1964 Radio Team

  The concept of the radio was developed in the late 1800s, where electricity allowed wireless communication.  Elon College offered its first class about this new invention in 1922, which was described as experimental in nature.  The class was taught in conjunction with electricity, and students focused on the practical and theoretical operation of the radio.

In 1941, students began a series on WBBB, the radio station in Burlington.  Elon College did not have its own radio station at this point because it would be expected to entertain a large, general population.  Also, some people considered the radio station in Burlington a monopoly.  During this time, most stations were owned by the state and subject to Federal Communication Commission regulations.  The Radio Team had a program on WBBB called “This is Elon College.”  People were asked to audition, and there were three weekly programs.  One program was by the English department, one by the overall faculty, and one by the music department.

By the late 1960s, students persisted in placing a radio station on campus.  A letter written to the editor of Veritas summarizing the purpose of this request as wanting the opportunity to work with the radio before the technology became irrelevant in society.  Bill Zint was the student leader credited with overseeing the campus’ first station.  The organization chose to play classical, jazz, pop, and rock music.  Fifteen hours of educational material were required to be aired each week as the station was intended for educational purposes.  Concerns about the radio, however, continued to linger at Elon about potential health and hazing risks.  These were derived from uncertainties about radio waves and the ability to use the radio for pranks.

Finally, on April 20, 1977, Elon began its broadcasts from campus on WSOE at 89.3 FM.  WSOE stands for “Wonderful Sounds of Elon” and is pronounced “sew-ee.”  WSOE is non-commercial and student run, and can be heard about ten miles away from Elon.  Today, a variety of music and shows are aired in addition to sports coverage.  The understanding and implementation of the radio at Elon, as history reveals, has progressed extensively since 1922.

Isabella Walton Cannon was a beloved Elon alumnus, Class of 1924, who served as a role model to many.  She became involved in public service and worked around the world.  In 1977, Cannon made the last minute decision to run for mayor of Raleigh, North Carolina against the incumbent Jyles J. Coggins, and won with 52% of the vote.  This caused Cannon to become an immediate national celebrity as she was the first female mayor of Raleigh.  Cannon continued to serve the community after her term and founded the Isabella Cannon Leadership Program at Elon in 1989.  The same year, on Thursday, October 19, the Isabella Cannon bust was stolen from its wooden pedestal in the Isabella Cannon room in the Center for the Arts building.

Sculptures at Elon were vandalized the previous year and found in the bottom of Lake Mary Nell, which is why the Isabella Cannon bust was suspected to be there as well.  On November 16, 1989, the bust was found off Highway 61 in a rock quarry.  A tip was given the week before with the location of the missing sculpture.  Apparently, the bust was stolen as a prank.  Minor damage was present but was easily repaired.  There were no leads as to who stole the bust, but Pat Kinney, former director of publications and public information, acknowledged that many people had keys to the building.  Ray Johnson, a communications professor, commented on the lacking security.  Another scenario offered was that the building remained unlocked throughout the night.  The bust is now displayed in its original space.

2010 SoCon Softball Champions

On May 14, 2010, the Elon women’s softball team, coached by Patti Raduenz and seeded number two, defeated the number four seed UNC-Greensboro Spartans in the Southern Conference Championship.  Prior to playing UNC-G, the Phoenix defeated UT–Chattanooga Mocs, which was the number one seed in the SoCon tournament.  This was the first time in the season that the Mocs lost.  The championship was a first for Elon as well–it was the first time an Elon women’s sports team won a conference tournament title since joining the Southern Conference in 2003.  This was also the first tournament title for Elon women’s athletics since the soccer team brought home the Big South tournament title in 1999.  

At the top of the seventh inning, the Phoenix were down 2-1 to the Spartans.  According to The Pendulum student newspaper from May 22, 2010, freshman outfielder Tomeka Watson sparked a comeback when she hit a double.  “Following that, junior second baseman Jackie Gonzalez recorded an infield single and Watson scored on the next at-bat off of a Spartans’ throwing error.  Then, junior outfielder Emerald Graham singled, sending Gonzales home to put Elon up 3-2.”  Sophomore catcher Kaitlyn Piazzolla then hit a home run adding three more points to the score.  The Phoenix won 6-3.

Women’s Softball Team 2010

The Phoenix were invited to the NCAA tournament and competed against the University of Georgia and Radford in the Athens (Ga.) Regional.  They lost to both teams, but the softball team still celebrated as a result of their incredible accomplishments.

The 1999-2000 women’s soccer team.

The 1980s and 1990s at Elon was a time of great transition as the college sought to gain public recognition.  The student body profile, in addition to the alumni and faculty, was changing in that Elon became more engaged in academics, networking, and athletics.  This in part was due to the “Plan of the 90’s” that worked to increase the quality of Elon and develop programs.  In 1991, the South Atlantic Conference moved to NCAA Division II from the NAIA.  However, the Division II was considered “No Man’s Land,” and on June 17, 1996, Elon officials decided it was time to go to Division I in the NCAA.  Elon participated without conference affiliation for the first two years before joining the Big South Conference in 1999.

Most of the Elon sports teams struggled in Division I due to the increased competition, but in 1999, women’s soccer prevailed.  Coached by Paul Webster, the women were the third seed in the championship and defeated Liberty University in overtime.  The team won the Big South Tournament Championship, becoming the first program at Elon to go to a Division I NCAA postseason tournament.  According to the Magazine of Elon Winter 2000 issue, “junior midfielder Erin Morse earned first-team All Big South Conference honors and was named to the league’s All Academic Team.  Four Elon players were named to the All Conference second team, including junior sweeper Patricia Clark, sophomore midfielder MacKenzie Sisson, sophomore defender Erin Lautermilch and junior goalkeeper Sommer Cork.”

In 2002, Elon officially accepted an invitation to join the Southern Conference.  The move went into effect July 1, 2003.  Because Elon did not give a two-year notice to the Big South about its withdrawal, the school had to pay a $100,000 penalty.  To join the Southern Conference, Elon had to pay the league an immediate $200,000 and $100,000 a year for each of the three following years.  The financial burden from moving to the Southern Conference was generously paid by an anonymous alumnus.  This showed how the majority of alumni were exceedingly supportive of the athletic changes.  By being in NCAA Division I level in the Southern Conference, Elon was associated with its peers on a more competitive plane.

Since becoming affiliated with the Southern Conference, the student body has become more diverse, increased in academic performance, and there is a higher retention rate than from the early 1990s.  This reflected the success of the vision Elon officials held for the growing campus.  Women’s athletics continued to develop throughout these decades as more sports became available and the women were able to compete in the Division I Southern Conference.

Women’s Volleyball Team in 1975

The 1960s and 1970s were a time of different turning points in both American and Elon history.  The Vietnam War, the Civil Rights and women’s movements were just a few of the milestones that occurred.  This impacted women’s sports in various ways.  The Commission of Intercollegiate Athletics for Women was soon recognized, and America faced a time of subsiding societal restrictions.  This in part was due to increased coverage of the Olympics, where women had been at least to some extent competing since the 1900 Paris Games. 

In the 1960-1961 academic year, Elon drastically changed the curriculum from requiring two years of physical training to two semester hours of physical education and one semester hour of hygiene.  In 1965, the first Spring Fiesta was established replacing the annual May Day program, which had been sponsored by the Women’s Athletic Association since 1939.  Many notable female coaches came to Elon during these decades, leading the women athletes to several victories.  These coaches include Kay Yow, Barbara Yarborough, Mary Frances Jackson, Karen Carden, and Janie Brown.  Impressive student athletes also graced this time, such as Diane Eberly in 1971.  She was the first woman to receive Most Valuable Player award in Elon basketball.  Susan Yow and Teddy Ireland were also remarkable female athletes.

Title IX was perhaps the most landmark legislation for women’s sports.  Former President Nixon passed this in the Education Amendments of 1972.  It prohibits gender discrimination in educational programs or activities receiving federal financial aid.  It involved the “equity in providing equipment and supplies, scheduling games and practices, and in providing coaching.”  While this created equal opportunity to participate in male and female athletics, the Women’s Athletic Association was soon dissolved because under the new law, it was considered discriminatory.  At the same time, Elon did not have the funds for scholarships nor equal facilities and struggled to meet the new demands established by Title IX.  In terms of spirit, however, the campus had been increasingly supportive of women’s sports for years.

The decades also introduced new sports to Elon for women, including synchronized swimming and skiing.  By 1975, the women’s teams had a new name– “The Golden Girls.”  They were often successful in competitions against other colleges, and by 1977, basketball, volleyball, and softball were Elon’s first three female intercollegiate teams.

Women’s Tennis Team in 1949

“Archery for skill, volleyball for coordination, and riding for the figure is Elon’s way of turning out healthy, ‘well-rounded’ girls.” – Phi Psi Cli, 1953

World War II caused lasting impacts at Elon College, especially the changed role of sports for both men and women.  In 1942, men’s intercollegiate activities were temporarily abolished, and the soldiers stationed on campus used the gymnasium for training.  It was not until 1944 that sports became a part of Elon activities once again.  Due to the effects of the war, fitness became a more crucial factor in individuals’ lifestyles on local and national levels.  It was soon acceptable for women too to physically train to improve overall health and strength. 

More sports became available to women during the 1940s, including softball, gymnastics, military drill, and bowling for $.05 per game.  The physical education major was introduced in 1946 and became prominent during this time as well, especially among athletes.  This led to more courses concerning athletics, which further increased physical opportunities.  In the late 1940s and early 1950s, Elon offered field hockey, marching, and horseback riding.  The first tennis tournament occurred in the spring of 1949.

In February 1950, the Women’s Athletic Association (WAA) adopted a new constitution.  President Leon Edgar Smith used athletics to increase prospective students’ interest in Elon, so sports were one of the primary forms of advertisement.  Still, funding was consistently an issue for women’s athletics.  The WAA raised money by selling football programs and used that sole source of funds for postage, socials, entertainment, convention expenses, conferences, Play Days, and awards.

Women’s Archery in 1939

During the beginning decades of Elon as an institution, society held a very different impression about women than the contemporary opinion.  Lady-like behavior was strongly encouraged, and women were often protected against potential masculinity that was incorporated in notions about sports and physical training.  At the turn of the twentieth century, women were confined to calisthenics and recreational tennis.  Over the next twenty years, the Young Women’s Christian Association at Elon College was formed and requests for more athletic opportunities were expressed.  As views of women changed in America from delicate to more durable, the trend in sports was reflected accordingly. In 1922, Elon featured a women’s tennis squad and two basketball teams.  Of course, the women only competed against other Elon women and many restrictions regarding male and female social interactions remained.

In 1933, Elon College required women to take three hours of physical training per week: one hour for games, one hour for rhythmic dancing, and one hour for exercise.  As the 1930s progressed, women’s course requirements changed to have two years of physical training.  Outdoor events also became available for women, and hiking quickly became a favorite.  In the late 1930s, Play Days were events the women often looked forward to because they involved friendly competition between the college and local high school teams.  Good sportsmanship was a goal repeatedly emphasized throughout the next few years in the development of women’s sports, and to promote this, scores were not recorded.  In 1938, Mrs. Gene Hendrickson, the new director of the women’s physical education program, introduced ping-pong, shuffleboard, and badminton as new athletic options.  By the end of the 1930s, women’s sports at Elon had expanded to include calisthenics, bowling, tennis, basketball, baseball, volleyball, archery, track, horseshoes, and folk-dancing in addition to Mrs. Hendrickson’s contributions.

February 21, 2013

Did you know that a major motion picture was filmed on Elon’s campus?

Spike Lee speaking in Alumni Gym, February 1997

Acclaimed film director Spike Lee visited the campus in February of 1997 and spoke to students about the importance of staying in school. He also provided a one-on-one interview with the staff of The Pendulum during which he discussed aspects of his career and gave advice for young filmmakers. Eight months later, Lee returned to Elon to shoot scenes for the movie “He Got Game,” starring Denzel Washington and NBA player Ray Allen.

The 1998 film is about a talented high school basketball player (Allen) who grapples with what to do with his life after graduation while coming to terms with events that dramatically changed his family during his childhood.

After receiving recommendations from the North Carolina Film Commission for the ideal campus on which to shoot, Lee chose Elon’s picturesque campus as the “southern” basketball school, Tech University, to which Allen’s character is invited for a college visit. Scenes include shots of Fonville Fountain, Alamance Building and the colonnades, and the west patio of Moseley Center. These scenes appear in the film from time code 1:28:57 to 1:30:36 and again from 1:33:46 to 1:35:26.

Along with its buildings and spaces, Elon’s students were also involved in shooting the film. A casting call was held for

Film crew near Fonville Fountain, October 1997

students to fill spots for 250 extras. Some students were chosen to serve as production assistants and had the opportunity to shadow Lee’s film crew. Although filming was originally scheduled to take two days, due to scheduling conflicts with another local location, filming was condensed to one day.

For Valentine’s Day this year, we have a story of forbidden love at Elon.

In the early years of Elon College, being a co-educational higher learning institution was relatively rare.  Elon, however, offered education to both males and females, though strict conditions accompanied the interactions.  In 1907, faculty minutes expose the story of Marie Winn and L.I. Gay and their disobedience toward the college’s social rules.  The minutes are as follows:

8 March 1907 – Marie Winn and L.I. Gay got 5 demerits for passing notes.

15 March 1907 – L.I. Gay and Marie Winn were denied all social privileges for a month for walking and talking on Lebanon Avenue on March 12.

1 April 1907 – Mr. Gay is permitted to call on young ladies today from 3:00 to 5:30 p.m., and Marie Winn may receive company for the same hours.

1 May 1907 – [L.I. Gay and Marie Winn were given demerits and denied social privileges for a “clandestine meeting” on March 12 (see Minutes dated 15 March 1907).  The couple made repeated attempts to have the punishment mitigated, and met at least one more time.]                                    It is rumored that L.I. Gay and Marie Winn are expecting to marry against her father’s wishes.  The faculty decided to inform her father of conditions and to take precautions against their elopement.

17 May 1907 – F.J. Winn wrote that he did not want his daughter Marie to marry Mr. Gay, so the faculty sent him word to come and take his daughter home at once.

22 May 1907 – Information given to the faculty was that Marie Winn had received a letter from her father charging her not to marry L.I. Gay without his consent.  The President was asked to telegraph F.J. Winn (the father) to come at once for his daughter.

24 May 1907 – The President’s wire to F.J. Winn, Portsmouth, Va., was terse: “Come to Elon tomorrow without fail.”  Winn’s reply: “Your telegram received late this morning.  Utterly impossible for me to come to Elon at this time.  Be easy.  NO marriage will take place between Mr. Gay and my daughter before my consent is given.”

27 May 1907 – The President reported a rumor that L.I. Gay and Marie Winn intended to elope on the night of May 28 via the 9:00 p.m. train, and that he (the President) had telegraphed F.J. Winn to come at once without fail and remove his daughter Marie from the college.  The faculty voted to employ a guard for West Dormitory for at least two nights until Mr. Winn can come.

31 May 1907 – Marie Winn has been kept under surveillance until her father was heard from.  A woman from Baltimore came, stating that she was Marie Winn’s aunt, and proposed taking the girl to Baltimore.  The President wired Mr. Winn who replied that Marie should go.  Marie and her aunt departed for Baltimore at 5:00 p.m. on May 29.

Unfortunately, that is the last of the information regarding Marie Winn and L.I. Gay. One’s imagination can continue the story and possible love between Marie and L.I.

For those of you who regularly follow our blog, this post will be different from all the previous entries. Our goal in 2013 is to include more blog posts about what we do in the Archives and Special Collections, as well as include any interesting projects we are working on throughout the year. Let this post be a sneak preview to other posts that will be written in 2013. Enjoy!

Our new scanning station!

Christmas has arrived in the Belk Library Archives and Special Collections! This week we received our second scanner, that’s right our second scanner!! While this may not seem like a huge deal to some people, it is quite a milestone for us. To put our excitement in perspective, when a student assistant of ours (Pam Richter) started working in the archives in January of 2008 we had no scanners. Whenever we would receive a request to scan a photograph from our collection, she had to use one of the few scanners located on the first floor of the library–and let’s just say that these scanners were small and did not produce high quality scans. Granted at that time we did not have many requests for scans of photographs, but I knew in the back of my mind that this ‘luxury’ would not continue long.

While serving on the planning committee in 2008 for the Ever Elon capital campaign, I knew our world was going to change when one of the major components of the fundraising campaign was to create a video that included photographs of Elon through the years and video footage. By this time, our photograph collection had been successfully organized (although many photo collections continued to come through our doors which we were busy integrating), and for the most part our slide and negative collections had been processed. In addition to our photograph collection, we have quite a few excellent slides and negatives, but we had no way of scanning these for digital use. I knew we would need a high quality scanner to capture the best pictures that we had across all types of media. In addition to the Ever Elon campaign, the number of photo requests across campus and among researchers was steadily increasing.

In late 2008 Belk Library purchased an Epson Expression 10000 XL scanner for the Archives. This scanner is great–it has the capabilities of scanning photographs, slides, negatives, glass plates, and oversize (up to 11×17) documents. Once it arrived, we started selecting photos for the Ever Elon campaign and got to work scanning . Since 2008 we have scanned thousands of images for many projects including: student class projects such as when an iMedia student was working on a large campus map project that included historic images, all of our digital collections, the alumni video (coming out in 2013), George Troxler’s book about Elon’s history (coming out in 2014), converting all our glass plate negatives to digital files, and much more. Currently we have over 100,000 digital photographs and some of them can be seen on our Flickr site.

There are a few ongoing projects and many projects on the horizon that will increase the demand of providing photographs from our collections (such as George’s book and Elon’s 125th anniversary celebration in 2013-2014). In the past year our staff has also increased, so using our one scanning station as our volunteer and student work space has been challenging. We were so excited to be able to purchase another scanner (identical to our first scanner) and increase production! In the coming year, be on the look out for more images from the Archives that will be added to our digital collections page, our Flickr site and other social media sites, and a variety of University publications. It has been a good year in the Archives and Special Collections and we look forward to sharing more of our success stories with you in 2013!