Opinions

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OPINIONS 11/2/16 3:42pm

SEIDEL: The importance of civil discourse and putting my bias into my pocket

By Jane Seidel

I voted early last week with two of my friends. We went during a three-hour gap between classes and work, and the line was so long that I didn’t even get to eat lunch before my seven hour shift.

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OPINIONS 11/2/16 9:51am

EDITORIAL: Elon InterVarsity student leaders should offer a statement

 

The situation is undeniably complicated. Between IV reaffirming its stance on gay marriage in no uncertain terms and Elon University’s campus-wide push for inclusivity, Elon InterVarsity (IV) is in a tough place. But so are the students in IV at Elon who look to the organization for spiritual guidance, as are the students in the greater Elon community committed to their own views of inclusivity.

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OPINIONS 10/4/16 2:32pm

SEIDEL: Visual transcripts are not a full indicator of the Elon experience

By Jane Seidel

On a typical Monday, I leave my apartment at 8 a.m. and don’t return until about midnight. During that time, I go to class, I work as a barista, I work in the newsroom, I sometimes eat, and I try to do homework.  My visual transcript remains blank through all of this.  The purpose of the visual transcript is to capture and validate student’s co-curricular experience.

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OPINIONS 10/1/16 5:00am

SIMON: Elon can’t be residential without late-night options

By Alex Simon

As Elon University continues to shift its focus from being a small, regional school to a medium-sized, national school, the university stated its intention of becoming a more residential and pedestrian campus.

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OPINIONS 9/25/16 4:17pm

NTIM: Rebuilding the African-American Story

By Stephanie Ntim

For over four centuries, African-Americans have been burdened with a life of toil. Their bodies have been bruised and beaten under discriminatory policies and practices.

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OPINIONS 9/21/16 9:36am

BENSON: Party of one, please

By Hannah Benson

We live in a world with 7 billion people with millions of likes, dislikes, experiences, interests and hobbies, and, a lot of times, the very best person to spend time with isn’t far at all—it’s yourself.

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OPINIONS 9/21/16 9:35am

O'NEIL: Stand with American Indians in their time of need

By Joshua O'Neil

“Mni Wiconi,” or “water is life”, has become the slogan for the protest against the Dakota Access Pipeline that is being constructed in North Dakota — on tribal lands I might add.

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OPINIONS 9/21/16 9:28am

EDITORIAL: Take advantage of Elon University’s interfaith programming

 

On Sept. 15, students and community members celebrated Eid Al-Adha, the Muslim celebration of sacrifice, in McBride Gathering Space.

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OPINIONS 9/14/16 10:00am

EDITORIAL: Lean on each other to grieve through Derek's passing

 

It didn’t matter if you knew Derek Winton, the fifth-year senior at Elon who died early Saturday morning. The loss of a community member — less than three weeks into our academic year — is painful for all. And for a campus that often moves too quickly into our own organizational silos, it’s important for all of us to stop, slow down and be there for each other in this time of grieving.

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OPINIONS 9/7/16 10:00am

EDITORIAL: Make conversations more accessible to all leaders on campus — not just ‘the most involved’

 

In its messaging surrounding campus growth — from the construction of Park Place to the implementation of new programs like “Phoenix Fanatics” — Elon University has reverberated one clear, theme: student voices have been central to creating change.

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OPINIONS 9/6/16 12:40am

WEHRHAHN: A huge success for feminism is taking place and you (probably) don’t know about It

By Kevin Wehrhahn

As nice as it is to recognize progress, equal footing in the workplace and in society should be something that we expect rather than applaud. Let’s save the clapping for when the next champion is crowned.

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OPINIONS 9/1/16 2:26pm

BROWN: 2020, you don't have to fit the Elon mold

 

To incoming freshmen: Enjoy the moment. It’s an exciting time for you. You will not only meet many people but also experience different things. This doesn’t just apply to move-in day but to your entire year. So once in a while, put your phone up, look around, and enjoy the moment.

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OPINIONS 8/26/16 7:00am

EDITORIAL: If you're calling Elon your new home, treat it like one

 

Class of 2020: If you haven’t declared it already, you’re likely preparing to call Elon your “new home.” And it’s true — this is your new home. But it stretches far beyond your new lofted bed. When you call this community your home, think about everything you’re embracing. All of it.

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OPINIONS 8/25/16 9:30pm

Letter from your Black Student Union President

By Alexis Williams

I’ve been staring at this document for days trying to figure out what wisdom I can share in this column, trying to remember what I needed to hear as an incoming first-year.

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OPINIONS 8/25/16 8:49pm

AAPI Phoenix, we see you for who you are

By Nikki Valente

When I first toured Elon University, it seemed like the perfect school. When I arrived here, it almost was. I loved the small class sizes. I had fantastic professors. I enjoyed the courses that I took. I felt like I was growing as a student. I became involved in InterVarsity, so my spiritual needs were provided for. To top it all off, the campus was beautiful. But despite all of the wonderful things Elon offered, I wanted to transfer a month or two into my freshman year. I’m a first-generation Filipino-American, and I didn’t feel like my ethnic identity was welcomed or supported on Elon’s campus.

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OPINIONS 8/25/16 7:48pm

Become authors of your own worldview and faith

By Jan Fuller

Oh behalf of the Chaplains — Father Gerry, Rabbi Meir, Chaplain Joel, Muslim Coordinator Shane Atkinson, and myself, Chaplain Jan — I want to welcome you! It is a joy to have the campus teeming again with happy and energetic students. Our presence on campus means that Elon cares about your spiritual self, and your whole self. Our mission, in the Truitt Center, is to provide you resources to explore, consider and deepen your religious or spiritual commitment. We also offer you opportunities to understand and interact with those who follow different paths. And we provide events and moments to support religious and non-religious students to think together and learn from each other.

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OPINIONS 8/25/16 7:30pm

Validated, valued, and victorious at Elon

By Matthew Antonio Bosch and Camilla Brewer

As we welcome our LGBTQIA and ally students, faculty, and staff back to campus, we must also take time to reflect upon the national conversations surrounding LGBTQIA events, tragedies, and victories.

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OPINIONS 8/24/16 5:44pm

It's okay not to bELONg here at first

By Darius Moore

If your first experience at Elon is one riddled with anxiety and uncertainty like mine, perhaps you don’t bELONg. And that’s okay. The challenge is to find where you do belong. The result may surprise you.

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OPINIONS 8/24/16 12:13pm

Lessons in humility during times of struggle

By Reiney Lin

Starting college is a fresh start, a clean slate, a blank canvass — but on your first day, you realize that the canvass given to you isn’t blank at all.

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OPINIONS 8/16/16 9:56am

HAMZIK: Elon’s student newsroom in transition

By Tommy Hamzik

The Pendulum and Elon Local News, Elon's leading student news organizations, are merging to create one organization called Elon News Network.

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