Thursday, September 19, 2002 Vol. 28, Issue 5 Elon University Elon, N.C. If it matters to you, it matters to The Pendulum. Global issues hit home Erin Cunningham News Editor Benazir Bhutto, the exiled for mer prime minister of Pakistan, discussed global issues, Sept. 11 and acceptance during her address Wednesday at Fall Convocation. “I return to America one year after the terrible tragedy of [Sept. 11],” Bhutto said during her speech, “Democracy; Tlie Never Ending Battle.” The effects of the terrorist attacks “still reverberate across the world,” she said to the filled Alumni Gym. When naming the many vic tims, real and abstract, of Sept. 11, Bhutto described the image of the Islamic people and democra cy. “Democracy was sacrificed for expediency in Pakistan,” she said. “The world is a very differ ent place from what we dreamed in the time after the Berlin Wall.” Tliis is a frightening and dan gerous time in the political life of Pakistan, she said, referring to the emergence of the military regime as the ruling party in her native country and the group that over threw her. “They are criminals,” Bhutto said. “Their actions contradict the teachings of Islam.” But, she said the image of the attack on the World Trade Center would forever be connected with the Islamic people. “The world tumbled out of a See BHUTTO p. 7 Student reports intruder Erin Cunningham News Editor After hearing noises in her Haggard Square apartment Sept. 14, an Elon student reported an intruder. “She heard somebody and became alarmed,” said Jana Lynn Patterson, associate dean of stu dents. “She could tell somebody was in the other room.” The incident occurred at about 3 p.m., and the student called her friends before alerting the author ities. “She called her friends about 40 minutes later,” said Chuck Gantos, Elon Campus Police chief. “Her friends looked outside to see if they could see anyone or find anything.” There was no sign of forced entr>' or items taken from her res idence, Gantos said. Police officers searched the area but didn’t find a suspect, Patterson said. “She never saw who it was,” Patterson said. Police have no leads at this time, according to Gantos. Contact Erin Cunningham at ecunningham@el(m£dii or 278- 7247. Elon rankings continue to rise Tim Rosner/Photography Editor Benazir Bhutto addressedgloballssues, religion, Sept 11 and ter rorism in her address Wednesday during Fall Convocation. Erin Cunningham News Editor Like the Phoenix, Elon’s rank ings continue to rise. The university’s move to No. 8 in U.S. News & World Report’s “America’s Best Colleges” guide among 131 Southern master’s- level universities is Elon’s high- ✓ ✓ est ranking in li the magazine, which annually recognizes distin guished colleges dedicated to enhanced learning and successful students. Elon tied for the eighth-best master’s-level uni versity in the South with Mercer University. Last year, Elon was ranked as No. 9 and has gained seven places in seven years. Institutions ranked above Elon in this year’s rankings included the University of Richmond, Rollins College, James Madison University, Stetson University, Samford University, Loyola University of New Orleans and The Citadel. A number of factors play a part in the national rankings, including graduation, student retention and acceptance rates, class size and student-faculty ratio, said Dan Anderson, director of University Relations. Among each division, schools are ranked on several standards. Elon is fourth among southern universities in academic reputa tion, third in freshman retention rate and fifth in graduation rate. U.S. News added new cate gories to the rankings for 2002. It is one things to say they are educating a student and another to say how they are doing it. —David Hibbard, News Bureau director for University Relations. “Elon shows up in three of the eight new categories,” Anderson said. Elon’s first-year programs for students tied for 14th with Beloit College among the 1,400 colleges and universities in the United States. Elon’s service learning program, which allow students to perform volunteer service at Elon and the surround ing community, tied for 14th, with the University of Southern California and Elon’s study abroad pro gram ranked 31st along with Boston College and Grinnell College. “We are proud that Elon’s out standing programs for new stu dents and those involved in serv ice learning and study abroad have earned the praise of our peers,” Elon President Leo Lambert said. Elon-specific, first-year pro grams, which led to national recognition, include spring and fall orientation, Elon 101. the first- year core curriculum and an academic early-warning system. PreSERVE, which brings in a group of incoming freshmen to participate in building a Habitat for Humanity home, and a sum mer CD mailing, providing stu dents with essential computer software, also played a role in the ranking. “It is one things to say they are educating a student and another to See RANKINGS p. 7 INSIDE Ceil phone etiquette, page 12 Chorale performs at convocation, page 18 Cross country preps for weekend tourna ment, page 23