News

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NEWS 6/5/23 10:42pm

Elon Black Alumni Network prioritizes its community following social media troll

By Ryan Kupperman and Avery Sloan

Elon's Black Alumni Network prioritizes its community and highlights its support for Black alumni after a social media troll account titled “Elon White Alumni” mimicked EBAN's presence and mission to unite and represent the interests of Black alumni by empowering, connecting and celebrating Elon’s Black community.  The account contains posts dedicated to “celebrating white excellence at Elon University” and “triggering and trolling” other users who are upset by the rhetoric promoted on the page. In the account description, it contains the hashtags “WeAreEwan” and “parody.”

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NEWS 6/1/23 1:39pm

Elon University hires first associate provost for inclusive excellence

By Abigail Hobbs

Elon University hires communications professor Naeemah Clark as the first associate provost for academic inclusive excellence. The new role will be responsible for promoting inclusivity in academic spaces, supporting diverse faculty and guiding campus initiatives and programs. Clark has previously chaired the Core Curriculum council and directed the School of Communications Fellows Program, as well as served in the LGBTQIA advisory council, the inclusive community council and the task force for LGBTQIA faculty, staff and students.  

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NEWS 5/26/23 4:35pm

Burlington Police Department selects next police chief

By Sophie Rosenthal

The Burlington Police Department selects Burlington native Alan Balog as its next police chief. Balog has worked in law enforcement for 18 years. In his current role, he oversees patrol, criminal investigations and 911 dispatching. Throughout his career, he has served in supervisory roles within the patrol, criminal investigations and professional standards divisions. Balog is set to take over after current Police Chief Brian Long retires in June.

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NEWS 5/19/23 11:39am

Elon University’s class of 2023 rises from the ashes

By Ryan Kupperman

The class of 2023 was honored at Elon's 133rd commencement ceremony May 19 in Schar Center. The day was split into two ceremonies — one for the College of Arts and Sciences and School of Education, and the other for the School of Business and School of Communications. Senior class president Lily Kays deemed graduating students "the class of the Phoenix." Keynote speaker Ashton Newhall ’98 encouraged graduates to bring the aspects that make Elon unique, such as its culture of passion and engagement, to the outside world. 

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NEWS 5/18/23 8:46pm

Elon University graduating seniors join U.S. military during Air Force, Army commissioning ceremonies

By Joseph Navin

Elon University graduating seniors formally joined the U.S. military during the Air Force and Army commissioning ceremonies hosted in Whitley Auditorium on May 18. Former ROTC cadets took oaths and were honored with pins as they prepare for their assignments after graduation.

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NEWS 5/18/23 8:15pm

Elon University’s seventh annual Donning of the Kente ceremony cherishes African roots, heritage

By Ryan Kupperman

Elon University’s seventh annual Donning of the Kente ceremony cherishes graduating students' African roots and heritage. Each graduate received a stole made of kente cloth imported from West Africa, which was presented to them by family, a mentor or friend of their choosing. The event consisted of a dance of celebration, an invocation from the Rev. and Dean of Multifaith Engagement Kirstin Boswell and a welcoming from Elon Black Alumni Network President Akilah Weaver into the EBAN community.

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NEWS 5/18/23 3:58pm

Elon University Celebremos honors Latinx, Hispanic graduates

By Avery Sloan

Elon University Celebremos event honors Latinx, Hispanic graduates with stole presentations and words from seniors, faculty and alumni. The bilingual ceremony took place May 18 in the upstairs Lakeside meeting rooms, where hispanic students reflected on their inclusion and experiences in Elon's El Centro community. Graduating seniors were presented their stoles and thanked their family, friends and faculty members for supporting them through their time at Elon.

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NEWS 5/18/23 1:49pm

Elon University selects School of Communications dean

By Ryan Kupperman

Elon University has selected Kenn Gaither as its next School of Communications dean. Gaither will begin the role June 1 after serving as the interim dean since August. He has also been at Elon for nearly two decades in the communications department. Gaither said he plans to lead through his four C's: communication, collaboration, culture and community.

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NEWS 5/17/23 10:03pm

Elon University graduate programs award Masters degrees at commencement ceremony

By Sophie Rosenthal

Elon University awarded 98 graduate students Masters degrees and oak samplings at the graduate commencement ceremony May 17. The ceremony was held in Alumni Gym and recognized graduates of Elon’s six graduate programs — including masters of science in accounting and in business analytics, master of business administration, masters of arts in interactive media and higher education and master of education. The commencement speaker was David Young, an Alamance County native and the CEO of a global education organization called Participate Learning based in Chapel Hill.

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NEWS 5/17/23 3:05pm

Elon University Board of Trustees names new youth trustee

By Naomi Washington

Elon University Board of Trustees named Megan Curling ’23 the new youth trustee. She is set to serve a two-year term on the board, ending May 2025. Curling will graduate from Elon on Friday with a degree in public health studies and journalism with a minor in human service studies.  

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NEWS 5/17/23 12:30am

Elon University celebrates class of 2023 through baccalaureate ceremony

By Sophie Rosenthal , Naomi Washington and Avery Sloan

The Numen Lumen Senior Baccalaureate was held May 16 in the Alumni Gym. The ceremony included reflections and readings from seniors, music, prayer and a candlelight ceremony. Seniors were each given an oak sapling to symbolize their time and growth at Elon, as freshmen are given an acorn during New Student Convocation to begin their Elon experience. 

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NEWS 5/13/23 9:05pm

Gov. Roy Cooper vetoes abortion bill at rally in Raleigh

By Joseph Navin

North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper vetoes Senate Bill 20 at a rally in Raleigh May 13. The bill would limit abortions from 20 weeks to 12 weeks. Cooper said opposed SB20 because he said it was reckless that both Republican-dominated houses of the General Assembly passed the bill within 48 hours. SB20 would also place further restrictions on reproductive rights if it were to become a law.

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NEWS 5/13/23 12:47am

Gov. Roy Cooper to veto abortion bill at Raleigh rally

By Abigail Hobbs

Gov. Roy Cooper is scheduled to veto SB20, an abortion bill that would limit abortions from 20 weeks to 12 weeks, at a Raleigh rally May 13. The bill is titled "Care for Women, Children, and Families Act." This rally follows Cooper's "abortion roundtables" in Mecklenburg County on May 9 and New Haven County on May 10 to encourage legislators to uphold his veto.

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NEWS 5/10/23 5:42pm

Dating, disclosing sexually transmitted infections on Elon University’s campus

By Margaret Faust

Elon University’s Student Health Services and SPARKS group work to eliminate stigma about sexually transmitted infections across campus through sexual health education, as well as guidance on how to disclose an STI to a partner. An anonymous student shares their experiences with being assaulted and communicating with sexual partners after contracting an STI.

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NEWS 5/10/23 4:49pm

Family of anatomical ‘silent teacher’ attends Elon University’s Human Donor Memorial

By Ryan Kupperman

For the first time ever, family members of a human donor in Elon University’s Undergraduate Human Anatomy Laboratory attended the Human Donor Memorial held at the end of each semester. Guest speaker and Chaplain Emeritus Richard McBride also submitted his consent papers during the event, solidifying the donation of his body to Elon's Anatomical Gift Program after death. Students and faculty got to hear about the life of one of their donors from their family members at the memorial, as well as see and hear about why McBride decided to donate his body.

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NEWS 5/9/23 6:00pm

Southern Alamance Middle School teacher terminated, faces additional indecent liberties charges

By Miranda Ferrante

The Alamance Burlington Board of Education voted to terminate the employment of Ivan Danilo Ardila-Perez, a Southern Middle School teacher, during its work session Tuesday. Perez, 37, had been a Spanish teacher and soccer coach. According to a press release, detectives with the Special Victims Unit served Perez four additional warrants on Monday. He is being charged on each warrant with one count of indecent liberties with a student and one count of felony indecent liberties with a child. 

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NEWS 5/8/23 10:50pm

Friends, teammates honor Elon University junior with tattoos

By Annemarie Bonner

Some of Elon University junior Jackson Yelle’s friends honor him through getting tattoos. Yelle died after what is being investigated as a hit-and-run in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina on April 30. Yelle's club baseball teammate, Elon junior Garrett Fitschen, got the words "This is the Life" tattooed on the back of his shoulder, as it was something Yelle said while at the beach. Fitschen said the tattoo commemorates Yelle's "no regret" attitude toward living life.

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NEWS 5/8/23 10:30am

Elon University Trustee Emeritus Jack Lindley dies at 88

By Avery Sloan

Elon University Trustee Emeritus Jack Lindley died May 5 at the age of 88. Lindley served 17 years as a trustee and five as trustee emeritus. He was a member of Elon’s Order of the Oak, Elon’s giving society. He and his wife, Dorothy, created the Jack R. and Dorothy C. Lindley Scholarship to support Alamance County students attending Elon.  

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NEWS 5/6/23 10:18pm

Elon University celebrates class of 2023 Odyssey scholars

By Sarah T. Moore

Elon University celebrates the accomplishments of 35 graduating Odyssey scholars for the class of 2023. Kellcee Batchelor ’18 gave the ceremony’s keynote address an Odyssey alum and asked students to always prioritize their values, impact and purpose — what he referred to as the VIP framework. University President Connie Book started the celebration acknowledging the newest cohort of Odyssey scholars, class of 2027, as the largest cohort yet with 57 participants. 

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NEWS 5/6/23 11:30am

Elon University’s 11th Lavender Graduation celebrates LGBTQIA graduates

By Erin Hroncich

Elon University’s Gender and LGBTQIA Center celebrated its largest student participation in the Lavender Graduation ceremony’s 11-year history with 81 participants on May 5. Each participant at Lavender Graduation — which celebrates graduating seniors who identify within the LGBTQIA communities — received a rainbow stole, lavender graduation cap, rainbow tassel and certificate. According to the GLC’s website, the ceremony is held at over 100 campuses across the country and is funded fully by donations to the GLC. 

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