News

NEWS 12/7/23 6:02pm

Three suspects charged in Carolina Mill fire

By Joseph Navin

The Alamance County Sheriff’s Office announced Dec. 7 that three adult males were arrested and charged on Dec. 6 and 7 for the Carolina Mill fire along Haw River. The mill burned on Nov. 25, with hot spots lingering through the night to Nov. 26. The building was a former cotton mill built in 1869 and was vacant at the time of the fire. While the Carolina Mill and Culp Weaving Mill fires occurred within roughly two weeks of each other, the Alamance County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that these were isolated incidents. The Sheriff’s office said the investigation into the Carolina Mill fire is still ongoing.

NEWS 12/6/23 6:55pm

Elon University concludes candidate presentations for dean of College of Arts and Sciences

By Ryan Kupperman

Shawnrece Campbell is the fourth and final candidate in the running for dean of Elon’s  College of Arts and Sciences; she spoke to the Elon community Dec. 6 about the importance of competency-based education. Campbell is currently serving as director and coordinator of competency-based education at Texas A&M University, Corpus Christi — as well as co-chair of Latino adult students success, academic affairs liaison and professor of English and Interdisciplinary Studies. Prior to starting at Texas in 2021, Campbell spent 19 years working at Stetson University in Florida.

NEWS 12/6/23 5:14pm

Third candidate for Dean of College of Arts and Sciences visits Elon

By Lilly Molina

The third of four candidates, Hilton Kelly, for the dean of Elon's College of Arts and Sciences presented to the Elon community on Dec. 4. Kelly is currently the Dean the College of Liberal Arts and Education at the University of Wisconsin, Platteville. Before his current role, he was the department chair of educational studies at Davidson College where he was a professor of Educational studies and Africana studies. Kelly said that besides teaching in North Carolina, he was born and raised in Sharpsburg, North Carolina — a little over two hours from campus.

NEWS 12/5/23 7:15pm

Suspects charged in Culp Weaving Mill fire

By Joseph Navin

The Alamance County Sheriff's Office provided an update Dec. 5 on the cause of the Culp Weaving Mill fire at 300 E. Parker St. in Graham, which occurred overnight Nov. 12 to 13. This was the first of two Alamance County mill fires in November, with the Carolina Mill burning on Nov. 25. The Culp Weaving Mill also caught fire in October 2022. Wayland Heath Phillips, a 22-year-old resident of Graham, is charged with two counts of felony burning certain building and two counts of felony breaking and entering for his alleged connection in both the Culp Weaving Mill fire and the Apple Blossom Lane house fires.

NEWS 12/4/23 3:05pm

Alamance-Burlington schools grapple with financial strain after summer mold crisis

By Sophie Rosenthal

Mold was found in 32 of the 36 Alamance-Burlington School System schools in August — prompting an expensive clean-up and delaying the school year two weeks. Of the schools that tested positive, toxigenic mold was identified in 16 of them. Months later, the school system is still lacking the resources to implement measures to prevent the mold from returning. On Dec. 4, ABSS board members requested $6.9 million for the districts remaining invoices for the mold remediation, among other requests for additional money. The county commissioners approved $5.2 million in funding — still not enough to cover the entire remediation cost. 

NEWS 12/1/23 11:45am

First woman to serve on Supreme Court dies

By Abigail Hobbs

Sandra Day O’Connor — the first woman to serve on the Supreme Court — died at 93 years old Dec. 1 due to complications with dementia. O’Connor was nominated to the Supreme Court by President Ronald Reagan in 1981 and played a large role in the decisions of important cases such as affirmative action, abortion, voting rights and many others. O’Connor also dedicated Elon Law in 2006 and spoke as a keynote speaker in 2010. 

NEWS 11/30/23 9:05pm

Christopher Newport Dean visits Elon University as second College of Arts and Sciences dean candidate

By Joseph Navin

Elon University faculty members listened to a presentation by Dean Nicole Guajardo from Christopher Newport University inside upstairs Lakeside on Nov. 30. This comes as the university is looking for a new dean to helm Elon College, College of Arts and Sciences starting fall 2024. At the end of this academic year, Dean Gabie Smith will end her two decade-long tenure as the dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. Smith will remain a professor in the Department of Psychology afterwards. Dr. Hilton Kelly will be the third candidate to present at 2:15 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 4 in Lakeside 213.

NEWS 11/30/23 7:36am

Dean of Elon College candidate offers vision for liberal arts education

By Miles Hayford

Jennifer Fredericks presented and spoke to Elon faculty members about her vision for the College of Arts and Sciences, along with her philosophy on the ideals of liberal arts education. Following Gabie Smith’s decision to step down as the Dean of Elon College, the College of Arts and Sciences, Fredricks is one of four candidates interviewing for the position of dean of the college. Nicole Guajardo of Christopher Newport University, the next candidate, will speak to Elon Nov. 30 from 2:30 to 3:15 p.m. in Lakeside 212.

NEWS 11/29/23 2:11pm

Elon University announces increase in parking permit price; freshman parking move to Danieley, Francis Centers fall 2024

By Joseph Navin

All Elon University students will see an increase in parking permit rates next academic year. For regular permits, the rates will increase from $160 to $225, except for Global Neighborhood lot permits which will increase from $50 to $100. According to a campus-wide email forwarded by Vice President for Student Life Jon Dooley on Nov. 29, Chief of Campus Police and Safety Joe LeMire will be initiating a parking pilot program in which all freshman parking will be moved to the east side of campus, including at Danieley Center and a new lot being built at the Gerald Francis Center.

NEWS 11/27/23 7:49am

Elon University School of Health Sciences to enter final phase of renovations

By Owen Metz

Phase four of a four-step plan to expand Elon University’s School of Health Sciences is set to start construction January 2024 — which will add a nursing suite area and group all nursing staff together. Otherwise known as the Francis Center, the School of Health Sciences is the newest of Elon’s six schools. Though things have been running well in the new program, it hasn’t all been smooth sailing. According to Interim Director Stacey Thomas, a lack of space for faculty members has often left them scattered around the building and struggling to communicate with one another.

NEWS 11/26/23 9:50pm

Graham, Faucette fire crews knock out hotspots after Carolina Mill blaze

By Joseph Navin

A caller reported a fire inside the Carolina Mill at roughly 4:03 a.m. on Nov. 25, and the mill was fully engulfed in flames by the time fire crews were on scene — according to Chief Jimmy Westbrook from the Faucette Township Volunteer Fire Department. Twelve fire departments from across Alamance County, including those from Graham and Burlington, responded to assist crews from the Faucette Township Volunteer Fire Department. Westbrook said at the height of the response, around 75 people were on scene.The Carolina Mill was a former cotton mill which was built in 1869.

NEWS 11/17/23 8:22am

Invicta Water collaborates with Elon University students to combat PFAS

By Miles Hayford

Invicta Water, a private water treatment company, is working to remove PFAS from water sources along with the help of Elon students. Elon and its surrounding area has recently faced multiple chemical leaks into nearby water sources such as the Haw River. Additionally, drinking water in the Alamance County area has PFAS levels higher than the Environmental Protection Agency recommends. Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances — otherwise known as PFAS — is a group of chemicals that is used in products that resist heat, oil, stains, grease and water. 

NEWS 11/16/23 7:53pm

Elon University recognized by Institute of International Education

By Jenna Rudolph

Elon University has been recognized for the 18th year as the leading university for highest percentage of students who study abroad among doctoral universities, according to the Institute of International Education’s Open Doors Report. This year also had the highest percentage of undergraduate students who study abroad at Elon in University history at 87.8%. Additionally, Elon ranked No. 12 nationally among doctoral universities in the total number of students who completed mid-length study abroad programs and No. 26 among doctoral universities in total number of students studying abroad.

NEWS 11/16/23 8:03am

Law enforcement copes with increase in Alamance County overdoses

By Abigail Hobbs

From 2000 to 2022, over 36,000 North Carolinians died from overdose and 3,875 deaths in 2022 alone. Cpt. Chris Crain from the Alamance County Sheriff’s Department said he has responded to more calls of overdose in Alamance County than he can count — at least two to three a week. Alamance County saw 34 opioid-related overdoses in 2020, 50 in 2021 and 40 in 2022, according to the NCDHHS. Town of Elon Sgt. Chris Miles said he is seeing more younger people overdosing from fentanyl since it is being laced in drugs such as marijuana and cocaine. 

NEWS 11/15/23 5:20pm

Town of Elon permanent plaza set for Dec. 2

By Miles Hayford

The launch date for the permanent plaza in downtown Elon has been set for 6 p.m. Dec. 2, according to Elon’s Downtown Development Director Jill Weston. The construction of the new gathering space began Aug 3., and after three months of construction, it is expected to debut at the town of Elon’s Hometown Christmas event. The plaza will include dining tables, umbrellas and a stage area for events and musical performances.

NEWS 11/15/23 7:46am

Elon University Student Health Services hires registered nurse

By Madison Powers

After a monthslong gap, Elon University Student Health Services has hired a registered nurse who can provide allergy shots, patient care and other treatment. Becky Amash, who previously worked with the Alamance County Health Department, is joining as a full-time RN after Registered Nurse Cynthia Moore retired at the end of the 2022-23 school year after working at Elon for over 14 years. Dr. Ginette Archinal, university physician and medical director of student health at Elon, said there is a shortage of registered nurses which made it difficult to fill the position at the university. 

NEWS 11/14/23 8:59pm

Abandoned Graham mill continues to smolder

By Joseph Navin

The former Culp Weaving Mill continues to burn after fire crews from across central North Carolina — including Alamance, Guilford and Orange Counties — responded to a fire at 300 E. Parker St. in Graham overnight Nov. 12. According to Graham Fire Chief Tommy Cole, the fire department was called to the former Culp Weaving Mill around 7:55 p.m. Nov. 12. The Graham Recreation Center on College Street served as a temporary shelter for those affected in the community, according to Graham Mayor Jennifer Talley. 

NEWS 11/14/23 4:17pm

Elon University hosts multifaith panel to discuss the Israel-Gaza war

By Cassie Weymouth

A panel of Elon University’s multifaith chaplains gathered in the Sacred Space of the Numen Lumen Pavilion. The panelists discussed the Israel-Hamas war and how to navigate the conversations around it, particularly with the holidays drawing near. The Rev. Kirstin Boswell, the Rev. Julie Tonnesen, Imam Shane Atkinson and Rabbi Maor Greene spoke at the event Nov. 13. During the event, Greene said because the attack on Oct. 7 happened on Shabbat and the festival of Sukkot — a Jewish holiday —, there was extra shock and grief felt by the Jewish community. 

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