Lifestyle

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LIFESTYLE 3/11/21 2:12pm

Elon Group X instructors innovate student exercise experience

By Gabriela Rivas-De Leon

While Group X instructors direct a workout class, they understand the fine line between fostering a safe environment and pushing participants to reach their full potential. A group exercise instructor at Elon University since her freshman year, Liv Mitchell is passionate about the community she creates in a workout class. 

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LIFESTYLE 3/10/21 9:06am

Chemistry professor highlights importance of diversity in STEM

By Madalyn Howard

Nyote Calixte knew by the age of 10 she wanted to become a doctor. It was the obvious choice — growing up, the Elon University professor was fascinated by all things science, and the subject came to her naturally. As a first-generation college student and Black woman pursuing a career in STEM, Calixte recognized she would be paving her own path to success. 

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LIFESTYLE 3/9/21 3:48pm

Studying abroad amid COVID-19 pandemic

By Cate McCahill and Caroline Donohue

Elon University junior Heeba Chergui was studying abroad in Jordan last spring when she and many other students across the globe were sent home at the start of the coronavirus pandemic. Determined to get her full experience abroad, Chergui is currently in Jordan for the second time. However, study abroad programs were not guaranteed for Elon students during the 2020-21 academic year. 

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LIFESTYLE 3/8/21 12:25pm

Elon’s virtual IFC recruitment to take place this spring

By Claire Schoenfeld

After many weeks of planning, IFC will be holding spring recruitment virtually from March 8 to March 14. All events will be held on Zoom to ensure physical distancing practices are followed and so men who are in quarantine or living off campus can participate. 

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LIFESTYLE 3/5/21 9:05am

Campus club empowers women, creates space for conversation

By Miranda Ferrante

I Am That Girl is a national organization that focuses on providing a safe environment for young women and girls to create open and vulnerable dialogue. For some members, the club is an opportunity to meet friends, but also to continue conversations on women’s issues.

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LIFESTYLE 3/2/21 1:14am

Elon sophomore starts cookie business

By Julianne Quinn

Sophomore Nathan Moskowitz realized that Elon’s campus was sorely lacking a cookie business after his friend drove to Raleigh just for a sweet-treat. Moskowitz is the owner and founder of the small baking operation, Nate’s Cookies, which he runs out of his apartment. Moskowitz said he has always been passionate about cooking and inspiring joy in others. 

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LIFESTYLE 3/1/21 10:40pm

Burlington woman raises mental health awareness with children's book

By Jinger Callwood

It was Adrienne Barr's now 15-year-old daughter Leah who inspired her to share her and Leah’s personal battles with anxiety to help others and uplift members of the Black community. This passion led to the creation of her book, “Dancing with Butterflies: Discovering Mindfulness Through Breathing.” 

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LIFESTYLE 2/26/21 8:17am

Tough topics inspire art, celebration of Black History Month

By Ellis Chandler

The 2021 Black History Month Dance Concert came with long hours of rehearsal and conversations that left dancers in tears of mixed emotions. The concert features numbers in dance styles like West African dance, a poet laureate of North Carolina and a live band. Unlike in past years where a recital occurred live, the cast and crew filmed the show in November, and the significance of the performance has only increased since.

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LIFESTYLE 2/25/21 12:04pm

Elon celebrates Love Your Body Week as it coincides with National Eating Disorder Awareness Week

By Annemarie Bonner

Feb. 22 through 26 is National Eating Disorder Awareness Week, which will coincide with the sixth year of Campus Recreation and Wellness’ Love Your Body Week. Campus Rec is working in partnership with Counseling Services, Elon Dining, the Produce Box and several other sponsors to create a week of events to promote all aspects of loving one’s body mentally, physically and emotionally. 

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LIFESTYLE 2/24/21 2:44pm

Greek life organizations forced to pause in-person activities

By Jack Norcross

Greek life organizations, the Panhellenic and Interfraternity Councils, are now working to revise their plans for recruitment after Elon University ordered all fraternity and sorority activity to move to completely virtual environments. The order, issued to greek organizations Sunday, aims to limit small group interactions amid the coronavirus pandemic after multiple reports of parties and unmasked social gatherings. 

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LIFESTYLE 2/23/21 12:20pm

Burlington baker uses generational skills at Black-owned business

By Brian Rea

Right next to the hustle and bustle of Route 49 in Burlington stands a gray brick house — separated from the road by a lawn — with a sign in the window that reads “life is sweet.” Inside, Alicia Wingate is living her childhood dream. Wingate learned how to bake from her mom and said she encourages aspiring Black and female business owners to take a leap and follow their dreams.

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LIFESTYLE 2/22/21 7:26pm

Elon senior turns art into business

By Olivia Roederer

Arielle Brochin began creating art in both her advanced high school art classes and in her free time. Eventually, she wanted to share this talent with others, so during COVID-19, she turned to Instagram to showcase her artwork. Brochin uses her platform to showcase the art she creates in both her free time and in her Elon art classes. 

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LIFESTYLE 2/22/21 1:33pm

Elon Girl Scouts forge through pandemic

By Madalyn Howard

The last time Troop 13214 met in person together was March 5, 2020, two days after the first confirmed case of COVID-19 was identified in North Carolina. Troop leader Rosie DeMario knew she had to make other plans for her troop going forward, and in April 2020, they began meeting weekly on Zoom. 

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LIFESTYLE 2/18/21 5:08pm

Elon alumna converts school buses into mobile homes

By Grace Terry

Elon University alum Megan Donahue ‘20 and her mother, Lisa, cover Tobius’ metal sides with paint looking for any spots that need touch-ups. Tobius is the latest bus the mother-daughter duo is transforming into a home under the banner of their company Live Simply. The company began as a way to honor Megan’s brother, Michael, who died in 2015 after getting hit by a car. 

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LIFESTYLE 2/17/21 6:38pm

Q&A with #silenced playwright and projection designer Sydney Dye

By Garrett May

#silenced tells the story of social media posts and comments about the leading up to, the fall of and the aftermath of the Confederate monument Silent Sam at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Sydney Dye is the playwright and projection designer behind the virtual production set to premiere Feb. 18, on the #silenced website.

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LIFESTYLE 2/17/21 1:23pm

Elon University sophomore creates Boundless Blackness company to raise awareness on racial injustice

By Jinger Callwood

The racial injustices repeatedly replayed on the news in the summer of 2020 were getting to Soniyah Robinson. Frustrated, the Elon University sophomore took action to raise awareness about police brutality and racial discrimination. Thus, Boundless Blackness was born out of Robinson’s passion for promoting racial equity.

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LIFESTYLE 2/16/21 1:22pm

Elon performing arts department restructures white caucus following students’ concerns

By Ellis Chandler

Elon University's performing arts department has postponed their white caucus to later this month after students urged the department chair and other faculty to rethink the event. This follows the cancellation of a similar event hosted by the School of Education. 

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LIFESTYLE 2/12/21 12:47pm

Vital Signs a cappella group to host their seventh annual Make-A-Wish benefit concert

By Sara Merullo

Vital Signs’ annual Make-A-Wish benefit concert will visually be different, but still showcase their talent and philanthropic work. The concert will be streamed on YouTube premiere Friday at 7 p.m. Members of the a cappella group said they will put on a show that will “feel like a concert,” but through a screen. This year's theme is "Spread the Love" as the concert takes place days before Valentine's Day.

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LIFESTYLE 2/8/21 3:36pm

Elon alumni find work while theaters remain dark

By Ellis Chandler

During a time where live theatre is at a standstill, Broadway professionals and Elon alumni have taken to television acting and even Tik Tok to continue their careers. One alumnus J.J.  Niemann starred in “Ratatouille: The TikTok Musical” which has raised over $2 million for The Actor’s Fund, a charity that supports workers in the performing arts and entertainment industries.

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LIFESTYLE 2/8/21 11:27am

Proud but wary, Elon music theatre students discuss pick for commencement speaker

By Miranda Ferrante

The university's announcement of Daniel J. Watts ‘04 as the 2021 undergraduate commencement speaker Friday incited both feelings of pride and apprehension from the student body, particularly from members of the class of 2021’s performing arts department. Some students believe the university could do more to support them during their undergraduate years

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