National

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NEWS 9/20/24 11:27am

Latinx-Hispanic Union commemorates seventh anniversary

By Audrey Geib

The Latinx-Hispanic Union, more commonly known as LHU, celebrated its seventh birthday as an on-campus organization Sept. 17. LHU vice president Carlos Gomez Lopez said even as a first-year attending events, he could tell that the members worked hard to create a comfortable space, making LHU feel like a home away from home. According to Elon’s Diversity Dashboard, more than 78% of the student body identifies as white, making Elon a predominantly white institution. Martinez-Jimenez said having organizations such as LHU, the Black Student Union and El Centro are important to campuses like Elon to ensure that its students feel like they belong here.

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NEWS 9/20/24 12:02am

Elon University common reading encourages students to save planet by uplifting people

By Nia Bedard

Leah Thomas, author of Elon University’s 2024 common reading book, “The Intersectional Environmentalist: How to Dismantle Systems of Oppression to Protect People + Planet,” spoke Sept. 19 in Alumni Gym as a part of Elon University’s speaker series. As the author of the 2024 common reading book, which analyzes how environmentalism and social injustices intersect, Thomas spoke to the audience about her decision to delve into environmental communications and what inspired her to write her book. 

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NEWS 9/19/24 10:43pm

Elon alumna highlights importance of food security in North Carolina

By Monika Jurevicius

Elon University alumna Yasmeen Lee ’20 spoke to the Elon community about “food equality” and the historical inequities of the North Carolina food system as part of the Data Nexus “Powerful Women in Data” series. The event in LaRose Commons on Sept. 19 highlighted Lee’s work with the Food Insight Group focused on qualitative community-based research that examined how diverse communities engage with food production. Data Nexus is part of Elon’s quality enhancement plan that focuses on data competency, according to program director Crista Arangala. The program educates students on data literacy, foundational statistical competency and advanced data competency.

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NEWS 9/19/24 4:01pm

Author of 2024 common reading emphasizes compassion in environmental movement

By Ryan Kupperman

Leah Thomas is the author of Elon University’s 2024 common reading book, “The Intersectional Environmentalist: How to Dismantle Systems of Oppression to Protect People + Planet.” As an environmentalist and self-proclaimed eco-communicator, her book analyzes the intersection between environmentalism and various social injustices. Elon News Network sat down with Thomas ahead of her common reading lecture scheduled for 7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 19 in Alumni Gym. According to Thomas, to be an intersectional environmentalist is to care about both people and the planet. Beyond the role of intersectional environmentalist, Thomas is also the founder of a non-profit organization of the same name.

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NEWS 9/19/24 12:07pm

First class of ABSS Dual Language Immersion program prepares to graduate college

By Nia Bedard

Alamance-Burlington School System’s first class of the Dual Language Immersion program is preparing to graduate college this spring. The program was instituted in some ABSS public schools through Participate Learning, an educational consulting firm focused on global education and primarily teaches students Spanish. Elon senior Annelise Weaver was a student in the Dual Language Immersion program at Elon Elementary after she and her family moved to Alamance County when she was in the first grade.

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LIFESTYLE 9/18/24 11:15pm

Ay! Jarabe Mexicano celebrates border life at Elon University

By Lilly Molina

“Ayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy!” Maracas shake and the guitarrón strums a tune. This might have been Jarabe Mexicano’s first time in North Carolina, but it got the crowd dancing Sept. 18 in McCrary Theatre. “Ay!” is a grito — or “rallying cry” — that originated in Mexican culture. It is often an interjection singers will say while singing and could be heard Wednesday night at Jarabe Mexicano’s performance. Jeff Clark, executive director of Cultural and Special Programs, was in charge of bringing the band to campus and said he was looking for more than just a mariachi band. 

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NEWS 9/18/24 10:39am

Elon’s faculty union launches petition

By Avery Sloan

Elon’s Faculty Union is looking to increase its visibility on campus — and looking for answers from the administration, Susan Ladd, union president, said. The lack of response from Elon’s administration and adjunct faculty’s names continuing to be left off of OnTrack during class registration has led the union to release a petition, open to all faculty, staff and students to sign. During class the class registration period, adjunct professors were listed as “Staff” on OnTrack for classes they knew they would be teaching. This was not a part of the union agreement and adjunct faculty were not aware this change would be coming.

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NEWS 9/18/24 8:07am

2024 Hispanic Heritage Month events calendar

By Elon News Network

Hispanic Heritage Month is celebrated nationally from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15 each year. El Centro — Elon University’s educational and cultural hub for engagement, collaboration, advocacy and more within the Latinx / Hispanic community — hosts a month-long celebration for the community to explore and engage with Latinx and Hispanic cultures. This time period marks the independence anniversaries of several Latin American nations, including Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua. Additionally, Mexico and Chile commemorate their independence on Sept. 16 and Sept. 18.

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SPORTS 9/17/24 11:08am

Elon senior faces off with hockey, academics

By Monika Jurevicius

High Point University women’s hockey captain and Elon senior Melanie Joy “MJ” Volpe had her biggest birthday surprise when she scored a hat trick that secured a 9-2 win against Virginia Tech University at the Atlantic Coast Collegiate Hockey League Championships. However, she said her dream would be to wear an Elon women’s hockey jersey, when in reality there is only a men’s club hockey team on campus. Elon alumna Grace Moroney and the High Point men's and women's coaches created the women’s team in the 2021-22 season with a majority of Elon students on its roster.

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NEWS 9/16/24 1:29pm

Jarabe Mexicano band brings border stories to life at Elon University

By Lilly Molina

Mexican folk, reggae, rock and roll and cumbia are some of the genres Jarabe Mexicano plans to play at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 18 in McCrary Theatre. At the heart of the performance, Jarabe Mexicano sings about their experiences of living at the border. Gustavo Alcoser, the lead singer, said there is a lot that goes on in their show, but at the core, it is their experiences at the border. Jarabe Mexicano visiting Elon’s campus is one of many events hosted for Hispanic Heritage Month which lasts from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15.

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OPINIONS 9/16/24 12:45pm

OPINION: Rediscovering Elon after studying abroad

By Halli Harwood

Hands down, studying abroad was the best experience of my entire life. I never knew I had the capacity to appreciate and miss the experience as much as I do. I had five months of absolute autonomy and a long list of life lessons that made my time in Australia freeing and full of growth. Elon is known for their study abroad programs and roughly 88% of students go abroad in some capacity before graduating. Yet, I had never heard other people discuss the challenges they faced when they returned.

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NEWS 9/15/24 1:35pm

SGA cracks down on a cappella funding

By Nia Bedard

A cappella organization Vital Signs is scrambling to find funding for events after no longer receiving usual allocation from Elon's Student Government Association. Aidan Coy, Vital Signs president, said the a cappella presidents were scheduled to meet with the SGA executive board on Sept. 6 to discuss this, but SGA canceled the meeting the day prior. Coy, along with all other a capella presidents, received an email from the SGA Executive Board on May 14 stating “the Student Government Association will no longer allocate funds to support events that require students to purchase tickets.”

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SPORTS 9/14/24 10:13pm

Elon University football falls to Western Carolina

By Miles Hayford

The Elon University football team lost its home opener 24-17 to Western Carolina University in a game defined by turnovers and mistakes. As the players ran onto the field, smoke trailing them, the excitement for the home opener Sept. 14 was palpable. A generous crowd had shown up to Rhodes Stadium. This crowd was rewarded early with some entertaining play. Elon started their first drive with a spark of trickery, employing an end-around rush by wide receiver senior Chandler Brayboy that resulted in 16 yards. Elon continues a four game home stretch, playing East Tennessee University next week.

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SPORTS 9/14/24 3:42pm

Former Elon volleyball player returns to coach

By Miles Hayford

The Elon volleyball team has a familiar face this year. Two years after leaving Elon with numerous accolades from her time on the volleyball team, Haylie Clark has returned to Elon’s campus as an assistant coach. During her time at Elon as a student-athlete, Clark played volleyball under head coach Mary Tendler from 2018-22. She earned many achievements during her time, including being named to the 2021 All-Coastal Athletic Association Second Team and the 2021 CAA Setter of the Year. She also racked up 349 kills, 879 digs, 142 blocks and 113 aces during her time at Elon.

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LIFESTYLE 9/14/24 11:35am

Hillsborough tattoo shop celebrates Friday the 13th with discounts

By Abigail Hobbs

With 56 people coming to get tattooed on Friday, Sept. 13, shop owner and tattoo artist Lillian — aka “Honeybadger” — said Friday the 13th specials started as a way to lean into the negative stereotypes that come with tattoos. Inkognito Tattoo Studio — a minority and woman-owned studio — offered $31 tattoos with $13 tips from a set of designs called flash. Elon juniors and roommates Ash Crouse and Brooke Boozer got their first tattoos at the event due to the discount. Inkognito will be hosting another Friday the 13th discount event Dec. 13.

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NEWS 9/13/24 9:54am

New restaurant under construction at Park Place

By Aidan Powley

Rosemary’s is under construction at the previous location of Mediterranean Deli and the first floor of Park Place, one of Elon’s on-campus apartment buildings. According to the restaurant’s website, Rosemary’s is an Italian restaurant with several locations around New York, specializing in seasoned Italian cooking and neighborly hospitality. It will be located at 202 W. Haggard Avenue and will seek to tailor to all members of the Elon community, according to Derek Bates, owner of the new location and Elon graduate ’85.

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NEWS 9/12/24 6:20pm

Elon University sees 7.4% decrease in first-year enrollment

By Charlotte Pfabe and Ryan Kupperman

The Office of the Registrar released its fall 2024 report Sept. 12, which revealed a 7.4% decrease in first-year enrollment with 1,719 students in the class of 2028. The last time first-year enrollment was below this number was in 2021. Last year, the class of 2027 accounted for 1,857 students. The report includes data on student admissions; religious tradition demographics; county, state and country breakdowns; and enrollment by major. Notably, total undergraduate enrollment increased by only 50 students from 6,402 in fall 2023 to 6,452 in fall 2024.

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NEWS 9/12/24 5:36pm

Vice President Kamala Harris speaks at Greensboro focusing on healthcare, cost of living

By Avery Sloan

Vice President Kamala Harris is expected to speak at 7 p.m. at the Greensboro Coliseum. This event is a part of her campaign’s New Way Forward battleground tour, with the goal of reaching undecided voters. This is her second event in North Carolina today and both campaigns have already visited North Carolina multiple times this month. But, in a recent YouGov poll conducted after the presidential debate this week, Harris is ahead in the polls among voters who said they watched the debate. Notably, 54.4% of voters asked in the poll felt Harris won the debate, 31.3% felt Trump won and 14.3% were unsure.

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LIFESTYLE 9/12/24 3:28pm

Buddhist monk creates annual sand mandala at Elon University

By Sarah T. Moore

For Hillary Zaken, Elon’s sand mandala tradition is an important piece of starting the fall semester. The Green Tara sand mandala is created by Geshe Palden Sangpo, a Tibetan Buddhist monk of the Kadampa Center in Raleigh. Sangpo began working on the design Sept. 11 and will finish — and destroy — the mandala at 3 p.m. Sept. 13 in the Numen Lumen Pavilion. Zaken is the interim assistant dean of multifaith engagement at Elon and said beyond bringing greater multifaith understanding to campus, the sand mandala shows students that nothing is permanent.

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SPORTS 9/12/24 10:16am

Elon University soccer program remains undefeated, stands atop Division I

By Miles Hayford

Elon University’s soccer program is red-hot right now. The first few weeks of games have gone extremely well for the Phoenix, and both soccer teams are playing incredible on the field. Between the men’s and women’s combined 9-0 record, the program is on a tour of wins as the soccer season begins. Elon soccer is the only current program in all of Division I to be undefeated and untied. Additionally, men’s soccer is ranked No.  20 in the nation by the United Soccer Coaches Poll — the first time the team has reached the top 20 since 2015.

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