Mia Torres

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LIFESTYLE 12/4/25 10:53pm

Elon University’s campus glows as Festival of Lights and Luminaries expands cultural celebration

By Mia Torres

Elon University’s Festival of Lights and Luminaries took place on Dec. 4 and was hosted by the Truitt Center for Religious and Spiritual Life. Luminaries lit up Elon’s campus as students walked around and enjoyed the night. The festival started incorporating themes in 2020 with each year being a new theme. This year it was, “Many Lights on One Night.” “This year the festival is bigger than ever, so the theme represents how all the small lights that each of us bring create one larger light on campus,” Hillary Zaken, the director of multifaith programming and engagement for the Truitt Center said. 

LIFESTYLE 11/2/25 5:42pm

Elon alumna honored for supporting children of incarcerated parents

By Mia Torres

Yasmine Arington Brooks ‘15, was a junior in high school when she started a grassroots nonprofit scholarship program for children with incarcerated parents. Now she is an honoree of the L'Oréal Paris USA Women of Worth award. “I’m really grateful, especially in a time like this, because this type of visibility and of course you know the sisterhood that comes with it, and just meeting amazing women who are, who have just beautiful hearts and they're doing incredible things in their communities,” Brooks said.

LIFESTYLE 10/25/25 8:21pm

Taste of Alamance returns to celebrate food and community

By Mia Torres

More than 15 local Alamance County restaurants came together to host Taste of Alamance, a food festival Oct. 25. There was food and music while people from all over the county and surrounding areas came to support the festival. All of the proceeds from Taste of Alamance benefited United Way of Alamance County which supports programs and initiatives to help families thrive.  “United Way provides community programming,” president of United Way of Alamance County Lacey Dabbs said. “Most people know us for investing money back out in the community. So, for this fiscal year we had 20 nonprofits that we provided funding.”

NEWS 10/23/25 11:28pm

Elon University Liberal Arts Forum guest says every American is a survivor

By Mia Torres

Shannon Watts, the founder of Moms Demand Action, was hosted by Elon University’s Liberal Arts Forum on Oct. 22, a student organization that researches and pitches speakers throughout the semester.Watts started her journey as an activist for ending gun violence after the Sandy Hook elementary school shooting. “I sort of just sat down and watched this horrific tragedy and it was truly unfathomable at that time,” Watts said during the event. “You know we’re all vicarious survivors of trauma in this country, whether you’re a gun violence survivor or not, you’ve experienced these shootings individually.”

NEWS 10/11/25 1:58pm

Elon University honors LGBTQ+ alumni during awards reception

By Mia Torres

Members and advocates of the LGBTQ+ community gathered in the Lakeside meeting rooms to honor several Elon University alumni and students. Jonathan Monti ‘08 said this event gives the Elon LGBTQIA Alumni Network the ability to connect not just as alumni but as an entire community. “The enrichment awards are an opportunity for us as an alumni network to acknowledge the work of our alumni,” Monti said. “Sometimes we also include faculty or staff as well as there’s a specific award for undergraduate students as well to recognize the work that they’re doing.”

LIFESTYLE 9/27/25 10:37am

Elon University receives honorable mention from Playbill magazine

By Mia Torres

Earlier this year, Elon University’s Department of Performing Arts was ranked 23rd on a list of world’s best drama schools for 2025. Now, it has another accomplishment to add to its repertoire. Playbill, a world-renowned theatre magazine, recognized Elon for having over 20 alumni currently on Broadway. It was joined on this list by New York University, Yale and Juilliard. Playbill states Elon is one of a “few honorable mentions that just barely missed making the top 10.” The magazine analyzed Broadway actors from 2024 to 2025, including where they attended college. 

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LIFESTYLE 12/04/2025 10:53pm
Elon University’s campus glows as Festival of Lights and Luminaries expands cultural celebration

Elon University’s Festival of Lights and Luminaries took place on Dec. 4 and was hosted by the Truitt Center for Religious and Spiritual Life. Luminaries lit up Elon’s campus as students walked around and enjoyed the night. The festival started incorporating themes in 2020 with each year being a new theme. This year it was, “Many Lights on One Night.” “This year the festival is bigger than ever, so the theme represents how all the small lights that each of us bring create one larger light on campus,” Hillary Zaken, the director of multifaith programming and engagement for the Truitt Center said. 

SPORTS 12/04/2025 12:09am
Strong start not enough in Elon University men’s basketball loss to Furman University

The energy in Schar Center was palpable as the Phoenix built an early 18 point lead. However, the Phoenix couldn’t sustain momentum as Furman University surged in the second half to hand Elon a home defeat on Dec. 3. Head coach Billy Taylor said the Phoenix simply didn’t respond well when Furman started to take control. While there were encouraging moments during the game, Taylor stressed the importance of maintaining that level. “When they punched back, we didn’t respond the right way,” Taylor said. “We need more of those moments strung together over the course of 40 minutes.”

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