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Rebecca Smith, a sophomore journalism major and features editor of The Pendulum student newspaper, was one of nine students nationwide to be selected for a Scripps Howard Foundation 10-day journalism study trip to Japan in its annual Roy W. Howard National Collegiate Reporting Competition.

North Carolina U.S. Sen. Richard Burr, a first term Republican seeking re-election in November, is the most recognizable name and has the highest favorability ratings in a crowded field of candidates looking to win his seat, according to the latest ¸£ÀûÑÇÖÞ¹ú²ú¾«Æ· Poll.

National Public Radio's legal affairs correspondent Nina Totenberg, delivering Elon Law's spring 2010 Bryan Leadership Lecture, said the Supreme Court had become more divided and more activist than at any time in recent memory, and that major policy objectives of the Obama administration could be dismantled in years ahead by federal courts largely populated by Republican era appointees.

With decision time nearing on healthcare legislation in Congress, North Carolinians continue to believe that the nation's healthcare system is in need of reform, according to the latest ¸£ÀûÑÇÖÞ¹ú²ú¾«Æ· Poll.

Nina Totenberg, National Public Radio's award-winning legal affairs correspondent, will deliver the ¸£ÀûÑÇÖÞ¹ú²ú¾«Æ· School of Law spring 2010 Joseph M. Bryan Distinguished Leadership Lecture on Tuesday evening, March 16.

Pamela M. Kiser, Watts-Thompson Professor in the Department of Human Service Studies and interim dean of Elon College, the College of Arts and Sciences, has been named Elon’s fourth Distinguished University Professor.

At its March 2 meeting, the ¸£ÀûÑÇÖÞ¹ú²ú¾«Æ· Board of Trustees approved faculty tenure and promotions and learned about faculty who will receive lecture track appointments. Read this note for the full lists.

Alison Morrison-Shetlar, vice provost and dean of undergraduate studies at the University of Central Florida, Orlando, Fla., has been named dean of Elon College, the College of Arts and Sciences, and professor of biology at ¸£ÀûÑÇÖÞ¹ú²ú¾«Æ·. Her appointment by Provost Steven House comes after a national search.

J. Earl Danieley, who served as president of Elon from 1957-1973 and remains a fixture of the community, will be recognized as part of the annual Founders Day celebrations. The events include a special College Coffee on March 9, a Whitley Auditorium College Chapel service on March 11 and, later that evening, a fireside chat in Whitley Auditorium where Danieley will answer questions collected in advance from students by the Student Government Association.

Two-thirds of North Carolinians believe that religion is losing influence on American life, compared with about 24 percent who believe religion is gaining influence, according to the latest ¸£ÀûÑÇÖÞ¹ú²ú¾«Æ· Poll. Nearly 65 percent say there should be no requirement for elected officials to believe in God.