Elon University s Weekly Student Publication
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Wednesday, August 29, 2007 • www.elon.edu/penduluni • Volume 34, Edition 2
Campus takes measures to ensure safety
Kaitlin Ugolik
News Editor
Campus security added four
new police officers and various new
measures this summer to make the
campus community a safer place.
This semester the role of campus
police will be more visible after their
assessment of the security needs of
campus last fall. Police will be around
during the day, patrolling the campus
community by bike, on foot or in the
“It” car, an electric car from Canada
introduced in accordance with the
university’s sustainability plan,
“The campus and community
are changing ” said Chuck Gantos,
director of Campus Safety and Police.
“There’s the new bypass and [the
area] is becoming more urban; all
of this has an impact on security on
campus. We’re trying to stay ahead of
the curve and [know] what to do to
adjust accordingly.”
The football stadium, law school
and tram paths have new recording
security cameras with signs at the
locations to deter crime. These
cameras will be phased in to all
of the parking lots on campus and
monitored on computer screens in
the campus security office.
With a new 800 Trunking
communication system, Elon police
and security now have the capability
to contact the Burlington, Greensboro
and High Point police departments,
the Guilford County Sheriff’s
department, highway patrol, the DMV,
ALE and state and national emergency
channels.
Previously, Elon police had one
radio, shared the frequency with
the town police department and
communication was restricted to one
channel.
“This won’t make a lot of
difference on a day-to-day basis, but
in times of emergencies it will be a
huge asset,” Gantos said.
A new siren system is in the
works that will warn the campus
of anything from severe weather
warnings to evacuation with tones
and voice messages. Gantos said the
siren system should be running within
the next 10 weeks depending on
manufacturing and installation time.
All students received an e-mail last
Friday regarding how to sign up for
cell phone emergency text messaging
to warn subscribers about homeland
security advisories, severe weather
warnings, fires, etc., similar to the
siren system. Students and faculty
Kaitlin Ugolik/ Photographer
The “It” car is campus security’s new all-electric police vehicle.
members can subscribe to the service
at www.elon.edu/e-alert.
Campus safety will offer classes
such as self-defense and women’s
safety and will speak with campus
organizations throughout the year.
If you would like to make
arrangements to take a self-defense
class, contact Lt. Vicki Moehlman at
campus security, extension 5555.
Future security plans include
phasing in raised sidewalks and
gates on some of the parking lots to
restrict access after certain times. In
response to speculation about a fence
or a tunnel near the railroad tracks
between north and south campus,
Gantos said campus safety is not
working on that project but it is in the
university’s plan.
Gore’s ‘inconvenient truth’ cancels Fall Convocation
Kaitlin Ugolik
News Editor
Fall convocation will not take place
this year due to a scheduling conflict
with A1 Gore, author of the common
reading, "An Inconvenient Truth."
Elon extended an invitation to
Gore late last fall to speak at this fall’s
convocation. Gore’s office responded,
saying that he wanted to do it but
couldn’t give a date. Convocation
organizers waited for a response until
May when they had to withdraw the
invitation.
“He’s been all over the world at
conferences on global warming,” said
George Troxler, dean of Cultural and
Special Programs. “I can see why he
can’t set a date.”
Troxler said that Elon has not
always had a fall convocation.
“We are more committed to having
a spring honors convocation on an
annual basis as a way of giving special
recognition to our graduating class
and current President’s and Dean’s
list students,” he said. An honors
convocation is being scheduled for the
spring.
Elon has been able to secure dates
in the past with Queen Noor of Jordan,
President Lech Walesa of Poland,
Banazir Bhutto of Pakistan, Pulitzer
Prize winners Thomas Friedman,
Anna Quindlen and Edmund Morris,
and former U.S. Supreme Court
Justice Sandra Day O’Connor.
“The nice thing about convocations
is when we are able to get a Colin
Powell or a Jane Goodall," says
Troxler. “We call it a convocation
when we get someone like [them].
The speaker has to justify the event.”
The university looked for other
possible speakers but did not extend
another invitation.
“It takes a lot of effort on
everyone’s part. It’s expensive, the
class schedule is adjusted, we make it
a special event,” Troxler said.
The Voices of Discovery Science
Speaker Series will have less well-
known speakers on the subject of
sustainability and global warming.
Elizabeth Losos, president and
CEO of the Organization of Tropical
Studies, will speak on September 24
about “Understanding Global Change
through the Costa Rican Experience.”
“If [Gore] suddenly became
available, I think the president would
consider having him on short notice.”
News
Elon Priorities p. 3
Orientation p. 4
New E-net p. 5
Opinions
Unfair Law p. 6
Speak English p. 6
Features
Facebook Safety p. 10
Teen Pregnancy p. 8
HPV Vaccine p. 10
A&E
“Superbad” p. 12
Twice-Dead p. 13
Sports
New QB p. 15
Safety Withdraws...p. 14
Eloa Soccer. p. 16