Page 4 • Thursday, September 25, 2003
Opinions
The Pendulum
Welcome to Elon’s version of ‘Dear Ahby.’ This weekly column
will entertain you with questions from the minds of actual Phoenix
students. Do not fear the subject matter of the questions.
THE GURU
"All of my friends seem to be getting
boyfriends recently. I don't want one, but
they keep telling me I do. Help!"
What 1 am about to say might
shock some people, so I hope you
are sitting down.
It’s OK to be single. It can actual
ly—dare I say it?—be fun.
Not that being in a caring, com
mitted relationship isn’t wonderful.
But sometimes it can be more fun
just to go to bed with a good book.
Told you it was shocking.
Now the idea of curling up with
the latest New York Times bestseller
may not get your heart racing or
your libido flaring, but there is more
to being single than catching up on
your reading.
In general, people do seem to put
too much pressure on the impor
tance of being in a relationship.
Those people treat it like il’s some
sort of super-exclusive club that
only a select few can join.
It makes sorority recruitment
look like an afternoon of tea.
If you are hesitant about entering
a relationship, then it is a clear sig
nal from your subconscious that you
probably aren’t ready.
Don’t be intimidated just because
all your friends have boyfriends.
Just because "everyone else is doing
it,” doesn’t mean you have lo as
well.
Besides, that is what happens this
time of year. It’s the beginning of the
year and everyone is getting togeth
er. The apartment next to me went
from three single guys to three guys
in a relationship in less than a
month.
But that's Elon. All the good ones
go fast.
That doesn’t mean you can’t go
out and have fun.
Just because your friends are stay
ing at home with their significant
others doesn’t mean you and your
single gals can’t go have some good
times with some insignificant oth
ers.
Just remember that chasing
after the opposite sex isn’t just
fun, but it can also be tiring. So
much energy is wasted in “pur
suit.”
Plus, if you are anything like
my friend, those scratches from
stalking in the bushes can get
annoying.
When you are single there is
time lo actually concentrate on
the important things in your life—
like yourself.
It’s a lime lo have fun and find
out who you really are. Plus you
don’t have lo “check in” every
few hours. You can go out and let
loose, be free.
You may even have some free
time to read a book or two.
Unless you have found some
one very special, being in a rela
tionship is pointless. Why spend
valuable time with a relationship
that is based on fear of being
alone? Having a boyfriend is
great if you like him and not the
role he plays. Relationships arc
based on caring, mutual respect
and the ability to be yourself.
They are not about showing off
your new arm candy.
Boys are individuals, not .some
new Gucci clutch.
In the mean time, there is no
reason you cannot go sow some
wild oats of your own. But watch
out, cause you never know, Mr.
Right Now might end up turning
into Mr. Right.
As for me, 1 believe chapter 4
is calling my name.
Seni/ a question
to the 'GURU'
at eUmj^nru@
yahoo.com
How to really use your Phoenix card
Reporter Name
Staff Title
Editor's Note: This elite column will appear
weekly and will he written by elites’ training
team cordinator.
Why do you need lo know about your stu
dent ID and the Phoenix card? They are essen
tial lo your time here at Elon and will gain you
access to a variety of services.
In the past,.Elon used Social Security num
bers to identify students. To help protect you
from identity theft, Elon has changed how you
are identified. Each student has a Student ID
(your Datalel number) that is now your source
of identification. You will need to know this
number for a variety of Elon functions. You can
find your student ID number by logging into
OnTrack and opening your degree audit. The
seven-digit number next lo your name is your
student ID number. (Your student ID is NOT on
your Phoenix card.)
The Phoenix card acts as your Elon student ID
card. The card allows you to make purchases,
pay fees and gain access at many locations on
campus. Divided into three accounts (plus the
possibility of linking it lo a Wachovia Student
Checking account), the Phoenix card gives stu
dents flexibility and choices in handling their
money. The three accounts included on the card
are meal plan, meal dollars, and Phoenix cash.
You and your parents decide upon your Meal
Plan when tuition and housing fees are paid. The
meal plan options include 5, 15, 19, and unlimit
ed meals. The meal plan account is deducted one
meal each time you swipe your card to dine at an
on-campus dining facility such as Harden,
McEwen, Danieley or Octagon.
Meal dollars are an extra dollar amount that
can either be included in your meal plan or can
be added throughout the year through deposits.
For example, the 15-meal plan option includes
15 meals a week plus an additional $275/year in
Meal Dollars. Meal Dollars can be used at cam
pus dining locations for food not covered in the
meal plan.
Phoenix ca.sh is not included or required lo be
on the Phoenix card. Phoenix cash is only on a
student’s card if someone has deposited funds
onto it. The Phoenix cash is the only .source for
paying off-campus vendors and for purchasing
non-perishable items. To deposit money into
your Phoenix cash account, students and parents
can log onto www.eIon.edu/phoenixcard and
click on “Manage Your Phoenix card.” Al this
site, funds can be added to the account via credit
card. Other credit card deposits can be made over
the phone by calling the Phoenix card office at
336-278-5436, Monday through Friday from 8
a.m. to 5 p.m. Students can also deposit money
via cash, check or credit card at the Phoenix card
office in Moseley Center during office hours.
Cash deposits can be made at one of the Value
Elon University has developed business relG-
tionships with the following off-campus mer
chants. You can use your Phoenix cash account
to pay for your purchase at these spots:
Sandy's Steaks and Subs
Side Track Srill
Domino’s Pizza (Elon location)
Subway (Elon location)
Campus Photo
Coming Attractions Hair and Tanning Salon
Mike’s Deli
The Checkerboard Srill
Panera Bread
Papa John's Pizza (Burlington location)
Skid's (Elon location)
Sal's (Burlington location)
Transfer Stations in Belk Library and Danieley
Commons.
The following is a list of available services for stu
dents with Phoenix Cards;
Pay for meals at all campus dining facilities. (Meal
Plan, Meal Dollars, Phoenix Cash)
Purchase books and supplies from the Campus Shop.
(Phoenix Cash)
Do laundry al most machines on campus. (Phoenix
Cash)
Use vending machines. (Phoenix Cash)
Pay for services, tests, medications, etc. at the Health
Center. (Phoenix Cash)
Check out materials/books in Belk Library. (No Fee)
Check out equipment from Media Services and
Television Services. (No Fee)
Make photocopies in Belk Library or al the Print
Shop. (Phoenix Cash)
Pay for services in Media Services. (Phoenix Cash)
Pay for computer repairs al the Student Computing
Services store. (Phoenix Cash)
Pay for parking stickers at Campus Safety and Police.
(Phoenix Cash)
Purchase stamps and mail packages at the Mail
Center. (Phoenix Cash)
Pay some fees at the Bursar’s Office. (Phoenix Cash)
Gain access lo student activities, concerts, athletic
events, and cultural events on campus. (No Fee)
Vote in Student Government elections. (No Fee)
Use Campus Recreation facilities and programs. (No
Fee except with Special Programs, which can be paid
using Phoenix Cash)
Contact Laura Cunningham al pendulum@elon.edu or
278-7247.
Think you can be tomorrow’s next big thing?
Get your start at The Pendulum today.
To be a columnist
call x7247 or write to
Campus Box 7012 for more inlofmation.