Walking with a purpose December 15, 2009

“Robbie B., 3-3-96.”

The War Memorial Stadium was filled with coffee and doughnuts. Not to mention dogs of all sizes, breeds and colors. “Thriller” playing in the background, teams huddled and grooved to the beat to stay warm; trying to put the cold weather behind them. Balloons bobbled like lost souls in a sea of sweatshirts, scarves and murdered conversation.

Addison Ore entered the field, a single sheet of paper in hand. She then read the paper aloud.

The “somber honor” quieted the crowd like a peaceful calm over the sea. To this day, she will have read 80 names of her colleagues who fought a long battle. A battle they lost to HIV and AIDS.

Ore, the executive director of Triad Heath Project, stood on the field to raise awareness on what she describes as a “hideous epidemic” that affects around 1.1 million people, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

After the names were read, people in the stands yelled out names of their own. The air filled with lost loves, co-workers, and friends who lives ended too soon.

Ore wasn’t at the stadium to catch a “fly ball” after she shared her story.

Ore, along with the other thousands of people shivering in the stands were there to walk.

Dec. 6, 2009 marked the 18th Annual “Winter Walk for Aids.”

“Know your status,” Ore pleaded with crowd. “Get tested.”

“Keith F., 1–29–01.

David Rogerson is a sophomore at Elon University. Dec. 6 is the day of his first walk for HIV and AIDS.

His first walk ever, actually.

Rogerson was glad to make it his first. He felt inspired during the walk, since there’s not many ways to give back for this disease.

“I felt as though this is the least I could give back to them,” Rogerson said, “considering how healthy, fortunate, and blessed I am to still be in good health.”

He said the AIDS walk helped bring people together. It’s a disease that has no mercy on whom if will infect and tear from our lives, he added.

The thought of countless AIDS victims stayed on his mind when he became tired and restless, helping him to quickly “dismissed” the feeling of defeat.

“My feeling tired and pain is nothing in comparison to what the victims of HIV and AIDS and their families go through,” Rogerson said.

“Mom, 11-14-90.”

Ben Poole, a freshman at Elon, had done many walks before. He feels it’s more than just walking around a city. Walking for HIV and AIDS shows that you actually care and want to make a difference.

“I felt I was doing something positive and proactive,” Poole said.

Poole feels that you have to do more than just talk about the issues.  He sees the need in raising awareness physically and visually, rather than just mentally.

“I’m decked out now,” Poole said at the walk. “I got my balloon. I got my sign. I’m ready to go!”

“Seth, 09-09-91.”

Derricus Spear, also a freshman at Elon, was a first-time walker like Rogerson. He believes he grew from the experience through awareness and action. He also feels that the community helped shape his ability to come together for a greater good.

“All the different people and groups put their differences aside and were united as one group for one common goal,” he said.

Even though he enjoyed the walk, he was excited to see the end of the road and go back to school. The end of the walk meant no more walking.

“Just being real,” Spear said, “I was kind of relieved.”

Spear wasn’t expecting it to be so cold. It was an icy 35 degrees when the walk started.

“I didn’t catch the winter part,” he said, referring to the title of the walk. “But next time”, he said, “I will be prepared.

Mitchell H., 4-12-93.

So far, the donations from the walk total $26,164. They’re still counting. The giving is high. But some feel many didn’t receive how serious HIV and AIDS can be.

Rogerson felt that some people used the event for “gaining service hours,” rather than helping those affected by AIDS. Even though serving the community is important, he felt it’s important to put yourself in the shoes of the family members of those directly affected by this disease.

Ashley Jenkins, a graduate student at UNC-Chapel Hill, thinks college students don’t realize how serious the issue is. She feels they think AIDS is a thing of the past, mainly occurring in the 90s.

“I don’t think they truly understand that it’s not gone,” she said.

Many others agree. Some think AIDS is something that only crosses your mind when you see the flyers and commercials. Others think the issue only matters when it directly hits home. Either way, all agree that college students don’t see the full picture of HIV or AIDS. How many people it takes a year. The number of people shunned by their family. The mother who lost a son, or the brother who lost a sister.

There was no golden tape at the end of the walk for HIV and AIDS. There’s no finish line for those going through the disease as well. But, there is one last sign that gives us all hope:

“In honor of Rea-Lewis Thomas. Keep Fighting.”

Black Friday, Turkey, and Epiphanies November 30, 2009

It took 21 years for me to realize Christmas isn’t all about giving.

Each year I look forward to spending Thanksgiving with my family and friends. I love sharing stories over sweet potatoes, remembering drama over dressing, and laughing over turkey and ham. But more than all these things, I enjoy the rush of Black Friday.

Black Friday is nothing more than a test of strength and weaknesses. Waking up at 3 a.m. to stand in mile-long lines for impossible sales and deals. Butting heads with stressful parents and finding a parking spot seems like war strategy rather than a shopping spree.

As my family and I prepared for Black Friday you could tell store were trying to make up for low sales throughout the year. It seemed as if everything was on sale.  I marked the stores that had the best sales, and ranked them in order. “Will die if don’t purchase.” “Can wait until next paycheck.” “Just ask Santa.”

Friday morning, we hopped in the car and sped off toward our destinations. Arriving at Best Buy, we expected to see an endless line of cold, yet excited people. Instead we saw barely 100 people, none excited, but rather desperate to complete their holiday wish lists. So many people had tired looks on their faces and were complaining about the cold. When the doors opened, there was a little rush, but no fears of trampled workers like last year.

Wal-Mart, on the other hand, had exploded with people in the parking lot and the store by 5 a.m. Many were parents, carts full of toys, standing in lines the length of the store. I saw a man pick up a toy he didn’t even want and throw it in his cart anyway because it was only five bucks. I overheard one lady say how they couldn’t wait for Christmas to be over with. Many nodded and agreed, wishing the same fate on a holiday season that barely had begun.

It amazed me how the current economic drought had dried up some many people spirit of holiday shopping. Granted I was on a budget, but I still tried to make the best of what I had.

It seems now people are cutting back on happiness as well as their holiday budgets. People have voluntarily sacrificed their happiness for others for many years. Now, some aren’t as pleased about it because they have no choice. Giving their kids everything they want. Smiling on Christmas day, when deep down they’re wondering how they’re going to pay their bills.

This was something few people thought about.

Now you can’t go one day without the recession being thrown in your face.

This year my family cut back on our expenses. We had not other choice. We will try to focus on what we have; not what we won’t receive.

We won’t wake up to tons of presents suffocating our tree.

We won’t take elaborate vacations and go on shopping sprees.

This year, we will enjoy each other’s company and remember that we’re fortunate enough to have a home, food, and family who really care.

 

Weather sends Elon students inside November 20, 2009

Thursday’s weather didn’t hinder Elon students to go outside but rather pushed them in a different direction. Belk Library.

Umbrellas were clinging to the floor and bikes to the racks outside as students were studying inside Belk to stay dry. With the cold rain and mild winds, students find the library a place to hang out between classes instead of making the trek to and from their dorms.

The three-story building with 21 study rooms and 12 reading lounges offers a “safe haven” from the wet weather while giving students a quiet place to study.

Junior Evan Glover spends most of his spare time in the library studying. He says he spends more time in Belk than he does his own room.  Today, the weather helped prepare for his Chemistry lab.

“It’s raining and it’s gross outside,” Glover said. “I figured I’d do some homework because it’s nasty and I don’t like the way it looks.

Brittany Jones, also a junior, had classes in Powell and Alamance when the weather became cold, rainy and windy. Living in the Colonnades, she didn’t feel like walking back to her room just to have to venture out into the weather again.

“I go to the library between classes because I don’t like going back and forth to my room” Jones said.

The library was full of students with the same mindset, trying to avoid the weather and getting ahead on various homework assignments.

There is hope for Elon students though. The weekend calls for sunny skies and slightly warm weather.

Click here to see video

Local County targets STDs with Wal-Mart giftcards November 19, 2009

Forsyth County’s Department of Health in Winston-Salem has been bringing health care door-to-door by providing Wal-Mart gift cards to promote syphilis testing.

Prevent Ongoing Spread of STDs Everywhere is a group that serves those who are not able to seek facilities for medical attention. Patrice Toney, a member of POSSE, is the HIV and STD prevention supervisor for Forsyth County’s Department of Public Health.

Forsyth County is ranked No. 1 in the state for the highest population of people with the venereal disease. Toney was involved in the effort, which used gift cards as rewards for those who volunteered to be tested for syphilis and HIV. She said she thinks the gift cards are a way of rewarding the community for healthy behavior rather than a form of bribery.

“It’s just an added bonus,” Toney said.

The effort was made at the end of August to do extensive screening in Forsyth County. The county needed more people and help, so POSSE was paired with the Rapid Intervention Outreach Team, allowing it to cover a larger area in a smaller amount of time. Both teams tested a combined total of 603 people in nine hours.

The teams of three included an interviewer, counselor and phlebotomist, a doctor who specializes in blood work. There was an initial briefing to ensure all 125 volunteers were equipped with the materials they needed.

A counselor supplied each tested person with information while the phlebotomist drew their blood, and the interviewer recorded demographic information. Toney said the process took about 10-15 minutes each.

“It’s extremely successful anytime we can reach that amount of people,” she said.

The organization has used incentives before and doesn’t see a problem with continuing the trend. It has used cookouts at local churches, ice cream trucks and free haircuts to encourage the community to take responsibility.

Toney said people really want to know if they have any diseases, so they are glad POSSE cares and comes to them when they can’t get to a facility.

It’s all about “whatever we can (do to) be creative and help out,” Toney said. “People are really grateful and driven by the incentive.”

C. Timothy Monroe, director of Forsyth County’s Department of Public Health, said unemployed people and those living in poverty are more likely to engage in sexually risky behavior.

Both Toney and Elon’s medical director, Kitty Parish, said they are not sure economic status has anything to do with contracting diseases.

“You can’t pinpoint exactly why,” Toney said. “You can only assume people take more risks in hard times.”

Jim Hawkins, an Elon university physician, said sex has been increasing since the late 1960s because of birth control pills.

Hawkins said he thinks using gift cards is a great tool to educate the community.

“I think any incentive is wonderful,” he said.

Hawkins said anyone who is sexually active should get tested for HIV and STDs. More partners makes the probability of contracting a STD more likely.

“We’ve all heard the saying that you’ve slept with however many partners your partner has had,” Hawkins said.

Health Services performs tests for HIV and many common STDs. It also provides antibiotics for other diseases.

Hawkins encourages students to go to www.ashastd.org for more information about preventing STDs and how to practice safe sex.

Hawkins and the rest of the Health Services staff offer many programs to raise awareness about STDs. They’ve reached out to health classes, fraternities, sororities and various other organizations on campus.

“Syphilis has been on the rise for a while,” Hawkins said.

Health Services wants students to be informed, and there are many different ways to spread the word.

At Elon, the most prevalent STD is HPV. Herpes is the second most common STD, and chlamydia is the third. Syphilis cases on campus are rare, and Hawkins said if students do have the disease, it’s usually from off-campus sources.

“The best way to prevent it,” Hawkins said, “is to be in a monogamous relationship and use a condom.”

DEEP Impact Movie Premiere November 19, 2009

Pen and program in hand, Elon students, faculty, and staff filed in the Carousel Cinemas’ theater 16 to see what it’s like to be in someone else’s’ shoes.

Theater packed, the lights dimmed and the film began to roll.

The stories of eight students, all different in their own way, told their story of dealing with ignorance in a college setting. The vignettes, preformed by students in Elon’s theater arts program, told the stories of issues we encounter everyday:

race, gender, national origin, religion, disability, sexuality and social class.

An African-American female was faced with a noose at a Halloween party while a Jewish male was greeted at his dorm by “Hitler wishes you a Happy Hanukah” posters. A disabled male wasn’t invited to play Frisbee because he couldn’t walk and A friend called a Hispanic janitor a “Spic,” not knowing his own friend was from Honduras.

“We can’t keep perpetuating the stereotype,” Leon Williams, director of the Multicultural Center said. “What we should we be doing to expose these issues?”

Students and faculty agreed that education is needed to keep the community aware of the perspective of multicultural issues. “DEEP Impact” has been shown in Elon 101 classes, Residence Life assistants training, and will also be shown November 7,as diversity training forfaculty members.

The vignettes also include separate exercises, focused on the issues covered in the film. It puts the viewers in the shoes of each person and gives them a chance to apply the situation to themselves.

Smith Jackson, Vice President for Student Life andDean of Students, was pleased with the turnout of the movie and the feedback it received.

“It was terrific that so many people from different areasof Elon came out,” he said. “(DEEP Impact) provides a great opportunity for further dialogue.”

Ryan Mintz, one of the producers for DEEP Impact, said he wanted the movie to be interesting and apply the students everywhere. Most of the stories filmed were based on real events that happened at Elon or other college campuses

“Everyone has seen something like them,” Mintz said. “(DEEP Impact) is not an afterschool special.”

Dancing in the Black Box November 18, 2009

Senior Caitlyn Juengel has been listening to the sound of ballet shoes on Marley flooring since her freshmen year. Her last year at Elon, Juengel is reflecting on her memories for 2009 performance of Dancing in the Black Box.

Literally.

“My favorite part is the use of props in my piece,” Juengel said. “I have rolling mirrors that move across the stage throughout the dance.”

Juengel’s Black Box performance is about pride and its effects on a single person when she is praised or imitated for good work.

“It is a contemporary modern style,” Juengel said. “Fluid, but strong movements.”

Entitled Vanity, the dance is inspired by Proverbs 16:18; “Pride goeth before destruction and a haughty spirit before a fall.”

Juengel’s piece is still in progress, like Bower’s, yet she has been constantly working on the choreography for the past four weeks. Her first section is completed. She’s hoping to have the second section cleaned up by the end of next week.

This will not be Jeungel’s first appearance in the Black Box. She has danced in the performance before, but never had the opportunity to enter her own piece. Beginning Nov. 12, Juengel will share the stage with three other student choreographers as well as four faculty choreographers.

                The eight performances will take the stage November 12-14, showing the community the art of dance.

Cherie Bower, the artistic director of Dancing in the Black Box, is excited for the main-stage performance. Bower has worked with the program for two years. She considers this event one of the most important dance events for the fall.

Bower is also one of the faculty members who will have choreography featured in this Black Box performance. Linda Sabo, Laruen Kearns and Jennifer Guy Metcalf will also feature pieces in the ballet and contemporary dance. Kearns and Metcalf are the only two performances that feature a male dancer.

Bower’s piece is an extension of a performance from last fall. She has added two movements and in the spring will present the final dance of all three movements in full “romantic” tutus.

“The Presentation,” is a work in progress that uses romantic ballet, a theme used for the first time at Elon. Quick feet and dramatic arms add to the “follow-the-leader” style of dancing. The four dancers will perform in solos, duets and a quartet, using very soft and long body gestures.

Jennifer Guy Metcalf’s piece is based on the Greek word I, meaning “one through three.” Metcalf uses three dancers, music from three different artists and three choreographers in her piece.

Metcalf’s dancers are performing Contemporary Pointe, featuring spotlights and electric-style music. Their dancing includes sharp, abrupt turns, walking transitions and a wardrobe of black cut-out leotards and biker shorts

The up-beat music is reflected through the dancers while they perform solo and partner work.

William Commander, one of her dancers, is also a student choreographer for the Black Box performance.

Other than Commander, student choreographers include Caitlyn Juengel, Andrea Work and Ann Sterling Dale. The student works are all contemporary, representing a “choreographic thumbprint” for the performance Bower said. They were assigned to “find their own personality” by creating a piece they defined as their personal signature.

This year, a percussion soundtrack as well as live musicians will be a new feature to the Black Box performance. Dancing in the Black Box will have performances Nov. 12 and 13, at 7:30 and 9:30 p.m. Nov. 14, performances will be at 6 and 8:30 p.m. Tickets are available at the ticket office during regular hours.

Breast cancer survivors tell their tales November 6, 2009

Mother’s Day 2008. Sept 19, 2006. Two dates that seem just like another day. But for two women, those days marked the beginning of a journey to survive breast cancer.

Mother’s Day 2008

Catherine Shore was taking a shower on mother’s day and decided to give herself a breast self-exam. While examining her breast, she felt a painful lump.

After talking to her husband, she made a mammogram appointment. She received the results as her physical in June.

Negative.

“Good thing is,” her doctor said, “most breast cancer patients don’t complain of pain.”

Shore was put on antibiotics and returned in two weeks. The lump was still there.

Still not satisfied, Shore went back to her doctor. He sent her to a surgeon to get the lump removed.

The surgeon ran more tests. The biopsy came back.

Positive.

She was already in stage 3 of breast cancer.

“I don’t want you to be a survivor,” Shore said. “I don’t want you to go through what I went through.”

Shore felt she couldn’t have cancer. She always did everything right. She asked the doctor if she would live. He said he didn’t know.

“Of course you don’t know,” she said. “Only God knows.”

Shore received 2 different types of chemotherapy in addition to radiation.

One year later, she is able to share her story and give advice.

Shore was diagnosed with Triple Negative Breast Cancer. TNBC is rare.  A cancer that is responsive to chemotherapy, TNBC lacks the three receptors know to fuel breast cancer; estrogen, progesterone and the human epidermal growth factor 2.

Tears forming in her eyes, Shore is happy to be alive.

“I want to thank (God) for saving my life,” Shore said, her voice breaking.

“Without pain, I wouldn’t be here today.”

September 19, 2006.

Associate Registrar Susan Patton noticed a spill on her blouse. While attempting to wipe the stain off, she discovers discharge coming from her left breast.

Stage one of cancer, Patton agreed to only radiation as an attempt to cure her cancer. When she discovered her cancer had progressed to stage two, she decided to add chemotherapy to the list.

Her cousin shave her head.

She purchased two wigs to alleviate the shock of loosing her hair.

“I just knew I was going to look gorgeous,” Patton said.

Patton’s husband told her she looked “beautiful in a bald cap.” She tossed the wigs and purchased a variety of hats instead.

During chemotherapy, Patton’s life became a routine.

Sign in at the receptionist’s desk.

Beep.

Her blood was drawn in the lab.

She’d return to her seat.

Beep.

She’d meet with her physician.

She’d return to her seat.

Beep.

Off to chemotherapy.

Patton had three surgeries before Thanksgiving of 2006. She felt she had much thanks to give.

The worst side effects were minimal thanks to anti-nausea drugs. Her husband used a lint brush to remove the stubble from her head. The only downfall was she didn’t have the energy to plant in her garden.

“I had cancer,” she said, “but it didn’t have me.”

Be prepared.

Shore encourages speaking up when you feel something’s wrong.

“No one should know more about your body than you,” Shore said.

Patton 10 steps give the audience a way to cope with breast cancer.

1. Cancer happens
2. Be prepared for surprises and take an alternative path
3. Be appreciative of those who offer help
4. Accept help when offered
5. Be positive
6. Have a sense of humor
7. Count your blessing everyday
8. Look to the future
9. Be thankful for those who help find a cure

10.  Above all, give thanks to God

 

Both Shore and Patton felt they did everything right in life and were still diagnosed with breast cancer.

Self breast exams could be the one thing that save your life.

 

 

Recent Elon alum, Erin Mahn, shares wisdoms with budding journalists October 28, 2009

           Erin Mahn remembers sitting in communication professor Glenn Scott’s class three years ago learning how to write news. Now she’s back to share how his class prepared her for life after college.

            “Treat everyone with respect,” was Mahn’s first tip for students about writing in the professional world. You have to be considerate of others you are working for and with.

            “You never know who you’ll meet,” Mahn said.   

            A Salisbury, Md. native, Mahn always wanted to be a writer. She moved to New York after graduating from Elon in May 2007 to look for jobs. She spent three months searching for a job where she could learn the most and make a decent living, crashing on a friend’s couch.

          Her job search brought her close to her roots. She was hired in Cambridge, Md., working as a staff writer for the Daily Banner. She enjoyed the flexible hours the job provided, but she said dreaded the 12 and 14-hour shifts that occasionally came up.

            Her favorite story was about a beauty pageant and muskrat-skinning competition that has also been covered by USA Today and the L.A. Times. She spent two days covering the event and had to crank out a story in less than an hour.

            She remembers being a little nervous covering the story for the first time and not knowing what to expect. Her second year covering the show, Mahn said she found a family who had skinned muskrats for generations and was entering “first-time skinners” into the various competitions.

            “There were a lot of events,” Mahn said.

              She had to find the perfect angle.

             Mahn’s favorite things about working at a newspaper are the experiences and available access to events and information. She doesn’t feel too hot about long hours and working through holidays.  

              Mahn said that checking your attitude before entering a professional setting is very important. It helps to read other writer’s stories and realize that there’s nothing wrong with a little “friendly competition.”

Here are the other tips Mahn gave to the Elon class:

People will not like you. If you’re doing your job and not being biased, people will still think it’s opinion.

People will tell you when you’ve made a mistake. They might not be right, but still listen to them.

Ask people how to spell their name. Twice

Ask questions until you understand.

Have fun. You have access to things others don’t.

            Mahn felt that Elon prepared her for entering the world of journalism. She always asked for extra helped after class and worked on making her articles better.

            “I wanted to be a writer,” Mahn said.

Recent Elon alum, Erin Mahn shares wisdoms with budding journalists – Class Assignment October 28, 2009

Erin Mahn remembers sitting in communication professor Glenn Scott’s class three years ago learning how to write news. Now she’s back to share how his class prepared her for life after college.

            “Treat everyone with respect,” was Mahn’s first tip for students about writing in the professional world. You have to be considerate of others you are working for and with.

            “You never know who you’ll meet,” Mahn said.   

            A Salisbury, Md. native, Mahn always wanted to be a writer. She moved to New York after graduating from Elon in May 2007 to look for jobs. She spent three months searching for a job where she could learn the most and make a decent living, crashing on a friend’s couch.

Her job search brought her close to her roots. She was hired in Cambridge, Md., working as a staff writer for the Daily Banner. She enjoyed the flexible hours the job provided, but she said dreaded the 12 and 14-hour shifts that occasionally came up.

            Articles Mahn shared with the class focused on writing on deadlines and using unusual angles.

            Her favorite story was about a beauty pageant and muskrat-skinning competition that has also been covered by USA Today and the L.A. Times. She spent two days covering the event and had to crank out a story in less than an hour.

            She remembers being a little nervous covering the story for the first time and not knowing what to expect. Her second year covering the show, Mahn said she found a family who had skinned muskrats for generations and was entering “first-time skinners” into the various competitions.

            “There were a lot of events,” Mahn said.

She had to find the perfect angle.

 

 

Analysis October 23, 2009

This article talks a lot about the essentials of reporting and how blogging can change the definition of reporting. I agreed with the article when it said news reporting “provides vital information for participation in society and in daily life.” Reporting should inform the reader as well as “enhance curiosity, empathy, and understanding about life in our communities.”

I thought the digital subscriptions with newspapers were an interesting idea for online news. Creating an iTunes-like system for single articles would be hard because people would probably get mad if they feel they’re not getting their money’s worth.

When you consider this outlook with blogs, it changes the whole perception of what is “informing the reader” and what is “trustworthy news.” It’s hard to create a blog that people think is legit. To some people the term “blog” gives a negative connotation of opinion and not news. In the article it seems as if TPM is exception. Universities are good places for doing research on the future of journalism. Many practices that are being done in schools will end up in the real world if successful. Blogs are a good example of how universities can work the kinks out of blogs and show students how to make successful and trustworthy ones.

The digital databases that have now been created allow everyone to find information also enhance the issue of true news. “The accessibility of so much more public information changes the work of journalists and the nature of news reporting. “ This statement made sense because these databases can drown the reporter, making it harder to create accurate stories.