Newspapers / The pendulum. / April 22, 2004, edition 1 / Page 1
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Volume 29, Issue 24 April 21, 2004 www.elon.edu/pendulum .atters to you, it matters to The Pendulum. Wiesel addresses moral obligation, overcoming hate Jessica Patchett Brian Viebranz I Photographer Humanitarian Eiie Wiesel was the speaker at Wednesday's Convocation. Weisel, the author of many books about the Holocaust, addressed hatred and anti-Semitism, and encouraged people to have compassion for others. Sierra Club hosts Earthfest tomorrow Editor in Chief After nearly 60 years of accom plishment since his enduring of the Holocaust, Elie Wiesel spoke at Elon University on his worldview and stmggle for faith, but little on the experience that he says profoundly influenced them. ‘To this day, I prefer not to speak about that topic. I will talk about phi losophy, literature, religion. It is too personal,” Wiesel said. He held both a question-and-answer session and gave an address at Elon’s Spring Convocation for Honors Wednesday afternoon. In his Convocation address, Wiesel spoke on the resurgence of anti-Semitism, his hope for the spread of compassion among people and his wisdom for living in moral obligation. When students asked about Wiesel’s experience in the Holocaust during the question-and- answer session, he said, “It is in my book.” Ashley Feibish News Editor Elon University’s Sierra Club will host its seventh annual Earthfest tomorrow by Lake Mary Nell from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. The orga nization’s form of Earth Day, which is today, will celebrate and promote education about Earth with organic food, canoeing and music from Benjamin, The Harmony Reservation and Loop. “We’ll also be collecting dona tions for a coral reef national park, said junior and president-elect Jennifer Gough. “We’ll have organic foods (including organic hotdogs). Tables (will feature information) about the Sierra Club, recycling, gas mileage and coral reef conservation.” There will also be craft projects available to students, ranging Irom decorating cups to tie-dying shirts, Gough said. Generally, students pay money to participate in the crafts, which accounts for the donations, said Greg Haenel, assistant professor of biology and adviser to the Sierra Club for the past three years. Although Earthfest is specific to Elon, the nationwide celebration of Earth Day started April 22,1970. ‘The students in the Sierra Club are primary dealing with getting education and awareness (about Earth) out,” said Haenel. “The envi ronment is a big issue - (we must) say what the issues are and get peo ple to recognize Earth is important.” In addition to promote environ mental awareness, the Sierra Club’s See EARTHFEST p.8 Wiesel is the author of more than 35 books, a Nobel Peace Prize laure ate, an advocate for the rights of all minorities and a Holocaust survivor. He has been active in the forefront of international politics in engaging leaders and encouraging reconcilia tion among the-people of hate-tom situations such as South Africa and Yugoslavia and Israel and Palestine. To these people, he said, he offered the same perspective he gave to the Elon community. This world view looked beyond his past in a Nazi concentration camp and deep er than the current situations press ing the international community in what Wiesel identified as memory and moral obligation. “It is the passion, the passion that matters,” Wiesel said to Elon stu dents. “That you want to know why. That you want to know, how can culture and education be open to cruelty? What is there that we can do to bring even a moment of redemp tion in the lives of men, women and children who live in despair because humanity has failed them, because civilization has lost its magic?” A man of words, Wiesel said he has known since 1945 that he would write. His first manuscript of his worid-renowned book “Night ’ was more than 864 pages. But after all of his accomplishments, Wiesel said, “I would trade all of my books to have written one chapter like Isaiah.” The biblical prophet’s poetiy, wisdom and expression mirror the passion for humanity and faith in God that Wiesel demonstrated throughout his address and his com ments. “I was the man who was there, I was the one who saw it,” Wiesel said. To many, Wiesel’s words have become a modem prophecy, recall ing the memories of the unimagin able and foreshadowing the dark ness of what could come from another culture of ignorance and hatred. See WIESEL p. 8 Jeff Heyer / Photo Editor An Elon student takes advantage of the unseasonably warm April temper atures. Students have been spending time outside in the sun. 1 *2 • Domestic violence and how it *1 7 • softball going up against conference-lead- X ^ • can be prevented. ^ y ^ ing University of Tennessee-Chattanooga.
April 22, 2004, edition 1
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