If the first few weeks of 2012 are any indication, it's going to be a crazy year. Just fewer than 150 Elon University students dove into Lake Mary Nell in 30-degree weather in what is predicted to be the final Polar Bear Plunge.
The Burlington community has grappled with the loss of two young men killed after being struck by a train on South Glen Raven Road.
Downtown Elon has welcomed a new business with the long-awaited opening of Pandora's Pies, a pizza shop boasting both locally grown ingredients and building materials. The university's network experienced an attack that left much of campus without Internet last Wednesday, Jan. 11.
So far, it's been a year of exciting traditions coupled with devastating loss, new beginnings and unforeseen threats. And The Pendulum has been there to cover it all.
The Pendulum staff may have changed hands at the start of the year, but what has not changed is our commitment to providing the Elon campus and community with the most accurate, up-to-date and informative content.
The community of students, faculty and staff at Elon University should expect and demand from The Pendulum information that is truthfully, professionally and accurately reported. Even when it may be uncomfortable to read, that includes scrutiny of the actions of the administration and others in power when warranted.
We are journalists, but we are humans first and that means we are not free from mistakes. We rely on our audience to hold us accountable and deliver the information that matters to you in both a respectful and impartial way. We want your critiques, suggestions and compliments as we work to constantly improve our methods and reporting.
As the new year begins, our staff is already thinking ahead and implementing ideas that will make our product even stronger.
As we move in line with the entire media industry, we will introduce a redesigned website at the start of February. Our print edition will continue to be published every Wednesday, but expect a reinvigorated emphasis on up-to-the-minute coverage online.
The Swing, our new weekly web show introduced last semester, will begin again next month with supplemental material to what we publish in print and a look behind the scenes at some of the most significant issues affecting you.
All in all, The Pendulum is no longer just a student newspaper. It is rapidly becoming a well-rounded news organization and the key source at Elon University for not only a weekly print version, but also supplementary videos, photos, graphics and social media content.
But all the hard work and late nights are meaningless without you, our community, who rely on our content to remain informed, make decisions and learn more about the area you call home.
On behalf of the entire Pendulum staff, thank you for your ongoing support and readership and be prepared for an exciting, challenging and rewarding year.