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Page 2 Thursday, September 11, 2003
The Pendulum
Establislwd 1974
Student apathy taken to a
sickening new level
It’s bad enough that students don’t attend football
games. Or rather, show up halfway through the second
quarter and leave at halttime. It’s terrible that students
have to be told not to leave convocation events early.
But it’s absolutely deplorable that the existence of Safe
Rides is in jeopardy. Citing lack of volunteers, Safe Rides
may be forced to shut down its operation. And in the giant
arena of Elon apathy, this turn of events stands head and
shoulders above all else.
Not showing up for a football game or leaving convo
cation early is pretty minute in the grand scheme of things.
But failing to volunteer for something as important as Safe
Rides can cost lives. The program exists to serve and aid
and students ... your peers.
According to the Safe Rides staff, students have called
the office on a Fritlay or Saturday night, essentially saying
they’re driving drunk because no one at Safe Rides was
present when they called to get a ride.
Show a little compassion and get past the egocentric
attitude. And don’t think someone driving drunk doesn’t
affect you. Don’t become a casualty of someone’s inept-
ness.
For those of you who have used Safe Rides in the past,
sacrifice one weekend evening and give back to a program
that has served you. So everyone put down your drinks,
fitid your way to Moseley 230 and sign up. Safe Rides is
run by students for students. Make a difference.
The Pendulum
Colin Donohue, Editor-in-Chief
Lindsay Porter, Managing Editor
Stephen Earley, News Editor
Matt Belanger, Asst. News Editor
Brittlny Dunlap, Opinions Editor
Kaltlyn North, A & E Editor
Mary-Hayden Britton, Features
Editor
Nick Palatlello, Sports Editor
Jeff Heyer, Photography Editor
Tim Rosner, Asst. Photo Editor
Ellis Harman and Jessica Kemp,
Copy Editors
Annette Randall, Bus. Manager
Matt Ford, Online Editor
Janna Anderson, Adviser
The Pendulum is published each Thursday of the academic year. The
advertising and editorial copy deadline is 5 p.m. the Monday before publi
cation.
Letters to the editor and guest columns are welcome and should be
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misskins become the property of The Pendulum and will not be returned.
To reach The Pendulum at 233 Moseley Center, call 278-7247 or fax 278-
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Each individual is entitled to one free copy.
Opinions
The Pendulum
Schwarzenegger lacks experience
Leigh Wiley
Columnist
With everything else that
seems to be falling apart in our
country, the California governor
race only adds
to the problems.
But tiiis isn’t
just any typical
kick out the cur
rent governor
and replace him.
This one
involves
celebrities who
have ridden
their wave of
stardom and still
want attention.
Since Arnold
Schwarzenegger has
chosen to run, the
race has gotten more press than
any governor election should.
The actor is avoiding not just
one question, but all of them. So
far Schwarzenegger has not par
ticipated in any major debates
with any of the other almost 100
candidates in the race. Most of
his answers are wishy-washy.
Art Torres, the California
democratic party chairman, told
CNN that he claims that
Schwarzenegger is “’ducking the
debates because he’s not pre
pared. Every time he’s asked
questions, he uses the old
Reagan trick — ‘Oh, I can’t hear
you’ or ‘Oh, I don’t know’ or ‘I
don’t remem
ber.’ At some
point, that’s
going to catch up
to him.’”
And Torres
seems to have
pegged
Schwarzenegger
perfectly.
Schwarzenegger
claims that ille
gal immigrants
should not l>e
given drivers
licenses-a firm belief
I’m sure. He follows
that up by saying that other deci
sions on the rights concerning
illegal immigrants should be left
up to the federal government.
Basically, he does not want to
take a stand on anything, includ
ing which way he believes the
government should lean. This
kind of attitude will not get
Schwarzenegger anywhere. He
might make it to the governor’s
chair, but without a true voice.
He won’t be happy there.
People clamoring to make a dif
ference will see to that.
Beyond not taking a stand on
issues, Schwarzenegger is not
taking a stand on his history
either. In 1977 Schwarzenegger
did an interview with “Oui”
magazine talking about his drug
use and group sex. When con
fronted with this interview
Schwarzenegger claims not to
remember it. Do we really need
a California governor who can’t
remember an interview about
that?
Schwarzenegger is using his
run to allow a “peoples
takeover” of Sacramento.
During one of his recent speech
es, someone in the crowd threw
an egg at Schwarzenegger,
which landed on his shoulder.
The egg did not harm
Schwarzenegger. In fact he
joked about it in a later engage
ment. I think that the egg may
symbolize that the people might
not want Schwarzenegger to take
over Sacramento. And I, for
one, cannot blame them.
Contact Leigh Wiley at pendu-
lum@elon.edu or 278-7247.
Elon stereotype far more diverse
Elizabeth Colquitt
Columnist
A Coach handbag. A BMW
convertible. These are just some
of the “status symbols” you will
see in the Elon Bubble. But is
that all our student body is
focused on?
Hardly.
My roommate moved out
Aug. 28, two days after classes
began. Although she cited many
reasons, a key issue that troubled
her was what she considered a
homogenous student body. In her
opinion, the sole interest of all
Elon students was their money,
clothes, hair and cars.
Too bad she never ventured
outside the dorm.
While I’ve met a girl whose
first car was a Porsche, I’ve also
met people who wouldn’t have
even been able to consider this
school without ample scholar
ship money. Several students
also balance their class hours
with a full work schedule.
Another mistake my room
mate made was cutting people
off just because they dressed a
certain way. I’m from a small
town in Tennessee where we
don’t even have our own Gap.
I’d never heard of Lilly or Vera
Bradley until I came here.
These brands are very popular
at Elon and I’ve met several girls
and even a guy who consider
them staples of their wardrobe.
Just because they are a fan of
this style doesn’t make them
snobby and cold; most of them
were actually quite friendly.
They also don’t compromise the
entire student body.
For every Lilly fan, there’s
another Goodwill one in the next
desk.
Elon students are also very
passionate alwut their organiza
tions here. Most students you
come across are involved in at
least one thing, whether it be a
political organization, Greek life
or club sports. By putting time
and energy into a group effort,
people are broadening their hori
zons and meeting others with
different experiences,
Elon is a preppy school, but
that’s not all it is. While there are
a few stereotypes about the stu
dents, they don’t apply to every
one, and even the ones who they
do apply to are more than just
cute shoes.
Try giving people a chance
before you write them off.
Contact Elizabeth Colquitt at
pendulum@elon.edu or 278-
7247.