News

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NEWS 10/4/23 7:52am

Elon University police, Title IX office attribute trained, trusted employees to more rape reports

By Abigail Hobbs

Elon University has seen an increase in reported rapes in the last three years, according to the 2023 fire and safety report. The report details crimes reported in 2022, which includes 17 cases of rape, seven more than the year prior and 15 more than 2020. All 17 cases were in residential facilities, which the university defines as dormitories and other on-campus housing. Elon University Chief of Police Joe LeMire said the large jump from 2020 to 2022 can be partially attributed to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

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NEWS 10/2/23 10:44am

Elon University students, families enjoy Phoenix Fan Fest after relocation last year

By Emily Stabell

As a part of Elon University’s Family Weekend, the Phoenix Fan Fest gathered students and their families together for a tailgate with lawn games, face painting, caricature artists, photo booths and a buffet with a variety of food and desserts. After the previous year’s relocation of the Phoenix Fan Fest due to the weather from Hurricane Ian, many students and their families attended this year on Sept. 30, excited for an eventful tailgate before the football game. This year’s Family Weekend took place from Sept. 29 to Oct. 1. 

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NEWS 9/30/23 9:08pm

Burlington links Apollo Chemical to unsafe water

By Joseph Navin

Apollo Chemical’s facility on Willow Springs Lane near Alamance-Burlington Regional Airport has been connected to a discharge of 1,4 Dioxane into Haw River. Burlington has fined Apollo Chemical for a violation of the city’s Sewer Use Ordinance. According to Bob Patterson, the water resources director for the city of Burlington, this was due to a pH level of 4.9 being detected — just under the required pH range of between five and 11. Patterson also said there is the potential for further enforcement action on Apollo Chemical for the leak.

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NEWS 9/30/23 2:37pm

Daymond John delivers Elon University’s 2023 Fall Convocation

By Jenna Rudolph

Daymond John, star of ABC’s “Shark Tank,” joined Elon University as the Fall Convocation speaker Sept. 29 in the Schar Center. From living in his mother’s basement to becoming an award-winning entrepreneur, John said he decided from the very beginning that if he had a passion, he would not let a lack of money hold him back. John used visual aids, music and videos to highlight his main points of what it means to “think like a shark.”

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NEWS 9/29/23 7:50am

Haw River continually contaminated by Burlington companies

By Abigail Hobbs

The town of Pittsboro is performing tests on the water it receives from the Haw River due to a 1,4-dioxane leak in Burlington — the second time in two months. On Sept. 22, the city of Burlington received a test it had conducted by its wastewater treatment plant from Sept. 14 showing 459 parts per billion of 1,4-dioxane were leaving Burlington’s wastewater treatment plant at that time. The Environmental Protection Agency’s health advisory for 1,4-dioxane is .35 parts per billion in rivers and 35 parts per billion in drinking water — meaning this contamination is 1,300 times the EPA’s health advisory levels for rivers.

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NEWS 9/28/23 1:46pm

Elon University joins Reuse Pass for to-go container program

By Maggie Braswell

Elon University has started off the 2023-24 school year with a new method of to-go containers, now offering a free app called ReusePass. The app allows students to check out the green to-go containers for up to three days, rather than the previous years where students could trade to-go boxes for carabiners. Last year, students and faculty were limited to borrowing one to-go container at a time. Now they have the option to borrow multiple to-go containers and retain them for a period of up to three days.

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NEWS 9/27/23 2:33pm

Alamance County Community Calendar

By Elon News Network

Elon News Network compiled a brief list of events happening between Sept. 28 to Oct. 7 within the Alamance County community. The City of Burlington, City of Graham, Town of Gibsonville and town of Elon are all represented — including Elon University football games, a Gibsonville Girls Night and Alamance Pride.

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NEWS 9/27/23 11:25am

Elon University falls 49 spots in U.S. News ‘national universities’ ranking

By Abigail Hobbs and Cece Ebora

Elon University has fallen in multiple categories across multiple college ranking lists, most notably the 49 spot drop in the U.S. News and World Report’s “national universities” ranking. Elon also dropped 12 spots in “best value schools,” three sports in best study abroad programs and two spots in “most innovative,” all from U.S. News and World Report. According to an Elon University admissions website, Elon University was ranked at No. 84 in national universities in 2019 and has since dropped to No. 133, but there may be a reason for the changes. 

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NEWS 9/27/23 6:43am

Town of Elon eyes road work amid Haggard Avenue study

By Joseph Navin

A number of road work projects could be coming to the roads around Elon University, including the extension of the sidewalk along Trollinger Avenue and pipe work on Haggard Avenue. Elon News Network sat down with Elon Town Manager Rich Roedner to discuss these town-wide projects. The town of Elon is working on a project that will extend the sidewalk along Trollinger Avenue between the intersections of North Holt Avenue and Church Street. Roedner said the town knows it has been an issue.

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NEWS 9/26/23 2:54pm

Assistant police chief of operations hopes to bring positive influence to Elon community

By Lauren Winslow

After six years of service with the Town of Elon Police Department, former Lt. Kedrick King was promoted to assistant police chief of operations. Within the new position, King is responsible for overseeing all patrol operations and patrol officers to ensure the safety of the town of Elon. Though promoted Sept. 11, King started working in law enforcement 10 years ago as a detention officer for the Caswell County Sheriff’s Office.

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NEWS 9/26/23 10:49am

Business entrepreneur, star of ABC’s Shark Tank to speak at Elon University

By Jenna Rudolph

Entrepreneur and CEO of the Shark Group consulting agency Daymond John will speak at Fall Convocation as part of Elon University’s 2023-24 speaker series, at 3:30 p.m. Sept. 29. John is an entrepreneur and author of six best-sellers including Powershift (2020), a book that discusses his trusted process of building influence, negotiating and nurturing relationships in order to achieve success within one’s field. Fall Convocation will take place in the Schar Center where tickets are free for students, faculty and staff and cost $15 for those without an Elon ID.  

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NEWS 9/25/23 2:02pm

Writers Guild of America reaches preliminary deal in historic strike

By Nia Bedard

After 146 days of striking, the Writers Guild of America has reached a tentative deal with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers on a new contract for entertainment writers, according to an email sent out to union members that was sent out Sunday around 10 p.m. Now that a deal is on the table, the next step for the WGA and AMPTP is to work out the language for the contract. Now that a deal has been agreed upon, WGA leadership has suspended all picketing, but said members will not be returning to work until authorization by the WGA. 

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NEWS 9/25/23 7:54am

Student Health Services at Elon University unable to provide allergy shots

By Camryn Banks and Sarah T. Moore

At the end of the 2022-23 academic year, registered nurse Cynthia Moore retired after working at Elon for over 14 years. Registered nurses are licensed through the North Carolina Board of Nursing and, according to the NCBON, their role within a medical practice includes the implementation and evaluation of patient care. The NCBON was unavailable for comment. The lack of registered nurses on its staff affects what treatments health services are able to administer in patient care. Elon Student Health Services currently has two physician assistants, two primary care nurse practitioners and three certified medical assistants on staff. 

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NEWS 9/24/23 5:38pm

Intersect Conference facilitates conversations about diversity at Elon University

By Michael Leung

According to Sylvia Muñoz, Director of the Center for Race, Ethnicity and Diversity Education, before students graduate and are sent out into the world, it is important for Elon University to give them all the tools needed to succeed. Muñoz said she believes events such as the Intersect Conference achieve this goal by providing students with the skills and knowledge needed to make students global citizens. The theme for this year’s conference is “Look Out for Yourself. Look Out for Each Other. Look Out for Our Future.” 

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NEWS 9/24/23 2:19pm

Students express frustrations with Elon University campus crosswalks

By Kathan Gandhi and Katharyn MacDonald

After multiple collisions and near-incidents have occurred on Elon’s crosswalks throughout the first month of students being on campus, students have been voicing concerns and asking for more communication from the university, according to Campus Safety and Police. Campus Police and the town of Elon have opened discussions about possible courses of action, but said with a limited budget, there is little that can be done. All roads that pass through and border campus — crosswalks included — are regulated by both Campus Safety and Police and the town of Elon. 

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NEWS 9/24/23 1:11pm

City of Burlington debuts new social district

By Mollie Lund

The City of Burlington debuted its new downtown social district, which encompasses seven blocks of the city’s downtown. The social district, which launched Friday, Sept. 22,  allows visitors aged 21 and up to take alcoholic beverages purchased from alcohol beverage control (ABC)-permitted restaurants and bars into designated public areas and will be open from 12 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. Participating businesses have placed stickers on their windows indicating that they are members of the social district, and drinks purchased from these establishments must be in specially-branded cups to be carried around the district. 

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NEWS 9/23/23 4:40pm

Pittsboro water under testing due to 1,4-dioxane leak in Burlington

By Abigail Hobbs

The town of Pittsboro is advising citizens to avoid the drinking water until further testing can be done after a 1,4-dioxane leak in Burlington. The town of Pittsboro has partnered with Chatham Marketplace to offer free reverse osmosis treated water to citizens who receive their water from the town. Customers can use the code 64261 to fill jugs and bottles for free. Pittsboro is 30 miles downstream from Burlington and is advising residents to reduce using the water for non-essential uses, including watering lawns and washing cars.

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NEWS 9/22/23 12:40pm

2023 Elon University security, fire safety report shows increase in harassment

By Mason Willett and Abigail Hobbs

Elon University released the 2023 security and fire safety report that details reported crimes located on campus and within buildings owned by Elon in 2022. According to Elon University Police Chief Joe LeMire, the university is still adding cases to the report and will officially release them next week — however, a version is available on the Campus Safety and Police reports webpage as of Sept. 22. There were 17 rapes reported within residential facilities — defined as dormitories and other on-campus student facilities — compared to 10 reported in 2021.

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NEWS 9/22/23 8:37am

Q&A: North Carolinians Against Gun Violence encourage students to contact their lawmaker

By Abigail Hobbs

Within the first month of school, there were two lockdowns at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, one resulting in the death of a faculty member. North Carolina saw 1,839 firearm-related deaths in 2021, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Children in particular are suffering from gun violence now more than ever: firearm-related death rates for children ages zero to 17 increased 231.3% from 2012 to 2021, according to North Carolina’s Child Fatality Task Force. Becky Ceartas is the executive director at NCGV and spoke to Elon News Network about gun violence prevention in North Carolina.

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NEWS 9/21/23 11:04pm

Elon University common reading author encourages curiosity, thoughtfulness

By Madison Powers and Emily Stabell

Mónica Guzmán — author of Elon University’s 2023-24 common reading book “I Never Thought of It That Way: How to Have Fearlessly Curious Conversations in Dangerously Divided Times,” — said it is vital for communities to have difficult conversations to create connection. Guzmán’s lecture on Sept. 21 was a part of Elon’s speaker series — presented by WUNC North Carolina Public Radio — and explored themes of “creating together.” Guzmán, a Mexican immigrant, said it is important to listen and learn from others.

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