Winter Term at Elon

Katie Nash
Dec. 15, 2009

Page from 1971 WT schedule. Photo courtesy of Belk Library Archives.

January 14, 1969 marked the first day of classes for what was then called the “mini-term”, now referred to as Winter Term. Not only was Winter Term a new initiative at Elon, but it was also when the 4-1-4 academic system was introduced.  About 1,300 students were enrolled in the first Winter Term semester, and today over 4500 students are enrolled. The Winter Term semester made it possible for students to get all their exams completed before leaving for the Christmas holiday, and the plan added an extra week of Christmas vacation time.  As stated in 1982 by the Academic Dean Chris White, “Winter Term was designed for curricular program needs and to allow the College and faculty to offer a wide variety of special classes not offered during the fall and spring semesters.” (The Pendulum, October 28, 1982)

There have been a variety of interesting courses offered during Winter Term, such as Psychology of Life Adjustment, Feature Writing for Magazines and Newspapers, Types of Love in Literature, Horsemanship and Introductory Fencing, Rhythms and Dance, French drama, and much more.  Winter Term also serves as a time for students to study abroad or take part in an internship.  Professors are able to teach classes in more specific areas of their research and interests.  Often when students participate in a Winter Term semester, they graduate on time or early due to the extra credit hours.

Over the years, Elon has used Winter Term as a time to invite notable speakers to campus.  For example, in 2002 the former prime minister of Israel, Ehud Barak, was on campus and in 2003 David Gergen participated in three lectures and David Halberstam (journalist, author, and historian) also visited campus.

Elon is proud to be one of the few collegiate institutions that offers a Winter Term semester.  This short term in the middle of each school year gives students and faculty an opportunity to explore, learn, and challenge themselves in many interesting ways.

First Japanese student graduated from Elon in 1920

Pam Richter – Class of 2011
Dec. 3, 2009

In about one month, I will be boarding a plane to Japan. Not only will this be my first-ever study abroad experience with Elon, it will be my first time traveling out of the country. It is an exciting moment for me, but also for study abroad at Elon, since it is the first time Elon students and faculty will be traveling to Japan for the winter term class – Japan Media and Culture.

Toshio Soto was the first Japanese student to graduate from Elon. Photo courtesy of Belk Library Archives.

Since I am traveling to Japan shortly, I found it interesting to learn that the first Japanese student graduated from Elon in 1920. Her name was Toshio Soto and came to Elon from Kobe, Japan. In 1920, she earned a Bachelor of Philosophy degree, in addition to receiving a diploma in art in 1919, and a certificate in art in 1918.

During her time at Elon, she was a member of the Psiphelian Literary Society (women only), a member of the YWCA Cabinet, President of the YWCA, Secretary of the Senior Class, and President of the Student Council.

Shortly after she graduated, she moved back to Japan and married her husband, who she met at UNC Chapel Hill. The two had four children together.

Soto passed away from a heart attack in October 1968 at the age of 71.

While I am not looking forward to the 14 hour flight to Japan, I couldn’t imagine the travel Soto endured and will think of her experiences during my trip.

Class ring from 1899 donated to Elon

Katie Nash
Nov. 18, 2009

Class ring from 1899. Photo courtesy of University Relations.

An 1899 class ring worn by Everett Doggett Summers was recently donated to the Archives and Special Collections.   Anna Lois Bulla (the niece of E.D. Summers) remembers wearing the small gold ring as a child, with the inscription “99″ on the outside of the ring and her uncle’s initials on the inside.  Bulla, 90, of Concord, N.C.,  said,  “I liked to wear it to school because I didn’t have any rings, and the other kids thought it was special.”

Members of the class of 1899. Photo courtesy of University Relations.

The class of 1899 had 12 members, and the class photograph shows the male students wearing the ring on their pinky fingers.  The graduating class of 1899 included: Walter Monroe Brown, John Turrentine Cobb, Jennie Pretlow Holland, David Jennings Sipe, Anna Elizabeth Pierce, David Palmer Barrett, Charles Everett Newman, Ada DeWitt Michael, Estelle Walker, Ned Faucette Brannock, and William Allen Harper.

The ring will be on display in Johnston Hall so the Elon community, alumni, and friends of Elon can enjoy this unique piece of Elon’s history.

Change from 3-hour to 4-hour credit classes at Elon

Pam Richter – Class of 2011
Nov. 5^th, 2009

Sitting in class for an hour and forty minutes on Tuesdays and Thursdays may seem like a daunting task for some students. What many students may not realize is that class times weren’t always this long.

A description from the Elon College Academic Catalog in 1994-1995, which was the first year the curriculum was changed.

In the fall of 1994, Elon College changed from a three-hour credit system to a four-hour credit system after the faculty voted on the change in April 1993. This change was in conjunction with the new General Studies program that was taking place at the time. Some educational departments were forced to rework their entire curriculum, where as others weren’t as drastically impacted by the change.

According to the Nov. 18, 1993 edition of The Pendulum, “Assessment Day,” was held on March 3, 1994, which gave students the opportunity to learn about the transition in the curriculum and meet with their advisers.

With this change, students were expected to take one less course per semester, meaning that students had to take three or four classes per semester, compared to five or six under the old system. The trade-off was that students were in classes for a little bit longer.

The faculty benefited from this change as well. The number of classes they had to teach was reduced and it was supposed to give faculty ability to go more in-depth in certain subjects.

Elon Homecoming 30 years ago

Pam Richter – Class of 2011
Oct. 21st, 2009

During the weekend of October 23-25, 2009, thousands of alumni will be returning to Elon’s campus for Homecoming events. They will reminisce on some of their best and most cherished moments here at Elon. The weekend’s festivities will be highlighted by the football game on Saturday as well as the crowning of the Homecoming king and queen during halftime of the game.

Photo of the first African American Homecoming Queen, Mary Carroll. Photo courtesy of Belk Library Archives.

The year 1979 was a groundbreaking year for Homecoming festivities at the university.  Mary Carroll was the first African American named to the court, when she was crowned Homecoming Queen in 1979.

Carroll graduated Elon University in 1981 and was a Human Services major.

“There were no expectations, there was never any thought of what if I win because you never expected to win you know,” said Carroll in an interview with L’Tanya Richmond in December of 2004.

Shortly after Carroll was crowned queen, another African American was named to the court.  Gloria Goode, class of 1985, was named Homecoming Queen in 1983.

Join Elon during Homecoming 2009 in celebrating many milestones and achievements at the university.

100 years of Elon football

Pam Richter – Class of 2011
Sept. 15^th, 2009

The 2009 Elon football team marks the 100^th year in school history for the sport. Elon’s first intercollegiate football team was in 1909 and was coached by Reddie Rowe.

Leon Edgar Smith, Elon’s former president from 1931-1957, played on the 1909 team while he was a student. Smith graduated from Elon in 1910.

The 1909 Elon college football team pictured under the Senior Oak in front of West Dormitory.

Other notable members of the first team include: J.W. Barney, C.C. Fonville and Russell A. Campbell.

Elon’s first practice game that season was against Greensboro High School, where Elon was defeated 60-0. This game was played on the lawn outside of West Dormitory. In its first regular season game Elon defeated Bingham Military 11-6. The 1909 team finished the season with a 4-1 record.

After the 1909 season, intercollegiate football was abolished at Elon College for 10 years. The faculty said players were missing too many classes.

Intercollegiate football resumed in 1919 and was played every year until 1941. Elon College abolished all intercollegiate sports until after WWII. Football resumed at the school in 1946 under head coach Hap Perry.

Under the Oaks – A long standing Elon tradition

Pam Richter – Class of 2011
Sept. 9^th, 2009

For Elon University seniors, the term “under the oaks” has a special meaning. This is the spot where they will make their way across the stage and will receive their diplomas. This is a long standing tradition at the university beginning in 1923 after the Old Main Administration Building burned down, as graduations were previously held in the auditorium of this building.

The first outdoor commencement at Elon in 1923.

“This commencement promises to be the best of all Elon’s commencements, but the thing which makes it unique is the fact that it will mark the end of an old era and the beginning of a new in the history of the college.” This was written in the Maroon and Gold on May 18, 1923.

The graduation ceremony in 1924 marked the first time Whitley Auditorium was used. Over the next several years, graduations were held in different places on campus including, Whitley Auditorium and Alumni Gymnasium.

On May 23, 1987 the tradition of “under the oaks” started again and has continued ever since to be a long-standing tradition known at Elon today.

Senior Oak
Many students now know the term “under the oaks” as the location for graduation in May. But for some alumni, there is another meaning for a specific oak tree.

A drawing of the senior oak tree by Jean Simons.

An oak tree (known as the senior oak) was one of the last surviving trees in the forest that was cleared in 1889 to make room for the first few buildings on campus.

In 1930, the name senior oak took full effect when seniors at Elon had the chance to take their class pictures under the tree which was defined by the large curve in its trunk.

The tree was eventually cut down in 1981 after being struck by lightning in 1980 and being impacted by disease. It was cut into 804 pieces that were auctioned off to alumni.