Ch. 1-4 Math Tools

Journalists generally don’t like numbers, but numbers and math are a necessity in reporting. It adds necessary details that if can either make the story more informative or completely destroy the credibility of an article or writer if wrong.

Language

When writing numbers in an article, the reporter has the the responsibility to work out the math for readers – readers should never have to figure it out themselves. The best way to keep it simple and easy for readers to understand is to follow basic style rules regarding when to spell out numbers and how to make them most manageable.

The following numbers should be spelled out: single digit numbers (1-9), fractions less than one, a position or order in ranking for first through ninth, the start of a sentence (unless it is a date) or if an organization spells a number out in its name.

The following numbers should be written in numerals: multiple digit numbers, position or order in ranking higher than tenth (numeral and superscript), if an organization leaves it as a numeral in its name, addresses, dates, highway destinations, percentages, speeds, temperatures, times, weights, with money, ages or slang. The word minus should also be spelled out rather than using a dash or hyphen.
A combination of numerals and words can be used for numbers larger than 1 million. A mixture of numerals and words is also appropriate in a serious of numbers.

It is good to round large numbers in writing if the specific number is unnecessary and it will make it easier for the reader. Some cases, such as deaths, require specific numbers. If a number is rounded, it should be rounded to one decimal point if possible.

Even though numbers add important information to an article, it is important to try to limit how many numbers are in each paragraph. Two or three is about the limit in body paragraphs, and one in the lede.

Percentages

Percentages are a common in journalism and can help readers have a better sense of the numbers a writer is presenting.

To determine a percentage increase or decrease, the formula is simple: Percentage increase or decrease = (new figure minus old figure) divided by old figure. Then, move the decimal to places to the right. For percent decreases, the number should be negative.

Finding the percentage of a whole can help give readers perspective of how much of an impact something has. In this case, the percentage of a whole= the subgroup divided by the whole group. Again, the decimal point should be moved two places to the right.

A percentage point is complete different from a percent. A change in percentage points would be changing from 8 percent to 9 percent, as opposed to determining that 2 is 25 percent of 8. To determine percentage points, subtraction is all that is needed.

To convert a fraction to a percentage, divide the numerator by the denominator, then move the decimal point two places to the right.

For interest, proper vocabulary is necessary. The principal is the amount of money borrowed, and the money paid in addition to this is the interest. The rate is the percent charged for interest.

To determine simple interest, the interest =  the principal times the rate (as a decimal) times the number of years.

Compounding interest, another type of interest occurs when the interest is added to the original principal, and then the interest is re-calculated the next time from the result of that.
While interest is usually annual, payments on loans are usually monthly. These are compounded, and the formula is more complex, and an advanced or online calculator makes it much easier.

Statistics

Statistics can be helpful, but must always be used with the understanding that they can be easily manipulated to support what someone wants to present.

There are different types of averages, and the most common is the mean. To find the mean, simply add all of the numbers together, then divide by the number of numbers. To find the median, arrange all of the numbers in ascending or descending order, then find the middle point. If there is an even number of number, find the mean of the two middle numbers. The mode is the number that appears most often in a group of numbers. Which should be used for what articles should be determined on a case-to-case basis so as to present the story most accurately.

Percentiles can also help readers determine where something ranks on a scale. To determine a percentile rank, divide the number of people at or below an individual score by the number of test takers. To determine how many people scored below that level, multiply instead of divide.

To determine how similar a number or group of numbers is to the rest of the numbers, standard deviation can be used.

Probability shows how likely something is to occur. To determine the probability, divide the number of people or things affected by the total number of people or things. To make this a “one out of ##” statement, divide one by the probability.

Federal Statistics

Even with an abundance of information available for reporters, it is impossible to present the figures associated with the federal government if the reporter does not know how to use the information.

Unemployment is a common concern in journalism, but to use the figures associated with it, it is important to know how and why the numbers are calculated. To determine the unemployment rate, divide the number of unemployed people by the labor force (anyone older than 16 who has a job or has looked for one in the past four weeks) then multiply by 100. When using these numbers though, it is important to keep in mind that the Department of Labor is in charge of calculating these numbers from a small sample.

Inflation, a common trend, also appears in reporting often. The Consumer Price Index can be used to present this. To adjust for this trend when comparing current prices to older ones, there is a calculator available on the Bureau of Labor Statistics Web site.

The Gross Domestic Product helps readers determine the value of a nation’s economy’s production.This can be used to determine whether the economy of a country is in good or bad health. This information is collected and computed by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis.

Trade balance compares the number of imports to the number of exports. With a compilation of information from a variety of sources, the trade balance = the number of exports minus the number of imports. If it is negative, it is considered a trade deficit.

Practice
If the University of Tennessee football team has played 11 games this fall, but only won 4, what percentage of games has the team won?

In September 52.2 percent of Elon students looked at JuicyCampus.com weekly. In October, 21.2 percent of students still looked at Juicy Campus.com weekly. How many percentage points has this changed?

If three copy editors get paid $20 per issue, five designers get paid $25 per issue, and six section editors get paid $30 per issue, what is the average salary for The Pendulum executive staff? Which average should be used?

For the medical school she is applying to, Sarah should be in the in the 94th percentile of test takers to have a chance. If 1,736 students took the test, how many people have to score the same or below her?

The end of the Ron Paul R[evol]ution

Miriam Williamson

Ron Paul ran for the Republican Party nomination but did not win. He will not be running on a third party ticket.

When Ron Paul’s name showed up on the list of potential Republican nominees, grassroots efforts sprung up across the nation supporting the Republican Congressman from Texas and his Revolution campaign.

Some of these supporters had been long-term fans of Paul. Others were intrigued by his ideas and platforms.

“He was running on the ticket before I even knew who he was,” said junior Vince Barrett, one of Elon’s Ron Paul supporters. “I guess I kind of got suckered in by the YouTube videos, and I just had immediate interest. I started reading a lot and got really into it.”

Although he was running for the Republican nomination, Paul does not have the same ideas and policies as many of the Republicans in today’s society. Instead, Paul claims to follow the fundamental Republican ideals that go back to the founding of the party.

“I consider myself a Republican,” Barrett said, “but I don’t want to associate with the current administration. The Republican party doesn’t follow the principles they preach.”

Paul is well-known for is his advocacy for limited federal government control. He backs these ideals with his freedom principles, which support the rights of individuals.

Paul’s name on the ballot would have meant a group of grassroots voters confident in their choice.

“He’s the only person I could trust to vote for,” Barrett said. “He says the same thing no matter where he goes. I’m not going to vote for Obama or McCain because they demonstrate a complete lack of understanding for the issues we face.”

Paul’s consistency is a strong factor in many of his supporters’ faith in him.

“I read his articles and saw how consistent he was, even when it wasn’t popular,” said Cameron DeJong, an Elon alum who has run as a Libertarian for county commissioner in eastern N.C. and a Paul supporter since 1996. “ He is truly devoted and much of what he said then and just during the presidential campaign is showing true. He has stuck to his principles, regardless of popularity, and that is to be commended.”

His differences from other Republicans have deemed him a third-party candidate, but Paul refused to run in the 2008 election as a third-party candidate.

“Ron Paul said that if he didn’t win the primary, he wasn’t going to run anymore, so I saw it coming,” Barrett said. “Of course it was disappointing, but I was following it very closely so I knew the indications.”

In February, Paul focused his efforts on his campaign to remain in Congress.

While a third-party candidate winning a U.S. presidential election anytime soon seems unlikely, it may be possible with the proper funding, according to DeJong.

“A third-party candidate who is independently wealthy stands a good chance,” DeJong said. “Otherwise, it would take a celebrity – who in most cases has wealth built in – to become elected.”

Since voters will not see his name on the ticket, Paul supporters may have a tougher time choosing. Many do not trust the current most popular third-party candidate, Bob Barr, especially since it is unlikely for a third-party candidate to win the election. Chuck Baldwin of the Constitution Party has a strong chance, since Paul has endorsed him.

“Most Ron Paul supporters will either vote for Baldwin, Barr or they won’t vote at all,” said DeJong. “Some of those who may not vote will write in Ron Paul’s name.”

Barrett will be writing in a candidate, but it will not be his original favored candidate.

“I’m actually voting for Hunter Bacot,” Barrett said. “He asked for my vote, and I’m giving it to him. I just figured it’d be kind of funny to vote for him.”

Barrett said that although he will not be casting a serious vote for president, he will be supporting Paul’s ideals by voting for libertarians on the rest of the ballot.

Iraqi journalist and sculptor shares insights on Iraqi-American relations

Ahmed Abdullah Fadaam speaks to an Elon reporting class about his experiences as an Iraqi journalist during the war.

Miriam Williamson

The relationship between Iraqis and Americans has been seriously damaged. Unless the two cultures can develop an understanding of each other, it will likely be impossible to mend.

“If you don’t understand how they think, how can you deal with them?” Iraqi journalist Ahmed Abdullah Fadaam asked a class of student journalists Wednesday.

Fadaam has a rare advantage few have. He has had the opportunity to view the war from both angles and see the feelings and opinions of people from both societies.

Changing art forms

Before the war, Fadaam was a sculptor. He had a Ph. D. in fine arts, and was a professor of arts at the University of Baghdad.

“Art was my life at the time,” he said. “I couldn’t imagine myself as a man who would chase stories and be involved in policy and war.”

But once the war started, he became a translator for a documentary news program that aired on NPR stations across the US. This eventually led to a job as a reporter for different American media.

“We began to be looked at as spies, as blood traders, as traitors,” Fadaam said of himself and other journalists.

Iraqis called those who associated with the Western press blood traders because they got money from stories, and stories from death. But Fadaam saw his work as a favor to his country.

“If you like your country, you want people to know the facts,” he said.

Regardless of the challenges he faced as a reporter, Fadaam has been a successful journalist. He worked for news organizations such as Agence France-Presse, National Public Radio, American Public Media and The New York Times, and received numerous prestigious awards, particularly for his series of personal anecdotes, “Ahmed’s Diary.”

“I don’t know if it’s growing up in Iraq,” he said of what makes his writing powerful. “What makes a good journalist is pure curiousity.”

Fadaam contributes much of his talent to his other craft, sculpting. For him, the relationship between the two is in the details.

“The more you work, the more details you get,” he said. “Clay is like a disease… and journalism is the same. Once you get it you won’t be getting rid of it for a long time.”

Facing the consequences of war

As conditions worsened in Iraq, the situation became dangerous for Fadaam, his wife and his two children.

After receiving a death threat in Dec. 2007 for his work as a reporter, Fadaam decided to move his family to Syria. He also received a visitor’s visa to the U.S. where he can safely practice journalism.

Meanwhile, he is sharing stories from Iraq with Americans.

“They’re [the Western media] not showing the other side of this society [Iraq],” Fadaam said. “That they’re capable of building something. Not just destroying.”

While here, he has had the chance to learn more about Americans’ viewpoints of Iraq, the war and the U.S. administration.

“I used to tell stories from Iraq to the Americans,” he said. “Now I’m going to tell stories to the Iraqis about what I saw in America.”

Connecting Cultures

Fadaam’s efforts to share both sides of the story is intended to establish friendly relations between the U.S. and Iraq.

Iraqis have seen much loss and bloodshed in their country since the beginning of the U.S. occupation. Young children are taught that this is caused by Americans, so hatred is bred from a young age.

“You have children now that open their eyes and see their country is under fire,” he said.

Among most Iraqis, it is common belief that all Americans are aggressive, are violent and like war, because the troops are all they see. But Fadaam has seen that this is not true, and said he thinks Americans should reach out to the Iraqis.

“The problem is there is no direct contact between people,” he said. “Try talking to each other away from government, away from policy, away from war. Just people to people. You’re open-minded; so are Iraqis.”

But Fadaam said talking is not enough. He pointed out that few Americans know much about the Iraqi culture.

“I’m not trying to underestimate your knowledge,” he said. “But this is the truth.”

With Iraq in shambles, there is still work the U.S. administration needs to do before anything can truly be healed.

“You have started something, and you should finish it,” he said. “At the same time, you have broken something and you should fix it.”

The main thing average Americans can do to mend the relationship between the two countries is learn about Iraq – its people, their culture, their history.

“Break these walls between you,” he said.

Vendors follow the 2008 presidential campaign making money along the way

Cashing in on the campaign

Miriam Williamson

Everyone has seen them. Some people are annoyed by them, some people are appreciative of what they have to offer. They are the vendors selling paraphernalia at large events.

In this case, they are the vendors at political rallies. They are the ones who call out to rally-goers, trying to sell buttons and T-shirts.

The lifestyle is unlike anything someone with a stereotypical source of income could imagine.

Phil Phunn has been selling campaign paraphernalia for every election since 1996.

“We have put more than 10,000 miles on the van in the past two weeks,” said Chris Foran, a vendor from Florida who works for Campaign Curt.

Foran and his partner Phil Phunn have been following Sarah Palin’s campaign since August. They have driven through nearly every state, stopping in various cities where political rallies and events are held.

The McCain-Palin campaign is not Phunn’s or Foran’s sole source of income though. They go to events for both political parties selling memorabilia to supporters from both sides.

“I’m actually undecided for which one I’m voting for,” Phunn said. “I really don’t know. It’s the first time in my life I haven’t known who I am voting for this close to election day.”

Phunn has been working as a campaign paraphernalia vendor since 1996, following different campaigns. For this presidential race, before the democratic convention, Phunn followed Hillary Clinton exclusively, but once Barack Obama was chosen as the candidate, he was left unsure.

“Everyone wants to talk to me about politics,” he said. “But I really walk the middle aisle. I sell stuff for both campaigns, so that’s just more incentive not to really openly choose a side.”

This is a common quality among these vendors – just because they are selling the goods, that doesn’t mean they support it.

Morgan Sheets, a 25-year-old from Indianapolis, who works for Shop Political, has been to numerous rallies for both political parties during the past two months.

“This is an important election,” Sheets said. “It’s great seeing the rallies for both sides. And I get to talk to a lot of people who support both sides.”

Corinne Swazey and Barbara Baker buy their paraphernalia to support Sarah Palin from the vendors at the event.

Corinne Swazey and Barbara Baker, two women from Cary, N.C., who volunteer at the election polls, said they came to the rally to support Sarah Palin because they believe she and John McCain are the best choice to lead America.

“I bought all of this stuff here to support them,” Swazey said.

“We will wear it until we go to work at the polls,” Baker said. “But we aren’t allowed to wear it while we’re working there.”

Josh Reyes, a vendor from California, is actually strongly opposed to the McCain-Palin campaign.

“I support Obama,” he said. “There’s obviously two different diversities in the people in this race, but you know what? The enthusiasm, the drive… Obama has it. I hope he wins.”

Reyes got into selling campaign paraphernalia through a random connection.

“I hooked up with my boss and we sell stuff for both parties,” he said. “I’m really just doing this to get money.”

Phunn agrees that the job has nothing to do with supporting a specific candidate.

“It is a job,” Phunn said. “Everybody’s doing it for the money. Anyone who tells you different is lying.”

Phunn and his company don’t give any of their profit to specific candidates. Instead, they donate money to both the RNC and DNC so that they will be allowed to go to the events.

According to Reyes, business is booming. He and his boss get 50 percent of the cut while the other 50 percent goes to the campaign.

“You can literally make about 1,000 T-shirts for $200,” he said. “It’s a great profit.”

Reyes sells his T-shirts for $20, and said that he usually has days like the one he had at Elon – he can sell about 40 shirts.

Towards the end of the rally though, Reyes lowers his price to $10, and has a strategy that he claims works.

“Once I started pouting, asking people to help me out…” he said, “…it really f’in works.”

With one of the most popular tents at the event, Phil Phunn says his visit to Elon was a good one financially.

Phunn agreed that his day at Elon was a good day for business.

“And hey, I got to see Hank Williams Jr.,” he said of the day’s rally. “I get to meet a lot of interesting people who want to chat.”

He has had the opportunity to meet and take pictures with many high-profile characters, including Hillary Clinton, during his time following campaigns. According to Phunn, the primaries are actually the best time to meet people, and the Democratic party’s candidates are often more friendly.

“The Republicans are a little shyer,” he said.

Phunn and Foran are one of seven different crews working wtih Campaign Curt.

“He tries to keep us all spread apart so we don’t have competition against each other,” Foran said.

As for the competition among individual vendors, most agree that it is a friendly relationship.

“Even the competition outside of our company,” Sheets said, “we’re all social… well, civil. But on the team, we’re really close.”

While traveling to different states and cities is exciting, Phunn said that life following the campaign can be trying, especially with a 4-year-old daughter at home. It is mentally, emotionally and physically exhausting.

As soon as they could pack up their van, Phunn and Foran were planning to drive the nine-hour trip to Cincinnati through the night, without even taking the time to stop for showers or sleep.

Jurate Kazickas shares her experience as a female journalist in the Vietnam War

Miriam Williamson

At least half of journalists in Iraq reporting on the war are women. But these statistics are a new phenomenon.

Jurate Kazickas was a freelance journalists in the Vietnam war.

At the age of 24, Kazickas traveled across the world to serve as a freelance reporter in Vietnam. At this time, a female reporter was far less common.

“Women who wanted to cover the war had to fight on two fronts,” Kazickas said.

They had to fight with their editors and newspapers to go, because they were often unwilling to send women, and they also had to fight official U.S. policy.

Editors and U.S. policies said war was a man’s story, it was too dangerous for women, females would be a distraction for men and there were no latrines available for women.

But Kazickas knew she wanted to be where the action was regardless of what it took.

“I think when I look back to why I went to Vietnam…it was the big story,” she said. “It was the story of my generation… it touched everybody.”

When she first left for Vietnam, Kazickas claimed to be pro-war, but was open to what she would see. Once she arrived, she realized the war was not what she thought.

“Reporters got to see it,” she said. “So they knew when the government reported wrong numbers.”

When she was first trying to find a story, a male reporter who was already preoccupied with another story recommended that she write a story about the effects of a Dear John letter. After this, she focused her reporting and writing on soldiers.

She wanted to show readers what it was like to be there, what it was like to kill someone and what it was like to be in a firefight.

Kazicas started writing hometown stories. She reported on boys in the army, and then sent her articles to their local papers.

“The runts – 18-19 year olds – loved having reporters with them,” Kazickas said. “The older generals were a little more difficult to deal with.”

One time, Kazickas decided to ignore a general’s attempts to prevent an excessive amount of journalists from being present at the Battle of Khe Sanh.

She had been there less than 24 hours when artillery shells showered the area she was in. Instead of dropping to the ground, she made the mistake of running to the closest foxhole.

“I instantly knew that I had been wounded,” she said. “Sure enough I had a piece of shrapnel in my rear end.”

After she recovered, she said she wanted to stay in Vietnam, but things had changed. She was much more scared and found it harder and harder to stay.

She explained the positive aspects of reporting on a war – it is erotic, addictive and exciting. It is a journalist’s duty to inform people of what is happening, and a war is definitely a place this is needed.

“But is any story worth your life?” Kazickas asked. “Bullets and bombs don’t discriminate.”

While she said it had a huge impact on her life, she encouraged journalists, male or female, to think very seriously before covering a war.

“If you want to cover a war,” Kazickas said, “talk to me first.”

After her speech, Kazickas sold and signed copies of “War Torn: Stories of War from the Women Reporters who Covered Vietnam,” a book she co-authored. To show her support for student journalism, she donated the proceeds to The Pendulum, Elon’s student-run newspaper.

Keren Rivas shares advice for covering courts and crimes

Becoming a good courts and crime reporter takes commitment and passion.

Keren Rivas has learned this as the beat reporter at the Burlington Times-News. She explained the tricks of the trade to student journalists in the Reporting for the Public Good class.

“You are seen as the enemy on most crime scenes,” Rivas said.

Because of this, reporters must find ways to get around obstacles and still get a solid story.

First of all, she recommends that reporters listen to the scanners to find leads for stories. But she warned against publishing everything that comes across the scanners, because often it may sound different than the truth.

She focused on the importance of confirming things to prevent unnecessary panic in the community.

One way to avoid confusion is to actually go to the crime scene. Not only will it be easier to get the full story, but it will also provide better details.

“You’re going to see things that you might not like,” Rivas said, “but you have to be ready for it.”

A hindrance reporters often face at crime scenes is the police. Officers are sometimes unwilling to discuss things with reporters.

“Having an attitude is not going to help you when you’re dealing with cops,” she said.

Rivas gave advice on how to get past this hurdle.

First of all, she said reporters should stay out of officials’ way, so that the officers have no reason to be frustrated with them.

Secondly, she recommended that reporters learn what each badge and symbol stands for regarding the position on the force. That way, the reporter can find the most important person.

Then, the reporters must build relationships with that person. That way, they have a source for other stories.

This also applies in the court. Reporters should introduce themselves to the judges and know the clerks.

“Everything you experience in courts involves people and emotions,” Rivas said.

This creates a very sensitive issue, because people are directly affected by what the reporter writes.

The biggest thing reporters must remember is to never convict people ahead of time. Even after people are arrested, they are still “accused of” something or “allegedly” did something.

There is also no victim. There is a prosecuting witness.

Something very important for reporters to be aware of are Public Records Laws. All reporters should know them, so they can use them for their advantage.

Rivas encouraged journalists to be very careful, but bold.

“We have made mistakes and we have learned so you don’t have to,” Rivas said.

Chapter 4: Courts and Crime

Miriam Williamson

At the very beginning of the chapter on crime and courts, Roy Peter Clark and Christopher Scanlan make a point I had never thought about before. They say that it is important for stories to not be exaggerated or sensationalized because of the fear it would instill in the public.

Journalists are always supposed to just stick to the facts, but even a slight change in word choice or tone could make a huge difference in the readers’ perceptions of the story.

A good article about crime and courts is something that warns the public without creating unnecessary fears. In “Caught in the Web: Evil at the Door,” Cathy Frye presents a situation that is very important in today’s society: the dangers of the Internet.

Frye describes the situation, proving that there was no evidence something could be wrong. This makes readers uncomfortable, something important for this type of writing. If readers do not feel uncomfortable, it is less likely they will understand the message behind the writing.

I was a little disappointed there was no ending though. This story probably would not have a strong of an effect on young teenagers who would be in the same situation. They would rationalize by thinking the two were not connected, which of course, is possible.

Some articles about crime and courts though, do not have an underlying warning because they are not as likely to happen to people.

In “Questions abound as Menendezes’ Retrial nears,” Seth Mydans discusses a less common crime. But at this time, this was a highly anticipated trial. So many people across America were interested in it, which on one hand made it easier for Mydans, but on the other made it harder.

Mydans could capture readers’ attentions just with the topic. But to keep them interested, he had to make it different from the rest.

It is very interesting that he includes the reaction to the lawyers’ arguments. This makes people question how they would react and makes people more invested in the trial.

It is also very affective that he includes the different options the defendants have, and the way this trial differs from the last.

Although “Suspect’s surrender ends attempted bank holdup” is a shorter article, it is very effective. Readers would not be able to read the first line or two and then skip it. Because it includes a detailed recount of everything that happened during the crime, it is much more interesting.

Also, the simple language, without any sort of flowery additions or unneeded wordiness, makes it much more readable and welcoming to readers.

The time this was published also makes it especially well-written. It was at a time when newspapers were a main form of information, so people wanted a lot of information at once, as quickly as possible.

While wordiness and fluff are always a bad thing in journalism, this super simplified writing may not always work though.

Seeing the story from a new perspective makes any sort of writing more interesting. In a crime and courts article, there are a few different options of the viewpoint the writer can take. One that is always unexpected though, is the judge’s.

In “Deaths define judge’s lifework – War memories, father’s suicide shape Shoob’s rulings,” Rhonda Cook explores what makes Marvin Shoob make his judgments.

That is a position many people would dread: deciding whether or not someone is guilty. So understanding how he does it is a very unique opportunity.

While Saddam Hussein’s hanging was an event some people may have watched on YouTube, it was an event people were curious about but may not have wanted to actually see.

In “Saddam Hussein is put to death – Former Iraqi president hanged before dawn in Baghdad to divided reaction,” Sudarsan Raghavan shows readers the event through the reactions of spectators. The readers don’t actually have to experience it themselves because they are able to use the responses from the people who actually were there to create their own experience.

It is a morbid topic, but it is one people were interested in. Again it is something that would be hard to find an appropriate angle for, but Raghavan does it well. There is no evidence of the writer’s person opinion, which is very important for this type of writing.

“In cold case, sins of the Outfit resurface,” John Kass uses techniques I both like and dislike.
First of all, he is very thorough in describing the crime. This of course makes it more interesting. He also tells the background of the story, so readers have an understanding of any possible reasoning, and how it could affect others.

Kass speaks directly to the reader though, using first person and second person. This is a tactic some may find effective, while others would see as a huge stylistic error. In this case, it doesn’t work as well as it could in another, but it does keep the reader wanting more.

The conclusion though, is truly powerful. It has a strength behind it that leaves readers shocked and uncomfortable.

Elon welcomes Leon Williams, the new director of the multicultural center

Miriam Williamson

Leon Williams is the new director of the multicultural center.

The multicultural center is open to every student, of every culture – not just minorities.

This is something Leon Williams, the new director of the multicultural center, wants to make more well-known.

“What we need to establish is a broader perspective of diversity and strengthen the cultural awareness of unique diversities on campus,” Williams said.

To do this, Williams plans to intensify programs to promote cultural awareness and respect, as well as overall awareness of the multicultural programs at Elon.

He complimented the efforts Elon has already made, saying that the staff at Elon, the multicultural center staff and L’ Tanya Richmond, the previous director of the multicultural center, have already made great progress.

“Ms. Richmond did a great job,” said Ashley Jenkins, student program coordinator of S.M.A.R.T. “She did everything she could for Elon. We’re all very glad to have [Williams].”

For Williams, one of his main focuses is integration.

“Anytime you’re implementing diversity, one of the challenges in higher education is integration,” he said.

He wants to encourage the implementation of integration in every aspect of life in the Elon community: academic, co-curricular and even in the community outside of the university.

Smith Jackson included this as one of the goals he said he hopes to see Williams achieve.

“It is for all students,” Jackson said. “Students want to know others that are different from them. It will expand from African Americans to other minorities and then include all students.”

Paul Parsons, dean of the School of Communications, meets Leon Williams' wife, Rochelle at a reception in the multicultural center.

Williams, his wife Rochelle and their two children, Sierra, 10, and Elijah, 4, moved to Elon from Storm Lake, Iowa, where he was the director of intercultural programs for eight years. While there, he oversaw diversity initiatives, recruitment, retention and co-curriculum.

“We built support systems for students to connect with campus and to assist with the transition,” Williams said.

With experience as an assistant football coach on a collegiate level, sports are a major part of Williams’ life.
Students should expect to see him in the weight room and working out on campus.

“I’m excited about joining intramurals,” he said. “But no one has approached me yet!”

All students can be a part of the multicultural center and the services it offers. To get involved, students can e-mail Williams at lwilliams25@elon.edu, call the center at (336) 278-7299, or even just stop by Moseley 221.

The multicultural center offers several information sessions where students can learn about the services that are available.

Palin exceeds expectations, but Biden comes out the winner

Elon community judges the vice presidential debate

Miriam Williamson

In an informal survey the day after the vice presidential candidates’ debate, Elon students, faculty and staff revealed that although Sarah Palin exceeded expectations, Sen. Joe Biden was the overall winner.

The televised debate took place Thursday night.

“For me, hands down, Biden won last night,” junior Dannika Lewis, said. “He just was a lot more aggressive and eloquent to me and he was so much more well versed – especially in diplomatic issues.”

This eloquence also deemed Biden the winner for Joshua Chagani, a member of Live Oaks.

“He speaks more clearly and … I felt he was more professional,” Chagani said. “He didn’t give shout outs or say ‘doggonit’ during the middle of his debate.”

85 of the 230 people polled, or nearly 27 percent, agreed that Biden was the overall winner.

While expert analysts said Biden’s responses were much more specific to the questions, people did not see this coming from Palin’s side.One problem some people found with Palin was that she seemed to change the topic, avoid questions or reiterate the things she knows.

“I think Palin held her own but I think she changed the subject too much,” senior Sarah Sanborn said.

After Palin’s highly criticized performance in her interview with Katie Couric of CBS, many Americans had low expectations for her in the debate.

“She came out a lot stronger than people were expecting,” said Vic McGlaughlin, a technology resources employee.

It was for this reason that Vic Costello, chose neither Biden nor Palin as the winner.

“I thought they both performed equally well,” he said.

Nearly 12 percent were in agreement that the debate resulted in a tie.

This was also a common consensus among the pundits, who said there was no clear winner.

23 percent of the people polled deemed Palin the overall winner.

“I just ended up liking her a lot more than Joe Biden,” said Caroline Fox, graphics designer for The Pendulum. “I thought she was a lot more likable.”

Analysts commented on Palin’s animated responses, which probably gave her an edge with some Americans.

Even though Lewis didn’t think Palin won, she agreed with Fox.

“She was probably able to connect to the general public really well,” Lewis said.

18 students in a reporting course conducted this survey by gathering a convenience sample of 230 people between 10:50 and 11:30 a.m. Friday. Approximately 28 percent of people gave no response, either because they didn’t watch or didn’t want to comment.

Common reading author speaks on inequality

Kozol blames government for public education shortcomings

Miriam Williamson

Photo by Laura Bradford

Every child, regardless of race or class, deserves the opportunity for a solid education. But this is not the case in America today.

Jonathan Kozol, author of 2005 bestseller “The Shame of the Nation: The Restoration of Apartheid Schooling in America” put much of the blame for the lack of opportunity for students in inner city schools on government officials at the 2008-2009 Common Reading Lecture.

“Good teachers … especially teachers of young people, are not, and should refuse, to be drill sergeants of the state or servants of global corporations,” Kozol said.

According to Kozol, government officials treat public education in inner city schools like a corporation. The teachers though, are not to blame for this. Instead, Kozol praised them for their efforts.

Unlike the schools of upper-class white students, inner city schools with minority children do not have the same standards. This, plus the implementation of No Child Left Behind, has left these students to face serious consequences in the quality of their education.

Kozol criticized government officials for establishing policies for something they have no idea about.

“Very few of the people in the U.S. Department of Education would ever survive as first grade teachers because children wouldn’t stand them,” he said. “They are mean and stiff and gloomy.”

Kozol has lobbied in Washington to alter the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001, criticizing the effect it has on inner city school children and the teachers.

Kozol said that No Child Left Behind should not be a part of U.S. education because it does nothing to improve situations for students. Instead of providing funds for the schools they expect to comply with testing requirements, they are simply punishing the schools.

According to Kozol, Massachusetts Sen. Ted Kennedy, a sponsor of No Child Left Behind, promised the law would not be reauthorized.

“I don’t believe [No Child Left Behind] can be fixed,” Kozol said. “I believe it needs to be repealed. Abolished. Eradicated.”

During his speech, Kozol also discussed the benefits of working with and teaching young children.
He taught in the Boston Public Schools for a while, but was fired for reading a Langston Hughes poem to his fourth grade class.

As a result of this experience, he wrote “Death at an Early Age.” He has also written “Letters to a Young Teacher” and “Amazin Grace: The Lives of Children and the Conscience of a Nation.”