Hurricane Florence Coverage

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LIFESTYLE 4/11/24 4:11pm

Elon Performing Arts presents Shakespeare’s “As You Like It” for spring play

By Nia Bedard

Elon University’s performing arts department presents William Shakespeare’s comedy, “As You Like It” for the main stage spring play from April 11 to 13. “As You Like It” will be performed in McCrary Theater in the Center for the Arts on April 11 and April 12 at 7:30 p.m. and on April 13 at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $15 or free with an Elon ID and can be purchased on Elon’s ticketing website. When deciding on productions for the 2023-24 season, director and Elon professor Kevin Ortos advocated the play to the season selection committee.

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NEWS 4/11/24 1:38pm

Elon University receives “A” from ADL on protecting students against antisemitism

By Nia Bedard and Avery Sloan

Elon University was one of only two schools to receive an “A” from the Anti-Defamation League, based on policies protecting Jewish students from antisemitism on campus, Jewish student life and other factors. The report was released on April 11 and graded 85 universities and colleges in the United States. Thirteen schools received an “F,” including University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. The ADL focused on how Elon provided opportunities for students and faculty to learn about the Hamas’ attack following Oct. 7, 2023. As of the spring 2024 semester, 9.2% of Elon’s total student body population is Jewish.

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LIFESTYLE 4/11/24 12:35pm

Elon University Percussion Ensemble examines music from international composers

By Ruth Cruz

The Percussion Ensemble Spring Concert explored a beautiful mix of sounds from around the world. Students performed a variety of music from international composers on April 10 in Yeager Recital Hall. The Percussion instruments included rattles, cymbals, gongs, hand drums, shakers, marimbas and more. Ensemble director and music instructor Isaac Pyatt focused on the complexities of sound from various instruments to create harmony. He said a talented musician can alter any object to create beautiful melodies. Pyatt said he hopes he can transform student experiences and enhance their musical journey through percussion instruments.

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NEWS 4/11/24 12:03pm

Campus police responds to reports of suspicious person; declares no danger to Elon University community

By Ryan Kupperman

Elon University Campus Police responded to reports of a suspicious person on campus; the individual was a male, non-student who had tried to make contact with an Elon student he had met online, according to an E-Alert sent by Chief of Campus Safety and Police Joe LeMire around 11:30 a.m. on April 11. Elon Campus Police contacted the Elon student, who was reportedly concerned for their safety, and the individual was investigated by the police, instructed not to return to campus or contact the Elon student again and was issued a written, trespass warning.

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NEWS 4/11/24 11:06am

Early Spring Break presents problem for Elon University Catholics

By Miles Hayford

This year April 1 was Easter Monday, a holiday that marks the second day of Easter celebrations for many Christians. Typically, this has been a day that Elon students have had off in the past because Spring Break was usually scheduled earlier in March. However, with Easter Monday taking place directly after Spring Break this year, it was not counted as a day off. Because of this many students had to travel back to campus on Easter. This affected the Catholic community at Elon, in particular members of CCM.

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SPORTS 4/10/24 8:51pm

Elon University men’s basketball star transfers to University of Portland

By Miles Hayford

Elon University men’s basketball star player sophomore Max Mackinnon announced that he is transferring to the University of Portland in an Instagram post on April 9. After entering the transfer portal in March, Mackinnon found a new home in the Pilots’ basketball squad — who finished this season with a record of 12-21. Mackinnon will be leaving a Phoenix squad that finished the season with a slightly better record of 13-21. Elon will now look to the team’s leader in points per game last year, sophomore TK Simpkins, to spearhead the team’s efforts moving forward.

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SPORTS 4/10/24 10:53am

Elon University Dance Team prepares for nationals

By Rachel Holley

The Elon University Dance Team is making its way to compete in Nationals at the National Dance Alliance in Daytona, Florida. The team won first place in 2022 in the Hip Hop division, yet in 2023 placed second. The team hopes to rank at the top for the Hip Hop and Pom Divisions this year. All teams will compete in preliminary rounds of performances and the top 60% will move on to finals. The team will compete this week April 11 to 13 in Daytona, Florida, and the performances will be live-streamed on the Varsity website.

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NEWS 4/9/24 10:18pm

Elon Town Council permanently extends social district boundaries

By Aidan Powley

Elon’s Town Council hosted their first meeting of April, where they unanimously decided on the permanent extension of the social district boundaries. The decision added North Holt Avenue and West College Avenue to the footprint of the social district, allowing patrons to utilize the Holt Avenue green space as a location to enjoy alcoholic beverages. It also opens the sidewalks up as a means of travel from North Holt Avenue to West College Avenue. The town council will meet next on Monday, April 15 to debate the 2025 proposed budget.

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NEWS 4/9/24 7:48pm

Elon Town Council to debate potential 7.4% increase for personnel on proposed 2025 budget

By Emilio Nunez

Rising personnel costs dominate Elon town manager’s proposed $10.9 million fiscal year 2025 budget, which the town council plans to debate during a work session April 15. Though the overall budget is up only 2% from last year, town manager Richard Roedner is proposing a 7.4% increase in personnel costs. Elon’s $2.4 million police personnel budget would stay flat under the proposal. The town’s total personnel budget would increase by $462,315 to $6.7 million. Mayor Emily Sharpe said one of the main topics for the council to discuss was opening new proposed positions for different departments.

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LIFESTYLE 4/9/24 10:43am

Grand Night features student-produced music theater, emotional senior send-off

By Katharyn MacDonald

In four sold-out shows of song, dance and looking back on college journeys, Bachelor of Fine Arts in Music Theatre students performed together in Grand Night — a collage of performances that showcased the program’s talents — on April 5 and 6 in Elon University’s Roberts Studio Theatre. Students directed, music directed and choreographed 15 numbers across many genres. Caroline Borio, assistant student director and senior performer, said everyone always looks forward to doing their senior class number. Assistant Professor of Music Theatre Courtney Liu, who managed Grand Night with Guest Instructor Jane Lanier, called it a “real tear-jerker.”

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NEWS 4/8/24 9:24pm

Martha and Spencer Love School of Business Dean announces departure

By Lilly Molina

Martha and Spencer Love School of Business Dean Raghu Tadepalli has announced his departure from deanship after 12 years in the role. His deanship will conclude after the 2024-25 academic year and the university will begin its search for a replacement in fall 2024. This is the sixth senior staff member to leave their position within the past two years. Despite his departure from this role, Tadepalli will be returning in the 2026-27 academic year after a yearlong sabbatical to serve as dean emeritus and special assistant to Elon University President Connie Book.

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NEWS 4/8/24 7:50pm

Partial eclipse passes over Elon

By Joseph Navin

On the afternoon of April 8, a rare total solar eclipse – referred to by some as the “Great North American Eclipse” — traveled over parts of Mexico, the United States and Canada – blanketing parts of North America located in the “path of totality” in a brief period of darkness. While Elon and central North Carolina were not situated in the area for the total eclipse, the region did experience a partial eclipse. The Elon University Physics Department held an eclipse watching event at the Innovation Quad between 2 and 4 p.m., where roughly 500 people showed up at the moment of partial totality.

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LIFESTYLE 4/6/24 11:05am

Holi celebration educates students about Hindu culture, spreads awareness for diverse religions

By Ruth Cruz

Elon University’s Truitt Center celebrated the end of winter and the warmth of spring with the Holi Festival of Colors at Speaker’s Corner on April 5. Holi represents hope and new beginnings in the Hindu culture. The spring festival includes colored powder — or gulal — or colored water. Holi aims to commemorate connection and companionship, as well as bring the community together to acknowledge diverse cultures. The festival also teaches students about India, Hinduism, and traditional stories reflected in the celebration. University Chaplain and Dean of Multifaith Engagement Kirstin Boswell encourages students to participate in these events, which offer opportunities to learn about diverse cultures.

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NEWS 4/5/24 7:03pm

Habitat for Humanity CEO speaks at Elon’s James P. Elder lecture

By Reagan Sizemore

Jonathan Reckford, CEO of Habitat for Humanity International, spoke about his journey to becoming one of the most influential nonprofit leaders in America during the 2024 James P. Elder Lecture. On Thursday, April 4, Reckford gave his lecture to roughly 150 Elon alumni, faculty, staff, students and Alamance County community members in Whitley Auditorium. In a Q&A-style interview, Reckford discussed the success of Habitat for Humanity. The nonprofit operates in more than 70 countries and is responsible for helping over 13 million people in the last year have access to affordable shelter.

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NEWS 4/4/24 11:13pm

Elon Farmers Market returns for 2024 season

By Jordyn Forni

The Elon Farmers Market launched for the first time this season on April 4 and will be open every Thursday from 3 to 6 p.m. until Oct. 31. Almost all of the previous vendors will be returning for the new season and attendees can expect up to 25 vendors in total, according to Market Manager Sarah Bass. This includes a handful of new vendors as well. Bass also said the majority of both new and returning vendors are sourcing their products locally or from just outside Alamance County.

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NEWS 4/4/24 9:33pm

Following Jackson Yelle’s death, father returns to campus and raises money for MLB cause

By Avery Sloan

A year after Elon junior Jackson Yelle was killed in a hit-and-run on a beach trip with his club baseball team, his father Scott Yelle honors his son’s memory through the Jackson Yelle Family Foundation and stays in close contact with the rest of the team. Scott came to Elon sporting Jackson’s worn baseball hat and a Boston Red Sox shirt with “Yelle” on the back — along with Jackson’s No. 2. Scott came to Elon on April 4 to watch a club baseball practice and visit with Jackson’s friends, who have meant so much to him and his family.

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NEWS 4/4/24 5:03pm

Alamance County Sheriff's Office announces suspect in 45-year-old murder case

By Joseph Navin

During a press conference held in Graham on April 4, an emotional Terry Johnson — Alamance County sheriff — announced that authorities found the suspect in the 1979 murder of then 20-year-old Tammy Aldridge. The suspect in the case was Gary Lane Laframboise, who died in 2020 in South Carolina. While the Alamance County Sheriff's Office has identified the subject, they do not know if he acted alone. Another individual was originally charged for her murder, but was found not guilty. Relatives of Aldridge attended the event, but declined Elon News Network’s request for comment.

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NEWS 4/3/24 9:00pm

Elon University launches Asian Pacific Islander Heritage Month

By Lilly Molina

George Dou, assistant director for the Center of Race Ethnicity Diversity Education, said that the first time he got to explore his Asian roots was during Asian Pacific Islander Heritage Month. Though API Heritage Month is typically celebrated in May, Elon changed the month to April to avoid conflicting with exams and have the opportunity to celebrate it fully. Dou and others within CREDE organized the kick-off event on April 3 at Medallion Plaza. This is the second annual kickoff and Dou said he hopes that API students get a chance to further explore their identities.

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SPORTS 4/2/24 3:58pm

Elon University men’s basketball stars enter transfer portal

By Miles Hayford

Elon University men’s basketball star players sophomores Max Mackinnon and LA Pratt have officially entered the transfer portal. Though this development does not guarantee that they will leave Elon, it grants a release so that other schools are allowed to contact them about playing for their team next season. If both Mackinnon and Pratt were to leave Elon, the Phoenix would be facing a big loss to their offense. In the 2023-24 season, Mackinnon was second-leading scorer with 12.1 points per game. Pratt was also an impactful presence on the floor with 6.9 points, 2.9 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game.

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NEWS 4/1/24 5:35pm

Elon University Asian Pacific Islander Heritage Month Calendar

By Elon News Network

April 1 marks the beginning of Asian Pacific Islander Heritage Month and Elon’s Center for Race Ethnicity Diversity Education has prepared several events to educate students. This year’s theme is “Identities in bloom, Identities take root” which is meant to spread awareness on API students building communities and forging their own path on Elon’s campus. Other organizations such as the Asian-Pacific Student Association, Chinese Club and Kappa Phi Lambda Sorority, Inc. are also hosting events. The kickoff event will take place at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, April 3 at Medallion Plaza.

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