Hurricane Florence Coverage

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NEWS 5/16/24 3:54pm

Seniors launch educational campaign on pedestrian safety at Elon University

By Aidan Powley

As part of their senior seminar, senior policy studies students Ciara Longsworth, Ethan Haqq, Mike Sanderson, Morgan McGlynn and Sidra Kennedy were given a project to work with the Town of Elon to investigate the issue of pedestrian safety on campus. As part of their project, they conducted a survey of over 200 students on pedestrian and road laws — followed by the creation of an educational campaign in the form of a video. According to the Elon Police Department, there have been 9 pedestrian-related incidents reported since 2020. 

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NEWS 5/15/24 11:37am

Elon Poll finds Americans fear abuse of AI in 2024 presidential election

By Nia Bedard

A national survey conducted by the Elon Poll and Elon University’s Imagining the Digital Future Center found that 78% of American adults expect that abuses of artificial intelligence systems will affect the outcome of the 2024 presidential election. Director of the Imagining Digital Future Center Lee Rainie said that focusing the study around this upcoming election cycle was a key factor. The results also found that 73% of respondents believe AI will be used to manipulate social media, 70% believe AI will be used to generate fake information and 62% believe AI will be used to convince people not to vote.

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NEWS 5/14/24 7:24pm

Rainfall causes road damage on East Haggard Ave

By Ryan Kupperman

The road between Crest Apartments and North Oak Street has sustained major road damage due to heavy rainfall, according to an E-Alert sent May 14. Though another E-Alert also stated that East Haggard is closed due to a gas leak, Chief of Campus Safety and Police Joe LeMire clarified that that message was a mistake and there is no gas leak. LeMire recommended that everyone get off East Haggard Avenue entirely leading up to Oak Street. As of 9:40 p.m., Campus Police reported that East Haggard has been temporarily repaired by using gravel to level the road. 

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NEWS 5/14/24 1:34pm

Elon University expands scope of sustainability initiatives to Kentucky

By Maggie Reetz

Elon University is collaborating with eight other colleges and universities to fund the construction of a large solar facility in Kentucky. The project, called the Sebree Solar II Project, is in association with NextEra Energy Resources — the world’s largest generator of wind and solar energy. Construction for the solar farm will begin in 2025 and the facility is set to open for commercial use in late 2026. Participation in this Power Purchase Agreement is just one part of Elon’s Sustainability Master Plan. The plan, updated this year, states that the university aims to be carbon neutral by 2037, among other goals.

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NEWS 5/13/24 1:26pm

Elon welcomes Alpha Epsilon Phi as 10th sorority chapter

By Lilly Molina

Elon’s Panhellenic council announced the addition of AEPhi, a historically Jewish sorority, on May 13. Alpha Epsilon Phi was founded at Barnard College in 1909. AEPhi has been interested in founding a chapter at Elon for almost 20 years and visited Elon’s campus on May 2 to host an interest meeting. Voting on adding the sorority on campus was held last Tuesday, May 7 during a Panhellenic delegates meeting, but waited until the following Monday to announce the vote. 

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NEWS 5/13/24 11:38am

Elon alum, former basketball player dies two weeks after returning to campus

By Ryan Kupperman

Elon University alum Dmitri Thompson ’18 has died, according to a Facebook post from his high school alma mater Orlando Christian Prep. This comes two weeks after he came to campus to receive a 2024 Top 10 Under Top award, which honors 10 alumni who have graduated in the past 10 years for their post-graduation accomplishments. Elon News Network does not yet know the cause of death. Thompson was a former member of Elon’s Men’s Basketball Team and ended his career as one of the best scorers in program history.

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NEWS 5/13/24 10:48am

Elon’s class of 2028 marks most diverse in university history

By Avery Sloan and Erin Martin

Elon’s class of 2028 will be among the most diverse classes in university history, Greg Zaiser, vice president for enrollment, wrote in a statement to Elon News Network. This year the Free Application for Federal Student Aid has had delays due to changes in the system and glitches that have occurred. Due to delays in FAFSA, Elon has granted about 200 deposit extensions to incoming students, Zaiser wrote. As of May 4, the class of 2028 has 1,662 students and Zaiser wrote he expects closer to 1,700 students to commit.

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LIFESTYLE 5/12/24 5:05pm

Elon University senior strikes chords of connection on campus

By Reagan Sizemore

Senior Gabe Germain found his passion for music when he picked up a guitar at 13 years old. However, his music career didn’t kick off until he began recording his music for production sophomore year. Now the pop artist is looking forward to releasing his first album this upcoming fall. Germain is a musical artist at Elon and releases his own original songs with the help of Limelight, a record label on campus designed to help student musicians. In April, Germain released a new single titled “Perched,” a single from his upcoming album coming out in fall 2024.

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OPINIONS 5/11/24 6:53pm

OPINION: Looking for God at Burlington's Biker Church

By Alex Nettles

After class, I found myself driving to a McDonalds on Interstate 87 to meet with Tony — a former member of an outlaw biker club. Tony said he met God when he was in a coma, and there was a point in the afterlife where he had to choose between heaven and hell. In his vision, God asked him, “Do you want heaven and me, or do you want hell?.” I first met Tony at Broken Chains Biker Church, a church devoted to worship that aims to save bikers from the sinful life.

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NEWS 5/11/24 2:54pm

Elon University’s GLC celebrates 12th Lavender Graduation

By Nia Bedard

Elon University celebrated its 12th annual Lavender Graduation, hosted by the Gender and LGBTQIA Center, on May 10 in Alumni Gym with 70 students participating in their ceremony. Lavender Graduation honors LGBTQIA undergraduates, graduates and professional students at Elon with a certificate, a graduation stole, a rainbow tassel and a lavender graduation cap that can be worn at Commencement. Vice President of Student Life Dooley said that the first Lavender Graduation in 2014 had 16 graduates and was held in the Oaks Commons Room.

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NEWS 5/9/24 10:16am

Guide to Elon University commencement, senior activities for class of 2024

By Elon News Network

A comprehensive and interactive calendar for Elon University's class of 2024 graduation and commencement events. The bulk of events occur from Tuesday, May 21 to Friday, May 24. All graduates confirmed to participate in the 134th Commencement on May 24 in Schar Center must reserve guest tickets to their diploma ceremony. With the anticipated number of graduates in each diploma ceremony, the maximum number of guest tickets is five. Parking lots will open at 7:15 a.m. for Commencement guest parking. Guests are asked to park at Schar Center only for the ceremony they are attending.

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NEWS 5/8/24 9:59pm

Students, friends, family mourn loss of Elon professor through gathering of community

By Anjolina Fantaroni

Over 100 members of the Elon community joined in tears, laughter and hugs at in Numen Lumen at 4:30 p.m. on May 8 to mourn the loss of Jennifer Fish, associate director of Elon’s Teaching Fellows Program. Fish died unexpectedly on the morning of May 7 due to illness. Fish was known to greet everyone with a smile and drop everything to see who stepped into her office. Junior teaching fellow Lindsey Hefty said the program won’t be the same without Fish’s presence. Hefty said she hopes to honor Fish’s memory by being like her: by having unconditional love for everyone — even strangers.

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NEWS 5/8/24 8:08pm

Elon aims to have 50% of its waste diverted by 2030

By Avery Sloan

Elon has plans to divert 75% of its waste by 2037. Currently, the university is diverting 25%. Kendra Harrison, waste reduction and recycling manager, said it will take a lot of work for Elon to reach 75%. Sustainability has been integrated into Residence Life’s training, according to Elon’s website on sustainability. Sustainability has spread to other areas of campus in other ways, outside of just the office of sustainability, senior Lauren Hill, volunteer coordinator for the Office of Sustainability, said. But, students are not always aware of the waste they are generating and other ways Elon maintains sustainability, according to Hill.

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NEWS 5/7/24 10:28pm

Sister of Hamas hostage speaks at Elon’s Chabad

By Fiona McAllister

Lucy Siegel’s younger brother Keith and his wife Aviva were captured by Hamas on Oct. 7, 2023 from the kibbutz where they lived in Israel. While Aviva was held hostage for 51 days and released on Nov. 26, 2023, Ketih is still currently being held hostage in Gaza. Lucy visited Elon’s Chabad house on May 7 to share her and her brother’s story with the Elon community. Rabbi Mendy Minkowitz introduced Lucy Siegel as she spoke about how the Israel-Hamas War continues to impact her personally.

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NEWS 5/7/24 1:17pm

Associate Director of Teaching Fellows Program dies unexpectedly due to illness

By Ryan Kupperman

Jennifer Fish, associate director of Elon University’s Teaching Fellows Program, died unexpectedly the morning of May 7 due to illness, according to an email sent to the university community by President Connie Book. A Gathering of Friends will be held at 4:30 p.m. on May 8 in the sacred space of Numen Lumen to honor her life. Book stated in the email that Fish recently celebrated 15 years of service to Elon and has taught the teaching fellows throughout that time. Expressions of condolence for Jennifer’s family can be brought to the Truitt Center main desk or sent through campus mail to Truitt Center, 2960 Campus Box.

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NEWS 5/7/24 10:16am

Students for Peace and Justice hosts pro-Palestinian walk across Elon University

By Sophie Rosenthal

The Students for Peace and Justice club held a peace walk in support of Palestinian people in Gaza at 9:45 a.m. on May 7. Palestinian student Naz Shokri will kick off the walk with a speech at Medallion Plaza, followed by a walk around Moseley Center and through Young Commons. Students for Peace and Justice hosted another walk earlier this semester in solidarity with victims of oppression, where some students held signs in support of Palestinians. Yet, "A Walk for Palestine" was the first group demonstration on Elon's campus since the war began that is specifically calling itself pro-Palestinian.

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LIFESTYLE 5/6/24 1:29pm

Research to rapid fire: Professor takes on Jeopardy

By Avery Sloan

Professor Marko Saric, an antsy person by nature, said when he was competing on the set of Jeopardy, he felt like he was back in his room watching the show. Saric was on Jeopardy April 18 and continued on April 19. For Saric, being a professor did not necessarily translate to skills helpful for the game show. He instead prepared by looking through the J! Archive, a website created by fans with every single answer that has been on Jeopardy. From there Saric would go to Wikipedia to read up on things he didn’t know, he said.

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NEWS 5/5/24 4:58pm

Elon University’s Clohan Dining Hall reopens after gas leak scare

By Erin Martin and Abby Gravely

Clohan Dining Hall was closed on Sunday, due to a potential gas leak, but has since re-opened. According to an Elon campus police officer on scene, there was no immediate danger. Multiple fire trucks and police cars were seen at Clohan on Sunday around 3:30 p.m., along with a maintenance worker from piedmont natural gas, who was equipped with a gas leak detector. Chief LeMire explained that the E-Alert was intended for all students, faculty and staff, but accidentally was only sent to members of the RAVE Guardian Safety App group, reaching about 1,800 people instead of the intended 8,900.

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NEWS 5/5/24 11:36am

National foreign language enrollment declines at collegiate level

By Cailey Cetani

Hallo! Bonjour! Hola! Ciao! According to the American Councils for International Education, 10.6 million students from grades K-12 are enrolled in a foreign language. A new study has shown that although many have learned languages in their early education, there is a decline in the pursuit of learning a language in college. According to the Modern Language Association 2023 Census, there was a 16.6% decrease in enrollment in foreign language classes by college students from 2016 to 2021. This is the largest decline since the association started its census in 1958 with language enrollment peaking in 2009.

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NEWS 5/4/24 12:30pm

Gathering of friends honors Elon junior as ‘selfless’, ‘life of the party’

By Ryan Kupperman

Approximately 70 members of the Elon community attended a gathering of friends in the pavilion behind the Sklut Hillel Center on May 3 to share their feelings of loss and reflect on fond memories they’ve shared with Malinsky. Malinsky, who died on April 29 of brain cancer, was a member of Elon’s class of 2025 and an active member of the Jewish community. Jewish Educator Boaz Avraham-Katz, who was one of Talia’s professors, spoke at the event along with University Chaplain Kirstin Boswell — who led the service in a prayer before allowing Talia’s friends to speak about their memories with her.

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