1. University unites during tragedy
Elon University came together in November after the death of junior football player Demitri Allison, and again in March when Professor of Geography Heidi Frontani died.
Hundreds convened at Gathering of Friends for both Allison and Frontani, sharing memories and stories about their loved ones.
Days after Allison died, the football team went on the road and beat the University of Maine in an emotional game. Allison's No. 10 jersey sat on a chair in the locker room that day.
Donations after Frontani's death went to ScholarCHIPS, an organization started by Frontani and Yasmine Arrington '15.
Read more about Allison and the football team and Frontani.
2. Elon stands against House Bill 2
Elon University, President Leo Lambert, the faculty and SGA were all swift in voicing their disdain of House Bill 2, a discriminatory piece of legislation that garnered national attention after North Carolina and the Department of Justice sued each other.
The university released a statement ruinforcing its commitment to inclusivity days after Gov. Pat McCrory passed the law, otherwise known as the "bathroom bill." It requires people to use the bathroom of their biological sex, and is seen as discriminating against LGBTQIA and transgender people.
Lambert wrote a letter to the editor in the Burlington Times-News calling HB2 "stunning and discriminatory," while Elon's faculty released a resolution condemning the bill. SGA did the same.
3. Students raise money for Acorn employee's Disney World trip
Junior Taylor Zisholtz and freshman Lucy Smith-Williams struck up a conversation with Acorn Coffee Shop employee Kathryn Thompson one day, and soon after, the trio was in Disney World.
Zisholtz and Smith-Williams raised money to send Thompson and her family, including her Austistic grandson, on their dream vacation to Disney World. They raised more than $6,000, and the two students ended up on The Ellen Show, too.
4. Andy Grammer snubs Elon
Pop star Andy Grammer canceled all his October concerts, and refunded the appearance fee to SGA. The Student Union Board planned a Spring Concert to make up for Grammer's absence, bringing Misterwives to campus in May.
5. Elon continues commitment to expansion
In August, Elon University purchased land for the proposed convocation center, and in March received the naming gift for the School of Business expansion.
The convocation center, to be built west of Hunt Softball Park, will be named the Schar Center for donors and Elon parents Dwight and Martha Schar. The land was purchased with a gift from Furman Moseley '56 and his wife Susan, for whom the Moseley Center is named after.
Elon parents Jim and Beth Sankey donated the naming gift for the School of Business expansion, a 30,000-square-foot facility to be named for Jim Sandkey's late father, Richard W. Sankey. It'll be located at the north end of the McMichael Science Center parking lot. No timeline of construction has been announced.
6. More food options open around campus
The fall brought Tangent and Einstein Bros. Bagels to the Town of Elon and Elon University, respectively, adding to dining options around Elon's campus.
Tangent, under the same ownership as The Root, is located on West Lebanon Avenue. Einstein Bros. Bagels, the popular national chain, is an Elon Dining locations that's in the remodeled Daniel Commons.
Read more about Tangent and Einstein Bros.
7. Isis attacks shake Paris, Brussels; Elon students safe
The Islamic State attacked Paris in November and Brussels in March, suicide bombings that killed hundreds countless more. Elon students were studying in both cities during the attacks, but all were safe. The Global Education Center communicated with the students abroad soon after the attacks, and was prompt in informing the university community that those abroad were safe.
8. Elon updates branding, signs with Under Armour
Elon University rolled out an updated logo and signature on Elon Day. The monogram "E" is new, as is the leaf shield that's with the signature.
Elon is hoping to be identified just by the "E," using that as its main logo.
The athletic department in May also signed a deal with Under Armour, which will outfit all Phoenix teams beginning next school year.
9. Dialogue on race relations continues
A Presidential Task Force on Black Student, Faculty and Staff Experience, released in the fall, led the ongoing discussion on race relations at Elon. It found that just 16.3 percent of Black respondents see Elon's campus as positive and inclusive, and that 65 percent of black student respondents said they've had incidents of disparaging race-related comments directed at them. The Community Connections forum in September, hosted by Elon University and the Burlington Times-News, also focused on race relations. SGA had a spirited discussion regarding the same topic in April, questioning if the organization is doing enough to promote inclusivity.
10. Alumnae perform on Broadway
Two alumnae earned their way into Broadway productions during the year, as Ginna Claire Mason '13 served as the standby role of Glinda in "Wicked" and Nasia Thomas '15 played Little Eva is "Beautiful: The Carole King Musical."
Read more about Mason and Thomas.
