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VOL. 5 | EDITION 1 SPRING 2014

ELON, N.C.

THE MAGAZINE OF THE PENDULUM

WHERE DO YOU

GREEK CULTURE AT ELON >> PAGE 10

BELONG?

Spring is a season of renewal, fresh beginnings and self-discovery. It’s a chance for growth and an opportunity to shed your winter blues by reenergizing your spirit with outdoor activities, spring-cleaning, a vivid wardrobe and new perspectives. This edition of The Edge is here to help you do that. With gray days and long nights finally behind us, there’s no better time than the present to clear your mind and hit refresh – whether that be on your goals, your relationships or your mindset.

Here at The Edge, our mission is to enterttain while informing, and this spring edition is dedicated to enhancing your life in all areas that matter most to you. These pages are bursting with fun facts (spoiler alert: crying boosts your immune system), helpful tips and embarrassing stories from fellow Elon students. But of course we couldn’t stop there.

Our cover story, which investigates Greek Life culture and how it fits in (or doesn’t) with Elon’s culture as a whole, examines a part of the university that is seen but not always openly discussed. We also take a step outside the usual comfort zone and examine the prevalent poverty that surrounds our bubble.

I want this edition to spark enthusiasm for the warm months ahead and for all the endless possibilities that are sure to follow – here at Elon and beyond.

Enjoy!

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

Kathleen HarperManaging Editor of The Edge

| TABLE OF CONTENTS2

6 Students share their top picks from this year’s Sundance film festival

7 Men’s basketball seniors leave their legacy

14 Examining the poverty that’s in our own backyard

20 Discover the hottest colors of the season and how you can wear them in style

23 Three surprisingly healthy guilty pleasures

26 Students spill their most embarrassing Spring Break moments

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14

23

26

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Managing EditorKathleen Harper

Design EditorMadison Margeson

Features, Fashion EditorCaroline Fernandez

Entertainment, Health & Wellness EditorTori Howlett

Sports Editor Nathan Smith

Travel & Opinions EditorChris Mench

Photo EditorKatie Klochany

Contributing WritersLeah Channas

Sky Cowans Rosie Deering

Kaitlin DunnLibby GormleyStephen Harris

Dash JepsenVirginia Kluitras

Anjelique KyriakosShayna NashJane Ostrau

Puja PrakashSophia Spach

Le ToSam Ward

Contributing DesignersKristen Lilley

Olivia Obregon Kat PallottaErin Turner

PhotographersAbby Franklin

Emily Stone

Copy EditorLauren Phillips

Editor-in-Chief of The PendulumJonathan Black

Managing Editor of The PendulumKaty Canada

TH

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E The Edge is Elon University’s only general-interest magazine, published quarterly by The Pendulum student news organization. Students of all years and majors are encouraged to contribute.

Keep it fresh this spring with the latest trends on page 16.

Cover photo by Katie Klochnay.

Check out all the exclusive Edge content online at elonpendulum.com/edge

TABLE OF CONTENTS | 3

Jared Allen, a senior at Elon University, has chased his pas-sion for performing throughout

the years. In an age where there is a large amount of pressure on students to pursue more “tradi-tional” careers, Allen’s chosen path is refreshing.

Allen is a native of Campbell, NY, and attended Campbell-Savona Central School prior to coming to Elon in pursuit of his BFA in acting. Since coming to Elon, Allen has been in numerous performances including “All My Sons,” “Cloud Nine” and “Much Ado About Noth-ing,” in addition to being a member of a student improvisation group.

He started acting in the fourth grade, but Allen said that, even when he isn’t performing, he enjoys engaging in other creative activities.

“As far back as I can remember, I’ve wanted to be a performer. I need to do what I’m good at and what inspires me,” he said.

The aspect of performing Allen finds most captivating is the audi-ence.

“It’s important for the ac-tor to do what he or she does for themselves because you have to tell your story, work on your craft and your art without the need of approval from the audience. But the best thing is when the audi-ence inspires you and moves you forward,” Allen said.

He also noted that the perfor-mance should be focused on “what you have to say, your characters and the story you have to tell. We’re learning specific skills [at Elon], but learning how to tell a story through them is the art form.”

Although the performing arts program is challenging at Elon, it prepares students for future careers post-graduation. Through-out the year, students put on three main stage plays run by profes-sional directors and designers who have worked in the field.

“We are going through at lightening speed [producing plays]. It’s the closest thing to being in a professional company that Elon offers,” Allen said.

At this point, Allen aspires to perform on Broadway one day. When asked specifically what kind of performing arts he wants to pur-sue, Allen admited he isn’t sure.

“The reason I’m so uncertain is I don’t know how specifically I want to contribute to the world of art yet, but I know that my acting degree will help me with whatever I need,” he said. “It’s important to realize that my degree doesn’t mean I can only do one area of performance.”

This year, Allen has gone be-yond only acting and has just fin-ished working on his senior thesis for the Honors Fellows, titled “Lost in the Limelight,” which depicts the life of a vaudevillian come-dian. His senior thesis debuted in February.

Reaching

Spotlight on a college performer

| ENTERTAINMENT4

PHOTOS SUBMITTED BY JARED ALLEN

Acting major Jared Allen has been performing since the fourth grade.

FOR

BROADWAYVirginia KluitersCREATIVE WRITING

People think it’s weird because

you usually get tired after being around someone all the time, but we never get tired of each other.”

“

Rosie DeeringCINEMA

PHOTOS BY KATIE KLOCHANY

It’s not a secret that college students follow entertainment news religiously. What would we do if we couldn’t find out the name of Kim

and Kanye’s baby, or whether Justin Bieber is getting deported? Over the years, the media students use to obtain this information has changed.

Instead of reading tabloids such as People or Us Weekly, we flock to newer sources such as Twitter, Instagram, BuzzFeed or the weekend update on “Saturday Night Live.” Even gossip sites like Perez Hilton have a larger influx of readers than magazines seem to.

There are several draws to these forms of media, but the biggest one seems to be the speed at which we can obtain the information. Students can simply follow gossip bloggers or check E! News on Twitter and receive instant updates of the goings on of the entertainment world. Even better, BuzzFeed is always there to keep you entertained and updated on which celebrity Instagrams you’ve missed so far this week. This online media is instant and free. We no longer have to wait for a TMZ episode to come on or go to the store to buy a tabloid when a simple Google search will do the trick. 

Although this new media is fast and ef-ficient, it lack the filter that old media was constructed on. On a daily basis, students are flooded with information that is generally ac-cepted without a second thought.

Gossip and rumors can turn into news that

spreads like wildfire across social media. There have been countless times when celebrities have been reported dead when, in actuality, they are alive and well. This lack of verification can be detrimental to how we obtain our news.

“I love reading BuzzFeed, but sometimes I don’t know how biased it is because anyone can post on it,” said Elon University sophomore Isabel Sackner-Bernstein.

Community posters can be people of all ages, occupations and educational back-grounds, which makes it difficult to trust the news they post. Although some people are skeptical, sophomore Rachael Siegel-Berele embraces these types of resources.

“I like Twitter and BuzzFeed because the news is easy to find and they’re the fastest way to get information,” she said. “If I don’t think something is true I will cross reference it with another site.”

Some students recognize the need to refer-ence other sites, while others will just accept the information given to them. Leah Totten, communication adjunct instructor, said she feels this instant media gives celebrities and entertainment news “more importance than is needed.”

“Because we are constantly updated on ce-lebrities’ lives we feel they are more important than they are,” she said. “Give the focus and importance to people who deserve it.”

ENTERTAINMENT | 5

I want it fastI want it free

&I like Twitter and BuzzFeed because the news is easy to

find and they’re the fastest way to get information.”

RACHEL SIEGEL-BERELESOPHOMORE

“

SUN

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Tori HowlettSTRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS

Every year creative minds flock to Park City, Utah, for

the Sundance Film Festival. A mecca for the film industry, the festival is home to creators, actors, directors and fans. For those who aren’t familiar with Sundance, the festival takes place each year in January and is a judged competition for films that are making their premiere at the festival.

While the festival may only last a week, many films are picked up by distribution compa-nies and then released through-out the year so you can follow the releases of Sundance films all year long.

Two films in particular stood out at Sundance this year. The U.S. Dramatic Prize went to “Whiplash,” starring Miles Teller. “Rich Hill” took home the U.S. prize for documentaries. The film focused on the small town of Rich Hill, Mo., which has a population of only 1,396.

Elon University junior Jenny Sekulow said “Whiplash” is a must see. Sekulow attended the festival this year as part of her Winter Term course — The Sun-dance Experience — and said her favorite part of the festival was “being able to watch these films and know everyone around you is there for the same reason you are.”

Jason McMerty, an instructor in communications who runs The

Sundance Experience, agreed that “Whiplash” was one of his favorite films, along with “Love is Strange,” a film about a gay couple that finally ties the knot after being together for 39 years.

As a festival known for break-ing barriers and acknowledging creative risk, junior Brian Mezer-ski, who attended the festival in 2013, said his Sundance experi-ence “completely changed how I watch movies now and think of independent filmmaking.” Mezerski said he enjoyed the atmosphere of Park City the most while he was there.

“The filmmakers, the public, the happenings all came together to enjoy each other’s work. And that was cool to experience,” he said.

Junior Emily Hines agreed that when she attended Sun-dance 2013 she was most surprised by the sense of com-munity.

“The people in line around you were chatty and more than happy to spend the time in line getting to know you,” she said.

Sundance is more than just a film showcase. It is an oppor-tunity for creative collaboration and networking. It has been the starting point for many well-known films and filmmakers. The effects of Sundance reach far beyond the weeklong event, and each year the films can be seen at local cinemas upon release.

| ENTERTAINMENT6

PHOTOS SUBMITTED

Kaitlin DunnPRINT & ONLINE JOURNALISM

SPORTS | 7

At the end of this year, Elon University’s men’s basketball

program will be losing one of its most successful classes. Ryley Beaumont, Eghoesa Edomwonyi, Jack Isenbarger, Sebastian Koch and Lucas Troutman will be leav-ing Elon, but their contribution to the school and the basketball pro-gram will live on for a long time.

Coach Matt Matheny said he believes this is the most successful class in Elon history.

“There’s been a lot of stories about Jesse Branson and Tommy Cole told, but this is the win-ningest class to go down in D1 history at Elon,” he said.

There have been many out-standing moments in the past four years, but a special few stick out in the players’ minds.

One of these moments was the Davidson College game this year.

“When we were at Davidson earlier this year, and we were down 14, and there were six min-utes left, and then we beat them in overtime. That was very memo-rable,” Koch said.

“That’s never been done before since Elon joined Division 1,” Troutman added.

Another memorable matchup was against South Carolina. Elon

played and beat them twice.“I’ll always remember when we

beat South Carolina,” Beaumont said. “It felt so good to beat them at home, and then it felt even better and more special when we beat them at their own gym.”

One of the biggest accomplish-ments had by the seniors came last season when Elon took home the trophy for North Division in the Southern Conference.

“Winning the North division last year was great,” Beaumont said. “It was a goal of ours and it shows how much commitment we put in the last three years”

Over their four years, the seniors have put in a lot of hard work and effort, which they all hope to be remembered for.

“I think we’ll be remembered for putting the spark back into the program,” Edomwonyi said.

Matheny also said he thinks this class is one that put Elon bas-ketball on the map.

“In many ways, they estab-lished the winning program. It’s been a joy to see them develop from high school juniors and seniors into men, and Elon men at that,” Matheny said.

One record that will last for a long time is that of the “Core

Four” — Beaumont, Isenbarger, Koch, and Troutman — have all scored more than 1,000 career points, making them only the sec-ond team in the nation to boast four players in the “1,000 points club.”

“I think the ‘Core Four’ will be remembered for where Elon basketball really began,” Trout-man said.

Individually, each player brings something special to the team that he hopes to be remembered for.

Isenbarger said hopes to be remembered for his faith and dedication.

“Hopefully I’ll be remembered for the heart I have and for my faith,” he said. “I want people to see there is more to Jack Isen-barger than just basketball. God gave me a gift and I’m playing for him every day. I want people to see that.”

Koch said he hopes he is thought of as a hard worker.

“I come in every single day, and I try to make myself better and make the team better, and I hope people see that,” he said.

Even losing five great players, the basketball team is still in good shape for next year, and the soon-to-be graduates said they see the program continuing to greatness.

“The team is definitely in good hands. We have some great lead-ers who aren’t seniors and they know the system we’ve estab-lished, and I think that they’re going to do just fine,” Isenbarger said.

As the seniors prepare for work or playing professionally after graduation, they’re leaving behind a legacy that will not be forgotten for a long time.

“We were Coach’s first class, so hopefully we will be remembered as the start of a legacy, the start of something great,” Beaumont said.

Edomwonyi summed up the feelings of all the seniors.

“Just getting to this point and building what we have now. Elon is now more recognized and any part I’ve played in that I’m proud of, and I’m glad I’ve helped out,” he said.

MEN’S BASKETBALL SENIORS PUT THE SPARK BACK INTO THE GAME

Hopefully we will be

remembered as the start of a legacy.”

- RYLEY BEAUMONTSENIOR

“

PHOTO BY EMILY STONE

STUDENT ANNOUNCERS AT ELON

At Elon University, students and fans watch many sports teams compete week in and

week out, their main thought? The desire to witness a Phoenix victory. What they don’t know is one of their own may be among them, announcing the game.

While the athletes are doing their best to win the game and put on a good show for their fans, Elon students are putting in the work to add to the game through their announcing abilities.

It may not seem like much, but when asked, senior student broadcaster Jason Vonick, who frequently announces Elon basketball games, said it does take a special skill to do what he does.

“Most people can talk on camera or on the radio, but very, very few can be great broadcasters,” Vonick said. “Broadcasting is

more than just talking; it’s being insightful, thoughtful, accurate and poised all at once … Anything can happen.”

Announcers believe they have that special skill, and that is what makes them succeed in their unique role. If they don’t have it now, they hope to develop that skill in the near future.

Sophomore Rajat Agarwal is another student announcer who has called numerous baseball and soccer games for the Phoenix.

“The thrill I get when announcing a game is really special,” he said. One of the best feelings is when the day after a game, someone comes up to you and says great job calling the game yesterday.”

This is not just hobby for these students, it’s a tryout for the future.

PHOTOS BY EMILY STONE

| SPORTS8

Broadcasting is more than

just talking; it’s being insightful,thoughtful, accurate and poised all at once... Anything can happen.”

- JASON VONICKSENIOR BROADCASTER

“

Stephen HarrisBROADCAST & NEW MEDIA

VOICES OF THE GAME

As Elon students announce home basketball games, their peers cheer on the Phoenix in

the stands.

Juggling academics with jobs, leadership positions, research

and a social life can be quite an overwhelming experience — especially while making the jump from high school to college.

“It was harder for me to devote time to schoolwork at first. I wasn’t used to being around my friends all of the time in high school,” An-nie Phelan, a freshman psychol-ogy major at Elon University said.

Jordan Palmer, a freshman finance and accounting major had a similar experience.

“College was the first time I really got away from my parents,” she said. “In high school, they used to tell me when to do things and when to come home. The first few weeks I kept staying up too late because I would hang out with friends, go to games or clubs and not do my work. Not having my parents around put pressure on me to stay responsible.”

It’s also important to remember different majors have different expectations. For some majors, it’s more important to be involved in leadership positions and organiza-tions in order to build a resume than to keep a perfect GPA.

Emily Petersen, an educa-tion major and Honors Fellow, is involved in InterVarsity, Campus

Outreach and the Student North Carolina Association of Educators. She also has an on-campus job at the Center for Leadership. Pe-tersen aspires to be an elementary school teacher.

“Leadership roles are a good way to have practice leading other students,” she said. “Good grades are nice to have, but in the long run it’s not about who can do bet-ter on a test, it’s about having the knowledge and experience in a real life environment that makes the difference. Leadership roles in organizations help prepare for real life interactions.”

For some majors, a combina-tion of leadership positions, ex-tracurricular activities and stellar academics are necessary.

Freddy Suppes is the class of 2017 class president and a com-munications and political science double major.

“In order to pursue pre-law, you have to have a combination of both leadership positions within your organizations and high marks,” Suppes said.

Students who have already declared their majors understand what they have to do in order to be successful in their field of choice. For many students, this means un-derstanding that academics can’t

be their only focus. But Johanna Krygsman, a biology major, keeps her list of extracurricular activities short.

“I think it’s more important for me as a bio major to keep up my grades because eventually I want to go to med school and I know that med school can be competi-tive,” Krygsman said.

It’s also valuable to listen to what upperclassmen have to say.

“This year, I became very involved in one organization,” Rebecca Schneider, a junior bio-chemistry major said. “I still see the importance of doing well in school, but for me that isn’t my top priority anymore. My top prior-ity is to build relationships with others and be a leader within my organization to help other people.”

Becoming deeply involved in an organization or activity is a good way to show potential em-ployers that you are invested and committed.

Ben Perron, a senior account-ing major, is expecting to graduate this spring. Believing that there is a balance between academics and activities, Perron became invested in a few things very deeply.

“Obviously, there’s the op-posite danger of being overin-volved and spread too thin.” Ben

explains. However, within his major, he feels that, “To future employers, leadership positions and activities are probably pref-erable.”

Why are leadership activities more preferable?

According to Stephanie Car-roll, a junior political science and international relations major, “Grades only show your ability to understand while leadership positions and activities show your ability to apply.”

Before they know it, these first-years will be upperclassmen with plenty of extracurricular experi-ence under their belts, which will help transition them into the professional world.

Shayna NashBUSINESS

PHOTO BY KATIE KLOCHANY

FEATURES | 9

In the long run it’s not about who

can do better on a test, it’s about having the knowledge and experience in a real life enviornment that makes the difference.”

EMILY PETERSENEDUCATION MAJOR

“

the balancing actof college

OR GO HOM ?

EXAMINING ELON’S GREEK CULTURECaroline FernandezPRINT & ONLINE JOURNALISM

| COVER STORY10

On the afternoon of Sun-day, Feb. 2, hundreds of young women were “sittin’, waitin’, wishin’”

in Elon University’s Alumni Gym before they opened their bid cards. To some outsiders looking in, that Bid Card, as well as that moment, held zero significance. But others knew the contents of that envelope would change those women’s lives forever.

“The moment I opened my bid card was such a big moment,” said first-year Sophie Angst. “I was so excited and felt so much energy and happiness as we were running down the hill! At the same time I felt content knowing that I had found the place for me.”

Greek life on Elon’s campus has unified men and women for more than 50 years, but in doing so has created divisions amongst the student body. According to some Elon students, there is a distinct separation between those who are affiliated and those who are not.

Not only are there perceived differences between affiliated and unaffiliated individuals, there are also many stereotypes and facets within the Greek system. It’s hard to deny that almost every student is affected by the Greek system — whether they’d like to be or not.

GREEK LIFE ON ELON’SCAMPUS

The first Greek organization appeared on Elon’s campus in 1968 with the chartering of local organization Tau Kappa Epsilon. National chapters have been on Elon’s campus since the charter-ing of Sigma Sigma Sigma in April 1970. Since then, 23 other nationally recognized chapters have been chartered, with Delta Upsilon being the most recent. There are currently 2,189 men and women, or 42 percent of undergraduate students, who are affiliated with a Greek organiza-tion.

“I think that Greek life is one of those things that can be both unifying and dividing,” said Anthony Hatcher, associate professor of communications.

“For the people who are in [Greek life] they are brothers or sisters for life. But there’s also a divide between non-Greeks and Greeks. Many times I hear from non-Greek students that they feel left out.”

He said he believes Greek life is here to stay on Elon’s campus.

With Greeks having such a large influence on campus life at Elon, the concept of unity seems to come into question. Are students able to see each other as an Elon University community? Or will there continue to be this segregation of Greeks and non-Greeks?

COLLEGE SANS GREEK LIFE

With Greek life having such a visible presence on campus, it makes sense when people who are not affiliated are overcome with FOMO — fear of missing out. When one friend is finding a mate for a date party and another is baking cookies for a philan-thropy event, it is understandable that a non-affiliated student may feel there aren’t a lot of social op-portunities for him or her.

Since dropping out of the re-cruitment process two years ago, junior Emma Kwiatkowski said she has felt the ripple effects of being unaffiliated.

“I have felt left out for not being involved in Greek life,” Kwiatkowski said. “On Facebook, all I ever see are girls with their sisters taking pictures with each other at different events. Even when I do hang out with girls in sororities, they insist on sorority pictures rather than an inclusive picture of everyone.”

Kwiatkowski said Greek life dominates social life and campus activities for many students.

“When you are not involved with Greek life, there is a lot less to do around Elon,” she said. “I love dances and getting dressed up, but I never have an opportu-nity to do that because I am not a part of Greek life.”

Although Kwiatkowski is not alone in feeling left out, other non-affiliated students find Greek life’s large presence on campus

easier to deal with. Senior Kim Lilienthal is one of these students.

Lilienthal went through the first few days of recruitment dur-ing her freshman year but real-ized sorority life wasn’t for her. Since then she hasn’t looked back with any regrets.

“I think that the majority of the ‘Greek exclusive’ events are the parties, the mixers and the formals, and those types of things aren’t very enjoyable to me any-way,” Lilienthal said.

Like many other non-affiliated men and women, Lilienthal has found a sense of home with other organizations.

Being in a fraternity has allowed me to get exposure to a variety of opportunities that I may not have had the chance to experience otherwise. Since joining my sophomore year, everything I have experienced has had a positive impact on my life.

- JOE RACANELLISENIOR

COVER STORY | 11

“I feel a great sense of com-munity and belonging among the other students in my major and I am certainly academi-cally supported through this group of people,” Lilienthal said. “I became a leader on campus through my involvement with New Student Orientation and the Center for Leadership. I’ve served the Elon, Alamance County and global communities through the Kernodle Center for Service Learning and Commu-nity Engagement. I think that it is very easy to find your niche without Greek life, and there are lots of students who are willing to support you as you do that.”

Even though Lilienthal said she feels comfortable with her decision of not participating in Greek life, there are still instances that leave her feeling excluded.

“The times I’ve felt most left out are when businesses in Burlington offer ‘Greek Let-ter Specials’ or sales that only apply to customers wearing letters,” she said. “I remember when Ann Taylor Loft hosted a sale for Greek women. One of my friends offered to loan me a shirt so I could go with her, but I wasn’t interested in supporting exclusivity in a public place.”

BLAME IT ON THE ALCOHOL

An understandably large element that comes with Greek territory is the party scene. When freshmen are thrust into campus life, their first exposure to Greek organizations are loud, crazy and typically memorable off-campus frat house gatherings and red solo cups. This portion of Greek life is more dominating than some would like, which turns them away from being in an organization.

Sophomore Marie Williams* was initiated into a sorority in the spring of her freshman year, but after realizing her and her sisters’ interests differed, she de-cided to leave her organization.

“I think that there are a lot of divisions that you do not see until people get more comfort-able with one another,” Williams said. “A lot of those divisions were the result of me disagreeing with the behaviors of many girls. I don’t drink — I don’t believe in that — and that was very dividing because a lot of girls bond over those types of experiences.”

Williams said she felt ostra-cized for not having the same values as the women who were supposed to be her sisters. When she began to not feel as welcome as she had hoped to feel, Wil-liams began to doubt what it actually meant to be a part of a sisterhood. Eventually, it was her inability to find common ground with the sisters, as well as the overabundance of alcohol, that pushed Williams to leave Greek life.

“The culture of Greek life is very biased towards drinking. I believe that the Greek culture encourages and supports under-aged drinking, which I am not comfortable with,” she said.

Despite Greek organiza-tions’ strong tie to alcohol, many believe drinking is more of a university problem rather than strictly a Greek problem.

“The university as a whole — at least to some extent — encour-ages safe drinking instead of say-ing the rules and enforcing them. This sets a tone that extends through the social life on campus and then into Greek life. The tone is ‘please drink safely,’ rather than ‘please drink safe and don’t drink underage,’” Williams said.

Campus programs such as SPARKS discuss safe drinking methods with students — no mat-ter the age of the consumer.

“Telling people not to drink on a college campus is unrealistic. We are here to help people make informed decisions if they do choose to consume alcohol,” said SPARKS member Felicia Cenca.

While strobe lights and beer buckets may seem fun in the moment, others said frat parties aren’t the healthiest places to form relationships. And with the presence of alcohol, events can take a turn for the dangerous.

“If there’s anything that could be changed, [frats] could crack down on the size and scale of parties,” said a male junior who wishes to remain anonymous. “The university as a whole could provide more education on date rape for females because I think that a lot of preying on young col-lege girls happens in frat houses.”

He added that first-year girls feel they need to go to frat parties to meet guys.

“There are a lot of other outlets to meet guys and safer en-vironments to make friends such as service and religious organiza-tions,” he said.

STICKY STEREOTYPES

Fraternities and sorori-ties are often connected to the degrading practice of hazing. Even though Elon’s Office of Greek Life has taken steps to eliminate hazing from Elon’s campus, the possibility of it oc-curring always exists.

According to Greek Life Director Shana Plasters, every year the Office of Greek Life gets multiple reports of haz-ing. They then fully investigate each situation, but most of the time the reports turn out to be untrue and spurred from legends. The type of hazing most commonly seen is done by individuals to other individuals, not done by a full organization.

Plasters, though, does not hide the fact that serious hazing has occurred in the past.

“We’ve had groups of stu-dents found responsible for hazing and have received some pretty significant sanctions,” Platers said. “[The sanctions] can range from the severity of what was found.”

The Office of Greek Life tries to keep students and fami-lies informed with informa-tion about anti-hazing and an anonymous hazing hotline that anyone can call.

IMAGE IS EVERYTHING

One bad incident can ruin everything for a Greek orga-nization. The thousands of

dollars raised for their philan-trhopy, impressive GPAs, and countless hours of community service can be easily forgotten once people hear words like ‘hazing’ and ‘probation’.

Being a part of a Greek organization doesn’t end when a member takes off his or her pins and letters. It takes a great deal of responsibilty and own-ership for a person to represent their organization well.

“We tell our individuals that they don’t get to take off their letters and are always being held to that standard,” Plasters said. “You don’t get to say ‘Well we’ve done these five positive things so this one negative thing shouldn’t count against us.’ That’s not how it works.”

Even with all of the posi-tive things Greek organizations have going for them it is still hard for the organizations to shake certain reputations. What can be done to help the im-age of certain fraternities and sororities?

Plasters said there are a lot of things Greek organizations can do to help, and that begins with being able to tout their positives.

“I think sometimes Greek students get in their world and they think everyone knows the positves but they don’t stop and think that everyone doesn’t [know about the achievements of Greek organizations].”

When things go wrong, Greek organizations can also do things to help their reputations.

“When groups do things that are not in line with their values, they need to be up front and honest,” Plasters said. “It goes a long way to send a message of, ‘It’s not that we did this and are only sorry because we got caught, but we did this and re-alize it’s wrong and here’s what we’re doing to change that.”

Going through difficult times as an organization can have a silver lining to it, though. Many individuals found tough times as an opportunity for them to grow closer with their brothers and sisters.

“During tough times you have to have each other’s backs,” Hunt Cable, affiliated senior, said. “We all look at it as one person is the fraternity. All of the fraternities in times of trouble stick together to avoid any more trouble.”

| COVER STORY12

I have heard campuses without Greek life are much happier, but Elon without Greek life would not be Elon.

- EMMA KWIATKOWSKIJUNIOR

NOT FOUR YEARS, FOR LIFE

Despite negative stigmas attached to Greek life, there are also positive things that come with a Greek membership. Being part of a Greek organiza-tion means meeting people to confide in as you make memo-ries and help the community. It means entering something that is bigger than yourself, commu-nity and even school.

Senior Joe Racanelli has felt a lasting impact since joining a fraternity his sophomore year.

“Being in a fraternity has allowed me to get exposure to a variety of opportunities that I may not have had the chance to experience otherwise,” Racanel-li said. “After joining during my sophomore year everything that I have experienced has had a positive impact on my life.”

Being a part of a Greek organization can help a person mature and see the important things in life. Not only do stu-dents build strong relationships, they are also given the opportu-nity to meet people they never would have met if it weren’t for their organization.

“Over the past few years I’ve realized how important one’s relationships with others are,” Racanelli said. “The people that I’ve met over the past years have had an influence on my life and I’m sure that many of them will continue to do so.”

Sophomore Hayley Owen said she is thankful for the variety of women she has met through her sorority.

“Getting to know more di-verse people has helped me to become a stronger, better and more confident person,” Owen said. “I just love every second of it. No matter what happens, I know they will be there to share my life with.”

GREEKS GIVE BACK

Greek organizations also help make their members and community better. Each organization hosts events and fundraisers throughout the year to support their chosen philanthropy. Baked goods are made and sold, men walk in high heels and students flock to the Elon Community Church for everything from pancakes to baked ‘Xiti’. During the 2012-

2013 year, affiliated men and women donated over $200,000 to their philanthropies and re-ported over 4,500 service hours. On a national level, according to The University of Missouri - Kansas City, undergradu-ate members give an annual average of $7 million and over 850,000 hours towards chari-table causes.

CAMPUS LEADERS

Greek organizations put a lot of weight on academics and ex-pect their members to achieve high marks in the classroom. The average GPA for affiliated members is 3.34, which is con-sistently higher than 3.24, the average GPA for undgraduate students as a whole.

“I feel that with my soror-ity I have the support system I need to do well in school,” Erin Turner, junior, said. “Whenever I need help with something they’re always there to help me. Also when I see them doing well it motivates me to do the same.”

Being involved with Greek life also gives students opportu-nities to challenge themselves through leadership roles and responsibilities. Amongst the 24 organizations there are over 250 leadership positions for students.

“Students get real world accounting and event plan-ning experience,” Plasters said. “[Students] have an opportu-nity to practice out challenging coversations and explore people who are different than they are in a supportive environment. To me those are some of the best aspects of Greek life.”

UNIFYING ELON

When it comes to unifying those who are affiliated with those who are not affiliated, more often than not it’s those who are not in Greek organiza-tions that struggle more. As the popular quote states, “From the outside looking in you can’t understand it; From the inside looking out, you can’t explain it.”

Elon’s Inclusive Community Council works to “further a campus climate that upholds the dignity of each community member” and to build “a culture of understanding and respect”.

Lilienthal, who is familiar with and supports the ICC, expanded on that.

“The Inclusive Community Council has been working to establish programs and safe spaces that support all students and help them find their place at Elon,” she said.

Lilienthal instigated a part-nership between the Inclusive Community Council and Greek life.

“I think that the inclusion initiatives do support Greek life, however, the Greek community is already well established on campus and I don’t think it needs the same level of institu-tional support that other groups might,” she said. If anything, I think the inclusion initiatives challenge Greek life to use their well-established status to ad-vocate for an inclusive campus climate for everyone.”

Individuals usually under-stand each other more easily if they branch of their comfort zones. If affiliated people only spend their time with other affiliated people then their perspective may not be as deep as it could be. By mixing friend groups and participating in a wide variety of activities many individuals have found a fulfilling balance and positive prospective.

“I joined a fraternity around the same time that I became a tour guide,” said Cable. “A lot of the people that I work with are not in Greek life. Their different perspectives and experiences at Elon have opened my eyes to things I never would have expe-rienced if I was solely involved with Greek life.”

Cable added, “I love my fraternity and have had an awesome experience, but I also really appreciate my time as a tour guide with a different group of people.”

Greek life. Love it. Hate it. Affiliated. Non-affiliated. No matter what your views on Greek life at Elon are, one thing is certain: Greek life has a large presence on campus and affects a lot of people. It’s not going anywhere. Will you be the one to bring Greeks and non-Greeks together or continue to carry stereotypes and judgments? You decide, Phoenix, you de-cide.

Since 1910, 85% of

Supreme Court Justices

have been fraternity

or sorority members

86% of the the nation’s largest

corporations have been headed by

Greeks

85% of the Fortune 500 Key Executives have been fraternity or sorority members

All but two presidents since 1825 have been fraternity members

GREEKS AFTERGRADUATION

COVER STORY | 13

* NAME HAS BEEN CHANGED TO PROTECT STUDENT’S PRIVACY

SURROUNDED BY STRUGGLE:

THE ELON BUBBLELibby GormleyPRINT & ONLINE JOURNALISM

The thought of Elon University generally does not bring to mind pictures of pov-erty, hunger and struggle. Elon students

enjoy the campus’ beauty, state-of-the-art resources and less-than-arduous daily life. This is especially the case when compared to the hunger and poverty that lies just miles outside the “Elon Bubble.”

With issues such as poverty and home-lessness looming just outside Elon’s campus, it seems daunting to try to take on these problems alone. Elon Volunteers! (EV!) is a service learning and community engage-ment program that partners with several organizations, giving students the chance to volunteer in the local community as well as abroad.  

According to the 2012-2013 Service@Elon Annual Report, 125 students participated in 11 alternative break service trips to locations ranging from eastern North Carolina. New York , Guatemala and to Southeastern Africa. While these trips provide laudable service to people in need, students need not look farther than neighboring Burlington to find worthy causes to support.

EV! partners with local organizations such as Allied Churches, Boys and Girls Club, Burlington Housing Authority, Positive Attitude Youth Center and Family Abuse Ser-vices, just to name a few, giving Elon students the chance to get involved, meet new people, learn more about their community and have fun while doing it.

“Elon Volunteers! is a great program,” said first-year Emily Morris who volunteered for EV!’s Lunch Buddies last semester. “They’re doing a lot.”

Of the 66 students who volunteered at

the Boys and Girls Club last year, about 26 were coming in for class credit, according to Maddie Hooper, the student Leader in Col-laborative Service (LINCS) for the Boys and Girls Club.

“Everyone else there was attending the Club for fun,” she said. “However, some of the students in ASL courses continued coming, even after they had completed their required hours.”

If students are willing to give organiza-tions like these a chance, they will open themselves up to enjoy fun and enriching experiences. With services opportunities abound, the attitude on campus lacks a cer-tain sense of urgency.

“We are aware of [the poverty, hunger and struggle that surrounds Elon], but it’s one thing to be aware and another thing to let it affect us,” sophomore Courtney Vereide said.

“Those who regularly work with EV! typi-cally have a strong knowledge of Burlington’s citizens,” said Brittany Wenner, last year’s LINCS for Family Abuse Services in Burl-ington. “Many Elon students, however, seem displaced from the Burlington community and thus, unfortunately, show a lack of knowledge and understanding of Burlington community members.”

Wenner estimated less than 10 students volunteered with Family Abuse Services on a regular to semi-regular basis last year.  She said that working with Family Abuse Ser-vices requires specificity, time and expertise, which partially explains their low number of student volunteers.

“Elon Volunteers is an amazing program and group of people to work with. I would say the nature of the volunteers is half and

half in that many students on campus are required to volunteer for credit or have another obligation to fulfill service hours, while the other half display true passion and dedication for volunteer work.

The Kernodle Center for Service Learning and Community Engagement is continuously working on this awareness. Evan Small, as-sistant director of student programs at the Kernodle Center explained that while most Elon students are aware in some capacity of the socioeconomic difference between Ala-mance County and the “Elon Bubble,” many do not realize the extent of this difference or that they can play a role in addressing social issues in our surrounding community.

“While [the Kernodle Center] engage in extensive public efforts, we are always inter-ested in reaching more students,” Small said.

The opportunities are there. All Elon stu-dents need to do is take advantage of them. If you’re an Elon student interested in getting involved in the community around you, con-tact the Kernodle Center at (336) 278-2000.

| FEATURES14

Many Elon students seem displaced from

the Burlington community and thus, unfortunately, show a lack of knowledge and understanding of Burlington community members.”

BRITTANY WENNERLINCS, BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB

“

THE MEDIAN HOUSEHOLD INCOME IS 9.8% LOWER THAN U.S. AVERAGE

POVERTY ACCOUNTS FOR AROUND 15% OF U.S. RESIDENTS17% OF N.C. RESIDENTS

AND 22% OF BURLINGTON RESIDENTS

1/10 OF ALAMANCE COUNTY CITIZENS

ARE HOMELESS

DISSECTING BURLINGTON

FEATURES | 15

PHOTO BY KATIE KLOCHANY

ACCORDING TO THE U.S. CENSUS BUREAU AND ALLIED CHURCHES OF

ALAMANCE COUNTY

Floral print can be worn as a dress, top, skirts

or shorts. To mix it up, wearing a floral print with a leather accessory such as a jacket adds another

dimension to the outfit.

Soft springtime shades were seen at almost every show during this year’s Fashion Week. Pastels are not only easy to add to your outfit, but you can find choices anywhere for great prices.

Photographed by Abby Franklin PRINT & ONLINE JOURNALISM

Puja PrakashSTATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS

| FASHION16

SPRING FASHION TRENDS

FLORAL PRINT

PASTELS

FASHION | 17

TROUSER PANTS

Ditch the too-tight leggings and uncomfortably stiff jeans for the new trend:

wide-legged, loose-fitting trousers and pants. They

look amazing with crop tops, sweaters, blouses or virtually any other type of

top. Don’t forget a belt!

Sweatshirts are one of the spring’s hottest trends. To add some personal flair to this cool trend, try combining it with colored pants or formal shorts to dress it up.

SWEATSHIRTS

| FASHION18

To introduce embellishment into your wardrobe, you can either start off small by introducing one item with embellishment, such as metal studded leggings, or you could wear a jacket or top with embellishment and beading. Forever21 has great options with affordable prices.

FASHION

TIP

Embellished clothing is one of the funnest ways to adopt a wearable

trend. You can pick whichever piece of your outfit you’d like to have

embellishment on, and which type. Most common on the runway this year

were intricate beading, sequins and metal pieces.

EMBELLISHMENT

FASHION | 19

Marit Nelson, senior, and Jasper Thomas, first-year, are both members of Twisted Measure. Thomas gets most of his clothes from H&M while Nelson enjoys thrifting.

SPRINGwith the rainbow

CO

LO

RS

cayenne // sassy red

While you’re excited about planning your Spring Break, we are thrilled to tell you

what colors people in the fashion world are talk-ing about this season. Ready to rock the trendy colors this spring? Here comes the rainbow!

The Pantone Fashion Color Report for Spring 2014 is the leading authority that inspires design-ers and stylists every year with a new color. This year, Pantone has given radiant orchid the title of color of the year. It’s the best combination of pink, purple and fuchsia.

So if you’re not the biggest fan of any of those colors on their own, orchid is the hue to wear so you can still stay on trend. This doesn’t mean that you’ll have to wear a whole orchid-colored outfit. Try to mix and match this color into your outfit. Even just a hint of it still counts.

It doesn’t just have to be the color of your clothes. Wear it as an eyeshadow, for your shoes or accessories. Want more tips on how to wear this color? Visit the top YouTube beauty guru Michelle Phan’s blog at Michellephan.com to explore this beautiful color yourself.

By the end of February, you’re probably ready to give up the black and gray colors of gloomy winter. However, that doesn’t mean you can’t keep your favorite dark tone on rotation. Just opt for dazzling blue instead. It’s still dark, yet fresh enough for the bright spring. If you try dazzling

blue and fall in love with it, also try to mix two other shades of blue in your style: placid blue and violet tulip. All three are chosen colors of this season as well.

Blue shades make you think of the clear, bright sky or brings you to the peaceful, calming beach where you can enjoy the sun bathing that you have been awaiting for so long.

Speaking of the beach, we have to mention the sand. Sand and paloma are the two neutral spring colors of this year. If you are ever unsure about what colors to wear, you will be safe with these two basic shades. Try to pair sand with hemlock or hue green to bring out neutral bal-ance and sophistication.

If you’re still in need of more colors, especially the brighter shades, try Cayenne, a virbrant red, or bright Freesia. These two tones are sure to bring the sunshine of spring wherever you go. And what if you mix Cayenne and Freesia to-gether? It will become orange, or Celosia Orange to be exact.

Now that you know the trendy colors of the season, try them out for yourself and have fun with them. If you need more inspiration on how to incorporate these hues into your wardrobe, check out the Pantone Fashion Report or your favorite fashion and beauty magazines. Happy spring and good luck.| FASHION20

Dazzling Blue // Dark, yet fresh for spring

Paloma // Neutral and

sophisticated for spring

C O R E

Le To MARKETING

PHOTO BY ABBY FRANKLIN

Our generation has come of age in a time where personal privacy is a rarity. We are the first

generation that has lived much of our lives online, and any of us would guess that — no matter what our privacy settings are — most of our Tweets and Facebook posts are readily available to anyone who is determined to see them. Thus, when former NSA Contractor Edward Snowden released thousands of documents showing that our government was systematically spying on its own citizens, we were probably the generation that was least surprised.

In a way, we’re used to it. The business model of many modern-day tech companies relies on selling our information to advertisers. Most of us have inadvertently allowed this by “agreeing” to some terms and conditions that we may not have read as carefully as we claimed to. This has led many to speculate that Millennials simply don’t care about privacy. When everyone’s daily actions are just a smartphone video away from going viral, does the concept of privacy even exist to us anymore?

The Edward Snowden scandal has brought to light an important generational divide on the privacy issue. Ask most Americans over the age of 40, and they will tell you that Snowden is a traitor to his country who deserves to go to jail. On the other hand, many Millennials view him as a hero, shining light on a disturbing, Big Brother-esque breach of trust by the NSA.

What accounts for this difference? Perhaps its because we view government differently, with many of us distrustful of the bloated, corrupt sys-tem that we see far too often. Growing up reading “Brave New World” and “1984” has left us wary of a government that needs to know everything about our lives. We may also think differently about the personal information we voluntarily share, and that which is taken from us without our knowledge or permission.

Whatever the reason, it’s refreshing to see our generation stand up for privacy rights. While we all may be guilty of over-sharing on social media, at the end of the day Millennials are just as con-cerned as other Americans about governmental overreach and individual rights. After all, what exactly does looking at our Snapchats have to do with national security?

ONLINEPRIVACY FOR MILLENIALSA LONGAWAITED LOVE STORY

Chris MenchSTRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS

OPINIONS | 21

41%

41 percent of millennials believe that NSA overstepped its bounds with the Snowden scandal

59%millennials believe that posts on social media shouldn’t have the same expectations of privacy as personal emails, purchase histories or phone audio

610/While only 50 percent of Gen X-ers lock their mobile devices, 63 percent of millennials do

50%63%

Millennials believe that their social security number is the single most valuable piece of personal information

Only of millennials feel that having their employers inspect their online activity is necessary

16%

16%

84%

ACCORDING TO INFOWORLD.COM

VIDEOGAME SYSTEMSDash JepsenPOLITICAL SCIENCE

PHOTOS BY SOPHIE PEARSON

Freshmen Larry Salvucci (right) and Justin Vieira (left) perfer to play games

on an Xbox system. Here they play FIFA in their dorm as a study break.

The newest generation of gam-ing consoles has brought in

record sales for Microsoft, Sony and Nintendo.  Now that all the pre-release hype has died down, how do the Xbox One, PlaySta-tion 4 and Nintendo Wii U stack up?  

The Wii U has already begun to rack up a substantial list of exclusive games.  “Super Mario 3D World” has received much praise, garnering multiple 10/10 reviews, while remakes such as “The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker HD” have brought back some of that old Nintendo charm. While not the most powerful machine on this list, the Wii U certainly shines with regard to its new gamepad controller. This tablet-controller hybrid opens up new screen space and allows the user to play games even when the TV is turned off.  While it hasn’t met projected sales fig-ures, a price of $299 means the Wii U certainly has a lock on the

family-friendly gaming market.  While Nintendo seems fine

with losing the hardcore gam-ers, Sony and Microsoft are still fighting for the title of top gaming machine.  Both Xbox One and PS4 boast eight gigabytes of RAM and nearly identical eight-core processors.  The PS4 edges out the Xbox for fastest graphics card, which results in slightly crisper renders. Neither system will be backwards compatible with past consoles, but will sup-port a subscription streaming service in the future.

The Xbox One, with a price tag of $599 is looking to become your all-in-one home entertain-ment platform.  With multiple streaming services and the promise of smart glass technol-ogy to come, Microsoft is clearly trying to change how consumers interact with their consoles.  The new Xbox Kinect is more re-sponsive and has been truly integrated into the system, with the camera identifying and sign-ing in users as they sit down on the couch.  The PS Move doesn’t come with the PS4, resulting in a lower cost of $499.  

Ultimately many buyers will choose based on console exclu-sives, with “Titanfall” and the “Halo” franchise draw-ing gamers to the Xbox One, and “Killzone 4” and “Infamous: Second Son” calling consumers to the PS4.  No matter which you choose, the future of gaming certainly seems bright with the newest generation of consoles.

While it hasn’t met projected

sales figures, a price of $299 means the Wii U certainly has a lock on the family-friendly gaming market.”

“

NEXT-GEN

| OPINIONS22

Alcohol has a bad rep when it comes to healthy (or rather, unhealthy) behaviors, espe-cially on a college campus. But lately, research has put red wine in the spotlight of the health world.

If you down a bottle of wine, you might not be feeling the benefits the next morning. How-ever, like many other indulgences, moderation is key. In moderation, wine can:

• Reduce the risk of depression• Slow growth of breast cancer cells• Lower mortality from cardiovascular

disease• Increase blood flow• Improve level of HDL (“good” cholesterol)

and lower LDL (“bad” cholesterol)According to the U.S. Department of

Agriculture’s “Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2010,” “If alcohol is consumed, it should be consumed in moderation — up to one drink per day for women and two drinks per day for men.”

Anjelique KyriakosSTRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS

OPINIONS

GuILTY PLEASURES GONE HEALTHYSEX, WINE & TEARS all have one thing in common. No, it’s not what you think. We have all seen the endless lists of super foods and health tips, but now it’s time to rethink some things that have a bad rep when it comes to our health.

Want free therapy that can immediately reduce stress and keep your body healthy? All it takes is a good cry. As humans, we produce three types of tears. Basal tears keep our eyes lubricated at all times. Reflex tears are what you experience when cutting an onion. And then there are emotional tears. The good, the bad and the ugly cries all fall under this one.

Not only are tears an emotional rejuvena-tion, but doctors now say tears have other health benefits too.

• Tears contain lysozyme, an enzyme that kills bacteria and helps your immune system

• Crying helps us deal with emotion and have psychological benefits to lift your mood

• Crying helps reduce stress and remove toxins from our bodies

When we’re stressed, chemicals such as the endorphins leucine-enkaphalin and pro-lactin build up in our bodies. Emotional tears contain more toxic byproducts than any other tears and help flush out those toxins, acting as a natural therapy. On the contrary, fighting back tears can increase stress levels. This con-tributes to other health problems associated with stress, such as high blood pressure.

Whether it’s a tear-jerking episode of Grey’s Anatomy or in the shower after a long day, next time you’re on the verge of tears and fighting the quivering lip, just let go and cry.

HEALTH & WELLNESS | 23

Lately, research has put red

wine in the spotlight of the health world.”

“

Since our elementary days, we’ve been told to keep our hands to ourselves. It’s one of the first lessons we learn, but it may be one in need of modification. A high-five, a hug, or even someone playing with your hair can be beneficial to your health.

Massages are the go-to for tension and stress release, and for a good reason. A mas-sage relaxes muscles, slows the heart rate, reduces blood pressure and causes cortisol — also known as the “stress hormone” — to drop. High levels of cortisol in the bloodstream can lead to negative effects such as impaired cognitive performance, increased abdominal fat and lowered immunity.

By lowering the level of this stress hor-mone, you can help your immune system and your overall health. But it’s not only massages that produce this response. Stimulating touch receptors in anyway can lower blood pressure and cortisol levels. So cuddle up with your dog, hug a friend or spend some extra physical time with your partner to reap the benefits.

However, it’s not just sexual encounters that have such health benefits. Studies show any physical touch can lower blood pressure, reduce stress and promote overall health.

Touch

crying wine

3 THINGS THAT ARE SURPRISINGLY GOOD FOR YOU

PHOTO BY KATIE KLOCHANY

Several misconceptions surround juice cleanses. If they are not done the right

way, the outcome can be disas-trous. But if they are executed properly, they can make a world of difference for your body.

Many people think doing a juice cleanse is the quickest and easiest way to lose weight and get healthy, but it’s not that simple. Juice cleanses take disci-pline and commitment. Depend-ing on the state of your health, it may take longer than a few days or a week to really clean out your system. And it may take a few days of sickness before you start to feel good. Headaches, throw-ing up and diarrhea are normal. It’s a sign your body is ridding itself of built-up toxins.

Keep in mind that going on a juice cleanse is a drastic change to your body’s nutrient intake and digestive system. It will tam-per with your metabolism and even slow it down. When doing a juice cleanse, it’s incredibly important to gradually ease back into eating solid foods.

A good model to follow is to do a cleanse in three stages. If you were doing a three-week cleanse, for the first week, drink only cold-pressed juice. For the second week, ease back into solid foods by adding in raw vegetables. And for the last week, add in lightly steamed veggies, fruits and nuts. Most importantly, when finished with your cleanse eat as clean as possible. Jumping back into old habits too fast will wreak havoc on your system and

can lead to sickness and weight gain.

When doing a cleanse, con-sume high-alkaline foods and drink a large amount of water. Juices should be made from mostly green vegetables includ-ing kale, spinach, cucumber and celery. Warm water with lemon is good to drink in the morning to begin flushing out your system. You can also drink herbal tea. Fruits should not be included in the cleanse. The high sugar con-tent will counteract the cleansing properties of the alkaline veg-etables. The only fruits that are encouraged during a cleanse are lemon, lime and avocado.

Cleanses are difficult but do-able and rewarding if done cor-rectly. The key is to stay focused, committed and to resist the urge to cheat. If a juice cleanse is done properly, it can literally scrub your insides clean from years of damage.

Juice CleanseSky Cowans BROADCAST JOURNALISM

(the right way)

| HEALTH & WELLNESS24

Cleanses are difficult but

doable and rewarding if done correctly. The key is to stay focused, committed and to resist the urge to cheat.”

“

PHOTO BY ABBY FRANKLIN

How To Do A

You glance down at your empty mug and look longingly towards the coffee machine across the room. One cup more won’t hurt, right? You won’t sleep tonight, but who cares? You will make up for the lost snooze hours tomorrow night, and you can even take a quick nap between classes later. It’s really not a big deal.

We can all recognize the above scenario, whether you find yourself

drinking large amounts of coffee and los-ing sleep or whether you’re dealing with something entirely different.

Whatever your impulse may be, these problems all fall under what society has deemed “bad habits.” Studies over the years continue to show that bad habits are detrimental to our health and can shorten a person’s lifespan.

Well, that’s just a downer. Who would choose to live a shorter life?

The good news is that there are ways to take that horrid, frowned-upon habit of yours and move it up a few notches on its approval rating. Chatting with friends about your latest coffee binges or reoc-curring sleep deprivation will feel like shooting the breeze because you, my friend, can change the negative stereotype of your bad habits.

Take coffee, for example, which has won the hearts of many college students. The dangers of caffeine have been instilled into people’s minds since early childhood. Stud-ies label caffeine as a common cul-prit of stunted growth, high blood pressure, indigestion, insomnia, headaches and early death. Thanks to the overwhelmingly large number of scientific studies shov-ing these facts down our throats, it’s clear there are many negative effects from caffeine abuse. So how can one’s love for coffee make the change from being labeled as a bad habit to a not-so-bad habit?

For starters, maybe drinking your daily dose of coffee isn’t as bad as people make it out to be. A study published in “Archives of Internal Medicine” states that women who drink two or three cups of coffee per day actually have a 15 percent lower risk of depression. New research suggests the rich antioxidants found in cof-

fee can help fight cancer. There are simple ways to im-

prove a bad coffee habit and shrink the dilemma surrounding the con-sumption of copious amounts of caffeine. Decaffeinated coffee was invented for a reason, and it allows coffee-addicted folks to still get that rich taste of a freshly brewed cup without the harmful effects of caffeine. If you drink coffee for the energy burst that follows, you can help combat the caffeine effects by simply lessening your intake. Someone who is used to drinking three cups of coffee per day can start by reducing their caffeine load to two cups per day.

It takes 21 days to form a habit, so if you stay strong and stick to a plan where you drink one less cup a day for 21 days, you will have successfully created a better habit that still lets you indulge in your favorite coffee drink.

No matter what your bad habit may be, the trick to transforming a bad habit is remembering that change is going to take commitment. You don’t have to completely rid yourself of whatever it is that has you hooked. You just have to lessen the negative impact it has on your life.

It’s all about compromise and motiva-tion. Twenty-one days may seem like a long time to stick with something, but the small changes you make in your behavior will transform your terrible habits into milder habits and ultimately improve your overall well-being.

Leah ChannasMEDIA ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

HEALTH & WELLNESS | 25

kicking the stigma to the curbbad habits:

New research suggests the rich

antioxidants found in coffee can help fight cancer.”

“

PHOTO BY KATIE KLOCHNAY

...my spring break went horribly wrongJane OstrauCREATIVE WRITING

Considering the snow and brutal cold we’ve been forced to deal with recently, it is certainly hard to believe that Spring Break is just around the corner. However, being a second semester senior, I must admit it has definitely been on my mind. To better prepare yourself for Spring Break, feast your eyes on some of these hilarious embarrassing stories from fellow students. Let’s hope none of these horrific fails happen to you.

Poop DeckOne Elon spring breaker, who wishes to

remain anonymous, experienced a true night-mare when she caught a case of salmonella on a cruise ship with her family. Unable to resist the early morning breakfast buffets, this Phoenix munched on an unfortunate batch of eggs. After getting sick, the only part of the cruise ship she saw was the inside of her bathroom.

Don’t Look, Grandpa!Another fellow spring breaker, who for the

sake of his girlfriend also wishes to remain anonymous (what a gentleman!), tells a tale of terror from a recent spring break trip. After gaining the courage to invite his girlfriend on a family vacation to meet the entire extended family for the first time, this Elon student suf-fered secondhand embarrassment during a

family bodysurfing adventure. As his girlfriend was riding to shore, he quickly noticed her bi-kini top had come undone. Unfortunately, his grandfather seemed to notice before he did.

Animal Behavior This Spring Break gone wrong story

belongs to one of my closest friends: Maya Ginga, an Elon senior. One year on spring break, we went to the Caribbean with a large group of friends, one of whom was my friend’s biggest crush. There was a place near our resort where we could swim with dolphins. Maya’s crush instantly expressed interest, which led her to explain that she had swam with dolphins multiple times before, hoping to get a personal invite from the crush. Eventually, the two had a romantic day at the dolphin cove, but Maya was stuck with a stubborn dolphin. As soon as it was Maya’s turn to ride on the dolphin’s back, her dolphin would just stay beneath the water, making it impossible for her to ever get a successful ride, while her crush had a blast on the back of his dolphin.

Set Fire to the BarOn a Spring Break trip in Aruba, an anony-

mous student and her friends decided to go crazy their last night by ordering a round of flaming shots. As the tragic spring breaker

was taking her shot, something went wrong and the entire wooden bar lit on fire. The group ran out laughing at full speed, never knowing the fate of the bar.

Burned!On a spring break trip with her family, Se-

nior Amelia Garland had one too many drinks one night at the hotel bar. The next day, not feeling too great, she passed out for hours on the beach with her parents. Forgetting to put on enough sunscreen, Amelia completely fried. Her family called her a lobster for the remainder of the trip.

Not So StealthOn a past spring break, Senior Sarah

Zampolin decided it would be funny to bor-row a bike she found near the beach. As she was riding away laughing, she noticed she had company — the resort’s security started sprinting after her, because it turned out Sarah had stolen the medic’s bike. Sarah was able to hop off the bike and hide from the for-eign guards chasing and yelling at her. Even-tually, she began army crawling past all of her friends who happened to be hanging out on the balcony, with a perfect view of Sarah. To this day she has not lived this down, remind-ed that the laughs over stealing the bike were definitely not worth her humiliation!

| TRAVEL26

TRUE LIFE

PHOTOS SUBMITTED

WHEN I THINK of study abroad, I think of the people, the food and the culture. With traveling comes all kinds of new experiences and new per-spectives. When I travel, I want to be able to remember every moment, and the best way I have found to remember all these experiences is through photography.

Capturing these moments through photos can be more powerful than anything else. Photography is something that can be done anytime, anyplace and with anyone. It’s a universal way of sharing stories and memories through pictures.

While I was abroad in Costa Rica last spring, I got to experience some of the most incredible nature that I’ve ever seen in my entire life. One thing that I was most excited about was seeing the red eyed tree frogs. They have been one of my favorite animals since I was a little kid and so getting the chance to see them and photograph them was absolutely incred-ible. I used my Canon 60D to take these photos, but remember, if you don’t have a fancy DSLR camera, iPhones can also take great pictures if you use them right. Here are some tips to keep in mind when taking photographs.

Written & Photographed bySophia SpachHUMAN SERVICE STUDIES

For close up photos, always check to see if

your camera has a macro setting, and get as close to your subject as possible. It will help create a photo with the highest resolution possible.

Be aware of the lighting around you. It

can play a huge role in how a photo turns out. In many cases, natural light can be better than using artificial lighting.

Use the rule of thirds by playing around with the

positioning of the subject. Focus doesn’t always have to be in the center of the photo.

Be aware of what is in the

background of the photo – keep it simple!

Practice, practice, practice! The more photos you take, the more you’ll learn, so

don’t be afraid to try anything and everything. As photographer Mark Kumar says, “A photograph is a click away. A good photograph is a hundred clicks away and a better one, a thousand clicks away.”

Get creative! Think of a new angle that

you may not generally see something from.

TRAVEL | 27

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