Page 2 • Thursday, November 13, 2003
Opinions
The Pendulum
The Pendulum ICstablirthed l.QTt-
¥
And a roar emerges from
the crowd of three ...
What a crowd the Phoenix football team had during
its Homecoming conte.st against Appalachian State. The
bleachers were full, everyone was cheering - it was like
a college football atmosphere. Too bad it was halftime,
when the Homecoming King and Queen were
announced. And what happened following the corona
tion? Everyone left. Why? Because apparently we live
in some Bizano world where Homecoming festivities
rank higher than a college football game.
Following the game against Appalachian,
Mountaineer fans waited for their team as it left the
field. Elon’s beat reporter from the Times-News said,
‘This is what real college football is supposed to be
like.” Following halftime, almost all of Elon’s fans
cleared out of the stadium. Those dedicated enough to
remain were grossly outnumbered by Appalachian fans.
What a .sad spectacle simply considering the sheer aes
thetic beauty of Rhodes Stadium.
It’s absolutely disgusting, reprehensible and down
right mind-boggling. How difficult is it to pick up a free
ticket, get to the stadiiim by 2 p.m. for kickoff, and
spend the next two and a half hours watching a football
game? This form of student apathy is sickening. And
please, don’t complain about a football team if you
never bother to see them play.
The Pendulum
Colin Donohue, Editor-in-Chief
Lindsay Porter, Managing Editor
Steve Earley. News Editor
Matt Belanger, Asst. News Editor
Brlttlny Dunlap, Opinions Editor
Kaltlyn North, A & E Editor
Mary-Hayden Britton, Features
Editor
Nick Palatlello, Sports Editor
Andrew High, Asst. Sports Editor
Jeff Heyer, Photography Editor
Tim Rosner, Asst. Photo. Editor
Ellis Harman and Jessica Kemp,
Copy Editors
Annette Randall, Bus. Manager
Kathryn Jones, Asst. Business
Manager
Evelyn Massey, Asst. Business
Manager
Jocelyn Manlngo, Ad Designer
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
typed, double-spaced, signed and include a telephone number for verifica
tion. Submissions are also accepted as Word documents on disk or by e-
mall.
The Pendulum reserves the right to edit obscene or potentially libelous
material. Lengthy letters or columns may have to be trimmed to fit. All sub
missions 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-
7246. Contact The Pendulum by e-mail at pendulum@elon.edu. Visit our
Web site at www.elon.edu/pendulum.
Each Individual Is entitled to one free copy.
mailbox
School spirit is
pathetic
To the Editor,
Hello my name is John, and I
am a student at Appalachian
State. I am writing on behalf of
those at the Homecoming game
on Saturday.
I was absolutely appalled by
Elon fans and their lack of school
spirit. It was the worst display
of school pride that I have ever
seen in my life as a football fan.
It is obvious that Elon fans
lack any kind of pride due to
most of crowd leaving after half-
time. There were even more
Appalachian fans there than Elon
fans, and we live three hours
away.
Another indicator to me that
Elon houses soft, fair-weather
fans was the fact that every
Phoenix fan was dressed like
they were attending their private
country club induction. Elon,
learn how to dress; it’s not a
fashion show, it’s a football
game!
I was surprised when your
team scored that the fans knew
the difference between a touch
down and a kickoff.
I just want to say, you’re wel
come for our presence because it
might have taught you some type
of lesson of what school pride is
supposed to be. No charge, it’s
on us.
Obviously your “pride level”
is based on the record of your
football team. Maybe next time
we come to Burlington the team
might have a couple of wins, and
then Elon might sell a ticket or
two.
If this weekend was
Homecoming, I would hate to
see what it is like on a regular
Saturday. Maybe the Phoenix
just hasn’t really risen yet.
Thank you for your time. I
hope that The Pendulum can
somehow boost some spirit.
- John Smith, Appalachian
State student
Support the community in “coming out
jj
Jonathan Chapman
Columnist
Do you have a story?
Does your story have any
thing to offer? Is your story
valid?
These were the questions I
asked myself when I first
learned about “Coming Out
All Over.” This evening of
coming out stories recount
ed by Elon students, faculty
and staff initially sounded
like a great and much need
ed event. But when I was
approached by a friend to speak
at the event, taking place at 7:30
p.m. Nov. 19 in Yeager Recital
Hall, 1 was unsure if I wanted to
share my story with complete
strangers. I initially agreed to
tell my story, but soon I began to
rethink my decision.
Some people on this campus
feel that “Coming Out All Over”
is inappropriate. They equate
the recounting of these stories to
the gay community clamoring
for more aUention—flaunting
our sexual orientation.
Others, within the gay com
munity, disagreed with the panel
for other reasons. They view it
as an attempt from those who are
Jonathan
Chapman
open about their sexuality to
force those who are still closeted
to come out. This concern was
the one that had the
most influence over
my final decision. I
will speak at
“Coming Out All
Over,”
I remember the
story of my chorus
teacher in high
school. His story
gave me the
strength and confi
dence to be honest with myself
and ultimately with others.
“Coming Out All Over” is not a
forceful attempt to make people
scream from the roofs that they
are gay or paint rainbows on the
library; but rather, a time of
reflection. These stories allow
their tellers to reflect on their
lives. The listeners are provided
with insight into the worid of
being closeted and the struggles
that coincide with the coming
out journey. People fear what
they don’t understand.
Education is the only way to rid
the world of the ignorance that
causes this phobia. This evening
is not just for the gay communi
ty, but for the Elon community.
These stories, while some
times hard to listen to, inspire
the soul to strive for happiness.
These tales may speak of despair
and loneliness, but ultimately
serve to provide a path for others
to acceptance. They give hope.
The f>eople who have agreed
to speak , have agreed to share a
very personal part of their lives.
As many times as this group has
had to come out individually, the
telling of their story remains
emotional.
They aren’t doing it to gamer
attention for themselves, nor to
make a political statement. They
are doing it to raise awareness in
the Elon community. Those who
come will find themselves peer
ing through a hard-to-find win
dow into the lives of these peo
ple’s and their experiences.
If we work together, we can
make this harsh world we live in
a more accepting place on many
fronts. But until we are willing
to admit that we are frightened
or that we don’t understand, we
can’t progress any more than we
have.
Contact Jonathan Chapman at
pendulum@elon.edu or 278-7247.