The Pendulum
Features
Thursday, November 14, 2002 »Page 13
0
I town and as a universi-
id Populations, ideals of
TiiJltaneously challenged
ether and the need to lit-
there exist certain finda-
community. A panel
jntti gathered Monday to
mf^iunity and discuss the
t one to another.
Andi Petrini/Photographer
jn Alamance building every
classes.
Sraduate students.
^tve thousand is a key number,”
Sandy Seidel, associate professor
'ology. “Once you exceed that num-
ffbi
«lti
’here is quite a change in academic
*^>■6. I’ve never taught at an institu-
larger than that, and I don’t think I
' choose to.”
approaching 5,000 creates new
'*>nias for the university, as facilities
keep up and the people must
to new structures.
!
* think one of the things that hap-
"'hen you get larger is you have
^haii
■ "^'r communities within the larger
pl^'^Unity; you certainly find your
Brown said. “And you have to
people find their place.”
ihe struggle for Elon to maintain
'®vcl of connectedness mirrors
national trends of the decline of
membership in civic organiza
tions.
“We don’t feel as connected to
each other, in the sense that we
don’t feel civically responsible.
We don’t go out to dinner at each
other’s houses like we did 20 or
50 years ago,” said Arcaro, who is
also the director of Project
Pericles. “The whole idea behind
Project Pericles is the to raise the
level of civic engagement and
social responsibility that directly
enhances the community around
here. Project Pericles is one of
the things that the school is doing
specifically to address the issue of
community.”
Project Pericles is purposeful
in its intent, as some say all plan
ning should be in order to pre
serve community.
“As we make changes, we
should put on the front burner,
how is this going to affect com
munity?” Arcaro said. “How can
we undercut the things that are
going to do bad and how can we
make things better? How can we
be more purposeful in how we
grow?”
With three faculty members
living on campus, community
dynamics have taken on a new
dimension. Seidel, who lives in
the international studies pavilion
said, “The Academic Village was
purposeful. When we look at our
spaces and renovations, we have
to consider community.”
Lack of meeting spaces may be
addressed by creating new build
ings, but some says it’s essential
to preserve green space,
“When that business school
goes up and you take away those
intramural fields and you put
them someplace else, that is going
to affect our student body,” senior
Leslie Crowe said. “Taking away
a central mingling, central gather
ing place is going to affect our
community. Not everyone plays
David Copeland, associate professor of communications, and Janie Brown, professor of health pro
motion, leisure and human performance, discussed the history of College Coffee.
intramurals, but
they walk by it
and they support
it. That’s enjoy
ing life and com
pany.”
With the
exploration of
community
comes the con
tinued understanding of the tan
dem between innovation and tra
dition.
“The amount of change that we
are asked to accept is sometimes
more than we can absorb, the
Rev. Richard McBride said. “I
would like to perfect where we
are, rather than think about inno
vation for a while.”
Perfecting the traditions that
have been established may be
essential to preserve, community,
but a strong foundation guides the
university as it stretches it s
branches.
“I have many students who say
Elon is a special place. I have
friends who went here who say
Elon is a special and magical
place,” said David Copeland,
associate professor. “Maybe
something happens still that we
don’t realize.”
have many students who say Elon is a special place.
I have friends who went here who say Elon is a special and
magical place. Maybe something happens still that we don’t
realize.
—David Copeland, associate professor
99
tvlark Albertson, registrar, offered insight as to how Elon has evolved
during his time here. Albertson addressed the need for a meeting
space for students, staff and faculty to convene as a whole.