Hurricane Florence Coverage

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SPORTS 9/21/24 6:31pm

Big first half helps Elon University men’s soccer defeat Stony Brook

By Benjamin Berfield

The Elon University men’s soccer team remained undefeated with a 2-1 victory over Stony Brook on Sept. 21. Thanks to a strong first half, Elon managed to hold firm even as Stony Brook chipped away at the Phoenix in the second half. It was Elon’s first win after tying against Wake Forest on Sept. 17. Most of the damage from Elon offensively came in the first half as they converted two of their six goal attempts.

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SPORTS 9/21/24 4:15pm

Carolina Cowboys return to Greensboro for Professional Bull Riding Team Series

By Sarah T. Moore

Starting off the night as No. 1 in the league, the Carolina Cowboys competed on home turf for the third annual Professional Bull Riding Camping World Team Series. The crowd was fired up as audience members wore their boots, dawned their cowboy hats and rang their cowbells. The opening ceremony started with a bang as flashy pyrotechnics spelled out “PBR” in the dirt. The team’s three-day stop in Greensboro — titled Cowboy Days — started Sept. 20. The Cowboys will compete against No. 6 Nashville Stampede on Sept. 21 and No. 7 Missouri Thunder on Sept. 22.

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SPORTS 9/21/24 3:01pm

Elon University men's soccer player celebrates his Hispanic heritage

By Jordyn Forni

Carlos Levy, a redshirt sophomore on Elon University men’s soccer team has a deep connection to Hispanic Heritage Month. Levy was born in Mexico and moved to Miami at 8 years old. He moved among family and friends, and in his experience, Miami had a rich Latino community, he said. He cites his transition to Elon as a more prominent culture shock than originally moving to America. Levy has been playing soccer his whole life and said his devotion to the sport is another way he stays in touch with his heritage.

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NEWS 9/20/24 11:28pm

Elon community gathers to celebrate Mid-Autumn Festival

By Nia Bedard

Elon University’s Asian-Pacific Student Association and Chinese Club celebrated the Mid-Autumn Festival on Sept. 20 in the McBride Gathering Space. According to senior Ivan Nguyen, co-president of APSA and vice president of Chinese Club, the Mid-Autumn Festival celebrates the moon at its brightest and fullest which occurred this past Tuesday, Sept. 17. This is the first time that the Mid-Autumn Festival was held in McBride Gathering Space, while previous celebrations were held in Carlton Commons. APSA’s next event will be a bracelet-making event at 5:45 p.m. Sept. 25 in the CREDE, Moseley 221.

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LIFESTYLE 9/20/24 3:13pm

Elon professor’s debut novel explores agency, identity

By Sarah T. Moore

A love triangle, a coma, suddenly-revealed family secrets — all are common elements in telenovellas. They are also all elements in English professor Tita Ramirez’s debut novel, “Tell It to Me Singing.” The novel centers around themes of agency, identity and power — especially as Latina women. For the past two months, Ramirez has been on sabbatical as she travels to book signings throughout North Carolina and Florida, where the book is set. On Sept. 10, Ramirez hosted a signing at Elon University. Several of her past students and colleagues attended the event.

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NEWS 9/20/24 11:27am

Latinx-Hispanic Union commemorates seventh anniversary

By Audrey Geib

The Latinx-Hispanic Union, more commonly known as LHU, celebrated its seventh birthday as an on-campus organization Sept. 17. LHU vice president Carlos Gomez Lopez said even as a first-year attending events, he could tell that the members worked hard to create a comfortable space, making LHU feel like a home away from home. According to Elon’s Diversity Dashboard, more than 78% of the student body identifies as white, making Elon a predominantly white institution. Martinez-Jimenez said having organizations such as LHU, the Black Student Union and El Centro are important to campuses like Elon to ensure that its students feel like they belong here.

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NEWS 9/20/24 12:02am

Elon University common reading encourages students to save planet by uplifting people

By Nia Bedard

Leah Thomas, author of Elon University’s 2024 common reading book, “The Intersectional Environmentalist: How to Dismantle Systems of Oppression to Protect People + Planet,” spoke Sept. 19 in Alumni Gym as a part of Elon University’s speaker series. As the author of the 2024 common reading book, which analyzes how environmentalism and social injustices intersect, Thomas spoke to the audience about her decision to delve into environmental communications and what inspired her to write her book. 

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NEWS 9/19/24 10:43pm

Elon alumna highlights importance of food security in North Carolina

By Monika Jurevicius

Elon University alumna Yasmeen Lee ’20 spoke to the Elon community about “food equality” and the historical inequities of the North Carolina food system as part of the Data Nexus “Powerful Women in Data” series. The event in LaRose Commons on Sept. 19 highlighted Lee’s work with the Food Insight Group focused on qualitative community-based research that examined how diverse communities engage with food production. Data Nexus is part of Elon’s quality enhancement plan that focuses on data competency, according to program director Crista Arangala. The program educates students on data literacy, foundational statistical competency and advanced data competency.

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NEWS 9/19/24 4:01pm

Author of 2024 common reading emphasizes compassion in environmental movement

By Ryan Kupperman

Leah Thomas is the author of Elon University’s 2024 common reading book, “The Intersectional Environmentalist: How to Dismantle Systems of Oppression to Protect People + Planet.” As an environmentalist and self-proclaimed eco-communicator, her book analyzes the intersection between environmentalism and various social injustices. Elon News Network sat down with Thomas ahead of her common reading lecture scheduled for 7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 19 in Alumni Gym. According to Thomas, to be an intersectional environmentalist is to care about both people and the planet. Beyond the role of intersectional environmentalist, Thomas is also the founder of a non-profit organization of the same name.

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NEWS 9/19/24 12:07pm

First class of ABSS Dual Language Immersion program prepares to graduate college

By Nia Bedard

Alamance-Burlington School System’s first class of the Dual Language Immersion program is preparing to graduate college this spring. The program was instituted in some ABSS public schools through Participate Learning, an educational consulting firm focused on global education and primarily teaches students Spanish. Elon senior Annelise Weaver was a student in the Dual Language Immersion program at Elon Elementary after she and her family moved to Alamance County when she was in the first grade.

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LIFESTYLE 9/18/24 11:15pm

Ay! Jarabe Mexicano celebrates border life at Elon University

By Lilly Molina

“Ayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy!” Maracas shake and the guitarrón strums a tune. This might have been Jarabe Mexicano’s first time in North Carolina, but it got the crowd dancing Sept. 18 in McCrary Theatre. “Ay!” is a grito — or “rallying cry” — that originated in Mexican culture. It is often an interjection singers will say while singing and could be heard Wednesday night at Jarabe Mexicano’s performance. Jeff Clark, executive director of Cultural and Special Programs, was in charge of bringing the band to campus and said he was looking for more than just a mariachi band. 

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NEWS 9/18/24 10:39am

Elon’s faculty union launches petition

By Avery Sloan

Elon’s Faculty Union is looking to increase its visibility on campus — and looking for answers from the administration, Susan Ladd, union president, said. The lack of response from Elon’s administration and adjunct faculty’s names continuing to be left off of OnTrack during class registration has led the union to release a petition, open to all faculty, staff and students to sign. During class the class registration period, adjunct professors were listed as “Staff” on OnTrack for classes they knew they would be teaching. This was not a part of the union agreement and adjunct faculty were not aware this change would be coming.

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NEWS 9/18/24 8:07am

2024 Hispanic Heritage Month events calendar

By Elon News Network

Hispanic Heritage Month is celebrated nationally from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15 each year. El Centro — Elon University’s educational and cultural hub for engagement, collaboration, advocacy and more within the Latinx / Hispanic community — hosts a month-long celebration for the community to explore and engage with Latinx and Hispanic cultures. This time period marks the independence anniversaries of several Latin American nations, including Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua. Additionally, Mexico and Chile commemorate their independence on Sept. 16 and Sept. 18.

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SPORTS 9/17/24 11:08am

Elon senior faces off with hockey, academics

By Monika Jurevicius

High Point University women’s hockey captain and Elon senior Melanie Joy “MJ” Volpe had her biggest birthday surprise when she scored a hat trick that secured a 9-2 win against Virginia Tech University at the Atlantic Coast Collegiate Hockey League Championships. However, she said her dream would be to wear an Elon women’s hockey jersey, when in reality there is only a men’s club hockey team on campus. Elon alumna Grace Moroney and the High Point men's and women's coaches created the women’s team in the 2021-22 season with a majority of Elon students on its roster.

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NEWS 9/16/24 1:29pm

Jarabe Mexicano band brings border stories to life at Elon University

By Lilly Molina

Mexican folk, reggae, rock and roll and cumbia are some of the genres Jarabe Mexicano plans to play at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 18 in McCrary Theatre. At the heart of the performance, Jarabe Mexicano sings about their experiences of living at the border. Gustavo Alcoser, the lead singer, said there is a lot that goes on in their show, but at the core, it is their experiences at the border. Jarabe Mexicano visiting Elon’s campus is one of many events hosted for Hispanic Heritage Month which lasts from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15.

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OPINIONS 9/16/24 12:45pm

OPINION: Rediscovering Elon after studying abroad

By Halli Harwood

Hands down, studying abroad was the best experience of my entire life. I never knew I had the capacity to appreciate and miss the experience as much as I do. I had five months of absolute autonomy and a long list of life lessons that made my time in Australia freeing and full of growth. Elon is known for their study abroad programs and roughly 88% of students go abroad in some capacity before graduating. Yet, I had never heard other people discuss the challenges they faced when they returned.

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NEWS 9/15/24 1:35pm

SGA cracks down on a cappella funding

By Nia Bedard

A cappella organization Vital Signs is scrambling to find funding for events after no longer receiving usual allocation from Elon's Student Government Association. Aidan Coy, Vital Signs president, said the a cappella presidents were scheduled to meet with the SGA executive board on Sept. 6 to discuss this, but SGA canceled the meeting the day prior. Coy, along with all other a capella presidents, received an email from the SGA Executive Board on May 14 stating “the Student Government Association will no longer allocate funds to support events that require students to purchase tickets.”

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SPORTS 9/14/24 10:13pm

Elon University football falls to Western Carolina

By Miles Hayford

The Elon University football team lost its home opener 24-17 to Western Carolina University in a game defined by turnovers and mistakes. As the players ran onto the field, smoke trailing them, the excitement for the home opener Sept. 14 was palpable. A generous crowd had shown up to Rhodes Stadium. This crowd was rewarded early with some entertaining play. Elon started their first drive with a spark of trickery, employing an end-around rush by wide receiver senior Chandler Brayboy that resulted in 16 yards. Elon continues a four game home stretch, playing East Tennessee University next week.

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SPORTS 9/14/24 3:42pm

Former Elon volleyball player returns to coach

By Miles Hayford

The Elon volleyball team has a familiar face this year. Two years after leaving Elon with numerous accolades from her time on the volleyball team, Haylie Clark has returned to Elon’s campus as an assistant coach. During her time at Elon as a student-athlete, Clark played volleyball under head coach Mary Tendler from 2018-22. She earned many achievements during her time, including being named to the 2021 All-Coastal Athletic Association Second Team and the 2021 CAA Setter of the Year. She also racked up 349 kills, 879 digs, 142 blocks and 113 aces during her time at Elon.

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LIFESTYLE 9/14/24 11:35am

Hillsborough tattoo shop celebrates Friday the 13th with discounts

By Abigail Hobbs

With 56 people coming to get tattooed on Friday, Sept. 13, shop owner and tattoo artist Lillian — aka “Honeybadger” — said Friday the 13th specials started as a way to lean into the negative stereotypes that come with tattoos. Inkognito Tattoo Studio — a minority and woman-owned studio — offered $31 tattoos with $13 tips from a set of designs called flash. Elon juniors and roommates Ash Crouse and Brooke Boozer got their first tattoos at the event due to the discount. Inkognito will be hosting another Friday the 13th discount event Dec. 13.

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