Features

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NEWS 10/13/24 2:26pm

Elon freshman finds passion in local politics, community engagement

By Sarah T. Moore

This election season, Elon freshman Micah Ash McFadden has been running Bryan Norris’ campaign for Alamance County District Court judge. Ash McFadden also serves as third vice-chair of the Alamance County Democratic Party. In 2021, he interned with the town of Green Level. Next, he managed Patricia Jones’ 2021 Green Level town council campaign. Then he was a community organizer for Ricky Hurtado’s North Carolina state house reelection campaign in 2022. Ash McFadden said he’s spent hundreds of hours canvassing across different corners of the county.

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NEWS 10/12/24 12:41pm

2024 election candidates utilize digital advertising to reach first-time voters

By Nia Bedard

Forty-one million members of Generation Z will be voting in the 2024 election, including 8.3 million new eligible voters since the 2022 midterm election, according to Tufts University. With this influx of new voters, candidates are now allocating large amounts of money into digital advertising to reach Gen Z voters using social media. It was predicted that digital advertising for the 2024 presidential election would increase 156% compared to the 2020 presidential election, making the total spending $3.46 billion, according to a report released by Insider Intelligence. Politicians have to start utilizing digital advertising, Michele Lashley, professor of strategic communications, said.

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NEWS 10/11/24 12:36pm

North Carolina voting maps to shift representation in 2024 election

By Madison Powers

North Carolina congressional maps may allow for as much as a 10-4 Republican majority in the U.S. House of Representatives as opposed to the current 7-7 split, according to Dillan Bono-Lunn, professor of political science and public policy and faculty fellow for Civic Engagement. Bono-Lunn said gerrymandering, which is a term that describes how voting districts are drawn, has been done for years by both Republicans and Democrats. As of Oct. 5, there were 2,418,633 registered Democrat voters, 2,298,019 registered Republicans and 2,912,447 unaffiliated voters, according to the NCSBE.

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NEWS 10/10/24 6:31pm

JD Vance stops for town hall in Greensboro weeks ahead of election

By Ryan Kupperman

Vice Presidential candidate Sen. JD Vance made a campaign stop in Greensboro on Oct. 10 at the Koury Convention Center. Vance is expected to speak on his economic and immigration policies, as well as criticize the Biden-Harris administration for hurricane relief efforts. This is Vance’s fifth stop in North Carolina since becoming former President Donald Trump’s running mate, and his appearance occurs less than four weeks ahead of election day. Elon News Network attempted to get access to the event at the gate but was turned away.

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NEWS 10/10/24 10:10am

North Carolina governor race defined by stark contrast, serious consequences

By Miles Hayford

North Carolina’s general election for governor is a battle between contrasts. Republican Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson will face off against Attorney General Josh Stein on Nov. 5, along with Libertarian Mike Ross, Green Party’s Wayne Turner and Constitution Party’s Vinny Smith. Ross, Smith and Turner are all polling at 3% or less, according to data from Sept. 25 to 29 in a Quinnipiac University poll. The two main candidates disagree on a number of issues and have been heavily in the spotlight with Robinson's most recent alleged offensive remarks.

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NEWS 10/9/24 10:43pm

Elon University’s Yom Kippur events mark solemn time amid Fall Break

By Landon Lepley

Elon University’s Jewish community is preparing to observe Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar, despite falling during the university’s Fall Break for the first time in almost 10 years. Rabbi Mendy Minkowitz, director of Elon Chabad, said the usually large turnout for this celebration will be “much smaller this year” due to many students being away for fall break. Yom Kippur begins Friday, Oct. 11, at sundown and ends Saturday, Oct. 12, at sunset. In the Jewish community, it is a day marked by fasting, prayer and reflection.

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SPORTS 10/8/24 10:54pm

Elon University men’s soccer falls in juggernaut matchup against Duke

By Miles Hayford

In a battle between former top 25 team Elon University men’s soccer and the No. 9 ranked Duke University Blue Devils on Oct. 8, Duke prevailed 2-1. The first half witnessed a brutal tug-of-war between Duke and Elon, with each exchanging possession to capture the opening score of the night. The final 15 minutes of the game were chaotic and full of ruthless physicality. Controversial calls and no-calls were everywhere as coaches and fans on both sides yelled at the refs about fouls or fouls they think the refs should have called. But in the final minutes, calls didn’t go in Elon’s favor.

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NEWS 10/8/24 9:28pm

Elon Town Council discusses upcoming schedule, reaffirms committee policy

By Cassie Weymouth

The town of Elon held a town council meeting Oct. 8 to address scheduling council meetings and reaffirm policies pertaining to committees and committee appointees. For the next two upcoming months, the meeting Nov. 10 was rescheduled to Nov. 17 and both Nov. 24 and Dec. 23 were canceled due to holiday rush, a motion passed by Randy Orwig. The town council also reaffirmed their bylaws, stating committees should consist of residents of Elon unless there is specific expertise needed or the potential member has vested interest.

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LIFESTYLE 10/7/24 8:38pm

Elon University displays works by Israeli artists 1 year after Hamas attacks

By Julia Donaghy

In remembrance of the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attacks on Israel, Elon’s Jewish Life team organized an art exhibit to provide a meaningful way to mark the war’s one-year anniversary, according to Director of Jewish Life Betsy Polk. Hebrew professor and Jewish educator Boaz Avraham-Katz, along with his colleagues, wanted to offer Elon students a different perspective into life in Israel during a time of war through the showcased art. The capsule exhibition, “October Seventh,” included paintings, drawings, photographs and music. Artwork will be displayed until 8 p.m. Oct. 8 in the McBride Gathering Space in the Numen Lumen Pavilion.

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NEWS 10/7/24 3:21pm

Elon business, locals collect emergency donations for Hurricane Helene survivors

By Charlotte Pfabe

With communities in western North Carolina picking up the pieces from Hurricane Helene’s destructive path, businesses and community members in Elon and Burlington are collecting donations to send to those in need, 180 miles away. For the past week, the right-hand corner inside Beer Republic in Elon has been crowded with goods. Mike and Jill Avillion, owners of Beer Republic, started collections Sept. 30 — posting on the business’ Instagram account about the collection spot. According to Mike, Beer Republic is collecting all types of donations, from toilet paper to baby formula. He said any donations are welcome.

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SPORTS 10/7/24 8:41am

Elon football starting safeties evaluate productive start to season

By Benjamin Berfield

Elon University football's duo of All-American safeties, Caleb Curtain and Khalil Baker, have burst onto the scene this year for the Phoenix. In five games, Curtain, a redshirt junior, and Baker, a redshirt senior, have combined for 65 total tackles and five pass deflections with Curtain notching one interception. Each of them are in the top three for tackles and pass deflections among Elon defenders. Even with a productive start, Baker said that they’re starting to coexist better as the season has gone on. This is their first season playing together, as Baker transferred from North Carolina Central University.

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LIFESTYLE 10/6/24 5:23pm

A cappella makes note-able mark on Elon culture

By Katharyn MacDonald

The sounds of singing and beatboxing echoed through Spence Pavilion. As students of different grade levels and majors filed into the room, they smiled and jumped right into the song that had begun. Rehearsal didn’t start for another 10 minutes, but everyone already wanted to start singing. At ROCKapella, a concert featuring all Elon a cappella groups over Family Weekend, the groups could be seen jumping and clapping for each other’s performances, their signature colors blending together into a crowd of musicians cheering on other musicians.

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NEWS 10/6/24 2:31pm

Elon partners with Occaneechi Tribe for language revitalization course

By Avery Sloan

The Occaneechi Band of the Saponi Nation has been what Tribal Chairman Tony Hayes considers a well kept secret within Alamance and Orange counties — something he is hoping is changing. In two weeks on Oct. 12 and 13, the tribe will host a Powwow — the Occaneechi’s largest event of the year, Hayes said. Corey Roberts, professor of Native American and Indigenous studies, will be running a language table for the Occaneechi language Yesa:sahį́, featuring a board game he created incorporating the language. 

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LIFESTYLE 10/5/24 5:41pm

Graham Cinema to show Halloween classics throughout October

By Emma Citro

“The Shining” is one of five Halloween classics Graham Cinemas will show throughout October. About a 15-minute drive from campus, Graham Cinemas will be hosting a Halloween Classics lineup from Oct. 4 to Oct. 31. Tickets are $4 each and can be purchased upon arrival at the theater. Freshman and production major Ethan Brothers said “The Shining” is his favorite horror movie. The lineup of movies was carefully curated by manager Scott Matthews, who said the cinema has been hosting its Halloween Classics series every year since 2016.

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NEWS 10/4/24 6:20pm

Lt. Gov. urges supporters to vote, tells fans to ignore protests

By Avery Sloan

Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson filled the Hursey’s Bar-B-Q restaurant in Graham with supporters, local elected officials and law enforcement. Outside the restaurant, a handful of protesters were chanting things such as, “My body, my choice” at Robinson and his supporters. Robinson, the Republican candidate for the state governor race, spoke to supporters at Hursey’s on Oct. 4. Hursey’s employee Reggie Young said Robinson came to this spot because Hursey’s owner, Charles Hursey, “loves Mark Robinson.”

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NEWS 10/4/24 4:00pm

North Carolina small towns rebuild after Hurricane Helene

By Monika Jurevicius

Fairview, North Carolina, residents Cory Weller ’20 and Shelby Sizemore were not concerned about Hurricane Helene when they got notice of a flash flood warning for their town. They didn’t fill their car with gas. They moved their basement furniture and prepped their sand bags like they usually do for storms. Hurricane Helene made landfall on the Florida Gulf coast on Sept. 26 and impacted the Southern Appalachian region the most. The Category 4 hurricane has raised the death toll to 72 in Buncombe County, where Asheville and Fairview are located, since Oct. 3.

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SPORTS 10/4/24 1:30pm

Elon men’s soccer goalkeeper thrives among challenges of position, sets program record

By Miles Hayford

A goalkeeper is asked to do many things: save every ball, refuse to back down in stressful situations — and be perfect. Elon men's soccer goalkeeper Tomasz Wroblewski has been scored on nine times this season, but with 37 saves, he said the stress of the position no longer bothers him. However, Wroblewski seems to have gotten over this fear, having set an Elon Division I record with 13 saves against Wake Forest on Sept. 17 amid an incredible season for the Phoenix. Going into the back half of his final season at Elon, Wroblewski is on a hot streak.

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NEWS 10/3/24 2:31pm

Hurricane Helene leaves mark on Western North Carolina, recovery efforts underway

By Anjolina Fantaroni

Western North Carolina is picking up its pieces following the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, which swept through the region in a 500-mile-wide path Sept. 27. The Category 4 hurricane left over 292,000 people without power and caused severe property damage. According to the Associated Press, the death toll has reached 200. Asheville, Boone, Canton, Lake Lure, and Rutherford Counties experienced extreme flooding from the French Broad River — with water levels rising over 20 feet. The flooding caused water to run through many buildings, including Asheville Community Movement Gymnastics. Co-owner Rebecca Hall said that the flooding lifted up the flooring of the gymnasium.

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NEWS 10/3/24 9:46am

Elon University community reacts to Mark Robinson controversy

By Trista Panagakos

After what began as a close gubernatorial race, now Republican candidate Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson does not seem like he has a high chance of winning, Carrie Eaves, political science professor, said. These comments include Robinson expressing support for reinstituting slavery, calling himself a “Black Nazi,” a “perv” and saying he enjoys transgender pornography. The gubernatorial race between Robinson and Democrat nominee Josh Stein has opened up with a recent Elon poll conducted between Sept. 4 to 13 finding Stein up by 14 points — before the comments came to light Sept. 19.

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NEWS 10/2/24 10:05pm

Elon’s Chinese Club to host karaoke, game night

By Megan Walsh

Karaoke, traditional games and unique snacks — all things students can expect from the Chinese Club’s karaoke and game night. Elon University’s Chinese Club will host its karaoke and game night from 9:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. Oct. 4 in the Center for Race, Ethnicity and Diversity Education located upstairs in the Moseley Center. This is the third year the Chinese Club has hosted the event. The club’s vice president of communications senior Bryn Hall said after the event,  Chinese club has many other events planned for the semester.

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