Young Post-Grads Hurt by Slow Wage Growth

By Cameron Saucier

Tyler Erickson stood proudly on the stage, gazing out into the smiling sea of parents, friends and supporters that came to see his graduating class of 2013 from the Rochester Institute of Technology. Erickson grasped his diploma, shook a hand and exhaled a breath of relief. In that brief moment, he reflected over the four years of strife he had overcome to build his career. Erickson’s future seemed auspicious.

Nine months later, 25-year-old Erickson was working at an Apple store as a sale associate earning slightly above minimum wage.

Graduating from one of the top technical universities in New York, it wasn’t that he couldn’t find work within his field of study. Erickson said he had difficulty finding a company that was willing to give him an adequate salary.

“I had a great interview right out of college with a company in Charlottesville, Virginia,” Erickson said. “They needed someone to manage their online and digital communities. They asked me about compensation. I said around $40,000 a year seemed fair.”

Erickson said he had done his research, knowing that the average salary range for someone in his marketing degree field was $40,000 to $110,000. To be safe, he chose the lowest possible salary.

“I never heard from the company again,” he said. “It really left a sour taste in my mouth. I think it was because they saw my wage expectations as too high.”

Examining salaries for post-graduates.

Increasingly, college graduates have to dip below their desired compensation to stand out in the hyper competitive, entry-level job market. As a result, many struggle to find equitable salaries that match their degrees, while companies feel little pressure to increase entry-level wages.

Infographic by Cameron Saucier

“College graduates’ wages don’t always adjust well,” said Bart Hobijn, senior microeconomic researcher at the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco. “Many (graduates) are entering low-paying positions where the growth of starting wages is slow.”

Chris Sonzogni graduated from Elon University in 2013 with a dual degree in creative writing and English. Shortly after graduation, he took a job as a content manager with a tech startup in Wilmington, North Carolina. Sonzogni managed his company’s social media, blogged for its website and handled its marketing division.

“I was making $10 an hour with no prospects for advancement,” Sonzogni said. “This wasn’t something I felt like I’ve worked for or been accustomed to.”

In July, Hobijn and his research partner, Leila Bengali, published a research report about the wage growth gap for recent college graduates in the U.S.. The two isolated college grads as a segment of the labor market, delving into statistics from the Current Population Survey, which is used by the Bureau of Labor Statistics to measure median earnings and unemployment rates.

“What we found was that college grads are very desirable workers,” Hobijn said. “But they are not protected by factors that make other workers’ wages rigid and  slow to adjust to conditions such as recessions.”

With very few exceptions, wage growth for post-grads has been limited for all occupation groups. Within the most popular fields of engineering, business and finance, median weekly earnings have actually decreased from 7.7 percent in 2011 to 2.6 percent in 2014, according to Hobijn’s research.

Chart by Cameron Saucier

Additionally, Hobijn said recent graduates have lower wage growth compared to other full-time workers. From 2011 to 2014 median weekly earnings for recent graduates increased about 2 percent less than the earnings of other full-time workers.

Hobijn’s findings were reflected by a May report from the Economic Policy Institute (EPI) entitled “The Class of 2014.” The report looked at the job prospects and economic conditions for the most recent college graduates in the U.S. It showed that inflation-adjusted wages for young college graduates have dropped 7.7 percent since 2000.

“What we’re seeing is employers having limited openings and a lot of job applications,” said Alyssa Davis, a co-author of the EPI report.

The report also found that the unemployment rate of young college graduates was 14.5 percent as of March 2014, nearly double the overall U.S. unemployment rate at 6.7 percent.

“Young college grads are faced with higher rates of unemployment and underemployment,” Davis said. “When there is high unemployment and weak labor market prospects, there is also weak wage growth.”

Even as the U.S. job market recovers from the Great Recession and its aftermath, wages of young college graduates have dropped by 6.9 percent since 2007. The wage decline is worse for women, at 10.1 percent, than for men, at 4.0 percent, according to the EPI report.

Chart by Cameron Saucier

“Young workers are not getting a big enough piece of the pie,” said Davis, “because recovery has been agonizingly slow due to government action. Bad economic times can effect the earnings of college grads 10 to 15 years down the road.”

Encouraging the pursuit of higher education

Infographic by Cameron Saucier

Although college graduates are increasingly accepting low-wage and part-time jobs, some economists believe that a college degree is still worth the gamble.

“While it’s been tougher for college grads, it’s also worse for non-college grads,” said Jaison Abel, a research officer for the Federal Reserve of New York.

Abel co-authored a 2014 study that looked at whether college graduates were finding good jobs. The report concluded that while unemployment and underemployment for recent college grads have trended upward since 2001, high levels of economic distress for recent graduates aren’t a new phenomenon.

“… new college graduates typically take some time to transition into the labor market and find jobs that utilize their education,” the report detailed.

Abel said that over time, a college education could still be useful and important. “This is an investment you’re making, “ he said.

Part of the key to profiting from a college degree is choosing the right major. Abel said there is a strong link between a major choice and an occupation choice. Certain technical majors, such as computer science or engineering, typically have higher entry-level wages.

Tyler Erickson (far left) mingles with his new co-workers at Create Digital. Photo courtesy of Tyler Erickson

“How you spend your time in school is a big factor,” Abel said.

Today, both Erickson and Sonzogni have stable jobs with salaries that exceed their living expenses. Even so, the two said their wages could be more competitive compared to industry averages.

Erickson now works for Create Digital, a marketing firm based in Glen Allen, Virginia. Sonzogni works at a non-profit, economic development organization called GenFKD in New York.

“My current position pays me substantially higher than my past job at Apple,” said Erickson. “I negotiated to receive higher compensation and showed the value of my education.”

Erickson said that although he finally found work within his major, he couldn’t help but feeling misguided about the redeemable value of a degree perpetuated by professors and academic advisers.

“Higher education sets an unrealistic expectation about jobs and compensation for everyone that graduates,” he said. “Either they’re clueless or the companies aren’t keeping up with industry trends.”

Ferguson Shooting unveils dormant racial tensions in U.S.

A woman holds up a sign at a protest in Ferguson, Missouri. Image Courtesy: Elvert Barnes, Flickr

The reverberations of the shooting in Ferguson, Missouri have been felt nationwide. Eighteen-year-old Michael Brown was shot outside a convenience store after an officer received a call about an alleged robbery.

Intense and violent protests have been sprouting up across the country in the aftermath of the shooting. But while there have been many aggressive protests, the shooting has also encouraged Americans to revisit conversation about race relations.

Elon University’s Multicultural Center is helping to open peaceful dialogue on its campus.

“Our office is co-sponsoring a discussion about what’s happened in Ferguson and how Elon can respond,” said Carla Fullwood, associate director of the Multicultural Center. “There will also be an Elon student from Ferguson at the event.”

Sophomore Maria Gant said that there is a level of general awareness about the Ferguson shooting on Elon’s campus, but not enough students are aware of the shooting’s implications.

Sophomore Maria Gant shares her opinion about the effect the Ferguson shooting has on race relations in the U.S. 

Gant will also be attending a Ferguson Shooting awareness event hosted by Elon’s Alpha Phi Alpha chapter  called “Hands Up, Don’t Shoot” on Tuesday at College Coffee.  The event, along with others across Elon’s campus, is an attempt to engage its student body in sometimes uncomfortable, but important discussions about race and civil rights.

But despite the university’s attempts to spread awareness of the shooting’s importance, many Americans seem to be divided by the case over racial grounds.  According to the Pew Research Center, a study conducted among 1,000 adults found that the Ferguson shooting sparked more racial tensions among blacks than whites.

Eighty percent of blacks that were polled said they believed the shooting raises important racial issues, while only 37 whites believed the same.

Even among the supporters of Michael Brown, some Americans are still skeptical whether open dialogue or shooting cases are enough to make any lasting, impactful changes in the U.S. justice system.

InfoGraphic by Cameron Saucier. Research conducted by the Pew Research Center

“It’s still too early to say whether any change will come out of this,” said Mike Meno, director for North Carolina’s American Civil Liberties Union. “The situation in Ferguson still isn’t fully resolved. But this is a trend we’ve seen all around the country for decades. The path to reform is going to include lots of systematic elements working together.”

A company outlook: the trials and accomplishments of the Gannett Company

By Cameron Saucier

Gannett is a media-holding company that many may recognize from owning their local newspaper or broadcasting station. What is less known about Gannett is its story of survival through the 2008 recession and its evolving media sectors. With many media-holding companies struggling to stay profitable in recent years, Gannett has managed to rally its resources and even expand, though not without taking controversial measures.

Gannett weathered the 2008 recession under the leadership of CEO Craig Dubow, a veteran at Gannett who had been with the company for 30 years. Like many newspaper-holding companies during this turbulent period, Gannett sought ways to reduce expenses. But the company resorted to darker measures to eliminate surging costs, furloughing or permanently laying off many of its employees.

From 2008 to 2014, Gannett has decreased its number of employees by nearly 24 percent, according to a report from the independent journal Gannett Blog. Many of these employees were journalists at Gannett’s now 82 U.S. daily newspaper publications.

But the cold, decisive layoffs alone were not what made former employees spiteful.

In the midst of Gannett’s restructuring period, its management team and board members received large bonuses. Former chairman and CEO Craig Dubow reaped $9.4 million in 2010, which was double his pay in 2009, according to a proxy report filed by the U.S. Security and Exchange Commission.

Former Chief Financial Officer Gracia Martore received $8.2 million, which was more than double her pay the year before, according to a shareholder proxy report.

Comparison of CEO earnings between Gannett and New York Times Co. InfoGraphic by Cameron Saucier

Many other executives accepted substantial bonuses too. Former employees, journalists and shareholders thought the pay hikes were egregiously timed. Gannett’s performance remained lackluster as it ended FY 2010; its stock closed at $15.09 per share, hardly changed from its yearly close back in 2009 at $14.85 per share.

Gannett was underperforming in the overall newspaper industry for the third consecutive year, according to its 2011 10-K annual filing.

It was time for a swift change.

It was then that former CFO Martore stepped up to take the helm of a ship that was steadily losing its sense of navigation. Her first task: give the company direction.

“Martore is very savvy. She brought Gannett through its rough period and made the company profitable and competitive once again,” said Barry Lucas, senior analyst at Gabelli Associates, “She has done a good job so far.”

Transitioning from print to digital

Many of Gannett’s newspapers began to go digital after Martore’s takeover in 2011, including its flagship newspaper, USA Today. Gannett was one of the first companies to cater to an online audience through syndicated digital publications, according to Beth Belton, deputy money editor at the USA Today.

The USA Today’s front page. Photo courtesy of Flickr.

“When USA Today and Gannett’s other local newspapers went online they became more successful,” said Belton. “Because Gannett’s newspapers were already equipped with a strong visual presence, moving online proved to be an easy task.”

Today, nearly all of Gannett’s 82 newspapers have an online presence. Each individual online newspaper uses the same website template created by Fi, a digital- design agency.

In 2008, USA Today created its Twitter account that now boasts over one million followers.

In addition to moving to the desktop, Gannett also established a mobile presence through its USA Today iPhone and Android application. Although user reviews express ambivalence about the app’s functionality, it’s frequently updated by Gannett’s programmers.

From 2008 through 2012, Gannett purchased a series of digital marketing websites, such as CareerBuilder, MMAjunkie.com and Fantasy Sports Ventures Inc. The acquisitions further deepened Gannett’s digital presence.

Since fully going digital in 2011, Gannett had reduced its cost of goods sold by $86 million for two consecutive years, according to the company’s annual reports. In 2014, this trend ceased as Gannett faced additional costs from the acquisition of Belo Corporation.

Answering to the mother ship

Gannett has maintained tight controls over its newspapers, especially since the 2008 recession. If any Gannett newspaper becomes unprofitable, it may face layoffs or be sold, said Glenn Scott, a former reporter at the formerly Gannett-owned Honolulu Advertiser. In 2010, Gannett sold the Honolulu Advertiser after it became threatened by increasing competition. The move consolidated Honolulu’s two daily newspapers, resulting in layoffs. According to Scott, Gannett’s stringent, cost-cutting technique has helped it survive where its competitors may have failed.

Other media-holding companies such as The New York Times Co. have fought against selling their major assets, but at a significant price. The Times has struggled to maintain profitability since 2012, according to its 10-K annual report. Advertising continues to be a primary source of income for newspapers, but its efficacy has been declining for years, according to a report from the Pew Research Center.

Gannett’s share price compared to the share price of its competitor, New York Times Co. Chart by FactSet

The Times and the Wall Street Journal erected pay walls on their websites to generate additional profits.

USA Today is one of the few top-circulating national newspapers in the U.S that hasn’t made its readers pay online subscriptions. Instead, the company is practicing a new business technique that allows for streamlined convergence between its media-holdings.

“Internally, we are changing our systems so that all resources are shared. All of our broadcast information, videos and graphics are shared between every newspaper, television station and radio channel,” said Belton.

Now, inside the cover of most Gannett local newspapers, one can find a “butterfly” edition of USA Today. The new technique bundles local and national news into one print newspaper.

“The butterfly edition has been so successful that non-Gannett newspapers are contacting USA Today to replicate the process with their daily newspapers,” said Belton.

But with print newspaper circulation on the decline, the butterfly editions are not meant to replace USA Today’s emphatic digital presence.

“As clever as this butterfly edition is,” said Belton, “it’s no preventative measure. But advertising revenue from digital editions is still small compared to print editions.”

Until revenue from digital sources exceed revenue from print circulation, Belton said the butterfly technique will provide a cushion to fund USA Today’s current and new endeavors.

Diversifying its portfolio

Decades ago, Gannett’s profits were primarily driven by its newspaper holdings. As revenue from these holdings has declined over recent years, Gannett has turned its attention to a more lucrative avenue: broadcasting.

“In the years to come Gannett will definitely expand its broadcasting reach,” said Lucas. “The business model of broadcasting is far better than printing. Give it (Gannett) some time and I think its profits will steadily increase.”

In late 2013, Gannett acquired Belo Corp., a large, Texas-based broadcasting company. The acquisition heavily increased Gannett’s market share of broadcasting stations, while expanding and diversifying its holdings.

“The completion of this transaction marks a significant milestone in Gannett’s ongoing transformation into a higher-margin and more highly diversified company in the rapidly evolving media business,” said CEO Gracia Martore in a 2013 press release.

Gannett’s purchase of Belo Corp. may help to offset some of the costs incurred by its struggling newspaper holdings, said Lucas.

Currently, broadcasting makes up 16 percent of Gannett’s total revenue, according to estimates provided by the financial analysis software FactSet. Publishing still makes up nearly 69 percent of its revenue share, but most analysts expect this percentage to steadily decrease over the next decade as publishing expenses rise and Gannet continues to diversify its portfolio.

Wednesday, Gannett made yet another move to expand its broadcasting power. It bought six stations from Dallas-based London Broadcasting station for $215 million. The purchase of these stations, along with Belo Corp., will broaden Gannett’s influence in Texas. In 2014, Gannett expects these new stations will generate $50 million of revenue, according to a report by USA Today.

Predicting Gannett’s future

Gannett’s sales growth vs. publishing industry averages. Chart by FactSet.

Gannett’s current annual EPS is down to $2.02 from $2.28 one year earlier. Its net income has dropped nearly 12 percent to $343 million, compared to $389 million in the previous year. The sudden recoil in net income was partially driven by new acquisitions in FY 2013, according to Gannett’s annual reports.

For two consecutive years, however, the company has exceeded nationwide sales growth averages in the publishing industry. It has consistently kept up with industry aggregate growth rates, even during the 2008 financial recession.

Gannett’s gross income and net income. Chart by FactSet.

In terms of national sales, Gannett ranks third in its industry behind media-giant News Corp. and Advance Publications, Inc.

As of May 2014, four financial analysts currently list Gannett’s future performance as overweight, according to FactSet estimates. Lucas, one of the four optimistic analysts, said that Gannett’s transparency and strategic acquisitions have been fueling its success.

Unlike many of its competitors with voting preference stock, Gannett’s equity is a single class of stock. All shareholders may vote and have an impact on company initiatives. The company’s website also contains an entire section dedicated to investor relations. Shareholders are able to download earnings calls, view income statements and generate graphs plotting different financial variables over time.

According to financial analysts, Gannett’s rapidly growing broadcast sector will be a determining factor in its continued success. The expansion will be a vital preventative strategy to offset costs associated with its newspaper division.

Gannett will continue to expand its broadcasting division because that is what will drive profits in the long term, said Lucas.

A cut above the rest: local barbershop near Elon is more than it seems

By Cameron Saucier

Confined between two popular clothing stores, tucked away in the recesses of Elon University’s only shopping center near North Williamson Avenue, there exists a quaint hair salon.

But don’t let this salon’s ordinary appearance fool you.

The grander vision behind its continued existence is the product of one German immigrant’s ambitious dreams to own her own hair business.

Dunn takes a break from haircutting while she waits for customers. Photo by Cameron Saucier

Eleonore Dunn, a 68-year-old hairstylist, knew that cosmetology was her calling from a young age.

But those childhood dreams didn’t settle well with her parents.

In Germany at the time, hairstyling was an uncommon profession to pursue as a lifetime career.

Dunn instead listened to the vehement protests of her parents and decided to major in business. She went through a three-year trade school program and excelled in her courses, but a piece of her was still unfulfilled.

That’s when she met him.

Dunn was a waitress at a bar part-time while looking for other work. He -an American soldier stationed in Berlin – walked into the pub to order some drinks with friends.

“He asked me out and I thought hell, why not,” Dunn said.  “I spoke very little English at the time, but that didn’t turn out to be a problem.” Dunn’s future husband was a country boy from North Carolina. Despite the cultural divide, she fell in love with him during his service in Germany. When the time came for him to return home, he asked her to come with him, and her heart compelled her to follow.

Dunn immigrated to the United States in 1965. In 1969, she moved to Elon, North Carolina, after her husband landed a job as a computer engineer nearby. During this period, her days were devoted to taking care of her young children and commuting back and forth to Elon Elementary.

But Dunn still yearned for something more. Despite her wonderful new life in America and her growing family, Dunn’s childhood dream still echoed within her. Dunn’s husband saw it in her too. He persuaded her to go to school to learn cosmetology.

Dunn said she didn’t need much convincing. After years of suppressing her ambitions, Dunn said that she seized the opportunity with eagerness. In 1970 Dunn purchased her first hair salon on North Williamson Avenue from a previous owner who passed away. She renamed it Eleonore’s Hair Design.

In the early stages of her nascent business, Dunn was the only hairstylist and worked long hours during the week. Once she started establishing relationships with customers, returning business yielded increased revenues. “Customers were pleased with my work,” said Dunn. “I’ve always believed in spending as much time as necessary on my customers hair. I won’t rush anyone’s hair just to make more money by giving additional haircuts. My customers respect this policy, and it’s what keeps them coming back.”

Dunn’s increased revenues allowed her to hire three new hairstylists. As she grew older, Dunn said that she had to cut back on her working hours. The new help relieved the stress Dunn was facing from working solo.

Dealing with competition

 Eleonore’s Hair Design is not the only hair salon on the block. Past the train tracks located off East Trollinger Avenue is Design Forum, a towering three story salon and spa.

Dunn chats with her customer while cutting her hair. Photo by Cameron Saucier

With competition so close, Dunn takes a most unusual business stance. She ignores it.

“I’ve never found Design Forum to be a problem,” she said. “They don’t take away business from me. My customers know how good I cut their hair, so they come back. Hairstyling is very much a loyalty business.”

One customer explained how Dunn’s business is different from other salons.

“I come here and take my children here because Eleonore is the best,” said Sandy Wilkens, a customer and mother of two. “She has been in the business for years. Her hairstylists actually care about their customers, rather than making fast money.”

Dunn personally knows many of the hairstylists at Design Forum, and she said their competition is a friendly one. Dunn also said she wasn’t concerned that her competitors had a cutting-edge website or had expanded into a spa.

Crossing the generational divide

One of Dunn’s greatest challenges is confronting and meeting the needs of a new generation. She’s still not used to her young customers texting and calling on their phones while receiving a haircut.

“Sometimes I find it really rude when my customers talk on their phone while I’m cutting their hair,” she said. “It’s one of those things I haven’t gotten used to yet. To me, a haircut is a very personal exchange.”

As the years have rolled by, Dunn has had to adapt her business to appeal to the culture of students. Her radio now plays the latest hip-hop and alternative rock songs. Many of her employees are young, bringing a fresh, energetic atmosphere to the small salon.

“I’m going to keep having to adapt; it’s hard,” said Dunn, “but something that’s something I’ll have to do to accommodate a new generation of customers.”

College student indebtedness is on the rise, admissions directors and students at Elon University share their opinions about college loans and student debt

By Cameron Saucier

Infographic by the Institute for College Access and Success. Reproduced under TICAS’ creative commons license.

In 2014, an estimated 1.8 million college students will receive their bachelors degrees. But for many of these students, a bachelors degree isn’t all they obtain after graduation. They are also awarded a hefty receipt for all of their student loans. College debt has become an increasingly prevalent force in the lives of many college graduates – and it’s not getting better.

According to a new report released by the Institute for College Access and Success (TICAS), debt has increased an average of 6 percent each year from 2008 to 2012. The data from the report was derived from the federal government from an annual voluntary survey.

TICAS report reflects a wide variation in student debt across selective states. Graphs compiled by TICAS.

The report says U.S. debt averages varied depending upon geographic location. Generally, the Northeast and Midwest were areas of the most concentrated student debt. New Hampshire and Delaware remain two of the highest-debt states in the nation.  Conversely, lower-debt states tended to be located in the West and South, with New Mexico and California being two of the lowest debt states in the country.

But students aren’t the only ones dealing with debt. The report is concerning for many colleges, especially considering the impact the most recent recession has had on college budgets.  As costs for running and expanding college institutions increase, many universities are forced to raise their student tuition.

Student debt in North Carolina compared with other selective U.S. states. Infographic by Cameron Saucier

Elon University, a private college located in North Carolina, is one of many universities in the nation trying to address student debt post-graduation. According to Greg Zaiser, vice president of admissions and financial planning, Elon’s debt average for post-graduates is around $23,000. But the Project on Student Debt, a sister organization of TICAS, says the average debt of Elon’s graduates in 2012 was $28,183. That’s nearly 15 percent higher than North Carolina’s state average, which sits at $23,893.

But Zaiser said that Elon has many programs in place to help students pay for tuition, like the university’s work-study program. Elon gives students the opportunity to work at a part-time, on-campus job, earning money that can be directly applied to their college loans.

“I think that’s what colleges need to do,” said Zaiser. “They need to find creative ways to address student indebtedness. Our work-study program is one of those opportunities.”

Elon’s endowment is currently $172 million and has grown even during the recession – a trend that most private universities can’t claim.  While this seems like a lot of money on the surface, most of it covers school maintenance and expansion, said Zaiser. According to him, Elon has a large donor-base that allows it to stay up and running, while also providing students need and merit-based financial aid.

Patrick Murphy, Elon’s director of financial planning, believes that the debt students accumulate at college is worth every penny.

“Students are getting an education here that’s allowing them to be employed after college,” said Murphy.

Zaiser reflected Murphy’s belief in the importance of a college degree, but as a parent of an upcoming high school graduate, his statements were more vehement.

“In this day and age,” said Zaiser, “college is an investment in the future. The benefit will outweigh the cost of college indebtedness in the long-term.”

Still, Murphy admits that many students may not recognize just what they’re agreeing to when they take out a student loan.

“It’s amazing how many students will get a loan,” he said, “but realize it must be paid after they graduate.”

Murphy counsels John Bowden, a senior at Elon, about paying off his federal loans after graduation. Photo by Cameron Saucier

According to Murphy, Elon offers exit counseling to graduates, which will help them to prepare for dealing with their loans. The first thing students need to do is to be in touch with the lender, said Murphy. If it’s a federal loan, the government can offer forbearance, he said. The government extends an Income-Based Repayment option to students, which spreads loans over a 20 year period. The option is an effort by the government to reduce student default rates, which is currently 13 percent.

But many loan-recieving students at Elon are not blind to the debt they’ll face post-graduation.

Heather Harder, a senior at Elon, is taking a course about financial responsibility to prepare herself for budgeting once she graduates.

“I think that having debt after college makes you make smarter decisions,” said Harder. “From other seniors I’ve talked to, it seems like Elon’s student population is more knowledgable about student loans.”

Andrew Creech, a junior at Elon, wouldn’t be able to attend the university if it wasn’t for federal loans. Creech said he is already preparing to budget to compensate for his large debt after college.

“I’ve borrowed about $60,000,” said Creech. “I’m just trying to make sure I have a good job lined up after college. I’ll have to start repaying my loans 6 months after graduation.”

50th Anniversary of Kennedy Assassination still shrouded in conspiracy theories, Elon University faculty and staff give their recounts and opinions of the tragedy

By Cameron Saucier

On Nov. 22, 1963, one of the most beloved presidents in U.S. history was assassinated. John F. Kennedy was riding through Dallas in a presidential motorcade when he was shot in the head. The Warren Commission, a congregation formed to explore the death of Kennedy, found overwhelming evidence that the shooter was Lee Harvey Oswald. But to this day, skeptics still proclaim that there was more to the story. And these critics are more prevalent than you think.

This gallup poll conducted on Nov. 15, 2013, shows that the majority of Americans think that there were others involved in the Kennedy assassination. Graph by Gallup, Inc.

In a gallup poll conducted on Nov. 15, 2013, 61 percent of Americans said they believe Kennedy was killed in a conspiracy. But some staff and faculty at Elon University think otherwise. According to Carolynn Whitley, program assistant for Elon’s political science department, conspiracy theories started circulating the country only days after Kennedy was shot.

Whitley, who was a freshman in college at Lenoir Ryan University when Kennedy was killed, recounted how her entire campus went into bedlam after hearing news of the tragedy.

“The whole campus was in shock,” said Whitley. “Nothing was open except the dining halls. Our university shut down and we were glued to the television.”

Photo and magazine cover courtesy of the Times.

Whitley said she trusted the Warren Commission and that she believed Kennedy was shot by Oswald. Although, she admitted, others may have been involved with planning the shooting, but there is not way to tell for sure.

Anthony Hatcher, associate professor of communications, was surprised by the gallup poll results, but said he still adheres to the Warren Commission’s report that Oswald acted alone. Hatcher, like Whitley, has also been subjected to countless conspiracy theories surrounding Kennedy’s death.

Hatcher, although only six years old at the time of Kennedy’s death, gave his recount of the tragedy from a child’s perspective.

Despite all of the controversy surrounding the Kennedy assassination, many Americans still come together to celebrate his life and mourn his passing.

Tracy Raetz, a senior at Elon and resident of Dallas, said that tourists mainly come to Dallas to shop, but people always stop by the Kennedy memorial to pay their respect.

“There is a huge “X” by memorial main street that marks the death of Kennedy,” said Raetz. “A lot of tourists take pictures of the memorial.”

Friday, a new memorial will be unveiled at the Dealey Plaza in Dallas, the site of the shooting. The monument will be located on the grassy knoll adjacent to the street Kennedy traveled by in a motorcade. The commemoration will feature historian David McCullough, a frequent visitor and guest speaker at Elon University. McCullough will be reading from Kennedy’s presidential speeches.

The impact of Diversity and Inclusion on Elon University’s Admissions Department and Recruitment practices

By Cameron Saucier

Photo courtesy of Flickr. Image by Cameron Saucier.

Diversity. It’s one of the most echoed words on college campuses across the nation. The word has been repeated and recited in mission statements, official mandates and university commitments so many times that it has ceased to be just a word, and has transformed into an idea. Diversity has become a strikingly apparent force on college campuses, and it’s percolating through every aspect of college culture, redefining our notions of cultural normalcies and inclusive practices.

But the primary impetus behind the increasingly diverse atmospheres of many universities doesn’t start with campus culture. The process begins with admissions. Like most U.S. institutions of higher education, Elon University is committed to an “unprecedented” level of diversity within undergraduate admissions, and its commitment has brought about considerable results.

Elon’s freshman class of 2017 is the most diverse the university has had since its inception. Nearly 17 percent of students are from ethnically diverse backgrounds. Hispanics and African-Americans are largest demographic of minority students, making up 177 of the 1,475 enrolled.

The University of North Carolina freshman class of 2017 had the lowest percentage of caucasian students on record. Wake Forest is showing similar increases in diversity in its undergraduate class. From 2009 to 2012, Wake Forest’s undergraduate diversity has increased 3.9 percent to 22.9 percent of total undergraduate students– and its percentage of minority students will continue to grow each year.

Lisa Keegan, Elon University’s dean of admissions, said she thinks its diverse freshman class is a product of the admissions department’s new recruitment strategies.

“Because we were able to achieve diversity in the applicant pool,” Keegan said, “we were able to achieve a higher rate in our accepted and admitted students. I think we’re being more intentional about reaching a broader audience of students. We want to make sure that we’re reaching out to students of all backgrounds.”

Map created by Dustin M. Cable for the University of Virginia.

Elon’s increasingly diverse applicant pool reflects a more staggering trend on a national scale: the changing racial demographics of the United States.

“There are more high school graduates each year now,” said Greg Zaiser, vice president of admissions and financial planning. “But there are also more non-caucasian students. This has been the case for Elon this year, and it’s projected to be the case next year, too.”

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the U.S. minority population, currently at 30 percent, is projected to exceed the white majority by 2050. Increasingly, America’s net population growth is being driven by minority groups. Each year, the children of minority groups will become more prominent. Twenty-five percent of children under the age of five are hispanic. By 2050, this number will increase to 40 percent.

Infographic by Cameron Saucier.

With the growing number of minorities in the United States, Elon’s admissions department will have an easier job recruiting diverse students, said Zaiser.

Starting with an idea

The first feature that appears on Elon’s long list of commitments says “Elon must do everything possible to prepare students for successful lives in a diverse 21st century world.”

Brooke Barnett, interim associate provost for inclusive community, said Elon is doing everything it can to achieve this ideal. Barnett is one of the directors of Elon’s Inclusive Community, a program designed to oversee the diversity education efforts for faculty and staff.

“What does admissions need to do?” Barnett asked. “The admissions department needs to sell the larger campus and what is has to offer. We’ve created an infrastructure and community that speaks to a lot of students wanting to be here. We hope that’s all connected.”

Although Barnett is not directly involved in undergraduate recruitment, she works in partnership with the human resources department for admissions. She said that Elon isn’t only pushing diversity because it desires to conform to the changing times.

“There is a whole host of studies that say students learn best in a diverse environment,” she said. “There is research that says that your best learning happens in heterogeneous groups.”

Barnett also believes that Elon’s diversity initiatives are preparing students to enter the global workplace.

Graphic by Cameron Saucier

Operating behind closed doors 

Advocates for ethnic diversity at universities are often criticized for supporting a system that bases its ideology on race alone. But many critics don’t realize that the current Affirmative Action clause doesn’t permit universities to have quota systems that judge applicants by using racial criteria.

“Legally, you may not have quota systems,” Barnett said. “You may have a holistic way of looking at students. Looking at the whole student and everything about them is how you do holistic admissions process. There is no legal system in place that involves a quota system.”

Photo courtesy of Flickr.

In the 1978 Regents of the University of California v. Bakke court case, quota systems were banned based upon allegations of discrimination. To this day, the court case has been upheld.

“Although we are a private institution, we certainly try to remain in-line with the current case law regarding the use of race in admissions,” said Dean of Admissions Keegan. The current case on the book is explicit about not using quotas. We don’t use a quota system.”

But there are ways to circumvent the quota system, and because the admissions processes of many universities are kept in secret, these methods are often overlooked.

Elon’s admissions department uses what’s called a “standard of eligibility” criterion to gauge the initial academic strength of its applicants. Students below the standard of eligibility aren’t even considered in the application process.

“All students must meet the standard of eligibility for admission into the university,” said Vice President of Admissions Zaiser. “It’s currently a 2.5 GPA and a 1330 SAT with a minimum of 400 on each section.”

“This is the threshold for admissions,” he said.

But the middle 50 percent of this years Freshman class had an average SAT score ranging from 1730 to 1960, an average ACT ranging from 25 to 29 and an average GPA ranging from 3.4 to 4.3, according to Zaiser.

So why set the standard of eligibility so low?

African-American students continue to lag behind other racial groups in their SAT scores. According to the College Board, their mean combined Math and Verbal SAT scores in 2010 were 844. This number was 279 points lower than the score Asian-Americans made on equivalent sections, and 207 points lower than the score the majority of whites made.

This gap has barely been closing in recent years. According to the ACT website, African-Americans also have the lowest ACT scores scores out of any racial group. Because most admissions leaders prefer to look beyond standardized test scores, admissions requirements leave room for recruiting students whose scores are not chart-toppers.

Graph by Cameron Saucier. Data extracted from The College Board

In 2003, during the Grutter V. Bollinger court case, the Supreme Court upheld the practice of affirmative action by the University of Michigan. But one of the dissenting opinions made by Chief Justice Rehnquist cited that the percentage of African-American applicants closely reflected the number of African-Americans that were accepted in the university.

Most U.S. universities are predominantly white, and all are aiming to attract more diverse students. Many are making special allowances in the admissions process, targeting underprivileged minority groups.

How much of a factor is race in the admissions process, and where is the arbitrary line drawn? It’s impossible to say for sure. Elon, like most private universities, doesn’t make its access to sensitive admissions records public.

Drawing the thin line

According to Cindy Barr, associate dean of admissions, race is a factor in admissions, but academic profiles are always considered first.

“We have far more qualified applicants than we have room to admit,” she said. “When we make decisions we look to see who we need as a part of this community. Diverse background is one of many things that we would consider. Your academic profile is always the first and strongest thing that we consider.”

Two people involved in the process for recruiting students for Elon’s fellows program spoke off the record, saying  gender, race and financial background are taken into consideration in decisions.

The fellows program utilizes a similar “holistic review” process to that the admissions department uses.

Officials in the admissions department at UNC also speak in these terms.

“We do a holistic review as a part of our application review,” said Ashley Memory, senior assistant director of admissions. “We take into account all aspects. This can include race, but we usually encourage a holistic process.”

It appears that universities are still finding ways to invite diverse students to their entering freshman classes statistically over more qualified applicants.

Chris Sonzogni, a former student ambassador for Elon’s admissions office, said he observed some diverse candidates for admission to get special attention, but he could never verify these allegations with certainty.

“I’ve heard concerns from fellow students that minority student applications were treated with a different criteria,” said Sonzogni, “but to the extent of my knowledge, they were never given preferential treatment at any point during the admissions process.”

One thing that is for sure, universities nationwide are battling to attract diverse student bodies.

“Every school wants to diversify their applicant pool and have a global presence on their campus,” said Barr. “The competition is fierce.”

Illinois prepared to legalize same-sex marriage, Elon faculty and students share their local perspective

By Cameron Saucier

Elon N.C. – Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn is prepared to legalize same-sex marriage in his state, which will make Illinois the 15th state to make change. Many Elon faculty and students said they strongly support the governor’s decision in Illinois, and wish that North Carolina would be more accepting toward such change.

Photo courtesy of GSA network.

Ann Cahill, a philosophy professor who teaches about sex, gender and power, said that Illinois’ decision is a reflection of the breakdown of social conservatism in America, and a sign of the changing times.

“I’m trying to think of something other than I think it’s great,” Cahill said. “I think it’s just another in a series of cultural advances in the face of sexual and gender equality. That is not to say it’s a cure of homophobia, but that behavior is seeming more and more ludicrous with each validation.”

Cahill said that in the near future, oppression of gay populations will no longer be tolerated.

“States that insist on a homophobic policy will find themselves wanting and lacking human resources,” she said. “You cannot oppress a population of people that large without paying a price.”

Matthew Antonio Bosch, gender and LGBTQIA center director, welcomed Illinois into the list of states who are tolerant of gay communities. Although Bosch expressed optimism for the future of gay rights, he said that North Carolina will likely lag behind other states in legalizing same-sex marriage.

According to a 2013 survey by the Pew Research Center, nearly 15 percent of  American adults said they support same-sex marriage, a number that has grown steadily since the past few decades.

Elon University poll conducted April 5 through April 9 in 2013. Infographic by Elon University Poll

But While many states have legalized same-sex civil marriage through court rulings,  six states still prohibit same-sex civil marriage by law and 29 states still prohibit it in their constitutions.

North Carolina is one of the six states that ban same-sex marriage through law

Sarah Paille-Jansa, a junior at Elon, said that she thinks amendment one, which makes it unconstitutional for North Carolina to perform same-sex marriages, is not allowing the state to socially progress.

“Since passing amendment one,” said Paille-Jansa, “it’s making us look a lot dumber. I hope that we’ll soon join other states. I think this bill will certainly put pressure on North Carolina and other states, but North Carolina’s congress is particularly stubborn.”

Local Burlington residents express varied opinions about local mayoral race

By Cameron Saucier

Ronnie Wall was first elected mayor of the city of Burlington in 2007, running unopposed since 2009. During his incumbency, he has been active in promoting the economic development of the Burlington area, while cleaning up the rivers and streams that run into Jordan Lake.

But during the upcoming election on Tuesday, Wall will be facing opposition for the first time in four years. His challenger: Ian Baltutis, a young graduate from Elon University. Despite Baltutis’ affiliation with Elon University, many faculty and staff at Elon are still divided in their perceptions of the new candidate.

Ian Baltutis explains his political platform. Photo by Elon University Pendulum

Valerie Cheek, executive assistant to the senior vice president, has lived in Burlington for 22 years. She said she’ll be voting for Wall again because he hasn’t made many mistakes as mayor.

“I’ll be voting for Ronnie Wall because he’s done a great job,” she said. “He’s very effective. Ronnie has been in the game for a while and he knows what’s going on.”

Cheek gave some advice for Burlington voters.

“If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it,” she said.

Cheek said although Baltutis is an Elon graduate, she doesn’t know him as a candidate, apart from his occasional signs on the side of the road.

Susan P. Lindley, an executive assistant at Elon, said that although Baltutis is an Elon graduate, she will still be voting for Wall.

“Ian uses a lot of social media to reach out to people,” she said. “I think it’s great. He has a fresh outlook on things. But I still have decided to vote for Ronnie Wall because he has a lot to offer the community.”

Of the five Burlington residents interviewed, only two are planning to vote in the 2013 mayoral election.

John Hasser, assistant director of the Elon Poll, is one of the residents who will not vote. But Hasser’s excuse isn’t a result of apathy. It’s his job. As an analyst of the elections, Hasser said he wants to have a holistic, unbiased view of the local elections. Hasser said that Wall is likely to stay in office because of a clean record and simple name recognition.

“It’s difficult to beat an incumbent mayor if they haven’t done anything wrong,” Hasser said. “Though Baltutis may have prominence in the local Elon community, he doesn’t have the same recognition in the Burlington area.”

Hasser said that name recognition means everything in small local elections. Unless you have someone famous or well-recognized in a community running against a long-standing official, fresh candidates will not have much of a chance, said Hasser.

Elon University students take survey on student body size, results were skewed in favor of current size

Students were surveyed outside all major university buildings. Photo by Cameron Saucier

By Cameron Saucier

Elon University students may disagree about social or political issues, but when it comes to their undergraduate student body size, students overwhelmingly said that Elon was “just right.”

A total of 200 students were surveyed. Of the 200 students, 74 percent said that Elon’s undergraduate student body size was fine at its current number. Seven percent of students said that it was too large and 19 percent of students said that it was too small.

Sixty-one percent of students that said Elon’s undergraduate student body size should be between 5,000 and 6,000 students. Of all students surveyed, this was the most popular range of numbers. According to CollegeBoard, Elon’s current undergraduate size is 5,357 students – a number the survey reflects students are comfortable with.

Two-hundred students were surveyed in the poll. Infographic by Cameron Saucier

Sydney Briley, a senior at Elon, thought that Elon’s student body size was perfect for the engaged-learning atmosphere the university promotes.

“I like the relationship you form with your professors,” she said. “Most of my class sizes are around 25 students.”

Although most students were content with the current number of undergraduates, some complained about the growing lines for the dining halls.

Ashley Tolton, a sophomore at Elon, said that the Lakeside dining hall seems to be getting too crowded. Freshman Merienne Gasca echoed Tolton’s statement, but emphasized that the dining halls were especially crowded after their morning opening.