Elon University prides itself on the integrity of its academics, its students and its mission. It is dispiriting to find, then, that the university and a number of those who serve it undermine that integrity to impress potential applicants.

Living on first floor Sloan gives a unique perspective; especially because most tour groups make their way through the hall at one time or another.

As a residence hall, Sloan contains one laundry facility for the entire three floors of students.

The occasional tour guide, however, will blatantly misinform the group that each floor has its own laundry room for the convenience of the students.

Similarly, the Elon Television news van that sits parked out behind the Communications building sits unused day after day. It is left there to give

passersby the impression that the vehicle is an integral part of the university program.

Even sitting at Varsity, one can hear a tour guide telling potential applicants that a meal plan can cover their dining expenses at the grill, while not informing them fully that he or she will have to use multiple meal plans to completely cover the cost.

It is senseless that a school like Elon would need to mislead candidates to receive their application and enrollment. The university is impressive academically, its beauty is openly visible and students and faculty members are often remarkable for their friendliness and success.

So what’s the deal?

There isn’t a satisfactory answer. While Elon University itself may institute or suppor the use of these scam tactics, there are continue to do so.

When tour guides come by Sloan and tell groups that some of the biggest rooms on campus are the average size for Elon, they are lying, and that should not be tolerated.

It is simply hypocritical of the university to enforce ethics codes against deception when it use them time and time again to coax people on tours to attend Elon. Stop it.

Embrace integrity. To be deceitful, as many of these occurrences are, erodes the prestige of the high standards that Elon upholds on most occasions.

Reject the lies andwhen someone on campus, tour guide or not, tells a potential student or his/her parent something that you know is misleading. Correct the person and enforce the value of integrity on which this school relies.

If a potential applicant chooses not to attend Elon because Sloan dormitory doesn’t have a laundry room on each floor, then that person isnt’t worth the time or effort necessary to convince them to attend the school anyway.

Elon needs to show students what they will really get out of their educational experience at our insitution.

Elon has many opportunities to offer, whether it be a major study abroad program, wonderful professors or a wealth of other experiences. Our shortcomings should not be hidden.

Prospective students should see their new university for all that it is, good and bad.

Columnist: Brett Scuiletti - 05/03/07