Kyra O'Connor

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Recent Articles

NEWS 6/17/21 6:47pm

Elon University to partner with African American Cultural Arts and History Center for Juneteenth celebration

By Kyra O'Connor and Katherine Aristizabal

Elon University will partner with the African American Cultural Arts and History Center in Burlington to celebrate Juneteenth on June 18. Community members can take part in one of three 75-minute tours of the new center, including a featured exhibit “Juneteenth & Black Alamance.” 

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NEWS 6/17/21 12:30pm

Elon University to require COVID-19 vaccinations for all students

By Kyra O'Connor

Elon University will require all students to submit documentation of the COVID-19 vaccination for the fall semester.  

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NEWS 6/15/21 9:55pm

Mayor Jerry Tolley will not seek reelection

By Kyra O'Connor

After 38 years of service to the town of Elon, Mayor Jerry Tolley announced at the Board of Aldermen regular session on June 15 that he will not seek reelection in November. 

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SPORTS 6/9/21 7:33pm

Elon football will not travel until October, according to Athletics

By Kyra O'Connor

Elon University announced that the Phoenix will not leave North Carolina until October, but fans will be allowed inside the stadium for the fall 2021 season. The Phoenix are scheduled to kick off the season on Sept. 4 at home against Wofford.  

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NEWS 6/3/21 4:22pm

FBI investigating Postmaster General, Elon University Trustee Louis DeJoy

By Kyra O'Connor

Postmaster General and Elon University Board of Trustees member Louis DeJoy is facing a federal inquiry regarding campaign contributions involving his former business, North Carolina based New-Breed Logistics.  

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NEWS 5/21/21 12:31pm

Elon University celebrates class of 2021 in three undergraduate ceremonies

By Kyra O'Connor

Over 1,200 students graduated from Elon University on May 21, 2021. 

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NEWS 5/18/21 1:27pm

Explaining impostor syndrome

By Kyra O'Connor

Impostor syndrome, or the impostor phenomenon, was first introduced by clinical psychologists Pauline Rose Clance and Suzanne Imes, who originally researched the concept in high achieving women in the 1970s. 

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NEWS 5/14/21 1:39pm

‘He was the kind of people that the world needs more of’

By Kyra O'Connor

A chef and business owner. A foodie. A licensed mushroom forager. A father, friend and family member. Lincoln Franchell, head chef and co-owner of Pandora's Pies, was known by many names.

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NEWS 5/14/21 12:16pm

Ready and Resilient Committee announces masks will still be required indoors

By Kyra O'Connor

Elon University will continue to require masks indoors in classrooms and other public spaces, after the Centers for Disease Control announced updated guidance for fully vaccinated individuals yesterday.  

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NEWS 5/12/21 1:10pm

Town of Elon hears from community on anti-discrimination ordinance

By Kyra O'Connor

The town of Elon Board of Aldermen heard from community members in support of adopting an anti-discrimination ordinance within the town.

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NEWS 5/11/21 11:54pm

Town of Elon plans to keep current mass gathering limitations in place until graduation

By Kyra O'Connor

At the May regular session, Mayor Jerry Tolley declared the town of Elon will keep its current mass gathering limits in place until after Elon University graduation on May 21. The Board of Aldermen also approved phase one of the East Haggard Corridor Study, reviewed the budget for fiscal year 2021 and heard from community members who spoke in support of adopting an anti-discrimination ordinance within the town.

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NEWS 5/5/21 10:58pm

At semiweekly Occupy Graham demonstration, three people arrested

By Kyra O'Connor

Nearly 30 demonstrators from the Occupy Graham group gathered on Wednesday, May 5 for the group’s semi weekly protest, and three demonstrators were arrested.

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NEWS 5/4/21 3:01pm

Ready & Resilient committee offers recommendations for summer, fall 2021

By Kyra O'Connor

The Ready & Resilient committee released recommendations for the summer and fall of 2021, looking to ease many COVID-19 pandemic restrictions and to return to in-person classes following the traditional academic calendar.  

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NEWS 5/3/21 3:21pm

Faculty and staff volunteers reflect on their experience administering COVID-19 tests throughout the pandemic

By Kyra O'Connor

Throughout the 2020-21 academic year, 150 volunteers have staffed the COVID-19 testing site in Alumni Gym. Faculty and staff were able to sign up in January for a four-hour slot each week to administer tests or check students in. 

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NEWS 5/2/21 10:35pm

Town of Elon hopes to see growth from North Carolina Census gains

By Kyra O'Connor

Data from the 2020 Census determined that North Carolina gained 9.5% more residents from 2010 to 2020 and a 14th seat in the U.S. House of Representatives. While the national data is available, redistricting data will not be available until August, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.  

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NEWS 4/28/21 10:47pm

Occupy Graham demonstrators gather for a second night to protest shooting of Andrew Brown Jr.

By Kyra O'Connor

Occupy Graham demonstrators gathered at Sequential Park, commonly called Wyatt Outlaw Park, this evening for their bi-weekly demonstration. The demonstration was held to protest the decision by Elizabeth City sheriff’s deputies and a judge not to release the body camera footage from the shooting of Andrew Brown Jr., as well as the arrest of two protesters in Graham yesterday. 

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NEWS 4/28/21 8:55am

Jason Husser named chair of Elon University's Academic Council

By Kyra O'Connor

Jason Husser, professor of political science and policy studies, will be the chair of the Academic Council for the 2021-22 academic year. Husser, who is also the director of Elon Poll, was voted in unanimously and will be taking over from Paula Patch, who stepped away from the position to focus on her role as assistant director of the Elon core curriculum. 

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NEWS 4/21/21 9:59pm

Occupy Graham demonstrators gather following verdict on George Floyd’s murder

By Kyra O'Connor

Occupy Graham demonstrators gathered today in downtown Graham from 5:30 p.m. to 6 p.m., the same place they’ve been meeting every Wednesday and Saturday since the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6. But today, demonstrators gathered following the George Floyd murder verdict knowing that there is still work to be done.

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NEWS 4/13/21 11:56pm

Board of Aldermen discuss adopting local non-discrimination ordinance

By Kyra O'Connor

At the April 13 meeting, the Aldermen approved the addition of Elon University Dean of Student Development Jodean Schmiederer to the arts advisory board and heard from Jeff Stein, chair of Ready & Resilient Committee, regarding the university COVID-19 update.

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NEWS 4/13/21 11:53pm

Alderwoman earns 2020 Main Street Champion Award

By Kyra O'Connor

For her efforts in launching the Frontline Fund, an effort that raised over $5,000 to buy food from downtown restaurants and serve meals to frontline workers, Alderwoman Emily Sharpe earned a 2020 Main Street Champion award from North Carolina Main Street. 

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