Elon University lights up to begin the Christmas season

By Corey Groom

Elon, N.C.—A cold, windy Dec. 3 evening did not deter students and other Elon community members from enjoying an annual Elon University tradition: the lighting of thousands of lights on the university’s Scott Plaza and Young Commons.

The annual Holiday Celebration and lighting ceremony included visits from Santa and Mrs. Clause, as well as train rides, which faced some delay after the small train experienced malfunctions. The celebration also gave students the chance to take a break from their end of the semester work and enjoy a little celebration, which freshman Ian Rosen believes helps students.

“It was a great way to lift everybody’s spirits just before finals week,” he said.

Those who did brave the cold also had the chance to sip on hot chocolate or cider to help add warmth to the experience of the lights and candles.

“It looked very nice. Though really, the candles are what make it,” said senior Al Brown, who has attended the event for three years.

Elon’s Jewish student organization, Hillel, also participated by singing a traditional a song and attempted to light a Menorah, but strong winds made the effort almost impossible.

Live music provided by a small band and choir who provided traditional carols to help build the holiday spirits of the crowd entertained the crowd that gathered. But not all were able to enjoy the live music because of the size of the crowd and their loudness. Brown said he could not hear much of the music.

One of the carolers practices before providing holiday songs for the event.

“All I could tell is that someone was singing. I couldn’t tell you what song they were trying to sing,” he added.

The celebration culminated with the thousands of lights being illuminated to the tune of “Deck the Halls,” and mingling of students with each other and Santa Clause, in hopes to build a common spirit in the Elon community.

“It was also a great example of how the school is attempting to bring everybody together,” said Rosen.

Silent spirit at Elon sporting events

By Corey Groom

The player shoots the free throw and makes it. Yet, the response from the fans that night in Alumni Gym, mainly the cheerleaders, dance team and pep band, sounds more like what could be found at a golf match not a basketball game.

Most men’s basketball games at Elon are like this. You have the cheerleaders and dance team, as well as the pep band, which can be rather vocal towards players and even fans themselves. Then, you have enough fans to fill about one or two sections of the bleachers spread out the entire gym. Of course, big games against top teams like Davidson always fill the gym, but that only happens once a season.

The lack of spirit for sports at Elon is rather disappointing and often adds to my wish that I went to a bigger school with a bigger athletics program. I have been to Duke and watched part of its game. Even though I pull for Carolina over Duke, I could still feel the excitement from the stands, as the students were excited about the game and cheering on their team and fun of being in Cameron Indoor Stadium.

Come to Alumni Gym for a home game and you will feel like it is a high school game or even just a place to kill time, not a place of excitement. There have been many times I am most excited when the game finally ends.

The same occurs during football games. At Elon, game day is more game, not day. You show up at kick-off, and you leave during the fourth quarter, if not during the third. Now compare that to Appalachian State or BCS schools; you have much more fans that add to the game atmosphere. The App State fans were even louder than the Elon fans at this year’s game. And I was standing right in front of the Elon fans photographing the game when I judged that.

It loudness of the Elon crowd made it sound like Elon was visiting Rhoads Stadium, not that it was Elon’s home field. By the end of the game, even though Elon was losing, the crowd still could not manage to out cheer the App State fans, which managed to chant “overrated” several times with no response from the Elon “faithful.”

I think the problem somewhat begins with Athletics. Mainly, there are no sports traditions at Elon. The football team does not do a walk for the fans, there are no pep rallies and there is nothing for students to get involved with or excited about. Mostly, students get excited for the party later that night.

The connection with the teams and excitement around the games help build spirit. For basketball, many schools make the official start of when basketball teams can practice a big event having introductions and other activities to help build excitement and support for the upcoming season.

At Elon, we get emails and more emails about coming to games. Emails do not build spirit; they build sizes of trash folders.

Now, President Lambert, in a letter to parents, claims athletics are the key to Elon’s future. This maybe true for potential athletes to come to the school, but what great athlete would want to come to a school that has little student support when he or she could go to a school with a better fan base?

Elon has traditions. Now, it is time for athletics to start its own traditions. Nothing builds spirit like a sense of involvement and excitement around a sport.

But here, the sense of involvement is more of talking with your neighbor in the stands than being involved in the game.

Dreary weather brings dreary moods

By Corey Groom

ELON, N.C.—On a misty, foggy Wednesday, few people walk around the Elon University campus. Those that are, do so huddled inside jackets and under umbrellas rushing off to their destination with solemn expressions plastered on their faces.

The change from sunny weather to 51 degrees and drizzle, with more rain in the forecast, caused many students to experience a change in their moods.

“I don’t see many smiles in this kind of weather,” said Octagon cashier Laura Faith, “if you do, you’re forcing it out of them.”

Faith also said that she has observed that the weather helps to bring student moods down more.

Junior Alex Kunkel agreed that the weather affects her mood.

“[I] defiantly never want to go to classes when it’s rainy and cold out,” she said.

But, not everyone was upset by the rainy weather.

Sophomore Heather Babb was one such person since it was nice the past few days and gave her the opportunity to enjoy the puddles.

“The weather doesn’t really make me that upset,” she said, “because I get to splash in puddles.”

The forecast of rain later in the week also means Babb could continue her fun.

“More puddle splashing. Definitely always a good thing,” she said.

Photographer David LaBelle teaches students photography, life lessons

By Corey Groom

In front of most of the involved student photographers at Elon, photographer David Labelle gave a humorous presentation about photography and its techniques, as well as his views on what photojournalists should do with their photos.

LaBelle told the audience many simple concepts that most probably already knew. But he did so with a tone of humor that would help keep the audience’s attention and interest, even the during the most basic of ideas.

“It’s important that you are versatile and prepare for the unexpected,” he started with, to ensure that photographers are always ready to get their shot.

He continued on to discuss what he thought were the most important parts of photography: timing, light and composition.

LaBelle challenged the audience throughout each of his topics.

“You are the composer of you picture and you decide what elements it contains,” he said.

He also challenged the conventional rules of photography, such as the rule of thirds, by saying that there are no rules in photography, just guidelines.

LaBelle also talked about the importance of timing, which, according to Labelle, is so important, “you wouldn’t be here” without it.

LaBelle added that a person should find the most interesting light and that “every photograph has a star and if it doesn’t, then it’s going to be very boring.” He gave tips and considerations for dealing with light, such as that when the light is from behind, it reveals shape, quality, direction, intensity and time of day.

Once LaBelle had finished his photography techniques, he began to challenge students with a life lesson in the section he called “Bridges and Angels.”

Here, LaBelle told of how he wanted to do more than just take good-looking pictures. He wanted to use his photography to help make changes, which is the reason why he turned down a job offer to travel the world taking sports photography when he was 20 years old.

“I needed to take more than pretty pictures,” he said. “I needed to tell

stories that helped people.”

LaBelle provided examples of people he photographed that were homeless or struggling and who, after the pictures were seen, received aid that helped them receive homes or other items they need. LaBelle said he hopes his photojournalism will serve as a bridge between people’s needs and hope, something he challenged the audience to do.

“What will you do with the powerful gifts that you are given?” he ended.

Listen to Labelle talk about why he got started in journalism:

Coastal Carolina coasts over Elon in NIT Tournament

By Corey Groom

DURHAM, NC—The Coastal Carolina Chanticleers defeated the Elon University Phoenix 69-49 on Nov. 17 during the East Region consolation game for the Dick’s Sporting Goods NIT Season Tip-Off.

The game was held at Cameron Indoor Stadium on Duke University’s campus. The Phoenix is now 1-2 for the season, while the Chanticleers improved to 2-1.

Junior Scott Grable takes a shot from the line during the Nov. 17 game against Coastal Carolina. Photo By Corey Groom

The Chanticleers hit 53.8 percent from the field, the highest percentage of the year, and scored 44 points from the paint.

Forward Joseph Harris led the scoring with 23 points and was 11-17 for shooting. Harris also rebounded 15 times. The Chanticleers led with rebounds as well, leading the Phoenix 45-26.

Sophomores Josh Bonney and Drew Spalding had the most points for the Phoenix, with 11 points each. Spalding ended the night with 5-9 for shots from the floor.

But, the Phoenix were held to 28.3 percent shooting percentage and made three of 18 three-point shots. This low shooting success by Elon allowed Coastal to reach a 29-point lead at

Sophomore Josh Bonney passes the ball during the Nov. 17 game against Coastal Carolina. Photo by Corey Groom

6:00 in the second half.

Coastal will play at home against Voorhees on Nov. 21.

Elon will return to Alumni Gym for the home opener on Friday to face Fairleigh Dickinson-Florham, which is 0-1 overall.