Elon University professors, students and alumni continue to make news this winter through their research and activities. Notable in January were regional media appearances by faculty who discussed American Express layoffs, President Barack Obama's State of the Union address and the Challenger anniversary, as well as student involvement with an environmental summit in Sri Lanka and the annual Polar Bear Plunge on campus.
The following list should not be considered exhaustive and does not include athletics news.
1/9: (Greensboro, N.C.) News & Record: “Visionary Leadership Needed at Crunch Time” was the monthly guest column authored by professor emeritus David Noer. In it, he contrasts transactional and transformational leadership and emphasizes the need for the transformational variety in these economic times. (Column not posed to the News & Record website; link goes to Noer’s personal site)
1/10: (Greensboro, N.C.) News & Record: “Short Stack: Food for thought, quick and over easy” is the weekly editorial page round up of stories that affect the region, and on January 10, the column included positive reaction to the future growth of the Elon University School of Law.
1/13: WGHP Fox 8 (High Point, N.C.): “LabCorp gift helps support Elon Academy” details the recent gift made to Elon from the lab testing company based in Alamance County.
1/16: (Greensboro, N.C.) News & Record: “Does anyone care about maintaining civil discourse?” Associate professor Lee Bush wrote a column that appeared on the front page of the Ideas section. In it, she points out the role everyday citizens play in spreading divisive rhetoric through social media. (Column not posed to the News & Record website)
1/19: (Raleigh, N.C.) News & Observer: “AmEx will cut 1,500 jobs in Greensboro” quotes associate professor of economics Greg Lilly on the impact of American Express’ announcement that it will close its call center in the Triad. Lilly was quoted or interviewed in several media outlets, including WSJS 600 AM in Winston-Salem with talk radio host Bob Campbell; The WGHP Fox 8 Morning Show for its “In Depth” segment on Jan. 20; WXII 12 News (Winston-Salem, N.C.): “Repercussions from American Express Layoffs to Spread”; WFMY News 2 (Greensboro, N.C.): “AmEx Closing About Technology, Not Outsourcing”; and the Winston-Salem Journal: “American Express call center closing a blow to region”
1/20: The Business Journal (Greensboro, N.C.): “Elon Purchase to Expand Presence in Downtown Greensboro” is a report on the purchase of three properties that Elon made to expand law school services. RELATED from WFMY News 2 (Greensboro, N.C.): “Elon Expanding Downtown Greensboro Campus” with additional News 2 coverage by Justin Catanoso. RELATED from the News & Record: “Elon expands Greensboro campus” RELATED from the (Burlington, N.C.) Times-News: “Elon expanding Greensboro campus”
1/21: (Burlington, N.C.) Times-News: “Taking the Plunge” reported on the 8th annual Polar Bear Plunge at Lake Mary Nell. RELATED from WFMY News 2 (Greensboro, N.C.): “Elon students take the Polar Bear Plunge”
1/21: (Burlington, N.C.) Times-News: “Admiral, Elon College grad will be Commencement speaker” is on Vice Adm. William E. Gortney’s selection as Elon’s 2011 Commencement speaker.
1/21: The Daily Advance (Elizabeth City, N.C.): “Edenton native Tolley a Hall of Famer” shares information on former Elon football coach Jerry Tolley and his pending induction into the N.C. Sports Hall of Fame.
1/21: The Business Journal (Greensboro, N.C.): “Get with the program: Executive education goes online to meet students where they are” includes an interview with professor Bill Burpitt, director of Elon’s MBA and Executive Education programs, and several MBA students.
1/22: (Burlington, N.C.) Times-News: “From a wheelchair to walking: Collaboration offers hope for those with brain injuries” tells the story of Jeremy Gates, a car accident survivor who is rehabilitating from his injuries with help from Elon’s DPT program.
1/22: (Burlington, N.C.) Times-News: “A passion for film” profiles Elon University senior Raj Rawal and his “walking encyclopedia” of knowledge about cinema.
1/22: The Indianapolis Star: “On Campus: Elon’s Isenbarger gets praise from Coach K” profiles freshman men’s basketball player Jack Isenbarger and compliments he received from Duke University coach Mike Krzyzewski in December. Isenberger is a Zionsville High School (Ind.) alumnus.
1/23: The Philadelphia Inquirer: “Haddonfield’s Klaus says 100th win ‘pretty special’” is a Q&A with Haddonfield High School (N.J.) senior Kyle Klaus, a school standout in wrestling who briefly talks about his plan to attend Elon University in fall 2011.
1/26: WGHP Fox 8: “Analysis: The State of the Union.” The Fox 8 Morning Show invited assistant professor Mileah Kromer onto the program to offer commentary on President Barack Obama’s State of the Union address the previous night.
1/28: North Carolina News Network/WPTF 680 AM NewsRadio (Raleigh, N.C.): “Challenger Anniversary” coverage included reflections by associate professor Tony Crider, chair of the Department of Physics, on the legacy of the space shuttle disaster 25 years ago. (Interview with host Mike Davis not posted online) RELATED from WPTF AM News Radio: “Interview with Joe Wade Formicola” on Jan. 29. Crider returned to the news radio station the next day for an extended conversation on space.
1/29: (Burlington, N.C.) Times-News: “Grant will help Elon Academy’s mission” is a short story on the $20,000 grant from the North Carolina Independent Colleges & Universities to help with programs run through the Elon Academy and the Multicultural Center.
1/31: Asian Tribune: “Elon University facilitates communication on environmental Education issues in Sri Lanka” reports on the two-day Sri Lankan environmental summit organized by Elon University’s Periclean Scholars Class of 2011. RELATED from the Sunday Times (Sri Lanka): “Conversation and friendship: Young US scholars reach out”
2/1: WXII 12 News (Winston-Salem, N.C.): “Elon Students Create Auto-Tuned Music Video” profiled Project Halcyon, the four Elon students behind two recent humorous music videos – “Ode to Smith Jackson” and “Hooked on Phoenix.”