Letters to the Editor

---

LIFESTYLE 9/27/25 10:37am

Elon University receives honorable mention from Playbill magazine

By Mia Torres

Earlier this year, Elon University’s Department of Performing Arts was ranked 23rd on a list of world’s best drama schools for 2025. Now, it has another accomplishment to add to its repertoire. Playbill, a world-renowned theatre magazine, recognized Elon for having over 20 alumni currently on Broadway. It was joined on this list by New York University, Yale and Juilliard. Playbill states Elon is one of a “few honorable mentions that just barely missed making the top 10.” The magazine analyzed Broadway actors from 2024 to 2025, including where they attended college. 

---

SPORTS 9/26/25 11:57pm

Elon men’s soccer battles against Campbell to scoreless draw in physical, gritty match

By Shaan Gandhi

On a night where space was scarce and chances even rarer, Elon University and Campbell University men’s soccer fought to a 0-0 draw in a tense affair at Rudd Field under the lights Sept. 26. Despite the lack of goals, Elon’s defensive solidity remained a bright spot. The Phoenix has conceded just three goals through its first nine matches. “I don’t think we gave up much tonight,” head coach Marc Reeves said. “That’s where you want to be — hard to beat.” 

---

NEWS 9/26/25 9:51pm

La atleta olímpica Katie Ledecky comparte su historia y consejos durante la Convocatoria de Otoño de Elon

By Megan Walsh

Desde su debut olímpico a los 15 años hasta alcanzar la mayor cantidad de medallas de oro entre las nadadoras del mundo, Katie Ledecky compartió su historia y sabiduría con el público de la Universidad de Elon durante la Convocatoria de Otoño el 26 de septiembre. "Sé que habrá días buenos y días malos, ya sea en el entrenamiento, las carreras o cualquier otra cosa", declaró Ledecky en una entrevista con Elon News Network. "Puede que haya pequeños obstáculos en el camino, pero creo que confiar en el proceso, confiar en mis entrenadores y, a veces, confiar en mí misma, han sido los aspectos más importantes".

---

NEWS 9/26/25 9:50pm

Olympian Katie Ledecky shares her story, advice during Elon’s Fall Convocation

By Megan Walsh

From making her Olympic debut at age 15 to holding the most gold medals of a female swimmer in the world, Katie Ledecky shared her story and wisdom with audiences at Elon University during Fall Convocation on Sept. 26. “I know that there are going to be good days and they're going to be bad days, whether that's with training or racing or just anything,” Ledecky said in an interview with Elon News Network. “There could be little roadblocks along the way, but I think trusting the process, trusting my coaches, trusting myself at times, I think those have been the biggest things.”

---

LIFESTYLE 9/26/25 12:32pm

‘I don’t fit in, but I’ll find my home everywhere’: where LGBTQ+, Latine identities intersect

By Nia Bedard

Elon University English professor Meleena Gil, who identifies as a queer non-binary Latinx person, has found that being in the South and in North Carolina has allowed people within those identities to find ways to build community and protect each other. Gil has also found those outside those identities who also support people within them find ways to do the same. “Being in North Carolina — we are in the South — there’s something really beautiful about the ways that people have been taking it upon themselves to educate themselves and educate each other on what is effective allyship,” Gil said. “How do we take care of each other, protect each other? How do we circumvent police force?

---

LIFESTYLE 9/26/25 12:32pm

‘No encajo, pero encontraré mi hogar en todos lados’: donde se cruzan las identidades LGBTQ+ y latine

By Nia Bedard

Meleena Gil, profesora de inglés de la Universidad de Elon y quien se identifica como una persona latina queer no binaria, ha descubierto que vivir en el sur y en Carolina del Norte ha permitido a las personas con esas identidades encontrar maneras de construir comunidad y protegerse mutuamente. Gil también ha descubierto que quienes no pertenecen a esas identidades y que también apoyan a quienes pertenecen a ellas encuentran maneras de hacer lo mismo. "Estando en Carolina del Norte —estamos en el sur— hay algo realmente hermoso en la forma en que las personas se han encargado de educarse y educarse mutuamente sobre lo que es una alianza efectiva", dijo Gil. "¿Cómo nos cuidamos y nos protegemos mutuamente? ¿Cómo evadimos a la policía?

---

OPINIONS 9/26/25 8:51am

OPINION: The Elon Empire: Why the Queens University merger shows deeper problems

By Alex Nettles

History is paved with confusing announcements. Elon University broke national news when it announced a merger with Queens University of Charlotte on Sept. 16. Both boards of trustees approved the motion unanimously, but the general alumni and student body had little time to digest before the announcement. The Queens-Elon merger shows Elon's overconfidence in its geographic fixation. Elon uses strange terms to define success. We build new buildings and acquire instead of focusing on the endowment. Welcome to the Elon Empire. The motherland of the bird is expanding.

---

SPORTS 9/24/25 10:29pm

Elon volleyball sweeps sets to win 3rd straight match

By Benjamin Berfield

The Elon University volleyball team capped off their three-game homestand with its third straight victory over North Carolina Central University. Like the previous two matchups, Elon won in three straight sets, which now marks nine consecutive sets the team has won. Offensively, the Phoenix were efficient tallying 39 kills in all three sets, 12 more than NC Central. “Every hitter that’s on our floor has the ability to score at any moment,” head coach Matt Troy said. “It’s finding where we can get the one-on-one, or where we can take advantage with our speed when we’re in transition play.”

---

NEWS 9/24/25 9:22pm

Elon University publishes annual security, fire safety report

By Fiona McAllister and Nia Bedard

Elon University released its annual security and fire safety report on Sept. 24 in compliance with the Crime Awareness and Campus Security Act of 1990. This act requires that any institutions that participate in any student financial aid programs within Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 must disclose campus crime statistics and security information. The report includes crime that occurred on campus and within buildings owned by Elon, and includes data from 2022 to 2024. The report showed a 93.3% decrease in cases of rape and a 64.4% decrease in drug violations.

---

NEWS 9/24/25 6:56pm

Elon’s Student Government Association helps fund HealthEU rock wall

By Fiona McAllister

As Elon University's new HealthEU building is growing from the ground up, Elon’s Student Government Association lended a huge helping hand in making it happen: $250,000 to be exact. A record signed on March 13, 2025, states that the Vice President of Student Life, Jon Dooley, approached SGA asking for funds to contribute to the rock wall that will go into HealthEU. SGA offered to match a $250,000 donation to total a donation of $500,000. In this record, it states that Dooley would honor this commitment by permanently naming an area of the HealthEU building for SGA. 

---

NEWS 9/24/25 6:22pm

Elon Q&A surpasses 1-year goals

By Evan Cooper

Over a year after Elon University launched the artificial intelligence platform “Elon Q&A,” the service is still connecting Elon students and faculty to Elon alumni, fostering connections and allowing alumni to give back to their alma mater. Kendra Haskins, senior director of Alumni Engagement, said the platform is kept simplistic to allow for easy access. “We went specifically looking for something that didn’t require anything,” Haskins said. “You don’t need to download anything, you don’t need to log in. You just go to the platform and ask your question, and the AI will find the alumni with the expertise to respond.”

---

NEWS 9/24/25 6:21pm

Elon Q&A supera las metas de un año

By Evan Cooper

Más de un año después de que la Universidad de Elon lanzara la plataforma de inteligencia artificial “Elon Q&A”, el servicio sigue conectando a estudiantes y profesores de Elon con exalumnos de la universidad, fomentando vínculos y permitiendo que los exalumnos retribuyan a su alma máter. Kendra Haskins, directora sénior de Vinculación con Exalumnos, dijo que la plataforma se mantiene sencilla para facilitar el acceso. “Buscamos específicamente algo que no requiera nada”, dijo Haskins. “No necesitas descargar nada, no necesitas iniciar sesión. Solo entras a la plataforma y haces tu pregunta, y la IA encontrará al exalumno con la experiencia para responder”. 

---

NEWS 9/24/25 8:02am

Elon University’s performing arts community expresses anticipation for family weekend

By Annablake Shotwell and Sophie Kewak

Students at Elon University involved in the department of performing arts, music department, a cappella groups, and Instant Laughter will exhibit their accomplishments and welcome families to experience their community within Elon during Family Weekend, Sept. 26 through Sept. 28. Friday, Sept. 26, features performances including Dancing in the Landscape and the Music Department Faculty Concert. Saturday, Sept. 27, includes a second Dancing in the Landscape performance as well as two performances of the ROCKapella Show and two Instant Laughter Improv Comedy Shows.

---

NEWS 9/23/25 6:05pm

Elon University sees growth in graduate, engineering programs, decline in communications students

By Olivia Berger and Nolan Williams

Elon University’s fall 2025 registrar’s report shows shifting enrollment trends across academic programs, with graduate studies and engineering on the rise and communications seeing a decline. The shifting trends in enrollment come as enrollment for the class of 2029 has decreased by 11.6%. Graduate enrollment increased from 787 students in fall 2024 to 879 in 2025, marking a growth of almost 100 students. Elon’s engineering programs also expanded, growing from 156 students last year to 189 this year. Nursing followed a similar trend, climbing from 222 students in 2024 to 262 in 2025.

---

NEWS 9/23/25 3:18pm

Queens, Elon merger aims to expand graduate pathways for students in Charlotte

By Anjolina Fantaroni

Elon University announced Sept. 16 during College Coffee in McKinnon Hall that they plan to merge with Queens University of Charlotte. If the universities’ boards of trustees approve a merger, Elon would take over operations at Queens. Queens senior Emily Wouterse said that it was a surprise to most, but she’s looking on the bright side. “They position it as a way of Queens becoming stronger,” Wouterse said. “That's how I want to look at it. I feel like change is something you don't have to resist. Accept, go with the flow.”

---

NEWS 9/23/25 7:11am

2025 Family Weekend Events Calendar

By Lily Mosbacher

Elon University is hosting its annual family weekend from Sept. 26-28. Parents, grandparents, and siblings will gather on campus for a weekend filled with events that everyone can enjoy. For freshmen the weekend represents an important chance to reconnect with family while showing off the place they now call home, including for freshman Maddie Levis. “I’m really excited for them to see the campus more in depth,” Levis said. “And for them to meet all my friends and just show them around.”

---

NEWS 9/22/25 7:04pm

Charlie Kirk’s killing at Utah Valley University sparks online threats, free speech debates

By Anjolina Fantaroni

Charlie Kirk, a conservative activist and co-founder of Turning Point USA, was fatally shot during a speaking event at Utah Valley University on Sept. 10, setting off waves of shock and speculation across multiple social media platforms. That same night and into the next morning, anonymous posts on social platforms like Fizz and YikYak appeared, with some sending love, but others sending political shame or threats. “In anonymous apps, some of the questions relate to ‘how public is this speech?’” Director of the Imagining the Digital Future Center Lee Rainie said. 

---

NEWS 9/22/25 12:46pm

Elon Town Council to give bonuses for staff with college degrees

By Miles Hayford

The Elon Town Council will now give out annual bonuses to any municipal staff member with a college degree that exceeds the minimum requirements of their position, one of many recruiting techniques that the town is employing to stay competitive with other communities. “We have been working for the last several years on rewarding employees for going beyond the minimum,” Elon Town Manager Rich Roedner said. “We're working to try and identify those types of certificates or skill sets that are not just part of the everyday job, but mark somebody from being a step above deserving of a financial bonus.”

---

NEWS 9/22/25 10:25am

Alamance-Burlington schools labeled low performing for first time since 2014

By Anjolina Fantaroni

The Alamance-Burlington School System has been designated as “low performing.” This is the first time ABSS has received this designation since the Department of Public Instruction began using its A-F grading system in 2014. The grade identifies ABSS as low performing out of North Carolina’s 115 public school districts for the 2024-2025 academic year. With more than half of its schools receiving a failing grade, ABSS is the largest district in the state to carry that title. The DPI grades schools on a number of factors including enrollment, attendance, performance and test scores. 

---

NEWS 9/21/25 10:46pm

Students, community members attend Charlie Kirk vigil at Elon University

By Miles Hayford

Candles, flowers and American flags were strewn across a table set up at Medallion Plaza, honoring conservative activist Charlie Kirk during the College Republicans’ vigil for Kirk at Elon University. The Elon College Republicans hosted the event along with students planning to organize a Turning Point USA at Elon. Junior Parker Stevens, a new member of the College Republicans, led a prayer for both Kirk and his family, but also for forgiveness for Kirk’s killer. “This is where we need to speak. Universities are supposed to be places where we can come and we can talk about different opinions,” Stevens said.

---