International

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NEWS 2/21/25 4:42pm

Elon prepares for federal DEI changes amid UNC repealing requirements

By Abigail Hobbs

A memo was sent out to all University of North Carolina system chancellors announcing that all course requirements related to diversity, equity and inclusion taught at UNC System schools are suspended on Feb. 5. President Donald Trump signed an executive order Jan. 21 titled “Ending Illegal Discrimination and Restoring Merit-Based Opportunity,” or Executive Order 14173, which requires removing all diversity, equity and inclusion programs and requirements from federally funded organizations. This includes all universities, public and private, that accept federal aid, which includes Elon University. 

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NEWS 2/21/25 3:37pm

Fellows programs double in applications; Scholarship Weekend is now 2 separate dates

By Fiona McAllister

As Scholarship Weekend, also known as Fellows Weekend, approaches Elon University has scheduled two separate weekends for potential fellows to come. The first Fellows Weekend will be Feb. 21 to 22 and the following is March 7 to 8. The changes made to the process resulted in having a separate application available in the Acorn Account after a student applied, making it available in the freshman application. New this year, the Fellows applications were embedded in the Common Application where students submit their general college applications.

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NEWS 2/21/25 1:37pm

Bird flu raises concerns for poultry industry, public health

By Charlotte Pfabe

Cases of bird flu around the nation are on the rise, hitting 28 states and Puerto Rico over the past 30 days. In just the first five days of February, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported over 20 outbreaks. In January, the CDC reported three outbreaks of bird flu in North Carolina. The outbreaks were reported in Hyde County and Sampson County. There have been no reported cases of bird flu in Alamance County. As of Feb. 20, over 162.7 million poultry birds have been impacted by the virus according to the CDC.

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SPORTS 2/20/25 11:27pm

Elon wins 69-63 thriller against top-ranked Towson

By Benjamin Berfield

The Elon University men’s basketball team defeated Towson in an exciting game that featured 10 ties and 14 lead changes. It was an impressive victory for the Phoenix who recently defeated University of North Carolina, Wilmington on the road. This marks consecutive wins for Elon over the CAA’s top two teams. The win improves Elon’s record to 17-11 which gives it the most wins in a season since the 2016-2017 season, when it won 18 games. Elon will play its final home game of the season against William & Mary at 7 p.m. Feb. 22 at Schar Center.

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NEWS 2/20/25 6:14pm

Elon to resume normal class schedule, campus operations after winter storm

By Charlotte Pfabe

Elon University will resume normal campus operations and class schedules on Friday, Feb. 21 according to an email from Vice President for Student Life Jon Dooley. This latest update comes after disruptions to Elon’s campus operations due to a winter storm that initially hit campus on Wednesday, Feb. 19. In the email, Dooley said Elon Facilities Management will continue to address any on-campus impact from the storm, and advised students, faculty and staff to exercise caution while driving or walking across campus. Dooley wrote that Elon expects this most recent update to be the last for this storm.

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NEWS 2/20/25 4:15pm

Burlington resident dead after fatal 53 vehicle collision, adds to snow-related wrecks

By Fiona McAllister

Blankets of snow have piled up all over Alamance County, flown in by a winter storm on Wednesday. This weather has caused a string of vehicle collisions near the I-40 and I-85 split. Approximately 50 vehicles were reported piled up at this interstate split, leaving one person dead and multiple others with non-life threatening injuries. North Carolina State Highway Patrol said the deadly crash was caused by a tractor-trailer colliding with another vehicle from behind.

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NEWS 2/20/25 4:12pm

Elon hit with partial power, Wi-Fi outage

By Charlotte Pfabe

Elon University is experiencing a partial campus-wide power and Wi-Fi outage affecting the east side of campus including buildings near Danieley and East neighborhoods, as well as Crest. According to Duke Energy, the outage was first reported at 3:15 p.m. Feb. 20, and power is expected to be restored by 10:30 p.m. The outage has impacted traffic lights at Oak Avenue and Haggard Avenue to stop working, according to an E-Alert. This area should be treated as a three way stop for all traffic, according to an Elon University E-alert. 

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SPORTS 2/20/25 12:13pm

Men’s basketball looks to finish season strong amid recent struggles, injury of leading scorer

By Miles Hayford

Going into its final four games of the season, the Elon men’s basketball team is looking to shake off a late-season skid and capitalize off a massive road win over the University of North Carolina, Wilmington and enter the conference tournament strong. The team has entered a rough patch as of late, losing six of its last nine games, including a recent three game losing streak. The streak was just broken with a monumental bounce-back win over UNCW. Elon has had one of its best seasons in many years, winning 16 games — the most since the 2015-16 season. 

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NEWS 2/20/25 10:41am

Elon University cancels classes on Thursday due to snow, ice

By Charlotte Pfabe

After delaying classes until noon on Thursday, Elon University has cancelled classes for the day due to snow and ice. In an email sent out to students Thursday morning, Vice President for Student Life Jon Dooley wrote Elon University classes are cancelled for Elon, Greensboro and Charlotte campus locations on Thursday, Feb. 20. Students should check with individual professors for additional class updates. Dooley wrote Facilities Management will continue to clear and maintain sidewalks, parking lots, and roadways around campus. 

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NEWS 2/19/25 10:38pm

Elon University delays opening on Thursday to noon

By Charlotte Pfabe

In an email sent out to students Wednesday evening, Vice President for Student Life Jon Dooley wrote Elon University’s opening was delayed to noon for Elon and Greensboro campus locations tomorrow, Thursday, Feb. 20. Dooley wrote Facilities Management will continue to clear and maintain sidewalks, parking lots and roadways around campus, however with temperatures dropping overnight, roads and sidewalks could still be icy and slippery. Dooley shared a delayed start schedule in the email which shows adjusted class times. According to the revised schedule, students with back-to-back classes have five minutes in between class periods. 

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NEWS 2/19/25 9:41pm

Photo gallery: Winter storm hits Elon's campus

By Elon News Network

After cancelling classes scheduled past noon and closing many university offices in preparation for an anticipated winter storm, Elon University's campus was dusted with snow on Wednesday, Feb. 19. A winter weather advisory was issued by the United States National Weather Service starting Wednesday morning and staying in effect until 1 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 20. According to AccuWeather, Thursday will bring winds and a high of 36 degrees Fahrenheit with clouds breaking in the morning. However, roads may still be icy and slick on Thursday as the temperatures drop into the low 20s Wednesday evening and into the morning. 

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NEWS 2/19/25 2:41pm

Snow blankets Elon’s campus as winter storm passes over

By Charlotte Pfabe

A white blanket of snow is covering Elon University’s campus as an anticipated winter storm reached North Carolina on Wednesday afternoon, Feb. 19. The snow is expected to continue through the afternoon and into the evening around 11 p.m. according to AccuWeather. Elon is predicted to receive around one to three inches of snow during the day with one to two inches this evening. Alamance County is under a winter weather advisory issued Feb. 19 at 10:35 a.m. Areas of central North Carolina are expected to get hit hardest by the storm, with three to four inches of snow anticipated.

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LIFESTYLE 2/18/25 8:31pm

’Health and Healing’ promotes health through intentional eating, cooking

By Monika Jurevicius

Elon community members sat around El Centro’s kitchen island for the Black History Month “Health and Healing” event Feb. 17. The Center for Race, Ethnicity and Diversity Education hosted the event with Elon Counseling Services to open the space to promote intentional eating habits with balanced meals. CREDE student coordinators facilitated the event by making “hidden” veggie mac and cheese, quinoa popcorn chicken and chocolate zucchini bread, while having discussions about health and wellbeing on campus. This was the CREDE’s fourth event in their Black History Month Calendar.

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NEWS 2/18/25 4:50pm

Elon University to close at noon, ABSS to close all day Wednesday due to incoming weather

By Nia Bedard

An email sent out to all undergraduate and graduate students by Vice President for Student Life Jon Dooley stated all classes scheduled to start after noon Feb. 19 will not meet in-person due to potential incoming weather. For classes scheduled after noon, Dooley suggests that students check with their instructors for information on alternative class plans. Despite the closure of classes and university offices after noon, morning classes will still be meeting in person. Dooley also stated that another update will be sent out to students by 6 p.m. Feb. 19.

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LIFESTYLE 2/18/25 1:34pm

Rising rent prices force Persnickety Books to relocate

By Abigail Hines

Persnickety Books is leaving downtown Burlington and moving into a new location due to an increase in rent cost, according to co-owner of Persnickety Books Ian Baltutis. Persnickety Books will be temporarily closing at the end of this week and plans to reopen by the beginning of March. Baltutis purchased Persnickety Books in 2019 from its former owners. The new store, located at 703 E Davis St., is “comparable” in size to the space they’re in now but has a much different layout. Baltutis said he’s excited to see how Persnickety will change with the new space. 

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SPORTS 2/16/25 6:44pm

Elon falls to Campbell due to poor shooting, rebounding struggles

By Lilly Molina

All eyes are on junior Hannah Dereje as she shoots the ball with mere seconds on the clock. As the buzzer goes off the ball lands in the middle of the net and the crowd goes wild. A 1000-watt smile grows on Dereje’s face as players circle her with cheers. This was the tone Elon set in the first quarter going against Campell on Feb. 16. A team known for its defense, Campbell brought angst to the game, but it underestimated the ability for the Phoenix to bring that same fire.

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LIFESTYLE 2/15/25 2:45pm

Late Night Elon hosts Stuffed with Love event to close out Valentine's Day

By Alannah Klingsporn

Students packed Moseley Center on Feb.14 as Late Night Elon celebrated Valentine's Day with "Stuffed with Love." Briston Witt, a coordinator of Student Involvement who organizes Late Night Elon events, said the event was meant to bring people together for the holiday."As cliche as it sounds, I do think all we need is love. I think when you get back to the core of that, that is what is most important," Witt said. "I just wanted to create a space where students can come and celebrate that."

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LIFESTYLE 2/14/25 5:27pm

Elon University Truitt Center to host Ripple Conference, engage attendees through interfaith work

By Trista Panagakos

Elon University will be hosting the Ripple Conference, an annual interfaith and spirituality conference that includes people from across the country to meet in small breakout groups, hear from a keynote speaker and panel, and work on an art and service project. The conference will be held from Feb. 21 to 23, is the largest interfaith conference in the southeast and this will be its tenth year. This year the theme of the conference is the art of interfaith. This theme will explore the ways art is used by faith and religious communities and how that unifies the different spiritual communities.

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SPORTS 2/13/25 11:33pm

Elon University men’s basketball upset by North Carolina A&T, loses by 1 point

By Lilly Molina

The Elon University men’s basketball team fell to North Carolina A&T 60-59 on Feb. 13. The team left the game hurt with head coach Billy Taylor saying one of the reasons they lost was due to passive play. This is Elon’s third consecutive loss after losing to Charleston in overtime last week. Senior Sam Sherry played under the weather, and sophomore Nick Dorn was not present at the game due to a lower extremity injury. Taylor said they have a lot to figure out and will keep working toward ending the season strong. 

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NEWS 2/13/25 1:07pm

Q&A: Search committee for new dean of students plans to interview candidates in March or April

By Nia Bedard

Jana Lynn Patterson arrived at Elon University in 1986, originally as an assistant professor and the assistant dean of student affairs. Patterson has taken on many roles throughout her career including assistant vice president for Student Life, associate dean of students and dean of student health and wellness. Patterson has worked at Elon University for 39 years and serves as associate vice president for Student Life and dean of students. She announced she will be leaving the role as dean of students at the end of the year and retiring in September 2026, but will oversee the development of HealthEU.

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