News

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NEWS 2/7/24 11:39pm

Survivor of Hamas terrorist attack shares his story with Elon community

By Ryan Kupperman

Israeli Rom El-Hai spoke to the Elon community on Feb. 7 about his first-hand account of surviving the Hamas terrorist attack on Oct. 7, 2023. Invited by Chabad at Elon, El-Hai said he shares his story to bring the Jewish community together and spread awareness of the hardships people in Israel have had and are experiencing in the Israel-Hamas conflict. “To be here with you tonight — it’s my therapy. After another presentation after presentation, and I meet you all and get a big hug, and when I came here for any communities, or Hillel or Chabad, I feel like I’m at home.”

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NEWS 2/7/24 7:56am

Elon University Black History Month Calendar

By Elon News Network

Join the Elon community in celebrating Black History Month with a series of events throughout the month of February. The Black History Month Theme for 2024 is “Rhythms of Resilience: One Soul, One Sound.” This month’s theme centers on the concept that Black history, culture and music embody a tapestry of diversity and interconnection, rather than being a single narrative. The theme underscores the value of fostering unity and solidarity among diverse cultural identities and highlights the role of music as a unifying force that bridges these varied experiences.

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NEWS 2/5/24 5:44pm

Alamance County commissioners approve funding to delay school system layoffs

By Sophie Rosenthal

Alamance County commissioners approved $250,000 of funding to delay potential Alamance-Burlington School System layoffs at their monthly meeting Feb. 5. ABSS announced potential layoffs and reduced hours for some employees in a statement on Feb. 2. Superintendent Dain Butler wrote in the statement that he is planning to propose his recommendations for a reduction in force to the Board of Education at a work session on Feb. 13. If it is approved, the reduction in force would affect over 50 people — including assistant principals, social workers, school nurses and more.

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NEWS 2/5/24 9:32am

Elon student builds wheelchair-accessible ramp for Graham resident

By Michael Wolff

The temporary ramp that had previously been attached to Graham resident’s Alvaro Torralba home was put out onto the curb as The Elon Ramp Pilot Project arrived on Saturday, Feb. 3 to install a new wheelchair-accessible ramp. Torralba said he became wheelchair-bound four years ago due to a spinal injury. Third-year Elon University physical therapy student Michelle Megurdichian has a background in medicine and was inspired to help Torralba. Her idea for creating the Elon Ramp Pilot Project is bigger than this one build, as Megurdichian said she aims to create an official organization.

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NEWS 2/4/24 2:30pm

Elon University celebrates Black History Month through ‘Rhythms of Resilience’ theme

By Sarah T. Moore

Elon University kicked off Black History Month on Thursday, Feb. 1 with the first of many events centering around a designated theme. This year’s theme is “Rhythms of Resilience: One Soul, One Sound.” The kickoff event was the first of nine Black History Month events hosted by the university. One of the assistant directors for the Center for Race, Ethnicity and Diversity Education, Simone Royal, said the theme was chosen partially because of the way music can bring people together. Junior Niara Legette attended the event and said she was excited to see the university continue to uplift its students. 

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NEWS 1/31/24 7:30pm

Body of missing 19-year-old identified north of Elon

By Joseph Navin

Authorities from the Alamance County Sheriff’s Office reported they found human remains near Travis Creek and the Haw River on Jan. 31. The discovery occurred during a missing-person search for 19-year-old Elon resident Antwain McDaniel. The remains were identified to be McDaniel shortly after 6 p.m. McDaniel reportedly went missing after he was last seen exiting a vehicle at roughly 4 a.m. on Jan. 28 near Durham Street Extension and Routh Road. As of 6 p.m. on Jan. 31, Durham Street Extension is closed to public traffic in the area near the Travis Creek Bridge. 

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NEWS 1/30/24 11:54am

Undergraduate tuition, meals, lodging to increase 4.96% for 2024-25 academic year

By Ryan Kupperman

Elon University will increase undergraduate tuition, meals, lodging 4.96% for the up-coming 2024-25 academic year, according to an email sent out to parents by university President Connie Book on Jan. 30. Compared to Elon’s 2023-24 undergraduate costs, this is an anticipated rise in tuition from $44,536 to $46,745 for the year. Food and housing will also increase roughly $800 from $16,121 to $16,921. In total, Elon’s sticker price of $60,657 for tuition, fees, food and housing in the 2023-24 academic year climbs to roughly $63,666 for the 2024-25 academic year.

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NEWS 1/28/24 1:51pm

Sororities, fraternities gear up for recruitment at Elon University

By Lilly Molina

Lindsey Palazzolo is the recruitment chair for Tri Sigma at Elon University. She said that before COVID, roughly 700 Potential New Members were registered to rush. Though numbers had been down since the pandemic, Palazzolo said she is excited to see numbers rising again. She said this year there are roughly 560 PNMs. The rushing process for sororities happens from Saturday, Jan. 27 to Wednesday, Jan. 31 — Bid Day. According to Palazzolo, so much preparation goes into the recruitment process that she has been planning rush logistics since August 2023.

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NEWS 1/24/24 5:00pm

Former colleagues share lasting impact of professor emeritus on Elon community

By Cassie Weymouth

Professor Emeritus of Economics Tom Tiemann served Elon University for more than 30 years. He passed away on Friday, Dec. 22 at age 75. A recipient of the Elon Medallion, Tiemann was the founding dean of the Martha and Spencer Love School of Business, department chair of economics, director of general studies and director of the business fellows program. Apart from these various titles and accolades, he is most remembered for his compassion, kindness and his dedication to his community. A close colleague, economics professor Steve DeLoach recalls Tiemann’s faith in students, his efforts to always continue improving Elon and his continued work well after his retirement.

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NEWS 1/15/24 9:55pm

International Civil Rights Center, Museum celebrates MLK Jr. Day

By Fiona McAllister and Rachel Holley

This year, MLK Jr. Day fell on Jan. 15. The International Civil Rights Center and Museum in Greensboro hosted a special presentation, including a speech titled “Promissory Note”. According to its website, the International Civil Rights Center and Museum is home to innovative ways that educate visitors about the history of civil rights and its historical figures. Elon seniors Matt Boyle and George Krupkin visited the Museum to learn more about Civil Rights and MLK Jr.’s famous “I Have a Dream '' speech. Tour Coordinator of the museum, Dillon Tyler, said MLK Jr. Day is also representative of Greensboro being an important part of the Civil Rights Movement.

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NEWS 1/12/24 1:00pm

Area near Danieley D evacuated due to gas leak

By Avery Sloan

The area near Danieley D was evacuated around noon due to a gas leak, according to an E-Alert. The statement said the area may need to be blocked off for a few hours. Crews from Piedmont Natural Gas were on site roughly two hours later to make repairs to the gas line, and Elon gave the all clear around 3 p.m. stating the leak had been repaired and the area is open for normal operation. Danieley D is now safe for residents to reenter, though hot water and heat will not be available to residential buildings, Danieley Commons and PARC.

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NEWS 1/9/24 3:17pm

Severe thunderstorm warning in effect until 3:15 p.m., Tornado watch in effect till 9 p.m.

By Ryan Kupperman and Lilly Molina

According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the Alamance-Burlington area has a severe thunderstorm warning in effect until 3:15 p.m. and a tornado watch in effect until 9 p.m. A flood watch and wind advisory is also in place for the rest of the night. E-Alerts were issued for the tornado watch around 1:30 p.m., but an incorrect statement was issued about a tornado warning. To be prepared for the severe weather, Elon recommended monitoring weather forecasts, ensuring students’ current cell phone numbers are in OnTrack to receive E-Alert notifications and review emergency shelter locations.

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NEWS 1/9/24 2:37pm

Roughly 22 vehicles broken into in Mill Point, Town of Elon

By Ryan Kupperman

Approximately 12 vehicles were broken into in the Station at Mill Point and roughly 10 were broken into near West Trollinger Avenue in the Town of Elon around 3:30 a.m. on Monday, Jan. 8. Chief of Campus Safety and Police at Elon Joe LeMire sent a message to the Elon community stating that the Town of Elon Police and University Police responded to multiple parking lot areas in reference to several vehicle break-ins with stolen property. LeMire wrote that the perpetrators targeted vehicles found to be unlocked in all cases.

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NEWS 1/5/24 10:26am

Elon University selects College of Arts and Sciences dean

By Avery Sloan

Hilton Kelly is the next dean of the College of Arts and Sciences and will begin at Elon on June 1. Kelly serves as the dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Education at University of Wisconsin-Platteville. Gabie Smith, the current dean of the college, announced she was stepping down at the end of the school year last August. Smith was the fifth senior staff member to leave her position in the past two years. 

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NEWS 1/5/24 9:27am

East Haggard Avenue road closure

By Avery Sloan

East Haggard Avenue has been closed from North O’Kelly Avenue to Oak Street. According to an Elon E-Alert message this is due to a car wreck. According to Assistant Police Chief Kedrick King, he does not know when the road will reopen and this is an ongoing investigation. Elon Campus Police declined to comment.

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NEWS 1/4/24 7:33pm

Suspicious person reported in Colonnades B

By Avery Sloan and Ryan Kupperman

Students reported a suspicious individual who followed someone into Colonnades B around 6:10 p.m. on Jan. 4, according to an Elon E-Alert message. The subject entered the building and opened a door to one room before being confronted by a student and leaving. He opened another door and was confronted again before being chased out of the building. The subject was seen running from the area into the wooded area toward Sheridan Place. Anyone with information about this incident should call Campus Police at 336-278-5555.

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NEWS 12/26/23 6:17pm

Elon University’s Whitley Auditorium turns 100 years old

By Lilly Molina

Whitley Auditorium was one of the five buildings constructed after the famous 1923 fire burned down Elon’s administration building. The year of 2023 marks Whitley’s 100th anniversary of being a space where students can come together and make memories. According to Elon’s archives, Whitley was dedicated to J.M. Darden’s father-in-law Deacon L.H. Whitley. Darden financially backed the project and was the one to approve all the plans. The cornerstone of Whitley was laid on May 23, 1923. Sophomore Wyatt Zsiga said Whitley holds a significant historical meaning to him and his a cappella group. 

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NEWS 12/19/23 7:47am

Tiny House, Big Impact: Elon University leads sustainable living

By Jenna Manderioli

By the 2012-13 academic year, the Center for Environmental Studies began to take form in Loy Farm. With an agroecological center, and courses for adventure-based learning and gardening, Loy Farm continued to expand as the department pitched more and more ideas for the space. Now, a tenured professor and department chair for environmental studies, Robert Charest began teaching at Elon University 13 years ago and is a licensed architect in North Carolina — as well as a general contractor for Elon University. He has worked to bring his architectural ideas to life in his courses and into the Tiny House Project.

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NEWS 12/17/23 2:35pm

Mebane Planning Council votes no to Buc-ee’s

By Lilly Molina

Before the Mebane Planning Council voted no, Buc-ee’s was set to construct a new location in Mebane off of Interstate 40 on Trollingwood Hawfield Road. According to the planning council, a representative from Buc-ee’s was hoping for approval on the proposed zoning area of 31.37 acres. Buc-ee’s shared that their migration into North Carolina would increase economic prosperity, but opponents at the meeting expressed concern that Buc-ee’s new arrival will increase traffic. Though rejected by the Mebane Planning Council on Dec 11, city council will have final say on the future of Buc-ee’s in Mebane during its next meeting Jan. 8.

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NEWS 12/15/23 8:21am

Elon University granted reaccreditation by Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges

By Katharyn MacDonald

Elon University was granted reaccreditation after an examination of 73 measures of quality — ranging from academic affairs, to student life, administration and governing boards. Accreditation displays that a university upholds the standards of quality education and actively carries out its mission statement. According to Jessica Platania, associate provost for academic affairs, universities that fail to be granted accreditation cannot provide federally-funded financial aid to students, and credits earned are not recognized by any other institution if students are to transfer.

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