the pendulum
PAGE 10 // WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 21,
2011
ditorial
The Pendulum seeks to inspire, entertain and inform the Bon
community by providing a voice for students and faculty as weii as -
community y meaningful exchange of idea
THE PENDULUM
Established 1974
The Pendulum is published
each Wednesday of
the academic year. The
advertising and editorial
copy deadline is 5
p.m. the Friday before
publication. Letters to
the editor and guest
columns are welcome
and should be typed and
e-mailed with a telephone
number for verification.
Submissions are accepted
as Word documents.
The Pendulum reserves
the right to edit obscene
and potentially libelous
material. Lengthy letters or
columns may be trimmed
to fit. All submissions
become the property of
The Pendulum and will
not be returned. You can
reach The Pendulum by
e-mail at pendulum®
elon.edu. If you have
questions or concerns
about an article, contact
a section editor Please do
not resi:ond to reporters
directly.
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Anna Johnson
MANAGING EDITOR
Rebecca Smith
ADVISER
Colin Donohue
SECTION EDITORS
Caltlin O’Donnell
News Editor
Kassondra Cloos
A/ews Editor
Rachel Southmayd
Opinions Editor
Ashley Fahey
Features Editor
Lauren Ramsdell
Arts and Entertainment
Editor
Jack Rodenfels
Sports Editor
SENIOR REPORTERS
Natalie Allison
Stephanie Butzer
Sarah Carideo
Hannah DelaCourt
Grace Elkus
Justine Vadini
Nick Zanetti
COPY
Eva Hill
Copy Chief
Rebecca lannucci
Copy Editor
Kate Riley
Copy Editor
Madelyn Smith
Copy Editor
Katy Steele
Copy Editor
Edith Veremu
Copy Editor
Julia Miller
Copy Intern
PHOTO DESK
Heather Cassano
Photo Editor
Brian Allenby
Staff Photographer
Merissa Blitz
Staff Photographer
Molly Carey
Staff Photographer
Claire Esparros
Staff Photographer
Elizabeth Everett
Staff Photographer
Julia Murphy
Staff Photographer
Tracy Raetz
Staff Photographer
Julia Sayers
Staff Photographer
DESIGN
Amanda Bender
Design Editor
Kristen Case
Design Editor
Kyra Gemberiing
Design Editor
Retiecca Wickel
Design Editor
ONLINE
Jeff Stern
Online Editor-In-Chief
Sam Calvert
Online Managing Editor
Zachary Horner
Multimedia Editor
Elizabeth Nerich
Multimedia Editor
Stickers are a great place to start
But true campus activism requires more than just angry words
U LA L LX l-iV. V, J:'
An Injustice occurred on Elon
University’s campus last week. Two
students were verbally assaulted by
people driving through campus. These
anonymous hecklers used racial slurs that
have been condemned not only at Elon, but
across the country.
But this was hardly another Smith
Jackson email-incident with a few Facebook
statuses and tweets in response. Instead,
there was a swelling of anger and a
response from the student body that was
vocal and palpable.
And this wasn’t the only incident of
activism on campus in the past few days.
On Monday, Sept. 12, many students and
faculty stood grouped on Young Commons
against the North Carolina legislature,
which just passed an amendment to
the state constitution, legally defining
marriage as between one man and one
woman. The amendment will appear on the
ballot for popular approval in May.
In recent days, residents of The
Crest have stood up to the campus
administration, protesting parking fees
outside their apartments.
At a table in Moseley, students with
Amnesty International asked passers-by to
sign an online petition requesting a stay in
the execution of a Georgia man currently
sitting on death row. By this printing, he
may be dead.
Elon is ranked toward the top in a lot of
categories, but activism isn’t one of them.
This is not a school full of protests and
students rallying in support or against
causes, at least not in large numbers.
ETTER TO THE EDITOR
This isn’t necessarily good or bad, and it
probably doesn’t say anything about the
convictions most students have and the
passion with which they support or oppose
causes in the privacy of their own home.
But it sure is interesting to see a change
of pace.
The university administration reported
that 2,500 people came to the specially-
themed College Coffee on Tuesday, Sept.
13, and last Thursday’s SGA meeting was
filled with visitors, far more than the
usual amount. They came to both of these
events to wear their “Not On Our Campus
stickers, demand answers to their
questions and collectively say, “This is not
alright by us.”
Here’s the problem: As soon as
Tuesday’s fervor died off and as soon as
Elon President Leo Lambert was done
addressing the SGA meeting during a
special section, the stickers disappeared
from most shirts and the extra audience
had mostly emptied out. A few, including
Candice Blacknall, remained, but most did
not. They had stood where they would be
seen. They had said their piece.
Here’s the question that needs to be
asked now that the sting has subsided
into more of a seething frustration: “What
now?”
And although plenty of students have
asked this of administrators like Lambert
and Vice President Smith Jackson, it would
also do everyone well to ask the same
question of themselves.
The old adage that character is doing
what’s right when nobody’s looking is
as true today as it has ever been. To say
“not on our campus” is one thing, but to
stand up and tell a person who is using
a derogatory term to stop is something
completely different. And this applies in
all cases, from ethnic minorities to people
of different political affiliations to genders
to sexual orientation to socioeconomic
background to anything else that makes
people unique and different.
It is not enough to just say “not on
our campus.” It is not enough to just
be OK with the group of people holding
candles, mourning the loss of rights to
an institution that is supposed to be a
celebration of love. It is not enough to gripe
about unfair conditions in a parking lot.
In the case of The Crest parking lot, a
change was actually made. A group made
its voice heard. And while some might call
this issue petty in comparison to racial
tolerance, that parking pass fee could mean
the difference between being able to afford
groceries for a month or getting to pay the
rest of the deposit for a life-changing study
abroad trip. The point is that something
was accomplished and an injustice was
righted. The answer to “what now?" was
clearly heard.
This is not to say we need to start
camping out outside the president's office.
And it doesn’t mean we all need to become
angry, disillusioned youth. But we do need
to be aware that life is not all shiny and
new, and that a few hours or days worth of
anger do not a just society make. Activism
is about more than wearing a sticker.
Although, it is a great place to start.
Diversity is not black and white;
it is the exact opposite. Black is
white. Straight is gay Christian is
Muslim.
Elon announced in its strategic
10-Year Plan that its first priority is
an “unprecedented commitment to
diversity." Are students ready for such
a commitment? Considering that the
Class of 2015 is the most “diverse” Elon
has ever brought in, what makes Elon
a place where people are comfortable
victimizing others, and in such a
public way?
It is clear from Elon’s perfectly
trimmed grass and swift replacement
of missing bricks that image is
important. Thus, reluctance to address
a problem that could jeopardize its
recent ranking in U.S. News & World
Report is understandable. However,
students must demand the same
standards they valued when they
decided Elon was where they bELONg.
Students, ask others about
their expectations for our campus
climate. Ask friends what they think
of the recent events. Tell professors
you want to hear their perspective
and engage in class discussions.
Challenge yourself to formulate your
ov^-n opinions and to remain open-
minded. Conversations can uncover
ignorance. Ignorance can be eradicated
by knowledge. Knowledge has the
power to begin conversation that
fulfills an unprecedented commitment
to diversity.
If you were verbally harassed
walking to your dorm, how soon
would you start filling out transfer
applications?
Understanding that neither
diversity nor discrimination is
exclusive is key to cultivating a campus
where everyone bELONgs. We cliarge
you to be neither apathetic, to feel
nothing, nor sympathetic, to feel bad
for. We charge you to be empathetic,
to feel bad with, in response to acts of
hate on this campus.
“If you keep fighting progress, you
will find yourself on the wrong side of
history.” - “Jumping the Broom”
Jamie Albright and Aisha Mitchell
Diversity Advocates
Tuesday
Wednesday
RACHEL
SOUTHMAYD | Opinions Editor
MORE ONLINE
"There are so many majors here at Elon that we usually never
know who’s studying what as we walk past each other on
campus."
Which is the most difficult major at Eton? The easiest? The most
overhyped? Read more of one columnist's analysis.
http://bit.ly/EPMajors
MEGAN MURRAY] Columnist
On this week's "Topics," the benefits and pitfalls of Family
Weekend are discussed.
http://bit.ly/EPTopics9_19
RACHEL SOUTHMAYD t Opinions Editor