vvww.elonnewsnetwork.com
f facebook.com/elonnewsnetwork
@elonnewsnetwork ► Elon News Network
Wednesday, October 12, 2016
Volume 42 Edition 23
Elon, North Carolina
University looks to become hub for political engagement
Bryan Anderson
Enterprise Manager
@BryanRAnderson
W hen the North Carolina Association of
Broadcasters reached out to Elon University
last spring to see if the institution would be
willing to host a gubernatorial or senatorial
debate, Elon jumped at the opportunity.
Elon saw the debate as a way to engage community
members in the political process, expose students to
prominent figures and strengthen the university’s
national reputation. As conversations about hosting
a debate began to take shape, the university faced
several challenges.
ENTERPRISE
The ENN Enterprise Team is a long form-focused
team that tackles pressing, impactful issues
affecting the Elon community.
Prospects of hosting the senatorial debate appeared
to be in good shape, but the campaigns failed to set a
date. Elon tried to hold off on booking speakers, but
its hands were tied by the end of the summer.
Equipment setup, rehearsal and teardown would
have been a four-day process. When the campaigns
finally came out with a proposal in late August, it was
already too late.
The proposed debate date was Oct. 3, which would
have been the day before Kathleen Parker’s Baird
Pulitzer Prize lecture and days after Fall Convocation
with Bob Woodward, Vint Cerf s sold-out “Internet of
Things” talk and Family Weekend.
“It wasn’t for lack of desire, but it was that it just
logistically didn’t work out,” said Dan Anderson, vice
president for University Communications.
Though efforts to host a debate were unsuccessful,
they reflect Elon’s growing desire to host premium
political events on campus.
See POLITICAL ENGAGEMENT
pg.4
Commencement moves from Under the Oaks
Leena Dahal
Opinions Editor
@ieenadahal
As a tour guide and Elon
University SGA senior class pres
ident, one of Kelsea Johnson’s
favorite stories to tell is that New
Student Convocation for fresh
men and Commencement for
seniors happen Under the Oaks.
But she will now have to mod
ify the line this year, for the sec
ond time.
According to a letter from
Jeffrey Clark, executive director
of Cultural and Special Programs,
the Commencement Ceremony
for December 2016 and Spring
2017 Elon graduates will be held
again in Scott Plaza — retreating
from the original plan to return
to university tradition and host
Commencement Under the Oaks.
Commencement in May 2016
was held in Scott Plaza due to
ongoing Schar Hall construction.
The return to the new location
this year was based primarily on
the motivation to maximize the
See COMMENCEMENT
Pg.5