Letters to the Editor

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NEWS 8/8/24 10:33am

Elon University closes for Tropical Storm Debby

By Nia Bedard

Jon Dooley announced in an email that Elon University will be closed due to incoming weather from Tropical Storm Debby and potential flash flooding. At 10:18 a.m., the National Weather Service issued a flash flood warning that is in effect until 4 p.m. Dooley later sent out a list of university offices that are open for the day, which include Campus Safety and Police, Belk Library, Campus Recreation and Wellness, Dining Services, Moseley Center, Student Health Services, Faculty/Staff Health & Wellness Clinic and Undergraduate Admissions. Despite Undergraduate Admissions remaining open, campus tours have been canceled. Mail Services are also closed for the day.

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NEWS 8/7/24 4:43pm

Attorney General campaigns for governor race at Burlington Dream Center

By Avery Sloan

North Carolina Attorney General Josh Stein emphasized improving the state’s public education system and urged people to vote — particularly in what Stein said will be a tough election. Stein, the Democratic candidate for governor, spoke Aug. 7 at CityGate Dream Center in Burlington. Stein told Elon News Network that college students specifically should elect him this November, as he is focusing on issues that will also matter in their future. Stein said his platforms include tackling the climate crisis, decreasing violent crime and protecting women’s reproductive rights.  Stein also said in this election, his vision is in competition with Republican governor candidate Mark Robinson’s campaign.

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SPORTS 8/6/24 10:37am

Elon Athletics fosters academic excellence in student-athletes

By Miles Hayford

Elon University Athletics recently received some of its highest Academic Progress Rates scores in history from the National Collegiate Athletic Association. APR scores are a way for the NCAA to measure the academic performance of collegiate athletic departments. It is based on eligibility, retention and graduation of student-athletes. APR scores are based on a percentage of how much student-athletes retained from their total possible APR points. All 17 sports at Elon have multi-year APR rates of 980 — 98% — or above. The most recent scores are based on a multi-year rate that includes scores from the 2019-20, 2020-21, 2021-22 and 2022-23 academic years.

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NEWS 8/2/24 8:30pm

Thunderstorm causes power outage in parts of Elon

By Nia Bedard

Damage from a thunderstorm in the Alamance-Burlington area leaves the traffic light intersection at Williamson Avenue, as well as Danieley buildings A,B and C, without power Aug. 2. Due to the storm, a tree also fell across from the Root Trackside on West Lebanon Avenue. Town of Elon Police report that the town’s transformer and breaker are down, and according to Duke Energy’s website, the power is expected to be restored at 1:45 a.m. Aug. 3.

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NEWS 8/2/24 6:34pm

Elon University announces speaker series program for 2024-25 academic year

By Nia Bedard

During the 2024-25 academic year, Elon University will host six speakers, including retired U.S. Navy Adm. Mike Mullen and Pulitzer Prize winning author Jonathan Eig who will give the Martin Luther Commemorative Address. This year’s speaker series will thematically explore “foundations for leadership and innovation,” according to the university’s website. All tickets for the speaker series will be free for students, staff and faculty and cost $15 for those without an Elon ID. 

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NEWS 7/31/24 6:53pm

Driver of hit-and-run sentenced to five years probation for killing of Elon University student

By Anjolina Fantaroni

Jackson Yelle, a 21-year-old former Elon student and member of Elon’s Club Baseball team, was killed in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, in April 2023. The driver, 45-year-old Jason Sauro of Myrtle Beach, pled guilty to first-degree assault and a felony related to the deadly crash. Sauro was sentenced to 10 years in prison and suspended to five years probation. Though typically, a judge will dismiss a case if someone successfully fulfills their probation — meaning it’s possible Sauro will serve no time in prison after completing his probation. In an interview with Elon News Network, Yelle’s mother Andrea Yelle said the Judge’s sentence was sad and disappointing.

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NEWS 7/30/24 1:24pm

New Alamance-Burlington School System superintendent announced

By Avery Sloan

Alamance-Burlington Board of Education approved Aaron Fleming as the next superintendent during its July 29 board meeting. This was a 6-1 decision, with the only opposition coming from vice chairman Donna Westbrooks. Westbrooks said at the meeting her concern was because Fleming has not served as a school principal. Emily-Lynn Adkins, chief communications officer of ABSS, said the board of education felt Fleming was the strongest candidate due to his prior job experience. The former superintendent, Dain Butler, resigned March 4 and previous superintendent Bill Harrison has been serving as interim since. Fleming will begin his role on Sep. 18.

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NEWS 7/29/24 12:44pm

Elon community reacts to President Biden stepping down

By Nia Bedard

Just over a week ago, President Joe Biden announced that he would be stepping aside as the Democratic nominee just 107 days ahead of election day and endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris as the Democratic nominee for the 2024 presidential election. Since then, Harris has gained the endorsement of many high profile members of the Democratic Party. Now less than four months away from election day and a few weeks away from the Democratic National Convention, Elon professor of political science and policy studies Carrie Eaves said the final few months heading into this election will be unprecedented.

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SPORTS 7/25/24 5:30pm

Elon University football player named preseason defensive player of the year

By Miles Hayford

Elon University safety Caleb Curtain has been named the Coastal Athletic Association Football’s Preseason Defensive Player of the Year. The prestigious award for the junior defensive back is the cherry on top of a long line of recognition this offseason. Curtain comes off a fantastic sophomore campaign where he led Elon with 80 total tackles, 54 solo tackles and four and a half sacks. At CAA Football Media Day on July 25, Curtain said he is excited about the award — as well as the opportunity to improve in this upcoming season. 

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NEWS 7/23/24 2:46pm

The Mission updates drink menu, interior

By Fiona McAllister

The popular Gibsonville Mexican restaurant The Mission will reopen Aug. 22 with new updates, including new decor and drink options. Owner of The Mission Jeff Colgan said customers can expect new televisions featuring entertainment stations. He also said he wants customers to stay and enjoy their time, instead of leaving right after they finish their meals and drinks. While most of his customers are Elon students, Colgan said his customers vary to locals. With these updates, he said he hopes his restaurant will be a place for all to enjoy.

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SPORTS 7/22/24 9:25pm

Elon University announces partnership with Ticketmaster

By Miles Hayford

Elon University announced a new partnership with Ticketmaster, a leader in the ticketing industry. The partnership will allow for an enhanced ticket-buying experience for Elon Athletics, cultural programs and other campus events. With the help of Ticketmaster’s experience at selling tickets globally, the aim is that the user experience will be more streamlined and easy. Ticket purchasers will also be able to transfer tickets to friends or family and resell tickets through Ticketmaster’s technology. This streamlined site will be located at elontickets.com, where tickets for the first events on Elon’s Fall Cultural Calendar will go on sale Aug. 27.

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NEWS 7/21/24 3:32pm

Joe Biden drops out of 2024 presidential election

By Nia Bedard

President Biden announced his withdrawal from the 2024 presidential election in a letter posted to X on July 21. “It has been the greatest honor of my life to serve as your President,” Biden wrote in the letter. “While it has been my intention to seek re-election, I believe it is in the best interest of my party and the country for me to stand down and to focus solely on fulfilling my duties as President for the remainder of my term.” The last time an incumbent president declined to seek re-election was Lyndon B. Johnson in March 1968.

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LIFESTYLE 7/19/24 1:04pm

Elon University student’s TikTok ‘passion project’ builds community through comedic storytelling

By Sarah T. Moore

After faking his own death and subsequent kidnapping, Elon University senior and acting major Nik Salah finds himself with a highly engaged audience of roughly 1.5 million followers on TikTok. Over the past three years, Salah’s satirical TikTok page, judyhoppsl0vr69, has grown from a “joke” to a “passion project” to a source of income. Salah developed his presence centered around an exaggerated enthusiasm for Disney’s Zootopia, an animated movie featuring an anthropomorphic rabbit named Judy Hopps. Building on this persona, Salah and his friends spent the month of June weaving a complex, fictional narrative of his own (fake) death.

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NEWS 7/17/24 11:49am

Elon Town Council votes to close Aspen Avenue to vehicular traffic

By Nia Bedard

Following two years of discussion, Elon Town Council voted to close Aspen Avenue to vehicular traffic. Town Attorney Bob Hagemann explained that this includes automobiles, golf carts, low emission vehicles and other motorized vehicles – but will remain open to pedestrian and bicycle traffic. The council also discussed proposed changes to Elon’s town noise ordinance. The council aims to reclass a noise violation as a civil violation with a fine, as opposed  to the current ordinance which charges violators with a fine and a misdemeanor.

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NEWS 7/15/24 7:10pm

Elon University professors contextualize assassination attempt on Trump

By Ryan Kupperman

Less than 10 minutes after he took the stage at one of his political rallies, former President and 2024 presidential candidate Donald Trump was huddled away by secret service agents following multiple gun shots. According to Dillan Bono-Lunn, Elon professor of political science and policy studies, this incident is the most significant event of the election season so far. The attack came just days before the start of the Republican National Convention on July 15, where Trump announced Senator J.D. Vance as his vice president and running mate.

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NEWS 7/12/24 7:47pm

Driver of hit-and-run sentenced to five years probation for April 2023 killing of Elon University student

By Anjolina Fantaroni

Jackson Yelle, a 21-year-old former student and member of Elon’s Club Baseball team, was killed in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, in April 2023. The driver, 45 year old Jason Sauro of Myrtle Beach, pled guilty to first-degree assault and a felony related to the deadly crash on Highway 17 Bypass North near 21st Avenue. Sauro was sentenced to 10 years in prison and suspended to five years probation, by Judge Hyman in the case of The State of SC v. Jason Sauro. This means Sauro’s prison sentence will be delayed to serve his probation, and typically if someone successfully fulfills their probation, a judge will then dismiss the case.

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NEWS 7/12/24 1:53pm

Q&A: Elon professor shares thoughts about surgeon general’s social media advisory

By Nia Bedard

The U.S. surgeon general, Vice Admiral Vivek H. Murthy, issued a new advisory warning about social media and the impact it has on youth mental health. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, this advisory warning is meant to issue a call for urgent action by policymakers, technology companies, researchers, families and young people alike. Elon assistant professor of psychology Dr. Ilyssa Salomon, whose professional expertise includes social media and adolescence, offered her own insight about the surgeon general’s advisory warning. 

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SPORTS 7/9/24 11:05am

New Elon men’s tennis coach looks to build culture of excellence

By Miles Hayford

Maciek Sykut has been named the next head coach for Elon University’s men’s tennis team. Sykut will take over for Michael Leonard, who retired at the end of the 2023-24 season following 20 storied years leading the program. Following a career in professional tennis, Sykut began coaching at North Carolina State University in 2012 where he served first as a volunteer assistant coach before getting a full-time assistant coach position. Sykut also spent time at the University of Arizona as the associate head coach and helped lead the team in 2019 to their first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2010.

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LIFESTYLE 7/5/24 1:47pm

Elon alumna navigates music industry, promotes upcoming album

By Sarah T. Moore

The day before Game 5 of the Stanley Cup, pop artist Brooke Alexx got a call from one of her managers asking if she wanted to sing the national anthem. She flew to Miami the day of and said it was the biggest crowd she’d performed the national anthem for. But before she was releasing music under the name Brooke Alexx, she was studying music production at Elon University. Brooke Greenberg said her stage name is derived from her middle name, Alexandria, with “an extra X for flair.” She characterizes her music as “girl next door” pop-rock that centers story-telling and narrative.

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NEWS 7/2/24 12:27pm

Connectivity issues with three Elon resources cause problems for community

By Anjolina Fantaroni

OnTrack, Colleague and Entrinsik Informer was down June 29 to July 2. Elon’s Technology Update sent nine email updates to the Elon community in total. As of 4:41 p.m. July 2, Elon Technology Update sent an email stating that OnTrack and Colleague are now accessible to the Elon community. The update included that the issue was related to connectivity problems, and no database information was at risk. Rebecca Beck, director of campus technology support and Daniel Statum, communication strategist for IT, directed Elon News Network to Elon’s accounting department. Director of Payroll Armeka Ware was unavailable for immediate comment.

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