Letters to the Editor

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SPORTS 10/5/25 4:39pm

Elon University redshirt freshman quarterback grows in first year as starting player

By Benjamin Berfield

As the Elon University football team prepared for the season, redshirt freshman quarterback Landen Clark spent the summer competing for the starting quarterback position. The previous season, Clark had played only four games where he was occasionally used as a runner. Elon had also signed Iowa quarterback Marco Lainez through the transfer portal in December. Even with the inexperience and competition, Clark said he refused to let any outside noise get to him over the offseason.  “It was just to focus on myself,” Clark said. “Don’t let anything get in my way.”

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LIFESTYLE 10/4/25 8:56pm

Alamance Pride celebrates its 10th year

By Venus Soto Castaneda

For drag queen Stormie Daie, who has hosted Alamance Pride since its creation, reaching a milestone of 10 years is something deeply personal. She said she remembers the first afternoon when the crowd came together. “Alamance Pride has always been like a ley line or an energy drawing, I think, for the queer and marginalized and progressive of Alamance County,” Daie said. Ten years later, Daie described the growth as something almost spiritual. “It feels like those bulbs you plant in the winter or that plant that comes back every year,” she said.

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NEWS 10/4/25 12:32pm

‘Peace, Love and Unity’: The Wailers spread their mission of hope to Burlington

By Megan Walsh

“Peace, love and unity” is the mission statement behind The Wailers, the former band of reggae star Bob Marley, now focused on spreading hope to the younger generations. The Wailers performed in downtown Burlington. For band leader Aston Barrett Jr., carrying on The Wailers’ message is about more than just encouraging the people of the world, but also about carrying on the legacy of his family. "If there's anything going on in the world that you need as a revolutionary song that could unite the people and keep their minds straight, if you see them going like this, we already wrote those songs so you could sing those songs,” Barrett said.

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SPORTS 10/3/25 11:54am

Elon women’s soccer battle to draw in intense conference match

By Lennox Franks

Elon University women’s soccer fought to a hard earned 1–1 draw in their latest conference game against the University of North Carolina Wilmington, which featured aggressive play and impressive goalkeeping on both sides. Elon head coach Neil Payne emphasized the importance of ball control as a primary strategy to neutralize Wilmington's aggressive defensive style. “It was important that we try to control the ball and try to take the physicality out of it,” Payne said.

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NEWS 10/2/25 3:28pm

Las comunidades de la Universidad Elon y la Universidad Queens de Charlotte buscan respuestas tras el anuncio de la fusión prevista

By Elon News Network

La presidenta de la Universidad de Elon, Connie Book, anunció una propuesta de fusión entre Elon y la Universidad Queens de Charlotte. Si la fusión se aprueba para finales de 2025 y la colaboración entre ambas universidades avanza satisfactoriamente durante la primavera, Jim Piatt, vicepresidente sénior de Desarrollo y Asuntos Externos, afirmó que Elon buscaría comenzar a operar en Queens el 1 de agosto de 2026. "En todas estas conversaciones que se han estado llevando a cabo, conversaciones sobre balances y finanzas, se trata de servir a los estudiantes y a nuestras comunidades de la mejor manera posible", declaró Piatt. "Queremos ser competitivos a nivel nacional y tener arraigo local".

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NEWS 10/2/25 3:28pm

Elon University, Queens University of Charlotte communities look for answers after intended merger is announced

By Elon News Network

Elon University President Connie Book announced a proposed merger between Elon and Queens University of Charlotte. If the merger is approved by the end of 2025 and work between both universities goes well through spring, Senior Vice President of Advancement and External Affairs Jim Piatt said Elon would look to begin operating at Queens by Aug. 1, 2026. "In all of these conversations that have been happening, conversations about balance sheets and money, this is about serving students and serving our communities in the best ways that we can,"Piatt said. "We want to be nationally competitive and locally rooted."

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NEWS 10/2/25 9:53am

North Carolina expands anti-hazing law; Students, faculty and staff involved with hazing will receive more severe penalties

By Nia Bedard

Everything changed for Lianne Kowiak when her son Harrison died in a hazing incident. Now “Harrison’s Law” will go into effect in North Carolina on Dec. 1 and includes major changes to anti-hazing law in the state. North Carolina now defines hazing as any serious physical or psychological damage as part of initiation for or as a prerequisite to join any organized school group. Now any students who are found guilty of hazing can receive a Class A1 misdemeanor, which has a maximum punishment of 150 days in jail and is the most serious misdemeanor offense a person can receive.

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SPORTS 10/1/25 8:26pm

Elon University men’s soccer reaches draw after a hard fought physical battle

By Blair Mitchell

The Elon University men’s soccer team put up a gritty performance against the No. 10 ranked team in the country, the University of North Carolina, Greensboro, on Sept. 30 resulting in a 0-0 tie to chalk up their current record at 5-1-4 this season. “I was pleased with our performance, just the result was not what we wanted,” head coach Marc Reeves said. “But that, again, that's college soccer, the parody, it's really close, all teams are prepared and ready to play, and you have to compete and kind of force a way to win.”

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NEWS 10/1/25 1:32pm

Gov. Stein signs executive order to implement AI in North Carolina government

By Trista Panagakos

As artificial intelligence becomes more prominent in the lives of students, workers and everyday citizens, the North Carolina state government is tapping into the transformative technology. Gov. Josh Stein signed an executive order Sept. 2 that focused on how artificial intelligence can enhance the state government and technology sector of North Carolina. The executive order established an AI leadership council, an AI accelerator, oversight teams for each state agency and training programs for AI literacy and fraud prevention.

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NEWS 9/30/25 11:43am

Elon Town Council discusses a new pump station through Gibsonville, new retirement benefits, updates on new appointments

By Alannah Klingsporn

Elon Town Council discussed retirement benefits, new parking available for community establishments and an additional education awareness in Beth Schmidt Park during their meeting on Sept. 29. Elon Town Council is planning to give employees who have served for over 25 years a $5,000 retirement bonus.  “The fact that we have people that have given their whole careers to a town, this is the least that we can do for them, is to show them that we appreciate all the hard work that they've done and that they have made a commitment to this community,” Council member Stephanie Bourland said.

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NEWS 9/29/25 3:48pm

Popular reggae band to perform in Downtown Burlington

By Megan Walsh

The Wailers, the former band of Bob Marley, will fill downtown Burlington with music Oct. 3 at 7 p.m. at the Burlington Food Hall. “I hope that from this, it opens the door not only for the food hall, but for downtown as a whole to maybe become more involved,” Wellsley Robinson, owner of the Burlington Food Hall, said. “North Carolina is growing so fast. I mean, Elon's growing, everybody's growing right in our state, and so maybe it would give us the opportunity to become more and more involved in things that are happening statewide, because there's a lot going on.”

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NEWS 9/29/25 3:48pm

Banda de reggae The Wailers se presentará en el centro de Burlington

By Megan Walsh

Tras un cambio inesperado de lugar, The Wailers, la legendaria banda que acompañó a Bob Marley, llenará de música el centro de Burlington el viernes 3 deoctubre a las 7 p.m. frente al Burlington Food Hall. Wellsley Robinson, dueña del Burlington Food Hall, contó que hace alrededor de un mes le propusieron organizar el evento, después de que la agrupación supiera que el lugar original en Greensboro seguiría en construcción. Al enterarse de esa situación, The Wailers se acercaron a Robinson para llevar el espectáculo a Front Street, justo frente al food hall. Tras coordinar con la ciudad, Robinson y sus socios descubrieron que la zona resultaba ideal para conciertos de esta magnitud.

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NEWS 9/29/25 11:43am

Elon University anatomy teaching assistants open lab to visitors for Family Weekend

By Virginia Vance

The Edler family came to Elon University’s open anatomy lab to see what their child, Julia, was learning in anatomy class. “I was impressed that my daughter actually knew the anatomy for the sections that she’s already learned,” Michelle Edler said. By contrast, Elon biology professor Matthew Clark was shocked that more people don’t know their own anatomy. “It’s amazing to me how so many people don’t really understand what’s inside the human body,” Clark said. “It’s almost like a mechanic who, when you go to take your car to the auto shop, you really don’t know what’s under the hood.”

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LIFESTYLE 9/29/25 7:12am

Instant Laughter performs for Elon University Family Weekend

By Logan Davila

As the auditorium filled with students and parents, Elon University’s Instant Laughter refined their performances, excited to entertain their evening audiences. The improv troupe performed at Yeager Recital Hall Sept. 27 for Family Weekend. The show consisted of games where cast members are given prompts that they have to act out and build off of. “It really is a pleasure to just have something to laugh about, especially nowadays,” Elon senior and member of the troupe Seth Upchurch said.

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LIFESTYLE 9/28/25 10:11pm

Esperanza Festival brings culture, music to downtown Graham

By Venus Soto Castaneda

Downtown Graham was transformed into a vibrant hub of music, food and community Sept. 28 as the Esperanza Festival returned with performances, vendors and cultural celebrations. What began four years ago as a small event in the Children's Museum of Alamance County parking lot has now blossomed into one of Alamance County's most anticipated cultural gatherings, drawing families, students, community members, and visitors from across the region. "This is a real opportunity to get to know each other and be reintroduced to each other, reminded that we're all part of Alamance County," member of the planning committee Nicole Gutierrez said.

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SPORTS 9/28/25 4:54pm

Tennis player reflects on experiences from playing in Mexico to U.S. Division I sports

By Riley Hale

Junior Mariana Reding has the word “fly” written inside her shoe, which is a nod to the advice her dad would give back home during her matches. She said playing tennis often reminds her of her cultural heritage and her family. “My dad used to tell me, ‘Fly Mar fly!’ in my matches,” Reding said. She said she loves when people watch her matches because it makes her feel more supported and involved with Mexican culture. In Mexico, she said people are always very supportive, asking her family, “What is her score, and where can I watch it?” 

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SPORTS 9/28/25 4:54pm

Jugadora de tenis reflexiona sobre sus experiencias de jugar en México a jugar División I de los Estados Unidos

 

Mariana Reding, estudiante de tercer año, lleva la palabra "fly" escrita en el interior de su zapato, un guiño a los consejos que su padre le daba en casa durante sus partidos. Dijo que jugar al tenis a menudo le recuerda su herencia cultural y a su familia. "Mi papá solía decirme: '¡Fly Mar fly!' en mis partidos", dijo Reding. Dijo que le encanta que la gente vea sus partidos porque la hace sentir más apoyada e involucrada con la cultura mexicana. En México, comentó que la gente siempre la apoya mucho y le pregunta a su familia: "¿Cuál es su puntuación y dónde puedo verla?".

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LIFESTYLE 9/28/25 10:11am

El Festival Esperanza llena el centro de Graham con cultura y música

By Venus Soto Castaneda

El centro de Graham se transformó en un vibrante centro de música, gastronomía y comunidad el 28 de septiembre con el regreso del Festival Esperanza, con presentaciones, vendedores y celebraciones culturales. Lo que comenzó hace cuatro años como un pequeño evento en el estacionamiento del Museo Infantil del Condado de Alamance se ha convertido en uno de los encuentros culturales más esperados del Condado de Alamance, que atrae a familias, estudiantes, miembros de la comunidad y visitantes de toda la región. "Esta es una verdadera oportunidad para conocernos y reencontrarnos, recordando que todos somos parte del Condado de Alamance", dijo Nicole Gutiérrez, miembro del comité de planificación.

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SPORTS 9/27/25 9:32pm

Elon University football finds ground game, triumphs over Hampton on Family Weekend

By Miles Hayford

An explosive rushing attack propelled the Elon University football team over Hampton University 41-20 on Family Weekend. Elon was coming off a 26-16 loss against East Tennessee State University last week and looked to win their Coastal Athletic Association opener. Sophomore running back TJ Thomas Jr. got involved early, breaking a few tackles en route to a 22-yard catch from redshirt freshman Landen Clark, who scrambled out of a sack. Thomas then ran in a 23-yard touchdown on the following play for his first rushing attempt of the day.

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NEWS 9/27/25 7:41pm

Elon University holds listening session for parents about proposed Queens merger

By Kate Gray

Jim Piatt, co-chair of the sprint team for the merger between Elon University and Queens University of Charlotte, held a listening session for parents. He addressed why Elon chose to pursue a merger, what the merger would mean for the name and branding of both schools, and how graduate programs may be affected or expanded.“Charlotte, in our assessments and in our work to study Charlotte, is largely underserved when it comes to higher education,” Piatt said. “That doesn't say anything about quality. That's not a statement on that. It's a statement about the capacity to serve students there.”

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