Features

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NEWS 2/7/25 9:21am

East Burlington residents fight for environmental equity

By Julia Donaghy

Just five miles east of Elon sits a 22-acre property called by different names within the east Burlington community. Some refer to it as Western Electric, others, the Tarheel Army Missile Plant. The property’s buildings are dilapidated and come with a list of public health concerns. Because of this, Donna Vanhook, an Alamance County soil and water conservation district supervisor, believes it needs to be torn down. Originally constructed in 1927 as a synthetic fabrics factory, the 22-building site has a checkered past and present.

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NEWS 2/6/25 5:27pm

Q&A: Professor emphasizes the impact the TikTok ban could have on the First Amendment

By Charlotte Pfabe

As time ticks on President Donald Trump’s 75-day extension for TikTok, millions are wondering about the fate of the app and the precedent the ban may set. TikTok has been unavailable to download from the Apple App Store and Google Play Store since the platform’s original ban on Jan. 19. Under Trump’s recent executive order, he advised the U.S. Attorney General to not enforce the ban. Elon professor of journalism Israel Balderas, has been outspoken about the impact the executive order and ban could have on future interpretation of the First Amendment.

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LIFESTYLE 2/6/25 3:40pm

Huemanity of People showcases inclusive excellence through storytelling

By Lilly Molina

The Huemanity of People is a storytelling project sponsored by the Office of Inclusive Excellence and Education. Its goal is to showcase the wide range of diversity that makes up Elon, according to Randy Williams, vice president of inclusive excellence and education. The project started with a blank wall. Williams said when the division of inclusive excellence and education emerged out of the COVID-19 pandemic, there were many empty walls within the second floor of the Powell Building where their offices are located.

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LIFESTYLE 2/6/25 9:12am

Elon encourages students to celebrate Black History Month at campus-wide events

By Trista Panagakos

As Black History Month begins, Elon’s Center for Race, Ethnicity and Diversity Education has planned nine events for students to celebrate and educate themselves about the month and their identity. The Black History Month celebrations will end Feb. 28 with the Black Solidarity Conference. Other events include a Black Table Talk about legacy on Feb. 12 and a Health and Hustle event meant to teach students how to eat healthy on a budget while also maintaining their mental health. The CREDE is bringing a Carnaval celebration to Elon, with steel pan performers Feb. 26. 

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LIFESTYLE 2/5/25 8:38pm

Ora Teahouse brings handcrafted, ethically-sourced tea to North Carolina cafes

By Liya Rike

Ora Teahouse, launched in 2020, offers handcrafted tea blends and sustainably sourced products from countries like Japan, China and India. Customers can order online for shipping or find its products in select North Carolina stores through local partnerships. With a background in baking, Trista Sanford, founder of Ora Teahouse, uses her skills in flavor profiles to create teas that engage with all senses. For Sanford, tea isn’t just a beverage; it’s a means of connection, care and empowerment. Despite its success, running Ora Teahouse hasn’t been without challenges. Sanford described funding as a common hurdle for small Black-owned businesses.

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NEWS 2/5/25 10:00am

Town of Elon’s diversity committee stands firm amid DEI rollbacks

By Fiona McAllister

The town of Elon’s Diversity, Equity and Belonging Committee held its first meeting of 2025 on Feb. 3. As the meeting unfolded, the committee covered its plans for the next few months, along with addressing the possibility of issues with diversity, equity and inclusion programs in the near future.The DEB was started around two years ago and holds monthly meetings. President Donald Trump recalled DEI programs within the federal government through an executive order during his first few days in office. Through this executive order, Trump said he aims to target DEI within private businesses and higher education.

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NEWS 2/4/25 8:36am

Elon Haggard corridor project finalizes grant plan during federal cutbacks

By Alex Nettles

Elon’s Haggard Avenue corridor project submitted its plan in hopes of federal grant funding this week. The project is the result of years of community feedback and would require an estimated $7.6 million. This move coincides with a government vocalization for cutbacks and a now-rescinded memorandum freezing all federal aid. The corridor plan was approved by the town council on Jan. 14. The Haggard Avenue corridor project proposes enhanced safety, increased visibility and looks to encourage multiple types of transportation. The plan places an emphasis on connectivity and safety with pedestrian and bicycle routes.

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LIFESTYLE 2/3/25 10:07pm

Black History Month Kickoff honors Black innovation, influence, legacy

By Monika Jurevicius

Black History Month kicked off at Elon University on Feb. 3 with a celebration of this year’s theme, “This Is How We Do It: Honoring Blackness Through Influence, Innovation, and Legacy.” The Center for Race, Ethnicity, and Diversity Education organized the event, placing emphasis on Black individuals that have been at the forefront of shaping culture and leading in fields of innovation, creativity and social progress. Assistant Director of the CREDE Abdul-Malik Harrison began the event by explaining that the selected theme was an example of how “Black and brown people unite together to make something out of nothing.” 

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LIFESTYLE 2/2/25 8:30pm

Department of Performing Arts brings Eden to Elon in Paradise Lost

By Evan Cooper

Elon’s Department of Performing Arts concluded its production of “Paradise Lost,” adapted from John Milton’s epic poem by playwright Erin Shields, on Feb. 2. This was the department’s fifth performance of the school year and the second stage play of the 2024-2025 season, after “Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead.” The production was directed by professor of theatre Susanne Shawyer, with senior Grace Minton as assistant director. Minton said Shawyer’s direction is reflected in the show’s minimalist set, costumes and scene composition. 

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SPORTS 2/2/25 4:18pm

Elon University women’s basketball team loses to Monmouth amid poor shooting

By Miles Hayford

After a brutal loss marred by turnovers to William & Mary on Jan. 31, the Elon University women’s basketball team fell 62-47 to Monmouth University. on Feb. 2. The Phoenix struggled to shoot efficiently, shooting 21-72 from the field. Elon’s defense attacked the ball on defense and made it hard for Monmouth to get shots off by utilizing a communication-driven defense that favored double teaming to overwhelm the Monmouth player with the ball. However, Elon’s ability to shoot well went away as they went on a sequence where they missed 10 of their last 11 shots.

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LIFESTYLE 2/2/25 1:37pm

Elon Music Department hosts the first Joseph Bologne International Piano Competition

By Kate Gray

The inaugural Joseph Bologne International Piano Competition was hosted by the Elon University Department of Music on Feb. 1 in Yeager Recital Hall. The competition honors 18th century composer, violinist and conductor Joseph Bologne, known for being one of the first artists of African descent to follow European classical style. Twelve high school students competed, with first place winner Benjamin Luo from Raleigh, North Carolina earning $1000. The event was inspired by the discovery of a lost manuscript in the French National Library by professor of music Douglas Jurs and Eden Brown ʼ07.

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SPORTS 2/1/25 10:37pm

Elon University men’s basketball bounces back after two game skid, beats Northeastern

By Miles Hayford

The Elon University men’s basketball team got a crucial win over Northeastern after losing consecutive games for the first time all season. The 71-60 victory highlighted by graduate student Matthew Van Komen’s 14 points and 14 rebounds puts the Phoenix back on track to finish the regular season out strong. His efforts made way for an impressive effort on the glass by the Phoenix, as the team racked up 2 more rebounds than the Huskies. It is the first 15 win season for the program since the 2014-15 season.

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SPORTS 1/31/25 10:24pm

Turnovers plague Elon University women’s basketball, fall to William & Mary

By Miles Hayford

Despite almost a miraculous comeback late in the fourth quarter, the Elon University women’s basketball team lost to William & Mary 64-59. Elon’s 23 turnovers were hard to overcome and 11 straight missed shots to open the fourth quarter allowed William & Mary to secure the victory. Turnovers were a constant source of irritation for the Phoenix, as the Tribe forced 23 turnovers — 12 less than Elon. Smith attributed the turnovers to a lack of organization on their offense. 

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NEWS 1/31/25 1:08pm

Undergraduate tuition, housing, meals to increase by 3.81% for the 2025-2026 academic year

By Avery Sloan

Elon’s tuition and fees will increase by 3.81% for the 2025-26 academic year. This is the total cost of attendance at Elon and is an increase of about $2,300, according to Janet Williams, Elon’s vice president of finance. The increase in tuition will go toward hiring more faculty members to maintain Elon’s 11 to one faculty to student ratio, increasing pay for faculty and staff and student focused initiatives such as free laundry across campus. 

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NEWS 1/31/25 9:45am

Elon Information Technology Services faces system-wide outage

By Elon News Network

All services have been returned to normal. An E-Alert was sent out at 10:59 a.m. stating that services are being gradually restored. The message thanked the Elon community for their patience and assured that facilities management and IT worked diligently to ensure full restoration. The disruption was caused by issues in the heating system of a campus technology building. Those still experiencing connectivity issues can call the IT service desk at (336)-278-5200. 

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SPORTS 1/30/25 10:57pm

Hofstra’s depth, defense dooms Elon University men’s basketball team

By Benjamin Berfield

The Elon University men’s basketball team was defeated 74-63 by Hofstra in its second straight loss at home. Elon struggled to develop momentum offensively and never led after the first five minutes of the opening half. The Phoenix held an early 6-4 lead thanks to 4 points by graduate transfer center Matthew Van Komen. However, those were the only made field goals as the Phoenix went 2-11 through the first six minutes as Hofstra gradually began to increase its lead. They went up by double digits for the first time off a layup from freshman forward Joshua DeCady. 

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LIFESTYLE 1/29/25 10:17pm

Photo gallery: Elon sorority bid day 2025

By Elon News Network

Loy Center was filled with enthusiasm as potential new sorority members "ran home" for bid day on Jan. 29. Bid day is the final day of Panhellenic recruitment when potential new members, or PNMs, are formerly invited to join a specific sorority chapter. Panhellenic recruitment started on Sunday, Jan. 26 when PNMs visited each sorority individually, and ended with bid day on Wednesday, Jan. 29.

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SPORTS 1/25/25 6:14pm

Elon University football suffers key transfer portal losses, adds five transfers

By Miles Hayford

The revolving door of the transfer portal has reached Elon University Football as the program has lost key defensive players to the portal, as well as adding five transfers after the winter transfer window opened Dec. 9.All six transfer losses were expected to start next year. The losses include former All-American Caleb Curtain, linebacker Marco Patierno, defensive lineman Chuck Nnaeto, edge rusher Cazeem Moore, linebacker Brandon Tyson and tight end Cody Hardy. Curtain and Moore were anchors of the 2024 defense that the program will need to fill through the portal and the incoming class of 14 freshmen.Curtain transferred to the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Patierno went to Eastern Michigan University, Moore headed to the University of Virginia, Tyson transferred to Georgia Southern University, Hardy went to North Carolina State University and Nnaeto went to Boston College University. All six players are moving up from the Football Championship Subdivision to Football Bowl Subdivision programs, a valuable promotion.

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NEWS 1/23/25 9:49am

Elon University prepares to enact anti hazing law through training, transparency

By Abigail Hobbs

Starting this year, all colleges participating in the Title IV program must collect statistics on hazing incidents that are reported to police for their annual security reports — including Elon University. President Joe Biden signed the Stop Campus Hazing Act in late December, amending the Higher Education Act of 1965 to include requiring institutions participating in the Title IV program to track and include hazing in their annual security reports. The annual security reports track all crime that has occurred on campus and within buildings owned by the university as part of the Crime Awareness and Campus Security Act of 1990, which states that all institutions that participate in Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 are required to disclose campus crime statistics and security information. For the 2026 annual security report, all reported hazing incidents from 2025 will be included. 

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NEWS 1/22/25 8:10am

Elon University delays opening until noon due to unsafe roads

By Elon News Network

An email sent earlier this morning by Vice President for Student Life Jon Dooley informed Elon students that the university would be delaying its opening until noon. Last night, around half an inch of snow fell onto Elon’s campus and due to the cold temperatures, the snow stuck to roads, making it unsafe for drivers. According to Dooley, facilities management crews have been working since last night to clear roads and pathways from snow. Due to this delay, morning classes will start at noon and end at 2 p.m. and afternoon classes will start at 2:30 and end at 4:30 p.m. 

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