Opinions

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OPINIONS 5/4/16 11:50am

Cancelled concerts, missed opportunities

By Fletcher Rowe

As students living in North Carolina, I’m sure you’ve heard all about House Bill 2. (If you haven't yet, do a quick Google before reading this.) One of the ways you’ve probably heard more about it in the news is the fact that many musicians are cancelling their shows in opposition of the discriminatory law. Musical groups and entertainers such as Ringo Starr, Bryan Adams, Bruce Springsteen, Cirque du Soleil, Boston, Blue Man Group and most recently, Demi Lovato and Nick Jonas, have canceled their performances in North Carolina to boycott the law. Seeing this headline really makes me feel conflicted.

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OPINIONS 5/2/16 12:00pm

Corporate interests undermine new dietary guidelines

By Marissa Costner

Today in America, politics run practically every aspect of our lives. The 2015-2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans are no exception.

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OPINIONS 5/2/16 8:31am

A connection to home doesn't mean we are disconnected

By Jessica Rapfogel

Societal views can be black and white, and a world without gray is a world without balance – a world without acceptance.

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OPINIONS 5/1/16 3:30pm

Another column about media portrayal of sexual assault

By Olivia Ryan

A few months ago, I published a column criticizing the overwhelming willingness of the media and society in general to sweep charges of rape and sexual assault under the rug for well-respected males in a feeble attempt to maintain their shiny images.

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OPINIONS 5/1/16 2:30pm

In CAA, more opportunities for institutional, athletic growth

By The Pendulum

Elon University’s move to the Colonial Athletic Association, announced May 2013 but not official until July 2014, was met with considerable financial weight and legitimate concerns with regard to travel and level of competition. But about two years in, fresh off the first CAA Championships that Elon hosted, it’s clear that the move was the right move for not just the athletic department, but the institution as a whole. Elon’s Jimmy Powell Tennis Center hosted the CAA Tennis Championships last weekend, with both the Phoenix men and women falling in tight semifinal matches.

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OPINIONS 4/27/16 6:53pm

Enough with white men behind lecterns

By Jane Seidel

As I flipped through last week’s edition of the Pendulum, I was struck by how many photos looked similar: a panel of white, male students discussing politics.

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OPINIONS 4/24/16 9:30am

Executive order on HB2 shows progress, but still not enough

By Tim Melton

Since its passage into law nearly four weeks ago, the North Carolina legislation House Bill 2 (HB2) has caused the state a considerable amount of trouble.

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OPINIONS 4/23/16 8:00am

Nothing cool about cooler season

By Jessica Rapfogel

            Welcome to banquet season. A weekend of seclusion spent with fraternity brothers and their dates at the beach may sound relaxing, but the weeks leading up to it definitely are not for the girls attending.

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OPINIONS 4/22/16 12:52pm

Election is rigged against Sanders, Trump

By Bryan Anderson

Wyoming is the least populous state. With just 29 Republican and 18 Democratic delegates in the caucuses and three Electoral College votes, it carries very little significance in the 2016 presidential election. But results from the April 9 Democratic caucuses reflect a larger issue of voter disenfranchisement.

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OPINIONS 4/22/16 12:50pm

Don't let your waste go to waste

 

In the last few weeks, Elon Dining unveiled new takeout boxes with large orange letters on the top, reading “Compost.” These new lables serve to remind students that the boxes are compostable, just one of many initiatives used to encourage students to live sustainably.

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OPINIONS 4/17/16 9:00am

Be open to using your resources

By Tim Melton

It seems hard to believe, but we’re already approaching the end of spring semester. While the yearning dreams of summer may already be fresh in our minds, it’s time once again for the annual onslaught of exams and final projects.

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OPINIONS 4/15/16 4:30pm

Letter to the Editor: Chaplains welcoming, supportive of all religions

By Jan Fuller

Editor's note: This is a response to a letter to the editor that ran in the April 13 edition of The Pendulum. It is always good to see alumni invested in campus religious life.

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OPINIONS 4/15/16 4:23pm

Letter to the Editor: Religious diversity needs to include Christianity

 

My husband and I are both graduates of Elon University. His class celebrated their 25th reunion this year.

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OPINIONS 4/15/16 9:38am

Do not allow fall classes to ruin your spring

By Jessica Rapfogel

            Besides the few who truly mastered the four-year plan in Elon 101, April is known for more than just its showers. It’s one of the few times of the year when we log into OnTrack and actually look at “Degree Audit.” We grab a notebook and jot down the next courses to take and what sections and teachers are being offered.

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OPINIONS 4/15/16 9:36am

Research can fulfill more than just a requirement

 

Elon is known for the vast amounts of opportunities for learning and growth that it gives to its students.

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OPINIONS 4/15/16 9:35am

The power of intentional kindness

By Courtney Campbell

Almost every day I wear a piece of ceramic jewelry around my neck: a yellow flower with the inscription “Be Kind.” It reminds me of the power of intentional kindness, which is one of the driving motivational factors in my daily life.

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OPINIONS 4/5/16 12:17pm

House Bill 2 restricts human rights

By Jessica Rapfogel

On March 3rd, Governor Pat McCrory signed a new state law that questions equality among all.

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OPINIONS 3/2/16 10:59am

If you’re comfortable, you’re not trying

By Hannah Silvers

I recently reported on a speech about campus racism given by Lawrence Ross, author of “Blackballed: The Black and White Politics of Race on America’s Campuses.” It was a fairly routine assignment. I showed up in LaRose Digital Theatre with plenty of time to scope out some students to interview and a good seat for taking photos. It was only when I’d settled in that I realized this event was being attended, unlike most events at Elon University, by mostly African-American students and faculty. It was then that the discomfort settled in, along with the feeling that, however unwelcome that discomfort might be, it was absolutely necessary.

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OPINIONS 2/28/16 11:50am

Safety, respectful behavior in living spaces deserves greater priority

By Tim Melton

Having spent my last three years as a student here at Elon, I was sure for the longest time that nothing more about college living could faze me. Granted, the initial transition from living at home to a more independent lifestyle was difficult, but after so much time, I figured I was already well-accustomed to the various eccentricities of living in close quarters with hundreds of college students. 

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OPINIONS 2/26/16 4:00pm

It is our obligation to fight against sexual violence

By Rabbi Meir Goldstein

Last Monday, I was driving into Elon thinking about my first meeting of the morning, wondering about food for Shabbat dinner, and trying to remember a couple ideas for the Multi-Faith Spring Break trip, when I stopped at a red light.

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