Turek returns to Elon to speak on the existence of God and truth

By Sarah Beth Costello

For centuries, many have questioned the existence of God, the existence of truth and its correlation with morality. Apologist Frank Turek presented an argument, “I Don’t Have Enough Faith to be an Atheist,” in April 2009 and returned Thursday night to speak again.

Turek is the co-author of “I Don’t Have Enough Faith to be an Atheist” and founder of www.crossExamined.org. He has debated this topic with well-known atheists and believes in the existence of God and truth.

The event was co-sponsored by Intervarsity, Campus Outreach, Fellowship of Christian Athletes and Baptist Student Union. Turek will return Monday for the second part of his presentation, which will focus on the possibility of miracles and the relevance of the New Testament.

“Truth is what corresponds to reality,” said Turek at the start of his presentation. “In today’s culture our first duty is to state the obvious. People are denying the obvious, they’re denying there’s truth out there.”

Turek explained the law of non-contradiction, which states that two contradictory ideas cannot both be true. Turek argued that all truth is absolute truth and “applies to all persons, at all times, in all places.” He provided six examples of statements people use to discount truth: “There is no truth, you can’t know truth, truth is relative, it’s true for you but not for me, no one has the truth and you ought not judge.” If any of these statements are true then the Bible cannot be true, argued Turek.

“If you apply the claims to themselves,” said Turek, “you can see why they’re self-defeating, and when it’s logically self-defeating it can’t be true.”

Turek also explained the three major worldviews, which are theism, pantheism and atheism. Though many regard the term “religious” as being a follower or practitioner of a religion, Turek argued,”if you define religion as someone’s explanation for ultimate reality – how we got here and where we’re going – everybody is religious to some extent.”

Turek’s argument was met with some debate and conflicting opinions.

“I like that (Turek’s) trying to rationally justify (his beliefs). I think that discussion needs to be had,” said Michael Kleinmann, president of SANE who said he respected Turek even though he did not believe Turek is correct.

“The university is an institution where the free exchange of ideas are shared,” said campus outreach chaplain Michael Lopes. “It’s important in our setting to have representation of different views.

Turek will speak again Thursday in Whitley Auditorium at 7:30 p.m.

Amazon Kindles slowly replace traditional literature

By Sarah Costello

Oct. 25, 2009

Amazon Kindles can hold several books at a time and range between $300 and $600. Image courtesy of Tevami.

Dime novels, pocket-sized dictionaries and heavy textbooks are items of the past. Now students and book lovers can travel anywhere with an assortment of literature and reading materials housed on a single device known as The Amazon Kindle.

Kindles enable consumers to download books and choose from their personal collections without visiting the library or bookstore.  The product was released in 2007 as an alternative to e-books and other digital formats.

Rather than downloading digital books onto a laptop, consumers now have the option to purchase Kindles, which are slightly larger than iPod touches and have the memory to store dozens of books. It is a form of “electronic paper” specifically design to mimic the look of ink on paper by reflecting light rather than backlighting its pixels.

“I saw someone using a [Kindle] last year and I did a little research on them,” said sophomore Rebecca Berube who spent about $300 on her Kindle. “It seems like a steep cost, but books are a lot cheaper (to purchase) for a Kindle.”

Kindles come with different levels of memory and capabilities and can cost between $300 and $600 depending on the model. While consumers still pay to purchase books, the costs are generally lower for Kindles, usually topping off at $15.

“A lot of the classes I’m taking use non-traditional textbooks,” said Berube. “A biology book, for instance, would not work for Kindles, but for just text it’s workable in a digital format.”  

Kindles also allow students to highlight and make notes, combining all notes in a single folder. Users can access www.amazon.com for free via their Kindles to purchase books.  

Kindles provide instantaneous enjoyment when on the go, holding dozens of books, literature, articles, etc. for easy enjoyment. Image courtesy of Slash Gear.

“I like to bounce between books,” said junior Joel Slocum who received a Kindle from his grandmother. “(Kindles) are definitely worth it if you do a lot of reading, especially if you read a lot of paperbacks.”

In addition to the Kindle, other e-paper platforms include Barnes & Noble Nook, the Sony Reader, the iRex iLiad and the Jinke Hanlin e-Reader.

While a wide variety of literature, fiction and non-fiction books can be downloaded directly to Kindles and other e-paper platforms, there are still few textbooks available. Many book publishers are hesitant to provide cheaper versions to Kindle users. 

Students can still save money by downloading e-books to their computers, a format that not only eliminates extra costs to consumers, but also enables publishes to produce books at a lower cost.

“With e-books, anybody can publish,” said junior Drew Smith who has the free Kindle application for his iPod touch. “It’s another voice for people and it’s cost effective.”

Smith explained that Kindles are “half-way” devices that cut costs and allow consumers to keep all their books together on a piece of a technology half the size of a sheet of paper. As more publishers begin to transition to digital formats, many question the future of tangible books, libraries and bookstores.

“I think almost all literature will [eventually] be offered online,” said Smith. “But I think the option for print will still be there.”

As with all new initiatives, Kindles do have some negative aspects.

“Because you can change the font size on Kindles, it changes the words on each page and the page numbers change. There’s no correspondence between the paper and the digital,” said Berube who explained this is a problem when professors require a certain amount of reading for each class.

For people accustomed to reading actual books, adapting to a digital format may be different. But students advocate transitioning to Kindles is not as difficult as it may seem.

“It’s the same quality as books,” said Smith. “Maybe photos will be lacking, but it’s just text on a background. I’m over hard copies.”

N.C. teen pregnancy rates total lowest numbers in 30 years

Pregnancy centers, schools and various organizations have attempted to combat unplanned teenage pregnancies for years, and while numbers have decreased, the levels are still too high.

In 2008, 59 out of every 1,000 North CArolina teenage girls between 15 and 19 became pregnant out of wedlock.

A recent press release issued by the Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention reported a decrease in pregnancy rates for teenage girls ages 15-19 — a 30-year low for the state. New data shows there were 217 fewer pregnancies among North Carolina teenage girls in 2008 than in 2007.

Many have different speculations for the drop in numbers.

“I think that age group (15-19) has been around people who have had babies out of wedlock and realized that’s a big responsibility,” said Mimi Every, executive director of Pregnancy Support Services in Durham, N.C. “Single parenting is difficult, especially when you’re young.”

There are dozens of pregnancy centers 0in North Carolina that provide services to teen girls in various predicaments, answering questions, providing testing and guiding them through their pregnancies. Pregnancy Support Services provide help to young teen girls who are pregnant or think they are pregnant. The organization offers free STD testing and pregnancy tests for young women, and also lends support for pregnant mothers throughout their pregnancies.

Many counties across the state have also taken initiatives to decrease teen pregnancy rates. Chatham County established Plain Talk, a program designed to instruct adults on encouraging teenagers in both health and responsibility. Chatham County has experienced a 26.3 percent drop in the teen pregnancy rate.

According to the APP press release, teen pregnancies in North Carolina have continued to decrease since 1991 after a spike in the late 1980s. The controversial practice of abortions has also decreased in North Carolina.

“I think people are becoming more aware that having an abortion is taking a life,” Every said. “There’s a lot more information out there about abortions and the potential risks.”

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services compiled data showing 58.6 of every 1,000 teen girls became pregnant in 2008. Though pregnancy rates have shown an overall decrease in the U.S., the National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancies advocates that the levels are still too high.

“North Carolina has been smart to leverage investments from the General Assembly and the Centers for Disease Control to bring proven pregnancy prevention strategies to North Carolina,” said Kay Phillips, executive director of Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention Campaign of North Carolina, in the press release. “This new data shows that we are headed in the right direction, and that we must keep pressing forward so that more communities can benefit from these tools.”

The existence of an absolute God in the midst of absolute suffering

By Sarah Beth Costello
Oct. 9, 2009

This article was featured as a guest column in the Burlington Times-News

Every five seconds, a child dies from lack of nourishment. More than one billion of the world’s population are starving, according to Bread for the World. The World Bank estimates 500 million of the world’s population live in “absolute poverty.” Human brutality has ended millions of lives from the Rwandan and Sudanese genocides to Hitler’s mass extermination of Jews prior to and during World War II.

Human suffering has prompted scholars, educators and philosophers to explore the age-old question “where is God?” When chaos and calamity occur, the natural inclination is to demand answers for the unprecedented events. For some, suffering is the dominant roadblock preventing them from accepting God.

Bart D. Ehrman is such a man. The professor and department chair of religious studies at the University of North Carolina is a self-proclaimed

Dr. Bart Ehrman

agnostic who vacated his Christian principles after arriving at the conclusion that the existence of suffering discredits the existence of God.

On Oct. 7, Ehrman and Christian apologist and renowned author Dinesh D’Souza engaged in a debate at UNC to address “God and the problem of suffering.” Erhman used emotionally based arguments, such as his background and personal experiences, while D’Souza took a more logic-based approach.

Ehrman and D’Souza agreed that there are two types of suffering: moral evil and natural suffering. Moral evil relates to human inflicted suffering and natural suffering includes uncontrollable catastrophes. Ehrman’s study of the Bible led to his agnosticism because he said while God continually intervened in scriptures, his hand is not evident today.

“I became increasingly disturbed about why God doesn’t do anything [today],” said Ehrman. “If God answers prayer, why doesn’t he?”

Ehrman argued that global suffering –mass genocides, war, disease and poverty– are indicators of a God-free world.

“I gave up my faith,” said Ehrman “Why would God create a world like this? Couldn’t he have created a world that didn’t require [suffering] and the shifting of tectonic plates?”

Yes, God could have created a perfect world, but he chose to create beings with an ability to make their own decisions and follow his commandments voluntarily. C.S. Lewis explained in “Mere Christianity” that God did not create evil, rather evil is a perversion of what is good. Evil and suffering is the result of man’s disobedience.

“Suffering,” said D’Souza, “does not call into question the existence of God, but the nature of God.”

Dinesh D'Souza

If a father disappoints his child, said D’Souza, the child will not say, “I refuse to believe in you.” Instead, the child may question his father’s character, but to immediately discredit his existence would be idiotic and illogical.

“God’s design was not that He would be a cosmic bell-hop, but to create autonomous beings to deal with situations as we should,” said D’Souza.

According to Ehrman’s argument, God can’t exist because suffering is prevalent. So how can we account for the good: a newborn baby, a sunrise, the unexplained healing of a cancer patient? Is it just chance, or is the good that people do just second nature? If God must be good to exist, how can there be any good without him? If our nature is to commit moral evil, our nature cannot be good.

It may seem easier to live life without surrendering to a God who requires sacrifice. Somewhere along the way Ehrman decided life is too hard to commit to an unseen God. But his alternative is a depressing one. Ehrman believes all we have is now. His philosophy is “eat, drink and be merry for tomorrow we die,” and by the way, try and stop world poverty while indulging yourself in lovemaking and beer.

D’Souza said humans are like ants on a construction site with a tiny window into reality. What kind of ant questions the actions of a builder who can see the whole picture? We may never understand suffering in its full context. But I’d rather follow a God of mystery than live an empty and hopeless life without Him.

Health insurance premiums sky rocket for North Carolina families

By Sarah Costello

Oct. 5, 2009

Healthcare has been a popular issue in the news since President Barack Obama’s campaign promises for reform. According to a White House Report, health insurance premiums have skyrocketed during the past 10 months in North Carolina due to the economic recession. Though premiums have been increasing since 2000, the recent jump in costs has hurt many businesses, employers and private citizens.

North Carolina families experienced dramatic health insurance premium increases during 2009 when the average annual family premium for health insurance sponsored by employers unexpectedly rose to $13,375 – a 5.5 percent increase attributed to the recent recession.

“The status quo of rising premiums is simply unsustainable for families, for businesses, for state budgets and for our national economy,” said Vice President Joe Biden in a Sept. 22 White House press release.

According to Families USA, the voice for health care consumers, health insurance premiums have been rising steadily since 2000, while N.C. wages have barely increased. Since 2000, health insurance premiums in the U.S. increased 96.8 percent while wages have only risen 18.4 percent, according to Families USA.

With thousands unemployed and little change in wage growth, employers and business owners must find methods of cutting costs by offering fewer benefits, disqualifying employees from coverage and omitting coverage of spouses and children. As a result, North Carolina families are paying higher premiums and receiving less for their money.

“Rising health care costs threaten the financial well-being of families in North Carolina and across the nation,” said Ron Pollack, executive director of Families USA in an Aug. 18 press release. “If health care reform does not happen soon, more and more families will be priced out of the health coverage they used to take for granted.”

Another underlying issue is the number of firms that continue to offer health insurance to clients. Families USA reports six percent of U.S. firms offering health insurance ceased to provide health insurance between 2000 and 2008. There is also an added risk that more families will be forced to file for bankruptcy as a result of medical debts. Medical bills contribute to half of U.S. bankruptcies, reports Families USA.

Biden met with State Insurance Commissioners on Sept. 22 to compile a new White House report about the health insurance premium increases for North Carolina residents. The document can be accessed at www.whitehouse.gov.

“The State Insurance Commissioners understand firsthand the health care crisis, and are fighting everyday to combat it and reduce unjustified premium increase,” said Biden in the press release. “But these numbers are just one more piece of evidence that we need for nationwide reform.”

The Obama Plan and healthcare coverage of illegal immigrants

By Sarah Costello

Sept. 20, 2009

The White House has taken a firmer stance on health care coverage of illegal immigrants following Congressman Joe Wilson’s objection of “you lie!” during a joint session of Congress Sept. 9. after President Barack Obama stated the proposed health care bill would not cover illegal immigrants.

While Wilson’s comments elicited controversy and debate between both sides of the political aisle, his statement encouraged excessive media coverage and renewed study of the bill by Democrats and Republicans alike.

Hours after Obama’s speech, “The Obama Plan” was posted on www.whitehouse.gov, explaining what the proposed bill will cover, whom it will cover and how it will cover Americans.

The current debacle concerning the bill revolves around the only available public bill, H.R. 3200, which did not offer a definite explanation of illegal immigrants and health insurance coverage.

The Obama administration claims the president was referring to his proposal during his prime time speech and not H.R. 3200, but the renewed legislation has not been sent to Capitol Hill, adding to controversy and confusion.

Democrats have directed opposing factors to the current legislation that they claim will not allow illegal immigrants to access federal subsidies that low-income American citizens will qualify for, which would enable them to purchase health insurance.

On Sept. 11, White House press secretary Robert Gibbs presented stricter policies regarding health care coverage for illegal immigrants.

“Illegal immigrants would not be allowed to access the exchange that is set up,” said Gibbs.

Under the current health care system, illegal immigrants can purchase private insurance but are not allowed to access government-funded care. Under the new bill, illegal immigrants will not be given the option to purchase private insurance, a move that has many left-winged democrats and Latino coalitions in an uproar.

Image courtesy of Stop the North American Union

In fact, thousands of Latinos and blacks gathered on Sept. 9 in San Antonio to push for government-run health care. The League of United Latin American Citizens, the largest Latino civil rights organization in the U.S., met to support Obama and his proposed public option.

Many Republicans argue that illegal immigrants should not have health care coverage due to violation of set laws that forbid immigrants from entering the U.S. without proper documentation. Others are not as stringent and argue illegal immigrants are entitled to health care if given amnesty.

“If amnesty is approved through the amnesty bill then people who are current illegal [immigrants] will be legal and will be covered by the bill,” said George Padgett, a professor of media law and ethics at Elon University. “Personally, I stand on the side of being understanding and concerned about my fellow human beings regardless of who they are.”

Others view the health care coverage a matter of principle and argue that people who are living in the U.S. illegally are not entitled to health care and should not be given the benefits paid for by the government or taxes.

“I think Congress has a duty to uphold the laws of this country, which clearly prohibit illegal immigration,” said junior Nicholas Ochsner, the executive director of College Republicans. “We’re going to see an even bigger drain on the health care system if we extend health coverage to illegal immigrants.”

Shattering sterotypes in chess, a competitive game for men and women

By Sarah Beth Costello

Image courtesy of The Boston Globe.

Brows glisten and fingers twitch during the final stages of a long battle between two passionate competitors. Tension is evident as the board quickly becomes vacant of pieces. Eyes widen and collected breaths are released with the subtle tap of a fallen king. Checkmate.

Intense competition between Elon chess players can be expected every week at Chess Club meetings, when players of all ages, backgrounds and levels of ability challenge and learn from one another.

“Our club is kind of unique because we have total community involvement,” said Aaron Peeks, associate professor of sociology and the adviser of the Elon Chess Club.

Students, faculty, staff and even children attend the Tuesday evening meetings for instruction, as well as friendly competition.

“Chess is about puzzles,” Peeks said. “If you love puzzles, you’ll love chess.”

Peeks has played chess since high school and temporarily sacrificed his undergraduate studies to compete in national tournaments his freshman year. He said he loves the beauty of the game and the ability to relate chess to life.

“Chess keeps my brain sharp,” Peeks said. “Chess provided me with a level of self-control. It’s made me a better planner.”

One of Peeks’s goals as the faculty adviser is to shatter existing stereotypes that often accompany chess.

“Chess is (often) seen as a nerdy game for geeks,” he said.

He advocates that chess is not solely for individuals with high IQs, impressive GPAs or a collection of pocket pens.

Peeks also wants to interest more women in the game. With female representation at less than 10 percent in national tournaments, Peeks said he believes it is important to encourage women to play a game often perceived as explicitly masculine.

“There’s a more feminine side to chess,” Peeks said. “There’s artistic beauty and motion, but a lot of females think they can’t grasp it.”

Jennifer Shahade, a two-time American Women Chess Champion and the author of “Chess Bitch: Women in the Ultimate Intellectual Sport” is attempting to combat misconceptions by empowering women and girls through the art of chess.

Jennifer Shahade is the author of several books and a chess tournament champion. Image courtesy of Princeton Public Library

Shahade is the co-founder of 9 Queens, a nonprofit organization in Tuscon, Ariz., which provides chess instruction to girls and youth in the inner city.

“It’s important to teach chess to girls and women because chess improves confidence and rewards healthy aggression,” Shahade said. “For cultural reasons, these are areas in which women often don’t feel as comfortable as men. Chess is a medium where boys and girls can compete on an equal playing field.”

Peeks, a self-proclaimed feminist, said he believes women should have equal opportunity to participate in chess and would like to interest more women in the game.

Peeks hopes to attract more male and female students by spreading the word through public tournaments and a “Beat the Professor Challenge” Sept. 22 at College Coffee. Students who can beat Peeks will receive a $10 gift certificate.

“Come to chess club,” Peeks said. “It’s uncanny how chess can improve academic skills. Research shows kids who play chess have higher GPAs.”

President Barack Obama: the proficient excuser

By Sarah Beth Costello

President Barack Obama is a manipulator, skilled in the art of beguiling vast audiences with his debonair and charm,

President Barack Obama greets crowds in Berlin on July 24 during a speech on German partneship and America's need to strengthen relations. Image courtesy of Getty Images.

while discounting opposition by producing excuses.

When concerned citizens question his motives and the remaining trustworthy media outlets debunk his initiatives, the Obama administration rarely offers counter-arguments. Instead, they blame antagonists for hindering growth or obstructing plans for a better America. Their surest and most popular ploy: accusing opposition of racism or extremism.

Racial issues have received excessive media attention in the past eight months. With senate apologies for decades of slavery, a Supreme Court justice with a history of exhibiting racial preferences, an Ivy-league professor accusing police of discrimination and a president who continues to pull out the race card, it is no wonder racism in not altogether eradicated. Society cannot let it go.

Obama’s presidency has fueled a fire that refuses to die. While pockets of radicals exist, extremism is not an epidemic. We have made great leaps in overcoming prejudices and should acknowledge success rather than continually discuss the few factious franchises.

The Obama administration recently claimed that “right-winged extremists” were organizing in angry mobs in attempts to ensure Obama’s failure. These are the same protesters Nancy Pelosi claimed were carrying swastikas to town hall meetings and Sen. Harry Reid accused of “sabotaging” health care reform.

Obama, the poster boy for the mantra of “yes we can” made history as the first African American president, but eight full months into his presidency, this is his only noteworthy accomplishment.

Since his inauguration, unemployment has risen to a devastating 16 percent, according to Atlanta Federal Reserve Chief Dennis Lockhart, who included those who are no longer looking for work, a figure removed from Obama’s figures. His administration also predicts budget deficits will rise to $9 trillion during the next decade.

The past month was the deadliest for U.S. troops in the eight-year War on Terror. The president passed a nearly $800 billion stimulus package that is reaping few benefits and attempting to push a life-changing, widely unread, healthcare bill through the Senate.

There is a clear double standard of tolerance. Though many demanded his impeachment and assassination, Bush did not waste effort regaining popularity. Unlike Obama, Bush realized a good leader would never please everyone.

The media rarely question the actions of the president, refraining from probing and second-guessing the largest power entity in the U.S.

Image courtesy of Soda Head.

Media bias was evident during the election, when the majority of mainstream media did not investigate Obama’s questionable relationships with the radical Rev. Jeremiah Wright and William Ayer. Other examples include support from major networks (CNN and ABC News) of Obama’s nomination for Justice Sonia Sotomayor, his quick push towards health care reform and his massive spending sprees.

Obama’s race is a minute detail that does not deserve the attention it has received. The problems afflicting America are much bigger than the president admits, but he must eventually come to terms with the fact that the majority of Americans could care less about his race.

Obama’s obvious attempts to quell an existing crowd of discontent with accusatory and threatening condemnation have not gained him any brownie points. Americans are watching, and many are not thrilled with his disregard for legitimate concerns. Stooping for good excuses is not getting Obama anywhere. If he wants to regain public satisfaction he must provide sound defenses and terminate a vocabulary riddled with excuses.

Summer travel in North Carolina

By Sarah Beth Costello

August 26, 2009

Image courtesy of pilot-mountain.com

PILOT MOUNTAIN
Pinnacle, N.C.
Estimated driving time:
1 hour, 20 minutes

Only an hour’s distance from campus, Pilot Mountain provides an excellent source of recreation and pleasure from horseback riding to hiking, rock climbing, fishing, rafting and canoeing on the Yadkin River.

There has been a settlement along Tom’s Creek, near the Pilot Mountain, for well over 200 years. Records dating back to 1761 document the existence of early settlers. The hamlet was called Hollows, Hog Wallow, Tom’s Creek and Pilotville, before the name Pilot Mountain was adopted.

A dramatic remnant of prehistoric North America, the Pilot Mountain has been used for centuries as a landmark for Native Americans, explorers, settlers, and travelers.  Native Americans called the mountain Jomeokee, which means “Great Guide” or “Pilot.”

Pilot Mountain comprises two pinnacles, rising 1,400 feet from the ground. Big Pinnacle and Little Pinnacle rise 200 feet above the base, entire rock faces. The park is open to visitors through August from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. There are also dozens of rock walls for visitors interested in repelling and rock climbing.

Visitors can also camp at one of the 49 different campsites in the Pilot Mountain area for $18 per night per campsite. Campers can reserve a campsite at www.nc.reserveworld.com.

“We’ve got several miles of hiking trails,” park ranger Keith Martin said. “We’ve got opportunities for nature study and photography, a lot of people like to come in spring and summer (for photography).”

BILTMORE ESTATE
Asheville, N.C.
Estimated driving time:
3 hours, 12 minutes

Located in the Blue Ridge Mountains, the Biltmore Estate is a beautiful location for touring, horseback riding, picnicking and much more.

Image courtesy of The Pendulum

The Biltmore Estate rests on 8,000 acres of land in Western North Carolina. It began as a self-sustaining ranch in 1895 and is still family-owned today.

At the time of building, Biltmore was one of the largest projects in America. In a six-year period, an entire community banded together to construct the mansion. The estate even had its own brick factory, woodworking shot and a three-mile railroad for transporting materials.

The mansion features 4 acres of floor space, 250 rooms, 34 bedrooms, 43 bathrooms, and 65 fireplaces. The basement alone houses a swimming pool, gymnasium and changing rooms, bowling alley, servants’ quarters, kitchens and more.

The Biltmore Estate boosts an award winning garden, an equestrian center, and accommodations for those in the romantic mood.

Visitors can attend the Red Wine & Chocolate Seminar at Winery, a daily event at 2 p.m., 3 p.m., 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. The River Bend Farm Guided Tour enables visitors to catch a small glimpse of farm life, including meeting a blacksmith, woodworking and even churning butter.

Ticket prices fluctuate from $10 to $150 per person depending on the tour. Visitors can choose from the $10 Audio Guide to the Biltmore House to the $17 Biltmore House Rooftop Tour and the $150 Premium Biltmore house Tour. The tour fees are in addition to the estate admission.

“I think it’s really neat how there’s so much history preserved there,” said junior Julie Brown, who visited the estate last year. “It feels like you’re back in time when you walk in the house. You see so much about how they lived back then.”

Image courtesy of yarlighthouse.com

OUTER BANKS OF NORTH CAROLINA
Estimated driving time:
4 hours, 28 minutes

The Outer Banks provides great variety for visitors for swimming, parasailing, walking and visiting the many museums and lighthouses. Bodie Island Lighthouse, Cape Hatteras Lighthouse, Currituck Beach Lighthouse, Ocracoke Lighthouse and The Roanoke Marshes Lighthouse are all sights to see on the stretch of the Outer Banks.

Visitors to the Outer Banks have a variety of beaches, locations and landmarks to choose from and visit. There are dozens of parks in the area, including Cape Hatteras National Seashore and Jockey’s Ridge.

The Outer Banks is also known for The Lost Colony outdoor theatre production at Waterside Theatre on Roanoke Island. The drama reenacts the story of some of the first colonists and the mystery of their disappearance. It runs at 8 p.m.from May 29 through Aug. 20. Adult ticket prices cost $18.

Historical sites are frequent throughout the banks, including a Civil War Trail, the Wright Brothers National Memorial and the Outer Banks History Center.

Visitors can camp or stay in a number of bed and breakfasts, hotels and rental homes.

THE NORTH CAROLINA ZOO
Asheboro, N.C.
Estimated driving time:
1 hour

The North Carolina Zoo takes visitors on a whirlwind tour from the dense forests of North America to the cool climate of Antarctica and the

Image courtesy of Destination 360.

grasslands of Africa.

Students can visit the North Carolina Zoo in Asheboro for free with a student identification card or $10 per adult.

The zoo spans 500 acres, divided into the different continents and exhibits exotic animals from gorillas to elephants to polar bears. The North Carolina Zoo has more than 1,100 different animals and 40,000 plants. Visitors can bring a picnic lunch or eat at one of the restaurants, including Wilderness Café, Junction Springs Café and Crocodile Café.

Hours of operation are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. from April 1 to Oct. 31. Plan on spending four to six hours walking through the vast park. Animal status boards provide feeding time information upon entering.

THE TOWN OF HILLSBOROUGH
Hillsborough, N.C.
Estimated driving time:
39 minutes

The Town of Hillsborough is a historic and popular tourist attraction for visitors. The town’s historical value has been preserved for centuries and continues to remain a step into the past.

Founded in 1753, the town was a hotspot during the Revolutionary War and the home of several 18th century governors.

Today, there are more than 100 original structures still standing from the 18th and 19th centuries.

In addition to Revolutionary War reenactments and guided tours of the historic district, Hillsborough is home to Occoneechee Mountain State Natural Area and several other trails. Work is beginning on a riverwalk.

Eno River flows near the town by Occoneechee Mountain. There are dozens of parks for hiking, picnicking and visiting. Depending on the time of year, Hillsborough hosts events and festivals.
Barbecue lovers descend on the town each June for the annual Hog Day.

From April through September between 6 p.m. and 9 p.m. on the last Friday of each month, the sidewalks of Hillsborough are lined with musicians, vendors, and local artists selling wares and entertaining the public.

The Automobile Car Show is the last Saturday in September from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the historic Occoneechee Speedway Trail.

Elon core curriculum for incoming freshman

By Sarah Beth Costello

August 26, 2009

First year students at Elon have many opportunities to enroll in classes that cover a broad range of topics. Freshmen typically spend the first year enrolled in four core classes, including the global experience, college writing, health and statistics.

The global experience introduces students to issues, cultures, systems and current events, challenging students to think and act globally. Health covers various topics from exercise to eating habits. College writing enables students to learn proper writing styles and formats, while statistics acts as a basic introductory math class.

Elon’s liberal arts education enables students to step outside their majors and take classes in which they may not ordinarily enroll.

The global experience is a favorite among many freshmen who appreciate the themes and topics covered in the diverse class.

“The global experience was the very first class I attended at Elon,” junior Megan Justice said. “When I walked into the classroom door on the first day of college, I had no idea that some of my classmates would become lifelong friends or that one course could have such a major impact on my life.”

Many students are appreciative of the opportunities to participate in extra-curricular activities, including Model United Nations and volunteer work.

“The Global Experience was both challenging and extremely rewarding,” Justice said. “I spent much of my first semester at Elon studying the world around me and learning how to be a citizen in a world that is becoming increasingly globalized.”

Much of the course content depends on the professor and the desires of students to learn more about different topics. The underlying goal is to encourage students to break out of the Elon bubble and become knowledgeable about issues, events, histories and situations in and out of the United States.

“I hear [students say] this is the best course they’ve ever taken,” said Jim Brown, associate professor of history and a global experience instructor. “It’s a really fundamental course that teaches you to think critically. There’s the skill part of it, learning how to think for yourself, and there’s the content.”

Health, statistics and college writing are also introductory classes that introduce new concepts and ideas to students fresh out of high school. Elon 101 is another class that contributes to relationship-building at Elon. Group activities and projects add to the early learning experience that is the first to many more classes down the road.

“I actually ended up liking Elon 101,” junior Brooke Toffolon said. “I thought it was going go be dumb, but it was a good chance to meet a small group of people and learn about things going on at Elon. I actually still talk to a few of the people from my Elon 101 class.”