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Here’s a hard job: make decisions that impact each community member, and try to assess the best possible choices for the entire community. Burlington City Council members are tasked with just that every day and work to make their decisions beneficial.
Halloween has been a part of U.S. culture for as long as we can remember. Target has been stocking its shelves with a plethora of candy corn, fake spider webs and pumpkin spice Glade candles since the end of August. Society is ready for the spooky night.
They say distance can bring people closer and even make the heart grow fonder. Two Elon University sophomores, Valeria Rizzi and Nathaniel Henderson, are living proof as they formed their relationship in high school in Morocco, maintained it after he moved to Texas and are continuing it while sophomores at Elon.
Alexander Bergelson can be seen around the Elon University campus with cards in his pocket and tricks up his sleeve. After 11 years of perfecting his magical abilities and learning a new language, Bergelson looks forward to sharing his talent with Elon students and faculty by creating an original show on Elon Student Television (ESTV) and by giving live performances.
With shoulder-length brown hair and a big heart, sophomore Alli Lindenberg sees the beauty in other people, as well as herself. She sees what girls can accomplish when they come together and leave stereotypes at the door.
The daring tradition of wading in all four of Elon University’s fountains without being caught has left trails of wet footprints for years.
Bill Gortney stood on the deck of the USS Roosevelt in Mayport, Florida, preparing himself for takeoff. It was spring 1975. He climbed into a carrier plane with “United States Navy” plastered on its side. The engine started; the propellers whirred. Soon the USS Roosevelt was a tiny dot below him.
In the days leading up to any Elon University break, it is normal to see the Facebook class pages get inundated with posts of students offering or seeking transportation to the airport.
Elon University’s campus was different during Fall Break.
Growing up writing music, attending voice and guitar lessons and participating in every high school musical production she could, Elon University first year Rachel Hobbs is used to the spotlight.
“You have got to be kidding me!” a student exclaims as a car speeds through the crosswalk that bridges McEwen to West Haggard without slowing or stopping, disregarding students eager for Acorn or heading to class. North Carolina law 20-175 states that the driver of a vehicle must stop to give the right-of-way to a pedestrian crossing at an intersection if a stop sign or stop light is not in place. The law is intended to prevent accidents and assure safety to these “crosswalkers.” But for Elon University students who often don’t stop or look to make sure a car will stop, reliance on the driver to follow NC 20-175 can be a potential danger. This, “no car is going to hit me” mentality stems from the fact that crosswalks are located on a relatively safe college campus. According to sophomore Maggie Hakas, this feeling of safety that causes students to worry less about cars. “[The crosswalks] go right through the center of campus,” Hakas said. “You assume you have the right of way over cars and that they are going to stop.” Hakas, a North Caroline resident, also said that “everyone in the South stops for pedestrians” as a part of Southern hospitality. Still, she waits at each crosswalk because she knows there are still rude drivers. Hakas, who has a car on campus, said she always stop for pedestrians, although she gets angry when they cross the streets without a crosswalk or when they take too long. These people who “walk like a turtle” are holding up cars that are waiting to get through, she said. “It’s one of those double standards,” said senior Yashvi Patel in regards to the frustrations of both drivers and pedestrians. “When you are a driver, you get mad at walkers for being slow, but when you’re a walker you get mad at cars for not stopping.” First-year Olivia Hobbs has already noticed this norm. Although she waits at crosswalks at her home in Florida because of the high volume of cars, she does not wait as much at Elon. “Most of the time I will just walk through them unless I see a car that won’t stop and hope that I wont get hit,” Hobbs said. “I feel that most people feel that [cars will stop], especially freshmen.” She also said she believes cars are more likely to stop at certain intersections, like the three crosswalks on Haggard. She finds that not all cars stop on the intersection of East Haggard and North O’Kelley Avenues, particularly when students are not walking in larger groups. Crossing leaves most students unscathed. Originally from traffic-heavy Atlanta, sophomore Caroline Patterson didn’t hesitate for fear of not being able to cross. Last May, she was biking from Moseley to Alamance, assuming the oncoming cars would stop for her. Instead, she was thrown off her bike, suffering a gash on her head and a mid-range concussion. Now recovered, Patterson is much more conscious of her surroundings each time she crosses the street. “Before the accident I crossed the streets without hesitation,” Patterson said. “Now, even my good friends have noticed that I am very hesitant when crossing the street. Until the driver has acknowledged that he’s seen me, I don’t cross. I still haven’t been able to ride my bike over the same crosswalk.” Patterson said that students cross without looking because they are in a hurry or they simply expect cars to be the aware ones and stop for them. She advised students to be more aware of their surroundings, especially when crossing alone because they are less noticeable. But she knows the security of being on a college campus causes students to be less aware. “The truth is that students on campus don’t expect cars to hit them, so they do feel safe,” Patterson said. “I’m not sure how that feeling of security is going to change unless something happens to them. Unless we get back into the mood of looking left and right like when we were kids, college students are just going to continue crossing the street as if they own it.”
Jim Roberts walked into a small record store in Clinton, North Carolina in 1973 looking for music to buy. Then, teenager, now Elon University adjunct instructor in music, saw Pink Flyod’s new release, “Dark Side of the Moon”. Roberts purchased the album blindly and listened to it. Soon, he had listened to the album at least ten times, completely engrossed in it. “Dark Side of the Moon” is now considered one of the most influential rock albums of all time. Roberts said he was unaware of most new releases during his adolescence. Today’s generation follows a similar trend of not being aware of upcoming music releases, despite there being more research tools available than in the past. According to an article on Billboard Biz, Billboard magazine’s online news site, digital music and album download sales have decreased. In 2013, digital song downloads fell 5.7 percent from 1.34 billion units to 1.26 billion units. This can partially be attributed to ad-supported and paid subscription music services, such as Pandora and Spotify. The article also said physical CD sales dropped 14.5 percent to 165.4 million units, down from 193.4 million in 2012. Roberts said he follows new releases by artists he has listened to since his youth. For example, he recently purchased Led Zepplin vocalist Robert Plant’s new solo album, and he is anticipating Pink Flyod’s first album in 20 years, The Endless River, set to be released Nov. 10. Even with today’s resources, Roberts said it is difficult to monitor and care about new releases because there are so many bands. “Honestly, I don’t get enough exposure and don’t have the time to do research,” he said. Music through social media This month, two multi-million dollar selling artists, Lil Wayne and Taylor Swift, are releasing new albums. Many Elon students said they were not aware of these or other new releases, though. There are many students, though, who don’t follow upcoming album releases but instead pick up new music when they hear it on the radio. “I don’t follow releases,” said junior Samuel Ackerman. “I just get excited when I hear them for the first time.” Ackerman said he learns about new releases from friends, Facebook and Pandora. “Sometimes a new song pops up on Pandora,” he said. “I ask myself, ‘Wait a minute, what is this?’” Ackerman does not define new music as material newly released, but as something he personally had not heard before. “It could have been out for a while, but it’s new to me,” he said. Digital platforms such as iHeart Radio, Pandora and Spotify help students find new music as well. Junior Derek Vogt said he does not look for new releases because he uses digital platforms. “Now that I use Spotify, I don’t see many advertisements for new music,” he said. “I followed that more when I used iTunes.” There are some students, though, who continue to follow favorite bands’ upcoming albums. Elon sophomore Emma Bonniche uses Pandora to find new music. Before services like Pandora, Boniche listened to the radio. Looking back, she said the radio does not suit her current tastes. “Today, there are more options to find music that you like,” she said. Boniche is excited for the Foo Fighters’ album, “Sonic Highways,” set to release on Nov. 10. She follows the band on Facebook, where The Foo Fighters announced the album on their page long before its release. Word of mouth Friends and family provide plenty of musical influence as well. “I listened to what my older siblings did growing up,” said first-year Aaron Bennett. Boniche said of her friends, “They have similar tastes. They know I don’t like genres like alternative folk, so they won’t suggest that.” Sophomore Amanda Echavarri is excited about Taylor Swift’s new album, “1989,” due to be released on Oct. 27. Echavarri said some people are more proactive about discovering new album releases than others. But overall, she said, those people are not the majority. “For everyday people, the album isn’t that relevant,” she said. “I only anticipate a few artists’ new albums.” In one of Robert’s Elon courses, Beyond the Beatles, students study artists such as The Rolling Stones, The Who and others. He hopes students can experience music they might not have heard before. “I want my students to introduce this music to their future children,” he said.
Students, families and vendors flocked to the Elon Community Church parking lot Thursday, as they do every week, to sell and purchase goods and share stories. Vendor tents are filled with flowers, fresh vegetables and baked goods as sellers smile and make conversation with their customers. At the Elon Community Church farmer’s market, vendors reconnect with each other and community members. Each business owner has a story of inspiration that led them to be an entrepreneur. Cooking and baking for cause Addie Graves, of Graham, is known for her sugary cakes and is one of the most beloved and longest-returning vendors at the farmer’s market. She discovered her love of baking after experimenting with different cake recipes with a friend. Graves experienced some failure with her baked goods, but a final attempt found one that was surprisingly tasty. After giving one half of her cake to her beautician and the other to a local shopkeeper, they both agreed Graves had a knack for baking. The support and encouragement of local businesspeople inspired her to make baking a significant part of her life. “That’s how I started making cakes, with a half a cake,” Graves said. She has always had a passion for the fresh, home-style food offered at the market. “I love to cook, and I love gardening because I grew up on a farm, and I love fresh vegetables,” Graves said. Her father was an established farmer, known for selling his corn and other produce to local restaurants. Graves took on the responsibility of cooking his fresh produce and planning meals for her family of nine since she was a young woman. “I loved to cook, so I cooked and I always invited people in,” she said. Her love of cooking for large groups of people is increasing as she volunteers with her daughter to feed the hungry. “I do a lot of casseroles because I feed a lot of people,” Graves said. “And [Graves and her daughter] feed the hungry.” Graves used her cooking abilities to fuel her entreprenuerial spirit. Not only did she start her own business, “Taste-n-See”, but she also recently published a cookbook. “I do have a cookbook. I’m trying to get a new one out preferably by this fall,” Graves said. “It’s all about dessert, but this one coming out is going to have dessert and casserole.” The sales and business aspects of the market aren’t the only things that keep her coming back each week. It’s her love of the community that inspires her to return. “It’s a really nice area. I look forward to see these children,” Graves said. She feels a difference in the market when school isn’t in session and misses interacting with different students from across the country. “In the mid summer it’s real lonesome out here,” Graves said. Hobby turns into family business The market is also home to young business owners. For 14-year-old Faith Thompson of T5-Farms, life consists of working with cows and chickens, keeping them fed and watered, picking the best vegetables to bring to markets to sell and putting on a grown-up smile. She asks “How do you do?” to customers as they graze her produce. “I do a little bit of everything,” Thompson said. She explained how this farm-to-market lifestyle was not always her family’s plan. “My dad is an engineer surveyor, and when the housing market crashed and his job really slowed down, we just started expanding,” Thompson said. “We’ve always lived on a lot of land, always had a big garden and always had cows and chickens, and so now it’s coming into a pretty large production.” Regardless of what led her and her family to farming, Thompson plays a key role in her family-owned farm in Southern Alamance County. “Right now, we have sweet potatoes, pumpkins, winter squash, eggplant, peppers, okra and cherry tomatoes,” Thompson said. “We sell at three other markets, [but] when the students are in, business is a lot more.” Thompson sits beside her younger sibling and educates customers about their pesticide, antibiotic and hormone free produce. She has found joy and community from the unexpected life change. “I really enjoy [working with the students]. It’s a lot of fun,” Thompson said. For Graves and Thompson, a life dedicated to giving back to the community in healthy and locally beneficial ways is a long established tradition. New career born Ray Whitaker has recently retired from his job as a licensed respiratory therapist. With this newfound time, Whitaker has picked up gardening. The former respiratory therapist switched from a highly intensive position as a respiratory therapist, a job filled with the daily pressure of cardiac arrests and “keeping people on this planet”, to an independent way of living with his dog and tending to his water plants. His lifestyle has shifted from saving lives to helping grow and build new ones. “I found growing things a good way to relieve worries from work,” he said. “Healthcare is a very stressful job. If you’re in clinical practice, it’s very busy.” Since his retirement, Whitaker has taken his stress-relieving hobby and transformed it into a business. “About five years ago, I took a section of my back lawn, about an acre and a half, and built a greenhouse and four ponds,” he said. Now, his business, which started with just two aloe plants, has expanded to water plants, purple bearded irises, sweet irises, water lilies and several others. “I raise everything. You have to have a green thumb to start,” Whitaker said. “From there, you have to have a real love for plants. And that is the start of it all, it doesn’t matter what you grow.” Although he doesn’t consider his gardening business work, he urges others to not spend their lives too wrapped up in their own careers. “Having a balance in your life is very important: recreation, work, recreation, work,” Whitaker said. North Carolina is home to 202 farmer’s markets, a number that is steadily increasing. According to a study on the national demographics of shoppers at farmer’s markets, out of a sample of 336, 16 percent of shoppers were between the ages of 20 and 24. Although the study states that the majority of customers comes from the 22 to 45 age group, students make up most of the customers at the local market within the Elon community. Their interest lies not only in the fresh, organic foods available to them, but in their genuine concern for the community. “I think [the farmer’s market] supports the local community and keeps smaller businesses in business because there are bigger businesses trying to push them out of business, so I think it’s important,” said senior Anna Johnson, a frequent market visitor. Although every local farmer’s market is important to a community’s local health and economic well-being, it also builds the culture and relationships within the community. “I think [the vendors] all offer something different, so it’s great diversity for everyone,” Johnson said.
Takasuke Tsuji arrived at the Raleigh-Durham International Airport Aug. 19. He had been on an airplane for nearly 24 hours, but he was almost at his destination: Elon University. He knew he was in the United States the moment he saw cars driving on the right side of the road. In his home country, Japan, drivers drive on the left. Elon’s global exchange program introduces international students to the culture and academics of Elon. Having spent his first two years of college at Kansai Gaidai University in Osaka, Japan, Tsuji, a Kyoto native, eagerly arrived this semester, passionate about strategic communications and ready to immerse himself in the English language. Since he arrived last month, Tsuji has noted many cultural differences. “When someone sneezes, you say, ‘Bless you,’” Tsuji said. “When people sneeze more than once, you say, ‘Bless you, bless you, bless you.’ In my country, no one says anything.” Tsuji chose Elon because it offered both a marketing major and a communications major. Coming from such a different culture, Tsuji has experienced many difficulties adjusting to Elon’s way of life. For example, he said he must be more assertive in classes to earn participation points. “Students hardly talk during lectures at Japanese universities. It’s seen as embarrassing,” he said. “Here, students talk very much.” Tsuji’s professors have worked with him in his transition to Elon. “While I am sure he has some adjusting to do, I am going to guess he is in no way intimidated by his current surroundings,” said Daniel Haygood, Tsuji’s Communications in the Global Age professor. “I do not sense any real hesitation at all in his willingness to speak or contribute.” The United States appealed to Tsuji because the English language fascinated him. He said he realized his passion for English after participating in a semester-long homestay study period in Malaysia during high school. He wants to speak English to sound like Hollywood action movie stars, whom he has always admired. “Hollywood actors are cool,” he said. “It’s kind of neat if you can speak their language.” Tsuji added he still struggles to understand some parts of the language, especially in detailed discussions and during fast-paced conversations. Though he is always trying to practice English, he said he speaks his native Japanese with older Japanese students on campus, especially senior Atsushi Hiyakawa. He does this as a sign of respect. Unlike American culture, respect for one’s elders in Japanese culture includes all people, even people only a year older. “I have to be polite to Atsushi,” Tsuji said. “In English, we are both equals, so that makes things awkward.” Hiyakawa was in the same exact position as Tsuji last year. He was a junior who had just arrived at Elon from Kansai Gaidai. He did not have many friends, felt left out in classes and conversations and struggled to adapt to a culture so unlike his own. Hiyakawa said he feels more confident and comfortable a year later. “I know how life here works now. For example, I learned how the BioBus works and how to print at the library,” Hiyakawa said. “I’m not confused anymore.” Hiyakawa said he has acted as a mentor to the new Japanese transfer students. He plays ping pong with them on the weekends, introduces them to his American friends and teaches them about other campus resources. Hiyakawa said he hopes Tsuji and the other exchange students can become as comfortable as he has become. “I’ve become more expressive and talkative,” Hiyakawa said. Hiyakawa also noted that making friends early was the most important thing for him to do last year. He hopes Tsuji can do the same. Junior Tony Weaver, one of Tsuji’s friends at Elon, is confident Tsuji will fit in well on campus. “I think that Takasuke is adjusting well to Elon,” he said. “He is a nice person and is making a lot of friends.” Tsuji knows there are difficulties he has to face both culturally and linguistically, but he is satisfied with his decision to study at Elon. “I’m just happy being in an environment where I can actively learn English,” he said. A year removed from Kansai Gaidai, Hiyakawa knows coming to Elon was one of the best choices he has made and has learned to see things from many new perspectives. One of these new perspectives relates to peoples’ work habits. “When people work in Japan, they look tired,” Hiyakawa said. “American people are more relaxed. Everyone here works, but they look happy.” Overall, Hiyakawa said he feels more globally aware. “This experience at Elon is very beneficial for my life,” he said. Hiyakawa said Tsuji will become more comfortable on campus as the semester continues. He offered some of advice to Tsuji, “Elon is not as easy as college life at Kansai Gaidai, but it’s advantageous for your life.”
It’s easy to dismiss your dining hall experience as a business transaction- you swipe, you eat and you go. But for many students at Elon University, a visit to a dining hall carries with it more comfort and familiarity because of the people behind the counters who serve with a smile. Elon Dining Services staff members have been forming lasting relationships with students, serving as a source of comfort and a family away from home. These friendly relationships, built from thoughtfulness, have helped foster a sense of community for both students and staff members. Laura Haith, often seen managing the swipe counter at Lakeside Dining Hall, is popularly considered by students as one of the many staff members who works to create a homelike environment for students. From memorizing names, faces and birthdays to keeping up to date with campus activities, Haith has been forming strong connections with students for the past ten years. “Nobody wants to go anywhere and feel cold,” she said. “When you walk through that door, I want you know that somebody cares.” As the mother of two children, Haith said she understands how difficult it might be to be away from family for an extended period of time. “I wouldn’t want my sons to be away from home and feel no kind of love,” she said. “So I treat every student the way I treat my children.” The bonds she has created with students have lasted beyond their four years at Elon- former students still call her on a regular basis and invite her to events such as wedding showers. “The fact that they want me to be a part of their next step in life is just so amazing,” she said. First year Sam Fisch said it’s the personal touch that makes all the difference. “Many of them are like second moms,” he said. “We talk about how my weekend is going, how I’m feeling and even about whether there are any girls in my life.” Fisch said the warm environment is the reason why he looks forward to coming back. Julie Wilson is a familiar face to many students who form long lines in front of Lakeside Dining Hall’s omelet station every morning. Despite the crowd around her station, Wilson creates a personal experience for each student, asking them about their days and how they’re feeling, as she carefully prepares their orders. Wilson even goes out of her way to memorize the orders of some regulars. It was during one of these conversations that first-year student Mae Schwelkert formed a connection with Wilson. “She knows about my family, my running and even about my injuries,” Schwelkert said. Wilson said it is a joy to interact with students on a regular basis. Having started her eighth year at Elon, Wilson said the relationships she shares with students are the reason why she goes to work every day. “I want to be more than just a server here. I want to be their Elon mom or whatever I can be for them,” she said. “So I try to start their day off with an omelet made with love.” Junior Najah Short, who has formed several friendships with Dining Services staff members said it doesn’t take much to respond to such levels of kindness. “Most of my friendships started from a simple, ‘How are you doing?’,” she said. “As I kept coming back, the relationships just kept strengthening.” Short said she believes it is an honor for the staff members to be taking some of their time to genuinely care for students. “They could come to work with a frown on their face or just do the bare minimum, but they don’t,” she said. “A lot of them go out of their way to make sure that students feel welcomed.” Class of 2014 alumnus Joe Bruno said words cannot express how thankful he is for the friendship he developed with Ashley Curtis, who works at Acorn. Serving as an escape from the stresses of working late nights in McEwen, Curtis’ perseverance and backstory inspired him to keep pushing through his own hard times. “She played the role of my mentor, mother and at times a best friend,” he said. “We continue to keep in touch on Facebook, and all the stories of her kids, Sophie and Mason, brighten my day.” Similarly, Class of 2009 alumnus Peter Ustach said his friendships with staff members Krystal Neil and Antoine Downey continue to grow. Ustach added his friendly relationship with Neil began through simple conversations about life while she would prepare his order in PanGeo’s, a former dining option on Elon’s campus. Those conversations would continue everyday, and the two have kept talking ever since. “I consider him one of my closest friends in Burlington,” he said. “We go to Greensboro Grasshopper games, and we see each other on a regular basis.” As many members of the Dining Services staff continue putting in extra effort to genuinely care for students, Ustach stressed that it is important to recognize their work. “It’s more than seeing the person in front of you as just someone swiping your Phoenix Card every day,” he said. “Once you take that extra step by just saying ‘Thank you’ or asking ‘How are you?’ meaningful relationships can be created.”
It’s Wednesday morning, and Kyle Wills is enjoying breakfast at Skid’s Restaurant off West Haggard Avenue with his old college roommate, Mitch Rippy. The eggs are scrambled, the bacon is crispy and the coffee is hot — the way it has been every Wednesday for the past 20 years. “He comes in every week without fail,” said Skid’s owner George Katsoudas. Over the years, Skid’s has collected a number of regulars, each with their own stories and connections to the town and university. It is a place to catch up, meet before the big game and watch Elon change from the windows of a small-town restaurant. “We have so many [regulars],” said Katsoudas. “Ninety-five percent of the time they will order the same thing. The only way they change it is if I have a special running, or if they just want to come in for a cup of coffee.” This loyalty defines the restaurant and means the world to Katsoudas. The continuous pattern of returning customers has allowed him to maintain a place that provides classic Southern hospitality and allows for friendships and the community to grow. Wills is one of the regulars. “There are now 14 guys in this regular Wednesday group,” Katsoudas said. “It has grown slowly. You meet one person, and you meet another person. Ten years go by, and you are buddies now, just from coming here.” Wills has been at Elon longer than Skid’s, moving here when he was 12 years old in 1970 from Greenville, North Carolina when his father became the athletics director at Elon. He hasn’t left since. He grew up with the school, and eventually attended Elon, even though he said he thought the school might have been moving backwards. “As time went on, it was clear that we didn’t,” he said. Now, more than 30 years later, Wills drives five minutes to work and sits at his desk in the Alumni Field House as Elon’s senior athletic director of business and communications, bringing his colleagues with him to Skid’s every Wednesday. Since Skid’s opened in 2003 it has formed a close connection with Elon. “The university means a lot to me in terms of how I have grown,” Katsoudas said. “I have connected with the faculty, especially the athletic department. They have invited me to cater for them. To me [the university] is a part of the restaurant.” Wills has stayed in the same place without boredom, watching the school and town rapidly expand in the past few decades. The area is not slowing down as both the university and town have expansion projects popping up in every direction. “The nicest thing about Elon is that it is never stagnant,” Wills said. “The vision of the Board of Trustees is remarkable. Students leave for the summer and say ‘holy smokes’ when they come back to the changes. Imagine 20 years of that.” Wills can’t help but think of the changes from an athletics perspective. During his time here, there have been nine head football coaches, one retired golf coach and three presidents. “Sometimes in a place like this, you just hold on for the ride,” Wills said. “It keeps on moving, and I was fortunate enough to keep moving with it.” According to Katsoudas, any new growth is good for the town. Students leave during the summer, but he figures there will be more reason to stay with a better downtown area, proposed by the Town of Elon, adding attraction to his own restaurant. Skid’s has even made annual regulars with Family Weekend. Students will bring their parents for a nice breakfast with a side of Southern hospitality. Three years later, they will still be coming back. “I don’t mean to brag, but I’ve done good for the school and for the town,” Katsoudas said. “It’s not something I pushed, but something that has happened naturally. Customers enjoy what I have, and they keep coming back.”
Elon University father Drew Bachman said he was surprised when he saw his son, first-year Chris Bachman, during Family Weekend 2014.
There’s a cyber-beast living in devices across the country. Its users are nameless but its name is famous. Yik Yak celebrates harmless anonymity and has transformed into a space for cyber bullying. Some Elon University students are paying the price of participation.
The week before classes resumed this fall, Elon University sophomore Chann Little was back-to-school shopping and spending time with family like everybody else. The only difference between Little’s end-of-summer routine and every other Elon students’ is that his outings were being documented by an award-winning MTV crew. Little is the star of an upcoming “True Life” episode.
It’s Sunday morning, the air is cool and the geese of Lake Mary Nell float lazily on the water. This peace doesn’t last long though. The black-beaked birds are about to be disrupted by a new occupant: Border Collies.