Unaccompanied minors seek new homes and lives in NC
In the desert, they stopped to ask for water. Instead, they got detained.
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In the desert, they stopped to ask for water. Instead, they got detained.
From a young age, we’re told that people around the world have larger problems than we do. You can list off the top of your head the number of people who “really need therapy.” But the idea that your problems are insignificant compared to other peoples’ leads to the problems we need to go to therapy for in the first place. Therapy is thought of as a worst-case scenario for some people — a place to go when there’s no other option — but preventative measures need to be taken for mental health.
Written by Cheri Armour Samples ’09
Written by Catherine Palmer, senior
Friday, April 24, 2015, is a sacred day, for it is the 100th commemoration of the Armenian Genocide. A disparate group — from genocide scholars to Kim Kardashian (who observed the event by traveling to Armenia on her show) — have fought to bring this event to light. My history classes examine the United States’ reaction to the Armenian Genocide, and here I extend a discussion to the entire Elon community.
Health encompasses so much more than the fifth-grade nutrition class you had to take where you learned about the food pyramid and your Body Mass Index. Taking care of yourself is not limited to your diet or your exercise routine. Self-care, a core word for the feminist community, means doing whatever makes you the healthiest, happiest and safest version of yourself. Self-care includes mental, spiritual and sexual health. Self-care is subjective and individualized. One method of self-care, like binge-watching season three of “House of Cards” after a stressful week of midterms, might only be helpful to certain individuals. It takes time to figure out which self-care tactics work for you and which ones are harmful. If you feel emotionally depleted, maybe a phone call home to your mom will help you recharge — for others that could only make it worse. Even when the magazines tell you an “X” number of calories should be consumed or burned in a day, you have to realize that statistic is based on an average, and your body may need something different. It’s up to you to figure that out for yourself. It’s not going to be easy. You will do things in the name of self-care and learn later that you probably should have gone without that whole sleeve of Oreos or that 10-mile run. You are allowed to mess up. Most importantly, because self-care is subjective, only you should have a say in how you take care of yourself. Commenting on other’s habits, routines or choices under the guise of “for their health benefit” is unnecessary and often cruel. Mental, spiritual and sexual health is not something you can guess by staring at someone in line for coffee. Even the physical side of health is misleading. One person’s body type might be what some people deem “unhealthy,” but that person could actually be in stable health. Unless you’re a medical professional or your friend asks for some advice, try to avoid making snap judgments about someone else based solely on what you think “healthy” should look like. As long as he or she isn’t harming the people around them, you shouldn’t criticize or judge. If you think someone is harming themselves by their choices, then that should be a conversation both parties are willing to have. As feminists, we try to be as open-minded as possible to different lifestyles, cultures and experiences. In doing so, we realize that choices we would make for our own self-care are going to be vastly different than the choices of the person sitting next to us in class. Focus on yourself, your body, your mind and the best you that you can be. Try to help others do the same. Support the people you love. Grab a spoon when your friend comes home with a pint of ice cream after a night of terrible sex, and drive them to a bar an hour away when the campus bubble starts to feel way too small. Balance responsibility with personal splurges. You’ll never get it quite right, but who wants to be perfect, anyway?
Let’s be real: birth control is a great thing. If it does its job, it prevents pregnancy, alleviates horrible cramps and reduces acne. Myths about birth control range from obscene weight gain to infertility with prolonged use and protection against sexually transmitted infections, or STIs. Put Simply, these just aren’t true. Weight gain is a big reason some women choose not to go on birth control altogether — I know I was hesitant at first, too. But many studies, such as “Effect of birth control pills and patches on weight” published on the U.S. National Library of Medicine website, show no direct link between contraception and weight gain. Some explanations as to why women feel they gain weight when taking birth control may be that the hormone progestin may increase appetite, and the added estrogen may lead to bloating and water retention. Focusing on a healthy lifestyle through a balanced diet and exercise will help keep weight off. The idea that using birth control, specifically the pill, for long periods of time leads to fertility problems is also a common belief, and it makes sense if you think about it. But you can get pregnant as soon as you stop using your birth control, which is why it’s vital to remember to use it exactly how it’s intended, whether it’s taking a pill every day or changing your intrauterine device (IUD) every month. Hormonal birth control can help protect you from pregnancy, bad acne, cramps, period irregularity, an increased risk of cancer — the list goes on. But of all the various types of protection offered, the only way to prevent yourself from getting STIs is to use a condom or another type of barrier contraception or to abstain from sex altogether. The positives of birth control far outweigh the negatives, and I would rather gain a little weight from the pill than gain a lot of weight from a baby. There are many different forms of contraception beyond the pill, and all offer similar benefits. Research can and should be done in order to figure out which type is best for each individual, but it’s important to know that weight gain and infertility aren’t side effects of any birth control, and STI protection can only be offered through barrier contraceptives.
Greek life regulations don’t discriminate, pressure to hide sexuality originates from within organizations When Samantha Jones came out as a lesbian, she found comfort in her close friends but a letdown in a Greek system that was less than welcoming. A sister of the Eta Zeta chapter of Zeta Tau Alpha at Elon University, Jones, ’13, said some of her sisters offered a supportive environment when she came out in 2012, but others did just the opposite. “I had some people who were really uncomfortable with me afterwards,” she said. “I don’t think I necessarily lost friends, but I think some people certainly distanced themselves from me. I had a lot of people move away from spending time with me.” Inclusivity takes priority in Elon’s mission and policies, but the Greek system hasn’t necessarily kept up. Students in Greek organizations who have come out as members of the LGBTQIA community are often treated as anomalies within the system. But advocates say it’s better now than it once was. Matthew Antonio Bosch, director of the Gender and LGBTQIA Center (GLC), said as the general conversation around sexual orientation and identity has become more common over the years, he’s seen an increase in the number of people who are out in Greek organizations at Elon, though there’s no concrete way to determine how many. From 1990 through the early 2000s, Bosch said more people were openly gay in fraternities than in sororities. Then, for about 10 years the number of women out in sororities grew. Now, he said, there are more males who openly identify as LGBTQIA in Elon’s fraternities than females in sororities. Allies emerge in Greek life Shana Plasters, Elon’s director of Greek life, said the university has no way of tracking how many LGBTQIA students are involved in sororities and fraternities, noting some members may be out in certain circles but not in others. There are no policies in the Greek system that restrict LGBTQIA people from rushing or participating in Greek-sponsored activities. But Plasters said some organizations have rules requiring guests at Greek functions to be approved by a committee or a standards board. Though this rule exists so dates who might have had problematic behavior in the past can be barred from events, a standards board could potentially shut out dates of the same sex. “Although these policies were not designed to be discriminatory towards LGBTQIA students, there could always be the chance that student members could use this veto power over dates to discriminate based on sexual identity,” Plasters said in a statement. But as Jones found with her sisters in Zeta Tau Alpha, subtle attitudes within individual organizations are more often the source of discrimination. She suspected some people were disturbed when she brought her girlfriend as a date to a sorority function. “A huge part of being in a sorority and fraternity is the social aspect,” she said. “Most of that social part is tied to straight interactions. You get invited to those things because guys want to have sex with you. When you’re out, it kind of limits you a little bit.” Plasters said regardless of the sexual orientation of their members, all organizations have an expectation of brotherhood and sisterhood. “Certainly we expect our fraternities and sororities to be supportive environments,” Plasters wrote. “If a student doesn’t feel supported by their peers, that can be concerning.” The Office of Greek Life has partnered with the GLC to provide LGBTQIA Ally Training for organizations who have requested it. Bosch guided all of the sorority Pi Chis — students from all nine of Elon’s sororities who counsel potential new members through the recruitment process — through the Ally Training sessions. The Pi Chis come from all nine of Elon’s sororities. Bosch has also provided training sessions for individual sororities and the National PanHellenic Council. Challenging Greek norms Many of those who are out in Greek organizations are challenged by certain conventions of Greek Life — stereotypes Jones said hold true at Elon. “People that are different aren’t always celebrated,” she said. “They kind of hold a standard of white, straight, pretty, skinny, blonde, brunette. I wouldn’t say that it’s really a conducive environment to being out or alternative in any way.” Other social challenges LGBTQIA brothers and sisters encounter stem from the historically heteronormative activities sponsored by fraternities and sororities. Jones found that aspects of the Greek system, like date parties and formals, are traditionally geared toward straight couples. “When people ask what the typical Elon girl looks like or acts like, people describe things that are aligned with sorority culture,” Bosch said. “It’s in the way people dress, the way their hair is presented and the way they see the world — both external and internal.” He said people generally know which sororities and fraternities are more affirming and progressive, and students interested in joining those specific organizations lean toward them during the recruitment process. Jones said her sorority did not fall into that category. “I think there are some very open, kind sororities that are known for being more accepting,” Jones said. “I don’t know if the one I was in was necessarily. Zeta and Phi Mu are where most of my friends were, and in general, I think they’re more of an exclusive club.” Gay visibility in Greek Life Greek life accounts for about 40 percent of Elon’s student body, but gay visibility within the system is little more than a whisper. When she came out, Jones didn’t know of any other openly gay women in her sorority, and she only knew of a handful in other Greek organizations. This lack of representation was obvious in the curiosity of her peers, which at times bordered on insensitivity. “It made my social life a little bit more awkward,” she said. “People would ask me all types of incredibly inappropriate questions.” Senior Brittany Wenner, a sister of Sigma Sigma Sigma, encountered similar questions when she came out to her sorority her sophomore year. Wenner said she welcomed some of the curiosity, but not when it was clearly rude. One night, when she was out with friends at West End, a fraternity member she knew asked her if it was “gay night at West End.” “I don’t really understand why you think you can speak to anybody like that,” Wenner said. “And it was a person I was friends with.” This wasn’t an isolated incident. When she came out, Wenner said she received nothing but support from her sisters. But she experienced more negativity from men in the Greek system. “It was just people who wouldn’t normally talk to me about my sex life or who wouldn’t normally approach me at a party,” she said. “The conversation would quickly go in that direction, just asking me questions that you wouldn’t ask someone who was straight.” Wenner partially attributes this treatment to ignorance, acknowledging that not everyone has interacted with LGBTQIA people before entering college, and they might not be as accepting. She said these are the members who keep negative stereotypes of Greek life alive. “I think some of the preconceived notions about Greek life can be correct in situational ways,” Wenner said. “Open-mindedness needs to be embraced through the university.” And for the most part, she found, it has been embraced by the other women in her sorority. When it came to taking that first step out of the closet, Wenner said she was no more apprehensive about giving her sorority sisters the news than she was anyone else. It was more important for her to be true to herself in her sorority than it was to hide her sexuality. “I think that when anybody who comes out faces that fear, not just within the Greek system but at Elon in general,” she said. “I do believe that, especially within my organization, it was OK to be myself. I felt like my sisters were very welcoming and supporters.” Conforming to Greek life Junior Evan Candler, said he joined Zeta Beta Tau because he saw an opportunity to be part of a fraternity that distinguished itself from other organizations on campus by redefining traditional values of masculinity and brotherhood. As an openly gay brother, he chose to take another man to a date party because he thinks it’s important to challenge norms within his fraternity. No one openly condemned their attendance, but not everyone was enthused. Candler said his experience falls in line with a larger attitude in Greek Life that fraternity brothers should conform to the standards of their organizations despite their sexual orientation. “There’s a level of discomfort, and I feel like I have to be as hetero as possible,” he said. “You can be gay, but just don’t talk about it.” Through conversations about inclusivity with Zeta Beta Tau’s leadership, Candler has seen gradual progress in this area. But, he said, the closeted population in Greek life still outnumbers those who feel comfortable opening up about their sexuality. For closeted freshmen and other students thinking about rushing, Greek life has a specific appeal — Candler said joining a fraternity can serve as a way to hide being gay. “I think there are people who might want to join Greek life because they think joining a fraternity might make them more straight or something,” he said. “Maybe if they do go through rush, they just know that they can never come out.” The need to conceal their sexuality is something some LGBTQIA brothers and sisters have in common, but they agree the need to do so shouldn’t exist. “In terms of a sorority, you’re supposed to look at those people like they’re your family,” Jones, the Zeta alumna, said. “You’re supposed to love them and care about them no matter what.” Correction: The print version of this story, published in the April 8 edition of The Pendulum, included a graphic that did not accurately represent Greek Life at Elon University. The original graphic omitted the National Pan-Hellenic Council, which is one of the three main branches of Greek life on campus. The Pendulum regrets the error.
Elon University staff member Robin Russell died in her sleep March 28, according to an email from Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Steven House. Russell worked at the Elon bookstore and lived with her husband, Alan, associate professor of mathematics, in Colonnades E.
Elon University’s Campus Safety and Police will launch LiveSafe, a smartphone safety application, March 30.
Since the fatal shooting of three Muslim students from Chapel Hill nearly a month ago, details have remained relatively scarce regarding the circumstances behind the attack. Accused shooter Craig Hicks, who confessed to the murders of University of North Carolina Chapel Hill dental student Deah Barakat, his wife Yusor Mohammed Abu-Salha and her sister Razan Mohammed Abu-Salha, now faces the possibility of the death penalty. Although there hasn’t been an execution in North Carolina since 2006, the death penalty is still integral to the state’s legal structure. According to the North Carolina Department of Public Safety, there are 150 offenders currently on death row, and four instances of capital punishment were issued in 2014. There will be some who readily support Hicks’ execution, labeling it a matter of justice. But those who support the death penalty for Hicks without learning the true intent behind his actions are focusing too much on avenging the fallen and not enough on preventing future instances of hatred and injustice. With so little information about the nature of the crime, our time would be better spent respecting and honoring the victims and those affected by this tragedy than speculating on what factors may have contributed. A key to examining this crime is determining the perpetrator’s intent, and the reasons the crime was committed in the first place. Currently, there is little that can be said about the intent that can be absolutely accepted as truth. Initial police reports indicate the shootings were a result of prior disputes over parking between Hicks and the victims. But many have interpreted the attack against these Muslim students to be a tragic demonstration of Islamophobia in the United States. Hicks’ ex-wife, Karen Hicks, has defended him, saying in a press conference last week that, “[Hicks] believed that everybody should be treated equally and fair.” But Hicks’ Facebook page contains numerous posts supporting anti-theism. Islamic Association of Raleigh chairman Mohamed Elgamal, told the Huffington Post, “We’re not out there looking for revenge. Our focus is more constructive — to continue the legacy of these three people.” Elgamal speaks to the heart of the matter: we are so caught up in the hypotheticals of the situation — whether Hicks was intentionally targeting a religion or is just a raging lunatic — that we forget the most important matter is what actually happened and those who were actually affected.
Doctor's Orders is a weekly satirical column in which two unprofessional, definitely fake doctors offer up prescriptions for their Phoenix patients. It’s a disease you survived once before, probably around four years ago. In polite company it’s referred to as Adult Onset Senioritis. We’re dangerously close to the halfway point in this spring semester, and you elderly and wisest seniors are getting hit with increasingly severe cases. We can’t really blame you. You did put up with Elon for three and a half years, which is a lot of Smith Jackson and Eric Townsend emails to ignore. You probably spend most of your days in class clenching your jaw, wondering what more Elon could possibly want from you. The answer is (even more of) your money, but we think the staff editorial explains that better than we could, so take a look at that to better prepare yourself for the Elon Days of the future. #ElonDay. But what could Elon want from you now, when you’re no longer a potential customer and not yet a potential return investment? Absolutely nothing. You’re washed up. Remember Fellows Weekend last week? And those Phoenix Fridays? And all those campus tours? You’re old news, at least until graduation, when we can all cry over how proud we are of you. Seniors, you’re getting replaced with newer, shinier versions of you. Just like when you upgrade your phone or delete those middle school Facebook friends, you’ve become out-of-date overnight, even more so if you forgot to reset your clocks this past weekend. Some day soon, you might find that the only way to recapture some of that collegiate nostalgia will be to throw even more money at the school until the pain goes away. But just like those bright young students replacing you, you in turn will be replacing the last vestiges of the Baby Boomers in the workforce. Lucky you. Those of you who suffer from apathy, one of the side effects of Adult Onset Senioritis, may look forward to making the transition. Other symptoms of this particular strain include Facebook stalking your friends, ignoring internship and job deadlines, bouts of existential panic followed by binge-eating Dorito chips and forgetting how to spell your own name. Others of you suffer from the more nostalgic strain, and you’re probably crying as you read this column — or at least feeling insulted that there’s nothing more you can give to your beloved school. Look, you’re a lame duck. Or a lame phoenix. Lame squirrel? Whatever you are, it’s time to seek greener pastures, though it’s highly unlikely the next pasture you settle in will be as green as this actual botanical garden. Underclassmen and juniors can, for now, avoid their impending futures by taking a stroll around this beautiful campus. You don’t have that opportunity because you still need to get a job. Why are you even reading this column? Haven’t you read about the economy these days? Shoo. You should be working on your resume or, more likely, catching up on Netflix while pretending to diversify your portfolio. Here’s our prescription for all of you, whether you’re hopeless or you don’t care: do it for the Vine. And then, more importantly, do it for yourself. Ace your remaining classes, work hard to find a job you enjoy and do your best to live a fulfilling life. Put yourself first. And drop a great mixtape if you’ve got the chops.
Dear Students, Welcome back to campus. I hope your spring classes are off to a wonderful start. I am compelled to write as we begin a new semester to offer a reflection on a recent cowardly action by an individual who yelled a racial slur and sexually graphic insult from a moving car to an undergraduate student. In my New Student Convocation message in August, I offered these words: Communities are strengthened or diminished each day by the individual actions of each member. Acts of racism, sexism and homophobia harm the human spirit and diminish us all. Wherever you are and wherever you go as an Elon student, I ask you to conduct yourselves with the highest standards of decency and respect. As we celebrate Black History Month in February, this is a good time to reflect on the words of the Rev., Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. who dreamed that his own children would not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character. The sterling character of those who endure insult, rise above it and continue to work with dignity to make the Elon community better and stronger each day stands in sharp contrast to the low character of the cowardly perpetrator. I have every hope that your generation has the best opportunity in history to eradicate such senseless acts of hatred and intolerance from American life. As a member of the Elon community, I hope you will work to strengthen it each day by showing care and respect to others and by condemning unprincipled behavior when you witness it. I send every good wish for a successful academic term, and trust that you will continue to use your Elon education to be a blessing to the world. Sincerely, Leo M. Lambert
As Elon University students slowly emerge from their Winter Term hibernation, they will be forced to acclimate to a heavier course load. Whether they were on campus or traveling in faraway lands, the transition isn’t necessarily easy. Juggling classes that meet at different times of the day — in different buildings, no less — may prompt some students to take the occasional mental health day. But skipping class at Elon comes at a high price. The cost of a single class session at Elon depends on the number of credits a student takes and how many times the class meets in a semester. For a student taking four, 4-credit classes, each class period costs about $100, give or take a few dollars depending on how many times per week the class meets. Skipping a single class session is equivalent to flushing about $100 down one of Elon’s energy-efficient, low-flow toilets. And a class forgone translates to time that can’t be regained and dollar bills that won’t ever be refunded. The cost of skipping one class in a semester could pay for 11 student-rate movie tickets at the Carousel Cinemas at Alamance Crossings. For the price of two classes, you could buy an iPhone 6. If you skip three classes in a semester, you’ve wasted $300 that could have gone toward a fancy pair of headphones or a pair of Frye cowboy boots. There’s no shortage of reasons for skipping class — some of them valid — but whether you’re getting the most out of your tuition and time in college is worth considering before committing to a day off or punching snooze one time too many. The material you’re sure to miss in one class is reason enough to think twice. The value of an education is priceless, but college is expensive. Although tuition at Elon covers a variety of expenses, at least a portion of that money pays for academics. And regardless of the number of classes attended, the cost is the same. If you choose to skip, take a moment to consider whether the reason is worth $100.
Jana Lynn Patterson, associate vice president for student life and dean of student health and wellness, upheld Elon University’s suspension of Sigma Pi Epsilon-Theta for hazing after reviewing a formal appeal submitted by the fraternity and meeting with representatives from the group on Monday.
An edit has been made to note that any changes to the suspension are pending a formal appeal, which Sigma Pi submitted Wednesday. The outcome will be determined by Jana Lynn Patterson, associate vice president for student life.
On my first day of class at Elon University, I blatantly lied about where I was from. I told people I was from Durham or South Dakota or Beirut — anything to deter the inevitable line of questioning that I knew would ensue if I told the truth.
Beginning this month and for the first time, applicants to Elon University will be given the option to identify themselves as part of the LGBTQIA community on the admissions application.
Joe Incorvia addressed the Elon University student body for the first time Aug. 2, 2011, weeks before arriving in North Carolina to begin his freshman year. From his home in Connecticut, he asked the members of the Class of 2015 via a Facebook video how they wanted to be remembered and how they could use the resources at Elon to achieve their goals.
The Elon University Student Government Association will introduce a streamlined system for allocating funds to student organizations when budget hearings begin next semester.