Pages

Thursday, December 31, 2009

Time Capsule: The 2009 of My Life

Thinking about my 2009 seemed to be, on its surface, nothing spectacular. But once I took the time to reflect on some of the amazing moments I’ve had, the incredible opportunities that have come my way and even some of the simple things that have had a tremendous impact on my life, I now realize that 2009 has been a great year in my life’s journey. I’ve learned a lot about myself, grown in so many ways and altered my outlook on life…all for the better.

Here are some of the things I think of when I look back on my 2009:

January

1. I began my term as the first Online Editor-in-Chief at The Pendulum. It was a brand new position that I was able to define and formulate throughout 2009. When I shot The Pendulum’s first video for Valentine’s Day of my sophomore year, I never imagined how much we would be able to grow our multimedia and online coverage in just one year thanks to a dedicated and innovative staff. I couldn’t have done it without the strong multimedia editors and the incredible editorial staff who were so committed to expanding our online presence.

2. A once in a lifetime experience as a journalist came to me Jan. 17 to 19 when I traveled to Washington, D.C., to cover President Barack Obama’s Inauguration for The Pendulum. Along with Olivia Hubert-Allen, Alyse Knorr, Derek Noble and our adviser Colin Donohue, we compiled videos, a photo slideshow and a special 8-page inauguration insert for our second Winter Term edition. I got to interview vendors, Red Cross volunteers, a distinguished guest from the Comoro Islands and at least a dozen other people from around the country. We spent the night on the window seats in my dad’s office in Arlington just so we could beat the traffic and Metro rush the morning of the inauguration. The sunrise over the Capitol was breathtaking. I couldn’t have been more excited to stand in the bitter cold that weekend.

3. The night I got back to Elon from D.C., I packed my bags and left before dawn the next morning to catch a flight to Alabama for my Leadership Fellows Winter Term class. Our weeklong trip took us to Birmingham, Selma and Montgomery, and Atlanta, Ga., to learn about the Civil Rights Movement. It was an emotional experience that taught me a great deal more than I ever knew about that period in American history. I enjoyed bonding with the junior class of Fellows and traveling to parts of the country I have always wanted to visit.
    February


    4. Another amazing Pendulum staff retreat to Seven Lakes – it’s a wonderful trip with wonderful people where we learn lots of wonderful journalism things.

    5. Twitter and Ashley become friends. For the longest time, I swore I would never join the Twitterverse…famous last words since I’m now an addict. I sent out my first tweet at 3:12 p.m. on Feb. 16: “finally tweeting on twitter!”
      March


      6. Elon celebrates a snow day on March 2!

      7. Madeleine Albright delivers a very empowering speech at Elon’s Spring Convocation for
      Honors.

      April

      8. I met Anderson Cooper and got a picture taken with him! Before he arrived, Alex Trice and I decided it would be our goal to get a photo with him since we’re Triple A: Ashley, Alex, Anderson. Sure enough, it happened.


      9. Oma celebrated her confirmation.

      10. Chaplain McBride became chaplain emeritus in a lovely ceremony in Whitley. I've always enjoyed writing stories about Chaplain McBride, so this was yet another one for me to write for The Pendulum.

      11. I was inducted into Phi Kappa Phi, the academic honors society I wanted to earn a spot in as soon as I learned about it freshman year.


      12. David Wells and I took Dr. Hatcher to our Turning 21 Dinner. It was particularly sentimental because Chaplain McBride started the Elon tradition years ago, so he spoke at his final Turning 21 Dinner.

      May


      13. I turned 21! My mom and dad came down to celebrate my birthday with me, and along with Roomie, they threw me a surprise birthday party. I was SHOCKED! I then proceeded to have one of the best birthdays ever. Since I was little, I always wanted my first drink to be a pina colada from Olive Garden, so some of my best friends came with me to celebrate.

      14. I watched some of my dearest friends graduate Under the Oaks.

      June, July & August


      15. My German relatives came to visit and we took them all over the place for one of my favorite and most memorable vacations ever. We took them to a Maryland Blue Crabs baseball game, traveled to Ocean City, New York City and Orlando to Disney and Sea World with my cousins.

      16. Cavemen are real people, too, I learned as I started my internship in the news video “cave” at The Washington Post. I met some incredible people and enjoyed every minute I spent interning there. Some of my most memorable stories to cover were the Beat Ya Feet Kings, the Running of the Brides, Michael Jackson’s death and the 4th of July.


      17. Toasted to senior year with some of my best friends and fellow seniors Alexa, Amanda and, of course, Roomie.

      September

      18. BIG change in my life: My love for football is born. I began covering football for The Pendulum with my darling sports editors, Pam Richter and Sunshine (Sam) Calvert. One of my favorite games was when we road-tripped to Wake Forest together. I enjoyed every second I spent on the field with David, Jack Dodson and Lindsay Fendt, and in the press box with Pam and Sunshine.

      October

      19. Belk Library hosts a rave! Highlight: When everyone in attendance rocked out to “Party in the U.S.A.” and The Pendulum’s business manager Chris Dorsey was spotted crowd surfing.

      20. Celebrating John and Alexa’s engagement! (I’m so honored to be a reader at the wedding!)

      21. The Pendulum wins the coveted Pacemaker award in Austin, Texas. It was a wonderful trip for the six of us who went with Colin, but I didn’t truly feel the excitement of the win until we were back at Elon to celebrate with the entire staff.


      November

      22. Pam becomes the new editor-in-chief of The Pendulum. SO proud of her.

      23. Awa comes home. Sophomore year, I told the story of Awa and her family. Her struggle to obtain a visa to come home to North Carolina is finally over. Getting a hug from Awa was a defining moment in my journalism career.

      24. Attended the midnight showing of “New Moon” with Roomie and Alexa. A-mazing.


      25. Ran a 5K in Elon’s annual Turkey Trot! I have wanted to run in the trot since freshman year but was never brave enough until now. I’m so happy that I did it…even if it did take me forever to finish the race.

      December

      26. Officially had an article published in every section of The Pendulum when my first column (about the social ramifications of Twilight) ran in the opinions section. I was very intimidated because of our opinion editor, Morgan Little’s greatness.

      27. Finished the first semester of my senior year – the hardest semester of my life – and oh, it was sweet victory.

      28. Packed up my things and moved out of the International Pavilion, my home since spring of freshman year.

      29. Came home to enjoy a beautiful blizzard and our first white Christmas in years.

      30. My final Ya-Ya sister, Brittany, turned 21 while Lizzie and Caitlin turned 22. We celebrated Christmas at our annual Ya-Ya get-together.

      Some Books I Read
      For the second and third time: Twilight, New Moon, Eclipse and Breaking Dawn
      The Host
      Anne of Green Gables
      The Notebook
      He’s Just Not That Into You

      Some Songs I Loved
      1, 2, 3, 4 (Plain White T’s)
      5 Years Time (Noah and the Whale)
      All the Right Moves (OneRepublic)
      Fallin’ For You (Colbie Caillat)
      Fireflies (Owl City)
      Flightless Bird, American Mouth (Iron & Wine)
      If It Kills Me (Jason Mraz)
      Love Story (Taylor Swift)
      Lucky (Jason Mraz and Colbie Caillat)
      Say (All I Need) (OneRepublic)
      Somewhere Out There (From An American Tail, Starlite Orchestra & Singers)
      To Be With You (David Archuleta)
      The Time of My Life (David Cook)
      Use Somebody (Kings of Leon)
      Viva la Vida (Coldplay)
      We Belong Together (Gavin DeGraw)
      You Belong With Me (Taylor Swift)
      You Found Me (The Fray)

      Artists I (finally) discovered and CDs I loved
      Gavin DeGraw
      Owl City: “Ocean Eyes”
      Noah and the Whale: “The First Days of Spring”
      Kings of Leon: “Only By The Night”
      OneRepublic: “Dreaming Out Loud,” “Waking Up”
      Arctic Monkeys: “Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What I’m Not”
      Vampire Weekend: “Vampire Weekend”
      Oasis: “Dig Out Your Soul”
      Bark Cat Bark: “Mathilde”
      Boys Like Girls: “Boys Like Girls”
      Lady Gaga
      …and, of course, the New Moon and Twilight soundtracks

      Wednesday, December 30, 2009

      A thousand a day...25

      Starbucks was a must after lunch with Roomie in chilly Arlington today.


      2009 as a Soundtrack

      So much of my life revolves around music. I wake up to music, I fall asleep to music. When I'm in class I always have some song in my head. As soon as I get to my iPod or laptop, I play the song that's been stuck in my head all day and proceed to play more music as background to my daily tasks.

      Looking through my iTunes - the top 25 most played, my autumn playlist, my summer playlist and all my other playlists - I came up with 2,009 of my favorite songs from 2009!

      Just kidding...I narrowed it down to 67 (I'm sorry I couldn't do a better job of cutting the list down):


      1, 2, 3, 4 (Plain White T’s)
      5 Years Time (Noah and the Whale)
      All the Right Moves (OneRepublic)
      All the Way (Frank Sinatra and Celine Dion)
      Boom Boom Pow (Black Eyed Peas)
      Claire De Lune (Claude Debussy)
      Don’t Stop Believin’ (Journey)
      Don’t Trust Me (3OH!3)
      Down (Jay Sean)
      Empire State of Mind (Jay-Z)
      Fallin’ For You (Colbie Caillat)
      Fireflies (Owl City)
      Flightless Bird, American Mouth (Iron & Wine)
      Follow Through (Gavin DeGraw)
      Gives You Hell (The All-American Rejects)
      Heartless (Kris Allen)
      Hey There Delilah (Plain White T’s)
      Hollywood’s Not America (Ferras)
      I Gotta Feeling (Black Eyed Peas)
      I Have You to Thank (Gavin DeGraw)
      I Know You Want Me (Calle Ocho) (Pitbull)
      I’m On A Boat (The Lonely Island)
      I’m Yours (Jason Mraz)
      If It Kills Me (Jason Mraz)
      Jai Ho! (A.R. Rahman and Pussycat Dolls)
      Just Dance (Lady GaGa)
      Leave Out All the Rest (Linkin Park)
      Let It Rock (Kevin Rudolf feat. Lil Wayne)
      Love of an Orchestra (Noah and the Whale)
      Love Remains the Same (Gavin Rossdale)
      Love Story (Taylor Swift)
      Lucky (Jason Mraz and Colbie Caillat)
      Mad World (Michael Andrews and Gary Jules)
      Magnificent (U2)
      Never Say Never (The Fray)
      Parachute (Shugo Tokumaru)
      Party in the U.S.A. (Miley Cyrus)
      Poker Face (Lady GaGa)
      Possibility (Lykke Li)
      Realize (Colbie Caillat)
      Satellite Heart (Anya Marina)
      Say (All I Need) (OneRepublic)
      Second Chance (Shinedown)
      Sex on Fire (Kings of Leon)
      Shadow Of The Day (Linkin Park)
      Shake It (Metro Station)
      Shattered (O.A.R.)
      She Holds a Key (Gavin DeGraw)
      Shooting the Moon (OK Go)
      Single Ladies (Beyoncé)
      So What (Pink)
      Somewhere Only We Know (Keane)
      Somewhere Out There (From An American Tail, Starlite Orchestra & Singers)
      Stolen (Dashboard Confessional)
      Streets of London (Ralph McTell)
      The Climb (Miley Cyrus)
      The Time of My Life (David Cook)
      Thunder (Boys Like Girls)
      To Be With You (David Archuleta)
      Use Somebody (Kings of Leon)
      Viva la Vida (Coldplay)
      Waking Up In Vegas (Katy Perry)
      We Belong Together (Gavin DeGraw)
      Whatcha Say (Jason Derulo)
      Write You A Song (Plain White T’s)
      You Belong With Me (Taylor Swift)
      You Found Me (The Fray)

      A thousand a day...24

      Today was a wonderful day. I went to work with my dad and Metro'd over to have lunch with my friends/co-workers at The Washington Post and it was so great to see them again. It reminded me of how much I really enjoy D.C. and how much I would love to work in the city after I graduate.


      Sunday, December 27, 2009

      A thousand a day...22

      The snow's been melted away by the freezing rain, so it's finally safe for Dad to winterize the boat



      And now for a special edition...my mom's photo of the day! And it goes with a rhyme: "The snow melts away on the 27th day."


      Friday, December 25, 2009

      A thousand a day...20 & 21

      Friday, Dec. 25, 2009

      "A Christmas Carol"-like fog stole over the graveyard...




      Thursday, Dec. 24, 2009

      My family spends every Christmas Eve at my dad's parents' house. There are usually more than 20 of us with all the cousins, aunts, uncles and friends, which makes it really wonderful. Every year, starting when I was probably 7 years old, we sing tons of Christmas carols as I play the piano. Our favorite song, and the grand finale, is the "12 Days of Christmas" because every person or couple randomly picks one of the days and has to sing that part when it comes up in the song. This year, my brother Michael and his girlfriend Taylor just happened to pick "Two Turtle Doves." *Cue Awwww*

      Side note: I also got a really awesome flash for my camera this year, so I had lots of fun experimenting with it the whole night!


      Sunday, December 20, 2009

      A thousand a day...16

      My brother, Michael, blasts the snow from our driveway. We ended up with about 18 inches and were happily stuck at home for the day.


      Saturday, December 19, 2009

      A thousand a day...15

      Since I love the snow so much, I had too much difficultly picking just one photo for today. Forgive me!

      Comet trying to be helpful and shovel the snow (even though the original shoveling at 11 a.m. did no good anyway).















      My dad's favorite tree (a Norwegian blue spruce, come to find out) blanketed in snow by 6 p.m.


      Friday, December 18, 2009

      A thousand a day...14

      Snow blizzarding down by my front door...apparently what's to become the biggest storm in 100 years!


      Thursday, December 17, 2009

      Monday, December 14, 2009

      A thousand a day...10

      The night I say goodbye to the International Pavilion, my home for the past three years. It's the final night I will spend here since we're moving to the Oaks this spring. This is the view from my balcony:


      Sunday, December 13, 2009

      A thousand a day...9

      Studying in The Pendulum office for my media law exam at 8:30 a.m. tomorrow. Womp. Here's what I need to survive (toss in an Irazu raspberry mocha around 3 a.m. and I'll be set):


      Friday, December 11, 2009

      A thousand a day...8

      Seeing as today is the 8th day and 8 is my favorite number, it's only appropriate that I woke up to this outside my window:


      Thursday, December 10, 2009

      A thousand a day...7


      Leo Smith Chompers Francis Whittington, The Pendulum's very own squirrel (nutcracker), holds an acorn in Macland (the vault).

      I found an opinion!

      I have officially written for every section of The Pendulum. My final section, and in my opinion the most terrifying, was opinions. But this week, Morgan Little, the opinions editor, convinced me to find an opinion and write my first column. So, here it is...I found an opinion on "Twilight":

      When 'Twilight' loses its sparkle

      There he stood like the Greek Adonis. There she stood several feet away, tortured by the desire to approach him and weave her fingers through his tousled bronze hair and stare into his molten gold eyes. When his gravitational pull inevitably draws her close enough to touch him, realization hits. He's too good to be true. He does not actually exist. She crumbles on the spot.

      The "Twilight" series didn't invent the concept of women existing solely to find the men to marry and begin a family with. The series just perpetuates a theme that has survived in popular culture for decades. Author Stephenie Meyer even references the classic love stories of "Wuthering Heights" and "Romeo and Juliet" in her own story.

      The readership of "Twilight" is the same general audience for Disney stories where the damsel in distress spends the entire tale seeking her Prince Charming. Young girls, who have never been in love before, are reading these books and gaining a false idea of what first love is like. Edward and his ilk set a high bar for men. Who wouldn't want the mysterious man with a classically tortured soul? He's beautiful, polite, refined, listens to classical music and sparkles in the sun. Any young girl would want that.

      According to Box Office Mojo, "‘New Moon' distributor Summit Entertainment's exit polling indicated that 80 percent of the audience was female and 50 percent was under 21 years old." No matter how appealing the "Twilight" series is, and regardless of how many times girls devour the books and watch the movies, the negative connotations the themes have regarding gender roles in the context of romantic relationships cannot be avoided.

      Women in popular culture are often portrayed as weak. Bella Swan "wins" in the end by getting the guy, but what she teaches her young female audience along the way lacks empowerment. When Edward leaves her, she falls apart and loses her will to live. Because of her full devotion to Edward, she has no friends to turn to in her time of need.

      From the very beginning of the "Twilight" series, it's apparent that Bella's only goal is to be with Edward forever. She doesn't want college, she doesn't want a job and she doesn't even want children.

      But it's not Edward's fault. Everything that drives Bella is about him. Edward pushes her to experience all those human things she would rather not have.

      Any cultural production reflects the populace as a whole, and the themes in turn influence society. In the same way, it also reinforces how we perceive gender, said Lynn Huber, assistant professor of religious studies and the women's/gender studies program coordinator at Elon.

      A practicing Mormon, Meyer is writing from a particular perspective with very clear thoughts on religion and sex. Beyond the theme of abstinence, Religion Dispatches cites the Mormon values of eternal marriage and family life as the strongest themes in "Twilight."

      Rebecca Pope-Ruark, assistant professor of English at Elon, taught a vampire literature Winter Term class that included "Twilight." She said one has to take Bella for who she is: a 17-year-old girl who is bound to grow unhealthily attached to her first love. If Bella had been 25 years old, then she would be considered supremely weak. Like Bella, when someone we love leaves us, we seek validation elsewhere. When Edward left, Bella ran to Jacob Blake for safety and to seek that validation.

      It's a puzzle as to why popular culture is ridden with weak female characters. When it comes to the best sellers and blockbusters, a damsel in distress sells.

      "New Moon" brought in a $143 million opening weekend. Women today aren't weak, but for some reason, we relate to the weak characters in popular culture. Maybe our nurturing tendencies lend themselves to pitying characters like Bella. Or maybe those weak characters help us find that fulfillment we've been seeking in knowing we are stronger than them.

      The "Twilight" series won't be the last to present its female protagonist as powerless. The themes of eternal love and finding a soul mate ring true because of what we've been taught: to be attracted to the mythical male savior figure. We want someone to take care of us and protect us while we, in turn, can take care of them. It's become so culturally ingrained that it's nearly impossible to step out of it.

      Many men's trash, anyone's treasure

      This is my final story as an editor at The Pendulum...and in true Ashley style, it's a feature story:



      Melissa Kansky went along with me and shot this video.


      In the back of the store, one can find melted and flattened green glass bottles in one corner and dolls made out of old T-shirts in the opposite corner. The main room is lined in plastic blue barrels filled to the brim with buttons, hangers, stockings, Burger King crowns and other random trinkets.

      In the Artist's Marketplace, one can discover everything from an adorned Chinese checkerboard, a necklace made with spoon handles, purses, decorative buttons to a cardboard construction of WALL-E.

      And that just scratches the surface of the layout of The Scrap Exchange in Durham, N.C.
      The creative reuse center is a place for artists, children, teachers, collectors and anyone with an imagination. Its mission is "to promote creativity, environmental awareness and community through reuse."

      The nonprofit is 90 percent self-sufficient, and it supplements all activities through fundraising, support from the city of Durham, different grants and foundations and individual donations.

      The Scrap Exchange's materials come from different industries. The center specializes in industrial discards, but it has opened the door to residential waste. Businesses and manufacturers get rid of leftovers by giving them to sustainable stores like The Scrap Exchange.


      The store receives more than 800 drop-off material donations per year in addition to collections from regular visits to more than 250 businesses around Durham.

      "There's only 44 creative reuse centers in the country in 13 states, and we are the only one in North Carolina," Executive Director Ann Woodward said.

      Since the store is a destination location for people looking for strange and unusual materials, Woodward said they attract people from across the state.

      Chris Rosenthal, an immigrant who worked for a similar organization in her home country of Australia, started The Scrap Exchange in 1991. Rosenthal, along with her husband, got together with some other people interested in the project.

      Woodward started in 1994 when she did outreach for a creative art service. She directed hands-on programming, drove to factories to pick up materials and helped with almost every job.

      She minored in sculpture at Buffalo State College, where she found a particular passion for metal.

      "(I) just realized there is a lot of power in found objects and found materials, and I'm very interested in how things fit together," she said.

      Bethany Yoder has been to The Scrap Exchange on several occasions, but was there for a particular reason this week.

      Along with her 4-and-a-half-year-old daughter Lily, Yoder was searching for materials to make Christmas gifts for her nieces and nephews. She wanted to make fuzzy little critters with eyes and noses, flags, wands or caterpillars. In the past, Yoder has come to the store to buy rugs for her home, materials for sewing projects and supplies to make birthday gifts.


      The store hosts more than 70 birthday parties on- and off-site per year. Laura Conner brought her older daughter to the store for a birthday party with her school friends.

      "It's very neat," Conner said. "Kids like it a lot. It's a good way to recycle things."

      In addition to birthdays, The Scrap Exchange offers hands-on creative arts programming at festivals and big fairs, visits schools to host creative arts workshops, trains teachers on how to use the materials in their curriculums and leads corporate teambuilding workshops.
      School visits cost $1.75 per child.

      Woodward came to Elon years ago to lead a professional development course with students training to be teachers. She brought materials and gave an introduction about where they came from.

      Woodward said her goal in leading workshops like these is to explain how the process of reuse centers work so the participants know there are resources out there.

      "It's like teaching people how to farm," Woodward said. "If they know how to find the materials, they can use that for the rest of their life."

      Woodward said her favorite materials in the center are the fire extinguishers and the construction and demolition waste, especially the metal.

      "People bring in their collections of fabric, which I think is one of my favorite things that happens," Woodward said.

      One woman was making saris with fabric she collected from the 1960s and 1970s and brought in her leftovers. The Scrap Exchange is well known for its fabric and for what it sells from the blue barrels. The barrels are filled with random items with which patrons can fill a bag for a set price.


      The Scrap Exchange also has a "Green Gallery," where it exhibits more than 100 artists per year.

      "The gallery promotes artists who are using reuse materials in their artwork," Woodward said.

      Woodward said the center has a no-glue policy. When people don't use glue, they begin to think about the properties of the materials, Woodward said.

      "You're not sitting around waiting for the glue to dry,"  Woodward said. "You're actually having this vibrant, active conversation about what you're doing with the materials.And you're creating community. You're talking to the person next to you."

      The education students Woodward works with have to make something and do a critique at the end of the workshop to talk about what they made and why.

      "I like function," Woodward said. "I'm a big form and function person. I want things to be beautiful that you can use on a daily basis."

      Exhibit A was the orange flower pinned to her chest. It was made out of a smashed aerosol can top.

      "I just think collecting and disseminating used materials should really be a part of the future because we really need to conserve resources," Woodward said. "We can't keep cutting down trees. We need to keep what is valuable out of the landfill and put it in the hands of people who can use the materials."

      A thousand a day...5 and 6

      I fell desperately behind on my photos because I pulled an all-nighter doing a final project and creating a video for our Pendulum end-of-the-year party. It's been an emotional past couple of days, for sure...especially since today was my last official day as online editor-in-chief of The Pendulum. Sadness aside, here are my photos:

      Tuesday, Dec. 8

      This is an epic foosball battle among some of our favorite professors during our Pendulum party: Dr. Hatcher, Colin, Dr. Makemson and Dean Parsons.

      Wednesday, Dec. 9


      Monday, December 7, 2009

      A thousand a day...4

      I'm in the warm Pendulum office again with my darlings Rachel, Alexa, Sunshine and Pam, and the moon and snowflake lights outside are just perfect for the cold and near-snowy atmosphere we're experiencing at Elon today. I put off my photo of the day until now, which gives you an idea of how insanely busy this pre-finals week is going. I'm going to try to do better as soon as life calms down. Thanks to my Sunshine with helping me decide on a photo again...the pretty snowflakes just outside the office.


      Saturday, December 5, 2009

      A thousand a day...3


      I traveled to Durham this afternoon to visit the Scrap Exchange, a nonprofit reuse center where people and corporations can donate their crazy and random items to be reused and purchased to create art. It was an amazing place to visit - you could get lost in the store just looking at every detail in every crevice.

      Friday, December 4, 2009

      A thousand a day...2

      I came across this puddle between the pavilions and the Truitt Center when I was on my way to get Pam and Sunshine for our "family dinner."

      My final Luminarias

      To complement my first "thousand words" post, here are a few other photos from tonight's Luminarias...my final one. It's one of those things I love so much I would consider coming back to Elon just for the Luminarias every year.





      A thousand a day...the first

      In the Pendulum office this morning, my friend David Wells decided to launch something called "A thousand a day..." where he takes a photo each day. He asked Alex Trice and I to join him on this project to motivate one another, so we all decided to make this a special new addition to our blogs. We're bringing photography back to what's most meaningful in life, not setting out to take award-winning photos, but trying to capture the single moments that say a thousand words.

      My first photo is from tonight's Luminaries, one of my favorite Elon traditions. I thought this particular photo would be appropriate for our new project since this is one little light among thousands.


      Friday, September 25, 2009

      Demon Deacons beat the "Fighting Christians"...but I still had a baller time


      We may have lost to Wake Forest last week, but I still had an incredible time. The stadium was amazing - SO big. And the Pendulum people I was with made it even more enjoyable.

      I went onto the roof to shoot video during halftime and the view, as I suspected, was breathtaking. I love the top of Rhodes Stadium, but this is even higher in the air.



      And as soon as Pam, Sam and I got back to campus, I put together a highlights reel. I was ready this time and finished it quickly thanks to taking timecode notes on my phone any time I saw an awesome play.



      It took me several hours (most of Monday's production night) to edit the bigger all-encompassing video, and I decided to try a voiceover. I may need to work on my sporty voice, though:



      The best part: I'm slowing starting to understand football. It will probably take a few more games for me to feel like an expert, but I'm definitely starting to grasp some concepts.

      I am SO proud of Pam and Sam for all the hard work they are putting in to The Pendulum's football coverage. They tweet and blog throughout the game in addition to keeping stats/play-by-play notes and preparing the big overall stories. They never cease to impress me and they really have taken Pendulum sports to a whole new level this semester.

      Before the game started (we began the trek to Wake at about 2:30 so we could get our bearings), we hit up the Elon tailgate and interviewed some students, alumni, and my personal favorite, Dr. Danieley:



      Can't wait for Georgia Southern during Family Weekend on Saturday!

      Rubber Ducky, you're the one...of 7,000

      This past Sunday, I got to cover a Meals on Wheels event that raised money for food for the elderly. It was a race that consisted of 7,000 yellow rubber ducks. Yes, it is true. And yes, it was amazing. Before I set out on this story, I was picturing a few people sticking their ducks of various shapes, sizes and colors (though predominantly yellow), into a pool to push or blow along to the finish line. But I was very, very wrong. I arrived at the YMCA in Burlington with Melissa, a freshman reporter who came with me to write the story and learn how to shoot video. And when we got into the pool area, we were faced with at least a dozen tubs filled to the brim with what we soon found out were 7,000 rubber ducks.

      The tubs were dumped into the pool on the count of three and sprayed to the finish line with hoses. It was an awesome sight, and rightfully so for such an awesome cause. I was blessed to be a part of it, and to be working with Melissa - it's always a joy to teach someone about something I love, especially when they are so enthusiastic about it.

      Here is Melissa's story, and here is the video I shot and edited with Melissa:

      Saturday, September 19, 2009

      Fighting Christians vs. Demon Deacons

      OK, so we're not the Fighting Christians anymore, but how cool would it be if that was still our mascot and we were facing the Demon Deacons tomorrow? Answer: Really cool. Even though we're the baller Phoenix now, I'm stoked to be going to the Wake Forest game tomorrow. I've said it before, but I am SO excited about sports this semester. I don't know where/when it really started, but I think some of it is rooted in my internship at The Washington Post this summer. I only got to edit a couple sports videos myself, but attending the AT&T National and taping/producing Washington Post Live every night must have set off some sporty trigger. And I am so glad.

      I am headed to Wake Forest for our big game tomorrow with Pam, Sam and David. And we have press passes, something I am LOVING. It's only my second game shooting video, but after our Davidson game a couple weeks ago, I've been looking forward to this day for a long time. And THIS is the stadium we're working with:



      It's a whole different ball game from those in Rhodes Stadium, and the other awesome aspect to this game is that Wake Forest is the second Football Bowl Subdivision team Elon has played in its history. (Pendulum: http://www.elon.edu/pendulum/Story.aspx?id=2546). Wake Forest is 1-1 and we're 2-0. I sure hope tomorrow turns out to be a win for the Phoenix, because not only do I get to witness it, but I get to report it.

      Wednesday, September 9, 2009

      My New Touchdown

      This semester, I am shooting video at all the home football games. I have always loved watching football even though I never really understood it, but now I'm REALLY in love with it. I'm slowly but surely learning all the rules and I'm having a blast standing on the sidelines and shooting.

      I am becoming a sports person. I'm truly surprised at myself. Last weekend, we played a great game against Davidson and I cannot wait until the next game. We play at Wake Forest on the 19th, so I'll get to travel for that game and get my next shooting experience.

      My favorite video so far was a feature I did on Terrell "T-Mobile" Hudgins and Scott Riddle, two stars of the team...Batman and Robin as Terrell says. I had a great time getting to interview the guys with Pam Richter, the sports editor:





      The scrimmage I shot for the Terrell/Scott feature was great practice for my next football video from the Davidson games. I did a "Scene In" Rhodes Stadium, game highlights reel, and highlights from the press conference after the game:















      I absolutely cannot wait until the next game and I'm stoked to learn more about football! Getting to go up in the Rhodes Stadium press box with Sam, Pam and David is really great - the view is amazing. An even better view is from the very top of the press box. It's breathtakingly cool.

      Saturday, August 29, 2009

      New Student Convocation: Class of 2013 charged with years of discovery, self-reflection, growth


      This morning was the first of many hard mornings to come this year - I'm a senior and people keep reminding me of it. I went to convocation this morning and covered it for the Pendulum...and I definitely cried several times. There's nothing like a Leo Lambert speech to bring on my waterworks. Everything about the morning, down to the overcast sky, was bittersweet for me.

      Here's my story (photo courtesy of the lovely Lindsay Fendt):

      As the triumphal procession music began, the cloth backdrop of the podium in front of West dormitory was parted. From there emerged George Troxler with the Elon mace. Following him were the robed and rainbow regalia-clad faculty members. Under the Oaks sat the members of the class of 2013, transfer students, family and guests. Thus was the scene of New Student Convocation the cloudy and cool morning of Aug. 29.

      Troxler, rather than having to organize this year's convocation – as was his usual job – was bestowed with the honor of bearing the mace. Troxler passed his torch as dean of cultural and special programs when he retired last spring.

      In another new position was Phil Smith, who gave his first invocation as associate chaplain and director of religious life, a task usually set to Chaplain Emeritus Richard McBride.

      The ceremony begins with a minister, Smith said, because when Elon's founders stood beneath the grove of oaks where the class of 2013 now sits, they envisioned an institution where mind, body and spirit would be enhanced and transformed. The spiritual dimension of life is celebrated and honored at Elon, as is the quest for finding a purpose and meaning in life.

      To the "God of new beginnings," Smith led a prayer for the students to discover and develop their true selves during their time at Elon, and for the parents and loved ones to "find a deep sense of comfort."

      "May the years ahead be filled with the joy of discovery for each and every one of us," Smith said.

      Justin Peterson, Student Government Association president, welcomed the class and took a quick photo of everyone from his podium view. He told the students to create a mindset to "enjoy your time because it goes faster than I can explain."

      Peterson had student athletes raise their hands and pointed out that one of them would score a winning point. The scholarship recipients were asked to raise their hands. And then the students who thought they might not make it into Elon received the same request. To that group, Peterson said one of them may become the next student body president, because he belongs to that group.

      "You are now a voice on campus," Peterson said. "And as the freshman class, you are usually the loudest."

      Vice President and Dean of Student Life Smith Jackson presented the class of 2013 to Steven House, provost and vice president for academic affairs. The students come from 39 states, the District of Columbia and 28 countries.

      "This class will enrich Elon University," Jackson said.

      House welcomed the dynamic new class and introduced them to the 340 faculty members sitting with them Under the Oaks.

      "The Elon faculty are truly remarkable and devoted teachers, mentors and scholars," House said. "They will stretch you and challenge you more than you can even imagine."

      In what President Leo Lambert called "one of the most meaningful occasions of the academic year," he announced it would be "the first of many goodbyes parents will say to their college-age children."

      "In a parent's mind, remembrances both big and small come into clear focus on mornings like this one," Lambert said. "I can identify with the tear in mom's eye and the lump in dad's throat. ...I know how proud they are and what a privilege it's been to help you reach this day."

      Compared with the billions of people on Earth who live in poverty, suffer from HIV/AIDS and are illiterate, Elon students are among the most privileged people on the face of the Earth, Lambert pointed out. And as such, students must ask themselves, "What am I going to do with the gift of an Elon education?"

      In the middle of one Elon tradition, Lambert announced another that the class would now witness.

      "You're going to hear a train go by," he said, "and I'm going to grab a drink of water. Justin, you want to grab some more photos?"

      The moment of hilarity was a jolt and break in the tenderness of his message that members of the Elon community are caring above all else.

      "You will be changed in ways you can now not imagine," he said.

      Donna Van Bodegraven, associate professor of foreign languages, explained Elon's four pillars of honesty, integrity, responsibility and respect, and Chuck Griffith, father of 2010 graduate, Katie Griffith, reflected on his time as an Elon parent. Everyone he has come in contact with simply loves Elon University, he said. And it's an institution where everyone has the ability to make a difference.

      In his traditional message to the new class, Lambert said, "You will leave Elon some day, but Elon will never leave you."