Mackenzie Wilkes

Mackenzie Wilkes, a North Carolina native, is the 2020-21 Executive Director of Elon News Network where she is responsible for managing ENN’s website and digital content. She has a passion for finding the best ways to deliver stories to an audience. Wilkes, who is studying journalism and political science, previously served as ENN’s Politics Editor. She is passionate about the intersection of people and politics. Whether it’s policing, education or race, Wilkes is dedicated to reporting and telling stories that capture the nuances of communities.

Recent Articles

NEWS 5/7/21 8:32am

A Taxing Divide

By Mackenzie Wilkes

While most municipalities fund their operations with a healthy mixture of sales taxes and property taxes, college towns such as the town of Elon often must rely much more heavily on sales tax revenue since their largest property owner — the university — is tax exempt.

NEWS 3/20/21 12:58pm

FEMA-supported COVID-19 vaccine clinics open in Alamance County

By Mackenzie Wilkes

Two COVID-19 vaccine clinics have opened in Alamance County in an effort to vaccinate marginalized communities in the area. CityGate Dream Center and Eric Lane where JR Cigars is, are now COVID-19 vaccination sites, as of March 19. The clinics are meant to address disparities in COVID-19 vaccination rates specifically in the Latino community, but also in other populations of color.

NEWS 3/7/21 2:13pm

Elon University's proposed amendment to mutual aid agreement leaves law enforcement agencies wary

By Mackenzie Wilkes

Elon University’s proposed amendment to the 2021 Annual Alamance County Mutual Aid Agreement between local law enforcement groups was rejected by those agencies, leading the university to use “direct communication” regarding aid requests instead. House said the committee decided that communication with law enforcement agencies regarding mutual aid requests is how the university will address issues within the agreement.

NEWS 3/5/21 10:09am

North Carolina, Alamance County work to bridge digital divide during remote learning

By Mackenzie Wilkes

Remote and online work has been the reality for teachers and students in Alamance County for the past 11 months, and even as the county returns to in-person learning, three out of five school days will be remote. For some kids, accessing the internet isn’t always feasible and Alamance-Burlington School System has tried to bridge the digital divide — the gap between those who have internet access and those who don’t — as most schools have been engaging in remote learning. 

NEWS 2/18/21 3:00pm

Alamance NAACP spearheads effort to rename park after Black councilman slain in 1870

By Mackenzie Wilkes

Almost 151 years ago on Feb. 26, 1870, members of the Ku Klux Klan kidnapped Wyatt Outlaw in the middle of the night, and his body was found the next morning hanging from an elm tree near the courthouse. 18 men were indicted for his death, but the charges were dropped. Now in 2021, the Alamance County NAACP is trying to memorialize Outlaw and the lynching that took place over a century ago.

NEWS 2/9/21 11:56pm

Elon School of Education has hosted ‘white caucus’ since fall, now faces backlash

By Jack Norcross , Maeve Ashbrook and Mackenzie Wilkes

Elon University’s School of Education planned to host, for the second semester in a row, a “white caucus” for “white-identifying” education majors or minors. As of Feb. 10, the program has been canceled. The program, which had the goal to explore race and systemic oppression in education, comes after a summer of protests against racial injustice. 

LIFESTYLE 1/8/21 9:33am

Navigating faith in a pandemic

By Mackenzie Wilkes

Over 10 months of masks, limited gatherings and physical distancing have affected aspects of everyday life — work, school, social activity and even how people worship during the coronavirus pandemic. As COVID-19 continues to spread, places of worship and people of faith are learning to worship during a pandemic. Thus leaving spiritual leaders and people of faith to navigate their beliefs and hardships of life during a pandemic.

NEWS 11/4/20 3:22pm

ABSS teachers, families grapple with online learning

By Mackenzie Wilkes

The Alamance-Burlington School System originally planned to start the year remotely and transition to Plan B halfway through the semester. But on Oct. 23, ABSS reversed course and decided pre-K through 12th grade students would not return to the classroom until January 2021. 

NEWS 10/30/20 11:31am

Contact tracing catches COVID-19 clusters

By Mackenzie Wilkes

Within the past two weeks, ten clusters have been identified by the Alamance County Health Department amongst Elon University students. Clusters of COVID-19 cases have been popping up in residence halls and greek organizations across campus. Seven fraternities and sororities and three freshman dorms all have had clusters.

NEWS 10/23/20 6:24pm

Elon University moves to High Alert, identifies 3 new clusters

By Mackenzie Wilkes

Elon University has moved to level 3 — High Alert after the university reported the single highest daily cases of COVID-19 with a total of 44 new cases. The move to High Alert comes on the first day of social hiatus and five days after moving to in level 2 — Moderate Alert. According to Jeff Stein, chair of the Ready & Resilient committee, there were three new clusters identified bringing the total number of clusters identified on campus in the past two weeks to eight.

NEWS 10/19/20 7:23pm

3 new coronavirus clusters identified at Elon University

By Mackenzie Wilkes

Three additional coronavirus clusters have been identified at Elon University. Two of the clusters are located in freshman dorms, while another was identified in a sorority. According to Jeff Stein, chair of the Ready & Resilient committee, the clusters are due to social gatherings.

More Articles by Mackenzie Wilkes »

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Latest

NEWS 04/24/2024 10:49pm
2024 Earth Week keynote speaker offers advice on coping with climate anxiety

Britt Wray, author of “Generation Dread: Finding Purpose in the Age of Climate Anxiety,” spoke to Elon University on April 24 as the 2024 keynote speaker for Earth week. Wray began by linking the idea that major fossil fuel companies, powerful lawyers and lobbyists choose to ignore damages inflicted by businesses. These efforts, according to Wray, have hindered people from taking action to stop them — which Wray deemed a global crime scene. She said by 2070, an estimated 19% of the planet will be inhabitable due to increases in global warming.

NEWS 04/24/2024 3:34pm
Office of sustainability hosts events across campus

Elon’s office of sustainability plans events throughout the year in collaboration with other student organizations, according to Kelly Harer, associate director of sustainability for education and outreach. Elon is focusing on improving sustainability efforts specifically waste reduction. A system Elon uses to measure its sustainability efforts is the Sustainability Tracking, Assessment and Rating System. Based on data from Elon’s submission Feb. 11, 2022, which is valid until March 16, 2025, Elon received a silver rating, earning 59.12 points out of 100. The points are broken down in different categories across academics, engagement, operations, planning and administration and innovation and leadership.

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