Editorials
April 29, 1993
Page 2
Viewpoint
The tearful good-bye and
sappy send-off (or not)
Here it is. The big sappy send-off, the column that
leaves you rushing for the Kleenex ix)x as you reflect on the
watercolor memories that were 1992-93... Or maybe not.
Yes, our collective daytimers have been riddled with
unforgettable experiences after this year’s events. We’ve seen
presidents, past and present, on our campus. We’ve shaken
their hands. We’ve marched for women’s rights. We’ve
mourned the death of a classmate. We’ve dodged construction
sites and bullets at the local grocery store.
But this year’s experiences have forced us as a newspaper
staff to grow and stretch and be challenged in ways we never
tliought possible. As someone once said, “All newspaper
editorial writers ever do is come down from the hills after the
battle is over and shoot the wounded.” So here goes.
Thanks go out to those who understood our limitations
as a staff, to those who still supported our efforts and offered
words of encouragement or a pat on the back for a job well
done.
Thanks also go out to those who wrote letters, who held
us accountable, who challenged and criticized what they read
in these pages. Even though you may have ended up on the
office dartboard, you made us better by making us grapple for
the truth and inciting us to prove you wrong or serve you
better.
Through hazy stares at a computer screen at 3 a.m.,
through countless hours armed with only an X-acio knife, a
Biggie Coke and a thesaurus, through small numbers and a
constantly changing staff, we have attempted to serve the
Elon community the best we could with what we had.
Mistakes were made, toes were stepped on, coverage was
sometimes lacking.
But we’re not The New York Times, not a finely tuned
media machine. This is a training ground for journalism
students where we have ccrtainly learned a thing or two. We
hope you did as well.
The Pendulum
Edlitur DiHiDou Carowan
MiinuginK IMitor: Tonyu Taylor
Cuninirntury Page Editor: Jack Uuval
SporU Editor;: Ericic Oil)
Entt^rtainment Editor: Junnifcr Hudson
Roportvi>i: I-ori Haley, Courtenay Houston, Jon Kimball, Amy Stinson.
Katie UiDck, Kristin HIukb, Hick Orimcs
Entertainment Reporter: Ashley Stone, Hrian Tane
Hporlii Rc|>orter: Matt liall
Hliotoip’uplier; Scott Hildebrand, Bill Harvey, Stewart Williams
AdvertiKint(: I.isa Keating, Sarah Mitchell
(■raphicH: llub Mancuso, Jonnirer Vann
AdviHor: lirnd Hanun
Office; lO'i Williamson Ave., Elon Collide, .N’.C., 27244. Nows:r)84-2.'t31
The Pendulum, founded in 1974, is published by Elon College
Htudenls each Thursday during regular .ichool terms. The Pendu
lum welcomes your opinions, with letters limited to about 250
words, if pussible. Letters must bo signed and n phone number
given for vcrificntion. Deadline for submissions is 5 p.m. Monday.
I NOKilsJM'E...
ANITA
Hill
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COURTSHIP ?
Charge to the students
The column you thought I'd never write
Well, this is it. My last
editorial.
What to say? Should I wax
sappy - not my style; should I
reflect - it's been done; should I
preach... hell, yes! It's paid the
bills so far.
And besides, reader, you need
me to tell it like it is - I know
this for fact. I've even gotten
reports, for instance, about how
Fred Young quit seeing his
astrologer becausc my columns
were so eerily insightful. They say
he ponders them for hours every
night, pausing only to refill his
Coleman R-9 lantern with Zippo
lighter fluid.
So you can imagine the kind
of sU'css I've been under.
But on a lighter note, last
week 1 charged the teachers with
making the four-hour class format
work. Now, students, it's your
turn to be addressed.
By choosing to attend Elon
(or any other college) you have
taken on an obligation. An
obligation to be something better
when you leave than when you
came. How you go about doing
this is your own busine.ss. _ ,
Jack
Duval
^ This is not some
heavy trip... just a
reminder (or a
wakeup) for the
masses. 99
Now, this is not some heavy
trip I'm laying on you, just a
reminder (or a wakeup call) for the
masses. And if you'll think about
it, it makes sense. Because if you
spend four years of your life doing
something as lofty as getting an
education (whatever that may be)
and you haven't grown, then
you've not only wasted your time
and money but also the time and
money of your fellow students.
This is simply because college is
a collaborative affair.
Have you ever been to a "big
! party" where only a few peopl®
showed up? You left, right? Well-
college is the same way - the more
people who "show up," the bettef
it is for everyone.
Note: "showing up" isn’t jusl
going through the motions.
Deep, huh?
Weren't ready for that were
ya'? Probably thought I was gonna
lay down one of those hipped-out’
slash and burn, to-the-hilt, word'
as-weapon, purple-hazed, red-sear®’
blue-light-in-my-rearview, verb^^
blitzkriegs that leaves you
that think-I'm-gonna-puke, toO'
tired-to-fight-about-it, did-yoi*'
read-what-that-cat-wrote look
your face.
Well, 1 didn’t.
1 will leave you with
thought though: next time
watch your roommate puke
liquor for distance, remember i*’’^
you’re viewing the future ®
America.