Page 8 • Thursday, February 12, 2004
NEWS
The Pendulum
New measures taken to restrict smoking near McEwen
Second-hand smoke
cited as main reason
for schools action
Raymond Beadnell Jr.
Reporter
Finding a place to finish a cigarette before
class has gotten a bit more difficult. Signs have
been placed outside the School of
Communications instructing smokers to stay
at least 30 feet from the door. According to the
Elon student handbook, smoking within 30
feet of any building on campus is prohibited,
but the School of Communications is the only
building to enforce the rule with signs.
The new signs were placed after many fac
ulty members complained about the smokers
congregating in front of the door and taking up
most of the space on the porch in front of
McEwen. Last week, the small, brown, wall-
mounted signs were replaced by large white
signs along the walkway and two more at the
front of the building. However, the signs’
effectiveness is limited, as the handbook pro
vides no clear definition of how to prosecute
those in violation of the smoking rule. Smith
Jackson, vice president and dean of students,
said the administration hopes the students can
address the problem themselves without hav
ing to be threatened with a ticket or other sanc
tion.
According to Jackson, smoking has long
been a concern of Elon faculty and staff. Three
years ago, Elon administrators, faculty and
students met to determine the main concem of
students on campus. Jackson said many partic
ipants expressed concem about second-hand
smoke. Rather than making Elon a smoke-free
campus, the council decided to make a rule
stating there would be no smoking within 30
feet of any university structure.
However, not all students had a problem
with the smokers standing by doorways, trying
to finish their cigarettes before or after class.
“Most smokers at Elon are very courteous
when it comes to their habit. I’m against the
school allowing smoking in any of the build
ings, but I don’t care if people want to smoke
outside,” said junior Matt Swope.
Contact Raymond Beadnell Jr. at pendu-
lum@elon.edu or 278-7247.
SCHOOL OF COMMUNICATIONS
NO SMOK
Beyond
“v
Matt Belanger I Photographer
These signs, placed outside of McEwen each day, remind students that the student hand
book prohibits them from smoking within 30 feet of the entrance to any academic build
ing on campus.
Elon taking steps toward possible Phi Beta Kappa accreditation in 2007
Rachel Abbott
Reporter
Elon has been pursing accredita
tion for a Phi Beta Kappa chapter to
start in 2007 since .submitting an
application in November.
A Phi Betii Kappa chapter would
honor Elon for excellence in the
school of arts and .sciences. It is the
nation’s oldest and largest academic
honor society. Tlie goal of Plii Beta
Kappa is to suppt^rt the ideals of the
scKiety through social, academic and
community pmgnuns.
Elon previously applied for
accreditation in 20(K), but did not
make the cut. After waiting the
miuutatory three years, Elon reap
plied in November 2003. The appli
cation explaitwd Elon’s ;iccomplish-
mcnts and history. The growth Elon
has experienced ;md its annual recog
nition from the National Survey of
Student EngagcnK'nt were highlight
ed on the application.
Elon will he notified in April if it
makes the first cut. An Elon commit
tee comprised of Engli.sli professor
Russell Gill, Steven House, 13ean of
the College ol Ails and Sciences ;uid
Helen Walter, financial planning
assistmit, would then send ;idditional
infonnalion mid host a visit li-om Phi
Beta Kappa officials.
There are 270 Phi Beta Kappa
chapters nation-wide, including eight
new chapters added this year. The
organization began in the late 1700s
at the College of William and Mary
in Williamsburg, Va. Yale University
was the next school to establish a
chapter.
If Elon obtains a chapter, students
who have completed 95 credit hours
in arts and sciences would be invited.
Juniors would need a GPA of 3.7 and
.seniors would be required to have at
least a 3.5 GPA and a foreign lan
guage requirement.
Elon made a seven part plan to
achieve accreditation that includes
enhancing the library collection and
hiring more Phi Beta Kappa faculty.
TliC plan also called for more aca
demic resources and increasing lan
guage and cultural experiences,
Elon has aimed to increa.se the num
ber of arts :md science majors and
attract brigliter students to become
honors, fellows ;md future graduiite
students.
“I think it’s a gcKxl move in
accrediting Elon because it gives stu
dents an option to make their degrees
more valuable,” said freshman
Caitlin Hurke.
The committee has pul an
emphasis on the honors programs, House indicated the committee is year, it will be in position in 2010.
according to House. “It has one of optimistic but emphasized that, “you
the better programs. It is really well don’t do these things overnight.” If Contact Rachel Abbott, at pendu-
organized and set up,” Osinski said. Elon fails to obtain accreditation this lum@elon.edu or 278-7247.
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