Letters to the Editor

NEWS 9/13/11 12:02am

Reelz Sept. 13, 2011

By Caitlin O'Donnell

http://stream.elon.edu/pendulum/2011fall/podcasts/movies/MoviesPodcast9_13.mp3 This week on The Pendulum movie podcast, Caitlin and Zach talk all about upcoming movies, both in the near and distant future, including: Drive I Don't Know How She Does It Straw Dogs Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows The Dark Knight Rises Breaking Dawn, Part 1

NEWS 9/12/11 12:39am

Give 'United We Stand' meaning once again

By Chris Bosak

On September 12th 2001 there was very little to be positive about in the United States.  The nation had moved out of the disbelief that follows a tragedy of unthinkable magnitude and had begun processing what we just witnessed.   As a nation, we were fearful and uncertain. If there was one thing that was the silver lining on September 12th 2001, one thing to be positive about, it was that you were not alone.  Although everyone was hurt to different degrees, those who were lucky enough to have all of their loved ones safe began to help those who needed consoling.  Some near New York even jumped to action searching the rubble for anyone still alive. Around the country, everyone was hurt and confused but somehow in sharing this feeling of weakness, we gained strength.  Everyone took that little bit of power they had left in them and instead of trying to make it stand on its own they added it to others and found more strength than would have been possible alone.  Eventually, someone borrowed a phrase to explain that strength: United We Stand. Today, those three words are merely a relic of the tragedy.  As time went on we reverted to our argumentative norm and the phrase became a call for conformity.  That isn't surprising though.  We have always argued and we will always argue.  Our ability to disagree is one of the things that make our country great.  But today the tone of our vitriol has overridden our ability to come together and do what needs to be done. Ironically, this problem is perfectly presented in the 9/11 healthcare controversy.  The Zadroga bill, as it's called, allowed for billions of dollars in funding to be provided to the men and women who now suffer from various health issues caused by rushing into the rubble after the towers collapsed.  Funding for this care came from closing a tax loophole on foreign companies.  Although the bill eventually passed and was signed it was subject to filibuster in the senate and for a time was considered unlikely to pass before the end of 2010. If there was ever a bill that was an easy vote, this was it.  But instead it was held hostage and Republican leadership demanded that it not be supported in order to make a point about the Bush tax cuts. The Zadroga bill is just the beginning.  Lest we forget about our downgraded credit rating caused by an uncooperative, divided congress. Though our country isn't facing the kind of drastic tragedy we saw on 9/11, we are still in a midst of a minor crisis.  America is looking to Washington for bravery and leadership to combat uncertain times but all we're finding is dysfunction and divisiveness.   The brave men and women that took action ten years ago are the perfect example of doing what is needed with out worrying about what they'll get in return or what others would think.  Maybe it's time we thought about the three words from those old banners and bumper stickers: United We Stand.

NEWS 9/12/11 12:33am

Elon rallies against marriage bill

By Kassondra Cloos

The North Carolina state legislature is currently debating an amendment to the state constitution that would define marriage between a man and a woman as the only legally recognized relationship.

NEWS 9/11/11 12:29pm

Get to know your SGA representatives

By Caitlin O'Donnell

by Grace Elkus Senior Reporter SGA elections for the freshman class took place last week, and I got the chance to interview the new president and vice-president.  Not only are they excited to get started, but they are also eager to meet the rest of the SGA council and voice their opinions. Joe Incorvia from Harwinton, Conn., was elected president and is adamant about creating class unity.  He admitted that most people knew who he was before school even started because they had watched the video he posted on the class of 2015 Facebook group. He told me the video was “philosophical,” and in it he asked his peers how they wanted to be remembered as a class.  He admits that sometimes it’s creepy because people he’s never met know his name, but that also it was helpful when he ran for the SGA position. Sarah Paille Jansa from Atlanta was elected vice-president.  Although she has no experience in student government, she is looking forward to learning from the other officers and trying something new.  She says the process of writing a speech and getting signatures for her petition was a “whirlwind,” but it was definitely worth it. The class senators include Robert Iachenauer, Joe Duncan and Kristopher Jiles.  Adrienne Euler is the class secretary, and Ciera Martinez is the class treasurer.  Martinez, who was president of her high school’s student council, is excited to be involved in the college level. “My goals are to make our freshman year memorable!” she said.  “I’m looking forward to being a member of a team that will make significant changes.  Being a member of something bigger than yourself.” The freshman class should be excited about their new leaders and what they will bring to their class and to the Elon community. Look for Grace's story in this week's issue of The Pendulum, on newsstands and online Sept.

NEWS 9/11/11 12:52am

Elon's early barrage holds but Wilson hurt

By Zachary Horner

Elon quarterback Thomas Wilson rolls out for a pass in the Phoenix's 42-10 victory over the Concord University Mountain Lions on Saturday night. The Elon Phoenix scored 28 points in the first half and walked away with a 42-10 victory over the Concord University Mountain Lions Saturday night at Rhodes Stadium. One of their players, however, walked away with a limp. Elon quarterback Thomas Wilson went 22 of 27 with 201 yards and three touchdowns through the air before going down with a leg injury with less than a minute left in the second quarter. "I have not got an injury report yet," said Elon coach Jason Swepson, who earned his first collegiate head-coaching win with the rout.

NEWS 9/11/11 12:50am

Stauch defense, balanced offense leads Elon at half

By Jack Rodenfels

In the first half, Elon controlled the tempo on both sides of the ball, leading a balanced attack of 201 yards through the air and 151 yards on the ground, and leads 28-7 over visiting Concord University. Senior running back Dontay Taylor leads the rushing attack for the Phoenix with 53 yards rushing.

NEWS 9/11/11 12:43am

The News Report Sept. 11, 2011

By Kassondra Cloos

"http://stream.elon.edu/pendulum/2011fall/podcasts/news/News_9.11.mp3" In the first episode of The Pendulum news podcast, Caitlin and Kassondra wrap up the week's news and give a preview of what to expect in this Wednesday's issue of the newspaper. Check out Time magazine's cover vs. Newsweek's cover of Sept.

NEWS 9/9/11 9:07pm

Every little move counts

By Kellye Coleman

It’s the second week of school here at Elon, and at this point, things are getting busy, homework loads are becoming heavier and time is most likely moving faster.

NEWS 9/7/11 7:42pm

A Town in Transition

By Caitlin O'Donnell

by Natalie Allison Senior Reporter Burlington is a growing place. I wish I had been smart enough to start my own time-lapse photo series six or so years ago to document how this city has grown and developed.

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NEWS 04/02/2026 1:16pm
Elon Poll reveals former Gov. Roy Cooper leads wide name recognition advantage ahead of 2026 midterms

An Elon University Poll published April 2 found that Democratic candidate and former governor Roy Cooper holds a name recognition lead, with 70% of respondents saying they have heard about Cooper, with just 35% who have heard the same amount about his Republican opponent, Michael Whatley. 48% of registered voters viewed Cooper favorably compared to 34% who viewed him unfavorably. 25% of registered voters viewed Whatley favorably and 34% unfavorably with 41% holding a neutral opinion.

NEWS 04/02/2026 8:58am
Elon University report urges institutions to lead response to AI’s growing impact

Elon University’s Imagining the Digital Future Center released a report April 2 titled “Building a Human Resilience Infrastructure for the AI Age.” The report featured input from excerpts around the world, totaling 386 responses. The report’s central message is that artificial intelligence will play a much larger role in everyday life within the next decade. Experts warn that the biggest risk is not a sudden disaster, but people slowly losing control and relying too heavily on AI for decisions.

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