Newspapers / Elon University Student Newspaper / Aug. 31, 2011, edition 1 / Page 1
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SWEET TREATS AWAIT IN GIBSONVILLE Craving cupcakes? Check out Main Street Cake Shoppe »PAGE 15 New international section » PAGE 8 sfHE PENDULUM ELON, NORTH CAROLINA | WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 31, 2011 | VOLUME 37, EDITION 18 www.elonpendulum.com hoto Editor PHOTOS BY HEATHER CA Court papers released in Astley case TOP: Freshmen Scott Maxham and Jacod Smallwood-Garcia receive their traditional acorns at the end of the New Sti^ent Convocation ceremony held Undei-The Oaks. BOTTOM LEFT: A new ‘ student picks up her name tag at the orientation tent on freshman move-in day. New Student Onentation manned _ BOTTOM RIGHT: A new Elon student and her parents unload belongings from the car in the McEwen parking lot on move-in day. This year s freshman class is Elon s largest. See PAGE 16 for more photos from MOVE-IN WEEKEND Caitlin O'Donnell News Editor Chilling details have emerged of the hours leading up to, during and following the alleged murder of Lauren Astley July 3 at the hands of an ex boyfriend. Astley would have arrived on Elon University’s campus last week as a member of the Class of 2015. In an Aug. 23 statement from the prosecution against defendant Nathaniel Fujita, Astley is characterized as a concerned friend who reached out to Fujita, who had recently become detached from other classmates following the end of their three-year relationship in April. According to the court document, submitted by Lisa McGovern, assistant district attorney in Astley’s hometown of Wayland, Mass., Astley’s kindness was reciprocated with murder “after deliberate premeditation, and with extreme atrocity and cruelty.” Blood evidence taken from the defendant's home as well as testimony from family members led to Fujita's indictment for assault and battery, two counts of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon and first-degree murder. Allegations leveled against classmate Both Astley and Fujita attended Wayland High School and began dating in the spring of their freshman year. When Astley ended the relationship in April 2011, Fujita repeatedly asked her to continue their relationship, according to the court document, though he claimed to other friends and family that the break-up was mutual. When Fujita’s behavior became distant and his mother expressed See ASTLEY I PAGE 3 New LGBTQ office, coordinator set to challenge perceptions Kassondra Cloos News Editor A new LGBTQ office has been established to provide support for and spread awareness about issues pertaining to the lesbian, gay, bi, transsexual, transgender and queer population at Elon University. Kirstin Ringelberg, associate professor of art history, has been appointed as the first coordinator. “I still don’t totally believe it,” she said. Ringelberg, who previously acted as the coordinator for the women and gender studies program, will also be co-adviser of SPECTRUM for the first time this year along with Troy Martin, assistant director of Academic Advising. The establishment of the new office is in line with the university’s commitment to diversity as outlined in the strategic plan. It is also one of many measures currently being taken to improve Elon’s atmosphere as perceived by students in the LGBTQ community. Ringelberg’s vision for the office and her respective inaugural position are to create a space where LGBTQ students and straight allies can congregate comfortably as well as seek assistance and resources. As coordinator, Ringelberg is charged with developing and maintaining a resource library, acting as a resource for faculty and staff members and meeting once per semester with members of the LGBTQ community at Elon to assess needs, among other tasks. “Qne thing that 1 think is really amazing about this opportunity is that we’re going to have a physical presence on campus,” Ringelberg said. “The lack of visibility on campus is one “One thing that I think is really amazing about this opportunity is that we’re going to have a physical presence on campus.” -KIRSTIN RINGELBERG, COORDINATOR OF THE LGBTQ OFFICE FOR I of the things that allows our population to be invisible, and therefore to not be supported in the same way that it would be if it was more visible.” The physical office space has not yet been set up and Ringelberg herself will be a walking LGBTQ office this semester. The office is expected to move into Powell House in January after the department of physical therapy moves to the Francis Center and several other departments are shuffled across campus, according to Smith Jackson, vice president and dean of Student Life. Both Jackson and Ringelberg said they have heard nothing but praise on the development of the position, and many faculty and staff members have already shown interest in working with Ringelberg this semester. “The day Dr. House announced the appointment, I got a whole day’s worth of email from people in every area of campus,” Ringelberg said, adding that she is open to suggestions and hopes to receive more. Mandatory diversity programming that already exists at Elon, particularly during New Student Orientation activities, will likely change in the coming years to include more discussion about LGBTQ issues, according to Ringelberg. She said she hopes to establish more education on campus about appropriate terminology and all-inclusive language, as well as raising awareness about heteronormativity, which leads to assumptions that being straight is normal and people who are not straight are therefore not normal. “1 don’t think there are any professors who are deliberately trying SeeLGBT0|PAGE4
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