News

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NEWS 4/30/25 10:31am

Elon University names student commencement speaker

By Charlotte Pfabe

Elon senior Craig Brandstetter was selected as the student undergraduate commencement speaker on April 30, according to an email sent to seniors by Vice President for Student Life Jon Dooley. Brandstetter will deliver the message of appreciation on behalf of the graduating class of 2025 during the Undergraduate Commencement ceremonies on Friday, May 23. In February 2024, the Student Government Association announced that all seniors who meet the application criteria would have the chance to apply to speak at the 2024 graduation ceremony. Previously, the senior class president automatically gained the spot.

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NEWS 4/29/25 3:26pm

Elon Poll finds Americans expect higher prices due to tariffs

By Trista Panagakos

A poll conducted by Elon University Poll surveyed 1,000 U.S. adults and found 80% of respondents anticipate higher prices due to President Trump’s trade policies. On April 2, Trump announced 10% tariffs on all countries and separate tailored tariffs on other countries such as China, who Trump has placed 145% tariffs on. Elon Poll found partisan divides among respondents about how higher tariffs will impact respondents' financial situations. The poll found 90% of Democrat respondents had much higher concern compared to 41% of Republican respondents. 

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NEWS 4/29/25 2:11pm

East Burlington comes together to protect equity, provide a voice

By Julia Donaghy

For years, there have been local efforts to remediate the 22-acre property once called the Tarheel Army Missile Plant. From 1942 to 2004, it was owned by the U.S. Department of Defense and previously leased to Western Electric, an electrical engineering and manufacturing company, to produce Nike Ajax surface-to-air missiles. Now, it remains abandoned under private ownership, creating more than just an eye sore to East Burlington, according to the Rev. Donna Vanhook, an Alamance County Soil and Water Conservation District Supervisor. 

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NEWS 4/28/25 9:01pm

New North Carolina legislation could ease concealed carry handgun rules

By Abigail Hines

A North Carolina bill that would allow people over the age of 18 to carry a concealed handgun without a permit was approved by the state Senate and is currently under review in the North Carolina House of Representatives. Senate Bill 50, which was approved by the state Senate on March 20, proposes several changes to the current permit process, allowing individuals to purchase and carry concealed handguns without a thorough background check by local law enforcement. It also lowers the age in which you can carry a concealed handgun from 21 to 18 years old. 

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NEWS 4/25/25 2:49pm

Elon Poll finds majority of Americans fear crisis between Trump, courts

By Fiona McAllister

An Elon University Poll surveyed 1,000 American adults and found a drop in President Donald Trump’s approval rating. The survey, conducted April 10 to 17, found 41% of respondents approve of Trump’s job performance, while 47% disapprove. This contrasts with the February 2025 Elon University Poll, which showed a 45% approval and 41% disapproval rating. These numbers show public concern about the balance of power between the executive branch and the courts, with 67% of Americans worried about a potential constitutional crisis due to conflicts between these branches.

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NEWS 4/25/25 11:01am

Day of remembrance at Elon University honors lives lost in the Holocaust

By Abby Gravely

The Elon community recognized Yom Hashoah, the Jewish memorial day honoring lives lost during the Holocaust, on April 24. The day began with a “Ceremony of Remembrance” in the sacred space of Numen Lumen pavilion, where community members gathered to commemorate lives lost and recognize the bravery of those deemed “Righteous Among the Nations” by Israel’s parliament — a title given to non-Jewish people who sacrificed their lives and safety to protect Jewish individuals. They did so through actions such as hiding Jewish people in their homes and basements. 

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NEWS 4/23/25 1:36pm

Hundreds of university leaders sign statement condemning Trump administration's 'overreach'; Elon University not included

By Avery Sloan

The American Association of Colleges and Universities released “A Call for Constructive Engagement” on April 22. This was released by university presidents across the U.S. in response to the “unprecedented government overreach and political interference now endangering American higher education.” The statement calls for “constructive engagement that improves our institutions and serves our republic.” As of noon April 23, 320 university and college presidents have signed on — Elon University has not. The AACU is continuing to accept signatures from current leaders of colleges, universities and scholarly societies.

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NEWS 4/23/25 9:47am

Professors, students feel ramifications of federal grant terminations

By Avery Sloan

Many researchers, including Elon professor of art history Evan Gatti, had to find out through an email that their federal grant — which many were relying on to support their dreams — had been revoked. The NEH terminated over 1,000 grants and sent termination notices to 65% of its employees, both of which came about a month after President Donald Trump forced out the head of the NEH. The firings and cuts are in line with Trump’s executive order from Feb. 11, which directed the Department of Government Efficiency to eliminate “waste, bloat and insularity” in the federal government. 

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NEWS 4/22/25 11:14pm

Elon University’s Sustainability Master Plan 2025 addresses several areas of campus life, procedures

By Kate Gray

Elon unveiled its new sustainability master plan on April 22. The plan calls for more sustainable practices on campus in academics, dining, engagement, facilities, purchasing, technology, transportation and waste. The new sustainability master plan also reiterates Elon’s goal to become carbon neutral by 2037, a target established by the first campus sustainability plan in 2007. The Office of Sustainability developed the plan over 18 months with participation from over 300 Elon students, faculty and staff through listening sessions, working groups and feedback.

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NEWS 4/22/25 2:30pm

Memorial mass to be held for Pope Francis at Elon University

By Fiona McAllister

Early Monday April 21, the head of the Catholic Church Pope Francis died from a stroke. Franics was 88 years old. He died near Saint Peter’s Basilica, where he has resided since his election in 2013. At 5 p.m. Monday evening, the bells at Elon University’s Rhodes Stadium rung 88 times, once for each year of his life. On Tuesday, April 22, Elon University’s Numen Lumen Sacred Space will hold a memorial mass for Francis at 4:30 p.m. After this mass, the space will be open for people to share words about Francis and the legacy he left behind. 

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NEWS 4/19/25 9:12am

Elon University School of Communications to launch new major in fall 2025

By Nia Bedard

Elon University School of Communications has announced the addition of a new major to its curriculum — digital content management. The last time the School of Communications introduced any new majors was in 2015 with the establishment of cinema and television arts, communication design and media analytics. The announcement of the new digital content management major comes after a 17% decline in enrollment at the School of Communications since 2021. Dean of the School of Communications Kenn Gaither said adding this major will hopefully increase the total enrollment of the school. 

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NEWS 4/18/25 10:33pm

Elon University's American Association of University Professors hosts Day of Action

By Charlotte Pfabe

For nearly eight hours, Elon University professors across disciplines presented teach-in sessions at Belk Outdoor Theater on April 17 as a part of a nationwide Day of Action, organized by the American Association of University Professors. A national AAUP event, the Day of Action aimed to bring attention to recent executive orders and actions targeting higher education. Professors taught lessons every 30 minutes. With 14 sessions total, the sessions focused on topics such as immigration rights, Project 2025, campus activism and more, but all returned to the same overarching theme of the impact of recent executive orders on higher education. 

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NEWS 4/18/25 2:41pm

Behavioral Center to open inpatient wing departments for security

By Avery Sloan

Despite Alamance County’s Behavioral Health Center opening its doors June 19, it is still waiting on a license from the federal government to open its 24/7 inpatient care wing, according to Donald Reuss, vice president of behavioral health and intellectual/developmental disability network operations at Vaya Health. The behavioral health center was created in partnership with Vaya Health, the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services and RHA Health Services. The goal of this center is to provide people with mental health and substance abuse issues a place they can seek treatment.

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NEWS 4/17/25 11:18am

Elon launches neuroscience major for fall 2025

By Anjolina Fantaroni

Elon University will launch new Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science degree programs in neuroscience beginning in fall 2025, in line with the university’s commitment to science, technology, education and mathematics education in its Boldly Elon strategic plan. The new major — housed in Elon College, the College of Arts and Sciences — will build on the success of Elon’s existing neuroscience minor. Roughly 180 students are working toward completing the neuroscience minor, which started in 2009, according to coordinator of the neuroscience minor and professor of exercise science, Matt Wittstein. 

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NEWS 4/17/25 10:26am

Internal candidate selected as next dean of students at Elon University after confidential search

By Avery Sloan

Whitney Gregory will serve as Elon’s next dean of students following a confidential candidate search. This was announced to faculty and staff in an email from Jon Dooley, vice president of student life, on April 17. Gregory, the current assistant dean of students, will step into her new role this summer, after current dean of students, Jana Lynn Patterson, begins her new role as the associate vice president and dean of student health and well-being. Patterson has worked at Elon for 39 years and will retire in 2026, after serving in a new capacity. 

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NEWS 4/17/25 9:39am

Elon Law graduate appointed as district court judge

By Kate Gray

Last fall, Judge William Solomon of the North Carolina 8th District Court retired, leaving a vacancy in the position to complete his term through 2026. On March 31, Stein announced Elon Law alumnus Tia Hudgins Taylor’s appointment to the position, describing her as an “exceptional” and “dedicated” attorney. Taylor worked as an assistant attorney in criminal law for the North Carolina 8th District Court, which includes Edgecombe, Nash and Wilson counties. She also spent time in private practice covering real estate, estate planning, civil matters, family law and juvenile law. 

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NEWS 4/16/25 7:54pm

American Association of University Professors to hold Day of Action at Elon University

By Charlotte Pfabe

Elon University’s chapter of the American Association of University Professors plans to hold a Day of Action at the Belk Outdoor Theater on Thursday, April 17 to bring attention to recent executive orders targeting higher education. From 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Elon’s AAUP will present “teach-in” sessions every 30 minutes, taught by professors from various departments, including art history, philosophy, peace and conflict studies, and more. The Day of Action is a national AAUP event with universities across the U.S. participating. In North Carolina, there are five universities hosting events related to the Day of Action.

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NEWS 4/15/25 6:08pm

Elon University organization holds peaceful walk around campus

By Trista Panagakos

The Students for Peace and Justice organization held a peaceful protest walk outside Moseley Student Center on Young Commons on the morning of April 15. According to event attendees, Together We Walk for Peace and Justice was an event held for students to join in the fight against oppression around the world. Many of the attendees came to the event with their own signs about a number of issues including transgender rights, Palestinian freedom and free speech. There was no chanting during the walk, but members spoke among themselves about the signs they were holding and why they were walking.

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NEWS 4/14/25 11:13pm

Misdemeanor charges against Elon University student dismissed

By Elon News Network

Elon junior Jaimes Kylie Dean was arrested April 12 and is facing three misdemeanor charges — including assault inflicting serious injury, breaking or entering, and crime of domestic violence. Dean is 21 years old. According to the arrest warrant from the town of Elon Police Department, Dean allegedly wrongfully entered the residence of the victim and poured toilet bowl cleaner resulting in visible skin irritation to the victim’s face. Dean's bond had been set at $12,500. Dean was released April 14. 

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NEWS 4/11/25 10:51am

Elon University Student Government Association appoints vice presidents of communications, finance

By Trista Panagakos

Elon University’s Student Government Association appointed its vice president of communications and finance at its business meeting Thursday, April 10. Juniors Kennedy Steiner and Ian Brecker were selected by executive Student Body president Anya Bratic to be vice president of communications and finance, respectively. Unlike the senate, executive president and vice president, these roles are not elected by the student body and instead go through an application and interview process. After the president selects a candidate, the senate must vote on their approval.

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