Op-Ed
March 11, 1993
Distributed by Tribune Media Services
No excuse for the recent
outbreak of campus violence
To the Editor:
I am writing this letter in
concern of the recent outbreak of
violence on Elon's campus. For
a campus so small, it seems
ludicrous to think that there
would be a problem with
violence.
However, I have witnessed
more conflict this school year
than any other year I have
attended Elon. I am growing
rather tired of going out at night
and having to be concerned with
some type of violence breaking
out. Needless to say, it ruins
everyone’s good lime.
In pondering the reasons why
this is happening, I have become
even more baffled. The
explanantion does not lie behind
racial conflict, gangs, terrorism
or anything quite as exciting.
Instead, the explanation leads
itself to reasons much more
shallow and petty.
Are the campus
organizations segregating
themselves so much that we have
become tribal about protecting
our territory, or is the nightlife
so boring that people are just
looking for something to do? I
would hope to think that the
mental capacity in this college
would rise above that, since it is
obvious that petty violence is
self-defeating.
I think it would be wise for
the students at Elon to think a
minute about all that has occurred
lately: a bartender slabbed, guns
Pulled on campus, rapes,
ambulances at keg parties.
Property being trashed, fights
being broken up, and
Unfortunately, the list goes on.
A cold beer sure tastes good, but
it is hardly worth all that.
For a supposedly educated
and upper middle-class
environment, we sure are acting
*'ke the low-life we so readily
Criticize. Furthermore, I can not
think of one rationalization to
Excuse it.
It is not my intention to feel
^ if I must be looking over my
shoulder when I go out at night,
’’Or is it my hope to witness
''•olence every time I go to a
party. There are enough problems
the world and if people feel as
they must fight, why don't
they try fighting for, jpmething
letters
To The Editor
with a little more purpose?
It would be nice to see the
barbarianism left in the Stone
Ages and people living up to the
expectations of their own
generation.
Catherine Long
New eatery should
reuse and recycle
To the Editor:
It has been some concern to
the members of Enact (Elon’s
Environmental group) that the
new snack bar being built in the
new student center will not
provide sufficient environmental
plans.
As we all know, the Varsity
Grille and the Back Door use non-
recyclable plates, utensils and cups
due to an insufficient amount of
space for a dishwasher in the
kitchen area. It is our concern that
the new snack bar will also use
unnecessary waste products.
We have thought of a few
possibilities that would be more
environmentally sufficient:
1. Provide necessary space for
a dishwasher at the new Grille.
2. Go back to the idea of
selling recyclable cups and if used
at the snack bar receive a discount
on a drink.
3. If a dishwasher is not
applicable in the new plans then
perhaps, instead of using plates,
use plastic baskets lined with wax
paper. Therefore, the wax paper
could be thrown away and the
plastic basket could be reused.
4. Use silverware rather than
plastic utensils.
5. Use recycled goods such as
bags and napkins.
Anyone that has any new
ideas or would like to voice their
concerns, please feel free to come
to our Enact meeting held every
Monday at 6:30 in the Large
Lounge, or write to our campus
box at 5469.
■The members of Enact
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SGA gets poor
Pendulum coverage
To the Editor:
I am writing in response to
your editorial in the March 4,
1993 edition of The Pendulum,
"Put Some Muscle Behind the
Mumbling."
You spoke eloquently on
behalf of the short-staffed paper,
with members that have 18-hour
course loads and part-time jobs,
who have decided to make a
difference and "make their lime ai
Elon count," as stated in the
editorial.
Bui why noi let the students
know of the other side of the
newspaper. The side of the paper
that should report on the full
scope of campus life- but is not.
The side of The Pendulum that
feels that the Student Government
Association (students of Elon
College elected to make a
difference) is not as newsworthy as
the articles titled "Car explodes at
Scotchman, woman escaped
unharmed" or "Sex Police: Band
makes first appearance."
The students of this college
have the right to know that the
Student Government Association
is fighting for additional
coun.seling services (a meeting
you attended on February 11,
1993, but failed to report on).
The students on this campus
have the right to know that the
changes -in the lighiing and
security phones on this campus
camc as a direct result of the work
of the Senate commitiee on
Campus Safety and Security,
chaired by Patrick Payne.
All Elon students have the
right to know about the recently
released campus crime statistics
for the first semester, which the
paper will not print because its
staff doubts the validity of the
statistics.
The students have the right to
know that the SGA is currently
negotigating with the Town
Council of Elon College for a
non-voting student member on the
council, so that the students of
this collcge will be better
represented in the town. A story
about this appeared in the
Greensboro News and Record on
Saturday, March 6, 1993.
The students have the right to
know that The Pendulum will
not print anything about the
Student Government because its
staff will not "do the SGA public
relations," as it has been slated by
members of the staff, but will do
the Lighthouse's.
As for being short-staffed,
join the club. There is not an
organization on this campus that
is overfiowing with the optimum
dedication and work-force that each
needs. Every organization
functions as a result of the
dedication of a handful of members
who will get the job done. It is
lime for The Pendulum to realize
this.
The Pendulum, I understand,
^s once a paper that worked for
ihe students and reported on stories
that affected the students of this
college. It is truly time for that
Pendulum to return to this
campus.
Sean Stowers
Student Senator
Editor's Note: The
Viewpoint in the March 4 edition
of the Pendulum was written not
solely "on behalf of (our) short-
staffed paper," but dealt with all
those actively involved in
campus organizations.
An interview with counselor
Ruth Pugh is on page 5 of this
issue. The Pendulum also ran a
three-column photo of the
installation of the Long security
phone on page 4 of the February
25 issue.
Sig Ep rush party
not meant to offend
To the Editor:
I am writing this letter to
you to assist in helping clear up
a problem we experienced during
spring rush.
For one of our rush parties
we decided that we were going to
have chicken wings. We
contacted the Hooters restaurant
in Raleigh and hired ihem to cater
ihe party which was scheduled for
March 2.
After we put up flyers
advertising the party to rushees,
our organization’s headquarters in
See Rush party, page 9