Newspapers / Elon University Student Newspaper / April 19, 2007, edition 1 / Page 9
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Thursday, April 19,2007 ¥ Optntons 9 Courtesy of KRT Campus Transporianon Safety Administration employee conducts a routine security check Is security secure? ^gela Sparrow Columnist By now, most Americans have endured the heightened, post-9/11 security meas ures at America’s commercial airports. Every major American airline has tight ened their security checks in hopes of deterring future terrorist attacks. This security includes universal screen ing of all passengers before entering the airport and also further security checks given randomly to the public. These ran dom checks often consist of further exami nation of carry-on luggage as well as pat downs. It is obviously incredibly important for Our country to defend itself the best way it ^an, but are these invasive security meas ures really the best way to keep fear at bay and protect America’s citizens? Since coming to college, many of us have become experienced in dealing with airport security. At one point or another, "'e have endured a “random security check.” However, the security checks hardly Count as a security measure. Personnel to grumble and complain throughout the Search, saying, “of course you aren’t a Security threat,” and many chosen for ran dom checks are not even suspect to begin 'vith. So how is it that these security actions •^ake a plane ride more secure? A two-sec ond pat down, far from being extensive, doesn’t do the trick. These heightened security measures only frustrate the people they are trying to protect. The new rules of liquids only allowed containers 3 oz. or smaller and in a small plastic bag as well as shoe removal only add to the stresses of flying. Individuals undergoing the checks would be less hesitant to receive them if they proved truly effective. These rules are enforced unfairly. Security personnel allow some customers through the security checks who are clear ly not abiding by these rules. Added to these security frustrations are general flight delays and cancellations. In February, according to “Newsweek,” JetBlue, a previously popular airline, had so many confusions with planes because of weather issues that some customers sat in the terminal for days waiting for their flights, while others sat on their actual plane waiting for up to 11 hours for take off. Have Americans grown to expect too much from their airlines; fast, inexpensive, safe and predictable flights? Or have America’s airlines begun to fail their people? Whatever the case, Americans are increasingly dissatisfied with our country’s airlines. We must question whether our security apparatus is sufficient in attaining its pri mary objective. Contact Angela Sparrow at pendulum@elon.edu or 278-7274 A lesson from tragedy John Fiedler Columnist The loss of our friend, Mike Foreman, was deeply saddening. For those who did not have the pleasure of knowing this great guy, Foreman had a sense of joy around him that made one feel good about life. He was a compassionate, loving young man who wanted to make the world a bet ter place. Foreman may not have been the most popular student in the community, but those who knew him were touched by his warm smile. Although we will definitely miss Foreman, we can take some positives from this tragic situation. Hopefully, with the loss of Foreman, we can become a closer community intertwined with love and compassion. Whether one recognizes it or not, the student body is composed of many differ ent divisions. There are many factors that separate and divide us as a community. If the sad passing of Foreman can show us anything, it should be to bring us a little closer together. If we were to embrace a new level of kindness and concern towards our fellow Elon peers, while understanding that no matter how different we are on the outside, we are bonded, if only by the same school colors; then Foreman’s passing would serve a purpose, however tough it may be to understand or comprehend. Just as Mother Teresa preaches, it is when we realize that we are all united as sisters and brothers that we can have a peace that passes understanding. As a com munity, we should strive to reach out to that lonely student you see and never talk to. Invite outcasts to sit at your dinner table and get to know each other. It is when we love one another and start to take a form of responsibility for our fellow neighbors’ well-being that this Elon community is at its best. Contact Jonathan Fiedler at penduum@elon.edu or 278-7274 Not business as usual Charlie Remv Columnist On April 4, Domino’s Pizza founder Tom Monaghan came to Elon as part of the Legends of Business lecture series. On E-Net he was portrayed as having “ethical business practices” and devoting his time to “nonprofit endeavors” after having sold the pizza chain in 1998. All of his nonprofit ventures have the same goal of advancing ultraconservative beliefs which include opposition to a woman’s right to choose, contraception, the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community and an unquestioning attitude toward the Pope. Monaghan has described himself as a businessman who gets to the bottom line which is “to help people get to heaven.” Two of the most important ventures that he is currently involved in are Ave Maria University and the town of Ave Maria. Students cannot live off-campus, are prohibited from having televisions in their dorm rooms and might face fines if they listen to music deemed obscene by admin istrators. Even more disconcerting is the town of Ave Maria, an exclusively Catholic com munity, developed on swampland in Florida. Monaghan has expressed his desire to ban pharmacies in the town from selling any type of birth control and pro hibit the cable television system from air ing “adult” content. This overt lack of sep aration between church and state is uncon stitutional. The town follows Monaghan’s narrow and reactionary brand of Catholicism and does not welcome those in opposition. It is concerning that Elon would invite such a person to our campus and hold him up as an “ethical” role model for future business people. Certainly what one believes in their private life influences how one runs his or her business. Elon is a place which claims to embrace gender, religious, ethnic, sexual and many other types of diversity. Inviting such a reac tionary and intolerant individual to campus contradict this value. If you are concerned about this, contact John Burbridge, dean of the business school and President Lambert to start a dialogue. While it is extremely important to be open to all kinds of opposing view points, the message that Elon sends by inviting such a man to campus and framing it in a certain way must be questioned and dealt with. Contact Charlie Remy at pendulum@elon.edu or 278-7274
Elon University Student Newspaper
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April 19, 2007, edition 1
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