Thursday, September 14, 2006

OPINIONS

Facebook Mini-Feed concerns users

Grace Dow / Columnist

Since its creation in February 2004, the social-networking Web site Facebook has enabled more than nine million college and high school students to connect.

And now, as if all of that weren’t enough, there are two new features on Facebook: a News Feed and a Mini-Feed.

Since their abrupt debut on the Facebook site last Tuesday, the innocuous-sounding News Feed and Mini-Feed have provoked a great uproar.

Photo courtesy of MCT Campus

Exploiting an American tragedy

Alex Hopkins / Columnist

During a catastrophe, the worst of the world is countered by the best of humanity.

Filmmakers and storytellers of all mediums often use these horrifying historical events as the backdrops to their stories.

Real sadness, pain, shock and heroism make for stories that are saturated with drama. As awful as it may seem, factual drama can translate into an entertaining cinematic experience–an experience that costs someone about $8.50.

Photo courtesy of MCT Campus

Understanding and respecting Karr’s acquittal

Alexandra Hemmerly-Brown / Columnist

Watching the flashing lights of the fire alarm system dance across the people in the courtroom on my TV screen, I found myself surprised to hear the outcome of the John Mark Karr case on Aug. 28.

Following the case that’s exploded in the media over the past few weeks, I found it hard to believe that charges were being dropped against Karr in a press conference held by Colorado’s District Attorney.

Letters & Submissions

A different view of privacy on campus

-Eric Hydrick, ‘06

Peter Ustach wrote a letter in the Sept. 7 issue of The Pendulum railing against his lack of privacy at Elon that begs for a response.

First off, while some people may not like having to share a room, it’s the most efficient way to house all of the students at a college or university.

Also, you do not own your dorm room. The fact that you are living there doesn’t make it “yours.” All on-campus housing (and some off-campus housing) is owned by Elon, and since it is Elon’s room, Elon can go through it and the articles within it, anytime Elon good and well pleases.

Criticism of unethical speakers at Elo n

-Lindsay Wright, ‘07

I think there is a lot to be learned from the mistakes of others, especially in the business world. Case studies have become a way of learning and adapting to the academic environment.

I appreciated the most recent presentation by Walter Pavlo on his experiences with ethics in the Koury Business Center, but there was something that bothered me during the speech. This ex-executive who defrauded his company for $6 million dollars is standing in front of a room full of well-educated professors and future business leaders talking about ethics. His last slide to promote his new book, release date of April 2007, sealed the deal for my opinion of him.

Editorial

9/11 reawakens patriotism in America

After five years, patriotism is still strong in the American mind, just displayed in a different way

Monday marked the fifth-year anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks.
Across the country, people showed their respect and remembrance through many conventional, ordinary acts of patriotism, like hanging American flags from their homes or wearing red, white and blue.