September 23,1976 The Pendulum Page Three Two Elon students visited Alaska during summer by Doug Durante As the days grow shorter and we begin the routine of another semester, the memories of the summer of 76 will be bright for many Elon students. The summer, to most students, is a stepping stone between spring and fall; a time for travelling, work, in-depth study or just taking it easy. Les Hall, a senior from Salisbury, Md., decided the Bi-centennial summer was a good time to see the country we live in. Les and Rick Coradi, a fraternity brother and now Elon graduate, set their sights on Alaska, detenrined to go to the northernmost point of the United States. They travelled in a jointly owned van that slept two, housed a cooler, a stereo and two spare tires. A CB radio completed the rig, and as Les said, It helped keep us awake during a lot of night driving." Experiences during the trip included seeing tornadoes in Wyoming and a six-inch snowfall in Yellowstone park. Les felt that the camping sites were not only economical but also enjoyable during the evenings sitting around a fire and talking to new people. After a stay in Canada they entered the gateway to Alaska, the dreaded Alcan highway, a grueling 1200 miles of gravel road where at times speed was limited to 15 miles per hour. Fighting the oil rigs and the generally poor conditions of the road they crossed through the tundra which Les said was spooky because of the lack of trees and the dwarfed vegetation. After three weeks in an atmosphere that Les described as "pleasantly cool," Rick decided he wasn't ready to come home, so they sold the van for a $400 profit and divided their belongings. One of the lowpoints of the trip for Les was his 24-hour hitch-hiking attempt returning on the Alcan highway. '1 stood at one point on the road for 24 hours,he recalls. 'The only thing 1 saw were wino Eskimos going to and from the liquor store. I guess nobody wanted to give me a lift because my pack and gear would have added too much weight." Les eventually did get a ride and made his way to Seattle where he caught a plane back to Maryland. Rick went on to California and is currently in the San Francisco area. Les smiled as he recalled his trip to our 50th state and said, "Alaska was really an experience; the people were great, and the interesting thing is that anybody who is there is there because they want to be. They wouldn't want to be anywhere else." NC-PIRG offers consumer reports The Elon College Chapter of the North Carolina Public Interest Research Group (NC PIRG) has several PIRG publications of immediate help to students in orienting or re-orienting themselves to their Elon College surroundings. hems available in the PIRG office in Long Student Center include pamphlets on the best buys in bicycle chains and cables and information on how to recover housing deposits. A report on the cost of eyeglasses in the Elon College area helps one shop wisely for a key student item. Also available at the PIRG office is the comprehensive North Carolina Tenants Handbook, a must for all student-tenants. As students move to assert a mature presence in state and local politics, voter information is essential. This summer, NC PIRG studied the N.C. General Assembly and ranked all N.C. legislators on 20 key pwlicy votes. The PIRG Legislative Scorecard should help student voters compare campaign promises with past performances. In addition, up-to-date information on student voter registration and absentee voting has been prepared by NC PIRG attorneys. All this material is |Waitresses-Waiters 9 must have transportation,^ nl>e 18 or more and willing to| j work weekends. Apply at available at the local PIRG office which contains many other examples of PIRG work, "in the public interest." "As students, we have many more contacts with the real world of consumer policy than we may imagine," said Bruce Boyd, PIRG chairman at Elon College. "Our daily life as a student, as a consumer of education, etc. is directly affected by local and stale policies.” In NC PIRG, Elon College students and PIRG professionals work together to improve the quality of life in this area and the state. "Through project work we demonstrate the vital connection between student life and the real world," added Boyd. For further information about PIRG and PIRG s first fall meeting at Elon College, contact Bruce Boyd or Fleet Bagley, NC PIRG office. Long Student Center Mr. Fingers, renowned magician, will perforin in Whitley on Sept. 29. Harper says registration by mail was total success by Sherry Summers Pre-registration by mail proved to be successful to people who prepared and participated in the program. It is an effective method that will be used in later ye£u^, according to Ken Harper, registrar. Pre-registration is selecting courses you plan to take when you enter college. In this manner you have the opportunity to select carefully the courses you are interested in. If you completed registration which was the next general step after pre-registration, your schedule would be mailed to you which would alleviate some of the complications that arise when you reach the campus. Of the 1,943 students actually participating in this program, 1,152 could proceed to their classes when they reached campus. The main goal of the administration was to raise the number of students that could go directly to their classes. The students of Elon College consider this method e.ffective. Many students had the chance to spend one or two more days at the beach because they had no reason to linger in the lines of drop-add day. The freshman were not aware of the methods that had been used previously but were happy because it eliminated some of the tension. One freshman said, '1 have no idea what methods have been used in previous years, but I am pleased to know that this method was established because it relieved me of some of my anxieties.’’ Although preparations for pre-registration took a little more time, the registrar feels that the time and effort proved to be worthwhile. Renowned magician appears at Elon Mr. Fingers, who is appearing in Whitley Auditorium on Wednesday, Sept. 29 at 8:00, is more than the usual magic act. Mr. Fingers has received the skills of great vaudeville performances by studvine the acts of such greats as Houdini, Thurston, Malini, and Cardini. Once a teacher at Chavez College in Los Angeles, Mr. Fingers has been a speaker and entertainer in clubs, but he now aims his show at college audiences. Mr. Fingers says, '1 tell of the Houdini life and my thoughts on ESP and predictions of the future.. .and when I show them what a card cheat can do, they really flip." An interesting part of Mr. Finger's act is the opening of a box mailed several weeks ago to Bill Sharpe who has guarded it with his life. The box contains a written prediction of the present day's news headlines. Yet, this box has been in Mr. Sharpe's office for weeks! Outing Club Attention, nature lovers! Interested in mountain climbing and rapelling, cave exploring, canoeing, backpacking, or camping and day hiking? The Elon College Outing Society is for you! There will be an organizational meeting on Monday, Sept. 20 at 8:00 p.m. in the large lounge on second floor. Long Student Center. S. A.M. has definite plans for a more productive club year The Society for the Advancement of Management of Elon College have begun their activities for the new school year. Faculty members, prospective S.A.M. members and old S.A.M. members gathered to have a coffee and cake "get-together"’ last week to open the year. President Gary Spitler enlightened the audience on the plans for the new year. The officers were also introduced. They included: Jim Cozart as v-p, Marilee McPherson as secretary, and Belinda Spence as treasurer. Mrs. Janie Council, professor of accounting, will be the new adviser for the group since Prof. Clouse has left the Elon faculty. Spitler told of several new plans and ideas. "We will be publishing a student directory in the near future as well as other little money-making ideas. We will have a banquet in the fall and a really big banquet in the spring when business awards recipients will be the honored guests.” Spitler concluded, "I plan to have a successful business person as speaker at the spring banquet as well as having speakers and tours throughout the year.” '1 have one goal which must be carried out to make this year one of the best ever,” Spitler noted. "We MUST increase our membership. Before last year, the club was the largest on campus. Last year, membership dropped to half or less than half of the previous year. To have a really successful organization, you must have interested members.’’ S.A.M. is a business oriented organization which gives the students a broader insight into management and business outside the classroom. The national chapter works with the Elon chapter to help students get the most out of the club. Elon's chapter was honored with an article which appeared in S.A.M. News International this month. The article was written by Gary Spitler and Mrs. Janie Council. Copies of the article will be displayed on the bulletin boards later this month. Anyone interested in joining the active business organization should attend the next meeting. Meetings are held every Thursday at 9:30 a.m. in Alamance 303. Additional questions may be answered by writing Gary Spitler at campus Box 5349 or calling Ext. 346. Damon Dalvin Family Fish House 2699 Ramada Road Burlington Damon Dalvin demonstrates some of his unique methods while performing. (Photo by Brad Clapp) (Continued from page 1) be a ballerina but I couldn't quite make it.” Damon said he has been playing the guitar for the last eight years. His first teacher, according to him, a bald headed flamenco player,” after a month of trying to teach Damon to sight read, suggested he take up singing, but after hearing Damon sing, the instructor decided it was best for him to stick to the guitar. The songs Damon will be performing at The Back Door are partly his own compositions and partly the work of others. No one will want to miss this colorful character; after all, it’s only 50 for three hours of music and comedy, from 8:30 to 11:30. So, I’ll expect to see everybody there, and to receive many, many letters to the editor from irate staff, if any Eire there, over Damon’s song Love Your Mother. It seems Damon was inspired to write this song when in Florida he was having a rather difficult time finding girls. Freud would have had a blast with Damon. Who knows, if Damon had lived in Freud’s time, many might display the Damon complex rather than the Oedipal. Elon Events Sept. 25 Football game at Lockhaven State —1:30 p.m. Sept. 26 Movie — "Green Berets” Sept. 29 Magic show with Mr. Fingers — 8 p.m. — Whitley Oct. 1 Pre-Homecoming Dance —Greensboro Oct. 2 Football game at Mars Hill —7:30 p.m. Oct. 3 Movie — "Sacco and Vanzetti” Oct. 7 Back Door (music & comedy) presents Damon Dalvin -8:30-11:30. Oct. 9 Football at Elon vs. Wofford —HC —2:00 p.m. Oct. 10 Movie — "Brian’s Song”