Letters to the Editor

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LIFESTYLE 6/3/25 3:42pm

Elon University graduated seniors move on after building connections through campus, local jobs

By Anjolina Fantaroni

As they prepared to walk the stage at commencement, several graduated seniors still logged hours on and off campus. From downtown Elon businesses to on-campus offices, many graduated seniors balanced academics with part-time employment in the final stretch of their college careers. Off campus, Elon’s downtown and its businesses rely heavily on student workers. For seniors, their final semester may have included academics, job applications, final projects and goodbyes — and for some seniors part-time employment. 

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NEWS 6/3/25 12:46am

Alamance County citizens voice thoughts on proposed county budget at County Commissioners meeting

By Nia Bedard

Firefighters, teachers and concerned citizens of Alamance County packed the historical courthouse in Graham during the County Commissioners meeting June 2 to voice their opinions about the proposed county budget for the 2025-26 fiscal year. County manager Heidi York presented the proposed budget outline for the county during the County Commissioners meeting May 19. The proposed budget included raising the county property tax rate by 1.59 cents; closing library branches of Graham, Mebane and North Park; cutting the budget for the Alamance Burlington School System by 19.7%; and cutting funding for emergency and rescue services in the county. 

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NEWS 5/31/25 5:09pm

Elon University Odyssey Scholars unite over termination of director

By Nia Bedard

On May 29, recent graduate Kai Whiteside and other recently graduated and current members of the Odyssey Scholars program received an email from Marcus Elliott, the former director of the Odyssey Scholars program, stating that he was terminated effective immediately the day prior. "It really started breaking me down," Recent graduate and former Odyssey Scholar Kai Whiteside '25 said. "Marcus Elliott was a person that kind of gave me an opportunity, and not just myself, hundreds and hundreds of kids he's brought into Elon to give them just degrees and opportunities and mentorship and all these wonderful things."

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NEWS 5/31/25 9:26am

Fulbright delays, funding freeze leave Elon University semifinalists uncertain about future

By Liya Rike

There were no Fulbright finalist announcements and clear information at Elon University’s annual celebration for students applying to fellowships, creating a tense atmosphere for the first time in years. It was a harsh reality for Nicole Galante, the assistant director of national and international fellowships. “Since the inauguration, it has been kind of turbulent in the fellowships world,” Galante said. “So many of the awards we work with are government-funded, like Fulbright, and in the midst of all of this uncertainty and changing in the government, students have been a casualty.”

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NEWS 5/30/25 7:48am

LinkedOut: Elon University students face uncertain job market

By Alex Nettles

Elon’s University’s class of 2025 confronts adulthood in a job market influenced with technological development and cautious hiring. Elon seniors graduate to a period of economic uncertainty with less job openings and more applications across most careers. Openings for jobs are down 15%, while applications per job are up 30%, according to a report by the job search website Handshake. The report indicates an environment of “heightened anxiety and competition,” and students applying at a higher rate than years before.

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NEWS 5/29/25 5:37pm

Elon University transitions to eduroam Wi-Fi network

By Charlotte Pfabe

Elon University Information Technology is rolling out a new option for Wi-Fi connection on campus – eduroam. Eduroam will fully replace elonu-secure as Elon’s primary Wi-Fi network by the end of the fall 2025 semester, according to Director of Campus Technology Support Rebecca Beck. “It's just an ease of access from both sides,” Beck said. “I can go anywhere that has an eduroam connection and log in with my Elon credentials, and then I know that I'm logging in securely and connecting to my whole network.”

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SPORTS 5/29/25 8:11am

Elon University football stars headed to NFL, chase dreams

By Miles Hayford

Following the National Football League Draft two of the six Elon University football players that declared were drafted into the NFL. Former Elon University running back Rushawn Baker chose to sign with the New York Giants. Former Elon University wide reciever Chandler Brayboy chose to sign with the Jacksonville Jaguars. Brayboy said he is excited to have fun playing in the NFL and fulfill his dreams of making the pros. “My dream of playing football, living out that dream, I think, is what I’m most excited for, and actually having fun within the game,” Brayboy said.

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NEWS 5/27/25 11:20pm

Elon Town Council denies permit for accessory dwelling, reviews potential traffic calming policy

By Nia Bedard

The Elon Town Council voted on a request for an accessory dwelling unit and reviewed a potential traffic calming policy during their meeting May 27. The council also reviewed a potential purchasing plan for replacing fire engines used by the town of Elon Fire Department and resolved to support the Eno-Haw Mitigation Plan. The council held its sixth closed session regarding the purchase of 112 Orange Drive. This is the location of Labcorp, a testing facility which provides laboratory services used for diagnoses and healthcare decisions.

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SPORTS 5/27/25 12:18pm

Elon University women’s track and field wins sixth CAA outdoor championship

By Benjamin Berfield

After coming up short the previous season, Elon University's women's track and field team won the 2025 CAA Championship by 25 points. They clinched the title with 147 points — 25 more than Hampton, who finished second. It is the sixth championship for the Phoenix in their ten league meets. Director of track and field and cross country Mark Elliston said he loved watching his players rally together. “It was really great to watch everyone feed off each other, knowing that we had the strength and that we were going to make a run at the championship,” Elliston said.

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NEWS 5/26/25 10:45am

6 Elon University faculty members retire

By Trista Panagakos , Megan Walsh and Ruby Burckle

With the 2024-25 academic year over, six Elon University faculty members are retiring. The retiring faculty members include Martin Fowler, Nancy Harris, Betty Garrison, Pieter Swanepoel, Joyce Davis and Mary Jo Festle. These faculty members have worked at Elon University teaching classes, sitting on committees and leading Winter Term trips. As the six retiring faculty members prepare to leave Elon University, they reminisced on their time at Elon Univeristy and how Elon has changed and shared their plans for their future. 

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NEWS 5/23/25 10:40pm

Elon University celebrates 135th Commencement

By Elon News Network

The class of 2025 graduated from Elon University and transitions from students to alumni as Commencement events come to a close. During the 135th annual Undergraduate Commencement student speaker Craig Brandstetter encourged members of the class of 2025 to break out of the "Elon Bubble" and start their next journey. “So class of 2025, let's not fear what's next. Let's not hesitate at the edge of the bubble,” Brandstetter said. “Instead, let's take a deep breath and step through. For it's not about leaving the bubble, it's what we carry through it. Here's to the bubble that held us and to the world that now awaits us.”

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NEWS 5/23/25 9:23pm

Elon University School of Business, School of Communications take the step from students to alumni

By Charlotte Pfabe

Graduating seniors from the Martha and Spencer Love School of Business and the School of Communications walked the stage and earned their diplomas during Elon University’s 135th Undergraduate Commencement May 23 at Schar Center. As the graduating seniors sat waiting to process into the ceremony, Durham spoke to the anxious students, connecting with them now as soon-to-be fellow alumni. “I hope, as Dr. Book said, you'll leave here with no regrets,” Durham said. “Because this place gets more special, believe it or not, it gets more special after you attend. Because we are a powerful core unit of people.”

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NEWS 5/23/25 8:57am

Elon University College of Arts and Sciences, School of Education, School of Health Sciences graduates walk into new chapter

By Charlotte Pfabe

Elon seniors are filling the Schar Center as they prepare to graduate during Elon University’s 135th Undergraduate Commencement May 23. The ceremony for Elon College, The College of Arts and Sciences, Dr. Jo Watts Williams School of Education and the School of Health Sciences will begin at 9 a.m. followed by the ceremony for the Martha and Spencer Love School of Business and the School of Communications at 2:30 p.m. Each ceremony will feature an address from University president Connie Book, elected class speaker Craig Brandsetter and Commencement speaker Wes Durham ‘88. 

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NEWS 5/23/25 8:19am

Elon University updates payment system

By Virginia Vance

Elon University’s e-billing system was updated as the 2024-25 school year comes to a close.Bursar Alessandra Gabriel said the update is meant to provide a more modern, user-friendly experience. “Payment plans are on a different portal. Statements are not real time, they’re manually uploaded, so they could be not as up to date with someone’s account activity that may be happening in real time,” Gabriel said. “So we knew it was time to modernize some things and give people access to what they were needing and wanting.”

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NEWS 5/22/25 9:57pm

Elon University’s Donning of the Kente ceremony celebrates graduates’ achievements, African legacy

By Miles Hayford

Cheering, drummers, dancers and heartfelt messages defined Elon University’s ninth annual Donning of the Kente ceremony on May 22. Donning of the Kente is a cultural ceremony designed to celebrate the achievements of graduating students with African roots. Each student receives a stole made of authentic, handmade kente cloth imported from West Africa. Randy Williams, Elon University vice president and associate provost for inclusive excellence, said that the ceremony’s goal is to uplift the graduates. “It is a reminder that blackness is not a deficit, but rather a deep well of faith and hope, of wisdom and joy, and of strength and power that benefits all people," Williams said.

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LIFESTYLE 5/22/25 8:53pm

Legacy Reception celebrates seniors with alumni relatives

By Megan Walsh

Seniors and their families gathered in McKinnon Hall May 22 to take part in the Legacy Reception, a celebration for students who have had a relative attend Elon before them. The Legacy Reception is meant to honor students who have a family member of any generation who attended Elon before them. As part of the reception, each student received an alumni pin, which was pinned on by one of the student’s family members. 

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NEWS 5/22/25 6:21pm

Hispanic and Latinx graduating students fly into their next chapter at ¡Celebremos!

By Nia Bedard

Eighteen graduating Hispanic and Latix students were celebrated for their accomplishments throughout their four years at Elon University and honored with a stole decorated with a monarch butterfly at ¡Celebremos!: Graduates Take Flight.  According to assistant director of the Center for Race, Ethnicity and Diversity, MJ Larrazabal, ¡Celebremos! is an opportunity to not only celebrate the graduating students but to also celebrate those who have helped them on their journey. “This meaningful event uplifts the rich diversity, resilience and the impact of Latinx Hispanic students as they prepare to take flight beyond Elon,” Larrazabal said during the ceremony. 

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LIFESTYLE 5/22/25 7:47am

Elon seniors toast to graduation at annual Senior Celebration

By Anjolina Fantaroni

Elon University seniors capped off the end of their final semester with a night of celebration, games, food and fireworks on May 21 at Rhodes Stadium during the annual Senior Celebration event. The festivities, which began at 6:30 p.m., featured free food, lawn games and the final gathering of seniors before Undergraduate Commencement on Friday, May 23. Senior Taylor Scott said the event made her feel like Elon is a family. “It’s something that I’m always going to remember,” Scott said.

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NEWS 5/21/25 11:22pm

Elon University Nursing Program celebrates inaugural cohort’s pinning ceremony

By Megan Walsh

Elon University’s Nursing Program celebrated its inaugural bachelor of science in nursing cohort’s nursing pinning ceremony on May 21 in McCrary Theatre. The cohort is the first to graduate from the undergraduate nursing program since its establishment in the fall of 2021. The program received its accreditation in February 2025. Senior nursing student Olivia Landolfo highlighted the challenges and experiences her cohort faced as the inaugural group. “We built the first committees and clubs, tested out academic schedules and clinical rotations and adapted to constant and significant change,” Landolfo said.

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NEWS 5/21/25 10:17pm

Elon University graduate students receive master’s degrees at commencement ceremony

By Miles Hayford

In a ceremony marked by the bestowing of hoods and diplomas given by Elon University president Connie Book, 85 students received their master’s degrees at Elon University’s graduate commencement ceremony May 21 in Alumni Gym. The ceremony honored graduates of Elon’s graduate programs within the Martha and Spencer Love School of Business and the Dr. Jo Watts Williams School of Education — Master of Arts in higher education, Master of Education in innovation, Master of Science in accounting, Master of Science in business analytics and Master of Business administration. 

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