Newspapers / Elon University Student Newspaper / Dec. 12, 1985, edition 1 / Page 2
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Page 2 The Pendulum Thursday, December 12 1985 Editorials Poverty increase deserves attention The North Carolina Forum, an educational organization which pro vides the media with the view of state expwrts on major public issues, recently released some shocking statistics on hunger and poverty in North Carolina. The number of poor people in the state has increased by 65 percent in the past eight years, according to the report. Today, 1.3 million North Carolinians fit into the poverty category—that’s one out of every five residents. Andrew W. Dobelstein, professor of social work and social policy at the University of North Carolina, says in the report that the average person living in poverty in North Carolina spends $2.34 on food each day. Think about that. Elon students on the seven-day meal plan are pay ing about $5 a day for food. And they think they have it bad. That’s not even counting all of the Domino’s pizzas they consume. Dobelstein also says that the average poor person in the state spends $2.32 for shelter each day and $2.03 for clothing, utilities, medical care insurance, taxes and other living expenses. The young, he says, make up the largest percentage in the poverty category. Out of every four children in the state, one is poor. One of every two black children in North Carolina lives in poverty. Thirty percent of the children in North Carolina drop out of school. Most of these are poor children who, according to Dobelstein, then face diminished job prospects, too-early parenthood, and delinquen cy or dependency. We are all, perhaps, too quick to say that many of the poor people can help themselves. But look at these statistics. The majority of poor people in the state are children. We certainly cannot blame them for their living conditions. Dobelstein also says that more than two-thirds of the people on welfare in North Carolina are mothers and young children. And about half of all poor families do have at least one family member work ing, he says. We all know how difficult it is to get a good job, even with a col lege education. Yet many of us still take our education for granted. Imagine the job opportunities for someone who cannot afford a col lege education. The better job opportunities are very limited. Obviously, something needs to be done to help the poor in the state, whether it’s job training, more medical care or more adequate hous ing. There may not be a lot we can do now here at Elon, but we can at least remember the poor during the Christmas season. Next time we are in the mall Christmas shopping, we should think twice about walking straight by the Salvation Army representative. The poor deserve a Christmas feast just as much as we do. -By Jane Kidwell on campus. The Student Union Board has been the biggest victim of this lack of communication. An example is this year’s Christmas dance, which was put on the of ficial school calendar in April 1985. Nine months later Panhellenic decided to have Ramada on the same night as SUB’s Christmas dance. This irresponsible act of Panhellenic cost the students SUB proposes council To the editor: The lack of communication between Elon organizations is outrageous, affecting everybody Peanuts* by ChailM SchuRz " THE RAIN CAME POUiN HARPER ANP HARPER" O United Festur* SynOwal* Inc ' BUT THE MAN INTWE BELLOW SUCKER ANP BI6 RUBBER BOOTS NEVER FALTEREP'' /2-Zi Ppootf D OM I4is GoR&itD 'Tommy liz.eTKaD'to 'twnT luTMfc^tgV- $2,100 for the band, publicity, decorations and refreshments. I am not saying everyone who went to Ramada that night would have attended the Christmas dance, but I feel we would have had almost double the attendance. The total attendance at the dance was a low of 75 students. Those who attended thoroughly enjoyed themselves, dancing to one of the East Coast’s top bands. I would like to propose to the ‘ ANOTHER CHRISTMAS EVE HAP PASSEP, ANP SANTA ANP HIS RAIN GEAR HAP PONE THEIR JOBITHEENP" Student Government Association that it create a Presidential Coun cil, which should have a representative from all organiza tions on campus. I know it would improve communication between organizations and help to prevent this type of problem from hap pening again. Scott Ward Vice President Student Union Board HA HA Thy P^dulum Staf Editor News Editor Features Editor Arts Editor Sports Editor Emphasis Editor Photographers Ad Manager Advertising Cartoonist Advisor Jane Ffartk jor^attian Pauiw*" Brian E LouM I* Mere(}itf| Stuart ■“ JoeC* Michele L3S Carol Marleen Mark 03" jlCJ The Pendulum welcomes letters, lifT'itfit 250 words, from our readers. Longer rriai® may be submitted as option articles. W ters submitted must be signed, andapw number given so that the letter’s vaiid'JV be checked. The editor reserves the ri^ edit for length. iit>el. good taste and acc^ The deadline for submitting material is 2 P| Monday. Our office is.located in 102W son Avenue, phone 584-2331 or 584-2 ' Thts paper is published t?y ^ ■ munications Medi? Board of Elon Founded on October 14, 1974, 3sJJ® dent newspaper serving the . community. The Pendulum is puWisWO Thursday during regular terms examination and holiday periods, if’® dulum is printed by The Burlinglo*i Times-News.
Elon University Student Newspaper
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Dec. 12, 1985, edition 1
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