News

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NEWS 5/22/25 9:57pm

Elon University’s Donning of the Kente ceremony celebrates graduates’ achievements, African legacy

By Miles Hayford

Cheering, drummers, dancers and heartfelt messages defined Elon University’s ninth annual Donning of the Kente ceremony on May 22. Donning of the Kente is a cultural ceremony designed to celebrate the achievements of graduating students with African roots. Each student receives a stole made of authentic, handmade kente cloth imported from West Africa. Randy Williams, Elon University vice president and associate provost for inclusive excellence, said that the ceremony’s goal is to uplift the graduates. “It is a reminder that blackness is not a deficit, but rather a deep well of faith and hope, of wisdom and joy, and of strength and power that benefits all people," Williams said.

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NEWS 5/22/25 6:21pm

Hispanic and Latinx graduating students fly into their next chapter at ¡Celebremos!

By Nia Bedard

Eighteen graduating Hispanic and Latix students were celebrated for their accomplishments throughout their four years at Elon University and honored with a stole decorated with a monarch butterfly at ¡Celebremos!: Graduates Take Flight.  According to assistant director of the Center for Race, Ethnicity and Diversity, MJ Larrazabal, ¡Celebremos! is an opportunity to not only celebrate the graduating students but to also celebrate those who have helped them on their journey. “This meaningful event uplifts the rich diversity, resilience and the impact of Latinx Hispanic students as they prepare to take flight beyond Elon,” Larrazabal said during the ceremony. 

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NEWS 5/21/25 11:22pm

Elon University Nursing Program celebrates inaugural cohort’s pinning ceremony

By Megan Walsh

Elon University’s Nursing Program celebrated its inaugural bachelor of science in nursing cohort’s nursing pinning ceremony on May 21 in McCrary Theatre. The cohort is the first to graduate from the undergraduate nursing program since its establishment in the fall of 2021. The program received its accreditation in February 2025. Senior nursing student Olivia Landolfo highlighted the challenges and experiences her cohort faced as the inaugural group. “We built the first committees and clubs, tested out academic schedules and clinical rotations and adapted to constant and significant change,” Landolfo said.

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NEWS 5/21/25 10:17pm

Elon University graduate students receive master’s degrees at commencement ceremony

By Miles Hayford

In a ceremony marked by the bestowing of hoods and diplomas given by Elon University president Connie Book, 85 students received their master’s degrees at Elon University’s graduate commencement ceremony May 21 in Alumni Gym. The ceremony honored graduates of Elon’s graduate programs within the Martha and Spencer Love School of Business and the Dr. Jo Watts Williams School of Education — Master of Arts in higher education, Master of Education in innovation, Master of Science in accounting, Master of Science in business analytics and Master of Business administration. 

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NEWS 5/21/25 3:53pm

Elon University stole ceremony celebrates first-generation graduates

By Megan Walsh

Elon University’s Center for Access and Success hosted its annual First-Generation Stole Ceremony, recognizing its largest class to date with 63 graduates. The ceremony highlighted the hard work and dedication of first-generation students. Student keynote speaker, senior Archie Tan, highlighted that being a first-generation student means there is no predetermined way to go about your time in college. “There's no guidebooks to your life as a first-gen students,” Tan said. “You have the advantage of being the first to figure out what you want to do with your life, free from others' expectations or limitations today."

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NEWS 5/20/25 11:08pm

Class of 2025 prepares for Commencement at Numen Lumen: Senior Baccalaureate Reflection

By Anjolina Fantaroni

Friendship, reflection and candles filled Under the Oaks at Numen Lumen: Senior Baccalaureate Reflection on May 20. The event was the first commencement event for all students graduating in the class of 2025. Students were invited to listen and join together to reflect on the past four years before they walk the stage at Commencement on Friday, May 20. Performances, poems, prayers, addresses, and light from candles filled the event. Elon faculty, staff and alumni from the class of 1975 lit candles that spread to the crowd of graduating students.

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NEWS 5/20/25 7:13am

North Carolina House pushes bill to restrict cell phone access in the classroom

By Abigail Hines

The members of the North Carolina House of Representatives overwhelmingly voted 114-3 in favor of House bill 87, or the Cell Phone-Free Education bill. As it stands, the bill would require all K-12 public schools in North Carolina to adopt a policy eliminating or severely limiting student access to cell phones in the classroom. This bill could make North Carolina the 16th state to ban or restrict cell phone use in classrooms. The bill itself does not specify how each school must implement its own policy.

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NEWS 5/19/25 10:52am

The revival of downtown Gibsonville: how locals are rebuilding a thriving Main Street

By Lilly Molina

When Neil Bromilow moved to Gibsonville in 1995, one early morning his wife and he drove through downtown Gibsonville and thought it looked “sketchy” and “tired.” It wasn’t until 2005, when he got appointed onto the Board of Aldermen and then chairman of Downtown Gibsonville Revitalization Commission, that a downtown makeover went into effect. For the next six months, he and fourteen other board members and volunteers put together a report detailing 83 initiatives that could be implemented to enhance downtown based on survey responses. The town approved $60,000 for the effort, and it’s only grown since. 

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NEWS 5/18/25 5:23pm

Elon University appoints new dean of Carol Grotnes Belk Library

By Nia Bedard

Brian Mathews, who currently serves as the associate dean of research and innovation at Carnegie Mellon University, has been appointed as the new dean of Carol Grotnes Belk Library. As part of his role, Mathews will oversee 22 full-time employees, Belk Library, Elon University Archives and Special Collections and the different programs within Belk Library. These include the Library and Instruction Liaison program and the Personal Librarian Program. Mathews will begin his new role at Elon University on August 1.

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NEWS 5/15/25 10:56am

Federal employee layoffs impact students, faculty

By Kate Gray

Since President Donald Trump returned to office in January, at least 130,000 federal employees have been laid off or accepted buyouts, and there are currently plans to cut at least 149,000 more positions. Trump appointed billionaire and tech mogul Elon Musk and GOP primary candidate Vivek Ramaswamy to lead a new agency called the Department of Government Efficiency. DOGE aims to cut trillions of dollars from the federal budget, eliminate or consolidate hundreds of federal agencies, and decrease the federal payroll by as much as 75%. Federal job cuts came almost immediately after DOGE was established through an executive order on Jan. 20.

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NEWS 5/11/25 10:08am

North Carolina LGBTQ+ communities cope with increase in federal anti-trans legislation

By Nia Bedard

Since the start of 2025, 869 bills regarding transgender people have been filed across 49 states and 37 bills are active at the national level, according to Trans Legislation Tracker, an independent research organization tracking bills that impact trans and gender-diverse people across the U.S. As the number of bills regarding transgender people increases, organizations across North Carolina, such as the LGBTQ Center of Durham, are ramping up efforts to help and educate. One of the resources that the center offers is a quarterly name change clinic to help attendants gather resources needed to undergo the process. 

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NEWS 5/10/25 8:41am

Elon community honors ‘silent teachers’ in annual anatomy program remembrance ceremony

By Anjolina Fantaroni

The Numen Lumen Sacred Space was filled with memories, stories and remembrance to honor the individuals who donated their bodies to science — referred to as “silent teachers” — as part of the undergraduate human anatomy program. The memorial service is a tradition held once a year, designed to reflect on the invaluable role body donors play in medical and anatomical education. Students and faculty gathered to express gratitude and reflect on the lessons learned from those who donated their bodies for anatomical study.

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NEWS 5/9/25 11:12pm

Elon University celebrates largest Lavender Graduation to date

By Megan Walsh

Elon University’s Gender and LGBTQIA Center hosted its 13th annual Lavender Graduation on May 9 in Alumni Gym, recognizing 87 students across the undergraduate and graduate programs. Lavender Graduation serves to recognize undergraduate and graduate seniors who have contributed to LGBTQ+ inclusion throughout their time at Elon. Director of the Gender and LGBTQIA Center Luis Garay said in an interview that the concept of a Lavender Graduation began in the 1990s, and Elon students brought the ceremony to campus in 2012. This year’s ceremony celebrated 87 graduates, the largest class to date. 

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NEWS 5/9/25 9:56pm

New pickleball complex opens at Burlington City Park

By Abby Gravely

The grand opening of Burlington City Park’s new 17-court pickleball complex featured a ribbon-cutting, beginner classes, raffles and more. With 17 courts, shaded areas and special events such as clinics and tournaments, residents are looking forward to the complex becoming a community hotspot. The day featured a ribbon-cutting ceremony, beginner classes, raffles and more. The courts are open to all Burlington residents, though those who pay for memberships get special privileges such as court rentals, a ball machine and merchandise discounts. 

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NEWS 5/8/25 12:01pm

University to increase yearly contribution to Elon fire department

By Ruby Burckle

In the proposed town of Elon budget for the 2026 fiscal year, Elon University is reportedly increasing its contributions to the fire department from $86,598 to $423,524. As detailed in the proposed budget, Twin Lakes, a local retirement community, is also increasing its contributions to the fire department from $56,000 to $60,000. In order to help pay for the cost of the ladder truck, the fire department has also proposed an increase to the fire district tax rate from $0.0865 to $0.10.

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NEWS 5/7/25 12:45pm

Cracking down on REAL IDs

By Fiona McAllister

As the May 7 deadline for U.S. residents to get a REAL ID arrives, the North Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles' appointments are filling up quickly. REAL ID is a federal law that sets minimum security standards for state-issued driver's licenses and identification cards; the ID is indicated by a star on the corner of the driver’s license or identification card, and it allows citizens to travel and go to government buildings without having to carry a U.S. passport. A North Carolina REAL ID will have a star in the upper right corner of the driver's license. 

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NEWS 5/6/25 5:44pm

Elon University Student Government Association president signs petition opposing federal government overreach

By Charlotte Pfabe

Elon University Student Government Association executive president Anya Bratic signed onto a petition which opposes federal government overreach in U.S. higher educational institutions. The petition, “Sign On: National Letter from Elected Student Leaders Defending Higher Education,” was created by University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill Student Body president Adolfo Alvarez on April 22 and shared with student leaders across the country. According to The Daily Tarheel, Alvarez modeled the petition after a similar petition created by the American Association of Colleges and Universities. Neither UNC Chapel Hill nor Elon University’s university leaders have signed AACU’s petition.

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NEWS 5/5/25 2:56pm

Elon University SGA president works to create connections, plans for next year

By Trista Panagakos

Student Government Association’s Executive President and junior Anya Bratic said during her campaign that she wanted to be a connector for students on campus. After being elected, Bratic still believes her role as executive president is to be a liaison between students and the resources Elon University offers. Together with the senate, Bratic said she wants to better communicate with the student body on information they may not be aware of. After the election, some of the senate seats were left vacant, but Bratic has appointed 10 senators who have all been unanimously voted on by the senate.

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NEWS 5/4/25 1:40pm

Jogging for Josh 5K honors Elon local, brings community together

By Audrey Geib

Members of the Elon community gathered outside Atlantic Union Bank in Burlington on Saturday morning for the second annual Jogging for Josh 5K. But for most, the morning wasn’t just about running – it was about remembering. The race honored the life of Elon local, Joshua Dane Hughes. He was the only child of Steven and Juanita Hughes, who organized the event to celebrate their son’s legacy and support a scholarship in his name. Twenty-nine participants walked the 1 mile path and 59 participants ran the 5K through Burlington and Elon, passing Magnolia Cemetery, Josh’s resting place.  

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NEWS 5/3/25 1:09pm

A hushed legacy: Samuel Merritt’s story as a descendant of a lynching victim

By Lilly Molina

Samuel Merritt’s great-great grandfather, Wyatt Outlaw, was lynched on Feb. 26, 1870. Outlaw was dragged out of his home in the middle of the night by a mob of 60 and hanged on an Elm tree in the corner of downtown Graham. His body is nowhere to be found, and for a long time his legacy was hidden within the Outlaw family. Merritt remembers reading about lynchings in history books but could have never imagined that his family would have been affected. The Vietnam veteran and retired microbiologist can only feel proud of his ancestor.

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