Hurricane Florence Coverage

Elon business, locals collect emergency donations for Hurricane Helene survivors

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.

Elon football starting safeties evaluate productive start to season

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.

A cappella makes note-able mark on Elon culture

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.

Elon partners with Occaneechi Tribe for language revitalization course

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. 

Graham Cinema to show Halloween classics throughout October

“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.

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

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.”

North Carolina small towns rebuild after Hurricane Helene

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.

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

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.

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

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.

Elon University community reacts to Mark Robinson controversy

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.

Elon’s Chinese Club to host karaoke, game night

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.

Elon Jewish community prepares to celebrate Rosh Hashana 1 year after Hamas attack

Now almost one year after the start of the Israel-Hamas war, Rabbi Mendy Minkowitz — director of Elon Chabad — said he was initially concerned students would not want to participate in celebrating Rosh Hashana this year. But instead, Minkowitz said he noticed "a renaissance in Jewish pride" throughout the Elon community. Rosh Hashana is the celebration of the Jewish new year. This year, Rosh Hashana falls from Oct. 2 to 4. Throughout the rest of this week, Elon's Truitt has partnered with Elon Chabad and Hillel groups to host several events for students.

Alamance County Board of Commissioners candidates prioritize lowering taxes, funding education

The six candidates running for Alamance County's Board of Commissioners spoke at a forum held Oct. 1 at the Paramount Theater in Burlington. The board has six commissioners, with three seats open at this election. Two candidates, Democrat Pamela Tyler Thompson and Republican John Paisley Jr., are running for reelection and Democrat Carissa Graves, Democrat Chris Smith, Democrat Anthony Pierce and Republican Ed Priola are looking for a seat. The forum was hosted by Impact Alamance, Alamance Chamber and Elon University with support from the city of Burlington and Elon News Network.

Elon Votes hosts vice presidential debate watch party in Moseley Student Center

Elon Votes hosted a watch party for the vice presidential debate between Sen. JD Vance and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz on Oct. 1 in Moseley Student Center. Director of Outreach for Elon Votes and senior Allison Durand said she believes the organization can help to create a community on campus by providing a place for students to gather and talk about issues involving the election. Student turnout was only about half of the presidential debate watch party at around 50 — with many leaving before the end of the debate.

Elon alumna returns to campus to discuss career in politics

Elon University alumna Austin Moore ’22 returned to campus Oct. 1 as a part of the speaker series titled “Alumni Voices: Conversations with Political Insiders on the 2024 Elections.” The speaker series was organized by professor of political science Jill Auditori and professor of journalism Israel Balderas as a way to inform students about the upcoming 2024 elections. The first speaker in the series, Moore graduated with a bachelor’s degree in political science and international and global studies. She currently works as the deputy field director for Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Campbell’s campaign and decided to return to be a resource for current students.

Elon University men’s soccer falls to High Point in physical, defensive clash

In a Piedmont Triad showdown, the Elon University men’s soccer team lost in a physically demanding game to High Point University 1-0 on Oct. 1. Elon jumped off to an almost perfect start, entering the top 10 of Top Drawer Soccer’s national rankings for the first time since 2015. They are also currently ranked 17 in the United Soccer Coaches poll. Coming off the team’s first loss of the season after falling to Hofstra University on Sept. 28, Elon looked to bounce back from one of the first signs of adversity the team has faced this year.

Elon University to perform ‘Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead’

In preparation for the fall play, costume designer and junior Brooke Gustafson has been pulling pieces from Elon’s costume shop, Amazon and thrift stores. Elon’s performance of “Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead” draws inspiration from the play’s themes of absurdism by featuring costumes with both Elizabethan and contemporary styles. Showings will run from Oct. 4, 5, 7 and 8 at 7:30 p.m., as well as two matinees on Oct. 5 and 6 at 2 p.m. in Scott Studios. Tickets are available for $15 or free with an Elon ID.

Pennsylvania governor shows support for North Carolina Democrats

In an effort to rally supporters for Democrat candidates such as Josh Stein, Kamala Harris and Tim Walz, the Alamance County Democrats welcomed a special guest — Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro. Shapiro addressed the North Carolina Democrats on Sept. 29 at the Democratic headquarters in Burlington, emphasizing the urgency of active participation in the upcoming election. ACD volunteer Robert Shuford said it was exciting to see Shapiro talk to Alamance County citizens to help other Democratic candidates.

Candidates differ on budget plans at ABSS Board of Education candidate forum

Candidates at the Board of Education candidates forum agreed that the Alamance-Burlington School System needs to focus on students and help recoup its finances — but candidates differ on the best way to do that. The event, sponsored by Impact Alamance, Elon University and The Alamance Chamber — with support from Elon News Network and the city of Burlington — was Sept. 30 at the Paramount Theater in Burlington. Five out of the eight candidates were present at the forum, which was moderated by Ann Bullock, dean of the Dr. Jo Watts School of Education.

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