International

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NEWS 8/7/25 5:40pm

Burlington breaks ground on Paramount Theater expansion

By Nia Bedard

After closing its doors in March 2025 to begin renovations, the city of Burlington celebrated breaking ground on the expansion of the Paramount Theater during a ceremony Aug. 7. “The project includes essential upgrades and replacements of the theater and stage equipment, ensuring that performances can be supported by modern, reliable technology,” Capital Project Manager for the city of Burlington, Fred Patrick said during the event. “At the same time, we are committed to preserving the theater's historic character.” The theater will also be expanding the front lobby, adding a second floor and adding a rooftop deck.

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SPORTS 8/6/25 3:27pm

Elon University Athletics sees record high transfer numbers

By Kathan Gandhi

A successful college sports team requires many things such as premier coaching, experienced leadership and quality team chemistry. But since 2018, a new factor has become essential to building a winning program. The transfer portal. Every school has been impacted by the rise of the transfer portal, including Elon University. Elon’s Athletic Director, Jennifer Strawley, said she has seen that impact first-hand. “College athletics is operating in a more transactional nature, nationally and holistically, as opposed to  more relationship and development-based.” In 2024, 24 student-athletes transferred from Elon athletic teams. In 2025, the number increased to at least 33, a program high.

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NEWS 7/30/25 8:24am

Elon University announces pause on hiring vacant faculty, staff positions for 2025-26

By Nia Bedard

Elon University President Connie Book announced in an email sent to all university faculty and staff on July 8 that Elon University will be pausing the hiring of vacant faculty and staff positions following a 6% decrease in new student enrollment. According to a statement to Elon News Network from Mike Haskins, Vice President of Communications and Marketing, hiring and budget managers will be evaluating open positions to determine if they need to be filled immediately or if the hiring process can be postponed.

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NEWS 7/28/25 7:17pm

N.C. House and Senate Republicans prepare to override Gov. Stein’s vetoes

By Abigail Hines

North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein’s 14 vetoes from this year’s legislative session could  be overridden by the North Carolina House of Representatives and Senate when the legislative bodies reconvene on July 29. The Senate and House would need to obtain a three-fifths vote from present and voting members in order to successfully override Stein’s vetoes. Currently, Republicans hold a three-fifths majority in the Senate. House Republicans gained a supermajority in April 2023 when Rep. Tricia Cotham, elected as a Democrat, switched parties during her term.

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NEWS 7/24/25 2:07pm

Elon students showcase summer research at annual SURE poster presentation

By Lilly Molina

On July 24 students participating in Elon University's Summer Undergraduate Research Forum. SURE is a high intensity research program that students can apply for where they spend a portion of the summer on campus working on their research project with a specific goal in mind. Elon University also holds a Spring Undergraduate Research Forum, for students to show off the research they have conducted throughout their time at Elon. While students who participate in SURF can spend a large portion of their time at Elon working on their research, students who participate in SURE spend eight weeks working on theirs.

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NEWS 7/19/25 8:47am

Elon University HealthEU center construction delayed by weather

By Evan Cooper

The HealthEU center has shifted its opening to fall of 2026 due to weather causing delays in construction. The center is being built on Elon University’s Innovation Quad, and was initially set to open in summer of 2026 when the project was announced in the spring of 2024. “We've had some significant wet weather this summer, so we're constantly adjusting the activities to compensate for weather delays,” David Haught, senior director for planning, design and construction management at Elon, said. Haught said the construction team is hoping to complete most underground work before move-in day for the class of 2029, Aug. 22, 2025.

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NEWS 7/15/25 10:15am

North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services reports one case of measles in NC: What to do

By Fiona McAllister

Measles cases in the United States have reached a record high since the disease was declared eliminated in the states in 2000. The recent outbreak shows the highest number of U.S. measles cases in 33 years. Similar to the mumps outbreak on campus in 2019, Dean of Student Health and Well-Being Jana Lynn Patterson said that the team was able to partner with facility services and provide vaccinations to students. “We organized and had a mass vaccine clinic on campus within two days,” Patterson said. “They went to the state and got the vaccines, and they brought their nurses over here and vaccinated hundreds of people.”

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NEWS 7/11/25 9:06am

Community efforts bring hope to central North Carolina after flood damage

By Anjolina Fantaroni

After Tropical Storm Chantal brought torrential downpours with seven inches of rain, 40-mile-per-hour winds and flooding to central North Carolina on July 6, communities in Alamance County and surrounding areas are in a state of emergency, including the City of Mebane, which is currently in a water shortage. Elon senior and Mebane resident Faith Almond said there are resources available to help those without water. “I know that there's a phone number that you can call, and people will deliver water to your door,” Almond said. “I think that's really good for people that maybe can't drive or can't go out to get water.”

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SPORTS 7/11/25 6:22am

Elon University athletic director outlines Phoenix Rising initiative

By Benjamin Berfield

When Elon Athletics released its new program initiative Phoenix Rising, it was with the intention of establishing a refreshed vision of the athletic program through a five-year strategic course plan. With elements such as name, image, and likeness, the transfer portal, and the House v. NCAA settlement ruling in favor of colleges to pay athletes, Phoenix Rising is an opportunity for Elon Athletics to become more innovative in their approach toward navigating the college athletics. “We have to bring it to life through the student athletes, coaches, and the people in our department, and engagement with the campus,” Athletic Director Jennifer Strawley said. 

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NEWS 7/8/25 7:27pm

Alamance County in Local State of Emergency following Tropical Storm Chantal

By Nia Bedard

Alamance County is now in a Local State of Emergency following storm damage caused by Tropical Storm Chantal on July 6. One person was confirmed to have in died in Alamance County due to the weather event, according to Alamance County Sheriff's Office. North Carolina Governor Josh Stein visited Alamance on July 8 to survey damage due to the storm. "Our hearts go out to the families who lost a loved one during the storm," Stein said during a press conference at Lake Michael Park in Mebane.

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NEWS 7/6/25 7:10pm

Alamance County recovers from floods following Tropical Storm Chantal

By Anjolina Fantaroni

On July 6 Tropical Storm Chantal made its way through central North Carolina, including Alamance County, flooding the county and leaving over five thousand homes across the county without power, according to Duke Energy. According to the National Weather Service will continue to lift north to Virginia, slowly weakening. The National Weather Service has issued a flood warning for the Haw River until July 8. “This may possibly be the worst flooding we have had in Town in decades,” Elon Mayor Emily Sharpe wrote in the statement to Elon News Network. “Our only goal is to keep everyone safe.”

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NEWS 7/5/25 5:38pm

Elon University releases spring 2025 violations for two fraternities

By Elon News Network

Elon University added Sigma Chi and Sigma Pi to its Student Organization Disciplinary Status page following the end of the spring semester. Both fraternities are members of Elon’s Interfraternity Council. Sigma Pi has been placed on disciplinary probation until Sep. 2 of this year following “reported behaviors of unauthorized consumption of alcohol at an unregistered event hosted by the organization,” according to the violation summary. According to the violation summary for Sigma Chi, anonymous reports of hazing were filed against the fraternity chapter, however those reports were not confirmed.

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SPORTS 7/5/25 2:02pm

Elon University athlete returns to his love of football

By Evan Bennett

It was 6 a.m. in a windowless basement gym tucked beneath a London student residence. While classmates slept upstairs, Tkai Wade lifted, ran and sweated in solitude. A week earlier, he’d made the Elon University football team. Now, across the Atlantic Ocean in the dead of winter, he refused to let the momentum slip. “It was definitely tiring the first few practices, confusing because I didn’t know the protocol,” Wade said. “But everybody was welcoming and they were genuine and they kind of gave me some time to acclimate.”

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NEWS 7/2/25 6:52pm

SNAP cuts loom as Congress passes President Trump’s budget bill

By Miles Hayford

U.S. Senate and House Republicans have passed President Trump’s tax and spending cuts package, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, that could cut food assistance benefits from 1.4 million North Carolinians, and Republican leaders in the House of Representatives are looking to pass it before President Trump’s self-imposed July 4 deadline. The bill would cut the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or Snap, which over 1.4 million North Carolinians rely on. Gov. Josh Stein also denounced the bill by writing to Congressional leadership, along with the 22 other Democratic governors, asking them to not cut SNAP.

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LIFESTYLE 7/1/25 12:30pm

Elon University Year of Service Fellows give back to Alamance County

By Ruby Burckle

Every year, six seniors at Elon University are chosen to participate in the Elon Year of Service Fellows Program; a post-grad opportunity allowing them to live and work in Alamance County, and give back to the community they lived in during the four years of their undergrad experience. “I feel like as an Elon student Alamance County gives us so much and I really liked the idea of being able to give back to the county that we live in for four years,” said Abby Lee, a 2025 fellow.

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NEWS 6/26/25 7:20pm

Four new Living-Learning Communities to open Fall 2025 at Elon University

By Evan Cooper

Elon University is opening four new Living-Learning Communities on campus in fall 2025. The new LLCs are Health Sciences, International House, Living with Data and Mi Casa. Health Sciences will be located in Russell B. Gill Hall, International House will be located in Trollinger House, Living with Data will be located in Staley Hall and Mi Casa will be located in Nan P. Perkins Hall. These LLCs will join Elon University's 23 other LLCs in the 2025-2026 year, bringing the total to 27 LLCs on campus.

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LIFESTYLE 6/23/25 8:29am

Elon University students submit album for Grammy consideration

By Anjolina Fantaroni

Elon University students Nailah Ware and Jax Bohnenberger turned their passion for R&B into a project during finals week, creating an album titled “J MAJOR.” Through working together and maintaining industry standard professionalism, they are submitting the album for Grammy consideration this fall. “We said, ‘Let’s do an album,’” Bohnenberger said. Ware is one of 16 students studying in Los Angeles through the Elon in LA program. She said that while working with Bohnenberger, she pushed herself to rap like never before, coming together to make the album cut through the noise — especially in divided times.

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NEWS 6/20/25 8:51am

U.S. DOJ sues NC Board of Elections after contested, split-ticket 2024 election

By Miles Hayford

The 2024 election in North Carolina saw the pattern of split-ticket voting, or when a voter chooses candidates from different political parties for different races on the same ballot, continue as fewer people voted Democrat for president than attorney general. “North Carolina was never as democratic as the other southern states were in the past, and today we're not as Republican as the other southern states are,” Western Carolina University political science and public affairs professor Christopher Cooper said. “We're this odd mix of this purple state that sits in this very red region."

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LIFESTYLE 6/19/25 11:07am

Piedmont Shakespeare Company brings audiences accessibility, understandability in production of “Hamlet”

By Megan Walsh

Local theatre organization, Piedmont Shakespeare Company, has begun its inaugural season, performing “Hamlet” across 6 locations throughout the Triad. Piedmont Shakespeare Company is a Shakespeare company that runs in the summer. The company was founded by two Elon University professors — Kim Shively and David McGraw — and a University of North Carolina School of the Arts professor, Carl Forsman. The company aims to bring performances of Shakespeare’s works to communities all over the Piedmont Triad for free. In February 2025, the company announced Hamlet as its first play to be performed in June 2025. 

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NEWS 6/18/25 3:43pm

“It’s not riots happening in LA”: Summer Study USA programs grapple with anti-ICE protests

By Fiona McAllister

Elon University students studying in Los Angeles, California are witnessing protests against Immigration Customs Enforcement errupt accross the city. Director of Elon Los Angeles Brad Lemack said that students’ safety is the program’s number one priority. The university program is located in Hollywood, California — almost six miles from LA. Lemack said that Hollywood has not been impacted by protests. In January, LA was hit with a string of wildfires. Lemack said the Elon Los Angeles program worked through the fires differently than the downtown LA protests, though still with the goal of keeping students safe. 

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