THE PENDULUM
NEWS
WEDNESDAY. OCTOBER 27. 2010 // PAGE 5
Liquor by the drink supporters
consider initiating special election
Sam Parker
Senior Reporter
Although voters will not see the matter
on their ballots in this year’s election,
both business owners and town officials
are still considering the idea of adding
liquor by the drink to local menus in the
town of Elon.
Jeff MacKenzie, owner of The Fat
Frogg, said alcohol-related policies were
not permitted on the ballot for the 2010
November election. He said Because
of this, businesses are being forced to
wait another year until the November
2011 election in order for the issue to
be considered by voters. In an attempt
to avoid the long wait, MacKenzie said
the individuals who support the concept
of adding liquor by the drink to local
restaurant menus are considering the
possibility of a special election.
“We have some other people in town
who want to pass this as well, and we,
together, are finding out how we need
to make progress, which we think
would come through a special election,"
MacKenzie said.
Mike Dula, Elon's town manager, said
board members have not held formal
discussions regarding the matter recently,
but some individuals have voiced their
opinions on the idea, and a special
election is possible.
If the Board of Aldermen votes to
hold an election, the Board of Elections
will schedule one in 60 to 120 days after
they receive notification from the town,
Dula said. He said if voters then approve
the liquor by the drink matter, then
qualifying town businesses can apply to
the state for licenses.
MacKenzie said his next step in the
_ . . COfiEY OROOMI S«« Ptiolooraplw
Business owners In the Town of Elon, including Fat Frogg owner Jeff Mackenzie, are still working to get Ik^uor by the drink approved, and it might be
in the form of a special election. Alchol-related issues were not permitted for the November 2010 ballot, so the issue has t>een pushed back.
process is trying to gauge public opinion
by communicating with Dula and Jerry
Tolley, the town mayor. He said one of
his primary focuses is getting public
opinions on whether they would support
or oppose the matter.
“TTie town’s positions on special
elections, unless it pertains to something
that the people feel really strongly about
one way or the other, result in a lot of
people not voting,” MacKenzie said. “So,
we’re trying to figure out right now if a
special election would work for us.”
Dula said board members have heard
from citizens about their feelings on the
matter, but there has been no formal
process established to date.
Aside from considering the opinions
of Elon town residents, MacKenzie said
he is also thinking about the views of
Elon University students because the
new policy would influence residents and
students alike if it were to be approved.
“I think one of the issues that people
in general don’t understand is that
having liquor by the drink is not going to
promote more drinking by the students,"
MacKenzie said. “We want to get it for
the college students, absolutely, but
the reason to get it is not so we can sell
massive shots to students."
Elon University dean of students.
Smith Jackson, said the institution has
not voiced an opinion on the matter
regarding support or opposition.
“I don’t have a position on the question
of whether or not to allow liquor by the
drink in local restaurants,” Jackson
said. “Of course, 1 always want those
establishments who serve alcohol in any
form to do so responsibly and for students
to make wise choices. The decision is up
to the town and its residents to decide."
But MacKenzie said the issue stretches
further than issues related to university
students. He believes Elon is losing
revenue to businesses in other towns by
not selling liquor in local restaurants.
“We feel that Elon in general is losing
revenues to surrounding communities,
because realistically, Elon’s probably only
one of the little hamlets left that doesn’t
have (liquor by the drink),” Mackenzie
said.
School of
Business makes
top-300 list
Janae Frazier
Reporter
The MBA program of Elon
University’s Martha and Spencer
Love School of Business was
recently named to The Princeton
Review’s “Best 300 Business
Schools” for 2011. The program
made it in the top-5 of two
categories, as it was ranked fourth
for “Best Administered" and fifth
for “Best Campus Facilities."
Mary Gowan, dean of the
School of Business, said she is
thrilled about this recognition,
but not surprised. The business
school was recognized by
Bloomberg last year as having
the No. 1 part-time MBA program
in the south and No. 6 in the
nation. Gowan said she knew the
school would be included in the
Princeton Review’s top-300 list,
but she says it is nice to get a new
honor with “Best Facilities.”
“Appearance and maintenance
are important at Elon," Gowan
said.
Elon’s Zero Deferred
Maintenance Program makes sure
buildings are kept up at all times,
and because of this, the business
school is a friendly environment
for students, said Gowan.
Regarding “Best
Administered," Gowan said the
business school has a “secret
weapon” — Judy Duhlberg, MBA
Program Coordinator.
“(Duhlberg) makes sure
the student has a seamless
experience," Gowan said.
Duhlberg makes sure students
can navigate class selection,
registration and graduation.
Gowan also said that Art
Fadde, director of graduate
admissions, works closely with
students to make sure they have
a great experience. Fadde works
with students when they first
show interest in the business
school.
Gowan said Bill Burpitt,
director of the MBA and executive
education programs, frequently
has focus groups with students
to make sure the school is being
proactive in meeting the students’
needs.
According to Gowan, the
business school is also strong
because of the board of advisors.
“The board provides guidance,
wisdom and financial support,"
Gowan said.
With the business school
being accredited by Association
to Advance Collegiate Schools
of Business, Gowan said the
business school is constantly
looking on how to improve.
Gowan has been dean of the
business school since the fall of
2007 and said she’s seen many
improvements since then. The
faculty has a five-year strategic
plan that includes creating local
and global citizens and securing
the future of the school. Gowan
said that as a result of this plan,
there are new majors and minors
at the undergraduate level.
Gowan says the recognition
establishes the fact that the
school is doing the right thing.
Gowan said it does not stop here.
w
PHOTO SUBMITTED
The front of the postcard for the **Dear Hillary” campaign sent to Secretary of State HHIary Clinton.
Students encourage Secretary of State to
take action in ‘Dear Hillary’ campaign
Aiming to increase U.S. presence, assistance in the Congo
Caitlin O’Donnell
News Editor
As a part of the “Dear Hillary:
Campaign for the Congo" project,
students gathered Tuesday night in
Moseley to send birthday greetings
to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton,
urging her to take action in tiie eastern
region of the Democratic Republic of
Congo by fully enforcing public law
109-456.
This law committed the United
States to take an active role in
establishing peace and security in the
region and was signed into law on Dec.
22, 2006 by former President George
W. Bush.
According to David Gagne, a
sophomore who helped to coordinate
the event at Elon University, along
with junior Keyona Osborne, said it
was meant to call attention to the use
of rape as a weapon of war.
According to a press release from
the founder of the campaign, more
than 5 million people have been killed
and tens of thousands of women have
been raped since war broke out in the
Congo in 1998. While a cease-fire was
ordered in 2002, foreign militias have
maintained a violent presence in the
area.
“We believe that ending the violence
in the East Congo, which is greater
than any conflict since World War II,
should be a foreign policy priority for
the United States," the press release
states. “As the most powerful woman
in the world, Secretary of State Hillary
Clinton must use her influence to stop
the suffering and slaughter.”
Gagne said the film “The Greatest
Silence: Rape in the Congo" was also
shown at the event.
The goal of the campaign, which
took place among student groups, non
profit organizations and community
groups around the country, is to send
10,000 postcards.
The campaign’s blog is also
encouraging participants to send
Facebook and Twitter message to
Clinton.