Letters to the Editor

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NEWS 4/10/25 11:09am

Elon University announces 2025 Lumen Scholar winners

By Avery Sloan

The Lumen Advisory Committee director Michael Carignan announced Elon University’s 2025 Lumen Scholar winners. The 15 Lumen Prize winners are granted $20,000 to support their mentored research and creative projects. Established in 2007 by former Elon president Leo Lambert, the goal of the Lumen Prize is to give students an opportunity to pursue research and support other experiences such as international travel, service projects and workshops. For the next two years, the Lumen Scholars will work closely with their mentors to complete their research.

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NEWS 4/10/25 9:12am

PARC development set to bring 1,000 new housing units to town of Elon

By Charlotte Pfabe

Over the next 10 years, around 1,000 new housing units are expected to be built in the town of Elon. PARC Village was approved by the town of Elon Town Council on March 24 to be constructed behind Schar Center. The area where PARC Village will be located received a conditional rezoning to be a mixed-use development, allowing for both residential and commercial structures on the property. According to GreenHawk’s development plans presented to the town council, PARC Village will include housing units, office and retail buildings, a hotel, and a grocery store.

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SPORTS 4/9/25 8:51pm

Elon University men’s basketball star guard transfers to University of Oregon

By Miles Hayford

Elon men’s basketball’s leading scorer in points per game from last season TK Simpkins is transferring to the University of Oregon. Simpkins announced on social media on April 9 that he is transferring. Simpkins was instrumental for the Phoenix this year as he made the All-CAA Second Team by leading the team in points with an average of 16.4 points per game. He was second on the team in 3-pointers with 58 and was third in assists with 70. He shot 36.7% from beyond the arc and 42.3% from the field.

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NEWS 4/9/25 4:38pm

SGA to choose vice presidents of finance, communications

By Trista Panagakos

While the new Student Government Association executive president and vice president prepare to be sworn in on Thursday April 10, an SGA interview committee is deciding who will take over the roles of vice president of finance and vice president of communications. Unlike the senate, the president and vice president positions, the two executive roles of vice president of finance and communications are not voted on by the student body. After interviews, the chosen applicants are selected by the incoming president and approved by the new senate.

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NEWS 4/9/25 12:11pm

15 residents apply for open seat on ABSS Board of Education

By Anjolina Fantaroni

The Alamance Burlington School System is reviewing 15 applications from individuals seeking to fill a vacant seat on the seven-member board of education — the most people ABSS has ever had apply for a vacancy, according to ABSS board of education member Seneca Rogers. The seat is open following the resignation of Chuck Marsh on Feb. 24. The board will hear from the applicants during its April 28 meeting and could potentially vote the same night to appoint the seat. 

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NEWS 4/9/25 9:59am

Elon Town Council debates proposed tax increases

By Virginia Vance and Megan Walsh

Elon Town Manager Rich Roedner recommended increases to property taxes, water and sewage fees, and trash bin fees at the April 8 Elon Town Council meeting. Roedner said his proposed budget has less buffer room if the town brings in less tax revenue than projected. Mayor Emily Sharpe said she would be more comfortable with a property-tax-based revenue budget in place of a sales-tax-based budget. “We need to eventually get to where those are flipped,” Sharpe said. “There's way too much variability in that sales tax number where there isn't that variability in a real estate tax number.”

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SPORTS 4/8/25 10:58pm

Elon baseball falls to top-ranked North Carolina in thrilling, high-scoring game

By Miles Hayford

Elon baseball fell just short of upsetting North Carolina in a high-scoring affair as it lost 12-10 on April 8. It was a grueling, three and half hour affair that saw multiple lead changes throughout the back-and-forth game. It was the second year in a row where Elon lost to North Carolina by two or less runs. Elon hasn’t beaten the Tar Heels since 2010. But Elon put up a valiant effort against the 16th ranked team in the country and one of the best pitching staffs in the Atlantic Coast Conference.

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NEWS 4/8/25 11:10am

Nonprofit Indigenous organization fights the development of Buc-ee’s

By Abigail Hobbs

North Carolina's first Buc-ee's will be constructed in Mebane on the Occaneechi-Saponi's Great Trading Path. 7 Directions of Service — a nonprofit organization dedicated to advocating for Native land and rights, particularly for the Occaneechi Band of the Saponi Nation — is fighting Buc-ee’s development. “It's not just a trading path, or it's not just a historical thing, but it still has ties to our people today,” Coda Cavalier, a youth coordinator for 7 Directions of Service, said.

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LIFESTYLE 4/7/25 3:35pm

Downtown Gibsonville hosts 4th annual Gibsonville Girls Night

By Lilly Molina

A line of pink could be seen down West Main Street as local women gathered for Gibsonville Girls Night on April 4. With shops open until 8 p.m., attendees dress in pink and go shopping. Chelsea Dickey, a contracted economic development director for the small town; Wanda Small, owner of Just be You; and Maghon Taylor, owner of All She Wrote Notes; noticed that there were many female-owned small businesses in downtown Gibsonville. “We were looking to come together and do something fun as girls,” Dickey said. “But also do something fun for the girls of Gibsonville.”

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LIFESTYLE 4/6/25 6:24pm

Elon University prepares for its most colorful event: Holi

By Rachel Holley

A Hindu tradition dating back to the fourth century, Holi, also known as the “festival of color,” is about to be celebrated at Elon. While the actual date of Holi was celebrated on March 14th, Elon decided to celebrate the holiday during Elon’s Asian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. The national API month is in May, but because students aren’t on campus for the entire month of May, API month is celebrated in April on Elon’s campus.

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SPORTS 4/6/25 4:33pm

Elon University sophomore pitcher throws complete game to cap off series sweep against Charleston

By Benjamin Berfield

The Elon University softball team continued its torrid stretch over the past month with a 5-1 victory against the College of Charleston on April 6. Elon swept Charleston in a series where it only allowed three runs in three games. It is Elon’s third series sweep in the last 16 games in which it is 13-3. Elon accomplished its sweep thanks to sophomore pitcher Anna Dew, who threw a complete game, striking out six batters while allowing just one hit over five innings. “I always have had the confidence that I could do it." Dew said.

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NEWS 4/6/25 12:13pm

Cracking down on REAL IDs, deadline approaches

By Fiona McAllister

As the May 7 deadline for U.S. residents to get a REAL ID approaches, the North Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles’ appointments are filling up quickly. REAL ID is a federal law that sets minimum security standards for state-issued driver's licenses and identification cards. It is indicated by a star on the corner of the drivers license and it allows citizens to travel and go to government buildings without having to carry a U.S. passport. The REAL ID Act, passed by Congress in 2005, was put into effect after the 9/11 Commission Report set standards for safety within the United States after the 9/11 terrorist attack. 

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LIFESTYLE 4/6/25 9:37am

Elon town farmers market brings community, university together

By Virginia Vance

An 18-year tradition returned to Elon on April 3: the Elon farmers market. Students, such as Elon senior Lauren Dathe, have been anticipating its return. “I’ve been counting down the days,” Dathe said. Elon senior Sam Hinton proudly displayed a sticker purchased at the market. “It’s great to see people from the community come out,” Hinton said, “especially because I think Elon can be so separate from the rest of Burlington and Alamance, so it’s really sweet to see more intermingling.”

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LIFESTYLE 4/5/25 5:14pm

Elon University celebrates Asian Pacific Island Heritage Month with annual kickoff

By Lilly Molina

On April 3, students celebrated Asian Pacific Islander Heritage Month at the third annual kickoff event. API Heritage Month is usually celebrated in May, but the Center for Race, Ethnicity and Diversity Education plans events for April due to the semester ending in the next month. The event featured various Asian cuisines, Asian owned businesses and dance performances. This year's theme is “Building Bouquets: Coming Together,” where the CREDE hopes to bring people together within the community to celebrate Asian and Pacific Islander culture and heritage.

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NEWS 4/5/25 11:23am

Protesters gather outside state capitol in Raleigh against Donald Trump, Elon Musk

By Kate Gray

Protesters are gathering between Raleigh’s State Legislature and State Capitol Building on April 5 to protest President Donald Trump and head of the Department of Government Efficiency, Elon Musk. This protest and hundreds of others across the country are part of a nationwide series of protests known as Hands Off. There are 34 Hands Off protests scheduled for April 5 in North Carolina alone, with the three largest in the state expected to be in Charlotte, Asheville and Raleigh, according to 50501 North Carolina press representative Cole Dragotta. 

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NEWS 4/4/25 9:51pm

North Carolina court sides with Republican Jefferson Griffin in contested state supreme court race

By Avery Sloan

The North Carolina Court of Appeals ruled April 4 that over 65,000 votes casted in the 2024 state supreme court race need to be verified. Democrat incumbent Allison Riggs only won the race by 734 votes — after two previous recounts — meaning that the result of the election could change.  The North Carolina Court of Appeals sided with Republican Jefferson Griffin 2-1, who challenged the ballots in November, claiming that over 65,000 ballots shouldn’t be included in the results because they failed to comply with the state law or the state constitution. This ruling means the North Carolina Board of Elections will ask the contested voters to provide proof of identity within 15 days of being notified in order for their vote to count.   

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SPORTS 4/4/25 9:07pm

Elon University softball beats Charleston in extra innings in top-ranked CAA clash

By Miles Hayford

Elon University softball defeated the College of Charleston 3-2 in an extra innings, walk-off thriller in a battle of the Coastal Athletic Association’s best. The two teams entered the game tied for first place in the CAA as they both boasted a 9-3 conference record, but it was Elon who came out on top after nine grueling innings of play that almost lasted three hours.  Both teams strangely mirrored each other in the first inning with a flurry of baserunners getting on base, but few runs were actually scored. Charleston started the game off hot with a leadoff double, followed by a walk. Sophomore pitcher Lia Miller looked shaky early on, triggering a mound visit from her coaches and her catches, hoping to settle her down and prevent any further damage. After getting one out, Miller walked another, loading the bases. Charleston drove one run in, but Miller got out of the jam, stranding two runners. 

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LIFESTYLE 4/4/25 7:49pm

Elon University lecture celebrates impactful professor, encourages expression in challenging times

By Abby Gravely

Frederick Lawrence believes that telling someone they can’t speak is equivalent to cutting off their oxygen. Lawrence, the secretary and CEO of Phi Beta Kappa honor society and First Amendment scholar, spoke to the Elon community Thursday evening in Whitley Auditorium. The James P. Elder Lecture marked the final event of the 2024-25 speaker series, and this year's installment of the endowed James P. Elder lecture series at Elon. Lawrence knows that it can be hard to determine the line between free speech and hate speech. And with recent debates involving this line on college campuses, it feels more relevant than ever.

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NEWS 4/4/25 2:24pm

Gov. Josh Stein’s first 100 days: Cautious and relief-focused

By Miles Hayford

As Gov. Josh Stein’s first 100 days in office come to a close, his administration has focused on three key areas: Hurricane Helene recovery, a two-year budget proposal and cautiously navigating a Republican-dominated North Carolina General Assembly. Stein released a budget proposal March 19, which is a recommended budget that the General Assembly will take into consideration before passing the budget themselves. After two years of a Republican supermajority, the General Assembly is heavily controlled by the GOP. Republicans currently hold a 30-20 advantage in the Senate and a 71-49 advantage in the House.

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NEWS 4/4/25 12:48pm

500-spot parking lot to open near Francis Center to accommodate freshmen

By Tariq L. Johnson

Starting in the 2025-26 academic year, first-year students will now be required to park near the Francis Center. A new 500-spot remote parking lot will open up around 450 parking spots within the main part of campus, accommodating upperclassmen parking, according to Elon University Chief of Campus Safety and Police, Joseph LeMire. The Elon Express and E-Rides will be available to transport students who park in this parking lot, according to LeMire. The walk for students to the central part of campus will be approximately 20 minutes from the lot. 

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