Hurricane Florence Coverage

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LIFESTYLE 12/4/25 10:53pm

Elon University’s campus glows as Festival of Lights and Luminaries expands cultural celebration

By Mia Torres

Elon University’s Festival of Lights and Luminaries took place on Dec. 4 and was hosted by the Truitt Center for Religious and Spiritual Life. Luminaries lit up Elon’s campus as students walked around and enjoyed the night. The festival started incorporating themes in 2020 with each year being a new theme. This year it was, “Many Lights on One Night.” “This year the festival is bigger than ever, so the theme represents how all the small lights that each of us bring create one larger light on campus,” Hillary Zaken, the director of multifaith programming and engagement for the Truitt Center said. 

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SPORTS 12/4/25 12:09am

Strong start not enough in Elon University men’s basketball loss to Furman University

By Trevor Brader-Araje

The energy in Schar Center was palpable as the Phoenix built an early 18 point lead. However, the Phoenix couldn’t sustain momentum as Furman University surged in the second half to hand Elon a home defeat on Dec. 3. Head coach Billy Taylor said the Phoenix simply didn’t respond well when Furman started to take control. While there were encouraging moments during the game, Taylor stressed the importance of maintaining that level. “When they punched back, we didn’t respond the right way,” Taylor said. “We need more of those moments strung together over the course of 40 minutes.”

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NEWS 12/3/25 10:52pm

Elon University fire alarm system running following fiber optic line cut

By Nia Bedard

Elon University’s fire alarm system is back to normal and will alert authorities if a fire alarm goes off following the cut of a fiber optic line in Greensboro, according to an E-alert sent around 10:22 p.m. Dec. 3. Elon Campus Safety and Police sent an E-alert in the morning on Dec. 3 after the fiber optic line was cut writing that the fire alarm systems may not alert authorities if they are activated. Elon University Chief of Campus Safety and Police Joe LeMire previously wrote in an email statement to Elon News Network on Dec. 3 that this cut was caused by construction in the area. 

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NEWS 12/3/25 1:31pm

Elon University fire alarm system may not alert authorities per E-alert

By Nia Bedard

Elon University fire alarm systems may not alert authorities if they are activated, according to an E-alert sent out around 1:00 p.m Dec. 3. The E-alert wrote that if a fire alarm goes off, evacuate the building and choose someone to call 911 once in a safe area. According to the E-alert, a fiber optic line was cut in Greensboro, which is the cause of issues with the alert system. A similar issue occurred on Nov. 18 when a fiber optic line in Greensboro was cut, causing issues with Elon University’s alarm system.

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SPORTS 12/3/25 12:27pm

Elon University quarterback plans to enter transfer portal

By Nia Bedard

After winning Co-Offensive Rookie of the Year for the Coastal Athletic Association, Elon University quarterback Landen Clark plans to enter the transfer portal, according to a statement made by his agent. This past season Clark, a redshirt freshman, threw for 2,321 yards and rushed for 614 yards. Clark scored 29 total touchdowns during the 2025 season. The transfer portal for college football opens on Jan. 2, 2026 and closes Jan. 16, 2026.

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NEWS 12/2/25 11:21pm

Burlington swears in first female mayor

By Alice Morrissey

Surrounded by friends and family, Burlington’s first female mayor, Beth Kennett, was sworn into office at the Burlington City Council meeting on Dec. 2. The meeting was held in the Hugh M. Cummings High School auditorium, which was filled with Burlington locals and supporters of Kennett. Before adjourning the meeting, Kennett reaffirmed her commitment to being a voice for the people of Burlington. “I’m not here to make your choices; I’m here to work with you to make Burlington the best it can be,” Kennett said.

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SPORTS 12/1/25 6:37pm

Elon University women’s basketball transfer center hopes to bounce back after season-ending surgery

By Benjamin Berfield

Graduate center Quinzia Fulmore had nothing but painful memories of last season. After a productive start to last season as a transfer addition for the Memphis University women’s basketball team, she suffered a foot injury that sidelined her for the rest of the year. Fulmore said she had never been injured before and was sick of not being on the court. “It was painful,” Fulmore said. “Just a nerve-wracking feeling that I couldn’t finish the year out and had to sit and watch.”

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NEWS 12/1/25 1:13pm

Elon’s Festival of Lights and Luminaries moved to Dec. 4

By Anjolina Fantaroni

Elon University’s annual Festival of Lights and Luminaries has been rescheduled for Thursday, Dec. 4, from 6:30 - 8 p.m. due to forecasted rain on Dec. 1 into the morning of Dec. 2. According to the National Weather Service, there is a 100% chance of precipitation in Alamance County on Dec. 2 with rain mainly before 11 a.m.Aside from the date change, all other aspects of the event will remain the same, according to an email from Vice President of Student Life Jon Dooley.

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SPORTS 11/28/25 7:00pm

Elon University punter declares for NFL Draft

By Benjamin Berfield

Elon University punter Jeff Yurk has declared for the NFL Draft following his redshirt senior season. Yurk announced his decision on his Instagram account Nov. 28. Yurk has totaled 9,645 yards punting throughout his collegiate career at Elon. During his freshman season in 2021, Yurk played all 11 games. The following year, Yurk was named to the third team all Coastal Athletic Association. Yurk’s performance in 2022 helped the Phoenix qualify for the Football Championship Subdivision playoff. During the last two years, Yurk also led the conference in punt yards per game at around 48 yards.

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SPORTS 11/27/25 9:54am

Running toward opportunity: NIL helps Elon athlete build personal brand

By Max Wallace

Imagine a college student having 5 million dollars in the palm of their hand. For some student athletes like AJ Dybantsa — the point guard for the BYU Cougars — it is not something they have to imagine thanks to the NCAA’s Name, Image and Likeness policy. Caden Strickland, a senior on Elon University’s men’s cross country team, said it wouldn’t be possible to put the amount of hours into running that he does each day if he wasn’t able to make money from just being himself. “To have the opportunity to put my name out there and make money off of what I love doing helps me a lot financially,”  Strickland said.

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SPORTS 11/26/25 11:06am

Women’s soccer team reaches its goals with CAA championship win

By Benjamin Berfield

In just two years, Elon University’s women’s soccer team has transformed from a three-win team in 2023 to Coastal Athletic Association champions, winning Nov. 9 against Stony Brook in a 1-1 match that came down to penalty kicks, where Elon prevailed 6-5. Their turnaround not only earned an NCAA Division I Tournament berth against Duke University, but it also came as a rewarding accomplishment for everyone who spent the last two years changing the team’s fortunes. “I’m so proud of how far this group of players have come because there were a lot of players on that team,” head coach Neil Payne said.

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SPORTS 11/23/25 10:26am

Elon University graduate student finds fulfillment beyond the court

By Lilly Molina

Graduate student and redshirt senior Kamryn Doty stood at the end of the call line. At the beginning of a basketball game, the announcer tells the audience who is in the starting lineup. Those players run through a manmade tunnel before waving to the audience. Except, this time, Doty was waiting for them at the end, giving them a high five and wishing them good luck. “I’m just really thankful that I had the opportunity to come back,” Doty said. “I’m really just hoping to get a sense of fulfillment out of it.”

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NEWS 11/22/25 9:35am

North Carolina budget stalemate enters 4th month

By Miles Hayford

Over four months after the fiscal year began, the North Carolina General Assembly is still yet to pass a state budget. The GOP controls both the House and Senate but disagreements over scheduled tax cuts and state employee raises have divided the two chambers for months. “There’s an old adage in politics, that the other party is the opposition and the other chamber is the enemy and I think you're seeing that,” Western Carolina University political science professor Christopher Cooper said. “Just because you're a member of the same party doesn't mean that you necessarily see eye to eye on some major issues.” 

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LIFESTYLE 11/21/25 4:23pm

Festival of Lights and Luminaries illuminates Elon year after year

By Megan Walsh

An event with roots as a traditional tree lighting in front of the Alamance Building, the current Festival of Lights and Luminaries celebration continues to light up campus. This year’s festival will be held Dec. 2 across the Historic Neighborhood and the Academic Pavilion. “A certain number of people couldn’t gather in the same place, so having everyone gathered in front of Alamance for that lighting simply was impossible,” Director of Multifaith Programming and Engagement Hillary Zaken said. “As it turns out, this is a much better way to celebrate the campus that we are and are becoming.”

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NEWS 11/21/25 10:37am

Tiny home community for formerly incarcerated women breaks ground

By Fiona McAllister

Benevolence Farm in Graham will be the first tiny home community in North Carolina for formerly incarcerated women. These seven new tiny homes will house one person per unit. The Benevolence Farm goal is to cultivate leadership and promote sustainable livelihoods with individuals impacted by the criminal legal system in North Carolina, according to its website. “It is pretty surreal to see this tiny home groundbreaking ceremony happen today,” Executive Director of Benevolence Farm Kristen Powers said. “We just didn't know if this would even be possible.”

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SPORTS 11/20/25 11:28pm

Elon men’s soccer falls to UNCG in penalty kicks

By Benjamin Berfield

In a thrilling, hard fought, matchup between the Elon University men’s soccer team and UNCG Spartans, one team had to lose and that was the Phoenix. Elon was defeated in penalty kicks 4-3, ending any chance of advancing in the NCAA Division I Tournament. head coach Marc Reeves said he could not be more proud of what his team accomplished. “I’m proud of our group,” Reeves said. “You can only win three trophies in a season – regular season, tournament championship and NCAA National Championship. To have two of them sit in our locker room is an incredible achievement by the boys.”

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NEWS 11/20/25 6:12pm

Occaneechi Band of the Saponi Nation hosts language revitalization conference, builds community

By Barbara Duran

Elon University’s department of Native American and Indigenous Studies held an Indigenous language revitalization conference in LaRose Commons on Nov. 20, filling the space with open discussion and community building. The conference was in partnership with the Occaneechi Band of the Saponi Nation and led by assistant professor of Native American and Indigenous Studies and professor of the Yesa:sahį language revitalization course Corey Roberts. Chief of the Occaneechi Band of the Saponi Nation Tony Hayes shared the significance language has for indigenous communities. “It identifies you as a person, it identifies your culture, it identifies traditions,” Hayes said. “And the language brings all of that together.”

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SPORTS 11/20/25 12:40pm

Elon men’s soccer looks to ride hot streak in NCAA tournament

By Trevor Brader-Araje

Rudd Field’s full crowd erupted in cheers as confetti rained from above. Elon University men’s soccer lifted the Coastal Athletic Association championship trophy, winning for the first time. But the celebration didn’t last long. The Phoenix quickly shifted their focus to the next obstacle: a high-stakes NCAA tournament matchup against in-state opponent University North Carolina, Greensboro. Senior Colin Veltri believes that the Phoenix can beat UNCG and push through the tournament. “I feel like we can really make a push,” Veltri said. “And everyone does too.” 

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NEWS 11/20/25 8:07am

Elon officials warn students about ‘phishing’ cyber-scams

By Lily Mosbacher

A new survey from the Pew Research Center found that 73% of U.S. adults have experienced some kind of online scam or attack. On college campuses like Elon University, the threat of these scams, often called phishing, is increasingly prevalent, especially when it comes to targeting student emails. Gary Sheehan, director of Elon Information Security, said scammers have grown more convincing by using artificial intelligence to craft realistic-looking messages.  “Phishing scams are fake messages designed to trick you into giving away personal information, like your password, bank details, or student ID,” Sheehan wrote. “These attacks have become more common at Elon, and AI has made these attacks more dangerous.”

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NEWS 11/19/25 1:48pm

Alamance County Sheriff’s Office to stop housing ICE detainees amid new state law requirement

By Anjolina Fantaroni

The Alamance County Sheriff’s Office will stop housing those detained by  U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement effective Nov. 16, according Alamance County Sheriff Terry Johnson in a press release Nov. 19. According to the press release, Johnson sent a letter to ICE and said the decision comes from changes to state law taking effect Dec. 1. North Carolina House Bill 307, known as “Iryna’s Law,” tightens rules on pretrial release, electronic monitoring and detention of individuals charged with violent crimes. 

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