Every day during the Summer in the Village camp at Elon University we opened our class of rising eighth and ninth-graders by asking them to write a brief essay or short commentary about a subject selected the night before. We gave them 10 minutes or so to write and then all were asked to read … Continue reading How I survived summer camp in the Village, maybe even thrived — a little
Elon University
A glimpse of a next generation of voters
Suddenly, I don’t feel so anxious about the long-term future of the nation. I’m in the second week now of a two-week volunteer morning gig with the Village Project summer camp at Elon. It’s a cliché to say I’ve learned as much from the 12 to 14 rising eighth and ninth-graders in our class as … Continue reading A glimpse of a next generation of voters
Summer camp in the Village
Monday I got my summer camp T-shirt. Like the dork that I am, I pulled it immediately over the button-down shirt I put on before leaving home in the morning. Not the best visual impression on a crew of rising eighth and ninth graders, I suspect. I'll do better Tuesday. This T-shirt -- without the … Continue reading Summer camp in the Village
In the labyrinth at Elon
Shortly after my spouse started working at Elon University in the fall of 2012, she mentioned a permanent labyrinth located on campus, not too far from her University Communications office in Truitt Hall. It got her attention as a pathway to pause, reflect or meditate. That is, after all, what it’s there to do. She … Continue reading In the labyrinth at Elon
Former Phoenix John Brebbia makes a rare rise to the Major Leagues
John Brebbia entered his second Major League Baseball game Tuesday night at Busch Stadium in St. Louis. It was the fifth inning of a butt-ugly game between the Cardinals – the team Brebbia joined on Saturday from Triple A Memphis – and the Los Angeles Dodgers. The bases were loaded, Cards down 6-3. The previous … Continue reading Former Phoenix John Brebbia makes a rare rise to the Major Leagues
Top secret: The day Oprah came to Elon
Friday as I sat inside Alumni Gym at Elon University for its annual baccalaureate ceremony, I had some sympathy for my newspaper friends back at their offices in Burlington, Greensboro and Raleigh. Inside the gym a pretty big story no one saw coming emerged just before the actual ceremony began. Without fanfare, music, entourage or … Continue reading Top secret: The day Oprah came to Elon
Accepting Elon president’s final challenge to support education
Historically, Elon University President Leo M. Lambert closes commencement on a Saturday in May with a challenge to the freshly minted crop of graduates. It's called a charge for the class of that particular year. Saturday in front of the Alamance Building on campus he issued his final one for Elon grads. See the video … Continue reading Accepting Elon president’s final challenge to support education
Destination Alamance County: We have more visitors than expected but there’s room to grow
"In your opinion what are the three greatest things to do in Alamance County for visitors in the following areas” . . . (The survey question then goes on to list things like family activities, food, history and shopping.) I was briefly stumped on the very last one, adventure. Adventure? Adventure?? Adventure??? So, the first … Continue reading Destination Alamance County: We have more visitors than expected but there’s room to grow
In need of education about following a strategic plan
A friend of mine from my newspaper days is touring university campuses with his daughter, who is a high school senior. They drove here the other day from Gastonia to take a look at Elon University. Their reaction to the campus? "This place is amazing," the dad told me. "I had no idea." That's a … Continue reading In need of education about following a strategic plan
Living in the red-meaty part of the health curve
A lot of people in Alamance County are fat, drink too much, don’t get all the exercise they should, actively ignore healthy foods and have bad mental health days. On more occasions than they can count, many just don’t feel good. I know, join the club, right? Zack’s hot dogs with Cheerwine taste good. Who … Continue reading Living in the red-meaty part of the health curve
Madison's Avenue 