The author of the latest book to make headlines on campus is certainly unusual: the Elon University women’s soccer team.
With the help of Tom Arcaro, professor of Sociology, senior midfielders Samantha Burch and Taylor Glenn, junior defender Erin Tanhauser and former soccer player Mikayla Shaw were published as editors for “Costa Rica Through The Lens: Reflections From Elon University Women’s Soccer,” in which the team documents its experience from its March 2015 study abroad trip to Costa Rica.
All of the proceeds from the book go to a scholarship that will enable a future student-athlete to study abroad.
“Well, Dr. Arcaro asked our team who wanted to volunteer to have a book-publishing experience and spearhead the book process by prompting the teammates to think critically about the trip,” Burch said. “The four of us were really interested in improving our writing skills and learning about the book publishing process.”
Burch, Glenn, Tanhauser and Shaw are the four listed on the cover of the book, which is available on Amazon.com in both paperback ($25) and digital purchase via Kindle ($5). The idea for the book came out of the early class meetings in December 2014.
“We all decided that this would be a great way to give back to the university and to give back to Elon athletics, to show that there was a return of investment on this experience,” Burch said. “Elon University is obviously renowned for global education, and it was a privilege to be able to go as a student-athlete.”
Burch is a Spanish minor, as was Glenn until she found out she learned better through immersion than in the classroom. Glenn’s previous experience studying abroad in Peru her sophomore year helped her see the importance of the experience for the team.
Her previous time in Peru also gave Glenn a chance to understand how “pura vida” (pure life) is embodied every day in Costa Rican culture.
“Costa Ricans know how to live — they know how to treat the earth — and I feel like them treating it right allows them to reap the benefits of tourism,” Glenn said. “They’re such down-to-earth people. They have fun but they’re responsible. It was a very cool atmosphere to be around — you didn’t feel the hustle and bustle of what you get here at Elon.
“Honestly, if I feel like I need a pick-me-up, I might go back to Costa Rica because you can’t not be happy when you’re in that country.”
The publication date was Aug. 22, 2015, even though Elon did not announce the publication until Dec. 15. For Glenn, the publication of the book, and her title as editor, gave her some familial bragging rights.
“I’m the oldest of five kids, and my little sisters are super good at soccer,” Glenn said. “I’m always hearing it from my dad, ‘Oh, they’re so much better than you.’ This, this and that — we’re such a competitive family.
“Now, I’m like, ‘Well, they didn’t publish a book.’ I have this one-up on them now, and I’m sure they’ll publish five because my little siblings have to always beat me.”