Letters to the Editor

The 'lifer,' McKeon reflects on 62 years in professional baseball

Jack McKeon, 81, leans back and takes a puff of his ever-present Padron cigar. He stares off into a cloud of smoke, seemingly searching through an endless hoard of baseball stories — maybe the memory of winning the World Series in 2003 or perhaps the slog of rookie ball in the Midwest. Chuckling to himself, he returns from his reverie. "Could you, the Blessed Virgin Mary, intercede with the Lord and convince my father to let me sign a professional contract?" McKeon recalls praying. It was 1948, McKeon's freshman year at The College of the Holy Cross.

Women's basketball season approaches, team prepares for first game against Virginia Union

Elon fans got an early look at the women's basketball team Sunday at the Phoenix hoops preview. The team's first game takes place Nov.

Balancing act: Soccer captain focuses on academics, athletics

James Carroll sings for fun, flies remote-controlled planes, develops algorithms and has received several academic awards. He is also a co-captain of the Elon University men's soccer team. A senior midfielder, Carroll is seen as a leader on and off the field by his teammates and coach. "He's very reliable," head coach Darren Powell said.

Men's soccer unable to finish off Georgia Southern

he Elon University men's soccer team will play its final home game of the season at 7 p.m. Saturday against rival UNC Greensboro. The team is coming off a loss in which it was unable to protect a 2-1 lead late in the second half and fell to Georgia Southern University 4-2 Oct.

Phoenix done playing blame game

Heading into this weekend's showdown in Spartanburg, S.C. against Wofford College, Elon University football head coach Jason Swepson said his players have to "overcome the negative vibe" surrounding the team after it has dropped the last two games. The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga spoiled Elon's Homecoming game Saturday in Rhodes Stadium by defeating the Phoenix 42-18. Or maybe Elon spoiled its own Homecoming.

Walking on not-so-straight paths around Elon's campus

Sidewalks on Elon's campus are evolving structures. Throughout the years, some walkways have gained and lost purpose as the university has constructed and torn down buildings.

Sports Jam - Oct. 26, 2011

http://stream.elon.edu/pendulum/2011fall/podcasts/sports/Sports_10.27.mp3 Justin and Zach discuss the struggles of Elon football, the big shake-ups in the polls of national college football and the NBA canceling two more weeks of the season.

Amuse Yourself - Oct. 26, 2011

http://stream.elon.edu/pendulum/2011fall/podcasts/a_e/A_E_10.26.mp3 This week, Lauren talks about this week and next week's events and revisits "Hair" as it debuts at Elon.

The Swing - October 26th 2011

Timberlake Farm: Bringing youth back in touch with nature

The Center for Education, Imagination and the Natural World hopes to reconnect children with nature, and get them away from technology for a little while.

The Cottage at Blakey Hall provides volunteering opportunity

The Blakey Hall Retirement Community is a popular place for Elon students to volunteer with the elderly in the area.

Freshman appreciates university cultural events

When she arrived at Elon, freshman Sam Mairson planned to complement her formal education with extensive extracurricular participation. What she didn't anticipate was discovering she wouldn't have the money to stay. "It was horrifying not having the financial security I thought I was going to," Mairson said.

International Briefs - Oct. 25

Gaddafi dies after capture, video of last moments goes viral Libyan rebels are rejoicing following the death of their ousted dictator, Col.

Shalit goes home to Israel; 1,000 prisoners return to Palestine

HAIFA, ISRAEL — News of the homecoming of Gilad Shalit, an Israeli soldier in Palestinian captivity for five years, has sparked enthusiastic street parties in nearly every part of Israel.

Immigration Act to provide options for undocumented residents

Amid debt debacles and global financial crises, the DREAM Act on immigration has been forgotten by many.

New initiative to raise young adults' awareness of health care benefits

Before Congress passed the Affordable Care Act in March 2010, the least-insured group in America was adults ages 19-24, according to statistics from the U.S.

Statewide debate over issue of fracking intensifies

The nationwide debate over the controversial practice of hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, has split the state of North Carolina.

Plan to increase campus diversity still in early stages

One of Elon University's most emphasized priorites is establishing a diversity plan, which is currently in its earliest stages after a summer committee of the Presidential Diversity Council and senior staff members worked to write the first drafts. The plan will essentially expand on the first theme of the "Elon Commitment, which is an unprecedented commitment to diversity and global engagement." Brooke Barnett, the senior fellow for diversity and global engagement in the Office of the President, said she and President Leo Lambert have shared the plan with academic and staff councils and will begin to get feedback from other groups on campus throughout the fall. "This plan builds on Elon's longstanding commitment to community and creating a community that warmly welcomes all fully into the life of the university," she said. While the plan is not fully in place yet, Kenn Gaither, associate dean of the School of Communications and a member of the Presidential Diversity Council, said a number of initiatives are underway and some are already in practice. As part of the plan, the council is not only looking at what other institutions have done, but what it needs to do to increase diversity and ensure it is diffused throughout the Elon experience. One way the council is doing this is through research, surveys and focus groups in order to help them find out what the experience is like for an Elon student. But Gaither said they are looking at diversity in a broad term. "It's not just a black and white issue," he said.

Mind the Gap: Administration aims to increase study abroad participation

"Why did you not study abroad?" This is a question that is being asked by many members of administration of the students who have not done either a winter term or semester abroad during their four years at Elon University. The first point of the Elon Commitment is "an unprecedented university commitment to diversity and global engagement." The administration is aiming for 100 percent of students to have the opportunity to travel abroad during their studies and experience life immersed in a new culture. "We all believe study abroad is very valuable," said Woody Pelton, dean of international programs and director of the Isabella Cannon International Centre.

Despite El Centro's success, demand for more language centers is low

Every weekday at Elon, Carlton 114 is buzzing with people speaking Spanish. El Centro de Espanol, Elon's only language center, serves as both a home for native Spanish speakers at the university and a place for students of the language to come and practice their conversational skills and learn about Hispanic culture. When El Centro was established 13 years ago, Elon students weren't required to take a foreign language.