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(05/02/15 6:44pm)
Elon University announced that four speakers — columnist Leonard Pitts Jr., violinist Itzhak Perlman, MSNBC host Melissa Harris-Perry and CEO Walter Isaacson — are scheduled to speak during the 2015-2016 year.
Pitts, currently a pop culture, social and family life columnist at the Miami Herald, will deliver the Baird Pulitzer Prize Lecture.
He is a former writer for Casey Kasem’s radio show “American Top 40” and author of “Becoming Dad: Black Men and the Journey to Fatherhood.”
Fifteen-time Grammy award winner Perlman will headline Elon’s Fall Convocation October 6 in Alumni Gym. The Israeli born violinist has received honorary degrees from Harvard, Yale, Brandeis, Roosevelt, Yeshiva and Hebrew universities.
In 2003 Perlman received a Kennedy Center Honor by the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. Six years later he performed at President Barack Obama’s inauguration with cellist Yo-Yo Ma, clarinetist Anthony McGill and pianist Gabriela Montero.
Harris-Perry will speak in McCrary Theatre January 6 to open Winter Term. A graduate from both Wake Forest and Duke University, she now hosts “Melissa Harris-Perry” on MSNBC Saturdays and Sundays from 10 a.m. to noon.
Isaacson currently serves as president and CEO of the Aspen Institute, a nonpartisan educational and policy studies institute in Washington, D.C.
Prior to the Aspen Institute, Isaacson was the chairman and CEO of CNN and the editor of TIME magazine.
(04/30/15 2:17am)
Gabriela Rosales, the freshman who was critically injured after she was hit by a car on campus in mid-March, has been transferred to WakeMed Health and Hospitals to begin the rehabilitation phase of her recovery.
Last week, Rosales was assessed by a team of therapists to design her rehabilitation plan — which is expected to take three to five hours a day, according to the freshman’s Caring Bridge page.
The recovery has been said to be slow for Rosales. Within the past few weeks alone, Rosales has progressed from a semi-conscious state to being able to breathe on her own and move her arms and legs, according to her Caring Bridge page.
After the accident, her parents, Carmencita and Roberto, traveled from their native Nicaragua to be with their injured daughter. The couple established the Caring Bridge page to consolidate information about the recovery process.
Following a long process that has involved a tracheostomy surgery — to open her windpipe and allow Rosales to breathe on her own — a tube inserted in her throat to allow her to speak, when she can, and other medical measures, Rosales’ Zeta Tau Alpha (ZTA) sisters said they’re anxiously awaiting her recovery.
“Our whole was devastated by the accident,” said junior Alex Daigle, president of the Eta Zeta chapter of ZTA at Elon University, in a statement. “Gaby had just joined ZTA, but she had already made such an impact on our sisters. She is always in our hearts, and we are optimistic about her recovery.”
(04/29/15 10:21pm)
On Friday, April 24, the Elon University community received an email from President Leo Lambert regarding a racial slur incident that occurred near campus. In his email, President Lambert said he was "outraged and saddened" to report an African-American student had reported a racial slur yelled at her from a car Wednesday, April 22 on N. O'Kelly Avenue.
(04/29/15 1:09pm)
Following the nationwide controversy over Indiana’s passage of its Religious Freedom Restoration Act, North Carolinians are erring on the side of gay rights over religious freedom, according to an Elon University Poll released Tuesday. A hypothetical 2016 presidential matchup provided a closer outcome, with Sen. Hillary Clinton carrying a 3-percentage point advantage over former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush among registered voters in North Carolina.
Nearly two-thirds of all respondents said a business shouldn’t be allowed to refuse service to people who are gay — regardless of religious belief — but 51 percent of Republicans said business owners should have that right.
In the upcoming election, Clinton’s political status may make her an early target for criticism, said Kenneth Fernandez, director of the Elon University Poll and assistant professor of political science, in a statement.
When respondents were asked about favorability among potential candidates from both parties — some announced, some not — Clinton came in fourth behind Scott Walker, Marco Rubio and Elizabeth Warren. But no clear favorite has yet emerged in the traditional battleground state.
“However, Clinton’s lower scores are partly a reflection of how well-known she is, whereas large chunks of the population seem to have difficulty rating most other candidates,” Fernandez said in a statement.
Within the state, the race for governor of North Carolina is even closer, with incumbent Gov. Pat McCrory-Rep. leading Attorney General Roy Cooper-Dem. by a slim 45-43 margin.
“Though early results show Roy Cooper polling well against Pat McCrory in 2016, three things are important to remember,” said Jason Husser, assistant director of the Elon University Poll and assistant professor of political science, in a statement. “November 2016 is a long time from now. Preliminary results may simply reflect quick reactions to party labels. And McCrory retains strength in his base: less than one-sixth of those voters who approve of McCrory said they would vote for Cooper.?”
(04/29/15 1:25am)
For many, tears flowed.
(04/28/15 2:33pm)
They gathered, remembered, honored and relayed.
More than 900 people — including students, faculty and community members — walked, fundraised and walked some more Friday as Elon University’s Colleges Against Cancer (CAC) chapter hosted its third annual Relay for Life.
The event, built on fundraising efforts that started with TriathELON in October, raised $70,098.33 at the 6 a.m. conclusion Saturday.
This year’s Relay for Life raised almost 40 percent more than last year’s $50,078.23 total.
There was an increase in attendance, too. Last year, the event drew around 800 people total. This year, 860 participants were registered before Friday and 100 more trickled in throughout the evening.
More than $7,000 of the money raised this year came not just from donations and events, but also fundraisers that evening.
Five food trucks — a new addition — were present for no charge and each donated part of their profit, which totaled $600 to Relay for Life, according to Sam Murray, director of operations.
Fundraisers hosted by individual teams, including Alpha Omicron Pi’s “Smash a Car,” Sigma Phi Epsilon’s Saturday morning breakfast and the chance for participants to rent and hold puppies, comprised $7,000 of the money raised for The American Cancer Society.
Money was not the only thing donated—hair was also given.
Seventeen people cut their hair Friday for Pantene Beautiful Lengths, which requires donated hair to be at least eight inches long.
Sophomore Hannah Lanzillotta, a volunteer who cut her hair, is familiar with donating hair — she’s done it three times.
“Donating my hair is such a big deal to me because it’s one more part of me that I can give back,” Lanzillotta said. “I try to give as many of my blessings back as possible, like money, time. I’m in the global bone marrow and plasma donation registry, and hair. These are all things that I’m very fortunate to have even though I usually take them for granted.”
Four hours into Relay for Life Friday evening, the large lights surrounding Francis Center Field flickered off and participants, with glow sticks in hand, inched their way to the perimeter of the track for the Luminary Ceremony, a central part of not just Elon’s event but also others throughout the country.
Luminary bags were sold leading up to the event for donors to write on to honor a loved one affected by cancer.
Slowly, glow sticks lit up as a reader called different people surrounding the track who have been affected by cancer: survivors, mothers, fathers, daughters, sons, grandchildren, friends.
Sophomore marketing and social media committee member Jessie Brown lit her glow stick in honor of her mother, who was diagnosed with breast cancer when Brown was five, and for other close family members and friends who have been touched by cancer.
She first became involved with Relay for Life six years ago when she was a freshman in high school.
“I saw what an amazing organization the American Cancer Society is that I couldn’t help but continue my involvement in any way possible,” Brown said. “Relay for Life has shown me how strong our Elon community is and how we can come together to end something that touches and impacts so many of us.”
(04/28/15 3:14am)
Trails of mud surfaced across campus and throughout residence halls following Festivus Sunday aftenoon, causing damages and Physical Plant cleanup crews in the days to come.
Festivus, an annual student-run event started by students more than a decade ago is separate from the university and brought students together off campus in the Sheridan Apartments.
Robert Buchholz, director of physical plant, said damages from Festivus included muddy handprints on a column in Colonnades D, a sink clogged with mud in Danieley C, mud on a carpet in Danieley N and mud markings near Lindner Hall, the Global Neighborhood and seven Mill Point buildings.
He said he does not know the estimated cost in damages.
One thing was missing on campus from recent years: hoses outside of residence halls, provided by the university.
SGA President Avery Steadman announced during the April 23 SGA Senate meeting that Elon University would not be providing hoses outside campus residences for Festivus because of concerns over the growing size of the event.
In years past hoses were provided outside of residence halls so students could clean themselves and rid their clothes and shoes of the mud.
This year, MarQuita Barker, associate director of residence life for operations and information management, said residents will incur fines for any damages in the residence halls.
“Students tracking mud are charged for cleaning and damage,” she said. “If no one takes ownership, we have community charges.”
Barker said in an email that Residence Life did not provide hoses for a long time but did in the past two to three years.
“Festivus is not a university sponsored or supported event, so we did not offer hoses as an effort to not enable students,” Barker said. “Individual staff members did not have the option to provide hoses.”
According to Buchholz, he and his staff, under direction from Student Life, did not provide hoses this year.
“It would have helped if the event coordinators had more hoses and resources for people to clean themselves at the event instead of students dragging mud across campus,” Buchholz said.
James Perry, Town of Elon assistant police chief, said his department had eight to ten officers present at the event, which is typical.
He said the event led to the injuries of two female students, one with a mild head injury and the other sick from a previous illness. He said their current condition was not known.
(04/26/15 7:15pm)
Construction is fully underway at the site next to Skids Restaurant on Haggard Avenue. The project, led by EDG Properties, LLC, is expected to be complete by June 2016, said project manager John McDonald. The Town of Elon Board of Alderman approved the $7.1 million project plans for Park Place at Elon last October.
(04/24/15 10:10pm)
Fifteen sophomores received news Thursday morning that they were recipients of Elon University's Lumen Prize, a $15,000 award given to help students attain their "ambitious and serious intellectual goals."
(04/24/15 8:50pm)
West End Terrace will host “Crafternoon,” a spring fundraiser to benefit CrossRoads Sexual Assault Response and Resource Center, Saturday, April 25.
“Crafternoon” tickets are $35 in advance, $40 at the door and include craft beer and wine tastings, as well as a BBQ buffet. Local music group Love & Valor and Elon University’s Vital Signs will perform.
“The Board of Directors [of CrossRoads] was looking for a more relaxed atmosphere and all around fun event for the community,” said Austin Davis, a crisis intervention volunteer of three years and member of the CrossRoads Board of Directors We have such a strong connection to Elon University that it just made sense to have it here
CrossRoads is a local agency that serves child and adult survivors of sexual assault and trauma. The mission of the organization is to provide survivors with confidential counseling and treatment as well as community education and awareness.
According to data collected by the National Children’s Alliance, more than 6,400 children were served at accredited child advocacy centers (CACs) in North Carolina in 2011. CACs are specifically designed to protect child victims rather than to investigate and prosecute criminals. CrossRoads, a Burlington-based CAC, provides free services to adults and children in both Alamance and Caswell counties.
“[The most difficult part of volunteering is] understanding that the majority of survivors in our community don’t walk through our doors and get the help that they need or deserve,” Davis said. Still, it’s empowering to bring hope and light back into the lives of the survivors who choose to seek help, she added.
CrossRoads established a home in Burlington in 1976 as the Rape Crisis Alliance. Since then, it has grown from an all-volunteer team to include social workers, therapists and community members. The CrossRoads team is now large enough to manage a 24-hour crisis hotline for confidential counseling.
“The women that work at CrossRoads are truly heroes of this community, and I’ve learned so much from their wisdom, experience and passion,” said Lauren Berk, a senior who has been involved with CrossRoads since she was assigned an internship at the organization during a human services class her sophomore year. Berk has continued to help with court accompaniment and crisis hotline volunteering. She was recently recognized with the Governor’s award for outstanding service — an award given annually to 20 volunteers in North Carolina.
“We have a strong presence of volunteers and interns from Elon University, which is amazing,” Davis said. “Our relationship with Elon has been nothing but positive, and we’re looking forward to an even better future with them.”
(04/24/15 2:59pm)
At Thursday night’s SGA Senate meeting, another incident of racial bias came to light, which occurred Wednesday night, according to Jana Lynn Patterson, associate vice president for student life. Calling it a non-violent, but nonetheless “traumatic” situation, she added that more information is expected to be released.
(04/23/15 12:00pm)
Sophomore Alexa Lowey relays for a cure, change and community. But most importantly to her, she relays for a friend.
In 2007, Lowey’s best friend of six years Esther Earl — who was later the inspiration for John Green’s novel “The Fault in Our Stars” — was diagnosed with thyroid cancer. Lowey then became immersed in a life of supporting, caregiving and fighting for her best friend until Earl lost her battle in 2010.
Five years later, Lowey continues to be involved in cancer fundraising and support efforts and serves as treasurer on the executive board for Elon’s Relay for Life chapter.
“To me, Relay is all about support,” Lowey said. “We all have people, and stories for why we relay, but when we relay as a whole it’s a way to say, ‘Hey, you are not alone in this fight.’”
Lowey will be present Friday, April 24 as Elon’s Colleges Against Cancer (CAC) hosts Relay for Life for the third year in a row.
Laura Castro, Relay for Life 2015 director, said the event will feature new changes in an effort to improve the event.
To make the layout appear more cohesive, Castro said that this year, tents will be set up in the center of the Francis Center fields, instead of on the edge of the track.
“Last year, people who wanted to be in tents and campsites felt excluded from the field,” Castro said. “Hopefully, this year people will feel more involved in all of the activities, whether they are walking or not.”
To save money this year, the organization got permission to allow Relay for Life participants to use the bathrooms in the Francis Center, saving the organization approximately $1,000 to use for expenses other than port-a-potties.
In addition to logistical changes, Castro said this year’s event is taking on the theme “Hope Around the World” and adding new events throughout the 12 hours, like food trucks Friday evening and a breakfast by Elon fraternity Sigma Phi Epsilon Saturday morning.
Five food trucks are scheduled to remain until midnight and are each participating in a profit share with Relay for Life, with varied percentages going back to the event.
The event — scheduled to begin 6 p.m. Friday, April 24 — will continue throughout the night and conclude the following morning at 6 a.m. Saturday, April 25.
“Cancer never sleeps, so for the night we’re not going to, either,” Castro said.
This year, in addition to community members and an estimated 800 students, faculty and staff will be participating.
Jaimie Biermann, assistant director of residence life in Danieley Center, created ‘Fac and Staff Bridging the Gap,’ a group of seven faculty and staff members who are scheduled to participate in the event alongside Elon students.
No matter the age of participants or their relation to Elon, Castro said the goal of Relay for Life is to raise money and awareness for cancer research and advances in conjunction with the American Cancer Society.
Relay for Life is a national event that started in 1985 when Dr. Gordon Klatt spent 24 hours walking the University of Puget Sound’s track to raise awareness and money. Klatt walked more than 83 miles and raised $27,000.
A year later, the first Relay for Life was hosted and 19 teams participated and raised $33,000.
In the past two decades Relay for Life has raised almost $5 billion in events hosted across the country.
This is the third year Elon has hosted a Relay for Life event. At the first Relay in April 26, 2013 about 400 people participated and beat the event’s goal of $10,000 with a final total of $30,420.
Last year, more than 800 students participated, raising a total of $50,073.28.
As of publication, 755 participants in 45 different teams have registered and raised a total of $45,809.35, which moves the organization closer to its 2015 goal of raising $75,000.
Castro said registration does not close, though, and people can register at the event.
“We just want to make sure everyone has the opportunity to participate,” Castro said. “This event is able to bring students together from across campus for one common goal: raising money to fight cancer.”
Castro said people can register with a team of as few as six people.
“People can register with friends or an organization leading up to the event or at the event,” she said. “We have a good variety of fraternities, sororities, clubs and halls registered.”
Klatt’s mission has inspired people around the country, including Elon students who participate in Relay because they understand the great amount of people who are touched by cancer.
“Being ivolved with CAC has made me realize how many people on this campus have been affected by cancer in some way,” said Rebecca Venetianer, director of marketing. “And I think it is important for everyone to realize that as well.”
(04/22/15 11:50pm)
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.
(04/22/15 7:14pm)
Elon University School of Law announced Wednesday they will offer a dual-degree program with Vermont School of Law beginning fall 2015.
(04/22/15 6:04pm)
With a bundle of orange yarn, some popsicle sticks and a whiteboard, a group of Elon University students are vying for attention amidst the hustle and bustle of Moseley to unify campus in support of diversity.
(04/22/15 2:13pm)
This week, the concerted effort Elon University has made over time in regard to sustainability comes to the forefront during Earth Week, said Jessica Bilecki, education and outreach coordinator in the office of sustainability.
“I think it’s hugely important that we have public events to bring attention to what Elon is doing well in terms of sustainability and to highlight areas where we as a campus community can improve,” Bilecki said. “Earth Week is a convenient time to do that.”
A number of student organizations are coming together this week to sponsor events across campus celebrating Earth Week.
Focus will be put on the sustainability projects Elon has completed, while also continuing to push for more awareness among students.
“Earth Week is an opportunity for the campus to celebrate the natural environment we enjoy and learn about sustainability efforts on and off campus and how to get involved with them,” said Elaine Durr, director of sustainability.
Elon was recently named a “Green College,” showing a strong commitment to sustainable practices, for the sixth straight year by the Princeton Review.
Sustainability projects Elon has underwent include Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification for 25 buildings, a large reduction in energy consumption per square foot and solar thermal installations.
“The most obvious [ways Elon has progressed] are that buildings are more efficient and we recycle, but there is a lot more to sustainability than that,” Bilecki said. “Elon’s willingness to talk about all of sustainability, not just environmental sustainability, shows progress as well.”
Elon also has the Eco-Reps program for students to educate their peers about sustainability initiatives.
“One of the goals of the Eco-Reps program is to help students understand that ‘living sustainably’ does not require people to completely change their life style,” said senior Shannon Temlak, Eco-Rep Coordinator. “Students can take small steps to make a huge impact.”
The week began Sunday with a canoeing and cleanup trip to the Haw River sponsored by Campus Recreation. An official Earth Week kick-off event was held Monday.
Danielle Nierenberg, president of Food Tank — an organization that focuses on environmentally, socially and economically sustainable ways of alleviating hunger, poverty and obesity — spoke Tuesday night as the week’s keynote speaker. Her speech was titled “Cultivating a Better Food System.”
Wednesday, the plaza outside Lakeside Dining Hall will host Party for the Planet, a new event. A number of campus sustainability-related organizations will be there with food, music and more. There will also be a Swap Shop, where students can donate small items like books or clothing and take an item in exchange. A local meal will be served at Colonnades Dining Hall 11 a.m. – 2 p.m., and Elon Outdoors will host a S’mores social at the Beck Pool patio 10-11 p.m.
On Thursday, the Farmer’s Market will be on the Elon Community Church Lawn from 3-6:30 p.m. Friday will be a Garden Work Day from 2-4 p.m. in the Community Garden, and there will be a Student Union Board Cinema, in conjunction with Sustainability at Elon, video debut at 8 p.m. Saturday on Young Commons.
“Earth Week events are primarily for awareness building, networking and celebration,” Bilecki said. “The events demonstrate how more sustainable practices can be integrated into a lot of events already happening on campus. I think Party for the Planet in particular is a great event to show that though it may not always seem like it, there are a lot of students interested and working on this topic. Ultimately, I hope it helps people understand what they can do to contribute to sustainability at Elon.”
Elon is also launching the Sustainability Projects Database this week, which showcases student research on sustainability and gives students, faculty and staff the chance to submit project ideas.
“The goals of the Sustainability Project Database are to showcase student work while serving as a repository and inspiration for new, or more in depth, projects and to facilitate completion of, or improvement on, projects from year to year,” Durr said. “Projects for the Database can address one or more aspects of sustainability: environmental, social and/or economic. They can focus on campus, the local area or sustainability on a broader scale.”
(04/21/15 2:17pm)
Civil rights leader Bernard Lafayette spoke to a crowded room of Elon University students, faculty and staff Monday evening about his experiences coordinating nonviolent protests starting in 1960. He started by praising Elon faculty and staff for its commitment to global education. Then he challenged students to see difference without allowing it to create a divide.
Mark Dalhouse, director of Elon’s Study USA program, introduced Lafayette by saying, “It’s because of men and women like Bernard Lafayette that we have the right to vote.” Dalhouse then announced that voter registration information would be available at the end of the event.
Lafayette opened his speech by expressing his interest in Elon’s global approach to teaching and learning. “This is a model for modern education,” he said. “Elon is a place where I see there are special experiences that are created for you to prepare yourselves for a different kind of future than we had.”
He also said that the increase in connectedness across the world has launched an era of accepting difference. He challenged students to use this heightened awareness of diversity to continue the legacy of change that began with the Civil Rights Movement.
“Acknowledge the differences, but don’t make the differences make a difference –that’s our challenge,” he said. “What’s happening now is that it’s in your hands. You are going to determine what kind of world we are going to live in.”
It was ownership of his legacy that saw Lafayette through the dozens of violent encounters he had throughout the U.S. Civil Rights Movement. “I had to work on trying to change the system,” he said, “so that my grandmother, in her allotted years, would be respected and would be treated as a human being.”
Lafayette first became a civil rights activist in 1959 as a student at American Baptist College in Nashville, Tennessee. He attended non-violence classes at the nearby Highlander Folk School. After a year of classes, he worked with other young activists to participate in demonstrations aimed at integrating lunch counters, buses and movie theatres. Lafayette then traveled to the inaugural conference of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) in 1960.
This launched his involvement in demonstrations nationwide. He participated in the freedom rides in 1961, then helped coordinate the 1965 March on Washington. In less than a decade, Lafayette became a leader in the movement.
He worked with Martin Luther King, Jr. as the national coordinator of the Poor People’s Campaign in 1968. Lafayette spoke with King on the morning of his assassination. Their final conversation shaped the rest of Lafayette’s career.
“He wanted to internationalize and institutionalize nonviolence,” he said. “I decided that I would complete that assignment. That’s what I’ve been doing for the rest of my life.”
Today, he is working with Emory University in Atlanta to set up a center for nonviolence, one of dozens across the nation and world. Elon is one of his stops on a tour across the country that includes both speaking engagements and non-violence training sessions.
“The goal of nonviolence is to win people over,” he said. “The single most important advice that I could give to civil rights workers today is that it’s important to go through the training–leadership training and nonviolence training.”
Dalhouse and the Global Education Center brought Lafayette to Elon to start a conversation about how the work done during civil rights movement is relevant today.
“This is the 50th anniversary of the Voting Rights Act, and he was instrumental in that,” Dalhouse said. “I’m sending students all over the United States to learn. I feel like it’s our responsibility to bring some of that here and challenge students to think.”
Lafayette also acknowledge the need for further conversation about racial discrimination and hatred in the United States.
“When we talk about post-racial period, there’s nothing post about it,” he said in a smaller talk with students of color organized by the Center for Race, Ethnicity and Diversity Education. “When we look at where we are now compared to where we were in the 1960s, we begin to see the reflections clearly.”
While Lafayette made clear his beliefs that work on U.S. civil rights is far from over, he expressed confidence in students at Elon.
Senior Broadway Jackson pointed to apathy as a major problem with the millennial generation’s response to issues of discrimination and hatred.
"Demographically, millennials tend to be politically disengaged and these sort of things that you're talking about, Ferguson for example, tend to be "too much" for a lot of people," Jackson said. "How do we as fellow millennials encourage people to participate and do things like get registered to vote and be politically active and aware? How do we avoid apathy?"
Lafayette left the audience with advice for combating that issue:
“Apathy is a form of violence, whether they’re disinterested or whether it’s fear that causes them not to take a stand,” he said. “About 25 percent of the people who are silent just don’t know how to get involved. You’ve got to look at ways that people can participate and support. You have to help them see how this is going to benefit those around them.”
(04/20/15 6:07pm)
Elon University students trickled in from all corners of the campus clad in old white shirts and gathered in packs around a large blue tarp in Speaker’s Corner. At first, the differences were stark: friends with friends, sisters with sisters, brothers with brothers. But once they all counted down, yelled, “Holi!,” and threw cups of paint in the air, a cloud of color covered them and the divisions began to fade fast.
(04/20/15 1:37pm)
When senior Drew Forte and his classmates visited the Rudy Ramirez Little League during their Winter Term Study Abroad program in the Dominican Republic, three things happened immediately. They noticed the pizza boxes and bottle caps that served as makeshift bases and balls, the players’ relentless passion for baseball and how their hearts were immediately stolen by the warm environment the little leaguers created.
Realizing that new equipment could enhance the students’ ability to play baseball, they decided to take immediate action when they returned to Elon.
And sometime next week, precious cargo carrying 200 individual items of baseball gear is scheduled to reach Rudy Ramirez Little League and Bartolo Colon Baseball Camp in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.
“Through our broken Spanish and their broken English, we created a connection,” Forte said. “We knew we had the ability to do something — so we made sure we did.”
The cargo represents the students’ fundraising — an effort they began within a week from returning to Elon.
The team launched a GoFundMe page, collected personal donations of baseball goods and sought a way to transport the shipment. It was during this time when Dr. Mark Cryan, assistant professor of sport and event management, informed Forte of Donald Henry, ‘04 who works at CaribEx, a Caribbean Shipping Company.
Forte approached Henry, who admired the students’ efforts to create a direct impact out of their meaningful study abroad experience, and he announced the company would cover the payment required for the shipment.
Henry said Forte’s decision to approach him is an example of the boundless opportunities and possibilities created by alumnus-student collaboration.
“There is such a large network of alumni who are so willing to help students with their projects,” he said. “Never hesitate to reach out.”
With support from CaribEx, the $400 they raised through their GoFundMe campaign could be directed towards buying more equipment.
The Winter Term program, GBL 298 Dominican Republic: Tourism & Baseball, delved into issues of social justice, globalization and U.S. neo-colonialism in the context of specific local practices in baseball and tourism industry and the effect of these practices on the culture, people and international relations.
Sophomore Katie Soraghan, who was also enrolled in the program, said the students’ passion for baseball especially resonated with her.
“If they could play baseball 24/7, they would,” she said. “The hospitality of the culture, the passion they shared with us and how they jump through obstacles just to play baseball — we took all that back with us.”
Forte said something as simple as a base could extend and enhance the students’ playing time significantly.
“They would use their bats and balls until they withered away,” he said. “By having a supply of basic baseball sporting equipment, they can play for a much longer period of time — something we know they are determined to do.”
Forte noted that a common problem in the Dominican Republic is that a love for baseball has been hindering youths’ academic pursuits. The Rudy Ramirez Little League allows students to pursue their passion for baseball while committing to academic requirements and schedules. The students on the league are taught to balance their love for the sport and their academic pursuits.
Forte who plays on Elon’s club baseball team, said he learned much more about the sport through the few weeks he spent with the students.
“To these kids, baseball is life and represents so much hope and that really hit home for me,” he said. “It made me and I’m sure it made everybody else, appreciate what we have. Of course, I’ll be thinking about them when I play the sport myself.”
(04/20/15 3:30am)
Senior Omolayo Ojo saw other college’s African Societies sponsoring a week solely devoted to Africa and knew it was something Elon University needed.
After learning from schools like Wake Forest University, Duke University and North Carolina A&T State University, Ojo is finally bringing that type of event to Elon.
“It’s finding ways to bring African topics to the forefront of various communities,” Ojo said. “Ever since the Elon African Society (EAS) was founded, we’ve been trying to get conversations going around campus about various African topics, but Africa Week’s really dedicated to celebrating things and celebrating cultures. We wanted something that would bring a lot of different parts of campus together.”
EAS is in the midst of hosting its inaugural Africa Week with the goal of giving students a better perspective on Africa while celebrating the culture as a whole. The week began Monday with the International African Fair and will conclude Saturday night with Africa Night, a culmination of everything done during the week.
Chef Kabui, renowned Kenyan chef from Apex, had a cooking demonstration followed by dinner and discussion on Tuesday. Today, students will present research at the third annual African and African-American Studies lunch and learn series.
Thursday, topics regarding African innovation will be explored at 6 p.m. in the Global Commons Media Room. South African food will also be served at Lakeside Dining Hall all week.
EAS partnered with a number of different organizations on campus to help plan the events, which all focus around the theme of African Influences Around the World. The Global Education Center, the Latin American Student Organization and the Center for Race, Ethnicity and Diversity Education are all sponsoring portions of the week.
Ojo said the planning began more than a year ago, and the process has gotten frantic in the last few months to lock down the dates and sponsors.
“We don’t have a huge African population at Elon, but we have a lot of people who might be interested in African topics,” Ojo said. “We made sure our first topic was a very approachable topic — a very relatable topic — that can draw other students in who might not necessarily identify as African.”
Ojo said Africa Night is the main event of the week and what usually draws the most attention at other schools. There will be a number of dance performances by groups like Elon’s finest, Gospel Choir’s Praise Team, Alpha Phi Alpha Inc. and the African Dance Team from North Carolina Central University.
It takes place at 6 p.m. Saturday in McKinnon and is followed by an after party at 11 p.m. at Tap House.
“I think Elon students need to see beyond the Africa presented in the media,” said freshman Ally Bolton, a member of EAS. “I do believe there is a growing awareness on campus about African realities thanks to a number of initiatives on campus such as a forum on African entrepreneurship held earlier this semester by Dr Heidi Frontani. I would like for Africa week to be another such event. I think this is a fantastic opportunity to showcase Africa’s rich and diverse cultures.”
EAS marketed the event through messages on digital boards, Facebook and Instagram posts and through departments on campus.
EAS won’t be making any profits from the week. Ojo said originally the plan was to charge admission to Africa Night and the subsequent after party — because that’s what other schools do — but they decided against it since it’s a new event.
“Africa has been in the news a lot lately, and most of the time it’s been not-so-great news,” Ojo said. “Taking a week where every topic we’re talking about is very enlightening, very inspirational, very celebratory of what Africa does have to offer is so important for Elon students who are interested in Africa or never been exposed to Africa or have only been exposed to bad news from Africa.”
As a whole, Ojo said the goal of the week is to showcase African history and the cultures that exist today. She thinks it manifests Elon’s goals regarding global engagement and citizenship.
“If this week can change just one person’s image of Africa or idea of what Africa looks like, I would call it a success,” Ojo said.
