Volume XXII, Number 23
Informing the Elon College Community
April 17,1997
BPilQEIALS/
LETTERS
COMICS
14-15
NEWS
£lon is getting ready to
host the AIDS Quilt from
April 24*26, but it*s jrtill
looking for volunteers.
8
Despite the rain, more
than 1(K) students enjoyed
the talents of three hands
Saturday afternoon.
9
With more than 350
unpaid parking tickets
already sitting in its
office, the town police
department has doubled
fines to encourage people
to pay.
17 .
Elon's spring play^
'^Dancing at Lughnasa,^’
opens tomorrow at 8 p.m.
in McCrary Theatre.
12
SPORTS
Do you want to know
how your favorite
fraternity or sorority is
doing in Greek Week?
Find out.
22-23 . .
Noble Prize Winner Comes to Elon
Jeff Wirick
Editor-in-Chief
When former South African
President F.W. de Klerk comes to
Elon Monday, he’ll be the second
world leader to address the school
in three years.
Former Great Britain Prime
Mmister Margaret Thatcher spoke
to a group of Elon students dunng
spnng Convocation m April, 1995.
“She was a strong-willed
leader,” said Provost Gerald
Francis. “Now we have a strong
man who has made a difference in
a country.”
De Klerk, who will be on cam
pus for seven and a half hours Mon
day, will be the guest speaker at
Elon’s 1997 spring Convocation in
Alumni Memorial Gymnasium at
7:30 p.m.
The event is open to students,
staff, media and members of the
Elon Society. It will be de Klerk’s
first speech in the United States
this year.
De Klerk’s speech will cap a
week of events that the school is
sponsoring to celebrate South
see VISIT, page 6
De Klerk Takes Center
stage at Convocation
Jeff Wirick
Editor-in-Chief
There" s little doubt that former
South African President F.W* de
Klerk will be remembered for his
Impact ont his country*& pe^ful
transitioni to democracy. But
there’s a difference qf opinion on
whether his influence kept the old
apartheid system around longer than
what it should have been.
“Sure there is controversy that
surrounds former president de
Klerk,” said Elon Provost Gerald
Francis, “The way we have planned
this symposium is that you’re go
ing to see both sides of the picture.
And then you’re going to hear from
see DE KLERK, page 6
%
_ -.'A=r
Junior Eric Cone climbs the wall Saturday afternoon during the Earth Pest Andrew Brickey/77?e Pendulum
outside Whitley Auditorium. Despite the rain, more than 100 students came for a chance to listen to live music, including
local band Back Seat Driver. See story, page 9.
April Busy
Month for
EC Students
Jeff Wirick
Editor-in-Chief
With Greek Week, Earth Fest,
summer and fall class preregistra
tion and the South Africa In Con
text program either concluding or
underway, most Elon students don ’ t
have much problem filling up their
time this week. And with spring
Convocation and the Special Olym
pics this week and the arrival of the
AIDS Quilt set for next week, the
schedule could get even busier.
“It’s a very busy time,” said
Provost Gerald Francis. “But when
you do things like the AIDS Quilt
see BUSY, page 11
Pendulum F.Y.I.
School Addresses Concerns about Tenure
2SOCK5n-
toocm
Of the Elon organizations that
received budgets for next
year, 23 received an increase
from last year.
B $ increase this year.
■ ^ $ received last year.
Liberal Model Gospel
Arts Forum United Nations Choir
Elon's
Finest
Swiin ^
Club
■ o
00
Michelle Cater
Asst. Managing Editor
Members of the Elon adminis
tration, Board of Trustees and fac
ulty have formed a task force to
examine the current tenure policy
of Elon and examine ways to make
it better.
“I think the administration is
entirely well intended in trying to
set up a tenure system that both
protects the school and ensures that
the school will have valuable fac
ulty members,” said biology pro
fessor Phillip Mason, “but at the
same time protecting the rights and
ethical responsibilities it has to
wards its faculty.”
Tenure is an employment pro
cess that is used by most colleges
and universities. When a professor
is granted tenure they are given a
contract that guarantees employ
ment, except in extreme circum
stances, at the institution until they
retire.
Vice President of Academic
Affairs Julianne Maher said that
tenure is important because it gives
faculty a commitment from the in
stitution and allows the faculty more
freedom in their research.
“Tenure gives faculty protec
tion for expressing unpopular
ideas,” Maher said.
Under the current process, fac
ulty on the tenure track are reviewed
by their department heads and
deans. Faculty also write a self-
evaluation. During their yearly
evaluations, professors are judged
on their teaching, advising, involve
ment at Elon and in the community
and their contributions in their pro
fession.
The surveys completed by stu
dents during the fall semester are
also used in the evaluation of the
professor. Some members of the
see TENURE, page 6