The celebration was held in front of the Moseley Center on June 1, 2001, when Elon College became Elon University and the town of Elon College became the Town of Elon, North Carolina. President Leo M. Lambert (8th Elon President) stated, (00:00:14) We are celebrating Elon College becoming Elon University and (the town of) Elon College becoming the Town of Elon (North Carolina). Lambert welcomed students, faculty, staff, trustees, Mayor Beth Schmidt, Town Manager Mike Dula, the Aldermen, and friends from the community. (00:00:38) Lambert read the prayer to begin the event. Lambert introduced President J. Earl Danieley, President Emeritus. Danieley reflected on Elon’s history. President Emeritus J. Fred Young, representing Elon University, and Mike Dula, representing the Town of Elon, exchanged bronze plaques which hung on Elon’s Powell building (Elon University) and Elon’s Town Hall. This event celebrated the partnership between town and the university that flourished for more than a century. Noel Allen and Edward Powell (Elon Trustees) joined Lambert in signing Elon’s new charter, which was filed in Raleigh, North Carolina, on the afternoon of June 1, 2001. In addition, these documents are kept in the town’s and university’s archives. Professor Thomas (Tom) Erdmann, Professor of Music played the trumpet fanfare. The new Elon University flag was risen by the Elon Student Government President on Scott Plaza for the first time (not seen in the video). (00:04:20) Danieley made his remarks. (00:07:46) Dr. J. Fred Young and Mike Dula exchanged the bronze plaques. (00:08:31) Young and Dula shook hands. (00:10:49) The new charter was signed by Lambert, Allen, and Powell. (00:12:22) The trumpets played after the charter signature. (00:12:51) Allen reflected on his past memories of being an Elon student. (00:14:02) A middle shot of a cut-away of people standing in the crowd was seen in the video. (00:14:26) Allen stated, Welcome to Elon University. (00:14:53) A cut-away of Mike Dula, Don Bowden, students, faculty, and staff, who walked into the Moseley Center. Bill Morningstar, Class of 1964, and Elon’s Tennis coach, was seen in the crowd. (00:15:17) Joe Davis held his baby son. The banner of Elon University with the acorn and oak leaves was hung on the Moseley Center building. (00:15:46) A wide shot with Smith Jackson and the Joe Davis family stood in front of Moseley Center. (00:17:48) Various people signed the new charter. (00:18:14) A close-up shot of the new bronze plaque that rested on a table and read, Elon University and Town of Elon. (00:18:57) An interview occurred with Lambert on the steps of Moseley Center. Lambert stated, We will have a better paid faculty and better faculty; we have added 60 new faculty positions and we are opening a new football stadium in the fall of 2001. Everyone here feels a sense of momentum of forward progress, and I think the university designation is a fitting and a wonderful capstone. Lambert was asked what will change from being a college to a university. 00:20:42 Elon was compared to Duke University. Lambert was asked about the cost of the transformation from Elon College to Elon University. (00:23:23) Gerald Whittington was seen signing the plaque, along with Teresa LePors, Terry Kirsten, Karen Walter, and Jana Lynn Patterson. (00:24:29) A close-up shot of the Elon University maroon letters reading Elon University was seen against a gold colored banner. A wide shot of the Young Commons looking towards the Elon University Historic Neighborhood (i.e. Alamance Building) was seen.
