Pendulum
Thursday, May 8, 2003
Vol. 28, Issue 28
Elon University
Elon, NX.
If it matters to you, it matters to The Pendulum.
Graduates will face
tough Ijob market
Steve Earley
Reporter
Graclualion is a Hule more
Ilian two weeks away. For most
of llie class of 2003, ihis means
leaving ihe Elon biihble for llic
world of work. Familiar college
pluases such as “all-pighler and
“road-trip" give way lo "job
shortage” and “hiring freeze" as
graduates enter a workforce still
feeling the effects :of a weak
national economy. !
The imemployhient rate
climbed to 6 percent in April,
according to the Bureau of L^bor
and Statistics — jus^ one symp
tom of an economic; slump that
has dealt states their worst finan
cial crisis since the Great
Depression.
However, Elon seniors are
less concerned with economic
statistics and historical compar
isons than being able (o say
“yes” to one simple question:
“Do you have a job lined up?”
With fewer jobs out there -
about 800,000 a few years ago to
100,000 - 200.000 this year - the
answer lo that question may be a
hit different than in years past,
according to Jim Allison, associ
ate director of the Career Center.
Students are faced with an unfa
miliar range of options.
More students may be going
back home after graduation, said
Allison, lie would not be sur
prised if last year's nationwide
average of six out of every 10
graduates going home climl>ed to
seven out of tO this year, he said.
Others may take some time
off. “Not just the economy but
our world has been stressful the
past few years," Allison said. “I
ask folks. ‘What are you doing
when you leave Elon?’ And
ihcy’ll say, ‘I’m taking a vaca
tion because I need a break.’ And
that's understandable.”
Business adniinistration major
Robby Grandy is looking to relax
a bit. “This summer I’ve got a job
See Jobs p. 9
FacuSty say grade InfSatSon
refSects a national trend
letsica Patchett
Assistant News Editor
As the GPA and SAT scores of
incoming students rise, so do the
average letter grades received by
Elon students each semester.
However, many faculty members
attribute Ihe distribution of more
‘above average’ grades not to a
pool of brighter students, but lo
grade inflation, a national trend
that is disturbing to many Elon
professors.
“We’re creating unrealistic
expectations on the part of stu
dents - that success will always be
easy,” said psychology professor
Catherine King. King rccemly
spoke with Fox 18 news regard
ing the effects of grade inflation
on students.
“We’re making individuals
very vulnerable to failure,” she
said.
Over the past 10 years, the
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'Fini Rosncr/ Ptmio Ectiior
See Grades p. 10
Eton's varsity athletes competed in a variety of Wack-B sports Satun±3y as part ol Eton's Wack-E
Olympics. The students pictured atave were competing to be the first to finish a relay race.
Two arrested with $6,000 In stolen goods
Lindsay Porter
News Bciitor
Campus Safety and Police
made two arrests Saturday night
after officers found $6,000 worth
of stolen merchandise in back
packs. Timothy Douglas
Bunnells, 17, and a juvenile were
charged for numerous violations,
including felony breaking and
entering, possession of burglary
tools, resisting a public officer
and injury to persona! property.
“The’ charges are numerous
and they’re not done, ” said
Chuck Gantos, chief of Campus
Safety and Police.
Sophomore Michele Hamilton,
a Staley resident, called the cam
pus security office at 11:23 p.m.
and reported two suspicious-look-
ing individuals lurking in the
Harper Center parking lot vicini
ty. Bunnells and the juvenile had
been seen by other residents out
side of Moffitt hall and walking in
the Harper Center parking lot.
“They were standing on the
comer by the Staley bushes. 1
could tell they weren’t talking to
each other, and it just looked
strange,” Hamilton said.
When security officers arrived
on the scene. Bunnells and ihc
juvenile had left the Harper
Center area. TIjc two were found
four to five minutes later walking
through the parking lot at the
Greek court, according to Gantos.
Tlie two were stopped for ques
tioning.
Gantos said officers found a
large number of stolen musical
instruments and accessories in Ihe
individuals’ backpacks, including
flutes, a clarinet and drumsticks.
They were also carrying burglary
tools.
See Arrests p, 8
INSIDE
Fourteen seniors leave their marit
paga 14-15
Summer movie preview
page 22
Ten more things you never knew
page 28