Letters to the Editor

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NEWS 6/28/24 7:03pm

New Title IX regulations go into effect Aug. 1, Elon’s Title IX office to hire new staff member

By Avery Sloan

New Title IX regulations will go into effect Aug. 1 — with federal changes expanding the jurisdiction. Title IX is a federal law enacted in 1972 that prohibits sex-based discrimination in any school, including higher education or other education programs that receive funding from the federal government. New Title IX regulations were passed in 2020 under former President Donald Trump’s administration, but many of the new regulations will reverse those from 2020.  Megan Karbley, Elon’s director of compliance and Title IX coordinator, said she will be hiring a new role in the fall to focus on training and education on Title IX at the university.

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NEWS 6/25/24 5:02pm

Elon Town Council explores re-opening Aspen Avenue to vehicles

By Nia Bedard

Elon’s Town Council met June 24 to a record turnout of citizen attendance to discuss the permanent closure of Aspen Avenue. The street is seven minutes away from Elon University in the Ashley Woods neighborhood and the closure borders between the town of Elon and the town of Gibsonville. The matter was reopened because the closure blocks a planned entrance into the Owen Parks subdivision, which is being built by property developer Matt Kirkpatrick. The council also made a proclamation declaring July as Parks and Recreation Month, approved capital funds and canceled two meetings in July.

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NEWS 6/21/24 4:07pm

Risant Health acquires Cone Health

By Ryan Kupperman

Cone Health, Elon University’s medical service partner, signed an agreement June 21 to become part of Risant Health — a nonprofit organization created by Kaiser Foundation Hospitals. Cone Health itself is a nonprofit health care network that manages and coordinates care for roughly 200,000 patients in Alamance, Guilford, Randolph, Rockingham and part of Forsyth counties, according to a Cone Health press release. “We do not anticipate changes in the types of care we provide as a result of becoming part of Risant Health,” Dr. Mary Jo Cagle, CEO and President of Cone Health, said in the release.

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NEWS 6/19/24 7:15pm

Town of Elon holds inaugural Juneteenth celebration

By Avery Sloan

The Rev. Rickiah Wingfield said when she was asked to speak at the town of Elon’s inaugural Juneteenth celebration, her first instinct was to say no. During the event, she said she only knew basic information about the holiday and she was anxious speaking about issues of race to a group of people. On June 19, the town of Elon hosted a Juneteenth celebration at Lawrence Slade Park, including games, food and music. Wingfield, who is the reverend at First Baptist Church which neighbors the park, spoke at the event on her own experience learning about Juneteenth. 

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LIFESTYLE 6/18/24 5:00pm

Elon local businesses deal with customer change for summer

By Nia Bedard

While students are away from campus, businesses in downtown Elon are experiencing a change in their customer demographic for the next two months. All that Jas, a gift store specializing in Greek life and Elon merchandise, have adjusted their hours due to the lack of students in the summertime. All that Jas owner Caitlin Brooks said the decrease in hours gives the business the ability to catch up in other facets. Management and vendors from Pandora's Pies and the Elon Farmer's Market, respectively, also discuss how the change in customer demographic effects sales during the summertime.

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SPORTS 6/14/24 12:32pm

Elon University cross country coach resigns for position at Duke University

By Miles Hayford

Elon University Head Cross Country Coach and Associate Head Track and Field Coach Kevin Jermyn resigned from his position to accept the role of head cross country coach at Duke University. Jermyn was an instrumental piece in the recent rise of Elon’s cross country and track and field programs. Since arriving at Elon in 2017, Jermyn has helped the two programs break almost every distance school record in cross country, indoor track and field and outdoor track and field. Director of Track and Field and Cross Country Mark Elliston is leading the national search for Jermyn’s successor.

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NEWS 6/11/24 1:24pm

Elon graduates show large potential in job market

By Katharyn MacDonald

From the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, to the sudden swell of artificial intelligence, to an increasingly hybrid job market — this year’s graduating class has had a unique experience. Generally about 35% of students of all majors have a job by graduation, according to Ross Wade, Elon’s director of career services for the School of Communications. According to a survey sent to Elon alumni by the SPDC nine months after the class of 2023’s graduation, 96% of graduates are employed or in school, while 95% of those employed selected that their position is related to their career objective.

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SPORTS 6/7/24 3:12pm

Sports information directors see Elon athletic department as opportunity for new graduates

By Benjamin Berfield

Ashlee Brackett ’23 grew up around college sports at a young age with her dad being a Division III softball coach. She said she hoped to be involved with college sports in some way after graduating college. Fortunately, Elon University offers many outlets for their alumni to stay involved, she said. When it comes to sports, the school’s athletic department is one particular place where former students can remain employed for the school’s athletic teams. It is a “well-oiled machine” as described by Assistant Director of Athletic Communications for baseball Gray Aust '22.

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NEWS 6/5/24 3:16pm

10 faculty members retire from Elon University

By Audrey Geib

Following the end of the 2023-24 academic year, Elon University says goodbye to 10 of its faculty members. Associate Professor of Education Terry Tomasek; Senior Faculty Fellow in English Cassie Kircher; Professor of Education and Director of Master of Education Mary Knight-McKenna; Senior Faculty Fellow in Philosophy Nim Batchelor;  Associate Professor of Psychology Katie King; Associate Professor of Journalism Richard Landesberg;  Senior Faculty Fellow in Human Service Studies Bud Warner; Associate Professor of Law Catherine Wasson; Professor of Physics Pranab Das; and Professor of Finance Wonhi Synn share their fond memories and future plans.

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LIFESTYLE 6/4/24 5:36pm

Artist finishes third mural in downtown Elon plaza

By Avery Sloan

Muralist Mary Ryan has been working on completing an outdoor painting on the plaza in Elon’s downtown for less than a week. But the plaza itself, from conception to construction, took much longer than that. Beginning with the town staff announcing plans for an outdoor plaza in downtown Elon in December 2021 and completing construction in December 2023. Ryan said as she finishes painting this mural, she has been touching up her other murals at the same time. With outdoor seating around the mural itself, Ryan said she hopes this mural will avoid as much direct foot traffic as possible.

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NEWS 6/3/24 8:18pm

New Dunkin Donuts under construction 7 minutes away from Elon University

By Elon News Network

Construction is underway for a new Dunkin Donuts on the 3000 block of South Church St. — which is just under three miles away from campus and roughly a seven-minute drive. The site plan for the construction was approved Feb. 29. The permit did not list expected completion or opening dates. According to the permit, the space will be 1,600 square feet. 

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SPORTS 6/3/24 12:48pm

Elon athletics feels impact of historic $2.8 billion NCAA settlement

By Miles Hayford

The NCAA and the Power Five conferences have agreed to settle a class-action lawsuit by former college athletes. The NCAA and its conferences within Division I will pay $2.8 billion in damages over 10 years to both former and current athletes. They also agreed to a revenue-sharing plan, which allows each Power Five school to share up to roughly $20 million per year with its athletes. This means schools can pay athletes directly for the first time in the NCAA’s 120-year history. The settlement will impact Elon athletics significantly by creating strains on their budget and recruitment opportunities.

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NEWS 5/31/24 1:49pm

Elon University, on-campus summer schedule

By Elon News Network

Elon University changes its services and operations for the summer season, including for counseling and health services, Belk Library and the Moseley Center. Other than TimelyCare virtual care, all Elon operations will be closed for Independence Day on July 4 and 5. Starting Tuesday, May 28 through Saturday, August 17, the Moseley Center will be open weekdays 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturdays 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The building will be closed on Sundays throughout the summer. Mail Services is open weekdays, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. and closed on weekends.

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NEWS 5/29/24 10:21am

Elon, local community prepares for commencement

By Sarah T. Moore and Miles Hayford

From getting ready for an influx of guests at hotels to gardening crews making sure the flowers look as beautiful as can be, Elon University — along with the surrounding area — has been preparing for the commencement ceremony. The Facilities Management department has had multiple teams getting the campus ready for commencement, Senior Director for Facilities Management Raymond Fletcher, said.  There are 240 workers divided into multiple teams, including grounds and landscaping, moving and setups and environmental service. The team has completed over 50 work orders related to commencement activities this year, Fletcher said.

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NEWS 5/27/24 2:55pm

Family remembers Elon community service officer as full of love, ‘one of a kind’

By Ryan Kupperman

Monte Markley — an Elon community service officer — died of a stroke on May 18 at 43 years old after roughly nine years working at Elon University. A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. June 1 at the Rich & Thompson Chapel in Burlington. Markley is preceded in death by her son James Markley, who was a sophomore at Elon when he died in 2020. Monte's sister Amanda Kilcrease said she wants Elon to know how much Monte loved the community. “I just want people to know that when she loves, she loves hard. She loved her job at Elon.”

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NEWS 5/24/24 10:31am

Elon University class of 2024 triumphs at 134th commencement ceremony

By Avery Sloan and Ryan Kupperman

Elon University’s class of 2024 took flight as phoenix officially joined the ranks of alumni at the 134th commencement ceremony on May 24 in Schar Center. Two ceremonies were held throughout the day, with the first kicking off at 9 a.m. and the second starting at 2:30 p.m. Senior Grace Ackermann, the first-ever nominated student commencement speaker, began the ceremony by remarking that it was the class of 2024’s first real graduation — since this year’s seniors graduated high school in 2020 amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

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NEWS 5/23/24 9:25pm

Elon University’s eighth annual Donning of the Kente ceremony celebrates graduates, African heritage

By Avery Sloan

At Elon’s eighth annual Donning of the Kente cloth on May 23, faculty readers read statements written by the person selected by the graduate. The ceremony recognized two masters students and a number of graduating seniors, who are encouraged to wear their stoles to their commencement ceremony tomorrow. Graduates had their stoles — made from the kente cloth — presented by a family member, friend or mentor. The cloth symbolizes prestige in many African societies and the stoles presented at the ceremony were handmade from Ghana, Randy Williams, vice president for inclusive excellence, said.

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NEWS 5/23/24 8:53pm

Legacy scholars embrace Elon community during transition to alumni

By Mackenzie Giattino

Brian Feeley ’03, assistant vice president for University Advancement, welcomed students and their families to the 2024 Legacy Reception on May 23 in McKinnon Hall. As the class of 2024 piled into the reception with their families, Feeley thanked them for taking time out of their day to celebrate their identity as Elon University Legacy students. Legacy students are students who have a family member, or family members, who graduated from Elon. 

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NEWS 5/23/24 7:34pm

Photo Gallery: Class of 2024 school receptions

By Elon News Network

Elon University hosted receptions across campus on May 23 for class of 2024 graduates and their guests as an opportunity for friends and family to spend time with faculty and staff within their schools of education. Receptions were held for the Dr. Jo Watts Williams School of Education at LaRose Student Commons; the Elon College, College of Arts and Sciences at Lindner Patio; the Martha and Spencer Love School of Business at the Chandler Fountain; and the School of Communications in the Snow Family Atrium.

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NEWS 5/23/24 4:03pm

¡Celebremos! charges Latinx/Hispanic graduates to take flight

By Ryan Kupperman

Class of 2024 graduates within Elon University’s Latinx and Hispanic communities took flight — embodying the Monarch Butterfly — at the ¡Celebremos!: Graduates Take Flight on May 23 in the Lakeside Meeting Rooms. The ceremony is an annual tradition to honor Latinx, Hispanic students that are graduating with bachelor's or master's degrees. The Monarch Butterfly was also adopted within the last couple of years as a symbol of spreading one’s wings and moving onto the next stage of life. Senior Manny Sanchez attended the ceremony, and said he was proud to be a part of and give back to the Latinx and Hispanic communities. 

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