Globetrotters at a young age
Few high school students move halfway across the world and start a new life in a foreign country, but this was reality for Elon University senior Ingrid Frahm.
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Few high school students move halfway across the world and start a new life in a foreign country, but this was reality for Elon University senior Ingrid Frahm.
Approximately 805 million people, or one in nine of the entire world’s population, were chronically undernourished from 2012-2014, according to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization.
With increasing numbers of digital resources right at individuals fingertips, new skills to process that amount of information must be developed. T. Mills Kelly, a history professor at George Mason University, broke this down in his presentation, “Digital Humanities and the End of Selective Ignorance” at Elon University in a recent talk. Kelly defined selective ignorance as the choice of what information to ignore. Humans are bombarded with this issue every day, particularly when too many things are oncoming at once and the information is dense. Selective ignorance is not a novel concept. In fact, Kelly said people in the humanities have been exercising selective ignorance for decades. Kelly cited card catalogues as a place where there is an abundance of information, but not all the information will be used. Because of the digitization of sources and objects, such as posters, there are approximately 75 million sources available to those conducting research. “What am I going to do with 75 million sources?” Kelly said. While Kelly could be selectively ignorant when he was in graduate school, prior to the digitization of sources, that is not an option for students anymore. “You can’t be selectively ignorant anymore,” Kelly said. “You are faced in a world where you can’t get away with that.” As a result, Kelly said on April 13 that students must learn new skills to sift through and appropriately digest the material they are confronted with throughout the research process. Metadata — data that describes other data — is critical in this learning process. “You’re going to have to start learning about metadata,” Kelly said. “We’re going to have to include learning about these kinds of topics.” Additionally, Kelly said students must develop their distant reading skills. “[Distant reading’s] looking at a huge pile of information and making sense of that,” Kelly said. “You need both skills, but right now, we don’t teach much of distant reading.” Additionally, Kelly said students need to be familiar with linked open data, a form of a database with open content, and be familiar with data visualizations. As an audience member clarified, the humanities can be enlivened by this digitization. “What you’re doing is showing us how the humanities can be enlivened by this digitization,” said a member of the audience. Overall, Kelly said this access to more information is beneficial for students. “I think the more information we have, the better,” Kelly said. “I don’t think there’s a negative to providing more information.” Even so, the downsides include sifting through information without developed metadata and distant reading skills. Amanda Sturgill, associate professor of communications, said that more skills than just interpreting texts are required now, because of the surge of information available. She said her main takeaway from Kelly was that the skills learned throughout college are applicable for the future. “I think you have to learn whole different kinds of skills now,” Sturgill said. “I think it is that you’re in school is going to be accessible to you for the rest of your life.”
More than 1,400 students — approximately 25 percent of Elon University’s student body — participated in the 12th annual Elonthon dance marathon, raising $180,068.58 for Duke Children’s Hospital and Health Center. “This number represents more than just a number. It represents hope, and it represents Elon, and it represents the kind culture that we’re trying to cultivate here of selflessness and philanthropy,” said Elonthon’s Executive Director Kaylyn Weller when the total was revealed. “I really think that this total right here is something to be proud of.” Fundraising for the event has gone on for several weeks, but significant strides were made the week of the event. Just three days before Elonthon, a campaign to raise $15,000 in one day was launched. In just 24 hours, the campaign, #15KinaDay, collected $30,176. “We were overcome by how much support we received that day, how much the kids received that day,” said Alaina Schukraft, marathon relations chair. Schukraft credited the support of the Elon community as the reason such an accomplishment was possible. Throughout the 24-hour marathon, dancers had the opportunity to hear stories of various children who had been positively impacted by Duke. Kennedy Goodwin was born with Goldenhar syndrome, a condition that affects the development of the ears, eyes and spine. “What brought her to Duke was wanting to be like all her friends and have two ears,” said her mother, Amy Goodwin. Cartilage from Kennedy Goodwin’s ribcage was used to construct another ear. She underwent this procedure twice, and both attempts failed after infections in the area destroyed the new ear cartilage. Kennedy Goodwin’s doctors decided to try a prosthetic implant that would be attached to the bone of her skull. After four months of waiting for the implant to heal, the prosthesis was attached and Kennedy Goodwin officially had a new ear. “What I can tell you about Duke is that they never let you leave without hope,” Amy Goodwin said. “They give you hope, they make sure that you keep the hope. And within time, they made sure that Kennedy got her ear.” Hayla Remines had another story to share. After undergoing several tests at Duke, Remines was diagnosed with kidney disease at 3. She received multiple treatments to keep her healthy, but the fact remains that kidney disease is incurable. “Eventually, I will have to have a transplant — but not today,” Remines said. Now 22, Remines has been a Duke patient for nearly 20 years. The hospital has been a huge part of her life and has proactively sought out new treatments to help. “Every time that I’ve gotten severely out of remission and I’ve regressed further in my condition, they’ve always been there,” Remines said. Because of her experiences at Duke, Remines is currently in nursing school so she, too, can make a positive impact on children’s lives. She hopes to help others in the same way she was helped and hopes to work at Duke someday. “I love the community and the team, the healthcare team that’s there at Duke, from the nurses who are absolutely amazing and there every step of the way, and the doctors who will come into your room every morning and check and talk,” she said. At Elonthon, 21 “miracle children” shared stories of their experiences with Duke Children’s Hospital, including current Elon student Tessa Kroninger and former student Leigha Martinelli. As one of the largest dance marathons in the United States, Elonthon makes a difference in these patients’ lives. Just before the total number of money raised was announced, dancers heard from Dr. Daniel Wechsler, a hermatology and oncology specialist who discussed how medicine at Duke is advancing. Wechsler said that, 30 or 40 years ago, many cancers seen in children had low recovery rates. But things are changing. “Since then we’ve made incredible progress, and currently about 75 or 80 percent of kids who are diagnosed with cancer are actually cured because of our treatments,” Wechsler said. Furthermore, certain cancers, such as leukemia, have even higher recovery rates. Wechsler congratulated Elon students on their participation and role in facilitating this success. “Elonthon goes above and beyond the call of duty, serving the patients of Duke,” Wechsler said. “It brings us closer to finding cures for all different kinds of diseases, and your support helps give kids the change to grow up and live a healthy life.” While things are improving and medicine is advancing, Elonthon participants are dedicated to actively supporting the patients at Duke Children’s Hospital. “We strive for a day when we don’t need a dance marathon, but until then, we’re going to fight with all we have for them,” Schukraft said.
In order to increase discussion about LGBTQIA Christians, the Truitt Center brought two religious leaders that identify as gay and lesbian to Elon University to lead an conversation, “Intersecting Identities: Faith, Gender and Sexuality.” Timothy Kane, associate director of inclusive initiatives and coordinator of the LGBTQIA Resource Center at George Washington University, and Rev. Jocelyn Cadwallader, interim associate minister at Western Presbyterian Church in Washington, D.C. visited Elon to highlight various journeys of LGBTQIA Christians and facilitate a dialogue so students of various beliefs feel more comfortable about entering these discussions. “No matter our group or no matter our theology, we all have students who are struggling with their sexuality,” said Joel Harter, associate chaplain for Protestant life at Elon. “I just want to provide our community with an opportunity to interact with people who are gay and Christian.” Jan Fuller, university chaplain, said it’s important to realize there are many facets of Christianity. Each person’s faith may manifest itself in different ways. “One thing that I like to keep saying… is there’s no right way to do this. There’s no one right way to be a Christian,” Fuller said. “You can be a Christian and be a gay or lesbian person.” The planning of the event began in November 2014, shortly after some of Elon’s religious leaders attended an interfaith and community service conference in October. At the conference, Kane and Cadwallader were panelists for a workshop focusing on LGBTQIA topics and multifaith work. Harter decided after the workshop that he wanted to bring Kane and Cadwallader to Elon. “They did a good presentation on what it’s like to have these intersecting identities,” Harter said. “I think that’s something we’re still learning how to talk about at Elon.” March 5, Kane and Cadwallader engaged in an open discussion about their personal experiences with their intersecting identities and how Elon’s core values can promote inclusivity of LGBTQIA Christians. Kane used the analogy of a rubber band ball to describe individuals’ identities. Some of the rubber bands are present on the exterior and are visible to others, but then other rubber bands are hidden on the interior. “There are all these identities that make me who I am on the inside that are not visible,” Kane said. “I think of my spiritual and religious identities on the inside of the ball.” Kane said the same was true for his sexual orientation. “It’s very interesting to think about the identities we bring, the minority and majority ones,” Kane said. Cadwallader thinks about identity by accepting a progressive approach to the Bible. To her, the Bible should be read by looking at the big picture, rather than in individual segments. “The Bible, depending on traditions, can be wielded as a weapon or a sacred text,” Cadwallader said. To illustrate her point, Cadwallader referenced the book “To Kill a Mockingbird.” Now, if she had just read the two sentences out of the book describing the mob that attempts to kill Tom Robinson, she would have thought the purpose of the book was different from actuality. “I would think that the book has an entirely different meaning because then I would think that the book was holding up white supremacy,” Cadwallader said. This is her approach to looking at Scripture, too. She noted that verses from Leviticus should be put into context in relation to the rest of the Bible. “That, for me, is how I need to go back and realize that I’m reading this particular piece of Scripture as a part of a whole,” she said. Different views about accepting LGBTQIA Christians were also addressed. Cadwallader shared how her partner comes from a traditional background. Her partner’s family strives to be accepting and to not discriminate while also holding onto some “level of theology.” According to Cadwallader, it is not possible for the two to coexist. “It’s difficult to hang on to a theology that upholds exclusion of some of God’s children and say that you love all of God’s children,” Cadwallader said. Toward the end of the event, Fuller said Christians have many sexual orientations and there is support in the Truitt Center for those who identify as LGBTQIA. “We aim to help all of us understand our spiritual commitments, and as they relate to other commitments and identities,” Fuller said. “Can Christians also be gay, lesbian, bi, or queer? Yes.”
A five-year engineering program at Elon University is in the works. The new program will allow students to stay at Elon for the entirety of their engineering degree, rather than transfer after three years, which is how the program works now. Elon’s engineering department currently operates under a dual-degree program: students complete three years of their degree at Elon and two years at a partner institution. But not for much longer. Sirena Hargrove-Leak, assistant professor of engineering, has been with Elon since 2004. She has witnessed the maturation of the dual-degree engineering program, which began in 1999. Because of her background with the engineering program, Hargrove-Leak has been especially involved in the formation of the five-year engineering program at Elon. She summarized the five-year program as a “continuation” of the dual degree program — except that the entirety of the program would be completed at Elon. “We think that it offers students more options for their engineering studies,” she said. Elon originally based the dual-degree program off a model from Jacksonville University in Florida. Elon’s administration saw that its engineering program was successful and recognized it attracted strong math and science students. “Seeing that success, the administration here at Elon thought it would be a great addition to the program here,” Hargrove-Leak said. While the dual-degree program has seen growth since its inception, the decision to incorporate the five-year engineering program at Elon was ultimately based off feedback from current engineering students. Hargrove-Leak said an overwhelming number of responses from a survey indicated most engineering students would prefer to continue their education at Elon. “That’s the hardest thing — having to leave after only three years, the way our program is currently structured,” Hargrove-Leak said. At the moment, it hasn’t been determined when the five-year engineering program will go into effect. New facilities need to be built to accommodate the extensive engineering labs required for the five-year program. Additionally, Elon will need to complete an accreditation process. Hargrove-Leak noted that once that process begins, the department will be able to determine a timeline for the expansion of the program. Elon will also need to hire more faculty members to accommodate the new curriculum. “Clearly, we have a lot of work to do, and it requires resources,” Hargrove-Leak said. A new engineering faculty member that specializes in biomedical engineering has already been hired and will begin teaching in fall 2015. Scott Wolter, associate professor of engineering, has also been contributing to the five-year program. He participated in a committee last year to determine the future of the engineering program at Elon. “We evaluated several peer and aspirant engineering programs around the country and considered the types of degree offerings which would best fit our strengths at Elon,” Wolter said. “Subsequently, we proposed biomedical, environmental, computer and general engineering degrees as those that we felt would best fit our strengths and capabilities at Elon and our student’s interests.” With the five-year program, degrees in biomedical, computer and environmental engineering would be available to Elon students. Currently, the dual-degree program offers six concentrations, including these three areas of study. If future students would like to pursue the other areas of engineering currently offered as concentrations, including engineering physics, engineering mathematics and chemical engineering, then they would continue on the current dual-degree track. Options for students who would like to complete the five-year program in four years will be available to students, and the dual-degree program will continue to be a possibility. The goal is to provide students with more options and flexibility as they earn their engineering degree. “My sense is that as the engineering program continues to grow, our engineering students will have opportunities to positively impact our world,” Wolter said. “I believe there are additional opportunities to interact with the school of business and entrepreneurship program at Elon as the engineering faculty develop their research programs.” Hargrove-Leak is looking forward to the benefits for students, such as internship opportunities that may present themselves as a result of the new program. “I am always student-centered, so I’m just excited about the possibilities that this change holds for our students,” Hargrove-Leak said.
Over the past several months, one name has been making headlines all across the world: The Islamic State of Iraq and Syria. Oubab Khalil, chief of staff for the National Coalition of Syrian Revolution and Opposition Forces’ Representative Office, and Bassel Korkor, U.S. counsel to the Syrian’s Coalition’s Washington and United Nation’s offices, both visited Elon Feb. 25 to speak about the impact of ISIS in Syria and solutions for the future in McKinnon Hall. Last week, they both attended the Summit on Countering Violent Extremism in Washington, D.C. where more than 60 countries were in attendance and efforts were made to eliminate extremist forces like ISIS. At the summit, President Barack Obama addressed the teamwork between countries needed to move forward to combat the escalating tension. “And when all of us, together, are doing our part to reject the narratives of violent extremists, when all of us are doing our part to be very clear about the fact that there are certain universal precepts and values that need to be respected in this interconnected world, that’s the beginnings of a partnership,” Obama said. Korkor and Kahlil agreed that multiple tracks are available, including using social media efforts to counter the current narrative of how ISIS is portrayed in the United States. Additionally, military efforts are being evaluated and at the moment, there is a plan percolating for the U.S. to train and equip forces in Syria. “The goal of this army is not fighting,” Korkor said. “The goal of any kind of army should be peacemaking.” But military efforts are only one part of the equation to combatting ISIS, according to Korkor and Kahlil. More importantly, a political transition within Syria needs to take place before any lasting progress can occur. “We believe that, ultimately, you need that political transition to effectively defeat and destroy ISIS,” Korkor said. “For us, transitioning the government in Syria is a key part.” But this political transition will be difficult to accomplish, considering the demographic composition of Syria and its treatment of minority groups, especially women, Korkor noted. “Right now, the opposition needs to look at its inclusivity,” Khalil said. “The process of reaching out to those groups as a part of the opposition will naturally involve some policy development. That’s good.” Senior Nicole Molinaro, a political science and international studies major and president of Model United Nations, also agreed that the diversity of Syria could pose challenges in establishing peace. “The ethnic and religious diversity in the country is going to make the conflict almost impossible to solve,” Molinaro said. “I don’t see a solution in the near future, but I like to think that people can’t be at war forever.” Matters in Syria to combat ISIS are complicated because of the internal unrest that had previously existed prior to ISIS’s uprising. The opposition forces in Syria may need to work with President Bashar al-Assad’s regime. But stability is currently lacking in this arrangement for effective measures to actually function. “One of the main concepts of the opposition’s transition…is the idea of reintegration of rebel forces with the Syrian Army,” Korkor said. “What it needs is some structure.” Korkor and Kahlil elaborated on these efforts because contrary to what some may think, immediate solutions will not destroy ISIS. They also said the people who typically join ISIS are not poor — they have resources and are relatively well off. As a result, those interested in joining ISIS often possess a “gangster mentality” and are trying to find power and a place in society. This is an intriguing arrangement to many and has and has generated members from all over the world. Approximately 5,800 Europeans and 100 Americans have joined ISIS’s forces. To many Americans, the fact that other Americans are joining forces with ISIS is frightening. “I think that ISIS in a lot of ways is the scariest terror organization that we’ve seen in a while,” Molinaro said. Korkor and Kahlil are certain that the terrorist organization needs to be abolished. “This is a group that has demonstrated who they are and [that] they need to be destroyed,” Korkor said. “ISIS is neither Islamic nor a state.”
Elon University is working with Campus Kitchens across the country to “Raise the Dough,” a weeklong national competition to raise money for educational efforts and food contributions. Elon’s chapter’s goal is to raise $1,800 by Feb. 27 to implement solutions for food insecurity in Alamance County. Forty-two other Campus Kitchens in the nation are participating in the competition. The top three Campus Kitchen chapters that raise the most funds will win a cash prize that will help to continue impacting their community. Feeding America estimates 1-in-5 people in North Carolina struggle with hunger. Abbey Riesett, program coordinator for Elon’s Campus Kitchen, said the organization decided to enter the competition primarily so it could expand education efforts regarding nutrition to residents of Alamance County. Campus Kitchen is accomplishing those educational objectives by providing weekly nutritional handouts to the John Robert Kernodle Senior Center and the Graham recreation Center. This is done through the nutritional services program provided to senior citizens of Alamance County through the Alamance County Community Services Agency. “Our goal is to be able to bring fresh produce to the seniors when we make our presentations so they have food to take home with them,” Riesett said. “We are also beginning to develop nutritional handouts and presentations for Allied Churches of Alamance County.” The organization has encountered challenges regarding the competition, mostly because not everyone at Elon is familiar with it yet. “A lot of people on Elon’s campus have never heard of Campus Kitchen or do not realize how big of an impact we have in Alamance County,” Riesett said. Even so, Elon’s Campus Kitchen is deeply involved in the community. The organization, composed of 15 student leaders and approximately 180 volunteers, makes and delivers 1,000 meals to residents of Alamance County each month. During the 2013-2014 academic year, the Campus Kitchen collected 11,151 pounds of food from Aramark and additional donations from students, faculty and staff. The organization went on to collect 2,344 pounds of food from fraternities and sororities during Greek Week in 2014. That food was distributed to Allied Churches’ food pantry. Riesett said that the Campus Kitchen at Elon has the capacity to become more effective in the community with the “Raise the Dough” competition because of the potential influx of donations. Likewise, the competition helps other chapters learn new strategies to grow more influential in their individual geographic region. “It is interesting because every Campus Kitchen is unique even though we all have the same mission and operate under a similar model,” Riesett said. “We all have to be unique because we all serve different communities, and those communities have different needs and resources.” One of the resources unique to Elon’s Campus Kitchen is Loy Farm, which the university bought in 2000 to use for humanities, social science and natural science courses. Elon’s Campus Kitchen has been increasing the level of fresh produce in its meal packages thanks to its established relationship with members of Loy Farm. The partnership also serves another purpose. Campus Kitchen is an educational resource, not just a nutritional one, for the Alamance County community. With the produce from Loy Farm, community members know the nutritional value of the food they are consuming from the farm. Melanie Seidman, president of Elon’s Campus Kitchen, said the competition could allow the organization to develop stronger ties with Loy Farm. In addition, the company could inform members of the community and provide the best quality of foods to the county. “The increased education will hopefully help the community members to begin to be able to make their own food and make smart choices about what they’re cooking,” Seidman said. “The extra money could go to helping out the farm or to higher quality ingredients to use in our cooking shifts.”
This semester, Elon’s Hillel chapter experienced a leadership transition when the director stepped down. Ginny Vellani has been named the new director of Elon University’s Hillel chapter. Before accepting the position, Vellani had previously been involved with the Jewish community on Elon’s campus. Rebecca Joseph, former Hillel director, assumed her position summer 2014 to replace Nancy Luberoff. Luberoff had been director of Hillel since 2008 and was influential in building Hillel’s presence on campus. Junior Rachel Garrity, the current president of Hillel, said one of the primary reasons Luberoff resigned was because she felt her strength was in establishing organizations. “Once Hillel was flourishing, she decided to hand the reins over to someone else,” Garrity said. Joseph, an ordained rabbi, took over after Luberoff left. But, the position was not an ideal match. “It was not a good fit either way — both for Becky and for students,” Garrity said. “She went on personal leave over Winter Term, and it was announced that she was stepping down at the end of Winter Term or beginning of spring semester.” “She has worked very closely with the Jewish students and the Truitt Center and religious life,” Garrity said. “She has been very involved in Jewish life, and I think she was kind of the obvious choice when Becky stepped down.” This transition of leadership extends beyond just those involved with Hillel. The Jewish community on Elon’s campus is very interconnected, and the few Jewish organizations often share many of the same members. Sophomore Elena Goldman, one of Hillel’s engagement interns who helps integrate freshman Jewish students to Jewish life on campus, explained that Vellani will be working with the Jewish community as a whole, not just Hillel. “The Jewish community on campus has always been extremely connected, and that will not change this semester,” Goldman said. “There are student leaders for each individual organization, but we all work together as a whole and with Ginny to support each other.” These organizations include leaders of the Jewish fraternity, Zeta Beta Tau, Call for Hunger and the Israel Dialogue and Education Advocacy. The transition has impacted each of these organizations in some capacity. “There’s just the baseline that we’re all Jewish-based organizations,” Garrity said. “We do a lot of co-sponsorship and programming and events together. It has really affected all the Jewish entities on campus.” Students leaders in the Jewish community are looking forward to Vellani’s role in Hillel. “I think Ginny will do an excellent job as the director of Hillel. She knows the majority of the students and is eager to get to know as many people as possible,” Goldman said. “She also had a lot of experience with our Hillel and really wants to do whatever she can to make her students happy.”
The recent economic recession has dramatically impacted several industries. While the economy is growing in the midst of recovery, the memory of financial difficulty has left its stain on individuals, families and businesses. One area was hit particularly hard by the 2008 recession—the arts. James S. Russell, adjunct professor at the Bernard and Anne Spitzer School of Architecture at the City College of New York, wrote in the New York Times last November that investment in the arts is on the rise again, particularly among college campuses. “Elite campuses across the country have emerged from the recession riding a multibillion-dollar wave of architecturally ambitious arts facilities, even as community arts programs struggle against public indifference,” Russell wrote. Elon University is no exception. In the past several years, Elon’s campus has made significant strides in promoting the arts, especially when it comes to accommodating students by providing proper facility space. Michael Fels, associate professor of art, explained one of the most effective changes for immersing students in art has been the construction of Gallery 406 in Arts West. Gallery 406, which opened in September 2013, was previously an ordinary hallway in the Arts West building. Now, it is a space used for community events. When students walk in, they see the various works of art on the wall. Fels said this sparks intellectual conversation about art. “Students are in here talking,” he said. “It’s been a great community. It’s changed the culture of what we do.” The gallery was a gift from Barbara Rhoades, an adjunct assistant professor of fine arts, given in honor of her great-aunt, Katharine Nash Rhoades, and her father, John Harsen Rhoades. The conversion of the hallway to a gallery doubled the space. This past Monday, the space was used to host printmaker Lisa Bulawsky, an associate professor of art in the Sam Fox School of Design & Visual Arts. It highlighted some of Bulawsky’s mixed media work, and she spoke to audiences about her growth, development and history as an artist. But Gallery 406 is not the most recent update for the arts at Elon. Scott Studios, a building next to Arts West and intended for the performing arts program, opened in September 2014. Fred Rubeck, chair of the performing arts department, described the two sister buildings as an “arts corner” in a September 2014 interview with the Pendulum. Scott Studios includes six practice spaces to accommodate piano and voice students, while also providing a rehearsal space with equivalent dimensions to McCrary Theatre. “It gives them an appropriate set of spaces,” Rubeck told the Pendulum after Scott Studios first opened in September 2014. “It will allow us to do different kinds of shows than we would have in the smaller studio.” While the economy did not impact the arts at Elon as drastically as other college campuses, it did limit which artists were brought to campus. “It had a definite impact on our access to artists,” Fels said. Because many artists were struggling financially, those from the West Coast and farther did not want to spend money traveling to Elon. However, Elon has recently scheduled artists from New York, California and Washington to visit campus. “That geographic circle is widening,” Fels said.
Phil Kaye, the only two-time recipient of the National College Poetry Slam award, opened his performance in Whitley Auditorium Thursday evening by explaining how he began to write his poem, “Surplus.” The Liberal Arts Forum at Elon University brought the award-winning poet to campus for a spoken word performance as the first event of the spring semester. “I am not a strong boy, but I am trying to learn what it means to build,” Kaye said. He then introduced himself to the audience. “I’m going to tell you some stories — some bad jokes. All I want you to do is sit back and relax,” Kaye said. Kaye did not hold back on the expletives. He often assumed a specific character throughout the performance, whether that was himself or the Geico gecko. But not all his poetry was light and humorous — he addressed serious issues, too. In one poem, “Repetition,” he addressed some of the challenges he encountered during his parents’ divorce. He spoke about how his mother taught him to repeat something enough times and, eventually, the words or phrase would lose their meaning. He said the same is true in life. “They whispered to each other ‘I love you’ so many times over that they forgot what it meant,” Kaye said. Kaye also took questions from the audience. “Those poems are really deep, and I was like, ‘What?’” said one student in the midst of asking a question. Kaye laughed and said he wished he could put the quote on his website. He also addressed his relationship with poetry and explained why he found it to be a rewarding career. “It’s a humbling art form,” Kaye said. “There’s always more work to be done. There’s always farther to push yourself.” Jessica Bilecki, education and outreach coordinator at the Office of Sustainability, said she loved the performance. She noted that many small aspects of Kaye’s poems resonated with her. “I think there were a lot of little parts,” Bilecki said. “That’s sort of how my brain works. It won’t remember specific words, but I remember feelings.” Freshman Jackie Pascale said the performance was relevant for college students. “I thought he was really relatable,” Pascale said. “I thought he got on our level.” Earlier in the performance, Kaye mentioned that he often performs for younger elementary students. But, freshman Olivia Hays noted the content of this performance was more appropriate for older audiences. “It seemed like he had been waiting to perform these poems for college students,” Hays said. “I think this was kind of a chance for him to take advantage of it.” Hays also acknowledged Kaye’s animated performance and his ability to draw on personal experiences, while also adapting to the various moods of the poems. “I think his facial expressions — the way he talked about his grandpa — [were] different than the way he spoke about his daily writing,” Hays said. “It was nice that he shared that with us.”
An increasing student body and recent plans for the construction of multiple buildings in the last few years all point to Elon University’s growth, evidence Elon is attempting to become a more diverse campus nationally, internationally and culturally.
For many Elon University students, maintaining a job is an integral part of the college experience. Students face a wide variety of choices, ranging from on-campus employment opportunities to employment outside of campus. Students at Elon have options — it’s ultimately what works best for them, given their interests and schedules. In August 2011, Elon established the starting minimum wage as $9.00 per hour. One of the primary objectives of the policy was to attract students to seek employment on campus rather than off. Tom Brinkley, executive director of corporate and employer relations at Elon, believes the higher minimum wage rate contributes to the competitive nature of on-campus jobs, which are often filled soon after being posted to the Elon Job Network. “I think the wage rate is very appealing to students,” Brinkley said. “The jobs off campus… are not going to pay that rate, so students are more inclined to seek these jobs if they are looking for employment.” Typically, students interested in on-campus employment submit a resume and a cover letter and then complete an interview, a practice intended to mimic the job application process after graduation and prepare students for their careers. “It is a competitive process, so [when] they are interviewing for jobs, they are required to have a resume,” Brinkley said. “It’s just like having a job outside. They are employed and evaluated and subject to expectations.” As a result, students with on-campus jobs are constantly honing their professional skills. Brinkley said students’ professional growth is facilitated faster when they are employed during college. According to him, on-campus employment complements student development. Nancy Carpenter, Elon’s on-campus student employment coordinator, agreed. She noted students who have a job listed on their resume are more attractive candidates for internships and jobs after graduation. She believes the training and structure students receive from on-campus jobs is significant and contributes to the professionalism of on-campus jobs. “There have been surveys that indicate that employers are attracted to students who have had an on-campus job,” Carpenter said. “I think we have a structure here that may or may not be present off campus.” Sophomore Jordan Lockhart recently accepted a job as a student office assistant in the School of Communications. Because she doesn’t have a car at school, an on-campus job was a must. As a Communications Fellow, she was interested in a job to boost her resume. Additionally, she recognized the networking possibilities of placing herself in an environment where she could connect with others. “It’s a more professional level of responsibility,” Lockhart said. “Everyone comes through the school at some point.” Students who have off-campus jobs also recognize the benefits their employment opportunities have provided. Sophomore Sarah Reynolds has worked consistently for six months at Amber’s House of Dance as a tap and ballet teacher. Reynolds said her job has certainly helped her time management skills. She also said she was attracted to her job because it allowed her to continue a passion of hers from high school, an opportunity that was not available on-campus. Reynolds also appreciates working with people off-campus. She said interacting with her students and their parents is “comforting,” and she appreciates the support she receives from them. “Having that outside family is something that not a lot of people get to experience,” Reynolds said. Senior Caleigh Erickson, who has worked at LOFT in Alamance Crossing for about three years, has a similar perspective. She said she enjoys entering the “real world” each week. “It’s nice to be with people who aren’t students and come from different walks of life,” Erickson said. “Some of the types of people I work with I may have never met through any activity at Elon, so it’s really broadened my perspective and given me a glimpse into other lifestyles.” Erickson also works on-campus as a French tutor, so she has control over her hours. Her job at LOFT and her job as a tutor have allowed her to prioritize academics while simultaneously earning an income. Overall, students who are employed on and off campus are challenged to accommodate both their academic and professional obligations. “It is smart to put school first if you can and look for a job that accommodates your academic goals. My work schedule is very flexible and allows me to put school first,” Erickson said. “It is nice to have a job that I enjoy and that lets me be a full-time student first, because that’s why I’m here in the first place.”
When the Council on Civic Engagement at Elon University and the Burlington Times-News co-sponsored the program “Alamance 2030: What will our Community Be Like in 15 Years” Wednesday evening in McKinnon Hall, a consensus was made: The future of Alamance County is dependent upon creating pleasant communities for young professionals and families, while also improving the infrastructure of the region.
This Winter Term, Elon University rolled out a new diversity training session with good intentions, but was met with mixed reviews and more than a little confusion. At first, the university said freshmen had to attend at least one mandatory session. The thought brought out some grumbles from students — each workshop is four hours long. Although some informative emails said attending the session was required, others implied a strongly-encouraged type of attendance. Currently, the Elon website states that all freshmen are “expected” to attend. The national program, called “A Campus of Difference,” was brought to Elon by the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), in order to increase understanding of racial and cultural issues. Though the university has made strides toward increasing campus diversity each year, the statistics are still stark: 82 percent white, 6 percent black, 5 percent Hispanic and 2 percent Asian. Compared to other private universities in North Carolina like Wake Forest University and Davidson College, Elon has a slightly less diverse student population. Steven House, provost and vice president for academic affairs, said holding these seminars is a part of Elon’s “new strategic plan” and demonstrates the university’s commitment to improving diversity on campus. “We really want to expose the students to diversity,” House said. “We wanted a lot of first-year students to do it [because] we think it’s important.” House clarified that the sessions are currently not mandatory and faculty and staff members are still deciding whether it will become a requirement in the future. Freshman Jessie Boak said that she felt the campus was aware of the lack of diversity and was working to develop the cultural atmosphere. “I don’t think Elon is very diverse, but I think they’re trying very hard to change that and inform us more about diversity,” Boak said. Freshman Brooke Wivagg, who was under the impression the training was required, recently attended one of the sessions led by Elon staff, Esther Freeman, director for Watson and Odyssey Scholars program, and Randy Williams, dean of multicultural affairs. Wivagg said the training focused on eliminating stereotypes and developing a heightened sense of self-efficacy. “We defined words relating to prejudice and discrimination and how they are used,” Wivagg said. The interactive sessions require students to discuss issues and hot topics surrounding college campuses. Wivagg described one activity where students chose several words that defined themselves, and then selected the term that they identified with most. Other activities in the sessions were largely focused on defining words that related to stereotypes and prejudices and how they impact society. Because of the discussion-based format, one of Wivagg’s favorite parts of the training was that she met a lot of new people. “While I personally didn’t learn anything that I didn’t already know, I think it is great that Elon is trying to be more diverse,” Wivagg said. After Winter Term, the training sessions will be evaluated based on effectiveness and necessary adjustments will be made. In the spring, students who are part of a residence hall or club can make requests for training seminars. “[The seminars] will be offered whenever students want to do them,” House said. “We have lots of faculty and staff who have been trained to do it.” Currently, 41 faculty and staff members are qualified to administer the training sessions, including MarQuita Barker, associate director of residence life. She believes the training assists students to be more aware of themselves and others. “Hopefully students will figure out who they are, so they can appreciate others,” Barker said. Barker said that Leigh-Anne Royster, director of inclusive community well-being, has been working for three years to bring the ADL training sessions to Elon’s campus. Royster has been the primary facilitator of this initiative on campus and continues to be the leading coordinator of the training. Founded in 1913 to combat anti-Semitism, the ADL is a national leader in advocating civil rights and preserving democratic ideals. “A Campus of Difference” training sessions have been held on more than 900 college campuses and each university has the option to customize the sessions according to the university’s individual needs. Instead of training sessions, some students propose that establishing a more diverse student body would naturally facilitate a greater sense of diversity and awareness. Rather than just talking about diversity, first-year student Haley Hostetter said implementing diversity would produce the most effective results. “I feel like having actual diversity would be better than actually learning about it,” Hostetter said. Although the current training sessions provided by Elon could be revamped to include better information, Wivagg said she still benefitted from attending. “I would recommend it to other students because it’s nice to have a refresher on things we can do to make the Elon community more diverse,” Wivagg said. “Not going to lie, I thought that four hours was a little too long, but nonetheless, I walked out of the room feeling proud to go to a school that was making such great strides in educating their students on diversity.”
Robert Jensen, professor at the University of Texas and author of “The Heart of Whiteness: Confronting Race, Racism and White Privilege,” visited Elon University Monday to lead “Addressing Institutionalized Racism.” The on-campus workshop in Alamance Building was part of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Beloved Community Celebration — a weeklong commemoration of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s life. Jensen, a self-proclaimed radical feminist and controversial advocate for disempowered groups, argued the United States is a hierarchical society, a white supremacy and a patriarchy fundamentally hindered by capitalism. “If you look at the redistribution of wealth, it’s still a largely white supremacist society,” Jensen said. “It seems like we’re not as committed to equality as we thought.” While Jensen acknowledged that many Americans embrace polite conversations about diversity, he claimed they avoid difficult questions related to racial inequality, which makes significant cultural changes more challenging to create. He said he believes while many white Americans would never publicly state racist views, they often engage in “backstage” racism among trusted company. He listed three primary forms of racial discrimination: institutionalized, overt and unconscious. Although Jensen recognized progress toward racial equality and greater professional opportunities since the Civil Rights Movement, he argued racism is instilled in American society at an institutional level. The cornerstone of Jensen’s argument lies in the United States’ public school system. “Even though overt racism is illegal… it’s still true that this is a society of segregated housing,” Jensen said. “Non-white America isn’t doing as well as white America.” Looking at the way public education is funded, Jensen found a disparity between white and black students’ educations. Since public schools are funded by local property taxes, wealthier areas have more funding for public schools. What’s the solution? Many students attending the event agreed with Jensen: a fair alternative would be to combine all property taxes from each state and then distribute the funding evenly among its districts. Other students found this idea unfeasible. They argued that such an approach doesn’t follow the U.S. capitalist model. Students of many races and ethnicities engaged in the active discussion on racism. “It helps to hear what people of the opposite race have to say, because it helps advance the discussion,” said freshman Alonzo Cee. Jensen’s academic credentials as a tenured professor helped reinforce ideas some students had previously considered. “It confirmed some of the things I have been thinking,” said junior Alex Bohannon. “It, overall, was a really good learning experience for me.” Cee said he benefitted from the discussion and left the lecture feeling encouraged that people participated. “A lot of good points were brought up that will have to be discussed — not just in a small group setting, but with peers,” Cee said. “[Student participation] reassures me that people actually care.”
The Shirley Tempos, Elon University’s newest a cappella group, will perform their first fall concert Nov. 23 in Whitley Auditorium at 6 p.m. The all-female ensemble has been an official group since fall 2013 and held auditions in both spring and fall 2014. The group, founded by current president junior Lexi Paul and senior Josie Sornson, began the process of becoming an organization last fall. Initially, the Office of Student Activities was unsure whether another a cappella group on campus was feasible. Paul advocated that another a cappella group would be beneficial. She said that an all-female group would benefit the campus primarily because there were so many women interested in a cappella. After completing the process of submitting bylaws and other requirements for official organizations, the group performed for the first time in the spring at Acapalooza, an a cappella concert held every year in Whitley Auditorium. The group will be performing seven songs in their fall concert, which they have been working on since September. The group voted on all of the songs before selecting them. Paul and the musical director, first-year Katie Shannon, are looking forward to showing off the talent and musical accomplishments of the Shirley Tempos. Both are particularly impressed with the development of the group in just three short months. “Seven songs in three months is a huge achievement, especially for a new group,” Shannon said. “It’s been a huge challenge, and that required all of the girls to practice for many hours outside of our regular rehearsals using tracks online.” As a new group, Paul and Shannon said one of the struggles they faced is producing a sound that is “blended.” This is a common issue for groups, especially those that are new and still adjusting to the various voices of the group. “For some members, this is the first time they have ever been in an a cappella group, and adjusting to singing without a piano is also sometimes challenging for people,” Paul said. “It can be hard to not go flat or sharp or get off beat.” Shannon recently had a special moment as she was leading the group. During a rehearsal, the group decided to rehearse in the hallway because of the better acoustics. While conducting, Shannon stopped and just listened. She said she got goosebumps because the group had come together as one voice. “I teared up and just listened,” Shannon said. “That was one of the best musical experiences I’ve ever had. I will remember that for the rest of my life.” Sornson said the Shirley Tempos have received significant support from other organizations on campus. “The opportunities they have provided us with have really helped us to learn and grow through experience and really get our name out there to become more well-known on campus,” Sornson said. She expressed how grateful she is to be a founding member and said she looks forward to watching the Shirley Tempos evolve over time. “It’s really cool to know that I was a part of starting something that will last on this campus many years after I graduate,” she said. The amount of time spent in rehearsals together contributes to the close relationships the singers have formed. The women are comfortable with each other and engage in dialogue surrounding musical preferences for their pieces. Shannon described the bond of Shirley Tempos members and commented that each member is fully committed to the organization. “I love this group of girls so much,” Shannon said. “They are all leaders in a different way and I’m so lucky to be spending six hours a week doing something I love with people I love and trust.” Sornson agreed. She said she hopes the audience sees the passion of the Shirley Tempos and understands the work invested in the performance. “The most rewarding part has been seeing all our hard work pay off and being able to bring these girls together to share our passion in one sound, “ Sornson said. “I’m truly blown away by the amount of talent on this campus.”
Elon University’s first-year acting majors will perform in a special showcase at 2 and 4 p.m. Nov. 16 to highlight their talent in various pieces. The performance will be held in Yeager Recital Hall in the Center for the Arts.
Dancing in the Black Box will highlight nine pieces of student, faculty and guest choreography starting Thursday. The performance is primarily composed of contemporary and contemporary ballet works.
Political thriller "Scandal" aired a dramatic episode revealing the deep, dark motives of some of the characters. Olivia Pope, fearless “gladiator,” and others are challenged by the events that transpired in this episode on Oct. 23.