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ELON, NORTH CAROLINA | WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2010 | VOLUME 36, EDITION 24
www.elon.edu/pendulum
LINDSAY FENDT I Photo Edrtor
LINDSAY FENDT | Photo Editor
President Leo Lambert
Smith Jackson, vice president of Student Life Dan Anderson, assistant vice president and Dave Blank, director of athlet^I
FENDT I Photo Editor
director of University Relations
.. .but the bGhemoth institutions CQnnot provide tine iife styio, the rnQturing eiement." — Jstmes
IVloncure, former vice president for Student snd Acsdemio AffQirs, 1974, The iVlBgozine of Son
Mantra of betterment:
At cusp of being national
student workers and members of the media work in the press box at the Elon football game against Samfort Ort.°2^^^^^
Strategic plan to become
household name
Jack Dodson
News Editor
In 2002, when Leo Lambert, president of Elon University,
wanted the school to change athletics conferences to the
NCAA Division I Southern Conference, he decided to visit each
president and athletic director in the conference personally,
backed by a media package and Elon’s brand-new status as a
university.
Lambert s goal was to convince the Southern Conference
members, like Davidson College, Furman University and
Wofford College, that Elon could compete with them, even
though it was in the Big South then. Elon had recently switched
from being an NAIA Division II school in 1999.
"We were changing as an institution," said Smith Jackson,
vice president and dean of Student Life. “We were playing good
schools (in the Big South), but not the kind of schools that
Elon’s become.”
A large part of Elon's national perception, which has
improved with numerous recognitions and praises during the
last 10 years, is owed to this jump and to the athletics program
See PERCEPTION I PAGE 4
Elon plans for LGBT safe zone to increase diversity
Rachel Southmayd
Senior Reporter
In an effort to improve diversity on
campus, Elon University is developing a
LGBT “Safe Zone,” joining a host of other
colleges and universities that offer a
haven for students who identify as
lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender.
Currently, Elon has Safe Zone faculty
members or staff who have shown
interest in mentoring LGBT students
and helping them work through social
or emotional issues. The safe zone is
being planned as a part of the school’s
10-year plan. The Elon Commitment.
“We can serve as a resource for any
students who might need to talk to
anyone, or just let them know there’s a
support group out there for them,” said
Clifton Johnson, the assistant director
of the Moseley Center.
He is on the list of nearly two
dozen faculty available to talk to LGBT
students.
“There are people to talk to if they
are struggling that they don’t have to
feel alone,” Johnson said. “They can feel
welcome and supported.”
Senior Brandon Tankard estimated
there are 80 to 100 people who identify
as LGBT on campus, but he said that
number could be much higher.
Tankard said he’s heard about plans
to develop the safe zone. He serves as
president of the student club Spectrum,
a support group for students in these
categories.
“I know that we are looking at getting
a lot more resources available to have
a specific place (for a safe zone)," he
said.
Leon Williams, director of the
Multicultural Center, said Elon considers
LGBT issues to be on the same level as
other diversity categories, such as race
and language.
“We’re turning a page in our
awareness about diversity," he said.
Last week, LGBT issues on college
campuses were pulled into the national
spotlight with the suicide of Tyler
dementi. The Rutgers University
freshman committed suicide after
his roommate allegedly recorded and
broadcasted dementi’s sexual actions
with another man.
“It’s very sad and unfortunate that
you have people out there that are
different that feel their only alternative
is to end their lives,” Tankard said.
He said he has never personally
experienced bullying on Elon’s campus,
but doesn’t deny that it could happen.
“I personally feel that the Elon
community in and of itself is very open,”
he said. “Obviously there are some
students that may be uncomfortable
around the gay community."
Both Tankard and Johnson said
having Safe Zones isn’t just about
helping students recover from
discrimination, but also to provide
social guidance. Johnson recounted
helping a former student find his way
after he felt ostracized and felt like
he didn’t identify with other LGBT
students.
“He felt like he was all alone,” he said.
“I feel like eventually as he continued to
grow and develop on campus, he didn’t
necessarily feel like that one quality
to him had to define who his friends
were.”
Tankard said he feels a positive
energy on the Elon campus.
“Times have changed and times are
changing,” Tankard said.
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