News

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NEWS 5/22/24 11:49pm

Senior Celebration lights up graduating class

By Mackenzie Giattino

The class of 2024 gathered at Rhodes Stadium on May 22 to celebrate their successes ahead of  graduation on May 24. Friends and family gathered to celebrate the graduating class — sharing food and laughter and ending the night with fireworks and dancing. Senior Dezirae Zaman said she is grateful that Elon gave her the opportunities to build long-lasting relationships throughout her time as a student. “The most rewarding part about Elon is all the people that I’ve met,” Zaman said. “I’m excited to just celebrate senior year with everybody here in one place. It’s going to be a lot of fun.”

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NEWS 5/22/24 9:33pm

Elon University encourages graduate students to continue lifelong learning

By Avery Sloan

If a 1971 Volkswagen Beetle progressed at the rate of technology today, the car could drive a million miles per hour, Andre Valcour, the graduate commencement address speaker, said. Valcour said because of how quickly technology is progressing, the only way to keep up is to continue aspiring to learn. Held on May 22, the commencement ceremony recognized graduates of Elon’s six graduate programs — 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.

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NEWS 5/22/24 3:56pm

Elon University celebrates success of first-generation seniors, people who supported their growth

By Avery Sloan

When Gisselle Garcia-Jose was a freshman in high school, she did not believe she would be able to attend college. Now, as a first-generation, graduating senior and student keynote speaker at the first-generation stole ceremony, she said she is filled with gratitude for those who supported her and hopes to inspire others to achieve their dreams. During the ceremony on May 22, 36 first-generation, graduating seniors were recognized and presented with stoles by Elon mentors or friends. This event recognized students who are the first in their family to obtain a higher degree.

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NEWS 5/21/24 11:41pm

Class of 2024 Baccalaureate ceremony emphasizes diversity in community

By Ruth Cruz

The class of 2024 gathered Under The Oaks to celebrate their Elon University achievements at the 2024 Numen Lumen Baccalaureate ceremony on May 21. It was there where seniors participated in the annual tradition of lighting candles and receiving oaks saplings. Senior Jillian Shor shared a powerful sentiment from the Jewish community during the event — a prayer known as the Shehechiyanu. This is a Jewish tradition that explores blessings and gratitude. Shor said this was a great way to show her appreciation for the Elon community, which has helped her to build new friendships, embrace her identity in the Jewish community and become the best version of herself.

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NEWS 5/20/24 2:28pm

Elon community service officer dies at 43 years old

By Ryan Kupperman

Elon Community Service Officer Monte Markley died on May 18 at 43 years old, according to an email sent out to the Elon community by University President Connie Book. Markley is survived by her mother Lynn Cobb, her father Harold Prince, her husband Wade and her sister Amanda Kilcrease. Markley was also preceded in death by her son James Lee Yancey Markley. A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. on June 1 at the Rich & Thompson Chapel in Burlington. People may also show their support by purchasing and planting a memorial tree in Markley’s honor.

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NEWS 5/20/24 11:56am

Barry ‘Mr. Elon’ Bradberry retires after 48-year legacy

By Aidan Powley

Barry Bradberry’s journey to Elon dates back to his high school years when his principal Jeff Davis — class of 1950 Elon graduate — encouraged him to apply. Bradberry joined Elon’s Office of Admissions officially as a counselor soon after his Elon graduation with the class of 1975 and ends his 48-year career at Elon as associate dean of admissions. When Bradberry first joined admissions staff, total university enrollment had just passed 2,000 students with a graduating class of 400 students. As of the 2023-24 registrar's report, Elon’s total enrollment numbers have surpassed 7,200 and the graduating class amounts to over 1,500 students.

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NEWS 5/19/24 5:44pm

Eggs thrown at pro-Palestinian, Elon apartment in Mill Point

By Fiona McAllister

Elon senior Lauren Hill woke up the morning of May 14 to discover broken egg shells and egg yolk all over her Mill Point front porch. Being a part of the Students for Peace and Justice, Hill had hung up many posters with slogans such as “Stand with Palestine. End the occupation now,” “Lead with love. Eyes on Rafah” and “Liberation for all requires resistance from all.” Hill and the SPJ had created these posters for their peaceful walk on May 7. Following the incident, Hill filed a report to campus police — who later discovered it was one individual who will remain unnamed.

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NEWS 5/16/24 9:26pm

Train gate malfunction causes traffic disruption downtown Elon

By Anjolina Fantaroni

Traffic on South Williamson Avenue and East Trollinger Avenue has been disrupted on the evening of May 16 due to a railway line malfunction. Police officers on scene, who declined to give their names, have blocked traffic from crossing the tracks and said the train company is on the way to fix the problem u2014 though the issue and how long it will take to fix is still unclear. As of 11 p.m. on May 16, there is no traffic disruption and South Williamson is no longer blocked off. 

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NEWS 5/16/24 4:35pm

Elon University delays freshman parking program, permit prices still set to increase

By Sarah T. Moore

The project to move all freshman parking to lots near the Danieley and Francis Centers was delayed from starting in the fall to the 2025-26 school year due to an updated construction timeline. Yet, parking permit prices will still increase from $160 to $225 in fall 2024 — except for Global Neighborhood permits which will double from $50 to $100. According to Chief of Campus Police and Safety Joe LeMire, the price increase in student parking permits is a “market increase.” Mill Point residents also saw parking increase from free to a $160 permit beginning in fall 2023. 

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NEWS 5/16/24 3:54pm

Seniors launch educational campaign on pedestrian safety at Elon University

By Aidan Powley

As part of their senior seminar, senior policy studies students Ciara Longsworth, Ethan Haqq, Mike Sanderson, Morgan McGlynn and Sidra Kennedy were given a project to work with the Town of Elon to investigate the issue of pedestrian safety on campus. As part of their project, they conducted a survey of over 200 students on pedestrian and road laws — followed by the creation of an educational campaign in the form of a video. According to the Elon Police Department, there have been 9 pedestrian-related incidents reported since 2020. 

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NEWS 5/15/24 11:37am

Elon Poll finds Americans fear abuse of AI in 2024 presidential election

By Nia Bedard

A national survey conducted by the Elon Poll and Elon University’s Imagining the Digital Future Center found that 78% of American adults expect that abuses of artificial intelligence systems will affect the outcome of the 2024 presidential election. Director of the Imagining Digital Future Center Lee Rainie said that focusing the study around this upcoming election cycle was a key factor. The results also found that 73% of respondents believe AI will be used to manipulate social media, 70% believe AI will be used to generate fake information and 62% believe AI will be used to convince people not to vote.

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NEWS 5/14/24 7:24pm

Rainfall causes road damage on East Haggard Ave

By Ryan Kupperman

The road between Crest Apartments and North Oak Street has sustained major road damage due to heavy rainfall, according to an E-Alert sent May 14. Though another E-Alert also stated that East Haggard is closed due to a gas leak, Chief of Campus Safety and Police Joe LeMire clarified that that message was a mistake and there is no gas leak. LeMire recommended that everyone get off East Haggard Avenue entirely leading up to Oak Street. As of 9:40 p.m., Campus Police reported that East Haggard has been temporarily repaired by using gravel to level the road. 

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NEWS 5/14/24 1:34pm

Elon University expands scope of sustainability initiatives to Kentucky

By Maggie Reetz

Elon University is collaborating with eight other colleges and universities to fund the construction of a large solar facility in Kentucky. The project, called the Sebree Solar II Project, is in association with NextEra Energy Resources — the world’s largest generator of wind and solar energy. Construction for the solar farm will begin in 2025 and the facility is set to open for commercial use in late 2026. Participation in this Power Purchase Agreement is just one part of Elon’s Sustainability Master Plan. The plan, updated this year, states that the university aims to be carbon neutral by 2037, among other goals.

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NEWS 5/13/24 1:26pm

Elon welcomes Alpha Epsilon Phi as 10th sorority chapter

By Lilly Molina

Elon’s Panhellenic council announced the addition of AEPhi, a historically Jewish sorority, on May 13. Alpha Epsilon Phi was founded at Barnard College in 1909. AEPhi has been interested in founding a chapter at Elon for almost 20 years and visited Elon’s campus on May 2 to host an interest meeting. Voting on adding the sorority on campus was held last Tuesday, May 7 during a Panhellenic delegates meeting, but waited until the following Monday to announce the vote. 

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NEWS 5/13/24 11:38am

Elon alum, former basketball player dies two weeks after returning to campus

By Ryan Kupperman

Elon University alum Dmitri Thompson ’18 has died, according to a Facebook post from his high school alma mater Orlando Christian Prep. This comes two weeks after he came to campus to receive a 2024 Top 10 Under Top award, which honors 10 alumni who have graduated in the past 10 years for their post-graduation accomplishments. Elon News Network does not yet know the cause of death. Thompson was a former member of Elon’s Men’s Basketball Team and ended his career as one of the best scorers in program history.

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NEWS 5/13/24 10:48am

Elon’s class of 2028 marks most diverse in university history

By Avery Sloan and Erin Martin

Elon’s class of 2028 will be among the most diverse classes in university history, Greg Zaiser, vice president for enrollment, wrote in a statement to Elon News Network. This year the Free Application for Federal Student Aid has had delays due to changes in the system and glitches that have occurred. Due to delays in FAFSA, Elon has granted about 200 deposit extensions to incoming students, Zaiser wrote. As of May 4, the class of 2028 has 1,662 students and Zaiser wrote he expects closer to 1,700 students to commit.

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NEWS 5/11/24 2:54pm

Elon University’s GLC celebrates 12th Lavender Graduation

By Nia Bedard

Elon University celebrated its 12th annual Lavender Graduation, hosted by the Gender and LGBTQIA Center, on May 10 in Alumni Gym with 70 students participating in their ceremony. Lavender Graduation honors LGBTQIA undergraduates, graduates and professional students at Elon with a certificate, a graduation stole, a rainbow tassel and a lavender graduation cap that can be worn at Commencement. Vice President of Student Life Dooley said that the first Lavender Graduation in 2014 had 16 graduates and was held in the Oaks Commons Room.

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NEWS 5/9/24 10:16am

Guide to Elon University commencement, senior activities for class of 2024

By Elon News Network

A comprehensive and interactive calendar for Elon University's class of 2024 graduation and commencement events. The bulk of events occur from Tuesday, May 21 to Friday, May 24. All graduates confirmed to participate in the 134th Commencement on May 24 in Schar Center must reserve guest tickets to their diploma ceremony. With the anticipated number of graduates in each diploma ceremony, the maximum number of guest tickets is five. Parking lots will open at 7:15 a.m. for Commencement guest parking. Guests are asked to park at Schar Center only for the ceremony they are attending.

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NEWS 5/8/24 9:59pm

Students, friends, family mourn loss of Elon professor through gathering of community

By Anjolina Fantaroni

Over 100 members of the Elon community joined in tears, laughter and hugs at in Numen Lumen at 4:30 p.m. on May 8 to mourn the loss of Jennifer Fish, associate director of Elon’s Teaching Fellows Program. Fish died unexpectedly on the morning of May 7 due to illness. Fish was known to greet everyone with a smile and drop everything to see who stepped into her office. Junior teaching fellow Lindsey Hefty said the program won’t be the same without Fish’s presence. Hefty said she hopes to honor Fish’s memory by being like her: by having unconditional love for everyone — even strangers.

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NEWS 5/8/24 8:08pm

Elon aims to have 50% of its waste diverted by 2030

By Avery Sloan

Elon has plans to divert 75% of its waste by 2037. Currently, the university is diverting 25%. Kendra Harrison, waste reduction and recycling manager, said it will take a lot of work for Elon to reach 75%. Sustainability has been integrated into Residence Life’s training, according to Elon’s website on sustainability. Sustainability has spread to other areas of campus in other ways, outside of just the office of sustainability, senior Lauren Hill, volunteer coordinator for the Office of Sustainability, said. But, students are not always aware of the waste they are generating and other ways Elon maintains sustainability, according to Hill.

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