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Correction: The original article referred to a student with the last name “Davis.” This was a pseudonym — no student with the name “Davis” was interviewed for this article. All references of the student have been changed to “the female student” or a variation thereof to prevent confusion. The Pendulum regrets the error.
After graduation, some students start their careers. Some take a year off to travel, and others move back home. But senior Emma Kwiatkowski isn’t doing any of these things. Instead, she is going to ride a bike.
“Purpose, not paycheck,” drove Paul Castro to leave his life as a screenwriter in California to teach in Elon University’s cinema program. It also inspires the associate professor of communications to take the time to walk around campus with each student enrolled in his courses every semester. Although they’re not a job requirement, Castro said these walks give students space to express their worries and fears, as well as their aspirations. Before he wrote acclaimed films such as “August Rush,” Castro volunteered part-time at a suicide prevention call center. This taught him the value to have someone to talk to in the midst of what he calls “the scar tissue of life.” For him, being a successful professor is understanding students outside the classroom. “The first job as an educator is protection,” he said. “Literally, because we have a dangerous world out there, but specifically with creativity. When you’re creative, you’re really vulnerable. It’s important to create a safe environment for them to think, ‘I can fail, I can be unimpressive and I don’t have to be brilliant the first time every time — or I can be. It doesn’t matter.’” Castro said students often reveal things about themselves on these walks that they would never have discussed otherwise. Students aren’t forced to go on these walks, but Castro expects to walk with 60 students from the three screenwriting classes he is teaching this semester. Junior cinema major Kayla Hammer appreciates Castro’s unusual practice. “When I first found out he did the walks, I was really grateful to have a professor that genuinely wanted to take the time out of his day to get to know his students better,” she said. Castro doesn’t only learn from his students — he learns just as much from his 5-year-old daughter. “My daughter is so fascinating,” Castro said. “I learn so much from her. It reminds me to continually be curious about things, because when she discovers things for the first time, it’s just awesome. She has a joy for life.” Castro attributes this joy to her youth and innocence and he says she learned it from him, as he approaches the toughest situations well. “In life, you have to be like water,” he said. “You have to be malleable — you have to be able to adjust to things, or else you’re not going to exist. You’re going to get all these things thrown at you with two reactions: ‘Oh, my god, this is horrible’ or ‘This is awesome.’ And when you start to look at everything as awesome, even these little owies, then they become awesome.” Castro explains this ideology to students on his walks. He believes cinema and screenwriting are about more than just being famous — they are about contributing to the world. “It’s a great gift and a great responsibility,” Castro said. “When you’re aligned with your spirit and you tell a story, then God’s working through you — whatever that means to you. And it’s out of your hands then. You give that gift to another person.” The powerful words Castro shares with students on their walks have lasting impacts that stay with them as they continue their journeys at Elon and beyond. During his stroll with Hammer earlier this semester, Castro offered advice that has stayed with her. “He said something I’ll never forget: ‘Kayla, you’ve got to start claiming your life,’” Hammer said. “That phrase has stuck with me since the walk, and it reminds me to do whatever’s best for me and my future and to stay grounded in my morals and who I truly am.”
A line of Elon University faculty, staff, students and community members coiled through the Center for the Arts lobby. As they waited for the box office’s two windows to open, they were unaware that most of them wouldn’t receive tickets to Elon’s 2015 Spring Convocation. At 12:30 p.m. Thursday, March 12, tickets to Spring Convocation became available at the box office. They were sold out within 30 minutes. “They sold out faster than anything else,” said Joan Dawson, program assistant for cultural programs. One man caused this overwhelming demand for tickets: astrophysicist, author, TV personality and general science superstar Neil deGrasse Tyson. Tyson will visit Elon Thursday and serve as the keynote speaker for this year’s Spring Convocation: “The Sky is Not the Limit.” Tyson is well known in the science community, but he also has a wide appeal that compelled faculty and students to fill all of the approximately 2,200 spaces available in Alumni Gym. “It’s great to see such a broad interest in this guy,” said Tony Crider, associate professor of physics. “Unlike some occasions when you might bring a science speaker to campus, our job isn’t to bring students there — it’s to keep students out.” The high level of interest didn’t surprise Crider. “He’s as close as you get to a rockstar in science,” he said. “The day they announced he was coming to campus, people began contacting me immediately asking how they could get tickets.” Tyson’s latest — and perhaps his most well-known — achievement is hosting “Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey” on FOX Network in 2014. “Cosmos” was a reboot of Carl Sagan’s “Cosmos: A Personal Voyage,” which ran in the 1980s. Tyson’s 13-episode series was nominated for 13 Emmy Awards. Tyson studied physics at Harvard University and went on to earn a master’s degree in astronomy at the University of Texas at Austin. He also completed a Master of Philosophy degree and a Ph.D. in astrophysics at Columbia University. Currently, he serves as the head of the Hayden Planetarium in New York City, where he holds its Frederick P. Rose Directorship and is a research associate of the Department of Astrophysics at the American Museum of Natural History. He has written 10 books, the latest of which is “Death by Black Hole: And Other Cosmic Quandaries,” released in 2014. Many of his books are required reading for “Intro to Astronomy” classes at Elon. Beyond his academic achievements, Tyson has also made a name for himself in entertainment. He has appeared on shows such as “The Big Bang Theory,” “Conan,” “The Colbert Report,” “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon,” “Late Night with Seth Meyers” and “The Daily Show with Jon Stewart.” His biggest contribution to science may be the attention he brings to it. “It’s cool that we have such a big name in science coming,” said junior Helen Meskhidze. “It’s somebody that people recognize his name, people know who he is. He’s not just important for what he’s contributed to science — he’s also a science communicator.” Tyson even has a meme. Known as “the Neil deGrasse Tyson Reaction,” the meme came from a video interview with Tyson by Big Think, an online knowledge forum. The photograph was taken while Tyson was discussing Sir Isaac Newton and is sometimes paired with the phrase, “Watch out guys, we’re dealing with a badass over here.” “That’s who’s coming to campus,” Crider said. “The host of ‘Cosmos,’ author of several astronomy books students have used in their classes, and the badass.” More than a scientist Tyson’s background is in science, but for many, his appeal lies in his ability to communicate scientific ideas to the wider, less knowledgeable community. Meskhidze is the president of Elon’s Society of Physics Students and is double-majoring in physics and philosophy. Her interdisciplinary studies allow her to see how the scientific community relates to and is viewed by the public. “I think science education and science awareness in the public is really important,” Meskhidze said. “The fact that Neil deGrasse Tyson, with his tweets and other facets of communication, is able to raise awareness of science and promote an interest in science among the public is really cool.” The popularity of Tyson’s reboot of “Cosmos” proves that the general public is curious about science. The remake was originally shown on Fox and is now available on Hulu and Netflix, demonstrating that viewers want to learn more. “People really want to see this guy,” Crider said. “It’s not just that he’s famous. There are a large number of people out there that would like to see science and technology and engineering and mathematics not just swept under the rug, not just treated as if it’s only for scientists. It’s for all of us, it’s for our kids. It’s something that you need for a society to move forward.” For years, Sagan used the original “Cosmos” to explain science to the public and get them excited about it. Since then, many television channels have appeared that claim to be educational or science-based. But, according to Crider, these channels often lack quality science. “There are too many ghosts and aliens in ‘educational’ television,” Crider said. “People want to see real science.” Tyson has managed to combine real science and entertainment. In addition to “Cosmos,” which 135 million people across the world watched some part of, he hosts “StarTalk,” a radio show and podcast that combines pop culture and science and has featured guests such as Bill Nye and Seth MacFarlane. Tyson also speaks at conferences — science-related or otherwise — across the country. He is a Twitter celebrity with more than 3.4 million followers, and his tweets about topics ranging from the New England Patriots’ “deflategate” scandal to information on Pi Day make national news and inspire their own national discussions among individuals. Meskhidze said many people of older generations became interested in science because of Sagan’s work, and Tyson is trying to parallel his efforts and replicate them using modern methods. “He’s able to integrate Sagan’s ideas in a modern way,” she said. And, according to Crider, Tyson has been successful. “It’s great to see — both at Elon and the county in general — an increased enthusiasm in STEM [science, technology, engineering, math],” Crider said. “I think it’s great for science and STEM in general to have one of its champions visit campus.” Space Week Tyson’s speech isn’t until Thursday afternoon, but Meskhidze and the Society of Physics Students have been preparing for months. Last spring, Meskhidze organized screenings of “Cosmos” as new episodes premiered. During the last semester, she planned screenings of certain episodes to increase interest in Tyson’s speech. For the week of convocation — dubbed Space Week — the Society has planned a series of student-run events to raise awareness of who Tyson is and get students excited about his arrival. To organize these events, Meskhidze submitted a proposal to Residence Life and received $1,400 in funds from the Residential Campus Initiative. “One indication that this is something special is [that] it’s very rare that I’ve seen events leading up to a speaker,” Crider said. Events began Monday, March 30 with a “Cosmos” viewing in LaRose Digital Theatre. The Physics Club had a table at Tuesday’s College Coffee, and Wednesday evening they are offering stargazing from the gym roof. Thursday, April 2, there will be a Coffee Klatch following Convocation where students and faculty can gather and discuss Tyson’s speech. The week will end Friday, April 3, with a viewing of “Interstellar” at 7 p.m. in McEwen 011. Events are open to all students. “We’re trying to draw in everybody,” Meskhidze said. As for the day itself, Crider — one of the astronomy professors who has worked at Elon the longest — has been chosen to escort Tyson around campus. He was contacted before the official announcement was made and asked to clear his schedule. “I’ve had this on my calendar for a year,” he said. Bringing Tyson to Elon Tyson won’t be the first scientific figure to speak at an Elon Convocation. Past visitors include Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak, who spoke at Fall Convocation in 2013; astronaut John Glenn, who spoke at Spring Convocation in 2005; and primatologist and anthropologist Jane Goodall, who spoke at Spring Convocation in 2002. “He will be one of the more notable science folk that we’ve brought to campus for convocation,” Crider said. Crider was not involved in selecting Tyson, though he did suggest the name. Jeff Clark, executive director of cultural and special programs, said it was a group decision to bring Tyson to campus. The group chose him from a list of proposed names, and Clark contacted Tyson’s agent. “We try to bring in a variety of speakers over the years,” Clark said. Clark also said that, in early student surveys, Tyson was a very popular choice. “It was a real coup that we brought him here for spring convocation,” Crider said. “To truly bring someone in their prime is amazing.” Getting into Convocation The box office distributed its tickets within 30 minutes, but the majority of tickets were given out through other methods. Dean’s and President’s List students were given priority tickets for the event. These students received an email Feb. 25 that invited them to march in the procession and offered reserved seats. Their enthusiastic response — combined with that of faculty, of whom all full-time members are invited to march — limited the number of tickets available at the box office. For anyone who didn’t receive a ticket, the event will have a standby line to fill unclaimed seats. Spring Convocation: “The Sky is Not the Limit” will begin at 3:30 p.m. Thursday, April 2 in Alumni Gym. “There are a lot of chances in your life to see music and sport celebrities,” Crider said. “You could probably count science celebrities on one hand. All the energy that exists for science is focused on a few people, and we’re bringing number one.”
Tucked along Burlington’s Huffman Mill Road between Krispy Kreme and Cook-Out is a white building with an orange roof. Inside, customers step into a dim dining room with green and red booths and drapery that runs through the center of the room. The sign outside says Sal’s Italian Restaurant. The menu premises quality on a budget. Sal’s opened in 1977. Today, Sal and Marco Mazzurco — sons of the Sicilian-born founder — manage the restaurant named after their grandfather, the oldest Sal in the family. The brothers have spent most of their lives in the area. Both graduated from Elon University, Sal in 2006 and Marco in 2012. Sal worked at his family’s restaurant during college and went on to open the Red Bull Tavern in Burlington in 2008. Marco also left Sal’s for his own restaurant endeavor, but both were drawn back to their family’s establishment. “Our parents wanted to retire, so we came back and took over the restaurant so they could,” Sal said. Sal’s has long had a good relationship with Elon students. It has donated to Elonthon for the last decade and has contributed to other student organizations as well. “We try to give back to the students,” Sal said. One of Sal’s future plans to offer more to students is the dorm feast. This to-go option includes a meal, salad and breadsticks for students interested in having home-cooked Italian in their college homes. Sal is hoping to roll out the new offer next fall. The restaurant offers an instantly comfortable and relaxed dining experience. So relaxed, in fact, that when a patron asks what the soup of the day is, the waitress answers with, “I don’t know, somethin’ weird,” and turns around to ask a coworker. In some establishments, this might be considered inappropriate or unprofessional. At Sal’s, the unapologetic honesty is just part of the overall charm. Beyond the charm is simple, good food that offers something for everyone. Italian classics such as lasagna and eggplant parmesan are complemented by an unexpected spread of deli sandwiches. “It’s as if you’re eating in the comfort of your own home,” said senior Bria Turner. The lasagna comes to the table piping hot and smelling like the perfect combination of beef, cheese, sauce and fresh pasta. There is an overabundance of olive oil, but the ricotta is more carefully added, and the combination results in a creamy, gooey three-cheese mixture. Another of Sal’s most popular dishes is the penne alla vodka. Though the pasta is a bit past al dente, the sauce is just right. The onion, garlic and tomato base is enhanced with vodka — which cooks off — mixed with a touch of heavy cream and left to simmer. Sal’s sauce has a hint of spice and a great deal of flavor, and it arrives at the table in a shallow white bowl, tossed thoroughly with the penne. Other dishes are popular among Elon students, as well. “The ziti is to die for,” Turner said. Dishes come with a side salad and a basket of breadsticks. Sliced cremini mushrooms add an unexpected twist to the Caesar salad, while the house salad keeps it simple with romaine lettuce, tomatoes and red onions. The breadsticks are straight to the point: no garlic, no cheesy center, no extras at all — just warm, toasty bread ready to be pulled apart and dipped in one of the three sauce options or leftover vodka cream sauce. Sal’s makes no attempt to be upscale and certainly avoids being overpriced. The food is the main event, and there is no garnish, unfamiliar wines or flourishes by the wait staff to distract from the dishes. In the land of butter, biscuits and gravy, this restaurant offers an entirely different flavor palette with a comfortingly home-cooked taste. When the biscuit makers go home for the day and a Styrofoam to-go box seems too casual, Sal’s is a low-cost alternative that yields yummy results.
Sophomore Danielle Dulchinos jogged down Truitt Drive, training for the half marathon she will run at the beginning of spring break. At mile four, her wrist began to buzz — she just reached her step goal.
At 7:20 a.m., Tuesday: the sun had yet to rise over Elon University. In Koury Athletic Center, low acoustic music drifted from Studio 5. Inside, the lights were off. Twenty people lay flat on yoga mats, eyes closed and hands relaxed at their sides in the savasana pose. Senior Bridget Creel moved deftly through the room and laid a lavender-scented towel over each student’s eyes. Creel — who introduces herself to her students as Bee — is a fitness instructor with Group X, Campus Recreation’s group exercise program. Her “Sunrise” yoga classes begin at 6:30 a.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and but Creel doesn’t let the fatigue show. “I like to work out first thing when I wake up, working out on an empty stomach then having a huge breakfast,” Creel said. It was Creel’s suggestion that led to the introduction of a morning “Cycle” class at 8 a.m. Wednesdays. Creel teaches all Group X’s morning classes and afternoon “Yoga” at 4:15 p.m. Thursdays. “She’s brought a new outlook on morning classes,” said sophomore Sarah Alger, another Group X instructor. “We’ve implemented a lot more sunrise and morning classes because of her wanting to do them, and we’ve gotten good feedback so far.” Creel teaches four exercise classes a week, and some weeks, she subs for more. As a sister in Alpha Xi Delta sorority, a print and online journalism major, an occasional Elon Local News health reporter and an intern with a Colorado-based yoga magazine, Creel has her hands full. But through it all, she is unceasingly optimistic. “I think Bee, as an individual on the team, brings the most positivity,” said senior Katie Perez, Group X team leader. The journey to fitness Creel came to Elon having never taken a group exercise class. In high school, she danced and played field hockey, but she was never interested in exercising for the sake of being active alone. “Coming to Elon has been a huge wake-up call for me,” Creel said. “Not that people are so obsessed with body image, but it’s really made me think, because I’m not enthusiastic about the way I look. It’s important to be comfortable in your own skin, not so critical, and I think exercise has really helped me, because I feel strength. I feel like a strong person when I exercise, when I teach, so it’s not so much about, ‘I’d like to change this part of me.’” Creel began attending “Zumba” classes her freshman year. The following year she applied to the Group X team. Creel originally wanted to be trained to only teach “Zumba,” but Group X certification requires training in strength, mind/body and cardio. This holistic training gives instructors the ability to teach a variety of classes. “We have the ability to sub for people if we want to, so it’s good to have that versatility,” Creel said. Group X’s training program introduced Creel to yoga and cycle, her two favorite classes to teach. As a mind/body class, yoga was very different from Zumba, but now Creel does it every day. “I think it’s important to do yoga every day, whether it be 10 minutes, five minutes, whatever it is,” she said. “The yoga part of me is the wholesome part, the calm part. It’s really where I go to reflect, where I find my stability.” Creel’s favorite part of yoga is “savasana,” or corpse pose. For her, it’s the most important part of yoga because it allows the yogi to shut everything else out. “It’s a reminder that you’re in the right place,” she said. “You’re meant to relax. You’re here for a reason.” Creel also enjoys teaching her “Cycle” classes, where she can get her heart racing and take a break from the mellow, soft songs that provide background music for her yoga classes. “Not all of our instructors can teach yoga and a high-intensity like cycle, which she does,” Perez said. “She’s always willing to step up. If someone needs a sub, she’s very open-minded and a very versatile instructor.” A true calling Creel’s classes — even the ones that start at 6:30 a.m. — are usually full. Many of the attendees are regulars who attend her classes multiple times a week. For Creel, seeing the same faces every week is validating. “That’s how I know I’m doing something right — when people keep coming back,” she said. Alger said Creel’s personality keeps people returning week after week. “She is so down-to-earth, sweet and friendly,” Alger said. “I’m sure anyone who talks to her will say the same thing. She’s so friendly. She genuinely cares about other people, which especially comes across in her classes.” Instructing exercise classes has rewards for Creel beyond familiar faces. “It’s amazing what teaching has done for me,” Creel said. “It has definitely been my source of mental clarity. When I’m teaching, I’m in this other world for an hour. Because I’m so focused on the energy of other people, I get back so much.” Aside from teaching classes, Creel works out on her own, as well. She admits teaching classes detracts from her own workouts, though that’s not necessarily a bad thing. “The thing about teaching … I’m giving myself wholly to other people,” she said. “Even if I’m doing the workout, which I am, it isn’t at the intensity level as it would be if I were working out on my own, which is probably why I like it more. I’m enjoying my time because I’m putting it toward others. I’m distracted.” Alger admires Creel’s devotion to teaching. “When she teaches a class, she wants to make sure that you as an individual are giving your full attention,” Alger said. “You’re getting something from the class. You’re not just there attending. She wants you to be present, and she’s also there to help you.” Living fully in health and wellness Creel incorporates health into all aspects of her life. “I try to work out every day, but I don’t beat myself up,” she said. “It’s such a mental thing for me. On days when I don’t work out, I feel sluggish. I just want to sleep. It just doesn’t make me feel good.” Creel sees exercising as a way of appreciating the body and its abilities. As an extension of the mind and self, the body also deserves to be appreciated. “By taking that initiative to work out, you’re showing care to your body and your mind,” Creel said. “That’s very important.” She extends this perspective to her diet too. “I love eating healthy, because when I do eat healthy I feel so much better,” Creel said. “It fuels my workouts — it’s just a win-win situation.” Creel avoids eating for fitness, by which she means the energy drinks and protein bars some exercise enthusiasts swear by. Rather than just fueling her muscles, Creel tries to feed her body natural, wholesome foods that will help it function efficiently. Creel loves to cook and tries to make all her meals herself. She will even bag them up and bring them to campus. She tries to stick to a pescatarian diet and eat as few processed foods as possible, though she doesn’t deny herself the occasional cheeseburger. “I love to show people that, no matter what state they’re in, they can have the happiest life they deserve,” Creel said. “I think that it’s important for people to know how to get to that point, and I think health is the root to all that.” 7:28 a.m., Tuesday: As the final minutes of her “Sunrise” class came to a close, Creel raised the volume of the music and sat on her mat at the front of the room. “Slowly begin to wiggle your fingers and toes as you return to yourself,” she said. As her students remove the towels from their eyes and sat up, Creel smiled. “This is the best thing you could have done for your body today,” she said. “As you go through the rest of the day, remember that you’ve done this for yourself today.” [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OwzLtMS-HTM&list=UU_hlA78Ox-M0avU29j1dHrg[/embed]
When Cinderella wanted to go to the ball, she was lucky enough to have a fairy godmother to give her a beautiful dress. But not all girls have mice and godmothers to make their dreams come true. That’s where the Cinderella Project at Elon University comes in. The Cinderella Project is a national nonprofit organization that promotes confidence and self esteem of financially challenged young women by providing dresses for formal events, reducing the financial burden that associated with attending such events. Every year, Cinderella Project volunteers collect prom and formal dresses from students for local girls who cannot afford them. Currently, Elon’s chapter works only with Cummings High School in Burlington, but the executive board is looking to add more schools. To encourage donations, volunteers will be doing a Dorm Storm March 18-19. Members will be going around with flyers and knocking on doors to ask students to bring back dresses from spring break. Dresses can be dropped off in Moseley 230. Collecting dresses is just one part of the Cinderella Project. It does much more than give the girls a dress they’ll wear once — it also empowers them. Every spring before Cummings’ prom, the Cinderella Project hosts a conference that focuses on self-esteem in females. This year, the theme is Be-YOU-tiful, and the conference will be April 18 in the Numen Lumen Pavilion. “During the conference, we have workshops geared toward things like body image, having a safe prom night, how to apply makeup — things of that nature,” said senior and executive board member Desiree Porter. “We also invite a keynote speaker who will be covering topics like self-image.” When they enter the conference, the girls are paired with a Elon student as their “fairy godmother.” “[Fairy godmothers] pretty much serve as mentors,” said senior and executive board member Kenna Meyerhoff. “They go with the girls through the workshops all day.” For some students, the bond between mentor and mentee lasts longer than just the conference. “I was at the high school the other day, and one of the girls said, ‘Yeah, after the conference I came to Elon to hang out with my mentor,’” Meyerhoff said. “Things like that do happen, and it’s just from one day of time spent with these girls.” Porter emphasized the importance of reaching out to the community and of the connections students make with the girls. “I really like how we can serve as a conduit between the two communities, connecting Elon with the outer Burlington community,” Porter said. “I think it’s great to form those relationships that can continue beyond this conference.” After a day of workshops and activities, the girls scramble for the moment they have waited for — selecting their dresses. “Once they find the perfect dress, we have makeup artists that will do their makeup and teach them how to do it to match their dress,” Porter said. Additionally, the project gives out gift bags and jewelry so the girls can perfect their looks. Last year, the Cinderella Project hosted 50 participants and had 35 volunteers, but they hope to increase these numbers this year. Senior Danielia Dwyer discovered the Cinderella Project when she met Porter their freshman year. She was excited and moved by the project and has worked with it ever since. Now a senior preparing to graduate, she fully understands the impact the project has had on herself and the girls of Cummings. “Cinderella Project is not only about providing prom dresses, but furthering it into women’s empowerment and making sure it’s about mentoring and networking, making sure the girls are making positive relationships,” Dwyer said.
Locked out of Danieley A on a cold September night, sophomore Ashlyn Vogelsang panicked. None of her roommates were home, and she desperately needed to get inside. Moments later, her savior appeared: sophomore Ben Kleiman. When Kleiman let her into the building, neither knew this chance encounter would lead to a business partnership. Over time, the building-mates developed a friendship. The two, both entrepreneurs, often joked about starting a business together in their free time. One semester later, the first order of Pattani Clothing lounge pants shipped. The idea of starting a pants company dawned on Kleiman while studying abroad in Thailand during Winter Term 2015. On his trip, he noticed both Thai men and women wore long, billowy palazzo-style pants adorned with exotic patterns. Kleiman wondered if these pants would sell in the United States. “I thought I could bring a style back,” he said. An idea popped into his head: he would ship the pants from Thailand and sell them here. When he returned, he proposed the concept to Vogelsang, who saw potential in the idea and agreed to partner up. With $800 invested, they started Pattani Clothing. Pattani Clothing isn’t Kleiman’s first foray into clothing entrepreneurship. Last year, as a freshman, he worked with two other freshmen to develop Coastal Prep Collection, a preppy clothing brand. Kleiman handles the finances and maintains the website he built while Vogelsang handles the marketing and researches current fashion trends for future design ideas. “I think we make a good team because both of us are always motivating each other to work on something, whether it is the website, advertising or doing competition research,” Kleiman said. Pattani Clothing’s official website launched last week. It offers 15 pant styles, each made in Thailand. There have only been six orders so far, but popularity is expected to grow. Pattani pants sell for only $15, while other brands of palazzo pants, such as New York and Company, sell for $30-$50. According to Vogelsang, this cheaper price does not affect the quality. “We’re trying to appeal to people who don’t want to spend too much money on clothes but still want to look good,” Vogelsang said. According to Vogelsang, Pattani pants’ seams stay intact and, most importantly, the lighter-colored pants are not transparent. Pattani pants appeal to anyone who is not afraid to be adventurous in style but still wants to enjoy the comfort of pajamas. “Pattani is all about providing the most comfortable lounge pants and expressing yourself anyway you want,” Vogelsang said. Vogelsang has a few style suggestions. For girls, Pattanis go best with loose long sleeve shirts or crop tops, while guys can match their colorful pants with a loose t-shirt. Although the brand’s focus on fashion may attract more women, the team is trying to appeal to men by marketing the pants as active wear. They plan to satisfy this demographic by making the pants more durable through double-stitches. The brand just started selling, but it has a clean, professional look. Each pair will have hand-sewn tags and comes with washing directions and maintenance advice. Vogelsang and Kleiman are using a combination of social media and grassroots methods to advertise Pattani They admit improvements, such as updating the website and creating clever names for patterns, will be necessary to keep the brand alive. Vogelsang and Kleiman did not expect launching Pattani to require so much work, but they said the experience has definitely been worth the effort. Palazzo pants are an emerging market in Thailand but haven’t funneled into mainstream culture in the United States. Vogelsang hopes Pattani’s unique design and comfortable feel will eventually be integrated into mainstream fashion. “I feel confident and relaxed wearing Pattani pants,” she said. “Hopefully one day when I’m a lawyer, they can be considered professional wear.”
Elon University junior Melanie Mourt has an older brother. His name is Andrew.
As they walk into the space shared by Mel’s Good Times Cafe and The Wicked Mojo Bar & Grill, customers are transported to New Orleans. Bright colors, the smell of Cajun food, a nine-foot projection screen playing live sports and a signed pair of Muhammad Ali’s boxing shorts give the space an aura of authenticity and uniqueness that sets it apart from the rest of Burlington’s restaurant scene. The Wicked Mojo Bar & Grill, a sports bar with authentic sports memorabilia, occupies 8,000 square feet with Mel’s Good Times in the Holly Hills Mall in Burlington. Hunt Ward, president of Wicked Mojo’s Entertainment Group, Inc. and cook, purchased the cafe Nov. 1 from the owners of the Good Times Cafe. Since then, Ward has been working to develop a restaurant for Elon University students that has a high-energy atmosphere and a satisfying menu. Ward said Mel’s Good Times’ build-your-own burger menu features more than 400 personalizable combinations. Atypical topping choices include jambalaya, Louisiana crawfish, Black Forest Ham and shrimp. Customizable burgers are common in large cities such as New York City, but Mel’s Good Times is the only restaurant in Burlington to offer such a menu. Ward spent a month perfecting the seafood burger, which is made of fresh ground catfish, scallops and shrimp. To keep the ingredients together, he cooks the patty on a 400-degree flattop grill. These handmade burgers include visible pieces of shrimp. “I want you to know what you’re eating,” he said. Ward’s goal is to make the appetizer menu just as diverse. He wants to go beyond the standard cheese fries, nachos and onion rings. He recently began selling alligator bites, and they have sold out each night since. The success of this uncommon dish could lead to his adding alligator — and maybe even chicken — bites to the appetizer menu as regulars. As a world traveler, Ward finds inspiration in the cuisines of the 32 countries he has visited. A visit to Australia inspired him to make the catfish and shrimp burger, and his other experiences abroad have prompted him to take a risk and introduce new flavors and styles to the Burlington culinary world. “I try to create what doesn’t exist,” he said. Live music also adds to the adventure. Three nights a week, musicians from the area perform anything from classic rock to acoustic and country. Customers can share their own vocal talents at karaoke each Friday night. Students might be attracted to Mel’s Good Times for its menu selection and entertainment, but they’ll visit regularly for its prices. Most entrees cost less than $10. Mel’s Good Times’ employees have noticed the restaurant’s uniqueness attracting success. Waitress Hollie Boggs said business and customer satisfaction have both increased since Ward took over. “Our business has almost quadrupled,” Boggs said. “It’s more upbeat. We connect to every table we serve.” Sophomore Haley Back has dined at Mel’s Good Times. She commended the service and food and said the revamped restaurant was much improved compared to the old Good Times restaurant. “[Ward] was so friendly and came and talked to each table,” she said. “The food was super delicious. You could tell it was hand-prepared.” The restaurant’s interior complements its upbeat atmosphere. Ward collects sports memorabilia as a hobby, and his personal collection adorns the walls of the Wicked Mojo Bar. This includes a pair of signed Muhammad Ali shorts, an original animation cell from the movie “Space Jam” and a signed LeBron James Cavaliers Rookie of the Year jersey. Ward’s roots lie with Elon, and he hopes its students will help the business grow. His father graduated from Elon in 1947 and served on the Board of Trustees from 1977-1993. Ward graduated in 1982 and has served on the Board of Visitors at Elon for 24 years, and his daughter graduated from Elon in 2011. Ward is offering job positions to students and graduates. He also wants to eventually provide internship opportunities in sales, marketing and communications for Elon students. “What’s a better group than energetic and innovative college students?” he asked. To make the restaurant even more appealing to college students, Ward is planning to institute a designated driver policy. The policy would allow the designated driver in groups of five to get a free meal. He still needs to solve a few logistical problems, but he hopes the policy can help the restaurant stand apart. In the past two weeks, he said Mel’s Good Times has turned over a new leaf in terms of image and popularity. He attributes this newfound success to Elon’s Live Oak Communications team, which has been working on the restaurant’s website and social media presence. The restaurant is a new endeavor, but Ward believes the franchise might expand to regional locations and strip malls nationwide with the help of Elon students. “We are now in virgin territory,” he said. “It’s up to us to decide our future from here.”
The BioBus, water bottle refill stations and composting options are just a few of the sustainable efforts Elon University has implemented to make the campus more eco-friendly, but students don’t always take advantage of them.
Correction 4/5: Due to an editing error, an earlier headline of this story referred to "Humans at Elon." The photography project is "Humans of Elon." The Pendulum regrets the error. A person, a picture and a quote. These are the elements of “Humans of Elon,” a photo collection of people on Elon University’s campus started and run by freshmen Ben Driscoll and Mercedes Kent. The founders decided to collaborate on the project before fall classes started. While most freshmen were frantically gathering dorm and school supplies, these two were beginning a project to document the people of their new campus. The Leadership Fellows first met at a retreat for their cohort, where they instantly connected and decided to make a name for themselves on campus. “I actually did a ‘Humans’ of my high school, and I thought, ‘Why don’t we have this here?’” Driscoll, who is a member of The Pendulum’s PR team, said. “I proposed the idea to [Mercedes], and she loved the idea, so we started it.” The two have different academic interests and their talents complement each other. Driscoll, a strategic communications major, interviews the subjects, while Kent, a biology major, photographs them. “I was thinking of ways to exemplify her photography because I think it’s excellent,” Driscoll said. The “Humans of Elon” photo collection is the perfect place to do just that. The project is based on “Humans of New York,” a photography project started by Brandon Stanton in 2010 that has more than 6,000 portraits and 12 million likes on Facebook. Driscoll said that both “Humans” are similar in that the projects aim to capture the diverse set of people each area encompasses: one a city, the other a campus. “Our intent is to exemplify the Elon campus and community, whether that be staff, students, teachers — anyone that’s on campus, really,” Driscoll said. “My favorite one was this guy — he’s from Haiti. We were expecting to ask him a simple question, and he had this really touching quote.” His name is Elisson Adrien, a 23-year-old sophomore. “I’ve always wanted to be a pediatrician and work with kids because I have unfortunately seen a large amount of kids die,” he told “Humans.” “I think that a lot of kids could have been cured, but there are very few pediatricians in Haiti. I want to be able to help people.” “There are so many interesting stories behind all the faces of Elon,” Kent said. “I feel fortunate to have the opportunity to learn from all the people we meet.” The pair typically spends a few hours finding people to document and ends up posting only seven or eight pictures at a time. Currently, they have 33 posts and have accumulated 501 followers on their Instagram page and more than 1,200 likes on Facebook. “I would really like to reach out and diversify ‘Humans’ even more,” Kent said. “We have done a few faculty and staff members, but I would like to do more.” For those looking to be in the spotlight, the “Humans of Elon” selection process has no method. “We go around to all of campus, whether it be going to Acorn and Oak House or going into Irazu, KOBC, seeing people in those hammocks — anything,” Driscoll said. “We go to people who seem approachable.” While Driscoll and Kent remain focused on steadily gaining the support of the community, they also have a bucket list in mind for this project: targeting the “celebrities” of Elon. “We would really like to get a more candid photo of President Lambert, maybe at graduation, convocation or another event this year,” Kent said. The team is also discussing promoting different organizations, as long as they fit into the original goal of the project: sharing stories. “I’ve talked to my friends who are a part of a few different organizations, but we don’t want to force publicizing these different organizations,” Driscoll said. “We want to work on a way to publicize these organizations while still maintaining integrity of the ‘Humans’ template.” For now, Driscoll and Kent are focused on maintaining a strong base and expanding their project. “My favorite moment, besides taking the pictures, was when our Facebook page hit 1,000 likes.” Kent said. “I remember looking at Ben and saying, ‘Look we made it, we’re real!’ It was such a confidence boost to keep going and that the Elon community was interested and would support this photography project.” Keep up with “Humans at Elon” by liking them on Facebook or following them on Instagram: @HumansofElonUniversity.
When Geleana Drew Aston made plans for life after high school, she only had one goal: to move away from home.
The road to bring a new sorority to campus is a long one. After a push from students, Chi Upsilon Sigma, Elon University’s only Latina sorority, has emerged. While 38 percent of female undergraduates are involved in a Greek organization, some women felt that they did not belong in any of the nine pre-existing sororities that make up Elon ’s Panhellenic Council (PHC). The start of a Latina sorority was just a thought for students and is now the introduction of Chi Upsilon Sigma is being celebrated. A sorority like no other Senior Ana Brambila has been working toward bringing Chi Upsilon Sigma (CUS) to campus since she was a freshman. She said she noticed a lack of diversity within Elon’s PHC and did not personally identify with any organizations in the National Panhellenic Council. She began to search for other options, especially for students with Latina backgrounds. “A group of girls and I did some research on Latina sororities and spoke with Shana Plasters, director of Greek Life,” Brambila said. “We then sent out proposals to Latina sororities nationwide that aligned with Elon’s values.” According to Plasters, the process for a new sorority to become an official organization on campus takes longer than most students think. “The Panhellenic Council must vote to add another group and once that happens, the faculty Student Life Committee must approve the organization,” Plasters said. “Then, the nationally recognized Latina sororities are invited to campus to make a presentation.” In an article published by The Pendulum in September 2014, senior Nikki Payne, who has been working alongside Brambila since the beginning, said she saw the lack of diversity within the Greek community at Elon as well. She said the Latino population is rapidly expanding on campus, and she believes Elon must “provide for this community” by allowing diversity within PHC. The official recruitment process will begin this coming fall. Although CUS technically falls under PHC control, its recruitment will differ from the nine sororities currently on campus. Plasters said that CUS will not participate in formal recruitment, nor will members be eligible to apply for PHC positions such as president or director of recruitment. To join CUS, potential new members must attend interest meetings, individually research the organization and reach out to sister chapters, such as the one at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, by attending their events. Women can then become official OWLS, or Organization of Women Looking for Sisterhood. After becoming OWLS, women are initiated into the organization after a new member education process, the length of which varies by chapter. The women newly interested in joining CUS at Elon have already begun fundraising for the chapter, a significant distinction from existing PHC organizations. Greek Life is known for high new member fees, a price that some students cannot afford or are not willing to pay, which discourages them from participating in recruitment. CUS wants to make sure its members do not have to fully pay out of pocket. “We are currently fundraising for the chapter so the girls will have access to those funds and have less of a financial burden,” Brambila said. Seven Latina women founded Chi Upsilon Sigma at Rutgers University-New Brunswick in April 1980. Its goals were to educate and enrich the community, as well as to “promote and preserve the Latino culture,” according to CUS’s official website. Brambila added that CUS also emphasizes empowering women, and affectionately refers to its members as “women of wisdom.” “CUS is all about building yourself up with your sisters and working together for the community,” she said. In the hands of a new generation Freshman Kaitlin Laureano searched for a Greek organization that would be a good fit for her, but the existing PHC and NPHC sororities did not suffice. “I came from an all-girls high school, so I knew I wanted to join a sorority,” she said. “The sororities on campus are great, but what is special about CUS is that it is historically Latina. However, it also encourages diversity of all backgrounds within each chapter.” Laureano learned about CUS after attending an NPHC interest meeting, where she inquired if there were any Latina-based sororities on campus. She discovered CUS and found that its values aligned with her own. Laureano’s appointment as president was made possible because of her enthusiasm and investment in CUS. “I had attended several interest meetings for CUS, and the senior members were looking for a first-year who could take over and grow with the organization from the start,” Laureano said. “They offered me the opportunity to become president, and I immediately accepted.” Laureano was initially attracted to CUS’ mission to “educate and elevate women through political and cultural awareness.” Through their work with the “I Have a Dream” Foundation, which seeks to help children in lower-income areas by providing tutoring and mentoring programs, CUS is doing its part to give back to the community. Brambila said that each year CUS focuses on a specific event related to women empowerment. This year’s event was Girl Rising, a global campaign for girls’ education. According to its website, CUS strongly believes in the education of young women, which will “break down the cycle of poverty.” Leaving behind a legacy The idea to bring a Latina sorority to campus was not pushed by administration or the PHC –– it came directly from Elon students. According to Plasters, Elon has been searching for a way for Greek Life to become more inclusive. The dedication of Brambila and her peers has allowed the Latina community on campus to have a voice and an identity, attracting students like Laureano to be a part of CUS. “For a long time on campus, there has been a divide, whether you are a member of PHC or NPHC,” Brambila said. “There was no organization that I identified with personally or that specifically worked with Latina and lower-income populations. I wanted to be a part of a group that works towards a ‘bigger something’ and have that common ground with who I am working with.” CUS chapters across the country encourage education of members’ individual cultures. For example, a sister chapter recently held a cultural event on hijabs. CUS’s promotion of diverse cultures correlates with Elon’s recent push for cultural diversity on campus. Through the “A Campus of Difference” seminar offered this Winter Term, freshmen learned to accept all backgrounds and diversity of their peers by learning to “identify strategies to respond effectively to bias.” Elon’s current undergraduate population consists of 5 percent Hispanic or Latino students. As Laureano noted, students interested in CUS come from different ethnicities and backgrounds, creating a safe haven for those who feel they do not belong in other organizations on campus. During the past four years, Brambila has worked to bring CUS to campus. Although she will not be able to become an official member, she hopes for a bright future for the organization. “I believe CUS will succeed because of its openness to people of all backgrounds, ethnicities and experiences,” Brambila said. “That’s where the richness and inclusivity comes from, and that’s how CUS will make women feel like they belong.” Correction 5/26/15: An earlier version of this article incorrectly stated the length of the new member education process for CUS. The process length varies by chapter; it is not five-six weeks, as originally stated. The Pendulum regrets the error.
Freshman Rachel Kauwe has struggled with anorexia, bulimia and binge eating disorder since childhood.
Luis Vargas stood at the finish line of the NCAA Men’s Cross Country championship on Nov. 22, 2014. He had just become Elon University’s first cross-country All-American with a 25th place finish among the best runners in the United States.
A woman with gray hair and an unsteady gait clings to the railing as she made her way down her front steps. From the seats, the muumuu-clad abuela seems genuine, but junior Ciara’ Dixon’s passion shone through the makeup and hair coloring.
Brooke Greenberg started to sing as soon as she could talk.
Correction: The original article stated that Delta Sigma Theta was founded at Harvard University. It was actually founded at Howard University. When junior Morgan Fleming became a sister in Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. last April, she was overjoyed. It was one of the greatest moments of her life. Her friends and mother came and, most of all, she was forever part of a new community. As her ambitions grew in her chapter, Omicron Iota, she realized work needed to be done. Fleming, now the president of Delta Sigma Theta, wants to increase her sorority’s presence on campus. Even though they are active, Fleming understands that Delta Sigma Theta’s membership is low because of the small size of Elon’s black community. National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC) members make up 2 percent of Elon’s Greek Life. There are currently 44 students involved in Elon’s NPHC, which oversees historically black Greek Life organizations, or 8.65 percent of all 384 Elon students who identify as black/African American. But this does not lessen their community impact or philanthropy work. “I think that, as a smaller part of Greek Life, NPHC has to work a lot harder to be visible,” Fleming said. “We have to make sure that we use our resources wisely in order to capitalize on the promotion of our events so that we can increase the audience.” According to Nikia Jefferson, assistant director of Greek Life and NPHC adviser, expanding the NPHC organizations’ on-campus presence is an ongoing process that requires further advertising efforts. In the past year alone, two new NPHC positions were created at Elon: director of public relations and director of special events. Along with being her sorority’s president, Fleming is also the NPHC’s director of special events. “[The number of black Elon students] alone plays into the size of our organizations,” Jefferson said. “And obviously not everyone wants to be Greek.” There are six NPHC Greek Life chapters at Elon: Alpha Phi Alpha, Alpha Kappa Alpha, Kappa Alpha Psi, Delta Sigma Theta, Phi Beta Sigma and Zeta Phi Beta. Although they are independent organizations with varying goals and philanthropies, they come together throughout the year. For example, they participate in an annual Homecoming Step Show, among other events. Jefferson helps keep all the NPHC organizations connected and is often in conversation with each NPHC chapter president about organizational expansion. Other than their sizes when compared to other Elon Greek Life groups, NPHC organizations, specifically Delta Sigma Theta, have a different recruitment process. Both Interfraternity Council (IFC) and Panhellenic Council (PHC) organizations have a set recruitment time during the year. PHC’s Bid Day was Feb. 1, when nine of Elon’s sororities welcomed a total of 505 new members. IFC formal spring recruitment ended with Bid Day Feb. 6. Delta Sigma Theta and other NPHC organizations do not have a predetermined recruitment schedule. Instead, members post flyers around campus and on social media, and those interested attend meetings. The recruitment process begins when each chapter is ready and the national organization and Elon’s Greek Life office allows it. The last time Delta Sigma Theta welcomed new members was Spring 2014. There is now no word when recruitment will resume. Fleming said being in a small organization is difficult but also an excellent bonding experience. “There isn’t room for someone who can’t pull their own weight,” Fleming said. “But we regularly see each other at least four times a week, so this closeness greatly increases our sisterhood.” Jefferson admires the tight-knit, committed members of NPHC organizations. “Because they are smaller organizations, each member has to step up,” Jefferson said. “All of them undergo personal and leadership development that will help them after their time at Elon.” Before becoming a member of Delta Sigma Theta, Fleming said she wasn’t certain about joining a Greek organization at Elon. This changed when she began to assess her values, which included compassion and honesty. She admires and was influenced by her mother, also a Delta Sigma Theta member, along with other members of the organization. “I discovered that people I looked up to were women with great values,” Fleming said. “It so happened that all of them were members of Delta Sigma Theta.” Established at Elon in 1981, Delta Sigma Theta became the first historically black sorority on campus. Now, the chapter currently has eight members, with two studying abroad for the semester. Fleming was elected president last May after expressing her dreams of expanding her organization’s reach on campus. To do this, she is in the process of holding events that are relevant to more Elon students. These events might include collaboration with other Greek Life organizations, the Elon African Society and Elon’s Latin American Student Organization. Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. was originally founded in 1913 at Howard University. The organization has received several awards at Elon, including Sorority of the Year in 1992, Chapter of Excellence in 1996 and Outstanding Campus Involvement and Leadership in 2003. The organization’s philanthropy addresses issues in economic development, educational development, international awareness and involvement, physical and mental health and political awareness and involvement. Their major service project, which is related to educational development and is a partnership with the Burlington Housing Authority, is a program designed to help middle school and early high school students excel in class and prepare them for their futures. The sorority sisters help the students with homework after school, assist them with the college application process and teach step dance workshops. Besides her leadership roles in her sorority and in the NPHC, Fleming is a Teacher’s Assistant for Organic Chemistry, an Honors Fellow and a member of Phi Lambda Epsilon, the Chemistry national honor society. She admits her sorority is not the largest organization on campus, but she said they are still active and making a difference. “Look closely for our presence, we are here,” she said. “You just have to look harder for us.”