Newspapers / The pendulum. / March 28, 2012, edition 1 / Page 1
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DIVINE INTERVENTION Elon explores the unique intersection of religion and dance » PAGE 6 MORE THAN JUST A LUNCH TOPIC Chick-fil-A addresses accusations of donations to anti-gay philanthropies » PAGE 2 HE Pendulum ELON, NORTH CAROLINA j WEDNESDAY, MARCH 28, 2012 | VOLUME 38, EDITION 9 www.ElonPendulum.com Astley’s absence creates space for reflection, dialogue lion community shares memory of friend, accepted member of the Class of 2015 Kjtherine Blunt Assslant News Editor He still leaves the light on in her bedroom at night, even though she won’t be coming home. Nearly nine months after the death of his daughter, Malcolm Astley is still learning to cope with his grief, and he is not alone. Both those who knew Lauren Astley personally and those who were moved by her sjory attended a gathering of friends in her memory Monday afternoon, led by Lauren’s parents and Chaplain Jan Fuller. Lauren Astley was to be a member of the Class of 2015, but was found dead of apparent homicide July 4 in her hometown of W'ayland, Mass. She was a suspected victim of relationship violence, and her former boyfriend Nathaniel Fujita has been charged with her murder. “Although romantic relationships happen between two people, (relationships) affect every person involved in their lives," said Elizabeth Vlson, coordinator for violence prevention at Elon. Nelson helped plan three other events in memory of Lauren’s life that will be held throughout the week. Those in attendance sat in a circle and took turns sharing how Lauren’s life forever changed their own. Some offered anecdotes that inspired both laughter and tears, and others voiced reflections punctuated by moments of deep silence. Freshman Annie Schaffer, who was to be Lauren’s roommate, welcomed the chance to express her sorrow. “I didn't really tell anyone last semester about (how I was feeling)," Schaffer said. “It was nice to remember her in a group. It’s not often everyone comes together like this.” Lauren’s story resonates outside of the Elon community as well. Sophomore Lindsay Glosson, who at tended summer camp in New Hampshire with Lauren for several consecutive years, marveled at how many people “liked" a Facebook page dedicated to the memory of Lauren's life. The number topped 20,000. “If we had told Lauren that her life had touched this many people, she would have laughed at us," Glosson said. “She really left a footprint on this place." PHOTO SUBMITTED Elon University designed Memory & Witness events to commeniorate Lauren Astley and educate students about signs of unhealttiy relationships. Religion & Relationships: Messages & Misunderstandings 7 p.m. Wednesday KOBC 208 A panel discussion featuring faculty and staff members sharing how their religious tradition addresses romantic relationships. Healthy or Unhealthy? A Conversation about Choices 7 p.m. Thursday Moseley 206 Go online for coverage of Tuesday evening s conversation with Malcolm Astley about Lauren. Sponsored by the Office of Health Promotion, Interpersonal Fielations and Community Well-Being, the Truitt Center for Religious and Spiritual Life and the Office of Violence Prevention and Response. , ^ jT MtnlOd« OU 1^. I omii Junior-senior cap on campus housing influences learning communities nf Tr Honors Pavilion holds spots for 1 Maty Kate Brogan Senor Reporter For years, Elon liniversity's learning communities have depended on Juniors and seniors to act as unofficial mentors ^ to freshmen and sophomores on their halls. The cross-campus junior-senior cap on housing has affected those who wish to live in learning communities just as much as it has those who wish to live inon-campus housing. Rising juniors and seniors have felt the push to move of f campus to give more spots to rising freshmen and sophomores because of the cap, according to Michael Carignan, associate professor of history wd associate director of honors who coordinates the Honors Living and Learning Communities. “1 felt like the junior-senior cap that they imposed this year, and whatever message they delivered to kind of let juniors and seniors know that it was time to go, meant that we got no applications from rising juniors and seniors to live in the (Honors) LLC,” Carignan said. “1 thmk that that’s detrimental to the community we’re trying to build on the floor there. We want different grades represented. I don’t know what we can do next year, but it’s certainly on my agenda to make sure rising juniors at least knowjhat wed like a few on the (Honors) floor." Laura Anderson, special projects coordinator for Residence Life learning ^foWASO^tirt Pnoto«r.pn» residents hang out In ttie Hc^rs Community compotrtlon Pavilion. The wall murlls wore painted as part of a Learning oo — FOR THE LATEST COVERAGE AND communities, sees the lower amount of juniors and seniors returning a different way. “Before the application even was available to students, the (faculty) advisers were made aware of how many first years had to be in a community and how many spaces had to be reserved for first years,” Anderson said. “Fewer rising juniors and seniors applied than sophomores simply because a lot of them have been in the community for two years and they’re ready to do something else or they want to transition off-campus.” Even so, the Honors floor represents just one of many learning communities that have felt a shift because of the junior- senior cap. Anderson said Residence Life has not had to turn many upperclassmen away, but Carignan said he has heard from juniors and seniors currently in the learning communities that more of them would have applied if they had thought that there would be spots available to them. . “I'm worried that we missed a chance to keep some more elders around because of the campus-wide formula they had that wasn’t really respectful of the needs or precedents of the Honors floor," Carignan said. “But If they need beds for first-years and the only ones left over are in the LLCs, well then the LLCs should be expected to adjust to that and sometimes that can work out well." Carignan also expressed concern that the Honors learning communities may not have enough freshman applicants to fill the extra spots that rising juniors and seniors did not fill. The Honors hall in Colonnades C typically holds spots for 16 freshmen and the William R. Kenan T ELO Jr. Honors Pavilion holds spots for 10 freshmen. This year, there will be four extra spots available on each hall because of the smaller amount of returning rising juniors and seniors. Typically more than enough first-years apply to fill the spots in any given learning community, Anderson said. “If there was a situation where a community didn’t fill. I’m not sure how it would be handled," Anderson said. “It might be an Instance of getting the students that are accepted in the community to recommend those that they know might be interested because I think that there are students on campus who haven’t applied for whatever reason, but, when given that kind of nudge from a friend in the community, will say, ’Oh yeah, well I do want to do it. I want to try.”’ Despite the change In the number of juniors and seniors in learning communities, the numbers for sophomores have remained consistent, according to Anderson. Senior Katie O’Brien, student learning community assistant and media arts and entertainment major, said there are several reasons that freshmen usually stay in learning communities as sophomores. “Mainly people who are in learning communities as freshman are going to want to come back," O’Brien said. “I was In a learning community my freshman year and I think everybody reapplied for their sophomore year, just because you’re used to it. That way, you don’t have to go through housing selection. It’s just so much easier, and hopefully you liked It enough to go back.”
March 28, 2012, edition 1
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