Lifestyle

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LIFESTYLE 11/21/25 4:23pm

Festival of Lights and Luminaries illuminates Elon year after year

By Megan Walsh

An event with roots as a traditional tree lighting in front of the Alamance Building, the current Festival of Lights and Luminaries celebration continues to light up campus. This year’s festival will be held Dec. 2 across the Historic Neighborhood and the Academic Pavilion. “A certain number of people couldn’t gather in the same place, so having everyone gathered in front of Alamance for that lighting simply was impossible,” Director of Multifaith Programming and Engagement Hillary Zaken said. “As it turns out, this is a much better way to celebrate the campus that we are and are becoming.”

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LIFESTYLE 11/17/25 11:33pm

Vietnamese-American writer breaks down poetry’s role in society

By Nia Bedard

For poet, essayist and novelist Ocean Vuong, there is no right or wrong answer about what you should take away from his work. “The beauty of writing is that everything is open to interpretation, and I'm never an author who can sit here and says to a reader, ‘you got it wrong,’” Vuong said. Former member of the Liberal Arts Forum, Emerson Garon, pitched for Vuong to come to Elon after being a long-time fan of his work and wanting to share his work. “His work needs to be shared, he is just so inspirational,” Garon said.

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LIFESTYLE 11/17/25 2:28pm

Community Closet ofrece a los residentes de Burlington ropa profesional gratuita

By Megan Walsh

La Biblioteca May Memorial de Burlington se llenó de percheros con ropa nueva o en buen estado donada para que los miembros de la comunidad la tomaran gratuitamente durante el evento "Armario Comunitario" de la Biblioteca Pública de Alamance. El evento, celebrado el 8 de noviembre, ofreció vestimenta profesional a quienes la necesitaban para cualquier necesidad profesional o transición laboral. Según la bibliotecaria y coordinadora del programa, Christina Rhone, este evento sirve como clausura del programa anual "Brújula Profesional" de la biblioteca, diseñado para ayudar a las personas a encontrar nuevos empleos o prepararse para incorporarse al mundo laboral.

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LIFESTYLE 11/13/25 9:06pm

Animatronic dinosaurs, deep-dish cookies bring families to Lowe’s parking lot

By Anjolina Fantaroni

The Lowe’s Home Improvement parking lot in Mebane wasn’t just filled with cars Nov. 13 — it was filled with animatronic dinosaurs and deep-dish cookies. Hosted by the traveling food truck I Heart Cookies, the event paired a dinosaur-themed attraction with cookies baked from scratch at the company’s bakery in Wichita, Kansas. “I was like, ‘What is this?’” Burlington resident Nicole Parker said. “I have never seen this before. It is really cool.“

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LIFESTYLE 11/10/25 11:16pm

Washington Post reporter discusses importance of political journalism

By Evan Cooper

When working at the Burlington Times-News as a crime reporter, Elon alum Natalie Allison ’13 never expected she would one day be flying on Air Force One as a member of the Washington Post White House press team. Allison spoke to attendees at Elon University on Nov. 10 in Turner Theatre, talking with Chair of the Journalism Department Anthony Hatcher about her journey to The Washington Post, her time as a reporter, and the role of journalism in politics. “It really shows that your first job doesn't have to be in D.C., it doesn't have to be a national outlet,” Allison said. “You can really work your tail off and still get there.”

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LIFESTYLE 11/10/25 6:33pm

Former South African ambassador reflects on 27 years of working in diplomacy

By Harrison Narens

Former ambassador Riaan Eksteen, a diplomat from South Africa, reflected on his 27 years of experience with the Elon community, before opening the floor for students and community members to ask questions. Eksteen offered advice to students. He emphasized that students can’t rely on their degrees alone. “This is why I say degrees are not directions, we need strong fundamentals; and proper tools. I learned it the hard way” Eksteen said. “I started as a young student in political science at the University of Victoria with the greens and a lot of shelves. But what I did still have was one thing and that is extreme ownership, I stopped waiting for opportunities.” 

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LIFESTYLE 11/9/25 10:12pm

‘Graze the Grid’ teaches Elon community about agrivoltaics

By Anjolina Fantaroni

Two new guests explored the Solar Farm at Elon University’s Loy Farm on Nov. 9. Penelope and Snowflake are two sheep that graze the grass underneath the solar panels to make the soil healthy for planting, according to Elon senior Ava Litzinger. The sheep are part of a wider project, led by an Elon environmental studies senior seminar called “Graze the Grid.” Litzinger is in the class and said the class is separated into different focus groups, such as clean energy in sustainable business practices. 

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LIFESTYLE 11/9/25 1:13pm

Peacehaven Community Farm grows mission of inclusion with new community center

By Anjolina Fantaroni

Peacehaven Community Farm, an 89-acre farm in Whitsett, North Carolina, that provides community housing, programs and an environment for adults living with intellectual and developmental disabilities, as well as a place for adults of all abilities to work and learn together is set to grow with the addition of a new 20,000-square-foot community center on its current property. “Society is really having it set up for this group of folks and their families, and so we’re trying to create change on what that looks like,” CEO of Peacehaven Community Farm Phelps Sprinkle said. 

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LIFESTYLE 11/9/25 1:13pm

La granja comunitaria Peaceheaven amplía su misión de inclusión con un nuevo centro comunitaria

By Anjolina Fantaroni

La Granja Comunitaria Peacehaven, una finca de 36 hectáreas en Whitsett, Carolina del Norte, que ofrece vivienda comunitaria, programas y un entorno para adultos con discapacidades intelectuales y del desarrollo, así como un espacio para que adultos de todas las capacidades trabajen y aprendan juntos, se expandirá con la construcción de un nuevo centro comunitario de 1.858 metros cuadrados en su propiedad actual. "La sociedad está adaptando sus recursos a este grupo de personas y sus familias, y por eso estamos intentando generar un cambio en cómo se ve esa integración", declaró Phelps Sprinkle, director ejecutivo de la Granja Comunitaria Peacehaven.

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LIFESTYLE 11/8/25 9:25pm

Elon’s fall dance concert explores duality of ‘Echoes and Currents’

By Megan Walsh

Body image, feminism, a battle of push and pull, invisible stories and the interconnection of a dancer and the audience are all themes explored in Elon University’s fall dance concert titled “Echoes and Currents.” Directed by performing arts professors Elijah Motley and Jen Guy Metcalf, the show will feature works from four facility members and four works from students. “Echoes and Currents” will run Nov. 14 to 16 in Roberts Studio Theatre located in Scott Studios. 

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LIFESTYLE 11/8/25 6:44pm

Community Closet provides Burlington residents with free professional attire

By Megan Walsh

Burlington’s May Memorial Library was filled with racks of new or gently used clothes donated for community members to take for free during the Alamance Public Library’s Community Closet event. The event held Nov. 8 offered professional attire for community members in need of clothing for any professional need or transition. According to librarian and program coordinator Christina Rhone, this event serves as the closing for the library's annual Career Compass program, geared to help people transition into new jobs or prepare to enter the workforce. 

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LIFESTYLE 11/7/25 9:22pm

Elon University celebrates second annual SUBFest

By Fiona McAllister

Elon University’s Student Union Board hosted their second annual SUBFest on Nov. 7. Young Commons was filled with live music from students, free food and student-run businesses. Elon University's radio station WSOE 89.3 was also featured and had a station where students could paint shirts and vinyl records. After months of planning, Elon senior and SUB’s special projects chair Caroline Reich said planning for this year’s festival felt less hectic than the year prior.  “This year I felt a lot more confident. I was almost like, ‘Man, I can't believe I was so nervous about this last year,’“ Reich said. 

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LIFESTYLE 11/7/25 12:49pm

El condado de Alamance promueve la eliminación segura de medicamentos no utilizados mediante eventos de entrega

By Alice Morrissey

En todo el condado de Alamance, los buzones para medicamentos no utilizados ofrecen a los residentes un acceso constante y conveniente a opciones seguras para desecharlos. La organización Ciudadanos de Alamance por una Comunidad Libre de Drogas, dedicada a la prevención y reducción del consumo indebido de sustancias en la comunidad, tiene buzones ubicados en el Departamento de Policía de Mebane, el Departamento de Policía de Burlington y la Oficina del Sheriff del Condado de Alamance en Graham. Además de estos buzones, la organización colabora con las fuerzas del orden locales al menos dos veces al año para organizar jornadas de recolección de medicamentos, donde los residentes pueden llevar medicamentos no utilizados para su eliminación segura.

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LIFESTYLE 11/7/25 12:49pm

Alamance County promotes safe disposal of unused medication with drop-off events

By Alice Morrissey

Across Alamance County, drop boxes for unused medications give residents consistent and convenient access to safe disposal options. Alamance Citizens for a Drug Free Community, an organization focused on preventing and reducing substance misuse within the community, have boxes stationed at the Mebane Police Department, the Burlington Police Department and the Alamance County Sheriff’s Office in Graham. In addition to these drop boxes, the organization also partners with local law enforcement at least twice a year to host medicine drop-off events, where residents can bring unused medications to be disposed of safely.

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LIFESTYLE 11/3/25 3:57pm

Waves of Puppetry: Paperhand Puppet Project spreads environmental awareness to North Carolina

By Anne Thyfault

Paperhand Puppet Project took over the Forest Theatre to present their annual show throughout August and September 2025. The show this year, “The Gift,” highlights stories surrounding water, its power and the importance of preservation, told through North Carolina water protectors and activists. This year marks the 25th anniversary of Paperhand Puppet Project’s production. The organization, recently turned nonprofit, officially began when Donovan Zimmerman met co-founder Jan Burger in 1998, starting the process of curating Paperhand Puppet Project into the production it has become today. Paperhand Puppet Project is set to continue and close out their production of “The Gift” in Asheville from November 7-9.

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LIFESTYLE 11/2/25 5:42pm

Elon alumna honored for supporting children of incarcerated parents

By Mia Torres

Yasmine Arington Brooks ‘15, was a junior in high school when she started a grassroots nonprofit scholarship program for children with incarcerated parents. Now she is an honoree of the L'Oréal Paris USA Women of Worth award. “I’m really grateful, especially in a time like this, because this type of visibility and of course you know the sisterhood that comes with it, and just meeting amazing women who are, who have just beautiful hearts and they're doing incredible things in their communities,” Brooks said.

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LIFESTYLE 10/31/25 9:03pm

Elon Gender & LGBTQIA Center embraces ‘spooky season’ with Fall Pride

By Elissa Leka

Elon University’s Gender & LGBTQIA Center’s mission is to create an inclusive space for all, where people learn to “support, advocate, and educate around gender and LGBTQIA identities.” For GLC events coordinator and Elon junior Maverick Powell the pumpkin painting table was a personal favorite. “I always volunteer to do the painting because I love painting, and I also love seeing some people come and pull up in their costumes,” Powell said. “I really want to be able to have a safe space on campus for other people to have fun and be comfortable with themselves.”

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LIFESTYLE 10/31/25 2:38pm

Room2Grow ofrece apoyo y educación a padres jóvenes y en situación de riesgo en el condado de Alamance

 

En un rincón de la sala de conferencias del Centro de Respuesta y Recursos para Víctimas de Agresión Sexual CrossRoads, Jekilah Suenu coloca con cuidado una pegatina en un vaso que dice: "¡Creciendo para ser la mejor versión de mí misma!". Mientras tanto, su madre, Brandy Daye-Suenu, prepara la sala para la clase de esa noche. Daye-Suenu es la fundadora de Room2Grow, una organización que ofrece clases educativas y terapéuticas para padres jóvenes y en situación de riesgo, de entre 16 y 30 años. "No contaban con los recursos necesarios para afrontar sus problemas emocionales y comprender cómo equilibrar la paternidad con su vida cotidiana", explicó Daye-Suenu.

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LIFESTYLE 10/31/25 2:38pm

Room2Grow offers support, education for young, at-risk parents

By Anjolina Fantaroni

In the corner of a conference room at CrossRoads Sexual Assault Response and Resource Center, Jekilah Suenu carefully places a sticker on a cup that reads, “Growing 2 Be the Best I Can Be!” Meanwhile, her mother, Brandy Daye-Suenu, prepares the room for the night’s class. Daye-Suenu is the founder of Room2Grow, an organization that hosts educational and therapeutic classes for at-risk and young parents 16 to 30 years old. “They didn’t have the resources to help them deal with what they were dealing with, emotionally, and understanding how to just balance being a parent and being a person in everyday living,” Daye-Suenu said.

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LIFESTYLE 10/30/25 11:39pm

Alamance County Sheriff's Trunk or Treat, builds relationship between community, law enforcement

By Abigail Haapapuro

For the second year in a row, Alamance County Sheriff's Office filled its parking lot with car’s trunks decked out in Halloween decorations and hosted its annual trunk or treat community outreach event Oct. 30. Alamance County Sheriff Terry Johnson said the biggest drive to host the event was the shared desire to create a safe space for the children to celebrate Halloween in their community.“Right now, I think our society is a very dangerous place for our children, so we talked and decided we would host a trunk or treat in our own parking lot,” Johnson said. 

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