Eric Townsend

Academy Award-winning actress Olympia Dukakis will answer questions from the public on Wednesday, Oct. 17, as part of her two-day visit to Elon University that includes an afternoon master class in the Center for the Arts.

What leads to plagiarism in student work? How can educators discourage academic fraud? Two Elon professors believe most student plagiarism happens by mistake. And they say that one way to prevent dishonesty is to make the writing process part of all classroom curricula.

The tallest hurdle in her storied career was overcoming her own name. For Academy Award-winning actress Olympia Dukakis, a Greek heritage limited early opportunities to audition for theater productions in the 1950s and 60s. Her lesson to current Elon students: “Take total and full responsibility for yourself. You want to work? Figure out a way to do it. … Just don't wait for people to give it to you.” 

The university has launched a new effort to warn students of the dangers of posting personal data to online social networking sites. Student workers in the technology office scoured Facebook to find classmates whose room location was viewable by the public, and starting this week, school officials are reminding those who do not protect that information of the risks they incur.

Elon students studying for their doctorate in physical therapy partnered this month with a local elementary school to teach the importance of physical fitness. The five students are responsible for a service-learning project during their final internships and organized a “Walk to School” morning for children at North Graham Elementary School. Details...