Columns

NEWS 5/8/12 11:13am

Softball honors seniors, gains momentum toward SoCon tournament

By Andrew Wilson

After dropping a ninth straight game on Wednesday, May 2 against North Carolina A&T in game one of a double header, the Phoenix softball team ended their losing streak by defeating the Aggies 7-1 to finish a grueling 11-game road trip. Elon then returned home for the regular season finale with a weekend series against the College of Charleston Cougars.

NEWS 5/7/12 11:02pm

"Bex" follows pre-med, volleyball path simultaneously at Elon

By Andrew Wilson

Her real name is Megan McMahon, but everyone associated with volleyball just calls her “Bex.” “It’s so funny to even say Megan,” said volleyball head coach Mary Tendler. The nickname, which has nothing to do with her real name whatsoever, came from a senior on the team when Megan was an incoming freshman in 2008. “During the summer we all email each other back and forth just keeping in touch,” McMahon said.

NEWS 5/7/12 10:26pm

More injuries force Phoenix baseball's hand to challenge young guys

By Adam Lawson

The recruiting pitch Elon baseball coach Mike Kennedy made to Spartanburg Methodist outfielder Robbie Dodds after the Phoenix’s 11-4 victory against Western Carolina May 7 couldn’t have been too complex. Of course, Kennedy probably wishes Dodds could suit up now because the list of injured Phoenix is growing by the game. The latest casualties are Sebastian Gomez and Jake Luce.

NEWS 5/7/12 10:23pm

Graham yard sale raises funds for ‘game changing’ initiative

By Adriana Miano

Residents of Alamance County congregated at a yard sale in Graham to raise money for a cause that some believe will make a monumental difference for Alamance County. The yard sale, which took place at the H.F.

NEWS 5/7/12 10:22pm

Early voting shuttles influence student participation in N.C. Primary election

By Mary Kate Brogan

Elon University students are adding their voice to the North Carolina primary election. Spectrum has taken on an effort in the past two weeks to shuttle students from Moseley Center to the Graham Public Library for early voting and Alamance County voter registration.

NEWS 5/7/12 10:12pm

C-SPAN bus introduces political resources to Elon University

By Katherine Blunt

Emblazoned with the C-SPAN logo, a charter bus carrying six touch-screen computers and a SMART Board rolled onto Elon University’s campus and parked outside Moseley Center at noon May 5. The bus was designed to transport information about the 2012 presidential and primary campaigns.

NEWS 5/7/12 9:10pm

Elon Law professors voice concern about Amendment One's language

By Hannah Delacourt

Professor from the Elon University School of Law have discussed what they foresee as the implications of Amendment One at recent meetings held by the Elon Community Church. Two of the professors, Mike Rich and Sonya Garza, both said they think the amendment is poorly written and thus could lead to unwanted consequences. Rich said he personally disagrees with the amendment because he does not think marriage must uniquely be between two people of the opposite sex. But when it comes to law, he said he thinks it is interesting how North Carolina is attempting to put a restriction on a statue that is already in existence in the state’s constitution and that is a restriction on people’s rights. “Constitutions are things that we as citizens of a state put together to preventing the government from treading on our rights,” Rich said.

NEWS 5/7/12 9:10pm

Residential Campus Initiative brings learning full circle

By Hannah Delacourt

With the building of the Global Neighborhood and The Station at Mill Point, Elon University will get even closer to completing its Residential Campus Initiative of building for a capacity of 75 percent of the student body that will mix academics with the living environment. According to English professor Russell Gill, who is also the faculty liaison between faculty and learning communities, nearly $100 million will be invested to build these new residence facilities in the hopes of connecting the academic life found in the classroom with the lessons learned outside of class. One of the main ways in place to support this part of the initiative is to have faculty, called teacher scholars, live among the students, said Connie Book, the associate provost for academic affairs.

NEWS 5/7/12 9:10pm

Burlington's Relay for Life looks for increased awareness from Elon students

By Ben Donahue

In 1985, a Tacoma colorectal surgeon ran all day and night to raise money to fight cancer. The run spawned the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life. Currently, there are relays across the United States, all with the goal to procure funds for cancer treatment and research. This year’s local relay will be held at the Burlington City Recreation and Park May 18.

NEWS 5/7/12 7:29pm

University honors graduating LGBTQ community during first annual celebration

By Kristen Olsen

For members of the LGBTQ community, three colors characterize Elon University graduation: the typical maroon and gold, in addition to lavender for their own celebration. Lavender Graduation is an event specifically for LGBTQ students to celebrate their accomplishments and presence on campuses.

NEWS 5/6/12 11:10pm

Finals restrict Buddhist celebration on campus

By Mary Kate Brogan

Finals overshadow the Buddhist holiday, Visakha Puja, which celebrates the birth, enlightenment and death of Siddhartha Gautama, more commonly known as the Buddha. Visakha Puja will be on May 6 but, according to university chaplain Jan Fuller, because it is coming at such a busy time of the year, she said she would be surprised if there is much happening on campus to celebrate.

NEWS 5/6/12 11:08pm

Student life in Santiago

By Evan Studenmund

Well, I have completed my first midterm week in Chile, and yes, it is almost May. Due to the season inverse, the fall (which is our spring) semester did not start until early March. The past few days of intense studying have me reflecting on some of the distinctions between being a university student in Chile and the USA. For starters, the fotocopiadora (photocopier) is a Chilean student’s best friend; books are incredibly expensive here (thanks, neoliberalism!), and so I have made many trips from the library to the copy center with a bundle of libros (books). Chileans are notoriously unpunctual--a characteristic embraced by its students. There are some folks who consistently show up to class in excess of 20 minutes past its starting time. Most of the professors don’t bat an eye at the tardy students, however I have one professor who locks the classroom door at the start of class.

NEWS 5/6/12 10:58pm

Elon's Own Traumarama

By Kyra Gemberling

Everyone has a bad day, or sometimes just a really bad moment. These anonymous embarrassing stories are enough make even the most dignified college student’s skin crawl.

NEWS 5/6/12 10:55pm

Balancing science and art

By Ashley Fahey

For third year doctor of physical therapy student Ryan Mason, photography is a way to not only make some extra money, but to do something completely outside of the science world, just for himself. “What started off as something that was just kind of fun on the side became almost a necessity for me to have a break from (school),” Mason said.

NEWS 5/6/12 10:53pm

Graduating the Elon Bubble

By Kyra Gemberling

Rigorous application processes. Waiting around for job offers. Making new living arrangements. Ask any graduating senior at Elon and they will say they’ve dealt with all this and more when making plans for what they’re going to do after leaving college this May. But for four of these seniors, their post-graduation to-do list includes something substantially larger and even a bit frightening – preparing to move to another country all together. “Right now, globalization is everywhere, so it’s good to find a job offer abroad,” said senior Hiroshi Wada, who will be working for Pfizer, a pharmaceutical company in Japan, after he graduates. Not only are the economic aspects beneficial, but working internationally often entails doing something worthwhile to achieve the coveted status of “global citizen,” a term Elon promotes regularly through on-campus programs and lectures. “My goal is to find something that I can be passionate about and bring it back over here (to the United States) in future endeavors,” said senior Gayla Carr, who will be moving to Italy to teach English to children. And though they may have a general goal in mind for moving to a different country, these students can all agree on one thing: They have no idea what to expect. Life decisions on a whim Brett Brawerman: Peace Corps in Moldova As the creator of his own independent major, sports and health business, senior Brett Brawerman always thought he would be working in sports marketing after he graduated. When he heard that a friend of his had applied for the Peace Corps, Brawerman didn’t think much of it.

NEWS 5/6/12 2:01pm

Dogs, cats and bunnies - oh my!

By Kyra Gemberling

It’s common knowledge that animal lovers at Elon are typically disappointed to know that on-campus housing only allows the keeping of fish as pets. But for some students, off-campus housing is a prime opportunity to enjoy all the comfort that a home offers, including the chance to have various types of pets. “Having an animal is great because you know there’s always something there that depends on you and will love you unconditionally,” said sophomore Kristi Oristian, who lives off-campus with her rabbit, Lumpy (both pictured above). Oristian received Lumpy as a present for her 18th birthday before she came to college.

NEWS 5/6/12 2:00pm

Beat stress before it beats you

By Katie Kolls

It’s that time of year — finals will soon be here, meaning that students will probably spend their last weeks of school studying and facing a heavy load of anxiety. Not taking an occasional de-stress break from studying can actually hinder your ability to stay focused.

NEWS 5/6/12 2:00pm