Faculty, students shaken by sudden death of Elon sophomore

By Don Granese

He was a student, a tutor and a friend. Jordan West, of the class of 2014, and his infectious personality could make anyone around him happy.

Smith Jackson sent out an email to faculty, staff and students this morning explaining that West died at Alamance Regional Medical Center after being rushed there, following a 911 call his roommates made around 3 a.m.

“He was probably the most-liked person in the class,” said his college writing professor Julie Overman. “He was articulate. He was so intelligent, but he was approachable and he was funny. He was the kind of person that you would run into around campus and he would make your day better.”

Outside of the classroom, West was pouring his time into extracurricular programs like America Reads and the S.M.A.R.T. mentoring program. He had his own students from the area that he advised and helped to bring up their grades.

“What most people don’t know is that he took time out of his week every week to work with students who were at risk of failing,” said Gayla Carr, the Elon senior who hired West for the job at Read America. “Those kids loved him. He really made a difference in their lives.”

Not only did West make a difference in the lives of complete strangers, but his personality gave him the ability to make everyone he met feel like they had a friend in him.

Savannah Chaisson, one of his friends, lived with West in Hook residence hall last year. She didn’t get to see him much this year, but when she did, he knew how to make her happy.

“If he was driving past me in the car he would open the window and he would hang out of it and say hello,” Chaisson said. “He was just one of those guys. He couldn’t not brighten your day.”

Many of West’s friends gathered in the Moseley building today to talk about the favorite memories of their friend. While not everyone at Elon had the chance to befriend West, his absence will be apparent on campus; when there’s one less happy senior walking across the stage in 2014 or when there’s one less smiling face in the classroom.

A gathering of friends is scheduled for this Wednesday at 4:30 p.m. in Moseley 215. Counseling services can be reached at 336-278-7280 and the Truitt Center at 336-278-7729.

SGA positions itself against Amendment One

By Jason Puckett

With a vote of 25-1-12, Elon’s Student Government Association passed a resolution to officially oppose Amendment One, which would define marriage within North Carolina’s Constitution.

The proposal, written by Elon Spectrum’s advocacy and education chair Lauren Clapp, is based off of Elon’s Non-Discrimination policy, which reads:

“The university does not discriminate on the basis of age, race, color, creed, sex, national or ethnic origin, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or veteran’s status in the recruitment and admission of students, the recruitment and employment of faculty and staff or the operation of any of its programs.”

“We have an institutional commitment to diversity,” Clapp said, while speaking Thursday night. “What sort of message would we be sending if we don’t pass a resolution saying that Amendment One is discriminatory?”

Freshman Austin Faur, who also spoke at the meeting and is in support of the amendment, said that Amendment One is meant to protect the future of the State.

“Before you cast your vote,” he said, “please ask yourself the question, ‘What is Marriage?’ and realize that Amendment One is not, and never was meant to be, discriminatory. It is purely meant to protect the future of this wonderful State.”

The SGA senate held a fifteen-minute discussion during which senators expressed their concerns over taking a stance on a politically charged issue and whether it would represent the full student body.

“We’re here not to represent what we personally believe,” said junior class Senator Ryan Budden. “I have talked to people who oppose this, and passing this makes it sound like everyone approves.”

After deliberation, the proposal received the necessary majority vote and was passed. SGA President Darien Flowers said that the next step in carrying out this legislation is contacting Senator Rick Gunn and Representative Dan Ingle to express Elon’s position on Amendment One.

Local convenience store robbed at gunpoint

By Joe Bruno

Kim’s Mart, of 2114 W. Webb Ave in Burlington, was robbed at gunpoint late Sunday evening.

Photo of Suspect 1

According to the police report, two employees were working when two men entered the store and demanded money. One of the suspects was armed with a handgun.

An undisclosed amount of money was stolen and both suspects left running on foot behind the business.

Neither of the employees were injured during the robbery.

Police are still searching for suspects.

Suspect 1 was armed with the handgun. He is a black male between the ages of 45-55. He is of average build and was wearing a red Timberland brand t-shirt and hat. He possibly has a missing or lazy left eye.

Photo of Suspects 1 and 2

Suspect 2 is a black male between the ages of 45-55 and of average build. He was wearing a yellow t-shirt and black pants.

Anyone with any information about this crime or knows the identity of the suspects is asked to call the Burlington Police Department at 336-229-3500 or Crimestoppers at 336-229-7100.

Phoenix14News: April 26, 2012 Web Update

Find out how one student makes her own scholarship, transportation is being provided for a certain event and much more.

President Obama Addresses UNC-Chapel Hill

For part two

Special Report: Obama Visits UNC-Chapel Hill

By Kate Riley

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Special Report- President Obama Speaks At UNC-Chapel Hill

Air Force One touched down in RDU a little before Noon on Thursday

Reporter Sophie Nielsen- Kolding attended the speech and spoke with students about America’s debt problem

Our reporter Don Granese spoke with members of the crowd after the President’s speech

Phoenix14News: April 23 Newscast

Part 1:

Part 2:

2012 Lumen scholarship recipients

By Grace Sweeney

Colleen Brockmyre
Math / Computer Science
Amesbury, Mass.
Project title: Accurate and Timely Absolute Location for Augmented
Reality Mobile Applications
Mentor: Joel Hollingsworth

Alexander Bruch
Chemistry / Biochemistry
New Canaan, Conn.
Project title: Determining the Mechanism of Pattern Formation in
Periodic Precipitation (Liesegang) Reactions
Mentor: Joel Karty

Cleo Dan
International Studies
Midlothian, Va.
Project title: Abandoning the Bomb and Embracing the Pen: How and Why
Ethnonationalist Terrorist Organizations Adopt Non-Violent Tactics
Mentor: Sean Giovanello

Andrew Fischer
Biochemistry / Psychology / Math
Stevensville, Md.
Project title: Mechanism of neurotoxic α-synuclein oxidation by
dopamine in Parkinson’s disease
Mentor: Kathryn Matera

Ashley Fowler
Political Science / International Studies
Mount Pleasant, N.C.
Project title: Human Rights Norm Change: LGBT Rights in a Wider Europe
Mentor: Safia Swimelar

Sarah Holland
Religious Studies / Philosophy
Lexington, Ky.
Project title: Religion in the Shadow of the Shoah: Exploring the
Social Dimensions of Religion
Mentor: Jeffrey Pugh

Gregory Honan
Political Science
Wellesley, Mass.
Project title: Welfare Narratives In United States Political Rhetoric:
Stories, Power, and Contestation in Central Appalachia
Mentor: Laura Roselle

Leigh Iler
Middle Grades Education / Elementary Education
Cary, N.C.
Project title: Response to Intervention Techniques as Applied to Sixth
Grade Math Content to Promote Student Success
Mentor: Stephen Byrd

MacKenzie Mann
International Studies
Attleboro, Mass.
Project title: A Façade of Calm: Everyday Resistance and Expression in
the Ecuadorian Sierra of the 1960s and 70s
Mentor: Michael Matthews

Claire Mayo
History / French
Knoxville, Tenn.
Project title: The Evolution of Charles de Gaulle as France’s Wartime
Leader in Great Britain during World War II (1940-1942)
Mentor: David Crowe

Cara McClain
Psychology / Environmental Studies
Durham, N.C.
Project title: Outdoor explorations with preschoolers: The role of
nature experiences in young children’s psychological development and
environmental awareness
Mentor: Maureen Vandermaas-Peeler

Michelle Nussbaum
English
Glenelg, Md.
Project title: The Caulfield Effect: An Interdisciplinary Examination
of Adult Identification in Young Adult Literature
Mentor: Scott Proudfit

Kelsey O’Connell
English
Broadlands, Va.
Project title: Community Discourse and Rhetorical Strategies in the
Development of the New Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental
Disorders (DSM-5)
Mentor: Rebecca Pope-Ruark

Wesley Rose
Music Education
Rocky Mount, N.C.
Project title: “The Real Father of Modern Music:” Death and the
Diabolical in the Music of Franz Liszt
Mentor: Victoria Fischer Faw

Jeffrey Stern
Information Sciences / Media Arts & Entertainment
East Setauket, N.Y.
Project title: Exploring user engagement with interactive media
through design and analysis of digital magazines
Mentor: Duke Hutchings

Thursday Update: April 19th, 2012