Page 2 • Thursday, October 30, 2003
Opinions
The Pendulum
The Pendulum
Movin’ out: Don’t stifle
student expression
Two weeks ago, a student lodged a complaint with
the administration about a controversial exhibit featur
ing nude photographs in the Center for the Arts.
Contrary to some rumors, the photos were not pulled
days before the exhibit closed. Rather, Ken flassel, a
professor in the art department, pulled the photos of his
own volition with no prodding by the iKlministration
two hours earlier than scheduled. So the issue in play
here isn’t whether the photos should have been pulled,
but whether such controversial works of art should be
prominently displayed.
A major complaint was that the photos were hung in
plain sight of most passersby inside and outside of the
building,were forced to view them. One future prescrip
tion has been to move such an exhibit into a separate
room and out of plain sight.
But part of the reason the photos were hung on the
walls in the first place was so students and professors
could engage in students’ works. Art has no clear defini
tion, but certainly tasteful nude photographs have
always been under the umbrella term. Creating guide
lines and criteria outlining what can and cannot be put
on display is a gross dereliction. The Center for the Arts
is about expression. Depriving some students from dis
playing their work stilles that expression.
The Pendulum
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Are the dorms
safe?
To the Editor,
The article “Electrical prob
lem forces evacuation” in the
Oct. 9 edition of The Pendulum
brings up a serious issue around
campus.
A complete evacuation of
Staley resident halls took place
about two weeks ago because of
faulty wiring in the walls.
Staley, at 3.5 years old, is not
nearly the oldest building on
campus, yet it was having an
electrical smoke-out which put
the lives of 200 female students
at this school in danger.
This leads me to wonder if all
the residence halls on campus
mailbox
are safe for us to live in. Or is
another one going to have a sim
ilar incident like this, such as
West dormitory which is much
older than Staley. And for that
matter are all the academic
buildings safe for us to be having
class in?
The only answer out there is
to that is, I don’t know, I hope
not. Why doesn’t the university,
in order to avoid another disaster
like the Staley evacuation, make
mandatory renovations to all of
the buildings especially the resi
dence halls? They should check
all the wiring, heating, air condi
tioning and overall build of the
buildings.
Rather than worry about
issues such as this, Eton
University puts aside millions
upon millions of dollars each
year to expand our current
school. They are currently
building next to the already new
academic pavilions. Plus they
have made plans to build even
more ini the future. Wouldn’t it
be more beneficial at this time to
ensure the safety of all the uni
versity’s students? And to put
some of that money, such as the
money used to buy land from the
Elon Home for Children, which
we don’t even use now, towards
renovations and safety issues?
Elon University is too wor
ried about expanding, and if we
aren’t careful small things like
faulty wires will cause a lot of
destruction.
-Brendan Clearkin ‘06
You don’t have to drink to be yourself
Elyse Rodriguez
Columnist
What? You haven’t partied five
days .straight? What’s wrong with
you?
Don’t worry, the answer is
absolutely nothing. It’s OK not to
drink yourself to oblivion when
ever you have the chance.
It has come to my attention
that passing judgement on those
who do not party every niglrt of
the week is common.
Apparently, wanting to stay in
when you’re tired and in need of
some rest is considered cxld and,
in some fashion, uncool. I’m here
to tell those of you who like to
relax that you shouldn’t feel pres
sured to go out all the time.
If you have a big test at 8 a.m.
tomorrow and you would rather
study instead of relieving stress
through the joys of beer, then
don’t feel timid to make that deci
sion. Or perhaps you simply like
to hang around and watch movies
and feel like a dork for staying in
while your friends go out.
You are the only one who
knows what is best for you.
Those who judge are the ones
who have not yet found a solid
ground within themselves.
Everyone’s different, so don’t
feel ashamed for not jumping on
the bandwagon to party central
each night.
Believe it or not, not killing a
fraction of your brain cells actual
ly helps your mental and physical
health. I know, I know- it’s a hard
concept to grasp.
My question is: When did it
become “uncool” to be yourself?
Aren’t we always taught to be
ourselves no matter what people
think?
It seems as if that mentality has
vanished and that many are trying
to fit the mold of the stereotypical
college student.
I’m not encouraging people to
stay inside to stand against the
tide of conformatism but I am
encouraging people to be who
they are. If you are the party ani
mal, then go right ahead and
party. If you are the mellow video
game player, then go right ahead
and tackle Bowser with your
trusty Yoshi by your side. Be
you.
The past few weeks I’ve
noticed that inany seem to look
down on those who don’t party
every night, and that some who go
out only do because they feel they
have to. It concerns me because
college is supposed to be the
place to break out from what you
, have always been and to create
the person you have always want
ed to be through the many oppor
tunities offered.
If drinking and partying each
night isn’t your thing, then don’t
make it your thing. There’s no
rule that says you have to have a
certain number of drunken hours
clocked or nights not remem
bered.
There is only your mere con
science begging you to let it be
your guess.
Contact Elyse Rodriguez at pen-
dulum@elon.edu or 278-7247.
Stop fighting
the urge.
Write for The
Pendulum
X7247