Newspapers / Elon University Student Newspaper / May 13, 2009, edition 1 / Page 18
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PAGE 18 // WEDNESDAY, MAY 13, 2009 STYLE the PENDulu 'Do you know the muffin man?' Coff00 shop Gmploy66 Eddi6 TallGy brings fun to campus food j ASHLEY BARNAS [ Photographer Talley said the customer Interaction makes it worthwhile to work evening shifts. I try to speak to everyone, you probably notice that. 1 try to speak to everyone, I nnean, I’m just that type of person. That’s my biggest enjoyment, getting smiles off people, 'cutting up’ with people. - Eddie Talley ARAMARK EMPLOYEE m ASHLEY BARNAS | Photographer Customers can always count on TaHey to greet them with a smile. Brandon Marshall Reporter Most regular customers at Acorn coffee shop knows Eddie Talley, the talkative evening worker. If the variety of deli sandwiches and bubbly beverages isn’t enough, Eddie adds his own flavor to the coffee house. “I’ve been here since 2006,” he said. “There’s nothing that 1 can’t do, you know, and there is a lot of the time, you know, that it’s left up to me to do it. This is a coffee shop and a social area.” Born and raised in Alamance County on the other side of Haw River, Talley has seen many changes around the Elon and Burlington area. Since he started work, he’s made a name for himself through his expressive personality and eager service. His southern drawl kicks in with each new face he meets. If he doesn’t know your name, he’ll call you “buddy, or “honey, or “sweetheart” if you’re a girl. “I’m a happy person,” Talley said. “I don’t hold grudges, neither. I’m the type of person that may get mad with you one minute and then forget it the next minute. Holding grudges is a waste of time. It’s a waste of energy.” He spends most of his energy caring for his job, parents, sister and everyone else around him. “That’s the biggest part of my job, is the students,” Talley said. And he does what he can to make them laugh. “I tease them — that's all I do,” he said. “I look for facial expressions. Some just don't pay me no attention. They’ll come through the door and I’ll say, ‘Oh we just closed.’ It’s more of me joking and cuttin’ up.” For this, his co-workers jokingly call him “crazy.” During operating hours, his free- spirited antics and phrases like, “Meghan! You’re the next contestant on the Price is Right!” are what make him enjoy the closing hour duties of vacuuming, rolling up carpets and turning chairs on tabletops. “Far as couples, I pick on them,” Talley said. “I try to speak to everyone. you probably notice that, I try to speak to everyone i „ I’m just that type of person ThatT! biggest enjoyment, getting smiles o f ] people, cuttmg up with people ” he ! Any visitor who is unfamiliar I his personality will soon be able! recognize the color he brings ,o, black coffee and mustard-colored wor^ uniforms. * He isn’t afraid to speak his mind “I am open to who I am," he said “Look at me and tell me who I am' He stops vacuuming and points to his rainbow-colored necklace and belt “My story is very simple,” he said ‘I stayed in the closet for 30 years untill came out in June of 2004, Before then I was scared, just Uke a whole lot of other LGBT people that walk right here on this campus. June of 2004,1 decided I’m not going to be scared no more, Jy December of 2004 I was pretty muck out. I accepted myself for who 1 was,’ Outside of the coffee shop, Tallev lives with his cat in a home he moved into last September. “He’s crazy,” he said, “He has his own room. Probably the only cat in Alamance County that has its cun room.” Before mixing smoothies and yelling students' orders over the counter, Talley used to yell behind the microphone. “There’s another side of me thii nobody sees until I get behind ni microphone,” Talley said. “1 wis involved with racing from about age 10 to (the year) 2001.1 sold programs from about 13 or 14 at the race track, and then when I turned 18 I got involved with public address.” He stayed involved with public address until he started his deejay services in 2001. Whether or not it’s in his Nortli Carolinian genes to be so social,Talley is never hesitant to share his thoughts He said he is unafraid to speak his mind and shows the greatest sense i( compassion for himself, co-workers and students of Elon. “People are all about this," he saio as he pointed to his head, “andnotal about this,” as he placed his hand ot his heart. Clubs4Kids provides unique bonding experience Students form bonds with faculty, staff through teaching children about sports Michelle Longo Online Programs Director Sports teams are often built upon the premise of unity. They work as one, they practice as one and they play as one. When senior Krista Montes de Oca got involved with Elon’s club sports program her freshman year, she thought about how that should apply to not only every club sport team, but to the program and the university as a whole. “I felt there were some things that could be changed,” Montes de Oca said. “I wanted to get more involved, so I ran for vice president and by senior year I was president. That gave me more leeway to change things.” One of her big changes was the implementation of a program Montes de Oca calls Clubs4Kids. “My main goal was to unify the teams,” Montes de Oca said. “There are about 20 teams in the organization, but they are each their own team and only do their own sport.” Clubs4Kids was Montes de Oca’s solution to a persistent unity problem in club sports, as well as a perceived lack of unity with the members of the university. As part of the program, every first Saturday of the month, two different club sports teams put on a 90-minute program for Elon faculty and staff Members of the men’s club lacrosse team hosted cluhss^Kirf. •i.. >, • • . photo submitted and staff came out for a morning of learning and playing. 9'nning of April. Children of Elon faculty children. Members from both teams play their respective sports with the children — whether it is introducing them to a lacrosse stick, helping them shoot a basketball or just being there as a playmate. “I wanted to establish a more in-depth relationship with the staff, especially the people behind the scenes like Physical Plant. Montes de Oca said. “It’s a chance for faculty and staff to get together with students and really form a relationship that way.” Clubs4Kids has happened three times this year. Once with the basketball^ volleyball teams, again with the s and lacrosse teams and two with the swim and '^^^erski cm ■ The women’s soccer and h J* and women’s lacrosse team ^ the intramural fields in of April for their morning of fun» the kids. • . man' Although it was the fir ^ of the children had ever P a lacrosse stick, Shanno ^ women’s lacrosse president, couldn’t have gone better. “The way the younger up to the older boys 0 .jytm amazing,” Crawford said. would look at one littl . to be exactly like jgytosfW'^ changed his name for the d ^ , more like one of the 0 mjstlK looked up to them so much. best part of it.” : j se»i* Although Montes de Oca ^ she said the added after her. She has placW the club sports consti z 'srssi."' IS very different said. is used to,” Montes d W is not another progra pie t* faculty and staff and I hope P advantage of the opportum y
Elon University Student Newspaper
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May 13, 2009, edition 1
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