire department for its failure to adhere to fire codes. The haunted house has been planned, constructed and held every Halloween for the past nine years by the boys of Smith and other East Area volunteers. Much to the dismay of those involved, the remnants of this year’s house, themed “The Virus,” now lie in boxes in the East Area Office. “A bunch of guys were disappointed having to set it up and take it down,” freshman Smith resident Rush Blaine said. “They were displeased with the fire department on inconsistencies.” Despite misconceptions that the fire department had approved past haunted houses, Fire Chief Eddie King said they only inspect small-scale events on special request. “If they’ve had them in the past it was not to our knowledge,” he said. “If we had been informed of it we would not have allowed it.”
The fire department said it discovered the haunted house when it arrived on Oct. 30 in response to a fire alarm set off by one of the fog machines. Once at Smith, the firefighters said a haunted house was unsafe for a residence hall and contacted the fire marshal’s office for the final word. “Everything they were putting in those hallways changes the flammability and combustibility of the building,” said David Wright, a firefighter with the Elon Fire Department on Williamson Avenue. “Smith is just not a good choice for a haunted house.” Campus Safety and Police also had not been informed of some of the changes in this year’s house. “It was different this year. It was more expanded and we weren’t aware of that,” Chuck Gantos, director of campus safety and police, said. “We had not asked the fire department for inspection this year. I am not aware if the East Area Office did either.” Associate Director of Residence Life Brian Collins said the fire marshal’s decision was not based on the setup of the haunted house, but more on the kind of building it was being held in.
“The problem was not the paper on the walls or anything like that,” he said. “It was holding that kind of event in a residence hall.” It remains unclear whether the haunted house will be allowed to go on in years to come, but the fire department said the outlook is not good. “It is not really a possibility because there are no sprinklers and people live in the building,” Wright said. Despite these obstacles, Residence Life said it not ruling out the possibility of having future haunted houses. While the fire department said having it in a residence hall is out of the question, Residence Life is brainstorming ideas on other ways to continue hosting a haunted house. “We may try again, but not in the actual hall itself,” Collins said. “Something like a Smithsponsored haunted house.” Even though it is unlikely that Smith will ever hold another haunted house within its walls, there is still a chance Smith will be able to keep this Halloween tradition alive. “We may try again,” Collins said. “We don’t want to give up on the haunted house.”
The Pendulum
NEWS
Thursday, November 6, 2008 / Page 7
Elon prepares for alumni to return to campus Sophie Duensing Reporter Put on your party hat and grab some friends for this year's Homecoming: Phoenix Phiesta. Festive events have been held throughout the week, including a piñata decorating contest at Tuesday’s College Coffee, Wednesday's Skit Night and Mexican food tonight at Midnight Meals. Maria Wyka, the Homecoming Committee chair, said the theme was chosen to appeal to all members of the Elon community. “We try to pick a Homecoming theme that everyone can relate to,” she said. “Students, faculty, as well as the large number of alumni who come back each year.” The annual Penny Wars contest, which was held from Monday until Wednesday, will profit Centro La Comunidad, a non-profit organization committed to aiding Alamance County’s Latino community. Centro La Comunidad offers ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) classes, support groups and many other programs benefiting the local Hispanic community. On Tuesday, a Phoenix Phiesta Pheast was held in The Zone. A free taco dinner was provided for the first 200 attendees and fireworks exploded as Election Day results were broadcast on a projection screen. With the hubbub of Election Day past, the Elon community can focus on the most anticipated part of Homecoming: the weekend. Students will reunite with old friends and familiar faces when Elon alumni flock back to campus for the weekend’s festivities. Several events will be held tomorrow to kick off the weekend. At 4 p.m., there will be a pep rally at
HOMECOMING WEEKEND SCHEDULE: Friday:
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Pep rally at 4 p.m., Fonville Fountain IN-MEN Ltd. Beach Bash at 7:30 p.m., McKinnon Performance of “Sweeney Todd” at 7:30 p.m., McCrary Theatre (additional performances on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m.) NPHC Step Show at 8 p.m., Alumni Gym Young Alumni Party at 8 p.m., Lighthouse
Saturday:
• David Wells | Photo Editor
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Moseley Center was full of festive piñatas at Tuesday's College Coffee, decorated by student groups in celebration of Homecoming 2008. Fonville Fountain. The football team will be present to get fans pumped up for Saturday’s football game against Western Carolina. A group of Elon alums, called IN-MEN Ltd., will play a beach bash concert at 7:30 p.m. in McKinnon. Tickets are on sale for $5 in the SGA office. The National Pan-Hellenic Council will host a step show at 8:00 p.m. in Alumni Gym, where members of the NPHC will show off their dance moves. Tickets cost $10 at the door, but can also be purchased in advance at the Greek Life Office for $5 for Greeks and $7 for non-Greeks. Graduates from the classes of 1998 to 2008, as well as current senior class members, are invited
to attend the Young Alumni Party, which will run from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. at Lighthouse. Anonymous will play during the event. On Saturday, alumni, students and community members will gather at Rhodes Stadium for the main event. Tailgating starts at 11 a.m. in the Harper Center parking lot, followed by the football game at 1:30 p.m. The King and Queen will be announced during halftime, and the 2008 Homecoming Cup Champions will be announced at the end of third quarter. Phoenix Phiesta Homecoming 2008 has been packed with fun and festive activities, and the weekend promises many more to come.
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Alumni Association Awards Brunch at 9 a.m., McKinnon Tailgating at 11 a.m., Reunion Village on The Green, Lake Mary Nell, Harper and Ingold parking lots Football game against Western Carolina at 1:30 p.m., Rhodes Stadium Announcement of King and Queen winners at half time, Rhodes Stadium EV! 20th Anniversary Celebration at 6:30 p.m., McKinnon Old School Party featuring 9th Wonder at 11 p.m., McKinnon
Sunday:
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Alumni Worship Service at 10:30 a.m., Elon Community Church
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The Pendulum
FILE PHOTO Students gathered at a candlelight vigil for missing Elon alumnus Kyle Fleischmann last year. Fleischmann has been missing since Nov. 9, 2007. This Sunday marks the one-year anniversary of his disappearance. Several events will be held in his honor in both Elon and Charlotte.
Homecoming weekend marks anniversary of alum’s disappearance Alyse Knorr Design Editor On Friday, Nov. 9, 2007, 24-year-old Elon alumnus Kyle Fleischmann went missing. One year later, his family and friends have not given up hope. This Sunday marks the oneyear anniversary of Fleischmann’s disappearance. The Kyle Fleischmann Foundation is marking the day with a charity golf tournament and banquet in Charlotte to raise money and awareness. The tournament begins at 1 p.m. at the Ballantyne Resort golf club and the banquet starts at 7:30 p.m. at the Ballantyne Resort Pavilion. At Elon, tables will be set up at the young alumni party at Lighthouse on Friday, Nov. 7 and at Saturday’s Homecoming football game to collect donations and pass out information about Fleischmann. Members of Kappa Alpha Order, the fraternity of which Fleischmann was a member while at Elon, will also be
collecting donations and passing out information during the football, club lacrosse and rugby games. At 10:30 Saturday morning at the National PanHellenic Council garden, a vigil will be held through Elon religious life. On Dec. 13, members of the Kyle Fleischmann Foundation will race the Thunder Road Marathon Relay Kyle in Charlotte. Fleischmann “We concentrate our efforts more on awareness and keeping his story fresh on people’s minds,” said Ryan Stimmel, Kappa Alpha Order president. “Our goal is to continue to keep his name out there, because that’s pretty much all we can do right now.”
The day he went missing, Fleischmann was seen leaving Buckhead Saloon in Charlotte around 2:20 a.m. He was seen buying pizza at Fuel Pizza in uptown Charlotte at around 2:25 a.m. on Nov. 9, 2007 and has not been heard from since. Fleischmann graduated from Elon in 2006 with a degree in business administration. He was an officer of the Kappa Alpha Order fraternity and volunteered with the Special Olympics and the Boys and Girls Club. The Kyle Fleischmann Foundation, which was established in November of 2007 has been active in recent months. The foundation seeks to spread public awareness and educate the community about missing persons, as well as support families with missing loved ones. “After his disappearance, a lot of our brothers who had recently graduated moved to Charlotte to work for the Kyle Fleischmann Foundation,” Stimmel said. “It encompasses all missing adults in the area and helps families deal with their situations.” “What we’re trying to do is take
more of an education approach, and prevention, as much as possible,” said Brian Padgette, managing director of the foundation. Padgette said the group is training speakers, including Fleischmann’s father, to travel to universities and high schools to raise awareness, keep missing persons cases in the news and share tips on how to stay safe. “We’ll talk on important things that you should know and watch out for as a young adult,” Padgette said. The organization also provides customizable, printable flier templates, abduction prevention kits and a national media contact list to families and friends of missing persons. “There are about 2,500 people who go missing every year, and a lot of those are found but many of them aren’t,” Padgette said. “A lot of times, nothing’s ever found out. We want to try and keep this as known as possible, and hopefully somebody, someday, will come forward with some information so we can have some closure for Kyle’s family and friends.”
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The Pendulum
Thursday, November 6, 2008 / Page 9
New program emphasizes social change in local community Elon becomes the latest in a series of colleges and universities to develop a social entrepreneurship initiative Lindsay Molin Reporter Rising sophomores who have a passion for service learning and want to make a lasting impact in the local community can now apply for the new Social Entrepreneur Scholars program. The program is similar to Periclean Scholars, but it focuses on an in-depth approach to service learning in the local community. Social Entrepreneurs seek sustainable solutions through research, innovation and collaboration with community partners. Dr. Angela Lewellyn-Jones, academic coordinator for the Social Entrepreneurs Scholars, said the program will work to further expand on Elon’s existing goals. “Elon is good at encouraging global awareness, so we wanted to apply these aspects of service learning locally,” she said. Duke, Harvard, Carnegie-Mellon and Stanford universities have similar programs. Mary Morrison, the co-curricular coordinator for the Social Entrepreneurship Scholars, said the program will select a group of 24 students each year during the spring of their freshman year. The students decide what issues to address over the three-year program, which will begin during their sophomore year. This year, the first group of 14 students is working to solve environmental and child health issues that face the community. The child health issues group is working with Head Start placement, while
the environmental issues group is working with Brian Baker, the upper Haw River project coordinator, and Elaine Durr, Elon’s sustainability coordinator. The first year focuses on course work that will study social problems and build relationships with community partners. The second year goes deeper into project formulation and development. Workshops are conducted with the Kernodle Center for Service Learning to strengthen skills such as grant writing, budget development and fundraising. During the third year, the students develop a specific program to implement in the community and present their projects at a conference with members of the community and future program participants. Students are required to take certain courses, including a sociology course, titled Social Issues & Problems in the Local Community, and two specific SES courses, titled Social Entrepreneurship & NonProfit Development and Social Entrepreneurship Team Seminar. Each class of scholars is split into two groups, and the two groups compete for grant money. Both groups receive some money, but the group with the more creative and innovative program design receives a more significant amount. Programs from both groups are implemented in the community. The grant is funded through the $10,000 Social Entrepreneurship Fund, which comes from donations. Lewellyn-Jones said students who apply are not expected to have previous service experience. The
THE APPLICATION PROCESS:
THE CURRICULUM:
The program seeks rising sophomores “committed to the common good, concerned about the local community and who enjoy collaborative work and creative problemsolving.”
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Applications for next year's class will be reviewed by a committee of faculty, staff, students and local community leaders Applications must be received by April 2 The application is available at http://org.elon.edu/ses/ apply.html Questions about the application process or program can be e-mailed to ses@elon.edu
most important thing is a passion for service learning and compelling answers on the application about how they can help the local community, she said. In order to apply, students must fill out a one-page application and submit a two- to three page response to three different questions. Each applicant's adviser must sign off on the form to indicate his or her support for the student's involvement in the SES program. She added that students who participate in the program will develop skills that can be used in
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Year one: Course work and seminars focus on social problems in the local community and building community partnerships through service-learning Year two: Continued service-learning in the local community, workshops in the Kernodle Center on grant writing, budget development and fundraising Year three: Students and community partners implement projects and plan for their long-term sustainability, and also create digital stories of the projects to present at professional conferences
professional roles throughout their lives. Participation in the program will also benefit their understanding of non-profit work, social problems and program design. “It will be exciting to have an impact on the local community with students who deeply understand the issues and have creative ideas to solve them,” Morrison said, regarding the future of the program. There will be an hour-long information session on Nov. 20, in Ward Octagon at 4 p.m. for interested students. For more information, visit http://org.elon.edu/ses.
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S A M &S H Photos bY David Wells
Students chuck pumpkins for charity Margeaux Corby Opinions Editor A contraption operated by the Society of Physics Students, which looked as if it should be outside a castle rather than down the field from Harden Club House, chucked pumpkin after pumpkin down the hills of South Campus on Sunday. Shouts of “It exploded in the air!” “Bye-bye jack-o-lantern!” and “It’s still smiling!” came with the flight and eventual crash of every pumpkin by the many children in the crowd. Seven-year-old Kierstin Baute and 5-year-old Raegan Baute came to have their pumpkin, which had a Mr. Potato Head inside, smashed on the grass. Professor Thomas Arcaro came with his two daughters as well. “We came here to watch the pumpkins get chucked and give some food to Loaves and Fishes,” Arcaro said. “It’s fun and it’s a contribution in a meaningful way for people who need food.” For every pumpkin brought to the event, a canned good or dollar donation was required. All proceeds will go to the local Alamance County charity Loaves and Fishes. The catapult-like instrument
used for pumpkin destruction is a trebuchet, a military apparatus used in the Middle Ages to throw stones at enemy armies and fortified castles. “Our whole project started last year when we wanted to build a trebuchet. The question was what to do with it,” said Evan Dempster, SPS president. “The answer was to do it after Halloween and launch pumpkins.” Many other physics students shared the enthusiasm for both a physics and community project, as well as a small history lesson. “Anything done with medieval warfare and weapons is cool,” said sophomore Pierre Cieniewicz. The trebuchet was the same one built the previous year, but several repairs were made due to the deterioration of its main supports. The society promises a freshly built trebuchet for next year. Although everyone cheered for an especially long launch, it was the final smash that enthralled the crowd. “It would be great if they reached the woods,” said Allison Arpin, a 2008 Elon graduate and former president of the society of physics. “But what people really enjoy is seeing the pumpkins blow up.”
TOP: Benny Stein launches a mini pumpkin in a homemade sling shot while the SPS resets the trebuchet for another smash. ABOVE: A local woman carries her son’s “Harry Potter” pumpkin to the launch site.
Raegan and Kierstin Baute sit with their dad as they watch their pumpkins fly through the air and then smash on the ground at Sunday’s “Great Pumpkin Toss,” hosted by the Society of Physics. The society raised $59 and collected 52 cans of food.
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NEWS
Comedy writer lets Elon in on the joke Whitney Bossie News Editor After showing off his shoes and thanking both Jesus and his mom, Joe Garden got down to business. Well, not quite. Garden, who writes for the satirical Web site The Onion, kept the audience laughing throughout his speech, given last Wednesday in Whitley Auditorium. The site is known for its comical headlines, and Garden shared some of his personal favorites with the audience. Many concerned the presidential campaigns, specifically the length of the campaigning process. “As we all know, the 2008 presidential campaign started in 1993,” Garden said. Some of his favorites: “Americans Announce They’re Dropping Out of Presidential Race,” “Depressed Candidate Runs Attack Ad About Self” and “Palin Brushing Up On Foreign Policy at Epcot.” Garden is a member of the media whose job is to make fun of the media, but he said that his work inevitably reflects current events. He doesn’t see The Onion as a news organization, but more as a form of entertainment. “I don’t like to think I’m informing anyone,” he said. But in an age when Jon Stewart’s name is as readily-recognized as Brian Williams', Garden may be doing just that. He addressed this issue, noting that he believes people in roles such as his and Stewart’s have a responsibility to the “joke first, and the actual event second.” “We need more people who are reading the real news,” Garden said. “It’s good to watch The Daily Show, and it’s good to read The Onion, but it’s better to read The Economist.” According to Garden, it’s becoming more and more difficult to distinguish between satirical news and straight news. He said that, especially in the broadcast sector, news has become so over-the-top that it’s hard to satirize. “It’s more and more about increasing the volume, increasing the conflict,” he said. Garden said he was disappointed in the media’s coverage of the recent campaign cycle because so many “non-issues” were featured. He made a concerted effort to only read stories about important political issues, but said it was difficult
Shortly after the company he worked for as a carpet layer went bankrupt in December, Lauro Manuel made a critical decision: He was taking his family back to Mexico. The souring U.S. economy was showing no signs of turning around, and after searching for weeks for work alongside other laid-off undocumented workers, Lauro was convinced that he, his wife and their three U.S.-born children could do better in his home country. It’s a conclusion that some illegal immigrants are reaching as the U.S. economy continues to shed jobs — particularly in the construction and service industries, where large numbers of them traditionally have found work. Like most everyone else in this country, they are feeling the pinch of rising unemployment and higher food bills. Unlike U.S. citizens, they don’t qualify for unemployment benefits or many other forms of public assistance. So, many who have lost good-paying jobs are doubling up on lesser-paying ones, and many families have turned to food banks and churches in search of help. Still others have become virtual nomads — moving from city to city, state to state on word of better opportunities elsewhere. Recent studies show that the number of illegal immigrants in the country has dropped slightly for the first time in years, incomes among their ranks are down further than those of all other U.S. households, and their jobless rates are up. Despite the bleak outlook, Lauro Manuel’s wife, Carmina, said she wasn’t on board with her husband’s desire to return to Mexico because she believes the family’s chances are more promising here — even in these bad times. The two, identified here only by their given names, have been in the United States for years — she for 18 years, he for 21. Without legal immigration status, they had settled in California and Texas before moving to Washington five years ago. A tax preparer at a national tax service, Carmina was about to see her income surge with the upcoming tax season when her husband made his announcement. “We actually reached a crisis point,” Carmina said. “I told him if he left, he was going by himself.” So she offered a deal instead: “We’ll stay and try to save money, and if things don’t turn around, we can go back in a year or so,” she said. “But I’m not going back to Mexico without money. If you can’t find a good job over here, in the United States, in the country of opportunities, what chance do you have back home?”
NEWS IN BRIEF Religious Studies Department hosts lecture tonight The Religious Studies Department will host a lecture and discussion about the relationship between cognition and religiosity at 4 p.m. today in Spence Pavilion 101. The lecture, “Spirit and Synapse: Did God Create the Brain, or Did the Brain Create God?" features Jeff Pugh and Mat Gendle. Students take top prize in PSA contest Communications students Mich Donovan and Jeff Thurm won first place in the North Carolina Center for Voter Education public service announcement competition. They will receive $1,000 for the project, which was created in Staci Saltz’s television production class. Law expert to give O’Connor Lecture tonight
oLivia hubert-aLLen | editor-in-Chief
Joe Garden kept students laughing when he visited elon. to filter through all of the other, less-newsworthy information. That’s not to say The Onion didn’t feature some of the less-important issues. The site took full advantage of some of the persistent issues that plagued the presidential candidates, showcasing headlines like “McCain Silences Critics With Perfectly Executed Cartwheel” and “Obama Undertakes Presidential Internship To Ease Concerns About His Lack of Experience.” While his work is all in good fun, Garden said he tries to avoid publishing anything that lacks an express purpose. “We don’t draw the line anywhere. We’ll talk about anything as long as we find the right angle for it,” he said. “But if we’re just doing something for shock value, we try to avoid that.” Garden said he enjoys his work, but doesn’t take it too seriously. The real news, he said, is best left to the pros.
Failing economy beckons immigrants home Lornet Turnbull The Seattle Times (MCT)
Thursday, November 6, 2008/ Page 11
As conditions worsen here, many are turning to places that offer help without asking questions. At St. Mary’s church in Seattle, the Rev. Tony Haycock said lines at the church’s food bank are longer. “A lot of them are losing their jobs ... so they are struggling,” he said. “It’s across the board.” At El Centro de la Raza, Executive Director Roberto Maestas said he’s seeing a marked increase in families visiting the food bank, coming for meals and seeking help with foreclosures. “That’s been discernible in the last month or so,” he said. “Everybody is wondering: Is the roof caving in on my head?” Along with being in an unstable job market, some illegal immigrants also are feeling vulnerable because of stepped-up immigration enforcement, including worksite raids. Nowhere is the economic crisis more evident than in the home-construction industry, where untold numbers of illegal immigrants were landing good jobs during the decade’s boom years. Many of those jobs have now disappeared. A study by the Pew Hispanic Center found unemployment among Latino immigrants, both legal and illegal, was 7.5 percent during the first quarter of 2008, due in large part to the construction slump. That was well above the 4.7 percent rate for other non-Hispanic workers. Some workers have found themselves toiling for contractors who haven’t paid them because the contractors themselves have not been paid, said Jimmy Matta, organizing director of the Pacific Northwest Regional Council of Carpenters. Matta said he takes about 20 calls a day — mostly from out-of-state workers who tend to be more highly skilled. “I’ve met carpenters in the trades who’ve worked on 11 major casinos,” Matta said. “There’s no work in Las Vegas, Los Angeles. We’re getting qualified guys wanting to come up here. The reality is, the market can’t bear it.” Cesar Quintero is one of those who came here seeking work. Originally from Tijuana, he had been in Los Angeles for more than a decade, most recently trying to muscle his way through throngs of unemployed construction workers. Now he’s among growing numbers who line the sidewalk outside the Home Depot store in Sodo, Wash., early each morning, hoping to grab painting or landscaping work for the day. Some days are better than others. As soon as he makes $500, Quintero said, he’ll buy a van he can live in and drive to Wenatchee, Wash., to find work. He heard there’s work there. “I already have $150,” he said.
A.E. Dick Howard will give the Sandra Day O’Connor Lecture at 7:30 p.m. tonight at the Carolina Theatre in Greensboro. Howard, White Burkett Miller Professor of law and public affairs at the University of Virginia Law School, is widely considered an expert in constitutional law, comparative constitutionalism and the Supreme Court. He will also teach a Winter Term course on the impact of American constitutionalism on foreign countries and cultures. Ward-Johnson chosen for national diversity program Frances Ward-Johnson, an associate professor of communications, was selected as a fellow in the 2008-2009 Journalism Leadership Institute for Diversity. The year-long program aims to increase gender, racial and ethnic diversity in administrative positions in journalism and communication education. Nine faculty members nationwide were selected, including faculty from Penn State, Auburn and Bradley universities. Fellows will participate in Institute activities while continuing work at their home campuses. School of Communications to host alum panel A “wisdom session” will be held at 3 p.m. tomorrow in McEwen 011. A panel of alumni will discuss how their experiences at Elon shaped their lives and how they got previous internships and their current jobs. A reception for faculty, students and alumni will be held prior to the information session at 2 p.m. in McEwen. Faculty members chosen for teaching and learning scholars program The Center for the Advancement of Teaching and Learning has named four faculty members as CATL Scholars for 2009-2011. Jessie Moore, assistant professor of English, Ayesha Delpish, assistant professor of mathematics, Brooke Barnett, associate professor of communications and Ken Calhoun, assistant professor of communications, were chosen. The CATL Scholars program was created to cultivate innovative teaching and learning at Elon. Scholars receive funding for two years to develop, implement and assess projects to transform student learning. Annual DHOP tonight The sisters of Delta Delta Delta are hosting Delta House of Pancakes (DHOP) from 11 p.m. to 3 a.m. tonight in the Parrish House. All-you-caneat pancakes will be served for an entrance fee of $5. The event will feature a pancake-eating contest around 1 a.m. and all proceeds will benefit St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. Chemist will visit Elon to advocate sustainability Catherine Hunt, a professional chemist, will visit Elon Monday to speak about the development of green chemistries and environmentally sustainable chemical processes and products. Hunt has served as the president of the American Chemical Society. Hunt will speak at 7:30 p.m. in McCrary Theatre as part of the Voices of Discovery Science Speaker Series.
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The Pendulum
Board to vote on library location next week Alyse Knorr Design Editor The Town of Elon's Board of Aldermen will vote on the site of the new Western Branch Library on Tuesday, Nov. 11. Mayor Jerry Tolley made the announcement at an agenda-setting meeting on Monday, Nov. 3. Nine citizens wearing “Library at the Park” stickers attended the meeting and eight vocalized their support for the Beth Schmidt Park location. No one spoke in support of the other option, the Firehouse Fields location on Williamson Avenue. Many citizens at the Nov. 3 meeting pointed out the issue of traffic on twolane Williamson Avenue. “I don't believe that adding more traffic to that area would benefit the town,” citizen Jim Chanas said. “Unless you're going to make it a four-lane road, you're just building a nuisance to the town.” In a letter to the board read by citizen Shirley Beyer, citizen Linda Raker also stated her support for the Beth Schmidt Park location because of the traffic problem. She said the future retail development in the area that the university has planned will only add to the traffic problem, and that the safety of nearby firefighters must be considred as well. “The university does not own the Town of Elon,” she wrote. Jean Toms said she avoids driving around Elon between 7:30 a.m. and 6 p.m. because of the traffic. She said the Beth Schmidt location is ideal for children like her grandkids, who love going to the park. “I think it's a more scenic place and it's less noisy,” she said. Jean Blevins, a retired teacher, said she thinks the park location will allow children to create a positive
association between playing outside and the library. “Many neighborhoods surround the park, and it's in walking distance for many people,” she said. Alderman Ron Klepcyk responded by pointing out a problem with expansion at the park location. “One of my biggest concerns about the Cook Road location is that there's no room to expand,” he said. “We'd have to puchase more property if we ever wanted to expand.” Tolley mentioned that Judy Cobb, director of Alamance County public libraries, told him she anticipates the Western Branch being the busiest branch in the county. The construction of the new Western Branch Library was approved by the Alamance County Board of Commissioners and the Town of Elon over a year ago. The site originally chosen for the library was Beth Schmidt Park. Tolley said the board was set on this location until last August, when Elon University offered the town land on their Firehouse Fields property on Williamson Avenue. The town has been debating the location of the library ever since. Tolley said the board members have not made up their minds yet and that throughout the next week, the aldermen will be analyzing development estimates and reading e-mails from citizens. Town Manager Mark Dula said the board has received e-mails from 60 households, and that they are slightly in favor of the park location. “I think they all want to look at all those e-mails,” Tolley said of the board members. Tolley said that some board members are concerned about the traffic and university restrictions related to the Firehouse Fields location, but that they are also concerned about the amount of space
available at the park. Tolley said he still supports the Firehouse Field location, while alderman Jo Grimley maintains her support for the park site. “It's perfect,” Grimley said of the park location. “You can't ask for a better place for a library.” Grimley said she is not concerned about the expansion issue because the three acres at the park site is the same amount of land the university is offering. The library building will be 15,000 square feet, and the three acres of land the university is offering to the town is valued at $600,000. Grimley, who lives on Williamson Avenue, also mentioned that she witnesses the traffic on the road firsthand, and that her husband was once rear-ended while driving on the road. “I know what the traffic is,” she said. “It will be a nightmare.” At past meetings, citizens have expressed concern over the fact that Tolley and Klepcyk are both employees of Elon University. Klepcyk is Elon University's director of human resources, and Tolley is director of the Elon Society. By law, Klepcyk and Tolley are not required to recuse themselves from the vote. Klepcyk has decided to vote on the matter and Tolley will vote only in the case of a tie. At last month's agenda-setting meeting, Elon representative Ken Mullen, assistant vice president for business and finance, said that the university is willing to give up some of its property to the town for the library because administrators want to have a more vibrant downtown. The university plans to bring in retail developers to the field, and having the library there will bring in more foot traffic to the shops and eating establishments that will be built there.
OTHER PROCEEDINGS: Sales tax: Dula mentioned that the board is considering reevaluating the town's sales tax. A one-cent change in the tax could increase or decrease revenue by $44,000. Tolley mentioned that the town has three main capital projects right now: the library, a columbarium and the pedestrian walkway lighting plan. Elon University will be helping the town pay for the columbarium and the lighting plan. Dula said no adjustments to taxes need to be made yet, but the board plans to keep an eye on the budget and make an adjustment, if needed, at the beginning of next year. “We're working hard to keep our tax rate as low as we can,” Tolley said. Appointments: George and Carolyn Catalano were appointed to the Appearance Commission. Both have been Elon residents for three and a half years. Phil Owen, an Elon resident for 24 years, was appointed to the Recreation and Park Commission. Upcoming event: Dula announced that the Employee Service Awards event will take place on Nov. 7 at 12:30 p.m. at Beth Schmidt Park.
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Thursday, November 6, 2008 / Page 13
Honoring THEIR
heroes
Four freshmen bring their Hometown Heroes to campus for the annual celebration of service Andie Diemer News Editor LAURA BRADFORD | Photographer
Left to right: Bernard Loeffke and his daughter freshman Kristina Loeffke, freshman Kenton Heck and his father Jeff Heck, Elon President Leo Lambert, April Pinch-Keeler and her daughter freshman Stephanie Pinch, Keith Greenfield and his nominator, freshman Sarah Clancy, celebrated the heroes’ outstanding contribution to service during the 15th annual ceremony.
The four Hometown Heroes selected for 2008 were honored Monday night in an annual ceremony to commemorate those who have made a significant effort to serve others in their life. Every member from the freshmen class is invited to nominate an individual, completing a form and essay stating why the person serves as an outstanding example regardng community service. The freshmen class officers then selecte the recipients. Honorees were chosen for “making a positive difference by touching lives and strengthening their home communities.” Heck is the founder and executive director of Shoulder to Shoulder, a nonprofit organization that fosters partnerships between academic health centers Jeff and poor, rural Heck communities in Honduras, Ecuador Asheville, N.C. and Tanzania. Working with 13 centers, Heck’s confronts global poverty through medical and dental aide, academic scholarships and several programs that work to build young girls' self-esteem.
Major General Loeffke has worked as a military attaché throughout China and Russia and is an honored solider currently teaching at the U.S. Military Academy Bernard at West Point Loeffke and Georgetown Hollywood, Fla. University. He also serves as a National Security Council staff member. He currently works to provide medical aid to areas like Bosnia, Haiti, Niger, Darfur and Iraq. He works in honor of a fellow Vietnam soldier.
Pinch-Keeler is the President of Mount Vernon Lee Enterprises Inc., a non-profit organization working to assist people with disabilities to find jobs and April support services. Pinch-Keeler The program is based on respect, Arlington, Va. opportunity, success, diversity and integrity. She is currently expanding MVLE's reach by working with the Government Printing Office and Walter Reed Medical Center on federal contracts.
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Greenfield started Open Field Community Theatre almost 10 years ago to help provide a safe place for children “to develop a passion for acting, singing and Keith dance.” Greenfield He aims to provide bonding Dover, Mass. experiences for entire families. Parents have the opportunity to create sets and costumes while their younger children star in productions such as “Annie.”
m u l u d n e P e Th — Circulation of 2,500 — Serves community of 10,000
Contact: Chris Dorsey
cdorsey@elon.edu | 410.404.5427
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NEWS
The Pendulum
Community members work together to better others’ quality of life Whitney Bossie News Editor Elon students are working together to build a machine that makes it easier for residents of developing countries to shell peanuts, shea nuts, other nuts and coffee. A group of 32 students will travel to Ghana this Winter Term to study West African history and culture with history professor Brian Digre. The class will bring the necessary parts and molds overseas so that they can assemble the machine in the village of Sokode. Matt Zettl, father of senior Kathryn Zettl, first learned of the machines two years ago when a representative from the Full Belly Project visited his Morehead City Rotary club and gave a presentation on universal nut shellers. The Full Belly Project designs and distributes income-generating agricultural devices that can improve life in developing countries. It began when founder Jock Brandis visited Mali, Africa, to repair a solar pump. While there, Brandis noticed that villagers were planting cotton as a cash crop, but knew that the crop could eventually deplete the soil without fertilizer or crop rotation. He also noticed that women spent hours shelling peanuts to feed their families. Brandis suggested that the women plant peanuts as a cash crop instead of cotton because the crop improves soil. The women told him shelling took too long, and they had no machines to quicken the process. Brandis became interested in the cause and promised the villagers that he would return in a year with some type of shelling machine. When he returned to the United States, Brandis adapted the design of a Bulgarian peanut sheller, which eventually became the Universal Nut Sheller. Brandis returned to Mali with the machine, which villagers began using. Before long, the Full Belly Project developed into an incorporated 501(c)3
WHAT'S A UNIVERSAL NUT SHELLER? The machine creates an easier and more efficient way for residents in developing countries to shell peanuts, shea nuts, coffee and other nuts used for subsistence and commerce. It was created by Jock Brandis, who founded the Full Belly Project. The organization seeks to ensure that residents of developing countries have access to food and economic possibility. organization. The representative's presentation at Zettl's rotary club piqued his interest, as well as the interest of other members of the club. Zettl asked his daughter to check into a possible need for the machines in Ghana in her upcoming trip. While Kathryn was in Ghana, she spent time shelling peanuts by hand with villagers. After learning this, the members of Zettl’s rotary club decided to sponsor the project. It took off after Zettl met with Digre. Digre has led Elon's Winter Term Ghana trip for the past 12 years. He previously served as a Peace Corps volunteer and as a senior research fellow at the Center for Democratic Development in Ghana. The course focuses on Ghana's history, literature and culture. Students who take the course also have the opportunity to assist with development projects. The Friends of Ghana is a class-based student initiative that raises funds to help Sokode build a middle school. Course participants also regularly take textbooks to donate to the University of Ghana. The machine students are currently building is just for practice. In January, a machine will be assembled and left in Sokode, along with materials for the villagers to assemble more of the machines.
Ballroom
SPOOKTACULAR
Anna Reynal | Photographer
Sophomore Brandon Lee Tankard showed his moves at the Ballroom Spooktacular, held on Halloween night in the Center for the Arts. Elon’s Ballroom Dance Club sponsored the event.
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The Pendulum
NEWS
Thursday, November 6, 2008 / Page 15
Children
Trick-or-Treat
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GREEK STREET
Anna Altmann, 7, dressed as Princess Leia for Halloween. She is the daughter of physics professor Kyle Altmann and came with her three brothers to Greek Street.
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very year, the Greek community invites children to come celebrate Halloween in the Loy Center. This year, on Sunday, Nov. 2, Elon students set up stations where children could pick a pumpkin, get their face painted, participate in arts and crafts, walk through a haunted house and play games. But what the kids were most excited to see on Greek Street was undoubtedly the candy. Photos by Andie Diemer
Caden Turley, son of religious studies professor Bryan Turley, gets his face painted by sophomore Savannah Crawford.
Daniel, 3, Ben, 5, and Anna Altmann, 7, paint their pumpkin with sophomore Dusty French. Last year, the Altmann’s dressed up as characters from “Harry Potter.” This year the theme was “Star Wars.”
david wells | Photographer
Kicking off the Homecoming celebration, a Phoenix Phiesta was hosted Tuesday night in The Zone. A free taco dinner was provided for the first 200 people who showed up and festive music was played to get the group into spirit. A fireworks display was held at Rhodes Stadium before the election results were broadcast.
Page 16/ Thursday, November 6, 2008 Contributions by: Shelley Russell Special Projects Editor
Graphics by: Caroline Fox Graphics Editor
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Julie Halm Kristin Leroy Anna Zavala Reporters
Hollywood: Memory in movies Drew Barrymore's character, Lucy, experiences short-term memory loss after an automobile accident one year earlier. Henry (played by Adam Sandler), falls in love with Lucy, but every morning she forgets about the previous day. Henry spends each day trying to make Lucy fall in love with him again.
Frontal lobe
Jim Carrey and Kate Winslet play lovers with opposite personalities. Winslet's character Clementine has her memories of the relationship erased following a fight with Joel (played by Carrey). Joel decides to erase his memories too, but ultimately decides that he doesn't want to lose the memories of his girlfriend.
Temporal lobe
Jason Bourne (Matt Damon), has lost his memory and cannot recall why the CIA is looking for him. Bourne has been living underground for two years, keeping himself and his girlfriend off the government radar.
This love story details a relationship between two characters looking back on an earlier time in their lives. Allie (Rachel McAdams) struggles to remember her true love Noah (Ryan Gosling) because Alzheimer's is rapidly increasing her memory loss.
Leonard (Guy Pearce) is experiencing severe memory loss, only retaining short pieces of information at a time. On a quest to find the person responsible for the rape and murder of his wife, Leonard tattoos himself to remember important details of his investigation.
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Have you ever... Had Déjà vu? Déjà vu: It’s the feeling that you’ve experienced something before, that you’ve already had a conversation or found yourself in an unusually familiar situation. More than 50 surveys show about two thirds of individuals claim to have experienced déjà vu. The name is French and it means “already seen,” although the many other terms are used to refer to déjà vu, including paramnesia, which is derived from the Greek language. In order to understand déjà vu it is necessary to understand multiple types of memory, according to Dr. Amy Overman, assistant professor of psychology at Elon. Episodic memory, which can be broken down into familiarity and recollection, is at the center of a great deal of research on the topic. Specialists have yet to come up with a concrete cause for the phenomenon, however some research shows that déjà vu could be a result of the brain sending the same message along two different neural pathways. In this case, an individual may experience déjà vu. Some research has cited déjà vu as being more common in the evening, although results vary.
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Needed something visual to help you study?
Found silence distracting?
Every student is different in terms of learning preferences. Modality, or the methods that students use to learn, gives teachers an easy way to understand and offer advice to students who are struggling to retain information.
On any weeknight, Elon students can be found on all three floors of Belk Library. Some need a quiet environment with no interruptions, others need to hear background noise, and some students do their best work in an environment filled with distraction. Creating a quiet study environment increases opportunity to learn and can help one to gain clarity and think creatively. Some researchers have found that listening to music, classical or jazz in particular, can help improve mental focus. While theories about the "Mozart Effect," have been unsubstantiated, some studies have shown an increased IQ and focus in children who listen to Mozart and other classical artists. Loud music causes the left and right sides of the brain to operate in different directions, which can increase distraction. Other studies have concluded that instrumental music can help increase concentration, while music with words causes more distraction than a productive study session.
What type of learner are you? Visual learners: Learn through seeing. These learners tend to sit in the front of a classroom to avoid visual distractions. Pictures and charts help to enhance their memory. Auditory learners: Learn through listening. They experience the most success through lectures and discussions. Kinesthetic learners: Learn best through physical activity. Activities involving a hands-on approach allows them to actively explore issues and gain a better understanding of information. Cognitive psychologists have found that memory is usually stored independently of any modality at all. Memories are instead stored by their meanings.
Thursday, November 6, 2008 / Page 17
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Alcohol may enhance amnesia
Excessive drinking can affect short-term memory function
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Laura Bradford Reporter
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Occipital lobe
Blackout: A common term among college students. A term associated with just another night of drinking and partying. But unknown to many is the true meaning of the word and the effects that come with it. Alcohol-related blackouts are episodes of amnesia during which subjects are conscious and able to participate in conversations and other events that they later cannot remember. Intoxication impairs the ability to store new information beyond a few minutes from when that information is given, but it does not affect existing memories. There are two types of blackouts. Fragmentary blackouts occur when a person is able to form some memories during their blackout experience, while during en bloc blackouts, no new memories are formed. Fragmentary blackouts are more common among college students, though when alcohol is combined with other drugs, such as THC commonly found in marijuana, en bloc blackouts are more frequent. According to a study from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, 51 percent of students who had ever consumed alcohol reported blacking out at some point in their lives. During their blackout experience, many of them said they participated in a wide range of events they could not recall such as vandalism, unprotected intercourse, driving a car and spending money. “Chronic alcohol use leads to impairment in all types of cognition, not just memory,” said Dr.
Amy Overman, assistant professor of psychology at Elon. “The severity of the impairment of cognition depends on individual genetic makeup, amount of alcohol use and other factors.” Such factors include quickly consuming drinks and drinking on an empty stomach, which ultimately cause a rapid increase in blood alcohol content, often leading to a blackout. According to a 1999 study, females are more susceptible to blacking out than males. This is based on well-known gender differences, how alcohol is metabolized, body weight differences, proportions of body fat and the levels of key enzymes that contribute to alcohol’s effects on the body. Blackouts are also much more common in social drinkers. Those with a history of blacking out are more vulnerable to the effects of alcohol on memory. Aside from the apparent slurred speech, sloppy mobility and short-term memory, activity function in the brain and central nervous system is also impaired during a person’s drunken state. Excessive amounts of drinking can inhibit the hippocampus, which controls memory function in the brain. Damage to this region can cause severe memory loss. Considerable evidence shows that chronic alcohol use damages the frontal lobes, leading to function and memory loss. Brain volume “shrinkage,” a common sign of brain damage, has been observed in alcohol-dependent subjects. The effects of blackouts now are not evident right away, but they are long-term and everlasting.
Six fun games made to keep your mind active and enhance memory function
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ould we be without memory? It how we live, why we do things ons we make. It is also the object of en specific details can’t be recalled wrack our brains for the correct onse. But beyond the occasional , we are constantly accessing our owlingly from our subconscious, n our dreams. Been blackout drunk? According to Elon psychology professor Mark Kline, any correlation between memory loss and alcohol is mere theory. Several actions relating to brain function include speech, coordination and reaction time. “Alcohol doesn't suppress all brain functions equally,” Kline said. “Complicated functions are the first target.” Kline explained that making plans or learning new information can be difficult for individuals who are intoxicated. “Memory is believed to be a more basic function,” Kline said. “Only when you drink to dangerous levels will memory become impaired.” While alcohol consumption may not affect memory immediately, people who consume large amounts of alcohol to the point of blacking out on a regular basis can be impacted long-term. According to Kline, no person is necessarily more or less susceptible to blacking out than another. Some individuals have lower tolerances which leads to alcohol affecting them more severely.
Sudoku
Rubik’s Cube
Brain Age by Nintendo DS
Mad Libs
Chess
Solitaire
Needed to chew gum to help you focus? According to research, chewing gum can help to improve your memory and enhance your cognitive power. It’s not the gum itself that actually enhances memory, but the continuous act of jaw movement. With your jaw constantly moving, activity in the hippocampus, the area of our brain important for memory, increases as well. According to Dr. Andre Scholey of the University of Northumbria in Newcastle, UK, chewing increases the heart rate by five to six beats per minute. This improves oxygen delivery to the brain, which can enhance cognitive powers. In a survey conducted by Wrigley Company, 52 percent of students said that chewing gum reduces stress levels during studying. 25 percent said that gum helps them concentrate on important material. Scientists have attributed the effect of gum on learning and retaining information to the release of nervous energy in the body. Chewing gum has also been found to increase blood flow to the brain. The Wm. Wrigley Jr. Company recently conducted a survey, which revealed that gum chewing was becoming more popular as a stress reliever for college students.
Blanked on a test? We've all experienced the terrible feeling when you sit down to take a test and can't remember the information you have been studying all weekend. Among the most probable reasons for the memory loss are interference, negative self-concept and changed cues. Interference: If new material is learned that is not included in the test material, this can create confusion. High levels of stress can lead to mental overcrowding. Negative self-concept: Students with low self-esteem or confidence often convince themselves that they do not know the answer to a question, before thinking about what is being asked. Changed cues: Some students only study information in one form. Information presented in a different order or format may cause recall issues during a test. Multiple study methods help alleviate this common problem. Source: Utah State University Academic Resource Center
Page 18 / Thursday, November 6, 2008
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THE FIGHT IS OVER.
Think when you drink. Source: National College Health Assessment, Spring 2008, N = 987 The contents of this ad were developed under a grant from the U.S. Department of Education. However, these contents do not necessarily represent the policy of the U.S. Department of Education and you should not assume endorsement from the federal government.
The Pendulum
Page 19 / Thursday, November 6, 2008
The Pendulum
Editorial
The Pendulum seeks to inspire, entertain and inform the Elon community by providing a voice for students and faculty as well as a forum for the meaningful exchange of ideas.
Homecoming theme is racially insensitive By the end of this week, Elon students will have voted for a president, a vice-president, a king and a queen. Election 2008 and Homecoming 2008 have collided in an extravaganza of voting and tailgating, political parties and house parties, electorates and alumni. The fervor of election spirit has distracted the student body from Homecoming activities and has allowed ignorance and thoughtlessness to circulate campus under the guise of school spirit. “Phoenix Phiesta” Homecoming packets are littered with pictures of sombreros, maracas, donkeys and what appears to be a mariachi burrito strumming a guitar. The banner hanging high above Moseley has a chili pepper and cactus among drawings of confetti. Inside Moseley the scene is even more disturbing — a cartoon-style poster of a tan-skinned man with a ‘mexi-stash' holding a woman in salsa-style clothing. Although it would be tempting to dismiss the obvious perpetuation of shallow and false stereotypical images of Latin American and Spanish culture as merely tacky, but the packet’s suggestions for “Skit Night” are particularly offensive. Skit night, which occurred yesterday, featured 3-5 minutes skits that incorporated the “Phiesta” theme acted out by Homecoming teams. Skits were awarded extra points when they included a sombrero, a donkey and/or Enrique Iglesias. Apparently, the SGA Homecoming Committee couldn’t stop with the tasteless typecast pictures on the packet, but continued by including props that supposedly represent Spanish-speaking culture. According to Maria Wyka, chair of the Homecoming Committee and SGA secretary, “the donkey and sombrero and such should be comical and fun as it typically is. The reason why the committee chose to put Enrique Iglesias in there as well is because it’s cultural.” It seems the Homecoming Committee believes that because Enrique Iglesias was born in Madrid,
Spain and had 19 songs on the “Hot Latin Songs” chart he represents all Spanish-speaking culture. “He has influenced the Latin American culture with his music. It’s musical and therefore cultural for the Latin community,” Wyka said. Wyka and other committee members apparently have not realized that Latin American culture is not the same thing as Spanish-speaking culture. Sombreros and donkeys give a miniscule and extremely uninformed snapshot of Spanish-speakers. “Enrique Iglesias doesn’t represent me, like Madonna in her role of Evita doesn’t represent me,” said Monica Pogana, assistant dean of international programs and a native of Argentina. Perhaps the committee wasn’t aware that Peru, Argentina, Guatemala, Costa Rica and Honduras are also Spanish speaking. Maybe they didn’t know that someone who says “hola” instead of “hello” doesn’t necessarily they wear a sombrero and ride a donkey. “Not all Latinos are Mexicans,” said Chris Spalding, an Elon junior from Costa Rica. The Homecoming Committee explored nothing about what it really means to be Latin American or the fact that not everyone whose native language is Spanish belongs to the same culture. They carelessly and thoughtlessly propagated ignorant, Americanized views of diverse cultures, making themselves and the university appear foolish and racially insensitive. Some students may attempt to blow off the badly chosen theme, arguing that it is a minor transgression. Frank Wu, a law professor at Wayne University who recently spoke to Elon students about diversity and democracy, disagrees with such arguments. “The trivial cases do have effects because they send a signal, a message to people that they don’t really belong, they are not equal,” Wu said. “Once you are willing to start to categorize people and think about them in those types of racial terms, it leads to [something] much worse.”
Letter to the Editor
Campus must unite, move forward The election is over, and we now have a new president and vice president. To say the last few months, and especially the last few weeks, have been emotionally charged would be a gross understatement. How do we process the emotions we all feel right now in the immediate aftermath of voting? How do we come to terms with the fact that our candidate won ... or lost? How do we proceed in the most thoughtful and productive way possible? Albert Einstein reminded us that, “in the middle of difficulty, opportunity lies.” In this divisive and highly charged time in our nation’s history, it is important that our campus comes together and moves forward into the future. Education, if nothing else, should breed tolerance through knowledge and understanding. If we all have the same objectives, then it should not matter which side of the aisle we sit on. As university students, we should be leaders in civil political discourse. The energy and passion that has poured out of our student body over the past several months in support of both presidential campaigns has been a tribute to the concern and national scope of our institution. The most important thing to remember is educational institutions have a responsibility to foster free and open discussion in a non-threatening environment where all students feel comfortable expressing their opinions. The political process has become more and more divisive and has been increasingly painted as a win-lose situation. It is time to use our different perspectives to create positive change for the future. We should encourage unity through leadership and civil discourse. So in the coming weeks, talk to your friends and classmates about the changes you would like to see in our nation and how we can work toward that future. Jessica Flammer Elon Class of 2009 Council for Civic Engagement
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Wyka said that when reviewing different theme options the committee “wanted it to be something the whole community could enjoy.” Eric Mann, a senior from Costa Rica and member of the Elon community, said he finds the theme “stereotypical.” “There are differences in all countries,” Mann said. “They should really find out about a country before they start stereotyping.” All proceeds from the Penny Wars go to support Centro La Comunidad, a non-profit organization in Alamance County that seeks to support the needs of the Latin population. The Homecoming Committee might be giving Centro La Comunidad money, but they are obliterating all the organization does to disprove racial and cultural stereotypes. Latin residents in Alamance County struggle against bigotry on a daily basis and SGA is rewarding Homecoming teams that perpetuate such behavior with the use of ill-chosen props. “They might have good intentions,” Pagano said. “But the vision is a little narrow.” Pagano said the theme could have been an educational opportunity to incorporate those cultural differences between Spanish speaking cultures that non-natives often overlook. Why didn’t the committee have tapas from Spain, plantains from the Dominican Republic and mosomo gorelleno from Puerto Rico served at the Phoenix Pheast or Midnight Meals? Instead, stereotypical tacos were served. “It’s really important that the theme should remind students about school spirit and what Elon tries to promote,” Wyka said. As a community that promotes global acceptance and diversity, students, administration and members of student government should be ashamed if they believe the Homecoming 2008 theme “Phoenix Phiesta” accurately represents the ideology and beliefs of Elon University.
Historic presidential campaign changes the culture of elections The ballots are in, the votes are counted and Sen. Barack Obama is the 44th president-elect of the United States. The political dust is far from settling, but the legend and lore of Election 2008 is already being archived. The nuances of both parties' campaigns have left permanent stains on the country’s political process and 2012 will still quake with the aftershock. Celebrity endorsements made headlines, such as the “Queen of Talk” Oprah Winfrey’s backing Barack Obama over Hillary Clinton and karate-chopping Chuck Norris’s vote for Mike Huckabee. Hollywood stumping for candidates is not a new concept — celebrities have always participated in campaigns. This year’s election showed that celebrities could be created, not unlike Mary Shelley’s “Frankenstein,” by presidential races. “Joe the Plumber” became an overnight sensation after Sen. John McCain referred to him so many times during the final debate that some confused voters might have wondered why Joe wasn’t on the ticket. The unlicensed plumber even joined Gov. Sarah Palin on the campaign trail. On Halloween, several Elon students were seen sporting white T-shirts with the name “Joe” emblazoned on them, carrying toilet plungers. “Tito the Builder” was introduced later on the campaign trail. Similar to the rise of the name “Joe,” the word “maverick” reached new levels of overuse, as Palin was deemed to have gone “rouge” in the final days before the election. Apparently, the former beauty queen became too “mavericky.” From the Obama “infomercial” to CNN’s “magic wall,” tech-savvy candidates
Section Editors Whitney Bossie, News Andie Diemer, News Margeaux Corby, Opinions Shelley Russell, Special Projects Jessica Dexheimer, Features Alexa Milan, A&E Michelle Longo, Sports Camille DeMere, Online
and media reached a new pinnacle in 2008. CNN’s election center looked like a museum of Sharper Image and Star Wars technology. The “magic wall,” or the multitouch collaboration wall, earned so much attention that it became the center of a “Saturday Night Live” Weekend Update spoof. Wolf Blitzer speculated every single closing poll with 3-D holograms of campaign representatives that reminded both young and old generations of Princess Leia’s famous plea: “Obi-Wan Kenobi, you’re our only hope.” The Obama gang was texting, adding friends on Facebook and creating ads with motivational music and quick video cuts that seemed more like Nike commercials than a bid for the presidency. Obama’s face was splashed across numerous Web sites and television screens, making technology like Pandora and iMeem appear politically active. Republicans and Democrats, young and old, citizens and foreigners, voters and even those who skipped the polls, have described the 2008 election as historic. Elon University hosted a former president and vice-presidential hopeful, actively encouraged voter registration in North Carolina, hosted student debates and, most importantly, had community members that spent hours in line and took the time out of busy schedules to apply for absentee ballots to make their voice heard. We have played a role in this prodigious political process and no matter who you voted for, everyone on this campus should be proud of his or her efforts and actions.
Photography David Wells, Editor Lindsay Fendt, Asst. Editor Copy Editors Kaitlin Busch Jennifer Clements Lindsay Eney Michelle Wilco Victoria Doose
Designers Miriam Williamson Alyse Knorr Leila Wall Caroline Fox Business Chris Dorsey, Manager Chelsea O’Hanlon, Asst. Manager James W. Lynch, Nat. Sales Rep. Brian Mackey, Nat. Sales Rep.
Thursday, November 6, 2008/ Page 20
The Pendulum
Opinions Presidential election viewed differently abroad It is almost unfair that the official citizens of the United States are the only ones who get a vote in the presidential election. After all, the whole world is affected by the choice that Americans make. It seems as though other countries should have a say of some kind. This is a fact most Americans do not really consider when they Kevin Clang cast their ballot. Columnist While studying abroad in London, living and working with Europeans of all nationalities, I realized there are many just as invested in presidential politics as Americans, despite having no vote in the process. Before landing overseas, I was worried that being American might cause me some unwanted hassle. Although many people were not exactly happy with the United States and the actions it has taken in the past eight years, nobody held it against me personally. In fact, my nationality made me instantly more interesting. Almost everyone I met was eager to share his
or her opinion on the then upcoming presidential election with a native statesman. It was the type of thing I would beg for back home. Unfortunately, the attitude in the states is not to discuss politics unless you absolutely are forced to speak on the subject. There was an almost childlike exuberance exerted by Europeans that is all too absent in the states. Everyone wanted to know which candidates won my state in the primary, how many electoral votes it was worth and what I thought about the specific candidates left in the race. The overall political leaning was overwhelmingly pro-Obama, the attitude being that the world was due for a change in party leadership. People spoke openly about their fear that he may get assassinated if elected, a somewhat taboo subject in the states. President Bush was typically viewed unfavorably; at best as a good man unprepared for the challenges of the presidency, at worst as a warmonger. This view was solidified after the beginning of the financial crisis, the blame for which was generally placed on Republicans. Advertisements promoting coverage of the American election results on the BBC stated, “We don’t get a vote, but we’re all affected.”
Pets in dorms: a major faux paw Recently, colleges around the country have been instituting petfriendly dorms, allowing students to bring their animals to school in hopes that it would better students’ moods and make for a happier dorm experience. It has been scientifically proven that pets enhance emotional well-being. A study at Clemson Caroline Key psychological University concluded that the Columnist animals do this by “providing unconditional love, functioning as a friend and companion and helping to achieve trust, independence and empathy toward other people.” Schools like Caltech, Eckerd College, Stephens College and the University of Indiana have recognized this and support students bringing their animals to school to improve their quality of life on campus. The thought of bringing the family dog to school or adopting an orphaned puppy from the Humane Society is exciting. Coming home from class every afternoon to be greeted by a furry friend is a nice idea, but in reality might not be such a practical and responsible decision. Being a good pet owner is more complex than just providing unconditional love — being responsible and knowing what is best for the animal is above all the most important factor in caring for a pet. Containing a dog that requires room to exercise in a 12’x12’ dorm room is not only cruel to the animal but also just plain unnecessary. If students cannot live without their dogs for some reason freshman year, they should file a request to live off-campus where they can have more space to live with their pet. Some schools, including MIT, UCLA and Caltech, allow only cats in the dorms in attempts to improve the stray cat population around their campuses. Clearly this is something Elon students can relate. Campus security has even started issuing “cat
traps” for students to catch unwanted felines roaming around dumpsters and parking lots where they live. Elon students, already such active community volunteers, are fit to care for the unwanted animals. Cats don’t require as much care as dogs — they don’t need to be let out to go to the bathroom, rarely have accidents and don’t require a lot of living space. If students are willing to put up with the smell of litter boxes and the cost of food and veterinary care, allowing cats in dorms in order to help the stray population (which seems to be running rampant) on campus could be an idea to consider. Many pet-friendly dorms already in existence require students to file paperwork stating that the animal has not only had the proper shots, is neutered or spayed and is generally in good health, but they must also state who will care for the pet if for some reason they cannot. The only way to successfully lower the number of stray cats at Elon would be to require this kind of contract so that students who can no longer care for the animal don’t just leave it outside to survive on its own. The most important factor for students to remember is that adopting a pet is a commitment and responsibility that can last 12 to 15 years. The kitten that was so cute and cuddly at the Petco Saturday adoption might still be around 15 years from now and will still need its litter box cleaned every week, still need to be fed every day and still need to be taken to the vet a couple times each year. Every apartment or house rented in the years after college must be pet-friendly and all future roommates must be OK with pets. Having a pet for a happier dorm experience sounds nice and simple, but the realization of the weight of responsibility, not to mention issues with roommates, the mess, destruction and allergies of others in the residence hall dampers the idea of petfriendly dorms.
Changing the country with your...
Cartoon by Lars Bredahl
My experience left the impression that Europeans, at least the British, took the election much more seriously than Americans. Certain discussions, especially those concerning Palin’s wardrobe, Obama’s “American-ness,” and any story featuring the candidates’ families were viewed negatively as “American” in that they distracted attention from important issues. Overall, I felt that Brits were better informed on these important issues than the typical American, probably because of our media’s obsessive focus on the aforementioned subjects. It was a somewhat depressing discovery. It is ridiculous that we had to have commercials with celebrities urging us to vote on Nov. 4, while the rest of the world would jump at the chance to do so. Hopefully, this historic 2008 election and its results have gotten Americans a little more interested in their government and the political process. Our choice in leader influences much more than just our own country. We have an immense responsibility that needs to not just be used with discretion but used, period.
Convenience of technology ousting print media Print media really is becoming a thing of the past. It’s not just one or two battles between print media and new technology. Why wait for a newspaper to hit the doorstep in the morning when the information can be looked up on a computer or BlackBerry Kriss LeRoy hours earlier? Why waste time searching the contents of the Columnist newspaper when it’s so much more accessible online? According to David Carr of the New York Times, newspapers and magazines are being forced to cut thousands of employees in the steep decline of print media. With the majority of readers accessing content and information online, the amount of money rolling in is rapidly dropping. Without money, there is no way to pay employees. Without employees, there is no paper. At this rate, it could be that some day there will be no more newspapers or magazines at all. If that happened, who would be there to care if readers got the information they sought? It would be up to the online editors, Wiki scholars and updaters and reverent bloggers. Unfortunately, it really is about making money, and newspapers and magazines aren’t making much these days. There are devoted journalists out there who care little for the money they make and more for the number of readers who loyally await their printed reports. They, like those who read physical newspapers instead of online articles, are in the minority. If strictly print journalists were making money from readers accessing content online, it wouldn’t matter if it was print media or online. This simply isn’t the case. With the age of the Internet still growing, there is not yet a way to force a magnitude of readers to pay for the content they read. Today’s generation — and even some older folks — enjoy its instant gratification a little too much, especially the concept of “free” information. It is clear that if they continue on this path of destroying print media, newspapers and magazines will not be able to produce any tangible refrigerator cutouts from the local paper. They will become a thing of the past. According to a speaker at the recent American Magazine Conference, if the “great brands” of journalism — such as USA Today or the New York Times — were to vanish, the Internet would become a sewer of information. Today, even with reliable sources like USA Today and the New York Times, there are blogs with writers who do not even know how to spell correctly, much less check their facts or sources. The media and its readers will be in a frenzy if our society were to lose its beloved print journalists and the black and white product they struggle to produce every day.
The Pendulum
OPINION
Thursday, November 6, 2008 / Page 21
Those who vote change direction of the nation Every election cycle, the debate about voter turnout is revived. The United States is far from having full participation and generally, turnout settles somewhere between 50 and 60 percent in presidential elections. American society loves to complain about where government fails, but Taylor Doe apparently nearly half of Columnist Americans don’t care enough to actually try to change it. In Australia, voter participation is mandated by law. If citizens don’t show up at the polls, they face a fine and in some extreme circumstances, jail time. As a result, their voter turnout is approximately 95 percent. Other countries, such as Belgium, Peru and Switzerland, have various forms of compulsory voting laws and in these countries, most citizens support these laws.
Maybe in the United States, citizens don’t see voting as important. It is true that Americans are more political than many other countries when it comes to letter–writing campaigns, calling representatives and staging protests. So perhaps voting is seen as one piece of the puzzle and only one part of civic responsibility. But if individuals don’t vote, make no mistake, they will be ignored by politicians. When voters don’t show up at the polls, the deal breaker in elections is which party can mobilize its base the best. Therefore, candidates will speak to the more divisive issues such as abortion and gay marriage, shutting out important issues such as education and health care that everyone agrees are in dire need of attention. In this year’s election, candidates for both parties debated the issue of predatory lending to students in need of loans for college. This didn’t happen because the polarized wings of the Democratic and Republican parties decided this issue was important. It happened because young voters showed up in record numbers during the primaries and the
candidates could no longer ignore them. If Americans don’t participate in the process, their opinions don’t matter. Candidates don’t care about issues until voters give them a reason to pay attention. If someone, some group in particular, shows up at the polls, politicians will take notice and they will focus on the issues that voters demand. There was a record turnout in this election and millions of those who showed up at the polls were first-time voters. If this trend continues, politicians will have to answer to the electorate and won’t be able to ignore the tough issues anymore. That’s why it is so essential to be informed about the issues and make opinions known by voting. With the rapid spread of early voting and the option of absentee ballots, there is absolutely no reason why anyone should have sat out the 2008 election. This was an historic election and those who cast their ballots can know that they played a part in shaping the revolutionary direction of the country.
Election coverage shifts focus from significant international issues The networks have been obsessively blasting election coverage with a vigor that rivals the frenzy of candidates’ final stumping travels. For the last couple of weeks, election speculation and pundit supposition have been aired with reportage not seen since the broadcast of the Beijing Olympics. Margeaux The world has not ceased Corby spinning to accommodate Opinions Editor the 2008 election, but major international issues have been almost ignored by major networks. The War in Iraq all but disappeared from headlines unless a candidate gave a quick, and generally shallow, sound byte. As of Tuesday, 4,193 American military personnel have been killed in Operation Iraqi Freedom according to the Department of Defense. Where are these stories? American households should still be made aware of the troops who have died in the name of democracy and freedom. Instead, we were exposed to the absurdities of CNN fillers about an undecided woman flipping a coin to choose the next president of the United States. “The media world sees the war as less of a story right now,” said LTC Monte Yoder, a military science
professor at UNC Chapel Hill. “It is a world affair,” Yoder said, citing the turmoil and tension in the Middle East and parts of Asia. “The media have a responsibility to keep the world informed of critical events.” What about other important shifts of power abroad? The Czech Republic will assume the rotating presidency of the European Union in January and as a result will lead 27 independent states such as Russia, France and Germany. The country has not yet adopted the Euro and recent regional elections show Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek is almost as popular as President Bush, Barack Obama will govern 165 million people as the next commander-in-chief compared to the 470 million Europeans the Czech will be responsible for leading. Are Europeans’ futures not as important because they live across the Atlantic? “There is an American arrogance where the European Union is concerned,” said Betty Morgan, associate professor of political science. “The economic crisis has shown us the European Union is a significant player in the world and we must start paying attention and stop being so dismissive.” The U.S. economy became the divisive issue in the election as the market continues to dwindle and show lackluster improvement. The number of unemployed people in Spain has reached 11.3 percent, which is the highest climb since spring 1996. The United States is still only at 6.1 percent as of September 2008.
ILLUSTRATING THE ISSUES:
Elon student fall semster accomplishments
Cartoon by Lars Bredahl
This type of perspective needs to be forced on Americans if we wish to continue to be successful players in a global economy. According to Pew Research Center’s Project for Excellence in Journalism, CBS featured attacks by the McCain camp 5.2 percent of the campaign coverage while health care as an issue was only featured 2.9 percent of the time. CBS also broadcasted McCain’s “lipstick on a pig” more than issues of health care. It seems that not only did media refuse to feature other national and global stories, but its choice of campaign stories were also extraordinarily irrelevant to the real substantial issues. “We get the media we demand,” said Rich Landesberg, assistant professor of communications. Landesberg claimed society wants to be entertained, but that change is on the horizon. “The times are too serious with the economy, the wars, the future, for people to spend too much time on the trivial,” he said. American media has such a focus on election results it has developed a frightening tunnel vision. Important stories were excluded for unexceptional and non-newsworthy B-rolls of candidates coming out of booths and the construction of respective McCain and Obama raves Tuesday night. The media’s exclusive coverage of the election these last couple of weeks speaks to a disturbing isolation and national narcissism. The election of the 44th president of the United States should be the biggest story, but it should not be the only story.
The difficulty of being politically correct The commonalities people share with one another vastly outweigh the differences, a fact often lost in a world that seems inundated with competing and varied interests. Most of those similarities tend to be ones people would rather not possess. The need to please, to be accepted by others and to live in the most efficient, painless way possible seems to be ingrained in human DNA. The powers that be have attempted Ashley Jobe to transform American culture to avoid that terrible feeling that accompanies Columnist an insult or condescending remark. This “politically correct” culture has come to reign in formal everyday conversations. The term politically correct is just a way of manipulating words into others that have the same meaning. Some people say that politically correct terms (or people who force themselves or others to use them) create an intensely stressful existence. It’s an eternal uphill battle, one that makes it tiresome to stand up for those who, indeed, need defense. In a Nancy Mairs memoir “On Being a Cripple,” she states that the words disabled and handicapped “seem to me to be moving away from my condition, to be widening the gap between word and reality. Most remote is the recently coined euphemism 'differently abled’ which partakes of the same semantic hopefulness that transformed countries from 'undeveloped’ to 'underdeveloped’ then to 'less developed’ and finally to 'developing’ nations, she wrote. She refused to be called something other than what she was because she felt as if it was an insult to her actual condition. Could her ability to get over her condition, and to call things as she saw them, be the key to eradicating the intense sensitivity each one of us possesses about ourselves? The realties of a person’s differences cannot be ignored simply by putting a different label on the surface of their distinctions. Society is caught in a web of social responsibility to speak the truth but not receive a social reprimand. The issues we all confront on a daily basis need be acknowledged, but not exploited. Thus, people must properly navigate those treacherous waters by exercising personal discretions.
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Style Sweeney Todd a ‘shear’ success McCrary Theatre audience dazzled by mixture of dark humor, revenge, angst Amanda Kennison Reviewer On Nov. 1, the cast and crew of “Sweeney Todd” performed to a sold out audience in McCrary Theatre. More than an hour and a half before the curtain rose, a line formed outside the theater doors. From the moment the house lights went out and the first shrill whistle blew, it was clear viewers were in for a treat. For the nearly three hours the show ran, the audience met a fantastic mixture of ridiculous humor and dark angst. The term spectacle definitely applies to this production. The opening sequence of screened silhouettes depicting the rough toils of London’s 19th century industrial workers was amazing. It undeniably set the tone for the brutal storyline. It’s one thing to listen to a description of the concept of a show, an entirely different thing to experience it in action. The dreary sets and the industrial sounds propelling the actions of the musical exceeded all expectations. Juxtaposing the bleak gray and black backdrops with the pops of deep red and rich neutral costumes gave the actors a dominance that reflected the powerful plot. The light scheme was equally important in setting the alternately dark and light atmosphere, helping the audience literally see the characters’ emotions. The ensemble deserves
david wells | Photo Editor
Mrs. Lovett brags about Sweeney Todd’s Tonsorial Parlor that is located above her meatpie emporium on Fleet Street as Todd claims his five pound note from his rival barber Pirelli. special recognition, as they personified a grinding machine. Everyone’s movements were expressed with a choppy fluidity that formed a cohesive, mechanical unit. The company numbers had impeccable choreography. Scenes like the one introducing the tale of Sweeney Todd and Mrs. Lovett’s bustling shop combined the talents of many individuals and made them into an assembly line aimed at completing a single task. The fact that “Sweeney
Todd” didn’t turn out to be a big, depressing show is largely because of Emily Rice’s fabulous portrayal of Mrs. Lovett. Though her touching turns belting out tunes like “My Friends” and “Not While I’m Around” were truly heartfelt, it was her awkward hilarity that stood out. A woman who cooks pies from human meat and lusts after a throat slasher isn’t the typical neighbor character. Playing up the unstable woman’s comedic presence, Rice brought a necessary
lightness to the production and won over the audience. People can’t help but like the skewed-minded lady. Describing Sweeney Todd, brought to life by Chris Wood, isn’t an easy task. Words like brilliant, chilling and disturbing come to mind. He simply looked like a murderous barber, if such a look exists. Channeling a psychotic, depressed man intent on avenging the destruction of his family and his wrongful imprisonment isn’t the most natural role for a college
student. But Wood took on that persona and owned it. Perhaps more interesting than his portrayal of Todd's killer side was the way he forced the audience to relate to the madman. The rapport between Wood’s Todd and Rice’s Lovett left the audience wanting more. Todd’s blank responses to Lovett’s sadly overt advances were darkly humorous. Wood’s swarthy, sarcastic quips endeared him to audience members. Yet it was the end scene in which Todd silently welcomes death that proved just how creepily in tune Wood was with his antihero character. Kudos also need to be given to Christopher Staskel’s Tobias. Sweeney Todd was crazy enough, but Staskel took crazy to a whole new disturbing level. Not only does the audience leave feeling sorry for the demonic Todd, but many viewers probably left wanting to donate funds for troubled and abused children. The world simply doesn’t need traumatized children running around slicing throats. Everyone involved with this production deserves a pay raise or some sort of special reward. Unless audience members were completely void of emotion and lacking in taste, they left the show momentarily overwhelmed. But it didn’t take long to realize that yes, the show really was that amazing. david wells | Photo Editor
LEFT: Junior Emily Rice leads the Elon department of performing arts in a Sweeney Todd dress rehearsal Monday, Oct. 27 in McCrary Theatre. Rice plays the role of Mrs. Lovett, Sweeney Todd’s partner in crime. “Playing Mrs. Lovett is an absolute joy. I have the opportunity to portray one of the strongest female characters in music theatre. It will be a sad day when I have to stop throwing flour and dough around on the McCrary stage,” Rice said.
david wells | Photo Editor
Joanna, played by Lisa Carter, and her lover Anthony Hope, played by Johnny Stellard, profess their love for one another.
david wells | Photo Editor
Christopher Wood as Sweeney Todd, the “demon barber of Fleet Street,” prepares to give a customer the “closest shave of his life.” Wood puts on a great performance as the creepy, chilling character.
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The Pendulum
Thursday, November 6, 2008 / Page 23
Elon Academy gives high schoolers the Elon experience Krista Montes de Oca Reporter There are some students on campus who don’t necessarily belong. They live in the dorms, take classes and know professors on a first-name basis. But they haven’t been accepted as Elon undergraduate students — they haven’t even applied. These students are high school students looking for college guidance through the Elon Academy program. Giving talented students the necessary tools for succeeding in college is just one of the many aspects of Elon Academy. Established in the summer of 2007, it has offered many local high school students the chance to work with college students and learn leadership skills. The academy’s mission is to inspire academically oriented students who would not normally be given the opportunity to attend college or the chance to broaden their horizons. “It gives talented, high-achieving young people in our community the tools they need to navigate the college application process, get scholarships and not only attend but graduate from the college or university of their choice,” said Bre Detwiler, the student coordinator of Elon Academy. Detwiler worked as a mentor before becoming a student coordinator. Though programs are planned throughout the year, Elon Academy has an intensive summer program for rising juniors and seniors in the Alamance Regional School System. During the free four-week session, the students live in the dorms, eat on campus in the dining halls and attend classes. They have the opportunity to go home on the weekends. Elon University student volunteers make the program possible. They have participated as mentors and leaders since the start of this program. As mentors, they live with the students in the dorms, eat meals with them,
plan activities and work as teachers' assistants for one class. But some of their other duties include creating emergency plans, meeting with parents, resolving student conflicts and organizing daily activities. Each Wednesday, the students visit another college in North Carolina, and on Saturdays, every student must perform some type of community service. The mentors organize these trips as well as a nightly activity, such as kickboxing lessons, game nights or a step show. “It’s very stressful,” said junior Angela Sparrow, who worked at the Academy last summer. “It’s a really worthwhile experience, but it’s basically a 24-hour job.” After spending so much time together, the students and mentors become very close. “The best thing was probably forming relationships with the scholars,” Sparrow said. “They all have amazing stories and are living inspirations.” These volunteers not only make an impact on the scholars’ lives and prepare them for future opportunities, but the college students learn more about themselves and their own capabilities through the high school students they work with. Senior Ben Smith has been mentoring at Elon Academy since its inception, and has been rewarded with more than friendships and new companions. “The experience of working with the Elon Academy has made me grateful for many of the things I’ve taken for granted in my life,” he said. “It’s made me grateful for the great college education I am getting here at Elon.” “While we often hear about the great impact the program has on the scholars and families, I know that I have been impacted fourfold working with these remarkable students and their families for the past two years,” Detwiler said.
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After four weeks of working as a mentor and living with the scholars, junior Angela Sparrow formed close relationships with many scholars including Gabbi, a high school junior.
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During the summer program, scholars attended classes, performed community service and visited colleges. Their achievements were celebrated with a Closing Ceremony.
Only 1 in 10 students from low-income communities will graduate from college.
equal
opportunity
APPLICATION DEADLINE: Friday, November 7 Full salary and benefits. All academic majors. www.teachforamerica.org
Page 24 / Thursday, November 6, 2008
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The Pendulum
Feeling more than just the winter blues Seasonal Affective Disorder leads to feelings of depression in winter months Anna Zavala Reporter As winter approaches, the temperature drops and the days become shorter. For some people, this seasonal change is accompanied by a mood change. Seasonal Affective Disorder, more commonly known as SAD or “the winter blues,” is a fairly common mood disorder characterized by episodes of depression. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, as many as six percent of Americans suffer from SAD. “SAD is not just a different kind of depression,” said Mark Kline, psychology professor. Just like more common forms of depression, symptoms of SAD include feelings of misery, hopelessness, anxiety or apathy, oversleeping, irritability, loss of sexual interest, overeating and craving of carbohydrates. What separates SAD from clinical depression is its direct link to the change in seasons. Most SAD sufferers experience symptoms that begin in the late fall and last until May. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, about one-tenth of SAD sufferers become depressed in the summer instead. While SAD is not yet fully understood, research has linked the feelings of depression to insufficient sunlight exposure. When daylight hours become shorter, the lack of sunlight can potentially affect some people’s moods to the point at which they begin to experience depression. This negative correlation between sunlight exposure and depression is thought to involve two brain chemicals that regulate sleep and wake cycles, melatonin and serotonin. Melatonin is linked to sleep, and is produced in
larger quantities in darkness. Serotonin is produced in larger quantities in the presence of sunlight. Low levels of serotonin are associated with depression. When sunlight exposure suddenly drops, serotonin levels in the brain can decline as well, leading to depression. A recent study conducted by the University of Virginia in conjunction with the National Institute of Mental Health found that some cases of SAD might be caused by a genetic mutation in the eye. Researchers found that SAD sufferers with two copies of melanopsin, a photo pigment gene in the eye, are twice as likely to have SAD than people with just one melanopsin gene. About 29 percent of study participants had a family history of the disorder, indicating that the mutation may be genetic or hereditary. According to the American Psychiatric Association, most new diagnoses occur in young people, 18-30 years old, with women being affected at twice the rate of men. The disorder is fairly unheard of around Elon. The campus' geographic location and plenty of available sunlight may be why the disorder is not more common. Kline agrees that Elon’s location may be a factor in the disorder’s absence around Elon. The decrease in sunlight here is not as great as areas that are farther from the equator. “Places like Florida can have a 1.5 percent prevalence, and in Maine it’s more like 9 percent, so that’s quite a difference,” Kline said. Elon may be in line with other college campuses across the country. “Generally, you’ll find college campuses have lower rates of mental disorders,” Kline said. “Due to the selective admissions process,
college students are usually less susceptible to mental illness.” Possible treatments for SAD include cognitive behavior therapy, anti-depressants, light exposure and light therapy. Counseling and medication are available at the health center. Psychologists recommend that patients spend more time outside taking in more natural sunlight if possible. If additional natural sunlight is not available, light therapy is a popular treatment option that involves sitting in front of a special light box designed to mimic natural
sunlight. While it is not currently offered at the health center, counselors can provide references on where to receive this treatment. Kline recommends starting anti-depressant medication immediately as a “preventative step” to control the disorder, then receiving other treatment as well. “It’s far riskier to not treat it than the risk of starting medication,” he said, although other methods like exercise, a healthy diet and plenty of sleep are simpler ways to treat the disorder.
Light up your life • • • • •
Spend time outside to soak up the natural sunlight Keep curtains and shades open Start a regular exercise routine outside if possible Eat plenty of fresh fruit Invest in a dawn simulator. It imitates a rising sun and can replace traditional alarm clocks.
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The Pendulum
Thursday, November 6, 2008 / Page 25
PRSSA students win over audience at national convention Jessica Dexheimer Features Editor When five Elon students took the stage at a recent convention, they were met with uproarious laughter, applause and cheers. For the members of Elon’s chapter of the Public Relations Student Society of America, this was a dream come true. Elon’s chapter of PRSSA was one of only 75 invited from more than 284 national chapters to attend the convention, held in Detroit Oct. 24 to 28. Because of the steep outof-pocket costs, only seven of the society’s members were able to attend the convention. Bobby Hoppey, Kelly Nealon, Lianna Catino, Ashley Culicchia, Ali Eiffe, Kyle Johnson and Craig Orsi — all members of the chapter’s executive board — made the trip, accompanied by faculty adviser Barbara Miller. In addition to attending various information sessions and seminars, the students also had to lead a session in front of an audience of about 200 students, teachers and public relations professionals. “Our main role was to create a chapter development presentation for the other groups,” said Hoppey, the chapter president. The group’s presentation was on office etiquette and was entitled “How to Succeed in the Office: Definite Dos and Disastrous Don’ts.” The group was aimed at other students entering the workforce as interns or employees at a first job. “It was difficult because you want it to be educational, but you also want it to be really fun and attention-getting,” Hoppey said. To appeal to the college audience, the team decided to intersperse its informative presentation with clips spoofing popular TV show “The Office.” They scripted, recorded and
starred in the mock show. “We thought we’d get a moderate response, a few laughs, but people were loving it,” Hoppey said. “The response was absolutely phenomenal.” Nealon, vice-president of the chapter, recalled being approached by an international PR agent who said that the presentation was one of the best that she had ever seen from a group of students. Other audience members suggested that the students try and sell the video. “I was blown away by the feedback we received,” said Nealon. “I’m happy to have represented Elon so well.” But the weekend wasn’t all work for the students. They had the opportunity to meet several leading figures in the public relations field, including author and talk show host Mitch Albom, Craig Newmark, the founder of Craig’s List and public relations ‘guru’ Ofield Trunks. The students also attended a career fair and a dinner with professionals from the Public Relations Society of America. Entertainment was provided by Day-26, the artists from Season 4 of "Making The Band." “Everyone is there to network,” Nealon said. “That’s what’s great about it, you get to meet so many professionals. I don’t even know how many business cards I handed out.” Although Hoppey has attended two previous PRSSA national conventions, he said that this year’s holds a special place in his heart. Last summer, he worked as a communications intern for General Motors in Detroit and was eager to go back and introduce the other students to his former coworkers. The other students took advantage of Hoppey’s familiarity with the city. “We got to experience the culture of Detroit which was really cool,” Nealon said. “Instead of sitting in a hotel, we went out and got to see this whole new city.” Both students agreed that the
How to: Hem pants tailors can charge up to $20 to hem a pair of pants. Follow this handy guide to keep that money in your pocket and your pants at the perfect length. 1. remove existing hem by cutting the existing thread. Quickly iron to remove any creases. 2. try on the pants with your favorite shoes. use chalk to mark the new desired hemline. 3. take off the pants and fold the bottom hem under until it lines up with the chalk. iron the fold to create a stiff crease. 4. Cut off any extra fabric. 5. using a needle and thread, sew the new hem. start on the inside seam and tie a sturdy knot. Pass the needle through both layers of fabric, pull taut then poke back through. repeat until you reach the starting point. 6. tie off the thread. when you have made the final stitch on the inside of the pant leg, pass the needle through this loop. wrap around the loop twice and cut off excess thread.
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executive board members Kyle Johnson, Lianna Catino, Craig orsi, bobby hoppey and Kelly nealon presented the group’s video at the conference. weekend was a success. “It’s the best conference I’ve been to by far,” said Hoppey. “It was a lot of fun and our presentation was the best it’s ever been.”
Want to see the presentation? What: screening of the students’ presentation on office etiquette Where: Mcewen 011
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When: 7:30 p.m. nov. 11
Chapter president bobby hoppey (back left), who interned for General Motors in detroit, was eager to show his group around the city.
OVERHEARD AT
ELON U “Ever walked in on a conversation and wish you hadn’t? Overhear a comment that made you wonder just how rigorous Elon’s admission process is? Here’s the place to share.” Junior Nick Massa created “Overheard at Elon U,” a Facebook group that highlights ridiculous comments made by Elon students. The group features daily posts and hosts more than 850 members.
Underage drinker to his sober friend: “Man! This is the third time I’ve been written up this year. My dad is going to kill me and pull me out of school. I like school though, because I can drink here … hey man, want to do a beer bong?” —overheard by Molly Donahue On an Elon tour for elementary school students: “Here are the mailboxes. Everyone has one … Next, we are going to the library.” Kid 1: “You have a library?!” Kid 2: “Do you have a jail?” —overheard by Anne Lukens “Don’t worry, he said you were the sexiest slice of pizza he had ever seen.” —overheard by Carissa Hilliard
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The Pendulum
Professor’s music heard around the world Alexa Milan A&E Editor
P: What sparked your interest in music?
Todd Coleman, assistant professor of music and coordinator of Elon’s music technology program, recently had a number of achievements outside the classroom. When he’s not teaching at Elon, Coleman spends his time composing, and over the past few months his music has been performed across the country and around the world. In a Pendulum Q&A, Coleman discusses his passion for music and how his work reaches global audiences.
C: My mother tells stories that when I was a toddler I would be in my highchair and I would just make up songs. My father often played recordings of Bach and Beethoven on our stereo system. But it wasn’t until junior high school that I really started to play, learning the violin, cello, bass and guitar. I played in the jazz band, the orchestra and the guitar ensemble. The real defining moment was when I finished up my undergrad and I still didn’t know if I could really make a living at this, so I took a year off. Then I applied to the big name music schools like Juilliard, Eastman, Indiana University and Michigan. I got accepted to all of them, and I thought, “Maybe this is my calling.”
Pendulum: There was recently an article on E-net about your music being performed all over the world. How did your work become so widespread? Coleman: When I was an undergraduate, I would write music for friends. Then I started winning competitions, like the Chicago Symphony, the Buffalo Philharmonic and the Minnesota Orchestra. hose performances were a much bigger deal professionally. My first published piece [was] when I was a senior in high school and it is actually probably my most performed piece. It’s been performed two or three thousand times all over the country and overseas by mostly high school-level orchestras.
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Todd Coleman’s musical compositions have been performed in Italy, South Africa and the Netherlands. A lot of the pieces that I don’t publish personally, people buy the music and I don’t know where it’s going to be performed. So I was checking to see what some of the recent performances were and I came across one in Italy and South Africa and the Netherlands. P: How does it feel knowing your music has been exposed to such a large number of people? C: The thing that’s most important to me is that when people hear my music,
they connect in a way that’s different from popular music. We listen to music a lot to be entertained but the music I write is usually meant to be listened to carefully and thoughtfully. One of my favorite comments was when a woman came up to me and said, “I didn’t really understand that piece but I was very deeply moved by it.” That’s what I care about more than understanding. She clearly had an experience that was meaningful to her. My goal is to write music that I care about and I hope it helps others.
P: As coordinator of the music technology program at Elon, how is that program different from more traditional music programs? C: One of the first things to realize is that there’s a pretty big split in the educational world between classical music and other kinds of music. When you think about making music, it’s not usually classical music that involves technology, but it’s electric
Student exhibition opens Nov. 6 Alexa Milan A&E Editor The Arts West Gallery houses several exhibitions throughout the year, featuring work by faculty members or visiting artists. But starting Nov. 6, the Elon community will get the chance to see some of Elon students’ strongest creations. The Student Juried Exhibition not only showcases student artwork, but it is also completely organized by students in the ART 380 professional practices class. In this capstone class, students learn about putting together CDs, writing resumes and graduate school applications, applying for and organizing exhibitions, composing grant proposals and other tools key to being a professional artist. With the SJE, the professor discusses what is required in any exhibition, but the students are solely responsible for making it happen. “The art department provides a time slot in the gallery, but after that they have to do everything,” said Michael Fels, an associate professor of art who teaches the professional practices class. The 15 students in the class have to find artists, hire a juror, market the event, seek funding, handle insurance issues and organize the opening reception. “Setting up the SJE show is a very intensive process,” senior Ben Marsh said. “The class splits up into multiple committees, and each committee is in charge of preparing a certain aspect of the show. But the entire class comes together to determine the bigger details of the show.” One of the most important decisions the group had to make was selecting a juror. In a juried exhibition, students can submit work but it may or may not be selected for the show. While the students gave general guidelines about what they wanted in the exhibition, it was completely up to the juror to actually select the work. The students chose Mario Gallucci, a 2004 Elon graduate, as the exhibition’s juror. Gallucci is currently a graphic designer and assistant curator at the Green Hill Center for North Carolina Art in Greensboro. “We, as a class, decided that we wanted someone with close ties to Elon but also someone who graduated long enough ago that he would have an unbiased opinion,” senior Elle Lasher said. This year’s SJE exhibition, titled “The Juice Box,” will feature about 40 pieces from both art majors and non-majors. The exhibition includes digital art, video, sculpture, drawing, painting, photos and ceramics.
guitars, synthesizers and computers. I don’t want to lose that classical grounding and I think it’s hugely important for students to learn about music theory and take classes in music history and not just do pop music. There's other schools that have audio engineering programs that are really geared at understanding the electronics behind things. Then there are programs in composition where you learn about writing and performing music. Our goal is to have something that uses both of those elements, a blend between the artistry of classical music and the commercial appeal and polish of more popular forms of music. P: What do you love most about teaching music? C: I like seeing students expand their horizons beyond what they already know, or to see them do something really well that they weren’t very good at to start with. But after really working hard and being critical of their own work and reworking it and suddenly coming out with something they can really be proud of, that makes me really happy. I think the best and the brightest students are really motivated to make their education their own.
Marketing to the Bubble
Burlington vs. L.A. Colleen Callahan Columnist
Photo submitted
One of the pieces the SJE will feature is “John 1:14” by Sarah Simmons. The SJE has been happening for about 11 years, and Fels has been helping students with the show for the past five years. He said he enjoys being involved because it provides art students with a number of important opportunities. “For the art majors who coordinate the show, it’s an excellent professional experience,” Fels said. “For all student artists, the more exhibitions they have the better, and a juried exhibition looks stronger than a standard exhibition.” The exhibition will include an opening reception featuring a statement from the juror, food and artist awards. There will be three juror selection awards, which will be cash prizes, and a viewer’s choice award in which the reception’s attendees vote for their favorite work. Senior Patrick Kepley said he thinks the SJE exhibition is a great way for students to share their artwork with each other and the greater Elon community. “Art, like any other academic field, cannot exist in a vacuum on its own,” Kepley said. “In the end, it’s all about sharing ideas and starting an intellectual discussion about issues that shape the world we live in.” The exhibition's opening reception takes place from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 6, in Arts West Gallery. The exhibition runs through Dec. 2.
In Burlington, a night on the town consists of a small range of possibilities. Going out to dinner, maybe bowling and of course movies come to mind. In order to decide what movie to see, people might pick up the paper or call a hotline to find showtimes and synopses. In Los Angeles, a night on the town consists of a much wider range of possibilities. Going to clubs, museums, plays and the beach are among the many options. Another option is, again, movies. But in Los Angeles, everyone already knows what’s in theaters without looking at a paper. There are advertisements on the sides of buildings, bus stops, benches, airplane banners, trash cans — essentially everywhere. While cities such as Los Angeles, New York and London have greater populations, Burlington’s limited options would make it a prime place to promote a movie. After all, what else is there to do? A stunt that would easily be considered clutter among other promotions in London would be huge news in Burlington. Imagine if Warner Brothers, MySpace and Future Cinema threw their party for the film “RocknRolla” in Burlington or Greensboro. The event could include a conglomeration of bands, sets, props and director Guy Ritchie creating the “RocknRolla” experience for those interested. Such an event would generate a lot of hype within the Piedmont. Without any sort of promotion like this, it’s not surprising many people here have not heard about “RocknRolla,” even though it debuted in theaters Oct. 31. So why don’t studios pay more attention to mainstream American towns like Burlington? Supposedly, it’s to help keep the directors and actors happy. They primarily live in major cities, and being surrounded by their movie’s advertisements and marketing keeps them satisfied, according to Robert Marich, author of “Marketing for Moviegoers.” Producers and directors then think the marketing reaches a wide range. While marketers reach mainstream audiences in ways such as social networks and Web sites, people do not always have the time to explore the Web and review every movie in theaters. Citizens of smaller cities rely on newspaper listings and theater hotlines. Marketing is the job of the marketers, not the directors, producers and actors. Marketing is supposed to help a product’s audience form relationships with movies in innovative ways, leading to ticket purchases. Populations such as those in Burlington tend to form these relationships after seeing a movie. So marketers should try something innovative. They should pay towns like Burlington a visit while marketing their films, and maybe Burlington will pay them with ticket purchases.
The Pendulum
STYLE
Thursday, November 6, 2008 / Page 27
Film series raises awareness about human rights Alex Trice Reporter The idea that images deliver powerful messages is the idea behind the Human Rights Film Series that is being organized by Safia Swimelar, assistant professor of political science, and her international human rights class. The film series helps students learn about human rights through images and understand how most people who have never seen or experienced these issues perceive them. It spreads awareness of human rights violations to today’s generation through a medium that students can understand. “It makes the learning experience interesting and entertaining,” Swimelar said. Throughout the semester, a total of eight films will be screened in LaRose Digital Theatre in Koury Business Center and McEwen 011. These films address a variety of human rights issues, from freedom of expression and migration to poverty, torture and human trafficking. The films themselves are shot in a variety of styles as well. Some are serious documentaries. One such film is the upcoming “Darwin’s Nightmare,” which will screen Nov. 12. It records the hardships of people in Tanzania who are not receiving their human rights. Others, such as “Death and the Maiden,” to be screened Dec. 3 in LaRose Digital Theatre, are not documentaries. One film that was recently screened, “September 11 – 11’09’01,” featured a collection of 11 short films
Upcoming films What: “Darwin’s Nightmare” When: 7 p.m. Nov. 12 Where: McEwen 011 What: “Beyond Borders: The Debate Over Human Migration” When: 7 p.m. Nov. 20 Where: McEwen 011
Photo Coutesy of www.notrecinema.com
In “September 11 - 11’09’01,” 11 directors from 11 countries shot 11 short films about their interpretations of the terrorist attackts on Sept. 11. This film was screened as a part of the Human Rights Film Series organized by Safia Swimelar and her class. by 11 directors from 11 separate countries. Each director created a short film lasting exactly 11 minutes, 9 seconds and one frame of their interpretations of Sept. 11. Each short film had a different style and offered its own creative and unique perspective of Sept. 11. Some films used typical documentary style shooting while others took a more artistic approach by being experimental in their look at the historic incident. At each screening, a few students from Swimelar’s class present the
film and the topics it discusses. After the viewing, the students lead the audience in an engaging discussion about the issues. Swimelar said that the “September 11 – 11’09’01” film discussion lasted for almost an hour. “I think films allow for the students to interpret things in their own way, rather than simply having a professor tell them what to think,” said Emily Silva, a junior in Swimelar’s class. “Films start discussions that wouldn’t necessarily be had if the film hadn’t been seen.” In addition to the discussion,
What: “Death and the Maiden” When: 7 p.m. Dec. 3 Where: LaRose Digital Theater Check E-net for more details on the Human Rights Film Series. Swimelar’s students write papers that connect messages from the film to the human rights issues the film is describing. Swimelar said she hopes to put together more interesting projects about international human rights in the future. She wishes to organize a play at Elon that uses vivid images, so that students will grasp a richer and more comprehensive understanding of human rights.
MUSIC REVIEW
MOVIE REVIEW
Guess who’s back in ‘Black Ice’
Angelina Jolie holds her own in Clint Eastwood’s ‘Changeling’
Chris King Reviewer Some things never change. There are always 12 months in the year. Every four years we vote for a president. And AC/DC will always make Rock, with a capital “R.” Their newest album “Black Ice” is no exception. Most of these songs could pass for old B-sides from their classic era, ones that slipped through the cracks and were just recently found. “Rock ‘N Roll Train” could be put in a set list at their shows, and most fans wouldn’t know it was just released months ago. That happens to be the best and the worst thing about this album. The formula stays the same: Start with bassist Cliff Williams and drummer Phil Rudd, who are so no-frills on their beat keeping, you could be forgiven for thinking the band used a machine. Add in Malcom and Angus Young’s heavy, chopping riffs. Mix in Brian Johnson howling, and finally, add a splash of Angus' solos. This is a band that knows what it's doing, and it doesn't plan on changing that any time soon. The album opens with “Rock ‘N Roll Train,” an instant classic, full of huge riffs, a chanting chorus and a white-hot solo from Angus. It kicks the hinges off the door and lets you know that these guys are not here to mess around. They came to rock. This CD is full of the band declaring its love for rock. Four songs have “rock” in the title and even more mention it. The one-mindedness would make other bands seem like they are trying too hard, but not these guys. When Johnson’s yell tears open the album, you feel back at home. Part of the reason it makes you feel so comfortable is the fact that some of these songs sound familiar, maybe even too familiar. “Wheels” sounds so bland and generic that you could be forgiven for forgetting what it sounds like while you’re listening to it. Elsewhere, chunks of past lyrics and riffs come back to
Adam Constantine Film Critic
photo courtesy of www.squidoo.com
you, but then they’re gone. The band has made an album that hearkens back to their glory days, and it shows. Angus and Malcom share interlocking riffs, some of the best they’ve had in years. “Big Jack” is so stuffed with great guitar moments it’s easy to imagine guitar teachers all across the world already learning how to play it. Angus even shows some diversity (“Stormy May Day” has a slide), and his solos are just as strong as ever. Meanwhile Johnson is shouting about “one hot angel, one cool devil,” “skies on fire” and “steam burning.” And that’s just in the opening three songs. The band has cooled down its sexism a bit. There aren’t any direct songs about the joys of groupies. Maybe these guys are getting old. The long and the short of this album is pretty simple. If you liked AC/DC before, you will like this album. If you didn’t, well they certainly didn’t go out of their way to appease you. The album’s truest shortcoming is the fact that there are a few too many songs, a couple filler tracks that could’ve been left on the studio floor. But for AC/DC, don’t take advice from mere mortals like us. They are kings of rock. And with this new album, they are “Back in Black.” “Black Ice,” that is.
As a woman in Los Angeles in 1929, there is not much room for self-expression or freedom of speech. A woman would have to smile in the face of bigotry, be respectful when confronted with sexism and act “ladylike” even in the most strenuous of circumstances. In “Changeling,” Christine Collins (Angelina Jolie) is faced with the incredibly daunting task of standing up to all of the social taboos. While many wouldn’t even think to stand up to what would turn into an oppressive force, she only has one thing on her mind: finding her missing son. On March 10, 1929, she comes home to find her son, Walter Collins missing. She goes to the police and they begin a long and grueling five-month search. But she receives great news when the police tell her that her son has been found. When she was reunited with him, she immediately sees that the boy they returned to her is not her son. When the police insist that he is, Christine hesitantly takes him home, only to find the boy more than three inches shorter than her son was. She takes the matter back to police Capt. J.J. Jones (Jeffrey Donovan) only to find him “reassuring” her quite forcefully that the boy is hers. But the single mother will not rest until the matter is resolved. This does not please the captain or any of the higher-ups in the Los Angeles Police Department. They decide to make the matter “go away” as quietly as they can, which leaves Christine with only one choice: Fight as hard and as long as she is able. One of the important aspects of movie-making is that the set is imperative to making a convincing film. Everything must be of that era,
photo courtesy of www.movies.yahoo.com
including cars, buildings, dress and even words used in conversation. “Changeling” did an excellent job of maintaining the integrity of the late 1920s and 1930s. Jolie continues to show her versatility as an actress. She does an impeccable job of playing a single mother in an era that shunned women who stood up for their rights. To be able to play a character who lived in an era almost 80 years ago shows devotion and commitment to getting the character right. Donovan did an excellent job of playing opposite Jolie as the police chief hiding a secret agenda. With other roles in “Hitch” and the hit television series “Burn Notice,” he is one to keep an eye on, as he could be one of the better character actors of our time. Since this is based on a true story, it does not have a story-book ending. It goes deep into the dark corners of corruption and crime that make viewers cringe. But by the end of the film, audiences will have a great admiration for those who stand up for what is important to them, no matter the cost. Catch “Changeling” at Carousel Cinemas at Alamance Crossing.
Page 28 / Thursday, November 6, 2008
SPORTS
The Pendulum
Club lacrosse rocks the field at Grateful Dead Tournament Amber Murphy Reporter Elon women’s club lacrosse came away as champions in the Grateful Dead Halloween Tournament it hosted Sunday on the South Campus fields. Elon defeated Radford University 8-2 to claim the tournament title. Elon maintained its momentum for most of the championship game, winning the foot race to ground balls and maintaining possession through sharp passing Radford showed some fight toward the end, but Elon held on, scoring a final goal as the buzzer sounded. “It’s fabulous to win on our home turf,” captain Shannon Crawford said. “We started off slow and then finished strong. We all came together in the end.” This year’s tournament was a success for Elon from the championship win to the tournament organization.Club lacrosse teams from Lynchburg College, Appalachian State University, High Point University and Radford University traveled to Elon to face off in the tournament. Elon fielded two teams: The Elon Maroon team and the Elon White team, bringing the total number of teams to six. The tournament was set up in two halves, with the first determining the seeding for the final half. The Elon White team won four games and the championship. Its only loss came at the hands of High Point University with a score of 4-3. But Elon turned around and beat High Point in the semifinals 7-4. The Elon Maroon team won two games and tied one. It went to the semifinals after beating Lynchburg 10-4, but lost to Radford 8-5. For Crawford and the White team, the game against Appalachian State was the most exciting. “We were winning by a lot, but then they tied it up,” Crawford said.
LINDSAY FENDT | Assist. Photo Editor
Shannon Crawford takes a shot against opponent Appalachian State in Sunday’s match-up on the South Campus Fields. Elon’s White team went on to win the game 6-5 and eventually take home the tournament crown, losing only one game to High Point University. “I got passed the ball and it was a left-handed shot. It was totally a Hail
Mary. It went in at the last minute. It was fantastic. We came together so much after we were struggling.” The final score was 6-5 with Elon emerging victorious. Elon women’s lacrosse has been more freshmen-oriented this year than ever before, with more than 20 freshmen joining the team. “The new girls were so shy at the beginning, but now they’re coming into play,” Crawford said. “Even talking on the field, which is fantastic. We have started letting them run practices to see who wants to step it up for next year and be captain.” Freshman Cassandra Taylor said she has enjoyed playing in all the tournaments so far.
“They are a lot of fun,” she said. “You get a chance to really bond with all of the girls.” Taylor has found playing for a new team quite an adjustment, but prefers club lacrosse to high school lacrosse. “It’s more laid back than high school,” Taylor said. "It’s not a drill team. It’s all about having fun and playing lacrosse. You want to participate more.” The team’s fall season is quickly coming to an end as the cold weather sets in. This Sunday the team will play at Davidson College. It looks to close out its season after attending the East Carolina University Down n’ Dirty Lacrosse Tournament on Nov. 15 and 16.
Women’s fall golf season ends Sam Calvert Reporter During the past two months the team has kept busy, preparing for and playing in four different tournaments all around North Carolina and Virginia.The team had high aspirations for this fall season, and is hoping to pick up the pace in these last two tournaments. “We were supposed to have a really good team this year, with five of the seven girls coming back from last year,” head coach Bill Morningstar said. “We just haven’t gotten it together yet. It’s not that these girls aren’t out there working hard. We just haven’t been able to get those low scores.” The Phoenix started out the season with the Draper Valley Classic on Sept. 8 and 9, placing first in the tournament hosted by conference rival Appalachian State. The win was a team effort, leading with scores from Kelsey Johnson, Danielle Mills and Dani Mullin. Johnson and Mills tied for second overall out of 68 competitors, helping secure the title. Elon finished with a 588 (290-298), three better than fellow Southern Conference member Western Carolina University, which placed second. A few weeks later, Elon hosted
the Sea Trail Intercollegiate, where it placed third overall. The Phoenix had four players in the top-20. As a team, Elon shot a 914, nine shots behind winner East Tennessee State and two shots behind second place Longwood University. The team was busy Oct. 19-21 with the 2008 Lady Pirate Intercollegiate, hosted by East Carolina University. Elon finished fifth in the tournament with a 920, led again by Mills and Bruell. On the second day, both Bruell and the team made their mark in Lady Pirate Intercollegiate history. Bruell shot the fourth lowest score since the tournament’s beginning in 2000, a 68, and the team shot the twelfth lowest score, a 290. Because the fall season is over, the team has a few months before the spring season begins. But it is far from a break as the team will use this down time to prepare for the upcoming season. The central spring season is longer and involves more tournaments and matches than the fall season, putting the team in a better position for the conference tournament and the NCAA Regionals. “We now know where our weaknesses are,” McFadden said, “and we have all winter to improve in these areas to be at the top of our game in the spring season.”
SPORTS
The Pendulum
Thursday, November 6, 2008 / Page 29
Men’s basketball excels in exhibition game, shows promise of a strong 2008-2009 season
Photos by andrew dodd | Photographer
ABOVE: Freshman Josh Booney played in his first Elon basketball game saturday night at the nest. he controlled the backcourt for the Phoenix for some of the night as a point guard
LeFt: Junior adam Constantine dunks the ball over a belmont abbey defender in saturday night’s 87-72 exhibition game victory. Constantine pulled in a gamehigh 21 points and finished 6-for-9 from the field and 9-for-12 from the free throw line.
above: Forward ola atoyebi beats a belmont abbey defender to the basket for an easy 2-point bucket. atoyebi ended his night with 12 points and 2 blocked shots.
World Series teams offer excitement for 2009 Drew Johnson and Russell Varner Sports Commentators World Series Drew: Baseball season is over and the Phillies are world champions. The story for me is that the Rays continued to surprise in this series, but this time they collapsed and folded under the pressure. The young team was simply over-matched after going seven games with the Red Sox. I thought the Rays had all the match-ups in their favor, but they couldn’t get it done. Russell: I just think the Rays finally ran out of steam. They had a great run and faced an even hotter team in the Phillies. It’s kind of difficult to beat a team that hits as well as the Phillies do, and on top of that have Cole Hamels and Brad Lidge pitch lights
out like they did. It doesn’t help that Carlos Pena and Evan Longoria basically didn’t do a thing the entire series. Drew: Fortunately for Phillies’ fans, Lidge wasn’t going up against Albert Pujols. Hamels did pitch well but, is one win and a 2.77 ERA deserving of series MVP when you have Jayson Werth, Carlos Ruiz and Ryan Howard all hitting in big spots? Hamels may have been the best in the playoffs but not the specific series. Russell: It is absolutely
worth a World Series MVP. Look at what he did this entire postseason — 4-0, 1.80 ERA, 30 strikeouts and just 9 walks. And he did it in all of their big games. None of the Phillies’ hitters really stood out from the rest. They all hit well the entire series. Hamels shut down the Rays lineup twice, including at Tropicana Field, which you just don’t do to the Rays. Baseball in 2009 Drew: You have to like both of these teams next year as well. Each club has the majority of the starting nine returning with a year's worth of winning behind them. But I think that the Rays’ pitching staff simply all played better than the expectations of their ability. Look for the Red Sox and Angels to be this off-season’s winners and popular picks.
Russell: There’s no doubt that both of these teams should be in prime position to make another World Series run next year. Both have great young cores that they have locked up for the next few years. In addition to the Sox and Angels, I expect the Yankees to make some noise this year. I don’t think they’ll stick with their youth movement and Hank Steinbrenner is getting very impatient. Also, if the Dodgers resign Manny Ramirez, watch out for them. They, along with the Cubs and Phillies, will be front-runners in the National League. Drew: Again, it’s hard to say who this year's Rays will be because the bigger market teams will be the ones improving their team on paper with big free agents and trades. It’s easy to assume it will be the same teams in the playoffs again.
Football gods keep Redskins Rule alive Sports fans tend to be among the most superstitious people in the country. We never fail to turn our caps inside-out in hopes of a rally and we make Michelle Longo sure to never Sports Editor touch the chalk lines on a baseball diamond pregame. Professionally, the" Curse of the Bambino" lived on for a long 86 years, while the Cubs have yet to win the Fall Baseball Classic in an even longer 100 years. Late Tuesday night, election results crowning Barack Obama president-elect of the United States proved yet again that sports traditions are not meant to be taken lightly. The “Redskins Rule” suggests that every time the Redskins win their final home game before the presidential election, the candidate representing the incumbent party remains in office. If they lose, the incumbent’s party candidate also loses and the opposing party comes to power. Before Tuesday, the rule was 17-for-17. Now, it is 18-for-18, a 100 percent accuracy rate. For those who rely on ESPN more than CNN for the news, the 44th president of the United States was already decided Monday night in a 23-6 Redskins loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers. The most interesting thing about this year’s Redskins Rule was the game itself. On the last play of the first half, Steelers' quarterback Ben Roethlisberger injured his shoulder and looked as if he would not be able to finish the game. While Steeler Nation was having a heart attack as their franchise player was examined in the tunnel, back-up quarterback, Byron Leftwich began throwing warm-up passes. Leftwich, a black, Washington D.C. native, entered the game after halftime with Steelers fans still licking their wounds, wondering what was going on with Big Ben. But, by the end of the game, Leftwich was 7-for-10 passing with 129 yards, a touchdown and a victory. It is always bad to lose starting quarterback, even worse to lose him in the middle of a game and the worst when your entire offensive team basically depends on him. The only two words that come to mind are Tony Romo. So how were the Steelers able to turn around such a dark scenario to secure a win against a Redskins team second in the ultra-competitive NFC East standings? Football gods is the answer. Granted, Leftwich was once a great quarterback and firstround pick, but time has taken its toll and there is a reason he is Roethlisberger’s backup. We have not seen Leftwich throw so quickly or so precisely since his golden days with the Jacksonville Jaguars. The football gods had to intervene on this one. I refuse to accept otherwise. They had to help Leftwich succeed, they had to help the Steelers win, they had to see the Redskins lose and most importantly, they had to make sure the Redskins Rule did not die with the 2008 presidential election. Give credit where credit is due: Leftwich picked up the game quickly and the defense really stepped, up but that all pails in comparison to the power of the football gods - and the power of a sports omen.
Page 30 / Thursday, November 6, 2008
SPORTS
The Pendulum
Cross country teams both place sixth in SoCon Championships, near the season’s end Many members run to personal bests Michelle Longo Sports Editor Seven of Elon’s nine runners paced to personal bests as the women’s cross country team grabbed sixth place at the 2008 Southern Conference Championship Tournament. Sophomore Emily Fournier finished seventh with a time of 18:11 in the 5K race on her way to a FirstTeam All-Conference seat. Melanie Reyer finished 23rd, with a time of 18:53, which was good enough to earn a spot on the all-freshmen team. Alissa Wilke, Alyson Costa and Colleen McCarthy took 50th, 51st and 52nd, running times of 19:23, 19:23 and 19:24, respectively. “All the girls ran very well with many having a season-best time,” captain McCarthy said. “But it did not show in the standings. The competition in our conference is getting tougher and adding Samford into the mix made it even more interesting.” For the third straight year, Chattanooga hat-tricked for the tournament championship. The Mocs placed all five qualifying runners in the top 20. Catherine Rossi and Caitlin Beeler had Elon’s next top finishes, placing 30th and 43rd overall. “From the conference meet we realize that in upcoming years we will have to step up our game in order to compete for a top spot,” McCarthy said. “I think that in a few years under coach Engel our team will rise
Justine sChuLerud | Photographer
Freshman alyson Costa and senior alissa wilke work together to run personal best times at the southern Conference championships.
in the rankings.” Fournier has been a main competitor for Elon since the beginning of the season. With her first-place finish overall, Fournier led her team to a first-place finish at the Hagan Stone Classic during the regular season. Rossi and Beeler also posted top-10 finishes at that classic. At the Blue Ridge Open, Fournier ran a personal-best 18:28 en route to a fifth-place finish out of 168 runners. Fournier was Elon’s top-finisher in each of the four 5K races of the 2008 campaign. “It is a great honor to get recognition as an individual in such a tough conference,” head coach Christine Engel said. “I think it raises the bar for everyone else. Hopefully the rest of the men and women can look to that and set their expectations higher.” Elon will continue to race next weekend when it travels to N.C. State for the annual Pack Invitational. The team will also compete in the NCAA Regional Tournament later in the month. The top two runners in each region advance to the national tournament. Elon is considered in the Southeastern region, which includes Duke and University of North Carolina. “Each meet before the conference tournament was to be considered a learning experience in preparation for the final race,” McCarthy said. “Throughout the season, we were able to see our team’s strengths and weaknesses and were able to work them out in order to put forth our best effort at the Conference.”
All-SoCon First Team – Women
All-SoCon Freshman Team – Women
1. Megan Lordi - Furman 2. Meghan Gaffney – appalachian state 3. hillary neal – samford 4. sherrika Jordan – unC Greensboro 5. tara Gietema – Chattanooga 6. Andrea Seccafien – Samford 7. emily Fournier – elon
6. Andrea Seccafien – Samford 10. Chloe Kowalski – Furman 14. deanna Zidar – samford 23. Melanie reyer – elon 24. Cori w – samford 26. erin barker – Furman 32. Meredith white – Chattanooga
SoCon competition shows up ready in conference tournament Michelle Longo Sports Editor Finishing within the top three for all except one meet this season, the men’s cross country team had high expectations going into the 2008 Southern Conference Tournament last Saturday. But fellow SoCon foes had different plans and Elon ended up sixth out of 11 teams. “At the championships, the men were prepared and ready but we didn’t execute as well as we could have in the race and that was disappointing,” head coach Christine Engel said. “We finished behind teams we had beaten throughout the season consistently.” Leading the pack for Elon was sophomore Matt Richardson, who turned in the team’s only top-20 appearance, finishing 19th with a time of 25:26 in an 8K run. Eric Lewandowski, Rick Myers and Justin Gianni came in together at 24th, 25th and 26th, respectively. “We can look back on this race and use it as motivation to come back in two weeks and beat all the Southern Conference schools that are racing in the Regional race,” captain Myers said. “We will use this race as a learning experience and use each other to keep fighting our way through the conference in future years.” Appalachian State placed four runners in the top-10 on its way to its fourth straight SoCon title. Nine of the top-15 from last year’s SoCon Championships competed in this year’s battle. ASU had five of the top-15 runners returning. “In any conference meet across the
country, it is a unique experience,” Engel said. “Teams rise to the occasion and a higher level of adrenaline comes with a conference championship. A lot of emotion goes into it.” This season, the men had one first-place finish at the Hagen Stone Classic on Oct. 4. Elon finished ahead of nine teams in that meet. It also had one second-place finish and two third-place finishes. During the season, Elon beat out SoCon opponents 15 times in head-to-head competition. A bright spot for the Phoenix has been freshman Will Schefer’s school recordsetting time of 25:41 in the ASICS/Winthrop Invitational. Myers also ran a personal best at the Blue Ridge Open. “I am very happy with the progress that the team has made and they certainly elevated the level of the program,” Engel said. “The athletes worked so hard and a lot had personal records and school records were also broken. Six of the top-10 times in history were run this season.” Although the league championships are over, the men still have two races to compete in. The team will head to N.C. State to run in the Pack Invitational on Nov. 8. Then, on Nov. 18, Elon will run in the NCAA Regional Tournament to round out the 2008 campaign. “[Engel] came into Elon and immediately gave us confidence to perform well all season, Myers said. “We became a force in the SoCon. We were once thought of as a mediocre team, but this season we created a name for ourselves. We used to be considered an underdog by other conference foes, but at the end of the year we had a target on our back.”
Justine sChuLerud | Photographer
senior captains eric Lewandowski and rick Myers run together at the soCon Championship tournament saturday morning and afternoon at Milliken Park in Spartanburg, S.C. The men lead the team to a sixth place finish overall.
SPORTS
The Pendulum
Thursday, November 6, 2008 / Page 31
Volleyball sweeps weekend tournament Team heads into final games with post-season expectations Sam Rinderman Reporter After a rough five-game losing streak, the Elon Phoenix spent Halloween spooking Appalachian State by winning its holiday match 3-0 and defeating Western Carolina University 3-1. The women entered the weekend hosting the two teams, sweeping a weekend home stand for the first time this season. The Phoenix has four Southern Conference games left on its schedule, including the last two home matches against Samford University and University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. At press time, Elon is currently in fourth place in the conference standings. Head coach Mary Tendler said the two wins could not have come at a more important time. “We’ve struggled in previous years finishing down the stretch of the regular season,” Tendler said. “It was important to this team to sweep these two games against Appalachian State and Western Carolina. I’m proud of our girls for stepping it up and getting the job done.” This 2008 season has been a great year for the Phoenix, after posting a 13-18 record last season. A record above .500 ensures the team a playoff spot.
Senior Kelly Blakewood said the work the team has done to improve this season has made her senior year all the better. “These next games definitely mean a lot,” Blakewood said. “We went through a rough patch, and this past week we had four great practices. I’m excited because today we’ve secured a spot in the SoCon Tournament. I’m just really excited with the position that we’ve put ourselves in this season.” Sophomore Sarah Schermerhorn had a huge weekend leading the Phoenix, landing 16 kills against the Western Carolina Catamounts in Elon’s 3-1 victory. Elon had gotten off to a hot start leading Western Carolina 2-0, and that momentum carried into the third set as the Phoenix had built a 7-0 lead. The pressure from the Catamounts built up and Elon succumbed to the threat losing that set 25-22. Western Carolina continued to push the Phoenix to its limit in the fourth set as it built an early 8-5 lead. After a time out, the momentum switched back toward Elon. Schermerhorn had several important kills when the Phoenix had its back* to the wall. “It was important that we stayed aggressive in the fourth set,” Schermerhorn said. “After losing that lead in the third set, we were tentative
ANDREW DODD | Photographer
Sarah Schermerhorn and Emily Regan go up for a block in the match against Western Carolina University. Elon took the first two sets and the Catamounts won the third. Elon won the last match leaving the final score 3-1. and we started to freeze up. That made the fourth set all the more important. Hopefully we can continue to pick it up and finish up well against the conference.” The Phoenix goes on the road for its next two games, and it ends the regular season at home for Senior Night against Chattanooga. The Phoenix then prepares for the SoCon tournament, set to begin Nov. 21 in Greensboro.
ANDREW DODD | Photographer
The team has four more league games to move up in the conference.
Page 32 / Thursday, November 6, 2008
The Pendulum
Sports Elon narrowly misses upset in SoCon tourney Michelle Longo Sports Editor The women’s soccer season ended just one goal short in a 4-3 shoot-out decision against Western Carolina University in the first round of the Southern Conference playoffs Sunday afternoon. The seventh-seeded Phoenix battled the secondseeded Catamounts to a 1-1 tie in 90 minutes of regulation action. The teams played an extra 10 minutes in the first overtime period, with neither team scoring to push a second overtime. The second overtime period ended with the same result. After 110 minutes of play, a shoot-out was the next step. “Western Carolina is a difficult team to play,” head coach Chris Neal said. “They are very athletic and use a lot of bodies and piled a high level of pressure when we were in possession. It was difficult for us to establish rhythm and tempo.” In the first half, neither team tallied a goal. Elon’s goalkeeper Sydney Little had five saves to maintain the 0-0 score, while the Phoenix offense did not get a shot off in the first 45 minutes. With 10 minutes left in the game, Catamount freshman Rachael Shomper sent her second goal of the season flying past the arms of Elon senior Lizz Johnson for the first goal of the game. With a little more than five minutes remaining, Elon was
awarded a penalty kick and senior Susannah Gianakos drove home the tying goal, her fifth of the season. “For the first 90 minutes, we kept trying to put a stamp with Elon’s name on the game,” Neal said. “That was not happening so we scratched that and we went to a more direct style of play to get the ball in the net as quickly as possible.” Senior captains Katina Boozer and Kerri Speers both attempted shots-on-goal in the first overtime with no prevail. Johnson denied Western Carolina one goal in the first 10-minute period. WCU’s goalkeeper Caitlin Williams blocked an additional three shots on goal in the second overtime. After 110 minutes of play, the game ended in a 1-1 tie and the team advancing to the semifinals was decided with a penalty kick shootout. “[Western] has a lot of substitutes and are extremely physical," Neal said. "I was happy with our team’s endurance. The girls really bought into the fitness aspect this off-season. I feel if we could have played an extra 10 minutes, we would have won. All the momentum was in our favor.” First up for Elon was Lauren Griffith, who blasted it past Williams. WCU’s Nikki Lombardo was also successful, tying the shoot-out score at 1-1. After both teams missed their second attempt, Katie Persichini’s shot was saved by
Williams as Johnson let one slip through the net for a 2-1 WCU lead. Brittany Hallberg and WCU’s Kayla Beauduy both converted their kicks, and Alanna Winsper drove home the final try to the Phoenix. WCU got the last shot and Bri Cunningham beat Johnson for the game-deciding goal. “I felt like [Johnson] has more range with shot-blocking ability and that’s why she was in for the penalty kicks,” Neal said. “She saved a penalty in the shoot-out and that’s all you can ask. She gave us a chance.” During the regular season, Western Carolina defeated the visiting Phoenix 2-1 in an overtime match. Gianakos again scored the only Elon goal in the game. Elon finished the year with an 8-8-3 overall record, just the second-ever record of .500 or better for the program since moving to NCAA Division I in 1999. The 2008 season undoubtedly is the team's best season since the move to the SoCon. “The team went through tough times with results in the past,” Neal said. “They laid a blueprint for younger girls on how to carry themselves and lead by example and how to play with character and deal with adversity. We have a great foundation moving forward thanks to those seniors. We started to establish a winning culture and players are starting to understand what it takes to succeed at this level.” david weLLs | Photo editor
senior Katina boozer almost netted a game-winning goal for elon in the final seconds of the first overtime period.
The season’s leading scorers Molly Calpin - 6 goals susannah Gianakos - 5 goals Katina boozer - 3 goals alix heinicke - 2 goals brittany hallberg - 2 goals
The season’s assist leaders
susannah Gianakos - 5 assists Katina boozer - 5 assists Molly Calpin - 3 assists Kerri speers - 2 assists
Goalkeeper stats Player sydney Little Lizz Johnson
saves 51 29
shut-outs 3 2
This year’s graduating seniors
david weLLs | Photo editor david weLLs | Photo editor
Senior Susannah Gianakos scored Elon’s lone goal in the first round match against Western Carolina. The Phoenix lost in a 4-3 shootout after regulation and two overtimes ended in a draw.
Lizz Johnson - Goalkeeper Katie Persichini - Midfielder Kerri Speers - Midfielder Katina Boozer - Midfielder/forward susannah Gianakos - Forward Jessica weaver - Forward