ELON'S STEP SHOW
STOMPS IN MCKINNON V cl
HALL ’
PAGE 19
APRIL 11
page 19
Interview with Third
Eye Blind drummer
Brad Hargreaves
PAGE 15 and ONLINE
HE PENDUL
ELON, NORTH CAROLINA | WEDNESDAY, APRIL 14, 2010 | VOLUME 36, EDITION 10
www.elon.edu/pendulum
After delays,
underpass
to open at
end of April
BPIAN ALLFNBY | UUfl
Lead singer and guitarist of Third Eye Blind Stephan Jenkens performs on Friday, April 9th 2010. Third Eye Blind, Shwayze and Joshua James
performed to a sold-out crowd at SUB’s annual Spring Show on April 9 in Alumni Gym. Third Eye Blind played a variety of songs from the
1990s through their most recent hits, including “Wounded” and “Motorcycle Drive By."
See CONCERT I PAGE 14
Jack Rodenfels
Senior Reporter
The Elon University pedestrian
underpass, under construction since
August, is scheduled to be completed
by the end of the month. The tunnel
construction is more than four weeks
behind schedule.
Plans for fencing around the tracks,
landscaping and curbing still need to
be finished. Although the entirety of
the project may not be done until mid-
May, the underpass itself should be fully
functional by the end of the month, said
Gerald Whittington, senior vice president
for business, finance and technology.
“Construction of the underpass had
to be delayed for over a month due to
inclement weather,” Whittington said.
“The completed underpass will provide
added safety throughout the university.”
According to Whittington, barring any
setbacks, the grand opening is scheduled
for April 30.
Additionally pending completion is
the installation of safety equipment-
including six 24-hour security cameras
and emergency phones which are
estimated for installation by Thursday,
April 15, Whittington said.
The pedestrian underpass, beneath
the railroad tracks parallel to Lebanon
Avenue and Trollinger Avenue, will
function as a way for students living
south of campus and going to the south
intramural fields to cross the railroad
tracks safely.
“There are hundreds of students
crossing (the railroad tracks) day and
night,” Whittington said. “The underpass
will allow students to cross in a safer
manner.”
The North Carolina Railroad company
and Elon University have been in talks
for the completion of a underpass project
to thwart students from crossing over
the railroad tracks for the past 10 years,
said Scott Saylor, president of the North
Carolina Railroad.
“Elon contacted us about safety
concerns and future growth of the
campus,” Saylor said. “It’s a very
See TUNNEL I PAGE 3
Lighthouse loses tax exemption status
Samantha King
News Editor
Elon University lost its ability to claim
Lighthouse Tavern as tax exempt in early
April when Alamance County Tax Office
audited the property.
The building came into question
when the tax office realized alcoholic
beverages were being served and the
general public had been allowed in, an
action against Lighthouse’s bylaws and a
reason Elon filed for tax exemept status
in 2009.
Although Gerald York, Alamance
County tax official, said allowing
outsiders in is not against code, the
university wrote Lighthouse would not
be open to the public in the tax exempt
form. Until late March 2010, the general
public had been admitted.
Gerald Whittington, senior vice
president of business, finance and
technology, said Lighthouse began
allowing the practice last summer when
a campus group petitioned for the public
to be admitted.
“The statute is very clear. (Lighthouse)
must be used wholly and exclusively
for educational purposes,” York said.
“(Lighthouse) has no classroom activities,
sold beer for profit and until last week,
the general public had been admitted.
York said the purpose of the audit
was to see if Lighthouse matched the
requirements listed in section 501(c) of
the tax-exempt status.
“My position is that they are not
exempt,” York said. “They can reapply
next year or appeal.”
Robert Dunlap, program director
for Lighthouse Tavern, said in a
previous interview that Lighthouse was
much an educational facility. Dunlap
said students use the facility to gain
leadership experience by planning and
hosting events, booking venues and even
planning fundraising events there.
Whittington, said the university will
have no official status on whether they
will appeal until after they receive York’s
letter citing exactly why Lighthouse lost
exemption.
Since the university was exempt in
2009, York said the university will not
be required to pay back taxes since the
tax office “made a mistake.” Clearly
Lighthouse was overlooked, York said.
York said the tax office will also be
auditing a sampling of about 10 of Elon’s
properties in the coming weeks. Elon
owns more than 100 properties in the
county and the sampling will consist of
vacant lots and residencies, office “made
a mistake.” Clearly Lighthouse was
overlooked, York said.
York said the tax office will also be
auditing a sampling of about 10 of Elon’s
properties in the coming weeks. Elon
owns more than 100 properties in the
county, and the sampling will consist of
vacant lots and residencies.
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