Jan. 23, 2002 Focus Page 13 Variety of classes entertain and challenge Kate Houston Reporter While many students choose a Winter Term route of knocking out a general studies or another challenging course, many stu dents see Winter Term as an op portunity to take an out^-of-the ordinary class. Winter Term classes range from “The Nature of Mathematics” to “The Business of NASCAR.” If “The Nature of Mathematics” didn’t catch your interest, maybe NASCAR did. And if not, there are plenty more out-of-the-ordinary classes in full swing right now. “The Business of NASCAR,” taught by Christopher Joiner, fo cuses on the business aspects (management, economy and mar keting) of NASCAR. Although the focus lies primarythe business side, students also delve into the history of racing and learn the entire process of a race car’s ride just to get to the track. English classes being offered range from studying the meaning of “home” through literature to the supernatural to different lan guages. “Literature of Place: Go ing Home” explores the meaning ahd search for “home” through poetry, fiction, film and drama. “Alternate Languages” explores the idea of one universal language and its effects on cultures around the world. Imagine being able to go anywhere and not have to face a language barrier. But these lan guages aren’t always spoken. Stu dents in “Alternate Languages” ex plore the idea of body and sign lan guages as well. Professor Robert Blake’s “Lit erature of Terror and the Super natural” is another unusual class. “I explore such classic authors as Edgar Allan Poe and Henry James and films such as The Omen and The Innocents,” he said. “The material varies somewhat from year to year so I won’t become jaded with going over the same thing. I try to include films that stu dents aren’t familiar with.” It is obvious that with 40 students, there must be some strong draw to the subject. “The students who take this course like being scared temporarily in the safety of the classroom,” Blake said. But it’s not just fun and games. Or is it? “By taking this course students re alize that the study of literature can be fun,” he said. While some students are scared daily in the classroom, others are being comforted with history and a well-known face. Earl Danieley’s class, “Elon: Past, Present and Future” explores Elon’s history, including the ef fects of the nation’s history on the school. With more than 60 years of Elon experience under his belt, the class couldn’t be taught by a better man. “It’s amazing how much Dr. Danieley can remem ber,” said Kiarra Howe. “He seems to remember everything about anybody or anything and he often recalls it humorously.” Danieley starts the class with the church, which was the foun dation of the college and moves chronologically from there. “I think that it would be great if all [students and faculty] knew the history of the college better than we do,” Danieley said. Howe agrees that the content is interesting and important. “It’s definitely interesting to hear about the history of the institution be cause then you know why things are the way they are now,” she said. “You also learn about the history of the country at the time, like how World Wars I and II af fected the campus and the progres sion of women’s sports.” Danieley said, “I think the stu dents get a greater appreciation for what we have when they under stand the work which went into giving us the present institution.” With this slight glimpse into just a few of the interesting classes in full swing right now, it is ap parent that students find Winter Term is an excellent opportunity for an interesting experience. FOCUS on this.... Have a topic you would like to see covered in a Focus section this semester? Let us know the issues you’d like to see here. E-mail us at pendulum@elon.edu or write to 7012 Campus Box CAREER FOCUS Upcoming Events Graduate School Information Workshop Tuesday, February 12 5:00 - 6:30 p.m. Moseley Center, Room 215 Elon Career and Graduate School Fair 2002 Thursday, March 7 1:00 - 4:00 p.m. Alumni Gym FuU-time/Part-time/Summer Jobs Internships - Grad Schools Reminder On-Campus Recruiting begins in Februat7. Please check the Career Center Website for a list of upcoming employer visits. r s WWW. u / c a r

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