Lifestyle

---

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.

---

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.

---

LIFESTYLE 9/27/25 10:37am

Elon University receives honorable mention from Playbill magazine

By Mia Torres

Earlier this year, Elon University’s Department of Performing Arts was ranked 23rd on a list of world’s best drama schools for 2025. Now, it has another accomplishment to add to its repertoire. Playbill, a world-renowned theatre magazine, recognized Elon for having over 20 alumni currently on Broadway. It was joined on this list by New York University, Yale and Juilliard. Playbill states Elon is one of a “few honorable mentions that just barely missed making the top 10.” The magazine analyzed Broadway actors from 2024 to 2025, including where they attended college. 

---

LIFESTYLE 9/26/25 12:32pm

‘I don’t fit in, but I’ll find my home everywhere’: where LGBTQ+, Latine identities intersect

By Nia Bedard

Elon University English professor Meleena Gil, who identifies as a queer non-binary Latinx person, has found that being in the South and in North Carolina has allowed people within those identities to find ways to build community and protect each other. Gil has also found those outside those identities who also support people within them find ways to do the same. “Being in North Carolina — we are in the South — there’s something really beautiful about the ways that people have been taking it upon themselves to educate themselves and educate each other on what is effective allyship,” Gil said. “How do we take care of each other, protect each other? How do we circumvent police force?

---

LIFESTYLE 9/26/25 12:32pm

‘No encajo, pero encontraré mi hogar en todos lados’: donde se cruzan las identidades LGBTQ+ y latine

By Nia Bedard

Meleena Gil, profesora de inglés de la Universidad de Elon y quien se identifica como una persona latina queer no binaria, ha descubierto que vivir en el sur y en Carolina del Norte ha permitido a las personas con esas identidades encontrar maneras de construir comunidad y protegerse mutuamente. Gil también ha descubierto que quienes no pertenecen a esas identidades y que también apoyan a quienes pertenecen a ellas encuentran maneras de hacer lo mismo. "Estando en Carolina del Norte —estamos en el sur— hay algo realmente hermoso en la forma en que las personas se han encargado de educarse y educarse mutuamente sobre lo que es una alianza efectiva", dijo Gil. "¿Cómo nos cuidamos y nos protegemos mutuamente? ¿Cómo evadimos a la policía?

---

LIFESTYLE 9/20/25 8:57pm

Annual Hispanic Heritage Month Kickoff celebrates culture, identities at Elon University

By Sarah T. Moore

Music filled Medallion Plaza as two Salsa dancers counted out steps for the crowd as pairs of students followed along. Hips swayed and feet tapped along the brick as attendees danced. The dance lesson was part of Elon University’s Hispanic Heritage Month Kickoff event Sept. 19. Peiwei Cobo and James Cobo are dancers and instructors at CoboBrothers Dance Company in Raleigh. “A lot of people do hear about it, but they don't get to actually experience it,” Peiwei said. “It is a big difference when you see it on social media, when you see other people doing it, then being a part of it.”

---

LIFESTYLE 9/20/25 11:23am

More than cars: Alamance County’s lowriders bring culture, community

By Keely Garcia and Lilly Molina

Lowriding is a car culture, significant within Mexican-American culture, that involves customizing cars with hydraulics in order to move them up and down. To spectators, this might seem intriguing, but to Maria this is a way of life. Maria Leon and her husband Salvador are members of the Lowyalty Car Club, Alamance County’s lowriding car club and have a a light gold 1989 Lincoln Town Car. Despite having the Lincoln for two years now, Maria and Salvador joined Lowyalty a month ago.

---

LIFESTYLE 9/20/25 11:23am

Más que autos: los “lowriders” de Alamance County aportan cultura y comunidad

By Keely Garcia and Lilly Molina

El lowriding es una cultura automovilística, importante en la cultura mexicoamericana, que consiste en personalizar los autos con sistemas hidráulicos para moverlos hacia arriba y hacia abajo. Para los espectadores, esto puede parecer intrigante, pero para María es una forma de vida. María León y su esposo Salvador son miembros del Lowyalty Car Club, el club de lowriding del condado de Alamance, y tienen un Lincoln Town Car dorado claro de 1989. A pesar de tener el Lincoln desde hace dos años, María y Salvador se unieron a Lowyalty hace un mes.

---

LIFESTYLE 9/19/25 11:16am

Elon University’s fall play explores the concept of truth

By Emma Perman and Megan Walsh

Audiences will grapple with the concept of truth and reality in Elon University’s fall play “Describe the Night.” “Describe the Night,” written by Rajiv Joseph, takes place across different periods of time, such as the 1920s Soviet Union and Russia in the 2010s. The show will run with evening shows at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 3, 4, 6 and 7 and afternoon shows at 2:00 p.m. Oct. 4 and 5 in Roberts Studio Theatre in Scott Studios. Ticket reservations will be available on the Elon Performing Arts website on Sept. 26.  

---

LIFESTYLE 9/18/25 7:33am

Exrepresentante de Carolina del Norte forja un camino para la defensa de derechos latinos

By Anjolina Fantaroni

El exrepresentante estatal de Carolina del Norte, Ricky Hurtado, es hijo de dos inmigrantes salvadoreños que huyeron de la guerra civil del país en 1980. Hurtado es cofundador de LatinxEd, una organización sin fines de lucro que promueve el desarrollo del liderazgo y la equidad educativa en Carolina del Norte. Comentó que la Universidad de Elon ofrece varios recursos que apoyan a la comunidad latina tanto dentro como fuera del campus. "Algunos estudiantes han realizado prácticas con nosotros, utilizan este recurso cuando lo necesitan, y siempre encontramos maneras de colaborar con otros programas e iniciativas que se llevan a cabo en el campus", dijo Hurtado.

---

LIFESTYLE 9/18/25 7:33am

Former NC representative forges path for Latino advocacy

By Anjolina Fantaroni

Former North Carolina state Rep. Ricky Hurtado was born to two Salvadoran immigrants who fled the country's civil war in 1980. Hurtado is the co-founder of LatinxEd, a nonprofit that promotes leadership development and education equity across North Carolina. He said Elon University offers several resources that support the Latine community both on and off campus. "Students have interned with us, use this as a resource as needed, and we always find ways to collaborate with other programs and initiatives happening on campus as well," Hurtado said.  

---

LIFESTYLE 9/17/25 10:06pm

Labubus make their entrance onto Elon University’s campus

By Lilly Molina

From Beyonce’s Cowboy Carter World Tour to Elon University’s campus, junior Andrew Kochman’s Labubu has been with him every step of the way. “She goes everywhere with me — in the car, on campus, on a plane,” Kochman said. “She’s been to four states.” Though Pop Mart, a Chinese company that sells collectables, introduced the toys in October 2023, during this past summer, only one thing has been coming up on students' social media: Labubus. The plushies come in different series or themes and due to high demand, each blind box can range from $30 to $100. 

---

LIFESTYLE 9/15/25 10:28am

‘You think you’re invincible until you’re not’: Student returns to Elon University after medical leave

By Charlotte Pfabe

Lexi Rogers didn’t expect to have to celebrate her 21st birthday back home. “Worst 21st birthday ever,” Rogers said. Rogers finished her first round of chemotherapy right before her birthday in February. Rogers was later diagnosed with a rare form of non-Hodgkin lymphoma called primary mediastinal B-cell lymphoma. "If I can even help one person just realize that something’s wrong and go to the doctor, even if they don’t have lymphoma, just to go to the doctor and get everything checked out, like that’s all I could really ask for,” Rogers said.

---

LIFESTYLE 9/13/25 2:09pm

Elon University’s Black Student Union struts out for fashion show

By Harrison Narens

Elon University’s Black Student Union hosted their Art around the World fashion show on Sept. 12 in Alumni Gym in collaboration with Late Night Elon, taking the audience around the world without even hopping on a plane. “Truly, all of these students did amazing work. I’m so proud of our Elon community coming together especially as a student of color,” Elon freshman Ernesto Arellano-Perez said. “It's important that we have events like these to really show the diversity here at Elon.”

---

LIFESTYLE 9/12/25 7:15pm

Elon University Truitt Center destroys annual sand mandala

By Emma Luckman

The Sacred Space in Numen Lumen was filled with members of the Elon community and beyond as Tibetan Buddhist monks Geshe Sangpo and Geshe Tenzin from the Kadampa Center pushed the vibrant sand of the Green Tara sand mandala into the middle of a table to represent that nothing is permanent. Hillary Zaken, Director of Multifaith Programming and Engagement at Elon University, said starting the year off with a strong symbol of peace within the sacred space, is essential to harmonious academics. “The beginning of the year is hectic,” Zaken said. “Everyone's coming in from all kinds of different places. "

---

LIFESTYLE 9/12/25 5:24pm

Eso! Jarabe Mexicano returns to perform at Elon

By Lilly Molina

On Sept. 11, Jarabe Mexicano played their Fiesta and Familia program in McCrary Theatre. This is Jarabe Mexicano’s second time on campus after performing last year. During Jarabe Mexicano’s last visit to Elon, they were in a rush to get back to the West Coast, according to Acoser. However, this time the band has time to check out the local community. “We often like to go out and visit your community and go see the sites or both,” Alcoser said. “Maybe visit the Hispanic community, the nearest Hispanic community.”

---

LIFESTYLE 9/11/25 3:12pm

Elon University Truitt Center hopes to start year with community, compassion with annual sand mandala ceremony

By Nia Bedard

Elon University’s Truitt Center for Religious & Spiritual Life welcomed Tibetan Buddhist monks Geshe Sangpo and Geshe Tenzin from the Kadampa Center in Raleigh for the center’s twelfth annual Green Tara Sand Mandala Ceremony at Numen Lumen. “It is appropriate at the beginning of the school year to conduct, to sort of allow those feelings of compassion, peace and harmony to ripple throughout our space, throughout our campus, throughout our students,” multifaith second-year leadership intern at the Truitt Center Lizbeth Torres-Tomas said. 

---

LIFESTYLE 9/5/25 8:17pm

Elon University students paint, plant at Community Garden

By Emma Luckman

Sustainability-focused student organizations including the Garden Club, Student Sierra Coalition, an organization that focuses on environmental conservation, and Elon’s environmental fraternity, Kappa Alpha Omicron, worked with the Office of Sustainabilitygathered at Elon University’s Community Garden to paint pots and plant succulents at Planting for the Planet on Sept. 5. The event provided attendees with a way to meet new people, connect with nature and learn about climate change. “The planet is getting warmer,” Associate Director of Sustainability for Education and Outreach Kelly Harer said. ”What we do in the Office of Sustainability is bring people together because it can be really scary.”

---

LIFESTYLE 9/3/25 12:00am

Best of 2026

By Elon News Network

Based on surveys of students, faculty, staff, and local residents, Best of 2026 highlights the best food, local businesses, sports and more in the area, providing a curated guide to community favorites.

---

LIFESTYLE 9/2/25 10:34pm

Class of 2026 reflects on journey at annual kickoff

By Katrina Holtz

The class of 2026 gathered for Senior Kickoff Under the Oaks on Sept. 2, marking the first official event of the year for seniors. For many students, the kickoff was a chance to pause and appreciate the journey from convocation to commencement. Environmental science major Olivia Levy said standing Under the Oaks again brought her back to the start of her time at Elon. “It feels like it’s coming full circle,” Levy said. “I’m really proud of all my accomplishments, and I’m excited to see what I do next. I want to contribute to the planet and see real solutions made.”

---