Features

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LIFESTYLE 10/5/23 1:47pm

Gibsonville Garden Railroad delights community almost 28 years later

By Tucker Price

On a small patch of land near downtown Gibsonville sits a miniature version of almost every important North Carolinian monument. Kitty Hawk, the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse, Beech Mountain, Grandfather Mountain – even Elon College is laid out along miniature train tracks. G-Scale model trains whiz past them every which way. Some of them are scale recreations, such as the model of a Santa Fe diesel engine. Others are just for fun, including Thomas the Tank Engine from Thomas and Friends and a steam locomotive pushing Doc Brown’s Delorean from the “Back to the Future” series. 

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NEWS 10/5/23 9:09am

Elon University battles mold

By Keely Garcia

Despite recent renovations, Hook, Brannock and Barney — otherwise known among students as HBB — has a history of mold reports, and this year is no different. On Sept. 26, eight third floor Brannock residents were informed in an email from the Historic Neighborhood Community Director Jordyn Williams that they were being reallocated throughout Historic and Colonnades so their rooms could be rid of mold. Senior Director of Facilities Management Raymond Fletcher has been working at Elon for five years and wrote that facilities management focuses on prevention.

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NEWS 10/4/23 7:52am

Elon University police, Title IX office attribute trained, trusted employees to more rape reports

By Abigail Hobbs

Elon University has seen an increase in reported rapes in the last three years, according to the 2023 fire and safety report. The report details crimes reported in 2022, which includes 17 cases of rape, seven more than the year prior and 15 more than 2020. All 17 cases were in residential facilities, which the university defines as dormitories and other on-campus housing. Elon University Chief of Police Joe LeMire said the large jump from 2020 to 2022 can be partially attributed to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

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SPORTS 10/3/23 8:27am

Dream Center youth soccer club travels internationally

By Zach Pearson

Burlington's CityGate Dream Center soccer club traveled across the Atlantic, facing off against international competition in England. CityGate Dream Center director Lisa Edwards said the Dream Center is so much more to the community of Burlington than just a soccer program — it is a haven for everyone. Yet, coach and head of athletics Armando Camacho said the soccer program is more than just a haven for talented players in the area to showcase their skills; it's also a place where young players can develop their character and learn valuable lessons. 

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NEWS 10/2/23 10:44am

Elon University students, families enjoy Phoenix Fan Fest after relocation last year

By Emily Stabell

As a part of Elon University’s Family Weekend, the Phoenix Fan Fest gathered students and their families together for a tailgate with lawn games, face painting, caricature artists, photo booths and a buffet with a variety of food and desserts. After the previous year’s relocation of the Phoenix Fan Fest due to the weather from Hurricane Ian, many students and their families attended this year on Sept. 30, excited for an eventful tailgate before the football game. This year’s Family Weekend took place from Sept. 29 to Oct. 1. 

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NEWS 10/2/23 8:03am

Elon University SGA elections allow freshmen to be heard on campus

By Monika Jurevicius and Alex Sterne

Elon University students voted in on-campus elections for freshman senators on Sept. 12. As local elections approach, alternatives to voter ID are being introduced to help students vote in off-campus local municipal elections through the new Elon Phoenix Voting card. North Carolina requires voters to present an ID, drivers’ license or university card starting in 2023.  The new Elon Phoenix Voting cards are a substitute for identification and look like the typical Phoenix ID, but are labeled with a valid “North Carolina voter” inscription, much like a U.S. real ID.

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SPORTS 10/1/23 5:54pm

Elon University men’s soccer falls 3-0 to No. 19 Hofstra

By Jack Prahinski

After the Elon University men’s soccer team put on a potent offensive display in the first half against No. 19 Hofstra University, it seemed like the Phoenix had a chance to win its first game in over a month. Yet, back-to-back goals by Hofstra in the opening five minutes of the second period suggested otherwise, as the Phoenix would go on to fall 3-0 on Sept. 30 at Rudd Field. Head coach Marc Reeves said while his team played a fantastic first half, he didn’t like how they reacted once they started falling behind in the second.

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LIFESTYLE 10/1/23 11:46am

Elon University students, professors use hobbies to support mental health

By Lilly Molina

While facing anxiety and her first year of college, freshman Kaelise Lane said her hobbies help keep her mental health in check. “I was diagnosed with anxiety a couple of years ago, so mental health has definitely been a big part of my experience, but I definitely think prioritizing hobbies that you enjoy is my outlet," Lane said. A 2010 study published by the National Library of Medicine found that the more people did enjoyable leisure activities, the lower their stress, blood pressure and total cortisol.   

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LIFESTYLE 10/1/23 11:27am

One-man show brings African American stories to Elon University

By Erin Hroncich

Mike Wiley has dedicated his career to sharing stories of Black Americans in the form of educational theater. He found that there were limited roles for African American men and took matters into his own hands by creating his own performances and production company. Wiley’s unique approach to theater demonstrates an immersion of education and performance. One-man shows leave the bulk of the pressure on the shoulders of the main performer. Wiley performed in McCrary Theatre on Sept. 18 and said he alleviates this by involving the audience. 

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NEWS 9/30/23 9:08pm

Burlington links Apollo Chemical to unsafe water

By Joseph Navin

Apollo Chemical’s facility on Willow Springs Lane near Alamance-Burlington Regional Airport has been connected to a discharge of 1,4 Dioxane into Haw River. Burlington has fined Apollo Chemical for a violation of the city’s Sewer Use Ordinance. According to Bob Patterson, the water resources director for the city of Burlington, this was due to a pH level of 4.9 being detected — just under the required pH range of between five and 11. Patterson also said there is the potential for further enforcement action on Apollo Chemical for the leak.

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NEWS 9/30/23 2:37pm

Daymond John delivers Elon University’s 2023 Fall Convocation

By Jenna Rudolph

Daymond John, star of ABC’s “Shark Tank,” joined Elon University as the Fall Convocation speaker Sept. 29 in the Schar Center. From living in his mother’s basement to becoming an award-winning entrepreneur, John said he decided from the very beginning that if he had a passion, he would not let a lack of money hold him back. John used visual aids, music and videos to highlight his main points of what it means to “think like a shark.”

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SPORTS 9/30/23 1:18pm

Elon University volleyball player turns to coaching after medical issues

By Mason Willett and Abigail Hobbs

Just weeks before her senior year, Presly Austin had a difficult decision to make. During volleyball conditioning, Austin slipped two discs in her back, causing her to go to the hospital. It happened again only a little while later. Austin said she had to decide to suffer through the pain to play her last year of volleyball or quit the sport she loves. Austin has been playing volleyball for 12 years and started her college recruitment process as a freshman in high school. She said she adored Elon — plus escaping the cold weather of Alberta, Canada, was a plus.

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NEWS 9/29/23 7:50am

Haw River continually contaminated by Burlington companies

By Abigail Hobbs

The town of Pittsboro is performing tests on the water it receives from the Haw River due to a 1,4-dioxane leak in Burlington — the second time in two months. On Sept. 22, the city of Burlington received a test it had conducted by its wastewater treatment plant from Sept. 14 showing 459 parts per billion of 1,4-dioxane were leaving Burlington’s wastewater treatment plant at that time. The Environmental Protection Agency’s health advisory for 1,4-dioxane is .35 parts per billion in rivers and 35 parts per billion in drinking water — meaning this contamination is 1,300 times the EPA’s health advisory levels for rivers.

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NEWS 9/28/23 1:46pm

Elon University joins Reuse Pass for to-go container program

By Maggie Braswell

Elon University has started off the 2023-24 school year with a new method of to-go containers, now offering a free app called ReusePass. The app allows students to check out the green to-go containers for up to three days, rather than the previous years where students could trade to-go boxes for carabiners. Last year, students and faculty were limited to borrowing one to-go container at a time. Now they have the option to borrow multiple to-go containers and retain them for a period of up to three days.

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LIFESTYLE 9/28/23 12:55pm

Elon University ensemble performs contemporary classical music

By Emilio Nunez

Elon University’s Contemporary Chamber Ensemble performed this Sunday at the Center for the Arts Black Box. The band played four songs that fell under the “contemporary music” style. The ensemble was created by director Jonathan Poquette as a way for contemporary music to be a part of Elon’s musical culture. The group consists of a cello player, a violinist, a flute player and a percussion player. The ensemble included four performers outside of the Elon faculty and also featured students in the Elon Wind Ensemble for the final piece.

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LIFESTYLE 9/28/23 9:24am

Southern Maryland-based musician drops single for debut EP at Elon University

By Betsy Schlehuber

Elon junior Tabby Spell released the second single for her upcoming debut EP Sept. 21. The song is called “Fallin’” and Spell said it tells the story of a boy she fell for in her freshman year at Elon, even though people around her were telling her it was a terrible idea. Spell describes the track as “poppier” and “peppier” than the rest of the EP, titled “Young.” Spell said while there is not an exact release date for the project, she is aiming for the end of this year.

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NEWS 9/27/23 2:33pm

Alamance County Community Calendar

By Elon News Network

Elon News Network compiled a brief list of events happening between Sept. 28 to Oct. 7 within the Alamance County community. The City of Burlington, City of Graham, Town of Gibsonville and town of Elon are all represented — including Elon University football games, a Gibsonville Girls Night and Alamance Pride.

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NEWS 9/27/23 11:25am

Elon University falls 49 spots in U.S. News ‘national universities’ ranking

By Abigail Hobbs and Cece Ebora

Elon University has fallen in multiple categories across multiple college ranking lists, most notably the 49 spot drop in the U.S. News and World Report’s “national universities” ranking. Elon also dropped 12 spots in “best value schools,” three sports in best study abroad programs and two spots in “most innovative,” all from U.S. News and World Report. According to an Elon University admissions website, Elon University was ranked at No. 84 in national universities in 2019 and has since dropped to No. 133, but there may be a reason for the changes. 

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NEWS 9/27/23 6:43am

Town of Elon eyes road work amid Haggard Avenue study

By Joseph Navin

A number of road work projects could be coming to the roads around Elon University, including the extension of the sidewalk along Trollinger Avenue and pipe work on Haggard Avenue. Elon News Network sat down with Elon Town Manager Rich Roedner to discuss these town-wide projects. The town of Elon is working on a project that will extend the sidewalk along Trollinger Avenue between the intersections of North Holt Avenue and Church Street. Roedner said the town knows it has been an issue.

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NEWS 9/26/23 2:54pm

Assistant police chief of operations hopes to bring positive influence to Elon community

By Lauren Winslow

After six years of service with the Town of Elon Police Department, former Lt. Kedrick King was promoted to assistant police chief of operations. Within the new position, King is responsible for overseeing all patrol operations and patrol officers to ensure the safety of the town of Elon. Though promoted Sept. 11, King started working in law enforcement 10 years ago as a detention officer for the Caswell County Sheriff’s Office.

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