Nia Bedard

Managing Editor of ElonNewsNetwork.com

Nia Bedard '26 is pursuing a degree in journalism and a minor in psychology. Bedard currently serves as Managing Editor of ElonNewsNetwork.com. She has previously served as News Editor and Assistant Managing Editor of ElonNewsNetwork.com. She has a love for investigative long form reporting, data reporting and multimedia journalism. Find her best work on her portfolio.

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Recent Articles

NEWS 12/3/25 10:52pm

Elon University fire alarm system running following fiber optic line cut

By Nia Bedard

Elon University’s fire alarm system is back to normal and will alert authorities if a fire alarm goes off following the cut of a fiber optic line in Greensboro, according to an E-alert sent around 10:22 p.m. Dec. 3. Elon Campus Safety and Police sent an E-alert in the morning on Dec. 3 after the fiber optic line was cut writing that the fire alarm systems may not alert authorities if they are activated. Elon University Chief of Campus Safety and Police Joe LeMire previously wrote in an email statement to Elon News Network on Dec. 3 that this cut was caused by construction in the area. 

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NEWS 12/3/25 1:31pm

Elon University fire alarm system may not alert authorities per E-alert

By Nia Bedard

Elon University fire alarm systems may not alert authorities if they are activated, according to an E-alert sent out around 1:00 p.m Dec. 3. The E-alert wrote that if a fire alarm goes off, evacuate the building and choose someone to call 911 once in a safe area. According to the E-alert, a fiber optic line was cut in Greensboro, which is the cause of issues with the alert system. A similar issue occurred on Nov. 18 when a fiber optic line in Greensboro was cut, causing issues with Elon University’s alarm system.

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SPORTS 12/3/25 12:27pm

Elon University quarterback plans to enter transfer portal

By Nia Bedard

After winning Co-Offensive Rookie of the Year for the Coastal Athletic Association, Elon University quarterback Landen Clark plans to enter the transfer portal, according to a statement made by his agent. This past season Clark, a redshirt freshman, threw for 2,321 yards and rushed for 614 yards. Clark scored 29 total touchdowns during the 2025 season. The transfer portal for college football opens on Jan. 2, 2026 and closes Jan. 16, 2026.

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NEWS 11/19/25 11:01am

Elon University fire alarm system repaired

By Nia Bedard

The fiber optic line that alerts the authorities if a fire alarm at Elon University goes off has been repaired, according to an E-alert sent out around 8:15 a.m. Nov. 19. According to Elon University Chief of Campus Safety Joe LeMire, the line had been cut in Greensboro on Nov. 18. According to an email statement from LeMire sent to Elon News Network the system is now up and running. Fiber lines can accidentally be cut for a few different reasons, LeMire said in a previous interview with Elon News Network, such as construction or severe weather.

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LIFESTYLE 11/17/25 11:33pm

Vietnamese-American writer breaks down poetry’s role in society

By Nia Bedard

For poet, essayist and novelist Ocean Vuong, there is no right or wrong answer about what you should take away from his work. “The beauty of writing is that everything is open to interpretation, and I'm never an author who can sit here and says to a reader, ‘you got it wrong,’” Vuong said. Former member of the Liberal Arts Forum, Emerson Garon, pitched for Vuong to come to Elon after being a long-time fan of his work and wanting to share his work. “His work needs to be shared, he is just so inspirational,” Garon said.

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NEWS 11/4/25 10:55pm

Ossipee Town Council incumbents reelected

By Nia Bedard and Miles Hayford

Incumbents Jim McAdams and Richard Overman were reelected to Ossipee Town Council on Nov. 4. Overman received 14 votes and McAdams won 16 votes. Overman did not respond to Elon News Network’s request for comment. McAdams declined Elon News Network’s request for comment. 

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NEWS 11/4/25 10:08pm

Newcomer candidate secures most votes in Swepsonville Town Council election

By Nia Bedard

Following the Nov. 4 municipal elections, Lee Walls, John Andrews and Henry Carrouth will fill the open seats on the Swepsonville Town Council. First-time candidate Lee Walls secured 27.47% of the vote, the most out of any candidate for the Swepsonville race. Incumbent John Andrews followed close behind with 26.74% of the vote and former mayor Henry Carrouth received 25.64%. “There were some things that we had started on the council and that I really wanted to have an opportunity to be a part of finishing up,” Carrouth said.

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NEWS 10/16/25 4:36pm

Elon University Poll finds 39% of North Carolinians approve of President Donald Trump

By Nia Bedard

The Elon University Poll published its third report this month showcasing a steady decrease in Trump’s approval rating in North Carolina over time. This most recent poll found that 39% of North Carolinian adults surveyed currently approve of the job President Donald Trump has done so far. “When he has the level of control of Congress that he has right now, it makes it a little bit harder for him to effectively frame himself as the person fighting the system,” Director of the Elon Poll Jason Husser said.

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NEWS 10/15/25 12:46pm

Elon University AAUP issues statement asking for transparency on Elon, Queens merger

By Nia Bedard

Elon University’s chapter of the American Association for University Professors issued a statement Oct. 15 asking both Elon and Queens University of Charlotte to include faculty from both institutions in the planning and decision making process of the proposed merger. According to the statement from Elon’s AAUP chapter, questions about how faculty will be involved in the merger have not been answered. “Faculty have been invited to submit questions at town halls, but direct questions about how faculty will be integrated into the decision-making prior to the approval of the merger remain unanswered in these forums,” the statement said. 

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NEWS 10/14/25 9:51pm

Elon Poll finds North Carolinians concerned about public safety following recent incidents

By Nia Bedard

A recent Elon Poll, published on Oct. 14, found that North Carolinians are concerned with public safety following the fatal stabbing of Iryna Zarutska on Aug. 22 in Charlotte, N.C. and a mass shooting on Sept. 27 in Southport, N.C. With a sample of 800 North Carolina adults, the Elon Poll found that 61% of respondents were very or someone concerned about their own safety from crime in outdoor areas with large crowds. 59% of respondents were very or somewhat concerned about their safety while on public transportation. 

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NEWS 10/10/25 7:28pm

Elon University dedicates building to first international graduate

By Nia Bedard

Elon University administration, students and community members came together Oct. 10 to celebrate the university’s first international graduate, Toshio Sato, who graduated in 1920. The university also renamed the Global Commons in her honor. Kelly Policelli, coordinator of university archives and special collections, described Sato as highly involved during her time at Elon. “There was an announcement the week that she got here about her arrival, then literally a week later, she is singing at a mission group event. So she was, from the very beginning, super involved. She seemed very happy to be here.”

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NEWS 10/2/25 9:53am

North Carolina expands anti-hazing law; Students, faculty and staff involved with hazing will receive more severe penalties

By Nia Bedard

Everything changed for Lianne Kowiak when her son Harrison died in a hazing incident. Now “Harrison’s Law” will go into effect in North Carolina on Dec. 1 and includes major changes to anti-hazing law in the state. North Carolina now defines hazing as any serious physical or psychological damage as part of initiation for or as a prerequisite to join any organized school group. Now any students who are found guilty of hazing can receive a Class A1 misdemeanor, which has a maximum punishment of 150 days in jail and is the most serious misdemeanor offense a person can receive.

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NEWS 9/27/25 2:37pm

Cars crashed at North Williamson Avenue entrance to Elon University

By Nia Bedard

Multiple vehicles collided at the intersection of North Williamson Avenue and University Drive around 2 p.m. on Sept. 27. Town of Elon Fire Department, Town of Elon Police, Gibsonville Police, and Elon Campus Safety and Police are currently on the scene directing traffic. An e alert that was released at 2:09 p.m. informing students of the accident. As of 2:37 p.m. the site of the crash is cleared.

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NEWS 9/27/25 12:11pm

Elon University president informs parents about Queens merger, new school of engineering, computing

By Nia Bedard

An entirely new school, an enrollment cliff and a merger. These were just some of the topics Elon University president Connie Book focused on during the University Update Sept. 27 in Alumni Gym. Taking place over Elon’s Family Weekend, Book updated visiting parents on new steps the university will be taking and new projects that are currently underway. These new developments include the intended merger between Elon and Queens University of Charlotte. Family weekend events will continue throughout Sept. 27 and 28. 

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LIFESTYLE 9/26/25 12:32pm

‘I don’t fit in, but I’ll find my home everywhere’: where LGBTQ+, Latine identities intersect

By Nia Bedard

Elon University English professor Meleena Gil, who identifies as a queer non-binary Latinx person, has found that being in the South and in North Carolina has allowed people within those identities to find ways to build community and protect each other. Gil has also found those outside those identities who also support people within them find ways to do the same. “Being in North Carolina — we are in the South — there’s something really beautiful about the ways that people have been taking it upon themselves to educate themselves and educate each other on what is effective allyship,” Gil said. “How do we take care of each other, protect each other? How do we circumvent police force?

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LIFESTYLE 9/26/25 12:32pm

‘No encajo, pero encontraré mi hogar en todos lados’: donde se cruzan las identidades LGBTQ+ y latine

By Nia Bedard

Meleena Gil, profesora de inglés de la Universidad de Elon y quien se identifica como una persona latina queer no binaria, ha descubierto que vivir en el sur y en Carolina del Norte ha permitido a las personas con esas identidades encontrar maneras de construir comunidad y protegerse mutuamente. Gil también ha descubierto que quienes no pertenecen a esas identidades y que también apoyan a quienes pertenecen a ellas encuentran maneras de hacer lo mismo. "Estando en Carolina del Norte —estamos en el sur— hay algo realmente hermoso en la forma en que las personas se han encargado de educarse y educarse mutuamente sobre lo que es una alianza efectiva", dijo Gil. "¿Cómo nos cuidamos y nos protegemos mutuamente? ¿Cómo evadimos a la policía?

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NEWS 9/24/25 9:22pm

Elon University publishes annual security, fire safety report

By Fiona McAllister and Nia Bedard

Elon University released its annual security and fire safety report on Sept. 24 in compliance with the Crime Awareness and Campus Security Act of 1990. This act requires that any institutions that participate in any student financial aid programs within Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 must disclose campus crime statistics and security information. The report includes crime that occurred on campus and within buildings owned by Elon, and includes data from 2022 to 2024. The report showed a 93.3% decrease in cases of rape and a 64.4% decrease in drug violations.

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NEWS 9/19/25 11:31pm

Elon Police investigate claims of handgun in car traveling through Elon

By Nia Bedard

Elon Police are investigating a post made to Snapchat and Fizz where a driver appears to have a hand gun on the dash board of a car traveling through South O’Kelly Avenue, according to an e alert sent at 11:04 p.m. on Sept. 19. According to the alert there is no credible information of any danger at this time. According to another e alert sent at 3:07 a.m. on Sept. 20, it has been determined that the person was not on Elon's campus.

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NEWS 9/17/25 4:58pm

‘What does it mean to be human?’: Elon University, RTI International host conference on AI, humanity

By Nia Bedard

Since 2021, the number of large-scale artificial intelligence systems has increased in the United States by 3,775%. With AI becoming more prevalent, Elon University’s Imagining the Digital Future Center and RTI International, a research institute based in the Research Triangle, hosted a conference Sept. 17 reflecting on what it means to be human in the age of AI. “All institutions must seriously address the coevolution of humans and digital systems and work to reimagine the animating human spirit of organizations, workflows, communication, teaching, learning and research activities,” Elon University President Connie Book said. 

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NEWS 9/16/25 10:31am

Elon University announces merger with Queens University of Charlotte

By Nia Bedard and Monika Jurevicius

During College Coffee on Sept. 16 Elon President Connie Book announced that Elon University would be merging with Queens University of Charlotte.Book, who is currently in Charlotte, said to College Coffee attendees in a prerecorded video that Elon will assume operational oversight of Queens and the university will become a new home for Elon graduate students. Elon University currently has multiple programs based in Charlotte including a flexible law school program, a sport management program and a physician’s assistant program set to open in 2027. 

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