Hurricane Florence Coverage

SPORTS 8/30/24 12:00am

Elon University football quarterback grows from adversity

By Miles Hayford

Matthew Downing, the starting quarterback for Elon University’s football team, said going into his seventh year has created a lot of doubt from others, but he remains steadfast in his decision to keep coming back to football. Downing’s seven year college football journey is not normal by any means. College football quarterbacks typically only get four years of eligibility. But Downing was plagued by a lack of playing time, injuries and playing through COVID-19. All three roadblocks provided a path for the NCAA to grant Downing more years of eligibility as his college career went on.

SPORTS 8/30/24 12:00am

Elon volleyball comes into season with new mindset, experience

By Miles Hayford

A reinvigorated Elon University women’s volleyball team will be stepping onto the court this season — hoping for a better result than last season. The team, led by head coach Mary Tendler, ended last season with a 5-22 record. With six new additions to the program last year, inexperience was one of many pitfalls the team faced throughout the season. The players’ inexperience in the tough environment of college athletics was clear with the team going 0-11 at away games. However, Tendler doesn’t think that will be as much of a problem since those freshmen will now have the experience needed to find success.

SPORTS 8/30/24 12:00am

Elon University men’s soccer looks to finish the job, win conference

By Miles Hayford

After losing in the Coastal Athletic Association Championship two times in the last three years and falling short in a penalty shootout in the CAA Tournament semifinals last year, the Elon University men’s soccer team is entering the 2024 season with a sense of determination. Head coach Marc Reeves said the team is aiming to finally win the CAA Tournament for the first time and get an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. Reeves said considering the small margins of college soccer, the team needs to maximize the strength of the players they’ve got and set them up to be successful.

SPORTS 8/30/24 12:00am

Defender Katie Lowe hopes to end collegiate career on high note

By Benjamin Berfield

Graduate student defender Katie Lowe had an opportunity to return to Elon University’s women’s soccer team for a fifth year after being granted another year of eligibility with COVID-19, and now Lowe wants to take advantage of the chance to suit up one more time. In her senior season, Lowe was named team captain and recently selected to her third Preseason All-CAA honorable mention team. However, Lowe said she feels like there’s still unfinished business. She cited last year’s 3-9 record as one reason why she’s coming back.  

NEWS 8/29/24 9:14am

Elon University installs naloxone stations as part of opioid harm reduction initiative

By Avery Sloan

This semester, naloxone boxes were placed around campus in each residential hall across campus. Narcan, the brand name for the drug naloxone, was placed in what’s called one boxes as a preventative measure in case any student overdoses from fentanyl or opioids. But, in the last 10 years there have been two suspected situations where naloxone was used — one off campus, one on campus — Joe LeMire, chief of Campus Police, said. Naloxone is a life saving drug that blocks the effects of opiates on the brain and restores breathing.

NEWS 8/28/24 10:20am

Interning Elon senior pushes community engagement

By Arti Jain

An internship for the town of Elon may not be the most obvious choice for Elon University senior Kai Whiteside, who is pursuing an English major with a focus in creative writing. But that’s exactly what he did this summer. Whiteside pursued the internship opportunity because of his previous experience with the town of Elon. In 2022, Whiteside and a group of Elon University students went before the town council to petition for the creation of a skate park. Since, they’ve received preliminary funding and hope to open the park in 2026.

NEWS 8/27/24 4:13pm

Elon Poll shows voter concern over fair, accurate election

By Abigail Hobbs

Less than half of North Carolina voters said they have confidence that the national vote count will be fair and accurate in the 2024 election, as found by a poll conducted by Elon Poll in partnership with The Charlotte Observer, The News & Observer and The Durham Herald-Sun. This is a major decrease from the 2020 poll, where 69% of voters were confident in the election process. Jason Husser, director of the Elon Poll, said the lack of confidence in the integrity of elections is a new phenomenon.

NEWS 8/27/24 2:52pm

West End Apartments discovers mold

By Fiona McAllister and Ryan Kupperman

Kelly Reis, owner and operator of Blue Kangaroo Packoutz of Greensboro, arrived at West End Apartments on Aug. 27 to clean and clear out an apartment experiencing a mold outbreak. West End Apartments are located just past MaGerk’s Pub on West Lebanon Avenue; the complex is owned by RedStone Property Management and is not affiliated with Elon University. Brandon Sowers, CEO of RedStone Property Management, refuted Reis’ statement — stating that the incident was not caused by the air conditioning being left on all summer, but rather by the system being used incorrectly.

NEWS 8/26/24 10:54pm

Elon Town Council passes noise ordinance change

By Nia Bedard

After previously hearing from Elon Chief of Police Kelly Blackwelder on July 16, the town council unanimously approved changes to the town’s noise ordinance. Now with the new approved changes, a noise violation is classified as a civil violation with progressively increasing fines starting at $100. If violations continue, the fine increases to $200 and then $300 if violations continue within a 12-month period. However, police officers can still charge someone with a misdemeanor for a noise ordinance violation. Mayor Pro Tem Monti Allison said he thinks this change will positively affect the Elon community.

LIFESTYLE 8/26/24 12:12pm

Elon University community built on decades of longstanding, emergent traditions

By Sarah T. Moore

Potential students learn about acorns, oak saplings, College Coffee and Numen Lumen during campus tours, but these aren’t the only traditions in which students, families, staff and faculty to participate in. While these traditions have changed over time — to stay relevant and accommodate a growing student population — these events and activities unite generations of Elon’s community, according to Jana Lynn Patterson, Traditions Council chair and dean of students.

LIFESTYLE 8/26/24 10:39am

‘A friend, a confidant, a mentor’

By Adelaide Kuzma and Alana Moss-Caldwell

The Rev. Bill Sharpe found his home in helping others. Sprawled through his life, including his time as Elon University’s first chaplain and counselor, is a constellation of those he inspired and the works he created. Sharpe died in January 2020 of cancer. Elon University created an archive of his collections in May of 2024 that include pieces of memorabilia he collected over the years such as photographs of staff members, letters, playbills and newspaper clippings. The collection itself was assembled by an archival student, Jasper Meyers ’24.

NEWS 8/24/24 1:12pm

Class of 2028 starts Elon journey with Convocation

By Nia Bedard

Caroline Staley’s education has always been rooted in tradition. After attending an all-girls, private school in Philadelphia, she was reminded of her love of tradition when she received her acorn at Elon University’s New Student Convocation on Aug. 24. During convocation, 1,624 freshmen and 75 transfer students took part in their first Elon tradition of receiving their acorns. Elon parent Jill O’Brien said she felt bittersweet about saying goodbye to her daughter,  while others — like parent Carolyn Williams —said the thought of their children being away from them hasn’t sunk in yet.

NEWS 8/23/24 10:09am

Faculty, students celebrate move-in day in Schar Center

By Alexa Citrin

Walking around and greeting families at the Schar Center is Vice President for Student Life Jon Dooley’s favorite part of the move in experience at Elon. The drive-through system, adopted during the COVID-19 pandemic, allows for Dooley to see the the new families — and their excitement — first-hand. — and their excitement — first-hand.

NEWS 8/23/24 8:47am

Elon University welcomes class of 2028

By Avery Sloan

Move-in day, Aug. 23, will begin with students arriving at the Schar Center and then moving into their neighborhoods. The new East Neighborhood Commons is opening and housing 90 students for the first time this semester and is the biggest new feature for move-in this year, said Owen Covington, university spokesperson.

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SPORTS 09/19/2026 10:42pm
Phoenix football rebounds against Sacred Heart Pioneers with 24-21 win

The Elon football team kicked off their Coastal Athletic Association home opener against the Sacred Heart University Pioneers on Sept. 19, bringing the fuel at Rhodes Stadium with new energy after last week’s loss against the University of Rhode Island. On the first defensive possession of the half, the Phoenix came out strong and only allowed the Pioneers five plays. As the Phoenix offense took the field, they couldn’t get anything going, leading to a three-and-out. The Pioneers hit the ground running on their second possession, getting all the way to Elon’s 20-yard line. Despite a false start by Sacred Heart graduate offensive lineman Tim Suk, the Phoenix couldn’t get momentum, leading to a touchdown by senior wide receiver Jason Palmieri.

LIFESTYLE 09/19/2026 1:00pm
Memories of cooking with family spark hands-on cooking class

Every Thursday morning in Colombia, the Montoya Posada family would gather in their grandma’s house. Over 20 people spending their time together and most importantly, cooking lunch. She said those memories are what inspired her to start El Centro’s in-person cooking classes called “Vamos a la Cocina,” meaning “Let’s go to the kitchen.”

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