Awareness may help to prevent domestic violence

To the Editor:

I would just like to praise The Pendulum and the university for spreading the world about domestic violence this month. I think it is incredibly important that students and faculty understand the seriousness of this topic, and more importantly know how they can get help.

Quite frequently college students become involved in relationships that they feel are not harmful in any way. However, they can often mistake abusive signs for non-abusive ones. For instance, it is very important to understand that domestic violence is not only limited to physical instances, but may include emotional abuses as well.

As a freshman, I have been overly amazed at the awareness that has been spread across Elon’s campus on so many different issues. I think that speaking out on topics, such as this one, is essential in creating a stronger community throughout the university.

Therefore, I would like to commend the school and its organizations for succeeding once again in relaying this vital information to all of its students.

–Kara Pope, ‘07

Students want alcohol at Varsity

To the Editor:

Last week’s news article on a petition to serve alcohol at Varsity (“Despite petition, no alcohol at Varsity,” April 29) is not supporting the argument.

Varsity should be able to serve alcohol, and if enough students push, the process may be put into action. Currently, Varsity is set up like a sports bar minus the alcohol. When building Varsity, alcohol was obviously in mind, or why else would they build a bar with an area for kegs and mini refrigerators?

It is ludicrous for Varsity not to be able to sell alcohol. There could be a compromise with the times that alcohol could be served. Cantina Roble is associated with Elon, so I don't see how different it is other than a walk across the street.

If enough students put up the fight, Elon students, 21 and over, may be able to watch the Final Four in the lazy boys while drinking a beer and eating some wings!

–Liz Shomo, ‘07

To the Editor:

In a recent article (“Despite petition, no alcohol at Varsity,” April 29), an idea was proposed to serve beer in Varsity, the sports grille in downstairs McEwen. Obviously, President Lambert shot down the proposal.

However, I don't think he really considered the benefits of the situation. I have been to Varsity one time, and the meals and service are decent, but there are never any customers. I'm sure the waitstaff make next to nothing in tips.

If beer were added to the menu, people would show up like they do at Cantina Roble, which does well.

Secondly, if President Lambert is worried about underage drinking at this school, then he needs to remember that state law requires bars to check for proper identification before serving alcohol to anyone under the age of 40. I would encourage President Lambert to rethink his decision.

–Kelly Robison, ‘07

Campus housing should expand with rest of new buildings

-To the Editor:

Elon University has recently achieved the highest-ranking business program ranking internationally. There also has been recent discussion of building a law school. These changes are great and will really expand our school; creating a bigger name for us nationally as well. However, I have not heard or seen any plans for new residential living.

There has been a problem with housing for a while. I transferred to this school and was told I would not receive housing. At the last minute, I finally received it. There are others who experienced the same or did not receive housing at all. There are friends I have talked to who have lived on-campus for two years, and then after their sophomore year were told to live off-campus because of the lack of housing. Additionally, the school will need to accommodate the larger-growing incoming freshmen classes.

From what I know, there are plans to build a business school where the intramural fields are now. I just wanted to know if the school had plans for the creation of extra living areas, because if it does not, it should. The school could possibly expand the campus a little further to make room.

-Kamal Jobe, '06

College students need to show more interest in politics, voting

To the Editor:

Why isn’t our generation voting? Among college students, two consistent answers come to mind. I am uneducated about the candidate. Or, my vote doesn’t make a difference.

I can accept the excuse about not feeling informed about the candidate as a reason not to vote, but not voting, because, as a generation, we don’t feel like it matters, is pathetic. If channels geared toward our demographic followed MTV’s initiative and regularly marketed a program such as, “Choose or lose,” where willing candidates could answer questions about issues that affect us, as well as cover their political agenda, then more individuals in my generation would be inclined to vote. Although, to be effective, it would have to air periodically throughout the months prior to the election; it would also behoove us to see updates rather than reruns.

We have the power to control, to some degree, who will run our country next. It’s between two individuals, and it’s up to you to decide, out of those two, which one is the best. At worst, who’s going to do less of what you don’t want?

–Megan Walshe, ‘04

To the Editor:

I believe that students on this campus should become more involved with politics, and start to care a little more about who will be running their country in a few short months. Elon is granting the opportunity for students to become more involved with their government with the National Campaign for Political and Civic Engagement. All students should at least try to register to vote so that when the opportunity arises, they can take part. What will happen to the United States if no one wants to vote anymore? I think that the National Campaign will allow students who are not into politics to learn more about their government. Our generation needs to care more about its country.

–Kelli Stancato, ‘06

Elon needs larger facilities for cultural speakers, events

To the Editor:

Ever gone to the box office to purchase a ticket for a speaker, a play, or an event such as convocation only to find that it was long since sold out? Hundreds of Elon students do on a monthly basis. The source of the problem lies in the fact that our university is lacking an indoor facility that seats more than 1,700 people.

Elon University needs a building that holds at least 4,000 to 5,000 people, enough to seat the entire student body. The only way we can improve our environment is to start by speaking out.

–Jeremy Allen, ‘07

Independent thinking needed to learn

To the Editor:

I've observed that most of the people here at Elon simply are not taking advantage of the education that's available to us. We pay more than $20,000 a year to attend this university, and yet so many of us simply drift through it, accepting what we're told and never extending beyond the confines of the class, the lecture notes, or the final exam.

University, unlike high school, is not a place where you simply accumulate the knowledge that your professors throw at you. Most professors, the ones worth their salt anyway, expect to be questioned. They, like we, are human, and thus fallible. Some of their assertions may be wrong. Some of the ideas they're discussing may be outside of their personal experience. Sometimes, they may be saying the wrong thing deliberately, just to encourage independent thought. Even beyond the simple dualism of right and wrong, most questions have a whole slew of possible answers, none of which are any more "right" than the others. If a professor tells you that things are a certain way, ask yourself why they are that way. If it doesn't make sense, ask the professor about it; start a dialogue. It shouldn't just be the professor standing in front of the class teaching. It should be the students and the professor interacting, discussing ideas, expanding what both teacher and pupil know. Research a subject independent from the assigned work. We're here, not to collect dusty old ideas, but to build the skills necessary for creating new ideas, to take what has been learned before, and to move past it.

It may be more work. It may be more difficult. It may not always be immediately rewarding. But in the end, it will pay off to develop these habits. Even when you've finished the final exam for the class, still keep thinking about the subject matter. Still keep applying it whenever you can. If not, why waste so much money at a fancy private liberal arts school? If you just want to be told what to think and believe, save your time and money and just go to your local community college. Those of us who really want to learn, to understand, and to grow will thank you for it.

–Ryan Barnard, '05

Pat Tillman a real hero

To the Editor:

An honor student graduating college in three and half years with a 3.8 cumulative GPA, a star college football player, and an outstanding safety in the NFL died in Afghanistan while serving with the Army Rangers.

Pat Tillman, I believe, has become one of our nations greatest heros. Throughout Tillman’s life, he was always the guy that everyone turned to for help. In football, he was usually one that would work twice as hard as everyone else, making him a star collegiate athlete. Tillman made outstanding grades and could have pursued a career in the business world, but decided to give the NFL a try. He made it with Arizona Cardinals as a safety in 1998. In 2002, the Cardinals offered him a three-year contract worth $3.6 million; this contract was given about six months after Sept. 11. Tillman, shocking everyone, turned down the money and, as he said, it was because of a call of duty. So he and his brother joined the most elite force in the Army, the Army Rangers. Tillman made sure this decision did not gain him a lot of publicity; he never liked to get any attention. After being a Ranger for about two years, Tillman was shot and killed in Afghanistan.

This man is a national icon in our society today. So many people have been geared to making as much money as possible that they forget about other necessities in our lives. Pat Tillman knew what had to be done. After Sept. 11, he knew he had no other choice then to give up his passion in life to go serve our country. Since his death, his number is being retired at Arizona State as well as the Arizona Cardinals and there is a scholarship fund in the works.

I believe everyone should just stop and think about what this man did for our country. Pat Tillman had the life everyone wanted. He was extremely smart, an outstanding athlete, and was about to make a lot of money. Tillman rejected it all, in order to go risk his life for his country. In my book, I do believe that this man is a national hero as well as icon for our society.

Mark Bliley, '06

To the Editor:

American soldier Pat Tillman truly showed us what it means to give one’s life for his or her country. Tillman is a man who had it all and gave it up so that those back in his home country could be free and safe.

The young man had pretty much all that a person that his age could ask for. He graduated from Arizona State University with a 3.84 grade point average with a degree in marketing. He then went from being drafted 226th overall in the National Football League Draft to setting an Arizona Cardinals single season record for tackles with 224 during the 2000 season. He was married and was just 25-years-old when he decided that he wanted to leave the country to fight for his country. Tillman joined the Army’s Rangers and did a tour of duty in Iraq and then went on to fight in Afghanistan, where he was killed on April 23.

The NFL, Arizona Cardinals and Arizona State University have already taken action to honor this great American hero. The Cardinals and Sun Devils both have planned to retire his jersey. The NFL has said that they may dedicate the season to Tillman. There is no doubt in my mind that these things are necessary along with an automatic trip to the NFL’s Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio.

However, I think there is more to do than just these simple measures to pay tribute to Tillman. Tillman is just one of many who have been killed in battle so that we can sleep safely in our beds at night. The thing that would most honor him is to sit and reflect a few minutes on his sacrifice and to say a prayer for all of those soldiers, both abroad and in the United States, that they may have the same courage to commit their lives to the cause of freedom and that the world leaders may have the knowledge to know what is right.

Tillman is not the only one to die in battle and that certainly does not take anything away from his incredible life, but the need for prayer is great. The war on terrorism will continue until we find ourselves safe once more. There are plenty of other Pat Tillmans out there and in order for them to have the courage to go on we must not only support them, but also pray for them.

–Carson Foushee, '07

Ride, Rack, Relax vandals need to grow up

To the Editor:

In regards to Teddy Coin's letter to the editor (Ride, Rack, Relax deserves respect, April 29), the problems with Ride, Rack, Relax are disgraceful and should be embarrassing to the entire Elon community. From what I understand, the bike program provided our community with 37 functioning bikes, and only eight of those are still functioning today. Less than 25 percent of the bikes that were provided to us, for free, are still available. The fact that there are problems with a campus charitable bike program may not seem like a big deal to some, but I wonder, what does this situation say about Elon students? That we're so immature that we think it is entertaining or funny to break and vandalize community property? Next time I check out some books from Belk, I think I'll try giving them a toss into Lake Mary Nell. After all, I got them for free, and I don't own them myself, so destroying them must be fun, right?

Our treatment of these bikes seems to be indicative of, among other things, the lack of personal responsibility that each student here takes for the Elon community as a whole. Are we not supposedly attending an institution of higher education? I was under the impression that highly educated adults had better things to do with their time than ruin collective property that exists for the good of everyone. I mean, I realize that nightlife options in Elon are limited at best, but if part of your drunken stupor home from one of those same old Greek parties involves throwing a bicycle into Lake Mary Nell, maybe it's time to get a life. As Teddy pointed out, those involved with the program have put countless hours into it and I, like Teddy, can't understand why my fellow students have such a hard time treating the bikes with respect.

–Allison Genco, '07

Meal Plan system needs improvement

To the Editor:

Food is a necessity for survival. On this campus, food also poses a large problem. Where and how will students eat? Many students depend on the on-campus dining to provide them with a steady source of food. The system that is currently implemented in the Elon dining hall network is both complex and problematic. Some of the many issues plaguing the meal plan system are the quantity, frequency, the dollar amount available for the meal plan package, unreliable service, lack of healthy foods and lack of variety, quantity, or quality available at campus locations.

According to the Dining Services page on the Elon Web site, students have five meal plan options. The first option, “Platinum Meal Plan,” offers unlimited meal plan uses at the all-you-can-eat facilities, Upstairs McEwen and Harden. Additionally, Platinum owners receive eight guest passes to the dining halls. However, the downfall of this option is that an unlimited meal plan owner can not swipe more than once at the several other dining locations – Acorn, Danieley Commons and Octagon. The reason behind this, theoretically, is because an unlimited meal plan owner can just get whatever he or she wants, and then have the cashier just keep swiping. However, for $3,256 dollars, this meal plan needs to offer better options at the dining halls. Telling students that they can swipe as many times as they wish at the all-you-can-eat meal halls is not exactly a deal, considering students can already eat as much as they want at those locations. However, why can a person not go to Octagon and get a piece of pizza and a Chick-fil-a sandwich on two meal plans? In effect, this meal plan allows a student to use as many options as they can, as long as they do not repeat use in the same dining location. This is supposed to be the unlimited option, but obviously it is nothing of the sort.

The second and third options offer a more limited meal plan, for significantly less money. The Gold plan offers 19 meal plans per week at any of the dining locations for $2,900. The Maroon Plan offers only 15 per week, but costs $2,991 per year. The reason for the higher price on the 15 meal plan is that it includes 110 meal dollars for each of the fall and spring semesters and 55 meal dollars during the winter. The limit on these meal plans is that only one may be used in each dining period – breakfast, lunch or dinner. Why is this? Why is it different for a student who paid nearly $3000 for dining services to use 15 meal plans at any time he or she wants to, instead of using all 15 in a normal week?

This situation involving Aramark certainly is one that needs to be addressed. Due to several inconsistencies in its dining hall system, Aramark needs to make changes involving the dynamics, usage and price of the meal plan options. To accomplish this, I believe Aramark needs to move to a policy allowing students to use their meal plans whenever they wish to use them. If a meal plan is worth the same at every meal period, why not allow students to use it whenever it is most convenient?

–James Schwemlein, ‘07

Habits for women to pick up

To the Editor:

After reading Jonathan Chapman’s article regarding male “habits” at Elon, I thought the other side of the story needed to be presented regarding female habits that get on male’s nerves. I know that this may be hard for some girls out there, but take it from a straight guy: these are things you can work on. I plan on being as unfair and generalizing to the female sex and their “proper” behavior as Chapman was regarding men and their “proper” behavior.

1. Spit every once in awhile (Why is everyone laughing?). That is to say, get out, and get outdoors. There are few things more impressive than a girl who can go outdoors and have real fun. Most guys do not want to sit around and sunbathe on a beautiful day; sometimes we like to, ya know, do stuff. Sing, run around, read, play a sport -- do something. I’m sorry if I’m not completely infatuated with my public image, and, in short, myself. Maybe you shouldn’t be either.

2. Don’t tell us how to dress. My granddad always says, “Get your own backyard straight before you try to clean up mine." Last time I checked, shorts with words in the crack, pajama pants and black leggings every day of the week aren't good fashion. I’m no “Queer Eye for the Straight Girl," but that seems obvious to me. Furthermore, we have different tastes (not to be obvious). We both, generally, like hats, but for some reason, it's OK for gals to wear most hats indoors at any time, including those incredibly unique and fashionable “Punk’d” hats. Since when do guys have to take off their hat every time they’re indoors? I believe that rule was cancelled along with the “Leave it to Beaver” series.

3. Take a shower. Interesting. I have an 8 o’clock class every day. It’s hell. You expect us to get up every morning at 7 o’clock and scrub ourselves clean for three girls in an engineering class? Look, we’re clean enough. George Carlin said it best. “You just need to clean the four key areas: armpits, asshole, crotch and teeth." I cover that daily. I take showers enough where you don’t need to know about my shower habits. I think every guy showers before a date, showers before a dance, showers before a party and showers at least bi-daily. But we don’t “put on our face” for 8 o’clock classes. Forgive us. If you are offended, hold your nose and then write a funny article about it in The Pendulum.

4. Don’t be cocky. I’ll admit it. Some guys in life are cocky. But some girls are stuck up. Avoiding a “cocky” attitude is a good rule of thumb for any human being, not just for men. And to say that men are cockier than women on this campus would simply be amiss. There are times when I smile at a girl walking through campus, and she makes a disgusted face and looks away. I may not be the best looking guy on campus, but please don’t flatter yourselves. Not everyone is trying to get in your pants. I, for one, am too busy reading them.

This may offend some of you who think you have your acts together, but the truth hurts. If you don’t care what I’m writing because you know I’m just one guy with an opinion, send a memo to those who speak as if whole sexes and genders can be generalized in a specific way.

Or perhaps you realize that your whole motivation for dressing for class and walking to classes is not to be attractive to the opposite (or same) sex.

Now excuse me, but I have to go take a shower.

-Andrew Newson, '07

Former Pendulum staffer responds to claims of bias

Last week, Luke Wake wrote to the Pendulum exclaiming that the campus newspaper has "leftist bias" and that it has failed to "treat delicate subjects in a fair manner" ("Student 'ashamed' of school newspaper; cites discrimination against conservatives"). And, as if this wasn't ridiculous enough, he went on to claim that The Pendulum failed to print the entirety of one of his previous letters "because it (the letter) was conservative."

Sadly, Mr. Wake is very confused as to the manner in which The Pendulum is run, as well as the general state of mainstream media in America today. His claim that The Pendulum would not publish his opinion simply because it was conservative is just plain incorrect. Having worked with The Pendulum, both as a contributor and as an Executive Staff member, I believe I can shed a little light on the situation. From my first-hand experience, and my personal knowledge of much of The Pendulum staff, I can assure the campus community that The Pendulum consistently attempts to maintain a fair, balanced and accurate view in both its hard news and opinions. I can remember many a time that, although many of the staff members disagreed with a particular columnist or letter-writer?s point of view, they firmly believed that it was necessary to print the material in order to provide a full spectrum of opinions and to give all viewpoints a voice.

To claim that The Pendulum displays a ?leftist bias? is simply absurd. Given the lack of political content in the news pages of The Pendulum, how is it possible that this ?bias? could be expressed? ?The editorials,? you might exclaim.

Let's not forget that the staff editorials do not always represent the opinions of all members of the editorial staff. I can remember plenty of times that I disagreed with the opinion offered in the staff editorial.

Now, let's take a close look at the mainstream media at large. Honestly, is CNN really a "liberal" news outlet? Not in the least. Let's remember back to about a year ago. How many members of the mainstream media provided any serious criticism of the Bush administrations decision to invade Iraq based on "concrete knowledge" of WMD? Virtually none. As a matter of fact, the Virginian-Pilot recently reported that CBS reporter Lesley Stahl is now regretting her coverage of the Iraq WMD situation prior to the invasion of Iraq. She said that she regretted two stories she did that cast doubt on the claim that Hussein hadn't destroyed his WMD in accordance with the United Nation?s demands. She explained that she now views those two stories as "mistakes."

In fact, the only true dissent that was expressed in the press came from truly liberal news outlets, such as Mother Jones, the Progressive, and The New Republic. If the modern mainstream media is "leftist", then I'm Picasso's father.

Now, I can fully understand how a fair and balanced (and I'm not talking about the Fox News version of "fair and balanced") newspaper such as The Pendulum could, at first glance, be confused for a liberal outlet. After all, we are in the South, one of the more conservative regions in our nation. But, if readers closely examine the content of The Pendulum, it becomes quite clear that this is a solid, reliable and fair newspaper that works hard to represent all of the views that are present in the Elon community.

Let's not forget that the Pendulum staff chose to print Wake's letter. If it were really so "leftist," wouldn't it simply have ignored this letter and printed something from a crazed communist sympathizer? Oh, wait, but they DID print it. Looks to me like The Pendulum is simply trying to represent all of the Elon community.

If you wish to see a change in the newspaper, I encourage you to write columns, become a reporter or directly address the editorial staff with your concerns. However, to make unfounded and potentially libelous claims as Mr. Wake has done, is clearly not the answer.

-Tim Rosner, ?04

Elon needs to increase handicapped accessibility

-To the editor:

My name is Chris Hendricks.  I have a disability known as Cerebral Palsy.  This disability makes it more difficult for me to walk around, because my legs are much weaker than the average person.  Although I do walk around campus, it is still a challenge.  Some of the buildings have elevators, but many of the older ones don’t.  I don’t understand why this is.  Although some of the campus is accessible for the handicapped do to elevators, much of the campus is still off limits to those who have no control over their physical disadvantages.  I think something should be done to change this.  No one should be denied the right to attend a class simply because they can’t physically manage the trip.  One way or another, this problem has to be fixed.

Chris Hendricks, 07