PAGE 2 // WEDNESDAY, MARCH 9, 2011
NEWS
THE PENDULUM
There’s something in the water:
Lake Mary Nell subject of class analysis
Libby Dean
Reporter
When freshman Matt
Dowdle retrieved one of the
prize-winning boats from the
Polar Bear Plunge this January,
he had more than the taste of
victory in his mouth.
During the scramble to grab
one of the colorful boats tossed
into the water to receive a prize,
Dowdle got a mouthful of the
lake water from Lake Mary
Nell, as well as high ammonia
and non-pathogenic E. coli, to
be exact.
“It didn’t taste like how
normal water should," Dowdle
said. “It was grimy. When I
went home, 1 immediately took
a shower and brushed my teeth
for over a half hour.”
The water conditions of
Lake Mary Nell, along with the
other lakes around campus,
including Lake Verona and
the “Elon Homes” lake, have
been subjects of analysis for
Professor Joshua Kapfer’s
introduction to environmental
studies lab.
Kapfer has been conducting
lake water analysis for more
than 10 years and said his
students are most surprised by
the presence of high ammonia
concentrations and of non-
pathogenic E. coli in the water.
Tracy Schell, senior and
co-organizer of the Polar Bear
Plunge, said the cleanliness
of Lake Mary Nell is taken
into consideration during the
planning process of the event.
In Lake Mary Nell, a ledge
drops off and people have
gotten scraped in the past,
so Schell and the Resident
Student Association have
taken precautions to ensure
the people who get injured can
receive care.
Participants signed waivers
and were told that if they
sustained any cuts or scrapes,
they should go to the health
center immediately to have
them treated. Every participant
was required to wear closed
toed shoes and a lifeguard was
present. Because of the large
number of participants, the
jumps took place in several
groups. No injuries or infections
from the water were reported
after the Jan. 20 event.
“At the Polar Bear Plunge this
year, we had one of the biggest
turnouts in the event’s history,"
Schell said. “People realize that
the lake is gross and it’s cold
outside. It’s the things like how
cold and dirty it is that make
the event more memorable,
more of an adventure."
Freshman Tyler Oberle,
governor of North Area Council,
said the Polar Bear Plunge was
a huge success.
More than 160 people took
the plunge and even more
attended the event. Oberle said
the day of the event had sunny
weather, and people could see
the discolorations of the lake
water.
“It was a sunny day out
so you could see the brown,
green-blue water," Oberle said.
“Yes, it’s disgusting, it’s cold,
it’s dirty, but that all makes it a
once-in-a-college experience."
The Polar Bear Plunge is in its
eighth year and has won RSA’s
Event of the Year previously.
The event surpassed
expectations and has become
an annual tradition of
student bonding, Oberle said.
Since no infections or other
complications have been
reported from the event, the
Polar Bear Plunge will continue
to be an Elon tradition.
“We all knew what we were
getting into," Dowdle said. “How
memorable would it be if there
was an event that had people
instead jump into a nice, warm
indoor pool?”
JULIA SAYERS | Staff Photographer
Brianna Bailey tests water in Lake Mary Nell for an environmental studies class.
Elon’s refusal to make exception may set housing precedent
CREST from PAGE 1
programs and options."
With regards to single-sex rooms
and suites, Niki Turley, assistant dean
of student , said the university has
no official statement on why coed
housing is prohibited on campus.
“1 think that’s just the way it has
always been done," Turley said. “I
don’t know that we’ve really heard
from students in a united voice about
whether they want this or not."
Edwards said she has had a positive
coed housing experience and thinks
it should depend on the situation as
to whether students take this route.
“We have a really unique situation,"
Edwards said. “We’re very much just
friends. It could become a fuzzy
situation when it’s romantic partners
wanting to live together—students
have to realize what they're getting
into.”
Brian O’Shea, assistant to the vice
president of Student Life, said the
coed housing movement is growing
across the country and an increasing
number of students seem to be getting
on board.
Although Elon was unable to make
an exception for Jeffords and adjust
its coed housing policy in time for
the 2011-2012 academic year, the
administration said the university is
open to moving forward in examining
this as an option for students in the
future.
“We’ve come a long way and
we’ll continue to look at the future
of housing, especially as we add
different styles and different types,’’
O’Shea said. “Elon wants to remain
innovative and creative in housing,
and 1 think the university is certainly
responsive to students’ requests.”
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