Tips for Beat Writing

Top 10 tips for Beat Writing

Writing for beats and writing locally can be a challenge in itself, especially when there is so much that can be written about.  The goal of beat writing is to split up roles and responsibilities among a staff, in order to cover a broad array of topics.

Although we are in the digital age, America’s Best Newspaper Writing states that the best practice of reporting on a local level is by using “shoe-leather” to speak to sources.  Rather than automatically getting online or on the telephone, “hit the streets, talk to folks about their needs and concerns, listen and learn” (28).

This is a practice that can easily be forgotten in our culture, especially when it’s so easy to jump on the internet or pick up the phone and start making calls.  However, in order to be a successful journalist, especially while writing locally, there’s no substitute for knowing one’s audience and the issues and questions they are faced with on a constant basis.

Below are examples of reporters using “shoe leather” to speak to their audience, with the things that matter most to them.

A great example of shoe leather hard at work comes from The New York Times, one of the best places to practice shoe leather journalism!  With such a variety of resources in such a confined space, it’s easier (yet still essential) to talk to constituents and sources about issues pertaining to them.  Winning the 1998 Pulitzer Prize for Beat Reporting, Linda Greenhouse reported on the United States Supreme Court.  By following hot-button issues of the times, including assisted suicide, internet speech, religious rights and racial rights, Greenhouse was able to speak to effectively speak to the heart of her audience, while recounting issues in the Supreme Court in Lehman’s terms.

http://www.pulitzer.org/works/1998-Beat-Reporting

Beat reporting doesn’t always have to have a “just the facts” mentality.  In fact, it’s often simply stories that matter to a large audience.  Such was the case for Amy Dockser Marcus of The Wall Street Journal. In 2005, she won a Pulitzer for writing about a side of cancer survivors that the public typically doesn’t see, including stories from the family and physician perspectives.  Marcus guides the readers “on a carousel, equally conscious of the up-and-down and the journey round” (35).  She records the highs and lows of the patient’s lives, and the people affected.

http://www.pulitzer.org/citation/2005-Beat-Reporting

Sometimes with beat reporting, it’s important to uncover myths and stereotypes that have plagued the readers.  It’s often pressing issues that the audience has a passion for understanding the truth.  Such was the case for Daniel Golden of The Wall Street Journal, who won a Pulitzer in 2004 for uncovering admission preferences given to children of large donors at universities across the nation.  Golden plays to his audience and reports on what they want to know, the hallmark of good shoe leather journalism.

http://www.pulitzer.org/citation/2004-Beat-Reporting

Good journalism can lead to change, if the journalist takes the right approach in reporting misconduct and malcontent.  In 2001, David Cay Johnston of The New York Times saw a mistake and reported on it in order to make change to benefit society.  With loopholes in the U.S. tax code, Johnston wrote articles over a 10-month span documenting these inequities and inquiring for change.  He used broad language to cater to his audience.  Obviously, everyone isn’t a professional with U.S. tax code language, but Johnston broke it down to make it easy to understand and lead to change.

http://www.pulitzer.org/citation/2001-Beat-Reporting

Beat reporting doesn’t always mean stirring up controversy and making changes happen.  Bob Keeler of Newsday wrote an exhaustive portrait of a local Catholic parish and its parishioners in 1996, earning him a Pulitzer.  In his stories, Keeler follows the “hour-glass pattern, with the basic elements of news at the top of the story, a transition and a chronological retelling of events” (41).  Doing this, he was able to recount the most poignant information to readers on the go.  His progressive language and attention to detail brought this parish to life in the minds of the readers.

http://www.pulitzer.org/citation/1996-Beat-Reporting

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Phoenix softball goes 4-0 at Elon Invitational, faces University of South Carolina

Sophomore outfielder Tomeka Watson leads the Phoenix with seven stolen bases this season. Photo by Merissa Blitz.

Last season, the Elon softball team started its season 7-0, on the way to a 38-24 overall record and the program’s first-ever Southern Conference championship.

This year, the Phoenix hopes its 7-1 start is an indicator that the team will continue its success.

The Phoenix hosted the Elon Invitational from Friday, Feb. 18 to Sunday, Feb. 20. In three days, the Phoenix played Seton Hall University, the University of Dayton and Morgan State University.

In the four games, the Phoenix outscored its opponents 32-6 and won all four games, improving its record to 7-1 on the season.

“As a team, we are getting more confident in ourselves,” said head coach Patti Raduenz. “It’s been showing on the field, as we are putting together consistent play.”

In its Feb. 18 game, the Phoenix hosted the Seton Hall Pirates. Sophomore outfielder Tomeka Watson led the Phoenix with five RBIs, and went 2-for-3 at the plate. Senior Lauren Taylor went four innings, giving up one earned run on five hits while improving her record to 3-0 on the season.

“As a team, the only way we’re going to win is if we execute on the field,” Watson said. “It’s all about being a tough out and getting on the base paths.”

On Feb. 19, the Phoenix took on the Dayton Flyers and Morgan State Bears in a doubleheader.

In the first game, the Phoenix rallied behind Taylor, who threw a five-hit shutout and led Elon to a 5-0 victory. Improving to 4-0 on the young season, Taylor lowered her earned run average to 2.23, with 25 strikeouts in 25 innings of work.

In the second game, the Phoenix offense got going early, with five runs in the first inning and an additional eight runs in the second inning, leading the Phoenix to a 15-2 victory.

The Phoenix softball team celebrates on the mound after going 4-0 at the Elon Invitational. With a 7-1 record, Elon travels to the University of South Carolina this weekend for a doubleheader. Photo by Merissa Blitz.

Sophomore pitcher Kari Pervell got the win for the Phoenix.

In the final game of the Invitational, junior pitcher Erin O’Sheaconducted a two-hit, complete game shutout, on the way to a 4-0 victory for the Phoenix against the University of Dayton.

In its second weekend of a young season, the Phoenix went 4-0 after going 3-1 in the previous weekend. But, Coach Raduenz saw quite a difference between the first two weekends of the season.

“We were more aggressive and played our style of softball all the way through the weekend,” Raduenz said. “Everything came together, which wasn’t necessarily the case the previous weekend.”

With a mixture of youth and veteran players, the Phoenix is looking to continue its recent successes. While the 2010 season brought unprecedented heights for Elon softball, this year’s squad thinks it can continue last year’s accomplishments, and create a lasting program.

“We didn’t necessarily have a lot of depth last year,” Raduenz said. “All year, we were hoping the injury bug wouldn’t hit us.”

This year’s team has benefited from extra depth, with six newcomers to the softball program. The six seniors, many whom are starters for the Phoenix, have helped the newcomers get comfortable with the program and get involved from the onset.

“There are younger girls pushing and challenging the older players for positions,” Raduenz said. “We also have more speed on the base paths with younger players pinch-running.”

The Phoenix travels to Columbia, S.C. this weekend for a series against the University of South Carolina Gamecocks, where the Phoenix will take its game to the road for the first time this season.

“It will be a step up in competition, playing an SEC school,” Raduenz said. “Our girls will continue to practice hard this week to be ready.”

Junior pitcher Erin O’Shea is batting .333 for Elon through eight games, and is 2-0 on the mound. Photo by Merissa Blitz.

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SGA results announced, Warren named SGA President

After two days of open voting, representatives from the Student Government Association announced its election results on Tuesday evening from Elon University.

Junior Sam Warren won SGA Executive President over junior Matt Campbell by a 1,268-559 margin.

Junior Rachel Long won SGA Executive Vice President after running unopposed.

Nick Livengood, also a junior, won the SGA Treasurer position after running unopposed, and junior Ross Garner won SGA Secretary position over fellow junior Brielle Giordano.

Warren plans to move quickly to begin putting action in place for the upcoming school year.

“I’m hopefully talking to Admissions to talk about their support to turn Moseley Center into the student center that I proposed,” Warren said.

Presidential candidate Samuel Warren answers a question about the most pressing issue on campus during the presidential debate against candidate Matthew Campbell. Photo by Heather Cassano

That proposition includes putting student work and photography in Moseley Center, to give Moseley Center more of a student’s feel.

Additionally, Warren plans to create a scholarship that funds one student leader at Elon on an annual basis.

“My goal is to create more transparency between SGA and the student body,” Warren said.  “It’s important for this position to be a soundboard for ideas and creativity for students to come to with questions, comments and concerns.”

Junior Patrick Reynolds was names the Class of 2012 Senator, and junior Taylor Martin was announced Class of 2012 President to round out the executive positions and senior class positions.

While there are still multiple SGA seats vacant throughout the current freshman, sophomore and junior classes, those seats will soon be appointed by SGA executives as all terms start March 31, Warren said.

View the full SGA election results here.

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Author Rebecca Solnit discusses the human paradigm at Elon University

Author Rebecca Solnit (courtesy of http://www.rebeccasolnit.com)

In a world where society preaches the importance of getting ahead, author Rebecca Solnit described the need to live judiciously.

“Live below your means,” Solnit said.  “(People) aren’t living the life they want to because so many expensive things (people) pay for, they don’t need.”

For a large part of her life, Solnit has lived this life.  From skipping high school altogether, to studying in France at the age of 17 while living in a glorified closet, Solnit’s life experiences have largely shaped the person she is today.

“I succeeded by taking one step at a time,” Solnit said.  “One step at a time can get you wherever you want to go, but it’s good to take all those steps in between.”

Solnit went back to school after living in Paris and finished her undergraduate work at San Francisco State University.  She then received her Masters in Journalism from UC-Berkeley.

While taking a year off from her job in 1988, Solnit wrote her first book.  She found her passion and never turned back.

Solnit has written a number of books, ranging from wars to walking to ice ages.

“My interests shift around a little bit, but I just feel like a nomad on a regular migration route,” she said.

One of her most recent books, “A Paradise Built in Hell” brings communities to light that are stricken by natural disaster, and the rebuilding process that follows these disasters.

A city that Solnit focuses on in the book is New Orleans following Hurricane Katrina.  She describes the way the media covered the events and the way the events actually unfolded as two different ideas.

“It demonizes people at their most vulnerable point,” she said, talking about the way the media portrayed the inhabitants of New Orleans, often talking about looting in the city and utter chaos in the streets.

Solnit's book about disasters, "A Paradise Built in Hell". Courtesy of http://www.rebeccasolnit.com

“People don’t understand that in a disaster, you cannot go shopping, everything is closed, and the power is not working,” she said.  “We’re in a non-economic realm where buying and selling does not exist.  Often store owners unlock stores, inviting people to come in and take.”

Solnit warned Elon University students about disaster coverage, noting the importance of doing good research and checking sources.  While rumors will arise, there’s rarely much truth in them, she said.

With a career as a freelancer, Solnit has earned multiple awards for her writing, including a Guggenheim Fellowship, a Lannan literary fellowship and two NEA fellowships for literature.  In addition, Solnit was named as one of the “25 visionaries who are changing your world” by Utne Reader magazine.

While writing, it’s important to have good connections and write about your passions.

“You have to work smart which means figuring out who you are and what you want to do,” she said.  “You are a better writer if you write about what you are passionate about

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America’s Best Newspaper Writing–Deadline Writing

Top 10 tips for deadline writing

There is no skill quite as important to journalists as writing on deadline.  In order to be a good journalist, it’s important to know how to write with brevity, knowing that all the major details must be included before deadline.  Deadline writing is more important in today’s society than it has ever been before.  In a world of 24-hour news coverage, it’s as if writers and broadcasters alike are constantly working on deadline.  To get the most pertinent and essential facts published relating to the story at hand is essential, and it’s a constant race between the writer and their competition.  With so many outlets getting out information as fast as possible, it’s important to quickly and carefully synthesize the important content, and act upon it.

The Pulitzer Prize awards exemplary writing in breaking news.  What follows is five examples of breaking news which were at least finalists for Pulitzers.

The 2010 Pulitzer winner for breaking news was coverage by The Seattle Times of shooting deaths of four police officers and the 40-hour manhunt that ensued.  On 8:15 a.m. on November 29, 2009, four officers were shot and killed an hour south of Seattle.  The first article written by The Seattle Times was at about 10 a.m.  On deadline, throughout the day, more than 30 staff stories were posted.  Seattletimes.com was the first source to identify the suspect and their criminal history.  Exhibiting strong writing skills, it was important for the staff to quickly and concisely identify the most salient points of the happenings and quickly sum it up.

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/lakewoodshootings/

Leading to the resignation of Gov. Eliot Spitzer, The New York Times won the 2009 Pulitzer for breaking news coverage.  On March 10, 2008, The New York Times identified Gov. Eliot Spitzer as being linked to a prostitution ring.  In America’s Best Newspaper Writing, it talks of the importance for deadline writers to prepare in advance.  Obviously, writers can’t prepare for a shock of a prostitution ring, but the staff worked quickly with moving the controversy forwards, as three days after the first story broke, Spitzer resigned.

http://www.pulitzer.org/works/2009-Breaking-News-Reporting

While it’s important to find the sources and deal with the facts in a timely manner, it’s also essential to deal with emotional matters delicately.  Such was the case in the 2008 Pulitzer winner—how The Washington Post dealt with the Virginia Tech shootings.  In the first article (http://www.pulitzer.org/archives/7803) written on April 17, 2008, vivid imagery and detail begin the story and really engage the reader, giving all of the applicable details needed to catch the audience up on exactly what was happening in Blackburg.

http://www.pulitzer.org/works/2008-Breaking-News-Reporting

The 2007 Pulitzer winner for breaking news went to The Oregonian for coverage on a missing family in the Oregon mountains.  America’s Best Newspaper Writing talks about the importance of good narratives, including “characters instead of sources, scenes instead of summaries, dialogue instead of disembodied quotes…” (14).  The staff at The Oregonian vividly described the details of the family, and presented it in a way that was telling a story, as well as reporting the news. (http://www.pulitzer.org/archives/7092)

http://www.pulitzer.org/works/2007-Breaking-News-Reporting

Disaster struck hard in New Orleans and along the Gulf Coast as Hurricane Katrina struck in late August, 2005.  The New Orleans Time-Picayune with first-hand experiences, as the entire staff was living the disaster of Katrina, just like the citizens were.  A difficult task for Katrina coverage was to bring too many people into the story.  Obviously, it had an effect on the entire city, but America’s Best Newspaper Writing warns to “not let a crowd tell a story”.  The Times-Picayune did a great job with its coverage, by using sources, but not having too many accounts on the same disaster.

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Men’s basketball resting, re-evaluating as team prepares for SoCon tournament

Senior guard Chris Long is leading the team with 12.4 points per game. Photo by Corey Groom.

February is a month where you can learn a lot about a college basketball team.

In the month leading up to the stretch run of the college basketball season, teams want to be playing their best team basketball at the end of February, heading into March.

March brings conference tournaments, where every team has the opportunity to make the NCAA tournament.

For such a chaotic and eventful time, it’s odd to see the men’s basketball team with an entire week off between games.

“To have a full week of practice in February is something we value a great deal,” head coach Matt Matheny said.

Instead of constantly looking forward to the next team on the schedule, the team gets some time to evaluate their play before Saturday’s game against UNC-Greensboro, and the things that need to be worked on heading into the stretch run, junior guard Drew Spradlin said.

“We will use the week to focus on things we need to do better as a team, like improving on the defensive end,” Spradlin said. “We get to focus on ourselves first before we focus on our opponent.”

Last Saturday, the Phoenix traveled to Charleston, S.C. to face The Citadel Bulldogs. Elon got off to a fast start and built a 38-20 halftime score, as seven Elon players scored in the first half.

In the second half, the Phoenix continued to grow its lead and expanded it to 27 points with 12:23 to play and maintained a 22-point cushion with 6:54 left in the game.

From that point, the Bulldogs caught fire and ended up shooting more than 61 percent from the field in the second half. Despite its comeback, the Phoenix won 79-72, and snapped its five-game losing streak.

“It’s always great to win a conference game on the road,” Matheny said. “When (The Citadel) began giving us full-court pressure, we struggled. Down the stretch we hit many pressure free throws and that was the difference in the game.”

The Phoenix begins its stretch run against UNC-Greensboro this Saturday and faces Davidson College and Georgia Southern University next week to finish the regular season. Elon defeated all three teams earlier this season in their previous matchups by an average of 14.7 points.

Freshman forward Ryley Beaumont drives to the basket against the College of Charleston. Photo by Corey Groom.

After that, the Phoenix will look to win its first SoCon tournament in team history. The team reached the finals of the SoCon tournament in 2008 and lost to a Davidson Wildcats team 65-49, the same Davidson team that came within one basket of making the Final Four.

The offense has continued to be potent from the long range throughout the season, as the Phoenix ranks first in the SoCon and fourth in the nation in three-pointers made, with an average of over nine per game.

With nine players averaging more than 15 minutes per game, and of those nine, eight averaging over 40 percent from the field, there have been mutiple offensive threats this season for the Phoenix. Spradlin says the best thing the week off provides is for those players to rest and mentally prepare for the end of the season.

“We need the week to get our legs back and start our push to the conference tournament,” he said.

While the Phoenix has had glimpses of complete play, Matheny said in order for the Phoenix to be playing its basketball when the SoCon tournament begins, the team needs to improve defensively.

“We are a potent offense with quite a few options. We’ve had several very good offensive performances by many different players,” he said. “However, if we’re not shooting well come tournament time, our defense needs to step up and pull us through tough patches.”

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CNN producer and Elon alum Eric Hall speaks to young journalists

The key to success, said CNN producer Eric Hall, is rolling with the punches and taking risks when the opportunity comes up.

A 2005 graduate and producer at CNN, Eric Hall spoke in the School of Communications at Elon University on Monday about networking and the importance of following one’s dreams.

Hall recounted a time less than six years ago where he took that chance, and it has led him to working for ABC, Fox News and CNN, where he is the current producer of CNN Newsroom with Brooke Baldwin.

“Coming out of college, I was just worried about getting my first job,” Hall said.

He started off at a hiring firm in Charlotte, interviewing potential freelance designers and information technology gurus, when his career path changed with a single phone call.

“In August, I get a call from Barbabra Walters people,” Hall said, noting his connection made the previous winter while interning with The View.  “They said they had a PA job for 3.5 months of work.”

With a decision to make, Hall took the opportunity to freelance in New York City with no benefits and a job that would be ending almost as soon as his first rent check was due.

From The View, Hall had a job opportunity to freelance for CNN or accept an entry-level job at The Barbara Walters Show.  Knowing that he wanted to make more connections with other news sources to expand his networking potential.

“You need to know a lot of people,” Hall said.  “I needed to take another risk.”

After freelancing at CNN, Hall went back to The Barbara Walters Show, then to The Glenn Beck Show at HLN, worked as a writer for Fox News Channel to his position today producing at CNN.

Speaking to young journalists, Hall said the most important thing that students coming out of college need to learn is how to effectively write, how to always be learning from your superiors and how to work well with others.

“They’re not trying you out for your skills,” Hall said, describing time spent at internships.  “They’re looking to see if they can work alongside you.”

In college, Hall served as the opinions editor for The Pendulum, Elon University’s student newspaper.

Although not taking a single television production class at Elon, and majoring in corporate communications, Hall has worked with television exclusively in his young career.  He attributes his success to marketing himself and working four different internships while in college.

“Every place I’ve been to is a fantastic place to work,” he said.

Hall lists the 2008 election, the financial crisis, Michael Jackson’s death and Hurricane Katrina coverage as the most important stories he has worked with at CNN.

“People follow CNN because they know they’ll get the best news and the best facts from the best people.”

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Elon inks 15 for 2011 football class

Jack Rodenfels, February 9, 2011

• All 15 of the Phoenix football recruits, and the states they come from. Graphic by Luke Lovett.

College football coaches spend months planning and log thousands of miles visiting potential recruits, who eventually sign their National Letter of Intent to play at their respective colleges.
Then there’s newly installed Elon Phoenix head coach, Jason Swepson.

Hired Jan. 10 after being the former running backs coach at N.C. State University, Swepson had 23 days to put together a recruiting class, his first as a head coach.

With what he described as “one solid commitment” when hired, Swepson and his staff put together a class of 15, who signed their National Letter of Intent Feb. 2 to play at Elon starting in the fall of 2011.

“We wanted to make sure we brought kids in that know how to win,” Swepson said. “If you know how to win, then you are doing things the right way, by working hard.”

In the signing class, two athletes are coming off state championships, 14 of the 15 recruits made the playoffs their senior season and 10 of 15 recruits were captains their senior year.

The 2011 class includes seven players from N.C., three from S.C., and one each from Va., Ga., Fla., N.Y. and Iowa.

Offense

The Phoenix signed a quarterback, running back, tight end, two wide receivers and two offensive linemen.

Starting with the signal caller, 5-foot-10 inch, 180-pound quarterback Blake Rice hails from Tampa, Fla. In his final two seasons at the helm of his high school team, he threw for more than 3,300 yards and accounted for more than 50 touchdowns. A second team all-state pick, Rice was recruited by Swepson in his time at N.C. State.

“He makes plays with his feet and his arm,” said Scott Browne, recruiting coordinator for the Phoenix. “When something breaks down, you want somebody who can make something happen with his legs.”

Lining up behind Rice in the offense is Joe Jones, a 6-foot-1 inch, 190-pound running back from East Point, Ga. Jones brings a mix of size and speed to the Phoenix.

Will Wentz, a 6-foot-4-inch, 230-pound tight end is from Virginia Beach, Va. A first- team all-state pick, he snared 48 balls for 698 yards and six touchdowns in his senior season. “He has phenomenal hands and does a good job on the edge blocking,” said Browne.

Andre Davis and Ricky Brown will line up as receivers for the Phoenix starting next fall. The former, a 5-foot-10-inch, 165-pound wide receiver from Bunn, N.C., played quarterback in high school and amassed 2,598 total yards and 35 touchdowns in his career. He was a threat whenever he had the ball in his hands, according to Browne.

The latter, a 6-foot-3-inch, 195-pound wide receiver from Winston-Salem, N.C., caught 58 balls for 783 yards and 10 touchdowns in his senior season. Browne sees a bright future for the young receiver, saying the coaches are excited for his “length to go up over the smaller corners in the conference and make plays.”

In the trenches, the Phoenix recruited two offensive linemen: Thomas McGuire and Derek Vereen.

McGuire, a 6-foot-3-inch, 250-pound senior from Gilbert, Iowa was selected as a first-team all-state pick in his senior season and was a Wendy’s High School Heisman nominee to honor student-athletes.

Vereen, a 6-foot-3-inch, 280-pound lineman from Durham, N.C. was a two-year team captain for a Hillside squad that won the state championship in 2010.

Defense

The Phoenix signed two defensive linemen, two linebackers, three defensive backs and a long snapper.

Michael Pearson and Gary Coates were signed on the defensive line for the Phoenix.

The former, a 6-foot-2-inch, 230-pound senior from Laurens, S.C., was a four-year letter-winner who earned all-district honors and led his team to a 2008 state runner-up finish.

Coates is the nephew of former five-time Pro Bowler NFL tight end Ben Coates. A 6-foot-2-inch, 230-pound lineman, Coates set a school single-season record for tackles for loss in his senior year.

The Phoenix added two seniors to its depth charts — Odell Benton and Robert “Bear” Davis.

Benton, a 6-foot-1-inch 185-pound linebacker from Jacksonville, N.C., was a first-team all-area selection in 2010 and was a two-time all-conference honoree.

Davis was a leader on a defense that held opponents to 10.3 points per game. Participating in the 2010 Shrine Bowl, which pits the best players in the Carolinas, the 6-foot-1-inch, 225-pounder from Thomasville, N.C. was a three-time all-league selection.

“You like to see your linebackers run and hit, and this guy does that,” Browne said of Davis.

The Phoenix also bolstered its core by adding three defensive backs.

Mark Bridges, a 5-foot-11-inch 186-pound senior from Matthews, N.C., earned a three-star rating from both ESPN.com and Rivals.com. Bridges tallied 110 tackles and intercepted five passes in his senior year and was part of a team that was ranked eighth in the nation by ESPN.com.

Clocked with a 4.23-second time in the 40-yard dash, 5-foot-9-inch 160-pounder Jerrell Armstrong hails from New Bern, N.C. Armstrong participated in the 2010 Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas, and intercepted six passes and returned three punts for touchdowns in his senior season.

Miles Williams, a 6-foot-1-inch 185-pound defensive back from Roebuck, S.C., was a team captain and tallied 100 tackles in his senior season.

Long snapper Michael Crispi, a 5-foot-11-inch 230-pound senior comes from Dix Hill, N.Y. In his three years as a starter, Crispi never had an errant snap in 30 games.

Spring ball is just around the corner for the Phoenix, where the team will look to improve on their 6-5 record in 2010.

“These recruits are going to become part of the Elon family and I’m looking forward to it,” Swepson said.

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Model U.N. team to hold International Crisis Conference at Elon University

Catie Serex, a senior Political Science major, will lead Elon's International Crisis Conference April 10-11 as the Secretary General.

Elon University’s Model United Nations Society  will host their 10^th International Crisis Conference at Elon (ICCE) beginning Sunday, April 10, and finishing up Monday, April 11 after classes.

The two-day conference will involved anywhere from 120 to 170 first- and second-year Introduction to International Relations course students and all of the members of the MUN organization on campus.

Modeled after Princeton University’s International Crisis Simulation, the students will be divided into 9 Asia states—India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, China, Russia, Iran, Japan, North Korea and South Korea.

Each committee is led by third- or fourth-year MUN staff members work to produce initiatives involving several issues and themes developing in the involved Asian states.

Be sure to follow all of the action from the ICCE April 10-11.

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Former congressman J.C. Watts to deliver leadership lectures at Elon University

J.C. Watts, a former congressman from Okla. will deliver lectures on Elon University's campus as the 2011 Isabella Cannon Distinguished Visiting Professor of Leadership in February.

J.C. Watts, a former US Congressman from Oklahoma, will be speaking Tuesday, Feb. 22 at 7:30 p.m. in McCrary Theatre at Elon University, as the 2011 Isabella Cannon Distinguished Visiting Professor of Leadership.

His presentation, entitled “Leadership Lessons from the Sidelines and Aisles of Congress” will take a deeper look into his four terms in Congress and the changes that occurred in that time.

As 2011’s visiting professor of leadership, Watts will spend a few days on campus teaching classes and giving public lectures.  He will have a question and answer session on Wednesday, Feb. 23 at 11:00 a.m. in Whitley Auditorium on Elon’s campus.

Watts served for eight years on the House Armed Services Committee and authored several pieces of legislation, including President George W. Bush’s faith-based initiative known as the Community Solutions Act of 2001.  Additionally, Watts was elected House Republican Conference Chair in 1998, and was the first African-American Republican to be elected to a leadership post, according to The New York Times.

Former visiting professors of leadership at Elon have included David Gergen and Dee Dee Myers.

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