Man acquitted in 2021 Green Level shootout
Garyonded Stepney, 46, was found not guilty of first-degree murder in a 2021 shootout at a Green Level trailer park, which left two people dead. Stepney had pleaded not guilty to the murder charge.
Garyonded Stepney, 46, was found not guilty of first-degree murder in a 2021 shootout at a Green Level trailer park, which left two people dead. Stepney had pleaded not guilty to the murder charge.
Elon students gathered in LaRose Digital Theatre to hear Elon alum and Biscuitville CEO Kathie Niven’89 discuss her leadership journey and career path. The discussion was part of the university’s “Lessons from Leaders” series, which provides students access to senior leaders with insights in marketing, management and becoming a professional leader.
When freshman Nikki Guevara realized sophomore Lucy Sharp had gone into cardiac arrest, she sprang into action. After using her skills to save another student’s life, she encourages everyone to get trained.
After five years as Elon University’s Chief of Police, Joe LeMire will retire April 3, according to an email sent to faculty and staff by Vice President for Finance and Administration Janet Williams. In an interview with Elon News Network, LeMire said that after 33 years in law enforcement work spanning across three states, it was time to take a step back from that world. He said it was time to turn things over to others who are working their way up. He also said that after 30 years, always dealing with people at the worst moments in their lives can be difficult.
Following a rise in artificial intelligence, questions and concerns about its use have come up at Elon University. The school has implemented policies regarding AI use within the classroom and university operations, many of which consist of using AI as a tool in learning and staying within the ethical bounds of AI usage. The AI that these policies frequently refer to addresses generative AI.
This summer, Elon will offer a new program that aims to introduce middle school students to AI concepts. The university will host a weeklong summer day camp in June for middle school students focused on artificial intelligence through hands-on activities and digital game design. The camp, called AI Play, will be led by faculty from the Department of Computer Science and is now open for registration.
Candidates for the next dean of Student Health and Well-Being at Elon University presented in front of the Elon community in recent weeks as part of the selection process. The position is currently held by Jana Lynn Patterson, who is retiring in fall 2026 after 40 years at Elon University. The dean will lead the HealthEU Initiative and the Boldly Elon strategic plan, while supervising departments like Counseling Services and Student Health Services. They will also manage the new 135,000 square foot HealthEU building, set to open in fall 2026.
Amid a turbulent era full of increasing college closures and pressure from the Trump Administration, the Elon University-Queens University of Charlotte merger may be a survival tactic in an unforgiving higher education climate. Matt Hartman, a higher education reporter for The Assembly, described the merger as a "survival move” for Queens.
The Elon community gathered in Numen Lumen’s McBride Gathering Space room to hear Cynthia Miller-Idris speak about the influence of misogyny on domestic violence and violent extremism. The lecture honored the memory of Lauren Dunne Astley, who was murdered by her boyfriend in July 2011, before she was able to begin her college journey at Elon University.
When attorney Brittany Barnett met Sharanda Jones, she saw positivity and light, far from what she expected from meeting a woman 10 years into her life sentence. Barnett was a young lawyer who felt a pull towards Jones, who was sentenced to life in prison on her first federal drug offense. Barnett, a criminal justice reform attorney, visited Elon University on Feb. 26 as part of the Liberal Arts Forum, a student-run organization that invites speakers on various topics to engage with the Elon community.
Students logging into their courses next academic year may notice a shift in how assignments, grades and course materials are organized as Elon transitions from Moodle, its old learning management system, to Canvas by Instructure, its new one. The decision followed a campuswide evaluation of Moodle that included surveys and open forums, according to Teaching and Learning Technologies Senior Director Kelly Reimer.
As a mother and Vice President of Development for the Invictus Project, Whitney Miller said there was no way she could ignore child exploitation. The Invictus Project is a nonprofit organization that supports the Invictus Task Force — a multiagency uniting Randolph, Alamance, Davidson and Forsyth County Sheriff's Offices with Homeland Security Investigations and the State Bureau of Investigation.
Elon University’s undergraduate enrollment has dipped below 6,000 students for the first time since spring 2018, according to the Spring Registrar’s Report released Feb. 23. This decrease comes after an 11.6% drop in enrollment for the class of 2029. Part of this pattern can be attributed to the “demographic cliff,” the decreasing supply of college students from a falling national birth rate that began in 2007. The total undergraduate enrollment of 5,974 is a decrease from the 6,226 students the university reported in the spring of 2025. It’s also roughly 200 fewer students than the 6,191 reported in fall 2025. Though overall student numbers dropped, there was also an increase of 523 seniors, compared to the fall report.
Renovations to Elon University’s Mooney Building are in progress after it closed at the beginning of Winter Term. The building’s closure was announced Jan. 8 and renovations officially began Jan. 14. All upgrades are expected to be finished by the end of summer in time for the fall semester.
Members of the community and Alamance County Remembrance Coalition gathered outside of the Alamance County Courthouse on Feb. 22 to hold a vigil honoring the life of Wyatt Outlaw. Outlaw was lynched by a mob of White Brotherhood members outside the courthouse on Feb. 26, 1870.
The LaRose Digital Theatre was filled with members of the Elon community Feb. 19 as Tom O’Leary shared his journey of becoming the CEO of JetZero. JetZero is an aerospace company focused on developing a blended wing body jet designed to reduce fuel burn, emissions and noise dramatically.
In an email sent to students Feb. 19, Elon Information Technology announced an issue affecting Elon’s mobile printing system. IT wrote that they are looking to resolve these issues by undergoing an emergency upgrade that will occur Feb. 20. According to the email, while repairs are underway, students will not be able to print.
Elon University and Queens University's merger integration team said the upcoming merger is moving forward with strong collaboration and a shared focus on students. Queens President Emerita Pamela Davies explained that this semester is focused on building a shared culture before the institutions officially join.
Starting in fall 2026, Elon University will implement a new price for its external study abroad fee. The fee, which was previously $4,700 for several years, but was reduced to a $3,500 fee, will apply to all students participating in approved affiliate semester programs, such as Semester at Sea and the Theater Academy of London. The fee is part of the billing structure for study abroad, which also includes health, safety and a sustainability fee.
Danieley apartments A through F will see phased renovations during the 2026-2027 academic year. Director of Residence Life Kirsten Carrier said the specifics of what the upgrades will entail have not been finalized yet, but the flooring, lighting and kitchen appliances will likely be replaced.