Hurricane Florence Coverage

---

LIFESTYLE 4/30/25 11:56am

Elon University’s Gender and LGBTQIA Center to hold Spring Pride

By Trista Panagakos

Elon University’s Gender and LGBTQIA Center is holding its Spring Pride event from 5 to 7 p.m. May 1 in Young Commons. The event will feature tabling from other organizations and on-campus services such as the Center for Race, Ethnicity, and Diversity Education, Disability Services, and Counseling Services. This year Spring Pride will be Western themed which is  different from previous years, when the theme would center around spring or flower power. Part of the GLC’s plans for Spring Pride is to ensure students are aware of the community building efforts of the organization. 

---

NEWS 4/30/25 10:31am

Elon University names student commencement speaker

By Charlotte Pfabe

Elon senior Craig Brandstetter was selected as the student undergraduate commencement speaker on April 30, according to an email sent to seniors by Vice President for Student Life Jon Dooley. Brandstetter will deliver the message of appreciation on behalf of the graduating class of 2025 during the Undergraduate Commencement ceremonies on Friday, May 23. In February 2024, the Student Government Association announced that all seniors who meet the application criteria would have the chance to apply to speak at the 2024 graduation ceremony. Previously, the senior class president automatically gained the spot.

---

LIFESTYLE 4/29/25 7:28pm

‘Theater in its rawest form’: Elon students create, produce original play

By Sarah T. Moore

The term sororophobia refers to a woman’s simultaneous desire for and recoil from identification with other women. It encompasses the nuances of women who seek community with one another while comparing themselves to each other. It’s also the name of senior Laney Lynch’s second full-length play. Lynch, a B.F.A. acting student, began writing the play in fall 2023. It started as an idea and writing scenes of dialogue every now and then. But with encouragement from her friends, Lynch decided to write “Sororophobia,” a full-length, supernatural play about a group of middle school girls who summon a wish-granting demon.

---

NEWS 4/29/25 3:26pm

Elon Poll finds Americans expect higher prices due to tariffs

By Trista Panagakos

A poll conducted by Elon University Poll surveyed 1,000 U.S. adults and found 80% of respondents anticipate higher prices due to President Trump’s trade policies. On April 2, Trump announced 10% tariffs on all countries and separate tailored tariffs on other countries such as China, who Trump has placed 145% tariffs on. Elon Poll found partisan divides among respondents about how higher tariffs will impact respondents' financial situations. The poll found 90% of Democrat respondents had much higher concern compared to 41% of Republican respondents. 

---

NEWS 4/29/25 2:11pm

East Burlington comes together to protect equity, provide a voice

By Julia Donaghy

For years, there have been local efforts to remediate the 22-acre property once called the Tarheel Army Missile Plant. From 1942 to 2004, it was owned by the U.S. Department of Defense and previously leased to Western Electric, an electrical engineering and manufacturing company, to produce Nike Ajax surface-to-air missiles. Now, it remains abandoned under private ownership, creating more than just an eye sore to East Burlington, according to the Rev. Donna Vanhook, an Alamance County Soil and Water Conservation District Supervisor. 

---

LIFESTYLE 4/29/25 8:49am

Elon University greek councils celebrate diversity, unity of greek life

By Rachel Holley

Elon University’s greek life organizations came together on April 28 on Young Commons for “Greek Fest.” The carnival-themed event was hosted by the four governing bodies of Elon University greek life: Panhellenic Association, Interfraternity Council, National Pan-Hellenic Council and the recently established Multicultural Greek Council. The event had free carnival themed food such as corn dogs, popcorn, cheeseburgers, churros and funnel cake fries. Along with the food, the event also had live music from student bands, games, crafts and an inflatable bounce house. 

---

NEWS 4/28/25 11:20pm

Elon Town Council discusses proposed budget for 2026 fiscal year

By Ruby Burckle

Elon Town Council members debated whether it would be in the community and council’s best interest to increase property tax rates in order to fund the proposed budget for the 2026 fiscal year during the town council meeting April 28. Elon Town Manager Rich Roedner proposed a property tax increase from $0.35 to $0.365, or a one and a half cent increase. Unlike many other municipalities, sales tax is the number one revenue source for the town of Elon, according to Mayor Emily Sharpe. The council will hold a public hearing on May 13 before approving the budget.

---

NEWS 4/28/25 10:09pm

Elon professor appointed to Alamance-Burlington Board of Education

By Avery Sloan

Eric Hall, Elon professor of exercise science, was appointed to the Alamance-Burlington Board of Education during the April 28 meeting in a 4-2 vote. Originally, 16 candidates applied for the board vacancy, but soon afterward one candidate dropped out and before April 28 two more candidates had withdrawn their applications. Out of the 13 remaining candidates, eight spoke at the meeting. During his statement, Hall said he was looking to join the board after living in Alamance County for 25 years. Hall is also Elon’s assistant provost for scholarship and creative activity and director of undergraduate research.

---

NEWS 4/28/25 9:01pm

New North Carolina legislation could ease concealed carry handgun rules

By Abigail Hines

A North Carolina bill that would allow people over the age of 18 to carry a concealed handgun without a permit was approved by the state Senate and is currently under review in the North Carolina House of Representatives. Senate Bill 50, which was approved by the state Senate on March 20, proposes several changes to the current permit process, allowing individuals to purchase and carry concealed handguns without a thorough background check by local law enforcement. It also lowers the age in which you can carry a concealed handgun from 21 to 18 years old. 

---

LIFESTYLE 4/28/25 8:45pm

Elon Truitt Center celebrates Holi indoors at Elon University

By Rachel Holley

Holi, the Hindu festival of color, was celebrated a little differently this year due to weather. At Elon University Holi is typically celebrated by throwing colored powder. However, due to the chance of rain, the colored powder outside wasn’t an option this year. Inside the sacred space at Numen Lumen, participants threw flower petals in place of colored powder. Each color of the flower petals symbolizes different aspects of life. A few examples being that red symbolizes love, yellow represents happiness, and green signifies new beginnings. 

---

LIFESTYLE 4/28/25 10:12am

Elon Music Theatre production tells a story from end to beginning

By Karsyn Vann and Megan Walsh

Audiences will know the ending of the show when the curtain rises in Elon University’s upcoming production of “Merrily We Roll Along,” which will be the final production of the 2024-25 season. The show chronicles the lives of three struggling artists backwards in time from their late 40s to early 20s during the years of 1976 to 1957. “Merrily We Roll Along” will run in Roberts Studio Theatre in Scott Studios with evening shows at 7:30 p.m. May 2 and 3, as well as matinee shows at 2 p.m. May 3 and 4. 

---

SPORTS 4/27/25 8:45pm

Gritty performance by Elon men’s tennis falls short in CAA championship

By Benjamin Berfield

The Elon University men’s tennis team was denied a Coastal Athletic Association championship by the University of North Carolina, Wilmington for the fourth straight year April 27. It was a gritty effort by the Phoenix, but a doubles defeat along with an initial loss in singles proved too much to overcome. Elon entered the match as one of the CAA’s hottest teams. The team was the winner in 8 of its last 10 games, and was fresh off a 4-1 victory against Monmouth on April 26. However, one of the team’s weaknesses was doubles matches.

---

SPORTS 4/27/25 3:43pm

Elon University women’s tennis wins first CAA Championship in program history

By Miles Hayford

Elon women’s tennis made history April 27, winning its first CAA Championship in program history by beating William & Mary 4-2 in a thrilling affair that came down to the wire. William & Mary came into the match looking to win its fourth consecutive CAA Championship, but Elon was not any standard opponent. The Phoenix were the No. 1 seed in the tournament — the first time in program history — and beat the Tribe 4-3 recently in its final regular season match. Elon’s win earns them an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament, which starts May 15.

---

SPORTS 4/27/25 12:46am

Elon University men’s tennis advances to CAA championship game in dominant fashion

By Kathan Gandhi

Elon University men’s tennis showed out in its semifinal game versus Monmouth University in the Coastal Athletic Association Tournament on April 26, winning 4-2. The Phoenix came in hot, having an 8-2 record in its last 10 games. Elon will now play three-time defending champion University of North Carolina, Wilmington tomorrow, whom it has lost to in the CAA Championship game the last three years in a row. The winner will clinch an automatic bid to play in the NCAA Tournament on May 15. The match will begin at 2 p.m. April 27 at the Jimmy Powell Tennis Center. 

---

SPORTS 4/26/25 4:03pm

Elon University women’s tennis beats Charleston, advances to CAA Championship

By Miles Hayford

With a mostly home crowd that packed the bleachers of Jimmy Powell Tennis Center, Elon women’s tennis beat the College of Charleston 4-0 in the Coastal Athletic Association Tournament semifinals on April 26. It advances Elon to its second CAA Championship in program history and the first since 2022. Elon will play three-time defending champion William & Mary at 10 a.m. tomorrow April 27 for the championship and an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament, a rematch of the 2022 CAA championship. 

---

NEWS 4/25/25 2:49pm

Elon Poll finds majority of Americans fear crisis between Trump, courts

By Fiona McAllister

An Elon University Poll surveyed 1,000 American adults and found a drop in President Donald Trump’s approval rating. The survey, conducted April 10 to 17, found 41% of respondents approve of Trump’s job performance, while 47% disapprove. This contrasts with the February 2025 Elon University Poll, which showed a 45% approval and 41% disapproval rating. These numbers show public concern about the balance of power between the executive branch and the courts, with 67% of Americans worried about a potential constitutional crisis due to conflicts between these branches.

---

SPORTS 4/25/25 11:06am

Elon’s newest volleyball head coach looks to build player-coach connections

By Benjamin Berfield

When Matt Troy took the head coaching job for Elon University’s volleyball team, he saw it as an opportunity to grow as a coach. Troy previously hadn’t heard much about Elon’s volleyball program but after watching film of the team, he believed they had potential that could be built upon once the season begins in August. Last year, Elon finished 11-18. While Troy does plan on incorporating a few things such as an up-tempo offense, he isn’t looking to change everything about the team.

---

NEWS 4/25/25 11:01am

Day of remembrance at Elon University honors lives lost in the Holocaust

By Abby Gravely

The Elon community recognized Yom Hashoah, the Jewish memorial day honoring lives lost during the Holocaust, on April 24. The day began with a “Ceremony of Remembrance” in the sacred space of Numen Lumen pavilion, where community members gathered to commemorate lives lost and recognize the bravery of those deemed “Righteous Among the Nations” by Israel’s parliament — a title given to non-Jewish people who sacrificed their lives and safety to protect Jewish individuals. They did so through actions such as hiding Jewish people in their homes and basements. 

---

NEWS 4/24/25 11:26pm

Democratic representatives hold town hall in N.C. 9th Congressional District

By Trista Panagakos

Democrat U.S. Rep. Maxwell Frost and Democrat Sen. Chris Murphy hosted a town hall at the Haw River Ballroom in North Carolina’s 9th Congressional District Thursday April 24. The town hall was part of the Democratic National Committee’s “The People’s Town Hall” campaign. The campaign aims to go into Republican controlled districts and host town hall meetings with representatives from the Democratic Party. The campaign is a reaction to congressional Republicans being advised to not hold in-person town hall meetings in their districts by North Carolina’s 9th Congressional District Rep. Richard Hudson in a closed door meeting on March 4.

---

LIFESTYLE 4/24/25 10:47pm

Earth Fest, Party for the Planet aim to blend education, entertainment

By Virginia Vance

At their peak, two adjacent Elon University sustainability events saw a line stretching from the edge of Medallion Plaza to the Center for the Arts parking lot. Earth Fest featured the addition of several temporary compost bins to the path from Medallion Plaza along Lake Mary Nell. This year’s Earth Fest once again featured cows from Ran-Lew Dairy Farm — a popular attraction in recent years. Last year’s Earth Fest drew concern from students because the cows were positioned across from a hamburger standm but no beef was served at this year's event.

---