Elon convocation center, two new academic buildings planned for next few years
Another year, another largest class in school history. Another year, another round of construction plans for a new building.
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Another year, another largest class in school history. Another year, another round of construction plans for a new building.
In just three years, downtown Elon may look a lot different.
The Elon Community Church farmer’s market hasn’t changed much since becoming a campus staple eight years ago. What has changed is what Elon University students, who bring in big revenue to the market after a quiet summer, look for in farmer’s market products.
Business has more than doubled for Uber driver and senior Noah Sakin since the fall semester started, and managing both work and school has become a balancing act. But a bit of relief might be coming his way in the form of a state bill that would insure the cars of those in ride-sharing services.
Elon University graduates have traditionally left Alamance County to begin their professional careers. But Elon’s new Community Impact Fellows Program, which launched June 2015, looks to develop the Elon-Alamance County partnership for the long term.
An Elon student reported to town police that he was held up at knifepoint and robbed early Friday morning at the intersection of Trollinger and Church Street, according to a university-wide email sent by Elon Dean of Students Smith Jackson.
Ride-sharing services like Uber, Lyft and Sidecar are one step away from state regulations after the North Carolina House voted Thursday in favor of a bill that would set standards for driver background checks and company coverage on drivers’ cars.
From Drag Queen bingo at the church to Alamance County’s first Pride Parade, Alamance Pride, the area’s newly created nonprofit organization supporting the LGBTQIA communities, guarantees no silence this year.
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United States Secretary of Transportation Anthony Foxx is scheduled to deliver the keynote address at Elon University School of Law’s New Student Convocation August 5, the school announced today.
With the Supreme Court deciding on the Affordable Care Act’s future in the coming weeks, the majority of registered voters in North Carolina said Congress should modify the act instead of abolish it, according to an Elon University Poll released Monday.
Brick by brick, members of the Elon First Baptist Church collected 68 years of memories on a Saturday morning. The original Elon First Baptist Church building on Trollinger Avenue was demolished April 18. The demolition company left a bucket of bricks at the site for anyone who wanted one as a keepsake. The building had not been in use since 1990, when the church moved to its new location on Lynn Street, but thoughts of past Sunday mornings were still there for a few members. “I went by that morning to see the church and there was this old gentleman just collecting all these bricks from the site,” said Tracy Kennedy, Elon First Baptist’s business administrator. “The construction guys were helping him out, and I asked them, ‘How long has he been out there?’ They said all day.” After the move to Lynn Street, Elon First Baptist tried to register the original church as a historical site. Talks with the North Carolina Historic Commission fell through because the costs of renovating the church were too much. “It was just going to be too expensive to try and do a big project like that,” said Lawrence E. Slade, Elon First Baptist Church’s chairman of the deacon board. “So we decided to have it demolished. The church was becoming an eyesore for the city.” There was limited turnout at the demolition. Kennedy said the current church members were either too old to collect bricks from the site or too young to have any attachment to the church. “There were about three or four people collecting things from the site when I went,” she said. “I don’t want to say no one cared about it, but I haven’t heard a complaint from anyone about it being torn down. The ones that wanted to be there got what they wanted.” Slade grew up in the original church. When he collected his bricks, he was thinking about the future instead of the past. “I got about 25 bricks,” he said. “That’s all I needed. And one day I’ll pass them on to my daughter. She was about six years old when we moved into the new church, so she doesn’t remember much about that old one.” Elon First Baptist Church was founded by John McMullen in 1922, building the original church on his land with the help of Slade’s grandfather. It was the first African-American church built in the town of Elon. The church was untreated and unkempt for years. Original plans to tear down the church began about seven years ago, but they stalled until the church’s transition to its new pastor, Rev. Eddie Spencer, in 2011. “Our old pastor wasn’t quite as hands-on as our new pastor is,” Kennedy said. “He doesn’t like to sit around. He wants to see things happen. Our old pastor wasn’t quite that way about things, so nothing happened to the original church for a while.” The demolition process sped up with Spencer in the fold and the increasing danger of the old church. Kennedy said they were afraid of the collapsing structure hurting community members. Elon students occasionally went inside the church to hang out and explore. The condition of the building made it likely that someone would eventually get hurt, according to Kennedy. “When we looked at the church, it was dilapidated and the roof was compromised,” said Sean Tencer, Elon’s town planner. “It was a liability waiting to happen for anyone that went in there. The church had been in this state for a long time.” The church also wasn’t practical for accommodation purposes. No heating, ventilation or air conditioning made it difficult to hold any events inside it. Elon First Baptist occasionally held services outside of it after the move, but that was the only activity, according to Slade. The Town of Elon signed off on the demolition permit, and Elon First Baptist went to D.H. Griffin, based in Greensboro, to set up the site’s deconstruction. “D.H. Griffin did a good job,” Slade said. “They cleaned up the site well and added fresh grass, so it looks like nothing has ever been down there.” The building is gone, with only the cemetery next to it as a sign of what it once was. Elon First Baptist is now entrenched in its current location for the foreseeable future, but the old church had a big role in the community, according to church member Mary McManus. “It was like a little hut,” McManus, an Elon First Baptist member her entire life, said. “But we had a lot of memories there. It made us into a family.”
A wastewater overflow of approximately 27,400 gallons from Burlington’s sanitary collection system went into Bowden Branch, a tributary of Little Alamance Creek. It was the second large-scale Burlington wastewater spill in less than five days. Large amounts of yarn wrapped around a piece of wood in a pipe located at 833 Queen Ann St. caused the blockage and subsequent spillage at 6:30 a.m. Thursday, according to Rachel Kelly, Burlington’s public information officer. The spillage ended at 8:35 a.m. “The sewer pipe was in an area where several industries are located, including one that works with yarn,” Kelly said. The overflowing wastewater flowed into a storm drain connected to Bowden Branch, approximately 15 minutes away from Elon University’s main campus. Kelly said the only known effect of the overflow was the death of several fish in the creek. “That’s the result of the water coming in having a higher temperature than the creek water,” she said. “Burlington is still waiting to get more test results back about it.” According to Michael Kingston, a professor of biology at Elon, bacteria from the waste also has an adverse effect on the fish. “Whenever you release waste into these streams, the bacteria go crazy,” he said. “They’ll consume all the oxygen in the water and there’s nothing left for the fish. The fish die because of that.” Yarn has never been an issue with an overflow, according to Michael Layne, Burlington’s stormwater manager. “We’re definitely going to follow up with the yarn industry here,” Layne said. “But this is probably an isolated incident.” On April 18, about 20,000 gallons of wastewater flowed into Servis Creek, also located in Burlington, because of a grease buildup. In January, 3.5 million gallons of sewage spilled into Haw River in a span of two days after a line broke at a Burlington treatment plant. Kingston said wastewater spillage has been an issue in the past for North Carolina due to hog lagoons, areas where pig waste is stored. “About 20 years ago, we used to have all of these lagoons, and sometimes waste would get into the streams when the dams wouldn’t hold,” he said. “The ammonia from the waste is toxic, and that produces a lot of dead fish.” Kelly said Burlington cleans 20 percent of its sewer lines each year, more than the 10 percent required by the state of North Carolina. “We’re making an education campaign for our residents about not throwing grease down the drain,” Kelly said. “That will make overflows less of a possibility.”
Elon University gamers gathered in Duke building for the Interactive Software Association (ISA) and the eSports club’s signature campus event of the semester: the Super Smash Bros. Tournament. Saturday evening, the 45 participants played six rounds to determine who was best in Super Smash Bros. for Wii U, the latest of Nintendo’s popular fighting game franchise. “We were really impressed with the turnout,” said senior Zach Wellman, president of Elon’s eSports Club. “It just shows how passionate of a Smash Bros. community we have here.” The ISA and the eSports Club partnered with SPARKS Peer Educators for the tournament to raise awareness of the dangers of drinking and driving. SPARKS provided funding for food and accommodations at the tournament. “Our main message here is to not drive under the influence, and this is a good way for people to pay attention to that,” Wellman said. “Plus, if you’re really drunk, you can’t play the game well, either. That wouldn’t be good for these guys.” Entrants displayed dedication through their play and their assistance with the event. Players provided every Wii U console, controller and copy of the game used in the tournament, according to ISA president Davis Rumley. One player even brought his own TV. “The crowd here wasn’t that stunning because the game is so popular,” Rumley said. “The Super Smash Bros. Tournament has been well-received every semester we’ve had it.” Rumley said another key factor in the number of participants was the organizations’ marketing strategy. “We used a lot of social media to advertise the event, especially Facebook,” he said. “Pure word of mouth on campus also got more students interested.” With matches being played simultaneously in several different rooms, event-goers played non-tournament matches whenever there was an opportunity. That quickly changed in the semifinals — all eyes were on the two massive projector screens in Duke 303. Elon’s first official Super Smash Bros. Tournament took place spring 2014. The fall tournament took the next step with a larger crowd and three editions of the game. This was the first tournament with the Wii U edition. Super Smash Bros. for Wii U has sold 3.39 million copies worldwide as of January. The game, along with its predecessors, has become a staple of college dorm rooms across America. “It’s how we build friendships,” said junior Tyler Lehmann. “Most of us here have been playing since the original, which came out in 1999. It’s the best fighting game out there.” College Super Smash Bros. tournaments are a frequent occurrence because of the series’ popularity. Nintendo had the Wii U edition “tour” college campuses in October and November of last year, pitting different universities against each other for bragging rights. Senior Tucker Jepsen took home the grand prize of $50, defeating sophomore Zach Johnson 3-1 in a best-of-five series. Jepsen took the first two games before Johnson made a late comeback in the third game and beat him with one life remaining. Jepsen won a fourth game as the unassuming Villager, a character that attacks with umbrellas, bowling balls and other random items. That was enough to prevail over Johnson’s Lucario from the Pokémon franchise. The Villager surprised the crowd by hitting Lucario with a batch of fireworks to launch him off the top of the screen, clinching the series for Jepsen. “It’s an honor to be named champion with so many great players here,” said Jepsen, who has played the game since he was in grade school. “I hope to have more matches with these guys and other students in the future.” Senior Takasuke Tsuji, who lost to Jepsen in the semifinals, topped freshman Grant Jones to nab the third-place prize: a $25 GameStop gift card. Jepsen, now king of Elon Smash Bros., gets to decide how he’ll spend his $50. “I’ll probably buy some more Amiibos,” he said, referring to the collectible figurines that can interact with the game. Any Smash Bros. player would approve.
Animal activism at Elon University now has an organized voice through the Elon Animal Protection Alliance, a segment of the volunteer-oriented S.H.A.R.E. program. It will begin its first official group meeting and other on-campus events in the coming weeks. While S.H.A.R.E. focuses specifically on animal interaction in Alamance County, the APA aims for a broader approach. “We’re trying to expand what S.H.A.R.E. does through advocacy and activism in a social aspect,” said junior APA organizer Clare Farrow. “We’re going to cover a wide variety of issues and work with all species, not just cats and dogs.” Planned events for members include field trips to The Conservator’s Center and the Piedmont Wildlife Refuge, along with circus protests and lobbying for anti-tethering legislation. The club is flexible in the issues it tackles. “We cover animal issues that club members feel passionate about,” Farrow said. “So while I’m particularly passionate about farm animals, I also want to tailor things to what the club wants as a whole.” The APA is also involved with campus outreach. At Tuesday’s College Coffee, the group gave $1 to every person that watches a four-minute video about farm animal treatment. On March 19, it will host a vegan potluck open to the public. Long-term goals include increasing vegetarian and vegan options in dining halls and dissection alternatives for students. The group will be hosting speakers from animal rights groups, including Andrea Gunn from The Humane League. According to APA member Marissa Costner, this kind of campus activity is necessary. “Other people need to understand how their actions affect animals,” she said. “I’m excited to get this conversation started here on this campus. I believe more people will get involved as they learn how easy it is to make a difference.” Costner, a sophomore, said she has been an active participant in animal rights cyber campaigns, but this organization allows her to get involved as a member of the Elon community. “This is a great place to start if you’re new to animal activism, but it’s also a great place for those with years of experience,” she said. “It’s a way to be a voice for animals.” Animals are not going to be the only beneficiaries, according to Farrow. Several leadership positions will be available, including an event planner and photographer. “There are plenty of opportunities here to gain real-life experiences that you can put on a resume,” she said. By filling a niche that Elon didn’t have before, the APA hopes its activism will have a lasting impact on campus. “People need to help animals in some way or form, and that may be as easy as signing a petition, or sharing a link on your Facebook,” Farrow said. “I’m looking forward to inspiring people to become activists.”
The circus came to North Carolina, but if a vocal group of animal-rights protesters had its way, the Ringling Bros. would have been sent packing before the big tent had a chance to rise. Protesters gathered near the Greensboro Coliseum Feb. 7 to raise awareness for Ringling’s reported mistreatment of its bread and butter: animals. “Ringling is doing things to animals that are unnatural,” said Martha Cecil, a protester and co-leader of Speak Out for Circus Animals. “You can’t train an elephant to stand on its head. You can’t train a tiger to jump through a flaming hoop by giving it a treat. That’s how the abuse starts. They have to break the will of the animals they get.” Protesters held up signs outside the coliseum depicting elephants tied up in ropes and the tools they say circus trainers use, such as bullhooks, chains and stun guns. Other signs bore sentiments such as “Let’s be a leader in animal welfare” and “Stop supporting slavery.” The Greensboro Coliseum hosted Ringling Bros. from last week until Sunday, during which eight protests took place on the corner of Patterson and High Point Road. Approximately 200 people have protested since Wednesday, Cecil estimated. “We’re reaching out to people and making them think,” said Colleen Smith, co-leader of Speak Out for Circus Animals. “If we get them curious, then they can find out for themselves what circuses do.” Ringling Bros. has been the focus of several protests since pictures of its employees using violent training methods on elephants and video footage of the use of dangerous animal-control tools before performances surfaced. At least 29 Ringling elephants, including four babies, have died since 1992. “Ringling transports these animals 50 out of 52 weeks a year in tiny cages and they use cruel training methods to get them to do tricks,” said protester Clare Farrow, a junior at Elon University. “Animals in circuses are taught from the beginning stages of their lives to fear humans, and force is used to keep them in line. It’s not healthy.” The U.S. Department of Agriculture fined Ringling Bros. $270,000 in late 2011 for Animal Welfare Act (AWA) violations that began in June 2007. The fine was the largest civil penalty ever assessed against an animal exhibitor. Stephen Payne, vice president of corporate communication for Ringling parent company Feld Entertainment, said the fine was paid so Ringling could start fresh. downplaying its importance. “We have an excellent team of trainers that takes great care of these animals 24 hours a day,” he said. “The claims PETA and other groups are making are absurd and insulting. Our trainers are in this business because they care about and love animals.” According to Payne, protesters at the North Carolina shows have had no impact on Ringling’s business, and its supporters are not bothered by the abuse findings. “We always say to people that they should come and see the circus for themselves,” he said. “Then they can have a better understanding of Ringling and how well we treat our animals.” In 2012, the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), along with other animal rights groups, paid a $15.75 million settlement to Feld Entertainment, the end of a 14-year legal battle over Ringling’s treatment of its elephants. A key witness in the case for the animal rights groups, a former Ringling employee, was deemed a paid plaintiff by U.S. District Judge Emmett G. Sullivan. “Ringling has always won when they’ve been sued because they are such a huge conglomerate,” Cecil said. “They can afford to cover it up and get people to still come to their shows.” Protesters also gathered near Ringling shows in Raleigh and Fayetteville this week, a narrative that has played out across the country. Activists in other cities have called on local governments to stop the circus from coming to town. Several U.S. cities, including Los Angeles, Chapel Hill and Stamford, Connecticut, have bans or restrictions on animals in circuses. More than 30 countries have done the same. Advances in communication technologies, the increasing popularity of non-animal circuses like Cirque du Soleil and the notoriety of documentaries such as “Blackfish” could be a factor in these bans. “It’s so easy to get behind these protests,” Farrow said. “There are many similar options for entertainment that don’t hurt animals, like Cirque du Soleil or animal documentaries. It’s something people can help raise awareness of without a lot of investment.” The future of animal circuses in Greensboro is cloudier. Farrow said North Carolina is not an animal-friendly state, but small steps like bullhook bans are likely to make a difference. “We’re going to follow the other cities and states’ examples that have banned circuses, like Asheville,” Cecil said, pointing out the recent animal circus ban at Asheville’s US Cellular Center. Cathy Justice, a community relations specialist for the city of Greensboro, said a few people have brought up the possibility of an animal circus ban at council meetings, but the city council has not yet seriously considered such measures. A ban may not help at all, as human interaction with animals has reached a point of no return, according to Dave Gammon, associate professor of biology at Elon. “Humans have messed with animal lives in so many ways that it’s almost pointless to preserve some idea of nature that doesn’t exist anymore,” said Gammon, who studies animal behavior. Gammon said there are some advantages to having circuses around, despite the clouds of controversy that tend to trail behind. “Circuses raise awareness and enthusiasm for animals, and they can inspire kids to care about them,” he said. “I think it’s debatable if it’s a worse standard of living for them as compared to the wild, where they face all sorts of threats.” Activists are keeping the debate alive. These protests may roll into the next generation, which is what Cecil and other activists are hoping for. “We mainly want to educate children about how no wild animal should be held captive in the circus,” she said. “One day we are going to pass the torch on to them.”
Tony Crider hopes one day the virtual environments he has worked on and played with his entire adult life will touch lives outside of the computer screen.
The Elon University women’s basketball team struggled to defend Vanderbilt University in the opening game of the Vanderbilt Thanksgiving Tournament on Friday, Nov. 29, and fell 88-66. The Commodores shot 11 of 21 from behind the arc and grabbed 21 offensive rebounds, compared to Elon’s 5 of16 from deep and just 10 offensive rebounds.
The NFL is a passing league, which puts a considerable amount of weight on the starting quarterback. When the franchise passer goes down, the backup quarterback becomes the most talked about player on the team, and usually doesn’t back up the attention the media gives him. We’ve seen the ghastly results of the 2010 Indianapolis Colts, the 2011 Chicago Bears, or even the Green Bay Packers of today without Aaron Rodgers. The worst feeling as a fan is to see your quarterback go down with injury. A large part of that is due to the lack of quality backups across the league.