Tfte PeruliiCum
Volume XVI, Number 10
Serving the Elon CoUege oommunity
College and dbr^s
'''''11®
Photo by William Hassell
Student drug 'tests' are in
Alcohol, marijuana
are drugs of choice
By Patti Jefferies
The Pendulum
The results are in from the
random drug survey several Elon
students took last September.
The test was administered by the
Piedmont Independent College
Association (PICA).
Classes which met at 10:10
a.m. were chosen at random by
class level. Other schools in the
also took part, and the
*^^lts were tallied.
According to Jana Lynn
Fields Patterson, associate dean
of student affairs, Elon students*
*^g of choice is alcohol. The
results showed a wide range of
alcohol problems-
According to the survey,
most students started drinking in
high school or junior high.
Most freshmen tended to drink,
but fewer sqphomores and juniors
said they consumed alcohol.
Marijuana was the second
most popular drug. There were a
wide variety of reasons why
students chose to use drugs,
including to feel good, to be
sociable, and to relieve boredom.
The main reasons students
listed for not using drugs included
the facts that they are harmful and
addictive. Few students cited
feeling threatened by the fact that
drugs are against school policy as
a reason for not experimenting.
Sec Drug survey. Page 10
November 1969
Photo by William HasseU
Francis wins
alderman seat
By Mindy Schneeberger
The Pendulum
Dr. Gerald Francis, dean of academ*., affairs,
was elected to the post of alderman for the town of
Elon CoUege on Tuesday.
Francis, who racked up around 280 votes, was
the forerunner in a competition between three
candidates. Running against Francis were an
incumbent, Don Witt, and Charles Wood. Witt
came in second place and will therefore serve as the
town's other aldemian.
Elections took place
between 6:30 a.m. and
7:30 p.m. Tuesday at
Elon College Elemen
tary School, but only
380 people cast voles.
"It was a low turnout
because it was strictly a
local election," Francis
said. "What it amounts
to is who shows up.- 1 Francis
The dean said that 26.6 percent of the electorate
voted in the election. The only decision these
voters had to make was which two of the three
candidates would fill the roles of aldermen.
Aldermen serve for four years, during which
time they help to set the policies of the town.
Qualifications for the position include ar ability to
deal with pcqple and responsible decisi(Mi making
skills, Francis said.
Francis has been serving on the town planning
board since 1986, but he had no other political
experience. He decided to run for office this past
summer. "I was approached by a couple of people
who thought it would be a good idea."
"One of the college’s objectives is that we
should exhibit service," Francis said. "It's my way
of service to the community."
Because the dean had never campaigned before,
he sought the advice of members of the college
staff, including Tim McDowell, a former state
senator and present director of development for.
Alamance County; Bob Anderson, special assistant
to the president; and Mark Albeitson, the registrar.
Francis began his campaign by sending
personalized cards to voters and making door-to-
door visits. "Once you get out there and do it. it's
kind of fun," he said.
Francis intends to give special attention to the
effects of the town’s growth. "The biggest concern
we have in the town of Elon College right now is
that the town itself has doubled in area," he said.
Despite his new position, Francis does not
intend to neglect his duties at the college. In fact,
he did not even wait to hear the outcome of the
election. He left the voting area at 6:15 and worked
in his office until around 9. When he returned
home, Francis found a note about his victory on
his answering machinc.