Letters to the Editor

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NEWS 9/9/24 10:26pm

Elon Athletics investigates football player for alleged offensive remarks

By Anjolina Fantaroni

Elon University Athletics is investigating a football player after accusations that he yelled racial slurs and curses at a North Carolina Central student during an away game Sept. 7. NC Central freshman Samihya Love, who is Black, said she was watching from the stands when a white Elon player repeatedly shouted at her from the sidelines. Associate Athletics Director of Strategic Communications Jason Knavel wrote in an email to Elon News Network that Elon Athletics is aware of the accusation and is looking into it.

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LIFESTYLE 9/9/24 8:47pm

Artist showcases consumption habits through art

By Abigail Hobbs and Megan Walsh

David Hamlow has been collecting his own trash for almost 40 years, taking up space in his attic, basement and storage locker. He uses the trash — typically clear plastics, paper cardboard and thicker cardboard — to create art installations. Hamlow said he considers these pieces self portraits because most of it is his personal trash. Hamlow created an art installation for Elon’s Arts West Gallery 406 and hosted an artist talk Sept. 9. The exhibit will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Friday until Sept. 27.

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LIFESTYLE 9/9/24 11:53am

Nonprofit hosts book sales to fund library programming in Alamance County

By Sarah T. Moore

After moving to Alamance county from Long Island 30 years ago, Debbie Gunyan was quick to notice the differences between the public libraries. Long Island has over 200 public libraries across the Brooklyn, Queens, Nassau and Suffolk county systems. Alamance County has four public libraries — one in Graham, one in Mebane and two in Burlington. Friends of the Libraries next book sale will run from Sept. 6 to 15 at the May Memorial Library in Burlington. Friends of the Alamance County Public Libraries is a nonprofit that funds the library system’s programming.

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LIFESTYLE 9/9/24 10:17am

Squirrels to songbirds: Elon professor shares tips to observe wildlife

By Sarah T. Moore

While they are frequently seen across Elon, squirrels aren’t the only critters on campus. For those interested in learning more about local wildlife, biology professor Dave Gammon said getting familiar with songs and calls is a good way to identify the animals on campus, especially the birds. American robins, eastern bluebirds, cardinals, northern mockingbirds, Canada geese, mallard ducks, tufted titmice and crows are some of the birds Gammon said he commonly spots. Beyond bird calls, Gammon said once people know the sounds and stop to listen, they’ll often hear cicadas and “Katydids galore.”

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NEWS 9/8/24 2:47pm

ABSS hires new chief finance officer amid financial crisis

By Monika Jurevicius

The Alamance-Burlington School System hired Tony Messer as its new chief finance officer immediately following a financial crisis that came to the forefront in summer 2023 and continues to impact the school system. Messer was previously the CFO for Chatham County Board of Education before joining ABSS. ABSS also recently announced that it is in a $2.4 million deficit for the 2024-25 school year — as it overspent its budget for last year, according to a report released July 22. Former ABSS CFO Kim McVey left her position Feb. 19 after investigations began for the financial crisis. 

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NEWS 9/7/24 7:04pm

Elon Volunteers partners with Rise Against Hunger

By Abby Gravely

Over 23,000 meals were shipped from Alumni Gym to South Africa on Sept. 7, according to campus kitchen student director junior Lillian Argabrite. The meal packing marked this year’s edition of a tradition started in 2008 — Elon University’s partnership with Rise Against Hunger. The event was sponsored by Elon Volunteers! and featured two shifts of meal packing. Over 190 students and community members helped pack the meals, including teams from Elon Athletics.

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NEWS 9/7/24 6:20pm

Photo gallery: scenes from the weekend at Elon

By Elon News Network

The Elon Community came together in multiple ways on Friday, with the Town of Elon hosting its 2024 Social District Block Party. On Sept. 6, members of the university and town came together from 6 to 9 p.m. for live music, food and vendors, an inflatable obstacle course, face painting and more. Later that evening, the Student Union Board hosted its annual carnival, where students enjoyed similar festivities of games, food and more.

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NEWS 9/5/24 10:47pm

Elon community voices concerns amid election season

By Monika Jurevicius

At the student issues forum hosted by the Student Government Association and Elon News Network on Sept. 5, students and faculty discussed concerns they had about the election and what was at stake for them personally. Political science professors moderated and provided further commentary on responses about media, immigration and DEI initiatives. The forum was described as a way to engage in topics focusing more on issues and less on candidates. Political science professors Julianne Liebenguth and Matthew Young moderated the session, beginning with questions about the emotions felt during this presidential election.

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SPORTS 9/5/24 4:48pm

2024 Fall Sports Preview

By Benjamin Berfield and Miles Hayford

Elon University's football team seeks to claim a conference title alongside starting quarterback Matthew Downing — who just started his seventh year in collegiate football. Men's soccer also has its sights set on conference, while women's soccer welcomes back graduate student defender Katie Lowe for her fifth year. The volleyball team prepares to make the 2024 season better than last year's, while the cross country team adapts to a new head coach. And after a first place finish at nationals in 2022, followed by two, consecutive second place wins in 2023 and 2024, the dance team seeks to continue its momentum. Check out Elon News Network's fall 2024 sports preview for more insight.

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NEWS 9/5/24 9:14am

Oak House celebrates 10 year anniversary

By Fiona McAllister

The Oak House, a popular Elon coffee house and bar, is celebrating one decade of being in business. Ten years ago on Sept. 5, owner Phil Smith opened its doors to the public. He said time has flown by faster than he could have imagined. This celebration is set to have specials all day, including birthday cake and some “trinkets” to give away, Smith said — along with “Cheers to 10 years” pint glasses and coasters. “The goal would be to keep going until it's ready for somebody else to take over. But it's been a great 10 years and I could see another 10.”

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NEWS 9/4/24 1:24pm

HealthEU introduces specialized rooms for students to de-stress

By Reagan Sizemore

Elon’s HealthEU program has opened two new spaces on campus for students to take a break from their daily stress: The Serenity Suite in Ellington Center and the Mind Body Connection room in Koury Center. Anita Hodnett, Elon director of counseling services, said the new spaces have been built to encourage students to practice mindfulness. The spaces feature a number of tools designed to help students de-stress and provide an environment to learn new self care techniques. The rooms come from funding provided by an endowment from Andrew G. Bennett ’08, which previously funded “Safe Rides,” a service that was suspended in 2019.

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LIFESTYLE 9/3/24 4:12pm

Sophomore brings Music For Dementia to Elon

By Abigail Hobbs

Her hands were the only thing in frame, dancing across the keys as she played a complex, classical piece on the piano. She hadn’t played in 20 years, and though there was no songbook on the music stand, she remembered the piece clearly. Sophomore Aidan Fishkind received a video of their 90-year-old aunt with dementia playing the piano from her live-in caretaker. Fishkind, who was involved in Music For Dementia in their high school, brought the organization to Elon — officially creating its first out-of-state chapter in spring 2024.

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NEWS 9/3/24 11:18am

Classroom to polls: Elon offers election events across campus

By Alexa Citrin

As the November election approaches, student organization Elon Votes and professors are leading seminars, organizing voter registration drives and other educational events. Dillan Bono-Lunn, professor of political science and faculty fellow of civic engagement, said creating an environment of mutual trust and respect is vital for faculty when teaching during election season. Bono-Lunn also said she believes faculty including election content in class can be important for student success, and hosted an event Aug. 19 for faculty about how to include election content in upcoming classes properly.

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NEWS 9/2/24 11:03pm

Jewish community mourns loss of hostages in Gaza

By Nia Bedard

Elon’s Jewish community gathered at Speaker’s Corner to mourn the lives of six hostages whose bodies were found in an underground tunnel in Gaza. The six victims were among the 200 people taken by militants into Gaza on Oct. 7. Elon Chabad’s Rabbi Mendy Minkowitz said he is heartbroken over the loss of these lives and the events that have occurred in the last 11 months. Junior Sam Khavinson, Chabad’s co-president, said he wanted Jewish students to have a moment where they could grieve together.

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NEWS 9/2/24 10:54am

First-Generation student initiatives empower students at Elon

By Sarah T. Moore

The First-Generation Society was established in 2021 as a student-driven organization to support, build community with and advocate for first-generation students on campus. Starting this semester, the First-Generation Society will have an office on the first floor of the Moseley student center in room 105E. Senior Ja’Mya McKoy is the organization’s president, but said she didn’t always understand the way her first-generation identity impacted her college experience. As a first-generation mentor, McKoy said she noticed first-generation students at other colleges don’t always have the community and advocacy resources that Elon does.

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NEWS 9/2/24 9:22am

Student Issues Forum aims to provide safe space for discussion at Elon University

By Avery Sloan

One of the reasons Ella Kucera, vice president of communications for Elon’s student government, said SGA is prioritizing election events and campus climate this semester is to help make sure all students feel safe. This Thursday, Sept. 5 as one of the first election events in the school year, SGA is cosponsoring a student issues forum with Elon News Network. This event, and others in the series, were planned by an Elon ad hoc committee co-chaired by Naeemah Clark, associate provost for inclusive excellence, and Jon Dooley, vice president for student life.

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NEWS 9/1/24 8:30pm

Elon BSU cookout welcomes students back to campus

By Charlotte Pfabe

Energy and music filled Phi Beta Commons on Aug. 31 as Elon’s Black Student Union kicked off the school year with its annual cookout. According to junior and BSU President Maleah Proctor, events like the cookout help strengthen community connections and closeness for Black students on campus. BSU Athletic Liaison Haleigh said being a part of BSU empowers students to advocate for themselves — especially for students of color at a predominantly white institution. BSU will host a vision board event on Wednesday, Sep. 4 in Moseley 215.

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NEWS 9/1/24 3:51pm

Teach for Alamance Graduate Program welcomes newest class

By Audrey Geib

As Elon students return to class, six recent Elon graduates prepare to lead classrooms of their own — here in the Alamance-Burlington School System. Class of 2024 graduates Julia Kearney, Meghan Malone and Malaina Carter are among the six recent Elon graduates in the newest class of the Teach for Alamance program who join the collection of Elon alumni teaching in Alamance County. Beginning with the graduating class of 2023, Teach for Alamance is offered to Dr. Jo Watts Williams School of Education graduates who hope to enroll in Elon’s Master of Education in Innovation program. 

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LIFESTYLE 8/31/24 1:36pm

Elon’s GLC fosters community through new student welcome

By Sarah T. Moore

Freshman Alexandria Bell is one of over 140 members of the class of 2028 who is part of the LGBTQ+ community. Bell said while looking at colleges and universities, it was important to her to attend a school that was welcoming to LGBTQ+ students. On Aug. 30, Bell attended the Gender and LGBTQIA+ Center’s new student welcome event in McKinnon Hall. GLC Director Luis Garay said the annual New Student Welcome event allows the center to connect with students and share how the GLC is able to support them through different resources and programming.

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SPORTS 8/30/24 11:01pm

Elon University football falls to Duke, offense fails to find rhythm

By Miles Hayford

Despite the gaping difference between the two programs — Duke was in a Power Four conference in Football Bowl Subdivision football and Elon in the Football Championship Subdivision — the Phoenix came into the game with a fighting chance. They faced a Blue Devils squad that reeked of inexperience due to a brand new head coach and quarterback debuting against Elon. Yet, Elon couldn't pick up momentum on offense and lost 26-3. The phoenix will now look to face North Carolina Central on the road at 6 p.m. on Sept. 7.

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